Russell Crowe will appear in Thor: Love and Thunder in a mystery role.

According to Deadline, the actor has joined the cast of the Marvel film in an unspecified part.

The outlet confirmed that Crowe would be a part of the movie after he was spotted with some of the cast in Australia.

The Independent has contacted Marvel for more information.

Crowes role is one of many surprises to come out of the film, Deadline reported citing insiders.

Read more:

Thor: Love and Thunder, directed by Taika Waititi, will be a sequel to the 2017 Thor: Ragnarok  which itself was preceded by the 2011 Thor and 2013 Thor: The Dark World.

The new film will star Natalie Portman as Jane Foster/Mighty Thor, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, and Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher.

Thor: Love and Thunder is currently scheduled for release on 6 May 2022 after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It will form part of Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following up on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which is set for release on 25 March 2022.
Tata Chemicals was honored as Product Innovator of the Year during the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Chemicals and Petrochemicals Awards 2021, presented in New Delhi.

Related: Cosmetic Victories 2021 Finalist Profile: 'Touchy Finger'

The company was recognized for its innovation and technological advancement in nano zinc oxide (nZnO). Various grades of the companys nZnO have properties and industrial applications in segments such as cosmetics, reportedly due to the ingredient's antiviral properties.

According to the company, the patented technology for nZno can alter its particle size to cater to customized requirements while ensuring it is free from heavy metal compounds. To further drive value for customers, the company manufactures both industrial and cosmetic grade nano zinc oxide in micro-fine powder and dispersion form.

We are honored to receive this award from FICCI for Excellence in Product Innovation, said Richard Lobo, Ph.D., head-innovation and CQH (Business Excellence) of Tata Chemicals. This recognition reaffirms our position as a leading global manufacturing company focused on developing sustainable solutions backed by science and strong R&D to benefit the society, its customers and improve the quality of products. Our innovation centers will continue to research in the fields of material sciences, nutrition, biotechnology, nanotechnology and agritechnology to drive value for all stakeholders.

The FICCI Chemicals and Petrochemicals awards also recognized individuals and companies for their contribution toward the development of society across 16 broad categories. A total of 38 awards were presented to companies and individuals this year.

Highlighted: Kumar Organic Products Awarded for Green Iso Decyl Alcohol Production
New York, March 30 : Mutations could render current Covid-19 vaccines ineffective in a year or less, according to two-thirds of 77 epidemiologists, virologists and infectious disease specialists from 28 countries surveyed by People's Vaccine Alliance.

The results published on Tuesday deliver a stark warning of the risk the world is taking by failing to ensure all countries have sufficient vaccines to protect people from Covid-19.

Of those surveyed, almost a third gave a timeframe of nine months or less.

Fewer than one in eight said they believed that mutations would never render the current vaccines ineffective.

The overwhelming majority - 88 per cent -- said that persistent low vaccine coverage in many countries would make it more likely for vaccine resistant mutations to appear.

The People's Vaccine Alliance, a coalition of over 50 organisations including African Alliance, Oxfam and UNAIDS, warned that at the current rate it was likely that only 10 per cent of people in the majority of poor countries will be vaccinated in the next year.

Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed - who included epidemiologists, virologists and infectious disease specialists from institutions including Johns Hopkins, Yale, Imperial College, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Cambridge University, the University of Edinburgh and The University of Cape Town -- said that open sharing of technology and intellectual property could increase global vaccine coverage.

"The more the virus circulates, the more likely it is that mutations and variants will emerge, which could make our current vaccines ineffective. At the same time, poor countries are being left behind without vaccines and basic medical supplies like oxygen," Devi Sridhar, Professor of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh in Britain, said in a statement.

"As we've learned, viruses don't care about borders. We have to vaccinate as many people as possible, everywhere in the world, as quickly as possible. Why wait and watch instead of getting ahead of this?" While he didn't specify a timeframe, Gregg Gonsalves, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Yale University, echoed the urgency to vaccinate globally.

"With millions of people around the world infected with this virus, new mutations arise every day. Sometimes they find a niche that makes them more fit than their predecessors," Gonsalves said.

"These lucky variants could transmit more efficiently and potentially evade immune responses to previous strains. Unless we vaccinate the world, we leave the playing field open to more and more mutations, which could churn out variants that could evade our current vaccines and require booster shots to deal with them." The survey shows that it is imperative for the safety of all citizens in all countries that people in developing countries are vaccinated as soon as possible. Failure to tackle global vaccine inequality heightens the risk of further mutations.

Despite this imperative, rich country defence of the monopolies of pharmaceutical giants mean that global supplies are being artificially rationed, with a handful of companies deciding who lives and who dies.

Earlier this month, rich countries blocked a proposal to waive intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines.

The People's Vaccine Alliance is urging them to reconsider when talks resume at the World Trade Organisation in April.

The alliance is also calling for all pharmaceutical corporations working on Covid-19 vaccines to openly share their technology and intellectual property through the World Health Organization Covid-19 Technology Access Pool, in order to speed up and ramp up the production and rollout of vaccines to all countries.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
OKLAHOMA CITY, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The rapidly growing Oklahoma Dispensary Association ("ODA") has engaged McSpadden Milner Robinson ("MMR") as their lobbying firm to represent the Oklahoma cannabis industry in the 58th legislative session. "Engaging MMR will better position us to advocate for the dispensary owners and more than 368,000 medical marijuana patients," said Paul M. Murano, ODA's Executive Director. ODA was formed to educate the cannabis industry and advocate on its behalf at the state and local levels. It does that in order to serve medical marijuana patients and to make a positive impact in local communities throughout Oklahoma.

MMR was formed six years ago when James McSpadden, James Milner and Brett Robison merged their sole lobbying practices. The firm has been involved in many key issues brought before the Oklahoma State Capitol  from reforming the state's alcohol laws, advancing the interests of oil and gas, to opposing onerous tax measures. "We value the interest of our clients and we are honored that ODA has asked us to represent them at the Capitol," said James Milner. "We have been involved in issues surrounding the medical marijuana industry. It is relatively new for most Oklahomans and the elected officials are trying to wrap their heads around the issue as many have constituents who are in the industry or impacted by it. Our focus is to educate them on the issues and ensure they do no harm."

Representative Jon Echols (HD 90), the Majority Floor Leader for the Oklahoma House of Representatives and a major supporter of the industry, is thrilled with ODA's formation and its new lobbying team. "There are going to be a number of different ideas on how the industry needs to be structured  some good and frankly some really bad ideas as well," stated Echols, "MMR is a great firm. They are positioned well to advance the good ideas and ensure the bad ones do not become law. More importantly, there is a need for the ODA. The retail side of this industry is the most complex and it needs a unified voice. I am thrilled that they have formed a trade group and I look forward to working with ODA."

ODA's new relationship with MMR will amplify the organization's voice and help guarantee that the tremendous impact of Oklahoma's $1 billion medical marijuana industry on the local community is positive and beneficial. Oklahoma has created a model medical marijuana industry that has become an envy of the rest of the country  many people moved here just to get into our cannabis industry. However, implementing license caps will import the single worst lesson learned from other states over the last 10 years of marijuana reforms. This is why one of the top priorities for this legislative session is to make sure that proposed license limits on this industry do not prevail and create unintended consequences for all Oklahomans.

Media Contact:

Paul Murano

918-409-0030

SOURCE Oklahoma Dispensary Assocation

Related Links

https://oklahomadispensary.org/


A man who participated, on Monday, in the protest in the University Square against the measures imposed by the authorities in the context of COVID-19, was detained for 24 hours, according to AGERPRES.

According to some representatives of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the District 1 Court, the man is accused of committing two crimes of assault.

The man was detained on Monday night by gendarmes and questioned by prosecutors, after which investigators decided to detain him for 24 hours.

The gendarmes claim that the protester refused to identify himself and became violent with the police.

Dozens of people gathered on Monday in the University Square in the capital city to protest against the measures imposed by the authorities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Islamic State has bragged of 'killing dozens of Mozambican armed forces and the Christians' in a days-long assault near a major gas plant in the country's northeast.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement issued by its Amaq news agency on Monday alongside a photo of militants from the group celebrating the capture of the town of Palma.

Scores of people have been killed, including one British contractor, and dozens of expats remain unaccounted for following the attack, which began last Wednesday.

A contractor from Somerset who worked at a hotel in the area is among the missing and a friend has said he fears he has been killed.

Philip Mawer has not been seen or heard from since gunmen ambushed a convoy of vehicles fleeing a hotel on Friday.

His friend Peter Zweemer told The Sun that the French oil giant Total, whose employees Mawer was reportedly helping to build a camp for left its workers to be 'slaughtered'.

'As far as I know and from eye witness accounts, unfortunately, we have to assume Phil got killed Friday.

'There is still no access into Palma to recoup bodies or asses damages and missing people do appear under the most amazing circumstances but I'm afraid the news about Phil is not encouraging.

'It's a shambles and they allowed these contractors to be slaughtered.'

Tales of horror began to emerge on Tuesday as some survivors made it to safety and established contact with loved ones.

Briton Philip Mawer (left) has not been heard from since attempting to flee Palma, while Nick Alexander (right) was rescued two days after he escaped an ambush on a convoy of vehicles fleeing a hotel

A small UN plane carrying adults and children - including an injured one-year-old baby - arrived on Monday at the airport in Pemba, the provincial capital where many survivors have been evacuated to.

According to Portugal's Lusa news agency, a bullet hit the baby's leg while he was in his mother's arms as they ran from the rebels.

ISIS has alleged that 55 people have been killed but this has not been independently verified.

A South African private security firm has been hired by the government to battle the militants and search for survivors of the brutal assault, which has left streets and beaches strewn with decapitated bodies.

Lionel Dyck, who runs the Dyck Advisory Group, told The Times that his staff have been collecting survivors and dead bodies while exchanging gunfire with insurgents.

The Amarula Lodge (pictured) had become a refuge for 190 residents and locals but evacuation plans were complicated as the insurgents drew nearer. On Friday, a convoy of 17 vehicles attempted to escape but was ambushed by waiting militants. Only seven cars made it through

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement issued by its Amaq news agency on Monday alongside a photo of militants from the group (pictured) celebrating the capture of the town of Palma

At least seven people, including an unnamed British contractor, are known to have been killed when a convoy from a hotel was ambushed by waiting militants.

The Amarula Lodge had become a refuge for 190 residents and locals but evacuation plans were complicated as the insurgents drew nearer.

Sea evacuation plans were thwarted as militants patrolled the hotel's beach. Twenty-five people had been airlifted out by Thursday but the following day the insurgents advanced, making rescue by air impossible.

'They were panicking that they would not survive another night, there was no one coming to get them, Johann Anderson, who was communicating with the group from a secured area owned by French energy giant Total, told The Times.

Some sixty people left in a convoy of 17 vehicles that was ambushed on Friday. Only seven of the vehicles made it past the militants who appeared to be waiting for them.

The fate of those in the cars that did manage to escape, and the 100 people who remained at the lodge, is unknown.

Al-Shabab, an ISIS-affiliated jihadi group with no links to the Somali militants, has made gains in Cabo Delgado, the northeast of Mozambique, and seized the strategic port of Mocimboa da Praia in August before the latest attack in Palma

Zweemer, a logistics consultant based in Pemba told The Sun that workers had been encouraged to seek refuge in the hotel, which was later stormed by insurgents.

'Hotel Amarula was the place where they were to go to if there was an emergency as its strategically near Palma airstrip and near two possible evacuation beaches.

'There was however no real armed security there and because bad communication on an earlier evacuation failed, a plane could not land and there were no vessel on the beach to pick them up.

'Therefore they spent another 24 hours in the hotel. When the insurgents attacked another camp (Bonati ENI) 150 metres away they decided to try another evacuation on themselves to get to the northern beaches.

'Unfortunately the insurgents lay in wait and opened fire. Some cars made it out some got abandoned and people run into the bush, some went back to hotel.'

An ex-police officer escaped the convoy ambush after breaking into a government vehicle and grabbing an AK-47.

Nick Alexander, a dual British-South African citizen, was rescued on Sunday having spent two nights crawling through the bush after the ambush.

Alexander was travelling in the back of the convoy when he made his escape.

After spending two days hiding out, he found safety on Sunday and made contact with his daughter Jayde, 29, in Johannesburg.

She told The Times that her father saw the ambush up ahead so jumped out of his vehicle and grabbed an AK-47 that was in a nearby government vehicle.

'He and two others from the car then ran to hide into the bushes with the gun. They were literally crawling through the bush until they were rescued.'

The Sea Star 1 has evacuated around 1,400 people, mostly workers from the French energy giant Total, after armed insurgents attacked the city of Palma

Jayde told the paper that her father had begun making plans as the security situation in Mozambique deteriorated.

'He found safe spots at the lodge where he hid food and water and made plans about where he would hide if he had to,' she said.

Alexander is one of hundreds of expats working as contractors on the natural gas site where he builds camps for the staff.

Mawer, who has not been seen since the attack, is among an unknown number of foreign workers who remain missing.

The rise of ISIS in Mozambique Mozambique is a majority Christian country, with Muslims comprising around a fifth of its population. A religious movement, Ansar al-Sunna, first appeared in 2015 in the north of the country, formed by followers of radical Kenyan cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed who has been linked to the 1998 US embassy bombings. The group attracted disaffected young men who resented a lack of opportunities in an area of rich natural resources. It started building mosques and religious schools, becoming more and more popular with locals. But in 2017, the group starting launching attacks and became known locally as al-Shabab, although they do not have any known connection to Somalia's jihadist rebels of that name. Militants started posting photos on the encrypted messaging service Telegram posing in front of the ISIS flag and praising its then leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Islamic State then confirmed that jihadis in Mozambique had joined its Central Africa Province division (ISCAP), along with militants in the Democratic Republic of Congo. ISIS have since claimed responsibility for many of the attacks carried out in Mozambique, including brutal beheadings and massacres, often posting photos of the victims online. In an official ISIS news bulletin in June last year, leaders taunted the West and African nations for failing to stop the insurgency in Mozambique, and said its interest there is financial with the country's huge coal and gas reserves. The militants still refer to themselves as al-Shabab but they are now strongly considered to be an arm of ISIS, which was confirmed by US officials in December. Coordinator for counter-terrorism Nathan Sales said: 'What we're seeing today is a committed ISIS affiliate that embraces the ISIS ideology, that embraces the ISIS tactics and procedures, and embraces the ISIS vision of a caliphate with territorial control.' As part of ISCAP, al-Shabab is part of ISIS's formal structure and the jihadi group in the Congo allegedly helps fund its Mozambican counterparts. Attacks have become increasingly sophisticated, using new and advanced weapons which indicate the group's involvement in the militant network. The rebels are mainly active in Cabo Delgado province and their attacks became much more frequent and deadly in the past year as they look to hold strategic towns. In August, they captured the port town of Mocimboa da Praia and nearby villages, one of the first territory gains by ISIS in months. The terrorist group then declared Mocimboa da Praia the capital of ISCAP. The insurgents are fighting against Western and Christian values as they seek to install a radical form of Islam and Sharia law in the country, targeting civilians as security forces struggle to quell their uprising. Their attacks have left an estimated 2,600 dead and caused 670,000 to flee their homes, creating a humanitarian crisis. US special forces arrived in Mozambique this month to train marines in counterinsurgency. Advertisement

Mawer, 50, works for RA International, a Dubai-based firm that provides living quarters and other logistics for expatriate workers.

A statement from the firm said: 'Our last communication with him was on Friday afternoon after which he was part of a convoy of vehicles that left the Amarula Lodge later that day.'

Evacuees included foreign gas workers, the BBC reported.

A South African woman, Meryl Knox, said that her son Adrian Nel died in the attack.

Her husband Gregory and another son, Wesley, hid with Adrian's body in the bush until the following morning, when they were able to make it to safety in Pemba, she told Reuters.

'He died on a very violent and unnecessary day,' Knox told AFP.

Nel would have been 41 on April 1 and leaves behind a wife and three young children.

Nel, his younger brother and father had only been in the coastal town since January, leaving Knox to run a hotel business in the southeastern Kwa-Zulu Natal province of South Africa.

He had been contracted to build workers' accommodation camps in the town, a gas hub in the province of Cabo Delgado.

Thousands of survivors were evacuated by boat or plane on Sunday, with witnesses forced to wait on beaches strewn with headless bodies after decapitations by the militants.

Battles are continuing between the insurgents and a private security company.

Dyck told the BBC that the terrorists currently had the upper hand.

'My guys are engaging these terrorists in skirmishes. The terrorists have taken cover in houses, which is what they always do. They come out and shoot at the aircraft, and they have hit and shot at our aircraft often.

'Until we put sufficient troops in there to clear them out of the houses of Palma they will remain in control,' Dyck said.

Mozambican government sources quoted by the state news agency said the insurgents have been driven out of Palma and were fleeing towards the Tanzanian border, the BBC reported.

Dyck accused the French energy giant Total, which operates a 14billion gas site nearby of refusing to help in rescue efforts.

'We are struggling with fuel supplies but when we approached Total to get some help with that we were turned down,' he said.

'The survivors and many of the dead bodies we are picking up were in Palma as subcontractors to their gas site, so it is surprising that they are not more willing to help.'

Total did not respond to a MailOnline request for comment before the publication of this article but a spokeswoman told The Times that the company's Mozambique site had no relationship with private contractors.

On Wednesday, an unknown number of gun-wielding terrorists set upon the town, shooting indiscriminately and forcing nearly 200 workers, including expatriates, to seek refuge at the Amarula Hotel.

The family was holed up in the hotel for two days as the sound of heavy artillery echoed outside the walls.

With communications cut, Nel's father got hold of a satellite phone and told Knox of plans to evacuate them from the besieged hotel where food was beginning to run low.

A convoy of cars was ready to take them to safety.

'As they were leaving, they were ambushed. They shot my son,' Knox said.

'There's no way to possibly describe what you feel when you get news like that.

'It's just devastating, body numbing, mind numbing.'

Six other people were killed during the ambush.

Knox has no details of the exact nature of the attack that claimed her son's life

Her youngest son will return to South Africa on the first available flight while her husband will wait to complete formalities to bring the remains of their son home.

Nel's body is at a morgue in Pemba.

Speaking to Sky News, Knox said of her son's death: 'When they were driving out unfortunately the insurgents ambushed them and my son was shot.

'I learnt on Friday night that people had been killed as they tried to leave the hotel. We didn't hear who had been killed.

'It was only on Saturday morning that I got news that unfortunately it was Adrian.'

Thousands of survivors evacuated by boat or plane on Sunday, with witnesses forced to wait on beaches strewn with headless bodies

Battles are continuing between the insurgents linked to Islamic State and government forces

Families and contractors have been scathing regarding the apparent lack of support from governments and large companies.

A contractor told the BBC that local companies and suppliers carried out the rescue operation.

'In the wee hours they managed to co-ordinate and reach out to the evacuees on the beach and got them on to boats and got them into safety.'

'Where the hell was the support from big companies, from countries?' he said.

Knox has said the South African government's response also fell short of expectations.

'There wasn't any support from our government until we phoned them and asked them what's happening and why isn't anybody helping people stranded there,' she told the BBC.

On Tuesday, Lusa news agency reported Portugal will dispatch soldiers to Mozambique - a former colony - in the first half of April.

The agency cited a defense ministry source as saying a bilateral agreement was being finalised calling for a total of 60 Portuguese special forces troops to be sent the country to train local forces.

Hundreds of people fleeing the attack are arriving by boat in the port city of Pemba, a diplomat and an aid worker said.

Militants struck Palma, a logistics hub for international gas projects, on Wednesday. The government has yet to re-establish control, the diplomat and a security source directly involved in the operations to secure Palma said.

Reuters could not independently verify the accounts, as most communications with Palma were cut on Wednesday.

Calls to officials at the foreign ministry and provincial government went unanswered or did not go through on Sunday.

The government has said it is working to restore order in Palma.

Adrian Nel, 40, pictured above, from South Africa was shot dead in a vehicle he was trying to escape in with his father and younger brother

Locals gathered at the port on Sunday for news of family members after the savage attacks

The boats arriving in Pemba on Sunday carried both locals and foreigners, including employees from the gas projects, the aid official and diplomat said. One boat was carrying around 1,300 people, said the diplomat.

French energy group Total said on Saturday it was calling off a planned resumption of construction at its development following the attack and would reduce its workforce to a 'strict minimum'.

The company pulled out the majority of its workforce in January due to insecurity in Cabo Delgado province, which has been the target of an insurgency linked to Islamic State since 2017.

Government-contracted helicopters were searching for more survivors. Dyck said his helicopters had rescued at least 17 people on Sunday.

The number of people injured and killed in the five-day assault on Palma, or still unaccounted for, remains unclear.

The town had previously been a refuge for people fleeing violence elsewhere in the province.
A $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package includes nearly $400 million in emergency help for community health centers in New York.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced the funding last week. Five facilities in central New York will receive funding, including East Hill Medical Center in Auburn (more than $1.5 million) and Syracuse Community Health Center (nearly $4.7 million).

The Health Resources and Services Administration will begin to distribute the funding in April. The main purposes of the funding are to expand the centers' operational capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide preventive care to those who are at a higher risk of serious illness if they contract the virus.

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"New York's community health centers are a cornerstone of the state's health care system and have been our frontline armor in the battle against COVID-19, especially in underserved and disadvantaged communities where COVID hit the hardest," Schumer, D-N.Y., said.

Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Schumer advocated for the funding in the COVID-19 relief legislation, the American Rescue Plan, that President Joe Biden signed in March. More than $396.8 million will be distributed to 63 community health centers across New York.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Slovakia's Prime Minister Igor Matovic and his government resigned on Tuesday to ease a political crisis triggered by a secret deal to buy Russias Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine.

It is the first European government to collapse due to its handling of the pandemic but the move will keep the current four-party coalition in power and avoid the possibility of an early election. The coalition holds a comfortably parliamentary majority.

President Zuzana Caputova accepted the prime minister's resignation and asked Eduard Heger from Matovics Ordinary People party to form a new government.

Heger thanked Matovic for what he has done and called the resignation a big gesture unprecedented in the Slovak politics. I hope that we will continue to work together for Slovakia.

Heger served as the finance minister and deputy prime minister in the outgoing government. Matovic, who had announced on Sunday that he would be making the move, is expected to assume the finance minister post in the new government.

The crisis erupted when a secret deal came to light at the beginning of March involving Slovakias agreement to acquire 2 million doses of Russias Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. The populist prime minister orchestrated the deal despite disagreement among his coalition partners.

With few changes, Hegers Cabinet is expected to be the same as Matovics. The president might swear it in as soon as this week.

Matovic called on Slovaks to forgive all the faults I committed during the year (in power).

Don't worry, everything will be fine, he said. You can absolutely trust (Heger).

Matovic earlier defended the Sputnik V purchase, saying it would speed up the vaccination program in one of the hardest-hit European Union countries.

The nation of 5.4 million has registered over 9,600 COVID-19 deaths.

But for two parties in his coalition, the Freedom and Solidarity and For People, which had clashed repeatedly with Matovic Ordinary People party over how to tackle the pandemic, it was the last straw. They said Matovic had to step down, otherwise they would leave the government, leaving it without a parliamentary majority.

Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok, who was nominated to the post by the Freedom and Solidarity party said the vaccine was a tool in Russias hybrid war against the West and its purchase cast doubts on his countrys clear pro-Western orientation.

Korcok questioned the prime ministers move to welcome the arrival of the first 200,000 Sputnik V vaccines at the airport  while he didnt do the same in the case of the Western vaccines the country has been using.

The For People party said any vaccine needs approval from the EUs drug regulator, which has not happened yet for Sputnik V.

Amid the crisis, six ministers from all four parties in the coalition have resigned.

After winning the parliamentary election on an anti-corruption ticket, pro-Western Matovic struck a deal last year to govern with the pro-business Freedom and Solidarity party; the conservative For People, a party established by former President Andrej Kiska; and We Are Family, a populist right-wing group that is allied with Frances far-right National Rally party.
TYSONS, Va., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MicroTech, one of the top Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Small Business technology innovators in the world, announces their 17th anniversary this week and celebrates their many accomplishments and successes during that time. The privately-owned company offers managed services, network and IT services and solutions, cybersecurity, cloud services, and product solutions. Since 2004, MicroTech has grown from a kitchen table startup into a profitable and extremely successful small-business that has not only been inducted into the Inc. 500 Hall of Fame, a prestigious status achieved by making the Inc. 500 list at least five times, but has also been recognized by customers and partners as a shining example of small business excellence.

Mr. Jimenez started the company with two other partners after completing a 24-year career in the U.S. Army. His original entrepreneurial business goal was to build a world-class IT company, focusing on an underserved Federal contracting niche, and offering opportunities to other veterans and minorities in the IT workforce. In just a short period of time, MicroTech developed a well-earned reputation for best-in-class service delivery led by their repeatedly-proven ISO certifications, and ITIL management qualified business processes. In early 2015, Tony bought out his partners and became the sole owner of MicroTech.

Today, MicroTech supports dozens of prime contracts throughout Government and Fortune 500 companies and employs skilled professionals in more than 40 states and numerous overseas locations. MicroTech is a Prime Contractor on more than 30 Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) and Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts and offers access to more than 2500 vendors and over a million technology products and services across federal, state, and local government agencies. MicroTech offers robust leasing and financing capabilities that enhance the capital needs of Government organizations and agencies by providing alternative leasing and financing options to cover the full cost of assets.

MicroTech's ability to win is unparalleled, having won some of the most sought-after and prestigious IT, network, telecommunications, and technology contracts in the Federal Government including VA's Microsoft Support Services Contract, Social Security's IT Services Contract, the Presidential Transition Team (PTT) Contract as well as more than 30 GWACs and IDIQs including several Office of Management and Budget (OMB) designated Best-in-Class contracts like General Services Administration (GSA) EIS, VETS2, Oasis, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Chief Information Officer-Solutions and Partners 3 (CIO-SP3), Chief Information Officer Commodities and Solutions (CIO-CS) and NASA's Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V just to name a few. MicroTech is capable of Priming opportunities in more than fifty NAICS including opportunities set-aside for Small Businesses (SB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB).

Several national organizations have highlighted MicroTech as one of their best of breed companies including Deloitte, Washington Technology, SmartCEO, Washington Business Journal, CRN, Digital Software Magazine, and Inc. Magazine. MicroTech has also earned awards of excellence from DOD, VA, GSA, USDA, SBA, FCC, DOT, and SSA.

MicroTech grew its revenue by more than 5000% since its launch in 2004. Between 2014 and 2018 MicroTech sold four large business units allowing MicroTech to recertify as a Small Business. In 2020 GSA approved the transfer of MicroTech's GSA Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) Contract to MicroTech's wholly-owned subsidiary Defined Technologies, LLC which has assumed the role of the prime contractor on the EIS contract, and now holds more than 25 Task Orders and Prime Contracts. For additional information about Defined Technologies please see Defined Technologies' SBA Pro-Net site.

MicroTech is ISO 9001, ISO 20000, ISO 27001, ISO 20243 certified, and is CMMI Maturity Level 3 rated in both CMMI Services (CMI-SVC) & CMMI Development (CMMI-DEV). For additional information about MicroTech please see MicroTech's SBA Pro-Net site. Follow MicroTech at microtech.net and on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT: Jennifer Berman, [email protected]

SOURCE MicroTech

Related Links

http://www.microtech.net


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.
Britain will focus on vaccinating the whole of its adult population before it can to provide any surplus shots to other countries such as its close neighbour Ireland, the British business minister Kwasi Kwarteng has said.

It was reported at the weekend that Britain would offer Ireland 3.7million surplus doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, partly in order to help ease lockdown in Northern Ireland, which was dependent on the situation south of the border.

However, subsequently Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said he was unaware of any such offer through official channels.

More than 30 million Britons have received their first Covid-19 shots in the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe, with the aim of offering shots to all adults by the end of July.

However, Britain has found itself involved in a public spat with the European Union, where the vaccination programme has been much slower, over the supply of doses.

"I think our focus has to be to try and keep Britain safe, we want to work cooperatively as well with other countries but the main priority is to get the vaccine rollout," Kwarteng told Sky News.

He said Britain was working with European nations to try to ensure their populations were vaccinated, and that it was not "a competitive situation".

However, asked if Britain might be able to help out Ireland, he said: "If there are surplus vaccine doses then we can share them but there are no surpluses at the moment, we have still got a huge number to vaccinate."

Britain has agreed deals to buy tens of millions of shots from a number of suppliers and on Monday GlaxoSmithKline announced details of plans for the final part of the manufacturing process for up to 60 million doses of Novavax's vaccine for use in Britain.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is one of 23 leaders who on Tuesday backed an idea to create an international treaty to help the world work together to deal with future health emergencies.

"Today we've got a crisis upon us, and it's absolutely right that we should be focused on trying to deal with that in our own country and keeping our people safe, so that we can get back to a normal way of life," Kwarteng said.
Tamil Nadu: Fisherfolk fear looming threat of corporatisation and livelihood issues

by Neelambaran A

March 30,2021 | Source: News Click

The 1,076 km long coastline of Tamil Nadu houses more than 600 fishing villages. An estimated 10 lakh people depend directly or indirectly on the resources from the sea, making it one of most important sectors in bringing financial resources to the state and the country. However, the ambitious Sagarmala and Bharatmala projects are perceived as potential threats to the very existence of the fisherfolk, due to possible adverse impacts on biodiversity, resources and resultant corporatisation of the industry. The introduction of the National Fisheries Policy, 2020, has only amplified the apprehensions of the community, which accuses the Union government of favouring the corporates in getting hold over the fishing industry. The unrelenting support of the state government on such policy issues has also caused dissatisfaction among the fishing community. The increasing prices of diesel, the fuel used for fishing boats have only added to the agony of the community, shattered by the reduction in demand within and outside the country post the relaxation of the lockdown.



Fisheries Policy Creates Apprehension



The coastline of Tamil Nadu spreads both in the eastern and western coast and is known for its rich biodiversity. The coast is also known for coastal habitats like mangroves, corals, seaweeds, seagrass beds, salt marshes, mudflats, and sand dunes. The state ranked third in marine fish production during 2017-18, while the foreign exchange earned stood at Rs 5,591 crore in 2018-19 from exports as per the State State Fisheries Policy note 2020-21. The state government, led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) continues to claim its ardent support for the traditional fishing rights of the fishermen, but the policies of the Union government are alleged of being framed in favour of the corporates. The National Fisheries Policy, 2020, has accommodated the marine fisheries, inland fisheries and aquaculture along with mariculture, which had separate policy documents until recently. The new policy fails to consider the livelihood issues of the fishing community and concentrates only on the commercial aspects, that too is weighed heavily in favour of the corporates, alleged R Loganathan of the Tamil Nadu Fisherman Workers Union. This policy would hand over the fishing industry to the corporates. The reduction in jurisdiction of the states to 12 nautical miles will result in centralisation of power and the voice of the fishermen will diminish in the near future, Loganathan added. Licencing would be made mandatory to fish beyond the 12 nautical mile boundary, which would push the traditional fishermen away from the industry. The cost involved in obtaining the licences and further encouragement for mariculture will reduce their scope in fishing. Further, the entrance of large corporates would also result in large vessels depleting the resources at a very fast pace. The fishing community across Tamil Nadu continue to oppose the policy, which they allege was pushed under the guise of the COVID-19 induced lockdown.



Looming Threat of The Sagarmala Project



The Sagarmala project aims to set up new mega ports, modernising India's existing ports, developing Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) and coastal economic units, enhancing port connectivity via road, rail, multi-modal logistics parks, pipelines & waterways and promoting coastal community development. The project plans to exploit the 7,517 km long coastline and 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways. This project could lead to massive loss of the resources and damage to the ecosystem, Loganathan claimed. The linking of inland waterways is highly dangerous as the sea water intrusion will endanger the river water and the groundwater table. The rivers in Tamil Nadu are rainfed and hence the linking could lead to salinisation of the river water, affecting agriculture directly, he added. The fisher folk have been alleging the Sagarmala project and Blue economy (based on exploitation of marine and coastal resources) of legitimising the encroachment of sea and the resources by the corporates. One such project, the establishment of transshipment container terminal in Kanyakumari has been stopped owing to concerted effort of the fisherfolk and farmers. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be keen on executing the project, the incumbent AIADMK is against it. A large section of the fisherfolk had voted in favour of the AIADMK on previous occasions, but the party may witness a change of fortunes this time. The apprehension of the community cannot be neglected as they were not engaged in any dialogues before implementing many schemes along the coastline including the dedicated shipping corridor.



Livelihood Issues Remain Unattended



The increase in the price of diesel in the last six years has taken a severe toll on the fishermen. With reduced demand within the country and for exports, the community is staring at increased expenditure and reduction in income. The diesel price has increased by around Rs 20/ in the last one year. This effectively means that a fishing boat has to incur an additional expense of Rs 2 lakh per month for the 10,000 litres diesel consumed for the trips. With decreasing demand, we are facing severe financial constraints, a fisherman from Chennai said. The community has been demanding to bring diesel within the ambit of the GST, to lower the prices. The community also alleges a history of neglect by the Union and state governments instead of executing big promises made during the elections. The welfare board setup for the fishermen is inactive and the state government distributed Rs 1,000 for three months through the cooperative societies during the lockdown. But, the lockdown was followed by the fishing ban. The students from the fisherfolk community suffered a massive setback after the online and televised classes became the order of the day after the lockdown began. The lack of smartphones and inefficient televised classes forced them out of getting access to education. The reopening of schools, at least in the next academic year may not succeed in attracting all the students back to its fold. A variety of factors, from policies of the Union government, ably supported by the AIADMK led state government have adversely affected the fishing community in the last four years. While, the BJP-AIADMK alliance suffered a literal rout in the 2019 general elections, the palpable discontent with the Union and state governments among fisherfolk is likely to be reflected in the polling scheduled for April 6.
But it's the Chinook were here to talk about, not the Osprey , because of the American companys decision last week to release a video showing why this particular helicopter is unique. The clip is short, just one and a half minutes long, but its impressive.The Chinook is an old machine, even by helicopter standards, but that doesnt make it less versatile. It was introduced in 1962 as one of few tandem rotor heavy-lift machines and quickly became a favorite of the U.S. military and other organizations in need of heavy lifting and fixed-point hovering.The fact that this machine is a tandem rotor means it lacks a tail rotor, so it can perform something most its siblings can only dream of: pinnacle landings. That would be a maneuver that allows the helicopter's rear end to be lowered on limited-area surfaces, like say rooftops or cliffs, while the front of the helicopter is still in the air.Then comes the loading capability of the Chinook. The machine has a lot of room inside and three exterior hooks that help it carry externally a wide variety of loads, including guns and military vehicles. According to Boeing, the Chinook can lift up to 28,000 lbs (12.7 metric tons) of cargo, including thousands of gallons of water to fight fires.Boeing released the video celebrating the Chinook shortly after Honeywell Aerospace was chosen to keep supplying new and spare T55 engines for the helicopter until 2024. Thats the powerplant that currently powers the model, capable of developing 4,800 shaft horsepower and allowing the aircraft to reach speeds of 196 mph (315 kph).
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Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

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White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

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Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

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Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

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Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

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Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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

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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

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Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results

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The giant container ship Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal on March 23, 2021. The image on the left, captured on March 21, shows routine maritime traffic in the canal with vessels visible every 2 to 3 km. The image on the right, captured on 25 March, shows the 400 m-ship blocking the canal. Ships can be seen accumulating in the Gulf of Suez. The canal connects Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Egyptian city of Suez on the Red Sea.

analysis

For a week the world was gripped by the extraordinary sight of a massive container ship that had run aground in the Suez Canal in Egypt. The Ever Given is 400m long (1,312ft) and weighs 200,000 tonnes, with a maximum capacity of 20,000 containers. It was carrying 18,300 containers when it became wedged in the canal, blocking all shipping traffic. Efforts to free it finally paid off when it was partially dislodged in the early hours of Monday 29 March. Adejuwon Soyinka asked maritime security expert Dirk Siebels to unpack lessons learnt from the incident.

What maritime lessons can be learnt from this incident?

Choke points: The shipping industry provides an extremely efficient link to ensure just-in-time deliveries. This link, however, is largely invisible, underlined by the time it took most countries to classify seafarers as key workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When choke points are blocked, trade doesn't necessarily come to a standstill. Under normal circumstances, it is extremely cheap to transport all types of cargo over long distances on ships. Freight rates are barely noticeable in the price of most goods, so higher freight rates are unlikely to be a significant issue for economies as a whole. Nevertheless, the implications of a blockage as we've seen in the Suez Canal will have been felt in many sectors. For example, refineries need crude oil, factories need raw materials, shops need goods to sell.

Security threats: These are easy to exaggerate, but complicated to understand. Concerns about additional piracy threats on the route around Africa are, in my view exaggerated. In addition, there have been alarming headlines about ships waiting at the southern end of the Suez Canal, describing them as "sitting ducks" in a volatile region.

While there are certain threats for operations in the Red Sea, these have not changed overnight. Ships always have to wait in the area as Suez Canal transits are conducted in convoys. Moreover, the threat level is the same for all ships but the resulting risk is different for individual vessels, depending on factors such as ship type, cargo or even the owner's nationality.

Situational awareness is therefore important to ensure appropriate preparations and to avoid unwarranted alarmism.

Security and safety: These threats should receive similar attention. Potential security threats are often highlighted as worst-case scenarios, namely terrorist attacks which could cause high levels of economic disruption. These have often been identified as a particular threat for choke points such as the Suez Canal. Safety threats, on the other hand, are not as headline-grabbing. Accidents are much more likely to occur but are much less discussed.

In many cases, however, the actual implications of safety and security incidents are very similar. Countermeasures that are designed to increase resilience should therefore receive more attention. Better awareness of all types of threats is vital in this area as well because safety threats are largely static while security threats are much more dynamic.

Were there any maritime security implications from the incident?

This was a rare accident that has highlighted how much the world's economy relies on shipping. This has been the case for many years. But the global shipping industry is almost invisible most of the time.

While the Ever Given's grounding was not a security-related incident, the critical nature of certain choke points around the world has been discussed for many years.

These narrow channels - including man-made ones like the Suez Canal, but also natural ones like the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman or the Strait of Malacca between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra - are part of the most important global sea routes. When merchant ships can no longer navigate through such a choke point, it may lead to supply delays and higher freight rates. These effects are already visible in the tanker market.

For container ships, the impact could exacerbate an already chaotic situation in the wake of COVID 19-related disruptions of long-established trading patterns.

Overall, direct implications on maritime security are unlikely. The commercial implications for the shipping industry - and, by extension, for global trade - are already significant and the ripple effects will be felt in many sectors beyond shipping.

What does the incident tell us about other sea routes around Africa?

The only alternative to a transit through the Suez Canal is the much longer passage around the African continent. Piracy in particular has been a significant concern for operators of merchant ships in recent years, first off the Somali coastline and more recently in the Gulf of Guinea.

Some shipping companies have already voiced concerns over piracy threats on the alternative route, even prompting inquiries to the US Navy. One of the largest industry organisations, BIMCO, recently published a related security guidance.

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In recent years shipping industry associations as well as international navies have often pointed out that Somalia-based piracy has merely been suppressed, not defeated. In December, the European Union's naval mission in the western Indian Ocean was extended until 31 December 2022.

At the same time, it should be noted that the threat of piracy for a transit through the Gulf of Aden towards the Suez Canal is not significantly different from a voyage through the Indian Ocean towards South Africa. After passing the Cape of Good Hope, a ship with a destination in Europe is very likely to steam on a straight course and pass between Senegal and Cabo Verde. Any such transit will not be affected by the piracy threat in West Africa, which is significant in the inner Gulf of Guinea, but limited to an area around 250 nautical miles from the Nigerian coastline. Taking the shortest route around Africa means that ships will be almost 1,000 nautical miles away from Nigeria.

Dirk Siebels, PhD (Maritime Security), University of Greenwich
LOS ANGELES (AP)  A murder suspect who was mistakenly released from a Southern California jail was recaptured Monday after a three-week manhunt, authorities said.

Steven Manzo was spotted in the city of Buena Park in Orange County, getting into a grey Nissan Sentra with several other people inside, and investigators followed the car to the nearby city of Cypress where Manzo was arrested, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

He was being held on more than $4 million bail.

Manzo, 24, was one of three men charged with fatally shooting Salvador Corrales, a 24-year-old father of two, in Long Beach in 2018.

He walked out of Century Regional Detention Center in Lynwood, a Los Angeles suburb, on March 9, one day after he was scheduled to face a hearing on murder charges.

Several agencies have denied blame for his release.

The Los Angeles County district attorneys office said Manzo wasnt brought to court from jail on March 8 and so the charges were dismissed and immediately refiled in order to allow postponement of the hearing. A judge ordered Manzo held in custody.

However, the Sheriffs Department, which staffs the detention center, said it received a release order from the court and didnt make any errors.

After being released, Manzo ran across a busy freeway and vanished in an area south of downtown Los Angeles. Authorities shut down Interstate 101 during the immediate search.

Fugitive task force investigators from the Sheriffs Department, Long Beach Police Department and U.S. Marshals Service searched for Manzo, authorities said.
The grand finale of this year's regional art festival kicked off in Yaounde on March 24, 2021.

On March 24, 2021 and until April 7, 2021, Lycee General Leclerc in the Ngoa-Ekelle neighbourhood of Yaounde brings together the best in school art and culture from the Centre Region. Showcasing students from 12 outstanding colleges in the three main art modules of performing art (theatre, storytelling, poetry recitation, dance, music, choral music); fine arts (painting, drawing, handicraft) and music education (techniques of playing music).

"This year's theme is "Reawakening the spirit of art in schools." The choice was prompted by the fact that since the advent of the Coronavirus pandemic, art activities in schools have been completely sidelined," explains Avouzoa Justine Christine, President of the  Concertation des Encadreurs du Reseau des Formateurs en Arts et Culture du Centre.  CERPESAC - the network of school art and culture trainers in the Centre Region. The Ministry of Secondary Education introduced art in its curriculum in 2008.

As organisers of the 2021 Centre Regional School Art and Cultural Festival, Avouzoa says CERPESAC decided to go beyond evaluating students at the end of the school year only in music and painting. Especially as there is also the aspect of culture that is not often perceived. "Given that there is an Art Day at the national level, we decided to also hold it at the regional level," she notes. The festival was preceded by preliminaries in different schools in the Centre Region to shortlist the 12 best to participate in the regional grand finale.

Meanwhile, prizes will be handed out on April 7, 2021 in the Cameroon Cultural Centre, Yaounde. Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, a few schools were retained for the festival. "This is the fourth Centre Regional Art Festival. The innovation this year is that we have introduced all components of art. In the first, we had only theatre; performing art in the second and in the third, we added art handicraft," explains Avouzoa Justine Christine. She is also the Centre Regional Pedagogic Inspector for Art in charge of the Art Subsection.

"We hope to better evaluate students on art, determine if students have truly understood the importance of the implementation of art in education, and for the regional art day to be recognized by the authorities," Avouzoa lists her expectations of the regional art and cultural festival.

Having got together as the pandemic hit Australia, Jess Abrill and Rick Hayden had hoped to mark one year as a couple with a trip to the Sunshine Coast over Easter.

They cancelled their trip after Brisbanes snap three-day lockdown prompted Victoria to, in effect, shut its border to the region.

Jess Abrill and Rick Hayden have had to cancel a holiday to Queensland after the snap border closure. Credit:Joe Armao

The couple had planned only to transit through the northern capital, but that was enough to risk 14 days quarantine on their return, which would mean Mr Hayden could not work in his job as a carpenter.

Were not cancelling because we want to, said Ms Abrill. We understand the situation and its for the best, I guess. Were quite sad and disappointed. We feel like were stuck in Melbourne with not many choices because everything is booked out.
Bengaluru, March 30 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayana on Tuesday called upon US enterprises to invest in the southern state, which has an ecosystem for innovation and growth.

"American firms should invest in Karnataka and make use of its ecosystem to innovate and grow in India," Narayan said at a virtual meet on "Destination India: Karnataka showcases" event, organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

Narayan, who is a lawmaker from this tech city, also holds portfolios of IT, BT, electronics and science and technology, said the Indo-US bilateral trade in goods and services touched $149 billion in 2019.

"The people-to-people ties between our two countries, reflected in the 40-lakh Indian American diaspora, are a source of strength for the partnership," asserted Narayan.

Noting that the high-tech state was offering incentives to the industry, the minister said the state government had sector-specific policies for IT, BT, electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM), animation, visual effects, gaming and comics (AVGC).

"We have recently formulated a policy to promote and incentivise research and development (R&D) in the state. The objective of our engineering research and development (ER&D) policy is to make the state and Bengaluru as 'destination of choice' for the knowledge industry," reiterated Narayan.

State additional chief secretary Ramana Reddy said the state government was taking initiatives to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making the country a $5-trillion economy by 2025.

Indian consul general at San Francisco T. V. Nagendra Prasad, Tekion Corp chief executive Jay Vijayan, US-India strategic partnership forum chairman John Chambers participated in the inter-active event.
New Delhi:

A special NIA court in Mumbai granted bail to two accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case on Tuesday.

NIA Court judge SD Tekale granted the bail to Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sudhakar Dwivedi alias Shankaracharya, who are facing conspiracy charges in the case.

Chaturvedi and Dwivedi along with others are accused of attending conspiracy meetings, where the terror attack was planned.

Earlier, another two accused, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit were also granted bail in the case.

Thankur was granted bail by the Bombay High Court while Col Purohit was given relief by the apex court in August.

ALSO READ: 2008 Malegaon blast accused Col Purohit gets 15 days leave from Army

Six people were killed and around 100 others injured in a motorcycle bomb blast in Malegaon town in Nashik district on September 29, 2008.

12 people including Thakur and Purohit were arrested in connection with the blast.

All the accused were booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), besides under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

(With PTI inputs)

ALSO READ | Malegaon blast case: Army reveals reality of Purohit despite his claim that Army always stand by him

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United Nations:

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday held talks with Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and her Tunisian counterpart Khemaies Jhinaoui, kicking off a series of bilateral meetings to further the countrys foreign policy goals.

Starting the business of bilateral with an African friend. EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets the Tunisian FM Khemaies Jhinaoui, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted after Swaraj held her first bilateral meeting with Jhinaoui on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Kumar in another tweet after Swarajs meeting with the Bhutanese prime minister, said, Strengthening traditionally unique bilateral relations. EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets with Bhutanese PM @tsheringtobgay in New York.

The Bhutanese prime minister said they discussed a wide range of bilateral issues.

Such a pleasure meeting H.E @SushmaSwaraj ji, External Affairs Minister of India. We discussed the wide range of bilateral cooperation, Tobgay tweeted.

The meeting, Swarajs first with Indias neighbouring country, gains significance in view of the recent Doklam standoff with China.

India and China last month ended a 73-day standoff in Doklam area of the Sikkim sector that was triggered by Chinas move to build a road in the border area.

During her week-long stay here, Swaraj, leading a high-powered Indian delegation, is expected to hold about 20 bilateral and trilateral meetings with leaders attending the session.

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Loading The fighting spread across the town Monday, according to Lionel Dyck, director of the Dyck Advisory Group, a private military company contracted by the Mozambican police to help fight the rebels. There is fighting in the streets, in pockets across the town, Dyck told The Associated Press. The Dyck group has several helicopter gunships in Palma which have been used to rescue trapped civilians and to fight the rebels. My guys are airborne and theyve engaged several little groups and theyve engaged one quite large group, Dyck said. Theyve landed into the fight to recover a couple of wounded policemen. ... We have also rescued many people who were trapped, 220 people at last count. He said those rescued were taken to Totals fortified site on the southern African countrys Afungi peninsula, where chartered flights flew many south to Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado province.

The rebels are well-armed with AK-47 automatic rifles, RPD and PKM machine guns and heavy mortars, Dyck said. Loading This attack is not a surprise. Weve been expecting Palma to be whacked the moment the rains stopped and the fighting season started, which is now, he said. They have been preparing for this. Theyve had enough time to get their ducks in a row. They have a notch up in their ability. Theyre more aggressive. Theyre using their mortars. He said many were wearing black uniforms. There have been lots of beheadings. Right up on day one, our guys saw the drivers of trucks bringing rations to Palma. Their bodies were by the trucks. Their heads were off.

Dyck said it will not be easy for the Mozambican government to regain control of Palma. They must get sufficient troops to sweep through the town, going house-to-house and clean each one out. Thats the most difficult phase of warfare in the book, Dyck said. It will be very difficult unless theres a competent force put in place with good command and control to retake that town. It can be done. But it aint going to be easy. Without control of Palma, Totals operations are jeopardised, analysts say.

The battle for Palma is similar to how the rebels seized the port Mocimboa da Praia in August. The rebels infiltrated men into the town to live among residents and then launched a three-pronged attack. Fighting continued for more than a week until the rebels controlled the town centre and then its port. The town, about 50 miles south of Palma, is still held by the rebels. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric condemned the violence in Palma, which he said has reportedly killed dozens of people, including some trying to flee a hotel where they had taken shelter. He referred to those trapped at the Amarula Hotel who tried to escape in a convoy of 17 vehicles on Friday. Only seven vehicles made it to the beach, where seven people were killed. Some in the other vehicles fled into the dense tropical jungle and were later rescued. We continue to coordinate closely with the authorities on the ground to provide assistance to those affected by the violence, Dujarric said. The battle for Palma is expected to drastically worsen the humanitarian crisis in Mozambiques northern Cabo Delgado province, where the rebels started violent attacks in 2017. The insurgents began as a few bands of disaffected and unemployed young Muslim men. They now likely number in the thousands, according to experts.

The attack on Palma is a game-changer in that the rebels have changed the narrative, said one expert who returned from Palma earlier this month. This is no rag-tag bunch of disorganised youths. This is a trained and determined force that has captured and held one town and is now sustaining a battle for a very strategic centre, said the expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of visiting Palma. They have called into question the entire LNG (liquified natural gas) investment which was supposed to bring Mozambique major economic growth over many years. Known locally as al-Shabab, although they have no known affiliation with Somalias jihadist rebels of the same name, the rebels violence in Mozambique, a nation of 30 million, is blamed for the deaths of more than 2600 people and caused an estimated 670,000 people to flee their homes. The attack on Palma has made a bad humanitarian situation worse, said Jonathan Whittall, director of analysis for Doctors Without Borders, which is working to help the displaced around Pemba, the provincial capital 160 km south of Palma.
LONDON, March 30 (WNM/Ecological Solutions and Evidence) - A new study finds that coffee pulp, a waste product of coffee production, can be used to speed up tropical forest recovery on post agricultural land. The findings are published in the British Ecological Society journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence. In the study, researchers from ETH-Zurich and the University of Hawai'i spread 30 dump truck loads of coffee pulp on a 35  40m area of degraded land in Costa Rica and marked out a similar ...

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.
Stakeholders in Zambia on Monday launched a campaign to fight the pirating of artistic works in the country.

The National Arts Council of Zambia, a government agency that manages arts, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and the creative industry, launched the anti-piracy campaign called Partners Against Piracy, which will focus on fighting the rampant rise of piracy worsened by the advent of the use of technology.

The campaign will focus on educating, and informing the public about the effects of piracy on the industry and the dangers of engaging in the vice.

Patrick Lungu, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Arts said the government was concerned with the high levels of piracy in the country.

"The knowledge industry is bleeding due to rampant piracy, which in its basic understanding is theft. Piracy does not just affect the artists, it affects their families, it affects local communities and businesses as well as our government's ability to deliver on its mandate," he said.

According to him, the advent of the digital era has made the vice become more prevalent.

Maanka Chipindi, Director of the National Arts Council of Zambia said the launch of the campaign was timely because piracy was a serious scourge that had implications on everyone.

The initiative, he said, gives stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on the negative impact of piracy.

National Association for Media Arts president Lottie Siame welcomed the initiative, saying it will enhance the collaboration of different segments of the industry to fight the scourge.

He said the creative industry had the potential to be a massive economic growth engine but he expressed concern that this was being threatened by piracy.

"The delivery of legal creative content is growing but it is unfortunate that this is being undermined by a surge in the sale of pirated movies," he said.
The Texas Senate on Monday unanimously approved a sweeping bill that would overhaul the states electricity industry and infrastructure, including mandating that power plants prepare for extreme weather and outlawing risky indexed retail electric plans.

Senate Bill 3, filed by Republican state Sen. Charles Schwertner of Georgetown, now heads to the Texas House where its prospects are uncertain. Members in the lower chamber will take up a series of related, standalone bills on Tuesday.

There were a multitude of failures, Schwertner said from the Senate floor Monday, referring to the massive power outages during the deadly winter storm. And were fixing the problems.

TRUTH HURTS: Texans really hate ERCOT after winter storm, UH survey confirms

SB 3 would require all power generators, transmission lines, natural gas facilities and pipelines to make upgrades for extreme weather  a process known as weatherization. Most power generators and gas facilities were not equipped to handle temperatures that dipped into single digits last month.

Natural gas regulators and industry groups have claimed that the majority of the problems that caused a shortage of natural gas during the storm  which worsened the problems for power plants  was caused by power outages, and suggested that winterization of the natural gas supply system was unnecessary. The Senate bill reflects that concern, leaving it to the Texas Railroad Commission, the regulatory body that oversees the states oil and natural gas industry, to decide what upgrades natural gas fuel facilities would have to make.

The bill does not address funding to pay for the mandated upgrades. However, other pieces of legislation in the Texas House have been proposed with various funding mechanisms. Experts say the process of retrofitting the states power plants for winter could be difficult and costly, but not impossible, depending on the types of upgrades eventually mandated by regulators.

The bill would also ban indexed retail electric plans, whose rates fluctuate based on the cost of wholesale electricity. Customers in Texas who purchased indexed electric plans, like Griddy  which has since declared bankruptcy  saw astronomically high bills in the weeks following the storm due to a massive spike in wholesale electricity prices.

Senate Bill 3 would also create a statewide emergency alert system in the event of future blackouts and would create the Texas Energy Reliability Council, modeled after a currently voluntary board by the same name. Known as TERC, the board coordinates state energy regulators, electricity generators and the natural gas fuel industry to ensure reliable gas distribution for electricity. SB 3 would formalize the body and require it to meet twice a year.

Senators tacked on a handful of floor amendments, including a provision that would give the Texas Public Utility Commission six months to draft weatherization rules. The PUC regulates the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the states main power grid. The Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the oil and natural gas industries, would be required to draft weatherization rules within six months upon completion of a map, detailing Texas natural gas supply chain to designate priority service needs during extreme weather events.

Both the PUC and Railroad Commission would also be required to conduct on-site inspections to ensure compliance.

Another key provision of the bill would shift some of the financial burden of ancillary services, which help ensure the continuous generation of power to the electricity grid in the ERCOT market, to renewable energy providers, an amendment proposed by state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills.

SEEKING ADVICE: Gov. Greg Abbott got advice from climate change skeptic ahead of Texas freeze

Some power plants or large users of power, such as oil refineries, offer to either increase the supply of electricity to the grid or decrease the demand for electricity for a certain price in a day-ahead market. ERCOT, the grid operator, purchases those guarantees to ensure extra power resources could quickly become available if there are any unexpected interruptions to the grid.

Currently, the costs of the services are distributed among customers. But some lawmakers say that the increasing amount of wind and solar generation could require ERCOT to buy more of these services, and argue that renewable power companies should bear the burden of the additional costs.

Hancock told The Texas Tribune that the provision was intended to be a small tweak to level out the peaks and valleys in market prices that he said are created by cheap and intermittent wind and solar power generators.

The Advanced Power Alliance, a wind and solar industry group in Texas, called proposals to assign the costs to wind and solar power generators an unnecessary, discriminatory policy, in a statement issued last week.

Disclosure: Advanced Power Alliance has been a financial supporter 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.
Belfast Chamber chief Simon Hamilton has said he does not believe there will be a mass departure of private sector office workers from the city centre as a result of the pandemic.

Mr Hamilton, also a former Executive Minister, spoke as the Department of Finance said it's consulting with trade unions on a remote working policy for the NI Civil Service.

With home-working now firmly established, it's giving civil servants the option of working from regional hubs in Ballykelly and Downpatrick from spring this year - a trend which could lessen demand for their city properties.

The department said it's too soon to say how many civil servants would be accommodated in the hubs. There are 10 planned between now and 2023.

Read More

But Mr Hamilton said he did not think a trend to set up outside the city centre would be mirrored to a great extent in the private sector. "I'm speaking regularly to private sector businesses who have large office footprints in the city centre.

"There's no doubt many are re-evaluating how staff will work in future, and there's no doubt remote working and more flexible working is on the agenda. But I haven't spoken to anyone giving the impression or indication that they'll abandon city centre offices. There isn't a big mass exodus coming."

He said a number of new office builds were progressing, including Olympic House in Titanic Quarter and City Quays 3 at Clarendon Road.

Companies including Rapid7, Deloitte and PwC were also progressing moves to new offices.

Mr Hamilton, who has served as Stormont's Minister for Finance and Personnel and for the Economy, said: "I would expect the Civil Service to look at its office footprint at this time but clearly there's a recognition that being in city centres will remain an important aspect of their business as well."

He said the Executive had shown commitment to preserving town and city centres through the work of the High Street Task Force, adding: "I know they will want to be careful that any actions they take don't do further damage to cities and towns that have had a really tough year."

The Civil Service also plans to launch hubs in Ballymena, Craigavon, Omagh and Newtownabbey next year. Projects in Derry, Enniskillen, Newry and Bangor/Newtownards area are planned for 2023.
A popular food blogger had divided the internet after sharing a simple recipe for cheese and baked bean croissant.

Eloise Head, 26, from Hampshire, who has more than a million followers on her FitWaffle Instagram pages, usually shares mouthwatering recipes for sweet treats and cakes.

But this week she shared a savoury snack instead, which she made by cutting up a croissant and adding cold Branston beans and grated cheese before baking it and serving it with brown sauce.

While some fans were quick to say they were going to whip up their own version of the treat, one French fan branded it an 'insult to gastronomy'.

Eloise Head, 26, from Hampshire, who has more than a million followers on her FitWaffle Instagram pages, usually shares mouthwatering recipes for sweet treats and cakes. But this week she shared a savoury snack instead, which she made by cutting up a croissant and adding cold Branston beans and grated cheese before baking it and serving it with brown sauce.

Eloise cut up a croissant and added cold baked beans and cheese before baking it for ten minutes

While some thought the concoction was a delicious looking breakfast, others said the dish was 'awful'.

'I know this looks weird, but trust me,' she captioned the Instagram Reel.

'Cheese and beans croissant! (With brown sauce ofc)

'It's kinda like beans and cheese on toast, but buttery and flakey.

'It was sooo good! Who's gonna try it?' Eloise added.

Delicious or an insult to gastronomy? Instagram users were split over the recipe for the breakfast treat

The video, which has more than 15,000 like has split opinion of Eloise's fans.

'Mmmm as a French person , I cant let you do this with a croissant. You dont deserve eating one of the great figures of French gastronomy ahah,' one joked.

'Wtf are you thinking?' wrote one Instagram follower.

'I'm calling the police,' added another.

'Is this an early April Fool's,' wrote a third.

A breakfast treat or kitchen nightmare? Eloise served the savoury snack with brown sauce

The video, which has more than 15,000 like has split opinion of Eloise's fans

And while some were dubious about the pastry, others were keen to try it.

'Yes! This is like a bean and cheese Greggs pastry,' said one.

''How nice does this look!' added another.

'This is something I'd love,' wrote a third.

Loyal fans! Many said the croissant was delicious and they were keen to try it out

Eloise, who shot to online stardom when a baking craze swept the UK during the first Covid lockdown in spring, now has more than a million followers who usually swoon over her indulgent bakes.

'I've really enjoyed setting up the Fitwafflekitchen page. It has kept me sane since the pandemic started. I'm a little overwhelmed by how amazing the followers have been,' she told FEMAIL.

'I've had some really touching messages from people who have taken to baking at home, either to relax or keep themselves occupied whilst in lockdown.

'Last week I decided to set up a Facebook group called Baking it Simple, which is a group for home bakers to share their bakes and to interact with people with similar interests.

'I'm really thankful for everyone that has tried one of the recipes or sent me a heartfelt message'.

Eloise Head (pictured) built a mammoth Instagram following during the first Covid lockdown by sharing her simple tricks for making decadent desserts
The Nuclear Testing Center of Excellence in Huntsville, Alabama, Remains on the Forefront of Innovation  First Steps to Fusion Energy as a Green Source of Power

National Technical Systems, Inc. ("NTS"), the leading independent provider of qualification testing, inspection, and certification solutions in North America, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded multiple contracts to test critical components on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the worlds largest fusion reactor.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005143/en/

NTS is awarded multiple contracts to test critical components on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the world's largest fusion reactor. (Photo: Business Wire)

The ITER project is a joint international research collaboration with the United States, China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the European Union. The project involves a magnetic fusion device, which is designed to generate an unprecedented amount of energy, making it the first reactor in the world to produce net energy. The demonstration facility has started assembly in St.-Paul-lez-Durance, France, with initial operations planned for 2025. When complete, ITER will be the largest fusion experimental reactor in the world and is designed to demonstrate 500 MW of fusion power.

Considered one of the most complex engineering endeavors in history, millions of components supplied by seven international partners will be used to assemble the 23,000-ton, ten-story tall fusion reactor. Nearly 3,000 tons of superconducting magnets, some heavier than a jumbo jet and powerful enough to lift an aircraft carrier, will be connected by 200km of superconducting cables. The project involves the worlds largest cryogenic plants will be used to keep the components at -269 C. Fusion is an attractive potential energy source: Fusion reactions do not produce climate-warming carbon dioxide, cannot meltdown, and produce a limited amount of short-lived radioactive waste. The world is eagerly anticipating the advancement of a path to practical fusion energy as an innovative solution for sustainable carbon free energy.

Story continues

Two crucial manufacturers to the ITER initiative, Hayward Tyler, Inc. and Vacuum Technology, Inc., chose NTS to provide qualification testing of critical components in support of US ITER. Hayward Tylers Canned-Motor Pumps and Vacuum Technologys Cryogenic Guard Vacuum System Pump Stations are critical components to the innovative engineering design of ITER. These vital components will go through rigorous Nuclear Equipment Qualification Testing, which includes radiation aging, seismic testing, thermal aging and analysis, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) testing. All testing protocol will be in conformance with the NTSs Huntsville 10 CFR 50 Appendix B Quality Assurance Program.

NTSs Huntsville laboratory, one of the companys 28 labs in North America, has a long history supporting qualification of components utilized in nuclear power plants worldwide and in DOE facilities in the US. As an innovation leader in nuclear testing, NTS has always been at the forefront in validating and certifying new technologies across many sectors. "NTS is proud to continue in its 60-year innovation heritage and be integrally involved with this momentous scientific endeavor for the nuclear science community", said Tom Boonarkat, Nuclear Equipment Qualification Manager at NTS.

"The qualification and testing of hardware for nuclear power plants is unique, extensive, and complicated; and is a mandatory, critical step in delivering the safest and most reliable systems for energy production. NTS is one of a select few companies that is trusted to test the nuclear components and hardware needed for nuclear energy production," said Jeffrey Belotti, Business Development Manager, Hayward Tyler, Inc.

"As a trusted partner, we can confidently turn to NTS to perform the worlds most complex nuclear testing. Were excited to work with NTS on ITER, the worlds most ambitious energy project," said Jason Alfrey, ASNT NDT Level III, Leak Testing, Sales & Technical Director, Product Development, Sales, and Support Team, at Vacuum Technology, Inc.

"NTSs Huntsville Laboratory is a massive test facility with advanced dynamics, environmental, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and testing capabilities. Regarded as NTSs Nuclear Center of Excellence, the laboratory is used to meet the most extreme testing challenges for military, aviation, and space programs. "We are delighted to continue in the 60-year history commitment to our customers to ensure the best test experience possible," said Gary Dennis, Operations Manager, at NTS Huntsville.

About National Technical Systems

National Technical Systems, Inc. (NTS) is the leading provider of qualification testing, inspection, and certification services in North America, serving a broad range of industries, including the civil aviation, space, defense, nuclear, telecommunications, industrial, electronics, medical, and automotive end markets. Since 1961, NTS has built the broadest geographic presence in the United States, offering more than 70 distinct environmental simulation and materials testing categories, including climatic, structural, dynamics, fluid flow, EMI/EMC, lightning, product safety, acoustics, failure analysis, chemical, and other industry-specific tests.

Operating through a network of more than 28 technologically advanced testing laboratories, this geographically diverse footprint puts NTS facilities in close proximity to its more than 8,000 clients, allowing NTS to serve the nations most innovative companies with industry-leading accessibility and responsiveness. NTS is accredited by numerous national and international organizations and operates its inspection division under the Unitek brand, providing a wide range of supply chain management services. NTS certification division, which operates under the NQA brand, is one of the largest and most respected global ISO registrars, with active certifications in more than 75 countries. For additional information about NTS, visit our website at www.nts.com or call 800-270-2516.

About Hayward Tyler

Hayward Tyler, part of the Engineered Pumps and Motors Division of Avingtrans plc, manufactures and services performance-critical electric motors and pumps to meet the most demanding applications in the global energy and chemical processing industries, specializing in high pressure, high temperature, and difficult-to-handle fluids. The company has built a solid reputation for delivering quality, reliability, and world-class engineering with facilities in the UK, the US, China, and India. For more information, visit https://haywardtyler.com/.

About Vacuum Technology Incorporated

Vacuum Technology Incorporated (VTI) is the worlds single largest supplier of calibrated leaks, providing flow standards to hundreds of companies, universities, and governments across the globe. VTIs calibrated leaks are critical components of vacuum systems that power innovative industrial manufacturing techniques, space exploration, and scientific research. For more information, visit https://vacuumtechnology.com/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005143/en/

Contacts

Sarah Willis, Vice President of Marketing

714-450-9100

sarah.willis@nts.com
Image: Getty.

Millions of Apple users have been urged to install the latest iOS software after the tech giant discovered a security issue on the devices.

Apple released the latest iOS 14.4.2 and iPadOS 14.4.2 software versions on Friday, with a security update relating to WebKit, or the browser engine that powers the App Store, many iOS apps, Safari and Mail.

The update is available for iPhone 6s and later, all iPad Pro models, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, the iPad mini 4 and later and the iPod touch (7th generation).

Apple Watch users should also update their devices to 7.3.3.

The update was released to close a flaw that Apple knows may have been actively exploited.

Describing the issue, the tech giant stated: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to universal cross site scripting. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.

Cross-scripting allows hackers to inject their own scripts through malicious web content.

Apple said Google Threat Analysis Group researchers Billy Leonard and Clement Lecigne uncovered the flaw.

For most users, the update will install automatically. However, if your devices OS doesnt match the latest version, then youll need to update your device by heading to Settings > General > Software Update.

It comes only months after Apple uncovered another security weakness that may have allowed remote attackers to hack into phones .
NEWTON, Mass., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonesta International Hotels Corporation (Sonesta) today announced the launch of its renewed global hotel franchising organization. Less than ten days after completing its acquisition of RLH Corporation, Sonesta is now one of the largest hotel companies, with approximately 1,200 franchised and managed properties. The company offers a complete platform of franchise services, hotel operations, and franchise support, with fifteen industry-leading brands that service an extensive array of the lodging demand.

Sonesta Chief Executive Officer, Carlos Flores, said, "Today we launched Sonesta's global hotel franchising organization. Fortified with a new world-class leadership team, we expect the renewed team's efforts to improve Sonesta's growth trajectory. As our reach as a brand continues to expand across the globe, we are even more focused on providing an unparalleled level of service and support to our franchise community, buoyed by expanded economies of scale, robust purchasing power, and materially improved operational efficiencies. Today's announcement is another significant milestone in Sonesta's continuing evolution as an industry leader."

The new franchise organization is led by Keith Pierce, who was named as Executive Vice President, President Franchise & Development, upon closing of the Red Lion acquisition earlier this month.

Today, Sonesta appointed Brian Quinn as Chief Development Officer to lead the company's franchise growth effort. Quinn brings more than 20 years of senior development and sales management experience to Sonesta including nearly three years as Chief Franchise Sales Officer at Red Lion.

Mr. Pierce said, "Brian brings a breadth of experience from several leading hotel industry brands that we expect will help accelerate our footprint across global markets. Sonesta offers unmatched value and benefits to the franchise community and we plan to leverage these advantages to expand franchise offerings to include the existing Sonesta brands. The expansion of our development organization under Brian is a key component of our future success."

Mr. Quinn said, "I welcome the opportunity to work closely with Keith and the entire Sonesta organization at this dynamic and momentous period in the company's history. Sonesta's heritage of delivering high-quality guest experiences, combined with increased scale, clearly offers compelling benefits to franchisees across service levels that should help accelerate our systemwide growth."

Mr. Quinn joins Sonesta after having held senior sales and development management roles at many of the hotel industry's top brands and management companies. He is a frequent speaker and commentator at leading hotel industry conferences and in leading lodging trade publications. He is active in numerous industry and civic organizations and is a current board member of the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Mr. Quinn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida.

About Sonesta

Sonesta is one of the fastest-growing hospitality companies in the U.S., celebrating an approximate 350% increase in its managed hotel portfolio. You will find nearly 300 Sonesta hotels across seven brands operating in the U.S., Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Peru, and St. Maarten. Red Lion has eight additional brands with nearly 900 franchise properties across the U.S. and Canada. For more information about Sonesta and its locations, visit Sonesta.com or call 800.Sonesta (800.766.3782). For more information about Red Lion Hotels, visit Rlhco.com.

* High-resolution images are available at www.sonesta.com/media for all Sonesta hotels.

Media Contact:

Lorie Juliano

[email protected]

office: 617.421.5429

mobile: 508.843.3769

SOURCE Sonesta International Hotels Corporation

Related Links

https://www.sonesta.com


zoe chace

From Serial Productions in The New York Times, this is The Improvement Association. Chapter 4. Let Them Pull the Red Wagon. Here we are, August 2019, the eve of a congressional election, the special election, the do-over after the cheating scandal, the one where McCrae Dowless allegedly pulled his illegal absentee ballot shenanigans. After which even the Republicans had agreed, OK, throw out the results, lets try this again, so new congressional election. The candidates this time around are Dan McCready, hes the same Democrat as last time, and then another Dan, Dan Bishop. Hes the new Republican candidate.

archived recording Two of the candidates vying to represent the states 9th congressional district.

zoe chace

Its a televised debate between the two Dans, the one and only debate of the race. And at the end, they do that gimmick where both candidates are allowed to ask each other a question.

[background conversation]

If youve ever watched a political debate, you know those questions arent really questions. Theyre little speeches, setups to try to stick it to the other guy, make him look bad. To that end you might think Republican Dan Bishop would do his level best to avoid any talk of McCrae Dowless and the rollicking national embarrassment through which his party, the Republican Party, had just dragged the voters of North Carolina, which caused the special election to happen. But no. He goes right there to allegations of election fraud. He says to the Democrat, Dan McCready, never mind McCrae Dowless. I want to talk about someone else.

archived recording (dan bishop) McCrae Dowless. But tonight, I want to ask you about Lola Wooten.

zoe chace

Lola Wooten, shes a campaign worker in Bladen. Key fact here, unlike McCrae, who has 13 indictments, she has zero. You can forget her name, in fact, as soon as were done here. But Republican Dan Bishop is trying some cynical rhetorical gymnastics right now at the 11th hour of the 11th hour with early voting already underway. Check it out.

archived recording (dan bishop) She turned in excess of 200 applications for absentee ballots.

zoe chace

That was perfectly legal at the time, by the way.

archived recording (dan bishop) She signed as a witness on the ballot envelopes for many, many people.

zoe chace

Also legal.

archived recording (dan bishop) She was paid by the Bladen County Improvement Association.

zoe chace

Also legal. But no matter, there it is. The PAC, on TV, associated, baselessly, with election fraud. Dan Bishop keeps going.

archived recording (dan bishop) The Bladen County Improvement Association, in turn, was paid by the federal account of the North Carolina Democratic Party.

zoe chace

Legal.

archived recording (dan bishop) And the federal account of the North Carolina Democratic Party was funded by your campaign.

zoe chace

Also legal. All of it. Yet Dan Bishop wants to know, all gotcha like, what did you do about that, Dan McCready?

archived recording (dan bishop) Can you explain what steps you took to ensure that Lola Wooten wasnt harvesting ballots or influencing elderly and infirm people in the completion of their ballot?

zoe chace

And Democrat Dan McCready gives your basic, Im not going to dignify that with a response response.

archived recording (dan mccready) Let me answer this question by sharing my horror that after the largest case of election fraud in recent American history, a fraud that took place in our towns in North Carolina, where 

zoe chace

To me, his answer is notable for what he doesnt go on to say. He doesnt say the Bladen Improvement Association, a Black, get out the vote group, hasnt done anything wrong. And your using their name to attack me over election fraud is not only profoundly ironic, its race baiting. He says nothing like that. This pungent exchange during the debate, for one thing, it perfectly illustrated Horaces constant complaint that unfounded accusations and insinuations about the PAC have been turned into weapons by Republicans. To the point that, out of all the things that a congressional candidate could choose to talk about in his closing argument to voters, the Bladen Improvement Association was the Republicans parting shot. And the Democrat, Dan McCready, well, this wasnt the first time he dodged talking about the PAC. Throughout the race, local reporters who covered the cheating story had been asking McCready, are you working with the Bladen Improvement Association now, or did you ever? And Dan McCready was, like, mm mm, nope.

archived recording (dan mccready) Ive not worked with them. archived recording While campaign finance records show he has not donated to them before, we asked Dan McCready if he planned on working with the group for the next election. archived recording (dan mccready) Its not something Ive thought about. I have not really worked with them.

zoe chace

It sounded like McCready considered the PAC a liability. And it also sounded like he was saying hed never even met those guys, which made Horace really mad, Horace and Cogdell, actually. During the first congressional race, the one that ultimately got thrown out, the PACs relationship to the McCready campaign was the normal stuff. Hes a Democrat. They support Democratic candidates. They endorsed McCready on their sample ballot, mobilized their get out the vote machine for him and for everyone else. But once the allegations of fraud by McCrae Dowless started to get out, members of the PAC started getting calls from Black voters who were upset, who said they thought their votes have been tampered with by McCraes workers. So the PAC members who received those calls, motivated in part to bring down Republican operative McCrae Dowless, they went to some of those voters homes. Told them, hey, this is wrong what happened to you. Its important to speak up. Do you want to write up an affidavit? Some of those signed affidavits ended up central to the state hearings in Raleigh. It was Democrats around the county who did this, not just PAC members. But those affidavits gotten by Bladen County Improvement members, they were key, a big reason why a new election was called, the special election, in which Democrat Dan McCready was given a second shot to win the district. But as the special election approached, McCready ignored the PAC. And I started to hear about it from Horace. A Democrat, trying to run in Bladen County who not only didnt seek an endorsement from the PAC, seemed to be actively avoiding it, like it was toxic. McCready didnt send money to the PAC for get out the vote. He hired his own people from outside to temporarily live and work in Bladen County. And Horace was offended. This wasnt how he was used to being treated.

archived recording (horace munn) Once McCready was granted a new election, all of a sudden, he dont want to talk to me. He didnt want to be close to Cogdell.

zoe chace

Horace says Cogdell told him about this one thing that happened a few months back. This big Democratic gathering of local politicos from across the 9th district to support the McCready campaign 

archived recording (horace munn) They were getting ready to take a picture of him with Cogdell. He stepped away.

zoe chace

McCready stepped away and avoided taking a picture with Cogdell, which can be a big deal at local campaign events. And then, according to Horace, McCready wouldnt talk to Cogdell when Cogdell approached him.

archived recording (horace munn) Cogdell, he had a conversation about how he could win election in Bladen County. He said, hey, you deal with my campaign person, who was a kid that didnt know anything about Bladen County. All right? When I found out he had treated Cogdell and I found out that he didnt want to put resources here so we can run his campaign here in Bladen County, he didnt want to deal with us, I called him.

zoe chace

Horace says he spoke to McCready on the phone.

archived recording (horace munn) And I told him how appalled I was at what he had done. I said, but I notice how you act as if we are inferior now. But when you wanted a new election, you came to us. And were the reason you have a new election. I said, from this point forward, dont ever deal with me again.

[music]

zoe chace

Horace takes tremendous pride in the voting block the PAC has built. He genuinely believes its hard for Democrats to get elected in this county without it. And now this Democrat, who Horace and the PAC had supported, was helping to stoke allegations against them by deliberately distancing himself from the group, acting like Bladen Improvement was beneath him. So Horace has decided, if Dan McCready doesnt have our back in public, we wont have his in this election. And in this way, without Horace seeing it, the cheating allegations hes been fending off from the outside would worm their way inside the PAC and start causing havoc. From Serial Productions, its The Improvement Association, a true story about election fraud. Im Zoe Chace.

archived recording (prentis benston) Good afternoon to everyone. Were going to go ahead and get started.

zoe chace

Prentis Benston, the former sheriff of Bladen County, calls the Bladen Improvement Associations monthly meeting to order. Were about a week out from the special election and pretty quickly, the agenda turns to elections-related business. Walking in, I feel a wary side-eyedness in the room, like in any group or office where theres been some behind the scenes drama lately, but you havent all been in a room together for a while. And now youre all meeting and looking at each other, like, are we going to talk about whats been going on, or what?

[side conversation]

The televised debate between the Dans, the congressional candidates, aired last night. So with that hovering over the meeting, Horace takes over.

archived recording (horace munn) This special election has turned out to be one of the most unique elections Ive been a part of.

zoe chace

He has news. The special election is considered tight. And apparently, in these last few weeks, someone from McCreadys campaign has started calling members of the PAC to ask them to help out with the election.

archived recording (horace munn) But evidently, whoever is calling, theyre working their way around me. So with that said, Im not sure where we stand right now with this election. I dont know why things are happening the way they happen. Its a situation there, like I say, Ive never experienced before.

zoe chace

Meaning, Ive never seen a Democrat politician blow us off like this and think they can win in Bladen County. Horace says, speaking just for me personally, as Horace, not as head of the organization, the way I feel 

archived recording (horace munn) If the individuals out here supporting in this campaign or the one running dont want our support, me personally, I think let them pull the red wagon.

zoe chace

Let them pull the red wagon. Means, you made your bed. Now lie in it. If someone wants our support, but wont approach us directly because theyre ashamed or embarrassed or whatever, screw them.

archived recording (horace munn) I think that this organization has been disrespected. Thats how I feel.

zoe chace

And with that, Horace hands it over to Cogdell, the storyteller of the two of them.

archived recording (michael cogdell) The only thing that I want 

zoe chace

Cogdell starts by saying he wishes the Democrat Dan McCready well and doesnt have a vendetta against anybody. But  and it goes from quiet to quiet. As Cogdell picks up speed, his story turns into a one man play, with him acting out the increasingly frantic phone calls hes been getting from the Democrats about getting out the vote for Dan McCready.

archived recording (michael cogdell) Im sitting in the house, 11, 12 oclock at night. And somebody called me, Mike, hey, I need your help. I said, what are you talking about? We got to get the vote out.

zoe chace

This guy is calling Cogdell, like, you know, do your get out the vote program that you guys do for Dan McCready.

archived recording (michael cogdell) We got plenty of money for gas and all kind of stuff. I said, what are you talking about? Well, we got some money. You can do some work, if you want to haul people to the polls and do what you need to do. I say, you calling mighty late on this.

zoe chace

Cogdells, like, uh, no. The election is in about a week. And we havent mobilized at all to help McCready, because you guys didnt want us to do that. If youd given us money for gas stipends and food, wed have people knocking on doors and working the polls. Its a whole machine. We know how to crank up our machine. But the machines not cranked. And were not inclined to crank it for you now.

archived recording (michael cogdell) Then I get another phone call. We got plenty of money, man. Dont worry about the money. We can get you gas. We can come out and feed them, do a meal for them. We can do a party for them. We got plenty money.

zoe chace

Cogdell says he reminded this guy that McCready had chosen to hire other people to get out the vote in Bladen, outsiders. So the Bladen Improvement PAC was, yeah, sitting this one out.

archived recording (michael cogdell) So he said, well, what are we going to do? I said, well, the people he gave the money for need to be trying to figure that out. Thats not for me to think out. Because Im not going to lose my sleep and time running at him, starting the next couple of days. But I will encourage people to go vote and tell them to go vote. But as far as me running around, chasing somebody, talking about lining up some gas, and doing this, and doing that  they told me they had that all figured out. And I left it just that way.

zoe chace

Prentis and Horace are nodding their heads. Cogdells wife Barbara is nodding next to them. The purpose of this whole part of the meeting seems to be to rally this room behind him and Horace, to get everyone to sign off on Horace and Cogdells grudge against McCready, and their decision to have the PAC sit on its hands rather than help them. But not everyone here is with Cogdell. Minnie Price, the treasurer of the PAC, breaks in.

archived recording (minnie price) Are we, as Democrats in here, are we supporting McCready? archived recording (michael cogdell) I support him.

zoe chace

The three guys who basically run this meeting, Horace, Cogdell and Prentis, all jump at once to answer the question and, it seems, try to keep her from putting out a whole new perspective on this. But Minnie pushes through that.

archived recording (minnie price) Well, I volunteered. I made phone calls. Ive been down there four different times. I made phone calls. And I plan to go back again. archived recording (michael cogdell) Minnie, please  archived recording (minnie price) Im not looking for any money. archived recording (michael cogdell) Minnie, please, let me understand this. archived recording (minnie price) Well, we need a Democrat in Washington, D.C., not a Republican. archived recording (horace munn) When the guy talked to me, I said he missed  he made a misperception of what he was doing. We know how to get the vote out. And we can get people to go to the polls. archived recording (minnie price) Yeah, but if  archived recording (michael cogdell) But wait a minute. Wait a minute. Maam, let me hear  let me tell you for a minute. I understand, maam. Go ahead. archived recording (minnie price) Well, I was talking and then he interrupted me. archived recording (michael cogdell) You finish. You finish. archived recording (minnie price) I was talking. He interrupted me. archived recording (michael cogdell) You finish. You finish. archived recording (minnie price) OK. What Im saying is this. Im making phone calls to people to support Dan McCready. And I am not working for any money. Im volunteering. This is my fifth time or being down there making phone calls to people that have not been out to vote. And if Dan McCready said that he does not want to be associated with the Bladen County Improvement, I dont blame him. Because our name is out there. Its in Raleigh. If Im trying to win an election, I dont want to be associated with somebody thats been accused of doing something while Im trying to win a campaign. And we need to, as Democrats, we need to support the Democratic  archived recording Hold on. Now  archived recording (minnie price)  let me finish talking. archived recording Let her finish. archived recording (minnie price) Let me finish talking.

zoe chace

Theres more interrupting. But Minnie says she wants to make this clear. Were damaged goods right now because of our association with that whole fraud hearing up in Raleigh. Take yourselves out of this. Put your egos aside. Look at the bigger fight.

archived recording (minnie price) And I just think that we as an organization, whether we get any money or not from him, that as Democrats that we need to support him.

zoe chace

Horace responds in a way I think he was hoping not to at the beginning, like, mad.

archived recording (horace munn) I solicit funding for this organization to operate. I cannot  it takes a budget of about $9,000 to hire workers to do early voting and to hire workers to work the polls every day during elections. This organization cannot fund 

zoe chace

Horace is shouting this budget information at Minnie, the treasurer of the PAC. His leadership is being questioned here.

archived recording (horace munn) So 

zoe chace

You think we should help McCready, he says, even though his campaign didnt give us any money for get out the vote operation? Didnt think that was important to shore up that vote here? You think people in this poor county should work for free for Dan McCready, just because this dude is a Democrat?

archived recording (minnie price) Im not talking about that, Horace. Im the treasurer. So I know what you do. Im the treasurer. I handle the money. When you get it in, it comes to me. I know. Like I stated before, if he does not want to be associated with Bladen County Improvement, dont worry about it. archived recording (horace munn) So you think its OK for him to not want to be associated with the organization, then come get the members and say, I want you to work with me, but not explain whats the issue? archived recording I think what Miss Minnie is trying to say is that we should vote Democrat. That hes the Democrat candidate. And that we should vote for him.

zoe chace

Another woman jumps in to try to calm things down. Like, hey, were all Democrats here, right? Were on the same side. But then, that makes Cogdell explode.

archived recording (michael cogdell) Yo. Yo. Yo. Wait a minute. Now wait a minute. Youre saying something here that aint making no sense at all. Just because youre a Democrat and you cant deal with what my perspective is, doesnt mean I have to vote for you. archived recording Amen.

[interposing voices]

zoe chace

People who agree with Cogdell start laughing, and yes anding, and it gets kind of chaotic. Someone else says, arent we all Democrats? Cogdells saying, you could be a Democrat and be in the Ku Klux Klan. Doesnt mean I have to vote for you. Thats how Hillary Clinton lost her race in 2016, he says, by just assuming that all the Black people would turn out and vote for her. You cant just support Democrats. Democrats dont necessarily have Black voters best interests in mind. They need to work for our vote, respect us, and deliver on our issues. And thats what the PAC is for, to hold people accountable to the Black voters here.

[background conversation]

[music]

Up until this meeting, I thought the cheating allegations were a problem for the PAC outside this room. I hadnt realized how they could pit everyone inside it against each other, even though the allegations werent true. None of them were indicted or even under investigation. Not long after this, someone abruptly moves to adjourn. And the meeting ends. People leave in a hurry. Theres not some big decision reached, no vote by the group on whether to support McCready, just people storming off to their cars. The one PAC person left after everyones fled to the parking lot is Minnie Price. Shes still fuming about Horace and Cogdell. Shes, like, while these guys are posturing about how the Democratic candidate is ignoring Black people, this Republican candidate, Dan Bishop, is going to get in there and be another vote for Trump. Which, in Minnies view, is, like, really not good for Black people.

archived recording (minnie price) We dont need that. And I listened to that debate last night, mm mm. No. And when he brings up something to Dan McCready about Bladen County Improvement Association, no. Hes doing exactly what Trumps want him to do. And hes going to support Trumps agenda. We dont need that. Were going to be back in slavery again. No. Were just celebrating 400 years? Were going to be back there. Were going to be back there with Trump in Washington, D.C.

zoe chace

She sees Horace and Cogdells whole thing with not supporting McCready as just petty revenge for Cogdells hurt feelings from that picture McCready supposedly wouldnt take. She doesnt buy at all the principled argument that standing back is going to teach Democrats a lesson about taking the Black vote for granted. And she totally gets McCreadys calculation about the PAC, that the PAC is damaged goods.

archived recording (minnie price) I cant blame him. I dont blame him at all. If I was running to try to win an election, I wouldnt want to be associated with Bladen County Improvement Association, either. Because our name, the Bladen County Improvement PAC name is in Raleigh. It is out there. And people got that in their mind, that we did something wrong. Even though we did not do anything, they didnt find anything wrong that we did, our name is out there.

zoe chace

It turns out Minnie has much bigger issues with Horace and Cogdell than the McCready thing. Which should worry Horace and Cogdell, because Minnie, with her big leather briefcase and her ever present notebook, is a political force in Bladen County, all on her own, separate from the PAC. Shes 77-years-old, secretary of the local NAACP chapter, and shes a very busy person. She goes to every town meeting, every county commission meeting, every board of education meeting. She runs this nonprofit. And she founded this intense charter school, the one and only public military charter school in the state. Thats where were meeting, actually, in that school building. Occasionally, a bugle blurts out, telling cadets to change classes. Minnie knows people in Bladen. She has influence. And Minnie will say how she feels about something or someone. And shes been mad at Horace, she tells me. We talked about it a little later. This is what she said to him not long before that meeting.

archived recording (minnie price) I told him, you are a dictator.

zoe chace

Well, the group of them, Horace, Cogdell, Prentis and their buddy, Arthur Bullock, another county commissioner.

archived recording (minnie price) They have this controlling thing, Horace and Cogdell. They want to control everything. When you in a meeting, you dont want to be the one that people think you always causing a problem about something. But it just got to the point where we just got fed up with sitting here with stuff being shoved down our throats.

zoe chace

The McCready thing is just the latest in a string of decisions that Minnie felt the members had no real say in. It was her breaking point. Her view for the last few years is that the four of those guys have been treating the PAC like their fiefdom. The members are basically foot soldiers that the guys expect will do as theyre told. Minnie says it seems to her that the four of them get together before Bladen Improvement meetings and decide what the Bladen Improvement will do, whom it will support, whom it will never support, who needs to wait their turn. The strategy stuff, like, were not doing absentee ballots this year, or we are. The way Minnie describes it, when she joined the organization, it felt more connected to the community, more about uplift. She says the PAC would educate voters. It would do outreach to inform Black people in Bladen County who the candidates were, who might have their best interests at heart. Horace and Cogdell, she thinks, have curved inward, just talk to each other about whats in the best interests of Black voters and then try to steamroll everyone else into going along.

zoe chace In the beginning, 15 years ago, you liked the idea of the PAC. minnie price It was great. zoe chace Tell me. Tell me about that part. minnie price It was a different set of people. Horace was not the president. His daddy used to be involved. And there are people who are saying that if his daddy only knew what he was doing back here now, hed be turning over in his grave. He wouldnt like it at all. Because he was different. He was not like Horace. zoe chace Different how? minnie price Nicer. He was, you know, help people.

zoe chace

I ran Minnies complaints past Horace. He wasnt that bothered by them. Said she was just blowing off steam. I will say, Horace does help people. Hell do unasked for favors. Hes a generous neighbor. But anyway, Minnies fed up. Shes gotten to the point where shes questioning the PACs core goal of a unified Black vote  if unity is just code for do whatever Horace says.

zoe chace Do you think that its possible that the PAC, the PACs power is in how many people vote along the same lines. The PACs powers that sample ballot. minnie price Yeah. zoe chace Do you think that, with this kind of division, that the PAC could lose its power. minnie price I think so. And I think its losing its power. I think so. And its really because of Horace. I think it is because of Horace and the way that he does things. I think so. Yeah. zoe chace Do you think there will be some kind of a loss to this county if this PAC falls apart? minnie price No. I dont. zoe chace Why not?

[bugle playing]

minnie price Because a lot of people dont understand it, anyway. A lot of people dont understand what the PAC is anyway and what they are doing. zoe chace But you do. minnie price I understand. Yeah, I do.

zoe chace

I wanted to know if Minnie minded, basically, that by criticizing the PAC or not supporting the PAC, shed actually be helping the white political interests around here, too.

zoe chace I think some white people are scared of the PAC because of Black political power. minnie price Yeah. They are. Thats why they tried to make that report, to try to find something against the PAC. Thats what they did it for. But they didnt find anything wrong.

zoe chace

She means the accusations against the PAC at the state hearing.

zoe chace Well, if the PAC falls apart, though, I mean, those white people will be happy. minnie price They will be. They will be. Because they want it  they want it to fall apart. zoe chace Well, how does that make you feel? minnie price You know, it doesnt make me feel bad. It really doesnt. It doesnt make me feel bad. Because maybe itll make the people thats involved in it think about what they did, think about what they are doing, to do things different.

zoe chace

Minnie, after years of frustration, thinks that if the Bladen Improvement PAC loses some power, well, so be it. Might be good. Maybe thatll teach Horace and those guys a lesson. The actual day of the do over election, the special election to elect a new Congressman in Bladens district, it was pretty quiet, sunny, breezy, slow. The results were in early. And it wasnt close.

archived recording (tanya rivera) Hello, everyone. Im Tanya Rivera. Thank you for joining us. Republican Dan Bishop has won North Carolinas special election. Bishop will now represent the states 9th congressional district. This red district will remain in GOP hands.

zoe chace

Democrat Dan McCready lost to the Republican, Dan Bishop. And there were no signs of election fraud this time.

archived recording (tanya rivera) President Trump held a rally for Bishop the night before the election. Bishop linked  horace munn You know what? zoe chace Hang on. Let me get my phone ready.

zoe chace

Horace called me after results were in. I was driving.

zoe chace Tell the truth. Are you a little bit excited that Dan McCready lost? horace munn Well, I dont want to say  Im not going to say Im excited. I cant use that word. zoe chace OK. horace munn Theres another word I could use. I feel vindicated. zoe chace Yeah.

zoe chace

Vindicated. Horace has a pretty clear analysis for why McCready lost.

horace munn What he did was he distanced himself from the Blacks, he was willing to take a chance on losing a few Black votes to get a few white votes. But they always think the Blacks, well, they gonna go along. zoe chace Theyll just take you for granted?

zoe chace

Its not like Horace wanted a Republican to win the seat. But then, again, it is kind of what Horace wanted. He says to me, am I gloating?

horace munn Am I gloating? zoe chace Yeah, are you? horace munn Hm. I dont know. But am I upset about the election? No.

[laughs]

No. Im not. And the next person from Bladen County that want to disrespect people, the same thing will happen. Theyre not going to get the vote.

[turn signal clicking]

I would rather lose the battle and win the war.

zoe chace

The battle is just a congressional seat. The war is whether those politicians are listening to and accountable to Black voters. And the way that happens in Bladen County, thats through the Bladen Improvement PAC and its voting bloc. Thats the lesson Horace thinks McCready learned this election. The hard way, hed say.

horace munn We refuse to be compromised by anyone. We refuse. Yeah. Yeah. Im fully satisfied with the election. And hey, you know, sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. But sometimes, youre made a fool.

[laughter]

zoe chace

Many months later, I spoke to Dan McCready. He admitted, yes, he distanced himself from the PAC. I had to, he said. It didnt look good because of all these public accusations. I was advised, even by people in Bladen, not to work with the Bladen Improvement PAC. McCready said he didnt remember an angry call with Horace, when Horace told him never to reach out to him again. He was upset to hear, now, that members of the PAC were mad at him. Did the PACs lack of support cost him the election, though? McCready didnt think so. In the special election, McCready lost by 4,000 votes. Its very hard to imagine the PAC, who only operate in Bladen County, conquering that margin. But the math doesnt really matter, not here, in terms of how the results of this election still exploded things in Bladen County. There were Black Democrats who were really mad about how Horace and Cogdell handled the Dan McCready race. Minnie and a group of seven or eight others, mainly women, quit the PAC after that meeting where they got in a fight. But Horace and Cogdell werent chagrined by that at all, the opposite. For them, if the feeling was out there that because they stayed out of the race, McCready lost, good. That proves their point that McCready shouldnt take the Black vote for granted. They felt the McCready result confirmed how well they knew their county and knew the voters they were trying to lead, that they were on the right track, basically. And so they turned their attention to their next political fight, to try something theyd never tried before, a pretty major power shift if they could pull it off. If anyone could pull it off, it would be these two. That was their attitude. After proclaiming that McCready had taken the Black vote for granted, Horace and Cogdell walked right into that same trap. Thats after the break. Now Minnie Prices position on Horace and Cogdell is theyre bullies and theyre out of touch. Horace and Cogdell, of course, feel like, no. They are the ones who get it, in a place where some people, like Minnie, do not understand how to build Black political power. Theyre putting their skills to the test in this little petri dish of an election that hits just two months after the McCready race was over and done. Horace and Cogdell are working to change the leadership of the county seat, Elizabethtown. Three seats on the Elizabethtown council are up for grabs. This isnt about the county, just one town inside the county. And I only understood why Cogdell in particular would choose to invest in whats actually a very tiny local race when he decided to drive me around Elizabethtown one day.

michael cogdell Let me see what time it is. I got  come on. Im going to ride you around. Get in the car. Im going to ride you around. zoe chace Yeah. Are you sure? michael cogdell Im going to show you what Im talking about right quick. zoe chace OK.

zoe chace

Bladens little towns are mostly  a highway runs through, alongside is a gas station, a Hardees, maybe a peanut plant, a dollar store, and then youre out of town  America, basically. But Elizabethtown is the county seat thats got the most going on. Around 3,800 people live here. Its downtown is a big T, not just the one road running through. I can sum up Cogdells tour of Elizabethtown pretty quickly. Its about who owns what.

horace munn All right. Here we go.

zoe chace

Four white families own the major commercial plats in Elizabethtown, the Greens, the Crosses, the Clarks and the Campbells.

horace munn All of this stuff you see right here, the Campbells own all that, that building, that building, that block right there. zoe chace The Campbells own this block? horace munn All these businesses that you see right here.

zoe chace

We head down Poplar Street, one of the two main streets. A handful of older businesses, then KFC, Taco Bell, Bojangles, McDonalds and then Giorgios, the only real restaurant to speak of where you can actually get a drink.

michael cogdell This right here is owned by the Clarks, everything on both sides of the street.

zoe chace

Its only five square miles, Elizabethtown, and it takes less than five minutes for Cogdell to sweep his hand over it. You go down and around, out towards the bypass, which is actually named after a Campbell and were at the other Main Street, Broad Street.

michael cogdell Now you look at this all this stuff inside this here, where Walmart at, and all we cross over there, and the restaurants in over there, that belong to the Greens.

zoe chace

Cogdell says the four families, theyve owned the land for years. Which is his main point. By owning much of the commercial property in Elizabethtown, these four white families have a lot of control over the commercial economy, what businesses get to come downtown, what kind of jobs are available. Meanwhile, in the Black part of town, a neighborhood called Newtown, almost none of the land is zoned commercial, so people cant open businesses. Theres not much investment, generally. Cogdells, like, take a look at these messed up roads. Thats how you know Black people live over here. Horace and Cogdells vision for the election is simple. Get Black people to vote, a lot more than usual. And then, change the zoning ordinances in Elizabethtown  Black-owned, thriving businesses, serving Black customers in the Black part of town. Cogdell believes its possible because of how many Black people could be voting here.

michael cogdell All this is Black district. Everything through heres Black. zoe chace How many  whats the ratio of Black to white people in Elizabethtown? michael cogdell Theres more Black registered voters in Elizabethtown than there is white. Its not much, but its more Black than white. zoe chace I just didnt know it was a majority Black town. michael cogdell Yeah. Majority of the registered voters, theres more registered voters Black than there is white. zoe chace But the local, like, the mayor and stuff, are they white? michael cogdell All white. And its a seven member board, six members and the mayor. Five of them are white and two are Black. I mean, it should be the very reverse, if you voted along demographics. zoe chace Its just not enough people are voting? michael cogdell They just wont vote. They dont deal with a municipal election. Now you get  most of the times you move people in the areas during general election, presidential elections. They dont usually move on municipal election.

zoe chace

So this is their big plan. Flip the town council. There are two Black members on the town council already. And three Black women have declared their candidacy, running against three white incumbents. The women are all new to politics. So Horace and Cogdell are very involved in their campaigns. The PAC, the organization, isnt even working on this as a group, just Horace and Cogdell on their own. If the women win, Black people will finally have the majority power somewhere in Bladen County. And five days before the Elizabethtown council election 

michael cogdell Zoe! zoe chace How are you doing?

zoe chace

During early voting, I meet up with Cogdell and Horace at a small campaign event. Theyve set up a table and a tent. And some of the candidates are sitting around. Its a barbecue. Cogdells enormous smoker is here. Its on wheels and attaches to the back of Cogdells truck. You can smoke the meat when youre driving which, of course, he has. I drove up in a truck, a rental. And Cogdell teases me when I walk over. Calls me a redneck. Says all I need is a gun rack on the back. Cogdells a wisecracker. He likes to poke. And with me, its usually related to being the only white person around, which always manages to tongue tie me. He launches right into a joke about lynching.

michael cogdell You get Horace, and you can get killed going back down East Arcadia. Every time you see him, hes standing here, talking to a white woman. They going to have him hanging up in the tree. Youre going to be doing the story, Black Man Lynched at East Arcadia. horace munn And Zoes going to say, I told you you need to watch yourself.

[laughter]

michael cogdell Got a modern day lynching. Donald Trump will say, you got to lynch. zoe chace This is some Southern jokes.

[laughter]

But I dont like it.

zoe chace

Hes doing it for Horace, to make him laugh. Horace can be stiff, withdrawn. But now with Cogdell, hes easily delighted. Hes energized. I can see how maybe they didnt even mean to start making decisions outside the PAC together. They just talk so much and big each other up so much.

horace munn Lord.

zoe chace

Theyre excited about this election plan. Cogdell tells me, when he first talked to Horace about backing these women for town council, he pitched it like, look at Ferguson, Missouri, where Michael Brown was shot. Horace and Cogdell describe to me how, after that happened, the Black citizens of Ferguson looked around. Like, were the majority here. But 

michael cogdell All the elected officials were white. And they would run the court system, legal system, police system, the county system. And they was out  it was two to one Blacks to every white. So what Ferguson has done now, they got a Black mayor, they got a Black chief of police, a Black attorney  everything. They found out the power was in the vote. horace munn They did the same thing were doing right now. Basically, educate people on the importance of their vote. michael cogdell Its important to go vote.

zoe chace

These two are trying to pull what they see as a Ferguson in Elizabethtown. Turn out Black voters, and flip the leadership from white to Black. This is the early voting period. And this whole campaign event is basically a place to eat and hang out while keeping track of turnout. Horace and Cogdells assumption is Black voters will vote for the Black candidates and white voters will vote for the white incumbents. Increase the number of Black voters by even a bit over the last election, and the women can win. So all day, Horace and Cogdell are taking calls and doing math. How many votes for us and how many votes for them?

michael cogdell Do you think you can give us a rough scenario?

zoe chace

Their friend Arthur, whos been over at the Board of Elections, comes back to the barbecue with the latest round of numbers, public information. Reports on whos voted early already.

arthur I got three more pages to go through.

zoe chace

Arthur sits and goes over the list of voters, trying to estimate how many Black people versus how many white people have voted so far. Sort of crowdsourcing it, with people sitting around a table under a tent, chatting about who on the list is probably Black, whos probably white, based on who lives where.

arthur What white people live at 800 Peanut Road? speaker You got the Johnsons on Peanut Road. arthur Peanut Road, not Peanut Plant Road, Peanut Road. speaker Whats the difference? arthur Peanut Plant and Peanuts different. speaker Whats the difference? arthur Peanut Road in town. Peanut Plant Road in the county. speaker Theyre on the Peanut Plant Road. arthur Theyre on Plant Peanut Road. speaker Havent seen you in a while. How you been?

[chatter]

zoe chace

If this election was a test of their skills, election night did not look good. Horace, Prentis, Arthur and the three women who are running for town council are sitting in the Board of Elections building watching a big computer screen at the front of the room. The numbers keep going in the wrong direction. The women lose by a lot. Dwight Sheppard, Democratic poll watcher, guy who makes everything thats going on in elections in Bladen his business, hes in the back of the room watching the returns. So I ask him what hes seeing. He whispers. He doesnt want to be overheard.

dwight shepard I can tell you that some of the people they thought were going to vote for those three ladies didnt vote for them.

zoe chace

Some of the people they thought were going to vote for those three ladies didnt vote for them, hes saying. When I ask him why, he says I really should go talk to Miss Minnie, meaning Minnie Price, the former PAC treasurer who argued with Horace and Cogdell and then quit.

dwight sheppard Miss Minnie could answer that question better than I can. zoe chace OK. Ill ask her. dwight sheppard Shell help you. zoe chace Uh huh.

zoe chace

Minnie is sitting in the very front row by herself, her own little island. Shes taking notes on the results in a little notebook.

zoe chace So you have a theory about what happened here? minnie price Hm? zoe chace Do you have a theory about what happened here? minnie price Do I have a theory? zoe chace Yeah.

[laughs]

minnie price No. Im just glad it happened this way. zoe chace Why? minnie price Because. People that was running was running for the wrong reasons. And take that off.

zoe chace

She motions for me to stop recording. Minnie has a few thoughts she doesnt want to say tonight, but shes told them to me on the record since. First, she thinks Cogdells redevelopment vision is a pipe dream. Theres never going to be a thriving Black downtown like there was when we grew up, she said to me. What we need to do is give Black children here the skills and education they need to leave this place. It makes her mad the way he talks, like hes selling the voters a bill of goods. But also, he just makes her really mad. Her main critique of what happened here, though, she just didnt think the three women were qualified to run. They werent involved in stuff, she says. They almost never went to town council meetings or anything. Minnie goes to almost all of them. They had no clear agenda. They didnt campaign much. Probably because they were new to it. But I would say, most importantly, she thought they were being used by Cogdell and Horace as just Black faces on the town council who they could control. Minnies take makes sense to me. I interviewed two of the women running. They were really nice and known in the community. One of them hosts a great gospel show on local radio. And they all definitely wanted change in Etown. But they seemed really green. And it really did seem to me like it was Cogdells vision that was driving this whole thing forward, way more than the candidates. Some people in Etown felt like something off was going on, like Horace and Cogdell were interlopers, bigfooting into an election where they didnt belong. Horace, for example, lives half an hour away from Etown. Cogdell lives just outside the city limits. Why were they so deep in the mix?

archived recording (michael cogdell)  of people that look like us that were minorities looking like you guys. You can do the 

zoe chace

I stopped by Cogdells office a few blocks away. He and Horace and the candidates and some others are there. Horace and Cogdell seemed legit taken aback. Cogdell is seated on a stool in front of the group, addressing everybody like a professor and a lecturer. As he puts it to the room, we didnt lose because of white voters. It was people that look like us that took us out.

archived recording (michael cogdell) And it wasnt them. It was us. Because I was standing there. It wasnt  dont get mad with them. It was us.

[chatter]

zoe chace Wait, Horace. Can I tape this? horace munn You can tape it. zoe chace OK.

zoe chace

I called Horace the next day on my ride home from the airport to see how he explained this loss to himself. More Black voters did vote in the municipal election this time. But the Black candidates hed backed still lost. Horace had a few explanations for this. Partly, he thought, this loss was a backlash over Dan McCreadys loss. Black voters who are mad at him and Cogdell for not helping a Democrat beat a Republican. They voted for the white candidates. Horace also blames the results on class divisions among Black people. He says there are upper class Black people, sometimes he calls them the elites, who are fine working with the white political establishment in town, who gain from it, and who voted accordingly. And Horace suggested one other reason for what happened, a reason that quite frankly struck me as pretty wild. In light of all the accusations of vote buying that have been aimed at the PAC, he thinks some voters were getting free stuff from one of the white candidates. Essentially, they were bought off.

horace munn  to win. And I dont know for sure, but Im willing to bet you that some of them Black people getting free stuff that you can never imagine. zoe chace You think? horace munn Yeah. Give me your vote. Get what you want. I cant prove it. zoe chace OK.

horace munn^

But 

zoe chace

Of course, Horace cant prove any such thing. Just like in myriad elections before it, theres no proof anyone was buying votes in the municipal election. I also had a theory for why Black voters in Bladen may not have voted the way Horace expected them to vote. I broached it with him, gingerly.

zoe chace I just think, like, maybe the Black voters  its, like, you know, its like weve talked about before. You know, everybodys not the same. They dont see it all the same way. You know, they dont just have to be bought off to see it different from you. They might just actually see it different. horace munn Well, you dont have to be bought off to see it. Some are bought off. Others are reaping the benefit. If you can reap the benefit of something for yourself and not care about the community, then same thing. Youve sold your soul.

zoe chace

He doubled down. I did, too.

zoe chace But isnt it possible they could have just wanted something different from what you wanted? horace munn I dont think so. How can you  how can you live in a community thats destitute, nothings coming in, all your buildings and your community are dilapidated, no fund is coming to the community. Theyre all spent in the white area, nothing in the Black area. So how can it be? What is it? Do you think the Blacks just vote to say I want to be poor and live in a poor area without any development and I want to support the whites because they are right? Thats bullshit. Its not true. Its unfounded. Its something else. Think about it. Open your mind up and look at the whole picture.

zoe chace

Its always zero sum with Horace when it comes to politics. Ive learned that. If youre not with him, youre against him. And if youre against him, youre wrong. But this is more than that. What Horace is trying to get me to see, the whole picture, as he says, its his understanding of not just this one election, but everything that goes on in Bladen. Whether its white politicians benefiting from Black people divided by class, or white people trading goods for Black votes, theres a grand, unifying explanation for all of it. And Horace believes hes the one who sees it all, like Neo in The Matrix. But what if you dont see things the way Horace does? And youre just as determined as he is? And youre influential and have a lot of connections and think its time for new leadership in Bladen? Well, then youd be Minnie Price.

archived recording (minnie price) If its going to help, I dont care if I triple split the Black vote. Why does he think that he could be the only Black running for something?

zoe chace
The quiet of a Sunday morning in a community near Baltimore was shattered as a gunman killed his parents, two people at a convenience store and then himself in a shooting spree, a motive for which was not immediately clear, the police said on Monday.

The police were called at about 6:45 a.m. to a shooting at a Royal Farms convenience store in Essex, Md., which is about 12 miles east of Baltimore. Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

The gunman, Joshua Green, 27, blocked a car in the parking lot with his car, approached the blocked car, and shot and killed Alpha Smith, 62, who was inside, Col. Andre Davis of the Baltimore County Police Department said at a news conference on Monday.

Mr. Green then headed into the store and shot and killed a customer, Silvesta Daye Jr., 43, who was standing near the cash register, Colonel Davis said. Mr. Green then shot and seriously wounded a 22-year-old store employee, officials said. The worker was in stable condition on Monday.
The audit observed that although the model prison manual (MPM) provides for chief medical officers in all the prison hospitals, there was no such sanctioned post in any of these hospitals in the state.  Representational image/PTI

Hyderabad: There is no sanctioned post of chief medical officer in the prison hospitals in the state, according to the latest Comptroller Auditor General of India report.

The shortfall was noticed in the cadre of assistant civil surgeons (24 per cent), lab technicians (50 per cent), nursing assistants (38 per cent) and pharmacists (38 per cent). It was also observed that a gynaecologist has not been provided in the prisons for women.

Scrutiny of manpower requirements in 12 prisons, including three central prisons, seven district jails, one women prison and one prisoners agricultural colony revealed shortages in key posts.

The audit observed that although the model prison manual (MPM) provides for chief medical officers in all the prison hospitals, there was no such sanctioned post in any of these hospitals in the state.

The MPM also provides for at least one gynaecologist in every women prison. However, such a service was not provided. The director general of prisons had, in May 2020, stated that proposals were being submitted to the government for creation of medical staff according to the prescribed norms in MPM.

As for medical facilities, the manual specifies the facilities/equipment to be made available in prison hospitals. However, these facilities were not available in two central prisons, at Hyderabad and Warangal, the special prisons for women and in three test-checked district jails.

Labs with facilities for basic medical tests such as complete blood profile, urine, sputum, ECG, etc are not available. Facilities such as dental clinic, ophthalmology clinic, minor operation theatre, clinical lab, X-ray lab, physiotherapy unit, detoxification unit and psychiatric unit with all equipment as specified in the MPM were not available in the two central prisons, the women prison and in three test-checked district jails.

In the central prison at Cherlapally, while dental clinic and X-ray machine were available, these could not be used in the absence of a radiographer. Other facilities were not available. As a result, prisoners were being sent to labs in government hospitals for basic medical tests along with escort arrangements.

During the past five years, the number of prisoners from sampled district jails sent to labs at government hospitals grew from 460 to 786.

The report also revealed that though it is imperative to establish a lab within the prisons, no proposal was sent to the government for establishment of such facilities. The director general (prisons) had stated in May 2020 that proposals would be sent to the government for sanction of posts and for purchase of lab equipment.

The audit scrutiny also revealed shortage of beds in the sampled central and district jails. As against the requirement of 268 beds, there was a shortage of 142 beds (53 per cent as of March 2019). Further, the district jail in Mahbubnagar did not have a hospital.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
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According to the findings of an official commission set up by Emmanuel Macron, France bears the burden of heavy and overwhelming responsibilities in the Rwanda genocide, however, it was not complicit in the slaughter. In the year 1994, as many as 800,000 people, majorly from Rwandas minority Tutsi were massacred. The report states, The Rwandan crisis ended in disaster for Rwanda and in defeat for France. It added, But is France complicit in the genocide of the Tutsis? If this means a willingness to be associated with the genocidal enterprise, nothing in the archives consulted proves it.

A new report

The commission has concluded that for a long time France was involved with a regime that encouraged racist massacres. The 1,200-page long report was presented to French president Emmanuel Macron by the historian Vincent Duclert. He is the head of the 15-strong commission, whose researchers have worked on the subject for two years. These researchers also had access to the military intelligence documents.

(Historian and Commission chief on the France's role in 1994's Rwandan genocide, Vincent Duclert, foreground right, gives a report to French President Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Friday, March 26, 2021. Image Credits: AP)

(The skulls and bones of some of those who were slaughtered as they sought refuge inside the church are laid out as a memorial to the thousands who were killed in and around the Catholic church during the 1994 genocide in Ntarama, Rwanda. A commission that spent nearly two years uncovering France's role in 1994's Rwandan genocide concluded Friday, March 26, 2021 that the country reacted too slowly in appreciating the extent of the horror that left over 800,000 dead and bears "heavy and overwhelming responsibilities" in the drift that led to the killings, but cleared the country of any complicity in the slaughter that mainly targeted Rwanda's Tutsi ethnic minority. Image Credits: AP)

All of this began on April 6, 1994, when a plane carrying the leader of Rwandas Hutu-led government, Juvenal Habyarimana, and the Burundian president, Cyprien Ntaryamira, was brought down. The killings continued till April 15. According to the reports by The Guardian, over 100 armed militias slaughtered members of the Tutsi ethnic group. Between 250,000 and 500,000 women are believed to have been raped.

As per the commission, Paris had adopted a binary scheme opposing the Hutu friend, embodied by President Habyarimana, and the enemy described as Ugandan-Tutsis to designate the Rwandan Patriotic Front. The report read, At the time of the genocide, it was slow to break with the interim government that was carrying out the genocide and continued to place the RPF threat at the top of its agenda. Later on Friday, March 26, the Rwandan government said that it welcomes the report as an important step toward a common understanding of Frances role in the genocide. Also, an investigative report commissioned by the Rwandan government will be released in the coming weeks.

(Image Credits: AP)
Police in Vietnams Mekong Delta have arrested three men for stealing dogs and killing one of the dog owners during a struggle last weekend.

Law enforcement officers in Tan Hung District, Long An Province confirmed on Monday they had apprehended Nguyen Van Chon, 28, Tran Van Thuan, 20, and Nguyen Quoc Tram, 33.

Chon and Thuan arrived at Trams house in Dong Thap Province, also in the Mekong Delta, at around 8:30 pm on Friday, according to the suspects statements.

Both brought along two pitchforks with wooden handles, while Tram prepared a homemade electric pulse and an electric battery, all of which would be used to stun and capture dogs.

The three consumed crystal meth until 10:30 pm the same day, before traveling to Tan Hung District, Long An Province on two motorbikes, bringing along their tools.

After stealing two dogs in a local neighborhood, the thieves headed to the house of T.T.H., 56, and noticed his dog walking on the sidewalk.

Tram approached the dog on his motorcycle, while Chon stunned the animal with the pitchfork charged with electricity as he sat on the back of the vehicle.

As they were putting the dog into a bag, H. and his son rushed to snatch back their pet.

Chon resisted and electrocuted H. with his pitchfork, causing the victim to collapse on the ground.

Chon ran away on the motorbike, while Tram stayed at the scene to help bring H. to the hospital.

The victim passed away shortly after, and Tram was escorted to the police station.

Chon and Thuan were hiding at a motel in Dong Thap Province when they were arrested by police.

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To whom it may concern, Pur Sport is Bugatti lingo for handling. Limited to 60 examples worldwide, this variant of the Chiron revs a little higher than its lesser peers. The dual-clutch transmission has also been revised for a closer gear spread that should make the most of the available power band.The Pur Sport also happens to be 50 kilograms (110 pounds) lighter thanks to a titanium exhaust system with 3D-printed components. A fixed rear spoiler, lots of Alcantara, anodized garnish for the interior, and wheels that feature aero blades also need to be mentioned, along with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R high-performance rubber that improves lateral grip by 10 percent.Bugatti has also stiffened the springs by 65 and 33 percent, respectively, to improve handling. The dampers and wheel camber are different from the Chiron, too, along with the stiff anti-roll bars made from carbon fiber.The Pur Sport further differs from its siblings through a model-specific drive mode. Sport+ is how Bugatti calls it, and in contrast to Sport mode, this setting dials back the traction control system for sideways shenanigans.Bugatti stands for the most extraordinary, most powerful, and most elegant hyper sports cars in the world, said chief executive officer Stephan Winkelmann, who also serves as the head honcho of Automobili Lamborghini . With the 300th vehicle produced, we are again showing our competence in quality and customization. The Pur Sport is guaranteed to give customers pleasure. In addition to its unbelievable driving performance, it combines highest engineering and design skill as well as superb craftsmanship.Those words arent just wishful thinking. As you already know from Doug DeMuros review of the Pur Sport, every single example is delivered with a fancy crate that features a blue folder, a carbon-fiber box matching the finish of the car, a key fob, a USB stick that says one of 500, the owners manual, screws, a license plate bracket, and a high-quality car cover.
Hyderabad, March 30 : Telangana Police have arrested a person for allegedly impersonating the chief minister's personal assistant and duping several people to the tune of Rs 3 crore.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said that A. Sudhakar, who was arrested on Tuesday, had duped his victims, numbering between 80 to 100, with assurances of government housing allotments, police department jobs and gold at cheaper rates.

"Posing as an employee in the CM's office, Sudhakar created fake IDs of PA to CM and OSD. The accused engaged two persons, S. Nagaraju and B. Bheemaiah, to dress in safari suits and carry fake guns to give the impression of his official security guards, and travelled in a Fortuner car," Kumar said.

Sudhakar is a Class V dropout and worked for some time as a driver at the secretariat. While working in the tourism and tribal welfare departments, he observed the activities in the secretariat and devised his plan to fleece people.

According to the police, eight cases have been registered against Sudhakar in seven police stations across the city.

Properties worth Rs 2.2 crore, including Rs 1.03 crore in cash, and house documents were recovered from the trio.
Concerns that good weather is encouraging more attempts to cross Channel

Young children were among about 120 Channel migrants landing at Dover today, as smugglers take advantage of the balmy weather ahead of Priti Patel's new crackdown on asylum seekers reaching the UK illegally.

Border Force vessels have been seen bringing groups of mostly male migrants into the Port of Dover since this morning.

At least five boats have been brought into Dover Marina, Kent, with dozens of migrants helped ashore by masked officers wearing gloves, but there could yet be more intercepted before sunset.

One large grey rigid hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) may have got into trouble at sea as it was seen with fishing line tied around its propeller.

Dozens of orange lifejackets were left in the hull of another long black inflatable boat too.

If crossings continue, the total number of arrivals today could come close to the previous daily record for the year when 183 crossed in six boats last Tuesday.

The highest number to ever arrive in one day came back in September when 409 made it across the Channel.

A young boy was among up to 100 migrants who arrived on British shores today - ahead of a crackdown on borders by Home Secretary Priti Patel

Dozens of migrants have already arrived on British shores today during a break in bad weather in the Channel - ahead of a crackdown on borders by Home Secretary Priti Patel

A child aged around eight was among the first group brought in on the back of a black Border Force vessel in the Port of Dover

A young migrant raises their hands in the air as they are brought to shore on the Kent coast

Border Force teams bring in another group of migrants as the balmy weather sparked a substantial number of crossings

If crossings continue, the total number of arrivals today could come close to the previous daily record for the year when 183 crossed in six boats last Tuesday

A child aged around eight was among the first group brought in on the back of a black Border Force vessel.

The youngster, wearing a blue fur-lined jacket and denim jeans, appeared uneasy on their feet as they grappled on to the railings after disembarking.

Immigration Enforcement officers escorted the child and the other blanket-huddling migrants up the gangway for processing.

Their yellow RHIB filled with discarded lifejackets, a foot pump, oars and an outboard engine could be seen quickly taking on water in the harbour.

Other groups containing some older adults and many women were later brought to safety by Border Force.

Sources say there could be more boats making a desperate dash across the busiest shipping route in the world during an unexpected break in bad weather.

Crossings were set to quieten down as March came to an end with a weather warning in place for strong tidal coefficients between Sunday and Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea said: 'The maritime prefect calls for the greatest caution all users of the sea, and in particular those who practise fishing on foot or who will walk on the coast subject to the tide. It can sometimes only take a few minutes to be isolated by the rising tide.'

Waves were expected to be strongest today but this hasn't stopped people smugglers jumping at the opportunity to facilitate crossings.

The arrivals come days after Home Secretary Priti Patel announced a crackdown on the organised criminal operation.

The arrivals come days after Home Secretary Priti Patel announced a crackdown on the organised criminal operation

For the first time, people who arrive in the UK illegally will no longer have the same entitlements as those who arrive legally under the Home Office plan

For the first time, people who arrive in the UK illegally will no longer have the same entitlements as those who arrive legally under the Home Office plan

Speaking to the Commons, Ms Patel said she was introducing a 'comprehensive, fair but firm' plan which would address those entering the UK 'illegally'.

For the first time, people who arrive in the UK illegally will no longer have the same entitlements as those who arrive legally under the Home Office plan.

There is also a push to introduce maximum life sentences for people smugglers.

There are concerns good weather on Britain's south coast could be encouraging more people to make crossing of the world's busiest shipping lane.

Across the south, temperatures are expected to reach 24C (75F) today and Wednesday, the hottest for March in more than 50 years today.

It would mean Britain would be hotter than some parts of the Mediterranean, including the Spanish holiday isle of Majorca.

Kent Police were called to help locate and detain a group of at least five migrants who managed to land in Lydd.

A further 35 were brought into Dover Marina, Kent on the back of the Alert cutter shortly after 11am.

The last arrivals came late in the day as a group of five men huddling blankets were brought in on the back of a Border Force vessel with their blue RHIB in tow at around 4.30pm.

In 2020 a record 8,410 migrants arrived by small boat - dwarfing 2019's total of just 1,850

There are concerns good weather on Britain's south coast could be encouraging more people to make crossing of the world's busiest shipping lane. Across the south, temperatures are expected to reach 24C (75F) today and Wednesday, the hottest for March in more than 50 years today

French authorities also prevented three attempted crossings overnight into Thursday morning involving 79 people.

Minister for Immigration Compliance and Justice Chris Philp said last Thursday: 'Yesterday, we announced the most significant overhaul of our asylum system in decades - a new fair but firm long-term plan to fix the UK's broken asylum system.

'Under these plans, we will break the business model of these cruel criminal gangs and protect the lives of those they endanger.'

The latest official Home Office figures mean 1,133 migrants have made the 21-mile journey so far this year.

And 602 have arrived in March on 30 boats - more than triple the 187 who arrived in 13 boats in the same month last year.

The daily record for the year was broken last Monday when 183 migrants were intercepted in six incidents.

In 2020 a record 8,410 migrants arrived by small boat - dwarfing 2019's total of just 1,850.
Posted Monday, March 29, 2021 10:38 am

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were front and center among issues discussed by Clark Countys lawmakers from the Washington state 18th Legislative District.

During a telephone town hall event March 22, state Reps. Larry Hoff and Brandon Vick, Republicans from Vancouver, alongside state Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, talked about the ongoing legislative session. The majority of issues discussed dealt directly or indirectly with the pandemic, with school reopening and adequate funding to do so among key points raised.

Funding-wise, the state isnt doing so bad, all things considered, Vick addressed. He noted that tax proposals such as the capital gains tax and a low-carbon fuel standard came out before the latest state revenue forecast, as well as the federal American Rescue Plan Act. He spoke against the proposals in a similar fashion that his 17th Legislative District colleagues did a week prior in their own, similar event as the remote town hall, given that the states revenues were relatively intact even with the pandemic. He added that the federal stimulus would give the state more than $4 billion, among other money headed to local governments and K-12 education.

Money is not the problem. Prioritizing seems to be where we struggle, Vick said.

Rivers, a former K-12 teacher, touched on developments regarding the reopening of schools. She noted that significant federal funding would be headed toward school districts, as well as the new guideline from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that Gov. Jay Inslee adopted for the state that reduces required physical distancing to three feet.

Rivers added that there has been work done to provide flexibility in the 180-day school year, but for all of the adjustments made, it was still up to individual districts to dictate when and how their students would be returning to school. She added that the legislature had been working on education in ways that might not be immediately obvious to those looking from the outside.

When it comes to education, there is so much happening, but its a little bit like wiring a house, Rivers remarked, explaining the work.

Hoff noted that the federal assistance was apportioned based on a districts free and reduced-price lunch population, which disproportionately affected districts like Hockinson that did not have as much of said demographic. He said there were several pieces of legislation going through currently that would address the discrepancy, adding that budget proposals put out by Republican lawmakers specifically dealt with the issue.

Listeners were polled periodically through the event for feedback on different issues facing the state. For a question about which issue they thought was most important, 44 percent of respondents said fully reopening schools and businesses was greatest, with reducing individuals tax burdens gaining 28 percent, protecting the environment at 12 percent, and public safety at 11 percent.

We need to get all of our businesses wide open, Hoff remarked, noting that the week of the town hall, all of Washington state entered Phase 3 of the statewide reopening plan, easing restrictions that dated back more than a year in some cases. All of the lawmakers said they werent surprised that reopening was at the top of listeners minds.

This really reflects the kind of communication that Im receiving, Rivers remarked.

Rivers said that the largely-remote session has caused issues with the normal way of doing legislation, in ways such as the inability to have face-to-face conversations with other lawmakers between official proceedings in order to dialogue about what they are trying to accomplish.

Its frustrating because we cant be there, and we cant look them in the eye and say, come on, you know this isnt right, Rivers remarked. You know weve got to do what we can do to make people equally happy, or equally sad.

Rivers said that the virtual nature of the session may have led to lawmakers putting forth legislation that they normally wouldnt have given the distancing nature of this years work, with those individuals feeling more brave behind their keyboards than they would during a regular year.

They dont have to see the immediate results of something they have written, Rivers said. Members (of the legislature) dont have to see the looks on their colleagues faces when they take a vote that  they dont maybe have all the information about.

Issues aside, Rivers said that her and her Republican colleagues are still reaching across the aisle to work with the Democratic Party majority.

We have been able to get some good things done by doing that, Rivers remarked, and as far as Im concerned, that has been for the entirety of my elected service. That has been the secret of my success.

Listeners were also asked about the recent state court case that decriminalized certain types of drug possession, with two thirds saying there should be some sort of legislation that addresses issues raised by the court order.

The inhumanity of allowing people to become shells of themselves without being able to help them get treatment is heartbreaking to me, Rivers said. She said that having some sort of legal, therapeutic court system would work to have that help, something in place in courts across the state but defanged by the orders prohibition on some possession charges.

The best way to do that is to provide a healthy interface between our legal system and our treatment system, Rivers said. Thats the fix that were looking for at the legislative level  how do we strengthen treatment so that we are actually helping people?
The Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has advised students to be wary of driving late in the night.



The SRC President, Master Samuel Sesah said it was in the students interest as that would ensure their safety while on the Universitys campus.



The advice comes in the wake of the recent accident which claimed the lives of two medical students and also resulting in the injury of three others.



According to the University authorities, the accident which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, March 27, had left one of the students in critical condition and currently on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). Two of the accident victims are said to be in stable condition.



Master Sesah told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Kumasi, that one of the deceased students, identified as the son of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nalerigu-Gambaga, Alhaji Seidu Issifu Baba, had since been buried per Islamic tradition and custom.



The Council, he said, was commiserating with the bereaved families as they mourned the departed souls.



Meanwhile, the KNUST authorities are working with the Ashanti Regional Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) as investigations into the issue begins.





Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin sits in front of a picture of George Floyd displayed during Chauvin's trial for second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in this courtroom sketch from a video feed of the proceedings. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

An emergency responder was so disturbed by the sight of former police officer Derek Chauvin pinning George Floyd to the ground that she called the police on him, prosecutors told the court as Mr Chauvins murder trial began in Minneapolis yesterday.

Opening arguments in the highly charged trial began with Jerry Blackwell, the prosecutor, detailing how Mr Chauvin knelt on Mr Floyds neck for a total of nine minutes and 29 seconds last May as the unarmed black man said I cant breathe 27 times before becoming silent and unresponsive.

As he outlined the sequence of events, Mr Blackwell told the court that several witnesses to the incident, including the 911 dispatcher who sent the officers to the scene, were so disturbed by Mr Chauvins actions that they called the police on the police.

Bystander footage of the arrest of Mr Floyd, an unarmed black man, launched a global movement against police brutality and racial injustice and will play a central role in the prosecutions case during the four-week trial.

Mr Chauvin, who is white, is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter and third-degree murder and faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge.

Joe Biden was watching the proceedings closely along with the rest of America, the White House said yesterday.

The US presidents spokesman said the events surrounding Mr Floyds death were a reminder of the need to make addressing racial injustice a priority to the things we do.

The distressing footage of Mr Floyds last moments was played to jurors, with the prosecution telling them Mr Chauvin (45) squeezed the very life out of the 46-year-old, refusing to remove his weight even as paramedics attempted to find Mr Floyds pulse.

Mr Derek Chauvin betrayed this badge when he used excessive and unreasonable force upon the body of George Floyd, Mr Blackwell said.

The jury panel consists of eight white people and six black or mixed raced people. Two of the 14 are alternates and will not take part in the deliberations. The prosecution called Jena Scurry, the 911 dispatcher who sent police to the scene on May 25, as their first witness.

Ms Scurry said she grew distressed as she watched a live video feed showing Mr Chauvin continuing to pin Mr Floyd to the ground, saying my instincts were telling me that somethings wrong. The emergency responder said she was so shocked that she decided to call a police sergeant to voice her concerns  the first time she had done so in her seven years in the role.

You can call me a snitch if you want to but... all of them sat on this man. I dont know if they needed to or not, she said in audio of the call played to the court.

Meanwhile, the defence urged the jury to separate the social justice movement triggered by Mr Floyds death from the proceedings taking place in the courtroom as they presented their opening arguments.

There is no political or social cause in this courtroom, lawyer Eric Nelson told the court.

Mr Nelson said there was more to the scene than the bystander footage showed after Mr Floyd was apprehended outside a shop in Minneapolis for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 note.

The evidence is far greater than nine minutes and 29 seconds, he said.

Mr Nelson cited the fact that Mr Floyd would not co-operate during his arrest and the heckling Mr Chauvin and the other officers had to contend with from a large, hostile group of onlookers.

A large group of protesters gathered outside the courthouse as the trial began. Some of the crowd filled the road waving Black Lives Matter flags in a stand-off with cars attempting to pass.

Abdirashiid Jibriil Jawjawla, a Minneapolis resident originally from Somalia, said he had been there since 8am.

Were not talking about skin colour, we are talking about justice, he said.

Outside the courthouse in downtown Minneapolis, Mr Floyds family said the trial would have broader implications for America.

Ben Crump, a lawyer for the Floyd family, said: Today starts a landmark trial that will be a referendum on how far America has come in its quest for equality and justice for all.

The whole world is watching, he added. ( Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2021)
The photo had the casual feel of a yearbook snapshot: Harvard men gathered around the school's iconic John Harvard statue against a backdrop of ivy. One is crouched in Harvard's lap, and another holds a boating hat, a giveaway that the photo was taken before commencement during Class Day of 1924. Their shoes suggest that the men are dressed formally, though it's hard to know because their outfits - and their faces - are covered in the white robes and hoods of the Ku Klux Klan.

The photo's title: "Harvard Class Day - Class Day at Harvard, Klans Klass 21 - have fun."

When Simon Levien found the image last spring, he dove into reporting that resulted a 4,500-word feature published last week in the Harvard Crimson culminating nearly a year of research. Though the 20-year-old was prompted by the Klan Class Day photo, what he found instead was what he described in his story as "this 20th-century historical hole in Harvard's reconciliation attempts."

Levien's interest drove him to dig through Harvard's archives and the student newspaper, to talk with professors and administrators and alumni who attended Harvard 65 years earlier.

The most striking incident involved J. Max Bond Jr., class of '55. Bond came to Harvard at 16 and was among just a handful of Black students at the time. In the middle of the night during the spring of Bond's freshman year, two students lit a cross on fire facing the north corner of Harvard Yard, near where Bond and eight other Black freshmen lived.

"Some of the onlookers cheered when, after ten minutes, the cross was knocked down, but we are sorry to say that others expressed indignation at its destruction. Minutes later a Negro student passing thru the Yard was hailed with remarks such as might be expected in the Klan-dominated States of the South," Bond and classmate James Bows Jr. wrote in a letter to the Crimson in 1952 that Levien unearthed in his research.

"We do not feel that this demonstration can be dismissed as a prank; a burning cross carries with it so many unpleasant associations that it cannot be simply laughed off," Bond wrote. "The very fact that some could see it as funny reveals a lamentable perspective."

Bond, who became a prominent architect after Harvard, died in 2009 but left ample documentation in biographies and an 11-page retelling of his life of how the incident shaded his experience in college and what happened after he raised concerns about the cross burning.

Apart from a few deans and progressive campus groups that condemned the incident, little was done, with most students and administrators dismissing a cross set aflame near where the tiny population of Black students lived as nothing malicious.

"The administration called it a prank," Levien told The Post. "Obviously, (Bond) did not think it was a prank."

Levien tried to reach alumni from the Class of '55 to ask them about the cross burning, but many have already died. One alumnus he did reach, Charles "Chuck" Greenblatt, now 90, said his memory of the incident was fuzzy. Greenblatt was a member of the Society for Minority Rights, one of the student clubs that condemned the cross burning, but he admitted to Levien that at the time, he had probably accepted the university's rejection of the incident as a prank.

Levien found that Bond later wrote in his personal archives that the university had threatened to suspend him or any other Black student if they took their story to the press.

When the Initiative on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery, convened in 2019, releases its first report this winter, it is not expected to contain any mention of the school's legacy of racism during the 20th century, Levien found. Several committee members said the report will have "allusions to the 20th-century history" but little more.

Harvard says this isn't true. In a statement released on March 19, Tomiko Brown-Nagin, chair of the Presidential Committee on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery, says that "our work - when it is released - will speak for itself." The committee, "made up of scholars renowned for their work on racial justice, structural inequality, slavery, human rights, and more," she writes, is taking its time to fully research the history and come up with recommendations for action. The work, she writes, is grounded in the past but involves committee members deeply intertwined with work examining the present impact of racial inequality.

Levien said he and professors who study Harvard's history were disappointed with how little Harvard appears to have reckoned with its racism in the modern era - especially when he considers how much of the information he pieced together was hiding in plain sight in archives, student newspaper clippings and other documents as recent as 2014.

"If you type 'Harvard' and 'The KKK' in our library database, a lot will come up; it's surprisingly not that buried," Levien said.

A growing number of universities are addressing their school's past treatment of enslaved people or ways in which the institutions enriched themselves through the slave trade. More recently, schools have grappled with racist mascots, traditions and yearbook photos forcing an ongoing dialogue about equality and safety for non-White students and what reckoning and reconciliation looks like for current campus communities.

Levien said his research left many stones unturned, including a dive into the archive of former Harvard president A. Lawrence Lowell, who's legacy includes institutionalizing racism and anti-Semitism on campus.

Levien doesn't expect his story will be the last of its kind, and hopes others will join in.

"A few of the people I talked to emphasized that uncovering this history isn't going to be just a university effort: it's going to be students, faculty, staff. The whole community."

Levien said that unlike the 1924 photo that kicked off his research, he did not find any evidence that confirmed any formal Klan presence on campus in the 1950s when the cross burning took place outside Bond's dorm.

As for the photo, its context is as revealing as its content. It was part of a collection at the Boston Public Library from Leslie Jones, a photographer and photojournalist who documented life in Massachusetts in the early and mid-21st century. Jones's collection at the Boston Public Library includes several scenes from the Harvard campus.

"(The Klan photo) was in stark contrast to the rest of the collection," Levien said.

In the broader context of United States history, a photo of Klansmen lounging in Harvard Yard would never be more normalized than in 1924.

The Harvard branch of the Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1921, according to university archives, consistent with when Klan membership reached its peak in the 1920s. Though the KKK was founded after the Civil War and had its stronghold in the Deep South, its second incarnation in the 20th century was spread throughout the whole of the United States, including enclaves such as Cambridge, Mass.

The year after the Klansmen posed for a photo at Harvard, 30,000 KKK members marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, 22 abreast and 14 rows deep. The Washington Post's DeNeen Brown revisited the spectacle in a 2017 article after the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., showing how past, particularly with the country's history of racism, is so often prologue.
He said while the CNG trucks are more expensive than those that run on regular fuel, they ended up costing less after receiving the grant money and proved to be a better choice when the temperature plummeted to 50 degrees below zero. He said the gas-fueled trucks gummed up and wouldnt start, but the CNG trucks started right up.
Health workers in Osun State have pledged their commitment to end female genital mutilation in the state by always protecting women and girls from such practice.

This was the thrust of a 3-day capacity building training organised by Action Health Incorporated (AHI), in collaboration with the state's Ministry of Health, with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for health workers drawn from Ilesha West, Irepodun and Ede South local government areas.

AHI programme officer, Miss Abdulrasheed Nuriyat, described female genital mutilation as a harmful practice. She noted that the practice is internationally recognised as human rights violation.

Miss Nuriyat said health workers had to be engaged to serve as advocates against the harmful practice, and to also provide services to meet the sexual and reproductive needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences at the community level.

The focal point person of the United Nations Population Fund on female genital mutilation in the state, Mrs Aduke Obelawo, also told the health workers that medicalisation of female genital mutilation was unethical to medical practice, and so, urged them to shun it.

Addressing the participants, the Director of Public Health, Dr Gbenga Adepoju, said the rate of the practice had reduced in the state and that more efforts were required by stakeholders to ensure its eradication.
Indigenous traditions often place land at the centre of their cultures. However, with more than half of Canada's Indigenous population now living in urban areas and Indigenous communities struggling to overcome legacies of colonialism defined by assimilation and land theft, that connection is getting frayed.

Elizabeth Fast, an associate professor of applied human sciences in the Faculty of Arts and Science, wanted to help Indigenous youth reconnect with their cultures in safe and accessible ways. Along with a youth advisory group composed of Indigenous youth (some of whom are also students), she has been organizing a series of land-based learning retreats revolving around Indigenous traditions and ceremonies.

The first, held in July 2018, is the subject of a new paper published in the International Journal of Indigenous Health.

"The youth participants found the retreat extremely nourishing," Fast says. "It provided many opportunities they've never had before to spend more time with Elders and Knowledge Holders to learn more about ceremonies and to connect with land-based learning. We explicitly created a cultural safety framework that welcomed different levels of connections with one's identity, including gender and sexuality."

The Restoring Our Roots project has since evolved into a five-year Land As Our Teacher participatory action research project exploring the ways land-based pedagogies benefit Indigenous youth.

Once-banned cultural practices now out in the open

Restoring Our Roots would not have been possible without input from the project's youth advisory committee, many of whom also participated in the program. By helping to develop the framework, pedagogical content, ethics and other aspects of the four-day retreat, they were able to come up with programming that was educational, culturally appropriate and inclusive.

Over the course of the retreat, the participants were mentored by Elders and worked with artists, community leaders, storytellers and other young people who guided them through activities meant to help them (re)connect to their Indigeneity. These included cultural workshops, arts-based activities, ceremonies, sweat lodges, medicines and storytelling sessions. All of it was centered around relationship with the land.

"Our ancestors grew up learning from and on the land. It was a way of life and still is for some," Fast says. "But for many Indigenous people, even those living in communities, it is less so because many of our cultural practices and ceremonies were banned. There is a real sense of loss and grief from losing those traditions. We were seeing a lot of interest in relearning and reclaiming them."

Land-based learning includes ways that Indigenous communities survive as peoples as well, such as hunting, fishing, gathering medicines, tanning hides and building fires and shelters, Fast explains.

Belonging for all

She adds that the retreat specifically made space for LGBTQ and Two-Spirit youth hoping to reconnect to their heritage -- a group often cut off or separated from their wider communities.

"Many of these youth have moved away from ceremony or accessing land-based learning because they might feel the impact of colonization around gender and sexual identity norms even more," she says. "If they feel they are going to experience transphobia or homophobia, they might just assimilate and move away from their cultures or communities."

Fast is now organizing a queer-only retreat for Indigenous youth this summer, despite the overall positivity and inclusion seen in past retreats.

"I think the sense of belonging is very important for Indigenous youth, especially for those who have felt disconnected for many reasons," she concludes. "It increases their courage to reconnect and can lead to some healing of intergenerational trauma. It also can be a foundation for deeper and better relationships with the land and help them get away from their technology-heavy lives to provide an experience many of them never had before."

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DUBLIN, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Online Food Delivery Market: Global Industry Analysis, Trends, Market Size, and Forecasts up to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The report on the global online food delivery market provides qualitative and quantitative analysis for the period from 2018 to 2026. The report predicts the global online food delivery market to grow with a CAGR of 19.6% over the forecast period from 2020-2026. The study on online food delivery market covers the analysis of the leading geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW for the period of 2018 to 2026.



The report on online food delivery market is a comprehensive study and presentation of drivers, restraints, opportunities, demand factors, market size, forecasts, and trends in the global online food delivery market over the period of 2018 to 2026. Moreover, the report is a collective presentation of primary and secondary research findings.



Porter's five forces model in the report provides insights into the competitive rivalry, supplier and buyer positions in the market and opportunities for the new entrants in the global online food delivery market over the period of 2018 to 2026. Further, Growth Matrix gave in the report brings an insight into the investment areas that existing or new market players can consider.



Report Findings



1) Drivers

Growing use of smartphones phones and increasing internet penetration

Online food delivery strategic alliances fintech companies, food brands, and hospitality companies

2) Restraints

Highly volatile prices of the food industry

3) Opportunities

Increasing focus on data-driven user experience optimization

Segment Covered

The global online food delivery market is segmented on the basis of service type, channel type, and mode of transaction.



The Global Online Food Delivery Market by Service Type

Restaurant-controlled

Independent

Food App Services

Others

The Global Online Food Delivery Market by Channel Type

Websites/desktop

Mobile Applications

The Global Online Food Delivery Market by Mode Of Transaction

Cash on Delivery

Online

What does this Report Deliver?

1. Comprehensive analysis of the global as well as regional markets of the online food delivery market.

2. Complete coverage of all the segments in the online food delivery market to analyze the trends, developments in the global market and forecast of market size up to 2026.

3. Comprehensive analysis of the companies operating in the global online food delivery market. The company profile includes analysis of product portfolio, revenue, SWOT analysis and latest developments of the company.

4. Growth Matrix presents an analysis of the product segments and geographies that market players should focus to invest, consolidate, expand and/or diversify.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Preface

1.1. Report Description

1.2. Research Methods

1.3. Research Approaches



2. Executive Summary

2.1. Online Food Delivery Market Highlights

2.2. Online Food Delivery Market Projection

2.3. Online Food Delivery Market Regional Highlights



3. Global Online Food Delivery Market Overview

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Market Dynamics

3.2.1. Drivers

3.2.2. Restraints

3.2.3. Opportunities

3.3. Analysis of COVID-19 impact on the Online Food Delivery Market

3.4. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

3.5. Growth Matrix Analysis

3.5.1. Growth Matrix Analysis by Service Type

3.5.2. Growth Matrix Analysis by Channel Type

3.5.3. Growth Matrix Analysis by Mode Of Transaction

3.5.4. Growth Matrix Analysis by Region

3.6. Value Chain Analysis of Online Food Delivery Market



4. Online Food Delivery Market Macro Indicator Analysis



5. Global Online Food Delivery Market by Service Type

5.1. Restaurant-controlled

5.2. Independent

5.3. Food App Services

5.4. Others



6. Global Online Food Delivery Market by Channel Type

6.1. Websites/desktop

6.2. Mobile Applications



7. Global Online Food Delivery Market by Mode Of Transaction

7.1. Cash on Delivery

7.2. Online



8. Global Online Food Delivery Market by Region 2020-2026

8.1. North America

8.1.1. North America Online Food Delivery Market by Service Type

8.1.2. North America Online Food Delivery Market by Channel Type

8.1.3. North America Online Food Delivery Market by Mode Of Transaction

8.1.4. North America Online Food Delivery Market by Country

8.2. Europe

8.2.1. Europe Online Food Delivery Market by Service Type

8.2.2. Europe Online Food Delivery Market by Channel Type

8.2.3. Europe Online Food Delivery Market by Mode Of Transaction

8.2.4. Europe Online Food Delivery Market by Country

8.3. Asia-Pacific

8.3.1. Asia-Pacific Online Food Delivery Market by Service Type

8.3.2. Asia-Pacific Online Food Delivery Market by Channel Type

8.3.3. Asia-Pacific Online Food Delivery Market by Mode Of Transaction

8.3.4. Asia-Pacific Online Food Delivery Market by Country

8.4. RoW

8.4.1. RoW Online Food Delivery Market by Service Type

8.4.2. RoW Online Food Delivery Market by Channel Type

8.4.3. RoW Online Food Delivery Market by Mode Of Transaction

8.4.4. RoW Online Food Delivery Market by Sub-region



9. Company Profiles and Competitive Landscape

9.1. Competitive Landscape in the Global Online Food Delivery Market

9.2. Companies Profiled

9.2.1. DoorDash

9.2.2. Delivery Hero SE

9.2.3. Zomato Pvt Ltd

9.2.4. Uber Eats

9.2.5. Deliveroo

9.2.6. GrubHub

9.2.7. OLO, Inc

9.2.8. Snapfinger, Inc.

9.2.9. Tillster, Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3poowm

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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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

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Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 26 Master's in Social Studies Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 51 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 51 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 26 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 Social Studies Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-masters-in-social-studies-programs/

2021 Master's in Social Studies Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

American Public University System

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Brown University

Colgate University

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New York University

Nova Southeastern University

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Purdue University

Slippery Rock University

State University of New York College, Brockport

State University of New York, Buffalo

Syracuse University

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University of Colorado, Boulder

University of Georgia

University of Louisville

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University of the Cumberlands

University of Washington

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 National Police have arrested the man who alleged fired the shot that killed a DJ during an illegal party in a Marbella villa.

Police say the man who was arrested in Malaga city this Tuesday morning (30 March) is a 30-year-old German.

Another German national, aged 28, has also been arrested as an accessory as officers believe they were preparing to flee the country in the next few hours.

The man who died after being shot in the neck was acting as a DJ during an alleged illegal party at a luxury residential area of Marbella.

Initial reports suggest that the victim's death was caused by a stray bullet after an argument broke out in an adjacent room to where the DJ was.

Apparently three shots were fired, one of them going through a wall and hitting the man in the neck.
Unite called off strike action at RATP last Wednesday in a bid to push through sell out agreements at all three London subsidiaries of the French-owned transnational.

Over 2,000 bus drivers at London United, London Sovereign and Quality Line have taken rolling strike action since the end of February. The action has hit bus services in north, west and south London.

London, Euston Station bus stand (credit: WSWS)

Unites last-minute cancellation of industrial action followed negotiations on a subsidiary-by-subsidiary basis to impose a settlement that deprives bus drivers of a genuine pay increase.

It was the second week in a row that Unite suspended strikes. It called off action at London Sovereign and Quality Line Wednesday March 17 to ballot its membership on Friday March 19 over a revised offer of 1 percent (up from 0.75 percent) plus a 425 lump sum.

At Quality Line, the 1 percent rise was accepted at its Epsom garage. This is a 14 pence an hour increase for drivers who are paid 2.50 less an hour than those at RATPs other subsidiaries. They are the lowest paid bus drivers on routes operated by Transport for London (TfL).

While Unite stated that the strikes would draw a line in the sand over low pay, it never advanced the demand for pay parity. Instead, the union has ensured that Quality Line drivers remain at the bottom of the unequal pay structure across the company and the entire London bus network.

Unites claim that it was neutral over the offer is contemptible. Its decision to ballot over the companys negligible offer was de facto agreement. Unite touted the miserly uplift as an improved offer. Despite this endorsement, the agreement was voted down at both Harrow and Edgware garages, with Edgware voting by 3 to 1 to reject.

The union immediately went back into talks with management to come up with a meagre upliftan increase of 0.25 percent to 1.25 percent and the lump sum increased from 425 to 500. This served as the pretext for suspending the strike once again to ram through an unjust settlement.

The vote to accept on March 26 met with significant opposition. Harrow garage voted 60 to 45 to reject. At Edgware, 57 voted to reject with 155 voting to accept. This means a third of bus drivers were prepared to defy the union. Many others will have voted in favour reluctantly, convinced that Unite would fight for nothing more.

Unite argued for acceptance of the 1.25 percent based on farcical claims that its settlement over the backdated pay claim for 2020 will pave the way for an improved pay claim in the upcoming financial year. Workers who manned picket lines across all three RATP subsidiaries and were looking for a serious fight have been saddled with a miserable outcome that undermines their collective interests.

At London Unitedthe largest of RATPs London operationsUnite was unable to come back from its extensive negotiations with management with an offer it could even justify putting to a vote.

Management have not even offered a token increase on the original offer keeping with the original 0.5 percent for 2019. In relation to 2020 pay award it has repackaged the 0.5 percent to include the 1,000 lump sum to dress it up as 1.2 percent.

RATP insisted that it would not remove the New Starter contracts based on inferior terms and conditions for new drivers, which includes an increase in unpaid meal breaks from 40 minutes to 1 hour. The company was also unwilling to step back from the roll out of zero-hour contracts for established drivers whose routes have been lost to competitors and who have been transferred over to other routes within London United, and for drivers who request new rotas.

The unions pretext for suspending strike action stands completely exposed based on the unicorn of a meaningful offer. London United bus drivers are scheduled to strike on March 31 and many will want to vent their opposition. But the union has ensured such actionif it does not veto it yet againwill be isolated.

Unites horse trading with RATP has left drivers at London United out on a limb and ended the dispute at London Sovereign and Quality Line based on rotten pay deals.

On March 1, Unite stated in a press release, In a divide and rule approach, RATP is attempting to treat workers in each subsidiary differently and play one set of workers off against another. Events during the dispute have demonstrated that Unite serves as the chief instrument for the company in enforcing this divide and rule strategy.

The strikes at RATP were only sanctioned by Unite to head off a long-brewing confrontation over pay and conditions, that has been fuelled during the pandemic. Over the past year, the lives of bus workers have been sacrificed to defend the profits of the private operators.

Unite officials sought to ensure that limited and staggered industrial action did not provide a focal point for wider opposition. While rival operator Metroline ran additional bus services to undermine the strike, Unite refused to call for solidarity action, even as Metroline drivers were being balloted over plans for Remote Sign On.

This has been repeated on a larger scale at Go North West in Manchester. Bus drivers there have been on indefinite strike since February 28 against the imposition of fire and rehire contracts. Parent company Go Aheadthe largest private bus operator in the UKhas subcontracted its routes to an armada of smaller operators in a major strikebreaking operation. But Unite has refused any appeal to drivers across Manchester to defeat these plans.

Unite has presented RATP and Go Ahead as rogue operators rather than the spearhead of an offensive by the major transport companies, and on this basis has kept the struggles isolated.

In London and Manchester, Unite has aimed for a negotiated settlement that preserves the profits of the corporations. The union has pitched itself as a responsible business partner, appealing to Go Aheads CEO to support a 1 million cost-cutting programme and one-year pay freeze. At RATP it has helped to impose a derisory pay settlement and the imposition of inferior terms and conditions.

The experience of workers at RATP and Go Ahead is an object lesson in the corporatist transformation of the unions. RATP drivers opposition to Unites sell-out has confirmed the need for rank-and- file committeesdemocratic organisations of struggle, independent of the unions, which can mobilise the strength of the working class.

As Prime Minister Boris Johnsons government ends the final lockdown and reopens the economy for business, RATP and Go Aheads actions reflect the class war agenda of the entire ruling class. Fire and rehire contracts are being rolled out across transport, the energy sector, telecommunications, and manufacturing. These are not sectional disputes. They are part of efforts to make the working class pay for the gargantuan bailouts to the corporate and financial oligarchy during the pandemic.

In opposition to the Labour Party and trade unions, who serve as willing accomplices to the Johnson government, the working class must advance a socialist programme to fight austerity, authoritarianism and war, in unity with workers throughout the world. We urge bus and transport workers to register for the meeting being held on Saturday, April 10, sponsored by the Socialist Equality Party, to establish a network of rank and file committees.
MADRID (AP)  In Madrid, the real party starts at 11 p.m. after the bars close  and curfew kicks in.

That's when young, polyglot groups of revelers from Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and, most noticeably, France, join their Spanish contemporaries in Old Madrid's narrow streets to seek illicit fun. Most are in their early 20s, eager to party in the Spanish capital like they haven't been able to do for months at home under strict lockdowns.

With its policy of open bars and restaurants  indoors and outdoors  and by keeping museums and theaters running even when outbreaks have strained hospitals, Madrid has built a reputation as an oasis of fun in Europes desert of restrictions.

Other Spanish regions have a stricter approach to entertainment. Even sunny coastal resorts offer a limited range of options for the few visitors that started to arrive, coinciding with Easter week, amid a set of contradictory European travel rules.

Its a real privilege for me to go into bars because in France you cant. Here I can go to restaurants, share time with friends outside of home, discover the city, Romy Karel said. The 20-year-old Berliner flew to Madrid last Thursday from Bordeaux, the southern French city where she's studying social sciences.

"I cant remember when was the last time I did this, she said.

The visitors are bringing some vital business to locals and giving politicians much to debate about before a polarized regional election. Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the regional president of Madrid who is running for reelection, is trying to attract votes beyond her conservative supporters by campaigning under the slogan of freedom."

Outside the capital, efforts to jumpstart tourism are drawing mixed results. In part, that's due to a patchwork of rules at regional, national and even European levels that curb domestic nonessential travel in many countries while leaving a loophole for those seeking a Spanish holiday.

Story continues

Although Germany has banned all domestic tourism and discouraged travel abroad, the government allows trips to Spain's Balearic Islands, which have a low infection rate. Bookings of flights and hotels followed even though many were disappointed to find on arrival that bars and restaurants were shut at night.

In Germany, we have so many rules that coming here feels like freedom," said Marius Hoffman, 18, shortly after he landed in the archipelago's capital, Palma de Mallorca, this past weekend.

David Stock, another German traveler who visited Granada's famed Alhambra complex this week, acknowledged the paradox of his government's rules combined with Spain's embracing of tourists.

There are strange rules everywhere these days, Stock said.

In France, hard-hit regions are curtailing free movement to a 10-kilometer (roughly six-mile) radius from home. Together with the nationwide nighttime curfew and the total closure of bars and restaurants since last October, it's proving too much for many, who look south for excitement.

France now accounts for one-fifth of all incoming flights to Madrid, while cellphone roaming data analysis has shown an increasing uptick of French mobiles in the Spanish capital since January  peaking around weekends.

When curfew begins, many of the fun-seekers head for underground gatherings advertised via messaging groups. Others recruit fellow party animals on their way back to their rented Airbnbs. Last weekend, police said they broke up more than 350 illegal parties, with some of the attendees hiding in closets or other implausible places.

Spain recently said it would extend a negative coronavirus test requirement in effect for arrivals by sea or air to include those entering from France by land.

Still, foreigners like Hoffman or Karel can fly direct from Munich or Bordeaux to beach resorts or cultural wonders in Spain, while Spaniards cant travel across regions in the country to their second homes or visit relatives.

This rankles with many, such as Nuria Lopez, a 45-year-old pastry shop owner in the Spanish capital.

It's unfair, Lopez said. But it does help the economy in Madrid and we need that.

Like her, many see the need to boost an industry that in 2019 accounted for 12.5% of Spain's gross domestic product and employed nearly 13% of its workforce. The near-total halt of international travel, paired with last year's first uncompromising lockdown, meant that the economy shrank 10.8% in 2020, the biggest drop since the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.

So even as hospitals filled once again after Christmas, politicians resisted the pressure to follow other European countries in ordering full stay-at-home orders, closing schools or most businesses.

To this day, Spain has avoided imposing quarantines for visitors from other EU member countries  unlike neighboring Portugal, which on Monday tightened the mandatory isolation requirement for most incoming travelers.

Pablo Diaz, a tourism expert with the Barcelona-based UOC university, said pandemic fatigue, especially among younger generations, and a lack of a common European policy have meant that "tourism has found ways to establish direct corridors in an organic way where the supply and demand meet."

The uptick in bookings ahead of Easter week, he said, has been like a breath of fresh air for tourism."

But that doesn't mean that the industry is going to come out of ICU any time soon, he added.

___

Bernat Armangue and Iain Sullivan in Madrid, Francisco Ubilla in Palma de Mallorca, Sergio Rodrigo in Granada, Thomas Adamson in Paris, and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs pandemic coverage at:

https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
The General Overseer of the Champions Royal Assembly, Prophet Joshua Iginla has given his opinion about the COVID-19 vaccine. The vacc...

The General Overseer of the Champions Royal Assembly, Prophet Joshua Iginla has given his opinion about the COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine has caused confusion and division in the Christendom, with some describing the vaccine as an unholy substance.

But Prophet Joshua Iginla has encouraged Christians to take the vaccine, as it is spiritually endorsed.

The prophet made this known during a live service in his church while explaining that some church leaders who have created a theory against taking the vaccine are insensitive because the vaccine will do more good than harm to the people.

He noted that some have described it as a mark of the beast, and a manifestation of the anti-Christ, but faulted this claim by backing it up with the scripture that the anti-Christ will never manifest until the saints are taken up in the rapture.

He also vowed that he will be taking the vaccine and show it publicly to his church members and all Christians in order to prove that the vaccine is harmless, and has a positive objective.

Continuing, he recalled that while he was young as a barrack boy, he took many vaccines against several infections with no side effects.

He, therefore, urged those inhabiting fears to overcome it and embrace the vaccine, as it will do no harm.
A new report by DigiTimes reveals that MediaTek was the number 1 smartphone chip maker in 2020. The brands immense growth is thanks to growing orders from key smartphone OEMs, Huaweis US ban, and the companys strategic announcement of its new lineup of Dimmensity chipsets with built-in 5G modems.

In 2020, MediaTek shipped 351.8 million units to smartphone OEMs, compared to the 238 million supplied to OEMs in 2019. This meant an increase from 17.2% global market share in 2019 up to 27.2% market share in 2020. As per Omdia, this is the first time that MediaTek surpasses Qualcomm as the lead smartphone chipset brand by number of shipments.



Powered by MediaTek: Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T

Xiaomi is the brands biggest customer shipping 63.7 million handsets with MediaTek chipsets in 2020 compared to 19.7 million in 2019. Oppo shipped the second largest amount of smartphones with MediaTek chipsets in 2020 at 55.3 million compared to the 46.3 million in 2019. Combined with Realme, Oppo shipped 83.2 million MediaTek devices last year. Samsung also increased its orders with the chipmaker, by 43.3 million shipments in 2020.

With the Huawei-US ban, the company had no choice but to find a new supplier for its vast portfolio of devices. Outside of its flagships that run Huaweis HiSilicon chips, Huawei went with MediaTek as Qualcomm was unable to supply chips to Huawei due to the ban.

Mostly important for MediaTek's growth in 2020 was in key price segments for MediaTek as the world was impacted by the pandemic in the first half of 2020 and the smartphone market recovered in the second half of the year. Low-end and mid/low0end devices were popular with buyers. MediaTeks ability to compete [and] present an alternative to Qualcomm chips in this price segment helped the company grow.  Zaker Li, Senior Analyst of Wireless Devices and Components at Omdia

Looking towards this year, MediaTek is expected to continue growing in smartphone chipset shipments. While Huawei and the new Honor will continue to outsource chipset demand due to its dwindling Kirin brand, the future growth of smartphones is in emerging markets with cheap smartphones, and this is where MediaTek has found great success.

Via
For a short period in the late summer months of 2018, it was nearly impossible to avoid images of Maria Butina.

The photogenic Russian gun advocate  her American boyfriend, Yale graduate Paul Erickson, was a well-connected GOP operative  was seemingly everywhere, instantly recognizable from her fiery red hair, no-nonsense look, assault weapon slung over her shoulder and  later  her orange prison jumpsuit.

Butinas story is now the subject of a six-part Wondery true-crime podcast called Spy Affair, produced and narrated by documentary filmmaker Celia Aniskovich, who was raised in Branford.

Liz Yale Marsh, Aniskovichs close friend and a fellow filmmaker, initially sent her an article about Butina. Aniskovich was immediately sold on the story.

I thought: how fascinating, Aniskovich said. Here we are, two young women who represent the two stakeholders in the story, Russia and America. How is it that a woman who is just a couple of years older than me ends up in prison at the center of an international scandal?

In 2018, Butina was convicted of conspiring to act as a foreign agent within the United States.

But the podcast begins years earlier: at Freedom Fest 2015 in Las Vegas, an overflowing, arch-conservative conference in the heart of Sin City.

It was [Ericksons] idea to go there, Butina says at the beginning of the first episode. He showed me the American political world. Paul was my guide in this world, so he brought me to Freedom Fest.

Weeks earlier, Donald Trump had announced his candidacy for president; at Freedom Fest, he was a last-minute addition to the speakers list. Suddenly, I see the people are moving in people like bees, you know, they started buzzing there, Butina says.

The American Dream is dead, Trump told the Freedom Fest crowd, but Im going to make it bigger and better and stronger than ever before.

During the Q&A that followed, Butina asked Trump a question: what do you think of the economic sanctions the Obama administration had imposed on Russia?

I know Putin, and Ill tell you what, we get along with Putin, Trump said to Butina. Putin has no respect for President Obama. Big problem, big problem. I believe I would get along very nicely with Putin.

Minutes later, from a bathroom stall, Butina called a senior Russian official  a conversation she later referred to as her best report. Three years later, Butina was arrested.

That all takes place in the first four minutes of Spy Affair.

Aniskovich spent dozens of hours interviewing Butina in an Alexandria, Virginia prison, and over Zoom and phone calls to Moscow. There was nothing glamorous about it: multiple prison-allotted 20-minute sessions with a pale, thin, scared young woman trapped in a harsh environment.

At the first session, Aniskovicha and Butina just talked. I got to know a little bit about her. I got to know what books she was reading in prison, what things she liked, how she was missing her parents, she said. We talked like I'd talk to any other woman my age.

They stayed in touch; Butina was eventually moved to a prison with email and video-chat capabilities.

Aniskovich, who currently lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., co-produced the 2020 Netflix series How to Fix a Drug Scandal. Her father, William Aniskovich, was a Republican state senator in Connecticut from 1991 to 2005.

For Spy Affair, Aniskovich said she was mostly interested in telling Butinas story from the Russian womans perspective.

One of the things that Maria says is don't believe me, don't believe the media, don't believe anybody but think about it, Aniskovich said. Think critically and don't think black and white. Try to understand people as human beings. I think that is really what fascinated me.

Listeners can tune into the first two episodes of Spy Affair on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon or Wondery.

Even after production wrapped on the podcast, Aniskovich found herself questioning the details of Butinas story.

The facts and the truth are hard to come by, Aniskovich said The question that I've thought a lot about: is there a sort of capital T truth here, and what does that mean? Will we ever know all of the information? Will we be able to have all of the truth? I think probably the answer is no.

michael.hamad@hearstmediact.com
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.

Inc. magazine revealed that rapidly growing and customer-focused PEO, INFINITI HR ranked 164 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.

"With three-year revenue growth of 108 percent, we are honored to be recognized on this list, INFINITI HR CEO Scott Smrkovski said. "A huge shout out to our customers and our incredible team -- thank you for playing a pivotal role in our growth year over year."

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.

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.

In addition to this honor, INFINITI HR was recognized by Inc. 5000 for the eighth time, received the 2021 Best PEO award by digital.com, and was named a 2019 Top Workplace by The Washington Post.

Its an honor to be on this list and ranked alongside DC Metros most successful businesses, INFINITI HR Managing Partner Mark Schwaiger said. Despite the year weve all had, our business partners and INFINIT HRs dedicated team members have allowed us to continue to address complex HR challenges on a large scale when our customers have needed it most. You are all to thank for our repeated recognition.

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 inc5000/regionals/washington-dc.

MORE 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 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 inc.com.

About INFINITI HR

INFINITI HR is a leading Professional Employer Organization (PEO). The INFINITI HR PEO platform provides full regulatory compliance management, on-demand HR guidance, real-time payroll /tax filing, POS integration, and access into industry leading True-Group Master Policies for workers compensation, employment practices liability insurance, and other operational business coverages.

Click here for the latest press releases and up-to-date news on human resources outsourcing. To learn more about how your units can save time, money and mitigate employer liability, call INFINITI HR at 866-552-7360 or email info@infinitihr.com.
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[March 30, 2021] Cesium Releases Free 'Cesium for Unreal' for All Creators

PHILADELPHIA, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In collaboration with Epic Games, 3D geospatial software company Cesium has released Cesium for Unreal, a free, open source plugin that delivers high-resolution 3D geospatial technology and accurate real-world data for any type of application. Cesium for Unreal enables real-world 3D location data and geospatial technology for Unreal Engine. Cesium for Unreal enables a high-accuracy full-scale (WGS84) globe in Unreal Engine, the open and advanced real-time 3D tool from Epic Games, creator of Fortnite. With this new plugin, developers now have the ability to create interactive, virtual worlds using accurate real-world 3D content captured from cameras and LIDAR sensors on satellites, drones, and intelligent machines. "Cesium's expertise in cloud-based geospatial software applications and leadership on open standards for streaming massive 3D content makes them an ideal partner to support Epic's vision for an open Metaverse," said Marc Petit, VP and General Manager of Unreal Engine at Epic Games. The implementation of 3D geospatial technology in real-world environments -- from buildin immersive experiences in artist-created scenes to those based on 3D content in its precise geospatial location -- represents a shift in industries including training and simulation; architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC); automotive and transportation; film and television; broadcast and live events; and games.



The plugin is the first step toward a future where immersive, global-scale 3D applications with pinpoint precision are ubiquitous across industries. "At Cesium, we've long believed in the potential for innovation at the intersection of the 3D geospatial and computer graphics ecosystems," said Cesium CEO Patrick Cozzi. "Cesium for Unreal is a monumental step in bridging decades of advancements in these technologies."

Cesium for Unreal is available to download for free on the Unreal Engine Marketplace. It includes integration with Cesium ion for optional commercial access to curated 3D content like global terrain, 3D buildings, photogrammetry, and satellite imagery, and software to convert custom high-resolution 3D data into streamable 3D Tiles. About Unreal Engine

Epic Games' Unreal Engine is the world's most open and advanced real-time 3D tool. Creators across games, film, television, architecture, automotive and transportation, advertising, live events, and training and simulation choose Unreal to deliver cutting-edge content, interactive experiences, and immersive virtual worlds. Follow @UnrealEngine and download Unreal for free at unrealengine.com. About Cesium - The Platform for 3D Geospatial

Cesium's open platform provides the foundations any software application needs to utilize 3D geospatial data: visualization, data pipelines, curated global 3D content, and analytics. Committed to openness and interoperability, Cesium powers solutions that create digital twins of the real world in industries such as AEC, aerospace, energy, commercial real estate, smart cities, autonomous driving, and defense. Follow @CesiumJS or visit https://cesium.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cesium-releases-free-cesium-for-unreal-for-all-creators-301258652.html SOURCE Cesium

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced more opportunities for schools in New York City to utilize outdoor space for learning and other activities -- but since October, Prall Intermediate School (I.S. 27) in West Brighton has been unable to use a large synthetic turf field, which is adjacent to the school.

Ten years ago, the city cut the ribbon on the Lieutenant Charles Margiotta Field at Prall Playground, named in memory of Margiotta, a 20-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

At the time it was constructed, the site cost $1.3 million  replacing the original crumbling concrete-and-asphalt ball field.

But now the synthetic turf field has been deemed severely deteriorated by the NYC Parks Department, and it was shuttered to the public on Oct. 1, 2020.

The yard was condemned due to unsafe conditions, said Matthew Barone, principal at I.S. 27. I still have no update as to when that field would be reopened. I was just told it needed to be completely redone.

Turf is being pulled up, and there are sinkholes in the back of the field, he explained.

The turf on the field is coming apart in many areas, and it has been deemed severely deteriorated by the city Parks Department. (Courtesy/Francesco Portelos)

Its just dilapidated. Its completely lifting up in spots. There are exposed seams, which have metal tracks underneath them that are exposed. In the back corner, which is the Forest Avenue side, theres a tremendous sinkhole, which is dangerous as well, he added.

Charisse Hill, spokesperson for the Parks Department, said the agency is seeking funding to completely renovate the field. An exact timeline, she added, will be determined once the project is fully funded.

As safety is our main priority, the synthetic turf field at Prall Playground remains closed to the public due to severe deterioration, said Charisse Hill, spokesperson for the Parks Department.

While its unclear how long a complete renovation would take once fully funded, a new synthetic turf field at Markham Playground, adjacent to Markham Intermediate School (I.S. 51) in Willowbrook, opened to the public after seven months of construction. The project was initially slated to take 12 months to complete, but was ahead of schedule at the time it opened in January 2020.

The metal tracks exposed through the ripped seams of the synthetic turf can be seen in this photo. (Courtesy/Francesco Portelos)

As warmer weather arrives, Barone explained he had hoped to use the turf field for outdoor gym and learning spaces, as well as an outdoor space for a possible graduation ceremony.

We want to use it as an outdoor space for a possible graduation in June, he said. But more importantly when September comes and were back in school, we need an outdoor space for students for exercise, for who knows in the COVID world what its going to look like in September.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

Since the start of the school year, Mayor Bill de Blasio has been encouraging schools to hold classes in an outdoor setting that require additional spacing, such as physical education, art, music, chorus and drama. Additional academic classes can also be conducted where space permits.

The city Department of Education (DOE) said that I.S. 27 hasnt applied for an outdoor learning permit, but it will reach out to explore if the school has feasible and safe outdoor alternatives for students.

We understand the value of this park to I.S. 27s students and staff, and will work with the Parks Department and stakeholders in the school community to come to a resolution, said Katie OHanlon, spokesperson for the DOE.

School Zone: A new newsletter with the updates you need as our schools try to get back to normal. Enter your email address here and hit "subscribe" to receive this weekly newsletter:



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A: The situation on the internet has gotten far worse since I made [Terms and Conditions May Apply] back in 2013. Privacy is all but dead on the internet, and privacy needs to be dead for Silicon Valleys business model to thrive. One of the things Ive learned through this production is a lot of people right now are pointing at the speech and saying, This speech is dangerous, this speech needs to be silenced. And, to me, the speech is almost a symptom of something much deeper. Not just fractures in society but deeper problems with how the internet is currently functioning. We can trace it back to digital privacy. If all these companies hadnt been collecting thousands of data points on each of us, then they wouldnt have been able to target us with manipulation campaigns and drive us into echo chambers. By virtue of having these psychometric profiles on each of us, we now have this ecosystem of hyper-polarization and that manifests in the form of extreme speech.
Downing Street has backed the scrapping of the use of BAME because it ignores people from white minority and other white-mixed backgrounds and fails to 'treat people as individuals', it was revealed today.

No 10 says it won't use the umbrella term after Boris Johnson's racial disparities commission said the term Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) should be scrapped in public bodies and companies.

More than 7.6 million people in the UK came under the category of BAME in the most recent census.

But according to the same data, people identifying as 'Other White' has increased by over a million since 2001, taking that total to 2.1million people in 2011 - and is likely to grow again during this year's census.

Scrapping the BAME acronym is one of the key proposals by the panel set up in the wake of widespread BLM protests last year and led by Dr Tony Sewell because officials believe the term is 'unhelpful and redundant'.

Asked about the report yesterday, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The Government doesn't routinely use the terms Bame or BAME because they're not well understood in user research and because they include some groups and not others, for example the UK's ethnic minorities include white minorities and people with a mixed ethnic background.

'Similarly, we do not use people of colour as it doesn't include white minorities. Our aim is to look and tackle inequalities and disparities wherever they are seen. That's what we are doing through the levelling-up agenda.'

Boris Johnson (pictured yesterday) announced the establishment of the commission after a series of anti-racism protests on British streets triggered by the death in the US of George Floyd while in police custody and it has concluded the term BAME is 'unhelpful and redundant'

Labour MP David Lammy hits back at caller on LBC radio show after she told him 'you will never be English because you're African-Caribbean' The Labour MP for Tottenham (pictured) said he is 'very, very proud' of his Caribbean roots, but also claims 'English' as his identity because he was born and grew up in England Labour MP David Lammy hit back at a caller on his LBC radio show after she told him 'you will never be English because you're African-Caribbean'. The MP for Tottenham said he is 'very, very proud' of his Caribbean roots, but also claims 'English' as his identity because he was born and grew up in England. He said the idea of there being 'one English ethnicity' is 'a myth' as 'all sorts' of people have passed through for generations. His remarks came amid a discussion about Boris Johnson's racial disparity commission calling for the term BAME - which stands for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic - to be scrapped. Speaking on his LBC show today, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice Mr Lammy was told by the caller - who went only by Jean - that he 'will never be English because you're African-Caribbean.' He replied by asking: 'Why will I never be English? She said: 'Because you're African-Caribbean. I can't say I'm African-Caribbean.' Mr Lammy countered her retort by saying: 'Just a little bit of history on this. 'Britain 400 years ago started going out into the world, colonised and conquered a lot of the world, a lot of the world has ended up coming back to the mother country. 'My parents were part of that generation who came from the Caribbean. 'When I took a DNA test I had Scottish in me. Probably as a result of that. Someone, somewhere, frankly, got their leg over with one of my ancestors and I've got Scottish blood running through me. 'I said that gently, but it could have been horrendous, lets be clear about that. And here I am, having grown up in this country, born of this country. 'And actually the truth is there's a myth there's one English ethnicity, there's not'. Advertisement

Minister for sport and tourism Nigel Huddleston has also backed the Government's stance on BAME.

He told Sky News: 'We've got to be sensitive to treat people as individuals, and sometimes categorisations can be challenging, or indeed offensive, even if they're not intended to be so'.

According to the Government's list of ethnic groups, people who are white can be English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British. You can be white Irish, Gypsy or Irish Traveller and any other white background, such as white Polish.

Mixed ethnic groups where people may consider themselves white include White White and Black Caribbean, White and Black African, White and Asian and any other mixed multiple ethnic backgrounds.

The acronym - which stands for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic - overshadows the fact that people from different ethnic groups have varying life experiences and should not be grouped together in one category, Boris Johnson's racial disparity commission has found.

The panel of experts also suggests that people of ethnic minority backgrounds generally prefer the term 'ethnic minority' over 'BAME' or 'people of colour' to describe themselves.

Mr Johnson announced the establishment of the commission after a series of anti-racism protests on British streets triggered by the death in the US of George Floyd while in police custody.

The 10-person group - comprised of representatives from the fields of science, education, broadcasting, economics, medicine, policing and community organising - are set to deliver a report on race disparity within various sectors.

It is lead by Dr Tony Sewell, who previous said the absence of black fathers is the root cause of knife and gang crime.

The report will claim 'the differences between racial groups living in Britain today are now as important as the commonalities', a source told The Daily Telegraph.



The term BAME will be a key part of the report which was supposed to be published last year but was delayed due to the amount of evidence to go through.

Detractors will likely argue that a clear term such as BAME will help to systematically follow changes in firms' diversity figures.

Losing the clear-cut terminology could complicate diversity efforts made so far.

A source told the Telegraph: 'The commission has taken evidence from across the UK, examined the data to create a rigorous fact-based report on what is often a highly charged debate.

'It was important for commissioners to produce findings based on data and evidence to try and take down the temperature on this issue and have a debate based on the facts, not driven by ideology.'

It will suggest that public bodies and companies stop using the term.

Last year, Downing Street defended the appointment of Mr Sewell to lead the new racial disparity commission, despite his previous claim that evidence of the existence of institutional racism was 'flimsy'.

The term BAME is 'unhelpful and redundant' and should be scrapped, Boris Johnson's racial disparity commission will suggest in a report. The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities is lead by Tony Sewell, who previously said the absence of black fathers is the root cause of knife and gang crime

Dr Tony Sewell: The Brixton boy awarded the CBE for services to education Dr Tony Sewell CBE is the head of the charity Generating Genius and has been appointed as the chairman of the new racial disparity commission. His charity works with BAME children to prepare them for careers in science and technology. He was born in Brixton in 1959 and has previously said 'scouts and the Church were important' to him growing up. His family attended a white majority Anglican church, which Mr Sewell said made him realise he wanted to go to university. Mr Sewell later moved to Essex and Sussex to go to University, before returning to London to teach. However, he became disillusioned and moved to Jamaica, before returning to the UK after two years. He then worked as a teacher and education consultant on a freelance basis, as well as setting up his charity. The international education consultant previously worked with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2013 when he led the then mayor's education inquiry into the capital's schools, which resulted in the creation of the London Schools Excellence Fund. Writing in Prospect magazine in 2010, Mr Sewell said: 'Much of the supposed evidence of institutional racism is flimsy.' In an interview with the Times newspaper last year, the former teacher suggested that the root cause of knife crime and gang culture among black youths was absent fathers, citing figures showing that about 50 per cent of black children grow up without a father. Advertisement

He was confirmed by the Government as chairman of the new Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities in July.

The international education consultant has previously worked with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2013 when he led the then-mayor's education inquiry into the capital's schools, which resulted in the creation of the London Schools Excellence Fund.

Writing in Prospect magazine in 2010, Mr Sewell said: 'Much of the supposed evidence of institutional racism is flimsy.'

In an interview with the Times newspaper in 2019, the former teacher suggested that the root cause of knife crime and gang culture among black youths was absent fathers, citing figures showing that about 50 per cent of black children grow up without a father.

'People often say I'm 'brave' to say that. It's so patronising,' he told the paper.

According to the Office of National Statistics in 2007, 48 per cent of black Caribbean families have one parent, as do 36 per cent of black African households.

Defending the decision to appoint Mr Sewell, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'In terms of Dr Sewell CBE, he has supported many young people from diverse backgrounds into stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers.

'The PM knows very well his work and how it has improved access to education across London.

The early stages of setting up the commission drew controversy after Mr Johnson gave Munira Mirza, head of the Number 10 policy unit, a major role in its creation.

Ms Mirza had previously questioned the existence of institutional racism and hit out at a 'culture of grievance' among anti-racism campaigners.

Commissioners include space scientist and broadcaster Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, chairman of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales Keith Fraser, ex-BBC journalist Dr Samir Shah, professor of surgery at University College London Lord Ajay Kakkar, economist Dr Dambisa Moyo, academies trust chief executive Martyn Oliver, co-founder of UKGovChat Naureen Khalid, Muslims for Britain co-founder Aftab Chughtai, and commentator Mercy Muroki.

Two representatives from the Windrush Working Group - director of Voice4Change Kunle Olulode and Blondel Cluff, chief executive of the West India committee - will attend meetings where relevant, No. 10 confirmed.
China, Bahrain to set example of equal treatment, mutual respect between big, small countries: Chinese FM

Xinhua) 16:01, March 30, 2021

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) in Manama, Bahrain, March 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Tu Yifan)

MANAMA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday expressed China's wishes to work with Bahrain to set an example of equal treatment, mutual respect and mutual benefit between big and small countries.

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Bahrain's capital Manama. He conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's kind regards to King Hamad.

"We cherish the positive progress that China-Bahrain relations have made over the years," Wang said, adding that China has always advocated equality among all countries regardless of their size.

Wang said that China appreciates Bahrain's consistent and firm support for China on issues concerning China's core interests, and is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Bahrain in political, economic and trade, cultural and other fields, so as to promote the friendly and cooperative relations between the two sides to advance with the times, benefit the two peoples, and boost regional peace and development.

China, to the best of its ability, will continue to provide support and assistance to Bahrain in its fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, Wang added.

Noting that the current tendency of politicizing the human rights issue deserves high vigilance, Wang pointed out that some Western countries frequently use human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries' internal affairs and undermine their stability, which in fact violates the value of human rights.

All countries should uphold the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and abide by the basic norms governing international relations, Wang said, stressing that major countries in particular should play a leading role in this regard.

China is willing to strengthen solidarity and coordination with Bahrain and other developing countries, safeguard the two countries' common interests, protect the development right of developing countries, and uphold international fairness and justice, said Wang.

China firmly supports Bahrain in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and stability, and is happy to see Bahrain play an active role in maintaining regional peace, Wang said.

King Hamad asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to President Xi and said that Bahrain and China have established sound mutual trust and achieved fruitful results in bilateral cooperation, which has strongly supported Bahrain's development, and for which the kingdom is very grateful.

Bahrain wishes to push for further in-depth development of bilateral relations on the current basis and holds a positive attitude towards strengthening cooperation with China in political, economic and other fields, the king added.

King Hamad pointed out that Bahrain is among the first countries to cooperate with China in carrying out the Phase III international clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine and hopes to continue to deepen the vaccine cooperation with China.

Bahrain admires China's achievements in its development and opposes narrow views on concepts of human rights, agrees to adhere to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, supports China in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, and backs China's efforts in maintaining regional and world peace and development, he stressed.

The two sides also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern.

Wang also met with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and held talks with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on the same day.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Charter Hall and Abacus Property have lodged plans for an extension of their $630 million office tower in Sydneys city in a show of optimism that the pandemic-hit national office sector is springing back to life.

The joint owners have applied to the City of Sydney for an $85 million extension to create a new podium at the 201 Elizabeth Street skyscraper in the Sydney CBD.

Charter Hall and Abacus have lodged plans to extend the 201 Elizabeth Street, Sydney tower

The 11-storey development will replace the existing two-storey food court on the corners of Park and Elizabeth Streets and will provide 10,000 sq m of additional office floor space plus a new lobby and plaza for the building.

The proposal also includes an improved public domain aligning directly with Councils objective of maintaining Sydneys role as a global and liveable city.
New Delhi, March 30 : An illegal casino being run in a leading hotel near the IGI Airport has been busted and 14, including five women, arrested, police said on Tuesday.

According to police, a raid was conducted on the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mahipalpur area after receiving information that illegal gambling was going on there.

A senior police official told IANS that 14 people, including five women - four of whom were from Nepal, have been arrested. "They were found gambling using chips and coins in a hotel room. They were taken into custody," the official said.

Police also seized Rs 1.1 lakh in cash along with gambling equipment such as 30 sets of cards, and 6,100 chips worth Rs 30.5 lakh from the spot. A case under the Delhi Public Gambling Act has been registered at Vasant Kunj (South) Police Station in connection with the incident.
Hagerstown Housing Authority closes in on end of McCleary Hill project

After objections from neighbors, the Hagerstown Housing Authority's McCleary Hill project is done its first phase. Officials held an open house.
Mexico City:

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake stunned central Mexico on Tuesday, killing at least 139 people as buildings collapsed in plumes of dust. Thousands fled into the streets in panic, and many stayed to help rescue those trapped.

Scores of buildings collapsed into mounds of rubble or were severely damaged in in densely populated parts of Mexico City and nearby states. Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said buildings collapsed at 44 places in the capital alone.

The quake is the deadliest in Mexico since a 1985 quake on the same date killed thousands. It came less than two weeks after another powerful quake left 90 dead in the countrys south.

Mancera said at least 30 had died in Mexico City, and officials in Morelos, just to the south, said 54 had died there.

At least 26 others died in Puebla state, according to state disaster prevention chief Carlos Valdes.

Governor Alfredo del Mazo said at least nine had died in the State of Mexico, which also borders the capital.

Mancera said that 50 to 60 people were rescued alive by citizens and emergency workers.

At one site, reporters saw onlookers cheer as a woman was pulled from the rubble. Rescuers immediately called for silence so that they could listen for others who might be trapped.

Mariana Morales, a 26-year-old nutritionist, 26, was one many who spontaneously participated in rescue efforts. She wore a paper face mask and her hands were still dusty from having joined a rescue brigade to clear rubble from a building that fell in a cloud of dust before her eyes, about 15 minutes after the quake.

Morales said she was in a taxi when the quake struck, and she out and sat on a sidewalk to try to recover from the scare. Then, just a few yards away, the three-story building collapsed.

A dust-covered Carlos Mendoza, 30, said that he and other volunteers had been able to pull two people alive from the ruins of a collapsed apartment building three hours of effort.

We saw this and came to help, he said. Its ugly, very ugly.

Alma Gonzalez was in her fourth-floor apartment in the Roma neighbourhood when the quake collapsed the ground floor of her building, leaving her no way out, until neighbours set up a ladder on their roof and helped her slide out a side window.

Gala Dluzhynska was taking a class with 11 other women on the second floor of a building on the trendy Alvaro Obregon street when the quake struck and window and ceiling panels fell as the building began to tear apart.

She said she fell in the stairs and people began to walk over her, before someone finally pulled her up.

There were no stairs anymore. There were rocks, she said.

They reached the bottom only to find it barred. A security guard finally came and unlocked it.

The quake caused buildings to sway sickeningly in Mexico City and sent people throughout the city fleeing from homes and offices, and many people remained in the streets for hours, fearful of returning to the structures.

Alarms blared and traffic stopped around the Angel of Independence monument on the iconic Reforma Avenue.

Electricity and cell phone service was interrupted in many areas and traffic was snarled as signal lights went dark.

The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.1 hit at 1:14 pm (2:15 p.m. EDT) and it was centred near the Puebla state town of Raboso, about 123 kilometres southeast of Mexico City.

Puebla Governor Tony Gali tweeted that there had been damaged buildings in the city of Cholula including collapsed church steeples.

Earlier in the day workplaces across the city held readiness drills on the anniversary of the 1985 quake, a magnitude 8.0 shake, which killed thousands of people and devastated large parts of Mexico City.

People remove debris after a real quake rattled Mexico City on Sept19, moments after an earthquake drill was held in the capital. CDMX #AFP pic.twitter.com/Tq4hDY4IUK  AFPMexico (@AFPMexico) September 19, 2017

City residents posted photos online of damage to buildings in their neighborhoods.

Emergency officials warned people not to smoke in the street, warning of possible ruptured gas pipes.

Alfredo Aguilar, a 43-year-old resident, said the quake was really strongbuildings started to move.

He added that he saw a woman who fainted. People started to run.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis agreed to hold political consultations.

According to Ukrinform, referring to the press service of the Ukraines Foreign Ministry, this was discussed during the first telephone conversation between the officials.

As noted, the officials discussed the priorities of cooperation and the schedule of political contacts between the two countries in 2021. Cassis accepted Kuleba's invitation to visit Ukraine in the second half of this year. The parties also agreed to hold political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland in the near future.

Kuleba thanked for the firm and unwavering support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, provision of practical assistance in overcoming the consequences of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

The minister also outlined the tasks of the Crimean Platform as an international format for consolidating efforts to de-occupy Crimea, reaffirmed the invitation to the Swiss leadership to participate in the inaugural summit of the Platform and the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

A separate topic of conversation was the preparation of the 5th Ukraine Reform Conference which will be held in Switzerland in 2022. Kuleba and Cassis agreed that one of the conference's priorities should be economic recovery in the wake of the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, the parties noted the successful development of UkraineSwitzerland cooperation in the field of scientific diplomacy, in particular, the joint production of lung ventilators on the basis of SE "Novator", which is currently undergoing trials.

As a reminder, Switzerland is one of the five major investors in the Ukrainian economy. As of September 2020, the volume of Swiss investments in Ukraine totaled $3.099 billion.

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The state of Wyoming will receive $1,075,000,000 in federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan. Wyoming's counties and municipalities are expected to split $174 million of that, according to Michael Pearlman, spokesman for Governor Michael Gordon. The city of Cheyenne will receive $11.73 million.

The National Association of Counties (NACO) estimates Laramie County will receive $19,297,312 and is cheering the bill's passage.

"The bill includes $65.1 billion in direct, flexible aid to every county in America, as well as other crucial investments in local communities, including $1.5 billion over two years for public lands counties," the NACO said on its website.

The totals do not include the $1,400 stimulus checks that went out to taxpayers.

There are restrictions on how that money can be used. The U.S. Department of the Treasury is expected to release guidelines by the end of April.

Through a spokesman, Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins said he knew of at least one restriction.

"He wishes funds could be used for cities to hire employees, but that doesn't appear to be the case," Public Information Officer Michael Skinner said.

However, the money could be used to give employers grants to use for premium pay to essential workers, according to an analysis by the National Association of Counties. The premium pay is capped at $25,000 per worker.

NACO's website outlined some allowable uses for the money. It included "assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality. State and local activities are NOT limited only to these activities."

The NACO analysis did provide an idea of what local governments could do, such as making up for lost revenue caused by the pandemic, but the money can't be used to cut taxes. It allows governments to spend some of the money on water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

American Rescue Plan funds can be used to transport passengers and cargo. According to the NACO, "State and local governments can transfer the funds to a private nonprofit organization, a public benefit corporation involved in the transportation of passengers or cargo or a special-purpose unit of State or local government."

The money will be released in two parts, with the first payment due in early May. The Wyoming Legislature is considering going into a special session to plan how to use the funds.

"The Executive Branch will work with the legislature on the use of the funds," said gubernatorial spokesman Michael Pearlman in an email. "The Governor is looking at what short-and-long-term opportunities exist for the use of these funds. He wants them to have as significant an impact as possible."

Renny MacKay, Governor Gordon's policy advisor, told Wyofile reporter Nick Reynolds that the governor's office is planning.

"We're in a bit of a holding pattern right now to know all the details that we will need to put the finer points on the spending proposals the governor will put out," he said. "What we're doing now is preparing for that by putting together a group to start developing collective thinking around what this could look like for our cities, towns, and counties."

State lawmakers and Mackay said the money wouldn't be used to solve Wyoming's education budget issues.

"While there is revenue replacement allowed with the funding that's coming, that would only be a patch. It does not do anything to help the long-term revenue issues we have," Mackay told Reynolds.
Lance Cpl. Chase Sweetwood's younger siblings always looked up to him, and his mom said some were already planning to follow in their Marine brother's footsteps by joining the military.

Now, Christiana Sweetwood said, they're banned from considering it until they're at least 18 years old and can make the choice fully on their own.

"I will not sacrifice, at this point, any more of my kids to go into the military and have complete lack of leadership," she said after being briefed on the findings on the July 30, 2020, accident that ended her son's life a day before his 19th birthday. He was one of nine troops killed when their amphibious assault vehicle sank near California's coast.

"I don't think I'll have trust again until I see action," she added.

Read Next: Marines Vow Safety Improvements After Fatal AAV Accident Reveals Serious Flaws

Two commanding officers have been removed from their jobs following the accident, which officials determined was caused by breakdowns in leadership, training and maintenance. The problems that led the AAV to fill with water and sink started long before July 30, and were worsened by a command that investigators say failed to prioritize troops' safety.

"The sheer number of issues and mistakes -- it's just so overwhelming," said Aleta Bath, the mother of Marine Pfc. Evan Bath, a 19-year-old from Wisconsin who was also killed in the accident. He was her only child. "The bottom line is it shouldn't have happened, and no matter how angry you are, it doesn't bring your child back."

Aleta Bath accepts the flag at the funeral of Marine Pfc. Evan Bath. (Courtesy of Aleta Bath)

The mistakes leading up to and during the AAV's sinking were many, the investigation found.

The vehicles were in bad shape before they were assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit ahead of its fall deployment, with some having been inoperable for a year. And when the vehicles were assigned to the MEU, the investigation noted, the commander didn't prioritize their maintenance.

The tracked vehicles that bring Marines to and from ships were also in the water on July 30 without a safety boat, a move that goes against Navy regulations. Few inside the AAV were trained to get out of a sinking vehicle, and the eight Marines and one sailor weren't told to prepare to evacuate until the water was far deeper than was safe.

Emergency lights inside the AAV also weren't working, leaving the troops inside searching the dark vehicle for safety hatches using lights on their own cell phones. And when another AAV pulled up to help, it accidentally bumped the endangered vehicle, pushing it into the direct path of a wave, which washed over the open hatch, further filling the vehicle with water and causing it to sink rapidly.

"I don't think that I have ever seen something so horrible in my life in terms of how many things went wrong," Christiana Sweetwood said. "I 100% believe that a lot of the people that were involved -- people that should have been leaders, people that should have advocated for them to have better -- failed them. They failed them."

The Marine Corps suspended water operations for its entire fleet of AAVs after the accident until all 800 were inspected. The Vietnam-era vehicles have been in use for decades. The one that sank last summer was built in 1984 and delivered to the service in 1985.

The investigation found that the vehicles are still safe when maintenance and standard operating procedures are followed. For now though, the AAV operational pause remains in place pending more safety inspections, which include studying each vehicle's ability to keep out water.

In addition to Sweetwood and Bath, also killed were Cpls. Wesley Rodd and Cesar Villanueva; Lance Cpls. Marco Barranco and Guillermo Perez; Pfcs. Bryan Baltierra and Jack Ryan Ostrovsky; and Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem. They were assigned to Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines.

Christiana Sweetwood said the Marine Corps prides itself on taking "the best of the best" in terms of personnel, "but they don't give them the best." She said Congress and the country must be willing to prioritize funding for equipment Marines need to safely carry out their often-dangerous missions.

"But we're not even getting [some troops] to war," she said. "They're just dying from training accidents, and we're seeing them more and more and more. This needs to really be investigated and needs to be looked at. What can we do as a country to help fix this?"

Lance Cpl. Chase Sweetwood. (Courtesy of Christiana Sweetwood)

Top military leaders were summoned to testify on Capitol Hill last week to better prevent training-related deaths. Rep. John Garamendi, a California Democrat, called the toll of training accidents staggering.

"Between 2006 and 2018, 32% of active-duty military deaths were the result of accidents, while 16% of service members who died during that time were killed in action," said Garamendi, chairman of the House Armed Services readiness subcommittee. "Even as combat operations overseas have decreased, non-combat deaths have exceeded the number of military members killed in action every year since 2015."

Parents of troops killed while training in a spate of vehicle rollovers on land have been pressing for action on this issue, along with families of service members killed in a troubling series of aviation accidents.

Christiana Sweetwood and Aleta Bath both gave their sons permission to join the Marine Corps before their 18th birthdays. Once Bath decided he wanted to be a Marine before age 10, his mom said, "that was it."

"There was nothing else," she said.

Both moms recognized their sons could end up in dangerous situations in the military. But the chain of shortfalls that allowed the AAV to sink on July 30 has caused them to lose trust in the service.

"There is a certain amount of grace that you give for human error," Aleta Bath said. "In this case, the volume of human error and bad judgment was so great that it's unacceptable."

It haunts her, she added, to think about the AAVs' state of disrepair and her son -- who wasn't the strongest swimmer -- not being given the training he needed to exit a sinking vehicle.

The families got hourslong briefings and copies of a nearly 2,000-page redacted investigation into the accident that took their sons' lives. As the Marine Corps carried out its investigation, some of the moms banded together to support each other and search for answers to how such a terrible training accident could happen. They had uncovered indications of problems, the moms said, but the findings were worse than they could have imagined.

Since the accident occurred during the global pandemic, Aleta Bath said the families of the fallen haven't all been able to meet as a group with top Marine leadership to get remaining questions answered. The team that briefed the Bath family individually was caring and thorough, she said, "but I think we deserve a conversation with someone higher up in the chain of command."

"Someone from Washington -- I think we deserve that," Aleta Bath said. "Someone to look us in the eyes and say, 'I'm sorry this happened, and here's what we're going to do about it.' We haven't received that yet."

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: 'Tragic Mishap Was Preventable': How the Marines Failed 9 Troops Whose 35-Year-Old AAV Sank in the Pacific
Enat Party is one of the political parties registered and licensed by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) to participate in the upcoming 6th National General Election to be conducted in May. The party which designated the name Enat, meaning "mother" in Amharic was established recently but is making aggressive moves to participate in the upcoming 6th round national general election.

The Ethiopian Press Agency has spent a few hours with Party Deputy President Seyfeselasse Ayalew (PhD) concerning the current affairs and issues related to the election. Excerpts;

Would you please brief us on how Enat Party was established?

Enat Party was established taking the overall situation of the country into account. If we look at the revolution carried out in 1973/74, for instance, it ended up removing Emperor Hailesellasie I from the throne.

Consequently, many people died. Similar situations had unfolded during Derg and TPLF lead governments. The very reason for this is, the people split by "Our's" and "their's" mentality.

This situation forced the people to be divided into two categories. When the military junta was in power for 17 years, it categorized people providing various names such as anti-revolutionaries, bourgeois etc. And over the 30 years, changing its style, the government led by the TPLF junta had employed ethnic federalism categorizing the people into many groups as per their language and ethnic background. As a result, we have reached a position of attacking people due to their ethnicity.

The quandary is an alarming day in day out, but, if things continue like this what will be our destiny? It has been then intensifying from time to time. By the way, it is a human mind that generates good or evil ideas. The recent system has not committed itself to preempt harmful things. Thus, creating a new political party that narrows the gaps is the very reason for the establishment of the Enat Party.

The need for establishing the Enat Party was first introduced in November 2019 and then it obtained an initial permit in 2020. The party organized itself by recruiting party members and made its first general assembly in February 2020 and submitted it to the Ethiopian Election Board. It then received a legal license and acknowledgement in January 2021.

The party is established this year but it became competent with giant parties by nominating candidates for the election campaign. How was this possible?

The very reason is the endeavour of the party. We aim to bring the country to the level it deserved. What is reflected in today' Ethiopia does not represent its image. Ethiopia is a model country for the rest of African countries to ensure their freedom.

Though it has a history of more than 3000 years, the world knew Ethiopia by conflict, human trafficking, drought, famine and poverty. The party's idea is adored and accepted by all citizens and this is the reason why the party could gain several candidates within a short period.

How does the party evaluate the ongoing national political process before the reform?

The country was not stable for the past 30 years. However, the level of the problem reached its peak, especially during the reform period. The reform filled the public with greater hope especially when the people observed the Prime Minister's move to ensure people's solidarity. Surprisingly, people's hope is changed as conflicts arouse between people and when one assassinated the other.

Are you saying that there is no new political culture that comes after the reform?

Indeed, the Prime Minister has come up with a new political idea. However, the ruling party is equal to EPRDF minus TPLF. It is TPLF who coined the EPRDF. Therefore, even if they changed the name to Amhara Democratic Party and Oromia Democratic Party, they have a picture of EPRDF. Though few people come up with new perspectives, the structure is the old one and where does the change come from? After the reform government took power, we saw what was going on.

What do you think is the best solution for this?

We have to say no to ethnic-based political arrangements. If we take Rwanda, they were classified as Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups and one group perpetrated genocide over the other. During the time, many people have died within a day. When the two ethnic groups killed one another, the world community gave them a deaf ear.

They, later on, woke up and decided to impede genocide and started to live in harmony. When we come to ours, ethnic-based politics should be abolished and declared illegal.

One of the hurdles to the reform was the absence of rule of law in Tigray State. How do you see the law enforcement operation launched by the government? Do you believe it is a successful operation?

When I see it from the perspective of human beings and party leaders, an independent state should continue as a state while it maintains sovereignty. My party believed that the article of the constitution should be amended but this does not mean that we are rejecting the existing constitution.

Until it is amended, we respect it with all its weaknesses. Article 39 for instance, talks about sovereignty and it says the country should not be isolated, thus, the state has to be protected in four corners as it paid a sacrifice for it. To see what was going on in the Tigray state, we have to isolate the people from the TPLF.

Things that happened just before the law enforcement operation indicated that the issue led to war. Regarding this, the central government was laissez-faire even if it had the capacity of controlling things before it reached the peak.

Having this in mind, the attack against the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) would not be accepted by any country. In this regard, the measure taken by the government is relevant and acceptable. We fully agreed on that.

However, as a party, we are more concerned about the task done after the end of the war and repeatedly expressed our concern. The law enforcement operation should only target TPLF and its affiliates and the government facilitate conditions to save the people from being a victim of the operation.

The Tigray people have paid a lot of sacrifice in place of the TPLF junta. This is a heartbreaking and saddening issue. Thus we have to feel their pain. On the other hand, assassination and displacing of citizens which we heard from other parts of the country is also heartrending news. The government should also take measures responsibly.

Your party has a firm stance elevating the country to its former glory. What does it mean? How can the country regain its former stage of civilization?

Today's Ethiopia is known by its migrants. It is common to get the name of Ethiopians from the list of migrants submerged while they try to cross the red sea. If the media talk about the people who have died in Yemen, some of them are Ethiopians. Thus, if we are asked why people are migrating? The answer is, the situation is worse than that of migration due to the absence of democracy, poverty and backwardness.

However, in previous days, the previous identity of the country was different from the current picture. It was a country receiving several migrants, self-reliant, influential and getting wider acceptance by the world.

By the end of the 19th century, Ethiopia was a country that was widely known by world countries because it defeated the Italian colonial powers for the first time and ended colonization once and for all. It was the

flag of black people. If we go back to the 14th and 15th centuries, the construction of rock-hewn churches of king Laleibea, the footprints of King Fasil, the Axum obelisk, the country had a golden period of history but now it is found at the lowest position due to various reasons.

We have to regain this identity by resolving the dispute between us and our ethnicity. Whatever the language they speak, the religion they follow, we have to work hand and glove to ensure growth and thereby change the bad image of the country.

For the past 27 years, why do you think a party that contends with TPLF was not created? Do you believe that strong and competent parties are now created to involve in the 6th national election?

Let me begin with the last question. These Days, the Enat party is a big and strong political party. If this is not true, I do not want to waste my time sitting here. We are not appearing as a political party, not for the sake of creating jobs for ourselves. On my part, the task I have been executing is a huge value for me and my country.

On the other hand, during TPLF's regime, establishing a political party was considered as creating a job for oneself. As the parties were created by the size and model of EPRDF, there was no strong party that had the capacity of contesting with the ruling party.

That is the reason the quantity is even beyond 100. Until it was dismissed once and for all and became history, TPLF amazingly called itself a front that liberated the people of Tigray. It is controversial why the party called itself the liberation front when it carried out an armed struggle and acted as a ruling party of Ethiopia.

To attain its goal it had created a liberation front for every language. Luckily, if one party is appearing as a strong competitor, it butts in the party and isolates them into two or three groups. That is the very reason for the absence of a strong political party.

As I indicated earlier, I do not think that there is a party member and/or party toiling to create a job for himself. As it is the desire of the nation, we are now working to be a strong contesting party.

Though TPLF has collapsed once and for all, its members are scattered here and there in Ethiopia and abroad. Do you think that they will influence the election? If your answer is yes, how do you explain it?

If there are loopholes created anytime, there would be things that will influence the election. The question that comes to my mind is how the government is ready to apply the promise it made to make the election free, trustable and accepted by all actors.

The election process will be conducted peacefully if the government deploys security forces and perform various tasks to ensure peace and security in four directions of the country. What bothers me is not the dissolved structure of TPLF, rather the government's lack of commitment.

Some parties repeatedly emphasize that their members are sent to jail. As a result, they marginalized themselves from the upcoming election. Similarly, some others said some gaps are not yet filled and advised not to carry out the election. What is your view in this regard?

Presently, as the time of the election is approaching, we are bothering about it too much. But the gaps would not bring any change. Indeed, we considered that there is instability here and there. This is the fruit that we reap from the wrong political perception that prevailed throughout the country. The question I want to raise here is 'Do we gain anything by extending the election?' The answer is, absolutely no.

It is enough to see our daily activities. The capital may be secure for today but there is some chaos in areas like Metekel and Horo Gurduru. Searching a weak premise and marginalizing themselves from the election has no relevance.

Challenges are expected even after. Instead of marginalizing themselves, political parties should be part and parcel of the reform by engaging themselves in the upcoming election. On the other hand, elections should not be taking place by the will of some political parties. As an independent country, Ethiopia is a country governed by its own rules and regulations.

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If the government takes power using any means, we are not accepting it as the country has its constitution. Even though it holds many things which we have not agreed upon, we cannot say that we are not governed by the constitution.

Thus, conducting elections every five years is permitted by the law of the land. It then will be conducted accordingly. Instead what we are expected to think about is, the way the upcoming election is carried out peacefully and transforms the country.

Do you think the 6th national general election would be better than the previous five elections?

I expect something new from the beginning. Making the election better is helpful to decide the destiny of Ethiopia save the country from engaging in chaos and if the government lives up to its words and the election is carried out accurately, it will not only be better than the previous elections, it would bring tangible change in the country. I think the 6th national election will be better than the previous one.

As a political party, would you tell me, the plan and readiness of your party to make the upcoming election peaceful, fair and conducted upon the schedule?

Ethiopia has been going through various ups and downs which claimed the lives of many citizens. In the TPLF junta regime, many people have died due to the election results of 2005. The stance of the Enat party is the election should not claim the lives of people and cause damage to properties. For this to happen, all stakeholders should discharge their responsibilities.

On the other hand, all should understand the fact that if there is no country, no one, be it a politician or ordinary people, exists as a human being. If we will engage in chaos, instability, disagreement, the impact will take all of us to damage or no one benefits out of it. Taking this into consideration, all of us should discharge our responsibilities. As it has power on its hands, more is expected from the government in this regard.

Apart from that institution, which is expected to participate in the election process having observatory roles and/ or others such as justice institutions in the frontline should be free from any bias and provide immediate response for any queries.

For their part parties should lead the process of election responsibly. Enat party is ready and willing to discharge its responsibility in this regard. If this is true, the winner will not be a prosperity party, Enat Party or Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice Party, rather, the winner will be Ethiopia.

Thank you for your time

I also thank you for giving me such an opportunity
ADDIS ABABA--Ethiopia has recorded 21 percent economic growth in Forex trading over the last six months via reducing debt burden and completing unfinished projects, so elucidated an Economic Expert and Analyst.

Ethiopia has achieved high economic growth amidst COVID-19 pandemic crises. In this growth, country's GDP reached 100 billion USD for the first time.

An Economic Expert and Analyst, Wasihun Belay stated that the growth that Ethiopia achieved was positive as witnessed by the International Monterey Fund (IMF). Achieving positive economic growth in the era of COVID-19 pandemic was made possible by the tactics Ethiopia has followed.

Debt burden difference compared with the country's general product before three year was 37.6 percent. The country's debt burden down to 26 percent which means 10 percent debt burden was reduced in just three years, said the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D) addressing parliamentarians requests recently; reaching low debt burden rate is possible if the reduction experience continues at the same rate, even beyond.

In this regard, the expert has eulogized the government's moves to solve debt burden. Paying some payable debt that push the country's to high debt burden is good because if 55 percent of the country

product will go under debt burden, it is difficult to manage things well he said adding that the cease of the country taking commercial loans from bilateral countries and its shift to Concessional loans and bargaining system is very encouraging step that the government has done.

The country's national revenue during 2018 was 176.9 billion birr, 196.5 billion birr in 2019 and 228.9 billion birr during 2020/21 as a report

presented to MPs indicated and the national revenue reached 191 billion birr only in eight months this year.

He further said that the growth observed in economic sector has possibilities to change economic difficulties within the society, and as having progress is not enough, establishing strategies to address economic problems of the society is unquestionable homework for concerned bodies.
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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In mid-March of last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the world was facing a pandemic, and countries rushed to enact measures to stem the spread. A popular measure to combat the pandemic was switching companies to remote work. However, with little time to make the transition, many companies had no time to enact proper security measures, leaving them vulnerable to a number of new security risks. One of the most common were attacks against the protocols used by employees to access corporate resources remotely.

RDP is perhaps the most popular remote desktop protocol and is used to access Windows workstations or servers. After the switch to remote work, bruteforce attacks against this protocol skyrocketed. In a bruteforce attack, attackers test different usernames and passwords until the correct combination is foundand they gain access to the corporate resources.

Over the past year, while the total number of bruteforce attacks has ebbed and flowed, they have continued to increase when compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Total number of bruteforce attacks against RDP from February 2020-February 2021

According to Kasperskys telemetry, when the world went into lockdown in March 2020, the total number of bruteforce attacks against RDP jumped from 93.1 mln worldwide in February 2020 to 277.4 mln 2020 in Marcha 197 percent increase. From April 2020 onward, monthly attacks never dipped below 300 million, and they reached a new high of 409 million attacks worldwide in November.

In February 2021nearly one year from the start of the pandemicthere were 377.5 mln brute-force attacksa far cry from the 93.1 mln witnessed at the beginning of 2020.

Remote work isnt going anywhere. Even as companies begin considering re-opening their workplaces, many have stated that they will continue to include remote work in their operating model or pursue a hybrid format. That means its likely these types of attacks against remote desktop protocols will continue to occur at a rather high rate. 2020 made it clear that companies need to update their security infrastructure, and a good place to start is providing stronger protection for their RDP access, comments Dmitry Galov, security expert at Kaspersky.

Nearly 600,000 RDP attacks per day targeted remote workers in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia (SEA) was among the first regions battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thailand recorded the first case outside China on January 13, 2020. With little known facts about the virus, nations across the region vigilantly observed and tailor-fitted their restrictions and precautionary measures before the pandemic status was declared by the WHO March last year.

As with the rest of the world, SEA countries then implemented strict measures and border controls a year ago. This forced enterprises and organizations to shift to remote work, learning, and more. In turn, inviting the attention of cybercriminals.

Kasperskys telemetry showed a trend --- a slow but steady increase in the number of attacks against RDP being used in the region, hitting the highest in the month of September 2020 with 31,019,009 brute force attacks. Overall, the global cybersecurity company blocked a total of 214,054,408 RDP exploits in SEA.

In the Philippines, the highest number of attempted attacks against RDP was recorded in August 2020 (1,306,318). A total of 6,979,713 attacks against RDP in the country were blocked by Kaspersky in 2020.

On a daily average, our solutions foiled almost 600,000 RDP brute force attacks here in Southeast Asia last year. Our latest numbers also showed that cybercriminals are not interested in taking a break. In the first two months of 2021, weve already detected more than 65 million attempts to exploit this remote working tool which is 30% of 2020s total incidents, says Chris Connell, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky.

The sheer number of attacks weve identified and we continue to monitor paints a worrying picture of the increasing vulnerability employees working from home are exposed to. The pandemics second and third waves are still happening, unfortunately, so we see that remote work is here to stay at least for a long while. We call on business owners, from the largest enterprises to small and medium businesses, to consider putting up basic endpoint solutions and utilize adaptive training to repel these malicious attempts online, he adds.

Understanding the financial challenges being faced by SMBs in SEA, Kaspersky currently gives discounts for its latest Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response Optimum (KEDRO) solution.

The promo for this comprehensive tool stands for new and existing customers valid on 10-999 nodes across the region until June 30, 2021. Customers can get up to 33% in savings for a 1-year license, and up to 40% for three years.

To keep your company safe from bruteforce attacks, Kaspersky experts recommend:
New Delhi, March 30 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has suggested that the New Development Bank (NDB) facilitate private sector participation and explore more innovative financing structures.

Addressing the 6th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors of the New Development Bank through video-conference, she highlighted the role of Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) in infrastructure financing and mentioned that India is going to set up a new DFI with initial paid-up capital of around $3 billion with a lending target of $69 billion in next three years, said an official statement.

She also suggested that the NDB develop a synergistic relationship with these institutions that share its development priorities to achieve greater results.

"The Finance Minister encouraged the NDB to facilitate private sector participation, explore more innovative financing structures, discover co-financing opportunities with other MDBs, develop a pipeline of bankable projects, and promote environmental and social safeguards to enhance the sustainability of infrastructure, etc," it said.

Sitharaman also stressed the need for the NDB to maintain and improve upon the ratings assigned by international rating agencies through adequate capitalisation, high quality governance and prudent management.
Amazon Technologies, a part of e-commerce major Amazon.com Inc, has acquired Bengaluru-based retail tech start-up Perpule for about Rs 107.6 crore.

The acquisition will allow Amazon to offer Perpule's 'UltraPoS' and other new technology products to its kirana partners.

The acquisition will allow early investors in Perpule to exit with 4-5 times returns, Mint, which accessed the regulatory filings filed by the start-up with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), said.

In November 2018, Perpule had raised $4.7 million in Series A funding from Prime Venture Partners, Kalaari Capital and Venture Highway.

Amazon is also likely to pay additional remuneration to Perpule's employees, which will take the deal value to about Rs 150 crore, the publication cited two sources as saying.

Most of Perpule's employees, including co-founders Abhinav Pathak, Saketh BSV and Yogesh Ghaturle, are likely to join Amazon, it said.

Confirming the news of acquisition, an Amazon India spokesperson said Perpule's cloud POS will help offline stores manage their operations better. "Perpule has built an innovative cloud-based POS offering that enables offline stores in India to better manage their inventory, checkout process, and overall customer experience. We are excited to have the Perpule team join us to focus on providing growth opportunities for businesses of all sizes in India while raising the bar of the shopping experience for Indian customers," the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Also read: Amazon urges Centre to not alter e-commerce investment rules
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Gentlemen of the workshop, he said, we begin today with a letter of great import from the esteemed editors of La Aurora. These men of letters express a warm fondness for workers whose aspirations to such knowledgescience, literature, and moral principlefuel Cubas progress.

Maria Isabel ran her tongue along another leafs gummy underside, the earthy bitterness as familiar a taste by now as if it were born of her. She placed the softened leaf on the layers that preceded it, the long veins in a pile beside. Rollers, allowed as many cigars as they liked, struck matches and took fat puffs with hands tented over flames. The air thickened. Maria Isabel had by then breathed so much tobacco dust she developed regular nosebleeds, but the foreman didnt permit workers to open the window slats more than a sliversunlight would dry the cigars. So she hid her cough. She was the only woman in the workshop. She didnt want to appear weak.

The factory wasnt large, by Cuban standards: only a hundred or so workers, enough to roll for one plantation a mile away. A wooden silo at the center held its sun-dried leaves, darkened, papery slivers the rollers would carry to their stations. Next to the silo, a ladder flanked the chair where Antonio, the lector, sat.

He cleared his throat as he raised the newspaper. La Aurora, Friday, first of June, 1866, he began. The order and good morals observed by our cigar makers in the workshops, and the enthusiasm for learningare these not obvious proof that we are advancing?

Maria Isabel picked through her stack of leaves, setting aside those of lesser quality for filler.

. . . Just go into a workshop that employs two hundred, and you will be astonished to observe the utmost order, you see that all are encouraged by a common goal: to fulfill their obligations . . .

Already a prickling warmth spread across Maria Isabels shoulders. The ache would grow into a throb as the hours passed so that, by the end of the workday, she could barely lift her head. To fulfill their obligations, to fulfill their obligations. Her hands moved of their own accord. The bell would ring and shed look at the pile of cigars, smooth as clay, surprised shed rolled them all. She imagined the layers of brown melding into one another endlesslydesks becoming walls, leaves becoming eyes, and sprouting arms moving in succession until everything and everyone were part of the same physical poetry, the same song made of sweat. Lunchtime. She was tired.

[ Return to the review of Of Women and Salt. ]

*

A single dirt road in this town led past the factorys gate and continued on to the sugar plantation a mile down, both owned by a creole family, the Portenos. Maria Isabel walked this path home, one that snaked through the shadows and gave her brief reprieves from the punishing sun. She thought of Antonios words: Study has become a habit among them; today they leave behind the cockfight in order to read a newspaper or book; now they scorn the bullring; today it is the theater, the library, and the centers of good association where they are seen in constant attendance.
WASHINGTON -- A U.S. report on human rights around the world highlights a deteriorating picture in many countries, including Belarus, where the report outlines the use of brute force against peaceful pro-democracy protesters, and Russia, where opposition politician Aleksei Navalny was targeted.



U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a briefing on March 30 that in those countries and others, trend lines on human rights continue to move in the wrong direction."

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Blinken spoke as the human rights report outlining the situation last year in nearly 200 countries worldwide was released. The State Department is required to write the report annually and send it to Congress.



"Too many people continued to suffer under brutal conditions in 2020," Blinken said in an introduction to the report. He said some governments had used the coronavirus pandemic as a "pretext to restrict rights and consolidate authoritarian rule."



The report on Russia highlighted the nerve-agent poisoning of Navalny, who was imprisoned earlier this year upon returning to Russia from months of treatment in Germany. The report said "credible reports" indicated officers from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) poisoned Navalny last August.



It also mentions credible reports by nongovernmental organizations and independent media outlets of a campaign of violence, including torture and extrajudicial killings, against LGBT people in Russia's Chechnya region, and reports that the government or its proxies committed or attempted to commit extrajudicial killings of its opponents in other countries.



The report defined Belarus as an authoritarian state and catalogued a long list of significant human rights issues, including arbitrary killings by security forces, torture in detention facilities, arbitrary arrests, serious problems with the independence of the judiciary, and restrictions on free expression and the press.



Authorities at all levels generally operated with impunity and always failed to take steps to prosecute or punish officials in the government or security forces who committed human rights abuses, the report on Belarus said.

The report also spotlighted threats to freedom of expression and a free press in Kyrgyzstan, where a joint investigative series in 2019 by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, Kloop, and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) exposed hundreds of millions of dollars in corruption in that Central Asian state.

In a section on respect for civil liberties, including freedom of the press, the State Department noted threats to journalists involved in that report, which implicated former deputy customs head Raimbek Matraimov.

It said RFE/RL had relocated some of its journalists "amid serious threats to their lives and families, for fear of political reprisal," and it cited a video purporting to show text messages from Matraimov offering a "dead-or-alive" bounty on the return of one of the journalists behind that story.

A Bishkek court in February ordered pretrial custody for Matraimov in connection with corruption charges after hundreds of Kyrgyz protested a previous ruling mitigating a sentence after a guilty plea to no jail time and fines of just a few thousand dollars.

The report is especially critical of China, using assertive language to describe the Chinese governments treatment of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang Province as "genocide and crimes against humanity."



The report described a litany of crimes committed by the state against those groups in Xinjiang, including arbitrary imprisonment, forced sterilizations and other coerced birth-control measures, torture, forced labor, and "draconian" restrictions on basic freedoms.



It said in addition to the estimated 1 million Uyghurs and other minority groups in extrajudicial internment camps, there were an additional 2 million subjected to daytime-only 'reeducation' training.



Blinken also said that the State Department plans to bring back topics of reproductive health in the country reports. An addendum will be released later this year that will cover the issues, including information about maternal mortality and discrimination against women in accessing sexual and reproductive health.



The topics were removed from the report by the Trump administration.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Mumbai, March 30 : A day after Mumbai added 5,890 new Covid-19 patients to take the tally past the 4-lakh mark, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) braced up for a possible second war against the virus, a top official said here on Tuesday.

For starters, the BMC has made 2,269 beds, including 360 in ICU, available with immediate effect in private hospitals to cater to the growing rush of Covid patients since early-March.

"These will be in addition to more than 3,000 beds currently lying vacant in government and private hospitals. We are also operationalizing an additional 1,500 beds in the Jumbo field hospitals by this weekend to take the total bed availability to over 7,000," BMC Municipal Commissioner I.S. Chahal told IANS.

Moving swiftly, the civic body has also ordered takeover of 80 per cent beds and 100 per cent ICU beds in all private hospitals and barred them against admitting any Covid positive patients without the green signal from the Covid Ward War Room, he added.

Reverting to the policy enforced in May 2020, no patients shall be allowed direct admission to hospitals till their Covid positive report is received from the labs, and thereafter, the BMC teams will pick up the patient/s from their homes to the designated hospital.

Reviewing the situation, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that "there is immense strain on the health infrastructure" in view of the galloping Covid cases, with the Maharashtra tally now clocking a stupendous 27.50 million cases and 54,283 deaths (till date), with the highest cases (4,04,614) and deaths (11,665) being in Mumbai, the country's worst-hit.

With daily infections soaring in the 30K-plus range since a week, the Minister reiterated that all people must strictly adhere to Covid-appropriate protocols to avoid another Lockdown.

The BMC chief has also ordered that Assistant Municipal Commissioners may take police help to secure the beds in private hospitals/nursing homes/clinics if needed and also deploy civic teachers and other staffer to ensure bed availability 24X7.

Laying down norms, Chahal said that first beds in all hospitals at the Ward level shall be utilized, followed by ESIS hospitals, beds and ICU beds in private hospitals, Jumbo hospitals, government hospitals in Mumbai followed by BMC's own hospitals.

He made it clear that besides banning all direct admissions, no asymptomatic Covid positive patient without co-morbidities shall be allotted beds anywhere, and such patients currently in hospitals must be discharged on priority to free up beds for the more needy or serious patients.

The BMC has further decreed that 80 per cent of all Covid beds and 100 per cent ICU beds shall be at the disposal of the civic Ward War Room for smooth allotment.

Private hospitals have been cautioned to charge only the government notified rates from patients and all bills shall be audited by BMC auditors, Chahal said.

All hospitals have been asked to ensure uninterrupted supply of requirements like oxygen, ventilators, medicines, PPE and VTM kits, etc and place advance orders as the case maybe.

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
Mumbai, March 30 : The Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced a high-level one-man panel to probe the allegations levelled by former Mumbai Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh against state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

The panel comprising retired Bombay High Court judge, Justice Kailash U. Chandiwal, will submit its report within six months, said an official notification.

The terms of reference comprise investigating if Singh had submitted any evidence in his March 20 'letter-bomb' allegations against Deshmukh to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

It will also enquire whether the evidence, if any, prove any misconduct/crime by the Home Minister or any of his staff.

It may be recalled that in his letter, Singh had alleged that Deshmukh had reportedly asked a junior officer, Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze, to 'collect' Rs 100 crore per month from hoteliers, bars, hookah parlours and other sources in Mumbai.

The letter came soon after Vaze was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the twin cases pertaining to the abandoned SUV Scorpio outside Antilia, the home of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, on February 25, followed by the mysterious death of the car's owner, Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, on February 5.

Rejecting outright Singh's charges, Deshmukh had said: "The former Commissioner of Police, Param Bir Singh, has levelled false allegations in order to save himself as the involvement of Sachin Vaze in the Mukesh Ambani and Mansukh Hiren's case is becoming clearer from the investigation carried out so far and the threads are leading to Singh as well".

Singh penned the letter shortly after his transfer as Commandant-General, Home Guards.

He hit back by moving the Supreme Court demanding a CBI probe into his allegations against Deshmukh, but he was asked to approach the Bombay High Court.

The Justice K.U. Chandiwal probe panel will also go into whether there was any substance in the information provided by Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanjay Patil and the then API Vaze to Singh, based on which the latter levelled allegations of corruption against Deshmukh.

The panel will also suggest whether there is a need to order a probe by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) or any other agency, said a government notification announcing the high-level investigation.
A joint study from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Chinese scientists on the origins of COVID-19 said it is likely that it originated from bats and has spread to another animal before passing it to the human population.

The 123-page study also concluded that it is unlikely that the virus leaked from a Wuhan lab, which is a theory being reviewed by some experts even though it is based on circumstantial evidence, NBC News reported.

The findings resulted from the joint study conducted in China last month to investigate the virus' origin.

"All available evidence suggests the virus has an animal origin and is not manipulated or constructed virus in a lab or somewhere else," WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said as Fox News reported.

Researchers recently discovered six additional coronaviruses in bats, and there may be more coronavirus yet-to-be-discovered in the said mammals.

READ NEXT: Growing Evidence Shows COVID-19 Leaked From Wuhan Lab, Contrary to China's Claims

Origin of COVID-19

The outbreak was known to have first occurred in December 2019. However, some reports noted that the disease's first case could be traced back to November 2019.

Meanwhile, other critics said that the inquiry was insufficient as many Chinese scientists involved are affiliated with government-run institutions. Also, investigators did not have full access to lab records and raw data.

WHO's report recommended additional research for those and other scenarios, including retrospective studies of the earliest known cases linked to the seafood market in Wuhan, China. The report also said it is not clear whether that was the initial source of the outbreak.

Lab Leak Narrative

The lab leak hypothesis was supported by former President Donald Trump and was recently touted by former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield.

"I am of the point of view that I still think the most likely etiology of this pathogen in Wuhan was from a laboratory. Escaped," Redfield said in a report.

However, the nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said that Redfield was simply expressing an opinion.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that they had real concerns about the methodology and the process that were done in the report. Blinken said this includes the fact that Beijing helped wrote the report, Telegraph reported.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian rejected the criticism, saying that the U.S. was trying to exert political pressure on the WHO expert group members.

He then asked when the U.S. will invite the WHO experts to visit the U.S. and conduct work to trace the source and open the Fort Detrick laboratory for international experts to tour.

The U.S. intelligence has earlier assessed that the virus may have leaked from a lab in Wuhan. Redfield also claimed that it is not unusual for workers to be infected with a respiratory virus, especially if they are working on it.

Some reports echoed the same sentiments, saying humans could become infected in laboratories with limited biosafety, poor laboratory management practice, and negligence.

READ MORE: Experts Suggest Novel Coronavirus Originated From Lab in Wuhan

WATCH: WHO Presents First Wuhan Coronavirus Investigation Results - From D.W. News






Live from the Billy Graham Library: Will Graham and Musical Guest Aaron Shust to Host Good Friday Service Online

Good Friday program to be translated into American Sign Language, followed by additional Spanish-language outreach



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

March 30, 2021



CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 30, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- Evangelist Will Graham will broadcast a special Good Friday service on Friday afternoon, April 2, at 4 p.m. EDT, live from the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte. He will be joined for the outreach by award-winning Christian musical artist Aaron Shust.



"The cross is one of the most common symbols of the Christian faith. It seems like everywhere you look, you'll see a cross," said Graham, "But what did Jesus actually accomplish on the cross? What did His incredible suffering and sacrifice do for mankind, and why does it still matter to you and me? I'll share about what happened on the cross, and how it impacts eternity for each of us as we call upon Jesus as Savior."



The livestream will be available at WillGrahamLive.com, and on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) YouTube channel. It can also be viewed on several BGEA-related Facebook pages, including Facebook.com/WillGraham4. The program will be available on-demand in the days following the broadcast.



In addition to the original airing of the livestream, Graham's message will be translated into American Sign Language and rebroadcast at 5 p.m. EDT on Facebook.com/ASLbythelight. Later in the evening, at 8 p.m. EDT, a Spanish-translated message by Graham will air as part of a Good Friday service hosted by Christian music artist Marcos Witt. This program will be available at Facebook.com/pazcondios.net, as well as many other online, radio and television outlets.



The Good Friday service will be Graham's eighth streaming event since the pandemic forced his 2020 in-person evangelistic gatherings (called Celebrations) to be postponed. His online outreaches thus far have garnered more than 1.5 million views from 78 countries. More than 4,500 have registered decisions for Christ. As COVID restrictions ease, Graham is also planning multi-day evangelistic outreaches in the coming months in Fairmont, West Virginia, Rapid City, South Dakota, and Des Moines, Iowa, as well as London and Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.



About Will Graham

Will is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). The grandson of Billy Graham and son of Franklin Graham, he also serves as vice president of the BGEA, and as executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville. Follow Will on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.



SOURCE Billy Graham Evangelistic Association



CONTACT: Erik Ogren, 704-401-2117, eogren@bgea.org


With many residents currently rediscovering their at-home fitness equipment, were ready to help fellow Angelenos get back up and running with tune-ups and other needed maintenance on their machines.

Fitness Machine Technicians, specialists in the maintenance and repair of exercise equipment for commercial and residential customers, opens in the Greater Los Angeles area today, including San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Downtown Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Malibu, Encino, Thousand Oaks, and North Hollywood. Husband and wife team Toutoule and Carly Ntoya of Pasadena, Calif. will own and manage the local office.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Fitness Machine Technicians operates in more than 70 markets across the country and offers service/repair and maintenance on a variety of exercise equipment in fitness centers, universities, high schools, hotels, apartment complexes, corporate gyms and private residences.

Toutoule says, It can be incredibly frustrating to go to the gym or fitness center and find your favorite piece of equipment in disrepair  it puts a wrench in your workout routine and is detrimental to the gym, too. Thats where we come in  its our goal to provide the Greater Los Angeles area with the best fitness equipment repair and maintenance service to keep customers and clients thriving.

Toutoule and Carly live in Pasadena. Carly is a lifelong resident, and Toutoule grew up in the San Fernando Valley. After receiving his Bachelor of Science from Oregon Institute of Technology and his Masters in Education from Azusa Pacific University, he had a long career teaching science in nearby schools. He also received his Ed.D. in Education Leadership from University of Southern California and began an education consulting business working with schools in the area. Carly received her Bachelor of Arts from University of Southern California and currently works as a Human Resources Director. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Alliant International University  Los Angeles.

With their background in education and human resources, the Ntoyas are also eager to work with local schools, helping to modernize their fitness centers to inspire the next generation of exercise enthusiasts.

The Ntoyas plan to hire local technicians over the next year as the business grows. All technicians are trained at Fitness Machine Technicians headquarters in Philadelphia. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, technicians take extra precautions by wearing face masks and gloves and using disinfectant wipes when servicing equipment.

Carly adds, With many residents currently rediscovering their at-home fitness equipment, were ready to help fellow Angelenos get back up and running with tune-ups and other needed maintenance on their machines.

Since its inception, Fitness Machine Technicians has been committed to delivering reliable service/repair and preventive maintenance services to customers across the nation. With more than 35 years experience in the fitness industry, Chief Executive and Founder Don Powers created a company that puts its customers first.

Powers notes, Im thrilled Toutoule and Carly are joining the Fitness Machine Technicians family. They have a great familiarity with their market and future customers and were confident theyll find great success.

For more information about having a fitness machine or exercise facility serviced, please contact Fitness Machine Technicians of Greater Los Angeles at 1-833-FMT-GLA3 or visit http://www.FitnessMachineTechnicians.com/GreaterLA.

About Fitness Machine Technicians

Fitness Machine Technicians specializes in the maintenance and repair of fitness equipment for commercial and home exercise facilities. Clients include fitness centers, corporations, hotels, condominiums, high schools, colleges and universities, government, and residential homes across the United States. Its corporate-trained and authorized technicians are committed to providing the most reliable repair and maintenance services.

Fitness Machine Technicians also offers franchise opportunities to individuals with an interest in fitness and looking to run a service-based business based on a proven operating model. The companys award-winning franchise currently has locations in more than 80 territories across the country. For more information, visit the website at http://www.FitnessMachineTechnicians.com or call 844-FMT-FIXX.
Winchester College could suspend its planned admission of female pupils next year amid fears it could bring about a 'toxic culture'.

The 640-year-old boarding school had last month revealed its plans to admit girls from September 2022 as sixth form day pupils, with female boarders following in 2024.

But the 'haste' at which the change was to be brought about has sparked concern amid the growing scandal of elite schools such as Eton College and Highgate School named in sexual abuse accounts, The Telegraph reports.

The 42,000-a-year Winchester College has not been implicated in the scandal, but it is believed that parents are concerned about the plans to introduce girls amid the accusations.

A source said: 'Parents don't understand why they are pressing ahead with it. It seems bonkers, given what we now know has been going on in private schools.

The 42,000-a-year Winchester College has not been implicated in the scandal, but it is believed that parents are concerned about the plans to introduce girls amid these reports

'It needs to be handled sensitively or it could easily lead to a toxic culture. It is hard to convince the parents that there is a really good reason for introducing girls into the sixth form when we can see how toxic things have become.'

It comes after Gavin Williamson last night vowed to take action over the pupil abuse scandal  and urged all victims of 'sickening acts' to report them to police.

The Education Secretary condemned alleged assaults as 'shocking and abhorrent' and indicated any schools implicated could face Government measures.

His intervention came as the Department for Education (DfE) and police made contact with the founders of the Everyone's Invited website  which was set up by former private school pupils to expose harassment  to provide 'support, protection and advice'.

Last week it was revealed that a Whitehall inquiry had been launched into the scandal, with Home Office and Department for Education officials leading a cross-Government response.

Headmaster of the college, Dr Tim Hands, said the school had 'learnt a lot' from the comments and questions of parents at the information evening, and they will now 'take the time to reflect' on what they have heard

Ofsted inspectors along with the Independent Schools Inspectorate are prepared to begin surprise, immediate investigations if concerns over safeguarding are brought up at particular schools, according to Whitehall sources.

Winchester held several information evenings over Zoom last week to discuss the introduction of female pupils, and some parents revealed their scepticism over the plans.

A source said: 'If we wanted a progressive school we would have chosen Bedales.

'What sets Winchester apart is that it is a single sex school for very erudite boys.'

The college still aims to go ahead with the change, but it will consider parents' calls to delay it, it is understood.

Headmaster of the college, Dr Tim Hands, said the school had 'learnt a lot' from the comments and questions of parents at the information evening, and they will now 'take the time to reflect' on what they have heard.

Gavin Williamson vowed last night to take action over the pupil abuse scandal  and urged all victims of 'sickening acts' to report them to police

Mr Williamson wrote on Twitter yesterday: 'No school  whether an independent school or state school  should ever be an environment where young people feel unsafe, let alone somewhere that sexual abuse can take place.

'The allegations that I have heard in recent days are shocking and abhorrent.

'Any victim of these sickening acts that we've seen reported should raise their concerns with someone they trust, whether that's a family member or friend, a teacher, social worker, or the police. We will take appropriate action.'

Meanwhile, shocked head teachers of girls' private schools said yesterday they were talking to current and former students over sex allegations at neighbouring schools.

The Girls' Schools Association (GSA), which represents more than 100 top British girls' private schools, said that in some cases they are referring incidents to the police.
Facepalm: Most of us have been accidentally double-charged for something. While getting a few dollars refunded is a bit inconvenient, the process takes on a lot more urgency when its $71,000. Thats the situation facing some Tesla customers who have been charged twice for their new electric vehicles.

Southern California residents Tom Slattery, Christopher T. Lee, and Clark Peterson told CNBC that they experienced duplicate debit charges from Tesla, with amounts ranging from $37,000 to $71,000.

In the case of Lee, aka Everyday Chris on YouTube, two sums of $56,579 were transferred from his account after he purchased a Model Y. Tesla said there was no record of this and told him to call his bank.

Lee struggled to find someone at Tesla who would deal with the error and was forced to go to a nearby service center for an email address of someone in the finance department at the Freemont offices. Hes still waiting for a refund.

Slattery was charged $53,000 twice. According to his tweet, at least 400 other buyers have been double-charged. He couldnt get any answers by calling the company, forcing him to drive to the Tesla Burbank, California, store and speak to staff.

Things @Tesla has done for me in the past 2 days: 1) stolen 5 figures directly from my bank account, and that of at least 400 other buyers 2) not delivered the car that was promised yesterday and paid for (TWICE, as it turns out) 3) provided zero contact. Thanks, @elonmusk !  Tom Slattery (@retranslattery) March 27, 2021

They told me to call my bank and have my bank reverse the charge. That was not acceptable. When you debit more than $50,000 and tell a customer to solve it on their own? I kept pushing, he said.

Slattery is still waiting for a refund. He says until it arrives, he will refuse to accept the 2021 Model Y, which didnt show up during the estimated delivery period.

Peterson experienced a similar problem after he bought the same model. Again, he was advised by the company to call his bank. I said the money has left my account. Im pretty familiar with the way wire transfers work. When the moneys gone the moneys gone! He was insistent I should call my bank. So I did. They confirmed like no, the money is in Teslas account now. We cannot do anything about that until we hear from them.

For a company that has so much technology skill, to have this happening to multiple people really raises questions, Peterson added.

Two other customers told CNBC they also experienced duplicate charges after buying a Tesla. One of them must now pay overdraft fees and finance charges on credit card bills at the end of the month.
The morphine worked and the next day, Ms Cusworth was admitted to a bed in a shared ward and then later discharged. She spent a week at home on bedrest, before returning on March 18 for her scheduled caesarean. The hospital had called to push her appointment back 24 hours but Ms Cusworth managed to retain her original date after explaining her situation. At the hospital she waited for more than two hours before being told she would likely be sent home, as beds were at capacity and there were four other women scheduled ahead of her. However, Ms Cusworths contractions intensified, she was assessed by a doctor and her caesarean was performed. We ended up getting lucky that I had those tightenings and it got us through, but Im sure that would have meant other people got sent home. I know if I hadnt had those tightenings, I would have been the one sent home because we were last on the list of caesareans for that day. There has been a record number of babies born. Credit:Craig Sillitoe Ms Cusworth said she was told by a midwife that KEMH was trying not to send the same people home twice.

They were accepting that a lot of people were being sent home once, but they were prioritising people that had already been sent home once so they werent sent home again, she said. When I was there I spoke to another woman who had been transferred from Joondalup and she was only 32 weeks and she was waiting in the day surgery unit with me for a caesarean. The first thing she said to me was we have to wait but we might get sent home again today, so I dont think it was unique to my situation. It is one example of what WAtoday understands to be a major strain on resources at KEMH, which is WAs largest maternity hospital and the referral centre for complex pregnancies and high-risk births from across the state. One senior medical professional, who did not want to be named, confirmed there were issues at KEMH and said management had created an environment where doctors felt unable to speak out about safety and quality concerns. On Monday, Andrew Miller, president of the WA branch of the Australian Medical Association, told Radio 6PR the number of pregnant women on the waitlist for inductions at KEMH had meaningfully increased, resulting in some women waiting days to receive urgent care.

Dr Miller also discussed the culture at the hospital and said midwives and specialist doctors had raised concerns. He said staff were being put under significant stress as they decided which patients were the highest priority. We really need to fix this by getting the appropriate staff in there  King Edward is our flagship hospital where, when everything else fails King Edward is where you end up  they are the safety net for the whole state, Dr Miller told 6PR. Mr Miller said the issues were similar to those in other Perth hospitals that had come about because of years and years of inattention in a system that is too small for the population and demand that we have. The 104 year-old KEMH will be closed in coming years and replaced by a new womens and babies hospital within the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre. We have this promise over the horizon of a new hospital in five or seven years but we really have to pay some close attention to whats happening now because these are urgent deliveries and they are not happening when they should be, Dr Miller said.

In a statement, the North Metropolitan Health Service said the care and safety of patients was its number one priority and all women requiring urgent intervention or care were seen straight away. Ms Cusworths child Robbie was born healthy on the Thursday afternoon. By Saturday morning, Ms Cusworth said there were discussions about the pair being discharged, which she said was faster than after her previous two caesareans. After explaining that she was not ready, Ms Cusworth was allowed to stay another night. Loading In order for women to have good birth experiences there need to be more beds available, Ms Cusworth said. There are already so many things that can impact a birth experience and cause lasting damage for women, that we shouldnt risk something we could resolve with resources and funding, particularly in a hospital that takes women dealing with pre-term labour, with sick and premature babies, multiple births, and women travelling from the regions.

This a hospital that is dealing with the most vulnerable women at the most vulnerable time in their lives and the care is outstanding, but without the resources they cant provide that care because they cant admit people. The North Metropolitan Health Service spokeswoman said more women were choosing to have their babies at KEMH or in the public health system. It was assumed, but not confirmed, that COVID-19 had contributed to the increased number of pregnancies, as well as a large number of the population cancelling their private health insurance, the spokeswoman said. Loading In recent weeks and months, KEMH has seen a record number of births and activity, the spokeswoman said.

Each day our teams work hard to prioritise the workload by making the best use of our system-wide obstetric network to ensure every woman is cared for safely and appropriately. Where clinically appropriate, it may mean that some women are transferred to less busy maternity units within the metropolitan area. KEMH teams deliver more than 6000 babies a year. Between January 1 and March 29, 618 caesarean sections were undertaken at KEMH. This was 30 more than during the same period last year. All caesarean sections are completed on their scheduled date, the spokeswoman said. Only in exceptional circumstances will a caesarean be scheduled for the following day i.e. when more urgent emergency surgery is required at short notice.
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WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Representative Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, on Monday introduced the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, to address a shortage in available parking for semis and large commercial trucks.

I grew up in a family trucking business and spent years driving over the road, said Bost. Since then, weve seen the need for more trucks and drivers increase significantly, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when trucking helped to keep our economy going.
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GREELEY, Colo.  A man who died after being shot by sheriffs deputies responding to a potential domestic assault incident in northern Colorado has been identified as Steven Michael Kielian, 32, from the Milliken area.

The Weld County Coroners Office released his name Monday but said a final determination of how he died will be released after an autopsy and laboratory reports.

The Weld County Sheriff Office has said the shooting happened Friday after deputies responded to a home near Galeton and a female victim told officers that she was assaulted by a man who was still inside the home. The officers were warned that the man was potentially armed, it said.

The suspect later ran out of the house, police said in the statement. The deputies fired a bean bag round in an unsuccessful attempt to stop him. They then tried to chase the suspect down.

Thats when the suspect fired at least one round at the officers, the statement said. Multiple deputies fired back and struck the suspect.

An investigation is being conducted by the 19th Judicial Critical Incident Response Team, a group of investigators from law enforcement agencies that work with the district attorneys office to investigate officer-involved shootings.

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As the death toll among Myanmars protesters rose dramatically last weekend, military airstrikes against one of the countrys largest rebel groups stoked fears of another problem: full-fledged civil war.

The Karen National Union, which controls an area in the south-east along the Thai border, confirmed yesterday that about 10,000 residents fled to a safe zone last weekend after the Myanmar military conducted airstrikes that killed three people. The fighter jets came out in retaliation for an attack by ethnic Karen rebels on a base of the national army, or Tatmadaw, in which 10 soldiers were killed and another eight were arrested.

The attacks came on the same day at least 114 people were killed in clashes with the military and police in the deadliest weekend since the February 1 coup, sparking condemnation from governments around the world. With the death toll now standing at nearly 500 over the past two months, the prospect of a wider fight with potentially dozens of armed militias risks even more bloodshed.

There is a distinct possibility of mass demonstrations cascading into civil war or interstate war, said Lee Morgenbesser, a lecturer at Australias Griffith University whose researches Southeast Asian politics. Given the sometimes porous nature of Myanmars borders, along with the fact that the armed ethnic groups are not subject to state authority, it is likely that the crisis spills across international borders.

Read More

On Sunday a dozen defence chiefs from North America, Europe and Asia Pacific jointly condemned the use of lethal force against unarmed people. Yesterday, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha of neighbouring Thailand said preparations had begun for an influx of migrants.

We dont want there to be a mass migration into our areas but we must also keep human rights in mind, said Mr Prayuth, a former army chief who staged a coup in 2014. As there are violent conflicts in their country it is only normal that there would be migrations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also repeated a call for all sides to de-escalate the situation, while declining to comment on the prospect of a civil war. China shares a 2,100km border with Myanmar, also known as Burma. Violence and bloodshed is in the interests of no one, Mr Zhao said.

Protesters and key allies of detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi have called on Myanmars numerous armed ethnic groups to band together to face down a common enemy in the Tatmadaw. On Sunday, the Kachin Independence Army, another armed group that has urged the military to end its crackdown on demonstrators, launched deadly attacks on at least four police battalions in Kachin State, according to Myanmar Now.

Since independence from Britain in 1948, Myanmar has struggled to build a national identity inclusive of the numerous minority groups in it, fueling resentment against the military  dominated by the Bamar, or ethnic Burmese  and perpetuating some of the longest-running armed conflicts in the world.

Myanmar has hundreds and possibly thousands of armed militias in a country where the state recognises 135 distinct ethnic groups, according to a report last year by Brussels-based International Crisis Group. Of those, around 20 ethnic armed groups have both political and military wings.

A parallel administration set up by members of Ms Suu Kyis allies, known as the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, or CRPH, has agreed with the major ethnic groups on the need for a unity government that would compete for legitimacy with the junta, according to Sasa, who goes by one name and describes himself as the envoy representing Myanmars ousted parliament to the United Nations.

The CRPH is working with several ethnic groups on writing the text of a new constitution, Sasa said.
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh has commented on the recent attacks by the Azerbaijani side with stones on the Armenian civilian vehicles.

Armenpress presents the MFAs comment:

Over the past week, the Azerbaijani side has twice resorted to provocations aimed at preventing the resumption of normal vital activity of the population of the Republic of Artsakh. On March 25 and 29, 2021, the Azerbaijani side targeted with stones civilian vehicles moving along the Karmir Shuka - Stepanakert and Stepanakert - Goris highways. Moreover, in the second case, a vehicle carrying the remains of those deceased during the military aggression of Azerbaijan, Turkey and international terrorists against Artsakh was attacked.

Such provocations against the civilian population of Artsakh testify that either Baku does not control the Azerbaijani armed units in the occupied territories of Artsakh, or the Azerbaijani authorities deliberately and purposefully undermine the stability in the region and the peacekeeping mission carried out by the Russian Federation. The actions of the Azerbaijani side blatantly violate the norms and principles of international law.

In this regard, we consider it necessary stress that these incidents are also a consequence of the illegal presence in the occupied territories of Artsakh of Azerbaijani armed units and international terrorist groups under the patronage of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The provocative actions of the kind deserve the strongest condemnation, and the organizers and perpetrators must be punished appropriately. Impunity and inaction are fraught with unpredictable consequences for peace and stability in the region.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30) A possible extension of the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and nearby provinces is an absolute last resort for the government, Malacanang said Tuesday.

In his media briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force is thoroughly studying whether to extend or lift the ECQ in the greater Manila area. However, he stressed that a longer implementation of the protocol is not their first option.

Another week or two weeks of ECQ, yan po ay magiging absolute last resort, Roque told reporters, expressing hope that the current stricter quarantine will already help bring down the cases.

The first option po is actually to resort to reopening the economy, if possible. Kasi alam naman natin, na itong ayudang binibigay natin is stop-gap, no, he pointed out. Mas importante po na mabigyan ng pagkakataon na makapagtrabaho ang lahat.

[Translation: Another week or two weeks of ECQ will be an absolute last resort. The first option is to actually to resort to reopening the economy, if possible. Because we all know this aid were giving out is only stop-gap. Its more important to give our citizens the chance to work.]

Roque said the IATF will be meeting on Saturday, April 3, to finalize their quarantine recommendations.

The capital region and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal  dubbed as the NCR Plus  are under the strictest form of quarantine from March 29 until April 4 to tackle the continuous surge in coronavirus infections, which stand at 731,894 to date.

READ: PH logs over 10,000 more COVID-19 cases in a new all-time high spike

However, the Health Department is proposing to extend the ECQ for one more week, saying seven days of strict lockdown may not be enough to see a significant drop in cases and hospital admissions.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said separately that the IATF will seriously consider the health experts call, especially if the cases continue to rise exponentially.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 18:13:16|Editor: huaxia

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JALALABAD, Afghanistan, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Three female health workers were shot dead after gunmen opened fire on a polio vaccination team in Jalalabad city, capital of eastern Afghan Nangarhar province on Tuesday, the local government confirmed. Enditem
Nairobi  Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government, Dr. Fred Matiangi and his Information Communication Technology and Innovation counterpart, Joe Mucheru today presided over the ground-breaking ceremony of an ultra-modern security command centre at the Konza Technopolis.

The project under the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) features a Police Station, security barrier, entrance feature, fire station, emergency response unit and an emergency response centre. It will also act as a benchmark in the quest by the authority to adapt to the future of policing.

Speaking at the event CS Matiangi said that Konza Technopolis is a reality and expressed gratitude to elected leaders in the area for supporting the project.

Construction of the centre, he added, marks the beginning of a major milestone with regard to setting the standards for policing in Kenya and in the region.

The CS stressed that in order to protect property and properly investigate crimes, there is need to change the approach to policing. "Technology adoption has impacted the way people in everyday life act and also how crimes are committed. We therefore must adopt and integrate new technologies into our operations as this is the police service of the future," he added.

Technological advancement has led to significant advances in policing, for instance the adoption of automatic number plate recognition. With recent trends showing that most crimes now have a digital footprint, digital forensics and investigations can no longer be the preserve of a specific unit, Dr. Matiangi said.

While speaking on the current containment measures by the Government regarding the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic, he urged Kenyans to support the fight against the disease.

"We have a challenge in the country and around the globe. COVID-19 is real, and we have lost too many lives. As we have been advised by Ministry of Health and professionals in that sector, if we are not very careful, we will suffer even more losses. We do not want to lose any more lives," he said.

On his part, ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Joe Mucheru said the state of the art security centre which is expected to be completed by the end of the year will have the latest technology, adding that physical security and cyber security was paramount.

"Commencement of the construction of this centre is therefore a major step towards this purpose as it will enable smooth and efficient security operations within the Technopolis," he said.

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The Konza Security Command Centre, he added, will be built to international standards to ensure that investors and future inhabitants are assured of their safety, as this is critical for the growth of the Technopolis.

Additionally, the centre will also be important in the Technopolis' rapid response to security incidents and potential disasters such as fires, as the same have been incorporated in the project's plan

Kilome Member of Parliament, Hon. Thaddeus Nzambia, said as local leaders, they have joined hands and are moving together in actualizing the project, which is among one of the largest in the country.

Kajiado East MP, Mrs. Peris Tobiko said they are happy with the employment of their people on the Konza Technopolis project and look forward to its actualization

Also present at the ceremony was Police Inspector General, Mr.Hilary Mutyambai, KoTDA Board Chairman, Dr. Reuben Mutiso, KoTDA CEO,Eng. John Tanui.
If your ride of choice happens to be a two-wheeler, we bet youre already familiar with the difficulty of finding comfortable footwear items both on and off the bike that can also maintain a high level of protection. More often than not, riders will be forced to sacrifice one or the other, but Ill have you know the folks over at Alpinestars are determined to change that.It goes without saying this enterprise is your go-to place when seeking to purchase the ultimate riding gear. With innovations like the Supertech M10 helmet or their unrivaled Tech-Air 5 top , the Italian brand earned its rightful place at the very pinnacle of this industry. Now, lets see how they plan on putting an end to your daily footwear-related struggles.Alpinestars latest development, the Primer sneakers, look just like a regular pair of shoes at first glance. Dont you let their understated appearance deceive you, though. The manufacturer ensures high safety standards are met by packing them full of protective features.As such, their construction consists of a reinforced sole shielding the foot against twisting forces in the event of a crash. To bring about some additional protection for your ankles, the Primers come equipped with robust foam pads, while durable reinforcements are found around the heels and toes.The primary material used here is polyurethane fabric, accompanied by nubuck surfaces up front, on the sides, and near the laces. Ventilated layers have been added to guarantee superior comfort during extended rides, along with a plush inner sole structure that consists of Ortholite, EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate), and thermoplastic polyurethane.Last but not least, Alpinestars Primer riding sneakers are priced at a mere $229.95, scoring rather highly on the affordability scale. The company doesnt state when these handsome things will become available, but wed encourage you to head right over to their official website and register if youd like to stay notified.
The Brimfield Antique Flea Market isnt back in its pre-pandemic glory just yet. But a small group of promoters plan to move forward with the renowned antique and collectibles show in May.

The Brimfield Board of Selectmen on Monday voted to authorize show promoters to host the markets May show. Within an hour, the majority of the towns show promoters said in their own meeting that they would not host vendors for the upcoming show, citing COVID-19 and the states safety restrictions.

Fourteen show promoters opted out of the May show because it would be impossible to conduct a successful show for either our vendors or our shoppers under the current regulations, wrote Klia Ververidis, spokesperson for the Brimfield Show Promoters Association.

The association met Monday night shortly after the Board of Selectmen authorized them to reopen for the market, which is set to run May 11 to May 16.

The show promoters that opted out include Hertans, Central Park, Stephens Place, Quaker Acres, Heart of the Mart, Mays, Mahogany Ridge, New England Motel, Collin Apple Barn, Dealers Choice, Midway, Brimfield Acres North and Sheltons.

Sturtevant Antique Shows, which in prior years has hosted more than 200 dealers, announced Tuesday on Facebook it will opt out of the May show. The promoters website states the May show is canceled and that the July and September shows are still up in the air.

Those who opted out plan to work with the town and the state Department of Labor Standards to prepare for their shows in July and September, Ververidis said.

Brimfield Auction Acres and Brimfield Barn are moving forward with the show. Others are either undecided or also plan to move forward. Town officials say they have until Friday to decide.

We cant afford to stay closed anymore, Eric Schultz, whose family owns the Brimfield Barn, said before the association meeting.

After the votes, Schultz and his wife, DaleAnn, said they remained determined to host the show. We owe it to our dealers to be open, DaleAnn Schultz said.

Theres going to be a lot of people looking for space to set up, Eric Schultz said. There are no other venues in the Northeast right now.

Rusty Corriveau, owner of Brimfield Auction Acres, said he believes the organizers can create a show thats safer than a big box store or other retailer that primarily operates inside. He and his wife have spoken with Rep. Todd Smola and Sen. Anne Gobi, who have pushed for the reopening of the market under safety restrictions.

We are going to all do our best to make this a successful show with the COVID restrictions, Corriveau said, adding that health, police and state labor officials have worked together to finalize safety restrictions. This is an opportunity that has been afforded to us.

The health and wellbeing of our Brimfield Show community and that of the Town of Brimfield is our utmost priority, and as much as we want to get back to the fields, it is not feasible under the current conditions, Ververidis said.

Before reopening, each show promoter must submit a reopening plan with workplace safety standards to the towns health agent, Jamie Terry. Town officials will review plans with the state Department of Labor Standards before allowing each operator to open. People must wear face coverings.

The market must limit its crowds to just over 300 people per acre, according to state restrictions. People must also wear face coverings.

The markets antique and collectible shows  believed to be the largest in Massachusetts and the oldest in the nation  typically run in May, July and September. While the status of the full 2021 season remains uncertain, Brimfield tentatively scheduled shows on July 13 through July 18 and on Sept. 7 through Sept. 12, according to the town website.

The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the shows in 2020, as it did every other business and large event last year.

But the pandemic also exposed rifts between some business owners and local officials in Brimfield.

Vendors, field owners and local officials have clashed over police presence in the market and proposed bylaw changes that would introduce new penalties and higher fines for violations at the market.

The Board of Selectmen on Monday planned to discuss the drafted bylaw, which would create a $25 penalty for failure to display the vendor permit at the market. Instead, the board put off a decision on the bylaw proposal.

Some show promoters host hundreds of vendors and customers on their fields. Brimfield Barn, on the other hand, can hold up to 12 vendors on a good year, Schultz said.

Before Mondays meeting, Schultz said he is ready to open but anticipates he would have to quarantine after the May show to avoid potentially spreading COVID-19 to his family.

I have a newborn and Im going to have to quarantine for two weeks after this because I cant go back to her and give it to her, said Schultz, 46, and Im also too young to get the vaccine.

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A multitrillion-dollar green recovery plan

President Biden is preparing the details of a new, vastly larger economic stimulus plan that would use trillions in government spending to unite the goals of fighting climate change and restoring the economy, with an emphasis on renewable power, energy efficiency and electric car production.

But experts note that throwing money at climate change is not a particularly effective way to lower emissions of planet-warming pollution, and it may present a significant risk to taxpayers.

Still, if the stimulus sets up the energy economy in a way that its eventually cheaper to reduce emissions, it could create more political support for doing that down the road by making legislation or regulations less painful, said David Popp, the lead author of a National Bureau of Economics study on the green stimulus money.

Related: The Biden administration announced a plan to vastly expand the use of offshore wind power along the East Coast, aiming to tap a potentially huge new source of renewable energy that has struggled to gain a foothold in the U.S.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

An Eddy County woman in her 20s and a Chaves County woman in her 100s are among the latest New Mexico COVID-19 patients to die, according to the state Department of Health.

Officials reported the womens deaths among seven new coronavirus-related fatalities announced Tuesday.

The most recent casualties also include residents of Dona Ana, Lincoln, McKinley and Otero counties who ranged in age from their 50s to 90s. They bring the states virus-related death toll to 3,932.

Tuesdays report from the New Mexico Department of Health also includes 148 new COVID-19 infections. New Mexicos seven-day case average is now 188, according to a Journal analysis.

New Mexicos per capita case rate over the last week is among the lowest in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data tracker. New Mexico and Oklahoma were tied as of Tuesday afternoon, with only 10 states faring better.

On Tuesday, 110 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 around the state, the Health Department reported.

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While New Mexicos numbers are well below their peak, the states top health official on Tuesday urged New Mexicans to celebrate Holy Week safely.

Please stay home or gather only with those in your immediate family, Health Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins said in a statement. By making sacrifices now, we will bring this pandemic to a close much sooner, and then we will be able to take up our cherished traditions once again.
100 years ago  1921

An 18-year-old Pine Grove District youth, confessed reader of Diamond Dicks and similar literature, was held under $1,000 bail by Alderman Davies Wednesday morning, charged with attempting to blackmail a wealthy Pine Grove tanner.

75 years ago  1946The symbol of radio station WPPA, the voice of Pottsville that is to be  a red hazard beacon  is burning brightly these nights atop the 225-foot high steel transmission tower in Bullls Head. Erected within the past week, the tower is the first important part of Pottsvilles forthcoming radio station to be completed.

50 years ago  1971The Bells Choir of First United Church of Schuylkill Haven, under the direction of Mrs. Harold Kauterman, entertained the Pottsville Womens Club.

25 years ago  1996Ever since he was in the fifth grade, Gregory L. Phillipos II, Auburn, aimed to compete in this newspapers spelling bee. In fifth grade, he lost during eliminations at Blue Mountain Middle School. Chicken pox prevented him from participating in sixth grade. Last year, he won his schools contest, then spelled out in the eighth round with the word non-plus. But Phillips, 13 and now an eighth-grader, tried again Friday  and his persistence paid off. With the words motley and nonchalance, Phillips captured the 41st annual Spelling Bee, sponsored by The Pottsville REPUBLICAN & Evening Herald. He now goes on to compete in the 69th annual Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., the week of May 24.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Another three patients lost battle of life against Coronovirus at Nishtar Hospital within last 24 hours bringing the tally to 488 so far since March last year

MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Mar, 2021 ) :Another three patients lost battle of life against Coronovirus at Nishtar Hospital within last 24 hours bringing the tally to 488 so far since March last year.

Nishtar focal person for infectious diseases, Dr Irfan Arshad on Tuesday said that M.

Hussain (62) Nasreen Akhtar (58 ) and Sajjad Husain (60) died of coronovirus.

Hussain belonged to Khanewal, Nasreen to Multan and Saajad hailed from Sahiwal , he informed.

He informed that a total of 169 patients of COVID-19 were admitted while 68 were positive and 59 were suspected, he stated.

Exactly twenty-two positive patients are serious while three are on invasive ventilator, he concluded.
VANCOUVER, BC, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - NEXE Innovations Inc. ("NEXE" or the "Company") (TSXV: NEXE), a leader in plant-based materials manufacturing, is pleased to announce that it has engaged each of Gold Standard Media, LLC and Electrik Dojo LLC to provide investor relations activities to the Company. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Company is unable to raise awareness through in-person events and will use these services to provide marketing and public awareness of the Company.

The Company entered into an agreement with Gold Standard Media, LLC ("GSM") dated December 17, 2020 to raise awareness for the NEXE brand among consumers and the Company's shares among investors. The engagement is an aggregate cost of CDN $350,000 (which payment was made December 17, 2020). GSM also uses Future Money Trends and Portfolio Wealth Global LLC for the purpose of these investor relations activities. The activities commenced on January 4, 2021 and are for a period of one year.

To the knowledge of the Company, GSM, Future Money Trends and Portfolio Wealth Global LLC did not acquire any securities in the Company. Nevertheless, Wallace Hill Partners Ltd. ("Wallace Hill"), which is affiliated with GSM, purchased 1,100,000 units at $0.80 per unit under the Company's private placement financing completed in December 2020.

GSM manages a marketing team headquartered in Austin, Texas and has been successfully marketing for a broad range of companies listed on exchanges from the TSX Venture Exchange to the New York Stock Exchange since 2010. GSM is controlled by Kenneth Ameduri.

The Company also entered into an agreement with Electrik Dojo LLC ("Electrik Dojo") dated December 21, 2020 to provide a native advertising agency that facilitates market awareness of the Company. The engagement was initially for USD $120,000 (which payment was made on December 21, 2020) and additional payments of USD $100,000 on each of January 7, 2021, January 26, 2021, February 9, 2021 and February 24, 2021 for total payments of US $520,000. Electrik Dojo commenced services on December 21, 2020 and the native advertising services are provided on as needed basis.

Electrik Dojo is a Delaware company formed in 2017 and based out of Florida. Electrik Dojo utilizes interactive offers for its ad technology platform and dearwallstreet.com for editorial content. To the knowledge the Company, Electrik Dojo nor any of its principals owns securities of the Company.

As noted in the Company's filing statement dated November 30, 2020, the Company engaged Hybrid Financial Ltd. to provide investor relations and digital marketing services to the Company. The terms of such engagement remain the same and have not been amended by either party.

The Company engaged GSM and Electrik Dojo prior to obtaining acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company is currently addressing these deficiencies and will make the applicable fillings shortly.

About NEXE Innovations Inc.

NEXE Innovations Inc. (TSXV:NEXE) is a leader in plant-based compostable technology and advanced materials manufacturing based in British Columbia, Canada. The company has developed one of the only patented, fully compostable, plant-based, single-serve coffee pods for use in leading single-serve coffee machines. The proprietary NEXE pod is designed to reduce the significant environmental impact caused by single-serve pods, >40 billion of which are discarded every year. With over $35M raised to date from equity and government funding and over five years of R&D, NEXE is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable products in the single-serve coffee sector and beyond.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Social Media

https://twitter.com/nexeinnovations

https://www.facebook.com/nexeinnovations

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nexeinnovations

https://www.instagram.com/nexeinnovations

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements or information, which include the proposed use of proceeds, commercialization of the NEXE PODs, including the NEXE Nespresso Compatible Pod, development of the NEXE Mask, and increase production capacity, create other environmentally friendly compostable packaging opportunities, development of technologies, the potential of the Company's technology, future plans, regulatory approvals and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, consumer demand for and sentiment towards the Company's products, security threats, and dependence on key personnel. 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 demand for its products, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, failure to obtain regulatory approval, the continued availability of capital and financing, equipment failures, litigation, increase in operating costs, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, competition, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, government regulations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Nexe Innovations Inc.

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President Lazarus Chakwera will name his new cabinet by Wednesday March 31, 2021, the presidential spokesman has disclosed.

State House Press Secretary, Brian Banda confirmed the development on Monday in Lilongwe during the weekly State House brief.

"I can independently confirm that in the next two days President Chakwera will announce his cabinet," said Banda responding to a question from a journalist.

"There are two days left before the first quarter of 2021 ends and as the president promised that he will reshuffle the cabinet at the of this month, and reshuffle his cabinet he will do," said Banda.

Banda said president Chakwera is on course with 'everything as regards cabinet reshuffle' after conducting assessments on the ministers with his vice, Saulos Klaus Chilima.

He said: "The president made a promise to Malawians that at the end of the first quarter of 2021 he will review and and access each and member of his cabinet to ascertain as to who is performing and who is not.

"The process has been affected by the novel Covid-19 global pandemic, however, the president and his vice have done what was needed to be done and before March ends, a reshuffle would be done."

President Chakwera came under intense fire for hiring members of the same family into his maiden cabinet.

Chakwera, appointed a 31- member cabinet, which included six figures who are related to each other, although not to the president.

Chakwera, 65, comfortably beat Peter Mutharika with 58.5 percent of the vote.

Malawians have voiced anger and rage after newly appointed President Lazarus Chakwera unveiled a cabinet that they said was tainted by family ties.

However, Chakwera defended his decision by saying he appointed people into his cabinet based on merit and not based on who these people are related to or not related to.

"Each one of my ministers has been appointed as an individual and purely on merit," said Chakwera'.

Meanwhile, the Malawi leader will be hosting former president of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Boshe on Wednesday this week.
Nairobi  A league of leading trade unions in the country on Monday protested what it termed as a government clampdown on public sector workers' unions in what appeared to be an elaborate plan to silence them.

The unions which include the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Kenya County Government Workers Union, Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) and Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) accused unnamed government officials of rolling out a well choreographed scheme to frustrate the participation of workers in trade unions.

"The right to join and participate in trade union activities and collectively bargain is a constitutional right that cannot be wished away. It baffles us when we see some rogue government officials execute well-choreographed schemes aimed at weakening unions and depriving Kenyan workers of their rights," KMPDU Secretary General Chibanzi Mwachonda told a news conference.

He cited a circular issued by the Council of Governors directing the Ministry of Public Service Youth and Gender to stop remitting membership dues to all health sector unions in response to a strike held last year.

"This is, without doubt, illegality that violates our treasured Labour Laws and an attempt to stifle the activities and operations of the unions," the KMPDU official said.

The unions also decried constant sabotage of KNUT by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) which they accused of among many other things interference in union elections.

"TSC has continued to ruthlessly mutilate KNUT membership register reducing it from over 240,000 to now just over 13,000 including withholding of union dues with impunity," he added.

TSC was also accused of overlooking KNUT members on promotions and salary increments by making unconstitutional changes to statutes guiding human resource.

The unions urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to protect workers from such attacks.
Television personality Sayuri, who became a single mother by choice, appears in "The Return of Superman," a childcare-themed TV program on KBS, the broadcaster announced last week. Screenshot from KBS



By Jung Da-min



After a local TV program announced last week that television personality Sayuri, who became an unwed mother by choice, would join the program, controversies have risen over the appropriateness of her appearance on the childcare-themed TV program.



Debates have especially been fueled after someone petitioned the Cheong Wa Dae website asking the government to ban her appearance on the program entitled, "The Return of Superman," saying that the public broadcaster KBS should not bring a single mother by choice onto the program because it could encourage an "abnormal" concept of family.



Sayuri, the Korea-based Japanese entertainer gave birth to a son last November through artificial insemination with donor sperm.



Her decision to have a child outside of marriage has since stirred debate over women's right to choose to be a single mother in Korea, as the country's fertility policy does not include specific ways to support women who make such decisions.



The petitioner said that in Korea, where young people are avoiding marriage amid the high unemployment rate and other hardships, it is the public broadcaster's role to portray a "proper" concept of family, to encourage marriage and "normal" childbirth.



"But the program plans to show an unwed mother, giving the impression that the abnormal method of childbirth outside of marriage is normal. This is unacceptable," the petitioner wrote.



The petition, however, has faced a strong backlash by many people who say that there is no such things as the concept of a "normal family," as the forms and types of families vary case by case.



Columnist Wi Geun-woo said that the petition showed the fact that there is still severe social discrimination and hate against social minorities, including women and single mothers.



"The petition is inappropriate as it is not just an expression of individual opinion, but an expression of hate that should be pointed out. Cheong Wa Dae needs to take responsibility for letting such petitions posted on its website get publicly shared by those who are sympathetic with such discriminatory ideas," Wi said on Instagram, Monday.



Many young people also expressed their objections to the petitioner's claims, saying that forms of family have diversified and individuals' choices should be respected in a diverse society.



"Sayuri's decision to be a single mother should be respected as the choice of an individual, and her appearance on the KBS program should not be an issue," said An Young-dae, 30, who lives in Seoul.



"Her appearance actually seems to benefit the public, as the program can show conflicts or problems in situations where one individual must play the parental role that is usually shared by both a mother and a father. Such situations can also occur in other single parent families."



Lee Ji-su, a 25-year-old woman living in Daejeon, said she believes she should be able to choose to give birth regardless of the type of family she would have. She also said that the country's low birthrate problem can be solved when more diversity in the concept of family is tolerated in society via institutional supports.



"There are many different types of families, including unwed mothers and unwed fathers, adopted families or remarried families. If you live together with a same-sex friend and two cats, that should also be recognized as a family," Lee said.



Another 25-year-old woman Choi, who is living in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, said she finds no good reason why society should not encourage unwed women's choices to become single mothers. She urged society to change the current system to give institutional support for diverse types of families.



Kim Young-ji, 31, said that she opposes any attempts to stop Sayuri from speaking out as a single mother by choice, as she believes that these attempts aim to control women's choices and rights to make decisions about their own bodies.


Vermilion Parish, Louisiana Visitors walking through the main hallway of LeBlanc Elementary School the first French Immersion school in Vermilion Parish are now greeted by a giant, vibrant, globe-shaped mural, boasting colorful images of the flags of all of the French speaking countries throughout the world! It is an eye-catching creation that was recently completed by LeBlanc Elementary students and staff, as well as members of the Vermilion Parish School System and local community.

The project began when Madeline DeHart, Vermilion Parish Music/Fine Arts/French Immersion Supervisor, teamed up with Leblanc Elementary Fourth Grade teacher Shannon Vincent, to design a mural that would welcome and unite all who enter the school, while exhibiting the pride Vermilion Parish has in the French language.

This project was a great way for students, staff and community members to leave a mark on Immersion! I hope when people see the mural, they feel a sense of belonging. Immersion has a way of cultivating inclusiveness. It opens doors for dialogues that most only dream of, expressed DeHart.

The design features the flags of all of the French-speaking countries in the world. Mrs. Vincent carefully calculated each flag space to create a paint-by-number system with paint colors. She then drew the design on the wall, so participants would have a blueprint to work from.

I was inspired to get involved with the French Immersion mural project when Madeline DeHart expressed that she wanted to create some sort of way to represent our French Immersion program as a school mural, shared Vincent. We knew we would have French Immersion teachers joining us from all over the world, and wanted to make them feel connected to their home while staying here.

Rachelle Brown, Principal of Leblanc Elementary, expressed her enthusiasm for the mural project. This mural gives us a sense of community and pride. It reminds us of our connection to French speaking countries, said Brown. It was truly a joy to see our students staff, community members and Superintendent have the opportunity to participate in this activity.

Students worked alongside staff and community members, to slowly transform what was once a bare white wall, into an amazing display of colorful talent! Immense joy was brought to all those who witnessed the smiles on the students faces, as they pointed out the area they had painted. As each piece of the globe was completed, participants were elated that their block would be their block for as long as the school stands.

I didnt realize that students would remember exactly which spot they painted, shared Vincent. Many have been asked where their spot is, and they are able to point it out in five seconds or less! They are really proud that they had a chance to add something permanent to the school.

LeBlanc Elementary is the first French Immersion school in Vermilion Parish. Their students are among nearly 100,000 students across Louisiana who study French. The school is one of the 26 French Immersion schools that exist in eight parishes. Immersion students learn French literacy, math, science and social studies in French, and English Language Arts in English.

Vermilion Parish, an area rich in Cajun and Creole history, is one of the top three Louisiana parishes, with the highest percentage of French speakers. According to the US Census, 18% of the people in Vermilion Parish are French speakers.

When creating the design for the mural, we placed Louisianas flag front and center, because we want to celebrate Louisianas French first and foremost, shared DeHart.

Many schools have such a positive school culture that you can see and feel, as soon as you enter the buildingthe walls, classrooms, staff and students, radiate that type of culture. LeBlanc Elementary fosters this very rich and positive school climate. The French Immersion mural project provided the perfect opportunity to showcase this type of culture!

This mural marks such an important time in the history of Leblanc Elementary and in Vermilion Parish, expressed Brown. It represents the inception of French Immersion education, as well as the dedication of our stakeholders to preserving our French heritage.

Traveling from her home in France, Floriane Rempp came to teach French to First Grade students at LeBlanc Elementary. She is one of the many teachers, who come from French-speaking France, Belgium, Africa, or Canada, to teach French in Louisiana schools. She shared her excitement with French Immersion, in a recent television production by France 24, an international news channel based in Paris, France, broadcasting to 355 million households around the world.

Knowing that we have the French language in common, it brings us togetherit allows us to open up to others, its our strength expressed Rempp. She continued, In a way, it unites peopleit creates cultural bridges. Francophonie is very important. Its our heritage and our culture!

Magali Foret, the Kindergarten French Immersion teacher who came to Leblanc Elementary from her home in Belgium, shared her thoughts of the mural. Having a globe with all the countries' flags where we speak French, makes me realize how much French is a language spoken in many different places around the world, said Foret. I think that it's great to have the mural here, because as Principal Brown says, it's not only French Immersion that the school is embracing, but a whole culture - the Cajun culture that runs in your veins and also the Francophone culture. It makes me feel a part of something bigger than just teaching in French, expressed Foret.

With much gratitude, Brown expressed, Madeline DeHart was the visionary and managed all of the processes to make this happen smoothly! Shannon, our amazing fourth grade teacher and artist-in-residence, did an incredible job of sketching the mural! A special thanks goes to Mr. Garrett Thomas who donated his time and materials to create the canvas for our mural!
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The Mount Rushmore monument in South Dakota will remain closed on Tuesday as three separate wildfires burn out of control in the area across approximately 1900 acres of land - forcing the evacuation of up to 500 residents.

The fires were being propelled by record-dry drought conditions and high winds, and the largest outbreak was threatening Rapid City, which is known as the gateway to the Mount Rushmore monument.

The cause of the blazes has not yet been confirmed, but South Dakota is experiencing one of its worst droughts on record, with 40 per cent of the state classified as under 'severe drought'.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has traveled to the area to oversee the response.

Noem said on Monday afternoon that the fire was not threatening Mount Rushmore at that time, but the monument was shut down as a precaution.

She said 'there have been losses and that is tragic.' No injuries have been reported.

A map of the area of the fires in South Dakota shows just how close they are burning to Mount Rushmore

One of the fires, situated in Pennington County, has burned within one mile of Rapid City, South Dakota

A home is destroyed as three separate blazes burn out of control in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Firefighters had to battle high winds, very dry conditions and acrid, thick smoke as they tried to contain the blazes

Mt. Rushmore National Monument, where the faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln are carved in granite, was closed Monday afternoon as wildfires raged nearby

One of the fires began on Monday morning on a private property in Schroeder Road in the Nemo area 15 miles west of Rapid City.

Two others started are burning southwest of Rapid City, near Keystone, with one covering an estimated 75 acres (30.35 hectares) and the other 20 acres.

The Pennington County Sheriff's Department warned earlier that it was a 'very active and dangerous scene.' About 250 firefighters were battling the blaze on a windy afternoon when gusts have ranged from around 50 mph to 72 mph, the Rapid City Journal reported.

The alarm was raised by the Sheriff's Office around midday on Monday, when it informed residents law enforcement and fire department agencies were responding to a major fire near Schroder Road in the Nemo area.

'High winds blowing out of the west are pushing the fire east. Evacuations in the Westberry Trails area are underway.

'This is a very active and dangerous scene. Law Enforcement requests that citizens stay out of the area and use alternate routes.'

Hundreds more homes were ordered evacuated throughout the afternoon, with residents told to

Aerial shots taken by the sheriff's office showed the extent of the blaze, which by mid-afternoon had burned through over 800 acres.

At 2pm Mountain Daylight Time, it was announced Mount Rushmore would be closed immediately due to the fires.

The Sheriff's office ordered residents of Dark Canyon Rd and Magic Canyon Rd to urgently evacuate their homes.

A firefighter surveys the damage of where a large fire has carved a pass through tinder-dry land in South Dakota

These shots of smoldering earth taken on Monday afternoon show just how quickly the fire spread

Helicopters were called in to try to contain the blaze, which has been aided by record-dry conditions across the state

An eerily quiet scene in South Dakota after wildfires swept through earlier, scorching the land

Fires were burning out of control across the Black Hills in South Dakota on Monday evening

Rapid City was on high alert after the fires came within one mile of the town limits

The fires in South Dakota have been fueled by a record-dry conditions affecting a vast area in the west of the United States. Some 40 per cent of South Dakota is considered in severe drought

'Wildfire. Immediately evacuate Dark Canyon and Magic Canyon Rd. Evacuate towards Rapid City. A Red Cross Reception Center has been established at South Canyon Baptist Church, 3333 W. Chicago St,' the Sheriff's Department posted on Facebook.

'Pinedale Heights and West Camp Rapid could possibly be next to evacuate. The fire along Schroeder Road near Nemo is spreading, so please be ready to evacuate if need be.'

On Tuesday the sheriff's office issued an update to say further evacuations were not required yet, and released an updated map showing road closures.

The entire state of South Dakota is suffering from 'abnormally dry conditions, or worse', according to the National Drought Mitigation Center.

Meanwhile, about 40 per cent of South Dakota's 49 million acres was in severe drought as farmers there heading into their planting season, according to Agriculture.com.

On Monday night, Sheriff's posted on Facebook that the two fires burning near Keystone had destroyed at least 70 acres of woodland.

'Highway 16A remains CLOSED through Tuesday morning from the edge of Keystone to the Wrinkle Rock Campsite on Hwy 244.

'Iron Mountain Road is closed from the edge of Keystone to the Custer/Pennington County line.'

The Associated Press reported South Dakota transportation officials had shut down a 42-mile stretch Interstate 90 from Kadoka to Murdo for three hours due to grass fires.
A heavy rain watch has been issued for parts of the North Island, including the Coromandel area.

The MetService is forecasting heavy rain for parts of the North Island and upper South Island.

"A slow-moving front just west of the North Island should begin to move eastwards on Wednesday. This front brings periods of northerly rain to much of the North Island and upper South Island.

"The heaviest rain is expected in the north and west, with thunderstorms and localised downpours of 25 to 40mm and possibly more.

"People are advised to keep up to date with forecasts, as further areas may be added to the Watch and Warning."

HEAVY RAIN WATCH

Area: The west of Northland

Valid: 15 hours from 2pm Tuesday to 5am Wednesday

Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.

Area: Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula

Valid: 8 hours from 3am to 11am Wednesday

Forecast: A period of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible. Rainfall accumulations may approach warning amounts.

Area: Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupo, Taihape, inland Whanganui and South

Taranaki

Valid: 14 hours from 11am Tuesday to 1am Wednesday

Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.

Area: Horowhenua Kapiti Coast

Valid: 9 hours from 6pm Tuesday to 3am Wednesday

Forecast: A period of heavy rain is expected this evening and overnight tonight. Rainfall accumulations may approach warning amounts.

Area: The Marlborough Sounds

Valid: 15 hours from 3am to 6pm Wednesday

Forecast: A period of heavy rain. Rainfall accumulations may approach warning amounts.

Area: Wellington

Valid: 36 hours from 6pm Tuesday to 6am Thursday

Forecast: A period of heavy northerly rain expected this evening and overnight tonight. A period of heavy southerly rain is then expected later Wednesday and early Thursday. Both rain events may approach warning accumulations.
FOR Deo Persad, who knew nothing but family, work, and church, life was complete.

That was evident in the trademark grin on his resting face, hence his nickname Smiley Boboy.

Then one day, his heart-warming and comforting smile, even when he was angry, was lost, and the man who never took a vacation day in his life walked out of his familys home on August 6, 2020, leaving confusion, hurt and grief at their doorstep.

On Deos 53rd birthday on December 14 last year there was nothing but hope that he would walk back into their lives.
Escaping villagers from the Karen State are pictured in an unidentified location in this picture obtained from social media, on March 28, 2021. (Karen Teacher Working Group via Reuters)

Burma Protesters Launch Garbage Strike; Two Killed as Death Toll Tops 500

Rubbish piled up on the streets of Burmas (also known as Myanmar) main city on Tuesday after activists launched a garbage strike to oppose military rule as the toll of pro-democracy protesters killed by the security forces since a Feb. 1 coup rose to more than 500.

Security forces shot and killed one man in the southernmost town of Kawthaung as they cleared the streets, the Mizzima news portal reported, and one person was killed in the northern town of Myitkyina, a relative of the 23-year-old victim told Reuters.

Police and a junta spokesman did not answer calls seeking comment.

Burma has been in turmoil since the army ousted an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, reimposing military rule after a decade of tentative steps towards democracy.

Anti-coup protesters hold signs as they gather in Mandalay, Burma, on March 5, 2021. (AP Photo)

At least 512 civilians had been killed in nearly two months of protests against the coup, 141 of them on Saturday, the bloodiest day of the unrest, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) advocacy group.

Alongside the protests, a civil disobedience campaign of strikes has paralyzed large parts of the economy. In a new tactic, protesters sought to step up the campaign by asking residents to leave garbage at intersections in the main city of Yangon.

This garbage strike is a strike to oppose the junta, read a poster on social media. Everyone can join.

Pictures posted on social media showed piles of rubbish building up.

Thousands of protesters came out to march in several other towns across the country on Tuesday, according to media and photos on social media.

Tires burn on a street as protests against the military coup continue, in Mandalay, Burma, on March 27, 2021. (Stringer/Reuters)

Protesters take cover during clashes with security forces in Monywa, Burma, on March 21, 2021. (Still image from a video obtained by Reuters)

On Monday, 14 civilians were killed, including at least eight in Yangons South Dagon neighborhood, the AAPP said.

Security forces there fired a heavier caliber weapon than usual towards protesters crouching behind a barricade of sand bags, witnesses said. It was not immediately clear what weapon it was.

State television said security forces used riot weapons to disperse a crowd of violent terrorist people who were destroying a pavement and one man was wounded.

A South Dagon resident said on Tuesday there had been no pause in the crackdown.

There was shooting all night, said the resident who declined to be identified.

Residents found a badly burned body in the morning, the witness said, adding it was not known what had happened to the person and the military took the body away.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Burmas generals to stop the killings and repression of demonstrations.

Villagers Cross to Thailand

One of the main groups behind the protests, the General Strike Committee of Nationalities, called on Monday in an open letter for ethnic minority forces to help those standing up to the militarys unfair oppression.

In a sign that the call may be gaining traction, three groupsthe Burma National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army, and Taang National Liberation Armycalled in a joint statement for the military to stop killing protesters and resolve political issues.

If not, they said they would cooperate with all ethnic groups who are joining Myanmars spring revolution.

Insurgents from different ethnic groups have battled the central government for decades for greater autonomy. Though many groups have agreed to ceasefires, fighting has flared in recent days between the army and forces in both the east and north.

Ethnic Karen villagers displaced from Myanmars Day Pu Noh village are seen in an unknown location in Karen state, after fleeing Burmese army airstrikes, in this picture obtained from social media, Burma, on March 27, 2021. (Free Burma Rangers/via Reuters)

Ethnic Karen villagers displaced from Myanmars Day Pu Noh village are seen in an unknown location in Karen state, after fleeing Burmese army airstrikes, in this picture obtained from social media, Burma, on March 27, 2021. (Free Burma Rangers/via Reuters)

Heavy clashes erupted on the weekend near the Thai border between the army and fighters from Burmas oldest ethnic minority force, the Karen National Union (KNU), which has also denounced the coup.

Burma military aircraft bombed a KNU area on the weekend and thousands of villagers have sought refuge in caves, an activist group said, while some 3,000 fled to neighboring Thailand.

Thailands foreign ministry denied accusations from rights activists that refugees were being forced back, saying they would be accepted on humanitarian grounds. But a Thai official on the border, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the Thai army was still sending back most people because it was deemed safe on the Burma side.

Nevertheless, more than a dozen people were allowed to cross into Thailand on Tuesday for medical treatment, Reuters witnesses said.

Burmas military has for decades justified its grip on power by saying it is the only institution capable of preserving national unity. It seized power saying that November elections won by Suu Kyis party were fraudulent, an assertion dismissed by the election commission.

But foreign criticism and Western sanctions have failed to sway the generals and Suu Kyi remains in detention at an undisclosed location facing various charges that her lawyer said were trumped up.

By Reuters staff; Writing by Ed Davies, Robert Birsel
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Energy

Colorado State Student Project Adds 114-Megawatt Solar Array

A student-driven initiative at Colorado State University has added almost 114 megawatt hours of clean electricity to the Fort Collins-based university's annual solar generation. The purchase of an 80-kilowatt, $100,000 photovoltaic solar array was funded almost entirely by student fees allocated through the Associated Students of Colorado State University (ASCSU), beginning in 2019. Recently, the university announced a deal that would double solar usage on the campus and help it towards a goal of shifting all energy needs to renewable energy by 2030.

The final project undertaken by students ended up being four times larger than the initial plan due to falling prices for PV, funding supplements provided by the Lory Student Center (on whose roof the panels reside) and Facilities Management, as well as incentives from a solar rebate program sponsored by the City of Fort Collins.



Colorado State University's Lory Student Center is the site of a new student-funded solar array.

Photo courtesy of Drew Halpern, EnergyLink

The Lory Student Center solar installation was finished last December.

"This is a tangible reflection of students' commitment to sustainability, truly a reflection of their values," said Mike Ellis, assistant vice president for student affairs and executive director of the LSC, in a campus article about the project. "The LSC is fortunate to be the beneficiary of their commitment to clean energy."

"This is a different way of investing in the building that (students) can be really proud of. It literally pays back and saves future students money," added Stacey Baumgarn, campus energy coordinator with Facilities Management. "In that way, the spirit and intent are really awesome."

Baumgarn leads green walking tours on campus and had been floating the idea of crowdfunding a smaller solar array at the student center for almost a decade. Two ASCSU senatorsRachael Dines and Daria Kramerwho joined one of his tours in 2018, reached out to him with the idea of writing a bill to secure funding. Although they graduated before the bill was passed, other students stepped in to see the project through to completion.

"They were the ones who had to stand in front of the Senate and fight for this. I get excited about how they kept the focus," Baumgarn said. "I'm proud of the students who hung in there."

"Students here really have a passion for sustainability, and I don't think we would be a leader in global campus sustainability if it weren't for that dedication," said Sophia Shepp, director of environmental affairs for ASCSU. "ASCSU is honored to have supported this project through its completion, and I look forward to seeing what we accomplish next."
Al-Shabaab Makes Threats Ahead of Djibouti Election

Ahmed Omar Abu Ubaidah, the leader of Al-Shabaab militants based in Somalia, is calling for attacks against American and French interests in Djibouti before key presidential elections on April 9, 2021. The Al-Shabaab leader accuses the Djibouti government of "turning the country into a military base from where every war against the Muslims in East Africa is planned". The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), which has a base in Djibouti, says it is aware of the recent threats. The U.S. military has also been conducting airstrikes against Al-Shabaab but there have been no confirmed strikes since U.S. President Joe Biden took office. Earlier this month, Somali military officials expressed concern at the reduction of airstrikes, which they fear could give the militant group additional momentum. Djibouti voters go to the polls where incumbent Ismail Omar Guelleh is seeking a fifth term in office.
The Myanmar junta continues its violent crackdown against protesters who are fighting against the coup that destroyed democracy and ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, which began in February. Since then, the military has killed over 500 individuals, including children.

Over the weekend, the Southeast Asian nation saw its bloodiest weekend since the coup began last month, with 114 dead at the hands of the Myanmar army known as the Tatmadaw. Shortly after the mass murder, the junta attacked a funeral where they open fired at those who were gathering to pay their respects to Thae Maung Maung, reports say.

Thae Maung Maung was a 20-year-old student who was killed by the Myanmar army on Saturday. The following day during his funeral in Bago near the commercial capital of Yangon, the junta arrived and shot at those who were gathered. According to the Christian Post, the military had already released a warning through state-run media that they would shoot protesters "in the head or back."

"While we are singing the revolution song for [Thae Maung Maung], security forces just arrived and shot at us," a female witness at the service recalled the event to Reuters. "People, including us, [ran] away as they opened fire."

On Saturday, up to 114 people were killed during the protests, including a 13 year old girl. At least 20 children have been brutally murdered by the Myanmar army in their fight to quash protesters since the anti-coup movement began on Feb. 1 and on Saturday alone, at least six children between the ages of 10 and 16 were killed by the Myanmar army.

Following the bloodiest weekend in the hands of the Burmese military junta, nations across the globe have spoken out to condemn the attacks and halt trading with the country formerly known as Burma. According to Channel News Asia, the Biden administration announced on Monday that it would suspend its 2013 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with Myanmar until democracy is restored.

The U.S. also imposed several sanctions on Myanmar last Thursday and restricted business dealings with two holding companies that are connected with the Burmese military. Axios reported that on Saturday, the defense chiefs of up to 12 countries including the United States released a joint statement condemning the Myanmar army for its violent actions against its very own people.

"As Chiefs of Defense, we condemn the use of lethal force against unarmed people by the Myanmar Armed Forces and associated security services," the statement read. "A professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protecting-not harming-the people it serves. We urge the Myanmar Armed Forces to cease violence and work to restore respect and credibility with the people of Myanmar that it has lost through its actions."

As per CNA, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called upon the Burmese government to immediately implement a "serious democratic transition." He also urged global nations and asked for "more commitment from the international community to put pressure in order to make sure that the situation is reversed."
Feng Fu, an associate professor of mathematics, left, and Herbert H.C. Chang 18, a former Byrne Scholar, used big data and artificial intelligence to show connections between top mathematicians. Credit: Eli Burakian 00, photo on left, and Visha Thamboo

Math's top prize, the Fields Medal, has succeeded in making mathematics more inclusive, but still rewards elitism, according to a Dartmouth study.

Published in Nature's Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, the study analyzed the effectiveness of the Fields Medal to make math at its highest level more representative across nations and identities. The result provides a visual, data-driven history of international migration and social networks among math elites, particularly since World War II.

"With so much recent discussion on equality in academia, we came to this study recognizing that math has a reputation of being egalitarian," says Herbert Chang, a research affiliate in the Fu Lab and lead author of the paper. "Our results provide a complex and rich story about the world of math, especially since the establishment of the Fields Medal."

The Fields Medal, widely considered the Nobel Prize of mathematics, is awarded every four years to mathematicians under the age of 40. It was first presented in 1936 to honor young mathematicians from groups that were typically underrepresented in top math circles.

According to the mathematicians, the prize has received criticism over its history for rewarding existing power structures rather than making math more inclusive and equitable at the elite level. Against this criticism, the study set out to explore how well the award has lived up to its original promise.

The analysis shows that the Fields Medal has elevated mathematicians of marginalized nationalities, but that the there is also "self-reinforcing behavior," mostly through mentoring relationships among top mathematicians.

As an example, the study found that the award succeeded in integrating mathematicians from Japan and Germany into the international math community after WWII. But it also found that two-thirds of 60 medalists emerged from the same math "ancestral tree."

Although the study found diversity among award winners from top math countries, it also found that groups with Arabic, African, and East Asian language identities remain under-represented at the highest level.

The research team defines "elite" as a connection between Fields medalists, rather than other indicators that measure academic productivity and impact.

"It's a privilege for a young mathematician to inherit a powerful network of relationships from an influential academic adviser," says Feng Fu, an assistant professor of mathematics and the senior researcher for the study. "The growing number of doctoral degrees awarded to international mathematicians in the U.S. indicates that mathematics can be a powerful integrative force in our common humanity."

According to the paper, only France exports more elite mathematicians to the United States than it receives from the U.S. "This seems to affirm France as the intellectual capital of mathematics," say the authors.

"A mathematician that is French and attends a top 50 institution means they are 6.4 times more likely to gain membership into the elite circle," the research team says in the study. "On the other hand, being East Asian and attending a top 50 institution only affords you 1.5 times the likelihood of gaining membership into this elite circle."

Among other findings of the study:

All Fields medalists can be traced to nine "academic family trees"; the largest holds 44 out of 60 medalists.

Germany has consistently high levels of pluralism in mathematics, except for the period of WWII.

Japan has recently opened to higher levels of top, non-Japanese mathematicians within the country.

The number of Russian elite mathematicians decreased significantly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The research team used artificial intelligence techniques to study data on more than 240,000 mathematicians dating as far back as the 16th century. The information was taken from the Mathematics Genealogy database maintained by North Dakota State University.

Researchers organized mathematicians by countries and lingo-ethnic categories and then mapped their flow between nations and across ethnic lines. Connections were drawn to show the physical movement, identity and academic relationship of mathematicians.

"There are many sources of inequality in elite-level math and academia. Our goal was to characterize how a single factormentorshipplays a role, while telling a comprehensive story about mathematics," says Chang, who participated in the Jack Byrne Scholars Program in Math and Society as an undergraduate.

Prior studies of the Fields Medal and elitism in math have focused on how mathematicians cite research. According to the research team, such an approach might miss the structural forces that prevent access to individuals from outside math's top circles.

The research advances past studies by providing a high-level view of the relationship between mentorship, prize giving, and ethnicity.

The research team concludes, as other researchers have in the past, that the Fields Medal should "return to its roots" in order to achieve its original goal of elevating marginalized voices.

Explore further Top math laureate gets new medal after prize stolen

More information: Ho-Chun Herbert Chang et al. Elitism in mathematics and inequality, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2021). Ho-Chun Herbert Chang et al. Elitism in mathematics and inequality,(2021). DOI: 10.1057/s41599-020-00680-y

Provided by Dartmouth University
Rep. Stephen Lynch on Tuesday urged state and local governments, schools and businesses to use federal COVID-19 relief to buy personal protective equipment sourced and produced in the United States, making the case that ongoing reliance on suppliers in China represents a gap in our national security.

Lynch said companies may add elastics to masks and say they were assembled in the U.S., but if materials were sourced overseas, that doesnt eliminate the vulnerability we have. Were still reliant on China for providing the materials necessary to protect our citizens.

Lynch made the remarks while celebrating the ramp up of coronavirus vaccinations at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, which was toured Tuesday by Gov. Charlie Baker, Sen. Ed Markey, Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Bob Fenton, the Federal Emergency Management Agencys acting administrator.

On Monday, Lynch and Markey toured the Shawmut Corporation facility in West Bridgewater, where the more than century-old textile manufacturer makes N-95 masks.

Were asking all those given money to purchase PPE in the U.S., Lynch said, noting schools, for instance, received about $130 billion in President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Support that market that were trying to create here in the U.S. There are companies all over the U.S. that are trying to provide product for the protection of U.S. citizens, but that cant happen if we continue to buy product from China. We need to get our act together.

Lynch noted pending legislation on PPE supplies and shortages may help correct the issue, but for now lawmakers are calling on states, cities, towns and transit systems to voluntarily use that purchasing power to establish that domestically-sourced and produced system of PPE. This is a gap in our national security.

In January, The Washington Post reported that China donated about $12 million in medical supplies to the U.S. last March and April. The worlds biggest exporter of medical equipment, China also served as a source for gear for international firms based in America, such as Minnesota-based 3M. The company imported 10 million N95 masks from its Chinese plant as the pandemic heightened last year, before a fledgling supplier market grew in the U.S. as manufacturers ramped up production, the Post reported.

As of March 19, the Food and Drug Administration still reports nationwide shortages of certain testing supplies, masks, gloves, surgical gowns, respirators and ventilators.

The FDA says many of the items on the shortage list are expected to be in limited supply for the duration of the pandemic, but public and private mitigations appear to be reducing constraints on the supply chain.

Related Content:
Go to jail, Zuma  and do not pass go

Being a countrys president, or former one, does not translate into immunity from prosecution.

When former President Jacob Zuma goes to jail, as he must, for defying the Constitutional Court by refusing to appear before the Zondo Commission, he will join an illustrious group of former country presidents who have been jailed for wrongdoing, corruption or crime.

Being a country president or former one, does not translate into immunity from prosecution for wrongdoing, corruption or crime, as Zuma, his supporters and many ANC leaders and members appear to believe.

Zuma will also not be the first former country leader prosecuted for wrongdoing, corruption or crime, who blames a conspiracy by faceless enemies for his self-inflicted troubles.

The governing ANC appears intend on trying to find an escape clause for Zuma not to go to jail. This is clear in the ANCs top six leaders bending backwards to appease him by meeting with him this week and pleading with him to return to the Zondo commission. This despite the fact that Zuma had already broken the law, by refusing to appear on the day the Constitutional Court instructed him to do.

For Zuma to appear after the Constitutional Court assigned date, based on a deal this week between him and the ANCs top six leadership, cannot reverse the fact that Zuma already broke the law by not appearing at the Zondo Commission on the Constitutional Court scheduled date. And should therefore be arrested, whether he now belatedly agrees to go to the Zondo commission or not, which is now after the court scheduled date.

Zuma must be arrested not only to hold him accountable for actions, but to protect the integrity of the Zondo Commission, South Africas constitutional system, and the principle that all is equal before the law.

The sentencing of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy last week to three years in jail, two of them suspended, for corruption, should serve as a lesson to ANC leaders, members and defenders of Zuma that no one in any country should, be seen as too powerful to be prosecuted for wrongdoing.

Sarkozy was convicted of trying to bribe a judge in 2014, when he had already left the presidency, by suggesting he could secure a top job for him in return for information about a separate case. He was convicted of influence-peddling and violation of professional secrecy.

In the French ruling, Judge Christine Mee said Sarkozy knew what (he) was doing was wrong, and that his action to try to bribe a judge gave the judiciary a bad image. Sarkozy is appealing the sentence.

Sarkozy is the second post-war French president to be prosecuted for corruption. His predecessor Jacques Chirac received a two-year suspended sentence in 2011 for having arranged fake jobs at the Paris city council when he was mayor.

Both Sarkozy and Chirac blamed political opponents for their prosecutions.

In January this year, South Koreas Supreme Court upheld a 20-year jail term for former President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal that led to her impeachment in 2017. Park was convicted of abuse of power and coercion after she was impeached in 2017. She was initially in 2018 sentenced to 30 years and fined 20billion won. However, following her appeal, a high court reduced the term to 15 years for corruption, plus 5 years for abuse of power, and reduced her fine to 18bn won.

Park was found guilty of bribery and coercion, after she had colluded with a childhood friend, Choi Soon-sil, to pressure businesses such as Samsung and Lotte to give donations to foundations run by Choi, for these companies to give procurement contracts to companies owned by Choi and for leaking confidential government documents to Choi. Park denied the charges, saying they were manufactured by her political opponents, and she refused to take part in the court proceedings.

In November 2019, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was freed after more than 18 months in prison, after being convicted for corruption. The former Workers Party stalwart was jailed in 2018 for initially a more than 12 year sentence, which was reduced to eight years and 10 months, for receiving a luxury seaside flat from an engineering company implicated in public sector corruption.

He was released following a Supreme Court ruling that defendants should only be jailed if they have run out appeal options. He is still appealing his corruption conviction, but faces a slew of separate corruption charges also.

A Brazilian Supreme Court judge on 8 March 2021 annulled the criminal convictions against Lula. The judge said that a regional court which originally sentenced him for corruption did not have the authority to do so, and that he must be retried in federal courts. The 8 March 2021 judgement, which still needs to be reviewed by the full Supreme Court, allows Lula to run in the 2022 presidential race.

Lula has denied all allegations of corruption against him, saying they are politically driven by rightwing opponents. He blamed the rotten side of the judicial system, for his downfall, saying it was working to criminalise the left.

There should be no exceptions, through political deals, for Zuma. He should like Sarkozy, Park and Lula, face jail term, not only for defying the Constitutional Court, but for a decade of grand corruption on a gigantic scale unseen before in modern South Africa.

William Gumede is Associate Professor, School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand; and author of Restless Nation: Making Sense of Troubled Times (Tafelberg). This article was first published in the Sunday Times.
She's made a successful career from swimsuit modeling on the cover of fashion's high-profile magazines.

But Candice Swanepoel ditched her signature attire to go topless during a beach day with Lais Riberio and their photographer friend Eduardo Bravin in Mexico's Tulum on Monday.

The catwalk queen, 32, covered her assets as she removed her orange bikini top while taking a dip in the sea.

Sizzling:Candice Swanepoel ditched her signature attire to go topless during a beach day with Lais Riberio and their photographer friend Eduardo Bravin (pictured) in Tulum on Monday

The South African beauty and her industry pals appeared to be having a great time frolicking and laughing together.

At 5'10", the leggy bombshell turned the shoreline into a runway as she jumped across the shores in just a thong.

The beauty's long sandy blonde hair was doused in the salty ocean water as she and Eduardo, who donned a purple Speedo, headed back to the beach.

All eyes on her: The catwalk queen, 32, covered her assets as she removed her orange bikini top while taking a dip in the sea

Making a splash: Victoria's Secret Angel Lais, 30, looked equally striking in her vibrant two-piece, near-identical to Candice's look

In her element: The South African beauty and her industry pals appeared to be having a great time frolicking and laughing together

The orange bikini bottoms are a piece from her own swimwear line, Tropic of C, which she is currently shooting advertisements for in Mexico.

Candice first launched Tropic Of C in January 2018 with the aim to create swimwear made from environmentally sustainable materials.

The company's products are mainly constructed with a regenerated nylon fiber made from various recycled materials.

Rather than using a screen printing process, the brand digitally prints its textiles, which reduces water and electricity consumption.

Advertising: The orange bikini bottoms are a piece from her own swimwear line, Tropic of C, which she is currently shooting advertisements for in Mexico

Riding the waves: Proving less is more, the Brazilian went make-up free and wore her tresses loose

Work and play! The trio appeared in great spirits as they posed for a group image for social media

The philanthropist, who lives part of the year in Brazil, also ensures that Tropic Of C's packaging was made with biodegradable materials.

On Instagram earlier, Candice shared a snap - presumably taken by Eduardo - in which she went fully nude.

The picture was taken on Sunday, which marked the first supermoon of 2021, meaning the moon was slightly closer to Earth than usual, making it appear somewhat larger.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged school administrators to implement regular testing of students in order to identify coronavirus outbreaks before they become more widespread. Late last year, New Trier, which serves families from some of Chicagos most affluent suburbs, rolled out a $1.3 million testing campaign, part of an ambitious plan to keep classrooms open for the school year regardless of rising infection rates in the community.
The long delayed joint Gaza-West Bank elections will be held on May 22 nd . The agreement for this was made in February as Egypt finally persuaded both sides to put aside their feud and once more holding elections to select one government for both West Bank and Gaza Palestinians. While Fatah is dominant in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza, there are partisans of Fatah and Hamas in both areas and, if the election result is contested by either party, there will be more violence, some of it directed at Israelis. The success of this agreement is in doubt but reunification of the Palestinian government is seen as a positive move. A recent poll showed that 43 percent of Palestinian voters prefer Fatah while 30 percent prefer Hamas, 18 percent undecided and the rest backing other minor parties. Fatah could still lose, because Fatah is actually a coalition and not all the Fatah factions back the current Fatah leader to be the head of government.

In 2020, years of Egyptian efforts got both Fatah and Hamas agreeing to take concrete steps towards forming a unified Palestinian government by holding elections in Gaza and the West Bank. This would select a new Palestinian parliament. That parliament has not functioned since 2007 because in 2005 Israeli troops left Gaza as a peace gesture that backfired. Hamas, a radical Palestinian offshoot of the Egyptian Moslem Brotherhood, had established itself in Gaza and sought to take control after the Israelis left. Hamas won the last Palestinian elections in 2006 because they were seen as less corrupt than Fatah. Hamas was also much more into using violence against Israel, and that came with a cost to all Palestinians. When Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 they refused to allow an any further elections. This left the Palestinians divided with Fatah still controlling the West Bank, where 60 percent of Palestinians lived. Holding elections is one thing; both Hamas and Fatah agreeing on the outcome is another matter. Both Fatah and Hamas openly condemn Arab states that recently made peace with Israel or are considering doing so. That means Fatah and Hamas are openly criticizing the UAE and Saudi Arabia, long the most generous Arab donors to Palestinians. No more, mainly because of the corruption that kept much of that money from getting to Palestinians that needed it. Fatah and Hamas are both turning to Iran for military and economic aid. At the moment Iran cannot afford to give much. Fatah sees Iran favoring Hamas and the Hamas plan to use subversion and violence to eliminate Fatah in a reunited Palestinian government. Fatah is desperate, having lost most foreign aid and about to lose more because of its refusal to stop diverting a large fraction of foreign aid to reward imprisoned Palestinians who have killed or at least attacked Israelis. The families of dead terrorists also receive payments. All this encourages Palestinians to undertake attacks.

Lebanon The Liability

Lebanon is a growing threat to Israel, but not for the usual reasons like Iran and Hezbollah. This time its an economic, political and social collapse. The government lost control of the economy and the currency in 2020. The Lebanese currency (the lira) lost most of value in dollar terms during the last year. In March 2020 it cost 2,800 lira to buy a dollar. By the March 2021 it hit 14,000 lira. Paying for most imports required dollars and Lebanese with savings considered loss of value for the lira a financial catastrophe. The GDP contracted 20 percent in 2020 and the poverty rate went past fifty percent. Covid19 was part of the problem, made worse by political chaos and the weakening of Hezbollah because of heavy losses in Syria and growing opposition to Hezbollah by the majority of Lebanese. The government could no longer borrow money to cover a decade of deficit spending. Foreign lenders no longer trusted the Lebanese government, whose mismanagement ruined the national credit rating. Finally, the huge movement of Syrian refugees into Lebanon has brought about an explosive change in the religious makeup of Lebanon.

Because of the two million Sunni Arab Syrian refugees that arrived from Syria since 2012, the Lebanese Shia are now a smaller minority and the Sunnis are nearly half the population. Even before covid19, Lebanon was overwhelmed, economically and otherwise, by the Syrian refugees it was hosting. Thats a lot of refugees for a country of only five million. Since nearly all those refugees are Sunni Moslems, their presence radically changed the religious mix of Lebanon from 27 percent Shia, 27 percent Sunni, and 46 percent Christian (and other religions) to a more volatile combination. Now there are over seven million people in Lebanon and 47 percent are Sunni, 19 percent Shia and 34 percent Christian (and others). This puts the Hezbollah militia in a bad situation. Their better armed and trained fighters have been able to dominate the other minorities since the 1980s. That was possible because of Iranian cash, weapons and advisors. But the Iranian help and better organization is no longer enough when the Sunnis are nearly half the population and out for blood because of the slaughter the Iran backed Shia Syrian government inflicted on Syrian Sunnis. Lebanon does not want another civil war over this, but it is becoming more difficult to contain the anger. Hezbollah and Iran have had some success attracting non-Shia factions (especially Christians) to be part of the Shia coalition. This is traditional Lebanese politics, with the Christians surviving by forming a coalition with non-Christian groups. Now even these Christian factions are backing away from Hezbollah because of the Iranian influence and anger towards Hezbollah for disrupting the functioning of the Lebanese democracy. Hezbollah gave itself a veto over any government decision. Politicians who opposed Hezbollah or Iran were often assassinated, no manner how senior or revered they were. Hezbollah meddling in government activities was a major reason for the recent economic crisis. Hezbollah can no longer control politics and the economy is blamed for most of the current problems. Given the large number of families that own one or more firearms, there are a lot of local militias and these are now fighting over scarce resources while Hezbollah and government security forces are unable to contain the violence. One thing that keeps the violence going and escalating is the ability of the Sunni Arabs to fight back against Hezbollah domination. Going into 2021 Hezbollah had too many enemies and not enough allies. Iran was unable to help decisively because Iran was broke and has cut its massive subsidies to Hezbollah by more than half in the last two years. Hezbollah has lost the support of a lot of local Shia and is desperately seeking a way of this mess.

Israel does not expect another war with Hezbollah (like the one in 2006), although Iran might try something launched from Syria or Iraq. Meanwhile there are more Lebanese trying to flee into Israel. That complicates border security because Hezbollah and smuggling gangs are still sending armed people across the border. Israeli troops will fire on those, but no so much on illegal migrants.

March 29, 2021: Egypt finally got the container ship blocking the Suez Canal free and moving again after six days. This is a big deal because the Canal is a major source of government income and a national treasure historically and economically. Over 360 commercial vessels are backed up in the Red Sea waiting for the Canal to resume operation. Actually there were about 400 that meant to use Suez but about ten percent of those ships decided to take the long-way around via South Africa. This adds two weeks travel time. The canal was blocked on the 23rd when the Ever Given, a 400 meter long, 200,000 ton container ship encountered a sand storm and heavy winds which caused both ends of the ship to veer into the sandy bank of the canal get stuck. Efforts to free the container ship began immediately. What worked was bringing in dredging ships to suck up and move sand and muck from both ends of the ship. This included clearing the ship propellers of the sediment found at the shallower waters near the sides of the canal. It was unclear how long this dredging effort would take but tugs were brought in to be at both ends of the ship. With the help of a high tide first the bow (front) of the Ever Given was afloat once more. Hours later the rear of the ship was clear and the tugs could begin moving the Ever Given towards the north exit of the 193 kilometer-long canal at a speed of about four kilometers an hour.

This accident cost Egypt a lot of income they cannot afford to lose. Nearly 20,000 ships a year pass through the Red sea headed for the Suez Canal, which earns Egypt about $6 billion a year in transit fees and lots of good jobs for the Egyptian staff that operates the canal. The Ever Given entered service in late 2018 and is one of the largest container ships available. Two Egyptian pilots were steering the ship when the heavy winds and sandstorm showed up. The accident is already under investigation. The Ever Given accident was rare but not unknown. Since 2004 there have been three other blockages, all of them cleared more quickly because the ships involved were smaller. Fortunately the canal completed a $9 billion upgrade that increased the number of ships that could move through the canal from 49 to 97. The canal was opened in 1869 and has become increasingly busy as the world economy increased. At the time of the Ever Given accident about 60 ships a day were going through the canal. Most of the ships backed up will stay in line and wait a week or more to get through the canal. Going around Africa burns a lot of fuel and can be a risky voyage. Egypt will regain most of the billion dollars in lost transit fees because of the increased traffic over the next two weeks. The cost of freeing Ever Given was not large because dredges and tugs normally working for the canal were used.

March 27, 2021: In Iran, Chinese and Iranian officials signed the 25-year economic/political/military agreement. The basic terms are that China will buy most of Iranian oil exports at an unspecified discount and invest over $400 billion to build infrastructure in support of the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) that is creating a new Silk Road via land and sea from China to the rest of Eurasia and Africa. There will also be military cooperation and intelligence sharing. Most other details of the agreement were not revealed. Negotiations on terms for the 25-year deal have been under negotiation since early 2020. The draft documents indicated Iran was willing to make a lot of concessions to become a close economic partner of China. That would mean China would have an incentive to protect Iran diplomatically and militarily. The document makes Iran the major supplier of petroleum to China and China the major source of foreign investment as well as becoming Irans largest trading partner. China has long been helpful to Iran. For example in mid-2019 China sided with Iran in the Iranian effort to evade the renewed American sanctions. China made this public during an emergency meeting of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action). This is the group of six nations (China, France, Russia, the Britain, the U.S. and Germany) that negotiated and signed the 2015 treaty with Iran to lift economic sanctions in return for Iran halting its nuclear weapons program (which Iran insisted it did not have). Inside Iran this treaty was considered a great victory that would cost Iran nothing and provide much benefit. The nuclear program would be halted for a while but not dismantled. This angle was documented in early 2018 when an Israeli intelligence operation in Iran got away with tons of documents from an Iranian storage facility. This was a major embarrassment for Iran, which declared all the evidence fakes. Western intel agencies, especially American and Israeli ones, already knew what Iran was doing with its nuclear weapons program but did not have such explicit documentary evidence. The Americans left the 2015 treaty in 2017, citing the clause that allowed for this if Iran was in violation. That did not persuade any other JCPOA members to do the same. The Americans were seen as a special case as they were the only JCPOA member that Iran has openly been at war with since the 1980s. Iran still holds anti-American demonstrations several times a year in which everyone repeatedly shouts death to America. Iran perpetuates that attitude mainly because of the support the U.S. has long provided to Israel, which Iran also wants to destroy. The other JCPOA members believe they can avoid any trouble with Iran by supporting Iranian efforts to evade the American sanctions

In the Arabian Sea, near the Iranian coast, an Israeli container ship on its way from Oman to India was damaged by a small missile, apparently fired from a nearby Iranian vessel. The container ship continued on to India where the minor damage would be repaired. A month ago there was a similar attack in same area against an Israeli owned RO/RO (roll on, roll off) vehicle carrier ship. These two attacks were apparently Iranian attempts at retaliation against Israel for three years of unannounced (by either country) Israeli attacks (by air, sea and via commandos) against Iranian tankers and other commercial ships carrying oil and other contraband to Syria. Many of these shipments were for Hezbollah, which had long received such aid from Iran. But those shipments often contained weapons or other contraband. Iran could not admit these losses, which are estimated at over a billion dollars in damage to ships and cargoes.

March 24, 2021: In the south (Gaza) several Israeli airstrikes destroyed a Hamas rocket manufacturing facility and a military outpost. This was retaliation for a rocket fired from Gaza into Israel the day before. The rocket landed outside the city of Beersheba, which is 35 kilometers from the Gaza border and where the Israeli prime minister was campaigning for national elections.

March 21, 2021: In the south (Gaza border) Israeli police found debris from kites and balloons from Gaza that were meant to start fires. There was some evidence of small fires but not of the kites or balloons landed in an area with lots of combustible material or the incendiary devices used were defective. These are the first such attacks this year. Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement last August that ended nearly all rocket, mortar and other attacks.

Off the Gaza coast three Palestinian fishermen died when their boat exploded. Hamas blamed the explosion on an Israeli gunboat but when it was obvious that no such gunboats were anywhere near the area, Hamas claimed the explosion was because the fishermen had caught an Israeli quad-copter armed with explosives. That was equally unlikely. Hamas was test firing rockets into coastal waters at the time of the boat explosion, which is what Israel believes was the cause of the boat explosion.

March 20, 2021: In the south (Sinai) Salim Salma Said Mahmoud al Hamadin, the leader of the Sinai ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) forces was killed, along with two of his subordinates. The three ISIL men encountered a joint Egyptian-Bedouin patrol near the Israeli border. As is their custom, the ISIL men refused to surrender and opened fire. They were quickly killed, apparently without causing any casualties to their opponents. Hamadin is the second leader of the ISIL Sinai Province since this group was created in 2014 when an Egyptian Islamic terrorist group formed in 2011 renamed itself by pledging allegiance to the newly formed ISIL in Syria and Iraq. At its peak the ISIL Sinai branch had about 1,50o fighters. But their numerous attacks, that killed lots of local Bedouin tribal people, caused the Bedouins to work with the army and police to hunt down and eliminate the Sinai ISIL members. As a result the Sinai Province has about half its peak strength and that is shrinking. Losing their leader wont help.

March 16, 2021: In southern Syria (Damascus) an Israeli airstrike near the Damascus airport destroyed two Iranian ammunition storage sites, setting off large secondary explosions and fires which were visible from the city.

March 9, 2021: The fighting in Syria has been going on for ten years and there is no end in sight as long as Iran continues to use Syria as a staging area for a direct attack on Israel. This has turned Iran into the widely accepted bad guy in Syria. This was something Iran sought to avoid but Irans allies Russia, Turkey and the Assads are all working against Iran. Popular opinion and governments in Iraq and Lebanon are now actively hostile towards Iran. Back home most Iranians see the Syrian War as a disaster for Iran. The cost of the war is pushing more Iranians into poverty and the religious dictatorship that has ruled Iran since the 1980s considers the destruction of Israel as worth any cost. Most Iranians, and everyone in the region, disagrees with this. The Iranian leadership is not dissuaded because they are on a Mission From God which means no earthly power can interfere. This will not end well.

Israel is quietly working on a peace deal with the Assads by first consulting Russia, Turkey and the Arab nations Israel has diplomatic relations with. If Israel can achieve a consensus on how to offer and deliver the Assads a workable peace deal, Iran could be driven out of Syria. Israel and the Assads have been, since the 1970s willing to leave each other alone and make mutually acceptable deals. The Assads would often threaten another war with Israel but did not pose as determined threat as Iran. Because the Assads became allies of and dependent on Iran in the 1980s for protection from chaos in Iraq and Lebanon, they had to at least pretend to support the Iranian obsession with destroying Israel. The Assads knew better but until the Assad police state failed in 2011 and a rebellion got going, the Assads were able to resist Iranian presence and control of Syria.

The UN is also involved in this stealthy peace effort because Iranian interference has blocked the UN effort to create a new constitution for Syria that would assist efforts to end the civil war. The Assads are also hostile to the new constitution which would mean national elections monitored by the UN. The Assads cannot afford to lose control of the government because that would make them more vulnerable to arrest and prosecution for war crimes. The accusations continue to pile up against the Assads, which always treated Syrians who opposed them with brutality and terror. So far this year, over a hundred Syrians a month get arrested and brutally interrogated, or simply murdered, by the Assad security forces. Yet doing business with Iran can also be fatal for the Assads.

March 8, 2021: A senior Turkish official claimed that a Turkish-Egyptian diplomatic rapprochement is possible if Egypt is willing to cooperate on solving the divisive eastern Mediterranean, Libyan, and Palestinian issues. Currently Egypt opposes Turkish claims and the presence of Turkish troops and mercenaries in neighboring Libya.

March 7, 2021: Another irritating Iranian tactic in Syria has been the illegal purchase or seizure of property along the Lebanese border so that Iranian mercenaries from outside Syria can settle down and provide an armed pro-Iran population along the border. Syria has always had laws regulating who could buy property near the border, mainly to prevent what Iran is now doing along the Israeli border as well.

March 2, 2021: Israel carried out more airstrikes against Iranian targets near Damascus. The target was new Iranian bases for Iranian Arab and Afghan mercenaries as well as Iranian military, mostly IRGC (Islamic Revolution Guard Corps) personnel. This latest attacked caused over fifty casualties among the military personnel, including fifteen dead. Eight of the dead were Iranians and one of them was an IRGC general. Another three were senior IRGC officers working for or meeting with the general.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a visit to a COVID-19 vaccination site at State University of New York in Old Westbury, N.Y., on March 15, 2021. (Mark Lennihan/Pool/Getty Images

Ninth Woman Accuses Cuomo of Sexual Misconduct

A ninth woman has come forward accusing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual misconduct

Sherry Vill, 55, said that Cuomo had kissed her on the cheek on two separate occasions on the same day in 2017. His actions made her feel uncomfortable, she said.

At the time when the alleged incidents occurred, the governor was visiting her home in Greece, N.Y., an upstate town near Rochester, to survey flood damage to the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River areas in the wake of a storm.

The allegations were relayed in a virtual press conference with Vills attorney, Gloria Allred, on Monday afternoon.

In a detailed description, Vill said that the first kiss took place in her house.

I was holding my small dog in my arms, and I thought he was going to pet my dog but instead he wedged his face between the dog and mine and kissed me on the other cheek in what I felt was a highly sexual manner, she said. I wasnt expecting that at all. He said: thats what Italians do, kiss both cheeks.

Vill told the press conference that she felt embarrassed and weird about the alleged kiss. I am Italian, and in my family members kiss. Strangers do not kiss, especially upon meeting someone for the first time.

She said that Cuomo also told her she was beautiful, adding, I felt he was coming on to me in my home.

Vill described the second kiss as having taken place in front of the house after Cuomo had seen the flood damage. She said that Cuomo approached her, took her hand, and said, Is there anything else you want?

I did not know how to respond, she said. He then leaned down on top of me and while still holding one of my hands, he forcibly grabbed my face with his other big hand and kissed my cheek, again, in a very aggressive manner.

She said that she felt like she was being manhandled, especially because he was holding my face and he was kissing my cheek again. Vill said that she could not stop him because the kiss was done so quickly.

I know the difference between an innocent gesture and a sexual one, Vill added. I never felt as uncomfortable as I did the day that Governor Cuomo came to my home. His actions were overtly sexual, highly inappropriate, and disrespectful to me and to my family.

Vills attorney, Allred, showed multiple photos said to be from Cuomos visit to Vills home. One of the photos was a blurry screenshot allegedly from a video of the kiss. The photo was uploaded to Facebook by Vills daughter soon after the alleged incident and was captioned: The governor kissing my mom.

When asked about where the screenshot came from, Allred said that the video was deleted a long time ago.

Vill said that she is only coming forward now after knowing about eight other women who have accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct.

Read More 8th Woman Accuses New York Gov. Cuomo of Sexual Harassment

She said that she is not pressing charges, nor taking any legal action. She said she only wants to cooperate with the New York Attorney Generals investigation into Cuomo and felt that what happened to her should be included in the investigation.

Cuomos Attorney Responds

Rita Glavin, Cuomos attorney, said of the latest claims against the governor, During times of crisis, the Governor has frequently sought to comfort New Yorkers with hugs and kisses.

As I have said before, the Governor has greeted both men and women with hugs, a kiss on the cheek, forehead or hand for the past forty years, Glavin said in a statement to media outlets.

She provided a hyperlink to photographs from Cuomos visit to the flood damaged area in 2017, and encouraged everyone to view other photos.

Glavin said that nothing that was described by Vill at the press conference was unique in that regard.

Vill told the press conference that she later received a signed letter from the governor, which also included signed photos of their meeting at her home that his office took.

She also received a voicemail from one of Cuomos staff, inviting her to a press conference. But she said that no one else in the family was invited, including her husband, which raised alarm bells in her mind. She declined the invitation and said it made her feel uncomfortable.

In response, Glavin said that the letter Vill received was a nearly identical follow-up form letter sent to more than 30 people that Cuomo had visited, and that the form letters were signed with an autopen.

[I]t is a practice of the Governors office to send signed photos to people he meets with after events, and those photos are regularly signed with an autopen, Glavins statement reads. [I]t is common for staffers to contact constituents after events and invite them to a future event on a related topic.

Investigators appointed by New York Attorney General Letitia James are currently probing allegations of sexual misconduct against Cuomo. The investigation began earlier this month after eight women separately came forward with sexual misconduct allegations against the embattled governor.
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SAHARA Media Group has lost its claims for payments of over 274m/-as costs for replacement of studio equipment damaged because of electrical fault allegedly caused by Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco).

This followed the decision of the High Court, Mwanza Registry, to dismiss the suit lodged by the Media Group, the plaintiff, against Tanesco, the defendant, in a counter claim case.

Judge Agnes Mgeyekwa ruled in favour of the defendant in the matter, after holding that the plaintiff failed to prove the claims and, thus, not entitled to the prayers sought in the plaint.

Before reaching into such conclusion, she had to determine some issues, notably whether Tanesco was responsible for the electric fault occurred on December 5, 2014 resulting in the destruction of the radio equipment and whether the plaintiff suffered loss as result of the destruction in question.

The judge noted that there was no dispute that on December 5, 2014 one red high tension was bent as a result of being pulled by a falling high tension pole at Ilemela District.

The plaintiff complained that his studio's equipment were destroyed due to the collapse of Tanesco's transformer.

She read the demand letter for the plaintiff reminding the defendant to effect the 274,081,500/-, but was quick to point out that there was no proof that such notification letter was served upon the defendant.

"The Plaintiff was duty bound to prove that allegation. That is in accordance with the elementary principle of he who alleges must prove as embodied in the provisions of section 110 (1) of the Evidence Act," the judge ruled.

According to her, the plaintiff tried to prove that his studios' equipment were destroyed by tendering proforma invoices.

"With due respect, the proforma invoice was tended to prove that the plaintiff bought the electrical equipment but cannot prove if the (same) were destroyed by the explosion. The Plaintiff did not tender any equipment listed in the Demand Notice to prove that the equipment was destroyed," she said.

On the question of whether the plaintiff suffered loss as a result of destruction of the equipment, the judge noted the testimony suggesting that the media organ suffered loss due to the transformer explosion caused by Tanesco.

"Without wasting the time of the court, the plaintiff's loss was not established nor proved on the required standards of the law. The evidence adduced and documentary evidence did not support the plaintiff's claims," she said.

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She pointed out that the Demand Notice was not delivered to Tanesco, the studio's equipment which were destroyed were not tendered in court, thus the amount claimed was not linked to the said equipment.

The judge went on stating that it is clear from the evidence that the plaintiff did not prove his case against the Defendant to the required standard of the law.

"In the premises, in view of the real situation which must presently be obtaining on the ground, this court fails to see how the Plaintiff is entitled to claims which he did not prove," she ruled.

The dispute between the parties arose from a claim for payment of monies, owing and payable by the Tanesco to Sahara Media.

The plaintiff was demanding 233,291,100/- from Tanesco being an outstanding balance from the money erroneously transferred to their bank account.

It is alleged that after realising the error, various communication were made with the banks of the parties to ensure that the funds is returned immediately.

On November 19, 2016 Tanesco returned 575m/-. Sahara media also owed Tanesco some money, which made the remaining balance to be returned by Tanesco to Sahara media to be 233,291,100/-.

On October 30, 2018, both parties concluded consent settlement in respect to the claim and the two ended the case. What remained intact was the determination of a Counter Claim which was filed by Sahara Media on May 21, 2018.

The plaintiff claimed in the Counter Claim against the defendant for the sum of 274,018,500/- being the costs for the replacement of studio damaged equipment.
THE AGITATORS

Three Friends Who Fought for Abolition and Womens Rights

By Dorothy Wickenden

In the spring of 1860, when she addressed the 10th National Womans Rights Convention at Cooper Union in New York City, Martha Coffin Wright felt certain that the great world would soon say, Here come the women who are going to do something. Born to a prominent Nantucket Quaker family  her sister was the abolitionist Lucretia Mott  Wright possessed what Dorothy Wickenden calls a mutinous mind. She kept a copy of Mary Wollstonecrafts Vindication of the Rights of Woman on her parlor table.

But shortly after her speech in Lower Manhattan, the Union she had long worked to perfect fractured, burned and bled. Wright would survive long enough to see the cause of women pitted against the cause of the formerly enslaved. Following the passage of the 14th Amendment, which added the word male to the Constitution, she compromised, sticking with Susan B. Anthony as she allied with a white supremacist would-be presidential candidate who promised to put woman first, and Negro last.

One of three figures at the swirling center of The Agitators, Wickendens epic and intimate history, Wright wound up stymied by history and has largely been hidden from it since. Frances Seward, Wrights friend and neighbor in the reformist hotbed of Auburn, N.Y., likewise chafed against the bonds of antebellum white womanhood. A wealthy judges daughter, she leveraged her position as the wife of the politician William H. Seward to fight for womens rights and Black freedom.

Harriet Tubman is the third subject of what Wickenden calls a joint story of insubordination against slavery and the oppression of women. Born enslaved in Maryland, Tubman freed herself and then liberated hundreds more, exercising moral and tactical leadership for which she became known as Moses, or General Tubman. She struggled for the wherewithal to sustain her great work: not only asserting rights but reclaiming lives from social death. Seward, who had inherited property from her father  property she was able to retain during marriage thanks to reformist efforts like her own  deeded Tubman a house in Auburn, which was close enough to Canada that it made a natural stop along the 500-mile route she traveled between slavery and freedom.
The State Information Service (SIS) demanded Reuters to correct and clearly retract the incorrect news report published on Monday afternoon, in which it claimed, citing unknown sources, that the Ever Green ship "swung back across channel amid high wind", this misrepresentation came at a time when the Egyptian efforts at the height of the coronation success in the full float of the ship. Such misinformation came at a time when Egyptian efforts to fully refloat the ship were at the height of successful conclusion.

Journalist Diaa Rashwan, Chairman of the State Information Service, said: SIS has immediately reached out to officials of Reuters Office in Cairo and had a lengthy discussion to remedy this serious professional error, which happened at a delicate time, when the world was holding its breath as it follows the enormous Egyptian efforts to end the crisis and reopen the Suez Canal. The Agency's incorrect news report inflicted moral and material damage on the image of Egyptian efforts and the interests of many of the parties affected by the crisis.

Chairman Rashwan pointed out that Reuters, after the intervention of the State Information Service, published an extensive report on the resumption of navigation in the Canal, which included a review of the Egyptian efforts, as well as a paragraph indicating that "rescue workers from the SCA ... . partially refloated the ship and straightened it in the canal. After several hours it shifted briefly back across the canal before being maneuvered free".

Chairman Rashwan said "This report is insufficient", pointing out that the State Information Service has officially demanded Reuters to retract the false news report, as well as to abide by the internationally established rules of the profession of journalism, and the credibility and scrutiny prescribed in the codes of practice of journalism, especially in such delicate circumstances. In the light of the Agency's response, SIS will be entitled to take all the necessary measures prescribed in Egyptian and international laws with regard to the controls of press publishing, and the possible impacts and damages it may have.
Our team brings expertise in all facets of strategy, product selection, integration, regulatory and compliance and patient experience enabling us to offer a broad spectrum of services and support and provide maximum end-to-end client value."

Pivot Point Consulting, a national health IT consulting leader and the 2020 Best in KLAS Overall IT Services Firm, is expanding its virtual care services to meet the exponential growth in virtual care services fueled by the pandemic and rapidly changing consumer demands.

Recent data shows Americans expect more healthcare services will be delivered in the home and most importantly, will be delivered virtually using a host of mobile devices and communication tools. The trend will pressure healthcare providers to integrate virtual care into their care delivery offerings.

From urban or rural areas, hospitals, health systems and physician providers, everyone is expanding telehealth and virtual care services, requiring them to integrate telehealth with EHRs, deploy unified patient communications and enhance cybersecurity, said Laura Kreofsky, Pivot Point Consultings VP for Advisory and Virtual Care. Our team brings expertise in all facets of strategy, product selection, integration, regulatory and compliance and patient experience enabling us to offer a broad spectrum of services and support and provide maximum end-to-end client value."

Laura and the Pivot Point Consulting team are a dynamic group that balance the strategic, technical and cultural aspects of innovation, delivering consistently high-value results, added Mark Simon, SVP and CIO Benefis, Great Falls, Montana.

Pivot Point Consultings virtual care services include:



Telehealth and unified patient communication selection and implementation

EHR, patient portal and 3rd party application integration

Advisory and audit for telehealth revenue cycle

Patient experience planning and execution

Mobile apps development

Analytics-driven virtual care business process improvement

Patient portals and telehealth help desk for patients and providers

Pivot Point Consultings virtual care practice will augment market-leading healthcare IT services by providing expert advisory, implementation and optimization services to facilitate the development and enhancement of clients telehealth and virtual health solutions.

About Pivot Point Consulting

Pivot Point Consulting enables healthcare organizations to realize the most value from their technology through our Advisory, Enterprise Application Support, EHR, ERP, Data Analytics and Revenue Cycle Management services. Our experts deliver consulting, managed services and talent solutions to providers, payers and life sciences organizations.

Pivot Point Consulting has earned multiple industry and workplace quality awards, including Best in KLAS: Overall IT Services Firm (2020), Top Three Best in KLAS for HIT Implementation and Support (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), Highest Rated Vendor in KLAS Implementation Services in the Select Category (2017), #1 in KLAS for Epic Consulting in the Select Category (2016), Modern Healthcare's Best Places to Work (2020).

Practices: Epic, Community Connect, Cerner, Siemens, Allscripts, MEDITECH, McKesson, Centricity, eClinicalWorks, NextGen CPSI, MEDHOST, athenahealth, Greenway, Workday, Lawson/Infor, Peoplesoft, SAP, Kronos and Facets.

For more information, visit us at pivotpointconsulting.com.
NEW YORK and PERTH, Australia, March 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PYC Therapeutics (ASX: PYC), a biotechnology company developing a new generation of precision RNA therapeutics to change the lives of patients with inherited diseases, today announced the appointment of Jason Haddock to its Board of Directors. Mr. Haddock brings more than two decades of financial, commercial and operational leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, and currently serves as a Board Director of Codiak BioSciences, a biotech company developing precision exosome therapeutics.

Throughout his career, Mr. Haddock has held a variety of leadership roles at biopharma companies, overseeing finance, commercial and business development strategies in the U.S. and worldwide. Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer at Array Biopharma, where he was instrumental in developing a research, development and commercialization strategy that culminated in the successful launch and commercialization of two oncology therapies and Array's acquisition by Pfizer for $11.4 billion. Prior to Array Biopharma, he worked at Bristol-Myers Squibb in a variety of finance, strategic, commercial and business development capabilities including CFO and COO roles for business units in Asia Pacific, Europe and the U.S.

"As we look to set up PYC to access the important U.S. biotech capital markets, Jason brings a wealth of valuable industry experience, having served as a financial, operations and strategic leader at a range of biotech companies," said Sahm Nasseri, U.S. Chief Executive Officer of PYC Therapeutics. "We welcome him as our second independent U.S. member of PYC's Board of Directors and part of the growing U.S.-based leadership team as we continue to transform into a clinical stage biotechnology company. Jason's unique expertise will play an important role in shaping our strategic path forward as we continue to enable corporate development in the U.S. and move our pipeline closer to clinical development."

"It is an honor to join PYC at such a critical time for the company and partner with the growing PYC executive team as it develops and executes on roadmaps that advance its pipeline of multiple candidates towards the clinic and engages key stakeholders in the U.S.," said Mr. Haddock. "I look forward to contributing my insights gained from a career dedicated to the development of therapies that can change the lives of patients, as PYC works to address unmet needs for ocular and other inherited diseases."

Mr. Haddock has also served as the Chief Financial Officer at ArcherDX as the company was acquired by Invitae to create a global leader in comprehensive cancer genetics and precision oncology. Mr. Haddock earned his BS in accounting from Illinois State University and his EMBA from Washington University in St. Louis  Olin Business School.

About PYC Therapeutics

PYC Therapeutics (ASX: PYC) is a development-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new generation of RNA therapeutics that utilize Cell Penetrating Peptides (CPPs), a revolutionary delivery technology designed to overcome the major challenges of current gene-based therapies. PYC believes its CPP technology provides safer, more effective access for a wide range of potent and precise drug cargoes to the highest value drug targets that exist inside cells. The Company is leveraging its leading-edge science to develop a pipeline of novel therapies with an initial focus on inherited eye diseases for which it has unveiled three preclinical stage assets. PYC's discovery and laboratory operations are located in Australia and the Company recently launched an expansion into the U.S. for its preclinical, clinical, regulatory and business development operations. For more information, visit pyctx.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward looking statements

Any forward-looking statements in this ASX announcement have been prepared on the basis of a number of assumptions which may prove incorrect and the current intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs about future events are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the Company's control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from assumptions or expectations expressed or implied in this ASX announcement include known and unknown risks. Because actual results could differ materially to assumptions made and the Company's current intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements contained in this ASX announcement with caution. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACTS:

INVESTORS Deborah Elson/Matthew DeYoung Argot Partners deborah@argotpartners.com matthew@argotpartners.com MEDIA Leo Vartorella Argot Partners leo@argotpartners.com

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Brian May's chauffeur has today been cleared of child sexual abuse allegations after the Queen rocker and his soap star wife Anita Dobson defended his character in court.

Driver to the stars, Phillip Webb, had been accused of plying a girl with alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs during sexual abuse that allegedly began when she was seven.

He was also alleged to have involved another child in the abuse.

Webb, 59, who has worked for the Queen guitarist and his wife, former EastEnders star Dobson, for more than 20 years, vehemently denied the allegations.

In court he was defended by legendary rocker May 'one of the most honest men I have ever met', while Dobson described him as her 'knight in shinning armour'.

Lawyers for Webb said in court that there had been 'no evidence' to back up the complaint's claims and that the chauffeur had become 'a demon to blame' for his accuser's addiction and mental health problems.

Today jury members at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court cleared Webb on all charges.

He later thanked jury members, before telling them 'you did the right thing'.

Driver to the stars, Phillip Webb (pictured), had been accused of plying a girl with alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs during sexual abuse that began when she was was seven. Today he was cleared on all charges at Kingston Crown Court

Webb, 59, who has worked for the Queen guitarist and his wife, former EastEnders star Anita Dobson (pictured), for more than 20 years, vehemently denied the allegations

The complainant had reported the alleged abuse to children's mental health services in 2006.

But she told the court she didn't go into detail because she was terrified of police involvement.

She made full allegations to police in 2019 after receiving therapy, the court heard.

Webb was said to have involved another child in the alleged abuse, which is claimed to have taken place between 1999 and 2006.

But Webb vehemently denied the allegations and had told jurors: 'It really is disgusting to think that anybody could do that to any child.

'It's the worst allegation that a person could make against a human being. I have never touched anybody inappropriately.'

In her closing speech on Friday, Eleanor Laws QC, defending, said: 'There is no independent supporting evidence whatsoever other than what has come out of the complainant's mouth.'

Ms Laws said Webb had become 'a demon to blame' for all of her addiction and mental health problems.

Webb had told police about his life as a chauffeur, driving clients around from the Japanese Embassy, the Imperial Royal Family, the Prime Minister and pop pranksters Madness.

He had become a chauffeur after leaving a career as a manager at Smithfield Meat Market in 2001.

Last week his boss May, 73, wearing a black coat with the collar turned up over a white open-collared shirt, told the court: 'For a man like Phil, who's incredibly upright and decent to be accused of terrible sexual misconduct, it's like his whole soul has been torn out.'

'He's been my driver for more than 20 years.Normally he will work between three and seven days a week. He's probably my longest serving employee.'

'I know Phil incredibly well, because in 20 years of being driven around by him.

'A lot of time, it's me and him in the car and we share so much. I know what's inside him, his innermost secrets.

'I will not exaggerate, he's one of the most honest men I have ever met in my life. His honesty for me is impeccable.

'Some people bend the truth, Phil will not, he'll say 'no I f*****d up' - that's the way he talks.

'He will never ever, in the slightest, be untruthful. He will not hide the truth.'

May added: 'I have very seldom met anyone close to that degree of honesty.

'I have never seen him lift a finger against anyone. He's actually the closest to a gentle giant.

'He has an extraordinary passion for fair play and justice. He acts for me as a kind of security guard in a restrained way. He's actually highly trained to do that.'

Anita Dobson, 71, described Webb as her 'protector' and her 'knight in shining armour' that her family relied on.

Brian May (pictured) defended Webb in court, along with Anita Dobson, who described Webb as her 'protector' and her 'knight in shining armour' that her family relied on

Webb, of Epsom, Surrey, denied and was cleared at Kingston Crown Court (pictured) of indecently assaulting a child, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child

'He's been in our employ for over 20 years, he's our driver, chauffeur,' she said from the witness stand, wearing her hair in a bun and a black suit,' she told jurors.

She said: 'Without him I think we would grind to a halt.

'On holiday, he looks after my step-children, without him I don't know what I would do.

'He has been a protector for me, every week, two or three times a week, sometimes more, sometimes less.

'He's one of the most kind, generous, and overall honourable men you would ever wish to meet and I'm very proud to call him my friend.

'I adore him. He's the kindest man you would ever meet.'

Webb had told jurors how armed police pulled him over while driving the rock legend on the M25, suspecting a firearm was in the car.

He called the Met to complain but was stopped a second time after dropping off Ms Dobson.

Webb accepted that he had a conviction for assaulting his ex-wife's new partner with a key in 2003.

'I do lose my temper,' he admitted.

But Webb denied prosecutor Richard Milne's suggestion that he has a 'dark side' or having any violence at home or road rage incidents.

He is also a petty officer in the Sea Cadets, the court heard.

Webb, of Epsom, Surrey, denied and was cleared of indecently assaulting a child, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
A man was shot to death Tuesday in a north Birmingham neighborhood.

Birmingham Police 911 received reports of multiple shots fired shortly after 9 a.m. in the 1600 block of 13th Avenue North. When they arrived, they found a male unresponsive outside of a small sedan. He was pronounced dead on the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service.

A man was shot to death Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in Birmingham's Fountain Heights community.

Neighbors reported hearing more than a dozen shots fired. The shooting happened just in front of a small apartment complex in the Fountain Heights community.

Sgt. Rod Mauldin said detectives are tracking down multiple witnesses. Shortly after police responded to the shooting, a potential suspect turned himself in to authorities. He is undergoing questioning.

This is Birminghams 22nd homicide of 2021. Of those, one has been ruled justifiable and therefore is not deemed criminal. In all of Jefferson County there have been 39 homicides, including the 22 in Birmingham.
One of Northern Ireland's most notorious paedophiles has been convicted of raping a teenage boy after being transferred from prison in England to stand trial in Belfast.

William Adams, known as Billy, was convicted last week of the rape and attempted rape of the boy between 1982 and 1983.

He was acquitted of a third charge of serious sexual assault.

A serial abuser, Adams has been jailed for child sex offences here, in the Republic and in England.

He had been serving 15 years after being convicted by a court in Liverpool in 2005 of the repeated rape of a 12-year-old girl.

The case caused shockwaves when it later emerged Co Fermanagh priest Fr Jeremiah McGrath had helped facilitate the abuse.

The cleric was later jailed for five years for financing and assisting in the grooming of the vulnerable schoolgirl.

Originally from Ballymena, Adams lived in the Republic for a number of years, committing offences there, before moving to England where he befriended the family of his young victim, who were unaware of his past.

From a family of sex offenders, his father was an infamous paedophile who was convicted of crimes that horrified the public.

John Adams, from Dunvale in Ballymena, was sentenced to four life sentences in July 2003 - one of the longest sentences ever handed out for sex crimes in the Republic - for the grooming and rape of three girls aged between six and 10 in Co Louth.

The depraved pervert forced the girls to take Polaroid pictures as he abused them at his flat, raping them two or three times a week.

The offences took place between 1991 and 1993.

During an unsuccessful appeal, senior judge Mr Justice Kearns said it was one of the worst cases to have come before the courts in the Republic.

John Adams had a previous conviction for child abduction in Northern Ireland.

In February 1997 he was arrested by RUC officers who found numerous abuse photos hidden in his room.

These featured him assaulting young girls and were concealed behind picture frames throughout his Ballymena home.

The 79-year-old died in 2019 while serving his sentence at Dublin's Arbour Hill Prison, having never shown any remorse for his crimes.

A second son, David Adams, was convicted in 2009 of raping a 13-year-old girl at a flat in Bangor when he was 38.

Having pleaded not guilty to the offence, putting his young victim through a lengthy and distressing trial, it took a jury of 10 women and two men less than an hour to return three unanimous guilty verdicts.

Billy Adams was found guilty in Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday of last week.

He had been transferred from England to Maghaberry in November 2019 and questioned by specialist PSNI officers about historic sex offences against a boy.

He had moved to Liverpool in late 2004, shortly after serving six years in jail for raping an eight-year-old girl in Dublin. Adams reoffended within weeks of signing the sex offender's register in England.

During his time there he was also in a relationship with McGrath, and was known to stay overnight in the parochial house in Roslea.

Following his arrest in England the PSNI searched the parochial house and seized computer equipment.

McGrath later admitted to being in a sexual relationship with the violent offender, and bankrolling him to the tune of around 3,000 a month to groom the little girl and pay the rent on flats where the rapes were carried out.

Adams had put a knife to the girl's throat and told her he would kill her if she told anyone about the abuse.

The shamed priest, who owned a lucrative shares portfolio, was independently wealthy and used this to pay for the paedophile's lavish lifestyle, giving him access to his unsuspecting victim, who he showered with gifts and holidays.

Adams told his victim's family, who were devout Catholics, the priest was his uncle in a bid to gain their trust.

When they became suspicious McGrath lied to the girl's family, telling them they shouldn't believe the press or the police.

This was despite the priest having visited him in prison in Dublin while he served a 12-year sentence for raping an eight-year-old girl.

After being found guilty last week Adams was remanded back into custody to be sentenced at a later date.
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Press Release

March 30, 2021 'Dapat libre ang mass testing', Pangilinan says amid upsurge of Covid cases WITH the ongoing upsurge of Covid-19 cases, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan calls for free mass testing anew, together with accelerated contact tracing and treatment, to better manage the spread of the disease. "Mas maayos at granular ang isolation at mas confined ang shutdown ng mga negosyo kung alam natin kung sino ang may Covid at wala. Kung sinuman ang may sakit, dapat maalagaan at magamot (Isolation would be more logical and granular, and business shutdowns would be more confined if we know who has Covid or not. Those who test positive must be taken care of and treated)," he said. "Ito ang unang-una sa mga solusyon: Dapat libre ang testing (This is first in multi-step solutions: Testing must be free)," he added. Pangilinan pointed out that the 1-billion-peso testing fund under the 2021 General Appropriations Act can be used for free mass testing in Metro Manila and in other areas with high Covid positivity numbers. "Sa ating 2021 national budget, merong 1 billion pesos na nakalaan para sa pagbili ng RT-PCR cartridges (In our 2021 national budget, 1 billion pesos has been allocated for the procurement of RT-PCR cartridges)," he said. RT-PCR refers to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, a laboratory technique considered the gold standard in detecting Covid. At the same time, Pangilinan suggests that the Senate reconvene as the Committee of the Whole to know how the country is faring in the battle against Covid-19. "Kasing kritikal ng bilis ng pagbabakuna ang mabilis na testing, contact tracing, treatment and isolation (As critical as the speed needed in our vaccination program is the need to accelerate our testing, contact tracing and isolation)," he said. In December 2020, Pangilinan filed a resolution asking the Senate to convene as the Committee of the Whole in January to tackle the government's vaccination program. As Metro Manila and several nearby provinces are on lockdown again, Pangilinan said the public, through the Senate, should be apprised on where the country stands in dealing with the pandemic. He said that among the questions that government must answer are: As against the target, how many have been tested, traced, isolated and treated? How much has been spent and how much more money are still available for these solutions? What are the obstacles to doing these processes effectively and efficiently? Pangilinan said the Senate hearing will also be an assessment of the ongoing vaccine rollout. On March 9, 2020, before the Senate came up with Bayanihan 1 to respond to the still developing crisis at the time, Pangilinan called for free Covid checkup and testing. "Hindi na dapat makabawas pa sa budget, lalo na ng ordinaryong mamamayan, ang Covid test. Makakahikayat sa ating mga kababayan ang magpasuri kung alam nila na ito ay libre (The Covid test should not be eat up the family budget. More will be encouraged to be checked if it's free)," he said then. He had also called for decentralized testing and emergency cash assistance for those who will need to take a medical leave due to Covid. The Philippines has been recording all-time high numbers in new Covid-19 cases, with the Department of Health reporting a record 10,016 new infections on Monday, March 29.
Miraziz Bazarov, an Uzbek rights campaigner and government critic who has defended gay rights, remains hospitalized after three masked men assaulted him on March 28. Earlier the same day, attackers disrupted a cultural group led by Bazarov, beating at least two people. In response, Uzbekistan's Interior Ministry issued a statement saying that Bazarov had provoked the incidents with videos that "humiliate our national culture."
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Euro Outlook:

While the major EUR/USD has been steadily declining, its been a mixed bag for EUR/CHF and other non-major EUR -crosses.

EUR/SEK rates may be benefiting from the seasonal tailwind of Swedish equity dividend season, while EUR/NOK rates may be undercut by stronger energy prices (even after the Suez Canal incident).

According to the IG Client Sentiment Index , EUR/ CHF has a bearish bias in the near-term.

Non-Major EUR-crosses Favor Risk-On

Much attention in FX markets these days has been revolving around the impact of US Treasury yields on various USD-pairs. And while EUR/USD rates have been steadily declining, the same cannot be said for a slew of other EUR-crosses. Indeed, EUR/CHF rates have been consolidating in a symmetrical triangle for several weeks, while the Nordic crosses are offering disparate outcomes. But a general tone is taking shape: a more risk-on environment may soon emerge.

EUR/NOK RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (March 2020 to March 2021) (CHART 1)

One of the more active commodities in the past week has been the price of oil (both brent and crude), largely thanks to the Suez Canal incident. Incidentally, with the Norwegian Krone effectively twice as sensitive to energy prices as the Canadian Dollar (energy is 20% of Norwegian GDP versus 11% of Canadian GDP), a pair like EUR/NOK has been pulled lower. Price action has not offered much clarity in recent weeks after trading into (and through) the vertex of the symmetrical triangle formed by the rising trendline from the January 2013/July 2019 lows and the March 2020/January 2021 highs.

EUR/NOK rates recently treated the rising trendline from the January 2013/July 2019 lows as resistance, and the pair finds itself hugging the downtrend from the March 2020/January 2021 highs again. If symmetrical triangles are neutral patterns, then technically speaking, were in bearish breakout territory. Bearish momentum continues to improve, with daily Slow Stochastics breaking through their median line and racing towards oversold territory and daily MACD turning lower anew below its signal line. EUR/NOK rates are below their daily EMA envelope, which has aligned in bearish sequential order.

But the lack of follow-through is somewhat concerning, which is why a more decisive break below the yearly low established at 10.0032 would be the necessary trigger before a bearish directional move is likely to succeed.

EUR/SEK RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (March 2020 to March 2021) (CHART 2)

EUR/SEK rates have traded higher through range resistance dating back to late-December 2020, although there is a case to be made that said resistance was actually established when July 2020 low formed. Coupled with the breakout above the March 1 bearish piercing candle, EUR/SEK rates appear to have made a decisive pivot away from the March and October 2020 downtrend. Furthermore, bullish momentum is improving, with daily MACD rising above its signal line and daily Slow Stochastics rising into overbought territory.

But its difficult to ignore the potential seasonal impact that the Swedish equity dividend season is having on the pair. From 2010 to 2019 (ignoring the 2020 pandemic data), EUR/SEK rose approximately +2.2% during the period from the end of March to the end of May. If were entering a period of normalcy post-pandemic, then EUR/SEK rates may have a bit of a cushion underneath them for the foreseeable future; a return to the rising trendline from the January 2013/July 2019 lows is possible (closer to 10.4000).

EUR/CHF RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (March 2020 to March 2021) (CHART 3)

EUR/CHF rates have been consolidating since we last checked in at the end of February, when it was noted that in context of the break of the downtrend from the April 2018 and May 2019 highs, it appears that we have another piece of evidence suggesting a bottoming effort is taking place. EUR/CHF rates may soon find resistance in the 1.1077/1.1106 area, a cluster of Fibonacci retracements dating back to the post-EUR/CHF floor highs.

The passing of time has yielded the clarity of a symmetrical triangle having formed in recent weeks around the aforementioned Fibonacci retracements. While more patience is required, in context of the preceding move, traders may want to keep an eye on potential bullish resolution in EUR/CHF rates.

IG Client Sentiment Index: EUR/CHF Rate Forecast (March 30, 2021) (Chart 4)

EUR/CHF: Retail trader data shows 52.50% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.11 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 9.82% lower than yesterday and 10.37% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 20.83% lower than yesterday and 12.50% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests EUR/CHF prices may continue to fall.

Traders are further net-long than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger EUR/CHF-bearish contrarian trading bias.

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Currency Strategist
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The PSNI is to investigate potential breaches of Covid restrictions and parades legislation into a walk held in honour of Noah Donohoe.1 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

The PSNI has confirmed it is investigating potential breaches of Covid restrictions and parades legislation over a walk held in honour of Noah Donohoe.

Large crowds, dubbed 'Noah's Army', gathered at Belfast City Hall and participated in an impromptu walk to Belfast Castle on Sunday afternoon.

The teenager's mother, Fiona Donohoe, described it as a "pilgrimage" to complete the journey her son was not able to make after he went missing on his way to meet friends last summer.

Noah (14), from the Ormeau Road area of south Belfast, went missing on June 21, 2020.

His body was found in a storm drain in north Belfast six days later. A post-mortem examination found that the teenager had drowned.

The Irish News reported of the police investigation on Tuesday.

Those taking part had been urged to remain within their bubbles, however, as Ms Donohoe walked, a large crowd followed her towards Belfast Castle.

Under the current coronavirus restrictions, large gatherings are banned and it is also an offence to organise or take part in a march without first notifying the Parades Commission.

Expand Close Noah Donohoes mother was joined by family and supporters to highlight the schoolboys case Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook

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Whatsapp Noah Donohoes mother was joined by family and supporters to highlight the schoolboys case

Police said the event would now be the subject of a probe on both matters.

"An investigation is underway in relation to potential offences under the Public Processions Legislation and Health Protection Regulations during an event in Belfast on Sunday, March 28," they said.

"Where individuals are identified as potentially committing offences, the matter will be reported to the Public Prosecution Service for their consideration."

Fiona Donohoe has lead a campaign calling for answers over his death.

The protest followed a meeting between Noah's family and PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne on Friday about the ongoing police investigation into the case.

During Sunday's march police warned that those who took part risked being arrested.

Ms Donohoe said she was "overwhelmed" by Sunday's turnout.

"We had our meeting with the chief constable on Friday, he did assure us he was going to give us responses," she told Q Radio.

"We will make sure we will get our responses, this people will make sure, because we want faith in Noah's investigation, and we haven't got faith at the moment. Noah's Army are making sure we get the answers.

Expand Close The Donohoe family hold a protest for answers surrounding the death of Noah on March 28, 2021 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Donohoe family hold a protest for answers surrounding the death of Noah on March 28, 2021 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Police confirmed last month that an investigation had been launched regarding access to the storm drain where the St Malachy's College pupil was found.

A full inquest into the teenager's death is scheduled to begin in January next year.
Pidj.co Partners with IQ Wired to Deliver Text Messaging and Marketing Solution to Businesses IQ Wired is among the best master agencies in the business. Were delighted to partner with them again to capitalize on another emerging opportunity. Together, we can enable channel partners to meet their customers growing needs for a digital-first approach to sales and service.

Pidj.co, a nationwide provider of business texting services, announced today a strategic partnership with IQ Wired Inc., a national master agent and technology distributor, to sell Pidj.cos flagship messaging, marketing and customer engagement platform through IQ Wireds nationwide network of independent technology sales agents.

Pidj.cos business text messaging platform enables texting on existing landline, VoIP, or toll-free telephone numbers, allowing organizations of all sizes to connect with customers instantly via automated and two-way text messages on their mobile devices.

The new distribution agreement is the result of a long relationship between executives at both companies. Pidj.co CEO Erik Drumm and President Jeff Beck worked with IQ Wired CEO Darcee Nelan to sell hosted PBX services from their previous venture YipTel, which was acquired by Broadvoice in 2018.

We worked with Erik and Jeff in the past to successfully introduce YipTel to our partners and their customers, and were excited to be partnering with them again to offer Pidj.cos text messaging solution, said Nelan. SMS for marketing and customer engagement is a must-have tool that can help nearly every business our agents serve today.

Kelly Forsyth, Vice President of Sales at IQ Wired, agreed. Text messaging is becoming the most effective way to communicate with your community and your customers, she said. In fact, our own company uses the Pidj.co business text messaging platform to communicate announcements internally.

Pidj.cos business text messaging platform is ideal for customer notifications, promotions and live interactions, such as:



Appointment Reminders

Delivery Tracking

Customer Surveys

Marketing Drip Campaigns

Sales Inquiries

Customer Support

IQ Wired is among the best master agencies in the business, said Drumm. Were delighted to partner with them again to capitalize on another emerging opportunity. Together, we can enable channel partners to meet their customers growing needs for a digital-first approach to sales and service.

Based on their previous partnership, Pidj.co and IQ Wired also are philosophically and culturally aligned with a customer-first approach.

Were very familiar with the IQ Wired team and partners, and they know we will take care of our joint customers with a white-glove approach, said Beck. As a team, well go the extra mile to manage the entire customer experience.

For more information on the Pidj.co business text messaging platform, visit http://www.pidj.co. To try it out, text DEMO to 855.818.7435.

For more information on channel and wholesale partnerships, visit http://www.pidj.co/partners/.

About IQ Wired

Founded in 2003, IQ Wired has a proven track record of partnering with clients to solve business problems by using technology to bridge the gap. IQ Wired is one of the largest, most admired women-owned and run Telecom and Technology brokerage/consulting firms in the country. To learn more about IQ Wired, please visit: http://www.iqwired.net

About Pidj.co

Pidj.co empowers organizations to connect with customers and other stakeholders with real-time, personalized communications via text messaging. The companys business text messaging platform enables automated outbound text messages to be broadcasted to a targeted list of contacts as a one-off or a scheduled series. Uniquely, the Pidj.co platform also supports inbound text routing, including automated responses or actions or two-way text conversations with live agents. The platform is ideal for customer notifications, promotions and live interactions, such as appointment reminders, delivery tracking, customer surveys, marketing drip campaigns, sales inquiries, customer support and more. The Pidj.co business texting solution is available as a retail subscription service from Pidj.co and its authorized sales partners or as a white-label platform to wholesale partners seeking a branded business texting solution. For more information, visit Pidj.co online at http://www.pidj.co, or text us at 855.818.7435.

Media Contact:

Khali Henderson

BuzzTheory (for Pidj.co)

khenderson@buzztheory.com

480.999.5297
People hold placards as they gather to denounce the Myanmar military coup, in Taipei, Taiwan (Photo : REUTERS/Ann Wang/Files)

The United States is immediately suspending all engagement with Myanmar under a 2013 trade and investment agreement until the return of a democratically elected government, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on Monday.



Saturday was the bloodiest day of protests in Myanmar since the Feb. 1 military coup with 114 people killed. Five more were killed on Monday https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics/thousands-take-to-the-streets-in-myanmar-as-five-more-protesters-killed-idUSKBN2BL0C2 when thousands took to the streets again in opposition to the military returning to power after a decade.



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Tai said in a statement that Myanmar security forces' killing of peaceful protesters, students, workers and labor leaders and children "has shocked the conscience of the international community."



"These actions are a direct assault on the country's transition to democracy and the efforts of the Burmese people to achieve a peaceful and prosperous future," said Tai, who was sworn into office on March 18.



In addition to suspending work on 2013 framework agreement, Tai said USTR would consider Myanmar's situation as it works with the U.S. Congress on reauthorizing the Generalized System of Preferences program, which reduces U.S. tariffs and provides other special trade access for some developing countries.



Participation requires countries to maintain certain worker rights protections, and Tai said reports that Myanmar's military leaders have targeted trade unions and workers for their role in pro-democracy protests raise serious concerns.


The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine does not currently observe Russias preparations for an open military conflict with Ukraine, but there is a threat of such a scenario.

The aggression of the Russian Federation has been going on in the east for over seven years, and the threat of an open attack has not disappeared since 2014. Is there a direct threat that we will wake up tomorrow morning and the war will start? Currently, the General Staff considers it wont happen tomorrow. For this to happen, there must be appropriate factors, appropriate actions must take place on the part of the Russian Federation in the territory temporarily not controlled by our government... Today we do not observe these factors. Of course, there is a threat. It exists primarily because Russia has not given up on its plans," Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Ruslan Khomchak said in an interview with the Gordon media outlet.

The situation in eastern Ukraine escalates periodically, he noted.

The escalation on the contact line is mainly caused by what is happening beyond the contact line: meetings of the Trilateral Contact Group, meetings in the Normandy format, other ongoing political and diplomatic processes. And Russia manipulates these processes through the units stationed on the contact line in an uncontrolled territory... There is dependence on each other, Khomchak said.

Many different factors have an impact on the situation in eastern Ukraine, he stressed.

As reported, four Ukrainian servicemen were killed and two more were wounded in a shelling by the Russian occupiers near the village of Shumy in Donetsk region on March 26.

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A year after hospitals found themselves at the breaking point, and with a new administration in the White House and vaccines flying off shelves across the country, Americas doctors are looking down the barrel of a fresh coronavirus disaster.

Reckless travel. Increasing hospitalizations. Surging case counts. And, doctors and other frontline medical workers say, their own pleas for the publicand elected officialsto remain vigilant falling on deaf ears.

It's been a year of preventable death. At every single step of the way, the U.S. has just refused to do the right thing, said Andrew Goldstein, an internal medicine doctor at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. I think were all sort of like, Ugh why is this happening again, and why did so many places rush to reopen?

People really want to be in celebration mode, he added, but its denial.

Vacations, Bar Sex, and Ragers: Biden Plea to Wait for Fourth of July Falls on Deaf Ears

Though nearly 15 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated, cases continue to surge in places like New York, New Jersey, and Michiganearly hot zones of the coronavirus pandemic. Case counts were up more than 10 percent nationally last week over the week before, according to the CDC director, and the seven-day average of hospital admissions was rising in 25 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Hospitalization rates in Michigan alone were up more than 50 percent in one week alone.

Meanwhile, other states have moved aggressively to loosen their public health restrictions in recent weeks, lifting caps on indoor gatherings, and ditching mask mandates entirely. And college students have surged to places like Florida for spring break, which public health experts said could lead to nationwide spikes like those seen after Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For some doctors, the news cycle had taken on a kind of exhausting deja vu. Peter Chai, an emergency medicine doctor at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, said he was still urging people to take the same precautions he had last year.

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We understand people are fatigued, but the experience of the last year has taught us that every time we get together and are unmasked and unvaccinated, the disease is going to spread, he said. I think at some point we just need to recognize that and just hold on for a little longer.

A visibly emotional CDC Director Rochelle Walensky issued a similar message at a press conference Monday, asking Americans to please hold on a little while longer, while adding that she had a feeling of impending doom over the rising case counts. President Joe Biden also called on the public to stay strong, and asked governors to reimplement their mask mandates and hold off on reopening plans.

Were giving up hard-fought, hard-won gains, he said from the White House Monday. And as much as were doing America, its time to do even more.

Biden also promised to rapidly expand the number of vaccination sites in the coming weeks, and said nine out of 10 American adults should be eligible for the vaccine by mid-April.

But Goldstein cautioned that it was too soon to declare victory, noting that while the majority of the elderly population had been inoculated against the virus, the younger populations more at risk of spreading it had not. The data appear to bear this out, with multiple states reporting surges in hospitalizations for younger patients in recent weeks.

Goldstein also said he felt the Biden administration could have been tougher on the states, and done more to prevent a potential fourth wave.

It feels like the political will just isnt really there to take a strong stance, he said. Its a disappointment that theyre not using the full scope of federal power to really bring this under control.

Can the Roaring Twenties Teach Us About Post-Pandemic Life?

Biden did issue a nationwide mask mandate shortly after taking office, but, in a nod to what some experts said were limited powers, it applied only to public transportation and federal agencies. The worst surge in COVID cases to date came in January, as Biden prepared to take over from President Donald Trump, and the country only recently emerged from the depths of it. Biden has also squabbled with COVID-skeptical governors like Ron DeSantis of Florida, who never instituted a mask mandate and in fact has barred localities from enforcing coronavirus restrictions.

Miguel Escalon, a rehabilitation doctor at Mount Sinai in New York, said he worried that hospitals wouldnt have the staff to weather another major surge. Although hospital staff are better informed, better equipped, and largely vaccinated at this point, they have also been resigning in droves due to burnout and exhaustion.

He said colleagues complained most about the uncertainty of their situation; never knowing whether they would be plunged back into the chaos and trauma of last spring, or confronted with a new, deadly variant they couldnt fight.

My first worry really is about people on the frontlinenot just the physicians, but also the nursing staff, and the nursing assistants, and everyone whos just worked to the ground, Escalon said.

The emotional gas tank is on empty, he added. Were running on fumes.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 23:07:23|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Tuesday to review a guideline on promoting high-quality development of the country's central region in the new era.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting.

Promoting the high-quality development of China's central region is of overall significance as it has rich resources, well-developed transport networks, a sound industrial foundation, and massive development potential, according to the meeting.

Efforts should be made to build a modern industrial system underpinned by advanced manufacturing industry, facilitate high-level opening-up of the inland region, improve system and mechanism, and promote coordinated development between urban and rural areas, it said.

The meeting called for improving basic public services and accelerating the rise of the central region, so as to contribute more to China's journey toward socialist modernization.

It urged efforts to promote city-cluster development in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and the central plains and comprehensively advance rural vitalization.

Innovation should be the primary driving force behind development while scientific and technological innovations should drive industrial growth, said the meeting. It also called for a new system of high-level opening-up in the inland region of China.

The meeting also stressed the need to pursue a new path of green and low-carbon development, strengthen the economical and intensive use of energy and resources, enhance ecological construction and management, and realize the green rise of the central region. Enditem
3D print of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19--in front of a 3D print of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. The spike protein (foreground) enables the virus to enter and infect human cells. On the virus model, the virus surface (blue) is covered with spike proteins (red) that enable the virus to enter and infect human cells. Credit: NIH

In the early days of the pandemic, Vishal Shah painstakingly disinfected all of his family's produce from the grocery store with a disinfectant before bringing it into their West Chester house to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19.

His 13-year-old son, Anand, noticed the practice one afternoon and began questioning Shah, the interim vice provost and associate dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics at West Chester University.

"I was curious to see if the virus was on the fruits and vegetables to begin with," said Anand, a student at Charles F. Patton Middle School in Kennett Square.

The pair began investigating by taking a look at the guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization. Both organizations stated that while it's possible for COVID-19 to spread via touching and handling of food that has the virus on its surface, it is likely not the main way the virus is spread. The CDC has also said that washing fruits and vegetables does not guarantee the removal of the virus. But they wanted to confirm that theory in real life, Shah said.

"I just told Anand, 'If you want to do a science project, this is a perfect one,'" he said.

After quarantining together for 14 days in November to prevent contamination of the produce that they would test, Shah and Anand visited 10 grocery stores in Philadelphia and neighboring counties, as well as New Jersey and Delaware, between the peak times of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. All of the counties had reported high levels of community spread on the day they visited the stores. The pair selected a number of produce that people frequently touched, including apples, avocados, bananas, broccoli, carrots, potatoes and lettuce, then swabbed each piece five times.

"One of the first things I realized once I told my dad I wanted to do this project was that I had no means of testing for the virus on my own," Anand said. "My dad's lab was closed, so I contacted labs across the country and gave presentations that discussed what the project was."

Eventually, Assured Bio Laboratories in Oak Ridge, Tenn. agreed to test the swabs for the presence of coronavirus at a discounted rate. Of the 140 pieces of produce tested from the stores, only one apple had traces of the virus on its surface. The Shahs concluded that their results supported the current CDC and WHO guidelines that contracting the virus by touching food surfaces is unlikely.

The study was published recently in ACS Food Science and Technology.

"This changed how we handle produce at our house and our relatives' houses," Anand said. "The biggest take home message for me was that we can handle produce as we did before the pandemic, but we should wash our hands after handling produce."

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

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Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Jerome, ID, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Idaho Milk Products will present Episode 3 in their Formulating with Milk Proteins webinar series on How to Formulate Excellent Quality High-Protein Ice Cream. In this upcoming free webinar, attendees will learn about the common challenges encountered when formulating clean label-friendly, high-protein ice cream using milk proteins to achieve success.

Guest speakers will be Joe Marshal, Food Scientist with Socius Ingredients, Dr. Venkat Sunkesula, Associate Director of Research and Technical Services and Kumar Tammineedi, Senior R&D Scientist both in Research and Development (R&D) at Idaho Milk Products.

Dr. Venkat Sunkesula joined the Idaho Milk Products team in 2019 as Senior R&D Scientist and was promoted to Associate Director of Research and Technical Services in 2020. Sunkesula has over 20 years of experience in the dairy field, candy, and brewing industry. He is responsible for the upkeep of the new Milk Innovation Center as well as the evaluation of new technologies based on market trends and customer requirements. Dr. Sunkesula came to Idaho Milk Products from South Dakota State University where he pursued his Ph.D. in dairy manufacturing and did his thesis on the Development of Methods to improve Lactose Recovery from Permeate and Drying Characteristics of Greek Acid Whey. Sunkesula will be speaking about our Milk Innovation Center (MIC) and the help we extend to our customers.

Kumar Tammineedi joined the Idaho Milk Products team in 2020 as Senior R&D Scientist with over seven years of experience in technical services and regulatory affairs. Tammineedi is responsible for new product development and recipe/ formulation optimization as well as providing technical support to operations and QA. Tammineedi received his bachelors degree in Dairy Manufacturing (SVVU University, India) and a masters degree in Food Science (Southern Illinois University). Mr. Tammineedi will cover MPCs that could help solve some of the current issues in high protein ice cream.

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Joe Marshall joined the Socius Ingredients team in 2016 as a Food Scientist after completing his bachelor's degree in Food Science at the University of Illinois. Joe has five years of experience specializing in proteins and hydrocolloids and their use in food including ice cream applications such as high-protein, low carbohydrate, plant-based and health care, specifically relating to dysphagia. Mr. Marshall will be speaking on tips and pointers for making great-tasting ice cream.

This third webinar will be cast on April 15, 2021 and be hosted by Global Food Forums, Inc. Those wishing to register can contact our team at marketing@idahomilk.us.

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About Idaho Milk Products

Idaho Milk Products is a privately held, vertically integrated international milk processing leader, supplying Milk Protein Isolate (MPI), Milk Protein Concentrate (MPC), Milk Permeate, and Cream derivatives to customers around the globe. Owned by local Idaho dairy farmers, Idaho Milk Products has a dedicated consistent milk supply and delivers reliable, quality dairy ingredients. For more information, visit idahomilkproducts.com.

Attachments

CONTACT: Annie Dovenmuehler Idaho Milk Products 208.644.2861 adovenmuehler@idahomilk.us




Traffic has resumed in Egypt's Suez Canal after a stranded container ship blocking it for nearly a week was finally freed by salvage crews.

Tug boats honked their horns in celebration as the 400m-long Ever Given was dislodged on Monday with the help of dredgers.

Hundreds of ships are waiting to pass through the canal which links the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.

Peter Berdowski, CEO of Dutch salvage company Boskalis, said the Ever Given had been refloated at 15:05 (13:05 GMT) on Monday, "thereby making free passage through the Suez Canal possible again," BBC reported.

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie said that 113 ships should pass through the Suez Canal in both directions by 8:00 (09:00 Moscow time) on Tuesday.

422 ships have been stranded in the Suez Canal over the incident with the Ever Given container vessel, Osama Rabie said. According to him, everybody was confident in authorities ability to overcome the crisis, thus "no ships stranded in the Suez Canal have changed their courses to other routes."
By looking at this newly emerged bird, a University of Colorado Boulder-led research team found an 'evolutionary shortcut' for speciation

Not all species may travel the same path to existence, at least according to new findings from the University of Colorado Boulder and collaborators.

This new research, out now in Science, looked at a newly discovered, endangered songbird located only in South America--the Ibera Seedeater--and found that this bird followed a very rare evolutionary path to come into existence at a much faster pace than the grand majority of species.

By comparing this bird to a closely related neighbor (the Tawny-Bellied Seedeater) in the same group (the southern capuchino seedeaters), the researchers determined that genetic shuffling of existing variations, rather than new random mutations, brought this species into existence--and their own behaviors are keeping them apart.

This species is one of only two known examples across the globe to have traveled this path, challenging the typical assumptions of how new species form.

"One of the aspects of this paper that makes it so cool is that we were able to address this question of how the Ibera Seedeaters formed from multiple different perspectives," said Sheela Turbek, a graduate student in ecology and evolutionary biology (EBIO) at University of Colorado Boulder and the study's lead author.

"Not only did we collect on-the-ground data on who mated with one another and the identity of their offspring, but we also generated genomic data to examine how similar these two species are on a genetic level. We then zoomed out further to look at where the Ibera Seedeater fits in the context of the broader capuchino group."

"Many studies will address one of these aspects or questions but not combine all of these different pieces of information into a single study."

The southern capuchino seedeaters are a group of recently evolved songbirds found throughout South America that is branching rapidly, with many of its species in the early stages of evolution. This family is best known for the dramatic variation with the males in terms of songs and plumage color, while the females are largely indistinguishable even to the most familiar researchers.

The Ibera Seedeater, the most recent member of this family, was first discovered in the remote, swampy grasslands of Ibera National Park in northern Argentina by study co-authors Adrian S. Di Giacomo and Cecilia Kopuchian from Centro de Ecologia Aplicada del Litoral, Argentina, in 2001, and then described in scientific literature in 2016.

In that national park, though, are six other closely related species of capuchinos, including the Tawny-Bellied Seedeater, that breed closely beside each other. These species, despite occupying the same environment and eating the same food, rarely interbreed.

And so, researchers wondered why--and how--the Ibera Seedeater even came to be.

They explored these questions in two ways: First, they looked at how this new species may have formed by examining the ways in which its DNA differs from the Tawny-Bellied Seedeater, and second, looking at what mechanisms might be preventing it from interbreeding with the other species that occur in the park.

To do that, Turbek went down to Argentina for the breeding season for three years, staying two and a half to three months at a time, searching for and monitoring nests, collecting blood samples from adults and nestlings, and then, in the final year, performed a behavioral experiment to see whether plumage or song played a roll in terms of species recognition.

"The field work involved in collecting the assortative mating and behavioral data is extraordinarily hard, which is why these kinds of datasets rarely exist. This study and publication are a testament to Sheela's skill and hard work in the field," said Scott Taylor, an assistant professor in EBIO at University of Colorado Boulder, an author on the paper and Turbek's advisor.

What they found is that the two birds are closely related genetically, only distinguishable by the genes involved in plumage coloration. As well, they found that the males responded most aggressively to songs and plumage variations aligning with their own species.

This all means that the species could very well reproduce and hybridize--they just choose not to, therefore reinforcing their own reproductive barriers.

On a broader level, though, when comparing the Ibera Seedeater to other capuchino species, the researchers found that the Ibera Seedeater shares genomic variants with other capuchinos in these regions, but the variants have been shuffled to form a unique combination, which, the researchers argue, could be an evolutionary shortcut that most likely underlies much of the diversity among the different subspecies of this family.

"This is a really beautiful story about a process that we have never seen in quite this way before," says co-author Irby Lovette, director of the Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

"The classic and most common evolutionary model for new species is the accumulation of genetic mutations when those species are separated by a geographic barrier over perhaps millions of years. But here we found that genetic shuffling can happen quickly and without geographical isolation. It's almost like 'instant speciation.'"

Leonardo Campagna, a research associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the senior author on the paper, agrees:

"This is the clearest example in birds of how reshuffling of genetic variation can generate a brand-new species."

The only other organism where this type of evolution has been seen, according to Turbek, is a group of fish found in Africa called the Lake Victoria cichlids.

"It's interesting to see this mechanism operating in something as different as birds," Turbek commented.

While this study focused in part on the role of male behaviors, the researchers are very interested in taking it one step further, examining the role that female choice may also play in reproduction.

"There are many more questions that we have to address," Turbek said.

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Other researchers on the project include Melanie Browne with Centro de Ecologia Aplicada del Litoral in Corrientes, Argentina; Wesley M. Hochachka with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Dario A. Lijtmaer and Pablo L. Tubaro with Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Luis Fabio Silveira with Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Rebecca J. Safran with CU Boulder.
Applied physicists at the University of Sydney have proposed new standards to measure moisture leaks into bionic devices such as pacemakers, cochlear hearing implants and retinal replacements.

The researchers, who received an industry partnership funding through the Australian Research Council to undertake the study, say the new moisture standards could give the wearers of bionic implants extra confidence in the operation of the life-changing devices. They also say that the improved moisture-testing regime could be used in the emerging renewable energy industry where new-generation solar cells require high standards of humidity control.

Bionic implants must be able to operate successfully in moist environments in the human body. While the potential for large leaks into the devices are easy to detect during manufacturing, small leaks can escape detection and standard testing is required to ensure safety and prevent moisture-induced failure.

The accurate measurement of moisture penetration into medical devices is essential to guarantee long-term performance. Accurate measurement needs an accurate industry standard to assess leak risks." Professor David McKenzie, School of Physics, University of Sydney

He said there are commercially available systems that measure relative humidity, but these are not sensitive enough for the most demanding applications in implantable biomedical devices. Using mass spectroscopy technology, the measurement of helium as a proxy for moisture leakage is a de facto industry standard test for the critical small leaks that are hard to pick up.

In practice and in most cases, helium testing of bionic devices is a good standard, but by improving the compliance by a factor of 10, we think the industry can further guarantee the safety of biomedical implants," Professor McKenzie said.

"Helium leak detection tests are widely used for the location of more sensitive leaks, but direct measurement of gaseous or liquid water leakage at similar sensitivities has proven too difficult until now," he said.

Professor McKenzie and colleagues from the Australian government's National Measurement Institute and have developed a standard leak test and shown how to use it to verify the quality of encapsulations, or the containment of medical devices.

They have published their research in the American Chemical Society's Applied Materials & Interfaces.

Lead author Dr Wenwen Lei from the National Measurement Institute said: "For very high sensitivities, it is important we try to directly measure water leak risks rather than the de facto measure of helium, which is not as accurate.

"Water has special abilities to penetrate through very small spaces given its different behaviour. For instance, it has been recently discovered that water acts in a really weird way in carbon nanotubes, where the water does not seem to touch the sides of tiny passageways not much wider than a millionth of a human hair."

Professor McKenzie said: "Any such 'nanoleakage' would be really serious if it happened in medical devices, especially those with lots of feedthrough apertures, such as the bionic eye."

The new standard moisture leak breaks new ground by studying water behaviour in a stable polymer material. Using the new tests, researchers directly compared water leakage to helium leakage in biomedical test structures. They found that in the majority of cases, calibrated measurements of moisture leak rates do exceed helium leak rates, especially for very small and large leaks.

Given their findings that water can leak up to 10 times the rate of helium leaks, they propose strengthening the compliance standard for helium testing of biomedical devices tenfold, or one order of magnitude.

"As we improve bionic technology, wearable implants will become more common, so it's important to give people that extra level of safety assurance," Professor McKenzie said.
- Blis' new privacy-first product suite will enable clients to deliver key business outcomes

- By combining rich location insight with other real-world and online data, Blis will deliver new way of targeting that changes the way it plans and buys media

SINGAPORE, March 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Blis , the pioneer of privacy-first location-powered advertising, announces the launch of its new product suite, which will enable the world's largest brands and agencies to target their customers at scale in the post-cookie world and still achieve key outcomes.

As the industry pivots away from targeting based on IDs and personal data, brands need to find new ways to drive key business outcomes through personalised and high-performing digital advertising. Indeed recent research* has revealed that 78% of senior marketers are concerned or very concerned by the loss of cookies, whilst 61% feel the same about the disappearance of IDFAs. When questioned about what concerned them the most, 37% cited that it was a combination of factors including, the ability to effectively plan intelligent campaign strategies, run targeted and personalised campaigns at scale and effectively measure campaign performance.

Blis is tackling this challenge head on by leveraging its prowess in the location-based advertising space. It will now combine location data with hundreds of aggregated and anonymised behavioural and lifestyle signals, building a more complete picture of a brand's customers, to reach them at scale in a privacy-first way.

Blis' new suite of privacy-first products

Launching in key global markets, Audience Explorer is a visual, interactive tool that enables brands to discover what makes their customers' unique, build richer media plans and deliver better outcomes. Audience Explorer is powered by precise and directly-observed location behaviours from Blis' huge global opted-in panel. Armed with this deep customer understanding, Blis will then use it's new Dynamic Audience Targeting to reach personalised audiences at scale, using a variety of rich, anonymised signals, from lifestyle characteristics and affinities through to shopping and spending habits - all without reliance on personal data. These new offerings will enable the world's largest brands and media agencies to continue to deliver key campaign outcomes through personalised and scalable targeting, despite the reduction of IDFAs and the death of the cookie.

Greg Isbister, CEO, Blis comments "Our industry is at a major inflection point, with significant changes impacting every single part of digital advertising as we know it today.

"We have been investing heavily in technology to address the requirements of advertisers to reach consumers at scale while not having to rely on personal identifiers, such as third party cookies or mobile device identifiers. This new technology will fundamentally change the way our clients plan, buy and target personalised audiences at scale to deliver against their key outcomes."

Blis client,Sophie Strong, Head of Display and Social, Wavemaker adds "We always want to work with partners like Blis who help us proactively navigate key industry topics. Blis' new privacy-first targeting methodology provides a truly innovative solution to a pressing challenge."

*Blis client survey, with 109 respondents, conducted in February 2021.

Note: Audience Explorer and Dynamic Audience Targeting are launching in the US, UK and Australia. They will launch in Italy, Singapore and the Netherlands in the coming months.

About Blis

Blis is the leading privacy-first, location-powered programmatic advertising partner. We deliver accurate targeting at scale without reliance on personal data, helping the world's largest brands and media agencies drive key business outcomes through personalised and high-performing digital advertising.

Blis uses real-world and online data, as well as behaviour and lifestyle indicators, to profile and understand audiences better than anyone else. Using a huge opted-in global planning and measurement panel and taking an aggregated and anonymous approach to audience targeting, Blis reaches precise audiences at scale without reliance on personal data.

Established in the UK in 2004, Blis now operates in more than 40 offices across five continents. Working with the world's largest and most customer-driven companies across all verticals including Unilever, Samsung, McDonald's, HSBC, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot, as well as every major media agency, Blis reaches over a billion mobile devices a year.

To learn more, visit blis.com .

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Northern Ireland's most senior trade union leader has rounded on Arlene Foster for refusing to meet him to discuss workers' issues for four years.

Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) assistant general secretary Owen Reidy said the First Minister's "reluctance to engage" with an official representing over 200,000 workers was "unbelievable" and would not be tolerated in Scotland, Wales or the Republic.

Mr Reidy noted that the First Minister had met the Loyalist Communities Council, which represents the views of loyalist paramilitaries, last month.

"We have no issue with that and agreed with her when she said it was important for her to listen all sections of the community," he said.

"We just wish she would agree to hear the voices of the representatives of the working people of Northern Ireland, including those low-paid frontline workers who have held society together during this pandemic.

"Many - including DUP supporters in our ranks - are questioning why the First Minister refuses to meaningfully engage with the leadership of the trade union movement. The situation would not arise, nor be tolerated, in Wales or Scotland, so why is it acceptable in Northern Ireland? I think it speaks volumes about the dysfunctionality at the top of government here."

The ICTU assistant general secretary said he had many urgent issues to discuss with Mrs Foster in light of the pandemic including health service pay and reopening the economy.

He said that he had met deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Secretary of State Brandon Lewis, Shadow Secretary of State Louise Haigh, and party leaders Naomi Long, Colum Eastwood, and Steve Aiken.

"It's simple and straightforward. You write to them and request a meeting which then is set up. I've been seeking a meeting with Arlene Foster for four years without success. On occasions, she has identified previous diary commitments or offered a meeting with a junior minister instead," he added.

A DUP spokesman said: "The party leader engages with a wide range of people and bodies including the trade unions.

"It is not always possible for the First Minister to meet every group but one of the team will always hear their views. Indeed, several party colleagues have met with ICTU. Such narrow party political attacks speak volumes about Owen Reidy."

Mr Reidy said that ICTU represented the interests of over 200,000 workers in Northern Ireland through 25 affiliate unions.

"Our membership is truly cross-community. We have loyalists, republican, unionist, nationalist and none of the above in our ranks. We are a microcosm of the diversity of Northern Ireland society.

"In her position as First Minister, Arlene Foster is obliged to represent the interests of all the people of Northern Ireland. We do not have to agree with the First Minister, nor she with us, but engage we must."

Mr Reidy wrote to Mrs Foster last month outlining his concerns but has received no reply. "We're holding a conference in the Waterfront in October, and we hope that Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill will open and address it. In two decades as a trade union official, I've enjoyed robust but respectful engagement with politicians. I would hope for similar engagement with Arlene Foster."
This spring, Dunamaise Arts Centre is inviting those aged 55 years and older to participate in 'Forever Young'  the second phase of its Always Human initiative  a multi-art form, multi-phase project where older people inspire artists and focus on times past by preserving memories through the arts.

Led by poet, creative writing tutor Denise Curtin Dunne, with the support of the KEEP WELL Campaign, Dunamaise is rolling out this second chapter of Always Human by celebrating their memories and special moments and creating a souvenir in writing. No experience or background in writing is necessary and special packs containing all the relevant materials to take part, will be distributed to various venues across County Laois or can be requested from Dunamaise Arts Centre and sent to interested participants.

The Always Human project was created by Artistic Director Cabrini Cahill, understanding how isolating the Covid Pandemic has been for many older people. Whether forced to stay home in their houses or care homes, access to incoming artists, art therapists and guest performers ended suddenly; trips out to theatres, cinemas, art classes and other vital social and cultural interactions which were such beloved experiences, had to be cancelled.

At a time when artists and entertainers employment has been decimated and Dunamaise Arts Centre has been closed (for all but a few weeks!) since last March, Cabrini devised and Dunamaise commissioned new ways of connecting artists and older audiences.

The Always Human pilot project last December saw the creation of a painting by Pauline Conroy as well as a radio documentary and podcast by award-winning broadcaster Ann-Marie Kelly, inspired by the memories and life story of Bill Lalor from Mountmellick. A greeting card with Pauline's artwork was sent out to over 100 older people across Laois along with An Invitation to Participate.

That pilot project has fuelled this second chapter Forever Young, A Souvenir in Writing.

Now in this second chapter, Dunamaise Arts Centre presents a warm invitation for older people to celebrate their early adult years, preserve their special moments in life and share their memories through creative writing.

Poet and Creative Writing tutor, Denise Curtin Dunne explains how you can participate.

Very often, very happy memories surface when looking at old photographs, hearing music, or recalling friendships and events from the early years of our adulthood. We would love you to dip into those memories and celebrate something from that time in writing.

"It can be as short or as long a piece of writing as you like! It could be as a poem, a story, or just a few lines that sum up what youd like to share with us, or alternatively, you can answer as much of the questionnaire as you like.

We would particularly like you to focus on that decade in your life, when you were 18-28 years old, and tell us a little bit about what your social life was like then and the things you really enjoyed doing, she said.

While some people might know exactly how and where to start, some may never before have expressed themselves in this way, so Denise's specially designed prompts and tips that will help guide new writers through the process. One-to-one sessions by phone or online with Denise can be booked, offering guidance and encouragement.

Michelle de Forge, Director of Dunamaise Arts Centre, also commented.

As older people cannot come to Dunamaise during the lockdown, well come to YOU, in innovative ways, creating meaningful new connections.

We hope that older audience members in our community will enjoy and benefit from engaging with creative activities which reflect your lives & experiences, said the director.

Forever Young creative writing packs can be requested from Dunamaise Arts Centre on 057 8663355 or info@dunamaise.ie.

They can also be picked up from All Books shop, Portlaoise and will be distributed through volunteers with Laois Library Service and Age Friendly networks.

Dunamaise Arts Centre would like to acknowledge the funding received from the KEEP WELL Campaign, which is brought to you with thanks to Healthy Ireland, an initiative of the Government of Ireland with funding from the Healthy Ireland Fund and the Slaintecare Fund delivered by Pobal, administered by Laois County Council, and Healthy Ireland Laois. Dunamaise Arts Centre also gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of Laois County Council and The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion.

For more information see www.dunamaise.ie
Lauren Hall doesn't care that her foray into country music is cliche. When she saw Taylor Swift with a guitar, she was sold.

Though the Charleston native hadn't grown up listening to the genre, her heart fell for the deep feelings and profound lyrics sugarcoated in simple stories. Her own long, wavy blonde hair became part of her signature style, and songwriting became her passion as she discovered Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert and Shania Twain.

"The greatest country songs can tell a story that somehow becomes everyone else's story, and as a songwriter that is my goal," Hall said. "When you start hearing people tell you that a song you wrote helped heal them or resonated with their life in some way, it becomes so much bigger than yourself."

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At 15, Hall recorded her first EP. At 16, she was booking acoustic gigs around the Lowcountry. At 17, she formed her full band. And at 19, she opened for Country Music Association Award- and Grammy Award-winner Travis Tritt.

The 23-year-old has since played shows with Tracy Lawrence, Scotty McCreey, Gary Allan, Maddie & Tae and Carly Pearce. And if those names aren't familiar, perhaps the country stars who have worked with her Nashville, Tenn.-based producer are: Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line and Lee Brice.

That producer, Dan Frizsell, most recently worked on the hit single "Rumor" by Lee Brice, which has been nominated for 2020 Academy of Country Music single of the year.

Frizsell is joined on Hall's upcoming April EP "Broke My Heart Just Enough" by another behind-the-scenes celebrity in country music: Phillip Lammonds, a co-writer on some of Hall's tracks who also has cuts by Kellie Pickler and Kip Moore.

"They both were incredibly instrumental in bringing this sound I wanted to life," Hall said. "These songs are all different in their own way, but they all have an organic, contemporary country feel with just a touch of that traditional sound."

She recorded the EP in 2019 in Nashville and is finally ready, as COVID-19 vaccine availability widens and concerts return in full force, to play a release show. She'll sing on the sunset stage to fans at The Windjammer on April 8.

While the pandemic has waylaid her original release date and put her budding career on hold, a vocal cord scare kept the artist from performing for seven months before COVID-19 was even a crisis.

Her song "Backwards" was written when she was on vocal rest and couldn't speak for a whole month.

"I just typed the words, and soon as I could open my mouth, that was the song I went to," Hall said. "It's about not understanding hard seasons of life but choosing to believe that, even in the pain, good can still come out of it and help you grow."

The songs range from more bluegrass-inspired to country rock. Hall's pop vocals with a splash of South Carolina twang power through the seven tracks of the record.

"It's definitely an EP that covers a wide range of emotions," Hall said. "There's love songs, sassy breakup songs and songs about the emotions in between."

She's already gotten radio play and Spotify playlist placement, but the ground level of support has come from right here in Charleston.

"A big reason why Charleston has been such a good scene to grow in musically is because we really do have such a supportive community," Hall said. "Whether it be radio, local papers or venues, everyone really kind of wraps their arms around you and wants to be a part of supporting art that is coming out of our city."
New Delhi, March 30 : Arrested Campus Front of India (CFI) National General Secretary KA Rauf Sherif, employed with Race International LLC in Oman as General Manager, which was said to be a company dealing in mobile accessories through job work by Chinese factories and general trading of customised products, was not involved in the business of trading face masks. This was just an alibi created by him to receive funds from abroad in the form of commission for trading of face masks, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) charge sheet in the Popular Front of India (PFI) case has revealed.

The ED had filed its first charge sheet against five office bearers of the PFI and its student wing, the CFI, including Sherif, in connection with its money laundering probe in February this year.

The ED charge sheet which has been viewed by IANS, claims that Sherif has admitted he was employed with Race International LLC, involved in manufacturing of mobile accessories through job work by Chinese factories and general trading of customised products as per client requirements.

The ED charge sheet claimed that information collected from open sources revealed that Race International group started its operations from Hong Kong as electronics spares and accessories supplier and gradually increased their service domains to cater to all telecommunications and security needs.

The ED further claimed that after examining the details of the Race International LLC, it is noticed that the company is part of Race SPZ group, with a corporate office at Guangzhou, China.

"The head office is found to be at Wanchai, Hong Kong and registered in the name and style of Race Technology Industrial Limited. It is interesting to note that other than the contact page of their website, the group has carefully masked its connection with China," said the charge sheet.

It said, "It advertises itself as the leading supplier at Middle East, Oman and India in electronic gadgets, security systems and telecommunication systems and as one of the conglomerates based in the Middle East providing various services in the technology sector.

The ED highlighted that the remaining concerns under the group have been classified in their own web site as 'outlets'. "The company Race International LLC is denoted as such as an outlet of the group in the Sultanate of Oman in Ruwi and Salalah. Other outlets in the Sultanate of Oman have been seen to be named as SPG Gold, while other outlets are seen to be in India's Kerala in various places such as Malappuram, Ernakulam, Calicut, Kollam and Kalpetta under the name of Spare Zone, which are electronic spares and accessories stores," it said.

The ED claimed that from the information gathered regarding the company, it is seen that the Race International LLC is essentially a part of group of companies which is based out of China and that the main business seems to be dealing in electronic spares, telecommunication devices and security solutions.

Commenting on Sherif's claims, the ED said, "Sherif had stated with reference to the trading of face masks that all consignments were exported from the Guangzhou Genercon Medical Company in China because Race International LLC was already purchasing goods from the said factory. However, as per the profile of the group of companies analysed, it is seen that there are no indications available as per the details available in the public domain that the company has indulged in any face mask trading business." The ED claimed that Sherif in his statement to the agency said that Race International LLC was also engaged in mask trading and knew factories which could supply mask and PPE items in cheap rate from China (Guangzhou); that Race International also advised him to find buyer for mask in Qatar and other countries.

"In relation to his Sherif's work of arranging face masks consignments to Oman and Qatar, he also stated that the consignment amount excluding his profit was being transferred to Race International's bank account from his clients company's account officially. Hence, it is evident that even if he was doing business of mask trading, he was doing it on behalf of Race International which does not justify his abnormally high earnings from such business especially when he was getting a salary of 400 Oman Riyal and commission of 200 Oman Riyal per month from Race International," it said.

The ED claimed that at the prevailing exchange rate of one Oman Riyal is around Rs 190 per month, Sherif's salary was Rs 76,000 and commission of Rs 38,000 per month.

"During March/April 2020 till September/October 2020, the commission earned by Sherif, as per his own admission, was around Rs 90-95 lakh, which would imply that he was earning Rs 10-15 lakh per month in the form of commission, "Such obnoxiously high earnings for a mere employee of Race International, who was otherwise earning around Rs 1.14 lakh per month is highly implausible," the ED said.

The ED also said that Sherif justified a vast majority of payments received in his bank accounts from abroad or through NRI accounts as commission for the trading of face masks, not even a single agreement, contract, message etc was retrieved from his mobile phone, pen drive or email which contained any such conversation or agreement with any person.

"The findings clearly establishes the fact that receipt of commission from trading of masks was just an alibi created by Sherif to receive funds from abroad," the ED alleged.

The ED also noted that Sherif being a member of the CFI had visited Oman on the reference of his friend Fahad, another CFI member and Noufal Shareef, who was none other than PFI DEC Secretary based in Oman. Hence, the CFI and PFI connection in strategic placement of Sherif in Oman is well established.

The ED also said that Sherif's accountancy knowledge, would prove to be a key figure in managing the fraudulent transfer of funds collected by PFI abroad. "On the reference of Shareef, Sherif was inducted in Race International LLC, a company owned and controlled predominantly by Chinese nationals. Trading of goods between China and other Gulf countries in the name of Race International LLC would prove not only as an alibi for employment of Sherif and movement of funds but also as a medium for trade-based money laundering," it alleged.

Sherif was arrested by ED on December 12, last year when he was trying to flee to Oman.

The ED case was primarily registered in 2018 taking the 2013 Narath PFI armed training case as the predicate offence. Later, the case registered by the UP Police against Siddique Kappan and three others last year was included as part of the money laundering case against PFI.

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)
Paducah Man Arrested After Shots Fired

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A report of shots fired Friday afternoon led to the arrest of a Paducah man.Paducah Police officers responded to the 2300 block of South 25th Street. Witnesses said 49-year-old Timothy Morris and another man were arguing when both of them pulled out handguns.Detectives said no one was hurt, but bullet damage was found on an apartment door. A witness reportedly told detectives that Morris was the only one that fired a gun.He was arrested a short time later at an apartment on South 4th Street and lodged in the McCracken County Jail.Morris is charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, first-degree wanton endangerment, and third-degree criminal mischief.
Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabis Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), today announced that its Cryptography Research Centre (CRC) has launched the first Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) software library in the UAE.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210329005486/en/

H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of ATRC (Photo: AETOSWire)

The library will advance the cryptographic and security capabilities of the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the broader UAE. International and Emirati researchers at Cryptography Research Centre, one of Technology Innovation Institutes initial seven dedicated research centres, have developed the PQC library, a software library written in the C general-purpose programming language that supports a wide variety of computer architectures and operating systems. A corresponding hardware FPGA-based implementation has also been developed. The library, designed to guard against attacks by quantum computers, has been already integrated in several secure communication products.

The library is a collection of algorithms to safeguard confidential data and information. With the rise of quantum computers, classic cryptographic algorithms (in particular, public key / asymmetric algorithms) are no longer sufficient to ensure secure data storage and secure digital communication. To address the demand for an advanced level of security that cannot be compromised even on sophisticated quantum computers, cryptographers are now engaged in developing PQC algorithms.

Cryptography Research Centre employs and collaborates with scientists in multiple cryptography fields such as post-quantum cryptography, hardware-based cryptography, lightweight cryptography, cryptanalysis, cryptographic protocols, and cloud encryption schemes, amongst others. The Centre is also among the few internationally that brings together theoretical and applied cryptographers in a research-oriented setting. The cryptographers collaborate on breakthrough research projects that lead to innovative outcomes.

Speaking on the announcement, His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), said: The United Arab Emirates is now in the same league of countries that possess advanced digital data security capabilities. Our researchers have worked hard to make this revolutionary project a reality. To meet the growing level of sophistication in the world of data, systems and network security, we are currently engaged in many more such ventures for the future. Our researchers are shaping the building blocks of advanced cryptographic and cryptanalytic solutions that enable superior data confidentiality, integrity, authentication, non-repudiation, and privacy.

Dr Najwa Aaraj, Chief Researcher at the Cryptography Research Centre, said: Quantum computing capabilities are a potential threat to data security. This fact underscores the importance of the launch of the UAEs first post-quantum cryptography library to guard against quantum computer attacks. The first release of the library has already been integrated in several secure communication products with advanced cryptographic protocols. Such a library serves as the foundation of any security application or product in development today that integrates public-key cryptography functionality. We will continue to develop the PQC library through incorporating more schemes.

Technology Innovation Institute 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 in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. The Institute reinforces Abu Dhabi and the UAEs status as a global hub for innovation and contributes to the broader development of the knowledge-based economy.

For more information about Technology Innovation Institute (TII), visit www.tii.ae

*Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210329005486/en/
The company said that two Northern Ireland sites, Mullavilly and Drumkee, are now complete and generating revenue, adding that it has also secured a 15mln revolving credit facility to support its continued growth

( ) announced several growth milestones on its portfolio as its operational assets doubled to 210 megawatts (MW).

In an update, the group said its two Northern Ireland sites, Mullavilly and Drumkee, are now complete and generating revenue. Despite Coronavirus (COVID-19), the company said the two 50MW projects were completed on budget and in time to capture the earliest possible window to start earning revenues under the Northern Ireland DS3 contracts.

Gore Street said the new sites almost double its operational portfolio, which now comprises 210MW across 11 projects in Great Britain and Ireland and is expected to double operating cash flow.

The firm added that the DS3 contracts available for these two assets have attractive return profiles, likely to be considerably higher than its 10% internal rate of return (IRR) target for portfolio assets.

Meanwhile, Gore Street said its Porterstown project in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) has recently successfully contracted Fluence for a fully wrapped construction of the battery system and has secured an option to expand its capacity from 30MW to 90MW. Following an update from Eirgrid, phase one is now expected to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2022 with phase two to follow in due course.

In line with this expansion, the company said that Kilmannock, its other ROI asset in construction, has an equally significant expansion proposal, from 30MW to a potential 90MW, which is currently going through an application process. Gore Street said it is engaging with stakeholders to secure a streamlined construction schedule with a definitive connection date to be confirmed.

The firm also said that its pipeline of new investment opportunities continues to grow and now amounts to 1.3 gigawatts in the UK and internationally, and as a result, it is considering utilising its placing programme to capitalise on these opportunities. The group said it has also secured a 15mln revolving credit facility (RCF) with Santander to support its continued growth and finance the construction of existing projects and purchase new grid-scale battery storage projects from its pipeline.

"We are particularly pleased with the progress at our NI assets; these are now the largest of their kind operating on the Northern Irish grid and Gore Street is one of the few site owners to successfully secure lucrative DS3 contracts. This is recognised as one of the world's most advanced grid balancing contracts and we are delighted to have attained a leading role in the service through a competitive auction. The fact that Gore Street's NI assets are two of the few assets to have secured the 1 April 2021 gate clearly demonstrates Gore Street Capital's expertise in delivering for our shareholders in this rapidly maturing asset class, where proven experience is instrumental for optimising performance. With the additional operational cashflow from this 100MW, Gore Street reiterates its earnings expectation to more than double its expected consolidated operational cash flow, said Alex OCinneide, chief executive of the companys investment adviser Gore Street Capital.

The 15mln facility RCF from Santander demonstrates a further recognition of the Company's continuing leadership in the asset class and the increasing maturity of the energy storage sector. It will support our growth ambitions and will be used to optimise the capital structure of the company. The increasingly attractive capacity auctions in which the Company can play a leading role, reflect the ongoing placement of investment in the sector as a key priority for national infrastructure. Gore Street is ideally positioned to capitalise on this ongoing critical energy transition and is delighted to be contributing towards Ireland's climate change goals and creating a low carbon economy. Our pipeline is as attractive as it has ever been at this critical time for energy storage investment and we are keen to continue to execute accretive acquisitions for our shareholders in the near term", the CEO added.

Gore Street shares were 0.2% lower at 107.3p in early deals on Tuesday.
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Former Bolivian president Jeanine Anez has been sentenced to four months pre-trial detention. She was arrested on charges of terrorism, sedition, and conspiracy linked to the resignation of her predecessor Evo Morales in what he claims was a coup d'etat.

Tens of thousands of Bolivians have taken to the streets to protest the arrest and detention of former president Anez.

The United States is following with concern the developments surrounding the arrest of Anez and several other former government officials, said State Department deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter. We urge our friends and neighbors in Bolivia to uphold all civil rights and due process guarantees of the American Convention on Human Rights and the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

Former President Anez came to power in November 2019 after Morales resigned following protests over electoral fraud related to his efforts to secure reelection to an unconstitutional fourth term. As Morales fled Bolivia, Anez was the most senior parliamentarian left and was sworn in by the legislature as the interim president despite the lack of a quorum. Morales and his MAS party allies then claimed they had been the victims of a coup.

Our concern joins those expressed by civic, political, and religious leaders in Bolivia as well as by those in the international community, said Ms. Porter.

In a statement, the Organization of American States expressed its "concern about the abuse of legal mechanisms that once again have been transformed into instruments of repression by Bolivias MAS party.

"The Bolivian judicial system is not in a position to provide the minimum guarantees of a fair trial," the OAS said.

It went on to call for "the liberation of all those detained in this context, until impartial processes and mechanisms can be put in place to determine responsibilities."

Many countries in the Western Hemisphere, including the United States, believe that democratic rule of, by, and for the people is a principle that must be upheld. There is also consensus that democratic institutions, such as the judicial system, should remain free of political interference.
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A 60-year-old man who was injured after falling off his mule on a trail ride was rescued by two hikers after the animal led them to its owner.

But the mule, Hickory, then disappeared into the brush at Milo McIver State Park in Oregon on Sunday and remained missing for a day until he was tracked down by two Good Samaritans.

On Sunday, the Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies rendered aid to the 60-year-old man. According to tweet from the Sheriff's office, the person who called for help reported that the mule led them to the injured man.

Toni and Winter Palmateer found 'Hickory' the mule on Monday. The mule had tangled in its reins and was having trouble moving

Sgt. Marcus Mendoza told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the mule led Doug Calvert and his wife, who were on foot on an equestrian trial, to the injured man.

Calvert says the mule was alone and watching them.

'It kept stopping and looking back to make sure we were following it,' Calvert said. 'So we started going faster, and it picked up speed. Eventually we got within view of the gentleman who had fallen.'

'He seemed very determined to get us to follow him,' he added.

Calvert said as soon as the mule led them to the injured owner, it backed off and while the couple tended to the injured man and called 911, the mule went back on the trail and went missing.

Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies responded to Milo McIver State Park to render aid to a 60-year-old man who suffered injuries after falling off his mule while on a trail ride

After locating the tangled mule, Winter untangled Hickory's reins

The Clackamas Sheriff's Office said the person who called for help reported that the mule led them to the injured man

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office's social media post about the incident inspired Toni Palmateer, a local respiratory therapist, efforts to locate the mule.

Palmateer and her 16-year-old daughter Winter, got up on Monday morning, packed up their trailer with two horses and were determined to locate the mule that they had read about on social media the day before.

The pair drove up to the Milo McIver State Park trail the mule was last seen and were flagged down by a jogger who told them a mule was in distress up the trail from the parking lot.

After saddling up the pair found the mule half a mile later. The mule had tangled in its reins and was having trouble moving.

After locating the tangled mule, Winter got off her horse and began untangling the Hickory's reins.

'The minute we got there and got the reins untangled, he put his head down and he just followed us in a very relaxed way,' Toni Palmateer said. 'He was very gentle.'

When Palmateer and her daughter got back to the trailer they ran into Sandy Leicht, a neighbor and friend of the injured man.

Leicht told the Oregonian/OregonLive that the mule is a 6-year-old male named Hickory, and that the 60-year-old only owned him for a few months.

Leicht said her neighbor did not want to be publicly identified.

Hickory was taken back home and is doing well after the night in the woods, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

Leicht confirmed that her injured friend is still recovering in the hospital.

Palmateer says she is glad her and her daughter were part of a community effort to find a missing animal.

'My daughter did miss her first period class, but it was great for her to get to be a part of something more important,' she said. 'Hopefully they'll excuse her absence.'
More than 300 potential jurors filled out a 14-page questionnaire that asked about their views on policing, protests, race and criminal justice, among other questions, and their answers showed the hurdles the defense must overcome in a case about which so much is widely known. Lawyers for the defense and the prosecution then questioned potential jurors one on one.

At least 10 of the 15 jurors and alternates chosen indicated that they had already formed a somewhat negative opinion of Mr. Chauvin. (The third alternate was dismissed on Monday.) But their views were nuanced  several said they had positive views of the police, but also believed that the criminal justice system was biased against Black people.

Juror No. 92, a white woman in her 40s, wrote on a questionnaire that she had a very favorable opinion of Blue Lives Matter. I would be terrified if our police departments were dismantled, she wrote, according to what the defense lawyer read aloud during jury selection. However, it is obvious that change needs to happen.

Many of the jurors expressed dismay over what had happened to Mr. Floyd or questioned the actions of the four officers involved, three of whom will face charges in a separate trial. Juror No. 27, a Black man in his 30s, wrote that Mr. Floyd could have been me or anyone else, according to the answers that the defense read back to him during questioning. No. 52, also a Black man in his 30s, wrote, My opinion has been, why didnt the other officers stop Chauvin?

Juror No. 89, the nurse, said that since Mr. Floyd had died she would have to conclude that the police had knelt on him for too long. No. 44, a white executive at a health care nonprofit, said, I do not know the laws and procedures of the police for detainment, but a man died and Im sure thats not procedure.

The jurors said they could set their opinions and knowledge aside and consider only the evidence presented.
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has approved a statement demanding that Russia immediately cease hostilities and adhere to the ceasefire and calling on the world community to continue and increase political and economic pressure on Russia so that it end its aggression against Ukraine.

A total of 308 MPs voted for resolution No. 5312 "On the statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict" at an extraordinary parliament meeting on Tuesday, March 30, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Since the beginning of this year, there has been a significant increase in shelling attacks and armed provocations by the armed formations of the Russian Federation. [] The latest glaring fact was the massive shelling by Russian occupation forces on March 26, 2021 of the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Shumy. In just one day, four Ukrainian servicemen were killed and one was seriously wounded by Russian weapons," the statement reads.

Ukrainian lawmakers demanded that Russia "immediately cease hostilities and strictly adhere to the ceasefire, fully fulfill its international obligations and withdraw from Ukraine its army, mercenaries, armed formations, which it leads, supports and finances, their weapons and equipment, and to return to Ukraine the full control of its internationally recognized borders."

In addition, parliamentarians called on foreign colleagues and international parliamentary organizations to condemn Russia's aggressive policy towards Ukraine, including the latest wave of escalation in the conflict zone. They also urged the world community "to continue and increase the international political and economic pressure on Russia so that it stops its aggression, withdraws its foreign troops and armaments from Ukraine, and to ensure the full restoration of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders."

The parliament also called on international organizations and international jurisdictional institutions to take all possible measures to investigate serious violations of international law during Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, including crimes of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Russian armed formations.

In its statement, the Ukrainian parliament extended its deepest condolences to the families of the fallen Ukrainian defenders.

The chairman of the Verkhovna Rada should ensure the immediate transmission of the text of the statement to the national governments and parliaments of foreign states, international organizations and their parliamentary assemblies.

op

MILFORD  The iconic Micalizzis Italian Ice is opening a store in downtown in mid-May and city officials expect the menu of frozen treats will be so popular that the business will draw visitors to the city.

We are so thrilled they have chosen Milford as their new home, said Julie Nash, Milfords director of economic and community development. Micalizzis is place people travel to visit so I think they will bring more people to our downtown shops and restaurants. It will also be an additional treat for the boaters coming in at the harbor.

Nash also said Micalizzis, headquartered in Bridgeport at 712 Madison Ave., is a community-minded business, so we look forward to them joining the Milford business family.

Jay Piccirillo , owner of Micalizzis Italian Ice and known widely as The Ice Man, said he is partners in the Milford venture with Alex, John and Rick Vazzano, and Vincent Pezzella.

Although Micalizzis Italian Ice is a household name, sold in grocery stores, restaurants, on carts and even at an Italian restaurant in Daytona Beach, Fla., the Milford location is only the second retail shop. Numerous restaurants in Fairfield County feature alcoholic drinks containing Micalizzis ices.

Piccirillo said they have been looking to open in Milford for years because theres a lot of foot traffic downtown, but the circumstances never worked out. Finally, he said, they found a good rent in a prime spot at the site of the former Subway sandwich shop.

We knew we could make this happen. It just took awhile, he said.

The location, next-door to the popular Seven Seas Restaurant, is a stones throw from Lisman Landing Marina, which attracts thousands of tourists per year, its right in the midst of Oyster Festival territory, an event that draws tens of thousands annually, and a quick walk from the booming Stonebridge Restaurant and train station, Piccirillo said.

Hearst Connecticut Media

He said its also good timing because the COVID-19 pandemic cost him a lot of money in lost event sales through carts and trucks.

The Milford locale will have a peace and love theme with a tie dye, Woodstock theme and in addition to offering 12 flavors of Italian ice, eight flavors of ice cream - including cannoli and other unique flavors  six types of store-baked cookies, and will offer a peace cookie, which he described as an ice cream sandwich on steroids.

They will also offer seasonal holiday ice cream pies - like the Easter pie sold in Bridgeport: a pink shade of vanilla ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips and marshmallow Peeps.

Employees will wear tie-dye aprons and, when customers leave, will tell them to Have an ice day, instead of a nice day.

Piccirillo is about as iconic as the business, known for his community spirit and generosity. The community recently threw him a 50th birthday parade and Piccirillo has had a blue raspberry flavor hard seltzer named after him - The Ice Man - at Brewport Brewing Co. in Bridgeport.

Piccirillos late father took over the initial business from founder Sal Micalizzi in the early 1980s and when Sal passed soon after, Piccirillos mother, Lucille, took over the business while raising two children, something Piccirillo admires. Micalizzi started the business in 1937.

He said his fathers dream years ago was to get the product out into different places besides Bridgeport and his heart is warmed that it has happened through the years - and now, Milford. Piccirillo said use of social media has greatly helped to promote his companys products.

For me the most satisfying part is I can carry on my family legacy ... carry on dads legacy, he said.
This is something that we really need in order to fill our vacant storefronts, as well as relieve the cost of the special use permits that now are often required said Ald. Judy Fiske, whose 1st Ward includes part of downtown Evanston. This is extremely important for us to do.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- A Michigan State Police trooper has been released from the hospital and is recuperating at home after he was injured during a Friday, March 26 crash in Mundy Township involving an alleged drunk driver, police said.

The trooper, who suffered non-life threatening injuries, was released from the hospital over the weekend, MSP Lt. James Lang told MLive-The Flint Journal Monday, March 29.

The trooper was conducting a traffic stop on Fenton Road near Lincoln Street in Mundy Township when a 42-year-old driving a Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck crashed into the back of the stopped patrol car, police have said. The impact pushed the cruiser forward into the trooper and a Ford Fusion that was pulled over.

Related: Driver crashes into stopped Michigan State Police patrol car, injuring trooper

The trooper was thrown onto the hood of the patrol car and landed in grass on the side of the road, police said. The driver of the Ford Fusion was not injured.

Police arrested the driver of the Silverado for operating while intoxicated. A local hospital evaluated and later released the driver.

There have been no official charges filed yet against the driver pending toxicology results of the drivers blood, Lang said. The results will likely take a couple of weeks, he added.

Once the results from the toxicology report are in, the prosecutor will determine charges, Lang said.

Read more on MLive:

21-year-old man dies after shooting at Flint house party

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By Long Island News & PR Published: March 30 2021

The Task Force will investigate suspected bias-motivated crimes and bring enhanced charges where appropriate.

Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini was joined today by Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, members of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission, and the Suffolk County Police Department to announce the launch of the District Attorneys Offices Hate Crimes Task Force, which will consist of specially-trained prosecutors who will work with the various police departments in Suffolk County to investigate suspected bias-motivated crimes and bring enhanced charges where appropriate.

Our nation is in the throes of a crisis right now in which members of non-white communities are being targeted and victimized, District Attorney Sini said. Recently, members of the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community have experienced a heightened number of attacks, which goes against everything we value as Americans. We want our community to know that these acts will not be tolerated here. We will not stand to let racism go unchecked in this County, or to turn a blind eye to crimes committed out of hate and discrimination. Our message here today, collectively, is Not on our watch.

No one should feel unsafe in their own community  in their own home  because of who they are as a person, their race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion, age, disability or sexual orientation. This is why the members of our Hate Crimes Task Force will work tirelessly, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners, to investigate each and every incident where bias could be a factor. By involving this team of specially-trained prosecutors from the outset of an investigation, we can ensure that every hate crime committed in our community results in enhanced charges to hold the perpetrators accountable.

In Suffolk County and all across New York State, diversity is our strength and it deserves to be celebrated, County Executive Bellone said. I applaud District Attorney Tim Sini for partnering with the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission and the Suffolk County Police Department to launch this critical initiative as we stand in solidarity against all forms of hatred and bias.

We want our communities to feel comfortable and confident to come forward and report any incident of hate, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said. Together, with our law enforcement and community partners, we will hold accountable those who spew hate and spread fear. The Hate Crimes Task Force will bring additional tools and resources and provide a true partnership to investigate and charge individuals with hate crimes.

We want to thank District Attorney Sini, County Executive Bellone and Commissioner Hart for dedicating the time and resources to this issue, which is something the Human Rights Commission has been adamantly working on over the years, said Lynda Perdomo-Ayala, Chairperson of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission. One critical piece of this effort is the Stop Bias Program, which was developed and instituted by the Human Rights Commission and is something we are looking to strengthen in collaboration with the District Attorneys Office so that we are addressing this issue in a comprehensive way and helping the community understand that hate crimes are not acceptable in Suffolk County.

Prosecutors on the Hate Crimes Task Force will assist in the investigation of suspected bias-motivated incidents in collaboration with the SCPDs Hate Crimes Unit and other law enforcement agencies from the immediate outset of the cases to ensure that individuals committing hate crimes and other bias-motivated offenses face enhanced charges and appropriate criminal consequences.

Additionally, members of the Task Force will both participate in advanced training on the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes and will provide training to the District Attorneys Office and other law enforcement agencies in Suffolk County on bringing enhanced charges against hate crime offenders.

During the course of its investigations and prosecutions, the Hate Crimes Task Force will evaluate the sufficiency of the current hate crime statutes and work with District Attorney Sini to make recommendations to New York State legislators on amendments to strengthen the laws if needed.

The Hate Crimes Task Force is working with the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission to enhance the Stop Bias program, an educational program composed of two sessions in which the offender examines his or her motives for committing hate crimes, and learns why hate crimes are offensive to the injured person and community. Offenders meet with members of law enforcement, a sensitivity facilitator and a representative from the offended community. Participation in the Stop Bias program would be mandated for any defendants pending sentencing on a hate crime conviction.

The Task Force will also be assisted by the Suffolk County District Attorneys Offices Intake Bureau, which is staffed 24/7 and works with law enforcement at the time of arrest to assess the sufficiency of accusatory instruments, addresses any legal question or issue that may arise during the investigation or arrest, and begins gathering all documents and witness information needed to certify compliance with discovery laws. Intake Bureau ADAs will screen all incoming arrests for potential hate crime elements and will refer cases to the Task Force for further investigation. Each prosecuting Bureau of the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office will also assist with screening and referral of cases to the Hate Crimes Task Force for investigation.

The Hate Crimes Task Force includes eight attorneys: Howard S. Master, Special Investigations Division Chief and Special Counsel to the District Attorney; Leslie B. Anderson, Executive Assistant District Attorney for Innovation and Inclusion; Robbin Hartman, Acting Bureau Chief of the Case Advisory Bureau; Eric Aboulafia, Trial Supervisor of the District Court Bureau; Elvin Canario, of the District Court Bureau; Ferron Lien, of the Felony Offense Bureau; Sheetal Shetty, of the Felony Offense Bureau; and Ryan Krumholz, of the East End Bureau.

The creation of a Hate Crimes Task Force stemmed from a proposal by an internal working group in the District Attorneys Office, which began working with various government agencies and community organizations in the summer of 2020 to compile best practices and produce a plan for implementation.

Under New York State Law, a person is guilty of a hate crime when he or she commits one of the specified offenses and either intentionally selects the person against whom the offense is committed or commits the offense in whole or in part because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person, regardless of whether the belief or perception is correct.

The specified offenses for hate crimes include:

Assault; Aggravated Assault upon Person Less Than 11 Years Old; Menacing; Reckless Endangerment

Strangulation

Manslaughter; Murder

Stalking

Rape; Criminal Sexual Act; Sexual Abuse; Aggravated Sexual Abuse

Unlawful Imprisonment; Kidnapping; Coercion

Criminal Trespass; Burglary

Criminal Mischief

Arson

Petit Larceny; Grand Larceny

Robbery

Harassment; Aggravated Harassment

Terrorism-related crimes

If you are the victim or witness of a hate crime in progress, call 911. To report a suspected hate crime or hate incident to the Suffolk County Police Department, call 1-800-220-TIPS.
Paxton, IL (60957)

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A few clouds. Low 61F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Aviation regulator on Tuesday told airports to consider imposing spot fines, with the help of police authorities, on passengers who are not wearing masks properly and maintaining social distance as per the COVID-19 rules.

On March 13, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had asked airlines to de-board passengers who do not wear masks "properly" despite repeated warnings, and take action against them as per rules.

In a circular on Tuesday, the regulator said, "During the surveillance of some airports, it has come to notice that compliance (of COVID-19 protocols) is not satisfactory."



"All airport operators, therefore, are requested to ensure that the instructions on COVID-19 protocol from the standpoint of wearing face mask properly, covering nose and mouth, as well as maintaining social distance norms within the airport premises are followed scrupulously," it said.

Accordingly, all airport operators can increase surveillance in this regard, the said.

"The possibility of taking punitive action, such as levy of spot fines in accordance with the law, shall also be explored with the local police authorities so as to serve a deterrent for violation of COVID-19 protocol," it stated.

Fifteen passengers, who were found violating COVID-19 norms on domestic flights of three airlines between March 15 and March 23, may be banned for three months by the carriers, senior officials of had said last week.

(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.)
An armed suspect has died outside the Russian capital after a fire engulfed his home amid a nine-hour standoff with police and security troops.

Media on March 31 quoted law enforcement sources as saying the man died after setting fire to ammunition located on the second floor of his house in the village of Novye Veshk, near the city of Mytishchi.

Fear of explosions from ammunition reportedly prevented firefighters from extinguishing the blaze, the sources said.

One police officer was reportedly wounded after responding to the crisis.

A police cordon that was imposed on the village after the standoff began in the afternoon of March 30 has been partially lifted.

Investigators will start working at the site when it is safe to access what is left of the building, the reports said.

Earlier reports said that the man, identified as Vladimir Bardanov, born in 1960, had barricaded himself inside his home after he opened fire on police who entered his yard.

The reports said the man used automatic firearms, which are banned to private individuals by law in Russia, and threw several grenades from his house.

According to some local news agencies, the man opened fire at police and Federal Security Service (FSB) officers when they came to search his house on suspicion of illegal weapons possession.

Other reports said that law enforcement officers visited the man for an issue related to overdue taxes.

The Investigative Committee said after the crisis began that it had launched a probe into "attempted murder of law enforcement officers."

Based on reporting by RIA Novosti, TASS, and Interfax
A former custodian at a New Jersey elementary school who traveled to the Albany, New York area expecting to meet a 13-year-old girl and have sex was sentenced to almost six years in federal prison, officials said.

Recep Sandikci, 46, of North Plainfield received a 71-month term and will also be subject to 15 years of supervised release after being released, the U.S. Attorney for New Yorks Northern District said in a statement Monday.

Sandikci also sent sexually explicit images over a cell phone application in the summer of 2019, days before he drove to upstate New York.

The New Jersey man and a 13-year-old girl began communicating via Google Hangouts before the teens mother found the messages and turned them over to police, court papers state. An investigator then assumed the girls identity and agreed to meet with Sandikci.

Sandikci was arrested by FBI agents at a park in Menands, New York on Aug. 6, 2019 after driving from New Jersey, according to court documents. He pleaded guilty to distributing obscene material to a minor in September 2020.

Sandikci worked at Salt Brook Elementary School in New Providence at the time of his arrest, according to a published report.

He will be required to register as a sex offender, authorities said.

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As businesses continue to adopt the virtual workplace, a Nigerian company has developed a new Application for video conferences and webinars, writing Africa's name on the growing list of players in the multi-billion-dollar global business meetings.

Known as Konn3ct, the new App was developed by a young company, called Ecosystems, led by former Chams Nigeria executive, Femi Williams.

Prior to the development of Konn3ct, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft and the other existing players, numbering over 140 have been splitting the market among themselves, with no competition from Africa, in a market estimated to be worth over $75 billion (N30 trillion) in the next nine years.

But these are about to change with the entry of Nigeria's Konn3ct placing the country and Africa in prime position to play recognizable roles in the fourth industrial revolution as creators of technology rather than consumers.

Konn3ct, LEADERSHIP investigations reveal, is entering the market with more than 40 differentiating features that put the App in good stead to compete strongly with the leaders of this rapidly growing industry.

LEADERSHIP spoke with Chief Executive Officer of the company, Femi Williams, who was upbeat about the capability of the indigenous application to hold its own against any other player in the industry.

Williams, who anchored his optimism on what he called superior meeting experience, said although there might be expected entry challenges, especially being a solution wholly developed in Africa by Africans, he was confident that the global community would opt for value against port of origin.

"We are lucky that technology solutions, such as Konn3ct, are not sold with nationality stamps, the same way you have your German machines and Japanese technology driving automobile sales. If this was so, a Chinese solution like Zoom would not be the leading meetings solution in both the United States and Europe.

"Technology thrives more on quality of user experience and problem-solving capabilities than nationality branding. This makes us believe that Konn3ct will compete quite well in the global market space, just to sound modest," he stated in an exclusive interview with Leadership," he said.

He noted that apart from the top-quality experience in Konn3ct, the solution also has strong security architecture that lends itself for classified meetings below the radar of open internet.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Business By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

"The Transport Layer Security built into the App provides privacy and data integrity between two or more communicating computer applications. We also have the Secure Socket Layer Encryption (SSL

Encryption) is a protocol to protect data during transfer and transmission by creating a channel, uniquely encrypted, so that the user and the server have a private communication link channel over the public Internet," he explained.

He added that Konn3ct, is capable of providing one of the largest meeting rooms in the market, with as many as 250 people in one room while an unlimited number can participate via livestreaming

It was learned the App effectively mirrored real-life conference experiences in its construction process, enabling participants in a large conference to go into breakout sessions.

To make this experience all encompassing, Konn3ct allows as many as eight breakout rooms within the same conference after which the participants are timed out for return into the main meeting.

Apart from the breakout session feature, this new App allows organisers of any meeting to record the proceedings for proper documentation and ease of future reference, doing the job of video cameras and rapporteurs at the same time.
NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueVoyant , a cybersecurity services company, is being acknowledged by CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , in its 2021 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide provides a conclusive list of the most distinguished partner programs from leading technology companies that provide products and services through the IT Channel. The 5-Star rating is awarded to an exclusive group of companies that offer solution providers the best of the best, going above and beyond in their partner programs.

Given the importance of IT vendor channel programs, each year CRN develops its Partner Program Guide to provide the channel community with a detailed look at the partner programs offered by IT manufacturers, software developers, service companies, and distributors. Vendors are scored based on investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication.

CRN has recognized BlueVoyant's Partner Program due to its effectiveness in enabling partners to proactively defend business ecosystems of all sizes against today's threats through the delivery of purpose-built cybersecurity services. Led by experienced Global Head of Partnerships and Alliances, Steve DeSantis, BlueVoyant's Partner Program recognizes, rewards, and supports collaboration to help accelerate results and support its partner's business through sales, marketing, and technical support. Underscoring the growth of its Partner Program, BlueVoyant recently expanded its Microsoft Partnership Alliance to drive co-selling, referrals and increase its global initiative for signing new Microsoft focused partners.

"BlueVoyant is focused on developing strategic partnerships with the channel and the IT community to achieve its growth plans. We continue to refine our global channel program and develop strategic partnerships to meetand surpasscustomer expectations and requirements that strengthen the foundation for maturity and scale," said DeSantis. "Receiving a 5-Star Rating in the CRN 2021 Partner Program Guide illustrates the dedication of BlueVoyant's channel team in protecting business' and their vendor ecosystems' most prized assets from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats."

"As innovation continues to fuel the speed and intricacy of technology, solution providers need partners that can keep up and support their developing business." said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "CRN's 2021 Partner Program Guide gives insight into the strengths of each organization's program to recognize those that continually support and push positive change inside the IT channel."

The 2021 Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April 2021 issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/PPG .

About BlueVoyant

BlueVoyant is an expert-driven cybersecurity services company whose mission is to proactively defend organizations of all sizes against today's constant, sophisticated attackers, and advanced threats.

Led by CEO, Jim Rosenthal, BlueVoyant's highly skilled team includes former government cyber officials with extensive frontline experience in responding to advanced cyber threats on behalf of the National Security Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Unit 8200 and GCHQ, together with private sector experts. BlueVoyant services utilize large real-time datasets with industry leading analytics and technologies.

Founded in 2017 by Fortune 500 executives, including Executive Chairman, Tom Glocer, and former Government cyber officials, BlueVoyant is headquartered in New York City and has offices in Maryland, Tel Aviv, San Francisco, Manila, Toronto, London, Budapest, and Latin America.

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 nearly 40 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.

The Channel Company Contact:

Jennifer Hogan

The Channel Company

[email protected]

BlueVoyant Contacts:

Jim Pople

C8 Consulting for BlueVoyant (EMEA)

+44 7955 030191

[email protected]

Danielle Ostrovsky

C8 Consulting (Americas)

+1 410-302-9459

[email protected]

SOURCE BlueVoyant

Related Links

http://www.bluevoyant.com/


Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
According to the Armenian Ministry of Health, about 300 people severely infected with the disease awaited hospitalization in their homes early in the afternoon.

Deputy Health Minister Gevorg Simonian acknowledged that the waiting list resulted not only from logistical problems but also a shortage of hospital beds.

The authorities have already nearly doubled the number of hospitals across Armenia treating COVID-19 patients to cope with a resurgence of coronavirus cases that began a month ago.

Simonian said that the total number of such hospital beds now stands at 2,171. The authorities could add another 300 beds if necessary, he said.

The Ministry of Health reported in the morning that 750 Armenians tested positive for the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, sharply up from an average of 183 cases a day recorded in February. It said the number of active cases rose to almost 14,500 from 6,772 registered on March 11.

The ministry also reported at least 21 more deaths, bringing the official death toll from the disease to 3,497.

In Simonians words, 228 infected and hospitalized persons were in a critical condition as of Tuesday.

Specialists from all medical centers assert that the proportion of patients in a serious condition has increased during this third wave of infections, said the vice-minister. He suggested that this is the result of the prevalence of new, more severe variants of the virus detected late last year.

An Armenian government commission dealing with the coronavirus pandemic discussed the worsening epidemiological situation in the country on Monday at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. The latter ordered relevant state bodies to step up the enforcement of the governments sanitary rules meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Critics say that Pashinian himself contributed to the renewed increase of coronavirus cases by holding pro-government rallies in and outside Yerevan over the past month. Armenian opposition parties have staged even more rallies in the capital.

Varduhi Petrosian, a public health expert, said that widespread disregard for the safety rules in enclosed spaces has been another serious factor behind the coronavirus resurgence. She argued that few Armenians now wear mandatory masks not only on the street but also in shops and even public buses.
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HOUSTON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After signing its first franchise agreement in Texas for 60 units, hoots wings is looking to spread its wings throughout the Lone Star state with 80+ additional franchise units across Texas. Owned and operated by HOA Brands, parent company to hoots wings and Hooters, the fast-casual wing concept has announced plans to bring more than 80 locations to key markets throughout the state.

Hoots Wings is targeting San Antonio, Houston, Rio Grande Valley, Tyler/Longview, El Paso and Corpus Christi for strategic growth. Hoots began its Texas expansion with the signing of a 60+ unit deal that secured the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin metro areas for development. Behind the agreement is Dallas-based AE Restaurant Group, led by longtime fast casual franchisees Cary and Jackie Albert. Texans will soon be introduced to hoots wings later this year in northern Fort Worth and the Dallas suburbs.

The brand is looking to expand further with multi-unit franchise partners to develop:

Upwards of 40 restaurants in Houston and its surrounding counties

restaurants in and its surrounding counties A dozen restaurants in San Antonio , New Braunfels and south-central Texas

restaurants in , and south-central Five restaurants in Corpus Christi and Nueces County

restaurants in and 15 restaurants throughout Rio Grande Valley

restaurants throughout Rio Grande Valley Up to seven restaurants in El Paso

restaurants in Six or seven restaurants in the Tyler / Longview communities

restaurants in the / communities Leadership is also looking toward Texas' northern neighbors for growth, and has territories available in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla.

When Texan entrepreneurs make the move to join the hoots wings franchise family, they sign on to bring the most diverse wing menu to the state, including breaded bone-in, naked bone-in, boneless, and  for those looking for a healthy alternative  smoked and roasted wings. Hoots Wings also sets itself apart from other fast casual franchise opportunities with its simple and effective operations. A hoots wings kitchen only requires two pieces of equipment to produce the menu, and the POS system seamlessly integrates with all major third-party delivery platforms.

"We are looking for more strong operators like the Alberts to grow the hoots wings brand throughout Texas beyond Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth," said Sal Melilli, CEO of HOA Brands. "When creating hoots wings, we took some of the most popular food items from Hooters and put it in a smaller footprint, with a focus on off-premise eating. Texans have been very loyal to Hooters' food over the years, and the states houses some of our most successful restaurants. We've been hearing from our customers that they're clamoring for more wing options, making the state an ideal option for initial growth."

Hoots Wings launched its franchise opportunity in late 2020 and is actively seeking qualified franchisees with an entrepreneurial spirit and prior restaurant experience, or experience in a relevant industry. Franchisees with strong ties to the community is a bonus. Franchisees who join the hoots wings brand will enjoy the benefits of hands-on training through the opening process, marketing support, site selection and construction assistance, access to a vast, existing supply chain, and a top-tier POS system. As a thank you for their service to the United States, military veterans receive a 10 percent discount off the franchise fee.

For more information on the hoots wings franchise opportunity, visit https://hootsfranchise.com/.

ABOUT HOOTS WINGS:

Hoots Wings, is a best-in-class, fast casual restaurant known for its diverse wing menu, offering breaded bone-in, naked bone-in, boneless, smoked and roasted wings with more than a dozen sauce and rub options. Additionally, guests can enjoy mouthwatering buffalo shrimp, signature customized chicken sandwiches and waffle fries. With the backing of longtime franchisor HOA Brands, there are currently seven locations throughout Illinois, Georgia and Florida and the brand is looking to open up to 17 more units in 2021. Hoots Wings is looking for qualified franchise leads to bring the scalable, best-in-class wing concept to scores of markets throughout the US. For more information on how you can own your own hoots wings, please visit https://hootsfranchise.com/.

SOURCE Hoots Wings

Related Links

https://hootsfranchise.com


[March 30, 2021]

US Technology Companies Look to Canada to Host Talent

Canadian Nearshoring Company Executive available to address options following skilled foreign worker US H-1B visa selection results

CALGARY, AB, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - March 30, 2021, Mr. Arif Khimani, Head of Finance and Administration at MobSquad, is available to provide an experienced perspective on new trends for US skilled foreign workers seeking H-1B visas. The annual H-1B visa selection occurs on Thursday, April 1.

Each year, thousands of qualified foreign national technology professionals already employed in the US compete for the limited number of H-1B visas available through the United States Customs and Imigration Service (USCIS). Applicants who are not selected through the lottery-based visa allocation process need an option that keeps them employed and in North America.







A recent trend, known as nearshoring, has seen Canada welcome virtual subsidiaries of US companies where foreign national technology professionals establish themselves in Canadian cities and continue to work with their US companies. In most cases, the professionals then continue with the more flexible Canadian immigration process.

Mr. Khimani has helped build MobSquad into one of Canada's leading nearshoring companies, which currently provides services to companies across the US from offices in four Canadian cities.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-technology-companies-look-to-canada-to-host-talent-301259045.html

SOURCE MobSquad
Bhutanese refugee Bhakti Prasad Baral, 83, receives a COVID-19 vaccination at the Beldangi refugee settlement in eastern Nepal.  Santosh Kumar Chaudhary

Laxmi Maya Regmi, 72, a refugee from Bhutan, never thought that she would need a vaccination at her age. But on 19 March, she was among the first refugees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at a settlement in Beldangi, in eastern Nepal.

I didnt want to miss this opportunity. I am very happy now, she said, after receiving her first dose. I had heard that old age people like me were more exposed to the disease. I feel safe now.

Nepal is the first country in the Asia Pacific region to provide COVID-19 jabs to refugees through its national vaccination rollout. The refugees at the settlement were vaccinated as part of the second phase of that rollout, which started on 7 March and targets people over the age of 65.

The country kicked off its vaccination campaign on 27 January after the Indian government donated one million doses of Covishield, the India-produced version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. In the first phase, frontline health workers, sanitation workers, hygiene workers and security officials were vaccinated.

Local authorities, refugee leaders and security officials set up a temporary vaccination centre at the refugee settlement and as of 24 March, some 668 refugees above the age of 65 had received vaccinations against the virus across the country. More refugees will be enrolled in the vaccination programme as the government receives additional supplies of vaccines.

Nepal hosts nearly 20,000 refugees, mostly Tibetans and Bhutanese with arrival dates in 1959 and in the early 1990s respectively.

Since the onset of the pandemic, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has been working closely with other UN agencies and government authorities to advocate for the inclusion of refugees in COVID-19 preparedness and response plans.

The Government of Nepal has shown exemplary leadership for public health responses by including refugees in the national vaccination plans and rollout, said Carolin Spannuth Verma, UNHCRs Representative in Nepal.

"Protecting the life of all people is our priority."

To date, Nepal has reported 276,750 confirmed COVID cases and 3,027 deaths.

The risk of COVID-19 is the same for all. It doesnt matter if you are a refugee or not, said Shrawan Kumar Timilsina, the Chief District Officer of Jhapa, in eastern Nepal where the countrys two refugee settlements are located. Protecting the life of all people is our priority.

Bhakti Prasad Baral, 83, fled Bhutan in 1992 and is now living in Beldangi settlement. He said that he felt lucky to get the vaccine.

It was really difficult to endure what was going on because of the virus, said the octogenarian, who works as a Hindu priest in his community. I have no words to thank the Government of Nepal for paying attention to older persons like us.
MPs who break Commons rules may soon get more than a slap on the wrist  they could be banned from Parliament's bars.

The Westminster Standards Committee is proposing a major shake-up to the current system of sanctions for those who breach the members' code of conduct.

One proposal is that they could be barred from services on the parliamentary estate  including the Palace of Westminster's subsidised bars and restaurants.

The Westminster Standards Committee is proposing a major shake-up to the current system of sanctions which could see MPs who break Commons rules banned from Parliament's bars.(Stock image)

Labour MP Chris Bryant, chairman of the standards committee, said: 'For too long, the only sanctions available against MPs have been a slap on the wrist or suspension from the House.

'The reality is that breaches of conduct are rarely black and white, and so the sanctions in such cases shouldn't be either. The proposals we set out will give teeth to the standards system.'

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said: 'It seems sensible that preventing a member from using specific services of the House, such as the bars or restaurants on the parliamentary estate or visiting the Table Office [through which motions and questions must be put] in person, should be a sanction available.'

A report by the committee shows that it revised earlier plans to impose training as a sanction for rule-breaking MPs after Mr Rees-Mogg intervened.

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said it 'seems sensible' that preventing a member from using specific services of the House should be a sanction available

Errant MPs would have been forced to attend a course under the original proposal.

Instead they will be able to choose whether to undergo any training recommended to them.

A right for MPs to issue public corrections, where incorrect information is made public, is also recommended by the committee.

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Zoonotic pathogen diversity. Red = high diversity, green = low diversity. Credit: Singh et al.

New modeling identifies human and human-influenced environmental factors that are associated with disease outbreaks, including in Australia.

Humans are creating or exacerbating the environmental conditions that could lead to further pandemics, new University of Sydney research finds.

Modeling from the Sydney School of Veterinary Science suggests pressure on ecosystems, climate change and economic development are key factors associated with the diversification of pathogens (disease-causing agents, like viruses and bacteria). This has potential to lead to disease outbreaks.

The research, by Dr. Balbir B Singh, Professor Michael Ward, and Associate Professor Navneet Dhand, is published in the international journal, Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.

They found a greater diversity of zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted between animals and humans) in higher income countries with larger land areas, more dense human populations, and greater forest coverage.

The study also confirms increasing population growth and density are major drivers in the emergence of zoonotic diseases. The global human population has increased from about 1.6 billion in 1900 to about 7.8 billion today, putting pressure on ecosystems.

Associate Professor Dhand said: "As the human population increases, so does the demand for housing. To meet this demand, humans are encroaching on wild habitats. This increases interactions between wildlife, domestic animals and human beings which increases the potential for bugs to jump from animals to humans."

"To date, such disease models have been limited, and we continue to be frustrated in understanding why diseases continue to emerge," said Professor Ward, an infectious diseases expert. "This information can help inform disease mitigation and may prevent the next COVID-19."

Other zoonotic diseases that have recently devastated human populations include SARS, avian (H5N1) and swine (H1N1) flu, Ebola and Nipaha bat-borne virus.

Factors predicting disease

The researchers discovered country-level factors predicting three categories of disease: zoonotic, emerging (newly discovered diseases, or those diseases that have increased in occurrence or occurred in new locations), and human.

Zoonotic diseases: land area, human population density, and area of forest. Areas with high zoonotic disease diversity include Europe, North America, Latin America, Australia, and China.

Emerging diseases: land area, human population density and the human development index. Areas with high emerging disease diversity include Europe, North America, Latin America, and India.

Human diseases: high per capita health expenditure, mean annual temperature, land area, human population density, human development index and rainfall. Areas with high human disease diversity include North America, Latin America, China and India.

"Countries within a longitude of -50 to -100 like Brazil, developed countries like United States and dense countries such as India were predicted to have a greater diversity of emerging diseases," Professor Ward said.

The researchers also noted weather variables, such as temperature and rainfall, could influence the diversity of human diseases. At warmer temperatures, there tend to be more emerging pathogens.

Their analyses demonstrate that weather variables (temperature and rainfall) have the potential to influence pathogen diversity.

These factors combined confirm human developmentincluding human-influenced climate changenot only damages our environment but is responsible for the emergence of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19.

Using data to prevent outbreaks

"Our analysis suggests sustainable development is not only critical to maintaining ecosystems and slowing climate change; it can inform disease control, mitigation, or prevention," Professor Ward said.

"Due to our use of national-level data, all countries could use these models to inform their public health policies and planning for future potential pandemics."

Methodology: The authors used 13,892 unique pathogencountry combinations and 49 socioeconomic and environmental variables to develop this model. Information from 190 countries was analyzed using statistical models to identify drivers for emerging and zoonotic diseases.

Explore further Report finds rising trend of viruses jumping from animal hosts to humans

More information: Balbir B. Singh et al. Geodemography, environment and societal characteristics drive the global diversity of emerging, zoonotic and human pathogens, Transboundary and Emerging Diseases (2021). Balbir B. Singh et al. Geodemography, environment and societal characteristics drive the global diversity of emerging, zoonotic and human pathogens,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14072
Tom Hallberg covers a little bit of everything, from skiing to long-form feature stories. A Teton Valley, Idaho, transplant by way of Portland and Bend, Oregon, he spends his time outside work writing fiction, splitboarding and climbing.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, yesterday officially flagged off the federal government N50 billion Export Expansion Facility Programme (EEFP) and launched the first on-line Grant Management Portal for non-oil exports at the Export House in Abuja.

He was joined by the Governor of Jigawa State and Chairman, National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Committee for Export Promotion, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of State for Trade, Mrs. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum; Chairmen of Senate Committee on Commerce and House Committee on Commerce; Chairman, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Governing Board, Senator Ibrahim Musa; Vice Chairman, Steering Committee of the Export Expansion Facility Programme, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, and their host, the Executive Director and CEO of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo.

Members of the Export Expansion Facility Steering Committee and members of the Export Development Fund Board of Trustees (BoT) were also in attendance.

The EEFP is part of the federal government N2.3 trillion fund of the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan. EEFP is focused on cushioning the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-oil export businesses thereby safeguarding jobs and creating new jobs. The EEFP's primary goal is to also increase Nigeria's export capacity in the near term and export volumes in the medium term.

During his keynote address, the Minister, Adebayo, who chaired the 11-man Steering Committee implementing the EEFP, said: "The Ultimate aim of the Export Expansion Facility Programme as an intervention following the devastating economic effects of COVID-19 to exporters and MSMEs in Nigeria will be to save jobs, create jobs, support resilience in shoring up foreign exchange, diversification, modernisation of the Nigerian economy and acceleration of its economic growth and economic support."

The Executive Director of the NEPC, who also doubles as the Secretary of the Steering Committee, Awolowo, in his welcome address, highlighted the areas focused by the EEFP.

According to him, "As we launch the EDF, we will apply the use of technology through the Grant Management Portal which 'goes live' today (yesterday) so that we will be equalise opportunities to achieve inclusive economic growth through non-oil exports.

"The Export Development Fund is a pre-shipment incentive stipulated in the NEPC Act, which due to lack of funds, was never activated. We were however overjoyed by the provision of the Export Expansion Facility which provided the opportunity for us to finally activate the fund for our teeming SME exporting companies, which over the years have been unable to access the active Export Expansion Grant, which is a post-shipment incentive. We are confident that through this facility, we will save and create jobs as we work towards moving us from #Pandemic2Prosperity."

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He said the portal would be for exporters to register for grants as direct intervention from the federal government with the objective of providing financial assistance to exporting companies to cover part of their initial expenses with respect to export promotion activities.

The Governor of Jigawa State and Chairman of the NEC on Export Promotion, Abubakar, welcomed the successful launch of the EDF, calling it 'long awaited', as he congratulated the federal government for the emphasis on non-oil exports.
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Pentagon Not Able to Answer If Workplace BLM Advocacy Is Partisan

Defense Department press secretary John Kirby said Monday that he was unable to answer whether it is considered politically partisan for service members to advocate for Black Lives Matter (BLM) while at work.

Asked at a press briefing whether workplace BLM talk was considered partisan, Kirby said he was not able to answer that question and that the discussion as to why could go down a rabbit hole on a million different things.

What were trying to get after here is the kind of ideology that inspires conduct and behavior that, as I said, is prejudicial to good order and discipline, Kirby said, referring to an effort by the Pentagon to combat extremist ideology and conduct in the military that Republicans have called a partisan political purge.

Kirby said its not about one side or the other on the aisle.

Its not about what god you worship or choose not to worship. Its about ideology that inspires you or can inspire others to bring harm inside the force, and thats what were trying to get after, he added.

The exchange came as the U.S. Navy reportedly told sailors in its training on extremism that they should not discuss politically partisan issues, but greenlighted discussion on BLM, which it described as a public policy issue.

The training slides, which were obtained by Fox News from a U.S. military official who took part in the training at the Pentagon, state: Advocating for or against a public policy issue is authorized as long as the behavior is otherwise lawful and the advocacy is not politically partisan in nature.

Not too long after being confirmed by the Senate as the new Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin ordered a 60-day stand-down for all military units to conduct training on and discussion of extremism in their ranks with every service member.

It concerns me to think that anyone wearing the uniform of a soldier, or a sailor, an airman, Marine, or Guardian or Coast Guardsman would espouse these sorts of beliefs, let alone act on them, Austin said in a video released last month by the Pentagon, referring to unspecified hate groups and their sympathizers.

But they do. Some of them still do.

First emerging in 2013, the BLM movement initially appeared in response to excessive use of deadly force in law enforcement actions, which many argue disproportionately affects the black community. The non-profit organization that bears the same name, however, goes much further, advocating for radical-left ideas such as the abolishment of police and prisons, and the dissolution of the nuclear family.

We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and villages that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable, the organizations website reads.

BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors has described herself and fellow co-founder Alicia Garza as trained Marxists.

The BLM movement, as well as the BLM organization, gained global attention during the summer of 2020, which was marked by widespread protests involving the group in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody in May last year. Many of those protests turned violent, resulting in rioting, looting, arson, and destruction of private and public property.
The Lebanon Borough Town Council recently issued a proclamation welcoming BSA Troop 200 back to the borough.

Troop 200, founded in 1955, has deep roots in the Cokesbury/Lebanon area and was chartered by Lebanon Reformed Church for decades, until 2004.

A new door at Lebanon Reformed Church is opening for our troop and we are excited about the opportunities in front of us, said Jeff Lutz, Troop 200 Scoutmaster.

Members of the troop and church were on hand as Mayor James Pittinger, a former Troop 200 assistant Scoutmaster and father of an Eagle Scout, read the proclamation. The namesakes for Lebanons Holjes-Sheppard Memorial Park; Lt. Frederick Y. Holjes and Warrant Officer Robert P. Sheppard, were both members of Troop 200, and Sheppard was the troops first Eagle Scout.

The neckerchiefs Troop 200 Scouts wear are embroidered with the names Holjes and Sheppard along with fireworks, symbolizing Lebanon Boroughs annual Fourth of July parade.

Troop 200 is a high-adventure, Scout-led troop. For more information, follow BSA Troop 200 on Facebook, Troop 200 NJ on Instagram or reach out via email to Troop200NJ@gmail.com.
The Chief Judge of the County Court says vacant buildings in Melbournes CBD could be turned into courtrooms to address a backlog of cases caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief Judge Peter Kidd said there were three or four vacant buildings the court was looking to re-purpose, including office buildings that were vacated in the pandemic.

County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd says buildings left vacant owing to the pandemic could be turned into courtrooms. Credit:Joe Armao

Weve got to look at how we can secure additional resources and thats what were looking at with the government, Judge Kidd told ABC radio on Tuesday morning.

The pandemic has had a significant impact on the time it takes for a criminal trial to start in the County Court. Before the pandemic, the usual wait was between a year and 18 months, and now the wait is about two years after jury trials were suspended in March last year.
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Many voters have asked Foroyaa whether the current voter's card would be valid after the general registration of voters scheduled for May 29th to July 15th 2021.

Voters should know that there are two types of registration. There is general registration and there is supplementary registration.

When a notice is given that general registration is to be held the cards of all voters become invalid upon the commencement of registration. Hence everyone who is entitled to be registered as voters would have to get new cards.

On the other hand, supplementary registration of voters is meant for those who do not possess voters' cards after general registration had already been conducted.

It is important for all eligible voters to take note that the IEC has announced that general registration is to take place from 29th May 2021 to 11th July 2021.

Section 16 of the Elections Act states:

"(1) Where the Commission makes a declaration under section 14 to carry out a general or supplementary registration of voters, it shall cause to be published a Notice in the form prescribed in Form 1 of the Third Schedule requiring all persons who claim to be entitled to be registered as voters to present themselves at the designated registration centres.

"(2) The Notice referred to in subsection (1) shall in the case of-

(a) a general registration, be published not less than thirty days before the date of registration; and

(b) a supplementary registration, be published not less than fifteen days before the date of registration."

Since the IEC aims to hold general registration this is why it has issued a notice in advance which is more than 30 days required for general registration.

The notice reads:

"All eligible voters should be ready to go to the registration centre with the documents mentioned by the IEC to get registered. Do no wait until the last day to get your valid documents for registration."
LIVONIA, MICH.  Madonna University President Michael A. Grandillo sent the following message to faculty, staff, and students today:

In light of the recent violent events across our nation, I am reminded of our mission and values, which make us distinctive, and I invite you to share this message with others. The Madonna University community stands united against racism, sexism, and expressions of hate that divide our society. We extend our condolences to and we mourn with the Atlanta, Asian-American and Pacific Islander, and Boulder, Colorado communities that were tragically impacted by the recent heinous killings. These horrific acts are a direct attack on our Franciscan values of reverence for creation and respect for the dignity of all people. We deplore the racism and sexism that afflicts our communities, threatens our neighbors, and vilifies everyone we hold dear.

We lift our hearts and our prayers for all those who have lost loved ones to hateful acts of violence, for the many who live in fear, and for anyone whose dignity is threatened by xenophobia and chauvinism. Justice, equity, diversity and inclusion are central to Madonnas mission and to the success of our students.

Acts of hate, racism, and sexism, have an impact on the well-being of members of our Madonna family. If you are grieving, or feeling anxious, afraid, or just need to talk, please reach out for support from such campus offices as the Counseling and Disability Resources Center (CDRC), Campus Ministry, or the Center for Catholic Studies and Interfaith Dialogue. If you need to report a hate crime, or violent physical or verbal attack, please contact Campus Safety at 734-432-5442. Students and employees also can avail themselves of the support services of Ulliance. Counselors at Ulliance are available 24/7 to assist you with a variety of issues, including grief support and managing stress.

As Crusaders for peace and justice, we will continue to use our voice and our energy to eliminate systemic and institutional racism, in order to foster a campus community that reflects the values and behaviors of the world we want to live in, where all Gods children are one. Please stay safe and continue to live out the values of our founders the Felician Sisters and of St. Francis of Assisi.
A US-based non-profit organisation, Education Testing Services (ETS), has been awarded the tender to deliver the Leaving Cert accredited grades process.

It is the same company that was called in to conduct a review when errors were discovered in the calculated grades process last autumn.

ETS is the world's largest private non-profit educational testing and assessment organisation and it will provide statistical, coding and psychometric expertise.

It will work with the Department of Education and Sate Examinations Commission on designing and implementing the standardisation model for the accredited grades.

The Department of Education said it was not providing details of the tender as the process was one of sensitivity and urgency.

The accredited grades system will follow along the lines of last years calculated grades, with teachers providing estimated marks that will go through a national standardisation process.

This year, students can opt to receive accredited grades or sit the Leaving Cert exams, or do both. The options are being offered because of the disruption to education over the past 12 months and the ongoing uncertainly caused by Covid-19.

Candidates can make their choices on a subject by subject basis and, if they opt for both forms of assessment and there is a difference in the grades, they will be credited with the better result.
Children and teenagers who illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border wait to be processed after entering the site of a temporary holding facility south of Midland, Texas, on March 14, 2021. (Eli Hartman/Odessa American via AP)

500 Unaccompanied Minors to Be Housed in Emergency Holding Facility in San Antonio

Five hundred unaccompanied minors will arrive on Monday evening at an emergency holding facility in San Antonio, Texas, which was set up to address the surge in illegal border crossings in recent weeks.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) said the Freeman Expo Center has been partly transformed to provide shelter for boys aged between 13 and 17 who had crossed into the United States illegally. The center has a potential capacity of 2,100 beds with an additional 300 medical beds.

The announcement is part of ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to increase bed capacity for unaccompanied minorschildren who unlawfully enter the country without an adultcoming into the United States. The influx of illegal immigrants in recent weeks, in particular from unaccompanied minors, has overwhelmed border facilities and resources. The administration is currently seeking to build a bed capacity of 13,500 beds, with the potential for additional capacity in order to meet the continuous flow of unaccompanied minors coming across the border.

More than 18,000 unaccompanied minors were in the custody of either Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or HHS as of March 25, according to the HHS Administration for Children and Families.

The children will be provided with clothing, food, and basic necessities and will also receive a brief medical check, ORR said in a statement. The children will also be screened for COVID-19 every three days while at the San Antonio facility.

The opening of San Antonios Emergency Intake Site comes shortly after the HHS announced that it had opened similar facilities for unaccompanied children, with the help of the Pentagon, in Fort Bliss, near El Paso, with a bed capacity of 5,000, and another temporary site at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland with a maximum capacity of 350 beds.

The ORR is also seeking federal government volunteers to bolster staff resources at facilities in southwest U.S. border areas such as Dallas, San Diego, San Antonio, and Fort Bliss, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed to The Epoch Times.

Unaccompanied minors are loaded into a U.S. Border Patrol transport van after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, in Hildalgo, Texas, on March 25, 2021. (John Moore/Getty Images)

The number of family units (19,246) and unaccompanied minors (9,457) crossing illegally rose significantly in February, compared to 7,294 family units and 5,585 unaccompanied minors in January, and 4,404 family units and 4,993 unaccompanied minors in December 2020.

Similarly, the United States also faced a sharp spike of enforcement encounters in February at 100,441 encounters compared to 78,442 in January, 74,018 in December 2020, and 72,111 in November 2020.

Recent photos of the detention facilities provided by CBP, lawmakers, and non-profits show children sleeping in crowded conditions on floor mats, and in some cases on the floor. Some Republican lawmakers who have visited some of these centers have described the situation a heartbreaking humanitarian crisis that was preventable.

All of us today witnessed the Biden cages. What is occurring here on the border is heartbreaking and it is a tragedy, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told reporters on Friday.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) has also lamented the terrible conditions at the border patrol facilities, while urging President Joe Biden to do more to improve his administrations messaging to curb the flow of migrants.

Biden upon taking office overturned several Trump-era immigration policies, including his predecessors cornerstone Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP), which has been credited for ending the problematic catch and release policy. The expansion of MPP significantly stemmed the surge of illegal immigrants that were seen at the southern border in 2019, according to the Trump administration.

In a return to the Obama-era policies that facilitate catch-and-release, the Biden administration is again releasing unaccompanied minors into the country.
Holdings will have to sharpen its focus on risk management systems and may need to rein in its US ambitions, analysts said after the Japanese bank flagged a possible $2 billion loss tied to a single US client.



and other investment banks may lose more than $6 billion after lending to Archegos Capital, a US investment firm run by former Tiger Asia manager Bill Hwang that was forced to liquidate large equity bets last week in a sell-off that rocked Wall Street.



It raises tough questions for Nomura, Japan's biggest brokerage and investment bank, which has been on a drive to expand beyond its domestic market, mainly with a push in the United States, and as it seeks to join the top league of global investment banks.



"The key question that comes up is what were the compliance and risk folks doing all this while?" said one person with knowledge of a debate now going on inside



"There were definitely plans to do more (in the United States) and those plans will now be put on the hold until they sort out this mess. The exact extent of the losses is not clear yet," said the person, who was not authorised to speak to the media and asked not to be named.



Some have cut their ratings on Nomura, whose shares have fallen 17% in two sessions.





ALSO READ: How one of world's greatest hidden fortunes was wiped out in days

Nomura is not alone. warned of losses linked to a US client, which like Nomura it did not name, although sources said it was Archegos. The brokerage arm of Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group on Tuesday flagged potential losses of about $300 million, also related to an unnamed US client.





Yet it deals a particular blow to Nomura and Chief Executive Kentaro Okuda, who has been running the bank for about a year.

He has been driving the Japanese firm's global expansion after stop-start efforts in the past decade.



MARKET TURBULENCE



"Nomura has been repeating this cycle a expanding the overseas business and restructuring it after a financial hit.

This is exactly the same pattern again," said Fumio Matsumoto, chief strategist at Okasan Securities.



"To become a top global bank, Nomura would have to take risk with emerging clients and increase its share, in the hope of eventually getting conventional clients. It's extremely hard, but Nomura has no choice," Matsumoto said.



Nomura declined to comment.



Till now, under Okuda, operations have grown strongly. Overseas business, including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia excluding Japan, tripled its profit in the nine months to December to 167.2 billion yen ($1.52 billion).



Nomura's US income in the same period surged to 126.8 billion yen, after its reported just 7.4 billion yen in profit in the year to March 2020 and a 114.1 billion loss in the year to March 2019, according to its latest financial filings.



"I still feel that our business is seen as unstable, affected by market conditions," Okuda, who previously headed US operations, told an investor event in December.



But he added: "We are transforming into an organization capable of delivering consistent revenues despite market turbulence."

Turbulence looks set to continue for now.



"If it proves that there has been a big loss on transactions with only one client, there will be questions asked about the company's risk management system," JPMorgan wrote, as it lowered its rating on Nomura stock to "underweight" from "neutral".



Morningstar Equity Research said Nomura could decide to take fewer risks in some areas where it had been more aggressive, such as US-listed equity options.



"We think the unexpected loss may end the relative honeymoon new CEO Kentaro Okuda has enjoyed since assuming the top post last April," it said.


ROCHESTER, Minn. - Researchers are working to better understand what you can and can't do safely after being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Prevention Network recently launched a clinical trial to determine how effective vaccines are in stopping asymptomatic coronavirus infections, and whether vaccine recipients can transmit the virus to others.

The CDC is still recommending measures like masking, social distancing, and avoiding travel even if you've already been fully vaccinated. The new clinical trial will help officials understand how necessary those measures are for vaccinated individuals.

"This will help inform science-based decisions about mask-use and about social distancing post-vaccination," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.

The trial will follow 12,000 college students at more than 20 universities across the country. Half of students will be given the Moderna vaccine immediately, while the other half waits four months to receive it.

Students will fill out questionnaires, provide blood samples, and swab their noses daily. Their close contacts will also have to provide samples.

Dr. Fauci says results from the trial could be available within the next several months.

"We hope that within the next five or so months, we'll be able to answer the very important question about whether vaccinated people get infected asymptomatically and, if they do, do they transmit the infection to others."

Experts say they're aware of coronavirus infections detected in people who have already been vaccinated. Dr. Fauci says while that's to be expected with any vaccine, it is important to identify the exact viruses breaking through immunity produced by vaccines.
EAST LYME  A correction officer who worked at York Correctional Institution has been accused of sexually assaulting an inmate, state police said Tuesday.

Wesley Applegate, a 38-year-old New London resident, has been charged with second-degree sexual assault, state police said. Applegate was held on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

Applegate, a correction officer since 2008, was placed on administrative leave on March 10, Department of Correction officials said.

The events surrounding Wesley Applegates arrest are still actively being investigated by the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Department of Correction, as a result no additional information can be released at this time, DOC said in a statement.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, a witness reported seeing Applegate having sex with an inmate on Nov. 15 of last year in the officer mess hall. The witness told investigators she reported the incident because she feared the victim was being raped, the affidavit said.

In a statement, the victim initially denied having sex with Applegate, according to the affidavit. She later admitted the two had sex, but said she did not feel forced to do so, the affidavit reads.

During the investigation, state police reported that Applegate was transferred to Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Montville so he would not have contact with female inmates, the affidavit said.

When investigators returned to York Correctional Institution, the victim said she and Applegate had a physical relationship over the past year, the affidavit read.

In a statement, the victim said they had kissed pretty much every time he has worked and had other sexual contact in the officers mess hall five or six times in the past year, according to the affidavit.

The victim told investigators it seemed he did not want to pressure me to do anything that I was not comfortable with, and she did not see their relationship as anything beyond physical in nature, the affidavit read.

When police interviewed Applegate, they said he denied sexual involvement with the victim, but did not want to submit his DNA for testing, the affidavit said.

When investigators went on March 8 to serve a search warrant on Applegate for his DNA, they were informed he did not show up for his shift, the affidavit said. He was then scheduled to take vacation time for the following two weeks, according to the affidavit.

The investigators then applied for an arrest warrant. On March 29, Applegate was taken into custody in Wethersfield and transported to Troop H Barracks, where he was processed and charged.
The Governor of the Bank of Namibia, Johannes !Gawaxab met with stakeholders based in the Oshana Region, where he engaged them on the mandate of the Bank, the economic

outlook and developments pertaining to activities of the central bank.

The Governor is on a working visit to Oshakati, the regional capital of Oshana region. The meeting took place on Thursday, 25 March at Oshakati.

During the event attended by regional and local authority leadership, representatives from the business community, commercial banks, as well as civil society organisations, the Governor talked about the promotion of price stability and financial stability, which underpin sound macroeconomic fundamentals, necessary for economic development and advancement.

He also addressed the mushrooming of illegal financial schemes which have the potential to threaten financial stability and can lead to loss of confidence and trust in the financial system, if left unchecked and unregulated.

Between 2012 to 2021, the Bank has issued 25 assessments declaring such schemes as illegal, while handing over 6 cases to the Law Enforcement Agencies between 2018 to 2019 for criminal investigations.

On the freezing of accounts of illegal financial schemes, the Governor informed stakeholders that the various accounts frozen of illegal financial schemes are now subject to ongoing criminal investigations, and therefore such funds cannot be released, until all the processes are concluded.

"The frozen funds in the bank accounts will be used by Police as exhibits in criminal proceedings, and currently the Bank is bound by judicial process and thus, cannot interfere in a matter that is under investigation by the Police and the Prosecutor's Office,"!Gawaxab said.

!Gawaxab further welcomed government's economic recovery plan that has commenced with the declaration of 2021 as the year of resilience and the launch of the Harambee Prosperity Plan II by the President, HE Dr. Hage Geingob.

He said that the plan is a game changer as it aims to ensure that Namibia is positioned to respond to domestic socioeconomic challenges and global opportunities, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - Camino Corp. (TSXV: COR) (OTC: CAMZF) (WKN: A116E1) ("Camino" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement (the "Share Purchase Agreement") with Denham Capital affiliate, Stellar Investment Holdings LLC ("Stellar"), to purchase all of the shares of Minera Maria Cecilia Ltd. ("MMC BVI"), a British Virgin Islands company, which will result in Camino owning and controlling the mineral rights and titles comprising the Maria Cecilia Porphyry and Skarn Complex ("Maria Cecilia") located in Ancash, Peru.

As consideration for the purchase, Camino has agreed to issue to Stellar 23,193,098 common shares in the capital of Camino at a price of $0.20 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $4,638,620.

Concurrently with the Share Purchase Agreement, Stellar has entered into a subscription agreement (the "Subscription Agreement") whereby Stellar will invest an additional $500,000 in cash in Camino by subscribing for 2,272,727 common shares of Camino at a price of $0.22 per common share on a private placement basis. This subscription is intended to close concurrently with the closing of Camino's acquisition of MMC BVI under the Share Purchase Agreement. At the closing of the acquisition of MMC BVI and the subscription, Stellar is anticipated to own approximately 19.9% of Camino's issued and outstanding common shares. The parties have also agreed to the terms of an investor rights agreement (the "Investor Rights Agreement"), which is anticipated to be entered into at the closing of the transaction, pursuant to which Stellar will be granted certain rights so long as it maintains no less than a 10% interest in Camino, including an anti-dilution right on future financings to maintain its interest at approximately 19.9% and the right to appoint a director to the board of Camino. Material terms of the Share Purchase Agreement, the Subscription Agreement, and the Investor Rights Agreement are further summarized below.

Camino believes that Maria Cecilia lies at the centre of a large porphyry complex. Approximately US $28 million of exploration expenditures have been made on Maria Cecilia since 2012, including 32,120 metres of drilling between 2013 and 2015 and a compilation of a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") copper resource (Table 1). The Maria Cecilia exploration prospect has been identified as the main target for further exploration work by Camino and there has been no drilling on this prospect to date.

Jay Chmelauskas, President & CEO of Camino, commented, "The Maria Cecilia Porphyry Complex provides another large geological system to our portfolio of copper assets. Additionally, we are pleased to invite Justin Machin to the board of directors at Camino. As a Director at Denham Capital, Justin brings institutional investment experience and vision to complement the Camino board. We plan to fully exploit our three 100% owned copper exploration projects and expect to continue our business develop efforts together with Denham Capital in respect to mergers, joint ventures, and the acquisitions of advanced-stage copper assets."

Denham Capital is an institutional investor with a focus on the mining industry and over $10 billion under management. Denham has a history of partnering with management teams to achieve long-term goals.

Justin Machin, Director at Denham Capital commented, "This is a good time in the copper cycle to partner with the new management team at Camino that has a track record of developing successful companies. Maria Cecilia is our premier copper exploration asset in Peru, and we believe that it will complement Camino's prospective Los Chapitos and Plata Dorada projects. We look forward to working closely with Jay and the rest of the Camino team to build a leading junior mining company."

"Maria Cecilia shows strong indications to be the porphyry center of a multiple porphyry and skarn complex. A high-grade discovery at Maria Cecilia would leverage the existing resources within the surrounding property package that include 93 M tonnes @ 0.29% Cu eq," said Chmelauskas. "While our Los Chapitos IOCG property is our flagship, we have now added a major porphyry system at Maria Cecilia to make additional discoveries in Peru."

Maria Cecilia Project

The skarn system at Maria Cecilia has geological similarities to one of Peru's largest copper mines, Antamina, located 100 km away. Antamina has a relatively high-grade skarn core that is surrounded by a lower grade copper porphyry. Camino expects that MMC BVI will receive an Environmental Instrument in the first half of 2021 to be followed by the issuance of the start of activities authorization in respect of a new drill campaign on the Maria Cecilia exploration prospect. The contemplated drill program at Maria Cecilia is supported by more than five years of geological, permitting, and preparation work.

The project consists of claims that cover 7,110 hectares, and the Maria Cecilia exploration target is believed to be at the heart of the porphyry complex that includes the Toropunto Epithermal deposit and the Emmanuel Porphyry deposit. Camino has identified that the NI 43-101 resource surrounding the Maria Cecilia target host > 300ppm molybdenum and form a potential lower temperature copper halo around the Maria Cecilia porphyry centre. A major magnetic anomaly, two porphyries, stockworks, and a 2 km skarn structure are within the porphyry centre target at Maria Cecilia (Figure 1).



Figure 1. Maria Cecilia Porphyry Complex and NI 43-101 Resources



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Figure 2. Skarn Zone, Stockworks and Porphyry Targets at Maria Cecilia



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The Skarn Zone Target:

The Maria Cecilia Skarn Zone is presented as a NW-SE 330-340 oriented strip, with an approximate length and width of 2 km by 250m, it is composed of thin sequences of sandstones, siltstones, hornfels, skarns and sills varying in width from 0.5 m to 3.0 m thick; the alteration ranges from silicification, skarnization, hornfelization, argillization, and phyllic alteration. Approximately 3 trenches returned grades up to 1.0% copper in chip samples, and one trench returned 27.5m @ 0.35% Cu including chalcopyrite mineralization in the southeast. The main outcropping area for target drilling is a 2km by 250m long strip composed of thin hornfelized and skarnized sedimentary sequences, with quartz-sericite alteration and the presence of sills of andesitic-dioritic composition with pyrite mineralization and traces of chalcopyrite. The entire zone has copper anomalies that in general range from 500 ppm up to 6.7% Cu including 110 g/t Ag.

The skarn in this zone is more developed in its southern zone where greenish to yellowish brownish garnets with Cu Ox are observed in an area of 50 X 35m.

The Stockwork Zone Target:

The intrusive Stockwork Zone is adjacent to the Skarn Zone, towards the west side; it has a large magnetic geophysical anomaly that covers over 50% of its area and is characterized by the presence of a quartz stockwork that extends over an area of approximately 900m x 800m. The intrusive Stockwork Zone cuts almost all the lithologies present in this zone, composed of sandstones, breccias (diatreme and tourmaline), granodiorite and dioritic porphyries. The sandstone sequence is composed of gray and whitish sandstones trending 330-340 with some thin stretches of siltstones, that present moderate stockwork with a whitish quartz veining and some zones of oxidation and phyllic alteration cut by the intrusives present.

The Porphyry Zone Target:

The targets in the intrusive Stockwork Zone are related to mineralized porphyry occurrences called Twin Porphyry 1 and Porphyry 2 where potassic alteration with early vein stockwork and copper values up to 0.9% Cu are observed from channel sample excavations below cover.

The Tourmaline Breccia Zone Target:

The Tourmaline Breccias are located at the edge of the concession and extend to the NI 43-101 resource to the north. The Diatreme Breccia is polymict with a rock dust matrix and some juvenile clasts elongated by solidification. The Tourmaline Breccia is polymict with intrusive clasts and sandstones, and pyrite-molybdenite disseminated in the matrix and clasts. It has molybdenum values up to 120 ppm toward the valley that is in contact with Maria Cecilia.



Figure 3. Maria Cecilia Porphyry Complex - Skarn, Stockworks, Porphyry, Breccia Zones, Magnetic Anomaly



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Maria Cecilia is located in a metallogenic environment in the Cordillera Negra mountain that trend NW-SE with similarities to metallogenic environments near other exploration properties and producing mines, such as Antamina 100km to the east (copper producer), Esperanza Project 70km to the southeast (lead-zinc-silver), Pashpap 40km to the northwest (copper resource), El Aguila 70km to the northeast (copper) and Pierina about 47km to the southeast (gold producer).



Figure 4. Negro and Blanco Cordillera Host to Major Mining Projects



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The metalliferous endowment is significant at Maria Cecilia. The resource to the north in Toropunto (32 M tonnes @ 0.22% Cueq.) has surface sample anomalies with 6.04% Cu, 3.4 g/t Au, 305 g/t Ag, 1,700 Mo ppm. Drilling to the north shows anomalous grade intervals in hole TOR14-23 67.1m @ 0.72% Cu and 0.16 g/t Au starting 216 meters from surface. Drillhole TOR13-09 drilled 276m of 0.86 g/t Au and 0.15% Cu starting 76 metres from surface.

The mineralization to the south at Emmanuel intersected copper with anomalous gold grades, such as drillhole EMM15-06 94.95m @ 0.21% Cu, 0.40 g/t Au, 1.49 g/t Ag and 77 ppm Mo starting 331 metres from surface.

Maria Cecilia is the main target for exploration. There has been no drilling to date. The Skarn, Stockworks, two Porphyries, and Tourmaline Breccia Zones are shown in Figure 5. A geophysical magnetic and chargeability anomaly is located to the south of these targets.



Figure 5. Composite and Schematic Section (northwest view) of the Maria Cecilia project



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Photo 1 & 2: Hornfel in contact with andesitic sill, presence of pyrite, chlorite, FeOx and chalcopyrite in traces.



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Photo 3 & 4: Porphyritic andesite sill with actinolite pyrite and chalcopyrite veinlets in traces.



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Photo 5 & 6: (5) Intercalations of gossan bodies concordant to the beeding up to 5.0m wide and 400 m (6) Gossan 0.7m wide@ 0.44 g/t Au; 0.26% Cu, 4.7 ppm Ag.



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Photo 7 & 8: (7) Stockwork zone, veinlets A, B and D cut granodioritic (8) Twin 1, andesitic porphyry with potassic alteration, CuOx and EB veins, A and B intrusive and light gray sandstone.



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Photo 9 & 10: Twin 2, porphyritic andesitic sill with CuOx in patches, potassic alteration.



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Three drillholes EMM15-12, EMM15-15 and EMM15-19 were selected and analysed from the Stellar database, which are located towards the northeastern edge of the Maria Cecilia magnetic and chargeability anomaly. The geology in these holes is predominantly propylitic and siliceous alteration and also patches of potassic alteration as well as subrounded clasts of a skarn interpreted to correspond to the distal zone of the Maria Cecilia skarn. There are dioritic lithologies predominant in 85% of the total drillhole meters in drillholes EMM15-12, and EMM15-15 to 220m of depth, including limestones. The predominant lithology after this depth is 54% dacites and tonalites, and 67% diorites. For hole EMM15-19, the mineralization is veinlets/disseminated chalcopyrite, pyrite, phyrrhotite, molybdenite, epidote, chlorite, and approximately 50% of the total meters of these three holes contain grades above 0.1% Cu with a weighted average for intervals above this cutoff of 0.16% Cu, 0.14g/t Au and 52 ppm Mo. These three holes are interpreted to have not reached the hot zone of the copper porphyry system and would be on the low temperature/low copper grade edge of the system. The geological log information and grades of copper, gold and molybdenum correspond to the data obtained at site and review and analysis at the core-shack in the city of Caraz, Peru.

Table 1: Mineral Resource Statement for Toropunto and Emmanuel projects (8.9 US$/t NSR cut-off), Ancash Department, Peru, SRK Consulting (Peru) S.A., December, 2020

Project Category Tonnes (Mt) CuEq (%) Cu (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Mo (ppm) (%) Toropunto Inferred 32.0 0.215 0.14 0.06 5.75 4.7 Emmanuel Inferred 93.7 0.294 0.18 0.18 1.38 43.2

Sources: SRK

1. The Mineral Resource estimates are prepared in accordance with the "CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves", adopted by the CIM Council on May 10, 2014, and the "CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines".



2. Mineral Resources have an effective date of 18 December 2020. Fernando Saez, an SRK employee, is the Qualified Person responsible for the review of Mineral Resource estimate.

3. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources estimated will be converted into Mineral Reserves.

4. Mineral resources are reported to 8.90 US$/t NSR cut-off.

5. Density was calculated based on each mineralized structure ranging from 2.46 t/m3 to 2.72 t/m3

6. Copper price used is US$7,936.64/t (US$3.60/lb.), gold price is US$1,800/oz, silver price is US$21.60/oz, and molybdenum price is US$8.40/lb.

7. Toropunto Mineral Resources report for Best Case with revenue factor = 1.0 (Copper price used is US$7,936.64/t (US$3.60/lb), gold price is US$1,800/oz)

8. Emmanuel Mineral Resources report for Best Case with revenue factor = 0.8 (Copper price is US$ 6,349/t, gold price is US$1,440/oz)

9. Assumed metallurgical recoveries: copper 87%, gold 69%, silver 80.9%, and molybdenum 85.4%

10. Assume pit slope of 44.

11. Assumed open pit mining cost of US$1.85/t, plant and administration cost US$8.60/t.

12. Toropunto NSR formula: NSR (US$/t = 59.4974%Cu + 0.0132ppmMo+27.8432g/tAu+0.4349g/tAg).

13. Toropunto CuEq (%) = %Cu + 0.0002 ppmMo+0.468 g/tAu+0.0073 g/tAg.

14. Emmanuel NSR formula: NSR (US$/t) = 54.8916%Cu + 0.0132ppmMo + 27.8432g/t Au + 0.4349g/tAg.

15. Emmanuel CuEq (%) = %Cu + 0.0002 ppmMo+0.5072 g/tAu+0.0079 g/tAg.

16. Tonnages are reported as metric tonnes rounded to million tonnes, copper, gold, and silver are rounded to two decimal places, molybdenum is rounded to one decimal place.

Transaction Details:

As consideration for Camino's acquisition of all of the shares of MMC BVI under the Share Purchase Agreement, Camino has agreed to issue 23,193,098 common shares in the capital of Camino to Stellar at a price of $0.20 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $4,638,620.

Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, Camino also grants to Stellar a contingent payment right in which Camino will pay to Stellar an additional $0.02 per pound of increase in copper equivalent mineral resources included in any subsequent NI 43-101 technical report on Maria Cecilia. The calculation of the payment will occur with reference to base case assumptions for cut-off grade, metal equivalency calculations, and similar assumptions, and applies to the extent the resources exceed the number of pounds of copper equivalent mineral resources included in the current NI 43-101 technical report on Maria Cecilia. Camino may elect to settle the payment obligation, in its sole discretion, by either paying cash or issuing common shares at a price per share equal to the greater of (i) the 10-day volume-weighted average price of Camino's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange immediately prior to the date of public disclosure of the relevant mineral resource, or (ii) the maximum discount to market price permitted by the TSX Venture Exchange. The contingent payment right is subject to a cap of $5,361,380 and will terminate at such time as that cap is reached.

The closing of the transactions contemplated by the Share Purchase Agreement are subject to the satisfaction of a number of closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, the closing of the subscription for Camino common shares under the Subscription Agreement, the parties entering into the Investor Rights Agreement, and other customary closing conditions for a transaction of this nature. The Maria Cecilia claims are subject to a 1.5% net smelter return.

Concurrently with the Share Purchase Agreement, Stellar entered into the Subscription Agreement, whereby Stellar will invest an additional $500,000 in Camino by subscribing for 2,272,727 common shares of Camino at a price of $0.22 per common share on a private placement basis. The subscription is subject to the satisfaction of a number of closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and other customary conditions for a subscription of this nature. This subscription is intended to close concurrently with the closing of the acquisition of MMC BVI as set out in the Share Purchase Agreement. At the closing of the acquisition of MMC BVI and the subscription, Stellar is anticipated to own approximately 19.9% of Camino's issued and outstanding common shares.

Under the Investor Rights Agreement, Stellar must not transfer any Camino Shares for one year following closing of the transactions described herein without Camino's prior approval, subject to certain customary exemptions including transfers to affiliates of Stellar. The Investor Rights Agreement also provides that, provided Stellar owns at least 10% of Camino's common shares: (i) Stellar will have the right to nominate one person to Camino's board of directors, who at closing of the transactions described herein is intended to be Justin Machin, a Director of Denham Capital; (ii) Camino must provide at least 10 business days' notice to Stellar of any proposed issuance of Camino securities in connection with a financing (an "Offering"); and (iii) Stellar will have the right to participate in any Offering. For three years following the date of closing, Stellar will have the right to participate in an Offering so as to maintain an ownership of up to approximately 19.9% of Camino; after this three year period, Stellar will have the right to participate in an Offering so as to maintain up to the same ownership level of Camino as Stellar had immediately prior to the Offering, to a maximum ownership of approximately 19.9%.

COVID-19 Update

Camino continues to follow COVID-19 protocols established by the Peruvian government. Field programs were carried out in 2020 following Peruvian protocols and screening of personnel involved with Camino field activities. Camino plans to continue its field work plans in 2021 at its three projects: Los Chapitos, Plata Dorada and, upon completion of the transaction, Maria Cecilia.

About Denham Capital

Denham Capital is a leading energy and resources-focused global private equity firm with more than $10 billion of invested and committed capital across eleven fund vehicles and offices in London, Boston, Houston, and Perth. The firm makes direct investments in the energy and resources sectors, including businesses involving international power, oil and gas, and mining, across the globe. Denham's investment professionals apply deep operational and industry experience and work in partnership with management teams to achieve long-term investment objectives. For more information about Denham Capital, visit www.denhamcapital.com.

About Camino Minerals Corporation

Camino is a discovery and development stage copper exploration company. The Company is focused on advancing its high-grade Los Chapitos copper project located in Peru towards potential resource delineation and new discoveries. In addition, the company has commenced field studies at its copper and silver Plata Dorada project. The Company seeks to acquire a portfolio of advanced copper assets that have the potential to deliver copper into an electrifying copper intensive global economy. For more information, please refer to Camino's website at www.caminocorp.com.

Technical Information

Jose Bassan MAusIMM (CP) 227922, MSc. Geologist, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this document. Mr. Bassan has reviewed and verified relevant data supporting the technical disclosure, including sampling and analytical test data. Further details about the mineral resource estimate and exploration information contained in this news release, including assumption, parameters, risks and a description of the QA/QC processes, will be set out in a NI 43-101 technical report to be filed by Camino upon completion of the transaction or as otherwise required by NI 43-101 timelines.



ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD



/S/ "Jay Chmelauskas"

President and CEO



For further information, please contact:



Camino Investor Relations

info@caminocorp.com

Tel: (604) 608-4513

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: Certain disclosures in this release constitute forward-looking information. In making the forward-looking disclosures in this release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking information in the release includes the closing of the acquisition of MMC BVI, the closing of Stellar's subscription for Camino common shares, the entry into of the Investor Rights Agreement and the grant of rights thereunder, Justin Machin joining the Company's board of directors, the issue of any Camino common shares or other payments under a contingent payment, the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange for any of the transactions described herein, the approval of Camino's shareholders for any contingent payment (if applicable), prospectivity of the Maria Cecilia project for future exploration, exploration work on the Los Chapitos, Plata Dorada, and Maria Cecilia projects, or that actual results of exploration and engineering activities are consistent with management's expectations. Although the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking information in this release is subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking information. Such risk factors include, among others, that actual results of the Company's exploration activities will be different than those expected by management, that the Company will be unable to obtain or will experience delays in obtaining any required approvals and the state of equity and commodity markets. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78939
Hollywood star Liam Neeson has expressed his pride after a Co Antrim primary school became the first Catholic school in Northern Ireland to convert to integrated status.

Earlier this month Education Minister Peter Weir accepted a proposal for Seaview Primary School to become integrated from next September, a decision which safeguarded the future of the rural Glenarm school.

Now Ballymena-born actor Neeson has sent a special video message to the parents, staff and governors of schools around Northern Ireland who want to transform to integrated status.

The actor has been an advocate of integrated education in Northern Ireland for many years and has worked with the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) as an ambassador to champion the process of conversion.

More recently he fronted the charitys Integrate My School campaign, launched four years ago in a bid to make Northern Irelands education environment a more inclusive one.

I am delighted that so many parents across Northern Ireland are choosing an integrated future for their children, said Mr Neeson, addressing parents and schools across Northern Ireland.

The recent news that Seaview Primary School in Glenarm is set to become the first Catholic school to become integrated is a positive step forward on the journey to an inclusive society.

Im delighted to say that Seaview is just one of a number of schools that has conducted a democratic ballot of its parents since the Integrate My School Campaign was launched just a few years ago.

I want to congratulate all of the parents, staff and governors in schools right across Northern Ireland, who are taking courageous steps to ensure children from different traditions, will get to learn and play together, every day, in the same school.

You are actively helping to build inclusive communities. Well done. I am so proud of you all.

The IEFs Integrate My School Campaign has contributed to a surge in interest in integrated schooling in Northern Ireland and has attracted the support of thousands of parents with Seaview Primary being just one of eight schools here where parental ballots have been held in support of the formal integration move.

Among the other schools which have undergone the process are Glengormley High School, two oversubscribed nursery schools in Belfast and Bangor, Brefne and Bangor Central, two sustainable primary schools in Belfast and Carrickfergus, Harding Memorial and Carrickfergus Central, St Marys Brollagh in Fermanagh and a small rural Catholic primary school, Ballyhackett Primary School near Coleraine.

The Education Minister has rejected a proposal from St Marys in Brollagh but has approved the move at Seaview. The Minister is expected to make decisions shortly on whether to approve a number of remaining proposals.

Ballots have shown an overwhelming majority of parents at each school voted in favour of integrated status, with results ranging from 71% to 100%.

The Integrate My School Campaign has been supported by Belfast-based charity, the Integrated Education Fund, and is backed by a number of its donors.

The campaign raises awareness about how parents can support positive change at their childs school whilst also supporting schools wishing to explore the benefits of formal transformation to integration status.

While eight schools proceeded to submitting development proposals, many more schools are engaging with both the IEF and the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education in considering a similar move.

However, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant some of these schools have had to give immediate priority to supporting pupils home learning and plans for pupils safe return to school.

Baroness May Blood, campaign chair of the Integrated Education Fund, said a real impact of the campaign was now starting to be felt.

It is so encouraging to see that the Integrate My School Campaign has had such a tangible impact in terms of parents and schools supporting integrated education, she said.

I hope it will turn their aspiration into reality.

And she said the support of Liam Neeson had been a major asset to the promotion of integration in education.

Liam has played a crucial role in raising awareness of the campaign, she added.

It is so important that parents, schools and indeed the wider community not only have information on how they can access an integrated education but be supported in their exploration.

Unfortunately, despite decades of legal and political obligations to encourage and facilitate integrated education, the growth of integrated schools remains in the hands of parents and schools alone. It is still not planned for by the government. That has to change.

The Education Authority (EA) did not back the plans at Seaview Primary School as there is already an integrated primary school in nearby Carnlough, but the Department of Education said that pupil numbers in Seaview Primary had risen from 42 to 80 in the two years since plans for it to become an integrated school were revealed.

In 2020/21 there were 24 Protestant pupils at the school, 34 Catholic pupils and 22 who identify as other.

The New Decade New Approach deal committed the Executive to support educating children and young people from different backgrounds together in the classroom.
(Natural News) Top executives from Big Pharma company Pfizer admitted during a meeting that the companys goal is to increase the price for its Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine when the pandemic wanes. In short, Pfizer wants to use the vaccine to make a hefty profit.

Frank A. DAmelio, chief financial officer and executive vice president of global supply for Pfizer, said that the company is expecting a significant opportunity for its coronavirus vaccine from a pricing perspective, as the world moves from a pandemic situation to an endemic situation.

He said this during a virtual global healthcare conference hosted by British multinational investment bank, Barclays.

The possibility for increased pricing was raised during the conference by Carter Lewis Gould, a senior analyst for Biopharma Equity Research at Barclays. Gould asked DAmelio what the potential was for pursuing higher pricing down the road.

DAmelio explained that the current price of Pfizers coronavirus vaccine has been driven by the pandemic state and by the needs of governments around the world to secure as many doses as they can for their citizens. But when the worst of the pandemic subsides and normal market conditions start to kick in, Pfizer can begin making more money for its shots.

And factors like efficacy, booster ability, clinical utility will basically become very important, and we view that as, quite frankly, a significant opportunity for our vaccine from a demand perspective  from a pricing perspective, given the clinical profile of our vaccine. So clearly, more to come here. But we think as this shifts from pandemic to endemic, we think theres an opportunity for us here.

In July 2020, Pfizer was able to sign a $1.95 billion deal with the U.S. government to provide America with 100 million doses of the companys COVID-19 vaccine. The government doubled this order in December for another $2 billion.

DAmelio said on an earnings call in February that Pfizer is charging the government around $19.50 per vaccine dose. This is significantly lower than the usual $150 to $175 the company charges for other vaccines. (Related: Coronavirus cases rise in states with high vaccination rates, proving yet again the vaccines dont work.)

Pfizer also expects to sell millions of doses as the pandemic drags on into 2022. During this time, a company spokesperson said that it will keep the price of its vaccine low.

We recognize the urgent need for people all over the world to receive this vaccine and have accordingly set the price of our vaccine for the pandemic period to encourage broad access, rather than using traditional value-based pricing frameworks, wrote spokesperson Faith Salamon in an email.

By the end of 2021, the pharmaceutical giant expects to make about $15 billion from its vaccine alone, with a profit margin of more than 20 percent.

Pfizer to begin price gouging for vaccines soon

Many are now questioning why Pfizer is looking to profit from the pandemic. Radio host and conservative political commentator Kim Iversen asked on an episode of The Kim Iversen Show, Then what the hell is the vaccine?

I mean, did you create it with the intention to end COVID, or did you create it with the intention to stall so you could continue to make more and have it not really cure anything, but just kind of subside some things? asked Iversen. What is this? What are we really doing here?

Listen to Iversens entire 30-minute episode as she discusses Pfizers attempt to use the pandemic to profit, and how it was wrong for the federal government and for anybody to ever put their trust in big pharma companies.

Healthcare journalist and former pharmaceutical executive John LaMattina warned that the price of COVID-19 vaccines will almost definitely increase.

Right now, a two-dose regimen of Pfizers coronavirus vaccine is not as expensive as a quadrivalent flu shot. But LaMattina said that DAmelio hopes to get more on price very soon.

One analyst speculated that Pfizer could be targeting a price three to four times higher  as much as $156 per treatment, said LaMattina. A sudden, dramatic increase in the cost of the vaccine will certainly damage the industrys image  almost like the industry would be performing a bait and switch operation.

LaMattina is hopeful that such a move would help reawaken the American public and the federal government to the true motives of big pharma. A sudden spike in the price of vaccines would make the government call in executives for congressional hearings. It would also make all the goodwill that biopharmaceutical companies have accumulated evaporate almost immediately.

Big pharma and its lies

Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies like Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson made waves during the pandemic when they promised to not enforce ordinary pricing strategies for their vaccines. AstraZeneca even went so far as to say that it would only sell its vaccine on a nonprofit basis to the developing world.

But these promises were only half-truths. While a two-dose regimen of the Pfizer vaccine costs $39 in America, in Europe, the company charges nearly $64 per dose  or around $128 for the full treatment.

In Argentina and other Latin American countries, Pfizer pressed governments to put up sovereign assets, such as military bases and embassy buildings, as collateral to cover the costs of lawsuits related to the vaccines adverse effects.

AstraZeneca was able to force local manufacturers to include a provision in their agreements with the company. This provision states that the company has the right to declare the end of the pandemic for pricing purposes. According to a memorandum of understanding signed by the company, its promise to not profit from the vaccine during the pandemic will only last until July 1, 2021 at the latest.

During the same Barclays Bank conference DAmelio spoke at, Moderna President Stephen Hoge said that he expects to return to normal pricing during the next seasonal epidemic of COVID-19.

Johnson & Johnson Executive Vice President Joseph Wolk made a similar remark at a conference in February, when he told investors that the company will reevaluate the vaccine for pricing thats much more in line with a commercial opportunity when the pandemic ends.

Wolk emphasized that it will be up to the company to decide when the pandemic ends, but the current price of the J&J vaccine will most likely remain in place for the remainder of the year.

I think when we look at it, [the end of the pandemic is] not going to be something thats dictated to us, said Wolk.

Learn more about how Big Pharma plans to profit immensely from the coronavirus pandemic at BigPharmaNews.com.

Sources include:

CBSNews.com

NYPost.com

TheBlaze.com

TheIntercept.com

Amber Heard has responded to those questioning injuries she sustained at the hands of Johnny Depp.

Among the Twitter users was Adam Waldman - a former member of Johnny's legal team - who tweeted a picture of the actress on Friday as he tried to discount her allegations against her ex-husband.

Alongside the images he wrote: '12/15/15 allegation 'I had bruised ribs. Bruises all over my body, bruises on my forearms from trying to defend the blows. I had 2 black eyes. I had a broken nose. I had a broken lip'

'Justice Nichols - I believe her. UK Appeals Court - we believe him. But oops ... PHOTO SHOOT! [sic]'

Response: Amber Heard has responded to those questioning injuries she sustained at the hands of Johnny Depp (both pictured at the libel trial last summer)

Responding to the post, the 34-year-old actress shared: 'Yes Mr Waldman, I may be wearing makeup on this occasion but on every occasion you will still be short.'

As another Twitter user responded, 'I'd rather be short than an abusive gold digger Woman shrugging', Amber hit back, 'It's good to be realistic with your goals'.

Responding to a tweet in Spanish that read, 'Amber Heard talking to Jonny Deep's lawyer regarding a set of photos where she claims she was made wearing makeup to cover hit marks, a broken nostril, bruises and more made by Johnny...but...', the actress replied, 'And so?'

Another user tweeted: 'The only reason why jd lost his case is bc he was up against Rupert Murdock, not Amanda Heard. So in VA, it's gonna be vastly different....', as Heard noted, 'It must be so hard'.

12/15/15 allegation I had bruised ribs. Bruises all over my body, bruises on my forearms from trying to defend the blows. I had 2 black eyes. I had a broken nose. I had a broken lip

Justice Nichols - I believe her

UK Appeals Court - we believe him

But oops ... PHOTO SHOOT! pic.twitter.com/gvfV2GHCH3  Adam Waldman (@adam_waldman) March 25, 2021

Tweets: Adam Waldman - a former member of Johnny's legal team - tweeted a picture of the actress on Friday as he tried to discount her allegations against her ex-husband

Clap back: Responding to the post, Heard hit out at Waldman's height before taking down another Twitter user for branding her an 'abusive gold digger'

Heard also made a statement on Monday as she shared an Instagram post that seemed to be targeted at Depp, 57.

She shared an image of herself leaving the L.A. County Courthouse back in 2016 after she had filed a temporary restraining order against Depp, and another in the same outfit during the libel trial last summer.

She penned: 'One dress, four years apart. Sometimes it's important to wear the same thing twice'.

The posts come after Heard and British tabloid The Sun said they were vindicated after a UK court refused Depp the right to appeal against a ruling that he was a wife-beater.

Comebacks: Heard also took on a Twitter user who appeared to question her injury claims in Spanish and another who stated she would likely lose her next trial

The Hollywood actor had sought to challenge a November 2020 ruling in a high-profile libel action that upheld claims in the newspaper that he beat Heard during their stormy marriage.

A spokeswoman for Heard said she was was 'pleased - but by no means surprised by the decision', adding the 'evidence presented in the UK case was overwhelming and undeniable'.

The Sun said the newspaper 'had every confidence that this leave to appeal application would not be granted and are pleased with today's decision'.

Two judges at the Court of Appeal dismissed his application to challenge the High Court ruling, finding that the original hearing had been 'full and fair'.

Taking another shot: Meanwhile on Wednesday, the actress revealed that she had got her first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination

The trial judge 'gave thorough reasons for his conclusions which have not been shown even arguably to be vitiated by any error of approach or mistake of law'.

Depp was unlikely to overturn the findings of a trial judge on purely factual questions, they added.

The original ruling saw the Pirates of the Caribbean star ordered to pay the newspaper's publishers News Group Newspapers (NGN) 628,000 ($873,000, 733,000 euros) in legal costs.

He is also suing Heard in the United States over a 2018 Washington Post article in which she claimed to be a victim of domestic violence.


Scientists dug deep into the hypothesis that carbon dioxide from volcanic eruptions in India contributed to killing off the dinosaurs. If you inquired from Joe Blow on the street how the dinosaurs vanished, he would most probably say an asteroid cleared them out, but the truth is a bit more complicated than that.

The Deccan Traps

At this phase, they were well aware that about 66 million years ago a large asteroid about 15 to 10 kilometers vast struck the earth. They even noticed where it had struck: the "Chicxulub crater," sited in Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. It is about 150 kilometers vast. Quite hard to miss.

Though a lot of researchers still subscribe to the theory that a huge volcanic range, found in India, was the major cause of the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction episode that wiped off the dinosaurs. That volcanic range, called the Deccan Traps, is at the heart of that discussion.



They understand that the lava was spewing from the Deccan Traps during the time in which the dinosaurs went missing, though they don't know the exact timing of those eruptions or if the carbon dioxide discharge into the atmosphere was crucial enough to result in the kind of global warming consistent with extinction occurrences in the past.

Also Read: Volcanic Event Triggered Ice Age During the Jurassic Period, Say Researchers

The Fifth Extinction Event

A new study by a multi-institutional group led by researchers from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York has tried to weigh how much carbon dioxide was discharged into the atmosphere, expecting to know the part volcanoes played in the fifth extinction incident. The outcomes? Volcanic eruptions most possibly were not a major cause of dinosaur extinction.

The team examined Deccan Traps CO2 budgets that occurred simultaneously with the warming incidents, explained a Ph.D. student in the Graduate Center CUNY's Earth and Environmental Science program, Andres Hernandez Nava, and they discovered that carbon outgassing from lava volumes solely could not have led to that point of global warming.

Impacts of Deccan Traps Discharge

The team used ion beams and lasers to weigh the carbon dioxide of frozen magma caught inside Deccan Traps crystals from the end-Cretaceous times and conducted modeling of that climate in an attempt to check the impacts of Deccan Traps discharge on surface temperatures.

The data disclosed that most possibly the Deccan Traps played a role in the temperature increase of about 3 degrees Celsius. Significant, definitely, though most likely not sufficient to cause a fifth extinction event.

"A huge rock got them" in short, as the researcher's 5-year-old son would always say when asked who killed the dinosaurs.

The Enormous Volcanoes

Princeton geoscientists Gerta Keller and Blair Schoene headed an international group of scientists who have compiled the initial high-resolution timeline for the outbursts in India's Deccan Traps. Their study released in the journal Science, February 22nd.

Everybody has learned that the dinosaurs died from an asteroid that struck the Earth, explained Blair, an associate professor of geosciences.

What a lot of people don't understand is that in the last 500 million years there have been several other mass extinctions, and several of them happened simultaneously with huge volcanic spews from the enormous volcanoes dupped as flood basalts or huge igneous provinces.

Related Article: Scientists Finally Unlock Dinosaur DNA

For more news, updates about dinosaurs and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Press Release

30 March 2021

The average American spent 176 hours scrolling social media for travel inspiration throughout the past year, according to new research from Motel 6. On the heels of the one-year anniversary of the health crisis, the economy lodging brand released a survey revealing that three in five (60%) Americans experienced a stronger desire to travel in the past 12 months than in a normal year and hope to turn that into a reality in 2021.

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The survey, which polled 2,000 U.S. adults, found that one in four (24%) respondents have been scrolling for travel inspiration this past year as an outlet for their pent-up desire to travel. Of those who have been scrolling through social media, three-fourths (76%) said it has made them want to travel more, and almost two-thirds (63%) said it has helped them remain happy over the course of the last unprecedented year.

"We are starting to see a great deal of enthusiasm for returning to travel, and as the survey results demonstrate, travelers have been dreaming about and planning for that day for some time, no doubt a welcome distraction throughout the health crisis," said Rob Palleschi, CEO of G6 Hospitality. "When travelers are ready to hit the road again, we're here to help them do so safely. We want our guests to know that we will continue to 'leave the light on' for those in need of a clean, comfortable and affordable place to stay as they prepare for travel during these unprecedented times."

What travelers need to feel safe

Three-quarters (76%) of Americans weren't able to travel as much as they had hoped during 2020 and it's been almost seven months since the average respondent last traveled for fun. On top of that, and 55% of respondents said they're waiting to travel until after they have personally received the COVID-19 vaccine.

However, 7 in 10 (69%) have travel plans for 2021 and the respondents who feel safe traveling in 2021 are most likely to travel by car (54%), leading to more than half (56%) of Americans saying they're more likely to take a road trip in 2021 than in previous years.

Three in five (58%) respondents stated that they're worried about staying with family or friends due to the ongoing health crisis, therefore half (49%) of respondents are more likely to stay at a hotel if traveling this year. Requirements to wear masks in public areas (45%), knowing about enhanced cleaning services (38%) and capacity limitations (37%) are the top things that would make respondents feel safer when staying at a hotel or motel this year.

"In the early days of the crisis, we launched [email protected], an initiative aimed at enhancing cleaning and sanitation, physical, and social distancing and safe behavioral practices for everyone," said Palleschi. "Travel looks different now, so we continue to evolve and are doing everything we can to help travelers feel safe and confident the next time they walk through our doors."

Motel 6 will leave the light on for those traveling safely this year, with reservations available at motel6.com. Motel 6 remains committed to following the guidelines of the CDC and to doing its part in maintaining safe and clean hotels for its valued guests. Learn more about the brand's [email protected] program here.

About the Motel 6 Travel Survey

The travel survey was commissioned by Motel 6 through SWNS Media Group, who conducted an online survey among n = 2,000 U.S. adults aged 18+ (nationally representative sample). The survey was conducted on Feb. 25-March 4, 2021 and has a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage at a 95 percent confidence level.

About Motel 6

Motel 6 helps travelers save more for what they travel for with nearly 1,400 company owned and franchised locations throughout the United States and Canada. Motel 6 has used the tagline, "We'll leave the light on for you" for more than 30 years, earning the chain the highest brand recognition in the economy lodging segment. Motel 6 offers standard amenities including free Wi-Fi Internet access, free local calls, no long-distance access charges and expanded cable channel line-up. Most locations offer guest laundry facilities. For more information, visit www.motel6.com.
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By Ahmad Ghaddar

LONDON (Reuters) - fell on Tuesday as the Suez Canal reopened to traffic, while focus turned to an OPEC+ meeting this week that is likely to agree an extension to supply curbs amid disappointing demand prospects.

Brent crude was down 50 cents, or 0.8%, at $64.48 a barrel by 0851 GMT. U.S. oil was off by 58 cents, or 0.9%, at $60.98 barrel.

Ships were moving through the Suez Canal again on Tuesday after tugs refloated the giant Ever Given container carrier, which had been blocking a narrow section of the passage for almost a week, causing a huge build-up of vessels around the waterway.

With concerns about a shortage of physical supplies abating, the market is turning its focus to Thursday's meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, collectively known as OPEC+.

Saudi Arabia is prepared to accept an extension of production cuts through June, and is also ready to prolong voluntary unilateral curbs amid the latest wave of coronavirus lockdowns, a source briefed on the matter said on Monday.

"The wobble we have seen in prices means that OPEC+ will likely need to take a cautious approach once again," bank ING said. "We are of the view that the group will likely hold output levels unchanged, with OPEC+ wanting to avoid another sell-off," it added.

Stymieing efforts to contain global supply are rising under the radar exports from member Iran to China, which is ignoring U.S. and United Nations sanctions on the country and importing higher amounts of Iranian oil, according to traders and analysts.

China may receive as much as 1 million barrels a day this month in imports from Iran passed off as crude from other origins.

A U.S. dollar rally also weighed on As crude is priced in dollars, a stronger greenback makes the commodity more expensive to holders of other currencies.

(Addiional reporting by Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)

(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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Recent comments from telecommunications providers Telstra and Aussie Broadband about their decreasing profits from NBN sales underline how short-sighted the Labor government was to keep the expenditure for the NBN off-budget and insist that it be repaid by the company set up to create and run the network.

Not that the Coalition is any better; it just continued with the same practice.

The comments came in response to the NBN Co's putting out a new pricing review. Aussie Broadband chief executive Phillip Britt called the proposals disappointing and Telstra described them as inadequate, while the head of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, Teresa Corbin, warned that consumers may ditch the NBN if the price was not right.

The NBN Co's pricing models are driven by just one desire: to achieve average revenue per user of $52. That, the company said many moons ago, would enable it to break even.

Given the extra money that has been committed after the government backflipped on its original plans to have a so-called multi-technology mix network  pressure has increased on the NBN Co to raise its revenue and avoid any red ink on its balance sheet.

This has been a struggle from the start and the company is no closer to achieving it, though there are occasional hallelujahs, the loudest coming in February with the firm exceeding both revenue and EBITDA for the first six months of the current financial year.

In the meanwhile, 5G has started to make its presence felt in the market, though not to the extent that it would have been a force had the pandemic not hit.

Australian telcos, impatient to get on with maximising their revenue from old and new technology, have faced their own hurdles. Telstra, given that it is receiving decent sums from NBN Co for its ducts and pits, has had to sign an agreement to keep the degree to which it competes with the network builder within moderate limits.

Thus, even though Telstra has more 5G towers in place than other telcos, it cannot develop any solutions that put the NBN in the shade.

Optus, with no such restrictions holding it back, has developed a 5G offering which is, from this writer's experience, a much better performer than the NBN. But again, that is limited to the areas which have coverage.

TPG would have been a competitor in the 5G space by now, had it not been for the government ban on Huawei, its technology supplier. It was forced to cancel the rollout of a mobile service after having blown about $100 million on gear.

The way out was to merge with Vodafone and while that eventuated, it will be a long time before the merged entity can compete with Optus and Telstra.

But while the telcos are looking for ways and means to maximise revenue, the NBN Co is looking to do likewise given its huge debt, now in the region of $57 billion.

And in pursuit of that revenue, it periodically revises prices, trying to extract bigger margins while selling bandwidth to retail service providers.

The revising of prices is always geared to suit NBN Co and this time is no exception. Britt has proposed a way out, that would be a little more equitable:

Reinstate a COVID-19 style rebate to give RSPs the certainty and confidence to continue to facilitate growth in the market and promote high speed services to the benefit of all.

Work towards increasing the bundled CVC allowance for high-speed tiers to further encourage RSPs to provide quality services to end users. [Aussie Broadband believes NBN Co should include an allocation of 10Mbps of CVC per TC-4 high-speed bundle (100/20Mbps and up).]

Scrap CVC entirely and move to a single access charge based on the speed tier chosen, with no usage or CVC component, as is the practice in countries such as New Zealand.

Whether the wholesaler will look seriously at these demands or not is the million-dollar question.
Refugee volunteers deliver aid to families affected by the fire in the Kutupalong-Balukhali camps, Bangladesh.  UNHCR/Amos Halder

An estimated 48,000 Rohingya refugees have lost their shelters and belongings in the blaze which devastated parts of the Kutupalong-Balukhali refugee camps in Coxs Bazar last Monday (22 March). Sheltering more than 600,000 refugees, this is the largest refugee camp in the world.

The fire has destroyed more than 9,500 shelters. Refugees who lost their shelters are being temporarily accommodated within the camp. The fire has also reduced to ashes more than 1,600 important infrastructure facilities vital for daily operations, including hospitals, learning centres, aid distribution points and a registration centre.

In addition to thousands of relief items, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has also provided medical supplies to partners and to support IOM in the affected areas. With our partners, we have established and equipped mobile medical teams to provide first aid to affected refugees. Psychosocial support is equally important following this devastating fire. So far, UNHCR partners have provided psychosocial support to more than 4,000 affected refugees.

Our staff are being deployed at WFP food distribution points for the next three weeks to facilitate the issuance of replacement registration documents for refugees who lost theirs in the fire. We have extended support to IOM for coordinating the response on the ground to ensure equitable access to protection, services, information and assistance for vulnerable families, older refugees and people with disabilities. Mitigation of gender-based violence risks through awareness-raising and monitoring is another priority.

Our teams on the ground are monitoring the safety and security of refugees. We are also working to address the critical needs of separated children. Since the fire, together with our partners, weve identified more than 600 separated girls and boys who have been reunited with their families. Our protection partners also established two child protection helplines and four reunification help desks.

Hundreds of refugee volunteers are also supporting affected families Throughout the Rohingya refugee crisis, these volunteers have been critical to the humanitarian response in Coxs Bazar camps. Last week, they were among the first responders in the collective effort to extinguish the fire. Since then, they have been helping older refugees, children and pregnant women to find safe shelters, escorting people to health care facilities, clearing debris, and identifying and referring refugees with specific needs to relevant services. They are also running awareness sessions on child protection risks such as child-trafficking and gender-based violence, fire safety, first aid and general assistance.

In addition to critical protection and registration interventions, other urgent needs include first aid and emergency health services, delivery of safe water, construction of tap stands and emergency latrines, shelter and essential aid as well as reconstruction of key infrastructure.

In 2021 UNHCR is seeking US$294.5 million for its Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh. Within this, US$5.9 million is urgently needed to address the immediate aftermath of the catastrophic fire that affected so many Rohingya refugees. To date, UNHCRs operation in Bangladesh is only 20 per cent funded. Additional support is urgently needed. UNHCR is asking government and private sector donors to keep their contributions flexible, thus allowing their use across the overall operation.

The document outlining immediate needs in response to the fire is available here.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
The security camera video was shocking in its brutality. A 65-year-old Filipino immigrant was walking down a street near Times Square when a man, in broad daylight, suddenly kicked her in the stomach.

She crumpled to the sidewalk. He kicked her once in the head. Then again. And again. He yelled an obscenity at her, according to a police official, and then said, You dont belong here.

As the violent scene unfolded in Manhattan, three men watched from the lobby of a nearby luxury apartment building. When the woman struggled to stand up, one of the men, a security guard, closed the front door to the building.

Even as reports of anti-Asian hate crimes have escalated in recent weeks, the video released by police officials on Monday evening touched a fresh nerve. The sheer brazenness of the attack  combined with the seeming indifference of the bystanders  caused another wave of fear for many Asian-Americans already worn down by a steady drumbeat of assaults.
analysis

On a continent dominated by autocratic regimes run by rapacious cronies and cartels who thrive on the status quo, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement is more likely to be honoured in the breach. The trade pact is everything these regimes so passionately and violently despise, yet they are the ones to be counted on to implement it.

It could be that the framers and authors of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) are upstanding men and women with abundant and unyielding confidence in Africa's potential.

However, in a continent populated by equally unyielding autocratic and cartel-driven regimes, compounded by the inherent weaknesses of the African Union, the implementation of the pact will be an uphill task.

The AfCFTA was signed by African heads of state and government on 21 March 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, with the exception of Eritrea. It came into effect on 1 January 2021 upon ratification by more than 22 states (36 states have deposited their ratification instruments thus far) in rather dampening circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic on the rampage.

The AfCFTA represents an ambitious plan which seeks to create a single, liberalised market for goods, services and capital in a 55-nation bloc of...
She replaced beloved longtime hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews on season 29 of Dancing With The Stars.

And on Tuesday, ABC confirmed that Tyra Banks will return as host for upcoming season 30.

It's a vote of confidence in the model and TV personality, 47, who's been a Victoria's Secret Angel, daytime chat show host and actress during the course of her career.

Back: She replaced longtime hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews on season 29 of Dancing With The Stars. And ABC has confirmed Tyra Banks will return as host for upcoming season 30

The reality competition pairs celebrities with dance professionals and a panel of judges scores their performances in several different dance styles over the course of several weeks.

The couple remaining at the end of the elimination contest is presented with the show's coveted Mirrorball Trophy.

ABC also confirmed that judges Len Goodman, Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli will be coming back.

Celebrating: Banks, 47, shared her joy with this Instagram post on Tuesday after the news was announced. There's no word yet on when the new season will premiere on ABC

Their opinions ocunt: Also coming back are longtime judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli along with former dance pro Derek Hough who joined the judges panel for season 29

In person: Veteran judge Len Goodman returns full-time, too, after taking part remotely from the UK last year as he was prevented from travelling to the US due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Goodman made some virtual appearances last season from London where he remained during the COOVID-19 lockdown but is now expected to be back in person for the new episodes.

Former dance pro Hough returns for a second season on the judges panel along with series regulars Inaba and Tonioli.

It's not yet been revealed when season 30 will premiere and the lineup of dance pros and celebrities will be announced at a later date.

Season 29 ended in November with former Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe and pro Artem Chigvintsev taking top honors.

Host: The announcement is a vote of confidence in the model and TV personality, who's been a Victoria's Secret Angel, daytime chat show host and actress during the course of her career

DWTS fans expressed outrage last year when Bergeron and Andrews were fired from the show.

Bergeron had hosted the series since its 2005 premiere while Andrews became co-host in 2014 after competing on season 10 in 2010.

Executive producer Andrew Llinares told reporters at the ABC VirtuFall panel in September 2020 that it had simply been time to make a change.

'I think its all about evolution,' Linares said. 'I think any show like this that has been on many, many seasons needs to continue to evolve.'

He added: 'It was about making the show feel fresh, making it feel new [and making] it reach out, maybe, to a new audience as well as the audience thats been there for years.'
Since Apple introduced the AirPods 1st gen back in 2016, the truly wireless earphones industry has grown significantly, with nearly every smartphone manufacturer offering their own TWS earbuds to go with their smartphones. After a long time, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Buds Live in 2020, featuring a new and unique form factor that caught everyones attention. The design was polarizing to say the least, and it was also the first truly wireless earbuds from Samsung to feature active noise cancellation.

I have been using the Galaxy Buds Live for the past 6 months now, and here is my long term review.

Box Contents

A pair of Galaxy Earbuds in Mystic Black colour

Charging carrying case

Pair of extra wing tips

USB Type-C cable

Quick Start Guide

Design and Build Quality

The design of the Galaxy Buds Live is easily its most interesting feature. Most truly wireless earbuds have traditional designs similar to regular wired earbuds, but Samsung has thrown all that away and brought something truly unique to the market.

At first glance, you wouldnt be wrong to say that these earbuds very much look like kidney beans. They have a curve along its length that is meant to fit in the cavity right outside the ear canal, and during my review, it worked exactly like it was supposed to. A simple twist and push, and the earbuds are seated comfortably in my ear. During long listening sessions, I was happy to discover that they remained comfortable, which is great.

The earbuds do a good job of staying in place thanks to a wing tip on its inner side that holds on inside the ear cavity. They never fell out accidentally, staying-in even during fast head movements and workouts in the gym. Samsung includes two pairs of wing tips in the box to ensure a secure fit for most ear sizes.

The earbuds have plastic externals, and the outer side in particular has a glossy finish that looks premium and high quality, but it picked up fingerprints very quickly, which is rather unfortunate.

The charging case has a small square shape design, made with the same glossy plastic of the earbuds. There is a LED light in the front side that indicates the charge level of the case, and another LED on the inside to indicate the charge of the earbuds themselves. On the back side of the case is the USB Type-C port for charging.

Sound, Noise Cancellation and Connectivity

The Galaxy Buds Live have 12mm drivers in each earbud which have been tuned by AKG. During my extended use with the earbuds, I found the audio output from the Buds Live to be quite good overall. However, they suffered from one problem, the audio quality was very dependent on how well the earbuds fit inside your ears. If the earbuds were perfectly snug and further inside the ear canal, the sound quality is great and detailed. Bass response is adequate for earbuds that arent in-ear style, although I wished they were a little tighter. Regarding the mids and highs, they felt a little muffled, especially at lower volume levels. At higher volume levels, the Buds Live performed much better.

If the fit isnt good however, then the sound quality becomes exponentially worse. As the earbuds arent designed for a good seal, external noises get mixed in quite easily with the music and downgrades the overall experience.

The Active Noise cancellation feature in the Galaxy Buds Live is another weak point. When turned on, it lowers the ambient noise by only a small amount, and having a poor seal does not help either. It can maybe help drown out faint background noise like a ceiling fan or far away city noises, but louder ambient noises will not get cancelled at all.

There are 3 built-in microphones in each earbud which work with a Voice Pickup unit to provide a decent experience when making calls. Samsung also does a good job with cancelling ambient noise and only picking up the users voice during calls, although I believe there is still room for improvement.

It connects via Bluetooth v5.0, so for the most part I found the connection to be strong and stable. Occasionally when there is a wall between the phone and the Buds Live, there are disconnects, but it is not a serious problem. Another feature supported by the Buds Live is Microsoft Swift Pair, which allows the earbuds to quickly pair with a nearby Windows PC.

App, Controls and Features

To get the maximum use out of the Galaxy Buds Live, the Samsung Wearables app is required. Once the earbuds are paired and added, you have quite a few controls and features at your disposal. Opening the charging case will automatically connect to the last paired device, and while the earbuds are still in the case, the app will show the battery levels of both the earbuds themselves and the charging case.

Unfortunately these earbuds do not support custom equalizer tuning, instead Samsung offers 6 different presets to choose from. I liked the Dynamic preset and used it for most of my review.

To interface with the earbuds, it uses touch controls. A single tap on either earbud to play/pause music, double tap to play the next track or answer/end calls, triple tap to play the previous track, and for touch and hold, users can choose between three options  Volume up/down, Bixby, and toggling ANC.

The controls are fairly simple to learn, and I did experience a few mis-clicks, but it was nothing too worrisome. I do wish Samsung offered more customizability with these touch controls however. For example, a single tap on the left earbud could be a different function from a tap on the right earbud. Instead, they share functionalities and I feel like this limits the earbuds usability.

It does support on-ear detection, which will automatically pause music playback if you remove one earbud, and also play music once the earbuds are inserted back in.

Coming to other features in the app, users can set up a Read Notification aloud feature, along with some advanced features such as Bixby Voice Wake-up and seamless earbud connection, which allows the earbuds to quickly switch playing audio between connected devices that are signed into a Samsung account.

There is a gaming mode that reduces the connection latency of these earbuds, and an option to help relieve ear pressure by letting in ambient noise. Lastly, the Galaxy Buds Live supports Samsungs Find my Earbuds feature that will save the last known location of the earbuds and help find them in the event they get misplaced.

During my review, Samsung pushed a number of software updates through the app, which supposedly removed bugs and improved upon features. While I did not notice any major differences, I appreciate Samsung for pushing out these updates.

Battery life

Inside the earbuds there is a 60mAh battery that Samsung claims will provide 6 hours of typical usage time. During my review, I was able to get about 5 and half hours of music playback with the volume at around 75%, which is quite good.

The charging case can extend the battery life to a total of 21 hours, and it can quick charge the earbuds for an hour of listening time in just 5 mins of charge. The case also has an added bonus of supporting Qi-wireless charging.

Conclusion

With the Galaxy Buds Live, Samsung took a risk. The truly wireless earbuds market has become a bit stale lately with similar designs and features. Samsung has tried something new with the Buds Live and I really appreciate them for it.

The execution however was less than perfect. Personally, the earbuds fit me well and the sound quality was good, but this may not be the case with everyone. It has a lot of features, easy controls and the battery life was good, but the Active noise cancellation was poorly implemented. Overall, Id say the Galaxy Buds Live is good for a first generation product, and Samsung has a lot of areas of improvement for a possible second generation Galaxy Buds Live, which I sincerely hope is in the works.

At a price of Rs. 9850, the Galaxy Buds Live is a compelling offer for earbuds that are unique in design and have good sound quality. However, it does face stiff competition from other traditional wireless earbuds such as the Jabra Elite Active 75t and Samsungs own Galaxy Buds+. The Jabra Elite Active 75t offers better ANC quality and sound quality, while the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ offers a far better battery life at a slightly higher price.

The Galaxy Buds Live comes in 5 colours  Mystic Bronze, Mystic White, Mystic Black, Mystic Red or Mystic Blue, and is available for purchase on Amazon for Rs. 9,990.

Pros

Unique design

Compact wireless charging case

Easy-to-use touch controls

Decent battery life

Feature-loaded app support

Cons
Gov. Phil Scott addresses reporters during an update on Vermonts response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday in Montpelier.
While the number of new COVID-19 cases is rising in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf touted more progress in the vaccine rollout Tuesday.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 5,032 additional positive cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to 1,020,300 cases. The number of new cases remains well below the totals seen in the winter, when the state regularly reported more than 10,000 infections per day. But its one of the highest one-day totals in the last two months.

The number of hospitalizations tied to COVID-19 continues to rise. Statewide, there are 1,980 people being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals, a number that has risen by nearly 500 over the last two weeks. Again, its well below the peak of about 6,300 in December, but the numbers have climbed as health officials note an uptick in infections over the past couple of weeks.

The numbers come as Wolfs administration continues to ramp up its vaccination efforts. Wolf had set a goal of having everyone in Phase 1A of the vaccine rollout to at least have an appointment for a shot by March 31.

During a news conference at the mass vaccination at the HACC campus in Harrisburg Tuesday, Wolf said the state is approaching that goal.

Were making good progress, Wolf said.

Our goal is to administer the vaccine as quickly as possible.

Those in Phase 1A include health care workers; those 65 years and over; and younger adults with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. There are 4 million people in Phase 1A.

Still, some in Phase 1A have said theyve been frustrated in trying to get vaccinated despite repeated efforts.

In the news conference, Wolf was asked when Pennsylvania would follow other states in expanding vaccine eligibility to more people. Wolf said hes talking about that with his administration but didnt offer a date on when more people would be able to sign up for the vaccine.

The governor noted other states have expanded eligibility, and in some cases are now offering vaccines to the general public. Wolf said Pennsylvanias large senior population has made it more challenging to expand eligibility.

Wolf said Tuesday that the state is on track to meet President Joe Bidens goal of having everyone eligible for the vaccines by May 1. Biden also said Monday he expects 90% of adults in the U.S. would be eligible for vaccines by April 19, with nearly all able to go to a vaccination site within 5 miles.

In addition, Wolf also said as vaccine supplies increase, hes hoping itll be possible for everyone to at least get a first shot by the end of April or early May. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two shots.

The governor also said the effort to vaccinate Pennsylvanias teachers is going faster than expected and should be done within the next two days. Acting on recommendations from the bipartisan COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, the state has reserved the first batch of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines for teachers and school staff. The Johnson & Johnson vaccines require only one dose for full vaccination.

The health department said Tuesday nearly 3.4 million people have been given at least one shot and more than 1.6 million have been fully vaccinated. With those numbers, the Wolf administration said it has given more than 5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. The state data doesnt include the city of Philadelphia, which is doing its own rollout.

The state reported 34 new deaths due to the coronavirus Tuesday. Statewide, the health department said , 25,049 deaths have been tied to COVID-19. More than half of those deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.

The Wolf administration said the states positive test rate for COVID-19 rose to 7.6% for the week of March 19-25. Its the second straight week the rate has increased and the rate had been falling steadily for the months. For context, the rate of positive coronavirus tests remains well below the peak of 16.2% in December, but health officials have said a positive test rate higher than 5% is a source of concern.

Most of those who are infected endure relatively mild symptoms and many dont get sick at all, but medical professionals say COVID-19 poses risks to everyone, particularly for seniors and those with certain health issues.

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A man who died in a suspected stab attack in Dublins city centre yesterday was previously cleared of a knife murder.

The victim was named locally as Isaac Ike Horgan (52) who bled to death after suffering a significant knife wound to his leg.

Gardai believe he suffered at least one stab wound during an altercation at the Markievicz House apartment complex in Dublin 2.

Emergency services were alerted to the scene at around 11am yesterday and Mr Horgan was rushed to St Jamess Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The weapon believed to have been used in the incident was not recovered at the scene and Garda search teams were brought in to carry out examinations of the area.

Expand Close Members of the Garda Technical Unit removing evidence at the scene of the fatal stabbing at Markievicz House in Dublin city centre where a man in his 50s died. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook

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Whatsapp Members of the Garda Technical Unit removing evidence at the scene of the fatal stabbing at Markievicz House in Dublin city centre where a man in his 50s died. Photo: Steve Humphreys

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The Irish Independent has learned that Mr Horgan was well known to gardai and was previously cleared of stabbing another man to death.

In July 2005, a jury deliberated for just over two hours at the Central Criminal Court before it found Mr Horgan, then of Fatima Mansions, not guilty of the manslaughter of Scottish national Douglas McManus.

Mr Horgan had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr McManus (36), also of Fatima Mansions, on June 17, 2002.

He had denied assaulting Mark Holmes, originally from Ranelagh, Dublin, at the same location on the same date.

During the trial, Mr Justice Paul Butler withdrew the murder charge from the jury and directed that the case proceed with a manslaughter charge.

He also directed the jury to find the accused not guilty of assaulting Mr Holmes and Mr Horgan walked free from court.

While on remand in prison awaiting trial, Mr Horgan was himself brutally stabbed in Cloverhill Prison where he was sliced from ear to ear in an attack while he queued for food in October 2003.

Senior sources say that Mr Horgan had fallen on very hard times in recent years and suffered from problems linked to alcohol abuse.

In a bizarre incident a number of years ago, he walked into a north inner city Garda station and claimed that he had worked as a child soldier for the IRA and was responsible for the murder of Lord Mountbatten in Co Sligo in 1979.

Gardai found no evidence to back up the strange claims that he was involved in the savage murders of August 27, 1979, at Mullaghmore when Lord Louis Mountbatten was killed by an IRA bomb.

Gardai at Pearse Street are investigating yesterdays suspected killing and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

Yesterday evening a large Garda presence remained at the apartment complex, which is located off Townsend Street.

Personnel attached to the Garda Technical Bureau and Divisional Scene of Crime unit also carried out forensic examinations of the scene.
The OPEC cartel's largest producer is Saudi Arabia but the OPEC+ grouping also includes Russia, which produces even more crude oil

The OPEC+ grouping of oil producers will hold its third ministerial summit of the year via videoconference Thursday to discuss output cuts in the face of fresh price volatility.

"The expectation is that the group will hold production steady also in May given current physical oil market weakness," according to Bjarne Schieldrop, analyst at SEB.

However, he added that "Russia and Kazakhstan are likely to lift production yet another notch and the group in total is probably fine with that."

The OPEC cartel's largest producer is Saudi Arabia but the OPEC+ grouping also includes Russia, which produces even more crude oil.

Under its current agreement the OPEC+ group is enforcing a drastic output cut, meaning seven million barrels that could be shipped to markets every day are being left in the ground.

The aim has been to avoid oversupplying a market suffering from a collapse in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Without the production cuts, limited storage capacity could be saturated and the danger of a fall in prices -- currently hovering around $60 per barrel -- is real.

Indeed, the two benchmark contracts, American WTI and Europe's Brent, have undergone a drastic price correction in recent weeks and have been subjected to fresh price instability over the last few days, a sign of serious market tension.

- Vaccine 'chaos' -

At the beginning of the year the arrival of effective coronavirus vaccines had led to hopes that widespread lockdowns, and with them the collapse in demand that has been a nightmare for the cartel, might soon be over.

But then came the third wave surge in Europe and the spread of the virus in key crude consumer markets such as India and Brazil.

"Oil demand trends are not only pressured by renewed lockdowns on the (European) continent but also chaos with its vaccination program," said Stephen Brennock, analyst at PVM.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) reflected this more downbeat outlook in forecasts contained in its last report this month.

Story continues

It estimated that global demand could take another two years to get back to its pre-crisis levels.

- Saudi 'prudence' -

Despite different opinions on how to manage fallout from the crisis, OPEC+ has been able to unite around a very cautious policy of slow increase in capacity based on "prudence", a watchword of Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.

To help smaller producers, Saudi Arabia agreed to reduce its own output by an extra million barrels per day (bpd) in February, March and April.

However this cut "was never going to last forever and traders are now getting increasingly worried that the kingdom will not hold on to it for much longer" says Louise Dickson of Rystad.

As such Riyadh's moves at this week's meeting will be especially keenly watched.

Faced with a constantly shifting market, the OPEC+ states have agreed to an almost monthly rhythm of meetings to thrash out policy for the month to follow, rather than the twice-yearly meetings which were the norm before the pandemic.

Once again the thorny subject of respect for production cut quotas will be hanging over the meeting, as well the issue of the three producers who have thus far been exempted from cuts -- Venezuela, Libya and Iran.

On Wednesday the group will hold preliminary discussions in the form of its Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), which is tasked with overseeing implementation of agreements.

bp/jsk/wai
Former New York Yankees and New York Mets reliever Tyler Clippard will start the 2021 season on the injured list.

The Arizona Diamondbacks made that decision Monday, putting Clippard on the 60-day IL with a capsule sprain in his right shoulder. Clippard, who signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Diamondbacks in February, will be on the shelf for four-to-six weeks at a minimum.

Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

Clippard made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2007, getting six starts and going 3-1 with a 6.33 ERA. After that season, the Yankees traded Clippard to the Washington Nationals for right-hander Jonathan Albaladejo. Clippard went on to make two All-Star appearances for the Nationals (2011 and 2014).

Clippard spent part of the 2015 season with the Mets, going 4-1 with a 3.06 ERA in 32 appearances. He landed in Queens in the trade deadline deal which sent minor-league pitcher Casey Meisner to the Oakland As. Clippard made three appearances for the Mets in the 2015 World Series, giving up two runs in two innings of work against the Kansas City Royals.

Clippard returned to the Bronx as a reliever before the trade deadline in 2016, coming over from the Diamondbacks in exchange for right-hander Vicente Campos.

One year later, the Yankees traded Clippard to the Chicago White Sox in the deal which saw New York acquire third baseman Todd Frazier and relievers Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson before the 2017 trade deadline. In his calendar year with the Yankees, Clippard made 69 appearances out of the bullpen.

Clippard played for the Minnesota Twins in 2020, compiling a 2.77 ERA in 26 appearances.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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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.
Burma Remembering Myanmars Fallen Heroes

A collage showing some of the heroes slain by the military regime since the Feb. 1 coup.

Myanmar witnessed its deadliest day on Saturday since the juntas Feb.1 coup, with the security forces gunning down over 100 civilians during brutal crackdowns on peaceful anti-regime protesters across the country.

At least 510 heroes have now died at the hands of the junta, while trying to overthrow military rule and restore democracy to Myanmar. The Irrawaddy has collected the names of some of those fallen stars who performed acts of bravery, including saving and protecting others while faced with the regimes guns and bullets.

Thinzar Hein, 20

March 28, Sagaing Region

Ma Thinzar Hein, a nursing student killed by a shot to the head while she was treating injured civilians during a crackdown on anti-regime protesters. She was working with a first aid rescue team for protesters in Monywa. Putting her own life at risk, she took to the streets to help protesters the day after the junta killed over 100 civilians across the country. Ma Thinzar Hein left a note on Facebook, I am walking a path and uncertain of returning home, please forgive me, loved ones.

Dr. Thiha Tin Tun, 27

March 27, Mandalay Region

An assistant surgeon, Dr. Thiha Tin Tun was among the over 100 civilians gunned down by the security forces on Armed Forces Day. He was shot in his head and arm while he was helping to build a roadblock to protect protesters against advancing police and soldiers. His body was taken away by the military. Before heading to the protest, the young doctor left a letter to loved ones, to be proud of him and not to be sad for a long time if something happened to him.

He said It is time we take back what we have lost, no matter what the cost is. He said he would fight back against the security forces and said that my hands used to hold scalpels and were already stained with blood.

Mom, if I die, be proud of me and dont dwell on my death for so long. My death was for the sake of restoring the power of the people and the countrys sovereignty, dont be sad for too long, he wrote. Referring to his grandmother, he wrote Granny, your grandson died with courage. In case we meet again in our next life, would you still take care of me?

He also called for the people who are fighting for democracy to never give up, saying Rest only when the power of the people is restored. I am sorry I had to leave you so soon, he said. He ended his letter with a powerful message to his fellow pro-democracy supporters, May dictatorship fall! May the power of the people prevail!

Hti San Wan Hpri, 19

March 27, Yangon

Hti San Wan Hpri had attended protests almost daily at a barricade that was considered the most dangerous place for protesters in Yangons Thingangyun Township. An ethnic Rawang from Kachin State, the 19-year-old was shot and killed by security forces when they opened fire on the morning of March 27. His friends said that as soon as he was hit by the bullet, he shouted to the security forces shoot me, dont shoot my friends. Just before he died, he told his friends to fight back against the regime and not to lose hope.

Ko Nay Lin Htwe, aka Mohamad Sadiq, 28

March 25, Shan State

Ko Nay Lin Htwe was killed by the juntas security forces in the Shan State capital Taunggyi and widely recognized as a martyr. He fought back against the police and soldiers with a sword even as they sprayed bullets into a crowd of protesters. He was shot in the eye and thigh. His body was taken away by the security forces.

Ko Zaw Lin Htike, 31

March 22, Mandalay Region

A young man and a volunteer with a charity group, Ko Zaw Lin Htike was shot in the head while he was attending to civilians injured during a security forces crackdown in Myayee Nanda Housing estate, Mandalay. He had worked for the charity for more than five years. He leaves his mother behind.

U Nay Myo Kyaw, 38

March 22, Mandalay Region

U Nay Myo Kyaw was another volunteer in Mandalay who was killed by the regimes security forces on March 22. He was shot in the chest while on his way to help gunshot victims in Myayee Nanda Housing estate, Mandalay.

Ko Thet Paing Soe, 28

March 20, Yangon Region

Ko Thet Paing Soe was shot in the head and died on March 20 while the military was cracking down on protesters in Yangons Tamwe Township. Despite coming from a military family, he actively participated in protests in Yangon by taking daily duty at the protesters barricades, holding a makeshift shield to protect other protesters. He was gunned down by the regime on a day that he was in charge of scouting at the barricade. Residents in Kyauk Myaung renamed the road where he died as Thet Paing Soe road.

Ko Ye Thu Aung

March 19, Shan State

Residents in Shan States Aung Ban Township said he was a brave man. When people in Aung Ban took to the streets, Ko Ye Thu Aung was always present at the protesters barricades. He used to tell his friends not to give up fighting back against the regime saying that if we are afraid, we will have live under the boot of the military. On March 19, when security forces opened fire on protesters, he helped other young protesters to escape. He even carried injured women to safety. Later, he returned to fight with a sword against the police and soldiers who were randomly firing at the protesters and into residential areas. He was shot dead by the security forces while he was confronting them.

Ko Ye Swe Oo, 29

March 13, Mandalay Region

A local volunteer, Ko Ye Swe Oo was shot in the chest by the security forces while he was on the way to rescue student protesters who had been rounded up by police and soldiers in Mandalay. He leaves behind a wife and daughter.

Daw Pyone Pyone, 50

March 13, Mandalay Region

Residents in Mandalays Sein Pan will never forget Daw Pyone Pyone. A single mother with three children, she was shot in the head for giving shelter to young protesters attempting to hide from the security forces. On Mar.13, two dozen student protesters took refuge in her home after police and soldiers opened fire on protesters.

The security forces forcibly entered her home and forced Daw Pyone Pyone to show where the students were hiding. Soldiers shot her in the head from a few feet away after she protested strongly. After the soldiers began firing randomly inside the house, the students came out of hiding and were arrested.

Ko Chit Min Thu, 25

March 11, Yangon Region

Forgive me, wife. If I dont go out today and if others do the same, we wont get democracy back. Those were the last words 25-year-old Ko Chit Min Thu told his pregnant wife before joining a protest against the military regime in Yangon on March 11. He was shot dead while he was standing at the front of a protest in North Dagon Township holding a makeshift shield to protect other protesters. The bullet went through the shield into his head.

When he did not return alive, his tearful wife said that she tried to stop her husband protesting, saying she worried their baby and unborn child could lose their father. But he replied that he had to fight for democracy, she said.

Ko Zaw Thein Aung, 20

March 3, Sagaing Region

A 20-year-old delivery man for Foodpanda, Ko Zaw Thein Aung had many friends as he was a happy man and always willing to help others. He told his friends often that he would fight until the end to return his motherland to civilian rule. Ko Zaw Thein Aung was shot in the head while he was helping an injured woman during a brutal crackdown by the regimes forces in Monywa.

Kyal Sin, 19

March 3, Mandalay Region

A teenager wearing her Everything will be OK T-shirt at the protests, Kyal Sin led a group of young protesters in Mandalay. She shouted to her friend who was worried as the security forces fired tear gas and live rounds, Are we united? We will not run! At the same time, she kicked open a water pipe so that other protesters could rinse tear gas from their eyes. She tried to protect her friends amidst the chaos, warning them to sit down as bullets flew over the protesters. Soon afterwards, she was shot in the head by the security forces.

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Ardee Councillor John Sheridan believes broadband provision is key to unlocking a new era for rural Louth.

The Government published Our Rural Future yesterday, the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in decades.

The policy reflects the unprecedented change in living and working patterns during COVID-19 and the significant opportunities this presents rural communities  from remote working and revitalising town centres to job creation, developing a green economy and enhancing our outdoor amenities.

One of the many goals of the plan is for a National Broadband roll-out, which hopes to bring new opportunities in areas like eHealth, remote learning, online trading and new technologies to rural parts of the country.

Sheridan has seen the anticipation for this roll out amongst his constituents, who feel the service is long overdue however it is the possibility of more eHubs in rural parts of the county that has peaked his interests.

Remote working will usually be in our own homes, but it will also be in a network of 400 eHubs nationwide explained the Fianna Fail councillor, I would hope as many villages in Louth as possible would be able to set up an eHub.

"I have championed eHubs since before I was elected and had motions passed on Louth County Council before covid. For me, its a new approach and I'm very pleased to see this plan launched. I believe if we have the broadband and of course the funding it will unlock a new era for Louth."

Our Rural Future sets out a blueprint for the development of rural Ireland over the next five years.

It is supported by 150 commitments across Government, which will address the challenges facing communities and deliver new opportunities for people living in rural areas.

The policy will help rural Ireland to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, enable long-term development of rural areas, and create more resilient rural economies and communities for the future.

The government will look to examine the introduction of specific incentives to attract remote workers and mobile talent to live in rural towns, while also funding the repurposing of vacant buildings in town centres into remote working hubs as to make sure they can work in rural areas.

Cllr Sheridan is one of many Wee county natives who has left the county for college and work before deciding to return to his home to settle down.

He has seen a rise in this practice since Covid-19 and hopes that as much as possible will be done now to make sure those who have relocated to the county will be able to stay here in the long term.

So many other people have moved home from rented accommodation in Dublin since the start of the pandemic. This is changing Louth so much, in a positive way. We can do work now to allow those who moved home during covid to remain in Louth now."
Islamabad, March 30 : In the wake of recent developments in India-Pakistan relations which have led to some easing of tensions and highlighted hopes of forward movement in ties, China has said that "it is pleased with Pakistan's recent positive interactions with India".

"We are ready to work with Pakistan, and continue to inject positive energy into regional peace, stability and development," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Xhao Lijian.

"China supports Pakistan's foreign policy of peace and good neighbourliness as well as its commitment to advancing the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan," he added.

China's statement comes as Pakistan and India decided last month to restore the 2003 ceasefire on the Line of Control and brigade commanders from both sides also met recently.

Another positive approach by both countries was a mutually agreement to refrain from giving out hostile statements against each other.

Earlier, Pakistan's army chief, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa also gave an important statement, offering India a resolution of the Kashmir dispute through "peaceful and dignified manner". "It is time to extend a hand of friendship to all directions," he maintained.

Prime Minister Imran Khan later made similar offer to the Narendra Modi government.

Indian PM Modi had also written a letter to Imran Khan, felicitating him on Pakistan Day (March 23), and expressing desire for a "cordial relationship".

Pakistan and India also held a meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission in New Delhi.

All these developments have given hope of regional peace, security and stability and China has appreciated the efforts from both sides.

China has also highlighted the value it gives to what it calls its all-weather strategic partnership of cooperation with Pakistan.

"We are ready to take the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic ties as an opportunity to work together in the fight against Covid-19, carry forward our traditional friendship, deepen all-round cooperation, and build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future for the new era," Xhao said.
MODESTO, Calif. (AP)  A Northern California man was convicted Monday of first-degree murder for shooting a Stanislaus County sheriffs deputy in what investigators termed an execution-style shooting in 2016.

A jury deliberated for less than a day before convicting David Machado, 42, of Keyes. Prosecutors said Machado planned the shooting but his attorney argued it wasnt premeditated and Machado should be found guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree murder, the Modesto Bee reported.

Deputy Dennis Wallace, 53, was killed on Nov. 13, 2016, in the fishing area of Fox Grove Park in Hughson, a Modesto suburb east of San Francisco.

Wallace, a 20-year veteran of the force, had pulled over a van that Machado was driving because it had been reported stolen nearly a week earlier by Machados mother. Machado shot Wallace in the face and neck as the deputy was calling for backup, authorities said.

Investigators later said the deputy was shot execution-style.

After fleeing, Machado carjacked a couple in a nearby town and then attempted another carjacking before he was captured in an alley in Lindsay, about 140 miles southeast of Hughson in Tulare County, authorities said.

Authorities said that two weeks before the killing, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Machado, who had been released on bail for a previous felony offense but failed to show up in court for the start of jury selection in the case. Machado told several people that he wouldnt return to jail and planned to shoot it out with police, the Bee reported.

Machado was convicted of murder with special circumstances, including killing a law enforcement officer on duty. He also was found guilty of carjacking, attempted carjacking and being a felon in possession of a gun.

Machados trial was delayed for two years after he was declared mentally incompetent and was treated at a state mental hospital before trial resumed.

Jurors on Thursday were scheduled to begin a second sanity phase of the trial. If the panel determines that Machado was sane when he shot the deputy, he could face life in prison without chance of parole. If found insance, he could be committed to a state mental hospital.
Were grateful to have the opportunity to serve our communitys demand for Thermoplastic Road Marking. - Rob Miller, President of RAM Pavement

Business owners and property managers are always looking for ways to maintain their paved assets. After all, the pavement around your business makes a critical first impression on visitors and clients. Striping is a vital part of any paving job. It serves to enhance the aesthetics of your property, indicates a well-maintained business, and helps to control vehicle and pedestrian traffic. It also maximizes parking for your tenants, customers, and employees. In many cases, business owners and property managers should have peace of mind that the materials used will last a long time.

Regular traffic paint can last for about a year in low-traffic areas and even less on higher traffic roads. If you are looking for pavement markings that can last for numerous years, thermoplastic pavement marking is the one for you! Its a cost-effective solution known for its longevity and durability. You often see these types of markings on highways, secondary, primary roadways in cities and towns. They typically last up to 5 years on busy highways, 10+ years for parking lots and similar use, and up to 12 years on secondary roads. Apart from the longevity, there are other reasons that these types of markings are the industry's #1 choice.

Thermoplastic Road Markings are also:

Highly reflective - easier to see at night and stays visible during bad weather conditions

Dries Fast! - theres no need to shut down traffic

In Charlotte, North Carolina, there is a high demand for thermoplastic road markings and many paving companies work with subcontractors to finish that part of the job. This can often affect the timeline of project completion because getting the striping part of the job done depends on the availability of the subcontractor to do it.

In the winter of 2019, RAM Pavement launched their own Thermoplastic Road Marking division. With their mission being to offer their clients timely completion of projects, they simply couldnt afford to wait around on an overbooked striping subcontractor. Though this was a whole new vertical market for them, its still very complementary to what they already do. Theyve completed thermoplastic marking projects for the city of Charlotte and numerous businesses across North Carolina.

Their technicians are cross-trained in all aspects of paving so not only are clients getting thermoplastic road marking pros, they're also getting an actual paving company that can do it all. This gives RAM Pavement full control of the schedule because its all in-house. In a recent interview with the President and visionary of RAM Pavement, Rob Miller, he said Were grateful to have the opportunity to serve our communitys demand for Thermoplastic Road Marking.

If you are looking for the best Thermoplastic Road Marking team in Charlotte, give RAM Pavement a call. They laser focus on the last 5% to ensure every scope of the job is done right the first time.


Prep Golf: Riley Zebroski earns all-conference honors, Arrows take 7th in ESD tourney

MITCHELL  Sophomore Riley Zebroski earned all-conference honors by tying for 5th place on Wednesday in the Eastern South Dakota Conference girls golf tournament at the Lakeview Golf Course.
Then-President Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Sept. 24, 2017. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Defense Secretary Supports Investigation Into Officer Who Compared Trump to Hitler

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin backs the probe into a military officer who compared then-President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler last year, the Pentagon said on Monday.

Gen. Richard Clarke, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, notified Austin of the investigation, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters in Washington. Austin supports officials looking more deeply into the matter.

Obviously, we take the need to promote diversity and inclusion seriously here in the department, Kirby said. The secretary has spoken of that many times. And we certainly want that work to be transparent, to be credible, to be effective and, of course, professional. We want everybody to take those duties and those responsibilities seriously and professionally.

Kirby said he would not comment further, pending the outcome of the investigation.

A spokesperson for the command told The Epoch Times over the weekend that officials were not aware of the radical social media posts from Richard Torres-Estrada, who was recently hired as the commands chief of diversity and inclusion.

Now that we are aware of the situation we are looking into it, the spokesperson said.

Richard Torres-Estrada (L) in an undated photograph. (R) The USSOCOM logo. (AFP via Getty Images; USSOCOM)

Torres-Estrada hasnt responded to requests for comment.

In one post, Torres-Estrada used a manipulated image showing Hitler holding a Bible juxtaposed with a picture of Trump holding a Bible. In another post, an image of Trump was emblazoned with negative statements from former Trump administration officials.

Torres-Estrada also expressed support for the quasi-Marxist theory of equity and shared a post denigrating Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

Clarke told members of Congress during a hearing last week that work on diversifying the force is an operational imperative.

In a force charged with solving multifaceted problems in a complex global environment, service members who are included, respected, and empowered are more ready to deter aggression and win wars. We developed a five-year diversity and inclusion strategy and hired a chief diversity and inclusion officer, he said, adding that officials are absolutely committed to finding and removing barriers where they exist, and welcome all service members who have the desire and aptitude to pursue a career in special operations forces.
A 30-year veteran of New Zealands hunting scene will oversee judging in the annual Pureora Forest Park Hunting Competition this year.

The popular competition, managed by the Department of Conservations Maniapoto District staff, is traditionally held in the annual deer roar in autumn.

It was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 nationwide lockdown but returns for 2021 with the addition of pig jaw scoring to be overseen by the Te Kuiti Pig Hunting Club.

New Zealand Deerstalkers Association competition manager Mark Sarjeant will manage the scoring in this years event, drawing on 30 years experience with the Douglas Score system used to determine winners.

He has a good understanding of the history of the Douglas Score system and how hunting in New Zealand has evolved.

I did my first Douglas Score course in 1991. In 1999 I became a National Training Antler Horn and Tusk judge, and then in 2004 I took over running as NZDA AHT competition manager, he says.

The first year the Waikato branch of the NZDA used the Douglas Score was 1949. It was adopted by NZDA in 1957.

The whole idea of the system is you can use it to compare. We can look at heads from the 1950s and 1960s and can compare them to today. When I first started measuring back in the 1990s, you never saw a red deer head that would score more than 300. Now, half the entries at nationals are more than 300. They are just getting better and better.

Mark says hunting has changed over the years he has been participating.

We see a lot more women and children involved, but also now were seeing people in their 40s taking it up.

I think its to do with getting out in the outdoors. If youre going to go for a tramp, why not take a rifle with you? You might see something.

He anticipates a popular and successful competition for 2021 with high interest from hunters who could not get out into the bush in 2020.

Im picking itll be a good roar this year, because a lot of people didnt get out last year. You can only go so long without hunting, you really miss it, he says.

NZDA and its local branches in Te Awamutu and Waikato are providing support for the event. NZDA will have an informative display and stall on the prizegiving day, April 18.

Mark will also be attending to help train other judges.

The competition opened on March 12, and all heads and jaws must be entered by midday April 18 at DOCs Pureora Workshop on Barryville Rd with prizegiving to follow.

There will be activities for both the kids and the adults held at the prizegiving day including a roaring competition, a wildlife photography contest and kiwi aversion training for hunting dogs, free of charge.

There are a range of prizes across several categories in this years competition, thanks to various local sponsors.

These include the highest Douglas scores, average Douglas scores, youth shots, jaw draws, ugliest boar jaw and ugliest red deer head, top 10 Douglas scores and spot prizes throughout the event.

To enter, hunters are required to have a valid hunting permit for Pureora.

Competitors should pre-register heads or jaw at an official recording site.

Competition rules and details of recording stations can be found here or click on News and Events on the DOC website.
Istanbul, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Executes definitive agreements to acquire 70% of Bel Medic 

6 th hospital of Acbadems European portfolio and 4 th country of operations (3 hospital in Bulgaria, 1 in Netherlands and Macedonia) 

hospital of Acbadems European portfolio and 4 country of operations (3 hospital in Bulgaria, 1 in Netherlands and Macedonia)  Bel Medic currently operates with one hospital and five outpatient clinics in Belgrade 

Leverages on the global brand and reputation of Acibadem and emphasizes to continuing the provision of the highest level of clinical care in the country

BELGRADE 29 March 2021  Acbadem Saglk Hizmetleri ve Ticaret A.S. (Acbadem), via its subsidiary, Acbadem City Clinic B.V. (ACC BV), announced today that it has signed definitive agreements for the acquisition of Serbian-based Bel Medic Group and its subsidiaries (Bel Medic), leading private healthcare operator in Serbia.

The transaction is an acquisition of 70% of the Bel Medic Group by ACC BV which is the entity for holding Acbadems investments in Eastern Europe.

Bel Medic, founded in 1995 by Dr. Jasmina Knezevic and Milan Knezevic, is a leading high-quality private healthcare provider in Serbia, operating in Belgrade. It operates one hospital and five outpatient clinics.

The group will operate under the name Acbadem Bel Medic.

Mr. Mehmet Ali Aydnlar, Founder and Chairman of Acbadem, said, We are pleased to have Acbadems sixth European hospital in Belgrade. As a result of our partnership with Bel Medic, as one of the key healthcare service providers in the country, we will be transferring Acbadems know-how into Serbia. I believe that, healthcare service delivery level in Serbia will be elevated to a much higher level led by synergies to be created with Bel Medic.

Mr. Angel Angelov, Chief Executive Officer of Acbadem City Clinic B.V., said, We are extremely excited to further extend our operations in the West Balkans. We believe that our Groups strive for excellency and first-class patient service will have a positive contribution to the Serbian healthcare market.

Mrs. Jasmina Knezevic, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bel Medic, said, It is my great pleasure that Bel Medic successfully entered into partnership with a world class hospital chain. Acibadem is also in Serbia recognized as the leading foreign healthcare institution. From my standpoint, it is of crucial importance that both our institutions share the same core values with focus on top-quality state of the art medicine, excellent patient care and satisfaction. I am sure that strategic merger of two strong brands, Bel Medic and Acibadem will bring premium class healthcare as well as an important impact to the Serbian economy.

The Transaction boosts Acbadems beds globally to more than 4,200 across 22 hospitals in 5 countries. Pending necessary approvals and satisfaction of certain conditions, the deal is expected to close within 3 months. PWC acted as the financial and tax advisors to Acbadem for the Transaction. Acbadems legal advisor leading the Transaction is Esin Attorney Partnership, a Member Firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein and local legal advisor is Prica & Partners.

Ernst & Young acted as the financial and tax advisors to Bel Medic Group and its shareholders. Bel Medic Groups legal advisor for the acquisition is Karanovic & Partners.

For further information;

Please contact:

Evren Gence Ceren Tarhanl

e. evren.gence@acibadem.com e. ceren.tarhanli@acibadem.com

- Ends -

About Acbadem Healthcare Group

Acbadem Healthcare Group (http://www.acibadem.com/en/) is the leading private provider of diagnostic and treatment services in Turkey since 1991. Acbadem has 21 general-purpose hospitals (1 located in Macedonia, 3 in Bulgaria and 1 in Netherlands), 13 outpatient facilities and support services companies and a team of more than 22,500 employees and 4,000 physicians.

Acbadem is a part of a larger global network known as IHH Healthcare Berhad (IHH) (http://www.ihhhealthcare.com/about-overview.php). IHH operates an integrated healthcare business and related services and has leading market positions in its home markets of Singapore, Malaysia and Turkey, and it also has healthcare operations and investments in the Peoples Republic of China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) (PRC), India, Hong Kong, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Netherlands (through Acbadem) and Brunei. IHH Healthcare Berhad is listed on the main markets of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad ("Bursa Securities") and Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited ("SGX-ST"), and is the world's second largest listed healthcare operator by market capitalization.

Attachments
One of three sewer districts in Greenville County that filed a lawsuit to stop the county from consolidating sewer services for unincorporated areas into a single district has reversed course just days ahead of a county-imposed deadline.

Gantt Fire, Sewer and Police District agreed to transfer its sewer services to Metropolitan Sewer Authority, or MetroConnects. The board of MetroConnects approved the agreement March 29 in a unanimous vote at a special called meeting.

The agreement and its accompanying changes in billing structure means thousands of customers will pay significantly more for sewer service beginning July 1.

Average cost per year for the 14,500 customers served in Gantt will rise from $72.60 to $210.36 under MetroConnects. The 190 percent increase comes as billing for sewer service is changed from property taxes to a monthly bill attached to customers water bills. MetroConnects charges a flat monthly fee of $11.25 and a user fee of $1.57 per 1,000 gallons. The average customer uses about 4,000 gallons of water per month.

The MetroConnects board also approved an asset transfer agreement with Wade Hampton Fire and Sewer District on Monday. Wade Hamptons commissioners had voted in January to transfer sewer services to MetroConnects. Greenville County Council must approve each of the changes.

Special purpose districts in Berea and Marietta had previously agreed to transfer sewer services to MetroConnects and County Council already approved those changes.

That leaves Taylors Fire and Sewer and Parker Sewer and Fire districts as holdouts. Those districts, along with Gantt, filed two separate lawsuits in state circuit court in an effort to halt the consolidation plan, which they argue is unconstitutional. A hearing is scheduled in late April.

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Officials with Gantt couldnt be reached for comment Monday about the agreement or pending lawsuit.

When County Council approved the plan to absorb six sewer districts into MetroConnects in December 2020, it included language that would allow the county to take control of the special purpose districts if they didnt agree to transfer control of sewer by the end of March. If districts voluntarily give up sewer service, they will maintain control of their fire departments and other services and assets.

If not, the county may create fire service areas and the departments would need county approval for all budget and tax decisions.

MetroConnects has begun to assess the financial situation and needs of sewer districts that have agreed to consolidate and is moving forward with its plan to take over service and billing on July 1, said Carolyn Farr Shanesy, MetroConnects spokeswoman. That wont depend on the pending litigation from Taylors and Parker, she said.

Were still open to conversation with them, Shanesy said.
Next stores have been closed since the third lockdown and sales have suffered (Yui Mok/PA)

Retail giant Next, which has around 20 stores in NI, has said all its units will reopen after lockdown eases.

The clothing company said no store closures were planned and that leases were not reviewed until they reach their natural end.

The retail industry has come under increasing pressure during lockdown, with many turning to shopping online as an alternative while non-essential retail has been closed.

But Next said its store estate would remain intact for the foreseeable future. A spokesman said: "Next always reviews every lease, wherever it is in the UK, when they come to their natural ends.

"Next then re-negotiates new leases with landlords at that point. That's the only scenario (ie, the landlord and Next can't agree new terms) when Next would vacate at the end of the old tenancy."

The company is to announce its preliminary full-year results on Thursday, which will be eagerly watched for indications of the impact of the pandemic.

In January, its chief executive Lord Wolfson said coronavirus restrictions would mean that the business would make pre-tax profits of about 342m, compared with 729m before the pandemic.

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Whatsapp Retail giant Next has around 20 stores in Northern Ireland and says all will reopen after lockdown measures are eased

He also estimated that full-year sales would be down by 16% after retailers were closed for much of last year.

However, Next's strong online presence has insulated it from the worst potential impact of plummeting high street sales.

It is also developing a technology unit, Total Platform, and has bought a stake in high-end clothing chain Reiss.
Ghislaine Maxwell Faces New Sex Trafficking Charges

Prosecutors expand case

NEW YORKU.S. prosecutors on Monday expanded their criminal case against Ghislaine Maxwell, saying the British socialite helped procure a fourth girl for the late financier Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse.

An amended indictment against Maxwell now covers alleged crimes stretching from 1994 to 2004 in New York and Florida, including accusations that she paid the girl, known as Minor Victim-4, hundreds of dollars for each sexual act with Epstein.

Maxwell, who was Epsteins longtime associate and former girlfriend, faces new charges of sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking of a minor in the eight-count indictment, as well as earlier charges that include perjury.

She had previously pleaded not guilty to helping Epstein recruit and groom three teenage girls for sex between 1994 and 1997 in New York. Maxwell, 59, has been held in a jail in Brooklyn since her arrest last July.

Lawyers for Maxwell did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

It is unclear whether the new charges could lead to a postponement of Maxwells scheduled July 12 trial before U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan, though prosecutors said Maxwell should have ample time to prepare.

In a letter to the judge, prosecutors said they have given Maxwells lawyers the month and year when the fourth victim was born and key evidence about her.

They also said they plan to turn over large amounts of other evidence, including statements from more than 250 witnesses related to their investigation of Epstein and his associates.

Epstein died at age 66 in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

His estate was used to create a fund expected to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution to victims of his sexual abuses. The fund has received more than 175 claims.

Lingerie

According to the amended indictment, Maxwell and Epstein recruited the fourth victim to engage in sex acts with Epstein at his home in Palm Beach, Florida, and successfully encouraged her to recruit other girls to do the same.

The indictment said Epsteins employees, including Maxwell, also sent gifts such as lingerie to the girls Florida home from New York, where Epstein had a townhouse on Manhattans Upper East Side. That townhouse was sold this month for $51 million.

In late January and early February, Maxwell filed 12 motions seeking to dismiss all or part of the government case, or at least make it more difficult to win a conviction.

Maxwell has said the government targeted her only because Epstein died and prosecutors wanted someone else to blame, and that she was covered by Epsteins own non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors in Florida.

She has also said the perjury charges, based on depositions from 2016 in a civil lawsuit, should be tossed because her answers were true, and the grand jury in suburban White Plains, New York, that indicted her had too few nonwhite jurors.

Last week, another federal judge in Manhattan refused to dismiss espionage charges against a former CIA employee indicted in White Plains early in the COVID-19 pandemic, rejecting the defendants argument that the jury was not diverse enough.

That ruling may foreshadow the outcome of Maxwells dismissal request.

On March 22, Judge Nathan rejected Maxwells third request for bail, saying Maxwell remained a significant flight risk.

By Jonathan Stempel

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report
After China announced the extension of military drill being conducted by People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the disputed territorial waters of the South China Sea to March 31, defense chiefs of Japan and Indonesia on Monday agreed to boost defense cooperation in the disputed region to deter Chinas belligerence and PLAs unilateral attempts of changing status quo in the South and East China seas. In an attempt to tackle Chinas aggression after at least 200 PRC flagged militias flotillas anchored in Julian Felipe Reef (Chinese name Whitsun Reef; Vietnam's Da Ba Dau) within the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and Indonesian defense chief Prabowo Subianto decided to hold 2+2 talks on Tuesday in Tokyo to bolster regional diplomacy and military influence to deter Chinese threat.

The two countries will invoke forces to hold a joint military exercise in the South China Sea to upgrade maritime defenses for its Southeast Asian ally nations, Japans defense minister Kishi told a presser, according to sources of Japans Kyodo news agency. Furthermore, he condemned Chinas assertiveness and boat incursion near Spratly islands at about 175 nautical miles (324 kilometers) west of Bataraza town in the western Philippine province of Palawan that violated the maritime rights and sovereignty of the Philippines.

Japan, in an apparent shift of its diplomatic posture, questioned Chinas new Coast Guard regulation that states the PLA can take all necessary measures, including the use of weapons, when [China's] national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction are being illegally infringed upon by foreign organizations or individuals at sea." The United States backed Japans sentiments as it voiced support for its oldest ally Philippines denouncing Chinas use of militias to intimidate, provoke, and threaten smaller island nations.

Yesterday, the JASDFs fighters scrambled to cope with suspect of intrusion into Japans airspace over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

Leaving nothing to chance, the JSDF continues to engage in airspace anti-intrusion measures.(a sample image) pic.twitter.com/RfMzf0faEj  Japan Joint Staff (@JapanJointStaff) March 30, 2021

We share the concerns of our Philippine allies. The PRC uses maritime militia to intimidate, provoke, and threaten other nations, which undermines peace and security in the region, the Embassy said in a statement.

[Chinese flagged vessels. Image Credit: Twitter/@seanleicester1]

We stand with the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in Asia, the US Embassy in Manila said in a statement, referring to Chinese incursion in the West Philippine Sea. The US embassy stated that it has seen reports of the Peoples Republic of Chinas fishing vessels swarming near Whitsun, unwilling to deter its course despite repeated warnings made by Philippines Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. A diplomatic protest was filed against Chinese boats by F oreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday.

The U.S. stands with the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in Asia, and shares its concerns over the Peoples Republic of Chinas use of its maritime militia to undermine peace and security in the South China Sea. #FriendsPartnersAllieshttps://t.co/0YhXIC1yNp  U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (@USEmbassyPH) March 26, 2021

The United States stands with our ally, the Philippines, in the face of the PRC's maritime militia amassing at WhitsunReef. We will always stand by our allies and stand up for the rules-based international order.  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 28, 2021

Philippines to enhance naval forces

In retaliation to the PLAs territorial encroachment that is now a major military flashpoints, Philippines on March 28 sent fighter aircrafts that conducted flybys hovering over hundreds of Chinese flotillas, escalating tensions. In a subsequent statement, Defense Secretary Lorenzana warned that the Philippines will shortly enhance its naval forces in the territorial waters that will conduct sovereignty patrols and safeguard the Philippines' maritime resources and the fishermen.

Meanwhile, Chinese embassy in the Philippines reacted strongly against military escalation in the South China sea, as it said that it was under normal circumstances that the Chinese vessels sought shelter near Nius reef in hundreds, one of the "main archipelagoes" in the South China Sea, which China claims in its entirety despite United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UNCLOS recognizing it as international waters.

(Image Credit: AP)
Arkansas has lifted its mask mandate and made everyone aged 16 and older eligible to get COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesday.

Governor Asa Hutchinson said on Tuesday that businesses, such as restaurants and stores, will have the option to require masks on their premises and implored residents to respect those decisions.

'Please be respectful and mindful that while the mask mandate is lifted, there will be many that continue to wear it, many businesses will continue to require it,' he said.

'Be respectful of that and if you don't want to comply with that, then you have options to go somewhere else.'

In additional, all residents in Arkansas are now eligible for vaccinations. making Wyoming the only state that has not announced plans to expand access to all adults.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson lifted the state's mask mandate on Tuesday and announced that all residents aged 16 and older are now eligible to get COVID-19 vaccines. Pictured: A nurse at Pat Walker Health Center gives a vaccination to a university patient

In total, 11 states that are making vaccine available to all adults starting this week, with an average of 2.7 million being vaccinated every day

Hutchinson first implemented the mask mandate in July 2020 after the state experienced a surge of cases.

However, in February, he said he would end the measure if Arkansas met two benchmarks: a positivity rate of less than 10 percent and below 750 hospitalizations.

Currently, 164 people are hospitalized, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.

Local municipalities will be allowed to continue mask policies - although Hutchinson does not believe most will - as will local school districts.

Little Rock, the state capital, announced it will be continuing its mask mandate.

Hutchinson warned Arkansasans to not assume the state or the country is 'out of the woods' yet and that precautions are still necessary.

'We want to make sure we stay in the right direction by taking these steps,' he said.

At the same press conference, Hutchinson said Arkansas will be joining 10 states that made vaccines eligible to all adults this week.

Six of those states - Kansas, Louisiana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas - lifted restrictions for residents aged 16 and older by Monday.

Minnesota removed restrictions on Tuesday, Indiana and South Carolina will follow on Wednesday and Connecticut will on Thursday.

In addition, New York lowered coronavirus vaccine eligibility to New Yorkers aged 30 and older beginning on Tuesday and all adults will be eligible on April 6.

Of Arkansas's 1.6 million doses, 1.1 million have administered, and the state will receive an extra 25,000 doses this week from the federal government.

'Get the vaccine, don't delay,' Hutchinson said.

As of Tuesday, 96 million Americans - 28.9% of population - have received at least one dose, and 53.4 million - or 16.1% of the population - are fully immunized

According to the White House, 26 states have already opened or will open eligibility by April 15 and 49 states, and the District of Columbia, have pledged to do so by May 1, in line with President Joe Biden's goal.

This leaves just one state, Wyoming, that has not yet confirmed plans to expand eligibility ahead or by the May 1 deadline.

As of Tuesday, 96 million Americans, 28.9 percent of population, have received at least one dose, according to the CDC.

Meanwhile, 53.4 million, or 16.1 percent of the population, are fully immunized, with an average of 2.7 million people vaccinated every day.
It is believed that the government is still playing a dominant role in the economy. In fact, as agriculture is the mainstay of the nation's economy, in which 80 percent of the population relies on it in one way or another, the private sector's role is insignificant.

Experience indicated that due to various reasons most public enterprises are in efficient and ineffective. During the Derg era when command economy was prevailed private sector was barred even engaging in cottage industries.

At that time, many enterprises were managed by politically appointed personnel who had no a passion to the required profession. As the result, many of them produced below their capacity and others faced bankruptcy. The absence of sense of ownership also further aggravated the situation. Such and other situations forced the government to restructure and privatize public enterprises.

For the last 27 years though the EPRDF regime used to announce that it had intended to privatize public institutions, but the pace was not as it had been expected and some of the privatization activities were carried out in a none transparent manner and even favored politically affiliated business tycoons.

Recently, however, the Minister of Transport Dagmawit Moges announced that the government showed green light to the foreign investors to involve in selected sectors through joint venture with local investors.

Among the sectors opened for the joint venture are transiting goods, agents of shipping lines, local air transport services and trans-regional land transportation services which utilize vehicles with a capacity to carry more than 45 people.

Reacting to this announcement, the renowned economist and business man Kebour Ghenna said that the joint venture can bring new working culture along with technology and innovation; develop capacity of local companies; creates job opportunities and transfer knowledge vital to the nation's economic growth.

However, Kebour said that the joint venture should define the percentage of the money that shareholders entitled by local and foreign investors contribute. In some countries, the percentage of share disproportionately set up to 1 percent to local and 99 percent to foreign companies which in turn make local investors vulnerable to be removed from the playing field.

On the other hand, in some countries foreign investors start business with local investors in joint venture with 50 percent of each shareholder and later when renovating the business, foreign investors ask local investors to rise up to 500 million

Dollars and when they fail to inject such amount the foreigners monopolize 100 percent of the company and such practice leaves local investors bankrupted.

To his view Kebour said that, for the initial phase, it is better giving local investors 30 percent share and the rest to the foreigners. Hence, each activity should be conducted cautiously.

With regard to the opening of the domestic air transport to the joint venture Kebour said that the measure is rather taken lately.

For long, the air transport was monopolized by the Ethiopian airlines. Hence, introducing Joint venture with the participation of foreign companies make the industry relied on competition.

Currently, there are many foreign companies which already have invested in various sectors such as modern farming, manufacturing and trade and created job opportunities for thousands.

In addition to these, by exporting their products they enable the nation to obtain significant amount of foreign exchange and the introduction of joint venture further stimulates the nation's economy.

Dr. Atlaw Alemu, an economist and a researcher, for his part said that Ethiopia aspires to transform its economy from agriculture led to industry led economy.

But the nation still exports agricultural products which can be used as input for industries. The raw form of the exported products made it incompetent in the international market hence instead of exporting the products in the raw form, exporting by adding value give them advantageous position in the market.

For example, exporting packed meat, processed animals' skin and hide, leather and leather products and shoes instead of exporting live animals will enable the nation to gain significant amount of hard currency.

There are also other examples. Instead of exporting coffee in its raw form, it would rather better for traders to export fried coffee which has a high demand in foreign markets.

But to do the job, local investors have various limitations such as lack of better knowhow and skills, capital, technology and experience among others. Hence, opening the mentioned sectors for joint venture would help the nation to gain a lot.

Currently, Ethiopia imports agricultural products unnecessarily. For example, edible oil is imported from abroad. But there are sufficient agricultural products which can be used as inputs for producing cooking oil such as sesame and nigger.

Most local investors engaged in export and import trade do not dare to engage in manufacturing of producing cooking oil because of the threat it might bring its own risk which lead to financially unpredictable. But such skepticism is groundless therefore opening the door for joint venture can be a remedy in this regard.

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As mentioned above working with foreign companies helps to transfer knowledge and skills to local entrepreneurs and in the long run it will help local investors to build confidence to do the job by their own.

As to Kebour, to strengthen the involvement of local companies in air transport, government should provide tax holidays, subsidy and access to loan. Unless they are supported, they may not withstand the pressure from foreign shareholders and ultimately might be swallowed by foreign companies as mentioned above.

Asked whether there is sufficient capacity in enforcing contracts Kebour said that courts are inefficient in enforcing contracts. Particularly when dispute arises between the public and private entities, justice will be delayed or even denied.

In this digital era making swift decision is a decisive factor to run business effectively and efficiently. When decision is delayed, business might be stagnated. If a warehouse is closed for a year and stayed with no function, it incurs heavy loss on the disputing parties.

In some countries enforcing contracts and dispute settlements are carried out within 24 hours. Therefore, to redress the ill performance, courts should be reinvigorated.
Inspiration4, the world's first all-civilian space mission, announced winners of the two remaining seats of the four-person crew that will launch into orbit later this year.

The new passengers include Sian Proctor, a community college educator in Tempe, Arizona, and Chris Sembroski, a former Air Force missileman from Everett, Washington.

They will join flight billionaire Jared Isaacman, who purchased the flight, and Hayley Arceneaux, a a physician assistant at St. Jude's Hospital, who was revealed as a winner earlier this year.

The team, which will be under the command of Isaacman, will fly aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket on a historic voyage to the stars this autumn.

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Jared Isaacman, from left to right, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Chris Sembroski are part of the Inspiration4 crew that is the first all-civilian space flight

Isaacman is head of Shift4 Payments, a credit card-processing company in Pennsylvania, and is paying for what would be SpaceX's first private flight while raising money for St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

The goal is to raise $200 million for the hospital, half of which is coming from Isaacman's own pocket - independent donors have given a total of $13 million since February.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule will launch no earlier than mid-September, aiming for an altitude of 335 miles, which is 75 miles higher than the International Space Station (ISS) and on a level with the Hubble Space Telescope.

Isaacman will pilot the craft and serve as spacecraft commander, and at the time of the first announcement he said three of the seats would go to the public.

The team, which will be under the command of Isaacman (second from left), will fly aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket on a historic voyage to the stars this autumn

Arceneaux, 29, named to the crew a month ago, is a St Jude physician's assistant who was treated at the hospital as a child for bone cancer.

She will also become the youngest American in space and the first to make the journey with a prosthesis.

'My battle with cancer really prepared me for space travel,' Arceneaux said in a February interview with The Associated Press.

'It made me tough, and then also I think it really taught me to expect the unexpected and go along for the ride.'

And Tuesday, the last remaining seats have been officially filled.

Proctor, 51, is an entrepreneur, educator, trained pilot and active voice in the space exploration community.

She was selected as the top entrant of an independently judged online business competition that attracted approximately 200 entries and was conducted by the eCommerce platform Shift4Shop.

And an independent panel of judges chose her space art website dubbed Space2inspire.

Isaacman is head of Shift4 Payments, a credit card-processing company in Pennsylvania, and is paying for what would be SpaceX's first private flight while raising money for St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis

Hayley Arceneaux, 29, named to the crew a month ago, is a St Jude physician's assistant

'It was like when Harry Potter found out he was a wizard, a little bit of shock and awe,' Proctor said last week. 'It's like, 'I'm the winner?'

Proctor, who studied geology, applied three times to NASA's astronaut corps, coming close in 2009, and took part in simulated Mars missions in Hawaii.

She was born in Guam, where her late father worked at Nasa's tracking station for the Apollo moonshots, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's.

She plans to teach from space and create art up there too.

She was treated at the hospital as a child for bone cancer

'To me, everything that I've done has brought me to this moment.'

The last seat was awarded to Sembroski, 41, who donated and entered the lottery but was not picked in the random drawing earlier this month  his friend was.

His friend declined to fly for personal reasons and offered the spot to Sembroski, who worked as a Space Camp counsellor in college and volunteered for space advocacy groups.

'Just finding out that I'm going to space was an incredible, strange, surreal event,' he said.

Sian Proctor, 51, is an entrepreneur, educator, trained pilot and active voice in the space exploration community. She was selected as the top entrant of an independently judged online business competition that attracted approximately 200 entries

'It was like when Harry Potter found out he was a wizard, a little bit of shock and awe,' Proctor said last week. 'It's like, 'I'm the winner?'

Sembroski will serve as the Mission Specialist and will help manage payload, science experiments, communications to mission control and more.

The four-person expedition is planned for late this year and will take off in SpaceX's Dragon craft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and orbit around Earth for three days.

Details of the ride in a SpaceX Dragon capsule are still being worked out, including the number of days the four will be in orbit after blasting off from Florida.

The Inspiration4 crew will not be going into space blind, but will receive commercial astronaut training by SpaceX on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft, orbital mechanics, operating in microgravity, zero gravity and other forms of stress testing before traveling into the last frontier.

'There will be several months of training,' Isaacman told DailyMail.com.

The last seat was awarded to Christopher Sembroski, 41, who donated and entered the lottery but was not picked in the random drawing earlier this month  his friend was

His friend declined to fly for personal reasons and offered the spot to Sembroski, who worked as a Space Camp counsellor in college and volunteered for space advocacy groups

The Inspiration4 crew will not be going into space blind, but will receive commercial astronaut training by SpaceX on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft, orbital mechanics, operating in microgravity, zero gravity and other forms of stress testing before traveling into the last frontier.

'NASA has signed off on the training curriculum and the only difference [from standard astronaut training] is that we aren't going to the International Space Station or doing a spacewalk.'

'This means we will do simulators, emergency training and we are going to need time from mid-March to launch.'

The Inspiration4 mission will also take a payload of experiments with the crew.

'While we are up there we are going to bring payloads and do experiments,' Isaacman said.

'We offered to take payloads from St. Jude's and other places because the wait list is extremely long.'
HELSINKI, March 30, 2021/PRNewswire/ -- Sako is one of the world's most prestigious rifle and cartridge brands. Our reputation, high-quality products and credibility are rooted in the unique skills of our employees and in their professional pride. Sako has an eventful and rich history behind it. Over a period of 100 years, the company has grown by focusing on internationalisation, the excellence of its products, respect for its own craftsmen and personnel, and on offering innovative solutions for the needs of its customers.

Sako, a manufacturer of firearms founded 100 years ago on 1 April 1921, is a special case in Finnish industrial history. The factory was established as part of the Civil Guard to meet its needs for gun repair. The workshop became an independent financial unit on 1 April 1921, so Sako has determined that date to be its moment of establishment. In addition to repair work, Sako also began to manufacture firearms.

After the war, it was owned by the Finnish Red Cross and later by Nokia and Valmet. Over the last 20 years, Sako has been under the ownership of one of the world's oldest family firms, Beretta. As a Finnish company of rare quality, Sako also ensured the successful entry of its rifles into the large American gun market back in the 1950s. Still today, Sako is Europe's largest supplier of rifles to North America, and exports its products globally to over 50 countries.

The workshop had initially been called Suojeluskuntain Ase- ja Konepaja Osakeyhtio (Civil Guard Firearm and Engineering Co Ltd) and in 1927 became a limited company with its name abbreviated to the acronym, Sako. The company continued to be wholly owned by the Civil Guard, and competitive marksman and Civil Guard leader, P.E. Svinhufvud, was elected the first Chairman of the Board. At the same time, the company moved from Helsinki to a factory site in Riihimaki, where it continues to operate to this day. In Riihimaki, the assembly of a new model of rifle, the M28, began. Nicknamed 'Pystykorva' (the dog breed 'Spitz'), this rifle proved to be even better than similar weapons being used by the defence forces, in terms of its quality. At the same time, the company also began to manufacture cartridges. Sako is the world's only rifle manufacturer that also makes cartridges itself.

Despite the good quality of its products, however, Sako Ltd's development was initially poor. Nevertheless, this situation changed when the tense political situation in Europe in the late 1930s prompted the Finnish government to launch an extensive armaments programme. Thanks to substantial orders for pistol cartridges, the company's financial situation became well-established and the factory was able to expand.

The Winter War, the Interim Peace and the Continuation War were very busy periods for the company. Sako became the country's largest producer of pistol cartridges, as practically all the cartridges fired from Finnish machine pistols were made by the company. Orders for the newest model of rifle, the M39, also swelled to unprecedented proportions and the number of personnel at the factory increased to 800, a considerable number of whom were women during the war years. Riihimaki was bombed during the war, but the grounds of the Sako factory were spared the worst of the destruction.

The end of the war marked a threatening turning point for Sako. In November 1944, the Civil Guard ended up on a list of organisations prohibited by the Control Commission. The organisation's leadership had, however, already made preparations to secure its assets, as a result of which Sako shares were transferred to the ownership of the Finnish Red Cross under the leadership of Field Marshal Mannerheim. The Finnish Red Cross thus undoubtedly became the only national unit of its global organisation to have ownership in the weapons industry.

After the war, Sako had to find new articles to sell. The cartridge department began manufacturing tools and small metal products like lipstick tubes, and the engineering department repaired guns. Economically more significant was the textile machinery production that was launched in 1947. The machines were mainly sold to Finnish textile mills.

In 1946, Jaeger Colonel Elias Hyden was appointed General Manager of Sako and the company reverted to manufacturing firearms. The L46 hunting rifle conceived during the war was introduced into production in 1946. It sold very nicely, not only in Finland but also in the Nordic countries and Western Europe.

The most significant breakthrough and, at the same time, the greatest achievement of Colonel Hyden was Sako's entry into the US market.Jan Winter, an agent of the American company Firearms International, had acquired a Sako L46 and was ready to sell it in the USA. The possibilities in this prosperous country with a strong gun culture were immense, but competition was also tough. The popularity of the high-quality rifle surprised everyone, however, and Sako's exports to the USA increased year on year during the 1950s.

In 1952, the US was already Sako's largest export country and, in 1953, sales even exceeded those in Finland. Success for Finnish consumer products in the American market was then - and continues to be - quite an exceptional achievement, and it was also a decisive step forward in the development of Sako.

In 1962, Suomen Kaapelitehdas Oy (Finnish Cable Factory Ltd) bought the entire shareholding of the growing company from the Finnish Red Cross. At the end of the decade, Kaapelitehdas and Sako were transferred to the ownership of the upwardly mobile conglomerate of Nokia. For Sako, the 1960s was a decade of good growth. In addition to hunting rifles and cartridges, the company also returned to the production of military weapons when it received an order from the Finnish Defence Forces for new assault rifles.

The boom, however, turned negative during the 1970s. Profitability weakened and the workforce had to be reduced year after year.

In 1986, Nokia agreed with state-owned Valmet the merger of the two companies' weapons businesses. Sako-Valmet Oy, which comprised three firearms factories, Riihimaki, Jyvaskyla Tourula and Tikkakoski, began operations at the beginning of 1987. In order to achieve profitability, over the years it had to prune both its operations and workforce.

The Sako 75 range of products unveiled in 1996 became the turning point for the company. The success of Sako's first weapon to be designed as new from the very beginning turned the company's share price around and also helped Sako in its next step: It had long been evident that the resources of a company the size of Sako and the interest of its then owners, Nokia and Valmet, would not suffice in international competition, and that the company would have to merge with a larger player in the weapons industry. At the end of the millennium, the Italian Beretta Group expressed an interest in Sako and acquired all the company's shares.

Under Beretta's ownership, Sako has enjoyed 21 years of growth. Being owned by this large company dedicated to the weapons industry has supported Sako in its development and in the growth of its volumes. A major sales success has been the Tikka T3, the one millionth unit of which Sako sold in 2020. Rarely have bolt action rifles sold as many as this anywhere in the world. That same year, the company also launched the revamped Sako S20 hybrid rifle. The launch of this technically highly developed weapon coincided nicely with Sako's all-time production record, which was more than 113,000 rifles in 2020. Also that year, Sako launched the first copper bullet designed and manufactured in-house, the Sako Powerhead Blade, and broke its record for cartridge production with more than 11 million cartridges made.

Sako is moving into its second century as a skilled weapons manufacturer that operates on a long-term basis and keeps abreast of the times. Sako is developing world-class hunting-, military- and target rifles and cartridges and, by combining its knowledge of both rifle and cartridge production, Sako is able to offer products whose strengths are uncompromising precision and reliability.

Sako is looking to the future with more confidence than ever. We are proudly continuing the development of the skills and know-how of rifle production and respecting the surrounding nature as we navigate towards the next 100 years.

Further information:

General Manager Raimo Karjalainen, Sako Ltd, tel. +358 10 830 5201

Materials

Documentary film:

Sako 100 years short documentary film in English:

https://youtu.be/9kmWnvy0wY0

Credentials for media bank:

Sako.materialbank.net

Sakopress

Sakopress1

Social media:

www.sako.fi

www.tikka.fi

Instagram: @sako_international

Instagram: @tikka_international

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sakointernational

YouTube: www.youtube.com/sakoltd

Sako's key figures

Net sales 98.0 million

Personnel 320

Sites:

 Riihimaki - Head office and rifle- and cartridge factory

 Hausjarvi - Cartridge charging

 Stockholm - Sako Sweden

 Toronto - Stoeger Canada Inc.

Production 2020:

 Rifles - 113,000

 Cartridges - 11 million

Export:

 Main market areas: USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia and Europe

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

The following files are available for download:
Leaders of Russia, France, Germany discuss global crises View Photo

MOSCOW (AP)  The leaders of Russia, France and Germany met by conference call Tuesday and discussed coronavirus vaccines, the Iranian nuclear standoff and the conflicts in eastern Ukraine, Libya and Syria.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin also responded to questions about jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny raised by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron in their frank and business-like video call.

In its readout of the call, the Kremlin noted that the three leaders talked about prospects for the registration of the Russia-designed Sputnik V vaccines in the European Union and the possibility of its shipments and joint production in EU nations.

The European Medicines Agency started a rolling review of Sputnik V earlier this month. Russia has been actively marketing Sputnik V abroad despite a slow pace of its rollout at home, in what some in the EU saw as an attempt to score geopolitical points.

The offices of Merkel and Macron said in their readouts of the call that the three leaders discussed opportunities for cooperation in the vaccine sector in view of the EMAs evaluation of Sputnik V, which is carried out according to the same standards that apply to other vaccines.

While talking about the situation in eastern Ukraine, the three leaders emphasized that a 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany has no alternative, the Kremlin said.

It noted that Putin emphasized the need for Ukraine to honor its obligations to provide special status to the rebel regions as stipulated in the 2015 deal. Ukraine has pushed for amending the agreement, but Russia has staunchly rejected the push.

The fighting between Russia-backed separatists and government forces in eastern Ukraine erupted after Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimea and has left more than 14,000 dead.

In its readout of the call, Macrons office emphasized the need for Russia to act resolutely to secure a cease-fire in the east that has been routinely violated.

The Kremlins statement said the three leaders voiced hope that Libyas transitional authorities will help advance an inclusive political process in the war-stricken country.

All three also reiterated support for the Iranian nuclear deal and touched on the disastrous humanitarian situation in Syria, according to their respective statements.

In an exchange on Belarus, which has been engulfed by protests ever since the August re-election of the ex-Soviet nations authoritarian president that the opposition rejected as fraudulent, Merkel and Macron spoke in favor of an inclusive national dialogue, according to their offices. In a statement reflecting Moscows staunch support for the Belarusian leader, the Kremlin said that Putin warned against foreign meddling in the countrys affairs.

Putin also said Russia was open for normalization of ties between Russia and the European Union, which have been strained recently over the poisoning and the jailing of Navalny. Navalny, Putins most outspoken opponent, was arrested in January 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 2 1/2 years in prison for violating the terms of his probation while convalescing in Germany. He rejected the charges as the Kremlins political vendetta. Navalny said in a letter from prison that he was suffering from back and leg pains and complained about prison officials failure to provide proper medical assistance.

Russian officials have rejected demands from the United States and the European Union to free Navalny and stop the crackdown on his supporters.

In Tuesdays call, Merkel and Macron emphasized the need for Russia to respect Navalnys rights in compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights and protect his health, according to Macrons office.

The Kremlin said only that Putin offered an objective explanation in response to questions about Navalny posed by Merkel and Macron and emphasized Moscows readiness to restore normal unpoliticized interaction with the EU if it shows interest in that.

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

Associated Press
FXChoice, the broker originally used by defunct get-rich-quick scheme Mirror Trading International, has transferred around 1,200 bitcoin that laid frozen in an account since June 2020.

The funds were transferred to a liquidator in South Africa at the authorisation of the Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA), FXChoice stated.

Mirror Trading International (MTI) was a scheme that claimed to offer automated trading services  initially in forex, and later in cryptocurrency derivatives  with growth rates of between 0.5% and 1.5% per day.

It was declared the biggest cryptocurrency scam of 2020 by Chainalysis.

MTI collapsed after CEO Johann Steynberg disappeared in December, allegedly while travelling in Brazil. The FSCA suspects that Steynberg fled to Panama via Brazil.

The FSCA have authorised the dispersal of MTIs frozen funds at FXChoice to the appointed liquidators, FXChoice said in its statement.

We confirm that the transfer has now been completed and we consider the matter closed.

While FXChoice did not say how much bitcoin it had transferred, the FSCAs head of investigations and enforcement, Brandon Topham, recently told the Moneyweb Crypto podcast that it was around 1,200 BTC.

A separate industry source has confirmed to MyBroadband that the figure of over 1,200 BTC is accurate.

Topham said that he was not aware of any other assets that have been located or recovered yet. The funds recovered from FXChoice will therefore be the first.

MyBroadband contacted the FSCA for comment, and Topham explained that the bitcoin was not transferred to the FSCA, but directly to the liquidators. He directed all further queries to the liquidators.

Liquidator Investrust did not respond by the time of publication.

Mirror Trading International and FXChoice

MTI started off as a more conventional copy trading service, but changed its operating model after incurring substantial losses in May/June 2019.

The surge in growth of the scheme came after it adopted a multilevel marketing referral system and posted consistent profits after purportedly switching to an automated trading program, or bot.

During this initial period, MTI claimed to use FXChoice as its broker. However, FXChoice cut MTI off and froze its assets on 10 June 2020.

MTI opened an account declaring that all the funds they were going to trade were their own, FXChoice stated in August last year.

FXChoices statement came after several regulators around the world had issued warnings about MTI. MTI had also continued to use FXChoice in its marketing material even though its account had been suspended.

By August 2020 the Texas State Securities Board, Canadas Autorite des Marches Financiers, and South Africas Financial Sector Conduct Authority had all issued warnings about MTI  after FXChoice had already frozen the account.

According to FXChoice, MTIs account was first opened in 2017 under the personal profile of its CEO, Johann Steynberg.

We didnt notice any suspicious activity with the trading volume and the deposits were small, said FXChoice.

Their activity picked up in May 2020; by this time, the account had been converted to corporate status. This was when the deposits and trades were made.

FXChoice said that due to large deposits, and the fact that FXChoice was mentioned in MTIs marketing videos, it decided to take a closer look at the account.

As a result, MTIs account with FXChoice was locked until MTI could produce the necessary documentation, which it never did.

FXChoice said its decision was proven to be the right one as the warnings from regulators started coming out.

We want to make it clear that the information naming FXChoice as the broker where MTI executes its Forex operations is inaccurate, FXChoice stated.

The same can be said about their claims of using artificial intelligence software. Before the account was blocked, they executed just a few trading operations, which were performed manually, large, and incurred substantial losses.

The bitcoin that lay frozen in MTIs old FXChoice account has now been transferred to liquidators in South Africa.

MTI has been provisionally liquidated and its final liquidation hearing has been postponed until 31 May 2021.

One faction within the MTI membership and former leadership are calling for MTI to be placed in business rescue rather than liquidation. Another faction is asking for a Section 155 compromise.

Should MTI be liquidated, the appointed liquidators could use the recovered funds to pay people back a small portion of the money they lost by investing in MTI.

Billions in Bitcoin transferred to top MTI earners

Despite the warnings from regulators and many others that MTI was likely a scam, thousands of people continued to invest their money in the scheme between August and December 2020.

According to Chainalysis, MTI received $588 million (R8.8 billion) worth of bitcoin across more than 470,000 transactions, primarily from exchanges, but also from self-hosted wallets.

Data from the MTILeaks, released in September 2020 by a group calling themselves Anonymous ZA, showed that as at 14 September 2020 nearly 23,000 bitcoin had been deposited into the scheme.

At the time, 23,000 bitcoin was worth roughly R4 billion. At todays exchange rates it amounts to over R16 billion.

This money flowed up the MTI multi-level marketing rewards structure, with the MTILeaks showing that some of the more prominent promoters of the scheme had withdrawn millions of rands in profit before its collapse.

Given that many more people deposited money into the scheme between September and December, it can be concluded that the recovery of 1,200 bitcoin is less than 5% of the total funds invested in MTI.

Even though it is worth over R1 billion at todays exchange rates, when split equitably over everyone who lost money in MTI the recovered funds will not stretch far.
Abbott, the global healthcare leader, has unveiled a digital film and television commercial (TVC) to launch its new Brufen Power spray, an in-house innovation that addresses the need for a targeted solution to address physical pain. The ad film reinforces the benefits of Brufen Power sprays unique double-strength formulation of proven pain-relieving active ingredient diclofenac, delivered with a unique one-shot spray that ensures only the needed amount is sprayed on. This minimizes wastage and ensures at least 800 sprays.

With the launch of Brufen Power spray, a topical analgesic, Abbott expands its Brufen portfolio, which is over 40 years old in India. This is an example of Abbotts continuous innovation approach, aimed at pairing insights with technology such as novel formulations and delivery mechanisms, to address evolving patient needs.

Physical pain can affect anyone, at some stage of life, which is why it is important to have a ready, on-hand solution. Abbotts campaign outlines how Brufen Power spray offers quick and effective pain management, with double-strength diclofenac, and key pain-relieving ingredients methyl salicylate and menthol. The film features actor Tiger Shroff in the midst of a strenuous fitness routine, showcasing the power of targeted pain relief in enabling swift recuperation. This is captured in the brand proposition, Seedha dard pe kare vaar.

Abbott has always strived to create scientifically proven solutions to address health needs, so people can live better and fuller lives, said Dr. Srirupa Das, Director, Medical Affairs, Abbott. Fast-paced lifestyles place greater demands on us, and people need solutions that provide quick relief from strong pain, while also ensuring low wastage. The new Brufen Power spray directly targets the source of pain with a unique formula. The metered dose in the compact pack and the unique spray mechanism fulfills the need for a solution that is easy to use and is effective.

The integrated campaign can be seen across media platforms, including digital and e-commerce portals.
[March 30, 2021] Cerelia Group Acquires US Waffle and Receives Strategic Investment From Continental Grain Company

Cerelia is delighted to announce that it has both acquired US Waffle and received a strategic equity investment from Continental Grain Company ("CGC"). US Waffle Acquisition: US Waffle specializes in the production of premium pancakes and waffles, using only the finest and freshest ingredients. Founded in 2013, the dynamic company has quickly scaled to support some of North America's largest brands with on-trend products. Located in South Carolina, US Waffle has remarkable production and distribution capabilities, which can accommodate Cerelia's ambitious growth plans and meet the high expectations of its customers. Innovation, a key asset of US Waffle, facilitated the development of a high-quality product range that offers both nutrition and quality. Alongside of US Waffle, Cerelia recently acquired Wewalka's North American pizza dough business and constructed a new state-of-the-art facility in Ohio to accommodate the rapid growth of its existing products. These acquisitions combined with the new production and distribution capabilities position Cerelia as one of North America's fastest growing bakery businesses. Walter Kluit, Co-CEO of Cerelia stated: "We are thrilled to welcome US Waffle to Cerelia. With a proven track record of innovation and quality, we are confident that US Waffle will accelerate our expansion in North America. By leveraging Cerelia's entrepreneurial spirit, industrial technology, and experienced team, we plan to introduce new, innovative products and extend our presence in new channels and territories. Following years of dialogue, we are confident that our new partnership with the US Waffle team will enhance the service for our clients and win the hearts of many more consumers with our quality pancakes and waffles." "Cerelia continues to expand rapidly in North America through the addition of US Waffle, the acquisition of the Wewalka pizza business, and its new Ohio facility. US Waffle provides an entry point into the attractive breakfast category, where we will leverage Cerelia's European expertise and technologies in pancake and waffle production. The US Waffle transaction both solidifies our strategic roadmap and underscores the strength of our partnership with the Cerelia team," said Christopher Sand, Managing Director at Ardian Buyout. Continental Grain Company Investment: Earlier this month, CGC made a strategic equity investment in Ardian-backed Cerelia. The investment comes after nearly two years of dialogue and reflects CGC and Cerelia's shared ambitions in the bakery category. CGC and Cerelia plan to work together on a number of initiatives to both strengthen the existing operations and accelerate growth. Guillaume Reveilhac, Co-CEO and President of Cerelia stated: "We couldn't be happier to bring CGC into Cerelia as an equity investor. Through our years of dialogue, we have developed a mutual respect for each other's unique capabilities and believethat the partnership will strengthen Cerelia's existing business and provide us with new opportunities to extend our reach into new products and geographies. We believe that we have a shared vision of Cerelia's role in developing the future of bakery."



"We recognize CGC as one of the food industry's premier investors and believe that their investment in Cerelia confirms the strength of our business and the attractiveness of our expansion plans. Over the last few years, Ardian and CGC have worked together on numerous projects, and we highly respect the unique capabilities and perspective that they will bring to our investment in Cerelia. Our collective efforts should augment Cerelia's growth and position the Company as one of the leaders in the bakery industry," said Thibault Basquin, Head of Americas Investments at Ardian Buyout. "We are very excited to join Guillaume, Walter, Ardian and, most importantly, the whole Cerelia team as strategic investors and partners in the Company. We have been very impressed watching the team, with Ardian's assistance, grow the business over the last two years in both Europe and North America. We believe that Cerelia has developed an excellent platform on which to continue its remarkable growth and we look forward to supporting the Company in executing its strategic vision," said Paul Fribourg, Chairman & CEO at CGC. As part of the investment, Charles Fribourg, Director of CGC, will join the Cerelia Supervisory Board as an observer.

ABOUT CERELIA Cerelia is a leading manufacturer of fresh, ready-to-bake dough solutions for pie and pizza, as well as ready-to-heat pancakes, crepes, cookies and cookie dough. Thanks to (i) sustained organic growth over many years, driven by a relentless focus on product quality, service levels, and new product innovation (such as the introduction of organic, gluten-free and wholesome products) and (ii) an ambitious, yet thoughtful M&A strategy, Cerelia has become the leader in the European market. In 2015, the Company broadened its strategy through the acquisition of de Bioderij, which extended its product portfolio into pancakes and crepes and launched the Company into the North American and Asian markets. Through the acquisition of Bakeaway in 2016 and English Bay Batter in 2017, Cerelia expanded its presence in the United Kingdom and North America while further diversifying its product portfolio. The Company has meaningful market shares in the private label segment, manufacturing for some of the largest brands in the world alongside its own family of brands, which regularly introduce innovative new products. www.cerelia.com ABOUT ARDIAN Ardian is a world-leading private investment house with assets of US$110bn managed or advised in Europe, North America, Asia, and South America. The company is majority-owned by its employees. It keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and focuses on delivering excellent investment performance to its global investor base. Through its commitment to shared outcomes for all stakeholders, Ardian's activities fuel individual, corporate and economic growth around the world. Holding close its core values of excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship, Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 700 employees working from fifteen offices across Europe (Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich), the Americas (New York, San Francisco and Santiago) and Asia (Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul). It manages funds on behalf of more than 1,000 clients through five pillars of investment expertise: Fund of Funds, Direct Funds, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Private Debt. www.ardian.com ABOUT CONTINENTAL GRAIN COMPANY CGC is a privately-owned global investor, owner and operator of companies with more than 200 years of history across the food and agribusiness spectrum. The firm creates long-term value by applying deep industry knowledge, capital and talent to businesses ranging from established market leaders to promising innovators. CGC focuses on building platforms that leverage its strategic expertise in food production, processing, and distribution to source proprietary deals, working alongside trusted partners and supporting strong management teams. CGC brings a long-term ownership mindset, concentrating on investment and operating plans that create enduring value and a sustainable, efficient and nutritional food supply chain. CGC brings together people, ideas and resources to build the businesses that will feed the world. www.continentalgrain.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005616/en/

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North Jeolla Provincial Police Agency building / Korea Times file



By Lee Hyo-jin



A woman has been arrested for assaulting her seven-month-old baby in Iksan, North Jeolla Province.



The North Jeolla Provincial Police Agency said Tuesday that she has been charged with the attempted murder of the baby and the case will be sent to the prosecutors' office.



She is accused of beating the baby in the face and throwing her on the floor multiple times, resulting in critical injuries leading to brain death.



During the police investigation, the woman said she acted out of frustration because the baby would not stop crying, amidst excessive stress from the labor of childcare.



According to the police, she was almost solely responsible for care of the baby, as her husband frequently worked overtime.



The police found that she had been abusing the baby for about three months since December, during which at least 21 instances of assault were confirmed. She deliberately dropped the baby dozens of times from a height over one meter.



The baby's father, who found it strange that his daughter was sleeping longer than usual, took her to a hospital on March 12, where she was pronounced brain-dead. The baby was diagnosed with abusive head trauma, also known as "shaken baby syndrome," a type of brain injury that occurs when a baby is shaken violently.



A detailed medical examination showed that 75 percent of her brain had been severely damaged.



The woman initially denied the allegations raised against her, but ultimately admitted to the acts of abuse after the police obtained video of her assaults from her phone.



The woman, who is a marriage immigrant, married her Korean husband overseas in July 2019, and entered Korea while pregnant in November that year. She gave birth in August 2020.



According to the police, she was unable to share her difficulties with others or reach out for help due to a language barrier. She also suffered from depression, which became more serious when her mother, who was planning to come to Korea to help her with caring for the baby, was blocked from entering the country due to travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.




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Helsinki, March 30 : Finland has resumed the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, but only for people over the age of 65, as per the guidelines issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

In a statement on Monday, the THL said that it was still investigating the possibility of side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine in younger adults, reports Xinhua news agency.

Use of the AstraZeneca vaccine was suspended in Finland on March 19 as a precautionary measure after two individuals were diagnosed with blood clotting after inoculation.

The resumption of the use of the vaccine is based on a statement by Finland's national vaccine expert group that it was safe for use for people aged 65 and older.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also conducted an investigation and said it considers the vaccine safe and effective.

"There is no increased risk of the very rare blood clotting disorder after vaccination in people over 65 years of age, whose possible association with the AstraZeneca vaccine is currently being investigated.

"Vaccinations for this age group can therefore be continued as normal," Taneli Puumalainen, chief physician at the THL, was quoted as saying in the statement.

As a precautionary measure, the AstraZeneca vaccine is not currently administered to people under 65 years of age in the other Nordic countries and in Germany.

The Finnish health authority said that use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for people under the age of 65 may continue after the Easter holiday at the earliest.

To date, more than 180,000 people in Finland have received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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WWE RAW REPORT: IF YOU LIKED SASHA AND BIANCA TOGETHER FOR A MONTH OR SO . . . YOU GET RHEA AND ASUKA TO DO THE SAME NEXT WEEK, MORE TALKING SEGMENTS THAN YOU CAN SHAKE A STICK AT, SOME WRESTLING, AND STUFF

We see Drew McIntyre entering the building earlier today and Sarah ambushes him to ask Drew about the bounty made by Bobby Lashley.

Drew says he heard about the offer and he says everyone is a potential threat. How many people will he face tonight. Drew says he wonders if Bobby will keep his offer and if you come after me, you will get a Scottish ass kicking.

We are in St. Petersburg, Florida and your announcers are Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton.

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley makes his way to the ring with Montel Vontavious Porter, Cedric Alexander, and Shelton Benjamin.

MVP starts off by saying this is an official message from the Hurt Business. They are less than two weeks away from Wrestlemania. Bobby Lashley will walk in and out as the champion. He is currently scheduled to face Drew McIntyre, but he wants to make crystal clear their business proposition.

Bobby says if anyone takes out Drew before Wrestlemania, they will be rewarded with a title match at Wrestlemania.

Porter says this offer is not to be seen as weakness. Drew has had his opportunity and they want to give someone else an opportunity to become a star and face the All Mighty at Wrestlemania. Who wants to step up and accept that offer?

Porter says he wants to talk about who will not be sharing the ring with Bobby Lashley at Wrestlemania.

We see footage from last week's handicap match when Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin failed to beat Drew.

Bobby tells them they had the perfect opportunity in a handicap match against Drew McIntyre. You are barred from ringside. Don't get him started about the tag titles. You are embarrassing him. I cannot trust either of you and I have worked too hard to get this title. I will not deal with incompetence.

Porter brings up they had a two on one match against Drew McIntyre and you failed miserably. Porter wants them to explain themselves.

Cedric says they could have done this in the back. Shelton asks if they were brought out here to be embarrassed. Shelton says Lashley wouldn't be champion if it wasn't for them.

Lashley attacks Cedric but Benjamin with a waist lock take down on Lashley. Lashley with punches and knees followed by a flatliner. Lashley knocks Alexander off the apron.

Lashley kicks Benjamin to the floor.

Porter tells Cedric and Shelton they should be ashamed of themselves.

Lashley says Cedric and Shelton are no longer part of the Hurt Business. He says the offer still stands.

We take a look at Sheamus and Riddle from last week.

Riddle is ambushed by Sarah and he is asked if he knows why he was attacked by Sheamus last week. Riddle says that he had some questions for Sheamus. Riddle sees Titus O'Neil and he asks if Titus would roast a pig at Wrestlemania. Titus tells Riddle he is a co-host. Riddle thinks he is going to do a roast.

Sheamus attacks Riddle on his scooter and he tells Riddle he will see him out there . . . fella.

We go to commercial.

Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander stop Adam Pearce and they say that if it wasn't for them Lashley wouldn't be champion. Cedric says that Shelton wants to face Lashley tonight and if anything is left, Cedric wants a piece of Lashley.

Pearce is hesitant to do anything and Cedric asks if he has to get Lashley's approval like he does with Roman on Smackdown. They tell Pearce to grow a sack.

MVP joins Tom and Byron on commentary.

Match Number One: Sheamus versus Riddle in a Non Title Match

They lock up and the referee has to separate Riddle and Sheamus in the corner. Riddle with a waist lock and Sheamus with a take down. Riddle with a waist lock and Sheamus with a drop toe hole into a reverse chin lock. Sheamus with a rollup for a near fall. Sheamus with a forearm and punch to the midsection. Sheamus with a side head lock. Sheamus with a shoulder tackle and a kick to the shoulder. Sheamus catches Riddle on a leap frog and Riddle goes for a sleeper and he gets Sheamus to the mat. Sheamus backs Riddle into the corner and Sheamus with elbows. Sheamus with a short arm clothesline and kicks. Sheamus with forearms to the back.

Sheamus and Riddle exchange punches. Riddle with a kick and round kick followed by a jumping knee and drop kick that sends Sheamus to the floor. Riddle with a kick and a twisting moonsault to the floor as we go to commercial.

We are back and Sheamus with a double fish hook on Riddle. Riddle with forearms and chops but Sheamus with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for a near fall. Sheamus with a forearm to the back. Sheamus gets Riddle up and he climbs to the turnbuckles for a super Air Raid Crash but Riddle counters and tries for a sunset flip power bomb but Sheamus wtih a boot. Riddle with chops. Sheamus pushes Riddle to the mat but Riddle gets up and hits a superplex and both men are down.

Sheamus and Riddle exchange punches. Riddle with a kick and Pele Kick. Riddle with a forearm and a second one into the corner followed by an exploder. Riddle with kicks to the chest. Sheamus blocks a kick and he gets Riddle up but Riddle lands on his feet and he hits a knee and back senton for a near fall. Riddle with a triangle and Sheamus with a one arm power bomb but Riddle holds on to the triangle. Sheamus gets to the ropes to force a break. Sheamus blocks a round kick and he gets Riddle up on the apron and hits an Air Raid Crash on the apron for a near fall. Sheamus with an Alabama Slam for a near fall. Sheamus sets for the Brogue Kick but Riddle with a knee into teh corner and an inside cradle for a near fall. Sheamus blocks a knee and kicks Riddle in the leg and hits a jumping knee for the three count.

Winner: Sheamus

After the match, Sheamus celebrates his victory and Riddle kicks Sheamus off the turnbuckles because he is a sore loser.

We take a look at what happened with Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon last week.

Shane walks in the back with Elias and Jaxson Ryker.

Kevin Patrick ambushes Shane and asks if there is anything he can reveal about the Braun Strowman expose. Shane refuses to give any details but he says there will be some interesting things.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Drew McIntyre is walking in the back and he sees AJ Styles and Omos. Drew says he won't turn his back on them. He says Lashley's offer is something that AJ wants.

AJ says they have bigger plans for Wrestlemania but Lashley is in Drew's head. AJ says they will embarrass the New Day at Wrestlemania and become the new Raw Tag Team Champions. AJ has to focus on his match against Xavier Woods. He says their paths will cross soon enough.

Drew wants to know who will take Lashley up on his offer.

Shane McMahon is in the ring with Elias and Jaxson Ryker.

Shane says he wants to address the elephant in the room, not Braun Strowman. Shane says that people have said his knee injury was illegitimate. Shane says it was adrenaline that gave him enough pain relief to get out of the way so he would not injure himself any further so he can be ready to defeat Braun Strowman at Wrestlemania.

Shane says he has discovered something interesting about Braun Strowman that gave him some insight into young Braun.

Shane takes us back to the fifth grade and we see Braun's report card and he did not do well. Shane says that the comments from his teachers show that he was a bully. We take a look at a graphic of Braun in a dunce cap. Shane says this shows that Braun is intellectually challenged.

Jaxson says big guy . . . tiny brain is true about Braun. Shane says he will outwit Braun and so will Jaxson later tonight.

Shane says Braun needs a great big hug from everyone.

Shane starts to shuffle in the ring while Braun makes his way to the ring.

Match Number Two: Braun Strowman versus Jaxson Ryker (with Elias and Shane McMahon)

Braun with a boot to the chest and a biel. Braun with another biel. Braun goes to the floor and he starts to get on the tracks but Shane goes into the ring to avoid Braun. Braun sends Ryker into the corner an dBraun with punches and elbows. Elias gets on the apron to distract Braun and Shane does the same. Ryker hits Braun from behind and he punches Braun. Braun sends Ryker into the corner and he runs into a boot. Ryker with a shot to the leg area followed by a bulldog.

Ryker with a forearm but Braun with a boot. Braun goes to the floor and we get sound effects as he knocks Ryker down. Braun with a splash into the corner followed by a power slam for the three count.

Winner: Braun Strowman

After the match, Braun chases Shaen into the ring and Elias hits Braun from behind. Shane and Elias attack Braun and Braun pushes them away.

Braun wants to know where is Shane running to? He asks Shane if he accepted his challenge to a match and you forgot that Braun could choose any match that he wanted. Braun says he has been thinking and he made up his mind. It will be one that your goons cannot get invovled in. You will not be able to run away. There will be nowhere to run and nowhere to be hide. You are going to GET THESE HANDS . . . in a steel cage match.

We see Miz's challenge to Bad Bunny from last week's Raw and Bad Bunny accepting the challenge.

We go to commercial.

Coverage Continues on Next Page

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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)

Border Patrol Warned Biden Admin of Huge Surge If Trump Policies Reversed: Congresswoman

Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) said Tuesday that the Biden administration was warned by Border Patrol officials about a large surge of illegal immigrants if Trump-era immigration policies were dismantled.

Were seeing a tremendous humanity crisis down here. Youve got people who are in a facility right now, the majority of them who are unaccompanied minors, in a facility that was built to house no more than 250 people. It currently has 5,700 people in it, she told Fox News on Tuesday.

The Biden administration has faced pressure in recent months in the midst of a significant surge of people crossing the border illegally, prompting warnings from members of Congress and officials along the border. A number of Republican senators went to the border area over the past weekend and toured a Donna, Texas, facility, accusing the administration of triggering the crisis by rescinding former President Donald Trumps policies.

Van Duyne said that there are Customs and Border Protection officials who are at the end of their rope in dealing with the surge.

Theyre doing what they can but theyre also very frustrated, realizing that they had actually warned this administration what would happen if they decided to push back on policies that were put in place by the previous administration that were working, she told Fox News.

Family units and unaccompanied alien children are held in a temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas, after being apprehended by Border Patrol. (CBP)

She added that Border Patrol officials under Trump were keeping children with their families. They were keeping people over the border. They were keeping them in the first safe country that they came to and what were seeing is a massive surge now at the borders and the response from the administration, instead of actually reversing policies that have caused this surge.

The Biden administration said that it was Trumps migration policies that triggered the surge, while President Joe Biden during a news conference last week suggested that the number of people crossing the border is routine and occurs every year.

Some NGO groups who spoke to the Wall Street Journal also suggested that the messaging from the administration is encouraging women and children to try and illegally migrate to the United States.

Its great that the U.S. is welcoming women and children, Pastor Abraham Barberi told the paper at a shelter in Matamoros, Mexico. But theyre also sending the message to families: Lets leave everything behind because our children will make it across the border.

Were basically encouraging moms and babies to cross the river, which is not right. And theyre willing to do it, Andrea Morris Rudnik of Team Brownsville.

The Department of Homeland Security was contacted for comment.
The Suez Canal may be open again, but the battle over damages from the waterways longest closure in almost half a century is just beginning.

With cargoes delayed for weeks if not months, the blockage could unleash a flood of claims by everyone affected, from shipping lines to manufacturers and oil producers.

Read More: Insurers of Container Ship Aground in Suez Canal Face Millions in Claims

The legal issues are so enormous, said Alexis Cahalan, a partner at Norton White in Sydney, which specializes in transport law. If you can imagine the variety of cargoes that are there  everything from oil, grain, consumer goods like refrigerators to perishable goods  that is where the enormity of the claims may not be known for a time.

The giant Ever Given container ship was pried from the bank on Monday, and traffic through the canal  which connects the Mediterranean and the Red Sea  resumed soon after. The blockage began when the vessel slammed into the wall last Tuesday and was the canals longest since it was shut for eight years following the 1967 Six-Day War. The incident offered a reminder of the fragility of global trade infrastructure and threats to supply lines already stretched by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ever Given, which moved north from the southern part of the canal where it ran aground to the Great Bitter Lake, is being inspected for damage. Those checks will determine whether the vessel can resume its scheduled service and what happens to the cargo, Taiwans Evergreen Line, the ships charterer, said in a statement.

Egyptian authorities were desperate to get traffic flowing again through the waterway thats a conduit for about 12% of world trade and around 1 million barrels of oil a day.

A backlog of hundreds of ships built up. There were 421 waiting to transit through the canal at 8:00 a.m. local time, according to Inchcape Shipping Services, a maritime services provider. The waterway usually handles around 50 a day, but will probably transit significantly more than that in the coming weeks.

Coordinating the logistics of who gets to go through first and how thats going to be sorted out, I think the Egyptians have quite a job on their hands, John Wobensmith, chief executive officer of Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd., said Tuesday in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

Leth Agencies, one of the main providers of Suez Canal crossing services, said 37 ships held up in the Great Bitter Lake exited the canal by 3:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday and 76 were scheduled to go over the rest of the day.

South Korean shipper HMM Co. said the HMM Gdansk, one of the worlds largest container vessels and which can carry 24,000 20-foot boxes, was scheduled to transit through the waterway Tuesday after being held up since last week.

It may take four days for traffic to return to normal, Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie said at a Monday evening press conference. Earlier, a canal authority official said a week was more likely.

Those assessments may be optimistic, according to Arthur Richier, an analyst at energy-intelligence firm Vortexa. Freight rates for the affected shipping routes are already rising due to the lower availability of tankers as some stay stuck and some take the longer route around the southern tip of Africa. Traveling via that route can add two weeks onto a vessels journey between Asia and Europe.

Its going to take them five or six days to clear up all the backlog of traffic, Rustin Edwards, the head of fuel-oil procurement at shipping firm Euronav NV, said on a conference call on Tuesday. Youre going to start seeing congestion at delivery ports when the ships that diverted and the ships that went through start arriving at the same destinations. Its going to cause a bit of a headache for a lot of container companies for the next couple of weeks.

The blockage will reduce global reinsurers earnings, which have already been hit by the pandemic, winter storms in the U.S. and flooding in Australia, according to Fitch Ratings. Prices for marine reinsurance will rise further as a consequence, it said. Fitch estimates losses may amount to hundreds of millions of euros.

In a potential merry-go-round of legal action, owners of the goods on board the Ever Given and other ships could seek compensation for delays from their insurers. Those insurers for the cargo can in turn file claims against Ever Givens owners, who will then look to their insurers for protection.

Evergreen says Japans Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd.  the ships owner  is responsible for any losses. Shoei Kisen has taken some responsibility but says charterers need to deal with the cargo owners.

Bloomberg Quicktake

WATCH: Boats honked their horns and people cheered as the Ever Given container ship blocking the Suez Canal was freed

Read MORE: trib.al/PV7LJ3e

Sent via SocialFlow.

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Evergreens legal adviser is Ince Gordon Dadds LLP, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because they arent authorized to speak to the media. London-based Ince Gordon Dadds and Evergreen declined to comment.

An official at Shoei Kisen said the company hasnt received any compensation claim yet. The firm is still examining what it is responsible for. The ships hull is insured through three Japanese companies.

Responsibility for the giant ships grounding will be determined after an investigation, the Canal Authoritys Rabie said. He added that the canal authority isnt at fault and that the ships captain  not the pilot  was responsible for the vessel.

With assistance from Kyunghee Park, Salma El Wardany, Mirette Magdy, Tsuyoshi Inajima, Sharon Cho, Alex Longley, Benjamin Robertson, Krystal Chia, Serene Cheong, Julian Lee and Jack Wittels.

Top photograph: Tug boats pull the Ever Given container ship along the Suez Canal after being freed from the canal bank in Suez, Egypt, on Monday, March 29, 2021, finally freeing up a massive tail-back of ships to sail through one of the worlds most important trade routes. Photo credit: Islam Safwat/Bloomberg.

Related:

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
Authorities are investigating the crash of a small plane in Cave Spring, northwest of Atlanta.

The pilot, the lone occupant in the aircraft, was killed, authorities said.

The single-engine Aviat Husky A-1 crashed Monday evening in a field near the community, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The pilot, Bobby Allred, 79, of Centre, was killed, Floyd County police Sgt. Chris Fincher told WXIA-TV.

Floyd County Coroner Gene Proctor said Allred was flying over areas struck by recent storms to inspect the damage.

The plane hit some power lines when it went down, knocking out power to nearby residents, authorities said.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

Cave Spring is about 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta.
[March 30, 2021] GrowFlow Insights Launches to Enable Cannabis Wholesalers and Retailers to Make Intelligent Data-Driven Decisions

SEATTLE, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GrowFlow , a business management and compliance solution for cannabis wholesalers and retailers, today announced the launch of GrowFlow Insights, a powerful and easy-to-use analytics tool that provides comprehensive and actionable cannabis data and market intelligence to enable GrowFlow customers to run a smarter operation from seed-to-sale. This new product will provide the business intelligence needed for a company to grow. Tracking, cleaning, organizing, and analyzing data is a manual and time-consuming process but also a crucial one for organizations that want to harness said data and use it to identify new opportunities, smarter business moves, more efficient operations, higher profits, and happier customers. Developed for both cannabis wholesalers and retailers, GrowFlow's comprehensive Insights product will allow customers to use unique operational and business insights from right within their own data to make the best decisions to grow their business and revenue. Insights tracks data, automates business intelligence, and allows users to answer important questions about business growth levers without creating and maintaining unwieldy spreadsheets. Users can also filter and cross-filter many areas of business  including sales, inventory, orders, and customers  to better understand how different parts of the business intersect and impact one another.Some key benefits and features of Insights include:



Easily track key metrics for your wholesale or retail business, such as top products, top selling brands, best salespeople, best hours to open, and more

Quickly toggle between available licenses (wholesale and retail)

Have real-time access to updated sales and inventory data across different areas of a business "Cannabis businesses are evolving and their needs now go far beyond compliance efforts, focused increasingly on accelerating and growing their business. We heard from our customers that manual data tracking was a near-constant pain point, so our goal with Insights was to give businesses access to comprehensive business intelligence in a simple tool right at their fingertips," said Travis Steffen, CEO of GrowFlow. "The addition of Insights to GrowFlow's suite of solutions further enables GrowFlow to create a truly holistic solution for all of a company's needs, whether it's a B2B marketplace or wholesale or retail operation. We're committed to being their partners in growth." "Insights helped us to understand how our store and business were really doing based on raw data. Being able to see snapshots of how certain categories or suppliers were performing with just a few clicks was a huge win and really opened our eyes on what's helping the business versus what's hurting it," said Chris Ray, Owner at The Tree House. "Specifically, we were hesitant about opening our store at 8:00 a.m. during the week but, thanks to Insights, we were able to see that our customers do show up at that time and how much their average transaction was after just a few weeks of data. Insights is a huge plus for anyone wanting to make their cannabis reporting and information easier to understand and explain."

Insights is live in all states where GrowFlow is available. GrowFlow is already used by over 1,200 cannabis cultivators, processors, distributors, and retailers and has processed transactions worth more than $2 billion. Its platform integrates with state systems such as Metrc and LeafData, and with other cannabis platforms such as SpringBig, dutchie and Jane. About GrowFlow

Seattle-based GrowFlow is a customer-obsessed, B2B SaaS platform dedicated to helping their customers grow their cannabis businesses. They provide compliance, inventory management, point of sale, analytics and sales tools for cannabis and hemp businesses at various points in the supply chain. Founded in late 2016, GrowFlow is run by experienced technology founders and executives with management experience from organizations like Google, Microsoft, Expedia, TenCent, and others, and boasts 1,200 customers in 7 states - including some of the largest operations in the world. For more information, visit https://growflow.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/growflow-insights-launches-to-enable-cannabis-wholesalers-and-retailers-to-make-intelligent-data-driven-decisions-301258272.html SOURCE GrowFlow

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Tax and tech: software development views

As part of Inland Revenues review of policy and practices around taxing software, it has enlisted NZTech, which has 22 technology associations under its wing, to better understand the sector. To that end, NZTech has published results from a survey it conducted this month.

It only received 60 responses so, while not statistically significant, it does show the breadth of business models and approaches to tax treatment of software development currently being used. More than two-thirds of respondents have annual revenue more than $500,000, and almost half of respondents (47%) say 81% to 100% of revenue comes from developing software.

[ Keep up on the latest thought leadership, insights, how-to, and analysis on IT through Computerworlds newsletters. ]

Here are some of the highlights:

75% say tax implications for developing software posed a significant issue for their business.

62% expense software development, while 18% capitalise it, and the remainder do both.

Software development is funded by respondents as follows: from revenue (65%), from equity (28%), and from business units (7%)

While there may be a bias in that those who bothered to respond to the survey are those with the concerns, 62% thought current accounting rules are inadequate. One respondent noted that current rules are heavily focused on the traditional fixed-asset-reach or service-based technology businesses, but poorly address the needs of information-based technology sector, which works mainly on the cloud software-as-a-service or platform-as-a service business models (think PushPay, Xero, Message Media, Netflix, Twilio, Plexure, etc.).

NZTechs take on tech regulations

While you might expect NZTech to be all over policy around how to tax software companies, its less obvious why it should comment on draft legislation such as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bill or the Water Services Bill. But NZTech CEO Graeme Muller points out the organisations submissions on this draft legislation are a way of ensuring that technology isnt overlooked in all aspects of New Zealand life. One of NZTechs objectives is to help the government understand the opportunities and risks of tech, he says.

In its submission to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bill, NZTech notes the lack of legislative enablement for a Central Bank digital currency (CBDC) that can sit alongside physical notes and coinage.

Just as the Reserve Banks operational independence in the 1980s was the vanguard for a global central banking revolution, NZTech believes enabling a CBDC in this bill would become this generations equivalent. It makes RBNZ a potential first-mover. Without legislative enablement, there also exists the risk that rapid developments external to New Zealand may result in rapid legislative solutions domestically. This may be harmful to fintech in New Zealand and the benefits therein to the wider economy, consumers, and society, the submission notes.

Meanwhile, in the Water Services Bill, NZTech points out that there is no mention of the internet of things (IoT), sensors, data, or location technology that could enable real-time monitoring. In the past three years, there has been considerable technological advancement bringing this within the reach of domestic self-supply, matched with greater penetration of broadband. While understandable that bill drafters do not wish to be prescriptive, failing to signal technology misses whole of government policy synthesis while creating technological expectation.

E-bikes as a service

The concept of software as service has spread throughout the IT stack, with infrastructure as a- service and platform as a service joining the on-demand service concept. Now, it is becoming common to see the idea of a providing a product as a service for a monthly fee in other sectors, such as electric vehicles.

Kiwi eco-tech company UBCo (Utility Bike Company) is pitching its utility electric bikes to the farming sector, following investment from Carbn Group and the New Zealand Green Investment Fund, the Crown-owned company formed to kickstart investment that reduces greenhouse gasses. Carbn will provide asset finance to UBCO finance as a special purpose vehicle which provides the subscription. This is not a capped facility so it has the ability to grow as the subscription market grows, a spokesperson told Computerworld New Zealand. In New Zealand, the transport sector accounts for 19% of greenhouse gas emissions.

UBCo will offer use of its utility vehicles, including its off-road 2x2 work bikes, as a monthly subscription service, which means upfront investment and ongoing maintenanceand eventual battery disposalwill be taken care of by the company and not the customer.

CEO Timothy Allan estimates that the New Zealand farming sector alone (51,000 farms) represents a $1.4 billion opportunity for UBCo. It has already trialled the service with the Dominos pizza chain in the cities. Farming customers will be in the $70- to $80-a-week range, while pricing for urban consumers price is still under development.

Waikato farmer Grant Coombes, who already owns a fleet of UBCo e-bikes, says energy costs are less than 20c a day, and bikes are charged every three to four days.

Dont forget about Safari

Every IT makeover has its challenges, and things can be overlooked at every stagefrom the planning and the executionthrough to the comms.

So, when we saw the public notice telling those using the governments identity service RealMe to upgrade to a new browser, we were surprised that Safari wasnt on the list. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge made the cut, but not Apples Safari. What gives?

Turns out it that at fault was the comms phase in the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) project to shift RealMe citizen digital identity services to the cloud. A spokesperson let us know straight away that it had been mistakenly left out of the notice. For the record, RealMe wont work with Internet Explore after Friday, 9 April 2021, and people are advised to shift to one of three four modern browsers ASAP.

The project involves moving from the current infrastructure-as-a-service platform to a new cloud-based Microsoft Azure platform, working with vendor Unify Solutions. When the contract was announced last year, DIA said that the new platform is for the RealMe login and assertion services only. The RealMe identity verification service wont move to Azure; it will remain under existing data-hosting arrangements with Datacom.
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Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua has strongly condemned the Kenyan government for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Karua, who is emerging as the official opposition leader, said the State should bear the cost of testing and treating COVID-19 patients in all public hospitals.

Noting that the newly-imposed cessation of movement is not an end in itself, Karua argued that a majority of Kenyans have suffered from the effects of the virus and can no longer afford the high costs of treating the disease.

The government must immediately take up the cost of testing and treatment of COVID-19 patients in all public hospitals, and avail the vaccines in all public hospitals countrywide, she said on Monday.

According to Karua, the Jubilee Party-led government must invest heavily in the health sector and purchase COVID-19 vaccines in bulk to contain the current situation since the partial lockdown is having devastating impacts on the lives of Kenyans.

Cessation of movement in 5 counties is in effect a lockdown of the whole country for they are a gateway to the country, said the former Justice Minister.

Martha Karua observed that many Kenyans are likely to lose their jobs and asked the government to put in place measures to cushion them especially with the rising costs of living.

At the same time, Karua faulted the President Uhuru Kenyatta-led administration for the increase in infections saying they disregarded measures aimed at combating the spread of the coronavirus.

Its a case of missed opportunities and misguided efforts, by now we should be having testing capacities in all 47 counties, capacity to respond to the critically ill and we should have the benefit of improved health services countrywide, she declared.

The former Gichugu MP also wondered why one year down the line the government has not prosecuted those who looted funds set aside to fight the pandemic.

As Kenyans were suffering covid millionaires and billionaires were being minted. These continue to walk scot free enjoying their ill-gotten wealth while Kenyans are being ravaged by COVID-19 and ill-served by an ill-prepared health system that is unable to respond to the critically ill and unable to provide adequate vaccines. The second lockdown provides them with more opportunities to continue looting, unless and until action is taken, said Martha.

Karua challenged President Kenyatta to personally take charge and make sure the culprits are dealt with.

We are reminding you for the umpteenth time, 21 days are over, we have another COVID wave and your government has not caused the arrest and prosecution of the culprits, we must continue demanding, Karua stated.
Rome, March 31 : Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi received his first dose of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday -- the same product that his government had decided to temporarily halt the use of earlier this month.

Draghi and his wife Maria Serenella Cappello, both 73, received the vaccine at a centre in Termini, Rome's main train station, Xinhua news agency reported.

The AstraZeneca is one of the three approved vaccines for use in Italy, together with those produced by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Of the three, AstraZeneca's has been the most controversial after reports of it causing blood clots that resulted in two deaths in Italy. After the second death, the use of the vaccine was suspended for four days ending March 19.

Having investigated the reports, Nicola Magrini, director general of Italy's main medical authority (AIFA) said the suspension was a "political" decision and he declared the vaccine safe to use.

According to Italian media, Draghi's aim with choosing the AstraZeneca jab was to build public confidence in the vaccine after reports about its side effects.

As of Tuesday, 9.8 million Italians have received at least the first dose of one of the three approved vaccines, while the number of fully-vaccinated individuals -- those who have received two doses -- totaled 3.1 million, or around 5.1 per cent of the country's population.
A man featured on the latest episode of 'America's Most Wanted' remains on the run abroad after allegedly dismembering an Uber driver who had an affair with his wife.

Bob Tang, 51, is accused of killing a San Francisco Uber driver in 2017 and then slipping out of the United States and traveling to Cambodia, Fox News reported.

Tang reportedly found himself in a love triangle when he discovered his wife and his best friend, Piseth Chhay, were having an affair, the television show said in an episode that aired Monday.

Chhay, 48, was declared missing May 14, 2017, the day he is believed to have been killed. Human remains were later found in bags in a warehouse where Tang worked for 20 years in Hayworth, California.

Investigators confirmed the remains were Chhay using DNA technology.

Tang reportedly fled to his native Cambodia, but his exact whereabouts remain unknown.

Bob Tang, 51, (left) is wanted for the 2017 murder San Francisco Uber driver Piseth Chhay (right). Authorities believe he fled the country to his native Cambodia

A felony arrest warrant was issued for Tang in Alameda County, California, on March 26, 2019, after he was charged with murder, A federal arrest warrant was issued in U.S. District Court in San Francisco after he was charged with 'Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution - Murder,' the FBI website says.

The website provides a photo of Tang and his personal details. He is described as an Asian male weighing 130 pounds and standing 5 feet, 4 inches, with black hair, brown eyes and 'a mole on the left side of his nose.'

The naturalized U.S. citizen enjoys hiking and has ties to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, according to the FBI.

'The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading directly to the arrest of Bob Tang,' the website says.

Joseph Scott Morgan, an associate professor of applied forensics at Jacksonville State University and a former senior investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner in Atlanta, Georgia, appeared on 'America's Most Wanted' to discuss the case.

Morgan said the killing was likely a crime of passion but also premediated.

Joseph Scott Morgan, a former senior investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner in Atlanta, Georgia, appeared on 'America's Most Wanted' Monday to discuss Bob Tang's case, saying it was likely a crime of passion that was also premeditated

The FBI offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading directly to the arrest of Tang, who the agency says has ties to Phnom Penh, Cambodia

'You can be passionate, and you can be planned,' Morgan said. 'You'll have individuals that'll just grab the closest instrument that they can in order to dismember a body... but in this case, he acquired power tools.'

Tang went so far as to package Chhay's remains, Morgan said.

The 'America's Most Wanted' panelists made a comparison to 'Dexter,' a fictional television series centered around a Miami police analyst who is also a vigilante serial killer.

'America's Most Wanted' host Nancy Grace says Tang had similar 'neat and perfect' dismembering abilities as the killer on the fictional television series 'Dexter'

'Dexter,' played by Michael C. Hall, is a Miami police analyst with a second career as a vigilante serial killer

Host Nancy Grace noted Tang had similar 'neat and perfect' dismembering abilities.

Morgan also drew a parallel between the personalities of Tang and Dexter, noting their 'friendly' exteriors, but ultimately concluding 'if he [Tang] gets you in a corner, he'll take you apart.'

SoSo Chi, a cousin of victim Piseth Chhay, said in 2017 that the two families had been friends for years, ABC 7 San Francisco reported.

Tang's wife, who was not named, was a best friend of Chhay's wife, Chi said.

But the victim's wife, Rattana Kim, told the news station she had not spoken to Tang's wife since the week her own husband disappeared. After Tang disappeared, the lines of communication stopped.

Piseth Chhay was declared missing May 14, 2017, the day he was allegedly murdered by Bob Tang

Piseth Chhay, left, with his wife, Rattana Kim, in an undated photo

Rattana Kim appeared in a television news interview appealing for information about her husband, Piseth Chhay, before his remains were positively identified using DNA technology
DALLAS, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Service King announced today the launch of its 24/7 contactless Self-Schedule Service, marking the first of its kind in the collision auto repair industry.

Service King elevates customer experience with robust Self-Schedule Service

The innovative self-scheduling process creates a personalized workflow from automatically recommending the earliest available appointment to expediting rental car reservations, beginning moments after a customer files a claim with their insurance provider. The best-in-class service sends the self-schedule link to a preferred device, creating a convenient, responsive and customized experience tailored to fit each unique need while meeting customers where they are.

Executing its vision of "building for tomorrow," Service King seeks to create advanced digital-first experiences for its customers. This state-of-the-art service creates a seamless course of action, simplifying the lives of every driver. This feature is currently available for customers who have chosen Service King as their repairer of choice and have filed a claim with their insurance carrier. In the near future, Service King will enhance this service as a digital platform hosted on its website, which will be available to all customers.

"It is our mission to be the most technologically advanced and efficient auto collision repair company in the industry," said Service King CEO David Cush. "We firmly believe our Self-Schedule Service aligns with the industry's ever-evolving demands and look forward to the positive impact this digital solution will bring to our customer engagement, scheduling process and the Service King experience."

Since launching the innovative service in January 2021, Service King has fulfilled nearly 11,000 customer appointments. Based on customer use, the average time to schedule an appointment is under three minutes.

About Service King Collision

Service King Collision, which is now celebrating 45 years of experience in the automotive repair industry, is a leading national operator of comprehensive, high-quality auto body collision repair facilities. The organization is consistently recognized for its commitment to customer satisfaction, quality workmanship and giving back to the industry through innovative training and recruiting initiatives. Service King traces its roots back to Dallas, Texas and founder Eddie Lennox who opened the very first Service King in 1976. Today, Service King operates locations in 24 states and the District of Columbia across the U.S.

For more information and to find a local Service King, visit serviceking.com and follow Service King on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Contact:

Emily Ashmun, Service King Collision

[email protected]

469-426-7657

SOURCE Service King

Related Links

http://www.serviceking.com


Courtesy Queenie Choi

The recent spate of attacks on Asian Americans in the Bay Area had left Queenie Choi worried about her parents, two immigrants from China who have lived in San Francisco for more than 20 years.

Choi and her brother warned them to avoid going out as much as they could and not to be alone if they did. They even considered getting pepper spray for them in case of an attack.

On Monday, their fears came true.

Just moments after grabbing takeout in Japantown, Chois 58-year-old mother was sitting in her car on Post Street  with the doors locked  when a man broke the passenger-side window, grabbed her purse from the floor of the passenger seat and ran off into a getaway car.

The thieves got away with her purse, car keys, house keys, wallet and other important documents, Choi said. The family changed all the locks at their house and stored their car with a relative, fearing the thieves could come back.

Choi, 28, who asked for her parents names to be withheld out of concern for their safety, said her mother dropped her father off for his cancer treatment before driving to Japantown to pick up lunch around 11 a.m. The attack happened just moments after she returned to her car and  sensing someone suspicious outside  locked her doors.

I feel like they may have been watching her or it could have been a calculated thing, Choi said in an interview with the Chronicle. But she did notice that the car in front of her also had the windows smashed.

Choi, who also lives in San Francisco, said her mother contemplated fighting back but had nothing to protect herself with  and she didnt know if the thieves were armed. It devastates me that she had to think about that, Choi said, adding that her mother managed to snap a photo of the thief's car as it drove away.

The family reported the break-in to San Francisco police. Officer Robert Rueca, a spokesperson for the department, confirmed that officers responded to the 1600 block of Post Street and met with the victim, who was inside her car when the theft happened  and noted that no suspects are in custody.

Rueca added that thefts in occupied cars are rare occurrences. These incidents are seldom, but it just shows the brazen acts that these suspects are committing, he said.

The attack comes just a day after Tenderloin officers responded to an incident where a suspect entered a local business, allegedly threatened to get a gun and shoot Asian American and Pacific Islander customers  but ended up fleeing. The suspect was arrested Tuesday, shortly after allegedly returning to the store, according to police.

It also follows a series of anti-Asian incidents around the Bay Area and the nation over the last few months. According to a Chronicle analysis, at least 15 people of Asian descent have been robbed, beaten, or killed in San Francisco this year.

Personally, Im just really scared, said Choi. You cant even be safe in the inside of your own car.

She and her brother have decided to take shifts supervising their parents and making sure theyre never alone while walking around in San Francisco, which has been her parents home since they both separately immigrated in the 1980s in search of a better life.

Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @annievain
press release

Kinshasa's governor, Mr. Gentiny Ngobila, announced new measures last Friday to prosecute all sale or production of single-use plastic water sachets in the capital city.

Greenpeace Africa commends the adoption of strict measures to enforce a ban on single-use plastic on 21 January 2021.

Patient Muamba, Greenpeace Africa campaigner in the Democratic Republic of Congo: "Single-use plastic is rapidly burying the streets of Kinshasa and poisoning its communities. Plastic waste is not just an aesthetic hazard: it makes floods worse and enters our food system."

Plastic bans have already been announced in at least 34 African countries. The successful case of a plastic ban in Kenya shows that only when governments take strict action against large-scale producers and distributors of plastic, pollution levels go down drastically.

"Producers must be held accountable and Governor Gentiny Ngobila must ensure enforcement should target large-scale producers, rather than struggling street vendors," Muamba added.

Greenpeace Africa urges the government to enforce its plastic restrictions across all of DRC to ensure that its impact on the plastic crisis is widespread.

ENDS

Note to editors:

Photos of plastic waste in Kinshasa available for download and use (with credit):

https://media.greenpeace.org/Share/16s8vusswhbcpksht306wr143s8be867

Contact for questions and interviews:

Newsdesk Greenpeace Africa [email protected]

Tal Harris, International Communication Coordinator, [email protected], +221-785366270 (WhatsApp/Signal/Telegram)
A Sydney jury deciding the fate of a man accused of murdering his wife by setting her on fire after pouring petrol on her has retired on verdict.

Kulwinder Singh, 42, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Parwinder Kaur on December 2, 2013, at their Rouse Hill home.

The crown case is he poured petrol over his 32-year-old wife and set her alight after arguing about finances including his requests for her to contribute to the mortgage.

But the defence says she set herself on fire to create a 'drama', confident the blaze would be put out.

Kulwinder Singh, 42, (pictured) has pleaded not guilty to murdering Parwinder Kaur on December 2, 2013, at their Rouse Hill home

The crown argues that Mr Singh and his wife Parwinder Kaur (right) were arguing about finances and Ms Kaur's contributions to the mortgage

The NSW Supreme Court jury earlier watched video footage evidence of Singh's police interview following the incident, showing him wailing after being told of his wife's injuries.

He repeatedly exclaimed 'please don't', 'please don't say that', 'please don't say she's in a serious condition' and 'I can't hear this' in the footage.

Neighbours have also testified to hearing Ms Kaur's high-pitched and piercing scream, while one heard Singh say 'fire, fire,' followed by, 'I'm a good man, I didn't mean for this to happen'.

Singh has denied knowing how the jerry can of petrol and lighter used had ended up in the house's laundry, insisting he had not touched the jerry can for at least six months.

Ten of Ms Kaur's fingerprints were found on the petrol tin and only her fingerprint and DNA were found on the lighter.

On a visit to India, Singh allegedly told his sister-in-law that if his wife wanted a divorce he would not agree, saying 'we kill people and nobody can find out'.

The jury retired to deliberate its verdict on Tuesday morning.
Palakkad : March 30 (IANS) "About LDF it can be said, Judas betrayed Lord Christ for a few pieces of silver and the Left Democratic Front betrayed Kerala for a few pieces of gold," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday at an election rally as he launched a direct attack on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Modi slammed both the ruling Left and the Congress-led UDF, as he urged the voters to choose the best option -- Bharatiya Janata Party's E. Sreedharan, the Metroman, who is the face of development.

"Its match fixing in Kerala as for a five year term one front loots and then comes the other front, which loots for the next five years. Both these fronts mislead the people. At the Centre, the Left supports the UPA and during election time they accuse each other and when they come to power here, they don't act," said Modi.

Dressed in typical Kerala style jubba, Modi arrived at Palakkad around 10.45 a.m. and drove straight to the hugely crowded venue where he was greeted with an enthusiastic response by his party workers.

He said the people of Palakkad have a close tie with the BJP and he has come with a refreshingly different outlook from the current situation prevailing in the state.

"The situation in the state is that the UDF has not even spared the rays of sun (meaning the Solar scam), while the Left is like Judas, who betrayed Christ for a few pieces of silver as the Left has betrayed Kerala for a few pieces of gold (referring to the Gold smuggling scam)," added Modi.

He said the root-cause for all this is because the Kerala population gets played into this two front's hands. "They play vote bank politics to fill up their pockets.

"The BJP is different. By now across the country the youths and the professionals from all walks of life have joined the BJP," said Modi.

Present on the stage was 88-year-old Sreedharan, who is the BJP candidate from the Palakkad assembly constituency and Modi said "Metroman is one person who has achieved a lot in his life".

"He is a proud son of Kerala and if he wanted power he could have got it 20 years back and he knew when he joined the BJP he would come under attack," added Modi.

Turning against the rival fronts in Kerala, Modi blamed them for creating the highest number of road blocks which has slowed down the development of Kerala.

"It's here that the BJP should be chosen as we have adopted the policy of FAST development.

"F -- fisheries and fertilizers; A -- Agriculture and Ayurveda; S -- Skill development and Social justice and T -- Tourism and Technology.

"We assure you all that we will go along these policies and Kerala will see fast development," said Modi.

Dwelling on the issue of the Sabarimala temple, Modi slammed both the Left and the UDF.

"The Kerala culture and traditions have all being shamed by the Left. But I am very proud that our party stood by it and we want to tell the government that we won't be scared.

"Lot of people were attacked when they protested and our own state president K.Surendran was arrested for speaking about culture and traditions. When this happened, the Congress-led UDF was silent," said Modi.

He also slammed the politics of violence unleashed by the Left.

"The Left has been in power many times and many of their leaders behave like goons. When in power they unleash violence against political rivals, which is not good for democracy. So many BJP workers have lost their lives.

"If you have a BJP government in Kerala, it will stop all such things. The youth of Kerala wants change and we the BJP assure change so when you go to vote, vote for us," said Modi.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Mostly clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
Nairobi  A Briton was on Tuesday morning recorded a statement with police after his drone suspiciously strayed into Deputy President William Ruto's private home in Karen, causing fear.

Nairobi police boss Augustine Nthumbi said the man, a neighbor of the Deputy President, had since handed over the drone to police.

He said investigations into the matter had commenced, and were being led by Nairobi Regional Directorate of Criminal Investigations Chief Bernard Nyakwaka. The Anti-Terror Police Unit and the National Intelligence Service were also aiding in the probe.

"The drone was immediately confiscated shortly after the matter was reported to police by Deputy President's wife, Rachael Ruto," he told journalists during a press conference on Tuesday.

He dispelled any cause for alarm after initial fears of the man spying on the country's second in command, saying already the memory card of his drone had been retrieved from further analysis of the content.

The incident was reported on Monday by Deputy President's wife Rachael Ruto.

"Let's wait for investigations over the incident," the police boss said.

All residences of the Deputy President are assigned day and night security by the State.

Ruto has a private residence in Karen in addition to the State residence which also acts as an office.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) registers drone owners who are by law required to have a permit to import one in the country.

There are a set of regulations on how one can operate a drone in Kenya and limitations as captured in the The Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations, 2020.

KCAA has segregated the country into high risk and low risk operations areas away from aerodromes.
OTTAWA/TORONTO -- Canadian health officials said on Monday they would stop offering AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine to people under age 55 and require a new analysis of the shots benefits and risks based on age and gender.

The moves follow reports from Europe of rare but serious blood clots, bleeding and in some cases death after vaccination, mainly in young women. No such cases have been reported in Canada, with about 307,000 AstraZeneca doses administered.

We are pausing the use of AstraZeneca vaccine to adults under 55 years of age pending further risk benefit analysis, Canadas deputy chief public health officer Howard Njoo said at a media briefing.

Njoo later noted that Canada was taking this prudent approach because alternative vaccines are available. Most of Canadas supply so far has come from Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc.

The National Advisory Council of Immunization (NACI), an independent expert panel, said the rate that the clotting complication happens at is not yet clear. So far, 40% of people who have developed it have died, but that may fall as more cases are identified and treated early, it said.

From what is known at this time, there is substantial uncertainty about the benefit of providing AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to adults under 55 years of age, the council in a written recommendation.

Older people face a greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, and the complication seems to be more rare in that age group, NACI said, so they can be offered the vaccine with informed consent.

Health Canada said in a statement it would add new terms and conditions to the vaccines authorizations, including a requirement that the manufacturers conduct a detailed assessment of the benefits and risks of the vaccine by age and sex in the Canadian context.

Health Canada said it had been in talks with AstraZeneca, and once it has the requested information, it will determine if additional regulatory actions are necessary.

It was not immediately clear how long the assessment might take.

The pause affects both versions of the vaccine approved in Canada: One granted to AstraZeneca Canada, and a second for the Serum Institute of India (SII) - which is manufacturing its own version of the vaccine under license - and its Canadian partner Verity Pharmaceuticals.

Many European countries briefly stopped using the Anglo-Swedish firms vaccine while investigating the blood clot incidents earlier this month. Canada continued to administer doses, arguing that the benefits of vaccination outweighed potential risks.

Nearly all countries have since resumed use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. But France broke with guidance from the European medical regulator and said on March 19 it should only be given to people aged 55 or older. France said the decision was based on evidence that the clotting affected younger people.

Canada is expecting another 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine this week from the United States, which has not yet authorized its use. Canada has ordered more than 20 million doses from AstraZeneca and SII.
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A unanimous panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a professor can pursue a claim that his university violated his First Amendment rights by punishing him for refusing to use feminine pronouns to refer to a male student who identified as female. The professor declined the students request on religious grounds.

The professor had proposed several compromises as a way of balancing his religious-based concerns with the interest of the student. Ideally, in my view, such compromises are the way these cases should be handled, following the reasonable accommodation model developed in employment cases involving claims of discrimination on the basis of religion.

Accommodation One was that the professor would keep using pronouns to address most students in class but would refer to the transgender student using only that students last name. The University at first agreed, but then changed its mind.

Accommodation Two was that he would use the students preferred pronouns but place a disclaimer in his syllabus noting that he was doing so under compulsion and setting forth his personal and religious beliefs about gender identity. The University objected that putting such a disclaimer in the syllabus would violate the universitys gender identity policy.

The Sixth Circuit reversed a district court decision barring the professor from proceeding with his claim. The opinion was by Judge Amul Thapar. His name appeared on at least one of former president Trumps shortlists for the Supreme Court, as did that of Judge Joan Larsen who was also on the panel. (The third member of the panel was appointed by former president George W. Bush.)

Ed Whelan summarizes the key points in Judge Thapars opinion as follows:

1. The general rule that the Supreme Court announced in Garcetti v. Ceballos (2006) that limits the Free Speech rights of government employees does not apply to professors at public universities, at least when engaged in core academic functions, such as teaching and scholarship. 2. For purposes of applying the Pickering-Connick framework, pronoun usage involves a matter of public concern. 3. For purposes of the Free Exercise Clause, the universitys policy was not neutral and general applicable, as university officials showed hostility to his religious beliefs and committed irregularities in the adjudication and investigative processes. (For purposes of the universitys motion to dismiss, the professors plausible allegations must be accepted as true. In order to prevail, the professor will need to prove key allegations.)

Eugene Volokh has more on the decision. He points out that the court did not decide whether a professor could insist on actually using a pronoun that didnt match the students preferred pronoun. Rather, the court only considered whether a professor could decline to use the students preferred pronoun.

I hope that, in the spirit of reasonable accommodation, professors will be kind enough (as the plaintiff in this case was) not to insist on using pronouns to which a student, for whatever reason, objects.

Volokh also makes this important point:
The lions share of the health systems woes have been blamed on mental health, but housing advocacy groups and researchers say if the government dug a little deeper they would find the real culprit is its long-time foe: social housing.

The hospital crisis hit a crescendo last week as both Sir Charles Gairdner and Royal Perth hospitals declared code yellow alerts at the same time, causing emergency departments to turn people away to deal with only the most serious of cases. The code yellows prompted dire warnings from the Australian Medical Association WA that people could die unnecessarily unless the state started hiring more staff and opening new beds.

A lack of social housing has been blamed as one of the causes of bed block in the WA health system.

In a press conference last week, Health Minister Roger Cook refused to call the issue a crisis but conceded the system was under pressure from National Disability Insurance Scheme delays; a lack of GPs; and a huge increase in mental health in-patients staying in hospital longer, with more complex problems.

These claims are backed by evidence  the average stay at Graylands Hospital went up from about 30 days in October to 131 in January  but social housing advocacy groups such as Shelter WA say many of these patients are unable to leave hospital because they dont have appropriate accommodation to be discharged to.
W&Ms colonial history grad program ranked #1 by U.S. News

William & Marys graduate program in U.S. colonial history is the best in the country, according to rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report.

In the report on the nations best graduate schools, William & Marys colonial history program ranked first. Harvard and Yale tied for second place on the ranking of colonial history programs, followed by the University of Virginia at fourth and a tie of Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pennsylvania to round out the top five. W&Ms overall history graduate program ranked 26th this year, tied with Emory University and CUNY Graduate School and University Center.

"Were delighted of course, but it really takes a village, said Frederick Corney, professor and chair of W&Ms Department of History. Our graduate program is built on talented faculty and excellent graduate students. But it also thrives within a rich intellectual community  including the Omohundro Institute, NIAHD (National Institute of American History & Democracy), and the Lemon Project to name just three  that examines the local, national and international  and often difficult  legacies of the colonial past and beyond."

U.S. News ranks graduate history programs every four years. In 2017 and 2013, W&Ms colonial history program was third in the country. According to U.S. News, the rankings of doctoral programs in the social sciences and humanities are based on peer assessment surveys. For the rankings released today, those surveys were administered in fall 2020 and early 2021.

Specialty rankings, like the one for colonial history, are based completely on nominations by department heads and graduate studies directors at peer institutions. Schools that receive a minimum of seven nominations are then ranked in descending order based on the number of nominations received.

W&Ms other graduate programs and schools were also noted in the rankings from U.S. News. W&Ms full-time law program was tied at 35th while education was tied at 59th and business ranked at 71st. Programs under each of those schools were also highlighted in various categories, with W&M ranking well in such areas as constitutional law and criminal law, both tied at 18th on their respective lists.

The U.S. News graduate rankings are just the latest in a series of recent rankings that have highlighted various aspects of W&M. Last month, W&M was designated a Top 10 Military Friendly School for 2021-2022 by G.I. Jobs, coming in at fourth. Earlier this semester, Poets & Quants ranked W&Ms undergraduate business program 15th in the country and its online MBA program 19th.

In the fall, U.S. News ranked W&Ms undergraduate teaching fourth in the nation, tied with Princeton. In that same U.S. News report on the nations best colleges, W&M was ranked 39overall among national universities and 11th among public institutions.
An Irish medical consultant who was jailed for committing an insurance scam and mortgage fraud has been ordered to pay back more than 661,000 to UK authorities.

Orthopaedic surgeon Anthony McGrath (48) was jailed for eight years in 2019 for his crimes but now faces an additional five-year sentence if he fails to pay back more than 661k within a three-month deadline.

He was previously based in the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore in north-west London but is banned from practicing indefinitely.

McGrath, whose criminal offences were featured on Channel 4s 24 Hours in Police Custody, must now repay 564,518.97 (661,000) to the HMCTS South East Regional Confiscation Unit by June 26th.

Judge Steven Evans made the order on Friday at Luton crown court following a three day hearing - two years into McGrath's sentence.

The surgeon was heavily in debt when he made a false report in 2015 to police that 95 items worth 182,612.50 were stolen from the house he and his family were renting on the Luton Hoo country estate.

Read More

McGrath claimed that items stolen included expensive jewellery, silverware, artwork, Ming vases, oriental rugs, antiques and furniture, including a 19th-century Rococo red marble fireplace worth 30,000.

However, information on photo files that McGrath sent police of the stolen property showed that they were in fact taken at his family home in Meath, Somerville House.

In addition to his forged insurance claim, McGrath also submitted three fraudulent mortgage applications on two properties amounting to 1.1 million, including his seven-bedroom house in St. Albans, Hertfordshire.

Judge Steven Evans concluded that his total criminal benefit from the fraudulent mortgage loans had been 974,114, following a three-day Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation hearing at Luton Crown Court.

After examining the surgeon's assets, the judge ruled that McGrath should pay back over half a million pounds or face further jail time.

Judge Evans said that when McGrath was asked to provide evidence, he was unco-operative and unforthcoming with information."

He added: In short I found him to be a thoroughly dishonest witness, quite prepared to manipulate and forge evidence and tell lies in court.

McGrath must now repay 564,518 by 26th June under the Proceeds of Crime Act or he will face an additional five years in prison.

Paul Fitzsimmons of the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit police said: Despite arguing he shouldn't have to pay back a penny, McGrath was found by our specialist financial investigators to be in possession of assets worth significant sums.

However, he continued to once again waste significant police time and resources across an extended period to prolong the inevitable.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A spokeswoman for Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says the states mask mandate will end April 9 despite the presidents request for states to reinstate them.

Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola said Monday that we are moving towards personal responsibility and not government mandates.

President Joe Biden and a top health official on Monday appealed for mask requirements and other restrictions to be maintained or restored to stave off a fourth surge of COVID-19.

Alabama has kept a mask mandate in place longer than surrounding states, but Ivey has made clear it will not be extended.
He rose to fame as one of the 2000s favorite TV hunks.

And Chad Michael Murray proved he could still make knees weak while showing off his parenting skills in a sweet photo with his four-year-old daughter on Instagram Monday.

'The snuggles are real,' the One Tree Hill actor, 39, captioned a snap of his little girl throwing her arms around her dad, adding: 'No better duty than #daddyduty.'

Sweet: Chad Michael Murray enjoyed some special family time with his kids on Instagram Monday

Murray looked like he was on top of the world with his youngest child, whose face was hidden from the camera.

The devoutly Christian actor wore a crucifix around his neck while his daughter was clad in a pink floral dress with her hair styled into a fishtail brain.

Just a sliver of their son, who was born in 2015, could be seen in the bottom right corner of the snap.

He finished the caption tagging wife Sarah Roemer and writing: 'Love our family.'

Roemer and Chosen co-star turned husband Murray were wed before their birth of their son in 2015.

Private: Chad and wife Sarah Roemer have kept their family life very private, choosing not to share either of their children's names or photos of their faces. They're seen in 2018 above

Family: Disturbia star Sarah also offered a glimpse into their home life this week when she shared a snapshot of their daughter

(It was Roemer's first marriage and Murray's second, as he was briefly married to One Tree Hill co-star Sofia Bush from 2005 to 2006.)

Chad and Sarah have kept their family life very private, choosing not to share either of their children's names or photos of their faces with the public.

But Disturbia star Sarah also offered a glimpse into their home life this week when she shared a snapshot of her with their daughter.

She paired the mother/daughter photo with a silly caption that said: 'Lil' nakie baby lunch date. #babysnuggles #mybabyforever.'

Bliss: The pair were wed sometime before their son's birth in 2015

Chad spoke about how faith guides their family during a conversation with Page Six last year.

'We pray at every meal,' he said. 'Thats one of the foundations of teaching a good moral compass in our children. Having the fear of God is vital because to be honest what do you have to lose if you have no fear of that.

'If you have no fear of God it would be chaos here. We read the Bible, I start the day reading a chapter.

'We teach the kids about Jesus and who Jesus was and the story and we do church on Sundays.'
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-29 23:31:47|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, March 29 (Xinhua) -- With European demand surged amid shipping delay at sea, transcontinental rail freight from China to Europe saw a sharp rise, the Financial Times (FT) newspaper reported Monday.

The number of China-Europe freight trains hit 1,165 in January, up 66 percent year on year, and a record 12,400 freight-train trips were made in 2020, up 50 percent from 2019, according to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

The FT said the rapid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has helped China "dominate trade over the second half of 2020", with lockdowns stoking global demand for Chinese goods from electronics to home appliances.

Meanwhile, the pressure due to shipping delay at sea and container shortages have jointly made land exports a reasonable alternative.

The FT noted the rail freight has also been facilitated by the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which emphasized the symbolism of "steel camels" and encouraged Chinese provinces to support the cross-border rail transport.

When Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in 2013, a lot of the conversation was around the rail, Agatha Kratz, an analyst at Rhodium Group, was quoted by the London-based newspaper as saying.

"Chinese provinces have recently invested in transport specifically for items in high demand during lockdowns," the FT said.

In February, a new China-Europe freight train route has been launched, linking Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan Province with Russia's St. Petersburg.

China overtook the United States and became the main trade partner of the European Union (EU) in 2020, with exports and imports both increasing despite the COVID-19 pandemic, data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, showed in Febuary.

The freight trains have played a crucial role in stabilizing the international logistics supply chain, promoting Sino-European trade and helping with the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem
Here are todays leading news stories:

COVID-19 Updates

-- No COVID-19 cases were reported in Vietnam on Tuesday morning, while nearly 46,500 people have received COVID-19 vaccination so far in the country. The COVID-19 tally stood at 2,594, with 2,308 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

Society

-- Six people in a family were killed while another was injured after a fire broke out at a house in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday morning.

-- An eight-year-old boy died and a seven-year-old was hospitalized after drinking rodenticides contained in a nameless bottle they had found on the street in the southern province of Dong Nai last weekend.

-- Competent authorities in Long Bien District, Hanoi confirmed on Monday they had raided a warehouse stashing more than 3,000 footwear products imitating such famous brands as Dior, Chanel, Gucci, Burberry, and Adidas.

-- A tenth-grade student was found dead by hanging inside his room at his schools dormitory in the northern province of Bac Kan on Monday afternoon.

-- Police in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap have arrested three men for stealing dogs and killing an owner early on Saturday morning.

-- The Peoples Court in the southern province of Binh Duong on Monday sentenced a 35-year-old woman to life in prison for fraud and appropriation of more than VND81 billion (US$3.5 million).

-- Officers inspected six filling stations in Ho Chi Minh City and southern Dong Nai Province on Monday as they were allegedly involved in a large-scale fake gasoline ring.

Business

-- The Saigon Railway JSC will offer 50 percent discounts on 10,000 train tickets in April and May as part of a program to boost travel demand via railroad.

-- Phenikaa Group, a Hanoi-based multi-sectoral corporation, has introduced its prototype of a level-4 autonomous vehicle, which is Vietnams first smart self-driving vehicle.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Syracuse, N.Y.  In future pandemics, nursing home residents in New York will not be completely cut off from family members or friends the way they have been during the past year, thanks to a new law that will take effect in a couple months.

Under legislation sponsored by state Sen. Rachel May, D-Syracuse, each nursing home resident can designate up to two caregiving visitors' who can come into their facility for visits even if nursing homes are locked down because of Covid-19 or another disease.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill Monday. It takes effect in 45 days.

By that point, the law might not have a big impact on visits during the coronavirus pandemic. State officials last week relaxed restrictions on nursing home visitation.

But May said the law will ensure that nursing home residents do not suffer the effects of isolation during future pandemics.

One of the lessons of this pandemic is that we must never again close the doors and lock the windows to keep families apart,' May said. This bill will make sure that such isolation never happens again.

Until last week, nursing homes were not allowed to accept visitors unless their facilities had been free of Covid-19 cases for 14 days. New rules issued March 25 dropped that requirement and permit visits at all times, with limited exceptions for unvaccinated residents in areas of high community spread.

May introduced her legislation last fall as families begged to be able to visit their loved ones in nursing homes.

Nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable to Covid-19, and health officials clamped down on visits a year ago to slow the spread of the virus. But health experts pointed out that isolation also contributed to deterioration in the mental and physical health of residents.

People were literally dying from the isolation,' May said.

Under the new law, the health department has 45 days to set up a system under which each nursing home resident can designate one or two people who could continue to visit the facility even during periods when visitation is generally prohibited. The designated caregivers would have to follow safety precautions -- such as wearing PPE and getting temperature checks  similar to procedures for nursing home staff.

This is a great step forward for the health and well-being of nursing home residents now and in any future pandemics, said AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel.

Do you have a news tip or a story idea? Contact reporter Tim Knauss of syracuse.com/The Post-Standard: email | Twitter | | 315-470-3023.
Dublin native Vogue Williams jokes the very first thing she will do when she returns home after the pandemic is kiss the ground and says - "there is no place like home."

The London-based mum-of-two who lives with her husband - Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews - and their two kids Theo (age two), and baby girl Gigi (six months) says she longs for home and her family in Dublin.

"What's the first thing I'll do when I get home - honestly? I'll kiss the ground", laughs Vogue.

"I'll go straight to my house and see my sister. I'm going to see all my aunties, all my friends. I just miss everybody over in Ireland and it's just home for me. I miss everything about Ireland and can't wait to be back."

The vaccine roll-out has been way more successful in Britain, on the face of it than here, and Vogue - who does daily fitness videos on her Instagram - reveals feelings of hope are palpable on the city streets.

She says: "Everywhere seems quite busy, there's traffic every day I don't understand where everyone's going. Everyone is getting on with it, there is a bit of hope, the vaccine rollout is going well over here. We now have a date to look forward to. I don't want to get too excited, but my real focus and goal is just getting back to Ireland and that's exciting to me."

Expand Close QUEEN OF COMFORT: Vogue pictured in the Lucy x Vogue collection in pale pink / Facebook

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Being a busy working mum makes looking good a little bit harder for sure, but the brown-eyed beauty is thrilled with her healthy family.

She says: "As soon as I had my first child I just thought to myself - I cannot believe everything my mother did for me. You don't realise the extent of it until you have your own. It's the greatest gift in the world, the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. It's tough and full-on but totally worth it.

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The reality TV star - who lives in Battersea, London - has just released a beautiful collaboration with Wicklow-born designer Lucy Nagle - which is loungwear in 100pc cotton and in pastel colours (pictured).

Lucy Nagle, says: "It's something we've been working on together the past few months. I love how the collection's playful and fun pastel colours reflect Vogue's style and personality. The past year has been a crazy one and I really wanted to create a collection that is not only comfy, but adds a little bit of colour to people's lives."

Vogue (35) - who would look good in anything - admits: "Back in the day, when I was younger I used to wear skirts that were too short and I would be tugging at them all night, a pair of leather trousers that I insisted on wearing even though they didn't fit but I'd squeeze myself into them. Now at the age I'm at, I like to be comfortable in my clothes.

"I usually wear clothes that are super comfortable."

Expand Close Vogue pictured with hubby Spencer and children Theodore and Gigi / Facebook

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Whatsapp Vogue pictured with hubby Spencer and children Theodore and Gigi

The new Lucy x Vogue collection is available from lucynagle.com. The 100pc cotton tracksuits are 75 for the sweater and 75 for pants.

Vogue says: "We have four amazing pastel tracksuits. They are super comfy."

Wicklow-born Lucy has always had a thing for design.

After studying and working in interior design in London, Lucy honed her talent for sourcing the best textiles and most beautiful design into her passion for knitwear, and the Lucy Nagle brand was born.

Lucy's transition to fashion was a no-brainer. Her love of colour, wool, and cashmere, and her flair for mixing textures culminated in her first capsule collection in 2013, which was quickly snapped up by leading luxury retailer, Brown Thomas.
Mayfield Couple Arrested After Traffic Stop

By West Kentucky Star Staff

GRAVES COUNTY - Two Graves County residents were jailed following a traffic stop Monday night.The Graves County Sheriff's Office said deputies conducted a traffic stop on KY 408 at approximately 8:20 pm. Deputies said the driver, 32-year-old Natasha Allen and 22-year-old Dustin Boyd, both of Mayfield, had warrants for their arrest.During a search of the vehicle, deputies allegedly found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Both Allen and Boyd were arrested and lodged in the Graves County Jail.Allen is charged with possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating on a suspended operator's license, various traffic offenses and on two Graves County bench warrants. Boyd was also charged on a bench warrant.
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COMMENTARY

Time for system integrators to adopt a new business model

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently laid out his strategic initiatives, where he emphasized teamwork as one of the top three priorities.

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced the government to prioritize teamwork and collaboration as well as modernization, and Secretary Austin makes clear that the pace of innovation will accelerate as the DOD divests itself of legacy systems.

Part of this focus means that the age-old debate of buy versus build has shifted. The government wants to invest in and deploy tech solutions that will best meet their strategic needs and bring efficiency to their missions. Government organizations are improving ways to bring emerging technology in the door through modernized procurement methods and innovation hubs.

To continue to thrive, traditional government contractors must also embrace a new business model, in which emerging technology is at the core of everything they deliver, demanding that they too modernize their approach to teaming partners. When these partnerships are executed properly, the traditional and nontraditional contractors will be better together, in turn, helping the government better meet their missions.

Government contractors play a critical role in helping the government modernize. In recent years, weve seen these contractors make investments in innovation labs and venture arms intended to help the government identifying emerging technologies. But in the spirit of true teamwork, there are strides to be made as well. How can legacy government contractors lead in this shifting landscape?

Lead by teaming with emerging tech companies

Historically, some systems integrators may not have teamed with emerging technology companies, instead focused on building the solution themselves.

But as the government demands a faster pace of innovation, its become critical for SIs to bring cutting-edge technology companies into their initial solutions development. Often this requires the traditional government contractors to lead these government newcomers through the nuances of working with and deploying software in the government environment.

Many of the technology companies coming out of Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Texas, and other innovation hubs are eager to support government missions but dont have the relationships or past performance to get started.

To develop stronger teaming relationships and bring cutting-edge tech to government missions, its critical that traditional contractors facilitate introductions and provide transparency between their government clients and these tech companies. For example, Dcodes mission is to accelerate emerging tech companies into the federal market, and part of the tech companies success is being able to work well with large, incumbent SIs.

Government contractors have worked within the walls of the agencies they support for years, giving them the perspective that new emerging tech companies may lack. This knowledge-base is a key ingredient to ensuring that emerging tech companies can make it through the gauntlet of checkboxes required to be deployed within an agency.

The more integrated emerging tech companies can be with the government program and contracting staff, the more they can drive mission outcomes. The contractor community also brings a range of skill sets and capabilities that are important to successfully move a system from prototype to production.

A great example of the tech industry, traditional contractors, and the U.S. government working together is one that Dcode is helping to facilitate. DHA is looking for commercial tech solutions to modernize the Defense Healthcare Management Systems Program Executive Office (PEO DHMS). This is a multiple-award $500M-plus opportunity open to nontraditional tech and government contractors, and the solicitation gives strong incentives for prime contractors to include nontraditional vendors in their proposal teams.

The evaluation requirements aim to make the request for proposals more accessible for nontraditional vendors, deemphasizing past federal performance, which we know can be a major deterrent to even submitting proposals for some non-traditional companies who havent worked with the federal government before.

The same way government organizations are improving ways to bring innovative tech in the door, traditional players need to learn how to be better teaming partners with those cutting-edge tech companies.

Better support government customers

Tech startups are entering the government market at a much faster pace than in the past, due in large part to the governments focus on leveraging Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs). When the government first introduced OTAs, the goal was to bring the agile methodology of Silicon Valley to the Pentagon and DIU pioneered this new way of thinking.

Now there are more innovation hubs to count. So as Secretary Austin asks for both innovation and teamwork from industry, the broad ecosystem of traditional contractors must pitch in.

The same way the government is striving to bring new technology into their agencies, SIs need to be focused on how they can lead with technology innovation. This will require a shift to operate more like a startup and the ability to vet new technologies the same way venture firms vet emerging tech, which is what government leaders are learning in various ways like Dcode training.

Large government contractors are starting to recognize the need to shift their cultures, train their teams, understand the changing procurement landscape, and lead with emerging tech, which will ultimately allow them to move in a more agile fashion.

The technology landscape is changing at a dizzying pace. To stay ahead of our adversaries, this teaming between traditional and non-traditional contractors has become an imperative.
This collage of pictures shows a crosswalk sign near the Multnomah County Justice Center destroyed by fire (L) and a fire doused on Southwest Main Street during a riot in Portland, Oregon, on Dec. 31, 2020. (Portland Police Bureau)

Jim Jordan Demands Answers From DOJ, DHS on Biden Admins Efforts to Enforce Federal Law in Portland

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is demanding answers from the head of the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security on how the Biden administration is protecting federal property and personnel in Portland, Oregon.

The city saw persistent demonstrations last summer that eventually escalated into nights of violence and rioting following the death of George Floyd. The clashes with police and violent rioting saw extensive property damage, injuries, and deaths. A number of federal buildings, including a courthouse, were targeted and damaged significantly during the unrest.

Jordan sent separate letters on Monday to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas seeking information on efforts the departments are taking to protect federal employees and property in Portland. Although the number of demonstrations has reduced, the city is still seeing outbreaks of violence around different locations in the city including at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse.

Just a day after protective fencing around the courthouse was removed in early March, rioters were seen trying to gain access into the building and set a fire at the buildings entrance. Other parts of town also saw protests that turned violent, leading to police intervention and arrests.

The letters also sought transparency on the department heads plans to prevent future damage and destruction to federal property in the city, and sought to understand whether the departments viewed such acts observed over the summer as criminal. The riots in Portland have caused at least $2.3 million in damage to federal buildings, U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy J. Williams told Oregon Live. The price tag for fixing the damage could rise with repairs ongoing.

Other buildings that were damaged in the violence include Edith Green-Wendall Wyatt Federal Building, the Gus J. Solomon U.S. Courthouse, the Pioneer Courthouse, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building, Jordan said.

The Biden administration has a duty to ensure federal law is enforced and that both federal property and federal personnel are protected and kept safe from violent extremists in Portland, Jordan said.

In his letter, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee noted that the violence was exacerbated by $16 million in cuts to the Portland Police Bureau. This resulted in the dissolution of the bureaus gun violence reduction team, school resource officers, and the transit police division.

The Trump administration last year sent federal forces to Portland to respond to the escalating violence in an attempt to protect federal buildings and monuments. At the time, the city faced over 100 consecutive nights of violence.

Former Attorney General William Barr defended the administrations move to deploy federal law enforcement during a House Judiciary hearing last year.

Remarkably, the response from many in the media and local elected offices to this organized assault has been to blame the federal government, Barr said. To state what should be obvious, peaceful protesters do not throw explosives into federal courthouses, tear down plywood with crowbars, or launch fecal matter at federal officers. Such acts are in fact federal crimes under statutes enacted by this Congress.

Jordan gave Garland and Mayorkas until 5 p.m. on April 12 to provide the requested information.

Neither the DOJ nor DHS immediately responded to a request for comment from The Epoch Times. Portland Mayor Ted Wheelers office also did not respond to a request for comment.
The Oregon Legislature is moving to wipe out more than $300 million in state taxes triggered by federal stimulus payments, but it could take several months for 900,000 taxpayers to get all the money back.

Congress authorized $1,800 in coronavirus relief payments in two installments last year and approved another $1,400 earlier this month. The aid comes in the form of a federal tax rebate, which isnt taxable.

Oregon is one of just six states that allow residents to subtract their federal taxes from their state tax liability. Thats usually a tax break, but the stimulus payments produced the opposite effect: lower federal taxes meant Oregonians had less to subtract from their state tax obligation.

On average, that created a $333 tax hit for Oregonians who received stimulus payments. The actual amount varies considerably based on individual circumstances, but even some lower-income households could end up owing a few hundred dollars.

The issue has been clear to lawmakers since last May, at least, when the Legislative Revenue Office wrote a report on the effects of the federal stimulus program. But lawmakers are just now taking it up.

Rep. Nancy Nathanson, D-Eugene, chairs the House Committee on Revenue. She said the Legislature focused initially on immediate pandemic aid and concluded that addressing the taxes generated by 2020 stimulus payments would be too challenging during last years special sessions. She said a rushed fix would have introduced a risk of mistakes or backlogged payments.

After further evaluation, making a change to Oregon tax law is the surest way to offset the indirect impact that the federal tax credit has on Oregon taxpayers, Nathanson wrote in an email Monday. Im hopeful that this is a starting point toward a bipartisan solution to streamline tax relief for the coming year.

An amendment to House Bill 2433 proposed Monday would wipe out the entire Oregon tax obligation created by the stimulus payments. Some taxpayers who owed no federal taxes at all could also benefit with lower state taxes.

Lawmakers in both parties have signaled support for addressing the stimulus tax issue. It may not be easy, though.

Changes in Oregon tax law dont take effect until 90 days after the Legislature adjourns, long after the tax deadline for filing 2020 taxes (the deadline is May 17 this year, following a federal and state postponements.)

At a House committee hearing Monday, representatives from the Oregon Department of Revenue testified that any change could take months to implement. That means Oregonians will have to wait an extended period to get repaid for taxes generated by 2020s stimulus payments, including the stimulus money Congress approved last December.

Legislators and administrators hashed out various options for implementing the change at Mondays hearing. Oregon could send out refund checks, enable people to file amended tax returns, or simply allow them to claim a credit when they file their 2021 taxes next year.

Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, urged lawmakers Monday to do more than refund the tax money  he suggested the Legislature should provide some serious cash to help get the stimulus tax rebate out the door.

We have to be cognizant of the fact that the Department of Revenue is up to its elbows right now, Smith said. We are going to have to make sure we put resources behind it.

Correction: Changes in Oregon tax law take effect 90 days after a legislative session ends, not 90 days after it begins, as this article originally indicated.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway
The leading digital Strategy 2 Execution agency chose Pivotree for its client-first approach and expertise in Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Cloud Managed Services.

TORONTO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Pivotree Inc. (TSXV: PVT) ("Pivotree" or the "Company"), a leader in frictionless commerce solutions, today announced it has been selected by Vigorate Digital Solutions  a best-in-class Toronto-based digital Strategy 2 Execution agency  as its AWS Managed Services provider.

As the only gold status consulting partner of Salesforce Marketing Cloud in Canada, Vigorate builds and hosts ancillary products that help power the platform for clients across all industries and sizes. Most recently, Vigorate managed its AWS hosting internally, and will now partner with Pivotree to leverage the company's competencies in AWS, which include Marketing and Commerce, Oracle, and Retail.

"We've worked with Vigorate on physical server hosting in the past, and we're excited to welcome them back as a cloud client," said Chris MacLean, General Manager of Cloud at Pivotree. "Years ago, they made the strategic decision to migrate to the cloud, but experienced disappointment with other managed service providers. We're extremely pleased to partner with them to migrate their full AWS ecosystem  including databases, web services, and sFTP servers  under our umbrella of trusted AWS Cloud Managed Services."

"In seeking help with our AWS cloud migration, we knew we needed not only a partner with a deep level of AWS expertise, but also a company that truly puts their clients first  and that's what led us directly back to Pivotree," said Adam Johnston, COO of Vigorate. "Based on our previous experience with their team, we knew we would have a partner that exceeds our expectations, is professional and efficient, enjoyable to work with, and will always work to put our success first."

With over 200 customer applications hosted on the cloud, Pivotree has developed deep expertise and knowledge managing infrastructures on a spectrum of hosting providers. Pivotree is an Advanced Consulting Partner on the AWS Partner Network, offering benefits and services such as proactive automation and monitoring for the commerce infrastructure, ISO and PCI -compliant security, and a vast network of global infrastructure resources to support international merchants' expansion plans.

To learn more about Pivotree's AWS Managed Services, click here.

About Vigorate Digital Solutions

Vigorate Digital provides comprehensive digital marketing Strategy-to-Execution, Marketing Operations, and Marketing Technology solutions for some of North America's largest brands and agency partners. By integrating an array of marketing platforms into their 1:1 marketing programs  including Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Datorama, Customer360Audiences, Interaction Studio, Adobe Campaign, and Uberflip  Vigorate Digital activates data from email marketing, crm, ecommerce, online engagement, social login and registration, and other sources, and applies the resulting customer insights into outstanding automated marketing campaigns that guide consumers along the customer journey to actual sales. Learn more at www.vigoratedigital.com.

About Pivotree

Pivotree is a leading global provider of commerce, data management, cloud and cybersecurity solutions. It is an end-to-end vendor supporting clients from strategy, platform selection, deployment, and hosting through to ongoing support. It operates as a single expert resource to help companies adapt relentlessly in an ever-changing digital commerce landscape. Leading and innovative clients rely on Pivotree's deep expertise to choose enterprise-proven solutions and design, build, and connect critical systems to run smoothly at defining moments in a commerce business. Pivotree serves as a trusted partner to over 170 market-leading brands and forward-thinking B2C and B2B companies, including many companies in the Fortune 1000. With offices and customers in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC, Pivotree is widely recognized as a high-growth company and industry leader around the globe. For more information, visit http://www.pivotree.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Pivotree Inc.
Customers from a Costco store in South Anchorage, US are complaining about the raven birds sneaking in the parking lot and stealing their groceries and other food items, several victims of the birds burglary told sources of local Anchorage Daily News. Alaska resident Marnie Jones and her unsuspecting husband have been the latest in line of these robberies.

The former told the local broadcaster that she had bought a four-pack of filet mignon steak that she put right in the bottom of the cart and her husband was pushing the wheels through bumpy snowy roads. Even before the couple could make it to their 4-wheeler, a pack went missing. The Jones couple, however, were lucky to be able to safely unload the groceries in their car. Mr Jones was rendered shocked when he was noticed the steak was robbed, back at home as he sorted the vegetables.

Account of theft 'carefully plotted'

Many other customers at the Dimond Boulevard store have come forward with their account of theft carefully plotted by the pitch-black sharp-clawed birds. Another resident, Matt Lewallen, said that food thieving ravens in a group swooped in on him while he was transferring groceries in the car boot. The birds snatched a mini rib from his cart while he was perturbed about what to do.

I literally took 10 steps away and turned around, two ravens came down and instantly grabbed one out of the package, ripped it off, and flew off with it, Lewallen said, his statement cited by AP. The strategically stolen piece was about 4-by-7 inches (10-by-18 centimeters) large, Lewallen informed, but the birds obviously had flown with it. They settled on the top roof of a building, he said.

They know what theyre doing; its not their first time, theyre very fat so I think theyve got a whole system there," victim of bird theft Lewallen said.

The horrified customer also reported that the ravens had pecked out the other meat rib however, they did not rob it. I cut that meat out and started marinating it and my wife said, Thats gross, we should take it back, Lewallen said. Costco actually took it back even after we had started marinating them and gave us a full refund.

A series of accounts about ravens spying on Costco customers then stealing from their carts have flooded social media. Shoppers felt that the rival birds are very dedicated to their mission. A former Anchorage-area wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Rick Sinnott told a local outlet that the population of ravens has grown largely due to the waste garbage problem in the county. He added, the ravens preferred short ribs from Costco to half of a hamburger bun from McDonalds.

(Image Credit: AP)
Married At First Sight's most controversial couple, Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson, are getting hitched - but this time it's for real.

The pair, whose televised nuptials weren't legally binding, confirmed on Wednesday they were already thinking about marriage and children.

During a joint appearance on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Bryce, 31, said he and Melissa had discussed 'making it official' and starting a family.

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Wedding bells! Married At First Sight's most controversial couple, Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson, are getting hitched - but this time it's for real

'That's the plan,' he said, adding that they 'want a normal family life' together once the furore surrounding their relationship dies down.

The former radio announcer confirmed he hadn't proposed yet, but had chosen an engagement ring for workplace trainer Melissa.

'[I'm] just waiting for the right time. I've got some big grand plan that doesn't involve Channel Nine,' he laughed.

I do: The pair, whose televised nuptials weren't legally binding, confirmed on Wednesday they were already thinking about marriage and children

KIIS FM host Kyle Sandilands then suggested measuring Melissa's finger live on air, but settled for measuring the dimensions of Bryce's nose instead.

The radio interview comes after Melissa defended her partner, who has been accused of 'gaslighting' her on Married At First Sight.

'I know the real Bryce. What everyone is seeing is a great edit - I'll say that,' she told Daily Mail Australia after jetting into Sydney Airport on Tuesday.

Happily ever after: During a joint appearance on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Bryce, 31, said he and Melissa had discussed 'making it official' and starting a family

Meanwhile, Married At First Sight may be investigated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority after outraged viewers filed multiple complaints about the show.

According to a report by The Wash on Monday, many viewers took offence at scenes involving Melissa and Bryce.

ACMA revealed it had received 14 complaints about this year's season of MAFS, and four of those were about the divisive couple.

Looking into it: Married At First Sight may be investigated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority after outraged viewers filed multiple complaints about the show

'Under the co-regulatory system, the ACMA will refer complainants to the broadcaster in the first instance,' the media watchdog said.

'If the complainant does not receive a response from the broadcaster within 60 days, or is not satisfied with the response, they may refer their complaint to the ACMA who may choose to investigate.'

According to ACMA, many viewers raised 'concerns over the scenes involving Melissa and Bryce'.

Problematic: A Change.org petition is demanding Channel Nine issue an apology for airing 'triggering' scenes involving the 'gaslighting' groom and his long-suffering wife

Bryce's problematic behaviour on Married At First Sight Voting 'wife' Melissa the fourth-hottest in a relationship task

Saying Melissa was 'not his type' during an 'honesty box' challenge

Despite Melissa sharing her history with low self-esteem, Bryce tells her 'well, you're not ugly'

Flirted with co-star Beck Zemek at the gym

Lied at the dinner party about the conversation he had with Beck at the gym

Initially voting to 'leave' Melissa at Sunday's commitment ceremony, but crossing out his answer and writing 'stay' at the last minute

Accusing the cast of creating a 'toxic environment' for his wife, spreading lies about him and being bullies - despite him being toxic, a liar and a bully Advertisement

On Monday, a Change.org petition began circulating that demanded Channel Nine issue an apology for airing 'triggering' scenes involving the 'gaslighting' groom and his long-suffering wife.

The petition, which received 2,500 signatures in under 24 hours, is also calling for Nine to acknowledge its alleged 'failure of duty of care' towards Melissa.

'This season of Married at First Sight Australia features a couple, Melissa and Bryce, who portray an excessive amount of [troubling] signs which are not being handled by the network appropriately,' the petition states.

'There is a clear failure of duty of care to Melissa during filming of the show, allowing her to remain in a toxic and dangerous environment with her partner for the "benefit" of the network.'

'She is being subject to gaslighting, emotional manipulation, isolation, and countless other textbook signs of a controlling and or abusive relationship,' the petition goes on to claim, adding that the scenes are 'incredibly triggering and stressful to watch'.

Fan fury: According to a report by The Wash on Monday, many viewers took offence at scenes involving controversial couple Melissa and Bryce

It continues: 'This petition is for the Nine Network to acknowledge and apologise for letting Melissa go through this and also airing such a horrible relationship on TV without doing anything to showcase that the relationship is clearly not healthy.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.

Similar outrage has exploded on Twitter, where many viewers are calling for the show to be cancelled or boycotted over its depiction of toxic relationships.

Bryce and Melissa's 'marriage' has also been an issue of contention for the show's other couples, who largely disapprove of the relationship.

Unpopular: Bryce and Melissa's 'marriage' has also been an issue of contention for the show's other couples, who largely disapprove of the relationship

On Sunday's episode of Married At First Sight, Bryce humiliated his bride at the commitment ceremony by revealing he'd initially voted to leave the experiment, before ultimately deciding to stay.

Bryce later defended writing leave, saying he didn't want to break up with Melissa but instead wanted the couple to exit the 'toxic environment' of the experiment.

The other couples lashed out at him, citing a string of incidents in which he repeatedly showed disregard for Melissa's feelings.

Angered: According to ACMA, many viewers raised 'concerns over the scenes involving Melissa and Bryce'

Bryce tried to justify his behaviour in a lengthy post on Instagram on Sunday.

'People won't agree with what I've done at the commitment ceremony saying I didn't put my partner's feelings first BUT I was raising the issue that bullying is not OK in any walk of life,' he wrote.

'It was a tough decision to continue in the experiment given what we were going through, but in the end, the goal of finding love with someone will always win.'

Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine
[March 30, 2021] Voyager Gains Additional Support for Restructuring Support Agreement

Voyager Aviation Holdings, LLC ("Voyager" or the "Company"), a leading global aviation investment firm, announced today that it has procured additional support for its previously disclosed restructuring support agreement and has entered into an Amended and Restated Restructuring Support Agreement (the "Restructuring Support Agreement"). The agreement details the terms of a debt restructuring transaction that will strengthen the Company's overall financial position and enable the Company to focus on growth. The Company launched an exchange offer for the debt restructuring pursuant to the terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement on March 30, 2021. For more information and transaction details, please see the Company's press release dated March 30, 2021 regarding the exchange. Signatories to the Restructuring Support Agreement now include beneficial owners of approximately 85% of the Company's 8.500% Senior Notes due 2021 (such beneficial owners, the "Consenting Noteholders") and holders of 100% of the Company's equity (the "Existing Equityholders"). This exceeds the level of noteholder support necessary to successfully implement the Company's restructuring through an Irish Scheme of Arrangement and brings the Company closer to the level necessary to implement the restructuring through an out-of-court exchange offer. "We remain quite pleased with the continued support and collaboration our Consenting Noteholders and Existing Equityholders have provided since the announcement of this transaction. The addition of additional signatories to the Restructuring Support Agreement is a vote of confidence in support of the transaction and will help to foster a smooth and efficient process," said Voyager's President & Chief Executive Officer, Mike Lungariello. "We are quite confident that this proposed transaction, including the support of the well-established firms that are our future new established owners, is in the best interest of the Company, noteholders, and Existing Equityholders. It will provide us with long-term financial stability as the aviation industry recovers from COVID-19 and better positions us to capitalizeon future growth opportunities with both existing and new customers."



Voyager has a diverse, global customer base consisting of prominent passenger and cargo airlines that include Air France, AirBridgeCargo, Cebu Pacific, Sichuan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Alitalia. As of September 30, 2020, the Company's fleet had a weighted average remaining lease term of 6.6 years and there were no scheduled lease maturities until 2022. These existing airline partnerships and leases, our modern fleet, and our capital structure subsequent to the execution of this transaction represent a strong financial base for Voyager as it looks towards future growth opportunities. Voyager is advised in this process by Milbank LLP, Moelis & Company LLC and FTI Consulting. Consenting Noteholders under the Restructuring Support Agreement who beneficially own approximately 60% of the Company's existing unsecured notes are advised by Clifford Chance US LLP, and additional Consenting Noteholders under the Restructuring Support Agreement who beneficially own approximately 25% of the Company's existing unsecured notes are advised by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP.

About Voyager: Voyager Aviation Holdings, LLC is a privately held aviation investment firm and leading commercial aircraft leasing company based in Ireland. Its assets of approximately $2 billion consist of primarily young and modern, wide and narrow-body aircraft. Disclaimer: The Restructuring remains subject to the finalization of, and entry into, definitive documentation between the Company and its stakeholders regarding the terms of the Restructuring. There can be no assurance that the Company and its stakeholders will reach final agreements regarding the terms of the Restructuring as described in this release, or at all. Any description of any terms of any transaction is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, either alone or together with any other materials, an offer or sale of securities in any jurisdiction. Any discussion of any terms of any potential transaction is only a summary of certain potential provisions thereof and is subject in its entirety to definitive documentation relating thereto. This release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities, in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Any securities proposed to be offered in the Restructuring have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Forward-Looking Statements: Please note that any statements made in this release that relate to expectations, plans or objectives regarding future actions by the Company or any other parties are forward-looking statements and involve uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to be materially different. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or updated status of any such forward looking statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever shall the Company, its subsidiaries or its affiliates be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this release or for any related damages. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330006082/en/

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New Delhi:

Four youths raped a teenager for 10 days, forced her to eat meat and threatened her of dire consequences if she did not change her religion in Uttar Pradeshs Muzaffarnagar.

The incident came to surface after the 16-year-old victim lodged a complaint at the Bhopa police station on Tuesday with help of her parents.

According to the complaint filed by the victim she was abducted by four youths on gunpoint and kept her in captivity for 10 days. During her days in the captivity the four boys repeatedly gang raped her, forced her to eat meat and forced her to change her religion.

According to a senior police officer, the victim informed the police that she knew her abductors and rapists.

The victim has named Akram, Aslam, Ayyub and Salim in the FIR, said the police officer.

He added that a case has been registered against the four under Protection of Children and Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

He added that the girl told the police that she was waiting at the bus-stand to board a bus, when the four youths offered her lift to Muzaffarnagar. She accepted the lift as she knew the four.

Also read| Delhi minor rape: Tagore Public School did not verify peons background, SDM report says



According to the complaint filed by the victim, the four youths took her captive on gunpoint as she entered the car and blindfolded her.

The police official further added that the girl in her complaint also mentioned her that the four youths took her too different places where she was raped by the four.

In the complaint the rape-survivor has mentioned that her perpetrators forced her to eat meat and regularly made pressure on her to change religion during her days in captivity.

Also read: Son raped 75-year-old mother for over 2 years in Punjab



The police official further added that the youths set her free on September 16 and threatened her of dire consequences if she informed the incident to anyone.

According to police, a team has been formed and raids are being conducted nab the four accused.

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Burma Myanmars Escalating Conflict Threatens ASEAN Stability

Karen villagers take shelter in the forest after the regime airstrike. / KIC

Britain has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council on the crisis in Myanmar, after scores of protesters including children were gunned down over the weekend.

The UN Security Council has already voiced deep concern over the military coup in Myanmar and called for the release of all detainees, including ousted State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.

But there is no sign that the junta, known officially as the State Administrative Council, will stop its lethal crackdown on anti-regime protesters. Myanmars two top military leaders, Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing and his deputy Gen Soe Win, have instead travelled separately to Mandalay and Shan State.

With activists fleeing to the borders with Thailand and India, Myanmars neighbors are increasingly concerned by the growing instability in the country. Thousands of Karen refugees fled to Thailand over the weekend following a series of airstrikes by the military.

The UN, international relief organizations and foreign embassies are greatly concerned at the use of airstrikes against the civilian population and the looming refugee crisis on the border.

It has been suggested that a Myanmar Air Force fighter plane may have entered Thai air space during the airstrikes. The bombs fell just a few hundred metres from Thailand. A knowledgeable source said that in all probability the plane flew over Thai territory during its bombing run, as the Salween River that marks the border has many bends and it would have been very difficult for the pilot to avoid flying over Thailand.

Karen people along the border are now living in fear of further airstrikes and the prospect of many more civilians dying at the hands of the Myanmar military.

The insecurity along the frontiers is now adding a new dimension to an already volatile crisis set off by the juntas Feb.1 coup.

Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is already on the defensive over his governments position on the Myanmar crisis. In what ways do we support Myanmar troops? Nobody supports the use of violence against the people, he replied to a question from the media.

Thailands leader also defended the Thai militarys decision to send representatives to Myanmars Armed Forces Day celebrations on March 27, saying that Thailand needs to engage and maintain a communications channel with the junta.

It is a military channel. We need mechanisms which will enable us to follow political developments in Myanmar. Our countries share a border and we will be affected, he said. But around 100 civilians were killed by security forces on March 27, the bloodiest day since the coup and one since described as a day of shame.

Prayut said that the Thai authorities were preparing for a possible flood of refugees fleeing the violence in Myanmar. We dont want an exodus into our territory, but we will observe human rights, too.

But he also said that the Thai government will have to carefully weigh this against measures imposed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other international organizations, according to the Bangkok Post.

The feeble ASEAN exercises a non-interference policy but diplomats in Bangkok suspect that if the situation in Myanmar becomes increasingly unstable and slides towards civil war, the regional grouping will be forced to intervene in Myanmar affairs.

Singapore, Myanmars largest investor, is concerned. Singapore foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan has called the situation in Myanmar an unfolding tragedy that will take time to overcome, and said it was essential for Southeast Asian countries to have a position on how to respond.

It is going to take quite some time to resolve. I must confess to you that I am pessimistic, Balakrishnan told local media, according to a transcript released on Monday.

Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines have pushed for an urgent high-level meeting on Myanmar and have condemned the military crackdown, which has killed over 500 people, according to activists. Singapore said it supports such a meeting. The position of Thailand is still unknown.

It is essential for ASEANs credibility, centrality and relevance to have a view, have a position and to be able to offer some constructive assistance to Myanmar, Balakrishnan said. But do not expect quick solutions.

Balakrishnan also said it was essential for ASEAN to consider, to contemplate, to support and to be a constructive presence inside Myanmar. He said he hoped Myanmar would take into consideration the views of ASEAN leaders.

The use of lethal force against unarmed civilians is inexcusable under any circumstances. The immediate concern is to step back from a rapidly deteriorating situation, he said.

In early March, Balakrishnan said, We have not recognized the military leaders as the government of Myanmar. We do recognize, however, that under the 2008 Constitution, it provides for a special role for the military as an institution in the body politic of Myanmar.

ASEAN has been strongly criticized in the past for its position on and relationship with Myanmar, in particular for its policies of non-interference and constructive engagement.

However, when Myanmar was struck by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008  the worst-recorded natural disaster in Myanmar history  ASEAN took a bold step by proactively assuming a leadership role and convincing the Myanmar government to cooperate with the international community.

Looking at the current conflict, diplomats inside and outside Myanmar said that there is no entry point to mediate so far. But many said that the killings and atrocities cant last forever and must stop soon.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Regime Sacks 120 Striking Staff from State-Run Broadcast Service

Myanmar Nationals Fleeing Military Regime Turned Back From India

Myanmars Arakan Army, Allies Set to Resume Fight Against Tatmadaw Over Civilian Killings
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[March 30, 2021] Digital Matter Launches Global 2021 IoT Asset Tracking Strategy

PERTH, Australia, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Matter, a global leader in GPS and IoT hardware development, today announced its 2021 strategy to deliver the range, performance and flexibility companies require to better manage and track their valuable assets around the world. The company's versatile range of low-power asset tracking hardware is used by telematics businesses, IoT solution providers, enterprises, and network operators worldwide, enabling them to customize and deploy their asset management solutions with confidence. Digital Matter has the industry's widest range of tested and future-proofed battery-powered IoT hardware, enabling partners to expand and scale into new vertical markets, diversify solution offerings, and improve ROI for both their own businesses and their clients'. The company's technology has been tested globally and covers a broad range of technologies, including 2G, 3G, LTE-M/NB-IoT, LoRaWAN, Sigfox, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The company's focus and expertise in low-power design offers industry-leading battery life, improving performance and decreasing the amount of effort, time, and expense required by partners and their clients to maintain devices. Digital Matter teams are flexible and agile, allowing the company to innovate, customize, and integrate faster to support partners as they go to market with scalable solutions.



"Digital Matter's mission is to develop, supply, and support high-quality telematics and IoT asset tracking hardware for businesses," said Ken Everett, CEO and founder, Digital Matter.

"Everything we do is aimed to deliver an extraordinary experience to our partners. Our innovative range of wired and battery-powered hardware offers superior performance and battery life, and our flexible engagement model allows our customers to get started quickly and then rapidly scale with confidence." For more information about Digital Matter and to learn more about its IoT asset tracking solutions, visit www.digitalmatter.com. About Digital Matter Digital Matter is the leading global developer of low-power GPS and IoT hardware for asset tracking and management applications. Engineered to outperform, we offer a versatile range of LPWAN asset tracking hardware with the largest portfolio of integration-ready battery-powered asset tracking devices across a range of connectivity technologies. With over 20 years of telematics experience and over 500 channel partners across 120 countries, Digital Matter supplies and supports scalable, and secure devices for Telematics Businesses, IoT Solution Providers, Enterprises and Network Operators around the world. For more information, visit us at www.digitalmatter.com. Media Contact:

Kimberly T. Kennedy

Calysto Communications

O: 404-266-2060, Ext. 602

306217@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-matter-launches-global-2021-iot-asset-tracking-strategy-301257618.html SOURCE Digital Matter

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Actress Seyi Omooba has been ordered to pay full costs after losing her tribunal against Leicester Curve and agency Global Artists last month.

Omooba was dismissed from the cast of the Curve's production of The Color Purple in 2019, and subsequently dropped by her agent, when anti-gay comments she had made on Facebook were reported after she was cast to play the lead role of Celie, a gay character.

She subsequently launched an employment tribunal against both organisations for religious discrimination and breach of contract. The final costs could amount to over 300,000.

In a joint statement, Curve chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster said: "We have always felt the case lacked any merit from the outset, but Seyi Omooba and her legal team continued to disregard our pleadings and chose to take our theatre to court irrespective of the facts."

They said the tribunal had been "used as part of a wider campaign orchestrated by Christian Concern," which resulted in "significant human and financial cost".

The statement continues: "Whilst we welcome this news, we would like to reiterate we do not condone any negativity aimed at Seyi Omooba and we respectfully ask anyone in support of Curve to remain kind and respectful."

Global Artists responded: "The outcome goes some way to alleviate the stress with which Global Artists has been burdened in defending these claims over the last 18 months. We are truly grateful for the support received and are relieved to be closing the door on this difficult period."
A global survey analysis conducted by Salesforce of 750 manufacturing decision-makers finds the changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic are expected to endure as the industry recovers.

Highlighting the pandemics destabilizing effect on manufacturing and what comes next, `Trends in Manufacturing report says that as leaders prepare their companies for the next decade, digital transformation efforts will be a top priority.

The report shares the steps that manufacturers who feel ready for the next decade have taken to future-proof their business, including cloud adoption, strong relationships with channel partners and diversifying sources of revenue.

As manufacturers recover from the pandemic, its clear that there is a digital divide that has left some manufacturers prepared for the future of the industry and others struggling to meet evolving employee, partner and customer expectations, said Cindy Bolt, SVP, Salesforce Industries.

Manufacturers need to adopt the mindset of a technology companymoving operations to the cloud, leveraging automation, and creating digital experiences for the customerto help position their companies for success over the next decade.

The report details six key findings on the future of manufacturing:

Manufacturers who were impacted by Covid-19 believe customer-facing changes to their business to be permanent

Manufacturers felt the impact of the pandemic across all lines of business. Many view these changes as permanent  with sales (57%) and customer service capabilities (56%) considered to be the most permanently altered by the surveyed manufacturers.

Lack of data transparency and siloed teams are significant barriers to accurate forecasting

One of the biggest foils to traditional forecast accuracy, according to the manufacturers surveyed, is a lack of data transparency and accessibility across the value chain:

 The majority of manufacturers responded that legacy tools (83%) and dispersed data (82%) are moderate or serious challenges, with close to a third (31%) of manufacturers viewing each as a serious challenge.

 More than eight in 10 manufacturers also consider siloed teams (sales and ops) and data being difficult to extract as challenges.

Manufacturing leaders cite digital transformation as a key priority over next 24 months

When asked to list top priorities, manufacturers responded that increasing process efficiencies and improving demand planning (both 88%) were among the most urgent changes needed for a business, and they see digital transformation as a way to help. More than half (57%) of manufacturers say that moving their planning processes to the cloud is a critical or high priority.

Manufacturers who feel very prepared for the next decade are already mostly in the cloud

Nearly half (45%) of manufacturers who feel unprepared for the future have their sales and operation systems located either mostly or completely on premises. The majority (77%) of manufacturers who felt future-ready had at least half of their sales and operation systems in the cloud.

Future-ready manufacturers cite rise in channel partner collaboration and mutual benefits as a value to their business

The report breaks manufacturers into two categories: future-ready and unprepared. Future-ready manufacturers are defined as those who feel their systems and technology are ready to handle the decade ahead, while unprepared manufacturers are defined as those who do not feel their systems can handle the next decade

According to the report, future-ready manufacturers are nearly twice as likely to be satisfied with their channel partners than unprepared manufacturers (44% prepared manufacturers vs 25% unprepared manufacturers).

Future-ready manufacturers surveyed, when compared to unprepared manufacturers surveyed, are 23 percentage points more likely to feel that channel partners add value to their products and 26 percentage points more likely to feel that channel partners are driving enough marketing share.

Nearly one in three future-ready manufacturers are expanding servitization services

As manufacturers look to diversify their revenue model, they are bundling product, support, software, and other services into a singular revenue model  also known as servitization.

The majority of prepared manufacturers (86%) say that servization is part of their company strategy, with 57% currently offering servization and 29% both offering and expanding these services. The majority of manufacturers (62%) who identified as unprepared do not currently have servitization as part of their strategy.TradeArabia News Service
A firefighter from Nebraska will be spending the next decade behind bars after pleading guilty to sending child pornography during an undercover investigation by a Montgomery County detective.

Lucas Lee Rinehart, 37, of McCook, Neb., entered his plea March 25 in the 221st District Court on promotion of child pornography charges he was facing. That same day, visiting Associate Judge Paul Damico sentenced Rinehart to 10 years in prison for the second-degree felony offense.

Its just a very unfortunate circumstance and hes paying his price for what happened, said Rineharts defense attorney, William Bill Stradley, on Tuesday. Montgomery County is a difficult place for a person thats accused of something of this nature.

Court records show Rinehart in May sent multiple pornographic photos and videos featuring children, possibly as young as 2, to a detective working as a decoy on a social media app. The Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constables detective was investigating child exploitation on the internet, according to an affidavit filed June 17.

On May 6, an individual using Chase Smith as a display name began communicating with the decoy and expressing an interest in children as young as 10. He would go on to tell the decoy he was a divorcee and father who worked hospital security and was a paid volunteer firefighter. Chase Smith also gave the decoy a phone number later linked to Rinehart, according to the affidavit.

A database clearinghouse identified Chase Smith as Rinehart through Facebook. The user went on to send face and body photos through the app and via mobile text to the decoy. These matched Rineharts drivers license photo, according to charging documents.

Then on May 13, court records state the user sent photographs and videos depicting child pornography to the decoy. A photo featured a nude girl between ages 10 and 12, while three videos featured girls appearing to be between the ages of 2 and 14 engaging in sex acts with men, as described by court documents.

Subpoenas to the social media app and to an internet provider confirmed Rinehart was the user Chase Smith, according to the affidavit.

The detective also found Rineharts LinkedIn, which listed him as a volunteer firefighter for McCook, Neb. since September 2014. A Facebook photo of Rinehart showed a shirt naming him firefighter of the year in 2018, according to charging documents.

On Monday, the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office confirmed Rinehart was a firefighter.

Rinehart was taken into custody June 24, according to the DAs Office.

Last year, the detective on this case netted the arrests of two other men on separate cases for the same charges as Rinehart.

Tyson Lee Murdock, of Idaho, and James Lee Browning, of Indiana, allegedly sent more than 260 and nearly 2,000 videos, respectively, of child pornography to the detectives decoy. Both have yet to face trial.

jose.gonzalez@chron.com

twitter.com/jrgzztx
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has assured Malawians that it is fully prepared to deliver credible by-elections on Tuesday.

According to MEC director of media and public relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa, the Commission has successfully deployed its well-trained polling staff and delivered all polling materials in the 7 constituencies and 2 Local Government wards where the elections will be taking place.

"In terms of security, the Commission has been in touch with the Malawi Police Service (MPS) so nobody should stay home for fear of being attacked and in all polling centres there is enough security. People should also not be tempted to perpetrate violence, " said Mwafulirwa.

Malawi Electoral Support Network's (Mesn) member MacBain Mkandawire concurred with Mwafulirwa on MEC preparedness, saying he has no doubt MEC will deliver a credible election despite the limited time that it had to prepare.

"The MEC was able to deliver a national Fresh Presidential Election within a short time, they have technical capacity. As for Mesn, our role changed from monitoring to observation so we only make recommendations after the election," added Mkandawire.

Meanwhile, polling centres are expected to open at 6 o'clock in the morning and expected to close at 6pm. The commission will announce the final results on April 1 from the main tally centre to be set at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe.

The by-elections are being conducted following the deaths of incumbent members of parliament(MPs) elected in May 2019 in Zomba Changalume, Karonga North West, Ntchisi

North, and Lilongwe Msinja South Constituencies as well as councillors in Riviridzi and Chitakale wards.

In the Lower Shire, however, voters in Nsanje Central Nsanje North and Chikwawa East constituencies will hold the fresh polls after the High Court sitting in Blantyre nullified the parliamentary election results citing massive irregularities.

Out of all the constituencies where the elections are being held, Zomba Changalume constituency has the highest number of candidates totalling 10.
In the end, there wasnt even a slap on the wrist.

Five months of PSNI investigation and interviews, three months of Public Prosecution Service (PPS) deliberations... and no prosecutions.

The political ramifications of this decision, which went against the recommendations of the Chief Constable, will, predictably, continue for a long time  but what about the public?

Was it in the public interest not to prosecute? After all, the fines imposed on ordinary Joes over the past year were, supposedly, done in the public interest, so why not this?

And why cant those punished offenders now appeal, quoting PPS Director Stephen Herrons own words that the health protection regulations at the time were extremely difficult to navigate and inconsistent?

Ironically, the only consistency from the PPS appears to be in not prosecuting anyone involved in high-profile funerals while the rest stick rigidly to the rules despite the heartbreak of losing loved ones during the pandemic.

Bobby Storey would surely be shocked at the thought that this furore would rise again, phoenix-like, nine months after his cremation.

It was mid-December when the PSNI submitted a file to the PPS following a lengthy investigation, overseen by Cumbria deputy chief constable Mark Webster, into potential breaches of health restrictions at the high-profile event in west Belfast, attended by most of Sinn Feins hierarchy.

Twenty-four people suspected of having breached the regulations  all members of Sinn Fein  were interviewed, including Michelle ONeill, the Deputy First Minister.

Rival parties called on her to resign but statements of regret that the health message had been compromised were all they were ever going to get.

It was early summer when thousands lined the streets as the remains of Mr Storey  a former IRA hardman  were taken from St Agnes Church on Andersonstown Road to Milltown Cemetery on the Falls.

Large republican funerals in west Belfast are nothing new and Mr Storey, who masterminded the notorious Maze escape in 1983 and acted as head of intelligence for the IRA in the mid-1990s, was never going to have a quiet send-off.

Read More

The 64-year-old north Belfast man, who joined the Provisional IRA in 1972 and was subsequently interned, was a close friend of the former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.

He was sentenced to 18 years in the Maze in 1981 for possession of a rifle following an attack on British army personnel and was one of 38 republican prisoners who broke out of the maximum-security prison two years later.

Security forces had linked him to several major incidents, including the 26m Northern Bank robbery in 2004.

He was also regarded as a crucial element in selling the peace process to republican hardliners.

His funeral, however, took place in the middle of the first Covid-19 lockdown, when regulations stated that no more than 30 people could gather outdoors.

One of the two main faces of those regulations was the Deputy First Minister, who was part of the funeral cortege on June 30.

Ms ONeill also attended Requiem Mass at St Agnes with more than 100 other mourners and later, when strict social distancing had become almost second nature, posed for a close-proximity photograph with a mourner at Milltown.

Not surprisingly, the Sinn Fein northern leaders behaviour that day attracted fierce criticism from, among others, First Minister Arlene Foster, who questioned her fitness for office and demanded an apology.

The anger was understandable, with Ms ONeill having repeatedly urged the public to adhere to social distancing guidelines and then apparently contravening the very rules she had helped set.

While she apologised for posing for the photo, which took place in a blink of an eye and shouldnt have happened, there was no remorse for attending the funeral at a time when others had been prevented from paying their respects to loved ones.

Both Sinn Fein and Ms ONeill maintained that they had acted within the guidelines and broken no rules, the party itself insisting that the cortege itself contained no more than 30 people, all of whom had maintained social distancing.

She did, however, express regret  which was reiterated today  that other grieving families were experiencing more hurt over recent days, adding: I am sorry for that.

This wasnt enough to pacify Ms Foster, who brought to an end to their joint Covid-19 press conferences.

That same day, the Belfast Telegraph revealed that, rather than being buried at Milltown, the veteran republicans remains had actually been taken for cremation at Roselawn Cemetery, which is run by Belfast City Council. The Belfast Telegraph also reported that some council staff had been sent home early, leaving Sinn Fein effectively in control of the premises.

The council later admitted an operational decision had been made to postpone other planned cremations that afternoon.

This revelation prompted even more controversy than the earlier funeral in west Belfast.

It later emerged that 28 mourners had attended the cremation, which was free from paramilitary trappings.

The families denied access to cremations that day were offered compensation by the council, which apologised to them individually for the hurt and distressed caused, and to offer to support them in whatever way we can.

It is understood, however, that at least one of the eight families later issued legal proceedings against the council, believing that the decisions taken that day were unlawful.

Council chief executive Suzanne Wylie and director Nigel Grimshaw also issued a joint personal statement apologising for what happened at Roselawn.

Several weeks later, Mr Grimshaw, who had been responsible for city and neighbourhood services and who had made the decision to allow up to 30 mourners at Mr Storeys cremation, retired by mutual agreement.

An internal council report said Mr Grimshaw acknowledged that it was a mistake for which he takes responsibility.

In February, an independent report into how the council organised the cremation found Sinn Fein did not pressurise the council to give Mr Storeys family special treatment. It also rejected suggestions there had been a takeover of Roselawn cemetery.

Regardless, it is difficult to understate the political damage done in the wake of the Storey funeral.

It was September before the First Minister and Deputy First Minister resumed their joint press conferences, following a reconciliatory statement from the latter issued on RTE.

Standing alongside her partner in government, Ms ONeill said: I do accept the public messaging about the pandemic has been undermined by the controversy over the last number of months. It was never my intention that that would happen, but it did and I regret that.

I want to rebuild trust with the public as we have the most challenging times ahead of us on many levels in the coming weeks and months, and we must work together for the common good.

Although it stopped short of the apology her unionist detractors had demanded, Ms ONeills comments were accepted as enough for the two women to move on from the controversy and focus on delivering the joint public health messages, which are continuing today.

The DUP leader said she believed Ms ONeills actions on June 30 had undermined their public messaging but there has been an acknowledgement and regret for what happened at the time, and I acknowledge that.

Despite the apparent entente cordiale, there have, however, been some awkward moments since the pair publicly reconciled for the greater good in the autumn, most notably when the DUP used the contentious petition of concern mechanism last November to stop the executive endorsing tighter restrictions requested by Health Minister Robin Swann and backed by Ms ONeill.

The Sinn Fein leader was, however, accused of displaying brass-neck hypocrisy just before Christmas after claiming on RTE that she had never deviated from public health advice.

She also accused the DUP of working against the executive and its public health team, a claim rejected by Ms Foster, who laid part of the blame for Northern Irelands new six-week lockdown on Sinn Fein politicians attitude and behaviour at the controversial Storey funeral.

Also in December, there were renewed claims that the PSNI failed to meet its responsibilities by handing over the effective policing of the funeral to Sinn Fein, after Chief Constable Simon Byrne said there would have been widespread violence and disorder if police had tried to stop or disperse the crowds.

Mr Byrne would not, however, be drawn on the extent of any advance planning between the PSNI and Sinn Fein as to how the funeral should be managed, and the extent of any deliberations remains unclear.

The latest developments eclipsed another noteworthy story  that the PSNI were investigating potential breaches of Covid restrictions, and parades legislation, following Sundays well-attended walk in Belfast in honour of tragic teenager Noah Donohoe.

After this announcement, it remains to be seen whether no action will be taken there either.
City Hall is fast-becoming a county government being managed through retreats and workshops.

The Nation has established that most affairs of the executive are now taking place outside the boundaries of the city even as the nation battles the third wave of Covid-19.

Between February 19 and March 24, for instance, the executive committee had four retreats, with some lasting up to a week.

Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura handed over the reins to Deputy Speaker Ann Kananu on January 18 after a cameo show as acting governor.

The shameful tours of duty began on February 19 in Mombasa, where members of the county executive trooped to Pride Inn Hotel for deliberations on the annual development plan (ADP).

The delegation was led by the acting County Secretary and Head of Public Service, Dr Jairus Musumba. It had all the 10 CECs, sector heads and the finance team.

In such a workshop, every member is entitled to per diem and transport allowance. This, for a struggling county government that collected a paltry Sh8.53 billion against a target of Sh17.2 billion.

On March 9, executive and assembly staff headed to Kisumu for a five-day retreat to "unpack" the County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CFSP) for the 2020/2021 financial year, review the half-year and expenditure report, and disseminate sectorial reports on the supplementary budget.

The executive side comprised some CECs, Mr Musumba, county chief officers, directors and staff members. The assembly was led by the Budget and Appropriations Committee and chairpersons of the other committees.

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Allowances

The assembly has 26 committees and the budget team has at least 23 members. They are entitled to a per diem of Sh14,000 and Sh20,000 transport allowance.

This means the county spent at least Sh4.5 million on MCAs only, assuming about 50 attended.

A couple of days later, the party was back in Mombasa for a workshop to develop the county government's trade sector's policy and market management model. Mr Musumba was part of the delegation, which also had new Trade CEC Winfred Gathagu.

Ms Gathagu has been out of City Hall for over a year since she was fired - alongside Finance CEC Pauline Kahiga - by then-Governor Mike Sonko.

Her return is, however, yet to be officially communicated unlike that of Education CEC Janet Ouko, who had resigned in January 2019 after a fallout with Mr Sonko.

On March 24, the executive team returned to the port city for a workshop on performance management. Again, Mr Musumba was the team leader for three days.

Speaking to the Nation, he said they were working within the legal requirements.

"The feeling is that when the workshops are held in Nairobi, concentration goes down and that is why most of them are taken away from the station. They were all planned before Covid-19," said Mr Musumba.

"It is true that people get facilitated when they go out but it is part of what they are supposed to do."
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Mostly clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Low 49F. WNW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Low 49F. WNW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.
WINDSOR, ON, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to reducing the spread of COVID-19 and the variants of concern in Canada. Self-isolation is one of the most effective ways to help stop the spread of COVID-19. However, for some individuals, crowded housing conditions and restrictive costs can make it unsafe or impossible to self-isolate, increasing the risk of community transmission.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced that the federal government will be supporting the operation of a Safe Voluntary Isolation Site for temporary foreign agri-workers in Windsor-Essex. These workers tend to live in close accommodations and work in congregate settings, which makes it difficult to self-isolate if required. This funding will provide further federal support for the Isolation and Recovery Site, currently operated by the Canadian Red Cross through funding provided by Public Safety Canada.

Voluntary Isolation Sites reduce the risks of spread of COVID-19 among household contacts, especially in locations where people face crowded housing conditions. These sites are one of the rapid response tools helping stop the spread of COVID-19, and can be deployed to communities facing outbreaks.

The Safe Voluntary Isolation Sites Program fills a gap for cities, municipalities, and health regions that are at-risk of high rates of transmission, as we know that people living in crowded housing and congregate settings are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and are more at risk for severe outcomes.

Sites selected under the Program provide a location for local public health officials to refer people to who need to safely self-isolate.

Quotes

"Protecting essential workers, especially those who are supporting Canada's food chain and economy, is critical. Today's announcement of a safe, voluntary isolation site in Windsor-Essex means that we can help protect temporary foreign workers in the region from the spread of COVID-19 and variants of concern  something that will benefit everyone in these communities."

The Honourable Patty Hajdu

Minister of Health

"Windsor-Essex will welcome thousands of agricultural workers in the coming weeks and months. This critical federal funding will provide local public health officials with a reliable isolation site for those who are unable to quarantine safely. Thank you to Health Minister Patty Hajdu and the federal government for recognizing the unique challenges our community faces and always standing up for Windsor-Essex."

Irek Kusmierczyk

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion

Member of Parliament for WindsorTecumseh

"We are grateful to the federal Government and the Public Health Agency of Canada for standing with the City of Windsor as we continue to manage through this deadly pandemic. Ensuring a safe space for migrant workers to isolate when required helps keep everyone in the City of Windsor and the County of Essex safe."

Drew Dilkens, Mayor

City of Windsor

"We are pleased to be working in support of the federal and municipal governments to continue to provide this essential service to individuals who require self-isolation. For the past 10 months, the Red Cross has been providing comfort and care services to those in isolation. Our team remains committed to ensuring their needs are addressed when they need it most."

Tanya Elliott, Vice President, Ontario

Canadian Red Cross

Quick Facts

The funding of $17.8 million , over 12 months, will allow the City of Windsor to operate a 125-room site to accommodate temporary foreign agri-workers in Windsor and Essex County who are unable to safely self-isolate at their usual place of residence.

, over 12 months, will allow the to operate a 125-room site to accommodate temporary foreign agri-workers in and Essex County who are unable to safely self-isolate at their usual place of residence. To ensure that temporary foreign agri-workers have continued access to accommodations that keep them and the communities safe, the funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada under the Safe Voluntary Isolation Sites Program, will begin on April 1, 2021 .

under the Safe Voluntary Isolation Sites Program, will begin on . Each year, more than 8,000 international workers travel into Windsor - Essex to support local farm and greenhouse industries.

- to support local farm and greenhouse industries. Local public health officials identify eligible individuals who may be offered the option to transfer to the isolation site on a voluntary basis. As part of Canada's growing list of rapid response tools against the spread of COVID-19, the Government of Canada is providing a total of $100 million in funding to municipalities and health regions to establish Safe Voluntary Isolation Sites across the country.

growing list of rapid response tools against the spread of COVID-19, the Government of is providing a total of in funding to municipalities and health regions to establish Safe Voluntary Isolation Sites across the country. To date, the program has provided $72.2 million in funding to support projects in Ontario , which totals approximately 2140 rooms in the province.

in funding to support projects in , which totals approximately 2140 rooms in the province. Regular monitoring and reporting of each safe voluntary isolate site will be conducted in coordination with local public health officials and third-party site operators.

The sharing of best practices will be encouraged among the selected isolation sites to optimize effective site operation and the administration of services to individuals who access the sites.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Canadians are advised to follow local public health measures, avoid places that do not have controls in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and to stay home if they are experiencing any symptoms.

Associated Links

Support for Provinces and Territories

Canada.ca/coronavirus

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

For further information: Cole Davidson, Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]; COVID-19 public enquiries: 1-833-784-4397
GHB will become a class B drug after the home secretary Priti Patel said it had been used in truly sickening crimes such as those of serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga who was jailed for a minimum of 30 years in January 2020.

Currently a Class C drug, GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) has been the subject of a review by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Priti Patel said: GHB and related substances have been used to commit some truly sickening crimes, including murder, sexual assault and robbery.

I will do everything in my power to protect people from harm, which is why I am tightening restrictions around these dangerous substances.

Sinaga lured victims back to his flat, offering a place to stay, and is then thought to have laced alcoholic drinks with the drug, GHB, in order to incapacitate them.

As a result of the central role the drug played in the trial, the home secretary, Patel called for an urgent review into more stringent controls.

What is GHB?

GHB (meaning gammahydroxybutrate) is a psychoactive drug that can be used as a medical treatment for narcolepsy, and when first developed in the 1960s, was used as an anaesthetic.

Today GHB, also known as liquid ecstasy, is used recreationally as a party drug, or during sex, particularly by gay men in the chemsex scene.

Professor Adam Winstock, founder of the Global Drug Survey writes in a 2020 report: Its big on the chemsex scene in many cities.

What does GHB look like?

According to UK drug advisory service, Frank, GHB is normally sold as a colourless and odourless liquid, which has almost no smell and a soapy or salty taste.

GHB can be consumed orally, using a pipette or syringe to add a small, measured, amount (between 0.5ml and 1.5ml) of the clear liquid to a soft drink.

Injecting GHB is rare, and snorting is only possible with GHB powder, which again is much more uncommon than consuming via a drink.

What effect does GHB have and is it dangerous?

GHB produces similar effects to alcohol, according to Frank. This includes feelings of euphoria, drowsiness, intense relaxedness and feeling turned on.

Similarly to ecstasy, it can also reduce inhibitions leading people to have more intense sexual experiences.

But it only requires a small amount to overdose or go under. Frank says if users dont measure the dosage they are likely to overdose and fall unconscious.

The NHS says less than one milimitre can be the difference between a high and becoming unresponsive.

According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 27 deaths, involving GHB, in England and Wales, in 2018 alone.

Why is it used in cases of sexual assault?

GHB is often referred to as a date rape drug because of the frequency with which it is used during cases of sexual assault.

It was also used in the case of serial killer Stephen Port, who was given a life sentence in 2016 for poisoning four men with lethal doses.

Of 2,700 gay and bisexual men who have used G that responded to a survey by BuzzfeedNews and Channel 4 Dispatches last year, 28 per cent said they had been assaulted as a result.

The reason why it is used is because GHB is colourless, odourless, and the flavour can be masked by mixing into another drink.

Is GHB currently illegal?

GHB has been classified as a Class C drug since 2003 under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971). This means it is against the law to possess it or sell it for human ingestion.

The family of Eric Michels, who was murdered with an overdose of GHB in 2018 by Gerald Matovu, 25, have campaigned for GHB to be reclassified as Class A, rather than Class C.

Being reclassified as Class B means people could get up to five years in prison for possession.
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Myanmar security forces killed 14 people Monday during demonstrations in towns across the country following the deadliest weekend since the February military coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

The group, which has been monitoring the violence, said Monday's toll brings the total number of deaths since the Feb. 1 coup to at least 510. Eight of the deaths that took place Monday occurred in Myanmar's main city, Yangon, according to AAPP.

Protests took place Monday throughout the country, including in Sagaing Region, where hundreds of mourners lined the street to pay tribute to a 20-year-old nursing student who was shot and killed Sunday while helping provide aid to injured protesters.

The United Nations say Myanmar's security forces killed at least 107 people Saturday as the regime staged a major show of might for Armed Forces Day, which commemorates the start of local resistance to the Japanese occupation during World War II. AAPP puts Saturday's death toll at 141.

"What has happened on the national day of armed forces was horrendous," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at a news conference Monday. "It is absolutely unacceptable to see violence against people at such high levels. So many people killed, and such a stubborn refusal to accept the need to liberate all political prisoners and to make the country go back to a serious democratic transition," he said.


Earlier this monthwith jury selection set to begin in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the white former Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd last yearSteven Zeitchik, of the Washington Post, checked in with staffers at Court TV, as they prepared to set up their cameras in the courtroom. The network, Zeitchik wrote, was aiming to recapture its buzzy nineties heyday by making the Chauvin trial a kind of O.J. Simpson event for the modern world, albeit with less tabloid-style drama. We want to show the reality of the courtroom, Scott Tufts, a Court TV executive, said, not reality television. Staffers grappled, initially, with what shorthand to use, since Floyd isnt on trial but is more famous than Chauvin; in the end, they went with The Death of George Floyd Murder Trial, and put those words, in between pictures of Chauvin and Floyd, at the end of a trailer scored with pounding music. In other promotional materials, Court TV claimed to be the only network in the world offering live, gavel-to-gavel coverage of the triala claim that led the rival Law&Crime Network to sue for false advertising.

Court TV is the only network filming the trial, but it is doing so, effectively, on a pool basis, with other networks able to air its footage free of charge. Yesterday, at least, that footage was wall to wall: ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, and Newsmax all broadcast opening arguments in the trial, with CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN, HLN, and Black News Channel joining Court TV and Law&Crime in sticking around past that point. (According to the AP, HLN and Black News Channel are, like the latter two networks, promising full coverage of all arguments; the cable networks will likely dip in and out of coverage from here on.) Viewers watched the prosecution make its case, which centered on a nine-and-a-half-minute video of Chauvin pressing his knee into Floyds neck, followed by the defense. In the breaks, networks offered reporting from outside the courthouseLook no further than social media and even just our own visceral reaction, CNNs Omar Jimenez said, calling the video very difficult to watchas well as punditry. How do you overcome that video? Rikki Klieman, a legal analyst on CBS, said. I think, if I were defending Derek Chauvin, I would have been tempted to put in that body camera or that other surveillance footage that showed a battling George Floyd or the police car rocking back and forth.

ICYMI: Its time to rethink how journalism covers guns and mass shootings

Chauvins trial is the first ever to be broadcast live and in-full from a Minnesota courtroom, a development that hasnt come without controversy. The office of Keith Ellison, the state attorney general, opposed it, arguing that TV cameras might lead to witness intimidation, and that reporters could instead use overflow facilities to watch the courts own closed-circuit footage. News organizations opposed this suggestion on constitutional grounds, in part due to the poor quality of that footage; Chauvins attorneys also argued in favor of a live TV broadcast. In the end, Judge Peter Cahill authorized TV cameras, pointing to the quite unique circumstances of intense interest combined with limited access due to the pandemic; only two reporters are allowed inside the courtroom at any one time. Not that the cameras can film with total freedom: their license to zoom is limited, Floyds relatives and juvenile witnesses cant be shown without their consent, and jurors cant be shown at all. At one point during jury selection, Cahill ordered a COVID plexiglass barrier removed after it reflected a potential juror into the line of the camera.

The controversy over the broadcast hasnt been limited to legal filings, but has played out in the community, too. Jaton White, who works in community wellness in Minneapolis, told Minnesota Public Radios Matt Sepic that while people naturally want to know whats happening in court, there are people with some mental health and emotional damage that might not be repairable if we dont start doing things right now that are preventative. And putting this trial on TV is not one of those preventative measures. Jane Kirtley, a professor of media ethics and law at the University of Minnesota, told the Minneapolis Star Tribunes Rochelle Olson that the trial is an opportunity to demonstrate that cameras neither detract from the solemnity of the proceedings nor do they interfere with the courts ability to get on with its work. Kirtley hopes that the broadcast will set a precedent beyond the necessity of the pandemic. There will be a great deal of pressure on government entities to continue this level of access, she said.

While the circumstances of Chauvins case are exceptional, such arguments are, at root, iterations of a national debate over cameras and courts that dates back to at least the thirtieswhen newsreel editors distributed dramatic witness testimony in the Lindbergh-baby case, in violation of their agreement with the judgeand flares whenever a high-profile suspect goes on trial. This debate has, historically, taken different forms around still and moving images, federal and state courts, and criminal and civil cases; nor has there been a linear move toward greater general acceptance of cameras over time. Its general points of contention, however, are consistent. Advocates of the practice tend to argue that broadcasting court proceedings facilitates scrutiny of the legal system, and basic transparency. Courts generally allow members of the public to attend; in the digital age, whats the justification for keeping physical limits on access? Opponents often argue that live TV coverage disadvantages defendants, and changes the dynamics of trials in undesirable wayslike encouraging lawyers to play to the court of public opinion, rather than the actual courtwithout fixing the many flaws of the justice system. I think transparency is bull, Todd Boyd, a professor of race and popular culture at the University of Southern California, told Zeitchik, of the Post. If you buy into the concept, youre buying into the bull, because youre accepting the fact that this is a legitimate process thats blind.

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As Ive written before, in the different context of hackneyed made for TV punditry about Trump, criticisms of TV as a medium are often hard to separate from debates about the toxicity of American TV culture, which is a more specific phenomenon. The presence of cameras will not, in and of itself, fix the systemic biases of the justice system or encourage lawyers to behave more scrupulouslybut these problems are, ultimately, not the fault of TV cameras; its the job of the people on either side of the camera to do the fixing, including, in the case of the news media, by using transparency to sharpen scrutiny, rather than sell cheap hype. Arguments around fairness and intimidation are weightier; ultimately, they demand evidence and case-by-case consideration. With those decisions now made in the Floyd case, we must, indeed, focus on its horrifying reality. There is plenty of that on show.

Below, more on the trial:



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Georgia, voter suppression, and big lies, plural

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
With more than 30 years of leadership and commercial real estate experience, David Lipson will serve as the global advisory firm's next president in North America

NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Savills today announced that David Lipson, one of the firm's longest-tenured and most-accomplished leaders, will serve as its next president. He will initially split his time between Savills North American headquarters in New York City and the firm's Washington, D.C. offices.

Savills has named commercial real estate expert and leader David Lipson as president of its North American region.

"David's genuine and selfless concern for the wellbeing of his colleagues and the success of this company truly exemplifies the concept of servant leadership," said Mitchell E. Rudin, chairman and CEO of Savills North America. "He is the ideal professional for this role and sharing the duty of leading Savills with a trusted partner such as David is a privilege."

Lipson, who joined the company in 1989, will assume the role on April 1, after more than 30 years of dedicated service at Savills. His priorities will include managing operations and accelerating the firm's continued innovation and growth strategies across the region.

"I am honored to serve as Savills next president during this exciting stage in the company's evolution," Lipson said. "We are designing the future of real estate advisory, something evident in our corporate stewardship, acquisitions, and investments. I look forward to building on these achievements alongside Mitchell Rudin and our management team."

Lipson has co-managed Savills Mid-Atlantic region since 2004 and served on the North American board and executive committee since 2014. He has played an integral role in the company's most significant milestones and strategic initiatives, including the acquisitions of Macro Consultants in 2020 and Vertical Integration in 2015.

"I am delighted that David will take on his new role as president of North America, working in partnership with Mitchell Rudin, to lead the continued growth of our North American business," said Savills global CEO, Mark Ridley. "This future growth has my full support and that of the Group, and we will continue to develop our services across a full range of consultancy and transaction services to support our clients in a comprehensive manner."

"It is the passion and dedication of our staff that is fundamental to our success and David epitomizes this through his career, leading to this key promotion," Ridley continued.

Lipson established the federal government practice at Savills and the team became the first advisor retained by the General Services Administration for a leasing transaction  the US Department of Transportation's 1.35 million-square-foot headquarters build-to-suit. Over the past two decades, Savills has completed more than 1,600 projects for the GSA and independent federal agencies.

About Savills Inc.

Savills helps organizations find the right solutions that ensure employee success. Sharply skilled and fiercely dedicated, the firm's integrated teams of consultants and brokers are experts in better real estate. With services in tenant representation, workforce and incentives strategy, workplace strategy and occupant experience, project management, and capital markets, Savills has elevated the potential of workplaces around the corner, and around the world, for 160 years and counting.

For more information, please visit Savills.us and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

SOURCE Savills

Related Links

http://www.savills-studley.com


Free agent Josh Andrews has signed with the Atlanta Falcons, the team announced Monday.

The former Oregon State Beaver, an offensive lineman, signed a one-year deal, according to a his agent, Brett Tessler. Tessler said the deal includes guaranteed money, but didnt share financial terms of the deal.

Andrews, 29, appeared in 15 games with the New York Jets in 2020. Andrews started in four of those games - three at right guard and one at left guard. The four starts were the first starts of Andrews six-year career.

Andrews signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2014. Andrews spent three seasons in Philadelphia, appearing in 16 games. Andrews spent two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, where he appeared in nine games before signing with the Jets for the 2020 season.

-- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold
Local Police in Rincon de la Victoria have recovered two bales of hashish found by a member of the public on a beach in the town this Monday (29 March).

After the tip-off the police located one package and, a few metres away, the second. Both were transferred to the police headquarters, where they found the two bales had a total weight of 60 kilogrammes and were split into 600 packs.

Police then delivered the drugs to the Guardia Civil in Torre de Benagalbon to allow them continue investigations into the find.

The Local Police of Rincon thanked the public in a message on social media, praising "once again, citizen collaboration".
Two police officers carry plastic bags containing items recovered from the Makassar-area home of a couple suspected of carrying out a suicide bombing outside a church in Makassar on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2021.

The two suspects who carried out a suicide bombing in Indonesias South Sulawesi province on Palm Sunday were a newlywed couple and part of a local militant cell linked to another couple who blew themselves up at a Philippine cathedral in January 2019, police said Monday.

Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo condemned the attack outside the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Makassar that left the two suspected bombers dead and at least 20 others injured as an act of terrorism. He said he had ordered police to thoroughly investigate the perpetrators networks and tear down the networks to their roots.

Police said that Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), a pro-Islamic State (IS) Indonesian militant network, was behind Sundays attack.

On Monday, authorities said that the suspected perpetrators of the bombing were a husband and wife, whom police identified only by their initials. Officials also revealed that Muhammad Rizaldy S, a suspected member of the Makassar JAD cell who was killed in counter-terror raids in early January, had presided over their wedding.

We have confirmed the identity of the bombers. The male one is identified as L. The female one is YSL, national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo told reporters, adding that their identities were confirmed through DNA tests.

L and YSR were married six months ago by Rizaldy, he said.

JADs Makassar cell also was linked to an Indonesian couple, Rullie Rian Zeke and Ulfah Handayani Saleh, who carried out a twin suicide bombing that killed 21 people and themselves at a church in Jolo, southern Philippines, two years ago, the police chief said.

Rizaldy and Zulfikar were JAD members who had ties to the cathedral bombing in the Philippines, Listyo said, referring to another JAD suspect who was arrested during the counter-terrorism sweep in January.

On Monday, government security officials in the southern Philippines did not immediately respond to BenarNews requests for comment about the alleged link between the church bombings in the neighboring countries.

The suspects involved in Sundays attack were killed when they detonated at least one bomb as security guards stopped their motorcycle at the gate to the church, officials said.

The attack took place as members of Indonesias Christian minority were marking Palm Sunday, the first day in Holy Week celebrations on the Christian calendar.

Listyo said the husband in the Makassar church attack left a goodbye message for his parents, declaring his readiness to be a martyr.

Home searched

On Monday, police searched the couples Makassar-area home.

Our team is expanding the investigation to find more people who were involved, including those who made the bombs, said E. Zulpan, the provincial police spokesman.

A neighbor, Siti Hasnawati, said they had lived there for about four months but rarely socialized.

The husband didnt have a job and rarely left the house. His wife made a living selling food at home, Siti told BenarNews by phone.

The mother of the newlywed bride said she had not seen her daughter for a long time, according to Detik.com, an Indonesian news website.

After she got married, she rarely came to visit, it quoted her as saying.

Arrests

Since the attack on Sunday, police have arrested 13 people as part of the investigation.

Four people who were from the same militant cell as the couple were arrested in Makassar.

They were involved in indoctrinating, planning and buying materials used for suicide bombings, Listyo said.

Another five JAD suspects were arrested in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara province, and four more were caught in Jakarta and the neighboring suburb of Bekasi, Listyo said.

Again, police identified all the suspects by their initials only.

In Jakarta and Bekasi, police said they confiscated five bombs and five large jars containing bomb-making materials.

A bomb squad detonated the explosive devices after attempts to defuse them failed, Listyo said.

One of the suspects arrested after the Makassar attack, identified as ZA, had purchased the bomb-making materials and taught two of the other new suspects in custody how to build bombs, said Inspector Gen. Fadli Imran, Jakartas police chief.

Security in the Indonesian capital has been tightened in the wake of the Makassar attack, with soldiers involved in joint patrols, according to Brig. Gen. Hendro Pandowo, Jakartas deputy police chief.

In order security and safety to the public, we are conducting large-scale patrols around churches and other places of worship, Hendro told reporters.

Sundays attack was not the first one in Indonesian involving a married couple.

A couple and their four children carried out a suicide attack on three churches in Surabaya, Indonesias second largest city, on May 13, 2018. The attack killed 18 people, including the bombers.

The next day, another couple took their three children along in a suicide attack on the Surabaya police headquarters, killing themselves except for one the children.

Those attacks were blamed on JAD.

Although the Islamic State extremist group has urged women to fight, local pro-IS leaders have not made similar calls, said Muhammad Adhe Bhakti, a researcher at the Center for Radicalism and Deradicalization Studies (PAKAR).

Even Aman (Abdurrahman) was opposed to and condemned the attack in Surabaya, Adhe told BenarNews, referring to the JAD founder who is on death row after a Jakarta court sentenced him to death in 2018.

Militants may see that the involvement of women increases their chances of success in carrying out terrorist acts, he said.

Women are less suspicious, even more so when they are with children, Adhe said.

Keisyah Aprilia contributed to this report from Palu, Indonesia.
When embattled MP Michael Johnsen's marriage broke down shortly after his election to Parliament, his wife of three decades said the 'culture and lifestyle' of his new political world was to blame.

She didn't go into specifics.

Years later, the divorced New South Wales state politician's career is hanging by a thread, with Johnsen slammed by Premier Gladys Berejiklian and National party leader John Barilaro on Tuesday for his alleged 'disgusting' conduct.

Johnsen is facing growing calls to resign after it was revealed a sex worker has gone to police to claim he raped her during a paid hook up in the Blue Mountains in 2019. Johnsen strongly denied the allegation last week.

But as he stood aside from his party and parliamentary role, the same sex worker fuelled the fire engulfing Johnsen's political life on Tuesday by sharing the texts he sent her with the ABC.

The messages allegedly showed that Johnsen offered her $1,000 for sex in his parliamentary office, sent her an obscene video of a man masturbating to her image and apparently sexted her from the floor of Parliament.

Unusually for a low profile MP such as Johnsen - the now-former parliamentary secretary for agriculture - the saga isn't the first time his personal life has spilled over into public view.

Michael Johnsen split from his wife Zenda in 2015 shortly following his election to the NSW State Parliament as the member for the Upper Hunter. In an interview years later, she blamed the culture and lifestyle of his political world for their marriage breaking down

Johnsen was first elected to state Parliament in 2015 after a stint as mayor of the Upper Hunter Council. In his maiden speech, he thanked his then wife Zenda Johnsen as 'my most loyal supporter and best friend.'

Zenda's support for her husband was clear even then on social media. On election day that year, she boasted of being the first person to vote in the mining town of Muswellbrook.

She also shared a picture of her husband's billboard going up by the side of a highway. 'And so it begins,' she said. But the couple's marriage of 30 years broke down after he took office.

In February 2018, Zenda raised eyebrows in political circles when she spoke out publicly about the couple's divorce to a regional newspaper.

His wife Zenda said she will 'always regret that politics took over our lives' in an interview with the Newcastle Herald

In a Newcastle Herald piece - which remarked upon the 'family man' image Johnsen on the campaign trail- Zenda said she blamed 'politics, the culture that surrounds it and the lifestyle it entails' for their marriage breakdown.

Their split was devastating, Zenda said, but she didn't regret the support they had given one another.

'Even though the marriage has now ended, I will never regret that support.

'But I will always regret that politics took over our lives.'

A furious Johnsen later claimed to a local ABC radio station that the article was a 'political' hit on him to damage his tilt for a second term.

'Our marriage break up happened at the end of 2015 and it has been a devastating situation for Zenda, myself and our children and I'll never walk away from that fact,' he said, before attacking the journalist who wrote the piece.

Just before the March 2019 state election, Johnsen's online activity sparked further questions.

Daily Mail Australia revealed he had 'liked' a series of sexist and suggestive Facebook pages.

Johnsen's political Facebook page followed suggestive outlets such as 'Kinky Humor' until Daily Mail Australia queried it

His 'Michael Johnsen MP' Facebook page was following the Kinky Humour and Uncensored Adults sites which share suggestive material.

Johnsen said at the time that 'liking' social media pages did not imply he endorsed their posts.

He 'unliked' them after being approached by Daily Mail Australia. 'Thank you for bringing it to my attention,' he said.

All of that had sunk into the past before sensational allegations took his career to the precipice this week.

The messages published by the ABC today appeared to show Johnsen commenting upon how he was physically aroused about the sex worker while in the Legislative Assembly.

Text messages allegedly sent by Michael Johnsen to the sex worker that were published by the ABC on Tuesday show him allegedly telling her he was physically aroused sitting in the chamber, after receiving a topless image of the woman

Separate texts allegedly show Johnsen suggesting that the pair have sex in his State Parliament office, the national broadcaster reported

A separate text message allegedly featured a video where a man was seen allegedly masturbating in a toilet

On September 24, the woman reportedly texted him a topless photo. 'Hmmm ... not fair. I'm sitting in the chamber with a h**d on now! Xxx',' he reportedly replied.

Parliamentary video seen by Daily Mail Australia shows Johnsen playing with phone on the front bench just three minutes after that text was allegedly received by the woman.

Two days later, on September 26, Johnsen reportedly texted her: 'I'm in QT (Question Time) and f*** I'm horny and want you so bad - need you.

'I want you and can't wait to f*** you over and over again.'

In a separate message, Mr Johnsen apparently suggested that the pair have sex in his parliamentary office, after he sat through a Budget estimates hearing.

'My PH office could be fun  come to the Jubilee Room and wait for me there,' he allegedly said.

It is an office he will be lucky to keep. Daily Mail Australia contacted both Mr Johnsen and his ex-wife for comment.

A bombshell ABC report has alleged that Nationals MP Michael Johnsen sent a series of lewd messages to a sex worker from the floor of New South Wales state parliament. He last week denied an allegation he sexually assaulted a sex worker in the Blue Mountains in September 2019
When someone brings home a new cat, there are lots of decisions to be made. What kind of litter will I use? Should my litter box have a top or not? How may laser and stick-dangling toys will my kitty need? Should I feed canned or dry food? And how can I prevent them from scratching my furniture?

For this last one, declawing is often the go-to solution. However, there are several major negative consequences to declawing.

Although thought to be a quick, easy and safe procedure, declawing is actually a very serious surgery that can reduce a cats quality of life.

Felines rely on their claws for many reasons. The main one is for defense. Even if the family kitty is an indoor-only pet, accidents happen, and if a declawed cat gets outdoors, he will have no way to defend himself against a predator or climb a tree or fence to escape danger.

In addition, the claws are tools for balance, and without them, the cat must shift his weight and relearn how to walk on the exposed bone that is left after the claws are removed. Cats also extend their claws in order to achieve a full body stretch. Declawed cats are more prone to muscle pains and arthritis as a result of not being able to get a good, full stretch in.

Finally, scratching is a source of exercise and stress relief for felines. Cats tend to scratch when they are anxious or frustrated. Without claws, they do not have a way to alleviate stress.

Declawing is not only painful for a cat, but it can cause negative behaviors and permanent physical damage. Declawed cats may avoid using the litter box, as they depend on their claws to maneuver the litter.

Some declawed cats may start to bite and use their teeth as a defense mechanism. If the declawing surgery is not done properly, bone fragments can be left behind and cause pain for a cat. Finally, permanent nerve damage can be a result of declawing.

Whats the alternative to declawing?

Scratching is a normal and vital part of a cats life.

SCRATCHING POSTS: There are several scratching posts on the market that cats can use to get their daily scratching fix in.

NAIL CAPS: Nail covers and caps can be put over the claws to prevent scratching damage and are also safe and painless to the cat.

NAIL TRIMMING: Trimming the nails once or twice a month is a good way to make scratching less damaging. If you are not willing to attempt this, the vet or a groomer can get the job done for you. My aunt has her cat's nails trimmed on a regular basis by her groomer.

The decision to declaw should not be taken lightly. Do the research and get the facts. This is a procedure that can potentially have negative lasting effects on a cats disposition, health and well-being. There are options that save the furniture and the claws!

Events

APRIL 11: Meet adoptable dogs from Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Kendra Scott at Lakeside Mall in Metairie; 20% of sales during the event will be donated to ARNO. Donations will also be applied to online orders from April 10-11 with giveback code GIVEBACK-19CM at www.kendrascott.com. For more info, email adopt@animalrescueneworleans.org
As she sat in her car in a parking lot off of Airline Drive Monday, 58-year-old Robin Lee posed for a picture with a COVID-19 vaccine confirmation sticker and listened to music spun by Charles Leach, an artist better known to the community as "DJ Captain Charles."

She had come for the vaccine. The "festival" going on around her was lagniappe.

Louisiana became one of 13 states Monday to remove every restriction that limited who could get a COVID vaccine, opening vaccinations to anyone 16 and over.

And across the New Orleans area, folks put themselves in lines at places like the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, where the average time from entering the building to leaving with a shot was less than a half hour, and at the Shrine on Airline, where health care workers were prepared to put the Moderna vaccine in 6,500 arms during a 24-hour "Vaccine Fest."

By the time Ochsner Healths Vaccine Fest, a round-the-clock event in partnership with the Jefferson Parish government, started at 10 a.m., dozens of cars had already begun to snake around the massive parking lot at The Shrine on Airline. Ochsner Health and Jefferson Parish officials had set up six tented vaccine stations and two registration lines for those who hadn't checked in first online.

"I feel great -- I'm ready for life!" Lee said, adding that she signed up to get the first of two Moderna vaccines Monday so she could go back to her normal life and "spread the love -- by hugging people, dancing with people, things like that."

Ochsner officials said that by 2 p.m. Monday, 1,353 doses had been put into arms, with an additional 2,000 appointments on the books. That comprised nearly 52% of the 6,500 doses set aside for the 24-hour event, according to Sarah Roberts, the chief operating officer for Ochsner's community care.

Roberts said Ochsner teams were encouraging anyone who showed up to get a vaccine, whether they had an appointment or not. That included band members hired to play and people who had provided rides for others who had appointments.

"We're removing as many barriers as possible," Roberts said.

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

But after back-to-back eligibility expansions in previous weeks to essential workers and anyone with one of dozens of common medical conditions, the new wave of eligibility wasnt met with the same frenzy for appointments, in part due to a record 150,000 doses from the federal government this week sent to the state.

Compared to previous expansions, which led to phone systems and websites crashing, Monday was quiet, said pharmacist Phat Quach, who has been giving out vaccines at Broad Pharmacy in New Orleans since the day the governor expanded access beyond health care workers on Jan. 4.

With all the facilities opening up giving vaccines, it makes everything a lot easier, said Quach. The trouble now is trying to get people to come in as opposed to being overwhelmed with people.

Opening up vaccines to everyone has also removed the confusing red tape tied to eligibility that led some people to wonder whether or not they qualified, given the previous list of vague conditions that included smoking, cancer and anyone with a body-mass index over 25.

Darlena Paz, a newly eligible mom of two, made an appointment on Friday to get the shot at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center through LCMC Health on Monday. She signed up because her children were born premature and are high-risk.

I have two babies to protect, said Paz. I do everything for them.

Paz, a Spanish speaker, had access to a translator, identifiable by a blue jacket. Spanish-speaking translators are on site; there is a hotline for all other languages. LCMC is not checking citizenship. The average door-to-door time spent, including the 15-minute waiting period after the shot, is 24 minutes, according to Allison Guste, an assistant vice president at LCMC.

We're trying to do the right thing here in making sure that everyone has access to a vaccine in a safe environment  thats easy for the patient, said Guste.

Vaccine Fest, meanwhile, runs through 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Those interested in receiving a vaccine can call LCMC at 504-290-5200 or Ochsner at 844-888-2772, or visit ochsner.org/vaccineinfo or lcmchealth.org/vaccine to schedule online. Over 600 clinics, pharmacies and retailers are scheduling appointments across the state; check https://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine/ for an updated list.
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Americans have a long tradition of tinkering and inventing tools that improve the lives of those around us. (Syda Productions/Shutterstock)

Gifts to Mankind: American Ingenuity and Invention

Pause in your reading for just a moment and look around you. Ill do the same.

Im sitting in what was my daughters dining room, but which now serves as my study. To my right is a breakfront, a large antique with a mirror, drawers, and cabinets for storage of dishes and utensils, and lions paw feet on rollers. Closer to me is a standing lamp with a single light bulb. Near my elbow is a phone that slips into my pocket, and Im writing on a 7-year-old MacBook Pro and drinking coffee from a mug featuring Londons Big Ben. On the floor around me are scattered 10 or 12 books that need shelving.

Enough.

Every single object in this roomthe two sticks of gum on the wooden table beside me, the magnifying glass, the bottle of spring water, everythingis the work of human hands and human minds, products of homo faber, of man as maker.

I dont know the names or faces of anyone who created most of these objects. Thomas Edison and others are responsible for the light bulb in the lamp, and Steve Jobs and his crew brought me my laptop, but everything else comes to me anonymously, designed and put together by strangers in places like Allentown, Pennsylvania, (the bottled water) and China (the lamp).

But I do know that all of these objects spring from one source: human ingenuity.

As American as Apple Pie

An 1884 newspaper advertisement for the twine binder version of the McCormick reaper. (Public domain)

If we Google American ingenuity, we find dozens of websites discussing this topic, many of which point to ingenuity and invention as especially American, distinguishing features of our culture that until recently set us off from much of the rest of the world. Even in the early colonial days, we were a nation of tinkers, a people forced by circumstance to make their way with little outside help. Root, hog, or die was the old pioneer adage that summed up this attitude, and the men and women who settled here, and those who followed them, built houses, churches, roads, and cities, repaired everything from muskets to harnesses, and sometimes created tools and machines to ease their lives.

Evidence of that history is all around us. Within a two-hour drive of my house, for example, tourists can visit such attractions as the Cyrus McCormick house, Walnut Grove, where McCormick invented the mechanical reaper, a device that revolutionized agriculture. Just north in Staunton is the Frontier Culture Museum, which features various living displays of American ingenuity at work along with houses of European design that demonstrate the evolution of American homes. Closer still is Washington D.C., with its many museums and displays of American goods and products.

Like many of their fellow countrymen, some of our Founding Fathers were first-class tinkers and inventors. Ben Franklin gave us the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, swim fins, and even a urinary catheter. Thomas Jefferson invented a machine for making macaroni, a revolving chair with a writing table, a cipher wheel for sending coded messages, and plows better suited to the hilly country around Charlottesville. George Washingtons interest in farming led him to invent a threshing barn for grain that made that process faster and more sanitary.

Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky by Benjamin West, circa 1816. In 1752, he conducted his famous kite experiment, attaching a metal key to kite and flying it in the middle of a thunderstorm, to prove the electrical nature of lightning. The Founding Father also invented the lightning rod, bifocals, and swim fins, among many things. (Public domain)

Necessity Is the Mother of Inventionand of Tinkering

Sometimes emergencies force even the bumbling among us to become tinkers.

Some siblings and I had spent the fall of 1982 working on a 100-year-old dilapidated inn my wife and I had purchased. In December, we turned off the water to the place to prevent the pipes from freezing, but we improperly winterized them. When we turned on the water the following spring, there were leaks from the third floor to the basement. The plumber, a good man whom we later befriended, couldnt help us for three days, but was kind enough to leave me a spare box of his tools. I didnt have the heart to tell him that what I knew about plumbing I could have written on a Post-It Note. A small Post-It Note.

We began in the basement, where four pipes came together to form a cross. In the middle of the cross was a leak. I looked at that tiny hole, thought for a few minutes, and then sent my brother up the street to the convenience store to buy some bubble gum. We chewed some gum while we cut a strip of rubber from an inner tube wed found in the basement. I stuck the gum on the hole, covered it with the rubber strip, and secured that homemade bandage with two automobile clamps.

Twenty-three years later, when I sold the house, that patch was still in place.

Necessity is sometimes said to be the mother of invention, which isnt always true, but in this case, that adage definitely applied to tinkering.

Wealth and Liquid Paper

Ingenuity and invention can do more than fix a leaking pipe. They can bestow great wealth on their practitioners.

In the early 1950s, bank secretary Bette Nesmith Graham was frustrated. She was a poor typist, and the new electric typewriters in use at the bank caused her to make even more mistakes. Realizing that artists often simply painted over their errors, Graham began experimenting with white water-based tempura paints and a small brush, covering her mistyped with the mixture, allowing it to dry for a few minutes, and then typing over the white space.

Grahams kitchen was first her laboratory, and then, as other secretaries wanted this product, became her first company workplace. Originally assisted by her son Michael, who was later a part of the rock band the Monkees and who went on to make one of the first music videos, Graham struggled initially in her attempts to sell her product. Eventually, however, her company Mistake Out, later called Liquid Paper, would employ 200 workers mixing and shipping out bottles of this magic eraser.

By the late 1970s, Liquid Paper was turning out millions of bottles of this product every year. In 1979, Graham sold the company to the Gillette Corporation for $47.5 million, which in todays market is worth well over $100 million.

It Begins With a Vision

Several years ago, I interviewed a friend, Aaron Voigt, husband to Joy, father to two sons, a Navy veteran, and an insurance adjuster.

And, I might add, an inventor.

While out in the field as an insurance adjuster, Voigt found himself with a lot of free evenings. Having enjoyed firearms and shooting since his youth, he began sketching out designs for a miniaturized handgun. After a great deal of experimentation and wading through a swamp of patent laws and government regulations, Voigt created a weapon whose height and length are the size of a credit card, weighs 7 ounces, and fires a single .22 caliber bullet, with storage in the handle for three more rounds. He named the weapon LifeCard and founded his own company, Trailblazer Firearms, for the manufacture and sale of this gun.

When I asked about the gun only firing one bullet, Aaron replied, Its one more than you have if you dont have a gun at all.

Good point from a good man.

The Kind of People We Are

Skilled pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson once wrote: Before this country came on the scene, for thousands of years people did things the same way. Within 200 years of the advent of this nation, men were walking on the moon, and I want us to recognize this is the kind of people that we are. Were creative with a lot of ingenuity and a lot of energy.

Time and again in our history, men and women have employed that ingenuity and energy to improve the lives of those around them. Weve built airplanes and cars, weve given the rest of the world computers and the information age, weve invented life-saving drugs and surgical tools. The list is almost endless. If we need proof of American exceptionalism, we need only look at those accomplishments.

Ben Carson (R) drives a 3D printed car with a hybrid electric powertrain and onboard power generation at the Innovative Housing Showcase in Washington on June 1, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

The Vital Ingredient

There are many reasons for these successes: a patent system that protected inventors, government support and encouragement, the contributions of various immigrants like Alexander Graham Bell, an education system that worked, and a history of tinkering, of always trying to tools for better living.

Some parts of this scaffolding are in need of repair. Government today often acts more as a hindrance than a help in this arena, and our education system is failing many of our young people.

But the greatest and most precious factor in our inventiveness, the one we must most closely guard, is our freedom. Without liberty, we will stifle innovation and development.

That liberty, along with free enterprise, inquiring minds, and the human spirit, brought a wealth of improvement to all of our lives in the past two centuries. Those same virtues will continue to do so if we in turn allow them to flourish.

Jeff Minick has four children and a growing platoon of grandchildren. For 20 years, he taught history, literature, and Latin to seminars of homeschooling students in Asheville, N.C. He is the author of two novels, Amanda Bell and Dust on Their Wings, and two works of non-fiction, Learning as I Go and Movies Make the Man. Today, he lives and writes in Front Royal, Va. See JeffMinick.com to follow his blog.
China has warned the US against crossing its red line after an American ambassador visited Taiwan at the weekend, making it the first such official visit in the last 42 years.

John Hennessey-Niland, the US ambassador to the pacific island nation of Palau, was part of the delegation that came with Palauan president Surangel Whipps for a five-day trip.

In 1979, the US severed ties with Taiwan in favour of Beijing. However, in the last few years amid growing tensions with China, the US has increased its activities with democratically-ruled Taipei, a move which has irked Beijing.

On Monday, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, while replying to a query about the US ambassadors visit, said: I want to stress that the one China principle is a universally recognised norm for international relations and a common consensus recognised, accepted and practiced by the vast majority of countries in the world.

He emphasised that the Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive issue in China-US relations.

Read more:

One China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations. China firmly opposes any form of official interactions between the US and Taiwan. This position is consistent and clear, Mr Zhao said.

The spokesperson urged the US to fully recognise that the Taiwan question is highly sensitive, and that it should abide by the one China principle and the three China-US joint communiques.

It must stop any official interaction with Taiwan, refrain from sending any wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces, stop any attempt to cross the bottom line, and properly handle Taiwan-related issues with prudence, lest it should damage China-US relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Mr Zhao cautioned the US.

But Taiwans foreign ministry welcomed the visit of the US ambassador and, on Monday, tweeted: What a triumvirate! Minister Wu, President Whipps & Ambassador Hennessey-Niland are as one when it comes to trilateral cooperation. #Taiwan, #Palau & the #US are forces for good working together in promoting peace, security & prosperity in the #IndoPacific & around the world.

On Monday, 10 Chinese military aircraft  eight fighter jets and two surveillance aircraft - entered Taiwans air defence identification zone. On Friday, Beijing sent a similar sortie involving 20 aircraft. Over the past few months, Taiwan has repeatedly complained that Chinas fighter aircraft have violated its air space.

China considers Taiwan its own territory and Taipei fears China could use force to bring it back under its control. However, despite Beijing's repeated warnings against Washington warming up to Taipei, the US has steadily increased its cooperation with Taiwan in recent years.

In 2020, the US approved the sale of weapons worth 3.69bn to Taiwan and last week Washington signed an agreement with Taipei to boost cooperation between their coast guards, a move to counter China.

Additional reporting by agencies
Lamar University said Tuesday that it has found no evidence a recently fired maintenance worker was planning an attack on campus when he was arrested with loaded assault weapons and handguns in his truck.

The incident occurred at Iowa Avenue and Rolfe Christopher Drive after 9 p.m. Monday, Lamar spokeswoman Shelly Vitanza said. The investigation continues, she said.

Lamar police pulled over the 63-year-old Nederland man, who they said was following a police car in a white pickup. Police described the man as agitated and said he told officers to shoot him. There was a brief exchange, and he was arrested without incident.

Police reported finding two loaded AK-47 assault rifles, five loaded handguns and a bag of loose ammunition.

The man was taken to the hospital and then transferred to the Jefferson County Correctional Facility. He was being held in lieu of $4,400 bond after being charged with driving while intoxicated, unlawful carry of a firearm, failure to identify and resisting arrest.

The man worked in maintenance from 2015 until his dismissal last week, Vitanza said.

The Enterprise is not naming him at this time.

Faculty, staff and students were alerted to the incident Tuesday morning by email, Vitanza said, in accordance with a campus policy stating that crime alerts are sent to the campus community after a crime has been committed and there is not an immediate threat.

In this case, of course, the suspect was subdued and arrested and there was no impending threat to the campus community, Vitanza told The Enterprise.

Lamar freshman Liberty Bundy said the incident made her question the safety of students on campus, especially at night.

Its crazy to think this happened on campus in one of the parking lots, Bundy said. At night is when a lot of people are out. It makes you more cautious with your guard up.

A professor on Twitter described the shock of reading the campus email that referenced the drivers having that many guns and ammunition within his immediate reach.

Campus police also contacted the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Vitanza said.

Public information officer Nicole Strong confirmed the bureau is assisting with the investigation, but she said it does not anticipate any federal charges will be filed.

Strong referred further questions to local police.

Lamar officers were seen at the mans home in Nederland on Tuesday.

Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox

A woman at the home refused to speak with a reporter afterward.

A neighbor reported having seen the man driving his truck and a motorcycle in the neighborhood but declined to be identified or say anything on the record out of caution.

Nederland Police Chief Gary Porter said his department had interacted with the man on several occasions.

Porter declined to elaborate.

I am shocked they found him with all those guns, he said.

jorge.ramos@beaumontenterprise.com

isaac.windes@hearstnp.com
A suburban Seattle, Wash., school district this week agreed to pay $4.25 million to settle a lawsuit that accuses a former middle school teacher of sexually assaulting his student for nearly a decade.

According to the lawsuit, drama teacher Richard Buckley started grooming Courtney Dennis, when she was about 12 years old in the late 1990s at Issaquah Middle School.

Buckley was never criminally charged, and the statute of limitations has elapsed. In 2003, he was convicted of molesting Denniss younger sister.

Im glad its over, Dennis told The Seattle Times in an interview. Im so thankful to (my attorneys), they fought so hard to seek justice for my family and I.

Filing the lawsuit, she said, has been an important part of her healing process.

Darrell Cochran, one of the attorneys representing Dennis, said the settlement is indicative that the Issaquah School District recognized how badly it behaved and how badly Courtney was injured.

The Issaquah School District said in a statement Friday that the decision to settle was made considering a number of factors, including providing compensation for a severe breach of trust by a teacher at the time.

While Issaquah School District denies any negligence by the district, it acknowledges that settling is a better solution for everyone involved, the statement also said.

According to the suit, Buckley was hired in 1992 and would often give female students rides home, hold group meetings with students at his house and stay with them after school, sometimes past dinnertime.

When teachers and parents complained to the district, the lawsuit says, officials disregarded the concerns because Buckley had curried favor and protection from the administrators as a `talented teacher who was destined to take the drama department to great heights.

When Buckley met Dennis, her parents were divorcing, and he recognized the weakness in the avenue of access to (her and her sister), Cochran said. In 1998, Buckley started driving Dennis and her younger sister home from school almost every day, and the sexual assaults began after that, continuing before, during and after school, the lawsuit says.

In 2003, Buckley was convicted of first-degree child molestation of Dennis younger sister and was sentenced to 4-and-a-half years to life in prison, The Seattle Times reported at the time. He served about seven years before being released, and is now living in Renton, Cochran said.

From sworn testimony I took two weeks ago, he showed an understanding of how horribly he hurt our client, he added.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Abuse Molestation Washington Education K 12
High notes

Williams Companies provided assistance to the Tunkhannock Police Department and the borough to purchase a new police car, the departments first brand new vehicle since 2007.

Williams, an American energy company, provided $10,000 toward helping the department purchase a 2021 Ford Explorer, which in addition to the increased reliability will provide more space for patrolling officers.

Our borough and Police Department greatly appreciate Williams corporate responsibility, generosity and community involvement, said Tunkhannock Mayor Stacy Huber. With this grant, they have directly supported and enhanced the current and future capabilities of our department.

The Tunkhannock Borough Police Department provides service to more than 2,000 residents and 62 businesses, as well as three school campuses, several day care centers and monitors traffic traversing Wyoming County. The department maintains a capital reserve account through the borough as part of its primary budget, specifically for purchases of vehicles and other apparatus. The department came up short while researching purchasing a new vehicle.

Police Chief Keith Carpenter reached out to Williams to see if assistance was available through the companys Community Grants & Sponsorships program. Sgt. Dustin Cokely worked with vendors through the State COSTARS Purchasing Program and also coordinated the upfitting, which included the installation of a new computer system integrated with the Wyoming County Communications Center and 911 and a new 360-degree camera that will record everything the officers do inside or outside the vehicle.

Williams is proud to be an active member of the local Tunkhannock community for over a decade now, said Jack Walsh, vice president and general manager of Williams Susquehanna River Supply Hub. We are excited to partner with the Tunkhannock Borough Police Department and all first responder organizations throughout Northeast Pennsylvania to help them continue their important work of protecting our communities.

Dining out helps local libraries

Lyn and Branko Bozic, owners of Brankos Patisserie in Honesdale, formed a spring fundraising partnership to assist two local libraries and entice new diners to try their dishes.

During the months of March and April, diners choose from a takeout dinner menu that changes weekly and determine whether 10% of their bill will go to support the Wayne County Public Library in Honesdale or the Bethany Library in Bethany.

The Bozics dubbed the event Spring into Reading  Pleasing the Palate and the Page. Diners will travel through food and books/movies at a time when travel is extremely limited.

Brankos Patisserie is located at 501 Main St., Honesdale. Weekly menus can be found on Brankos Facebook page or the Wayne Library Alliance, Wayne County Public Library or Bethany Library Facebook or Instagram pages. The fundraising event wraps up on April 30.
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Nana Buxani was a young, contributing photographer for the Manila Times, shooting celebrities, beauty queens, and politicians for its lifestyle section, when Paul Valentin of Oxfam called her one day, asking her to do a project in Maguindanao. She was to produce a photo essay documenting the life of a farming community, fraught with wars every few years. It was the early 1990s, and her first assignment outside a newspaper. She went; lived in a farmers home in the mountains; and, after drinking from a well infested with mosquitos, came home with dengue.

Not long after, in 1993, she landed a project with the Kaliwat Theater Collective to live in Arakan Valley, North Cotabato, for one month, capturing the ancestral sites of the Manobos. Tapos doon naman, na-ano ako  tetanus! says Buxani, laughing.

But these challenges on the field did not stop her from persevering. Isa sa biggest joys ko is yung engagement sa local communities, to hear their stories, says Buxani, who feels these long form stories give her a deeper understanding of the human condition. Since those first projects in the early 1990s, she has forged a remarkable three-decade long career as an independent photographer, documenting issues in the country ranging from child labor to the plight of homeless and indigenous peoples.

It takes courage to be a photojournalist or documentary photographer in the Philippines, where your work often compels you to be face-to-face with conflict, crime, and suffering. But it takes another level of courage to endure as a woman in this field  which, for too long, has been notoriously male-dominated.

When Joan Bondoc started as a staff photographer at the Philippine Daily Globe in the 1990s, she had to insist on doing news assignments. A male colleague initially told her that her place was in lifestyle. Hindi ganun kagaan pumwesto sa barkada ng mga lalaki, Bondoc said in her Women in Photojournalism talk held last March 13 by the Photojournalists Center of the Philippines.

During drinking sessions with other photographers, Buxani shares how she would sometimes witness her male peers catcall waitresses, or talk inappropriately about other women photographers. At ang mga babae ay na-shock na lang. Hindi maka-react. Hindi maka-respond . . . it takes time to process. Ano ba yun? Sexual harassment ba yun? says Buxani. Youre also afraid to lose a job  lalo na kapag boss mo yung nagsasabi sayo ng ganyan. Both Buxani and Bondoc eventually learned how to say no to invitations to inumans with the boys.

Maraming naging pagsubok bago ako irespeto  bago ako nagkaroon ng boses para sabihin na, Tama na. Dito na ang hinihingil natin, shares Bondoc. For one whole year on the job, she would cry inside bathroom cubicles. She wanted to leave. But a colleague told her she couldnt leave: it was only now that there was a woman who was brave enough to be with these men everyday. She held on to that. Today, she is still a photojournalist, shooting for the Philippine Daily Inquirer for nearly thirty years.

Globally, the experiences of Buxani and Bondoc are not unique. In 2015, the State of News Photography study conducted by World Press Photo, the University of Stirling and Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism revealed the glaring gender imbalance in the photojournalism industry. Compared to men, women photographers were not only less likely to be employed by large media companies, but also assigned less work. More women earned less than the men, despite a higher percentage of women being university educated and technologically versatile. In 2018, the same study found that 69% of its women participants faced discrimination in the workplace  citing stereotyping and sexism in the industry among their biggest obstacles.

Despite such a culture, young women photographers in the Philippines have not only persisted, but succeeded. In 2019, Reuters photojournalist Eloisa Lopez won the prestigious international Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism award, enamoring one particular juror for her unique vision of compassion for survivors of the drug war. Photographer Hannah Reyes Morales, who is regularly featured in international publications such as the National Geographic and the New York Times, won the International Center of Photographys Infinity Award for Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism in 2020.

Filipino women's rights advocates Sister Mary John Mananzan, Patricia Licuanan, Teresita Quintos Deles, Sylvia Claudio, and Karina Constantino-David photographed by Eloisa Lopez for CNN Philippines Life's Women's Month special in 2019.

Apart from indicating their hard work and talent, their success might reveal small signs of progress. When photographer Kimberly dela Cruz began as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 2013, there were already women like Bondoc in the workplace who had paved the way for her to be seen. In my colleagues eyes, I didnt have to prove myself that as a woman, I could be good. Because they already knew that, shares dela Cruz.

However, though there are more women photographers today, she observed how several of her female peers would leave the field after three or four years. Morales witnessed a similar pattern among the women she had once looked up to: A lot of women left . . . They would be there and then they would be gone, and you wouldnt understand what happened, recalls Morales. Both dela Cruz and Morales felt it was not in their place to ask why, respecting these womens own private reasons.

But with every woman who leaves, what do we lose?

Because modern history has long been captured through the lens of men, particularly white men, Filipino women offer an invaluable, alternative gaze  piercing through lives and worlds with unique intimacy and power.

Dela Cruzs haunting images of the Philippine drug wars aftermath restore a sense of dignity and privacy in the children and widows left behind, who are so often reduced to numbers. A boy silently squatting before a candle at a crime scene at night. A woman, dazed, carrying her one-month old baby at her partners wake.

I am always trying to step back and give the people that I photograph some space, says dela Cruz. Before she shoots her subjects, she converses with them, telling them where the pictures might possibly be featured and making sure she gets their full consent. To her, it is ultimately their story. They should have the power to decide whether they want it published or not. If they dont want their face to be shown, then you have to work around it. You have to make it work in a way that everyone feels comfortable in a situation. That no ones getting exploited for here. No ones being forced to do this.

Morales also longed to give a similar sense of respect to her subjects. When she started covering the news, it did not feel right to her that she was only with them for a few minutes or an hour. She wanted to forge deeper relationships with them, so she turned to her home. She began photographing her familys cook and the woman who raised her, whom she calls Nanay.

Iding, a Filipina domestic worker, sits in the living room of Hannah Reyes-Morales' clan house in Manila. Photo by HANNAH REYES MORALES

Capturing someone so close to her changed her. Working on that story, I learned a lot about what mattered to me, what kind of feeling mattered to me, says Morales. I wanted to make sure that the care that I gave in documenting Nanays story was almost the same kind of feeling when I was documenting other peoples stories.

Related: The photographs we take, the homes that we carry

Her tender images of women who have lived through difficult situations reveal the kind of trust and comfort they have around Morales. Among her subjects have been women displaced by Typhoon Haiyan who ended up in the sex trade, as well as women who survived the mass rapes of World War II. With her, they show the intricacies of their day-to-day lives, the small moments in which they feel safe.

Jojo (center), Gemma (right), and Joanne (left) get ready for a night of work in the bars in Angeles City, notorious for its red light district. Photo by HANNAH REYES MORALES

In her series "Roots from Ashes," the lolas who survived the brutalities of the Japanese soldiers during World War II are laughing with each other, hugging in bed, walking through the sites in which they were hurt. It feels as if the person behind the lens knew them like her own grandmother. It makes this viewer care for them like they are her own grandmothers.

Photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani is familiar with the lives of many of her subjects because she was once in similar shoes. For almost ten years, she lived as a domestic worker in Hong Kong. She started taking street photography on her days off, as a form of release from the pressures of work. One particular series in black and white captures the isolation she felt in the city, alien and alone, walking through its glossy, intimidating streets. Over the years, she has expanded to capturing the lives of other migrant workers  from Filipino human trafficking survivors in New York, to women who escaped abusive employers in Singapore.

A view of Hong Kongs skyline from the flat where Bacanis mother Georgia works as a domestic worker. The photo is featured in the cover of her 2018 book, "We Are Like Air." Photo courtesy of XYZA CRUZ BACANI

The latter subject is particularly close to her, as her own mother suffered the same experience. From Singapore, her mother fled to Hong Kong and was eventually employed by a kind, generous woman, who later also became Bacanis employer. In 2018, Bacani published her first book "We Are Like Air," documenting the lives of eight migrant workers. But central to the book is her mothers story.

The process of photographing her mother was painful. There were a lot of tears. There were a lot of wounds that were reopened, says Bacani. When I was putting together the book, we started talking about these wounds, these traumatic experiences, so it was difficult. To be vulnerable was difficult.

Xyza Cruz Bacanis mother, Georgia. From the inside pages of Bacanis book, "We Are Like Air "(2018). Photo courtesy of XYZA CRUZ BACANI

But ultimately, Bacani says the project made her a better human being. Its scary at first, but showing vulnerability means being courageous in dealing with issues that we need to deal with. Conversations that we need to talk about. Wounds that we need to heal.

Our country has neglected years, decades, and centuries worth of wounds. Through their courage, these women photographing our history today show us a different way to heal. Women who gaze at our collective traumas not from a distance, but from the inside. They enter into the individual lives of those affected with delicacy and empathy. They share their pain and their strength. In every image shot, an invisible boundary between them and their subjects collapses. In every image shot, they are permanently marked, changed. Perhaps we owe it to them, and to ourselves, to let their images transform us too.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy

The ethics and safety of COVID vaccines for pregnant people

Q&A with Ruth Faden, Elana Jaffe, Carleigh Krubiner, and Chizoba Wonodi | MARCH 29, 2021

This article originally appeared on the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.

Globally, over 200 million people are pregnant each year. Whether they should be offered the new COVID vaccines as they become available is an important public health policy decision. Whether pregnant people should seek vaccination is a deeply personal decision.

Are pregnant people at higher risk of developing severe COVID?

Evidence to date suggests that people who are pregnant face a higher risk of severe disease and death from COVID compared to people who are not pregnant. For instance, pregnant people are three times more likely to require admission to intensive care and to need invasive ventilation. The overall risk of death among pregnant people is low, but it is elevated compared to similar people who are not pregnant. Some studies suggest that COVID in pregnancy might be associated with increased rates of preterm birth.

Our understanding of the probability and severity of harms from SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is evolving. The pandemic has been ongoing for just over a year, which limits what can currently be known about the health risks of COVID for pregnant people, and especially their offspring. Whether SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy poses risks to the developing fetus remains underdetermined. Current evidence suggests that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to the fetus is rare. However, severe maternal illness can have serious implications for the fetus. For example, fevers during early pregnancy have in some studies been associated with increased risk for certain birth defects. Since the pandemic has only been with us for just over a year, there are no data yet on long-term childhood outcomes for offspring exposed in utero.

There are still significant unknowns: How do risks vary by trimester? What are the risks of asymptomatic infection? Further, most current information about COVID and pregnancy comes from high-income countries, limiting its global generalizability

Do we know if COVID vaccines are safe in pregnancy?

At this point, tens of thousands of pregnant people have received COVID vaccines globally, including in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Israel. Thus far, there have been no reports suggestive of concern. Additionally, none of the vaccines that have thus far been authorized for use in the U.S.the Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines, as well as the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine authorized in other countriescontain live or replication-competent viruses. Therefore, it is extremely unlikely that a vaccine virus could replicate, cross the placenta, and infect the fetus. However, more research is needed in order to better characterize the safety profile of each COVID vaccine in pregnancy.

Although there is not yet pregnancy-specific data about COVID vaccines from clinical trials, the vaccines have been studied in pregnant laboratory animals. Called developmental and reproductive toxicity (DART) studies, research with pregnant animals can provide reassurance about moving forward with vaccine research in pregnant people. There are no concerning signals from DART study data for the Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, and preliminary DART data for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines. Small numbers of participants in the research trials for these vaccines have become pregnant. No concerning risk signals in those pregnancies have been reported.

All three of these vaccines offer a very high level of protection against severe COVID. There is little reason to believe these vaccines will be less effective in pregnant people than they are in people of comparable age who are not pregnant.

What positions have different national and global authorities taken on pregnant people and COVID vaccines that are authorized for use?

The absence of pregnancy-specific data for COVID vaccines has made regulatory and public health decision-making complicated. Largely due to the absence of evidence, most public health agencies have held back on making explicit recommendations on COVID vaccine administration in pregnancy. In the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and several other countries, the position of the relevant public health authority is that pregnant people who otherwise qualify for an authorized vaccinesuch as pregnant people who are health care workers or members of other prioritized essential workforcesshould be permitted to make their own decisions about vaccination, based on their assessment of whether the prospect of benefit to them and their offspring outweighs the risks. This is also the position of the World Health Organization for the vaccines they have thus far evaluated. In Israel, the Ministry of Health and Vaccines Prioritization Committee recommended vaccination for pregnant people in their second or third trimester. Most jurisdictions in the U.S. are already offering the vaccine to pregnant people given higher COVID risk in pregnancy, including the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Mississippi.

What do obstetricians say about COVID vaccines and pregnancy?

Professional societies, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal-Fetal-Medicine, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, all support COVID vaccination in pregnancy when the benefits outweigh the risks.

How should pregnant people think about the benefits and risks?

The major benefit of the Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines to all people, pregnant or not, is that being vaccinated provides a high level of protection against serious illness from COVID.

How important the protective benefit of COVID vaccination is to any individual pregnant person depends on how likely they are to get infected, and how likely they are to get seriously ill, if infected. Pregnant people differ in how likely they are to get infected. A persons risk of becoming infected depends on at least three things: 1) whether their job puts them at risk of infection; 2) the rate of transmission in their community; and 3) who they live with, especially whether they live with people who are at increased risk because of their jobs, or in a crowded home or densely populated neighborhood. For example, people whose jobs require them to be in regular contact with many people are at higher risk of infection than people who can work from home. Similarly, people who live with other people who also work outside the home are at greater risk than people who live alone or only with others who also work or attend school from home.

Pregnant people also differ in how likely they are to get seriously ill with COVID, if they become infected. While pregnancy by itself is a risk factor for serious illness, some medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or being very overweight are even greater risk factors. People who are pregnant and also have high-risk medical conditions are more likely to develop severe COVID if they become infected than pregnant people who do not have those medical conditions.

Pregnant people should also consider whether they have access to alternative modes of protection from infection. Questions to ask include: Can they take a leave from work or be temporarily transferred to a lower-risk job; do they have access to high quality personal protective equipment; and, if someone in their household gets infected or exposed, is there a way for that person to safely isolate away from others?

Resources, including provider information sheets, conversation guides, and decision aids, have been developed to facilitate the values-driven and context-dependent calculations that pregnant people face in the coming months.

When are we likely to get data from pregnant people?

Some people prioritized for vaccination have received COVID vaccines while pregnant, and data about their pregnancies are being collected by public health agencies. Registries are being established in multiple countries to capture the experiences of pregnant people who are receiving COVID vaccines. At least one developer, Pfizer-BioNTech, has begun a pregnancy-specific trial for their vaccine, which will enroll 4,000 pregnant people across nine countries.

What is wrong with this picture?

The absence of pregnancy-specific data around COVID vaccines continues an unfair pattern in which evidence about safety of new vaccines for pregnant people lags behind. This unfairness is ethically problematic in at least two important ways.

First, people may be denied vaccine, or may face barriers in accessing vaccine, because they are pregnant. Public health agencies globally have struggled to determine the most ethical position regarding whether to allow pregnant people to receive COVID vaccines in the absence of pregnancy-specific data. While there is still limited evidence on the safety of currently authorized vaccines in pregnancy, with high vaccine efficacy, no risk signals from studies in pregnant animals, and few biologically plausible risks, the permissive approach that most health authorities have taken enabling individuals to decide for themselves is ethically appropriate.

However, in some settingswhether by policy guidance, local guidelines, or even individual provider reticencea lack of evidence may mean that pregnant people will face unfair denial of highly effective vaccines from which they stand to benefit.

Second, even when pregnant people are eligible for vaccination, because public health authorities have not explicitly recommended COVID vaccines in pregnancy, the burden of making decisions about vaccination has shifted to pregnant people. Evidence gaps shift the responsibility for associated risk more squarely to pregnant people, where their nonpregnant peers have an evidence base and a public health recommendation to back up their vaccination decision. While endorsement from medical professional societies is helpful, without pregnancy-specific evidence or explicit pregnancy recommendations, there is also the risk that pregnant peoples decisions will be biased by the strong risk distortions that are known to be present in the context of pregnancy.

Hopefully, the evidence necessary for public health agencies to make clear, full-throated recommendations about the use of at least some COVID vaccines in pregnancy will be forthcoming in the coming months. Efforts are underway to encourage developers of vaccines not yet approved for use to move more quickly to conduct studies with pregnant people and otherwise undertake efforts to systematically generate evidence on the safety of their products in pregnancy. We will continue to update this brief, as new data and new policies become available, both for the vaccines discussed here and for additional vaccines that will shortly be evaluated for use in public health programs.

Ruth Faden, PhD, MPH, is the founder of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics and was its director from 1995 until 2016. She is a professor in Health Policy and Management.

Carleigh Krubiner, PhD, is an associate faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics.

Chizoba Wonodi, DrPh 09, MPH 04, is an associate scientist in International Health and the Nigeria Country Director for the International Vaccine Access Center.
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Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Sixty North Gold Mining Ltd. (CSE: SXTY) (FSE: 2F4) (OTC Pink: SXNTF) ("the Company"), a company that is commencing the restart of the high-grade past producing Mon Mine, 40 kms north of Yellowknife, NWT, within the prolific Yellowknife Gold Camp. CEO of the Company, Dr. Dave Webb, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly.

Jolly began the interview by asking about the Company's background and current projects. Dr. Webb elaborated on his extensive background in the mining industry, and shared that he originally purchased the Company's Mon Gold property in the 1980s for its gold production potential. "The key to this whole project is the grade at one ounce per tonne, which kind of turns heads," shared Dr. Webb.

Jolly then noted that the Company's Mon Gold project is located within the Yellowknife Gold Camp, an area known for its prolific gold production. "The Yellowknife Greenstone Belt, or Gold Belt by itself, has a 14 million ounce past production history," explained Dr. Webb. "It is significant," he added. "Grade is pretty important, but it's the same type of rocks, the Archean Greenstone Belt, that host the deposits in Red Lake, Ontario, or Val-d'Or, Quebec, or any of these big mining camps that people are so interested to get into and pay top dollar for; this is a little bit cheaper because it's in the Northwest Territories and is presumed to be pretty remote."

The conversation then turned to the Company's restart date for the Mon Gold project. Dr. Webb expanded on the past efforts of different companies. "I was finishing my PhD on structural geology, and I realized that most people were making a bad assumption and were drilling in the wrong place," said Dr. Webb. "We drilled off the right place and found thick intersections of multi-ounce quartz vein and immediately brought in the mining equipment and started mining it," he continued. "Initially, it was financed by a small junior company and later on it went into a private company, and we ended up mining 15,000 tonnes of rock under the ground from 45 feet of elevation," said Dr. Webb. "We got 15,000 ounces of gold from the 15,000 tonnes," he shared. Dr. Webb then explained that despite the project's drilling success, the value of gold was too low during this time.

"Today, we have the same vein and the same grades," said Dr. Webb. "Rather than bringing in the drills and spending millions of dollars drilling it off, for the same cost we could get the mining equipment in, dig it out, and put it on a big pile on the surface," he continued. "It could be one, two, or three ounces per tonne; we just know that historically it will average one ounce per tonne and that's what we expect to bring up," he shared. "With that in hand, we will have accomplished for the same price what it would have cost to complete a preliminary feasibility study."

"What's the long-term potential of the Mon Gold property?", asked Jolly. "Well, because we're in the Greenstone Belt, it typically has great depth," said Dr. Webb, before discussing the production of other successful mines in the area. "The Con Mine that took out 6 million ounces of gold went down over 7,000 feet and the Giant Mine with 8 million ounces of gold went down about 3,000 feet," shared Dr. Webb. "With our mine going down only 45 feet, I think we have great potential."

"What support do you have to execute your plan going forward?", asked Jolly. "We have a team that has been there and done that," said Dr. Webb. "The group that we have includes all of the operators from when we mined it in the past," he shared. "We know that our costs should be in the range of $450 to mine and process a tonne of rock," explained Dr. Webb, adding that the Company believes this will allow for a comfortable margin. "We're going to be operating at 100 tonnes per day initially, which is the same rate that the Con Mine started at for its 6 million ounces."

"You're doing everything in house, is that correct?", asked Jolly. "It started off with two separate entities and as we go forward Sixty North is acquiring 100% interest in the entire project," explained Dr. Webb. "It's all in house," he shared. "I am a registered, professional geologist, I'm a registered, professional engineer, and I've got over 40 years' experience doing this in the Northwest Territories and worldwide," said Dr. Webb. "With a little assistance from people here and there, we can make this work."

"This is an incredible entry point," shared Dr. Webb. "We are all about derisking the project," he added. "We are the only permitted gold mine and mill in the Northwest Territories," said Dr. Webb, adding that the Company has also completed its winter road and has all of the necessary equipment onsite. "We are all set to go, we're just waiting for the opportune time to start it up and that will be when the weather is a little bit warmer," closed Dr. Webb.

To hear Dr. David Webb's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7833691-sixty-north-gold-mining-ltd-discusses-the-high-grade-potential-of-mon-gold-project-restart-with.

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 the Company

Sixty North Gold Mining Ltd. is commencing the restart of the high-grade past producing Mon Mine, 40 kms north of Yellowknife, NWT, within the prolific Yellowknife Gold Camp.

The Mon Gold Property consists of 11 contiguous mining leases and 3 mineral claims, comprising an aggregate 622 hectares, located in the South Mackenzie Mining District, NWT. The Mon Mine produced 15,000 ounces of gold from 15,000 tonnes of ore between 1989 and 1997. Permits to explore, mine and mill at 100 tpd are in place, and the Mon is the only gold project permitted for production in the NWT. Other targets on the property include recently discovered silver and gold-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) targets, as well as shear zone-hosted gold mineralization. The shear zones are similar in nature to, and hosted in the same rocks as, the world-class deposits at the Con and Giant Mines in Yellowknife which produced 14 million oz. gold.

The Company also has an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the highly prospective and contiguous 2,394 hectare Hangstone Property adjoining the Mon Property to the East and South from an independent prospector. The Mon Property shear zone and VMS targets can be projected onto the Hangstone Property.

For more information, please refer to the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or visit the Company's website at www.sixtynorthgold.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

s/ "David Webb"

David Webb,

President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact David Webb at 604-818-1400.

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:

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Statements about the Company's future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any projected future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Further details about the risks applicable to the Company are contained in the Company's Prospectus dated January 19, 2018 available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), under the Company's profile.

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENT OF THIS PRESS RELEASE.

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 have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78916.
Women are often 'invisible' in agriculture, researchers say. Credit: Georgina Smith

A study examining bean productivity among smallholder farmers in Tanzania, has found that on average, yields are 6% lower among female than male farmers. Women are often 'invisible' in agriculture, researchers say, due to social structural barriers and national agricultural policies, which do not address discriminatory land rights; education and agricultural information and decision making, which must be tackled to reverse this trend.

The paper "What Does Gender Yield Gap Tell Us about Smallholder Farming in Developing Countries?" published in the open access scientific journal Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing (MDPI), analyzed data from southern region in Tanzania since 2016 and also drew on research from case studies conducted in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe among other countries in the region.

Eileen Nchanji, Gender Specialist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (The Alliance), said: "We think this six percent drop in productivity is significant, because it shows that with access to the right information and resources, and if we are intentional about making gender part of new interventions, women will be able to increase their yields significantly."

"Our case studies from Burundi and Zimbabwe have shown that, when women have access to improved seeds and information, they can double their yields," she added. By bringing the public and private sector together, and targetting women, youth and men together with improved seed varieties and better knowledge about agricultural practices and collective decision making on farm operations, productivity among the whole community increases.

Researchers highlight that issues of more concern to women are often ignored at policy level. They include providing more nutritious food crops such as beans for the family instead of relying on staples like maize which may fetch more income but offer less nutritional value; selection of varieties with attributes such as faster cook-times or easier processing attributes; as well as overall household food security.

Among the challenges women face in boosting crop yields are land rights and ownership. Even if women have gained access to better seeds and knowledge on how to plant them to increase yields, they may not have the power to implement changes if the land is not theirs. Similarly, while women contribute around 65% more on-farm labor than men, they do not always have the same access to information or technology, resulting in lower yields.

Agness Nduguru, a researcher at the Agricultural Research Institute Uyole, Mbeya, Tanzania, said that a key solution at community level is to ensure the co-distribution of end resources to both women and men. "Even if we conduct training about gender constraints and differences, and communities are aware about production and yield gaps, at policy-level, if we want to eliminate poverty, women have to be able to make their own decisions."

The Alliance's Agricultural Economist, Enid Katungi, said: "We researched on who manages the land or makes decisions about the plot; what age and sex they are; what information and knowledge they have access to. We found structural differences; women tend to cultivate more degraded land, highlighting power differences within households when it comes to resources. So it's clear we need interventions to address those differences at both developmental and policy level, involving all decision makers in the community at all levels."

The study also reveals that women who engaged their families in decisions on varieties to plant often had better yields, and that access to improved varieties boosted productivity by 35% compared to growing indigenous or local varieties, implying that access to better information and resources for both men and women is key. Yet a woman's age, family size, years of schooling and how they spend income from beans or other crops all restrict a woman's ability to produce more food and nutritious family meals in general.

Key recommendations in the paper to tackle gender inequality for improved agricultural yields include gender-specific support to close the yield gap, ensuring equal income distribution and reduced poverty among female farmers. These include deliberate women empowerment strategies through trainings and free improved seed provision, participatory plant breeding that considers variety attributes that appeal to women; national policy on gender issues in agriculture and general public support to finance women's agriculture.

Explore further Can gender inequality kill? Paper looks at impact among older Indian women

More information: Eileen B. Nchanji et al, What Does Gender Yield Gap Tell Us about Smallholder Farming in Developing Countries?, Sustainability (2020). Eileen B. Nchanji et al, What Does Gender Yield Gap Tell Us about Smallholder Farming in Developing Countries?,(2020). DOI: 10.3390/su13010077

Provided by International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
The Pennsylvania Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee meets weekly on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. EDT. Please join us this Thursday and invite your co-workers and friends. To find out more and sign up to join our committee, click here.

The Pennsylvania Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee condemns Facebooks decision to threaten teachers groups opposing unsafe school reopenings and demands that Facebook lift its restrictions against Dr. Benjamin Mateus and others who have been censored.

On Monday and Tuesday, March 22 and 23, Facebook threatened two groupsIllinois Refuse to Return and Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committeewith being shut down for sharing information that is opposed to the unsafe reopening of schools amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Pre-kindergarten teacher Sarah McCarthy works with a student at Dawes Elementary in Chicago [Credit: Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP]

This action is in line with the efforts of the Biden administration, local Democratic and Republican officials, and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and National Education Association (NEA) to push the deadly resumption of in-person learning and silence opposition.

Facebooks action was in response to group members who posted comments opposed to the pseudoscience being used to justify these reckless policies. Specifically, the post exposed the use by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of a study co-authored by Brown University economist Emily Oster that justified the loosening of guidelines and claimed that children are not at high risk for COVID-19.

The full text of the post is as follows:

A person like Emily Oster who has been advocating right wing fashion for schools to open and repeatedly getting it wrong who has no training in public health and infectious diseases should be a red flag for the CDC to use her study. This is no better than the hydroxychloroquine hype promoted by the flawed French researcher to treat COVID-19. Yet, the CDC and congress put on a deadly show for all Americans and teachers. We will manipulate statistics and promote bad data and sell it as sound science to get you back in the classrooms!

Dr. Mateus was notified that the posts were a violation of Facebooks Community Standards and that it had been removed. Benjamin Mateus is the pseudonym used by a practicing physician in the US with extensive clinical experience. Over the past year, he has written dozens of articles on the coronavirus pandemic for the World Socialist Web Site and exposed, on the basis of science, the manipulation of data about COVID-19 by corporations and the government to justify the premature and deadly reopening of businesses and schools.

In addition to articles and social media posts, Dr. Mateus has spoken at many national and regional meetings of the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees, including at a meeting of our committee in Pennsylvania. Most recently, he has exposed the CDC decision to loosen its social distancing guidelines in classrooms. The censorship of Dr. Mateus is part of a broader drive to silence criticism of the push to re-open schools and the entire economy.

 In Florida, data scientist Rebekah Jones was fired from her job and arrested for refusing to publish doctored information on the extent of the states COVID-19 outbreaks.

 The School District of Philadelphia has had to develop a dashboard to report COVID cases since August, but it has refused to do so.

 In Maryland, Wicomico County teacher Mary Laurenzano died of COVID-19 last week, yet the school district refuses to acknowledge that her death was caused by the coronavirus.

 No national database or reporting is kept of infections and deaths from COVID-19 among educators and students.

 School districts, county and state officials refuse to broadly test students in order to prevent the true picture of the pandemic from being known.

These moves are not accidental but rather comprise a targeted campaign to prevent people from knowing the full extent of COVID-19 outbreaks in schools as new and more contagious variants are taking hold in the population.

The entire political establishment, the mainstream media and the unions, which falsely claim to represent teachers, collectively push the falsehood that it is safe to reopen schools. This is a criminal policy; this is social murder.

Philadelphia is completing the process of reopening all of its Pre-K to Grade 2 classrooms and has set a plan to resume fully in-person teaching by the end of April. In Pittsburgh, the last remaining school district in Pennsylvania to reopen, in-person classes for Pre-K to Grade 8 students begin on April 6.

The pandemic is growing, despite tens of millions of people being vaccinated. Over 22 states are reporting increases in daily infections. Pennsylvania has reached the grim milestone of over one million infections and over 25,000 deaths.

The fact that infection rates are rising even as people are getting vaccinated can only mean that the more contagious variants of COVID-19 are spreading uncontrolled and that the criminal decisions to resume in-person learning and the lifting of other restrictions on nonessential jobs and services are having a disastrous effect.

After in-person learning was resumed in Philadelphia, the 14-day average of new infections has jumped 37 percent, and the test positivity rate has increased from less than five percent to 6.8 percent.

In Springfield School District in neighboring Delaware County, where in-person teaching has resumed to four days per week, the high school has been unable to complete a full week of instruction because of COVID-19 outbreaks, which have placed 130+ students in quarantine at present. In addition, 50 teachers at Edmentum, the company the district contracted for its Virtual Academy, were summarily laid off Friday, March 19, with absolutely no warning.

New Jersey now has the fastest growing outbreak in the country, with a test positivity rate above 10 percent. In Baltimore, the 14-day average of new infections is up by 70 cases a day.

Since taking office, the Biden administration has pushed to reopen schools in order to send parents back to work making profits for Wall Street. Biden, like his predecessor Trump, cares only about the profits of the corporations and banks and is willing to risk the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.

The record of the AFT and its state and local affiliates in facilitating school reopenings is absolutely clear.

 In Chicago, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) along with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) went against rank-and-file teachers 71 percent vote to strike and worked out a deal with the city to force teachers back to work.

 In Los Angeles and Oakland, union officials defied the wishes of their membership and forced teachers back into in-person instruction.

 In Cleveland, union leaders pushed the reopening of in-person instruction, just days after 500 school building representatives voted overwhelmingly to continue virtual instruction.

 Last week, AFT President Randi Weingarten explicitly stated, Were not going to fight to keep the schools closed.

 In Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) never gave the teachers the right to vote.

 In Pittsburgh, union officials offered teachers no discussion at all about returning to classrooms.

It is vital for educators and staff to ask themselves why are the AFT and NEA playing the role of enforcers in the reopening of schools? Why, not just in Philadelphia but throughout the country, are the unions collaborating with school districts in forcing teachers back into unsafe classrooms?

The answer is that at a fundamental level, the AFT, NEA, and all their state and local affiliates like the CTU, along with unions in every industry, no longer represent the interests of their members. Over a decades-long period, they have been transformed into corporatist entities that are tools of the corporations and the state.

For their role in disciplining the working class, the union officials are rewarded with a lavish lifestyle through the dues checkoff system, while overseeing numerous pension and health care funds. In 2015, AFT President Randi Weingarten had a total compensation of $497,118.

The Pennsylvania Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee is the only force in the state organizing the opposition of teachers to the deadly betrayals of the unions. We are part of a growing network of committees throughout the US and worldwide, which are democratically controlled by their members. These committees work to unite educators with Amazon and other transportation workers, workers in auto and basic industry, and all sections of the working class, to fight for a shutdown of schools and nonessential industry in order to contain the pandemic. We demand the following:

 For the immediate closure of all public, private and charter schools and all nonessential production to stop the spread of COVID-19.

 All decisions about school openings and closures must be overseen solely by rank-and-file educators and parents in consultation with scientific experts of their choosing.

 Full funding for internet access, technology and all resources needed for high-quality remote instruction.

 Full income protection to all parents and caregivers who stay home with their children.

 No loss of income for educators who choose to stay home.

 For free speech and the protection of whistleblowers.

Join and help build this committee, and take up these demands today by signing up at wsws.org/edsafety!
Conditions of availability or consultation of information relating to the Combined (Ordinary and Extraordinary) Shareholders Meeting of April 20, 2021

Boulogne-Billancourt (France), March, 30 2021  In the context of the Covid-19 epidemic and in accordance with Ordinance No. 2020-321 of March 25, 2020, as amended and whose provisions were extended by Decree No. 2021-255 of March 9, 2021, the Combined (Ordinary and Extraordinary) Shareholders Meeting of the Company convened on April 20, 2021 at 8:00 a.m (on first call) will exceptionally be held at the Company's registered office, located at 27, avenue du General Leclerc - 92100 Boulogne Billancourt, behind closed doors, without the shareholders and other persons entitled to attend being present.

The Combined Shareholders Meeting will be broadcasted live and in its entirety on the Company's website www.vallourec.com , it being specified that shareholders will not be able to attend nor to vote in direct by telephone or audiovisual conference due to the technical impossibility of identifying them.

All documents and information referred to in Article R. 22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code, including in particular the preliminary notice published in the French Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) on March 15, 2021, the notice of meeting (brochure de convocation) to the Shareholders Meeting including in particular the agenda, the draft resolutions and the related reports of the Management Board and of the Supervisory Board, as well as the conditions of participation and voting may be consulted on Vallourec's website ( https://www.vallourec.com/fr/investisseurs/assemblees-generales ). The convening notice will be published in the French Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) on March 31, 2021 and in a journal of legal notices and will be available on the Company's website at the same address as above.

Other documents and information relating to the Combined Shareholders Meeting will be made available to the shareholders under the conditions provided for by the regulations in force, at the registered office of Vallourec located at 27, avenue du General Leclerc - 92100 Boulogne Billancourt. Until April 15, 2021 (included), the shareholders may also request the documents and information relating to the Shareholders Meeting in accordance with the legal and regulatory provisions, by sending a simple request to the following e-mail address: actionnaires@vallourec.com ; accompanied, in the case of bearer shareholders, by a certificate of account registration issued by the intermediary that manages their shares; and in all cases specifying the e-mail address to which copies of the documents will be sent.

As it is not possible to meet in person, shareholders will not be able to request an admission card. Under these conditions, shareholders are strongly encouraged to vote either by Internet on the VOTACCESS secure voting platform, or by mail via the paper voting form, or by giving a proxy to a natural or legal person of their choice or to the Chairman of the Shareholders' Meeting in accordance with the applicable regulations and the modalities for participation in the Shareholders' Meeting.

Bearer shareholders shall contact their financial intermediary to obtain the voting form. Shareholders whose shares are registered will receive directly this form together with the notice of meeting (brochure de convocation).

As the General Meeting is held behind closed doors, no new resolutions or proposed amendments may be placed on the agenda during the meeting.

Shareholders are also invited to regularly consult the section dedicated to the General Meeting on the Company's website ( https://www.vallourec.com/fr/investisseurs/assemblees-generales ), which may be updated to specify the definitive terms and conditions of participation in this General Meeting, depending on health and/or legal requirements or their lifting, that, as the case may be, which may allow the General Meeting to be held in the presence of the shareholders.

Finally, the scrutineers (scrutateurs) of the Shareholders' Meeting will be appointed in accordance with applicable regulations: in this context, these positions will be proposed to shareholders from among the ten shareholders with the largest number of voting rights known by the Company at the date of the convening of the Shareholders' Meeting. The shareholders will be informed as soon as possible of the identity and capacity of the persons appointed, in accordance with the regulations.





About Vallourec

Vallourec is a world leader in premium tubular solutions for the energy markets and for demanding industrial applications such as oil & gas wells in harsh environments, new generation power plants, challenging architectural projects, and high-performance mechanical equipment. Vallourecs pioneering spirit and cutting edge R&D open new technological frontiers. With close to 17,000 dedicated and passionate employees in more than 20 countries, Vallourec works hand-in-hand with its customers to offer more than just tubes: Vallourec delivers innovative, safe, competitive and smart tubular solutions, to make every project possible.

Listed on Euronext in Paris (ISIN code: FR0013506730, Ticker VK), Vallourec is part of the SBF 120 index and is eligible for Deferred Settlement Service Long Only.

In the United States, Vallourec has established a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program (ISIN code: US92023R2094, Ticker: VLOWY). Parity between ADR and a Vallourec ordinary share has been set at 5:1.

Calendar

April 20th 2021 Shareholders Annual Meeting and Special Meeting May 20th 2021 Release of first quarter results

For further information, please contact:

Investor relations

Jerome Friboulet

Tel: +33 (0)1 49 09 39 77

Investor.relations@vallourec.com



Press relations

Heloise Rothenbuhler

Tel: +33 (0)1 41 03 77 50

heloise.rothenbuhler@vallourec.com Individual shareholders

Toll Free Number (from France): 0 805 65 10 10

actionnaires@vallourec.com





Attachment
A California teacher described parents, who are pushing for schools to resume in-person learning, as "white supremacists" and bullies.

The remarks of Damian Harmony, a Latin teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento, were made during a speech to the school board that he later posted on social media, Fox News reported.

California Governor Gavin Newsom is exerting efforts to reopen schools in the state. A $6.6 billion budget intended for reopening schools in the state received an OK from the California legislature.

The budget would be given to schools willing to reopen their doors and welcome children for in-person learning. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the suspension of face-to-face learning not only in the state of California but also in other states.

READ NEXT: California Doctors Call for Schools Reopening in February

The California Teacher on School Reopening

In his post, Damian Harmony, a parent himself, said he is in full support of teachers staying home in distance learning since it remains "the safest and most humane practice."

He said he was able to better gauge "White Dominance" in his neighborhood after hearing other parents trying to convince the school district to have its teachers return to the classroom, Love By Life reported.

The California teacher blasted parents for putting teachers "in harm's way" by demanding to reopen schools that have been shut down in adherence with COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

"I'm as disappointed as I am unsurprised that last week, we all had to hear all the cynical, pearl-clutching, faux-urgency, ableist, structurally White-supremacist, hysteria," Harmony said. "Even as teachers were moving forward with an MOU that already put them in harm's way and was asking too much of a beleaguered group of professionals."

He also accused some parents of abusing and treating teachers like a "wait staff" amid the pandemic, which he argued would affect the kid's ability to "grow up to be better than our generation."

Damian Harmony noted that parents "attempted to bully a school board into making the schools less safe for the teachers and children."

Some appear to agree with Harmony's sentiments, while others criticized his thinking, saying he is too narrow about the issue.

"The tone and sentiment of his statement do not reflect the official opinion or policy of Sacramento City Unified School District," said a spokesman from the school district.

The spokesman pointed out that Harmony's comments were not made as an employee of the school district but in his personal capacity.

California Guidelines on School Reopening

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines concerning the safe reopening of K-12 schools. The agency noted that if the schools can abide by its safety guidelines such as the implementation of layered prevention against COVID-19, consideration of the community transmission, phased prevention strategies based on levels of community transmission, then a school can safely reopen and remain available for in-person learning.

Last week, the Sacramento Unified School District had reached an agreement with the Sacramento City Teachers Association. The deal is to start a phased-in reopening plan for in-person classes beginning Apr. 8.

With concerns of safety and mitigation against the virus during school reopening, the California Department of Public Health noted that the state's administration would support the frequent COVID-19 testing for all school staff and students.

Weekly testing would be provided to a school that will reopen in communities with high rates of transmission. Apart from testing, the state's administration will also require all staff and students to wear their masks at all times.

To further reinforce a safer school reopening, the administration will also impose contact tracing and establish a cross-agency team that will provide hands-on support to the implementation of California schools' COVID-19 safety plans. Moreover, school staff would be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination through the spring of 2021.

READ MORE: Schools: COVID Testing of Students and Educators Vital for In-Person Classes

WATCH: Governor, Legislators Working to Reopen California Schools - From NBCLA
MANZINI  Government has up until Friday to act on the demand of having the Minister of ICT, Princess Sikhanyiso, repay money she earned while on a protracted leave.

This follows that the Swaziland Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) President, Vusi Shongwe, wrote to government giving it an ultimatum of seven working days. In this period, Shongwe demanded that the administration should address the matter involving the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) minister.

Demand

We delivered the letters of demand to the office of the government spokesperson last Thursday and we expect feedback from the administration by Friday, the leader of the political party said. He said within the seven days, they expected to get a clearly mapped out repayment process articulated by the Attorney Generals (AGs) Office and the Ministry of Finance on how the minister would repay the said money to governments coffers. Shongwe added that they also wanted government to state how the money would be donated to health facilities across the country in order to improve the health of the nation who were taxpayers. Failure to do so will result in us employing other strategies to ensure that the minister pays back the money, the president said.

In the letters, which the organisation directed to the offices of the AG, Minister of Finance, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and government spokesperson, they warned the Office of the AG that its failure to act on this matter would result in them scaling up this matter to other arms of government, including Parliament for redress. The letter further said one thing certain was that SPLM would use all in its power to ensure that this money was paid back.

On the other hand, the online petition, which was launched by the political party through its vehicle of communication; Impalampala FM (Facebook page), had reached 45 916 people by close of business yesterday. The petition was launched last Tuesday. Shongwe said they directed the letter to the AGs Office because it was the custodian of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini. Shongwes organisation wants the AGs Office to institute processes that would compel the minister to pay back all the monies she was paid while she was on an alleged unlawful and protracted maternity leave with full pay.
Hundreds of Hondurans have formed a caravan and are marching north towards the United States, prompting Guatemala's president to declare an emergency before they reach the border.

Guatemala's President Alejandro Giammattei issued the decree Monday, just hours before some 400 Hondurans departed from the northern city of San Pedro Sula before dawn on Tuesday towards Corinto, a border city across from Honduras.

The emergency ruling would restrict open-air gatherings and demonstrations without permits, and will be in effect for two weeks in the five Guatemalan provinces along the border with Honduras.

Migrants begin walking in a caravan in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on Tuesday. The migrants planned to reach the city of Corinto on the border with Guatemala. However, the Guatemalan government has declared a state of emergency and restrict open-air gatherings and demonstrations without permits

Hondurans walk along an avenue as they take part in a new caravan of migrants set to head to the U.S. in hopes of seeking asylum from President Joe Biden's administration

Children wait for their group to be ready to leave San Pedro Sula, Honduras. As many as 400 Hondurans are traveling to the border with Guatemala

The government justified the restrictions in a statement, saying 'groups of people could put at risk the life, liberty, security, health, access to justice, peace and development' of Guatemalans.

The Hondurans are seeking to reach the United States and flee the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and natural disasters, according to local media and a Reuters witness.

The migrant caravan was composed by mostly young adults with backpacks and women carrying children, and began walking in the early morning from a bus terminal in San Pedro Sula.

A Honduran carries his child as he takes part in a new caravan of migrants that intends to cross into Guatemala and enter Mexico before continuing their life-changing journey to the southern United States border

A Honduran family which is aiming to reach the southern United States border walks along a highway as they leave San Pedro Sula, Honduras before dawn Tuesday

Migrants are seen on a road intersection in Puerto Cortes, Honduras on Tuesday as they head in a caravan to Corinto, a town on the border with Guatemala

'You have to take risks to have a better life in the United States, in Honduras we're never going to do anything,' migrant Carlos Flores told a local television station. 'Here you can hardly eat with what you earn, if you can even find work.'

The group of migrants was the second large caravan to set out from Honduras this year, on the heels of catastrophic flooding in November from hurricanes Eta and Iota, which battered an economy that was already seriously struggling.

As many as 8,000 migrants - mostly Hondurans - reached Guatemala in mid-January just days before Joe Biden was set to be name president of the United States. However, a series of clashes with security forces forced the migrants to return back home to Honduras.

A woman walks with two children as they joined a migrant caravan that set out before dawn Tuesday from the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula to Guatemala's border

Hondurans fill the back of a pickup truck on their way to Corinto, a city on the border with Guatemala

Central Americans have made up the bulk of a sharp increase in migrants trying to reach the United States via Mexico in recent weeks, putting pressure on U.S. President Biden.

Just days before Biden was inaugurated, an administration official told NBC: 'The situation at the border isn't going to be transformed overnight.

'[They] need to understand they're not going to be able to come into the United States immediately. There's help on the way, but now is not the time to make the journey.'

Biden's administration carried over a Donald Trump administration policy, Title 42, which was issued by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection to deport undocumented immigrants to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic at facilities.

However, under Biden, children who are detained for unlawfully crossing the U.S.-Mexico border by themselves are being admitted into the U.S.

The Trump administration, aside from expelling adults, would place the children in hotels and then send them back to their countries of origin.

The Mexican government called on the Biden administration to support welfare programs to help contain immigration and said it was also looking into an agreement with the United States and Central American nations to deal with the surge of unaccompanied migrant children.

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico has been crafting a series of measures to protect minors and ensure there was no trafficking or abuse of them, he added.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the United States was not investing enough to tackle the root causes of migration.

'It's not an issue that can be resolved with coercive measures, closing borders, militarizing,' he said.

A migrant who aims to reach the U.S. walks along a highway with a child on her shoulders as they leave San Pedro Sula, Honduras

A person rests on the ground near a bus terminal in the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula before a migrant caravan departed for Guatemala before dawn on Tuesday

A Honduran woman carries a child as she and other residents from Honduras abandoned their homes and set out for the border with Guatemala, where they will seek entry to then travel to the border with Mexico and continue their journey to the southern United States border

A caravan of at least 400 migrants left Honduras on Tuesday and seeks to enter Guatemala despite a state of emergency that was imposed by President Alejandro Giammattei

Last Wednesday, Biden tapped Vice President Kamala Harris, a daughter of immigrants, to lead the government's plan with Mexico and Central America's Northern Triangle countries - Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras - to curtail the massive flow of migrants to the United States.

The current immigration includes the arrival of thousands of unaccompanied children who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.

'The best way to keep people from coming is to keep them from wanting to leave,' Biden said, listing gang violence, drug-trafficking cartels, hurricanes, floods and earthquakes as factors spurring migration.

Recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection showed that 100,441 undocumented migrants were stopped at the border in February.

There were 5,767 children in Customs and Border Protection custody on Sunday, up from 5,495 children on Thursday, according to CBP data.
CHICAGO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Simon Hegele Healthcare Solutions, a globally active and highly specialized service partner for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of large-scale medical equipment, is expanding in Mexico with the addition of a new warehouse configured and licensed to accommodate medical devices and other highly specialized equipment including cold storage of MRI magnets.

Located north of Mexico City, the 3,750 sq. m. (40,000 sq. ft.) facility is well situated with convenient access to main seaports and airports.

The facility incorporates a highly efficient layout and state-of-the-art technology to provide 100 percent inventory visibility. It includes 24-hour security and flexible receiving and storage accommodations, including optimized warehouse topology for new high-end, sensitive equipment.

"Our newest facility in Mexico enables us to provide a variety of services, including short-term and long-term storage. Therefore, we can offer the highest level of flexibility for our customers," says James Nestel, CEO of Americas and Asia Pacific for Simon Hegele Healthcare Solutions. "The expansion of our presence in Mexico is welcomed by our globally active OEM customers and offers various opportunities for the further expansion of our business."

"At our new facility we pay attention to key details dedicated to the handling and care of the equipment, which are critical for OEMs," explains Gustavo Galetto, Simon Hegele Healthcare Solutions' National Manager in Mexico. "Furthermore, a modern warehouse management software provides the highest possible transparency regarding the supply chain processes and inventory and also offers the visibility our customers rely on."

The team in Mexico is supported by the Simon Hegele Healthcare Solutions teams in the United States, Brazil, and Australia as well as Simon Hegele Logistics and Service in Germany.

About Simon Hegele Healthcare Solutions (Americas, Asia Pacific, Latin America)

Headquartered in Chicago with locations in the United States, Mexico, Australia, and Brazil, Simon Hegele Healthcare Solutions and GMED Healthcare Solutions deliver the industry's most comprehensive service portfolio that includes high-level logistical and technical solutions for original equipment manufacturers of medical devices on a global level. The companies are part of Simon Hegele Group. Further information can be found on LinkedIn or on https://www.simonhegele-healthcare.com.

About the Simon Hegele Group

The Simon Hegele Group is one of the most innovative service providers along complex supply chain processes. The principle of "more than just logistics" has been the driving force for the further development of the company group and its services for more than 100 years. Simon Hegele offers customers from the healthcare, industry, IT and retail sectors at over 50 locations worldwide highly specialized value-added services tailored to the respective customer processes and supports them in focusing on their respective core competencies.

Simon Hegele Simon Hegele

Healthcare Solutions Group Gesellschaft fur Logistik und Service mbH

1001 Mittel Drive Unternehmenskommunikation // Susanne Nolting

Wood Dale, IL 60191 | United States Tejostrae 1-9 // 65479 Raunheim

7737998200



[email protected] [email protected]



SOURCE Simon Hegele Healthcare Solutions
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. Despite a nudge from a senior State Department official, Azerbaijan has so far refused to return Armenian prisoners who were captured during the recent war in Nagorno Karabakh, Columnist David Ignatius said in an opinion published at The Washington Post.

U.S. officials say that 52 Armenians are still held by Azerbaijan, despite earlier exchanges of prisoners, the columnist says, adding that Baku claims that these are not participants of the war, but came there after the ceasefire, in late November, and are terrorism suspects, an allegation that Armenia denies.

Philip Reeker, acting assistant secretary of state for Europe, raised the issue of the captives with Azerbaijans foreign minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, during a telephone call in February and requested that the International Committee of the Red Cross be allowed to visit the prisoners. The ICRC was promptly granted access. U.S. officials continued in the following weeks to advocate the release of detainees, David Ignatius says and quoted the remarks of a senior Biden administration official who said: We hope to see more detainees released. Were not negotiating, but were urging them to exercise goodwill.

Observers had hoped that Azerbaijan might release the Armenian captives as a goodwill gesture at the time of the Nowruz holiday on March 20. But the Armenian detainees remained in custody, he said.

The columnist also reminds that U.S. Congressmen have also joined the calls for the release of the Armenian POWs. A group led by Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, introduced a bill March 16 calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian POWs and captured civilians.

Human Rights Watch issued a report on March 19 alleging that Azerbaijani forces had abused Armenian POWs after the war, based on interviews with four former prisoners. Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijans ambassador to Washington, said during an interview that Azerbaijan rejected the Human Rights Watch findings but that any serious allegations of prisoner mistreatment would be investigated.

David Ignatius stated that prisoner issue will gain additional emotional significance in April, connected with the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
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[March 29, 2021] WITI (Women in Tech International) Announces over $52k in Asian-Pacific Student Scholarships for 27th Annual Global Summit

LOS ANGELES, March 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WITI (Women in Technology International), the leading advocate for innovation, inclusivity and STEAM, is announcing 210 scholarships for Asian-Pacific (APAC) students to attend WITIs 27th Global Summit . To honor the 80th birthday of WITI's founder and Chairwoman, the Carolyn Leighton Scholarships cover the cost of 210 Summit attendance fees, totalling $52,500. The conference provides attendees exposure to the Summits diverse array of panelists and regional networking opportunities with Senior tech leaders for APAC students.

WITI launched its Global Summit 27 years ago, when there were no other conferences geared towards supporting women in technology and business. Today, WITIs Global Summit is a premiere international tech conference, where professionals come to learn about emerging trends, develop new skills, and grow their business network. WITIs annual Global Summit continues to provide a platform for women to access the tools and networking opportunities needed for success in todays digital world," says Carolyn Leighton. Our intention with these scholarships is to encourage APAC students to participate in the event and help kickstart their technology careers. WITIs 2021 Global Summit is the first to feature a dedicated APAC track. The designated APAC track at our Summit celebrates the growth and acceleration of WITIs regional expansion efforts across the Asia-Pacific, says David Leighton, President of WITI. With consideration to regional differences between the APAC countries, the APAC Summit track will explore an array of systemic and personal choices that support the career growth of women in technology.



Various studies conducted in the APAC region show that women often leave their job at key junctures of the career ladder across all Southeast Asian demographics. Therefore, while women make up more than 50% of university graduates in tech, they occupy fewer than 15% of senior leadership positions. Arya Murali, Vice President of WITI India says, Our APAC Track at the WITI Global Summit is a huge opportunity to address the gender and seniority gap for women in tech roles. Were excited to showcase our multifaceted approach of skill development, networking and leadership with this event and discuss what corporations and women in APAC can do to achieve gender equity. For more information about the application process, please visit: witi.com/carolynleightonscholarships About WITI

WITI (Women in Technology International) is committed to empowering innovators, inspiring future generations and building inclusive cultures, worldwide. WITI is redefining the way women and men collaborate to drive innovation and business growth, and is helping corporate partners create and foster gender inclusive cultures. A leading authority of women in technology and business, WITI has been advocating and recognizing women's contributions in the industry for more than 30 years. The organization delivers leading edge programs and platforms for individuals and companies -- designed to empower professionals, boost competitiveness and cultivate partnerships, globally. WITI's ecosystem includes more than three million professionals, 60 networks and 300 partners, worldwide. To learn more, please visit: witi.com

About WITI India

WITI India, an extension of WITI, is a network of over 2000 professionals in technology. WITI India is specifically dedicated to supporting corporations in the region with their recruiting, talent development and branding strategies while empowering individuals to excel in technology fields. Media Contact

Jules Penham

jules@witi.com

801-971-8446



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SAN MATEO (BCN)

A traffic stop resulted in an arrest on suspicion of possession of drugs Saturday in San Mateo.

Police stopped a Mercedes at about 5:51 p.m. for a vehicle violation in the area of Fashion Island Boulevard and Mariners Island Boulevard. Officers determined the driver was on probation and subject to a search, which yielded a large amount of cash, drug paraphernalia and a pellet gun modified to look like an assault rifle.

Police conducted a subsequent search of the nearby hotel room where the driver -- Deavon Scottgardon, 31, of Rancho Cordova -- and passenger -- Amanda Moore, 41, of Reno, Nevada -- were staying and found additional drug paraphernalia and drugs, including fentanyl and suspected methamphetamine.

Police confiscated the drugs, paraphernalia and pellet gun and arrested, cited and released both people in compliance with the state's COVID-19 jail protocol and rules.

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.
New Delhi/Thiruvanthapuram, March 30 : Ahead of the Assembly elections in Kerala scheduled on April 6, the Congress on Tuesday attacked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging that 'deception', 'duplicity' and 'dishonesty' have become the hallmarks of the 'disastrous' five-year rule of the LDF government in the southern state.

A joint statement issuded by Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, K.V. Thomas and Madhu Goud Yaskhi accused Pinarayi Vijayan of running an authoritarian and autocratic government in Kerala.

The statement said, "Pinarayi Vijayan has destroyed Kerala's progressive march. He has derailed Kerala's growth story and has created space for the BJP by way of a secret deal between the CM and the PM." The Congress alleged that the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF rule in Kerala has decimated the economy of the state as under the LDF rule, Kerala's growth rate has halved, throwing the state into a debt trap.

"In five years of LDF rule, Kerala's debt increased by Rs 1,65,383 crore. Hence, every person in the state now has debt of Rs 94,698," the statement said.

It also said that the LDF is deceiving the farmers as both the Centre and the state are deceiving them through non-procurement of crops.

The Congress also said that the crime rate against Scheduled Castes in Kerala is 28.2 per cent, which is far above the national rate of 23 per cent.

The Congress leaders further said that the government led by Pinarayi Vijayan lacks vision, as the CM has no plans to improve fiscal health or create employment opportunities.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Scientists Working to Transform Agriculture in Africa

Four young African scientists working on different agricultural research projects spoke to African Renewal about their studies. Fatoumata Thiam from Senegal talks about her groundbreaking research on the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture, with broader implications for Africa's ambitions to embrace the 4th industrial revolution. Selamawit Araya Kidane from Ethiopia speaks about her journey to being a nematologist and her research on the Enset plant - often referred to as a 'false banana' because while it resembles a banana plant, it does not produce edible fruits. Its stem, leaf sheaths and underground corm are harvested and processed into carbohydrate-rich food products. Sylvia Wairimu Maina from Kenya, talks about her doctoral research on the nutritional and health benefits of the African cabbage and Susan Ojochide from Nigeria, talks about her research that will contribute to tackling one of Africa's worst enemies - drought.
UN Secretary-General on Monday called for urgent, bold measures to address an emerging caused largely by Covid-19.

"We are on the verge of a Today's meeting, convened with our partners, the prime ministers of Canada and Jamaica, is a call for urgent action," he told a high-level event on debt and liquidity, Xinhua news agency reported.

Six countries have already defaulted. One-third of emerging market economies are at high risk of fiscal crisis. And the situation is even worse for least-developed and low-income countries. They face a painfully slow recovery that will put the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement completely out of reach, he warned.

Developing countries need access to additional liquidity to respond to the pandemic and to invest in recovery. The community must urgently provide the necessary support to all developing countries in need, said Guterres.

From the start of the pandemic, the has advocated for a three-phase approach to debt: a moratorium on debt payments, targeted debt relief, reforms to the debt architecture, he noted.

He welcomed the steps that have been taken, including fresh financing by financial institutions, the Debt Service Suspension Initiative of the Group of 20, and the Common Framework for Debt Treatments, but said they are far from enough.

"I am, therefore, calling for much bolder and more ambitious measures.

"We strongly believe that the Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended into 2022, and made also available to highly indebted, vulnerable middle-income countries that request it.

--IANS

int/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.)
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As part of preparations for the 2022 OIC Summit in the country, officials from the OIC Gambia in collaboration with National Road Authority (NRA) last Friday embarked on a day-long visit to show contractors the 50 roads project with a view to starting the construction of those roads ahead of the OIC summit in Banjul.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the visit, Ebrima Kolly, project manager, OIC Gambia Secretariat, said the purpose of the visit is to take contractors around and get prepared to start the work, adding that their initial plan was to start in March.

"Now the tender has started, and by mid April, the tender will be closed, then evaluation would come in and then send it back for approval and by April to May for work to start," he disclosed.

"The assurance I will give to Gambians is that these roads will be built," he said, adding that the second quarter will start this year and then 14 months after, they would be completed.

"We are building these roads to improve our infrastructure and the people need it, so let's all join hands together and support each other to get it done," he appealed.

Nfally Fadera, head of Branding and Communications, OIC Gambia Secretariat, thanked everyone for participating in the process, adding that all what "we are witnessing here is the conclusion of a very important exercise as part of our efforts aimed at hosting a successful OIC summit come 2022."

Kebba Trawalleh, National Road Authority (NRA), said as part of the tender process of the 50 kilometers roads project, the tender was launched on 15 March 2021, and today "we are here with more than 15 contractors who bought the bit documents to show them the sites, and today we have gone through all the proposed roads for the construction of the 50 kilometers urban road project."

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"We are here with the consulting engineers and they did the design and the preparation of the tender documents, and it's an obligatory for three steps, in order to give the contractors the field of the sites, so that they can prepare a very competitive proposal."

"It is an obligation for us to take them to the sites, so that they see the different conditions on these sites."

For demolition part, Trawalleh told journalists that it is the contractors who would do the actual demolition, but there are many processes to be fulfilled before "we carry out any demolition."

"We have started the process from the design of the consultant, and he has estimated the affected structures that are likely to be demolished, so we have marked them all, and now we are waiting to have the contractor onboard," he said adding that the process would be given to Physical Panning and Department of Lands, then from there, we would have the evaluation for the compensation."

"We appeal to the residents for their cooperation, and the purpose of these roads in addition is to create employment and capacity," he noted."
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Clem Agba, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning says the Federal Government had devised an app that would assist citizens to monitor and evaluate ongoing projects across the country.

Mr Agba disclosed this, on Tuesday, during a visit to the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Benin, to assess the utilisation of the N49 billion intervention fund released by the Federal Government to 52 Federal health institutions in the country.

The minister said the monitoring application had been developed and would be installed at the sites of the over 300 ongoing projects across the country.

According to him, the innovation is to ensure integrity and transparency, in the handling of infrastructural projects in the country.

As the co-chairman of Open Government Partnership, the use of the technology will enable the citizens to monitor and evaluate the over 300 project currently undertaken by the Federal Government across the country.

This will aid transparency, as the three cardinal focus of our ministry is planning, budgeting and monitoring and evaluation, he said.

The minister, who was later conducted round the equipment purchased by the psychiatric hospital, explained that the Federal Government approved the fund, to better reposition the countrys health system following the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that three of the benefiting health institutions in Edo, received an average of N950 million, for the procurement of equipment in four areas.

The minister identified the areas as; the building of a molecular laboratory, setting up of a minimum of 10-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU), isolation centre equipment and purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Mr Agba explained that his visit was to assess how the 50 per cent of the fund. earlier released to these health institutions, was spent.

He stated that the balance of the fund was intact, but would, however, be released only to those who made judicious use of the first payment.

Meanwhile, Imafidon Agbonile, Medical Director of the hospital, who conducted the ministerial team on an inspection of the facilities, commended the Federal Government for the intervention. (NAN)
A former McDonald's employee has revealed his ultimate 'life hack' to prevent crispy fries from going soggy every time.

Bruno Bouchet, from Sydney, worked as a crew trainer at a McDonald's Brisbane outlet while in high school from 2000 to 2003 between the ages of 14 and 17.

The now-35-year-old radio personality said there's one 'life hack' he has been holding on to until now that would help solve a 'super common problem' most customers face: 'How do you stop your chips from going soggy?'

'When you're in drive-thru, you get given your chips, they end up getting soggy. So I'm going to tell you... the error everyone makes is closing the top of the bag that contains the chips,' Bruno told KIISFM radio duo Kyle and Jackie O.

'Because you'd think if I make it nice and airtight, the heat will keep the chips warm - wrong, what it actually does is it steams the potatoes so you're left with sloppy chips. So you're actually steaming them when you close the bag.'

Ex-McDonald's employee Bruno Bouchet (pictured at age 14 in 2000) worked as a crew trainer at a McDonald's store while in high school from 2000 to 2003 between the ages of 14 and 17

The now-35-year-old radio personality said there's one 'life hack' he has been holding on to until now that would help solve a 'super common problem' most customers face: 'How do you stop your chips from going soggy?'

However, Bruno said there's a simple way to get around the dilemma.

'So the hack is simple, you need the heat to escape,' he explained.

'First things first, bag open. Secondly, you know how the chips are placed upwards in the bag? Put the chips horizontally because that would slow the rate of the heat escaping - it would go out one side rather than straight from the top.

'Finally stack the bags so they're horizontally at the bottom - and you put the burgers on top of the chips to keep them warm.

'Let me recap, chips at the bottom, tip them horizontally, burgers on top, let the bag breathe - you'll never have soggy chips ever again in your life, I guarantee it.'

His life hack comes just one year after he shared his insider knowledge after working for the fast food chain for three years.

Bruno said there's a simple way to get around the dilemma. He said you should always open the bag, then place the chips horizontally so it slows down the heat from escaping (file image)

For three years, the then-teenager worked in every area of the store, from the kitchen, drive-thru and front counter to McCafe and even kids' birthday parties

Bruno said the biggest secret item on the menu when he was working was the Bacon McFlurry.

'You'd mix in bacon bits and caramel sauce into a McFlurry - it was incredible. Think of it as the McFlurry version of Canadian Pancakes,' Bruno told Daily Mail Australia.

'This was such a highly guarded secret that even some managers had never heard of it before. The secret was only ever circulated amongst back area staff who had worked there for ages.

'To order it at a McDonald's you didn't have a hook up at, you'd ask to speak to the oldest looking guy in the kitchen and pray to god he knew what you were talking about when you mentioned the "Bacon McFlurry".'

During his time there, Bruno claimed the 'back area staff' had a pickle juice bowl which was used for employees to treat cuts and burns.

'When I started at McDonald's, an older guy taught me this "life hack" that involved the giant pickle buckets we'd have in the kitchen,' he said.

'He explained that if you ever cut or burnt yourself, you simply dip your hand into the pickle brine for 30 seconds and everything would be fine. I tried it a few times and was blown away by how the bleeding would stop almost immediately.'

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The prime ministers of Hungary and Poland will meet the leader of Italy's rightist League party on Thursday for talks on forming a European political alliance, Hungarian state news agency MTI said on Tuesday.

The talks between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Italy's League leader Matteo Salvini and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will take place in Budapest, it said.

They will discuss creating an alliance involving the League, Orban's governing Fidesz party and Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, MTI quoted Orban's press chief as saying.

Fidesz quit the main pan-European centre-right bloc, the European People's Party, earlier this month, two years after it was suspended for policies criticised by mainstream conservatives as authoritarian.

Orban's nationalist policies have long been widely seen as a better fit with smaller European blocs to the right of the EPP - such as the eurosceptic European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group that includes Poland's PiS, or the right-wing Identity and Democracy (ID) group that includes France's National Rally and Italy's League.

Orban has said he has held talks with like-minded parties about creating a new political alliance, and that Fidesz has been in talks with conservative political forces as it seeks a new group in the European Parliament.

He says the goal is for there to be a political home for Fidesz and similar forces in Europe that do not want to host migrants and want to "protect" traditional families.

Orban faces elections in 2022, with the opposition united against him for the first time.

(Reporting by Gergely Szakacs; Editing by Alison Williams and Timothy Heritage)
Fast Casual Concept with Diverse Menu Seeks Franchisees in Texas for 80+ Units Across the State

HOUSTON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After signing its first franchise agreement in Texas for 60 units, hoots wings is looking to spread its wings throughout the Lone Star state with 80+ additional franchise units across Texas. Owned and operated by HOA Brands, parent company to hoots wings and Hooters, the fast-casual wing concept has announced plans to bring more than 80 locations to key markets throughout the state.

Hoots Wings is targeting San Antonio, Houston, Rio Grande Valley, Tyler/Longview, El Paso and Corpus Christi for strategic growth. Hoots began its Texas expansion with the signing of a 60+ unit deal that secured the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin metro areas for development. Behind the agreement is Dallas-based AE Restaurant Group, led by longtime fast casual franchisees Cary and Jackie Albert. Texans will soon be introduced to hoots wings later this year in northern Fort Worth and the Dallas suburbs.

The brand is looking to expand further with multi-unit franchise partners to develop:

Upwards of 40 restaurants in Houston and its surrounding counties

A dozen restaurants in San Antonio, New Braunfels and south-central Texas

Five restaurants in Corpus Christi and Nueces County

15 restaurants throughout Rio Grande Valley

Up to seven restaurants in El Paso

Six or seven restaurants in the Tyler/Longview communities

Leadership is also looking toward Texas' northern neighbors for growth, and has territories available in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla.

When Texan entrepreneurs make the move to join the hoots wings franchise family, they sign on to bring the most diverse wing menu to the state, including breaded bone-in, naked bone-in, boneless, and  for those looking for a healthy alternative  smoked and roasted wings. Hoots Wings also sets itself apart from other fast casual franchise opportunities with its simple and effective operations. A hoots wings kitchen only requires two pieces of equipment to produce the menu, and the POS system seamlessly integrates with all major third-party delivery platforms.

Story continues

"We are looking for more strong operators like the Alberts to grow the hoots wings brand throughout Texas beyond Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth," said Sal Melilli, CEO of HOA Brands. "When creating hoots wings, we took some of the most popular food items from Hooters and put it in a smaller footprint, with a focus on off-premise eating. Texans have been very loyal to Hooters' food over the years, and the states houses some of our most successful restaurants. We've been hearing from our customers that they're clamoring for more wing options, making the state an ideal option for initial growth."

Hoots Wings launched its franchise opportunity in late 2020 and is actively seeking qualified franchisees with an entrepreneurial spirit and prior restaurant experience, or experience in a relevant industry. Franchisees with strong ties to the community is a bonus. Franchisees who join the hoots wings brand will enjoy the benefits of hands-on training through the opening process, marketing support, site selection and construction assistance, access to a vast, existing supply chain, and a top-tier POS system. As a thank you for their service to the United States, military veterans receive a 10 percent discount off the franchise fee.

For more information on the hoots wings franchise opportunity, visit https://hootsfranchise.com/.

ABOUT HOOTS WINGS:

Hoots Wings, is a best-in-class, fast casual restaurant known for its diverse wing menu, offering breaded bone-in, naked bone-in, boneless, smoked and roasted wings with more than a dozen sauce and rub options. Additionally, guests can enjoy mouthwatering buffalo shrimp, signature customized chicken sandwiches and waffle fries. With the backing of longtime franchisor HOA Brands, there are currently seven locations throughout Illinois, Georgia and Florida and the brand is looking to open up to 17 more units in 2021. Hoots Wings is looking for qualified franchise leads to bring the scalable, best-in-class wing concept to scores of markets throughout the US. For more information on how you can own your own hoots wings, please visit https://hootsfranchise.com/.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hoots-wings-flies-into-lone-star-state-with-extended-franchise-efforts-in-texas-301258568.html

SOURCE Hoots Wings
After some HDFC Bank customers complained via social media that they were unable to access bank accounts, the bank has said it is looking into the issue. "Some of our customers are facing intermittent issues while accessing net banking or mobile banking app. We are looking into it on priority for resolution. We apologise for the inconvenience and request you to try again after some time," the bank tweeted today.

Some customers are facing intermittent issues accessing our NetBanking/MobileBanking App. We are looking into it on priority for resolution. We apologize for the inconvenience and request you to try again after sometime. Thank you.  HDFC Bank Cares (@HDFCBank_Cares) March 30, 2021

Customers rued on social media that they were not able to access their bank accounts. "I can't access my account pls advise," tweeted a customer named Amit Bansal (@amit_bansal7).

I cant access my account pls advise  Amit Bansal (@amit_bansal7) March 30, 2021

Another user, Manu Singh (@ManuSingh611), said he was also facing issue in mobile banking. "Kindly do the needful, why you are giving @RBI another chance take action. Is the management serious or busy in calculating their incentives," he tweeted.

I m also facing issue in mobile banking app kindly do the needful why you are giving @RBI another chance take action is the management serious or busy in calculating their incentives  manu singh (@ManuSingh611) March 30, 2021

HDFC Bank, which is India's biggest bank in terms of m-cap, is embroiled in controversy over intermittent outages and technical glitches in its mobile app and net banking platform, which has time and again caused inconvenience to its customers.

The issue became so big that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had to step in and direct the bank to stop all launches of digital business generating activities planned under its program Digital 2.0 on December 3, 2020.

Also read: HDFC Bank 'on war footing' to curb outages after RBI bans digital launches

The RBI said the bank's board should examine lapses and fix accountability, and asked them to come up with a solution to fix the problem. The apex bank also appointed an IT firm for carrying out a special audit of the entire IT infrastructure of HDFC Bank.

Before the RBI tightened the noose around the leading bank, HDFC Bank was working on many new technologies like robotic process automation (RPA), machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), Blockchain and the use of cloud technology to take banking to the next level.

HDFC Bank was also barred from issuing any new credit cards on December 12 after a series of technical glitches.

Also read: RBI tells HDFC Bank board to fix 'accountability', examine lapses

Meanwhile, HDFC Bank has recently submitted a plan to stop repeated glitches in its technology platform. This includes both short and long-term solutions, which may take up to three months to implement.

Apologising to customers for disruptions, HDFC Bank new CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan in January had said the bank was working on war footing to strengthen its systems.

Meanwhile, the share of HDFC Bank was trading up 3.33 per cent or Rs 49.70 at Rs 1,541 on the NSE today.

Also read: RBI appoints tech firm to carry out IT infra audit of HDFC Bank

ALSO READ: 5 big challenges for new HDFC Bank CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan
Lilliana Vazquez is overjoyed to be pregnant after a long six-year struggle with IVF treatment.

The 40-year-old E! host was overjoyed as she announced the news on Tuesday that she's expecting her first child with husband Patrick McGrath.

Vazquez shared the news on her Instagram along with videos of her cradling her baby bump during a beach photoshoot with her husband of 13 years. She also included a montage of memories from her fertility journey.

Happy news: Lilliana Vazquez is overjoyed to be pregnant after a long six-year struggle with IVF treatment

'It was just complete and over the top elation,' she told People of her impending journey into motherhood.

'I don't think it's a feeling I'd ever really felt before.' the host, who is nearing six months pregnant, added.

Vazquez paid tribute to her unborn baby in her Instagram post as she wrote: 'Before you were our blessing. Our tiny miracle. You were so much more. You were our teacher. Our guide to understanding that lifes greatest gifts often come from heartbreak, patience and pure hope.

'Over the last 6 years you have shown us how to grieve. And grow.' she wrote in part.

'Each failed cycle and transfer tried to break us but firm in our faith and love for you, we surrendered to our greatest wish of all, just to be your parents.'

It's been a long and heartbreaking journey for Vazquez, who started In vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination treatment in 2015.

'It was just complete and over the top elation,' she told People of her impending journey into motherhood. She is seen here with husband Patrick McGrath

Vazquez shared the news on her Instagram along with videos of her cradling her baby bump during a beach photoshoot with her husband of 13 years

'Each failed cycle and transfer tried to break us': Lilliana wrote about the six-year struggle in the caption of her Instagram post

Her E! show Pop of the Morning was canceled in August 2020 amid the pandemic and Vazquez said that it made her refocus her energy on what mattered most, starting a family with McGrath.

She told People that losing the show - which NBC Universal decided to cancel as part of a restructure - was the 'biggest professional disappointment and heartache' she's gone though.

'I took inventory of the things that I valued, that my husband and I prioritized, and it was being parents. We just wanted to be parents,

Long road: She also included a montage of memories from her fertility journey

'I physically couldn't do it anymore. I didn't recognize myself. Hormones make you crazy. It created a real division between my husband and I.' Vazquez admitted the process took a toll

'We put that intention out there and I said, "Let's just, let's do it. Let's go for it."'

Vazquez said things got so bad over the years that she had given up all hope on ever having children.

'I do not take no for an answer. So you can imagine, for me to finally say, "I can't do this anymore," how broken I was and how beat down I was, for me to actually stop. Because stop and slow are not in my vocabulary. They do not exist.'

Vazquez said things got so bad over the years that she had given up all hope on ever having children, saying 'you can imagine, for me to finally say, "I can't do this anymore," how broken I was and how beat down I was, for me to actually stop.'

'We've been married for 13 years, and as much as they go through this with you, physically you go through this alone.' she added

The mom-to-be admitted that the endless cycles of treatment took a toll on her marriage.

'I physically couldn't do it anymore. I didn't recognize myself. Hormones make you crazy. It created a real division between my husband and I.

'We've been married for 13 years, and as much as they go through this with you, physically you go through this alone. And he can be as empathetic and as supportive as he can be, but at the end of the day, those shots go in your stomach. You're the one that has to carry the physical burden of putting your body through that.'

The Texas born TV host said she was initially in disbelief when she got the call that she was pregnant last year.

'I thought it was a prank call. I'm 40 years old and I'm pregnant for the first time, and so I think when you've experienced so much loss... it hardens you and it makes you so scared.' she said of getting the news that she was pregnant

'I thought it was a prank call. I'm 40 years old and I'm pregnant for the first time, and so I think when you've experienced so much loss... it hardens you and it makes you so scared.'

That fear plagued her throughout the first few months of her pregnancy as Vazquez admitted she was scared every day would 'be the last day I'm going to be pregnant'.

But she eventually started to relax and appreciated the 'miracle'.

Vazquez said she is craving oranges and eating a lot of jicama with Tajin.

The couple are going to wait until the baby arrives to find out the sex, Vazquez said.
press release

The National Consumer Tribunal (NCT) fined Up Money (PTY) Ltd an administrative fine of One Million Rands (R1M) for conducting a pyramid scheme, subsequently, contravening Section 43 (2) of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).

The NCC referred Up Money to the Tribunal following its investigation into allegations that Up Money is a pyramid scheme. The CPA describes a pyramid scheme as an arrangement, agreement, practice or scheme if participants receive compensation derived from their respective recruitment of other persons as participants, rather than the sale of any goods or services.

The Deputy Minister for the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), Ms Nomalungelo Gina says the department welcomes the decision by the Tribunal and sends a strong message to South Africans from promoting, joining or participating in any pyramid schemes. "While Up Money promoted their scheme as a "stokvel" to lure participants during the pandemic, the Tribunal confirmed that it is not a stokvel but, a pyramid scheme, as their operation fits the description of a pyramid scheme as provided under Section 43 of the CPA. Up Money's business model was unsustainable as it relied heavily on new participants feeding into the scheme" said Ms Gina.

South Africans are reminded to be careful not to contravene the CPA while trying to explore other sources of income as they lose money in the process. Acting National Consumer Commissioner Ms Thezi Mabuza says "pyramid schemes are prohibited in South Africa. Pyramid schemes continue to mushroom on a daily basis especially on social media platforms and consumers continue to lose their hard-earned money.

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We want to reiterate to consumers that all involved; the directors, the promoters (the ones advertised and recruited on social media and other platforms) and all those who joined Up Money, broke the law. We want to send a strong message to operators of schemes, arrangements or practices like Up Money that as the consumer protector in the space, we will not tolerate the contravention of the Act" said Mabuza.

Mabuza continued "The NCC is pleading with all South Africans as responsible citizens and member of communities that, they should be honest in their dealings. If people are recruited into prohibited/illegal activities, thought should be given to the relationships that may be severed, trust that may never be restored, but mostly the economic hardships that others would suffer and may not be able to recover from in this lifetime."

Up Money is given 20 working days to pay the fine. The NCC reiterates its commitment to better ensure the realisation of the purpose of the Act by taking reasonable and practical measures to promote the purpose of the CPA while ensuring that prohibited conduct is prosecuted.
OTTAWA, ON, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - Over the past few years, the Government of Canada has kept its commitment to help Yazidi refugees and other survivors of Daesh start new lives in this country. Over 1,400 have settled in Canada since 2017, escaping unimaginable horrors at the hands of Daesh. Yet many of these refugees had to leave family members behind.

Building on the success of Canada's resettlement efforts, the Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced a new policy to help more Yazidis and other survivors of Daesh reunite with their families in Canada. This policy will reunite extended family members, including siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, along with those who may have been unable to previously apply for resettlement.

Following the successful welcoming of 1,200 survivors of Daesh by the end of 2017, the Government of Canada implemented a second policy to help family members come to Canada. That public policy ended in December 2020. Now, having listened to community concerns about matters such as the definition of immediate family member or refugee, and about family members who were missing or in captivity, the government is launching a new policy to allow more refugees to resettle and more families to reunite in Canada.

Canada has led the world in resettling refugees for the past 3 years. Indeed, the United Nations Refugee Agency called Canada "a bright light in a horrible year for refugee resettlement." As the world faces a refugee crisis, Canada will continue to step up and provide refuge for those fleeing war and persecution.

Quote

"Having survived abuse, torture and even genocide at the hands of Daesh, the Yazidis and other groups are among the most vulnerable refugees in the world. That's why Canada resettled over 1,400 survivors of Daesh. Guided by compassion, we are now redoubling our efforts to reunite their families. Our new policy will ensure that more Yazidis and other survivors can be reunited with loved ones so that they can start new lives in Canada."

 The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Story continues

Quick facts

Survivors of Daesh are people in Northern Iraq, including Iraqis and Yazidis, who have been victims of threats or acts that include sexual slavery, enslavement, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, family separation, forced displacement, or forcible transfer causing serious bodily or mental harm by Daesh. The Yazidis are one of Iraq's oldest minorities.

As of January 31, 2021, Canada has welcomed more than 1,400 survivors of Daesh, including 1,356 government-assisted survivors (1,149 Yazidi women and girls) and 94 privately sponsored survivors (all Yazidi women and girls).

Refugees may be privately sponsored or referred to Canada for resettlement by the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Survivors of Daesh in Canada have been primarily resettled to Toronto, London, Winnipeg, and Calgary. These cities were chosen following comprehensive consultations with stakeholders to identify where existing Yazidi communities were established and where adequate support, including medical, psychosocial, and interpretation services, was in place.

All COVID-19-related protocols are followed for refugees resettled in Canada. Comprehensive security screening, biometric checks and medical exams will be completed for all applicants prior to resettlement.

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Candidates to be the next president of Peru on Monday took part in the first of three debates ahead of the April 11 election. The vote seeks to substitute Interim President Francisco Sagasti, who took office after his predecessor, Martin Vizcarra, was impeached during an investigation on corruption allegations.

George Forsyth for the National Victory party, Keiko Fujimori for Popular Force party and Veronika Mendoza for Together for Peru are part the leading pack of five candidates leading the polls, among the wider field of 16.

Cesar Acuna from Alliance for Progress and Marco Arana from Broad Front also participated in Monday's debate. The 16 candidates were separated into three different groups, with the further debates to come on Tuesday and Wednesday. Leading candidates Yonhy Lescano, of the Popular Action party, and Lopez Aliaga, of the Popular Renewal party, will debate on Wednesday.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Head of Psychologist, Professor Joseph Osafo has added his voice to calls by NPP activists on President Nana Akufo-Addo not to appoint old people to positions in his administration.



President Nana Akufo-Addo,in his second term, is yet to appoint Deputy Ministers, Board Chairpersons and members, Chief Executive Officers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.



The party activists noted that, in President Akufo-Addo's administration from 2017 to 2020, many of his ''classmates'' from the erstwhile Kufour regime found their names into the President's administration as Ministers of State, Board Chairmen, Chief Executive Officers among other positions.



They are calling for some old individuals in the party to exit for the youth in the party.



The activists specifically mentioned the likes of Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Kofi Ghana, Kwamena Bartels and Dr. Kofi Koduah Sarpong, who they want out and have appealed to the President to give the youth opportunity in his government.



Taking to social media to vent their frustration, one Tete Nokobi wrote on Facebook: ''What legacy does the old man want to leave in the party? That he cared less about growth opportunities for the youth? If up to now someone like Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Prof. Ameyaw Akumfi, Kwamena Bartels, Alan Kyeremanten, Kan Dapaa, Kofi Ghana, KK Sarpong et al cannot boast of replacements for their roles then that's a failure for the party''.



Another unhappy activist named Matin Sadick Jnr. said; "They shouldn't just give way, they should resign from ever accepting appointments and get a seat at the party's council of elders auditorium and help shape the party for better!"



Reacting to the issue during discussions on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Professor Joseph Osafo stated that, although the activists are right to make such calls, the old and youth must both complement each other.



He called on the party to strike a balance saying ''the young must not supplant the old and the old must not underrate the young...Every path you're treading has ever been trodden by someone; so, you can learn lessons. So, the young shouldn't supplant the old neither should the old underrate the young''.



He added; "The aged must be engaged not over-engaged...Every generation must give birth to a new generation."







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI -- A local developer is building luxury-style homes out of shipping containers in Ypsilanti Township.

Darius Smith, founder of ASJ Homes and the Whats Up Detroit show, is planning to have at least one home made of steel containers ready by this summer. Smith is building a two-story home, dubbed L2, at 2544 Eastlawn Ave. in Ypsilanti Township, which will start at $250,000, he said, and plans to break ground this spring.

Plans for a another structure, L1, will be a one-story home for roughly $150,000, not including land pricing.

Smith delved into stories highlighting good news on Whats Up Detroit, where he interviewed various successful people who piqued his interest in the real estate market. He grew up in Ann Arbor but his family is from Detroit, where he spent time renovating his grandmas old home in Virginia Park four years ago.

See inside finished shipping container home in southeast Michigan

Since then, he explored ways to incorporate shipping containers into his developments after discovering the growing market and demand across the country. Smith said they are a way to keep building costs down and the homes can easily be spray-insulated from the outside and inside.

That led me into the shipping container world. Its big in some areas but slow to come to Michigan. The thing that attracted me to it is keeping the cost down and the style I really like is mid-century modern homes. And with shipping container homes, its pretty easy to achieve that, Smith said.

Smith buys his containers from California. They can range anywhere from $3,000-5,000. The unit hes building this year will be shy of 1,600 square-feet, using six containers, housing three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Smith is also working on a shipping container hotel, with plans to build a couple in Michigan and across the country, he said. Hes eyeing Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Detroit.

My plan is to build a number of these. I designed a shipping container hotel and it looks really cool. That led me to create a cryptocurrency utility token. The token holders get to utilize the token by renting hotel rooms or eating at the restaurant or a day at the spa, Smith said.

The micro-hotel is expected to have about 20-30 rooms, he said. More on the token is available at containertoken.com.

Despite the materials being mostly metal, Smith is optimistic they will last. He aspires to build a few homes in the Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Detroit areas in the near future. But his plan, for now, is to build the one in Westlawn neighborhood, live in it then sell it.

These things are being slammed with sea water and they still are rust-proof. Theyve been built to last, Smith said. Weve literally dissected every layer. Were adding insulation, adding foundation, a crawl space. The trick is to make sure you insulate it really well on the outside.

Anyone can pre-order homes online at asjhomes.com/preorder/.

ModEco Development in 2015 built a shipping container home in Royal Oak. The three-bedroom, 2.5-bath home sold for about $430,000.

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We need not excuse them for being of their time and place. Their meaning is no longer for their time but for ours. Neither should we ignore their context, however, for there may be a lesson in their example for our times. In every era, there were leaders who transcended the ignorance and prejudice of the society of their time. We should want to honor those who knew that America had fallen short and strove to make her better.
Bangkok, Thailand -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/29/2021 -- Sosengheng has unveiled brilliant deals on its products including the popular 0.6 gram gold rings, which are available to shoppers at budget friendly rates.



For more than five decades, the store has built a name for itself on the back on superior quality, high percentage gold offerings that meet the expectations of its trusted customers.



As a direct manufacturer with its own goldsmith, Sosengheng can also assure shoppers best quality, which is imperative when buying gold items.



This promise of quality and low costs is also reflected in the beautiful Gold Ring 0.6 Gram that the store has in stock for its customers.



Rings in this collection are of 96.5% high grade gold and are known for their stunning texture. Moreover, these rings are available in beautiful designs that suit shoppers' unique aesthetics.



Sosengheng's warranties and frequent promotional offers add to the attraction of shopping for gold items at the renowned store.



About Sosengheng

This gold shop in Thailand has been in the business for over 50 years and has built its reputation by offering best quality, high percentage gold to its customers.



Media Contact



Mr. Somnuek Tongdee

Phone: 02-6225240

Address: 456 Yaowarat Road, Sumphanthawong district/sub-district, Bangkok 10100

Email: contact@sosengheng.com

URL: https://www.sosengheng.com/
The seven-day case rate for Covid-19 is the lowest it has been since September in the clearest sign yet that Northern Ireland is winning the war against the virus.

According to Department of Health figures, there have been 1,016 new cases recorded over the last seven days. The last time figures were this low was six months ago, on September 20 last year.

The situation in care homes  described by health officials as the frontline in the fight against Covid-19  has also drastically improved.

There were only six active outbreaks at care homes on Monday, compared to 138 care home outbreaks two months ago when Northern Ireland was in the grips of the most deadly surge yet, while the Department of Health has recorded six Covid-19 related deaths in the past seven days, with no deaths recorded on four of the last seven days.

Professor Helen Dolk, a professor of epidemiology and health services research at the Ulster University and a member of the Independent Scientific Advocacy Group, said Covid-19 can be successfully brought under control if officials put in place a number of measures.

What we want to do now is to get the rest of the population vaccinated while driving the virus down and keeping the variants out, she said.

It is, of course, of concern that the downward trend in case numbers has somewhat levelled off, as it needs to be much lower for test and trace measures to be able to keep a lid on transmission.

However, there are plenty of tools left in the toolkit, so it is a matter of having the will and resources to use them really effectively.

For example, asymptomatic testing is available for workplaces, we can institute high ventilation standards and inspections, and compliance with isolation requirements for cases and close contacts can be improved if we put in place proper financial and social support.

It comes as family doctors have been told there are adequate supplies of the Covid-19 vaccine to ensure everyone in Northern Ireland will receive their second dose on schedule.

Dr Alan Stout, chair of the British Medical Associations GP committee in Northern Ireland, said they have received reassurances from the Department of Health on the matter, as it emerged the over-40 age cohort will be invited to attend for vaccination in the coming weeks.

Dr Stout said GPs are now concentrating on ensuring patients who have already had their first vaccine receive a second dose by the 12-week deadline.

The uptake of the second vaccine has been phenomenal. I think patients are very aware that this is a course and its necessary to have the second dose to get the best protection possible, said Dr Stout.

Giving out the second dose to our patients is very much our priority at the moment and we have spoken to the Department of Health about supply and they are very confident there will be enough vaccine for patients to get their second dose on time.

The Moderna vaccine is going to be coming online in the next few weeks so that will boost the programme even more. All in all, its looking very positive.

According to the latest Department of Health figures, 130,995 health and social care workers have received their first dose and of these, 69,496 have had a second dose.

Second doses are also being rolled out to patients aged over 80 and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable.

To date, 70,888 people aged 80 and over have received a first dose and 26,031 have had a second dose, while more than 5% of the 46,765 people who have had a first dose have now had a second dose of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, Englands chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said there were two risks for the UK from rising cases in Europe and elsewhere  the chance of importing cases and the much bigger concern of variants which might reduce the impact of the vaccines.

He told a Downing Street Press conference: Are we concerned about whats happening in Europe and elsewhere?

Anybody would be concerned about any country in the world where rates are going up because that has a big impact on peoples health and lives. As citizens of the world, we would all be concerned about any of those countries.

In the long term there would be ways of dealing with the problems posed by variants but in the short term that is the principal thing thats driving concerns about border issues at this stage.

At the same time, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also warned of further Covid-19 deaths in spite of the success of the vaccination programme to date: That wave is still rising across the channel and its inevitable, as we advance on this road map, that there will be more infections and unavoidably more hospitalisations, and sadly more deaths.




Rome, March 30 : A fugitive Italian mafia boss who has been linked to killings in the German city of Duisburg has been arrested in Lisbon, police said here on Tuesday.

The man, a member of the 'Ndrangheta crime organisation, had disappeared in June 2019, shortly before he faced final sentencing by Italy's Court of Cassation to life imprisonment, reports dpa news agency.

He was put on a list of most-wanted fugitives by the Italian Interior Ministry.

The 'Ndrangheta hails from Calabria.

It is the country's most powerful mafia and is considered the leading trafficker of cocaine in Europe.

The arrest was made on Monday in the Portuguese capital, the police said.

The wanted man was in hospital being treated for a coronavirus infection, local media reported.

His conviction was linked to the decades-long battle between two 'Ndrangheta clans, the Pelle-Vottari and the Strangio-Nirta families.

Between 2006 and 2007, dozens of people died in the fighting, which included a bloodbath at a restaurant in the city of Duisburg in August 2007.

According to Italy's Ansa news agency, the fugitive belongs to the Pelle-Vottari clan.

He was wounded in the spine during a gun battle in July 2006.

From then on he was dependent on a wheelchair.

Revenge followed around Christmas 2006, when the wife of the boss of the Strangio-Nirta clan was killed.

It was for this crime that the man was convicted.

According to Ansa, the man had already been in prison for around nine years starting in 2008.

However, the court released him in 2017 to house arrest in Milan, where he was to remain until the final verdict was confirmed.

It was from there that he fled.
President Muhammadu Buhari has launched "The Decade of Gas in Nigeria" with a pledge that his administration would fully utilise the enormous gas resources in the country to uplift the economy and drive industrialization within 10 years.

Buhari, who made the pledge at the virtual Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) 2021 Pre-Summit Conference, said given the country's potential of about 600 trillion cubic feet of gas, the commodity has the enormous potential to diversify Nigeria's economy.

Setting the tone for the development of the industry in the next 10 years, he explained that the rising global demand for cleaner energy sources has offered Nigeria an opportunity to exploit gas resources for the good of the country and the government intends to seize the opportunity.

The president said while his administration has prioritized gas development and recorded remarkable progress, it is well known that Nigeria is a gas nation with a little oil, but the country has focused on oil over the years.

According to him, "Before the declaration of Year 2020 as The Year of Gas, this administration had shown commitment to the development of Nigeria's vast gas resources and strengthening of the gas value chain by reviewing and gazetting policies and regulations to enhance operations in the sector as encapsulated in the National Gas Policy of 2017.

"Our major objective for the gas sector is to transform Nigeria into an industrialized nation with gas playing a major role and we demonstrated this through enhanced accelerated gas revolution."

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Speaking further, President Buhari commended the collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigeria LNG Limited to actualize the dream of transforming Nigeria with its massive gas resources.

Describing the NLNG as the federal government's arrowhead in the reduction of gas flaring in Nigeria, he said: "NLNG, which contributes about one per cent to GDP, has generated $114 billion in revenues over the years, $9 billion in taxes, $18 billion in dividends to the federal government and $15 billion in feed gas purchase. These achievements were accomplished with 100 per cent Nigerian management and 95 per cent Nigerian workforce.

"I would like to charge all other relevant MDAs on the need to partner with the international oil companies, the indigenous oil companies and financial institutions to actualise the dream of fully utilising our gas resources to uplift our economy."

President Buhari added that later this year, Nigeria will host the 4th International Petroleum Summit in Abuja.
Australias leader reassigned some key members of his Cabinet and launched a new taskforce as he tries to address a series of sexual misconduct scandals that have rocked his government.

The countrys prime minister, Scott Morrison, removed embattled figures Christian Porter and Linda Reynolds from their high-profile roles.

Mr Porter, who was the attorney-general, had earlier taken mental health leave after revealing he was the person accused of raping a 16-year-old girl when he was a teenager 33 years ago.

His accuser has since died and police are not pursuing any charges.

Ms Reynolds, who was the defence minister, had been heavily criticised for failing to adequately support a young staffer who alleged she was raped by a more senior colleague in the ministers office two years ago.

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Ms Reynolds was forced to apologise after it emerged she had called the staffer a lying cow.

Under the Cabinet reshuffle announced by Mr Morrison, Michaelia Cash will become the new attorney-general and Peter Dutton will take over as defence minister.

Mr Porter will be reassigned to the science and technology portfolio, while Ms Reynolds will become the government services minister.

Mr Morrison also announced he was starting a new Cabinet taskforce to address issues of womens equality, safety, economic security, health and wellbeing.

He will co-chair the taskforce along with Marise Payne, the minister for women.

Mr Morrison said the changes mean the Cabinet will have the strongest ever representation of women.

But its not just about the size of the female contingent in my cabinet; its the skills and the experience, its the perspective, and its the collaboration they bring to our nations most difficult tasks, Mr Morrison said.

The rape allegations have not been the only sexual misconduct scandals to hit parliament as the perception grows that it fosters a culture that is toxic for women.

Last week Ten Network television news reported that several male government staffers had set up a Facebook Messenger group that enabled them to share images and video of sex acts performed in Parliament House, including on the desks of female politicians.

Mr Morrison said he was shocked and disgusted by those allegations.

The prime minister has faced intense pressure in recent weeks to respond to a series of rape, misconduct and sexism allegations which have rocked Australian politics.

Yesterday, Mr Porter said he had to be replaced as attorney general after commencing a defamation lawsuit against the ABC television network.

[This] does not change anything in respect of the crucial principle that required me to instigate defamation proceedings, Mr Porter said in a statement.

Im looking for my work to be a conversation starter, so we can talk to each other more, says Lacey Schwartz Delgado, a filmmaker and producer who prefers to foster, rather than shy away from, a layered dialogue around how race shapes relationships, self-identity, and American life.

The particular conversation she has in mind is as critical as it is timely. Schwartz Delgado, who resides in Rhinebeck with her husband, U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado and their twin children, made her first major film splash in 2014 with Little White Lie, a deeply personal documentary about her familys racial reckoning.

Her latest project, How It Feels to Be Free, which she co-executive produced with Alicia Keyes and others, premiered in January on PBS American Masters. This thought-provoking film, based on a book of the same name, honors Black female performers and activists before, during and after the Civil Rights movement, and features Abbey Lincoln, Diahann Carroll, Pam Grier, and Lena Horne.

Current events place these womens stories in sharp focus. Having a conversation about Black womens contribution to the industry highlights so much of whats happening [in the world], says Schwartz Delgado. We had the first female Black South Asian Vice President inaugurated! It feels very meaningful.

Schwartz Delgado attended the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with her husband, who represents New Yorks 19th district, which spans the states Catskills and mid-Hudson Valley regions.

From a childhood in Woodstock to the Woodstock Film Festival

For the first time, the nation has a First Lady who is working outside the home in educator Dr. Jill Biden, and its fitting that the 19th Districts own working first lady happens to be a filmmaker, writer, and director, as well as producer. Schwartz Delgado spent the early part of her childhood in Accord before moving to Woodstock and, as anyone who has grown up there knows, creativity gets baked in.

It was an artist colony back to the 1800s, says Schwartz Delgado of Woodstock. There are so many creative amazing people here. Its what I grew up with, thats through and through who we were.

Lacey Schwartz Delgado

Her work is nationally important, but it is also uniquely significant in the Hudson Valley, where she is a central figure in the local film community.

Its amazing our First Lady is a filmmaker, and also that Antonio understands the value of the art of filmmaking, and what it can do to economic development, tourism, culture, anything, says Meira Blaustein, co-founder and executive director of Woodstock Film Festival.

Schwartz Delgado grew up white, the only Jewish kid at her elementary school, and attended Hebrew school at Woodstock Jewish Congregation. Her skin was darker and her hair curlier than other family members, which was always attributed to a Sicilian grandfather. In reality, as Schwartz Delgado discovered, her biological father was a Black man her mother had an affair with. In her documentary Little White Lie, Schwartz Delgado untangles her life and embraces her identity as a Black woman through nuanced and fascinating discussions with family and friends.

The layered story made a lasting impact with viewers  and colleagues. It was mind blowing and eye opening, recalls fellow Hudson Valley producer, writer, and Academy Award-winning director Roger Ross Williams.

I had been living and working in Woodstock all of these years and had never heard of this amazing story, recalls Blaustein. Little White Lie had its New York state premiere at the Woodstock Film Festival in 2014.

Since Little White Lie, Schwartz Delgado has continued to tell urgent, often difficult-to-talk-about, stories via her production company, Truth Aid, which she runs with her business partner, Dr. Mehret Mandefro.

Still from The Loving Generation digital series

Whose stories do we see get told and how do they get told? Its all about asking the questions rather than giving the answer, Schwartz Delgado notes.

Despite her busy work schedule and the juggle of being a congressmans partner as well as mom of 2nd grade twins, Schwartz Delgado is known for being generous with her time and building relationships, friends say. A longtime mentor at Sundance Ignite, a competitive program for young filmmakers, she roped Williams into joining her last year. He was struck by her dedication.

Look, Im the Governor  I run the documentary branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences! I know all the documentary filmmakers in the world. Not a lot of them give the time that is needed to mentor the way Lacey does. She really dove into their work, says Williams.

From Hudson Valley to Washington  and beyond

Schwartz Delgado anchors and uplifts the upstate film community, too, locals say, making time to take part in panel discussions with the Kingston film production company Stockade Works and moderating talks for the Woodstock Film Festival. Schwartz Delgados various communities reciprocate her warmth and loyalty.

When Antonio started to run, filmmakers came upstate in droves, knocked on doors, campaigned because of who Lacey is, recalls Blaustein.

Williams threw a campaign fundraiser for Schwartz Delgados husband at Roxbury Barn and Estate, a Delaware County wedding destination run by his husband. Lacey is so supportive and so smart. Its like Barack and Michelle. Lacey is his Michelle! he said, laughing.

The comparison draws a fond laugh from Schwartz Delgado. I love Roger, she says. Like the Obamas, there has been crossover in the Delgados careers. My work is a big part of who I am, and we generally live our lives where these things are relatively integrated together. Its a family affair in a lot of ways, she says.

Woodstock Film Festival

Being a documentary filmmaker makes her uniquely adept at fundraising, for example, which in turn frees up the congressman to be out in the community. Documentarians have to adapt to different situations, says Williams. Its her job to ask probing questions. You have to have incredible passion and drive and you cant give up. You develop a thick tough skin. Shes so good at it.

Childhood friends say these characteristics  and her ambition  were apparent from a very young age. She was always extremely organized. When she was 9 or 10 she had file cabinets. She would file all of her 10-year-old things  stickers, stationary, markers, lanyard, whatever it was. That just always cracked me up. It was a picture of the adult she would become, says Elissa Federoff, an executive at the film distribution company Neon Film, who considered Schwartz Delgado an older sister, and was later her maid of honor. (Their parents were business partners in Town and Country Liquors in Saugerties, which Schwartz Delgados mother, Peggy Schwartz, still operates.)

Currently Schwartz Delgado is flexing her organizational skills working on many projects. Shes especially excited about The Loving Generation conversations, a digital video interview series that expands upon her 2018 series about people born with one Black and one white parent just after the 1967 Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia declared laws against intermarriage unconstitutional.

This is a group of people who grew up arguably on the color line, says Schwartz Delgado. The original project yielded many comments online she has been eager to address  the sort of sticky, conversation-starting questions at the heart of her work.

When Schwartz Delgado was at Harvard Law School, she intended to become a civil rights impact litigator. This was a long-term plan; she adored mock trial at Kingston High School and studied government at Georgetown. Ultimately, she preferred film editing to writing briefs, but the core issues she tackles remain the same.

While Schwartz Delgado cant yet divulge her future projects, its safe to expect more nuanced stories highlighting a lack of consciousness around differences. Whatever shes working on will make you think and discuss hard truths, and its sure to be rooted in her personal experiences from the Hudson Valley to Washington D.C. and beyond.

This is the power of storytelling, she says  to talk about the issues I care about and want to shed more light on.
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Net Savings Link (NSAV) invites individual and institutional investors as well as advisors and analysts, to attend its real-time, interactive presentation at the Emerging Growth Conference.

London, England--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC Pink: NSAV), a cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset technology company, today announced that the Company has been invited to present at the Emerging Growth Conference on March 31, 2021.

The next Emerging Growth Conference is presenting on March 31, 2021. This live, interactive online event will give existing shareholders and the investment community the opportunity to interact with the recently appointed Board of Director of NSAV, Mr. Yuen Wong in real time.

In addition to his position with NSAV, Mr. Wong is also the CEO of LABS Group Limited https://labsgroup.io, the world's first end to end Blockchain powered real estate investment ecosystem and powered by the LABS ecosystem token through decentralized finance (DeFi) and governance.

Mr. Yuen Wong is also a Managing Partner at Bitmart Cryptocurrency Exchange https://www.bitmart.com. BitMart is a premier global digital asset trading platform with over 2 million users worldwide and ranked among the top crypto exchanges on CoinMarketCap. Bitmart's platform supports over 220 cryptocurrencies and has a 24 hour trading volume of approximately $2 Billion.

Mr. Yuen Wong will perform a presentation and may subsequently open the floor for questions.

Joining Mr. Wong at the conference will be future NSAV partner, Mr. James Yao.

Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC Pink: NSAV) will be presenting at 9:00 AM Eastern time for 30 minutes.

Please register here to ensure you are able to attend the conference and receive any updates that are released.

Here is the unique registration link: https://goto.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1448272&tp_key=2849e0b0c0&sti=egfb

If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available on EmergingGrowth.com and we will also release a link to that after the event.

About the Emerging Growth Conference:

The Emerging Growth conference is an effective way for public companies to present and communicate their new products, services and other major announcements to the investment community from the convenience of their office, in a time efficient manner.

The Conference focus and coverage includes companies in a wide range of growth sectors, with strong management teams, innovative products & services, focused strategy, execution, and the overall potential for long term growth. Its audience includes potentially tens of thousands of Individual and Institutional investors, as well as Investment advisors and analysts.

All sessions will be conducted through video webcasts and will take place in the Eastern time zone.

James Tilton, president of NSAV stated, "I am thrilled that our company has been invited to participate at tomorrow's Emerging Growth Conference. The conference is both a fantastic and unique opportunity for NSAV to gain the attention of thousands of investors and investment advisers from around the world."

NSAV's vision is the establishment of a fully integrated technology company that provides turnkey technological solutions to the cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset industries. Over time, the Company plans to provide a wide range of services such as software solutions, e-commerce, advisory services, financial services and information technology.

For further information please contact NSAV at info@nsavholdinginc.com

The NSAV Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/nsavtech

This press release contains certain 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, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Net Savings Link, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Net Savings Link, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward- looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Net Savings Link, Inc. or any other person.

Contact

Net Savings Link, Inc.

info@nsavholdinginc.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78929
[March 30, 2021] McPherson College Bestows Honorary Doctoral Degrees on Melanie and Richard Lundquist for Body of Work Creating Systemic Change

McPherson College has conferred honorary doctorates on Melanie and Richard Lundquist to recognize the couple's significant body of work in driving systemic change in K-12 public education, health care delivery, and innovation, as well as the environment. The Doctor of Humane Letters (LHD) degrees are awarded by McPherson College's Board of Trustees and faculty, who voted unanimously to recognize the Lundquists with the honorary degrees. A special ceremony is being planned on campus for October 2021, contingent on COVID protocols. In awarding honorary degrees, McPherson College aims to recognize and honor individuals who have distinguished themselves for their achievement and efforts that align with the college's mission of developing whole persons through scholarship, participation, and service. "McPherson College is proud to honor Melanie and Richard Lundquist for their body of work that has driven systemic change in so many ways," said Michael P. Schneider, president of McPherson College, who conferred the degrees virtually earlier this month. "The Lundquists bring joy and possibility to our life's work at McPherson College and the work of so many others. They have carved out a path less traveled - helping to improve outcomes for people, especially those living at the margins. While they have created significant and positive impact through their philanthropy, especially in California, their reach touches us in Kansas and in so many other parts of our country. They have been invaluable members of the McPherson College community for years, providing counsel on many matters and expanding our network through their vast connections. We're truly lucky to have Richard and Melanie as members of the McPherson College family and this conferral recognizes that," said Schneider. Melanie and Richard Lundquist are agents of change and two of California's most significant philanthropists. Their gifts have created the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, a sustainable, national turnaround model for underserved non-charter K-12 public schools that works within the Los Angeles Unified School District. They have also helped transform health care delivery and spur biomedical research and innovation. They committed $70 million in February 2019, as an unrestricted gift, to the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed), which was renamed The Lundquist Institute. The institute has more than 120 medical researchers working on 600 studies, including therapies for multiple orphan diseases. <> Melanie and Richard have also led efforts to invest in solutions to climate change through AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles and critically important marine mammal research at the Marine Mammal Center, the largest marine mammal hospital in the world, located in Sausalito, Calif.



The Lundquists are signatories of the Giving Pledge, the movement where some of the world's wealthiest individuals and couples commit to give more than half their wealth away. In June 2018, the Chronicle of Philanthropy featured the Lundquists in a profile story titled "A Lifetime Commitment: LA couple, who have signed the Giving Pledge, donate to groups that need them the most." They have appeared four times on The Philanthropy 50, the annual list of America's 50 most generous philanthropists, published by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The conferral of the honorary doctorates recognizes Melanie and Richard's unique mission to leverage their philanthropic commitments to affect significant and measurable impact through driving systemic change, focusing on areas where their gifts can change systems as well as fortunes, not just make incremental progress. They choose not to follow the crowd; instead, they seek to kick off a virtuous cycle that attracts other donors.

"This is humbling for Richard and me. We are especially touched that the honorary degrees are being conferred by McPherson College, a place that for over 130 years has been educating students with a special focus on service. That commitment to others is what inspires us as well. We have had the pleasure of getting to know many McPherson College students and hosting them in California. They are indeed special. Additionally, it takes smart leaders to move a college ahead, and we appreciate the good work of President Schneider and his team. Richard and I look forward to visiting campus in October. We are proud to be Bulldogs," said Melanie Lundquist. Founded in 1887, McPherson College is set on a 27-acre campus in McPherson, Kan., one of the top 100 small towns in the U.S. and offers 30 major and pre-professional programs. US News & World Report ranks McPherson College as one of the top colleges for "social mobility," enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students and as one of the region's most innovative colleges for innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life and technology or facilities. The Lundquists' relationship with McPherson College started in 2014. They were introduced by Paul Russell, chair of the Automotive Restoration National Advisory Board, and since then, have committed well over $1 million to the college's auto restoration program, the only award-winning four-year bachelor's degree program for automotive restoration technology in the country. "The Lundquists are champions for McPherson College's mission, and more importantly, they are role models for our students - they are people of passion and commitment, focused on improving humanity. We are proud to recognize them with these honorary degrees," said Amanda Gutierrez, vice president for college's auto restoration program. "Their work has created measurable results everywhere they go, and it proves that thoughtful philanthropy can lead to meaningful change." Melanie holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Southern California in communicative disorders/speech pathology and audiology, as well as a credential as a specialist in special education. Richard holds an undergraduate Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California. Editor's Note: Bios for Melanie and Richard Lundquist available upon request. ABOUT MCPHERSON COLLEGE McPherson College is committed to its mission "To develop whole persons through scholarship, participation, and service," in a career-focused liberal arts environment. It's been recognized nationally by US News & World Report, Money Magazine, and the Chronicle of Higher Education's "Great Colleges to Work For." Its Automotive Restoration program is the first four-year degree program of its kind and awarded the prestigious industry supporter of the year by International Historic Motoring. Learn about all of its programs at www.mcpherson.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005443/en/

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A flight attendant has been given a suspended prison sentence for causing the spread of COVID-19 in Vietnam last year.

The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court conducted the trial of Duong Tan Hau, a 29-year-old flight attendant of national carrier Vietnam Airlines, on Tuesday morning.

Hau was condemned to two years in jail for spreading dangerous contagious diseases to others in accordance with the Penal Code, but he was given a suspended sentence with a four-year probation period.

According to the indictment, Hau was brought to the quarantine facility of Vietnam Airlines after completing his tasks on a flight from Japan to Vietnam on November 14, 2020.

At the venue, Hau came into close contact with two of his colleagues, one of whom was later confirmed as a COVID-19 patient.

After testing negative for the novel coronavirus twice, Hau was allowed to undergo self-quarantine at his tenanted home in Tan Binh District.

During his home quarantine, the man had contact with a friend named Lieu Minh Sang as well as visited multiple locations to eat, drink, and study.

Duong Tan Hau during his trial at the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court on March 30, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre

Both Hau and Sang were eventually confirmed as COVID-19 patients.

Sang also transmitted the disease to a 28-year-old woman and one-year-old boy.

At the trial, Hau mentioned the difficulties he faced during his quarantine at Vietnam Airlines facility.

Each person was only given one liter of water a day, which was not sufficient.

When he ran out of water, he had to fetch more water in a shared area, which was always crowded.

Hau said he was too confident in his two negative test results.

He claimed that the lack of responsibility of the quarantine facilitys management board and absence of monitoring from local authorities during his self-isolation also contributed to the virus spread.

The flight attendant stated his violation was not serious enough to be criminally punished.

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Miracle Boy Brings Joy After Couple Loses Nine Babies to Miscarriage and Stillbirth

A couple who longed for a family had given up hope after a heartbreaking stillbirth and eight miscarriages. However, their tenth pregnancy, a miracle baby boy, brought in a renewed hope, followed by joy.

Sometimes we look at each other and think we cant believe we have him, we feel so lucky after all the loss, mom Michelle Daly told the Meath Chronicle.

Michelle and Stephen Daly with their rainbow baby, Dylan. (Courtesy of Michelle Daly)

Dylan Patrick Daly was born on June 12, 2020, weighing slightly over 7 pounds (approx. 3.17 kg). The timing of the rainbow babys arrival was bittersweet; as Michelles father, from whom baby Dylan gets his name, died suddenly of a heart attack just six weeks before he could meet his grandson.

Having Dylan was the best thing to happen at the worst time in my life, said Michelle.

Baby Dylan when he was born. (Courtesy of Michelle Daly)

Michelle with her late father. (Courtesy of Michelle Daly)

Michelle and her husband Stephen, of Trim in County Meath, Ireland, had already weathered more than their fair share of tragedy. Back in 2007, Michelle went into early labor at 28 weeks with a baby boy, named Christopher.

However, the then-expectant mother was sent home before midnight by doctors who claimed the baby was not yet on his way.

But a few hours later, as she used the restroom, Michelle could feel the head of Christopher popping out. Her husband immediately rushed to lay Michelle on a bed and called the ambulance. She was finally rushed back to the hospital.

Christopher was in breech position. He was alive and moving during the whole labor, but because he came out feet first, they couldnt get him out, he got stuck, his arms were up over his head and he didnt survive, Michelle explained.

Michelle with her newborn baby, Dylan. (Courtesy of Michelle Daly)

Stillborn, Christopher weighed less than 2 pounds (approx. 0.9 kg). They lifted him up onto my chest and I remember looking at him, this tiny little thing, Michelle recalled; he wasnt moving but he just looked like he was asleep.

Describing herself as a wreck in the aftermath of the heartbreaking loss, Michelle could do little besides cry herself to sleep.

Having polycystic ovaries, she knew she would find it hard to conceive again, let alone carry a pregnancy. But it was Michelle and Stephens dream to have a family, so they continued trying.

Dylan with his dad, Stephen. (Courtesy of Michelle Daly)

With the pregnancies after that they kept telling me, You need to lose weight,' said Michelle, recalling struggles with her mental health that persist to this day. Suffering miscarriage after miscarriage, Michelle turned to food for comfort.

Then she met a new physician, Dr. Mary Mulqueen.

[S]he got me on the right path, said Michelle. She discovered I had a blood disorder which causes the blood to clot and can affect your pregnancy.

Mulqueen recommended a maternal-fetal specialist, Dr. Karen Flood of the Rotunda group of private clinics. The mom-to-be was monitored weekly throughout the remainder of her pregnancy, giving birth to Dylan by emergency Caesarean section at 39 weeks.

[T]hey had him wrapped up and brought him over and he was just staring at me, our miracle baby was finally here, healthy and happy, Michelle recalled. I just didnt think I could love anyone as much we do Dylan.

Today, a milestone, or even a cheeky smile, prompts Michelle to wish her father was alive to see his grandson. When Dylan is old enough, she said, she and Stephen will tell him about his big brother, Christopher, who holds a permanent place in their hearts.

Michelle also has a piece of advice to share with other parents who are facing challenges similar to what she faced.

Id just tell anyone not to give up on their dream of a family, said Michelle. There is hope.

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
A serial con artist who led gardai to believe she was a victim of sex trafficking is to plead guilty to taking several children in Australia while pretending to be an au pair.

In 2013, Samantha Azzopardi was dubbed the 'GPO Girl' after she was found wandering on O'Connell Street in a distressed state - apparently unable to speak English.

Gardai immediately began trying to find out who she was and believed she may have been a teenager from Eastern Europe who had been trafficked into the country.

However, following an investigation that cost over 250,000 and involved more than 2,000 hours, Azzopardis true identity was unveiled.

Gardai secured High Court permission to release her photograph and a family member soon came forward to identify Azzopardi as a serial conwoman.

She was later deported and arrived in Canada where she claimed to be a victim of sexual abuse and manipulation.

Now, Azzopardi (32) is facing further legal problems in Australia.

She is before the courts conned several Victorian families into believing that she was a nanny named Harper Hernandez and took off with two children whose parents had fallen for her scam.

She was arrested in 2019 in Bendigo with the two children and was due to face a committal hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, with witnesses including Tom and Jazze Jervis, who hired her as an au pair between December 2018 and June 2019.

However, the case resolved and prosecutor Kristie Churchill revealed Azzopardi would plead guilty to seven charges.

Churchill said that Azzopardi would plead guilty to three charges of child stealing and to obtaining $6,250 by deception from the Jervis family.

Azzopardi is expected to also admit to theft of an iPad, handling stolen goods, and causing a false police report to be made regarding child welfare concerns and physical assault.

She did not apply for bail and is expected to return to court on April 27.

In Australia, she posed as a 13-year-old named Harper Hart and enrolled at the Good Shepherd School in Sydney in 2016.

Azzopardi was arrested and sentenced in July 2017 to one year in jail after pleading guilty to four charges of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Baltimore County Police Col. Andre Davis (L) and Police Chief Melissa Hyatt are shown at a news conference in Baltimore County, Md., on March 29, 2021. (Lloyd/The Baltimore Sun via AP)

Police: No Idea Why Man Shot 5 People Before Killing Self

Investigators have no idea why a Maryland man fatally shot his parents at their home and gunned down two other people at a convenience store before setting fire to his apartment and killing himself, a police official said Monday.

A gun that Joshua Green, 27, used in Sundays deadly shooting spree was registered to him and had been legally purchased in 2020, according to Baltimore County Police Col. Andre Davis.

As to why this occurred, we have no idea yet, Davis said at a news conference. Our homicide detectives are tirelessly investigating a motive, but it appears that the shooter acted alone.

Police believe Green killed his parentsDouglas Green, 58, and Olivia Green, 62at their Baltimore County home before he drove over to a Royal Farms store in Essex just before 7 a.m. on Sunday.

Green blocked in another car in the stores parking lot, got out and shot and killed Alpha Smith, 62, while she sat in her vehicle, according to Davis. Green then entered the store and fatally shot a customer, 43-year-old Silvesta Daye, near a cash register before wounding a store employee. Davis said the employee, a 22-year-old man, was in stable condition at a hospital on Monday.

After the shooting, police said, Green returned to his nearby home and set fire to his apartment before shooting himself. Police found the apartment engulfed in flames and Green dead in the parking lot with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Homicide detectives found the bodies of Greens parents in their garage when they went to their home to notify them of their sons death, according to Davis.

Davis said Green had no criminal contacts with police before the shootings.

Police Chief Melissa Hyatt said that there were more questions than answers about a horrific and sickening event which changed the lives of many people.

For now, we know that four innocent people lost their lives and one person sustained serious injuries, she said.

Hyatt said police have spoken to a relative of Green but she didnt elaborate.

When we are able to definitively have facts and information, we will relay that. We just want to make sure that we are putting out accurate information, the chief said.

Greens parents lived in an unincorporated part of Baltimore County called Baldwin. Daniel Brennaman, 73, a neighbor who lives two doors down from the couples home, said he noticed a police cruiser and saw a photographer out in front of the house while walking his dog on Sunday evening.

A storm blew through here, and I thought it was a car accident around the corner, he said. I havent heard a thing.

Brennaman said he has exchanged greetings and small talk with the couple but didnt know them personally.

I wave at him from time to time. Hes always working in his yard, he said.

Royal Farms spokesperson Breahna Brown said Sunday that the company had no immediate comment on the shooting at its store.

By Michael Kunzelman
Barnatan is plenty familiar to Chicago audiences: Hes been a marquee artist with most of the heavy-hitters in town, most recently in an ill-fated CSO subscription concert set for the day large events were banned last March. Barnatan is a delight to learn from, but, as the Mozart demonstrated in spades, hes an even greater delight to learn with. Holding court behind a lidless Steinway grand, his finely strewn rendition called forth a parade of colors, each note as lustrous and varied as strung pearls. New sounds abounded, from the harplike, sweeping opening of the piano entrance in the first movement to the subtle cheek of his thematic variations in the third.
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Faithful at the Methodist Church of Kenya, Kirimba church at Katheri area in Buuri constituency, Meru County exchanged blows at the weekend over leadership crisis.

A section of the congregation had gathered at the church's compound for an election until Superintendent Minister Marian Gitonga and former chairman Aaron Gikunda arrived.

"We are here to inform you that the National Government Administration has called off this meeting due to Covid-19. Therefore, no meeting will take place today," Ms Gitonga said.

But the congregants lashed out at the duo, accusing them of orchestrating plans to split Ontulili circuit into two without following the right procedures.

Circuit split

According to Methodist Church, a circuit is a group of churches served by one superintendent minister who preaches and leads worship along with local preachers.

The Ontulili circuit comprises Kirimba, Mworoga, Nkando, Kangaita, Kathanje, Kinoria, Kienjera, Emmanuel, Nturukuma and Mwireri churches.

They accused Mr Gikunda, who is also a preacher, of allegedly spearheading a splinter group within Kirimba church and have some key top officials within the circuit kicked out and the circuit split.

Mr Gikunda confronted the faithful and in the melee, two women and a man were injured before he was overpowered.

Journalists also found themselves on the receiving end after some church officials forcibly tried to flush them out of the facility.

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Efforts by Katheri location chief Nicholas Mugambi to calm the situation were unsuccessful.

Drama continued as Mr Gikunda unsuccessfully tried to block the chief's vehicle from entering the compound. Officers from Timau Police Station intervened and solved the impasse.

"History is repeating itself. We faced the same problem years back when Mt Kenya circuit split into Nanyuki, Kieni, and Ontulili circuits where due process was not followed. This Minister came to Ontulili circuit in January and has been partnering with the splinter group to bring division," an official who spoke to Nation on condition of anonymity said.

Manse

"Whatever is happening at the circuit is a recipe for mass exodus of faithful and might also result in more conflict. All the 10 churches must be involved if there will be a creation of a new circuit," the official added.

The faithful claim that the circuit member churches had contributed Sh12 million for the construction of a manse (Minister's house) and an office at Kirimba church.

"The splinter group from Kirimba refused to participate in the construction and it is unfortunate that the same group now wants to take over both the manse and the office under the watch of the Minister," another official said.

On Monday Superintendent Minister Marian Gitonga told Nation.Africa via phone: "I have no comment on the matter. Please talk to Methodist Church of Kenya presiding Bishop."
Small parts can cause big problems. Worn or defective components in industrial plants can bring an entire production process to a standstill. But artificial intelligence is helping businesses to anticipate when problems are likely to arise. A new data system identifies faults early on and proposes effective corrective action. A team of academic and industrial partners led by Professor of Business Informatics Wolfgang Maa of Saarland University and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence will be showcasing their new smart data system at this year's digital edition of Hannover Messe (12-16 April ) and demonstrating how AI-driven data analysis can boost business resilience and drive market competitiveness.

When a machine component fails, companies can suffer immense financial damage - losses totalling several hundreds of thousands of euros per hour are not uncommon. It can take something as minor as a clogged filter, a broken gasket or a burst hydraulic hose to bring production plant to a halt. If a previously unremarkable component that had been functioning inconspicuously in the background suddenly fails, it can initiate a chain reaction with significant and costly consequences. And if spare parts then have to be ordered or are slow to arrive, machine downtime can last weeks rather than hours. 'Interruptions to the production schedule are the number one risk to business,' says Professor Wolfgang Maa. His research team at Saarland University and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence are working on ways to stop these chain reactions before they even get going. Using artificial intelligence techniques they can generate powerful operational insights from the process data that all industrial production plants produce.

Maa and his team are working with partners from academia and industry to develop a data system that will flag up potential problems early on and allow a company to initiate remedial measures before things escalate. 'Our goal is to help companies become more resilient, making them better able to adapt flexibly to a malfunction or disruption and to recover quickly from challenging operational situations,' explains Wolfgang Maa. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the participating companies have provided more than ten million euros in funding for the research project 'Spaicer', whose acronym stands for 'Scalable adaptive production systems through AI-based resilience optimization'.

'Increasing levels of digitalization are making industrial production processes more complex and more complicated. The growing degree of networking both within and between companies also means that it is becoming increasingly difficult to assess the impact of malfunctions or disruptions,' says Maa. Artificial intelligence systems are able to analyse and compare the huge volumes of digital data generated in industrial production plants, yielding insights that were previously not available to companies. These systems are able to forecast upcoming machine issues, potential equipment stoppages and how production is likely to be impacted. The researchers are able to link vast quantities of data on their platform, which can then be automatically processed and evaluated.

The more the system learns about the plant machinery involved and about the related business, performance and other parameters - no matter how remote that connection might seem - the better the system becomes at identifying when specific events are likely to occur. It is not unusual, for example, for the vibrational frequency or the temperature of a piece of plant equipment to gradually change as a fault develops over time. By combining this type of process data from sensors installed on a production line with information on maintenance intervals, spare parts and their service lives, reference data from plant machinery operating at other companies, predictive failure analyses and data from supply chain disruption models, AI systems are now able to generate powerful predictive insights, reducing uncertainty and enhancing productivity. Because the status of the plant is being monitored constantly, there is little room for unpleasant surprises.

When these large data sets are analysed using AI methods and a range of machine learning techniques, the system learns how to classify plant faults and which remedial action to recommend. The algorithms compute the concrete measures needed to solve a particular operational problem and the platform then forwards these proposals to the business managers who can then respond by ordering the necessary spare parts or by contacting alternative suppliers early enough to avoid future disruption to the supply chain. The information provided can be used to support a predictive maintenance strategy or to react in the most efficient and timely manner if a fault arises. 'A company's confidential operational information is never at risk. But the ability to anticipate likely future scenarios and to take their operational consequences into account boosts the competitiveness and market success of manufacturing companies,' explains Professor Maa.

###

Background

'Spaicer' arose as a lighthouse project from the national AI innovation competition 'Artificial intelligence as a driver of economically relevant ecosystems'. The 'Spaicer' project, whose full name is 'Scalable adaptive production systems through AI-based resilience optimization', has received more than ten million euros in funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and the companies participating in the project.

The Spaicer research consortium comprises the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), which heads the consortium, Saarland University, the Machine Tools and Production Engineering Lab (WZL) at RWTH Aachen University, the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management at RWTH Aachen University, University of Freiburg, Darmstadt Technical University, the Otto Beisheim School of Management (WHU), deZem, Feintool, SAP, SCHOTT, SEITEC and SENSEERING. The consortium is also supported by 40 associated project partners.

Hannover Messe - Digital Edition: 12-16 April 2021

https:/ / www. hannovermesse. de/ produkt/ spaicer/ 263513/ N1281070

For more information, please visit: http://www. spaicer. de

Questions can be addressed to:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Maa

Chair of Business Administration - Information and Service Systems, Saarland University

and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)

Tel.: +49 (0)681 302-64736;

Email: wolfgang.maass@iss.uni-saarland.de

Dr. Sabine Janzen:

Tel.: +49 (0)681 85775-269,

Email: sabine.janzen@dfki.de
BRIAN VINER: Cinemas are back. The way motion pictures were meant to be seen when they were invented in the 19th century and the way they have been best enjoyed and cherished ever since.
By Poppy McPherson and Panu Wongcha-um

MAE HONG SON, Thailand (Reuters) - Tracing his fingers over a "Love and Peace" tattoo inked on his forearm in a misty valley on the Thai-Myanmar border, 49-year-old former soldier Isaac said he was contemplating a return to war.

An ex-fighter with the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) he said he had spent years battling government forces in the eastern jungles before settling in northern Thailand. For decades, soldiers like him have fought for greater autonomy for minorities from a central government and army dominated by majority Bamar Buddhists.

Now, with the country in turmoil since the army overthrew elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a Feb. 1 coup, those ethnic armed groups are being drawn back into conflict with the military junta as they side with opponents of the coup, according to Reuters interviews with representatives of three such groups and the ousted civilian government.

"If all the ethnic armed groups unite, they can win," said Isaac.

More than 500 people have been killed by the military across Myanmar in protests against the coup, according to a monitoring group. As violence has escalated, about a dozen armed groups have condemned the junta as illegitimate and vowed to stand with the protesters.

In the southeastern Karen state, one of the strongest groups  the Karen National Union (KNU)  says it is responding to appeals for help from coup opponents by sending fighters to protect protesters. Its troops are attacking Myanmar army positions and cutting off supply routes, in what the group says is a response to encroachment on its territory. In the north, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has staged similar attacks.

On Tuesday, three other guerrilla forces, including the powerful Arakan Army in the western Rakhine state, vowed to join what they called the "spring revolution" if killings do not stop.

Civilian lawmakers, most of whom are in hiding, have announced plans to form a "national unity government" on April 1 - with key roles for ethnic leaders - and are holding online talks about joint resistance to the military junta.

Story continues

Dr Sasa, the international envoy of the civilian government's representative body the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), said an interim federal constitution had been drafted with ethnic and civil society groups and there were plans for a "federal army" to replace the military, known as the Tatmadaw.

"If (the international community) fails to take action, of course unavoidable all-out civil war and more bloody days and more bloody weeks and more bloody months await ahead of us," Dr Sasa told Reuters. "Having a federal army becomes a must and it's the way we achieve democracy and freedom."

A spokesman for the junta did not answer phone calls seeking comment about the opposition it faces.

In state media on Tuesday, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said ethnic armed groups that condemned the coup were "dancing to the tune" of Suu Kyi's ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) and the junta's international opponents.

While many armed groups have long called for their incorporation into such a federal force, some said it remained difficult given that rival insurgents have often also fought each other.

'CEASEFIRE DEAL OVER'

Myanmar's fractious borderlands have not known peace since the country's independence from Britain in 1948. But ceasefires signed after the army began democratic reforms in 2011 brought a lull in fighting in some areas.

Leaders of two groups, the KNU and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), told Reuters that the military had destroyed that deal  known as the National Ceasefire Agreement - by launching attacks.

General Yawd Serk, the chair of the RCSS, said representatives of the Myanmar military had sent communications to his group seeking negotiations following the coup, but he had informed them that political talks were suspended.

He said ethnic armed groups must "join hands and hurt those that are hurting the people" but inter-ethnic fighting complicates the response.

"We need to see the big picture," said Yawd Serk, whose RCSS has been fighting two other Shan state-based groups.

'HUGE PROBLEM'

Khu Oo Reh, the vice-chairman of the KNPP, said conversations between insurgents about forming a united front had been positive but the differences between groups had been "going on for 70 years".

Anthony Davis, a security analyst with British-based Jane's intelligence company, estimated the total strength of the ethnic armies at around 75,000, enough to stretch the 350,000-strong Myanmar army if it was forced to fight on multiple fronts.

"If the Kachin, Karen, Shan and maybe Rakhine insurgents were to engage in widespread military operations, however loosely coordinated, and at the same time there is an increase in violence in the heartlands, the Tatmadaw would face a huge problem," he said.

Junta representatives did not respond to calls seeking comment about its response to protests.

ESCALATION

Conflict between the military and ethnic groups is already escalating.

On Saturday, Myanmar military fighter jets dropped bombs on territory held by the KNU in the ethnic Karen region, for the first time in more than 20 years, killing several people and sending thousands fleeing to Thailand.

Villagers along the mountainous Myanmar-Thailand border say they are increasingly frightened they will have to flee, some for the second or third time in their lives.

In Mae Sam Laep, a small village nestled in a valley in Thailand's Mae Hong Son province, gunfire resounded through the hills this week as Karen troops clashed with the military on the other side of the Salween River.

Thai media reported the KNU cut off supply routes several months ago to Tatmadaw troops positioned above the river.

Further north, in Huay Pu Kang village that is home to about 450 people from Myanmar's Kayan minority, including Isaac the former KNPP soldier, 31-year-old Mu Toh Tong Se Ti wept as she said relatives inside Myanmar had asked her to send money so they could prepare for war, but she had nothing to give.

Since the pandemic, the village has lost all of its income from tourism and her stall selling scarves and trinkets cannot turn a profit.

The village chief, 53-year-old Ku Nong, said he was both worried and hopeful. Many older people from his village in Myanmar had already fled into the jungles but the youth were continuing to protest, he said.

"I think this time around there will be more death," he said. "But we will definitely get democracy."

The junta has justified the coup by saying that a November election won by the NLD was fraudulent. It has pledged to restore democracy, without saying when.

(Reporting by Poppy McPherson and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Massachusetts has some of the most charming small cities in the U.S., although two stand out among the rest.

TravelMag.com named the top 30 most charming small cities in the U.S., which included Falmouth and Salem.

The magazine asked a broad number of professional writers, photographers and travel industry specialists to select their favorite five small cities. This included places with a population between 10,000 and 250,000, according to the website. The final list included the cities that got the most votes.

According to the US Census Bureau, as of 2019, there were at least 780 cities with a population of 50,000 people or more in the country, and many more above 10,000, the website states. Naturally, many fantastic cities didnt make the list.

Heres what the magazine had to say about Falmouth:

When you head even further up the North Atlantic coast of the US, the cities arent just named after British kings, but after British towns. Falmouth, first settled in 1660, is one such place. The city retains a laid-back rural charm, along with all the classic Cape Cod tropes such as the squat, white Nobska Lighthouse, waterfront seafood shacks, quaint wineries, and pleasant sandy beaches. For nature lovers, there are numerous wildlife refuges and conservation areas with hiking and kayaking, such as Waquoit Bay. And when youre ready to explore farther afield, Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket islands are just a short ferry ride away.

Heres what the magazine had to say about Salem:

Its impossible for most people to disassociate Salem from witches. But the site of the infamous witch trials of 1692 has so much more to offer visitors. The Peabody Essex Museum holds a large permanent collection of Asian and American fine art. Being a major early port on the North Atlantic, there are some superb buildings at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, as well as the Friendship of Salem, a 171-foot (52m) replica of an 18th-century trading ship. Okay, youre probably still wondering about the witches though, and youd be right to do so, for there are dozens of museums and colonial mansions linked to the citys gruesome passage of history. A good place to start is a 17th-century wooden building known as The Witch House.

Other New England locations included, Newport, Rhode Island; Providence, Rhode Island and Portland, Maine.

For the full list, click here.

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Review: Michelle Pfeiffer has a feast with French Exit View Photo

Is there any living actor better at the disdainful eye roll than Michelle Pfeiffer? Her latest turn in  French Exit  should end all debate on the matter. The film itself is a bit of an odd duckling. Its arch, cold and self-consciously contrived, works more often than it doesnt. Pfeiffer is flawless in her most delicious performance in years as a New York society woman who has, much to her aloof annoyance, run out of money.

Pfeiffers Frances Price is a dying breed, literally and figuratively, a refined and caustic socialite who Slim Aarons probably photographed a few times over the years. Shes the kind who would never lower herself to something as uncouth as a certain reality show franchise. Even the word socialite is probably vile to someone like Frances. Shes been coasting through her own life in the 12 years since her husbands death. And now shes found herself living out a cliche she wasnt prepared for: Her money is so old, its gone.

Shed planned to die before it ran out, she says, but then she just kept on living. Now broke, she has no choice but to quietly sell everything for cash and flee on a transatlantic crossing to a friends luxurious apartment in Paris with her dilettante son Malcolm (Lucas Hedges) and striking black cat, Small Frank, in tow. Its unclear how Hedges ended up as a crossing companion to older female relatives in two movies this year (including opposite Meryl Streep in Let Them All Talk) but its a role he wears comfortably. And Malcolm and Frances are a more eccentric bunch: They drink martinis, wine and champagne all day every day, they go to leisurely lunches, they over enunciate their consonants and use contractions sparingly and denim does not seem to be in their vocabulary or their wardrobes.

And theres an even quirkier ensemble that comes together in Paris: The deadpan psychic (played amusingly by Danielle Macdonald) who has an uncanny knack for predicting deaths of which there are more than youd think on a standard cruise ship; The earnest widow (Valerie Mahaffey) around the block who sets out to befriend Frances after years of worshipping her from afar; A private detective played by Isaac De Bankole; Malcolms girlfriend (Imogen Poots) who he left behind in New York. But this is no mere Whit Stillman/Wes Anderson homage. No, its much weirder than that. The cat, for one, is (probably) Frances dead husband Frank reincarnated. And yes, Small Frank is voiced by Tracy Letts.

French Exit is a collaboration between director Azazel Jacobs and author Patrick deWitt, who adapted his own novel for the screen. As I mentioned previously, it doesnt always work, but the writing is sharp, the performers top-notch and the set designs achingly beautiful. And how can you quibble too much with a film that is such a wonderful showcase for Pfeiffer? There is unambiguous joy in watching her wage and win a silent battle with a snobby French waiter (her weapons include spray perfume and a lighter), sure, but there are subtle moments too. Frances is not just a one note rich lady and somewhere within all the artifice and pretention, there is a surprisingly moving tale about living while knowing that death is imminent. Not since Darren Aronofskys Mother! has she had a such a great showing. Its truly a mystery why she missed out on an Oscar nomination for this one, but I hope its a reminder to filmmakers out there that Pfeiffer is still at the top of her game. She just needs something to sink her teeth into.

French Exit, a Sony Pictures Classics release in theaters Friday, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for language and sexual references. Running time: 110 minutes. Three stars out of four.

-

MPAA Definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

-

Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr

By LINDSEY BAHR

AP Film Writer
Work starts on robot centres in Edinburgh and Salford

Construction has started on a research facility for robotics and artificial intelligence in Edinburgh that will be the largest and most advanced of its type in the UK.

Based at Heriot-Watt University, the National Robotarium is being supported by 21m from the UK Government, and 1.4m from the Scottish Government. Expected to open in Spring 2022, it will bring together academics and global companies, with the aim of

answering global challenges through research, early-stage product development and industry collaboration. It is also intended to act as a catalyst for robotics entrepreneurs.

Key areas of research application will include manufacturing, human-robot interaction, hazardous environments, offshore energy, construction, healthcare and agricultural technology.

Professors Helen Hastie and Yvan Petillot will be the joint academic leads. The National Robotarium will form a centre of excellence for fundamental research and knowledge exchange to address real-world challenges and industry needs, says Hastie.

Professor Petillot adds: The cutting-edge resources provided by the new facility, combined with the expertise of our researchers, will put us in a highly competitive position to elevate the UK onto the global stage in robotics and AI technologies.

The Robotarium is a collaboration between Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh.

Work has also begun on the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre (Neric) at the University of Salford. The centre, due to open next year, has received 3.6m of funding from Research England, in addition to funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

An artists impression of the National Robotarium, which is due to open in Edinburgh next year

Neric, part of a 2.5bn plan to regenerate Salford and its region, will provide SMEs with a hub where they can access academics, work collaboratively, and test and validate technologies before deploying them.

Dr Georgina Harris, director of engineering at the University of Salford says the latest funding will help the centre to recruit robotics specialists, invest in facilities, and play a pivotal role in the technology transfer from innovative research to industrial deployment.

The National Robotarium: Twitter LinkedIn

Salford University / NERC: Twitter Facebook
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. Russia has good relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan, President Vladimir Putins spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in an interview to the Argumenti I Fakti newspaper.

We have excellent relations of trust with Azerbaijan based on mutual respect. These relations can have many aspects of mutual interest. We have historically good relations with Armenia as well. We have numerous integration processes which give significant benefit to Armenia, both politically and economically, Peskov said.

The Kremlin spokesperson stressed that everyone ought to remember President Putins personal role in achieving the armistice which ended the second Nagorno Karabakh war in 2020.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 21:48:47|Editor: huaxia

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JOHANNESBURG, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The mining sector of South Africa on Tuesday expressed concern over the possibility of high COVID-19 infection during the Easter holidays leading to the third wave of the pandemic.

The Minerals Council South Africa said the Easter and the school holidays could see a lot of people traveling, thereby increasing the COVID-19 infection.

"The Minerals Council is conscious that a significant post-Easter spike in infections, with subsequent increases in hospitalizations and deaths would have serious negative consequences for the industry, for the economy, and for all South Africans," said the Minerals Council spokesperson Charmane Russell. "With that in mind, we call on employees and communities to exercise extreme caution over the long weekend, to avoid travel wherever possible, and to behave responsibly if travel is unavoidable."

Russell said the mining sector has come up with a plan to mitigate against the third wave, including screening employees who come back from international travel, Easter break and funerals.

"That communication with employees (including contractors) and communities about measures to avoid or mitigate a third wave should be intensified with immediate effect," she said.

This comes at a time when the COVID-19 national command council met Tuesday to come up with measures to mitigate against spreading COVID-19 during the Easter holidays. The government and medical specialists have cautioned that Easter holidays could be high spreader in religious gatherings and local and international travels. Enditem
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The switch from China to Vietnam by Apple supplier Foxconn has sparked a fear of job losses in many Chinese people.

Vietnamese workers apply for jobs at Luxshare, an Apple partner, in the northern province of Bac Giang in June 2020. Photo courtesy of Luxshare Precision Industry.

The news that Foxconn received a license in January to build a plant to manufacture laptops and tablets in Vietnams northern province of Bac Giang starting in the first half of this year has got hundreds of millions of views and thousands of comments on Chinas largest social media site Weibo.

There had been 502 threads with 5.6 million views under the hastag Apple moving part of its production to Vietnam on Weibo as of January 30.

"Apple, the worlds biggest tablet maker, could start manufacturing iPads in Vietnam by the middle of this year, marking the first time it produces a significant number of tablets outside of China," Chinese technology company Sina said.

Many Chinese said initially Vietnam lacks the capability to make Apples high-quality products, but reports that Apple has started iPhone, MacBook and HomePod mini manufacturing in Vietnam have apparently got many Chinese worried.

A user with the name Zhang Qin Qin wrote: "We were wrong [about Vietnam not being able to produce Apple products]. Now even the earphones are produced in Vietnam. Soon enough millions of Chinese workers will lose their jobs."

Others feared that other foreign technology companies would also pull out of China.

"Samsung has left [Samsung shut down its last factory in Chinas Huizhou city in 2019], and also Apple."

Another user, Xing Wang, said: "Production shifting to countries outside of China is a threat to not only the technology industry but also the whole economy. What will the future of unemployed Chinese workers be?"

However, some believe there are still limitations to Vietnamese production compared to China. According to the Chinese newspaper Global Times, China has developed the most complete industrial and supply chains in the world, with thousands or even tens of thousands of suppliers available for manufacturing sophisticated products, and Vietnam is still far from having such a foundation of suppliers.

Besides, China's infrastructure, including roads, ports and other logistical support, also outperforms Vietnam's infrastructure. "There is no need to panic about the current manufacturing shift to Vietnam, which is totally normal, and inevitable, in the market economy," said the Global Times.

Japanese newspaper Nikkei said Apples ramping up production outside China has benefited Vietnam. Foxconn has invested $270 million in a plant to manufacture laptops and tablets in Vietnam.

Apples Chinese supplier Luxshare Precision Industry is expanding its HomePod mini production capacity in Bac Giang.

Chinese company GoerTek, a key contract manufacturer for Apple, began manufacturing AirPods Pro, AirPods Max and HomePod mini in Vietnam in 2020.
Name a more iconic couple, as they say online. King Kong and Godzilla first fought it out way back in 1962, under the auspices of Toho, the Japanese studio responsible for the original Godzilla films: the upshot was inconclusive, allowing for a second round in 1967s King Kong Escapes.

Now the old rivals are back in the ring, this time with the backing of a Hollywood studio (with funding coming ultimately from Chinese sources).

Godzilla vs. Kong follows on directly from the two previous Godzilla films released as part of Warner Bros largely disappointing MonsterVerse product line. That means a relatively straight-faced approach, in contrast to the retro frivolity of the 1970s-set Kong: Skull Island, also part of the MonsterVerse.

Overseeing the mayhem is director Adam Wingard, who started out making wittily brutal low-budget horror films before becoming a studio gun for hire. Absolutely no sign of his old personality is evident here, where hes working from a script by any number of hands.

As in the Godzilla films, the ensemble cast has been chosen to entice the maximum number of demographics. Millie Bobby Brown returns as Madison Russell, the teenage daughter of scientists working for the Monarch program which monitors the behaviour of titans like Godzilla (Kyle Chandler, really phoning it in, is also back briefly as her dad).

The more prominently featured newcomers include Alexander Skarsgard and Rebecca Hall as further scientists, and Brian Tyree Henry as a conspiracy-minded podcaster. His paranoid theories are treated sympathetically, and dont contradict the films implied outlook, which  again as in the 2014 Godzilla and its sequel  is pro-monster on the whole.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-31 05:25:34|Editor: huaxia

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RIYADH, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz launched on Tuesday the Shareek (Partner) program to promote partnership with the private sector in the kingdom.

The program, which targets domestic companies, aims to boost the resilience of the national economy and support sustainable growth and prosperity, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The crown prince predicted that the program will create thousands of new jobs and raise the contribution of the private sector to GDP by up to 65 percent by the end of the decade.

The program will offer a total investment of 5 trillion Saudi riyals (1.33 trillion U.S. dollars) locally by the end of 2030.

Besides the program, 3 trillion riyals will be injected by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, by 2030 as announced earlier this year. In addition, 4 trillion riyals will be invested by the National Investment Strategy.

The program is expected to raise the global ranking of the Saudi Arabian economy to the 15th from the current 18th, according to the SPA.

The first Memorandums of Understanding between large companies and the Shareek program are expected to be signed starting June, it said.

The Shareek program is part of the many ones launched by Saudi Arabia in recent years to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil revenues. Enditem
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LONDON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the conversations around summer travel continue, new data from independent research firm OnePoll[1] reveals what consumers will value most when booking future trips.

Overall, the findings show that nearly 6 out of 10 (57%) of US respondents stated they will be seeking a wider choice of airline and accommodation providers to book with in comparison to pre-pandemic. With just one in four Americans set to prioritize an airline brand when booking their next trip overseas.

With consumers now seeking more choice, the eDreams.net OTA model becomes even more relevant for travelers as it enables them to access the entire global travel market in a one-stop-shop. This also benefits airline and accommodation providers, as they can sell seats and rooms to customers who are less loyal to a particular airline and hotel brand compared to pre-pandemic, and more likely to compare and combine different travel providers for a summer holiday.

Pablo Caspers, Chief Travel Officer at eDreams ODIGEO, commented, "We have spent time over the last 12 months ensuring we are well-positioned to cater to post-pandemic traveler priorities.

Travel is expected to resume in some capacity this summer and with over half of the USA stating that they will value having a wider choice of airline and accommodation providers to book with than pre-pandemic, we are best placed to respond to this growing traveler appetite.

"With airlines having cancelled millions of flights over the past 12 months, most travelers want a wider choice of airlines to consider and will select carriers that have proven to be reliable and customer-centric during the pandemic.

"After a year of disruption and national lockdowns people are keen to plan trips abroad, but they are assessing more than the flight time, outbound airport and holiday destination. Travelers are looking for competitive fares, convenient routes, flexible booking policies, Covid-19 insurance cover and hygiene scores and this is where we excel."



[1] An independent poll was carried out by OnePoll for eDreams ODIGEO. 2,000 US adults who have travelled as an adult were surveyed.

SOURCE eDreams ODIGEO

Related Links

https://www.edreams.net/


President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed Commissioner of Immigration (COI), Isaac Owusu Mensah as the new Deputy Comptroller-General of Immigration (DCGI) in charge of Finance and Administration.

He was thus decorated with the rank by the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, at the National Headquarters of the Service in Accra.

A statement signed and issued by Superintendent Michael Amoako-Atta, Head of Public Affairs, Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), said, the appointment was pursuant to Section 16, {1} of the Ghana Immigration Service Act 2016, Act 908.

It noted that Mr Mensah had held various command positions with over 28 years' experience in all aspects of Immigration operations including Enforcement, Intelligence, Communications, Human Resource and Border Management.

Until his appointment, the statement said, the new Deputy Comptroller-General was the Head of Border Management Department and also served as the Regional Commander for the Volta and Greater Accra Regions at different times.

He was at one time the Head of the Human Resource Department and later Head of the Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Department and held other key positions at the National Headquarters of Ghana Immigration Service.

He becomes the second Senior Officer to attain this height, following the retirement of Mrs Judith Dzokoto-Lomoh after the passage of Immigration Service Act 908 which replaced PNDC Law 226 in March 2016, creating the need to restructure the ranking system in the Service.

Mr Takyi charged the new Deputy Comptroller-General of Immigration to bring his years of experience to bear on his new role, build a strong team, and realign the human resource and administrative functions of the Service.

"Strive for excellence at all times and endeavor to leave a legacy that would stand the test of time," he noted.
China has joined the global race to distribute its COVID-19 vaccine Sinovac as 300,000 doses arrived Monday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The arrival of the Ethiopian Airlines cargo plane from Beijing was met by Ethiopian Health Minister Lia Tadesse and China's Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan.

Before delivering statements to the media, a banner reading "Through solidarity, we will prevail" was unfurled as a backdrop to the news briefing.

"President Xi was second to none to pledge that China will make its vaccines a global public good, thus improving vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries," said Zhao Zhiyuan.

Tadesse applauded the donation by China saying she was "grateful to receive this donation" and it will "support and augment the coverage of our population in terms of insuring the controls of this pandemic and reducing morbidity and mortality."

The Sinovac vaccine works by introducing dead viral particles to expose the immune system to the disease without risking serious illness.

(Image Credit: AP)

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
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Damian Harmony (above), who teaches at John F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento, made the remarks to the school board

A California teacher appeared to suggest that parents who want to send their children back to school are white supremacists who 'bullied a board into making schools less safe for teachers and kids'.

Damian Harmony, who teaches Latin at John F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento, made the remarks to the school board.

He later posted the content to Facebook, but as of Tuesday morning, it has been deleted from his page.

During his remarks, Harmony said: 'I come to you as a grateful parent. I'm grateful that I kept my children home. And I'm especially grateful for what I heard from parents last week. Until then, the only way I could measure the level of white supremacy in my neighborhood was the Next Door app.

'The people clamoring for a district to break its legally-negotiated MOU with teachers who are going to be teaching their own children, who treat the teachers' efforts as though they've not been exhausting and ever-present, while also going through a pandemic themselves, made it much easier.'

Harmony continued: 'I'm as disappointed as I am unsurprised that last week, we all had to hear all the cynical, pearl-clutching, faux-urgency, ableist, structurally White-supremacist, hysteria, even as teachers were moving forward with an MOU that already put them in harm's way and was asking too much of a beleaguered group of professionals.'

He then accused them of bullying 'a school board into making the schools less safe for the teachers and children'.

'And you nearly succeeded, making complicit two of its members  who are still meeting virtually, but deciding that others must meet in person. You've attempted to bully a school board into acting in bad faith with teachers of your children.'

During his remarks, Harmony blasted the parents who are pushing for in-person instruction to return

'This is who you are. Our children are watching, and you showed them, and your teachers, that you value neither. During a pandemic. God help us all if there's another one, because you sure as hell won't,' Harmony added.

Some groups, including Reopen California Schools, responded to the post by demanding an apology from district administrators.

'A @officialSCUSD teacher in Sacramento publicly calling parents white supremacists and bullies that speak in favor of in-person learning. I thought we were done with this. @officialSCUSD, please make sure the parents in your district get an apology,' the group tweeted on Sunday.

A spokesperson from the Sacramento City Unified School District told Fox News that Harmony's comments were 'not made in his capacity as a district employee of Sacramento City Unified School District, but in his personal capacity and through the public comment portion during a different school district's board meeting regarding that district's reopening plan'.

'The tone and sentiment of his personal statement does not reflect the official opinions or policy of Sacramento City Unified School District,' the spokesperson added.

On March 20, the Sacramento City Unified School District announced that it will be ready to welcome students back to in-person learning by April 8.

'The district is moving forward with its reopening Return Together Plan and has reached agreement with the Sacramento City Teachers Association, after months of negotiations,' a statement from the district reads. Sacramento City Unified will be one of the last districts in the region to return to in-person instruction.

Getting students back into classrooms has been a fraught issue nationwide, pitting politicians against powerful teachers unions.

On March 20, the Sacramento City Unified School District announced that it will be ready to welcome students back to in-person learning by April 8. Harmony teaches at the John F. Kennedy High School

Earlier this month, Gov Gavin Newsom signed into law a plan offering California's public schools the opportunity to tap into $6.6billion in a bid to try and pressure districts to reopen classrooms.

After nearly a year of distance learning for most K-12 students during the coronavirus pandemic, parents in the nation's most populated state say they are frustrated and losing hope their children will see the inside of a classroom this year.

The law does not require school districts to resume in-person instruction. Instead, the state is dangling $2billion before cash-strapped school boards, offering them a share only if they start offering in-person instruction by month's end. The rest of the money would go toward helping students catch up.

Teachers from some of the biggest districts have come out against it, saying schools can't reopen until infection rates drop and enough educators have been vaccinated.

Among them is the powerful United Teachers of Los Angeles, whose members voted to reject what they called an unsafe return for the second-largest district in the nation.

The union slammed the reopening plan as 'a recipe for propagating structural racism' by benefiting wealthier, whiter areas with lower infection rates.

'This vote signals that in these most trying times, our members will not accept a rushed return that would endanger the safety of educators, students, and families,' union President Cecily Myart-Cruz said.

While California businesses have opened and closed through the ups and downs of the pandemic, many school boards have not been willing to return students to classrooms as they have struggled with the costs to implement safety standards and negotiations with teachers unions.

OpenSchoolsCA, a parents' group that has advocated for in-person schooling, called the legislation 'another failed attempt' at reopening classrooms that won't be enough to persuade many districts, especially in large cities.

The new law also sets aside $4.6billion for all districts to help students catch up, 85 per cent of which must be used for in-person learning.
Sitting in a doctor's lounge today, listening to the realities of the practice of medicine in 2021, you can't help but wonder why anyone still does this job. That said, it is quite obvious that bright, caring, and motivated people are still choosing to do this for a living. A lot of that good fortune is due to the respect given to having doctors in the family in our immigrant communities, especially first-generation Asians.

The typical M.D. spends four years in college, four years in medical school, a year in internship, and two to five more years in residency. Fellowships in specialties are another year or two, and that doesn't include possible years spent in research. As a result, there are doctors still paying off educational loans well into their forties. Part of that reality is because a lot of physicians don't make much money.

A family practitioner recently signed with our "big city" hospital group with a guarantee for $45K a year. Some pediatricians are offered even less. The cost of malpractice insurance is a benefit offered by the employing hospital corporation, making this more palatable, but any chance of getting ahead financially is laughable at that salary, even with production incentives, personal medical insurance coverage, and 401(k)s.

More money can be made if you choose to live outside large metropolitan areas. But most physicians have a tough sell asking their wives and children to "live in the boonies," especially if they are of Indian, Pakistani, Korean, Chinese, or Japanese descent. Cultural and social support in big cities is real, making it hard to think of working in relative isolation. Intellectual stimulation is also greater when in large hospitals with active programs in things like cancer care. Peer support has great value. But it often comes with the reality of being paid less while the cost of living in these areas is high.

And while their fellow immigrant friends are striking it rich in fields like information technology, small business, and the stock market, M.D.s are making less each year. This is uncomfortable socially, when they are expected to show largesse with the presumed wealth generated by being a doctor. Most Americans would be shocked at the costs incurred in things like Indian weddings  paying for your future in-laws to fly to the United States and be put up in luxury hotels, fed, and entertained for weeks on your dime. First-born Asians have the weight of their entire families on their shoulders. They are the financial anchors. Many have resultant anxiety disorders.

Given these trends in medicine and politics, we are fortunate to have them. Entrepreneurial personalities with big financially rewarded dreams and a strong drive to succeed no matter the personal cost in time and potential risk are not suited for the future. This may be the last decade in which first-generation immigrants still desire to put in the work to become doctors. Medicine is still respected enough to attract the best and brightest in this community. For now.
Some of the early successes for heterologous prime-boosts came in the search for vaccines for Ebola. Many researchers focused their efforts on presenting the immune system with a protein found on the surface of the Ebola virus.

The gene for that protein was inserted into a different, harmless virus. When people received an injection of the vaccine, the harmless virus entered their cells; the cells then read the instructions in the Ebola gene and mass-produced Ebolas surface protein. The immune system encountered the Ebola protein and made antibodies against it. And those antibodies protected the vaccinated people if they became infected with a full-blown Ebola virus.

This type of vaccine, called a viral vector vaccine, came with a big risk: The recipients might develop immunity to the viral vector after just the first dose. When the second dose arrived, their immune systems could swiftly wipe out the viral vector before it delivered its payload.

A number of vaccine makers decided to sidestep this potential threat by using different viruses for each dose. That way, the viral vectors in the second dose would be as new to the immune system as the first was. In 2017, for example, researchers at the Gamaleya Research Institute in Russia created an Ebola vaccine whose first dose contained a virus called an adenovirus. The second shot used another virus, called vesicular stomatitis virus.

When the Covid-19 pandemic began last year, the Gamaleya researchers used a similar strategy to create vaccines against the new coronavirus. The first dose used the same adenovirus as in their Ebola vaccine, called Ad5. The second dose contained a different human adenovirus, Ad26. The researches inserted a gene into both viruses for the protein on the surface of the coronavirus, called spike.

Studies revealed that the vaccine, now known as Sputnik V, provided a strong defense against Covid-19. In clinical trials, the researchers found that it had an efficacy of 91.6 percent. Sputnik V is now in use in Russia and 56 other countries.

Recently, the Gamaleya institute joined forces with AstraZeneca, which makes its own Covid-19 vaccine. AstraZenecas consists of two doses of a chimpanzee adenovirus called ChAdOx1. Last week, the company reported that its vaccine had an efficacy of 76 percent.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 14:11:02|Editor: huaxia

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Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) in Manama, Bahrain, March 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Tu Yifan)

MANAMA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday expressed China's wishes to work with Bahrain to set an example of equal treatment, mutual respect and mutual benefit between big and small countries.

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Bahrain's capital Manama. He conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's kind regards to King Hamad.

"We cherish the positive progress that China-Bahrain relations have made over the years," Wang said, adding that China has always advocated equality among all countries regardless of their size.

Wang said that China appreciates Bahrain's consistent and firm support for China on issues concerning China's core interests, and is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Bahrain in political, economic and trade, cultural and other fields, so as to promote the friendly and cooperative relations between the two sides to advance with the times, benefit the two peoples, and boost regional peace and development.

China, to the best of its ability, will continue to provide support and assistance to Bahrain in its fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, Wang added.

Noting that the current tendency of politicizing the human rights issue deserves high vigilance, Wang pointed out that some Western countries frequently use human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries' internal affairs and undermine their stability, which in fact violates the value of human rights.

All countries should uphold the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and abide by the basic norms governing international relations, Wang said, stressing that major countries in particular should play a leading role in this regard.

China is willing to strengthen solidarity and coordination with Bahrain and other developing countries, safeguard the two countries' common interests, protect the development right of developing countries, and uphold international fairness and justice, said Wang.

China firmly supports Bahrain in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and stability, and is happy to see Bahrain play an active role in maintaining regional peace, Wang said.

King Hamad asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to President Xi and said that Bahrain and China have established sound mutual trust and achieved fruitful results in bilateral cooperation, which has strongly supported Bahrain's development, and for which the kingdom is very grateful.

Bahrain wishes to push for further in-depth development of bilateral relations on the current basis and holds a positive attitude towards strengthening cooperation with China in political, economic and other fields, the king added.

King Hamad pointed out that Bahrain is among the first countries to cooperate with China in carrying out the Phase III international clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine and hopes to continue to deepen the vaccine cooperation with China.

Bahrain admires China's achievements in its development and opposes narrow views on concepts of human rights, agrees to adhere to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, supports China in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, and backs China's efforts in maintaining regional and world peace and development, he stressed.

The two sides also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern.

Wang also met with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and held talks with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on the same day. Enditem
KALAMAZOO, MI  The city of Kalamazoo received a COVID-19 violation after an inspector made contact with city utility workers, the city confirmed to MLive today.

On Jan. 26, 2021, an inspector with the Michigan Occupational Safety & Health Administration observed a Kalamazoo Public Services crew making a utility repair on Portage Street during an unscheduled inspection, Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain said.

The inspector talked with city staff and indicated there were three violations:

Not having an on-site COVID safety coordinator

Not observing social distancing

Not wearing face coverings

The city received a violation notice in February and the city appealed the violation, in particular the part about having an on-site COVID safety coordinator for every work site, Chamberlain said.

The city explained to MIOSHA that Kalamazoo has training, written COVID safety plans and policies as well as safety coordinators for the city and the department.

Chamberlain said every day there are multiple work crews spread around the county, and having a separate safety coordinator for each crew  some of which may be just one or two staff at a time  is not practical.

The staff involved had previously received COVID-19 safety training and instructions prior to this incident, and the city has a written face coverings policy for staff which has been in place since May 2020. Because the actions were a violation of our COVID safety policy, city staff involved received disciplinary actions in accordance with collective bargaining agreements, Chamberlain said.

Last week, MIOSHA verbally informed the city that the state is reducing the violations and the fine to $1,750 for the lack of face coverings by the employees, Chamberlain said. The city is waiting to receive a written revised notice.

The city has not yet paid the fine but will do so upon receiving the revised notice, Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain said, since the beginning of the pandemic, the city has been proactive and diligent about adhering to COVID-19 safety guidance and rules. Safety plans, policies and training have been in place for all departments and city facilities since they were required by the state in 2020, Chamberlain said.

The city has held virtual electronic meetings due to the pandemic, and the states rules that limit the number of people who can gather together in a space.

The city of Kalamazoo was among 44 entities that received violations that were announced on March 29, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration said. MIOSHA has given out a total of 171 violations related to the pandemic. The list includes businesses and a few other government agencies.

MIOSHA unveiled a new dashboard to show which entities have had COVID-19 violations, which also shows which businesses have fixed the issues and have had their cases closed. The dashboard will be updated with the newest violations every Friday afternoon.

Read more:

Portage students win investigative news award for coverage of districts return to school

$17 million in emergency rental assistance available to Kalamazoo County residents in need

Ascension Borgess moves to no visitors policy amid statewide COVID-19 spike
Broadcaster Eamonn Holmes has thanked fans for sharing their stories after revealing he has been suffering from chronic pain.

Broadcaster Eamonn Holmes has thanked fans for sharing their stories after revealing he has been suffering from chronic pain.

The Belfast man (61) tweeted an image of himself on a physio table on Tuesday after admitting at the weekend he has been suffering from insomnia due to chronic pain in a series of late night tweets.

His latest tweet said: "Starting the day by tackling the pain from the night before ..... On the Physio table. Chronic pain. Just can't get it to go away.

"Sadly so many of you know the feeling. Thanks for sharing your stories.

"I'm determined to beat this ...however much it hurts."

Starting the day by tackling the pain from the night before ..... On the Physio table. Chronic pain . Just can't get it to go away 

Sadly so many of you know the feeling. Thanks for sharing your stories.

I'm determined to beat this ...however much it hurts. pic.twitter.com/j3fRf1Mozi  Eamonn Holmes (@EamonnHolmes) March 30, 2021

The television presenter had shared his sleeping struggles with his one million Twitter fans in a series of tweets at around 2.30am on last Friday morning.

The broadcasting legend admitted that the "night is worse" and he feels there is "no escape" from the pain he is suffering.

The media personality chatted to several other followers on the social media platform who were also struggling to sleep in the early hours.

Replying to one fan who tweeted that she had been awake since 2am due to "an illness that mirrors MS, which causes neuropathy and is very uncomfortable", Eamonn added: "I just want people who suffer to know there are others and maybe they can talk to each other and swap advice on here?"

Holmes underwent a double hip operation in 2016 after suffering what he described as "25 years of agony".

At the time of his operation, he was still presenting the Sunrise programme on Sky News as well as his Friday stint on This Morning with wife Ruth Langsford.

He took a 10 week break from the front of the camera following the surgery in order to recover, but he and Ruth kept fans updated on his progress throughout.

The star had been suffering from hip pains from as early as his 20s.

Following the operation, he said: "I stand straighter, am an inch taller, can touch my toes and sit without pain."
In concert with its Connected for Better campaign, emphasizing business education's positive contributions to society, AACSB's 2021 Innovations That Inspire initiative showcases business schools creating positive impact through one of the following ways:

Cultivating a position at the intersection of academia and practice

Connecting with other disciplines

Driving innovation in higher education

The featured innovations address wide-ranging societal challenges including food insecurity, pandemic leadership, climate change, and gender equity. Examples include:

The University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management's COVID-19 Tracking Project, which uses hospitalization data from all 50 U.S. states to help quantify the impact of COVID-19 on local hospital systems, forecast future needs, and track changes in disease severity.

Carlson School of Management's COVID-19 Tracking Project, which uses hospitalization data from all 50 U.S. states to help quantify the impact of COVID-19 on local hospital systems, forecast future needs, and track changes in disease severity. IMD's Aquatis Innovation Challenge, which paired MBA students with Europe's largest freshwater aquarium to increase post-pandemic visitor engagement.

largest freshwater aquarium to increase post-pandemic visitor engagement. The American University of Beirut Suliman S. Olayan School of Business' Khaddit Beirut, a unique national initiative aimed at developing a community-led and locally driven roadmap to recovery following the Beirut explosion on August 4, 2020 .

"Business schools everywhere are defining impact objectives and strategies that align with the communities they serve, and the examples featured in AACSB's Innovations That Inspire initiative perfectly demonstrate business education as a force for good," said Caryn L. Beck-Dudley, AACSB president and CEO. "We are excited to honor these 24 business schools for their innovative approaches to society's challenges."

Now in its sixth year, the Innovations That Inspire initiative has highlighted more than 160 business school efforts that exemplify forward-looking approaches to education, research, community engagement or outreach, entrepreneurship, and leadership. To date, members of AACSB's Business Education Alliance have shared more than 1,000 innovations, creating a robust repository in AACSB's DataDirect portal to inform and inspire fellow members and the industry. Support for the 2021 Innovations That Inspire initiative is provided by Barco.

For an overview of all featured innovations, visit aacsb.edu/innovations-that-inspire.

About AACSB International

Established in 1916, AACSB International (AACSB) is the world's largest business education alliance, connecting educators, learners, and business to create the next generation of great leaders. With a presence in more than 100 countries and territories, AACSB fosters engagement, accelerates innovation, and amplifies impact in business education. Learn how AACSB is transforming business education for a better society at aacsb.edu.

SOURCE AACSB International

Related Links

http://www.aacsb.edu


Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Guam (Government of)Global Credit Research - 29 Mar 2021New York, March 29, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Guam (Government of) and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review discussion held on 24 March 2021 in which Moody's reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology(ies), recent developments, and a comparison of the financial and operating profile to similarly rated peers. The review did not involve a rating committee. Since 1 January 2019, Moody's practice has been to issue a press release following each periodic review to announce its completion.This publication does not announce a credit rating action and is not an indication of whether or not a credit rating action is likely in the near future. Credit ratings and outlook/review status cannot be changed in a portfolio review and hence are not impacted by this announcement. 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.Key rating considerations are summarized below.The Government of Guam's Ba1 issuer rating reflects the territory's above-average exposure to the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic because of the importance of international tourism to the territory's economy. We expect that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the government's finances and liquidity will be manageable in the near term largely as a result of substantial assistance received from the federal government and the continuation of significant military construction activity in the territory. Other key factors driving the government's credit include debt levels that are notably above US state medians but below those of other US territories; generally positive economic and financial trends in the years before the current crisis; and a favorable pension funding situation. The territory also faces above-average environmental exposures, especially typhoon risk and sea level rise.This periodic review also covered related credits within the territory's debt stack including any special tax, lease, appropriation and moral obligation, intercept program, and pool program ratings.This document summarizes Moody's view as of the publication date and will not be updated until the next periodic review announcement, which will incorporate material changes in credit circumstances (if any) during the intervening period.The principal methodology used for this review was US States and Territories published in April 2018. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.This announcement applies only to EU rated, UK rated, EU endorsed and UK endorsed ratings. Non EU rated, non UK rated, non EU endorsed and non UK endorsed ratings may be referenced above to the extent necessary, if they are part of the same analytical unit.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. Pisei Chea Lead Analyst State Ratings Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 7 World Trade Center 250 Greenwich Street New York 10007 US JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Timothy Blake MANAGING DIRECTOR Municipal Supported Products JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653  2021 Moodys Corporation, Moodys Investors Service, Inc., Moodys Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, MOODYS). All rights reserved.CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS AFFILIATES ARE THEIR CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES, AND MATERIALS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY MOODYS (COLLECTIVELY, PUBLICATIONS) MAY INCLUDE SUCH CURRENT OPINIONS. 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Action civics is the means through which the left intends to indoctrinate students in radical dogma and enlist them as foot soldiers in radical activism. It has already effectively been imposed by law in Illinois and Massachusetts.

But to perform its full transformative function, action civics needs to penetrate Red States. Thats why this report by Stanley Kurtz  Civics Showdown in Texas  is alarming.

Stanley writes:

Texas is target number one in the Lefts play to turn the red states blue with a radicalized version of civics.. . . Several civics bills have been introduced into the Texas Legislature and they run the gamut from 1) a bill that would impose leftist political indoctrination patterned on the Illinois and Massachusetts models on Texas; 2) stealth bills that would do the same over time; 3) a bill that would do no immediate harm but would offer no protections against the encroachments of action civics; 4) bills that would encourage civics, properly understood, while also protecting against the abuses represented by action civics and critical race theory.

Stanley provides his usual thorough run down of each piece of legislation. He points out that the second such bill is sponsored by a conservative Republican, Keith Bell. In its own way, his proposal is at least as dangerous as the first one.

The third bill, sponsored by Texas Senate Education Committee Chair Larry Taylor, has merit. But Stanley warns:

[O]verreaching leftist bureaucrats (and Texas does have some) might still find a way to get around it and impose action civics. It would not be difficult to take advantage of a provision in existing law calling on educators to keep abreast of the development of creative and innovative techniques of instruction, to start sliding action civics into the schools.

The only good outcome, then, would be a legislative ban on the whole menu of action civics techniques. Identical bills offered by Republican State Representatives Steve Toth and James White bar action civics and the teaching of critical race theory altogether.

As awful as critical race theory is, Stanley finds the ban on teaching it problematic. He explains that banning ideas from the classroom, even where the right to do so exists, invites abuse and blowback. In addition, he worries about state curriculum bans overriding local authority.

Stanley concludes on a broader note:

A broad coalition has now organized to oppose action civics. Up to now, legislators could not be expected to recognize or anticipate this stealthy education initiative from the left. Henceforth, however, the stakes are out in the open. Should legislators impose leftist protests and indoctrination on K-12 systems in their states via action civics, voters will hold them responsible.

Texas voters, I would hope, would be especially quick to do so.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University and the University of Cincinnati consistently ranked in the top 100 for graduate programs in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The publication, known for its consumer rankings of education programs, uses different methods to rank each area of graduate study. For example, this year, researchers brought in new data from the American Academy of Family Physicians for medical programs and added more debt indicators for law school. Breaking down the rankings individually allows researchers to explore the factors that matter for each area of study, though only some of the areas take into account affordability or debt incurred.

The business school rankings use student placement as a factor, but do not use student debt, but the law school rankings use average debt for a degree at graduation. Other rankings, like one set of nursing rankings, incorporate research activity into the rankings. Each student should review how the rankings were designed, by clicking read methodology at the top of the respective page.

The site also lists most recently recorded tuition for each program, but potential students should check in with schools to get the most up-to-date information, as well as most recent offerings for scholarships and part-time learning.

Schools like CWRU and OSU also fared well in the overall rankings of colleges released for 2021, which were released in September 2020. CWRU ranked first in Ohio for national universities and OSU ranked second.

Heres a look at how Ohio schools ranked in graduate programs, though there are more areas to search on U.S. News & World Reports website. Unranked schools are not included in these listed, but are included on the rankings website. When there is a range listed for the universities, its because U.S. News grouped them together in those spots.

Masters in business

#33 overall: Ohio State University

#81 overall: Case Western Reserve University

#110-143 overall: John Carroll University, Kent State University, University of Cincinnati

Law schools

#40 overall: Ohio State University

#72 overall: Case Western Reserve University

#81 overall: University of Cincinnati

#116 overall: Cleveland State University (Cleveland-Marshall)

#119 overall: University of Dayton

#129 overall: University of Toledo

#134 overall: University of Akron

#147-193 overall: Capital University, Ohio Northern University

Masters in nursing

#9 overall: Ohio State University

#13 overall: Case Western Reserve University

#39 overall: University of Cincinnati

#71 overall: Kent State University

#81 overall: Cleveland State University

#97 overall: Ursuline College

#109 overall: University of Toledo

#119 overall: University of Akron

#139 overall: Mount St. Joseph University

#168-220 overall: Capital University, Wright State University

Masters in education

#28 overall - Ohio State University

#91 overall - University of Cincinnati

#103 overall - Kent State University

#111 overall - Bowling Green State University

#125 overall - Miami University, Ohio University

#178 overall - Cleveland State University

#185 overall - University of Dayton

#208 overall - University of Toledo

#211-277 overall - University of Findlay

See the full rankings here.
Dublin woman Paula Murphy has gone missing, and Gardai are appealing to the public for any information on her location.

Gardai are seeking the publics assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 51 year old Paula Murphy, who was last seen in the Phibsborough area of Dublin, on Saturday, March 27.

She is described as being 59 (180cm), of medium build with brown eyes and long blonde hair.

When last seen she was wearing a black bubble jacket, grey jeans and a green bag.

Anyone with information on Paulas whereabouts is asked to contact Mountjoy Garda Station on 01 666 8600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any other Garda Station.
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The Oregon Health Authority reported 415 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and six new deaths as cases continued to rise week over week.

The seven-day daily average is now 365 cases, the highest level since March 1. And the percent positivity rate on COVID-19 tests for the past week is 4%, the highest since Feb. 24. Tuesdays daily rate, 5.7%, is the highest since March 4.

State officials have taken notice of the increase in cases, especially because hospitalizations also shot up over the past week.

This is not too steep an increase yet, but it is something were definitely concerned about, particularly with this uptick in hospitalizations, Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state health officer and epidemiologist, told lawmakers Monday.

The rising metrics mirror a national trend. The reversals also come as the next wave of eligible Oregonians  frontline workers across a number of professions including transit workers, grocery store employees and disparate groups like bankers  are eligible Monday. People 16 and older with underlying medical conditions, and those who live in multi-generational households will also be eligible April 5, two weeks earlier than initially estimated.

Vaccines: Oregon reported 31,116 newly administered doses, which includes 14,312 doses administered Monday and 17,304 from previous days.

Where the new cases are by county: Baker (10), Benton (11), Clackamas (44), Clatsop (1), Columbia (8), Coos (5), Crook (6), Curry (7), Deschutes (11), Douglas (18), Grant (3), Harney (1), Jackson (31), Jefferson (1), Josephine (8), Klamath (12), Lake (3), Lane (15), Lincoln (1), Linn (8), Malheur (5), Marion (17), Morrow (1), Multnomah (78), Polk (12), Tillamook (5), Umatilla (9), Union (1), Wallowa (2), Washington (75) and Yamhill (6).

Who died: Oregons 2,376th COVID-19 death is a 65-year-old Coos County man who tested positive March 25 and died March 27 at Bay Area Hospital.

Oregons 2,377th death is a 93-year-old Jackson County woman who tested positive March 7 and died March 8 at Providence Medford Medical Center.

Oregons 2,378th death is an 85-year-old Marion County woman who tested positive Jan. 12 and died Feb. 8 at her residence.

Oregons 2,379th death is a 42-year-old Morrow County man who died March 30, 2020, at Good Shepherd Medical Center. The death certificate listed COVID-19 as a cause or significant condition contributing to death.

Oregons 2,380th death is an 80-year-old Union County man who tested positive March 22 and died March 29 at Grande Ronde Hospital.

Oregons 2,381st death is a 67-year-old Washington County woman who tested positive March 17 and died March 26 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

Each person who died had underlying medical conditions or state officials were working to determine if the person had underlying health conditions.

Hospitalizations: There are 139 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are hospitalized, three fewer than Mondays totals. There are 36 patients with COVID-19 in intensive care, one fewer than Mondays tally.

Since it began: Oregon has reported 164,570 confirmed or presumed infections and 2,381 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported 1,768,155 vaccine doses administered.

-- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen
Jacksonville Public Library will host a Zoom-based fireside chat April 14 with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer John Sandford and writer-journalist Carl Hiaasen.

Sandford is a best-selling author, novelist and former journalist whose 1986 Pulitzer Prize win in non-deadline feature writing was for a series he wrote on the Midwest farm crisis. His latest Lucas Davenport novel, Ocean Prey, is set for release April 13.

Hiaasen is retired from The Miami Herald. He has written several novels for adults and for teens, including Hoot, which was named a 2003 Newbery Honor Book and spawned a movie of the same name.

The free program starts at 7 p.m.

To register and receive Zoom login information, email Sara Snyder at ssnyder@jaxpl.org or call 217-243-5435. Questions participants would like to ask Sanford also may be submitted to Snyder by email by April 7.

 Angela Bauer
CLEVELAND, Ohio A Catholic school teachers aide is on leave amid an investigation into accusations the the aide physically abused a 4-year-old boy, officials said.

The incident happened about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. AgathaSt. Aloysius School on Lakeview Road, according to Cleveland EMS and a Cleveland Catholic Diocese spokesman James Armstrong.

The diocese put the teacher on leave immediately after accusations surfaced about the teacher who was engaged in physically abusive behavior, Armstrong said.

Cleveland EMS spokesman Commander Chris Chapin said an ambulance took the boy to University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital for treatment. He said the boy was in stable condition.

Cleveland police did not respond to messages seeking information on the incident, and if there were any arrests.

Read more from cleveland.com:

Man killed in shootout in Clevelands Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood

Cleveland man is shot before crashing vehicle in another fatal shooting on the citys East Side

Neighbors find Cleveland man dead in a field after they heard gunshots, police say

Man arrested in death of man at upscale bathhouse and spa in downtown Cleveland
(Natural News) A video has proven that a middle school science teacher in Massachusetts is a member of the far-left extremist organization Antifa. The video shows the teacher in question participating in an Antifa-organized protest by berating police officers and children.

Jill Sheridan is an eighth-grade science teacher at Qualters Middle School in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Pictures on her social media profiles prove that she is an active supporter of Black Lives Matter and the resistance against former President Donald Trump. (Related: Biden AG pick says Antifa, BLM attacks in Portland not domestic terrorism because they occurred after business hours.)

On Saturday, Mar. 20, Sheridan and several of her Antifa-affiliated friends went to the small town of Bridgewater, 14 miles east of Mansfield. They were supposed to participate in a Black Lives Matter rally. But before they did that, they traveled a mile to the other side of town with other Antifa and Black Lives Matter members in an attempt to disrupt an anti-Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown gathering.

While at the anti-lockdown protest, Sheridans three accomplices were arrested for allegedly assaulting police officers and illegally carrying firearms.

Sheridan, who goes by the alias Jay Marie on Facebook, bragged about participating in the event. She called the anti-lockdown protest an alt-right rally that featured domestic terrorists as speakers.

QAnon gear everywhere, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, wrote Sheridan, who also complained about how none of the speakers at the rally were Bridgewater locals. This town is insane. I wish I were making this up.

I was asking the cops if they were embarrassed to be standing in solidarity with people who, you know, killed cops, she added

Sheridans Facebook account also shows that she is a fan of Soviet Union founder Vladimir Lenin, and that she makes jokes about burning police officers alive.

She got into an argument online with several parents who bring their children to Qualters Middle School. During this virtual quarrel, Sheridan claimed that the schools administrators support and condone the fact that she is a member of Antifa, supports Black Lives Matter and is associated with people who get arrested for assaulting police officers while armed.

Anti-lockdown protesters clashed with Antifa agitators in Bridgewater

Sheridan was just one of many Antifa and Black Lives matter members at Legion Park, Bridgewater that day.

On one side were anti-lockdown protestors who were rallying against state and federally-imposed lockdown restrictions and mask mandates. They were mostly maskless, and held signs and posters with sayings like Free your face and My body, my choice means masks too. Many were also wearing pro-Trump attire.

On the other side were Antifa and Black Lives Matter agitators. Almost all of them wore masks to conceal their identities from the police officers who attempted to keep the peace. One person was photographed wearing a pig mask, and another had Abolish the police written over his mask. Some of the posters the counter-protestors held up had left-wing and anti-American slogans like Jail killer cops and This country blows, Blue lives dont exist.

The day of the anti-lockdown protest coincided with the World Wide Rally for Freedom and Democracy, an event held in multiple countries to protest against repressive economic lockdown restrictions.

The Bridgewater protest was organized through Facebook by a public event titled Spring FREE Rally. The description of the event said:

Are you ready to BUST OPEN on the first day of Spring and celebrate FREEDOM?  In [New England], join the FREEDOM LOVERS FESTIVAL Learn ways to take action in our great state, groups to join, businesses in the area that will welcome your support, information on businesses to open full capacity that offer FREEDOM of CHOICE for masks for patrons and employees alike, and more.

The organizers recommended that attendees bring blankets and lawn chairs because the event was scheduled to have multiple speakers, musical performances and other family-friendly activities.

Learn more about Antifas recent activities across the country by reading the latest articles at AntifaWatch.news.

Sources include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

TBDailyNews.com

EnterpriseNews.com
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at a press conference in Berlin, Germany, on Feb. 25, 2020. (David Gannon/AFP/Getty Images)

Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Require Hillary Clinton Deposition Over Email Server

The Supreme Court on March 29 turned down a request to require former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to testify in a case regarding the private email server she used to send classified documents while she served as secretary of state.

Justices denied an appeal from the watchdog Judicial Watch. They didnt explain their decision. The denial was one of about 100 issued by the court.

David Kendall, a lawyer for Clinton, told The Epoch Times via email, I have no comment: the Courts decision speaks for itself.

The Department of Justice, which was representing the State Department, declined to comment.

The decision upheld a lower courts ruling that Clinton does not have to sit for a deposition over her use of the private email server.

A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled for Clinton and her former aide, Cheryl Mills, in their decision. They said Clinton had already answered questions from Judicial Watch on the matter in a separate court case. Clinton, supplying written answers, said in that case that the sole reason she used the private account was for convenience, Judge Robert Wilkins, an Obama nominee, wrote in the panels ruling.

The appeals court overturned a ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth, a Reagan nominee. Lamberth had ordered both Clinton and Mills to sit for depositions.

In a statement in response to the new ruling, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said: Hillary Clinton ignored the law but received special protection from both the courts and law enforcement. For countless Americans, this double standard of justice has destroyed confidence in the fair administration of justice.

Americans would never have known about Hillary Clintons email and related pay-for-play scandals but for Judicial Watchs diligence. We expect that the Biden State and Justice Departments will continue to protect her and cover up their own misconduct as we press for additional accountability through the courts.

The existence of the private email server was first uncovered through a lawsuit from the watchdog.

Clinton was secretary of state during the Obama administration. She used an unsecured private email server, breaking government rules, to transmit classified information.

James Comey, the FBI director at the time, announced on July 5, 2016, that the bureau was recommending Clinton not be charged for using the server.

Comey said that while Clinton and her aides were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information, agents did not find clear evidence that Secretary Clinton or her colleagues intended to violate laws governing the handling of classified information.

The FBI recommended the Department of Justice not charge Clinton; the department did not.

Late this afternoon, I met with FBI Director James Comey and career prosecutors and agents who conducted the investigation of Secretary Hillary Clintons use of a personal email system during her time as Secretary of State, the attorney general at the time, Loretta Lynch, said one day after Comeys announcement. I received and accepted their unanimous recommendation that the thorough, year-long investigation be closed and that no charges be brought against any individuals within the scope of the investigation.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.
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PHOENIX  Authorities are making yet another bid to seek the death penalty against a Mexican immigrant charged in the 2015 killing of a convenience store clerk in metro Phoenix.

Prosecutors have been asking the courts to revive their intent to seek the death penalty against Apolinar Altamirano ever since a lower-court judge concluded in mid-2019 that authorities couldnt pursue his execution because hes intellectually disabled. The latest effort from prosecutors came earlier this month when they asked the Arizona Supreme Court to either conclude Altamirano isnt intellectually disabled or to send the case back to the lower court to make another determination on his disability.

The ruling in question concluded that Altamiranos intellectual deficits affected his ability to meet the standard of personal independence and social responsibility for a person of his age and cultural background.

Altamirano is accused of fatally shooting Grant Ronnebeck, a 21-year-old clerk at a Mesa convenience store, after Ronnebeck insisted that Altamirano pay for a pack of cigarettes. Authorities say Altamirano stepped over Ronnebeck to get several packs of cigarettes before leaving the store.

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He has pleaded not guilty to murder, robbery and other charges in Ronnebecks death. Altamirano has already been sentenced to six years in prison for separate guilty pleas in the case and misconduct involving weapons.

Altamirano is a citizen of Mexico who has lived in the U.S. without authorization for about 20 years. He has been deported and returned to the U.S. in the past. Then-President Donald Trump repeatedly cited Altamiranos case as an example of crimes committed by immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally.

In a filing, prosecutor Amanda Parker argued Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael Kemp had wrongfully dismissed the intent to seek death penalty by concluding Altamiranos life-skill deficits affected his ability to meet the standards of personal independence and social responsibility.

She also argued the judge didnt compare Altamirano to other 35-year-old immigrants from rural Mexico who have a fifth-grade education. Deficits do not automatically impact a defendants ability to function with the standards of personal independence and social responsibility expected of him, Parker wrote.

Parker wrote Kemp didnt consider Altamiranos background and education when evaluating his deficits and ability to meet societys expectations and adapt to the requirements of daily life, saying his abilities to remain employed and financially support his family were discounted.

Defense attorneys wrote that prosecutors are now making new arguments  such as claiming a defendants adaptive skills must be compared to people of the same age, education level and hailing from the same region  and asked that those contentions not be considered because they werent previously raised with the courts.

The state cannot try out new arguments at each level of appeal, hoping that eventually it will hit on a successful one, defense attorneys wrote.

Kemp first dismissed the effort to seek the death penalty in 2019 after concluding that Altamirano was intellectually disabled. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2002 barred the execution of intellectually disabled people.

The Arizona Supreme Court reversed that decision last summer, ruling the lower court judge correctly considered the strengths and weaknesses of Altamiranos life skills, but failed to assess his ability to meet societys expectations of him and sent the issue back to the lower court to consider.

Late last year, Kemp dismissed the states death penalty bid again, finding that Altamiranos intellectual deficits affected his ability to meet the standard of personal independence and social responsibility.

The Arizona Court of Appeals declined seven weeks ago another bid to revive the death penalty, with one judge saying the case file seems replete with evidence that Altamirano was able to meet the stand, but also noted there was conflicting evidence.
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It reflects Biocons commitment to make affordable healthcare accessible for patients the world over

Biocon Ltd has announced a partnership between Biocon Pharma Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Biocon Limited, and Libbs Farmaceutica, a leading pharmaceuticals company in Brazil, to launch generic drugs in Brazil, the worlds sixth most populous country.

This partnership, which marks the entry of Biocons generic formulations into Latin America, builds upon a successful association with Libbs, which began in 2017 to launch biosimilar Trastuzumab in Brazil.

It reflects Biocons commitment to make affordable healthcare accessible for patients the world over, by establishing a strong global presence for its formulations portfolio, either directly or through strategic partnerships.

As part of the out-licensing deal with Libbs, Biocon Pharma will be responsible for drug development and manufacturing, while Libbs will leverage its deep expertise and reach in Brazil to import, distribute and market, subject to approvals from the Brazilian health regulatory agency, ANVISA.

Siddharth Mittal, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Biocon Ltd, said, Expanding our association with Libbs Farmaceutica, a trusted partner, to our generic formulations, will help us establish a firm footing in Latin America, starting with Brazil. We remain committed to expanding our global presence with high-quality and affordable medicines and invest in strengthening capabilities that enable us to serve patients globally.
Soldiers walk towards anti-coup protesters during a demonstration in Yangon, Myanmar on Tuesday March 30, 2021. Thailands Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha denied Tuesday that his countrys security forces have sent villagers back to Myanmar who fled from military airstrikes and said his government is ready to shelter anyone who is escaping fighting. (AP Photo)

Violence in eastern Myanmar, including air raids that drove thousands of members of the Karen ethnic minority to seek shelter across the border in Thailand, have deepened with new air attacks by the military that seized power from an elected government last month.

Thailands prime minister denied that his countrys security forces had forced villagers who had fled from air strikes over the weekend back to Myanmar, saying they returned home of their own accord.

But the situation in eastern Myanmar appeared to be getting more dangerous.

Saw Taw Nee, head of the foreign affairs department of the Karen National Union (KNU), the main political body representing the Karen minority there, confirmed that new raids on Tuesday left six civilians dead and 11 wounded.

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Dave Eubank, a member of the Free Burma Rangers, which provides medical assistance to villagers in the region, provided the same information.

Meanwhile, the US State Department on Tuesday ordered non-essential American diplomats and their families to leave Myanmar, expecting the protests to continue. The US earlier suspended a trade deal and imposed sanctions on junta leaders as well as restricting business with military holding companies.

The KNU issued a statement from one of its armed units saying the governments military ground troops are advancing into our territories from all fronts, and vowed to respond.

We have no other options left but to confront these serious threats posed by the illegitimate military juntas army in order to defend our territory, our Karen peoples, and their self-determination rights, said the statement.

It said the attacks were the latest in a series of actions by Myanmars military breaking a ceasefire agreement. The KNU has been fighting for greater autonomy for the Karen people.

Thai prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, speaking before the latest air attacks, said his country was ready to shelter anyone who was escaping fighting, as it has done many times for decades.

His comments came a day after humanitarian groups said Thailand had been sending back some of the thousands of people who had fled the air attacks by Myanmars military.

There is no influx of refugees yet. We asked those who crossed to Thailand if they have any problem in their area. When they say no problem, we just asked them to return to their land first. We asked, we did not use any force, Mr Prayuth told reporters.

We wont push them back, he said. If they are having fighting, how can we do so? But if they dont have any fighting at the moment, can they go back first?

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The governor of Thailands Mae Hong Son province, where as many as 3,000 refugees had sought shelter, said later that those still on Thai soil were expected to return to their own country in a day or two.

The attacks are a further escalation of the violent crackdown by Myanmars junta on protests against its February 1 coup.

At least 510 protesters have been killed since the coup, according to Myanmars Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which says the true toll is likely to be much higher. It says 2,574 people have been detained.

Protests continued Tuesday despite the deaths of more than 100 people on Saturday alone.

Engineers, teachers and students from the technology university in the southern city of Dawei marched without incident.

The number of protesters killed in the city rose to eight with the announcement of the death of a teenager who was shot by soldiers on Saturday as he rode a motorbike with two friends.

Medical workers in Mandalay, the countrys second biggest city, honoured three of their colleagues killed by security forces. The two doctors and a nurse were remembered in a simple ceremony in front of a banner with their photographs and the words Rest In Power.

At a cemetery in the biggest city, Yangon, three families gave their last farewells to relatives killed on Monday in a night of chaos in the South Dagon neighbourhood. Residents said police and soldiers moved through the streets firing randomly with live ammunition.

The coup that ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi reversed the countrys progress towards democracy since her National League for Democracy party won elections in 2015 after five decades of military rule.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A team of scientists from Heriot-Watt University has created an underwater observatory in the Faroe-Shetland Channeland found its waters are teeming with oil-eating bacteria that could help deal with future oil spills.

It is the first observatory of its kind in the northeast Atlantic, an area with a high level of oil and gas and shipping activity.

It's still unknown if the abundance of the oil-degrading bacteria is evidence of chronic spillage, but indicates they are primed and ready to deal with blowouts or pollution from the industrial activity nearby, says Dr. Tony Gutierrez from Heriot-Watt University.

"Oil-degrading bacteria play a vital role in cleaning up oil spillswe found them strongly enriched during the Deepwater Horizon spill, for example. These types of microbes thrive on oil as a food source."

Gutierrez and his team monitored the Faroe-Shetland channel's water over two years, at different depths and locations, to establish a baseline for the microbes when there is no spill.

"Overall, we detected a higher than usual abundance of these bacteria. They comprised about 15-20% of the total community of microbes, when quite often you find them at less than 1% abundance.

"We're not sure why this is the caseit could be due to natural seepage of oil from the seafloor, or the release of produced waters from oil rigs.

"Establishing a baseline in these waters is critical so that we can monitor the impact of future spills and the success of any clean-up efforts, as well as other issues such as ocean acidification and ocean warming."

The team is planning to extend its monitoring in the Faroe-Shetland channel and hopes to better understand why these types of bacteria are in such atypically high abundance.

They also have other locations in mind for similar observatories.

"Creating microbial observatories in other ocean regions at potential risk of pollution and climate change effects, like the Arctic, is one of our goals," said Gutierrez.

The research was funded by the Royal Society, the Society for Applied Microbiology and the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS).

The research was published in mBio, an American Society for Microbiology journal.

Explore further New current that transports water to major 'waterfall' discovered in deep ocean

More information: Angelina G. Angelova et al. Inter- and Intra-Annual Bacterioplankton Community Patterns in a Deepwater Sub-Arctic Region: Persistent High Background Abundance of Putative Oil Degraders, mBio (2021). Journal information: mBio Angelina G. Angelova et al. Inter- and Intra-Annual Bacterioplankton Community Patterns in a Deepwater Sub-Arctic Region: Persistent High Background Abundance of Putative Oil Degraders,(2021). DOI: 10.1128/mBio.03701-20
The container ship that blocked the Suez Canal has been freed and is now on the move.

Reports said the Ever Given was under way and heading for the Great Bitter Lake further along the canal, about 45km away. Boskalis, the salvage company involved in the rescue, said the ship would undergo a full inspection there.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday hailed the "success" of an operation to unwedge the giant Ever Given container ship, stuck in the Suez Canal for nearly a week.

"Today, Egyptians have been successful in putting to an end the crisis of the stranded ship in the Suez Canal, despite the enormous complexity surrounding the process," Sisi said on Twitter.

The Suez Canal Authority announced in a statement that ship, which has blocked the Suez Canal for six days now, has been successfully refloated and is "no longer grounded".

The head of the salvage firm called in to free the ship said there was "unprecedented" time pressure.

Peter Berdowski, chief executive of Boskalis, said in a statement: "Shortly following the grounding of the Ever Given we were requested through SMIT Salvage to provide assistance with the salvage operation.

"I am excited to announce that our team of experts, working in close collaboration with the Suez Canal Authority, successfully refloated the Ever Given on 29 March at 3.05 p.m. local time, thereby making free passage through the Suez Canal possible again."

Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), had announced that the Panamanian container ship has been successfully refloated. This was the result of successful push and tow manoeuvres which led to the restoration of 80 per cent of the vessel's direction; with the stern 102 metres away from the bank of the Canal now instead of 4 metres prior to the refloating.

"His Excellency, Admiral Rabie, would like to reassure the international navigation society as navigation shall be resumed immediately upon the complete restoration of the vessel's direction and directing it to the Bitter Lakes waiting area for technical inspection," the SCA statement said.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
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A progressive public policy is a principle of action chosen by a government for the achievement of specific goals that should ideally favour as much of the society as possible. Beyond the challenges of the period and Petersides disbelief, the emerging consensus is that the PHRC rehabilitation project keys into the big-picture policy imperatives of changing the story of the nations oil sector.

Atedo Peterside is an alumnus of the City University, London and the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science, where he majored in Economics, in his first degree. He later obtained a Masters degree in 1977, also in Economics. He is certainly no rookie.

A savvy entrepreneur, investment banker, economist and founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Anap Business Jets Limited and the Atedo N. A. Peterside Foundation, he regularly recalls some of the values he received from his stern, Ophthalmologist father, Chief Michael Clement Atowari Peterside: My father trained me to disbelieve first and question the message anyone was giving me and only proceed if the proposal makes sense to me. Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye.

In effect, the core of this peculiar paternal philosophy is  first disbelieve any message! This perhaps immediately locates the spring from which Atedo Petersides mistrust, disbelief and rejection of the recent Federal Executive Council-approved $1.5 billion rehabilitation project of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd. (PHRC) flows.

FG should halt $1.5bn approval for repair of Port Harcourt refinery and subject this brazen & expensive adventure to an informed national debate. Many experts prefer that this refinery is sold as is by BPE to core-investors with proven capacity to repair it with their own funds, Peterside posted on his twitter handle on March 21.

Forty-eight hours ago, he also posted another query on his twitter handle: In 2019, PH Refinery contributed zero revenue, but incurred costs of N47bn; almost N4bn a month! Instead of ending this nightmare through a #BPE core investor sale, #NNPC wants to enmesh Nigeria into a deeper financial mess by throwing $1.5bn (incl. debt) at a problem it created?

It could be recalled that at a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, March 17, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, $1.5 billion was approved for the full rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd. (PHRC). The refinery has a combined, installed crude processing capacity of 210,000 bpsd.

As it were, the approval triggered a wave of criticisms and opposition from several analysts and important stakeholders, including Atedo Peterside who, incidentally, was on the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) between 2010 and 2015. This was not unexpected. More so, against the backdrop of the fact that the country has in the past spent billions of dollars on refinery maintenance without commensurate industry benefits, this persuades many to call for the privatisation of the countrys refineries.

The projected $1.5 billion rehabilitation cost has even been wrongly compared with the cost of Shells recent sale of its Californian refinery in the U.S. by some trenchant critics. There are currently five refineries in Nigeria. Four are owned by the Federal Government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), while the fifth is owned and operated by Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited (NDPR).

The four government-owned refineries have a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day: one in Kaduna and three in the Niger Delta region  in Warri and Port Harcourt. The Port Harcourt refinery, which is the present bone of contention, has the capacity to refine an estimated 210,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Beyond scepticism and quirky sentiments, the economics of funding the repair of a strategic national asset like a refinery for $1.5 billion is clearly grounded in reality. Unassailable logic supports the footing that a nation with such oil-producing capacity should at least possess one functional refinery that can work at optimal capacity. This is especially so, against the unflattering backdrop that over the years, the country has been exposed to saboteurs who brazenly imported dirty petrol from Europe. Having a functional refinery would indisputably be in the best interest of the country.

It is good a thing that Mallam Mele Melo Kyari, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), entered the fray to rein in disbelief, provide context, clarity and associated metrics for the decision to fully rehabilitate and re-operationalise the PHRC.

The Mele Kyari-led NNPC maintains that building a new refinery with the name-plate capacity of the Port Harcourt refinery will cost the Federal Government between $7 billion and $12 billion and take a period of four years, during which Nigeria must continue to import products.

Describing the actual cost of the revamp project as about $1.34 billion, noting that additional expenses include taxes and other duties that could go up, the NNPC boss argued that there is no basis for comparison between the Port Harcourt refinery and the one sold by Shell in America for $1.2 billion, in terms of capacity.

As he put it: The real cost is $1.34 billion. Even then you could argue and say why you wouldnt build a new refinery. We have also seen some curious comparisons that Shell sold one of its refineries for $1.2 billion and that its even better than our own.

This is mundane. Even a Google search will reveal that it was built in 1915 and its a 107,000 barrels per day refinery. It has been on shut down by the regulators since early last year. Not only that, when you buy a refinery you buy its assets and the liabilities.

He maintained that many people do not know the financial transactions that go into some negotiations, saying that it is needless to compare a combined refinery of 210,000 barrels to a much smaller and much older refinery, which has many issues with regulators. The GMD further revealed that the current huge cost of rehabilitation is because the last turn-around-maintenance on the Port Harcourt refinery was badly carried out.

The NNPC boss also drew attention to the fact that those pitching for the outright buildinging of a new refinery did not do their due diligence. They have asked why we dont just build a new one. What does it take to build a refinery of this status today? Its anywhere between $7 billion to $12 billion to construct a refinery of this nature. This is what we call battery limit construction. Thats the estimate you see in the public space, he clarified.

Many industry analysts locate the rump of critical opposition to revamping the refinery to a trust deficit in the government. This distrust also understandably feeds Petersides disbelief  a trait which his dad embedded in him as a lad.

Yes, the common question resonating is: Will the princely approved sum of $1.5 billion be applied appropriately for the purpose it was meant? But this line of reasoning and Petersides combative position fail to factor in the crucial fact the NNPC has a new leadership that has demonstrated enormous commitment to transparency, accountability and very low tolerance for corruption. It is no longer business as usual.

Beyond the issue of a trust deficit and Petersides disbelief is also a strong sense that very powerful, shadowy vested interests want the refinery sold and have already positioned fronts or themselves directly to buy up the national asset. Given Petersides progressive trajectory, it may be illogical to view him as a possible front for buyers or an intending buyer. But given the sad history of local corporate intrigues, nothing could be taken off the table.

On the other hand, many point out that even if the nations refineries are to be disposed off, as Peterside is pitching, it makes sense to revamp them before selling them. They point at the stuttering electricity sector as an example of the downside of selling off national assets that are not put in order.

Organised labour under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), as well as many other critical stakeholders, are supportive of the Federal Governments move.

According to the Trade Union Congress (TUC)s Secretary-General, Musa Lawan, All the government companies that have been privatised, what did we get from them? What did we get from NEPA? So we want the government to own certain properties.

Our position is very clear, the Federal Government should repair it and make it workable so that if you want to privatise other things tomorrow, well at least be privatising based on what we have and not privatising based on what we are importing as the fuel.

Being a banker of repute who should know better than most, Peterside ought to appreciate the fact that African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), being the leading financier of the refinery rehabilitation project, providing US$1 billion (67 per cent) signals practicality. This speaks to the projects viability and bankability.

Besides, in consonance with key lender requirements, the refinery, after rehabilitation, will be run on an O&M Model by an experienced and credible operator. NNPC will retain 100 per cent of the refinery ownership. On the front of the projects governance structure, external stakeholders such as the Ministry of Finance, ICRC, NEITI and labour unions (PENGASSAN and NUPENG) will be emplaced.

A progressive public policy is a principle of action chosen by a government for the achievement of specific goals that should ideally favour as much of the society as possible. Beyond the challenges of the period and Petersides disbelief, the emerging consensus is that the PHRC rehabilitation project keys into the big-picture policy imperatives of changing the story of the nations oil sector.

It is also worth noting that the NNPC, Algerias Sonatrach, Angolas Sonangol and other notable NOCs in Africa stand on the brink of significant disruption  and of substantial opportunity  as a new era of structurally lower oil prices challenge business models that have long relied largely on exploration and the production of crude petroleum. To manage these challenges clearly require new thinking and boldness. This has been demonstrated by the new leadership of NNPC  especially with is emphasis on transparency, zero tolerance for corruption and innovative governance.

Clearly, sentiments not backed by impartial facts can blind even a genius to what is otherwise obvious to an ordinary man. At the NNPC, a new dispensation is on and whatever operational quirks obtained previously are being expeditiously addressed. Therefore, this is not time for disbelief or gaffes. Rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery makes sense. There is no optical illusion here  as even venerable Pa (Chief) Michael Clement Atowari Peterside will buy into this progressive project.

Olu Tayo writes from Abuja.
Farmers Urge Collaboration on Environment, Not Top-Down Regulation

Wisconsin farmer-led conservation groups say they can be a model for the nation

NEOSHO, Wis.Farmer Tony Peirick of Dodge County, Wisconsin, said he used to see as adversaries those trying to impose environmental regulations on farmers. We were like water and oil. We never got along, he told The Epoch Times.

For him, it was about butting heads with a local lake association that wanted to regulate practices on surrounding farms. In rural America at large, tension has often abounded over the apparent conflict between environmental regulations and farming practices that make economic sense.

But Peirick and a farmers conservation group he formed have found success in teaming up with their former adversaries. They protect the environment and run their businesses well at the same time. And more than 30 other such groups throughout the state have done the same.

President Joe Biden and his new agriculture secretary, Tom Vilsack, have emphasized environmental policies as a priority, creating some nervousness among farmers about what kind of regulations might come down and impact their work.

Many Wisconsin farmers told The Epoch Times that the best way to protect the environment is voluntary, incentive-based and market-based measures, rather than top-down regulations.

Invest into groups like ours, Peirick said. We are the boots on the ground.

It started several years ago when the lake association in Dodge County was pushing for mandatory buffer zones around bodies of water. Water runoff from farms containing phosphorus and nitrogen can harm the health of these lakes and streams.

Farmers can fix the problem a lot easier than the lake associations telling the farmers what to do, Peirick said. Farmers want to take care of their land.  The land is the only thing theyve got, and they want to be good stewards and take care of it. A lot of times they were just not taught how to.

For years, Peiricka dairy, corn, and soybean farmerhad used conservation practices to improve soil health and reduce runoff on his own farm. He decided to help other farmers do the same.

This year, Peirick got over 20 farmers to adopt these conservation practices for the first time, adding to the 22 continuing from previous years he has worked with them.

The mandatory buffer proposal that first spurred Peirick to action ended up dying in the county land conservation committee. But Peiricks farmer-led watershed groupDodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil and Healthy Waterhas thrived.

Chris Conley, a member of Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil and Healthy Water, stands on his dairy farm in Neosho, Wis., on March 26, 2021. (Cara Ding /The Epoch Times)

Peirick described how his view of the lake association has changed as he worked with them on this conservation project: Now I give a lot of credit to them: they were willing to sit and listen, and they put their money where their mouth is.

He is grateful for the financial and technical help they, and the state government, have provided to his group.

There are about 33 farmer-led watershed groups like Peiricks throughout Wisconsin, and each is working to conserve its watershed in a way that makes economic sense for farmers in the long run.

Between 2018 and 2019, they reduced nearly 100,000 lbs of potential phosphorus runoff into Wisconsins water bodies with the help of grants from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. This year, Governor Tony Evers increased the farmer-led watershed protection grants.

A Farmers Journey of Conserving Soil

Peirick, 64, grew up farming with his father in the 70s in Watertown, Wisconsin, and he was always taught to till the land to make it nice and black after harvest.

You werent supposed to have any residues on the surface of your soil, Peirick said. My dad said if a farmer had all these residues, he wasnt a good farmer.

In 1994, after Peirick and his brother took over the farm from his father, an independent crop consultant advised Peirick to try a different farming method called no-tillto not disturb the soil and to conserve the living organisms in it after harvest. Peirick took heed, and it was the start of a two-decade-long journey of conservation farming.

In the early years, his corn struggled, and the yield suffered. But as he kept on, in about three to five years, everything started turning.

He had less soil runoff, with more nutrients instead staying in the soil. He was able to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizer. He also had fewer weeds, which meant less money spent on herbicide. He was able to retire machinery for tillage farming, thus saving maintenance and fuel costs. He began to see the financial benefits of no-till farming.

In 2005, he adopted another conservation practice, the use of cover cropsplants that are grown not for harvest but solely for conserving the soil and enhancing its health.

A no-till planter is seen at Tiger Farms in Neosho, Wis., on March 26, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

A farmers field is planted with cover crops in Neosho, Wis., on March 26, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

He planted cereal rye, one of the most common cover crops. Again, the corn suffered at first, but Peirick saw it through.

Now, his soils health has improved to the point where he can get away from seed treatment (applying chemicals to seeds to prevent pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies)another financial benefit.

As his farming practices changed, so did his view of mother nature.

For example, he used to see weeds as his enemy and fight them hard with commercial herbicides. Now, he sees himself as the one who created the problems that caused weeds to grow; by tilling, he destroyed the living organisms in the soil, and weeds were the result.

Weeds are always the first line of defense for mother nature to come in and start getting your soil biology back on track, Peirick said. There are more living organisms in a teaspoon of soil than there are people on earth. Its like building a house, why would you tear it down every year?

Mother nature can take care of itself. All we got to do is to help mother nature out there and she will put our soils where they are supposed to be.

Farmers Help Farmers

He and a few other like-minded farmers now host tours on their farms to showcase their conservation practices. They invite farmers who have had success with these practices to speak at their groups meetings. Last year, over 400 farmers in Dodge County attended their education sessions.

Its farmer-to-farmer contact that makes this happen. A lot of farmers want to see whats happening next door, Peirick said.

I get so many calls from farmers: Theyre afraid to do something different, and they always need that assurance from a fellow farmer.

He is honest with them about the frustrations in the early years of implementing conservation practices. Its going to be a slow process. You cant do it overnight, Peirick said. Just like an addiction, its going to take rehab.

Tony Peirick talks at an educational event for farmers ahead of planting time in Neosha, Wis., on March 26, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Chris Conley, a dairy farmer from Neosho Wisconsin, is a member of Peiricks group. He began no-till and using cover crops about three years ago. He just sold his old John Deere planter because he no longer needed it.

These conservation practices improved his soil to the point where he didnt see any soil washed off on his hilly farmland after heavy rainfall last year.

I think it would help tremendously if the government looks at conservation practicesnot necessarily forcing people to do them, but to take their time to work with farmers slowly but surely and ease their way into it, Conley told The Epoch Times.

Farmer Chris Conleys field is planted with cover crops in Neosho, Wis., on March 26, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Chris Conley shows worms from his soilhe has seen more worms as the soil has become healthierat his farm in Neosha, Wis., on March 26, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Don Niles, the president of Peninsula Pride Farms, another farmer-led watershed group in northern Wisconsin, agrees that education is the best way to get farmers to adopt conservation practices. His group has about 57 members.

Farmers are pretty independent people. When you give somebody a regulation, they push against that as much as they can because they feel something has been imposed on them. We, on the other hand, are trying to make for an internal motivation.

By the end of 2019, the groups members had planted cover crops on a combined total of 10,000 acres in Door and Kewaunee Counties in northern Wisconsin. The farms saw a reduction of soil runoff between about 300 and 960 tons each, and a reduction of phosphorus loss between about 400 and 1,350 pounds each.

Niles thinks this education approach would work well at the federal level too.

For the Department of Agriculture for the last several administrations, the more theyve taken the approach of teaching and motivating versus rulemaking, I think theyve seen better results, Niles said.

We look forward to any new programs under the new administration, but we also treasure our independence and the ability to try things on our own and see for ourselves how they work in our fields.

Joe Bragger, a member of the Buffalo Trempealeau Farmer Network, a farmer-led watershed group in western Wisconsin, hopes that Agriculture Secretary Vilsack will take time to learn about the conservation practices the farmers have already implemented across the country and put resources into groups like theirs to further the movement.

If we build those relationships and get people to be willing to participate, we may not have to write a lot more rules, Bragger said.

He acknowledged it will take longer for a voluntary approach to change behavior than a mandatory approach, but the voluntary approach will have a more lasting impact, he said, because it comes from a change of mind.

These farmer-led watershed groups in Wisconsin work together with the environmental groups and governmental agencies in their regions, which provide much-needed funding, technical services, and other resources to farmers.

For example, farmers in Peiricks group can get a base payment of $15 per acre for planting cover crops from the Fox Lake Inland Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District. They get an additional $10 per acre for doing no-till. The group also recently received nearly $40,000 in grant money from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

Working With Environmental Groups

In Dane County, southwest of Dodge County, Wade Moder, the executive director at Upper Sugar River Watershed Association, said he has found common ground with farmers over the years.

It turns out that were all human beings, and we all have reasons for why we do things, Moder told The Epoch Times. Once you start talking and understanding each other, a lot of those hostilities or misconceptions crumble down pretty quickly.

The overture to farmers came in 2015, when Moder and his co-workers were doing the strategic planning for the year. They realized that 60 percent of the land in their watershed is farmland, yet they had made almost no connection with farmers in their environmental work.

Soon, Moder drove to a dairy farm and talked to the owner, Brian. That first conversation led to the next one, and many more. Moder used to question why farmers were not doing more protecting the environment. Gradually, he learned to look at environmental protection from a farmers perspective.

A view of a farmers field with cover crops in the spring in Dodge County, Wis. (Courtesy of Tony Peirick)

Farming is a very, very difficult livelihood. All the risks, mother nature being number onethe weather, low milk prices Theyre trying to run a business with razor-thin margin, then on top of that, we are asking them to do conservation measures, Moder said.

About five or six months after the first conversation with Brian, Moder learned about the new grants from Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to support farmer-led conservation efforts.

He helped secure the first grant for farmers in the Upper Sugar River watershed. Six years later, 30 farmers have taken up conservation practices through the watershed group. This year, they will experiment with a new program to reduce the use of nitrogen on farmlands.

My role in the group is really a glorified secretary. I organize the meetings for them, I take the minutes, I order the pizza, but I dont do any of the program planning. Its up to the farmers to decide whats important to them, Moder said. We stand in the background, and we help when needed, but its their group.

Working with farmers over the years, Moder discovered that they are very observant and receptive to new ideas, as long as those ideas are presented in a neutral and noncombative manner.

There are times when people are passionate about the environment; they do things like telling farmers what do to, he said. I think we all just need to be more inclusive to one another, and weve found through this group is that there is far more common ground than there is otherwise.
The company is focusing on proven technical and commercial models within niche or developing markets," said Brendan Long.

( ) has an excellent platform with the right people to capture the tremendous opportunities created by the energy transition in Europe, thats according to WH Ireland which sees a fair value of 2.1p per share for the group.

Pitched at 2.1p this valuation suggests the share could be worth double its current market price of 1.05p.

We believe the company is well positioned to capture value accretive opportunities and we expect 2021 to be an opportunity rich period for the company, WH Ireland analyst Brendan Long said in a note.

Sciroccos strategy is intended to allow the company to grow flexibly over time in step with the capital at the companys disposal.

Based on the pipeline of opportunities within the companys new area of focus, the company is targeting an enterprise value invested asset base of 150mln capable of generating cash flow of circa 20mln per annum, within five years.

WH Irelands valuation comprises 1.8p per share representing the companys interest in the Ruvuma gas project in Tanzania, along with 0.2p representing its shareholding in ( ) and 0.1p for the groups cash.

It does not yet include any contribution for the groups planned investment and growth strategy.

Long provided some insights into the companys acquisition criteria and plans for funding the opportunities in the future.

Most of the targeted strategies would generate stable revenues allowing for the use of financial leverage (debt) to increase equity returns, the analyst said.

The company is focusing on proven technical and commercial models within niche or developing markets. The company intends to avoid entering the most mature markets where bidding pressure for assets is likely to erode shareholder returns.

The initial acquisition targets are intended to minimise operational risk.

The companys plan is to build a balanced portfolio of operational assets and developments over time, balancing the different risk profiles. The company intends to optimise the use of financial leverage at each stage of portfolio development.
press release

Washington  Approved on February 23, 2020, by the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors, a $80 million from the International Development Association (IDA)* with 50% grant and 50% credit, will support Mali's education system. In addition to IDA financing, the project will benefit from three grants from the Global Partnership for Education: $44.78 million from Education Sector Program Implementation Grant, $9.14 million from Regular Accelerated Funding, and $6.78 million from COVID-19 Accelerated Funding.

The Mali Improving Education Quality and Results for All (MIQRA) Project will increase learning outcomes in early primary education in targeted areas of Mali. It will help promote girls' access to lower and upper secondary education in underserved areas, and enhance the governance of the education system.

MIQRA is an important contributor to the achievement of the Government's Ten-year Education Sector Development Program Second-Generation for 2019-2028 (Programme decennal de developpement de l'education deuxieme generation, PRODEC II).

The project will directly benefit over 4 million individuals, including students attending targeted beneficiary schools and teachers in preprimary, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools nationwide and students attending targeted schools.

"This project is part of the World Bank's long-term commitment to advance education especially for girls in Mali, and it is very timely. It will particularly support girls' access to lower and upper secondary education by incentivizing girls to attend and stay in school. Increasing the participation of girls in quality education will reduce disparities by empowering them", said Soukeyna Kane, World Bank Country Director for Mali."

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In a context of high levels of poverty, insecurity, and demographic growth, Mali has made progress in improving access to education overall. Despite these encouraging results and the constant efforts by the Government, huge challenges persist with regards to the quality of education delivery, equity and the overall governance of the education sector leading to a learning crisis. Several studies have shown that some of Mali's education indicators remain among the lowest in the sub-region with lack of access to equitable basic and secondary education, low quality of education and weak governance of the sector.

Moreover, the impact of the political and security crisis coupled with the current COVID-19 pandemic which had resulted in the nationwide closure of schools, continues to reverberate today, compromising access to education for thousands of school-age children. In the north and the central part of the country in particular, massive population displacements and school closures continue to be a key challenge in Mali.

"The government, through the MIQRA project, has taken an important step to address the learning crisis through improving quality, building stronger pathways for girls' education, and strengthening the governance and resilience of the education system. This in turn will serve the needs of young Malians as they confront the multiple crises that the society is facing. Perhaps most notably, the project will help address existing inequalities by offering rural children and youth greater opportunities to attend school and to learn", said Meskerem Mulatu, Education Practice Manager, West Africa.
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Mark Sanford, the former South Carolina governor, congressman and short-term presidential candidate who tried to challenge Donald Trump last year, is joining a lobbying firm.

Shumaker Advisors announced Tuesday on its website that Sanford, who lives in Mount Pleasant, will contribute based on his expertise in policymaking at the state and federal levels.

As the federal government continues to grow, we see increased needs every day from our clients that need assistance navigating legislative procedure and regulations," Shumaker's Charlotte and Greenville managing partner, Steve Meckler, said in a news release.

"Gov. Sanford adds another critical component in our ability to advise well on government and legislative issues," Meckler added.

Sanford could not be immediately reached for comment but said in the Shumaker announcement he is looking forward to a new chapter.

"I've always tried not only to make government smaller, but to well understand its details, and in this light I look forward to joining the team of outstanding professionals at Shumaker, Sanford said.

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Shumaker Advisors bills itself as a "public affairs and government relations firm specializing in advocacy, business development, coalition building, and communication strategies while serving at the federal, state and local levels of government."

Sanford will work out of Shumakers Charleston office. It was not immediately clear what his full-time role will be or if he will register as a lobbyist, but his title is listed as executive vice president and principal. In Congress he served on the transportation, budget, government reform, international relations and science committees.

Sanford served eight years as South Carolina governor from 2003 to 2011 in a role where his service was overshadowed by an affair with his Argentine mistress. He served two stints representing Charleston and the Lowcountry in Congress, including in the 1990s and beginning again in 2013. He was defeated in the 2018 GOP primary after speaking out against Trump's conduct as president.

He later launched a weekslong bid to take on Trump for the 2020 GOP presidential nomination but gave up in New Hampshire after failing to gain any following.

Last year he started a nonprofit aimed at combating runaway spending in Washington, D.C., saying that without serious attention, the country is on a path to economic collapse. The project was called Americans for Debt and Deficit Reduction.
My Gene Counsel, a digital health company that provides innovative genetic counseling solutions, today announced it is partnering with the ONeal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to support hereditary cancer genetic testing.

This state-of-the-art digital solution will enable physician-initiated testing, greater clinical support, and better use of genetic counseling resources.

My Gene Counsel will deliver pre-test education for patients, as well as pre- and post-test Living Lab Reports for patients and clinicians. These online reports provide in-depth genetic counseling information that updates over time. Institutional partners, such as the ONeal Cancer Center and their patients, will now benefit from accurate, timely information and long-term engagement facilitated by My Gene Counsels tailored content and notifications.

As a genetic counselor, I have been up against the typical challenges of in-person and telehealth models, in which genetic counseling can become a bottleneck in the testing process, said Meagan Farmer, MS, CGC, MBA, genetic clinical operations director at My Gene Counsel and clinical genetic counselor at UAB. I see a patient once, disclose their results by phone, and send a counseling letter to the patient and their physician. I rarely have the opportunity to speak with that patient or their referring physician again.

Historically, this has resulted in genetic testing delays, and in the field as a whole, there has never been a mechanism to provide new information and guidance on a broad scale as knowledge evolves to include new cancer risk information, medical management guideline changes, and the reclassification of the meaning of genetic variants.

I could not keep every patient or referring physician updated on these critical genetic advances over time, said Farmer. This partnership addresses these pain points and is a game-changer for UAB, UAB patients undergoing genetic testing, and the physicians who care for them.

In addition to allowing for timely genetic testing for patients, the improved workflow will reduce genetic counseling wait times and allow genetic counselors to expand into other clinical areas in which they are needed.

My Gene Counsels digital genetic counseling solution will soon launch within UABs Breast Health Center to enable responsible and efficient oncologist-initiated genetic testing for breast cancer patients. UAB then intends to leverage My Gene Counsels technology throughout their broader Cancer Service Line to ensure valuable, but often scarce, clinical genetics resources are used wisely.

When you consider precision medicine in oncology, genetic testing has become increasingly important in developing tailor-made treatment plans for cancer patients, said Helen Krontiras, M.D., medical director of the UAB Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic. My Gene Counsels digital genetic counseling tools will enable us to coordinate genetic testing at point-of-care, allowing for more efficient genetic testing while patients are in clinic and more timely cancer treatment. Our patients look to us for guidance, and these innovative tools will give us the clinical support we need to have more engaged discussions with them about the short- and long-term implications of their genetic test results.

UABs previous workflow required all patients undergoing genetic testing to interact with a genetic counselor before and after testing. With the addition of My Gene Counsels comprehensive digital genetic counseling content, only patients who test positive will automatically be referred to a genetic counselor.

Genetic counselors are specially trained to help patients and their physicians understand genetic testing and test results, said Nathaniel Robin, M.D., professor and clinical director in the UAB Department of Genetics. However, we have a scalability problem, and it looms large as genetic testing permeates every area of medicine. Its difficult for every patient needing genetic testing to see a genetic counselor quickly. This partnership with My Gene Counsel will allow our genetic counselors to practice at the top of their scope, where and when theyre needed most.

About My Gene Counsel:

My Gene Counsel was created to address the need for an automated, scalable solution to meet the growing demand for accurate and timely genetic counseling information. With its industry-leading database of proprietary genetics content organized by gene and variant, My Gene Counsels HIPAA-compliant SaaS solution delivers continuously updating genetic counseling information to patients and providers via Living Lab Reports in many areas of genomics, including hereditary and somatic cancer testing, hereditary cardiovascular disease, noninvasive prenatal testing, and more. Founded by certified genetic counselors with 30+ years of clinical experience, My Gene Counsel helps partners save resources, retain patients, and efficiently deliver on the promise of precision medicine. For more information, visit https://www.mygenecounsel.com.

About ONeal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB:

The ONeal Comprehensive Cancer Center is among the 51 cancer centers in the nation to meet the stringent criteria for the National Cancer Institutes comprehensive designation. The center is a leader in groundbreaking research, reducing cancer disparities, and providing world-class patient care. For more information, visit https://www.uab.edu/onealcancercenter.


Doug Sehres, EXPRESS-NEWS FILE PHOTO

Up there with the music, outfits and 1990s JLo that solidified the 1997 Selena biopic as a cult classic is a line uttered by a character named "First Cholo."

"Anything for Selenas," Erick Carrillo, known as one of two "cholos" in the movie, said and cemented himself in Latino pop culture.
(Newser)  First, Nike made it clear it had nothing to do with Lil Nas X's "Satan Shoes," the modified Nike Air Max 97s that sold out in less than one minute when 666 pairs went on sale Monday for $1,018 each. Now, the company is taking things a step further: It's suing MSCHF, the Brooklyn-based company with whom the rapper collaborated on the shoes, the New York Times reports. The "unauthorized Satan Shoes are likely to cause confusion and dilution and create an erroneous association between MSCHFs products and Nike," the lawsuit says, adding that only Nike has the right to decide "what products to put the 'swoosh' on."

story continues below

The shoes feature a pentagram charm and include a drop of human blood, and one of MSCHF's founders tells the Times that it was six employees of his company who donated the blood, which was mixed with ink to fill an air bubble on the sole of the shoe. NBC News reports Nike sued after "many people" said they thought it was involved with the shoes, despite Nike's statement to the contrary, and some called for a boycott of the company. Lil Nas X is not named as a defendant in the copyright infringement suit, which calls for the court to stop MSCHF from fulfilling shoe orders. (Read more Lil Nas X stories.)

When her family moved to New York City from the Midwest in the mid-1950s, Joan Walsh Anglund found herself profoundly lonely. Staring out at the Manhattan cityscape, she had the feeling that everyone was living in what she called separate boxes of distrust. It comforted her to imagine that behind every window was a potential friend.

She jotted down her thoughts and left them in a desk drawer. Her husband found them, suggested that she include illustrations and then showed the work to a series of publishers. The first few rejected it, but when it landed on the desk of Margaret McElderry, the childrens book editor at Harcourt Brace, she was delighted.

I think we have a book here, Ms. McElderry told Ms. Anglund.

And so they had.

That book, A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You (1958), sold more than four million copies and was named one of The New York Timess 10 best illustrated books of the year. It was the first of a cavalcade of more than 120 childrens books that Ms. Anglund would produce over the next half-century. They have been translated into multiple languages and sold more than 50 million copies around the world.
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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More than seven years after his wife died in a petrol-fuelled blaze at their Sydney home, a visibly relieved Kulwinder Singh walked out of court for a final time, having been acquitted of her murder.

I am very happy, thank you, Mr Singh said on Tuesday, flanked by a crowd of supporters.

The 42-year-old had faced trial in the NSW Supreme Court accused of killing Parwinder Kaur, 32, by setting her on fire at their Rouse Hill home in Sydneys north-west on the afternoon of December 2, 2013. He pleaded not guilty.

Kulwinder Singh leaves court during his trial earlier this month. Credit:Rhett Wyman

A neighbour heard a scream just after 2pm and looked out the window to see Ms Kaur running down her driveway engulfed in flames, with Mr Singh behind her making a motion with his hands as though he was trying to pat her out.
Congress invited predatory for-profit colleges to bleed military veterans of education aid  and give them nothing in return  when it wrote a loophole into rules that govern how federal student aid streams are classified. It comes as welcome news that the loophole was closed as part of the pandemic recovery bill signed into law this month.

Still, there is more that the Biden administration needs to do to protect veterans, and the American public, from companies that earn their profits by stripping students of federal education dollars while giving them valueless degrees.

That means reversing, as quickly as possible, Trump-era rules that benefited the for-profit college industry at the expense of the public. Beyond that, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Education need to wield their existing authority to cut off federal funds to predatory schools.

The recently closed loophole relates to a provision known as the 90/10 rule. As written in 1998, it required for-profit schools to get at least 10 percent of their revenue from sources other than federal student aid. The measure was intended to prevent federal aid from serving as the sole source of money for for-profit schools that were unable to attract private dollars. But Congress thwarted this common-sense goal by allowing the colleges to count some forms of federal aid  including G.I. Bill education benefits and Department of Defense Tuition Assistance  as privately raised.
Kogelo, Siaya county, was on Monday morning thrown into mourning following the death of the Obama family's matriarch, Sarah Anyango Hussein Obama, early Monday morning.

Mama Sarah died aged 99, just 23 days shy of her 100th birthday, which falls on April 22.

Emotions ran high when the body arrived in Kogelo, Alego Usonga, at 12:45pm on Monday, from Kisumu County, accompanied by close family members and friends.

It was transported from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to Kogelo, where the burial will take place on Tuesday, in line with Islamic practices.

Residents trailed the cortege convoy wailing and waving twigs as the body was taken to Mama Sara's home in Nyang'oma.

At the home, security was heightened, with officers barring most locals from entering.

On arrival at the home, the body was covered with a shawl and moved to her house, in line with Luo traditions.

At around 1.15 pm, a group of women arrived in a car and entered the house to prepare the body for the final rites.

No Covid-19

Following speculation, Mama Sarah's family clarified that she did not die of Covid-19.

Dr George Rae, the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga hospital's chief executive officer, said she died of a chest infection.

"We tried our best to manage her condition. She had already started improving when she died at 4.45 am," said Dr Rae.

"She was strong but her age was a compromising factor. Even a simple flu would have led to her death."

Mama Sarah, the last living grandparent of former US President Barack Obama.

however, been battling illness for some time now and has been in and out of hospital on several occasions.

Her daughter, Marsat Onyango, said she had been sick for a while and that she suffered a stroke last September.

"She also had blood sugar-related problems," she told the Nation on Monday.

Burial tomorrow

Sheikh Musa Ismail Haji, chair of the Kisumu Muslim Association, said Mama Sarah will be buried on Tuesday morning.

He explained that the family was allowed more time before the burial as some members need to travel from far-flung areas.

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"Mama did not die of Covid-19-related issues. We wish to clarify that she has been sick for some time," Sheikh Musa said, who spoke on behalf of the family, said at the hospital in Kisumu.

The family had kept Mama Sarah's health status under wraps, not divulging details of what she was suffering from until her death on Monday.

In 2019, she was admitted to Siaya County Referral Hospital after falling ill at her home.

Philanthropy

Mama Sarah was the second wife of President Obama's grandfather and helped raise his father, Barack Obama Sr.

She kept a low profile, concentrating on her philanthropic activities back in her community.

Through the Mama Sarah Obama Foundation, which is headquartered in California, she assisted the vulnerable in Siaya County, helping to feed and educate orphans as well as taking care of widows and girls in her community.

She also ran the Sarah Obama Community Library, which went digital and partnered with Worldreader to deliver over 7,000 e-books to the rural town.

She also started the Safeguard Orphans and Widows Organisation (Sowo), a non-governmental organisation that supports the said groups in Kogelo, most of them orphaned and widowed through HIV/Aids.
The introduction of a beef DNA traceability system could greatly improve the productivity and profitability of Scotland's herd, according to a report.

Quality Meat Scotland's (QMS) study explored the use of genomic analysis of maternal DNA to guarantee traceability and to predict the performance of offspring.

The project's findings demonstrated that it is feasible to harness the potential of DNA data to develop a programme that is effective and can provide a cost benefit to the national herd.

Participating farmers collected high quality samples from their herds to enable both accurate traceability and a herd development programme.

The samples were then tested by Identigen and analysed by the Moredun Research Institute, alongside animal performance data of each of the beef herds in question.

Bruce McConachie, head of industry development for QMS, said the results revealed that utilising DNA would give the sector a world leading traceability standard and eliminate fraud from the sector.

He added that a DNA traceability system would also improve the saleability of the product through improved consumer confidence.

He said: The study proved that we can utilise data from sources like BCMS and abattoirs to improve efficiency on farm, by reducing finishing time, improving calving intervals and reducing calf mortality, as well as an improvement in feed conversion and the number of calves per cow.

Alan Clarke, QMS chief executive, said harnessing DNA information for the benefit of the Scottish beef herd was vital to demonstrate that Scottish producers were 'amongst the best in the world'.

"The introduction of a DNA information programme could underpin the integrity of the Scotch Beef PGI brand through product traceability," he said.

QMS will be engaging with the Scottish red meat supply chain to share our findings and identify if there is the potential to roll out a national programme across Scotland.
Weber State Hosts International Lecture Series on Higher Education Administration

March 31, 2021

OGDEN, Utah  Weber State University is hosting a virtual speaker series on Internationalization and Higher Education Administration with students, staff and faculty participating from universities in multiple countries, including the United States, Japan, China, Australia, Canada and Malaysia.

The series focuses on bridging the literature and theories of internationalization with the professional work being done in universities. After each virtual talk, there is a cross-national online forum where participants can share their experiences and perspectives from various countries and professions.

We invited experienced scholars and practitioners as our speakers, said Yimin Wang, WSU Senior International officer and co-leader of the initiative. In the online forums we discuss how what we learn in these talks can be helpful in our daily work, including enhancing our global competency, fostering intercultural understanding and better serving students from all cultural backgrounds.

The first virtual talk took place on March 22 and attracted an audience of 175 people from various institutions in the U.S. and internationally. While most participants speak English, bilingual facilitators from partnering universities are on hand for anyone who may need assistance.

The community is invited to join the remaining discussions, which will run through April 12, via Zoom video conferencing. The schedule and Zoom links can be found at weber.edu/internationalprograms/speakerseries.

The speaker series is also part of a graduate level course for the Higher Education Leadership program housed in the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education Master of Education program.

The course and speaker series is a collaboration with multiple international partner universities, including the Xiamen University in China, University of Malaya in Malaysia, Tohoku University in Japan, as well as Southwest University and Shanghai Normal University Tianhua College in China.

Students in the course are expected to attend the virtual lectures, as well as collaborate with their peers from other universities to complete a project and create a cross-national virtual presentation at the end of the semester.

The groups choose a profession found at higher education institutions and consider the similarities and differences of the role at various universities globally. They are also asked to examine how the same profession can differ significantly depending on location and institutional culture. After they have researched the selected profession, student groups will then create a plan to make this profession more internationalized and present their work to the class.

In almost two decades of immersion in international higher education work, this is the most innovative course I've seen, said Brett Perozzi, WSU Student Affairs vice president and co-leader of the initiative. The mixture of Weber State student enrollment, internship opportunities related to the course, global facilitators and opening the lecture portions to the public is truly creative. The blending of synchronous instruction across multiple countries with more intimate small group discussions has pushed international collaborative learning to the next level.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.

Property developer Daniel Grollo has apologised to creditors for having to go through the administration of 88 companies, but he avoided giving further details about $90 million in related Grocon company loans.

Companies and individuals, owed about $100 million, will have to wait another 10 days for a decision on the collapsed groups future after Tuesdays creditors meeting was adjourned.

Daniel Grollo blames the NSW government for Grocons collapse. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Dozens of the wealthy property developers companies were tipped into administration earlier this year, a situation Mr Grollo blames on a $270 million legal dispute with Infrastructure NSW over the Central Barangaroo development in Sydney.

We didnt want to do this. Our hand was forced by Infrastructure NSW, he told creditors.

Infrastructure NSW is defending itself against the claims.
(NEW YORK) -- Here are today's In Crisis headlines:



Day two of testimony in Derek Chauvin trial begins today

The video footage of George Floyd gasping for breath was front and center as testimony in the trial of Derek Chauvin began Monday. The former police officer is accused of murdering George Floyd during an arrest on May 25, 2020, when Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes. During opening statements, prosecutor Jerry Blackwell told jurors that Chauvin "didn't let up, he didn't get up" even after Floyd said 27 times that he couldn't breathe and went motionless, and that Chauvin failed the responsibilities that come with the badge he was given by the Minneapolis Police Department. Eric Nelson, Chauvins defense attorney, emphasized during his opening statement that the evidence for the case is "far greater than nine minutes and 29 seconds, the length of time Chauvin knelt on Floyds neck. Nelson also said the defense will show that Chauvin reacted exactly as he was trained and that drugs played a role in Floyd's death. Testimony resumes today. The trial is expected to last four weeks.



COVID-19 numbers

Here's the latest data on COVID-19 coronavirus infections, deaths and vaccinations.



Latest reported COVID-19 numbers globally per Johns Hopkins University

Global diagnosed cases: 127,749,710

Global deaths: 2,794,174. The United States has the most deaths of any single country, with 550,071.

Number of countries/regions: at least 192

Total patients recovered globally: 72,492,831



Latest reported COVID-19 numbers in the United States per Johns Hopkins University

There are at least 30,332,259 reported cases in 50 states + the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. This is more than in any other country.

U.S. deaths: at least 550,071. California has the greatest number of reported deaths in the U.S., with 59,030.

U.S. total people tested: 390,026,186



The greatest number of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is in California, with 3,663,913 confirmed cases out of a total state population of 39.51 million. This ranks second in the world after England, which has 3,794,011 cases. Texas is third, with 2,786,313 confirmed cases out of a total state population of 29 million.



Latest reported COVID-19 vaccination numbers in the United States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a total of 180,646,565 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been distributed in the U.S. Of those, 145,812,835 doses have been administered, with 95,015,762 people receiving at least one dose and 52,614,231 people fully vaccinated, representing 28.6% and 15.8% of the total U.S. population, respectively. The Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines each require two doses to be effective. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires a single dose to be effective.



Number of US COVID-19 deaths surpasses 550,000

More than 550,000 people in the United States have now died of COVID-19. As of Tuesday morning, data compiled by Johns Hopkins University put the total number of people in the U.S. who have died of the virus at 550,071 since the first reported case in the U.S., on January 21, 2020. The U.S. reported 500,000 COVID-19 deaths just 37 days ago, on February 22. Experts continue to advise that the number of COVID-19 deaths, like the number of total cases, is likely underreported. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions latest forecast predicts a total of 558,000 to 578,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. by the week ending April 17.



President Biden urges mask mandates amid warnings of renewed COVID-19 surge

President Biden on Monday urged governors and municipal authorities to reinstate mask mandates to further control the spread of COVID-19, amid concerns that relaxed protocols are leading to yet another surge in infections. Speaking at the White House, Biden declared, This is not politics, adding, If we let our guard down now, we can see the virus getting worse, not better, and The failure to take this virus seriously is precisely what got us into this mess in the first place. COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, which had been trending down nationally, have begun increasing as ongoing vaccination efforts have prompted state and local officials to relax pandemic prevention measures. But the president also delivered the optimistic news that by April 19, at least 90% of the adult U.S. population will be eligible for vaccination and would have access to a vaccination site within five miles of home.



Hours earlier, during a virtual White House health briefing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky also spoke urgently about the need to maintain mask wearing and social distancing protocols to prevent an infection surge. She grew emotional as she urged Americans to hold on a little white longer, and reflected on her experience treating COVID-19 patients who are alone at the end of their lives. We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope, she said. But right now, Im scared.

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Crowne Plaza Hotel Dublin, one of the quarantine hotels in use

THE United States and EU countries, including France, Germany and Italy, are on the latest list of high-risk countries recommended for mandatory hotel quarantine of travellers arriving here.

The additions are expected to be highly politically sensitive and cause diplomatic tensions with some key countries. A decision will be taken later in the week.

The new list includes 43 countries which have variants of concern or where Covid-19 cases greater than 500 per 100,000.

The UK is not on the list.

Read More

Mandatory quarantine is currently required for people travelling to Ireland from 33 countries. That list is now set to double in size.

The mandatory hotel quarantine system has been hugely controversial due to delays in getting it started.

When it started last weekend, three passengers left a mandatory hotel quarantine facility in Dublin, sparking a Garda search. One of those people has not returned to the hotel and is thought to have gone to Northern Ireland. It is a criminal offence to not go into or stay in quarantine, with penalties of up to 2,000 fines or a month in prison.

The Travel Expert Advisory Group in charge to updating the list of designated countries for quarantine has now recommended another 43 countries be added to the list.

The countries on the list will be kept under review on an ongoing basis, with countries added and taken away.

The Department of Health is now consulting with the Department of Foreign Affairs about the list. Irish embassies across the world will have to advise the countries concerned and line up travel advice. The Department of Health wrote to the Department of Foreign Affairs last night to notify it of the latest recommendations.

The expansion of the quarantine list is expected to strain relations with key countries and also raise concerns with the IDA and business groups as it will hamper travel by executives and essential workers. However, the recommendation in writing leaves little room for manoeuvre.

The Government will be mindful to assure these countries the list is temporary and countries can be removed when the situation improves.

Austria is currently the only European country or EU member state on the list of 33 countries from where passengers must complete a mandatory 14-day period of quarantine. But the continent is currently battling a third wave of the virus.

The first four hotels for use as mandatory quarantine centre are the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport in Santry, the Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport, Clontarf Castle Hotel and the Hard Rock Hotel Dublin City Centre. The cost is 1,876 per adult.

There are very limited exemptions to mandatory quarantine on health grounds.

Passengers must complete a Covid-19 passenger locator form and provide evidence that they have had a negative Covid-19 test carried out 72 hours before they arrived into Ireland. Their mandatory quarantine could be cut short if their Covid-19 test comes back negative on day 10 of their stay.
Lamb's Leadership Skills Highly Compatible with PowerBand's Digital Mission

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2021 / PowerBand Solutions Inc. (TSXV:PBX) (OTCQB:PWWBF) (Frankfurt:1ZVA) ("PowerBand", "PBX" or the "Company"), an innovative automotive fintech leader providing digital and virtual platform solutions to buy, sell, trade, lease, or finance vehicles to consumers, dealers, and OEMs is pleased to announce the promotion of Jon Lamb to CEO of MUSA Holdings ("MUSA").

Kelly Jennings, CEO of PowerBand, commented: "Jon is an extraordinary executive, and as demonstrated in his role as President of DRIVRZ, his vision and experience will greatly benefit our leasing strategy and will prove to be key to successfully solidifying Powerband's vision for the DRIVRZ solution."

"Jon is a world-class entrepreneur," added Jennings, "whose execution skills have literally taken him from leadership roles on nuclear submarines to the executive suite. His precision and execution are unsurpassed."

Lamb has founded and served as CEO and President of numerous successful business entities. He is also a patent author and mission-driven investor.

Lamb is a proven executive and entrepreneur in the automotive and marketing industries, with numerous exits to his credit. He has served in CEO and President roles with Brickell.IO, Privatized Capital, Hundy Inc, Transparent AI and Visible Customer. Jon also has a distinguished record for military service in the United States Navy as a high-tech, weaponry specialist on nuclear submarines.

He is also an active board member and advisor to multiple ad tech and fintech organizations as well as a valuable asset to industry-leading automotive retailers, OEMs, digital marketplaces, and fintech start-ups through his private equity and advisory firm in Miami. He is widely recognized for his accomplishments in technologies, business strategy, product development, marketplaces, and capitalization.

Jon has served as President of DRIVRZ US since January of this year.

About PowerBand Solutions, Inc.

PowerBand Solutions Inc., listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the OTCQB markets, is a fintech provider disrupting the automotive industry. PowerBand's integrated, cloud-based transaction platform facilitates transactions amongst consumers, dealers, funders and manufacturers (OEMs). It enables them to buy, sell, trade, finance, and lease new and used, electric- and non-electric vehicles, on smart phones or any other online digital devices, from any location. PowerBand's transaction platform - being trademarked under DRIVRZ - is being made available across North American and global markets.

For further information, please contact:

Kelly Jennings

Chief Executive Officer

P: 866 768 7653

E: info@powerbandsolutions.com

SOURCE: PowerBand Solutions Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/638103/PowerBand-Solutions-Promotes-Jon-Lamb-to-Chief-Executive-Officer-of-MUSA-Holdings
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Online grocery platform on Tuesday said it will cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccination for its employees, their family members as well as the company's contractual staff.

The company aims to cover vaccination cost for 25,000 people across 38 cities, it added.

will cover the vaccination cost for its employees, their family members (including, parents, spouse, and two children) and the company's contractual workforce, a statement said.

Also, the company will reimburse the vaccination cost for those who will administer the vaccine through their personal arrangements.

With the government recently appealing to people above 45 years to take the vaccine, the company will begin covering costs for its employees and their family members of this age group.

Post the government guidelines allowing the vaccination for remaining age groups, will ensure coverage of costs for the remaining workforce and their family members, the statement said.

Extra sick leave will also be granted towards the vaccine drive for employees to manage any post-vaccination symptoms.

"Our team has been there with us through these challenging times and by ensuring their vaccination cost, we want to ensure their safety and health, along with the well-being of their loved ones and dependents... Serving our customers and community at large has been the core of our business, and during the pandemic, it became even more critical as we are an essential service provider," Ankush Arora, HR Head at Grofers, said.

ADP India has also announced that it will sponsor the COVID-19 vaccines for all its employees.

As a part of this initiative, ADP will cover the cost of the total vaccine for over 50,000 beneficiaries in India spread across Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai along with over 10,000 beneficiaries in the Philippines.

Under this 'COVID Vaccine Special Benefit', ADP associates and their immediate dependents will be reimbursed the cost of both doses of the COVID-19 vaccinations. Associates and dependents who are already vaccinated can also avail this benefit.

"In the 21 years of our presence in India and our journey from 102 to 10,000-plus employees, this initiative will be the biggest commitment towards our people that we will fulfill," Vipul Singh, Divisional Vice President and Head HR at ADP India, said.

Several companies, including Flipkart, Infosys, Accenture, Capgemini, Cognizant, Mobile Premier League, Reliance Industries, TVS Motor Company, ReNew Power, Mindtree and Sify Technologies, have committed to covering vaccine costs for their employees and their family members.

People above 60 years of age and those above 45 years with co-morbidities are being immunised in the second phase of the nationwide vaccination that started on March 1.

Covaxin and Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield are the two vaccines that are being administered in the country. Covaxin has been indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

A total of 6,11,13,354 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered till Tuesday 10 am. As many as 81,74,916 healthcare workers got the first dose of vaccine and 51,88,747 the second dose. As many as 89,44,742 frontline workers got the first dose and 37,11,221 the second dose.

From April 1, people above the age of 45 years would be eligible for vaccination.

(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 strategies and skills she will take away from these sessions will be applicable immediately in her classes, said Wargin. Critical thinking and student growth are key components to success for our students, and Jessica will have an opportunity to learn and share with other teachers from around the globe.
Maryland authorities have charged a mother with attempted murder after she allegedly tried to slash her three-year-old's daughter throat with scissors before turning them on herself.

The Montgomery County Department of Police said in a Monday press release that Anne Catherine Akers, 28, was charged with one count of attempted second-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, and one count of first-degree child abuse.

A relative of Akers' called 911 at around 10.50am to the mother's residence on the 13000 block of Hathaway Drive in the Wheaton-Glenmont area, near Washington D.C., after finding blood on the floor of the home.

Anne Catherine Akers, 28, was charged with attempted second-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, and one count of first-degree child abuse

Officers responding to the home found blood on the floor, along with the scissors.

Akers was found on the bedroom floor with a laceration to her neck, according to police.

Police began assessing the mother's injuries and while removing a blanket Akers was holding, discovered her three-year-old daughter with a 'life-threatening laceration to her neck.'

A relative of Akers' called 911 at around 10.50am to the mother's residence on the 13000 block of Hathaway Drive in the Wheaton-Glenmont area, near Washington D.C., after finding blood on the floor of the home

Officers immediately began life saving measures for the girl and a Maryland State Police helicopter took her to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Physicians who treated Akers' daughter told detectives that without the officer's help, the girl's injuries would have proved fatal, police shared in the release.

Akers was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.

The mother is currently being held without bond at the Central Processing Unit.
A French, left, and a Spanish police officer talk at the French-Spanish border in Behobie, southwestern France, Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Spain recently said it would extend a negative coronavirus test requirement in effect for arrivals by sea or air to include those entering from France by land. Revelers from Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and, most noticeably, France, join their Spanish contemporaries in Old Madrid's narrow streets to seek illicit fun at 11 p.m. after the bars closeand curfew kicks in. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

When French President Emmanuel Macron holds his coronavirus strategy meeting this week, some of the figures at his disposal from overburdened hospitals will show why doctors are bracing for the possibility of unprecedented misery from rampaging infections.

Internal projections by the Paris public hospitals authority, some of which were seen by The Associated Press, suggest that intensive care units in the region of 12 million people may soon have to find space for more critically ill patients than ever. Nationwide, the number of ICU patients has already eclipsed the levels of France's last deadly surge i n autumn.

Increasingly, hospital indicators suggest that this new surge risks becoming the worst one yet, raising the pressure on Macron to reverse course and lock down the country once again, as he did in October and November.

At Bichat Hospital, one of Paris' biggest, Dr. Aurelie Gouel's job of finding space for surgeries in its rabbit-warren of operating rooms is getting harder. Her phone rings constantly with requests for increasingly squeezed resources. Half of the ORs have been shut down this week to free up staff and space for COVID-19 care, Gouel said.

"The hospital isn't big enough to absorb the people who are sick," she said Tuesday. "We're under pressure to open extra beds but can't do that with health care workers who are exhausted."

Medical workers tend to a patient affected with the COVID-19 in the Amiens Picardie hospital, Tuesday, March 30, 2021 in Amiens, 160 km (100 miles) north of Paris. The number of patients in intensive care in France on Monday surpassed the worst point of the country's last coronavirus surge in the autumn of 2020, another indicator of how a renewed crush of infections is bearing down on French hospitals. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Less-urgent procedures like hip replacements are being postponed. "Even if the patient is in pain, and I understand that being in pain is a real problem, they will have to wait," Gouel said.

Outside the capital, ICU wards are also at the bursting point. Virus patients occupy all 16 regular ICU beds at the main hospital in Amiens, where Macron was born and schooled. Ten more temporary ICU beds set up this month in a pediatric wing for non-COVID-19 patients are mostly also full.

Dr. Michel Slama, the ICU deputy head, said Tuesday that at the current rate of admissions, and without stricter virus control measures, his hospital could soon be facing its worst battle with the virus to date.

"See that slope? See how sharp it is?" he said, pointing to a chart of virus infections and hospitalizations in northern France, including the Amiens region.

A medical worker looks at patient affected with the COVID-19 in the Amiens Picardie hospital Tuesday, March 30, 2021 in Amiens, 160 km (100 miles) north of Paris. The number of patients in intensive care in France on Monday surpassed the worst point of the country's last coronavirus surge in the autumn of 2020, another indicator of how a renewed crush of infections is bearing down on French hospitals. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

In the ICU, relatives circled in silence around the bed of a 60-year-old man close to death.

The French situation echoes the recent experience of Britain, which saw infections surge in December as a more contagious virus variant took hold, before then spreading in France and elsewhere in Europe. But where British Prime Minister Boris Johnson responded by locking his country down again, Macron has instead pursued a strategy of trying to contain infections with softer measures and to outrun them with vaccinations.

An overnight nationwide curfew has been in place since January. In Paris and other regions where the virus is spreading rapidly, residents also have extra restrictions on movement and nonessential stores are closed.

Doctors want even stricter controls, warning that surging infections could soon overwhelm their ability to care for the sick and force them to choose which patients they have resources to save. French ICUs had to make room for another 569 new patients on Tuesday, pushing the nationwide total beyond 5,000 for the first time in 11 months.

A medical worker checks on a screen a patient' lung affected with the COVID-19 in the Amiens Picardie hospital Tuesday, March 30, 2021 in Amiens, 160 km (100 miles) north of Paris. The number of patients in intensive care in France on Monday surpassed the worst point of the country's last coronavirus surge in the autumn of 2020, another indicator of how a renewed crush of infections is bearing down on French hospitals. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

When Macron and his ministers and aides meet Wednesday, closing schools will be up for discussion. That's an option his government has described as a last resort and resisted since a switch to online teaching in France's first lockdown in 2020 proved particularly damaging for underprivileged kids and contributed to an explosion of child mental health issues.

The government says it wants to avoid reaching the point where ICU doctors have to turn patients away. "The absolute red line is triaging of the sick," the economy minister, Bruno Le Maire, said Tuesday.

But doctors say the red line is rushing closer. The Paris hospital authority projections seen by AP point alarmingly upward. They forecast that by Friday, the region's ICUs could have nearly 2,000 patients in care, up from 1,525 on Tuesday. That is beyond the peak of 1,138 patients that Paris-region ICUs absorbed in the last surge that forced France's lockdown that lasted until mid-December.

Medical workers tend to a patient affected with the COVID-19 at the Amiens Picardie hospital, Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in Amiens, 160 km (100 miles) north of Paris. The number of patients in intensive care in France on Monday surpassed the worst point of the country's last coronavirus surge in the autumn of 2020, another indicator of how a renewed crush of infections is bearing down on French hospitals. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

A medical worker tends to a patient affected with the COVID-19 in the Amiens Picardie hospital Tuesday, March 30, 2021 in Amiens, 160 km (100 miles) north of Paris. The number of patients in intensive care in France on Monday surpassed the worst point of the country's last coronavirus surge in the autumn of 2020, another indicator of how a renewed crush of infections is bearing down on French hospitals. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Police evict a group of people in the Vauban park in Lille, northern France, Tuesday, March 30, 2021. The number of patients in intensive care in France on Monday surpassed the worst point of the country's last coronavirus surge in the autumn of 2020, another indicator of how a renewed crush of infections is bearing down on French hospitals. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)

A medical worker prepares to tend to patients affected with the COVID-19 in the Amiens Picardie hospital Tuesday, March 30, 2021 in Amiens, 160 km (100 miles) north of Paris. The number of patients in intensive care in France on Monday surpassed the worst point of the country's last coronavirus surge in the autumn of 2020, another indicator of how a renewed crush of infections is bearing down on French hospitals. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Spanish police officers check documents at the French-Spanish border in Behobie, southwestern France, Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Spain recently said it would extend a negative coronavirus test requirement in effect for arrivals by sea or air to include those entering from France by land. Revelers from Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and, most noticeably, France, join their Spanish contemporaries in Old Madrid's narrow streets to seek illicit fun at 11 p.m. after the bars closeand curfew kicks in. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

A woman jogs as people sit in the Vauban park in Lille, northern France, Tuesday, March 30, 2021. The number of patients in intensive care in France on Monday surpassed the worst point of the country's last coronavirus surge in the autumn of 2020, another indicator of how a renewed crush of infections is bearing down on French hospitals. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)

Other longer-term projections are darker still, pointing to unprecedented potential peaks of more than 3,400, or even 4,400 ICU patients in the Paris region by mid- to late April, said a hospital crisis director who has seen the forecasts and who spoke about them on condition of anonymity because they were internal. The director said the mere thought of so many gravely ill people to care forwhich would be way beyond what Paris hospitals absorbed when the virus first hit in 2020was mind-boggling.

Other doctors say hospitals won't turn critically ill patients away but won't be able to offer their best care.

"Regardless of whatever political decision is taken, we are heading for the wall," Gilles Pialoux, the head of infectious diseases at the Tenon Hospital in Paris, said Tuesday on France Inter radio,

"The care on offer will be degraded, degraded for everyone, COVID and non-COVID alike," he said. "To the point, if we let it keep climbing, that we'll be in a situation like Lombardy (Italy), where families will understand that patients are going to die on gurneys. That is what we want to avoid."

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

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Katie Piper has revealed that she is in hospital for another surgery on her eyelid after suffering an acid attack in 2008.

The activist and presenter, 37, was staying positive as she shared an update with followers while sitting in a hospital bed on Tuesday.

She explained how she was having a planned skin graft operation on her right eye after the acid attack left her blind in that eye.

Tough: Katie Piper has revealed that she is in hospital for another surgery on her eyelid after suffering an acid attack in 2008

Speaking on her Instagram Story she said: 'Morning lovely people, I have a very optimistic affirmation for you today. 30th March, what happened in the past is done with. It is the actions that you take next that will shape the rest of your life.

'I think that's a really exciting affirmation, knowing that there's so much more in front of you than there is behind you. I think sometimes the past is best left where it belongs.'

She then added: 'Thank-you for all the messages, I am fine. I'm having a planned operation to my eyelid. I'm having another skin graft to my right eye.'

Strong: The activist and presenter, 37, was staying positive as she shared an update with followers while sitting in a hospital bed on Tuesday

On Monday she also shared an empowering message on her grid as she prepared for a workout which read: 'Having a strong and positive start to the week before I head in for another op tomorrow!'

Under the post Katie was also inundated with messages from followers who wished her well ahead of her latest surgery.

Katie survived a sulphuric acid attack orchestrated by her ex-boyfriend in 2008, which caused significant damage to her face and left her blind in one eye.

Difficult: She explained how she was having a planned skin graft operation on her right eye after the acid attack left her blind in that eye

Mindset: On Monday she also shared an empowering message on her grid as she prepared for a workout which read: 'Having a strong and positive start to the week before I head in for another op tomorrow!'

The horrifying attack was organised by her obsessive ex-partner, Daniel Lynch, but was carried out by accomplice Stefan Sylvestre in a pre-planned street attack outside her north London home.

Lynch was subsequently given two life terms behind bars, while Sylvestre served 6-years of his own life sentence. He was released in 2018.

Katie underwent more than 40 operations to treat her burns, including pioneering surgery that involved completely removing the damaged skin from her face and replacing it with a substitute.

In July 2019, 12-years after the attack, she had further surgery to cauterize the blood vessels in her left eye.

Life-changing: Katie survived a sulphuric acid attack orchestrated by her ex-boyfriend in 2008, which caused significant damage to her face and left her blind in one eye

The acid, some of which Piper had swallowed, blinded her in her left eye, and caused partial thickness and full thickness burns.

Even though it has now been over 12 years since the attack, Katie has previously said that her 'heart never sinks' when she was told that she would need even more operations.

Speaking to The Mirror in November, Katie explained: 'You can look at it that way, or you can say, it's extraordinary to be alive, because women who are acid attacked in other countries actually die.'

'They don't have the NHS, and they don't have the sophisticated medicine we have here. So I think, my heart would never sink, life is a gift that I'm still here.'

In November, Katie received a Honorary Doctorate Award of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland to mark her achievements as a healthcare leader.

Activist Katie was honoured for her groundbreaking work setting up the Katie Piper Foundation - which supports burns survivors, along with their families and carers.

The Foundation has also opened a rehabilitation centre in the UK - and reaches out to survivors to provide remote individually tailored programmes of rehabilitation.

Well done: In November, Katie received a Honorary Doctorate Award of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland to mark her achievements as a healthcare leader

Katie shares her daughters belle, six, and Penelope, three, with husband Richard Sutton.

In February 2019 the presenter flew out to Pakistan for a major operation with her long-term plastic surgeon, Dr Muhammad Ali Jawad.

Dr. Jawad was in charge of the star's reconstruction surgery after she was attacked with sulphuric acid in 2008.

Dr. Jawad and his team of surgeons completely removed the skin of Katie's face, and replaced it with a skin substitute, Matriderm, to build the foundations for a skin graft. This pioneering procedure was the first of its kind to be done in a single operation.

After the operation, Katie was put into an induced coma for 12 days. She has since been through more than 200 surgical operations to treat her injuries.

Writing in the National Geographic in 2018, she said: 'It's been a decade since I survived a sulfuric acid attack that left me with severe burns across my face, in the following years, I've worked to redefine my sense of identity.

'With injuries such as mine, your face can be so damaged that your expressions may not convey how you feel, and you may even lose your ability to smile.

'It can be an isolating experience, you feel one way on the inside but look completely different on the outside, after more than 200 surgeries since my attack, I've accepted that my old face is gone.'
Amidst in four states and a Union territory, the government on Tuesday approved issuance of the 16th tranche of electoral bonds which will be open for sale from April 1 to 10.

Electoral bonds have been pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency in political funding. However, Opposition parties have been raising concerns about alleged opaqueness in funding through such bonds.

The of India (ECI) has accorded 'no objection' from the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) angle on March 17 with certain conditions, including that no political functionary would make any reference in this regard during any public speech or communication to the press or public in the constituencies going for polls, the finance ministry said in a statement.

"The State Bank of India (SBI), in the XVI Phase of sale, has been authorised to issue and encash electoral bonds through its 29 authorised branches w.e.f. 01.04.2021 to 10.04.2021," it said.

The 29 specified SBI branches are in cities such as Kolkata, Guwahati, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Patna, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla, Srinagar, Dehradun, Gandhinagar, Bhopal, Raipur, Mumbai, and Lucknow. The sale of the first batch of electoral bonds took place from March 1-10, 2018.

The 15th tranche of bond sale took place from January 1 to January 10, 2021.

Last week, Supreme Court refused to stay the sale of these bondsduring the in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

According to provisions of the scheme, electoral bonds can be purchased by a person who is a citizen of India or entities incorporated or established in India. Registered political parties that have secured not less than 1 per cent of the votes polled in the last election of Lok Sabha or legislative assembly are eligible to receive electoral bonds.

SBI is the only authorised bank to issue such bonds.

An will be valid for 15 days from the date of issue. No payment would be made to any payee political party if the bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period, as per the statement.

The bond deposited by any eligible political party into its account would be credited on the same day.
TailoredPay's newly revamped website aims to transform the online payments space for small businesses that are in search of an alternative payment provider.

The new website incorporates features that enable online businesses of all technical capabilities to quickly and seamlessly accept online payments. In addition to simplifying the process of payment acceptance for eCommerce merchants, TailoredPay also simplified the information available on its website, making it more understandable for both beginners and advanced merchants.

The company offers solutions to businesses in a variety of niches including health beauty, travel, web design/development and online dating industries that require seamless payment integration solutions.

They identified a gap in the market, created by the lengthy compliance processes and expensive integrations that merchants experience when seeking payment solutions for their business. The company aims to create a payment solution that simplifies the application and setup process, using powerful APIs to offer merchants more control over the payment experience. TailoredPay was created in response to the need for a seamless, more simplified payment experience.

About TailoredPay

TailoredPay is an online payment platform that provides cross-device payment options to online businesses wishing to accept credit and debit cards. They offer merchants the flexibility to process both one-time and recurring payments on desktop and mobile devices.

The company has been operating in the payment processing industry for more than 4 years. Their team is led by seasoned Fintech and IT-industry professionals with a wealth of international experience.

TailoredPay's mission is to refine the payment process for online merchants to offer the fastest and most seamless payment experience: "We are aware of common issues that online merchants experience, for example settlement delays and low conversion rates due to hosted checkout pages. Our reliable payment solution minimizes cart abandonment and ensures that businesses benefit from uninterrupted cash flow, consequently optimizing their profits."

Interested merchants can obtain more information at www.tailoredpay.com. The company processes new applications within 24 business hours and uses high levels of security and encryption standards to protect your data.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005865/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact Information



Daniel Kroytor

Email: Sales@tailoredpay.com

Phone: (888) 599-6482

Fax: (305) 425-1075

Address: 6303 Blue Lagoon Drive, 4th Floor, Miami, FL 33126
Graph shows a steady decline in parole and probation violations (left) as well as returns to incarceration (right) over the 10 months following empathy training. Credit: Jason Okonofua

Heavy caseloads, job stress and biases can strain relations between parole and probation officers and their clients, upping offenders' likelihood of landing back behind bars.

On a more hopeful note, a new University of California, Berkeley, study suggests that nonjudgmental empathy training helps court-appointed supervision officers feel more emotionally connected to their clients and, arguably, better able to deter them from criminal backsliding.

The findings, published March 29 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show, on average, a 13% decrease in recidivism among the clients of parole and probation officers who participated in the UC Berkeley empathy training experiment.

"If an officer received this empathic training, real-world behavioral outcomes changed for the people they supervised, who, in turn, were less likely to go back to jail," said study lead and senior author Jason Okonofua, an assistant professor of psychology at UC Berkeley.

The results are particularly salient in the face of nationwide efforts to reduce prison and jail populations amid a deadly pandemic and other adversities. The U.S. criminal justice system has among the highest rates of recidivism, with approximately two-thirds of incarcerated people rearrested within three years of their release and one-half sent back behind bars.

"The combination of COVID-19 and ongoing criminal justice reforms are diverting more people away from incarceration and toward probation or parole, which is why we need to develop scalable ways to keep pace with this change," said Okonofua, who has led similar interventions for school teachers to check their biases before disciplining students.

At the invitation of a correctional department in a large East Coast city, Okonofua and graduate students in his lab at UC Berkeley sought to find out if a more caring approach on the part of court-appointed supervision officers would reverse trends in recidivism.

Among other duties, parole and probation officers keep track of their clients' whereabouts, make sure they don't miss a drug test or court hearing, or otherwise violate the terms of their release, and provide resources to help them stay out of trouble and out of jail.

For the study, the researchers surveyed more than 200 parole and probation officers who oversee more than 20,000 people convicted of crimes ranging from violent crimes to petty theft. Research protocols bar identifying the agency and its location.

Using their own and other scholars' methodologies, the researchers designed and administered a 30-minute online empathy survey that focused on the officers' job motivation, biases and views on relationships and responsibilities.

To trigger their sense of purpose and values, and tap into their empathy, the UC Berkeley survey asked what parts of the work they found fulfilling. One respondent talked about how, "When I run across those guys, and they're doing well, I'm like, 'Awesome!'" Others reported that being an advocate for people in need was most important to them.

As for addressing biasesincluding assumptions that certain people are predisposed to a life of crimethe survey cited egregious cases in which probation and parole officers abused their power over those under their supervision.

Survey takers were also asked to rate how much responsibility they bear, as individuals and members of a profession, for their peers' transgressions. Most answered that they bore no responsibility.

Ten months after administering the training, researchers found a 13% decrease in recidivism among the offenders whose parole and probation officers had completed the empathy survey.

While the study yielded no specifics on what prevented the parolees and people on probation for reoffending in the period following the officers' empathy training, the results suggest that a change in relationship dynamics played a key role.

"The officer is in a position of power to influence if it's going to be an empathic or punitive relationship in ways that the person on parole or probation is not," Okonofua said.

"As our study shows," he added, "the relationship between probation and parole officers and the people they supervise plays a pivotal role and can lead to positive outcomes, if efforts to be more understanding are taken into consideration."

More information: Jason A. Okonofua el al., "A scalable empathic supervision intervention to mitigate recidivism from probation and parole," PNAS (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jason A. Okonofua el al., "A scalable empathic supervision intervention to mitigate recidivism from probation and parole,"(2021). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2018036118
(ANSAmed) - ROME, 30 MAR - An international project to promote Italian design called Sensitaliani is kicking off in Kuwait, in a collaboration between POLI.design, founded by Milan Polytechnic University, and the Italian Embassy in Kuwait.



The ten-month project will tell the story of Italian design in its unique multidisciplinary aspects of ability, creativity, research and entrepreneurship.



The Italian ambassador to Kuwait, Carlo Baldocci, said the initiative has attracted strong interest in Kuwait, where Italian design is a very significant part of economic and trade relations between the two countries and is destined to further expand Italy-Kuwait dialogue and opportunities for collaboration.



Baldocci expressed great appreciation for support for the initiative by the architecture programmes at the University of Kuwait and the American University of the Middle East in Kuwait.



From March to December 2021, Sensitaliani, under the scientific direction of professor Anna Barbara, will promote three main activities aimed at design students and professionals in Kuwait who are interested in Italian design.



The first part of the programme will include two cycles of online lessons and conferences, followed by a study trip "in the field" in Italy for participants.



The theme for the project is "Italian senses" - certainly sight, but also hearing, smell, touch and taste - for a 360-degree exploration of Italian design and to raise awareness and knowledge of Italian culture, from art to fashion, theatre, cinema, nature, sport, and more.



Design is seen not only as a trade vehicle for Made in Italy companies in the sector, but also as a way to promote Italy and the "country system" in its broader form: cultural, artistic, social, economic and educational.



The collaboration officially kicks off on March 31, 2021 and will end with an awards ceremony for students and the presentation of final projects together with materials, interviews, photographs and videos made during all phases of the project.



POLI.design, together with the School of Design and the Department of Design, makes up the Design System of Milan Polytechnic, among the top universities in the world.



The university is currently ranked in the QS World University Ranking by Subject 2020 as first in Italy, third in Europe and sixth in the world in the category of art and design. (ANSAmed).
[March 30, 2021] ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship comes to Canada

ESET Canada offering $5,000 scholarship to a Graduate/Undergraduate woman in Canada majoring in a STEM field of study TORONTO, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - ESET, a global leader in IT security, is hosting the Sixth Annual Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship and for the first time ever, ESET Canada will be participating in the program. ESET Canada will be awarding $5,000 to a woman in Canada currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate program majoring in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field. "We are thrilled ESET Canada will be participating in the program for the first time this year," says Celeste Blodgett, vice president of human resources at ESET. "Empowering women to pursue their passions through a career in cybersecurity is critical in order to cultivate an under-represented segment of talent in the sector. The ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship aims to break down barriers of entry in order to support the next generation of female cybersecurity experts." Applications for the scholarship are due by May 5, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Those ineligible to apply are encouraged to share this opportunity with friends and family. An (ISC)sup>2 Women in Cybersecurity Report found that men currently outnumber women three to one in the field of cybersecurity, underscoring the importance of supporting women in their pursuit of a degree in STEM.



"For the past five years, it has been inspiring to see the number of women who have applied for the scholarship, showing both their passion in the technology field and desire to do good in the world with their unique skillset," says Blodgett. "We are confident we will see that same passion from the Canadians who apply to the program this year." REQUIREMENTS, DETAILS AND HOW TO APPLY

ESET will award a $5,000 scholarship to a woman who is currently enrolled as a graduate/undergraduate student in Canada, majoring in a STEM field of study.

How do I qualify for the scholarship?

You must be enrolled in or accepted to an accredited college or university within Canada. (The graduate/undergraduate program does not have to be a "cybersecurity" program; however, in your application, you should make clear that you aspire to have a career in the cybersecurity industry.) You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with permanent resident ID card. And, you must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA (or equivalent GPA in 9.0 scale) What is the deadline for submission? Submissions will be accepted from March 30, 2021 - May 5, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

ESET will announce the winner on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. What do I submit / How do I submit my application?

Applicants must email the following attachments to CA-scholarship@eset.com with a subject line of "Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship": Application and completed essay questions (DOWNLOAD PDF).

A copy of an unofficial transcript or acceptance letter as proof of enrollment.

One letter of recommendation signed by the recommending party. Additional details Essays may be submitted in English or French.

Finalists may be required to supply additional personal or professional references.

Judging is conducted by a panel of ESET staff including cybersecurity experts.

Winners will be asked to provide a photo of themselves, which may be used for promotional purposes.

If the application or essays are incomplete, they won't be considered.

Immediate family members or dependents of ESET employees are not eligible to participate. Questions? Email us at CA-scholarship@eset.com with any questions and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. About ESET

For more than 30 years, ESET has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure and consumers worldwide from increasingly sophisticated digital threats. From endpoint and mobile security to endpoint detection and response, as well as encryption and multifactor authentication, ESET's high-performing, easy-to-use solutions unobtrusively protect and monitor 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company that enables the safe use of technology. This is backed by ESET's R&D centers worldwide, working in support of our shared future. SOURCE ESET Canada Inc.

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(Natural News) The uber-liberal mayor of Oakland is putting her stamp of approval on a program her government will manage to pass out $500 a month to poor black families, but wont give one red cent to poor white families.

And whats more, Libby Schaaf doesnt even care how the money will be spent  so it could go for anything, like liquor, drugs, a cellphone, you name it.

The UKs Daily Mail reports:

A program to give $500 monthly checks to low-income families of color in Oakland, California, has been criticized for explicitly excluding the 10,000 white residents living in poverty in the city.

The lottery system, funded by private philanthropists, will see the no-strings-attached checks go to households with an annual income of less than $59,000 if they have at least one child. The other half of the $500 checks will go to those earning under $30,000.

According to data from an Oakland Equity Indicators Report, cited by officials to justify favoring people of color, white households earn about three times that of African-American ones.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Schaaf said, presumably with a straight face, that the reason she and others managing the program are being overtly racist against whites is because they make three times as much, on average, as black households.

We have designed this demonstration project to add to the body of evidence, and to begin this relentless campaign to adopt a guaranteed income federally, she said, without noting that a federal program would be paid for by taxpayers, not private equity funds.

Following the announcement, people commented angrily online, with many Reddit users blasting the program.

One person wrote that it is pure racism. Another asked, Is this even legal? Can a city government legally have a program only for certain races?

Still another noted that the program did not take into account the changing demographics of Oakland.

The high income earners in Oakland are mostly young transplants that did not grow up in Oakland. They should have done research on upward social mobility in Oakland and restricted based upon that. But I guess thats too much work, the person wrote. (Related: Covid squatters take advantage of Californias eviction moratorium by refusing to vacate home after selling to cash buyer.)

Poor is poor. Being poor and white sucks, you may not get locked up for trivial shit like our dark skinned brothers and sisters but its no secret that White Privilege always has and always will require a certain shade of green to your name, another user wrote.

The group funding the program, Oakland Resilient Families, said they got the idea from Schaaf, who pledged last year to bring a guaranteed-income scheme to Oakland (so she could hook as many residents as possible on government dependence  and then control them. You dont wanna wear a mask? Well, then, well just cut off your check this month).

Schaaf said she got her idea from city officials in Stockton, California, which began paying out $500-per-month checks in 2019 to families earning under $46,000 (how many illegal aliens are getting that money?).

According to the Equity Indicators Report, 2016 median household income for white families were $110,000, for Asians $76,000, Latinos had a median household income of $65,000, and African-Americans just $37,500, the Daily Mail reported.

But that means nothing; poor people, regardless of skin color, are poor, and thus, programs aimed at helping poor people should be colorblind.

Unless, of course, you live in California, where two things are growing: Homelessness, and liberal intolerance for whites.

Still, if the black families slated to begin receiving monthly checks were smart, they would turn them down. The entire concept of a Basic Universal Income, all paid for with OPM  other peoples money  is designed not to lift people out of poverty but to enslave them under government edicts designed to force people to live a certain way.

Americans who disagree should push back, in large part by changing or getting out of failing states like California, which used to be a beacon of freedom and opportunity  until Democrats ruined it.

See more reporting like this at MartialLaw.news.

Sources include:

Collapsifornia.com

DailyMail.co.uk
DENVER, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC), one of the nation's leading homebuilders, will release its 2021 first quarter earnings before the market opens on Thursday, April 29, 2021. MDC will host a teleconference the same day at 12:30 pm ET. The live teleconference will be available by calling 844-757-5733 and requesting to join the M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. conference call. A replay of the teleconference will be available through May 6, 2021 by calling 877-344-7529 and entering Access Code # 10153879.

A webcast of the teleconference will be available live at www.mdcholdings.com, and beginning two hours after the call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the website.

About MDC

M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1972. MDC's homebuilding subsidiaries, which operate under the name Richmond American Homes, have built and financed the American Dream for more than 210,000 homebuyers since 1977. MDC's commitment to customer satisfaction, quality and value is reflected in each home its subsidiaries build. MDC is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States. Its subsidiaries have homebuilding operations across the country, including the metropolitan areas of Denver, Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Riverside-San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Orlando, Jacksonville, Seattle, Portland and Boise. MDC's subsidiaries also provide mortgage financing, insurance and title services, primarily for Richmond American homebuyers, through HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. and American Home Title and Escrow Company, respectively. M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MDC." For more information, visit www.mdcholdings.com .

SOURCE M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

www.richmondamerican.com


Supreme Court rejects appeal from church threatened with closure by Chicago gov't

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The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from a Chicago church that faced the threat of summary abatement and temporary closure for holding worship services in violation of coronavirus pandemic-related gathering restrictions.

Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Albany Park, which objects to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's past actions to close down churches during the COVID-19 pandemic, sued the state government to guarantee that it cant be closed by the governor in a future lockdown.

In an orders list released Monday morning, the nations high court denied a petition for a writ of certiorari, adding that Justice Amy Coney Barrett did not participate in the proceedings.

Last year, in response to the coronavirus outbreak, Pritzker issued orders limiting in-person worship services to no more than 10 people.

In May, as the orders were taking effect, Elim held services that followed social distancing guidelines, such as keeping attendees six feet apart and checking people's temperatures before entering their buildings.

The Chicago Department of Public Health sent a letter to Pastor Cristian Ionescu at the time, demanding that his church stop holding services that defy state orders. The city sent similar letters to other churches.

I appeal to you as a leader in your community and remain hopeful that you will work with me for the health, safety, and welfare of all Chicagoans, wrote Department Commissioner Allison Arwady last year.

If you continue to operate in defiance of the Executive Order, the city will pursue all available legal remedies  Any future gatherings conducted contrary to the order will be considered a failure to abate and the city will take steps necessary to abate, including Summary Abatement.

Elim Church and Logos Baptist Ministries filed legal action against the states stay-at-home orders, arguing that they infringed on their First Amendment rights.

By late May, Pritzker announced an easing of restrictions on houses of worship, including a change to the Phase III reopening plan that would allow churches to hold services with no more than 100 people or a 25% capacity, which is lower.

Having received many plans and ideas from responsible faith leaders, [Illinois Department of Public Health] has reviewed many detailed proposals and has provided guidance, not mandatory restrictions, for all faith leaders to use in their efforts to ensure the health and safety of their congregants," Pritzker said at the time.

The Liberty Counsel, which represents Elim, filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, arguing that the church was still facing the threat of closure from the government.

The pastors and the Romanian churches are resolved to continue to fight for religious freedom," Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said in a statement Monday. "It is time to stop the abuse of the First Amendment once and for all.

The legal group said in a statement last week that although the state claims the case is "moot" since churches are meeting again in Illinois, "Pritzker continues to insist he can reimpose restrictions against churches at will."

And the Summary Abatement notice threatening to seize and destroy Elim Romanian Pentecostal's beautiful buildings still stands, meaning the city may still seize and bulldoze the church at any time," the statement adds.

Last week, Chicago released new guidelines for capacity restrictions for indoor and outdoor gatherings, both secular and religious, known as Phase IV.

According to the guidelines, houses of worship can hold indoor services at 50% capacity with no more than 50 people. Meanwhile, outdoor services have no capacity limit but must maintain six feet distances among attendees.

Last week, a federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump lifted restrictions on houses of worship in Washington, D.C., that limited in-person services to 25% of the building capacity or 250 people.

Judge Trevor McFadden clearly acknowledges that the First Amendment does not disappear because of Coronavirus, Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said in a statement.

Mayor Muriel Bowser has clearly discriminated against every church in D.C. while participating in a mass gathering of protestors with no limitations. This unequal treatment of churches is unconstitutional. We will continue the fight until religious freedom is totally restored.



The Supreme Court ruled last month in favor of California churches that sought relief from restrictions put in place by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The ruling allowed churches to restart indoor worship services at 25% capacity.
BRUSSELS - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, speaking Tuesday at the 5th Syria Donors Conference co-sponsored by the EU and the UN, announced the EU's decision to contribute 560 million euros.



"I am proud to announced that the EU will reconfirm its commitment" with Syria "with the same amount decided on last year, therefore we commit for 2022 with a total of 560 million euros," Borrell said.



"We will continue to commit ourselves with Syria to support the people," he said.

Syria: Borrell says regime offers no future, change needed

BRUSSELS - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said Tuesday at the 5th Syria Donor Conference co-chaired by the EU and the UN that the Syrian regime doesn't offer Syrians a future. "We cannot accept that elections get planned by the regime and this cannot be a pre-requisite for normalisation," Borrell said. "The regime doesn't offer a future to the Syrians and doesn't contribute in any way to stability in the region, and therefore, without changes it can never be a partner for the European community and the international community," he said.

"This is why we are calling for a change of attitude that unambiguously stops repression and undertakes a path of negotiation with the UN," he said. According to Borrell, "only a political solution can bring stability" in Syria and "allow Syrians to become a sovereign and free people".
ROME, MAR 30 - Italy will continue to leave the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines to the European Union, which has exclusive agreements with the pharmaceutical companies, Civil Protection Chief Fabrizio Curcio told a Lower House session on Tuesday. Curcio said that the government's vaccines acquisitions strategy "has not changed". "The health ministry considered it opportune to have talks with the other European partners in order to proceed in a joint manner with the negotiations with the pharmaceutical companies to obtain medicines for the whole EU," Curcio said. "The acquisition is made via the Commission and, on this basis, an agreement was signed for exclusive acquisitions by the Commission". When asked recently about problems with the vaccination rollout in Europe, Premier Mario Draghi said his government would be pragmatic and go along with a EU approach as long as it delivered results, while being prepared to find other solutions independently if this were not the case. (ANSA).
BY DAMALI MUKHAYE

The Ministry of Education and Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) is set to close five schools for five weeks to provide space for examiners to mark the ongoing national examinations.

The decision has sparked a row with the parents in the affected schools who said that whereas students in other schools will continue to study during the period of examination marking, their children in the five schools will be home without studying.

The parents also said that they are being inconvenienced to pick their children from school and then drop them back after the five weeks of examination marking.

According to the UNEB schedule, all national exams will be completed in May.

When contacted yesterday, UNEB Executive Secretary Daniel Odongo said they need only three weeks for marking the national examinations and all arrangements have been made.

According to the roadmap by the ministry of education, all Senior One students in schools are supposed to report on April 14 but the ministry officials want those in the schools which have been converted into marking centers, to report earlier than that date.

The Ministrys spokesman Patrick Muinda said the Permanent Secretary has already prepared circulars which will be sent to the five affected schools so that their learners report earlier than their counterparts in other schools. This is to allow them not to lose time because of the five-week closure.
The battle of Palma, which fell to jihadists terrorising northern Mozambique, marks a turning point in the three-year Islamist insurgency that has already cut off swathes of the vast southern African country.

Heavily armed militants raided the coastal town last week, killing dozens in days of fighting and forcing thousands to flee by boat and road, including foreign gas workers, in one of Mozambique's bloodiest jihadist assaults.

The attack -- just 10 kilometres from a major gas plant -- brought the militants to the door step of the largest foreign direct investment project seen in Africa in recent years.

The sophisticated attack also further exposed the impotence of the Mozambique government's already outgunned security forces in curbing a militancy once seen as a disorganised, ragtag group.

Mozambique's northernmost province of Cabo Delgado, which borders with Tanzania, has been ravaged by the insurgency since October 2107.

In its infancy, the insurgency began with sporadic, small-scale attacks targeting police stations and then moved to burning villages and beheading civilians in rural and remote areas.

But last year, the militants escalated their campaign -- seizing a key port of Mocimboa da Praia, where the group first emerged three-and-half years ago.

Last week, after a nearly three-month relative lull, fighting erupted in a well-coordinated attack and for the first time directly touched expatriates working in Palma.

That marked a major shift in the crisis, especially coming after the government assured energy operators of full security within a 25 km radius of the plant to develop liquified natural gas or LNG.

Even before Palma, security concerns caused setbacks to the project's development.

"It has raised the profile of the violent extremists," said Adriano Nuvungo, head of the Maputo-based Centre for Democracy and Development.

"Internationally they are showing that they can significantly impact the calendar of the LNG project".

Story continues

- 'Gaining momentum' -

From their roots as armed gangs of frustrated youths branded mere criminals by government, they have morphed into a group now listed as an IS-linked terrorist organisation by the US State Department.

"It is an insurgency that is gaining momentum,... yet another message of how sophisticated they are becoming," said South African-based expert on terrorism Jasmine Opperman.

The attack was "an evolutionary process, a refinement in guerrila warfare that has not been at play previously," Opperman said.

The new scale of violence poses an unprecedented threat to the gas project into which French energy giant Total has pumped billions of dollars.

That Total, which suspended operations in January due to insecurity, said shortly before the attack that it would resume operations on assurances the situation had improved was "particularly humiliating", said Alexander Raymakers, of the risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.

The attack also showed jihadists are trying to control the coastal regions in bid to "complicate the logistical support" structure of the gas project, according to a French security expert.

Weeks earlier, Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi, himself a former defence minister, visited the province ostensibly to provide security guarantees.

But the military's counter-terrorism capacity "is questionable" said Martin Ewi, a senior researcher with the Pretoria based Institute for Security Studies. "It has been trying for almost a year to recapture Mocimboa da Praia."

Even the government-hired foreign private military company which is backing the security forces, has little respect for the Mozambican army, calling them a security force only for the LNG project which is heavily fortified.

"Those guys have not been involved in the fight until last night," Lionel Dyck, head of the South African company Dyck Advisory Group, told the BBC on Monday about the fighting in Palma.

Mozambique so far has shied away from openly asking for foreign military intervention to fight the jihadists.

Former colonial ruler Portugal on Tuesday announced it was sending 60 soldiers to help Mozambique fight the insurgency.

The latest attack may well force a major policy change where the government turns to seek foreign military support in terms of "boots on the ground", said analyst Nuvunga.

While they decide the next step, delays in the gas project after the latest attack can only result in more setbacks and lower financial returns for the Mozambique government in the long term.

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analysis

The Egyptian doctor and writer who died on 21 March never took her eye off the ways in which violent power mutates and demands constant vigilance, yet still believed that 'hope is power'.

When she died on 21 March, 89-year-old Nawal El Saadawi's books had been read by millions of readers across the world. Having penned more than 50 books over five decades, translated into several major Middle Eastern, Asian and European languages, her influence as a feminist icon and key thinker on the intersections of religion and power is widely appreciated.

In plays, short stories, novels, academic texts and creative non-fiction, Saadawi cared deeply about the injustices meted out through genital mutilation, as played out in conventional marriage, the rendering of women as objects in various markets under capitalism, and religious fundamentalisms. A keen student of medicine, the human mind, society and religion, she unyieldingly brought this curiosity to bear on all her work. There was no conflict she would not work through in pursuit of justice and freedom.

Unapologetically embodying the slogan of one of the feminist organisations she co-founded in her youth, "historical socialist feminism", El Saadawi never took her eye off the ways in which violent power mutates and demands constant vigilance. She told British journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy that "many things humiliated me as a girl", including taunting by boys who threw stones at her breast as she walked to school. "I felt that to be aggressive, to be dissident, to attack the people who attack me is good. I shouldn't run away." This stubborn rage is a thread throughout her books.

El Saadawi also held on to joy, hope and humour, as her books amply demonstrate. In the interview with Guru-Murthy, she speaks of her cultivation of a proactive, joyful life, free of fear, adding, "I am very optimistic because hope is power."

This feminist rage and powerful hope provide for one who declared, "I want to change the world. It's a world that is full of injustice." She called herself a creative dissident.

A questioning mind

Born on 27 October 1931 in Kafr Tahla in Egypt's Nile Delta, she was the second of nine children. Her mother Zeinab taught her to write before she started school. Her father Sayed affirmed his daughter's questioning mind. Together, her parents encouraged the educational aspirations of all their children, bucking tradition by refusing to marry their daughter off at the age of 10.

Zeinab and Sayed may have fed their daughter's imagination, but they would die in 1958 and 1959 respectively without witnessing the spectacular heights their daughter would scale in medicine and literature.

By the age of 13, El Saadawi was keeping a secret journal of private reflections, an expression of her anger at unfairness, and criticisms of her parents. She would publish it in revised form as Diary of a Child Called Souad in 2015. In a public lecture delivered at New York University in May 2011, titled "Creativity, dissidence and women", she would assert that "there is a relationship between creativity and the ability to criticise" and "all my books have lived with me since I was a child".

No institution escaped her analysis. Qualifying first as a thoracic surgeon, then later graduating as a psychiatrist from the University of Cairo in 1955 and later still with a master's degree in public health from Columbia University in 1966, she found medicine both enabling and stifling.

The insights from her medical life took root in very different books. In her autobiography, The Hidden Face of Eve: Women in the Arab World, she juxtaposed her own experience of female genital cutting as a six-year-old with evaluations of how her patients have been affected by their own mutilations.

She crafted a recurring argument: that clitoridectomy is about the control of women's sexuality, pleasure and desire in the interest of obligatory monogamy.

She immersed herself in a study on women and neurosis between 1973 and 1976, which ultimately culminated in Women and Neurosis in Egypt. She would revisit the psyche of a woman imprisoned for killing her husband, and one she had encountered in her study, in the novel Woman at Point Zero, as her writing and medical lives intertwined.

Persecution at home

The critical acclaim she received in many parts of the world was as sustained as her harassment by powerful men in Egypt. She caused such a stir that the permit for publishing The Hidden Face of Eve was denied, prompting her to publish it in Lebanon. Immediately thereafter, Muslim countries declared its importation illegal owing to its criticism of sexual power, religion and those in power. Followers of former leader Ayatollah Khomeini burnt this same book publicly in Iran in 1980 when a Farsi translation appeared in that country.

The best-selling Women and Sex had equally far-reaching effects on El Saadawi's life. Its publication saw her dismissed as the director general of public health, unseated as the assistant general secretary of the Egyptian Medical Association and removed as chief editor of a health journal.

Attempts to muffle her continued. President Anwar Sadat imprisoned her in 1981 for "crimes against the state", along with 1 500 other Egyptian activists released after Sadat's assassination and the rise to power of Hosni Mubarak.

In prison, denied access to pen and paper, she wrote the critically acclaimed 1983 Memoirs From the Women's Prison with eyebrow pencil on toilet paper. Prior to this, she had been terrified of prison. Inside, unbroken, she realised that "creativity means you are not afraid of the unknown. You can go alone in the dark and speak your mind." And so, she did.

Mubarak would ban the Egyptian branch of the Arab Women's Solidarity Association that El Saadawi had co-founded, and shut down its feminist magazine in 1991, as well as ensure she was not to appear on Egyptian television or radio. Individuals would unsuccessfully petition to have her stripped of her citizenship and once, to force her divorce from her third husband, Sherif Hetata.

When Mubarak authorised her protection after a litany of death threats by providing guards, she fled to preserve her life. As she declared to an audience at Fuuse World Women in Oslo in April 2015, a feminist had much cause to be suspicious of offers of protection from violent men. "Egypt was colonised and invaded by the British under the word protection."

And so it was that she fled Egypt in 1993, taking up visiting professorships in American and European universities, the longest of which was at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, in the US. She would return in the final years of Mubarak's rule, and as one of the activists at Tahrir Square during the Egyptian revolution that formed part of the Arab Spring. The 79-year-old would outlast this powerful man, too.

Showing no sign of slowing down, she published the play God Resigns at the Summit Meeting in 2007. In it, God resigns from his job after relentless questioning by Jewish, Muslim and Christian characters. It mattered little that this was satire when her publisher was ordered to recall and burn all copies of the book.

Marriage as oppression

El Saadawi wrote repeatedly against the complex oppressions of marriage.

In an episode of British Channel 4 News podcast Ways to Change the World, she offers: "Patriarchy, in essence, is based on monogamy for women and polygamy for men." Obligatory monogamy - enforced through a variety of factors from mutilation to abuse - is for "cutting down women's pleasure" and reproductive control.

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El Saadawi still married and divorced three husbands. The first, Ahmed Helmi, was a medical school romance and a man she left when, ravaged by addiction, he threatened to kill her. Together they had Mona Helmi, the feminist poet, author and columnist with a doctorate in economics who would be dragged to court for a Mother's Day column in which she proposed that children take on their mothers' names.

Her marriage to second husband Rashad Bey collapsed when he pressed her to choose between him and her writing. Once she had chosen her writing, he refused to divorce her. At the time, the collusion of Islamic interpretation and legislation offered only a man the right to grant divorce. Ever the creative dissident with a keen eye for humour, El Saadawi reportedly threatened him with her scalpel until he granted the divorce.

Her third marriage to Sherif Hetata, a fellow doctor and dissident, lasted 46 years. Their son Atef Hetata is a documentary film maker who probes the intersections of fundamentalism, class and gender. She left Hetata for infidelity.

Revolutionary genes

El Saadawi often joked that she had inherited her revolutionary maternal grandmother's genes. As a scientist, she knew there was no such gene. As a writer, she was saying something profound about the passing on of critical sensibility. Perhaps it is unsurprising that her children have chosen the kinds of preoccupations El Saadawi herself was so committed to taking apart.

For a feminist icon like herself, the public and private lives of writers and activists needed to be read alongside each other. "I believe in integrity. I don't separate between private life and public life," she told Guru-Murthy.

Writing with passion and commitment, El Saadawi remained radical to the last.
Kim Yo-jong, a sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un / Yonhap



The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday criticized South Korean President Moon Jae-in for his speech on the North's recent missile launches, saying his sentiments are counterproductive and reflective of the United States' "gangster-like logic."



Kim Yo-jong made the criticism in a statement after Moon said on Friday in a speech that any action that could undercut the mood for dialogue is "undesirable," hours after Pyongyang confirmed its test-firing of short-range ballistic missiles.



She said it makes no sense for Moon to criticize the North's "self-defense" missile test after he described South Korea's own missile tests as efforts to build peace and dialogue in a speech in July last year.



"He meant the test-firing of ballistic missiles conducted by the Defense Science Institute of South Korea is for peace and dialogue in the Korean peninsula but that conducted by the Academy of Defense Science of the DPRK is something undesirable that arouses serious concern among the people in the South and chills the atmosphere for dialogue," Kim said in the statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.






Youre reading the Opposing View, one of two perspectives in Todays Debate.

For Our View, read Military must do more to weed out white supremacists, extremists.

The vast majority of our men and women in uniform  and those civilians who support them  serve with honor, dignity and character as they defend our country. And we are grateful for their dedication to our core values, to the oath they all took.

But we are also rightly mindful that extremism in our ranks is real, and though we may not have a full grasp on the extent of the problem  specifically the number who espouse these beliefs  we know it can have an outsized effect on our force. It doesnt take many to impair our morale, health and readiness.

A tear in the fabric of any institution usually starts small.

We know that extremist ideology is neither new to our country, nor our ranks. And while we have made progress over the years in combating this threat, the events of Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol underscore how much work remains.

In this file photo taken on August 15, 2020, a man, with ammunition and a confederate flag, takes part in far right militias and white pride organizations rally near Stone Mountain Park in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Guided by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austins leadership, the Defense Department is conducting a 60-day stand down at all levels to better understand the scope of the problem, reaffirm our oath of office, and equip service members with the tools to identify and report suspected or actual extremist behaviors.

Furthering this work, we will review current policies and procedures to better detect and identify extremist ideology. This includes working toward tighter background screening of potential recruits, standardizing reporting and data sharing with federal agency partners, and strengthening our Insider Threat program. We will be innovative and collaborative, working with our interagency colleagues to enhance our efforts.

We also need to better understand the degree to which individuals radicalize inside the force, and how we prepare future veterans for what  and who  may be waiting for them post-service. A study from the previous administration makes clear: Extremists target our troops, craving the leadership, weapons and organizational acumen they possess.

Story continues

We are going to tackle this problem head on, making it an integral and intrinsic part of everything we do. In support of the secretarys commitment, Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks recently established the Deputys Workforce Council to specifically address the departments people management, personnel policy and total force requirements. We want a healthy, inclusive, law-abiding and, ultimately, extremism-free workforce.

Fundamentally, it comes down to good leadership  knowing our people, setting the right expectations and holding ourselves accountable to the sort of conduct and behavior the American people deserve to see from us.

Meeting these goals will take a whole-of-department effort. That work has begun, and will grow, over the coming months.

A tear in the fabric of any institution usually starts small. Thats why its so important to act quickly. And we are.

Bishop Garrison is a senior adviser to the secretary of Defense.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opposing view: 'We are going to tackle this problem (of extremism) head on'
Flood warning issued in Bengal's Malda

Kolkata, An alert has been issued in West Bengal's Malda district, the state's most flood-prone region, following heavy rainfall in the last few days, an official said Wednesday.



According to the state's disaster management authority, Malda, situated in the northern part of Bengal, receives flood water from many states from June to September. Last year, over 15 villages were submerged in floods during the monsoon season.



"We have held meetings with district disaster management officials and have issued an alert. We have also spoken to the irrigation department," District Magistrate Sharad Dwivedi told IANS.



As many as four blocks, including Manikchowk and Kaliachowk, have been identified as vulnerable, he said.



As per discussions, action plans have been drawn up to deal with a flood situation at three stages - before the disaster, during the disaster and after the disaster.



The irrigation division has proposed setting up flood cells and a daily forecast of water levels, in addition to satellite data.



Malda shares borders with Bangladesh and the states of Bihar and Jharkhand. The Ganga river cuts through it and so does the Mahananda.



Source:IANS
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders slipped 1.39% to Rs 210, as the scrip resumed its decline after a day's pause.

The stock rose 2.13% to end at Rs 212.95 on the BSE on Friday.

In the past one month, the stock has fallen by 6.54% while the benchmark Sensex lost 0.42% during the same period.

In a regulatory filing after marker hours on Friday (26 March 2021), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders said that its order book stood at Rs 50,705 crore as of 31 January 2021.

The company has also won order for repair of two Indian Coast Guard Fast Patrol vessels namely ICGS Achook and ICGS S B Phule. The repair order is worth around Rs 7 crore. Times lines for both vessels is 120 days (4 months).

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), is engaged in the construction and repair of warships and submarines for use by the Indian Navy and other vessels for commercial clients. As of 31 December 2020, the Government of India held 84.83% stake held in Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders.

The company reported 32.3% fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 141.37 crore on 19.3% decline in net sales to Rs 1461.09 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

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The Liberia Peace Building Office and its partners have launched a book highlighting women's achievements in the Liberian society.

The book entitled 'Follow Her Lead: Stories of Women and Power' was launched Wednesday by Assistant Minister for Technical Services at the Ministry of Internal Affairs Losine Sayon and a senior employee of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lawodo Nimley Thomas.

During the event, Assistant Minister Sayon described women in local government administration as important partners in driving the development agenda of the Country.

According to Minister Sayon, statistic shows that 121 women are serving in chieftaincy positions and along with their male counterparts are implementing development projects in their chiefdoms, clans, towns and villages.

This statistic according to him shows that women are contributing greatly to the nation's drive in moving forward.

He assured that the Ministry of Internal Affairs will at all-time provide support in promoting and protecting women in national leadership and local government sector.

In brief remarks, Ireland Embassy Charge d'Affairs, Kate O'Donnell said they are committed to promoting gender equality in Liberia.

According to Kate O'Donnell, the embassy of Ireland 5 year strategy plan is to promote peace, equality and justice including supporting women participation in every democratic process on local and national levels. Madam O'Donnell also stressed the embassy's willingness to tackle sexual and gender based violence affecting women and girls across Liberia.

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She disclosed their cooperation with the Internal Affairs Ministry, Peace Building Office and ZOA to support the project of inclusive civic and political participation in Margibi and Cape mount counties focusing practically on women and people living with disabilities.

Madam O' Donnell emphasizes that the launching of the book provides women with space and strength to narrate their stories of overcoming difficulties in becoming chiefs and local leaders among others.

For his part, Peace Building Office Executive Director Edward Mulbah said they are grateful for the government of Ireland's support toward the strategy road map for peace and reconciliation.

Mr. Mulbah said the peace and reconciliation is 18 years frame work revised and endorsed by the CDC government, is linked to the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development pillar 3 subsections 3 on Peace and Reconciliation is aligned with what the governments visualize for women empowerment.
Patna, March 30 : The Bihar police on Tuesday suspended an SHO for the death of a person in police custody at the Barari police station in Bhagalpur district.

The police had detained Sanjay Yadav, an employee with the irrigation department, at around 10 pm on Monday. The local residents alleged that the police personnel dragged Yadav to the police station and assaulted him brutally while in custody, whcih led to his death.

Following the incident, a large number of local residents assembled at the police station, demanding action against the police personnel responsible for Yadav's death. However, the SHO of Barari police station, Pramod Kumar, managed to escape from the spot. The angry mob pelted stones at the police station, not allowing anyone to go inside.

To bring the situation under control, a large posse of policemen led by Nitasa Guria, the ASP of Bhagalpur, went to the Barari police station and tried to calm down the agitating residents.

"We have suspended SHO Pramod Kumar for negligence and have also initiated action against the other police personnel involved in the incident," Guria said.

Yadav was detained for his alleged involvement in a clash on the day of Holi in the Mayaganj area in Bhagalpur.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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

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Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

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Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia
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
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)  Filipino senior citizens and those with comorbidities are now getting their COVID-19 shots alongside health workers amid the surge in cases.

Since the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine, local government units in Metro Manila scheduled the simultaneous vaccination of the A1, A2, and A3 sectors. A1 refers to medical frontliners, A2 to senior citizens, while A3 covers persons with comorbidities.

READ: Metro Manila LGUs kick off vaccination of elderly vs. COVID-19

Aside from the vaccine by British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca, those aged 60 and above also now have the option to get doses from China's Sinovac Biotech, after the Food and Drug Administration approved on Tuesday its use for the group. The FDA and the Department of Health noted that the health status of senior citizens must be evaluated first before getting inoculated with the Sinovac's CoronaVac.

Inoculation for people with comorbidities is also ongoing. The DOH said those under 65 years old with chronic respiratory disease, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, malignancy, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and chronic kidney disease are also eligible to get CoronaVac.

Here are the links to the pre-registration websites for the vaccine drive in the Greater Manila area:

Bulacan

Pulilan

Laguna

Los Banos

Metro Manila

- Caloocan (updated link)

- Las Pinas (valid email required)

- Makati

- Marikina

- Malabon

- Mandaluyong

- Manila (site temporarily down as of March 29)

- Muntinlupa

- Navotas

- Paranaque

- Pasay

- Pasig (Pasig Pass app)

- Pateros

- Quezon City

- San Juan

- Taguig (Taguig Trace app)

- Valenzuela

Rizal

- Antipolo

- Taytay

In a briefing on March 30, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said local government units have simplified their pre-registration process for those with comorbidities to help fast-track the rollout for them.

He noted that the simultaneous vaccination for the first three priority groups will be done with the help of the LGUs and the private sector.

The goverment is allocating 3.4 million doses for the country's 1.7 million health workers. It will also distribute doses for 9.4 million senior citizens and 14 million people with comorbidities. Vaccines will then be provided for 11 million economic frontliners and 17.7 million indigents.

A massive rollout for the other priority groups can be expected between May and June as more vaccines will be shipped to the country, Galvez added.

RELATED: TIMELINE: COVID-19 vaccine deliveries and rollout in the Philippines
Germanys Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure is awarding 10.9 million to the KelRide project, which will further develop autonomous driving in the Kelheim district in Bavaria.

The aim of the KelRide project is to introduce an autonomous on-demand ride pooling service that is integrated directly into the public transport network and can be operated under all weather conditions. A mixed fleet of highly automated and conventional shuttles integrated into the local public transport system is intended to transport passengers in the operating area.

To this end, a needs-based ride pooling service is being established for the district that works with electric and highly automated shuttles. The service is part of the local public transport system in the Kelheim district and operated on a platform that combines the industry-leading technologies and experience of the consortium partners in the areas of autonomous vehicles, fleet management and on-demand mobility into a modern mobility solution.

In addition, the planning and testing processes for the future assessment of new types of highly automated vehicles for use in real operation from 2023 are to be developed in the project. The project is intended to serve as a scalable blueprint for a large number of cities and counties across Germany.

Project partners are EASYMILE GmbH, Kehlheim district, TUV Rheinland Intertraffic GmbH, Technical University of Berlin, ViaVan GmbH, and P3 Automotive GmbH.
(Bloomberg)  Global efforts to develop national self-sufficiency in chip production are economically unrealistic, and U.S.-China trade tensions contributed to the chip shortage snarling entire industries, according to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Chairman Mark Liu.

Speaking to reporters at an industry event in Hsinchu in his role as chairman of the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association, Liu said uncertainty around the U.S.-China relationship led to a supply chain shift and pushed some companies to double up on orders to secure inventory. Others rushed to fill the market gap left by Huawei Technologies Co. after sanctions crippled its consumer business.

Uncertainties led to double booking, but actual capacity is larger than demand, Liu said. How quickly those concerns are resolved really depends on future U.S.-China negotiations.

The coronavirus outbreak would have had the same negative impact on production no matter where operations are located, the executive said. TSMC is the worlds leading manufacturer of advanced semiconductors, relied on by customers from Apple Inc. to Xiaomi Corp. Liu said each country developing its own domestic semiconductor industry would lead to a lot of nonprofitable capacity.

The U.S. and China have both indicated a desire to expand chip production within their own borders, in part to make themselves less reliant on foreign partners. President Xi Jinping made reducing Chinas dependence on the West part of the countrys new five-year policy plan, while successive White House administrations have signaled concern about Chinas potential to dominate sensitive cutting-edge technologies.

In the U.S., Intel Corp. recently announced a $20 billion plan to build two new silicon fabrication facilities in Arizona, renewing previously failed efforts to compete with TSMC for business as the manufacturer of chips for others.

Taiwans biggest company finds itself at the center of a global crisis of supply as its production capacity has been consumed first by a pandemic-driven surge in demand for personal electronics and more recently by a faster-than-expected recovery in automotive sales.

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Black Sash concerned that rushed medical assessments will affect the outcome of applications

SASSA Western Cape says it is processing 31,587 out of 35,332 backlogged medical assessments for temporary disability grants.

The grants will lapse on Wednesday, 31 March after being extended twice last year during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Advocacy organisation the Black Sash is concerned about the quality of medical assessments which might prevent grants being renewed.

The Black Sash wants Social Relief of Distress Grants to be given to applicants pending the approval of their Temporary Disability Grant.

Most of the temporary disability grants in the Western Cape that were to lapse this week are being processed, says the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).

GroundUp previously reported that at the beginning of March 2021, more than 31,000 people still had to be medically assessed. But SASSA in the Western Cape said that it was confident it would clear its backlog. The Western Cape at the time also had the largest number of backlogged cases in the country.

In a statement on Tuesday, SASSA said it had waded through its medical assessment backlog in order for the grants to be processed. It said 31,587 out of 35,332 people had been assessed to date.

But the Black Sash has warned that the process is far from completed for those waiting to have their grants renewed because the medical assessments do not guarantee that the application will be accepted.

The remaining temporary disability grants are due to lapse on Wednesday, 31 March. The grants were extended twice last year during the Covid-19 lockdown. After that, beneficiaries were encouraged to re-apply at SASSA offices with a detailed doctor's report. This resulted in long queues of people wanting to renew their grants, some even sleeping outside the offices.

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The Black Sash's National Advocacy Manager, Hoodah Abrahams-Fayker, said while medical assessments were mostly completed, applicants still needed final approval from SASSA and this could take time.

Abrahams-Fayker also said that the shortage of doctors to do medical assessments had been one of the biggest challenges with the backlog of disability grants during the pandemic. "We are concerned about the quality of the assessments and that many applicants may end up not qualifying for the Temporary Disability Grant," said Abrahams-Fayker.

She said that the Black Sash suggested that applicants seeking to renew their grants should be eligible to receive a Social Relief of Distress Grant pending the approval of their Temporary Disability Grant.

"Many of those waiting for medical reassessments or the outcome of their application depend on the grant for their most basic needs and to buy food while they are unable to work.

"Some are on chronic medication and should not be put in a position where they have to consume medication on an empty stomach," said Abrahams-Fayker.
BUFFALO, N.Y., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- K Art, 808 Main St., Buffalo, a Native American-owned commercial gallery that solely showcases the artwork of national-level Native contemporary artists, announces the details for its newest exhibitions. Set to open Friday, April 30, 2021, in K Art's 2,000 square-foot gallery space, Brought to Light: The Epidemic of Violence against Native and Indigenous Women addresses devastating statistics of violence. Compared to any other group, Native American women in the United States are more than twice as likely to experience violence; 84% of Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. In 2016 alone, there were 5,712 known incidences of murdered or missing Native women. Canada has categorized this human rights crisis as genocide and has undergone a national inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls.

Brought to Light brings together five Native artists: Natalie Ball; Luzene Hill; Sonya Kellihercombs; Jodi Lynn Maracle; and Julia Rose Sutherland. In different ways, their works address the trauma, violence, and loss of identity that result from systemic racism, sexism, and the ingrained history of colonialism in North America. These artists seek to bring an epidemic out of the shadows and into mainstream consciousness; and, in doing so, create new spaces of discourse and understanding about indigeneity.

New works have been created specifically for Brought to Light. Luzene Hill's new site-specific work presents three numbers:1492, 574, and 6956. The first identifies the year a massive wave of invasions into the Americas began. The second is the number of federally recognized Native nations currently in the United States. The third focuses on the average number of reported Native American women sexually assaulted each year in the United States, based on data over twelve years. Sonya Kelliher-Combs will show new work created for her ongoing series, A Million Tears, which initially debuted at The North Atlantic House in Denmark. The series was created in response to the many painful accounts she has heard of abuse. The works speak about pain, fear, anger, loss of innocence, and the impact of this injustice on the sense of self, family, and community. Photo-documentation will be shown of Julia Rose Sutherland's performance piece done at Silo City, Buffalo, NY, which gave remembrance and gratitude and sought to raise public awareness about the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women in North America. Artists Natalie Ball and Jodi Lynn Maracle relate to trauma more indirectly as they delve into questions of power and identity. Also included is a work by Natalie Ball, created at the prestigious Crow's Shadow Institute for Art in Oregon, which addresses the abuse of identity through simplified narratives, and reclamation of that identity through new visual language. Jodi Lynn Maracle will create new works that utilize Haudenosaunee material, language, and techniques, such as hand tanning deer hides and corn husk twining, in conversation with soundscapes, projections, video, and performance to interrogate questions of place, power, erasure, and story-making.

K Art is also pleased to announce that it will be expanding into the field of artist representation and has signed its first artist, G. Peter Jemison. To celebrate the occasion, K Art will be showcasing a solo exhibition of work by Jemison, titled Orenda. Orenda will feature a survey of work covering the last 15 years of Peter's impressive, decades-long career. Widely shown and collected, Jemison's works are rooted in the framework of Native American history, culture, and iconography. Known for his naturalistic paintings and series of works done on brown paper bags, his art embodies orenda , the traditional Iroquois belief that every living thing and every part of creation contains a spiritual force. His paintings, videos, and mixed media works have been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the U.S., the U.K., and Germany. Jemison's work is in numerous private and museum collections, including the Whitney Museum of American Art. In October of 2021, Jemison will be featured in a show at MOMA PS1.

About K Art

Located in Buffalo, New York's Allentown historic district as an integral element of the K Haus, a design, art, and tech-centric space, K Art is the first Native American-owned commercial art gallery with a primary programmatic focus on national-level Native American contemporary artists. Founded and owned by Dave Kimelberg, an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians (Bear Clan), K Art's mission is to elevate cutting-edge Native contemporary artists. K Art's Art Director Brooke Leboeuf leads the curation of solo and group exhibitions on a rotating basis within the gallery's 2,000 square feet of space. For more information, visit thek.art.

CONTACT:

Brooke Leboeuf, Art Director

[email protected]

716-216-2941

Related Images

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K Art Logo

SOURCE K Art
A new investigation into the Luna Park Ghost Train fire has pointed to the involvement of a corrupt policeman in the original investigation to link the crime to the notorious crime Sydney boss dubbed 'Mr Sin'.

Leading investigator Detective Inspector Doug Knight blamed the blaze that killed six children on an electrical fault just 17 hours after the fire tore through the ride on on June 9, 1979.

However, an investigation by ABC's EXPOSED has revealed Inspector Knight was a 'fixer' who would alter or suppress evidence for court matters, including intimidating witnesses to help criminals and political figures.

Key witnesses statements also describing the smell of kerosine and a group of men who spoke about setting the ride alight were never followed up, and site was abruptly cleared hours later.

Notorious King Cross gangster Abe Saffron (pictured) ordered the 1979 Luna Park Ghost Train fire because he wanted to collect the coveted land, according to his niece

Police officers close to the investigation of the June 9, 1979, inferno at the Sydney amusement park have always claimed King Cross figure Abe Saffron orchestrated the fire but got away scot-free because he was in cahoots with corrupt cops.

The gangster, whose pursuits included illegal gambling, prostitution, liquor and property throughout Sydney, allegedly had his eye on the funfair's land on one of the most prime spots on Sydney's harbour.

This theory was backed up by Anne Buckingham, Saffron's niece, who told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2007, that her uncle ordered the fire because 'he liked to collect things', but 'I don't think people were meant to be killed'.

However, she later retracted her statement.

'There is no doubt Saffron was behind that [fire] at Luna Park,' Steve Bullock, a retired police analyst said.

'He could cover his tracks very, very, very well.'

On June 9, 1975 a fire on the Ghost Train ride at Luna Park in Sydney (pictured) killed seven people and changed the lives of a community forever

The Luna Park Ghost Train fire in June, 1979 claimed the lives of John Godson, and six children - Damien Godson, Craig Godson, Richard Carroll, Michael Johnson, Jonathan Billings and Seamus Rahilly

School boys Richard Carroll, Jonathan Billings, Seamus Rahilly and Michael Johnson, all 13, and John Godson, 29, and his young sons, Craig, four, and Damien six, all died after becoming trapped in the inferno.

A coronial inquiry held later that year was unable to determine the cause, and the tragedy has since been shrouded in mystery, sparking conspiracy theories of arson and cover-ups.

In the years after the fire, rumours circulated that it was the cause of arson organised by crime figures to buy out the lease-holders and build a lucrative development.

In 1987, an inquiry by the state government's Corporate Affairs Commission found no evidence of links between the company owning the land and Saffron, who died in 2006.

Mr Bullock had submitted a report to the the licensing squad superintendent in 1986 calling for a reinvestigation after digging into Saffron's links to the company that purchase the land after the fire.

The police analyst found Saffron's nephew Sam Cowper, was the financial controller, his cousins, Colman and Harold Goldstein, were shareholders and directors, and Saffron's Arcadia gaming machine company also had 100 machines at the park.

At the time, Mr Bullock said: 'There appears to have been a determined effort to hide the true family and business involvement of Saffron in this company.'

Speaking on the program, Mr Bullock said NSW Police failed to act and the report went 'nowhere'.

Senior police officers close to the investigation claim the led investigator of the blaze, Detective Inspector Doug Knight (pictured), was a 'fixer' who would manipulate court cases by changing evidence to help criminals and political figures

The site was cleared immediately after the fire under the authorisation of Inspector Knight and key witness statements were not followed up

He said he is '100 per cent' sure of Saffron's involvement in the fire and other members of the force had the same opinion.

James Swanson, who was the NSW licensing magistrate at the time of the licensing squad's investigation, said there were high-levels of police corruption in the force.

He said politicians and police protecting Saffron shutdown the suggestion of an licensing squad's reinvestigation the blaze.

'The senior police and the senior ministers of the crown did not do anything with it. They left it in the lurch because they were corrupt and some of them are very corrupt,' he said.

Paul Egge, a former detective senior sergeant and analyst with the NSW Police Bureau of Crime Intelligence, looked into Saffron's affair, echoed claims the crime kingpin was involved.

Mr Egge said he was certain Saffron had ordered a group of men to set light to the ride to make way for his business endeavours.

Jason Holman was the lone survivor and has broken his silence for the first time since the tragedy rocked the nation in 1979. Pictured: The entrance of Luna Park today

Pictured are four of the children who died in the fire, including Richard Carroll (second from left)

Alan Saffron, his son, has always denied his father was responsible, but like Ms Buckingham, her sister Beryl, said Saffron had always wanted to take control of the land.

A report by the National Crime Authority investigation into Saffron, who was linked to seven other blazes, concluded that it could not be established that he took possession of the park, but he had shown intention.

'Luna Park, it was alleged, had been coveted by Saffron for over 20 years and the fire in the ghost train had been lit as a trigger to evict the incumbent tenants and gain control of the park lease for himself,' the report read.

Former NSW Police prosecutor and magistrate Wayne Evans and former police prosecutor, sergeant Colin Wedderburn, who both dealt with Inspector Knight, said the police boss was a 'fixer'.

Mr Wedderburn said he spent a lot of time deleting evidence in places and changing evidence in places for court cases.

Inspector Knight had a chequered history of alarming accusations levelled against him dating back to 1954.

The allegations include assaulting a suspect during questioning and attempting to coerce a suspect into signing a confession.

Five years before the fire, Inspector Knight made headlines after The Royal Commission into Organised Crime in Clubs heard that Inspector Knight had cleared organised crime figure Jack Rooklyn of having links to the American Mafia.

Around the same time, Inspector Knight had accepted a job from Rooklyn, a close associate of Suffron. He was also allegedly paid off by one organised criminal.

Jenny Godson's lost her entire family on the chilly winter night in 1979. She had gone to buy an icecream, but when she returned to the ride to meet her husband and sons, flames were spewing out of the ride.

Jason Holman, now 54, was dubbed 'the luckiest boy alive' by the media after he survived while his four best friends perished.

The then 12-year-old and his 13-year-old friends were on their first night out without parental supervision after many months nagging their mums and dads for permission.

Mr Holman was eagerly sitting in a separate carriage behind his friends who he watched excitedly roll through the ride's entrance doors inscribed 'Hell's Doorway'.

Jonathan and Richard had piled into the first carriage, and Micheal and Seamus into the next, leaving Mr Holman to sit alone in one behind them.

Luna Park reopened in 1982 under the name Harbourside Amusement Park before relaunching under its original name in 1995

Mr Holman was seconds from entering the ride, which at 10.15pm was to be their last for the night, when the Guardian Angel whisked him to safety.

It was the last time he would ever see his beloved friends.

Mr Holman has believed it was the work of arsonists after speaking with Australian artist Martin Sharp who repainted Luna Park's iconic face after the blaze.

Before his death five years ago, Mr Sharp had carried out his own makeshift investigation and collected pieces of evidence which lead him to believe the theme park was deliberately set on fire.

Mr Holman said it was now his mission to get justice for those who perished in the flames on that winter's night when laughter was replaced with screams of terror.

He said he will never forget the sight of the empty carriages emerging from the ride along the mechanical track completely engulfed in flames.

The theme park, which opened in 1935, was shutdown immediately after the incident but reopened in 1982 under the name Harbourside Amusement Park, before later reclaiming its original name and relaunching in 1995.
NEW YORK, NY (March 30, 2021)--A new center that will provide specialized care for patients with Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases will begin seeing patients this summer at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

The Cohen Center for Health and Recovery from Tick-Borne Diseases, supported by a $16 million gift from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, will be the first in New York City to offer dedicated treatment for people with Lyme and related diseases.

The foundation's gift will also fund a national clinical trials network that will focus on identifying more effective treatments for patients with Lyme and tick-borne diseases.

"There is a growing need for evidence-based treatments for patients with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases," said Anil Rustgi, MD, interim executive vice president and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine at Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Columbia University Irving Medical Center. "This generous gift from the Cohen Foundation will allow us to build on our faculty's expertise in Lyme and tick-borne disease patient care and research, providing access to comprehensive, coordinated treatment."

"We know firsthand the devastation that Lyme and tickborne diseases can cause, and we are thrilled to support this innovative center and clinical trials network to help bring treatments and hope to patients and their families," said Alex Cohen, President, Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation.

Growing Need for Lyme Disease Experts and Research

The estimated incidence of Lyme disease in the United States has been steadily rising, to approximately 476,000 new cases (including individuals who are newly diagnosed or treated for the disease) annually. Despite antibiotic treatment, approximately 10-20% of these new infections will lead to distressing and potentially disabling symptoms, such as severe fatigue, joint and muscle pain, neurologic symptoms, and cognitive problems that may last for months or years.

There is limited expertise in treating the acute and chronic aspects of tick-borne diseases, making it difficult for patients to find high-quality, specialized care. In addition, little research has been done to determine which treatments are most effective for persistent symptoms, which can interfere with daily activities and work.

"Like COVID-19 'long-haulers,' many people with tick-borne diseases were completely well until their infection precipitated a cascade of chronic, multi-system effects," says Brian Fallon, MD, director of the Cohen Center for Health and Recovery from Tick-Borne Diseases. "A comprehensive evaluation takes time. In addition, the cost of care for patients with chronic symptoms can be prohibitive, requiring multiple visits to physicians who may not be aware of the latest research on tick-borne illnesses. Our center will be the first to address all of these issues by offering access to affordable care with experienced physicians while at the same time integrating research and physician training into our clinical model."

Fallon plans to hire additional clinicians to begin seeing patients via telemedicine in July. New clinicians will include family, integrative, and behavioral medicine specialists. Patients with acute or chronic symptoms are expected to be able to see the Cohen Center team this fall in the center's new clinical space in the Neurological Institute.

"Many patients with chronic symptoms related to tickborne illness are misdiagnosed with conditions such as depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, or even psychosomatic disorder," says Shannon Delaney, MD, co-director of the Cohen Center. "Children infected with a tick-borne illness may have dramatic and disabling neurologic or psychiatric symptoms that seem to occur overnight."

Cohen Center patients will be invited to enroll in clinical trials, as well as brain imaging studies and neuropsychiatric studies. Studies that identify biologic markers can help determine treatment approaches.

The Cohen Center will provide training for family medicine fellows and medical students on how to evaluate and treat patients with tick-borne diseases.

"Our educational component will allow us to create a pipeline of family medicine and primary care physicians with experience in caring for patients with the unique and varied set of symptoms associated with tick-borne diseases," says Krishna Desai, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and director of family and integrative medicine at the center.

First Clinical Trials Network for Lyme and Tick-borne Diseases

The Cohen gift expands Lyme and tick-borne diseases research by establishing the first clinical trials network for multi-site clinical trials and pilot studies to assess treatments. Columbia will be the coordinating site for the trials. Experts at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Children's National Hospital are key members of the national network.

Academics, community physicians, and the general public will be invited annually to submit treatment study ideas to the clinical trials network for consideration.

"There's a critical need for effective therapies for patients with Lyme and tick-borne diseases," says Fallon. "The clinical trials network will be a powerful engine to drive high-quality research in tick-borne diseases, including large-scale clinical trials and potentially transformational early stage research."

###

More information

Brian Fallon, MD, MPH, is professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and a physician-scientist with expertise in disorders intersecting medicine, neurology, and psychiatry. He is co-author of "Conquering Lyme Disease" with Dr. Jenifer Sotsky (Columbia University Press, 2017). He is also director of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University.

Shannon Delaney, MD, is assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and an expert in child and adult neuropsychiatry and infection-triggered neuropsychiatric disorders.

Krishna Desai, MD, is assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

The clinical trials network collaborating investigators include John Aucott, MD, Director of the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center, in Baltimore, Maryland, and Roberta DeBiasi, MD, Chief, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Columbia University Irving Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, preclinical, and clinical research; medical and health sciences education; and patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, public health professionals, dentists, and nurses at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. Columbia University Irving Medical Center is home to the largest medical research enterprise in New York City and State and one of the largest faculty medical practices in the Northeast. For more information, visit cuimc.columbia.edu or columbiadoctors.org.

About the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation


South superstar Dhanush rarely does a Hindi film, but when he picks one he makes sure that the film is something interesting enough for him. While his association with Aanand L Rai has been long ever since they teamed up for Raanjhanaa in 2013, the two team up again for Atrangi Re.



Today Dhanush took to his Instagram and shared a picture with the director Mr Rai and writer Himanshu Kohli. Dhanush captioned this click saying, Atrangire wrapped. Thank you @aanandlrai and himanshu. Love you both. Now looks like the actor is in love with his next character and cant wait for the audience to witness this saga unfold.





This is the actor's third Hindi feature film after Raanjhanaa (2013) and Shamitabh (2015), Atrangi Re also stars Sara Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar in a pivotal role. All three actors work together with each other for the first time and its surely going to be refreshing for the audiences to witness. Dhanush was shooting for the film last year before the lockdown and even after the lockdown rules were eased out. The actor has shot for the film in Agra and even in Delhi and finally brings the film to completion. It has been a task indeed for the makers to shoot for this film amidst the pandemic and Aanand L Rais films are known for its exterior shots and showing us various cities the way it is.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dhanush (@dhanushkraja)



Dhanush is also gearing up to join Russo Brothers next for Netflix. The director duo who are known for their Avengers franchise will be making their next with Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans in lead and our superstar Dhanush has an important role to play. The actor currently bagged the National Award for Best Actor for his role in Asuran. The actors roles and characters always leaves everyone amazed.
Volvo Cars is opting in its 40,000 employees worldwide into a new, all-gender, paid parental leave policy from 1 April.

The 'Family Bond' policy will give all employees with at least one year's service 24 weeks of leave at 80% of their base pay by default. The policy applies to either parent and the leave can be taken anytime within the three first years of parenthood.

"We want to create a culture that supports equal parenting for all genders," said Hakan Samuelsson, chief executive. "When parents are supported to balance the demands of work and family, it helps to close the gender gap and allows everyone to excel in their careers. We have always been a family-oriented and human-centric company. Through the Family Bond programme, we are demonstrating and living our values, which in turn will strengthen our brand."

The global policy is more inclusive and supportive than many existing policies around the world, and includes all legally registered parents, including adoptive, foster care and surrogate parents, as well as non-birth parents in same-sex couples. Some countries [notably the US  ed] do not offer any paid leave to new parents, or exclude certain groups of parents  the latter is particularly true for fathers.

Volvo Cars' global policy is inspired by national legislation in its home market of Sweden, famous around the globe for its generous parental leave arrangements, which have delivered tangible benefits for parents and children alike in recent decades. It follows a parental leave pilot scheme launched in the EMEA region in 2019, in which 46% of all applicants were fathers.



"This is more than a new parental leave policy for our employees  it is the embodiment of our company culture and values," said Hanna Fager, head of corporate functions. "We want to lead change in this industry and set a new global people standard. By opting all our employees into paid parental leave we narrow the gender gap and get a more diverse workforce, boosting performance and strengthening our business."

When studying the outcome of its parental leave pilot, the company found that employees appreciated the policy for being gender neutral, inclusive and adaptable to personal needs. The studies also resulted in important insights on how to encourage even more employees to take parental leave and make parental leave for both parents the new 'norm'.

Some of the obstacles that limit the uptake of parental leave include parents' concerns around the potential impact it might have on their team, fear around long-term career opportunities, and a cultural mindset about of what is expected of fathers in the workplace and at home.

To encourage uptake, Volvo Cars has focused on communicating about its parental leave policy more effectively. By presenting the 24 weeks parental leave as a pre-selected option, the company aims to create a 'default effect'  essentially, people are highly likely to stick with pre-selected options. Ambiguous language, such as 'up to 24 weeks', is avoided as we tend to predict negative outcomes when there is uncertainty.

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By using tactics like these, Volvo Cars aim to remove confusion and cultural barriers, and provide parents with certainty.


A book on the treatment of women in politics penned by former Labor sport minister Kate Ellis is bound to make an uncomfortable read for some of her former colleagues and journalists.

On Monday on Australian Story we learned of an ordeal that sent Labors media machine into overdrive to kill a false story about a love triangle between a 30-something Ellis, her chief of staff and another staffer.

But what the ABC demurely did not reveal was that then Sunday Telegraph political editor Glenn Milne was the reporter in question. That snippet is contained in Ellis memoir Sex, Lies and Question Time.

Ellis is adamant that her party colleagues were Milnes source. Such is politics.

Not only was the ALP spreading dirt on its MP but, when she was a candidate, ordered her to undertake a makeover.
Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund supports Endeavor locating in Calgary

CALGARY, AB, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF), Western Economic Diversification Canada, and a founding Board comprised of successful entrepreneurs and private-sector leaders from across Canada, will support the launch of Endeavor Canada, with the head office in Calgary.

Endeavor is a global organization with a mission to unlock the transformational power of entrepreneurship by selecting, supporting, and investing in the world's top founders and providing them a platform to pay-it-forward.

Endeavor defines high-impact entrepreneurs as those with the biggest ideas; the greatest potential to achieve meaningful scale; and the ability to inspire, mentor, and reinvest in the next generation. Successful high-impact entrepreneurs not only create jobs and wealth at scale, but by paying it forward, generate a multiplier effect, paving the way for future generations of founders and facilitating ecosystem growth.

"Endeavor brings a global network and proven track record of working with some of the leading scale-up technology firms and we are thrilled that they have selected Calgary to be its Canadian headquarters," said Mark Blackwell, Chair of the Board of Directors, Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund. "We are excited to work and engage with Endeavor to support our growing number of scale-ups in Calgary and taking their years of learnings in helping grow innovation ecosystems as they have done in cities like Miami, Detroit and Atlanta."

The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) and Western Economic Diversification Canada will each provide up to $1 million to support Endeavor's launch and operations in Calgary's growing entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem, which continues to garner global attention.

"When I speak with entrepreneurs in Alberta and across Canada, I'm always reminded of the importance of fostering a supportive business environment that promotes Canadian ingenuity on a global level," said the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada. "This is why I'm proud we're enabling Endeavor to establish its first ever Canadian office here in Calgary and ensuring that our leading entrepreneurs can benefit from an international network of mentors, supports, and resources."

In addition to leveraging support from the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund, federal funding through Western Economic Diversification Canada, and members of the founding Board of Directors, Endeavor Canada will provide avenues for founders to dream big, scale up and pay it forward.

"Canada does not have a start up problem but rather a global scale up challenge. Endeavor has an amazing network and track record of helping high-impact entrepreneurs scale their enterprises which in turn will benefit the Canadian tech ecosystem and contribute to our long-term economic growth," said Susan Anderson, CEO of Cannonball Capital, Inc. of Calgary, founding Board Member and Board Chair of Endeavor Canada. "I am excited that Endeavor has chosen Calgary as its headquarters in Canada and look forward to helping founders grow and scale their companies."

Endeavor Canada also announced its national Board of Directors, which is comprised of three Calgary-based industry leaders:

Susan Anderson , CEO, Cannonball Capital Inc., Board Chair Endeavor Canada

, CEO, Cannonball Capital Inc., Board Chair Endeavor Canada Brad Zumwalt , Partner, Zinc Ventures

, Partner, Zinc Ventures Dr. Chen Fong , Co-founder, Pureweb Inc.

, Co-founder, Pureweb Inc. Paul Desmarais III , Chairman and CEO, Sagard

, Chairman and CEO, Chris Huskilson , Former CEO, Emera Inc .

, Former CEO, . Jim Estill , President and CEO, Danby Appliances

, President and CEO, Joanna Harries , SVP of Global Expansion, Endeavor

, SVP of Global Expansion, Endeavor Dr. Lindsay Machan , Co-founder, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals

, Co-founder, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Paul Parisi , Head of Canada , Silicon Valley Bank

Endeavor's local offices identify founders with the potential to participate in the organization's competitive International Selection Panels. If selected, Endeavor Entrepreneurs benefit from a global network, a peer-to-peer community, and open-door access to talent, markets, and capital. The program is open to entrepreneurs across Canada.

Endeavor's network spans nearly 40 countries and supports more than 2,000 entrepreneurs, whose companies generate combined revenues of over $26 billion US, have created more than four million jobs, and, in 2019, raised over $3.6 billion US in capital.

Endeavor Canada will be headquartered in downtown Calgary and be led by a locally based Managing Director and Portfolio Manager.

"Endeavor's decision to launch in Calgary reflects our city's growing reputation as the destination of choice for the world's best entrepreneurs who embrace innovation to solve the world's biggest challenges," said Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, a member of the OCIF Board. "We have the business environment, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation-focused economy that provides a strong case for international investment."

Endeavor Canada will hold Local Selection Panels in Calgary and select Canadian cities and collaborate with others in Calgary and on a national basis on events and the delivery of programming to connect to national and international networks of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors and talent.

In addition to tailored support for local entrepreneurs, Endeavor also invests in them through its rules-based co-investment fund, Endeavor Catalyst, which has hundreds of millions of dollars under management. It also provides its community of entrepreneurs with avenues to invest, mentor, and inspire others.

"The mission of our firm is to connect opportunities with talent, capital, and network in order to build market defining companies," said Paul Desmarais III, Chairman and CEO, Sagard. "Endeavor is an organization that is perfectly aligned with these objectives. I am proud to be on the founding board of Endeavor Canada and am excited to help build Canadian champions that will create prosperity for our communities."

Endeavor Canada will on a continuous cycle, identify, select and support entrepreneurs from across Canada. Working with a minimum of eight entrepreneurs a year in the pipeline, of which at least two will be from Calgary.

The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund was launched by The City of Calgary in April 2018 to support investments that spur growth and create jobs in strategic sectors identified in the economic strategy Calgary in the New Economy. Endeavor is the 15th organization to be approved for funding.

ABOUT OPPORTUNITY CALGARY INVESTMENT FUND

Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund was created as a wholly owned subsidiary of The City of Calgary in 2018 to support catalytic investments within the city to help diversify and transform the economy. The fund is administered by Calgary Economic Development and has a volunteer Board of Directors. For more information, visit our website.

ABOUT WESTERN ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION CANADA

For more than 30 years, Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) has been working to diversify the western economy while improving the quality of life of western Canadians. It has a mandate to build a strong, competitive West by focusing on business development, innovation, and community development, as well as advocating on behalf of Westerners by representing the western perspective in national programs, policies, and projects.

ABOUT ENDEAVOR

Endeavor is the world's leading community of high-impact entrepreneurs. Our mission is to unlock the transformational power of entrepreneurship by selecting, supporting, and investing in the world's top founders and providing them a platform to pay it forward. Launched in 1997, Endeavor has established a presence in 40 markets across Latin America, Asia, Africa, Middle East, and underserved areas in Europe, the United States and Canada. Today, Endeavor supports more than 2,100 entrepreneurs leading 1,300 companies, which together, have created more than 4 million jobs and generate $27 billion in revenues annually.

SOURCE Calgary Economic Development Ltd.

For further information: Yasmin Jaswal, Coordinator, Corporate & Social Communications, Cell: 403 880 7040, Email: [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com


Regina Mukwevho poses for a photo sitting on the steps outside her home in Mudimeli village in Limpopo, South Africa, February 24, 2021.

Makhado, South Africa  Proposals for a coal-powered industry hub in lush Limpopo promise jobs, but opponents say it will destroy pristine habitats, hike emissions and harm residents' health

Limpopo is home to nature reserves and indigenous forests

Chinese-backed coal-fired megaproject promises much-needed jobs

Critics warn of a climate and health disaster

South Africa's northern Limpopo province is known for its lush forests, national parks, fruit farms and heritage sites - but lately its green image has come under threat from a proposed multi-billion-dollar industrial mega-project.

Made up of a cluster of 20 steel and other metalworking plants and fuelled by a coal-fired power station, supporters say the project would create much-needed local jobs, while opponents warn it would spell catastrophe for the climate and health.

"We are worried that if the project goes ahead, we will be wearing masks for years to come, not because of coronavirus but because of pollution," said environmental activist Innocent Ramuhala from Mudimeli village, close to the proposed site.

"We have so many questions and so few answers," said Ramuhala, secretary of the Mining and Environmental Justice Community Network of South Africa (MEJCON-SA).

The planned Musina-Makhado Energy-Metallurgical Special Economic Zone (EMSEZ) would cover 8,000 hectares (19,768 acres) with industrial facilities including a coal washery and plants for coking coal, ferromanganese, steel and cement.

It promises to provide nearly 54,000 jobs in a province with 22% unemployment, according to government data.

But critics say South Africa is already Africa's biggest emitter of planet-heating carbon dioxide due to its heavy reliance on coal for electric power, and is failing to align its energy policy with a pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Zaid Kalla, spokesman for the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), which is tasked with assessing the Limpopo project's merits, said "balancing economic, social and environmental benefits ... forms part of the ongoing review and consideration of the application".

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), a South African environmental law organisation, has submitted comments opposing the project on behalf of MEJCON-SA and other green groups.

"We have strong objections to the project - which entails the development of massive, unnecessary and expensive polluting infrastructure," said Michelle Koyama, an attorney with the CER.

In Mudimeli, which is close to potential coal mine sites mentioned in the project's environmental impact assessment (EIA), young boys ride past on a donkey-drawn cart.

"These boys should be in school but instead they are driving carts for money," said Lawrence Neluheni, 37, who had heard about the EMSEZ on the radio but said the details remained hazy.

"Of course we want jobs... But we also want our health - if you are rich but you are sick, then what is the point?" said the construction worker, covered in dust from a day of building.

CHINESE INVESTMENT

Economic zones like the EMSEZ are typically business or industrial areas, governed by special laws, that aim to boost economic activity and employment.

The EMSEZ is the largest such zone planned for South Africa, according to the EIA published in February by Delta BEC, a South African environmental consulting firm.

The EMSEZ will be managed by the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA), with capital investment estimated at 248 billion rand ($16.8 billion), according to the EIA.

The area was selected for its proximity to minerals and road networks, says the assessment, which was funded by the LEDA.

The project is expected to generate about 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide over its lifetime - equal to a little more than double South Africa's current annual emissions.

Kim Harrisberg/Thomson Reuters Johan Fourie stands in front of the 1,200-year-old baobab tree on his property close to the proposed special economic zone in Limpopo, South Africa, February 24, 2021.

The planned EMSEZ would comprise a northern site for logistics and a southern site for the energy and metallurgical cluster - where more than 100,000 indigenous and protected tree species are found, according to the EIA.

Chinese company Shenzhen Hoi Mor has reportedly pledged to invest $3.8 billion in the zone, but could not be reached for comment on its role.

The EMSEZ operator permit was issued to South African Energy Metallurgical Base, a subsidiary of Shenzhen Hoi Mor, according to a government news site.

Shavana Mushwana, a spokesman for the zone, added that China would be a likely export partner for products and materials produced in the EMSEZ, alongside "various market destinations across the globe".

WATER DOUBTS

Bordering Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, Limpopo's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and reputation for being the country's winter breadbasket have earned it the title of Africa's Eden.

It is also considered a hotspot for climate change, with rising temperatures and increased rainfall variability in the region already leading to more droughts and floods, according to University of the Witwatersrand researcher Victor Munnik.

The N1 highway that runs along the proposed EMSEZ site is flanked by game lodges and villages shrouded in dense, green indigenous trees.

Lodge owner Johan Fourie, deputy chair of the Save Our Limpopo Valley Environment group, said its members - citizens based in South Africa and abroad - were not "anti-development".

"But it must be the right kind of development that benefits local communities," he said, walking through his property where a 1,200-year-old baobab tree towers above his lodge.

Recent rains have painted the area green, but for years it has been brown and parched due to patchy rainfall, Fourie said.

The EIA for the zone - which will require 80 million cubic metres of water per year - refers to a possible water source in Zimbabwe that could meet part of this demand, while noting that Zimbabwe is at high risk of groundwater scarcity.

"This keeps me up at night. Where will we get this water from?" asked Fourie.

WHAT JOBS?

Part of the planned EMSEZ will be built on the ancestral land of the Mulambwane people, where graves and mopane trees are found, said activist Ramuhala.

"It feels like I am between a rock and fire, imagining that my village can be destroyed from the coal mine and ancestral land lost to the industrial zone," he said, standing by the proposed site.

Hundreds of women camp out here twice a year to collect mopane worms from the Emperor moth, which they dry to eat.

Regina Mukwevho, 48, has sold high-protein mopane worms for the past decade, enabling her to build a home and support her family - but she, like many villagers in Mudimeli, said she had never heard of the economic zone project.

"If it bring jobs then OK, but what jobs? We are in the dark. Experts must explain it to us and they must make sure our groundwater will be safe," she said.

The LEDET recently put the project on hold temporarily, stating that the environmental impact assessment was not complete, partly due to poor community consultation, a lack of clarity on water and energy supplies, and the fact that the EIA did not recommend a final decision on the zone.

EMSEZ spokesman Mushwana said public participation would continue to be solicited through April, while Kalla from the LEDET said it was up to the Limpopo Economic Development Agency to decide whether a new project site should be considered.

"It feels like good news for now," said Ramuhala. "But it is not yet a victory... We still need clarity on all the rumours, and we will keep fighting until our voices are heard."

($1 = 14.7850 rand)
Maddie Morrison followed the lead of her great-grandfather as she became New Orleans mayor.

She wont be serving four terms as Chep Morrison did. The city charter limits modern day mayors to two consecutive terms. Actually, she was Mayor for a Day.

Earlier this month, Madeleine Maddie Morrison, the daughter of Paige and Chep Morrison, was Mayor for a Day. She took care of business alongside New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, focusing on making the city cleaner and ways to reduce homelessness. She got to work, spending time with Bryon Cornelison, deputy director of programs in the Mayors Office of Cultural Economy, spending time with Tyra Brown, the director of housing in the Office of Community Development and talking things over with Kyle Shelly, senior liaison in the Office of Neighborhood Engagement.

Her great-grandfather was one of two former New Orleans mayors to serve in the White House. Mayor Moon Landrieu worked for President Jimmy Carter as Housing and Urban Development secretary. Mayor Morrison worked on behalf of President John F. Kennedy as his ambassador to the Organization of American States.

Great-grandfather Morrison was viewed as a good-government reformer, a politician who battled Louisiana Gov. Earl Long. The reform-focused mayor served four terms.

Cantrell introduced the Madame Mayor for a Day program in 2019 with a focus on girls as she started her first term. As the citys first female mayor, she wanted to put a focus on girl power. More than 100 girls applied in three age categories and three young ladies were selected.

In 2020, the Mayor for a Day program branched out to include more youth, 11-18 years old. More than 80 applied in three age groups. Maddie is a part of the most recent group of young people who responded with essay applications.

Paige Wilson-Franklin, a ninth grader at Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle Orleans, and Christian Hodges, a sixth grader at Lusher Charter School, won their age categories. Christian, 11, focused on health, safety and beautification, and he was part of reviewing and approving a city tree canopy project. Paige, 15, emphasized destigmatizing mental illness and holistic wellness, and she recorded a related public service announcement.

During her short tenure, those who remember the Day of Mayor Maddie might consider her the Clean Streets, Home for Everyone Mayor as she focused on making New Orleans a cleaner city and finding solutions for people who are houseless.

When leaders have vision, as Maddie does, it means they go to work to make things happen. Bit by bit. Piece by piece. Meeting by meeting. Maddie got serious about her vision during her special day as she met with Cornelison, Brown and Shelly. Maddie created a unity mural to help people think about appreciating differences.

Maddie, 17, a junior at Isidore Newman School, was happy to be a part of the program and have a small impact on a big city. City residents count on mayors to show up for ribbon cuttings, to make speeches and to talk with City Council members and business leaders about what needs to be done.

They also count on their mayors to hear concerns about potholes, blight, housing, health care and other issues. They depend on their elected mayors to work with public service employees to sort through problems, find solutions and get things done.

From the moment I got here, it was a meeting then another meeting and then we (drove) to another meeting, Maddie told WDSUs Christina Watkins. Im exhausted, ... Im ready to go home.

All of us arent mayors. All of us arent chief executive officers or company presidents. But in our own ways, with whatever opportunities and resources we have, we can introduce our young people to viable options to serve, to make life better.

Meetings can be exhausting. But they are often an important part of how things get done. Stay encouraged, Maddie. When you become Mayor Morrison, perhaps you can ditch some meetings and show us how to have more fun taking care of the peoples business.
Paris, March 30 : France has reopened its embassy in Libya after seven years, with the diplomatic representation tweeting "back to work".

Monday's reopening comes a week after President Emmanuel Macron announced the plan, reports dpa news agency.

In 2014, France had moved its diplomatic mission to Tunisia.

The year before, its embassy in Libya's capital Tripoli had been attacked.

The country wants to signal its support for the newly elected transitional government in Libya.

The leadership under Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Mohammed Dbeibeh was sworn in a fortnight ago.

It replaces the internationally recognized government based in Tripoli and the rival government based in the east of the country, and is to lead Libya to nationwide elections on December 24.

Libya has been in turmoil since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011.

The oil-rich country has become a proxy battleground for rival forces and foreign powers.

The new transitional government has ignited hopes of a gradual end to the conflict.

The foreign ministers of France, Germany and Italy recently backed the new leadership with a visit to Libya.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky echoed a familiar warning Tuesday afternoon as the federal government launched its pilot program at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.

We are just asking you to hang on a little bit longer, Walensky said. Wear your masks, continue to distance and do all the things that keep you safe.

Walensky joined Gov. Charlie Baker and other state and federal officials Tuesday for a COVID-19 news briefing after a tour of the convention center, which has hosted a mass vaccination site over the past few weeks.

FEMA launched its Community Vaccination Center program at the convention center Tuesday, a pilot program in which the federal government sends doses and extra workers to help with local vaccination efforts.

CIC Health, a private operator, vaccinated 56,228 people out of Fenway Park and now is administering vaccines in the convention center. The state agreed to pay CIC Health roughly $1.1 million a week for these services.

Under the pilot program, the vaccination site will get an additional 6,000 doses a day and help from 216 Navy sailors who came up from Virginia to help. The Massachusetts National guard also has members working at the site.

A portion of the doses from FEMA will be used for mobile vaccine units in Revere, Chelsea, Boston, Fall River and New Bedford, Administrator Robert Fenton said. Those are expected to begin next week.

The vaccination site at the Hynes is key to ensuring Boston residents of all backgrounds have easier access to appointments, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey said in an interview.

The objective is to have a site thats on public transportation, sot hat people can easily reach this location from any of the lower-income communities in Boston, the Massachusetts Democrat said. Thats really why its sited here to deal with the racial inequity that has already been demonstrated throughout the pandemic.

While more than 1 million people in Massachusetts have been vaccinated, Markey noted that disparities persist among Black and Latino residents.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts is seeing an increase in new COVID-19 cases. On Monday, state health officials reported 1,464 new cases and 15 more deaths. The state has 31,428 active cases, up from around 25,000 last week.

Baker too warned residents to keep their guard up despite the increasing availability of vaccines.

While were making great progress on vaccines, we cant let this progress give us a false sense of security about the fight against COVID being over, Baker said.

A day earlier, Walensky had warned of a sense of impending doom as new COVID-19 cases were reported. When asked about Massachusetts reopening plans, however, Walensky said she did not want to comment on any particular states rules except to say that mask mandates should remain in place.

Massachusetts continues to enforce a mask mandate, but some states such as Texas have lifted their mask requirements.

I think we all have to sort of take care and be careful doing our masks and social distancing as cases rise, she said. Here, we are all doing our part. We are masking, distancing, rolling up our sleeves.

Related Content:
SIU celebrating April as Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Southern Illinois University Carbondale is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in April with a variety of special events and exhibits, including a guest speaker and a candlelight vigil. All activities are free and open to the community.

Nationally, Asian American and Pacific Islander Month is celebrated in May, said Todd Bryson, associate chancellor for diversity, but SIU decided long ago to move the celebration to April because its very important that we dedicate a full month to celebrate the nations tremendous Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.

It begins April 1

Everyone is welcome to join in the kickoff event, which will take place virtually at 5 p.m. April 1. Ramesh Neupane, associate director of SIUs Study Abroad Programs, will share his fascinating life journey, which began in Nepal. He came to the United States in 2007 to attend college and earned a bachelors degree in accounting and masters degree in student affairs, both from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, as well as a doctorate in educational administration from SIU. His career has largely focused on working closely with students and student recruiting, including extensive involvement with international students.

Find the link to the kickoff event at smrc.siu.edu.

Paying respects

The SIU community can offer their respects to the victims of recent violent attacks on the Asian American and Pacific Islander peoples at a special display in the Art Alley of the Student Center. People can stop by the candlelight vigil any time throughout the month to reaffirm their support for the Asian and Asian American communities.

Special activities

The diverse cultures and peoples will be recognized in various other ways in April as well. A special book display begins April 1 at Morris Library, featuring books authored by Asian American and Pacific Islander writers. The special reading list display will be in place through May 31.

Enjoy the International Festival Cooking Show as international students prepare cuisine from their countries in a special online show. View the entries, which students will submit by April 7, on the International Student Council Facebook page. Prizes will go to the judges favorite as well as the winner of social media voting.

Coffee hour finale

Wrapping up the celebration is the International Coffee Hour, set for 3-5 p.m. April 30 in the parking lot of the Center for International Education at Woody Hall. This is an informal, come and go social event where people of all nationalities can stop by and grab quick refreshments and exchange pleasant conversations while still complying with current pandemic safety protocols.

For more information about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month or any of the special cultural celebrations and activities hosted by SIU, visit smrc.siu.edu/.
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian held a meeting with members of parliament Taguhi Tovmasyan, Sofya Hovsepyan, Vardan Atabekyan and Sergey Bagratyan, the presidency said in a news release.

The meeting addressed the domestic political situation, the existing crises in the country and ways for overcoming them, and in this context the holding of early elections of parliament, the presidency said.

The four independent lawmakers presented their approaches and opinions on resolving the situation.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
This is an example of great police work which led to several victims being able to recover their stolen items, Sheriff John Idleburg said. Additionally, five firearms were seized from a convicted felon who is not authorized to possess such weapons.
Holcomb would have seven days after a bill approved by both legislative chambers is submitted to his office to sign it or issue a veto  or it then become law without his signature. By approving the bill in the coming days, the Legislature could have time to override a potential veto by a simple majority of both houses before the current session ends in late April.

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A global semiconductor chip shortage is set to spill over into Korean automakers as well, raising concerns that a prolonged supply glitch may derail local carmakers off track amid the pandemic.



The chip shortage stems from multiple factors such as chipmakers shuttering plants or cutting production due mainly to natural disasters and the ramping up of production for mobile devices and home appliances to meet higher demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic.



Faced with the chip shortage, carmakers are readjusting their vehicle production volumes while competing with electronics companies to get more chips to minimize output reduction.



Semiconductors are already key components used in the infotainment, power steering and braking of vehicles, among other systems.



Analysts expected an extended chip shortage to weigh on carmakers' vehicle production, sales and bottomlines this year.



"Delayed launches of new models and a limited number of available options due to chip shortages could result in a decline in vehicle sales and an increase in fixed costs," Kwon Soon-woo, an analyst at SK Securities Co., said over the phone.



Global carmakers such as General Motors Co. and Toyota Motors Corp. have temporarily shuttered or cut production at some of their plants as they struggle to deal with the lack of semiconductor chips.



GM has extended production cuts at three North American plants until mid-April, and it plans to idle its Brazil plant by the end of May.



Other carmakers are expected to extend output reduction in the second quarter. Toyota cut output volumes at its plants in the U.S., China and Japan in the first quarter, and Volkswagen Group cut production in the U.S., Europe and China by 100,000 units, according to media reports.



On the domestic front, Hyundai Motor Co. its and affiliate Kia Corp., the country's two biggest carmakers, have started to feel the pinch of the chip shortage.



Hyundai Motor said that it is considering suspending production at its No. 1 plant in Ulsan, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul, next month due to parts shortages.



A suspension at the No. 1 Ulsan plant would affect the production of the Kona subcompact SUV and the IONIQ 5 all-electric vehicle, key models for boosting sales this year. On Saturday, it canceled weekend overtime work at the No. 3 plant due to a lack of electric control units (ECUs), a company spokesman said.



Further cancellations of weekend overtime work are likely at the No. 2-5 plants in April due to parts problems.



Kia suspended all weekend overtime work at its plant in Hwaseong, just south of Seoul, this month due to a lack of hybrid power control units (HPCUs).



Kia said it will continue to suspend weekend overtime work at the Hwaseong plant, which produces the Sorento SUV, the Niro electric vehicle and the all-new K8 sedan, next month.



GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of GM, has reduced production at its No. 2 Bupyeong plant, which manufactures the Chevrolet Malibu sedan and the Trax SUV, in Incheon, just west of Seoul, since February in line with its parent firm's output reduction, a company spokesman said over the phone.



"The company will continue to cut auto production by half in April due to the chip shortage. Our intent is to make up as much production lost at the No. 2 Bupyeong plant as possible," he said.



Renault Samsung Motors Corp. and SsangYong Motor Co. said a prolonged chip shortage will affect their vehicle production as well.



Consulting firm AlixPartners estimated the global automotive industry likely suffered a decline of US$61 billion in sales during the January-March quarter. Market research firm HIS Markit expected production losses of 1 million units in the first quarter.



Local carmakers are widely expected to have difficulties in securing chip parts through the third quarter as it takes time for their overseas chip suppliers to resume production following natural disasters and fires.



Netherlands-based NXP Semiconductors N.V. and Munich-based Infineon Technologies AG temporarily suspended their micro control unit (MCU) plants in Texas due to a cold wave, while Japan's Renesas Electronics Corp. partially shut down its MCU plant in Ibaraki Prefecture due to a recent fire.



Worse still, a drought-caused delay in the supply of MCUs from Taiwanese semiconductor firm TSMC will also deliver a blow to automakers, analysts said.



TSMC uses more than 150,000 tons of water a day to produce semiconductors and has difficulty in producing MCUs due to a lack of water caused by the worst-ever drought.



Analysts warned of lingering pain for carmakers if a lack of chip supplies continues throughout the year.



"Carmakers need to work hard to find alternative chip supplies and strategically change their production schedules and product mix as it may be difficult for the issue to be resolved by the second half of 2021," Kwon said.



The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association called on carmakers, fabless semiconductor companies and foundry companies to closely collaborate to develop automotive semiconductors to reduce dependence on overseas chips. (Yonhap)


The trial of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko in a Sh14 million graft case has been postponed to April 19 following the suspension of open court sessions due to the rapid spread of Covid-19.

Sonko appeared in person before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ooko some minutes to 9am as a hearing against him and two others had been scheduled to commence.

The former governor waited several hours in court and then left.

Mr Ooko issued the directive when lawyers Evans Ondieki, Migai Oketch and Paula Atukunda, for Sonko and the two other suspects, appeared before him for fresh directions.

He cited a directive by acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, which suspended open court sessions indefinitely due to the pandemic.

The magistrate apologised to the lawyers and accused persons for the delay in giving directions in the matter.

The new date was set after a second mental examination report from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) stated that Sonko was fit to stand trial. The report was presented to the court two weeks ago while Mr Ooko was away.

The case will be mentioned virtually on April 7.

Other suspects

As the new directions in the case were being issued Monday, Milimani Chief magistrate Francis Andayi had a tough time explaining to suspects why their pending cases had to be suspended.

Some of the suspects said they feared warrants of arrest would be issued against them for skipping court while others said they did not have smartphones and therefore could not follow proceedings virtually.

Mr Andayi said "everyone was caught unawares by the directive since it was issued on March 28".

He asked the suspects to await fresh directions from home and to heed the government's directives for curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

He further assured the suspects that no warrants of their arrest will be issued since no magistrates are sitting.
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The pharmacovigilance and drug safety software market is driven by increasing approvals of new molecules and biosimilars. In addition, the rising incidence rates of adverse drug events are anticipated to boost the growth of the pharmacovigilance and drug safety software market.

Drug manufacturers rely largely on the successful entry and performance of their products. Any product failures will adversely impact their revenue due to the high capital and research cost associated with drug discovery and development. Also, drug manufacturers need to comply with safety standards as per the regulations. This has necessitated the need for effective drug monitoring solutions such as pharmacovigilance and drug safety software. With the rising number of new molecular entities and biosimilars as well as registered activities of clinical trials, the adoption of pharmacovigilance and drug safety software is expected to increase during the forecast period.

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Major Five Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety Software Companies:

AB Cube

AB Cube operates its business through the Unified segment. The company offers the software, SafetyEasy PV Human.

ArisGlobal LLC

ArisGlobal LLC offers the product LifeSphere Safety. It provides reporting and analytics, multi vigilance, and other functions.

Ennov

Ennov operates its business through the Unified segment. The company offers the product, Ennov software. It includes Ennov Doc, Ennov Dossier, Ennov Report, Ennov Process, and Ennov Training.

EXTEDO GmbH

EXTEDO GmbH operates its business through the Unified segment. The company offers the product EXTEDOpulse. It is a comprehensive RIM software solution consisting of five hubs that address every step of pharmaceutical product development.

Indegene Pvt. Ltd.

Indegene Pvt. Ltd. operates its business through the Unified segment. The company offers Product Safety and PV solutions. It includes medical contact centers, data entry and case processing, quality and medical review, literature and social media monitoring, aggregate safety reporting, signal detection and risk management, and consulting and training.

Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety Software Market End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD mn, 2020-2025)

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies - size and forecast 2020-2025

Contract research organization - size and forecast 2020-2025

Business process outsourcing - size and forecast 2020-2025

Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety Software Market Geographic Outlook (Revenue, USD mn, 2020-2025)

North America - size and forecast 2020-2025

Europe - size and forecast 2020-2025

Asia - size and forecast 2020-2025

ROW - size and forecast 2020-2025

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The good practices from other countries regarding domestic violence, gender equality and human trafficking were analyzed on Tuesday, by the head of the Senate, Anca Dragu, during a meeting with several female ambassadors to Romania, according to AGERPRES.

"We had three topics of discussion: domestic violence, gender equality and human trafficking. These are priority topics on my agenda for this term. I have invited here madam ambassadors from Tunisia, Algeria, Brazil, Peru, Norway, France, Austria, Estonia, Canada and discussed about the best practices these countries applied for in time in order to reduce domestic violence, for combating human trafficking and for improving female representation, in society, in general," Dragu said after the meeting.

Later on, the Senate head showed the female ambassadors the exhibition focused on combating domestic violence, an event held in the main lobby of the Senate.
[March 30, 2021] Dedrone Appoints Former FAA's Daniel Elwell to Advisory Board

SAN FRANCISCO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dedrone, the leading provider of airspace security, today announces the retention of Daniel Elwell, former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Deputy and Acting Administrator, to their advisory board. Dedrone delivers complete airspace security to G7 governments, Fortune 500 companies, military operations, airports, and critical infrastructure facilities around the globe, protecting against unauthorized and malicious drones. At Dedrone, Elwell will advise the multi-national company on regulatory affairs and support the development of strategic initiatives in aviation and defense industries. Mr. Elwell served as Deputy and Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from June 2017 to November 2020, where he was responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation within the U.S., as well as operation and development of the National Airspace System, including the safe integration of drones into the national airspace. Before being appointed deputy administrator, Mr. Elwell was a senior advisor to Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. During his tenure as deputy administrator, Mr. Elwell served as Acting FAA Administrator from January 2018 until August 2019. Lieutenant Colonel Elwell retired from military service as a Command Pilot with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air Force Reserve, including combat service during Operation Desert Storm. "The challenge of integrating drones safely into the national airspace is complex and unique and will continually evolve as more drones come to market and regulations and laws advance," said Dan Elwell. "Dedrone is proven and qualified to address the threats that careless, cueless or criminal drone operators pose, from inadvertent entry into protected airspace to espionage, hacking, contraband delivery, and terrorist threats. Dedrone's offering provides security leaders with an end-to-end solution from essential situational awareness of their airspace activity to mitigation, if authorized. As the drone and counter-drone markets grow exponentially, I look forward to working alongside Dedrone to deliver smart airspace security solutions to our world's most critical sites."



"Dan Elwell's career with the FAA has been marked by his dedication to building a framework for the safe and cooperative integration of drones into our airspace, and Dedrone is dedicated to continue Dan's efforts by developing and delivering cutting-edge airspace security services to customers around the world," shares Aaditya Devarakonda, CEO of Dedrone. "On behalf of the Dedrone team, we are thrilled Dan has joined us and shares our mission to protect people, property and information from drone threats." A pioneer in developing drone regulations in the U.S., Elwell notably led the FAA's UAS Integration Pilot Program and BEYOND programs, which brought together government and private sectors to test and evaluate the integration of civil and public drone operations into the U.S. airspace. Dedrone's smart airspace security technology provides early warning, classification, location, and where permitted, mitigation of drones. In 2021, Dedrone announced their E.U. and U.S. Remote Identification capability, enabling customers to leverage global Remote ID standards to identify drones and their pilots.

About Dedrone Dedrone is the market leader in airspace security. Dedrone's counter-drone system is trusted by hundreds of commercial, government, and military customers globally to protect against unauthorized small drones. With flexibility to host on premise, in the cloud or access via Dedrone's Airspace Security-as-a-Service (ASaaS), Dedrone customers can detect, classify, locate and, where authorized, mitigate unauthorized drone threats. Established in 2014, Dedrone is headquartered in San Francisco, with operations in the Washington, D.C.-area, Columbus, Ohio, London, and Germany. For more information about Dedrone and to reach our counter-drone subject matter experts, visit dedrone.com and follow @ Dedrone on Twitter and LinkedIn.? View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dedrone-appoints-former-faas-daniel-elwell-to-advisory-board-301258400.html SOURCE Dedrone

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By Marco Aquino

LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's presidential candidates, starting a string of debates ahead of elections next week, have sparred over the pandemic with promises of vaccines "at any cost", tension over lockdowns and plans to take control of the Andean country's medical oxygen supply as coronavirus cases soare again.

The debate late on Monday featured six of 18 candidates and the only two female contenders, the leftist Veronika Mendoza and the right-wing Keiko Fujimori. Both are among six front-runners in the crowded and wide-ranging field ahead of the April 11 vote, recent polls have showed.

Peru, mired in political conflict and economic recession for much of the past year, has fully vaccinated less than 1% of its population. That predicament - and how to reactivate the ailing economy of the worlds No. 2 copper producer -- have dominated debate among the wide-ranging field of presidential candidates.

Mendoza promised to immediately install 1,000 public health centers with oxygen supply and said the state should take "temporary control of the production and distribution" of medical inputs to assure much-needed supply.

Fujimori said the country needed to get people back to work and promised to revive the hard-hit economy, making working hours more flexible and generating more employment.

"The quarantines have been a failure," Fujimori said.

Former sports commentator Alberto Beingolea, from the Popular Christian Party, said the state should use the private sector to speed up vaccine purchases, while low-ranking center-right candidate Cesar Acuna, promised to purchase vaccines "at any cost" and bring the virus to its knees in the coming year.

George Forsyth, a former professional soccer player and ex-mayor of a poor neighborhood of the capital Lima, strayed momentarily from talk of the virus, promising to put a halt to runaway crime and corruption in Peru.

"Today I tell the criminals: With me, the party is over," said Forsyth.

Story continues

Recent polls show six candidates vying for the top spot in the first-round ballot, though the crowded field and relatively low approval ratings suggest a likely runoff vote on June 6.

Another six candidates are slated to debate Tuesday night, while the populist Yonhy Lescano, who tops recent polls with between 11% and 14% support, will face contenders on a Wednesday night debate.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Alistair Bell)
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A handler walks Major, the White House dog at the centre of a second biting incident in a month (Evan Vucci/AP)

President Joe Bidens younger dog Major has been involved in his second biting incident of the month, the White House said on Tuesday.

The dog nipped someone while on a walk on Monday, said Michael LaRosa, press secretary to first lady Jill Biden, adding that the dog is still adjusting to his new surroundings.

The person was seen by the White House Medical Unit out of an abundance of caution and returned to work without injury, Mr LaRosa added.

The dog had been seen by reporters on a walk around the White House South Lawn before the president and first lady travelled to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial early Monday evening.

Expand Close Major, seen here with a White House staffer, had just returned from doing time at the Bidens personal home in Delaware following an earlier biting incident (Evan Vucci/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Major, seen here with a White House staffer, had just returned from doing time at the Bidens personal home in Delaware following an earlier biting incident (Evan Vucci/AP)

The German shepherd only just returned to the White House last week, along with his sibling Champ, after causing a minor injury to an employee of the US Secret Service on March 8.

After that incident, the president said Major was a sweet dog. In an interview with ABC News, he explained the biting by saying the dog had turned a corner, theres two people he doesnt know at all, you know, and they move and moves to protect.

Mr Biden added at the time that 85% of the people there love him.

Major, a three-year-old rescue dog, and Champ, who is 12, were moved temporarily to the Bidens Delaware home after the incident.
Migrants begin walking in a caravan on their way to the United States, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on March 30, 2021. (Wendell Escoto/AFP via Getty Images)

EXCLUSIVE: Illegal Migrants Explain Why Theyre Coming to the US as They Cross Private Land

Illegal migrants said theyre coming to the U.S. because of President Joe Biden, natural disasters and violence in their home countries.

A landowner where migrants frequently cross on their way to a processing facility said they tell him theyre here because Biden invited them.

Some of the migrants said they did not want to leave their countries but had to because of corruption and a lack of opportunity.

RINCON VILLAGE, TEXASIllegal migrants are crossing through private land seeking asylum in the U.S. for a number of reasons including Joe Bidens presidency and factors such as violence and natural disasters devastating their home countries, they said Friday.

Approximately 190 illegal migrants were encountered at an undisclosed location in the Rincon Village near Mission, Texas, on Friday. A man calling himself Junior told the Daily Caller News Foundation that he encounters illegal migrants crossing through his private land every day hes there, which is at least four days out of the week.

They all say the same thing, Biden nos invito, Biden invited us, Junior told the DCNF, he asked that his last name be omitted after the media mobbed him in 2018 with requests to access his land.

The illegal migrants have not caused damage to property because they only walk along the road, but they have left behind trash including various medications, clothing and bottles, Junior told the DCNF. He added he has not recognized anyone that stands out as possible coyotes or cartel members.

With Obama, it was mostly men with children, no women, but I asked a couple of times, Wheres your daddy? and the kidI remember one kid saying, Hes not here, and the so-called father was like five feet away and says, Im right here. He was angry, he was upset, and I could tell, he aint the father, but there is nothing I can do, Junior told the DCNF.

A Honduran man crossing Juniors land with a large group of migrants including women and several children said that the Biden administration gave them the opportunity to come to the U.S.

A woman traveling with the same group said she is escaping Honduras with her son because women are being denigrated and killed.

A large group of migrants from Guatemala said they arent delinquents and that they came to the U.S. illegally to find work.

Antonio Flores, 22, from Honduras said he and his family came to the U.S. because of corruption and lack of opportunity in their home country. He added that this journey was not something he wanted to do, that he did not want to leave his country and that the group did not pay anyone to get them across the border.

A group of four male Honduran migrants ages 15 to 17 said they came to the U.S. because a hurricane destroyed their house and that it is easier to enter the U.S. under the Biden administration.

Juniors land is not a port of entry and all the migrants encountered there Friday had entered the U.S. illegally. During the Trump administration, Junior told the DCNF that he would go weeks and sometimes months without seeing an illegal migrant.

Previously, illegal migrants had to walk until they encountered border officials and were brought in. There is now a temporary processing center under an international bridge about five miles from the riverbank, Junior told the DCNF. Many migrants are now headed directly to the facility.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials under previous administrations knew illegal migrants entered the country but wouldnt pick them up, Junior claimed.

By Kaylee Greenlee

From The Daily Caller News Foundation
The Electricity Law is being rewritten under a consultancy program, with the help of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Romanian authorities are in talks with the World Bank for support for upgrading the Natural Gas Law, Secretary of state with the Energy Ministry Niculae Havrilet told a specialist video conference today.

"We have wind and solar energy opportunities, both onshore and offshore, with important possibilities to produce electricity by using the Black Sea, which can be a friend of Romanians not only by a two-week seaside holiday, but also by pumping clean energy into the grid. This energy is very suitable for transformation into hydrogen. Within short, hydrogen will be the most widely used fuel, especially in heavy transport, whether we are talking about aviation or sea transport. We want to set in place a new Electricity Law, which is now being rewritten through a consultancy program with the help of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and we are in talks with the World Bank to get support for upgrading the Natural Gas Law. They might be bundled in a single regulatory act with two chapters or they can be presented as two separate pieces of legislation," said the Energy Ministry official.

Havrilet pointed out that Romania has many opportunities in terms of developing renewable power production and storage infrastructure.

"The very near future is represented by the Modernization Fund, which largely supports the production of electricity from renewable sources. We have this action of trading carbon emission certificates through which, on the one hand, we are penalized for generating electricity from considerably polluting sources, and I mean coal, but on the other hand new capacities for the production of electricity from clean sources can emerge from the price of these certificates. Romania has a lot of opportunities compared to other countries as regards the development of new production infrastructures and, very importantly, the storage of electricity from renewable sources. Legislation has an important place among the concerns of the Energy Ministry for improving, facilitating access to European funds to encourage investors in new power production capacities. We want to amend the Land Fund Act so as to allow the use of agricultural land for new electricity production infrastructures and for power storage," Havrilet explained.

The Romanian National Committee of the World Energy Council organized today in partnership with Electrica, through Electrica Serv., the online conference on the Past, Present and Future of Romania's Electricity Sector.
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President Muhammadu Buharis aide on Niger Delta Affairs, Ita Enang, has denied calling for the sacking of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, over the imprisonment of a university professor for election fraud.

Mr Akpabio, a few days ago, disowned the disgraced professor, Peter Ogban, saying that he did not rig the 2019 senatorial election for him. But the evidence tendered in court at the trial contradicts the ministers claim.

Mr Ogban, a professor of Soil Sciences, University of Calabar, was the returning officer in that years senatorial election in Akwa Ibom State in which Mr Akpabio, a serving senator at the time, lost to Chris Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor of the state.

Mr Enang, a former senator, described as fake, the report that he called for the sacking of the minister over a state High Court judgement against Mr Ogban.

I have not spoken on this matter to any person as I have no cause to, Mr Enang said on Tuesday in a statement posted on his Facebook page. This is fake, false, malicious and satanic.

Please any journalist, publisher, author or blogger who wants to say anything about any person or subject should be bold enough to credit it to himself, and not cowardly attributing it to me or any other innocent person.

For this, I am now tempted to agree on the need to regulate the social media, for some have converted it to instruments of terrorism and institutions of State cannot helplessly watch.

Again, I dissociate myself and the APC as a party from this cowardly falsehood, the presidents aide said in the statement.

Messrs. Akpabio and Enang hail from Akwa Ibom State. Both are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Apart from Mr Ogban, another professor, Ignatius Uduk, of the Department of Physical and Health Education, University of Uyo, is also on trial for election fraud.

Mr Uduk was the returning officer for the Essien Udim State Constituency election in Akwa Ibom State.
[March 30, 2021] Recuro Health Announces Oversubscribed Funding Round: Founding CEO of Teladoc Leads Launch of New Integrated Digital Solutions Company

Recuro Health (Recuro), an integrated digital health solution that transitions the U.S. healthcare system from a reactive, disease-focused model to a population health, outcomes approach, today announces the closing of its oversubscribed funding round led by OLSF Ventures. Michael Gorton, founding CEO of Teladoc, leads the Recuro team which includes several Teladoc leaders: the original Chief Technology Officer, along with the marketing team that perfected Teladoc's go-to-market strategy. The company is also adding healthcare luminaries and experienced business executives such as Jay Sanders, MD, founder of the American Telemedicine Association (News - Alert) and acknowledged as the "Father of Telemedicine." "This oversubscribed round of funding and interest in our subsequent round demonstrate the support of our investors and confidence in our management team to build yet another industry-transforming company in the digital health space," says Gorton, CEO and founder of Recuro Health. "The platform combines digital health with a patient-centered medical home. We are creating an easy, personal and economic solution for patients, employers and payers." According to Dr. William Paiva, managing partner at OLSF Ventures and lead investor in the round, "Given the unprecedented interest in the Recuro business model, we will quickly follow this company formation and funding round with a larger round of funding which will further accelerate Recuro's journey to build a new indusry category."



Recuro is focused on empowering patients with tools, education and guidance to live healthier, longer and happier lives. Grounded in a suite of digital health offerings, analytics and services, Recuro touches patients along their entire health journeys. Gorton says, "We intend to disrupt the traditional healthcare delivery system by bridging the gap between the current system and digital health. This requires a deep understanding of the current challenges facing healthcare, along with a proven ability to impact the industry. We are building infrastructure and partnerships to support care delivery in every setting, across the entire patient journey, minimizing the need for acute, episodic care by providing the digital keys to member health."

Dr. Paiva continues, "There are rare moments in a venture capitalist career when you are presented an industry transforming opportunity, at the right moment in time, with a management team that has created the industry category. This is one of those moments." In addition to OLSF, participants in the current round of funding include Cortado (News - Alert) Ventures, 1843 Capital and Sage Venture Partners. About Recuro Health Serving employers, providers and managed care organizations, Recuro Health delivers value throughout the healthcare ecosystem. Digital and virtual services leverage aggregated data to direct users to achieve effective and efficient offerings. By evaluating outcomes and compliance together, Recuro provides appropriate referrals and recommendations. www.recurohealth.com About OLSF Ventures With over 20 years of industry experience working in management consulting, large pharma and venture capital, OLSF contributes many diverse perspectives to our portfolio companies. OLSF I is invested in five start-ups that have created over 100 jobs with a mean income that is three times greater than the state average. These companies have attracted over $210 million in venture capital from regional and national venture capital firms after OLSF's first investment. These entrepreneurial success stories have continued with our second round, OLSF II, which has already invested in five promising start-ups in Oklahoma, which have attracted over $74.3 million in outside venture capital. Since its inception in 2000, The Oklahoma Life Science Fund has been the single largest driver of private equity capital to Oklahoma. www.olsfventures.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005442/en/

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The former director of Southern University's iconic marching band was sentenced to 13 months in prison Tuesday by a federal judge who said he "betrayed" the university by misappropriating school money.

U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson, who said Nathan Haymer must report to federal prison by May 3, also ordered him to pay more than $78,000 in restitution.

That's in addition to the $34,081-plus Haymer paid the school after he was terminated.

Haymer told the judge he is as "remorseful as possible" and noted it was his childhood dream to become the director of Southern's "Human Jukebox." He said he was proud to have fulfilled that dream.

"What I'm not proud of is the people I disappointed," Haymer, with his attorneys Karl Bernard and John McLindon at his side, said while choking up. "I made some bad decisions. I'm here to accept full responsibility for my actions."

Ex-band director at Southern faces charges of misappropriating school money A former Southern University band director has been charged with misapplying more than $30,000 of school money, U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremi

Bernard said Haymer has a good heart and described him as a "good man who just messed up" and has suffered greatly as a result.

Bernard also told the judge that the issues with Southern's band department began long before Haymer's arrival in 2014 as the marching band director.

"This was not his fault solely," Bernard argued.

McLindon cited what he termed a lack of institutional controls at Southern.

"That does not relieve Mr. Haymer of his wrongdoing," he acknowledged.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Stevens noted that Haymer quickly accepted responsibility for creating fake invoices and his theft of school money, but the prosecutor stressed that the case "isn't about bookkeeping or institutional controls."

"He stole a significant amount of money," Stevens said to the judge.

Even though Haymer pleaded guilty last fall to program theft in the amount of about $30,000, the prosecutor said federal probation officials estimated the actual loss to Southern at $112,000.

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Ex-director of Southern's 'Human Jukebox' marching band pleads guilty to federal theft charge A former Southern University marching band director pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge that accused him of misappropriating school money.

Jackson said Haymer exploited a lack of institutional control in the band department.

"You took advantage of that. You took this as an opportunity to enrich yourself," the judge told Haymer. "Southern University trusted you, but you betrayed Southern University. You have victimized Southern University."

Haymer will be on federal probation for three years after his release from prison.

His duties as director of the Human Jukebox included making purchases and paying expenses during the band's many trips across Louisiana and the country.

Haymer was accused of submitting false documents, like forged invoices, on more than a dozen occasions between November 2016 and March 2018.

The state Legislative Auditor said in a 2019 report that Haymer used an unauthorized third party to collect public funds and kept about $293,000 in possible violation of state and federal laws.

Haymer set up the collection system without approval of the school and used some of the money for personal purposes, the audit alleged.

The review stated, for example, that Haymer received $43,900 in payments from Mardi Gras krewes for Southern band performances during parades and other events from February 2015 to February 2018.

Where'd $293,000 of public funds go? State audit says former Southern Band director pocketed it Former Southern University band director Nathan Haymer used an unauthorized third party to collect public funds due to the school and then kep

Southern fired Haymer in 2018, saying an audit by the school showed that $300,000 in band camp and other fees were in Haymer's personal bank accounts.

The university audit stemmed from complaints that Haymer sought kickbacks for the band to appear at an event for schoolchildren.

The Human Jukebox is widely sought for parades and other events.
The United States plan to put forth a new proposal to start the talks with Iran as soon as this week, POLITICO reported citing two people familiar with the situation.

"The proposal asks Iran to halt some of its nuclear activities, such as work on advanced centrifuges and the enrichment of uranium to 20% purity, in exchange for some relief from U.S. economic sanctions," said one of the people, who stressed that the details are still being worked out.

Its not at all certain that Iran will accept the terms. Earlier this year, Tehran rejected a U.S. proposal it deemed unacceptable, then offered its own idea that Bidens team declared a non-starter, two people familiar with the situation said.

Still, officials in both countries are aware that if no breakthrough takes place over the next few weeks, little is likely to happen until September at the earliest, and thats if the deal can be saved at all. The warnings come as progressives pressure Biden to rejoin the deal and as some officials and analysts wonder if Biden is genuine about his stated desire to see the agreement revived.
The two leaders discuss the solutions to security challenges such as incessant killings and kidnappings in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chairman of Nigeria's Governors' Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi, met in Aso Villa, Abuja, on Monday to discuss the challenges rocking the nation from the states to the federal level.

The two leaders discussed the solutions to security challenges such as incessant killings and kidnappings in the country.

Mr Fayemi, who is also the Ekiti State governor, spoke with journalists after the meeting. He said Mr Buhari agreed that there is need for more equipment for security operatives to combat insurgents.

The governor said even though Mr Buhari rarely talked about general challenges in the country, "he has almost nitty gritty detail of what's going on in every state and yes, even more information than we do of these issues, as I discovered in my conversation with him".

"So, he's clearly committed to doing more in terms of procurement of equipment, platforms for the military, particularly to support the new leadership that's just come on stream and also working with the states to find the best way of stemming the tide of our current insecurity challenges.

"There are responsibilities that we have at our level in the states, there are also responsibilities that the federal government has to attend to. If we all do our parts, clearly, we believe that we will see the end of this challenge."

He said "having changed the leadership of the security services, Nigerians should not expect an automatic transformation of the security situation, simply on account of change of leadership".

"We were not that naive to think that would happen, however, precisely because there's been a change, you can see that there is also a concerted effort. Two or three days ago, all the service chiefs came together to issue a statement that we are accountable to our Chief of Defence Staff, that's a very significant position to take because we know what has been the source of inter service rivalry in our military, which then tends to affect performance on the field, where the air force does not communicate with the army and yet they're supposed to be involved in the same war against insurgency.

"One of the good news I came away with, from the President now on this issue is that he's already informed the National Assembly that they will be receiving a special request from him on procurement of equipment on an accelerated basis for our security services, because that was one of the issues that we put before him and he was very categorical that yes, we have a point, some of the equipment that had been procured are on the way, they haven't arrived, but they will soon arrive.

"There is also a need to buy more equipment and he is going into government-to-government partnership with a number of countries and that would necessitate an accelerated clearance from the National Assembly.

"What I'm saying in essence is they've (service chiefs) been able to assess their situation on coming to that office and they made a very honest assessment of what's on ground, which is militating against their effective clearance of the insurgents and that's something that will happen."

Food security

Speaking threats to food security, he said the government would ensure that there is "concrete action on the ground, dedicated to protecting them (farmers) in doing their business".

"That's why majority of our states are very focused on the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) that would at least confine those who want to graze their cattle to a dedicated space rather than roaming around and destroying crops, which then result in the kind of conflicts that we've had between farmers and herders.

"That's the primary way that we intend to reassure farmers, but pending the time that comes to fruition, on a state by state basis, we are all working hard by, in Ekiti for example, we have regular meetings between farmers and herders in the state to define the relationship and promote harmony between both sides, the representatives of the farmers, the ALFAN and the representatives of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, and that has been going reasonably well.

"That's a state, individual state response, we need a wider strategy to enable us to achieve food security because you are right. If we don't take concerted steps to address this, we are definitely going to end up with food shortage in the country," he said.

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The governor said to achieve excellent results, poverty, inequalities and unemployment must be addressed.

"There is a direct correlation, I've said this to you before, between insurgency in the North-east, and what we're seeing manifesting itself as banditry in the North-west, or kidnapping in the South-west. Some of the people involved in these are also the ones responsible for insurgency.

"They are using the resources that they make from kidnapping for the activities that they're conducting in the North-east. So we need to take a comprehensive look at all these things and not treat them in compartments. We must treat them as a comprehensive issue and then tackle them collectively," he said.

Nigeria has been battling with insecurity in most parts of the country for years despite efforts by security agencies to curb the challenges.

After months of agitation by Nigerians that Mr Buhari change service chiefs, he recently did that but the security situation has remained challenging.
The Nishad Party will be sending truckloads of signed letters from members of the community to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), in support of its demand for the status.

The two-month signature campaign launched by the Nishad Party in February is about to end this month. In Uttar Pradesh, the Nishad community has been demanding inclusion in the SC category under four generic castes -- Majhwar, Gond, Shilpkar and Turaha.

"We have started collecting details from every district about the number of signatures and signed letters that the party has received. We are getting the numbers counted for every district," said party's Uttar Pradesh-in-charge Shravan Nishad.

"We will send truckloads of signed letters and papers in support of our demands to the The party will send the signed letters to to highlight its long pending demand at the level. The party's move is driven by its ambition to be more visible ahead of the state assembly elections and also be in a better position to bargain," he added.

The signature campaign, the first major initiative by the party to find a toe-hold in the political scene.

Its booth-level workers have been working overtime to collect maximum signatures in support of its demand. The drive has continued without a break since it was launched in the start of February.

Uttar Pradesh has 153 sub-castes of Nishads, some of which are in the OBC list, some in the list of denotified tribes and others in the SC list. Nishads want a common status for all, which is of an SC.

The state had in April 2019 issued a 'majhwar' certificate to Nishads in few districts, but the court later put a stay on it.

The state government has not pleaded to the court in favour of Nishad community till now, which brings the community back to the point from where they started their political fight.

--IANS

amita/in

(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.)
SYDNEY, Australia, March 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INVNT . The global live brand storytelling agency has expanded its APAC operations with the appointment of new creative and production talent in Singapore and Sydney.



Based in Singapore, Sarah Bailey joins INVNT as Creative Director, where she is responsible for devising compelling campaign ideas for clients across the entire APAC region. Bailey brings more than ten years experience to the role, where she has worked in agency and client-side roles at companies including Freeman and Publicis Singapore. She is joined by Karen Ho in the creative team, who is coming onboard as a Junior Designer in Sydney.

The agency has further built out its production expertise following ongoing demand from clients for high-end virtual and hybrid experiences. Based in Sydney, Ema Wakeford has been appointed to the role of Executive Producer and joins from George P. Johnson. She has worked on events including the renowned Light, Music & Ideas Festival, Vivid Sydney and with brands such as Cadbury and Johnson & Johnson.

The team also welcomes Caroline Bubb as Senior Producer, who has over 10 years' experience delivering events in both Australia and the UK, Producer, Rebecca Wheatley, whose background lies in consumer-facing festivals and events including the Margaret River Gourmet Escape, Taste Festivals Australia, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia and the ARIA Awards, and Production Coordinator, Lauren Moorhouse, who joins from CWT Meetings & Events.

Laura Roberts, Managing Director, INVNT APAC said: "INVNTs growth in Singapore and Sydney is testament to our teams on the ground, who have successfully adapted and pushed the creative boundaries to deliver compelling experiences for our clients during a time of immense change for the industry.

"As a strategy and creative-led agency, Im thrilled to have Sarah and Karen join our team to ensure we continue to surprise and delight clients with our out of the box thinking and striking designs, and a talented team of producers in Ema, Caroline, Rebecca and Lauren, who will bring this thinking to life across virtual, hybrid and in-person experiences as the pandemic evolves across the APAC region."

Click here for visuals.

About INVNT

Founded in 2008 by Scott Cullather and Kristina McCoobery, INVNT uses the craft of live brand storytelling to create and produce live experiences that excite and unite physical and virtual audiences, globally. The company's 'challenge everything' positioning statement helps clients including General Motors, Grant Thornton, Merck, PepsiCo and Samsung share their stories with every audience that matters. Part of [INVNT GROUP], THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT, INVNT's offices are strategically located in New York, London, Sydney, Detroit, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Stockholm and Singapore. For more information visit www.invnt.com

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Blue Prism's digital workers prove an invaluable source of help during the global health crisis

LONDON and AUSTIN, Texas, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the past year, Blue Prism, a global leader in intelligent automation, has donated resources to those most in need during the pandemic as part of its COVID-19 Response Program. COVID-19 struck industries quickly and with force and it was imperative that solutions were deployed rapidly to meet the challenges head on.

Blue Prism's AI-powered robots have been at the forefront of this effort. By relieving humans from resource-heavy and time-consuming processes, Blue Prism technology has enabled workers to focus on what really matters - high value, customer-centric care. Helping organizations across 14 industries so far, the program has been instrumental in keeping health workers stay safe with PPP supplies, helping small businesses stay afloat and people keep their jobs through accelerating loan applications, making it easier to record and report on essential statistics and in facilitating the remarkable effort to get vaccines in arms.

"From supporting front line health workers to maintaining business continuity in uncertain times, we are honored to have been able to give something back. Providing support through technology was an obvious way for us to help during this crisis, as we transitioned online to cope with the challenges that we all faced." says Jon Theuerkauf, chief customer strategy & transformation officer, Blue Prism.

The Response Program has donated more than 500 licenses, with a value of more than 4m worth of software, to help organizations under strain become more efficient and capable in handling the operational challenges they face. On average, across more than 60 projects, 8,000 hours have been saved by these organizations (equating to more than three years in human hours worked) per project, representing millions of pounds of financial return.

Through the donation of digital worker software licenses and services, organizations, who lacked access or means to implement or scale intelligent automation have been able to make use of best-in-breed technology or extend their existing services for free to alleviate the impact of the pandemic.

"Blue Prism's free services allowed us to support even more teams during the pandemic. We used additional Blue Prism intelligent automation capacity to further alleviate our administrative burden so that our Suffolk Short Breaks team had more time in the field, helping families who needed support. The response program helped us to help others, when they needed it most." says Richard Small, head of intelligent automation, Suffolk County Council.

Blue Prism is still helping organizations by donating digital worker licenses and services. Find out more about how you can apply to the COVID-19 Response Program.

Notes to editors:

About Blue Prism

Blue Prism is the global leader in intelligent automation for the enterprise, transforming the way work is done. At Blue Prism, we have users in over 170 countries in more than 2,000 businesses, including Fortune 500 and public sector organizations, that are creating value with new ways of working, unlocking efficiencies, and returning millions of hours of work back into their businesses. Our digital workforce is smart, secure, scalable and accessible to all; freeing up humans to re-imagine work. Blue Prism's vision is to provide a digital workforce for every enterprise. To learn more visit www.blueprism.com and follow us on Twitter @blue_prism and on LinkedIn.

 2020 Blue Prism Limited. "Blue Prism", the "Blue Prism" logo and Prism device are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Blue Prism Limited and its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

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CHICAGO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Metamaterial Market by Material Type (Electromagnetic, Terahertz, Photonic, Tunable, FSS, and others), Application (Communication Antenna, Windscreen, Solar Panel, sensors, Display, and Medical Imaging), Vertical and Geography - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Metamaterial Market was valued at USD 305 million in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 1,457 million by 2026. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 36.7% during the forecast period.

Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=139795737

The variety in design functionalities, anti-laser coating application, and developments in radar and LiDAR for autonomous vehicles. The use of metamaterials in solar power systems, metamaterial-based radar for drones, and advancements in 5G are the key factors driving the growth of metamaterial market.

Communication antenna and radar (beam Steering) to account for the largest share of the metamaterial market

The communication antenna and radar (beam Steering) segment is estimated to account for the largest size of the metamaterial market in 2021. Increasing demand for communication antennas for applications such as satellite communication, Wi-Fi routers, radar communication, and 5G communications is the major factor fueling the growth of the metamaterial market for communication antenna and radar application. Antennas that use metamaterials to increase or enhance the performance of their systems are called metamaterial communication antennas. As metamaterials can have a negative magnetic permeability, these materials allow antennas to have properties such as electrically small size, high directivity, tunable operational efficiency along with increased radiated power, and improved bandwidth efficiency performance.

Aerospace & Defense vertical accounted for the largest share of the metamaterial market in 2020

The Aerospace & Defense segment is estimated to account for the largest size of the metamaterial market in 2021 in terms of value. The defense vertical primarily requires customized solutions for communication. In the aerospace & defense vertical, the majorly adopted metamaterial-based devices are antennas, protective layers, windscreens, EMC shielding, and cloaking devices. Antennas based on metamaterials can be used for secure communications in the defense vertical as these can be tuned to different frequencies. The growth of the metamaterial market for aerospace and defense vertical is owing to the growing bandwidth requirement and need for secure communication.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Metamaterial Market"

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North America to account for the largest share of the metamaterial market by 2026

North America is expected to hold the largest share of the metamaterial market in 2020, owing to increasing demand from the aerospace and defense vertical. Government agencies such as DOD, DARPA, and NASA are extensively funding research universities and industry players for the development of metamaterial-based antennas. The demand for metamaterials has significantly increased in recent years, primarily from the aerospace & defense, automotive, consumer electronics, medical, and energy & power verticals. US government agencies (DOD, DARPA, US Navy) and private entities (Bill Gates Foundation (US), Lux Capital (US), Kresge Foundation (US)) are funding research institutes, laboratories, and various companies for enhancing the metamaterial technology or for developing efficient and cost-effective electronic devices and applications.

A few of the key players in the metamaterial market are Kymeta Corporation (US), Metamaterial Technologies Inc. (Canada), Metamagnetics (US), Jem Engineering (US), Teraview (UK), Echodyne Inc. (US), Multiwave (Europe), Nanohmics Inc. (US), Metashield LLC (US), and Mediwise (UK).

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Nanomechanical Testing Market by Offering (Hardware, Services), Application (Material Development, Life Sciences, Industrial Manufacturing, and Semiconductor Manufacturing), Instrument Type (SEM, TEM, & Dual-Beam), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023

Radar Sensor Market by Type (Imaging, and Non-Imaging), Technology, Component, Band (HF, VHF, and UHF; L, S, C, and X; Ku, K, Ka, V, and W), Range (Short-range, Mid-range, Long-range), Application, Vertical, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023

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.

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THE prosecution and defence have not concluded the negotiations to reach into bargaining plea agreement over 1.6bn/- trial case of senior officials with BEVICO Limited, a company dealing in importation and sale of alcoholic beverages from abroad.

Advocate Abbriaty Kivea told the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam when the case came for mentioning that they are still going on with the negotiations and requested for short adjournment to meet with the prosecution officials to complete the process.

Senior Resident Magistrate in Charge Godfrey Isaya granted the request and adjourned the trial to March 31, 2021 for mention. On March 4, 2021, the Court gave the parties 30 days in terms of Rule 5 of the Criminal Procedure (Plea Bargaining) Rules, 2021 published recently by the Chief Justice, Prof. Ibrahim Juma to conclude the plea bargaining agreement in question.

He also directed the prosecution to comply with Rule 6 of the Rules to disclose to accused persons all relevant information, documents or other matters obtained during investigation for them to make an informed decision regarding the agreement. Before issuing such orders, the magistrate made an inquiry from the accused persons to satisfy the court BEVICO 1.6bn/- bargaining plea ongoing in terms of Rule 5 (2) of the Rules, whether they decided to enter into the plea bargaining agreement voluntarily.

In the case, the accused persons are two French nationals, Thierry Lefeuvre and Melanie Phillippe, who are Chief Executive Officer and Human Resources Manager with BEVICO Limited and two Tanzanians Joseph Rwegasira and Ntemi Massanja, who are Finance Manager and lawyer with the company.

They are facing a total of 46 counts of leading organized crime, failure to pay tax, tax evasion, forgery of various documents, uttering false documents, money laundering and occasioning loss to a specified authority.

It is alleged that on diverse dates between September 1, 2017 and September 30, 2020 at various places within the commercial city of Dar es Salaam, jointly and together, all accused persons intentionally organized a criminal racket.

The court heard that between October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019 in the city, by their willful acts, jointly and together, all accused persons caused the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to suffer a pecuniary loss of 1,658,370,376/29.

On money laundering, Philippe and Massanja are charged that between October 1, 2017 and June 31, 2020 facilitated Samson and Lefeuvre to obtain the money, while knowing the same was proceeds of predicate offences of tax evasion, forgery and participation in organized criminal group and racketing.

Within the same period, Samson and Lefeuvre allegedly engaged themselves in transactions that involved the 1,658,370,376/29, while they knew that the money is proceeds of predicate offences to money laundering of tax evasion, forgery and participation in organized criminal group and racketing.

The prosecution told the court that between October 1, 2017 and June 31, 2020 in the city, being Manager and Chief Executive Officer with BEVCO Limited, respectively, Samson and Lefeuvre failed to pay the said amount as Value Added Tax (VAT) payable to TRA.

It is alleged that between January 22 and July 19, 2019 within the city, being Finance Manager of BEVCO Limited, failed to pay a total of 187,263,009/48 being VAT, while between January 26, 2018 and May 21, 2020, Lefeuvre failed to pay a total of 593,279,429/61 as VAT payable to the Authority.

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Between January 1 and April 1, 2020 at BEVCO Limited offices in Dar es Salaam, Samson forged several documents with different purposes, including Notice of Call of Shares, a reply letter, extraordinary members' resolution, while Lefeuvre is alleged to have forged Companies Form 210b.

The two accused persons are also alleged to have jointly forged other documents for different purposes, including the form in question, return of allotment of shares Form 55a and application for change of BEVCO Company Limited particulars.

On January 1, 2020 at BEVCO Limited offices within the city, knowingly and fraudulently, Samson uttered to the Registrar of Companies the false documents.
You will recall that back in the fall the Elite Media and a number of leftist politicians went berserk over reports that white supremacists had cooked up a plan to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

It turns out that the plan was the result of the FBI infiltrating the group of radicals. The ring leader in the plot was actually an FBI informant.

Yesterday, a judge in Michigan dropped the charges against the three men.

Remember, all this was going on while the BLM/Antifi riots were taking place. Yet the FBI was busy setting up these men, for heaven knows what reasons.

Source: Judge Tosses Junk Terrorism Charges against 3 Defendants in Whitmer Plot Where Ring Leader Was FBI Informant (thegatewaypundit.com)
Cameo, the app that lets fans pay for personalized videos from celebrities, is now a unicorn.

Driving the news: The company said Tuesday that its parent Baron App Inc. has raised $100 million in a round led by e.ventures, giving it a valuation of just over $1 billion.

Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.

Why it matters: The pandemic has been a breakout moment for the creator economy, and especially for Cameo. Hollywood celebrities that were stuck at home had a venue for connecting with fans craving interpersonal connections.

The company hired a slew of new C-suite executives from media and tech companies earlier this year, with plans to continue rapidly growing its employee base.

Last year, Cameo brought in roughly $100 million in video transactions.

Details: The company says the money will be used to improve the Core Cameo experience, create new products for fan engagement, and boost Cameo's B2B business.

Turner was joined by Google Ventures, Amazon Alexa Fund, UTA Ventures, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Valor Equity Partners, and investment funds managed by Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley).

Existing investors like Lightspeed Venture Partners, Kleiner Perkins, The Chernin Group, Origin Ventures, and Spark Capital also joined the round, as did new Cameo talent investors, like Tony Hawk.

The big picture: The investment brings Cameo's total funding to more than $165 million. Cameo finalized its Series B investment at around a $300 million valuation in 2019, Axios reported.

Go deeper: Cameo launches hiring spree following banner year

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Simple tricks for salvaging undercooked pasta when you've already added sauce have been revealed by amateur Australian cooks.

A woman posted in a Facebook cookery group, asking members how she could save her spaghetti bolognese after slathering it with sauce before realising it was still tough.

Dozens replied saying pasta can be tenderised by adding a stock cube broken into water and leaving the mixture to cook over a low heat with the lid on the pot until it has softened.

Others suggested turning the bolognese into a pasta bake by covering it with cheese and cooking it at 180 degrees Celsius for 45 minutes.

Scroll down for video

Amateur Australian cooks say undercooked pasta can be tenderised by adding a stock cube broken into water, even if it has already been coated in sauce

One woman said simply adding half a cup of water and leaving the pasta to simmer for five to 10 minutes should do the trick.

A second suggested tipping the mixture into a slow cooker and leaving it to broil on a high heat until fully cooked.

The tips have drawn widespread praise online, with many thanking responders for sharing such simple but useful knowledge.

'Could be worse, I cooked bolognese last night, it tasted terrible and no one would eat it - then I remembered I still had to go back and rinse the dishwashing liquid off the bowl!' one woman wrote.

Nutritionist Jessica Sepel's recipe for healthy chickpea pasta INGREDIENTS  125g chickpea pasta   cup Napoletana sauce  Handful basil leaves  2 tbsp ricotta  1 tbsp grated parmesan   tsp chilli flakes, optional  Extra virgin olive oil METHOD 1. Cook the pasta as per the packet instructions. 2. Drain and toss the pasta through the Napoletana sauce. 3. Stir in the basil leaves and top with ricotta, grated parmesan, chilli flakes, if using and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. 4. Season to taste and serve. Advertisement

Pasta recipes and revelations have been sweeping the internet in recent months, from the viral TikTok feta cheese pasta bake to the reason you can never find a use-by date on dried varieties in the supermarket.

Frequently asked questions on the website of San Remo, a company headquartered in northeastern Adelaide, SA, reveal brands are not required to stamp 'best before' dates on the packaging of products that have a shelf life of two years or longer.

But the answer is hiding in plain sight in a tiny code of marked on the side of each packet.

The code represents the production date of the pasta displayed in the Julian date format, where the first number is the year and the last three are the day of that year.

The 'F0202' code stamped on the righthand side of this pasta box indicates the production date in the Julian year format, which here is July 21, 2020

For example, the code 8144 would be the 144th day of 2018 - which is May 24, 2018 - while 0026 would be the 26th day of 2020, which is January 26, 2020.

San Remo sometimes puts an 'L' or an 'F' ahead of the code, but it's unclear what these letters represent.

The brand advises using dried pasta within two years of its production date, provided it is stored in a dry, airtight container.

'Best before' dates are stamped on the packaging of other leading pasta brands including Barilla and La Molisana Pastificio.
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The Board believes that the Company has made significant efforts and progress over the last few years through in-licensing and in-house R&D in the areas of cancer lipid metabolism and oral PD-L1 small molecule inhibitors, which has laid a solid foundation for the future development in our oncology pipeline.

The positive results were demonstrated from the investigator sponsored Phase II trial of ASC40(TVB-2640) in combination with bevacizumab in patients with first relapse of high-grade astrocytoma, which was completed in the United States (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03032484). The Company plans to initiate a pivotal randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II trial of ASC40 (TVB-2640) in combination with bevacizumab in China for the same patient population (first relapse of high-grade astrocytoma) as in the United States.

The data from the investigator sponsored Phase II trial were presented at European Society for Medical Oncology 2020 and have shown that the overall response rate (ORR) for ASC40 (TVB-2640) plus bevacizumab was 65% including the complete response (CR) of 20% and partial response (PR) of 45%. Furthermore, the data indicate that the progression-free survival at six months (PFS6) observed for ASC40 (TVB-2640) plus bevacizumab was 47%, representing a statistically significant improvement in PFS6 over historical bevacizumab monotherapy (BELOB16%, P=0.01). ASC40 (TVB-2640) in combination with bevacizumab was safe and well tolerated in such patient population.

Lipid metabolism has been reported to play a critical role in various cancers. Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is one of the most important proteins which regulate lipid metabolism. Many solid and hematopoietic tumors overexpress FASN, including glioblastoma (GBM, Grade IV astrocytoma), non-small cell lung, breast, ovarian, prostate, colon, pancreatic cancers, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

In addition to FASN inhibitors in combination of bevacizumab, an anti-angiogenesis drug, in-house data and external research papers indicate that FASN inhibitors have potential to treat multiple tumors in combination with signal transduction inhibitors and immunotherapies. Therefore, the Company is considering additional clinical trials for (1) ASC40 in combination with chemotherapies for high-grade astrocytoma immediately followed by the surgery and radiation therapy; (2) ASC40 in combination with other therapies for various solid tumors. As a next generation oral FASN inhibitor, ASC60 has potential to be combined with other therapies for various solid tumors.

In addition to cancer lipid metabolism drug candidates targeting FASN, the Company's oral PD-L1 small molecule inhibitors discovered in-house have shown favorable anti-tumor activities in animal model compared to a marketed anti-PD-L1 antibody. The Company believes that oral PD-L1 small molecule inhibitors are next generation checkpoint inhibitors as cancer immune therapies and have potential to be combined with oral FASN small molecule inhibitors.

"We are excited about our oncology pipeline since it has strong competitive edges in the crowded oncology space," said Dr. Jinzi J. Wu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ascletis. "The recent breakthrough from the Phase II trial in patients with first relapse of high-grade astrocytoma indicates that oral FASN inhibitors can play a significant role in the treatment of multiple solid tumors. Furthermore, we are now seeking collaborations with other pharmaceutical companies to develop various combination regimens with FASN inhibitors."

About Ascletis

Ascletis is an innovative R&D driven biotech and listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1672.HK). Ascletis is committed to developing and commercializing innovative drugs in the areas of NASH, cancer lipid metabolism and oral checkpoint inhibitors, viral hepatitis and HIV/AIDS for unmet medical needs in China and globally. Led by a management team with deep expertise and a proven track record, Ascletis has developed into a fully integrated platform covering the entire value chain from discovery and development to manufacturing and commercialization.

Ascletis has three marketed products and seventeen R&D pipeline drug candidates or combination therapies (eleven of them developed in-house). 1. NASH: Gannex, a wholly-owned company of Ascletis, is fully dedicated to the R&D and commercialization of new drugs in the field of NASH. Gannex has three clinical stage drug candidates against three different targets  FASN, THR-beta and FXR, and three pre-clinical stage combination therapies. 2. Cancer lipid metabolism and oral checkpoint inhibitors: focus on a pipeline of oral inhibitors targeting FASN which plays a key role in cancer lipid metabolism and a pipeline of oral PD-L1 small molecule inhibitors as the next generation checkpoint inhibitors. 3. Viral hepatitis: (i) Hepatitis B: focus on breakthrough therapies for HBV clinical cure with subcutaneously injected PD-L1 antibody - ASC22 and Pegasys as cornerstone drugs. (ii) Hepatitis C: successfully launched all oral regimen of ASCLEVIR and GANOVO combination (RDV/DNV regimen); and ASC18 fixed dose combination (FDC) is an upgraded version of RDV/DNV regimen with bridging study finished. 4. HIV/AIDS: ASC09F is a FDC treatment of HIV targeting protease. The clinical trial application of ASC09F has been approved. For more information, please visit www.ascletis.com.

SOURCE Ascletis Pharma Inc.

Related Links

http://www.ascletis.com



Biomax Informatics today announced the development of a novel knowledge management and database solution NeuroCONNECT for EBRAINS, the digital research infrastructure created by the EU-funded Human Brain Project.

NeuroCONNECT allows the semantic integration and management of multimodal brain connectivity information and brain atlases in EBRAINS. The new system will be configured in the NeuroXM Brain Science Suite of Biomax. Connectome data will be enriched with metadata from anatomical ontologies, brain atlases and demographic information. This way NeuroCONNECT will become a knowledge hub for all connectome data in the EBRAINS infrastructure.

"We are very proud to have been selected as a partner for EBRAINS and the Human Brain Project, the largest and most influential brain science project in Europe," comments Dr. Klaus Heumann, Chief Executive Officer at Biomax Informatics. "With NeuroCONNECT we will make a valuable contribution to EBRAINS and to all research related to brain disorders and mental health issues."

EBRAINS was launched in 2019 and will continue to be available to the neuroscience community worldwide also beyond the ten-year life of the Human Brain Project.

End of Press Release

About EBRAINS

EBRAINS is a new digital research infrastructure, created by the EU-funded Human Brain Project, to foster brain-related research and to help translate the latest scientific discoveries into innovation in medicine and industry, for the benefit of patients and society. It draws on cutting-edge neuroscience and offers an extensive range of brain data sets, a multilevel brain atlas, modelling and simulation tools, easy access to high-performance computing resources and to robotics and neuromorphic platforms.

About the NeuroXM Brain Science Suite

The NeuroXM Brain Science Suite provides comprehensive information from neuroimaging, molecular biology, neuro-genomic data, public ontologies and data sets integrated in a unified knowledge model. The extendible network of interrelated neuroscience concepts gives users a single interface to collect knowledge, focus on specific questions and get a greater return on investments in expensive neurological data.

About Biomax Informatics

Biomax Informatics offers software solutions for better decision-making and optimal knowledge management in the life sciences industry. Using the company's software, customers can generate added value through the integration of information from their own and public resources, enabling them to achieve a knowledge-based approach for the development of innovative life sciences products. Biomax's global customers include clinics, companies, and research institutions successful in the fields of research into active substances, diagnostics, fine chemicals, and food and plant products. The company, which was founded in 1997 and currently has 45 members of staff, is headquartered in Planegg near Munich. Further information can be found at www.biomax.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005534/en/

Contacts:

Your contact at Biomax Informatics:

Press Contact:

Bettina von Klitzing-Stuckle

Marketing Manager

Bettina.klitzing-stueckle@biomax.com



NeuroCONNECT Project Manager:

Dr. Josine Verhaal

Project Manager

Josine.verhaal@biomax.com
T. Markus Funk (University of Colorado School of Law; University of Oxford) has posted What US Law Reformers Can Learn from Germany's Value-Explicit Approach to Self-Defense on SSRN. Here is the abstract:

The exercise of self-preferential force to fend off an actual or perceived threat finds itself at the center of todays simmering criminal justice reform debate. Never before has where - and how - to draw the boundary between governmental power and individual rights received so much attention. Unfortunately, the scholarship on this core criminal law topic has largely atrophied. We seem to be making little progress when it comes to gaining a better understanding of when, how, and why the state should authorize defensive force against another.

Sometimes a look beyond our own borders is needed to kick-start reform-minded thinking. Whether in the context of police use of force, battered intimate partner cases, or other defense of person or property situations, no group of scholars has given the critical value-judgments anchoring this ancient civil right more attention than those in Germanys legal academy. But despite a scholarly output on these topics that is unsurpassed in terms of both analytical depth and sheer volume, surprisingly little is known in the English-speaking world about Germanys unique approach to this controversial topic.

What makes this myopia particularly unfortunate is that, while legal commentators in the United States and elsewhere focus almost exclusively on the criminal laws outcome-driven technical aspects and rules, generations of German scholars have rooted out the complexities involved. They for decades have uniquely engaged in deep discussions over the bedrock values at play when a justice system authorizes one citizen to kill another in self-defense. This article argues that U.S. scholars, policy-makers, judges, and criminal law practitioners interested in meaningful criminal justice reform have much to gain by understanding Germanys transparent, value-driven approach.

The goal here, then, is both descriptive and proscriptive. It will provide the first fully comprehensive English-language analysis (and critique) of Germanys storied self-defense law. But more than that, it put on firmer footing the means of analyzing self-defenses critical value-judgments that are all but ignored in the English-language literature.

This is among the most important times in recent history for our justice system to shore up its moral credibility. By following (and, in fact, improving on) the German models unique focus on the values grounding self-defense, rather than remaining fixated simply on rules and outcomes, we position ourselves to significantly reduce the corrosive role played by hidden normativity and buried baselines. This, in turn, will advance the type of transparent and democratic decision-making necessary if we are to succeed in finally making thoughtful choices among available self-defense options.
- Hyperloop Transportation Technologies is the first in its industry to join the growing list of official UN-recognized companies devoted to sustainability

- HyperloopTT and Dar Al-Handasah (Dar) reveal images of the first-ever completed full-scale designs for commercial hyperloop systems created with sustainable, responsive architecture and engineering

- Complete system designs include a fully integrated passenger and capsule system, photovoltaic solar cell integration, power facilities, maintenance, safety, and service aspects

- Estimates indicate that with a single route, HyperloopTT systems could reduce carbon emissions by as much as 143 million tons, showing the potential to be a significant factor in combating the climate crisis





PLAYA VISTA, Calif., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) announced today the official recognition by the United Nations as a signatory of the UN's Global Compact devoted to advancing sustainable business practices addressing environmental and societal challenges. HyperloopTT became a member of the United Nations Global Compact after committing to embedding the Ten Principles addressing human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption into its operations and core values.

HyperloopTT

HyperloopTT also unveiled designs for the first-ever completed full-scale commercial system. Designed in collaboration with Dar 's team (including sister firms Perkins+Will, T.Y.Lin, and Currie & Brown) to be one of the most sustainable structures ever built, these designs are suitable to serve to begin building and certifying the first HyperloopTT systems anywhere in the world.

Both as a company and a technology provider, HyperloopTT has sustainability at its core. HyperloopTT systems use renewable energy, are highly efficient, and can potentially generate more power than they consume. Estimates from 2019's Great Lakes Hyperloop Study indicate that a hyperloop system connecting Chicago, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh would potentially reduce CO 2 emissions in the region by 143 million tons.

Story continues

"The HyperloopTT system is inherently sustainable and operates with zero emissions," said Andres De Leon, CEO of HyperloopTT. "We have pioneered a technology that is faster, safer, and far cleaner than existing modes of transportation by design. Because hyperloop uses less energy than alternatives, we are a smarter economic solution for many regions worldwide. With these first of their kind, complete commercial designs, we are ready to build today."

"Hyperloop Transportation Technologies' has demonstrated a commitment to the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact," said Adam Roy Gordon, Engagement Director of the United Nations Global Compact Network, USA. "Breakthrough innovation will be critical to meet the ambition of the Sustainable Development Goals, and so we applaud their work to innovate for more sustainable high-speed transportation while also showing that sustainability makes business sense."

The HyperloopTT commercial system designs developed in partnership with Dar, harness the full-potential of decades of nature-inspired design innovations, surpass LEED Platinum Certification requirements and inspire a wave of developments targeting the highest LEED and BREEAM ranking.

The commercial system features an in-line station for hyperloop travelers. Functioning as an on-demand high-speed waypoint for regional connectivity, the station facilitates high passenger traffic volumes, creating highly-efficient transportation that expands local, national, and continental economies.

The HyperloopTT System's system and mainline structures are covered with optimized solar panels that adjust with shifting daylight to capture renewable energy, moving with the sun to harness clean energy independent of fossil fuel-powered grids. The station's energy systems integrate with the entire HyperloopTT transportation infrastructure's energy collection, storage, and transfer system to send and receive energy flexibly across large distances.

More information about the United Nations Global Compact can be found here: https://www.unglobalcompact.org

About HyperloopTT

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) is an innovative transportation and technology company focused on realizing the hyperloop, a system that moves people and goods safely, efficiently, and sustainably by bringing airplane speeds to the ground. Through the use of unique, patented technology and an advanced collaborative business model, HyperloopTT is creating the first new form of transportation in over a century.

HyperloopTT's European Research and Development Center in Toulouse, France, the aerospace capital of Europe, is home to the world's first and only full-scale test system. In 2019, HyperloopTT released the first comprehensive feasibility study analyzing a hyperloop system, which found that the system is economically and technically feasible and will generate a profit without requiring government subsidies.

Founded in 2013, HyperloopTT is a global team of more than 800 engineers, creatives, and technologists in 52 multidisciplinary teams, with 50 corporate and university partners. Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, and Toulouse, France, HyperloopTT has offices in North and South America, the Middle East, and Europe.

HyperloopTT is led by Dirk Ahlborn (Founder and Chairman), Andres de Leon (CEO), and a senior management team of experienced professionals.

Download shareable assets here .

About the UN Global Compact

The UN Global Compact is a voluntary corporate sustainability initiative that aims to mobilize a global movement of responsible companies and stakeholders to create the world we want. The UN Global Compact invites companies to take shared responsibility for achieving a better world. Companies signing on to or participating in the compact are required to align their strategies and operations to Ten Principles on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. The UN Global Compact provides a principle-based framework, best practices, resources, and networking events that have revolutionized how companies do business responsibly and keep commitments to society. By catalyzing action, partnerships, and collaboration, we make transforming the world possible  and achievable  for organizations large and small, anywhere around the globe.

About Dar Al-Handasah

An international, multidisciplinary firm with a workforce of over 8,600 employees, Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners) offers exceptional services in architecture, planning, engineering, environment, economics, and project management. Dar covers numerous sectors including buildings, transportation (roads, airports, railways and seaports); mechanical and industrial; power and telecommunications; planning and urban design; water resources and environment, and project management. Operating out of five principal design centers and 46 local offices, Dar has served over 950 clients  including governments, multinational corporations, and financial institutions  in 60 countries.

Dar is the founding member of Dar Group, a global conglomerate  with over 19,000 employees in 297 offices operating in 60 countries  has four operating pillars: architecture, infrastructure, project management, and energy. Under these pillars, the Group has some of the industry's most recognizable brands including Perkins & Will, T.Y.Lin, Currie & Brown, Penspen. Dar Group has featured in Engineering News Record's top 10 international design firms for over a decade. Dar Group's mission is to bring some of the world's brightest and most innovative specialists together to deliver the most successful and sustainable projects for clients and communities around the world.

Dar is a proud signatory of the United Nations Global Compact, reflecting the firm's commitment to the UN Ten Principles and Sustainable Development Goals.

HyperloopTT Joins United Nations Global Compact, Reveals Sustainable Full-Scale System Design

Cision

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SOURCE Hyperloop Transportation Technologies
Celia Walden cosied up to a personalised cushion of her husband Piers Morgan's face as he celebrated his 56th birthday on Tuesday.

The journalist and author, 45, said the amusing item was her 'favourite pillow,' as she uploaded the snap to social media.

Meanwhile Piers also shared pictures to his Instagram enjoying a drink and some cake in the garden to mark his special day.

Cuddle: Celia Walden wrapped her arm around a personalised cushion of her husband Pier Morgan's face on Monday while sunbathing

Loving: The journalist, 45, said the amusing item was her 'favourite pillow,' as she uploaded the snap to social media, a day before her husband's 56th birthday

Piers beamed at the camera as he held up a beer, writing in the caption: 'Happy 2nd lockdown Birthday... to me! And no need to worry about doing a breakfast show with a hangover!'

He later shared a picture with his four children Spencer, 27, Stanley, 23, Albert, 20, and Elise, eight, as the family enjoyed a BBQ to celebrate.

Celia has stood by Piers' side - who she tied the knot with in 2010 - following his dramatic exit from Good Morning Britain this month in relation to his comments about Meghan Markle and her explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.

While sporting a white tee and tinted shades, Celia relaxed on the grass under the glorious British sunshine alongside the printed cushion of a jovial Piers.

Happy returns: Piers celebrated his second lockdown birthday on Tuesday as he turned 56

She said in the accompanying Instagram caption: 'Nice little spot of sunbathing with my favourite pillow'.

Earlier in March, Piers left GMB after saying he 'didn't believe a word' of Meghan's 'truth' on racism and the Royals during her bombshell Oprah interview.

The outspoken TV host quit the daytime series after he insisted he 'didn't believe a word' of her account of suffering suicidal thoughts and experiencing racism at the hands of the Royal Family.

United: Celia has stood by Piers' side - who she tied the knot with in 2010 - following his dramatic exit from Good Morning Britain this month in relation to his comments about Meghan Markle and her Oprah Winfrey interview

Piers then walked off set after a fierce debate with Alex Beresford, in which the weather presenter accused Piers of unfairly 'trashing' Meghan, 39, and branded him 'diabolical'.

When Piers walked off screen, Alex, 40, continued: 'I'm sorry but Piers just spouts off on a regular basis and we have to sit there and listen.'

Piers, who refused to apologise, later announced his resignation and tweeted his thanks to the GMB team, praising them for their 'hard work and dedication' that led to them beating their main breakfast TV rival.

And the presenter shared his own reflections on the events of that fateful week in a piece for the Mail On Sunday last weekend.

Dramatic scenes: Earlier in March, Piers left GMB after saying he 'didn't believe a word' of Meghan's 'truth' on racism and the Royals during her bombshell Oprah interview

Piers called Alex 'GMB's occasional stand-in weatherman' and 'uptight' in the telling account, adding that the presenter hasn't messaged him since his exit unlike others on the show.

Reflecting on their now encounter, Piers said he wasn't going to sit there and be 'whacked' by one of his own team.

He wrote: 'I don't mind outside guests trying to make a name for themselves by whacking me like this, but I wasn't going to sit there and take it from one of my own team, especially someone who I've gone out of my way to help whenever he's asked me for advice about his career.

'Realising I might say something I'd regret, I decided to leave the studio to cool down.

Bombshell: Prince Harry and Meghan, 39, spoke with the American talk show host, making shocking claims about racism and their negative treatment from the Royal Family

'As I walked off, Alex doubled down: "This is pathetic. Absolutely diabolical behaviour. I'm sorry but Piers spouts off on a regular basis and we all have to sit here and listen. From 6.30 to 7am yesterday, it was incredibly hard to watch.

"He has the ability to come in here and talk from a position that he doesn't fully understand"'

Piers continued: 'I didn't hear any more of his diatribe, as I was out the door and heading for my dressing room.

'I knew it wasn't a good look, the great snowflake-basher running away from confrontation. And on reflection, I shouldn't have done it. But in the heat of the moment, in my rather strained state of mind, this seemed the less worse option.'

Since Piers' exit from the show he has received messages from several stars, including Jeremy Clarkson and Bear Grylls , who have said he had a 'right' to say his mind.

Sharon Osbourne, 68, has also voiced her support for Piers during her time on the show The Talk, however it has now been suspended as CBS 'investigates' her behaviour.

She is now reportedly set to receive a '$5 to $10million' payout from CBS following news she was preparing to sue the network after she was forced to quit the flagship chat show.

'Sharon is walking away with a $5 to $10 million minimum payout and was able to spin that it was her decision [to leave the show],' a source told Page Six on Monday.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT ARE NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO, THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY JURISDICTION FOR WHICH THE SAME COULD BE UNLAWFUL.

30 March 2021

LEI: 549300JZQ39WJPD7U596

Invesco Select Trust plc

Publication of Prospectus and Circular

Introduction

Invesco Select Trust PLC (the "Company" or "IST") announced on 1 December 2020 that the Board had agreed heads of terms with the Board of Invesco Income Growth Trust plc ("IIGT") in respect of a proposed combination of IIGT with the assets of the Company's UK Equity Portfolio (the "Proposals"). If approved, the combination will be implemented through a scheme of reconstruction and voluntary winding-up of IIGT under section 110 of the Insolvency Act 1986. The Board announces that the Company has today published a prospectus (the "Prospectus") in relation to the issue of new UK Equity Shares in the Company pursuant to the Scheme ("New Shares"), together with a circular to provide the Company's shareholders (the "Shareholders") with further details of the Proposals and to convene a general meeting of the Company (the "General Meeting") to seek approval from Shareholders for the implementation of the Proposals (the "Circular").

Background to the Proposals

At the annual general meeting of IIGT held in September 2020, IIGT Shareholders voted in favour of a resolution for the continuation of IIGT as a closed-ended investment company. Noting that just over 20 per cent. of those IIGT Shareholders who voted on the continuation resolution voted against the resolution, the IIGT Board announced that it would assess with its advisers the votes cast and engage with IIGT Shareholders as appropriate to determine what, if any, action to take. The Board of IST was aware of that sentiment and considered it could be a potential opportunity for the Company to propose a combination of UK assets. Accordingly it entered into discussions with the Investment Manager, being the investment manager of both companies, and subsequently explored potential opportunities with the IIGT Board. The IIGT Board and its advisers undertook a comprehensive review of IIGT's competitive positioning. Following that comprehensive review and taking into account the IST Board's desire to increase the size and scale of the Company, the Board and the Board of IIGT concluded that the Combination would not only offer IIGT Shareholders the best way to continue their investment in a closed-ended investment vehicle with the same Investment Manager and a similar investment philosophy, but that it would also meet the IST Board's objective of growing the size and scale of the Company. Conditional upon the Scheme becoming effective, the Proposals will result in certain assets of IIGT forming part of the UK Equity Portfolio.

It is intended that following implementation of the Proposals, the Company's UK Equity Portfolio will be managed jointly by James Goldstone and Ciaran Mallon, respectively the current managers of the UK Equity Portfolio and IIGT. This would not be the first time James and Ciaran have acted as joint managers. In May 2020 James and Ciaran were appointed joint managers of the Invesco UK Equity High Income Fund (UK) and the Invesco UK Equity Income Fund (UK), Invesco's flagship UK equity retail funds. There is commonality between the investment strategy, objective and philosophy of the two managers. As a result of the Combination, it is intended, subject to Shareholder approval, to amend the investment objective and the investment policy of the UK Equity Portfolio to make it more compatible with the investment objective and policy of IIGT. This will recognise the income growth expectations of the IIGT Shareholders. Following implementation of the Proposals, the intended investment objective of the UK Equity Portfolio will be to provide Shareholders with an attractive real long-term total return, with an income that will grow over time, by investing primarily in UK quoted equities.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Proposals will not alter the innovative structure of the Company. The Company will remain a multi-asset class investment trust, retaining its current capital structure and offering investors the opportunity to switch (on a quarterly basis) between its UK Equity, Global Equity Income, Balanced Risk Allocation and Managed Liquidity Share classes to react to changing investment conditions. IIGT Shareholders who elect or are deemed to elect for the Rollover Option will be electing to receive UK Equity Shares. In the same way as Existing Shareholders can, those IIGT Shareholders will be permitted to alter their asset allocation to reflect their views of prevailing markets through the opportunity to convert between the four Share classes every three months, in accordance with the conversion rights contained in the Articles of Association. For the next 12 month period, the Company will enable Shareholders to convert between Share classes on 4 May 2021, 2 August 2021, 1 November 2021 and 1 February 2022.

In addition, the Proposals will not alter the Company's discount control policy. As Shareholders are aware, the Company has a discount control policy in place for all four Share classes, whereby the Company offers to issue or buy back Shares of all classes with a view to maintaining the market price of the Shares at close to their respective net asset values and, by so doing, avoid significant overhangs or shortages in the market. It remains the Board's policy to buy back Shares and to sell Shares from treasury on terms that do not dilute the net asset value attributable to Existing Shareholders at the time of the transaction.

Benefits of the Proposals

The IST Board believes that the Combination has the following benefits to Shareholders:

Increase in scale : with IIGT's net assets currently standing at approximately 174 million, the Company will increase in size materially as a result of the Combination. This is expected to enhance the profile of the Company, its relevance to investors and its secondary market liquidity; it will also allow fixed costs to be spread over a larger cost base, thereby improving the ongoing charges ratio to the benefit of the Shareholders.

Improved management fee structure : upon the implementation of the Scheme (and subject to the Scheme becoming effective):

the management fee payable by the Company in respect of the UK Equity Portfolio will be reduced to 0.55 per cent. per annum on the net assets of the UK Equity Portfolio up to 100 million and 0.50 per cent. per annum on the net assets of the UK Equity Portfolio over 100 million; and

Invesco's entitlement to a performance fee in respect of the UK Equity Portfolio (being 12.5 per cent. of any increase in net assets above the benchmark plus 1.0 per cent. capped at 0.55 per cent. of net assets) will be removed in its entirety.

In the interests of alignment, the 0.55% management fee payable by the Company on the Global Equity Income Portfolio will be amended in the same way, and its performance fee removed.

Significant Invesco cost contribution : upon the implementation of the Scheme (and subject to the Scheme becoming effective) Invesco will waive any performance fee accrued in respect of the UK Equity Portfolio up to the Effective Date (being approximately 531,000). The benefit of such accrued performance fee waiver shall be shared by both the UK Equity Portfolio and those IIGT Shareholders who elect for the Rollover Option on a pro rata basis.

Attractive UK equity income strategy: the UK Equity Share class will be managed to a UK equity income growth mandate going forward, benefitting from the joint expertise of its current portfolio manager, James Goldstone, and of Ciaran Mallon, portfolio manager of IIGT. Ciaran has been lead portfolio manager of IIGT since July 2005 and has a considerable track record of providing sustainable returns through a combination of above average income combined with long-term capital growth. Over the ten years to 28 February 2021, IIGT has returned 92.3 per cent. on a NAV total return basis compared with the FTSE All-Share Index, which returned 70.73 per cent. over the same timeframe. James Goldstone has been lead portfolio manager of the UK Equity Portfolio since 4 October 2016. Since James became lead portfolio manager to 28 February 2021, the UK Equity Portfolio has returned 11.7 per cent. on a NAV total return basis compared with the FTSE All-Share Index, which returned 12.8 per cent. over the same timeframe.

Details of the Scheme

Subject to the passing of the Scheme Resolutions and to the satisfaction of certain conditions, IIGT will be placed into members' voluntary liquidation (solvent liquidation) and a scheme of reconstruction of IIGT will be effected. Pursuant to the Scheme IIGT Shareholders will have elected, in respect of their shareholdings, to:

receive New Shares (the "Rollover Option"); and/or receive cash at a discount of 2.5 per cent. of the value of the Cash Pool as at the Calculation Date (the "Cash Option").

The maximum number of IIGT Shares that can be elected for the Cash Option is 30 per cent. of the total number of IIGT Shares in issue (excluding IIGT Shares held in treasury). IIGT Shareholders are entitled to elect for the Cash Option in respect of more than 30 per cent. of their individual holdings of IIGT Shares; however, aggregate Elections for the Cash Option in excess of this percentage will be scaled back in a manner which is, as near as practicable, pro rata to the number of IIGT Shares elected under such Excess Applications, resulting in such IIGT Shareholders (other than Overseas IIGT Shareholders) receiving New Shares instead of cash in respect of part of their holding of IIGT Shares.

To the extent that an Overseas IIGT Shareholder would otherwise receive New Shares under the Scheme, either because no Election for the Cash Option was made or because an Excess Application for the Cash Option is scaled back in accordance with the Scheme, then such New Shares will instead be issued to the Liquidators as nominees on behalf of such Overseas IIGT Shareholder who will arrange for such shares to be sold promptly by a market maker and the net proceeds paid to the relevant Overseas IIGT Shareholder.

It is expected that the Scheme will become effective on the Effective Date, whereupon the cash, undertaking and other assets of IIGT comprising the Rollover Pool shall be transferred to the Company pursuant to the Transfer Agreement in consideration for the issue of the New Shares. The relevant numbers of New Shares will be allotted to the Liquidators who will renounce the New Shares in favour of the IIGT Shareholders who elect or are deemed to have elected for the Rollover Option.

The issue of the New Shares under the Rollover Option will be effected on a formula asset value per share for formula asset value per share basis as at the Calculation Date at a conversion ratio based on the IIGT FAV per Share and the UK Equity FAV per Share as at the Calculation Date. When calculating the respective FAVs, the total costs of the Scheme (which, for the avoidance of doubt, will not include any portfolio realisation or realignment costs incurred in implementing the Scheme) will be split between the UK Equity Portfolio and IIGT pro rata by reference to the net assets of the Company's UK Equity share class and the net assets of IIGT. The same split will be used to attribute the benefit of the Investment Manager's accrued performance fee waiver and the Cash Pool Discount. Stamp duty and listing fees will be borne by the Enlarged UK Equity Portfolio.

The New Shares will rank equally in all respects with the existing issued UK Equity Shares other than in respect of the Fourth Interim Dividend and any other dividends declared with a record date prior to the Effective Date.

Conditions of the Proposals

Implementation of the Proposals is subject to a number of conditions, including:

the passing of the Scheme Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting, and any conditions of such Resolutions being fulfilled;

the Financial Conduct Authority agreeing to amend the listing of IIGT's Ordinary Shares to reflect their reclassification as Reclassified Shares for the purpose of implementing the Scheme;

the resolutions to be put to IIGT Shareholders at each of the IIGT General Meetings being passed and becoming unconditional in all respects;

the approval of the Financial Conduct Authority and the London Stock Exchange to the Admission of the New Shares to the Official List and to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, respectively; and

the Directors of IIGT resolving to proceed with the Scheme. If any condition is not satisfied, the Proposals will not become effective and the Scheme will not proceed.

Dividends

The holders of New Shares will not be entitled to the Fourth Interim Dividend but rather will receive (prior to the Effective Date) a pre-liquidation special dividend from IIGT as a holder of IIGT Shares to reflect the distribution of IIGT's accumulated revenue reserve (including current year net income to date). The holders of New Shares will be entitled to any other dividends declared in respect of the UK Equity Shares with a record date after the Effective Date.

Proposed change to the Investment Objective and Policy of the UK Equity Portfolio

As explained above, as a result of the Combination and recognising the income growth expectations of the IIGT shareholders, it is proposed to amend the investment objective and the investment policy of the UK Equity Portfolio to make it more compatible with the investment objective and policy of IIGT, and in particular to include an express investment objective of the Company to have "an income that will grow over time by investing primarily in UK quoted equities".

The proposed change will also permit the UK Equity Portfolio to invest in fixed interest securities of UK companies, will clarify that the portfolio is invested primarily in UK-listed equities across all market sectors and will reduce the number of positions typically held by the UK Equity Portfolio from between 45 and 80 securities to between 40 and 50 securities.

The Board considers that these adjustments represent a material change to the Company's published investment policy, and therefore that the Company's Shareholders should vote to approve such a change. A resolution will be put at the General Meeting seeking such approval. In addition, the Listing Rules require that a material change to a company's investment policy be submitted to the FCA for prior approval, and this approval has been granted by the FCA in connection with the current proposal.

Proposed increase of the Company's current buyback authority

At a general meeting held on 7 January 2021, Shareholders passed a resolution to authorise the Company to make market purchases of up to 14.99% of the Shares in circulation of each of the UK Equity, Global Equity Income and Balanced Risk Allocation classes of the Company's share capital. The maximum number of UK Equity Shares authorised at that time to be purchased by the Company was 4,086,531 UK Equity Shares. This authority will expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company or, if earlier, on 6 April 2022.

If the Scheme is implemented, the number of UK Equity Shares will increase. At the date of this announcement, being prior to the Calculation Date, it is not known how many New Shares would be issued to IIGT Shareholders under the Scheme. Accordingly, the appropriate Resolution to be put forward at the General Meeting will seek authority for the Company to buy back up to 14.99% of the New Shares issued at Admission, subject to the restrictions referred to in the Notice of the General Meeting. This authority will supplement the Company's current buyback authority to reflect the increased number of UK Equity Shares in issue following implementation of the Scheme.

The Board intends to use the Company's buyback authority when this will benefit existing shareholders as a whole and to operate the discount control policy. Any UK Equity Shares bought back by the Company will either be cancelled or, alternatively, held as treasury shares with a view to their resale, if appropriate, or later cancellation. Any resale of treasury shares will only take place on terms that are in the best interests of Shareholders as a whole.

Proposed Board changes

If the Scheme is implemented, for continuity purposes for the IIGT Shareholders, it is intended that Davina Curling, Mark Dampier and Tim Woodhead will join the Board on the Effective Date. Alan Clifton will step down on the Effective Date. Graham Kitchen will be the Chairman of the Enlarged Company. The Proposed Additional Directors will be non-executive Directors and independent of the AIFM and the Investment Manager.

It is expected that the Board of the Enlarged Company will initially comprise six directors, but that this may reduce to five directors in the future.

Costs and expenses of the Scheme

The Proposals will not result in any proceeds being raised by the Company. The New Shares are being issued to the IIGT Shareholders in consideration for the transfer of the Rollover Pool to the Company.

The fixed costs of the Proposals payable by the UK Equity Portfolio and by IIGT are to be aggregated and allocated to the IST UK Equity Portfolio and the Rollover on a pro rata basis by reference to the UK Equity Portfolio NAV and the IIGT NAV respectively as at the Calculation Date. Any stamp duty, SDRT or other transaction tax, or investment costs incurred by the Company on the acquisition of the Rollover Pool or the deployment of the cash therein upon receipt and listing fees in relation to the listing of the New Shares, will be borne by the Enlarged UK Equity Portfolio. If the Proposals do not proceed on the terms agreed or the required approvals are not obtained, then the Company and IIGT will bear their own costs. The Company's costs are estimated at approximately 278,000.

Any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or other transaction tax, or investment costs incurred by the Company on the acquisition of the Rollover Pool or the deployment of the cash therein upon receipt and listing fees in relation to the listing of the New Shares, will be borne by the Enlarged UK Equity Portfolio. For illustrative purposes, the stamp duty reserve tax on the acquisition of the Rollover Pool based on IIGT's portfolio as at 26 March 2021 and assuming that no IIGT Shareholders exercise their right to dissent from participation in the Scheme and the maximum amount is elected for the Cash Option, is expected to be approximately 593,848 and the listing fees are expected to be approximately 147,057 (inclusive of VAT).

In the event that the Proposals fail to complete then each company shall pay its own costs.

The General Meeting

The Proposals are conditional amongst other things on the approval of the Scheme Resolutions by the Company's Shareholders at the General Meeting. The Resolutions will be proposed as ordinary resolutions in the case of the Scheme and the proposed amendment to the UK Equity Portfolio's investment objective and policy, and a special resolution in the case of the proposed increase in the Company's buyback authority.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and associated UK Government guidance, attendance at the General Meeting will not be possible. Arrangements will be made by the Company to ensure that a minimum number of Shareholders required to form a quorum will attend the General Meeting in order that the meeting may proceed.

Recommendation

The Board considers the Proposals to be in the best interests of Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Board recommends unanimously that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions, and that Shareholders either lodge their vote electronically via the registrar's online portal or complete and return their Forms of Proxy or transmit CREST proxy instructions accordingly. The Directors intend to vote in favour of the Resolutions in respect of their own beneficial holdings which total 52,945 UK Equity Shares, 57,300 Global Equity Income Shares, 44,715 Balanced Risk Allocation Shares and 2,500 Managed Liquidity Shares (representing 0.28 per cent. of the total voting rights in the Company exercisable at the General Meeting). In addition, the Board understands that the IIGT Directors all intend to roll over their entire beneficial holdings of IIGT Shares into New Shares.

Expected Timetable

Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy 11.00 a.m. on 13 April 2021 General Meeting 11.00 a.m. on 15 April 2021 Calculation Date in relation to the Scheme 5.00 p.m. on 15 April 2021 Effective date for implementation of the Scheme 23 April 2021 Dealings in New Shares commence 8.00 a.m. on 26 April 2021

Terms used and not defined in this announcement have the meanings given in the Circular unless the context otherwise requires.

For further information please contact:

Invesco Asset Management Limited +44 (0) 20 3753 1000

Angus Pottinger

Investec Bank plc +44 (0) 20 7597 4000

David Yovichic

Denis Flanagan

Important Information

This announcement contains information that is inside information for the purposes of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014. The person responsible for arranging for the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is Paul Griggs of Invesco Asset Management Limited.
For more than a year, nurse Lindiwe Magongo has seen to the needs of 600 patients per week at her small clinic near the capital of eSwatini, the nation formerly known as Swaziland.

And until very recently, shes fought both ordinary health issues and the global coronavirus pandemic without the most basic health care tool: clean, hot water.

Doctors say handwashing, hygiene and sanitation are key to curbing the spread of illness. The coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, has claimed nearly 700 lives in this nation of just over one million people. But before the pandemic hit, 82 percent of clinics in this small, landlocked southern African nation lacked this vital tool. In recent months, a multinational initiative has installed an outdoor solar-powered handwashing station in every clinic.

On a recent weekday, Magongo beamed at the new handwashing station at the gate of her clinic. Dozens of emaSwati, as the people of eSwatini are called, had lined up before the clinic opened, and were now filing in after washing their hands.

It is not just a concrete structure consisting of a heavy sink and a durable solar water heater, she said  though it is, literally, that.

To her, it represents possibility. Magongo says the hot water station is also used to clean the clinic and brew tea for staff. Patients can take water home if they like.

I will call it a sculpture, she said. Because the water is going to be here for quite some time. We are saving a lot because this is economically accessible to use and no electricity failures. Even if we experience power cuts, this service continues to work. So, in that sense, it is economical, and its going to be here for quite some time. Were really, really grateful.

VOA asked acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku what seems like an obvious question: why didnt the government do this before? Why wait for foreign donors?

Masuku said its not that easy for a cash-strapped government with limited manufacturing capabilities and an unreliable electricity supply. When the pandemic hit, he said, eSwatini struggled to acquire basic items like masks.

One of the priorities was to build the clinics first, he said. Because you cant put this stuff here without clinics. As we were building the clinics, as we have 92 of them now, those public health facilities, the stakeholders came in, they wanted to assist and we gladly accepted that. So, everything is prioritized. Health is one of our major priorities. And this is why we thought building the clinics before we get the hot water would be ideal.

At her small clinic in Ezulwini, Magongo said it also breaks what she described as a stigma around handwashing.

Whenever we wash hands, it means we are going to eat, she said. Going and washing hands all the time -- its un-African. We grow up knowing that, it is un-African to keep on washing hands. Why? Theres always that why, why, why do you keep on washing your hands? This is going to break (the stigma). And COVID-19 has also helped us in breaking that.

A year ago, Australian solar energy entrepreneur Robert Frazer landed in eSwatini for two weeks of meetings. Then the pandemic struck, and as he sat in lockdown halfway across the world from his Sydney home, he thought: why not do something?

In that year, his company  with extra funding from the German government  has installed 92 of these $3,500 stations.

There was a very obvious need, and we had the products, we had the relationships, the expertise, to actually deliver a project that would really make a difference in a very short amount of time, he told VOA. And actually, to be frank, for a reasonably small amount of money.

Frazer stresses that hes not running a charity  theyre a for-profit company, and this project has paved the path for a $100 million solar-storage project in eSwatini.

Health Minister Lizzy Nkosi says hand hygiene is a key weapon against the infection  and one that eSwatini needs while it launches its mass vaccination campaign in the coming weeks.

Its not only bringing hot water in places where we would never have dreamt we would have hot water, but is reinforcing age-old infection prevention measures that the ministry employs every time, whether we have an outbreak of measles, of diarrhea, any outbreak, she said.

"Dont take clean, hot water for granted," she said.
National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee has nominated Hanoi Party chief Vuong Dinh Hue as the country's next NA leader.

The NA, Vietnam's parliament, would cast a secret ballot for its new leader Wednesday morning. If elected, Hue will take an oath of office the same day.

On Tuesday morning, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan stepped down since she was not elected to the 13th Party Central Committee last January.

In 2016, Ngan made history by becoming the first woman appointed to lead the national legislature.

Hue, 64, a native of central Nghe An Province, has a doctorate in economics and has been an academic in Vietnam and abroad.

He was twice a member of the Party Central Committee and NA and once a member of the Politburo, the Communist Party's decision-making body.

He served at the Academy of Finance in Hanoi for 22 years, holding several senior positions including head of the Accounting Department and deputy principal of the academy in charge of training affairs.

From 1986 to 1990 he was a research fellow at the University of Economics in Bratislava, Slovakia.

He was appointed deputy head of the State Audit Office of Vietnam in July 2001 and its head in 2006.

He was minister of finance from August 2011 to May 2013 and head of the Central Economic Commission from December 2012 to April 2016, and was deputy prime minister from April 2016.

In February 2020, he became Party Secretary of the capital replacing Hoang Trung Hai, who received a warning from the Politburo for violations at state-owned steel company TISCO.

In October, he was reelected Hanoi Party Committee secretary for the 2020-2025 term.

At the ongoing NA session, scheduled to last 12 days starting Wednesday last week, Vietnam's parliament would 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 Party General Secretary, held by Nguyen Phu Trong for the third term as decided by the 13th Communist Party Central Committee.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has been nominated to be the next president.
There have been treatments to alleviate the symptoms and partially suppress recurring outbreaks, or reactivation, of the virus for decades, but according to the study's authors, there has never been a safe or effective preventive or therapeutic vaccine developed.

"These results are encouraging and validate the need for continued development and testing of these live-attenuated vaccine candidates, which are historically underdeveloped vaccine types for the treatment or prevention of genital herpes," said Jonathan Joyce, the lead author of the study and Ph. D. candidate in Dr. Andrea Bertke's group at the Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia Tech.

The study tested two different vaccine candidates from Rational Vaccines, RVx201 and RVx202, which were administered to guinea pigs either vaginally or intradermally. After 28 days of observation, neither vaccine candidate established latency in the guinea pigs and all survived to the end of the study without developing HSV-2-associated disease or serious adverse reactions.

Rational Vaccines Dr. Edward Gershburg, a co-author of the study, said he's highly encouraged by the study's finding that the vaccine candidates are safe and can be brought forward as a preventative or therapeutic vaccine for herpes.

"Several vaccine candidates using various platforms have been tested in clinical trials in humans but have failed to prevent HSV-2 infection in any meaningful way," said Gershburg. "Most vaccine candidates studied have been subunit vaccines or replication deficient viruses, which do not present the full range of viral antigens and are therefore unable to elicit a truly robust protective immune response. This study demonstrates that a live-attenuated HSV-2 vaccine is an attractive alternative to previous vaccine candidates."

The study concluded that these novel vaccine candidates are safe in guinea pigs and should be tested for efficacy as a preventive and/or therapeutic vaccine against genital herpes. Full text and results can be found in the current issue of Vaccines, Volume 9, Issue 3 (March 2021) or by clicking the following link Vaccines | Free Full-Text | Assessment of Two Novel Live-Attenuated Vaccine Candidates for Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) in Guinea Pigs (mdpi.com).

About Rational Vaccines

Rational Vaccines develops rationally engineered, live attenuated viral immunotherapeutic and prophylactic vaccine candidates, particularly focused on combating all diseases resulting from herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) infections. Led by our team of world-renowned scientists and closely following all regulatory guidelines, the company currently has seven vaccine candidates in the pipeline. We are confident our team and technology will revolutionize the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of herpes and herpes-related diseases so we can bring hope and healing to a world suffering from these recurring infections. Based in Cambridge, MA, Rational Vaccines is also joining the battle against COVID-19 with a serological assay currently in development, and a future COVID-19 vaccine planned.

For more information go to https://rationalvaccines.com or email [email protected].

SOURCE Rational Vaccines
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to his Chinese counterpart for China's vote against a recent UNHRC resolution on the island nation's rights record.

During the telephone conversation on Monday, Xi pushed the Sri Lankan leader to speed up Beijing's major infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Rajapaksa conveyed his "heartfelt gratitude" to Xi and the Chinese government for the support to at the recently concluded 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka's online newspaper Colombo Page quoted the President's Media division as saying.

Rajapaksa also thanked for providing 600,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to

The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 23 adopted a strong resolution against Sri Lanka's rights record, in a setback to Colombo, which made determined efforts to garner support ahead of the voting.

The resolution titled Promotion of Reconciliation Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka' was adopted by the UNHRC after 22 members out of 47 voted in favour of it. Eleven members voted against the resolution.

India was among 14 countries which abstained from voting, while and Russia were among the 11 members who voted against it.

Xi told Rajapaksa that is willing to work with to enhance the BRI cooperation.

China had unveiled the BRI in 2013 with an aim to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.

President Xi has already announced that China would invest around USD 126 billion for the project. However, there has been suspicion among several countries that the main aim of the project is to expand China's influence globally.

The initiative also led to allegations of smaller countries reeling under mounting Chinese debt.

Struggling to pay back over USD 8 billion Chinese loans and investments, the previous Sri Lankan government has handed over the majority share of the Hambantota port to a Chinese state-owned company for 99-year lease to raise USD 1.2 billion.

Referring to BRI projects, Xi said, the Port City of Colombo and the Port of Hambantota are two projects that have great potential to contribute to the socio-economic development of Sri Lanka. We hope to see them completed soon.

The port city has the potential to greatly expand foreign investment opportunities. It is also a solution to unemployment, he said.

China stands ready to steadily push forward major projects like the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, providing robust impetus for Sri Lanka's post-pandemic economic recovery and sustainable development, Xi was quoted as saying by an official statement by the Chinese foriegn ministry.

President Rajapaksa noted that the Hambantota Port and other infrastructure development projects are progressing satisfactorily and requested the Chinese government to complete the remaining work on the project expeditiously, the Colombo Page report said.

Xi said China attaches great importance to the development of bilateral ties, and stands ready to work with Sri Lanka to determine the strategic direction and achieve steady growth of their relationship, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

emphasised that China and Sri Lanka are strategic cooperative partners that enjoy sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship.

China will never forget Sri Lanka's valuable support for the restoration of its lawful seat in the United Nations, Xi told Rajapaksa.

China is willing to make "continuous joint efforts with Sri Lanka to firmly support each other on issues concerning respective core interests, defend our legitimate rights, promote equity and justice, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries," the Chinese foreign ministry quoted Xi as saying.

(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.)
Lindsay Shepherd is a fellow with True North Canada and the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. She just released her book Diversity and Exclusion: Confronting the Campus Free Speech Crisis. (Courtesy of Lindsay Shepherd)

Diversity and Exclusion: Lindsay Shepherd Pens Book About Free Speech Controversy at Laurier University

Lindsay Shepherds story of finding herself hauled in front of a Wilfred Laurier University informal tribunal and accused of violating the universitys policy on gendered and sexual violence made national headlines in 2017.

The then-graduate student and teaching assistant secretly recorded the disciplinary meeting and released it to the media, and Lauriers president apologized.

But Shepherd, who was then 22, says theres a lot more to the story and what she went through than media reports showed, including how she coped with going from a nobody to going viral.

Theres actually so much more to it than that, she told The Epoch Times upon the recent release of her book about her experience, titled Diversity and Exclusion: Confronting the Campus Free Speech Crisis.

For example, how I was gradually alienated from peers and professors, the stuff that didnt make it into the news stories. Now, the whole thing is really documented in one place, in one book.

Shepherd says she hopes her book can help students who may be facing similar situations.

I talk about open inquiry, free speech on university campuses, and its a first-person narrative, so Im not just explaining concepts like postmodernism has infiltrated universities or political correctness is infiltrating universities. I actually describe, from direct experience, how these issues are affecting post-secondary institutions, she says.

It all began when Shepherd showed a five-minute video clip of University of Toronto psychology professor Jordan Peterson debating Nicholas Matte, a lecturer in U of Ts sexual diversity studies program, that had been aired on TVOntarios current affairs program The Agenda.

Peterson, an outspoken opponent of Bill C-16, the Liberal governments gender identity rights legislation, was arguing against the use of gender-neutral pronouns while Matte was supporting it.

Shepherd explains in the book that she facilitated an open, non-judgmental discussion in class on the issues debated by Peterson and Matte.

The following week, Shepherd received an email from her supervising professor Nathan Rambukkana asking to meet with her to discuss concerns.

During the meeting, which included Rambukkana, another professor named Herbert Pimlott, as well as Adria Joel, who was then the acting manager of Gendered Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention at Laurier, Shepherd was accused of creating a toxic climate, spreading transphobia, targeting trans folks, and violating Lauriers Gendered and Sexual Violence Policy.

She was also told that one or more complaints had been lodged against her, although to this day she doesnt know how many people complained or what the alleged complainants said.

After the recording of the conversation was reported on by the media, Laurier president and vice-chancellor Deborah MacLatchy apologized to Shepherd.

Rambukkana, who had told Shepherd that showing the video without condemning Petersons stance on gender issues was like neutrally playing a speech by Hitler, also apologized.

Jordan Peterson speaks at the 2018 Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Dec. 20, 2018. (Gage Skidmore/flickr)

Disillusioned

Shepherd says the book offers a behind-the-scenes look at events that occurred at Laurier, as well as documents her transformation of becoming more and more disillusioned with an institution that she had really revered.

After half a decade as an arts student, I had internalized the notion that for any of my thoughts to be valid, they need to be filtered through the lens of anti-capitalism, feminism, critical race theory, postmodernism, poststructuralism, or queer theory, she writes in the book.

I now fully understood the perniciousness of the phrase diversity, equity, and inclusion.

After deciding to write the book, she met with resistance from mainstream publishers when she pitched her proposal.

They all said no, she said. I dont know their reasons. We can guess that they were too scared. This book is definitely politically incorrect.

An opportunity opened for Shepherd after she joined True North Canada as a fellow in 2019 and managed to get her book published as a project with the organization, which encompasses the True North Centre for Public Policy, the True North Initiative, and True North, a conservative media outlet.

I didnt have to censor anything, she says.

The book gives several examples of the stifling of free expression and open inquiry at universities.

I talk in the book about how there are so many incidents of censorship and free thought being suppressed, and even self-censorship, and its almost like the norm now at Canadian universities, Shepherd says.

So many students who have these types of situationstheyre not necessarily willing to go to the media. They dont want their name to be in the news, they dont want to be slandered, they dont want a reputation, so they just keep quiet.

One way to improve the situation, she says, would be to shut down the diversity and inclusion offices because they are the ones who are advocating censorship.

What they see as being inclusive, and for advocating equalityreally, theyre just trying to get everyone to think the same, she says.

Another way is for students to loosen up a bit from the culture of conformity and aversion to controversy that is deeply ingrained within them, she notes in the book.

In addition, universities have to drop the approach of caving to every student demand in order to attract and sustain more tuition-payers.

Once our post-secondary institutions cease this corporatized approach, elevate their academic standards, and shut down their diversity offices, they will once again be in the position to nurture the open society, she writes.
Making investments is becoming trendy among teenagers. Social media is awash with trading tips and guides to making a million.

New mobile phone apps also allow under-18s to try betting on stocks using pretend wealth.

But is a generation being taught to gamble rather than invest? Industry experts have told Money Mail they fear young people are at risk of picking up some very bad financial habits.

New mobile phone apps also allow under 18s to try betting on stocks using pretend wealth. But industry experts fear a generation is being taught to gamble rather than invest

The craze is sweeping social media. TikTok, is flooded with videos promoting stock tips from young traders.

The hashtag 'stocktok' has more than 860 million views, with videos such as 'How to be a millionaire@16'.

Daily users of phone app Trading 212 -which also offers 'demo' trading accounts to under-18s - have surged by 2,000 per cent over the past 12 months, to 600,000. In January, the app became the most downloaded in the UK.

'Learning by bite-sized content on new media is seeing ever-younger generations become increasingly interested in trading,' says Max Rothery of financial news and analysis app Finimize.

But experts warn this craze could be a gateway to gambling. Martin Bamford, chartered financial planner at Informed Choice, says: 'Speculating on individual stocks is about as close to gambling as you can get.'

He says: 'The apps that facilitate day trading on stocks have made the process a game, hyping up the most traded company shares.'

Speculating on individual stocks is about as close to gambling as you can get Martin Bamford, financial planner

Holly Mackay, founder of product analyst Boring Money, adds: 'If share prices soar, your teen will think they are a genius and this could create problems down the line when markets have a setback or trendy stocks have a bad year.'

A report published by the Financial Conduct Authority last week warned that many youngsters were being lured into high-risk investments on new apps by the 'thrill' of making money.

It found 38 per cent of young people with high-risk appetites no longer saw investing as a way of building savings but as a vehicle for flaunting skill and social status.

A report published by the Financial Conduct Authority last week warned that many youngsters were being lured into high-risk investments on new apps by the 'thrill' of making money

However, some experts say teens can learn about the ups and downs of investing sensibly using smartphone apps.

Amy Pethers, from wealth manager Brewin Dolphin, says: 'It is great to learn about investing from a younger age, and social media and stock market apps have changed the landscape.

'They'll teach children it is not easy to pick a stock and harder still to know when to get out.'

Under-18s can sign up for a practice account with Trading 212. Charlie Turland, 15, developed an interest for trading after hearing friends discussing stock picks at school.

The teen, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, with his mum, invested 50,000 of pretend money in a Trading 212 demo account. In four months, his portfolio has risen to 53,500.

I supervise Charlie's use of the app. I think it's a good way for him to start learning about investing

He says: 'Some stocks have gone up and down in value a lot, so I'm learning about the risks.'

Charlie's mum, who works for a finance firm, says: 'I supervise Charlie's use of the app. I think it's a good way for him to start learning about investing.'

One half-way house that experts suggest is a better tool for teenagers to learn about investing is the raft of stock market game apps. These can offer a fun way for children to build knowledge.

The Stocks & Forex Trading Game offers an introduction to trading, with the help of pop-up cartoons and quizzes.

Another option is simulation site HowTheMarketWorks, a free game that enables teenagers to learn to play the stock market.

The London Stock Exchange also has a trading simulator which allows under-18s to create a virtual portfolio on the website with a starting portfolio of 10,000.

'Games are the best way for kids to get started,' says James Daley from Fairer Finance. 'For most, the right way to invest is to put your money in investment funds.'

From 16, teenagers can buy real investment funds and shares in the UK using a Junior Isa (Jisa), which a parent or guardian will need to set up for them.

Ms Pethers adds: 'A child could put 8 of 10, say, in a well-diversified stocks and shares Jisa, and 2 into company shares they've chosen. This would mean taking the greatest risk with only a small percentage of the portfolio.'

Money Mail was unable to reach Trading 212 for comment.
Paris, March 30 : The situation in France's hospitals continues to worsen as health authorities reported that more than 4,970 patients with Covid-19 occupied beds in intensive care units on Monday.

This is more than at the peak of the second wave of the pandemic last autumn, when authorities counted just over 4,900 people in intensive care units in November. In spring 2020, however, the number was much higher, at more than 7,000, DPA news agency reported.

The coronavirus situation in France is extremely tense. More than 40 doctors sounded the alarm over the weekend because of the worrying situation in intensive care units in the greater Paris area.

They warned it might come to triage in the hospitals there, as occupancy rate of intensive care units is well over 100 per cent.

France's statistics office Insee also reported on Monday that mortality in 2020 was unusually high because of Covid-19. Compared to the previous year, the number of deaths had increased by more than 9 per cent, Insee said.

"Such an increase in mortality has not been recorded in France for 70 years," it added. This increase was strikingly higher than that observed during the severe flu and heat waves of recent years, it said.

France has had an evening curfew in place for months, with people not allowed outside after 7 pm without a valid reason.

In many districts, including Paris, even stricter rules are in place. Many shops there have closed and freedom of movement is once again restricted.
COLLINSVILLE  A man who repeatedly stole mail from mailboxes in Southern Illinois is heading to prison.

Seth W. Sorensen, 45, was sentenced Tuesday to one year and one day in prison and two years of court supervision after his release. In December he pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of mail theft and two counts of possession of stolen mail.

The federal charges stemmed from three separate incidents that occurred over a four-day stretch in February 2019.

On Feb. 23, 2019, a person in Okawville saw Sorensen drive mailbox to mailbox stealing mail. The incident was reported to the Okawville Police who identified Sorensen as the primary suspect and discovered he had an active warrant for burglary out of Troy.

On Feb. 24, 2019, Okawville Police went to an apartment where Sorensen was staying and arrested him on the warrant. During the arrest, they found a trash bag that contained stolen mail belonging to 26 different victims at 19 different residences in Southern Illinois.

Sorensen spent Feb. 24-25, 2019 in the Madison County Jail. He was released Feb. 26 and walked from the jail to an apartment complex on South Morrison Avenue in Collinsville where a resident reported he was peeking into mailboxes. The resident confronted Sorensen and grabbed a pile of stolen mail from him. The mail was addressed to multiple people in different units within the complex, including at least one addressed to the resident.

After the confrontation, Sorensen fled the area on foot and the resident called Collinsville Police who, a short time later, stopped Sorensen as he was walking. Sorensen identified himself by showing them the discharge paperwork he had received from the Madison County Jail that morning.

Sorensen initially denied looking through mailboxes at the apartment complex or having any stolen mail in his possession, but the officers noticed mail hanging out of his pocket addressed to people on South Chestnut Street, the street Sorensen was walking down when he was stopped.

When asked about the mail in his pocket, Sorensen said he found it in the street and intended to return it, but did not know where the people lived. Collinsville Police reminded Sorensen the letters had addresses on them.

Sorensen Feb. 26 after a short investigation.

This case was investigated by Okawville Police, Collinsville Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke J. Weissler.
Rita Anoh, a sophomore at Mount St. Marys University who immigrated to the United States from Ghana five years ago, has been awarded a 2020-21 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent undergraduate scholarship for students intending to pursue research careers in the fields of natural science, mathematics, and engineering.

Rita is the first Mount student to receive this award as a sophomore. College sophomores and juniors compete for the Goldwater Scholarship, and typically the vast majority of awardees are juniors, so Ritas achievement is especially impressive, said Jamie A. Gianoutsos, Ph.D., director of the Office of Competitive Scholarships and associate professor of history. Established in 1986 by the U.S. Congress, the Goldwater Scholarship recognizes college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming the nations next generation of research leaders in the areas of natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.

Anoh is among the 410 U.S. college students to have been selected for the scholarship this year from a pool of more than 1,256 students nominated by 438 colleges and universities. She will receive up to $7,500 to cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board for both her junior and senior years.

Current seniors Julia Baer, Bradley Owen and Nicholas Starvaggi were named Goldwater Scholars last year, and Veronica Balick, C20, who is currently a Fulbright Study Fellow awardee at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, was a Goldwater winner in 2019. Baer is a semifinalist for a 2021-22 Fulbright Research/Study Grant to conduct research in New Zealand.

A biochemistry major, Anoh quickly sought research opportunities once she came to the Mount. This past summer through the universitys Summer Research Internship Award, she worked in the lab of Assistant Professor of Chemistry Patrick Lombardi, Ph.D., investigating how DNA damage in cells is detected and repaired. She continued her research in the Lombardi laboratory during the academic year and this summer she will participate in the Caltech WAVE Fellows program in the laboratory of Douglas Rees, Ph.D.

I find growing up with a different cultural background and fewer resources encourages me to take advantage of what is available to me now, wrote Anoh in her application. In addition to her research in the Lombardi Lab, she works as a resident assistant at an assisted living facility and as a tutor and lab teaching assistant at the Mount.

Lombardi has been impressed with Anohs work in the lab, finding that her bench skills and ability to multitask are extraordinary for her age. Rita has quickly mastered the ability to express and purify recombinant proteins and has used these skills to investigate how DNA repair complexes are recruited to damage sites, he wrote in his letter of recommendation. Binding data collected using mutant proteins that Rita cloned, expressed, and purified are essential to the model of DNA repair complex localization that our laboratory proposes in a manuscript that we are preparing for publication.

The binding model Anoh helped to develop is currently being tested using cell-based assays in the laboratory of Nima Mosammaparast, M.D., Ph.D., at Washington University in St. Louis. The ultimate goal of the research is to apply understanding of DNA damage repair pathways to development and improvement of therapeutics.

After graduating from the Mount, Anoh plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biochemistry and aspires to have her own research laboratory, where she can use the tools of biochemistry to invent therapies as well as mentor aspiring research scientists. She is grateful to Lombardi, Associate Professor of Chemistry Garth Patterson, Ph.D., and Interim Dean and Professor in the School of Natural Science and Mathematics Christine McCauslin, Ph.D., for writing recommendation letters.

Anoh was aided in her Goldwater application by the Office of Competitive Fellowships and the Goldwater Scholarship Committee. The Goldwater Committee, comprised of Gianoutsos; Patterson; Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Brian Heinhold, Ph.D.; and Assistant Professor of Psychology Angy Kallarackal provided support for Anohs application and research essay.

Patterson, Kallarackal and Gianoutsos also are Competitive Fellowships Committee members. Other members of the Competitive Fellowships Committee, led by Gianoutsos, are Christine Blackshaw, Ph.D., competitive fellowships associate director and associate professor of Spanish, Assistant Professor of Business Josey Chacko, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor of Education Michelle Ohanian, Ph.D.
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Floridas DeSantis Signs Bill to Protect Businesses From COVID-19 Lawsuits

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 29 signed into law a bill that protects businesses, governments, and health care providers in the state from COVID-19 lawsuits, given they can prove they sufficiently followed guidelines to prevent the transmission of the disease.

The Republican governor signed SB 72 (pdf) during a news conference in Tallahassee, joined by state Senate President Wilton Simpson, House Speaker Chris Sprowls, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, and several Republican lawmakers.

The bill was passed in the House on March 26 an 8331 vote, one week after it was approved by the state Senate.

Today I was pleased to sign SB 72 to protect Floridas businesses and health care providers against frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits. pic.twitter.com/7YJ1OevoWW  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 29, 2021

Under the law, in order for a lawsuit to proceed, a plaintiff would need to show that the defendant deliberately ignored guidelines put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

A plaintiff would also be required to present a signed affidavit from a doctor stating with reasonable certainty that injury or death caused by COVID-19 was a result of the defendants actions.

We dont want to be in a situation where people are scared of being sued just for doing normal things, the governor told reporters. I hope that this will provide some certainty for folks.

The act applies both retroactively to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospectively, the text of the bill states. It will set a one-year deadline for people to file claims from the time it becomes law, or from the date of injury.

This is the most aggressive COVID liability bill in the United States of America, Sprowls told reporters. What this bill does is says, If youre doing the right thing, youre protected.

Critics of the bill say people who have been caused injury by COVID-19, or those who have family members who died from the disease, will be denied access to the courts. Democrats argue that the language in the bill and the need to prove gross negligence will make it difficult to bring a case forward.

This essentially shuts the door to the courts and the justice system for those workers who were injured or, God forbid, killed at the job through COVID. Its just completely unnecessary, said Florida AFL-CIO Director of Politics and Public Policy Rich Templin, Fox 13 reported.

Health officials and lawmakers argued during the onset of the CCP virus pandemic that it wasnt clear how the virus spread, and how its spread could be curbed. They noted the shortage of personal protective equipment such as masks and hand sanitizer.

Republican Rep. Will Robinson said at the start of the pandemic: Who can forget the shortages of things like hand sanitizer, paper towels, and toilet paper? During the fog of this deadly COVID-19 war, our health care professionals and their employers stepped up and marched headfirst into this pandemic battle.

Responding to the bill, the Associated Industries of Florida stated on Twitter: We appreciate @GovRonDeSantis acting quickly to protect Florida businesses by signing SB72 today. This will ensure businesses that took proactive steps to safeguard the well-being of their employees & the public are shielded from opportunistic COVID-related lawsuits.
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California supermarket chain implements thermal temperature reading and health scanning solution integrated into time and attendance system in all stores

Logile, Inc. today announced that Northgate Market has completed rollout of Logile's Health Temperature (HT) Scanner time clocks across its chain of 41 supermarkets throughout Southern California as well as its distribution center in Anaheim, CA. Northgate is utilizing the HT scanning time clocks to screen employees and vendors to enforce compliance with its COVID-19 health and safety policies. Integration of the new HT scanning time clocks with Logile's time and attendance solution clears associates to work their scheduled shifts.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005551/en/

Northgate Market improves safety and costs across its Southern California chain of 41 supermarkets and its distribution center in Anaheim, CA with Logile's Health Temperature Scanner time clocks. (Photo: Business Wire)

"Prior to utilizing Logile's HT scanning time clocks, we were spending labor hours to manually screen our associates," said Larry Keehne, director of support services at Northgate. "The integrated HT scanning time clock solution has eliminated the manual screening cost and has been widely praised by our associates for its privacy and simplicity. Post pandemic, we believe the solution will continue to play a role in implementing our health and safety protocols for employees during flu season as well as throughout the year."

Tom Herman, chief strategy officer at Northgate, shared, "We have been using Logile's workforce management suite for several years. When we approached Logile's leaders asking if they could assist us to reduce health and safety compliance costs related to COVID screening protocols, they jumped into action and partnered with their time clock manufacturer to integrate a thermal temperature reader and facial recognition with their clock software. They turned around a solution very quickly, and both managers and associates have been very pleased with the results."

Combining commercial-grade hardware with a customizable workflow engine, Logile's HT Scanner brings unrivaled resilience and the flexibility to effectively protect people and premises. Organizations are able to reduce risk and exposure with touch-free health and temperature scanning boasting 99.7 percent accuracy, multiple identification options, health and risk attestation questions and more.

"As a total store solution provider, Logile was excited to partner with Northgate on this unique and much needed solution," said Purna Mishra, Logile's president and CEO. "This collaboration produced a sustainable solution that addressed a challenge not only for Northgate, but for many of our other customers who face the same challenge."

About Northgate Market

Northgate Gonzalez Market is a premier Southern California supermarket chain headquartered in Anaheim, CA. Northgate operates 41 high-volume stores in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside counties, providing the highest quality merchandise, fresh and prepared foods and personal service. Learn more atwww.northgatemarket.com.

About Logile, Inc.

Logile is the leading retail store planning, workforce management and execution provider. Our proven AI, machine-learning technology and retail industrial engineering help accelerate ROI and operational excellence with improved performance and empowered employees.

Retailers worldwide rely on Logile's intelligent, fully mobile solutions to boost profitability and competitive edge by delivering the best service at the optimal cost. From labor standards development and modeling, to forecasting, storewide scheduling and time and attendance, to task management, food safety and employee self-service-we transform retail operations. Gain the Advantage with The Logic of Labor.

Learn more: Logile.com. Beyond workforce management-complete store planning and execution solutions.

Connect with Logile on LinkedIn and Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005551/en/

Contacts:

Rick Schlenker

EVP, Sales and Marketing

Logile, Inc.

rick.schlenker@logile.com

972-550-6000 x1001
Ten EU member states have said they will no longer extradite their nationals to the UK following Brexit, the Home Office has said.

Countries including France, Germany and Poland have informed the UK of their refusal to allow the extradition of their nationals.

Two more - Austria and the Czech Republic - will only hand over suspects to the UK with their consent.

The European Arrest Warrant was introduced in 2004 and obliged member states to arrest and transfer suspects to countries where they were wanted.

The letter, sent from the Home Office to the House of Lords EU committee dates from earlier this month and was first reported by The Times.

It said: "I can confirm a total of 10 EU Member States have notified of their intention to exercise an absolute bar on the extradition of own nationals. This includes Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

"In addition, Austria and Czechia have noted own nationals will only be extradited with their consent.

"Where Member States refuse the extradition of their nationals, the Agreement requires the State concerned to refer the case to its own prosecution authorities. In such cases the Agreement establishes an obligation to provide appropriate support to victims and witnesses."

Ireland continues to extradite people to and from the UK.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A jury trial is set later this year for a former B.C. grand chief and cabinet minister who has pleaded not guilty to four sex charges.

The B.C. Prosecution Service confirms Edward John is scheduled to appear in Prince George Supreme Court on Oct. 4, 2021.

The trial is anticipated to last five days.

The 71-year-old lawyer and hereditary chief of the Tl'azt'en Nation, located near Fort St. James, pleaded not guilty in July 2020 to the charges.

Theyre related to allegations of having sexual intercourse with a female without her consent between Mar. 1 and Sept. 15, 1974.

John was appointed to B.C.'s cabinet as the NDPs Minister of Children and Families in November 2000, serving until the change of government in June 2001.

He has also played key roles in the First Nations Summit and Assembly of First Nations.
The TMC has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that he violated the model code of conduct by indirectly campaigning for his party during his recent visit to Bangladesh.

However, the All India Trinamool Congress strongly objects to Shri Modis program in Bangladesh on March 27. These had nothing to do with either the 50th anniversary of the Independence of Bangladesh or the birth anniversary of Bangabandhu (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman). Rather they were solely and exclusively intended to influence the voting pattern in certain constituencies in the ongoing elections to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, stated TMC MP Derek OBrien in the letter to the EC.

Read: Don't deploy security from BJP-ruled states: TMC tells Election Commission

He alleged that the political motive behind Modis visit to Orakandi in Bangladesh is evident, as he took BJP MP Santanu Thakur who has no official position in the Government of India.

The temple at Orakandi in Bangladesh is considered to be the holiest pilgrimage of the Matua community, Dalit Hindus who arrived in West Bengal in large numbers from erstwhile East Pakistan or modern-day Bangladesh following Partition. With a population of about 3 crore, they are a formidable vote base.
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[March 30, 2021] DeepCoding Appoints Former ServiceNow VP and IT Titan Yuval Cohen as Executive Chairman

DeepCoding, the global AI-led ITSM delivery optimization company, today announces the appointment of Yuval Cohen as Executive Chairman, Yossi Cohen as a new Executive Advisory Board Member and special advisor to the CEO, and investment by several new, high profile strategic investors to support the company's hypergrowth. Yuval Cohen has been appointed Executive Chairman and has made a capital injection into DeepCoding. He served five years as Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at ServiceNow, building one of the most advanced security programs for the SaaS giant. He joined ServiceNow (News - Alert) selling Neebula Systems, a start-up he co-founded led as CEO until its successful $100 million exit. Wrking in partnership with former ServiceNow CEO, Frank Slootman, the pair super-charged the company's growth to reach its current market capitalization of $95 billion.



Yossi Cohen, founder of Panaya, joins DeepCoding as an Executive Advisory Board Member and investor; Panaya was sold to Infosys for $230 million. At Panaya, Yossi has built a world class SaaS (News - Alert) enterprise sales organization, and will serve as personal advisor to DeepCoding's CEO, Sebastien Adjiman, DeepCoding has also secured some substantial strategic investments from several new investors including Prof Ehud Weinstein, Dr. Ofir Shalvi and Ariel Maislos. Together, these three software experts founded Anobit, which was acquired by Apple (News - Alert) in 2012.

DeepCoding is the solution for companies needing to accelerate digital transformation, significantly reducing IT costs while enhancing efficiency without replacing their existing ITSM ticket tool. Its AI Platform has been recognized by CIOs of Global 2000 enterprises and leading global management consulting firms. Sebastien Adjiman, Founder and Chief Executive of DeepCoding, said: "Yuval brings a wealth of IT security, data protection and software experience. His insights and proven track record, together with the new strategic investments, will support DeepCoding's highly aggressive growth plans and will fuel our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients." Yuval Cohen, Executive Chairman of DeepCoding, said: "I am delighted to join DeepCoding. The company's agnostic AI solution is the next frontier in autonomous optimization platforms and will transform the industry. This is the technology which the industry has been waiting for and an invaluable solution for Global 2000 CIOs to optimize their ITSM systems turning their departments into the core organizational transformation engine of their company." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005468/en/

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[March 30, 2021] Richardson Mayor visits DFW's leading opportunity creator, InfoVision's HQ and Innovation Lab, surveying latest tech innovation out of the Richardson IQ

RICHARDSON, Texas, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Richardson Mayor Paul Voelker visited the advanced innovation center and offices of InfoVision Inc., a digital transformation leader and innovation consulting company recognized by Tech Titans. InfoVision has been highlighted as a top opportunity creator in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), the second strongest tech job center per CompTIA's Tech Town Index. Strategically located in the Richardson Innovation Quarter, also known as the Richardson IQ  Texas' premier tech hub  this Dallas Top 100 award-winning firm is a leading employer of top-tier technology talent from Texas universities and also collaborates on innovation research with The University of Texas at Dallas to serve its rapidly growing global customer base spanning the Fortune 500, the Global 2000, venture-backed firms, and ISVs. Mayor Voelker toured InfoVision's advanced Research and Innovation facility, the Digit7 Lab (formerly NxtGEN iLab - Winner of Industry Tech Insights Award), where he experienced a live walkthrough of InfoVision's proprietary cashierless technology, the Smart Express Store, at the Digit7 customer experience center. Digit7, the nucleus of InfoVision's innovation delivery, has significantly boosted the company's revenue base through a team of 130+ technologists pioneering various cutting-edge ready-to-deploy solutions and accelerators to deliver high-impact digital transformation to customers. "InfoVisin is proud to be part of the flourishing Texas technology community and to showcase the working implementations of our most advanced tech such as Smart Express Store and e-CommVerse - a unique and powerful omnichannel engine - at Digit7," said Mr. Sean Yalamanchi, co-founder and President of InfoVision. "The Richardson IQ has established itself as a bustling ecosystem of talented technology practitioners, thought leaders, and transparent processes, all of which will be crucial to our sustained business growth."



"InfoVision's office space reflects our renewed focus on innovation," said InfoVision's CTIO, Chithrai Mani. With the launch of several new products from Digit7 in 2019-20 and a high quantum of returning business, this digital transformation enabler is grooming an expanding team of 2000+ experts to serve the demand. InfoVision also fosters dedicated practices for various emerging technologies such as Blockchain, IoT, LIDAR, Drone, AI/ML, etc., which Mr. Mani and team are employing to build future-ready solutions for leading brands across various industries. The visit to InfoVision HQ gave Mayor Voelker a clear look at the futuristic innovation that's fast turning the Lone Star State into the new Silicon Valley. The substantial role of InfoVision's location in the Richardson IQ in catalyzing the co-innovation efforts with leading industry and research partners such as UiPath, Adobe, and The University of Texas at Dallas, is a testament to the symbiotic partnership between the company and the Richardson IQ community.

About InfoVision InfoVision is a Digital Transformation leader with 1900+ IT experts globally, deploying and scaling purpose-driven innovation and putting intuitive tech in the hands of consumers. Its expertise helps organizations of all sizes develop smart solutions built on scalable and extendable architectures, leveraging the latest and most innovative technologies, resulting in rich and exceptional customer experiences. InfoVision's 25+ years of service spanning various industries has reinforced its Agile and SAFe Implementation Practices to meet clients' strategic objectives while capitalizing on industry disruptions. InfoVision has established an expanding innovation macrocosm of deep subject matter expertise, proprietary products and solutions, thought leaders, and industry partnerships to bring speed, scale, and agility to all engagements. Contact:

John Mendez

john.mendez@infovision.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/richardson-mayor-visits-dfws-leading-opportunity-creator-infovisions-hq-and-innovation-lab-surveying-latest-tech-innovation-out-of-the-richardson-iq-301258823.html SOURCE InfoVision

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Independent Senator Rex Patrick speaks during a rally for the Uyghur community outside Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, March 15, 2021. (Lukas Coch/AAP)

South Australian Premier Accused of Sleeping with the Enemy After Speaking at Chinese Consulate Opening

South Australian Independent Senator Rex Patrick has accused Premier Steven Marshall of sleeping with the enemy after the state leader spoke at the opening of a new Chinese consulate in Adelaidewhere he was shouted down by hundreds of protestors.

Patrick, who spoke at the protest, expressed concerns about the national security implications of the controversial new Chinese consulate in the quiet suburb of Joslin, which is in the same city that is home to the countrys new $145 billion naval shipbuilding program.

Its not appropriate for Adelaide. Its not appropriate for Joslin. It needs to go, and I will be making further representations in Canberra when Parliament resumes, Patrick told The Epoch Times on March 30.

Independent Senator Rex Patrick speaks at a protest outside the new Chinese consulate in Adelaide, South Australia, on March 30, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

Patrick gave the example of Chinese consulate staff in the United States being arrested on indictable offenses relating to breaches of U.S. national security as a reason why Australia needed to recognise the risks involved in having such a large consular presence in Adelaide.

Theres no doubt there are activities that will be taking place here [in Adelaide] that that are inconsistent with [Australias] national security, he said.

Patrick accused Marshall of rolling out the red carpet for the Chinese regime while Beijing imposed trade restrictions on South Australian products, such as lobsters, grain, and wine.

We have the premier of South Australia, Steven Marshall, rolling out the red carpet in circumstances where its just simply inappropriate, Patrick said.

Hes actually sleeping with the enemy, he added.

After Beijings latest tariff on Australian wine, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that it was not okay and labelled the move as retaliation for Australians standing up for their values.

The tariffs were the latest example of what U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week labelled Beijings blatant economic coercion of Australia.

A number of communities held a rally to protest against the opening of the new Chinese consulate in Adelaide, South Australia, on March 30, 2021. (Qianxi Li/The Epoch Times)

Concern for Chinese Dissidents

Patrick also said he is very worried about the safety of Adelaides Uyghur Muslim community, given it is the largest in Australia.

Patrick named the Uyghur genocide, repression of freedom in Hong Kong, and the locking up of Australian journalists in mainland China as activities that the Chinese regime engages in that are inconsistent with Australian values.

His sentiments come after the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union last week collaborated to impose Magnitsky-style sanctions on Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials for the Uyghur genocide in Xinjiang, China.

While their allies took action to sanction Chinese officials, Australia and New Zealand offered a joint statement expressing their grave concerns about the severe human rights abuses against Uyghurs.

The senator was not alone in his sentiments, as over 300 people from groups targeted by the CCP, along with angry locals, protested from the sidewalk at the rear of the compound on Fifth Avenue.

The protest was joined by Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghur Muslims, and Tibetan Buddhists. Hong Kongers, Vietnamese, local Australian residents, politicians, and representatives of Australian farmers and industries impacted by Beijings trade restrictions also attended.

South Australian legislator Tammy Franks attended the protest outside the Chinese consulate in Adelaide, South Australia on March 30, 2021. (Tracy Li/The Epoch Times)

South Australian Greens Upper House legislator Tammy Franks spoke at the protest about the state-sanctioned crime of forced organ harvesting.

I sat on a state Parliament committee that looked into organ harvesting, she told the crowd. I heard from members of the South Australian community who had family members who were imprisoned who had their organs harvested.

In 2019, an independent peoples tribunal found, after a yearlong investigation, that the Chinese regime was harvesting the organs of prisoners of consciencemainly Falun Gong practitionerson a significant scale.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient Chinese spiritual practise consisting of simple, slow-moving meditation exercises and moral teachings incorporating the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance in everyday life. It grew in popularity during the 1990s, with 70 million to 100 million adherents in China by the end of the decade, according to official estimates at the time.

Feeling threatened by its popularity, the CCP launched a systematic elimination campaign in July 1999. Since then, millions have been detained inside prisons, labor camps, and other facilities, with hundreds of thousands tortured while incarcerated, according to Falun Dafa Information Center.

A general view of the Chinese consulate in Adelaide, South Australia, on March 30, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

Locals Angry at Fortress in Suburb

The Australian reported that former Joslin resident Heather Adams returned to join her former neighbours in the protest.

The publication reported that Adams knew of no one who was happy that the consulate was there.

Just look at the damned thingits a fortress, Adams said.

I know people who have lived here for 40 years, and suddenly this monstrosity turns up with all its cameras and huge walls in a suburb where everyone else has to abide by planning laws because its a heritage area, Adams said.

We have sold our soul as a nation to a communist regime that is trying to destroy South Aussie businesses and has no regard for human rights, she said.

The Australian reported that Marshall defended his decision to attend the opening of the consulate, saying that his state still had strong economic and cultural ties with China that he was trying to maintain for the good of South Australian businesses.
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We are honored to be recognized with this award, as our team is dedicated to providing a positive and rewarding experience for each patient, says Dr. Kavi Sagunarthy

Find Local Doctors recently honored Carolina Commons Dentistry as a 2021 Top Patient Rated Indian Land Dentist. This well-respected practice has been selected as a Top Patient Rated Dentist as a result of having superior ratings and reviews from patients. Find Local Doctors is a trusted online directory that helps consumers easily locate qualified and reputable physicians and dentists in their area. Carolina Commons Dentistry is among an elite group of dental practices receiving a high volume of five-star ratings from reputable online sources.

Carolina Commons Dentistry is located at 6257 Carolina Commons Drive, Suite 100, in Indian Land, South Carolina. Led by Dr. Kavi Sagunarthy, an experienced and reputable family dentist, the practice meets the dental care needs of the entire family with services ranging from preventative and general dentistry to restorative, cosmetic and implant dentistry. Dr. Sagunarthy is known for his elite skill set and success as a cosmetic and restorative dentist. Patients of all ages can take advantage of treatments ranging from routine cleanings and chipped tooth repair to porcelain veneers, dental implants and much more. Carolina Commons Dentistry offers relaxing amenities such as complimentary beverages and satellite televisions. They also provide same-day dentistry and sedation options for painless procedures. The clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art dental technology at every turn. Beyond paperless charts and a fast digital check-in process, Carolina Commons Dentistry also uses advanced low-radiation dental imaging and other cutting-edge equipment to minimize discomfort and improve accuracy during procedures.

We are honored to be recognized with this award, as our team is dedicated to providing a positive and rewarding experience for each patient, says Dr. Kavi Sagunarthy

More about Kavi Sagunarthy, DDS:

Dr. Sagunarthy graduated from George Washington University in Washington, D.C, before receiving his doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in Buffalo, New York. Dr. Sagunarthy went on to complete his general practice residency at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He is a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, a member of the American Dental Association and holds faculty credentials at the MUSC Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program.

Carolina Commons Dentistrys mission is to deliver modern, cutting-edge dental treatments in a comfortable, patient-centered environment. To learn more about Carolina Commons Dentistry or to schedule an appointment, please visit http://www.carolinacommonsdentistry.com or call (803) 306-7949.


The company has reportedly been in talks with BT Group about potentially selling capacity to facilitate broadband connections for rural customers in the UK

Satellites, a London-based rival for SpaceXs Starlink satellite broadband network, said it was closing in on contracts that would help pay for the expansion of its own constellation of communications satellites.

Last week, 36 of OneWebs satellites were launched into low Earth orbit, taking its total to 146 out of a planned 648.

Today, chief executive Neil Masterson said the startup is at various late-stage talks with potential possible telecoms, maritime and aviation partners in the UK, Europe, Canada, Australia and Africa.

These range from quite advanced conversations to memoranda of understanding, Masterson told Bloomberg, adding that the network is on track to go live in and around the UK, Canada, the Nordics and Greenland by the end of 2021.

Mission success! ???? #OneWebLaunch Thanks to the hard work of our incredible team and partners, weve successfully launched 36 satellites by @Arianespace from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, with signal acquisition confirmed for all satellites ???? pic.twitter.com/1yuB7kAfF9  OneWeb (@OneWeb) March 25, 2021

OneWeb has been in talks with ( ) to sell capacity and facilitate broadband connections for rural customers in the UK, Bloomberg has reported

OneWeb has been in talks with BT Group PLC ( ) to sell capacity and facilitate broadband connections for rural customers in the UK, Bloomberg has reported

Masterson joined OneWeb late last year after the UK government spent 400m rescuing the company from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US, apparently on the recommendation of Downing Street adviser Dominc Cummings. Other investors include Indias Bharti Global and SoftBank.

With the company still needing around US$1bn to fund its full network, Masterson told the newswire he was confident that the investment will be secured.

Differing from SpaceXs Starlink direct-to-consumer model, OneWebs plan is to sell capacity wholesale to businesses and governments, with early contracts in Alaska and Canada.

OneWeb has been in talks with BT Group PLC ( ) to sell capacity and facilitate broadband connections for rural customers in the UK, Bloomberg has reported.

The Namibia Press Agency (Nampa) has taken issue with a newspaper report, which insinuated the agency was a problematic public enterprise.

The Namibian article, among others, claimed the news agency had splashed N$40 million of public funds on its new office building, allegations Nampa CEO Linus Chata said was littered with a string of blatant misinformation.

"To put the record straight, Nampa did not "splash" N$40 million of public funds on its new office building. The truth is that Nampa borrowed the funds for the construction of its head office building from a local commercial bank (Nedbank), ceding N$8 million to the bank in the process," Chata said.

He also said Nampa's organisational structure was not too heavy as alleged by the report, adding the agency currently has one executive position of the CEO, two departmental managers and three head of divisions, of which only one is vacant.

"The agency wage bill is not N$30 million per year as reported; it is rather below half of this amount per annum," he explained.

Furthermore, Chata said, the public needs to know that Nampa has consistently produced sound financial statements annually since its inception 1992.

"Only once, a couple of years ago, in its entire existence did the agency receive a qualified audit opinion. The issue that was highlighted by the auditor were swiftly rectified and subsequent audit reports have been receiving unqualified audit opinions," he added, saying Nampa was never bailed out by government since its inception.

"The agency, which is a non-commercial public service provider, has, in fact, been operating under a position of chronic underfunding. As a matter of fact, the agency can sustain its operation annually with a mere N$25 million," he said.

"Nampa cannot be considered as a problematic state enterprise as insinuated in the article. If anything, Nampa is one of the few public enterprises that are transparent, accountable and compliant," he said.
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Invesco Income Growth Trust Plc - Circular re. General Meetings

Invesco Income Growth Trust plc (the "Company" or "IVI")

Recommended Proposals for the Voluntary Winding-Up and Reconstruction of the Company

30 March 2021

On 1 December 2020, the Board announced that it had agreed heads of terms with Invesco Select Trust plc ("IST") in respect of a proposed merger of the Company with IST to be effected by way of a scheme of reconstruction of the Company under Section 110 of the Insolvency Act 1986.

The Company is today sending a circular to Shareholders in connection with the Proposals (the "Circular").

Defined terms used in this announcement have the meanings given to them in the Circular.

The Proposals, which are unanimously recommended by the Board, comprise a members' voluntary liquidation (solvent liquidation) and a scheme of reconstruction of the Company pursuant to which Shareholders will be entitled, in respect of their shareholdings, to:

elect to receive IST UK Equity Shares (the "Rollover Option"); and/or elect to receive cash (the "Cash Option").

Shareholders can make different Elections in respect of different parts of their holdings. The maximum number of Ordinary Shares that can be elected for the Cash Option is 30 per cent. of the total number of Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding Ordinary Shares held in treasury). Shareholders are entitled to elect for the Cash Option in respect of more than 30 per cent. of their individual holdings of Ordinary Shares. However, if aggregate Elections are made for the Cash Option which exceed 30 per cent. of the issued Ordinary Shares (excluding Ordinary Shares held in treasury), Shareholders who have made an Election for the Cash Option in excess of their Basic Entitlement shall have their Excess Applications scaled back in a manner which is, as near as practicable, pro rata to the number of Shares elected under such Excess Applications.

Shareholders who make no Election (or no valid Election) will be deemed to have elected for the Rollover Option in respect of their entire holding of Ordinary Shares. To the extent that an Overseas Shareholder would otherwise receive IST UK Equity Shares under the Scheme, either because no Election for the Cash Option was made or because an Excess Application for the Cash Option is scaled back in accordance with the Scheme, then such IST UK Equity Shares may be sold by the Liquidators in the market and the net proceeds paid to the relevant Overseas Shareholder.

Background to and rationale for the Proposals

At the Company's annual general meeting held on 10 September 2020, Shareholders voted in favour of a resolution for the continuation of the Company as a closed-ended investment company. Noting that just over 20 per cent. of those Shareholders who voted on the continuation resolution voted against the resolution, the Board announced that it would assess with its advisers the votes cast and engage with Shareholders as appropriate to determine what, if any, action to take.

The Board and its advisers have subsequently undertaken a comprehensive review of the Company's competitive positioning and, following that review, concluded that a merger with IST will offer Shareholders the best way to continue their investment in a closed-ended investment vehicle with a similar investment objective and the same manager, but in a vehicle whose shares trade at a tighter discount to net asset value per share than the persistently wide discount to net asset value at which the Ordinary Shares have historically traded.

The Proposals also allow those Shareholders who voted against the continuation resolution the opportunity for a partial cash exit at near to net asset value (less a discount of 2.5 per cent). Conditional upon the Scheme becoming effective, the Proposals would result in those assets in the Company which are to be transferred to IST pursuant to the Scheme forming part of the IST UK Equity Portfolio.

Benefits of the Proposals

The Directors consider that the Proposals should have the following benefits for Shareholders as compared to their current position, or under a simple liquidation scenario:

They enable Shareholders to roll over some or all of their investment into IST, which is proposing to amend the investment objective and policy of the IST UK Equity Portfolio to make it more compatible with the investment objective and policy of the Company.

Shareholders who may be subject to UK capital gains tax or corporation tax on chargeable gains should be able to roll over their investments into IST and thereby continue to receive investment returns without triggering an immediate liability to UK capital gains tax or corporation tax on chargeable gains.

For Shareholders electing for the Rollover Option, it is anticipated that they should be able to continue to receive similar levels of income in IST as they did as Shareholders of the Company.

For those Shareholders electing for the Rollover Option, the Proposals are anticipated to result in an uplift in the market value of their investments due to the narrower discount to net asset value at which the IST UK Equity Shares have historically traded compared with the Ordinary Shares.

For those Shareholders electing for the Rollover Option, the structure of IST should enable IST Shareholders to elect in the future to convert some or all of their shareholding into shares of another class within IST (currently on a quarterly basis, with the next conversion opportunity expected to occur in or around July 2021), thereby giving them the ability to diversify their investment into portfolio(s) of different asset class(es) within IST.

The Cash Option provides Shareholders with the option to realise part of their shareholding at a price which is close to the prevailing net asset value per share less a discount of 2.5 per cent.

Shareholders who roll their investment into IST will hold their investment in an enlarged vehicle. The increase in the size of IST will allow fixed costs to be spread over a larger cost base, thereby improving the ongoing charges ratio for the benefit of IST Shareholders, and may result also in better liquidity for their shares trading on the London Stock Exchange compared to the current level of trading liquidity in the Company's shares.

Shareholders electing for the Rollover Option will not suffer the full dealing costs that would be incurred on the realisation of the Company's portfolio in the event of a simple winding-up.

Invesco (in its capacity as the investment manager of IST) has agreed to waive, subject to the Scheme becoming effective, its entitlement to any performance fee accrued in respect of the IST UK Equity Portfolio up to the Effective Date (the " IST Accrued Performance Fee Waiver" ); the benefit of such accrued performance fee waiver shall be shared by both the IST UK Equity Portfolio and those Shareholders who elect for the Rollover Option on a pro rata basis. The management fee currently payable by the Company to Invesco is based on market capitalisation and is 0.60 per cent. per annum on the first 150 million and 0.50 per cent. per annum above that level.Upon the implementation of the Scheme (and subject to the Scheme becoming effective): the management fee payable by IST in respect of the IST UK Equity Portfolio will be reduced to 0.55 per cent. per annum on the net assets of the IST UK Equity Portfolio up to 100 million and 0.50 per cent. per annum on the net assets of the IST UK Equity Portfolio over 100 million; and Invesco's entitlement to future performance fees in respect of the IST UK Equity Portfolio will be removed in its entirety.



Invesco has agreed to waive, subject to the Scheme becoming effective, the termination fee which would otherwise be payable to it in respect of the termination of the existing investment management agreement with the Company on the Effective Date (the "Termination Fee Waiver Amount").

Summary of the mechanics of the scheme

On or shortly after the Calculation Date (being 5.00 p.m. on 15 April 2021), the Company NAV and IST UK Equity NAV as at the Calculation Date shall be determined.

Appropriation of the Company's assets into three pools

On or shortly after the Calculation Date, the Board, in consultation with the proposed Liquidators, shall finalise the division of the Company's undertaking, cash and other assets into three separate and distinct pools (the Liquidation Pool, the Cash Pool and the Rollover Pool), as follows:

First, there shall be appropriated to the Liquidation Pool such undertaking, cash and other assets of the Company of a value sufficient to meet the outstanding current and future liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of the Company and a retention to meet unknown and unascertained liabilities of the Company (the " Retention ").

Second, there shall be appropriated to the Cash Pool and to the Rollover Pool the balance of the undertaking, cash and other assets of the Company remaining after the appropriation of the Liquidation Pool referred to above, of a value equal to that attributable to the Elections (which shall include deemed Elections) for the Cash Option and the Rollover Option respectively, on the basis that the value attributable to each Election for the purposes of the appropriation shall be the Residual Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share multiplied by the number of Ordinary Shares to which that Election relates. Adjustments to the Cash Pool and Rollover Pool

Next, the Cash Pool will be adjusted so that the Cash Pool Discount (being an amount equal to 2.5 per cent. of the value of the Cash Pool as at the Calculation Date) will be deducted from the Cash Pool and instead will be applied towards the Total Benefits. (The Total Benefits will be allocated to the Rollover Pool and the IST UK Equity Portfolio in such manner as described in the sub-section headed " IIGT FAV and IST UK FAV " below.)

The Rollover Pool as at the Calculation Date will also be adjusted and the adjustments will be made in such manner as described in the sub-section headed "IIGT FAV and IST UK FAV" below. Total Costs and Total Benefits The Total Costs and Total Benefits, both to be fixed as at the Calculation Date, shall be determined and agreed between the Board (in consultation with the proposed Liquidators) and the IST Board. Total Costs means the following costs and expenses relating to the Company and IST which are attributable to the implementation of the Scheme and which are fixed as at the Calculation Date:

Costs and expenses relating to the Company Costs and expenses relating to IST (to be borne by the IST UK Equity Portfolio) Company's financial adviser IST's financial adviser Company's legal adviser IST's legal adviser Fee of the Liquidators Registrar Reporting accountant Reporting accountant Receiving agent Printing and postage of the IST Prospectus and IST Circular D&O run off Other miscellaneous costs directly attributable to the publication of the IST Prospectus and IST Circular Printing and postage of the Company's Scheme circular and the Forms Other miscellaneous costs directly attributable to the implementation of the Scheme

Total Costs shall not include any of the following:

any costs and expenses incurred by either the Company and/or IST in realising or realigning their respective portfolios in connection with the implementation of the Scheme;

stamp duty on the transfer of assets from the Company to IST;

any dividends which have been declared by either the Company or IST prior to the Calculation Date but not yet paid to the relevant company's shareholders;

any fees and expenses in connection with the application for the Admission of the IST UK Equity Shares; and

the Retention. Total Benefits means (i) the Cash Pool Discount and (ii) the amount representing the IST Accrued Performance Fee Waiver, both of which are fixed as at the Calculation Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the Termination Fee Waiver Amount shall not be included in the Total Benefits. IIGT FAV and IST UK FAV The Total Costs and Total Benefits will be allocated to the Rollover Pool and the IST UK Equity Portfolio as at the Calculation Date on a pro rata basis by reference to the Company NAV and the IST UK Equity NAV respectively as at the Calculation Date (the Company's pro rata portion being the " IIGT Proportion " and the IST UK Equity Share class's pro rata portion being the " IST Proportion "). As a result of such pro rata allocations to the Rollover Pool and the IST UK Equity Portfolio as at the Calculation Date:

the value of the Rollover Pool as at the Calculation Date will therefore be adjusted. Such adjusted value of the Rollover Pool shall be referred to as the " IIGT FAV "; and

the IST UK Equity NAV as at the Calculation Date will therefore be adjusted. Such adjusted net asset value of the IST UK Equity Portfolio shall be referred to as the "IST UK FAV". For illustrative purposes only, if the Company NAV as at the Calculation Date is 80 million and the IST UK Equity NAV as at the Calculation Date is 20 million, the Total Costs and Total Benefits will be split between the Rollover Pool and the IST UK Equity Portfolio on a 4:1 basis. If the Total Costs as at the Calculation Date are 100,000 and the Total Benefits as at the Calculation Date are 50,000, then the IIGT Proportion of the Total Costs will be equal to 80,000 and the IST Proportion of the Total Costs will be equal to 20,000, and the IIGT Proportion of the Total Benefits will be equal to 40,000 and the IST Proportion of the Total Benefits will be equal to 10,000. The value of the Rollover Pool as at the Calculation Date will therefore be adjusted to take into account the deduction of 80,000 from it and the allocation of 40,000 to it, and the IST UK Equity NAV as at the Calculation Date will therefore be adjusted to take into account the deduction of 20,000 from it and the allocation of 10,000 to it. Conversion ratio The issue of IST UK Equity Shares under the Rollover Option will be effected on a "formula asset value per share for formula asset value per share" basis as at the Calculation Date, at a conversion ratio based on the IIGT FAV per Share and IST UK FAV per Share as at the Calculation Date. Effective Date On the Effective Date, the cash, undertaking and other assets of the Company comprising the Rollover Pool shall be transferred to IST, for the benefit of the IST UK Equity Portfolio. In consideration for the transfer of the Rollover Pool to the IST UK Equity Portfolio under the Transfer Agreement, the relevant numbers of IST UK Equity Shares will be allotted to the Liquidators who will renounce the IST UK Equity Shares in favour of the Shareholders who elect or are deemed to have elected for the Rollover Option (save for any Overseas Shareholders).

Shortly following the Effective Date, the Liquidators will distribute the net realisation proceeds (following the realisation of the Cash Pool) to the Shareholders who have elected for the Cash Option in accordance with their respective entitlements under the Scheme.

Special Dividend

The Directors have declared a special dividend of 8.35 pence per Share (the "Dividend") and Shareholders who are on the Register as at 6.00 p.m. on 6 April 2021 will be entitled to receive such dividend, subject to the passing of the Resolutions at the First General Meeting. The Dividend incorporates an amount equal to the Company's expected net income for the period from 1 April 2021 to 22 April 2021 and the balance represents an amount in lieu of the fourth interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2021 and brought forward revenue reserves. The Dividend will be paid on 21 April 2021. The ex-dividend date will be 1 April 2021.

It is not anticipated that there will be further dividends paid in relation to the current financial period or for the period up to the liquidation of the Company.

Conditions of the Proposals

Implementation of the Proposals is subject to a number of conditions, including:

the passing of the Resolutions to be proposed at the First General Meeting and the Resolution to be proposed at the Second General Meeting, or any adjournment of those meetings, and any conditions of such Resolutions being fulfilled; the Financial Conduct Authority agreeing to amend the listing of the Ordinary Shares to reflect their reclassification as Reclassified Shares for the purpose of implementing the Scheme; the IST Resolutions being passed and becoming unconditional in all respects; the approval of the Financial Conduct Authority and the London Stock Exchange to the Admission of the IST UK Equity Shares to the Official List and to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, respectively; and the Directors resolving to proceed with the Scheme. If any condition is not satisfied, the Proposals will not become effective, the Company will not proceed with the winding-up and instead will continue in existence. In these circumstances, the Directors will reassess the options available to the Company at that time.

Shareholder Meetings

The implementation of the Proposals will require two general meetings of the Company. The notices convening the First General Meeting (to be held at 10.30 a.m. on 15 April 2021) and the Second General Meeting (to be held at 11.00 a.m. on 23 April 2021) are set out at the end of the Circular.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and associated UK Government guidance, attendance at the General Meetings is not expected to be possible. Arrangements will be made by the Company to ensure that a minimum number of Shareholders required to form a quorum will attend each of the General Meetings in order that the meetings may proceed.

Recommendation and voting intentions

The Board, which has received financial advice from J.P. Morgan Cazenove, considers the Proposals and the Resolutions to be in the best interests of Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends Shareholders to vote in favour of the Resolutions, as the Directors intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings, which total 113,527 Ordinary Shares (representing approximately 0.19 per cent. of the Company's total voting rights) as at the Latest Practicable Date. In providing advice to the Board, J.P. Morgan Cazenove has relied on the Board's commercial assessment of the Proposals.

Expected Timetable

2021 Ex dividend date for the Dividend 1 April Record date for the Dividend 6 April Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy in respect of the First General Meeting 10.30 a.m. on 13 April Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Election and/or TTE Instructions from Shareholders 1.00 p.m. on 14 April Record Date for entitlements under the Scheme close of business on 14 April First General Meeting 10.30 a.m. on 15 April Calculation Date 5.00 p.m. on 15 April Dividend paid to Shareholders 21 April Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy in respect of the Second General Meeting 11.00 a.m. on 21 April Ordinary Shares disabled in CREST close of business on 21 April Reclassification of the Ordinary Shares [2] 8.00 a.m. on 22 April Suspension of listing of Reclassified Shares 7.30 a.m. on 23 April Second General Meeting 11.00 a.m. on 23 April Effective Date for implementation of the Scheme 23 April Announcement of the results of Elections, IIGT FAV per Share, IST UK FAV per Share and conversion ratio 23 April CREST accounts credited with, and dealings commence in, IST UK Equity Shares 8.00 a.m. on 26 April Certificates despatched in respect of IST UK Equity Shares during or as soon as practicable after week commencing 3 May Cheques despatched to Shareholders who elect for the Cash Option in accordance with their entitlements and CREST accounts credited with cash week commencing 3 May Cancellation of listing of Reclassified Shares as soon as practicable after the Effective Date

Enquiries:

J.P. Morgan Cazenove +44 (0) 20 7742 4000

William Simmonds

Invesco Asset Management Limited +44 (0) 20 3753 1000

Angus Pottinger

Will Ellis

LEI: 549300DI4285Q8ZFO135

[1] Please note that this is not a profit forecast and there can be no assurance that any distributions or dividend levels can be achieved. Please also note that the IST Board has not set dividend targets for the year to 31 May 2021.

[2] Reclassified Shares are a technical requirement of the Scheme and will be created if Resolution 1 to be proposed at the First General Meeting is passed and becomes effective. Ordinary Shares will be reclassified according to the Elections made (or deemed to be made) by Shareholders.
AMBASSADORS representing the country abroad have been directed to plan, participate and seek opportunities that will enable various Tanzanian products to secure reliable markets in their respective countries.

The directive was issued by Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, when talking to ambassadors representing Tanzania abroad.

He said that the ruling party (CCM) manifesto clearly articulates economic diplomacy, while strengthening the country's voice and image on the fields of regional and international relations.

Prof Kabudi added that in order to achieve this, ambassadors are required to strengthen Tanzania's participation in other international organisations including, Indian Ocean Rim Association, Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, South South Commission and South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission.

He also asked the ambassadors to implement the instructions of the President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr Hussein Mwinyi that he gave while inaugurating the House of Representatives, in which, he demanded the fully exploitation of Blue Economy.

Prof Kabudi pointed out that deep sea fishing was beneficial to the people; especially in increasing revenue, employment and economic growth.

Also Prof Kabudi said the government recognises and appreciates the contribution made by Tanzanians living abroad (Diasporas) in the development of the country and directed the ambassadors to start and improve diaspora data as well as encourage them to establish their own communities.

"I am aware that the work is ongoing and we currently have approximately 98,658 diaspora data and there are 77 diaspora communities. I would like to stress on the importance of our ambassadors improving and speeding this process by devising various ways to register them," Prof Kabudi emphasised.

The meeting between the minister and ambassadors representing the country was also attended by the Deputy Minister Dr William Tate Ole Nasha, Permanent Secretary Brigadier General Wilbert Ibuge, together with directors, heads of departments and units of the ministry.
He has found love with Sharna Burgess after his divorce from his wife of 10 years, Megan Fox.

And Brian Austin Green and the Dancing With The Stars pro, 35, headed out for a romantic dinner date at Nobu in Malibu on Monday night.

The actor, 47, cut a dapper figure in a white shirt and ripped jeans as he left the restaurant alongside a glamorous Sharna.

Eating out: Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess enjoyed romantic dinner date at Nobu in Malibu on Monday night

Sharna, meanwhile, looked elegant in a gold and white pinstripe dress which showcased her lithe limbs to perfection.

She wore her blonde hair in a low bun and accentuated her bronzed complexion with a polished make-up look.

The dancer added a boost to her height with nude Louboutin heels. The lovebirds packed on the PDA as they headed back to Brian's car, with Sharna linking arms with him.

Handsome: The actor, 47, cut a dapper figure in a white shirt and ripped jeans as he left the restaurant alongside a glamorous Sharna

Gorgeous: Sharna, meanwhile, looked elegant in a gold and white pinstripe dress which showcased her lithe limbs to perfection

Stunning: She wore her blonde hair in a low bun and accentuated her bronzed complexion with a polished make-up look

Gentleman: Brian showed off his chivalrous side as he held the door open for Sharna

Colourful display: The actor sported some funky marble print trainers

Newly-divorced: The actor went through a very public breakup last year with his wife of 10 years Megan Fox

Brian and Sharna's relationship seems to be going from strength-to-strength since they went public with their romance in January.

In an Instagram Live around Valentine's Day Green described the Australian as an 'amazing, considerate, loving, kind person.'

'Sharna's been amazing in my life... She's been so invaluable, she really has,' he explained.

The actor went through a very public breakup last year with his wife of 10 years Megan.

Romance: Brian and Sharna's relationship seems to be going from strength-to-strength since they went public with their romance in January

Having a laugh: The couple giggled as they headed back to Brian's car

Brian shares three children with the actress, 34, and their divorce was finalised in November.

The Transformers star has also moved on and is in a relationship with rapper Machine Gun Kelly.

The pair met while filming a movie together in Puerto Rico in March 2020.
THE state has indicated it will oppose bail for a man accused of murdering a senior citizen at Swakopmund last week Thursday.

Daniel Robberts (36) made his first appearance in the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court yesterday.

He is accused of murder and robbery, alternatively the theft of a motor vehicle, after allegedly strangling Thomas van Schalkwyk (69) at his home, stealing his Jeep, and trading it for drugs at Walvis Bay.

Robberts handed himself over at the Swakopmund Police Station on Friday.

Robberts, who had no legal representation, yesterday indicated to magistrate Nelao Brown he would apply for legal aid.

No bail was granted, although Brown said he would be entitled to a formal bail application.

Prosecutor Cleopatra Boois told the court the state would oppose bail on grounds that the offence was serious, and that granting bail would not be in the interest of justice as the investigations are at an early stage, and the accused may interfere with investigations.

Robberts' case was postponed to 18 May for further investigation.

He will remain in custody until then.
(HealthDay)If you must travel during the spring break, be sure to follow recommended COVID-19 pandemic safety measures, an emergency medicine doctor advises.

Millions of people are packing airports, while only one-quarter of the U.S. population has received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, noted Dr. Lewis Nelson, director of the department of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

That means it's crucial for travelers to adhere to public health measures such as social distancing, washing hands and wearing a mask.

"The primary concerns with travel right now are the social reasons and the rise of COVID-19 variants. Visiting family in a quiet environment is low risk. On the other hand, traveling to a place where there will be singing and shouting, close contact in large groups, and consuming drugs or alcohol all raise the risk of transmitting or contracting COVID-19," Nelson said in a school news release.

"Exposure to variant viruses, which may not respond to vaccines as well, and bringing them back home on your return raises the risk of spread to new regions," he added.

You can't know if you've been exposed to the predominant strain or to a variant, he noted, so limiting your risk of exposure is crucial to preventing the spread of the virus.

"The vaccines are very good but not perfect. We do not know about the effectiveness of vaccines on the variant viruses," Nelson said.

If you must travel, you "should wear a mask in public and around high-risk people, which will protect others from you in case you harbor the virus in your throat, and you from others. It is essential to avoid crowds, even outdoors but particularly indoors, and particularly if mask-wearing is not being practiced in earnest," he explained.

Washing your hands and/or using a hand sanitizer will help reduce the risk of spread.

Don't travel or socialize if you are sick, whether with COVID-like symptoms or another illness, Nelson stressed.

Also, be aware of your surroundings and socially distance yourself from anyone who is sick or coughing.

When you return home from your trip, follow whatever the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations are at the time, Nelson advised.

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 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19 and travel

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
DAKAR, Senegal  They had gathered for a wedding in a village in central Mali.

The ceremony took place the day before, but about 100 men and teenagers were still celebrating the next afternoon. They prayed together, then dispersed into different groups under some trees.

An hour later, 22 members of the wedding party were dead, killed by French warplanes. Nineteen of them were civilians, according to a report released Tuesday by the United Nations.

The airstrike, on Jan. 3, set off outrage in the West African country and has intensified calls for France, which has more than 5,000 troops stationed in the region, to leave.

Soon after the airstrike, on the village of Bounti, reports began to emerge that a wedding had been hit. France immediately dismissed any suggestion that its planes had attacked a wedding party or that there had been any collateral damage.
toroid BHPian

Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: BENGALURU Posts: 31 Thanked: 206 Times

Involved in road accident | FIR vs Outside settlement



I'm the guy who posted below last weekend.



Quote: toroid Originally Posted by



I'm a beginner driver. I have had many close calls so far during my ~2K kms behind the wheels. However, being only driver from the family there's no one to give me tips or correct me.

Hi All,I'm a beginner driver. I have had many close calls so far during my ~2K kms behind the wheels. However, being only driver from the family there's no one to give me tips or correct me.



This is what happened to my 2 month old car yesterday:





























This is how it happened:



https://youtu.be/cf28OnafLsA



A part of me tells me, if I were not practicing defensive driving, I would've overtook the car in front of me and avoided this entire episode.



The incident:

At 1PM yesterday we decided to go out for our Ooty trip planned for the next day. Less than 3km away from my house an indica came and banged my car from behind. At the time of impact I was driving at ~20km/hr and slowing down, just after the impact my speed went upto ~55km/hr. Fortunately everyone was buckled-up in my car and no one got hurt.



The driver took complete responsibility as he was trying to operate phone while driving. However he had no guilt, If it had been a 2-wheeler instead of car this could've caused of serious injury. I ensured the passenger who was traveling in the cab gets the necessary assistance.





I took photos of his license and the incident. Asked for his insurance copy, he did not have it. I contacted my insurance company, got the car toed to service center. Reached out to my SA and sent him some pictures for rough quote, he quoted minimum 85K. Some of it might go from my pocket. By the time the towing truck reach us, we contacted the owner of the cab to settle this outside police station, to which he was somewhat apathetic, arrogant and argued, 5k is the maximum that he can offer and not a single penny above it. He said that, if I go to police, they'll endup paying maximum 2k penalty. I asked him to just pay for repairing amount not covered by my insurance, to which he bluntly denied.



Till this point I was calm but this tone was very discouraging for a settlement:

1. I'm paying for the insurance outta my own pocket for someone to exploit me this way?

2. Had it been me on the other side, driving in Bangalore, the mob gatherings would have taken either huge sum of money or beaten me up. How is it fair to let someone go with 5k and 0 remorse?

I pursued him to pay more, and after what seemed like 10-15 mins I ended up deciding to go to the police. At this moment, it was less about money. I did not care if I lose some money but just wanted attempt getting justice through our legal system (deep down I knew I'm setting-up myself for big disappointment)



We went to police station and police tried their best to avoid filing a FIR. I was told/discouraged,

"If you file a FIR the driver will get away with maximum 1k penalty. It's better you settle outside."

"If you file a FIR, your insurance company will not approve the claim unless case is settled in court. Which could take more than 2 years."

"You will have to hire a lawyer and will end up losing a lot of money"



Didn't know what all to believe, so I took a leap of faith and went ahead with FIR. My car was not getting locked still I had to leave it at the police station. If above statements are true, I'll be disheartened and would find one of the reason behind the absolute chaos that our roads are. As long as you don't hurt someone, you can just get away with 5k outside settlement. If victim decides to go to the court, you'll have to pay only 1-2k penalty.





Though I have taken actions, I would definitely be benefited with experienced opinions on handling such situations! Hi All,I'm the guy who posted below last weekend.I got some invaluable advice from the Tbhp community. Even my fiance was impressed by the overall response and how helpful this community is. So much so that she started following the forum and subscribed to newsletter, although she's least interested in cars. Practicing defensive driving being the top recommendation, hence that's what I decided to do. Little did I know, sometimes you just can't do anything.A part of me tells me, if I were not practicing defensive driving, I would've overtook the car in front of me and avoided this entire episode.At 1PM yesterday we decided to go out for our Ooty trip planned for the next day. Less than 3km away from my house an indica came and banged my car from behind. At the time of impact I was driving at ~20km/hr and slowing down, just after the impact my speed went upto ~55km/hr. Fortunately everyone was buckled-up in my car and no one got hurt.The driver took complete responsibility as he was trying to operate phone while driving. However he had no guilt, If it had been a 2-wheeler instead of car this could've caused of serious injury. I ensured the passenger who was traveling in the cab gets the necessary assistance.I took photos of his license and the incident. Asked for his insurance copy, he did not have it. I contacted my insurance company, got the car toed to service center. Reached out to my SA and sent him some pictures for rough quote, he quoted minimum 85K. Some of it might go from my pocket. By the time the towing truck reach us, we contacted the owner of the cab to settle this outside police station, to which he was somewhat apathetic, arrogant and argued, 5k is the maximum that he can offer and not a single penny above it. He said that, if I go to police, they'll endup paying maximum 2k penalty. I asked him to just pay for repairing amount not covered by my insurance, to which he bluntly denied.Till this point I was calm but this tone was very discouraging for a settlement:1. I'm paying for the insurance outta my own pocket for someone to exploit me this way?2. Had it been me on the other side, driving in Bangalore, the mob gatherings would have taken either huge sum of money or beaten me up. How is it fair to let someone go with 5k and 0 remorse?I pursued him to pay more, and after what seemed like 10-15 mins I ended up deciding to go to the police. At this moment, it was less about money. I did not care if I lose some money but just wanted attempt getting justice through our legal system (deep down I knew I'm setting-up myself for big disappointment)We went to police station and police tried their best to avoid filing a FIR. I was told/discouraged,"If you file a FIR the driver will get away with maximum 1k penalty. It's better you settle outside.""If you file a FIR, your insurance company will not approve the claim unless case is settled in court. Which could take more than 2 years.""You will have to hire a lawyer and will end up losing a lot of money"Didn't know what all to believe, so I took a leap of faith and went ahead with FIR. My car was not getting locked still I had to leave it at the police station. If above statements are true, I'll be disheartened and would find one of the reason behind the absolute chaos that our roads are. As long as you don't hurt someone, you can just get away with 5k outside settlement. If victim decides to go to the court, you'll have to pay only 1-2k penalty.Though I have taken actions, I would definitely be benefited with experienced opinions on handling such situations! Last edited by toroid : 28th March 2021 at 11:08 .
[March 30, 2021] Wakefit.co partners with Cashfree to offer instant refunds and online payment options to customers

Cashfree enables startups and businesses to collect online payments and make payouts at scale using a simple integration

In its efforts to further strengthen customer satisfaction, Wakefit.co processes customer refunds instantly using Cashfree's industry-first innovation, Cashgram

The leading D2C sleep and home solutions brand also uses Cashfree's payment gateway to collect customer payments BENGALURU, India, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bengaluru-based payments and banking technology company, Cashfree, has announced its collaboration with India's leading D2C sleep and home solutions startup, Wakefit.co, to enable seamless payment options and instant refunds for customers. According to the latest data on consumer complaints by the National Consumer Helpline, out of 62,310 grievances registered in October 2020, nearly 24,658 were related to e-commerce, out of which close to 30% were refund-related glitches. Wakefit.co has always set high standards of processes for return and refund requests, with its 100-day free trial policy and 100% refund within the trial policy time frame. In order to enhance the customer experience, especially during return and refund requests, and minimize the refund wait time for customers from the existing five to eight days, the company has partnered with Cashfree to leverage its Cashgram feature. With the Cashgram integration, Wakefit.co can directly send payout linksgenerated by Cashfree to its customers over WhatsApp, who can then redeem the refunds in real-time by entering their bank account, UPI or preferred wallet details. Wakefit.co has also been using Cashfree's payment gateway to collect customer payments online.



Akash Sinha, CEO and Co-founder of Cashfree said, "Cashfree enables businesses to offer their customers the most convenient, seamless and secure payments experience. By offering automated and instant refunds to customers, the number of customer queries would be mitigated, significantly reducing the business' operating expenditure. We are delighted to partner with Wakefit and support their business growth." Commenting on the move, Parasar Sarma, VP - Growth, Wakefit.co, said, "Wakefit.co has always endeavored to create high-quality and affordable sleep and home solutions that are accessible to Indian households with a monthly income of INR 30,000 and above. We strive to understand the pain points of this demographic and are constantly attempting to create processes that can help enhance the customer journey at every touchpoint. Returns and refunds form an integral part of our customer journey and encompass an important element of one of our brand promises; the 100-day trial policy with 100% refunds within the trial period. Our association with Cashfree comes at a crucial point in our business, as we look to ramp up operations and go deeper into the Indian market. We are confident that this association will help solidify Wakefit.co's position as a trustworthy, customer-first D2C brand in the sleep and home solutions space."

About Cashfree



Cashfree is a payments and banking technology company that enables businesses in India to collect and send money via all available methods with a single integration. Founded by IIIT Hyderabad alumnus Akash Sinha and IIT Kharagpur graduate Reeju Datta, www.cashfree.com enables more than 50,000 businesses with payment collections, vendor payouts, wage payouts, bulk refunds, expense reimbursements, loyalty, and rewards. Incubated by payments pioneer PayPal, Cashfree is backed by Apis Partners, Smilegate and Y Combinator. About Wakefit.co:



Wakefit.co is a research and innovation-driven sleep and home solutions company established in March 2016. It has been founded by Ankit Garg and Chaitanya Ramalingegowda, with a vision to democratize sleep and home solutions in India. With a portfolio that previously included mattresses, pillows, bed frames, mattress protector, bedsheets, comforter, neck pillows, and back cushions, Wakefit.co is now expanding to include home solutions products such as sofas, wardrobes, study tables, bookshelves, shoe racks, TV units, side tables, coffee tables, towels and more. It manufactures its products in-house across three locations and has 22 warehouses across the country. It sells across the country through its online portal and other online marketplaces. Wakefit.co prides itself on its customer experience, with over 6 Lakh customers serviced and over 1 Lakh customer reviews online in its five years of existence. The company has received Series A funding in 2018 from Sequoia Capital India and Series B funding in 2020 from Verlinvest and Sequoia Capital India. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1477068/Wakefit.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1387178/Cashfree_Logo.jpg

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 20:56:11|Editor: huaxia

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JINAN, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Hyaluronic acid (HA) is the beauty industry's latest superstar to promise younger looks with better skin hydration, fewer wrinkles and restoring facial contours.

Known as the "key to Fountain of Youth," it is also injecting youth and vitality to the biotech industry in east China's Shandong Province, which accounts for more than three-quarters of the global raw HA market.

China has been encouraging sci-tech innovation to drive the economy and Bloomage Biotech, a major HA producer in Shandong, is a typical beneficiary of technological progress.

In Jinan High-tech Development Zone, Bloomage Biotech and Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences are neighbors and pioneers in China's HA industry.

HA is widely and naturally present in all living organisms. It plays an essential physiological role in the human body, such as facilitating pain-free movement in the joints and supporting the round shape of the eye.

It is also a powerful natural moisturizer as it can bind with water over one thousand times its own weight. An adult weighing 75 kg only has 15 grams of HA in the body, and the content will gradually diminish with age.

Before the application of biofermentation, HA was mainly extracted from rooster combs. In the 1970s, extracting 1 kg of HA needed rooster combs from more than 20,000 roosters.

HA products on the Chinese market were previously mostly imported. The price of 1 kg of medical-grade HA was once about 1 million yuan. The situation was reversed through independent innovation.

In the early 1990s, Guo Xueping was a researcher at Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He and his colleagues unlocked the technology of biofermentation, which enables large-scale HA production, dramatically reduces the costs, and makes China a significant producer of HA raw materials.

Chief scientist at Bloomage since 2000, Guo told Xinhua that Bloomage now exports HA products to more than 40 countries and regions, accounting for more than half of the global market.

Bloomage products cover all categories, from food-grade HA priced at 2 yuan (about 0.3 U.S. dollars) per gram to medical-grade HA for tumor-targeting drugs priced at 500,000 yuan per gram.

The discovery that enzymes could cut HA molecules established Bloomage's market-leading position. Large HA molecules just sit on top of the skin and provide hydration only at the surface. Smaller HA molecules can penetrate deeper. So a product containing HA molecules in different sizes offers maximum hydration.

"Bloomage is the only company in the world that can control the HA molecular weight from 2k Da to 4,000k Da," said Guo.

Dalton (Da) is the unit of molecular weight. The molecular weight of water is 18 Da.

In 2019, biofermentation productivity at Bloomage was about 12 to 14 grams per liter, double that of most foreign counterparts, said Guo.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), the company plans to introduce advanced biotechnologies such as synthetic biology and gene editing to select bacteria for biofermentation.

In an interview with Xinhua-run Shanghai Security News, Bloomage CEO Zhao Yan said that to develop products respected by the international market, innovation must be verified and refined repeatedly in the lab.

For 20 years, Bloomage Biotech just did one thing, said Zhao: "We studied HA and made it the best in the world." Enditem
On 17 February 1864, the Confederate submarine CSS Hunley attacked and sank a 1,240-ton United States Navy ship, the USS Housatonic, and entered history books as the first combat submarine to sink a warship. Shortly after, the Hunley itself sank and disappeared from existence. But it wasnt the first time the submarine had sunk.

1864 painting of H. L. Hunley by Conrad Wise Chapman. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Hunley was one of three submarines that Horace Lawson Hunley built for the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War. The first was Pioneer, a prototype built in early 1862 and tested in the Mississippi River, and later in Lake Pontchartrain. After only a short month of tests, the Pioneer was scuttled by the Confederates to avoid capture by the approaching Union army. The Pioneer was followed by the American Diver. The plan was to power the American Diver using some sort of an engine, like an electric motor or a steam engine, but they were unable to produce enough power to propel the craft. Eventually, they decided to stick to conventional hand-cranked means of propulsion that had powered the Pioneer.

The American Diver was an ungainly vessel and too slow to be practical. Nevertheless, it was decided to deploy the submarine and in 1863, while towing the American Diver down Mobile Bay, in the Gulf of Mexico, in an attempt to attack on the Union blockade, the submarine foundered in the heavy seas and sank. It was never recovered, but the lessons learned from Pioneer and American Diver gave Hunley and his team enough confidence to create a third vessel that would succeed. Hunley named the vessel after himself.

Drawing of Hunley from Popular Science Magazine, circa 1900. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Hunley, the submarine, was about 40 feet long and less than four feet in diameter. Inside that terribly small space, eight burly men sat side by side along the length of the vessel and hand-cranked the crankshaft that turned the propeller. Each end of the submarine was equipped with ballast tanks that could be flooded by opening valves, or pumped dry by hand pumps allowing Hunley to submerge and surface. The craft was also weighted down with additional iron weights screwed to the bottom. In the case of emergencies when the submarine needed to rise up quickly, these weights could be unscrewed from inside the cabin. The Hunley could remain submerged for two excruciating hours before having to surface for fresh air. A single candle provided light, while also functioning as an indicator to the quality of the air inside the vesselif the flame flickered and died out then there was too little oxygen left.

The Hunley was originally designed to dive completely below her target while towing behind a floating torpedo at the end of a long rope. Once the submarine dove and passed under the keel of her target, she would resurface on the other side, causing the torpedo to be drawn against the targeted ship and explode. In July 1863, the Hunley made a successful demonstration of its attack capabilities by sinking an old coal-hauling barge in the middle of the Mobile River. But more tests were to follow before the Hunley could be readied for war.

A life size model of the CSS Hunley on the grounds of The Charleston Museum, Charleston. Photo: Wally Gobetz/Flickr

On 29 August 1863, Hunley was preparing to make a test dive in Charleston, when the captain inadvertently stepped on the diving controls while the hatches were open, and the sub sank killing all five men aboard. Only the captain escaped. The submarine was retrieved and prepared for another mission. This time Horace Hunley himself insisted on captaining the sub on another test demonstration. On 15 October 1863, the Hunley dived underwater and plummeted bow-first to the ocean floor. All eight men, Hunley included, perished.

After the two tragedies, the Confederate General Beauregard was reluctant to put the Hunley back in service. Yet, there were many who believed that the Hunley could successfully break the blockade on Charleston Harbor. However, they agreed that the Hunley had to be modified if she were to succeed.

Towing an explosive device was abandoned because of the difficulty of safely maneuvering the submarine between the keel of the ship and the ocean bottom. Additionally, the towed line could foul Hunley's screw or drift into the submarine herself. A more direct approach was adopted. The Hunley was fitted with a spar torpedoa copper cylinder packed with black powder attached to the end of a long pole, mounted on Hunleys bow. The Hunley would ram the side of the targets ship with 135 pounds worth of explosives. Metal pins on the leading face of the bomb would penetrate the wooden hull, securing the charge in place. Hunleys crew would then reverse power the sub to distance themselves from the impending explosion, letting out 150 feet of coiled rope as they did so. Once the entire length of rope had been let out, the taut rope would pull the bombs trigger.

Drawing of the Hunley. Wikimedia Commons

On 17 February 1864, the Hunley made her first and only attack on an enemy vessela 1,240 long tons, wooden-hulled steam-powered sloop-of-war called USS Housatonic, stationed at the entrance to Charleston harbor, about 5 miles offshore. The Hunley went stealthily towards the ship and pressed its torpedo snugly against the Housatonics side. But the trigger mechanism malfunctioned and before the crew of the Hunley could escape, the charge exploded taking down both the Housatonic and the Hunley.

The disappearance of the Hunley was a great mystery, because it was initially thought that the submarine had survived the torpedo attack, based on a report by the commander of Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island that he had received prearranged light signals from the sub an hour after the attack. Perhaps she collided with another ship, or was hit through one of the view ports by a Union soldier, shattering the glass and sinking the sub.

USS Housatonic. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

136 years after it sank, the Hunley was found on the seabed in 1995, almost completely intact. Five years later, it was brought to the surface. Analysis of the remains of the crew members still at their position suggested that they died from the shockwave of the explosion, the pressure wave of which travelled the short distance between the bomb and the sub, then through the hull of the sub without damaging it, until it hit the men like an out-of-control semi-truck speeding down a highway. Death was instantaneous.

In 2004, the remains of the crew were laid to rest at Magnolia Cemetery, in Charleston. Tens of thousands of people attended the burial. The recovered Hunley is on now display at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.

The interior of the Hunley. Photo: Randall Hill/Reuters

The submarine H. L. Hunley in its conservation tank at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center. Photo: US Navy

A life size model of the CSS Hunley on the grounds of The Charleston Museum, Charleston. Photo: DrStew82/Wikimedia Commons

References:

# Rachel Lance, The New Explosive Theory About What Doomed The Crew Of The Hunley, Smithsonian Mag

# www.hunley.org

# Ron Soodalter, The Confederate Submarine, The NY Times

# Wikipedia
By Ritah Kemigisa

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has dismissed reports that there is an ongoing fight sparked by Constitutional Court ruling filed by the late Bob Kasango.

The ruling declared that a judge must resign if she/he is to take up an appointment in another arm of government.

Reports show that the officials at the DPPs office are locked in a fight over who temporarily takes the reins after lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo decided to opt out of office.

However the PRO for the DPPs office Jacquelyn Okui says it is not true that Abodo went on leave following the ruling adding that she was out of the station for two weeks to attend the 14th UN congress on crime prevention and criminal justice that was held in Japan.

Okui says Alice Komuhangi, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions was asked to stand in for her during the two weeks and for the time being after Abodo during a meeting with the top management and two other members said she was inclined to keep out of office due to the impasse arising from the Constitutional Court decision.
8,800 in cash was transferred from Ireland to Romania in the past two months by a Romanian couple who claimed that they were living on the street outside a church in Cork.

Detective Garda Aoife Hayes alleged that the 8,800 was transferred in 15 transactions and that receipts to this total amount were stored on the couples shared phone.

Det. Garda Hayes arrested Gheorghe Marginica, 29, of no fixed address on Saturday, March 27, and brought him before Cork District Court.

He was charged with stealing 60 in cash from a student at an ATM on St. Patricks Street, Cork, on Saturday, March 27.

Det. Garda Hayes said that a key was found on the young man and gardai believed it was for some address but that the defendant was not disclosing the address.

The detective said gardai had checked with the Simon community and found that they had determined that he was not in need of accommodation from Simon. They could not find any indication of him sleeping on the street.

I believe he has an address which he has not provided. He has a key in his property.

He has not told us where that key is for. He is stating he is homeless. Simons night services have not come across him.

Initial assessment of his mobile phone shows a large amount of pictures of money receipts  15 in total  sent back to his home country of Romania to a total of 8,800.

And the money was transferred between February 17 2021 and March 24 2021.

I believe he will leave the jurisdiction if granted bail, Det. Garda Hayes said.

With the assistance of a Romanian interpreter, he said in English, I sleep in front of the church.

Sgt. Pat Lyons said gardai had examined the areas surrounding the relevant church  St. Marys on Popes Quay - and found nothing to link the defendant to this location.

Daithi O Donnabhain, solicitor, said both parties had given names consistent with the names as shown on their passport/national identification papers.

Judge Olann Kelleher refused bail and remanded him in custody until March 31.

The detective also objected to bail being granted to co-accused Michele Judele, 30, who faces the same charge of stealing 60 from the student.

Det. Garda Hayes testified, She has again failed to give an address even though there is a key in their possession and they are not saying where the key is from. She is saying she is homeless but she has no belongings on her. Simon Community assessed her as not in need of homeless services. There is evidence of wealth on her mobile phone which she shares with her husband.

Michele Judele said they were sending this money home to her husbands mother for their two children. She also confirmed under cross-examination that they were not working and not in receipt of any social welfare.

Both defendants are charged with theft. Det. Garda Hayes said, The allegation is that they approached a student asking for money. He said he did not have change. They persisted. They asked him for 33 for a bus to Dublin.

"This boy complied from fear and intimidation. He gave them 40. They said they wanted to buy another ticket. He could only get 20 when he went back to the ATM.

"He said he complied out of fear and intimidation.

Det. Garda Hayes said, When asked where they got 8,800, that they had sent home, they said they got it from people helping them. It is our belief they got it from circumstances similar to those alleged in the charge before the court.

Bail was also refused to Judele who was remanded in custody until March 31.
A local businessman is preparing for a huge ride he hopes will raise awareness and funds for at-home care for seniors.

Jeff Salter, the founder and CEO of Caring Senior Service, plans to e-bike 9,000 miles across the country starting on April 1 to celebrate his business providing 30 years of in-home care to seniors. The four-month journey kicks off in San Antonio as the company is headquartered in the Alamo City.

Salter, 50, will stop at all 45 locations in his company.

READ ALSO: East Austin community fighting gentrification to keep Latino tradition

"I'm extremely excited," Salter told MySA.com. "It's going to be an adventure. I'm really looking forward to getting into all the different communities. Talking to public leaders and others passionate about senior care and want to help in whatever ways they can. This movement is exciting."

After his San Antonio stop, Salter said his trip is a full-circle journey. He plans on heading south after San Antonio near the McAllen area, then heading east towards Houston, and then out of Texas to Mississippi. He will stop in Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and then out more west to Ohio, Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, and Utah. He circles back to Texas after hitting California and Arizona.

Along the journey, he said he will be pulling along a pop-up trailer that includes a tent. He will use it to take breaks at state parks and RV parks during his trip.

READ ALSO: April 1 is the last day San Antonio residents can register to vote for May election

The campaign aims to raise money for grab bars to be installed in local seniors' homes. Grab bars help prevent falls, which are the leading cause of fatal injury among older adults and a barrier to living in a private residence, Salter said.

Caring's goal is to raise $100,000, which is enough for 400 families to receive two grab bars installed in their homes. Caring is currently accepting donations from community members so that they can help as many seniors as possible. Click here to donate.

Although his embarking on the trip alone, Salter said anyone can join him as he cycles across the country. However, Salter is using an e-bike to help symbolize how his company aids seniors in small but impactful ways by providing services like running errands, meal prepping, housekeeping, and assisting in personal care.

"It's kind of a cool thing," Salter said. "That's what the company is about. We are about providing a little bit of help to seniors who are in the comfort of their own homes."
Union Health Minister on Tuesday said that seven more COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in stages of clinical trials.

He made the statement after receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Delhi Heart and Lung Institute.

said, "Around seven more COVID vaccine candidates are in clinical trials. Some of them are in the advanced phase of the trials. Around two dozen vaccines are in pre-clinical trials."

The Union Health Minister said that 430 districts in the country have not reported a single case of in the last 28 days.

"The situation is under control but we don't have to be complacent in terms of observing COVID appropriate behaviour," he said.

His wife Nutan Goel also took the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine today.

said that neither of them felt any side effects after their first doses.

"Both Indian vaccines are safe and effective. A lot of people still have doubts regarding vaccines. I urge them not to believe what is being circulated in WhatsApp university," he further said.

"There are only a few rare cases wherein people contracted COVID-19 after taking vaccines. Even if someone tests positive after taking vaccines, it minimalises the chances of their hospitalization or admission to ICU wards," he added.

He had taken the first dose of the vaccine on March 2.

In what is billed as the largest vaccination drive in the world, as many as 6,11,13,354 vaccine doses have been administered till 8 am on March 30.

India had started its vaccination drive on January 16 with priority given to all healthcare and frontline workers in the first phase. The second phase started on March 1 where doses are being administered to people above the age of 60 and those between 45 and 59 years with specific comorbidities. From April 1, the government has decided to vaccinate all above 45 years.

India reported 56, 211 fresh COVID-19 cases and 271 related deaths in the last 24 hours, the union health ministry informed on Tuesday morning.
M&A

Heat turns up in the fight to acquire Cubic

Singapore Technologies Engineering is not giving up in its battle to acquire Cubic Corp. and thwart the competing offer from private equity firm Veritas Capital and the latters partner.

In a trading update filed Tuesday, ST Engineering confirmed it has raised its offer to $2.47 billion in cash from the $2.41 billion unsolicited bid first announced March 22. That represents an increase from $76 to $78 per share.

Veritas and the private equity arm of activist hedge fund Elliott Management in February agreed to acquire Cubic for $2.21 billion in cash, or $70 per share. ST Engineering then revealed its first unsolicited offer, which Cubic said it would consider and discuss as STEs bid could lead to a superior proposal.

The Veritas-Elliott team increased their offer to $2.28 billion in cash at $72 per share after STE made its intentions public, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. After that raised bid by Veritas and Elliott, ST Engineering then returned to Cubic with the $2.47 billion bid.

Cubics board of directors has not changed its recommendation that shareholders vote in favor of the Veritas-Elliott deal announced in February, but WSJ reported the board will meet to discuss the latest bids.

The board of San Diego-headquartered Cubic favored the Veritas-Elliott proposal versus that ST Engineering due to uncertainty over how the latter would navigate the regulatory approval process. A Cubic representative declined to comment.

For ST Engineering, its bid primarily centers around the transportation business of Cubic that makes payment cards and other technology solutions to transit agencies in cities worldwide. STEs plan is to keep the Cubic name and make San Diego the global headquarters of a bolstered smart mobility business.

If ST Engineering ultimately seals the deal for Cubic, the plan is to then immediately sell the Cubic defense business to a unit of global investment firm Blackstone Group that has approximately $30 billion in assets under management.

A Blackstone spokesman confirmed the tactical opportunities unit remains in partnership with ST Engineering on the bid for Cubic.

One of Blackstone Tactical Opportunities other investments with a government market footprint is Amergint Technloogies, which acquired the former Raytheon Technologies space-based precision optics business unit last year.

ST Engineering is half-owned by Temasek Holdings, a sovereign wealth fund owned by Singapores national government that differs from others like it for these three reasons: the fund invests mostly in equities, is the full owner of many assets and also pays taxes like other commercial investment firms.

Even with the plans to sell Cubics defense business to Blackstone, ST Engineering would have to gain approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. if the bid for Cubic does win out.

ST Engineering has said it received CFIUS approval for 11 previous acquisitions of U.S. businesses and three alone in 2019. CFIUS did deny a hostile bid two years ago by Broadcom, then headquartered in Singapore, for Qualcomm over concerns about the formers presence in China.

Upon its acquisition of Brocade in 2017, Broadcom was required to divest that companys portfolio of classified contracts and other sensitive assets to another buyer that eventually became Hitachi Vantara Federal Corp.

ST Engineerings bid for Cubic is subject to a $113 million termination fee in the event that it does not gain CFIUS approval within nine months or if Blackstone breaches its regulatory obligations to STE.

Representatives from ST Engineering and Veritas have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The rogue comet 2I/Borisov, which made headlines in 2019 when it passed by the sun, is one of the most pristine comets ever observed, scientists say.

New observations with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile indicate the rogue comet likely never passed close enough to any single star to affect its original condition.

Comets  cosmic snowballs of frozen gases, rock and dust  can be altered by heat and radiation from stars like our Sun.

But the fact it never passed close to a star has made it an 'undisturbed relic' of the cloud of gas and dust from which it originally formed.

This image was taken with the FORS2 instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope in late 2019, when comet 2I/Borisov passed near the Sun. Since the comet was travelling at breakneck speed, around 110,000 miles per hour (around 175 000 kilometres per hour), the background stars appeared as streaks of light as the telescope followed the comet's trajectory. The colours in these streaks give the image some 'disco flair', ESA says, and are the result of combining observations in different wavelength bands

WHAT IS A PRISTINE COMET? Pristine comets haven't been altered or degraded by heat and radiation from stars like our Sun. They're exciting to scientists because they represent the original state of their origin. Particles of dust coated with water ice and other molecules serve as a comet's building blocks. Comets are generally thought to originate in our Solar System, made up of the leftover gas and rocks thrown out as the planets formed. But the recent arrival of two interstellar objects - a rock named 'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov - have challenged that assumption. 2I/Borisov may be the most pristine ever found, European Southern Observatory (ESO) now says. Pristine comets can teach scientists more about the origins of our Solar System. Advertisement

2I/Borisov was discovered by Crimean amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov with a telescope on August 3, 2019 and was confirmed to have come from beyond the Solar System a few weeks later.

Comets go around the sun in an orbit that's highly elliptical, meaning they're not perfectly circular.

They can spend hundreds and thousands of years out in the depths of the Solar System before they return for their 'perihelion'  their closest approach to the sun.

European Southern Observatory (ESO) scientists believe 2I/Borisov had never passed close to any star before it made its closest approach to the Sun at just over 2 astronomical units (AU) by the Sun on December 8, 2019.

A single AU is the distance between the Earth and Sun  approximately 93 million miles (150 million km)  so 2 AU is 186 million miles.

2I/Borisov survived its closest approach to the Sun  but not without partially breaking up, astronomers revealed last year.

It was assumed the comet broke apart when it reached this close approach, but astronomers said only part of it broke off and the bulk of the comet survived unscathed.

ESA now says 2I/Borisov 'may be the most pristine ever found', despite the perihelion.

'2I/Borisov could represent the first truly pristine comet ever observed,' said study author Dr Stefano Bagnulo of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium in Northern Ireland.

A team from Yale University captured this 'close-up' image of the rogue comet 2I/Borisov on November 24, 2019, using the Keck Observatory's low-resolution imaging spectrometer

'We think that when we observed comet 2I/Borisov, [the Sun's] solar wind and radiation had not the time yet to substantially alter the structure of the comet material.

'Weathering needs repeated passages close to the Sun, or prolonged periods of exposure to solar wind and radiation to act,' he told MailOnline.

'Think in terms of the erosion of the mountains due to winds, or the suntan when we go to the beach.'

WHAT IS POLARIMETRY? Polarimetry is a technique to measure the polarisation of light. Light becomes polarised, for example, when it goes through certain filters, like the lenses of polarised sunglasses or cometary material. By studying the properties of sunlight polarised by a comet's dust, researchers can gain insights into the physics and chemistry of comets. Advertisement

2I/Borisov is moving further and further away and is now about 930 million miles (1.5 billion km) from us, Dr Bagnulo said.

Pristine comets are exciting for astronomers because when they come close to stars like our sun, they release material that is still in the same conditions as at the time of the formation of our solar system, some 4.5 billion years ago.

'These observations help us to understand how solar system originated and evolved,' Dr Bagnulo told MailOnline.

Dr Bagnulo and his colleagues used the FORS2 instrument on VLT, located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, to study 2I/Borisov in detail using polarimetry  a technique to measure the polarisation of light.

Since polarimetry is regularly used to study comets and other small bodies of our Solar System, this allowed the team to compare the interstellar visitor with our local comets.

The team found that 2I/Borisov has polarimetric properties distinct from those of Solar System comets, with the exception of Hale-Bopp, an unusually bright comet outside of Jupiter's orbit that was discovered in 1995.

Hale-Bopp received much public interest in the late 1990s as a result of being easily visible to the naked eye, and also because it was one of the most pristine comets astronomers had ever seen.

Prior to its most recent passage in April 1997, Hale-Bopp is thought to have passed by our Sun only once and had therefore barely been affected by solar wind and radiation.

This means it was pristine, having a composition very similar to that of the cloud of gas and dust it  and the rest of the Solar System  formed from.

Birds eye view of the Very Large Telescope in the remote, sparsely populated Atacama Desert in northern Chile

By analysing the polarisation together with the colour of the comet to gather clues on its composition, the team concluded that 2I/Borisov is in fact even more pristine than Hale-Bopp.

'The fact that the two comets are remarkably similar suggests that the environment in which 2I/Borisov originated is not so different in composition from the environment in the early Solar System,' said study author Alberto Cellino from the Astrophysical Observatory of Torino, National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Italy.

British scientists are currently leading a project with ESA, called Comet Interceptor, to study a speeding comet when it ventures through our Solar System.

'The idea is that a space probe will be launched in space and will wait there for us to discover a new comet arriving from the farther regions of our solar system, or even from the interstellar space if we are lucky enough to discover a new one at the right time,' Dr Bagnulo told MailOnline.

The new study has been published today in Nature Communications.

2I/Borisov is only the second and most recently detected interstellar visitor to our Solar System, after the mysterious Oumuamua.

Originally classified as a comet, Oumuamua was later reclassified as an asteroid as it lacked a coma  a cloud of gases that surrounds the nucleus of a comet.
Russia has excellent trusting relations with Azerbaijan, spokesman for the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said in the interview with the Argumenty i Fakty newspaper.

According to him, Moscow has "excellent trusting relations" with Baku, which are "based on mutual respect."

"They can have a lot of aspects that are of mutual benefit," Peskov stressed.

Speaking of Armenia, he said Russia has "historically good relations" with the country. The spokesman explained that Russia and Armenia are linked by a number of integration processes benefiting Yerevan, both in political and economic terms.

Touching upon the issue of the Second Karabakh War, he noted that "everyone should remember the personal role played by the Russian President in stopping the Second Karabakh War."
According to a press release published by Huntington Ingalls Industries on March 30, 2021, the firm announced that the shipbuilding team, which includes its Newport News Shipbuilding division, has been awarded a contract modification in support of construction of the 10th Virginia-class Block V submarine.

According to a press release published by Huntington Ingalls Industries on March 30, 2021, the firm announced that the shipbuilding team, which includes its Newport News Shipbuilding division, has been awarded a contract modification in support of construction of the 10th Virginia-class Block V submarine.

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Virginia-Class Submarine Washington SSN 787 (Picture source: Huntington Ingalls Industries)

In December 2019, Newport News and teaming partner General Dynamics Electric Boat received a $22 billion contract to build nine Virginia-class submarines. The contract modification, which exercises an option for the last fast-attack submarine of the block, brings the total value of the contract for Newport News to $9.8 billion.

We are pleased that Congress supported the restoration of funding for the 10th Virginia-class boat in Block V, said Jason Ward, Newport News vice president of Virginia-class submarine construction. We look forward to building and delivering the final boat of the block that maintains production at two submarines per year and continues to stabilize the industrial base.

In total, Newport News and Electric Boat have built and delivered 19 Virginia-class submarines. Construction on the 10th submarine of the Block V is expected to begin in early 2024.

The Virginia-class submarine is armed with VPM (Virginia Payload Module) with 28 Tomahawk BGM-109 long-range land-attack missiles, 12 VLS Vertical Launching System (Tomahawk BGM-109) tubes, and four 533 mm torpedo tubes able to launch Mk-48 heavyweight submarine-launched torpedoes and UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The Virginia Payload Module (VPM) gives the guided-missile capability to the submarine. The Virginia-class Block V has an increased length, from 377 ft (115 m) to 460 ft (140 m), and displacement, from 7,800 tons to 10,200 tons.
Ex-member of notorious Basayev gang gets 14 years for infringement on servicemen life

 flickr.com/ Jobs For Felons Hub

10:39 30/03/2021

MOSCOW, March 30 (RAPSI)  A former member of Shamil Basayev and Emir Khattabs gang living in Russias Stavropol Territory Mavlimberdi Akbulatov has received 14 years in high-security colony for infringement on the military personnels life, the Investigative Committees press service reports.

He has been also found guilty of banditism and violent coup.

According to the Investigative Committee, from August 7 to 24, 1999, the Basayev and Khattabs armed gang members totaling at least 1,000 people infringed on the life of Russias army servicemen conducting public security and restore of the constitutional order in the Republic of Dagestan.
The Air Force's Airman Battle Uniform is getting its official send-off.

On Thursday, airmen will be required to retire their old "Tiger Stripe" camouflage for good and switch to the Operational Camouflage Uniform, or OCP. The service has spent three years phasing in the Army's service duty uniform.

The Air Force approved the OCP to be worn full-time beginning Oct. 1, 2018, with the expectation that all airmen and Space Force guardians would make the complete changeover by April 1, 2021, after wearing the Airman Battle Uniform, or ABU, for more than a decade.

Read Next: Robot Security Dogs Have Arrived at Tyndall Air Force Base

The OCP already has a history with the service.

Since 2012, nearly 100,000 airmen have worn the uniform when deployed overseas to places like Afghanistan or while operating outside the wire, Maj. Gen. Robert LaBrutta, then-Air Force director of Military Force Management Policy and deputy chief of staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, said in 2018. LaBrutta retired in 2019.

U.S. Air Force basic military training trainees from the 326th Training Squadron receive the first operational camouflage pattern (OCP) uniforms during initial issue, Oct. 2, 2019, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. (U.S. Air Force/Sarayuth Pinthong)

Air Force Special Operations Command members were some of the first to don the OCP, along with some Security Forces units, LaBrutta said at the time.

Service member feedback played a big role in the decision to switch to the OCP, top officials have said. Airmen have expressed on social media that moving to a single combat uniform for the service couldn't come soon enough.

In 2013, The Washington Post reported that there were 10 different types of military camouflage uniforms in use, depending on service and where troops were stationed.

The ABU's "tiger stripe" pattern was supposed to pay homage to camouflage used during the Vietnam War, according to the Post.

But early iterations "looked slightly off" from one uniform to the next, with multiple shades making up the pattern, according to Master Sgt. Mike Smith, who wrote a farewell tribute to the ABU earlier this year. Smith serves at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Tennessee.

Smith asked airmen their opinions of the ABU and received a variety of responses.

"Not since leisure suit wearers were cool has an outfit been so disliked and oppositely loved," he said in a release. "One opponent compared its camouflage design to an over-patterned couch; another advocate hailed its unique ability to channel the wind down her sleeves, from one arm to the other while driving down the road -- she will miss that."

Airmen at the Tennessee base got together to say goodbye to the ABU one last time March 29, taking selfies in the tiger stripe.

"We've come a long way in this uniform, here and deployed," said Chief Master Sgt. Steven Durrance, the enlisted professional military education center commandant at McGhee Tyson.

"It's important to capture this moment and take time for our heritage, who we are, and where we come from," he said in a separate release.

The service will donate leftover uniform gear associated with the ABU to junior ROTC programs across the country, service officials have previously said.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: Air Force Delays Some OCP Uniform Mandatory Wear Dates
New Delhi/Mumbai, March 30 : After Sanjay Raut said he had cautioned the Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders on Sachin Vaze, former Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday sought the interrogation of Raut by the NIA.

In his tweet, Sanjay Nirupam said, "Sanjay Raut said that he was against the reinstatement of Sachin Vaze, however till yesterday he termed Vaze as an honest and capable officer, then who are the leaders on whose behest Vaze came back this should also be told, NIA should pick people like Raut and reach to the godfathers of Vaze" Nirupam's reaction comes a day after the statement of Raut, but it is a known fact that the former Mumbai Congress Chief was against any tie up with Shiv Sena. Nirupam, a former Shiv Sena leader had joined the Congress in 2005.

The MVA woes are far from over as the news of alleged secret meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar was leaked on Sunday and there were wild speculation on the fate of the government.

However, Maharashtra's ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi on Monday rubbished the purported development and reiterated that the state government was safe and sound.

Though leaders of all three constituents -- the Shiv Sena, the NCP, and the Congress --- have denied any such behind-the-curtains parleys even took place, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is fuelling the speculation on the unconfirmed clandestine meet at the home of a leading businessman.

Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said he was "not aware of any such meeting", but "even if they meet, so what?" "If the country's Home Minister meets any MP or leaders of any political party, so what's wrong with it? Pawar Saheb is a senior leader and he can meet Shah... even I can meet," Raut countered when quizzed by media persons.

NCP General Secretary Praful Patel said in Kochi on Sunday: "The MVA was formed by the efforts of Pawar Saheb, and there is no reason to think about unnecessary things (toppling the MVA)." Raut continued that in politics, there's nothing really secret, and if it was so, "how did you come to know about it?"

"The Home Minister said that 'not every meeting can be made public'. However, I recall that in the past, he had spoken about what had happened behind closed doors," Raut said, referring to the Shah-Uddhav Thackeray meeting in February 2019 at 'Matoshri', the latter's residence in Mumbai, ahead of the elections.

A Congress leader, preferring anonymity, said while there is nothing wrong with such meetings or confabulations among top national leaders, the laughable aspect of the alleged Shah-Pawar meet was the media's wild speculation that it could lead to a collapse of the MVA government here.

Attempting to needle the MVA, BJP state President Chandrakant Patil evaded a direct response but said: "Such meetings take place routinely... In Indian culture, politics is on one side, but we should all keep meeting. Recently, such meetings have reduced in Maharashtra. Since Pawar and Shah were there (Ahmedabad), they may have met." To a pointed query on whether a potential BJP-NCP team-up was acceptable to him, Patil guardedly said that whatever decisions are taken by the party's senior leadership would be accepted by all and would be always in the party's interests.
Guinness has been celebrating various accomplishments under its Officially Amazing mantra for years, and the fact that theres a title for the worlds greatest demolition derby shouldnt probably come as a surprise. The latest record in this category was set in August 2019remember those days when we could still hang out in large crowds, having fun?As March is drawing to an end, so is autoevolutions celebration of Toyota, the Toyota Month -themed virtual party. What better way is there to go out with a bang than to remember that time when a run-down Toyota Corolla played a major part in setting another world record? Toyota has many world records, both verified by Guinness and unofficial, and, yes, this is one of them. On August 3, 2019, in Canada, St-Lazare de Bellechasse, during the Festival de la Galette de Sarrasin, the worlds largest demolition derby took place. Put together by Nicolas Tremblay, Julien Fournier, and Paul Morin, the event was meant to honor the local tradition of demolition derbies with a world record.A Guinness Records official was on the scene and verified the record: 125 cars took part in the derby that lasted roughly 50 minutes. At the end, the winner was declared Mathieu Langlois, who, at the wheel of a busted 2001 Toyota Corolla, was more or less still standing. He got to go home with the giant trophy and a CAD10,000 prize, which is roughly US$8,000 at the current rate exchange.The first video at the bottom of the page shows footage from the demolition derby: the winner is pictured in the last photo in the gallery. If your French is polished enough, you can watch the 30-minute documentary below of the event, which includes interviews with organizers and local demolition derby legends, including the pioneer of the Demolition of St-Lazare, Raynald Fradette.
Addis Abeba  Oromia police rearrested OLF members Lammi Begna and Dawit Abdeta for the second time after the Oromia Supreme court dismissed charges against them. The two were arraigned at Oromia Supreme Court in the capital Addis Abeba today where the court dropped their charges and ordered for their immediate release.

"Lammi and Dawit were walking to the taxi prepared to take them home when they were stopped by security forces dressed like civilians," said Lammi Gemchu, the interim head of public relations of OLF while explaining that this group of men were later accompanied by armed Oromia police who then took Lami and Dawit to the detention center in Mojo where they have been detained for the last two months.

Lammi Begna and Dawit Abdeta were first arrested in June 2020, according to their lawyer, Gudane Fikadu. "They were detained at different detention centers in Addis Abeba and Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne." He added, "Their case was presented at district courts until October when they appeared at Oromia Supreme Court having being charged with terrorism. The Oromia Supreme Court granted them bail early November."

He recalled that they were rearrested on November 20, 2020 when they went to court to attend a hearing related to their case. Gudane explained, "On December 25, 2020, Oromia Supreme court dismissed charges against them and ordered their release. Oromia police did not comply with the ruling and kept Lammi and Dawit at a Sebeta Police station. They were later transferred to Modjo and were told that it was 'an order from Oromia Police commission'."

The defense team appealed to Oromia Supreme Court several times and the court finally ordered the commissioner of Oromia police, Ararsa Merdasa to appear in court on March 29, 2021 and explain why court orders from December 25, 2020 weren't upheld. At today's hearing the commissioner of Oromia Police neither appeared in court or sent any of his representatives.

The court asked a member of Oromia police who was escorting Lammi and Dawit to the hearing about the absence of the commissioner to which the policeman answered by saying that he knows nothing about the matter and that he was told to escort the detainees only.

However, Gudane told Addis Standard that the Oromia Police explained through a letter sent to the Oromia Supreme Court that Commissioner Ararsa was out of town for work. When the court asked for the reason Lammi and Dawit remained in custody despite court orders, the letter by Oromia police commission pointed to appeals made by Oromia's Attorney General Office to the Federal Supreme Court on March 4, 2021 to repeal Oromia's Supreme Court ruling.

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The Federal Supreme court set a court date to hear the regional attorney general appeal appointment which is not due April 20, 2021 so the judges asked if Oromia police were asked by the Federal police to keep Lammi and Dawit under custody and no response was given to the court as representatives of Oromia police were not present. Gudane explained, "The letter sent by Oromia police commission to Oromia supreme court did not show any request made by the federal police to keep them under custody."

The judges then asked the prosecutor why Lammi and Dawit were detained despite the court's order to which they answered by denying to have any knowledge of Lammi and Dawit detention. The Oromia Supreme Court then dismissed all charges and ordered the immediate release of Lammi and Dawit.

However, Oromia Police rearrested them after they walked out of the court premises and transferred them back to the detention center in Mojo where they were previously kept. "They told us that the order came from above and we couldn't even argue because they were all armed." said Gudane Fikadu, Lammi Begna and Dawit Abdeta lawyer. AS
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03/30/2021

Photo (c) Darryl Fonseka - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 30,335,188 (30,267,561)

Total U.S. deaths: 550,121 (549,364)

Total global cases: 127,818,432 (127,319,002)

Total global deaths: 2,794,820 (2,785,838)

Public health officials increasingly uneasy about rising cases

U.S. health officials are on edge as new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) have begun to rise again, just as millions of Americans are getting vaccinations against it.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stepped up the concern several notches when she said she has a feeling of impending doom if another wave of the virus hits. Others in the medical profession share her concern.

"There's still a lot of vulnerable people out there. A lot of people are going to get sick and die unnecessarily when we're so close to the finish line," Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told CNN.

White House steps up vaccination goals

By just about any measure, the U.S. has set records for the speed at which people are getting vaccinated against the virus. President Biden, who just weeks ago said all Americans should be eligible to receive the shot by May 1, has moved the date up to April 19.

Getting the vaccine will also be easier. About 40,000 retail pharmacies have now been enlisted in the distribution network -- up from 17,000 -- to allow the vast majority of Americans to get their shots within five miles of home.

Biden has set a goal of administering 200,000 doses of the vaccine by April 30, and that goal may be moved up. According to the Brown School of Public Healths vaccine dashboard, the U.S. is about two-thirds of the way to reaching that goal.

Tests show vaccines work in real world conditions

The vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech and the one developed by Moderna went through extensive clinical trials in order to win emergency use authorization (EUA). But how do they perform in a real-world setting?

Researchers followed first responders who received either of the vaccines to find out. The CDC study found that both vaccines performed as advertised, with 90 percent of the recipients being shielded from infection despite their interaction with the public on a daily basis.

Some 11 percent of infections did not cause symptoms, though the study determined that 58 percent of the cases occurred in people whose infections were identified by testing before they developed symptoms.

Study shows vaccine hesitancy has significantly declined

When the COVID-19 vaccines rolled out in December, there were plenty of people -- including health care professionals -- who questioned their safety and said they probably would not get vaccinated. Those doubts, however, are quickly disappearing.

As more people have rolled up their sleeves, a study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that fewer Americans are unwilling to be vaccinated. The findings show that the percentage of adults saying they would either definitely or probably not get vaccinated has fallen to 17 percent, down from 22 percent in January.

Vaccine hesitancy appeared to be highest in the South. However, the survey found declines in hesitancy in several southern states, including Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Doctors say many vaccinated people arent giving informed consent

In the rush to distribute the COVID-19 vaccines, many vaccination recipients arent giving informed consent, according to Physicians for Civil Defense. Dr. Jane Orient, the groups president, points out that the vaccines are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and that they are only being administered under emergency use authorization (EUA).

The group says all vaccine recipients should sign a consent form and be given a copy of the EUA Fact Sheet.

The fact sheet for the Moderna COVID-19 product lists symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, and it also states that the vaccine is still being studied in clinical trials.

Around the nation
Two leading financial firms unite to advance economic empowerment & equitable wealth creation in disinvested communities Tweet this

Kurt Chilcott will transition from President and CEO of CDC Small Business Finance and continue his support of this vision by serving as Board Chair of both Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance.

Addressing Systemic Issues Facing Communities:

Ellis Carr will manage this new enterprise under one national strategy designed to drive a holistic place-based approach to community and economic development at scale, centered around people and place, to address legacy issues:

Growth of Economic Inequity: Current financial structures do not provide equitable opportunities and outcomes as the wealth gap continues to grow exponentially, specifically in communities of color.

Current financial structures do not provide equitable opportunities and outcomes as the wealth gap continues to grow exponentially, specifically in communities of color. Lack of Place-Based, Community-Led Solutions: Trusted organizations that listen to and value community-led solutions, and offer relevant place-based lending and investment products, and services are currently lacking.

Trusted organizations that listen to and value community-led solutions, and offer relevant place-based lending and investment products, and services are currently lacking. Disconnected Supply & Demand of Capital Between Investors and Communities: Institutional investors and community organizations are currently disconnected from efficiently leveraging the supply and demand of capital investments to drive real and scalable impact.

"Harnessing our shared values, the power of CDC Small Business Finance and Capital Impact Partners coming together is how well each organization's business and unique skill sets complement the other," Carr said. "Capital Impact Partners has a long track record of really understanding what's needed in a community, and CDC Small Business Finance has a sustained and accomplished history of small business support in terms of lending and advising. Together we will be able to transform the system by rethinking how credit is evaluated and how capital flows into disinvested communities across the country."

The Moment Is Now for Systems Change

The opportunity is enormous. Research looking at the economic cost of Black inequality indicates that aggregate economic output would have been $16 trillion higher since 2000 if racial gaps had been closed. If we close gaps today, the equivalent add to the U.S. economy over the next five years could be $5 trillion of additional GDP.

At the same time, a report by US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment shows that total U.S. assets under management applying various environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria grew from $12 trillion at the start of 2018 to $17.1 trillion at the start of 2020, an increase of 42 percent. On the demand, the mission-driven financial advisory firm Next Street finds that there is an estimated $4.5 trillion of investment needed in emerging community and economic development opportunities across housing, education, health care, food, small business, and adjacent sectors.

Pillars of Change

This unusual coming together between leaders in the CDFI and Small Business sectors is driven by the need to shake-up the traditional tools and approaches that have failed to address systemic issues of inequality, economic empowerment, and the widening racial wealth gap.

Several pillars will underscore this strategy:

Listen-first approach to understand the unique needs of a community and then engage investors in the conversation to help support custom solutions to drive positive change; Amplify community-led solutions through the delivery of diversified community and economic development assets at scale across housing, health care, education, healthy food, and small business; Serve as market innovators by creating new products and services that fill gaps left by traditional and mainstream financial systems; Collaborate with organizations that center mission in their approach to drive change; Transform capital markets by reinventing how capital flows into communities through the aggregation of investments, structuring and raising of capital, and delivering of investment opportunities that generate both financial and social returns that also meet the needs of communities and investors; Advocate for communities by shaping national, regional, and local policy to address systemic inequities and create opportunities for the alliance to drive impact

"We cannot simply add incrementally to our current systems and expect to address or change the systemic problems communities of color face," said Chilcott. "Bringing together the broad capacities of CDC Small Business Finance and Capital Impact Partners will allow us to impact communities in tremendous ways. Under Ellis' leadership, we'll be able to do things that nobody has ever done before, and really innovate and change the way things are done moving forward, in a way that benefits everyone."

Combined Strengths and Values Bring Tailored, Unique Opportunities

Capital Impact and CDC Small Business Finance a nnounced the beginning of their combined efforts in August 2020 with the decision to launch three pilot projects in Los Angeles, Detroit, and the Washington, D.C Metropolitan area. Lessons learned through that ongoing work have informed the broader strategy for aligning as a single team to advance high-touch solutions at scale and ensure that traditional and mainstream financial systems are equitably serving Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous communities.

With strong ties to both large financial institutions and community-based organizations, experience delivering a full suite of products and services, and an established position as advocates in Washington, D.C., the new operating model is uniquely suited to unleash solutions for communities that will break down longtime barriers to success.

"A place-based approach means working hand-in-hand with communities and local organizations to create a servant leadership model to change how capital flows into communities," said Carr. "It starts with understanding the communities needs and developing financial products with their input. We use that to drive where the capital goes."

As an example of how their combined strengths can deliver impact in place, the organizations have collectively lent $1.7 billion in California since 2016 to small business and the health care, housing, and education sectors.

The new strategy will not create a singular, one-size-fits-all model that is replicated across the country, but rather a tailored or "artisanal" approach that brings a focus on place-based solutions that arise from in-depth community consultation. Another differentiator of this new model is an emphasis on being proximate to communities, which is critical for success in understanding the assets embedded in disinvested communities.

"We will create a new model that can be used nationwide," said Chilcott. "At the same time, it will look different in Los Angeles, or Detroit, or Washington, D.C., because the model will be based on community input. Imagine the transformation that can be achieved with that approach?"

Continued Commitment to Small Business, Commercial Real Estate and Facilities Lending

As this strategy evolves, all current, ongoing work by CDC Small Business and Capital Impact Partners will continue unchanged, including CDC Small Business Finance's working capital lending along with its SBA 504 commercial real estate lending in California, Arizona, and Nevada, as well as Capital Impact's lending to Federally Qualified Health Centers, affordable housing developments, charter schools, and healthy food retailers.

The organizations will continue to identify and address specific issues in disinvested communities at the state, county, and local levels. This includes targeted lending products, capacity-building programs, and investment capital strategically customized to address high-priority local issues.

Unified Leadership Guides New Vision

The unified strategy will be guiding staff and leadership at all levels of the organization.

As of April 1, 2021, Ellis Carr, who has served as Capital Impact Partners' President and Chief Executive Officer since 2016, will transition to serve as CEO of both Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance under a new, unified management structure.

Current CDC Small Business Finance CEO Kurt Chilcott, who has led the organization over the past 23 years, will transition to serve as Chairman of each board and will continue working with Ellis Carr as the two organizations move forward on this incredibly unique path.

Leadership from both Capital Impact and CDC Small Business Finance have come together to lead the operations under the following categories:

Strategy + Impact:

Robert Villarreal

Chief External Affairs Officer

Capital Deployment:

Diane Borradaile

Chief Lending Officer, Community Development Real Estate Lending

Chief Lending Officer, Community Development Real Estate Lending LaKisha Gan

Senior Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Lending Services

Senior Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Lending Services Shelli Hayman

Senior Vice President, Smart Growth/Community Advantage Lending

Operations, Technology + Risk

Kim Buttemer

Chief Operations Officer

Critical Functions

Natalie Gunn

Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer Brian McEvoy

General Counsel

General Counsel Kim Dorsett

Chief Human Resources Officer

The Board of Directors of Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance will each include:

Kurt Chilcott

Board Chair

President, CDC Small Business Finance

Board Chair President, CDC Small Business Finance Rick Benito

Senior Vice President, National SBA Lending, Bank of America

Senior Vice President, National SBA Lending, Bank of America Alaina C. Beverly

Assistant Vice President, Urban Affairs , Office of Federal Relations at the University of Chicago

Assistant Vice President, , Office of Federal Relations at the University of Chicago Erik Caldwell

Chief Sustainability Officer, City of San Diego

Chief Sustainability Officer, City of San Diego Sheryl Cameron

Executive Director, SBA Solutions Group, Chase

Executive Director, SBA Solutions Group, Chase Pedro I. Goitia

Partner (Retired), KPMG

Partner (Retired), KPMG Gail Markulin

Director (Retired), Capital Markets, Federal Home Loan Bank  Office of Finance

Director (Retired), Capital Markets, Federal Home Loan Bank  Office of Finance Ray Moncreif

Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Outdoor Venture Corporation

Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Outdoor Venture Corporation Tyler Orion

Co-Founder and Officer, Precision Healthcare Ecosystem

Co-Founder and Officer, Precision Healthcare Ecosystem Frank Robinson

Diverse Markets Executive and Community-Based Programs Manager, MUFG Union Bank

Diverse Markets Executive and Community-Based Programs Manager, MUFG Union Bank Tom Topuzes

President & CEO, Thomas Topuzes & Associates, LLC

President & CEO, & Associates, LLC Dan Varner

Chief Executive Officer, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit

For more information, please visit www.investedincommunities.org or contact [email protected] .

ABOUT CDC SMALL BUSINESS FINANCE

CDC Small Business Finance is the nation's leading mission-based small business lender, award-winning nonprofit and advocate for entrepreneurs. Over four decades, the organization has provided more than 12,000 small business owners access $21.3 billion in financing. CDC Small Business Finance's small business and commercial real estate loans have also played a critical role in bolstering economic development, and helping to create and preserve more than 214,000 jobs in California, Arizona and Nevada. For more information, please visit: cdcloans.com .

ABOUT CAPITAL IMPACT PARTNERS

Through capital and commitment, Capital Impact Partners helps people build communities of opportunity that break barriers to success. Through mission-driven financing, social innovation programs, capacity building, and impact investing, we work to champion key issues of equity and social and economic justice. Our commitment to community focuses on ensuring that individuals have access to quality health care and education, healthy foods, affordable housing, cooperative development, and the ability to age with dignity.

A nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution, Capital Impact has disbursed more than $2.5 billion since 1982. Our leadership in delivering financial and social impact has resulted in Capital Impact being rated by S&P Global and recognized by Aeris for our performance. Headquartered in Arlington, VA, Capital Impact Partners operates nationally, with local offices in Austin, TX, Detroit, MI, New York, NY, and Oakland, CA. Learn more at www.capitalimpact.org .

SOURCE Capital Impact Partners; CDC Small Business Finance

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By Dean Shmuel Elmas, March 30, 2021, Israel Hayom

EXCLUSIVE: Turkey on Monday informed Israel that it is ready to dispatch an ambassador to Tel Aviv once the Israeli government commits to simultaneously reciprocating the measure, a senior Turkish official told Israel Hayom. The main point of contention between the two former allies remains the presence of senior Hamas officials on Turkish soil.

Following years of contentious relations, Turkey recently altered its foreign policy toward the region in general and Israel in particular. In December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that "Turkey wants to improve its relations with Israel. Our intelligence cooperation with Israel is ongoing." This occurred some three weeks after his close confidant, former Admiral Cihat Yayci, proposed a shared maritime border deal with Israel, which was first reported by Israel Hayom.

The trend continued earlier this month, when Dr. Hakan Yurdakul, a board member of the Turkish Presidency's Committee for Economic Policies, attended a European Jewish Parliament conference focusing on a renewed agenda between the former allies.

Israel is not the only country in the Middle East with which Ankara wants to rehabilitate and normalize relations. In Ankara's efforts to normalize ties with Cairo, Turkish authorities on March 20 ordered Istanbul-based TV channels affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood to immediately stop airing criticism of Egypt. This could indicate that if Israel agrees to restore relations with Turkey, Erdogan's government could work, to some extent or another, to remove or stifle the senior Hamas leaders residing in Istanbul. Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Contrary to Cairo's official denial of rapprochement with Turkey, meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while speaking at a Likud campaign event in Bat Yam on March 10, confirmed Israel was "engaged in talks with Turkey" about natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. At the event, the prime minister also noted Israel was holding fruitful talks with Egypt, Greece and Cyprus on the issue of exporting gas to Europe.

"Turkey and Israel never severed their diplomatic ties, despite all the negative events over the years," Karel Valansi, a political analyst for the T24 Turkish online newspaper, told Israel Hayom. "Both countries have managed to separate economics and politics, and have helped one another on humanitarian issues. The channels of dialogue are always open, such that it's not easy for either country to give up on their relationship. With that, the relationship has suffered considerably, meaning political will and trust-building measures are needed for it to be rehabilitated," she said.

"Bilateral relations between the countries have always been sensitive in regards to the Palestinians," Valansi added. "At the same time, the personal hostility between the two leaders is another limitation."

As for Turkey's foreign policy, Valansi said, "Turkey's growing isolation in the region and its strained relations with the United States are the catalysts for Ankara's proposals to normalize relations with other countries in the region, including Israel."

According to Valansi, "Israel won't ignore an opportunity to rehabilitate relations with Turkey, but it wants certainty as it pertains to Turkey's intentions. Turkey used to be a vital economic, diplomatic and defense partner for Israel. With that, the situation today is different. While Turkish-Israeli relations have declined, Israel has strengthened its relations with many other countries in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf. Ankara's support for Hamas, its growing interest in Jerusalem and its foreign policy shifts all mean Israel must act with caution."

Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, an expert on contemporary Turkish politics and foreign policy, told Israel Hayom: "The question isn't whether Turkey wants to normalize relations with Israel or not, it's whether it needs to  and it does. Turkey's immediate interests require immediate alterations to its foreign policy regarding the eastern Mediterranean and Syria. Iran's influence in the region is growing and Turkey wants to curb this influence in Syria, just as Israel does. Meanwhile, Turkish-US relations are deteriorating by the day. Therefore, Ankara needs Jerusalem as a 'bridge' to Washington in order to alleviate the pressure from the Biden administration."

As for the obstacles in the way of normalization, Yanarocak said Turkey's support for Hamas remains the most serious. "But it's not an impossible task  Turkey can take the necessary steps to meet Israel's demands on this matter. I think what happened with the Muslim Brotherhood could also happen with Hamas. However, the steps against the Muslim Brotherhood were only preliminary. Turkey can take significant steps to convince Israel its intentions are honest."

The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment.
Lin Wood, an Atlanta-based attorney who publicly backed former President Donald Trumps unfounded allegations that widespread voter fraud cost him reelection, confirmed to The State Monday that he plans to challenge Drew McKissick to head South Carolinas Republican Party.

Wood confirmed the reports, first reported in FitsNews and The Hill, in a text message to The State Monday.

I can confirm that I am challenging Drew McKissick for Chair of the South Carolina Republican Party, he said.

Wood most certainly will have a tough challenge to oust McKissick, who has not only led the state party since 2017, but has overseen and helped keep Republican control of federal seats and inside the State House, where Republicans have dominated both chambers for years. McKissick also oversaw the take-back of the states Lowcountry First District seat, when then-state Rep. Nancy Mace defeated Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham.

On top of helping to raise millions for the S.C. GOP, McKissick also already has the blessing of Trump to run again.

Trump endorsed McKissicks reelection bid in February, helping to cement McKissicks standing within the state party.

The former president remains a favorite of South Carolina Republican voters. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who is seeking a second term in 2022, told the Post and Couriers Pints and Politics last week that Trump is set to return to South Carolina to help Republicans campaigns.

He asked if I had anybody running against me, and I said, No, and Im trying to keep it that way,  McKissick the AP in February. He said, Yeah, thats the best way to do it.

Though based in Georgia, Wood owns property and is registered to vote in Beaufort County, according to his voter filing.

In February, Wood, 68, wrote on social media that he planned to change his legal residency from Georgia to South Carolina. This followed news that the Georgia Secretary of States Office was investigating whether Wood was a legal Georgia resident when he cast his ballot in the November presidential election.

Story continues

The Island Packet reported in February that a limited liability company linked to Wood had bought three multi-million-dollar plantations, amassing more than 2,000 acres in northern Beaufort County.

In an interview with The Packet, Wood said, Lets just say between the Lowcountry and Georgia, I just found the Lowcountry in South Carolina a lot more appealing in terms of residence.

In a statement to The Hill, Wood told cited a disagreement over local Republican Party control as one reason hes running.

A compelling reason for my decision to run for Chair of the South Carolina Party is that it is time for the leadership of the Party to recognize and appreciate the amazing Patriots stepping up to get involved in the party  this is NOT the time to take actions to exclude them, Wood wrote in an email to The Hill.

I am no fan of government corruption. Check my record. I am no fan of rule breakers as I believe strongly in the rule of law. Check my record. I detest shady back room deals as I support shining light on darkness. Check my record. I want to help my new neighbors in South Carolina return the Republican Party back to The People. The People have ALL the power  not the elite cabal of the old guard leadership. The People of the South Carolina Republican Party will bring INTEGRITY back to the party and to the government. I trust We The People. It will be my privilege to work for The People as they pursue their goals.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
CHARLOTTETOWN - A promotion launched by the P.E.I. government to get people back into Island restaurants proved such a success the government increased its funding by $375,000.

Andrew Weeks, general manager of Piatto Pizzeria in Charlottetown, serves some customers on Tuesday March 30, 2021. From left are Donna White, Darlene MacDonald and Marel McKay. The P.E.I. government is spending another $375,000 on a campaign to assist restaurants hit by the pandemic. The first $500,000 in funding was nearly used up in just seven days. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Brian McInnis

CHARLOTTETOWN - A promotion launched by the P.E.I. government to get people back into Island restaurants proved such a success the government increased its funding by $375,000.

The province initially invested $500,000 into the Dine In and Save program, which covers half the tab at restaurants  up to $15 per person. Restaurants reported a huge increase in business over the last week.

"It's been really successful for us and allowed us to have extra staff on for these days," Andrew Weeks, manager of Piatto Pizzeria in Charlottetown, said Tuesday.

The two-week program was launched March 21 and runs between Sundays and Wednesdays  traditionally slower days of the week for restaurants.

Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture Minister Matthew MacKay said after a tough year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government wanted to get people back in restaurants.

"It worked out better than we ever thought," Mackay said in an interview Tuesday. "We knew it was a good idea, but we didn't know what the uptake would be. It has completely blown us away how good it's worked."

Weeks said business has risen by up to 40 per cent and he has attracted new clients. "The Dine In and Save program brought some new faces into the restaurant," he said. "It has allowed us to promote ourselves to a market that might not normally be here."

The discount covers meals and non-alcoholic beverages served at one of the more than 70 participating restaurants across the Island. MacKay said $500,000 was allocated to the program, but it was such a success the government had to add another $375,000.

"This shows we can get out safely," the minister said. "People were able to get out and support their different restaurants. I think it has done what we wanted it to do."

James Davis of Gentleman Jim's restaurant in Summerside was out of breath Tuesday as he tried to keep up with the rise in the number of customers during the lunch hour. "I'm full with a lineup right now," he said. "It's a Tuesday at the end of March. March is usually one of our slower months.

"On Monday, we put through 281 people, whereas on a normal one we'd do about 100," he added.

"For a year, people were told don't go to restaurants," Davis said. "They get a little scared. This helps them get back out the door a bit with 50 per cent off."

Both Davis and MacKay said they hope as people go back to restaurants, they'll also go to other places such as salons and retail stores, to help boost the economy.

Davis said a few crafty patrons asked if they could pay ahead for meals next week in order to get the discount, but he had to say no. The promotion ends Wednesday, March 31.

Meanwhile in Nova Scotia, the government decided to allow pet dogs on restaurant, bar and cafe patios to help increase business.

Premier Iain Rankin said people want to be able to have a meal without leaving their dogs at home. "The new rules will still protect food safety and allow restaurants to offer this option if that's what their customers want," he said.

Individual business owners can decide whether to allow pet dogs, limit the number of dogs, or ask a customer to remove the pet if it is misbehaving.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2021.

 By Kevin Bissett in Fredericton.
CHICAGO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Webster Dental Care ("WDC"), an industry leading dental service organization with eleven (11) locations, welcomes Dr. Michelle Pelc to its expert team. Dr. Pelc received her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

Webster CEO Michael Errin Rios said, "We are pleased to welcome Dr. Pelc and her patients to our Webster Dental Care family. Dr. Pelc's personalized attention to her patients will strengthen the commitment of our Evanston office to make a difference in the community."

Dr. Pelc hails from a small Michigan town north of Detroit. She takes a comprehensive and conservative approach to dentistry that emphasizes good oral health as a starting point. Dr. Pelc enjoys building relationships with her patients to ensure that every dental visit is a positive experience.

"I strive to give one-hundred percent (100%) each day and to be present in the moment. I feel the happiest when I know that I have done my best and see smiles from those around me who I have been fortunate enough to have taken care of," said Dr. Pelc.

WDC is actively seeking dental professionals who are interested in joining our outstanding team. More than fifty-six (56) dentists have found success and professional fulfillment with us. If you are a dental practice owner interested in merging or selling your practice, please contact our CEO at (312) 275-2000 or [email protected].

ABOUT WEBSTER DENTAL CARE, LTD.

Webster Dental Care (WDC), founded in 1976, delivers exceptional dental services at its eleven Chicago area locations. WDC pioneered clinics that offer both general dentistry and specialists for your convenience and comfort. Our 88 dentists, specialists, and hygienists provide quality and affordable service that exceeds your needs. Our vision is to improve health and wellness by bringing our model of convenient, patient-focused dental service to a location near you.

Contact Information: Rachel Spears, Human Resources Officer, 847-763-5890, [email protected]

SOURCE Webster Dental Care

Related Links

http://www.webdentalchicago.com


Daughter of 2015 Egyptian plane crash victim to be compensated under amicable agreement

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

15:02 30/03/2021

ST. PETERSBURG, March 30 (RAPSI)  A settlement agreement between the daughter of a woman who died in October 2015 as a result of the crash of an Airbus-321 airliner on the Sinai Peninsula caused by an explosion on board, Kogalymavia Airlines and Ingosstrakh Insurance Company has been approved by a St. Petersburg court, the United press service of St. Petersburg courts informs RAPSI on Tuesday.

Ingosstrakh is to pay the woman 978,000 rubles ($13,000 at the current exchange rate) as compensation for damage and moral harm.

The Petrodvorets District Court of St. Petersburg, having considered in a preliminary court session a civil case initiated on the basis of a suit by Nina Smolenkova against Kogalymavia Airlines and Ingosstrakh Insurance Company as to compensation for material damage in connection with the death of her mother, approved the amicable agreement and terminated the proceedings, the statement reads.

After the said funds are transferred within 45 days, the right to claim compensation for harm and losses caused as a result of the incident from any third parties who are responsible or may be responsible for the incident is to pass from the claimant to the respondents, according to the amicable agreement.

As representatives of the "Flight 9268" charity foundation explained to RAPSI, the criminal case initiated by the Russian Investigative Committee in connection with the terrorist attack envisages no statute of limitations, but Egypt does not recognize the fact of the terrorist attack, and also does not respond to official inquiries from investigators.

The Airbus A321, operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia, crashed into a mountainous area of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on October 31, 2015, leaving 224 people dead. The airliner was flying from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg in Russia.

A militant group linked to Islamic State terrorist organization, prohibited in Russia, said in a statement that it had brought down the plane in response to Russian airstrikes in Syria. As a consequence of the attack, Russia cancelled air travel and tourist visits to Egypt.
A new stage production based on Game of Thrones has been confirmed.

Producers Simon Painter and Tim Lawson are working in partnership with Kilburn Live, and have plans to premiere the show in 2023.

The play is being written and adapted by award-winning playwright Duncan Macmillan, working alongside Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, and directed by Dominic Cooke.

Macmillan's stage works include Lungs, Every Brilliant Thing, Rosmersholm and People, Places and Things. Cooke, who was previously artistic director of the Royal Court, recently directed Stephen Sondheim's Follies at the National Theatre.

George R.R. Martin said: "An amazing team has been assembled to tell the tale... Their knowledge and love of my world and characters has impressed me from the very first, and their plans for this production blew me away since the first time we met.

"Working with them (back before the pandemic, when we could actually get together) has been a treat, and I am eager for our collaboration to resume. Our dream is to bring Westeros to Broadway, to the West End, to Australia and eventually, to a stage near you. It ought to be spectacular."

Game of Thrones is set in the mythical land of Westeros



According to press material:

"Set at a pivotal moment in the history of the series, the play will for the first time take audiences deeper behind the scenes of a landmark event that previously was shrouded in mystery.

"Featuring many of the most iconic and well-known characters from the series, the production will boast a story centred around love, vengeance, madness and the dangers of dealing in prophecy, in the process revealing secrets and lies that have only been hinted at until now."

Game of Thrones is based on Martin's unfinished fantasy saga A Song of Ice and Fire, charting the many battles over the land of Westeros. The HBO adaptation premiered in 2011 and ran for eight seasons, winning 59 Emmy awards.

The large cast included Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Sean Bean, Michelle Fairley, Richard Madden, Iain Glen and Alfie Allen.

Casting for the stage version is still to be announced.

"I have such admiration for George's world and his characters," said Duncan Macmillan. "His generosity and trust during this process has been incredible. Working on this play during lockdown has felt like a real privilege. I can't wait until we can be back in a theatre to experience this together."

Dominic Cooke added: "One of George's inspirations for the original books was Shakespeare's history plays so the material lends itself naturally to the theatre. Duncan Macmillan and I are having a great time digging into the dynastic power struggles at the heart of George's extraordinary imaginative world and he has been hugely generous and supportive towards both of us."

Producer Simon Painter is best known for creating large scale touring shows including The Illusionists franchise which he launched with Tim Lawson. Their productions have played in over 400 cities in 40 countries.

Lawson has also staged productions internationally including Fiddler on the Roof, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, A Chorus Line and Jekyll and Hyde.

In addition to Painter and Lawson, Vince Gerardis and Jonathan Sanford will serve as executive producers on Game of Thrones.
TWO people have been arrested in relation to the fatal stabbing of a man in Dublin city centre yesterday.

Isaac Ike Horgan (52) bled out after suffering a significant knife wound to his upper leg at the Markievicz House apartment complex in Dublin 2.

Emergency services were alerted to the scene at around 11am and Horgan was rushed to St James Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

This morning investigating detectives arrested a man and woman, aged in their 40s and 30s, in relation to the stabbing.

They are being quizzed at Pearse Street garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and can be held for up to 24 hours.

A Garda spokesman said that investigations are ongoing.

The weapon believed to have been used in the incident was not recovered at the scene and garda search teams were brought in to carry out examinations of the area.

The Irish Independent has learned that Isaac Horgan was well known to gardai and was previously cleared of stabbing another man to death.

In July 2005, a jury deliberated for just over two hours at the Central Criminal Court before it found Horgan, then of Fatima Mansions, not guilty of the manslaughter of Scottish national Douglas McManus.

Horgan had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr McManus (36), also of Fatima Mansions, on June 17th, 2002.

He had denied assaulting Mark Holmes, originally from Ranelagh, Dublin, at the same location on the same date.

During the trial Mr Justice Paul Butler withdrew the murder charge from the jury and directed that the case proceed with a manslaughter charge.

He also directed the jury to find the accused not guilty of assaulting Mr Holmes and Horgan walked free from court.

While on remand in prison awaiting trial, Mr Horgan was himself brutally stabbed in Cloverhill Prison where he was sliced from ear to ear in an attack while he queued for food in October 2003.

Senior sources say that Mr Horgan had fallen on very hard times in recent years and suffered from problems linked to alcohol abuse.

In a bizarre incident a number of years ago, he walked into a north inner city garda station and claimed that he had worked as a child soldier for the IRA and was responsible for the murder of Lord Mountbatten in Co Sligo in 1979.

Gardai found no evidence to back up the strange claims that he was involved in the savage murders of August 27, 1979 at Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, when Lord Louis Mountbatten was killed by an IRA bomb.

Gardai at Pearse Street are investigating yesterdays suspected killing and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

A large garda presence remained yesterday evening at the apartment complex, located off Townsend Street.

Personnel attached to the Garda Techincal Bureau and Divisional Scene of Crime unit also carried out forensic examinations of the scene.
ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesee Regional Bank (GRB), a locally owned and operated bank specializing in business banking, personal banking, and home mortgages, has been recognized by S&P Global Market Intelligence as one of the "Best-performing Community Banks for 2020" for banks up to $3 billion in assets. Ranked at no. 23, GRB is the only New York state community bank on the nationwide list.

To determine the ranking, S&P calculated scores for more than 4,000 financial institutions on six weighted metrics: pre-tax return on tangible common equity, efficiency ratio, net interest margin, operating revenue growth, leverage ratio and nonperforming assets and loans 90 days past due as a percentage of total assets, and the net of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. GRB performed well in all categories, delivering an efficiency ratio of 46.03%, keeping non-performing assets to 0.30% as a percent of total assets, and delivering a return on tangible common equity of 25.83%.

"In a year filled with so much uncertainty, we are proud that GRB was able to maintain its stability, make significant gains in efficiency, and serve the local community as one of the region's leading SBA PPP loan providers," said GRB President and CEO Philip L. Pecora. "Our previous years' investments in technology and ability to develop a committed, high-performing workforce allowed us to respond quickly to the PPP program and simultaneously move forward with other lending activities, deposit growth, and support a record-breaking year for our residential mortgage team."

"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.

Pecora points out that it was the bank's strong relationships with its customers that provided the foundation for fully leveraging its technology infrastructure and shifting to a remote work environment for more than 70% of the bank's employees.

"We take pride in being the kind of banking partner that knows its customers intimately and proactively works with them to face challenges and take advantage of new opportunities," said Pecora. "In an environment like 2020, those relationships were critical. Even though things were changing for us and for our customers on a daily basis, they knew we were focused on doing the right thing for them, for our employees and for this community."

In addition to processing PPP loans for 575 small businesses, 2020 also brought GRB a number of other achievements: earning Emerald Award status from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and being the top SBA lender in the Rochester region, being named to the "Rochester Chamber Top 100" list of fastest-growing privately owned companies, and being recognized as one of the "Best Companies to Work for in New York" by the Society for Human Resource Management. The bank was also a leading purchase mortgage bank lender in the region and was recently named a top residential mortgage refinance provider by Expertise.com.

"We were well-positioned in 2020 to fulfill the rapidly changing needs of our customers and still provide opportunities for our employees and shareholders," said Pecora. "We know that strength will be needed in 2021 as we continue to support the recovery efforts of the small businesses and community members in the Rochester region."

Read the full S&P report.

About Genesee Regional Bank

Established in 1996, Genesee Regional Bank (GRB) is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021. The genesis of two successful businessmen, E. Philip Saunders and Dan Gullace, GRB was created with a vision of re-establishing a community bank presence and helping small businesses grow in the Rochester area. From this vision has emerged not only a successful financial institution, but one known for being a trusted advisor to its small business clients in a wide range of industries. The 2013 addition of enhanced mortgage services brought yet another critical service to the bank's customers and the local community. With loan decisions made right here in Rochester, GRB's residential mortgage team has grown rapidly and is now one of the leading mortgage lenders in the region.

GRB has demonstrated consistent growth throughout its history, increasing its asset size to more than $800 million in 2021. The bank currently employs more than 140 people in the Rochester region. www.GRBbank.com

CONTACT

Stacey Michaels, Marketing Director

Genesee Regional Bank

585-249-1540

[email protected]

SOURCE Genesee Regional Bank
NEW DELHI: Bollywood hottest couple Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora, who have been dating each other for a while now, celebrated the festivals of Holi in each other's company. With the authorities in Mumbai putting restrictions on public and private Holi celebrations and parties, the duo decided to unwind the long weekend together and headed to Alibaug along with Rhea Kapoor and his boyfriend Karan Boolani, Masaba, Satyadeep Misra and others.

If one takes a look at their Instagram posts and stories, they can see that the Arjun and Malaika spent the weekend in each other's company that came with good food, courtesy - Rhea Kapoor. Arjun also utilised the time in sweating it out at the luxurious Alibaug resort, and a glimpse of it was shared by Malaika Arora on her Instagram. In a video shared by Malaika on her story, Arjun was seen skipping by the pool. She captioned the video, "Let's do this (sic)." Arjun too shared a snap on his Instagram story, where Malaika was seen enjoying a walk

Arjun and Malaika, who enjoyed scrumptious crab and prawn delicacies from Rhea Kapoor's kitchen, gave a shout-out to the costume designer-filmmaker for her hard work. "Chef Rhea, you killed with the food," wrote Arjun along with a picture of Rhea. If you follow Rhea Kapoor on Instagram you will know how much she loves cooking. Her account is full of photos where she has shown her culinary skills.

Earlier, the 'Panipat' actor had shared a reel from the resort, where he was seen chilling out.

Rhea too dropped a few photos from her Alibaug gateway.

Malaika, who seemed to have injured her shoulder, dropped some gorgeous pictures of herself. The damsel wished her fans and followers a very Happy Holi.

Speaking of Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor, they have been in a relationship with each other for quite some time now. They are captured together on dinner dates and mini vacations. In fact, only last week, they were seen partying at Malaika's sister and actress Amrita Arora's house. Also spotted were filmmakers Karan Johar, Gauri Khan, Natasha Poonawalla, Seema Khan, Maheep Kapoor and others.

On the professional front, Arjun Kapoor was last seen in Dibakar Banerjees 'Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar'. The actor is also part of films like 'Bhoot Police' and 'Ek Villain Returns'.
[March 30, 2021] VersaBank's DRT Cyber Releases First and Only Email Privacy Compliance Platform Providing Compliance With All Major Global Anti-Spam Legislation

LONDON, ON, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - VersaBank ("VersaBank" or the "Bank") (TSX: VB), a leader in digital banking and cyber security solutions, today announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, DRT Cyber Inc. ("DRT Cyber"), following extensive testing internally within the Bank, is releasing its new email privacy compliance platform, RAVEN, as an external beta to a select group of customers prior to full market release. RAVEN is the first and only fully automated and integrated solution that provides complete compliance with all major global anti-SPAM legislation, thereby allowing clients to respect and protect their customers', suppliers' and partners' privacy. RAVEN is both email platform and email client agnostic; it covers all emails, whether they are sent from a mobile device, laptop or web interface. It does not require an install or rollout of a new or specific email system or client, and it integrates with all existing email client and server solutions. "Compliance with the stringent, complex and evolving local and international anti-SPAM laws is a massive and continual challenge for businesses globally  one that can come with a huge cost, both monetary and reputational, for those that are unsuccessful in doing so," said David Taylor, President of VersaBank and DRT Cyber. "Recognizing that a vast number of corporations of all sizes remain unprotected or under-protected when it comes to anti-SPAM compliance, we developed an affordable solution that is superior to current alternatives in safeguarding them against costly and damaging inadvertent errors." Mr. Taylor added, "RAVEN is an important component of DRT Cyber's business strategy, adding a "Privacy" solution to its broader suite of cyber security solutions to be able to address this critical aspect of every organization's cyber security needs, and provide governments and corporate organizations with a comprehensive suite of effective cyber security solutions." RAVEN is fully configurable, by customers, allowing for organization-specific rules or even rules for specific grups and users within an organization. This not only ensures an organization is fully compliant with all applicable laws on both a global and local basis, but confirms they can prove this compliance with full, detailed audit tracking and reporting at the press of a button.



RAVEN acts as the centralized system of record for all consents and unsubscribes for all email platforms. RAVEN ensures both one-to-one emails (those sent by employees using platforms such as Outlook or Gmail) and email "blasts" from bulk mail platforms and CRM applications are entirely and consistently compliant across the organization. ABOUT DRT CYBER INC.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of VersaBank, DRT Cyber was formed to identify significant cyber security threats and to develop innovative solutions to address the rapidly growing volume of cyber threats challenging financial institutions, multi-national corporations and government entities on a daily basis. DRT Cyber operates from Washington, D.C., and services clients globally. DRT Cyber's first offering, VersaVault, is the world's first digital bank vault built for clients holding digital assets and blockchain-based assets, providing leading world class security, privacy of secured keys and client-centric access flexibility. Digital Boundary Group (DBG), a DRT Cyber subsidiary, is one of North America's premier information technology (IT) security assurance services firms, providing corporate and government clients with a suite of IT security assurance services. DRT Cyber's vision is to provide governments and corporate organizations with a comprehensive suite of effective solutions that addresses the four fundamental components of cyber security: Assessment, Detection, Prevention and Privacy. ABOUT VERSABANK VersaBank is a Canadian Schedule I chartered bank with a difference. VersaBank became the world's first fully digital financial institution when it adopted its highly efficient business-to-business model using its proprietary state-of-the-art financial technology to profitably address underserved segments of the Canadian banking market in the pursuit of superior net interest margins while mitigating risk. VersaBank obtains all of its deposits and provides the majority of its loans and leases electronically, with innovative deposit and lending solutions for financial intermediaries that allow them to excel in their core businesses. In addition, leveraging its internally developed IT security software and capabilities, VersaBank established wholly owned, Washington, DC-based subsidiary, DRT Cyber to pursue significant large-market opportunities in cyber security and develop innovative solutions to address the rapidly growing volume of cyber threats challenging financial institutions, multi-national corporations and government entities on a daily basis. VersaBank's Common Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol VB and its Series 1 Preferred Shares and Series 3 Preferred Shares trade under the symbols VB.PR.A and VB.PR.B respectively. Visit our website at: www.versabank.com. Follow VersaBank on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/versabanks-drt-cyber-releases-first-and-only-email-privacy-compliance-platform-providing-compliance-with-all-major-global-anti-spam-legislation-301258074.html SOURCE VersaBank

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"The capex required for this process is fully funded from existing resources and we expect to deliver a healthy revenue and cashflow from this asset during the 12 months from 1 April 2021, said chief executive Andrew Prelea

( ) unveiled a more efficient mine plan for its producing Baita Plai polymetallic mine in Romania as it shifts to mechanised mining and away from more labour-intensive methods.

The new plan presents a cost reduction of 21% in US$ per mined tonne with an operational efficiency of 63 tonnes per Total Employee Costed (TEC) at steady state, versus the previous plan efficiency metric of 43 tonnes per TEC.

The capex required for this process is fully funded from existing resources and we expect to deliver a healthy revenue and cashflow from this asset during the 12 months from 1 April 2021, building considerably in the years thereafter, said chief executive Andrew Prelea.

It anticipates net revenue of US$17.2mln in the year starting 1 April 2021, with this figure doubling by the year 1 May 2024 - 30 April 2025. Net operating cashflow is forecast to rise fourfold over the same period from US$4.9mln in the first year.

The cashflows support a valuation of Baita Plai in excess of US$100mln with the potential for further increases.

Mining capacity is expected to increase by 65% under the new mechanised plan compared with the old plan, the AIM-listed company said.

An investigation had revealed that ore from Baita Plai could be pre-concentrated, allowing for an increase in underground mining volumes.

It will used XRT (X-Ray Transmission) technology to identify both massive mineralisations as well as fine mineral inclusions to produce a high-grade pre-concentrate and eliminate non-grade containing waste material.

This upgraded mine plan, made possible with the employment of a mechanised approach to mining and with the benefit of XRT technology which will produce a primary crushed high-grade pre-concentrate that will feed to the mills and will be implemented by our new team of mine managers who bring with them many decades of practical experience in mine expansion and optimisation, said chief executive Andrew Prelea.

XRT implementation and processing plant upgrades will be completed by December 2021.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Beginning Tuesday, March 30, people who are 16 years or older who live in Kalamazoo County will be eligible to sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine from the health department, Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department announced.

Expanding eligibility in Kalamazoo County to those 16 years or older is an exciting step for us. Just like every other transition, it will take time for people who are now eligible to schedule a vaccine appointment, Kalamazoo County Health Officer Jim Rutherford said in a news release. This newly eligible group represents a significant amount of people who live in Kalamazoo County. Securing a vaccination appointment may not happen immediately, so please continue to have patience as you wait to schedule an appointment.

Appointment scheduling process for people over the age 16 who live in Kalamazoo County:

 Starting March 30, people over the age of 16 who live in Kalamazoo County may use the online self-scheduling system. Appointments are released on Mondays at 7 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. at www.kalcounty.com/covid19vaccine. New appointments may be added after Monday and throughout the week as existing appointments are cancelled. Residents with limited internet access are encouraged to call the COVID-19 Call Center at 269-373-5200 for assistance in scheduling appointments. Please note, those under the age of 18 may only schedule a Pfizer vaccine appointment. A parent or guardian must also accompany minors at the vaccination clinic.

The appointment scheduling process for people over the age 50, people 16-49 years old with disabilities and/or underlying medical conditions, or caregivers of children with special needs is:

 Kalamazoo County residents over the age of 50 continue to be prioritized for vaccination as well as people 16-49 years old with disabilities and/or underlying medical conditions and caregivers of children with special needs. The health department reserves special appointment slots at upcoming clinics for this group. If you qualify in this group and have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine and wish to do so, call the health departments COVID-19 Call Center at 269-373-5200 to schedule your appointment.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has expanded eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations. Under their guidelines, all Michiganders age 16 and up will be eligible to receive a vaccination beginning April 5.

As vaccine prioritization guidance evolves, and more Michiganders become eligible, the scheduling process and strategy within Kalamazoo County is subject to change, the health department said.

With our healthcare systems, Ascension Borgess, Bronson Health Care, Family Health Center, and WMed Health, equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccine remains the focus, the health department said. All organizations continue to collaborate to ensure vaccinations are provided in a variety of geographic locations throughout Kalamazoo County and at a variety of community locations including senior centers, churches, schools, homeless shelters, and those in congregate living situations. Vaccination efforts in Kalamazoo County will continue to prioritize residents based on highest risk, including older adults, those with underlying medical conditions, and frontline workers, the health department said.

Important points:

 The most up-to-date information is at www.kalcounty.com/covid19 and www.facebook.com/KalamazooCountyHCS. The health department will notify the public via press releases, social media and website updates as information changes.

 If you schedule an appointment but find another option or cannot make it, please remember to cancel you appointment so someone else can schedule.

 Vaccination is by appointment only. Do NOT show up at the health department or any vaccination site without an appointment.

 All eligible residents are also encouraged to explore vaccination through other vaccine providers in the area, including Meijer Pharmacy and Rite Aid Pharmacies.

 Kalamazoo County Governments website can be converted to Spanish, Arabic and French. On any county website, in the top right-hand corner under the social media icons, you will see Translate. Click on this and select the language you wish to translate the page to. The pre-registration waitlist form will also translate to this language.

 Please reserve phone calls for those who cannot easily access online information. The health departments COVID-19 Call Center is 269-373-5200.

The Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department is reporting that healthcare partners such as hospitals, federally qualified health centers, pharmacies, and local public health departments have administered 128,649 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Kalamazoo County residents.

This represents 37.8% of residents over the age of 16 who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to date and 22.1% have completed the vaccination series, the health department said.

Read more:

$17 million in emergency rental assistance available to Kalamazoo County residents in need

Free rides to COVID-19 vaccine appointment available in some Michigan communities

After giving cops fake name, man taken into custody when false ID had warrants out for arrest
Ukraine and Poland have expressed deep concern over the intensification of reprisals by the Belarusian authorities, including against representatives of the organizations of the Polish national minority in Belarus.

According to Ukrinform, this is stated in the joint communique adopted following the XXIX meeting of the Advisory Committee of the Presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Poland, the website of the President of Ukraine informs.

During the meeting, the Advisory Committee members discussed the issues on bilateral agenda, focusing on provisions of the joint statement by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda dated October 12, 2020.

In particular, the parties:

- reaffirmed their readiness for mutual support and exchange of experience, which will help to gain the prospect of Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO, associated with the consolidation of efforts to continue internal reforms in order to meet Ukraine's requirements and standards of the Euro-transatlantic community;

- stressed the constant respect of Ukraine and Poland for international law, concern for peace and security in Europe, and expressed confidence in the need for further efforts of the international community to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty within internationally recognized borders, including de-occupation of Donbas and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol;

- welcomed Poland's readiness to support the development of cooperation with Ukraine within the framework of regional formats in which Poland participates as a member of the EU and NATO;

- recognized the importance of the newly created Crimean Platform for the de-occupation of the peninsula and the protection of human rights in the temporarily occupied territory; the Polish side reaffirmed its support for this initiative and declared its commitment at the expert level in specific, jointly defined areas of the Platform's activities;

- pointed out the role of the OSCE, in particular, that of the Special Monitoring Mission, in resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and expressed the need to intensify cooperation in preparing the agenda concerning Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine on the eve of Polands OSCE chair in 2022;

- confirmed the interest of Ukraine and Poland in the development of cooperation in the implementation of joint energy projects; supported the readiness to jointly oppose the implementation of energy projects that pose a threat to the security of Ukraine and Poland, with special emphasis on stopping the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline;

- stressed the need to build and modernize the relevant transport infrastructure to increase the efficiency of the transport network, as well as increase bilateral trade; in this context, the importance of the construction of the Via Carpatia road corridor, as well as the development of infrastructure on the Ukrainian side, was noted;

- praised the intention to hold, after a long break, a meeting of the Ukraine-Poland Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, expressing hope that the decisions taken during its meeting will be consistently implemented in cooperation with business representatives. There is a need to further strengthen efforts to remove trade barriers and create better investment conditions for the full use of the potential of Ukraine-Poland cooperation;

- praised the agreements on the establishment of a joint working group of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory and the Polish Institute of National Remembrance to resolve problematic issues of commemoration of war victims and political reprisals to put burial sites in Ukraine and Poland in order;

- stressed the importance of protecting the rights of national minorities in Poland and Ukraine, as well as the readiness of both parties to quickly negotiate a draft agreement between the governments on the schools of the Ukrainian minority in Poland and of the Polish minority in Ukraine;

- stressed the importance of continuing the professional dialogue on the history, which would be based on joint research of archival materials and would allow assessing impartially the past events to strengthen the atmosphere of friendship and good neighborliness between Ukrainian and Polish peoples, and stressed the need to refrain from actions that contradict the spirit of reconciliation and good neighborliness;

- expressed deep concern over the intensification of reprisals by the Belarusian authorities against civil society leaders, including representatives of organizations of the Polish national minority in Belarus;

The parties also agreed on a schedule of contacts between Ukraine and the Republic of Poland at the highest level for 2021.

As reported, the XXIX meeting of the Advisory Committee of the Presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Poland was held with the participation of Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva and Secretary of State of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland Krzysztof Szczerski in the format of a video conference on March 29.

Photo credit: Presidents Office

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LISBON (dpa-AFX) - Portugal's industrial production and retail sales declined at a softer pace in February, figures from Statistics Portugal showed on Tuesday. Industrial production decreased 2.4 percent year-on-year in February, following a 6.2 percent fall in January. Energy output grew 16.1 percent annually in February. Meanwhile, production in intermediate and investment declined 3.0 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively. On a monthly basis, industrial production grew 1.2 percent in February, after a 1.1 percent fall in the preceding month. Separate data from the statistical office showed that the retail sales declined 14.5 percent annually in February, following a 10.7 percent fall in January. On a month-on-month basis, retail sales decreased 0.7 percent in February, following a 4.9 percent drop in the previous month. 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.
[March 30, 2021] Spekit Raises $12.2M Series A to Revolutionize the Way Employees Work and Learn in the Remote Age

DENVER, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading digital adoption and enablement platform Spekit announced today the close of a $12.2 million Series A investment round. The investment, led by Foundry Group and Renegade Partners, with participation from Operator Collective, Matchstick Ventures and Bonfire Ventures, brings the company's total fundraising to $15.7 million. Founded in 2018 by CEO, Melanie Fellay and Zari Zahra, co-founder and head of product and technology, Spekit is one of only three women-led companies in the broader digital adoption, enablement and Learning Management System (LMS) space. As part of the financing, Spekit welcomes two female investors to its board: Foundry Group Partner and serial SaaS investor, Jaclyn Freeman Hester and Roseanne Wincek, co-founder and managing partner of Renegade Partners, whose previous investments include unicorns Looker, Glossier, KeepTruckin and more. Spekit tackles two of the biggest barriers to growth in today's SaaS-driven, remote work environment: driving the adoption of constantly evolving technology and empowering increasingly dispersed employees with the knowledge they need to be productive and successful in their roles. By combining the power of a digital adoption platform, an LMS and an enablement solution, Spekit solves these challenges by surfacing real-time, contextual training, processes and guidance directly within the applications that employees use every day. With answers accessible at an employee's fingertips, Spekit's customers are drastically reducing the time it takes to onboard, roll out changes and scale their teams. "Between the quantum leap of SaaS adoption, accelerated rate of change and shift to remote work, the world looks drastically different today than it did a decade ago," said Fellay. "Yet, when I looked at the way employees were being trained and enabled in their roles, there'd been little to no progress over that same timeline. We're using more digital tools and increasingly complex workflows but the expectation remains that an employee will figure it all out with a PowerPoint presentation or LMS course. The solution became so clear. Of course, learning should be integrated into an employee's flow of work. Obviously, training and resources should be contextualized, personalized and instantly accessible. We need to make it as easy to learn in our professional lives as it is in our personal lives."



In 2020 alone, Spekit saw 400% growth in year-over-year revenue as high-growth companies including Uber Freight, Outreach.io, Southwest Airlines, Databricks and more joined the platform to drive the productivity and self-sufficiency of their employees - from anywhere. "At Outreach, our mission is to help sales reps build pipeline and close that pipeline faster and more efficiently," said Harish Mohan, SVP of Revenue Excellence and Operations at Outreach.io. "Spekit aligns with this mission by allowing our reps to be self-sufficient in mastering their tools, sales processes and the continuous changes to our business in a contextual and intuitive way. This maximizes the time they're able to spend prospecting and selling, helping to drive the growth of our reps and ultimately, the growth of our business."

This year, Spekit added five times more users and more than doubled its employee headcount, making it one of the fastest-growing platforms in its category. Most importantly, Spekit continued to help many of the largest and most disruptive brands solve their adoption and enablement challenges during some of the most challenging times in our history. "We look for founders like Melanie and Zari, who are obsessed with solving challenging but significant problems in innovative ways," said Foundry Group Partner, Jaclyn Freeman Hester. "Spekit's disruptive technology addresses a clear gap in the market by providing a comprehensive solution designed to mirror how individuals actually learn, absorb and retain knowledge. We're thrilled to partner with the Spekit team as they reshape employee learning and empower workers to reach their potential. In addition, we've always believed great companies can be built anywhere and we are excited to welcome another Colorado-based company to the Foundry Group portfolio." With this latest funding round, Spekit will further advance the product by developing smarter, more personalized learning experiences and scaling its go-to-market operations. To learn more about Spekit and the future of employee training, please visit spekit.co About Spekit

Spekit is the highest-rated and easiest-to-use digital enablement platform that maximizes employee productivity, streamlines onboarding and drives tool adoption by reinforcing training and enablement in real-time, in any application. Customers across industries including Southwest Airlines, Uber Freight, JLL, Outreach.io and more rely on Spekit to empower their employees with the contextual knowledge they need to be successful and impactful - from anywhere. Media Contact

Annie Gudorf

annie.gudorf@walkersands.com Related Images

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Spekit logo View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spekit-raises-12-2m-series-a-to-revolutionize-the-way-employees-work-and-learn-in-the-remote-age-301257740.html SOURCE Spekit

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As we all know, middle school is very much a "make or break time" in a child's life trajectory, especially in regards to developmental psychology, for many obvious reasons.

It is inconceivable that Superintendent Mucetti and the NVUSD Board of Trustees would even consider closing River School, based on the reasons set forth in their Middle School Redesign plan.

As far as equity is concerned, after reviewing the district's SARCs of all the schools at the middle school level from the last few years, and taking the statistics of the current school year (which have not been published yet) into consideration, it appears in fact, River School is one of the most balanced and diverse schools in the area, and most accurately reflects current Napa community demographics. After all, it is a choice school meaning it is open to any student if they choose to attend during open-enrollment. I believe the district is using "equity" as an excuse to try to close this school in particular, updated facilities and academic excellence not-withstanding.
President Joe Biden's administration has given New York City the go-ahead to speed up an environmental review of a proposed congestion pricing, which could see drivers paying up to $14 to enter Midtown Manhattan beginning early next year.

The Federal Highway Administration said on Tuesday the plan would undergo an expedited environmental assessment, which generally takes less time than an environmental impact statement.

New York wants to charge a daily variable toll for vehicles entering or remaining within the 'Central Business District' - an area stretching from 60th Street in Midtown to Battery Park - in a bid to manage traffic.

The plan was first approved by state lawmakers in April 2019 and officials had hoped to begin pricing in January 2021.

The federal government has approved an expedited environmental assessment for New York City's congestion pricing plan for Midtown Manhattan (area is pictured on the map)

Under the proposed plan, drivers of passenger vehicles could be charged up to $14 to enter Midtown Manhattan, with higher tolls of up to $25 for trucks

The Federal Highway Administration said on Tuesday the plan would undergo an expedited environmental assessment. Pictured: President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg meet in the Oval Office on March 4

Last year, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo blamed the Trump Administration for blocking the project. Cuomo on Tuesday praised the Biden Administration for 'advancing this important program.'

Cuomo added that congestion pricing will 'reduce traffic congestion, enhance the availability and reliability of public transportation and improve our air quality.'

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he spoke to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the issue recently.

'He heard me loud and clear. New York City is ready to go,' de Blasio said.

The FHWA said in a letter it would work with the city so the agency 'can arrive at a prompt and informed' determination. The agency added that it 'will expedite its efforts wherever possible.'

A transit group praised the decision and said it hoped congestion pricing could begin in early 2022, but other estimates say it would get off the ground no earlier than 2023.

Under the plan, drivers would have to pay to drive in Midtown Manhattan in an effort to reduce the number of cars in the area.

While transportation officials have not announced a price range for the congestion tolls, past proposals suggested charging $11 to $14 for passenger vehicles and $25 for trucks.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo blamed the Trump Administration for blocking the project

The plan could include possible exemptions or credits for some drivers, including discounts for motorists already paying a bridge or tunnel toll to enter Manhattan.

People who live in the congestion zone and earn less than $60,000 a year are expected to be exempt from the new tolls.

About 717,000 vehicles a day enter the Manhattan zone considered for the program, a recent city study said.

Officials said tolls will vary to prod drivers to enter Manhattan during non-congestion hours, including nights and weekends.

Officials have said the estimated $1billion in annual tolls would support $15billion in new debt financing over four years to fund New York mass transit.

New York would become the first major US city to follow London, which introduced a congestion charge on vehicles driving into the city center in 2003.

Initially, London charged drivers 5 pounds, or about $6.50, to come into the central part of the city during the workweek.

The toll initially had a considerable effect. In its first year, congestion dropped 30 per cent, buses got 6 per cent faster and there was a 12 per cent reduction in emissions.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he spoke to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and said he understood the issue

In recent years, however, congestion has dramatically worsened, despite the fee rising to 11.50 pounds, about $15, per day. Officials say that was due in large part to the flood of app-based for-hire vehicles like Uber, which were initially exempt from the tolls.

In Stockholm, a pilot program that was put in place with less-than-enthusiastic public support in 2006 became much more popular as people saw immediate drops in congestion and air pollution, so much so that residents voted to make it permanent in 2007. Singapores system has been around since the 1970s.
The Gambia's Justice Minister, Dawda A Jallow, has on Monday 29th March 2021, apologized to lawmakers for an error inserted in the elections bill 2021 by staff of the judiciary.

Minister Jallow made the apology while moving the bill for the second reading.

"Honorable Speaker the error is caused by one of our staff lifting the scheduled attached to the current electoral bill as printed in the laws of the Gambia 2009. So the person just lifted it form there and attached it to the bill," he said.

"It is not in any way an attempt by the government to change the constituency boundaries. In fact, constituency boundaries as stipulated are not to be changed by the executive and we do not have that mandate. It was an advertent error and we apologize for that."

"The Bill seeks to repeal the Elections Act Cap 301 and to enact a new elections Act in line with the best practices to achieve the cardinal principles of free and fair elections in the Gambia," he said.

Minister Jallow said this in cognizance of the fact that electoral laws conform to the need and aspirations of the electorate in a true democratic society, for the full participation of all eligible citizens through casting of votes.

He said it also seeks to introduce a detail procedure and analysis in the obligation of the final results by the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission after the conduct of a particular election or referendum, and during the declaration of results, the criteria for the analysis for the result are provided for in the bill.

Jallow indicated to the assembly that the schedule attached to the bill 2021, on the binding copy that was first circulated to the assembly is an error and has been corrected by providing the corrected version.

Ousman Sillah, Member for Banjul North, hailed the mover for coming up with the bill. He explained that he had anticipated that fundamental changes such as the inclusion of the second round of voting, term limit will be captured in the bill. He however said the bill does not contain those components of the electoral procedure.

Sillah said the rates for airtime given to the candidates should be affordable and equal in order to ensure that candidates who may not have the adequate resources are able to pay for such airtime, to convey their messages to the masses.

Kebba Jallow, Member for Jarra Central, said the announcement of two different elections result in 2016 has nearly plundered the country in a chaotic situation. Thus, he said, the new bill coming up with detail procedure and analysis in publication of results is the portion he admires the most.

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Jallow said the 2016 errors in the declarations of election results will not reoccur.

Sunkary Badgie, Member for Foni Brefet, welcomed the bill and said it will promote participation in determining how the country is run. Badgie cautioned the selection criteria for Gambians living in the diaspora and the selection of countries that will be given the opportunity to vote needs to be critically looked into.

Suwaibou Touray, Member for Wuli East said: "Genuine Electoral system should have come after the constitutional reform so that the constitution spells out all the key issues that will help us to improve our way of expressing our desires through elections."

He said he has read the objects and reasons of the bill, but he is of the view that the bill has fallen short of what is actually required in the change to bring about a good electoral system.

He said: "The objectives of electoral reforms are to make elections less expensive, less corrupt, more responsive and much fairer. So if we are scrutinizing this, bill that is what we should look for to see whether it is fair for everybody, to change the electoral practices especially the ones that conflict with the constitutional principles."
A High Court judge has delivered his payout ruling over the owner of The Telegraph Sir Frederick Barclay's divorce from his wife Lady Hiroko - but the details will be kept a secret.

Mr Justice Cohen told Sir Frederick Barclay, 86, and Lady Hiroko Barclay, 78, of his decision at a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court on Tuesday.

He allowed journalists to attend the hearing, and said Sir Frederick and Lady Hiroko could be named in reports, but said no detail of the ruling could be made public.

The judge had considered arguments at a private online trial two weeks ago over how big a payout Lady Hiroko should get following the breakdown of the relationship.

Sir Frederick Barclay (right) was estimated to be worth 7bn alongside his brother David (left) who died in January. Today a High Court judge Mr Justice Cohen gave his ruling on the payout resulting from Sir Frederick's divorce from Lady Hiroko, but the details will be kept secret

Last Monday the judge signalled an end to the 34-year marriage at a separate hearing, by issuing a divorce decree.

Sir Frederick and Lady Hiroko married in May 1987, the judge heard, having met in the 1970s when she was a well-known member of Japanese society in London.

Lady Hiroko had petitioned for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour, he was told.

Lady Hiroko, who petitioned for divorce on grounds of unreasonable behaviour, has been seen with noted divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton at previous hearings

Mr Justice Cohen pronounced a decree nisi. A marriage does not formally end until a decree absolute is made.

Sir Frederick and his twin brother Sir David, who died in January aged 86, were among the UKs most high-profile businessmen.

Last year The Sunday Times Rich List put their worth at 7bn.

Their interests included the Telegraph Newspaper Group and The Ritz hotel in London. The family also has links to the Channel Islands and Monaco.

At previous hearings, Lady Hiroko has been seen with noted divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton.

Known as the Steel Magnolia, Shackleton has represented everyone from Prince Andrew to rock star Liam Gallagher  and, most memorably, Sir Paul McCartney, whose second wife, Heather Mills, emptied a jug of water over her head.

Mr Justice Cohen had considered arguments over how big a payout Lady Hiroko should get, following the breakdown of the relationship, at a separate, private earlier this month.

In 1995 the Barclay brothers bought The Ritz and sold it last year, leading to a family row which resulted in court proceedings.

Sir Frederick's (left) interests include Telegraph Newspaper Group and The Ritz hotel in London. The family also has links to the Channel Islands and Monaco

The case revolved around claims made by Sir Frederick that his nephews bugged the Ritz conservatory over fears the businessman posed 'a significant risk of harm' to the family business, according to High Court documents.

The nephews - all sons of his twin brother David - allegedly made over 94 hours of secret recordings as part of what his lawyers have described as 'commercial espionage on a vast scale'.

But Aidan and Howard Barclay hit back at that allegation in a public statement last year, accusing Sir Frederick of 'consistent, misleading and damaging briefing to the media against us and our family businesses'.

The Barclay brothers, who were knighted in 2000, turned to media ownership in 1992 by buying weekly newspaper The European, which closed in 1998, while they also owned The Scotsman from 1995 to 2005.

They acquired The Daily Telegraph for 665 million more than 15 years ago.
China's imports from Vietnam rise 36%

30 March 2021

China, the Philippines and Bangladesh were the biggest importers of Vietnamese cement in the first two months of 2021, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

China imported 2.43Mt of cement worth US$79.91m, up 36.1 per cent YoY and 22.8 per cent in volume and value, respectively. The volumes accounted for 40.6 per cent of Vietnams total export volume and 36.8 per cent of the countrys cement export value during the 2M20.

The Philippines imported 1.1Mt at a value of US$48.21m, rising 5.8 per cent in volume but down 0.9 per cent in value. Bangladesh also sourced 1.02Mt of cement from the country, representing a value of US$32.2m.

During the first two months of the year, Vietnam earned US$217m from exporting 5.99Mt of cement in total. This represents a 19.5 per cent increase in volume and 8.6 per cent in value.

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Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

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Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts

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WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic

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Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation

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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
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Chief Minister



on Tuesday dubbed as "shameful" and "utter lie" Union Minister Piyush Goyal's dismissal as "wrong" the reports that two nuns and two postulants belonging to a Kerala-based congregation were attacked during a trainjourney in UP recently.

Vijayan's reaction comes a day after the Union Minister had rejected the charge that the nuns and two others were "attacked" in Jhansi by some Bajrang Dal activists and said the CM was "making false statements" on the issue.

Responding to the remarks, Vijayan said according to theUnion minister, the nuns were not attacked and were let off after their travel documents were inspected and that the attackers were ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad) workers was an allegation of the state government.

"They (nuns) hadbeen attacked in a country, where one has all the rights to travel freely, for the sole reason that they were nuns.

The action isshameful. He has justified the action of ABVP activists against the Nuns and two others..

A union minister is justifying the attack on the nuns, which is evidenceof the RSS agenda being implemented by the Centre," Vijayan told a press conference at Kasaragod.

Vijayan also referred to the attack on members of the minority community in the name of beef.

"There was a lot of protest across the country against the attack on muslims in the name of beef.

Have they changed? No. When they found some nuns, they attacked them.."



Goyal was justifying the attack, he said adding this shows that the minorities and those who want democracy in this country were not safe under the central rule which is implementing the RSS agenda.

Vijayan said an attempt was being made to "cover up" for the culprits.

Earlier, it was lynching in the name of beef, he said adding secular forces will fight them.

will be in the forefront.

(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.)
Professor of Biological Science Ken Taylor and physics doctoral student Hamidreza Rahmani have gotten a clear image of a molecule that is critical in muscle contraction. Credit: Florida State University

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in science, it sometimes takes a thousand photos to tell the whole story.

Florida State University researchers have assembled the first atomic-level resolution image of part of a molecule that produces force in muscle contraction, an accomplishment that is opening new avenues of research into how muscles contract.

The process to get there involved taking 7,000 photos of the molecule at work in a curious creature called a Thai giant water bug, or Lethocerus indicus.

"This molecule is designed to be moving or at work, so each image is a little different than the next," said Hamidreza Rahmani, a physics doctoral student working with Professor of Biological Science Ken Taylor. "Just getting to that one image is a challenge."

The new study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Scientists have long examined the flight muscles from Lethocerus indicus as a way to better understand how the human heart works. The insect's flight muscle and a mammal's heart both beat rhythmically.

"It's a strange bug, but it's lighting the way to understand muscle contraction," Taylor said.

Not only can this bug swim and fly, it hunts for fish, frogs, small snakes and even turtles. However, these predatory insects are not without predators themselves as they make very popular snacks or sauce seasoning.

Taylor's lab has long been focused on the flight muscles of the giant water bug, lately concentrating on a filament in the muscle that is made of a chain of proteins called myosin, which produces the power needed to contract muscles. Part of the myosin is a molecular motor. The rest of the chain allows the motors to polymerize into filaments so that the motors can act collectively. But these filaments are so small that getting a quality image of themand thus a better understanding of how they operatehas been extremely difficult.

In 2016, Taylor's lab published an image of the molecular motor of this protein within its filaments but with insufficient resolution to see individual atoms. Their latest image reveals the individual atoms of the tail. Getting a quality image of the tail was victory enough, but it also revealed unique traits that this motor protein possesses only when assembled into filaments.

Rahmani and Taylor's image revealed that the myosin tail had an exceptionally long structural motif called a coiled coilalpha helices that are coiled together like a rope. Along this structure, they identified four amino acids known as skip residues. Skip residues typically cause a coiled coil to unwind or even break its alpha-helical structure, but Taylor and Rahmani found that one of these skip residues appeared to have absolutely no effect on the structure, leaving them temporarily baffled.

Taylor began thinking about what this unusual skip residue meant when he remembered that when the muscle is activatedwhich allows the heads to produce tensionthe coiled coil lengthens by about 1.5%. He and Rahmani believe that the particular skip residue must be related to that effect.

"The change occurs just when the muscle is going from relaxed to active but before tension develops," he said. "So, we thought that probably this particular place is very important to that phenomenon."

Rahmani and Taylor hope to follow up this work with an atomic resolution view of the active filament to gain an understanding of the role skip residues and coiled coil lengthening play in muscle activation.

Explore further Giant thai insect reveals clues to human heart disease

More information: Hamidreza Rahmani et al. The myosin II coiled-coil domain atomic structure in its native environment, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Hamidreza Rahmani et al. The myosin II coiled-coil domain atomic structure in its native environment,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2024151118
Prime Minister on Tuesday wished good health and speedy recovery to former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister who has tested positive for COVID-19.

"Praying for the good health and speedy recovery of Dr. Ji. Also praying for your and the entire family's good health @OmarAbdullah," Modi tweeted.

The prime minister's tweet came after Omar Abdullah, also a former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, informed people through Twitter about his father's diagnosis.

"My father has tested positive for COVID-19 & is showing some symptoms. I will be self-isolating along with other family members until we get ourselves tested. I request anyone who has come in to contact with us over the last few days to take all the mandated precautions," 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.)
Hagerstown Housing Authority closes in on end of McCleary Hill project

After objections from neighbors, the Hagerstown Housing Authority's McCleary Hill project is done its first phase. Officials held an open house.
[March 30, 2021] Charles Fisher Joins Turo as Chief Financial Officer

SAN FRANCISCO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace, Turo, today announced that Charles Fisher will be joining the company as its new Chief Financial Officer. Fisher will lead all aspects of the company's finance, investor relations, and accounting functions and will be responsible for optimizing financial operations and delivering profitable growth. "Chuck deeply believes in our mission, shares our company values and has the perfect track record for leading long-term growth and financial performance," said Andre Haddad, Turo CEO. "Chuck's rich experience leading financial operations for global companies will be instrumental to the next chapter of our successat Turo."



"It is a thrill to be joining the amazing team at Turo and to bring my experience to help turbocharge its growth at such an exciting time," said Fisher. "Turo has built a world-class marketplace that has defined the peer-to-peer car sharing category, and I look forward to being part of their mission to put the world's 1.5 billion cars to better use." Fisher most recently served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance & Development at Charter Communications, where he managed Charter's debt and equity capital markets strategy and execution, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate development, including equity investments and joint ventures.

Prior to joining Charter in 2013, Fisher was a Senior Managing Director for Telecoms & Media at Guggenheim Securities. Earlier in his career, he was at Nomura Securities where he headed the Media Investment Banking practice for the Americas. Fisher previously served as a Managing Director and led Lehman Brothers' and Nomura's European Cable Investment Banking business in London, and he was a Managing Director for Lehman Brothers in both London and New York. He holds a B.A. from Queen's University in Ontario and an MBA from Columbia Business School. About Turo Turo is the world's largest peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace where car owners can become entrepreneurs, forging their path towards financial empowerment. A pioneer of the sharing economy and travel industry, Turo is a safe, supportive community with operations in the US, Canada, and the UK. Whether you share your extra car to make ends meet or are looking to start a small car sharing business, hosts can share virtually any car to get their entrepreneurial wheels turning. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/charles-fisher-joins-turo-as-chief-financial-officer-301258085.html SOURCE Turo

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MASON CITY, Iowa  A trial is set over a ring stolen in October 2020.

Melissa Kiefer, 40 of Mason City, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree theft. Authorities say she took a $2,000 ring that had been stolen and pawned it for $265.

Kiefer is now scheduled to stand trial beginning May 18.
NAPA, Calif., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the past year, Hopewell Baptist Church has conducted the majority of its services either outdoors or over a livestream. This year, on April 14, 2021, Hopewell Baptist Church's Easter Sunday services will be held in-person and indoors. The 11:00 a.m. morning service, led by Pastor Mike Ray, will be followed by a festive Easter candy hunt for children sixth grade and below. The church will be taking the necessary precautions of social distancing and safety to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

This time last year, Easter services were held exclusively online via livestream. Pastor Mike Ray preached to an empty auditorium as the church family tuned in virtually from the safety of their homes. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hopewell Baptist Church implemented virtual services and strict safety protocols to carry out services and support the community.

"While celebrating Easter from a distance was necessary to flatten the curve, it was difficult for everyone," Pastor Ray said. "A year ago the future looked uncertain and many were anxious about the pandemic with good reason. But for Christians, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a message of steadfast hope, no matter the circumstances."

From the cheerful songs to the practical message of hope from Pastor Mike Ray, the moments shared this April 14th can be savored under one roof with friends and family. Following the service will be a candy hunt for the kids of the church at a nearby park. A long-treasured tradition of this special holiday, children can search the grounds for their favorite treats with baskets in hand.

Hopewell Baptist Church requires social distancing between families and sanitation protocols will be in place during both the services and candy hunt. Responding seriously to COVID-19 has always been a priority for the leadership of the church, especially to those most susceptible to the virus.

Attending Hopewell on Easter and hearing the words of Pastor Mike Ray will mark 2021 as a new beginning for us all. For more information please visit https://hopewellbc.com/

About Hopewell Baptist Church:

Established in 1972, Hopewell Baptist Church is an Independent Baptist Church in Napa, California. Serving their community through weekly in-person as well as streaming services in English and Spanish, they also offer ongoing social events and a faith-based addictions program.

Media Contact: [email protected], Jonathan Ray

SOURCE Hopewell Baptist
Maputo  The German development bank KFW (Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau) will disburse a six million Euro (more than seven million US dollars) non-refundable emergency grant, to assist Mozambique's micro, small and medium companies (MPME) faced with severe cash flow problems, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Monday, five Mozambican commercial banks (Millennium BIM, BCI, Societe Generale, MyBucks and Microbanco Confianca), operating on the credit market, signed in Maputo with KFW deals to implement the emergency grants, intended to enable the companies to make a gradual return to normal.

The Governor of the Bank of Mozambique, Rogerio Zandamela, said the financial resources will alleviate the pressure on the business class, after the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 and prevent many more Mozambicans from losing their sources of income.

"We would like to entreat the financial institutions that will administer the grants to speed up the availability of the resources, but without prejudice to compliance with the eligibility criteria," Zandamela said.

The German Ambassador, Lothar Freischlader, said the benefiting MPMEs can use the funds to pay wages, rent, installments in amortisition of bank loans, supplier's pending invoices, and electricity and water bills, for the next three months.

Freischlader also announced that German Financial Cooperation will open a nine million Euro credit line to MPMEs intended to provide credit in local currency, on favorable terms, where it is not yet available.

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"The funds will aid micro, small and medium companies to finance the needed investments, after the pandemic, to ensure reconstruction and growth of business activity," the diplomat said, pointing out that a 2.5 million Euro fund for technical assistance is in the pipeline, for the financial institutions participating.

The goal, he said, is to support the financial institutions in developing products adapted to the needs of the micro, small and medium companies.

Since 2011, German Financial Cooperation, through KFW, has disbursed about 65 million Euros to several projects in the financial sector. A substantial part of the contribution has been in the form of credit lines, which, from the Ambassador's point of view, have been successfully implemented over the last few years.

Freischlader hoped that rather than simply assisting the micro, small and medium sized companies in Mozambique to survive the Covid-19 pandemic, they will contribute to further investments focused on the rural areas and on agriculture, thus increasing productivity, job creation and, above all, the sustainable reduction of poverty across the country.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Last year, a pair of peregrine falcons settled in a nesting box put up on the top of City Hall, encouraged by city officials who were frustrated with the excessive number of pigeons who congregate there.

We had a pigeon problem that was out of this world. said Kevin Henry, the citys director of building maintenance and operations, noting excessive amounts of bird feces and clogged drains.

The nesting box that attracted the peregrines, a crow-sized raptor that feed mostly on birds, including pigeons, did the trick. Henry said recently that the pigeon numbers at City Hall, located on East Washington Street, have dropped radically.

However, many of the birds have relocated to the nearby City Hall Commons building where they continue to cause problems, he added.

Meanwhile, the two peregrines  named George and Pigott by peregrine watchers -- are still at City Hall. And despite having problems with fledging one their two young birds last year, theyre on track for another successful rear of breeding.

One of the peregrine falcons now nesting on the top of Syracuse City Hall. Peregrines are listed as an endangered species by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Susan Lowe Wrisley, spokesperson for the Syracuse Peregrine Falcons group, which has been monitoring the status of peregrine falcons in downtown Syracuse for more than a decade, said now is around the time the female lays its eggs.

There may be eggs in the nest right now, she said, adding they usually lay three to four eggs and young birds usually fledge around late June, early July.

Peregrine Falcons are listed as endangered species in New York, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. They were eliminated as a nesting species in the state by the early 1960s, due mainly to pesticide (DDT) residues in their prey. Laws banning the use of DDT were passed by New York State in 1971 and by the federal government in 1972.

The release of young captive bred birds from 1974-1988 helped lead to their return as a nesting species in New York.

One successful technique used to bring their numbers back was hacking, which is the placement of wooden nesting boxes filled with gravel on top of buildings in urban and other areas. In addition to Syracuse, this approach has worked on buildings in Buffalo, Rochester, Utica, Albany and Binghamton to name a few places.

George and Pigott, the pair of peregrine falcons that occupy the nesting box on top of Syracuse City Hall. Tom Durr photo.

For more than a decade, Wrisley and other members of her group have been watching peregrine falcons in downtown Syracuse. For most of those years, their focus was a nesting box set up on the 23rd floor of the state Tower Building in downtown Syracuse, located on the corner of Warren and Water streets. The DEC also monitored the nest, checking it out each year and banding the young birds.

In 2015, two live video cameras were focused on the nesting box in the state Tower Building, enabling online viewers to check up on the birds and their young.

However, extensive renovation work on the building in 2019 resulted in a relocation of the nesting box to a different part of the building. The birds didnt take it to it, Wrisley said.

Enter Syracuse City Hall with its pigeon problems. Henry said other approaches had been tried to keep the pigeons away, including the use of electronic sound devices to scare them, and the hanging of plastic owls from tree branches and other places. Neither approach worked.

This one box definitely worked, Henry said. There is no video camera on the nesting box.

This spring, Syracuse Peregrine Falcons group members are back on the ground again around City Hall, watching and taking pictures and posting them on the groups Facebook page. And theres plenty to watch.

Peregrine falcons can reach flying speeds of up to 180 mph when pursuing prey. Tom Durr photo.

Peregrines are known for their incredible flying speeds. Plunging from tremendous heights, they can reach up to 180 mph in pursuit of prey, according to the DEC.

Among the peregrine watchers is Tom Durr, a maintenance tech at Campus West at Syracuse University, who stops by City Hall nearly every day to check on the birds and take photos.

I love raptors. I love owls, bald eagles and peregrines. As for peregrines, I enjoy watching them go after prey. When they hit a bird, it just explodes with feathers. Sometimes, the bird gets away. Its really cool to watch, he said.

Peregrines generally return to the same nesting territory annually and mate for life, according to DEC. Occasionally, there are problems when the birds leave the nest and are just learning to fly and hunt.

Last year in late June, one of the two young birds from the City Hall nest was found on the ground by a city worker. The bird was turned over to the DEC, which took it over to Cindy Page, a wildlife rehabilitator at Page Wildlife Center in Manlius.

(Editors note: Its since been learned that the young bird was found by a state worker, not a city worker. See updated story.)

Page said the bird exhibited no signs of broken bones, a wound or blood. She took it down to Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine for a full workup (bloodwork, radiographs) to be sure she wasnt missing something. It was discovered the young, male bird had only a very mildly elevated blood lead level, said Dr. Sara Childs-Sanford at the veterinary school.

It probably was not high enough to be clinically significant, but was treated anyway while he was here, she said. We use a drug called calcium EDTA that binds to the lead and allows it to be excreted from the body.

This young peregrine falcon was found on the ground by a City of Syracuse worker shortly after it left the nest on top of Syracuse City Hall. It was returned after being treated at Cornell University's Veterinarian School. Cindy Page photo.

A little more than a week later, the young peregrine was brought back to Syracuse. Time was of the essence, Page said, because she wanted to make sure the parents would remain bonded with the returning young bird. It was still at the stage where it needed the parents to bring it food and to teach it how to hunt, she said.

The juvenile was released in early July from a nearby building, with the nesting box at City Hall in view. The reunion with the parents was successful, she said. The two juvenile birds that hatched on top of City Hall last year have since left for parts unknown.

Meanwhile, the two adults are continuing to do their job at City Hall. This spring theyre flying around and just terrorizing the pigeons, Page said.

But City Halls pigeon problem hasnt been solved. The pigeons have just relocated to the nearby City Hall Commons building, Henry said, and hed like to set up another peregrine falcon nesting box, with DECs help, on that building.

Bonnie Parton, a wildlife biologist from the DECs Region 7 office in Cortland, said peregrine falcons still frequent the state Tower Building in Syracuse, though have not used that nesting box in a couple of years.

We will be coordinating with the city to explore whether site logistics will allow for future banding opportunities. she said. Adult peregrine falcons can regularly be seen across downtown Syracuse.

An adult peregrine falcon sits on top of Syracuse City Hall. This shot was taken at 4:30 a.m. March 29 by Tom Durr.

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New research shows that Queensland's coastline would be in danger of significantly larger potential tsunami waves if coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef was removed. Credit: Shutterstock

The size and impact of Pacific Ocean tsunami waves on the Australian coastline are significantly reduced by healthy coral structures in the Great Barrier Reef, researchers have shown.

But their findings, published in the Natural Hazards journal, also indicate that areas of the Queensland coast would be in danger of increased damage from a tsunami if the coral was dead or dying and had lost its structural complexity.

The research was led by Dr. Mandi Thran, a senior research associate at the Water Research Laboratory and UNSW School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, along with colleagues at the University of Sydney.

Using simulated models they were able to quantify, for the first time, that if the coral cover was removed completely there would be a 31% increase in offshore wave amplitude for a tsunami caused by a large-scale Mw9.0 earthquake in the Solomon Islands.

"We found that when we included rough coral cover, in our simulations, the tsunami waves were dampened," Dr. Thran says. "But when we removed that coral cover the waves actually grew in size.

The research team ran various computer simulations for different incidents that could feasibly cause a tsunami in the regionincluding earthquakes of strengths from 7.5Mw to 9.0Mw in the Solomon Islands, as well as landslides in and around the Great Barrier Reef itself.

For each simulation, the team first assumed the coral cover was healthy, with a rough and complex structure. They then re-ran the simulations for conditions where the coral was deemed to be smooth, such as it might be after being damaged by climate change.

Finally, models were analyzed where the entire reef platform was removed, in order to assess the buffering capacity of the Great Barrier Reef itself.

Coral roughness

Where coral structures were present, the key component was the 'roughness' of the coral on the reef, which is maximized when it is healthy and has a vibrant complex structure.

Credit: University of New South Wales

"Being able to monitor the reef's health and being able to quantify how rough it is, that will better equip us with the ability to anticipate what the tsunami hazard will be," Thran said.

"We can have a better gauge on how much more hazard there is for a particular area of the coastline if the health of the reef is declining or deteriorating."

The phenomenon highlighted by the research is very similar to the way a lens will focus light, given the fact that reefs are generally circular.

As tsunami waves approach the reef they bend inwards, with the energy focused towards the reef platform and potentially causing the waves to grow bigger and more powerful.

However, when healthy 'rough' coral structures are present on the reef, there is a frictional force that counteracts the effect and dampens down the waves.

The researchers also noted, though, that the positive effect caused by healthy Great Barrier Reef coral is just one aspect to be considered in terms of ongoing protection from potential tsunami damage. Risk awareness, hazard education, early warning systems and resilient infrastructure should also play a large part, they said.

But in terms of the reef structures, Professor Dale Dominey-Howes from the University of Sydney, who was a co-author of the paper, says it is vital to address the damage being done by the effects of climate change.

"The most significant finding is to demonstrate clearly, in a quantifiable way, the protective effects that healthy marine reefs can provide to adjacent low-lying coastal landscapes that are at risk from flooding and from tsunami events," Prof. Dominey-Howes said.

"Healthy coral reef acts as a buffer, mitigating the effects of tsunami waves, although it doesn't reduce it to zero. But it can slow the wave down, which reduces the power of the wave to do damage to buildings and infrastructure in the adjacent coastal plain.

"Totally separate from the issue of tsunami risk is the fact that changing climate can damage coral reef ecosystems, potentially killing them. And if we do that, we're actually amplifying the risk associated with tsunamis by killing a natural protective barrier.

"This adds weight to the argument that we need to think about protecting coral reefs from the worst impacts of climate change, which means we need to take action on human-induced climate change."

Explore further Coasts drown as coral reefs collapse under warming and acidification

More information: Mandi C. Thran et al. Examining the impact of the Great Barrier Reef on tsunami propagation using numerical simulations, Natural Hazards (2021). Mandi C. Thran et al. Examining the impact of the Great Barrier Reef on tsunami propagation using numerical simulations,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s11069-021-04686-w
Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad Esco), a subsidiary of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), said it has reached an agreement with Dubai Maritime City (DMC) to retrofit its buildings with energy-efficient systems at DP World, UAE Regions purpose-built maritime centre.

The scope of work includes setting up of modern air-conditioning, lighting, and thermal insulation solutions in the DMC facilities.

The agreement is part of the cooperation and strategic partnership between the two organisations in sustainability and energy efficiency, said the statement from Etihad Esco.

As per the deal, three cooling systems will be installed to optimise the performance of central coolers (Adiabatic Cooling System) with a central control unit. The air exchange units control system will be modified by installing smart valves as well as replacing the triple valves with dual ones in addition to switching a number of air conditioning units with modern energy-saving units, it stated.

Thermal insulation will be optimised by isolating a total of 2,725 sq m of the glass surface. As for lighting solutions, a total of 1,142 traditional lights will be replaced with modern, energy-efficient ones, said the statement.

The project is expected to save 729,373 kilowatt-hours annually, which is 20% of the total current consumption of the targeted facilities, it added.

Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director of DP World, UAE Region said: "Through our strategic partnership with Etihad Esco, we hope to carry on the energy efficiency movement in the UAE and the region endorsed by the leaders of our nation."

"We have always been committed to using innovative technologies to improve energy efficiency at the commercial and industrial districts facilities in DMC," he stated.

Etihad Esco said it aims to create an energy-efficient contracting market for energy service companies by auditing and proposing energy conservation standards by retrofitting buildings and increasing energy efficiency.

"We, at Etihad Esco, take pride in providing a variety of energy services to DMCs facilities," noted Faisal Al Raisi, the Acting Chief Operating Officer at Etihad Esco, said.

"The project will provide a package of integrated, diversified and sustainable solutions to increase energy efficiency. We aim to implement several energy conservation projects as well as expand the portfolios of the entities that benefit from them," he noted.

"This contributes to realising the objectives of the Dubai Demand Side Management Strategy 2030 programmes," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
DGAP Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Notice of the 2020 Annual General Meeting and the 2021 Second A-Shares Class Meeting of Shareholders to A-Shareholders



30.03.2021 / 20:04

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Notice of the 2020 Annual General Meeting and the 2021 Second A-Shares Class Meeting of Shareholders to A-Shareholders



Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt, 30 March 2021 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (D-Share 690D.DE, A-Share 600690.SH, H-Share 6690.HK, 'Haier Smart Home' or the 'Company') published the notice on convening the 2020 Annual General Meeting and the 2021 Second A-Shares Class Meeting of Shareholders in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and applicable PRC laws. The Shareholders' Meetings will be held on 25 June 2021 in Qingdao, China. Date of the Meetings: 25 June 2021

Venue: Haier University, Haier Information Industrial Park, No.1 Haier Road, Qingdao City, China

Online voting system for A-shareholders for the Meeting: Shanghai Stock Exchange Online Voting System for Shareholders' Meetings

For the participation of D-shareholders intending to attend the 2020 Annual General Meeting (and the 2021 Second D-Shares Class Meeting to be convened on the same day), the invitation letter will later be published on the disclosure platforms at https://www.dgap.de/, the German Federal Gazette and the website of the Company at https://smart-home.haier.com/en/sm/. The invitation letter and proxy form for the 2020 Annual General Meeting (and the 2021 Second D-Shares Class Meeting), will be separately dispatched to D-shareholders later.

I. RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE MEETINGS (1) Resolutions to be considered at the 2020 Annual General Meeting and classes of shareholders No. Proposals Class of Shareholders A Shareholders D Shareholders H Shareholders Proposals with non-cumulative poll 1 Report on the 2020 Annual Financial Statements v v v 2 2020 Annual Report and Annual Report Summary v v v 3 2020 Annual Work Report of the Board of Directors v v v 4 2020 Annual Work Report of the Board of Supervisors v v v 5 2020 Annual Audit Report on Internal Control v v v 6 2020 Annual Profit Distribution Plan v v v 7 Proposal on the Anticipated Provision of Guarantees for its Subsidiaries in 2021 v v v 8 Proposal on the Conduct of Foreign Exchange Fund Derivatives Business v v v 9 Proposal on Adjusting the Allowance of Directors v v v 10 Proposal on Closing Certain Fund-raising Projects through Convertible Corporate Bonds and Permanently Supplementing the Working Capital with the Surplus Funds v v v 11 Proposal on Granting the General Mandate to the Board of Directors on Additional Issuance of H-shares of the Company v v v 12 Proposal on Granting the General Mandate to the Board of Directors on Additional Issuance of D-shares of the Company v v v 13 Proposal on Granting the General Mandate to the Board of Directors to Repurchase not more than 10% of the Total Number of H-shares of the Company in Issue v v v 14 Proposal on Granting the General Mandate to the Board of Directors to Repurchase not more than 10% of the Total Number of D-shares of the Company in Issue v v v 15 Proposal on Amending the Articles of Association v v v 16 Proposal on Amending the Rules of Procedure for the Board of Directors v v v 17 Proposal on Amending the Rules of Procedure for the Board of Supervisors v v v 18 Proposal on Amending the Management System of External Guarantees v v v Proposals with cumulative poll 19.00 Proposal on Election of Independent Director(s) Number of independent directors to be elected: ( 1) 19.01 Wu Qi v v v 20.00 Proposal on Election of Supervisor(s) Number of supervisors to be elected: (2 ) 20.01 Liu Dalin v v v 20.02 Ma Yingjie v v v In addition, the meeting will also hear the 2020 annual work report by the independent directors. 1. Dates and media of disclosure of the proposals The resolutions have been considered and approved at the 17th meetings of the Tenth session of the Board of Directors and 13th meetings of the Tenth session of the Board of Supervisors. For details, please refer to the Announcement on Resolutions of the 17th meeting of the Tenth session of the Board of Directors of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. and the Announcement on Resolutions of the 13th meeting of the Tenth session of the Board of Supervisors of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. and other related announcements disclosed on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same date as this notice. 2. Special Proposals: 7, 11-15 3. Proposals with separate counting of votes from small and medium investors: 6-8, 10, 13,14,19 4. Proposals which interested shareholders will abstain from voting: Nil Names of the interested shareholders to abstain from voting: Nil 5. Proposals which holders of preference shares will vote on: Nil (2) Proposals to be considered at the 2021 Second A-Shares Class Meeting and type of shareholders No. Proposals Class of Shareholders A Shareholders Proposals with non-cumulative poll 1 Proposal on Granting the General Mandate to the Board of Directors to Repurchase not more than 10% of the Total Number of H-shares of the Company in Issue v 2 Proposal on Granting the General Mandate to the Board of Directors to Repurchase not more than 10% of the Total Number of D-shares of the Company in Issue v Note: 1. In order to avoid unnecessary duplicate voting by A-Shareholders, the Company will directly adopt the voting results of such shareholders on the above resolutions at the 2020 Annual General Meeting when calculating the voting results of A-Shareholders participating in the online voting at the 2021 Second A-Shares Class Meeting. A-Shareholders attending the on-site meeting will respectively vote at the 2020 Annual General Meeting and 2021 Second A-Shares Class Meeting. 2. The proposals above require consideration at the 2021 second D-share class shareholders' meeting and the 2021 second H-share class shareholders' meeting as well. 1. Dates and media of disclosure of the proposals The resolutions have been considered and approved at the 17th meetings of the Tenth session of the Board of Directors. For details, please refer to the Announcement on Resolutions of the 17th meeting of the Tenth session of the Board of Directors of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. and other related announcements disclosed on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same date as this notice. 2. Special proposals: 1, 2

II. MATTERS OF CONCERN FOR VOTING AT THE GENERAL MEETING (1) Shareholders of the Company who would like to cast his or her vote through the Shanghai Stock Exchange Online Voting System for General Meeting may either log in the voting platform of the trading system (through the terminus of designated securities trading company) or the internet voting platform (website: vote.sseinfo.com) to vote. Any investor who logs in the internet voting platform to vote for the first time is required to have his or her identity as a shareholder verified. For details, please refer to the instructions for the internet voting platform on the website. (2) Any shareholder of the Company holding more than one shareholder's account may vote using any of the said accounts through the Shanghai Stock Exchange Online Voting System for General Meeting. After voting, such shareholder is deemed to have cast his or her votes in the same way in respect of all the ordinary or preference shares of the same class held under his or her said accounts. (3) Where shareholders cast more votes than the votes they have or cast votes more than the number of persons to be elected in a competitive election, the votes they cast on the proposal shall be deemed as invalid. (4) If the same vote is cast more than once by way of voting in the on-site meeting, via Shanghai Stock Exchange Online Voting Platform or otherwise, the vote of the first time prevails. (5) Submission can only be made after the shareholder has voted all proposals. (6) In order to avoid unnecessary duplicate voting by A-Shareholders, the Company will directly adopt the voting results of such shareholders on the above resolutions at the 2020 Annual General Meeting when calculating the voting results of A-Shareholders participating in the online voting at the 2021 Second A-Shares Class Meeting. A-Shareholders attending the on-site meeting will vote at the 2020 Annual General Meeting and 2021 Second A-Shares Class Meeting, respectively.

III. QUALIFIED ATTENDANCE (1) Shareholders of the Company registered with the Shanghai Branch of China Securities Depository and Clearing Company Limited after trade close on the Record Date are entitled to attend the Shareholders' Meeting (details as set out in the following table) and may appoint proxies in written to attend and vote at the Shareholders' Meeting. Such proxies are not necessarily shareholders of the Company. Class of Shares Stock Code Stock Short Name Record Date A-Share 600690 Haier Smart Home 16 Jun 2021 (2) Directors, supervisors and senior management of the Company. (3) Lawyers engaged by the Company. (4) Other persons.

IV. REGISTRATION METHOD (1) Holders of Domestic Shares (A-Shareholders) 1. Registration method: An individual shareholder may register with his/her shareholder account card, identity card and shareholding certificate (a proxy with the share account card and shareholding certificate of the principal, power of attorney and his/her identity card); a corporate shareholder may register with the corporate entity certificate, shareholder account card, power of attorney and the attendee's identity card. Foreign shareholders may register by fax or letter (subject to the receipt of the fax or letter by the Company before 16:00 on 18 June 2021). 2. Registration time: 17-18 June 2021 at 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.CST 3. Registration place: Department of Securities of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., Haier Information Industrial Park, No. 1 Haier Road, Qingdao City. (2) Holders of overseas listed foreign shares (D-Shareholders, H-Shareholders) Please refer to the overseas disclosure platform of the Company at https://www.dgap.de/, the German Federal Gazette and the website of the Company at http://smart-home.haier.com/en/sm/ and https://www.hkexnews.hk, the invitation letter and proxy form for the 2020 Annual General Meeting (and the 2021 Second D-Shares Class Meeting), will be separately dispatched to D-shareholders later.



V. MISCELLANEOUS (1) This meeting is expected to last for half a day. Shareholders attending this meeting are responsible for their own accommodation and travelling expenses. (2) In case during the online voting period, there occurs any material event which affects the voting system, the proceedings of the Shareholders' Meeting shall be conducted in accordance with notice published on such date. (3) Contact address: Department of Securities of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., Haier Information Industrial Park, No. 1 Haier Road, Qingdao City

Postal code: 266101 Contact persons: Ming Guozhen, Liu Tao Telephone: 0532-8893 1670 Fax: 0532-8893 1689



The Board of Directors Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd 30 March 2021



Note: This Announcement has been prepared in both Chinese and English. Should there be any discrepancies or misunderstandings between the two versions, the Chinese version shall prevail.



IR contact:

Yao Sun (Sophie) - Haier Smart Home Germany

T: +49 89 380 334 235

M: +49 160 9469 3601

Email: y.sun@haier.de

30.03.2021 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.dgap.de


Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-28 00:23:13|Editor: huaxia

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Medical workers prepare to administer COVID-19 vaccines at the Congress Palace of Cotonou, Benin, March 29, 2021. Benin launched on Monday the first phase of vaccination against COVID-19 that targets groups including health workers and people aged 60 and above. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

COTONOU, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Benin plans to start on Monday mass vaccination against COVID-19 in four administrative divisions accounting for over 95 percent of the total of cases registered so far, according to an official release reaching Xinhua on Saturday.

A total of 78 vaccination sites were established in the four departments, namely Littoral, Atlantique, Oueme and Borgou, for the immunization campaign that targets groups including health workers and those aged 60 and above.

Prior to this, the government of Benin has made available Chinese Sinovac vaccines through the cooperation with China, and AstraZeneca vaccines thanks to the COVAX facility headed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"All these anti-COVID-19 vaccines accepted by Benin have been submitted to relevant technical committees for a careful review to ensure the reliability of the data of effectiveness, quality and security made available on them," the government said in the release.

As of March 22, Benin had recorded a total of 7,100 COVID-19 cases with 90 deaths. Enditem
Loading The fighting spread across the town Monday, according to Lionel Dyck, director of the Dyck Advisory Group, a private military company contracted by the Mozambican police to help fight the rebels. There is fighting in the streets, in pockets across the town, Dyck told The Associated Press. The Dyck group has several helicopter gunships in Palma which have been used to rescue trapped civilians and to fight the rebels. My guys are airborne and theyve engaged several little groups and theyve engaged one quite large group, Dyck said. Theyve landed into the fight to recover a couple of wounded policemen. ... We have also rescued many people who were trapped, 220 people at last count. He said those rescued were taken to Totals fortified site on the southern African countrys Afungi peninsula, where chartered flights flew many south to Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado province.

The rebels are well-armed with AK-47 automatic rifles, RPD and PKM machine guns and heavy mortars, Dyck said. Loading This attack is not a surprise. Weve been expecting Palma to be whacked the moment the rains stopped and the fighting season started, which is now, he said. They have been preparing for this. Theyve had enough time to get their ducks in a row. They have a notch up in their ability. Theyre more aggressive. Theyre using their mortars. He said many were wearing black uniforms. There have been lots of beheadings. Right up on day one, our guys saw the drivers of trucks bringing rations to Palma. Their bodies were by the trucks. Their heads were off.

Dyck said it will not be easy for the Mozambican government to regain control of Palma. They must get sufficient troops to sweep through the town, going house-to-house and clean each one out. Thats the most difficult phase of warfare in the book, Dyck said. It will be very difficult unless theres a competent force put in place with good command and control to retake that town. It can be done. But it aint going to be easy. Without control of Palma, Totals operations are jeopardised, analysts say.

The battle for Palma is similar to how the rebels seized the port Mocimboa da Praia in August. The rebels infiltrated men into the town to live among residents and then launched a three-pronged attack. Fighting continued for more than a week until the rebels controlled the town centre and then its port. The town, about 50 miles south of Palma, is still held by the rebels. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric condemned the violence in Palma, which he said has reportedly killed dozens of people, including some trying to flee a hotel where they had taken shelter. He referred to those trapped at the Amarula Hotel who tried to escape in a convoy of 17 vehicles on Friday. Only seven vehicles made it to the beach, where seven people were killed. Some in the other vehicles fled into the dense tropical jungle and were later rescued. We continue to coordinate closely with the authorities on the ground to provide assistance to those affected by the violence, Dujarric said. The battle for Palma is expected to drastically worsen the humanitarian crisis in Mozambiques northern Cabo Delgado province, where the rebels started violent attacks in 2017. The insurgents began as a few bands of disaffected and unemployed young Muslim men. They now likely number in the thousands, according to experts.

The attack on Palma is a game-changer in that the rebels have changed the narrative, said one expert who returned from Palma earlier this month. This is no rag-tag bunch of disorganised youths. This is a trained and determined force that has captured and held one town and is now sustaining a battle for a very strategic centre, said the expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of visiting Palma. They have called into question the entire LNG (liquified natural gas) investment which was supposed to bring Mozambique major economic growth over many years. Known locally as al-Shabab, although they have no known affiliation with Somalias jihadist rebels of the same name, the rebels violence in Mozambique, a nation of 30 million, is blamed for the deaths of more than 2600 people and caused an estimated 670,000 people to flee their homes. The attack on Palma has made a bad humanitarian situation worse, said Jonathan Whittall, director of analysis for Doctors Without Borders, which is working to help the displaced around Pemba, the provincial capital 160 km south of Palma.
The UK government has not ruled out the prospect of nationalisation as it confirmed all options remain on the table to save British jobs at Liberty Steel, the firm led by British-Indian tycoon Sanjeev Gupta.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has been in crisis talks with the firm since the collapse of its biggest lender, Greensill Capital, put nearly 5,000 jobs at risk.

He said while Liberty Steel is a really important national asset, it was important to distinguish between the steel business and its parent firm, the Gupta Family Group Alliance.

All options are on the table. The has a future in the UK, Kwarteng told the BBC.
Two staff members came and tried to lift him up but his right leg wasnt working so they went and got a wheelchair. The schools chaplain asked the victim to rate his injury on a scale of one to 10, and he initially told them nine, but changed that to four when they mentioned calling an ambulance. Teachers wheeled the victim to the residential boarding college, where he lay for several hours. Perth Childrens Hospital surgeon Abay Sundaram performed surgery the next day. He said the boy had a femoral neck fracture, or a broken thigh bone within the hip itself, and the operation involved drills, screws and plates. Its not a fracture wed ever leave without surgery, he said.

Dr Sundaram told the court the victim had Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, an inherited condition that affected nerves and muscles, which would make him susceptible to injury. The victim said CMT affected his feet especially, causing him to walk on his tip toes and be unsteady. After the surgery, he told the court he was in a lot of pain. I wasnt right mentally, he said. I kept getting angry. I think of it sometimes, it still affects me. My pelvis was perfectly fine before the incident. The schools deputy principal told the court the accused boy said he was mucking around with the friend he pushed into the victim.

Prosecutor Sean OSullivan presented screenshots of message exchanges between the victim and accused, which included the victim saying: I aint going to snitch. When the victim wrote you gave me a broken pelvis LMAO, the accused sent back LOL. Defence counsel Georgia Herford objected, saying her client told her not all the message came from him, with the accuseds girlfriend at the time admitting it was her messaging at times. Magistrate Andree Horrigan said she would determine the objection once she had seen the evidence. The victim told the court he sent the messages because he knew the accused would get in a lot of trouble.

The court heard the victim had been having difficulties with other students and a video he posted to social media of him singing a song containing the N-word had circulated, attracting negative attention. In her cross-examination, Ms Herford put it to him he had been in fights before. The victim denied the claim and said the incidents she was referring to were play-fighting. Ms Herford showed screenshots of phone messages showing the victim telling people the accused had king-hit him, which he agreed had not been true. She disputed the victims sequence of events and said he had walked up to her client, who then put his arm around him and had a discussion about someone they both knew, not a headlock. He did put me in a headlock, he did try to hit me, the victim insisted.

Two other students gave evidence, including the boy who was pushed and fell into the victim. Neither recalled seeing the victim in a headlock. The boy who was pushed said he had seen the victim and accused speaking and went to say hello. He walked between them when he was pushed and accidentally stumbled and bumped into the victim. He confirmed play-fighting was common at the school. The accused boys former girlfriend told the court he had told her he hit the victim. The court saw screenshots of an exchange between her and the accused saying knocked this n----- out haha. He said he knocked him out and he couldnt walk properly after, the girl said.

The girl was living with the accused and his mother at the time of the incident. I asked if he got in a fight with the victim and he said yes and said that the charges would get dropped, she said. He said he knocked him out. He said he deserved it as he said the N-word. Ms Herford questioned the validity of the messages as evidence because some messages were from the ex-girlfriend through her Instagram account while others were from the accused boys account using the girls phone. The victim never returned to school and has since started studying at TAFE online.
Jason Jimerson, the former COO of Indiana-based plastics manufacturer Lucent Polymers, Inc., was sentenced on March 25, 2021 to 24 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.

The SEC previously charged Jimerson for his alleged role in a scheme to conceal that Lucent's core business model was a sham in connection with the company's acquisition by another manufacturer in 2013. According to the SEC's complaint, Lucent routinely lied to its customers and falsified its certifications of test data to show that its products complied with customer specifications, including in important areas such as fire-retardant measures. Jimerson allegedly hid Lucent's fraudulent practices, made misrepresentations to the company that acquired Lucent, and continued the fraud, including by lying to the Commission's staff, even after the sale of that company.

On June 18, 2020, Jimerson pleaded guilty to two counts of securities fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of making false statements to federal agents. The criminal fraud charges against Jimerson were based on the same misconduct underlying the SEC's complaint.

The SEC's litigation, which was stayed pending resolution of the criminal action, continues. The SEC's complaint charges Jimerson and Lucent's former CEO, Kevin Kuhnash, with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and seeks permanent injunctions, disgorgement plus prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and officer-and-director bars.
Whenever there is a new gadget launch, it's the company's job to highlight some key features that set the phone apart from other competitors. However, due to time limitation - it's not possible to highlight all of them. It's only after a few days or weeks that people would start to discover some hidden features that weren't announced.

This is very much the case of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. Although we previously wrote about its new camera features, we discovered four more hidden camera features later that Samsung never mentioned. If you're a serious videographer looking for some useful features that can aid your work, read on below!

Multi-camera standby - Director's View

Have you ever wanted to have different frame shots whenever you're behind the camera? Adjusting the zoom is one way to do it, but it would be nice if it could be done with the touch of a button. Well, the Galaxy S21 Ultra already has one all along right, under our noses. Here's how to do it.

First, you have to go into your camera UI and swipe left till you get the Director's View. Once you are in that mode, you will be presented with three different camera views to choose from - ranging from normal to close up. This works on both vertical and horizontal recording!

Vlogger View

While the concept of recording using both the front and back cameras at the same time is nothing new, it's still a nice feature to have, especially if you're a vlogger. To access that, you can go to the same Director's View UI and tap the button on the top-right. You should see three types of viewing options - Normal, Split View and PIP (Picture-in-Picture) View. Since it's found in the Director's View, that also means you can combine any Vlogger View and Multi-camera standby!

Hi-Res photo snap from 8K videos on the go

All the quick snapshots are taken while in 8K video recording mode

For videographers, there are times when they may have went, "If only I could take a photo of this now!". Well, Samsung also integrated that function. It's easy to use too. All you have to do is press the record button, then tap on the camera icon that appears on the left side, which allows you to take quick snapshots of the subject. It's even better if you capture it while using the 8K video recording mode!

4K 60fps recording in various modes

Last but not least, 4K video recording at 60FPS. Okay, that's quite normal on premium phones nowadays, so what's so special about this one? As it turns out, the Galaxy S21 Ultra can not only record 4K@60FPS using the primary camera. You can also do so using its ultra-wide, telephoto, and front cameras. Enough said.

By the way, did you know that Samsung Malaysia is collaborating with a local director to shoot short film using the Galaxy S21 Ultra? You can learn more about how the he truly utilise the camera features and how to shoot a 'pause-proof' and 'zoom-proof' 8K video. Check it out below!

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series is priced from RM3499 to RM5899. Customers who buy any of the models would get a free Galaxy Fit2, SmartTag and Wireless Charger Trio worth a total of RM697 (until 31 March 2021, while stocks last). On top of that, you can buy selected Samsung accessories at a 50% discount (until 30 April 2021). As usual, terms and conditions apply.

To learn more about the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, you can visit the company's official online store page right over here. Stay tuned for more tech review articles at TechNave.com.

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A pre-inquest review is to be held into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who came into contact with a perfume bottle containing the nerve agent Novichok (Andrew Matthews/PA)

A coroner is to hold a pre-inquest review into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who came into contact with a perfume bottle containing the nerve agent Novichok.

Former appeal court judge Baroness Hallett will use the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice to examine the scope of the inquest, among other things.

Ms Sturgess, 44, collapsed at her partner Charlie Rowleys home in Amesbury, Wiltshire, on June 30 2018, after unwittingly spraying herself with the lethal chemical.

She died in hospital on July 8, while Mr Rowley, who initially found the perfume and gave it to Ms Sturgess, was left seriously ill but recovered.

Expand Close Dawn Sturgess, 44, died after being exposed to nerve agent Novichok (Metropolitan Police/PA) PA / Facebook

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Ms Sturgesss death followed a chemical attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, who were found unconscious on a park bench eight miles away in Salisbury four months earlier.

They were both released from hospital before Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley fell ill.

Independent investigator the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons later confirmed that the toxic chemical which killed Ms Sturgess was the same nerve agent as that which poisoned the Skripals.

Police said there was enough evidence to charge two Russians, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, with offences including conspiracy to murder over the attack.

Expand Close The box that contained the perfume bottle found by Charlie Rowley, which he gave to his partner, Dawn Sturgess (Metropolitan Police/PA) PA / Facebook

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The pair later gave a much-derided interview for state television in which they claimed they were only in Salisbury for a sightseeing tour of the cathedral.

Russia repeatedly denied any involvement, with President Vladimir Putin claiming the two suspects were merely civilians, not military officers.

The poisonings caused widespread fear across Salisbury and further increased tensions between Westminster and the Kremlin.

No date has yet been set for the full inquest on Ms Sturgess.
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The collaboration introduces limited HOKA x Cotopaxi styles of the Torrent 2 trail shoe and Batac 16L Del Dia Backpack. The Torrent 2 (MSRP $130) is a lightweight, nimble trail shoe designed to be agile on challenging terrain yet provide the enhanced cushioning and smooth ride that have been the hallmark of HOKA footwear since the brand's inception over ten years ago; the Batac 16L Del Dia Backpack (MSRP $65) is made of repurposed materials and offers unstructured versatility, making it a great school pack, gym bag, and daily travel companion. Both of these special-edition products have been designed with color blocks celebrating the bold, empowering, unapologetic ethos of HOKA and Cotopaxi.

Additionally, the collaboration will be supported by a virtual edition of Cotopaxi's signature adventure scavenger hunt series, Questival, on April 23. Tying into the design of the special-edition products, the theme of this Questival is "Chase the Bright Side": a call to action embodying both brands' desires to make the world a better place. Proceeds from the event will be used to fund a grant supporting Big City Mountaineers (BCM), an organization providing free, fully-outfitted, professionally-led backcountry trips for youth from disinvested communities; both brands will also use proceeds from the sale of the collab products to make an additional donation to BCM. The HOKA x Cotopaxi Questival is an adventure scavenger hunt that will be held virtually and is open to participants from anywhere in the United States. More information about the Questival, including registration details, can be found here.

"Cotopaxi's passion for sustainable design and community building is at the core of our brand, and our tireless efforts to support the greater good are evident through thoughtful product creation, impact and cause-driven work, and our considered collaborative partnerships," said Davis Smith, CEO and co-founder of Cotopaxi. "By joining forces with HOKA to drive economic and social equity through products, events, and shared grants to Big City Mountaineers, our two brands can increase the value we provide to our shared community."

"Our mission is to empower all athletes to fly, and the HOKA x Cotopaxi collaboration starkly highlights the bold and unexpected approach HOKA has always taken in pursuit of that mission," said Gretchen Weimer, Vice President of Product at HOKA ONE ONE. "Partnering with a like-minded brand in Cotopaxi helps us empower more people to explore their world and, hopefully, dedicate themselves to changing it for the better. We are also humbled and honored that this partnership can help support the work of Big City Mountaineers, whose mission empowers potentially life-changing access to the outdoors for youth across the United States."

The HOKA x Cotopaxi collaboration collection launches online at cotopaxi.com , hokaoneone.com and REI.com , and at all REI retail stores, on March 30.

About Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is an outdoor gear brand and Benefit Corporation with a social mission. With two storefronts and a strong ecommerce platform, and employing over 80 staff members, we offer conscious customers responsibly designed apparel whose sales support our mission to alleviate poverty. Through the Cotopaxi Foundation, the company has awarded more than 60 traceable grants to vetted organizations on the front lines of addressing poverty. For more information please visit http://www.cotopaxi.com .

About HOKA ONE ONE

HOKA ONE ONE is one of the fastest-growing performance footwear and apparel brands in history. Conceived in the mountains, HOKA footwear delivers an unprecedented combination of enhanced cushioning and support for a uniquely smooth ride. Every day, HOKA pushes the innovation and design of its footwear and apparel by teaming up with a deep roster of world champions, taste makers and everyday athletes. From finish lines to everyday life, HOKA fans love the brand for its bold and unexpected approach, and its belief in the power of humanity to create change for a better world. HOKA empowers a world of athletes to fly over the Earth. For more information, visit hokaoneone.com or follow @hokaoneone. #TimeToFly

About Deckers Brands

Deckers Brands is a global leader in designing, marketing and distributing innovative footwear, apparel and accessories developed for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high performance activities. The Company's portfolio of brands includes UGG, KOOLABURRA, HOKA ONE ONE, Teva, and Sanuk. Deckers Brands products are sold in more than 50 countries and territories through select department and specialty stores, Company-owned and operated retail stores, and select online stores, including Company-owned websites. Deckers Brands has over 40 years of history building niche footwear brands into lifestyle market leaders attracting millions of loyal consumers globally. For more information, please visit www.deckers.com .

Cotopaxi Media Contact:

Jess Smith | [email protected] | 415.565.9530



HOKA Media Contact:

Gordon Wright | [email protected] | 415.786.5146

SOURCE HOKA ONE ONE

Related Links

http://www.hokaoneone.com


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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Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 30.03.2021 - Switzerland has just completed the construction of its pavilion at Dubai World Expo. This is the final stretch before the opening of one of this year's most anticipated events, on 1 October 2021, under the theme 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.' The expo will provide a platform for exchange to more than 190 participating countries. It will position Switzerland and promote its economy in the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland's most important trading partner in the MENA region.

The laying of the foundation stone took place at the end of 2019, and now the construction of the Swiss pavilion is complete. This cubic structure of about 2000 m2 in the Emirati desert has been handed over to Presence Switzerland, which will be responsible for running it during the expo. "Our little piece of Switzerland at the expo is ready for a big show in Dubai. In these difficult times for our export economy, our pavilion aims to be a symbol and driving force for the recovery we all need," says Ambassador Nicolas Bideau, head of Presence Switzerland.

Dubai will be the first world expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa or South Asia and to be hosted by an Arab country. In line with the Federal Council's new Strategy for the entire Middle East and North Africa 202124, the Swiss pavilion will be a place of dialogue, where representatives of government, business, science and civil society can come together. The platform will allow for exchanges on topics such as health, climate change and digitalisation.

A rich and varied experience

The Swiss pavilion in Dubai will immerse visitors in a story of Switzerland. It will start with a sea of fog inspired by the cloud of Expo 02 in Yverdon. This fog will give way to a sound and light show reproducing the passage of day to night over the Swiss Alps. Visitors will then enter a model of a hyperconnected Swiss city, a symbol of the digitalisation of our country.



The last part of the tour will consist of a series of exhibitions on Swiss innovation, produced in collaboration with the academic world and the Swiss start-up ecosystem. At the end of the visit, a cup of Swiss coffee will be offered, along with a piece of chocolate.

Switzerland's National Day will be held on 29 October 2021 and will be attended by an official delegation, led by President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will travel to Dubai in February 2022 to inaugurate an exhibition on the theme of water diplomacy.

Public-private partnership model

The Swiss pavilion was designed by the Zurich agencies OOS (architecture), Bellprat Partner (scenography), Lorenz Eugster (landscape architecture) and built by Expomobilia of Basel. The building incorporates sustainable construction practices, such as the use of scaffolding and textiles made from sustainable products and the use of recycled concrete.

The Swiss pavilion is based on a public-private partnership model: Schindler, Rolex SA, Switzerland Tourism, Clariant, Novartis, Nestle Middle East and North Africa, Roche, KGS Diamond Group Ltd. as well as other Swiss suppliers are integral to the project. The total cost of the project is CHF 16,5 million.

Address for enquiries

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CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

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Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

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




-River Gee Lawmaker tells opponents

River Gee County electoral district one Representative Alexander Poure vows to defeat all of his opponents at the poll in next election.

"Look gentleman, I'm not deterred, but I can say this without any form of fear that if Jesus Christ himself lifted your hand in my district, I'll beat you", he vows.

Representative Poure hosted a news conference in his office at the Capitol over the weekend, at which time he officially declared his membership for the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change.

When quizzed what triggered his decision to pledge support, and join the ruling CDC, Rep. Poure said his decision was triggered as a result of his personal conviction, and with support and call of the people he represents.

"When the people whom I represent petition me for a particular job, I as a representative, have no option but to obey them".

According to him, it was also necessary to bring his expertise on board since the government comprises of three separate branches. "And having formed part of one of them, it was prudent for me to help them succeed for the benefit of the Liberian people."

Representative Alexander Poure, who was a strong member of the opposition All Liberian Party, a constituent party of the four Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) says he has absolutely no regret in leaving the ALP and by extension, the CPP, noting that he tendered in his letter of resignation several days before joining the governing CDC.

He disclosed that the decision was taken during President Weah's first leg of nationwide tour when the reception received from the party hierarchy was welcoming.

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Asked how will the CDC hierarchy see him following the role he played that led to the ruling party losing the recent senatorial election in River Gee County, Representative Alexander Poure quickly replies, "During the just ended senatorial elections I was in the opposition, and at such I was under obligation to making sure the CPP candidate wins."

Meanwhile, the River Gee Lawmaker says those who claim his support for the CDC is meant to secure his job is unfortunate, saying, "I'm not joining the CDC to secure any job, because even Jesus Christ himself hold your hand in my district I will beat you."

Rep. Poure: "So many reasons led me to the CDC, and one of those I am a southeaster and I feel this is an opportunity to support our own, because when it slips then you might not see such opportunity again".

At the same time he calls on fellow lawmakers both in the opposition and the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change to work in close collaboration for the benefit of the people, saying, if anyone claims that he or she is in opposition so they wouldn't help to rebuild the country then it will be the ordinary people who will suffer."
Chinas crude oil imports from Iran this month could reach close to 1 million bpd, Reuters reported today, citing trading and analyst sources.

That would be almost half the amount Saudi Arabia exports to China.

An earlier report by Reuters from the beginning of the month said that China was buying record-high volumes of Iranian crude in anticipation of the Biden Administration lifting sanctions on Tehran. Even India, the report said, started planning for Iranian oil purchases.

Later in March, Washington warned China to stop buying oil from Iran, according to a senior administration official.

Weve told the Chinese that we will continue to enforce our sanctions, the unnamed official told the FT. There will be no tacit green light.

The Trump-era sanctions may be waived if Iran and the U.S. make it to the negotiation table, but that still remains uncertain.

Ultimately, our goal is not to enforce the sanctions; it is to get to the point where we lift sanctions and Iran reverses its nuclear steps, the official told the FT.

Meanwhile, China is stocking up on cheap Iranian crude, most recently securing long-term supply with a deal worth $400 billion, under which China will invest heavily in various sectors of the Iranian economy over the next 25 years and will in exchange receive access to a steady flow of cheap oil.

Currently, Iran is masking the crude it sells to China as originating from other countries to avoid U.S. sanctions. It is also undermining the efforts of its fellow members to keep prices stronger.

The recent jump in Iranian crude exports, notably to China, and crude going out of inventories are contributing to the weakness of the oil market, undermining OPEC+ efforts to limit supply and setting prices for a third weekly drop, Rystad Energy said, as quoted by Reuters.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The radical left did not steal the presidency  they eliminated it.

The Biden so-called press conference, a parody of itself, proved that. While Biden had some moments in which he seemed lucid, he had many in which he could not conceal the fog that envelops his failing brain  not even with pre-approved non-questions from non-reporters and scripted responses.

Is this confused old guy the man who has his finger on the nuclear button? Fortunately, he is not.

His handlers are well aware that he lapses in and (back) out of situational awareness, as the televised appearance made clear to everyone, even his supporters. Biden, at times, cannot distinguish between a North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) incoming-missile warning-screen, and an Xbox video game.

Joe Biden is not actually exercising the powers of the presidency. He is not making any of the decisions. He is not capable of doing either. Who, then, is?

One thing is certain: Joe Biden is president in name only. He is the warm-up act for Kamala Harris, who will assume the title of president of the United States whenever Biden begins (figuratively or literally) to drool so openly that the absurdity becomes too much to bear, even for his handlers  at which time Kamala will eagerly and triumphantly prance into the office. Even Harris, however, is a blundering incompetent when it comes to the skills required of a president. Skilled actress that she is, she can play the part on screen but will rely entirely on Biden's scriptwriters to formulate and execute policy. Figurehead Kamala will not be permitted by the real rulers to do anything more than pretend to be president.

One wonders, then, who are the people who comprise the secret cabal, the puppeteers? Who are the ones actually setting policy for the nation? Who is issuing the orders? They were brilliant enough to illegally and openly steal an election, but there is a saying that it is easier to conquer than to govern. Are they geniuses, or consummate fools? Have they bitten off more than they can chew?

"They" are not the Chinese. Although the American commissars may be selling out to them, they are not willing to give up their perquisites to formally install them. The apparatchiks seek a truce, a deal, a compromise with foreign enemies, in which they can lock in their status as a permanent ruling class. But, having fed the dragon, the American left rightly fear being eaten by it.

When the left stole the election, they destroyed more than the presidency. They destroyed the electoral system itself. It is in ruins.

However much the Senate Republicans may now scurry to patch it back together, their belated efforts are not noble, but merely self-serving. Had they been noble, they never would have accepted electors that they knew were false. They would never have allowed illegally appointed electors to go unchallenged. They would not have ignored the state legislatures, who have sole authority to send electors to the senate, when those legislatures attempted to rescind the unlawful actions of those officials who had no authority to change state election laws.

This is in the tradition of Republicans who loudly proclaim to be outraged but do so only after they are assured of having no power to repair the damage they allowed to happen.

The bottom line is that the United States has been fundamentally transformed. The Republic has been replaced by an oligarchy. Its new flag, already being flown above some federal buildings, is not the symbol of unity, but the very illustration of chaos and cacophony, the symbol by which we have been divided and conquered.

To whom, then, can we turn to restore the Republic? The answer to that is in your mirror.

Image: Kelly Kline via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
A Vatican official involved in buying a landmark west London office block allegedly offered a businessman a prostitute as a thank you for brokering the 300 million deal, the High Court has heard.

Gianluigi Torzi acted as the middle man in negotiations over the property in Sloane Avenue, Chelsea, which has been earmarked for development into luxury flats.

However, the 42-year-old claimed in written evidence that senior lay official Fabrizio Tirabassi tried to thank him for his work by offering sex with a woman, which he declined, while also making threats to the lives of him and his children, according to the Times.

Furthermore, he alleged that Tirabassi boasted of blackmailing senior clergymen and so reported the behaviour to Pope Francis.

The allegations came to light as a judge blasted Vatican prosecutors for making 'appalling' misrepresentations to the court about their probe into the Holy See's investment into the real estate deal.

It had been alleged that Torzi, along with Tirabassi, senior cleric Monsignor Alberto Perlasca and London financier Raffaello Mincione, conspired to fleece the church jurisdiction out of millions in fees in negotiations, but Judge Tony Baumgartner last week reversed a decision to seize his bank accounts and awarded him legal fees.

The controversy led to a series of police raids, Tirabassi being suspended from his Vatican post, Perlasca being moved to a different role.

Mincione, the property's previous owner, has strongly denied wrongdoing and has lodged two separate legal cases against the Holy See.

Gianluigi Torzi, pictured left with Pope Francis, helped broker a 300 million deal for an office block in west London

Torzi acted as the middle man in negotiations over the property in Sloane Avenue, Chelsea, which has been earmarked for development into luxury flats

The Vatican had claimed it was cheated in shelling out 300m for the building in 2018, citing that the property was sold for just 129m only six years earlier.

But the judge said officials failed to mention the sharp rise in value after planning permission to turn it into flats was granted, and ruled the Vatican's seizure request was so full of omissions and misrepresentations that it likely affected the original judge's decision.

In examining whether the Vatican's allegations justified a new asset seizure, Judge Baumgartner concluded that the Vatican hadn't provided sufficient evidence to make the case against Torzi.

'I do not consider there is reasonable cause to believe that Mr Torzi has benefited from criminal conduct,' as the Vatican alleges, he wrote.

Judge Baumgartner wrote that the Vatican's 'non-disclosures and misrepresentations are so appalling that the ultimate sanction' of reversing the asset seizure was appropriate.

The Vatican didn't immediately provide a comment from its prosecutors' office.

The ruling was the latest blow to Vatican prosecutors, who have sought international judicial assistance in their probe into the Secretariat of State's investment of donations from the faithful.

Vatican prosecutors have faced a series of embarrassing setbacks in foreign courts that pointed to incompetence, overreach and problems as basic as getting documents translated properly.

Torzi was accused of embezzlement and fraud in connection with his role in helping the Holy See acquire part of the Chelsea building it didn't already own.

Church prosecutors alleged he extorted the Vatican for nearly 13m in fees, although Vatican clergymen and officials approved the payment and signed contracts giving Torzi voting rights in the venture.

Torzi has denied any wrongdoing and maintains his dealings with the Vatican were completely above board.

It was alleged that London financier Raffaello Mincione was involved in a conspiracy to fleece the church jurisdiction out of millions in fees in negotiations. Mincione, the property's previous owner, has strongly denied wrongdoing and has lodged two separate legal cases against the Holy See

The finding by Judge Baumgartner supported his position at the High Court, citing papers provided by the Vatican that showed Torzi's involvement in the deal involved 'arm's length, commercial transactions.'

Torzi's lawyer, James Mullion of Janes Solicitors, said: 'It is rare that a court will make such a categorical finding, given that the bar is relatively low [for getting an asset seizure approved]'.

The bulk of Judge Baumgartner's 42-page ruling concerned what Torzi's lawyers said were omissions and misrepresentations in the Vatican's original request to freeze his bank accounts.

The judge agreed with most of the key defense points, dismantling the Vatican's claim that Torzi had been 'secretive and dishonest' in his contract negotiations.

The judge said the detailed, clear and signed contracts 'speak for themselves.'

He also questioned why the two top Vatican officials who authorized the deal, the No. 2 in the secretariat of state, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra and his boss, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, hadn't at the very least provided a witness statement to back up prosecutors' claims that they were 'astonished' by Torzi's fees.

If the prosecutors' account was to be accepted, Judge Baumgartner wrote, Pena Parra and Parolin 'must have had the wool pulled completely over their eyes.'

Vatican prosecutors told The Associated Press that neither Parolin nor Pena Parra knew that their underlings were negotiating such a big fee for Torzi.

The Vatican tried to keep the verdict private, citing its ongoing investigation and Vatican law requiring confidentiality of documentation, but the judge ordered it to be published, saying there was already so much information in the public domain, and that he didn't believe tribunal judges would be prejudiced by his ruling.

'The fact that an investigation is confidential in another jurisdiction does weigh in my mind,' he wrote.

'But to my mind, such a blanket claim does not sit well with the principle of open justice.'

A spokesman for Torzi told the Times: 'Mr Torzi has always maintained he was only ever involved in a genuine commercial transaction with the Vatican.'

MailOnline has made a further request for a response to the claims from the Vatican and Tirabassi.
THE Social Security Commission (SSC) has failed to execute subsidy payments to employers and employees affected by Covid-19 as promised last year.

An update from the SSC shows that although 860 employers qualified for a subsidy, only 177 have been paid.

This was from a list of 2 000 applicants.

Treasury last year boasted it introduced an N$8,1 billion subsidy.

Included in this amount was N$400 million allocated to wage subsidies.

The 177 employers who have been paid only received N$18,2 million, while

21 359 employees were paid

N$79,5 million.

This averages N$102 800 per employer, and N$3 700 per employee.

The total amount paid out amounts to close to N$100 million, which comprises an execution rate of 25%.

According to leaked documents, the SSC has extended the contract of Milka Mungunda, the commission's chief executive officer.

This-despite the low execution rate,

The SSC says it " . . . would further like to register its contentment with the extent to which the National Employment and Salary Protection Scheme has been able to provide much-needed financial assistance in such trying times".

The amounts received by the commission differ, with the minister of finance, Iipumbu Shiimi, in his recent budget speech saying the scheme paid 230 employers.

According to the ministry, a total of N$27,9 million has been paid to 230 employers, while the latest SSC update indicates 177 employers have been paid N$18,2 million.

However, during the initiation of the project, the Ministry of Finance and the SSC have budgeted for the employer wage subsidy to receive N$150 million.

When combined with the waiver (monthly SSC contributions), this should equate to 25% of employers' total wage bill.

Unomengi Kauapirura, the commission's marketing manager, says the SSC cannot extend the subsidy, since it only applied for the three months of lockdown in 2020.

" . . . it is not possible as the programme was specifically designed to provide assistance within the specific period under the state of emergency . . . " she says.

The Namibian's assessment, using quarterly reports from the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation, shows industries are still retrenching staff and scaling down.

By the end of 2020 the labour ministry indicated 12 201 employees have been sent home by 998 employers, although double counting is possible.

These statistics are based on employers who report to the labour ministry only, and could be higher if all industries provided their retrenchment figures.

The SSC says 24 893 workers have been assisted by employee salary protection programmes at a cost of N$78,8 million.

A while Shiimi in his budget speech indicated only 21 359 employees have been assisted with N$78,8 million,

Around N$503 million was earmarked for employee salary protection programmes, according to the minister's speech.

The two schemes were aimed at dissuading employers from retrenching in the short term, and at providing individuals, who would have suffered a loss of income as a result of Covid-19's impact, with support.

Employers in the tourism and hospitality, construction as well as aviation sectors would be given support to save jobs.

Employers in selected additional sectors were also eligible for the contribution waiver, and those not selected, but able to provide proof of suffering due to the virus' impact, were also eligible to apply for the contribution waiver.

Their applications, however, were to be considered on merit.

OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS

Despite the application period having closed seven months ago, Kauapirura says they are not done with payments.

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She says the commission's offices were closed until 18 January this year.

Staff members processed payments during that time, for which certain mandatory documents were still outstanding from some applicants.

"It means there are still payments that have not been issued, because of outstanding documents . . . " Kauapirura says.

She says applicants have been notified of this.

DISMISSED APPLICATIONS

"Regrettably, there have been unsuccessful applicants for one of these reasons," she says.

She says the main reasons why some employees have been rejected are because they earn more than N$50 000 per annum, their salaries may not have been affected, or the applicant has not been registered with the SCC for less than six months.

Kauapirura says the commission's system design made it impossible to make any distinction between rural and urban-based applicants.

Email: [email protected]
"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
Woman charged with harassment

CRESSONA  A woman was charged with harassment by state police at Schuylkill Haven after police were called to an address on River Street around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Police said a 37-year-old Cressona man and a 44-year-old Cressona woman, both of whom were not identified, became involved in an argument over marital problems that escalated with the woman throwing food at the man and then grabbing and ripping his shirt.

The charge against the woman was filed with Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, police said.

2 not hurt after hitting mirrors

CRESSONA  Two people escaped injury when their vehicles collided on Chestnut Street, Route 183, just north of Front Street, around 12:55 p.m. Friday.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said George C. Schaeffer, 44, of Tremont, was driving a 2016 Ford F-250 north as John Richardson, 49, of Coal Township, was driving a 2011 Ford F-350 south.

As the vehicles passed each other, police said, their drivers side mirrors hit each other, causing minor damage to both.

Man charged after striking truck

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN  A Pine Grove man was charged by state police at Schuylkill Haven with driving at an unsafe speed after a crash on Route 61, near West Market Street in North Manheim Township, around 4:35 p.m. Wednesday.

Police said Erik Welch, 30, of Pine Grove, was driving a 2020 Hyundai Elantra north when he failed to see traffic stopped in front of him and ran into the back of a 2009 Freightliner truck driven by Jonathan Shaver, 28, of Macungie.

Both drivers and a passenger in the truck, Michael Thomas, 59, of Coplay, were not injured and Welch will now have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg.

Man injured after going off road

DEER LAKE  A Cressona man suffered minor injuries when the 2019 Kia Sorento he was driving crashed on Fork Mountain Road in West Brunswick Township around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Eric Arndt, 24, was driving north when he suffered an unknown medical episode, went off the road and struck an embankment.

Police said Arndt was taken to an area hospital by Schuylkill Valley EMS for treatment of suspected minor injuries.

Police cite woman after accident

CRESSONA  Two people escaped injury in a crash that happened on Pottsville Street, Route 183, in North Manheim Township around 6:30 p.m. March 20.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Janet Whalen, 47, of Cressona, was driving a 2017 Jeep Compass making a turn onto the road that leads to the Cressona Mall when she struck the front bumper of a 2015 Ford Explorer driven by Renay Backes, 46, of Coal Township.

As a result of the crash, police said, Whalen was cited for duty to give information and render aid.

Police seek info on North Manheim crashADAMSDALE  State police at Schuylkill Haven are looking for information on a crash that happened in the area of 258 W. Adamsdale Road in North Manheim Township around 5:20 p.m. Thursday.

Police said an unidentified vehicle was being driven west when it went off the road in a left curve and struck a PennDOT sign.

The vehicle, described as being a red car, then left the area traveling west, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-754-4600 and refer to incident PA2021-400964.

Police: Man not hurt in rollover

HAMBURG  State police at Hamburg investigated a crash that happened on Route 662, just prior to Skyline Drive in Perry Township, Berks County, around 3:10 p.m. Sunday.

Police said Sean Stanish, 23, of Hamburg, was driving a 2003 Honda CRV west negotiating a left curve in the area of 384 Moslem Springs Road when he lost control, crossed the eastbound lane and went off the road and hit a traffic sign.

The vehicle then overturned while going down an embankment and came to a stop on its right side, police said.

Police said Stanish was not hurt but was cited for driving at an unsafe speed.
There is no doubt that they meant well, coming out in their thousands to sincerely express their grief over the deeply tragic kidnap-murder of 23-year-old Andrea Bharatt.

But the organisers of those candlelight vigils held all over Trinidad between February 4 and April 1 did not seem in the least bit concerned that what they were assembling could turn out to be Covid super spreaders.
The Prudential Authority of the South African Reserve Bank has approved Access Bank's acquisition of the controlling interest in Grobank.

Herbert Wegwe, CEO, Access Bank

The deal announced in October 2020 comprises a total investment of up to R400m, made in two tranches with an initial cash consideration for a 49% shareholding, and a second transaction, increasing to a majority equity stake..Access Bank is a Nigerian multinational commercial bank, licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the national banking regulator. It operates on three continents and was reported to have assets of $18bn in 2019.The transactions significantly strengthening Access Banks presence in Southern Africa and its footprint for growth in the SADC region. Once signed off, the proposed transactions will result in Access Bank having a presence in 10 African countries.We have consistently looked to focus on building the scale required to become a leading African bank; one that leverages our experienced and growing talent base and key stakeholder partnerships towards driving sustainable impact and profitability.The proposed transactions will accelerate the banks momentum towards delivering world class banking services to an expanded customer base across Africa. Our goal remains to reach and impact 100-million unique customers across the continent by 2022," Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Bank says.The South African Bank of Athens rebranded as Grobank in 2018.The entry of Access Bank Plc into the South African banking sector will enable us to provide sustainable support to our existing customers and target new customers with a presence across the African continent.We are excited about joining the Access Bank family and look forward to contributing meaningfully to the achievements and ambitions of the group," Bennie van Rooy, CEO of Grobank, says.
With tears welling in his eyes, retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Frank Sullivan told a Cumberland County judge Tuesday morning that post-traumatic stress from more than three decades of service and four combat tours prompted him to turn to child pornography.

I accept full responsibility for everything, the 69-year-old former Hampden Township resident said as he stood before President judge Edward E. Guido. I damaged friends, familycountless thousands.

Guido sentenced Sullivan to 5 years of probation and fined the former general $2,500 on his guilty pleas to five felony charges of possessing child porn.

Ret. Brigadier General Frank Sullivan

The sentencing occurred 16 months after Sullivans arrest, which came after agents of the state attorney generals office searched his Tunbridge Lane home and also arrested his tenant for child porn possession.

Sullivan had no deal regarding a sentence. Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones said the only agreement was that the sentences on all five charges would run concurrently with one another.

Defense attorney Patrick F. Lauer Jr. argued for a probation term, or at worst house arrest. He cited Sullivans military service and the trials that entailed which left his client with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and insomnia. He had internalized it, Lauer said.

Sullivan had served as the executive director for the Pennsylvania Military Community Enhancement Commission. His military career includes tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sullivan was wracked with emotion as he spoke to Guido. He broke down at one point, then barely regained his composure.

He talked about the burden borne by those in the military and how deployments can leave them feeling as though the rest of society has simply moved on without them. Sometimes you think its impossible to make up that distance, Sullivan said.

I dont know how much time I have left on this planet. But in the name of the Lord, Im going to make it upto those Ive hurt, he said.

Guido said his decision on Sullivans punishment was partly influenced by the ex-generals distinguished military career. However, First and foremost the defendant has shown real remorse and has taken steps to address the underlying psychological problems that led to his crimes, the judge said.

Jones then informed Sullivan that he must register with state police as a sex offender for the next 15 years.
She has been enjoying the life in Sydney after relocating to Australia with her husband Sacha Baron Cohen and their children last year.

And on Monday, actress Isla Fisher was having a ball as she climbed on a playground barefoot in Sydney.

The 45-year-old dressed for the day out in a powder blue bohemian-inspired dress with white detailing across the hemline.

Beauty in blue! Isla Fisher was out and about at a playground in Sydney, on Monday. She wore a powder blue bohemian-inspired dress, white detailing across the hem line

Her loose-fitting frock featured floral embroidery around the collar and pom-poms to tie it up.

The Wedding Crashers star also wore a white leather jacket around her waist, which she later removed.

She accessorised her very relaxed look with a pair of sunglasses that matched her deep red tresses.

On the climb: The 45-year-old showed off her adventurous side by going barefoot as she climbed around a playground

Trendy: She accessorided her very relaxed look with a pair of sunglasses a pair of Golden Goose sneakers, which she later took off so she could have fun on the playground

The Confessions Of A Shopaholic star teamed her look with a pair of Golden Goose sneakers, which she later took off so she could have fun on the playground.

She was seen gingerly climbing down the jungle gym barefoot, making sure her feet balanced on each rope step as she held on to each metal railings.

At the bottom of the obstacle, Isla looked up at the jungle gym, surveying the large structure in front of her.

Up here! At one point Isla was seen at the top of a rope ladder on the jungle gym

Easy does it: She was seen gingerly climbing down the jungle gym barefoot, making sure her feet balanced on each rope step as she held on to each metal railings

Steady: The red-haired stunner gracefully stepped off the ladder, making sure she didn't loose balance

Safe landing: The Confessions Of A Shopaholic star looked ecstatic to be back on the ground

She then climbed back up onto the playground with her shoes on, grabbing on to the metal bars to help her up.

After reaching the top, Isla took a moment to take in the surrounding view.

Back on the ground she was seen taking photos, including one with another woman at the park.

Figuring out a way to the top? At the bottom of the obstacle, Isla looked up at the jungle gym, surveying the large structure in front of her

Going up! She climbed back up onto the playground with her shoes on, grabbing on to the metal bars to help her up

View from the top: After reaching the top, Isla took a moment to take in the surrounding view

The Nocturnal Animals star then gathered her items and got ready to head home while taking a FaceTime call - likely from her Borat star husband Sacha Baron Cohen.

Isla's day out at the park comes after she recently discussed making the move across the Pacific from Los Angeles with her family to Stellar magazine.

The Perth-raised actress told the publication: 'I just feel so safe, I suppose the word is cosy, when I'm in Australia. It's where I grew up.'

Selfie: Back on the ground she was seen taking photos, including one with another woman at the park

Ready to go: The Nocturnal Animals star then gathered her items and got ready to head home while taking a FaceTime call - likely from her Borat star husband Sacha Baron Cohen

Checking in: She appeared to be taking a FaceTime call - likely from her Borat star husband Sacha Baron Cohen

'I'm the happiest when I'm home. I miss it when I'm not here. I don't feel any pressure when I'm in Australia. I don't have to say or do or be anything. I mean, I don't even have to wear shoes,' the Godmothered star added.

She also briefly touched on motherhood in the interview, a topic which she loves dearly but rarely discusses to protect her children's privacy.

Isla shares three children with her comedian husband Sacha Baron Cohen, 49.

Home sweet home: Isla's day out at the park comes after she recently discussed making the move from Los Angeles to Sydney with her family. The Perth-raised actress said: 'I just feel so safe, I suppose the word is cosy, when I'm in Australia. It's where I grew up'

She told the publication: 'All parents are just trying to protect their kids. And I feel like if they wanted to be in the public eye that's up to them. If I give any quotes about them, that would haunt them. They will be teenagers one day!'

Isla and Sacha first met at a party in Sydney back in 2002, they tied the knot in Paris in 2010 after she converted to the Jewish faith.

The couple initially relocated temporarily to escape 'Trump's America' at the end of last year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  Potential COVID-19 vaccine recipients are not required to have a Philippine Health Insurance Corporation identification number or PIN, the Department of Health clarified Tuesday.

This, after the state health insurer said the ID number is among the "unique identifiers" needed for Filipinos to register for inoculation.

According to the DOH, the PIN is only needed when claiming benefits from PhilHealth in cases of adverse events following immunization. To ensure coverage of Filipinos who experience serious side effects, it added the government will set up PhilHealth registration booths at official vaccination sites.

"The DOH further reiterates that under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, all Filipinos, whether direct or indirect contributors, including dependents of contributors, indigent members, senior citizens, and persons with disability, are automatic members of PhilHealth," it wrote in a statement.

DOH Memorandum 2021-0099 states, "All potential vaccine recipients shall be registered using their unique identifiers as identified during the masterlisting process such as but not limited to full name and birthday, PhilHealth identification number, system generated alphanumeric or QR or unique codes, or similar."

Potential vaccine recipients could also present any government-issued ID or government document.

PhilHealth President and CEO Dante Gierran said the corporation will provide assistance in the process.

"For those who do not know their PIN or not yet registered with PhilHealth, they should coordinate with any PhilHealth office or call us so we can provide them their PIN or facilitate their registration," said Gierran.

At a televised briefing on Tuesday, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said, "Pwede naman nila gamitin yung lahat ng mga pwedeng IDs po nila, at saka nakita po natin yung ating PhilSys is also mobilizing its units para makahabol sa vaccination program. Wala naman pong problema for as long as magkaroon tayo ng tinatawag na prescreening and listing para ma-validate na taga-doon talaga sila. And then yung office ID pwede po 'yon."

[Translation: They can use all their IDs, and we sau that PhilSys is also mobilizing its units to catch up with the vaccination program. There will be no problem as long as there is a prescreening and listing to validate they are from the area. And they can use office IDs.]

Non-PhilHealth members have to fill out the PhilHealth Member Registration Form or PMRF that can be downloaded here.

The accomplished PMRF and a scanned copy or clear photo of any valid ID can be sent to actioncenter@philhealth.gov.ph, with the subject: Register <space> Name <space> City/Province, Region.

After processing, the PIN will be sent to the email address in the registration form.
Reconciliation Australia has dropped Telstra from its elite Elevate leaders group in the wake of the company admitting it had breached consumer law by selling post-paid mobile products to Indigenous customers.

The group has a Reconciliation Action Plan program which supports organisations "to develop respectful relationships and create meaningful opportunities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples".

A total of 1100 organisations have an active RAP but only 21 are in the Elevate group. The only other company to be thrown out of the Elevate group is Rio Tinto after the big miner destroyed the Jukaan caves in the Pilbara last year.

The Aboriginal non-profit, which says its vision is for "a just, equitable and reconciled Australia", said in a statement on Tuesday that it carried out an investigation into the matter in November last year, the time when the issue came to light.

"Reconciliation Australia takes our relationship with our RAP partners seriously, and we have undertaken a considered, clear and fair process," the statement said.

"Our investigation concluded that Telstra has not met its own aspirations to be a leader in the reconciliation movement nor the expectations of an Elevate RAP partner.

"As a consequence of our investigation, Reconciliation Australia has revoked Telstras Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan."

As iTWire reported last year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has taken Telstra to court over what it has described as "unconscionable conduct in the matter.

The ACCC said at the time that Telstra had admitted its staff in five stores in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia used unfair selling tactics and took advantage of a substantially stronger bargaining position when selling post-paid mobile products on behalf of Telstra.

Reconciliation Australia said it had told Telstra that it was extremely concerned about "both the impact of the individual business practices on vulnerable Indigenous consumers and the failure to respond quickly to address the problem".

The group said: "Telstras actions to take responsibility for the unconscionable business practices and address the financial impact on all impacted individuals are promising first steps on a long road to rebuilding relationships and restoring trust.

"We are encouraged by the robust long-term commitments and accountability in their proposed settlement with the ACCC. They have also demonstrated a strong commitment to restoring their relationship with Reconciliation Australia and the RAP network.

"Taking this into account, we have invited Telstra to discuss the development of a new RAP that addresses the concerns raised by the ACCC investigation. This will not be an Elevate RAP."
Mr. Ivernel listed three scenes in the movie that were shot at the Palais Garnier: the arrival of the Russian troupe, filmed in the grand foyer; a conversation between Nureyev and a French dancer, shot on the Garnier rooftop, with panoramic views of Paris; and shots of the performance hall, filmed from the stage. Filming of The White Crow coincided with the operas glamorous annual fund-raising gala, to which Mr. Ivernel was invited.

For a year, the Offstage series has followed theater through a shutdown. Now were looking at its rebound. Join Times theater reporter Michael Paulson, as he explores signs of hope in a changed city with Lin-Manuel Miranda, a performance from Shakespeare in the Park and more.

The shoot was, on the whole, a wonderful experience, Mr. Ivernel said. Before filming, the team was allowed to spend three half-days backstage with the Paris Opera Ballet where, interestingly, Nureyev would become ballet director in 1983. They met dancers, watched rehearsals and visited the costume-making ateliers, where tutus hang from the ceiling. It was all very useful for the director, Mr. Ivernel said, because it gave him a much better sense of what it was like to be a principal dancer,.

There was just one minor misstep, recalled Marie Hoffmann, who is in charge of rental of public spaces at the opera. While the crew was busy filming inside the opera house, Mr. Fiennes, who plays a ballet master, settled into a recently restored fauteuil, a period armchair usually kept behind a protective barrier. We asked him, in the politest way possible, to give up the seat, Ms. Hoffmann recalled.

Filming inside the opera is a complex process. Before the pandemic, shoots had to happen at nighttime, when there were no more performances or visitors, and they were all-night affairs, running from 11 p.m. until 9 a.m., when the premises were cleaned for morning tourists.

Because the building is a listed national monument, every corner of it is guarded and protected. As at Versailles and other French heritage sites, equipment cannot be placed directly on the floor: There must be a layer of protection such as a strip of carpeting. There are weight restrictions on camera equipment as well, and crews are followed everywhere by security.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In the wake of recent overt violence directed at Asian people in the United States, a vigil will be held Sunday at Snug Harbors South Meadow to offer a space to grieve and serve as a space to denounce hatred and violence.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. at 1000 Richmond Terrace. Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions will be in place, and all attendees must register online.

Snug Harbor is an inclusive space where we celebrate our differences, uplift the Asian artists and business owners in our community, and unite as neighbors, said Aileen Fuchs, president & CEO of Snug Harbor. Were proud to offer this vigil as a space to grieve, find solace, and join in opposition to hatred and violence.

The gathering will come exactly two weeks after eight people were killed in Georgia  six of whom were of Asian descent  in a series of shootings at three spas in the Atlanta area.

The shootings, which came amid an increase of hate crimes against the Asian community, including several incidents in New York, sparked responses from Staten Island officials who vowed to stand beside the boroughs Asian community.

District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said, The Asian American Pacific Islander community on Staten Island is an essential part of the fabric of our borough and while we are exceptionally fortunate not to have seen any anti-Asian bias incidents or crimes since the outset of the pandemic, we will not let our guard down, and we will continue to stand with them in the face of bigotry and hatred.

Staten Island Asian community members have said the recent spate of violence is not new and called for the need for more representation to express a stronger voice in the community.

The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University at San Bernardino found a 150% increase in hate crimes against Asians in 2020 in California and New York.

Additionally, a recent Anti-Defamation League report indicated that the distribution of white supremacist propaganda nearly doubled last year compared to 2019  a trend that includes anti-immigrant attacks and pandemic-driven anti-China references related to the coronavirus.

Former President Donald Trump tweeted about the Chinese virus on March 16, 2020 when referring to the coronavirus. He later referred to it as the Wuhan flu as well as the kung flu and made numerous comments about its relation to China and its people.

The Staten Island Not for Profit Association (SINFPA) condemned the killings and vowed to support efforts to raise awareness and share facts, and to end the hatred and fear fueling the violence.

The increase in anti-Asian hate and violence can be tied to the national rhetoric around the origins of the pandemic, said Adrienne Abbate, the SINFPA board chair. There is no place for hate in our work serving the Staten Island community.
NEW DELHI: One hundred thousand doses of Made in India covid-19 vaccines were on Tuesday handed over by Indias ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra to Nepalese Army Chief Puran Chandra Thapa. The vaccines have been gifted by the Indian Army to their Nepalese counterparts, a statement from the Indian embassy in Kathmandu said.

The handover took place at the Nepalese Army Headquarters, Tundikhel. Indias Army chief, Manoj Mukund Naravane joined the ceremony through video conference from India. In his remarks, Naravane reaffirmed the special fraternal bonds that tie the armies of the two countries." Thapa on his part appreciated the gesture and thanked the Indian Army and Government of India for the gift.

The Indian Army has been assisting the Nepali Army to fight covid-19 through various ways including through the supply of remdesivir, X-Ray machines, computed radiography systems, ICU ventilators, video endoscopy units, anesthesia machines, laboratory equipment and ambulances. This latest gift of vaccines is another testament to the close cooperation between the two armies and the two countries, particularly in times of need," the statement from the Indian embassy in Kathmandu said.

India had so far gifted and exported 63 million vaccines to about 80 countries in the world including Paraguay and Niger.

Never too far for friendship. Made in India vaccines arrive in Paraguay," said Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar in Twitter post on Tuesday.

On Monday, Acting High Commissioner to Fiji Saifullah Khan handed over a consignment of 100,000 doses of Made in India vaccines to Fijian Prime Minister Rear Admiral (Retired) Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama. Also present at the ceremony was Fijian Minister for Health and Medical Services, Ifereimi Waqainabete.

These vaccines are supplied by Government of India through grant assistance as a special gesture of friendship and solidarity with the people of Fiji. This is in keeping with Indias stated commitment to use Indias vaccine production and delivery capacity to help partner countries in the fight against COVID pandemic," a statement from the Indian mission in Suva said.

India and Fiji share longstanding partnership based on mutual respect, cooperation and cultural ties. Fiji is an important partner for realizing the Indo-Pacific vision that envisages a free, open and inclusive region in a common pursuit of progress and prosperity," it added.

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The deal takes offtake commitments to more than 80% of the projects annual SC6 production - a strong endorsement for the Manono Project - and satisfies an important condition precedent for prospective project financiers.

AVZ is continuing to explore strategic opportunities for offtakes in both traditional and emerging lithium markets including Europe, US and India.

( ) (OTCMKTS:AZZVF) (FRA:3A2) has secured a strategic, long-term offtake partner agreement with Yibin Tianyi Lithium Industry Co Ltd for the supply of spodumene concentrate (SC6) from the Manono Lithium and Tin Project in the DRC.

A major milestone has now been reached with more than 80% of annual SC6 production from the Manono Project committed under long-term binding offtake agreements, satisfying an important condition precedent for prospective project financiers.

Important condition precedent

AVZ managing director Nigel Ferguson said: We are very pleased to conclude our discussions with Yibin Tianyi and to sign another binding offtake agreement for SC6 to a Chinese converter.

This agreement takes our SC6 binding offtake commitments to more than 80% of the projects annual SC6 production, which is a massive endorsement for the Manono Project and one that satisfies an important condition precedent for our prospective project financiers."

Buoyant market conditions

The MD said: At present, we are seeing buoyant market conditions with reported SC6 prices in China increasing circa 30% in the first quarter of the year while during the same time the LME cash tin price has surged circa 30%, boding well for the Manono projects optimised definitive feasibility study, which is due for completion next quarter.

Positive market sentiment is greatly assisting our negotiations and while we are not compelled to commit to further forward sales, we are continuing to explore strategic opportunities for our offtakes in both traditional and emerging lithium markets including Europe, US and India.

Key terms

Key terms of the Yibin Tianyi offtake agreement include:

Initial three-year term, with an option to extend for an additional two years;

Annual supply of 200,000 tonnes (+/- 12.5% in sellers option) of spodumene concentrate per annum;

Pricing USD/CIF, China determined by a formula, which references various published market prices of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide products and underpinned by an agreed floor price;

Shipment payments via documentary letter of credit; and

Termination rights included for breach of the material terms of the offtake agreement, including non-payment or failure to supply or take annual quantity commitments.

Yibin Tianyi

Yibin Tianyi is a leading global battery materials producer that is continuing to expand its lithium hydroxide production capacity as a key participant in the supply chain of Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the worlds largest lithium-ion battery maker.

It is set to become one of the largest lithium hydroxide producers in China, with initial production capacity of up to 20,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per annum and with future staged expansions expected to increase production to around 100,000 tonnes per annum.

Yibin Tianyi will require around 700,000 tonnes per annum of SC6 to satisfy its internal demand after commissioning its planned hydroxide plant expansions.
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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday ordered security chiefs to identify and crush heads of bandits, kidnappers and their local collaborators to restore confidence in the society.

The president, who left the country for routine medical attention on Tuesday, earlier gave the order when he met the security chiefs at the State House, Abuja.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, a retired major general, said the president gave the order when he met the security chiefs at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Mr Monguno, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, quoted the president as warning that his administration would not accept a situation where the security agencies are reactionary rather than being proactive in the fight against insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements.

On issues of kidnapping and banditry  these menaces still persist especially in the North-west and the North-central zones.

Mr President has stated very clearly that this problem must be brought to an end but using the traditional that the armed forces have been trained to deploy.

Mr President has made it very clear to both the intelligence and operational elements that their first assignment will be to identify the leaders of these bandits and kidnappers and take them out in order to restore confidence in those areas.

Mr President has said that he will no longer tolerate a situation where bandits and kidnappers are the ones dictating the pace and setting the tones and he will not also condone a situation in which our own operations are reaction rather than being proactive, he said.

The NSA also revealed that the president had directed the service chiefs, the intelligence community as well as the constabulary forces to target those agents of disunity across the country.

He said such people had been creating chaos, disunity and disharmony among peace-loving citizens.

He said: Im also to send out a warning to those people who think they can continue to behave in a manner that undermines national security.

Those people engaging in all kinds of underhanded, unscrupulous, mischievous and deceitful practices, people who are working with those that are in government, in particular, critical agencies of government.

We have been able to identify certain areas that are weak and these areas have to be strengthened so that these characters who are engaging in acts that you can describe as outright acts of brigandage, people who are behaving in a manner that portends a lot of danger to innocent lives, have to be fished out.

This is the directive from the President, I am to send a warning to those people who think they are in close proximity with those who have the instruments to make the space easy for criminals, those people who think they have some kind of authority, who are engaging in all kinds of hocus pocus in all kinds of jiggery-pokery or skullduggery. These people will be brought down to their knees.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Navy Staff, Awwal Gambo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Isiaka Amao.

Others were the Director-General of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi; Director General of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, Ahmed RufaI; Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and Mr Monguno.

(NAN)
The grant from Second Nature will allow USF to unify and streamline efforts to address climate change while creating a more sustainable environment.

The University of South Florida is one of 10 colleges and universities nationwide that will receive pro bono consulting to help advance climate action planning and projects on campus.

The grant from Second Nature, a Boston-based non-profit whose mission is to accelerate climate action in and through higher education, will allow USF to unify and streamline efforts to address climate change while creating a more sustainable environment. In particular, the work will help establish a university-wide greenhouse gas reduction goal, align sustainability priorities while tracking carbon emissions across all three campuses and combine efforts and resources that lead to a singular vision for achieving carbon neutrality.

The University of South Florida is grateful for this support and to join our college and university partners in advancing climate action plans, said USF President Steve Currall. Stewardship of our natural environment is a core value at USF, and a particular focus of our waterfront campus in St. Petersburg. Through study, service and action, we are committed to carbon neutrality and being a leader in sustainability.

The goal of Second Natures grant effort is to help campuses reduce and eventually eliminate carbon dioxide emissions through climate action planning and shifting to renewable power, while minimizing operating costs. At each campus, the technical assistance will be worth between $7,500 and $10,000. The pro bono consulting opportunities are being provided and sponsored by Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D) and CustomerFirst Renewables.

B&D would like to thank each of the finalists for the outstanding quality in submissions. The range of institutions and specificity of their plans made it abundantly clear that aggressive climate action is the next frontier for colleges and universities working to control expenditures and operate responsibly, said Paul Brailsford, co-founder and CEO of Brailsford & Dunlavey.

The pro bono opportunity - announced last fall - was open to higher education institutions that are affiliated with Second Nature as Climate Leadership Network signatories and/or University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) members. Second Nature received nearly 50 applications which were reviewed and selected by a committee.

USF has an extremely strong portfolio of climate change-related research, said Tom Frazer, dean of the USF College of Marine Science and chair of the USF Sustainability Steering Committee. While we need to continue our mission of delivering actionable science, research alone is not enough. We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions on each of our campuses and working with our community partners to make a difference  and thats why were excited about this opportunity with Second Nature.

USF has assumed a leadership role over the years on climate change research while taking action to reduce impacts in a region that is vulnerable to extreme storms, flooding and sea level rise. Recently, Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls visited the St. Petersburg campus to announce a broad legislative package that would designate $100 million per year to address the effects of flooding and sea level rise in the state. The university will play an integral role in the research needed to provide solutions to flooding and sea level rise challenges to create a more resilient state.

The other winning colleges and universities included: University of Arizona, Carleton College, Davidson College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Lewis & Clark College, Miami University, College of New Jersey, State University of New York: SUNY Cortland and University at Albany, and the University of the South.
A woman who nearly lost her two-year-old child to a virus with COVID-19-like symptoms has warned the current strain of 'RSV' spreading in Queensland is a potential killer.

Vanessa and Mark Richards from Warwick in regional Queensland watched helplessly as their son Emmett fought for his life and was airlifted by RACQ Lifeflight to a private hospital in Toowoomba in early March after the child was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

South-east Queensland has joined Victoria in recording a dramatic, early-season spike in cases of RSV among infants and children - with speculation that increased social distancing during the Covid pandemic has reduced the communitys collective immunity to the virus.

The emergency department at Warwick initially thought Emmett was suffering from asthma and then pneumonia. The family was sent home twice where Emmett's condition worsened as he struggled to breathe and became 'like jelly in my arms', said Ms Richards.

Emmett, 2, during one of his visits to Warwick Hospital, before he was airlifted to Toowoomba

Vanessa Richards cradled her son Emmett as they began the airlift out of Warwick

On a third visit to the hospital, after a test for COVID-19 and other respiratory ailments, it was discovered Emmett had RSV.

'They took one look at him and put him in the resuscitation bay and he went downhill quite quickly then,' said Ms Richards.

'He became too unwell for their capacity [at Warwick].

'By the time he was transferred in the chopper he was on a ventilator. We were met on the ground by paramedics and then a specialist doctor in the ambulance into St Vincent's, Toowoomba.

'That Lifeflight team were critical to him surviving,' she said.

Emmett was given high-flow oxygen to aid his laboured breathing and hasten his recovery

Emmett's concerned father Mark watched over his son at St Vincent's, Toowoomba

Emmett in recovery at St Vincent's with a toy replica of the chopper that saved him

Emmett was treated with high-flow oxygen at St Vincent's and slowly began to improve after three days.

'The pediatrician at the hospital said this is a particularly bad strain of RSV and they had seen a fair few other children with it as well,' said Ms Richards.

'If we knew there were sick kids around him [in Warwick] we would have made some different decisions around childcare and work to limit his exposure, but we didn't know this virus was on the rise at the moment,' she said.

The RSV outbreak in South-east Queensland follows a similar spike in Victoria.

The virus, which is more common in the winter months, mirrors the symptoms of COVID-19 by initially causing a runny nose, cough, fever and sore throat.

In February Queensland Childrens Hospital reported a 55 per cent spike in respiratory cases, including RSV, on top of a 45 per cent increase in January.

While RSV can also infect adults, 510 of the 563 people admitted to Queensland hospitals with the virus between November 2020 and January 2021 were aged under 18.

This figure represented a doubling of the number of young people with the virus when compared with the corresponding period last year.

Some medical experts believe social distancing measures made necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic last year had increased the likelihood and severity of RSV in children.

'We've now got a larger population that has been immune to RSV, that haven't seen RSV before - so the general population's immunity level is quite low,' infectious diseases expert Dr Hannah Moore told the ABC.

Vanessa and Mark Richards with their son Emmett, who has nearly fully recovered from RSV

Ms Richards said she took lots of photos in the hospitals at both Warwick and Toowoomba 'in case they were the last pictures we had of him'.

'We went through five years of IVF to have him so we're just so grateful he's now doing ok,' she said. 'If we had have known RSV was so severe and on the rise we would've made different decisions.'
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Lee Fogle reached down to save his 12-lb. Yorkshire terrier Nemo as a pit bull lunged forward. The attacking dogs jaws clamped onto his left hand, sending him to a clinic for sutures and starting a 10-month-long insurance battle.

It seems in dog park etiquette, the winning dog has to provide insurance or payments to the losing dog, Fogle said.

Fogle had worked 27 years in insurance technology, so he had a pretty good idea how much his claim was worth. But he was frustrated by the glacial pace of the process, the claims adjusters refusal to return telephone calls and his attorneys 40% cut from the $15,000 settlement.

There had to be a better way.

About two years after the dog park incident, Fogle founded Injury Claims Express, a company that makes software that uses data to estimate the value of a potential plaintiffs claim. He said his patented system offers a solution to people who seek compensation from insurers for minor injuries and would rather notor cannothire an attorney.

Fogle is not the only entrepreneur who is bringing applied analytics to the people. Justpoint, a company launched by healthcare technologist Victor Bornstein, allows victims of medical mistakes to document the particulars of their injury and find an attorney with matching qualifications and experience.

The two entrepreneurs are turning the tables on the insurance industry by employing data analytics as a means of pricing claims  but for the claimant. Both men say their products will also benefit insurers by managing expectations of potential plaintiffs who sometimes make overly optimistic assumptions about what their claims are worth.

Every Joe out there on the street thinks they won the lottery, Fogle said. They have an unmanaged expectation.

Injury Claims Express is Fogles second go at launching a data analytics product in the claims space. In 2001, he founded Claims Outcome Advisor, which produces software that estimates the value of bodily injury claims. Fogle said his company created the Book of Quantum for the Republic of Ireland. The document offers guidelines to determine appropriate compensation to plaintiffs with bodily injury claims. He sold the company to Verisk shortly after its launch.

Fogle said consumers who use ICE must agree to pay his company 3% of any settlement amount up to a maximum of $500  far less than the typical attorney contingency fee. He said the app allows potential claimants to attach medical bills and other relevant documents and stores the information in a file that can be accessed by the claims adjuster assigned to the claim.

Users can negotiate with the claims adjuster directly using the app. But even if the adjuster refuses to accept an invitation to log onto ICE, the system is useful because it allows claimants to document their claims, estimate the value and keep records of relevant medical bills, Fogle said.

The app even notifies the carrier of early settlement opportunities, such as when the claimant reaches maximum medical improvement. ICE also suggests reasonable settlement amounts based on the nature of the injury and the degree of disability or disfigurement. Medical providers can also enter data into the system.

Fogle said about 3 million people are injured in accidents in the US each year. About 50% of them hire an attorney, even though 96% of those injuries are not severe. He said claimants who make unreasonable demands delay settlement by persuading the insurer to dig its heels in.

With ICE, claimants can ask for a settlement that reflects what insurers have paid to persons who suffered similar injuries.

The PDF we create for the claimant is basically your demand letter, he said.

A personal experience also influenced Victor Bornsteins decision to launch Justpoint, the app that helps malpractice victims find a lawyer to represent them. Bornstein said his own mother was injured because of a medical error when he was a boy growing up in Brazil. Although was only 7 at the time, Bornstein said he still remembers that his mother was in a coma for two weeks and nearly died because of the error.

Bornstein said Justpoints customers are at the lowest point in their life. He said the app can help them by aligning their expectations with reality.

Justpoint gives consumers an estimate as to what their malpractice claim is worth. The app also taps in a database of information about 900 plaintiff law firms to find professionals with a record of success and relevant experience, Bornstein said.

Bornstein said often people who are injured by a medical error are unable to find an attorney because the perceived value of the claim is too low. In some states, for example, health providers cannot be held liable for non-economic damages. Oftentimes, the statute of limitations has passed.

We are going to tell them the truth, regardless of whether they have a claim or not, he said.

Bornstein said he first marketed the proposed technology to insurers. He said his system can be of great help claims professionals by informing them aboutpotential damages. He said the inefficiency of the professional liability line is frightening.

Most of the money is being spent is not on the claims, he said. In malpractice, most of the cost is in claims processing and underwriting.

Harry Langenberg, founder of Optima Tax Relief, and Vivek Garipalli, founder of Clover Health, were among investors who provided $1 million in seed funding to Justpoint last fall.

But Bornstein has changed strategy since then because he found insurers moved too slowly. In a second funding round now underway, hes seeking investors in the litigation-funding space.

Justpoint is still in the pre-revenue stage, but Bornstein said he intends to negotiate finder fees with the attorneys who take referrals from the system.

Bornstein said health care providers can also benefit from his app. The company has learned a great deal about medical mistakes, he said. He said his research discovered two claims against the same doctor at the same hospital who made the same error both times. He also found two allegations of sexual abuse against minors by the same staffer at a Florida hospital.

My goal is to work with hospitals to prevent these incidents from happening, he said.

Martin Ellingsworth, an analyst for Celent, said the services being offered by Injury Claims Express and Justpoint seem like a natural next step in the evolution of applied analytics. He said jury verdict research has been around about as long as court proceedings have been published.

When you have a number that needs to be generated, there are frequently two sides  often three or four  with an opinion about what the number should be.

Ellingsworth said analytics can provide value to consumers as well as insurers. Advanced analytics isnt just for e-discovery and forensic audit, it can help consumers understand the value of their claim so they can make informed decisions, he said.

Data also creates opportunities. Years ago, Ellingsworth wrote a program that analyzes unstructured data held in written narratives within claim files to find subrogation possibilities. The same program can be extended to detect potential fraud.

Ellingsworth said Paradigm Outcomes business was built on data: The firm has a deep understanding of what it costs to treat people with catastrophic injuries, so it can accept a flat fee from workers compensation insurers to take over the care of seriously injured workers, speeding recovering by dispatching swarms of specialists.

Similarly, Ellingsworth said installing video cameras in commercial trucks can help insurers avoid the cost of litigating a claim that should be quickly settled, or showing that the truck driver was not at fault.

Thats good for everybody, he said. It reduces the expense of arguing, for example. I dont see a downside to having the facts because it takes all the expense out of it.
JOHANNESBURG  The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a dayslong ambush of a port town in northern Mozambique last week that forced tens of thousands of people to flee the area and left dozens dead, including some foreigners.

The attack on the town, Palma, was an alarming escalation of the war in the gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado, where insurgents with loose ties to the Islamic State have killed at least 2,000 people in a campaign of violence over the past three years.

In recent months, the local insurgency has grown in strength and seized large swaths of territory, including the regions other main port town. Last weeks attack demonstrated a new level of boldness from the insurgents and was the closest the group has come to a multibillion-dollar gas project that is operated by international energy companies.

Few analysts believe that the Islamic State in the Middle East maintains a close relationship with the insurgency, which was born out of frustration over local grievances and shares few of the Islamic States ideological aims. But claiming responsibility for the deadly attack underscores the organizations ability to leverage loose ties with militant groups around the world to create the impression of a truly global struggle.
Parents, students and teachers have had to navigate a minefield of cyber threats over the past year as schools continue to invest in ed-tech tools and devices needed for remote learning during COVID-19 school closures. At the same time, cyber criminals found new avenues for data breaches and phishing scams, as well as ransomware and malware attacks targeting school districts in 2020.According to a report released earlier this month by a public data resource called the K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center, in association with the nonprofit K12 Security Information Exchange, 2020 marked a record-breaking year for cyber attacks against public schools in the U.S. The report includes data from the center's K-12 Cyber Incident Map , which recorded 408 publicized school cyber attacks in 2020, representing an 18 percent increase over 2019.The problem has only intensified due to vulnerabilities found in the American public school system, according to the report, which notes that many districts still lack the IT staff and security protocols needed for modern cybersecurity systems. For sophisticated cyber criminals, this means easier access to financial documents and sensitive data about students, parents, educators and others involved in school operations.Nearly 40 percent of K-12 cyber incidents included data breaches and leaks, while approximately 12 percent involved ransomware. Others included denial-of-access attacks, which impeded access to programs widely used for remote learning.Schools also reported an emerging threat of "cyber invasions," where unauthorized users gain access to online classes and video conference meetings, often disrupting them with hate speech, threats of violence and obscene images, sounds and videos.Larger or higher-income districts with more access to technology are often among the most vulnerable to cyber threats due to their size and reliance on technology for instruction and communication, according to the report. Students and teachers engaged in remote learning during COVID-19 school closures remain especially vulnerable to cyber attacks on personal devices and networks.Keith Krueger, CEO of the ed-tech advocacy group the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), said CoSN's surveys have found cybersecurity a top concern among chief technology officers across the nation. The consortium, along with other education policy organizations, submitted petition in February asking the Federal Communications Commission to invest in cybersecurity protections for public K-12 school districts through the FCC's E-rate program. The petition estimated the annual cost for recommended next-generation firewalls, endpoint protection and advanced security features for nationwide K-12 districts at $2.389 billion.Theres very little money for districts on the human side. In fact, our surveys show only one in every five school districts has a full-time staff person dedicated to cybersecurity, Krueger said, adding that the FBI and other federal agencies have designated K-12 schools as the most-targeted public sector for cyber threats.Weve got multiple problems, but this problem hasn't gotten the serious attention that it needs from policymakers."With little standing in the way of cyber criminals targeting schools and gaining access to sensitive information on administrative systems, CoSN Cybersecurity Project Director Amy McLaughlin said malicious actors can target high school students approaching adulthood for identity theft.The first time a student finds out about that is when they go to apply for things like financial aid for college, and then finding out their credit has been destroyed, she said of these data breaches.What's more, cyber criminals are getting better at their methods, according to Krueger and McLaughlin. Phishing scams targeting remote students and educators often appear to come from recognizable email addresses at first glance.In a school environment, about 3 percent of teachers click inappropriately on phishing scams, Krueger said. That was jumping to 15 to 20 percent from home, so a lot of cyber criminals are getting into the network.Cyber criminals have not let up their attacks against public schools in 2021. Ransomware attacks against schools have continued, including one major incident in Buffalo Public Schools this month that forced the district to cancel virtual classes entirely. These threats have continually increased in numbers and severity, according to the report.It isn't just Buffalo, Krueger warned, adding that ransomware extortion attacks have disrupted day-to-day operations in several other districts, including Clark County, Nev. and Baltimore County schools, among others.CoSN and other education policy organizations have pushed for legislative solutions to the problem, urging support for the Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act , recently reintroduced by Reps. Jim Langevin, D-RI, and Doris Matsui, D-CA, to bolster school cybersecurity funding and data tracking of cyber incidents in schools.Were concerned that there isnt [enough] data collected by the federal government, Krueger said. We think that Homeland Security should collect good data thats actionable.Aside from policies, the report also called on digital learning platform companies and device providers to differentiate themselves in the education market by focusing on meaningful security features," and it encouraged schools to promote digital literacy.McLaughlin believes promoting cybersecurity awareness among students, in particular, remains critical in the fight against cyber criminals.You need teachers to model good digital literacy and good digital hygiene, she said.Government TechnologyGoverning
A new Government plan reflecting changes in living and working patterns during Covid-19 will maximise the recovery for all parts of our country including Longford, Senator Micheal Carrigy has said.

Senator Carrigy said the plan, called Our Rural Future, is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in decades.

Senator Carrigy said: The policy reflects the unprecedented change in living and working patterns during Covid-19 and the significant opportunities this presents for rural communities  from remote working and revitalising our town centres in Longford to job creation, developing a green economy and enhancing our outdoor amenities.

Our Rural Future sets out a blueprint for the development of rural Ireland over the next five years and is supported by 150 commitments across Government, which will address the challenges facing communities and deliver new opportunities for people living in rural areas.

The policy complements, and will support, the delivery of other Government strategies and initiatives such as Project Ireland 2040, the Climate Action Plan, the forthcoming National Economic Recovery Plan, the National Broadband Plan, the National Remote Working Strategy and the Town Centre First Initiative.

For decades, we have seen global trends where young people leave their local communities in Longford to live and work in larger cities. As we emerge from COVID-19 we will never have a better opportunity to reverse that long-standing trend.

The move to remote working, underpinned by the rollout of the National Broadband Plan, has the potential to transform rural Ireland like never before.

It will allow people to work from their own local communities in Longford, revitalise our town centres, reduce commuting times, lower transport emissions and most importantly - improve the quality of life of our people.

Our Rural Future will also support the recovery of our Tourism and Hospitality sector, create jobs in the Green Economy and the Agri-food sector and make it easier to establish and grow a business in Rural Ireland.

We will also assist rural businesses to diversify into new sectors and markets by taking advantage of high-speed broadband and new technologies.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys said: Our Rural Future represents a new milestone in the approach to rural development for Ireland.

As we recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have a unique opportunity to reimagine rural Ireland and harness the talent, skills and creativity running through our rural communities.

An Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar said: The Governments ambition is to have more people working in all parts of Ireland, with access to quality employment and good careers.

Remote working presents an opportunity for people to live and work in rural Ireland, no matter where their employer is based.
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed ministries, departments and agencies to work with the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) to cut down on their cost of operations.

Speaking when he visited the Managing Director, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr. Nuruddeen Rafindadi, in Abuja, the Director General of the BPSR, Mr. Dasuki Arabi, noted that the move was to cut wastes and enhance efficiency.

Arabi said the visit to FERMA was at the instance of President Buhari who had instructed them to collaborate with all the relevant MDAs for effective, and efficient operations.

A statement by the Director and Head, Communications and Public Relations, Mrs. Maryam Sanusi, quoted Arabi as also lauding the operations of FERMA and the entire team as being capable of taking the agency to an enviable height.

According to the DG, the BPSR was established in 2004 as a lead agency and engine room for integrated reform initiative, implementation, coordination and harmonisation of government activities at the federal level.

In addition, the director general said the bureau was borne out of the need to have the required capability and resources to leverage on local and international knowledge networks and communities of public administration.

He argued that best practices would help to support policy, institutional as well as governance reform processes with the required expertise on a continuous basis.

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Explaining the reason for the visit, Arabi stated that it was the statutory responsibility of BPSR is to initiate action on reforms at the public service level, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of reforms in MDAs as well as disseminate information on all aspects of public services.

In his comments, the Managing Director of FERMA, Rafindadi, said he was delighted to receive the BPSR team for visiting to educate FERMA on the activities of the bureau and to also encourage and commend the agency on the need to be efficient in its activities.

Rafindadi said the visit was important because it will afford the agency the opportunity to learn from the success of BPSR, particularly on succession planning in the civil service procurement processes.

The MD added that FERMA's collaboration with BPSR was a welcome development, assuring the team that the partnership would further enhance the way the organisation carries out its statutory duties.
Billions of pounds have been wiped off the value of big banks after a meltdown at a hedge fund.

Credit Suisse and Nomura of Japan face a huge hit to their profits after bets placed by their client, Archegos Capital, turned sour.

The crisis could cause major losses for British investors exposed through ISAs, pensions or other savings.

Credit Suisse and Nomura asked Archegos for more funds to cover the loans they had granted. When the cash was not forthcoming the banks sold the Viacom shares at a loss, causing the companys value to fall still further

Archegos had borrowed heavily from Credit Suisse and Nomura to invest in Viacom CBS and Discovery.

However Viacom shares started to fall last week amid fears that its channels were losing out to rivals such as Netflix and Disney Plus.

That meant Credit Suisse and Nomura asked Archegos for more funds to cover the loans they had granted. When the cash was not forthcoming the banks sold the Viacom shares at a loss, causing the companys value to fall still further.

Credit Suisse admitted yesterday the incident would have a highly significant impact on its profits, estimated at between 2billion and 3billion.

Nomura said the crisis could wipe out its total profits for the past six months, at around 1.5billion.

Bill Hwang, the high-flying financier behind Archegos, scrambled to raise extra cash and was forced into a fire-sale of several stakes in other companies he owns, from UK online retailer Farfetch to Chinese technology titan Tencent.

This in turn caused those stocks to slide, as Archegos struggled to find buyers willing to take on the shares.

The sell-off was estimated to have cost around 20billion. Some traders fear the problems at Archegos could spell trouble for the technology boom.

However Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at trading site Markets.com, said: A fund blowing up is not itself a systemic risk, more of questionable internal risk management.

But the incident may push regulators including the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority to examine the relationship between hedge funds and prime brokers, in this case specialist arms of Credit Suisse and Nomura.

Prime brokerages lend to hedge funds and other major investors, allowing them to take bigger bets than they would otherwise be able to afford.

Eleanor Creagh, a market strategist at Saxo Bank, said the losses involved would prompt heightened scrutiny around the disclosures that hedge funds have to make.

John Meyer, of UK broker SP Angel, said it might lead to a tightening of lending controls in the prime brokerage and stock lending departments of the major banks.

RUTH SUNDERLAND: Just a nasty episode... or a canary in a coalmine?

Hwang himself has a chequered past that should have rung alarm bells (Pictured, Bill and Betty Hwang)

Deja vu, anyone? Reckless hedge funds. Banks hit by huge losses. Regulators asleep at the wheel.

It all sounds horribly reminiscent of those queasy months leading up to the financial crisis a dozen years ago, only this time with a pandemic thrown in.

At the epicentre of the latest storm is an outfit called Archegos. Most people, if quizzed, might guess this to be the name of the charity foundation run by Prince Harry and Meghan.

In fact, it is an obscure Wall Street hedge fund run by Bill Hwang, a man who has had his share of run-ins with the regulators. Archegoss woes have, in turn, exposed two of the worlds most important banks, Nomura and Credit Suisse, to multi-billion dollar losses.

The question for investors and pension fund savers in the UK is whether it is a nasty, but isolated, episode.

Or, far more worryingly, is it a canary down the coalmine, a sinister augury of a wider meltdown? Reaction on the world markets yesterday was muted, suggesting there is little panic.

The consensus is we are not faced with a financial crisis 2.0  though its worth remembering that most were dismissive about the last one, right up until it actually happened. And its implosion comes at a nervy time for markets.

The valuations of US tech and media companies such as Tesla, Amazon and Facebook have been driven so high in the pandemic that some analysts worry they are riding for a fall. Many small investors in the UK have large chunks of their nest eggs invested in these stocks.

The problems at Archegos stem from the way it bought shares in US and Chinese media and tech firms on margin, in other words, with borrowed money. Buying on margin is a way to supercharge returns. It works wonderfully well just as long as shares go up, and investors make huge profits having staked very small amounts of their own money. But when shares plunge it can be catastrophic. Not only are investors sitting on large losses, they also have to pay back their loans.

Archegos was hit with margin calls  demands for money or extra security  by Credit Suisse and Nomura after shares in Viacom and some of its other holdings fell last week.

The fund couldnt pay, leaving the banks and others nursing large losses. To try to recoup some of the money owed to the banks, Archegos was forced into a fire-sale of billions of dollars of shares. The affair raises disturbing questions about regulation. The fund seems to have escaped any great scrutiny because it is run as a family office, managing the money of Bill Hwang and his relatives. Hwang himself has a chequered past that should have rung alarm bells.

Just under a decade ago, he admitted to wire fraud relating to Chinese bank stocks. He also paid 32million in fines imposed over illegal trading charges.

As for Credit Suisse, the Archegos debacle is merely the latest embarrassment. Not least among these is its involvement with collapsed finance house Greensill, where former prime minister David Cameron faces questions over his role as an adviser.

Credit Suisse and Nomura have much stronger balance sheets than a decade ago and are in a far better position to withstand their losses.

Even so, this should be a wake-up call, as should the disintegration of Greensill, which basked in the bogus credibility bestowed by Mr Cameron. Where markets, greedy traders and inept regulators are concerned, it never does to be complacent. Remember, Archegos and Greensill are just the trainwrecks we know about.
A trial magistrate in Basse has heard the testimony of a 17-year-old alleged victim of rape.

The witness testified in the case of one Amba Camara of Sandu Nyankui, who is accused of raping her multiple times.

The said case was first reported to Diabugu police station after which it was transferred to Basse police station on 12th October 2020.

The accused was first arraigned before magistrate Jambang in Basse magistrate's court on Thursday 10th December 2020. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of rape and the case was adjourned to 23rd December.

The in-camera hearing was held before the magistrate, police prosecutor, interpreter, the accused person and relatives of the defendant and complainant.

 Flash

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday refuted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's accusations regarding the WHO COVID-19 origin tracing report, and said that China will never accept groundless accusations and wanton slander on issues regarding the pandemic.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily news briefing when asked to comment on Blinken's latest interview, in which he expressed "concern" over the upcoming final report from the WHO on COVID-19 origin tracing work in China, and claimed that China was helping to write the report.

Zhao said the WHO-China joint expert team had visited nine locations including the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and conducted panel discussions with medical staff, scientific researchers, recovered patients, family members of medical staff who died from COVID-19, and ordinary people. All arrangements were made at the request of the WHO experts.

He said the Chinese side also provided original data that required special attention, item by item. The WHO experts have commented positively on the joint research, saying that China's openness was beyond expectation.

The drafting of the report was carried out between experts from both sides and will be concluded through repeated scientific research, said the spokesperson.

"I can't help asking, on issues regarding the pandemic and origin-tracing: When will the United States become as open and transparent as China? When will the United States invite WHO experts to their country for origin tracing? When will Fort Detrick be opened to international experts to conduct investigations and research? Does the United States intend to put pressure on WHO experts by continuously shouting at the outside world?" asked Zhao.

"The United States should ask the WHO experts which part of the report was written with the help of the Chinese government. Does the convenience provided by the Chinese government during the investigation equal behind-the-scenes manipulation?" he added.
Monday COVID-19 Coverage: CPS reports more than half of all staff members have been vaccinated
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Japan has donated $600,000 towards the eradication of malnutrition in Borno and Yobe States, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday.

UNICEF, while revealing that the fund would cater for a year, lamented that at least three million conflict-affected children in North-east Nigeria will be screened for severe acute malnutrition under the new grant by the Government of Japan.

In a statement on Monday, it said the new funds will help UNICEF work with mothers and other caregivers to boost community-based food production and the detection, referral and monitoring of children with severe and acute malnutrition in Borno and Yobe States.

It lamented that children with acute malnutrition are at a significantly higher risk of death as compared to well-nourished children.

The statement said a recent survey found that malnutrition rates in children 6-59 months are as high as 10 per cent in Borno State and 12.3 per cent in Yobe State, which stood well above the five per cent threshold globally recognised to be of public health significance.

It stated that with the COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant loss of livelihoods and food insecurity, thousands more children could be at risk of malnutrition-related death or stunting in the North-east region this year.

It revealed that the new grant will aid in the early detection and prompt treatment of children suffering from acute malnutrition and build a strong network of community nutrition responders who can ensure quick referrals of malnourished children to health facilities, where trained health workers will be able to help them.

The statement revealed that at least 50,000 pregnant and lactating women and other caregivers will be trained to store and cook affordable food for themselves and their children. They will also be trained on how to monitor their child's nutritional status at home.

The statement quoted the Charge d' Affaires a.i. at the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Mr. Shinozawa Takayuki, to have said: "We are deeply concerned that children in North-east Nigeria are not only suffering the direct effects of conflict - but are also suffering from other life-threatening consequences like malnutrition. The children's situation worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We hope that with these funds, we can support UNICEF and Nigerian families and communities to ensure life-saving nutrition so that children can survive and thrive."
Professor Paul Heath said a 12-week dosing gap would most likely not make the Novavax jab less effective

Novavax's Covid vaccine will 'probably' still be effective if the second dose is delayed by up to 12 weeks, according to its lead researcher.

Professor Paul Heath argued that 'basic immunological principles' suggested the longer gap would not make the jab any less potent.

But he warned there was no data to prove this because trial participants received their second dose four weeks after their first.

Data from trials of tens of thousands of volunteers show Novavax's vaccine can block Covid symptoms in up to 90 per cent of people. It also protects against severe illness and death.

Britain's regulator is set to rubber-stamp the jab  already being manufactured in Stockton-on-Tees  within the next four weeks, Professor Heath added.

It will likely become the fifth Covid vaccine to be approved in the UK, as Johnson and Johnson's one-dose jab is already under formal review.

Regulators are expected to approve tripling the dosing gap to 12 weeks, bringing it in line with jabs already being deployed by AstraZeneca and Pfizer. This will allow the UK to vaccinate more people quicker.

Boris Johnson revealed last night that No10 had signed a deal to ramp up its vaccine production, following EU threats to cut supplies.

Up to 60million doses of Novavax's jab being made in Stockton-on-Tees will now be packaged at a GlaxoSmithKline factory in Durham. The change means none of them will leave the UK.

It comes after the European Commission last week approved extraordinary powers that would allow it to block the exports of Covid jabs to countries like the UK which have higher vaccination rates.

Boris Johnson revealed yesterday that the jabs will now be packaged at a factory in Durham, after it was initially planned for them to be sent to the EU

Boris Johnson yesterday revealed the British drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline will support the manufacturing of up to 60million doses of the Novavax vaccine in the UK

COVID DEATH TOLL HITS 150,000 IN BRITAIN, SAYS ONS More than 150,000 coronavirus deaths have been recorded in Britain since the pandemic began, official figures revealed today. Announcing the grim milestone, the Office for National Statistics revealed 150,116 death certificates between the start of the pandemic and March 19 mentioned the virus. But other promising figures showed weekly Covid deaths fell below 1,000 in England and Wales for the first time since October. And no excess deaths were recorded for the second week in a row, with fatalities from all causes down 8 per cent on the five-year average. Covid deaths have been in a downward spiral since the second wave peaked in January, when almost 1,500 virus victims were being recorded every day. For comparison, the figure has now dropped to below 100. Britain has suffered the worst Covid death toll in Europe, and the fifth worst in the world, since the virus emerged in December 2019. Experts say this is linked to the rapid spread of the more infectious Kent variant in December, as well as the failure to protect care homes during the first wave. Boris Johnson is hoping the mass vaccination drive  which has jabbed more than 30million Britons  will fend off any further waves of the virus. But scientists warn the emergence of new variants that may be able to dodge vaccine-triggered immunity could dent the roll-out. Advertisement

Professor Heath, who is also the director of the vaccines institute at St George's, University of London, said it would be 'fine' if the gap between doses was widened.

'The answer is we don't know because we haven't looked at studies where the two doses have been separated by more than three to four weeks,' he told Sky News.

'[But] from basic immunological principles I think it probably would be.'

He added: 'We know from other vaccines that we can extend the interval between doses and do so with confidence.

'So if we needed to for this vaccine, I'm sure extending that interval would be fine from the point of view of its effectiveness.'

The Novavax jab teaches the immune system to make antibodies against Covid's spike protein  which it uses to invade cells.

It contains miniscule replicas of the spike protein  made from tiny nanoparticles  which, when injected into the body, trigger an immune response.

This means that, should someone given the jab encounter the virus in the future, their body is primed to fight it off.

Rigorous trials of the jab showed it was at least 89.3 per cent effective at stopping volunteers from being struck down with symptomatic Covid.

It was also 60 per cent effective against the South African variant.

But experts working on the trial said this was a 'good result' and showed other jabs would also likely offer some protection against this variant.

The PM said yesterday the decision to get GlaxoSmithKline to package the Novavax jabs will 'further boost our vaccine roll-out'.

'I'm delighted by GSK's investment, which shows the strength of UK manufacturing, and will further boost our vaccine rollout,' he told a Downing Street press conference yesterday.

'The vaccines taskforce has worked hand in glove with business to successfully deliver vaccines to the whole of the UK and this agreement will continue to support our approach.

'We remain on track to offer a first jab to all over-50s by April 15, and all adults by the end of July, and I want to once again encourage everyone to come forward for a vaccine when you're called.'

Britain already has enough doses on order from AstraZeneca and Pfizer alone to vaccinate the entire nation with two doses.

But officials anticipate 'booster' shots will need to be given annually to the elderly and vulnerable because immunity wears off quicker in those groups.

Moderna's Covid vaccine  which was approved in January  will be deployed for the first time in April.

It offers hope ministers may be able to invite over-40s for vaccines in the coming weeks, despite the NHS warning of a significant reduction in jabs available in England next month amid a delay to AstraZeneca shipments from India and EU tensions that could see exports blocked.

The MHRA, which polices the safety of vaccines in Britain, has been carrying out a rolling review of all Covid vaccines to allow them to speed up approvals.

J&J submitted a formal approval application to the MHRA at the start of March.

It is not clear if Novavax has submitted the final data from its trials to the regulator  but promising results were released earlier this month.
Victoria Salazar Arriaza died after being arrested in the tourist resort of Tulum, and now officers are being investigated for fatal brutality.

Video Transcript

[INAUDIBLE]

CHARLOTTE BELLIS: Victoria Esperanza Salazar was a refugee from El Salvador, a mother of two teenage girls, working in hotels in Mexico's resort town of Tulum. Now, she's the face of protests against violence towards women and police brutality. Face down and barefoot, Salazar died on a roadside in Tulum on Saturday. Police officers restrained her on the pavement and threw her body into the back of a pickup truck. A state prosecutor says officers used excessive force.

OSCAR MONTES DE OCA: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

INTERPRETER: The police technique of body control that was applied and the level of force used was disproportionate, immoderate, and with a high risk to life.

CHARLOTTE BELLIS: According to an autopsy report, Salazar died of a broken neck after police officers knelt on her. It added her injuries were compatible with so-called submission maneuvers used by police. Salazar's mother compared her death to that of African American George Floyd in the United States last May.

ROSIBEL ARRIAZA: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

INTERPRETER: They already gave a report that my daughter's neck was broken, and they broke a lot of ribs because there were three men and a woman on top of her.

CHARLOTTE BELLIS: The death comes as Mexico is hosting a UN forum on gender equality. Mexico has one of the worst rates of violence against women in the world. Last year, an average of 10 women were killed there every day. The rate of femicide has doubled in the last five years. Many believe Salazar's death is symbolic also of a worsening treatment of migrants and refugees.

RAUL BENITEZ MANAUT: The police in the streets treat very hard the migrants. The [? abuse, ?] the use of force is incredible. It's like, like the George Floyd assassination in Minneapolis in May of 2020. It's exactly the same case.

Story continues

CHARLOTTE BELLIS: President Lopez Obrador says those responsible for Salazar's death will be punished.

ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

INTERPRETER: I want to say to her family members, to Salvadoran and Mexican women, to the women of the world, to all men and women, that those responsible will be punished. They're already in the process of being prosecuted and there will be no impunity.

CHARLOTTE BELLIS: The reasons for Salazar's arrest have not been released. Those protesting over her death say they won't stop until they get answers and justice. Charlotte Bellis, Al Jazeera.


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Special Report: Money Trail From Daphne Murder Probe Stretches to China

VALLETTA/SHANGHAIA widening investigation into allegations of high-level corruption on the island of Malta, first levelled by murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, stretches to China and a $400 million investment into Europe by a Chinese state power company, Reuters has found.

Caruana Galizia was murdered in October 2017 as she investigated a web of companies that she believed were funneling bribes to Maltese politicians.

Now, Reuters and a consortium of journalists have traced two firms involved in that web to relatives of a senior Chinese executive for Accenture, the global consultancy firm. The executive, 43-year-old Chen Cheng from Shanghai, negotiated investments on behalf of Chinas state-owned Shanghai Electric Power in Malta and in another small European state, Montenegro, over the past decade, according to Maltese officials and official records.

The revelation of a Chinese connection potentially adds a new international dimension to a scandal that has rocked Maltas government and last year led to the resignation of the prime minister. It also could figure in a series of Maltese official investigations into the events leading up to Caruana Galizias death.

Backed by Maltas government, the investments by Shanghai Electric Power were portrayed by Maltese and Chinese political leaders as one component of Chinas multi-trillion dollar Belt and Road initiative to pour money into economic infrastructure in central Asia and Europe.

In 2016, a year before she was murdered in a car bombing, Caruana Galizia identified Chens key role in the transactions on her blog.

A total of six people in Malta have been charged with Caruana Galizias killing and await trial. There is no suggestion that Accenture, Chen, or any Chinese company or individual is linked with that crime.

Caruana Galizia reported that Chen created a company in the British Virgin Islands in 2014, for an unknown purpose. In the same year, Chen played a central role in negotiations and due diligence for Shanghai Electric Power to invest 380 million euros ($400 million) in buying a share of Maltas state power company, Enemalta. Caruana Galizia did not specify any wrongdoing by Chen. Chen and Accenture did not respond to Caruana Galizias report at the time.

Now, reporters at Reuters, the Times of Malta, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, and the Suddeutsche Zeitung, have discovered that Chens family set up two further companies in Hong Kong, both with business links to Malta.

Contacted for this article, Chen and Shanghai Electric Power didnt comment. Accenture said in a statement it is taking the matter very seriously and carefully reviewing these allegations as they relate to one of our people. We adhere to the highest ethical standards in every market in which we operate and have zero tolerance for any deviation from those standards. Enemalta declined to answer questions about Chen.

The office of the spokesperson of Chinas foreign ministry said, Chinas exchanges and cooperation with other countries are all open and transparent.

Thousands gather at a national rally to demand justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia in Valletta, Malta, on Oct. 22, 2017. (Matthew Mirabelli/AFP/Getty Images)

The first of the companies set up by the Chen family, known as Macbridge, planned to pay up to $2 million to Panama firms controlled by two Maltese politicians, Reuters has previously reported. The second, called Dows Media Company, received one million euros ($1.2 million) from a business owned by one of Maltas richest men, Yorgen Fenech, according to financial records seen by Reuters. Fenech is in jail, awaiting trial on a charge of masterminding Caruana Galizias murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

According to international legal requests seen by Reuters, Maltese law enforcement officials suspect that Macbridge and Dows Media were part of an elaborate scheme, involving some participants in the China-Malta deals, to make payments to politicians in Malta and siphon off profits for themselves. Reuters was unable to independently determine whether or not that suspicion is correct. Chen has not responded to Reuters questions on the matter.

Fenechs lawyers declined to comment about any links between their client and Chen.

Daphnes Mystery

Caruana Galizia first picked up on the money trail that would eventually lead to China in 2016 when, according to her family and records of her work seen by Reuters, she started to investigate two mystery businesses that she suspected were being used to pay bribes to politicians.

The journalist had few details of the two companies beyond their names, 17 Black Ltd and Macbridge Ltd, and a tip-off from an official source that they were part of a scheme to pay kickbacksundeclared profits from government schemesto some senior politicians. Caruana Galizia texted her son Matthew in April 2016 that shed heard the two companies were crucial to unravelling the web.

The tip-off followed the discovery by Maltese officials of an email written in December 2015 by accountants for two senior figuresKonrad Mizzi, then energy minister, and Keith Schembri, chief of staff and close friend of the prime minister at the time, Joseph Muscat. That email named 17 Black and Macbridge as target clients that would pay an estimated $2 million into then-secret Panama companies owned by Schembri and Mizzi.

When news of the email was published in local and international media in April 2018, six months after Caruana Galizias murder, Schembri confirmed publicly having unrealized draft business plans with Macbridge and 17 Black but denied any wrongdoing. Last December, he told a public inquiry into the journalists death that Macbridge had been included in the December 2015 e-mail by mistake.

Earlier this month, Schembri was charged with money laundering, forgery, and corruption in an unrelated matter. He denies the charges and is in jail awaiting preliminary court hearings. He didnt comment for this article.

Mizzi said he had no knowledge of Macbridge or 17 Black, nor any knowledge of the email. Mizzi has not been charged in any criminal case. He reiterated in a statement to Reuters that he rejects any suggestion he had business plans with Macbridge or a personal interest in any public project. Mizzi said he knew Chen as a consultant assisting Shanghai Electric Power, and my interactions with him were in that official context.

Police inspect the wreckage of a car bomb believed to have killed journalist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia close to her home in Bidnija, Malta, on Oct. 16, 2017. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

When Caruana Galizia was killed, she was still following the 17 Black-Macbridge tip, which she believed held the key to understanding why Mizzi and Schembri set up their Panama firms.

Working out the truth of those two companies was really at the centre of her work. She was determined to get to the bottom of that mystery, recalled Matthew Caruana Galizia, her son, who was first on the scene of the car bomb.

A year after the assassination, Reuters and the Times of Malta traced 17 Black Ltd to a bank in Dubai and identified its owner as Fenech, the Malta tycoon.

A year later, in Nov. 2019, Fenech was arrested at sea as he attempted to leave Malta in his luxury yacht. He was charged a few days later with masterminding the journalists assassination, an accusation he denies.

The mystery of Macbridge remained.

Trail From a Business Card

When police searched Fenechs flat, they found a business card for the Accenture consultant Chen.

As detectives questioned Fenech, the accused tycoon added another piece to the puzzle. According to records of the interview, reviewed by Reuters, Fenech told police he had information about Macbridge, which he said stood for Malta China Bridge. He gave no further details. It isnt clear if he was asked about Chen or the business card.

After learning of Fenechs disclosure, Reuters searched records in China and found a company called Macbridge International Development Company Ltd, which was registered in Hong Kong on Sept. 30, 2014.

Hong Kongs company register doesnt disclose who owns Macbridge. The sole director was named as a 65-year-old Chinese citizen, a woman called Tang Zhaomin. Further records found in the Panama Papers, the trove of 11.5 million documents about offshore companies obtained by the Suddeutsche Zeitung, confirmed that Tang, via a company in the Indian Ocean island of Seychelles, was also the ultimate owner of Macbridge.

But who was Tang? The Panama Papers contained only a grainy photocopy of her passport; there was no address or telephone number.

Amateur Photographer

Her name was a rare one, however, and other company databases led reporters to the Chinese city of Shanghai. There, a review of social media showed Tang was a keen amateur photographer, a former manager in a car plant, and former manager with Yum China, which operates the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) brand in China. In recent years, she had registered small investments in several local companies.

By tracing her posts on the social media platform Weibo, reporters made a discovery. Tang identified herself as the mother-in-law of the Accenture consultant Chen, referring to herself as Granny to Chens children. A family member later confirmed the Tang-Chen relationship to Reuters.

Tang could not be reached for comment. Questions delivered to a major outdoor advertising company where she is currently listed in corporate records as a manager and shareholder were not answered.

A subsequent trip by a Reuters reporter to the city of Nanjing, 180 miles from Shanghai, proved more useful. The purpose was to visit a catering company that public corporate records showed Tang co-owns. That companys headquarters turned out to be a KFC franchise, located in a shopping complex and serving American fast food with a Chinese twist: fried chicken meals for around 40 yuan ($6) and gelatinous durian fruit balls.

A picture of Daphne Caruana Galizia is shown at the foot of the Great Siege monument in Valletta, Malta, on Oct. 19, 2017. (Matthew Mirabelli/AFP/Getty Images)

The visit revealed a new connection with Chen, the Accenture executive, and with Malta. A staff member at another nearby KFC, run by the same catering company that Tang co-owns, said she had no knowledge of Tang Zhaomin but she did know another co-owner, a woman called Wang Rui. Wang is the boss of the catering company, the staffer said, but rarely visits the KFC outlets.

Wang Rui, records showed, is the director of a Hong Kong firm called Dows Media Company that was set up in 2014 within a fortnight of Macbridge. According to bank records, seen by Reuters, Yorgen Fenechs 17 Black paid one million euros to Dows Media in 2016.

With a number supplied by KFC staff, Wang Rui was contacted by phone. She told Reuters she is a cousin of Tang Zhaomin and Tang is Chens mother-in-law. She said she set up Dows Media at Chens request and for his purposes, and knew nothing about the million euros or the firms activities.

He asked me to set up the company and I thought there wasnt any problem in doing so, Wang said of Chen. He told me that it would do media-type work. She added that Chen at the time had told her he could not set the company up himself because of his connection to a state-owned enterprise. Wang didnt name that company or otherwise elaborate.

Maltese investigators are also on the trail of Dows Media and Macbridge. In international legal requests, reviewed by Reuters, they have sought information about the firms business activities, their money flows, and their ultimate owners. In one such request, via Interpol in 2018, Maltas police asked China about Dows Media and the one million euros the firm received from Fenechs 17 Black in 2016. The sum may have involved illicit funds linked to possible corruption and money laundering, Maltas police said. There was no record of a reply from China, a Maltese official said. The office of the spokesperson of Chinas foreign ministry said it was unaware of the matter.

Malta made other legal requests for information to the United Arab Emirates related to the potential payments by Macbridge to the Maltese politicians Schembri and Mizzi. These requests also cite possible corruption and money laundering. The UAE told Malta that it found no trace of Macbridge.

Payments

In June 2020, Reuters and the Times of Malta revealed that Fenechs 17 Black took a secret $5 million profit from a Montenegro wind farm project involving Shanghai Electric and Maltas state power firm Enemalta. Chen had promoted the project in a presentation to Enemaltas board, according to an internal audit by Enemalta.

In 2016, 17 Black received its $5 million profit from the wind farm. Two weeks before that payday, in May of that year, Fenechs firm made the first of three payments to Dows Media, according to bank records seen by Reuters and the Interpol request to China by Maltese investigators. The payments, totaling one million euros, were completed two months later.

The disclosure of Chens private businesses may pose a problem for him at Accenture, where he has been employed as a managing director of its energy business, the firms ethics handbook suggests. Accenture does not outright prohibit its employees from having private business interests, but it warns against possible conflicts of interest, including the use of Accenture information or its position for personal gain (or that of family members or close friends).

Asked about Chens links to Macbridge and Dows Media and his relationship via these firms with Maltese business and political figures, Accenture said it is carefully reviewing the allegations. Shanghai Electric Power didnt respond to questions about Chens role. A spokesman for Enemalta said that following its internal audit of the wind farm deal the report was passed on to the Police to assist in any investigations. Any further comments at this stage would be imprudent.

Burgeoning Investigation

In Malta, the uncovering of the China connection could play into a series of official corruption investigations. There is a public inquiry into the events leading up to Caruana Galizias death, a judicial investigation into 17 Black, a judicial inquiry into the Montenegro wind farm deal, and an ongoing investigation by Malta Polices financial crimes unit into 17 Black, Macbridge, and wider corruption claims.

In Montenegro, the exposure by Reuters last year of 17 Blacks role in financing the wind farm deal has prompted a judicial inquiry. The same report also led to the expulsion of Konrad Mizzi, the former energy minister, from Maltas Labour Party. Joseph Muscat, the former Maltese prime minister, has said he had no knowledge of any business dealings by Mizzi and Schembri.

By Stephen Grey, Engen Tham, Jacob Borg and Christoph Giesen
New SnapLogic study reveals 48% accelerated automation projects as a result of the pandemic, with cost savings, customer satisfaction, and employee productivity as drivers

New research published today by SnapLogic, provider of the #1 Intelligent Integration Platform, reveals that 78% of businesses plan to increase their spending on automation initiatives in the coming 12 months. The new study also found that this increased spending comes after a year in which 48% of IT Decision Makers (ITDMs) already accelerated their automation projects as a result of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005284/en/

New research from SnapLogic explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on automation initiatives, what's driving the acceleration of automation projects, and the key technologies that make up the automation toolkit. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The new research, which was conducted across the US and UK, found that cost savings were the primary driver behind new automation initiatives, according to 63% of ITDMs. However, other benefits were cited, with 60% employing automation to increase customer engagement and satisfaction, and 59% using automation to drive employee productivity. Notably, signaling a difference in how the two markets may view the benefits of automation, 63% of US ITDMs adopted automation to grow topline revenues in comparison to just 38% of those in the UK.

"In conversation with customers, as well as peers in the industry, it's clear that automation has helped many businesses adapt and respond to the disruption caused by COVID-19," said Craig Stewart, CTO at SnapLogic. "Automation has not only saved organizations time and money, but it's also facilitated faster response times to business demands. This has enabled employees to focus on value-adding tasks over the mundane, repetitive ones, which in turn has helped organizations more quickly meet changing customer expectations. With uptake anticipated to increase in the coming year, it is essential for IT and business leaders to equip themselves with the right strategies, tools, and best practices to implement automation to its full effect."

Automation is occurring within IT and across different lines of business. According to ITDMs, 68% focused their initial projects on automating IT processes before extending their learnings to lines of business. However, again, there were differences between the UK and US respondents, with those in the UK almost four times more likely to focus their first projects on financial processes or sales processes compared to those in the US. But, encouragingly, nearly all (98%) agree that it's important to take an enterprise-wide approach to automation rather than rushing into one-off, isolated projects that won't scale.

While businesses acknowledge the benefits of automation and are investing accordingly, there are still hurdles to overcome. When asked if anything was hampering the rollout of their automation initiatives, legacy technology (55%), a lack of internal skills (40%), a shift to remote working (40%), and compliance issues (37%) were called out as the biggest challenges for ITDMs.

Getting the right technology stack in place is essential for those undertaking automation initiatives. The most critical items for that toolkit were an integration platform as a service (iPaaS) solution (54%) and BPM (business process management) technologies (53%). Notably, just 21% called out RPA (robotic process automation) technologies as a required part of their enterprise automation toolkit.

SnapLogic's Intelligent Integration Platform uses AI-powered workflows to automate all stages of IT integration projects design, development, deployment, and maintenance whether on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid environments. The platform's easy-to-use, self-service interface enables both expert and citizen integrators to manage all application integration, data integration, API management, B2B integration, and data engineering projects on a single, scalable platform. With SnapLogic, organizations can connect all of their enterprise systems quickly and easily to automate business processes, accelerate analytics, and drive transformation.

The research was conducted in February 2021 by 3GEM on behalf of SnapLogic. 400 IT decision makers were surveyed, including 200 in the US and 200 in the UK.

About SnapLogic

SnapLogic powers the automated enterprise. The company's self-service, AI-powered integration platform helps organizations connect applications and data sources, automate common workflows and business processes, and deliver exceptional experiences for customers, partners, and employees. Thousands of enterprises around the world rely on the SnapLogic platform to integrate, automate, and transform their business. Learn more at snaplogic.com.

Connect with SnapLogic via our Blog, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005284/en/

Contacts:

Scott Behles

SnapLogic

scott.behles@snaplogic.com

+1 415-571-4462

Cameron Burke

Kaizo for SnapLogic

snaplogic@kaizo.co.uk

+44 (0)203 176 4700

Jeff Drew

Guyer Group for SnapLogic

snaplogic@guyergroup.com

+1 617-233-5109
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - Governor Doug Ducey Wednesday signed three bills as part of responsible criminal justice policy in Arizona, ensuring Arizona continues to focus on public safety, while taking a responsible approach to sentencing reform and expanding opportunities for offenders after serving their time.

The bills signed include:

HB 2318 - sentencing; repetitive offenders

HB 2319 - license denial; prohibition; drug convictions

HB 2166 - criminal justice commission; data collection

We are committed to protecting Arizona families and our communities, said Governor Ducey. Im proud to sign legislation that prioritizes the safety of Arizonans, while strengthening our prison system and supporting those who served their time. My thanks to Representatives Toma and Blackman for leading on these pieces of legislation.



HB 2318 will give prosecutors and judges more flexibility to ensure that first time offenders dont receive sentences that are disproportionately high.



Under HB 2319, state agencies cannot deny a regular or provisional occupational license to an otherwise qualified applicant who has been convicted of a drug offense, with exceptions for teacher certifications and health profession regulatory boards.



HB 2318 and HB 2319 were sponsored by Representative Ben Toma.



Those who break the law need to be held accountable, but we can help them rebuild and move forward after their sentence, said Representative Toma. House Bills 2318 and 2319 help ensure offenders dont serve unnecessarily long sentences and have the opportunity to build a career after serving time. Thank you, Governor Ducey, for your support.



HB 2166 directs a state or local criminal justice agency to submit any necessary information that is currently collected and readily reportable to the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. The Commission will conduct a comprehensive survey of data from criminal justice agencies to create a state criminal justice data inventory report identifying what data is housed at each type of agency. This establishes a repository from criminal justice agencies statewide to provide transparent Arizona information to better inform state policy.



The legislation was sponsored by Representative Walt Blackman.



Its important that local leaders and law enforcement professionals are up-to-date on data related to criminal activity, said Representative Blackman. This legislation will ensure we have the latest information readily available so policies can be reviewed and we can see whats working well. My thanks to Governor Ducey and everyone who supported this legislation.
Had giving remained in 2018 at 3.02%, which was the 1968 level, churches in the composite set would have received $8 billion more in 2018 than they did.

The new report from empty tomb, inc., The State of Church Giving through 2018, asks church members and leaders to consider, What if Jesus comes back in 2025?

The book notes that all Christian traditions affirm the ideas in the Apostles Creed, if not the creed itself, which states that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead.

Chapter 8 states, Jesus return could be today, or in 2025, or occur thousands of years from now. The year 2025 is selected for discussion because three groups have set goals to reach by that year.

Chapter 8 also considers possible consequences if the church in the U.S. does not prepare as if Jesus is coming back in 2025, and possible consequences if it does.

The new book, the 30th in the empty tomb series, also updates church membership giving and membership numbers through 2018.

Overall, the report notes, giving as a percent of income, and membership as a percent of U.S. population, have been in decline among church members in the U.S. By 2018, for example, per member giving to churches as a percent of income had declined, on average, from 3.02% in 1968 to 2.05% in 2018, the latest data year available as of this report.

Church membership as a percent of U.S. population also posted declines. A group of 34 Protestant communions and the Roman Catholic Church represented 45% of U.S. population in 1968 and 33% in 2018.

The report notes that church leaders have not been able to tap potential increased giving among church members. Had giving remained in 2018 at 3.02%, which was the 1968 level, churches in the composite set would have received $8 billion more in 2018 than they did.

Had giving grown toward the classic tithe, or 10% of income, rather than decreased, churches would have had over $400 billion more to spend on their mission outreach.

The new book notes three groups have set goals to be reached by 2025. Wycliffe Bible translators is leading an effort to start Bible translations in every language by 2025. An umbrella group of organizations under the name Finishing the Task is setting a goal for having a worker to help start self-multiplying churches in every people group by 2025.

A third goal is to close the Promise Gap by 2025. The Promise Gap is defined as the difference between the target reduction goal promised (their word) by world leaders in 1990 and again in 2000, for the Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) - - and the actual U5MR. Because the target reduction goal was not met in 2018, the new book estimates, 1.2 million children under the age of five died that year from treatable causes. The book proposes that church people work through their distribution channels, and, in Jesus name, prevent these deaths.

The new book also analyzes 2018 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey data. As in past years, Americans reported that giving to church, religious organizations received the largest portion of income given, whether considered by age group, income level, or region of residence. The second highest category was charities and other organizations, followed by educational institutions and Gifts to non-CU [consumer unit] members of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

Once again this year, the Under 25 years gave a low percentage of income. Of what they did give, they reported 71% of their donations went to church, religious organizations, consistent with most past years of CE analysis done in the empty tomb series.

The new book, published December 2020, is available at Wipf and Stock Publishers.



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Vice Chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Nora Vargas, gave a speech at a press briefing in front of the San Diego Convention Center on March 27, 2021, alongside San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (3rd from left) and congressional representatives Reps Mike Levin (not shown on photo), Sara Jacobs, Juan Vargas and Scott Peters (L-R). (Jane Yang/Epoch Times)

Dozens of Unaccompanied Minors at San Diego Convention Center Test Positive for COVID-19

Dozens of the more than 700 unaccompanied minors who crossed the U.S.Mexico border illegally and were transported to a shelter at the San Diego Convention Center have tested positive for COVID-19, according to local and health officials cited in multiple media reports.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) told The Epoch Times on March 30 that 70 minors have tested positive. None have required hospitalization.

The girls who tested positive were removed from the other girls and kept in separate areas on a separate floor.

All minors are being tested before boarding transportation to the center.

The center currently has 723 children, and the maximum capacity is 1,450, an HHS spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria told the media over the weekend that the San Diego shelter is only taking unaccompanied girls aged 13 to 17, who are being transferred from Texas shelters. The first 500 unaccompanied minors who entered the United States as part of a surge of illegal immigrants at the southern border arrived at the facility on March 27.

The children will spend an average of 3035 days in the shelter, which is under contract until mid-July.

The San Diego shelter will operate as a processing facility where the children will stay until social workers can connect them with relatives or sponsors in the United States.

Officials said South Bay Community Services in San Diego is helping the minors contact relatives in the United States or helping them find sponsors. They said 90 percent of the children have relatives in the United States.

The center is one of at least eight facilities that have been converted into shelters or created to house the influx of immigrant children entering the United States in recent months.

On March 27, Gloria and County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairwoman Nora Vargas led elected officials for a tour of the exhibit hall where some cots had already been placed. The guided tour wasnt open to the press. A local station, CBS8 TV, was selected to provide a press pool video.

Today we are showing the world that San Diego is a welcoming city.  These are children. This is the right thing to do, Gloria said.

He said the shelter will not only provide beds and food, but also a full range of services.

I want to be clear, this is not just cots, but [what] we are doing here is intensive case management, medical care, behavioral health care, educational services, recreational services, nutritious meals, legal services, religious services, and probably above anything, to be a safe place, the mayor said.

A small group of demonstrators from the group Patriot Fire staged a protest outside the convention center on March 27.

The organization said in a statement that they were not protesting against the individuals moving into the shelter but against mass asylum fraud and the associated child/human trafficking.

The group says that they believe the fraud asylum system is supported by human trafficking by murderous smuggling cartels, and San Diegos participation in the broken system adds to the problem.

Allowing it to take place just promotes the trafficking of many more people, the group said.

The recent spike in illegal immigration has become a flashpoint of criticism for the Biden administration, with Republicans blaming the rollback of Trump-era policies and the overall tenor of messaging around immigration, widely seen as more welcoming of would-be asylum seekers.

President Joe Biden said that his administration is continuing to quickly expel most adults and families under a public health order imposed at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. The difference is that the government is allowing teens and children, at least temporarily, to stay in the country.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Tae D. Johnson said recently: Our border is not open. The majority of individuals continue to be expelled under the Centers for Disease Controls public health authority.

The message that the U.S.Mexico border is not open is part of the Biden administrations more aggressive posture after a wave of criticism that Bidens rhetoric on immigration reform was being interpreted by would-be illegal immigrants as an invitation to enter the country.

The Biden-Harris administration is committed to implementing an immigration system that is humane, orderly, and lawful, an official from the HHSs Administration for Children and Families said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, adding that the administration is monitoring the border and marshaling all corners of the government to find compassionate and fair solutions.

Darvin Bothe, Jane Yang, and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
The rare-earth metals trader was under pressure to send home a million dollars despite Sino-Korean border shutdown.

Visitors walk on the Broken Bridge over the Yalu river which separates North Korea's Sinuiju from China, in Dandong, Liaoning province, China March 19, 2021.

A North Korean trade representative in China tasked with bringing in a million U.S. dollars a year for the Pyongyang regime took his life when the coronavirus made raising the funds impossible, fellow traders in China told RFA.

The trader, stationed in the Chinese city of Dandong on the border with North Koreas Sinuiju, was in charge of selling rare-earth elements mined in North Korea, for use in Chinese manufacturing. At the beginning of the pandemic in Jan. 2020, Pyongyang and Beijing shut down their 880-mile border and suspended all trade and traffic, leaving the man with no way to deliver the ore to China.

Sources told RFA the trader was still on the hook for the $1 million even though he now had no way to make the money.

In February, a North Korean trade worker took his life in Dandong. The coronavirus made it so there was no hope of resuming North Korea-China trade. He had no way to meet the foreign currency goals he had been assigned, a Chinese citizen of Korean descent told RFAs Korean Service March 27.

He was a skilled businessman who earned a lot of foreign currency by smuggling ore concentrates into China with an annual assignment of $1 million, the source said.

Ore concentrate from North Korea cannot be legally exported due to international sanctions aimed at depriving Pyongyang of cash and resources that could be funneled into its nuclear and missile programs.

He opened offices in Dandong and Dalian, selling molybdenum and cerium concentrates. He was a member of the Chilsung trading company, which is under Office 39, and he earned more through smuggling than official trade, said the source.

Formally the Central Committee Bureau 39 of the Workers' Party of Korea, the organization charged with procuring funds for Kim Jong Un was set up in the late 1970s under the rule of regime founder Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Uns grandfather.

The office has foreign currency-earning agents in many countries, and they are expected to earn money regardless of the economic circumstances.

RFA reports from the past year documented how trade officials in charge of North Korean laborers in China were begging to find work for them after opportunities dried up due to the pandemic.

The pressure to meet the earnings goal is so high for trade workers sent abroad, and the ore trader had been a valued asset to the regime.

We know that this trade worker was seen as a very loyal trade worker by the authorities. He regularly met his assigned earning goals by smuggling the rare metals, and he also sent a large amount to Pyongyang in loyalty funds each time, the source said, referring to cash payments demanded by the regime.

But we found out that after coronavirus hit trade, he had been covering the funding assignment by taking out loans from his Chinese counterparts because smuggling ore concentrate was impossible, said the source.

Another source, a Chinese citizen of Korean descent from Dalian, about 171 miles west of Dandong, confirmed the death to RFA.

The other North Korean trade officials are greatly discouraged by his suicide because he had once been a very successful trader, the second source said.

He was a man in his 50s who specialized in smuggling ore concentrates, the second source said, confirming that he regularly met his state-assigned foreign currency targets in excess of $1 million each year.

Because such a competent trade worker took his own life due to all the pressure, the North Korean authorities exempted trade workers in China from paying their assignments until the coronavirus situation subsides, said the second source.

RFA reported earlier this month that trade workers in China were temporarily exempt from their currency earning obligations, but at that time it was not known that the ore concentrate smugglers death may have been the catalyst.

For nearly a month after the suicide, the authorities in Pyongyang refused to receive the body, saying it was due to the coronavirus. The body could not be buried in the mountains in North Korea, so they cremated it without any documents, the second source said.

Because the trade worker is a citizen of North Korea, they cannot put his remains in a Chinese columbarium, so they just keep it in a storage room. During his lifetime, he was busy earning foreign currency and gave a lot in loyalty funds, but now they wont even take his remains and hes stuck in a storage room in China.

According to another RFA report, North Korean state companies this month began hoarding molybdenum ore. Sources said the hoarding caused a spike in molybdenum prices inside North Korea, and that it could be seen as an indication that trade with China could resume soon.

North Korean trade workers dispatched abroad often run afoul of international law when trying to meet their foreign currency targets.

Earlier this month, Mun Chol Myong, a trader assigned to earn foreign currency in Malaysia, became the first North Korean national to be extradited to the U.S.

He is accused of laundering money through the U.S. financial system as a means to evade sanctions and provide luxury items to North Korean elites.

The extradition caused Pyongyang to break off relations with Malaysia, and RFA reported that trade officials in China feared that the diplomats in the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur could face punishment upon their return to North Korea.

Reported by Jieun Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
(Newser)  A retired firefighter who rescued a toddler from a house fire 23 years ago had an emotional reunion over the weekend with Jacob Tsukroff, now 26, in upstate New York. Per NBC New York, William Porter was among the responders who showed up at the burning house in Poughkeepsie on Jan. 31, 1998, where Tsukroff and his 4-year-old brother were trapped. Per the Poughkeepsie Journal, Porter and another firefighter, Brian Couse, found the boys in the home's basement; Porter carried Jacob out, while Couse carried Daniel out. Tragically, Daniel didn't survive. Later that year, when Porter received an award for rescuing Jacob, the firefighter's daughter, Jessica Scalamandre, then 9, found out what her dad had done and decided she'd one day reunite them. Last autumn, as Porter neared retirement, she finally tracked Tsukroff down and received a text from him. "I believe your father is the one that saved my life 23 years ago," it read. "I've been waiting 23 years to meet this man."

story continues below

Scalamandre worked behind the scenes to set up the surprise meeting at the Elks Club in Poughkeepsie this weekend, with Tsukroff, his parents and some siblings, and Couse and other firefighters who'd been there the day he was rescued. Porter himself was only filled in on what the meeting was about just moments before he entered the building. "I was a little apprehensive, but at the same time I couldn't wait," he tells the Journal, which notes he shook in his car for a few minutes before heading inside. When Porter and Tsukroff finally met, they shared a hug that lasted 11 seconds. "You've always been on my mind," Porter said to Tsukroff. "I've always wondered how you've been." Tsukroff, who says he doesn't have memories of that day, other than of his hospital stay, simply replied: "Thank you." Tsukroff has held onto one memento over the years: a teddy bear that Porter gave him after the rescue. The families also toasted Daniel during Sunday's get-together. More here. (Read more uplifting news stories.)
A segment of Michigans population is still hesitant to eat inside at restaurants or go to hotels, a new survey of 600 Michiganders indicates.

The March 18-22 phone survey found 54.6% of respondents have eaten inside a restaurant since Michigans dine-in ban ended on Feb. 1, while 42.8% said they have not. The study was done through the Marketing Resource Group, paid for by the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association.

People are slowly warming up to the idea of dining in again, the survey shows, with most respondents saying theyre about ready to go back  or will be once vaccinated.

A clear takeaway from this survey is that Michiganders are beyond ready to get back to the experiences that bring joy and meaning to their lives, said Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the MRLA, in a news release.

Winslow expects tremendous pent-up demand this summer for the hospitality industry  which has suffered more than most throughout the pandemic.

Others feel similar optimism. About 85% of retailers surveyed by the Michigan Retailers Association are expecting increases in sales in the next three months.

But while vaccinations are ramping up, Michigans COVID-19 case numbers are also skyrocketing. Michigan ranked 49th of 50 states in the past week for containing the virus, per the New York Times. Michigan has had 52 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days, with only New York state having more.

Among metro areas with the biggest outbreaks in the U.S., Michigan has five of the top 10, including Jackson (1), Detroit (2), Flint (4), Lansing (7) and Monroe (9).

RELATED: Who and where Michigans coronavirus surge is hitting hardest

Hospitalizations are also on the rise in Michigan. There are about 2,300 people hospitalized in the state for confirmed or suspected COVID-19  nearly triple the number from earlier this month.

Starting March 5, Michigan restaurants were allowed to open at 50% capacity instead of 25%. While some have called for expanding to 100%, most of the survey respondents think its too soon.

About 37% said restaurants should open at 100% right now, while about 31% said businesses need to wait on more vaccinations, and almost 27% said raising capacity should wait until Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director say its safe to do so.

Respondents were slightly more concerned about hotel stays than restaurant visits  even though health experts have said hotels are much less risky than restaurants.

Nearly 66% of people said theyre willing to eat inside at a restaurant right now, while only 60% said theyre comfortable staying in a hotel.

About 44% of respondents identified as Democrat, compared to about 40% saying theyre Republican. However, 43% said they have conservative views, 29% said they have moderate views and about 24% said they have liberal views.

Respondents tended to be older  with nearly 52% being age 50 or older and 84% being at least 35 years old.

Heres a look at some of the other survey questions and results.

What direction do you think the country is going?

Right track: 36.1%

Wrong track: 51.8%

What direction do you think Michigan is going?

Right track: 44.3%

Wrong track: 47.2%

Whats the most important issue Michigan is facing right now?

COVID-19: 40.2%

The economy and jobs: 20.5%

Politicians/government: 12.6%

Environmental issues: 4.9%

Roads/infrastructure/potholes: 4.6%

Education: 2.6%

Taxes/gas tax: 2.5%

Do you anticipate taking a vacation requiring a hotel stay in the next six months?

Yes: 54.1%

No: 38.4%

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67% of employers will encourage vaccines  but wont mandate them  Detroit-area survey finds

Michigan recovered 56,000 restaurant, leisure jobs after dine-in ban ended

Michigans COVID-19 numbers increasing at troubling pace. Whats going on?
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
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
India: Centre to extend Rs 6,000 farmers dole to fisher families

March 30,2021 | Source: The New Indian Express

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the Centre will provide an assistance of Rs 6,000 per year to fishermen on the lines of the aid currently given to farmers under the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. The BJPs manifestos in Bengal and Puducherry have already promised to replicate the annual assistance of Rs 6,000 given to farmers for fishermen as well if it comes to power. Under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, our government is transferring Rs 6,000 per year to the bank accounts of farmers across the country. We will also transfer Rs 6,000 to the bank accounts of fishermen and effectively implement the Central scheme, said Rajnath, who was in Thiruvananthapuram as part of the NDAs campaign for the assembly elections.

 newindianexpress.com 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.
[March 30, 2021] Pyxis Oncology Closes $152 Million Series B Financing to Further Advance Portfolio of Biologics

-- New round enables Pyxis to advance differentiated antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and immuno-oncology (I/O) programs to next value inflection point --

-- In addition to recently announced in-licensed ADC candidates and ADC toolkit from Pfizer, funding to support in-licensed ADC candidate from LegoChem Biosciences -- CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pyxis Oncology ("Pyxis" or the "Company") today announced the closing of a $152 million Series B financing, led by Arix Bioscience and co-led by RTW Investments, LP, with participation from additional new investors, including Perceptive Advisors, RA Capital Management, Pfizer Ventures, BVF Partners, L.P., Janus Henderson Investors, Cormorant Asset Management, HBM Healthcare Investments, funds managed by Tekla Capital Management LLC, Acuta Capital Partners, Ridgeback Capital Investments, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company), Laurion Capital Management, Logos Capital, and LifeSci Venture Partners. This round brings Pyxis' total funding to $174 million. The Longwood Fund-founded Company's existing Series A investors including Leaps by Bayer, Longwood Fund, Agent Capital and Ipsen also participated in the offering. Pyxis will use the proceeds from the financing to advance its differentiated portfolio of ADCs, a growing class of therapies that deliver highly potent targeted treatments directly to cancer cells, including PYX-201 and PYX-203, both in-licensed from Pfizer, and PYX-202, recently in-licensed from LegoChem Biosciences. The Company will also continue advancing its I/O pipeline to pursue a broad range of therapeutic indications. In conjunction with the Series B financing, Christian Schetter, Ph.D., Managing Director at Arix Bioscience, Gotham Makker, M.D., Head of Strategic Investments at RTW Investments, LP, and Chris ODonnell, Partner at Pfizer Ventures, will join the Pyxis Board as Directors. "We are graeful for the support of these highly sophisticated investors as we strive to improve the lives of patients with difficult-to-treat cancers by progressing a diverse portfolio of potentially groundbreaking ADCs and immunotherapies," said Lara Sullivan, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Pyxis. "This financing strengthens our ability to build a differentiated portfolio of biologics and allows us to accelerate our efforts to advance multiple promising programs into Phase 1 clinical trials."



Christian Schetter, Ph.D., Managing Director of Arix Bioscience, added, "We are pleased to lead this funding round for Pyxis. Our investment reflects our enthusiasm for the strength of both the management team and the Companys diverse pipeline of biologics, which have the potential to make a meaningful difference for patients. I/O and ADCs represent two of the most promising strategies for treating cancer and we look forward to supporting this team of industry veterans as they build on their history of advancing groundbreaking therapies for patients suffering from difficult-to-treat cancers." Gotham Makker, M.D., Head of Strategic Investments at RTW Investments, LP, commented, We are excited to co-lead this funding round. Under the leadership of its expert management team, the company has developed a robust strategy for growth through its multiple biologics platforms, programs and strategic partnerships. We believe that Pyxis will continue to execute its multi-asset multi-platform corporate strategy and quickly grow into an industry leader in oncology.

About PYX-201

PYX-201 is a first-in-class non-internalizing ADC that targets a tumor-restricted antigen that is overexpressed in several solid tumor types to selectively kill tumor cells while enhancing a robust anti-cancer immune response. About PYX-202

PYX-202 targets a tumor cell surface antigen that is expressed in a range of solid tumors. PYX-202 is an ADC designed to reduce toxicity by using a highly stable linker and a well-understood cytotoxic agent. About PYX-203

PYX-203 is an ADC that targets an antigen expressed in certain hematologic malignancies. PYX-203 utilizes a highly potent DNA-damaging agent designed to reduce the potential for development of drug resistance and disease relapse. About Pyxis Oncology

Founded by Longwood Fund, Pyxis Oncology is building a differentiated portfolio of biologics, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and immunotherapies, to improve the lives of patients with difficult-to-treat cancers. Pyxis is employing site-specific conjugation technology to develop highly stable ADCs with superior therapeutic indexes. Pyxis is also advancing a diverse portfolio of immunotherapies that target broad immune regulators as well as novel immune checkpoints identified through its immuno-oncology and cold tumor platforms. For additional information, visit www.pyxisoncology.com. Media Contact

Jason Braco, Ph.D.

LifeSci Communications

+1-646-751-4361

jbraco@lifescicomms.com



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CCTV footage has captured the distressing moment a mother and her daughter were forced to board a plane to India by a human trafficker.

The Australian Federal Police released the clip, which shows the woman having an argument with a man before being led towards the boarding gate in Sydney International Airport.

Anti-Slavery Australia informed the AFP that the mother had been threatened and forced to India against her will, prompting the formation of Operation Eastwater.

The man in the video - a 29-year-old from Lidcombe - had bought a one-way ticket for the woman in March 2017.

The Australian Federal Police released the clip which shows the woman having an argument with another man before being led towards the boarding gate in Sydney International Airport

The victim later told police the man threatened to kill her if she didn't get on the plane.

After the woman touched down in India, the man contacted Australia's Department of Immigration and told them false information about the mother in a cruel bid to have her banned from returning Down Under.

But two months later, the woman contacted Australian authorities who referred the matter to AFP's Human Trafficking team.

The man was served with a court attendance notice in September 2017 after the AFP raided his home.

Two months later, he was arrested by police at Sydney International Airport while trying to board a flight to Bangkok.

The man was sentenced to 21 months' jail during a trial at the NSW District Court in January this year.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she now lives in 'constant fear' the man could track her and her daughter down.

'This fear and stress impacts my physical, emotional and mental health,' she told the court.

'I am very careful when I leave the house. I avoid leaving the house unless absolutely necessary.

The woman, pictured clutching her daughter, was threatened by the man and forced against her will onto the flight to India

'Ordinary things like going out to the shops or to the park has become more difficult because I fear for our safety.'

AFP Commander Hilda Sirec said victims of human trafficking often fear coming forward.

'Human trafficking is not often discussed or even considered to be an issue in Australian society. It is often unreported, but the reality is that Australia is not immune to human trafficking and victims in our communities are suffering in silence,' Cmdr. Hilda said.

'It is thanks to brave people like the woman involved in this matter that our investigators were able to work with her to see justice done.

'AFP investigators in our human trafficking teams work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of all victims who come forward and seek an escape. Their cases are handled with compassion and great care.

'Our partnerships across the sector, including with NGOs, are crucial in ensuring this often hidden crime comes to the surface, is talked about and the signs are understood. Without the community's help, it's very difficult for our investigators to take appropriate action and help victims of human trafficking.'

The AFP received 223 reports of human trafficking and slavery offences between 2019 and 2020.
Kleindienst Group, a leading European real estate company based in the UAE, is all set to deliver the regions largest and most sustainable swimming pool within its leisure tourism destination in Dubai.

Measuring 12,000 sq m, Grand Azur (big blue in Arabic) - is set to be one of the most talked about elements of Cote dAzur Resort within The Heart of Europe - the rapidly-evolving $5 billion prime hospitality and second home destination amid The World islands, Dubai.

It is eight times larger than an Olympic swimming pool with a perimeter of more than 1km and containing a 14,000 cu m of sustainably-desalinated water.

Chairman Josef Kleindienst pointed out that Grand Azur will set new standards for future hotel swimming pool design.

"This incredible, epic pool is both innovative and sustainability-orientated, like everything else at The Heart of Europe, we have long been known for normalizing the unexpected and the future mega trends in the tourism industry. Grand Azur follows trend in that regard," he remarked.

"As well as providing extensive opportunities to paddle, chill-out or burn off a few calories, the epic pool will form the watery heart of the Cote d'Azur Resort," he added.

Grand Azur, he stated, includes four connected blue water lagoons, shaped as rolling waves, with a white edge that emulates the Mediterraneans natural froth.

Its layout is completed with lush rain forest landscapes comprising 100 exotic plant species, trendy floating sunbed cabanas and DJ pods, plus a vibrant pool bar - all of which are adjustable in that they can be relocated on demand to freshen up the Grand Azur look," he added.

All four uniquely-located, upscale Cote dAzur hotels are scheduled for an official public launch in October, in time for Expo 2020, adding 893 keys to the Dubai hospitality portfolio.-TradeArabia News Service
Bay of Plenty

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising is speaking out after accusations have risen that she does not reside in the township. She talked exclusively with News 18 to share her side of the story regarding her residency, and shared proof.

"Innocent people shouldn't quit their job because they've been bullied and harassed and intimidated by people," she said. "All of this sparked from an article in our local tabloid that claimed that I was not a resident of West Lafayette."

Trustee Teising has a message for the people of the township: her residency is in the township and always has been for the tenure of her leadership role.

As we previously reported, this all began when accusations began to circulate that she had moved from the township to Florida.

The Wabash Township Board called for Teising to resign in December. In an email sent from the board to News 18 in December, they claimed that Teising sold her home in June and moved to Anderson, Indiana, and later Florida.

"I don't really understand where this is coming from. I have always unequivocally stated that I am a resident of West Lafayette and that I have followed all the Indiana state laws regarding residency," she said. "I've spoken with lawyers now and I've consulted with several people and a residency expert in the state of Indiana for elected officials specifically."

Documents Teising showed News 18 indicated that she did sell her home on Princess Drive in June. Her lease agreement and moving company records show she moved out in June and started renting a home on Knox Drive starting July 1st. She also had bank statements showing regular payments in rent since then.

Her current voter registration card was processed on July 20th and has the Knox Drive address on it.

The Wabash Township office closed in March of 2020 for COVID-19 and still has not reopened. She said when Governor Eric Holcomb closed government offices for pandemic protocols, he did not say that elected officials had to remain in their area of jurisdiction while working remotely. So she said she took advantage of this chance to travel and see loved ones.

"I have a mobile RV," she said, and had the vehicle registration for the RV, which is registered at her Knox Drive address. "I pulled it all over. I went to different friends and family in Anderson, Indianapolis, Colorado, Florida, Vincennes. This was a way to visit friends and family in a socially distant environment where I didn't put anybody at risk."

Teising also took this interview opportunity to address other controversial issues that have risen in the past few months. Members of the Wabash Township board said that she has been difficult to work with when it comes to moving forward with a funding plan for the fire department, and that it appears she doesn't do a lot of the leg work on these plans.

"We laid out a three year funding plan that is on our website along with all the subsequent board meetings on there," she said. "I think if you watch them from the beginning, it's very clear that we've followed the plan that we laid out."

She said she believes the township board has overstepped its duties in recent months. She said the board has very specific roles and responsibilities under the Indiana statute that are mainly in a financial oversight role. She said the trustee has discretion over management of the fire department as far as hiring and firing employees.

This ties back to former Fire Chief Ed Ward, who was fired in December. Teising said she couldn't go into specifics on her decision into letting Ward go. However, she brought up News 18's previous interview with Ward where he said he was completely blind sided by the move to let him go.

"There were other members of the community involved in this process that were brought on in a mentoring capacity," she said. "These issues were discussed for months and if he was surprised by it he was the only one."

The volunteer firefighters got involved next and decided to boycott work for several days because Ward was not given due process. In February, the Wabash Township Firefighters Association voted unanimously for no confidence in Trustee Teising and called for her resignation.

Teising said she brought the issue of due process up with lawyers and they told her there are different statutory rules regarding due process for volunteer firefighters, and those laws state that due process does not have be be given in this situation.

"That's the law and I'm sorry that that's the way it is," she said.

The tensions of the last few months have taken a disturbing and scary turn for her. She says she has received several anonymous death threats and hate messages from people through email and texts.

"They say horrible things like I hope you kill yourself and go die you b****h," she said. "And you don't know who they are. They could be the community member standing next to you or it could be someone who isn't even from here."

She said she isn't letting the push back deter her, and is turning her focus to the important work ahead of finding a funding source for the fire department.

"Lots of things in life are hard, but that doesn't mean I'm going to quit. I never quit, I keep fighting," she said directly into the News 18 camera. "I'm going to keep fighting for the people who put me in office, I'm going to make sure we get done what we set out to get done in Wabash township."

Trustee Teising is moving forward with trying to establish a fire district to create a permanent funding source, but she said the township is in a tough spot right now: either raise taxes or reduce services. She hopes people will give feedback about what they want to see happen and become more educated about the fire district plan by going to the township trustee website.
Opinion Article

30 March 2021

Last year 64.82% of searches on Google ended up with "zero clickthroughs" to websites, blogs, articles, etc., because Google provided all the answers a user would need on the search results page itself, making a click to the underlying content unnecessary (SimilarWeb/SparkToro). This was a significant increase from the 50% "zero click searches" back in 2019.

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The remainder of the searches on Google in 2020 resulted in organic clickthroughs - 33.59% and only 1.59% - in paid clickthroughs (Google Ads, Google Hotel Ads, Google Product Listing Ads).

This analysis is based on SimilarWeb data from about 5.1 trillion worldwide Google searches in 2020, and combined mobile and desktop devices, including iOS devices.

Photo: NYU

On the surface, zero-click search looks counterintuitive as it deprives Google, a $1.36 trillion public company, from much needed paid clicks and revenue. So why is Google allowing zero-click search to become the predominant result in the search engine results pages (SERPs)? On one hand, it is in line with Google's core mission to provide answers - ultra-fast, relevant and straight to the point - to any question a human may have. On the other hand, this shift is inevitable as the advance of mobile and voice assistants creates the need for immediate answers. All of this means that more and more information is being delivered in the form of relevant zero-click answers and summaries provided by Google via voice or right at the top of the SERPs.

Where does Google get the answers in its SERPs that provide users with sufficient information so that they do not click further i.e. the search ends up with zero clickthroughs? The answer is very simple - website content and content marketing.

So how can hoteliers benefit from Google's new "zero click" reality?

Hotel Website Content:

Review the content of your website. Is it unique, relevant and of editorial quality? Does it answer the crucial question of "Why would I choose this property?" Does it address all important questions and concerns of your key customer segments: leisure, business, corporate groups and SMERFs? Do you have detailed descriptions of your property's services and amenities? Do you provide information on local events, attractions and points of interest?

By indexing your website's rich and deep content Google will find many of the answers for its zero-click SERPs.

A word of caution: unique content on the property website means exactly that: unique content! Avoid duplicate content - Ex. Having the same content (property, amenities, rooms descriptions, etc.) on your website and the OTA websites. Google and the search engines consider duplicate content (similar content under two different URLs) as spam and will rank the website with higher authority, in the case the OTA website and ignore the other - your website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

FAQs are part of the website content that have gained importance in the age of mobile search and mobile voice assistants. FAQs is structured content on the property website about the property's location, services and amenities. Both Google and potential customers love this collection of valuable information about your property since it allows them to find a quick, well-formulated answer to questions they may have about the property's location and product and help potential guests make quick booking decisions.

Content marketing:

Review your property's broader Content Marketing, whose role has been highly elevated by the current crisis and depleted marketing budgets. Content marketing is much cheaper than performance marketing: paid search, metasearch, display and paid media.

Many of the content marketing initiatives extend the reach of your property's answers to pertinent questions online users may have. These initiatives include: brand positioning announcements (ex. Green Hotel Certification), SEO, website content, social media posts, B2B marketing initiatives via LinkedIn aiming to engage corporate travel and group planners, PR, blog articles and posts, white papers, webinars, case studies, influencer marketing, expert knowledge marketing (spa and wellness-related posts, chef recipes, wedding tips, etc.), award announcements, new services and amenities announcements, etc.

Content marketing engages and entices the travel consumer in the Dreaming and Planning Phases and creates ready-to-book customers for the Booking Phase of the digital customer journey.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO):

All 33.59% of organic clickthroughs on Google plus most of the answers on the zero-click SERPs are directly influenced by the quality of your website SEO.

Google has frequently stated that it is using more than 200 major ranking "signals" with many thousands of sub-signals and variations. When the hotel website is optimized to communicate these signals to Google, it will achieve a higher ranking in SERPs and reward the property with significant organic revenues and zero-click views.

The following three main SEO categories are well within hotelier marketers' control, and should become top priority in the post-crisis era:

Website Content: unique, highly relevant and enticing website content that is professionally written, informative, useful and of travel guide-level quality.

Inbound Links: links to the hotel website from highly authoritative non-paid websites like CVBs, online magazines and newspapers, blogs, social media, etc.

Technical SEO: an ecosystem of technologies, configurations, and processes implemented to the website and server designed to optimize the hotel website and enable the search engine bots to access, crawl, interpret and index your website, which ultimately results in increased search traffic and revenue.

Make sure your digital marketing agency can deliver Google-specific ongoing SEO services and can handle the very complex Google-specific technical SEO requirements including schema.org, Google AMP, Google Sitemap XML, Google Search Console dashboard management, and more.

Schema Markup:

Do you have automated schema markup on your property website? Schema markup helps search engines understand the content and intent of websites, especially dynamic content elements such as events and happenings pages, special offers, opening hours, and star ratings.

These rich snippets make hotel webpages appear more prominently in Google search engine results pages (SERPs), thus improving the visibility of a hotel website's overall SEO performance. One of the important benefits is the Featured Snippets, which Google creates dynamically based on the content of your website and places on top of the search results.

Google Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP):

Does your website feature Google AMP pages which download fast on mobile and wearable devices and are featured as news and info "teasers" in the Google AMP teaser section in mobile SERPs? AMPs increase hotel visibility and create another entry point to boost mobile visitors and bookings, as well as provide another opportunity to outshine the competition.

What happens to paid search?

As mentioned above, last year only 1.59% of searches on Google resulted in paid clickthroughs (Google Ads, Google Hotel Ads, Google Product Listing Ads), yet Google made nearly $147 billion from paid search in 2020, an increase of 9% over 2019.

So, with over 98% of searches resulting in zero-click page views or organic clickthroughs, should hoteliers abandon their paid search campaigns on Google? Though paid search is evolving, it is not going anywhere anytime soon. In "normal" years, 20%-25% of hotel website revenues still come from Google paid search campaigns (Google Ads and Google Hotel Ads).

In the post-crisis, hoteliers realize that the era of big paid search marketing budgets and elaborate campaigns is over in these times of struggling occupancies and depleted marketing budgets. There are smarter ways of utilizing Google's paid search formats and here are just a few of them:

Google Hotel Ads (GHA)

Make GHA - Google's metasearch program, part of your must-have Google marketing initiatives by joining the free hotel listings program Google introduced recently. Google has resorted to its masterful freemium model by giving every hotel a free booking listing in GHA, thus attempting to flood each destination with booking options and forcing hotels, OTAs and other booking sites to compete for visibility by buying sponsored listings.

If your property is located in a competitive destination, invest in the sponsored listings program via pay-per-stay GHA program, which charges a referral fee in the form of moderate commission only if the guest books via GHA and ultimately stays at the property.

Work with your CRS, channel manager or digital marketing partner to enable your property on GHA.

Google Ads:

Launch small-budget, hotel-branded keyword terms campaign via Google Ads (GA) to target past guests in the short-haul and drive-in feeder markets

These past guests already know your hotel brand name, they know your hotel product, all you need to do now is to convince them that your property is safe to stay at and that you have packages and promotions that address their current needs.

In this new zero-click search reality, the marketing message of your Google Ad sponsored listings has gained an increased importance. It should now be able to answer user questions like "Why should I stay at this hotel?" Identify the core value proposition of your hotel and use it in your Google Ad messaging. If your hotel is next door to a theme park, say it! If you are the only spa hotel in town, advertise it!

Google Ads is perfect as a "deal closer" ad format to convert past guests as well as new customers already exposed to your property's content marketing or zero-click search result information, and for customers who know exactly where they want to stay.

Google Display Network (GDN) Retargeting

GDN display retargeting helps communicate your property's value proposition to users who have visited your website and are already familiar with your product, offerings and location. GDN Retargeting serves as a great "reservation abandonment recovery" and "brand reminder" tool.

Based on your budget, also consider launching a small GDN Targeting campaign, focusing on your most important short-haul and drive-in feeder markets. GDN offers direct response-type of targeting capabilities: Location, Keywords, Audiences, Similar Users, etc. GDN Targeting is the perfect solution to expand your hotel marketing reach and attract new customers at the top of the funnel.
Michigan reported 5,177 additional coronavirus cases and 48 new deaths Tuesday, March 30.

Of the 48 deaths reported Thursday, 20 occurred outside the last 24 hours and were identified during a vital records review conducted by the state health department. These reviews take place three times per week.

The state is averaging 4,680 new COVID-19 cases and 23 new deaths per day over the last week. This marks eighteen days of day-over-day increase in the weekly average for cases and the second day the average has exceeded 4,000 cases.

Its also the highest seven-day average since Dec. 14.

Since the start of the pandemic, Michigan has reported 665,948 confirmed cases and 16,082 deaths related to COVID-19. Additionally, the state has reported 73,296 probable cases and 1,026 probable deaths, in which a physician and/or antigen test ruled it COVID-19 but no confirmatory PCR test was done.

(The above chart shows Michigans 7-day rolling average of new confirmed coronavirus cases. You can put your cursor over a bar to see the number. You also can click on the option just below the headline to see the actual number of new cases reported by day.)

Of Michigans 83 counties, 78 reported new cases on Tuesday, with the exception of the Upper Peninsula counties of Keweenaw, Mackinac, Luce, Menominee and Ontonagon.

Counties with the most new cases remain in southeast Michigan, including Wayne with 1,060, Macomb with 846 and Oakland with 665. Other top reporting counties included Ingham with 172, Genesee and Kent with 171 each, St. Clair with 168, Ottawa with 159, Jackson with 138 and Washtenaw with 122.

Twenty-one counties reported new deaths. Wayne reported nine, while Oakland and Genesee reported five each. Kent, St. Clair and Bay reported four each, followed by Macomb with three and Barry with two.

The following counties reported one new death: Ingham, Ottawa, Lapeer, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola, Midland, Wexford, Osceola, Houghton, Branch, Lake and Leelanau.

(The above chart shows Michigans 7-day rolling average of deaths involving confirmed coronavirus cases. You can put your cursor over a bar to see the number. You also can click on the option just below the headline to see the actual number of new deaths reported by day.)

Hospitals statewide were treating 2,424 patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, including 488 patients in the ICU. Thats a jump from last week, when hospitals were treating 1,659 such patients with 356 in the ICU on March 23.

Of the 27,630 diagnostic tests processed on Monday, 15.4% came back positive for SARS-CoV-2. The average positivity rate over the last seven days is 12.4% -- more than double the 5% recommended by health officials for opening schools and economies. However, its worth noting that overall daily testing is down compared to the fall.

Sundays positivity rate of 15.7% was the highest single-day positive rate since Dec. 2.

Note: The chart below rounds up to the nearest whole number

As of Monday, Michigan had administered more than 4.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. This includes about 2.69 million first doses and about 1.5 million second doses. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines recommend two doses administered weeks apart, but the Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one dose for full immunization.

Case reporting

First is a chart showing new cases reported to the state each day for the past 30 days. This is based on when a confirmed coronavirus test is reported to the state, which means the patient first became sick days before.

You can call up a chart for any county, and you can put your cursor over a bar to see the date and number of cases.

(In a few instances, a county reported a negative number (decline) in daily new cases, following a retroactive reclassification by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. In those instances, we subtracted cases from the prior date and put 0 in the reported date.)

The next chart below shows new cases for the past 30 days based on onset of symptoms. In this chart, numbers for the most recent days are incomplete because of the lag time between people getting sick and getting a confirmed coronavirus test result, which can take up to a week or more.

You can call up a chart for any county, and you can put your cursor over a bar to see the date and number of cases.

For more statewide data, visit MLives coronavirus data page, here.

To find a testing site near you, check out the states online test finder, here, send an email to COVID19@michigan.gov, or call 888-535-6136 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Read more on MLive:

43% havent eaten in a restaurant since Michigan dine-in ban ended, survey indicates

Michigan surpasses 4M COVID-19 vaccine doses administered

Key differences separate anti-vaxxers from Michiganders hesitant to get COVID-19 vaccine

Michigans active coronavirus outbreaks are up 14% in March 29 report

Free rides to COVID-19 vaccine appointment available in some Michigan communities
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10 Antiperspirants Ready to Go to Battle for Your Armpits

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.

Product photos from retailer sites.

Are you a sweaty guy? Does a stressful day or even relatively warm temperatures send your armpits into overdrive? Does "natural deodorant" do just about nothing for your underarm sweat? Dealing with underarm sweat seems like it should be one of the easier steps in your hygiene routine, so if youre already applying and reapplying some type of body care product that works for everyone else, why isnt it working for you?

RELATED: I Got Botox to Stop Sweating and This Is What I Learned

You might not actually be addressing the problem properly. If youre a heavy sweater and youre using deodorant instead of antiperspirant, youre already starting off a step behind. The first thing you should do is familiarize yourself with the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant.

Men's Deodorant vs. Men's Antiperspirant

Deodorant : Fragrance is combined with acidic or salty ingredients such as alcohol, witch hazel, zinc oxide, and baking soda to kill bacteria-causing odor, and absorb sweat, although the main function of deodorant is to help keep your sweat from smelling. Whereas deodorants are typically safer for sensitive skin, some ingredients found in common deodorants can irritate sensitive skin.

: Fragrance is combined with acidic or salty ingredients such as alcohol, witch hazel, zinc oxide, and baking soda to kill bacteria-causing odor, and absorb sweat, although the main function of deodorant is to help keep your sweat from smelling. Whereas deodorants are typically safer for sensitive skin, some ingredients found in common deodorants can irritate sensitive skin. Antiperspirant: Aluminum compounds such as aluminum chloride or aluminum chlorohydrate are used to physically block apocrine glands (commonly referred to as a sweat duct to must of us), preventing the flow of sweat. Aluminum was previously thought to increase the risk of Alzheimers disease, but that has been largely, and many might argue, successfully, disproven. Currently, antiperspirants without aluminum may help absorb sweat and make you feel dry, but its the aluminum that is proven to actually clog sweat glands and prevent you from sweating, which makes it the gold standard for excessive sweat.

When should you apply antiperspirant? President of the American Academy of Dermatology, David Pariser, M.D. told Consumer Reports that the best time to apply antiperspirant is at night. Thats not to say you cant sport it any time of the day  its just more effective when worn right before bedtime since your sweat glands are less active and the aluminum has a better opportunity to settle in.

Perspiration on its own is virtually odorless. The rapid multiplication of bacteria developed in sweat is what results in such a stink, which is why you smell a lot worse at the end of a sweaty day than at the beginning. Research published in 2016 reveals that those who use an antiperspirant regularly have less bacteria growing in their pits than those who simply use deodorant.

It goes without saying that not all antiperspirants are made equal. The reality is you might seek other features best suited for your armpits. And that can come from a variety of products depending on the situation. Finding the best one takes a bit of observation, research, and testing. Nothing we cant help you with.

So without further ado, lets get into the best antiperspirant for men.

Best Antiperspirants for Men

Best Overall Antiperspirant

Jack Black Pit Boss

An antiperspirant worthy of its moniker, Jack Blacks multi-purpose stick remains a top seller. It smells attractively good and lasts longer than your average deodorant or antiperspirant. We also love that it provides great glide action. The Pit Boss supports rich ingredients free of colorant and parabens to condition skin as well. Pairing it with the companys Cool Moisture Body Lotion will up your scent profile and cool down an overheated body, helping further eliminate wetness.

Promising Review: While totally forbidding any sweat, its incredible duration coupled with its highly masculine scent makes this antiperspirant-deodorant like no other. Modern and intensely refreshing, it's a complete update from long-standing grocery store competitors. Two days later, if for some reason I haven't yet showered, I still smell like it, I'm still not sweating, and there's no underlying emergence of body odor. Truly outstanding. It also leaves no white residue on clothes, which you know is huge. Do be careful if you'd like to wear cologne, as not all fragrances will pair with this product's intensity. All things considered, a really elite product offered at a great value."  All Seeing I

$19 at Amazon.com

Best Antiperspirant Deodorant

Dove Men+Care Clean Comfort Antiperspirant Deodorant Stick

If you want to banish body odor for a full 48 hours, and never have to worry about your friends catching a whiff of your pits, then Dove Men+Care's deodorant is the effective deodorant that should top your list. It uses an alcohol-free formula and an included moisturizer, so you won't have to worry about sensitive skin irritation. It also ditches sulfates, fluorides, and parabens  all the iffy ingredients a lesser antiperspirant deodorant might rely on  without compromising its Clean Comfort scent.

Promising Review: This deodorant is great for people with sensitive armpit skin. A lot of other products have irritated or caused a burning sensation, but not this stuff. I like this scent but prefer the Extra Fresh scent. This stuff really helps control the excessive sweat and keeps odor away."  Kyle

$6 at Amazon.com

Best Clinical Strength Deodorant

Certain Dri Prescription Strength Antiperspirant

This clinical strength, water-based antiperspirant remains an over-the-counter favorite for severe perspiration treatment, thanks to its mild nighttime application and effectiveness. Despite coming in without scent, users have the luxury of applying a nice scent antiperspirant or deodorant of their choice during the day should they want to. The company claims the product is made to keep perspiration at bay for up to 72 hours and many online reviews support this claim.

Promising Review: This is the first deodorant anti-perspirant that actually works for me! I have anxiety and I randomly start sweating and it's incredibly embarrassing. I always have sweaty armpits. I strategically dress in order to avoid having obvious sweaty pits. It's embarrassing and it causes me even more anxiety. Anyway, this worked from the very first application! I put it on at night, wear my usual deodorant in the morning and it has kept me dry for a week now! I'm ridiculously excited about this, I've had this problem since high school!"  MLK77

$5.67 at Amazon.com

Best Antiperspirant Scent for Body Odor

Helmm Refillable Antiperspirant

Why shouldnt your morning antiperspirant skin swipe feel more like a luxury experience? Helmms refillable antiperspirant offers a selection of luxury scent while not skimping on wetness and body odor protection to keep your pits dry and extra comfortable. But its the elevated packaging that separates this antiperspirant from the pack. The real beauty behind its handsome design is that it reduces plastic waste by more than 60 percent per unit, and all the cartridges are recyclable.

Promising Review: Very pleased with Helmm  the reusable container is sturdy and the scent is subtle but very pleasing. I like how sturdy the reusable container feels  definitely built to last a lifetime."  Ryan

$30 to subscribe at Helmm.com

Best Antiperspirant for Sensitive Skin Irritation

Dove Men+Care Clean Comfort Dry Spray Deodorant

Weve become smitten with Dove Men+Cares dry sprays. They deliver a cool sensation to the armpit area that can be best described as refreshing. The Clean Comfort option is our favorite, employing Doves one quarter moisturizer technology to release moisturizing properties that boost the skins natural moisture barrier for softer results. Absorption is instant and provides up to two days of underarm wetness protection.

Promising Review: I purchased this pack for both my husband and teenager and they love it. Will be purchasing again!"  Madelynn

$15.49 for 3 at Amazon.com

RELATED: Swap the Deodorant in Your Gym Bag for One of These ASAP

Best Antiperspirant Wipes

SweatBlock Clinical Strength Antiperspirant

Half antiperspirant, half body wipe, this package of SweatBlock towelettes specializes in sweat control, relying on the active ingredient list such as aluminum chloride, vitamin E oil, assorted tannins, and phytosterols derived from natural plant extracts to stop extreme wetness from excessive sweat. Application requires more effort than more traditional antiperspirants by suggesting trimming underarm hair first before pressing (not rubbing) onto the skin. Yet those whove tested it rave about its high-quality performance.

Promising Review: I have SEVERE craniofacial hyperhydrosis ... as in, I stopped leaving my house unless absolutely necessary because of the buckets Id be sweating for no reason. Didnt matter the temperature, the situation, the lack of clothing I was wearing to stay cool, there was nothing in 10 years that stopped my face and head from dripping sweat in public. Four weeks ago, I tried SweatBlock. I cant honestly say it worked the first time I used it. I was still sweating, although not as much (maybe I used it wrong?), but I figured this product wasnt going to work for me. I figured Id try one last time on week two just to see what would happen. LITERALLY LIFE CHANGING. For the first time in over 10 years I was able to go out and run errands and NOT A DROP OF SWEAT was seen that day!!! I cant even imagine my life without this product. If you have sweating on your face, you know the humiliation that comes with it. This stuff gave me back my life and thats priceless."  EmElle

$19.99 at Amazon.com

Best Antiperspirant for Inflammation

Kiehl's Shaved Pits Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Cream

Another hybrid freshener with skincare benefits, this unscented cream contains a trio of extracts  lemonseed, linseed, and witch hazel  that condition and soothe underarms. This provides relief for manscaping types looking to buzz down their pits. Kiehls uses drying molecules that absorb sweat and leave zero residue behind. Thats one way to maintain your button-ups and save money on dry cleaning. Its potent enough to curb sweat for close to 24 hours on a moderately active day.

Promising Review: I've used this product for the past 10 years and it works. No scent. No problem. No sweat."  Lisey

$22 at Macys.com

Best Smelling Antiperspirant

Molton Brown Re-Charge Black Pepper Antiperspirant Stick

Molton Brown has released its own antiperspirant stick featuring the London grooming staples signature scent. It offers slick glide application and active ingredients to diminish underarm wetness by blocking pores. Adding antioxidant-rich andiroba tree oil into the mix helps keep irritation down to a minimum.

Promising Review: Not too much odour and no propellants so I have always felt that it is more environmentally caring although not sure how they actually make the stuff. It lasts for ages and really keeps you dry all day."  Amazon Customer

$28 at Amazon.com

Best Antiperspirant for Athletes

Art of Sport Antiperspirant

Sporty types who need to give their pits some TLC have an antiperspirant to call their own. The Art of Sport specializes in body care for athletes, using formulas infused with natural ingredients that wick away moisture. It glides on smoothly and leaves a musky scent on the skin to stimulate your senses when sweating and working out. Choose from a variety of scents including sandalwood, cedar and vanilla, eucalyptus, and citrus and green pear.

Promising Review: The scent is sporty, but not tween. Manly, but not wood chips and beard oil. It last longer than 48 hours, I gave it the 72 hour test and it was still holding. It isn't a layer cake, I can add a fresh skim in a pinch and it refreshes like new. I was skeptical. Men's products all claim to be the one. And prices almost never equal quality. I have bars of reputable brands that are trash in comparison. This is the one. I'm so glad I took a shot with Art Of Sport. I love the smell of AOS in the morning, it smells like Victory."  Burke

$6.99 at Amazon.com

Best Roll-On Antiperspirant

Mitchum Men Antiperspirant Deodorant Roll-On

Mitchum is a brand that has done right by your dad and his dad before that. Investing in its roll-on antiperspirant wouldnt just honor your patrilineality, but your armpits as well, providing excellent wetness protection at a budget price. The companys exclusive formula releases pure oxygen, combating odor produced by bacteria to promise up to 48 hours of sweat-free performance.

Promising Review: Oddly enough, my husband and I both use this deodorant. It truly has NO smell. You have to work hard to get this stuff on your clothes. My husband can go for more than a day without putting more on when it used to be that he was stinky after work. I can go three days if need be. They stopped selling it at Target. It's a bit pricier here than Walmart but I'm a sucker for Prime shipping. It's also nice to only have to deal with one deodorant floating around the bathroom."  valentineslover

$4.94 at Amazon.com

If you are still not satisfied and need to do more underarm analysis, we can help you out there. Check out our Best Deodorants for Men and our Best Natural Deodorants for Men. Were pretty sure after you read our comprehensive guides on how to smell good, youll find something to keep you dry and happy.

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The night is dark and full of terrors, although a Game of Thrones prequel play on Broadway couldnt be much help with that.

Thats rightthe immensely popular HBO series is getting a spinoff thats making its way to the thespian stages of New York City.

The New York Post reports that this Game of Thrones prequel play will take place nearly two decades before the events on the show. The plot will focus on The Great Tourney at Harrenhal, an incident that has younger versions of popular characters such as Jamie Lannister and, yes, Ned Stark interacting prior to the Seven Kingdoms truly falling into disarray.

The seeds of war are often planted in times of peace, says author of the original book series, George R.R. Martin, in a press release concerning the play. Few in Westeros knew the carnage to come when highborn and smallfolk alike gathered at Harrenhal to watch the finest knights of the realm compete in a great tourney during the Year of the False Spring. It is a tourney oft referred during HBOs Game of Thrones, and in my novels, A Song of Ice & Fireand now, at last, we can tell the whole storyon the stage.

For those of you scratching your heads (youre not alone), a tourney is basically just another word for tournament. They were initially military exercises started by the French during the middle ages and were pretty much just an opportunity for a bunch of knights to show off.

This is what happensto an extentin the play, although how producers will be able to make the specific plot points within the story unfold is still undisclosed. Other information regarding the playingsuch as its cast and whether or not itll be a musicalalso remains unknown.

Lets just hope it leaves its Starbucks cups off the set more than the final season of the show did.
Authorities have charged a North Wildwood man with attempted human trafficking of a child after he allegedly tried to meet for sex with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

Robert C. Reinhart, 52, contacted an undercover investigator with the Gloucester County Prosecutors Office who was posing as an adult woman with access to her 14-year-old sister. The agent had posted an ad on an online dating site, according to court documents.

During a text message chat that began in January, Reinhart offered to pay $300 to have sex with the child in Gloucester County, according to the prosecutors office.

The chats continued into March, when Reinhart tried to arrange a meeting with the child at a location in West Deptford Township. He allegedly told the undercover investigator that he would rent a room at a local hotel and bring condoms.

He also agreed to meet the woman and her sister for dinner.

The U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force arrested Reinhart at his home on Monday. In addition to the first-degree human trafficking charge, he was charged with luring of a child and attempted sexual assault, both second-degree offenses.

He was placed in Salem County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.

Acting Gloucester County Prosecutor Christine A. Hoffman reminded parents to remain vigilant of kids online activities.

To report suspected child sexual exploitation, contact your local law enforcement agency or call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or online at www.cybertipline.org.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Joonghun Pharmaceutical has officially launched their premium cross-linked hyaluronic acid dermal filler, Artgaon.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005456/en/

Joonghun Pharmaceutical has officially launched their premium cross-linked hyaluronic acid dermal filler, Artgaon (Photo: Business Wire)

Artgaon, with its certification of the CE mark, is specifically aimed to target the European aesthetic market as its slogan states "The Finest, for European Professionals". Joonghun Pharmaceutical is a pharmaceutical company in South Korea that specializes in Hyaluronic Acid Injections used in orthopedic treatments for 15 years. With their in-depth knowledge of HA characteristics, they were able to develop a dermal filler designed to compete against the top European brands in the aesthetics industry.

According to Dr. YeoHye Yoon, the Quality Director from Joonghun, the main vision for Artgaon during its product development was to provide a new aesthetic experience like no other for both the patient and practitioner. To deliver this experience, Artgaon was focused on two things: high quality and unique cross-linking technology.

Artgaon is manufactured under strict pharmaceutical guidelines despite dermal fillers being classified as medical devices. "This commitment enables us to have higher standards of safety for every component of the filler. For example, Artgaon is manufactured in cleanrooms that control particles as small as 10-micrometers. Naturally, this makes Artgaon extremely clean, which we believe would add to the confidence of doctors using our product."

Artgaon's unique cross-linking technology allows doctors to enjoy an injection force of a mere 7-8 newtons that is smooth and consistent. Despite this, Artgaon boasts high elastic (G prime) and cohesive properties when inside the skin. Joonghun claims that their formula for Artgaon shows natural results not only by looks but by experiences felt by patients as well. "Artgaon really allows the doctor to mold the beauty they want for their patients due to the low injection force coupled with high molding capabilities."

The gel characteristics of Artgaon is to be expressed in their soon to be updated package designs. "Artgaon's new package designs are based on the architectural structure of the industrial era, which remain firm and capture beauty even to this day. We wanted this architectural beauty from the industrial era to represent Artgaon's gel structure; to be firm and attain its beauty even over time."

The quality and performance of Artgaon has already surprised doctors who have tested Artgaon. It is only a matter of time until Artgaon disrupts the beauty market of Europe and the world.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005456/en/

Contacts:

Tulay Genc info@b2press.com
It's now been just over six weeks since Elsa Hosk gave birth to her first child: a baby girl named Tuulikki Joan Daly with longtime partner Tom Daly.

And already, the Swedish top model looks like she's ready to step back in front of the camera and hit the catwalk for some of the top fashion brands in the world.

It turns out she has been incorporating hikes into her post-baby exercise routine to keep in contact with friends and use the time to bond with her baby girl in nature.

Family time: Elsa Hosk and longtime partner Tom Daly enjoyed a casual lunch with newborn daughter Tuulikki before going on a hike with friends

Hosk and Daly, who only relocated from New York City to Los Angeles just over four months ago, ended their weekend with a casual lunch date for three at Erewhon market.

The statuesque 5ft10in beauty was spotted cradling Tuulikki in her arms as the couple walked to and from their parked vehicle.

With a hike on the agenda afterwards, Hosk kept it comfortable and sporty in the fashion department in black bicycle shorts, a matching fleece and Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 Wave Runners.

She also pulled her her blonde tresses into a ponytail and had dark sunglasses that she periodically wore on yet another day of summer-like temperatures.

The Swedish model, who already looks like she was ready for the catwalk, wore black bicycle shorts and a matching fleece as she cradled her baby girl after lunch

With COVID-19 still very much a a health crisis, the couple made sure to wear protective masks over their mouths and noses whenever they were in the vicinity of people.

Her partner of about six years went with blue running shorts with a dark blue pullover windbreaker and multi-colored sneakers.

After enjoying some food and drink, all while paying adoring attention to Tuulikki, the couple made their way to nearby Griffith Park to meet up with some friends for their hike.

Hosk has been giving her 6.4 million Instagram fans and followers updates on her post-pregnancy life, which includes embracing her new-found curves following her first delivery.

Working it: Hosk, 32, met up with friends for a hike in Griffith Park in Los Angeles

Having had Manhattan as their primary home for many years, Hosk and Daly decided to pack up and move across country, into a $4.3 million five-bedroom home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of South Pasadena near the end of 2020.

Tuulikki arrived a few months after their move.

Hosk explained that the name Tuulikki is her mother's middle name, and that her mom's side of the family is from Finland.

'So Tuuli means "wind" and Tuulikki means "little wind" and it also is the name of a forest goddess,' she revealed during a recent Instagram question and answer session.


remaining of

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Zara Holland returned to Instagram on Monday as she shared a slew of sultry snaps after breaching Covid rules in Barbados over the Christmas period.

The disgraced Love Island star, 25, has been keeping a low profile of recent after she paid a 4,500 fine in the Caribbean earlier this year for trying to flee the country despite her boyfriend testing positive for Covid.

Zara and her partner Elliot Love, 30, were arrested at the island's airport and faced a jail sentence of up to a year, before both being let off with fines.

Brushing off the drama: Zara Holland returned to Instagram on Monday as she shared a slew of sultry snaps after breaching Covid rules in Barbados over the Christmas period

The former Miss Great Britain appeared to brush off the drama as she returned to Instagram on both Monday and Tuesday to share new sultry updates.

Zara's last Instagram activity was December where she posted a festive picture of herself with her mother and grandmother.

And despite returning to social media, the reality star kept her updates to just her Instagram Story rather than her grid - where she has disabled comments.

Zara shared a radiant video of herself posing in a plunging lilac floral dress which highlighted her ample assets.

Back to it: The disgraced Love Island star, 25, has been keeping a low profile of recent after she paid a 4,500 fine in the Caribbean earlier this year for trying to flee the country despite her boyfriend testing positive for Covid

The reality star styled her blonde locks into a blow-dried hairdo, she added a slick of radiant make-up.

Zara captioned the update with: 'Happy Monday [sun emoji] have a great week x'

The model also shared another video of herself on Tuesday called 'summer ready' where she wore the same ensemble and showed off her toned figure.

In early January, Zara was believed to have returned home without her partner, when she was seen sat alone before boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight to Manchester at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

Meanwhile, her boyfriend Love was forced to stay in the island's mosquito-ridden Paragon Isolation Centre until he was clear of the virus and had to pay a heavy fine to the country.

Scandal: Zara and her partner Elliot Love, 30, were arrested at the island's airport and faced a jail sentence of up to a year, before both being let off with fines

Following the offence Love managed to escape jail and received a reduced fine after his lawyer argued he was a 'simple guy', who owned a small demolition company and worked for 450-a week.

Love was fined 1,400 less than his famous girlfriend - despite him being prepared to get on a packed holiday jet while infected with the virus.

Zara was ordered to pay a heftier fine before fleeing the country due to her compliance in the offence, despite not testing positive herself.

The former Miss England jetted back to Britain just hours after she was ordered to pay her fine or go to jail for nine months for breaching the island's tough Covid rules.

One fellow traveller said: 'She was sitting well away from everyone else and trying to keep a very low profile. To say she looked sheepish is an understatement.

Last activity on the grid: Zara's last Instagram activity was December where she posted a festive picture of herself with her mother and grandmother (pictured)

'We were shocked to see her because we know her boyfriend is still being detained while he battles Covid. I'm amazed she's left him behind.'

Love had to test negative twice for the virus over the space of five days before he was allowed out of the military base which has been turned into a coronavirus quarantine centre.

Holland, of North Ferriby, East Yorks, could have been jailed for up to a year but the magistrate instead imposed the fine, which many on social media condemned as a let off. The fine was paid immediately by her lawyer meaning she was free to leave.

A guest who had been staying at the luxury Hilton hotel, where Holland holed up after her arrest, spotted the former beauty queen scurrying out of the 350-a-night hotel several hours after she left court.

Andrew Pilgrim QC, Holland's lawyer, told MailOnline at the time: 'Zara left Barbados last night. The fine has been paid and she was free to go.'

A family friend added: 'Zara has gone home. She left last night by plane.'

At court, the shaken TV star had blamed her actions on a 'foolish error' and breathed a sigh of relief when she escaped with a fine of GBP 4,417 [B$12,000].

She had pleaded guilty to leaving the Sugar Bay hotel on December 29 while she was under quarantine.

Chief magistrate Ian Weekes admonished her for breaking the nation's tough rules that have prevented the holiday island being overrun by the virus.

'We cannot tolerate that you breached the quarantine protocol, he said. 'You had been told to stay at your hotel and you should have done that.'

Homeward bound: At court, the shaken TV star had blamed her actions on a 'foolish error' and breathed a sigh of relief when she escaped with a fine of GBP 4,417 [B$12,000]

Mr Pilgrim blamed her 'lapse' on a 'foolish error,' telling the court she had two negative tests and became extremely nervous about her and Love's status in Barbados, which is why she decided to try and leave the island.

Love had already tested positive for Covid when the pair bought return flights to the UK.

Mr Pilgrim told the court Holland was involved in a lot of charity work in the UK, including helping children with cancer, and also helped with transportation for people in need.

He said she had the utmost respect for the people of Barbados and had been holidaying on the island twice a year for the last six years.

Holland remained silent when she left court but stood beside Mr Pilgrim as he spoke on her behalf.

He said: 'We accepted the decision of the court. Miss Holland wants to express her sincere apologies to the entire nation of Barbados.'

Love tested positive for Covid after arriving on the island. The couple were given red wristbands and told to remain in their room at the 300-a-night Sugar Bay until they were taken to a quarantine centre on the north of the island.

Instead, they booked would have been a British Airways flight back to the UK packed with fellow British holiday makers, cut off their wristbands and took a taxi to the airport where, according to a local source, their names raised some red flags with airport officials because of their short turnaround time in the country.

They were arrested as they made their way to departures after surveillance cameras captured the pair entering public bathrooms and exiting wearing different clothing.

Prior to this, Jamaican tourist Dean George Scott, 49, admitted in court to leaving quarantine to 'buy Fanta' and other snacks after arriving on the holiday island at the beginning of December. He was jailed for six months.
Pointe-a-Pitre :

Islands in the Caribbean still reeling from megastorm Irma braced for a fresh battering as Hurricane Maria approached on Monday, wielding potentially lethal force.

In just a few hours, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) hiked Maria from a Category Two to a Category Four hurricane, packing winds of 209 kilometres per hour that it forecast would strengthen further over the next day or so.

Potentially life-threatening storm surges, destructive waves, flash floods and mudslides threatened the Leeward Islandsthe island group that includes Martinique, Puerto Rico and the US and British Vigin islandsthe NHC said.

The eye and the intense inner core is expected to pass near Dominica in the next few hours, the centre warned in its 2100 GMT (2:30 am IST) bulletin, describing Maria as an extremely dangerous major hurricane.

The French Caribbean island of Guadeloupethe bridgehead for aid for Irma-hit French territoriesordered all at-risk zones to be evacuated.

The order, effective from 4 pm local time, bars specific areas considered to be at risk of flooding, submersion and landslips, according to the statement, issued by the islands prefect.

Islanders on Martinique, which is also part of France, were ordered to stay indoors under a maximum-level violet alert.

As heavy rain beat down, energy supplier EDF said power had been cut off from 16,000 homes on Martinique, which has a population of some 400,000.

Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and the British island of Montserrat are also on alert.

In Pointe-a-Pitre, Elodie Corte, the boss of a metalworking company, said there had been frantic preparations to limit the damage from the storm.

We spent the morning strapping down the aluminium to stop it from flying away if the winds are strong, she said.

But she worried that the torrential rains forecast could flood her home.

Well seal everything as tightly as we can and then well certainly go and stay with friends for the night, she said.

Criticised for the pace of relief efforts in their overseas territories devastated by Irma, Britain, France and the Netherlands said they were boosting resources for the Caribbean as Maria approaches.

We are planning for the unexpected, we are planning for the worst, said Chris Austin, head of a UK military task force set up to deal with Irma, as the British Virgin Islands readied for the storm.

On the island of St Martin, which is split between France and the Netherlands, authorities announced a red alert ahead of Marias arrival.

Were watching its trajectory very closely, and were preparing for the worst-case scenario, said local official Anne Laubies.

The Dutch navy tweeted that troops were heading to the two tiny neighbouring islands of Saba and St Eustatius to ensure security following widespread complaints of looting and lawlessness on St Martin after the first hurricane.

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said 110 more soldiers would be deployed to the region to reinforce about 3,000 people already there shoring up security, rebuilding infrastructure and distributing aid.

But he warned of major difficulties if Guadeloupe is hard hit, noting the territory was the logistical centre from where we could supply St Martin and organise all the airlifts.

Maria is due to sweep over the south of Sint Maarten as the Dutch side of St Martin is calledtoday. The island was among the worst hit by Irma, with 14 killed.

Air France, Air Caraibes and Corsair have cancelled flights in and out of Martinique and Guadeloupe.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Thirty years ago, Republican Sen. John Heinz  then Pennsylvanias most popular public figure  died in a midair collision over suburban Philadelphias Lower Merion Township. The April 4, 1991, crash that aviation officials deemed a senseless accident occurred when a helicopter flew too close to inspect the landing gear of the plane carrying Heinz.

The two aircraft collided over Merion Elementary School, where children were at recess on that beautiful spring afternoon. Seven people were killed: Heinz, age 52, and the planes pilot and co-pilot; two pilots in the helicopter; and two first-grade girls playing in the schoolyard. On the ground, crash debris also injured five people, including a second-grade boy who survived burns over 80% of his body.

That day in Los Angeles, a White House aide notified George H.W. Bush, who just hours earlier had attended a memorial service in Washington for Lee Atwater, his legendary 1988 campaign manager. The news was shocking. At the time, Heinz  beloved by Pennsylvanias working-class and suburban voters alike  was considered a future GOP gubernatorial, or even presidential, contender.

Indeed, Heinzs tragic death altered both state and national political history. In the 1991 special election to fill Heinzs seat, Democrat Harris Woffords upset victory was an ominous sign for Republicans in the Philadelphia suburbs, but also for Bush, who in 1992 lost Pennsylvania, which remained in the Democratic fold until Donald Trumps 2016 victory. In 1994, when Heinz had been expected to run for governor, Tom Ridge and Rick Santorum  who won that years gubernatorial and U.S. Senate campaigns, respectively  foretold the GOPs Trump-era schism between moderates and populists. And in 1995, Heinzs widow, Teresa, married John Kerry, whose presidential campaign message in 2004  a critique of George W. Bushs foreign policy  resonated in working-class Pennsylvania counties that later fueled Trumps statewide win. Years before, voters in those Democratic-leaning regions supported Heinz, whom they viewed as a defender of their interests despite being a Republican.

In a sense, the Keystone States political realignment also began after Heinzs death. It took Trump to solidify Pennsylvanias shifting party allegiances among blue-collar voters, who long favored Democrats, and suburbanites, who traditionally voted Republican. Ironically, Heinzs coalition of working-class Democrats in Pennsylvanias northeast and southwest, combined with rural conservatives and suburban moderates, was also Trumps winning formula in 2016. In 2020, however, Pennsylvanians  especially those in the suburbs  denied Trump an encore.

Next year, the future of Pennsylvanias GOP depends on winning the governors race and the Senate seat now held by the retiring Pat Toomey, who was rebuked by the party for voting to convict Trump in his impeachment trial. As the Republican Party faces such internecine conflicts, the late Heinzs Senate years still offer lessons on winning this culturally fractious state. Heinz walked the careful line of a moderate, garnering votes from both coal hamlets and college towns; if he had not been so skilled, he would have been called slippery, said Tom Waseleski, who retired as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazettes editorial page editor in 2016. Thats the difference between a leader who can inspire support for his platform and one who has to demagogue.

First elected to the Senate in 1976, Heinz took nuanced policy positions. When Reaganomics reigned, he called for fair trade to protect his states steelworkers. A passionate advocate of senior citizens, Heinz strengthened Medicare and Social Security. He was rewarded at the polls. In the 1988 election, for example, Heinz won by 1.49 million votes  the widest winning margin in state history. On election night, echoing Bushs campaign call for mainstream values, Heinz said he had a mainstream mandate.

He appealed to blue-collar people; he had a lot of respect for people who put on a hard hat and went to work every day, said GOP strategist Tony Fratto, a Pittsburgh native who volunteered for Heinzs campaign while in college. At the same time, he had a really good understanding that it was important to have an environment for capital to finance factory building, added Fratto, a former Treasury Department official. Heinzs legacy was that a powerful Pennsylvania Republican could be pro-labor and pro-environment while still being loyal to his party, noted Waseleski, who met with Heinz on the day before his death.

An heir to the iconic food company  he was the richest member of Congress  Heinz could afford candor and independence. But he was a patrician respected by the masses. His philanthropic family, moreover, remained committed to Pittsburgh  a rarity in many Pennsylvania cities and towns. A little-known thing about him: Even though he was born into privilege, that privilege never went to his head, Mark DeSantis, a Pittsburgh-based entrepreneur and former Heinz staffer, told me. For him, he was about earning everything: the respect of his voters, staff, and colleagues.

From demography to economics, Pennsylvania has profoundly changed since Heinzs death. In many instances, though, the states voters still elect candidates based on mainstream values. This was the case last November, when Pennsylvania narrowly elected Joe Biden  amid the tumult of COVID-19  while the GOP enjoyed significant down-ballot success.

In next years fight for Toomeys coveted Senate seat, both political parties will confront the states shifting political realities. Democrats, for example, have alienated blue-collar voters with the partys inflexible liberal positions on issues like immigration, criminal justice, and energy. Throughout the state, Trump signs and flags indicate that the 2020 election never ended for many voters, who felt denigrated by Democrats and media during his presidency.

But other Democratic positions  from seeming indifference to rising urban crime to widespread pandemic school closures  are also alienating suburban voters. After all, most suburbanites want to elect moderate public servants, not leftist activists consumed by identity politics.

Meanwhile, Republicans face their own statewide challenges. In most working-class communities, for example, voters are loyal to Trump, not the GOP. The partys economic positions, moreover, dont always resonate with these regions residents  particularly senior citizens. Meanwhile, in suburbs, or what Joel Kotkin called Americas "last contestable geography, Republicans continue to lose ground, especially in growing eds-and-meds towns.

Time will tell which party prevails in this politically split state, which is more divided now than when Heinz held office. To DeSantis, the former aide, Heinz represented what this state is: humble, hardworking, thoughtful, practical. Next year, Pennsylvanians will decide which candidate best represents those values.
The PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has rejected calls for him to quit, after the First Minister Arlene Foster had called on him to resign and warned there will be consequences, after the Public Prosecution Service said it will not prosecute those reported for attendance at the funeral of former IRA prisoner Bobby Storey last June.

The five-month long investigation resulted in police speaking to 24 people, all from Sinn Fein and including senior members of the party. A file on all 24 was sent to the PPS for consideration in December.

The PPS found there was no prospect of a successful prosecution.

Read More

Reacting to the First Minister Arlene Foster tweeted: "I feel sorry for everyone who stuck by the rules.

"Devastating outcome for public confidence in policing. There will be consequences."

In a statement, she said the organisation, attendance, policing and investigation of the Storey funeral raised "fundamental questions which require deeper examination if public confidence in the institutions of justice is to be maintained".

"Everyone must be equal under the law and equally subject to the law," she added.

"Sinn Fein have acted as though they were above the law. To claim ignorance of the law is no defence when you helped legislate those very same regulations. Hundreds lined the streets dressed in white shirts and black ties and attended a political rally in Milltown Cemetery when the limit on public gatherings was 30. There was a complete lapse of leadership and a public display of arrogance by Sinn Feins elected representatives. Public health rules were undermined and irreparably damaged.

"The engagement between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the funeral organisers is a factor in no prosecution being made. This is inexplicable. That the police assisted in breaking the law is fundamental and requires further examination. If any senior officer is identified as having approved of or contributed to that decision-making process, then all those senior officers positions are untenable.

"The position of the Chief Constable is now untenable and I am calling on him to resign. Sadly, it is now clear confidence cannot be rebuilt with him in post.

"I have already spoken with the Secretary of State and with serious questions remaining for Belfast City Council, the PSNI and the Sinn Fein leadership, I intend to meet with him. For our part we will be examining all routes for a further independent examination of all the events of 30 June.

"When what was seen by everyone is not seen by the justice system the situation has become absurd. The role of the PSNI on the day has been a determining factor. This creates a crisis of confidence that goes to the highest levels of the police.

"The public interest has not been served throughout and compliance to our health regulations fundamentally undermined by SFs and the PSNIs behaviour from that day to this."

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, the Chief Constable Simon Byrne rejected calls that his position was untenable and said he "stood by" the actions of his officers in the planning of the funeral operation.

"I was employed to do a job here in terms of managed a large complex organisation. If I stand aside it actually undermines who comes after me," he said.

"We will have to look at what the next few weeks bring. I hope people take a few days to reflect on this decision. We are here to police the whole of the country, to do it well and to police impartially."

Following the reaction, Mr Byrne also added that he thought it was a "shame people have rushed to judgement so quickly" but added that he wanted to "hear the voices of the unionist community".

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd revealed there had been "three or four days" of engagement between the PSNI and organisers of the funeral.

He added that: "No promises were sought. No promises were given. No permissions were given."

Law changed 'significantly'

The PPS said the evidential test was not met in the Storey funeral and therefore the public interest case was not relevant. Confusion around the public messaging and police prior engagement with the organisers was also deemed relevant in deciding if those present had a reasonable excuse to be in attendance.

Police were found to be well aware in advance that non family members intended to be present at the funeral and received a written plan shortly before the funeral giving details of the planned path of the cortege.

The PPS said the law, as it applied to the Storey funeral, was changed "significantly" on the evening before the funeral and further amended two days later.

That PPS found those present reasonably believed due to the confusing nature of the regulations and the prior engagement with police, as well as the policing of the funeral on the day, would have awarded all those present a "reasonable excuse" defence with no prospect of prosecution.

Two people, however, will be prosecuted for attendance at the funeral of former Sinn Fein councillor Francie McNally, in Mid Ulster in April last year.

Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle ONeill again apologised for the hurt caused "to so many, including to Bobby Storeys own family who have been thrust into the headlines at a time of immense grief".

She continued: Over the past nine months, I have worked tirelessly to rebuild trust with the public and I continue to work every day to navigate us all through this unprecedented crisis.

Nine months ago I laid my dear friend Bobby Storey to rest. I accept and understand that many people, particularly those who had lost loved ones during the last year, felt that by my actions, I gave the impression that the rules did not apply to us all equally. Let me say clearly they do.

No funeral is more important than any other. No family or community is any more important than any other. All grief is devastating.

We are now beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel in relation to this dreadful pandemic. I will continue to focus on leading us to better days ahead.

Around 2,000 mourners lined the streets of west Belfast for the funeral of the senior republican, with members of Sinn Fein, including party leader May Lou McDonald and the deputy first minister walking behind the cortege.

Covid restriction at the time were that only 30 people were permitted at public gatherings including funerals.

Mark Webster, the deputy chief constable of Cumbria Police, was drafted in to provide independent oversight after it was claimed that senior members of Sinn Fein had consulted with the PSNI prior to the west Belfast funeral.

The investigation centred on alleged offences under the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.

A large funeral for former Sinn Fein councillor Francie McNally in Mid-Ulster in April 2020, and two other funerals which did not involve any public figures were also under consideration by the PPS.

While there will be prosecutions in the McNally case, there were diversionary measures recommended for two further funerals in west Belfast in April and in east Belfast in June.

A chairperson of Sinn Fein, Mr Storey (64) died in June following a lengthy battle with lung disease.

PPS Director Stephen Herron said: I acknowledge the widespread public concern that events on 30 June, 2020 appeared to involve breaches of the regulations by individuals in positions of responsibility, as the numbers attending the funeral were large and not confined to close family.

It is relevant that by the time of this funeral, the original Regulations of March 2020 had been amended on nine separate occasions through a combination of deliberate relaxation and re[1]working at pace to meet policy change

As a result, on the 30 June, the regulations had become extremely difficult to navigate and, in certain respects, inconsistent.

Furthermore, organisers of this particular funeral and police had engaged against the backdrop of evolving Regulations in an attempt to ensure that a balance was struck in the funeral arrangements between respecting the sensitivity of the occasion and minimising any risk to both public health and safety.

Prosecutions can only be brought where the available evidence provides a reasonable prospect of proving, beyond reasonable doubt, a breach of the criminal law.

"As a result of the factors considered we have concluded that the prosecution could not prove any breach of the Regulations to the required standard. Whether considered alone or in combination, the two reasons outlined - that is the lack of clarity and coherence within the regulations and the prior engagement between organisers and police - would pose an insurmountable difficulty if any of the reported individuals were prosecuted.

This is because they could all avail of a defence of reasonable excuse in terms of their actual or reasonably perceived compliance with a complex set of regulations and/or their reliance on the prior engagement with PSNI.

The law as it applied to the Storey funeral was changed significantly on the evening before the funeral and further amended two days later.

Even though prosecutions are not being brought on this occasion, they are being brought for breaches in relation to funerals at a point in time when the Regulations were clear and coherent.

As has been evident in other jurisdictions, the law relating to permissible conduct in the course of the pandemic is not always clear cut and this can be challenging when it comes to enforcement of what are essentially health regulations in a criminal justice context.

Prosecutions can only be considered in light of the regulations in force at the particular point in time of the alleged breach. It was necessary for all relevant facts and circumstances in this case to be considered carefully and independently following a thorough investigation.

Acknowledging the sensitive role funerals play in society Mr Herron added: The restrictions in place over the last 12 months have had a significant impact on the way families and friends have been able to say goodbye to their loved ones.

Many families may feel it was unfair they made sacrifices or compromises in funeral arrangements. We should not lose sight of the important role that these Regulations have played in reducing the transmission of the virus by discouraging social contact in large numbers.

Throughout the pandemic, the regulations have had clear value and all those who carefully abided by the letter and spirit of the law have played their part in protecting public health.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
The SolarWinds attack, and all its ramifications, have made news headlines for months. Tim Brown, the companys CISO and VP of Security spoke exclusively to iTWire to lay out what really happened - and what did not happen. It is also a sobering call to how software development practices can never be the same again.

The story so far 

The attack on SolarWinds, whereby a sophisticated attacker modified the companys tooling to inject code that then was shipped, had a far-reaching impact across major technology companies and US Government departments.

While much that has been reported has been factual, the company states speculation and misinformation has also been reported online. For example, a separate and unrelated insecure FTP server with the password SolarWinds123 also came to light. While the company acknowledges this is truthful and states it should not have happened, this problem was not related to the attack, it held no Orion code, it was not part of the companys domain (hence not subject to the complex password policy in place) and was shut down within the hour it was discovered.

Additionally, some reporting has conflated the SolarWinds attack with the SolarWinds attacker. The same attacker has sought to compromise other organisations - testimony from Microsoft noted 60 clients with similar experiences. In fact, 30% of affected organisations were not SolarWinds customers at all. Its important to separate those organisations being attacked by the same entity and those who were affected by the tainted SolarWinds code.

Tim Brown, SolarWinds Chief Information Security Officer, and Vice President for Security spoke one-on-one with iTWire to provide a first-hand account of the incident and the actions SolarWinds has taken and continues to take to move towards a more secure future, along with its focus on protecting customers and collaborating with industry and government entities to investigate and respond to the attack.

Brown oversees internal IT security, product security, and security strategy. He previously served as a former Dell Fellow and Chief Technical Officer and has over 20 years of experience developing and implementing security technology. He is a member of the advisory board for Clemson University, holds 18 issued patents on security-related topics, and is a trusted advisor to the White House.

As background information, SUNBURST is the name that has now been given by the security community to the hack. It used a supply chain attack to insert malicious code into SolarWinds Orion Platform, creating a backdoor through which malicious persons could gain entry into the internal environments of organisations running SolarWinds Orion software.

While malicious attacks occur every day through phishing, malware, and other means, this Sunburst attack is especially shocking by weaponising software in such a dramatic and extremely sophisticated, coordinated way. It means software development practices must change; this truly is an inflection point.

What happened

On December 12, 2020, SolarWinds was notified it had shipped tainted code in its product. People question did we know before then, Brown said. Absolutely not. We were shocked and dismayed on December 12.

The warning came from FireEye who saw, inside their own network, attempts to communicate with a command-and-control centre. They looked deep into their environment, saw where the traffic was coming from and made the discovery it was a SolarWinds product.

The internal investigation began immediately. That date was a Saturday, but a critical response team came into the office on Sunday and didnt leave for three weeks. SolarWinds brought in CrowdStrike for a thorough investigation, checking every workstation and server for signs of compromise and if the threat actor was still present.

There were no signs the threat actor was present, nor any signs they moved laterally to any other product, Brown said.

The motivation was specific; the attack was to insert code, to have us ship that code, and be able to activate that code in a certain subset of companies and entities, Brown said, stating the company had evidence from a series of sources including the research community that indicates the code was not activated in every environment it was executed in.

"It's important to understand what the code did," Brown said. "The Sunburst code had to first talk out to the Internet to be activated. It tried to reach a control and command server, then issue commands on the Windows server hosting Orion, then go sideways. There was intelligence in the code so it would only run in certain places. It wouldnt run in the SolarWinds domain or certain address spaces owned by Microsoft. The code was an entry point to try and move laterally.

The Sunburst code tried a few things, and if it could talk it identified the domain, contacted the control and command centre, said I am from company XYZ, Brown said. For most companies, it didnt do anything more unless it was someone the attackers wanted to target.

The attack was sophisticated, so much so that Microsoft said they believe a thousand people were behind the attack group, because of the level of sophistication, Brown advised.

The code was unique in the way it tried to evade things, and where it would run and not run. It inserted code but didnt weaponise or take action until time had passed. It was smart, patient, and prescriptive, and made very little noise in our back-end environment, Brown said.

Specifically, the SUNBURST code was not injected into the Orion source code itself, but into the build environment, through malware called SUNSPOT that was specifically written to carry out this swap in the SolarWinds build environment. We check code out of source code control, have a TeamCity environment to kick off the build, and here the attacker looked for Orion to be built and swapped a file. It was a transient virtual machine and thats hard to detect, he said.

SolarWinds is confident no other component or code has been compromised. Absolutely not, Brown said. The attack was a specific component to do a specific function. We looked at source code, controls, control systems, and involved KPMG and others. We didnt see any tainting of the source code environment. The point where the insertion occurred was specific. It was a very pointed, targeted attack, and the mission was to taint code in a specific product and get out. Our instrumenting with CrowdStrike looked at lateral movement outside those areas and supports that the mission was extremely targeted.

But who?

The question remains, who did it? "We're not in the business of that level of investigation, Brown said. A number of other parties have attributed it to Russia and thats who the U.S. Government is pointing a finger at right now.

This assertion of a nation-state attack is based on careful analysis of the models used, and how the attack ultimately was not doing harm but collecting information. It was not a ransomware, say, attack, but instead performed stealthy gathering of information on specific entities. It was a stepping stone to other things, potentially, Brown said.

We know the build system was compromised, and Sunburst was inserted through a service account, accessed via an entry point in New Jersey, Brown said.

SolarWinds investigation into how the service account - patient zero - became compromised revealed three different models were used. A vulnerable component was running; a highly targeted spear-phishing attempt resulted in an account compromise; and a broader-based spray paint campaign was aimed at a certain individual, and ultimately compromise occurred via email.

Microsofts testimony reported they knew of 60 customers with the same compromise in their email systems, where the same attacker had used email for reconnaissance.

The well-reported SolarWinds123 password was unrelated to the attack. It was a system with a separate username and password and nothing to do with Active Directory - thats why it didnt meet our password policies, Brown said. It was a separate FTP site and nothing to do with Sunburst. It did happen, somebody posted a username and password in their own GitHub account that was public, a researcher reported it, we saw, fixed it, brought it under control and made sure it wont happen again.

It was completely separate from the build system or the service account. It happened, and we fixed it within the same hour it was reported. It was a system outside of policy and had nothing to do with corporate identity systems, he explained.

Inflection point

The threat actor was stealthy and SolarWinds has responded by placing far greater safeguards in place - things you would not ordinarily think any software company ought to need to do, but which has become the reality of life post-SUNBURST. And here, all organisations large and small need to consider their own security posture.

For example, SolarWinds now conducts a two-way build. The code is pulled from source code control, built, hashed, then decompiled and compared back to the original, to ensure what ships is what was coded and nothing more or less.

Were trying to help people understand this and publishing new build methods and how to do secure builds, to help the community put appropriate safeguards against this threat actor, Brown said.

Yes, it did happen to us, he said. However, SolarWinds has come through to the other side and is committed to helping the global software development community learn from its experience. We want to be the best software company we can be and bring everyone else along with us to improve and be better, Brown said.

Importantly, it's time the technology industry took "zero trust" seriously in its own environment. Gone are the days where you run a standard system from developers, Brown said. We have to remove flexibility from developers. You need to really implement a zero-trust model and say were not going to trust anyone.

Yet, how do you implement and test in an environment where you dont trust anyone? This writer knows from his own experience of companies where software developers have root access, where systems administrators re-use passwords, where key systems have default administrator credentials, where administrators dont have separate logins. All these things are bad, and all these things are known to be bad. Any technical team will admit, yes, we need to do it better but flexibility and security are always in tension. Make a password policy too lax and user accounts get compromised; make it too difficult and people write their passwords on paper and stick them to their monitor. Similarly, give developers admin access to systems and they can deploy software easily but if they are compromised so too are those systems. On the other hand, dont give developers admin access and burn expensive time waiting for infrastructure assistance.

Its hard, and its not natural, Brown says. But its where were going.

For me, I insert bad code and then test we detect the bad code during the whole build chain. Sunburst happened at the end of the chain; the next attack could be anywhere, he said.

"You have to do more code reviews, secure your keys, do things like we're doing with our double-build model, make sure it needs collusion to insert bad code and no one party can do it, Brown said.

SolarWinds experience is a wake-up call to software developers everywhere to triple-check their chain and to put controls around every component.

Ultimately, Brown says, We will get to a point where we are much more resilient than most. Due to going through this, it allowed us to perform an inspection for three months. My environment is higher than most now, without question. A bar has been set and we need to increase that bar.

Its a wake-up call for the industry, he said. Courses and books will be written because of this. Its an inflection point for the software industry because it occurred, and it happened. It didnt theoretically happen.

We all learned and will be asked a lot of hard questions by customers. Were embracing these questions and end up being one of the safer bets because of all our inspection, changes and openness as a result, he said.

The concept of a supply chain attack is not new, but "in practice, that it actually happened at this scale, is what shifts, Brown said. It can happen, and everyone has to work differently. There must be safeguards, more openness, there will be regulation, and more thought and inspection. It will be an inflection point in a number of things, and these will help us all be resilient.

Where to from here

"If a thousand-person nation-state is after you, they will find a way," Brown said. The motivation was extremely high, the amount of practice and stealth they utilised was extremely high, and the research companies equate this threat actor as one of the most sophisticated they have seen.

"We've undertaken a full-on shift of not trusting the environment, of zero trust across the environment. It will be much, much more difficult for any attack to get into our environment. It wont depend on a single tool or single set of people, he said.

Customers love our products and our responsibility now is to give customers and their leadership teams the confidence to go forwards, Brown said. It comes from openness and transparency, explaining the actions weve taken. All we ask is they measure our competitors in the same way theyre measuring us and ask for the same things and set the bar as high for everyone in the industry.

"Our approach is to own this and say this happened to us and take responsibility for it, Brown said. And to show the world were doing the right things to come out of it. Were sharing the lessons weve learned to be an open and exemplary software provider. We produce strong code, not just simple and powerful and affordable, but secure.

"We will come out of this stronger because of the things that happened, and we will help the world be better at the same time, Brown said.

Additional resources

Here is a SolarWinds video on implementing zero trust in your organisation:
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Michigan election clerks are contesting subpoenas in an ever-widening election fraud lawsuit that would require them to turn over vast numbers of documents and provide physical access to tabulators and other election equipment used during the 2020 presidential election.

Attorneys for Livingston County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley, Grand Traverse County Clerk Bonnie Scheele, Barry County Clerk Pamela A. Palmer and Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini last week filed motions to have presiding Antrim County Circuit Judge Kevin A. Elsenheimer block the subpoenas.

They call it an overly burdensome and irrelevant fishing expedition that is designed to harass public election officials. Similar subpoenas were also served to county clerks in Wayne, Kent, Charlevoix and Oakland counties.

The subpoenas arise out of a lawsuit filed by William Bailey, a Central Lake Township resident who raised accusations of tampering and fraud related to election software and machines manufactured by Dominion Voting Systems that are used in Antrim County and across the state.

Preliminary election night results at one point indicated President Joe Biden beat former President Donald Trump in the traditionally Republican County. Those unofficial results were quickly corrected and a subsequent hand recount showed Trump won the election in Antrim County.

Related: Communications with Trump campaign are irrelevant, judge rules

The mistake was attributed to human error, a failure by local election officials to update software in response to certain ballot and candidate changes, thereby causing votes to be recorded for the incorrect candidates. The secretary of states office said it was not due to any inherent flaws in the software or malicious tampering and that the errors would have been caught by the canvassing process that matches precinct totals against tabulator results.

The subpoenas to county clerks request election tapes, paper ballots, system logs, tally servers, computer storage devices, reports, canvasser paperwork and notes created during the election certification process.

An April 12 hearing will determine if the clerks have to comply.

Although the lawsuit was initially filed against Antrim County Clerk Sheryl Guy, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson filed to become an intervening defendant in the lawsuit, in part because the claims have statewide implications.

The plaintiff in the case has requested a plethora of records from Bensons office, including wide-ranging communications with legislators, election officials, voting machine manufacturers and big tech companies that indirectly donated millions of dollars through private nonprofits to aid local election administration in many Michigan communities.

Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, donated nearly $400 million to help local election clerks across the nation facilitate elections last fall -- including millions spent in Michigan. The funds were unsupervised by Bensons office and given directly to local clerks by a nonprofit named the Center for Tech and Civic Live, according to an investigation conducted by MLive.

Related: Zuckerberg and wife donated millions to Michigan election clerks

Related: Coronavirus created perfect storm that rained private money on Michigan election administration

If Judge Elsenheimer denies the clerks requests to block the lawsuit subpoenas, they have asked for a protective order that would require Bailey to pay for the costs incurred for producing the subpoena records before they are compiled.

Bailey is not alleging voter fraud in most of the counties where clerks have received subpoenas and some do not use the questioned Dominion Voting Systems machines.

Plaintiffs counsel has essentially admitted he is engaging in an improper fishing expedition when he acknowledged that there was no evidence of impropriety in Macomb Countys election but he still wanted to see if Macomb Countys computers were dirty, said Clerk Forlinis attorney in his motion supporting the request to quash the subpoenas. The proposed forensic review of Macomb Countys records is completely irrelevant to what is alleged in the complaint and would impose and undue burden on Macomb County.

More on MLive:

Communications with Trump campaign are irrelevant, judge rules

Zuckerberg and wife donated millions to Michigan election clerks

SOS ordered to turn over communications with big tech

Plaintiff claims SOS is withholding records

Antrim County hand recount results in 12 new votes for Trump

Software isnt good at detecting human error

Election recount, legal challenges unlikely to overturn Bidens win in Michigan

Judge allows forensic investigation of Dominion machines

Michigan election software could be better at detecting human error
Your chance to win an 80th anniversary Limited Edition Jeep is coming soon at Four Winds Casinos.

The casino locations in Dowagiac, New Buffalo, Hartford and South Bend, Indiana, are giving away new Limited Edition 2021 Jeep vehicles on Saturday, April, 17, according to a press release from the Pokagon Band of Potawatomis Four Winds Casinos.

The casinos Players Club members can win a Jeep Gladiator in New Buffalo, a Jeep Cherokee in South Bend and a Jeep Compass in either Dowagiac or Hartford, the casino said. The new vehicles range in price from more than $32,000 to more than $42,000, according to the Jeep website.

Players Club members will receive one free entry daily, through April 17, by visiting a promotional kiosk at any Four Winds casino location. Members can earn additional entries by playing slots, table games or live poker, the casino said.

The casinos will hold hourly drawings between noon and 10 p.m. on April 17 for members chance to win $1,000 or free slot play. At 9 p.m., members will be selected to win the grand prize Jeeps.

Another member will be chosen at 10 p.m. for a $3,000 prize, the casino said.

Also on MLive:

Beware Michigan boaters: Federal emergency engine cut-off requirement takes effect April 1

Tree house overlook coming to Ottawa County park

Walmart has spring patio new arrivals for creating an outdoor oasis


Development Update

Perth, Mar 30, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Wiluna Mining Corporation Limited ( ASX:WMX ) ( FRA:NZ3 ) ( OTCMKTS:WMXCF ) is pleased to provide an update on mine development activities in support of our 24-month, five-point Wiluna Development Strategy to;1. Strengthen the balance sheet2. Increase operational cash flow3. Transition to include gold concentrate production4. Expand production, and5. Undertake exploration and feasibility studies to fully develop a 250kozpa, long life gold operation.Stage 1 of the Development Plan, targeting an increase in gold production to 120kozpa, is currently progressing. Construction of the new flotation circuit to produce gold in concentrate in addition to gold dore has commenced with GR Engineering Services mobilised to site, pad preparation is completed and pouring of the concrete foundations are underway. Long lead time equipment orders have been placed, and early works contracts awarded.Byrnecut Australia were mobilised in mid- November 2020 and have already completed in excess of 2km of decline and level development rehabilitation for access to initial stoping blocks. Repairs and upgrades of primary ventilation and dewatering networks are progressing to plan ahead of ore production which will commence in Q3 2021.Open pit mining has been completed at Williamson Open Pit and MACA contracting staff and equipment have been demobilised. Over 600kt of stockpiled Williamson ore will continue to provide the majority of ore feed to the CIL plant until the new flotation circuit has been commissioned.Golden Age continues to provide valuable high-grade ore for the free milling circuit. Recent resource development drill testing of the newly discovered eastern extension returned excellent intersections (see ASX announcement 10 March 2021). We will continue to drill out this extension with the intention to bring it into production in the next quarter.Milan Jerkovic, Wiluna Mining's Executive Chair commented:"Outstanding progress has been made by our Projects and Operations teams and key contractors as we prepare to ramp up underground operations to supply sulphide ore feed to the new flotation concentrator currently under construction at Wiluna. Ensuring the success of these two activities through 2021 is the primary focus of our business as our people work to deliver upon our promise to transform the Wiluna Mining Centre into a significant producer of gold dore and gold in concentrate.At the same time, we are drilling to expand our resources and reserves for inclusion in the Stage 2 Feasibility Study due to be completed by the end of this year. We continue to explore ways to mine and process more efficiently, sustainably and profitably for the benefit of our shareholders and stakeholders.Of course, to realise the vision we have for Wiluna requires partnerships with leading industry players and we are particularly proud to have attracted support from GR Engineering Services for process engineering, plant design and construction and Byrnecut Australia to construct and operate the mine as well as our offtake partners Polymetal and Trafigura.I look forward to keeping you briefed on our progress through this year".To view the full staged development program, please visit:About Wiluna Mining Corporation Ltd

Wiluna Mining Corporation (ASX:WMX) (OTCMKTS:WMXCF) is a Perth based, ASX listed gold mining company that controls over 1,600 square kilometres of the Yilgarn Craton in the Northern Goldfields of WA. The Yilgarn Craton has a historic and current gold endowment of over 380 million ounces, making it one of most prolific gold regions in the world. The Company owns 100% of the Wiluna Gold Operation which has a defined resource of 8.04M oz at 1.67 g/t au. In May 2019, a new highly skilled management team took control of the Company with a clear plan to leverage the Wiluna Gold Operation's multi-million-ounce potential.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 12:36:35|Editor: huaxia

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BRASILIA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday appointed Carlos Alberto Franco Franca to succeed outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Ernesto Araujo, in a cabinet reshuffle.

Bolsonaro has replaced six cabinet members including heads of defense, health and justice departments for the past few days, amid mounting domestic pressure over the administration's tactics against COVID-19 pandemic.

Araujo was forced to quit after Brazilian legislators and senior diplomats accused him of a foreign policy running counter to national interests and talks for acquiring COVID-19 vaccines.

Last week, a letter signed by more than 300 diplomats called for the minister's ouster due to what they considered as conduct incompatible with the constitutional principles and elementary codes of foreign relations.

The letter, co-sponsored by 10 ambassadors who required anonymity for legal reasons, claimed that Araujo's policy stand has caused "serious damage" to Brazil's international relations and national image.

Since Araujo took office in January 2019, Brazil's foreign relations have been marked by tightening ties with the United States and stranded dialogues with Brazil's main trade partners.

The minister was also repeatedly questioned for his negative impact on such key sectors as agribusiness and incoming foreign investment.

Franca, 56, is a career diplomat who previously worked in the area of protocol at the ministry and served in the missions to the United States, Paraguay and Bolivia. Enditem
The experts dismissed a lab leak theory.

For months, scientists, politicians and others outside China have promoted the theory that the virus might have emerged after a laboratory accident in China. While many experts doubt this theory, they have urged the W.H.O. team to rigorously investigate the possibility.

The report dismisses the lab leak theory outright, calling it extremely unlikely. The experts largely base their conclusion on conversations with scientists in Wuhan.

But Dr. Tedros, the W.H.O. chief, took the unexpected step of publicly raising doubts, saying that the theory required further investigation and that he was ready to deploy more experts to do so.

I do not believe that this assessment was extensive enough, he said on Tuesday at a briefing for member states on the report, according to prepared remarks released to the news media. Further data and studies will be needed to reach more robust conclusions.

The experts had said that officials at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which houses a state-of-the-art laboratory known for its research on bat coronaviruses, assured them that they were not handling any viruses that appeared to be closely related to the coronavirus that caused the recent pandemic, according to meeting notes included in the report. They also said that staff members had been trained in security protocols.
He arrived suddenly, without warning, like a West Texas windstorm.

Larry McMurtry was 25, a man whose talent belied his age. His words could caress you in one sentence, gut-punch you the next. He was that kind of writer, and Horseman, Pass By was that kind of book, his first.

Here was a Texan who rejected the myth of Texas, a state where every act had been punctuated by a six-gun or a branding iron. Leave the Texas of popular culture to J. Frank Dobie, the folklorist who became a literary lion. McMurtry was more nuanced and insightful, and he searched for something more complicated than myth.

McMurtry saw the truth behind the myth, the corrosion behind the tin star. The young author saw a state where the six-gun could not solve every problem, a state where high-noon duels became more personal and internal. He saw adolescents taking the first tentative steps toward adulthood, losing what had been their most cherished joy, the freedom and license to be stupid; he saw mothers and daughters struggling with the toxicity of their relationships; he saw middle-aged women looking back on wasted lives. He saw cowboys driving pickups, adjusting to modernity on the frontier.

Horseman, Pass By was a work of stunning insight, but what would subsequent books reveal? Would they confirm his genius or brand him a one-hit wonder? The anticipation was sublime.

The answer came soon, and it came with rapid-fire frequency. McMurtry was the real deal. He would write dozens of books, each of which might have been the masterpiece for any other writer  Leaving Cheyenne, The Last Picture Show, Terms of Endearment, Lonesome Dove. These works stamp him as, arguably, the greatest of all Texas writers, a status that created a delicious irony  a Texan who rejected myth suddenly becoming mythic himself.

McMurtry died Thursday. He was 84. His publicist said he died of heart failure.

We will remember him not for the promise he showed in his debut novel but for the promise he fulfilled in subsequent books. He wrote with a simplicity and grace that characterized his works from the start  about 30 novels, 15 nonfiction books, and many screenplays and teleplays. Michael Korda, his editor at Simon & Schuster, called him the Flaubert of the Plains for his sure eye for the bleak landscape of small-town Texas and the isolated ranches of the Panhandle, as well as the history of the West.

Born on June 3, 1936, on a cattle ranch in North Central Texas, McMurtry often set his stories in Archer City, which he called Thalia in his books. Archer City, his hometown, boasted a single blinking light, perhaps one too many for its population of about 1,900 in the 1950s. It was a pretty town, prettier than the bleak, hardscrabble village he depicted in his novels  a landscape that matched the psychological struggles of his characters.

He cast a shadow across the landscape, journalist and author Lawrence Wright told the Los Angeles Times. There are very few other writers in Texas history that had the popular appeal that he did.

McMurtry won the Pulitzer Prize for his masterpiece, Lonesome Dove, in 1986  a book later adapted into a popular miniseries starring Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. The writer shared an Oscar for best adapted screenplay with Diana Ossana for Brokeback Mountain. He also received a National Humanities Medal for work that evokes the character and drama of the American West with stories that examine quintessentially American lives in 2014.

While writing these three books, it was clear to me that I was witnessing the dying of a way of life  the rural, pastoral way of life, he wrote in his collection Thalia: A Texas Trilogy. And in many of the books that Ive produced, it has taken thousands of words to attend, as best I could, to the passing of the cowboy.

Those thousands of words began with a sentence in Horseman, Pass By that captured his grit and grace: I remember how green the early oat fields were, that year, and how the plains looked in April, after the mesquite leafed out.

Those words appeared in 1961, and we have been reading this great writer ever since.
Texas A&M researchers have enhanced the dehumidification efficiency of a polymer that could help develop more energy-efficient systems with a smaller carbon footprint

On sultry summer afternoons, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems provide much-needed relief from the harsh heat and humidity. These systems, which often come with dehumidifiers, are currently not energy efficient, guzzling around 76% of the electricity in commercial and residential buildings.

In a new study, Texas A&M University researchers have described an organic material, called polyimides, that uses less energy to dry air. Furthermore, the researchers said polyimide-based dehumidifiers can bring down the price of HVAC systems, which currently cost thousands of dollars.

"In this study, we took an existing and rather robust polymer and then improved its dehumidification efficiency," said Hae-Kwon Jeong, McFerrin Professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering. "These polymer-based membranes, we think, will help develop the next generation of HVAC and dehumidifier technologies that are not just more efficient than current systems but also have a smaller carbon footprint."

The results of the study are described in the Journal of Membrane Science.

Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air to a comfortable level of dryness, thereby improving air quality and eliminating dust mites, among other useful functions. The most commonly available dehumidifiers use refrigerants. These chemicals dehumidify by cooling the air and reducing its ability to carry water. However, despite their popularity, refrigerants are a source of greenhouse gases, a major culprit for global warming.

As an alternative material for dehumidification, naturally occurring materials known as zeolites have been widely considered for their drying action. Unlike refrigerants, zeolites are desiccants that can absorb moisture within their water-attractive or hydrophilic pores. Although these inorganic materials are green and have excellent dehumidification properties, zeolite-based dehumidifiers pose challenges of their own.

"Scaling up is a big problem with zeolite membranes," Jeong said. "First, zeolites are expensive to synthesize. Another issue comes from the mechanical properties of zeolites. They are weak and need really good supporting structures, which are quite expensive, driving up the overall cost."

Jeong and his team turned to a cost-effective organic material called polyimides that are well-known for their high rigidity and tolerance for heat and chemicals. At the molecular level, the basic unit of these high-performance polymers are repeating, ring-shaped imide groups connected together in long chains. Jeong said the attractive forces between the imides gives the polymer its characteristic strength and thus an advantage over mechanically weak zeolites. But the dehumidification properties of the polyimide material needed enhancement.

The researchers first created a film by carefully applying polyimide molecules on a few nanometers-wide alumina platforms. Next, they put this film in a highly concentrated sodium hydroxide solution, triggering a chemical process called hydrolysis. The reaction caused the imide molecular groups to break and become hydrophilic. When viewed under a high-powered microscope, the researchers uncovered that the hydrolysis reactions lead to the formation of water-attractive percolation channels or highways within the polyimide material.

When Jeong's team tested their enhanced material for dehumidification, they found that their polyimide membrane was very permeable to water molecules. In other words, the membrane was capable of extracting excess moisture from the air by trapping them in the percolation channels. The researchers noted that these membranes could be operated continuously without the need for regeneration since the trapped water molecules leave from the other side by a vacuum pump that is installed within a standard dehumidifier.

Jeong said his team carefully designed their experiments to partial hydrolysis wherein a controlled number of imide groups become hydrophilic.

"The strength of polyimides comes from their intermolecular forces between their chains," Jeong said. "If too many imides are hydrolyzed, then we are left with weak material. On the other hand, if the hydrolysis is too low, the material won't be effective at dehumidification."

Although polyimide membranes have shown great promise in their potential use in dehumidification, Jeong said their performance still lags behind zeolite membranes.

"This is a new approach to improve the property of a polymer for dehumidification and a lot more optimizations need to be done in order to further enhance the performance of this membrane," Jeong said. "But another key factor for engineering applications is it has to be cheap, especially if you want the technology to be reasonably affordable for homeowners. We are not there yet but are certainly taking strides in that direction."

###

Sunghwan Park in the chemical engineering department also contributed to this study.

This research is funded by the National Science Foundation and the Qatar National Research Fund.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli has stressed that the developing and least developed countries now face a critical economic situation due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The premier on Monday delivered Egypt's speech, on behalf of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, before the United Nations at a virtual videoconferencing meeting at the level of heads of states and governments to discuss the crisis of global debts and liquidity during and after the coronavirus spread.

He welcomed all parties participating in the meeting, including his Canadian and Jamaican counterparts and the UN Secretary General.

Madbouli pointed out that the Covid-19 outbreak has limited exports of such countries, led to declining tourism returns, expats' remittances and foreign currency and undermining these countries' capabilities to repay debts.

The premier stressed that the national program of economic reform has enabled Egypt to overcome such crises, reaffirming that Cairo supports all relevant international initiatives to face the debts and liquidity-related challenges.
Initial drill holes used for preliminary evaluation of the Baritina prospect

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - CERRADO GOLD (TSXV: CERT) ("Cerrado" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of a further seven drill holes from its 12,000-metre exploration drill program at the Baritina target, at its Minera Don Nicolas Project ("Minera Don Nicolas" or the "MDN Project") located in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. The focus for the current 12,000-metre exploration program is to delineate new, high grade, near surface mineralization that can be brought into the production schedule in the near term. Results highlighted in this release are from seven drill holes, PA-D21-43 thru 49. Cerrado has completed 2,989 metres as of drilling to March 24. Additional drill results will be announced for Baritina, Chulengo and other high priority targets as assays are made available over the next few months.

Drill Hole Highlights (All composites are reported as true thickness):

PA-D21-44

15.69m grading 7.8g/t Au, starting from 46.30m including 10.95m grading 10.70g/t Au, from 52.00m



The current exploration drill program at the Minera Don Nicolas Project commenced on February 5th at the Baritina target, within the Paula-Andrea Prospect (Figure 1). The drill results reported in this press release were received March 21st, 2021 and represent complete results for holes PA-D21-43 thru 49, which are the next seven of nine holes (PA-D21-42 thru 50) totaling 1,068 metres completed at Baritina (see Figure 2). All eight drill holes intersected typical alteration zones associated with high level epithermal mineralization, including abundant silicification, clay alteration, hematite, jarosite and sulphides.

The new drill holes and the review of all the past work at Baritina target has resulted in a new interpretation of the presence of a subvertical and subcircular "diatreme or phreatic" breccia. This is the first time the diatreme or breccia model has been considered. The breccia zone is related to the mineralized structures but not all the breccias are mineralized. The high-grade mineralization is restricted to some sectors i.e., faults and/or feeder vents. Also, the mineralization cut across lithologies with no important layers. Further structural analysis and modeling is being conducted to optimize understanding of which structures are mineralized and their orientation in order to further drill test this target. It is possible there may be another orientation for the mineralizing structure.

Also, attached is a cross section of the mineralization (Figure 3). The assay results for the remaining hole at Baritina (PA-D21-50) are pending as are the next holes and trench results from the Chulengo prospect which will be released over the coming weeks as they become available. The drill rig continues drilling in the Chulengo area, 300 metres south and east, also a part of the Paula Andrea prospect. The current exploration drill program is expected to test numerous near mine and brownfield targets over the course of the next few months and is on track for completion by the end of June 2021.





Figure 1: location of drill target areas in the La Paloma Mining Group

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

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Current drill results will be added to the database of previous drilling at Baritina which includes 13 reverse-circulation and 5 diamond drill holes, which were used to target the new drilling program and will help further define this target. Assay data from previous drilling are considered non-compliant and would not be used for resource estimation.





Figure 2: Current Baritina Exploration Program Drill Hole Location Map

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

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Baritina_PA_D21-42 & 43

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Baritina_PA_D21-44 & 50

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Baritina_PA_D21-47 & 49

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Baritina_PA_D21-45

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Figure 3: Baritina Cross-sections of PA-D21-42 thru 50 with the geology and current interpreted extent of the mineralisation

Current Near Mine Drill Program at MDN

The near mine exploration program at Minera Don Nicolas is comprised of 12,000 metres of diamond drilling. This program will consist mainly of step-out and downdip drilling to target extensions of gold mineralization and a modest amount of infill drilling to upgrade resources. The primary areas of focus for the program will be to build on the numerous exploration targets that have been defined by limited historical drilling, such as the Esperanza and Paula Andrea (Baritina, Chulengo, Ariana, Carcol targets) Prospect (see Figure 3), and upgrade these to NI 43-101 compliant status. Given that these targets are close to the current, high grade, La Paloma mining area they are high priority in order to potentially add new resources. The current program is in addition to RC drilling undertaken by the mine for infill and grade control to extend the current mining areas of La Paloma and Martinetas both along strike and at depth.

Tables 1 summarizes the drill hole information. Table 2 summarizes the significant assay results.

Table 1. Drill hole information

Hole_ID Easting Northing Elevation DEPTH

(metres) dip Azimuth PA-D21-43 2594933 4713140 141 160 - 53 270 PA-D21-44 2594898 4713130 145 127 - 50 270 PA-D21-45 2594900 4713150 144 122 - 50 270 PA-D21-46 2594898 4713120 144 116 - 50 270 PA-D21-47 2594889 4713107 144 95 - 50 270 PA-D21-48 2594899 4713160 145 92 - 50 270 PA-D21-49 2594919 4713151 142 101 - 50 270

Table 2. Drill Hole Composites

HOLE_ID Interval from to length (m) True Length (m) AU (g/t) PA-D21-43

151.00 154.90 3.90 2.48 0.84

including 151.00 152.90 1.90 1.21 1.48 PA-D21-44

30.50 31.50 1.00 0.64 2.30

and 46.30 70.95 24.65 15.69 7.80

including 52.00 69.20 17.20 10.95 10.70 PA-D21-45

55.15 60.10 4.95 3.15 0.84

including 55.15 56.10 0.95 0.60 2.29 PA-D21-46 No Significant Results PA-D21-47

54.55 57.55 3.00 1.91 0.51

and 92.00 93.00 1.00 0.64 1.28 PA-D21-48

36.55 38.00 1.45 0.92 4.37

including 37.60 38.00 0.40 0.25 10.82 PA-D21-49

55.61 61.00 6.00 3.82 0.46

including 55.00 56.00 1.00 0.64 1.05

Mark Brennan, CEO & Co-Chairman commented, "We are pleased the ongoing drill program continues to define the Bartina target as a potential source of additional near surface, high-grade material and fully expect the ongoing program to highlight the significant near surface potential that remains at Minera Don Nicolas to enhance the current open pit mine life. Following the evaluation of these first-round assays, we expect to drill follow up holes at Baritina." He continued, "We look forward to continuing the exploration program to increase the overall resource with improved grade and greater overall tonnes that will continue to add value at Minera Don Nicholas."

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Analytical work was carried out Alex Stewart international, Argentina S.A. Labs (ASI). The facilities of the prep lab and assay lab are located in San Julian, 184 Km from MDN mine operations. MDN sends out 10% of samples to check at ALS international labs (ALS) with the prep lab located in Mendoza and assay labs in Lima, Peru and Vancouver, Canada. In the main laboratory ASI (Mendoza), the samples are systematically analyzed for gold (ppm) and silver (ppm) by fire assay (Au4-50 + AgICP-AR-39) regarding the over limits with fire assay results greater than 10 ppm, a second assay is applied including gravimetric finishing (FA50GRAV), with respect to silver, analyzes greater than 200ppm are carried out by Ag-FA50GRAV

ASI has routine quality control procedures which ensure that every batch of samples includes three sample repeats, two commercial standards and blanks. Cerrado used standard QA/QC procedures, when inserting reference standards and blanks, for the drilling program. The Reference material used are from CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd. Included in the batches following MDN internal protocols.

Review of Technical Information

The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Robert Campbell, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration for Cerrado Gold Inc., who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

Minera Don Nicolas Overview

Minera Don Nicolas is located 1,625km south west of Buenos Aires, Argentina in the Deseado Massif region in the mining-friendly province of Santa Cruz. The project is comprised of several exploration concessions totaling 333,400 ha. The largest regional centre is Comodoro Rivadavia, which provides logistical and other support for the operations.

MDN Project is situated within the world renowned Deseado Massif where the underlying geology of the region is dominated by rhyolitic and andesitic volcanic and tuffaceous volcaniclastic lithologies of Middle to Upper Jurassic age (130 to 170 ma). It is criss-crossed by numerous extensive fault and fracture zones, which served as conduits for hydrothermal activity during periods of Jurassic volcanism. The result of this activity is a widespread network of shallow level mineralized "epithermal" fissure veins, breccias, and stock-work systems, many of which carry potentially economic Au and Ag mineralization. The Deseado Massif region is host to several epithermal gold-silver deposits and several multi-million-ounce gold deposits, including Cerro Vanguardia (Anglo Gold), Cerro Negro (Newmont GoldCorp), Cerro Morro (Yamana).

In February 2012, Minera IRL published a Full Feasibility Technical Report in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 (Filed on SEDAR, MINERA IRL LTD, Feb 16, 2012). Construction of the facilities was completed in 2017 and initial production began December 2017.

Current mining operations are conducted in two areas, the high grade La Paloma deposit and the Martinetas deposits, approximately 30km apart. Ore is processed through a 1,000 tpd CIL plant located near the Martinetas pit. The project currently supports 325 employees and contractors on a fly-in fly-out basis. Mineral Don Nicolas has strong regional and local community backing having signed agreements with the two neighboring communities.

Cerrado acquired the MDN Project property in March 2020 and undertook a fundamental review of the resource database and based upon a significant geological re-interpretation, engaged SRK to conduct an independent NI43-101 updated resource technical report (August 2020) which is available on the Cerrado Gold website and SEDAR.

For further information please contact

Mark Brennan

CEO and Co Chairman

Tel: +1-647-796-0023

mbrennan@cerradogold.com

Nicholas Campbell, CFA

Director, Corporate Development

Tel.: +1-905-630-0148

ncampbell@cerradogold.com

About Cerrado Gold

Cerrado Gold is a public gold producer and exploration company with gold production derived from its 100% owned Minera Don Nicolas mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. It also owns 100% of the assets of Minera Mariana in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. The company is also undertaking exploration at its 100% owned Monte Do Carmo project located in Tocantins, Brazil. For more information about Cerrado Gold please visit our website at: www.cerradogold.com.

Disclaimer

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.

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.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business and operations of Cerrado Gold. In making the forward- looking statements contained in this press release, Cerrado Gold has made certain assumptions, including, but not limited to ability of Cerrado to expand its drilling program at its Minera Don Nicolas Project and increase its resources. Although Cerrado Gold 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 general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Cerrado Gold 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/78883
The coronavirus pandemic has caused financial hardships for many Californians, including low-income tenants who have accumulated debt from late rent or utility payments.

Eligible households and landlords can now apply for financial assistance to pay past due rent and utility bills. Applications for the states program launched on March 15, with $2.6 billion in federal funds from the December coronavirus relief bill. Some Bay Area counties and cities will either manage the states program or use federal funds to continue their existing programs or launch a new one.

The state program will be a lifeline to renters and landlords, Lourdes Castro Ramirez, secretary of Californias Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, said in a statement.

It clears accumulated rental debt, keeps families hardest hit housed and will lead to a more equitable economic recovery, she added.

State officials will run the program in local jurisdictions with fewer than 200,000 residents or in cities and counties that opted for state management. Some local jurisdictions will manage the state program but the eligiblity rules will be the same, said Russ Heimerich, spokesman for the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.

Other jurisdictions, like Solano County, plan to use federal funds to create their own programs with their own eligiblity rules. Anne Putney, Solano Countys principal management analyst, said the county decided to run its own program to expand eligiblity and provide assistance to more tenands and landlords.

When local juridictions run out of federal funds, state officials will step in with their program. Heimerich said people in those jurisdictions can still apply for the state program although there could be delays to avoid duplicate payments.

Heres how you can check if you are eligible and how to apply for the program in the Bay Area or through the state.

State of California

Eligible renters and landlords must both apply to receive the maximum amount of past due rental assistance. Renters can also receive 25% of their monthly rent for future payments.

If the landlord agrees to waive 20% of a tenants unpaid rent from April 1, 2020, through March 31, 2021, they can get reimbursed for the remaining 80%. Tenants whose landlords choose not to apply for the program can still receive 25% of unpaid rent between the same time period.

For utility relief, renters can receive 100% of 12 months worth of unpaid payments accumulated between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, with a limit of 12 months. Future payment relief will be also available.

One or more individuals in a household must meet all these qualifications to be eligible:

 Experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic, like a reduction in household income or qualified for unemployment benefits.

 Show proof of housing instability or risk of experiencing homelessness, like past-due rent or utility bills or unsafe or unhealthy living conditions.

 Have a household income at or below 80% of the area median income.

Applicants will not be asked about their citizenship status. Heres a list of paperwork eligible applicants will need to submit.

Eligibility requirements for landlords:

 Your renters must be eligible for the program and sign the application.

 Your renters household income must be at or below 80% of the area median income.

 The funds must be used to pay your renters unpaid rent between April 1, 2020, through March 31, 2021.

Heres a list of paperwork eligible landlords will need to submit. Applications are available online at housingiskey.com. Call the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Call Center at 833-430-2122 if you have questions.

Alameda County

Alamada County will manage the states program under the Alameda County Housing Secure Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which launched March 17. The cities of Fremont and Oakland will have their own programs.

The program can help pay for unpaid rent between March 13, 2020, and March 31, 2021, and for utilities that date back to March 2020.

Here are lists of required documents for tenants and landords. Tenants and landlords can submit their application online or mail it or drop it off to 3400 East 12th St., Oakland, CA 94601. Call 211 for eligibility or application help.

Fremont

The city of Fremont will run the states program under the Keep Fremont Housed Program.

It can provide funding for unpaid utilities that date back to March 13, 2020, and for both unpaid and future rent payments that do not exceed the 12-month period from March 13, 2020.

City officials will prioritize applicants who meet these guidelines, according to the citys site:

 Applicants whose household income is at or below 50% of the area median income.

 Applicants who have been unemployed for the 90 days prior to submitting the application.

 Applicants who are rent burdened, with rent over 50% of the household income.

 Applicants who live in affordable housing units.

Tenants and landlords can find a list of required documents here. Individuals can apply online starting April 1 or by calling the Fremont Family Resource Center at 510-574-2028. Applications are available in English, Farsi, Mandarin, Punjabi and Spanish.

Oakland

The city of Oakland will run its own program under the Keep Oakland Housed Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which will launch April 1.

City officials will work with several community organizations to distribute the funds, including the Bay Area Community Services, Catholic Charities East Bay, Centro Legal de la Raza and the Eviction Defense Center.

For renters to be eligible, they must meet these requirements:

 A 4-person household must not exceed an income of $65,250.

 Applicants must qualify for unemployment or are experiencing financial hardship.

 Applicants must be at risk of homelessness or housing instability.

City officials will prioritize individuals who meet these qualifications:

 Applicants who are considered extremely low-income, with an income household at or below 30% of the area median income.

 Applicants who have been homeless.

 Applicants who live in ZIP codes with high rates of COVID-19 cases.

 Applicants who are seniors, families with children or households with an individual who has disabilities.

Eligibility requirements or required documents for landlords have not been posted on the programs site. For more information, email housingassistance@oaklandca.gov or call 510-238-6182.

Contra Costa County

The state will run the program for Contra Costa County.

Marin County

Marin County will run the states program in partnership with local organizations. Renters and landlords can find a list of required documents on the programs website here. Individuals can apply for the Marin County Rental Assistance program online, by calling 415-473-2223 or emailing rentalassistance@marincounty.org.

Napa County

The state will run the program for Napa County.

San Francisco

San Francisco plans to launch a rent assistance program in early May, said Sarah Owens, a spokeswoman for Mayor London Breeds office.

The city will work with organizations to provide application assistance in-person and over the phone.

In order to be eligible to apply, households must be low-income, have experienced a COVID-19 financial impact and demonstrate a risk of homelessness or housing instability, Owens said in an email.

Owens said applicants will be required to submit documents that verify their identity, income, COVID-19 financial impact and rent owed. No further information was immediately available. Applications will be available in different languages online.

San Mateo County

The state will run the program for San Mateo County.

Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County has its own program under the countys Homelessness Prevention System.

The county will prioritize households that make less than 30% of the area median come, said Consuelo Hernandez, the director of the countys office of supportive housing.

Targeted outreach will focus on those most at risk of displacement and those who have the least ability to access the statewide program, Hernandez said.

Officials have not announced a launch date or more details for the program. Check the countys website here for upcoming announcements.

San Jose

The city of San Jose will have its own program managed by Sacred Heart Community Service, according to the San Jose Spotlight news site.

Applications are expected to launch in mid- to late April. To be eligible, applicants must be considered extremely low-income renters with households that make less than 30 perent of the area median income. A traditional lease or rental agreement is not required.

Details on how to apply have not been announced yet.

Solano County

Solano County hopes to launch its own program with its own eligiblity rules within days, Putney, the countys principal management analyst, said Monday, March 29.

Eligible applicants will need to prove that they were impacted by the pandemic or are eligible for unemployment, Putney said. The program will prioritize families who have been unemployed for the last three months.

Unlike the states program, renters and landlords could be eligible for a 100% reimbursement of unpaid rent.

Applications will be available online or by phone. Details have not yet been announced but will become available when the program launches.

Sonoma County

Sonoma County will launch a rental assistance program in early April, said Matt Brown, a spokesman for the countys administrators office.

Eligibility requirements and other details have not been announced yet. Residents can check the countys website for upcoming announcements.

Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores
The company produced 7,923 gold ounces at a realized price per ounce of $1,882 and 3,429 silver ounces at $23 from its ATO gold operation at an all-in sustaining cost of US$902

( ) ( ) reported its 4Q results on Tuesday morning that saw the Mongolia-focused miner deliver US$13.2 million in revenue on very strong margins.

The company produced 7,923 gold ounces at a realized price per ounce of US$1,882 and 3,429 silver ounces at US$23 from its ATO gold operation at an all-in sustaining cost of US$902.

Cash flow remained strong, with operating income coming in at just over US$8.3 million thanks to cash costs coming in at US$607 per ounce sold. The group finished the quarter ended December 31, 2020 with US$32.6 million in cash.

Ulanbaatar-based Steppe started production from the ATO gold mine in March 2020. The company is slowly increasing the grade of gold mined, which averaged around 2.3 grams per ton in 4Q compared to 2.2 in 3Q and 1.7 in 2Q, its first quarter of production.

In total, ATO has delivered nearly US$52.1 million in revenue in its first year of production. For the 2020 fiscal year, Steppe sold 31,733 gold ounces and 13,710 silver ounces with average realized prices per ounce of US$1,822 and US$20 respectively. Operating income for the year came in at US$32.6 million.

"We are very pleased to report a strong start to production at the ATO Gold Mine with operating cash flow from mine operations in 2020 of $32.6m, on revenue of $52.1m, in an approximate 9 months of production, Steppes CEO Bataa Tumur-Ochir said in a statement accompanying the results.

Most importantly we are proud to report a zero accident safety record at the project, and our exemplary environmental record has been recognised with a 93% result on the latest environment audit. Cash costs remain at market-low levels at $607 per ounce sold for the year and this allowed us to build up a solid cash balance, ending the year at $32.6 million.

Bankable feasibility study in the works

Tumur-Ochir said that discussions with Mongolian and international lenders are progressing well, and the miner is optimistic that it will obtain debt financing for its Phase 2 expansion now underway. Steppe is advancing towards a bankable feasibility study for the Phase 2 expansion, incorporating the recent resource update and a detailed series of new metallurgical work.

The bankable study is due for release in summer 2021.

In addition, Steppe completed an active period of drilling at ATO and Mungu in 2020, focusing on extension and infill drilling that contributed to resource upgrades on the existing ATO deposits and the maiden resource on the Mungu Discovery.

With a new fixed crusher in place this summer, we are planning a record year for stacking in 2021, Tumur-Ochir told shareholders. We have paused production in the first quarter with extreme cold weather conditions and we expect to resume production shortly. We have seen some bottleneck in supply of critical reagents and this will impact second quarter production as we conserve supplies for the important summer months. Hopefully this issue is temporary and will be resolved shortly.

The ATO resource now stands at 2.5 million gold equivalent ounces.

Steppe is targeting annual production in 2021 and 2022 of between 50,000 to 60,000 ounces before transitioning to fresh rock ores in 2023. Production forecasts for 2021 are dependent on a restart of leaching in April 2021.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
A growing number of the nations school districts are experimenting with a Covid-19 testing regime they hope will get millions of children back into their classroom  if they can keep up with the price tag.

The Biden administrations $1.9 trillion Covid relief law is steering $10 billion toward developing a national school coronavirus testing strategy as its latest bid to reopen schools. That plan is still in flux but some attention has turned to the practice of pooled testing that uses a collection of swabs from a fixed group of kids attending classes together. The process is meant to limit the spread of a potential outbreak while minimizing the costs of the frequent large-scale testing needed to keep the disease in check. Pooled testing can extend testing capacity by testing groups of samples at once rather than each person individually. If a pool sample comes back positive, each individual in the pool is then tested.

Massachusetts is the only state to deploy a broad pooled testing program made available to all of its students and staff  about 1 million K-12 children and educators  to reopen this spring. For the first six weeks, the Bay State expects to spend somewhere between $15 million and $30 million doing pooled testing for about half of its more than 1,800 public schools that have opted in. When the state-funded program ends April 30, school districts will be able to funnel money in from the latest round of federal relief. A Rockefeller Foundation-funded study by Mathematica and RAND Corporation of early pooled-testing results found weekly testing of all students, teachers and staff can reduce in-school infections by an estimated 50 percent.

Similarly, in Maryland, Baltimore City Public Schools has put $5.7 million dollars from the federal stimulus toward launching its own program. Montgomery County Public Schools, the largest district in the state, is spending $5 million to kickstart one.

Most schools across the country would implement a pooled testing program if the Biden administration moves that direction and resources are put there, said Dan Domenech, who heads a national association representing school superintendents. Testing, he said, would be critical for large urban school districts to reopen safely.

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Each program is a massive undertaking that has already kicked up some challenges for superintendents and other local school officials who are struggling most with getting parental consent. Schools have also found they cant make testing mandatory, or get the logistics to work in most high schools, and positive cases can spook teachers. Still, the injection of federal money  and President Joe Bidens commitment to open most K-8 classrooms by May 1  has fueled some optimism.

We're feeling that Massachusetts has cracked this nut and the feds have gotten on board, said Tim Rowe, CEO of CIC Health, a Cambridge, Mass.-based coordination hub that facilitates testing materials, lab work, and results for about 160,000 students and staff in the state. Now that they told the country they're going to be doing this for all the schools in the country  the next hurdles are getting the world better informed about it so that when this becomes a possibility, it's actually done.

How it works

Once a week, students will get a Q-tip-sized swab to rub against the lower part of their nose. The swabs for up to 25 students and staff  a classroom  are then tested at once. Most schools can collect the samples in 30 minutes, district officials say.

Most kids can swab themselves with supervision, said Cleo Hirsch, Baltimore City Public Schools director of special initiatives, who is overseeing the districts program. Additional support is given to students who need it, especially the youngest ones.

The baby can just put it in their nose four circles on the right, four circles on the left and then we say you put it boogers down into the tube, Hirsch said in an interview.

A nurse or another school official scans, packs and ships the samples off to a nearby lab. Its a process that doesnt require medical training and results come back within 48 hours. Contact tracing kicks off if a pool comes back positive but spares others at the school.

If you want to get something to work in K-12, you need to minimize the disruption to the school day, Ginkgo Bioworks CEO Jason Kelly, which coordinates testing for the districts in Maryland and some in Massachusetts, said in interview.

You need to make it possible for staff that's already at the school to do it without needing to bring in a whole new health care provider staff that doesn't exist at that scale at every school in the country, he said.

While the process is straightforward for lower grades, Hirsch said pooled testing doesnt work for high schoolers because they do not learn as a single pod in the same classroom all day. Instead, each student is administered a saliva-based test individually  a more costly process for the district.

Getting parents and teachers on board

Early adopters of pooled testing programs in schools said they faced a variety of reactions to Covid-19 testing, from near-universal enthusiasm to widespread skepticism from staff or parents, according to a March report from the RAND Corporation.

School leaders told researchers that privacy concerns were a common reason for hesitation to be tested, the report states. But parents were also uncomfortable with a medical procedure being performed by school staff rather than medical professionals, and families and staff were worried their health information would be shared with others.

While some parents expressed doubt about the actual danger posed by Covid-19, the report found there were fears of being stigmatized and socially isolated by a positive test result.

The trickiest part has been the consent process, Julie Kukenberger, the superintendent of Melrose Public Schools in Massachusetts, said in an interview. Still, she believes thats because the state adopted pooled testing before most people had heard about it.

Newer, shallower nose swabs make sampling less jarring than it was in the early months of the pandemic, Hirsch said. Mild responses from kids have helped put parents at ease, and the pooled testing is a mitigation strategy that the teachers union wanted before returning for in-person learning.

Educators, some who are waiting to be vaccinated, are still hesitant to be back in the classroom, according to the Baltimore Teachers Union. Union members on Twitter have raised concern about the number of pools testing positive.

Being in school buildings is scary right now, and members have shared with me that they are afraid, said BTU President Diamonte Brown in a March letter to her members. Many of our members who are reporting to work in school buildings dont want to be in the position they are in.

Paying for it

About 100 schools started screening students and staff individually for Covid-19 last summer, said CIC Healths Rowe. Most of those schools were in New England and California, and it was expensive to implement because they were using PCR tests for each student.

Massachusetts launched its pooled testing program at public schools through testing providers Ginkgo, CIC Health and Project Beacon. And state officials encouraged schools looking to reopen at least part-time for in-person instruction to apply and get connected to the coordination hubs, testing materials and software.

When the program was first discussed, the state was concerned about the cost because each test was in the $50 to $60 range. The tension was really between the parents wanting it and then the price, Rowe said.

Through the contract with the state, CIC Health charges $5 per swab, which comes out to $1 per kid, if testing is conducted once a week. It was the fact that they rolled it out statewide that allowed us to get to this price point, he said.

Boston Public Schools has been conducting pooled tests since the beginning of March and says it will continue the program with federal stimulus money (Baltimore City Public Schools plans to do the same).

It is definitely expensive  it's an investment that we are making, Hirsch said. We don't yet know how much it will cost overall because we don't know the course of the pandemic.
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On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan had addressed the Building and Construction Workers Union of the AFL-CIO at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.

As he was stepping into his limousine for the ride back to the White House, just a mile away, Reagan was struck by a bullet. Reagans press secretary, a police officer and a Secret Service agent had also been hit by bullets.

There was no known motive, no explanation for the savage burst of gunfire that exploded as the president stood beside his limousine, ready to step inside for a rainy, one-mile ride back to the White House.

One eyewitness said the assailant, standing 10 feet from the president, just opened up and continued squeezing the trigger, the Associated Press reported.

U.S. President Ronald Reagan winces and raises his left arm as he was shot by an assailant as he left a Washington hotel, Monday, March 30, 1981, after making a speech to a labor group. The President was shot in the upper left side. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)AP

As Reagan was walking to his limousine at 2:27 p.m. from the side entrance on Connecticut Avenue, John Hinckley Jr., 25, who was armed with a .22 caliber revolver, began shooting.

Hinckleys first shot hit White House Press Secretary James Brady in the head. Brady was left partially paralyzed.

Also wounded were District of Columbia police officer Thomas Delahanty and Secret Service Agent Timothy McCarthy.

All six of Hinckleys shots missed Reagan. While one Secret Service agent pushed Reagan into the limo, another put himself between the shooter and the president. However, the last bullet ricocheted off the limousine and hit him in the left underarm and lodged in his lung.

Agents at first did not realize Reagan had been hit. After realizing he was injured, Reagan was taken to George Washington University Hospital. He arrived there less than 4 minutes after leaving the hotel.

At the hospital, according to history.com, Reagan said to his wife, Nancy, as he was taken into surgery, Honey, I forgot to duck. He also told the doctors that he hoped they were Republicans.

Reagan began resuming some of his duties the next day. He returned to the White House on April 11, 1981.

Hinckley reportedly was trying to impress actress Jodie Foster. Hinckley had stalked her and wrote her a letter saying he was trying to gain her love and respect.

Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in June 1982 and committed to a psychiatric facility. He was permitted supervised day trips in 1999 and was allowed to visit his parents once a week. He was released in 2016 and moved in with his elderly mother in Virginia. Officials had determined that he was no longer a threat to himself or others.

FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2003 file photo, John Hinckley Jr. arrives at the U.S. District Court House in Washington. Hinckley, who shot President Ronald Reagan in 1981, has behaved well over the past year when he's been freed from a Washington mental hospital to visit his mother in Virginia, according to U.S. Secret Service reports. Hinckley, 57, has been allowed to go to mother's home since 2006, and the length of his visits has increased over time. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)AP

In 2018, a federal judge ruled that Hinckley was permitted to live on his own. He was required to do volunteer work or have a job at least three days a week and was restricted to a 75-mile radius of Williamsburg, Va. He is required to have a GPS-enabled cell phone whenever he is away from home, according to a story by USA Today.

Reagan, former governor of California and a former actor, was elected president in 1980. He had been sworn into office in January 1981, just two months before he was shot.

He won a second term in the 1984 election and was sworn into office in January 1985.

After retiring, he was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease in 1994 when he was 83 years old. He died in California on June 5, 2004, at the age of 93.

During the shooting in 1981, Brady had been shot above his left eye. He was left with partial paralysis that required him to use a wheelchair.

He and his wife, Sarah, became gun control advocates and lobbyists. They founded the nonprofit Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act was passed in 1993. Brady died in 2014.

Reagans wife, Nancy, died March 6, 2016, in Los Angeles, Calif.

FILE- This March 30, 2011, file photo shows former White House press secretary James Brady, who was left paralyzed in the Reagan assassination attempt, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington marking the 30th anniversary of the shooting. Brady died Aug. 4, 2014. He was 73. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)AP

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In a new study published in Conservation Science and Practice, researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) partnered with Indonesian experts to explore the motivations and challenges of women pursuing a career in conservation sciences in Indonesia. Given that Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet but is simultaneously experiencing extreme rates of deforestation, it is an important target country for the conservation of global biodiversity. Conservation work remains male-dominated in Indonesia, especially fieldwork, so gaining a better understanding of the cultural norms and barriers in place for Indonesian women aspiring to a career in conservation represents an important step in supporting women in this field. With more diverse faces and voices representing global conservation, the country and others like it can tap into the full potential of their intellectual and creative resources to help solve grave global challenges like dwindling biodiversity.

"We are facing huge challenges in the conservation of biodiversity globally," says Erin Poor, postdoctoral researcher in Environmental Science and Technology (ENST) at UMD and leader of this work. "Climate change, habitat loss and encroachment, an increasing human population putting stress on natural landscapes, increased agriculture - these are all large, complex, multidisciplinary challenges. The more intelligent minds we have working to identify creative solutions that benefit humans and wildlife, the better. This means enabling and creating space for women and other underrepresented groups to voice their ideas for conservation solutions."

In order to explore this idea while also practically supporting Indonesian women in conservation, Poor developed and facilitated a workshop in Riau Province, central Sumatra, Indonesia due to its importance in global conservation. Working closely with Indonesian leaders at the World Wildlife Fund-Indonesia (WWF) and the Universitas Gadjah Mada, Poor and the UMD team identified a need for culturally appropriate training and mentorship for women wanting to conduct conservation fieldwork. The workshop was held from September 13-15, 2019, with the goal of providing participants with networking opportunities and offering a setting in which more experienced women in conservation could mentor less experienced women and train them on practical fieldwork skills. As a pilot workshop, 11 Indonesian early-career women attended the workshop, with 3 established Indonesian women providing mentorship and instruction.

"The young women in our workshop were excited and passionate about conservation," says Poor. "We seemed to pick up on the lack of technical training for these women (which may also be an issue among men), and the lack of encouragement and support evidenced by discouragement from family members, a lack of female mentors and networks, and societal perceptions about female roles. Women are excited and passionate about conservation work, they just need to be given the support and tools to be effective."

Documenting the motivations and challenges of these women and their unique experiences represents an important step in making sure women in conservation have the support they need, explains Jennifer Mullinax, assistant professor with ENST and co-author.

"It was telling to see the limited information that existed on the paths, support, and limitations of women in STEM in Indonesia. This is one of the first bricks in the wall of knowledge we need to build a more inclusive and diverse conservation discipline in the global south."

Mullinax provided support for the trip to Indonesia, which was in many ways a continuation of work that Poor had started while pursuing her PhD. "I believe strongly in uplifting and supporting women, especially women in STEM," stresses Mullinax. "As Erin was describing her experiences in Sumatra and her intentions of having the training workshop, I suggested this may be an opportunity to survey the participants and start documenting the needs and barriers of women pursuing STEM in Indonesia. Everyone was on board and considered it a great opportunity as well as potential justification for doing more, larger training and surveys in the future."

To assist with the survey development and analysis, Poor and Mullinax reached out to Jen Shaffer, assistant professor in Anthropology with the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS). Shaffer identified a key motivator for the women in this study as a love of nature and a passion for the environment, while challenges were mainly related to gender and cultural norms.

"Although I was unable to participate in the workshop, I really appreciated the opportunity to document the motivations and challenges that established and early career Indonesian women working in conservation science expressed," says Shaffer. "Some of their challenges are unique, and others are experienced by women scientists regardless of where they live and work. Reading their motivation responses to work in conservation was also very uplifting. I saw lots of parallels with discussions I've had with students and colleagues working in conservation science, and it shows our common feelings of passion for, excitement about, and care for nature. We are all working towards a common goal."

"The women in our study expressed some of the same sentiments that I experienced," adds Poor. "First, conservation advertisements often advertise for men - expressing inherent doubt in the physical capabilities of women to do field work. Secondly, Indonesia is extremely diverse in religious, ethnic, and social beliefs, but a belief persists in some geographic regions and in some parts of society that women should be in less physical jobs or be family and household caretakers. Another factor impacting women in the field is that some people also still believe that unmarried men and women should not be alone together."

Poor experienced some of these issues firsthand during her time in Indonesia as a doctoral student. "For me, this was extremely personal," says Poor. "I spent two years in Indonesia doing field work for my PhD research. Almost all of my female friends and I faced sexual harassment and discrimination repeatedly. The field teams I worked with were all male (who were all excellent professionals), and I tried to recruit women to join my team but I only found one woman who actually was able and willing to come to the field. She ended up being hired by WWF as a field team leader (only the second woman in central Sumatra) after my research, and I count that as one of the biggest successes of my research. After experiencing persistent doubt about my abilities as a woman in Indonesia, working to get more women in the field became a personal passion of mine."

Despite these challenges, Poor and the team are hopeful for the future of women in conservation and have plans to expand this work. Poor has been elected as the Vice President of Membership for the Society for Conservation Biology, and she hopes to reach out to young women to increase their involvement in the field. She and the team also hope to continue their research and training efforts on a broader scale.

"I hope this spurs others to take a look at recruitment and retention of women scientists in other areas as well," adds Poor. "By identifying the challenges and motivations women are facing, especially in understudied biodiverse areas in the global south, we can work to remove these challenges and encourage motivations. However, this must be done at the request and with the coordination of scientists in those locations. I am hoping that in Indonesia specifically, those involved with this study will begin thinking about and implementing similar workshops and events specifically geared towards young women conservation biologists."

###

This paper is entitled "Increasing diversity to save biodiversity: Rising to the challenge and supporting Indonesian women in conservation" and is published in Conservation Science and Practice, DOI: 10.1111/csp2.395.
- By GF Value





The stock of Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:FRT, 30-year Financials) shows every sign of being fairly valued, according to GuruFocus Value calculation. GuruFocus Value is GuruFocus' estimate of the fair value at which the stock should be traded. It is calculated based on the historical multiples that the stock has traded at, the past business growth and analyst estimates of future business performance. If the price of a stock is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. On the other hand, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher. At its current price of $102.53 per share and the market cap of $8 billion, Federal Realty Investment Trust stock shows every sign of being fairly valued. GF Value for Federal Realty Investment Trust is shown in the chart below.





Federal Realty Investment Trust Stock Is Believed To Be Fairly Valued

Because Federal Realty Investment Trust is fairly valued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be close to the rate of its business growth.

Link: These companies may deliever higher future returns at reduced risk.

It is always important to check the financial strength of a company before buying its stock. Investing in companies with poor financial strength have a higher risk of permanent loss. Looking at the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage is a great way to understand the financial strength of a company. Federal Realty Investment Trust has a cash-to-debt ratio of 0.18, which is better than 76% of the companies in REITs industry. The overall financial strength of Federal Realty Investment Trust is 3 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of Federal Realty Investment Trust is poor. This is the debt and cash of Federal Realty Investment Trust over the past years:

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Federal Realty Investment Trust Stock Is Believed To Be Fairly Valued

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Federal Realty Investment Trust Stock Is Believed To Be Fairly Valued

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Another method of determining the profitability of a company is to compare its return on invested capital to the weighted average cost of capital. Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. When the ROIC is higher than the WACC, it implies the company is creating value for shareholders. For the past 12 months, Federal Realty Investment Trust's return on invested capital is 3.87, and its cost of capital is 7.08. The historical ROIC vs WACC comparison of Federal Realty Investment Trust is shown below:

Federal Realty Investment Trust Stock Is Believed To Be Fairly Valued

Overall, the stock of Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:FRT, 30-year Financials) gives every indication of being fairly valued. The company's financial condition is poor and its profitability is strong. Its growth ranks in the middle range of the companies in REITs industry. To learn more about Federal Realty Investment Trust stock, you can check out its 30-year Financials here.

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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Listen to the partisan fighters discuss the crisis the Mexican border, and you might think that Americans were split into hostile camps and will never find common ground on immigration.

So, before playing the blame game, lets dismiss that myth: Gallup tracking polls show just the opposite. In the latest one, 64 percent of Americans said they felt the level of immigration was either just right or should be increased. Only 28 percent want to see the number drop, a record low in decades of polling. Many of us, it seems, see our own ancestors in the faces of those huddled masses in south Texas.

The public wants a secure border, but not if it means debasing ourselves with acts of cruelty, like separating children from their parents. By large margins, voters want a path to citizenship for those who crossed our borders illegally, most of whom have been working here for more than a decade. And they want sturdy protections for the Dreamers who came here illegally as children.

So, as President Biden moves to dismantle the most harsh and bigoted features of Trumps immigration policy, he is doing what Americans want him to do, and what decency demands.

But lets face it -- the surge at the border is a humanitarian mess for which the administration was not prepared. And its partly a result of the welcoming message Biden sent during the campaign and in the transition.

Texas Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar recent spoke to a group of teen-aged migrants who crossed the border near El Paso, and they all said they came because word is out in their tortured homelands that Biden has cracked open the door to a better life.

This is our opportunity to do this, one teen told Cueller. We see this on TV. We see images of people coming across, so we are going to do the same thing.

Biden stopped sending unaccompanied children back at the border, instead taking them into shelters on our side, and dispersing them to family contacts while they await their court hearings. But the numbers are so large that the shelters for children are overwhelmed. Conditions are poor, and the children are being held for longer periods than the law allows.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat, visited one such facility in El Paso recently, and was shaken by what he saw. 100s of kids packed into big open rooms, he tweeted. In a corner, I fought- back tears as a 13 yr old girl sobbed uncontrollably explaining through a translator how terrified she was, having been separated from her grandmother and without her parents.

The White House denies this is a crisis, but it plainly is. It is tough to imagine how Biden could have avoided sending this signal as he campaigned in 2020 against Trumps cruelties. The message was bound to get to Central America, the primary source of this surge. And his repeated statements discouraging migrants from coming now, while welcome, are also late.

Remember, though, that this crisis is nothing new, and Bidens kind words are not the root cause. The waves of immigration ebb and flow with the level of misery in Central America, which is now hard-hit by the pandemic, by climate change, and by widespread violence. The last surge came in 2019, despite all Trumps hateful rhetoric against immigrants.

In the longer run, Bidens dead right to end Trumps many cruelties. He is no longer forcing migrants seeking asylum to return to Mexico while awaiting their hearings, often penniless and homeless. Human Rights Watch found that rape and robbery at the hands of Mexican gangs is epidemic.

Hes ended Trumps bigoted ban on immigration from many Muslim countries. Hes restoring aid cut by Trump to the countries these migrants are escaping. And hes pressing for deeper reforms that have broad bipartisan support, including steps to fortify enforcement while allowing a path to citizenship.

Even in the midst of this crisis, it is refreshing to have a president who sees this as a grand humanitarian challenge, not an opportunity to whip up hatred and fear at the expense of these vulnerable children and families. As Biden says, we are better than that.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
San Antonio received its first group of migrant children Tuesday morning, Bexar County officials confirmed.

The group included 500 boys who are all minors, ages 13 to 17, according to a report from Joshua Fechter with the San Antonio Express-News. The children are housed at the Freeman Coliseum, where 2,100 cots have been set up.

READ ALSO: Ted Cruz says Biden staffer stopped him from filming migrant facility in Texas

During Monday's coronavirus briefing, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said that the boys will spend five to nine days at the temporary shelter unless they test positive for COVID-19. A separate facility on the ground will house children who are positive for the virus, Fechter reported.

The arrival of the children comes after the White House announced last week that the Freeman and Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland will become temporary shelters for migrant children.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will maintain custody and responsibility for the well-being and support for these children at all times on the installation, according to a release from the Department of Defense.

On Tuesday, Congressman Joaquin Castro, Wolff, and County Commission Clay-Flores will visit the shelter for unaccompanied children at the Freeman Coliseum to ensure the children are treated with dignity as they are united with family members or sponsors while their asylum cases are adjudicated. The visit will be closed to the press but will be followed by media availability.
[March 30, 2021] Pioneer Consulting Releases New Report: "Suppliers of Undersea Telecommunications Systems"

HOBOKEN, N.J., March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pioneer Consulting , the full-service submarine fiber optic telecommunications consulting and project management company, announces the release of its latest Suppliers of Undersea Telecommunications Systems report. With over 770 pages, the report includes 405 figures and 61 tables, offering a comprehensive overview of the key players and resources in the industry. This new 2021 edition also analyzes the biggest market trends and challenges in telecommunications via submarine cables. Specialized technologies and devices continue to evolve that allow thousands of gigabits to traverse the oceans every second. These technologies, and the companies that provide them, allow these systems to be deployed to the oceans bottoms, where they typically operate for twenty years or more. Considering the near-complete dependence on undersea cables for the public Internet and the services provided by content providers such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, the four main companies that supply these cables take on a burden of responsibility. Knowledge of these cables and the industrial ecosystem that surrounds them is critical understanding for anyone evaluating telecommunications infrastructure.



Suppliers of Undersea Telecommunications Systems begins with over 230 pages (163 figures) of tutorials on submarine cable system design and technology, written in plain English for ease of understanding by non-technical readers. The remainder of the report reviews the range of suppliers for subsea fiber optic cable systems; the major system integrators equippe to design, manufacture, and deploy subsea cable systems of any type worldwide, and the smaller, more focused suppliers providing cable, submarine line terminal equipment, and specific components (including fiber, wavelength selective switches, and pump sources) for submarine applications. These detailed reviews include overall company information, historical background, publicly available financial data, capabilities/services, lists of recent projects, and complete product offerings.



We designed this report to be both a complete introduction to the submarine telecommunications cable industry for the uninitiated, and the most up-to-date, comprehensive assessment of suppliers for industry veterans, says Bertrand Clesca, Director of Client Solutions at Pioneer Consulting. Were proud to be the go-to source for industry insight and expertise. To preview the report, read the Executive Summary via: https://www.pioneerconsulting.com/reports/ . To learn more about Suppliers of Undersea Telecommunications Systems, send an email to: sales@pioneerconsulting.com .

About Pioneer Consulting

Pioneer Consulting offers a comprehensive set of services for the submarine fiber optic telecommunications system industry. The company provides clients with valuable technical and commercial insight into the challenging issues facing this unique industry. Recognizing the diverse nature of the submarine telecommunications marketplace, Pioneer Consulting has built a team of industry-leading experts who are able to work across traditional boundaries and provide businesses with the strategic intelligence and operational skills needed to make long-term engineering and business decisions and deliver results. Media Contact:

Ariane Mandell

Trevi Communications

ariane@trevicomm.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c14b9c87-7ed1-4d49-ab6b-9917c846da1d



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is suspending flights to and due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, the kingdom's government said in a statement on Monday.

The North African country also extended the curfew and other restrictive measures by two weeks. According to the government, the decision was made in accordance with the Scientific and Technical Committee's recommendations and will enter into force on Tuesday. The ban on flights will remain in place until further notice.

The curfew from 9.00 p.m. (20:00 GMT) to 6.00 a.m. was introduced on December 23, 2020. Besides, authorities have banned celebrations, public and private gatherings, ordered closures of public facilities, including restaurants, cafes, shopping malls, and non-essential stores from 8.00 p.m. local time.

launched a national vaccination campaign on January 28, after receiving the first batch of 2 million doses of the UK AstraZeneca vaccine, as well as 500,000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine.

The North African country has so far registered over 494,000 cases of COVID-19 altogether with 8,807 deaths.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Indian American couple has donated over Rs 1 for crore healthcare works in and Jharkhand, the Association of North America (BJANA) announced on Monday.

The generous donation of USD 150,000 by the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation to the BJANA would be used for healthcare efforts in the rural areas of the two states through the PRAN-BJANA clinic initiative.

The Pravasi Alumni Nisshulk (PRAN) is an initiative by like-minded Indian-American physicians who are working to provide healthcare to the underprivileged and underserved in and

These doctors has set up a PRAN clinic in Ranchi, providing free healthcare services to the needy. Their endeavour is to provide free healthcare services across the states.

"With the generous donation of Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia, this became possible. BJANA getting a large donation is a testament to its ongoing philanthropic activities both here and back home," BJANA president Avinash Gupta said.

Alok Kumar, former FIA president, said this kind of donation would help the BJANA carry out its healthcare works in the region.

Bhatia came from NIT, Patna, and runs a successful business in Texas.

(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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FILE PHOTO: A Canadian dollar coin, commonly known as the "Loonie", is pictured in this illustration picture taken in Toronto

By Fergal Smith

TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar edged lower against its broadly stronger U.S. counterpart on Monday as the default of a U.S. hedge fund weighed on investor sentiment, offsetting higher oil prices.

The loonie was trading 0.1% lower at 1.2585 to the greenback, or 79.46 U.S. cents, having traded in a range of 1.2571 to 1.2626. Last Thursday, it touched a two-week low at 1.2628.

There was "a little bit of movement towards a stronger U.S. dollar, largely driven by some of this contagion risk in equity markets," said Rahim Madhavji, president at KnightsbridgeFX.com.

U.S. bank shares fell amid warnings of potential losses from the hedge fund's default on margin calls, while the safe-haven U.S. dollar notched a four-month high against a basket of major currencies.

Still, the loonie has been the top performing G10 currency since the start of the year, with a gain of 1.2%.

Domestic economic stimulus and higher commodity prices are among the longer-term themes supportive of the loonie, Madhavji said.

U.S. crude prices settled nearly 1% higher at $61.56 a barrel after Reuters reported that Russia would support stable oil output from OPEC+ ahead of a meeting with the producer group later this week. Oil is one of Canada's major exports.

Canadian consumer confidence rose in March by the most since last June, data from the Conference Board of Canada, a research organization, showed.

Canada's GDP data for January, due on Wednesday, could guide expectations on the Bank of Canada policy outlook. Strategists say the central bank could reduce its bond purchases in April.

Canadian government bond yields rose across much of a steeper curve in tandem with U.S. Treasuries. The 10-year climbed 3.8 basis points to 1.539%, but holding well below the 14-month high notched earlier this month at 1.677%.

(Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Marguerita Choy)
[March 30, 2021] Ingram and Industry Leaders Donate $1M to Kick-Off "Survive to Thrive" Initiative to Help Independent Booksellers Recover Post-COVID

The Book Industry Charity Foundation (Binc) announced today the establishment of the Survive to Thrive bookstore grant program. Founded with initial support from Ingram Charities and Ingram Content Group, the program will quickly provide grants to independent bookstores and comic shops affected by COVID-19. With a leading gift of $500k jointly from Ingram Charities and Ingram Content Group, $250k from Bookshop.org, and an additional $250k total from Hachette, Harper Collins, Macmillan Publishers, and Penguin Random House, the Survive to Thrive initiative has raised the first million dollars of its $2 million goal. "As we all turn our attention toward getting to the other side of the pandemic, I want to be sure local bookstores - gems of their communities - have a chance to not only survive, but thrive," said John R. Ingram, Chairman of Ingram Industries and Ingram Content Group. "Our intent was to make an initial gift to quickly start the Survive to Thrive grant program and to set it up as a matching grant - hoping it will inspire others to join us in supporting local independent booksellers. Bookstores are the lifeblood of local communities - their success is our success." "We can't thank John Ingram enough for his visionary gift in support of independent bookstores and comic shops, and for his hands-on advocacy in reaching out to other industry leaders," said Pamela French, Binc's Executive Director. "We are also grateful to the five additional companies that joined Ingram to kick-off the Survive to Thrive grant program." "Bookstores should not be worried about staying in business if they have one bad season, an unforeseen major expense, or even a global pandemic. Bookshop.org is grateful to Binc for creating this resource and proud to help make it possible," said Andy Hunter, Founder & CEO of Bookshop.org. Hachette Book Group CEO Michael Pietsch said, "Binc's mission to support the independent booksellers through difficult times is more important than ever, and we are grateful to Ingram for spearheading this major fundraising initiative. Hachette is a longtime supporter of Binc and the independent booksellers who are so essential to books, authors, and reading, and we're proud to be part of Binc's Survive to Thrive initiative in this urgent moment." "One of the lessons of the pandemic will be the role that books and authors played in helping the public get through very difficult times and the aid and comfort local bookstores provided to their communities in bringing authors and readers together. There are thousands of examples of how the nation's independent booksellers quickly rallied, developed new ways of doing business and were beacons of hope for better times. Now is a critical time for independent booksellers and we are so proud to support Binc's Survive to Thrive Initiative which will play a crucial role in helping Independents to retain a solid footing in their communities, as well as extending and refining the many innovative ways of bookselling that have arisen out of necessity during the last year," said Josh Marwell, Harper Collins President of Sales. "The independent bookstores of America are critical to our bookselling environment, and now more than ever we all need to rely on each other," sad Don Weisberg, CEO, Macmillan Publishers. "Macmillan is proud to partner with Binc and play our part in this worthy campaign."



"It is a privilege for Penguin Random House, with our contribution, to acknowledge and to join in advancing the indispensable contributions of Binc to the independent bookstore and comic shop community. In this time when the availability of wide-ranging information and ideas is more necessary than ever to the future of society, Binc's support of our authors and their books, by their heroic sustaining of a healthy small-business bookselling ecosystem, is cheering and inspiring," said Jaci Updike, President of Sales, Penguin Random House U.S. The Survive to Thrive grant program will provide substantial support to as many as 200 brick-and-mortar bookstores and comic shops in the U.S. that have a strong foundation in their community but are facing financial challenges due to the impacts of the pandemic.

"Our goal is to raise an additional million dollars for a campaign total of $2 million by the end of May," French said. "It's an ambitious goal, but thanks to Ingram and several industry leaders, we are halfway there." With $2 million, the Survive to Thrive initiative could make grants of up to $10,000 to 200 independent bookstores and comic shops. Grants will be made via a juried review process designed to provide grants to stabilize stores and help them thrive, retaining the many and varied benefits local bookstores and comic shops provide to their communities. The Survive to Thrive jury of reviewers will be made of industry leaders who love book and comic shops and have the knowledge and expertise to review the grant applications. The Survive to Thrive applications are expected to open in mid-April, with grants to be distributed in early June. Survive to Thrive is relying on industry and community support. All gifts to Binc in support of the Survive to Thrive grant program will make a difference for independent bookstores and comic shops that, with some help, can continue to be vital Main Street anchors, community gathering spots and the backbone of the book and comics industries. Visit https://secure.donationpay.org/bincfoundation/survive2thrive.php to donate today. In 2020, Binc distributed $2.9 million to help more than 2,200 bookstores, comic shops and individual store owners and employees. In eight weeks beginning in late March 2020, Binc distributed more aid than in the prior eight years combined. "Ingram and these five industry leading companies have made amazing gifts," said Binc's Pamela French. "The way to meet this campaign's goal - and help as many stores as possible - is for everyone who can to get involved. Share the word with your friends. Every gift will make a difference." About The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that coordinates charitable programs to strengthen the bookselling and comic retailing communities. Established in 1996, the core program provides assistance to bookstore and comic shop owners and their employees who have a demonstrated financial need arising from severe hardship and/or emergency circumstances. Since its inception, the organization has provided over $9 million in financial assistance and scholarships to more than 9000+ families. Support for the Foundation's programs and services come from all sectors of the book and comic industries. The Book Industry Charitable Foundation's mission is to strengthen the bookselling and comic retail community through charitable programs that support employees and their families. The Foundation was imagined and built by booksellers and proudly continues to be their safety net. It is our vision to be a caring community of book and comic people. Additional information can be found at http://www.bincfoundation.org. About Ingram Charities Ingram Charities provides grants for nonprofit organizations on behalf of Ingram Industries Inc., the parent company of Ingram Content Group. Funding typically focuses on programs that enrich communities through the arts, education, and health and human services. Learn more at www.ingramcharities.com. About Ingram Content Group | www.ingramcontent.com The world is reading, and Ingram Content Group ("Ingram") connects people with content in all forms. Providing comprehensive services for publishers, retailers, libraries and educators, Ingram makes these services seamless and accessible through technology, innovation and creativity. With an expansive global network of offices and facilities, Ingram's services include digital and physical book distribution, print-on-demand, and digital learning. Ingram Content Group is a part of Ingram Industries Inc. and includes Ingram Book Group LLC, Ingram Publisher Services LLC, Lightning Source (News - Alert) LLC, VitalSource Technologies LLC, Ingram Library Services LLC, and Tennessee Book Company LLC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005120/en/

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Samsung shows no signs of stopping its mad update dash with Android 11 and One UI 3.x, and the latest phone to receive such a new release is the Galaxy A21s. The entry-level model launched last June was in line to get Android 11 in May 2021, but the company just couldn't wait anymore and pushed out the update in its home country of South Korea.

The new build over there is A217NKSU5CUC7, with One UI 3 based on Android 11. Since it's out in one market, it should trickle onwards to others pretty soon. Perhaps Samsung will finalize the global release by the time the initial May deadline arrives.

Samsung Galaxy A21s

The Galaxy A51, on the other hand, has been running One UI 3 based on Android 11 since February, but now it's getting the absolute latest One UI 3.1 via a new update spotted in Russia.

The new build is A515FXXU4EUC8, and you're even getting the April 2021 security patches with it - before it's even April. Samsung is at it again! For reference, Google's Pixels are only getting this April patch next Monday.

Samsung Galaxy A51

With One UI 3.1, the Galaxy A51 will have features such as the Eye Comfort Shield, video call effects, an option to remove geolocation from photos before sharing them, new camera features, as well as a minor UI refresh for some elements.

This update should be spreading to other countries and territories too in the coming days and weeks.

Source 1 | Source 2
Jaipur, March 31 : The Jaipur district court on Tuesday declared 12 SIMI members as terrorists and sentenced them to life imprisonment while acquitting the 13th accused person.

All of them were engineering students and were accused of working for the terrorist organisation, Indian Mujahideen. They were arrested by the ATS in 2014.

While six of them are from Sikar, three are from Jodhpur, one each from Jaipur and Pali and one from Gaya in Bihar. The one who has been acquitted is a resident of Jodhpur.

The seven-year old case involves SIMI's sleeper cell in Rajasthan.

All the 13 persons were arrested on the basis of specific inputs from Jaipur, Sikar and other districts in 2014. They were accused of being connected to SIMI and giving shape to terrorist activities.
HANGZHOU, China, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hikvision, an IoT solution provider with video as its core competency, announced the launch of HeatPro, a new thermal series of cameras designed to provide affordable all-weather deterrent and alerts. It is especially useful in perimeter protection and fire prevention applications.

The HeatPro Series Cameras feature deep-learning thermal video analytics for perimeter protection, and object temperature measurement and fire detection with real-time alarms. Features like accurate human/vehicle classification, visual and auditory alarms for perimeter protection, and speedy temperature exception alarms for fire prevention make them ideal for SMB (small and midsize business) applications.

Perimeter defense with AI

When securing a perimeter, higher accuracy and a low false alarm rate can help reduce operation costs. The HeatPro Series achieves this by developing powerful video analytics based on Deep Learning algorithms, radically reducing false alarms.

The cameras focus on short-range perimeter protection (0-50meters), where they deliver target detection and classification. The use of AI means that the cameras can distinguish between a person and a vehicle. This comes in especially useful when the two targets are close together. Traditionally, they can only be recognised as one 'target', but intelligent algorithms mean that they can be detected separately, increasing accuracy.

Thermal cameras are also able to easily locate potential threats in zero visibility conditions, where a conventional camera could not. They do this by detecting the latent radiation emissivity of an object, so not relying on visible light. This means they can operate in all-weather conditions and the darkest night. They also don't emit light, which means their presence is not obvious, making them useful in scenarios where they need to be hidden.

The HeatPro Series is also designed to be efficiently and quickly installed, with a simple, three-step deployment, bringing setup time down to 30 seconds. Traditionally thermal cameras require specialist engineers to configure and double check, takes both extra time and energy. HeatPro cameras have been designed with installation time and effort in mind - they are simpler to install and so installers can spend more time correctly configuring for optimum operations, and the lowest false alarm rate possible.

Temperature measurement for fire prevention

The HeatPro Series is also equipped with the ability to measure temperature. This process is very useful in a scenario where overheating could lead to fires. The camera can provide non-contact temperature measurement for fast and visible detection. This means that action can be taken earlier, potentially preventing a fire from the very beginning. The camera can trigger a fire alarm faster than a smoke sensor.

The temperature measurement function can also be used to help check any potential overheating issue and troubleshoot problems.

The series contains a number of different models and options, with bullet and turret forms, and Bi-spectrum or single lenses. The cameras can be built into a number of solutions, for instance seamlessly working with NVRs, AX PRO alarm systems, and even Hik-Connect for real-time mobile alerts by phone. They can be used in various scenarios - not least: residential buildings, offices, construction sites, car parks, retail outlets and warehouses.

"Dedicated to bringing professional protection solutions to the mass market, these cameras provide perimeter protection with unparalleled accuracy, and fire detection with superlative sensitivity", says Stefan Li, Director of Thermal Products at Hikvision. "Hikvision HeatPro Series provides professional protection made simple."

Click here to find out more about HeatPro.

About Hikvision

Hikvision is an IoT solution provider with video as its core competency. Featuring an extensive and highly skilled R&D workforce, Hikvision manufactures a full suite of comprehensive products and solutions for a broad range of vertical markets. In addition to the security industry, Hikvision extends its reach to smart home tech, industrial automation, and automotive electronics industries to achieve its long-term vision. Hikvision products also provide powerful business intelligence for end users, which can enable more efficient operations and greater commercial success. Committed to the utmost quality and safety of its products, Hikvision encourages partners to take advantage of the many cybersecurity resources Hikvision offers, including the Hikvision Cybersecurity Centre. For more information, please visit us at www.hikvision.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1477088/1.jpg
(Newser)  The US isn't the only nation fighting over competing versions of its past. While political and educational arguments rage over the 1619 Project, Poland's internal struggle over the Holocaust has resurfaced in a court case involving a recent academic history, Masha Gessen writes in a New Yorker column. Night Without End: The Fate of Jews in Selected Counties of Occupied Poland includes testimony that a prewar mayor of a small village, who was long thought of as a hero who saved Jews, showed Nazi forces the hiding place of a group of Jews in a forest; 22 people were then killed. The passage defamed Edward Malinowski, a Polish court ruled, in ordering an apology in print from Jan Grabowski and Barbara Engelking. The authors, who are Polish, have appealed. The testimony came from a Jewish woman who had said Malinowski saved her life. In more complete testimony years later, she implicated him in the deaths. "The human mind, whether individual or collective, struggles with such contradictory stories as Malinowski's," Gessen writes.

story continues below

Schools teach that ethnic Poles resisted the occuption by Nazi German during World War II, often by hiding Jews. But half of the European Jews slain3 millionwere killed in Poland, Gessen points out, and not always by or for Germans. The government works to keep any blame for those deaths from its people; a 2018 measure outlaws blaming Poland or Polish people for German atrocities. After the war, ethnic Poles took over the homes and small businesses that had belonged to Jews. There's never been restitution, Gessen writes, and fear remains in Poland that Jews will one day come back to reclaim what was theirs. Gessen compares the "Polish memory wars" to the American struggle to reconsider its myths and realities: "Poles have similar incentives to hold on to the story of noble victimhood rather than examine their history." The conflict is painful, a Polish philosopher said: "To lose the idea of Poles as the best people in the world is really heartbreaking." You can read the full column here. (Read more Poland stories.)
Type one diabetes patients need a more open approach from their doctors, supported by clear professional guidance, to unregulated 'Do-It-Yourself' (DIY) artificial pancreas systems (APS) if they are to reap the potential treatment benefits, according to a new article.

Frustrated by slow progress in managing type one diabetes, some persons with the condition have created DIY systems. These use a smartphone or mini computer to link a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump so that their bodies' glucose levels can be frequently adjusted and maintained in real-time.

Globally, there is an almost complete lack of guidance - legal, regulatory, or ethical - for clinicians, leading to doctors being cautious about discussing DIY APS with patients, let alone recommending or prescribing them.

Experts at the University of Birmingham today published their findings in Medical Law International - calling for greater trust and transparency between adult patients and clinicians around the potential benefits and risks of using DIY APS.

Muireann Quigley, Professor of Law, Medicine, and Technology at the University of Birmingham, commented: "Clinicians are encountering more patients considering using DIY systems. However, lack of clear guidance means even specialist doctors are not starting conversations with their patients for fear of potential regulatory and legal ramifications.

"This approach undoubtedly threatens to undermine trust and transparency, making the goal of shared decision-making harder to achieve. Analysing professional guidance from the UK regulator - the General Medical Council - nothing within it should be interpreted as preventing clinicians from starting discussions about these systems."

The team argues that the current cautious approach to discussing DIY APS means patients and clinicians cannot have open and honest discussions about the potential benefits and risks of using DIY APS, potentially damaging the doctor-patient relationship.

They note that, although the GMC advises clinicians to exercise caution before prescribing unapproved medical devices, they are not precluded from doing so - provided that doctors determine that DIY APS is both necessary to meet their patient's needs and there is sufficient evidence of effectiveness to justify their decision.

Dr. Joseph Roberts, Research Fellow in Law and Philosophy at the University of Birmingham, commented: "If doctors are to take shared decision-making seriously, then, at the very least, they ought to be free to initiate conversations with their patients about DIY APS. For them to be able to do this, and given the increasing use of DIY APS technology, guidance on clinicians' ethical and professional obligations has become an imperative - something which is needed sooner rather than later."

###

For further information, interviews or an embargoed copy of the research paper, please contact Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, University of Birmingham on +44 (0)782 783 2312 or t.moran@bham.ac.uk. Out-of-hours +44 (0) 7789 921 165.

Notes for editors

The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.

'Prescribing Unapproved Medical Devices? The Case of DIY Artificial Pancreas Systems' - Roberts, J.T.F, Moore, V, and Quigley, M is published by Medical Law International.

Work on this research was supported by Wellcome Trust Investigator Award in Humanities and Social Sciences 2019-2024 (Grant No: 212507/Z/18/Z), an ESRC Impact Acceleration Award, and a Quality-related Research grant from Research England.
Good morning, North State. Here's what you need to know to start your day on Tuesday, March 30.

COVID-19 vaccinations expand to people 16+ who live or work in Butte County

Everyone over the age of 16 and lives or works in Butte County is now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Since Butte County is ahead of the state, if you book an appointment through "MyTurn," click on the 65 to 74 age group, and then when it asks for your personal info, put your real birthdate. Click here to sign up.

Adventist Health on Skyway offering COVID-19 vaccines

Paradise Community vaccination clinics are now available by appointment only at Adventist Health on Skyway. There are six dates available in March and April. You can schedule both doses online, click here.

Paradise Vice Mayor accused of sending sexual texts, photos to undercover deputy returns for preliminary hearing

Former Paradise Vice Mayor Mike Zuccolillo is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on felony charges. He is accused of contacting a minor with intent to have sex, distributing harmful matter, and trying to meet a minor for lewd purposes. Zuccolillo was arrested last April. Prosecutors said he thought he was corresponding with a 16-year-old girl, but it was actually an officer.

US departments urged to become year-round wildfire agencies

State leaders are asking for full-time federal wildfire protection. In a letter to the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Alex Padilla requested that seasonal federal firefighter positions be made permanent. They point to the now almost year-round fire season in California and across the west coast.

Paskenta Rolling Hills clinic expansion ribbon cutting

The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians is set to open its newly expanded clinic in Red Bluff today. The expanded clinic will include additional specialty services for the local community while providing space for three primary care providers and a gynecology specialist. The ribbon cutting begins at 2 p.m. with opening remarks and several speakers.

Derek Chauvin trial continues with MMA fighter who watched George Floyd's death

The trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is set to continue today. Both sides issued opening statements Monday. The prosecutor said Chauvin "used excessive and unreasonable force" against Floyd while Chauvins defense suggested drugs lead to Floyds death. Chauvin faces three charges, including second-degree murder, for the death of Floyd.
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Thousands of Indonesian employers are signing up for a program that will allow them to purchase COVID-19 vaccines to administer to their workersa government-approved effort to accelerate vaccine distribution, coronavirus herd immunity, a return to normal work operations and economic recovery.

Despite its laudable goals, the endeavor, dubbed Gotong Royong, or mutual cooperation, has stirred concerns about fairness and access in a country with a slow vaccination rollout.

The plan, proposed by corporate leaders, received government approval in February. By mid-March, more than 11,500 employers had registered to participate in the program through Indonesia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, KADIN. KADIN is acting as an intermediary between companies and the government.

Once up and running, the corporate program is expected to deliver vaccines through private hospitals and clinics.

Indonesia's government, meanwhile, has dispensed at least 7.88 million vaccine doses, or enough to cover 1.5 percent of the population, assuming everyone needs two doses, Reuters reported in mid-March. The country reportedly aims to vaccinate about 180 million people this year. The nation was averaging more than 5,300 new cases daily over seven days and had logged 1.43 million COVID-19 cases total as of March 16, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Indonesians will receive vaccines at no cost either through the government or, once Gotong Royong is implemented, through a private employer.

A KADIN official said in a March 12 statement that the vaccines to be used in the employer program will come from different pharmaceutical companies than those being administered by the government. The Ministry of Health was preparing instructions for the corporate program, according to the official, who hoped they'd come soon so the program could get started.

Lia Alizia, managing partner at Jakarta law firm Makarim & Taira S., said the Gotong Royong program is expected to get underway in April.

Inequity Concerns

Despite benefits of the program, there also are potential downsides.

"In Indonesia, where COVID-19 is far from contained, vaccinations have great urgency. Among its benefits, the scheme lets the private sector purchase COVID-19 vaccines procured by the government and will speed vaccine distribution, leading to faster economy recovery," according to Jakarta-based Budidjaja firm in an e-mail. The program will ease the government's burden in distributing and paying for vaccines, the firm said.

Policy opponents might argue that the program will create inequity as employees are prioritized to get vaccinated. The program might also steer the limited vaccines toward the middle and upper classes, including those with special relationships with companies instead of toward more vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, according to the firm.

Jonathan Segal, an attorney with Duane Morris in Philadelphia, noted that KADIN intends the program to supplement, not supplant, Indonesia's public-sector vaccination program. The program could raise ethical issues that won't necessarily be limited to Indonesia, however, he said.

Consideration for Employers

Inequity concerns aside, participating employers will need to consider the logistics and potential legal risks.

Employers can take various steps to get ready to provide inoculations, including:

Preparing the criteria and prioritization for vaccine recipients.

Developing the logistics and schedule for distributing vaccines.

Arranging to monitor and report after vaccination.

Coordinating supervision in cooperation with the local and central governments.

Employers need to inform employees about the scientific facts surrounding the vaccines and understand the religious, medical and disability-related exceptions to inoculation requirements.

Companies should understand the potential legal liabilities surrounding participation, according to the Budidjaja firm, cautioning that such issues might touch on:

Vaccine safety, quality and efficacy.

Any illness or injuries as side effects and the coverage from the employee's compensation policy.

Company rules and disciplinary action against employees who refuse a vaccine.

Employees who agree to join an employer vaccination program should submit and sign a statement confirming their willingness and releasing and discharging the employer from liabilities for any side effects suffered after a vaccination, Alizia said. Employees should also acknowledge that they're in good condition to be vaccinated and have consulted a doctor or medical practitioner, she added.

Since employers are required to transmit their employees' personal data to KADIN, they should obtain the employees' consent in writing, according to Alizia. "It is also advisable to have an executed confidentiality agreement with KADIN to ensure KADIN will maintain confidentiality of the information and secure the relevant data in their electronic system," she said.

Jean Kim, an associate in Ogletree Deakins' Atlanta office and member of its Cross-Border Practice Group, noted key considerations for employers participating in such programs, including deciding:

How they will prioritize and administer the shots.

Whether they'll require vaccination for workplace entry.

How they will handle an employee's refusal to comply.

Whether they'll absorb the costs as an employee benefit to be a standard practice going forward.

"Indonesia is just the start," Kim said. "Once employers are able to administer and provide vaccines to their employees around the world, we expect a large number of companies to provide the option as requirements. And once they do, there will be legal, cultural and practical considerations at play.  Companies will want to examine such considerations country by country, but also from a global perspective, especially for multinational companies focusing on global company culture."

Dinah Wisenberg Brin is a freelance reporter and writer based in Philadelphia.
The capsule and its occupants will circle Earth at an altitude of 335 miles, about 80 miles higher than the orbit of the International Space Station. The launch date, originally planned for October, may be as soon as Sept. 15, Mr. Isaacman said.

In planning the mission, Mr. Isaacman had several goals.

He said that he wanted to give nonbillionaires a chance to hitch a ride. And he wanted to raise money for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, which treats children for cancer and other diseases at no charge, including a raffle for one of the Crew Dragon seats. Mr. Isaacman also said that he hoped this space crew would be more diverse than who has gone to space in the past, mostly white men.

He seems to have succeeded.

Last month, Mr. Isaacman and St. Jude announced that one seat would go to Hayley Arceneaux, a former patient of St. Jude, who now works as a physician assistant there. Ms. Arceneaux, 29, will be the youngest American ever to go to space and the first person with a prosthetic body part. (During her treatment for bone cancer, part of the bones in her left leg were replaced by metal rods.)

Image Hayley Arceneaux, a pediatric bone cancer survivor, during her treatment at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. Credit... St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, via Reuters

Dr. Proctor, who is African-American and holds a doctorate in science education, got on board by winning a contest sponsored by Mr. Isaacmans company, Shift4 Payments. Contestants used the companys software to design an online store and then tweeted videos describing their entrepreneurial and space dreams. (Using the software, Dr. Proctor has started selling her space-related artwork, and in her video, she reads a poem that she wrote.)
CCP Indoctrinates International School Students in China With Communist Ideology

While curricula in Chinas schools are designed and approved by the Chinese communist regime, international schools in China for foreign citizens have been independent of that. However, in recent years, the regime has tightened control and pushed its indoctrination into the international schools.

In 1987, the Chinese regime started to allow foreign embassies in China to open international schools for children of foreign diplomats. Since then, international schools for foreign citizens have become popular in mainland China among rich Chinese whose children have been allowed to enroll.

Chun Shenjun (alias), who was a former Chinese government official and now lives in California, told The Epoch Times that Chinas international schools are gradually losing their independence. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has tightened control over education in recent years, and the international schools are inevitably affected.

According to public data, International schools in mainland China have three categories: one is foreign international schools, which are run by foreign institutions or individuals; the other is private international schools set up by Chinese private capital; the third is international department and international classes within Chinese schools.

In addition to foreign students and students who are citizens of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, many wealthy mainland parents send their children to international schools where classes are taught in English to prepare them to study abroad in the future.

A Chinese student walks on the campus of a school in Temecula, Calif., on March 23, 2016. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Chun said that in the early days, international schools were a relative pure land in Chinas education system, free from the CCPs influence and interference. But now, the regime has ordered that CCP party branch committees be set up inside international schools.

The Chinese regime has tightened control over curriculum in international schools through policies in recent years.

In 2015 a proposal was put out at the CCPs annual National Peoples Congress to scrutinize the high school curriculum in international schools, especially the content related to ideology, sovereignty, ethnic policy, and religion. The proposal also suggested mandating the use of the CCP standardized curriculum in international schools.

In 2016, a government document entitled Shanghai Foreign-Related Private Schools Policy Interpretation Meeting was revealed to the public. It said that top CCP leaders believed the curriculum of international schools was out of control and required all the curricula in private international schools to be reviewed and approved by the CCP government. The document emphasized the control of ideological education in the curricula.

Chun said that now students in international schools have begun to diverge. Students from Hong Kong and Taiwan quarrel with local Chinese students over political issues. The textbooks in international schools now promote the CCPs ideology and narrative, such as saying that Hong Kong people are thugs, and China will not give up using military means to reunify Taiwan. Gradually the students at international schools are becoming divided. At first, they still rode the same school bus. Later, they had to ride separate school buses, and they were put into separate classes, she said.

According to Chun, some international schools even ended up building a wall on campus to separate international students from local Chinese students. Only students with Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan passports or a foreign nationality can take foreign teachers courses. This not only cancels the opportunity for mainland students to avoid the CCPs brainwashing courses but also makes the mainland students in international schools appear to be very isolated. The original purpose of establishing the international schools has been lost, and there is no opportunity for communication between Chinese and foreign students.

Mrs. Liu, who has lived in the United States for years, told The Epoch Times that she sent her children to international schools in China to develop their English language skills, but more importantly to escape the Chinese governments brainwashing education. Back then, the international school she chose used Cambridge textbooks and all teachers were foreign teachers. It was a relatively clean place in the Chinese education system, free of CCP ideology. She said: Chinas politics, culture, and history are all altered and distorted by the CCP. Instead of having children brainwashed, its better to go to an international school for education.

Liu did not expect that todays international schools would fall into the clutches of the CCP. She said that fortunately, her children already graduated, otherwise she really wouldnt know how to deal with it.

Chinese children have to take CCP political classes from elementary schools to colleges, Liu said. International schools were spared all that. The children wont be instilled in the CCP political ideology when they go abroad. This is one of the reasons why we chose to emigrate to the U.S.

She added that in China, all the information is filtered by the regime, and she hopes that her children will have more choices in academics and in life.

Chinese students bullying Hong Kong pro-democracy students in San Francisco, Calif., in October 2019. (Nathan Su/The Epoch Times)

Regarding many Chinese little pinkies (young pro-CCP Chinese) having emerged in recent years, publicizing CCP policies on the internet loudly, criticizing U.S. society, and defending the CCP regime in an aggressive wolf warrior style, Mrs. Liu believes its the product of CCPs brainwashing education.

The CCP has educated a stupid next generation. Thats why there are so many little pinkies who lack the ability to think independently, she said.

Chun said that after leaving the country, many Chinese students studying abroad still only use Chinese social media WeChat and Weibo for information. However, that information is filtered by the CCP and infused with its ideology. These Chinese little pinkies are created by the CCPs distorted system and by their parents fear of the regime.

Xu Xiuhui contributed to the report.
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[March 30, 2021] Rightway Raises $100M at $1.1B Valuation to Continue Redefining the Member Experience through Better Care Navigation and a New-To-The-World PBM

NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rightway, a leading healthcare technology and services company revolutionizing care navigation and pharmacy benefits, today announced that it has raised $100 million in Series C financing at a valuation of $1.1 billion. The round was led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from Thrive Capital, Tiger Global Management, and other existing investors. Rightway's robust product development, its growth to serve over 500k members across 850 clients, and a 250% increase in headcount position the company to bring a new level of transformation to the ailing healthcare landscape. The investment will be used to rapidly expand Rightway's footprint in the employer market and accelerate its advancement across health plans, third-party administrators and other strategic channels. The funding will also advance the build of RightwayRx, Rightway's new-to-the-world PBM that is rearchitecting the broken pharmacy benefits model by realigning stakeholders across the supply chain, enabling risk- and condition-based engagement, and driving optimal medication utilization through proprietary clinical protocols. Since its founding in 2017, Rightway has used a combination of dedicated, clinical guidance and member-centric technology to help members get the highest quality care at the best price. To date, Rightway has delivered industry-leading engagement and customer satisfaction that has driven double-digit decreases in total cost of care for clients. Rightway is committed to empowering and advocating for each member, simplifying the healthcare experience while driving better outcomes and lower costs. In 2020, Rightway launched RightwayRx, a PBM solution that eliminates legacy tactics and misaligned incentives, transforming the model into one that is fair and transparent. By combining this model with best-in-class member engagement and expert guidance, Rightway is delivering the only solution that puts the member at the center to sustainably reduce pharmacy spend. To date, RightwayRx has been able to deliver its clients an average of 20% reduction in year 1 pharmacy cost savings while simultaneously lowering member out-of-pocket costs.



Jordan Feldman , Rightway's CEO. "By pairing navigation with a new-to-the-world PBM, we believe that we are in the best position to engage employees, support their longitudinal healthcare journey, and substantially reduce costs for the member and their employer." Samir Kaul, founding general partner at Khosla Ventures, will be joining Rightway's board of directors. "We're excited to partner with Rightway as they continue to redefine the member experience in healthcare, improving outcomes and reducing cost of care for their clients," said Kaul. "PBMs are broken. Rightway's approach of creating alignment and transparency while introducing its best-in-class navigation is poised to fundamentally disrupt a $500B market for employer pharmacy spend," he added.

"We are pleased to welcome Samir to our board as he shares our vision of transforming healthcare through better technology, increased alignment, and a relentless focus on the experience for our members and our clients," remarked Feldman. To learn more about how Rightway is simplifying healthcare for employers and members, please visit Rightwayhealthcare.com . About Rightway Rightway is a technology and services company on a mission to simplify the healthcare experience. Its care navigation and pharmacy benefits solutions are delivered through a consumer-centric app that pairs every member with a live, clinician-led care team. By combining expert, human guidance with intuitive technology, Rightway drives members towards the best care and medication at the best price while eliminating wasteful and preventable spend. Advanced claims analytics enable Rightway's health guides to proactively engage high-risk members and close care gaps. Rightway currently partners with over 850 employer clients, delivers an ROI of 5X its cost, and provides a level of service that has earned it a net promoter score of 84. For more information, please visit www.Rightwayhealthcare.com. About Khosla Ventures Khosla Ventures provides venture assistance and strategic advice to entrepreneurs working on breakthrough technologies. The firm was founded in 2004 by Vinod Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems. With over fourteen billion dollars under management, the firm focuses on a broad range of areas including consumer, enterprise, education, financial services, semiconductors, health, AI, agriculture/ food, sustainable energy and robotics. Khosla has a long track record in financial services, having backed companies including Affirm, Fundbox, Square, Stripe and Upstart. Khosla Ventures is headquartered in Menlo Park, California. For more information, visit www.khoslaventures.com. Contacts:

Rita Lebedeva

Rightway Healthcare

rita.lebedeva@rightwayhealthcare.com

(917) 696-9184 Kristen McMahon

160over90

KMcMahon@160over90.com

(908) 418-7248 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rightway-raises-100m-at-1-1b-valuation-to-continue-redefining-the-member-experience-through-better-care-navigation-and-a-new-to-the-world-pbm-301257115.html SOURCE Rightway

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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  A former Bosnian soldier who fled custody while awaiting trial for murder in the 1994 killing of a fellow military officer has been arrested and jailed in Iowa after living for decades in the U.S. Federal agents arrested Dzevad Pajazetovic in Des Moines on March 1, following an extradition request from Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The 58-year-old remains in custody and a status conference is scheduled for Wednesday.

Pajazetovic had been living a quiet life for years in the Des Moines area, most recently in the suburb of Waukee.

He has a wife and adult children, worked at a tire factory and is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Supplier News

29 March 2021

Over the next 12 months of recovery, every dollar of revenue coming into your hotel counts. Winning means bringing in more share of revenue than your competitors. One of the most impactful ways to drive more revenue and make the biggest impact on your guests is by personalizing their experiences all along their journey, from marketing to booking, all the way through their entire time on your property, and then following up once the guest has checked out.

Fortunately, when implemented and operated properly, CRM technology can revolutionize the way you connect with your guests. Personalized and targeted marketing will convert at a higher rate. Tailored on-property experiences will wow the guest and lead to more revenue spend per guest. Personalized post-stay communications will increase your review scores. All together, these unique guest connections will drive loyalty, allow you to charge higher ADRs, position your hotel to lead its comp set in recovery and set your hotels up for long-term success.

A CRM allows hotels to consolidate profile data and put it in a view that is meaningful for recognition, personalization and communication. A strong CRM will provide a place to dig into these details, look at who your guests are and what their activities are in your hotel  and then be able to drive targeted communications to them based on those activities. It will allow the hotelier to see a guests value, based not only on their frequency or how much they spend but on booking, cancellation, upsell and revenue behaviors all together.

Companies that do this well see an increase in overall revenue. Connecting throughout the journey and having those connections be meaningful and useful drives long-term guest value  by relationship building and compelling guests to act, says Allegra Medina, director of product management at SHR.

We recently caught up with Medina to discuss how Maverick, SHRs well-integrated, cloud-based CRM tool, is positioned to catapult hotels into providing the next generation of guest experiences.

Q: Why is connecting with guests at different points along their journey so important?

Medina: There are a variety of psychological reasons why personalization and connecting with guests throughout their journey in personalized ways is important, but I think for hoteliers you can see why its valuable in the results. Personalized marketing efforts drive growth. They do this by building relationships with customers. Keep in mind that true personalization isnt as simple as saying, Hello Allegra and then blasting me with unrelated offers. It means knowing me, knowing my behavior as it relates to you and what you have to offer, and then customizing that messaging or interaction based on that information. This is why having an integrated CRS to your CRM is so valuable, because it lets the CRM tell the Booking Engine or the Call Center application who the guest is, and what to show them in their path.

Q: What data needs to be shared between the CRS and CRM?

Medina: In a perfect world, the reservation record in CRS should be shared with the CRM in its entirety. This should mean not only that the CRM receives each of the fields in the reservation and the guest profile associated with the reservation, but the field definitions as well. Many times in CRM or even PMS connectivity, there are fields for reservations data such as Rate Code or Room Type or Deposit and Cancel Rule codes, but they are just codes and the CRM would need to either exclude usage of them or manually map every code that exists into the system. I have seen it done both ways, and both ways can be challenging. Another item that is really valuable to share between the two systems is guest profile information outside of a reservation record. This allows for the CRS to be aware of a known guest by way of authentication or profile search so that the guest profile can influence the rates returned, can influence how a call center agent recognizes a guest, can provide discreet offers based on login, membership type, membership tier, or reward.

Q: How should hotels be personalizing guest experiences differently on the various booking channels?

Medina: On your branded website, your booking engine, your call center application  knowing and recognizing the guest, giving them access to manage their information, serving them rates, rewards, offers that are customized to them based on their activity and cannot be found on other channels (without risk of parity concerns with your OTA channels) are really valuable.

For the PMS, having an integration to the CRM to view CRM profiles and key information is helpful in the front office when booking direct. When this isnt possible because not all PMS systems allow for this behavior, having a way to recognize them by way of the CRM is helpful. This allows the front office to recognize the guest during direct-booking opportunities but even more importantly once that guest is on property. A great booking experience is the lead-in here, and the property gets to follow through on that relationship, building from the moment of check in to check out, using CRM data to help facilitate the actions.

Q: Can hotel companies with a portfolio of hotels track guests as they move between different properties?

Medina: Yes. We recognize that even in a single brand or hotel group there are sometimes needs for data to be shared and sometimes not. Maverick accounts for two methods of setup:

One  we can build the brand with all hotels included, where all hotel profiles are shared. This allows guests to be viewed at a brand level, while still being known as a guest of a specific hotel or grouping of hotels within the brand. Cross-hotel utilization is a big deal for some hotel groups, and so you need to be able to see one guest profile with all hotel activity associated  you can segment them by property still for reporting or marketing purposes but still see a whole view of the guests value to the brand.

Two  we can build all hotels within that brand as individual properties, where none of the data is shared. This allows for management groups to have a single chain within their booking path, but to treat guests and guests profiles independent of that brand. It would mean that none of the profile history is shared between hotels and the cross-hotel utilization cannot be seen at the brand level, but also means that each hotel has only its own data for reporting or segmentation.

Q: How are hotels using past stay history and preferences to tailor the offers we present to guests?

Medina: Typically, hoteliers use past reservation activity to determine marketing lists or who to communicate with. Depending on the system they use, they may get more targeted within that information by filtering specific guests on specific reservations for specific reasons but, in general terms, it is used to send offers such as, Youve stayed with us before, we miss you, heres an offer.

Maverick supports using history in a variety of ways. In Maverick, the system can use history to understand guest behavior and use AI to determine guest scoring for profiles based on activity. This means that I can determine based not only on room spend or frequency or quantity of reservations, but also frequency of cancellations or quantity and amount of non-room spend a particular grouping for customers to fall within, from my best guest to my lost guest and everything in between. Maverick can also communicate with guests based on activity or engagement with previous marketing activity.

Where are you at in your personalization efforts? Whether or not you have a loyalty program, a CRM will allow you to start collecting guest information, offering fenced rates and begin recognizing guests while theyre in the booking process. There is always more opportunity to build better guest relationships, which will undoubtedly lead to increased revenue. Position your hotels to lead their markets in recovery by building better guest connections all along their journey.

For more resources on how hoteliers are using technology to position their properties for recovery, please visit SHRs Beyond Recovery resources page.
Cars travel north towards Los Angeles on interstate highway 5 in San Diego, Calif., on Feb. 10, 2016. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

Mileage Tax Would Have Unfairly Targeted Californians and the Poor

Commentary

President Joe Biden is expected to travel to Pittsburg, Penn. March 31 to kick off his campaign for a $3 trillion infrastructure bill. One provision that would have been particularly costly to the poor and Californians is apparently no longer being considered despite being previously mulled.

In an interview with CNBC March 26, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg revealed that one idea under the bill was to tax according to miles driven rather than gasoline used.

On March 29, however, he told CNN that a mileage tax was no longer being considered, nor is a tax on increased gasoline use.

For Californians, a mileage tax or increased gasoline taxes would have been particularly punitive.

California leads the country in buying zero-emission and fuel-efficient cars. These vehicles are typically more expensive than others in their size category. They were purchased by many Californians not only to reduce green-house gas emissions, but avoid paying state and federal gasoline taxes.

Any proposal targeting miles driven would have punished such well-meaning Californians.

Secondly, Californians spend more time getting to work than those living in other states.

Across the U.S., only 9.8 percent of all Americans commute longer than 60 minutes to work. This contrasts sharply to the 14.4 percent of people living in Los Angeles who drive more than an hour to get to work. Worse, 18.6 percent of those living in San Francisco, Oakland or Berkeley take longer than 60 minutes to get to work.

In Southern California, 18.4 percent of people living in Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario spend more than an hour traveling to work.

Further, economic analysis shows that any mileage-tax would almost certainly disproportionately hurt the poor. Those who cannot afford to live in city centers are forced to commute long distances.

They choose to live in lower rent areas because they have less money to spend.

Of course, we will learn much more about the infrastructure billwhich also includes job creation, tuition assistance and other measures well outside of infrastructurewhen Biden outlines his plans.

Though it might not be coming this time, Californians and those who care about the poor are cautioned to remain vigilant around any talk of mileage tax.

Tim Shaler is a professional investor and economist based in Southern California. He is a regular columnist for The Epoch Times, where he exclusively provides some of his original economic analysis.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The minister of Water and Environment, Sam Cheptoris has blamed MPs for failing government efforts to ban the usage of environmentally-degrading polythene (kaveera) in Uganda.

While addressing the media at the Uganda Media Centre to commemorate 'Earth Hour', Cheptoris said everyone in the world is reminded of their role to protect and conserve nature and the environment and kaveera remains one of the major dangers to mother nature.

Cheptoris said: "A couple of years ago, as a ministry, we had decided to ban polythene bags completely. But when our stand reached parliament, they decided that only polythene bags below 30 microns should be banned, scampering all our efforts, to rid this country of the looming danger from them."

But even after parliament approved an immediate ban on the usage of polythene below 30 microns in terms of size back in 2018, implementation has been non-existent. Uganda still has all sorts of polythene in all corners of the country.

Cheptoris said he's disappointed because so much polythene has gone into our soils, swamps and water sources, which is a big danger to the future of this country. Fish stock in the lakes is reducing because of plastics and soils are not producing much quality food as a result.

Cheptoris called upon his colleagues in parliament to consider the significance of their actions on Uganda. Cheptoris argued that a safe environment was important for the future generation and for the overall productivity of the people in this country.

The Archbishop of Church of Uganda, Stephen Kaziimba said that as the church they have taken a stand, to plant trees at every church event.

For example, during confirmation ceremonies, every confirmed child is expected to plant a tree. Cheptoris revealed that government intends to plant 40 million trees this year.

David Duli World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) country director warned that the destruction the earth is facing is a serious matter, because only 9 per cent of plastic waste around the world is recycled.

jovi@observer.ug
It was a first day of school unlike any other. There were no tears and no hesitation Tuesday at Oaklands Madison Park Academy Primary as the youngest students headed through the gates for their first day of in-person learning, joining classmates they had seen on screens for a year.

They skipped, did cartwheels and never looked back at their parents peering through the cyclone fence, unable to enter the school grounds.

Students throughout Oakland who hadnt set foot in a classroom in a year rushed onto school grounds as sites reopened to the youngest students.

I feel good. And happy, said Steven Hernandez, 5, at Madison Park. He anticipated that he would be writing and doing my homework, after settling into his desk, his mask on and spaced several feet from his teacher and classmates.

His mom, Celia Gomez, said she was excited for him to learn away from a screen after 143 school days of distance learning. Hes out of the house.

About 50% of eligible students in preschool through second grade were expected at reopened schools across Oakland on Tuesday, said Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell, with more expected in the coming days and weeks as they adjust to the new schedule. Students are in class for only 2 hours in the afternoon two days a week.

This is a marathon, not a sprint; an era, not a moment, she said of the process of reopening amid an ongoing pandemic

The reopening came in the wake of a year of distance learning that left many students struggling academically and emotionally and many parents frantically balancing work and child care.

The reopening of some Oakland Unified School District campuses Tuesday was one success amid confusion and uncertainty surrounding the return to in-person learning. On Friday, just days before schools were set to open, the district revealed that more than a dozen elementary schools and preschools would not be reopening as planned because of a shortage of teachers. Staff at these sites opted not to return until required to do so in mid-April, despite incentives including an $800 stipend and prioritized vaccine access.

School board President Shanthi Gonzales said Friday that the setback was discouraging: Its disappointing, and Im very sympathetic to the families. I wish more teachers were volunteering.

Those who did volunteer were busy with preparations Tuesday. Madison Park elementary teacher Precious James said she feels very, very, very, very safe to be back. Just to see little people on campus is exciting for me, she said. COVID-19 took something from us were getting back today. Were getting our little people back.

Under an agreement between the district and the union, all elementary students and at least one middle or high school grade will return to classrooms for some level of in-person learning by April 19. Vulnerable older groups will also be allowed to return in mid-April.

Families have the option to continue distance learning, and around 45% of the 36,000 students in the district are opting not to return to in-person instruction, according to OUSD spokesperson John Sasaki.

Those choosing to return to classrooms will spend the mornings online for virtual instruction and then head to schools for in-person time in the afternoons. The district has emphasized that in-person learning will focus on instruction, offering students time for socialization, academic resources and other support.

This is a long time coming, said Selam Brown, a kindergarten parent, whose son IV (pronounced ivy, short for Malchester Brown IV), attends Thornhill Elementary in the Montclair neighborhood and was very excited to go in person.

On Tuesday morning, IV, 6, went to kindergarten as usual on Zoom, where he and his classmates solved math puzzles, played learning games and shared in a round of show-and-tell.

After an early lunch of macaroni and cheese and apples, IV was loaded into the car a half hour ahead of schedule by his dad, Malchester, who was concerned about traffic.

Outside the school, a line of students and parents, spaced 3 feet apart, coiled down the street. When the gates eventually opened, each parent presented a checklist to school staff, attesting that their child was free of symptoms. Passing inspection, each student was given a green paper, the ticket through the doors.

IV skipped through the gates as his dad yelled through the fences, trying to say goodbye. Eventually IV looked up, waved, and didnt look back again.

Selam Brown is grateful that IV was well prepared by his teachers for in-person learning. She trusts his school and his teacher to keep him safe.

Were so thankful for these teachers and what theyve done over the past year, she said. Theyre amazing. According to a district survey, over 80% of families at IVs school planned to send their children back to classrooms.

Brown said that as happy as she was to send IV back, even so late into the school year, she and her family plan to stay in the district, unlike families fleeing to private schools.

But its not unconditional support. I now have a bad taste in my mouth.

Some of the dissatisfaction is connected to the minimal amount of time in classrooms. OUSD parent Megan Bacigalupi said that while she is happy her two kids will get to return to Crocker Highlands Elementary School, it is not nearly enough. Bacigalupi is also a parent advocate with OUSD Parents for Transparency and Safe Reopening.

Given the change in distancing guidance, OUSD should be offering students who have been out of their classrooms for over a year as much time as possible inside their school building, she said, referring to the Centers for Disease Control guidance changing from 6 feet of distance between desks to 3 feet.

At Madison Park, parent Joe Salt said he didnt mind that his twin boys, Steven and John, would be back only in the afternoons until summer. His kindergartners, who could not wait for this day, were happy to have any school at all.

It doesnt matter, he said. Whatever works for them.

Jill Tucker and Emma Talley are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com, emma.talley@sfchronicle.com Twitter @emmat332, @jilltucker
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This is the moment Laurence Fox launched a drive-by heckle at Sadiq Khan as he kicked off his bid to take him on in London's mayoral election.

The 42-year-old actor is standing as a candidate for the Reclaim Party that he set up last year to fight the 'culture wars' taking place in Britain.

Launching his campaign to a crowd in Westminster, Mr Fox said that Mayor Khan 'Khan't' be trusted to lead the capital, and that he was 'ashamed to be British'.

He then boarded a 'Free London' branded battle bus before riding to a campaign event the Mayor was holding nearby.

In a high-pitched voice, Mr Fox shouts: 'Alright Sadiqi-wiqi! I'm nicking your house, mate!' as he passes the incumbent mayor.

Mr Fox today attacked London's 'cathedral of wokery' as he pledged to erect hundreds more statues of military heroes across London in response to protests to remove the likes of Winston Churchill's bust last summer.

He also said that he will refuse to take a Covid vaccine until 2023 when monitoring for some of the jabs will be completed.

His campaign for the May elections will be completely funded by a donation from ex-Tory political donor and financier Jeremy Hosking, who is worth 375million.

Mr Fox has promised to 'unlock London' in May if elected, and said he would help people to 'reclaim their freedom'.

Arriving at his campaign launch on a bus daubed with the slogan 'Free London', Mr Fox said: 'I am not a politician. I never wanted to be a politician,' before quipping that he 'used' to be an actor.

Laurence Fox told a crowd in Westminster that he wanted to 'reclaim your freedom' and promised to 'unlock London now' if elected London mayor

Arriving on a 'Free London' branded battle bus, Fox said: 'I am not a politician. I never wanted to be a politician. I am a single father and I am an actor, well I was an actor'

Mr Fox is standing as a candidate for the Reclaim Party that he set up last year to fight the 'culture wars' taking place in Britain

'We are here to reclaim your freedom and we need to unlock London.

'Someone needs to unlock London now, and I can tell you one thing: Sadiq Khant. And Sadiq Wont. Sadiq Khan is ashamed to be British.'

An ardent opponent to the national lockdown, he will stand against Sadiq Khan in the mayoral elections to be held on May 6.

He added: 'Freedom of speech is under threat in the cathedral of wokery that is London.'

Despite polling somewhat behind Mr Khan's closest rival Shaun Bailey, Mr Fox said he is 'in it to win it, you don't get a medal for coming second... you do at school egg and spoon races.'

After making his stump speech, Mr Fox took a pool of journalists on an open-top bus tour of London, seeing sights including Downing Street and Nelson's Column

Fox is standing as a candidate for the Reclaim Party that he set up last year to fight the 'culture wars' taking place in Britain

Jeremy Hosking: Fox's sole Reclaim Party backer Ranked number 351 on the Sunday Times Rich List with a net worth of 375 million, Jeremy Hosking has been a prominent political donor for much of the last decade. Originally a long time Conservative Party donor, financier Hosking caused a stir when he made a 200,000 donation to Nigel Farage's surging Brexit Party ahead of the 2019 European elections. The move was seen as a signal of growing discontent for Hosking over the handling of Brexit, who described Mr Farage as 'the only person in a leadership position who has been telling us the truth for 25 years'. Coming from a background of asset management, Hosking owns a major share of Crystal Palace Football Club as well as in FlyBe and some heritage railways, of which he is a noted enthusiast. In an interview with The Telegraph unveiling his new party, Laurence Fox revealed that Hosking had provided 5million in funding that could take the party 'to the next general election'. Advertisement

Mr Fox's policies have centred mainly around fighting the 'culture wars' he says are taking place across the country.

Following attempts to topple several statues in the capital, as well as a debate over Lord Nelson's place in Trafalgar Square, Mr Fox came out ardently in favour of protecting statues and has since said he would to erect hundreds more.

'As Mayor of London, I want to honour the heroes who have contributed above and beyond the call of duty for our nation,' he wrote in the Express.

'If elected, every winner of the Victoria Cross or George Cross will be honoured by having a plaque placed on the street that they were born.'

He added that each hero would get a state in a Park of London Heroes next to Horseguards' Parade.

Mr Fox has also been a strong opponent to the lockdown and has been criticised for skepticism of vaccines.

Today he confirmed that he will refuse the vaccine until after 2023, when he claims clinical trials will be concluded.

'It's not going to do me any harm [not having it]. I think people should do what they want with their own bodies in terms of vaccinations. It should be private, like voting,' he told Guido Fawkes.

Reform UK's Richard Tice and Martin Daubney were also at the launch, according to the Guido Fawkes.

It is understood Fox has made a deal for Mr Tice to support him during the campaign rather than standing a separate candidate against Sadiq Khan, and Mr Tice will stand for London Assembly.

Shortly after the launch, Mr Khan unveiled his own 'jobs, jobs, jobs' pledge to spend 32m on employment assistance as part of his re-election campaign.

Speaking outside the Savoy Hotel, the mayor said the election is 'a two-horse race' and asked Londoners to 'lend me their vote so we can focus on jobs, jobs, jobs'.

'These new training academies will play a key role in helping Londoners get into good quality and well-paid jobs in the future,' he added.

Last week an Opinium/Evening Standard poll last week showed Khan with 53 per cent of the vote and a 25-point lead over Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey.

This puts the mayor on track to produce the largest ever landslide victory for a London mayor election.

Lib-Dem candidate Luisa Porritt and the Green's Sian Berry each received 7 per cent, ahead of UKIP's Peter Gammons on 2 per cent and Womens Equality Party candidate Mandu Reid on 1 per cent.

Two per cent of respondents selected 'another candidate' which includes Mr Fox.

It comes after Mr Fox's outspoken views on lockdown saw him receive a visit from police who warned his campaigning may be 'breaking Covid rules'.

Shortly after Mr Fox's Reclaim launch, Mr Khan unveiled his own 'jobs, jobs, jobs' pledge to spend 32m on employment assistance as part of his re-election campaign

Last week an Opinium/Evening Standard poll last week showed Khan with 53 per cent of the vote and a 25-point lead over Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey

Mr Fox, who starred in the ITV series Lewis, is seeking legal advice two Metropolitan Police officers confronted him on his doorstep in Lambeth, south London yesterday and told him to be mindful of current lockdown laws.

Government rules on campaigning for the local elections on 6 May state that party activists should not gather in groups and should canvas alone on the doorstep.

In a video of the exchange shared by Mr Fox on Twitter, the police said he had been reported for breaking rules while campaigning. However, they admitted that they had 'no evidence per se' to support the complaint.

Mr Fox, who launched the anti-woke Reclaim party to fight the 'culture wars' slammed the Met's 'mild intimidation' and has revealed he is taking legal advice.

Laurence Fox is seen attending an anti-lockdown rally in Hyde Park, London on March 20, 2021

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the actor accused the force of investigating a 'non-crime' and said he has 'lots of questions' for Scotland Yard.

'I actually felt quite sorry for the police officer I filmed,' Mr Fox told this publication. 'He clearly didn't know why he was there. No one did.

'The police have been put in an impossible position, enforcing these sorts of rules and investigating non-crimes reported by anonymous snitches.

'I am in the process of consulting legal advice on the incident. We have lots of questions for the Met over what happened and why.'

Mr Fox called the incident 'a very worrying thing in a democratic society'. He added: 'We do not live in North Korea or China. We live in Great Britain.'
[March 30, 2021] The Queer Student Union at the University of Virginia Announces the Election of the First Openly Transgender and First Chinese-American Student Council President

In an unprecedented election, the University of Virginia student body has elected Abel Liu as its Student Council president. Liu is the first university student government president who was openly transgender upon election in the nation (on record). Liu also sets a milestone as University of Virginia's first Chinese-American Student Council president in its 202-year history. Capturing more than 81 percent of the votes, Liu is focused on fundamentally reforming student government and running his platform based on equity, empowerment, and renewal. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005926/en/ Abel Liu is the first University student government president who was openly transgender upon election in the nation. Liu also sets a milestone as University of Virginia's first Chinese-American Student Council president in its 202-year history. He won the election with more than 81 percent of the student ballots. (Photo: Business Wire) "We are excited to announce that Abel Liu is the first University of Virginia openly transgender and first Chinese-American Student Council president in the history of the school," said Blair Smith, president of The Queer Student Union at U.Va. "He is a fierce leader and a testament to change, equity and inspiration to all." Liu is a third-year Echols Scholar majoring in Sociology and Economics and has been an active member of the school's political landscape. He currently serves as chair of the Student Counil representative body, where he oversees representatives from all undergraduate and graduate schools. Liu has also held positions in various Student Council and University Board committees including the Financial Accessibility Committee and the Ad-Hoc Committee to Support Student Workers.



"I facilitate change at the university level that centers on empowerment, radical compassion, and the redress of historical injustices," said Liu. "These themes align with our national conversation, so I hope to champion a model of student government that can drive equitable reform across the country. I'm proud to be part of this change, to get things done, and to make a real impact in people's lives." Building Student Morale & Change During Pandemic

During the pandemic, Liu has been instrumental in building student morale and equity for students. He co-founded the U.Va. Mutual Aid network, which has since distributed over $70,000 to support over 650 students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Liu also successfully lobbied for the credit/general credit/ no credit option for this academic year alongside the Young Democratic Socialists of America and the First-Generation Low-Income Partnership at U.Va. As a result, the University adopted the grading change for the entire 2020-2021 academic year. The policy eases educational inequities exacerbated by COVID-19 and allows UVA's 17,000 undergraduate students to prioritize their mental health. Additionally, Liu said his work as the co-creator of an equity-oriented COVID-19 reopening working group helped to secure pay for student workers during operating freezes and ensure wellness days this semester. "This is an important and overdue step toward full participation and representation of all students," said Julie Caruccio, assistant vice president of student affairs and associate dean of students. "The fact that Abel earned a landslide victory in the face of multiple instances of transphobia should be understood for what it is: a clear message that ideas and effort prevail here." A native of San Francisco, a city known for political change and LGBTQ rights, Liu attended Redwood High School in Marin County and was captain of the Speech and Debate Team, president of Gay, Transgender, Straight Alliance Club, and was salutatorian. While at Redwood High School, he founded Elix Incubator LLC, an internationally acclaimed impact incubator program for student entrepreneurs. Additionally, in the summer of 2020, Liu interned as a Cisco (News - Alert) business analyst, where he consulted for Global Partner Readiness and Central Partner Operation teams on strategic growth and positioning. For more information on Abel Liu, visit: LinkedIn (News - Alert) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/abelgliu

Instagram: abelgliu About The Queer Student Union at the University of VA QSU organizes at the University of Virginia around three central pillars. By educating ourselves and others about queer identity, we are cultivating an empathetic community that understands and respects us. By building community through social activities and special events, we are bringing LGBTQ students together for friendship and solidarity. And by pursuing activism on behalf of UVA's queer community, we are helping to ensure that we have a united voice with which to work toward a more accepting University. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005926/en/

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The agreement appoints XTEK as the exclusive distributor of the Virolens product in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific independent states and specific named accounts outside the Australian region.

Exclusivity is subject to minimum sales requirements in the first year.

( ) has signed an agreement with KeyOptions Pty Ltd to exclusively distribute and support Virolens, which is designed to screen for SARS-CoV-2 in around 20-30 seconds, in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific independent states.

The Virolens system is a COVID-19 screening device based on microscopic holographic imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) software technology.

It uses a digital camera to capture holographic images to analyse saliva samples, with the data run through a neural network computer which is trained to identify the virus from other cells, delivering an end result in around 20-30 seconds.

Under the two-year agreement, XTEK will be the exclusive distributor of Virolens products, consumables, training and maintenance to end-users, third-party service providers and others who will carry out testing at sites.

The Virolens system

Virolens is designed to screen for SARS-CoV-2 in approximately 20-30 seconds (98.1% sensitivity [true positive], 99.7% specificity [true negative] based on results of an internal in-vitro validation study - 184 samples).

Virolens is made by a UK start-up, i-Abra, and manufactured by a listed company in the UK.

The Virolens product has been accepted by the UK Medical and Healthcare product Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and an application has been lodged by KeyOptions with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia.

Revenues to XTEK from the sale of Virolens are subject to the TGA approval and are dependent on potential end customers converting expressions of interest into firm orders.
A massive huntsman has jumped onto an unsuspecting father while his young daughter watched on in horror.

Metui Tongatua, was driving a quad bike down a deserted road in North Queensland with his two dogs and daughter in the back trailer on Sunday, March 28.

He spotted the large spider crawling down the vehicle's handlebars and started filming when it suddenly launched itself at him.

A massive huntsman has jumped onto a father during a holiday in Northern QLD (pictured)

Metui from Maningrida in the Northern Territory, jumped backwards in surprise and began to yell as he tried to brush off the spider.

Arachnologist Dr Robert Raven from the Queensland Museum, said the vibrations from the quad bike attract spiders at a 'rocket speed'.

'We don't know why but spiders will cover your tyres and become stirred up from the engine creating the deep vibrations,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

He said spiders will gather and behave erratically if the vehicle is an older model and runs on diesel.

The footage, posted on Facebook, left viewers horrified at the encounter.

'Freaking aggressive spider there,' one woman said.

'I would have died on the spot,' another commented.

'My worst nightmare, I would have sold my bike', another said.
An American Internet security company (Lookout Inc) recently revealed that a group of Indian hackers known as Confucius had carried out a hacking campaign against Pakistani military and nuclear program officials from sometime in 2017 until the end of 2020. The smartphones of victims were attacked with innocent looking apps containing malware called Sunbird that eventually gets user information (contact lists, geolocation history, email, texts and audio and video files) to servers that were known and not the kind normally used by hackers. The infected apps were often Android security or chat and dating apps designed for a Pakistani audience. While thousands of people downloaded the infected apps, fewer than 200 had the malware activated because those users were on a target list of people the hackers wanted to get data from. Confucius has been active for a long time and known for being especially careful about not being detected as they specialize in hacking organizations who employ lots of defenses against any kind of computer hacking.

The Confucius operation was discovered when some of the stolen data files were discovered before they would be deleted from the unsuspecting storage after Confucius came to get them. This enabled an Internet security firm to track down the infected apps and find out who the targets were. Meanwhile Sunbird is still out there and being improved.

It was also discovered that Sunbird was just an Indian version of a more widely used malware called Sunservice. The Confucius group also used a stealthier and less capable malware called Hornbill. This one only sent back chat data and used far less battery power than Sunbird. Hornbill was actually more widely used as a reconnaissance app, to discover which infected phones were being used by people in the Pakistani military or nuclear weapons programs. If they were not, Hornbill was ordered to erase itself and leave no trace of ever being on the phone. If the user was a target, Hornbill assisted in installing Sunbird before erasing itself. Sunbird took more hacker time and effort to install and operate on an infected phone. Sunbird uploaded a lot of data and this had to be done carefully lest it ran down the battery quickly enough for the user to notice and possibly have the phone checked. That would often reveal the presence of Sunbird.

The Confucius hack was not the only one carried out in this part of the world. In mid-2018 a group of Pakistani hackers, who specialize in surveillance software for parents to track their children (or a spouse) were hired by the Pakistani intelligence agency (ISI, or Inter Service Intelligence agency) to create spyware (Stealth Mango for Android and Tangelo for IOS) versions and then help distribute it (using Facebook Messenger) to some key government officials and civilians in Afghanistan, India, Iraq, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. This approach uses a lot of social engineering as the hackers must contact the target individuals and persuade them to download an app that pretends to be something other than spyware. Most targeted individuals were either not interested or didnt trust the offer. The most secure (resistant to this spyware) cell phone was the iPhone and the spyware would only work on the small number of iPhones that that had been modified (jailbroken) to run apps that did not come from the Apple App Store. As usual, the Android phones were much more vulnerable. In any event, it appears that only about a dozen people were persuaded to install the app. That, it turned out, was enough key people to collect a lot of important data.

The Stealth Mango/Tangelo effort was another intelligence-gathering operation that, in this case, collected a lot of sensitive data about American and Australian military and diplomatic activities. Collecting and transmitting the data, without the phone owner being aware, was how Stealth Mango/Tangelo was discovered by an Australian Internet security company in early 2018. Stealth Mango/Tangelo needed a lot of permissions on the infected phone in order to work and mostly went after data (documents and photos) as well as messages, location and contact lists. At least 40 GB of material was stolen from the infected phones by the hackers before Google and Apple were informed and victims were notified and the spyware was disabled. Customers of Internet security firms were warned that apps like this will continue to be used. Actually, this sort of spyware has been around for quite a while and the latest ISI and Indian use of it was just another example. Over the next few years updated versions of Stealth Mango kept showing up, being used against a new group of victims.

Internet hacking operations are not unusual for the ISI as Pakistan and India have been using the Internet to spy on each other for decades. Even before the Internet became widely available in the late 1990s, there was an ongoing "war" between Indian and Pakistani hackers. Most of this has been little more than vandalism (defacing web pages and the like), but there have been some more serious hacks.

Another fun fact is that Pakistan has always had the largest software developer and hacker community of any Moslem country. India developed a larger software development industry because, like Pakistan, most of the software specialists knew English. Early on Pakistan developed a large, and growing, software development industry of its own. In fact, the first known computer virus, the "Brain Virus" was written by Pakistani programmers in the late 1980s. "Brain" was created to help protect software a Pakistani firm had created and was selling, from pirating (illegal copies). But, instead, the Brain virus got out of control, and the rest is history. Pakistan has a lot of homegrown talent for their computer crime operations, and the ISI, to recruit from.

Most Pakistani programmers want to make an honest living with their skills. Despite that, hacking got so bad in Pakistan that in 2008 the government enacted the "Prevention of Electronic Crimes" law. In addition to explicitly describing various Internet-based crimes, and declaring them criminal acts, it also defined cyberterrorism and the penalties for Internet terrorists. If someone causes the death of another because of cyberterrorism, the maximum punishment is execution. But the law only applies to those hacking Pakistanis. While ISI saw this hacking as a problem, it was also an opportunity when used to go after real or imagined enemies. Here Pakistan would follow the example of their Chinese patrons.

As more Internet users moved to smartphones so did the hackers. Smartphone users were even more valuable, and vulnerable than users of desktop and laptop computers. In that respect, the Pakistani and Indian hacks of each others smartphone users was not unique.
Minister of the Interior Lucian Bode and Labor Minister Raluca Turcan signed on Tuesday a cooperation protocol aimed at informing and protecting Romanian seasonal workers who take jobs abroad.

The Ministry of the Interior said in a release that the Romanian Police, the Romanian Gendarmerie, the Border Police and the National Anti-Trafficking Agency will conduct joint activities with the legal entities that carry out labor intermediation and foreign placement activities, with road passenger transport companies, at border checkpoints, in airports, railway stations, bus stations and in other locations where information is being posted on the organized movement of Romanian citizen groups to work abroad.

Also, the foundations are laid for a common plan that will allow a more efficient cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior and the Labor Ministry for the efficient exchange of the necessary information for keeping the Romanians who choose to work abroad informed and protected.

To this effect, a working group joining experts from all the responsible institutions will be set up, that will meet regularly to establish and implement the necessary measures.

The protocol signed today will stay in force until January 1, 2022, with the possibility of extension.
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are unique units of data secured on a blockchain digital ledger, and can represent creative works such as video, audio, and art.

Boca Raton, Florida, March 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company ( OTCQB:WINR ) (Simplicity Esports), announced that it will be selling a series of limited edition NFTs exclusively available to members of its esports gaming centers. Simplicity Esports has the largest footprint of esports gaming centers in North America with a database of over 400,000 paying customers.

Roman Franklin, President of Simplicity Esports, stated, As we enter the summer months, we will be promoting memberships throughout the footprint. The memberships will give customers exclusive access to purchase limited edition esports NFTs. I see an opportunity for us to reward our members with access to unique events and items, such as NFTs as a thank you for their recurring commitment to our gaming centers. We are also in discussions with Project Token regarding other ways blockchain can make our gaming centers more secure, efficient, and beneficial to customers.

Simplicity Esports previously announced they have partnered with Project Token and the University of Central Florida (UCF) Blockchain Innovation Lab to create, mint, and sell NFTs.

About Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company:

Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company (WINR) is an established brand within the esports industry, competing and streaming in popular games across different genres, including Apex Legends, PUBG Mobile, Overwatch, League of Legends, and various EA Sports titles. Simplicity Esports is also in the process of designing, minting, and selling non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for the esports and gaming industries. Simplicity Esports also owns and operates 12 and is the franchisor for more than 20 Esports Gaming Centers providing the public an opportunity to experience gaming and esports in a social setting, regardless of skill or experience. Simplicity Esports also organizes and hosts various in-person events and play from home, online tournaments. Simplicity Esports also owns a Riot Games League of Legends franchise and top Brazilian esports organization, Flamengo Esports.

Apex Legends, PUBG Mobile, Overwatch, League of Legends, Fortnite, EA Sports and Free Fire are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond Simplicity Esports control, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of Simplicity Esports Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on August 31, 2020 and our subsequent SEC filings, as amended or updated from time to time. Copies of Simplicity Esports filings with the SEC are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Simplicity Esports undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.
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Gaborone  Botswana and Turkey have recently agreed on significant milestones in redefining priorities and finding other areas to expand their bilateral cooperation.

Giving closing remarks at the virtual second session of the Botswana-Turkey Joint Commission for Cooperation, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Dr Lemogang Kwape said the occasion called for revitalization, recommitment and reconfirmation of the two countries' desire for deepening relations.

He said the two countries agreed on enhanced cooperation in trade and investment to be attained through establishment of joint business councils between Business Botswana and the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board as well as export promotion activities.

Dr Kwape said the duo also signed higher education, health and agricultural sector collaboration agreements.

He said the mentioned sectors had been greatly affected by the pandemic necessitating collective research and exchange on best practices.

In addition, he said, the two countries committed to finalisation of various MoUs including double taxation avoidance agreement, small and medium enterprises development, energy and mining cooperation as well as agriculture.

In her remarks, Turkish Minister of Family, Labour and Social Services Ms Zehra Zumruit Selcuk said Botswana's enduring peace and political stability, strong institutions as well as successful economy made the country an important partner for Turkey.

She said the biggest task for the two countries was to pave way for the private sector through establishment of business councils.

Turkey has pledged to increase and improve technical assistance to Botswana in the tourism, transport and education fields.

<i>Source : BOPA</i>
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Mostly clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
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Preeminent Breast Cancer Surgeon to Evaluate the Use of Perimeters OCT Imaging System During Breast Conserving Surgery

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc. (TSX-V: PINK)(OTC: PYNKF) (FSE: 4PC) (Perimeter or the Company), a medical technology company driven to transform cancer surgery with ultra-high-resolution, real-time, advanced imaging tools to address areas of high unmet medical need, today announced that Dr. Beth DuPree, a surgeon at Northern Arizona Healthcare Verde Valley Medical Center, expects to enroll up to 100 patients in a study that will evaluate the use of Perimeters Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Imaging System during breast conserving surgery. In a previous successful collaboration with Perimeter, Dr. DuPree, generated compelling data from a smaller 20-patient study completed in 2020, which prompted the initation of a larger study.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005377/en/

Dr. Beth DuPree, breast surgeon at Northern Arizona Healthcare, with Perimeters OCT Imaging System and Chief Commercial Officer, Steve Sapot (Photo: Business Wire)

Many breast cancer patients undergo a lumpectomy to remove the tumor and conserve the breast. The complete removal of cancerous tissue during this surgery can be challenging. The surgeons goal  which is the total excision of the tumor to prevent recurrence while removing as little healthy tissue as possible  is achieved by excising the tumor plus a surrounding layer of healthy tissue, referred to as a margin. If the surgeon fails to get clear margins, reoperation may be required, which presents a greater risk of further complications for the patient and higher costs to the healthcare system.

The clinical study led by Dr. DuPree aims to demonstrate that surgeons can effectively use Perimeters OCT Imaging System during a clinical procedure to aid their decisions if additional tissue needs to be excised. This study will also calculate the average time to re-excise while in surgery (instead of as a separate follow-up procedure). In addition, the data will calculate the percentage of patients that require a second surgery.

Dr. Beth DuPree, breast surgeon at Northern Arizona Healthcare, said, I am excited to lead this study using Perimeters OCT Imaging System, which provides ultra-high resolution visualization of a specimen in real-time. The use of this technology in my OR adds to my confidence on the final margin status. For patients, the need to re-operate can cause emotional stress, discomfort, and inconvenience, while potentially delaying other treatments and therapies. This is a non-invasive technology that aims to provide better peace of mind for both the patient and surgeon, while lowering the likelihood of needing to reschedule another surgery. It is my hope that the data generated from this study will help validate the use of this technology in breast conservation surgery and ultimately create better results for my patients.

Jeremy Sobotta, Perimeters Chief Executive Officer stated, We are excited to announce the recent installation of Perimeters OCT Imaging System at Northern Arizona Healthcare Verde Valley Medical Center. Our hope is that the data generated from this study will further validate the potential clinical benefit of bringing real time margin visualization into the OR to assist surgeons with their decision making. In addition, we have worked closely with clinician users to ensure that the Perimeter OCT Imaging System can be easily integrated into current intraoperative workflows. We are focused on creating better long-term outcomes for patients while lowering costs to the healthcare system, and look forward to the results from this study with Dr. DuPree.

This study is only open to patients at the Northern Arizona Healthcare Verde Valley Medical Center.

Beth DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S., A.B.O.I.M., is a board-certified general surgeon specializing in diseases of the breast, with additional board certification from the American Board of Integrative Medicine. She is a nationally recognized breast cancer expert who has chosen to bring her 26 years of experience and surgical expertise to the Verde Valley. Dr. DuPree earned her medical degree from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia and her undergraduate degrees in behavioral neuroscience and the history and philosophy of science at the University of Pittsburgh. Her first book, The Healing Consciousness: A Doctors Journey to Healing, was released in 2006 to excellent reviews by Christiane Northrup, M.D., and Bernie Siegel, M.D, among other well-known experts in the womens health field. Dr. DuPree is a keynote speaker at many national events, primarily addressing womens health issues, state-of-the-art breast cancer therapies, healing and wellness. She is often featured in live tele-surgeries and WebEx online video conferencing to educate physicians and healthcare professionals on cutting edge breast care issues. She has traveled throughout the United States and globally to train countless physicians in breast surgical oncology techniques. Her numerous honors include the Clara Barton Humanitarian Award from the American Red Cross for her ongoing contributions to the treatment of breast cancer. She was selected by her peers for Philadelphia Magazines TOP DOCS in Surgery in 2016 and 2017. She serves on the advisory board for Breastcancer.org and often hosts live chats and podcasts on current breast cancer issues. Dr. DuPree was chosen by her peers as Verde Valley Physician of the Year in 2020.

About Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc.

Perimeter Medical Imaging AI (TSX-V: PINK)(OTC: PYNKF)(FSE: 4PC) is a Toronto-based company with U.S. headquarters in Dallas, Texas that is developing, with plans to commercialize, advanced imaging tools that allow surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists to visualize microscopic tissue structures during a clinical procedure. Perimeters OCT Imaging platform is a point-of-care imaging system that provides clinicians with real-time, ultra-high-resolution, sub-surface image volumes of the margin (1-2 mm below the surface) of an excised tissue specimen. The ability to visualize microscopic tissue structures during a clinical procedure in addition to standard of care tissue assessment for decision making during the procedure has the potential to result in better long-term outcomes for patients and lower costs to the healthcare system. Perimeters OCT Imaging platform is cleared by the FDA as an imaging tool in the evaluation of excised human tissue microstructure by providing two-dimensional, cross-sectional, real-time depth visualization, with image review manipulation software for identifying and annotating regions of interest. In addition, Perimeter is developing advanced artificial intelligence/machine learning image assessment tools intended to increase the efficiency of review.

Perimeters ticker symbol PINK is a reference to the pink ribbons used during Breast Cancer Awareness Month by the Canadian Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society, driving home the companys dedication to helping surgeons, radiologists and pathologists use Perimeters imaging technology and AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the fight against breast cancer, which is estimated to account for 30% of all female cancer diagnoses this year.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. In this news release, words such as may, would, could, will, likely, believe, expect, anticipate, intend, plan, estimate and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information may relate to managements future outlook and anticipated events or results, and may include statements or information regarding the timing of and results from clinical studies, the commercialization of Perimeters OCT Imaging System, future financial position, business strategy and strategic goals, competitive conditions, research and development activities, projected costs and capital expenditures, financial results, research and clinical testing outcomes, taxes and plans and objectives of, or involving, Perimeter. Without limitation, information regarding potential future development and commercialization activities and the terms of options to be issued are forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or managements good-faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Perimeters control. Such forward-looking statements reflect Perimeters current view with respect to future events, but are inherently subject to significant medical, scientific, business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties and contingencies. In making forward-looking statements, Perimeter may make various material assumptions, including but not limited to (i) the accuracy of Perimeters financial projections; (ii) obtaining positive results from trials; (iii) obtaining necessary regulatory approvals; and (iv) general business, market and economic conditions. Further risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those applicable to Perimeter and described the joint information circular dated May 12, 2020, prepared in respect of the securityholder meetings held on June 17, 2020 a copy of which is available on Perimeters SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. In particular, we note the risk that our technology may not achieve the anticipated benefits in terms of surgical outcomes. Perimeter does not intend, nor does Perimeter undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events, or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable laws.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005377/en/

Jodi Regts

Corporate Communications / Investor Relations

Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc.

+1 778-999-5634

media@perimetermed.com

Source: Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc.
Halie Forstner turned 110 years-old over the weekend, and Monday a grand celebration was held in her honorcomplete with a parade, a large pink cake, 110 pink balloons and 110 bottles of her favorite drink: Coca-Cola.

The celebration was held at Morning Pointe of Chattanooga assisted living community where

Ms. Forstner has been a resident since early 2021.



I am so excited about my birthday, and I just appreciate everything that everybody has done for

me to help celebrate it, said Ms. Forstner as she sat outside under the portico to safely

participate in the festivities.



At noon during lunch, Morning Pointe Senior Living founders Greg A. Vital and Franklin

Farrow presented Ms. Forstner with proclamations from Tennessee leaders Governor Bill Lee

and U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty. Mr. Vital and Mr. Farrow also presented her with a certificate

acknowledging her special age and lifetime accomplishments. And the icing on the pink cake?

110 bottles of her beverage of choice: ice cold Coca-Cola.



Halie has lived through some incredible life events, said Morning Pointe of Chattanooga

executive director Cody Harvey. Two pandemics, two world wars, the advent of the Internet

and so much moreshes an inspiration to all of us on how to age gracefully, and is still quite

active at 110. You will see her out and about, visiting with other residents from time to time. It

really is quite something.



After lunch, the day was capped off with a birthday parade through the portico of the assisted

living community as Ms. Forstner watched and waved to passers-by. Clowns, antique cars from

different decades, and plenty of friends and well-wishers, including friends from Lookout Valley Presbyterian Church, drove through with Happy Birthday signs and cards for her. Bagpipers

from Alhambra Shriners Highlander Pipes and Drums played beautiful hymns and songs. All in

all, it was a birthday celebration fit for a queenMorning Pointes queen, Ms. Halie Forstner.



A ribbon cutting ceremony marking the grand re-opening of Morning Pointe of Chattanooga will be Thursday, April 15 at 11 a.m. The Lantern Alzheimers Center of Excellence at 7620 Shallowford Road is currently under reconstruction and is scheduled to open Summer 2021.
Digital mobile payment platform Apple Pay is now available in South Africa, according to several Absa, Discovery Bank, and Nedbank customers.

Apple Pay allows users to load a supported banking card and use their Apple device  such as an iPhone or cellular Apple Watch  to make a contactless payment at supported NFC-based terminals.

There have been various signs over the last few months that the service would be coming to banks, including mentions of it on the websites of Absa and Discovery Bank.

Numerous MyBroadband forum members and Twitter users on Tuesday morning reported that they managed to load their banking cards to the Apple Wallet and successfully make payments with the service.

Discovery Bank account holders on the MyBroadband forum started reporting that they were able to use Apple Pay after one user spotted ads from Discovery Bank for the Apple Pay platform on a Google Search.

Managed to successfully add my Discovery Bank card  didnt need to change region settings, one user stated.

Users shared screenshots showing the final step in the Apple Wallet process with their Discovery Bank cards successfully added.

Two of the Discovery Bank cards confirmed to be supported included the Gold Debit and Signature Debit account cards, as shown in the images below.

Other banking customers reported being able to load their Absa and Nedbank cards as well.

Nedbank Amex and VISA added successfully and managed to use at Seattle Coffee, one MyBroadband forum members said.

Absa customers also said that they were receiving notifications in the banking app to set up their card with Apple Pay.

Below are screenshots of the app notification and a user who successfully activated Apple Pay with an Absa Gold Debit card.

Not available to FNB and Standard Bank customers yet

A number of users indicated that attempts to load any FNB, Investec, and Standard Bank cards were unsuccessful.

I tried FNB Fusion and Credit Cards  both not working, a MyBroadband forum member said.

Standard Bank also not working. Guess Im opening a cheapie Discovery account until all this is resolved, another stated.

An Investec customer on Twitter shared a screenshot showing that he received a Your Issuer Does not Yet Offer Support for This Card message.

Comment from banks

MyBroadband contacted Absa, Discovery Bank, FNB, Nedbank, and Standard Bank for feedback on support for Apple Pay.

Absa, Nedbank, and Discovery Bank have confirmed that their customers can now use Apple Pay.

FNB Card CEO Chris Labuschagne said the bank was working with Apple and looked forward to bringing Apple Pay to its customers.

Once available, it will be accessible at scale to nearly 1 million iPhone users from our 6 million digitally active customers, Labuschagne said.

Standard Bank did not respond directly to questions over whether it supported Apple Pay.

However, it said that it was already well engaged with several new payment vendors and partners in order for our clients have access to the most recent digital tap-to-pay services as well as online partner payment systems.

It added that customers can expect further announcements on this in the near future.
A top state physician allegedly was ordered to carry out several hours-long visits to Andrew Cuomo's brother Chris as part of the New York Governor's VIP Covid testing scheme.

The embattled governor's relatives including his fashion designer brother-in-law Kenneth Cole and high-powered friends are said to have received preferential treatment for tests at the start of the pandemic when resources were thin.

Medical staff members claimed they had to interrupt important Covid tasks to carry out tests for the 'inner circle' of people connected to Cuomo.

The samples were then rushed by state troopers to a laboratory and results were often returned within hours, while other New Yorkers had to wait for a week, according to The Washington Post.

Nurses said Cuomo's family was 'treated like royalty', adding: 'I didn't understand why they were able to jump the line.'

People with firsthand knowledge of the priority scheme told the newspaper that figures with links to Cuomo could bypass the burdened testing process in New York last March.

Chris Cuomo, the CNN host, is said to have been tested with his family in his Hamptons home by Eleanor Adams, a top state physician who was tasked with coordinating testing in nursing homes.

Sources quoted by The Washington Post said she visited multiple times, often for several hours, despite her senior role in the Department of Health to manage testing issues for high-risk settings in the state.

Adams, who is now a senior adviser to Howard Zucker, the state health commissioner, allegedly was dispatched to Chris's home in Southampton, 90 miles away from New York City.

The presenter announced he tested positive on March 31 last year, and later revealed his wife Cristina and their 14-year-old son had contracted the virus.

Friends and relatives of New York Gov Andrew Cuomo were given priority Covid tests at the start of the pandemic, nurses have claimed

A top state physician was allegedly ordered to carry out several hours-long visits to Andrew Cuomo's brother Chris

It was revealed last week that Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Patrick J. Foye, head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and their wives were given priority testing, as well as Cuomo's mother Matilda and one of his sisters.

The latest revelations come on top of myriad scandals surrounding the governor, including nine women who have now come forward with allegations of sexual harassment and assault against him.

The US Attorney's Office and the FBI are also investigating his office for undercounting COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.

Cuomo is facing an impeachment probe by New York's Joint Commission on Public Ethics, as well as an FBI investigation into the scandals.

The office of Attorney General Letitia James, Cuomo's fellow Democrat, said: 'The recent reports alleging there was preferential treatment given for COVID-19 testing are troubling. While we do not have jurisdiction to investigate this matter, it's imperative that JCOPE look into it immediately.'

The embattled governor's relatives including his fashion designer brother-in-law Kenneth Cole and high-powered friends are said to have received preferential treatment

Officials who worked at testing sites in March last year during the early chaotic weeks of the pandemic said that a system to give special treatment was implemented.

The high-profile figures were referred to as 'priorities', 'specials', 'inner circle' or 'criticals', five people involved with the scheme, including three nurses, claimed.

Two staff at the New Rochelle hub said the priority system started with people passing notes with testing data to hide the identity of priority patients.

These requests became a top priority, even surpassing people ranked highest for possible exposure to Covid in a separate general database.

The priority status of more than 100 people was then recorded in an online data sheet which was kept separate from the database for the general public.

Staff had to interrupt other tasks including scheduling testing, entering results and contacting patients about their Covid results.

People with firsthand knowledge of the priority scheme said figures with links to Cuomo could bypass the burdened testing process in New York. Pictured: people lining up for tests in New York last March

Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi has denied the claims, saying: 'There was no "VIP" program as the Washington Post describes  when priority was given, it was to nurses, guardsmen, state workers and other government officials central to the pandemic response and those they were in direct contact with, as well as individuals believed to have been exposed to COVID who had the capability to spread it further and impact vital operations.'

New York Department of Health spokesman Gary Holmes also said the allegations were 'not factually accurate', saying healthcare workers tried to test people on a priority of how many they might have exposed to the virus.

But medical staff claimed they were told to provide special treatment for people and were even dispatched from an operations center in New Rochelle to test patients in private homes.

One nurse who worked at two state-run testing sites said: 'I'm trained that there is no such thing as a preferential medicine. We don't say "this person is more important so their results are more important." That's just not fair.'

Gov. Cuomo receives a nasal swab Covid-19 test during a news conference in the Red Room of the New York State Capitol Building in Albany, New York, U.S., on Sunday, May 17, 2020

The nurse said people were pushed to the front of the line because of their connections, not for any medical reasons, and staff were told the orders came from the 'governor's chamber'.

Another nurse claimed staff would frantically prepare for the arrival of VIP figures at state-run centers in spring last year to rush their samples via state troopers to the Wadsworth Center, an Albany lab.

Another whistleblower revealed how staff helped Kenneth Cole who is married to Cuomo's sister Maria.

Azzopardi insisted: 'In the early days of this pandemic, when there was a heavy emphasis on contact tracing, we were absolutely going above and beyond to get people testing  including in some instances going to people's homes, and door-to-door in places like New Rochelle  to take samples from those believed to have been exposed to COVID in order to identify cases and prevent additional ones.

Testing on Cuomo's family members came at the height of the pandemic when ordinary New Yorkers struggled to get access to screenings. Cuomo and his mother in 2016

'Among those we assisted were members of the general public, including legislators, reporters, state workers and their families who feared they had contracted the virus and had the capability to further spread it.'

The revelations come at a perilous time for Cuomo who has now been accused of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior by nine different women.

The most recent accusation was made by Sherry Vill who claimed he 'aggressively' kissed her on both cheeks but not on the lips while touring her flooded home in upstate New York in 2017.

She claims she felt uncomfortable about it at the time. Her daughter posted a photo of it on Facebook, saying 'the governor kissing my mom', but she is only speaking out now after hearing from eight other women who say he was inappropriate with them.

Alyssa McGrath previously told The New York Times how the governor ogled her body, called her and her co-worker 'mingle mamas' and asked about her lack of a wedding ring.

This came after another female aide, who has remained anonymous, claimed he called her to his Executive Mansion last year, reached under her blouse and fondled her.

Sherry Vill shared this image of Governor Cuomo kissing her on both cheeks in 2017 when touring her house which had flooded

Sherry Vill, 55, appeared at a press conference with her attorney Gloria Allred on Monday. She says he grabbed her face and kissed her in 2017

Letitia James' office is investigating the allegations and an impeachment investigation was also launched by state Democrats, while top New York lawmakers including Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer are demanding he resign.

The governor has said he 'never touched anyone inappropriately' but apologized for making anyone feel 'uncomfortable' and has vowed he will not stand down.

McGrath told the NY Times of several alleged incidents of sexual harassment while working for the governor.

She claimed Cuomo looked down her shirt to compliment her on her necklace, told her she's beautiful in Italian and kissed her on the forehead during an office Christmas party in 2019.

She described a pattern of flirtatious behavior which began not long after she started working for him in May 2018.

A total of nine women have now come forward to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior, with two of the accusers still working for him. Alyssa McGrath (pictured) became the first named current aide Friday

'He has a way of making you feel very comfortable around him, almost like you're his friend,' McGrath said.

'But then you walk away from the encounter or conversation, in your head going, 'I can't believe I just had that interaction with the governor of New York'.'

McGrath also doubled down on the allegations made by her coworker - the anonymous accuser - saying the woman had told her about the incident.

The unnamed woman, who was Cuomo's sixth accuser, has made the most damning accusation against the governor to date claiming he groped her breast in the Executive Mansion.

'She froze when he started doing that stuff to her,' McGrath told The New York Times.

McGrath (pictured) claimed Cuomo looked down her shirt to compliment her on her necklace during a meeting with him

Lindsey Boylan, a former Cuomo aide, came out in December with allegations against him  she further detailed her experience in a February post to Medium

McGrath said the co-worker told her Cuomo had asked her not to talk about the alleged incident.

'He told her specifically not to tell me,' McGrath said.

Cuomo's administration last week hired outside counsel to investigate the specific groping claim.

He has denied inappropriately touching anyone but said he may have inadvertently made some women feel uncomfortable in the past by hugging and kissing them as a greeting.

Cuomo was asked last week to respond to critics who say he can no longer do his job as governor amid the probe into the harassment accusations.

'I say it is clearly not true; the reality is the exact opposite,' he said.

Anna Ruch (left) and Ana Liss both accused Cuomo of inappropriate behavior

Karen Hinton (left), a press aide, and Jessica Bakeman accused Cuomo of inappropriate actions

Charlotte Bennett, 25, accused Cuomo of propositioning her in his office in June

Cuomo has also been slammed for his treatment of nursing homes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cuomo issued a directive on March 25 last year ordering nursing homes to readmit COVID-positive patients because of a lack of space in hospitals.

The move has been slammed for costing many lives given the elderly were especially vulnerable and that nursing homes were hotbeds for the virus.

The ruling was reversed on May 10, barring nursing homes from accepting COVID-19 patients without a negative test first.

Cuomo also vowed to reform the state's nursing homes - as he continues to also come under fire over the COVID-19 nursing home deaths scandal. Pictured, a COVID-19 patient at a Broolyln nursing home last April

Relatives of those who died of COVID-19 in New York nursing homes gathered on Sunday in Brooklyn, New York

This January, New York AG Letitia James said the state had downplayed the number of deaths of nursing home residents by 50 percent.

The death toll was actually 15,000, up from the 8,500 previously disclosed.

The new figures mean around one-seventh of the state's entire nursing home population of 90,000 have been killed by the virus.

The state's total death toll was unchanged following the revelation as the deaths had been counted in overall figures.

The change in number was down to nursing home residents who had been transported to hospital where they then died not being counted in the nursing home death tally.

In February Cuomo was then accused of intentionally hiding the data and federal prosecutors began investigating a possible cover-up. Dozens of people gathered Sunday at the We Care Memorial Wall in Brooklyn at the weekend holding signs saying they were 'Cuomo Covid Orphans' because of his nursing home policies.
Through Project OVERCOME, US Ignite will launch and oversee multiple broadband efforts that combine innovative technical and community engagement approaches to reach underserved populations. In the selection phase of the project, US Ignite conducted a rigorous panel review process drawing from experts across the municipal, research, and broadband industry sectors. In addition to assessing merit, reviewers evaluated proposals to ensure a diversity of people would be served by Project OVERCOME. Winning proposals reflect a range of rural and urban environments, demographic characteristics, geographic regions, housing types, local and industry collaborations, and technical approaches. The project management teams selected and listed below also represent a diverse and interdisciplinary group.

"The pandemic has made clear just how critical broadband connectivity is to our livelihoods," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "While there is no single solution for closing the digital divide, we must bring communities, technologists and social scientists together to pursue multiple novel approaches for expanding broadband access for all."

Teams Chosen for Funding and Project Deployment:

Lead Organization: DigitalC  Cleveland, Ohio

Project: Internet service to an underserved and historically Black neighborhood delivered through a combination of fiber and millimeter wave technologies, with local technical support and device purchase assistance

Lead Organization: Missouri University of Science and Technology  Clinton County, Missouri

Project: An RF over Fiber (RFoF) deployment using intelligent routing and multiple last-mile wireless technologies to serve a rural community

Lead Organization: The Westchester County Association  Yonkers, New York

Project: A CBRS network in a digital opportunity zone supported by exceptional partnerships to ensure youth involvement and digital equity

Lead Organization: Onward Eugene  Blue River, Oregon

Project: A resilient wireless link to rural McKenzie Valley combined with new fiber, a pilot CBRS education network, and new incentives to attract further private broadband investment

Lead Organization: Allied Media Projects  Detroit, Michigan

Project: A combination of fiber and fixed wireless infrastructure deployed and supported by a network of Digital Stewards employed at a neighborhood anchor institution

Lead Organization: Libraries Without Borders  Loiza, Puerto Rico

Project: A wireless mesh network deployed to three community centers providing digital skills training and health literacy information to low-income residents in underserved neighborhoods

Lead Organization: University at Buffalo  Buffalo, New York

Project: Internet service delivered via CBRS to the historic and under-resourced Fruit Belt neighborhood near the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

"Connecting the country with broadband is the central infrastructure challenge of our day. Now more than ever, we need connections that reach all and help us work, learn, be informed, enlightened, and entertained," said Jessica Rosenworcel, Acting Chairwoman for the Federal Communications Commission. "That means in Washington and in communities across the country we need to get creative with more projects just like these. Congratulations to the winners and thank you for rising to this challenge."

"We were immensely gratified by the quality of proposals we received," said Joe Kochan, CEO for US Ignite. "It's a challenge to combine creative technology solutions with strong partnership and community engagement strategies. Yet we found proposers exceeded our expectations in both criteria, and we are delighted to announce not only a stellar lineup of winning projects, but also one that reflects a strong mix of environments, demographics, housing types, and geographic regions. We couldn't be more pleased with the results and what comes next for these communities."

Project OVERCOME was originally designed to support five community deployments. However, the success of the proposal process expanded both the desired scope and funding capability for the project. Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, joined as a financial and strategic partner in March 2021 to support next-generation networks that provide connectivity to communities in need, helping to realize a core finding of the Reimagine New York Commission which Eric Schmidt chaired.

"To create a more prosperous and equitable economy, we need universal connectivity," said Eric Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Futures. "This will require new strategies to keep broadband markets competitive and internet service affordable for every American. At Schmidt Futures, we bet early on exceptional people making the world betterand I'm hopeful Project OVERCOME will identify the technologists working on novel solutions for the future, that we can scale around the country to make a significant impact."

The communities selected for Project OVERCOME will now begin an onboarding process to refine implementation plans, activate partnerships, and prepare for network rollouts.

For more information on Project OVERCOME, please visit:

https://www.us-ignite.org/program/overcome/

About US Ignite

US Ignite is a hightech nonprofit with a mission to accelerate the smart community movement. Our public-private partnership programs leverage advanced networking and data science to drive key outcomes for communities. Our work also enables new opportunities for wireless and IoT research designed to help narrow the gap between cuttingedge experimentation and scalable, realworld technology deployments. For more information, visit www.us-ignite.org.

Media Contact: Sarah Archer-Days, +1 646-596-6103, [email protected], www.us-ignite.org

SOURCE US Ignite

Related Links

https://www.us-ignite.org/


The traffic jam at the Suez Canal will soon begin easing, but behemoth container ships like the one that blocked that crucial passageway for almost a week and caused headaches for shippers around the world arent going anywhere.

Global supply chains were already under pressure when the Ever Given, a ship longer than the Empire State Building and capable of carrying furnishings for 20,000 apartments, wedged itself between the banks of the Suez Canal last week. It was freed on Monday, but left behind disruptions and backlogs in global shipping that could take weeks, possibly months, to unravel, according to A.P. Moller-Maersk, the worlds largest shipping company.

The crisis was short, but it was also years in the making.

For decades, shipping lines have been making bigger and bigger vessels, driven by an expanding global appetite for electronics, clothes, toys and other goods. The growth in ship size, which sped up in recent years, often made economic sense: Bigger vessels are generally cheaper to build and operate on a per-container basis. But the largest ships can come with their own set of problems, not only for the canals and ports that have to handle them but for the companies that build them.

They did what they thought was most efficient for themselves  make the ships big  and they didnt pay much attention at all to the rest of the world, said Marc Levinson, an economist and author of Outside the Box, a history of globalization. But it turns out that these really big ships are not as efficient as the shipping lines had imagined.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned NSW will likely see fresh local coronavirus cases, as more Byron Bay venues are placed on alert after a group who travelled from Queensland for a bachelorette party later tested positive for coronavirus.

An additional eight local cases were detected in the sunshine state on Tuesday, one day into Greater Brisbanes three-day snap lockdown designed to stop the spread of local cases which have been linked to healthcare workers at a Brisbane hospital.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (left) and NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant (right) during a visit at Homebush Boys High School on Tuesday. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Five of the cases are linked to the bachelorette group, which included a nurse in the COVID-19 ward at Brisbanes Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said.

One of these cases was a male entertainer who also works as a tradesman and had been on-site at a Gold Coast aged care home while contagious. A sixth case, a close contact, is believed to also be linked to this cluster.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 20:28:47|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China will step up efforts to improve the prevention and control of pests and crop diseases to ensure agricultural production this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said Tuesday.

Guarding against pests and diseases such as stripe rust in wheat and the fall armyworm, the country will focus on ensuring that 90 percent of such outbreaks are properly handled in 2021, with overall losses limited to 5 percent, said Zhang Taolin, vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs, at a meeting.

The recent rising temperatures and pest invasions are harbingers of worsening pest and crop-disease outbreaks, Zhang said, predicting a 14-percent yearly growth in the affected area of major crops.

Agricultural authorities will intensify monitoring in the main crop-planting areas and along the borders, while tailoring prevention solutions for different regions.

Zhang also called for more biological and eco-friendly measures and the reduced use of pesticides. Enditem
- Quantum-assisted reasoning based on partial information demonstrates quantum machine intelligence that is accurate, flexible, and effective

CAMBRIDGE, England, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists at Cambridge Quantum Computing (CQC) have developed methods and demonstrated that quantum machines can learn to infer hidden information from very general probabilistic reasoning models. These methods could improve a broad range of applications, where reasoning in complex systems and quantifying uncertainty are crucial. Examples include medical diagnosis, fault-detection in mission-critical machines, or financial forecasting for investment management.

In this paper published on the pre-print repository arXiv, CQC researchers established that quantum computers can learn to deal with the uncertainty that is typical of real-world scenarios, and which humans can often handle in an intuitive way. The research team has been led by Dr. Marcello Benedetti with co-authors Brian Coyle, Dr. Michael Lubasch, and Dr. Matthias Rosenkranz, and is part of the Quantum Machine Learning division of CQC, headed by Dr. Mattia Fiorentini.

The paper implements three proofs of principle on simulators and on an IBM Q quantum computer to demonstrate quantum-assisted reasoning on:

inference on random instances of a textbook Bayesian network

inferring market regime switches in a hidden Markov model of a simulated financial time series

a medical diagnosis task known as the "lung cancer" problem.

The proofs of principle suggest quantum machines using highly expressive inference models could enable new applications in diverse fields. The paper draws on the fact that sampling from complex distributions is considered among the most promising ways towards a quantum advantage in machine learning with today's noisy quantum devices. This pioneering work indicates how quantum computing, even in its current early stage, is an effective tool for studying science's most ambitious questions such as the emulation of human reasoning.

Machine learning scientists across industries and quantum software and hardware developers are the groups of researchers that should benefit the most from this development in the near-term.

This Medium article accompanies the scientific paper and provides an accessible exposition of the principles behind this pioneering work, as well as descriptions of the proofs of principle implemented by the team.

With quantum devices set to improve in the coming years, this research lays the groundwork for quantum computing to be applied to probabilistic reasoning and its direct application in engineering and business-relevant problems.

In this video, Dr. Mattia Fiorentini, Head of our Quantum Machine Learning division, provides detailed insight on the project outcomes and its implications.

About Cambridge Quantum Computing

Founded in 2014 and backed by some of the world's leading quantum computing companies, CQC is a global leader in quantum software and quantum algorithms, enabling clients to achieve the most out of rapidly evolving quantum computing hardware. CQC has offices in the UK, USA and Japan. For more information, visit CQC at http://www.cambridgequantum.com and on LinkedIn. Access the tket Python module on GitHub.
University of Missouri scientists receive $4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to examine clues about the rate of infection in communities and virus variants

Everyone poops, and now scientists are using this bodily function to develop a detailed analysis of the virus that causes COVID-19, known as SARS-CoV-2.

After cases of COVID-19 began to appear, scientists started exploring whether SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in wastewater by measuring for the level of genetic material, or RNA, present from the virus. Since then, scientists have proven this method can be a reliable population-level predictor of the trends of COVID-19 cases in a community, since virus particles can show up in wastewater days before symptoms appear in people.

Now, using a 2-year, $4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, scientists at the University of Missouri are collaborating with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, or DHSS, to figure out how differing levels of SARS-CoV-2 can appear in a community's wastewater. Marc Johnson, a professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and an investigator in the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, said the research will focus on two main areas:

Determining a range of the amount of RNA from SARS-CoV-2 that an individual person can contribute to the level found in a community's wastewater.

What types of environmental factors contribute to the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, such as situations where little or no genetic material is present despite known clinical outbreaks.

"In addition to measuring for the presence of the virus, we will now be able to start making sense of the numbers and expand the types of questions we can ask about the results," Johnson said. "I really think this type of testing will continue long after the pandemic, and I believe studies like this will be able to 'flush' out how the virus works by figuring out what we can do with it and identify our limitations."

With the recent rise of COVID-19 variants across the globe, or mutations of the original virus, Johnson said this analysis will also be able to help determine the presence of any COVID-19 variants.

"Once we convert the RNA to DNA, and then amplify the sequence to see where all of the major mutations are, we perform what we call 'deep sequencing' to figure out everything that is in there," Johnson said. "We know the virus can evolve around our immune response, so I'm sure we are going to see more variants appear than what is currently out there now."

The total amount of the grant award is being shared with DHSS. The grant is a part of the National Institutes of Health's RADx Radical program, developed to combat the current COVID-19 pandemic and address future outbreaks by supporting 49 research projects and grant supplements at 43 institutions across the U.S., including this project with DHSS and the University of Missouri.

In 2020, MU scientists Johnson and Chung-Ho Lin, a research associate professor and lead scientist in the bioremediation program at the MU Center for Agroforestry in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, began working with DHSS and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to provide wastewater testing and analysis from more than 50 sites across Missouri as part of the Sewershed Surveillance Project.

"Wastewater detection of COVID-19" is funded by the National Institutes of Health (1U01DA053893-01).

###
New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D) said at an Axios event Tuesday that diversifying New Mexico's economy will create "homegrown" opportunities, providing a different type of job security for workers who rely on oil and gas industries.

Why it matters: Politicians have sparred over environmental justice and its impact on workers in the oil and gas industries. But even major oil and gas producers across the U.S. are making changes now, Lujan said, which means New Mexico needs to move fast about planning for the future.

What he's saying: "There's not a person I've spoken to in New Mexico that doesn't agree that we have to diversify our economy," he told Axios' Russ Contreras when asked how he can ensure that Hispanic workers aren't left behind in the move toward environmental justice.

"It pertains to the future and being innovative, not just with diversifying our economy, but diversifying how we're going to generate power, how we're going to move people, how we're going to provide electricity and connectivity to homes," he said.

"We need to be smart about our planning in New Mexico because if we don't, these other changes by the majors with the oil and gas and also the big auto manufacturers  it's going to leave New Mexico behind and hurt us in the long run," he added.

"And I believe manufacturing and getting into supply chains with Fortune 500 entities is going to be one of those paths forward."

The big picture: New Mexico recently instituted new rules to address methane leaks.

"Those are job opportunities right on the horizon, coupled with manufacturing," Lujan noted. "I know we can get there and especially once we connect New Mexico, it'll only attract more opportunities to our state, including those that will be homegrown."

Watch the full event here.
New Delhi, March 30 : Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has said India is the largest democratic educational ecosystem in the world, with as many as 34 crore children studying here, which is more than the entire population of many countries.

He said this while speaking at a high-level ministerial meeting convened by UNESCO on Monday.

He said India has 1.1 lakh teachers, and there are 10.5 lakh schools, 42,000 colleges and 1,043 universities in India.

The Minister said: "At least 10.5 lakh students from our (government) schools complete their matriculation every year. Annually, 80.2 lakh undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are offered in India and around 39,000 others are given Ph.D." He also narrated the highlights of the new education policy at the UNESCO meeting.

Nishank spoke to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UNESCO's Education Ministers about the challenges being faced in the country and the work being done on the strategy of leaving no students behind.

He said: "Despite the remarkable size of the educational ecosystem in India, we have successfully ensured that every child living in the remotest parts of the country continues to receive education even in the times of pandemic. We have used digital, television, radio to ensure that no child is deprived of education." He also explained in detail about the PM eVidya scheme launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said: "India believes in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is a family) and if necessary, sets school curriculum in Africa, in the Caribbean, in Asia, with our brothers and sisters on the same high standards as our Indian schools are. As you know the Indian school education system is very good in mathematics, science, technology and humanities. " Assuring everyone of all assistance, Nishank said: "The world has faced this epidemic on many levels. Despite the grave difficulties, global communities have made every effort to meet this challenge. Today, we can move forward proudly helping each other and learning from each other's struggles. Only our collective efforts will make us stronger in this difficult time. "

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Overseas warehouses of Chinese enterprises drive win-win development for international trade

09:13, March 30, 2021 By Xiao Xinxin, Jiao Xiang ( People's Daily

Photo shows workers loading a vehicle with goods to be delivered at an overseas warehouse of Okorder.com, a cross border e-commerce platform under the China National Building Material Group Co., Ltd. (CNBM), in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. (Photo/CNBM)

Last year, the number of overseas warehouses established by Chinese enterprises for cross-border e-commerce rose by 80 percent, according to data from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

Chinese companies own more than 1,800 overseas warehouses, which cover an area of over 12 million square meters, as revealed by data from the MOC.

Against the backdrop of daunting challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to international trade, overseas warehouses of Chinese enterprises played a more important role in 2020, when China speeded up the innovative development of its foreign trade and saw over 10,000 traditional foreign trade companies begin to engage in e-commerce, and cross-border e-commerce became a major way for enterprises to conduct international trade and promote innovative development of foreign trade.

Zongteng Group, a global infrastructure service provider for cross-border e-commerce headquartered in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, runs a warehouse in Birmingham, the United Kingdom (UK).

Equipped with highly automated facilities such as attic-style shelves and parcel sorting machines that can sort out 3,600 items of goods per hour, the warehouse can help deliver goods in the UK and to other European countries quickly and accurately.

Overseas warehouses contributed greatly to ensuring the supply of anti-epidemic materials in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, said Michelle, manager of the company's overseas warehouses in the UK, who added that overseas warehouses helped coordinate and mobilize anti-epidemic materials and household products to satisfy the demand of the European market amid the outbreak, with an average of 80,000 orders being handled per day.

Zongteng Group has established a total of 36 warehouses in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and other major developed countries. Covering an area of over one million square meters, the group's overseas warehouses have a total of more than 1,500 employees.

With the advantages of flexibility and more stable supply chains, overseas warehouses allow companies to adjust their product selection strategy in time and can strengthen the ability of Chinese companies to respond to changes in foreign consumer demands and market environment, said Li Cong, vice president of Zongteng Group.

Okorder.com, a cross-border e-commerce platform under the China National Building Material Group Co., Ltd. (CNBM), has established an overseas warehouse in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

With an area of 52,000 square meters, the warehouse sells products from various companies, including building materials, machinery and equipment, to over 10 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Algeria, according to Bruce, an executive of the warehouse.

Zhuang Xiaofeng, an executive with a woodwork manufacturer that has joined the warehouse, noted that the company saw its sales rise against the trend amid the pandemic thanks to the high-quality warehousing services and brand promotions provided by the warehouse.

WINIT Information Technology Co. (Winit Corporation), a Shanghai-based integrated supply chain solution provider for cross-border e-commerce, owns 13 overseas warehouses and provides overseas warehousing and delivery services for more than 20,000 cross-border e-commerce companies around the world.

The company's overseas warehouses handle 200,000 orders daily on average and send over 300,000 parcels every day.

These overseas warehouses have adopted the management model and experience of China's logistics sector, greatly improving logistics efficiency and allowing goods to be delivered to customers faster, said an executive of a Canadian partner company of Winit Corporation.

Overseas warehouses made it possible for Canadian customers to enjoy the fast express delivery services Chinese people enjoy, which has become an important competitive advantage of the company and driven rapid growth of its sales, according to the executive.

With the help of the automated assembly lines, three-dimensional warehouses, intelligent robots, and other facilities in the overseas warehouses of Winit Corporation, the Canadian company increased its goods storage efficiency by 30 percent and parcel sorting speed by 70 percent, and saw a significant rise in profits, the executive added.

While the pandemic has attacked the business of global physical stores, and more and more consumers in various countries have turned to online shopping, Chinese enterprises have enhanced the localization-oriented operation capabilities of overseas warehouses, not only meeting local needs for employment and consumption, but promoting the development of local warehousing, logistics and e-commerce industries.

"We have developed a logistics network that covers 320 cities in Russia, and allows residents in 1,500 residential areas receive their parcels the next day after they place an order," said Zhang Wenting, general manager of IML, a leader in logistics market for online stores based in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province.

Mainly engaged in overseas warehousing in Russia, China-Russia and China-Ukraine express business, IML runs four overseas warehouses, which cover an area of 35,000 square meters and serve 12,000 sellers.

The company pursues a localized and professional operation model, and more than 70 percent of its staff members are Russian.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Filming is currently underway for the hotly anticipated sixth series.

And Cillian Murphy looked worse for wear as he bent over and appeared to get sick during filming of Peaky Blinders at Bolton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The actor, 44, who plays Tommy Shelby in the hit series, could be seen grimacing as he staggered up the steps of the court while in character.

Ill: Cillian Murphy looked worse for wear as he bent over and appeared to get sick during filming of Peaky Blinders at Bolton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday

At one point the actor appeared to cough and wipe his sleeve on his mouth, while he was also spotted rehearsing the staggered walk ahead of filming.

Cillian, who was joined by actress Natasha O'Keeffe, cut a dapper figure for the day.

The actor sported his familiar get up for the role, wearing a dark waistcoat with matching trousers and a crisp white shirt.

Cillian also wore a red printed tie and wrapped up for the shoot in a black coat and completed his look with a grey cap.

Sick: The actor, 44, who plays Tommy Shelby in the hit series, could be seen grimacing as he staggered up the steps of the court while in character

On location: Cillian cut a dapper figure as he shot scenes for the upcoming season

Filming: Cillian sported his familiar get up for the role, wearing a dark waistcoat with matching trousers and a crisp white shirt

Natasha, who plays Tommy's wife Lizzie, donned a mauve coat with a faux fur collar which she wore over a black dress.

The actress also sported a pair of black boots and a headband as she filmed alongside her co-star.

Extras dressed in dark coats and carrying briefcases could be seen outside the court while a member of the crew was spotted carrying a storyboard for the show.

Co-stars: The actor was joined by actress Natasha O'Keeffe on the steps of the building

Costume: The actor also sported a red printed tie and wrapped up for the shoot in a black coat and completed his look with a grey cap

Cillian could be seen chatting with members of the production crew in between takes.

The sixth series will pick up where the fifth series left off on 7 December 1929, the morning after a rally led by Oswald Mosley.

TV star Sam Clafin, 34, was recently seen on set for the first time since producers confirmed he'll be making his return as the politician.

Outfit: Natasha, who plays Tommy's wife Lizzie, donned a mauve coat with a faux fur collar which she wore over a black dress

Plot: The sixth series will pick up where the fifth series left off on 7 December 1929, the morning after a rally led by Oswald Mosley

Production: Cillian could be seen going over his lines in between takes

Casr: TV star Sam Clafin, 34, was recently seen on set for the first time since producers confirmed he'll be making his return as the politician

Last month, Peaky Blinders revealed Oswald's fate in a tweet: 'Sam Claflin returns as Oswald Mosley in #PeakyBlinders series 6.'

The Hunger Games star played the fascist leader, who rose to fame in the 1920s as a Member of Parliament and later in the 1930s, having become disillusioned with mainstream politics.

The final tweaks were made to the Manchester-based sets in February after the cast had been filming in Scotland.

The locations, however, are portraying Birmingham - the actual setting of the hit gangster drama.

Reveal: Last month, Peaky Blinders revealed Oswald's fate in a tweet: 'Sam Claflin returns as Oswald Mosley in #PeakyBlinders series 6'

Characters: The Hunger Games star played the fascist leader, who rose to fame in the 1920s as a Member of Parliament and later in the 1930s, having become disillusioned with mainstream politics

Changes: The final tweaks were made to the Manchester-based sets in February after the cast had been filming in Scotland

Setting: The locations, however, are portraying Birmingham - the actual setting of the hit gangster drama

Story: Peaky Blinders centres around its eponymous gang which is run by the ruthless Tommy and his family

Control: The series sees them build their power and influence over Birmingham and beyond

Peaky Blinders centres around its eponymous gang which is run by the ruthless Tommy and his family, and sees them build their power and influence over Birmingham and beyond.

The fifth season ended on a cliffhanger, with Tommy seeing visions of his late wife Grace (Annabelle Wallis) and turning a gun on himself following his botched assassination attempt of the British Union of Fascists leader.

Production on the show was delayed last year by the Covid-19 crisis, but shooting was able to begin last month with cast and crew adhering to strict coronavirus restrictions.

The BBC drama has been running for eight years and has enjoyed huge popularity but the sixth season has been confirmed as the final one, with creator Steven Knight confirming the story will return 'in another form'.

Scene: Extras dressed in dark coats and carrying briefcases could be seen outside the court

Crew: A member of the crew could be seen carrying a storyboard for the series

Plot: The fifth season ended on a cliffhanger, with Tommy seeing visions of his late wife Grace (Annabelle Wallis)
A search is underway for a 33-year-old capital murder suspect who authorities say is on the run.

Mark Anthony Robinson is awaiting trial for a 2018 shooting that killed Damion Clarke. Clarke was found dead in a vehicle on Cherry Hill Road in Jan. 7 of that year.

On March 17, according to Central Alabama Crime Stoppers, Robinson was pulled over by Montgomery police and arrested on charges of trafficking methamphetamine and marijuana possession. He later escaped custody and has been on the run since them. Prosecutors successfully sought to have his bond on the capital murder charge revoked.

Robinson, who has a lengthy criminal history, is now wanted on failure to appear on the capital murder charge and escape. The U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force is searching for him.

Anyone with information on Robinsons whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP. Tips can also be submitted through the P3-tips app.
The leading ladies of America's Got Talent put on a head-turning display on Monday.

Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara arrived to set of the show in Pasadena, dressed to kill.

Heidi looked ready for spring in a floral jumpsuit, whereas Sofia dropped jaws in a curve-clinging polka dot dress.

If you've got it! Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara put on a head-turning display as they arrived to the set of America's Got Talent in Pasadena on Monday

The fashion model looked oh-so-cheerful in her belted jumpsuit and pink Birkin bag on her arm.

She beamed with joy as she strode towards the set in her strappy, tangerine-hued heels.

Sofia put on a head-turning display in a classic black-and-white polka dot dress that cinched into her waist and showed off her fabulous legs.

The former Modern Family star was an absolute vision with her brunette hair curled into loose ringlets, cascading beside her perfectly done-up complexion.

Flower power! Klum looked pretty as a petal in her floral jumpsuit

Walk this way: The fashion model strutted out into the sunshine with an air of confidence

She wore a black leather purse over her shoulder and whipped off her stylish shades.

Sofia gave herself a boost in height with her sexy black heels.

Though she was not wearing her mask, she did arrive with a fresh face shield in hand.

The sixteenth season of America's Got Talent was confirmed last month after the fifteenth season underwent a troubled production process.

Curl power! The former Modern Family star was an absolute vision with her brunette hair curled into loose ringlets, cascading beside her perfectly done-up complexion

Staying safe: Though she was not wearing her mask, she did arrive with a fresh face shield in hand

As the global pandemic grew worse, the show's producers decided to stop allowing audiences to attend auditions, before production was shut down entirely and the series was placed on a hiatus.

The program's filming eventually resumed, with further health-minded restrictions in place for the shooting of the remaining episodes.

All of last season's judges will return for its newest set of episodes, along with longtime host Terry Crews.

The sixteenth season of America's Got Talent is set to premiere on June 1st.
Martha Catcheway isnt ready to forgive the now 15-year-old boy who killed her son following an unprovoked attack on a Main Street underpass, but she knows she will one day.

Martha Catcheway isnt ready to forgive the now 15-year-old boy who killed her son following an unprovoked attack on a Main Street underpass, but she knows she will one day.

"I know it is a hard time for me to forgive you, but I will as time goes by," Catcheway told the boy at a sentencing hearing Friday.

"What you did was really wrong," she said. "I know your upbringing wasnt right and I know I have to forgive because thats what my son would want me to do."

Neilson Catcheway, 40, was runover by a car after he was attacked by the boy on the sidewalk and fell several feet to the road.

Lawyers for the Crown and defence are recommending that the boy, who has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the October 2019 attack, serve a three-year sentence under an Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision Order. The IRCS program, available to a small number of violent and troubled youth offenders, allows participants access to one-on-one counselling, occupational therapy, tutoring, and other specialized services.

Crown attorney Jerilee Ryle recommended that the boy serve the entire sentence in custody, subject to annual review, while defence lawyer Josh Anstett argued he should be allowed to serve two years under community supervision.

"This was a senseless attack on an innocent victim" who was "minding his own business," Ryle said.

Court heard the then 13-year-old boy, a then 14-year-old co-accused and three other boys crossed paths with Catcheway on the sidewalk of the underpass at Higgins Avenue shortly after midnight when one of the boys heard Catcheway mumble something and the accused decided to "jump him."

Catcheway tried to run away after the accused kicked at him but was quickly knocked to the ground. Court heard the accused kicked Catcheway in the head and shoulder as he held on to a sidewalk railing for support.

Catcheway, in an effort to escape, had thrown one leg over the railing when the boy ran at Catcheway and shoved him in the back, causing him to lose his grip and fall seven feet to the roadway.

"The other boys described hearing a loud clap or smack when he fell and two of the boys saw him connect with the street head first," Ryle said.

Twenty seconds later a car ran over Catcheway and didnt stop, Ryle said.

An autopsy determined Catcheway died as the result of "crushing injuries" sustained in the collision with the car.

The driver of the car was later identified but not charged. Court heard the man was not driving erratically and did not realize he had run over someone.

Court heard the boy has a disadvantaged background similar to many Indigenous offenders, marked by extreme poverty, neglect, substance abuse and abandonment by his father. According to a pre-sentence report provided to court, on the day of the attack, the boy was troubled by an angry encounter with his father.

"I was like a pop bottle, all shaken up and ready to explode," a probation officer quoted the boy as saying.

The boy, who court heard has had "multiple mental health diagnoses," told a probation officer he did not mean to hurt Catcheway.

"I only meant to frighten him," he said. "I didnt mean to push things that far."

Catcheways death "damaged my soul," his mother told court.

"Every day I go to the cemetery and talk to my son," she said. "Why did you have to go that way? Why did he do that to you?"

The boy apologized to Catcheways family in court, saying he didnt expect them to forgive him.

Catcheways sister told the boy she forgave him, and urged him to move forward on a positive path.

"I know your upbringing was really hard," she said. "Im really sure there is a good person inside you, I can see that."

Judge Rob Finlayson will sentence the boy April 7.

The boys co-accused, who admitted to kicking Catcheway, pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm and was sentenced last year to nine months custody.

dean.pritchard@freepess.mb.ca
Courtesy photo /U.S. Border Patrol

A juvenile has been detained in connection with a marijuana smuggling attempt that occurred northwest of Laredo, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

On Friday evening, agents responded to an alert of several people with bundles near the Rio Grande northwest of the city. As agents approached the area, the alleged smugglers abandoned the bundles and returned to Mexico.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto speak with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo during the "two-plus-two" meeting between Japan and Indonesia at the Iikura Guesthouse of the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, Japan March 30, 2021. (David Mareuil/Pool via Reuters)

With Eyes on China, Japan and Indonesia Bolster Security Ties

TOKYOJapan and Indonesia pledged on Tuesday to tighten security ties and signed a deal to facilitate transfers of defense equipment and technology, as their near neighbor China expands its economic and military might.

Chinas territorial claims in the East and South China seas have become a priority issue in an increasingly testy Sino-U.S. relationship and also raise significant security concerns for Japan.

I think this is (a) historical first in bilateral relations between Japan and Indonesia, Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said, referring to the transfer pact.

We invite the Japanese side to participate in the modernization of Indonesias defense capacity. We also encourage joint training between our services  maritime and also land forces, he told reporters.

Prabowo made the comment at a joint media appearance in Tokyo following a meeting of the Japanese and Indonesian foreign and defense ministers.

We exchanged views on the situation in the East and South China seas and shared serious concern about the continuation and strengthening of unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said.

The meeting followed a visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who warned China over coercion and aggression and criticized what he called Chinese attempts to bully neighbors with competing interests.

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members, which include Indonesia, remain wary of losing access to Chinas economy, and are reluctant to become entangled in any confrontation between Washington and Beijing.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also sharply criticized ongoing violence against civilians in Burma (Myanmar) following its Feb. 1 military coup. Indonesia strongly denounces this kind of act. It is unacceptable, she said.

Retno has emerged as a voice for the region as she works to broker talks with the Burmese military, which has killed more than 500 protesters since staging the coup.

Japan, which has extensive business interests in Burma, has so far refrained from meting out sanctions against the military leadership.

But Motegi told parliament on Tuesday that Tokyo, which had been the largest provider of economic assistance to Burma, had put its official development assistance on hold.

By Kiyoshi Takenaka
Press Release

30 March 2021

HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee  After 26 years with STR, Bobby Bowers will retire from his role as senior VP of operations effective 1 April.

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Bowers, who began his tenure in January 1995, was the first hotel industry professional hired by STR co-founders, Randy and Carolyn Smith. Bowers spent 15 years with Holiday Inn and served as director of competitor analysis before joining STR.

"Bobby's hiring goes on the timeline of STR's most important milestones," said Amanda Hite, STR president. "His client perspective was unique to STR at that time and has contributed greatly to growth of the company and our data offerings. Bobby has managed relationships with some of our largest global clients and fostered a service culture that will leave an indelible impact on the success of our company."

In addition to his expansive work with clients, Bowers was a regular presenter at hotel industry events and one of STR's spokespeople in support of media coverage of the industry.

"I'm incredibly grateful to have been a part of STR's growth over these last few decades," Bowers said. "I knew at the time I was getting in on something special, but I'd be lying if I said I expected this level of success. With CoStar Group behind it, STR has just scratched the surface and is well-positioned to take its success to another level in the coming years. Now is the right time for me to step aside and allow opportunities for others to take on larger roles in STR's future."

A note to editors: All references to STR data and analysis should cite "STR" as the source. Please refrain from citing "STR, Inc." "Smith Travel Research" or "STR Global" in sourcing.
PERTH, Australia, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Matter, a global leader in GPS and IoT hardware development, today announced that Foresolutions, a leading specialist in IoT strategy and asset tracking software, is utilizing the company's robust battery-powered IoT devices to track, monitor, and manage a range of assets in fleet, aviation, transportation, housing, agriculture, construction, manufacturing and other markets.

Foresolutions Selects Digital Matter to Bring IoT to Previously Untrackable Markets

As new business cases emerge for the IoT as device and connectivity costs continue to decrease, businesses are able to broaden the range of assets they track. Foresolutions is using Digital Matter's battery-powered LTE-M/NB-IoT Oyster2 devices as well as smaller Yabby devices to track business assets that traditionally were not commercially viable to track.

In the past, for example, construction companies would only put GPS trackers on heavy equipment. Today, they are tracking all types of smaller tools, including hand trucks, hand rollers, shovels and more, helping to reduce theft, optimize utilization, and improve efficiency.

Foresolutions provides GPS tracking and telematics systems to a wide range of organizations in both the public and private sectors, helping companies with complex operational environments to solve their asset tracking and IoT challenges. By assisting its customers in building strategies and implementing solutions to locate and monitor all their mobile assets, Foresolutions allows them to regain control of their operational environment. Digital Matter devices seamlessly integrate with the Foresolutions platform.

"We're really excited about using Digital Matter devices in more innovative use cases, such as portable toilets, tools, construction equipment, non-powered assets, ground service equipment, plant and machinery," said Imogen Ross, Operations Director, Foresolutions. "These are the areas we are really exploring and where we see our partnership developing. Using Digital Matter's robust range of long-life battery-powered devices, we are now able to build out more scalable, lower-cost asset tracking solutions for our clients."

"Foresolutions required very high-quality, robust devices with long battery life and Digital Matter was able to deliver at scale for all of the use cases and applications it was approaching," said Ken Everett, CEO and founder, Digital Matter. "Foresolutions is continually pushing the boundaries of what IoT can accomplish and we're pleased to be partnering with such an innovative company."

To learn more about Digital Matter, visit www.digitalmatter.com.

About Digital Matter

Digital Matter is the leading global developer of low-power GPS and IoT hardware for asset tracking and management applications. Engineered to outperform, we offer a versatile range of LPWAN asset tracking hardware with the largest portfolio of integration-ready battery-powered asset tracking devices across a range of connectivity technologies. With over 20 years of telematics experience and over 500 channel partners across 120 countries, Digital Matter supplies and supports scalable and secure devices for Telematics Businesses, IoT Solution Providers, Enterprises and Network Operators around the world. For more information, visit us at www.digitalmatter.com.

Calysto Communications Contact:

Kimberly T. Kennedy

O: 404-266-2060, Ext. 602

[email protected]

SOURCE Digital Matter

Related Links

http://www.digitalmatter.com


24 Hours In Police Custody

Rating:

Saved And Remade

Rating:

At last, television is tackling the mental health crisis gripping young men.

Shows such as Roman Kemps recent documentary about the steep rise in self-harm and suicide are being heard.

But theres a wilful refusal to talk about one of the most prevalent causes  the endemic use of marijuana.

In the past ten years, I can think of only one programme to tackle the issue . . . and that was a puerile, giggly discussion show on Channel 4 that challenged newsreader Jon Snow to get high on super-strength skunk.

The devastating effects of marijuana were treated as an aside, on 24 Hours In Police Custody (C4), which tracked an investigation in Luton after a shooting.

The devastating effects of marijuana were treated as an aside, on 24 Hours In Police Custody (C4), which tracked an investigation in Luton after a shooting.

A drug dealer named Justice McCann, 21 years old and the father of two children, was arrested after a psychotic breakdown that left another man close to death with a bullet in one kidney.

The victim, a 23-year-old Polish man, had the misfortune to be buying a can of fizzy drink in a grocers shop when McCann walked in with two handguns.

The gunman, whose long curls and wide eyes gave him the look of a young Cat Stevens, explained that the rampage was not his fault: I smoke weed all day every day, and that way my heads just frazzled, and Im trying not to overthink because I think too much sometimes and I just start getting angry.

His solicitor pleaded that McCann had suffered a chaotic childhood, and began smoking cannabis at eight years old.

Despite his frazzled head, McCann possessed the self-control to write an eloquent letter of mitigation to the court.

In it, he expressed his deepest apologies and signed off: Yours sincerely. Who knew drug dealers were so formal?

A drug dealer named Justice McCann, 21 years old and the father of two children, was arrested after a psychotic breakdown that left another man close to death with a bullet in one kidney

He claimed to have no memory of his shooting spree, though CCTV cameras and mobile phone footage showed him chasing and firing at cars. He also seized a young woman and held a gun to her head, which must have been a terrifying ordeal.

Police treated his gun crime with the utmost seriousness. But there appeared to be indifference to his drug dealing, and an equal lack of concern in the shows voiceover.

Traumatic finale of the night We knew it was coming, but the final scene of Unforgotten (ITV) was still a blow to knock you breathless. Who would have guessed when the series launched in 2015 that comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar would make such a superb cop? Advertisement

That reflects the national failure of policing around drug crime. Forces across the country seem to have decided to ignore the use and sale of marijuana. Of course, not all mental health problems, by a long stroke, are related to drug abuse. There are many other causes and they all need to be taken seriously.

But its worse than hypocrisy, if television continues to speak out about this crisis while ignoring the cannabis epidemic.

A soothing antidote to all this grimness was offered by Saved And Remade (BBC2), a half-hour variation on The Repair Shop that airs every evening this week. Much-loved heirlooms are brought to presenter Sabrina Grant, not to be restored but reinvented.

Jane didnt know what to do with her late mothers old clothes, including her wedding dress: a blacksmith called Leigh incorporated the cloth into a massive metal wall hanging.

Eric brought in the propeller from his grandads old boat, which a man-bunned former Royal Marine named Titch transformed into the twirling centrepiece of a lamp, encased in a coffee table.

And Grahams grannies 1948 tea trolley became a coat stand, with its squeaky wheels repurposed as hat hooks.

Make-do-and-mend formats like this have been the hit of lockdown. Id love to know whether they are inspiring a DIY revolution, or if were all too busy watching the shows to tackle any repairs of our own.
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President Joe Biden's administration has allowed journalists inside its main border detention facility for migrant children for the first time, after weeks of shutting the media out and releasing their own photos.

The tour on Tuesday revealed a severely overcrowded tent structure in Donna, Texas, where more than 4,000 migrants, including children and families, are crammed into pods.

The youngest are kept in a large play pen with mats on the floor for sleeping, because the facility is at 1,700% capacity and the dormitories are full.

Border guards say 14 per cent - roughly one in seven - of the migrant children have tested positive for COVID while photos also show detainees being treated for lice, amid fears of an outbreak.

Two thousand children have already overstayed their 72-hour legal limit and at least 39 have been stuck in the cramped quarters for two weeks.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection allowed two journalists from The Associated Press and a crew from CBS to tour the facility in the Rio Grande Valley.

It is the same shelter visited by GOP Senator Ted Cruz and another 18 Republicans over the weekend - but this is the first time the press has been given a full tour.

The shelter has a capacity of 250 but more than 4,100 people were being housed on the property Tuesday.

Most were unaccompanied children processed in tents before being taken to shelters run by the Department of Health and Human Services and then placed with a family member, relative or sponsor.

More than 4,000 migrants are crammed into pods in the tent structure in Donna, Texas, which is said to be at 1,700 per cent capacity

Young migrants lie inside a pod at the Donna Department of Homeland Security holding facility, the main detention centre for unaccompanied children in the Rio Grande Valley run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Monitored by a caretaker young unaccompanied migrants, ages 3-9, watch TV inside a playpen at the Donna Department of Homeland Security holding facility, the main detention center for unaccompanied children

Migrants are processed at the intake area of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, the main detention center for unaccompanied children in the Rio Grande Valley, in Donna, Texas, as journalists are let inside for the first time

Migrants speak to their relatives inside a phone booth after being processed at the intake area of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, the main detention center for unaccompanied children in the Rio Grande Valley, in Donna, Texas

Young children rest inside a pod at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, in Donna, Texas; the children are housed by the hundreds in eight pods that are about 3,200 square feet in size; Many of the pods had more than 500 children in them

Newly-arrived migrant children wait to be process at the Donna, Texas, facility

A young migrant gets treated for possible lice before entering the intake area

Young children and their families lie inside a pod at the Department of Homeland Security holding facility run by the Customs and Border Patrol

People talk to an agenyt outside one of the pods at the holding facility

The children were being housed by the hundreds in eight pods about 3,200 square feet (297 square meters) in size. Many of the pods had more than 500 children in them.

The conditions at the border are spiraling into a public relations nightmare for the administration.

New images released every day show children on rafts crossing the Rio Grande, Republicans have shared photos of kids sleeping on the floor of overcrowded shelters wrapped in silver foil blankets, and the government numbers predict more migrants are coming.

With thousands of children and families arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border in recent weeks and packing facilities, Biden has been under pressure to bring more transparency to the process.

Oscar Escamilla, acting executive officer of the U.S. Border Patrol in the Rio Grande Valley, said 250 to 300 kids enter daily and far fewer leave.

'That number is so lopsided,' said Escamilla.

On Tuesday, journalists watched children being processed. They went into a small room for lice inspection and a health check. Their hair was hosed down and towels were tossed in a black bin marked 'Lice.'

The minors - many of whom have made long journeys to get to the border, including stretches on foot - were also checked for scabies, fever and other ailments. No COVID-19 test was administered unless a child showed symptoms.

Nurse practitioners also gave psychological tests, asking children if they had suicidal thoughts. All shoelaces were removed to avoid harm to anyone.

The children were then led down a green turf hall to a large intake room. Those 14 and older are fingerprinted and have their photo taken; younger children did not.

Then they were taken to a second intake room where they got notices to appear for immigration court. Border Patrol agents asked them if they had a contact in the U.S. and allowed the child to speak with them by phone.

Children were given bracelets with a barcode that shows history of when they showered and medical conditions.

Outside the facility, the roar of construction equipment could be heard along with air conditioning units.

Young children look out from inside the pod where they are living in over crowded conditions

A migrant is processed at the intake area of the center in Texas, which is at 1,700% capacity

Migrants are processed at the intake area after crossing into the United States

Migrant families wait to be questioned at the facility

A migrant and her daughter have their biometric data entered - children were given bracelets with a barcode that shows history of when they showered and medical condition

The shelter is the same one Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas led 18 fellow GOP senators to see last week when he hosted a border trip designed to criticize the Biden administration's policies.

Republicans argue Biden's decision to roll back many of Donald Trump's stricter border policies has led to the recent migrant surge.

Cruz posted photos of children being held in crowded conditions - many sleeping on the floor - in one of the shelter.

'Democrats like to pretend their open-borders policies are somehow humane,' Cruz told 'Fox News Sunday.'

'There's nothing humane about what Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are doing at the border. They're subjecting kids to horrific abuse, they're endangering their lives in a pandemic by keeping them locked up in cages right on top of each other,' he said. 'This is a humanitarian, health and national security crisis.'

Last week, the Biden administration let a media crew into a better migrant shelter for children than the overcrowded ones where thousands of kids are being held - a facility in Carrizo Springs, Texas, that also has been toured by lawmakers.

It was the first time the administration let press cameras inside a government-run shelter. Previous images from the shelters were from lawmakers who visited. The administration has faced criticism -from both reporters and Republicans alike - for not letting independent cameras inside the shelters.

But last week's press access was to one of the shelters ran by the Department of Health and Human Services, not one of the ones being run by U.S. Customs and Border Control. It's the CBP shelters that have had reports of crowded conditions where the HHS ones are more permanent facilities.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked why the media were being sent to an 'aspirational' facility instead of one of the crowded shelters.

'We're also open to providing access there, and this is just the first step in the process of providing greater access to the media to decision,' she said at her daily press briefing.

'I would say we all agree that that the Border Patrol facilities are not places where children should be, they are children should be moving more quickly through those facilities that is what our policy central focus is right now,' she added.

The children are supposed to be held from three days by border patrol and then transferred to more permanent facilities run by DHS. But the overcrowded conditions have delayed transfers, leaving thousands of children stuck in a holding pattern as they wait to be processed.

A young migrant gets a medical check-up before entering the intake area

A migrant and her daughter wait for their turn at the intake area as the Department of Homeland Security says there could be twice as many migrants crossing the southern border this year

Young migrants get processed at the intake area

Migrant families sit at the initial intake area waiting their turn to be processed

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security says there could be twice as many migrants crossing the southern border this year, as smugglers continue to guide families across the Rio Grande and thousands make the journey north from Honduras and Guatemala.

DHS figures suggest crossings could double from 400,000 last year to up to 800,000 by the end of 2021 - even after Biden said last Thursday that the situation was 'normal' and 'happens every year'.

DHS expects approximately 500,000 to 800,000 migrants to arrive as part of a family group during the 2021 fiscal year that ends in September, according to a data analysis by The Washington Post.

That could be double over fiscal year 2020 when 458,088 people were encountered on southern border, according to US Customs and Border Patrol data.

Additionally, internal administration leaked to Axios show unaccompanied minor apprehensions are expected to surge as high as 26,000 in September.

Migrants cross the Rio Bravo river to El Paso, Texas, U.S., as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, March 30

A group of migrants are processed by U.S. Border Patrol agents after arriving from Mexico on March 30, 2021 in Roma, Texas. The group, made up of individuals from mostly Central American countries, turned themselves into the Border Patrol after smugglers brought them across the Rio Grande. Members of the group are seeking asylum in the U.S

A father and son from Honduras stand with a group of migrants as they are processed by U.S. Border Patrol agents after arriving from Mexico

A migrant from Guatemala holding a child arrives in the U.S., crossing the Rio Grande in a raft piloted by smugglers on March 30

The group made up of individuals from Central American countries turned themselves into the U.S. Border Patrol after crossing as they seek asylum in the United States

This month, approximately 16,000 minors crossed the border, which was a record high A group of migrants is processed by U.S. Border Patrol agents after arriving from Mexico on March 30, 2021 in Roma, Texas

This month, approximately 16,000 minors crossed the border, which was a record high.

There were 5,767 children in Customs and Border Protection custody on Sunday, up from 5,495 children on Thursday, according to CBP data. In June 2019, when Donald Trump was president, the highest number of unaccompanied minors in custody was around 2,600, according to CBP data.

Additionally, there are 11,886 children in the custody of Health and Human Services.

Combining the HHS and CBP figures, the Biden administration has more than 17,500 children in custody.

To compare, in May 2019 when Trump was president and his border crisis was at its height, 11,475 unaccompanied kids were arrested by border patrol agents.

In June 2014, during the peak surge of children at the border, 10,620 unaccompanied children were arrested by US Border Patrol.

White House officials, in the meantime, have downplayed Kamala Harris' role in border policy, saying the vice president will be using 'diplomacy' with South and Central American countries to try and find the 'root cause' of the crisis that has seen a surge in migrant children being taken into Border Patrol custody.

Psaki issued what she called a 'clarification' on Harris' role on Monday, saying there was 'confusion' on what the vice president was tasked to do.

'The Vice President of the United States will be helping lead that effort - specifically, the root causes, not the border. There is some confusion over that,' she said at her press briefing.

SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS: The movement of migrants from the south towards Mexico is a concern for the administration

And Symone Sanders, a spokesperson for Harris, told reporters last week that 'the vice president is not doing the border' but 'dealing with the root causes of migration.'

She added that President Biden tasked Harris 'with taking on those diplomatic efforts.'

Harris has not announced a trip to the border and has not given a public press interview about her new role.

White House officials are downplaying Kamala Harris' first major public charge of the administration as PR crisis on the border grows for President Joe Biden White House

Her office said she has been briefed 'extensively' on the northern triangle and Latin America situation and will soon speak with leaders in that region.

But she will not attend a bipartisan briefing on the border that the administration is hosting Wednesday for House lawmakers. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will led the virtual briefing, CNN reported, and the vice president will not be a part of it.

The clarification on her role comes after President Joe Biden announced Harris would lead the administration's effort with Mexico and the northern triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to stem the 'serious spike' in immigration.

'I've asked her, the VP today because she's most qualified person to do it to lead our efforts with Mexico and the northern triangle and the countries that need help in stemming the movement of so many folks stemming migration to our southern border,' he said in his announcement last week.

'She's leading the effort. The best thing to do is put someone when he or she speaks, they don't have to wonder about is that where the president is. She speaks for me,' he said of his vice president. 'She knows what she's doing.'
Rural outposts of Co Cork are overcoming remoteness and isolation with imaginative ideas.

Even the most southerly point, Fastnet Rock, is to be brought closer, with the project on nearby Cape Clear Island to create a virtual reality tour of the Fastnet Rock lighthouse.

The Cape Clear Co-ops project will add a virtual reality tour of the spectacular lighthouse to the islands tourism attractions.

And on the western border of the county, creation of a 1.4m community and digital hub is in the plan to revitalise the village of Knocknagree, which has endured setbacks such as its only shop/post office closing down.

What both ideas have in common is that the 2014-20 LEADER programme, co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, has supported the projects.

The Cape Clear and Knocknagree ideas can inspire other rural leaders to avail of an extra 50m added to national LEADER funding, on top of 20m announced last December.

Meanwhile, Cork County Council has been reviewing the 249 projects delivered in partnership with six local development companies (of which local action groups are sub-groups) since 2014. with total funding of 13.93m.

County Mayor Mary Linehan Foley said: This scheme supports community projects across a diverse range from rural tourism, like Ballyhass Lakes or e-bike hire for the Midleton to Youghal Greenway, to enterprises like Bo Rua farm and many more.

At Bo Rua Farm, Ballynoe, in east Cork, Norma and Tom Dinneen have developed a state-of-the-art facility to make cheese.

Construction began in early 2018, with LEADER grant assistance of 149,997.95.

Cork County Council Chief Executive Tim Lucey said, The Bo Rua enterprise epitomises the role of LEADER, adding value on the farm and creating jobs in rural areas. Working closely with Avondhu Blackwater Partnership and North Cork LCDC, Norma and Tom Dinneen partnered with Cork County Councils North Cork Local Enterprise Office and Teagasc to develop their product.

Carrigaline Mens Shed demonstrates an excellent collaborative approach to the development of a LEADER project, with a strong community vision, while the completion of renovations at Ballinadee Community Hall shows the dedication and community spirit of the local area, and the co-operative approach taken to fundraising and working with the LCDC and Cork County Council.

The LEADER North Cork Local Action Group allocated 3.8m in LEADER funding, and qualified for a 500,000 LEADER funding increase because it was one of the top ten highest performing of 29 groups across Ireland.

The 114 LEADER projects approved in North Cork, valued at 4,250,344, have had 2,106,139 paid out already to 58 projects.

These projects include renovations and upgrades of community centres in Castlelyons, Kilshannig, Conna, and Mitchelstown.

Refurbishment of playgrounds at Millstreet, Mourneabbey, and Kanturk; a digital hub feasibility study by Buttevant Muintir Community Council; and upgrades of the Charleville Incubation units, were among other North Cork projects.

Also aided by LEADER were the ReproDoc Ltd research into sustainable farming, enhancement of the Ballyhass Lakes facilities and equipment, and installation of an all-weather competition arena at the International Equestrian Competition Centre, Ballindenisk House, Watergrasshill.

The LEADER South Cork Local Action Group allocated 2,803,477 in funding, to 68 projects valued at 2,814,773. Of these, 23 payment claims have been processed to the value of 910,544.

Projects include renovations and upgrades of community centres in Courtbrack, Clondrohid, and Inniscarra; Phase 2 of the Carrigtwohill Community Campus Redevelopment; and playground developments at Ballinagree, Ballymacoda, and Dungourney.

There were Mens Sheds projects at Cloyne and Carrigaline.

Funded rural tourism projects included the Museum of the Irish language and Gaelic Revival, Beal Athan Ghaorthaidh; a castle playground and passenger trailer at Leahys Open Farm; and Cobh Summer Swings purchase of a marquee for use by community groups.

The LEADER West Cork Local Action Group allocated 3,691,756 for 67 projects valued at 3,682,787. Claims valued at 1,243,437 have been paid to 38 projects.

Projects included renovations, extensions and upgrades to community centres at Ballinadee, Gaggin, Lehanmore, and Ballinascarthy. Whiddy Island and Castletownbere also got community hall funding, and there were playground developments at Innishannon and Dunmanway

Also funded were Courtmacsherry Rowing Club, Clonakilty Community Youth Centre, Murlach Adventures Ltd, Totus Leisure (Smugglers Cove), Glenilen Farm Mercantile, and Wild Atlantic Glamping.
New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has invited applications from eligible aspirants for recruitment to the posts of Assistant Professor. The interested candidates should apply for the said posts online on the official website- www.upsconline.nic.in on or before April 16, 2021.

The interested candidates should first check their eligibility criteria, and other details before submitting their application for these posts for the UPSC Recruitment 2021.

Interested candidates are advised to go through the details of the official website prior to submitting their online applications.

UPSC Recruitment 2021: Vacancy details

1. Specialist Grade-III Assistant Professor(Paediatrics), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare  14 Posts

2. Specialist Grade-III Assistant Professor(Physiology), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare  2 Posts

3. Specialist Grade-III Assistant Professor(Psychiatry)  11 Posts

4. Specialist Grade-III Assistant Professor(Surgical Gastroenterology)  1 Post

Application fees: The candidates will have to pay a fee of Rs 25 only either by remitting the amount in any branch of the SBI by cash or by using the SBI's net banking facility or by using a visa/master credit/debit card.

The SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates of any community need not pay any application fee. No fee exemption is available to Gen/OBC/EWS male candidates and they are required to pay the full prescribed fee.

Live TV

The last date for submission of the online application for UPSC Recruitment 2021 is April 15, while the last date for printing of the completely submitted online application is April 16.
A disgruntled binman showed up at a resident's house and tipped her rubbish out on to the street after she complained about a missed collection.

The unnamed woman was left fuming after the council worker arrived at her property in Burdiehouse, Edinburgh, and emptied the contents of her general waste bin on to a grass verge in front of her home.

The worker has since been moved to work on another route in the city and the council has said that they are conducting an investigation.

In the clip, recorded on March 4, a heated discussion is already underway between the homeowner and the council worker.

He appears to indicate that her bin was not collected as the waste was contaminated with items that should not have been in it - including a glass bottle.

But she furiously hits back and claims that he could not have known about the items before he tipped the bin on to the verge.

She says: 'You never emptied my bin this morning. You've just emptied the whole bin [now] to find this because that was in the bottom of my bin.

The council worker replies: 'It still shouldn't be there.'

But the woman continues: 'It was at the bottom of the bin you would have never known it was there.'

The unnamed woman was left fuming after the council worker arrived at her property in Burdiehouse, Edinburgh, and emptied the contents of her general waste bin on to a grass verge in front of her home

The man claims: 'It wasn't at the bottom it was in the middle.'

But the woman hits back: 'I just watched you physically have to empty my whole bin on the floor to find three things. That's an absolute joke.'

Responding to his claims that she has been 'putting his job at risk', she continues: 'This is about the fifth time that you have taken everyone else's bin but not mine.'

The dispute continues until the woman begins to walk back up the path toward her front door.

But the council worker seems to follow directly behind her before what appears to be a brief tussle ensues.

The woman swears before repeating that 'this is all on camera' as the binman takes his own phone out and starts filming over the hedge.

The resident's father has since contacted Edinburgh Live to say that his daughter has been left in fear following the encounter.

He said the incident occurred after she submitted a complaint about missed waste collections at her property.

In the clip, recorded on March 4, a heated discussion is already underway between the homeowner and the council worker

The resident furiously hit back and claimed that he could not have known about the items before he tipped the bin on to the verge

He said: 'She's had a problem with the binman for around 18 months now. Mainly about her bin not being emptied. She's put in constant complaints.

'On the day this happened her bin was missed again and she went on to the web to complain. They were then told over radio to go back and get it.'

The father added that it was not until later in the day that the worker showed up at the house.

'When he got there he started shouting and bawling. He tipped her bin out in the middle of the road.

'This was later on, and he showed up without the truck or anything,' he said.

The worker has since been moved to work on another route in the city and the council has said that they are conducting an investigation

'There's no way he could've known that glass bottle was in there without emptying it out. It was down at the bottom of the bin, so that can't be the reason [it wasn't emptied initially]. He seems to have a vendetta.

'My daughter is a nice lassie. She's well-liked, but she's been left pretty scared because of this. She's genuinely worried. One of her brothers has to go and stay with her the night before bins. It's that bad.'

He added: 'She doesn't like the limelight or anything, but she put a complaint into the council and they've just moved him to another run elsewhere. I want the council to stand up and take notice of what has happened here.'

The City of Edinburgh Council said that they are aware of the incident and are conducting an investigation.

A spokesperson said: 'We're aware of the complaint and the footage and we've been in touch with the resident directly. As this relates to an ongoing investigation, it wouldn't be appropriate to comment further.'
Micheal Martin has poured cold water on suggestions that Ireland could receive surplus vaccines from the UK.

A report in The Sunday Times claimed that Britain could offer as many 3.7 million inoculations to the Republic, in part to help ease lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland.

First Minister Arlene Foster backed the proposal on Monday, saying she had raised the issue with Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this month and will do so again.

Any vaccines that are available, If we require them, of course we will accept them. But there has been no offer at this particular point Taoiseach Micheal Martin

But speaking later, the Taoiseach said he had received no official contact from the UK government on the subject.

Mr Martin said: I spoke to Boris Johnson six weeks ago.

At that stage he was very clear that you have to vaccinate his people first, prior to vaccinating anybody else, and theyre some distance off that.

So I think thats where that is.

Theres been no contact since then or no indication from any officials at the British government level in terms of offering any vaccines.

Of course any vaccines that are available, If we require them, of course we will accept them.

But there has been no offer at this particular point.

Expand Close Northern Irelands first mass Covid-19 vaccination centre at the SSE Arena, Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Northern Irelands first mass Covid-19 vaccination centre at the SSE Arena, Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

The vaccination rollout in the Republic has lagged behind that in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

This had led to concerns over cross-border travel if Northern Ireland begins to relax lockdown restrictions while a majority in the Republic are still unvaccinated.

But the programme is ramping up, with a total of 786,569 doses of Covid-19 vaccines administered as of Friday March 26.

Of these 567,023 were first doses and 219,546 were second doses.

Health Minister Robin Swann said he hopes that the Republic will catch up within a month.

Mrs Foster said she discussed the issue with Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he visited a vaccination centre in Fermanagh earlier this month, and pledged to continue that conversation.

I think he does understand the difficulties, particularly around border areas and the movement of people in relation to vaccination, she said.

If there is surplus vaccine then we should share it with our nearest neighbours out of neighbourliness but also out of the fact it will have an impact of course on us here in Northern Ireland, so theres a very practical reason why I believe that should happen.

Expand Close Arlene Foster receiving her first Covid vaccination at Castle Park leisure centre in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, from local GP Dr John Porteous (Press Eye/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Arlene Foster receiving her first Covid vaccination at Castle Park leisure centre in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, from local GP Dr John Porteous (Press Eye/PA)

Mrs Foster received her first dose of the vaccine at the weekend.

On Monday she commented that apart from a sore arm, she felt well.

Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill said she would like to see more co-operation.

What happens across these two islands has implications because we move freely across the two islands, so it is crucially important that we have an all-island approach to dealing with vaccination rollout, she said.

Expand Close Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill (Liam McBurney/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill (Liam McBurney/PA)

Its the right thing to do, its the good thing to do.

Its responding to a global pandemic and we are all in this together, so we need to work together in order to protect our people.

I would like to see a lot more co-operation as we come out of this period and into the future.

Mr Swann said offering vaccine surplus to the Republic of Ireland was the right thing to do.

My responsibility is to the people of Northern Ireland so, as of our operation here today, my key aim is to get as many people in Northern Ireland vaccinated as quickly as possible, he said.

We hope to have everyone receive their first vaccination by the end of July.

In the Republic of Ireland, Ive heard the Taoiseach say they hope to catch up in a couple of weeks or a months time, so thats something we would like to see.

aIf youare in an eligible group, book your vaccine and donat delaya says Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride speaking at the opening of the regional vaccination centre at the @SSEBelfastArena pic.twitter.com/5AiLDUusvo  Department of Health (@healthdpt) March 29, 2021

He described the difference in vaccine rates as simply down to supply chains.

Were part of the UK pre-bought programme which bought into seven different vaccine sources even before they had been authorised, and the Republic has tied in with the European Unions vaccine purchasing programme, and were seeing the challenges that has brought but were also hopeful that any difficulties between the UK and EU or Oxford/AstraZeneca will be ironed out and ironed out very soon, because this shouldnt be about politics, this is about public health, he said.
The fate of Ministers including Piyush Hazarika, Parimalsukla Baidya, Bhabesh Kalita and Deputy Speaker of State Assembly Aminul Haque Laskar will be decided in the second phase of Assembly polls on Thursday.

A total of 345 candidates are in the fray in this phase. As many as 73,44,631 electorates are eligible to vote in second phase on April 1. The campaigning for the second phase of will end today.

Baidya is contesting from the Dholai seat for the seventh time on a BJP ticket, Hazarika from Jagiroad and Kalita from Rangia seat.

Former Congress minister Gautam Roy is contesting from Katigorah on a BJP ticket, while former Deputy Speaker Dilip Kumar Paul, who resigned from the BJP after he was denied ticket, is contesting as an Independent from Silchar.

Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary is contesting from Panery and former Asam Sahitya Sabha President Paramananda Rajbongshi is trying his luck from Sipajhar.

Former Minister for Hill Areas Development, Mines and Minerals and Congress leader Sum Ronghang is in the fray from the Diphu seat.

Nearly crucial 15 Assembly seats in the Barak Valley region will go to polls on April 1. In the 2016 polls, BJP had bagged 8 seats six from Cachar district and two from bordering Karimganj district, which shares boundaries with Bangladesh.

The state, in its three-phased polls, is witnessing a direct fight between the BJP-Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Congress-AIUDF alliance. The BJP is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance, Central public welfare schemes, and on the image of Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal.

While Congress is heading into the battle against the ruling party bringing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to the fore.

Congress has stitched a coalition named "Mahajath" with All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) Liberation, the Anchalik Gana Marcha (AGM) and the Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF) to oust the BJP government from office.

On the other hand, BJP is seeking to return to power with the help of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL).

Jailed CAA Activist Akhil Gogoi's Raijor Dal has stitched an alliance with Jatiya Parishad.

This is the first Assembly in Assam after the state witnessed widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which aims to grant citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Parsi refugees who came to India from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, and the publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) list.

The Congress leadership has strongly taken up the issue during its campaign. Rahul Gandhi has promised that if Congress comes to power in Assam, then it will do away with the implementation of the CAA.

However, Assam BJP chief Ranjeet Kumar Dass has said that the party will soon implement the CAA if it is re-elected to office. He further claimed that the CAA is not an issue in the upcoming Assembly elections in the state as people will vote logically, not emotionally.

Assam had recorded 79.93 voter turnout in the first phase of elections on March 27.

Polling for the next two phases will be held on April 1 and April 6. 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.)
With misinformation, vaccine hesitancy ruling in parts of Serbia



Much to the surprise of many, Serbia has raced ahead in its vaccination programme, delivering more than 31 jabs for every 100 people. However, the misinformation around vaccination is so ripe that authorities are still finding strong resistance in some pockets. Polls show that hesitancy to get the jab is a significant force. Once supply of doses outstrips demand, how do you convince sceptical communities to be vaccinated? As cases climb again, its president said I am begging you people, call to get the vaccine, we have them and we will have them even more, i am begging you like a God, take it. Read here

Let's look at the global statistics

Global infections: 127,775,460

Global deaths: 2,794,246

Nations with most cases: US (30,332,358), Brazil (12,573,615), India (12,095,855), France (4,615,295), Russia (4,486,078).

Source: John Hopkins Research Center



Canada suspends use of AstraZeneca Covid vaccine for those under 55

Even after WHO allayed concerns about the formation of blood clots, Canada suspended the use of the AstraZeneca shot for people under 55. There is substantial uncertainty about the benefit of providing AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines to adults under 55 given the potential risks, said the country's top health agency. The AstraZeneca shot, which has been authorised in more than 70 countries, is considered a pillar of a UN-backed project known as Covax that aims to get Covid vaccines to poorer countries. Read here

World leaders call for an international treaty to combat future pandemics



The leaders of more than 12 countries have called for an international treaty similar to the one that followed World War II needed to cross-border cooperation before the next global health crisis upends economies and lives. The leaders warned that the current pandemic will be followed by another one invetiably and said they aim to contain future pandemics effectively. The current situation is the biggest challenge to the global community since the 1940s. The treaty, according to them is aimed to provide universal and equitable access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostics. Read here

Ireland maps out a plan for revitalizing rural life after the pandemic



As the forces a realignment of how people live and work, Ireland is hoping to use the moment to help struggling small towns and villages to narrow the ever-widening gap with urban centers. The Irish government announced this week that it was prepared to spend about $1 billion to encourage people to settle in rural areas, hoping that an investment in revitalising town centers and other incentives will lure back younger people who have for years flocked to cities. Nearly half of people in Ireland live in rural areas and small towns, but the government hopes that the proposals will lift that number. Read here
NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Getty Images, a world leader in visual communications, and Unsplash, the preeminent image platform for global creators, today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Getty Images will acquire Unsplash. Getty Images will fund the transaction from existing cash balances and the transaction is expected to close at the close of the month.

With more than 100 million images downloaded every month the Unsplash platform powers the creativity of tens of millions of users via the Unsplash website and thousands of partner integrations through the Unsplash API.

Getty Images powers the world's corporate and media communications through more than 425 million images and videos from the world's top visual experts, award-winning content creators, producers, partners, the world's deepest digital archive of historic photography, and world-class support, technology and capabilities.

iStock by Getty Images, backed by the visual expertise of Getty Images, is a leading source of imagery and video empowering small and mid-sized businesses to cost effectively reach and engage with their customers.

Through the combination of the Getty Images, iStock and Unsplash brands, and their corresponding websites and APIs, Getty Images will be uniquely positioned to reach and enable creativity and communications across the full spectrum of the world's growing creative community.

"We could not be happier to welcome Unsplash to the Getty Images family," said Craig Peters, Chief Executive Officer, Getty Images. "The Unsplash team share our values and share our vision of enabling global creativity and communication. We are impressed by what the Unsplash team and community has built and we look forward to supporting their continued development."

Unsplash founders, Mikael Cho, Luke Chesser and Stephanie Liverani, will continue to lead and operate the Unsplash business maintaining its free content model, reporting into Getty Images CEO, Craig Peters.

Mikael Cho, Co-Founder and CEO of Unsplash said, "I'm so proud of what the Unsplash community and team has created. And it's only the beginning. This partnership is an important milestone for Unsplash, but our mission of Photos for Everyone remains unchanged. We are very excited to partner with Getty Images to move the industry forward together."

Started in 2013 as a Tumblr blog, Unsplash now offers over 2 million free high-resolution images, providing an easily searchable online platform for a community of millions of users. The company works with some of the world's leading brands to curate, amplify and syndicate their content to the platform's broad audiences. As of 2021, Unsplash has over two billion image downloads across the globe, allowing brands in Unsplash's unrivaled ecosystem to syndicate targeted images that are seen 22 billion times, and by 300 million people, each month.

SOURCE press.gettyimages.com
BEAVERTON, Ore., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Metro One Telecommunications, Inc. (OTCMKTS: WOWI) ("Company" or "Metro One") announced today that its newly-formed, wholly-owned Israeli subsidiary, Stratford Ltd. ("Subsidiary"), received notification of approval from the Lod District Court in Israel for its winning bid to acquire assets of Royal App Ltd. ("Royal App") out of insolvency proceedings (the "Acquisition") for the equivalent of approximately USD $2.4 million in cash as well as certain equity in the Company. Royal App, based in Israel, is the developer of Shelfy, a white label, headless mobile commerce software platform that helps retailers and fast moving consumer goods companies become growth companies ("Shelfy"). Shelfy incorporates sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine learning in its algorithms to markedly improve online shopping metrics through mobile phones for large consumer retailers such as supermarket chains, food and other prominent clients.

To finance the Acquisition as well as general working capital, Metro One is raising $3.5 million of financing in the form of puttable Simple Agreements for Future Equity ("Safes") from institutional investors and family offices.

The Safes are to convert into common stock of the Company following the conversion of all outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock ("Preferred Stock") into common stock ("Common Stock", and collectively with the Safes, the Preferred Stock, and any other Company securities, the "Securities") of the Company in a transaction that the Company intends to undertake later this year (the "Preferred Conversion" and the resulting capitalization immediately following the Safe conversion and the Preferred Conversion calculated on an as-converted to Common Stock basis, without duplication, the "Company Capitalization").

In addition, as part of the Acquisition consideration, Metro One has agreed that upon the Preferred Conversion it will issue Common Stock equivalent to 8% of the Company Capitalization for the benefit of certain creditors of Royal App, to issue Common Stock in an aggregate amount up to 2% of the Company Capitalization to Everest Corporate Finance as partial compensation for the Acquisition, as well as to issue equity incentives to certain employees. Pending the issuance of 8% of the Company Capitalization, a trustee for certain creditors of Royal App will have a lien on certain Shelfy assets for the benefit of such creditors.

Certain of the transactions described above are subject to Board approval as well as shareholder approval, of which there can be no assurance. The Company intends to prepare and mail a proxy statement to its shareholders which will have further details on the Acquisition, the Company Capitalization and the various issuances of Company Securities.

The Company anticipates that the closing of the Acquisition may occur by mid-April. Prior to its recent insolvency filing, approximately USD $20 million has been invested in Royal App since 2018 with the most significant pre-money valuation totaling approximately USD $48 million.

Metro One Chairman, Nani Maoz said, "we are very pleased with the acquisition of this technology company. Royal App has a novel artificial intelligence technology which has received praise from its customers. We look forward to working with the team at Royal App to grow their international client base into the U.S. market. Despite making substantial progress on the business side during 2019-2020 the company experienced setbacks, some of which due to Covid-19 restrictions. The company's clients include such major European retailers as A.S Watson, Super Pharm, Yohananof, and Kruidvat."

Mr. Maoz continued, "In the next few months, Metro One is endeavoring to bring our public filings current with the SEC and to become a fully reporting company. We believe that the acquisition of Royal App will be accretive to our shareholders."

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Safes or any other securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, such as statements regarding the proposed notes offering and the expected use of proceeds therefrom. The Company generally uses the words such as "might," "will," "may," "should," "estimates," "expects," "continues," "contemplates," "anticipates," "projects," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "intends," "believes," "forecasts," "future," "guidance," "targeted," "goal" and variations of such words or similar expressions in this press release and any attachment to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, expectations, beliefs, business strategies, future events, business conditions, results of operations, financial position, business outlook, earnings guidance, business trends and other information are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon current expectations, estimates and projections, and various assumptions, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond management's control. All expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections are expressed in good faith and the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections will result or be achieved and actual results may vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond management's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including among others: COVID-19 and its impact on the business of the Company and the bankruptcy process in Israel. Although the Company believes that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it cannot guarantee future results and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's opinions only as of the date of this press release. There can be no assurance that (i) the Company has correctly measured or identified all of the factors affecting its business or the extent of these factors' likely impact, (ii) the available information with respect to these factors on which such analysis is based is complete or accurate, (iii) such analysis is correct or (iv) the Company's strategy, which is based in part on this analysis, will be successful. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise.

Contact information:

Jacqueline Danforth

30 North Gould Street

Suite 2990

Sheridan, WY 82801

Office: 403-693-8004

Cell: 646-831-6244

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Metro One Telecommunications Inc.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 05:48:47|Editor: huaxia

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ROME, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Italy on Monday reported 12,916 new COVID-19 infections as over half of its 20 regions turned into red zones, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health.

The country's death toll rose by 417 to 108,350, while the recoveries increased by 19,725 to over 2.87 million, according to the ministry.

Health Minister Roberto Speranza signed a March 26 order designating which regions fall into which color-coded zone, with the new rules going into effect on Monday and lasting through April 6.

In a bid to contain the new wave of the pandemic, the Italian government late last year divided the country into three color-coded areas -- yellow or low risk, orange or medium risk, and red or high risk -- with varying restrictions according to the level of transmission of the virus.

The new orders moved the regions of Calabria, Tuscany and Valle d'Aosta into the red zone, where they joined Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont, Puglia, Veneto and the Autonomous Province of Trento.

All these regions need to be in the red zone because they "present a weekly incidence of contagion of over 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants," said the order.

Red zones have near-total lockdown rules, with all shops shut down except for those selling essential goods, such as groceries and pharmacies, and a ban on all social activities in public.

The rest of Italy's 20 regions remain in the orange zone, where the restrictive rules include a 10 pm to 5 am curfew and a ban on travel outside one's municipality; bars and restaurants can operate until 6 pm, but they can only serve takeaways.

The central Lazio region where Rome is located will become orange beginning on Tuesday. However, the entire country will be in the red zone over the Easter weekend, from April 3 to 5.

Speranza made the new designations based on the Ministry of Health's weekly monitoring report referred to March 15 to 21, which said that "the incidence (of the virus) at the national level is still very high."

Also on Monday, Speranza announced on Twitter that "I have signed a protocol with regions and pharmacists in order to start COVID vaccinations in the pharmacies of our country... In this way, we are taking another step forward to make it (the vaccination campaign) more widespread."

A total of 9,499,293 people in Italy had been inoculated since a nationwide vaccination campaign kicked off in late December. Of them, 2,996,933 had received both shots, according to the health ministry. Enditem

Former Republican state Sen. Peter Lucido is accused of using the power of his newly elected role as the Macomb County prosecutor to grind a political axe with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Hes accused Whitmer of crimes related to her handling of nursing home patients and asked relatives of patients whove died of COVID-19 in nursing homes to file wrongful death lawsuits.

Now a trio of legal ethics experts are accusing Lucido of violating his Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct and conflict-of-interest ethics standards.

Mr. Lucido may have been within his rights to use the tools of his office to advance his cause, but his actions as a prosecutor raise serious questions under the rules governing the legal profession and the prosecutors office, said a complaint filed with the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission Monday, March 29. In light of his public pronouncements regarding the guilt of a potential defendant prior to an investigation, Mr. Lucidos continued involvement in this matter implicates a conflict of interest between his personal political interests and the duties of a prosecutor ... "

The complaint is filed by Larry Dubin, former chairman of the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission and a law professor at University of Detroit Mercy; Claire Finkelstein, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota.

They claim if Lucido doesnt recuse himself from any criminal investigation related to the nursing home issue he may be in violation of the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct that guide legal professionals in the state.

It was one thing for Mr. Lucido to make such allegations as a politician; (its) quite another thing for him to do so as a prosecutor, the complaint said. We urge the Commission to investigate Mr. Lucidos behavior for violations of his duties in his capacity as a prosecutor for Macomb County.

Despite calls for a criminal investigation into Whitmers handling of nursing homes during the pandemic, Lucido previously told MLive theres not exactly probable cause to open an investigation, but rather a cumulation of general information hed like law enforcement to look into.

Across the state and in Lansing, Michigan Republicans are pushing for an investigation into Whitmers handling of nursing home policy after a reporting scandal in New York, despite data indicating the same problems do not exist in Michigan.

Michigan is below the national average in nursing-home deaths from COVID-19 and theres no evidence that Michigan has been hiding data or is an outlier in its handling of the situation.

On two different metrics, Michigan is slightly below the national average in regards to nursing home deaths: The death toll per 1,000 nursing home residents and the percentage of total COVID-19 deaths attributed to long-term care facilities. On the latter, about 31% of the states COVID-19 deaths are attributed to long-term care facilities compared to a national average of 34%.

Whitmers widely criticized policy telling nursing homes they had to accept COVID-positive patients was never actually implemented, according to Melissa Samuel, president and CEO of the Health Care Association of Michigan, which represents long-term care providers.

In April 2020, Whitmer put in place a policy ordering nursing homes to accept COVID-19-positive patients back into their facilities but paused the implementation due to a flurry of complaints and amended the order and eliminated the re-acceptance mandate in May, Samuel said.

As of data available this week, residents of long-term care facilities accounted nearly a third, or 5,563 of Michigans 16,034 COVID-19 deaths.

Michael Goetz, who oversees grievance investigations, on Monday said he could neither deny nor confirm a complaint was filed against Lucido, although a copy of the complaint has been publicized in the media.

According to Goetz, a review of any attorney complaint is conducted internally and referred to the Attorney Discipline Board if there is adequate evidence and the alleged misconduct is severe enough. That is rare.

According to Goetz, about 120 of 2,500 attorney complaints in a year are referred, at which time they become available for public inspection. Prior to that, any complaint, the resulting investigation or disciplinary action -- such as an admonition, warning or consensual probation -- remains secret from the public.

MLive has requested comment but not received response from the filers of the complaint and left a message with the Macomb County Prosecutors Office offering Lucido a chance to respond to the grievance.

Lucido defeated former judge Mary Chrzanowski in November to replace the seat left open by former Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith after he resigned amid allegations that he was fraudulently spending public forfeiture funds.

More on MLive:

Nursing home cases on the decline

Republicans search for smoking gun in nursing home handling by Whitmer

Michigan to allow nursing home visits statewide
SAN FRANCISCO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Revelation Capital Management, LLC ("Revelation Partners"), a San Francisco-based investment firm focused on the healthcare sector, backed Rosetta Capital VI, LP ("Rosetta") in the acquisition of seven biotech assets from Schroder UK Public Private Trust plc ("SUPP") in an 85.0 million transaction. The closing of the acquisition occurred on March 15, 2021.

Dr Jonathan Hepple, Managing Partner, Rosetta, said, "We believe this is an attractive portfolio of biotech assets, representing a mix of companies in late-stage clinical trials, with multiple drugs under development, as well as one company in the liquid biopsy space with early revenue."

Revelation Partners provides liquidity to investors in private healthcare companies giving counterparties the flexibility to manage their illiquid, private investments. These counterparties typically include corporations, venture capital firms, individuals and limited partners in investment funds. As part of that offering, Revelation Partners frequently partners with healthcare focused fund managers such as Rosetta in order to craft the best solution for its counterparties.

Scott Halsted, Managing Partner, Revelation Partners, said, "We are pleased to work closely with Rosetta to complete this transaction. It offers SUPP the opportunity to achieve its strategic objectives relative to these seven investments, while Rosetta's experience in the biotechnology space, combined with Revelation's backing, will allow strong support for these companies moving forward."

As reported by SUPP, the initial purchase price was 52.9 million with the opportunity for SUPP to receive up to an additional 5.0 million in milestone payments. Revelation Partners and other investors capitalized Rosetta Capital VI with over 85.0 million, providing sufficient capital to support the portfolio moving forward.

Legal advice for Revelation Partners was provided by leading UK law firm Macfarlanes.

Kirkland & Ellis acted as legal counsel to Rosetta in the formation of Rosetta Capital VI and acquisition of the portfolio.

Revelation Partners

Revelation Partners is a San Francisco-based investment firm that invests in healthcare companies acquired in negotiated transactions from existing shareholders. It invests broadly across healthcare sectors with a focus on commercial companies with proven business models or companies with novel technologies that have clear clinical and regulatory pathways. It actively invests in the following healthcare verticals - medical devices, biopharmaceuticals, healthcare IT and healthcare services. For more information, please visit: www.revelation-partners.com.

Rosetta Capital Ltd

Rosetta Capital is a UK-based investment firm that invests in portfolios of direct venture capital investments in the life science sector. Rosetta's funds encompass life science companies across North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit: www.rosettacapital.com.

Macfarlanes

Macfarlanes is a leading law firm based in London. We work with corporate and private clients around the world on advisory and transactional matters as well as on disputes and investigations.

For more information, please visit: www.macfarlanes.com.

Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis is an international law firm with approximately 2,900 attorneys representing clients in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions, litigation and dispute resolution/arbitration, restructuring, and intellectual property matters. The Firm's Investment Funds Practice represents buyers, sellers, management teams and fund sponsors in secondaries transactions, regularly surpassing other firms in secondaries market volume across the United States, Europe and Asia. Kirkland advised on approximately $57 billion of secondaries transactions in 2020. For more information, please visit www.kirkland.com.

Media Contacts:

Revelation Partners

Scott Halsted

415-905-7233

[email protected]

Rosetta Capital Ltd

Jonathan Hepple

[email protected]

SOURCE Revelation Partners

Related Links

https://www.revelation-partners.com


Last week, a federal court in California issued a 44-page order throwing out a libel lawsuit filed in 2016 against Reveal, a non-profit newsroom run by The Center for Investigative Reporting, by Planet Aid, an international charity that received US government funds for aid programs. Planet Aid filed its lawsuit in August 2016 after Reveal published several stories based on almost two years of reporting which tied the charity to an alleged cult and raised questions about the charitys spending. Reveals investigation attracted the attention of the British government, which cut off funding to Planet Aids subcontractor and launched a probe into suspected foreign-aid fraud. While the judges decision is an unequivocal legal win for Reveal, it took more than four-and-a-half years and millions of dollars to get there.

The ruling comes at a time when defamation law is having an unexpected moment in the sun. Last month, when Smartmatic brought a $2.7-billion libel lawsuit against Fox News, some suggested that defamation suits are just what the marketplace of ideas needs; Ben Smith, the New York Times media columnist, praised the suit for discouraging the amplification of falsehoods.

But such boosterism is short-sighted. Defamation cases such as the Smartmatic lawsuit may be a useful corrective, Yochai Benkler, a professor at Harvard Law School, recently told the Times. However, he added, we have to be very cautious in our celebration of these lawsuits, because the history of defamation is certainly one in which people in power try to slap down critics.

On paper, Reveal achieved complete success. In the order to dismiss, a federal judge wrote of Reveal, defendants were engaged in the typical editorial process of fact-checking and revising drafts of their articles prior to publication, after which they confirmed the reliability of that information. In essence, our reporters did their job.

But the victory is somewhat pyrrhic. Fighting Planet Aids complaint was exceptionally costly to Revealboth in lost reporting time and in other employee resources. Still, the effort was necessary for a case where Planet Aid alleged an estimated $25 million in damages, a sum that is twice CIRs annual budget.

While seemingly stratospheric, such devastating damage claims are not out of the ordinary. Over the past decade, the press has suffered an increasing trend of costly cases, including but not limited to defamation cases. Hulk Hogans 2013 privacy lawsuit against Gawker sought more than $100 million in damages from the publication. Writing for CJR, Trevor Timm, executive director of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, described the case as structuredto do maximum damage, and called the case a blueprint for destroying a news organization. In 2016, ABC News settled a billion-dollar defamation lawsuit brought by a South Dakota-based beef production company at the cost of $177 million. ABC maintains that its reporting was factually accurate.

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What was once a blueprint has now turned into a thick playbook, with the power to wreak havoc on newsroomsparticularly on nonprofits, such as Reveal, that focus on long-term investigations. Here are a few plays that plaintiffs might use against news outlets, and how they were used in our case:

File a really long complaint with copious other documents. The 276-page complaint filed by Smartmatic against Fox News may present some strong claims. But length isnt necessarily a sign of overall merit. Many other defamation complaints tend to be bloated with improper arguments, which can create the false appearance of grievous wrongdoing and sloppy reporting committed by the media entity being sued.

In our case, Planet Aid listed 80 objections to CIRs reporting in its nearly 70-page complaint. This approach was repeated in other filings in the case against Reveal, creating a time-consuming workload for the district court judge, who is duty-bound to investigate every claim to mitigate the risk of reversal on appeal. The result was costly, protracted litigation.

Sue in far-away courts that have plaintiff-friendly laws. Defamation plaintiffs sue newsrooms in remote jurisdictions to benefit from more favorable laws and friendly courts, all while draining newsroom resources in the process. This practice is known as forum shopping, and its as old as the seminal New York Times v. Sullivan case. In that case, the Times was hauled more than a thousand miles to Alabama to defend its publication of an advertisement supporting the Civil Rights Movement. More recently, the tactic was used in the Gawker case, which was tried in Florida, and the ABC pink slime case, which was tried in South Dakota.

In Reveals case, Planet Aid tried at least five times to bring the case to Maryland instead of California, where CIR is located. Although Maryland does have an anti-SLAPP statute, which is designed to quickly bat down defamation suits, it is far weaker than Californias own anti-SLAPP statute. Marylands law does not provide an automatic right of appeal, nor does it permit a winning party to get attorneys fees. And even though both the Maryland and California courts concluded that California was the proper place for trial, Planet Aid still continued to ask for the case to be returned to Maryland.

Employ costly discovery. Some anti-SLAPP statutes allow defendants of meritless libel cases to escape discovery and, in turn, minimize costs of protracted litigation. Sadly for media defendants, federal judges have rejected the application of these state procedural rules in their courtrooms, permitting discovery to proceed against defendants in defamation suits. In our case, the discovery process took nearly two years and involved the disclosure of hundreds of thousands of documents related to CIRs reporting, as well as 500 audio recordings based on 200 interviews conducted in distant places including Denmark and Malawi. On top of being costly and time-consuming, this discovery was invasive, in that it gave Planet Aid access to journalists source material.

While Planet Aid was able to scour many of our reporters notes, CIR was fortunately able to assert the so-called reporters privilege, which can protect a reporters confidential sources. This was good in terms of the integrity of our reporting but crushing in terms of resource costs, as lawyers needed to be meticulous in combing through mountains of notes, e-mails, whistleblower reports, and audio tape to redact identifying information. This took thousands of hours, amounting to millions in legal fees on discovery alone. It also necessitated help from not one, but two law firmsDavis Wright Tremaine and Covington & Burlingas CIRs own legal department couldnt handle this work on its own. This taxing discovery also affected our newsroom, as it took CIR staff away from their reporting and hampered their ability to do their jobs; as one of CIRs attorneys bemoaned at a hearing, the discovery process was so burdensome that we ha[d] two reporters and one editor working full time on this. All of the time CIR had to spend defending their prior work could have been spent conducting new investigations. None of this time is recoverable.

Limit discovery to defendants. When an anti-SLAPP motion is filed in federal court, judges may allow plaintiffs to dig into defendants records without allowing defendants to do the same to the plaintiffs. In our case, discovery didnt go both ways. Although Planet Aid was permitted to gather copious and detailed information about CIRs reporting, CIR was not permitted to do the same. This asymmetry meant that Planet Aid could make it as difficult and as expensive as possible for CIR to continue its defense without experiencing a similar drain on resources or confronting a comparable level of judicial review, skepticism, and inquiry.

While generous pro-bono legal assistance helped to spare us from financial ruin, Reveal will never be able to recover the time that could have been spent on reporting, or forget the stress that a multi-million-dollar lawsuit inflicts on its employees. To make matters worse, other news organizations might look at this lawsuit and decide that reporting on powerful or deep-pocketed organizations isnt worth the risk. For every Smartmatic case lauded as a promising defense against disinformation, there are also outcomes like ours.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

D. Victoria Baranetsky and Alexandra Gutierrez D. Victoria Baranetsky serve as a Knight News Innovation Fellow at the Tow Center and General Counsel at Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting; Alexandra Gutierrez is a First Amendment Fellow at The Center for Investigative Reporting.
Americas & Europe Lubricants Market for Food Application  Scope of the Report The latest study collated and published analyzes the historical and present-day scenario of the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe to accurately gauge its growth potential.

New York, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Americas & Europe Lubricants Market for Food Application - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2020-2030" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06039682/?utm_source=GNW

The study presents detailed information about important growth factors, restraints, and key trends that are creating the landscape for growth of the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe in order to identify opportunities for stakeholders.



The report also provides insightful information about how the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe would expand during the forecast period of 2020 to 2030.



The report offers intricate dynamics about different aspects of the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe, which aids companies operating in the market in making strategic decisions.This study also elaborates on the significant changes that are anticipated to configure growth of the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe during the forecast period.



It also includes key indicator assessment that highlights growth prospects for the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe estimates statistics related to the market in terms of value (US$ Mn) and volume (kilo tons).



This study covers detailed segmentation of the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe, along with key information and a competition outlook. The report mentions company profiles of players that are currently dominating the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe wherein various developments, expansions, and winning strategies practiced by these players have been presented in detail.



Key Questions Answered in Report on Americas & Europe Lubricants Market for Food Application



The report provides detailed information about the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe on the basis of a comprehensive research on various factors that are playing a key role in accelerating the growth of the market. Information mentioned in the report answers path-breaking questions for companies that are currently operating in the market in Americas & Europe market and are looking for innovative methods to create a unique benchmark in the so as to help them design successful strategies and make target-driven decisions.



Which type segment of the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe would emerge as a major revenue generator during the forecast period?

How are key market players successfully earning revenues in the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe?

What would be the Y-o-Y growth trend of the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe between 2020 and 2030?

What are the winning imperatives of leading players operating in the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe?

Research Methodology  Americas & Europe Lubricants Market for Food Application



The research methodology adopted by analysts for compiling the report on the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe is based on detailed primary as well as secondary research. With the help of in-depth insights of the market-affiliated information obtained and legitimated by market-admissible resources, analysts have offered riveting observations and authentic forecasts of the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe.



During the primary research phase, analysts have interviewed market stakeholders, investors, brand managers, vice presidents, and sales and marketing managers. Based on data obtained through interviews of genuine sources, analysts have emphasized the changing scenario of the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe.



For secondary research, analysts have scrutinized numerous annual report publications, white papers, market association publications, and company websites to obtain the necessary understanding of the lubricants market for food application in Americas & Europe.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06039682/?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.



__________________________

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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




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The claim: A judge has ruled Dominion Voting machines were designed to create fraud

A March 18 Facebook post accuses a voting machine company of fraudulent activity during the 2020 presidential election. The claim resurfaced in light of a lawsuit brought against a major news network by the company.

"YUUP ! -FINALLY, A JUDGE HAS RULED Dominion Voting Machines were designed to create fraud," the post states. A specific ruling was not referenced in the post.

USA TODAY reached out to the poster for comment.

Dominion Voting Systems filed a lawsuit against Fox News on March 26 for broadcasting a "series of verifiably false but devastating lies," about the results of the 2020 election, USA TODAY reported. The incumbent, President Donald Trump, lost to then-Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

Dominion's charges against the network include false allegations that its voting software "rigged" the election against Trump "because the lies were good for Fox's business," according to USA TODAY.

Fox News responded, calling the lawsuit "baseless" and saying it intended to "vigorously defend against" it in court, USA TODAY also reported.

Late last year, the voting machine company became the center of numerous unfounded claims about miscounts and malfunctions. Members of the former president's camp  such as Trump's onetime attorney Sidney Powell  were also sued by Dominion for defamation, according to USA TODAY.

Election fraud allegations have slowed to a near halt since President Joe Biden was sworn into office on Jan. 20, but the March 18 Facebook post may allude to an independent investigation of Dominion Voting Systems machines in Antrim County, Michigan. A recount found no evidence of fraud.

Fact check: Michigan townships had more registered voters than votes

Fact check: Biden won popular, Electoral College votes in several battleground states

More: Dominion Voting sues Fox for $1.6 billion over false 2020 election fraud claims

Story continues

What happened in Antrim County?

The report of the investigation was released after Judge Kevin Elsenheimer of the 13th Circuit Court lifted a protective order on the findings in December, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The judge ordered "forensic imaging" of Dominion tabulators after William Bailey, an Antrim County resident named in the report, filed a lawsuit, according to the Free Press. Michigan Assistant Attorney General Erik Grill called the findings "inaccurate, incomplete and misleading," the paper reported.

Claims that Dominion Voting Systems machines were "designed to create fraud" mirrors language used in the report, which was written by Dallas-based Allied Security Operations Group. The group's investigators claimed "the Dominion Voting System is intentionally and purposefully designed with inherent errors to create systemic fraud and influence election results."

It was signed by Russell James Ramsland Jr., a cybersecurity analyst and former Republican congressional candidate. Ramsland filed an affidavit in November containing false voter turnout statistics in Michigan townships, USA TODAY reported. One of the analyses confused voting districts in Minnesota with ones in Michigan, according to the Free Press.

Jonathan Brater, director of elections for the state of Michigan, said the report "appears to make several unsupported allegations and conclusions about Dominion Voting Systems and what occurred in Antrim County," according to court documents.

A glitch in vote totals collected in Antrim County that was initially blamed on Dominion's machines was determined to be an error on the part of Republican County Clerk, Sheryl Guy, according to USA TODAY. County officials corrected the error.

A hand audit of the county's ballots later confirmed the accuracy of votes tabulated by Dominion's machines, according to a Dec. 17 press release from the office of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

Our rating: False

We rate this claim FALSE, based on our research. A Facebook post stating a judge ruled Dominion Voting Systems machines are designed to create fraud is based on unfounded and inaccurate information. A report of an independent investigation into alleged election fraud in Antrim County, Michigan, accused the voting machine manufacturer of designing tabulators to commit fraud. The charge is inaccurate and misleading, according to multiple reliable sources.

Our fact-check sources:

Video: Georgia election official debunks fraud claims

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: False claim about Dominion Voting Systems machines
Getting vaccine skeptics to yes

The U.S. is quickly approaching the moment when the supply of vaccines will outpace demand, and efforts to convince vaccine skeptics will soon need to be ramped up. So far, theres no playbook on how best to do this.

Abby Goodnough, who covers health care, discovered this firsthand while tracking the vaccination campaign at the Forest Hills nursing home in Washington D.C. I spoke to Abby about what worked and what didnt when trying to inoculate reluctant nursing home staff, which is largely made up of Black workers, including immigrants from African countries.

What were some of the reasons people gave for not wanting a vaccine?

It was mostly just fear. And thats not to minimize it because their fear was real, and considerable, and understandable on many levels. It was a brand-new vaccine, and some of them had little exposure to vaccines, certainly as adults.

A couple of people felt that it went against their faith to get the vaccine or read into some biblical passages that suggested getting a vaccine was not a good step for religious purposes. I also heard from some of the nursing leadership that some employees, particularly people of color, feared that the government was not looking out for their best interests and might actually be looking to harm them.
CALABASAS, Calif., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Apartment Owners Association (AAOA) is the largest landlord association in the country with over 125,000 members. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, they've received countless requests for tools to help landlords better address the challenges they face in managing their rentals and collecting rent. In an effort to provide that help, AAOA underwent an exhaustive search of the property management software market to identify which platform would best serve their membership.

After months of evaluation, AAOA is proud to announce they are naming Innago their exclusive, suggested property management software. Many landlords are still struggling with non-payment of rent, remote management, and high vacancy rates due to the pandemic. AAOA believes that Innago will help landlords move towards the future of property management by providing them with the digital tools they need to work remotely and improve their operations.

AAOA launched in 2004 to address the demand of rental professionals who needed industry updates and reliable tenant screening. Today, landlords and rental managers can join AAOA for free to access education, low-cost tenant screening, state-specific legal forms, a security deposit alternative, real estate financing, multifamily insurance, and local vendors.

Alexandra Alvarado, director of marketing at AAOA, said: "AAOA members look to our association for the solutions they need to navigate the tricky waters of property management. We are proud to offer free membership and powerful tools via our strategic partnerships. Our goal is to help our members better manage their properties, especially amidst a pandemic."

New features available through Innago for AAOA landlords, brokers, and property managers include online rent collection, digital lease signing, renter's insurance, tenant communication, and maintenance management. In honor of the award, Innago will also be curating premium content for AAOA members such as webinars, e-books, e-newsletter articles, and articles for AAOA's digital RENT Magazine.

Dave Spooner, CEO of Innago, commented, "Our mission at Innago is to make rental management simple, accessible, and affordable for landlords of any size. We do this with our property management tools, but we also do it through education and enrichment. AAOA is a leading voice in empowering landlords with the knowledge and resources they need. To be named their exclusive, suggested property management software for all landlords is a tremendous honor."

Media Contact: Alexandra Alvarado, [email protected], 866-579-2262

SOURCE American Apartment Owners Association

Related Links

https://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/


Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

Looking for a job? Today may be your lucky today.



The Tower of the Americas is hosting a job fair on March 30.



From noon to 4 p.m., job seekers can head over to the tourist attraction and apply to several companies including the Tower of the Americas, Landry's, Rainforest Cafe, Joe's Crab Shack and Bubba Gump's.

READ ALSO: These are the highest paying jobs in San Antonio



Some positions do require a valid driver's license and/or a background check.



For more information call 210-227-4746.






By Devika Krishna Kumar

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices slid on Tuesday as the Suez Canal reopened to traffic and the dollar rallied, while focus turned to an OPEC+ meeting this week, where analysts expect an extension to supply curbs to offset dim demand prospects.

Brent crude fell $1.20, or 1.9%, at $63.78 a barrel by 1:12 p.m. (1712 GMT) West Texas Intermediate U.S. oil was down by $1.28, or 2.1%, at $60.28 barrel.

Ships were moving through the Suez Canal again a day after tugs refloated the Ever Given container carrier, which had blocked the passage for almost a week. The backlog of 422 ships could be cleared in 3 -1/2 days, the canal's chairman said.

"The price gains that accumulated during the Suez blockade were, as expected, short-lived and are now being erased with the gradual return to normal traffic," Rystad Energy's oil markets analyst Louise Dickson said.

The dollar rose against major currencies and climbed to a one-year high against the yen. This weighed on oil prices as a stronger greenback makes dollar-priced crude more expensive to buyers in other currencies.

With concerns about a shortage of physical supplies abating, the market will watch Thursday's meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, collectively known as OPEC+.

Saudi Arabia is prepared to accept an extension of production cuts through June and to prolong its own additional cuts amid the latest wave of coronavirus lockdowns, a source briefed on the matter said on Monday.

"The wobble we have seen in prices means that OPEC+ will likely need to take a cautious approach once again," bank ING said. "We are of the view that the group will likely hold output levels unchanged."

JP Morgan believes OPEC+ will largely roll over its production cuts into May and that Saudi Arabia will extend its voluntary cut by two more months until the end of June.

"We expect the alliance to start adding production in 500,000 barrel per day (bpd) increments beginning in June and lasting through August," it said in a research note.

Story continues

Renewed lockdowns and problems with vaccinations could prevent the recovery of up to 1 million bpd of oil demand in 2021, Rystad Energy said.

One challenge in capping global supply is under-the-radar exports by OPEC member Iran to China, ignoring U.S. and U.N. sanctions on Tehran, according to traders and analysts.

China could receive up to 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian crude this month passed off as crude from other origins, they said.

U.S. crude and fuel inventories probably rose last week, analysts polled by Reuters forecast ahead of industry data from the American Petroleum Institute at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT). Government data is due on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT)

(Addiional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar in London, Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Jason Neely)
If youre one of the lucky few to be able to get into Disneyland when it reopens on April 30, youll be walking into a very different place than the one you remember. There will be distance markers on the ground separating you from other groups in line, plexiglass dividers between guests and employees, and virtual queues for more rides than just Rise of the Resistance. There will be smaller crowds, too, and modified ways to see Mickey and his friends.

But the changes wont all be inside Disneyland; some of them will start long before you get to the park.

When tickets go on sale for Disneyland at some point in the near future, the system for purchasing them will have changed too. To gain entry into the reopened park, guests will need a valid ticket, but also a reservation for entry to a specific park on a specific day. There wont, for the foreseeable future, be a way for you to just stop by and make an unplanned visit, as many locals like to do.

Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited to comply with governmental requirements and promote physical distancing, the Disneyland Resort will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system that requires all guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance, Disneyland said in a statement shared with SFGATE. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for guests ages 3 and up. Theme-park reservations will be limited and subject to availability and, until further notice, only California residents may visit the parks in line with current state guidelines.

There is no clear indication of when the park reservation system will be revealed, or when Disneyland tickets will go on sale. More details about this new reservation system will be available soon, Disneyland said in that same statement.

One implied piece of information in Disneylands message is that park hopping  the ability to travel freely between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure  wont be available for the time being. When Walt Disney World reopened last July, it did not allow guest interchange between its four parks, both for crowd control and because capacities were initially so low, especially at Hollywood Studios, the most often sold-out of the Orlando parks. Capacities have since increased at the Florida parks, and Disney World reinstituted park hopping in limited capacities earlier this year.



The tier Orange County is in on opening day of Disneyland will determine whether the parks will open at 15 percent or 25 percent capacity. For Disneyland Park, that will be either 7,500 or 12,500 people against its estimated 50,000 capacity. For California Adventure, it will be 12,000 or 20,000 against its estimated 80,000 person capacity.

Per Californias new theme park guidance, tickets to Disneyland can be sold at the gate, but with the limited capacity and the public demand theres almost no chance there will be availability day-of. Fans eager to return to the park sold out the entire run of A Touch of Disney, a $75 event with no rides, within hours.

One thing worth noting about that event: guests were each allowed to buy up to eight tickets, so if you are able to get a spot in the virtual ticket queue for park tickets, youll likely be able to get them for your whole group at once. Whether youll be able to get that many reservations after your purchase is complete is another question entirely.






SAN FRANCISCO and SUZHOU, China, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovent Biologics, Inc. (Innovent) (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high quality medicines for the treatment of cancer, metabolic, autoimmune and other major diseases, announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the corporate progress. In 2020, the Company achieved total revenue of RMB 3843.8 million. In addition to the first commercial product TYVYT (sintilimab injection), the Company successfully added three more antibody drugs to the commercial portfolio with the NMPA approval of BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar), SULINNO (adalimumab biosimilar) and HALPRAZA (rituximab biosimilar), becoming the only biopharmaceutical company that successfully launched four antibody drugs in China in only nine years since inception.

Dr. Michael Yu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Innovent, stated, "2020 is a landmark year for Innovent. In the past year, despite the challenges of COVID-19, we minimized the impact on our business and achieved remarkable milestones. We ensured product supply with the non-stop operation of our production line even during the peak of pandemic in the beginning of 2020. Production capability expanded significantly from 5,000L to 24,000L. With the NRDL coverage, we more than doubled the sales of Tyvyt with even higher volume growth. We kept advancing our valuable assets rapidly in China and globally, with six NDAs submitted, four NDAs approved, five assets in Phase 3 or pivotal Phase 2 stage, and 14 assets in the early clinical stage. We also accelerated our global footprint with six assets under global development and a series of international collaborations achieved. More importantly, we've upgraded our R&D platform to strive toward global innovation for the next stage."

"With the conclusion of the ninth year since incepted, we are now starting the final year of our first decade. Up to now we have built Innovent from a biotech start up to a biopharmaceutical company with a fully integrated functional platform. However, this is just a start. Our journey to excellence is still in the infancy stage. Heading into the next decade, we are committed to moving Innovent to become a global innovative biopharmaceutical company, capturing the substantial potential of the rising innovative drug market both in China and globally, as well as and delivering tremendous value for our patients, employees, and shareholders."

Business Highlights during 2020 to Year-to-Date 2021

Four commercial product portfolio with three new drugs approved; RMB 2,367.5 million product revenue in 2020

After the first product TYVYT (sintilimab injection) was approved in 2018, BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar), SULINNO (adalimumab biosimilar) and HALPRAZA (rituximab biosimilar) were approved by the NMPA during 2020, making Innovent the only biopharmaceutical company that successfully launched four antibody drugs in China in only nine years since inception.

in only nine years since inception. Total product revenue reached RMB 2,367.5 million for the year ended 31 December 2020 , an increase of 133.0% compared to RMB 1,015.9 million in the prior year.

for the year ended , an increase of 133.0% compared to in the prior year. The leading product TYVYT (sintilimab injection) generated RMB2,289.8 million in revenue for the year ended 31 December 2020 . This represents an increase of 125.4% from RMB1015.9 million in the prior year.

in revenue for the year ended . This represents an increase of 125.4% from in the prior year. In addition, TYVYT (sintilimab injection) was approved as the first line treatment for non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in February 2021 . Three more supplemental new drug applications (sNDA) for TYVYT (sintilimab injection) were under NMPA review with expected approval by 2021 or early 2022, including: 1) the first line treatment for squamous NSCLC; 2) the first line treatment for hepatocellular carcinomas in combination with BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar), and 3) the second line treatment of squamous NSCLC.

Robust pipeline of 23 diverse-staged assets

The company has built up a highly differentiated and competitive pipeline consisting of 23 clinical stage valuable assets that are being developed globally, including four assets approved, five assets under Phase 3 or pivotal studies and 14 assets in other clinical stage. The 23 assets cover major areas including monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, CAR-T and small molecules etc.

Five assets in Phase 3 or pivotal clinical trial

In addition to the four commercial products, the Company owns a total of five assets in Phase 3 or pivotal clinical studies that are expected to be launched within the next several years, including:

IBI-310 (CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody)

IBI-375 (FGFR inhibitor)

IBI-376 (PI3K inhibitor)

IBI-306 (PCSK9 monoclonal antibody)

IBI-326 (BCMA CAR-T)

Comprehensive and differentiated pipeline in oncology and immunology

Supported by the Company's deep understanding in immunology (IO) and the unique strength in monoclonal antibody and bispecific antibody, the Company's IO assets have high degree of differentiation and lead the development progress even in the global market. The comprehensive pipeline cover most of the promising IO targets including PD-1, CD47, LAG-3, TIGIT etc.

In CD47 area: the Company owns three differentiated assets in the area. The potential best-in-class CD47 monoclonal antibody IBI-188 have completed Phase 1a dose escalation and started Phase 1b in 2020. The Company plans to enter phase III or pivotal clinical trial this year for 1L MDS for IBI-188. IBI-322 is a first-in-class PD-L1/CD47 bispecific antibody under Phase 1 study in China and the US. The Company plans to obtain proof-of-concept (PoC) data for IBI-322 in 2021. The Company also has the potential best-in-class SIRP monoclonal antibody under pre-clinical research stage.

in 2020. The Company plans to enter phase III or pivotal clinical trial this year for 1L MDS for IBI-188. IBI-322 is a first-in-class PD-L1/CD47 bispecific antibody under Phase 1 study in and the US. The Company plans to obtain proof-of-concept (PoC) data for IBI-322 in 2021. The Company also has the potential best-in-class SIRP monoclonal antibody under pre-clinical research stage. In LAG-3 area: the Company's LAG-3 monoclonal antibody IBI-110 is the first LAG-3 approved for IND in China . The Company has completed phase 1b enrollment for IBI-110 and will obtain PoC data in 2021. The potential first-in-class PD- L1/LAG-3 bispecific antibody has also received IND approval recently, and the Company will start Phase 1 study in 2021.

. The Company has completed phase enrollment for IBI-110 and will obtain PoC data in 2021. The potential first-in-class PD- L1/LAG-3 bispecific antibody has also received IND approval recently, and the Company will start Phase 1 study in 2021. In TIGIT area: the TIGIT monoclonal antibody IBI-939 has entered Phase 1b study, with plan to obtain PoC data in 2021. The Company also submitted the IND application for its PD-1/TIGIT bispecific antibody IBI-321 recently, and plans to start clinical study in 2021.

study, with plan to obtain PoC data in 2021. The Company also submitted the IND application for its PD-1/TIGIT bispecific antibody IBI-321 recently, and plans to start clinical study in 2021. Besides, in 2020, the PD-1/PD-L1 bispecific antibody IBI-318 has finished Phase 1a study and entered multiple Phase 1b studies to explore the potential of IBI-318 in different cancer indications.

Featured non-oncology pipeline with significant progress

The Company's featured pipeline in non-oncology cover high potential areas with unmet medical needs, including autoimmunity, metabolism, cardiovascular and ophthalmology. In particular, two unique assets with Best-in-Class or First-in-Class potentials made significant progress in 2020, including:

IBI-302 (VEGF/complement fusion protein): The Company has completed the Phase 1a study with optimistic preliminary data for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration ("wet AMD"). The Company plans to start Phase 2 clinical study in 2021.

IBI-362 (OXM3): The Company is conducting Phase 1b studies in both obesity objects and diabetic patients. IBI-362 has shown very promising effect on glucose control and weight reduction. The Company plans to start Phase 2 clinical studies in 2021.

Entered strategic collaborations with world-class partners

The company has made a series of collaborations with international and regional partners during the year of 2020. In particular:

The strategic expanded licensing out agreement with Lilly on the exclusive rights of TYVYT (sintilimab injection) outside of China marked the first major step in bringing our innovative portfolio to the global market.

marked the first major step in bringing our innovative portfolio to the global market. The collaboration with Roche on the discovery and development of bispecific antibodies and multiple cell therapies shows the recognition of our drug discovery and R&D capabilities by a global top-tier pharmaceutical company, and could also further enrich our potential First-in-Class pipeline down the road.

Significant expansion in manufacturing capacity

In 2020, the Company expanded the manufacturing capacity from 5,000L to a total of 24,000L production capacity to support the production needs for both commercial product and clinical stage candidates in the pipeline.

In 2020, the Company has also started the construction of a new manufacturing facility that is designed to house additional twelve 3,000L production capacities, which once completed, will expand the production capacity to a total of 60,000L.

Continuous enlargement of talent pool; upgrade of R&D toward global innovation

In the year of 2020, the talent team increase from about 2,000 employees as at 31 December 2019 to more than 3,200 employees as at 31 December 2020 .

to more than 3,200 employees as at . In particular, the Company appointed Dr. Yongjun Liu , a renowned world class scientist and successful leader in biopharmaceutical industry as the president of the Company, responsible for our global R&D, portfolio strategy, business development as well as international operation.

, a renowned world class scientist and successful leader in biopharmaceutical industry as the president of the Company, responsible for our global R&D, portfolio strategy, business development as well as international operation. In order to achieve the strategic goal of global innovation, the Company is upgrading the R&D to a fully functional structure with global scope, global talents and global vision.

Fruitful capital market achievements

In 2020, the "B" marker was also successfully removed from the Company's stock name.

The stock was also included in the Hang Seng Composite Index and the Stock Connect in 2020.

During 2020 to year to the date of 2021, the Company has successfully raised a total of approximately US$1.3 billion fund from three rounds of new share placements, backed by strong subscription of well-known international and regional investors.

fund from three rounds of new share placements, backed by strong subscription of well-known international and regional investors. As the end of February 2021 , the Company has approximately US$1.8 billion cash on hand, providing a strong support to our drug R&D, potential business collaboration, production facility expansion and increased international operation needs.

Financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2020

Total revenue was RMB3,843.8 million for the year ended 31 December 2020 , representing an increase of 266.9% from RMB1047.5 million in the prior year. The growth was mainly driven by the strong product growth as well as increase in license fee and service income in 2020.

for the year ended , representing an increase of 266.9% from in the prior year. The growth was mainly driven by the strong product growth as well as increase in license fee and service income in 2020. Product revenue increased by 133.0% to RMB2,367.5 million in 2020 from RMB1,015.9 million in 2019. This was mainly driven by the strong growth of our leading product Tyvyt coupled with revenue contribution of three newly approved antibody drugs in the second half of 2020.

in 2020 from in 2019. This was mainly driven by the strong growth of our leading product Tyvyt coupled with revenue contribution of three newly approved antibody drugs in the second half of 2020. R&D expenses increased by 43.0% to RMB1,851.5 million for 2020. The R&D expenses were spent on progressing clinical trials of late-stage and prioritized assets towards our robust pipeline globally, and expanding collaboration and licensing programs to further enhance our all-rounded R&D capabilities.

for 2020. The R&D expenses were spent on progressing clinical trials of late-stage and prioritized assets towards our robust pipeline globally, and expanding collaboration and licensing programs to further enhance our all-rounded R&D capabilities. Loss and total comprehensive expenses decreased by 42.0% to RMB998.4 million . This reduction in loss was primarily driven by higher product sales as well as license fee income from the upfront payment for the out-license of Tyvyt to Lilly in ex China region.

About Innovent

Inspired by the spirit of "Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action," Innovent's mission is to develop, manufacture and commercialize high-quality biopharmaceutical products that are affordable to ordinary people. Established in 2011, Innovent is committed to developing, manufacturing and commercializing high quality innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, metabolic and other major diseases. On October 31, 2018, Innovent was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code: 01801.HK.

Since its inception, Innovent has developed a fully integrated multi-functional platform which includes R&D, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), clinical development and commercialization capabilities. Leveraging the platform, the company has built a robust pipeline of 23 valuable assets in the fields of cancer, metabolic, autoimmune diseases and other major therapeutic areas, with 4 products - TYVYT (sintilimab injection), BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection), SULINNO (adalimumab biosimilar injection) and HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection) - officially approved for marketing in China, five assets in Phase 3 or pivotal clinical trials, and additional 14 molecules in clinical trials. TYVYT was included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) in 2019 as the historically first PD-1 inhibitor entering in NRDL and the only PD-1 included in the list in that year.

Innovent has built an international team of advanced talents in high-end biological drug development and commercialization, including many overseas experts. The company has also entered into strategic collaborations with Eli Lilly and Company, Adimab, Incyte, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Hanmi and other international partners. Innovent strives to work with all relevant parties to help advance China's biopharmaceutical industry, improve drug availability to ordinary people and enhance the quality of the patients' lives. For more information, please visit: www.innoventbio.com.

SOURCE Innovent Biologics

Related Links

http://www.innoventbio.com/


(TNS)  Thousands of energy-saving LED streetlights would be installed in Linden under a contract that is among the items expected to come before the Columbus City Council for approval at a meeting Monday evening.The city Public Utilities Department proposes to enter into a construction contract with Complete General Construction Company, of the Near East Side. The SMART Lighting Pilot project is expected to cost the city up to $892,250 from the city Division of Power, according to the agenda for the meeting.The pilot phase of the project will replace approximately 2,500 existing high-pressure sodium lights with LED lights in the Linden neighborhood, according to the ordinance. The city's Division of Power also is negotiating a contract with a smart lighting control system vendor who will install "Smart Lighting nodes" onto the LED lights after they are installed. The division is currently in negotiations for the nodes, which connect to the Internet.While that will allow remote monitoring and control of the lights themselves, it will also offer the ability for other yet unspecified "smart infrastructure" capabilities in the future, said Councilman Rob Dorans, chairman of the Public Utilities Committee. "They will have a photocell that will operate the light, but with the communication network they will also work to notify the Division of an outage," said George Zonders, spokesman for the city Department of Public Utilities. "Additionally, we will be able to control individual lights with the central control system, meaning we could turn lights on or off from the office."Smart streetlight systems provide money-saving efficiencies, allowing cities to control and keep track of electric power consumption and add various smart sensor nodes that provide communication, according to industry websites. Depending on the smart nodes used, streetlights could be dimmed if the moon is bright or the lights could be brightened in bad weather such as rain.In addition, certain smart street lamp nodes allow for the connection of cameras that can monitor streets and sidewalks, industry websites indicate.In other business, the council is expected to vote on an ordinance authorizing the Franklin County Municipal Court to modify and extend the contract with the Greater Columbus Convention Center for an additional three months and $337,000.00."This additional time and funding is necessary to continue to house the high volume dockets at the (Convention Center) in order to mitigate the health and safety risks associated with the resumption of hearing cases that have been delayed as a result of the COVID-19 emergency," the ordinance says.The Municipal Courts began renting space at the center last June for amount that works to about $110,000 a month, much of subsidized by federal emergency COVID funds to cities in 2020, but which switched over to city general fund money in 2021. The council approved a three-month extension in December which expires at the end of this month, while the latest extension is through July 2.
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Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 45 Master's in Sociology Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 201 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 201 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 45 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 Sociology Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-masters-in-sociology-degree-programs/

2021 Master's in Sociology Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

American University

Arizona State University

Boston College

Boston University

Brandeis University

California State University, Dominguez Hills

California State University, Long Beach

City University of New York, Brooklyn College

Colorado State University

Columbia University

Cornell University

George Washington University

Grand Canyon University

Idaho State University

Illinois State University

Iowa State University

Michigan State University

Middle Tennessee State University

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Morehead State University

Morgan State University

New Mexico State University

New York University

Ohio University

Sam Houston State University

San Diego State University

San Jose State University

South Dakota State University

State University of New York, Albany

Texas A&M University, Commerce

Texas Woman's University

The New School

University Of Alabama, Birmingham

University Of Florida

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

University Of Nebraska, Omaha

UNC Greensboro

University Of North Carolina, Wilmington

University Of North Texas

University Of South Alabama

University of Texas, Austin

University Of Toledo

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Virginia Commonwealth University

Wichita State 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/.
New Delhi, March 30 : India on Tuesday said that it supports a regional process convened under the aegis of the United Nations for permanent peace in Afghanistan.

A statement by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the 9th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) on Afghanistan in Dushanbe, said: "We support a regional process to be convened under the aegis of the United Nations. UN stewardship would help to take into account all relevant UN resolutions and improve the odds for a lasting outcome." Pakistan has been for long involved in negotiations among the US, Taliban and Afghan government, Russia, China and Iran over Afghanistan. Though Jaishankar did not explicitly mention Pakistan or any other member of Asia, he was referring to the broad dialogue among all the key players in the region.

The term 'Heart of Asia' should not be taken lightly, he said, adding that for what happens in Afghanistan will surely affect the larger region. "A stable, sovereign and peaceful Afghanistan is truly the basis for peace and progress in our region. Ensuring that it is free of terrorism, violent extremism and drug and criminal syndicates is, therefore, a collective imperative." However, the situation in Afghanistan continues to be grave. Violence and bloodshed are daily realities and the conflict itself has shown little sign of abatement. The last few months have witnessed an escalation in targeted killings of civil society. 2020 marked a 45 percent increase in civilian casualties in Afghanistan over 2019. The involvement of foreign fighters in Afghanistan has continued. Jaishankar said that 'Heart of Asia' members and supporting countries should, therefore, make it a priority to press for an immediate reduction in violence leading to a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.

"For a durable peace in Afghanistan, what we need is a genuine 'double peace', that is, peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan. It requires harmonising the interests of all, both within and around that country. India has been supportive of all the efforts being made to accelerate the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban, including intra-Afghan negotiations," he said.

If the peace process is to be successful, he said, then it is necessary to ensure that the negotiating parties continue to engage in good faith, with a serious commitment towards reaching a political solution. India welcomes any move towards a genuine political settlement and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan.

India, he said, remains committed to steadfastly supporting Afghanistan during this transition. Our development partnership of USD 3 billion, including more than 550 Community Development Projects covering all 34 provinces, is aimed at making Afghanistan a self-sustaining nation. The promise of more drinking water to Kabul is the latest in that list.

As the lead country on Trade, Commerce and Investment CBMs under the HoA-IP, India will continue to work on improving Afghanistan's connectivity with the outside world. Projects like the Chahhabar Port in Iran and the dedicated Air Freight Corridor between the cities of India and Afghanistan are part of our efforts, he said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
THE launch of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project has been deferred to next month, the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) has announced.

The much-awaited event which was initially scheduled for March 22, this year has been moved to April following the death of Tanzanian President, Dr John Magufuli.

In a statement posted on its website, the authority hailed Dr MagufuliOs astute leadership which set a strong foundation for the EACOP project, with key milestones that included the signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) in 2017, and the initialing of the Tanzania Host Government Agreement (HGA) in 2020. Last October, Tanzania finally sealed the HGA with TOTAL in implementing EACOP, after long protracted negotiations.

The long protracted move in reaching an agreement with the French firm was due unresolved matters pertaining to harmonisation issues between Dar es Salaam and Kampala, two East African countries which are sole beneficiaries of the 1.7tri/- project.

Speaking shortly after signing an agreement with the French multinational integrated oil and Gas Company in October last year, the Attorney General of Tanzania Adelardus Kilangi, who also led the country's team on the negotiating table said the deal signaled TanzaniaOs readiness and commitment in welcoming potential investors to the country.

Professor Kilangi insisted that Tanzania had demonstrated its strong will in creating an enabling environment to foreign investors in the country.

This was an open and transparent negotiation which had to take place as the two countries had contrasting policies and laws that governed the gas and oil sector," explained the AG.

The construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline from Uganda to Chongoleani area on Tanzanian seaport in Tanga on the Indian Ocean is expected to generate 496bn/- in revenues and offer 10,000 employment opportunities.

The multi-national plan is led by French petroleum giant in partnership with China CNOOC and struggling British group Tullow Oil, which is seeking to finalise selling its stake in the venture.

Last week, Uganda President Yoweri Museveni revealed that two weeks ago, he had written to the late President Magufuli a letter that would have seen the two Heads of State meet in Entebbe, to seal the oil pipeline deal on March 22nd, a day in which Tanzania held a state funeral for the late leader, who passed on March 17th, this year.

President Museveni gloomily narrated this at a small gathering of Ugandan government leaders in Kampala, as they paid their respects to the late Tanzanian President Dr Magufuli.

"Two weeks ago, I wrote to Magufuli about the oil pipeline. This was because today (March 22nd) was supposed to be the signing day for the tripartite between Uganda, Tanzania, and Total," said President Museveni.

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Little did I know that instead of signing the deal, I will be signing a condolence book following his death, he sadly stated.

The oil pipeline is intended to transport crude oil from Uganda oil fields in Hoima to the Port of Tanga, Tanzania on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Once completed, the pipeline will be the longest heated crude oil pipeline in the world. The late President Magufuli died of a heart condition at the age of 61 last Wednesday.

The mortal remains of the departed Jemedari were buried in Chato District, Geita Region last Friday.

His sudden demise was received with great sorrow by heads of state, government officials, ambassadors across the world and the people of Tanzania, making the entire nation go to a standstill.
Dar es Salaam  An interpreter who handled President Cyril Ramaphosa speech during the state funeral of the late John Magufuli at Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma, Matungwa Lwamwasha has admitted to have distorted the translation of what was being said by South Africa's head of state.

Lwamasha said, however, after the error occurred he issued a statement immediately due to the misinterpretation he had given.

Speaking today Lwamasha said the source of the problem was due to the lack of audio equipment as well as the lack of a speaker next to him, so he was forced to listen to the sound on the field which was sometimes cut off.

He said after the incident he received several phone calls and text messages with many people questioning him and telling him how he had misled the public.

"I was shocked to see various pictures that were photo shopped depicting an interpreter holding books and making jokes online about me," said Lwamasha.

He says the incident happened as part of the interpreting challenges but many people do not realize the sensitivity of the challenges that he faced.

President Ramaphosa in part of his speech said, "I felt honored because President Magufuli was not a great traveler, he didn't like to travel very much, he preferred to stay here at home."

His translation was far from what the president said: "Nilijisikia kuheshimiwa kuheshimiwa sana kwa sababu Mheshimiwa Magufuli alikuwa ni mtu imara, mwenye upendo ambaye alipenda pia kusikiliza na kuweza kutoa mwongozo kwa wenzake... " sparking lots of laughter from the audience

Lwamasha said he speaks Kiswahili, English, French, Haya, Kinyambo and Kisukuma so he has the ability to speak those languages fluently but it was just a challenge that usually happens in translation work.

Professionally Lwamasha is a lecturer at Maritime College, University of Dar es Salaam where he teaches sailors and ship captains.

He said he was shocked after the laughter from the audience, and quickly realized that the laughter was about him.

He says that after realizing that his translation did not match what had been said, he was forced to correct the mistakes while continuing with the translation but finally apologized for the misinterpretation which caused the crowd in the stadium to cheer him on.

He says he has been an interpreter for the past 20 years.
Kayleigh McEnany is joining Fox News' "Outnumbered."

The former White House press secretary will co-host the news hour (noon EDT) alongside Harris Faulkner and Emily Compagno starting April 6. On the show, which debuted in 2014, a panel of four women and one man reviews issues making headlines. Rotating panel members will fill the other spots.

McEnany, 32, joined the conservative-leaning cable news network earlier this month as an on-air commentator. "Outnumbered" is the Harvard Law School alum's first hosting gig for Fox News.

Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media, praised the former CNN commentator and her experience in Tuesday's announcement.

"Kayleighs unique background in politics and law coupled with her experiences confronting women's health challenges and life as a new mom will add robust insight to 'Outnumbered'  we are delighted to welcome her back to Fox News where she began her media career, Scott said.

Kayleigh McEnany, Trump's former press secretary, signs on as Fox News contributor

Fox News hires Trump administration alum Larry Kudlow; press secretary Kayleigh McEnany may be next

Kayleigh McEnany will co-host Fox News' "Outnumbered."

McEnany also voiced her excitement about being an addition to the program.

I am thrilled to join the incredible women of 'Outnumbered' and look forward to working alongside the talented Harris Faulkner and Emily Compagno as we discuss the top issues impacting the country, she said.

McEnany was a frequentFox News guest during the Trump administration, for which she served as press secretary from April 2020 until shortly before he left office in January.

She said during an interview with Fox's Faulkner on March 2 that her biggest regret at the White House was not being able to hold a briefing outlining all the accomplishments of the Trump administration.

"But after January 6, it just was not tenable," she said, referring to the insurrection at the Capitol, largely by Trump supporters protesting the outcome of the 2020 election.

Story continues

She said "everyone in the administration was horrified" by the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, but she insisted that it did not represent the former president's backers.

Asked if she believed Trump bore any responsibility for the riot, she said, "No, I don't."

Contributing: The Associated Press

Dominion Voting sues Fox for $1.6 billion over false 2020 election fraud claims

Tucker Carlson, New York Times tussle over online harassment of journalist

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fox News' Kayleigh McEnany to co-host network's Outnumbered panel show
JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QUODD Financial Information Services ("QUODD"), a business unit of Financeware, a NewSpring Holdings platform company, is pleased to announce that it has appointed David Kirk, a former IBM and TradeStation executive, as the company's Chief Technology Officer. These moves underscore QUODD's commitment to invest in talent with deep domain expertise to create innovative technology to fuel market data solutions for its customers.

"We are extremely fortunate to have such an experienced technology executive with diverse experience in web, mobile, cloud transformation, and advanced market data applications," says Bob Ward, CEO of QUODD and Financeware. "David's background and leadership in digital transformation will be instrumental to QUODD and its clients as we build upon our existing platforms and deliver new innovative products to fuel market intelligence. The needs of how market data is consumed and leveraged are evolving daily and technology innovation in all aspects of the data delivery ecosystem needs to be flexible and comprehensive."

David has 20 years of experience leading development efforts across a wide range of companies from start-ups to Fortune 500 firms. His previous companies include Avanade, IBM, and TradeStation, and David was most recently a founding partner at Zeal, a technology consulting company focused on cloud-native solutions for Fortune 100 firms.

"The dynamic market trends in the financial technology space provide unique and exciting opportunities for QUODD's current and future clients to better harness how they consume market data and leverage digital tools" says Kirk. "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to architect programs for a company like QUODD at the forefront of digital transformation in the FinTech eco-system."

About QUODD

QUODD Financial Information Services, a portfolio company of Financeware, provides streaming data solutions as well as comprehensive end-of-day pricing, reference and corporate actions solutions to the global fintech, wealth, investment management, and retirement market. These solutions include seamlessly integrated global listed pricing, dividends and corporate actions content. Learn more at www.quodd.com

About Financeware

Financeware is an industry-leading fintech platform company focused on delivering a robust suite of innovative solutions to the financial services market. The company's set of broad capabilities span financial market data, wealth management workflow processing, and tech-enabled RIA services. Established by NewSpring Holdings in 2018, Financeware combines the rich competencies and market leadership of its three businesses QUODD, VMS and Wealthcare and leverages go-to-market and operational synergies across the platform. Learn more at www.financeware.com

About NewSpring Holdings

NewSpring Holdings, NewSpring's dedicated holding company with a strategy focused on control buyouts and platform builds, brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources to take profitable, growing companies to the next level through acquisitions and proven organic methodologies. Founded in 1999, NewSpring partners with the innovators, makers, and operators of high-performing companies in dynamic industries to catalyze new growth and seize compelling opportunities. The Firm manages over $2 billion across five distinct strategies covering the spectrum from growth equity and control buyouts to mezzanine debt. Partnering with management teams to help develop their businesses into market leaders, NewSpring identifies opportunities and builds relationships using its network of industry leaders and influencers across a wide array of operational areas and industries. Visit NewSpring at www.newspringcapital.com.

SOURCE Financeware
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UWs Crystal Luna Receives NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Crystal Luna, a first-year masters student at UW, recently received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, which she will use to study oceanic rocks from Pito Deep and help develop an interactive exhibit at the UW Geological Museum. Here, she performs an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis at the Shimadzu Center for Environmental, Forensics and Material Science at the University of Texas-Arlington during January 2020. (Robert J. Mendoza Photo)

Crystal Luna has come a long way, experiencing a winding path in her pursuit of a college education -- a path that included military service and dropping out of university studies due to financial hardship. Now, that path has led to a point of significant achievement: She has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship.

Luna, a first-year University of Wyoming masters degree student, is studying marine geology and geophysics. She will use her fellowship to study oceanic rocks from Pito Deep, a natural tectonic window at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean located near Easter Island, to understand how oceanic crust forms.

I have the exciting opportunity to work with the densest in-situ sampling of lower oceanic crust achieved thus far, she says. Specifically, I will be analyzing the geochemistry of the minerals within those rocks to gain understanding of the conditions which led to their formation. And, a better understanding of oceanic crust formation contributes to the overarching theory of plate tectonics.

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is one of the nations most highly competitive awards for graduate studies. It offers, among other things, three years of financial support (within a five-year period) with an annual $34,000 stipend; a $12,000 cost-of-education allowance; international research and professional development opportunities; and the freedom to conduct research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education that recipients choose. For the 2021 competition, NSF received more than 13,000 applications and made 2,074 award offers.

To be in such esteemed company, Luna had to take a nontraditional road in pursuit of a higher education. A native of Richmond, Texas, Luna joined the Army National Guard after high school to serve her country and for the opportunity to garner educational benefits. Unfortunately, things did not go to plan for the first-generation college student at the University of Texas-Arlington.

I had to suddenly drop out during my junior year due to financial reasons related to unforeseen circumstances with receiving my military benefits, Luna says. After that, I attended a community college and worked there to save money while also strengthening my math skills.

For five years, Luna worked in the Tarrant County College Math Department in Fort Worth, Texas, where she helped students succeed in various math courses. At the same time, she saved money so she could return to the University of Texas-Arlington.

When she was able to go back, Luna adjusted her degree path to geology engineering with a focus in fluid dynamics, and obtained an optional math minor while also engaging in undergraduate research and science communication. She eventually received her bachelors degree.

I think the most important part of this story is to know that, sometimes, unfortunate events happen in your life, she says. But, if you remain perseverant and continue to work hard toward your goals, you can overcome obstacles and achieve beyond what you thought was possible.

Crystal Luna performs an X-ray powder diffraction analysis at the Shimadzu Center for Environmental, Forensics and Material Science during January 2020. (Robert J. Mendoza Photo)

Flash forward a few years and Luna, now at UW and armed with her NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, will develop a marine geology exhibit in the UW Geological Museum with the help of Laura Vietti, a UW assistant research scientist and museum collections manager.

Currently, there is not a marine geology exhibit at the museum. Yet, mid-ocean ridges and marine geology are a cornerstone of plate tectonic theory, Luna says. Plans for the exhibit include a virtual interactive experience exploring mid-ocean ridges. That experience will include video footage, animation, acknowledgments of marine scientists from underrepresented groups, and 3D images of hydrothermal vents and outcrops collected during the 2017 Pito Deep expedition.

I think this is a grand opportunity to share my love of the ocean and knowledge of mid-ocean ridges with the public, Luna says. Moreover, the virtual aspect will allow for easier accessibility to those who may not have the opportunity to see it in person.

Luna credits her academic advisers in the Department of Geology and Geophysics with contributing to her success at UW.

Michael Cheadle and Barbara John are very encouraging, extremely supportive and are a wealth of knowledge, Luna says. Theyve helped me by recognizing and cultivating my potential. They are very communicative and genuine. I am very grateful to have such remarkable advisers.

John, a UW professor of geology and geophysics, says Lunas anticipated contributions to marine science, combined with the exhibit for the UW Geological Museum, will allow very broad public engagement in ocean research, a little-known but important aspect of the global Earth system.

We are very pleased Crystal has joined us for graduate studies at UW, bringing with her experience in mid-ocean ridge studies from her undergraduate work on the Oman ophiolite, John says of what is considered the largest and most well-preserved subaerial exposure of oceanic crust on Earth and located in the United Arab Emirates. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship award is well deserved -- and the icing on the cake for her studies of the unique suite of in-situ samples we collected four years ago.

This award is so well deserved, especially for a student, such as Crystal, who is as dedicated to teaching as she is to research, adds Cheadle, a UW associate professor of geology and geophysics. The nation needs individuals like Crystal, who have the talent, moral character and passion to become our leading educators in the future.

Luna adds that the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship provides a key opportunity for her scientific and outreach development.

It has been my dream to become a professor and a research scientist. I love learning and sharing my knowledge with others, she says. Research provides me with the fulfilling challenge I need in life to feel inspired and fruitful. Earning a Ph.D. is my next goal.

About the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program is a vital part of NSF efforts to foster and promote excellence in U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by recognizing talent broadly from across the nation and U.S. territories. The awards are provided to individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements.

Former NSF fellows include numerous individuals who have made transformative breakthroughs in science and engineering; have become leaders in their chosen careers; and been honored as Nobel laureates.

Launched in 1952 shortly after Congress established NSF, the Graduate Research Fellowship Program represents the nations oldest continuous investment in the U.S. STEM workforce.
Linda Burns was excited at first to land a job at the Amazon warehouse outside Birmingham, Alabama. The former nursing assistant had always enjoyed ordering from the company, Now, she would be working for them.

A cog in a fast-moving assembly line, her job involved picking up customers orders and sending them down the line to the packers. Now she is a staunch supporter of getting a union at the Bessemer facility. She said employees face relentless quotas and deserve more respect.

They are treating us like robots rather than humans, said Burns, 51, who said she is out of leave after developing tendonitis.

Last week, Amazon workers and union advocates, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, made a last-minute push as voting comes to a close in the high-stakes union battle. If organizers are successful, it could lead to a chain reaction of other unionization pushes at Amazon facilities. If voted down, it would be another loss for organizers hoping to win a rare labor victory in the Deep South.

Amazon is fighting the union. The company argues the warehouse created thousands of jobs with an average pay of $15.30 per hour  more than twice the minimum wage in Alabama. Workers also get benefits including health care, vision and dental insurance without paying union dues, the company said.

Sanders spoke at a union rally in Birmingham on Friday, saying a labor victory against the tech and retail giant owned by the richest person in world  and in a historically anti-union state  would resonate across the country.

What you are doing here is historical, historical, because all over this country people are sick and tired of being exploited, sick and tired of not having the dignity that they deserve. And your message to people all over this country is stand up and fight back, Sanders said.

This country belongs to all of us, not just a handful of billionaires, the former Democratic presidential candidate said.

Ahead of Sanders visit, Amazon CEO Dave Clark tweeted that they actually deliver a progressive workplace with a $15 hourly minimum wage and good health benefits that Sanders said he supports.

So, if you want to hear about $15 an hour and health care, Senator Sanders will be speaking downtown. But if you would like to make at least $15 an hour and have good health care, Amazon is hiring, Clark tweeted.

Burns and Harvey Wilson, a 41-year-old who works as a picker at Amazon, both said theyre supporting the union because of poor working conditions at the warehouse. Employees face relentless quotas and the mammoth size of the facility makes it nearly impossible to get to the bathroom and back to your station during a workers break time, they said.

How could you work for somebody who is trillion, billion whatever you want to call it, how can you work for them and they dont want you to go to the bathroom? Burns said.

Wilson said he is unsure how the vote would go because a number of younger workers are fearful they could lose benefits.

A lot of people are scared to vote because they are afraid they are going to lose their jobs, Wilson said.

Employees are seeking to be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Ballots on the vote must be returned by Monday.

The vote in Alabama comes after efforts to start unions at Southern auto plants came up short.

Emmit Ashford, a part-time Amazon worker, said that even if the vote fails, he believes the workers in Bessemer have ignited something.

No matter what happens with this vote, the bell has been rung and it wont stop here. We will not stop fighting, Ashford said at a rally ahead of the vote.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Alabama Amazon
Syria: Borrell says regime offers no future, change needed Calls for stop to repression and start to negotiations with UN

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, 30 MAR - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said Tuesday at the 5th Syria Donor Conference co-chaired by the EU and the UN that the Syrian regime doesn't offer Syrians a future.



"We cannot accept that elections get planned by the regime and this cannot be a pre-requisite for normalisation," Borrell said.



"The regime doesn't offer a future to the Syrians and doesn't contribute in any way to stability in the region, and therefore, without changes it can never be a partner for the European community and the international community," he said.



"This is why we are calling for a change of attitude that unambiguously stops repression and undertakes a path of negotiation with the UN," he said.



According to Borrell, "only a political solution can bring stability" in Syria and "allow Syrians to become a sovereign and free people". (ANSAmed).




NEWARK, Del., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Savingforcollege.com announced its acquisition of TheCollegeMonk.com, a one-stop platform that guides students through the college selection process.

TheCollegeMonk, founded in June 2019 by Upneet Grover, Shameer Khan, and Lohith P, is the fastest-growing university search portal in the United States, reaching more than a million users each year. The platform provides detailed information about colleges, courses, scholarships, student loans and career opportunities so that students can make the right choice when it comes to their education.

The acquisition extends Savingforcollege.com's reach to thousands of prospective and current college students and builds on its existing educational content offerings.

"We were impressed by what TheCollegeMonk has accomplished in such a short period of time, and we're thrilled to add the site to the Savingforcollege.com family," said Marcos Cordero, Founder and CEO of Savingforcollege.com. "This acquisition gives us the organic distribution capabilities to share our expertise with a broad audience of over a million students, parents and universities."

"Important college decisions  like selection, funding and courses  aren't made in isolation. We believe these are all connected, and that the information needs to be housed under a single roof. That's how the platform was born, and we're happy to find the right home for TheCollegeMonk with Savingforfollege.com. The company's vision matches ours, and we share their passion for helping students, similar to how we've done for our India business  Getmyuni.com," added Upneet Grover, founder of TheCollegeMonk, also the founder of Getmyuni education group  an India-based edtech company which has products in the higher education space like Ieltsmaterial.com and GetmyuniLearn.

The deal size, though confirmed as an all-cash deal, was undisclosed.

About Savingforcollege.com:



Savingforcollege.com has been a leading independent authority on 529 savings plans since 1999. Their site compiles and analyzes data, and creates content and tools to provide parents, financial professionals and state agencies with resources to help them understand how to meet the challenge of increasing education costs.

SOURCE TheCollegeMonk
Kolkata, March 30 : The alleged kingpin in West Bengal in the coal smuggling case, Anup Majhi alias Lala, on Tuesday deposed before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning.

According to CBI officials, Majhi arrived at the agency's office here around 11.30 a.m.

He was summoned by the CBI on March 26, a day after the Supreme Court stayed his arrest till April 6.

The action comes in the wake of a case registered in November last year involving alleged illegal coal pilferage.

The CBI last week questioned former Commissioner of Asansol Laxmi Narayan Meena for over three and half hours in connection with the case.

The CBI had registered a case against the alleged kingpin of the pilferage racket, Eastern Coalfield Ltd General Magers Ait Kuma Dhar and Jayesh Chandra Rai, ECL chief of security Tan Das, area security inspector Kunustoria Dhananjay Rai, and SSI and security in-charge Kajora area Debashish Mukherjee last year.

The CBI also recorded the statement of Rujira Banerjee, wife of Trinaool Congress MP and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee and his sister-in-law Menka Gambhir in the last week of February.

The CBI has recently carried out searches at several locations in the state, including at the premises of Ait Agarwal, a close aide of Majhi.

The central agency's actions have turned the heat on poll-bound West Bengal, where the ruling Trinaool Congress and the BJP are engaged in a bitter battle.

Polling to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases. On Mach 27 state polled for the first phase with huge turnout.

Rest of the seven phases are scheduled on -- April 1, April 6, April 10, April 17, April 22, April 26 and April 29 -- and the results will be declared on Ma 2.
A Texas state trooper who was shot during a traffic stop last week is being kept on life support until he can donate organs because he no longer displays 'viable brain activity'.

Trooper Chad Walker was shot multiple times on Friday evening while stopping to help a driver in an apparently disabled vehicle, just west of Mexia in Limestone County, 85 miles south of Dallas.

In a statement, DPS regional director Todd Snyder said that Walker had not yet come to a stop behind the vehicle on the shoulder of the roadway when 37-year-old DeArthur Pinson Jr. got out of the disabled vehicle and opened fire.

Walker was struck in the head and abdomen and was later flown to a hospital in Waco, about 40 miles away.

Texas state trooper Chad Walker (left) who was shot by 37-year-old DeArthur Pinson Jr. (right) during a traffic stop last week is being kept on life support until he can donate organs because he no longer displays 'viable brain activity'

Pinson Jr, from Palestine, Texas, allegedly grabbed a black backpack and fled the scene after the shooting.

Authorities launched a manhunt for Pinson and he was reported dead on Saturday after killing himself, Limestone County Judge Richard Duncan said.

Efforts were made by medical professionals to save Walker's life over the weekend, but failed, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

In their statement, which was issued on social media, the DPS said: 'After extensive life-saving efforts conducted by the @bswhealth medical professionals, it has been determined that Trooper Chad Walker no longer displays signs of viable brain activity and he remains on life-support until he can share the gift of life as an organ donor.

The Texas Department of Public Safety issued a statement on social media in which they said trooper Walker no longer exhibited 'signs of viable brain activity' and that he was now being kept on life support until he can donate his organs

Walker (pictured) was a husband and a father-of-four, having welcomed a daughter into the world two months ago

'This final sacrifice embodies Trooper Walkers actions throughout his life and service as a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper. The Walker family is grateful for the continued support and prayers as they remain at Chads side.'

Walker was a husband and a father-of-four, having welcomed a daughter into the world two months ago.

Speaking to Fox News, Lt. Richard Jankovsky, president of the Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association, praised trooper Walker for his character.
Chennai, March 30 : City based Tamilnadu Petroproducts Ltd is embarking on capacity expansion for Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB), moderisation of heavy chemicals division (HCD) and setting up of propylene recovery unit (PRU) at an outlay of Rs 435 crore.

The company will expand its LAB capacity from 120,000 tpa to 145,000 tpa at an estimated outlay of Rs 240 crore.

The project would be commissioned in about 24 months, post regulatory approvals.

According to Tamilnadu Petro, a sum of Rs.165 crore will be spent on modernsing its caustic soda and chlorine unit by installing bipolar membrane technology in the place of existing mono-polar membrane technology.

On completion of the project the production capacity for caustic soda will go up to 250 ton per day from the current 150 ton.

The company will also spend about Rs.30 crore to set up PRU.

According to Ashwin Muthiah, Vice-Chairman of the company Founding Chairman, AM International Tamilnadu Petro will be the first private sector player in the non-refining sector to set up such a unit.

Propylene, a bulk chemical intermediate, is the raw material for propylene oxide and is derived from liquified petroleum gas (LPG).

Tamilnadu Petro is in advanced talks with various domestic and international vendors for LPG for this project.

The company will fund its expansion through a mix of internal resources and other sources.
Julie Hambleton, who lost her sister Maxine Hambleton in the 1974 attack, has appeared in court for allegedly breaching lockdown rules by attending a rally marking the 46th anniversary of the attack (Jacob King/PA)

Birmingham pub bombings campaigner Julie Hambleton has appeared in court after refusing to pay a 200 fine for allegedly breaking Covid rules, after taking part in an anniversary convoy to mark the deadly blasts.

Miss Hambleton appeared alongside two other men at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Tuesday, accused of attending a gathering of more than two people in breach of Covid-19 regulations.

All three were on the motor rally through Birmingham, on November 21 last year, to mark the 46th anniversary of the double IRA blasts, which claimed 21 lives, including Miss Hambletons older sister, Maxine.

Expand Close The ruined Mulberry Bush pub after the attack on November 21 1974 (PA) PA / Facebook

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It is alleged Miss Hambleton and the others contravened the rules outside West Midlands Polices city headquarters at Lloyd House, where the convoy broke up.

Miss Hambleton, who leads the Justice 4 the 21 (J421) group, which campaigns for the Birmingham bombers to be brought to justice, denied any wrongdoing, entering a not guilty plea to the charge.

She has previously called the forces decision to fine her and other campaign supporters disgusting, tasteless and crass.

Also in court, charged with the same offence in connection with the rally, were Kevin Gormley, 53, of Beacon Road, and Michael Lutwyche, 54, of Hayes Grove, both Birmingham.

They both denied the allegation.

As the three appeared in court, about 30 J421 campaign supporters, some with large banners, gathered outside.

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After issuing the fines, the force said it had issued notices to a number of people for an alleged breach in Colmore Circus, Birmingham, following a review of the circumstances.

In court, Philip Rule, representing Miss Hambleton and the other defendants, said their lawyers had invited the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to review whether the prosecution is to continue in the public interest.

He added the Crown had since reviewed the case, and asked for the court to direct they provide reasons to the defence lawyers, in due course.

Mr Rule said once it had a summary of reasons it would be looking to respond with our concerns about whether there really is a public interest, in light of actions the defendants properly took to keep the gathering Covid-safe.

Richard Purchase, for the prosecution, told the court a trial was likely to hear from officers present on the day and be shown footage of police body-worn video cameras.

Speaking previously, Miss Hambleton said she did get out of her vehicle outside Lloyd House, but only to briefly thank people who attended and that she remained socially distanced, throughout.

She added that nobody from the force came out to warn those outside, and that the convoy of more than 500 people had complied with an earlier police request not to gather by a campaign mural in Bromsgrove Street.

Miss Hambleton said that victims families and supporters had also respected the rules by cancelling annual vigils elsewhere in the city.

Belfast-based lawyers KRW Law, representing Miss Hambleton, said a written request to the forces chief constable Sir David Thompson earlier this year to annul the fines had been rejected.

In a statement issued ahead of the hearing, the law firm said that the force, in bringing this prosecution, raise serious questions over West Midlands Police taking inconsistent approaches to protests and its understanding and application of Covid rules.

The case was adjourned for a two-day trial back at the same court, starting September 7.

Chairwoman of magistrates, Fiona Williams, said: The hearing is now adjourned until September.

We direct the bodycam footage from the prosecution is served to the defence and the Crown Prosecution Service is to review the prosecution  whether it is in the public interest for this to continue, and disclose reasons for doing so.

On the night of November 21 1974, at the height of an IRA bombing campaign in England, two deadly devices detonated in the packed Tavern In The Town and Mulberry Bush.

The blasts also injured more than 200 people.

The Birmingham Six were convicted of involvement but their convictions were later quashed by the Court of Appeal after a botched investigation by West Midlands Police led to one of the worst miscarriages in British legal history.

Nobody has ever been brought to justice for the killings, although the force did arrest and release a man from Belfast in connection with the bombings, last year.

Miss Hambleton has been critical in the past of the forces handling of the investigation to track down those responsible for the pub bombings.
The City Council is set to vote on April 13 on whether to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for city employees.

Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod brought the matter back up after making a push for it last year. At the time, the council passed a resolution supporting the observance, but did not make it a paid one.

Chairman Chip Henderson recommended a study of the proposal along with an issue he brought up of expanding recruitment for fire and police, including doing away with a requirement that personnel must live in Tennessee.

Councilwoman Carol Berz agreed, saying Juneteenth is an important holiday, but the issue needed more study.

Councilwoman Coonrod dismissed the idea of a study, saying, "We need to stop dancing around this issue and go ahead and approve it."

She noted that city finance came up with a projected $690,000 cost.

She said, "That is in lost productivity. It really won't cost the city much."

Councilman Anthony Byrd questioned whether Juneteenth should be added as an optional city holiday and let employees decide whether they want to take it in lieu of another paid day off.

The city currently has 11 paid holidays, including the day before Christmas and the day before and Thanksgiving and the day after.

Councilwoman Coonrod said Juneteenth should stand on its own.

Councilman Byrd then said he would support the move. Councilman Jerry Mitchell earlier said he was in favor of the idea.

Juneteenth is a holiday on June 19 celebrating the emancipation of freed slaves in the U.S.



It is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Emancipation Day.
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
S ince the pandemic began, the people of the UK have come together to protect one another from coronavirus. By abiding by lockdown rules, following hygiene recommendations and adapting quickly to new safety measures over the past 12 months, the country has come a long way  and the vaccine development and subsequent rollout continues to take the country closer towards normality.

But, as restrictions ease, a collective effort to stay safe remains key to moving forward in the fight against the virus.

Regular rapid testing  on top of the coronavirus vaccine rollout and current social distancing guidelines  is an essential part of the UKs roadmap to break the chain of transmission, and its important that those advised to get tested regularly do so.

Whether youre unable to work from home or are a parent of school-age children, heres everything you should know about regular rapid testing  and why its so important.

Why is rapid testing needed?

Rapid testing  also known as lateral flow testing  is crucial in the fight against coronavirus because of its ability to quickly and simply identify cases in those who show no symptoms. With around one in three people with the virus showing no symptoms, identifying cases early is key to stopping the spread of Covid-19. Just one identified case of the virus could help prevent many further instances of the virus, and thousands of positive Covid-19 cases have already been detected this way, in turn helping to prevent more cases.

Not only does regular rapid testing help to protect those around you, it is also a significant part of tackling the virus on a large scale.

UK Government

How does it work?

Rapid tests use the same trusted technology used in at home pregnancy tests: the test kit is a handheld device that has an absorbent pad at one end and a reading window at the other. Inside, there is strip of test paper that changes colour when Covid proteins (antigens) are present.

A swab sample  taken from the nose and throat  is mixed with a solution and applied to the test strip to produce a reading. Results can be returned within 30 minutes without having to be sent to a lab, allowing those who have the virus to self-isolate immediately. Research from Public Health England (PHE) and the University of Oxford has shown that lateral flow tests are able to pick up the vast majority of cases in the most infectious stage.

Who is eligible?

Rapid testing is currently being offered to asymptomatic people in schools, universities, workplaces and care homes, available at a range of community settings supervised by trained operators who will then process the test and read the result.

Those who are in a household or bubble with school, college or nursery staff or pupils should take a rapid lateral flow test twice a week.

That said, if you have coronavirus symptoms or have been advised to self-isolate, you should not visit a rapid testing site.

UK Government

How do I get a regular rapid test?

Schools and colleges are providing the tests themselves, as are many workplaces, higher education institutions and universities. Alternatively, you may be directed to a local testing site. You can find out if there is one in your area at gov.uk/find-covid-19-lateral-flow-test-site.

If you are unable to visit a rapid testing site, however, lateral flow tests can be ordered online by those eligible at gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.

What do I do with my test result?

Whether negative, positive or even void, you should report the result at gov.uk/report-covid19-result or call 119.

It makes me feel safer and more comfortable

Geoff Pearce

Since his return to the school building on 8 March, secondary music teacher Geoff Pearce, 37, has been testing twice weekly.

The first time it took me half an hour figuring out how to do it, but now its like brushing my teeth, says Geoff. I can do it in a flash as part of my routine.

He picks up his packs of seven kits from North Bridge House Senior Hampstead and tests himself every Wednesday and Sunday. The results come through within 30 minutes, as simple and clear as a pregnancy test.

Rapid testing: are you eligible? Any parent of a child at nursery, school or college

Anyone working in or attending a nursery, school or college

Anyone in the same household or bubble as someone attending or working in a nursery, school or college

Anyone who works in an occupation related to a childcare provider, school, nursery or college, and their household, childcare and support bubbles

People in certain workplaces unable to work from home

Those attending university or a higher education college

Since his school introduced regular rapid testing, there have been no positive cases in the community. Since one in three positive Covid cases are those with no symptoms, the tests give Geoff confidence about being back on the premises.

It makes me feel safer and more comfortable going between work and home, he says. We are still social distancing and wearing masks, but knowing that my colleagues and pupils are all doing the same tests reassures me in the workplace and gives me more peace of mind.

Also, Geoff can see the difference in pupils engagement and wellbeing now that theyre back in the classroom. Things feel much like they did before lockdown. Energy levels are back  and theyre so happy. I had a pupil tell me today how much they love being at school, he says.
Hard work and determination remain qualities no one can take away from Zimbabwean women, whether young or old.

In any area of work, women when given the opportunity have outshone men.

In most cases, brilliant ideas arguably emanate from women, usually working in the background, though men usually take all credit.

When Covid-19 emerged, it also brought life to a screeching halt as the world was caught unaware.

Zimbabwean women entrepreneurs, especially those into cross border trade were greatly affected as their business involves moving from one country to another.

Yet, to stop the spread of Covid-19, countries closed their borders, leaving the women counting loses.

With limited movements, women proved they are innovative and found other means to eke out a living.

One such woman is 36-year-old Shyvonne Mhene Anderson who has managed to turn a challenge into opportunity.

In the wake of Covid-19, she created a fast-growing online shopping platform that has eased business for users across the globe.

The co-founder and the powerhouse of Mupedzanhamo online shop -- a platform that provides convenience to customers across the globe -- Anderson is a happily married mother of three who was born in Chitungwiza, were she also cut her teeth in the marketing spheres, before migrating to South Africa in 2009.

When various countries were placed on lockdown after the outbreak of the pandemic, Anderson came up with the idea of creating Mupedzanhamo online shop, a platform which allows users to buy groceries, hardware material, pharmaceutical products and access insurance services from the comfort of their homes using their smart gadgets.

The online platform has also created employment for Zimbabwean women affected by the Covid-19 lockdown back home.

"Mupedzanhamo online shop enables the users to access a variety of goods and services, including groceries, medication, hardware and building material, as well as insurance services on our platform," she recently told The Herald.

Anderson said the closure of cross-border business most Zimbabwean women were engaged in to support their families is one of the many reasons that made her come up with the Mupedzanhamo online shopping concept.

"From the comfort of your home by simply visiting our website, you can buy groceries for your loved ones back in Zimbabwe from anywhere in the world," she said. "It does not end there, you can also buy building material and pay for medication from our platform which will be collected in Zimbabwe.

"Recently, we have also increased our portfolio and one can access insurance services by acquiring yellow card insurance certificates one will produce at Beitbridge border post when crossing in to Zimbabwe to any of the 16 COMESA states from South Africa.

"The business has brought convenience, especially during this Covid-19 period where there is restricted movement of people across borders. We have created a bridge between those who are abroad and their families who are back in Zimbabwe."

Reiterating on her understanding of true motherhood, Anderson said: "I am proud to say I have empowered other women by giving them an opportunity to create extra income by contracting them as agents. As a woman and a mother, I know the true meaning of bringing food on the table for a family."

Anderson says she does not want to occupy the space alone, and believes if women conceive good business ideas in their minds and believe with their heart, they can achieve them.

During this March, the women's month, she says: "To other women out there, it's only you who can change your life and the general perception that the world has on women. Go all out for it."

In Zimbabwe, making shoes, sandals and handbags has been a preserve for men, with women focusing on tailoring clothes, curtains and other household supplies.

Yet, 20-year-old Gail Takudzwa Tambara from Domboshava wants to prove the point that women can also do it.

Tambara is trying to expand her small business and has become a community hero and force to reckon. Many young girls and women admire her. As Zimbabwe commemorates women's month, women entrepreneurs like her have stood out stronger and become more innovative in the wake of Covid-19.

The fact that Tambara turned lockdown into opportunity shows determination.

"I started making sandals and handbags during the first lockdown period last year in July after I saw a lady selling these," she said. "I wanted to buy the handbag, but when I discovered that these were hand made, I developed an interest on how this was done."

Tambara said at first, the woman was reluctant to teach her, but she later agreed.

Being a fast learner paid off as the process only took one day.

"I also taught myself to make the ladies' sandals and satchels," said Tambara. "I download some of the patterns that I use from the internet. Some come from my imagination. I try to keep abreast with the new patterns trending in the world."

Tambara said starting the business was not "easy and rosy" as she did not have the capital to buy the materials.

However, her supportive mother sponsored. With her business still in its infancy, Tambara said it is growing steadily. She added that she has been using the profits to move toward boosting the business into one big enterprise.

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During workshops and meetings, Tambara said she interacts with young people doing different projects. This has helped boost her confidence and knowledge about running a successful business. The sky is not even the limit. She hopes to open a training centre to teach other women and youths.

"I want to achieve great things using my hands," said Tambara. "One-day I would like to open my own company which will have all the machinery for mass production. My wish is to export these items to other countries and employ other people.

"My greatest hope is seeing other women and young girls venturing into such kind of business. I would like to teach other ladies who want to learn to sew handbags, sandals and satchels."

Tambara encouraged other women to venture in different projects despite the obstacles.

"In business, we face many challenges, but as women we should never give up, but need to persevere," she said. "It is not easy as sometimes we face competition and stigma that means we need to work hard in order to produce the best."

Tambara urged other women to venture into different income generating projects.

"As women we need to help one another," she said. "Make use of your hands. There is money in your hands. We need to empower ourselves, be self-sufficient. Be your own boss wherever you are."
i dont see how they can release this if cutting him out is truly impossible. shame for everyone else involved but oh well.

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Not Kenneth Branagh continued directorial incompetence fucking it all up for poor struggling Disney

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The reshoots were due less to his incompetence and more to do with Disney balking at the main character being a villain which was the entire point of the book.

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Nnnn I think hes pretty incompetent

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And thereby making the movie an expensive almost unwatchable mess

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Yeah that's what made the movie bad among other things.

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Does his ass get murdered violently early on like the one with Debt because hell I'd watch that. Also lol at that Artemis Fowl twist, especially since I've heard nothing but bad things about that movie.

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I think yes

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[ Spoiler (click to open) ] if it follows the book he pretends to fall in love with the woman he marries because he and his gf want to kill her for the money. when he's arrested his gf kills him and then kills herself.

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it's almost like kenneth branagh ... knows?

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If you know the book; they really can't cut him out

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I haven't read the book, but from the original film (which I adore) given that he [redacted] is this really a problem lol



I mean I guess they're worried about people watching at all because him, but still.

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Why are bad mustaches a prerequisite for Kenneth Branagh movies. Like remember his Poirot mustache

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I don't know but it's disgusting.

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this is a poirot movie lol

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Nobody asked for this movie anyway so...

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Honestly. The original is amazing, and this lineup was never gonna touch that 1978 cast anyway. Give up.

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I know the 2017 movie made like $350 million, but like... I don't know anyone who saw it.

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Well, I did, but I'm also fine with it being dumped on streaming at this point because a theatrical release will be messy.

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Maybe if we can CGI David Suchet over Kenny B too

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either way, david suchet 4life



i'm always here for more agatha christie adaptations although most of the latest versions have been shit. k.brannagh's stuff ain't it either.either way, david suchet 4life

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They should just throw this movie on some streaming platform and be done with it. I honestly still don't get how Kenneth Branagh keeps getting hired to direct these days. Cinderella was bad, Murder On The Orient Express was terrible, Artemis Fowl was a disaster... Flop after flop after flop and we already know what's gonna happen to this new bomb. And yeah, fuck Armie Hammer too.

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"Express" made a bunch of money, it was a hit.

So we're stuck with his shit for awhile, since Hollywood loves to give a White man work.

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Kenneth Branagh and Armie Hammer? Just burn it, it will be cheaper and a blessing

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Crafting that strategy  one that respects silence breakers and survivors, protects Hammers co-stars like Gal Gadot and Letitia Wright, and avoids unsavory mentions of cannibalism fetishes and criminal sexual assault allegations for a brand synonymous with family  presents a dizzying array of challenges.



I like that we're at least acknowledging, 'hey, we don't want women to have to be around this guy.'

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Honestly, this is one of the reasons I think Armie might actually stay cancelled. No actress with even marginal sway is ever going to want to be in a room with him again, for good reason.

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The other advantage is that he never really "made" it anyway. He wasn't bankable, so no one particularly cares.

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They reeeally should've put this on Disney+ or Hulu in fall 2020

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There was no need for this remake anyway

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Mess! I dont like seeing this. Put it on hulu and be done with it.

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Just deepfake him with Paul Rudd or Jack Black.

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I- from now on when I see the cast is too big, they cant reshoot, Im gonna assume its they dont wanna pay the money to reshoot it, cuz a whole ass kdrama is being reshot week to week right now.



River Where the Moon Rises was 18 episodes in when Jisoo got hit by the bullying scandal and they decided to recast and refilm episodes 7-18 +19 & 20 even tho theyd already aired five episodes. They didnt even miss a week. The producers are so far in debt right now and dont know whos what and where, but the only way theyll get gains back is if they air the drama. Like theyre still figuring out pay for people with small roles and extra rolls. But theyre doing it. And they just announced theyd re-film episodes 1-6, too.



Itd be costly, but they could 100% re-film his scenes and unlike River Where the Moon Rises, they have both money and time to make it so wed never know.

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I was wondering what was going on with that one lol oof that sounds like a mess and now I'm curious to watch

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If you watched Mr. Queen, the actor Na In Woo (who played the leads brother) replaced him. Fans are rejoicing because FINALLY hes gonna get the girl. Lol. But hes doing really well and once you get past the Jisoo episodes and youre working with Na In Woo, you forget Jisoo was ever there.

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I assumed they meant due to schedules/Covid but probably also that. The amount they'd have to pay the cast per day would probably be astronomical.



But it's not like Disney doesn't have the money.



Instead, this reads like Disney trying to claim they did everything they could so they can release it without justifying the decision.

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I don't think it's the money, I think it's the logistics of getting everyone he shares scenes with to come back. with such a huge cast I think it would be almost impossible.

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The Gambia and Senegal have shown commitment to regulate and implement a policy that will enable the citizenry to benefit on the fisheries resources that both countries shared.

These revelations came on Friday morning during a courtesy call by the Senegalese Fisheries Minister to Gambia's Fisheries Minister, presided over by the Vice President of The Gambia, Dr. Isatou Touray, in Banjul.

The visit, according to Alioune Ndoye, Senegal's Minister for Fisheries, is to show solidary and give condolence to the deceased family of the recent crisis that happened at Sanyang village. He said the visit also aims to applaud the Gambia Government stand during the incident.

Ndoye said the two countries have resources they shared, which is the fisheries sector. He therefore emphasized the need for its protection, preservation and development for the betterment of both nations.

Ndoye said another reason for his visit is for both countries to look on ways to strive and collaborate in the security and maintenance of the sector.

"There are some industries that we bring into our countries at times recently in the past have impacted greatly in the economic benefits of the sector," he said.

In this regard, he said these are some of the areas both countries will be looking at to be able to regulate them in terms of putting together resources for its safety and for economic expansion of both nations.

James Gomez, Gambia's Minster of Fisheries, said the fisheries resources of the Gambia are shared not only by Senegal but all other countries in the coast, saying there is no boundary as far as the sea is concern.

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"We have a bilateral relationship between Gambia and Senegal to see how we can regulate the industry that we don't have over fishing," he said.

Minister Gomez said there is a sub-regional fisheries organisation which Senegal and The Gambia are part of.

"Plans are on the way in trying to implement a policy that will enable our people to benefit on the fisheries resources we have," he revealed.

In this context, he said they are working towards getting everybody to understand that there are laws and regulation on where to fish and not to fish. He said if the law is implemented, there will be sustenance and everybody will benefit from the resources available in the sector.

"We the Gambia unfortunately are jet to be able to polish our boundaries. We are now discussing possibility of buying two surveillance boats and to have a fisheries management system that will alert any ship entering illegally in the Gambia," he said.

Minister Gomez highlighted that in their bilateral relationship, they put in policies that must be reviewed annually between both countries.

"Now we are rebuilding the department of fisheries so that we can have the capacity to continue to implement the policies that we put in place for safety," he said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has landed in Tajikistan to attend the 9th 'Heart of Asia' ministerial conference which is a part of the Istanbul peace process, a regional initiative on security and cooperation for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan.

During his three-day visit to Tajikistan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend the 9th Heart of Asia ministerial conference, which is a part of the Istanbul Peace Process on Afganistan in Dushanbe on Tuesday. Jaishankar will attend the ministerial meeting which is being hosted in Tajikistan, at the joint invitation of his counterparts Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The conference is a joint initiative of the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Afghanistan and was officially launched in 2011 at a conference that was being hosted by Turkey.

The conference is aimed towards strengthening a regional and international consensus for Afghan peace. According to a statement on March 26th issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, S. Jaishnakar is expected to meet key leaders of other countries that are participating in the conference on the sidelines. However, the highly anticipated meeting which was going to happen between S Jaishnankar and the foreign minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood has not yet been scheduled officially so far.

Jaishankar met Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday and held a discussion on the Afghan Peace Process. He tweeted saying that the two leaders shared their perspectives on the peace process. Last week, the Afghan Foreign Minister visited India and conducted numerous meetings with Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval.

Also Read: The Xinjiang Investigation: UN in negotiations with Beijing; China slaps sanctions against US and Canada

A statement issued by the MeA underlined that both the nations reviewed the Troika Peace Meeting in Moscow and further assessed the final declaration of the meeting as positive for strengthening and advancing the peace initiative.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is also going to attend the Heart of Asia conference which had earlier sparked speculations of a meeting between the two ministers in the backdrop of recent developments on the borders. There has been no official announcement of the meeting and it has not been finalized yet.

Also Read: Philippines and Vietnam slams China over South China Sea; warns of more Chinese occupation
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The Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences has announced the Emmett F. Thompson Deanship in honor of the founding dean of the Auburn School of Forestry.

A deanship is an endowed fund used at the discretion of the current dean to direct funds toward a schools major goals without undercutting budgetary priorities.

The Emmett F. Thompson Deanship will benefit the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences by elevating the schools status, positioning it to become a college, launching new initiatives, continuing a culture of excellence and helping to recruit and retain highly qualified deans in the future, said Dean Janaki Alavalapati.

The deanship was established by Thompsons children, Chuck, Meri and Juli, and received a leadership gift from the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation, in addition to gifts from a host of other friends of the school. Funding for the deanship is currently at 75 percent, with a projected completion by the end of 2021, said school Director of Development Heather Crozier.

Thompson, who retired in 1998, began his Auburn career in 1977 as head of the Department of Forestry, which was then part of the School of Agriculture. In 1984, he became the School of Forestrys first dean.

During his 21-year tenure, he was a pioneer, Crozier said.

Among Thompsons many accomplishments, he established the School of Forestry as a stand-alone entity, separate from the College of Agriculture. He also led the effort to create the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, a one-of-a-kind facility in Andalusia, Alabama, and he provided the foundational work for the creation of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences state-of-the-art facility, which was completed in 2005.

In addition, Thompson established a forestry engineering program, created the Forestry in the Private Sector class and worked with other departments in the university to round out and improve educational opportunities for students. The latter effort came to fruition after his retirement, when Auburns wildlife program became part of the school.

Dr. Thompson truly deserves to be honored with a deanship in his name, Alavalapati said. His achievements as dean of the School of Forestry have had a major impact on developing this school to become the outstanding research and educational institution that it is today.

Thompson has continued to be a force in the school, he added.

Since his retirement, he has served on our campaign committee, maintained a strong relationship with our many benefactors and industry contacts and makes himself available for any school event that takes place.

Thompson, an Oklahoma native, has been married to his wife, Vi, since 1961. He studied forestry at Oklahoma State University, North Carolina State University and Oregon State University, where he earned his doctorate in forest economics. Before coming to Auburn, he taught at Virginia Tech and was head of the forestry department at Mississippi State University.

More information about giving to Auburns School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences is available at sfws.auburn.edu/giving or by contacting Crozier at vannhea@auburn.edu.

(Written by Teri Greene)
All adults 16 and older are now eligible for vaccines, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Currently, Pfizer is the only vaccine approved for 16- and 17-year-olds; Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are approved for those 18 and older, according to Texas Childrens Hospital.

St. Lukes Health, a local vaccine provider, has revamped appointment registration to incorporate an influx of people looking for shots and removed the waitlist option.

Adult patients and legal guardians of minors between 16 and 18 can schedule appointments by logging onto www.stlukeshealth.org/CovidVaccine and using the COVID-19 assistant chat feature in the bottom right corner. Patients will be matched with the closest St. Lukes Health vaccine site, an online replacement for the waitlist process, which will allow people to schedule appointments weeks in advance.

Across Houston, universities have served as an outlet to help reach the younger population now that all adults are eligible. St. Lukes on Monday distributed vaccines at Rice Universitys Bioscience Research Collaborative Building, 6500 Main Street  a change in location after the hospital originally opened up at the universitys stadium earlier this month. St. Lukes also administers shots at Texas Southern University, while the Houston Health Department administered Moderna vaccines at the University of St. Thomas and University of Houston Monday.

The collegiate rollout spurred Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to debut the Take Your Best Shot college challenge Monday, a competition that will pit Houston colleges against each other to see which school can register the most students and alumni to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition to the citys universities, Houston-area hospitals also offer vaccine sign-ups.

Online registration is open at Houston Methodist and Memorial Hermann, but staff at UTHealth and Baylor College of Medicine will continue to reach out to their own patients to schedule appointments.

Public options include registering for waitlists through the City of Houston and Harris County Public Health.

Thirty-one percent of people who live in Harris County have received at least one dose, and more than 15 percent are fully vaccinated, according to DSHS. Nearly 4 million Texans are fully vaccinated.

julie.garcia@chron.com

Twitter.com/reporterjulie
International

Probe into Suez Canal blockage begins

The ships owner, Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd., said Tuesday that it would be part of the investigation.

Suez (Egypt), Mar 30 (AP) | Publish Date: 3/30/2021 1:11:40 PM IST

Experts boarded the massive container ship Tuesday that had blocked Egypts vital Suez Canal and disrupted global trade for nearly a week, seeking answers to a single question that could have billions of dollars in legal repercussions: What went wrong?

As convoys of ships again began travelling through the artery linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas, a canal service provider said more than 300 vessels carrying everything from crude oil to cattle were still waiting for their turn in a process that will take days.

Egyptian government officials, insurers, shippers and others similarly waited for more details about what caused the skyscraper-sized Ever Given to become wedged across the canal on March 23.

When blame gets assigned, it will likely lead to years of litigation to recoup the costs of repairing the ship, fixing the canal and reimbursing those who saw their cargo shipments disrupted. Since the vessel is owned by a Japanese firm, operated by a Taiwanese shipper, flagged in Panama and now stuck in Egypt, matters quickly become an international morass.

This ship is a multinational conglomeration, said Capt. John Konrad, the founder and CEO of the shipping news website gcaptain.com.

Experts boarded the Ever Given as it idled Tuesday in Egypts Great Bitter Lake, just north of the site where it previously blocked the canal. A senior canal pilot, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to journalists, told The Associated Press that experts were looking for signs of damage and trying to determine why the vessel ran aground.

There could be significant damage to the ship, Konrad warned. Stuck for days across the canal, the ships middle rose and fell with the tide, bending up and down under the tremendous weight of some 20,000 containers across its 400-meter (quarter-mile) length. On Monday, when workers partially floated the ship, all that pressure came forward to its bow.

Structural integrity is No. 1. You know, there was a lot of strain on that ship as it was sagging in the waterway, Konrad said. They have to check everything for cracks and particularly that rudder and the propeller in the back thats connected to the engine room.

And then they have to go through all the mechanical equipment, make sure they test the engines, all the safety valves, all the equipment, and then determine that its safe to sail either by itself or with a tug escort to the next port, he added.

The ships owner, Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd., said Tuesday that it would be part of the investigation along with other parties, though it did not identify them by name. It also refused to discuss possible causes of the grounding, including the ships speed and the high winds that buffeted it during a sandstorm, saying it could not comment on an ongoing investigation. Initial reports also suggested a blackout struck the vessel, something denied by the ships technical manager.

The company added that any damage to the ship was believed to be mostly on its keel. It said it was not immediately known whether the vessel will be repaired on site in Egypt or elsewhere, or whether it will eventually head to its initial destination of Rotterdam. That is a decision to be made by its operator, rather than the shipowner, the company said.

The grounding of the ship had halted billions of dollars a day in maritime commerce. Analysts expect it could take at least another 10 days to clear the backlog  though Egypts president said Tuesday it would take just three. The losses to shippers, as well as any physical damage to the vessel itself, likely will see lawsuits.

Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd. is covered with some $3 billion in liability insurance through 13 Protection & Indemnity Clubs. Those clubs are not-for-profit mutual insurers used by the vast majority of global shipping firms.

Global legal firm Clyde and Co. said the Ever Givens owner likely would pay Egypts canal authority for the assistance already rendered to the vessel. The authority also could fine the Ever Given.

We anticipate a detailed investigation will follow which will determine the cause, the firm said. Evidently the cause will impact upon the legal liabilities of the ship and cargo interests.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi travelled Tuesday to the canalside city of Ismailia to praise those who freed the vessel.

Speaking to a small group of reporters on a dock overlooking the waterway, el-Sissi deflected questions about the investigation, saying Egypt would not interfere in a probe that will be left to the specialists.

We want to confirm to all the world, that things are back to as they were, he added. He stood before a sign that said: Welcome to the Suez Canal: Egypts lifeline of peace, prosperity and development.

On Monday, a flotilla of tugboats helped by the tides, wrenched the bulbous bow of Ever Given from the canals sandy bank, where it had been firmly lodged. The tugs blared their horns in jubilation as they guided the Ever Given through the water after days of futility that had captivated the world, drawing scrutiny and social media ridicule. (AP)
Labour has called on ministers to provide clarity on the future of Liberty Steels UK plants amid fears thousands of jobs could be lost if the firm goes under.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng refused to rule out the prospect the business could be taken into public ownership, saying all options are on the table.

However, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the firms 5,000 workers urgently needed an answer to the basic question Whats going to happen to me and my job in Liberty Steel?

Mr Kwarteng confirmed ministers had turned down a request by Libertys parent company, the GFG Alliance, for a 170 million bailout.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has said all options are on the table (Aaron Chown/PA)

The company turned to the Government for support following the collapse of its main financial backer, Greensill Capital.

However, Mr Kwarteng said they had been concerned the very opaque structure of GFG  with assets around the world  meant there was no guarantee the money would stay in the UK to support British jobs.

He nevertheless stressed the Government considered Liberty to be a really important national asset and was looking at plans to ensure the business in the UK was able to continue.

Were looking at all plans at the moment and you will appreciate that its commercially very sensitive, he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

I think that the current owner is looking at ways of refinancing the group and Ive been very clear that I want to see his plans worked through before we actually go into anything in terms of a further plan to keep the jobs and the plant safe.

Sir Keir Starmer has repeated calls for an inquiry (Jeff J Mitchell/PA)

Asked about the prospect of it being taken into public ownership, he said: All options at the moment are on the table, we think that the steel industry has a future in the UK.

Mr Kwarteng, meanwhile, defended the role of David Cameron in lobbying on behalf of Greensill Capital before it filed for insolvency.

Labour has been pressing for an inquiry amid reports the former prime minister had used his contacts to personally lobby Chancellor Rishi Sunak for support for Greensill through the Governments Covid Corporate Financing Facility.

Mr Kwarteng insisted that Mr Cameron  who became an adviser to the company after leaving office  had done absolutely nothing wrong.

The Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists concluded Mr Cameron was an employee of Greensill and so was not required to declare himself on the register of consultant lobbyists.

I think people have looked at this. As far as I know David Cameron did absolutely nothing wrong, he was a public servant for a long time, hes now gone into private life and was working for Greensill Capital, he told Sky News.

People have looked into his role, people looked into the fact that he may or may not have contacted people, officials, in the Treasury.

As far as I know, everything was above board. Hes been largely exonerated and I think we should just move on.

Labour has called on the Committee for Standards in Public Life to conduct an inquiry.

Its chairman, former MI5 director general Lord Evans of Weardale, said it has no remit to investigate individual cases  although he indicated it could look at any wider issues it raised.

However, speaking during a by-election campaign visit to Hartlepool, Sir Keir said it was clear that some form of inquiry was necessary.

Whats happening with Greensill gets murkier by the day. And I think its obvious that theres got to be an inquiry, there are too many unanswered questions, he said.

We need a Government that steps up and gives answers to those that are not only concerned about the murky nature of whats going on, but also want to have the basic question answered, whats going to happen to me and my job in Liberty Steel.
Electronic ankle tags that can monitor whether offenders have drunk alcohol are to be rolled out in England after a successful pilot scheme.

The 'sobriety tags' will be one of the measures courts can impose on criminals convicted of booze-related offences, such as street violence.

The device takes a sample of sweat every 30 minutes and alerts the probation service if alcohol is detected.

Offenders will then face further sentences, including jail time, if they are caught breaching an abstinence order imposed by a court.

The 'sobriety tags' will be one of the measures courts can impose on criminals convicted of booze-related offences, such as street violence. Stock picture

More than 100 criminals have been tagged since the scheme launched in Wales last autumn, with offenders staying sober on more than 95 per cent of the days they were monitored.

The scheme will cost 44million over ten years  but ministers insist the expense is worthwhile given the huge cost of alcohol-related crime.

Up to 2,500 offenders are expected to be tagged across England and Wales in the first 12 months of the scheme, with about 400 at any one time wearing the device.

The decision on whether to impose a sobriety tag will be at the discretion of the sentencing judge or magistrate.

Kit Malthouse, minister for crime and policing, said: 'These tags have already brought enormous benefit to Wales since they were introduced in October, with one offender I met saying it not only changed his ways but also saved his life.

'This smart and powerful new tool is helping the fight against alcohol-fuelled violence which ruins too many lives and families and creates mayhem in our town centres.'

Alcohol is a factor in nearly four out of ten violent crimes, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales.

While Public Health England estimates that the total social and economic cost of alcohol-related harm is more than 21billion a year.

The sobriety tag operates 24 hours a day and can distinguish between drinks and other types of alcohol such as hand sanitiser or perfume.

The device takes a sample of sweat every 30 minutes and alerts the probation service if alcohol is detected. Stock picture

They can also tell if someone tries to block contact between the tag and their skin. The devices, however, are not a form of treatment for alcoholism and anyone who is dependent on booze will not be ordered to wear one.

Probation officer Laura Harrison said: 'Sobriety tags have had an enormously positive effect on the people I've supervised in Wales, improving their mental health, keeping them off drink and out of trouble with the police.'

Ben, a 32-year-old former private in the British Army was ordered to wear a tag for 90 days after being convicted of common assault.

He said: 'I used to drink like a fish. I've been in jail twice. The tag was annoying at first but it helped me to realise that I didn't need to depend on alcohol. It's really changed my life.'
Dushanbe: At Heart of Asia meet in Dushanbe, India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has extended support to a regional process on peace in Afghanistan under the United Nations umbrella.

"We support a regional process to be convened under the aegis of the United Nations. UN stewardship would help to take into account all relevant UN resolutions and improve the odds for a lasting outcome," said S Jaishankar in the conference.

The process was proposed by the US, in a letter by the US Secretary of state to Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani. The proposal calls for the meeting of foreign ministers of Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, and the US under the United Nations for a "unified approach to supporting peace in Afghanistan".

EAM called for a "genuine double peace" in Afghanistan which is "peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan" which "requires harmonizing the interests of all, both within and around that country."

While speaking at the conference, S Jaishankar said, "India has been supportive of all the efforts being made to accelerate the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban, including intra-Afghan negotiations" and "if the peace process is to be successful, then it is necessary to ensure that the negotiating parties continue to engage in good faith, with a serious commitment towards reaching a political solution."

Last year India had attended both the US-Taliban pact signing and the start of the intra-Afghan talks in Doha. New Delhi's high-level engagement with Afghan leadership continues, including visits by Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Ata Noor, Abdul Rashid Dostum last year. This year NSA Doval was in Kabul, it was followed by a virtual meet of Afghan President and PM Narendra Modi and then a visit by Afghan FM Atmar to India.

During the speech, EAM expressed "grave concern" over the situation in Afghanistan, pointing out that "violence and bloodshed are daily realities and the conflict itself has shown little sign of abatement". The year 2020 marked a 45% increase in civilian casualties in Afghanistan.

India in the region has emerged as a major supporter of Afghanistan, from infrastructure to connectivity to capacity building. It will be building Shahtoot dam that will provide clean drinking water to the people of Kabul. It has already built the Afghan Parliament and the India Afghanistan friendship dam in Herat. It is also involved in more than 550 Community Development Projects covering all 34 provinces of the country.
The proportion of problem gamblers seeking treatment increased significantly over the last year, a study has found.

More than six in 10 (63%) problem gamblers said they had used some form of treatment, advice or support in the past 12 months, compared with just over half (54%) in November 2019, according to GambleAwares second annual GB Treatment and Support survey.

The charity welcomed the findings as encouraging, especially during the pandemic, when rates of online gambling have soared.

This increase in treatment was driven by reported use of mental health services rising significantly from 12% to 19%.

There was also an increase in reported usage of advice and support, rising from 39% to 48%, driven in part by the use of self-help apps or tools, including self-exclusion technology, which 14% reported using, up from 9% in 2019.

Overall, more than half of adults (56%) reported participating in any gambling activity in the last 12 months, down from 61% in October 2019.

The survey suggests 2.4% of British adults are problem gamblers.

Barriers to seeking treatment or support for problem gambling included concern around stigma (22%) and the perception that help would be inaccessible (15%).

The survey found that more than half of problem gamblers (59%) wanted some form of help.

GambleAware chief executive Zoe Osmond said: It is encouraging to see a year-on-year increase in those classified as problem gamblers seeking help, especially during the pandemic.

These results will be used to help inform GambleAwares new commissioning strategy as we continue our work to increase provision of and access to services.

The Government is currently reviewing the 2005 Gambling Act and a consultation, led by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, is due to end this month.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's bitter divorce battle is on course to become Hollywood's costliest ever in legal fees alone  and could still rumble on for another six years, according to legal experts.

The couple have been locked in a courtroom showdown since Angie, 45, filed for divorce from Brad, 57, in September, 2016 citing irreconcilable differences.

Legal experts in Los Angeles say each have each spent over $1million in legal costs already - and say the custody battle could go on for six more years.

The parents-of-six still have not reached a settlement on how to split their multi-million dollar fortunes or the custody of their five underage kids.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have been locked in a courtroom showdown since Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt in September 2016 citing irreconcilable differences

Brad is striving for 50/50 custody over their six children and Angie wants to retain full physical custody. A legal expert said, 'Angelina seems to think she can get sole custody of the kids, but that is just not the case.' Pictured in 2019

Angie recently sold a painting by Winston Churchill that Brad is believed to have gifted her.

Rumors quickly spread that she offloaded the artwork  which sold at auction in London for a record $11.5million earlier this month  to shore up her legal war chest for the battle ahead with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor Brad.

LA divorce attorney Kelly Chang Rickert exclusively told DailyMail.com: 'I think this could become one of the most expensive divorce cases in Hollywood history in terms of legal fees'

LA divorce attorney Kelly Chang Rickert told DailyMail.com: 'I think this could become one of the most expensive divorce cases in Hollywood history in terms of legal fees.

'It has been going on for over four years now so it's definitely one of the longest celebrity cases we've ever seen.

'I believe Angelina and Brad have already spent over $1million each.

'They are both employing very reputable attorneys and Angelina has already gone through several.

'Hourly rates may range from between $1,000 to $1,500 and I would estimate that these lawyers may be billing 40 or 50 hours a week at times.

'They have also hired a private judge who probably bills around $900 to $1,000 an hour, so he is probably costing $10,000 a day.

'If they used him for a five-day trial, he would probably take $50,000 up front and another $10,000 to review paperwork beforehand.

'I would say they've paid the judge himself probably close to half a million dollars between them,' she added.

'When Angelina recently sold the painting at auction, people asked if that meant they are close to settling.

'I actually think she sold it to pay more attorney's fees, that's just my pessimistic divorce lawyer point of view,' Rickert said. 'I wouldn't be surprised that that's what it's for, but it could be for other things too.

'Angelina seems to think she can get sole custody of the kids, but that is just not the case.

'She can keep paying millions and millions and millions but as long as Brad wants custody and fights for it, she's going to have to share.

One of the main assets at stake in the acrimonious divorce case is the former couple's Chateau Miraval vineyard and castle in Correns, France. Brad and Angelina bought the property for $67 million in 2008 and married there in August 2014

The Eternals star Angelina recently sold a painting by Winston Churchill that Brad is believed to have gifted her. Rumors quickly spread that she offloaded the artwork  which sold at auction in London for a record $11.5million earlier this month  to shore up her legal war chest for the battle ahead with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor Brad

'Their youngest kids, twins Knox and Vivienne, are 12 so this could go on another six years until they reach the age of majority at 18.

'I've definitely had cases go on and on and on until the kids are adults.

'Very nasty ones keep going and Angelina changing attorneys is an indication that she needs to get her own way and isn't willing to give up. It's almost worse when people have the money because they'll just keep fighting.

'Other people run out of money but Angelina has the means to keep paying for lawyers.'

Another factor that is setting the ex-couple - formerly known as Brangelina - back to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars is expert witness fees.

In August last year, Brad's lawyers presented a list of 21 witnesses he expected to call for a child custody trial  including several mental health experts.

Meanwhile, Angie presented a list with seven names, of which five were expert witnesses.

Asked about the cost of these experts, family lawyer Joe Spirito said: 'It depends on the type of expert but for mental health experts or accountants, I would expect them to be getting around $500 an hour.

'When you have experts that are in the mental health profession to evaluate custody it can cost $100,000 for the work done by one expert alone.

'In this case there are several children and the marriage lasted several years so I wouldn't be surprised if in total legal fees were in excess of $1 million.'

The couple's youngest kids, twins Knox and Vivienne (pictured), are 12 so the custody battle could go on another six years until they reach the age of majority at 18

One of the main assets at stake in the acrimonious divorce case is the former couple's Chateau Miraval vineyard and castle in Correns, France.

Brad and Angie bought the property for $67million in 2008 and married there in August 2014.

Mr Spirito said: 'In California we are a community property state, which means the presumption is if you acquire property after you're married, that is community property.

'If one party alleges they bought the property prior to marriage and then put their spouse on the title, they might have a reimbursement claim for the amount of money that they put in that was separate.

'It can become very convoluted and people hire accountants to try to trace the money and see what's community and what's separate.

'Due to the fact that it's out of the country, California may not have jurisdiction over the estate but funds in California could be used to offset the asset in France.'
SHELTON  Since the start of the school year, distance learners in all grades have not been able to participate in extracurricular activities, according to Superintendent Ken Saranich, and the prom will be no exception.

But students who opt back into in-class instruction by May 1 will once again have access to extracurriculars, including juniors and seniors looking for a chance to attend prom.

About 17.5 percent of pre-K to 12 in the Shelton Public Schools are distance learners as of March 22. The junior prom will be May 21, and the senior prom will be held May 22, both at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury.

As always, we remain flexible and understanding to our students' needs and the decision-making process, Saranich said. If there are circumstances of students who wish to return to school after the May 1 date, a committee will review the case and make decisions on a case-by-case basis.

No student is being denied any opportunities, Saranich added, and we want to create a safe environment for everyone.

Saranich said Shelton Public Schools has not changed its policy regarding distance learners participating in any extracurricular activities in K-12.

With students returning to school for full in-person instruction in April, the community was recently reminded of the policy, Saranich said.

All students will be back in class five days a week starting April 19, Saranich said. The move comes after district staffers  including cafe workers and bus drivers  received their second COVID-19 vaccine dose on Saturday.

We want families to have the opportunity to enjoy their spring break and provide them enough time to make a decision on how their students will finish the school year, he added. It is a family's right and choice if they would like to be a distance learner.

Saranich said his hope is that, by May 1, with more of the community receiving vaccinations, students can attend school as well as the end of the year celebrations with their peers.

Due to COVID-19 capacity restrictions as well as safety precautions, Shelton High Principal Kathy Riddle said the school needs to limit attendance at both proms to only those who are attending classes in-person.

The decision sparked some complaints on social media from parents, who said it seemed remote learners were being punished for being careful and not attending classes in person. But there have been many respondents on social media in favor of the districts decision.

I know some students and parents are disappointed about not having dates or distance learners not being eligible to attend, Riddle said, but we are truly trying to provide our students the safest opportunity to celebrate this occasion.

Riddle said most students she has heard from are appreciative of the opportunity to have a prom.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
New Delhi: Former Kerala MP Joyce George on Monday (March 30, 2021) kicked up a row when he made disparaging remarks on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he 'warned' girls that they should be careful when they go near him as he is unmarried.

The former MP made the remarks at a campaign rally ahead of the elections in the poll-bound states of Kerala. He had come in support of CPI(M) leader and current power minister MM Mani.

"Rahul Gandhi`s programs are held only in women colleges. He will go there and teach girls how to stand straight and how to bend. My dear children, don`t go near him and do such things...he is not married," George was quoted as saying by ANI.

The incident in question is when Rahul Gandhi was seen giving Aikido lessons at Kochi's St Teresas College last Monday. Gandhi demonstrated how one woman can resist being pushed by some seven others by using their energy to hold the ground.

Rahul Gandhi is trained in the Japanese martial art Aikido and was showing the move after a request from a student.

Watch Video here:

Women in India have to get strength from inside. For that to happen you must understand the way that you are being pushed, understand the forces that are hurting you, and then position yourself properly.: Shri @RahulGandhi#SwagathamRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/UqvD7tCtUf  Congress (@INCIndia) March 22, 2021

The remarks have invited criticism from the Congress, with Ramesh Chennithala demanding George's arrest for his commments against the Wayanad MP.

Meanwhile, the Congress women`s wing carried out a protest in front of the secretariat against the ex-MP for insulting women and demanded that he be arrested.

Voting for the 140-member Kerala assembly will be held in a single phase on April 6 while the counting of votes will take place on May 2.


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Active cases rise for the twentieth straight day

India reported 56,211 fresh infections on Tuesday, taking the cumulative caseload to 1,20,95,855, according to a report in the Scroll. The daily cases were slightly lower than the figure reported on Monday which was the highest in five months. The country saw 271 deaths due to the pandemic, taking the death toll to 1,62,114, according to central health ministry data. The active caseload is at 5,40,720, while the total recoveries have surged to 1,13,93,021. Active cases rose for the twentieth straight day. As many as 6,11,13,354 people have been inoculated since the nationwide inoculation programme kicked off on January 16. Read more here

Explained: Should one be taking painkillers before or after a dose of Covid vaccine?



Do not take painkillers before a shot in order to prevent symptoms, but it is all right to use them post-vaccination after consulting with a doctor, an explainer in the Associated Press says. The concern about painkillers is that they might hamper the very immune response a vaccine will try to spur. Vaccines work by tricking the body into thinking it has been infected by a virus and therefore mount a defence against it. This may cause temporary arm soreness, fever, muscle pain and other symptoms of inflammation. These are signs the vaccine is doing what it is supposed to do, the report said. Read more here

OPINION: Poor communication from vaccine makers is cause for concern



The way in which some vaccine makers have communicated their progress has done no favours to the effort to improve vaccine hesitancy, an opinion column in the Times of India said. In particular, British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZenecawhich developed Covishield that is being administered in Indiahas scored several self-goals time after time. The firm has jeopardised the reputation of what otherwise looks like an excellent vaccine. The latest controversy around its claimed efficacy of 79%, the rebuke that it got from US health regulators that it was sharing dated information, and against the clarification just 48 hours later that it was actually 76% is impossible to comprehend, the opinion piece said. Read more here

Pune, Chennai to conduct a study on reinfections

Amidst a sharp surge in cases across the country, two cities Chennai and Pune that saw high caseloads last year and are witnessing a resurgence in cases, are conducting studies to assess if people are getting reinfected by the virus, a report in The New Indian Express said. The authorities will look for "IgG" antibodies in fresh cases in the two cities. The presence of these antibodies will confirm the history of exposure to the virus earlier. This is the first time such an exercise is being undertaken in the country, the report said. Read more here

Covid-19 antibody levels, immunity duration vary in people: Study

A new study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet has shown that the antibody levels and how long immunity lasts in people who recover from Covid-19 vary, a report in The New Indian Express said. Titled Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibody responses and duration of immunity: A Longitudinal Study, the study monitored neutralising antibodies in patients up to six months after the onset of symptoms. Read more here
Vaibhav Saxena and Nguyen Lan Chi from Vietnam International Law Firm analyse the importance of the new rules to both participants and the power sector

The Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has released a draft circular guiding the implementation of the pilot programme on the direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) mechanism between renewable power generation companies and power consumers.

Compared to the previous draft DPPA decision released at the beginning of 2020, the new draft circular still follows the virtual model where the power consumer will indirectly purchase power from the power generation company through the Vietnamese wholesale electricity market (VWEM); while introducing several new requirements for participating power generation companies and power consumers.

The circular is now under review and is expected to be promulgated in 2021. Under the draft, the DPPA programme will be piloted nationwide with a scale ranging from 400 to 1,000MW. If the total capacity of all qualified applications exceeds 1,000MW, then the interested participants of the programme (including power generation companies and power consumers) will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis.

Power generation companies and power consumers who wish to join the programme must jointly prepare and submit an application dossier as co-applicants and must satisfy several conditions.

As for the power generation company, it must own a grid-connected solar or wind energy project having an installed capacity of more than 30MW that has been included in the approved power development master plan. At the time of application for the DPPA pilot programme, it must already enter into a binding in-principle agreement with power consumer(s) and secure financial support for the power project from financial institutions or banks, evidenced by written documents.

The in-principle agreement shall follow the template provided under Annex 1 of the draft circular, in which the parties shall agree on the main contents of the DPPA (that is, power supply commitments and strike price) to be signed between the parties after being selected into the programme. In addition, the power generation company must put the relevant power plant into commercial operation and participate in VWEM no later than 270 working days after being selected for the pilot.

For power consumers, they must purchase electricity for industrial manufacturing purposes at the voltage level of 22kV or higher. Similar to power generation companies, consumers also need to demonstrate that they already have a binding in-principle agreement with a power generation company or companies.

At the time of application for DPPA pilot programme, the power consumer is required to make a commitment on renewable energy usage target and on the ratio of annual renewable energy consumption supplied by the participating power generation company or companies; to total annual energy consumption supplied by the power corporation (PC), which shall be at least 80 per cent in the first three years of participation in the pilot programme.

DPPA mechanism

Under the proposed mechanism, the power generation company will not directly sell the generated electricity to the power consumer. Instead, through the VWEM and in accordance with the relevant power purchase agreement (PPA), it will sell all generated electricity to Vietnam Electricity (EVN), which in turn will sell such electricity to PC, and the power purchaser will purchase the power generation companys generated electricity from PC.

The sale and purchase of electricity on the VWEM will be conducted at the spot market price in accordance with the MoITs regulation on the operation of VWEM (that is, current Circular No.45/2018/TT-BCT dated November 15, 2018, as amended). As for the purchase of electricity from PC, the power consumer must pay PC additional DPPA services fees (including transmission fees, distribution fees, market operation and dispatch charges, and auxiliary services fees) which are calculated on each kWh.

The PPA between the power generation company and EVN shall terminate after 20 years from the commercial operation date of the power plant and as of date mainly follow the model PPA applicable to solar and wind projects, except for certain necessary modifications related to the DPPA mechanism.

In addition, the power generation company and the power consumer will enter into a DPPA in the form of a Contract for Differences with a term decided by the parties which shall be at least 10 years but not more than 20 years. The contract mainly governs the power supply commitments of the power generation company; and the strike price which the power consumer agrees to pay the power generation company.

If the agreed strike price is higher than the spot market price, then the power consumer shall pay the power generation company the differences between the agreed strike price and the spot market price. By contrast, if the agreed strike price is lower than the spot market price, the power generation company shall pay the power consumer such differences.

With the above mechanism, the risk of spot market price fluctuations can be eliminated, which is indeed beneficial for the power generation company. It will be easier for the power generation company to make a good and effective financial forecast for the power project.

Proposed timeline

The DPPA pilot programme is planned to be implemented for two years, from 2021 to 2023. However, when it will be launched will depend on the official promulgation of the DPPA circular by the MoIT after considering all opinions from relevant agencies and stakeholders. The timeline for implementation will tentatively be as follows:

 Within 15 working days after the DPPA Circular comes into effect, the MoIT will announce the DPPA pilot programme;

 Within 15 working days after the announcement, the MoIT will open the online registration portal;

 Within 45 working days after the opening of the online registration portal, power generation companies and power consumers will submit application dossiers through the online registration portal;

 Within 45 working days after the closing of the online registration portal, the MoIT will conduct evaluation and selection process and announce the list of selected power generation companies and power consumers;

 Power generation companies will complete the construction of the power plant and put the power plant into commercial operation within 270 working days after being selected for the programme;

 Based on the result of the programme which is evaluated during the period of one year starting from the expiry of the 270-working-days period mentioned above, the MoIT will report to the prime minister for his consideration and decision on official application of the DPPA mechanism.

The launch of the DPPA pilot programme is expected to bring a gigantic boost for the renewable energy power sector in Vietnam. Although the draft circular has not been finalised, the outcome is much awaited.
Tupysky, Kasminin appeal to Supreme Court against Zelensky's decree to cancel their appointment as Constitutional Court's judges

KYIV. March 30 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The Cassation Administrative Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine has received a claim in which the plaintiff challenges President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky decree on the abolition of presidential decree No. 256 on the appointment of Oleksandr Tupytsky as a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine dated May 14, 2013.

"On March 29, 2021, a lawsuit was filed with the Cassation Administrative Court within the Supreme Court, in which the plaintiff challenges the President of Ukraine decree No. 124/2021 on some issues of ensuring the national security of Ukraine dated March 27, 2021, in terms of repealing the President of Ukraine decree No. 256 on the appointment of the plaintiff as a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine dated May 14, 2013," the court said.

The claim was assigned the registration number of the case No.9901/96/21.

It is noted that on the same day a lawsuit was filed to appeal against Zelensky's decree No. 124/2021 dated March 27, 2021 on the cancellation of the President of Ukraine decree No. 513 on the appointment of the plaintiff as a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, dated September 17, 2013.

The registration number of the case is No.9901/97/21.

As reported, on March 27, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky canceled presidential decree No. 256 on the appointment of Oleksandr Tupytsky as a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, dated May 14, 2013.

The relevant decree on some issues of ensuring the national security of Ukraine was signed on March 27, according to the presidential website.

By the same decree, Zelensky canceled presidential decree No. 513 on the appointment of Oleksandr Kasminin as a judge of the Constitutional Court dated September 17, 2013.

According to the decree said that "individual judges of the Constitutional Court, appointed by Viktor Yanukovych, while continuing to exercise their powers, pose a threat to the national independence and national security of Ukraine, which violates the Constitution of Ukraine, human and civil rights and freedoms."

The decree abolishing the appointment of Tupytsky and Kasminin as judges of the Constitutional Court was signed in accordance with Part 2 of Article 102, clauses 1, 17 of Part 1, Part 3 of Article 106 of the Constitution, Articles 3 and 13 of the law on national security of Ukraine.

On October 27, 2020, the Constitutional Court recognized as unconstitutional a number of provisions of the law on the prevention of corruption and criminal liability for declaring false information. This decision drew criticism from Ukraine's international partners and creditors.

In response, the Verkhovna Rada created a working group to overcome the constitutional crisis, prepared and supported bills No. 4470, which resumes the full-fledged work of the NACP, and No. 4471, which clarifies the powers of the NACP in relation to judges, judges of the Constitutional Court, aimed at ensuring compliance with the guarantees of their independence during administrative proceedings.

Head of the Constitutional Court Tupytsky, was summoned to the Prosecutor General's Office on December 28 for interrogation in criminal proceedings No.12013110060002990 on the criminal organization of former head of the Economic Court Viktor Tatkov and his deputy Yemelyanov, registered in 2013, the investigation of which is now being conducted by the Directorate for Maidan Affairs of the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI).

On December 29, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree dismissing Tupytsky from the position of a judge of the Constitutional Court for a period of two months. In response, the Constitutional Court said that such a decision was made at a special plenary session of the Constitutional Court, Zelensky, by his decree, went beyond his constitutional powers, and the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, which the presidential decree refers to, do not apply to judges of the Constitutional Court.

The SBI served Tupytsky with charges of knowingly false testimony and bribery of a witness.

The SBI also said that the judge hinders the establishment of the truth in criminal proceedings in which he is a suspect, in particular, by preventing subordinates from providing documents at the request of the pretrial investigation agency and the appearance of persons on the summons of the investigator.

On February 26, Zelensky signed a decree to remove Tupytsky from the position of a judge of the Constitutional Court from February 28 for another month.
Days after the government of Kenya imposed severe restrictions on businesses and movement in five counties to curb the spread of coronavirus, a preacher in the capital, Nairobi, has excoriated President Uhuru Kenyatta for the decision.



"You [President Kenyatta], and your fellow politicians are to blame for this devastating third wave and the buck stops with you," said Bishop Peter Ambuka from the Pefa church in Kahawa West area.



He added that majority of Kenyans now have to suffer the consequences of their "careless actions".



"You continue living your lavish lifestyles thanks to the taxes we continue to pay even as we lose our source of income," Bishop Ambuka said.



He said that when infection rates slowed late last year, President Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga restarted their campaign to change the constitution, which attracted huge crowds.



Deputy President William Ruto, who opposes the change, also held massive rallies.



These were "super spreader" events, Bishop Ambuka said.



The bishop also said that the latest measures introduced by the president were insufficient and were likely to keep Kenyans in a cycle of lockdowns and curfews.



"A massive campaign of testing and vaccination is what will bring us back to a normal life," he said.



Kenya has reported more than 130,000 cases of Covid-19 and more than 2,000 deaths.



The doctors' union said last week that the country had run out of ICU beds which were mostly occupied by Covid-19 patients.

Source: BBC









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But as the amount of space devoted to gathering expands, the fate of ones own personal turf at the office  a desk decorated with family photos, a couple of file cabinets  hangs in the balance. Why, company leaders are asking, should someone who is in the office one or two days a week require a space that will sit empty the rest of the time?

In some cases, personal desks are being replaced with hoteling workstations, also called hot desks, which can be used by whoever needs a place to touch down for a day.

In the early months of the pandemic, when it was believed that the coronavirus was spread via contaminated surfaces, hot desks got a hard no from office users. But that stance has softened with the recognition that the virus is transmitted mainly through the air. Protocols for wiping down tabletops before and after use have become the norm. So has reserving a hot desk ahead of time rather than simply showing up and grabbing a free spot.

Workers have often resisted the loss of their personal desks when companies sought to reduce their real estate footprint, but they may be more amenable to the idea now if the payoff is the ability to skip the commute and work from home.

A year ago, if I had interviewed people, they would have said they definitely need three file cabinets and a bookshelf, said Andrea Vanecko, a principal at the architecture firm NBBJ. Now theres a very different answer.

Conference rooms, too, are getting a reboot. In the past, these rooms were predicated on the idea of people gathering in person. A large screen on a wall might be used for presentations or to let an executive in another location make a cameo appearance.
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Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
One area in County Derry has recorded the second highest rate of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 in Nothern Ireland over the last seven days.

Magherafelt's BT45 postal area had fallen to the bottom of the list the previous week with the lowest rate in the county, but it again has the highest rate in the county at 141.6.

Mid Ulster, in which BT45 and BT46 sit, currently has the highest seven-day rolling rate in Northern Ireland at 122.7.

County Derry's overall rate per 100,000 of population rose again to 69.3 over the last week, above the overall NI figure (53.7) for the second week in a row.

Garvagh's BT51 area recorded the lowest rate at just 11.3, with only three cases identified in the area last week.

While the highest rise in cases (75.5%) came in Magherafelt, the largest reduction (55.6%) was recorded in Coleraine's BT52 area, where just four cases were discovered.

With 17.3% more tests carried out over the last week than the previous seven days, the rate of positivity fell to 3.8%, with Magherafelt seeing the highest positive levels at 6.9%.

Garvagh's 0.8% was the lowest percentage recorded last week.

There have been two Covid-related deaths within the county's local government districts, with one each occurring in Mid Ulster and Causeway Coast and Glens. Derry City and Strabane recorded none.

The number of Covid patients in Altnagelvin Hospital fell from 22 to 19, while there were also reductions in Antrim Area (26 to 25) and Causeway (6 to 4).

A total of 730,471 people have now received at least their first dose of the vaccine, which represents 38.6% of the entire population of Northern Ireland. 125,017 have also received their second dose.

No further coronavirus-related deaths were yesterday recorded by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, which means the total number of deaths remains at 2,111.

An additional 65 people have tested positive for Covid-19, following tests on 2,506 individuals.

There were 129 people in hospital with coronavirus as of midnight, 17 in intensive care and 10 being ventilated.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Northern Ireland is now 117,015.

Meanwhile, a local councillor has welcomed the commencement this week of community vaccination clinics in Maghera.

Mid Ulster District councillor Brian McGuigan wished staff at Harkin's Pharmacy well.

Community pharmacists are an integral part of our society and delivering the Covid-19 vaccination within the heart of our community will be invaluable, he said.

I want to wish all the staff well as they further support the vaccination programme and yet again this is our local Pharmacy teams playing a central role in primary healthcare.
Government expects 2mn foreign tourists to visit Phuket this year

PHUKET: The government expects about 2 million foreign tourists to visit Phuket this year after the island reopens to vaccinated visitors from July 1, reports state news agency NNT.

tourismCOVID-19Chineseeconomics

By National News Bureau of Thailand

Tuesday 30 March 2021, 05:24PM

Photo: NNT

Tourism Council of Thailand Vice President Vichit Prakobgosol said the holidaymakers may generate about B105 billion in revenue in the second half of 2021, said the report.

It will be the first time in more than a year that the island allows visitors without the mandatory two-week quarantine, the report noted.

Mr Vichit said the Chinese, who were the biggest group of tourists to Thailand before the pandemic, are expected to return in July on chartered flights.

Visitors from Europe will likely start arriving during the northern hemisphere winter months, he added.

Its good that the majority of countries with high numbers of vaccinations are the main markets for Thai tourism, Mr Vichit said, adding that the government should finalise agreements and vaccine passports with various countries to allow visitors to return without having to quarantine.
COLUMBUS, OhioIn January and February, the Kemper Company received letters from the state saying that 11 of its employees had filed for unemployment benefits  including two owners of the company.

Like many other businesses around the state, the Kemper Company, a residential-care facility based in Rocky River, found their employees were targeted by scammers who used their stolen personal information to get unemployment benefits from the state.

But when Mary Cavanaugh, the Kemper Companys legal counsel, told the state that two of the claims were bogus, she soon got another surprise: the state replied that the claims were approved and money was being paid out.

Its maddening, Cavanaugh said. Theyre digging the hole deeper by doing this.

Under standard procedure, whenever the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services receives a claim for unemployment benefits, the department contacts the applicants employer to ensure the claim is genuine before issuing any payments.

But as ODJFS has been swamped with unemployment claims  both real and fraudulent  during the year-long coronavirus pandemic, even when some Ohio employers tell the state that a claim is fraudulent, the state sends out benefits anyway. Sometimes, the approval comes before a companys deadline to reply.

A number of readers have reached out to cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer to describe similar scenarios.

One reader, who didnt want his name used, said after his employer discovered in December that an unemployment claim was filed in his name, his HR department replied via fax that the claim was bogus.

When he called ODJFS claims processing call-center, he said, a worker assured him that the claim would be flagged as fraudulent. He then called the states unemployment fraud hotline, but he only got a taped message asking him to phone back later because of high call volume.

Nothing was done, the reader stated in an email. The state eventually flagged the claim, he said, but not until after it paid $1,440 to the thief using his name.

ODJFS spokesman Tom Betti acknowledged in an email that At the height of the pandemic, the agency experienced a backlog so great that some claims did make their way through the application process before employer responses were read.

However, he continued, in the last several months, multiple program changes were put in place to flag claims for fraud and not allow any payments before a claimants identity has been verified.

Information submitted by employers is a priority to the agency and is read, as it is a critical part of an informed benefit determination, Betti stated.

Cavanaugh said Tuesday that after a reporter asked ODJFS about her situation, a department official contacted her and worked out her companys issues. Cavanaugh said that was the first time she was able to talk to someone at ODJFS about the problem, as when she called the states anti-fraud hotline, she waited on hold for 35 minutes before giving up.

They seem to have done more of a marketing blitz, sending employers letters about what they are doing, rather than (making) any substantive changes to address the payment on fraudulent claims, she wrote in an email sent earlier this month.

Read more Ohio politics and government stories:

Councilman Blaine Griffin endorses Nina Turner for Congress

JobsOhio announces plan to invest millions taking ownership stakes in start-up companies

Ohio coronavirus cases up 10% in last week; see trends, update, including the percent vaccinated by county

Ohio Congress members introduce legislation to create a manufacturing czar

4,214 coronavirus vaccine doses in Ohio deemed unusable
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Rome, March 30 : In the last 24 hours, Italy reported a total of 12,916 new Covid-19 cases, which took the overall tally to 3,544,957, as over half of its 20 regions turned into red zones, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health.

In the same period, the country's death toll rose by 417 to 108,350, while the recoveries increased by 19,725 to over 2.87 million, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying.

On March 26, Health Minister Roberto Speranza signed an order designating which regions fall into which colour-coded zone, with the new rules going into effect on Monday through April 6.

In a bid to contain the new wave of the pandemic, the government late last year divided the country into three colour-coded areas -- yellow or low risk, orange or medium risk, and red or high risk -- with varying restrictions according to the level of transmission of the virus.

The new orders moved the regions of Calabria, Tuscany and Valle d'Aosta into the red zone, where they joined Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont, Puglia, Veneto and the Autonomous Province of Trento.

All these regions need to be in the red zone because they "present a weekly incidence of contagion of over 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants", said the order.

Red zones have near-total lockdown rules, with all shops shut down except for those selling essential goods, such as groceries and pharmacies, and a ban on all social activities in public.

The rest of Italy's 20 regions remain in the orange zone, where the restrictive rules include a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew and a ban on travel outside one's municipality; bars and restaurants can operate until 6 p.m., but they can only serve takeaways.

The central Lazio region where Rome is located will become orange from Tuesday.

However, the entire country will be in the red zone over the Easter weekend, from April 3 to 5.

Speranza made the new designations based on the Ministry of Health's weekly monitoring report referred to March 15 to 21, which said that "the incidence (of the virus) at the national level is still very high".

A total of 9,499,293 people in Italy had been inoculated since a nationwide vaccination campaign kicked off in December 2020.

Of them, 2,996,933 had received both shots, according to the Ministry.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

PALERMO, MAR 30 - Former Italian Radicals member Antonello Nicosia on Tuesday got a jail sentence of 16 years and eight months for mafia association and fraud. Nicosia was found guilty of planning extortions and murders with a boss from Sciacca near Agrigento, Accursio Dimino, who as sentenced to 20 years in the same trial. Nicosia was also found guilty of getting into prisons to meet jailed mafiosi thanks to his position as assistant to centrist Italia Viva (IV) MP Giusy Occhionero. Occhionero is charged with making false statements in a separate case. (ANSA).
Satellites are brightening the night skies (Getty)

Man-made objects orbiting the Earth have already brightened the night sky by 10%, far more than previously believed, new research has shown.

The new research means that Earth has already passed a threshold that was set by astronomers 40 years ago, meaning our planet is light polluted.

The researchers warn that the brightening of the sky is getting worse thanks to new satellite technologies such as mega constellations.

It could mean that star-gazers can no longer pick out iconic sights such as the clouds of the Milky Way, the researchers have warned.

Read more: Mysterious rogue planet could be even weirder than we thought

The new research is the first to be based on the overall impact of space objects, rather than the effect of individual satellites.

The study included both functioning satellites, plus assorted debris such as spent rocket stages.

The research was published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters.

Miroslav Kocifaj, of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and Comenius University, said: "Our primary motivation was to estimate the potential contribution to night sky brightness from external sources, such as space objects in Earth's orbit.

We expected the sky brightness increase would be marginal, if any, but our first theoretical estimates have proved extremely surprising and thus encouraged us to report our results promptly."

While telescopes and sensitive cameras often resolve space objects as discrete points of light, low-resolution detectors of light (including the human eye) see only the combined effect of many such objects.

It means that the overall increase in brightness may obscure sights such as the glowing clouds of stars in the Milky Way, even away from the light pollution of cities.

Read more: Astronomers find closest black hole to Earth

Study co-author John Barentine, director of public policy for the International Dark-Sky Association said, Unlike ground-based light pollution, this kind of artificial light in the night sky can be seen across a large part of the Earths surface.

Story continues

Astronomers build observatories far from city lights to seek dark skies, but this form of light pollution has a much larger geographical reach.

Our results imply that many more people than just astronomers stand to lose access to pristine night skies. This paper may really change the nature of that conversation.

In recent years, astronomers have voiced unease about the growing number of objects orbiting the planet, particularly large fleets of communications satellites known informally as mega-constellations.

In the UK, the Royal Astronomical Society has established several working groups to understand the impact of mega-constellations on optical and radio astronomical facilities used by scientists.

Satellite operators like SpaceX have recently worked to lower the brightness of their spacecraft through design changes.

The researchers hope that their work will change the nature of the ongoing dialogue between satellite operators and astronomers concerning how best to manage the orbital space around the Earth.

Watch: Jaw-dropping footage of the Space X launch from Cape Canaveral
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Market Research Future Published a Half Cooked Research Report on Global Waterborne Coating Additives Research Report.

Market Scenario

Waterborne coating additives are added to improve the rheological properties of water-based coatings. They serve various functions such as wetting & dispersion, defoaming, surfactant, deaeration, hydrophobic agent, and rheological improver among other. The stringent regulation by E.P.A and REACH against the use of solvent based coatings, is expected to be the major driver to the growth of waterborne coating additives market during the forecast period.

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Competitive Analysis

Some of the key players of global waterborne coating additives market are Akzo Nobel NV (Netherlands), Allnex group (China), BASF SE (Germany), BELAMI FINE CHEMICALS PVT. LTD.(India), ALTANA (Germany), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Dow Corning Corporation (U.S.), Falcon Technologies Inc. (U.S.), Harmony Additive Pvt. Ltd. (India), and UL LLC (U.S).

Market Segmentation

The Global Waterborne Coating Additives Market is segmented based on product type, end-use industry, and region.

On the basis of the product type, the global waterborne coating additives market is segmented into wetting agent & dispersing agent, defoamers, surface control additives, deaerators, rheology modifier, hydrophobic agents, and others. Wetting & dispersion agents market is estimated to be the largest market due to high requirement for dispersing and wetting of resins and pigments in paints & coating industry and is expected to continue dominance over the forecast period. Other product types are also expected to show significant demand due to varied application in construction, automotive, and, the packaging industry.

On the basis of the end-use industry, the global waterborne coating additives market is segmented into building & construction, automotive, packaging, and others. Building and construction industry is expected to have the major market share of waterborne coating additives due to high consumption of paints & coatings. Automotive industry is also expected to show rising demand over the forecast period due to strong automotive industry particularly in Europe and China of Asia Pacific region.

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Regional Analysis

The global waterborne coating additives market is spanned across five regions namely Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific is expected to have the major market share of waterborne coating additives in terms of market size. North America and Europe markets are relatively mature and expected to show steady demand in the forecast period. Middle East and Africa is expected to show rising demand during the forecast period from growing construction industry of Middle East. Latin America is also expected to join hand with other regions and is expected to show rising demand from construction industry.
We do not win trials and contested hearings often, but we must keep trying, Jackson-Akiwumi wrote. There are numerous examples of the defense bar fighting an issue over and over and losing all of the time, only to have the Supreme Court or Congress finally weigh in and right a wrong that the defense bar has been pushing against for years.
LIVONIA, MICH.  To celebrate Womens History Month, we are recognizing the inspirational Felician Sisters who founded Madonna University back in 1937 with the Franciscan values at the institutions core.

The roots of Madonna Universitys founding began in 1855 in Warsaw, Poland when a young woman named Sophia Truszkowska organized a religious order committed to caring for the poor, homeless, sick, and the elderly. The Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Felix of Cantalice (CSSF), also known as the Felician Sisters, devoted themselves to following the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi in order to better serve their community. In 1874, five Felician Sisters came to America and settled in a Polish community in Wisconsin. They began opening schools for immigrant children. By 1880, the Felician Sisters had expanded their efforts into Michigan, organizing schools in both Bay City and Detroit. The Felician Sisters built their Motherhouse on the east side of Detroit and in 1936 moved to Plymouth Twp,(which is now Livonia.) As the Felician community grew, so did the need for an institution of higher education to prepare Felician Sisters as teachers.

Mother Mary DeSales Tocka and her Felician council in Livonia established the institution under the name Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Junior College. Eighteen Sisters were enrolled for the colleges first year. It became Madonna College in 1947, and the first eleven lay women were admitted as students. In 1972, during Sr. M. Danatha Suchyta's presidency, the college admitted its first male students. Under the leadership of its sixth and longest serving President Sr. M. Franciline Van de Vyver, the college became Madonna University.

What started with 18 students has grown to some 3,000 students and more than 30,000 alumni. As we celebrate the accomplishments of women this month, it is appropriate to reflect on the University's visionary female leaders.

In the spirit of recognizing female achievements, it is fitting that Madonna's sixth President Sister Rose Marie Kujawa, Ph.D., recently was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal from Pope Francis, for her many years of dedicated and selfless ministry to the local and universal Church. The medal was presented by The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron, Archbishop of the Detroit Archdiocese at a special ceremony at St. Colette's Church, in Livonia.

From the time of Madonna Universitys founding until now, the Felician Sisters have worked tirelessly with dedicated educators to educate students for truth and service to spiritually renew the world. Womens History Month gives us a chance to reflect on these trailblazing women who continue to inspire us and initiate positive change in our University and community.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - GoldHaven Resources Corp. (CSE: GOH) (OTCQB: GHVNF) (FSE: 4QS) ("GoldHaven" or the "Company") reports that they have closed a third and final tranche of the $3,000,000 non-brokered private placement announced on March 5, 2021. The Company issued an additional 375,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.50 per Unit for gross proceeds of $187,500.00 pursuant to the terms of the Offering.The Company closed an aggregate $3,021,540.00 and, no Finder's fees were paid in connection with this offering.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering have a four-month and one day hold period in Canada, ending on July 31, 2021.

Net proceeds of the Offering will be used to for drilling on its Maricunga Gold Belt projects and general working capital.

Daniel Schieber, GoldHaven's CEO stated: "This is a testament to the financial and capital strength at GoldHaven. We are well funded to carry out the objective of unlocking the value of our world-class area play (251 square km's) in the Maricunga."

None of the foregoing securities have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) or persons in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the foregoing securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About GoldHaven Resources Corp.

GoldHaven Resources Corp. is a Canadian junior exploration Company active in the Maricunga Gold Belt of northern Chile. The Maricunga Belt measures 150 km north-south and 30 km east-west and is host to numerous discoveries over the past twenty years and has a prolific gold, silver copper metal endowment. The Company has agreements in place to acquire seven high priority exploration targets which were identified by geological studies. To date, GoldHaven has considers four of these seven properties "High Priority" targets and will commence drilling during the first quarter of 2021. The four priority targets include Coya, located approximately 16 km northeast of the La Coipa mine where Kinross announced a mining re-start in 20202; the second is Rio Loa, a project located 25 km south of Gold Field's Salares Norte deposit (5.2 million ounces of Gold equivalent1; the third and fourth projects are Alicia and Roma which are approximately 35 km. south of the Salares Norte deposit. These exploration targets have been designated High Priority due to extensive, pervasive alteration, favourable geology, highly anomalous rock geochemical results, and their relative proximity to existing deposits.

We Seek Safe Harbor.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Daniel Schieber

For further information, please contact:

Daniel Schieber

CEO & Director

www.goldhavenresources.com

Office Direct: (604) 638-5938

Cell Direct: (604) 722-5798

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE- Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, the intended use of the proceeds received from the Offering, the possible acquisition of the Projects, the Company's expectation that it will be successful in enacting its business plans, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. 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 typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that investor interest will be sufficient to close the Offering, and the receipt of any necessary regulatory or corporate approvals in connection with the Offering and the Assignment, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the exploration and development of the Company's projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, the inability to close the Offering, the inability of the Company to enter into definitive agreements in respect of the Letters of Intent which are the subject of the Assignment, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including by the Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management's Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.



**NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES**

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78979
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives of those honored for their outstanding work in China's campaign to fight organized and gang-related crimes in Beijing, on March 29, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, expressed his greetings and congratulations on Monday to people honored for their outstanding work in a campaign against organized crime.

Xi met them at a gathering in Beijing to celebrate the victory of the three-year campaign against organized and gang-related crimes.

The campaign, which was launched by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council in January 2018, aimed to ensure that people can live and work in peace and contentment, and sought to maintain social order and safeguard national stability.

Guo Shengkun, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, said at the gathering that the campaign had won a victory and the fight against such illegal activities should be advanced, and called for greater efforts to implement the Peaceful China initiative.

During the past three years, 3,644 mafia-type organizations were broken up, which was 1.3 times the number of similar organizations busted from 2008 to 2017. In addition, 11,675 other criminal gangs were also busted around the country and 237,000 suspects were arrested.

Yang Weidong, a law professor at the National Academy of Governance, said the special campaign had a significant impact, especially with regard to the country's governance at the grassroots level, as it protected citizens' legal rights and created a good social environment.

"Gangs and mafialike organizations threaten public order and justice and infringe on others' legitimate rights. The campaign has demonstrated the strength of the rule of law," Yang said.

Ji Naili, a professor of anti-graft studies at Zhou Enlai School of Government at Nankai University in Tianjin, said that the campaign had also tackled the dereliction of duty of some officials.

Ji said that people's confidence in the rule of law had been renewed by the campaign after it was undermined by the gangs and the corrupt officials behind them, adding that the Party and the government have also restored their authority amid the campaign.

According to Xinhua News Agency, a survey conducted bythe National Bureau of Statistics showed that 95.1 percent of interviewees in the first half of 2020 were satisfied with the results of the campaign.

Yuan Aiping, a lawyer from Hunan province and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said: "As a citizen, I am pleased to witness the achievements of the campaign and that social order has been ensured. As a lawyer, my observation is that the three-year campaign to eliminate organized crime has been carried out based the principle of the rule of law, highlighting fairness and justice."

Yuan added that the campaign has made China a much safer place and said the crackdown should become a normal practice in order to prevent the reemergence of such criminal gangs.
There's a saying that goes something like "Never pick a fight with someone who will fundraise off your win." Actually, I don't know if that's a saying, but it is a cautionary tale that perfectly describes the problem with Amazon's social media strategy lately. The company's official Twitter account has been picking fights with politicians on Twitter, and there's no way it will end well.

It's not that politicians are particularly sympathetic targets, but they're just better at this kind of fight. And, by this kind of fight, I mean the type where specific facts aren't nearly as important as the overall narrative being told.

Politicians literally do that for a living. That alone makes it a pretty risky tactic in general. Even if you score a win, you're just giving your opponent material for a fundraising email, giving them the fuel to come back for another fight. It's just not worth it.

Let me be clear--I'm not suggesting Amazon is necessarily wrong. That still doesn't mean this is the right approach.

Take, for example, the company's response to the news that Senator Bernie Sanders planned to visit Alabama, where workers are voting whether to unionize a distribution center there. My colleague Bill Murphy Jr. wrote about Dave Clark's response, which was then retweeted by the company's official account.

Or the company's fight with Senator Elizabeth Warren, who said she intended to pass legislation to close loopholes used by companies like Amazon, to be sure they pay more in taxes. Amazon responded that it was Warren who writes those tax laws and the company only follows them.

The feud escalated from there, with Warren suggesting that Amazon should be broken up so it isn't "powerful enough to heckle senators with snotty tweets." Amazon then took exception to the suggestion that Warren wanted to break up the company so that it could no longer criticize her.

It also previously responded to a New York congressman about a tweet referring to reports that Amazon workers are having to use bottles to relieve themselves because of their harsh working conditions. Amazon's official account responded, "You don't really believe the peeing in bottles thing, do you?"

Except, it turns out, it very well might be true, according to reports from various news sources. Whether it's happening or not, Amazon's very public response--with such a condescending tone--puts it in a pretty tough position.

I don't know anyone who thinks that people who work for Amazon should endure working conditions that would require them to pee in a plastic bottle. For that matter, there are very few people who would argue that Amazon "shouldn't" be broken up who don't already work at Amazon.

Mostly, there are people who think that's a good idea, and then there is everyone else--who couldn't really care less. The latter group just wants whatever they order online to show up in front of their door the next day. What they don't want is to feel like they're giving their money to a greedy, ornery corporation that is out of touch with their lives.

To make things worse, Recode reported that the tweets came directly in response to a directive from Jeff Bezos, Amazon's CEO, who felt the company wasn't pushing back hard enough on critics. If you're responding emotionally because you're upset someone is saying mean things about you or your company, you've probably lost sight of the bigger picture, and you've definitely lost the battle.

By picking these fights, Amazon isn't really winning points from anyone. At the same time, it's a bad look for a company that millions of people already trust to deliver everything from books, to toilet paper, to shoes, to the latest gadgets.

Usually, a much better approach is to try and persuade people--to win them over. Sure, in this particular case, there's probably no amount of persuasion that would turn Sanders or Warren into an ally for Amazon. That's why the fight was never going to be worth it in the first place.

It's actually a powerful lesson for every leader--don't pick fights where, even if you don't lose, the other person wins anyway. Especially since you're likely to help their case in the process. If it is a battle worth fighting, instead of condescension and snark, try a little humility and humor.
The Romanian diplomat Lazar Comanescu received the position of Secretary General of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu said, adding that this nomination represents "a success for the Romanian diplomacy", according to AGERPRES.

"I welcome with satisfaction today the position received by Romania, of Secretary General of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, in the person of Ambassador Lazar Comanescu, whom I congratulate! A success for Romanian diplomacy and proof of the continuous commitment of Romania for the Black Sea cooperation," Aurescu wrote on Facebook.

Lazar Comanescu has been a two-term minister of Foreign Affairs, during the period of April - December 2008 and since November, 2015, until January 2017. He was Romania's ambassador to Germany, during the period of 2009-2015 and head of the Romania's Permanent Representation to the EU, from 2001 until 2008.

BSEC was founded in 1992, in the then conditions in the Black Sea area. Thus, on June 25, 1992, in Istanbul, eleven heads of state and government (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine) signed the "Summit declaration regarding Black Sea Economic Cooperation" and the "Bosphorus Declaration".

In June, 1998, in Yalta, the "BSEC Charter" was signed, which came into force on the 1st of May 1999 and became the fundamental document of the Organization. Once with adhesion of the Republic of North Macedonia, in November 2020, the number of BSEC members has gone up to thirteen.

BSEC, through its broad spectrum of activities, as well as through its contents, is a useful framework for dialogue and stimulation of mutual trust among member states, thus preparing the field for a possible viable commitment in much more ambitious projects. In this sense, the annual BSEC summit in Istanbul (May 22, 2017) reconfirmed the shared commitment for promoting a pragmatic, project-oriented cooperation, for the joint benefit.
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The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City's Jennifer Shah and Stuart Smith were arrested on Tuesday on federal fraud charges alleging that they used a business to cheat hundreds of people nationwide over a 10-year period in a telemarketing scheme.

Shah, 47, of Park City, Utah, and Smith, 43, of Lehi, Utah, were arrested while filming in Utah and charged of masterminding a scheme to target mainly elderly people.

The cast were about to leave on a trip to Colorado, Variety reported, and Shah suddenly left, saying there was an emergency with her husband, Sharrieff Shah, a special teams coordinator for the University of Utah's football team.

Shortly afterward, federal law enforcement arrived on set, looking for Shah.

They found her, and she was arrested.

Scroll down for video

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City's Jennifer Shah and Stuart Smith were arrested on Tuesday on federal fraud charges alleging that they used a business to cheat hundreds of people nationwide over a 10-year period in a telemarketing scheme. Shah looks on while being driven from the federal courthouse Tuesday

Shah is seen leaving court on Tuesday after a brief hearing in Salt Lake City

The 47-year-old will be in court, via videolink, on Wednesday before a judge in New York City

Shah leaves court in Salt Lake City on Tuesday after a brief hearing before Judge Dustin B. Pead

Shah, 47, was released after Tuesday's hearing and told not to contact her co-defendant, Stuart Smith

The cameras were rolling, but Variety's source was not sure whether law enforcement had forced them to stop filming.

The charges were unsealed in New York City, and the pair appeared in court in Salt Lake City on Tuesday afternoon, before Chief Magistrate Judge Dustin B. Pead.

They were released after the brief hearing, which was held to confirm their identity.

Judge Pead ordered that the pair do not leave Utah while awaiting their case, avoid contact with co-defendants, and refrain from any telemarketing.

They will appear at a virtual hearing in New York on Wednesday.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss noted in a release that Shah portrays herself as a wealthy and successful businessperson on television, while Smith was cast as her first assistant.

Shah is in the main cast of the Bravo program, which completed its first season in February.

Stuart Smith, 43, walks out of federal court on Tuesday after the intial brief hearing

Jennifer Shah, 47, of Park City, Utah, and Stuart Smith, 43, of Lehi, Utah, were arrested in Utah on charges including conspiracy unsealed in New York City, authorities announced

Shah (center, silver gown) with other cast members on the year-old reality TV show

Shah and Smith are seen in an episode of the reality TV show

The first page of the indictment for Jennifer Shah and Stuart Smith

The prosecutor said they 'allegedly generated and sold 'lead lists' of innocent individuals for other members of their scheme to repeatedly scam.

In actual reality, prosecutors claimed, the so-called business opportunities pushed on the victims by Shah, Smith, and their co-conspirators were just fraudulent schemes, motivated by greed, to steal victims' money.

Authorities said the fraud scheme ripped off hundreds of victims nationwide for a decade from 2012 until March 2021.

The release states that the pair 'engaged in a widespread, coordinated effort to traffic in lists of potential victims, or 'leads,' many of whom had previously made an initial investment to create an online business' with other people listed as part of the scheme.

The leads were initially generated by sales floors operating in Arizona, Nevada, Utah and other places.

Owners and those operating the sales floor worked 'in coordination with several telemarketing sales floors in the New York and New Jersey area, including in Manhattan,' according to the release.

These owners also provided lead lists and assistance in fighting refund requests when needed on the sales floors.

Pictured: (l-r) Meredith Marks, Whitney Rose, Heather Gay, Andy Cohen, Jen Shah, Mary Cosby, Lisa Barlow

In September, Shah tweeted a post about how fellow franchise star Teresa Giudice 'walked' so she could 'run,' showing herself in a hostile scene from the show. Giudice plead guilty to fraud in 2014

The release further states that the pair 'generated and sold leads' for others in the scheme and knew that their victims were being defrauded.

The duo 'received as profit a share of the fraudulent revenue per the terms of their agreement' with those also involved in the scheme, according to the release.

Shah and Smith underwent 'significant efforts' to conceal their roles in the scheme, including incorporating their business entities using third parties' names and instructed others to do the same.

They also 'used and directed others to use encrypted messaging applications to communicate' with others in the scheme, told their subordinates to send them 'shares of certain fraud proceeds to offshore bank accounts,' and made 'numerous cash withdrawals structured to avoid currency transaction reporting requirements,' according to the release.

Prosecutors said Shah (right) and Smith 'allegedly generated and sold 'lead lists' of innocent individuals for other members of their scheme to repeatedly scam

Prosecutors in New York noted that Shah portrayed herself as a successful businesswoman

'Shah and Smith flaunted their lavish lifestyle to the public as a symbol of their 'success,'' HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said in the release.

'In reality, they allegedly built their opulent lifestyle at the expense of vulnerable, often elderly, working-class people.

'As alleged, disturbingly, Shah and Smith objectified their very real human victims as 'leads' to be bought and sold, offering their personal information for sale to other members of their fraud ring.'

If Shah is convicted of the charges, according to the Southern District press release, she faces up to 30 years in prison.
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SALEM, Ore.  Police arrested four people during a demonstration and counter-protest at the state Capitol in Salem on Sunday, according to Oregon State Police.

The original event, billed as "the Freedom Rally" was promoted on social media as early as February, according to OSP. A second event appeared soon after, called "Fascist Free 503."

"Social media posts connected to the group indicated their intention to prevent the Freedom Rally caravan from meeting at the state capitol," OSP said.

Statements from Salem Police throughout the day indicated that officers struggled to keep the groups apart, noting 150-200 "heavily armed" people in the area. The agency said it had received reports that vehicles participating in the Freedom Rally were hit with paint-filled balloons or targeted with lasers.

During the events, police reported arresting four people:

Andrew Alan Foy, age 34: Disorderly conduct in the second degree and criminal trespass in the second degree

Nathan McFarland, age 33: Disorderly conduct in the second degree

Anthony Villaneda, age 18: Unlawful pointing of a laser, five counts

William Lloyd Isham, age 34: Interfering with Police Officer

OSP also said that it would like to "clarify misinformation" about a man who was detained after drawing a gun. According to the agency, the man's vehicle was damaged by counter-protesters. When he stopped to look over the damage, "he was assaulted with pepper spray," OSP said.

"After being assaulted with pepper spray, the person pulled a handgun from his waistband to defend himself. He did not point the weapon at anyone and dropped it when ordered to do so by Law Enforcement," the agency continued. "This person has a valid concealed handgun license. This person was detained, interviewed and then released."

Anyone with information related to these incidents or any other criminal acts which took place at the Capitol on March 28 is asked to contact the Salem Police Department tips line at 503-588-8477.
California's county risk level map 3-30-2021 View Photo

Sonora, CA  Tuolumne County dropped from the red substantial tier to orange moderate on the states Blueprint for a Safer Economy allowing for fewer COVID-19 business restrictions.

In all, thirteen counties were able to move to a less restrictive tier. Tuolumne was one of eight counties that included Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Los Angeles, Modoc, Orange, and Santa Cruz that moved to orange. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released the most recent statistics on coronavirus at noon today, including updated data and tiers for reducing COVID-19 in the state under the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Another bright spot is that no counties climbed up the tiers to a more restrictive level.

Tuolumne County has 3.3 new COVID-19 cases per day per 100,00 with a 1.6% positivity rate, as predicted by Interim Tuolumne County Health Officer, Dr. Eric Sergienko told Clarke Broadcasting on Friday and reported here. That meets the states threshold for the orange tier, which will allow for businesses to open indoors with modifications. That includes breweries at 25% capacity, restaurants, churches, and movie theaters at 50% capacity. Click here for a breakdown of restrictions in this tier. State officials note that local public health departments can implement policies that are more restrictive than the state.

This is the second move on the states tier for Tuolumne County in March. On Sunday the 14th, the county moved from purple widespread or the most restrictive tier to red, as reported here. Calaveras County remains in the red tier with 35 other counties. It has 6.5 new COVID-19 cases per day per 100,000 and a 3% positivity rate.

Currently, in the state, there are three counties in the purple tier, 35 in red, 17 in the orange, and two, Alpine and Sierra, in the yellow or minimal. The statewide COVID-19 data as of Today can be viewed in the below chart:
The immediate-past Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade (rtd.), yesterday said the security outfit foiled 1,291 attacks on three crude export pipelines in the past two years.

Akinrinade stated that a total of 1,603 sabotage incidents were reported on the export trunk lines under the watch of the JTF.

He spoke when he handed over affairs to his successor in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

The pipelines - Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), Trans Ramos Pipeline (TRP) and Trans Escravos Pipelines (TEP) are operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

The former commander said the joint task force achieved the feat through kinetic and non-kinetic operations, which created a conducive environment for the oil and gas industry to operate.

He stated: "From January 2019 to date, the JF averted 1,291 out of 1,603 of the attempted infractions on SPDC's major export lines that is Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), Trans Ramos Pipeline (TRP) and Trans Escravos Pipelines (TEP).

"The number of aversions accounts for 85 per cent of the total attempts.

"These efforts have ensured that major export pipelines, marginal and infield lines are 97 per cent available and functional which facilitate the evacuation of crude oil and gas to designated export terminals.

"The force demobilised about 2,859 illegally refinery sites, over 4,812 storage facilities, 905 Cotonou boats and other illegal bunkering ancillaries.

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"Also, more than 681 suspected oil thieves, 38 vessels, 44 barges, 38 trucks and other vehicles were also arrested/impounded. Additionally, about 51,078.32 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil and 57,114.146MT of illegally refined products were handled appropriately."

He added that the JTF demobilised 297 militant camps and recovered about 121 assorted weapons and amicably resolved about 158 Corporate Social Responsibility-related disputes involving oil firms notably SEEPCO, SPDC, AITEO, Neconde and NAOC with their host communities.

The new Commander, Rear Admiral Aminu Hassan, thanked Akinrinade for leaving for him a good legacy.

He said: "The highlighted achievements of the joint force under your watch are quite overwhelming. This can only be attributed to the laudable leadership, professionalism and experience you brought to bear as a commander.

"It looks intricate for us to surpass these achievements, but we will do our best to maintain the standard you already
(CNN) -- Worsening inequality, trillions of dollars in economic damage and depressed economic growth. Those are the outcomes that economists fear we will face unless the world aggressively confronts the climate crisis.

Nearly three-quarters (74%) of economists agree "immediate and drastic" action is warranted to curb emissions, according to a survey released Tuesday from the Institute for Policy Integrity at the NYU School of Law.

That's up sharply from 50% in 2015. Since that time, the United States has been hit by an onslaught of extreme and deadly weather events including Hurricane Maria, massive wildfires in California and this year's deep freeze in Texas.

With those floods, wildfires and hurricanes occurring more frequently, the financial toll from the climate crisis is expected to rise dramatically: Economic damage from climate change is projected to reach $1.7 trillion per year by 2025 and surge to roughly $30 trillion annually by 2075 under most scenarios, according to consensus forecasts included in the survey.

That's why economists broadly agree with what scientists have been saying for years: The costs of doing nothing are far higher than the price of breaking the world's addiction to fossil fuels. About two-thirds of the NYU survey respondents said the benefits of reaching net-zero emissions by mid-century are likely to outweigh the costs.

"People who spend their careers studying our economy are in widespread agreement that climate change will be expensive, potentially devastatingly so," Peter Howard, economics director at the Institute for Policy Integrity, said in a statement.

The institute said the survey is likely the largest of its kind. The authors reached out to 2,169 economists who have published articles related to climate change in a highly-rated economic journal. Among the 738 who responded, nearly 80% reported an increase in concern about climate change.

Biden makes his climate pitch

The report comes as President Joe Biden prepares to pitch a sweeping infrastructure and jobs package Wednesday that includes major investments in climate infrastructure, research and development. The Biden proposals will total between $3 trillion and $4 trillion, senior administration officials previously told CNN.

The White House is hoping to convince the public and lawmakers that bold action on the climate crisis will pay off in the long run  and create good-paying jobs that can help the fossil fuel workers whose careers are threatened by the shift to clean energy.

Seventy-six percent of economists in the NYU survey expect climate change to hurt not just economic output, but the growth rate of the global economy.

At the same time, 70% of respondents say climate change will increase inequality within most countries, expanding the already-alarming gap between the richest and poorest populations.

Investors are betting on clean energy

As Washington deliberates next steps, Corporate America and Wall Street are stepping up efforts to address the climate crisis.

In a bid to reduce drivers' environmental footprint, Google Maps announced Tuesday that its driving directions will soon default to the most fuel-efficient route.

Volkswagen is so serious about its big bet on electric vehicles that the auto maker's US arm is changing its name to "Voltswagen."

That move makes sense given the staggering sums of money investors are pouring into clean energy solutions, with the skyrocketing share price of Tesla making Elon Musk the world's second-richest person.

The fossil fuels industry, by contrast, is in disarray. Coal companies are grappling with falling sales, mass layoffs and bankruptcies. The S&P 500's energy sector, dominated by oil-and-gas companies, lost more than a third of its value last year, continuing more than a decade of weak performance. The energy industry has rebounded somewhat this year, boosted by higher oil prices.

Meanwhile BlackRock and Vanguard, the world's two largest asset managers, announced Monday that they are joining an effort to limit greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The Net Zero Asset Managers initiative is now backed by funds with $32 trillion in total assets.

"Helping investors prepare their portfolios and capture investment opportunities on the path to net zero is one of our greatest responsibilities," BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said in a statement.

In recent months, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and other major banks have also announced net zero goals, including from the companies and projects they finance.

"It doesn't take a scientist to notice our clients are affected by changes in climate," Jon Weiss, CEO of corporate and investment banking at Wells Fargo, told CNN Business earlier this month.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "'Immediate and drastic.' The climate crisis is seriously spooking economists"
The container ship that blocked the Suez Canal has been freed and is now on the move.

Reports said the Even Given was under way and heading for the Great Bitter Lake further along the canal, about 45km away. Boskalis, the salvage company involved in the rescue, said the ship would undergo a full inspection there.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday hailed the "success" of an operation to unwedge the giant Ever Given container ship, stuck in the Suez Canal for nearly a week.

"Today, Egyptians have been successful in putting to an end the crisis of the stranded ship in the Suez Canal, despite the enormous complexity surrounding the process," Sisi said on Twitter.

The Suez Canal Authority announced in a statement that ship, which has blocked the Suez Canal for six days now, has been successfully refloated and is "no longer grounded".

The head of the salvage firm called in to free the ship said there was "unprecedented" time pressure.

Peter Berdowski, chief executive of Boskalis, said in a statement: "Shortly following the grounding of the Ever Given we were requested through SMIT Salvage to provide assistance with the salvage operation.

"I am excited to announce that our team of experts, working in close collaboration with the Suez Canal Authority, successfully refloated the Ever Given on 29 March at 3.05 p.m. local time, thereby making free passage through the Suez Canal possible again."

Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), had announced that the Panamanian container ship has been successfully refloated. This was the result of successful push and tow manoeuvres which led to the restoration of 80 per cent of the vessel's direction; with the stern 102 metres away from the bank of the Canal now instead of 4 metres prior to the refloating.

"His Excellency, Admiral Rabie, would like to reassure the international navigation society as navigation shall be resumed immediately upon the complete restoration of the vessel's direction and directing it to the Bitter Lakes waiting area for technical inspection," the SCA statement said.
Indian actor Rashmika Mandanna is one of the most talked-about actors in the South Indian Film Industry. The Kannada actor, who has also worked in Telugu films, recently sparked rumours about her engagement through an Instagram story. The actor wished her 13.9 million Instagram followers a 'Happy Holi' through her story in which she was seen wearing a new ring on her hand. Soon after the story, Rashmika Mandanna's Instagram was filled with comments and messages as her fans asked if she was engaged.

The confusion created through Rashmika Mandanna's photo

The Dear Comrade actor, whose personal and professional lives are always in talk, fueled rumours with her Instagram story as it went viral. Fans, who are always drooling over Rashmika Mandanna's photos, this time were left in confusion. The story created confusion among her fans as she wore a new ring on her finger.

The actor later clarified and added a boomerang video with 'I Got You' written on it. Apparently, Rashmika was herself not sure who had sent her the ring. Through her Instagram story, she conveyed to the sender of the ring that she has received it. She further said she had also read the secret message that came with the ring and assured the sender that it fitted her perfectly. While addressing the gift, Rashmika said that she loved it.

A fan club from Sweden answered Rashmika's query. The fan club tweeted that the team who had sent her the ring did not convey the message. The tweet further said the gift was from a group of fans from the 'Rosh family' for her 25th birthday, due on April 5, 2021. The page also tweeted saying that the ring is from her love but not her boyfriend.

Oooo No... Its surprised to see, you are not conveyed by team who sent you that...



Anyways thats a gift from group of fans from Rosh Family group on your 25th birthday...



Glad to know you liked & fits perfectly  @iamRashmika #RashmikaStories #RashmikaMandanna pic.twitter.com/xkmHhXgI5S  Rashmika Sweden FC  (@LoveRashmika) March 29, 2021

LoL... Couldnt control laughing... 



Miscommunication at peaks : its gift from her love but definitely not BF...



Its from Roshians - her lovely fans on her 25th birthday...



Small correction @GulteOfficial 



 @iamRashmika #RashmikaMandanna https://t.co/KwMFPbZCxw  Rashmika Sweden FC  (@LoveRashmika) March 29, 2021

The Geetha Govindam actor replied to the fan club's tweet through her Instagram. She wrote that she has the best love and support from her fans in the world. She further said that this was an early birthday gift and she would always wear it.

Rumours about Rashmika Mandanna's boyfriend

Rashmika Mandanna is often linked with her co-stars by her huge fan-base. While fans are always willing to know about Rashmika Mandanna's boyfriend, the actress hasn't confirmed anything on the matter. However, as per some media reports, after she called off her engagement with Rakshit Shetty, she was rumoured to be dating Vijay Deverakonda.

Promo Image Source: Rashmika Mandanna's Instagram

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
The proposed COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act is a simple piece of legislation. Less than 400 words, it should be passed by Congress because it will ultimately help deter violence against Asian Americans and other victims of pandemic-related discrimination.

The act provides for the designation of a person at the U.S. Department of Justice whose sole responsibility shall be to facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes and issue related reports to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Every 30 days, the designated person will be required to submit to Congress a report on the status of the cases reviewed, including information about resources provided to complainants; actions taken to investigate incidents; data on the race, ethnicity and socioeconomic background of victims; and the locations of occurrences.

This information will place legislators and law enforcement officers in a better position to understand and fight the acts of violence that so often accompany hateful speech.

Under the act, a COVID-19 hate crime is a crime of violence motivated by the actual or perceived relationship of a persons race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability to the spread of the coronavirus.

The language of the act will protect not only Asian Americans, many of whom have been terrorized by threats and violence during the pandemic, but also the potential victims of other types of discriminatory violence related to COVID-19.

Contrary to claims by some critics, nothing in the proposed act criminalizes hateful speech. Rather, the perpetrators deeds are criminal actions, which, because of the hateful animus, may warrant greater punishment. The underlying crimes  such as assault, murder, vandalism and arson  are already on the books. The free speech provisions of the First Amendment give no one the right to physically injure another in order to express discriminatory hate.

There has been a surge of hate crimes nationwide against Asian Americans. These crimes have resulted in personal injuries and damage to property, such as business establishments. The recent killing of six Asian American women at spas in Georgia may have been a hate crime within the meaning of the proposed act.

Forty-six states already have hate crimes laws on the books, and so does the federal government. However, the protections enacted by the states are inconsistent. And the federal government needs to make protection of Asian Americans a higher priority.

Passing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act recognizes the urgency of addressing discrimination against Asian American victims related to the ongoing pandemic. This is particularly true because prominent politicians have fanned the flames of discrimination by making statements implying that all Asian Americans bear responsibility for a catastrophic health crisis they could not have prevented.

Scapegoating an entire minority group with responsibility for the existence of a virus is wrong.

President Joe Biden was right to call on Congress to swiftly pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act because, as he explained, every person in our nation deserves to live their lives with safety, dignity and respect. It is a question of values.

Vincent R. Johnson is the South Texas distinguished professor of law at St. Marys University School of Law.


CLEVELAND, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight-years-old and living life to the fullest, one National Heritage Academies (NHA) student celebrated National Reading Month by sharing her newly published book with classmates in an honorary book reading.

Jade Owens, published author and second-grade student at Apex Academy, shared her passion for reading and writing with her classmates in a socially distanced assembly where she read her book "Jade Heard It All."

Jade's book shares her story about being hearing impaired and living with hearing loss. The book explains her experience of living with hearing aids and that "friends can look different, like different things, and also have different needs."

Jade's mother, Debrielle Lazada, shared that her daughter began writing her book by telling a make-believe story that transitioned, over time, into telling her story. "Jade has always liked writing," she shared. "She always walks around with a pen and paper."

Lazada explained that other children didn't understand Jade's hearing aids and some kids physically touched her ears trying to figure them out. Writing her book and describing to other kids how they help her has minimized these challenging experiences.

"It's quite an accomplishment for Jade to be a published author at this point in her life," said Megan Sutula, dean of lower elementary at Apex. "We are proud of her and are pleased to share in this opportunity alongside her."

The assembly honored the young author at the close of National Reading Month, which takes place annually every March, aiming to motivate Americans to read every day.

"National Reading Month is a time to celebrate the beliefs that we hold year-round like instilling a love of reading every day," said Rachel Bodenmiller, director of English language arts curriculum at NHA. "We get to outwardly celebrate the love of reading and acknowledge the habit."

The book reading added to the interactive events Apex offered its students throughout Reading Month, including virtual read-alouds and numerous in-person activities. "We've had to think outside of the box to ensure our virtual students get the same experience as students learning inside the building," said Sutula.

Teachers urged students to participate by offering classroom reading tasks and challenging students to read in unique places throughout their homes such as in the bathtub or under the covers. Virtual students were encouraged to use a buddy system, pairing kids to read together via Google Meet.

The book reading took place in the school's gymnasium where Owens read to first and second-grade students, who received a paperback copy of the book to read and follow along. Jade's paperback book is available for purchase at jadehearditall.com or on Amazon.

About Apex Academy:

Apex Academy, managed by National Heritage Academies, is a free public charter school serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade in the East Cleveland area. For more information, visit apexacademy.org.

SOURCE National Heritage Academies

Related Links

https://www.nhaschools.com/en


Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.


Display and Color Technologies Engineer Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino) , California , United States Software and Services Summary

Posted: Mar 29, 2021 Weekly Hours: 40 Role Number: 200234097 The Display and Color Technologies organization in Apple's Interactive Media Group is at the core of designing and implementing architectures for rendering visual media, including support for high dynamic range video, wide color gamut imagery and display configurations that optimize viewer perception. Examples of technologies include Extended dynamic range, HDR formats such as HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG, HDR and SDR compositions, display features such as Presets, Auto Brightness and True Tone, etc. Essentially, our organization is responsible for building rendering solutions on every Apple product with a display. We are looking for candidates with strong engineering and mathematical intuition who are excited to tackle new problems, and have the diligence to work through the process of shipping features from technology conception to fine-tuning production software. While review the key qualifications for the role, please keep in mind expertise not required in all areas, but a level of comfort expected with most. Key Qualifications Strong software development skills in C, C++ or equivalent languages

Software debugging and optimization techniques

Comfort with floating point arithmetic, linear algebra and statistics

Interest in visual media technologies & standards relating to high dynamic range and wide color

Familiarity with image and color processing concepts

Familiarity with display technologies Description As an engineer in the Display and Color Technologies organization, you will be responsible for designing color rendering and display adaptation solutions. Your responsibilities will include architecting and developing framework software for rendering visual media, working with GPU, Media, UI and Display hardware teams. Furthermore, your responsibilities will include new technology & hardware bringup. In that capacity, you will work on performance analysis and software optimization problems. Education & Experience BS/MS/PhD degree in Computer Science OR equivalent degree OR equivalent experience Additional Requirements - Excellent critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills

- Ability to stay focused and prioritize a full workload while achieving extraordinary quality

- Strong team player who enjoys collaboration

- Positive attitude and adaptable to changing priorities






Exploring China's biodiversity hotspot

Xinhua) 09:11, March 30, 2021

-- The "Skywalker" gibbon is a new species found in the Gaoligong Mountains of China's Yunnan Province in 2017.

-- The Gaoligong Mountains are home to about 17 percent of higher plants, about 30 percent of mammals and 35 percent of birds in China.

-- Kunming, capital city of Yunnan, will hold the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) scheduled in October.

KUNMING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Don't be confused if you are told that the "Skywalker" has been spotted amidst the forests of southwest China. The only difference -- instead of the Jedi in the "Star Wars" series, it refers to a gibbon species named by Chinese scientists.

The species, with white eyebrows, was found in the Gaoligong Mountains in 2017. The mountain range links three biodiversity hotspots including the Himalayas and vast mountains in southern Asia.

The total 34 biodiversity hotspots globally are areas that are both rich in life and at high risk of destruction, while in terms of the number of species, the Gaoligong Mountains are home to about 17 percent of higher plants, about 30 percent of mammals and 35 percent of birds in China.

The eco-region sits in Yunnan Province, with its capital Kunming chosen to be the host city of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) scheduled in October.

Undated combo photo shows a "Skywalker gibbon" (L), a red-webbed tree frog (R, top) and a kind of wild tree lizard (R, bottom) in Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Gaoligong mountain national nature reserve/Handout via Xinhua)

A HOTSPOT OF BIODIVERSITY

The Skywalker gibbon, or the Gaoligong Mountains hoolock gibbon, is morphologically and genetically distinct from other species, according to a research paper published in the American Journal of Primatology.

Their beards are completely black or brown instead of white, and white hair is absent in the suborbital area. They are far rarer than the giant pandas in terms of the population -- less than 150 in China, according to Fan Pengfei, one of the authors and a professor in life sciences at Sun Yat-sen University.

Fan said the English name "Skywalker" was inspired by Luke Skywalker from the "Star Wars." The name bears hopes of scientists that the species can survive tenaciously in the wild, as the corresponding Chinese name "Tian-xing" comes from a Chinese classic "I Ching," or "Book of Changes," he noted.

A family of three Skywalker gibbons resides near Nankang Village in the city of Baoshan.

Pointing to the gibbons foraging on the distant treetops, Yang Youshan, a forest ranger, read out their names so easily as if they were his friends.

It is not an easy task to track and monitor the gibbons as they are highly vigilant, wandering in the tree crown and jumping fast.

Yang has been following the traces of the gibbon family for 12 years, and the three have already got accustomed to the presence of Yang and his coworkers.

Patrols and scientific research monitoring works are of great significance in managing a nature reserve. Meanwhile, authorities have set up 29 vegetation sample plots, 22 plant sample plots and six wildlife monitoring spots, and installed more than 600 infrared cameras.

"We have to protect our green home like protecting our eyes," said He Guipin, who has spent 26 years exploring the forest.

He leads a patrol team of 20 people, managing and protecting over 53,300 hectares of forests in Gaoligong. They are responsible for protecting forest resources, preventing forest fires and cracking down on illegal logging and poaching.

He Guipin and six of his team members patrol in the Gaoligong Mountains, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on March 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

In 2011, He and his colleagues took a photo of a black monkey. It was later confirmed as a new species of the golden monkey after DNA identification of extracted feces and hair.

The Chinese primate expert group named it "Nujiang River golden monkey." He deems his participation in the discovery and protection of the species the most fulfilling thing ever.

"This is the fifth golden monkey species in the world, and now it has become a star animal in Gaoligong while being under top-class protection," said He, noting that the population of such monkeys has risen from about 100 to 250, with their range of activities expanding.

Statistics show that since 1980, more than 620 new species of animals and plants have been discovered in Gaoligong, outnumbering any other eco-region in China.

Incomplete statistics also indicated that there are 5,728 species of higher plants, 205 species of mammals, 525 species of birds and 1,720 species of insects in Gaoligong, including more than 100 species of wild plants and animals under national-level protection.

A rescued Nujiang River golden monkey rests in a residence imitating wild environment at a protention center in the Gaoligong Mountains, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on March 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

HARMONY BETWEEN HUMAN AND NATURE

Hou Tiguo, 52, lives in Baoshan's Baihualing, a village sitting at the eastern foot of the Gaoligong Mountains.

More than 520 bird species have been recorded in the village, accounting for over 30 percent of the total across the country, thus it is dubbed a top bird-watching destination.

But, bird watching didn't always thrive in the region, as the idea of this activity barely crossed the minds of locals earlier.

"When I was a child, I had no meat to eat. So I went up the mountain to shoot birds with a slingshot," Hou said.

But, 1989 was a turning point in his life. A traveler couple stopped by Hou's house and asked him where can they watch birds. He became their tour guide and took them around the area, receiving some tips in return. This serendipitous encounter inspired him to take up tour guiding as a profession.

As Hou's village gained more fame and received more tourists, Hou started to work as a "bird guide."

He discerned that wherever there was water, birds would come to bathe and quench their thirst. So, he built a "bird pond" by emulating the ecological system in a bid to provide more convenience for tourists to take photographs.

The eco-tourism mode is in the ascendant in recent years. Hou has rendered his services as a guide to tourists from over 100 countries and regions. Once he received so many guests in a single day that they were enough to occupy a plane cabin, he recalled with a sense of pride.

Photo taken on Dec. 4, 2020 shows Hou Tiguo (2nd R) at his "bird pond" with tourists in Baihualing, a village sitting at the eastern foot of the Gaoligong Mountains, Baoshan City, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Hou's successful endeavors in tourism have set an example for his fellow villagers, and they have followed suit. Over 20 homestays have been built for tourists, and more than 60 people are providing tour guide services.

The featured bird watching tour has also boosted catering, homestay, backpacking and transportation services, generating over 10 million yuan (about 1.5 million U.S. dollars) every year for the village.

The first environment conservation organization of farmers in China was founded in the village in 1995. As of today, the number of its members has exceeded 150.

With thriving eco-tourism that has induced benefits for the village and more awareness of environmental protection, the bad practice of shooting birds has dissipated to oblivion.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
The Al Mazunah Free Zone in Oman is currently working on several projects, which include the construction of the facility building.

Expected to be completed by mid-2022, the facility building project is valued at more than RO3 million and will comprise office space, exhibition space and commercial stores, officials informed Dr Saud bin Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, and Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, head of Oman Investment Authority, who recently visited Al Mazunah Free Zone to get acquainted with the ongoing and future projects in the free zone.

The delegation was received by Said bin Abdullah Al Balushi, Director General of Al Mazunah Free Zone, who elaborated on the incentives that are offered to the investors which include customs exemptions, 100 per cent foreign ownership, no minimum capital requirements, and Omanisation rate stands at 10 per cent. More incentives include easy access of individuals and investors to the free zone without entry visas being required for Yemenis, facilitation of employing Yemeni workforce without work visa being required.

Al Balushi emphasised on the strategic location of the free zone on the border of the Sultanate and Yemen, making it a gateway for transit trade to Yemen and East

Africa.

The visiting delegation also included Shaikh Muhanna bin Saif Al Lamki, Deputy Governor of Dhofar, Dr Ahmed bin Nasser Al Bakri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources for Agriculture, His Excellency Shaikh Bakhit bin Salim Al Mashani, Wali of Al Mazyunah, in addition to a number of officials.

During the field visit, the delegates were familiarised with the key projects in the free zone, and the tasks carried out by the customs area in the free zone through the handling operations that are operated by Al Madina Logistics Services Company. -- Tradearabia News Service
MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Just over a year after the start of the COVID pandemic, Ashley HomeStore has partnered with OneWorld Health to open a new medical clinic in the Nicaraguan community of Huembes where every month more than 1,000 families will receive affordable healthcare in the heart and crossroads of the capital city of Managua.

"We're so proud to open our first clinic in Huembes to help provide healthcare to children and families there," said Chad Spencer, CEO of the Ashley HomeStore licensee Dufresne Spencer Group (DSG). "We're on mission to love and help take care of every single person that walks through the doors of that facility."

Ashley HomeStore and OneWorld Health connected over shared values and beliefs as well as the dream to carry out both their missions together. Ashley HomeStore is the first corporate partner to help OneWorld Health open a medical facility. Over the course of the three-year partnership, they have helped provide affordable healthcare to those in underserved and developing countries.

"We are incredibly grateful that Ashley HomeStore is committed to using their platform for good," shared Michael O'Neal, Executive Director for OneWorld Health. "While it may be hard to find the connection between furniture and healthcare, it's easy to see we're both driven by shared values and on mission to care for people."

Together Ashley HomeStore and OneWorld Health have raised over $750,000 to provide affordable healthcare in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Uganda.

"Many hours went into the building, training, equipping and opening of this amazing facility, during a pandemic no less," added O'Neal.

The OneWorld Health Huembes medical clinic is the organization's eighth healthcare facility in Nicaragua. The clinic will provide a full scope of medical services and are designed to be affordable and accessible to everyone there.

For more information, check out AshleyHomeStore.com or OneWorldHealth.com.

SOURCE Ashley HomeStore

Related Links

http://AshleyHomeStore.com


A home usually filled with furry felines is ready for a new owner to curl up and call the place home.

Known as the Crescent City Cat Club, the home on Marigny Street in New Orleans is on the market for $550,000.

It's unique because it's used as a residence and a rescue, explains the listing agent, Samara Poche. The property was previously used just as a residence, and the current owner decided to create a nonprofit, helping adopt cats to people who want them.

There are two structures on the property. The main house was built in 1871 and is a converted shotgun-double. It was converted to its current use in 2017.

Most of the rooms are now totally devoted to feline friends and festooned with bright colors, fun art, and places for cats to play and be comfortable.

She's got a full-blown kitten room, which is really sweet. And she does have a separate apartment in the back where she lives, Poche says. She's got a full staff of volunteers that come to help her there, and people can join in and visit.

Exterior of home in New Orleans Craig Fremin

Interior Craig Fremin

Interior Craig Fremin

Interior Craig Fremin

Divided down the center, the main house has two kitchen areas and two bathrooms at the rear. The front of the home is where you'll find at least five rooms on both sides devoted to cats. The rear of the house is devoted to human living spacebut cats are still welcome, of course.

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Watch: Own a Chunk of Maui: Windsurfing Champ Robby Naish's $18M Estate

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Its got a funky vibe, and it's still kind of sweet, Poche says. If you like animals at all, you can see that the owner's heart has been planted right hereand she really does love cats. It is obvious when you walk in there, because it is cats everywhere, and the cats are obviously happy there. It just gives out this happy vibe.

Rear apartment Craig Fremin

Bedroom Craig Fremin

Efficiency apartment Craig Fremin

There's also a separate building with an efficiency apartment in the back. It has a separate entrance and is licensed as a vacation rental.

The total square footage for both structures is 1,995 square feet, with a total of four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

"Catio" Craig Fremin

Outside is what the owner calls the "catio," where clients can hang out in a colorful space with kitties.

The cat club opened in 2017, and is the first in the city where people pay a fee to hang out and play with several cats. The cats are also available for adoption.

The owner is moving to California and is looking for someone to continue her mission.

[The perfect buyer is] somebody that loves cats, Poche says. We're already talking to some people who are cat lovers who are thinking about coming in and recreating the cat cafe.

The house is in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, not far from the French Quarter.

It's very convenient to get anywhere you want to from there, Poche explains. You can walk to a big grocery store, a coffee shop, some art galleries, restaurantseverything right within walking distance.

Poche says she has high expectations for this property.

I hope we can find somebody who's a cat-loving person to take over this house and continue cat rescue in New Orleans, she says. You just have to step outside and see that there are feral cats everywhere, and it's the humane thing to do.

Interior Craig Fremin

Kitchen Craig Fremin

Interior Craig Fremin

Exterior Craig Fremin

The post Must Love Cats! New Orleans' Crescent City Cat Club Is Worth Meowing About appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Days after his release from Police custody in Monrovia, the secretary general for the opposition Unity Party Mohammed Ali says he stands by his post that drew attention of the Liberia National Police which invited him for questioning.

Speaking Monday on Okay Morning Rush hosted by Okay FM 99.5, Mr Ali said when people make statement, they should be responsible for their utterance and this is why he takes responsibility for his post.

He claimed that his Facebook post dated March 1, 2021 against the failure of the National Elections Commission (NEC) to certificate Lofa County Senator-Elect, Brownie J. Samukai, was meant to be carried out through legal means.

Senator-elect Samukai, a member of the opposition UP and former minister of defense, won the senatorial seat for Lofa County during the December 8, 2020 midterm senatorial election, he was convicted by the court for misapplication of over US$1 million of soldiers' welfare funds.

He has agreed to refund the amount as requested by the court but still faces legal challenges at the Supreme Court, which is impeding his formal certification by the National Elections Commission.

Ail was arrested by the Liberia National Police last Thursday and subsequently released Friday morning on orders of the Minister of Justice Cllr. Frank Musa Dean.

He vowed not to tone-down on issues affecting the Liberian people, adding he 'has no regrets' for previous comments posted on his social media which prompted Police call-in and his subsequent incarceration on multiple charges.

. The opposition politician clarifies that grievances on electoral matters in the country will be addressed through legal means instead of engaging in violence.

Mr. Mo Ali was charge with terrorism, criminal attempt to commit murder, arson and terrorist threat.

Meanwhile, Police spokesperson Moses Carter confirms here that Mr. Ali was released to his lawyer last Friday and he is a free man, no longer wanted by the Police.
BRIGHT new start-ups based at the Enterprise Accelleration Centre in the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) have won prestigious awards.

An EdTech psychology company to support parents and teachers, a software to save time and cost when building a website and a farm safety wearable device, were the big winners at the LIT New Frontiers Awards 2021.

A total of 14 new business leaders from the New Frontiers programme showcased their start-up companies at a virtual ceremony hosted by LIT today.

Funded by Enterprise Ireland, the LIT New Frontiers programme comes with it a support package worth 30,000.

It is delivered by LIT at the Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre for early-stage high potential start-ups.

The programmes primary purpose is to accelerate the development of sustainable new businesses that have strong employment, growth, international potential and contribute to job creation and economic activity in the region.

The prize for start-up of the year went to Lorraine Lynch, the chief executive and founder of the Child Psychology Institute.

It was set up in 2020 in response to the need of overwhelmed parents and teachers who want to support childrens emotions and behaviours.

Its course focused on working with children who have experienced trauma is a 10-hour online self-paced course that covers everything parents and professionals need to know about trauma.

Meanwhile, Derek Nolan, founder of DogNotDuck won the business innovation award.

DogNotDuck provides embedded annotations software for teams building websites, to leave feedback, chat and collaborate directly on the website they are working on, to save time & cost on web projects.

The one to watch was James Power, who founded Agri Guardian.

This is a wearable device to make farming safer.

It has two versions, one for child safety and one for adult safety. The childrens device warns parents when a child enters the farm, is in danger areas and close to machinery in operation. The adult version detects falls, slurry gas levels and provides a location to emergency services, if required.

LIT president, Dr Vincent Cunnane said: The talent, innovation and sense of purpose that these entrepreneurs have shown is remarkable. Entrepreneurship is at the very heart of what defines this region, and we in LIT are very proud to support and nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs. We are committed to fostering creative and entrepreneurial activities, in all their forms, in collaboration with our stakeholders to help shape the future of our region.

LITs vice-president for research development and innovation Dr Liam Brown, described New Frontiers as a truly national programme with significant regional outreach and global export potential.

Participants of the New Frontiers Programme are playing a significant role in the indigenous business community - driving Irelands economy forward. We know that completing the New Frontiers Programme is like wearing a badge of quality in the business world. There is a willingness for other businesses to meet and engage with you after successful completion of the programme, he added.

While, Paula Carroll, Enterprise Irelands New Frontiers national programme manager said: I would like to congratulate the 2021 LIT cohort of the New Frontiers Programme for all they have achieved in what has been a difficult year for many due to the impact of the pandemic. This was a particularly strong group, showcasing the entrepreneurial talent of the Mid West.
In this image from video, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks after the Senate acquitted former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 13, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

McConnell Responds to Speculation Hes Leaving Senate: Not Going Anywhere

Im not going anywhere is how Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) responded after Kentuckys legislature passed a law that he supported requiring an appointment to a Kentucky Senate seat vacancy be from the same political party as the lawmaker who is departing.

Because McConnell supported the measure, it drew speculation that the 79-year-old senator, who has been in office since the early 1980s, would leave early.

I dont think were going to have a vacancy, he told reporters in Kentucky on Tuesday, according to The Hill. I just got elected to a six-year term. And Im still the leader of my party in the Senate, McConnell said.

But I had watched this over the years in the Senate as various vacancies were filled and I thought this was the best way to go, he said.

On Monday, the Kentucky legislature overcame a veto from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear on the legislation that requires the governor to temporarily fill a Senate seat with a member of the same party.

According to a description of the bill from the Louisville Courier-Journal, Kentuckys governor has been able to choose anyone from any political party to temporarily fill a seat. The measure also forces a governor to select a person from a list of three names that is provided by the partys executive committee.

Amid the speculation, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, a Republican, said that McConnell is not leaving the upper chamber and is not sick. McConnell, meanwhile, told reporters Tuesday that he would support the bill even if Kentucky had a GOP governor.

I can assure you  I would have supported this had the governor been Matt Bevin, he said, referring to the previous governor, a Republican.

The goal here, that I support  was if such a vacancy were to occur to have the people as quickly as possible elect the new senator. And in the interim, honor the results of the last election, McConnell added.

Last fall, McConnell was forced to respond to photos of him showing his hands bruised and bandaged.

I can just tell you that Im just fine. And I cant believe yall have played with that all week long, McConnell told the Washington Post at the time. Did you watch any of my speeches? Are you familiar? I am just fine, he also said.

Kentucky has not had a Democratic senator since 1999 when then-Sen. Wendell Hampton Ford, who spent more than 24 years in the Senate, left office.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Ganymede Games offered the public its first peek Tuesday morning at Xenotheria, a new science fiction universe for gamers that the Las Cruces-based developer is preparing for release.

The independent studio is now signing up thousands of gamers to test run Xenotheria throughout this year before full market launch of the single-player role-playing game, or RPG, in late 2021 or early 2022, at the latest, said Ganymede CEO Jerry Prochazka.

This is completely new science fiction intellectual property, Prochazka told the Journal. Its not Star Wars or Star Trek. Its a brand new world, or universe.

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The company has already built three prototype games for Xenotheria. It will release a gameplay demo, or trailer, this summer to offer a compelling taste of the new universe before the first game hits the market.

Normally, when announcing a new RPG, the audience wants to see a gameplay trailer, Prochazka said. But were not yet at the trailer point, so were not revealing too much yet.

But the company is inviting all players who want to test Xenotheria to sign-up at xenotheria.com. Its already registered about 4,000 gamers through social media promotion. It expects to surpass 10,000 test players in coming weeks, said Ganymede co-founder Rob Thompson.

Were excited about fully unveiling our first product to the world, Thompson said. Were inviting the global gaming community to test it. Anyone in the world can sign up.

Prochazka, Thompson and two other video game industry veterans launched Ganymede in Las Cruces in March 2019. The founders met while working on the blockbuster League of Legends multiplayer battle arena game produced by Riot Games in Los Angeles.

Ganymede aims to develop single-player RPGs that provide aging gamers with the same hardcore experiences that attracted them at younger ages, but with content and formats that accommodate their current, busy lifestyles with jobs and families.

A survey of some 7,500 gamers last year about their playing preferences is helping to guide Ganymede efforts to develop compelling characters and rich story lines that provide fulfilling experiences, Prochazka said.

To date, the company has raised $650,000 from the New Mexico Angels and other investors. The state and City of Las Cruces also approved $350,000 in Local Economic Development Act funding for a Downtown studio and headquarters, but the pandemic slowed those plans, forcing Ganymedes nine employees to work remotely since early last year.

But New Mexico Angels President Drew Tulchin said the company has made major progress in getting its first product to market.

These are veteran developers with a long track record of success, Tulchin said. Theyre consummate professionals who know their business. Even in COVID times, theyre proving themselves as capable entrepreneurs and managers.
Just days after earning his first Oscar nomination for his critically-acclaimed role in Judas and the Black Messiah, LaKeith Stanfield revealed he's not that interested in awards season.

The 29-year-old actor, who plays Bill O'Neal in Judas and the Black Messiah shared an image of a Deadline article about rumors that the Oscars are considering backtracking after insisting nominees show up in person, and not via Zoom.

Stanfield said in his now-deleted Instagram post, 'No one cares lmao. Real stuff is happening. Who cares about awards.'

Not interested: Just days after earning his first Oscar nomination for his critically-acclaimed role in Judas and the Black Messiah, LaKeith Stanfield revealed he's not that interested in awards season

In-person Oscars: The 29-year-old actor, who plays Bill O'Neal in Judas and the Black Messiah shared an image of a Deadline article about rumors that the Oscars are considering backtracking after insisting nominees show up in person, and not via Zoom

Even though he deleted the post, it was still captured and it spread quickly on Twitter.

This wasn't the first time he's deleted a tweet about his Oscar nomination, which caused some confusion among awards season pundits.

As expected, Stanfield's co-star Daniel Kaluuya, who plays Fred Hamption, chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther party, was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category.

Who cares: Stanfield said in his now-deleted Instagram post, 'No one cares lmao. Real stuff is happening. Who cares about awards'

Most believed that Stanfield, then, would be nominated in the Best Actor category as the film's lead, but he was also nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category.

After the nominations were announced on March 15, Stanfield took to Instagram, stating, 'Im confused too but f**k it lmao.'

He ultimately deleted that post and replaced it with another tongue-in-cheek reaction, adding, 'First time an actor with a face tattoo was nominated lmaooo.'

Confused: After the nominations were announced on March 15, Stanfield took to Instagram, stating, 'Im confused too but f**k it lmao'

That post was also deleted, though his social media presence is quite sparse, with just a handful of posts including one from the set of Judas and the Black Messiah, where he's interacting with director Shaka King.

'When the director is talking and youre looking at his fingers moving through the air because you were always that special child in class,' Stanfield joked.

Both Stanfield and Kaluuya will be going up against Sacha Baron Cohen (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Leslie Odom Jr. (One Night in Miami) and Paul Raci (Sound of Metal).

Social: That post was also deleted, though his social media presence is quite sparse, with just a handful of posts including one from the set of Judas and the Black Messiah, where he's interacting with director Shaka King

Judas and the Black Messiah is up for six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay (Screenplay by Will Berson, Shaka King; Story by Will Berson, Shaka King, Kenny Lucas, Keith Lucas), Best Original Song (H.E.R.'s Fight For You) and Best Cinematography (Sean Bobbitt).

Stanfield will next be seen in The Harder They Fall, starring alongside Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King and Delroy Lindo.

He is also voicing the title character in Netflix's anime series Yasuke, based on the true story of an African who became a samurai warrior in the 16th Century.

Oscar nominee: Judas and the Black Messiah is up for six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay (Screenplay by Will Berson, Shaka King; Story by Will Berson, Shaka King, Kenny Lucas, Keith Lucas), Best Original Song (H.E.R.'s Fight For You) and Best Cinematography (Sean Bobbitt)
Guest Column MyanmarYesterday, Today and a New Tomorrow

Anti-regime protesters in Yangon's Thaketa Township early this month. / The Irrawaddy

A lot has been written about Myanmar since the military takeover in the hours before dawn on Feb. 1. Much of it has been about the violence on the streets, which after a weekend when at least 114 people were shot dead is understandable. But more needs to be said about the reasons for the coup, the historical context for what we see today, and how both affect what is happening in full public view before an increasingly critical global audience.

It is time to tick a few boxes.

The past

The first time an elected government was removed in Myanmar was in 1962 when the Tatmadaw (armed forces) commander, General Ne Win, overthrew Prime Minister U Nu and abolished the 1947 independence constitution. It was an almost bloodless event that at the time many people saw as a logical and not unreasonable reaction to fears of the imminent disintegration of the then Union of Burma.

It was only later that Ne Wins Revolutionary Council made up entirely of Tatmadaw officers launched what was known as the Burmese Way to Socialism and ultimately the end of Burma as a prosperous nation. Socialism was, however, used by Ne Win as the ideological glue binding the Tatmadaw and the civilian bureaucracies.

The evolution of Tatmadaw rule into the Socialist Republic in 1974 saw the institution of a one-party state with all significant offices held by the men of the Tatmadaw, who retired from their military command posts to take up parliamentary or other civilian positions.

The second, in 1988, was in part a takeover from itself. The collapse of the Ne Win system that year was accompanied by the promise of constitutional amendments allowing free-and-fair, multi-party elections. This promise was maintained by the new Tatmadaw regime, which styled itself with Orwellian flair as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Headed at first by General Saw Maung, and after 1992 by his deputy General Than Shwe, SLORC abolished the 1974 constitution.

SLORC decided it had restored law and order in 1997 and changed its title and defined purpose to becomewith an inspiration that rivals Orwells Ministry of Truththe State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). It is tempting to believe that Orwell, who wrote Burmese Days in 1934, saw this coming.

The SPDC remained a body formed by, and largely constituted of, Tatmadaw officers. It remained in office until March 2011, when it handed over power to the parliament elected under the 2008 Constitution, a document put to a national referendum by the SPDC and approved through a process widely described as rigged. The SPDC announced 94 percent of voters were in favor.

The 2008 Constitution included provisions that guaranteed Tatmadaw control of all essential state security functions, a quarter of the membership of all elected bodies, and a requirement that any proposal for constitutional amendment obtain three-quarters support in the national parliamentan effective veto over change.

The present

The National League for Democracy (NLD) was founded by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in September 1988, 10 days after the SLORC seized power but pursuant to the promise of multi-party elections first mooted by Ne Win. Many tribulations befell her in the years that followed, but the NLD remained a registered political party despite persistent harassment of its leadership. The party was ordered to cease political activities in 2004. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was seen by the Tatmadaw, and the population alike, as the only person with the stature and personality to deprive the military of its control, generating both fear and hope in both camps.

There was, however, a general appreciation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the person most likely to make a difference, and also of her as a person who could achieve change with the support of large sections of the Tatmadaw because of her place in the countrys historythe daughter of independence hero General Aung San. It was because of this strength that she was kept under various forms of house arrest between 1989 and 2010 (with some breaks during which she was able to build the image of the NLD and herself throughout the country).

When she attained power after elections held in 2015, it was clear one of her priorities would be to remove the Tatmadaws control of parliaments by virtue of its 25 percent guarantee of the share of seats. Whenever this issue was raised, it was immediately clear the Tatmadaw leaders, especially commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, would not entertain such a change. However, many others in Myanmar had believed that Snr-Gen Than Shwes Constitution was part of a planned transition from military to civilian rule.

The Myanmar general elections in 2015 were the first contested countrywide by the NLD. The result gave the NLD 86 percent of the seats in the national Parliament. This was more than enough for the election, by the Parliament, of the president. As Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had been rendered ineligible to be president by qualifications placed in the Than Shwe Constitution, the Parliament elected the nominee of the NLD at the time, U Htin Kyaw. He retired on health grounds in 2018 and was replaced by NLD nominee U Win Myint.

Approaching tomorrow

Tatmadaw commander-in-chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has been in this office since March 2011 and so was present during the three presidencies since the retirement from public life of Snr-Gen Than Shwe. Many Myanmar people, including Tatmadaw officers, were surprised when he was elevated to this position by Snr-Gen Than Shwe, for he had not had a particularly distinguished army career and was promoted above many more senior colleagues.

In that sense, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing was seen as a parallel to an earlier president, U Thein Sein, who was elevated by Snr-Gen Than Shwe and served between 2011 and 2016, despite there being others seen as more senior and deserving.

U Thein Sein quickly became a president who seemed to have the publics interests at heart and was known for his instruction in 2011 to parliamentarians to go to their constituencies, meet the people, understand their problems, and bring them to the capital for solution. Nobody had ever done that before.

Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, on the other hand, was widely rumored to have engaged in corrupt activities through ownership of shares in companies run by the military. Despite some efforts to meet a wider range of people than is normal for Tatmadaw commanders, he never won public admiration or trust.

The NLD won a stunning victory in the elections on Nov. 8 last year, when it improved on its 2015 numbers. There was a widespread expectation the NLD would lose some seats in ethnic regions, but would hold its numbers in the Bamar (ethnic Burmese) heartland. The elections were observed by respected international observers (such as the Asian Network for Free Elections and the Carter Center) as well as 13 accredited domestic groups. All found the procedures on election day stood the test of fairness.

When results started coming in, the first murmurings of dissatisfaction emerged from the Tatmadaw, matching protests lodged with the Election Commission by the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). Nobody took the complaints seriously, and the country began to prepare for a peaceful transfer of power.

It was striking at the time to see how similar some of the protests were to those lodged in the US by people alleging voter fraud and other irregularities, and perhaps that dulled the impression that the protests should have generated. When challenged about the Tatmadaws intentions, and whether it would allow a peaceful transfer of power, the Tatmadaw spokesman played down the questions. It was not until a couple of days before the newly elected parliament was to meet for its swearing-in ceremony that anyone started to think that the ceremony might not take place.

Why Feb. 1?

At this point its necessary to note that the elections took place under Snr-Gen Than Shwes 2008 Constitution, held up by the Tatmadaw as the way forward. Had the new Parliament been sworn in as scheduled at 10 a.m. on Feb. 1, it would have had a five-year term ahead of it, under the Constitution.

It would have had the authority to choose the president and it would have been responsible for choosing the next Tatmadaw commander-in-chief when Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing compulsorily retired on July 3his 65th birthday.

As banal as this sounds, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaings personal expectations stand out as the core element in the takeover and its date. It is widely believed he aspired to the national presidency himself, but the size of the NLD victory dashed that hope, and also introduced the real possibility that antipathy to the Tatmadaw everywhere in the country would permit Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to mobilize the people for constitutional change aimed at reducing Tatmadaw influence.

There are plenty of signs that most of the people were looking forward to the swearing-in of the new Parliament, and few signs that the Tatmadaw or the police were preparing for anything else. When the army and police struck, there were no signs of much preparation. People detained were at home or asleep, and they were not taken off to detention sites for some time, sometimes for days or longer. There were no measures in place to lock down communications or take any action for public control. There was no immediate release of legal language to justify what was being done.

In other words, although some close observers did say they had picked up noises that the Tatmadaw might move before the Parliament was sworn in, very few of those in power, including in the NLD, saw it coming. Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing would have anticipated no serious resistance.

Afterwards

The situation which confronted Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and his self-appointed State Administrative Council was the appearance on the streets, day and night, of millionsyes, millionsof Myanmar citizens demanding respect for the Nov. 8 elections and the resumption of democratic government.

Now, almost two months later, the demonstrations continue, undeterred by extreme violence. They are everywhere in the country, from the big cities to the villages and involve people of all ethnicities, religions, cultures, genders and age groups. Age is a special consideration, for the demonstrators include the bulk of the countrys youth, most born and raised after Gen. Saw Maungs takeover in 1988 and virtually all, thanks to President U Thein Sein, fully internet-literate.

Internet literacy enables the population, led by the youth, to communicate with each other, and with their colleagues and friends outside Myanmar. This has produced a great deal of public pressure from outside the country, and while most of the Tatmadaw have not traveled widely, nearly all of them have relatives who have. There is much more knowledge of the outside world now than in 1988, and the lessons which Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing would have learned as a young man would no longer fit to the world he inhabits now.

Tomorrow

The indications from yesterday and today say that this is where astrologers (very popular in Myanmar) would be looking:

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Online market's share dropped back to 14.5 per cent from record 15.4 per cent

Online supermarket growth slowed in the last month as more vaccinated elderly shoppers returned to stores, new analysis has found.

Grocery sales rose 7.4 per cent in the 12 weeks to March 21 in a marked slowdown compared with previous months, according to data from Kantar.

While still showing impressive signs of growth, the online market's share dropped back to 14.5 per cent from the record of 15.4 per cent in February 2021.

It is believed this is down to growing confidence among older shoppers, with 143,000 fewer over-65s making digital orders in March.

Online supermarket growth slowed in the last month as more vaccinated elderly shoppers returned to stores at double the national rate

Now largely vaccinated, this age group increased its trips to bricks-and-mortar outlets by 6.8 per cent  more than double the national rate.

Overall, households made 13 million additional trips to the supermarket in the last month.

Sales were down 3 per cent in the four weeks to March 21 compared with a year earlier - the first comparison with the first national lockdown that saw supermarket shelves stripped bare at the start of the pandemic in the UK.

Fraser McKevitt of Kantar said: 'This time last year, Brits were adjusting to schools and offices closing and making extra trips to the supermarket to fill their cupboards for lockdown.

'To put that into context, shoppers made 117 million fewer trips to the supermarket this month compared with those fraught weeks in March 2020.'

It is believed this is down to growing confidence among older shoppers, with 143,000 fewer over-65s making digital orders in March. Pictured: Tesco increased its sales by 8.5 per cent and once again gained share to capture 27.1 per cent of the market

Iceland saw the strongest growth during the period - excluding online-only business Ocado - with a jump in sales of 14.3 per cent, despite still refusing to repay the business rates holiday discount its rivals have handed back.

Aldi, which did repay its business rates, was the worst performer with growth of just 1.5 per cent in the 12-week period.

Mr McKevitt added: 'It's important to look at these numbers within the bigger picture, and two-year growth figures allow us to examine retailer performance amid these moving parts.

'While grocery growth has slowed against 2020, sales are still much higher than the same 12 weeks in 2019 - up by 15.6 per cent.

'As restrictions on dining out continue, the average household spent an extra 134 on take-home groceries compared with this period two years ago.'

Online grocery sales also slowed in the past four weeks, with signs that shoppers are returning to physical stores, with market share dropping from 15.4 per cent in February to 14.5 per cent in March - equating to 13 million additional trips to supermarkets this month.

Iceland saw the strongest growth during the period - excluding online-only business Ocado - with a jump in sales of 14.3 per cent, according to data in Kantar

Confidence has returned particularly among over-65s, with the age group making 143,000 fewer online orders.

Tesco increased its sales by 8.5 per cent and once again gained share to capture 27.1 per cent of the market, up by 0.3 percentage points compared with the same 12 weeks last year.

Asda grew ahead of the market and edged up its market share from 15.0 to 15.1 per cent.

Morrisons' sales growth of 8.7 per cent meant a share increase of 0.1 percentage points to 10.1 per cent, while sales at Sainsbury's rose by 7.3 per cent to hold share steady at 15.3 per cent.

Ocado continued its impressive sales surge - up 33.9 per cent, although Lidl and Aldi, which do not offer online deliveries, only managed growth of 2.9 and 1.5 per cent respectively.

Co-op sales rose by 7.1 per cent, with its shoppers visiting an average of 22 times during the 12 weeks and Waitrose sales were up 5.1 per cent.

With the Easter weekend approaching, Kantar also found shoppers had already spent 37 million on hot cross buns and 153 million on Easter eggs by March 21 - 48 million more than at the same stage last year.
A puppy has become a viral sensation thanks to her adorable 'moustache' that would make Hercule Poirot green with envy.

Six-month-old miniature bull terrier Frida lives with owners Helena Olof Snorradottir, 22, and her partner Snorri Valgarsson, 21 in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The couple found Frida through a breeder and were instantly drawn to her unique look - the pup has an accidental tash, the result of her black colouring right above her lip.

Her quirky feature, resembling Agatha Christie's famous character, is even more visible when she 'smiles' - and she is clearly melting hearts on the internet with 14,300 followers on Instagram so far.

Frida, a six-months-old Miniature Bull Terrier from Reykjavik, Iceland, has become an Internet sensation thanks to her mustache (pictured with her cuddle toys)

When she was a puppy (pictured) Frida's mustache was even more visible underneath her pink nose

'The first time we saw her, it was the first thing we noticed, she was a ball of chunk with ears like a rabbit and a very classy moustache,' Helena, who works as a teacher, said.

'It was one of the reasons I started her Instagram page.

'Her little face made us so very happy every day and I thought it would be a shame not to share it with the rest of the world.'

Helena had wanted a bull terrier from a young age and was over the moon when she found Frida - and says it was a 'sign from the universe' when she got the call from a breeder.

The friendly pup counts 14,300 fans on Instagram and counting since her owners created an account for her (pictured in the shower)

Helena Olof Snorradottir, 22, and her partner Snorri Valgarsson, fell in love with Frida when they first saw her (pictured in the car, in a very stylish sweater)

She said: 'A week after discovering there was a breeder in Iceland, we got a message that she had a female pup she was ready to introduce us to.

'On the morning of Sunday 22 November in 2020, I received the news that my grandma had just passed away so I rushed up to say my goodbyes to the family.

'In the midst of this, I got a message from the breeder I could come up and see Frida and I did.

'My family and I are really superstitious, so it kind of felt like a sign from the universe.

Helena said it felt like a 'sign from the universe when the breeder said she could come and see Frida (pictured now)

The friendly pup's unique mustache has made her very popular online. Frida pictured after a snow fall

'It was sort of like my grandma was handing me a goodbye present, making my lifelong dream come true.

'Her life for a new one so as soon as I laid my eyes on Frida, I knew she was supposed to be mine.'

Frida's Instagram snaps get thousands of likes and comments from her fans and are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

The pup is a natural in front of the camera and can often be found beaming brightly with her thick black 'moustache' on full display.

Owners Helena, left and Snorri, right, are completely head over heels with their girl Friday since they adopted her

Helena said she had no idea Frida would be such a hit on Instagram, where she shares pictures of her pup

One of her most recent photos shows the pup relaxing in bed as she grins at the camera, clearly pleased with getting back scratches from her owner.

Helena and Snorri also recently shared a throwback pic to when Frida was a little pup - and her moustache was even more noticeable back then.

Another hilarious snap shows Frida enjoying a pint at her local pub and looking very smart in a trendy raincoat.

Helena has been overwhelmed by the response from fans and had no idea her dog would be such a big hit.

Helena loves to share funny pictures of Frida on Instagram, whether it is playtime, left, or enjoying a beer at her local pub, right

At first, only family and friends followed Frida's Instagram account, but she soon got more fans (pictured now)

She said: 'In the beginning, it was just some family and friends who followed her page and then it spread a bit around Iceland since we don't have many of her breed here.

'People were curious and then one of her Instagram photos got reposted three times until it had completely blown up around the internet and her following started to grow and grow.

'We started to get messages from people all around the world who were telling us how Frida makes them smile or how she makes their days brighter and that makes it all so worth it.

Helena said fans are sendinf she and Snorri messages about how much Frida, pictured, makes them smile

Yum! Frida licking her lips next to a box filled with creamy Danishes. Helena said she was overwhelmed by the positive response her pup received online

Frida wearing a raincoat at the pub, next to a chilled pint. Helena admitted she had received criticism about Frida's appearance

The pup enjoying some back rubs at home before bedtime. Helena said Frida was 'perfect the way she is'

'Never in my little life did I ever expect her to grow so big.'

But Helena says not everyone is a fan of Frida's unique look and she has been on the receiving ends of some critical comments.

However, that won't stop them from sharing uplifting snaps of the happy-go-lucky pup.

She added: 'We get some hate here and there from people who comment about her inset paws or the way she looks, but to us she is perfect the way she is.

'We will continue to try our best to keep putting a smile on people's faces and share our treasure with the world to put a bit more positivity into the world in these horrid times.'

Friday keeping Snorri company before bedtime. Helena said she was happy to share her 'treasure' online

The owner said she hoped she'd keep spreading positiviy and joy thanks to Frida, pictured, on Instagram

Frida has become a part of Snorri and Helena since spending her fist Christmas, right, with them, and she will even keep them company when they're working from home, left
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. The possible recognition of the Armenian Genocide by US President Joe Biden is a step to right a historic wrong, Emily Schrader, the CEO of Social Lite Creative and a research fellow at the Tel Aviv Institute, said in an article published at the Jerusalem Post.

The writer says Israel and many other countries still refuse to recognize the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

In the case of Israel, the government has refused to recognize the Armenian Genocide, due to the volatile yet strategic political relationship with Turkey. For decades, Turkey has blackmailed and threatened nations if they even considered recognizing the Armenian Genocide, Emily Schrader says, noting that if in the past Israel had a dependence on Turkey as one of the only Muslim states with which it had cooperation and diplomatic relations, through the decades, Turkey has become increasingly hostile to Israel with the dictatorial and Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Today, Israel is less dependent than ever on Turkey, especially with emerging relations with Arab states. Yet instead of recognizing the Armenian Genocide and unequivocally standing on the right side of history, the Israeli government has sold out the Armenian people even today, by selling weapons to Azerbaijan while it bombs Armenian cities, the writer says.

The author notes the Armenian Genocide was not simply a horrific event that occurred. It was arguably the most horrific orchestrated genocide the world had ever seen (at the time), and not in the context of a war, but because the Armenians were Christian. Emily Schrader considered absolutely unconscionable that the community of nations has continued to allow Turkey to use its geopolitical position to bully other nations into denying or refusing to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

For decades, Turkey has actively censored those who recognize the genocide in Turkey itself, and has even destroyed evidence. Previously, it even imprisoned academics who dared to call the Armenian Genocide a genocide.

Whereas in Germany, the world demanded accountability and, even today, Holocaust denial is illegal, Turkey made it illegal not to deny the Armenian Genocide, and the entire world is complicit in allowing it to do so.

If even a few of the worlds superpowers had recognized the Armenian Genocide from day one, we would be living in a different reality today, where smaller nations wouldnt be afraid to acknowledge the obvious historical fact to the detriment of a people that was almost eliminated.

The Biden administration recognizing the Armenian Genocide would not only send a morally necessary message to the people of Armenia on behalf of the United States, it also would send a message to the world. The time for recognition is now, Emily Schrader wrote.
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By Benjamin Jumbe

Koboko District woman MP Margaret Baba Diri has expressed concern over the continued murder of Ugandans in South Sudan.

This follows the shooting of 11 Ugandan drivers along the Juba-Yei road in the last two days.

Raising a matter of national importance on the floor of parliament, Babadidiri said 4 of the drivers were killed on Sunday while 7 were killed yesterday calling on the minister of foreign affairs to take interest in the matter and have it investigated.

Responding to the concerns, the minister of internal affairs Obiga Kania said the ministry of foreign affairs was aware of the matter and Ugandas embassy in south Sudan is following it up.
DEXTER, MI  Some said it was strange lights outside their Hillsdale College dorm. Others said they saw floating discs near Dexter.

Whatever it was, some southern Michigan residents knew they saw something mysterious in the night sky in March 1966. Research into their claims led J. Allen Hyenk, a U.S. Air Force consultant, to infamously call these sightings swamp gas, the methane released from marshy land in the areas.

But Ray Szymanski, a retired Air Force engineer and Detroit native who writes about UFOs, is certain his research goes deeper than that publicized in 1966. He believes testimony and records he has analyzed prove aliens flew a UFO across Dexter, Hillsdale and elsewhere that night.

Szymanskis third book in the series Alien Shades of Greys focuses on these now-famous Swamp Gas sightings. Days after the incident caught the attention of many, including reporters at the The Ann Arbor News and Walter Cronkite, officials deemed the lights as flares of gases burning from area swamps.

The explanation was so lacking that even then-Congressman Gerald Ford called for an investigation.

Szymanski, who now lives in Ohio, has tracked down Air Force pilots who said they chased a flying object that spring night 55 years ago after being sent into the air from Selfridge Airforce Base in Macomb County to investigate.

The two captains were in the air for 90 minutes while searching for the UFO, according to 40 hours of recorded interviews between Szymanski and one of the pilots. They used radar information from a military control center and on-board radar to locate it.

One point of interest is they believe that it stopped in order to give (the pilots) a chance to catch up with it, Szymanski said. It was taunting them.

After several minutes, the saucer-like flying object seemed to make an impossible 90-degree turn and disappear into the horizon in the blink of an eye, he said.

Szymanskis research for alien and UFO books is based on multiple eyewitness interviews, first-person accounts and cross-referencing every possible detail, he said. He confirms their military records, assignments, titles and any other details possible.

The reason he trusts this pilots account is because of three different identifying and locating methods.

Youve got to take everything to bedrock, and Ive done that with this individual, Szymanski said. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he and his wing man, not only intercepted that UFO and had visual sighting of it, but they also had a radar sighting of it, which means it was a solid object.

Szymanski has been researching UFO sightings since the late 1990s, when a sighting in Phoenix piqued his interest. At the time, he worked as an engineer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Ohio base known for Project Blue Book, the investigation of UFOs. He used to ask intelligence officers there about alien rumors, probing to see if they were true or not, he said.

That interest and repeated scientific poking around famous UFO sightings like Exeter, New Hampshire and Phoenix, ultimately led him to write books about his research. His third book on the Michigan Swamp Gas story will self-publish in April.

Szymanski believes the information he found changes history  or at the very least vindicates the dozens of eyewitnesses during that time who saw something mysterious in the sky.

To all of those who vehemently denied that you saw swamp gas, you are hereby believed. And someone owes you a big apology, he said.

Szymanski will talk about the book and its findings during a Zoom event through Mt. Clemens Public Library at 7 p.m., April 22. Register online to join the discussion.

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opinion

South Africa has a long history of using the arts to protest and put a spotlight on apartheid-era crimes. How might the arts today help to create a culture in which encounters between subjects are inspired by a politics of care, and inspire citizens to care for others enough to act ethically and responsibly towards them?

Recently, I attended a virtual conversation hosted by Sinazo Chiya, one of the directors at the Stevenson Gallery, between South African artist and University of Cape Town professor Penny Siopis and Griselda Pollock, art historian at the University of Leeds. The discussion was about Siopis' paintings on shame and her latest video artwork titled Shadow Shame Again.

The video is Siopis' response to the problem of gender-based violence -- "the other pandemic" -- and it references the killing of Tshegofatso Pule, whose body was found hanging from a tree in the veld in Roodepoort. Her boyfriend, Ntuthuko Ntokozo Shoba, is accused of having planned the murder and paid the killer.

In our work at Stellenbosch University, we have been interested in the question of how the arts (in all their diversity) draw attention to gross violations of human rights and what the arts can...
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A 43-year-old Carbon County man sought in a March 7 assault following a minor car crash in Easton was arrested Monday in Lansford, police there say.

Rodney Keith Rivers is expected to be returned to Northampton County to face charges of aggravated assault, robbery (two counts), simple assault, terroristic threats and possession of a weapon, court papers say. Records werent clear to as if Rivers were processed by early Tuesday into the Carbon County prison.

He was taken into custody after police in the Carbon County borough, joined by other public safety personnel, served a high risk search and arrest warrant in the 300 block of East Bertsch Street where Rivers lived, borough police reported on Facebook.

A big shout out to: The Pennsylvania State Police SRT, the Nesquhoning Police, the Summit Hill Police, Carbon EMA 1,... Posted by Lansford Police Department on Monday, March 29, 2021

Rivers did not resist being taken into custody, police said.

According to court records, police responded about 6 p.m. March 7 to Wilson Borough police headquarters for an assault report.

Two people, male and female, said they were in a minor car crash with a black Audi about 4 p.m. in a parking lot at 1441 Butler St. in the city, court records say.

The female occupant said that as she attempted to give the occupants of the Audi her insurance information, a passenger later identified as Rivers said he wanted $300 cash, according to police.

The male occupant said he could hear Rivers yelling and exited the vehicle, according to police. He said he told Rivers they had no money, and Rivers began striking him in the face -- breaking his teeth -- and struck the female victim once in the shoulder, court records say.

Rivers allegedly then retrieved a black handgun from the Audi and placed it in his waistband. He made the male victim give him his identification card while saying if the victim did not produce $300 in 15 minutes something bad would happen to him, while patting the firearm in his waistband, police report.

Rivers provided his phone number to the victims, then left, according to police.

Investigators verified the number is associated with Rivers, as well as verified that the drivers license photo of Rivers matched the description provided by both victims, court records say.

Lansford police thanked the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team, Nesquehoning police, Summit Hill police, the Lansford Fire Department, emergency medical personnel from Lehighton and the district attorneys office, emergency management office and emergency dispatch center in Carbon County for assisting, according to the Facebook post.

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Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.
Bethlehems Liberty High School is switching to all virtual learning until April 6 after 13 coronavirus cases over the last two weeks.

Liberty learned of three new COVID-19 cases on Monday, triggering a Pennsylvania Department of Education mandated school closure and pause of student activities, Principal Harrison Bailey III said in a letter to parents and students.

The high school will pivot to fully virtual learning Tuesday and Wednesday. Schools are already scheduled to be closed Thursday, Friday and Monday for the Easter holiday.

Libertys hybrid schedule and student activities will resume on April 6, according to Baileys letter.

Although we do not have evidence that our positive cases are the result of spread within our school, we will continue to monitor and investigate any leads, Bailey wrote in the letter. Finally, I ask for parent support for reinforcing with students that social distancing and masking are maintained during outside-of-school activities and socializing. We have seen a significant increase of student cases at middle and high schools in the past two weeks as the weather improves and community activities take place.

Bethlehem Area School Districts two high schools have 16 active cases over the last two weeks, while the four middle schools report 12 new infections. East Hills Middle School was forced to switch to virtual learning last Thursday and Friday due to its new cases.

With consultation of BHB, Liberty will move to Short Term Remote Learning for all students and staff on Tuesday 3/30 and Wednesday 3/31. Please refer to parent link and Schoology for synchronous instruction details.  Liberty High School (@LibertyHigh) March 29, 2021

The education department requires schools temporarily close when they hit certain case thresholds, which are determined based on community spread of the virus and the number of new infections over the last two weeks. Schools also must track whether a person was in a school building two days prior to the onset of symptoms.

Liberty has more than 10 cases that meet the closure criteria, Bailey said.

The state recommends a school of Libertys size close for two weeks if they have 11 or more new cases and high community spread. But its guidance allows schools to shorten the closure if case investigations, contact tracing and disinfecting can happen more quickly.

The Bethlehem Health Bureau worked with Liberty to determine the proper closure length, Bailey said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.
The Canadian government has introduced new anti-Russian sanctions over Crimea reuniting with the Russian Federation, by Global Affairs Canada said in the statement.

The agency stated that in response to Russias reunification with Crimea, "Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced new sanctions against 2 individuals and 4 entities, under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations and the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations."

The sanctions list includes Alexander Ganov, general director of the Grand Service Express, Leonid Ryzhenkin, general director of Mostottrest, as well as the Lenpromtransproyekt enterprise, the Berkakit-Tommot-Yakutsk Railway Lines Construction Directorate, the Crimea Railway Federal State Unitary Enterprise, and the First Crimean Insurance Company, TASS reported.
(JTA)  The resurgence of Christian Passover seders, in which non-Jews put their own spin on the Jewish holiday meal, has stoked controversy in recent years.

This weekend, one Twitter user found the perfect culprit to criticize: a Christian woman who served a challah bread braided in the shape of a cross at her seder.

I think I just had a rage blackout, the user @clapifyoulikeme tweeted Sunday, along with a screenshot of a Facebook post by Carly Friesen. The photos show Friesens meal layout and the cross-shaped challah.

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In addition to the offense caused to some by the cross shape, the doughy challah breaks one of the core religious frameworks of the holiday  abstaining from eating leavened bread in a symbolic gesture to the holidays Exodus story, in which Jews fled Egypt before their bread could rise.

Today we celebrated Passover in our own way for the first time as a family, Friesen wrote in the post. We had a modified Seder meal to start with a reading of the first Passover and recognizing Jesus as the final Passover lamb sacrificed for us.

Thank you to our Saviour[sic] for paying the ultimate sacrifice for us! she added with a heart emoji.

The screenshot of Friesens post drew thousands of likes and hundreds of comments, many of them perturbed.

Christian seders often turn the afikomen  or dessert matzah that is traditionally hidden at the Jewish Passover meal  into bread of the Eucharist, or a physical manifestation of Christ.

[I]n many the Exodus story is washed out and replaced by the Jesus story, a rabbi told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in 1997.
Having got together as the pandemic hit Australia, Jess Abrill and Rick Hayden had hoped to mark one year as a couple with a trip to the Sunshine Coast over Easter.

They cancelled their trip after Brisbanes snap three-day lockdown prompted Victoria to, in effect, shut its border to the region.

Jess Abrill and Rick Hayden have had to cancel a holiday to Queensland after the snap border closure. Credit:Joe Armao

The couple had planned only to transit through the northern capital, but that was enough to risk 14 days quarantine on their return, which would mean Mr Hayden could not work in his job as a carpenter.

Were not cancelling because we want to, said Ms Abrill. We understand the situation and its for the best, I guess. Were quite sad and disappointed. We feel like were stuck in Melbourne with not many choices because everything is booked out.
The Midland Area Community Foundation has awarded the St. Louis Area Fire Department a grant within their category of Caring for Our People in the amount of $12,033. The funds will be used to replace aging fire hose.

The four-inch supply hose that will be purchased is Snap-Tite. This hose is made in the USA, will allow higher volume flow while weighing 20% less than conventional rubber supply hose which will greatly reduce stress and fatigue on firefighters while remaining flexible in subzero temperatures and complying with NFPA 1961 latest edition.
Former president Trump blasted his COVID-19 advisors Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx on March 29 for criticizing his handling of the pandemic.

He called them two self-promoters trying to reinvent history to cover for their bad instincts and faulty recommendations, which I fortunately almost always overturned.

As they say in the playgrounds: It takes one to know one.

Trump is reinventing the history of his presidency via the launch of 45office.com, which he says aims to preserve the magnificent legacy of the Trump Administration, while at the same time advancing the America First agenda. It's a hoot and fake news.

The site is chock full of Trumpian propaganda and imagery designed to gloss over the record of what historians rate as one of the worst presidencies in US history.

Birx claims Trumps failure to encourage mask-wearing and social distancing measures led to the unnecessary deaths of about 400K Americans.

45office.com begs to differ, claiming the Trump White House saved countless lives by banning travel from China and Europe at the onset of COVID-19, and rolling out Operation Warp Speed.

Trump fans can use the site to request a birthday greeting or condolence from Trump and former first lady Melania, or their presence at a special event. Event requesters must include the size of audience, notable invitees and whether there will be media coverage.

The 45office.com site comes as a March 29 Pew Research Center poll that found that more than half (51 percent) of the respondents rate Trump very coldly on a feeling thermometer scale. Twenty-three percent rate him very warmly.

Forty-one percent rate Trump a terrible president, while 17 percent believe he was great.

Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss is not exactly a household name in journalism circles.

But the 85-year-old Wyoming residents statement made in connection with his bid to buy Tribune Co should be framed in every American newsroom:

I dont want to see another newspaper that has a chance to increase the amount of truth being told to the American people going down the drain, he said of his effort to help the Trib escape ownership by the cost-cutting zealots at Alden Global Capital.

Wyss has donated millions to environmental groups in Wyoming, Montana and Maine.
Our cost-effective, full-service fund administration services are especially valuable to smaller and emerging managers," said NAV COO Ambuj Garg. "We offer responsive support and a proprietary infrastructure that enable clients to scale with NAV as their assets, investor base, and needs grow.

NAV Fund Administration Group, a leading provider of administrative services to alternative asset managers, was named Best Administrator  Smaller Managers at the HFM European Services Awards 2021. The industry recognition program was hosted virtually on March 23.

The HFM European Services Awards reward hedge fund service providers who demonstrate exceptional client service, innovation, and strong and sustainable business growth. With a rigorous judging process and awards in 44 categories, the HFM European Services Awards aim to ensure current and future clients that winners are leading the way in a competitive sector.

NAV was also named Best Administrator at the HFM U.S. Quant Services Awards last month.

We have committed to the philosophy that every client  regardless of size  merits superior quality of service and support, said NAV COO Ambuj Garg. Our cost-effective, full-service fund administration services are especially valuable to smaller and emerging managers. We offer responsive, professional support and a proprietary infrastructure that enable clients to scale with NAV as their assets, investor base, and needs grow.

The judging panel  comprised of leading hedge fund COOs, CFOs, CCOs, GCs, and CTOs  evaluated entrants on diverse criteria, with particular reference to the challenges presented by the Covid-19 crisis:



Commercial success

Innovation

Service delivery and client retention

Business diversity and inclusion

Positive client feedback via submitted testimonials

# # #

About NAV Fund Administration Group

Founded in 1991, NAV is a privately-owned fund administrator recognized for its innovative and cost-effective fund administration solutions. A dynamic team of more than 1,200 professionals provide services to 1,400+ Hedge Fund, Private Equity & Real Estate Funds, CTA, and Managed Account clients across the globe while maintaining a 99% client retention rate. The company is headquartered in the United States, with three facilities in India supporting Back Office and Middle Office services, and locations in Singapore and the Cayman Islands. NAV ranks among the top 10 global hedge fund administrators by number of funds, and services more than $110 billion AUA. All operations are ISAE 3402 Type 2 certified.

About HFM

HFM supplies the intelligence hedge fund professionals need to raise assets, allocate funds, source new business opportunities and understand the market. HFM is part of Pageant, a global business intelligence provider servicing the asset management industry  from hedge funds and mutual funds to private equity, real estate and credit/debt. #HFMAwards
The central section of Canal Street, between the thrum of Chinatown and the maw of the Holland Tunnel, is a great artery only in the utilitarian sense. In the early 1800s, an actual canal moved water fouled by manufacturing waste to the Hudson River. Some planners imagined a Venice-like promenade, but it was rudely paved over instead.

Until recently, the stretch was home to surplus businesses  metal, plastics, rubber, glass, textiles  dotted with souvenir shops, often concealing counterfeit ateliers. It was a magnet for artists too: A few still live nearby, in lofts theyve inhabited since the 1980s. For the rest, the area lost its main draw in 2014, when the art-supply mecca Pearl Paint closed.

When New York was a producing town, this is where you would meet people in your field, said Leon Ferrer, who works at Canal Rubber, one of a few such businesses surviving. We were blessed to have an area like this.

For the citys powerful, central Canal Street is a problem to solve, and a redevelopment opportunity. First, Bloomberg-era rules made landlords liable for counterfeits in their buildings. Then developers bought out small owners, awaiting an upscale bonanza. It has yet to materialize. And this past year, the combination of the pandemic and windows being boarded up for fear of riots only deepened the anomie.
Hong Kong: 7 COVID-19 cases detected

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating seven additional COVID-19 cases, of which one is epidemiologically linked with a local case, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong to 11,461.

Six imported cases arrived from Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Turkey and Ukraine.

A total of 143 cases have been recorded in the past 14 days, including 71 local ones, of which 19 have unknown sources of infection.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has registered a complaint with the Election Commission of India against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent visit to Bangladesh.

The party claimed that the visit was intended to influence the ongoing assembly elections in West Bengal.

In a letter to the EC, TMC said that they have no objection to Modi's visit to Bangladesh for official purpose but strongly objects to his programmes on March 27 as they had nothing to do either with the 50th anniversary of the independence of the country or the birth centenary of 'Bangbandhu' (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman).

"They (PM's March 27 programmes) were solely and exclusively intended to influence the voting pattern in certain constituencies in the ongoing elections to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal," TMC said in the letter.

TMC alleged that the PM has grossly misused his official position to interfere from foreign soil in the election process in West Bengal.

"No Prime Minister has so brazenly in an unethical and undemocratic act, and violated the Model Code of Conduct, by indirectly campaigning for his party from foreign soil," it added.

The party shared a sample report of media coverage of Modi's visits to the religious shrines in Bangladesh.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) registers a complaint with Election Commission over, "Gross violation of democratic ethics and the Model Code of Conduct by Prime Minister during his visit to Bangladesh." pic.twitter.com/S1dDiejAqt  ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2021

"The political motive behind Modi's visit to Orakandi in Bangladesh is proven by the fact that he took along with him Shantanu Thakur, BJP MP from West Bengal, who holds no official position in the Government of India," read the letter.

TMC demanded that ECI not only censure him but also take "punitive action against him so that he dares not repeat such misconduct in future".

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Graphic warning: the video in this story has distressing images.

Mexico City: An autopsy of a Salvadorean woman who died in custody confirmed that police broke her neck when they knelt on her back in broad daylight on a footpath in the Mexican resort town of Tulum.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador flatly said that Victoria Esperanza Salazar was brutally treated and murdered by police.

Victoria Esperanza Salazar let out a scream on Saturday afternoon (Sunday AEDT) as a female police officer knelt on her back to cuff her hands behind her. Salazar was face down on the street and barefoot. Her feet flailed. A couple of people passed slowly by on a bicycle. There were food stands a few metres away.

Clips of video cobbled together give no sense of how much time elapsed. Then three other officers are seen standing around her motionless body still face down, talking casually. Later, three officers lift her still handcuffed body into the back of a police pick-up truck and drive away.
Following a multi-agency pitch, Interactive Avenues  A Reprise Network Company, has been appointed as the digital agency of Ralson India Limited, Indias largest producer and exporter of bicycle tyres and tubes with a fast expanding footprint in the automotive tyres.

Ralson has been a category pioneer, offering the industry the best of modern technology, innovative business practices, customer satisfaction, and most importantly, leading change. Ralco, with these brand values, is shaping its mission of being the catalyst of change, for both  the business, and the consumer.

Interactive Avenuess mandate includes driving brand awareness and building brand loyalists for Ralco, by creating a niche for them through digital marketing. The agencys Mumbai team will be servicing the account.

Talking about the association, Yogeshwar Sharma, VP  Marketing, Ralson India Limited, said, "Our vision is to take the brand story forward, in a manner that creates conversations and brings about a shift in perspective of perennial challenges that we face as a society. We partnered with IA because they can deliver this for us, impactfully. IA's programmatic offering and KPI-driven strategy distinguished them from others."

Shantanu Mulay, Business Head  Creative, Interactive Avenues - A Reprise Network Company, said, We stand out for the pathbreaking and disruptive work that we do for our clients. Being a purpose-driven brand at its core, Ralco Tyres defines, how from a creative standpoint, we can use the power of our brands for the larger good. We are excited and proud to add them to our prestigious roster of clients."

Established in 1974, Ralson India, began a modest journey in Ludhiana, manufacturing bicycle tyres and tubes. Over time, Ralson advanced into becoming one of Indias leading players in the bicycle tyre industry, as well as expanded into the manufacturing of automobile tyre with the brand Ralco. Currently, the brand has two dedicated factories in Indore and another greenfield truck/bus radial tyre project is in the pipeline. With 44 branches, 4000 employees and 5500+ Dealers in 700 districts Ralco is a dominant player in the sector. Globally, Ralson ranks in the list of top 5 players in the bicycle industry with an export presence in 70 countries.
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If you think Joe Bidens efforts to debilitate and demoralize our Armed Forces have gone far enough, youve grossly underestimated the Lefts desire to ruin everything it touches. Not even our vaunted Special Forces are being spared.

USSOCOM welcomes our new Chief of Diversity & Inclusion, Mr. Richard Torres-Estrada, said last Thursdays tweet from U.S. Special Operations Command. We look forward to his contribution in enhancing the capabilities and effectiveness of SOF through diversity of talent, helping us recruit the best of the best. #QuietProfessionals

Our nations Special Operations Command oversees Delta Force, the Navy SEAL teams, and the rest of our best-trained and most lethal warfighters. So its no surprise that this new-hire announcement reads more like a hostage video.

SOCOMs Instagram post is even more depressing, as we learn that the new guy, Mr. Torres-Estrada, has nearly two decades worth of experience working diversity and inclusion programs and activities in federal agencies. Strangely absent from the post are any details about Mr. Torres-Estradas experience in the U.S. military generally or in Special Ops particularly. Clearly, he doesnt have any. We also learn that his arrival is of a piece with the publication of the USSOCOM [Diversity and Inclusion] Strategic Plan, which will guide the enterprise-wide effort to institutionalize and sustain D&I.

Translation: Diversity and inclusion are now necessary preconditions for our elite warfighters ability to conduct reconnaissance, counterterrorism, hostage rescue and recovery, and other highly demanding activities.

No longer is it sufficient to be the best of the best. Going forward, our special operators must now be woke  with proficiency and lethality now trumped by race and gender identity. As the Strategic Plan itself says, our Special Forces must now create enduring organizational change by developing comprehensive inclusive environments, policies, processes, and procedures while divesting of harmful cultural norms, narratives, processes, and procedures that diminish diversity and inclusion.

As if the hiring of a non-military bureaucrat werent bad enough, Torres-Estrada is an ardent hater of Donald Trump. Last summer, he snidely commented on social media, Here I leave this and slowly retire (to continue working from home) over a two-sided picture: President Donald Trump holding a Bible on one side and on the other a photo of  who else  a book-holding Adolf Hitler.

In addition, Torres-Estrada posted this meme, with denigrating quotes from Trumps former advisers. He added the caption, I just have to post this.

A quick scroll through the comments thread beneath SOCOMs Twitter post shows that we arent alone in our revulsion. As a retired USAF Lt Col, tweeted one commenter, I find this is despicable & how Generals care not about readiness but allowing a waste product like this to trowel out a tonnage of woke crap all about getting their next star. So glad Im retired.

Were happy that the above officer and others like him got out in the nick of time. The real problem, though, is that the morale and readiness of the Patriot men and women currently in uniform will be seriously harmed by the woke garbage being heaped upon them by an America-hating commander-in-chief and his social engineers.

COMMENTARY: The enemies of our country, too numerous to mention, must be licking their chops at how easy it is going to be to roll over any form of defense we have. While they storm the gates of freedom our men and women will be in class outing those in their ranks they don't like.
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Actor Surbhi Jyoti seems to be enjoying her vacation in the Maldives. The actor took to Instagram to share some photos from the Maldives. In the photos, she can be seen enjoying the weather of Maldives along with her friend Aryamann Seth.

Surbhi Jyoti jets off to Maldives for a vacation

Surbhi Jyoti took to Instagram to share photos from her vacation in the Maldives. In the photos, she can be seen enjoying her hotel, the beaches, and the weather of the Maldives. Surbhi Jyoti went on a vacation to the Maldives with her friend Aryamann Seth. In one of the photos, she can also be seen enjoying the sun in the Maldives in a blue bikini. Check out all the photos below.

Surbhi Jyoti's social media presence

Surbhi Jyoti is very active on Instagram and keeps her fans updated and entertained. Recently, she shared a photo in which she can be seen in a jet for the Maldives. In the caption, she wrote, "    ( I am all set to fly again). Check out her post below.

Fans showered immense love on her post and it garnered more than two lakh likes on Instagram. Several fans wished her a happy journey while several others showered their love through emojis. Actor Karan Singh Grover also commented on her post. Check out some of the reactions from her fans and followers below.

Surbhi Jyoti on the work front

Surbhi Jyoti started her acting career in the year 2010 from the Punjabi movie Ik Kudi Punjab Di. She played the role of Gurmeet Kaur in the movie. Then she worked in several other Punjabi films like Raula Pai Gaya and Munde Patiala De. She made her debut in television in 2010 with the show called Akiyaan To Door Jayen Na. She then played the popular role of Zoya Farooqui in the show Qubool Hai which ran for four years. Recently, the second part of the show called Qubool Hai 2.0 got released on Zee 5. She is currently working on her upcoming Hindi film called Sonam Gupta Bewafa Hai.

Source: Surbhi Jyoti's Instagram

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
Lindsay Boylan, 36

Former aide Lindsay Boylan, 36, was the first woman to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment in a Medium post on February 24. She claimed that the governor asked her to play strip poker and kissed her on the lips without her permission when she worked for him in 2017.

Lindsay Boylan, 36

Charlotte Bennett, 25

Charlotte Bennett, 25, came forward a few days after Boylan and claimed that Cuomo sexually harassed her last June while she was working as a health policy adviser in his administration at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.

Bennett accused Cuomo of 'grooming' her and asking inappropriate questions about her sex life.

She also claimed that he told her he was open to dating women in their 20s.

BENNETT said the governor asked her about her love life - including whether she ever had sex with older men - and talked about his own, saying that age differences didn't matter in relationships and he was open to dating women over 22.

During a meeting alone in his office, the governor said he was lonely and talked about wanting to hug someone, Bennett said.

She said she swiftly complained to Cuomo's chief of staff and was transferred to another job.

She said she spoke to a lawyer for the governor, but didnt insist on further action because she liked her new post and wanted to move on.

Charlotte Bennett, 25

Anna Ruch, 33

Anna Ruch was the third woman to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment and the only one thus far who did not work with him in a professional capacity. She claimed that Cuomo put his hands on her face and asked if he could kiss her just moments after they met at a September 2019 wedding in Manhattan.

Anna Ruch, 33

Ana Liss, 35

Ana Liss, 35, a former aide, said Cuomo asked her whether she had a boyfriend, once kissed her hand at her desk and called her by patronizing names, including 'blondie,' 'sweetheart' and 'honey.'

At a reception, the governor hugged her then put his arm around her lower back and waist as they posed for photo, Liss said.

She said she eventually asked for a job transfer. In an interview, Liss said she was 'not claiming sexual harassment per se,' but felt the administration 'wasn't a safe space for young women to work.'

Liss, who previously served as Cuomo's policy and operations aide between 2013 and 2015, told the Wall Street Journal that during her time in his administration, the governor had subjected her to unsolicited advances, including touching her lower back, kissing her hand and quizzing her about her love life.

Ana Liss, 35

Karen Hinton, 62

The oldest allegations against Cuomo came from Karen Hinton, who served as a press aide for him when he led the US Department of Housing and Urban Development two decades ago and she was a consultant for the agency. Hinton told the Washington Post about a 2000 incident when she said Cuomo summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event. She said she tried to pull away from Cuomo when he pulled her back and held her before she managed to escape the room.

Karen Hinton, 62

Unnamed sixth accuser

The most damning allegations leveled against Cuomo to date came from a sixth accuser, whose name has not been released.

The accuser, who is a member of Cuomo's staff, alleged that he closed a door, reached under her blouse and fondled her after summoning her to the governor's mansion in Albany for help with his cellphone, according to the Times Union of Albany.

It first reported on her accusation last month; she then gave more detail in her first interview on the matter, published Wednesday.

The woman spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her privacy, although her identity is known within the governors circle, the Times Union reported.

The woman, an executive assistant, told the Times Union the governor gave her kisses on the cheek and inappropriately tight hugs for years and made remarks including, 'If you were single, the things that I would do to you' and 'I'm single and ready to mingle.'

Then, one day in November, she was summoned to his Executive Mansion office to help him with a cellphone problem, she said.

He got up from his desk, started groping her and told her 'I don't care' after she tried to deflect him by saying he was going to get them into trouble, and then he slammed the door, she said.

Then he reached under her blouse and clutched one of her breasts over her bra, she told the newspaper.

The woman told a colleague this winter about the alleged encounter, and the co-worker told a supervisor in early March, according to the newspaper.

Cuomo called the report 'gut-wrenching' in a March statement and said: 'I have never done anything like this.'

Another female aide, who has remained anonymous, claimed he called her to his Executive Mansion last year, reached under her blouse and fondled her

Jessica Bakeman

Jessica Bakeman claimed in a first-person article for New York Magazine that she was sexually harassed by Cuomo on several occasions since the start of her journalism career in 2012.

Bakeman added her voice as the seventh accuser as she detailed inappropriate touching by the governor as he continued to deny all of the claims.

'He took my hand, as if to shake it, then refused to let go,' Bakeman wrote of an interaction with Cuomo as she said goodnight at a holiday party in 2014 when she was only 25 years old.

'He put his other arm around my back, his hand on my waist, and held me firmly in place while indicating to a photographer he wanted us to pose for a picture.'

At the time Bakeman had been working for what is now Politico New York and claimed that red flags went up as her 'job was to analyze and scrutinize him'.

'I didn't want a photo of him with his hands on my body and a smile on my face,' she wrote.

Jessica Bakeman, a reporter who once covered the Cuomo administration, was the seventh woman to come forward with claims of harassment

'But I made the reflexive assessment that most women and marginalized people know instinctively, the calculation about risk and power and self-preservation. I knew it would be far easier to smile for the brief moment it takes to snap a picture than to challenge one of the most powerful men in the country.'

In an earlier 2012 incident while she was working for USA Today, Bakeman also claims that Cuomo kept her pinned to his side as he told a story to her male colleagues.

'He left it there, and kept me pinned next to him, for several minutes as he finished telling his story,' she said. 'I stood there, my cheeks hot, giggling nervously as my male colleagues did the same. We all knew it was wrong, but we did nothing.'

The reporter, who now works in Florida, claimed that Cuomo 'never let me forget I was a woman' as she also alleged that he made frequent attempts to humiliate her, including calling out her purple phone instead of answering her question during a press gaggle.

Alyssa McGrath, 33

McGrath, a current administrative assistant in Cuomo's office, told The New York Times that he looked down her shirt, quizzed her about her marital status, and told her she was beautiful, using an Italian phrase she had to ask her parents to interpret.

McGrath didn't say the governor made sexual contact with her but thought his behavior was sexual harassment.

She recalled Cuomo kissing her on the forehead and gripping her firmly around the sides while posing for a photo at a 2019 office Christmas party.

Alyssa McGrath (pictured) is one of two aides who have come forward to accuse the governor of harassment

Sherry Vill, 55

Sherry Vill, 55, accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct during a press conference with her attorney Gloria Allred on Monday.

She alleges Cuomo grabbed her face and kissed her 'aggressively and in a sexual manner' on both cheeks in May 2017 while he was touring her home in Greece, near Rochester, as he inspected local flood damage.

Vill, who said she felt uncomfortable at the time, shared an image her daughter took on the day that showed Cuomo holding her face as he kissed her cheek and her attorney held up multiple photos showing the Governor inside her home.

The same photos appear on Cuomo's Flickr account, as well as multiple others that show him kissing and greeting residents as he toured the town.

None of the women in the other photos have accused the governor of inappropriate behavior or wrongdoing.
New station on the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands will have a new operator in May.



"I will be deploying to the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI), Mount Pleasant Complex, Falkland Islands, at the end of April after two weeks quarantine here in the UK.

The Falkland Islands Communications Regulator has issued me with the full temporary license VP8ZMS valid from now until my expected departure at the end of August 2021.

I hope to be active using the RAFARS club station shack (VP8RAF & VP8FIR), but I am taking my own FT-817, digital interface and some basic dipole kit just as backup.

Details of Rigs/power/modes & Bands I will try to publish here, VP8ZMS Twitter Page (https://twitter.com/Vp8Zms) as well as operating times and other info I find interesting!

If time permits, or for a special occasion I will activate VP8RAF, but QSL cards etc are not in my control with that call.

I am in the process of setting up LoTW & ClubLog for the call, and will be issuing paper QSL Cards via the Bureau on my return to the UK.

My main focus of operating is of course to have a go at being the 'Rare DX' for once, but also to promote awareness of the Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Society (RAFARS, of which I am the serving members representative - https://www.rafars.org/council_members/ ), the Falkland Islands and the RAF/BFSAI."

Matthew, M0ZMS

OPDX
A teacher from St Gerards School is appalled that other staff members received leftover Covid-19 vaccines from a clinic at the Beacon hospital.

Last week, it was revealed that 20 workers at the Bray school managed to get their jabs.

A teacher in the school that didnt receive the jab has said it was only a small minority of them that got the vaccine.

In a letter sent into Radio Ones Liveline, the anonymous teacher said: There are approximately 100 members of staff between the two schools, so approximately a fifth are involved in this affair.

The chosen colleagues never told or shared this information with the rest of us. The rest of the teaching body and staff only learned of this appalling affair from the breaking news Friday morning.

Read More

The teacher - who Joe Duffy assured has been vetted to be a bona fide teacher in St Gerards - emphasised that other staff members were not involved in the incident.

Teachers and their extended family and staff are innocent of this scandal, have had to endure text messages and phone calls all weekend asking them if they have skipped the queue and taken the vaccine, they said.

We should not be expected to carry the can for them. I do not accept these vaccines were going to waste, etc. And I can swear I would not have taken the vaccine had I been offered it.

I am fit and healthy, and I am frustrated that my own elderly relatives have not yet been vaccinated. I am glad I did not get the call anyway, as I would have been left knowing that this was going on, and then I too would have been complicit.

It is a disgrace, it should never have happened.

Yesterday, the Beacon hospital apologised, saying in a statement that: Beacon Hospital unreservedly apologises to our patients, staff and the wider community for the upset caused by the vaccination of teachers in the Beacon Vaccination Centre.

Today, the Irish Daily Mail reported that a senior executive at the VHI received a vaccination from the Beacon hospital.

In a statement this afternoon, the VHI said that: VHI can confirm that we have been made aware that a senior executive at the company who is receiving care for a serious illness, was vaccinated at the Beacon Hospital.

At this point in time we are not commenting any further until we investigate the matter. We will issue a follow on statement once we have an update.
Perceived retaliation against service members who are victims of sexual assault is rampant in the military, a new study from Rand Corp. found -- even against those who don't officially report their assault.

For the study released Monday, Rand analyzed data collected in 2014 on sexual assaults that occurred in the military, including examining the experiences of those who did not report their assaults or filed only an unreported claim.

The data showed that about 54% of military women who had been sexually assaulted and told either a mandated reporter -- someone who is legally obligated to ensure a report is filed when they know of an incident, such as someone in the victim's chain of command or military law enforcement -- or filed an unrestricted report had experienced either social retaliation, professional retaliation or a combination of the two.

Read Next: Pentagon's Sexual Assault Commission Wants to Hear Junior Troops' Stories

Of those who filed a restricted report or told a covered reporter, 23% had experienced social retaliation, professional retaliation or both, Rand found. Covered reporters are professionals who are allowed to keep reports of sexual assault confidential, such as therapists, chaplains, victim advocates, medical professionals, legal counsels, and sexual assault response coordinators.

But even victims who stayed silent were not always spared retaliation, the think tank found. More than 17% of victims who told only friends or family experienced some form of retaliation, as did nearly 21% of those who told no one at all.

This is a serious problem, because fear of retaliation can sometimes hold people back from coming forward and reporting assaults, Rand said.

Victims who filed a restricted report and were retaliated against were far more likely to experience professional retaliation than social reprisal, the study found. About 2% of those victims experienced only social retaliation, but nearly 21% experienced professional retaliation or a combination of the two.

In the cases of retaliation against those who told friends, family, covered reporters or no one, Rand said, the person responsible for the retaliation may be the perpetrator, or a friend or colleague of the perpetrator who knows about the assault.

Rand said rates of retaliation may be highest among those who filed unrestricted reports because that launches an investigation and the commander is notified. Many who are involved in such an investigation are supposed to protect the victim's confidentiality, the report said, but some -- such as witnesses -- are under no such obligation.

"As a result, it is possible that knowledge of the assault, the victim, and the victim's report will disseminate more widely through the victim's social and professional network than is true when victims disclose only to friends, family or covered reporters," the report said.

And when more people know about an assault, Rand said, the risk of retaliation increases.

The researchers said it is also possible that those who file an unrestricted report -- a "relatively public step" -- are also those who are more willing to share their story, which could also increase their risk of retaliation.

Rand surveyed more than 170,000 service members in 2014 as part of its assessment of sexual assault, sexual harassment and gender discrimination in the military, at the Defense Department's request.

The report said that in 2014, roughly 20,300 active-duty service members -- 4.9% of women in uniform and 1% of male troops -- had experienced a sexual assault in the previous 12 months. In all, 15% of women and 2% of men in the military had been sexually assaulted at least one time since joining the service, Rand said.

In 2014, 40% of service women who had been sexually assaulted chose to tell no one what had happened. Another 33% told a friend or family member. One-quarter of those filed an unrestricted report or told a mandated reporter, and 2% filed a restricted report or told a covered reporter.

The report said it based its findings on victims' perceptions of whether they had been professionally or socially retaliated against, and acknowledged that the self-reporting approach has limitations. Some victims who believed they had been retaliated against, Rand said, may not have had experiences that would have qualified for legal remedies. But the method had its advantages as well, it said, such as allowing the study to assess potential retaliation against all victims, including those who did not file an official report.

After Congress ordered the Defense Department in 2013 to better define retaliation in such a way that it could be criminally enforced, the military clarified it to include reprisal, ostracism and maltreatment of a sexual assault victim who has filed, or is suspected of filing, an official report of the assault.

In many cases, higher-ranking service members are the ones retaliating against female assault victims, the study found. More than half of female sexual assault victims who had experienced social retaliation, or 56.2%, said they were retaliated against by someone who outranked them, the study said. Rand said that 68% of those victims claimed they were retaliated against by someone of a similar or lower rank, indicating that many experienced retaliation from multiple people. And 11.2% of those victims said they were retaliated against by nonmilitary personnel, the study found.

Rand found the risk of perceived professional retaliation against female victims increases significantly when the perpetrator of a sexual assault is of a higher rank than the victim or is in the victim's chain of command, or when there are multiple perpetrators of the assault.

Female victims also are likely to feel they have suffered professional retaliation in cases where they are injured during the assault, when the incident is related to hazing, when the victims were not drinking, or when the assault occurred in the workplace.

Rand said that there were fewer characteristics significantly associated with social retaliation, though that tended to be more likely in cases where the attack occurred in the workplace, when there were multiple attackers, or when the perpetrators were service members who were known to the victim.

The study found that the risk of perceived social retaliation was lowest in the Air Force, though the likelihood of professional retaliation was similar across all branches. Senior enlisted women were more likely to perceive professional retaliation than junior enlisted women.

When data was controlled for demographics and military factors, the study found, women in the Air Force experienced lower rates of sexual assault than those in other branches. Rand said it is unknown why the Air Force saw lower rates of assault and social retaliation, though it speculated that differences in the service's culture, training, policies or programming may help protect female airmen.

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: 'Nothing Happened to This Dude:' Soldiers Call for Consequences, Changes to Prevent Sexual Assault
The Honolulu City Council has approved a $150,000 settlement in a lawsuit that accused a police officer of improperly arresting a boy who had a personal dispute with his son.

The familys federal lawsuit alleged that Officer Kirk Uemura had the teen arrested because the teen and the officers son were at odds and had fought after school in 2018.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii and attorney Eric Seitz, which both represented the family, announced the settlement Tuesday.

Their lawsuit said Uemura was motivated solely by a personal vengeance in abusing his police power.

After the lawsuit was filed in October, police spokeswoman Michelle Yu said Uemura and his supervisor were disciplined, but she was unable to provide details.

Representatives for the police department and the city didnt immediately comment on the settlement. Uemura couldnt be reached for comment.

Seitz said in a news release that neither the officers nor the city admitted liability. During negotiations, attorneys for the family asked the city to reveal disciplinary actions taken against the officers, but the city refused, he said.

A 2020 legislative disciplinary report showed Uemura received a one-day suspension, Seitz said.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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In late 2019, the New York City Council voted to prohibit the storing, maintaining, or selling of foie gras  the enlarged, fatty liver of a duck or goose  in the city. The law addressing animal cruelty concerns could prove devastating to the livelihoods of hundreds of people living in Sullivan County, about 100 miles north of the city.

About 90 percent of the domestic foie gras in the country is produced by two farms located in Ferndale, New York: La Bella Farms and Hudson Valley Foie Gras, who work mostly in a cooperative business model, said Marcus Henley, manager of Hudson Valley. Both farms anticipate closing their businesses when the law takes effect next year.

The fallout of the city's foie gras ban shines a light on the tenuous relationship between rural regions and the metropolitan areas where agricultural products are sold. The ripple effect of losing two duck farms in Sullivan County could be economically disastrous not just to the nearly 400 workers they employ, but to the local community that relies on the farms as an economic driver for the area.

If we dont have the city, if we dont have restaurants, we're basically going to shut down, said Sergio Saravia, one of the owners of La Bella Farm. There's no way we can feasibly pay the overhead without NYC restaurants. About a third of their foie gras business goes directly to the citys fine-dining restaurants but everything about the ducks generates money, said Saravia.

Pre-pandemic, Hudson Valley Foie Gras slaughtered about 500,000 ducks per year that were raised for an average of 100 days before processing. In addition to foie gras, the breasts and legs of the animals are sold as retail or restaurant meat cuts, the bones and other parts are used in dog food, and even the feathers are sold as down for clothing.

DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images

The City Council argues that producing foie gras is inhumane because it is derived from force-feeding animals in the weeks before they are slaughtered. The ban was praised by many groups at the forefront of the animal welfare movement, like Voters for Animal Rights and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Cruelty concerns arent uncommon in the American agriculture industry  from dairy farming practices to poultry production to veal  and foie gras producers believe this ban unfairly targets their product, which sells for around $125 per liver and is seen as a luxury good.

Saravia maintains that they produce foie gras using humane agricultural practices, like hand feeding using rubber tubes. Both farms invited city council members with an open-door policy to check on the animals welfare, but no one came up to see how the farms work, Saravia said.

Regional economic ripple effect

For the farms, this is less a debate over animal welfare than an argument over the livelihoods of an agricultural community that is reliant on the industry.

If we close down its not just those 400 employees. You have the mills, the tow truck companies, everybody that works around. This is going to be hundreds of people that are going to be out of work, Saravia said.

Sullivan is already one of the poorer counties of New York state. According to 2019 U.S. census data, 16 percent of county residents live below the poverty line, a rate that tops the state average of 13 percent.

People should have the choice if they want to eat a duck breast in a restaurant or in their home, they should, said Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, who represents the 110th district which encompasses the Ferndale area. A lot of people would lose their jobs. It's important for our economy.

Sean Nearing is a third-generation owner of Cochecton Mills, a feed manufacturer that employs about 24 people including the other owners (his brother, father, and cousin). Primarily, the mill has catered to mostly small, family-run dairy farms. But as the dairy industry has changed to favor bigger operations elsewhere, many smaller farms have closed, prompting Cochecton to work with other local farmers.

Hudson Valley Foie Gras

About 10 years ago, Cochecton started supplying feed to La Bella  and eventually Hudson Valley  as a way to diversify.

Nearing worries that if the duck farms close, then he will lose about 20 percent of his gross sales and have to lay off a quarter of his workforce. Agriculture has a huge trickle-down effect, Nearing said.

Rural areas are very susceptible to industry changes that cause reverberations throughout an agricultural community.

Regional meat processing operations, like Hudson Valley Foie Gras, also become hubs for small farmers needing USDA-inspected slaughter facilities to process livestock for the retail market. Hudson Valley said it offers poultry processing services for a charge at the farm to over 200 small farmers. Fewer and fewer of these local processors are available to small farmers as the meat industry has consolidated.

In local rural communities, they are very often defined by a narrow set of industries. A particular industry in a region can have a very, very large effect on the economy, said Todd Schmit, an agricultural economics professor at Cornell University.

When one industry is lost where there are fewer employment opportunities, the downward spiral of businesses shuttering gains momentum and money leaves the community.

When you think of workers driving two counties away to work at a large manufacturing firm or a larger urban area, if those workers had opportunities more locally, they would spend more money locally and all the sorts of things that drive up an economy, Schmit said.

The farms dont just support other local businesses, they also help provide necessary social services, which would also be affected by potential farm closures.

La Bella Farm helps support Corona Self-Help Center in Jeffersonville, which works with people with addiction and substance abuse. Hudson Valley Foie Gras provides financial assistance to Christ Healthcare Ministries, which offers free medical services in Ferndale and neighboring Orange County. The ministry clinics care for the largely immigrant workforce as well as the surrounding community.

They (Hudson Valley Foie Gras) are a pillar in supporting us, said Dr. Juan Goyzueta, medical provider for the Ferndale clinic and board member of Christ Healthcare Ministries. Not only are they strong financial supporters, but they've given us the location to work and also the infrastructure.

Hudson Valley outfitted a trailer on the farm complete with running water, electricity, and WiFi when the upkeep of the health mobile began to cost too much for the ministry. The farm maintains the trailer and provides monthly financial assistance as a necessary good for their workers and the health of the community.

Hoping for a reversal

A somewhat obscure provision of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets called Section 305-A might provide some hope for overturning the NYC legislation. The state law says that local governments shall not unreasonably restrict or regulate farm operations within agricultural districts in contravention of the purposes of this article unless it can be shown that the public health or safety is threatened.

The Ag Department could overrule local legislation, like the foie gras ban, because the restriction does not protect public health or safety but prohibits an agricultural areas product based on perceived animal cruelty.

(City council members) are controlling us by saying, We are not going to restrict what you do, but you cant sell it here, Saravia said. You are effectively telling us we cannot farm because we don't have somewhere to sell it.

The problem is that there is no timeline for when Agriculture and Markets will make a determination. For now, the February reopening of restaurants in New York City  including fine dining establishments that are more likely to feature foie gras on their menus  will help, but the loss of white-tablecloth restaurant business this year due to the pandemic has been hard.

Calculating the loss

Pre-COVID, we had budgeted to do $150 million in 2020. We ended up at a flat $132 million, said Ariane Daguin, CEO of DArtagnan Foods, a major distributor of specialty foods like foie gras. Total sales of foie gras  retail, restaurant, ecommerce  account for seven to eight percent of DArtagnans business and that doesnt include the other duck products the company sells.

DArtagnan sources foie gras from Hudson Valley Foie Gras alone. But DArtagnan also relies on the farm to process chickens for them, accounting for $18 million of business a year.

DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images

For Marcus Henley at Hudson Valley, the pandemic has been a sneak peek at what business would be like without the NYC restaurant business. It was actually a little bit worse. Weve lost 75 percent during this period, he said.

The cooperative between Hudson Valley and La Bella farms initially projected  before the pandemic  that the NYC ban would cost about 25 percent of their businesses. That amount is only compounded by the nearly 25 percent already lost to California.

Californias ongoing war on foie gras production dates back to 2004 when a ban on force-feeding ducks and geese shut down production within the state. The ban was repealed briefly in 2015 only to be reinstituted by rulings in 2017 and 2019. Finally, in 2020, a ruling clarified that foie gras is legal to sell to California-based consumers directly online, but restaurants are still barred from serving or reselling the fatty liver on menus.

Last summers ruling provided a glimmer of hope for producers in Sullivan County, but not enough for duck farmers like Henley to be celebrating the small legal victory.

We've maybe gotten 5 percent of that business back, he said, since California restaurants are still off the table as a customer. I dont think we are a viable business.

Attempts to pivot not easy

As the New York City foie gras ban looms, both farms have explored alternatives. They have increased their chicken production, and La Bella has been experimenting with raising quails, but the profit margins are not high enough to maintain their current production or workforce.

Foie gras production requires a unique infrastructure, and changing the farms production to compete with traditional poultry processors is just not tenable for specialized farmers like La Bella and Hudson Valley. Hand-fed, foie gras ducks require special facilities and the cost to pivot is just not enough to cover the overhead.

Can we perhaps spin off an independent business that has 30 employees? Can we find export markets? Henley said. I dont see new markets within the United States to replace it. Theres nothing like New York City.



Ariane Daguin of DArtagnan is more optimistic.

Im not even planning for a day without foie gras in New York because it is not possible, she said. The chef is a painter, he has access to all different colors, this one color is going to be missing if the New York (City) Council has its way.

--

Lukas Southard is a freelance journalist who writes about agricultural systems and the business of how food gets to the plate.
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A Portland man who served a dozen years in prison for sexually abusing a child in California was sentenced Monday to serve 17 more years after using Facebook Messenger to convince a 16-year-old boy to take sexually explicit videos of himself.

Scott Andrew Lawrence, 57, was on supervised release for failing to register as a sex offender in Oregon when he posed online as a woman named Mary and communicated with the teenager from South Dakota, according to prosecutors.

Lawrence obtained the 16-year-old boys videos and distributed a graphic image of the boy to two other people, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Sussman said.

Lawrence pleaded guilty to one count each of receiving and distributing child pornography and violating his supervised release conditions from a 2018 conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.

This is a defendant with a very deep-seated sexual interest in children who is going to require a substantial period of supervision under very close scrutiny, Sussman said. Nothing short of a lifetime of supervised release following incarceration is going to do the trick.

U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones ordered Lawrence to face a life term of supervised release following his 17-year federal prison term.

We cannot predict at this point what the future holds for you, Jones said. Certainly your performance up to now has been abysmal.

Sussman argued that the lengthy sentence was necessary to protect the public, given Lawrences history of sexually abusing children and his willingness to continue pursuing children even while on federal supervised release.

Defendant is a previously convicted sex offender who served a lengthy prison term in California. That did not deter him. Nor did the sex offender treatment he completed following his California sentence, Sussman said. Being on federal supervision did not deter him either; defendant committed the new child pornography offenses just three months after starting supervision.

Both the prosecutor and Lawrences lawyer, Francesca Freccero, jointly recommended the judge impose 15-year concurrent sentences on the two counts of child pornography, plus another two years for violating the conditions of his release on a 2018 conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.

According to court records, Lawrence communicated online with the boy he knew was 16. Posing as a woman, he first sent images of a womans genitals to the boy, then convinced the boy to videotape himself masturbating and send the videos to Lawrences Facebook account in June 2019, the records showed.

On Oct. 24, 2019, investigators raided Lawrences home in Southeast Portland with a federal search warrant and seized his cellphone and iPad. They found two video files of the victim, according to court records.

During an interview with investigators, Lawrence admitted he had posed as a woman when communicating online with the 16-year-old, that he had asked for the sexually explicit videos of the boy and shared an image of the boy with two other people on Facebook, according to his plea agreement.

Lawrences California state conviction involved sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14. He was convicted in San Diego County and sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2001 and served 12 years before he was paroled in 2013.

Lawrences defense lawyer said the 16-year-old boy in the latest case wasnt tricked into participating in the online conversation with Lawrence.

Freccero unsuccessfully argued for five years of supervised release after Lawrences prison term, but the judge did adopt her suggestion and recommended to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons that Lawrence be placed at the federal prison in Petersburg, Virginia, where a sex offender management program is located.

The FBI investigated the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a national program started by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Seventeen years is a rightfully long sentence for a man who has repeatedly abused children. The victims targeted by Scott Lawrence, however, are the ones who will pay a higher price as they must live with the effects of that exploitation for a lifetime, said Kieran L. Ramsey, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
HydroGNSS will provide measurements of key hydrological climate variables, including soil moisture, freezethaw state over permafrost, inundation and wetlands, and above-ground biomass, using a technique called Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reflectometry. In doing so it will complement missions such as ESAs SMOS and Biomass, Copernicus Sentinel-1 and NASAs SMAP. The satellite measures the signal reflected off the land, ice and ocean from existing GNSS missions such as Galileo and GPS. Credit: SSTL

Following the selection of the first Scout satellite mission last December, ESA has also given the greenlight to start negotiations with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd in the UK to lead the development of the second Scout missionHydroGNSS.

Complementing ESA's series of Earth Explorer research missions, Scout missions are a new element in ESA's Earth Observation FutureEO Programme. The idea is to demonstrate the capability of small satellites to deliver value-added science, either by the miniaturization of existing technologies or by demonstrating new sensing techniques. Adopting an agile development process, the aim is to implement a Scout mission, from kick-off to launch, within three years, and for a maximum of 30 million. This budget includes the development of the space and ground segments, launch and in-orbit commissioning.

The first Scout mission, ESP-MACCS, focuses on understanding and quantifying processes in the upper atmosphere over the Tropicsthese processes play an important role in the overall evolution of the atmosphere. This second Scout mission, HydroGNSS, will provide measurements of key hydrological climate variables, including soil moisture, freezethaw state over permafrost, inundation and wetlands, and above-ground biomass, using a technique called Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reflectometry. In doing so it will complement missions such as ESA's SMOS and Biomass, Copernicus Sentinel-1 and NASA's SMAP.

The satellite measures the signal reflected off the land, ice and ocean from existing GNSS missions such as Galileo and GPS. Although these signals are faint, they can be collected by a low power receiver that can be accommodated on a small satellite in low Earth orbit making it compatible with a Scout mission.

The industrial consortium consists of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (UK) in charge of the development of the complete system, and a consortium of scientific institutes that will develop the retrieval techniques to access these key hydrological climate variable from the reflected signal: the National Oceanography Centre (UK), the Nottingham Geospatial Institute (UK), the University of Rome La Sapienza (IT), the Institute of Space Studies Catalonia (ES), and the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FI).

ESA's Acting Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Toni Tolker-Nielsen, said, "The decision to implement HydroGNSS after ESP-MACCS demonstrates that the Earth observation community is very interested in the concept of Scout missions. We are confident that this interest will further flourish when we see the first data in 2024."

Regional

Mnp police arrest supporters of separatist

Correspondent IMPHAL, Mar 30 | Publish Date: 3/30/2021 12:59:05 PM IST

Manipur police launched a crackdown against supporters of arrested self-styled external and defence minister Narengbam Samarjit of de-jure government of Manipur State Council.

Sources said that as many as seven persons who exhorted Samarjit on his arrival at Imphal Airport were arrested by the police during the past 24 hours.

Samarjit, the proclaimed minister of external affairs and defence of the government in exile in the UK was arrested by a team of NIA from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi on his way back to Imphal on March 25.

On his arrival at Imphal Airport, on Monday, some among the crowd waiting for his arrival shouted Long live Manipur, Victory to Samajit while he was taken away by the police.

After registering a case in connection with the incident allegedly tantamount to exhorting the separatist agenda of Samarjit, police arrested as many as seven persons.

Sources said that after yesterdays incident, a case was registered at Singjamei police station of Imphal West district three persons were arrested for allegedly shouting slogans

They were Narengbam Bishorjit of Tera Loukrakpam Leikai, Naoroibam David of Naoremthong, and Narengbam Nonglen of Tera Loukrakpam Leikai.

In further crackdown, the police have picked up four more persons including general secretary Mayanglambam Tonlenjao of North East India Development Party (NEIDP), a political party founded by Samarjit before he left for the UK to form the government in exile.

The police further picked three women supporters - N Tilotama and N Ranjana from Tera Loukrakpam Leikai and Naoroibam Medhabati, source said.

Samarjit, who is also the founder of Salai group of companies was brought to Imphal after taking a transit remand from Patiala Court. The judge has reportedly given the transit remand till March 31.


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[March 30, 2021] Amidst Pandemic, ScholarWorx Virtual Campus Provides Alternative Solution to In-Person Learning

SARASOTA, Fla., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Through leaves of absence and early retirements, many teachers in Sarasota County, Florida left the school system last year. "As one of these teachers, I was troubled by the wealth of knowledge that had just exited our school system," said Desiree Schell, Founder of ScholarWorx and former English teacher at Sarasota's Pine View School for the Gifted. "While teachers left for safety reasons, we still wanted to assist our educational community during such a critical time. Fueled by the global pandemic upending students, families and teachers' lives, ScholarWorx was born." The mission of ScholarWorx Virtual Campus is to bridge the growing gap of educational accessibility. We provide teachers, camps, schools, and other community partners a ground-breaking, safe virtual campus to bring programs to students in Sarasota and beyond. ScholarWorx Campus provides interactive curricula, minimizing feelings of isolation and Zoom exhaustion, while keeping kids on pace with their academics. "Beyond being a virtual learning center, ScholarWorx Campus affords students the joy of learning coupled with meaningful social interactions, which is so crucial to continued development while their normal routines seem to be in constant flux," said Schell. "In just weeks, we have onboarded a dozen exceptional teachers and exciting community partners to our campus. We have seen firsthand how ScholarWorx Virtual Campus resonates with our local community. We fill an acute need for teachers, parents, and students by bringing another option for the delivery of instruction  virtually. We strive to be the premier virtual educational resource center by keeping the joy of meaningful learning for our students, as our North Star." Specializing in Virtual Learning for all types of learners, ScholarWorx Campus offers: SATWorx : Beginning April 2021 , ScholarWorx will offer virtual SAT/ACT preparation courses for the college-bound student, designed, and administered by locally acclaimed teachers. Courses will align to provide 8 sessions of instruction before administrations of the SAT, ACT, and the fall administration of the PSAT.





: Beginning , ScholarWorx will offer virtual SAT/ACT preparation courses for the college-bound student, designed, and administered by locally acclaimed teachers. Courses will align to provide 8 sessions of instruction before administrations of the SAT, ACT, and the fall administration of the PSAT. One-on-One Tutoring to close learning gaps. Teachersfrom art to zoologyare welcome to participate in our one-month FREE sandbox offer! Bring your students, be an avatar teacher, and move into the students' world.





to close learning gaps. Teachersfrom art to zoologyare welcome to participate in our one-month FREE sandbox offer! Bring your students, be an avatar teacher, and move into the students' world. Learning Pods of 6-12 students with similar learning needs attend lessons in a virtual setting. Immersive technology, starring you as a 3D avatar, improves retention and increases the "fun factor" for learning.





of 6-12 students with similar learning needs attend lessons in a virtual setting. Immersive technology, starring you as a 3D avatar, improves retention and increases the "fun factor" for learning. Curriculum Clubs are where kids bring what they know and apply it in fun and engaging ways. The virtual setting provides endless possibilities for "hands-on" study. Don't see a club you want? Ask us! We are always looking for ideas.





are where kids bring what they know and apply it in fun and engaging ways. The virtual setting provides endless possibilities for "hands-on" study. Don't see a club you want? Ask us! We are always looking for ideas. Virtual Scholars: Our secure, private world of classrooms, meeting spaces, and live web boards are available to student and teacher avatars. Walk your avatar to the beach for a boat race with a friend or march to the Learning Pod you are signed up for. When done, how about a partnered game of the Invisible Path for life skills? About ScholarWorx

Founded amidst the Covid-19 pandemic in November 2020, ScholarWorx is a female-owned virtual educational services company that supports learning and camaraderie through small group classes, targeted tutoring, cross-curricular clubs, and educational travelin the Sarasota area and beyond.







Media Contacts:

Karen Cangero Desiree Schell

315-559-9410 941-313-2266

WeCare@ScholarWorx.com WeCare@ScholarWorx.com



OvalPenny@icloud.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amidst-pandemic-scholarworx-virtual-campus-provides-alternative-solution-to-in-person-learning-301257224.html SOURCE ScholarWorx

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Sam's in Albany celebrating 50th anniversary next week

Sams Italian American Restaurant opened April 6, 1971, and has been run by the same family since. It will observe its 50th anniversary from April 6 to 10 with three-course meals for $19.71. (The regular menu will also be available.) Entrees on the anniversary menu are spaghetti with red or white clam sauce, cheese tortellini with mushroom cream, baked scrod, eggplant Parm and veal with mushrooms and sausage. The special menu is not available for takeout.

Located at 125 Southern Blvd., Sams is open from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Call 518-463-3433.

Founded by Salvatore (Sam) Rappoccio and his wife, Angela, the restaurant is still at its original location. It is run by Sam and Angelas children Paul Rappoccio and Carmela Daubney. Their sister, Cathy, also worked at Sams, where she met her husband, Tony Gallo; they now own Prime Italian Steakhouse & Bar in Lenox, Mass. Pauls son, Joseph, manages Sams kitchen.

Malta food charity seeks cash to continue its work

Since early December, Nanola Restaurant in Malta, in partnership with the town of Malta and the Saratoga County Foundation, has provided up to 120 free meals a week for those in need as part of Malta Give to Dine program.

A donation of $25 provides a boxed complete meal for a family of four, and the program has been replicated in Schuylerville and Greenwich.

Malta Give to Dine is seeking more donations to continue its efforts. Donate via bit.ly/3m3AvgS.

According to the national not-for-profit Feeding America, 42 million people (one in eight), including 13 million children (one in six), may experience food insecurity in 2021.

Daintys replaces D&M for Jamaican food in Albany

Daintys Jamaican Kitchen has been open since March 6 at 160A Quail St. in Albany. It takes over a small storefront that for five years was was home to D&M Jerk Center, which closed at some point during the pandemic.

Hours are listed as 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday. The menu does not appear to be on the restaurants Facebook page, nor is there a dedicated website, but the menu is available via Yelp for takeout orders and on Seamless for delivery.

Or call 518-898-9093 for takeout.

Compiled by Steve Barnes. Items to be submitted for publication should be emailed to sbarnes@timesunion.com. Visit blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping
Garrick and Dannielles marriage is over  legally, that is. On the March 29 episode of TLCs Seeking Sister Wife, the Merrifields finalized their divorce. It was an emotional moment for the couple, who had to officially split up so that their future sister wife, Roberta, will be able to move to the United States.

Its a dramatic move that has some members of Dannielles family deeply concerned. Their fears for Dannielles future only increased when Garrick revealed that he planned to have a child with his new wife  and that the couple was considering moving to another country if Robertas visa wasnt approved.

Dannielles family isnt sure about her decision to live in a plural marriage

RELATED: Seeking Sister Wife: Toshas Mom Is Worried She Might Be in a Polygamous Cult

In the latest installment of Seeking Sister Wife, Garrick and Dannielle headed to court to end their marriage. A tearful Dannielle told the judge that she believed her marriage of nearly 13 years was irretrievably broken. Garrick agreed.

Garricks decision to embrace plural marriage has already caused an apparently permanent split with his family. Dannielles family seems somewhat more accepting of her choice, but they still have big concerns.

Dannielles mom Luann admitted that at first, she thought the idea of plural marriage was strange and not good.

Meanwhile, her dad Scott was focused on practical questions. I do have some concerns with legal matters and making sure [Garrick and Dannielles children] Geremiah and Solomon are taken care of, and Dannielle.

You dont have any guarantee that youll have anything, Luann added. What if he just decides to leave you for Roberta? And then youre left alone with nothing.

Garrick shocks Dannielles family on the latest episode of Seeking Sister Wife

Dannielle, Garrick, and Roberta of Seeking Sister Wife Season 3 | TLC

Despite her familys reservations, Garrick and Dannielle went forward with the divorce so that Roberta  who is from Brazil and speaks only Portuguese  will eventually be able to come to the U.S. on a K-1 visa.

After meeting with the judge, Garrick and Dannielle headed out to dinner with her parents, brother Sam, and sister-in-law Samantah. That was when the couple dropped another bombshell on her family. Garrick revealed he hopes to have a child with Roberta as soon as possible.

How do you think thats going to affect you? Samantha asked. Dannielle admitted it would be hard at first.

But the idea of Garrick and Roberta having a baby was nothing compared to the next revelation. Dannielles brother asked what would happen if Robertas visa wasnt approved.

That could cause us as a family to move to a whole other country, Garrick replied. That answer that didnt go over well with Dannielles family, especially her sister-in-law, who got upset at the idea of Garrick and Dannielle moving away.

Dannielle and Garrick meet up with Roberta in the next episode of Seeking Sister Wife

After spending two days with Roberta, Garrick popped the question! The catch? He must divorce Dannielle in order to marry her all on #SeeekingSisterWife premiering TOMORROW at 8/7c! pic.twitter.com/7lMnTfEOVb  TLC Network (@TLC) March 21, 2021

Dannielle and Garrick will have to wait between 6 and 12 months for Robertas visa to be approved. At that point, shell be able to come to the U.S. and marry Garrick. In the meantime, Garrick and Dannielle have planned another trip to Mexico to spend time with Roberta, a teaser for the April 5 episode revealed.

Garrick plans to spend all eight nights of the Mexico vacation with Roberta. Dannielles agreed to this arrangement, but dealing with the reality of it is another matter.

Seeing Garrick kissing her and hugging her, its a little bit awkward, she says.

Seeking Sister Wife airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC. New episodes are available to stream the same day on discovery+.

Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook!
Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah Asante has commended Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on his approval by the Appointments Committee in Parliament.



Ken Ofori-Atta appeared before the Appointments Committee to answer questions on his conduct in President Nana Akufo-Addo's first term.



The vetting of the Finance Minister gave Ghanaians and the Committee the opportunity to assess his competence and whether he deserves to serve as Minister in the President's second term.



Following the vetting, Mr. Ofori-Atta has been approved.



Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Dr. Asah Asante believed Ken Ofori-Atta was approved by the Committee on merit for his competence but advised him not to be complacent.



He noted that complacency has caused some people to fail in executing their duties, hence writing off their hard work.



"He shouldn't be complacent because, in politics, when someone becomes complacent; the person isn't able to work effectively . . . He will continue his good works and remain humble. He will work hard to leave a good legacy for posterity."







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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On Tuesday, the Trinamool Congress registered a formal complaint with the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day Bangladesh visit from March 26 to 27. TMC has accused PM of indirectly campaigning for his party from foreign soil and demanded Election Commission to take strict action against the 'undemocratic act'. Mamata Banerjee had said that her party would be approaching the poll body, accusing the PM of doing 'vote marketing' in Bangladesh.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) registers a complaint with Election Commission over, "Gross violation of democratic ethics and the Model Code of Conduct by Prime Minister during his visit to Bangladesh." pic.twitter.com/S1dDiejAqt  ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2021

The complaint has been registered by TMC alleging gross violation of democratic ethics and the Model Code of Conduct by the Prime Minister during his visit to Bangladesh.

"We have no objection whatsoever to his visit to Bangladesh for this official purpose. After all, India played a critical role in the liberation of Bangladesh. However, the All India Trinamool strongly objects to PM Modi's programmes in Bangladesh on March 27. These had nothing to do with either the 50th anniversary Of the Independence Of Bangladesh or the birth centenary of 'Bangabandhu'. Rather, they were solely and exclusively intended to influence the voting pattern in certain constituencies in the ongoing elections to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal," TMC said

TMC said that no Indian Prime Minister has ever violated the Model Code Of Conduct, by indirectly campaigning for his party from foreign soil and got so brazenly indulged in an unethical and undemocratic act.

TMC further alleged that PM Modi took Shri Santanu Thakur, a BJP MP from West Bengal along with him who had has no official position in the government of India.

"The political motive behind PM Modi's visit to Orakandi in Bangladesh is doubly proven by the fact that he took along with him Shri Santanu Thakur, a BJP MP from West Bengal, who holds no official position in the Government of India. No MP or representative from Trinamool Congress or other parties was invited to accompany the PM", the letter read.

Hence, the All India Trinamool Congress has demanded the Election Commission of India to take deterrent punitive action against Prime Minister 'so that he does not repeat such misconduct in the future'.

PM Modi speaks on Nimta Victim

While addressing a rally in Tamil Nadu's Dharapuram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted and targeted opposition over the demise of the 85-years-old mother of a BJP worker on March 29- a month after she was allegedly beaten up by TMC workers in Nimta area of North 24 Parganas district.

PM Modi said that an elderly lady Shova Majumdar lost her life in West Bengal. 'We saw with horror how goons belonging to TMC brutally attacked her just because her ideology was different. This has been in news for a long time. Did Congress show any empathy? Did DMK & the Left condemn it?' the Prime Minister asked.

Y'day, an elderly lady Shova Majumdar lost her life in West Bengal. We saw with horror how goons belonging to TMC brutally attacked her just because her ideology was different. This has been in news for a long time. Did Congress show any empathy? Did DMK & Left condemn it:PM Modi https://t.co/K6rfV7j7eN pic.twitter.com/X1nV6Fvvcp  ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2021

(Image Credits: PTI/RepresntativeImage)


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A Shopper Experience Index report by Bazaarvoice, a provider of product reviews and user-generated content (UGC) solutions, shows shopping trends are expanding as the pandemic's impact on e-commerce continues, forcing retailers to adapt their marketing strategies to meet new consumer expectations and demands.

Consumer adoption of digital shopping is driving expanded use of user-generated content, new private labels, and access to product sampling. A key finding of the global report is how rapidly social commerce has gone mainstream. Another significant result is that while digital shopping is not fully replacing brick-and-mortar stores, it is surpassing it.

The report notes that most shoppers want a mix of user experiences for in-store and online shopping. That strategy was already on the rise. The pandemic has accelerated e-commerce's trajectory by years.

Released Wednesday, the report is based on data from over 11,500 brand and retailer websites in the Bazaarvoice Network, Bazaarvoice's Influenster community of more than six million members, and a global survey of more than 6,000 consumers.

"COVID-19 has not only drastically changed consumers' shopping habits, but accelerated the trends already in motion before it began," said Keith Nealon, CEO at Bazaarvoice. "But even though more shoppers are utilizing e-commerce than ever before, they still want the brick-and mortar experience of truly getting to know the product they are buying."

As the pandemic continues, brands and retailers must have an omnichannel approach. This allows their consumers to shop and meet them where and when they want. Regardless of what channel consumers select, brands need to bring the in-store experience to the shoppers' front doors and leave them with the confidence to make the right purchase decision, he said.

"I think the most surprising finding was how common social commerce has become -- almost a third of U.S. shoppers said they use social media to discover new products to buy," Suzin Wold, senior vice president of marketing at Bazaarvoice, told the E-Commerce Times.

Social Commerce Now Mainstream

The report found that more than one in three shoppers made a purchase on social media in the past year. Social commerce will only continue to become more and more mainstream going forward as well, Wold noted.

Almost half of the global population is using at least one social media platform. But that use is no longer reserved for keeping in touch with friends. Some 32 percent of U.S. shoppers said they use social media to discover new products to buy.

"We are seeing this in real-time, as social companies are continuing to update their platforms to be more commerce-friendly. Soon, people will be using social media to shop just as much they use it to socialize," Wold added.

When broken down by age, that number climbs to 43 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds and 47 percent of 25-to-34-year-olds regularly engage with e-commerce on social media, said Wold.

Report Takeaways

As these social commerce and online shopping trends are only set to increase, it is time for brands to take what customers share with them on social media and utilize it elsewhere, according to the report's researchers. That should be a staple for marketers since many shoppers cannot or will not go inside stores to see products for themselves.

When shopping on a brand or retailer's website, 42 percent of shoppers will not purchase if the page they visit lacks user-generated content available. Nearly half (49 percent) of shoppers look on product pages for customer photos, followed by other websites where the product is sold (47 percent) and search engines (35 percent).

The trends reported above from the Shopper Experience Index reflect consumer behavior in the U.S. But the report also focuses on the same behavior patterns by shoppers in other countries. The trends revealed are the same, only the supporting percentages vary.

"Right now, the large variations in shopper behavior between countries is very much due to the pandemic. COVID-19 has impacted countries in very different ways over time, and there are vastly different lived experiences going on right now all over the world. Shutdowns and the risk of infection varied greatly by location. In turn, shoppers approached retail differently in response to that," explained Wold.

Same Trends, Different Numbers

This year's Shopper Experience Index shows some significant differences in consumer behavior over last year as influences from the pandemic spread. Still, e-commerce's trajectory was vastly accelerated in 2020 alone.

While online shopping used to be mostly for leisure, it is now a necessity, noted Wold. In fact, 36 percent of American shoppers said they reduced their in-store trips, 18 percent said they only go into stores for essentials, and 20 percent said they are not shopping in-store at all right now.

In Bazaarvoice's client network of over 11,500 brands and retailers, online ordering increased 39 percent year-over-year in 2020 globally. However, by no means does this suggest that physical retail is obsolete.

"I think as soon as shopping in-person is safer, more people will get back to it. Just slightly under half (49 percent) of shoppers would choose in-store shopping over buying online for the next year," observed Wold, citing results from the report.

Gone Digital With Hands-On Sampling

In 2020, online shopping went from a novelty option to a necessity. Despite the reluctance of many shoppers to step foot in a physical store, shoppers are not willing to give up brick-and-mortar shopping just yet.

But the tide is showing strong signs of changing. More consumers are cutting regular trips to their previous in-store preferences.

Hands-on sampling as a new consumer shopping trait is making up for the missing in-store experience. Product sampling is helping to replace it.

Over half (52 percent) of shoppers said what they value most about an in-store shopping experience is the ability to touch, see, and try on products. Significantly fewer (47 percent) of consumers said shopping at a brick-and-mortar store is how they feel most connected to the brands they love.

With the new normal having turned into just 'normal', brands need to meet customers where they are, at home. Product sampling is the perfect solution, the researchers found.

Bazaarvoice's survey found 82 percent of shoppers like the idea of receiving free samples. Some 53 percent of shoppers are willing to write a review of the free products they received. Plus, 28 percent say they will even post on social media.

In a survey of the Influenster community of members who have received a sampling box from Bazaarvoice, 60 percent said they purchased the products they sampled again, and 97 percent said they bought at least one other product from the brand because they loved the first product so much.

Shoppers appreciate sampling because it gives them the in-store experience of physically interacting with a product that they crave. What makes it so appealing is they can discover new products from the safety of their own homes.

Private Label Products in Demand

Private labels are becoming preferred by shoppers as well. Private label products are obtained by retailers from a third-party. Retailers sell them under their own brand names. The individual retailer controls everything about the product or products, including the product's specs, its packaging, and everything else.

Through an improvement in perception and offerings, private label products have become sought after, instead of afterthoughts, according to Baazarvoice's research. During the past year, 53 percent of shoppers made a private label purchase.

The top reason for doing so was liking the product (59 percent), followed by the product being cheaper (56 percent). Grocery is the most popular vertical that shoppers will buy as a private label (57 percent), followed by apparel and accessories (47 percent), and home goods (46 percent).

Some 47 percent of shoppers have intentionally purchased private label products in the past year. The greater availability of private label products has also played a role in addressing global product shortages due to COVID-19.

More than three-fourths (84 percent) of shoppers report product shortages during the pandemic. As current times provide great opportunity for private labels, retailers must ensure that UGC is available for these products to give consumers confidence to choose them.

Seeing Is Not Like Touching

COVID-19 has accelerated numerous shopping trends and consumer behaviors related to online shopping and delivery, acknowledged Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. But the new commerce normal still leaves something to be desired when it comes to assessing products you are thinking about buying, he said.

"At one level, that has increased the importance of consumer-generated reviews and similar content," he told the E-Commerce Times. "But it is also worth mentioning that personal reviews are being actively gamed on Amazon and other e-commerce platforms."

That, in turn, has heightened the value of known/respected brands and manufacturers with solid support services and return policies, King added.

"One reason subscription boxes have been so popular is that they allow consumers to sample a variety of products without the trouble of leaving the house. Whether those services remain popular as the pandemic begins to recede will be an important trend to watch," he said.

Shifting Trends, Changing Loyalties

The issue of consumer and brand trust is impacting consumer reactions to the shift in buying practices, noted Andre Artacho, managing director of Two Nil, a marketing and consulting services firm in Los Angeles. That could become a tipping point of success or failure for brands this year.

"Consumers are likely going to rely more and more heavily on reviews and not product details that are emphasized by the brands themselves. They will trust what other people have to say over fluff from brands," Artacho told the E-Commerce Times.

Brand trust and sentiment will likely be driving factors for consumer decision making in 2021, he added.

Private labels and live shopping are two other trends that are attracting consumer attention as in-store replacements, observed Shelly Socol, co-founder of 1R, a digital commerce and retail strategy agency in New York City.

"The uptick in private labels is increasing because many of these types of brands are straight direct-to-consumer models with streamlined and dedicated offerings," Socol told the E-Commerce Times.

They have cut out the middleman, are digitally savvy, focused on convenience, brand communication, are priced right, and are extremely authentic in their communication which is resonating with shoppers, she explained.

Live shopping is also popular and is a dominating trend this year. Brands are finding a lot of success with marketing on Instagram Live or similar third-party platforms, she noted.

Product testing is a big trend that will continue to grow. Virtual try-on is also getting more popular, but it is an investment. "If you do not implement properly, it could scare customers off," Socol cautioned.

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.



Thiruvananthapuram, March 30 : The arrival of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Kerala aimed at stopping Pinarayi Vijayan's march towards a second term, appeared to be working on Tuesday as huge crowds flanked the roads where her roadshow was scheduled to pass.

When she spoke at her first election rally, many saw shades of her grandmother Indira Gandhi who was the darling of many in Kerala.

Not one to disappoint, Priyanka Gandhi was seen taking her SUV ride greeting people enthusiastically as they waved to her from everywhere roof-tops and buildings as her cavalcade passed.

As she began her speech at Karunagapally, about 100 km from here, she tore into Chief Minister Vijayan.

"It's here where the most educated people are and hence all eyes are on the way you are going to vote as it will lay the path forward for our country.

"You have to speak as you are the greatest strength and you are the real gold.

"The real gold is you -- the people -- but unfortunately for Kerala Chief Minister he deals with smuggled gold," said Priyanka Gandhi, and was greeted with a huge rounds of applause.

"They no longer follow the Communist manifesto as today they follow the Corporate manifesto.

"In the past five years, he has been following the principle of fear, favouritism and fraud. He has instilled a sense of fear and all the tall promises that was made has fallen flat as there was no alternate model of development, as was promised," said Priyanka Gandhi.

Breathing fire against the Vijayan government, she said: "Every time something comes out, all what we hear is the Chief Minister saying he has no idea.

"If so, then who is running the government. In the EMCC deep sea fishing scam, even WhatsApp messages implicating his office came out and he says he has no idea.

"Same was his response, when the gold scam case surfaced and when the Sprinklr data scam came out," the Congress leader said.

She also came down heavily on the ruling party for the way all the jobs were kept aside for the party supporters, despite the presence of qualified Kerala youths, who were overlooked.

"When he should have supported the fishing community, he sold their livelihood for Rs 5,000 crore to a US firm. When these are all the truths of his governance, everything has been managed by a huge public relation exercise.

"So you should know which MLA and which party has been with you and on April 6, when you choose to vote, you should choose well. My wish is you all should vote for the Congress and lay a new path for governance," added Gandhi.

Priyanka Gandhi is on a hectic schedule, travelling by helicopter on longer routes and sprucing them up with road shows crisscrossing the state with corner meetings, where sizeable crowds are gathering.

By the end of the day, she would have covered four districts and on Wednesday before she returns, she would have covered another four districts.

While all the pre-poll surveys having predicted Vijayan to get a second term, the Congress-led UDF is in an upbeat mood as they have sensed their trump card -- swinging back the electorate.

The Gandhi siblings are going all out. Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi who has already completed two phases of his campaign is all set to return later this week.
New Delhi:

At least 54 students of IIIT Nuzvid in Andhra Pradesh were suspended on Monday for allegedly ragging juniors in the campus last month. It is the biggest crackdown in the state, officials said.

The students were suspended after a disciplinary committee formed to probe the August 29 incident submitted its report on Monday. It recommended to suspend the students, an official said.

While speaking about the incident, Nuzvid IIIT Administration Officer (AO) Rama Kanth said, "A total of 54 students--in their third and fourth years--have been suspended for varying durations ranging from two weeks to one year for ragging junior students on the campus."

ALSO READ | Noida school 'ragging': Class 10 student of Pathways School slapped, loses 25 percent hearing

The senior students allegedly assaulted around 12 students of the prestigious institute on August 29.

Following the incident, the Vice-Chancellor and the Director of the institute constituted the disciplinary committee to look into the incident.

(With PTI inputs)

ALSO READ | Delhi University student security: DU take strict measures to prevent ragging and womens safety

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
8 New Local CCP Virus Cases Detected in Brisbane

The Queensland government has reported eight new locally-acquired CCP virus cases in the state overnight and a further two cases acquired overseas that were detected in hotel quarantine.

This comes as two distinct clusters of the UK variant of COVID-19 emerge in the state.

Premier Annastacia Palszczuk said six of the cases were close contacts of confirmed cases while two others are under investigation but health authorities believed them to be linked to known cases.

The two overseas-acquired cases arrived in Australia from Papua New Guinea, where there is a severe outbreak occurring.

Read More 8,000 Aussie Vaccine Doses Arrive in Papua New Guinea Amid Outbreak

This comes after a snap lockdown was implemented in the Greater Brisbane area on March 29 which the premier said was to help slow the spread while contact tracing efforts are underway.

The new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, bring the states total number of active cases to 78. This is up from five active cases on Feb. 20.

Palaszczuk told reporters on March 30 that the vast majority of the active cases (approximately 65) were acquired overseas.

Health authorities are keen to rule out further community transmission via the snap lockdown, but the premier called it good news that the new cases so far appear to be linked, as this reduces the risk of unknown infectious people.

Two Clusters Emerge From Frontline Staff at Princess Alexandra Hospital

Palaszczuk also said there are now two distinct clusters of the UK variant in Queensland, both connected to frontline healthcare workers at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

We now believe that there are two distinct clusters so we have a cluster linked of course to that PA doctor and we have a second cluster linked to the PA nurse, Palaszczuk told reporters.

One cluster is connected to the doctor who tested positive for the virus on March 12 after being infected by a hotel quarantine guest.

Genomic sequencing linked the doctors virus to a 26-year-old Stafford man who tested positive on March 25though he had been infectious in the community for a week at that stage.

The Stafford man then passed the virus onto a close contact, a Strathpine man. The Strathpine man then infected two colleagues and his brother.

The second cluster is connected to a nurse from the same hospital. She worked a shift on March 23 but Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said they could not find an epidemiological link between her and a COVID-19 positive patient as she did not work in the COVID-19 ward. However, genomic testing has linked her directly with the patient.

I dont know if she got it directly from that patient, because she wasnt working with COVID cases that night but we have to confirm that, or whether shes got it from someone else in the hospital, Young told reporters. But we do know shes got exactly the same genome.

The nurses sister tested positive with the same genome as well. A further five cases have been linked to the nurse and her sister, all of whom attended a party in Byron Bay together.

A CCP virus outbreak sent about 2.5 million people in Greater Brisbane into a snap three-day lockdown on Monday afternoon.

Hundreds more people around the state who have visited Brisbane since March 20 are also under orders to stay at home and self-isolate.

A mask-wearing mandate has been imposed for the entire state, given the number of people who travelled from Brisbane to other regions during the time the first cases were infectious in the community.
Published on:

29 March 2021



Houses of Parliament. Credit: Pixabay Houses of Parliament. Credit: Pixabay

The past two decades have seen some of the most far-reaching changes to the UK constitution since universal suffrage. Many of the reforms have been lauded as a successful, and whilst criticism exists, there have been continued debates about the need for further reform.

UK Constitutional Reform: What Has Worked and What Hasnt?

The conference, comprised 35 speakers from more than six countries, included a number of cabinet ministers from the Blair, Brown, Cameron, May, and Johnson governments.

Speakers included Rt Hon Ruth Kelly, Rt Hon Caroline Flint, Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom, Rt Hon Robert Buckland as well as Chair of Vote Leave Gisela Stuart, Baroness Stuart.

Former Northern Ireland Minister of Justice Claire Sugden MLA, Former Labour ministers Tom Harris and Tony McNulty, Conservative peer and academic Philip Norton, Lord Norton of Louth were also in attendance. The conference was organised by Dr Richard Johnson, Lecturer from Queen Marys School of Politics and International Relations.

During the two day conference, Lord Chancellor Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP delivered a keynote speech on the need for balance between law and politics when it comes to the constitution. He said: As a modern Lord Chancellor my duties are to properly balance our constitutional arrangements, and so to protect the Judiciary. To maintain a clear delineation about where the power lies, it falls to me to propose reforms which, as far as possible, avoid drawing judges into the political realm and forcing them to adjudicate on moral or philosophical issues.

The best solution is to avoid getting into this situation in the first place by Parliament taking the lead and ensuring that the discretionary field of judgement is appropriately construed.

The UKs constitutional puzzle

Topics for debate included whether constitutional reforms have delivered as they should and whether they have improved governance or added further complications. At a time when there has been much debate about how unified the United Kingdom really is, the conference served as a timely reminder that constitutional questions are ever evolving.

Dr Richard Johnson, Lecturer in US Politics and Policy at Queen Mary said: What puzzles me about the constitutional reform debate in Britain is that some of the staunchest advocates of introducing more veto players into the British system identify as being on the left of politics.

The Attlee, Wilson, and Callaghan governments understood that the old British constitution, with its absence of codified checks and balances, provided enormous potential for a democratic socialist party.

Today, I hear Keir Starmer and Labour members and MPs singing the praises of the very devices which would constrain the power of a majority Labour government from implementing a socialist programme  or indeed supporting reforms that would make a majority Labour government impossible altogether.

I think what has been lost is that faith in the power of the British people to act as our constitutional safeguard.

More information

UK Constitutional Reform: What Has Worked and What Hasn't Worked was supported by Queen Mary's School of Politics and International Relations, Queen Mary's Mile End Institute and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Blog

Surrounded by regional turmoil and managing complicated domestic politics, the pressure is rising on Kenya, a critically important economic and security partner to the United States, to help shape a future in which its citizens can thrive. It will take deft diplomacy and real leadership for Kenya to navigate through the months ahead, and Washington should look for ways to help it succeed.

Kenya's neighborhood is growing rougher by the day. Ethiopia's multiple internal crises threaten its stability, and its border conflict with Sudan and ongoing tensions with both Sudan and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam could lead to war. Somalia's current electoral impasse threatens to unravel decades of work toward a viable political dispensation to help bring order and accountability to one of the world's most troubled states; meanwhile it is embroiled in a maritime boundary dispute with Kenya that is as much a symptom as a cause of the countries' fraying relations.

South Sudan's failures of governance [PDF] continue to fuel endemic instability, while Uganda's recent deeply flawed elections cast serious doubt on the trajectory of the country going forward, as its intractable government seems to be on a collision course with the demands for change of its youthful population. Tanzania to the south is a comparative bastion of calm, but the terrorist organization operating in northern Mozambique has made incursions into Tanzanian territory, raising ominous fears about the future of the east African coast.

Domestically, Kenya is gearing up for elections in 2022. Historically elections have been flashpoints for political violence, and a great deal of government effort in recent years has been devoted to avoiding a repeat of the past. Whether it is sufficient to overcome the country's toxic ethnic politics, or the elite interests that often fail to respond to the desires and frustrations of young Kenyans, remains to be seen, especially in light of the challenging social and economic headwinds that COVID-19 has brought to the country.

For the United States, finding common ground with Kenya has never been more important. Kenya holds a seat on the UN Security Council for the next two years, and it should be a vital partner in addressing multiple peace and security crises as the Biden administration seeks to reinvigorate multilateralism and support for a rules-governed international order that can effectively tackle global challenges. But Kenya is certainly capable of going in the wrong direction.

It took such a step earlier this week, demanding that UNHCR present a plan for closing the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps, home to hundreds of thousands of primarily Somali and South Sudanese refugees. For years the Kenyan government has been concerned about security threats emanating from refugee camps, but by positioning itself at odds with the international community over norms around the treatment of refugees and forced returns, the Kenyan government undermines confidence in its own commitment to just and effective global governance.

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Kenya has painful experience with very real security threats, but lasting peace can be won only by driving an agenda that addresses the broader regional context. Kenya's voice on the world stage can be an important part of a more assertive Africa, but only if its leadership is prepared to conceive of its role in that larger context, and to take a more strategic and less tactical approach to foreign-policy decision making.

Blog posts represent the views of CFR fellows and staff and not those of CFR, which takes no institutional positions.
In Louisiana's biggest step towards reopening to date, Gov. John Bel Edwards on Tuesday lifted occupancy limits on bars, restaurants, salons, gyms, malls and casinos, while maintaining social distancing requirements and a mask mandate that neighboring states have cast away in recent weeks.

The updated guidelines represent the loosest restrictions since the pandemic began and come just over a year after Edwards issued a sweeping stay-at-home order, which upended daily life and kicked-off months of seesawing rules that tightened and loosened as infections ebbed and flowed.

Today marks a big step forward, but were all going to have a role to play in making sure cases don't spike again," Edwards said, adding that the best tools Louisiana has to "win the race" against COVID-19 are to wear a mask, social distance and get vaccinated.

Louisiana expects to receive a whopping 300,000 vaccine doses next week, nearly doubling the amount of weekly doses the state is currently receiving. The shipment, which doesn't include allocations some pharmacies get directly from the federal government, comes after the state opened vaccine eligibility on Monday to anyone 16 or older.

The statewide easing of restrictions appears to buck the advice of federal public health officials who in recent days warned that the nation was teetering on the edge of another deadly surge in COVID-19 cases and cautioned that relaxing pandemic rules could result in needless deaths.

Edwards, who has hewed closely to federal guidance on the pandemic in the past, said his goal was to "strike the right balance between lives on the one hand and livelihoods on the other," adding that the most urgent plea from President Joe Biden was that states maintain or reinstate their mask mandates.

Louisiana's continued mask-wearing requirement makes it an outlier among its neighbors. Texas and Mississippi both lifted their mask-wearing requirements earlier this month in a move Biden called "Neanderthal thinking," and Arkansas' mandate is set to expire at the end of March.

Edwards' latest order, which goes into effect Wednesday, expires on April 28 and also does away with an 11 p.m. curfew on establishments serving alcohol. Businesses and venues that host larger gatherings, like receptions halls, will remain capped at 50 percent of their capacity, with a maximum gathering size of not more than 500 people indoors.

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

New Orleans, which has operated under stricter requirements throughout much of the pandemic, will remain in its current reopening phase and is likely to make its own announcement later this week about potential changes, city officials said. Under existing restrictions, restaurants, salons and retails stores are allowed to open at 75% capacity and bars without food permits can serve half their patrons.

Dr. Joe Kanter, the state health director, said that statewide, COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases are on a downward trend, and the rate of coronavirus tests coming back positive also dropped to 2.8%. Still, some regions of the state are faring better than others.

The number of COVID-like illnesses showing up in emergency rooms, an early indicator of coronavirus trendlines, have plateaued in the public health regions that include Acadiana, Alexandria, Monroe, Northshore and Shreveport. Meanwhile, the more transmissible U.K. variant of the virus is gaining ground, particularly in southwest Louisiana.

The state reported just 14 new infections among nursing home residents last week, the lowest recorded since the start of pandemic. Kanter said the reason for such low transmission is clear: 80% of nursing home residents are vaccinated. Edwards added that the numbers should give the public comfort that if enough people get vaccinated, the pandemic could end.

"I don't know what more anybody would need to know that this is a safe and effective vaccine, and we have the opportunity to do that for the entire state if just enough people will avail themselves of the opportunity to be vaccinated," Edwards said.

Which Lafayette neighborhoods have the highest COVID vaccination rates? See the map As Louisiana opens COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to everyone over the age of 18, state data shows similar disparities in Lafayette Parish as se

Louisiana ranked 41st among states in the percentage of its total population that had received at least one vaccine dose, a slight drop in rankings over previous weeks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly 1.2 million people in Louisiana  26% of the states total population  have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. More than 720,000 people have been fully immunized, about 16%.
Covid-19 carers in Laois Offaly and right around need more than just sympathy and nice words from politicians, they need action according to Laois Offaly TD.

The Sinn Fein TD for Laois/Offaly Brian Stanley said supports have been stripped away from carers right around the country due to the pandemic placing huge pressure on families.

He has called on all TDs in the area to back Sinn Feins proposals to stand up for family carers and ensure they get the support they deserve. The motion will be debated in the Dail on Wednesday.

Sinn Fein are bringing a motion to the Dail this week to ensure that family carers finally get a break and receive the support they need. Carers have been abandoned by this Government for too long. Its time to stand up for them and ensure they get the change they need.

There are 500,000 family carers across Ireland who work unpaid hours to care for and support their loved ones. Current financial support is nowhere near enough. The Government has failed to listen to family carers and support them for years, but this has become even worse with the pandemic.

Families have been left abandoned as important support services for their loved ones have shut. Many have had to effectively stay inside for the last year as they try to protect high-risk relatives from Covid-19. This has placed huge pressure on families and added to their stress.

Last week, the scandal of the state compiling secret dossiers on children with autism and their families to use against them, highlighted for many family carers how the Government is completely out of touch and takes them for granted. This attitude cannot continue," he said.

The Laois-based TD said carers need a response.

I have spoken to many family carers who have shared their stories with me. They are exhausted and fed up of this Government sympathising with them but then continuing to take them for granted doing nothing to help them. Carers need more than just sympathy and nice words from politicians, they need action and they need it now.

He said Sinn Feins motion stands up for carers and delivers the change theyre demanding through four key steps.

"Firstly, it commits the government to prioritising family carers in the Covid-19 vaccine roll out.

Secondly, it gives family carers the financial support they need. This includes increasing eligibility criteria and payments of the Carers Allowance, extending Carers Benefit to the self-employed, helping family carers struggling with energy bills and guaranteeing other key financial supports that families need.

Thirdly, it gives respite for family carers who are exhausted and need a break. It will ensure the resumption of Day Services which provide crucial support and relief for families, build up respite capacity including for overnights and create an Emergency Talk Therapy Fund.

Finally, it demands an immediate end to compiling and storing secret dossiers on children and their families using information gained by professionals and shared without parents consent. This appalling breach of trust was shameful and should never have happened.

He said other politicians can support carers by backing the motion.

I am calling on all TDs from all parties and independents to back Sinn Feins motion and give family carers a break. Carers dont need any more sympathy or kind words from politicians, they need us to act, stop taking them for granted and ensure they get the support they need. Its time to stand up for family carers now, he said.
UPDATE June 3, 11:21 a.m. Sam's earned San Francisco Legacy Business status on Thursday, June 3, according to Emad ElShawa (who runs day-to-day operations for Sam's), nearly 15 months after being nominated by S.F. Supervisor Aaron Peskin. The business secured approvals from the Historical Preservation Commission in March, and the Small Business Commission sealed the deal Tuesday. With the designation, Sam's gets a plaque and their landlord gets a cash grant that incentivizes them to sign Sam's to a favorable, long-term lease when their current one is up for renegotiation in two years.

"Designation as legacy business is a cool thing to have. Were part of S.F., we contributed to citys history for the last 50 years, and now we're something the city wants to contribute to," ElShawa told SFGATE on Thursday. "Will rent stop going up? I doubt it, there's nothing written in it that says you have to give rent relief, but do anticipate it will help. Being that you have a legacy business in your building is probably something you'd want to keep around."

---

"I just wanna dance with somebody.

I wanna feel the heat with somebody."

My throat is hoarse and fingertips are tingling as I stumble out of Chinatowns Bow Bow Cocktails on a warm San Francisco night  the words from Whitney Houstons seminal 1987 classic still ringing in my head after a sweaty all-night karaoke affair with friends.

I need a burger and know just where to go.

---

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

Sams opened in 1966 on Broadway, a block from the east end of the Broadway tunnel, at the intersection of Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Chinatown and North Beach.

I had my first burger there in 2010, minutes after wandering out of Bow Bow and a couple of years before a tipsy Anthony Bourdain would drop by Sams in a 2012 episode of Travel Channels The Layover to declare their burger one of his top three in the world.

That is a good motherfkin burger, reads a note in the San Francisco institution signed by the late Bourdain.

Courtesy of Travel Channel's 'The Layover'

And it really is. Crisply grilled sesame-seeded buns hug two patties (always get the double), with perfectly melted cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, red onion, ketchup and mayo  the whole thing is an exercise in juicy ingredient harmony that pairs really perfectly with an essential San Francisco experience. Its hard to knock a deliciously simple burger you can get until 4 a.m. in a tiny hole-in-the-wall 20-seater at the epicenter of four fantastic S.F. drinking neighborhoods.

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

Mike ElShawa served me that burger, and the burgers of every other person who sat at one of his ketchup-red stools for 50 years before his passing in 2016.

My dad worked extremely hard to build what we had, says Emad ElShawa  Mikes youngest of three sons  who took over day-to-day operations when his father died. We had a front row seat to how hard he worked. Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, until 3 or 4 in the morning, 12 hours a day  it was a grind. We saw him an hour before we went to school when we were kids, and as soon as we were old enough to go to North Beach, wed go and spend as much time there as we could to see dad. The only vacation he took was in 1998 when he had a heart attack. That was it.

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

Emad ElShawa was born and raised in San Francisco and watched his father give his life to North Beach for 26 years, which is evidenced by both the stories he tells about his dad, and the fact that  as the only brother still living in San Francisco  he took over the business in 2016 while also juggling a full-time tech exec job at Fundbox.

He refused to give up his dads legacy.

The amount of respect from people who still come in to this day and say I remember your dad, whether its cops, or San Francisco supervisors, or just people in the neighborhood  they all come in and say, We miss your dad.

---

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

I miss Mike.

The thing about him is he wasnt a guy who everyone in the neighborhood missed  he was a guy everyone in the city missed. San Francisco issued a dedication upon his death, which now hangs in the 55-year-old restaurant. Mike was the heartbeat of Sams, which has always had this really special mix of industry folks getting off shift (and some of the hungry people they were just serving last call to), people in the neighborhood who needed an a.m. burger, and all kinds of wild cards from the Broadway strip club scene.

Sams roster of celebrity diners rivals that of any of the citys Michelin-starred superpowers: Sean Penn, Too $hort, Draymond Green, Nicolas Cage, Marshawn Lynch, Dave Chappelle, Jameis Winston, Keyshia Cole, Boots Riley, Darren McFadden, and the list goes on.

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

Theres a reason Mission Chineses Danny Bowien took Bourdain to Sams almost a decade ago. Yes, because its open late, but also because everyone loved Mike.

"I started going there when I worked at Bar Crudo, I was slicing fish there, and Mike Selvera used to take me to Sam's on our break," Bowien says via phone. "It was a tradition to go there late when I was still drinking and get Bud Lights. I got to know Mike before he died, that whole family is so great. It felt special to be part of that.

"But it was a weird night, I had never met Bourdain or anything, and I havent drunk in years, but that was one of the best drinking nights. It was like meeting your hero. I remember his producers just said where are you taking him and I said I'm going to take him to Chinatown, so we went to LiPo Lounge, and Mr. Bings and then Sam's at the end of the night. I was very drunk at the time, I squirted mustard all over his arm  it was very surreal, the night went too perfectly. Everywhere we went he was so blown away. When I said we were going to Sams Burgers he just said 'Great.' He never said 'no,' his producer said 'We have to go to next place, we have to go,' and people would be outside and say they wanted to take a picture with him, and he'd take a picture with anybody who asked. To this day its one of the only places, when I come back to San Francisco, I always go there. I go to Turtle Tower, do lunch at Shalimar, and then do Sam's. To me, it reminds me of people who love going to sushi bars, where you get to hang out with the chef, talk shop  that was always the best part, talking to Mike, talking to one of the brothers."

Now, five years after Mike's death, Sams is as much a memorial to Mike ElShawa as it is a magical late-night burger counter. In addition to a black-and-white photo of Mike behind the counter with a cigarette in his mouth and a Styrofoam cup in his hand, there are also plenty of homages to Sams late owner  from charcoal drawings to oil paintings  hanging on the walls, all gifted by customers who miss Mike, too.

---

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

Sams has closed three times in its history: for a couple days after Mikes aforementioned heart attack in 1998, for three days after Mikes death in 2016 and for an unprecedented month after San Francisco issued a shelter-in-place order on March 17, 2020, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

They opened for takeout after the month was up, and added delivery apps and eased their cash-only policy. There isnt an app you wont find Sams on anymore. Emad says it was their only source of revenue the first three months after they reopened.

People have known us to be kind of old school  we still hang on to a lot of stuff that makes Sams the cool place to be, the things that transported people to 1960, he says. Were not used to us being on delivery apps or taking credit cards.

They also went from a staff of four with three full-time employees to a staff of four where no one was full-time. They made 40% less in 2020 than they did in 2019. Their hours went from until 4 a.m. to until 11 p.m. only on weekends. And an absent international landlord who doesnt live in S.F. meant they didnt get the same rent relief that a lot of old school businesses whove survived did.

Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE

San Francisco was transforming before the pandemic, and the pandemic made it 10 times harder to survive if you were a historic San Francisco place, Emad says. People who have come in, and just say, I really hope you can make it through this. Youre one of the few places left that remind us of original old school S.F. Especially as you kind of hear about a place like the Cliff House thats been around for 125 years  when places like that shut down, it really gives people a scare.

Sams, though, has been buoyed by their neighbors, and by the ElShawas' pocketbooks, as Emad continues to work at both the restaurant and Fundbox.

Parts of the business are not profitable, and weve been funding it out of pocket when its not, Emad says. It means that much to us, to myself, my older brothers (Hani and Fadi), to my mom (Marwa)  its really important to us to pay out of pocket to keep Sams alive, to keep it in the neighborhood, and to contribute to the rejuvenation of San Francisco.

I really think San Francisco will be back to better than before, and if we have to pay to contribute to that and keep dads legacy alive, then so be it.

Sam's Burgers is located at 618 Broadway in North Beach. They're currently open 12pm-10pm on weekdays, and 12pm-11pm on weekends.
[March 30, 2021] Skullcandy Democratizes The True Wireless Experience With All-New Dime True Wireless Earbuds

PARK CITY, Utah, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Skullcandy, the #1 selling brand in Stereo Headphones1 and True Wireless Earbuds2 under $100, announced today its all-new Dime True Wireless Earbuds. Priced at $24.99 MSRP, the latest solution outperforms other earbuds at the same price point, offering an affordable way to get into the true wireless game. Dime grants users the freedom to live without wires, combining expertly tuned audio with a noise-isolating fit and must-have features, like a microphone in each bud. Available now at Skullcandy.com and major retailers nationwide, Dime delivers a pocket-friendly, stylish form factor in a variety of colors that won't break the bank. Dime is an ideal, everyday audio companion that boasts up to 12 hours of battery life, freeing users from the hassle of snagging, yanking and tangling wires. When earbuds are removed from the charging case secured with a snap lid, the buds automatically turn on. Easy connection offers a simplified listening experience that's perfect for those new to true wireless. Intuitive, touch-enabled media controls on the compact stick-style buds enable Dime users to effortlessly take calls, change tracks, adjust volume and activate native voice assistants like Google and Siri, all without ever reaching for their devices. "Despite being the fastest growing segment in stereo headphones, true wireless earbuds still account for less than half of the market," said Jeff Hutchings, Skullcandy Chief Product Officer, referring to 2020 NPD Unit Share data. "Our all-new Dime True Wireless Earbuds are intent on changing that. Offering stellar sound and unmatched simplicity at a price that makes it possible to throw a pair in every bag, Dime breaks down all barriers formerly associated with true wireless." Dime was designed and engineered with a range of features to meet everyday lifestyle demands, including: Up to 12 Hours of Battery Life  Listen longer with 3.5 hours of battery life in the earbuds and 8.5 hours in the charging case

 Listen longer with 3.5 hours of battery life in the earbuds and 8.5 hours in the charging case True Wireless via Bluetooth 5.0

Microphones in Each Bud  Use either bud solo without losing the ability to take calls

 Use either bud solo without losing the ability to take calls Full Suite of Media Controls on the Buds  Take calls, change tracks, adjust volume controls and activate native device assistants (Google, Siri, etc.) without ever touching a phone

 Take calls, change tracks, adjust volume controls and activate native device assistants (Google, Siri, etc.) without ever touching a phone Auto On/Connect  Enjoy automatic turn on and pairing with the last device used

 Enjoy automatic turn on and pairing with the last device used Noise-Isolating Fit  Experience supreme sound with expertly selected and tuned microphones and drivers

 Experience supreme sound with expertly selected and tuned microphones and drivers IPX4 Sweat and Water Resistance  Go on any adventure without missing a beat

 Go on any adventure without missing a beat Integrated Lanyard  Rely on secure portability that protects the charge case and buds from drops

 Rely on secure portability that protects the charge case and buds from drops Micro-USB Charging Case with Snap Lid Available in a range of colorways, Dime gives users the freedom to express themselves. Users can choose between four colorways including Dark Blue/Green, Light Grey/Blue, Dark Grey and True Black to show off their personality or style match individual looks. Dime was built to keep up with an active lifestyle and is backed by Skullcandy's Fearless Use Promise. If a user happens to lose or break any of the components, they can purchase buds and cases separately from Skullcandy to replace with ease. For more information on Dime True Wireless Earbuds and Skullcandy's entire true wireless collection of earbuds and headphones visit www.Skullcandy.com .







1. The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service, based on Stereo Headphone Dollar Share and Unit Share 12ME Dec. 2020.

2. The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service, based on True Wireless Earbuds Dollar Share and Unit Share 3ME Dec. 2020.

About Skullcandy

Skullcandy is the original lifestyle audio brand, born in 2003 on a chairlift in Park City, Utah. Fast forward to today where Skullcandy is the #1 selling brand in Stereo Headphones1 and True Wireless Earbuds2 under $100, and on a mission "to unleash the visceral power of music for all." Skullcandy headphones and earbuds are created, tuned and tested to deliver music you can feel, specially engineered to provide a deeper, more immersive listening experience. The brand supports charitable causes through its Music With A Mission program where dedicated campaigns and a portion of proceeds from limited-edition product sales help make an impact. Skullcandy designs, markets and distributes its audio products through a variety of distribution channels globally. The company's website can be found at www.Skullcandy.com . Press Contact

Skullcandy@TheBrandAmp.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/skullcandy-democratizes-the-true-wireless-experience-with-all-new-dime-true-wireless-earbuds-301256360.html SOURCE Skullcandy

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Mayur Mishra, who runs a mattress shop outside Varthak Nagar, a containment zone in Thane, is a worried man. He has not had a single customer for the last three days. I dont know how I will pay my rent (Rs 10,000 a month), he says.

He could not pay it during the lockdown. The owner says I need to repay it in instalments. Even if I return to my hometown, I will need to pay the house rent. Mishra was among the hundreds of thousands of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh who had gone back to their hometown from Mumbai and nearby areas during the lockdown. ...
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 16:36:28|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Turkish prosecutors on Tuesday ordered the detention of a total of 218 suspects over their alleged links to a network behind a failed coup in 2016, local media reported.

Anti-terror teams and police forces launched simultaneous operations in 25 provinces to catch 115 people, including soldiers on active-duty, upon the order of Istanbul prosecutors, the state-run Anadolu agency said.

Sixty-six people have been detained so far, and operations were underway to capture the rest, it added.

Meanwhile, Ankara prosecutors issued detentions warrants for a total of 103 suspects in two other separate investigations, the Haberturk broadcaster said on its website.

All of those targeted in the operations have suspected ties with the network headed by the U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, according to press reports.

The Turkish government blames Gulen and his network for masterminding the coup bid in July 2016, in which 250 people were killed. Enditem
In an unprecedented move rarely seen on this side of the Sahara, a Kisumu county government official has resigned following an incident where city askaris assaulted a female trader.

Kisumu Acting Head of City Inspectorate Willy Lugusa took full responsibility for the shocking act that saw county askaris drag Beatrice Magolo by a vehicle on tarmac road on March 24.

The askaris had arrested Ms Magolo for hawking oranges and lemons in the Central Business District.

Lugusa tendered his resignation in a letter to Kisumu governor Anyang Nyongo dated March 26.

I Wilberforce Lugusa Ndagona do hereby tender my resignation as the acting Head of The Inspectorate of the County Government of Kisumu on account of the matter which occurred on the 24th of March, 2021 involving certain junior officers under my watch and a lady, a mother, grabbed and dragged along a street, read the letter.

The act committed was unconscionable, diabolical and against all the rules of natural justice. I hereby take full and moral responsibility for the acts committed thereto.

Lugusa further added: I hereby extend my deepest regret to all the people of Kisumu County and the nation as a whole, for this is not what the County Government of Kisumu represents. I take this opportunity to express my most sincere gratitude for the opportunity you gave me to serve in your most able government.

This cop must be commended for taking responsibility. So rare in our legacy of public service. #emulatewillylugusa pic.twitter.com/NIca0iEmOd  David Makali (@davidmakali1) March 29, 2021



Nine county askaris were Friday arraigned at the Kisumu Law Courts where they were accused of causing bodily harm to the city trader.

They denied the charges and were freed on Sh50,000 cash bail each.

The mother of four has since indicated she will sue the Kisumu county government and the officers through lawyer Joshua Odhiambo Nyamori.

Word is going around that I have dropped the matter, I havent. My children are suffering and Im still in pain. I have no idea how Ill raise rent which is due on the 4th, she said.

I was advised to spend a night at the hospital ward but I could not, given the situation back at home. I was treated and my lawyer bought me some drugs as advised by the doctors, but I am still in pain, Ms Magolo added.

Her lawyer, Mr Nyamori, said: The reason we have taken the route of the constitutional petition is that some rights issues under the Bill of Rights are involved. To enforce rights, we have to go to court through a petition.

We are also going to engage the county government because what happened was an exhibition of systemic failure, said Nyamori.
The CIOs and CEOs I speak with view Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams as a critical pillar in driving the productivity of their entire workforce, no matter where they are. Because of this, DEM is increasingly being seen as a must have, rather than a nice to have

Martello Technologies Group Inc., (Martello or the Company) (TSXV:MTLO), a developer of enterprise Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM) solutions announced today the launch and controlled availability of the iQ digital experience analytics platform with integrated Microsoft 365 monitoring. The product launch, part of Martellos FY22 growth plan, comes as Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) released a report this week which presents a business case for Martello DEM for enterprises using Microsoft 365.

Teaming Martello iQ and Gizmo Microsoft 365 monitoring gives businesses the ability to know, understand and act on Microsoft 365 performance and availability by combining insight into the end user experience with actionable context about the users IT and network environment. Martello is making it easier for businesses to achieve these benefits by integrating the iQ and Gizmo solutions into a common platform. The solution is now in controlled availability, with Gizmo customers receiving early access to the integrated iQ platform. This common platform is a step in Martellos Microsoft DEM product innovation plan, which will include real user monitoring and active network path monitoring. The plan aims to bring more value to businesses using Microsoft 365, no matter where their users are located.

The report, authored by EMA Research Director Valerie OConnell, looks at the Threshold of Investment (TOI) of Martellos Microsoft DEM solutions, an approach which combines quantifiable metrics and qualitative gains to determine the point at which it makes more business sense to invest in an improvement than to continue funding the status quo. According to OConnell, the TOI case for Martello is compelling and clear.

There are arguably no other solutions that match the impact Microsoft 365 solutions have on the day-to-day work life of its users, said OConnell. A bad day for Microsoft 365 is a bad day at work wherever that may be. The case for Martello is clear. The quantitative savings and qualitative benefits argue that implementing this DEM solution makes more sense than continuing to accept Microsoft is down as a substitute for outstanding service.

According to the EMA report, Microsoft 365 health is directly connected to employee productivity, making DEM a C-Suite priority. Furthermore, with the global workforce shifting to remote work in response to the global pandemic, workers are relying on Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Teams in particular, more than ever before. Martello CEO John Proctor echoes this sentiment, saying: The CIOs and CEOs I speak with view Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams as a critical pillar in driving the productivity of their entire workforce, no matter where they are. Because of this, DEM is increasingly being seen as a must have, rather than a nice to have.

EMA Research Director Valerie OConnell had editorial control of the report, but EMA did receive a payment from the Company in connection with Martellos rights to distribute the report.

Download the EMA Report.

About Martello Technologies Group

Martello Technologies Group Inc. (TSXV: MTLO) is a technology company that provides digital experience monitoring (DEM) solutions. The companys products provide monitoring and analytics on the performance and user experience of critical cloud business applications, while giving IT teams and service providers control and visibility of their entire IT infrastructure. Martellos software products include unified communications performance analytics, Microsoft 365 end user experience monitoring and IT service monitoring and analytics. Martello is a public company headquartered in Ottawa, Canada with employees in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region. Learn more at http://www.martellotech.com

This press release does not constitute an offer of the securities of the Company for sale in the United States. The securities of the Company have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, (the 1933 Act) as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the 1933 Act.

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 the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

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 news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information can be identified by words such as: anticipate, intend, plan, goal, seek, believe, project, estimate, expect, strategy, future, likely, may, should, will and similar references to future periods.

Forward-looking information is neither historical fact nor assurance of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our 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 information relates 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. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking information. Therefore, you should not rely on any forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking information include, among others, the following:


In this follow-up story on working and living conditions for farm workers in the pineapple-producing region of Bathurst, workers speak about long hours, unfair dismissals and victimisation.

The British army decided in 1809 to "expel" by force all amaXhosa living in Zuurveld, the 19th-century name for Makhanda, Bathurst and Port Alfred. This area would then "be allotted to British settlers in farms of 120 acres each". An army of 10 000 followed, invading the area in 1811.

AmaXhosa were "attacked in their kraals, plundered of their cattle, slaughtered or driven into the woods. Not less than 23 000 head of cattle were carried off," wrote historian Colin Turing Campbell in 1897.

After the invasions of 1811 and 1812, the 1820 settlers arrived. The town of Bathurst was named after Henry Bathurst, the secretary of state of Britain's colonial office. These settlers started many of the 25 commercial pineapple farms operating in this major pineapple-producing area of the Eastern Cape, with some still run by descendants of the 1820 settlers today.

This little-known part of the world largely escapes the spotlight. But about 120 current and former farm workers gathered at a Bathurst community hall on 7 March to share their experiences of life on these farms.

Vuyiswa Dinah Lukhwe, 73, grew up on a pineapple farm in the area. "I first went to school and then I was told to work at the pineapples. And then the farmer took me from the pineapples to the dairy. My mother passed away and we buried her on the farm. I was the only one left. I decided to stay there because there was nowhere for me to go.

"But the farmer didn't want me there. By this time I had children. I got work at a neighbouring farm and used to go home on payday to take groceries to my children. One day I bought sweet potatoes to take home, but the farmer had burnt the house down completely. The children could only save the blankets. That was in 1975. After that I broke my leg and I couldn't work any more, so I moved to the township in Bathurst.

"My children grew up and moved to Cape Town to work. I felt too old to move so they purchased a house for me here in Bathurst. I never received an RDP house from the government."

Lukhwe said she came to the meeting to show her support for the other farm workers of the area.

UIF discrepancies

Debanisile Gedze, 50, was fired from Langholm pineapple farm after 34 years for allegedly being absent and failing to follow the proper process to request leave. His payslip shows that he was earning just R2 442 a month with a deduction of R33.75 to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). But he said his employer did not provide him with a UI-19 form when he fired him and the Department of Employment and Labour told him his employer had never paid his contributions to the UIF.

Because there is no union for farm workers in the area, Gedze did not approach the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and has now passed the 90-day deadline for doing so.

His former employer, Geraldene Arnold of Langholm farm, would not say why she had fired Gedze or allegedly failed to register him for UIF.

"If a former employee has any issue, he can avail himself to the processes [sic] which are in place facilitated by the CCMA and the Department of Labour. We will unfortunately not entertain any questions or investigations by you. Should the responsible authority approach us for information, we will gladly oblige, and within the ambit of such process," said Arnold.

Mzwakhe Kalipi, 53, worked in a shop on a farm owned by the leading pineapple farmer in the area, Mark Harris. He was fired verbally recently after the shop manager saw a photo of him taking part in a community water protest. Kalipi was also not given a UI-19 form to claim UIF.

"The boss just said he saw me on camera and he doesn't want me any more," said Kalipi. He lives in an isolated house on the farm, which is in poor condition and which the farmer has fenced in, save for a footpath to the highway. For company, Kalipi crosses the highway to visit retired farm workers.

Harris' attorney, Marius Coetzee, would not respond to questions. "It remains the prerogative of the Department of Labour to investigate labour matters," he said. "If they are so inclined, we are quite sure that they are fully capable of conducting their own investigations. In the circumstances, you are not a representative of the Department of Labour, and our client does not owe you any explanation."

Behind the pineapples

Xolisa Runeli, 29, has been a community activist with a group of other young graduates for years. He has also been a councillor for the EFF since 2019. Runeli was on the phone to a commercial farmer, trying to discuss workers' grievances, but the farmer told him to mind his own business because the EFF is not a union.

Because of this, Runeli decided to bring together other activist groups in the area and hold a meeting for farm workers and dwellers.

"Farm workers are not fired around here because of the severity of the misconduct. When the farmers see that a worker is old or sick, or they don't like the worker, they come with allegations and just fire the workers," said Runeli.

He said the pineapple farm workers in the area are generally oppressed. "We want the world to see that behind those pineapples that they are eating, there is a cry of a Black person. These workers are told to work hard so the farmers can meet a target of pineapples to go overseas. The farmer says he will slaughter a cow at the end of the year. That is supposedly a bonus, that they are given meat.

"What is that? We have got tons and tons of pineapple leaving Bathurst. The farmers are making millions. Other workers are not even here because they fear victimisation. This cannot continue," Runeli said.

'Exploited for a long time'

Nomawabo Tshisa of the Rural People's Movement in Bathurst says farm workers and farm dwellers need to unite to change their current situation. "They must be at the forefront of their own fight. If they can stand up and fight for themselves, a lot of people will support them because it is their hands that produce so that these farm owners can be rich," said Tshisa.

She added that the Bathurst farm workers should strike "so that the owners can feel their pain and the pineapples can stay there in the ground. Our people have been exploited for a long time and nobody will stop these capitalists but us."

Many farm workers are fired as soon as they talk to the media, said Tshisa, adding that "we will have to fight tooth and nail to make sure the farm workers and farm dwellers are feeling safe enough to tell their stories."

Phumeza Jabela, 43, has been working as a pineapple picker on the Giffords Bush pineapple farm for the past 15 years. She earns a take-home pay of R2 733 per month. Her colleague Deborah Charles, 53, has been working on the same farm since she was a teenager, along with Nontsokolo Dwyili, 47, who has been working on the farm for 15 years. All three women say their problem is that they are only provided with one work suit and one pair of boots every two years, which is not enough for the gruelling work of picking pineapples five days a week.

The owner of the farm also breeds cattle and "if he finds out that cattle have been lost, he calls an anti-crime vigilante group from Port Alfred to come. He does not have a good manner in speaking to us and also we don't know if we will receive this minimum wage. He has not told us what his plans are but he once told us that he will never increase our pay. 'If you don't want this money, take your bags and leave,' he told us," said Jabela.

They say their other problem is that they get no paid annual leave and do not get paid sick leave unless they produce a medical certificate, even for one day off sick.

"Our boss says he wants to get rid of us so that he can start with new people from an outsource [labour broker]. Whilst we are standing here, we understand that others are not necessarily here for the sake of discussing, they are here to spy for the bosses. There will be more victimisation after the meeting. But we have had enough," said the group.

Nocawa Saki, 34, and Nomvuyo Draai, 39, also work at Giffords Bush farm. Saki has been a casual worker for 11 years and Draai for two years. "Us as casuals, he does not give us rain suits. Those are only for permanents. We pick pineapples in the rain without a rain suit. We buy our own suits, gloves and boots as casuals. We are paid R2 733 per month in envelopes. Our boss has a tendency of using a harsh voice. There is no proper communication. There is no please or thank you. He threatens to fire us and call a labour outsource to come and replace us."

Craig Handley, the owner of Giffords Bush, did not respond to calls, text messages or a WhatsApp message although this was read.

Locked gate

Velile Dada and his daughter Ziyanda Funani, 15, live on the Buffalo Kloof game farm. Dada gives Funani permission to speak. "I was born there. I am now in grade 10 in high school in Bathurst. Last year, fencing was installed around the farm. On the main road there is a big gate that can only be opened remotely. My father is the only person who has the access code and he was told never to give anyone the code, so when he doesn't have airtime he cannot open the gate. When I need to go to school, I must stand next to the locked gate in the hope that someone opens. Sometimes nobody comes and I can't go to school," says Funani.

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The Ndlambe municipality, which includes Bathurst and Port Alfred, has critically low dam levels and delivers limited amounts of water to residents in tanks. "We do not get any water because the trucks cannot access the farm because of this locked gate. We have to draw dirty water from the dam where cows drink," said Funani.

Wendy Rippon, the owner of Buffalo Kloof, said: "I have no knowledge of this problem. It has not been brought to my attention by workers. If this is a problem, I will obviously address the situation."

The minimum wage for farm workers increased by 16% in February to R21.69 from R18.68 per hour. But Nomazwi Peyi, 42, says workers on the Hopewell farm only received the new minimum on condition that they increase their working hours to 52.5 per week. This is in breach of the sectoral determination for farm workers in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, which says farm workers should work a maximum of 45 hours per week and not more than nine hours per day, unless by agreement for a short period.

"Our boss said we only get the new minimum if we work from 6:45am to 5:15pm, which he just imposed on us. He also claps his hands and tells us, 'Hurry up, hurry, hurry, go and do it.' We sometimes don't grasp what exactly he is saying and then we can't even tell him that we did not hear him. We only get a raincoat, suit and shoes in November. Our boss is so hard to approach, so we just work in our own clothes before then," says Peyi.

Hopewell farm owner Alan Pike did not respond to voicemail messages.

Many of the farmers are members of the Pineapple Growers' Association and supply Summerpride Foods, a company that makes "pineapple concentrate for the international beverages industry". Summerpride Foods sales manager Wendy Tobbell did not respond when asked for Summerpride's policies or standards regarding working conditions on the pineapple farms.
Primary schools are the latest to become embroiled in the rape culture storm after former pupils posted claims of sexual assaults.

The website on which thousands of older children have reported harassment and abuse now has allegations involving pupils as young as five.

The 11,000-plus claims on Everyones Invited include one alleged assault by a child at the 22,000-a-year Fulham Preparatory School in west London.

It came as head teachers urged anonymous victims to come forward and speak to teachers so they can respond, saying staff were struggling to act effectively because many of the testimonies have no named victim, aggressor or date.

In addition, the leader of the secondary school head teachers union said schools alone should not bear the burden of dealing with the issue, as much of the abuse detailed happened away from school premises, such as at parties.

The latest claims involving primary pupils included one which read: In Year Four I had to change school because this older boy in Year Seven who was [on] my school bus was harassing me.

Primary schools are the latest to become embroiled in rape culture storm after former pupils posted claims of sexual assaults and harassment on website Everyone's Invited (stock photo)

'He tried to apologise by offering me a Haribo. A couple [of] weeks later I told my mum  I was so young and clueless of the situation that I thought it was because he liked me because he thought I was pretty, how naive.

The alleged victim claimed Fulham Prep, where the boy was a pupil, did very little when her family reported it.

Another former pupil at an unnamed Roman Catholic primary school told how a boy would try and stick pencils and his hands up her skirt.

And an ex-student at Meersbrook Bank Primary in Sheffield told of years of sexual abuse during primary school between the ages of five and ten by older boys.

They subjected her to kissing, genital touching and manipulation but she was afraid of snitching on them.

The allegations follow an explosion of claims against pupils of top private secondary schools, including Dulwich College and Highgate School.

Pupils stage a protest against rape culture at Highgate School in London

Yesterday, the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference, which represents heads at such schools, urged victims to make themselves known to schools so teachers can provide support.

General secretary Dr Simon Hyde said: Our members are listening and willing to act, but it is more difficult to act effectively on anonymised allegations, and we urge those affected to seek support and redress through their schools.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the claims should also be dealt with by parents and social media platforms.

He added: This is a wider issue. Parents have a responsibility to talk to their children about how they behave towards others.

'Social media companies have a responsibility to take more care about how their platforms are used.

In response to the allegations, Fulham Prep head teacher Neill Lunnon told the Telegraph the school takes safeguarding incredibly seriously.

He added: We fully support the open dialogue that is currently taking place in the media about sexual assault and harassment.

'We are fully committed to doing our part in educating our children about what is acceptable and what is not.

Gemma Harvey, head teacher at Meersbrook Bank, said: We do not tolerate abuse of any kind.

'We have robust safeguarding policies to protect our children and maintain clear and effective procedures for reporting any incidents.

I was attacked by Eton boy, says claims dossier activist

By Lizzie Deane and Josh White

Zan Moon wrote open letter to headteachers of eight schools over serious misogynistic culture that thrives in their institutions

The organiser of a dossier of sexual abuse allegations against boys at top private schools has told of being assaulted by an Eton pupil.

Zan Moon, 24, wrote an open letter to the headteachers of eight leading schools over the serious misogynistic culture that thrives in their institutions.

Miss Moon, a former pupil at girls private school Benenden in Kent, said she was overwhelmed with responses after asking for testimonies on Instagram from females who had been harassed and assaulted by private schoolboys.

She compiled 95 harrowing accounts, including her own in which she detailed how she was assaulted by an Eton boy when she was 15. She told the Mail: I was at a party with a bunch of Eton boys.

Someone had rented accommodation for a party on a beach with no parents for the whole weekend.

There was nowhere to go  we were sort of trapped in this house. One of the boys made a beeline for me and I tried to escape the room. He followed me out and grabbed me by the neck and choked me.

She said he then indecently assaulted her and pestered her for the rest of the night.

Miss Moon added: Thats five to seven hours of him relentlessly trying and me continuously saying I didnt want to. All of the boys there were just being complicit in that and seeing what was happening.

She said she did not take the incident to Benenden, Eton or police at the time, adding: We werent really educated on what sexual assault was.

Miss Moon, who now works for the Princes Trust youth charity, said there was definitely a coverup culture at schools, stressing: It just seems the priority was always to uphold their reputation.

Pictured: Eton College says it insists that all its pupils treat others with kindness, decency and respect and has condemned criminal behaviour which it says 'has no place in society'

She insisted there had been multiple people who complained to schools but headteachers had not acted.

Her dossier also contains allegations from female students at Bristol and Exeter universities.

Miss Moons letter said chauvinism runs deep within the environment of private boys schools. She added: It is finally coming to attention how boys from the most elite schools and universities have mistreated girls for years and somehow got away with it. This ends now.

An Eton spokesman said: Criminal behaviour of this kind has no place in society. Eton always takes specific allegations such as this extremely seriously.

'Eton insists that all our pupils treat others with kindness, decency and respect.

Some 11,000 allegations have now been made by school pupils on the Everyones Invited website. At least two top private schools have called in police.
But I was here to lap up the luxury of a mid-week escape with my husband, sans children, so I really wanted to love Samphire as I was prompted to do when connecting to the suites internet. (For those with kids just be warned the TV streaming does not work with Apple devices  only Android. Not that youre in Rotto for screen time.) Loading I kicked off our stay with a blissful 90-minute salt compress massage, at a special rate of $130, admittedly outside the resort at Karma Spa in town. We also discovered the highlight of our culinary adventure  The Lanes Cray Dog: a crayfish burger that was cooked to order and oozed garlic butter with the right amount of jalapeno mayonnaise, all for $20. Heaven! So the night we were told by the resort to line up and have our pre-ordered cocktails and seafood platter  costing $150 in lieu of signature restaurant Lontara being closed  served at the main hotel with every other pub customer, we did a double take. Surely they could have afforded us the luxury of having it in our suite with our private ocean views?

But no; that was only if we wanted pizza, so instead we were greeted by a flustered waitress who was struggling to keep up with seating, dishing resort patrons platters, and remembering their choice out of the only two cocktails on offer. It made me yearn for the pre-tablet tradition of taking out a notepad and pen. Its our responsibility to give the staff the tools to deliver on that and as a group we all agree that policy should not get in the way of commonsense sometimes, especially if it means delivering great service and again thats an operating flaw that we are working through at the moment, Warwick Prendiville later told me. Later, when the poolside menu app failed and the friendly staffer hosting solo across the mostly concrete lake jovially asked patrons just to yell out their orders, it became clear there was a disconnect between expectation and what our money was actually buying. I need to pause here to say that in the middle of a pandemic these are infinitesimally small problems to have  ones I would be more than willing to wash away on a blissful Rottnest ocean tide. But like any tidal erosion, our stay kept getting eaten away at by ongoing issues and heres the sticking point: when your Premier effectively locks you into holidaying in your state and implores you to spend like you would on overseas travel, knowing what our otherwise hard-earned cash would buy abroad, youre reminded why we dont do this traditionally and feel appalled for future international visitors.

It was made worse by the fact that there were recognisable hospitality faces seated at Lontara last Wednesday, with Sydney-based celebrity chef Matt Moran finding it difficult to rave about the service beyond a nod to head chef Will Meyricks delicious smoked ocean trout betel leaf entree. Matt Moran at Samphire Rottnests Lontara restaurant, (inset) Will Meyricks betel leaf entree. Credit:Aja Styles WA hospitality guru Andy Freeman of Hadiqa and Flour Factory fame was also holidaying on the island with extended family and left unimpressed by Lontaras mish-mash of wait times that fed some of the kids but left the adults wanting. And an ex-manager at one of the Prendiville Groups other hotels privately complained to us about how they had booked at 8pm on the Sunday and only got served by 10.20pm, by which time they were intoxicated and no longer hungry. Mr Prendiville is nowhere near satisfied with services they are currently providing and they were in the process of appointing a new general manager.

Its just the absolute perfect storm out there in terms of access to staff and access to internationals and people that have experience in the industry, he said. Trying to scale up Samphire during the pandemic and with all the staffing restraints for what is typically a seasonal business that does attract backpackers, without that base to work off it has been very hard and unstable for personnel levels. Everyone is working very hard to rectify these issues. He said an unbelievable amount of work was going into fixing problems, and agreed training and confidence of staff needed to be improved given how busy their opening had been. Over 30 per cent of staff that we have on site this week are contract staff that we have to bring in from a third party that really dont have experience on the venue, and that is the extent of the problem we are seeing at the moment, and that is on us as the management  but I think the environment is making it very tough to achieve that consistency. But let this be said, despite the slow delivery  and I mean at least 30 minutes between dishes  Meyricks menu was outstanding and the loss of him as head chef only speaks to more problems ahead.

For the first hour my husband and I were sailing away on the delights of a roe-popping betel leaf, $8, and perfectly caramelised scallop, $12, each. Much later followed by plump, quandong-enticing crispy pork belly squares, $25, and mains of lip-smacking crisp lamb ribs done in shrimp paste and sweet fish sauce, $28, and the showcase of crispy spangled emperor with pineapple in tamarind, $44. Loading Made all the more soaring by a very worthy WA wine list, ranging from $44 to $170 magnums, and superior cocktails, $18-$21; as opposed to the hotels more casual offering on Monday night. Everything could have been forgiven there and then had this been solely in the teething weeks of a new venture with staffing issues  but Samphire Rottnest has been open since October last year. And its problems do not look like slowing down, with its beleaguered rooms manager Shashank Vasta trying to do his utmost to compensate frustrated customers, including us  who were refunded a nights worth of accommodation.
Gov. Tom Wolfs administration said Tuesday it is offering new guidance to Pennsylvania schools related to COVID-19, allowing less distance between desks in classrooms.

The Wolf administration said it is hoping to help more schools resume in-person learning. The states new recommendations follow federal guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the administration said. The state is also advising schools they can close for shorter periods if new cases are identified.

Pennsylvanias Health and Education Departments issued a joint statement saying schools should keep students at least 3 feet apart in classrooms. Previously, schools were asked to keep kids 6 feet apart.

The states new recommendations and guidance take effect April 5.

Our updated recommendations bring us a step closer to a full return to in-person teaching and learning across Pennsylvania, Acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega said in a statement. While recommendations on physical distancing, closures, and quarantines may have changed, the importance to adhering to all health and safety guidelines has not  it is imperative that we remain committed to protecting our students, teachers, and staff.

In recent weeks, state lawmakers have been growing increasingly impatient for all of Pennsylvanias public schools to move more quickly to in-person education. While the majority of schools are offering at least some face-to-face classes, a number of schools are fully remote.

As of Monday afternoon, the state Department of Education reports 27% of school districts, charter schools, technical schools and intermediate units are operating full in-person learning models. Some 42% of the states schools are in blended learning models. The remaining 32% are still using a fully remote instructional model.

With the new recommendations, state offers differing social distancing guidelines at varying school levels.

The health and education departments say elementary students can remain 3 feet apart. In middle and high schools, students should be at least 3 feet apart in counties with low and moderate community transmission of COVID-19, the administration said. In counties with substantial spread of the virus, middle and high school students should be 6 feet apart, state officials said.

There are now 35 counties showing substantial spread of the coronavirus, the Wolf administration said Monday. The Wolf administration uses three categories to gauge the transmission of COVID-19: low, moderate and substantial.

COVID-19 Response Director Wendy Braund said the Wolf administration continues to urge schools to monitor the level of transmission of the virus in determining how schools should operate.

We continue to encourage districts to use the to use the percent positivity in counties, as well as the number of cases in a school in the decision making process as we all work to keep Pennsylvania children safe and in school, she said in a statement.

Pennsylvania school districts have the authority to decide on their own about offering in-person classes, remote learning or a hybrid approach. Wolf has said its up to schools to decide which model to use.

The Wolf administration also said Tuesday schools can close for shorter periods when COVID-19 cases are detected. The recommended closures are based on community transmission.

The recommendation for closures to in-person learning in some instances is reduced from 3-7 day to 1-2 days. The longest recommended closures are now cut down from 14 days to 5 days. (The education departments recommendations are on its website.)

The state has reserved the first batch of Johnson & Johnson vaccines to teachers and school employees. More than 112,000 teachers and school staff have been vaccinated.

In a news conference Tuesday, Wolf said the vaccination of teachers should be finished within the next two days, which is ahead of schedule. Wolf has said teachers and school staff were being given the Johnson & Johnson vaccines as another step toward reopening more of Pennsylvanias schools.

More from PennLive

COVID-19 in Pa.: More than 5,000 new cases Tuesday, as Gov. Wolf touts vaccine rollout at HACC clinic

Pa. lawmaker wants to tie school district dollars to students return to the classroom
Microsoft Edge has been one of the most slept on web browsers in the world, and its recent upgrade to Chromium has it on par with one of the prominent ones from Google, known to people as the Chrome. For a long time now, people have been debating that Google Chrome has lost its touch from when it first launched, and now, there is something better.

Windows is still the largest computer operating system in the world, and both of these internet browsers are prominent on the Microsoft platform, with one dominating for the past 13 years, and the other starting only now. Indeed, Microsoft Edge is not that much noticed because it follows its predecessors which are detested by many, the Internet Explorer.

This year marked the transition to a Chromium-based platform for Microsoft Edge, which promises to be better than its past iterations and versions, which started as the Windows 10 OS released. Still, the Microsoft Edge is less popular than Google Chrome, despite the many backlashes against the web browser for its slow loading times.

Read Also: 'Genshin Impact' Windsong Lyre Challenges Guide-How to Unlock Songs, Complete the Challenges

Microsoft Edge vs. Google Chrome: Which is Better?

According to Gizmodo, Microsoft Edge has numerous advantages against Google Chrome these days, and it may be worth checking out and using, especially if Chrome is already taking a toll on one's computer. While Google Chrome still packs a competition against the Microsoft Edge, both use the Chromium code which makes them comparable to each other.

New edge has this new feature that puts inactive tabs to sleep and saves you a ton of ram :D  Otmane Fettal (@OFettal) March 23, 2021

Microsoft Edge vs. Google Chrome: RAM

One of the highly noticeable changes and differences of Edge and Chrome is its usage of a computer's Random Access Memory or "RAM." The memory of a computer is what runs the processes of everything, including the necessities, down to the applications and different software that a user access in the computer.

Significantly, Google Chrome is now the "bulkier" software as it uses more RAM, especially as the users access more tabs and have an active session, which is a long-running issue with the internet company. On the other hand, Microsoft Edge has a built-in feature that makes tabs "sleep" while it is inactive or unused upon browsing.

Microsoft Edge vs. Google Chrome: Features

Google Chrome is mostly known for the features it brought to the table, especially with the entirety of the Google Suite readily accessible for users as needed. This includes Translate, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive, and the like. In this category alone, Google maintains a superiority among other web browsers.

However, Microsoft Edge also offers several of its online features with its web browsers including OneDrive, Office 365, and others. But what is more commendable is the slur of nifty features that improves browsing like "Read Aloud" (reading pages to users), Reading Mode, Vertical Tabs, and more.

Microsoft Edge vs. Google Chrome: Privacy

Google Chrome is notorious for using and collecting as much user data and is partnered with ad tracking companies to sell gathered data, to improve advertisements on the platform. While Google has an excellent Incognito mode and other features for security, Microsoft Edge allows users to have different choices for security and privacy with its three modes (Basic, Balanced, and Strict) depending on user preference.

Related Article: Microsoft to Introduce Edge Chromium as it Kills Edge Legacy by April 13-Everything You Need to Know!

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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many government agencies to adjust their messaging to bring public health and safety into their dialog  even if it was not previously part of their strategy.How to effectively incorporate public health messaging was a topic of discussion last week at the 2021 Government Social Media Conference , along with topics like crafting social media policy and dealing with Internet trolls In a panel called Public Health Social Media Wins and Best Lessons, Jason Haug and Kevin Parent from Ottawa Public Health were joined by Elizabeth Hart of the Tennessee Department of Health to share their experiences about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their messaging strategies.During the panel, Hart addressed the overlap between public health and other government functions, stressing that the public health department should be included in any campaign to improve public outreach.She expanded on this topic when the panel discussed the role of public agencies that did not previously work in the public health field but now had to speak on it and communicate these important messages. Hart emphasized that public health messaging, especially as it pertains to the pandemic, has a global reach.Heres the thing that I think a lot of people probably realize this year during the pandemic, Hart stated. Public health touches every single industry  Im 99.9 percent sure that anything you are doing is going to be somehow linked to public health.She advised agencies to increase focus on engagement and becoming the trusted source in the community  ideally, prior to a public health crisis like COVID-19.Hart and Haug acknowledged that the public health messaging created in response to COVID-19 has positively impacted some areas of public health. For example, an increase in vaccination programs has contributed to a milder flu season in 2020.In contrast, some areas of public health have been stressed further because of the pandemic. As Haug described, mental health issues and substance abuse have been on the rise in the past year. Harts department has been working on public health campaigns related to opioid abuse prior to the pandemic but an increased number of overdoses in the past year heightened the need.A lot of those things did not stop when the pandemic hit, Hart stated. In fact, in certain places it actually heightened  One of the things that we did on our social media is making sure that we intertwine some of those messages with the COVID messages.One reason the opioid campaign was very successful was the personalization of it. The campaign showcased faces and stories of individuals impacted by opioid addiction in Tennessee, humanizing the issue as well as the department.Ottawa Public Health also experienced a traffic increase when implementing human messaging by way of a now viral Twitter thread . The thread addressed guidelines for gathering in a group, but Ottawa Public Health clarified that further with some lighthearted humor.Its messaging that people need, emphasized Parent. And as Elizabeth has been pointing out all along, when you are the standout, when you are the ones out there doing real, genuine human messaging, people are going to respond to it and grab onto it.Matt Turner, social media specialist for the National Park Service (NPS), shared a similar message in his keynote speech during the conference. The speech addressed ways to bring humor and humanization to the messages that a department shares, emphasizing the importance of providing valuable information to visitors.When the pandemic hit, Turner had to shift his tone to have safety and public health at the forefront of the organizations messaging, including the CDCs most recent guidance and messages on physical distancing. According to Turner, safety has always been a key part of NPS messaging, but that went further in 2020 to incorporate CDC guidance and emphasize the need to recreate responsibly. Messages that had previously included advice to keep a safe distance from bears, were adapted to include advice about keeping a safe distance from humans as well.We always want to work to maintain a presence, Turner stated, but also take a moment to make sure we are present in a meaningful way.
A person was injured early Tuesday after a car crashed into a health center in Boston that administers coronavirus vaccines, news outlets reported.

The car slammed into the Whittier Street Health Centers satellite clinic on Blue Hill Avenue in Roxbury shortly after 3 a.m., NBC Boston reported.

The crash left behind significant damage, according to WHDH.

The injured individual was taken to an area hospital with minor wounds, Boston EMS told WHDH.

The health center has been administering COVID-19 vaccines since Feb. 1 at both its main facility at 1290 Tremont Street and the Blue Hill Avenue satellite clinic, according to the centers website.

An employee at the clinic told WBZ vaccine appointments Tuesday wont be impacted.
By Rania El Gamal, Ahmad Ghaddar and Olesya Astakhova

DUBAI/LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is prepared to support extending oil cuts by OPEC and its allies into June and is also ready to prolong its own voluntary cuts to boost prices amid a new wave of coronavirus lockdowns, a source briefed on the matter said on Monday.

After steady oil price gains earlier this year, OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, had hoped to ease output cuts.

But a fresh wave of lockdowns to prevent a new surge in the virus has pushed oil off this year's highs, and four OPEC+ sources told Reuters this would most likely encourage the group to extend cuts into May when it meets on Thursday.

A Saudi oil source said on Tuesday OPEC+ had not taken any decision yet and discussions about policy had yet to start.

The source briefed on the matter said on Monday that Saudi Arabia was keen to extend cuts beyond May and into June.

"They don't see demand as yet strong enough and want to prevent prices from falling," the source said.

Under existing curbs, OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, and non-OPEC producers, led by Russia, have cut just over 7 million barrels per day (bpd), while Saudi Arabia has made an additional voluntary reduction of 1 million bpd.

Last year, the group agreed to cut 9.7 million bpd, or about 10% of world output, but then eased back as demand recovered.

At a meeting on March 4, OPEC+ surprised the market by deciding to hold output broadly steady, although Russia and Kazakhstan were allowed slight increases.

A source familiar with Russia's thinking said on Monday Moscow would support extending cuts again while seeking another small rise in production for itself.

Benchmark Brent crude, which climbed above $71 a barrel shortly after the OPEC+ decision, reaching its highest since the pandemic began, is now trading around $65.

Story continues

Alongside concerns about the pandemic's impact on demand, a rise in Iranian oil exports is also prompting caution. Iran has recently boosted shipments despite U.S. sanctions.

At a technical committee meeting on Tuesday, OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo "emphasized the need to remain very cautious and attentive to changing market conditions," OPEC said.

(Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Edmund Blair and Kirsten Donovan)
Saoirse Ruane (9), pictured with little sister Farrah Rose (20), stole the hearts of the nation during the Late Late Toy Show.

The people of Ireland have raised an incredible 6m on the most important Daffodil Day ever, the Irish Cancer Society said.

The Society confirmed that support from the public through the Late Late Show on Friday 26 and in the days leading up to Daffodil Day will allow for investment and improvements in four key areas, including: research, counselling, Night Nursing, and childhood cancers.

Counselling, peer-support, advocacy, survivorship research and supports, are all areas that will be expanded thanks to the funding from Late Late Show viewers who raised more than 3m on Friday night.

Read More

Speaking today, the Irish Cancer Societys CEO Averil Power thanked the people of Ireland for their exceptional generosity in supporting the most important Daffodil Day ever.

We have been overwhelmed by the goodwill and warmth shown in reaction to Fridays Late Late Show, and indeed the support of all of the other fantastic fundraising initiatives that took place in schools, workplaces and communities for Daffodil Day.

Daffodil Day also allows us to remind the public that the society is here to support anyone affected by cancer, and we are committed to doing everything we can for cancer patients and their families across the country, she said.

Ms Power said the funds raised through Daffodil Day will allow the society to provide additional emotional support through the extension of their counselling service, to ramp up their investment in cancer research, to do more for those impacted by childhood and adolescent cancers and to increase capacity in their Night Nursing service nationwide.

Dozens of charity ambassadors shared their stories of living with cancer on the Sunday Independent, Irish Independent and independent.ie in the days leading up to Daffodil Day a bid to encourage the public to donate. Even little Saoirse Ruane (9), who stole the hearts of the nation when she appeared on the Late Late Toy Show to talk about how she lost her leg due to a tumour, was pictured with her sister Farrah Rose (2) and some daffodils.

Lorraine Alcock, mother of Caoimhe (19) who died from Ewing sarcoma, said that she is delighted that additional funding will go towards childhood and adolescent cancer supports and services.

Lorraine, who shared Caoimhes story on the show, says that Caoimhe made her make a promise months before she died to talk about childhood cancer and advocate for nationwide support.

Caoimhe wanted childhood and teenage cancers spoken about," Lorraine said.

Her wish before she died was that there would be proper adolescent services for teens and children so they were not forgotten.

The incredible donations raised through Daffodil Day will allow the Irish Cancer Society to do this for our kids.
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Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Areas of patchy fog. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
UN chief calls for measures to promote gender equality

Xinhua) 14:38, March 30, 2021

UNITED NATIONS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for measures to promote gender equality.

There have been significant victories since the World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, but progress has been too slow, he told the Generation Equality Forum.

Gender equality is essentially a question of power -- and power remains predominantly in the hands of men, he said.

In many places, the very idea of gender equality has come under attack. Regressive laws are back, and horrific violence against women is increasing. Furthermore, the seismic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic have shattered the lives of millions of women and girls and destroyed many of the gains since 1995, he noted.

"It is time to regroup and re-energize our quest to create a more equal, more just, more sustainable world in which all people can realize their human rights without discrimination and without fear," he said.

He asked countries to focus on five critical steps as they recover from the pandemic: protect women's equal rights and repeal discriminatory laws; ensure equal representation -- from company boards to parliaments and beyond -- through special measures and quotas; advance women's economic inclusion through equal pay, job protection, targeted credit and investments in the care economy and social protection; immediately enact emergency response plans to address violence against women and girls; and give space to the inter-generational transition that is under way and to the young people who are advocating for a more just and equitable world.

"The realization of the equal rights of half our population is the unfinished human rights struggle of this century," said Guterres.

The Generation Equality Forum, which kicked off in Mexico City on Monday, is a civil society-centered, global gathering for gender equality, convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France.

The secretary-general addressed the forum virtually.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Research led by Jimmy Gollihar from the CCDC Army Research Laboratory-South in Austin, Texas found the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant B.1.1.7 first detected last fall in England  increased in Houston, Texas. The B.1.1.7 variant is rapidly spreading with a case doubling time of 6.9 days.

The team writes:

Our genome sequence data document a very rapid upward trajectory of VOC B.1.1.7 cases in metropolitan Houston. Importantly, there was no analogous increase in other variants.

Previous work found all variants of concern in the Houston area after genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 samples from March 2020 to February 2021. In early March 2021, Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order lifting the mask mandate in Texas.

The state currently has the third global highest coronavirus cases by state with over 2.78 million. They also have the third-highest total coronavirus deaths in the United States, reporting over 48,000.

The study Rapid, widespread, and preferential increase of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant in Houston, TX, revealed by 8,857 genome sequences is available as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review.

Tracking genetic variants

The researchers performed genomic surveillance on 8,857 SARS-CoV-2 samples acquired from patients who tested positive for COVID-19. The samples were collected from January 1, 2021, to March 7, 2021. The sample was 94% of patients diagnosed in the Houston Methodist system. Patient information such as place of residence was obtained from electronic medical records to identify the geospatial distribution of the B.1.1.7 variant of concern.

Epidemiologic curve of COVID- 19 cases in the Houston Methodist hospital system. The curve shows the increased frequency of cases caused by B.1.1.7 from January 1, 2021 to March 7, 2021.

Prevalence of B.1.1.7 variant in Houston

The researchers found 648 B.1.1.7 cases which became more recurrent than other variants of concern throughout the study period. Altogether, the B.1.1.7 variant was widespread in the entire Houston metropolitan area. They estimate the Houston region doubled their B.1.1.7 cases every 6.9 days.

Fortunately, the team did not find the E484K mutation in the spike protein of any of the 648 B.1.1.7 variants identified. The E484K mutation has been associated with decreasing the immune response and from vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies. It has been found in other variants of concern, including P.1 and B.1.351.

Geospatial distribution of B.1.1.7 cases identified in the study. The home address zip code for each patient was used and figures were generated using Tableau version 2020.3.4.

There was no significant association between infection by the B.1.1.7 variant and a persons age, gender, length of hospitalization stay, or mortality risk. However, the researchers note patients with the B.1.1.7 variant were more likely to be admitted to a hospital.

Nasopharyngeal samples also found a lower viral load as indicated through lower Ct values, suggesting patients infected with the B.1.1.7 variant had a higher viral load upon initial diagnosis. They suggest the findings are consistent with the increased transmissibility associated with B.1.1.7.

Growth model for the B.1.1.7 variant in metropolitan Houston. The relative growth of the B.1.1.7 variant was fitted to logistic growth model using the curve fit procedure with nonlinear least-squares estimation in SciPy (1.1.0) ( https://docs.scipy.org/doc/scipy/reference/release.1.1.0.html ). Growth rate: 0.1012 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0631 - 0.1393]; doubling time: 6.91 days (95% CI: 5.02 - 11.08).

Study limitations to consider

The researchers note their data consists of 94% of Houston Methodist cases and 4.8% of all metropolitan area cases. About 197,817 COVID-19 cases were from Harris County and eight other counties.

The researchers also note their test population was diverse in ethnicity/race, but they may not be translatable to children and overlooked populations such as the homeless.

*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.
She shot to fame on Too Hot To Handle last year.

And Nicole O'Brien was showing off her toned physique as she enjoyed some outdoor exercise in west London on Tuesday.

The Irish beauty, 25, looked radiant in skimpy baby blue gym gear as she worked up a sweat in the sunshine.

Hot girl summer: Nicole O'Brien was showing off her toned physique as she enjoyed an outdoor workout in west London on Tuesday

The reality star showed off her ample assets in the plunging vest which she wore with matching shorts that showed off her lithe legs.

Nicole was keen to work out every bit of her body as she ran along the pavement, stretched and did sit ups against a wall.

She wore her light tresses in a practical high pony tail and opted for a glamorous covering of makeup despite doing a workout.

Fit: The Irish beauty, 25, looked radiant in skimpy baby blue gym gear as she worked up a sweat in the sunshine

Exercise: The reality star showed off her ample assets in the plunging vest which she wore with matching shorts that showed off her lithe legs

Toned: Nicole was keen to work out every bit of her body as she ran along the pavement, stretched and did sit ups against a wall

Nicole appeared on the Netflix dating show Too Hot To Handle, where a string of attractive contestants learned they'd win $100,000 if they had no sexual contact for four weeks. Each infraction took money off the total prize fund.

While she did not find love on the show, she went on to date her co-star Bryce Hirschberg after the show wrapped, making their relationship public in April.

They called it quits later in the year due to the travel restrictions posed by COVID-19, as Hirschberg lives in Marina Del Rey, California, and O'Brien calls the UK home.

And stretch: She wore her light tresses in a practical high pony tail and opted for a glamorous covering of makeup despite doing a workout

Refreshment: She made sure to have a bottle of water on hand for between her exercises

Strong: Nicole was also working on her arm muscles and lifted herself up while leaning against a wall

A representative for Hirschberg, 30, told People: 'I can confirm that Bryce and Nicole decided mutually to split early last week after months of trying to make a long-distance relationship work.'

Hirschberg also made a statement: 'After the many failed attempts to reunite due to quarantine and border restrictions, we decided that moving on and remaining friends would be our best option for the time being.

'Nicole is so lovely and if under less unusual circumstances Im sure that we couldve had an amazing relationship! I wish her the best because she deserves it.'

Figure: The tight blue workout gear showed off her lean figure and ample assets

Active wear: She teamed her pale blue gym clothes with white trainers as she worked up a sweat

Competition: Nicole appeared on the Netflix dating show Too Hot To Handle, where a string of contestants learned they'd win $100,000 if they had no sexual contact for four weeks

O'Brien told: 'He wasn't really my cuppa tea at the start. But getting to know him more and more, we formed a proper bond and connection.'

'Looking forward to (hopefully) seeing you soon,' she captioned a photo of them, to which he responded, 'One day.'

She recently put on a cozy display with fellow co-star David Birtwistle as they enjoyed a day at the park.

Another source told People that Hirschberg 'was spotted flirting with other women at his recent 30th birthday party last week in Los Angeles.'
Rileys Appear in Court on Drug Charges

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MCCRACKEN COUNTY - A Paducah couple facing drug trafficking charges appeared in court Tuesday.The McCracken District Court Clerk said 57-year-old Marland Riley and 40-year-old Ashley Riley appeared for a preliminary hearing. The hearing was continued to April 20 at 1 pm.Both were arrested on January 6 following a traffic stop. McCracken County deputies said a search of their vehicle yielded 93 grams of marijuana packaged to sell and 100 oxycodone pills.A search of their home reportedly uncovered two pounds of marijuana, valium pills, and drug paraphernalia.They both face charges of trafficking in marijuana (2nd or greater offense), trafficking in a controlled substance - Oxycodone (2nd or greater offense), trafficking in a controlled substance - Valium, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with physical evidence, and prescription not in its original container. Marland is additionally charged with disregarding a stop sign.
The final two crew members for the civilian SpaceX flight commanded by a U.S. billionaire have been named.

Inspiration4 is the worlds first all-civilian mission to space.

The flight is commanded by Jared Isaacman. The first crew member named was Hayley Arceneaux. The last two are Christopher Sembroski of Everett, Wash., and Dr. Sian Proctor of Tempe, Ariz.

The crew will be introduced publicly today for the first time from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Isaacman is using the private trip to raise $200 million for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, half coming from his own pockets. SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk expects the flight to last two to four days.

Isaacmans Inspiration4 represents the mission pillars of leadership, hope, prosperity and generosity. Isaacman represents leadership. Arceneaux represents hope.

Proctor, 51, is an entrepreneur, educator and trained pilot. She represents prosperity.

Sembroski, 41, an aerospace industry employee at Lockheed Martin and United States Air Force veteran, contributed to a special fundraising campaign for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital that offered an Inspiration4 seat to a lucky donor after receiving nearly 72,000 entries. He represents generosity.

Proctor will be the mission pilot and back up Isaacman.

Sembroski will be a mission specialist and help manage payload, science experiments and communications to mission control.

Isaacman, 38, is the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments and is a pilot.

Arceneaux is a physician assistant who works for St. Judes in Memphis, Tenn. She also was treated as a child for bone cancer there. She will be the mission medical officer.

Inspiration4s goal is to inspire humanity to support St. Jude here on earth while also seeing new possibilities for human spaceflight, said Isaacman. Each of these outstanding crew members embodies the best of humanity, and I am humbled to lead them on this historic and purposeful mission and the adventure of a lifetime.

The crew will receive commercial astronaut training by SpaceX on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft  the very same Dragon spacecraft currently attached to the International Space Station supporting the Crew-1 mission.

Once Dragon returns the Crew-1 astronauts back home to Earth, the SpaceX team will inspect and refurbish the spacecraft ahead of the Inspiration4 mission.

Crew member training will include a specific focus on orbital mechanics, operating in microgravity, zero gravity, and other forms of stress testing. The crew will receive emergency preparedness training, spacesuit and spacecraft ingress and egress exercises, as well as partial- and full-mission simulations.

The mission is being targeted for no earlier than Sept. 15, 2021.

READ MORE
Millions of e-mandates or auto-debits set up by customers for paying utility bills and subscriptions could fail from 1 April 2021, with many banks not upgrading their capacities, warns Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). The Association points to a circular issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the processing of e-mandate for recurring transactions using cards, prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) and unified payment interface (UPI). As per the circular, those entities which fail to enable registering, tracking, modification, and withdrawal of e-mandates, will not be allowed to process recurring domestic and cross-border transactions, after 31 March 2021.

IAMAI says its consultations among industry players suggest that most major banks do not have upgraded capacities to comply with RBIs requirements for processing e-mandates.

report from Economic Times (ET) According to a, payment volumes worth over Rs2,000 crore across sectors, including card, utility bills, over-the-top (OTT) and media subscriptions along with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and corporates, are estimated to be affected 1st April onwards.

The Association feels, as a first step, all banks should be asked to enable such e-mandate-compliant frameworks. After this, other participants like merchants and payment aggregators (PAs) should be asked to build their technical integrations with the scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) and other banks including regional rural banks (RRBs), urban cooperative banks (UCBs), state cooperative banks (StCBs), district central cooperative banks (DCC), payments banks, small finance banks, card payment networks and prepaid payment instrument issuers (PPII).

On the e-mandate for recurring transactions, the central bank had issued two circulars, first on 21 August 2019 and the latest on 4 December 2020 . The second circular was issued to enhance the limit to Rs5,000 from Rs2,000 for relaxation in additional factor of authentication (AFA) while processing e-mandates or standing instructions on card, PPI, and UPI transactions.

In August 2019, RBI had decided to permit processing of e-mandate on cards for recurring transactions (merchant payments) with AFA during e-mandate registration, modification, and revocation, as also for the first transaction, and simple and automatic subsequent successive transactions.

While processing the first transaction in e-mandate-based recurring transaction series, AFA validation is a must. "Subsequent recurring transactions shall be performed only for those cards which have been successfully registered and for which the first transaction was successfully authenticated and authorised. These subsequent transactions may be performed without AFA," RBI had said.

As a risk mitigant and customer facilitation measure, the issuer should send a pre-transaction notification to the cardholder, at least 24 hours prior to the actual charge or debit to the card. While registering e-mandate on the card, PPI and UPI, the customer needs to be given a facility to choose a mode among available options like SMS or email for receiving the pre-transaction notification from the issuer in a clear, unambiguous manner and in an understandable language, RBI says adding, the facility for changing this mode of receiving pre-transaction notification, should also be provided to the customer.

As per the central bank, the pre-transaction notification should at the minimum, inform the customer about the name of the merchant, transaction amount, date and time of debit, reference number of transaction or e-mandate, reason for debit or e-mandate registered by the cardholder.

On receiving such notification, RBI says, the customer should also have the facility to opt out of that particular transaction or the e-mandate. On receipt of intimation of such an opt-out, the issuer shall ensure that the particular transaction and further recurring transactions are not effected, as the case may be, the central bank says.

According to IAMAI, since most major scheduled commercial banks have not upgraded their capacities to comply with RBI circulars, other participants like acquirers and card networks have not been able to follow the obligations under these circulars.

The Association has proposed two alternatives. One is, providing non-bank entities like PAs and merchants with additional time of three to six months after the banks implementation deadline. And the second alternative involves ensuring that the issuer banks are compliant with the required infrastructure within the 31 March 2021 deadline and providing an extension of three to six months to the non-bank entities to comply with the RBI circulars.

If the deadline is not extended by RBI, then customers will have to pay utility bills or subscriptions charges by visiting the payment pages of individual merchants.

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[March 30, 2021] INBRAIN Neuroelectronics Secures $17 Million in Series A Funding for First AI-Powered Graphene-Brain Interface

INBRAIN Neuroelectronics S.L., a company in the intersection between Medtech, Deeptech and Digital Health dedicated to developing the world's first intelligent graphene-brain interface, today announced $16.8 million in Series A funding for its disruptive system for treating epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. The investment, co-led by Asabys Partners and Alta Life Sciences, and joined by Vsquared Ventures and TruVenturo GmbH, includes the participation of the Spanish Ministry of Science's CDTI and a follow-on investment by the Institut Catala de Finances' ICF Venture Tech II fund. INBRAIN's technology harnesses the power of graphene, a two-dimensional material first isolated in 2004 made of a lattice of carbon atoms only one atom thick. The strongest material ever tested, roughly 100 times stronger than the equivalent thickness of steel, graphene has unique electrical and thermal conduction properties that are still being explored.1,2 INBRAIN's less-invasive graphene electrodes take advantage of some of these properties to enable ultra-high signal resolution at levels never seen before. The INBRAIN system's machine learning software detects therapy-specific biomarkers to deliver highly focused, adaptive neuromodulation therapy that is personalized for each patient. The funding will be used to advance INBRAIN's first-in-human clinical program, aiming to establish the safety of graphene as the new standard of care for neurotechnology devices. "At INBRAIN, our mission is to improve the lives of patients with brain-related diseases, who are forced to live alone with their conditions. Less invasive and more intelligent neuroelectronic technologies like ours could provide safer therapies that are upgradable and adaptive in real time, to empower these patients and improve the outcomes that matter to them," said INBRAIN Neuroelectronics Co-founder & CEO Carolina Aguilar. "Graphene technology has matured and is ready for the next challenge. This investment is an important stepping stone toward our goal of transforming the way neurological disorders are treated," added Jose Garrido, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of INBRAIN. "At Asabys, we believe strongly in the promise of dedicated ecosystems in developing treatments to transform the lives of patients everywhere. This investment shows how applied science, international talent and specialized financial support can generate truly disruptive therapies addressing significant unmet needs," noted Asabys Managing Partner Josep Sanfeliu, who is chairman of the board at INBRAIN. "Led by an extraordinary team of professionals and investors with long-time expertise in the industry, INBRAIN represents a revolution in current neurological treatments, addressing a clear medical need and lowering costs for healthcare systems," said Scott Moonly, managing partner at Alta Life Sciences. About INBRAIN Neuroelectronics INBRAIN Neuroelectronics S.L., founded in 2019, is a medical device company dedicated to developing the world's first intelligent graphene-brain interface to treat a variety of conditions. INBRAIN's first product is designed to read and modulate brain activity, using artificial intelligence to trigger adaptive responses for personalized neurologial therapy for epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. For more information, please visit www.inbrain-neuroelectronics.com.



About Asabys Partners Asabys Partners is a venture capital manager firm specialized in the healthcare sector, founded by Josep Ll. Sanfeliu and Clara Campas and participated by Alantra. Its first investment vehicle, Sabadell Asabys Health Innovation Investments SCR, SA, was launched in 2019 and is backed by the Banc Sabadell as reference investor. The fund has a target size of more than 80M and invests in healthcare companies across three verticals: medtech, digital therapeutics and biotech, that have highly innovative and disruptive technologies. The fund's investment in the company benefits from the financial backing of the European Union under the European Fund for Strategic Investments ("EFSI") set up under the Investment Plan for Europe. The purpose of EFSI is to help support financing and implementing productive investments in the European Union and to ensure increased access to financing. www.asabys.com

About Alta Life Sciences Alta Life Sciences Spain I FCR (ALSS I FCR) is a venture capital fund that invests in companies in all their stages of development: from financing through seed capital to business growth, and in all spheres of life sciences including biotechnology, medical devices, diagnosis, genomics and digital health. Altamar Private Equity SGIIC, a leading independent firm in the management of international private assets, is the managing company of ALSS I FCR and Alta Life Sciences, S.L., formed by leading professionals in the life sciences business, acting as an exclusive investment consultant. www.altals.com About CDTI CDTI is the body from the General State Administration that supports knowledge-based innovation, advising and offering public aid for innovation through subsidies or partially reimbursable aids. CDTI also internationalizes the R&D and innovation business projects of Spanish companies and entities and manages Spanish participation in international R&D organizations, such as Horizonte2020 and Eureka, as well as in the Science and Space industries. Additionally, through the Innvierte Economia Sostenible initiative, it supports and facilitates the capitalization of technology companies. www.cdti.es About Vsquared Ventures Vsquared Ventures is a VC firm based in Munich. Backed by leading European technology entrepreneurs and family offices, Vsquared Ventures embraces technology to advance society. Past founding investments include Isar Aerospace and IQM Quantum (News - Alert) Computers among others. www.vsquared.vc About TruVenturo TruVenturo is one of the most successful early stage investors and company builders in Europe. For over a decade TruVenturo has been investing at the forefront of digitalization and life sciences, always focusing on identifying big future markets and disruptive business models. Therefore, the team is a strong believer in pharma to prevent age related disease and prolong healthy human lifespan as well as utilising neurostimulation technologies to create bi-directional Computer-Brain-Interfaces. TruVenturo's current portfolio includes over 20 companies, among them several industry leaders and hidden champions. www.truventuro.com About ICF Venture Tech II ICF Venture Tech II FCRE is a 20M venture capital fund managed by ICF Capital SGEIC that invests in technology and innovative companies with high growth potential in early stage and Series A. It is one of the four venture capital funds directly managed by Institut Catala de Finances. Investments are mainly in equity or debt/convertible debt, preferably in co-investment with other funds. The ticket size is between 500,000 and 2M. www.icf.cat 1Cao, K. (2020). "Elastic straining of free-standing monolayer graphene". Nature Communications. 11 (284): 284. 2 Novoselov, K. S.; Geim, A. K.; Morozov, S. V.; Jiang, D.; Zhang, Y.; Dubonos, S. V.; Grigorieva, I. V.; Firsov, A. A. (22 October 2004). "Electric Field Effect in Atomically Thin Carbon Films". Science. 306 (5696): 666-669. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005388/en/

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Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds light and variable..

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Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Russell Crowe has paid tribute to his fathers sparkly eyes and cheeky attitude following his death at the age of 85.

The Hollywood actor said John Alexander Crowe died on Tuesday in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia.

Crowe, the star of films including Gladiator, Robin Hood and A Beautiful Mind, shared a message with his 2.7 million followers on Twitter.

I arrived back in the bush last night.

Today, although the sun is shining and the torrential rain has abated, this date will forever be tinged with sadness.

My dear old man, my beautiful dad, the most gentle of men, has passed away.  Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) March 30, 2021

The 56-year-old wrote: I arrived back in the bush last night. Today, although the sun is shining and the torrential rain has abated, this date will forever be tinged with sadness.

My dear old man, my beautiful dad, the most gentle of men, has passed away.

Im posting this because I know there are people all over the world whose heart he touched and whose ribs he tickled with his sparkly eyes and his cheeky attitude to everyone, and everything, and this is probably as efficient a method as any to pass on the news.

Fans were quick to send him their condolences and messages of support.

Crowe wrote that his father had spent the last 25 years living in Coffs Harbour, a city on the north coast of New South Wales known for its beaches.

The star grew up in Wellington, New Zealand, before his family moved to Sydney, Australia, when he was four.

Both his parents worked as film set caterers, while his father also managed a hotel.

The Oscar-winning actor has reportedly joined the cast of Thor: Love And Thunder, which is currently in production in Australia.

According to Deadline, he will play a small part in director Taika Waititis Marvel outing, which stars Australian star Chris Hemsworth as the title character.
Given the sudden rise in Covid-19 cases in India, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has issued a circular, asking airport operators to ensure Covid-19 protocol is followed properly. The AAI circular comes just a few days after the DGCA (Director General of Civil Aviation) directed all airlines to deboard passengers who don't wear masks properly and place them in the "unruly passenger" category.

"During the surveillance of some airports, it has come to notice that compliance is not satisfactory. All airport operators, therefore, are requested to ensure that the instructions on the Covid-19 protocol from the standpoint of wearing face mask properly, covering nose and mouth, as well as maintaining social distance norms within the airport premises are followed scrupulously," the AAI said in a statement today.

The airports have also been asked to enhance surveillance and, if needed, take punitive actions such as a levy of spot fines to stop people from violating the Covid-19 protocols.

Also read: Passengers not wearing masks properly to be de-boarded, treated as 'unruly passengers', says DGCA

The DGCA, in its strongly-worded circular on March 21, had ordered airlines to de-board passengers if they fail to wear masks properly inside aircraft or don't follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. "If a passenger violates protocol despite repeated warnings, then the passenger will be treated as 'unruly passenger'," the aviation regulator said.

The DGCA also said that CISF or police personnel deployed at the entrance of the airport must ensure that no one is allowed to enter the airport without wearing a mask. "In case any passenger is not following COvid-19 protocol, they should be handed over to security agencies after proper warning. If required they may be dealt as per the law," the circular suggests.

Also read: Ban on international passenger flights extended till March 31

Following the circular, several airlines had reported many individuals to the authorities for not wearing masks or failing to follow social distancing norms at airports.

India is facing a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases, especially in March. The country saw 56,211 in the last 24 hours and 271 people succumbed to the contagion. Maharashtra remains the worst affected state, with total cases topping over 27.13 lakh, of which over 23.32 lakh have recovered. Maharashtra has reported 54,181 COVID-19 deaths and over 3.27 lakh active cases. States like Punjab, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Odisha are also seeing a spurt in Covid-19 cases.

Also read: Pilots, cabin crew won't fly for 48 hours after vaccination: DGCA
A Cambodian woman is taken away by police after peacefully protesting outside the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh, Oct. 23, 2020.

Lao, Cambodia, and Vietnam imposed serious restrictions on freedom of expression and the press over the last year, with all three countries also holding political prisoners and interfering with the rights of citizens to peacefully protest, according to an annual State Department report released on Tuesday.

Cases of arbitrary arrest, unlawful killings, and torture in police custody were also reported during the year, the State Department said in its annual report to the U.S. Congress on the human rights record of countries around the world.

In Laos, the ruling partys Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued instructions in August warning social media users against posting content or comments criticizing the countrys government, and articles or comments on articles critical of the government suddenly disappeared from social media sites, according to the report.

Lack of accountability in cases of abuse by police or other officials remained a problem in Laos during the year, the State Department said.

[And] while the government prosecuted officials for corruption, there were no prosecutions of punishments for officials who committed other abuses, and police and security forces committed human rights abuses with impunity.

No new cases of forced disappearance were reported during the year, but no progress was made in uncovering the fate of Sombath Somphone, a prominent Lao civil society leader who was abducted in 2012 after what appeared to be an orchestrated stop of his vehicle by traffic police in Vientiane.

Opposition figures jailed

Notable human rights abuses reported in Cambodia during the year during the year included torture and degrading punishment at government hands, unjustified or arbitrary arrests, and severe restrictions on political participation, with at least 40 political prisoners or detainees held in the country as of August, the State Department said.

Twenty-three of these were officials or supporters of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which was dissolved by Cambodias ruling party-compliant Supreme Court in November 2017, two months after the arrest of CNRP leader Kem Sokha.

More than 80 CNRP supporters and activists arrested in 2019 were meanwhile released on bail during the year, but still faced charges and possible re-arrest, the State Department said.

Government control of Cambodias judiciary saw the countrys Supreme Court on Oct. 27 reject an appeal by former Radio Free Asia reporters Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin, allowing an investigation into charges of espionage against them to proceed, according to the report.

NGOs and observers argued that the case was politically motivated and pointed to the prolonged trial and confiscation of the journalists passports as proof of government intimidation of media, the State Department said.

And though prepublication censorship of Cambodian media is forbidden by law, the government used other means to censor media, most notably through its control of permits and licenses for journalists and media outlets not controlled directly by the government or the [ruling Cambodian Peoples Party], according to the report.

Private media admitted to practicing self-censorship, in part from fear of government reprisal.

Significant, ongoing abuses

In Vietnam, significant abuses continued through the year, the State Department said.

Problems included arbitrary arrests, detentions, and killings by the government; serious restrictions on free expression, the press, and the internet; and the holding of political prisoners in the countrys jails, according to the report.

Restrictions on political participation and a lack of independence of the judiciary were also seen, the State Department said, adding, The government occasionally took corrective action, including prosecutions against officials who violated the law, but police officers and state officials frequently acted with impunity.

Ministry of Public Security officials reportedly assaulted political prisoners to extract confessions or encouraged fellow prisoners to attack them, and human rights monitoring groups said police regularly used excessive force while on duty, with investigators often torturing detainees.

The State Department noted that on Sept. 14, the trial of 29 residents of the Dong Tam communethe scene of a violent Jan. 9 clash between armed police and commune residents over the government seizure of farmland for military useended with convictions, with one Dong Tam resident saying later the 29 had been tortured in custody.

Legal scholars, activists, and rights activists later noted serious irregularities in the conduct of the trial, which ended with two villagers sentenced to death and others handed lengthy terms in prison.

Vietnams already low tolerance of dissent meanwhile deteriorated sharply during the year with a spate of arrests of independent journalists, publishers, and Facebook personalities as authorities continued to stifle critics in the run-up to the ruling Communist Party Congress in January 2021.

In March, Truong Duy Nhatan RFA blogger who had been taken back to Vietnam by force from Thailand after applying for U.N. refugee status the year beforewas tried and sentenced to a 10-year prison term on charges related to an alleged land-fraud case.

And in May and June, independent journalists Pham Chi Thanh, Nguyen Tuong Tuy, and Le Huu Minh Tuan were first detained and then arrested on charges of propagandizing against the state, the State Department said.
Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.
LONDON  The initial public offering for Deliveroo, the Amazon-backed food delivery service, is set to be Britains biggest this year, giving the company an initial market value of 7.6 billion pounds, or $10.4 billion. But the listing, whose announcement was quickly heralded as a post-Brexit victory for Londons financial sector, has since been rocked by accusations of poor pay for Deliveroo riders.

Major investors, meanwhile, said they would sit out the offering.

Trading is set to begin on Wednesday, with shares priced at 3.90 a share, the bottom of the target range that originally was as high as 4.60. Earlier this week the company said that it wanted to price the shares responsibly and that it had received very significant demand from investors.

Deliveroo, which is based in London and was founded in 2013, is now in 12 countries and has over 100,000 riders, recognizable on the streets by their teal jackets and food bags. Last year, Amazon became its biggest shareholder with a 16 percent stake, which will drop to 11.5 percent after the I.P.O. The Deliveroo listing is the latest test for gig economy companies, whose business model is increasingly under threat in Europe as legal challenges mount.

Two weeks ago, Uber reclassified more than 70,000 drivers in Britain as workers who will receive a minimum wage, vacation pay and access to a pension plan, after a Supreme Court ruling. Analysts said the move could set a precedent for other companies and increase costs. In mainland Europe, where Deliveroo also operates, the European Commission is reviewing the legal status of gig economy workers.
MONTREAL - Shipping volumes at the Port of Montreal are dropping amid the spectre of a potential strike, Maritime Employers Association president Martin Tessier says.

A container ship is docked in the Port of Montreal on February 17, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

MONTREAL - Shipping volumes at the Port of Montreal are dropping amid the spectre of a potential strike, Maritime Employers Association president Martin Tessier says.

"Every day, we are receiving calls to know if we're going to close," Tessier said in an interview. "The anxiety of all the importers and exporters, it's rising like crazy."

Volume at the port has dropped 1.8 per cent since the start of 2021, Tessier added, as customers look to other ports to ship to and from.

The union representing 1,125 longshore workers and the employer concluded a seven-month truce on March 20, after a 10-day strike last August.

The longshore workers' union voted on March 21 to reject the employers' offer, but said it did not intend to submit a strike notice.

The Shipping Federation of Canada, the trade association representing the interests of ocean-going ships, said earlier this month that the situation was causing North American importers and exporters to divert cargo away from the port.

Tessier said shippers are shifting their business to ports with which the Port of Montreal competes, including New York and Baltimore.

"We are facing a slowdown in volume based on the fact that, again, the importers and exporters, they don't want to go through what they've been through last summer, and the anxiety is rising day after day," Tessier said.

The potential strike at the Montreal port threatens to put further pressure on global shipping networks, already strained due to a shortage of container space. Container shipping prices have more than doubled in the last year, data from Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd. shows.

The days-long shutdown of Egypt's Suez Canal after a massive container ship became stuck in its side wall last week has threatened to further disrupt shipping networks, leading to potential price increases and delays.

In February, the Port of Baltimore saw volumes increase 6 per cent for general cargo and 3 per cent for shipping containers year over year, said William P. Doyle, executive director of the Maryland Port Administration.

The port attributed its increased volumes to a new contract for rolled paper and the diverting of at least 17 ships since last July from other ports to Baltimore. However, none of those ships was rerouted from Montreal, Doyle said.

Similarly, a spokesman for the Port of Halifax said that anecdotally, the facility has seen an increase in container cargo traffic, but it was unclear what portion of the additional traffic was attributable to the strike threat in Montreal.

"Its difficult to say how much is related to situations at other ports," port spokesman Lane Farguson said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2021.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version contained incorrect dates on union votes in grafs 3 and 4.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Six months before his death, the Vatican cleared a former prominent cleric on Staten Island of sex-abuse charges that previously were deemed credible in an independent review process sponsored by the Archdiocese of New York, according to reports in Catholic New York.

The Holy See restored the good name and priestly status of Monsignor Francis Boyle several months before his death on March 13 and years after his stunning fall from grace amid the Roman Catholic churchs sex-abuse scandal.

Monsignor Boyle was a priest for about 40 years when he was named a monsignor in 1995 while at Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church in West Brighton, where he assumed the pastorship in January 1991. He retired in July 2004 and transitioned to the role of pastor emeritus for the parish.

The monsignor, who held powerful positions within the archdiocese for decades, died at age 91 after residing at St. John Vianney Priests Residence in the Bronx for the past 16 years.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, celebrated the funeral Mass for Monsignor Boyle on March 18 at Holy Family R.C. Church in New Rochelle, according to Catholic New York.

ALLEGATIONS DISMISSED

The Holy See confirmed a recommendation by Cardinal Dolan to dismiss an allegation of sexually abusing a minor that had been brought against Monsignor Boyle, according to an article published on the Catholic New York website in September 2020.

The usual canonical investigation determined that the allegation had not been proven, and, after consultation with the archdiocesan review board, these findings were forwarded to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Catholic New York reported.

Cardinal Luis Ladaria, S.J., prefect of the congregation, wrote to Cardinal Dolan with the congregations conclusions. In a letter dated September 17, 2020, Cardinal Ladaria said that, after studying the case of Msgr. Boyle, they had determined that the accusation brought against him does not have the semblance of truth, and further directed the archdiocese to take whatever steps are needed to restore his good name.

In October of 2018, an announcement in the Blessed Sacrament bulletin said allegations of abuse were brought against Monsignor Boyle through the Archdioceses Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) that assists victims of alleged priestly abuse.

The findings of the investigation were confirmed by the Archdiocesan Lay Review Board.

The Lay Review Board has concluded that the allegations were credible and substantiated, according to the bulletin notice in 2018.

Msgr. Boyle has been suspended, and may not function or present himself as a priest. The Holy See will decide an appropriate penalty, which could include dismissal from the clerical state or imposing a life of prayer and penance. However, it is certain that Msgr. Boyle will never serve as a priest again.

In April of 2019, Boyles name appeared on an Archdiocesan list of about 120 clergy who were credibly accused of sex abuse.

TIME ON STATEN ISLAND

During his years on Staten Island, Monsignor Boyle was a highly-regarded religious leader who was honored for his contributions to the church and the community as a person of Irish descent at a ball in October 1996, according to an Advance article about the event.

Since his appointment as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church six years ago, Monsignor Boyle has been highly visible in parish and community affairs and has taken a special interest in the development of enhanced educational programs at the parish school, the 1996 article said. It is his wish that proceeds for the ball and its companion journal be used for a new computer center in the school.

Born in Manhattan, the monsignor attended St. Francis de Sales School in his home borough, Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx and St. Josephs Seminary in Yonkers.

Ordained in 1955, Boyle spent his early years in the priesthood working in parishes and holding administrative and educational positions in the seminaries that he had attended.

In 1968, Msgr. Boyle was appointed procurator at St. Josephs Seminary in Dunwoodie, and of the former Cathedral College Preparatory Seminary in Manhattan. In 1974, he was named director of development at Dunwoodie, according to Catholic New York. At the seminary, he also served as dean of students, professor of homiletics and director of the deacon internship program and the field education program.

He also helped to determine the career paths of ordained priests while serving on the Priests Personnel Board of the Archdiocese of New York in the 1990s and the Priests Council from 1985 to 1990. He was chairman of the Commission of Inter-Parish Finances from 1983 to 1985, and the Priests Senate from 1979 to 1983. He was assistant director of the Priests Conference on Pastoral Life from 1966 to 1970, according to Advance records.

Monsignor Boyle led Our Lady of Perpetual Help R.C. Church in Pelham Manor, Westchester, from 1979 to 1991. He was parochial vicar of St. Gabriel R.C. Church in the Bronx from 1959-1968 and of St. Malachys, the Actors Chapel in Manhattan, from 1955-1959.
A Vietnam Airlines flight attendant in Ho Chi Minh City was handed a two-year suspended sentence Tuesday for spreading Covid-19 to three others.

Duong Tan Hau, 29, was charged with spreading a dangerous infectious disease, according to HCMC People's Court. Due to his good record and cooperation with authorities, among other factors, he was allowed a suspended sentence.

Hau entered Vietnam from Japan on Nov. 14 last year and quarantined at a facility managed by Vietnam Airlines in Tan Binh District from Nov. 14 to 18. But Hau eventually made contact with two others in the zone, who were later confirmed infected with the coronavirus, despite quarantine protocols not allowing crew members to contact each other.

After testing negative twice, Hau entered self-isolation at an apartment in the same district on Nov. 18. During this period, he met friends and participated in a contest at a HCMC university. Among the people who he made contact with was a male teacher at a local English center, who was later confirmed infected with the virus, which he then in turn spread to two more people.

Hau tested positive on Nov. 28. The damage he caused by spreading the disease in the community was estimated at VND4.475 billion ($193,870), including testing and quarantining fees, the court heard.

In court, Hau acknowledged his crime, but said spreading the disease had not been his intent. Therefore, he believed he should not have to be criminally charged.

"I was too confident of not being infected after testing negative twice. Ive seen my mistake and would like to apologize to the three others infected and the entire community," Hau said.

Hau is the first case in Vietnam where flouting Covid-19 prevention regulations is treated as a crime, but he was not the last. Two others, a man in Mekong Deltas Vinh Long Province who illegally entered Vietnam and a woman in northern Hai Duong Province who did not declare her travel itinerary nor who she came in contact with, are also being probed on the same charge.
The newest addition to the downtown Sonoma square, Valley Bar & Bottle, seems out of place it its surroundings.

In a city where most restaurants cater to tourists, Valleys backyard on any given night is full of winemakers. Unlike the many area restaurants and shops that stock their shelves with Sonoma County wines, Valley gives equal footing to the wines of the world. Against a landscape of endless Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, Valley has unapologetically dipped its toes into the waters of natural wines and esoteric grape varieties. This is where you come, when youve tired of too much Russian River Pinot, to drink rust-colored Swiss rose, orange wine from the Czech Republic and earthy reds from mountainous northern Italy.

That makes Valley a risk: It risks not giving the tourists what they came to Sonoma for, and risks offending the local establishment, with its unspoken imperative to serve Sonoma wines exclusively. But Valleys choices pay off. And its boldness is part of what makes Valley such an exciting place to eat and drink.

Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Its not that Valley doesnt celebrate Sonoma. It does, using ingredients from local farms and serving bottles from some of Sonoma Countys edgier, often natural-leaning producers like Gail, Unturned Stone and Martha Stoumen. Theres a sense of being rooted in place, but also of looking outward to the world beyond.

That combination of Sonoma identity and contemporary edge is a blend from two of its partners, Emma Lipp and Lauren Feldman. Both grew up in Wine Country but worked at progressive New York restaurants such as Estela and LArtusi. Though they didnt know each other at the time, they both internalized a doctrine common in NYCs high-end restaurant scene: that California wines are jammy, overblown fruit bombs, a Hollywood-ified version of the subtle, savory European archetype.

But when they each came back to California to work at Sonomas hippest winery, Scribe, where the two became friends, they discovered a whole new world of California wine. For Feldman, a sommelier, the ah-ha moment was a bottle of Arnot-Roberts Trousseau that she tasted in 2010. Modeled after the delicate reds of Frances alpine Jura region, the Trousseau seemed to challenge all of Californias fruit-bomb stereotypes.

In New York, California wine had been so not cool at the time, says Lipp, Valleys main chef. I had been totally unaware of the burgeoning natural and next-generation scene. Experimental producers, incredible vineyards, risk takers.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Restaurants and wine bars in San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley were celebrating these wines, but Lipp and Feldman sensed there wasnt anywhere to find them in their immediate community around Sonoma Valley.

Its not as if everyone whos coming to Sonoma is old and from the Chicago suburbs, says Lipp, careful not to disparage any neighboring businesses, but there definitely is a narrower pipeline of offerings here that hasnt really had to evolve because the tourism quotient hasnt gone away.

The vision for Valley, hatched pre-pandemic, was modeled on the Parisian cave a manger: an insistently informal place for wine and snacks  part bar, part retail shop and probably the sort of place thats into natural wine and tinned fish. Its a style thats having a moment in the Bay Area, as spots like Ordinaire, Verjus and Habibi prove.

The pandemic, for now, has killed the sort of spontaneity that a cave a manger requires. After opening Valley in July, Feldman and Lipp  who have two other partners in the business, Tanner Walle and Stephanie Reagor  had to move toward a more formal, full-dinner type of format. Casual bar snacks were out. Advance reservations were in.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

The place manages to feel breezy and laid-back nonetheless, and once you settle in youll want to stay for a full meal  and at least a full bottle  anyway.

Valleys twinkling lights and earth-tone color palette channel the mood of Lipp and Reagors hearty, homey cooking: braised, brothy butter beans ($13); crispy-skin chicken cooked in its own jus and drizzled with chile oil ($32); a salad of lemony, wispy pea shoots draped over a slab of rich washed-rind cheese ($16). The entrees are generous, but there are still remnants of the snacky, bar-food menu that Lipp had initially envisioned, with flavorful, wine-friendly finger foods like deviled eggs with XO sauce ($4) and a buttery roll stuffed with pink shrimp ($8). As with the wines, they supplement local purveyors wares, like duck fat tortillas from Berkeley pop-up Xulo, with thoughtfully selected imports like Don Bocarte anchovies.

Feldman and Walle are on wine duty, and theyve got well-known natural producers like Frances Herve Souhaut, Italys Cos and Australias Jauma alongside old-school classics, like Dolcetto, a light-red grape variety, from the famous Piedmont winery Giuseppe Rinaldi. Theres pristine Champagne from winemaker Charles Dufour  which Copenhagen fine-dining temple Noma serves as its house Champagne  and a juicy, textured Pinot Gris-Riesling blend from Alsatian winery Hausherr, both brought in by a new Oakland importer called Offshore Wines.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Still, Feldman insists there are no hard-and-fast rules for the bottles that Valley stocks  unlike some natural-wine temples, there is no litmus test for sulfur additions, for example  other than that she needs to be satisfied there are responsible, ideally organic, farming practices in place.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

For anyone averse to the natty and funky, there are also ample options. Like Winery Sixteen 600s powerful Zinfandel, from an organic vineyard on Moon Mountain, overlooking Sonoma Valley; or the stone-fruit driven Hope Well Chardonnay from winemaker Mimi Casteel, a leader in regenerative farming in Oregon. And theres Arnot-Roberts Trousseau, the wine that started it all for Feldman.

Its not hard to see why the local wine-industry community is flocking to Valley. For the rest of us, especially those that live in the Bay Areas more urban enclaves like San Francisco or Oakland, well, we dont need to drive to Sonoma to drink natural wine and eat fancy anchovies.

But if you ask me, a place with such beautiful, satisfying food and a wine list with such a unique point of view as Valley is a destination worthy of a trek. And there is something wildly thrilling about being in Wine Country at this time of year, even mid-pandemic  driving past the vineyards as buds are beginning to break through, lingering over dinner outside as the breeze gets warmer and the light holds a little later. It might even make you feel like a tourist.

Valley Bar & Bottle. Dinner 5-9 p.m. Thursday-Monday; brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; bottle shop open 1-9 p.m. Thursday-Monday. 487 1st St. West, Sonoma. 707-934-8403 or www.valleybarandbottle.com

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley
Police at Worawora Monday arrested two persons for allegedly buying suspected G-3 ammunitions and possession of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp at Kwamekrom Abdulkordzi, a suburb of Worawora in the Oti Region.



The two are Godwin Kpodo Agbevitor, a landlord, and Samuel Agbeshi, alias Adah Emma, who were arrested through police-public cooperation.



Sixteen wraps of dried leaves, suspected to be Indian hemp, had been retrieved from Agbevitor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) John Nchor, the Acting Oti Regional Public Affairs Officer, said in a release copied to the Ghana News Agency.



He said 181 rounds of suspected G-3 ammunition had also been retrieved from Agbeshi.



ASP Nchor said the suspects were currently in police custody following their remand by the Jasikan Circuit Court on would re-appear on March 30, 2021.



He encouraged the public to report persons involved in criminal activities to face the rigours of the law and assured informants of their absolute confidentiality.

Source: GNA









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Authorities have charged an Absecon man with attempted murder after a six-month investigation into a violent home invasion.

Police responded to a home invasion on the 800 block of Summer Road in Buena Borough on Sept. 15 and found a 32-year-old man who was shot in the head. The assailants had tied up the victim, but he was able to free himself and run to a neighbors house for help. His injuries were not deemed life-threatening, police said at the time.

In December, police searched properties belonging to Michael E. Hayes, 44, in Atlantic City and Absecon and evidence recovered led to charges filed this week., according to the Franklin Township Police Department.

Hayes was arrested in December on drug distribution charges out of Atlantic City and was still in jail when the new charges were filed, police noted.

Hayes is charged with first-degree attempted homicide, conspiracy, robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree charges of aggravated assault with a handgun and possession of a weapon and third-degree charges of aggravated assault and terroristic threats.

He remains jailed pending court hearings on the new charges.

A second suspect remains at large, police said, but no additional information about this man was provided.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Franklin Township Police Department at 856-694-1415 or email crimetips@franklintownship.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Rachel Bilson has revealed that her former classmate Rami Malek DM'd her to ask that she take a photo of him down just before his Oscar win.

The OC actress, 39, and the Bohemian Rhapsody star, also 39, both attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, and were in the 'same crew'.

However despite being friends at high school, Rachel revealed that Rami requested she removed a picture of them on Instagram because he's a 'private person'.

Throwback: Rachel Bilson has revealed that her former classmate Rami Malek DM'd her to ask that she take a photo of him down just before his Oscar win (pictured)

Rachel made the admission on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert, as she revealed he shared a throwback snap just before he won the Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody.

While Rachel thought it was a fun photo, she revealed to Shepard that her old friend reached out and asked her to take it down shortly after posting it.

She explained that Rami was, 'a good friend of mine' in high school, explaining that they were the leads in The Crucible during their senior year.

High school days: The OC actress, 39, and the Bohemian Rhapsody star, also 39, both attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California , and were in the 'same crew'

She added that, throughout the years they had 'kind of kept in contact' before he got 'super famous,' adding he was always 'super talented' and a 'really amazing actor, even in high school.'

'I had posted a throwback of us from our senior trip to New York. We're super nerdyjust the dorkiest picture of the both of us. But I throw it up, 'cause it's funny and I think it's so important to be able to make fun of yourself,' she explained.

She added that Rami had a gold chain on in the photo, and she said in the caption, 'Hey Rami where'd you get that gold chain?'

She admitted that she doesn't check her Instagram DM's too often, but a week later she saw a message from Malek.

Old friend: However despite being friends at high school, Rachel revealed that Rami requested she removed a picture of them on Instagram because he's a 'private person'

'It wasn't like, 'Hey! How are you?!' It was straight to: 'I would really appreciate if you take that down. I'm a really private person,'' she explained.

'I was like, 'Oh, s**t! OK.' I get really hot and start sweating. I'm all nervous, like, 'Oh god! What did I do?' He was a really good friend, it's a funny pictureyou know? I don't take myself that seriously,' Bilson added.

She added that she is friends with Rami's stylist and asked her about it, and she said, 'Well it's not a great picture of him.'

'It was right before the Oscars and I remember [The O.C. creator] Josh Schwartz being like, "You did him dirty. He's about to be nominated.''

Candid: Rachel made the admission on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert , as she revealed he shared a throwback snap just before he won the Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody (pictured in February 2020)

'I was like, I guess I should've found something more flattering. But I removed it and I even wrote to him a really nice message: 'I'm so sorry. Go get the Oscar! You're doing amazing.'

'And I never heard anything back, which is fine. But I was super bummed because he was always so nice and we were good friends,' she said.

She added that she's a 'big fan of not taking yourself so seriously, especially with that talent and fame, but look, he wants to be super respected and that's his thing, so I respected it and took it down. I was just a little bummed at how it was handled.'

Rachel had her big break just a few years out of high school, starring in Fox's The O.C, while Malek hit Hollywood in 2015 with Mr. Robot, before winning his Oscar in 2019 for playing Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody.
 Four notable new short reports on prison populations from the Bureau of Justice Statistics | Main | Fascinating split Fourth Circuit ruling finds lawyer ineffective and 210-month sentence substantively unreasonable for addicted opioid distributor 

The quoted title of this post is the lead headline of this lengthy and detailed Politico discussion of some of the case processing realities surrounding the on-going federal prosecutions of persons involved in the insurrection on January 6, 2021. I recommend the piece in full, and here are excerpts:

Americans outraged by the storming of Capitol Hill are in for a jarring reality check: Many of those who invaded the halls of Congress on Jan. 6 are likely to get little or no jail time. While public and media attention in recent weeks has been focused on high-profile conspiracy cases against right-wing, paramilitary groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, the most urgent decisions for prosecutors involve resolving scores of lower-level cases that have clogged D.C.s federal district court.

A POLITICO analysis of the Capitol riot-related cases shows that almost a quarter of the more than 230 defendants formally and publicly charged so far face only misdemeanors. Dozens of those arrested are awaiting formal charges, even as new cases are being unsealed nearly every day. In recent days, judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys have all indicated that they expect few of these MAGA tourists to face harsh sentences.

There are two main reasons: Although prosecutors have loaded up their charging documents with language about the existential threat of the insurrection to the republic, the actions of many of the individual rioters often boiled down to trespassing. And judges have wrestled with how aggressively to lump those cases in with those of the more sinister suspects. My bet is a lot of these cases will get resolved and probably without prison time or jail time, said Erica Hashimoto, a former federal public defender who is now a law professor at Georgetown....

The resolution of the more mundane cases also presents acute questions about equity, since most of the Capitol riot defendants are white, while misdemeanor charges are often a vexing problem for minority defendants in other cases. There are also sensitive issues about precedent for the future, given the frequency of politically inspired demonstrations on Capitol Hill that run afoul of the law....

Prosecutors have signaled that plea offers for some defendants will be coming within days and have readily acknowledged that some of the cases are less complicated to resolve than others. I think we can work out a non-trial disposition in this case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory Cole told Judge Dabney Friedrich last week in the case of Kevin Loftus, who was charged with unlawful presence and disrupting official business at the Capitol, among other offenses that have become the boilerplate set lodged against anyone who walked into the building that day without authorization.

The Justice Department will soon be in the awkward position of having to defend such deals, even as trials and lengthy sentences for those facing more serious charges could be a year or more away....

Former federal prosecutor Paul Butler said he hopes that those most troubled by the Capitol riot wont recoil at the looming deals for many participants. The punishment has to be proportional to the harm, but I think for many of us, well never forget watching TV Jan. 6 and seeing people wilding out in the Capitol, said Butler, now a law professor at Georgetown. Everybody who was there was complicit, but theyre not all complicit to the same degree for the same harm.

A standard set of four misdemeanor charges prosecutors have been filed in dozens of the Capitol cases carries a maximum possible punishment of three years in prison. But that sentence or anything close to it is virtually unheard of in misdemeanor cases, lawyers said. Nobody goes to jail for a first or second misdemeanor, Butler said flatly....

In virtually all the non-felony cases, the charges are likely to be grouped together as trespassing under federal sentencing guidelines. While those guidelines contain a small enhancement for entering a restricted building or grounds, defendants with no significant criminal history are looking at the lowest possible range: zero to six months. Zero months means no jail at all....

Another factor prosecutors and judges may weigh is that the treatment of misdemeanors by the justice system is currently the subject of intense attention in criminal justice reform circles. Reformers say such minor charges often cause major complications in the lives of the minority defendants who typically face them. A lot of Black or brown people, they dont get the benefit of individual judgment or breaks, said Butler. I think this will be a record number of white people who appear in federal criminal court in D.C.If theyre receiving mercy, the prosecutors office should make sure that same mercy will be applied to all the other people who they prosecute, who are mainly people of color and low-income people.

The former prosecutor said he hopes the high-profile Capitol prosecutions call attention to the underlying equity issues and to the fact that the vast majority of federal cases are resolved not through trials but the plea negotiations that are about to begin. This could be a teachable moment here for the public, Butler said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 07:46:30|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- As 10 years of protracted conflict in Syria have brought untold suffering to the country and its people, many issues with regard to the current situation in the country warrant deep reflections, said a Chinese envoy on Monday.

Facts have proved time and again that respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity is an international norm that must be upheld, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

Political solution is the only viable way to address hot-spot issues. Supporting the path of development chosen by the people of every country that suits its national conditions is the fundamental way, he told the Security Council.

Regime change is not an option, nor will it work. Unilateral sanctions can only aggravate the situation. External military interference can only cause greater disasters and serious consequences, he warned.

Under the current circumstances, the international community should adopt a holistic approach, integrating the political, security, economic, and humanitarian aspects, so as to jointly promote the early achievement of peace, security, and development, said Zhang.

He called for commitment to the right direction of a political settlement, improving the humanitarian situation, lifting unilateral sanctions and economic blockade, and ending foreign occupation and fighting terrorism.

"We must stay committed to the right direction of a political settlement and support the Syrian people in independently deciding the future of their country," he said.

China calls on all parties in Syria to cooperate with the UN mediation, to jointly promote progress in the work of the Constitutional Committee. The Syrian political process should adhere to the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned principle and the international community should firmly support the Syrian people in exploring their path of development, he said.

The Constitutional Committee should remain independent and free from external interference. The Astana process and related regional countries can play a coordinating and facilitating role. China welcomes the fact that relevant Arab states are positively considering Syria's return to the Arab League. This is conducive to advancing the political process in Syria, which should be encouraged and supported by the international community, he added.

"We must fully leverage the leading role of the Syrian government so as to fundamentally improve the humanitarian situation on the ground," said Zhang.

Given the acute pandemic and food security issues in Syria, targeted relief assistance should be provided with a focus on the humanitarian needs of women, children, and other vulnerable groups. Recently, through bilateral channel, China has provided Syria with 150,000 doses of vaccines and 750 tons of rice as the first batch, and will continue to contribute to alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Syria, he said.

China welcomes COVAX providing vaccines to the Syrian people. The Syrian government is cooperating with the United Nations, nongovernmental organizations and other partners in advancing the humanitarian operations and bringing large amounts of medical supplies to the northeast through cross-line delivery. China appreciates those efforts, said Zhang.

The international community should support the United Nations in opening the humanitarian delivery route from Damascus to the northwest as soon as possible, which will gradually reduce Syria's reliance on a cross-border mechanism, he said.

Unilateral sanctions and economic blockade should be lifted to help Syria restore normal order, said Zhang.

With the economy in distress, the prices of oil and other commodities in the country have doubled. And the Syrian pound has depreciated 99 percent from its pre-war period. Relying on aid alone cannot solve the problems. Achieving economic and social recovery and development is the durable solution, he said.

China appreciates the action by the Syrian government to take up its responsibility to move ahead the agricultural reforms and promote trade cooperation. At the same time, it must be noted that unilateral coercive measures and the lack of reconstruction assistance have become the main obstacles to serious economic recovery, he noted.

The lifting of unilateral coercive measures is a call for justice, and denying the serious harm of unilateral coercive measures is nothing but self-deception, he said.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs should comprehensively assess the humanitarian impact of unilateral coercive measures and submit a report to the Security Council, he said.

China calls on the international community to extend a helping hand to Syria in rebuilding infrastructure and safeguarding people's livelihood. Relevant assistance should follow the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and cannot be linked to the political process, said Zhang.

Foreign occupation must be stopped, and terrorism inside Syria must be eradicated, he said.

China supports efforts by the Syrian government to safeguard its national sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity. And China opposes intentions and actions that endanger Syria's national security and divide Syrian territory, he said.

Entrenched in Syria, terrorist groups listed by the Security Council can stir up chaos any moment, threatening the security and stability of the country, and even the entire region. The international community must remain vigilant, strengthen cooperation, and resolutely combat terrorism in accordance with international law and Security Council resolutions, he said.

Countless facts have proved that on the question of anti-terrorism, politicization and double standards benefit no one and can cause endless harm, he warned.

An early solution to the Syrian issue is the ardent hope of the Syrians, and is in the interests of regional countries and the international community at large. China wholeheartedly hopes that Syria can emerge from the gloom of war as soon as possible and restore peace and tranquillity. China will continue to play a constructive role in this respect, he said. Enditem
Ukraine has joined restrictive measures applied by the European Union, using a global human rights sanctions regime, against Russia and other countries.

This is stated in the declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses, which was published on the website of the European Council on Tuesday, March 30.

"On 2 March 2021 the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2021/3721, amending Council Decision 2020/1999. The Council Decision adds four persons to the EU sanctions list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999. The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania2, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine align themselves with this Council Decision," the declaration reads.

According to the document, these countries will ensure that their national policies conform to these Council Decisions. The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.

As was reported earlier, the EU Council decision of March 2, 2021 imposed sanctions in the form of asset freezes and travel bans on four Russian officials involved in serious human rights violations, arbitrary arrests and repression in Russia.

The same decision extended EU sanctions to 11 individuals from China, North Korea, Libya, Eritrea, South Sudan and Russia involved in torture, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other crimes, including two police officers from Chechnya.

EU foreign ministers on February 22 made a political decision to impose new sanctions on Russian officials over the arrest of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The expanded list includes, in particular, Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin, Director of the Federal Penitentiary Service Alexander Kalashnikov, Director of the National Guard Viktor Zolotov and Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov.

op
Cyrus P. Mistry, the former chairman of Tata Sons, said on Tuesday that he is personally disappointed as a minority shareholder of Tata Sons over the outcome of the recent Supreme Court judgement that upheld Tata Sons decision to sack him as the chairman of the salt-to-software conglomerate.

"As a minority shareholder of Tata Sons, I am personally disappointed by the outcome of the judgement with respect to our case," Mistry said in a statement.

"Although I will no longer be able to influence the direction of governance of the Tata group directly, I hope that the issues I have raised will cause deeper reflection and influence the individuals concerned to catalyse change. I sleep with a clear conscience," he said.

According to Mistry, his aim at the Tatas was to ensure a robust board-driven system of decision making and governance that is larger than any one individual.

"A key focus was to enable the directors on various boards to discharge their fiduciary duties without fear or favour, while still ensuring that shareholders' views were reflected in strategy and actions.

"To this end, my performance was reviewed by nearly 50 independent directors across multiple Tata Boards that I served. Beyond the performance metric that speaks for itself and the documented appreciation for my initiatives, I am humbled by the continued support I have received from my former colleagues and other board members," Mistry said.

Last Friday, the Supreme Court had accepted all the contentions of the Tata Group and set aside an order of the NCLAT, which restored Mistry as the executive chairman of the Tata conglomerate.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde had said that all questions of law are in favour of Tata Group while dismissing the appeals filed by Mistry. The top court upheld the Tata Sons decision to sack Mistry on October 24, 2016.

The counsel for the Shapoorji Pallonji Group had argued that Mistry was removed because he was going to place a draft governance structure at the board meeting on October 24, 2016.

"We find all the questions of law are liable to be answered in favour of the appellants (Tata Group) and the appeals filed by the Tata Group are liable to be allowed and Shapoorji Pallonji group is liable to be dismissed," the top court had said.

The top court said the value of SP Group shares will depend on the valuation by Tata Son's equities and the court will not determine the fair value.

In December 2019, the NCLAT had ruled that the proceedings of the Board meeting of Tata Sons held on October 24, 2016, removing Mistry as chairperson was illegal.
A German pastor fighting expulsion from Turkey is hopeful that he may be the exception to a wave of foreign Christian leaders expelled from the country as threats to national security.

Though Turkeys National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has applied the label to pastor Michael Feulner, he told Morning Star News that a hearing last week gave him hope that a court will strike the security threat designation and allow him to stay.

Feulner said the three judges in the March 22 hearing in Ankara were much more open to reviewing evidence his attorney presented than judges were at a February hearing in Istanbul.

I felt I was heard by the judges, he said. They asked the police department in Ankara if there was anything against me, and there was nothing. For this reason, I am hopeful they will hear our claim.

One of the judges seemed to have a genuine interest in the merits of the case, he said. In the February hearing, judges gave the pastors attorney only 10 minutes to present his case. Then the court decided to withhold ruling on the deportation order until the Ankara court decided if the security designation was justified.

Advocacy group Middle East Concern (MEC) reported that Feulners attorney was able to present evidence that Turkey has long been aware of his ministry without objection, and that the security threat designation is a violation of religious freedom.

Image: Middle East Concern

The judges then demanded that MIT produce reasonable grounds for the designation, according to MEC. Feulner is asking the court to strike down MITs claim that, without publicly issuing evidence, his existence in Turkey is a threat to the countrys national security.

The designation makes Feulner persona non grata in Turkey and is the impetus behind a deportation order issued in February and an N82 notation on his passport from the Ministry of the Interior that effectively bars him from reentering the country if he leaves.

Feulner has lived in Turkey and the coastal region of the Sea of Marmara since 1999, when he came as an aid worker to help victims of earthquake in Izmit. He has been the pastor of Yalova Light House Church, a multilingual congregation, since 2003.

Turkish immigration agents in February 2020 arrested Feulner as he was trying to take a flight out of the country. He was held without charge for 30 hours in an immigration cell at Istanbul Airport. It was there that he learned of his N82 status and was told he had 10 days to leave the country.

His lawyer then opened two court cases: one to appeal the deportation order, and one seeking to remove the designation as a security threat. The deportation order is on hold until the security threat case is decided.

Expat Christians Expelled

Pastor Feulner is one of scores of expatriate Christians in Turkey targeted for expulsion over the past few years.

Turkey has a longstanding history of deporting active expatriate Christians categorized as missionaries, but relatively few Christians were expelled.

After a coup attempt in the summer of 2016, however, the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ratcheted up the number of Christians identified for possible expulsion or denied entry into Turkey. The trend has continued.

According to the 2020 edition of the Annual Human Rights Report issued by the Association of Protestant Churches in Turkey (TEK), the government selected 35 foreign Protestants for expulsion in 2019. In 2020, the government targeted 30 more Christians.

The government also banned the entry of other Christians. At least 30 foreign Protestants were barred from entering Turkey in 2020, according to TEK, including 10 US citizens, one British citizen, four Germans, three Koreans, two Moldovans, one Norwegian, one Finn, one Armenian, three Latin Americans, and four other nationals.

These people and their families have been resident in our country for many years. Not one of them has a criminal record or conviction of any form, according to the Protestant association. This situation represents a major humanitarian problem. These entry bans, imposed with no forewarnings, disrupted family unity and created a state of chaos for all members of the individuals family.

Families in which one spouse is a Turkish national and the other a foreigner also suffer. Last year, the Turkish government targeted at least five such Christian couples, according to TEK. The government has ordered another member of Yalova Light House Church, a foreigner married to a Turk, out of the country. Their case is pending.

Most of these cases applied to a foreign wife married to a Turkish pastor. Many of the recipients did not have any clerical role in the church themselves, the TEK report states. Most of them are housewives. This situation has meant that Protestant leaders who are citizens of Turkey have been compelled to emigrate, or face their family being torn apart.

In addition, in 2020 one foreign Christians application for citizenship was rejected because the spouse was a church leader and takes part in church activities, according to the report.

Nearly all the Christians singled out for deportation were given an N82 or G82 code by the MIT in conjunction with the Ministry of the Interior. Technically the code is not an entry ban per se, but a requirement to obtain prior approval before entering the country. None of the Christians expelled under a N82 or G82 designation, however, has been allowed to return.

Some of the targeted Christians have appealed their security designations. Most N82 cases are still in adjudication, but to date no appellant has won entry in the lower court or the Constitutional Court.

In court cases opened to challenge this situation, the authorities have claimed that these people are pursuing activities to the detriment of Turkey, have taken part in missionary activities, and that some of them had attended the annual Family Conference (which our association has held for 20 years), or other seminars and meetings that are similarly completely legal and transparent, according to TEK. Some of the court cases have reached a conclusion, and a verdict was delivered against these people without any concrete reason being given.

Motives Behind the Trend

There has been much speculation on the reasons behind the recent push to expel foreign Christians.

After the attempted coup of 2016, the Turkish government targeted almost anyone with a public voice who was not part of Erdogans support base, imprisoning thousands falsely labeled terrorists in waves.

Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party also allied themselves with Turkish nationalists who have long seen Christians as secret agents of foreign governments bent on undermining Turkey and a Turkish Manifest Destiny throughout the Middle East and Europe, with adherence to Sunni Islam seen as a crucial element.

A well-placed expert on Turkey at MEC said many people believe the expulsions are a reaction to pressure the United States applied against Turkeys October 2016 jailing of pastor Andrew Brunson.

While that might play a part, I think it is more helpful to see how the Islamic/Turkish nationalist/Neo-Ottoman/Pan-Turk narrative is strengthening, and that missionaries leading Turks to conversion are viewed as a national enemy and security threat by some authorities, he said. The two codes given (G82 and N82) are both issued to foreigners deemed as threats to national security and public order.

The government has singled out Christians for deportation in spite of constitutional protections for religious freedom and missionary work in Turkey.

Officially, since the MIT files behind the orders are secret, the criteria applied are not known. But we see that the vast majority of victims were attendees at one or more of three conferences for the Turkish Protestant church or associated ministry, the MEC source said. In addition, as the TEK report for 2020 notes, MIT is trying to get informers from church members, and several additional cases of those not attending conferences could be a result of informers passing on the names of some foreigners in the church.

The application of the N82 code and the arbitrary treatment of Christian foreign nationals constitute violations of provisions of the Turkish constitution stipulating freedom of belief, worship, and nondiscrimination, as well as those of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Turkey is a party, according to advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

We are particularly concerned by the separation of families for no other reason than the religion of the couple and the foreign nationality of one spouse, which severely violates the right to family life, CSW officials said in a statement to Morning Star News.

CSW has urged authorities to review this policy in light of Turkeys constitution, to ensure due process and judicial independence, and to respect and uphold the right to family life.

CSW officials said they were deeply concerned by Turkeys ongoing campaign targeting Protestant denominations.

Turkey ranks No. 25 on Open Doors 2021 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

Reported by the Middle East correspondent for Morning Star News.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 15:10:03|Editor: huaxia

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Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Manama, Bahrain, March 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Tu Yifan)

MANAMA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday held a meeting here with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, during which both sides voiced their opposition to politicization of human rights issues.

China and Bahrain share a profound traditional friendship, said Wang, noting that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have always trusted and supported each other.

China appreciates Bahrain's support on issues concerning China's core interests, Wang said, adding that China also supports Bahrain in safeguarding its national sovereignty and independence, finding its own development path, playing a more active role in regional affairs, and opposing external forces' interference in Bahrain's internal affairs.

Noting that the international and regional situation is undergoing profound changes, Wang said that China is willing to be a long-term partner that Bahrain can trust and rely on, and work with the country to uphold the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, resist the politicization of human rights issues, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the two countries, as well as the development right of developing countries.

Wang also said that China is ready to work with Bahrain to enhance the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030, deepen cooperation in such areas as energy, infrastructure, 5G mobile communications, e-commerce and big data, expand cooperation scope and space, and support the efforts of Bahrain to promote economic diversification.

Today, China and the Arab League expressed a common voice on the issue of digital economy governance with the signing of the China-Arab Data Security Cooperation Initiative, Wang said, adding that China is ready to work with Bahrain to combat all forms of terrorism, and especially to eradicate the breeding ground of terrorism through de-radicalization.

Wang stressed that China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Bahrain in regional and international affairs to promote more balanced and stable international relations.

China has no selfish interests in the Middle East and will not engage in the geopolitical competition in the region, he said, adding that it is hoped that Middle East countries could view and handle regional issues in the spirit of being masters of the place.

As long as Middle East countries adhere to mutual understanding, mutual support and mutual inclusiveness, solutions can be found to any issue, Wang stressed, noting that as a good friend and partner of Middle East countries, China is ready to continue to play a constructive role in this regard.

China is also willing to work with Arab countries including Bahrain to make preparations for the China-Arab summit, promote the early conclusion of the free trade zone talks between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and lift China-Arab relations to a new level, Wang added.

Al Zayani said at a time when the region is facing difficulties, especially amid the fight against the epidemic, the Chinese foreign minister's visit to the Middle East demonstrates the great importance China attaches to Middle East affairs and regional security and stability, as well as the sincere friendship between Bahrain and China.

Bahrain firmly adheres to the one-China principle, supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and opposes politicizing human rights issues, Al Zayani said, stressing that the Human Rights Council should not become a platform for interfering in other countries' internal affairs.

He pointed out that the two countries should enhance the synergy between Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 and the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, expand bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy, science and technology, infrastructure and other areas, and further deepen Arab-China relations in the post-epidemic era.

Al Zayani also expressed gratitude for China's valuable support in Bahrain's fight against the epidemic, hoping to deepen vaccine cooperation with China.

Noting that Bahrain attaches great importance to safeguarding the safety and health of Chinese nationals in the country, Al Zayani said Bahrain will continue to provide necessary support and assistance.

Bahrain appreciates China's five-point initiative on realizing security and stability in the Middle East and is willing to keep close coordination and cooperation with China in regional and international affairs, deepen cooperation in combating terrorism and eliminating the root causes of terrorism, and jointly safeguard regional peace and security, Al Zayani said.

Bahrain supports the holding of the Arab-China summit and speaks highly of the Arab-China Data Security Cooperation Initiative proposed by China, he added, noting that the country is willing to work with China to push for the establishment of the GCC-China free trade zone at an early date.

Following the talks, the two foreign ministers witnessed the signing of agreements on enhancing bilateral cultural cooperation. Enditem
Xiaomi was initially rumored and surrounded by leaks regarding the venture to create their electric vehicles that would debut by 2023, with several people familiar with the project to release by 2023. The popular smartphone company will partner with Great Wall Motors to provide consultation and manufacture the design from Xiaomi.

Xiaomi Electric Vehicle

The Beijing technology giant started as a smartphone company, evolving its products to consumer electronic tech and accessories such as tablets, earphones, televisions, air purifiers, and electric scooters. Xiaomi has been a massive consumer tech company for several years now, with the company aiming to grow more on potential markets.

The smartphone company is known for being an international icon, where its products are known and used globally, and has recently revealed that it would be making a transition to the electric vehicle industry. Xiaomi was reported to partner with Great Wall Motors from China to manufacture the vehicle and provide engineering consultation for its designs.

Read Also: 'Monster Hunter Rise' Guide: How to Change Weapons from Basic Long Sword to Upgraded Ones

Currently, the rumors are just leaks and speculations from the "people familiar with the matter" and no news or confirmation from either Xiaomi or Great Wall Motors was released. CNBC confirmed on Friday, March 26, that this venture could also start by 2023, and release the EV in the same year, bringing the first Xiaomi EV from China to the world.

Xiaomi Electric Vehicle: How Would it Fare?

According to Electrek, the Xiaomi Electric vehicles would have the same marketing and appeal to the public, as it is aimed at the general public and affordability much like its current lineup of consumer tech. Additionally, the initial rumors of the venture already have the company designing the electric vehicles as early as now.

One of the most popular electric vehicle companies, Tesla, is also aiming at the budget and affordable electric vehicle for all branding, which would be a massive competitor of Xiaomi once it releases. Moreover, the Chinese company would have more competition by the time it releases by 2023, due to the arrival of more brands in the scene.

Despite this, Xiaomi is still rumored to debut their EV and would focus its attention and release it to the mainland, where it would probably debut the electric car once production is completed. Right now, there are no announcements or confirmation from either Xiaomi or Great Wall Motors regarding the partnership for EV manufacturing.

Related Article: Xiaomi Reportedly Plans to Join the Electric Vehicle Market to Rival Tesla and the Upcoming Apple Car

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Russia recorded 8,277 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the lowest number since September 29, the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Tuesday.

The total number of cases has reached 4,536,820.

According to data from the crisis center, the coronavirus growth rate is 0.18%.

The rate is the lowest in the Tuva Region (0.01%), the Magadan and Sakhalin regions (0.02%).

In particular, 719 coronavirus cases were reported in St. Petersburg in the past day, 556 in the Moscow Region, 277 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 240 in the Rostov Region and 207 in the Voronezh Region.

In the past 24 hours, 409 people died from COVID-19 in Russia versus 293 one day earlier, bringing the total death toll to 98,442, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told journalists Tuesday.

The provisional lethality has increased to 2.17%, according to statistics.

In particular, 36 lethal cases were registered in St. Petersburg, 20 - in the Rostov Region, 17 - in the Altai Region, and 14 - in both Moscow and Voronezh regions, TASS reported.
Two years ago, the Houston region was barely over the shock of seeing the dark plume of doom hover over Harris County for days  after a chemical holding plant in Deer Park caught fire and exploded  when a blast at KMCO in Crosby killed a worker and injured 30 others.

Barely two weeks apart, the explosions were followed by an incident at an ExxonMobil plant in Baytown in July and a series of blasts at TPC in Port Neches around Thanksgiving. The new year then began with a deadly explosion at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing in Houston that killed three people and damaged hundreds of homes.

The feeling of being under siege that many of us experienced, the outrage as people were forced to shelter in place as dangerous levels of toxic chemicals filled the air, led to additional funding by the state for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the next best thing we have to an environmental regulator.

That was a good first step, but lawmakers must go further this session. State Rep. Erin Zwiener, D-Driftwood, has introduced House Bill 1820, which would give TCEQ bigger teeth when holding polluters accountable. Thats smart, and other, more senior lawmakers should join the second-term legislator in support of her bill, which has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. For that matter, any senior senators willing to introduce a version in that chamber? It would not only help keep Texans safe, its good for business because it levels the playing field between those who follow environmental regulations and those who dont.

It isnt just the big visible events  the dark clouds, the rising flames  that we need to worry about. We are surrounded by industry and every day, dangerous air pollution is released in Texas.

An analysis by the Environment Texas Research & Policy Center found that in the Houston region alone, illegal releases happened on 357 days in 2019, adding up to more than 23 million pounds of air pollutants. That was still only a fraction of the more than 170 million pounds of unauthorized toxic chemicals released throughout the entire state that year.

Texas business-friendly and low-regulation environment usually also means lax enforcement. Over the past decade, the agency has issued fines in only about 3 percent of illegal releases of pollution, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. Even when fines are levied, they tend to be so low  about a penny per pound for the kind of air pollution that is linked to cancer, heart disease and early death  its cheaper for companies to pay the fine than to change how they do business.

HB 1820 would make fines larger  $1 per pound  and mandatory. It would also allow the commission to suspend or revoke permits for repeat offenders and stiffen penalties if an incident leads to serious injury or death. The proposal would also establish a state toxic chemical emergency alert system.

After 2019, Harris County has invested more than $10 million in environmental monitoring and enforcement, emergency response staff and pursuing legal action against polluters. While this is important, statewide protection is crucial, especially for smaller counties with fewer resources.

Making companies take on the cost of excess pollution forces them to remain in compliance and is the right, commonsense thing to do.

You shouldnt be allowed to foist pollution on people to lower your costs, Victor Flatt, an environmental law expert at the University of Houston, told the editorial board. If you cant sell your product while following safety regulations, you shouldnt be in business.

Lax enforcement and cheap fines not only endanger Texans, they also punish companies that follow the rules, costing them money while forcing them to compete with businesses that arent taking the appropriate care and minimizing harm.

Texans dont need our skies darkened by another fire, or to be shaken awake by another explosion, or to be forced to shelter in place and keep our kids home from school to know we need lawmakers to intervene.

House Speaker Dade Phelan shouldnt allow this session to end without keeping his commitment to hold polluters accountable. HB 1820 is currently the best vehicle available for him to do so on a bipartisan basis.

After the TPC incident, when thousands of his constituents were evacuated, the Beaumont Republican spoke out forcefully about the need for the Legislature to act.

While accidents do occur, it is critical that the industry be accountable and held to the highest standard of compliance, he said. We must identify how these events could have been prevented and take legislative action to ensure all plants and refineries are following the necessary procedures to ensure the safety of their workers and the citizens that live in the surrounding communities.

True words. Now we need to see true action.
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While in Midland on Monday, John Pence, Mike Pences nephew who served as a senior campaign advisor for former President Donald Trump, spoke about the ongoing border crisis and its role in the 2022 House and Senate elections.

Pence spoke during a Midland Republican National Hispanic Assembly meeting at the Bush Convention Center. In an interview following that meeting, he criticized Democrats for not acknowledging a crisis at the border amid an influx of migrants from Central America.

That's a devastating impact not just on the American communities, but the communities that also are impacted across the border, he said.

Republican leaders will show theres an alternative with strong borders as part of their platform for the 2022 election as they try to gain ground in the House and Senate, Pence said.

When asked about the facility for unaccompanied migrant children that recently opened in Midland County, Pence said the Biden administration is not taking the situation at the border as seriously as Texans would expect. He noted that Vice President Kamala Harris has not visited the border since being tapped to address the surge in migrants.

Pence is the CEO of the Pence Strategy Group, which provides consulting for Republican leaders and elected officials. He said Republicans will seek to build on the momentum seen during the 2020 election when 16 House seats flipped from Democrats to Republicans.

Another trend Republicans hope will continue is Hispanics moving away from the Democratic Party, Pence said. Of the 100 majority-Hispanic counties in the U.S., 72 of those counties saw increased support for Republicans in 2020, he said.

We know that if Republicans are going to take back the House in a year, in 2022, thats going to be done with the growing support of Hispanic voters, Pence said.

Lucy Sisniega, chairwoman of the Midland RNHA, attributed the rise in support for Republicans among Hispanics to growing political awareness and activism in Hispanic communities.

Theres many Hispanics that they dont know they are Republican, or they dont know what party they belong to, but I think we as Hispanic Republicans  were really educating, were really teaching what we stand for and what were fighting for, she said.

Hispanics and Republicans align on conservative values like freedom of religion, freedom of speech and Second Amendment rights, Sisniega said.

Pence also addressed the Biden administrations policies on oil and gas production, including a moratorium on new leases for drilling on federal lands.

This is the agenda that Democrats promised -- that they would stifle American energy independence, he said. Theyre making good on that promise. That makes us weaker, not just our economy but national security as well.

There's Republicans that are trying to home in and rein back that agenda, but we can't do it without checks and balances -- without a House, a majority of Republicans stopping that energy destruction, he said.
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In this world, and in this moment specifically of social justice issues, we really want to make sure were supporting and encouraging agencies across the state to really become more supportive of the full spectrum of people so they can better serve their communities, Trueblood said.
Gaborone  The dairy goats sub-sector is one of the untapped markets in the country, which has the potential to create employment and significantly contribute to the economy.

In an interview with BOPA recently, Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security's Scientific Officer in Dairy goats sub-sector, Ms Nonofo Morewaleiso said the sub-sector was still at an infant stage in Botswana.

She highlighted that currently there was a total of 21 farmers in their department's inventory comprising 18 individual farmers and three government institutions from different locations across the country.

She said most dairy goat farmers identified, owned between two to 20 goats mainly for subsistence purposes, adding that other farmers keep dairy goats for fostering those kept for meat production.

Ms Morewaleiso said herd population stood at 573 goats with 191 goats on milk, producing 5 775 litres of milk per annum, adding that the sub-sector had created employment for 24 people excluding government institutions.

"Under normal circumstances, each doe can produce 2 - 4 litres of milk per day, with correct care," she added.

She explained that goat milk was sold at an average price of P15 per litre by few farmers and one farmer was engaged in milk value addition producing cheese which was sold at P35 per 100g and yoghurt at P20 per litre.

She explained that goat milk was healthier than cow milk, as it was low in cholesterol, had lesser allergens and was easily digestible.

"Goat milk has higher amounts of potassium, iron and Vitamin A than cow milk," she explained.

The scientific officer pointed out that the sub-sector was faced with a number of challenges, citing lack of local breeders, which led to high cost of importing stock, worsened by quarantining of stock for 30 days to control cross boarder disease.

She indicated that the market was under developed, adding that there was also limited research on dairy goats in the country hence inadequate technical knowledge on dairy goats.

Regarding what the government was doing to help grow the sub-sector, she noted that dairy extension officers conducted farmer training courses in the districts to empower them on dairy management skills, adding that for practical training, farmers were attached at model farms where they acquainted with daily farm activities and routines.

Ms Morewaleiso highlighted that the ministry assisted with benchmarking trips to places of interest.

She explained that Dairy Goats Association of Botswana through the help of the ministry went on benchmarking exercise in February 2020 to various dairy goats farms in South Africa to acquire knowledge on how to efficiently and effectively run farms. The recent lifting of ban on livestock importation, she said had enabled farmers to purchase dairy goats across the border.

She pointed out that through the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) farmers purchased fodder seeds on subsidy to produce a maximum of five hectares of fodder crops as well as napier grass seedlings to produce a maximum of five hectares.

Ms Morewaleiso said there were opportunities in the sub-sector value chain such as demand for breeders of dairy goats, processors of milk and milk products.

She indicated that dairy goats required less space than dairy cows, easier to manage, noting that they needed less feeds, less labour, less water and low start-up capital.

She explained that goats matured fast and were good breeders with incidences of twins therefore replacement stock would always be available as well as continuous milk production.

Ms Alida Burnett, a farmer based in Ruretse also believed that the dairy goats sub-sector had the capability to contribute to the economy.

She said a lot could be achieved through the value chain such as employment creation and production of different goods.

Different products, she said such as cosmetics, soaps, cheese, yoghurt and many others could be produced from goat milk.

"Production of such products will mean creating a good number of jobs for the unemployed," she said.

She pointed out that she produced cheese, yoghurt as well as kefir, a probiotic which boosted immune system, both in human and animals.

Ms Burnett urged all those in the sub-sector and those wishing to venture into it to equip themselves with education on dairy goats farming.

"With education our farms will run efficiently and effectively hence producing desired results," she added.

She indicated that they had to be dedicated and willing to put in extra hours of work. She urged women to venture into the sector since they could carry out almost all duties including milking as well as producing other different products such as cheese and yoghurts.

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For this sector to grow, she said a lot needed to be done, highlighting the need for a central place where farmers could take their milk for processing.

"We are in constant communication with the responsible ministry on how they could assist in growing the sector, they assist us in a number of ways such as testing if our milk is safe for human consumption as well as helping in acquiring permits to buy from outside the country," she said.

Committee chairperson of Dairy Goats Association of Botswana, Mr Stewart Tau explained that compared to cow milk, goat's milk was slightly lower in lactose, hence could be fed to lactose intolerant babies. Goat milk, he said was easier to digest making it perfect food for children, the elderly, those with digestive difficulties, those recuperating from a disease as well as pets that had been weaned from their mothers.

He indicated that goat's milk benefits outweighed those of cow's, adding that there were a lot of other benefits. Mr Tau said there were a lot of challenges in the sub-sector such as lack of artificial insemination and embryo transplant facilities for small stock.

<i>Source : BOPA</i>
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Chinese Woman Dies After 10 Years of Constant Torture Because She Wouldnt Renounce Her Faith

A 59-year-old woman who suffered over 20 different tortures during 10 years of imprisonment and frequent harassment at her home for her religious beliefs passed away on March 12, according to a report on Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website recording the persecution of the Buddha-school practice Falun Gong in China.

Wang Sumei, from Shenyang City of northeastern Chinas Liaoning Province, died one day after her son took her from the home of her sister.

During her last 33 months, Wangs sister had been her carer after her husband deserted her. Ten years of imprisonment left the 56-year-old woman with an emaciated body, blurry vision, loose teeth, and grey hair. Wang could not go out alone, according to the report, as she had almost lost her eyesight.

The torture and confinement Wang endured started in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

At 4:30 a.m. on July 21, 2008, police from Shenbei New District of Shenyang City broke into her house and detained Wang citing a need to ensure social stability in the capital city, according to an earlier 2008 report on her situation.

Cases recorded on Minghui.org revealed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had ordered officers to arrest Falun Gong practitioners throughout China ahead of the 2008 Olympics.

Since July 1999, the CCP launched a systematic campaign to eradicate Falun Gong due to its popularity. Introduced to Chinese people in 1992, Falun Gong drew 70 to 100 million practitioners by the end of the century surpassing the membership of the party.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual self-improvement system consisting of a set of qigong exercises and moral teachings based on the universal values of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Meanwhile, the CCP promotes materialism and atheism in Chinese society, and has suppressed independent religious practices since the beginning of its rule.

The file photo of Falun Gong practitioners doing the exercises in Guangzhou, China, before the persecution started in July 1999. (Minghui.org)

Wang began to practice Falun Gong in 1998. By following the principle of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance in her daily life, people who know Wang said she became happier than ever before. She used to suffer from migraines, gynecological problems, and other ailments. After a months practice, her physical discomforts disappeared.

But in December 2008, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison due to her beliefs.

Forced Labor and Torture

According to the report, Wangs first eight days of torture included being forced to stand in a basin filled with freezing water. Other inmates were tasked with changing the water to make sure it was cold enough.

She was then incarcerated for three months from March 3, 2009, in Liaoning Womens Prison.

Every day, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m, Wang did forced labor, making sweaters as part of Division 8 in the prison. After the 12 hours of labor, she was not allowed to rest until 1 a.m., as the police punished her to stand. She was given one meal a day, with only a little food.

Inmates were encouraged to beat herthey didnt need a reasoneven as she was doing the assigned labor. They would pinch her thighs for five to six minutes, the report said. Her face was often swollen due to slaps from other inmates. Once, one inmate counted as another one slapped her 27 times.

Read More INFOGRAPHIC: How Falun Gong Is Persecuted in China

Persecution Tactics: Threats, Coercion

The report also detailed the torture methods used against Wang to break her morale, in the hopes of having her renounce her faith.

In one tactic, guards would confine individual Falun Gong practitioners with two other cellmates who were told they would be tortured if the practitioner refused to renounce their faith or tried to practise the Falun Gong exercises. Under such pressure, many inmates would often monitor, abuse, beat, and even participate in the torture of Falun Gong practitioners.

In Wangs case, her fellow cellmates participated in waterboarding her in a barrel. They would hold her head underwater and pull it out just before she suffocated. Wang recalled one time when they did this to her ten times before she lost consciousness.

Waterboarding in a water bucket. (Minghui.org)

Wang also said the guards told her cellmates they could earn points or have their sentence reduced if they helped in efforts to break her down.

If we cant manage you, we will have our points deducted, and we can have our term reduce, Wang recalled one cellmate saying.

Because Wang wouldnt renounce her faith, her guards changed cellmates frequently and used different methods to torture her. One cellmate often pushed her teeth while another kept her mouth open. This left her with no visible injuries, but her teeth were loose in her gums.

To prevent Wang from doing the Falun Gong exercises, they handcuffed her from behind with one arm crossed over the shoulder, even while she was to have her meals and while she was sleeping.

Practitioners hands are handcuffed behind their backs with one hand crossed over a shoulder. (Minghui.org)

Another method was to handcuff her to a bed. Once, she was tied to a bed every night for a month. Her cellmates were told not to talk to her. When she shouted, Falun Dafa is good, they sealed her mouth with tape.

When Wang still didnt renounce her faith, her guards tried solitary confinement. She was isolated in a cell is the size of one bed, which was damp and cold in the winter, with only a small window near the ceiling. Wang was kept in such a cell many times.

She recalled one experience in the cell, where with her two hands cuffed behind her back, she was unable to eat, so she started a hunger strike. Three days later, her guards sent her to the hospital where she was tied to a bed 24 hours and force-fed for 42 days.

Cuffed to a bed in a painful position. (Minghui.org)

Every second was torturetorture for the body and spirit, Wang told Minghui before her death. Ten years of persecution is beyond description, she said.

Melanie Sun contributed to this report.
HANOVER, Pa., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Behavioral Health Properties Group of Swope Lees Commercial Real Estate has closed the sale of the 34-bed, inpatient detox and residential substance abuse treatment center known as Clarity Way located in Hanover, Pennsylvania.

The campus-style treatment facility consists of two adjacent properties, each having three buildings, which together offers its operator and clients a spacious 28,428 SF on ~14 acres in Pennsylvania's scenic Susquehanna River Valley. The facility features prime amenities including an inground pool, fitness center, dance/yoga studio, gourmet kitchen, massage room, recreation room, and music studio. Its strategic location, within a 1-hour drive from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), allows for easy fly-in admissions for clients coming from outside the local region.

Managing Directors Joshua Slaybaugh and Michael Cabot represented the seller in the transaction, 536 Iron Ridge Road Associates, LP and 544 Iron Ridge Road Associates, LP, entities related to a private family office based in Jupiter, FL. The buyer was a New Jersey based behavioral healthcare provider expanding their operational footprint to the region.

"The sale of Clarity Way adds to our list of successfully completed transactions in the behavioral healthcare sector," said Slaybaugh. "Clarity Way is a well-known and highly regarded treatment center in our business and we are proud to be part of its history."

Swope Lees' Behavioral Health Properties Group is based in Juno Beach, FL and assists clients on both buy-side and sell-side real estate and business transactions in the behavioral healthcare sector nationwide, with a specialty in properties used in substance use disorder treatment.

For more information:

www.behavioralhealthproperties.com

SOURCE Swope Lees Commercial Real Estate - Behavioral Health Properties Group

Related Links

http://www.behavioralhealthproperties.com


When will we be able to attend a live performance? That question is being asked angrily in France, where theater is more central to the national culture. (America has no national theater.) But we should ask that here as well. Broadway remains shuttered, as are indoor theaters and concert halls across the country. Can't they at least start their engines, if in a limited fashion?

In France, protesters are occupying at least seven theaters, including the landmark Odeon in Paris. The occupiers -- largely actors, workers and students -- are demanding that France's theaters be at least partly reopened. They've been shut since October following a spike in coronavirus cases.

Australia halted the spread of the virus through disciplined mask-wearing and social distancing. Thus, if you want to see a stage production of Disney's "Frozen," you have to go to Sydney. You're now able to see a live performance of "Hamilton" there, too. Audience members, needless to say, must wear masks.

Some sponsors of live theater fear that their former audiences, glued to streaming services during the pandemic, won't want to detach themselves. They also worry that once their patrons have seen "Hamilton" on Disney+, they won't want to spring for a $100-plus theater ticket.

As it happened, many American playhouses bowed to reality and necessity and streamed their productions. Are they planting the seeds of live theater's destruction? Perhaps not. A 2016 study in Britain found that theatergoers who watched streamed performances patronized live theater more than those who didn't.

The National Theater in London has been broadcasting plays for free on YouTube. It's also started its own paid streaming service that anyone in the world can watch, which is providing a tidy source of income.

Meanwhile, fabulous TV from the streaming services got us through COVID-19. "The Crown" or "The Mandalorian" -- there was something for everybody.

So, why crowd into a playhouse?

There are reasons. The players in a theater interact with the audience, which makes every performance unique. And the audience is part of the show, its members responding to one another. A good example is the group laugh. As they say in the business, the experience belongs to the collective.

In a videoed production, you see what the camera shows you. Often, that's a close-up of a single character. In a theater, you can also follow the reactions of other characters on the stage. As Alex Webb wrote for Bloomberg News, "The show was developed with a theatrical audience in mind, so watching it on a 32-inch screen compromises the experience."

A theater feeds local businesses. People go out to eat or drink before or after. An actual theater district provides customers for hotels and other travel-related activities.

Performing arts companies across the country are starting their revival with outdoor productions. Austen Opera will soon stage the opera "Tosca" at a Formula 1 racetrack. The Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles is about to present the play "An Octoroon" in its East Hollywood parking lot.

The Broadway theaters aren't expected to open until autumn. New York is trying to keep the heart beating through pop-up events, where artists perform on subway platforms and at similar public areas.

An advantage of outdoor performances is that social distancing is easier in these bigger spaces. But soon, we pray, we won't have to do social distancing.

None of this can replace the electric moment when the theater lights start to dim and a stage comes alive with real people. The pandemic showed us the fierce human need for communal life. Live theater should again be part of it.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians of an unregistered and fake 'insulin tea' for diabetes cure in circulation in the country.

Director-general of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, who disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, also warned Nigerians not to buy or take the tea.

"NAFDAC wishes to notify the public of the circulation of an unregistered and a fake product called insulin tea, claimed to reduce blood sugar level and 'delete' sugar in the body.

"Please note that the NAFDAC number shown on the packaging of this product (Nafdac Reg. No. 01-8662) is fake; the insulin tea poses a danger to the health of the public.

"Members of the public are implored to contact the nearest NAFDAC office with any information concerning the distribution, sale, and use of the fake insulin tea," the director-general said.

Adeyeye also advised consumers to report adverse effects related to the use of regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office.

The director-general urged Nigerians to report such incidents through the toll-free NAFDAC PRASCOR 20543 from all networks and pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng

Adeyeye said that Nigerians could also report via the e-reporting platform available on NAFDAC website.
Amy Schumer sat at the bedside of her father in an image shared to Instagram as he was hospitalised on Monday evening.

The actress, 39, revealed Gordon was in an 'unfortunate magician sawing accident', but insisted he's been a 'good spirit through it all'.

Putting on a brave face, the comedian wore a protective face mask as she accompanied her parent, who has been battling multiple sclerosis since Amy was 12.

'He has a good spirit through it all': Amy Schumer sat at the bedside of her father in an image shared to Instagram as he was hospitalised on Monday evening

The screen star wrote in an accompanying caption: 'I have terrible news. My father was in an unfortunate magician sawing accident.

'He has a good spirit through it all and were still hoping the magician will turn back up.'

It is currently unclear whether Gordon is undergoing surgery for his injury following his admission.

Support: The actress, 39, revealed Gordon, who battles multiple sclerosis, was in a 'magician sawing accident', but insisted he's been a 'good spirit through it all' (pictured in 2017)

On his health condition, Amy previously told Barbara Walters: 'Some days hes really good and hes with it and were joking around. And some days I go to visit my dad and its so painful. I cant believe it.'

The Trainwreck actress visited the medical facility a day after she was vaccinated for COVID-19.

The Emmy-winning star documented her trip with multiple clips and images, including one in which she was seen riding in a vehicle with her spouse, Chris Fischer, 41.

'This is my going to get the vaccine energy,' said Amy, who donned a sparkly gold dress to the vaccination site.

Vaccinated: The Trainwreck star visited the medical facility a day after she had a COVID-19 jab (pictured with husband Chris Fischer, 41)

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo author joked at the facility: 'I just wanted to maybe entertain some of the workers here and during your 15 minutes, but I'm sorry if you were going to use this time to meditate.'

On Instagram, the New York City native added: 'I want to thank all the brave people in the medical field. But more than them I want to give a shout out to me. Im awesome I love the people of New York.

'Even the annoying ones. Its nice to see all of them. I feel excited and hopeful. I hope you do too.'
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2021 / Vanadium One Iron Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV:VONE) is pleased to announce notice of its Annual and Special Meeting ('AGM") was posted on the Company's Sedar profile on March 26, 2021.The Record Date for shareholders is April 13, 2021. The meeting will be held at 10:00 am on June 4, 2021 at the offices of the Company, 501-110 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1T4. Further details of the format of the AGM will be provided to shareholders at a later date.

About Vanadium One Iron Corp.:

Vanadium One Iron Corp. is a mineral exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company is focused on advancing its Mont Sorcier, Vanadium-rich, Magnetite Iron Ore Project, in Chibougamau, Quebec. The project possesses compelling economics as demonstrated in our 2020 Preliminary Economic Assessment, and is ideally located proximal to key rail, port and electrical power networks, which will facilitate rapid development and start-up.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VANADIUM ONE IRON CORP.

Cliff Hale-Sanders, President & CEO

Tel: 416-819-8558

info@vanadiumone.com

www.vanadiumone.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" including statements with respect to the future exploration performance of the Company. This 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 of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Vanadium One Iron Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/637988/Vanadium-One-Iron-Announces-Record-Date-for-AGM
Pictured: China's consul-general in Rio de Janeiro, Li Yang

A Chinese diplomat has called for an international probe into Canberra's sex scandals in a bizarre response to Australia's push for an investigation into the origins of Covid-19.

Parliament House has been plagued by sexual assault allegations since February involving a series of staffers and high-ranking officials, promoting a wave of nationwide protests by Australians calling for an end to gendered violence.

On Thursday, China's consul-general in Rio de Janeiro Li Yang took a thinly veiled swipe at the Australian government via Twitter, calling on parliamentarians to stand aside for 'international investigations' into women's human rights.

'The cases of sexual crimes happened in the Australian parliament are shocking!' he wrote, posting two photos of women protesting outside parliament in Canberra.

'This relates to the protection of women's human rights. Australia should accept unrestricted international investigations into those cases.'

On Thursday, Li Yang wrote on Twitter than the sex scandals plaguing parliament are 'shocking' (pictured)

At the centre of the sex scandals is former attorney-general Christian Porter who vehemently denies raping a 16-year-old in 1988

At the centre of the sex scandals is former attorney-general Christian Porter who vehemently denies raping a 16-year-old in 1988, and ex Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins who claims she was raped by a colleague in the defence minister's office.

In response to the allegations and a series of subsequent claims relating to sexual harassment and unfair treatment of women in politics, Australians protested in 40 national locations in March against sexism and misogyny in the work place.

The tweet is believed to be a response to Prime Minister Scott Morrison's unwavering demands for a probe into the coronavirus outbreak, concealed as concern for the welfare of Australian women, according to China experts.

'Who knew? Officials in the Chinese Communist Party have a sense of humour,' said academic and author Clive Hamilton replied, according to The Daily Telegraph.

'I wonder if the women being raped in Xinjiang's concentration camps agree?'

'The last thing that a Chinese official like Li Yang would enable is any kind of open investigation into Chinese government actions,' Michael Shoebridge of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said.

Mr Porter has employed Company Giles, the same law firm that represented alleged parliament house rape victim Brittany Higgins (pictured)

'Whether on its actions in the early days the pandemic, into any corruption case involving senior officials and CCP members, or into its mass human rights abuses or arbitrary detentions.'

He said it is difficult to take Beijing's calls for other nations to be transparent when the highly controlled authoritarian state 'values opacity, repression and information control in the name of "state security"'.

The Prime Minister's calls for a Covid origin investigation calls resulted in protests by Beijing, which imposed a series of sanctions on Australian exports in 2020.

Covid-19 is believed to have initially spread in the capital of China's Hubei province Wuhan in late 2019.

Pictured: Marches and protests in front of the Parliament House in Canberra on Monday March 15

In the aftermath of the initial outbreak Beijing officials tried desperately to cover-up the growing number of deaths in Hubei Province by silencing anyone who tried to warn about the respiratory disease.

Since then China has attempted to shift the narrative though its 'Wolf Warrior' diplomats and state-owned media mouthpieces.

Chinese officials have pointed the finger at a number of other countries including Bangladesh, the US, Greece, India, Italy, Czech Republic, Russia, and Serbia.

Chinese Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said: 'The tracing of the virus origin will most likely involve multiple countries and localities.'

Diplomatic relations between Australia and China have deteriorated significantly during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Pictured: Xi Jinping (left) and Scott Morrison (right)

The tweet also comes months after a Chinese diplomat posted a doctored image of an Australian soldier holding a knife to the throat of an Afghan child (pictured)

Earlier this year, Beijing conceded to international pressured and allowed a highly controlled investigation into the origins of Covid-19, but the details have not been determined.

Dominic Dwyer, an Australian microbiologist who was part of the investigation, said Chinese official did not share data on 174 early Covid cases dating back to December 2019.

The tweet also comes months after a Chinese diplomat posted a doctored image of an Australian soldier holding a knife to the throat of an Afghan child, and amid growing concerns about China's alleged human rights abuses against its Uighyur Muslim population in the Xinjiang province.

In February, the BBC reported an 'oppressive system of mass surveillance, detention, indoctrination, and even forced sterilisation' in the region against the ethnic minority group, along with systemic rape of women in Chinese concentration camps.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has described the Ghana Year Book, an annual publication of key events and records of the previous year, as a national asset that captured copiously events in both the seventh and eighth Parliaments as well as major happenings in the country in 2020 and early 2021.

"This is one of the products of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) and this captures copiously Parliament both seventh and the eighth. It is a valuable asset for each Member of Parliament and I am inviting each member to acquire one, he advised.



Lasting record



Mr Bagbin, who made the appeal when he addressed the House at the commencement of business of the day on the floor of Parliament last Wednesday, said: "I hope each member will get a copy because it is a lasting record of yourself and your entry to Parliament in 2021.



He also reiterated the appeal when a four-member delegation from the GCGL, led by the Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Kobby Asmah, called on him in his office last Thursday to express appreciation to him for supporting the launch of the publication on March 18, this year.



The visit was to also exploit ways the company can support and enhance its coverage of the activities in Parliament and enriched information with the public.





The other members of the delegation were the Political Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Albert K. Salia; the Circulation Manager, Mr Kweku Tweneboah Ofosu, and the Head of Corporate Communications of the GCGL, Mr Emmanuel Arthur.



Ghana Year Book



The Ghana Year Book (GYB) is an annual publication of the GCGL that takes stock of the very important developments in the country in the preceding year.



The publication of the GYB started in the 1950s as a value addition product of the GCGL that became popular until the 1970s when the publication ceased.



The publication also captures historical dates and facts about the country and information of companies and government institutions.



Each chapter also presents a theme with adequate information for readers, refreshing their memories of historical events.



Cherish history



During the discussion with the Graphic delegation, the Speaker was full of praise for the GCGL for setting yet another pace in bringing out another edifying publication.



Mr Bagbin said history was a trove of treasure but it was immeasurable, a reason people needed to cherish their history.



Sadly, he said, so many people did not actually see the essence and value of history in spite of the fact that it was what made us as human beings, a country and the whole world.



That is why it is important to understand where you are coming from as it is part of your history; if you get to know who you are then you can assess yourself better, understand your potential and then with that information decide on your capabilities and where you move on to in the future, he said.



Understand people



Mr Bagbin, therefore, assured the delegation that he would encourage the House to understand and appreciate the names of their respective constituencies as well as the people they were leading.



"If you do not understand the people you are leading, you cannot lead them well. If you are a President and you go to some localities even the words you use will have a lot of effect.



"So, what Graphic is doing is an excellent area to invest in, he said and urged the company to make copies of the GYB available for distribution to legislators.



Relation with Parliament



Mr Asmah, who rendered the companys sincere appreciation to the Speaker for his immense support, also stated that the GYB had a lot of generous pages on a lot of insightful write-ups on many areas.



"This is a must-read and keep book. We have already started the 2022 book and we need the support of the legislature to make the book a success, he said and lauded the advice of the Speaker to MPs to obtain copies.



He noted that the GCGL had a long-lasting relationship with the Legislature and said it was time to deepen it.



I believe Graphic is just very much in tune to do just that. With your Speakership we are much assured of our cooperation and support, Mr Asmah said.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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AKKA (Paris:AKA) (BSE:AKA) (ISIN:FR0004180537) renews its cooperation with Ford in the area of infotainment. This new contract covers the areas of Verification Validation of features and functions in the infotainment environment. In a world where our vehicles are becoming increasingly connected and automated, infotainment is an essential part of the driving experience.

AKKA is uniquely positioned at the interface between vehicle and driver with many years of experience in automotive development and a clear focus on digital technologies. Accessing a vehicle via a smartphone, connecting to intelligent urban transport systems and using automated vehicles are shaping the next generation of vehicles towards greater safety and efficiency.

As leader in engineering consulting and R&D services, AKKA will be supporting Ford in the analysis of fault management and of tests up to protocol level in the infotainment environment, providing services such as radio, navigation, connectivity services, app services and Human Machine Interface (HMI).

The Ford Cologne Electrification Center is being built at Ford's Cologne site, where the manufacturer is working on the electrification of its vehicle fleet. Among the areas of focus for AKKA include electrification, autonomous driving and the digital revolution, topics that are currently driving profound innovations. With its recent reorganization of the Centers of Expertise in Germany, focusing on areas such as Connected Technologies, Digital Validation Products and E-Mobility Energy, AKKA has consolidate its positioning to address the future needs of the automotive manufacturers.

ABOUT AKKA

AKKA is the European leader in engineering consulting and R&D services in the mobility segment. As an innovation accelerator for its clients, AKKA supports leading industry players in the automotive, aerospace, rail and life sciences sectors throughout the life cycle of their products with cutting edge digital technologies (AI, ADAS, IoT, Big Data, robotics, embedded computing, machine learning, etc.).

Founded in 1984, AKKA has a strong entrepreneurial culture and is pursuing its fast-paced growth and international development in line with its CLEAR 2022 strategic plan. With 22,000 employees, who are passionate about technology and dedicated to advancing the future of industry, the Group recorded revenues of 1.8 billion in 2019.

Following the completion of the friendly take-over bid of Data Respons launched in January 2020, AKKA now holds 100% of the company's shares; with the success of this operation, AKKA leverages the most comprehensive portfolio of digital solutions in Europe to harness the growing demand from its customers in the mobility sector.

AKKA Technologies is listed on Euronext Paris and Brussels Segment A ISIN code: FR0004180537.

For more information, please visit: https://www.akka-technologies.com

Follow us on: twitter.com/AKKA_Tech

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005830/en/

Contacts:

AKKA

Media Relations AKKA Germany

Jurgen Strobele

Director Marketing Communications

Tel.: +49 (0)151 746 1236

juergen.stroebele@akka.eu

Anne Friedrich

Deputy Director Marketing Communications

Tel.: +49 (0)151 746 3470

anne-k.friedrich@akka.eu
Gun enthusiasts check out a rifle at the National Rifle Association convention in Indianapolis, on April 27, 2019. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

NRA Memberships Jump Amid Pandemic, Gun Control Push

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has seen an increase in new members in recent months, with 150,000 signups in 2021 alone.

On average, the gun-rights group is seeing about 1,000 new members a day, Amy Hunter, the NRAs director of media relations, told The Epoch Times.

The surge is attributed in part to gun restrictions being discussed by Democrats in Congress and President Joe Biden.

Weve had two federal bills that have been passed in the House, and theyre going to be heard in the Senate soon. You have Biden talking about executive action that hes going to take, and its been pretty steady throughout history that when you have an anti-gun president in office, and hes passing laws, signing executive action, that usually causes a surge in NRA interest in membership, Hunter said.

The NRA now has around 5 million members.

Roughly 1,000 people signed up on a daily basis, too, for a stretch of over two months in the summer of 2020.

There was a real surge during COVID. People were looking around at what was going on and were scaredall of the services, everythings being shut down, and theyre being told to stay in their home. The only outlet they have is to watch TV, and on TV theyre seeing riots and unrest happening across the country, theyre seeing that their politicians are closing gun stores, using emergency powers to sort of shut down the Second Amendment, Hunter said.

I just think people react as they always do when there are periods of uncertainty. They want to make sure that they can keep their families safe. Were also seeing headlines about police furloughs and calls to defund the police. Law-abiding people feel like, Well, worst-case scenario, I better make sure I can protect my own family.'

President Joe Biden speaks to the media as he arrives in New Castle, Del., on March 26, 2021. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

Biden campaigned on imposing stricter gun laws and multiple times took aim at the NRA.

I pledge to continue to work with youand with survivors, families, and advocates across the countryto defeat the NRA and end our epidemic of gun violence, he told former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) in January before taking office.

More recently, in the wake of two mass shootings, the White House said Biden will take executive action on gun control, even as Biden remains confident that Congress will approve tighter restrictions.

Im the only one who has ever got them passed, man, Biden told reporters on March 29, referring to the 10-year ban on so-called assault weapons that he helped steer to Senate approval in 1994.

Biden said last week that he was looking into whether he has authority to take action on imported weapons and guns made with 3D printers.

The House of Representatives on March 11 approved two bills that would expand background checks. But Democrats in the upper chamber need to convince 10 Republican senators to back them.

One of the benefits for NRA members is receiving alerts regarding gun control efforts advancing in members home state legislatures, or Congress, Hunter told The Epoch Times. Members are encouraged to reach out to lawmakers on various bills, with NRA officials also applying pressure.

Were able to change things, were able to get laws changed, were able to prevent bad laws from going into action, she said.

The group is fighting the bills being considered by the Senate, but isnt taking lightly Biden, congressional Democrats, or former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who advocates for harsher gun restrictions and pours money into groups that push for them.

We have a better membership, we have a stronger base, we have people who really believe in liberty and freedom and the Constitution, but we never underestimate our opponents, she said.
Jammu and Kashmir: Trout swims to success

by Sneha Mahale

Kashmirs trout is in demand, with states in India seeking its eggs to rear the Union Territorys (UT) famed fish breed. Just this year, in January, 500,000 trout ova were dispatched from its famous Kokernag farm in the Anantnag district to Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Uttarakhand. Then, in February, another 200,000 trout eggs were sent to Sikkim through the Directorate of Research Centre, Bhimtal (ICAR) in Uttarakhand. The 700,00 trout ova sent to these states were airlifted so the progeny reach the respective destinations safe and unharmed. The Kashmir trout is believed to be healthier and genetically improved than its counterparts in other states. It also grows fast and accepts pellets (fish feed) easily, which is why it is so popular, both within the state and outside, says Mohd. Muzaffar Bazaz, Joint Director, Fisheries (Kashmir division). Incidentally, both varieties of trout found in Jammu & Kashmir  brown and rainbow  are successful immigrants to its cold waters. Their origin story dates back to over 100 years ago, according to the website of the J&K fisheries department. Although an indigenous variety, the snow trout, existed, the noted angler and owner of a carpet factory, Frank J. Mitchel convinced the then states ruler, Maharaja Pratap Singh, to ask the British for more varieties. The first shipment of 10,000 trout eggs arrived from the UK in 1899, courtesy of the Duke of Bedford but the batch perished en-route to Srinagar.



The second shipment of trout eggs arrived from Scotland in 1900 and also included 1800 fry (fingerlings). Of these, 1000 were released in Panzagam Dachigam (Harwan), about 24 km from Srinagar, and the rest were reared by Mitchel at Baghi Dilawar Khan on his private premises. Later, they were released into streams around the Valley. The brown and rainbow trout adapted well to their surroundings and have since flourished in Kashmir. Mitchel also established the first trout hatchery at Harwan in 1901 and trained locals. The successful introduction and subsequent establishment of trout in the Valley led to the establishment of the Department of Fisheries in 1903. It was known as Department of Game Preservation at the time and its activities remained confined to sport fishing and conservation of natural water resources. In 1978, the department was re-organised and over time, the focus slowly shifted to acquiring requisite infrastructure, training manpower and adopting modern fish farming technology. Since then, it has gone on to develop carp and trout farms, hatcheries, rearing units, sale centres, laboratories, angler lodges, and aquarium and awareness centres in Jammu, Kashmir and Leh.



Go with the flow



The trout found in Kashmir is less spongy than its western counterparts. It is easy to clean, has fewer scales and tender bones. The freshwater from the streams adds to its taste. It is also easy to rear and resistant to diseases. So much so that 583 private and state-assisted units in J&K produced 500 tonnes of trout in 2020, says Bazaz. Kashmir has two types of fisheries, warm and cold water. To survive, trout needs temperatures between 0 to 20 degrees Celsius. It cannot flourish in standing water and must have access to perennially flowing waters. It also migrates annually to the upper reaches to breed. In the wild, brown trout can be found in Lidder River, Brengi River and streams such as Madhumati and Ferozepur, among others, says Shah Malik, a wildlife researcher. Brown trout attracts anglers, particularly foreigners, to J&Ks high-altitude lakes and numerous snow-fed freshwater streams, making it an important part of the tourism industry. Unfortunately, a blend of pollution, human intervention and climate change has resulted in a decline in the brown trouts population. So, it is now also reared in state-run farms and introduced into streams and rivers to keep them populated.



Stock management



Rainbow trout is predominantly blue, green, yellow and silver in colour, and glistens in various shades of the rainbow. It is rich in protein and is said to boost immunity, another reason for its popularity. But it faces threats when raised in open water sources. The breeding of the rainbow trout is disturbed due to mineral extraction and other activities. That is why it is now reared in ponds, with a defined entry and exit of running water, says Malik. In June 2018, Anantnag district was declared as Trout district of India. Several fish farms have been established here with government support. Kokernag is home to Asias largest trout farm. It has fast emerged as one of the leading producers of rainbow trout in the world. The farm was set up in 1995 with support from the European Economic Committee and started with a single hatchery. Today, it supplies millions of eyed ova and rainbow and brown trout seeds to beneficiaries, including private fish farmers. Eggs are obtained from trout fish between November and February every year. It has a breeding period of 51 days, says Malik. The fingerlings are given feed first in tanks and then taken to water reservoirs. It takes 12-15 months for the trout to grow over 250 grams. These are then ready for sale to trout farms, where they grow up to three kg before being sold in the market, he adds. Today, trout rearing units/hatcheries have been established in almost all the districts of the UT. Trout culture is undertaken under modern technology of breeding and rearing to ensure better survival at different stages of the fish and to produce sufficient quality of table-size trout. The fisheries department also undertakes broodstock management to achieve better fertilisation during spawning. Even the pandemic had no effect on production. We generated Rs. 183 lakh in revenue in 2019-20 and 2020-21 has already seen revenue cross Rs. 175 lakh, says Bazaz.



Local support



Trout farming has also emerged as an important source of income for farmers in the Kashmir region. It received a major thrust in 2020 with the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMSSY). Farming of commercial trout can be done on a piece of land close to a water body. Locals can establish their units with the help of this scheme, under which 60% money is provided by the Union government and 40% by the UT administration. Around 200 units have so far been set up under the PMSSY. It is open to anyone interested. We conduct a feasibility survey to see if trout can successfully be reared at the location. If for any reason it cant, we provide assistance to the locals to farm carp instead, says Bazaz. Better revenue from trout farming has led some locals to move from agriculture to aquaculture. Abid Amin from Kulgam is one such individual. Rearing trout started off as a hobby, but it offered better returns than any farming that could be done on this land. So, I decided to venture into it full-time. I started off with two fish farms and after learning the ropes, sought assistance under the PMSSY to establish two more. Rearing trout is easy, profitable and the government provides all possible support to us, he says.

 2021 Mongabay-India
(Natural News) A recent meeting of the Idaho Falls District 91 School Board of Trustees made headlines after trustee Elizabeth Cogliati, a pro-mask zealot, nearly passed out while speaking due to oxygen deprivation from wearing her mask.

While shouting about how she believes mandatory mask-wearing will protect public school children from spreading the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19), Cogliati was heard gasping for breath as she desperately tried to respirate through at least two layers of fabric and plastic.

They make recommendations for the en  tire country based on their  knowledge  and their understanding of what is best for everyone, Cogliati screamed through her Chinese face covering, referring to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

And they dont need to visit our school district to make recommendations  for everyone  and  they  currently have  recommendations out that with the current level  of transmission  in Bonneville County  that we should be in hy  brid  for the elementary schools  and virtual  for  middle schools and high schools, Cogliati added, struggling to say nearly every word as she nearly hyperventilated.

Fellow Trustee Paul Haacke tried to reason with Cogliati, presenting facts rather than emotion, which prompted her to become even more irate while struggling to breathe and speak.

You interrupted me, Paul! Cogliati screamed like a madwoman. You interrupted me! Please do not interrupt me!

Haacke relented to Cogliatis insanity and told her to go ahead, upon which she started spewing more nonsense about the CDC and the benefits of young children wearing a mask.

So you want to pick and choose, Haacke then asked Cogliati, observing that she was cherry-picking data to push her pro-mask narrative.

Yes, I do! Cogliati screamed back at him. Yes, I do want to pick and choose!

You can watch the video for yourself below:

Teachers union representative fighting for mask wearing, while fighting to breathe through mask  pic.twitter.com/hUbHiFM2UH  Chicken Gate  (@ChickenGate) March 28, 2021

Masks dont work and make wearers crazy

The bizarre incident, which occurred in southern Idaho, ultimately led to the board voting to keep the mask mandate in place. Haacke, one of the only men in the room, was the sole voice of reason who voted against masks and in favor of childrens right to breathe.

What this means is that children who attend public school in Bonneville County, Idaho, will continue to be muzzled and forced to suffer the same oxygen deprivation as Cogliati, who like several of the other women in the room would seem to have some sort of creepy mask fetish.

The same CDC that Cogliati cited in defense of her mask fetish recently admitted that masks do not actually work after all. Cogliati must have missed the memo, which is why she is desperately clinging to outdated and debunked junk science.

Cogliati is now the laughingstock of the internet, and rightfully so. Her emotional hysterics could go down in the history books as proof that wearing a mask makes a person deranged, depriving her brain of the oxygen it needs to think properly and use reason and logic, rather than emotionalism and insanity, to form policy.

It makes me short of breath just listening to her, wrote one Twitter user.

Unbelievable! wrote another. She can hardly breathe but she thinks its a good idea for kids to sit in masks all day!

Many others offered similar commentary, pointing out that public school teachers seem to be more unhinged than ever before thanks to the endless fearmongering about the Chinese virus.

Wearing a mask will reduce your oxygen intake by 20%, so that means 20% less oxygen in your blood, another explained. So that means brain damage.

More related news about the American liberal mask fetish can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

Twitter.com

RedStateNation.com

NaturalNews.com

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Brandon Williams, the nephew of George Floyd, sheds a tear up as attends a news conference in Minneapolis. Photo: Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP

A Between four and six weeks. Metal fencing, razor wire and concrete barriers will surround the court for the duration in anticipation of potential violence.

Q How long will the trial last?

Q Who is the judge?

A Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill, who has a reputation as a bold, no-nonsense but fair judge. He worked as a prosecutor for 10 years and became a judge in 2007.

He previously served as top adviser to Amy Klobuchar, the countys top prosecutor, who now serves as a Democratic senator in Congress.

Q Who is on the jury?

A The panel is much more diverse than the average jury in the city and is made up of four white women, two white men, three black men, one black woman and two mixed-race women.

Q Who is prosecuting and what is their strategy?

A Keith Ellison, Minnesotas attorney general, is personally heading up the prosecution case amid intense public pressure for the state to secure a conviction.

Mr Ellison is both the first Muslim and first African American to hold statewide office.

He previously served as a Democratic congressman and is tipped as a potential future star for the party. The prosecution has a 14-strong team, including Matthew Frank, an experienced trial lawyer who will take the lead in court, and Jerry Blackwell, who last year won a posthumous pardon for a black man wrongly convicted of rape in 1920.

The prosecution must convince the jury that Derek Chauvins actions were a substantial factor in Mr Floyds death, and that he assaulted him by using excessive force to pin him to the ground while handcuffed and unarmed.

They sought to remove white prospective jurors who expressed staunch support for the police or negative attitudes to the Black Lives Matter, suggesting they intend to frame the case in terms of race.

Q What is the defence strategy?

A Eric Nelson, the defence lawyer, has much fewer resources than the prosecution, joined only by a legal assistant in the courtroom. However, he is also liaising with the lawyers for three other former officers charged in Mr Floyds death, who are due to go to trial in August and have an interest in seeing Mr Chauvin acquitted.

The Minnesota-based lawyer has kept a low profile but has experience in representing police officers. He was enlisted by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, the group funding Mr Chauvins defence. His strategy will be to throw doubt over Mr Floyds cause of death.

He will argue Mr Floyd suffered from drug addiction and his death was caused by drug use and underlying health problems.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
HAMPSHIRE, England, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, leading specialist PPE manufacturer, Safeaid, announced the arrival of its own brand of virus-protection certified nitrile gloves, in response to demand for compliant, virus safe hand protection for frontline healthcare professionals throughout the UK.

The Hampshire based company took the decision to manufacture a nitrile glove product following its discovery that many gloves currently in use in healthcare environments are not, in fact, classified as PPE - where the objective is to protect the wearer. Instead, they have been registered according to the Medical Devices Directive (MDD), where the object is care of the patient, and gloves classified as medical device only, are not certified for Personal Protection.

"There are several safety Standards for nitrile gloves and each Standard will test different performance requirements" explains Barry Taylor, Safeaid Operations Director. "In situations where there is a requirement for personal protection, you might expect that gloves registered according to the PPE directive would be used. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as those responsible for sourcing gloves may not know the difference between PPE and MDD." He continues, "Many nitrile gloves won't have Virus Protection, because it isn't necessary for every job role, however since the pandemic, it has increasingly become a necessity, and certainly within healthcare settings. As nitrile gloves all look alike, it's impossible for the wearer to know whether the gloves they put on have virus protection or not, so it's essential to ensure the correct products are supplied in the first instance."

The new product, for which Safeaid has UK exclusivity, is launched under its Signal brand and is registered according to the PPE Directive and certified as having passed EN ISO 374-5 VIRUS Standard. This Standard measures the ability of gloves to protect users against bacteria, fungi, viruses and harmful pathogens, including coronavirus, MRSA and SARS, and only gloves meeting this specific Standard will provide this level of protection.

Safeaid has taken the additional measure of having the product registered according to the MDD as well, meeting Standard EN 455. "We did this purely because EN 455 appears to be the product of choice for many healthcare procurement teams, despite the fact that this classification relates to Class I, representing the lowest level of risk." explains Taylor, "Whilst buyers are conscious of the need for the appropriate level of protection, they often specify non-PPE products, such is the level of confusion around glove Standards."

Richard Bowen, Safeaid Managing Director commented, "We believe part of our role is to inform and educate, particularly when it comes to product safety and compliance, something we take extremely seriously. We've been a trusted PPE provider for over 40 years and our customers rely on us, not only to deliver the products they need without fail, but to ensure they are 100% fit for purpose."

The issues around glove Standards led Safeaid to mount an awareness campaign for its customers, to help them better understand the key differences. "Our research for the campaign highlighted the scarcity of gloves with the appropriate virus protection" explained Richard, "and this became the driving force behind our investment in production of this critical item. Manufacturing our own product has also given us the opportunity to address other issues with nitrile gloves and how they are dispensed."

The Signal nitrile glove has a longer cuff for additional safeguarding, is beaded to prevent roll down and its low-modulus formulation offers superior comfort and fit as well as excellent tactile sensitivity. The box design is flatter and wider than other brands on the market which allows gloves to be packed flat and not bundled together as is the case with the alternatives. This makes for easier and more efficient dispensing.

The Signal brand is synonymous with high quality, innovation and ethical manufacturing practices. Taylor concludes, "We are delighted that we can give our customers peace of mind in knowing that their people are properly protected, together with absolute certainty around supply and product consistency, two of the other issues currently faced by those in procurement."

About Safeaid

Safeaid is a leading, specialist supplier of PPE and safety workwear to its four, core industry sectors: Healthcare, Rail, Utilities and Aggregates. With more than 40 years of health and safety expertise and with a focus on quality and compliance, Safeaid has built a reputation, product range and service that its customers can rely on. It is proud to work with hospitals, clinics, healthcare trusts and charities throughout the UK and has supplied the NHS for over 10 years.

Safeaid is a renowned, credible source of Safety Critical Equipment and PPE and holds multiple, universally recognised, quality performance certificates. It launched Signal in 2011, which quickly became acknowledged as a trusted PPE brand.

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Ismailia: With the Ever Given freed and on the move, the spotlight now turns to the investigation of how the vessel got wedged into the Suez Canal, leading to billions of dollars in losses globally.

While strong winds during a dust storm are widely seen as a major factor, Lieutenant General Osama Rabie of the Suez Canal Authority told reporters the investigation would not only focus on the weather. He said human and technical errors could not be ruled out.

Investigators are likely to examine the performance of the two Egyptian canal pilots aboard the Ever Given and their relationship with the ships captain.

Were there any communications problems? How experienced were the pilots and the captain in navigating the canal? And what challenges did they face in moving a ship of such massive size - as big as the Empire State Building and near the maximum size allowed in the canal - along a single-lane artery of the waterway?
Kyrgyzstan kicks off inoculation campaign against COVID-19 with Chinese vaccines

Xinhua) 14:25, March 30, 2021

Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Health and Social Development Alymkadyr Beishenaliev receives a shot of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, March 29, 2021. The first stage of a COVID-19 vaccination campaign using Chinese vaccines kicked off in Kyrgyzstan on Monday. Minister of Health and Social Development of the country Alymkadyr Beishenaliev and his deputies were the first who received the vaccination. (Photo by Roman/Xinhua)

BISHKEK, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The first stage of a COVID-19 vaccination campaign using Chinese vaccines kicked off in Kyrgyzstan on Monday.

Minister of Health and Social Development of the country Alymkadyr Beishenaliev and his deputies were the first who received the vaccination.

Director of the Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis of Kyrgyzstan Gulbara Ishenapisova told a briefing that the vaccination needs two jabs and is free of charge.

"Doctors of intensive care units, infectious diseases hospitals, ambulances working in the red zone, as well as teachers, border guards, customs officers, law enforcement and security officials will be vaccinated at the first stage," she added.

Nine vaccination centers have been deployed in Bishkek, Osh cities and Chui Oblast.

A batch of China's vaccines were delivered to Kyrgyzstan earlier this month. Prime Minister Ulukbek Maripov thanked the Chinese government for helping his country, stressing that China, having overcome its own difficulties with the virus, became one of the first countries to provide Kyrgyzstan with COVID-19 vaccines.

Maripov said that the vaccines from China have received wide recognition in the international community, and will greatly help the country in its pandemic fight.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
A brave cop smashed his way into a burning vehicle before dragging the unconscious driver out and resuscitating him after detecting no heartbeat.

Bodycam footage recorded in the city of Phoenix, Arizona, shows the officer running towards the car, which has fierce flames burning on its front end.

Two officers initially attempt to force their way into the burning vehicle by smashing the driver-side window, but are unable to break through the glass.

Seeking help from a local resident, one of the officers returns with a fire extinguisher in his hands which successfully smashes the glass.

A brave cop smashed his way into a burning vehicle before dragging the unconscious driver out and resuscitating him after detecting no heartbeat in the city of Phoenix, Arizona

Two officers from the Phoenix Police Department initially tried breaking through the window but were unable to smash the glass. One of them returned to the burning vehicle with a fire extinguisher to gain access to through the window

Leaning an arm through the broken window, the officer is able to unlock the door and pull the unconscious driver out of the vehicle and lay him on the side of the road, at a safe distance from the burning vehicle.

At this point, one of the officers in the video is heard saying: 'I got no heartbeat'.

The cop then crouches on the ground and begins performing chest compressions on the motionless driver.

The video was shared by the police force on social media yesterday.

Bodycam footage shared by the Phoenix Police Department showed two cops running towards a burning vehicle, inside of which, the driver sat unconscious

At the end of the footage, the police officer is heard cheering as the driver wakes up following the incident

The Phoenix Police Department said: 'This Is What We Do. In situations where we don't have time to hesitate, our training kicks in, and that could mean the difference between life and death.'

The police department also confirmed that the driver survived the incident and continues to recover in hospital.

Responding to the heroic video footage on social media, one person said: 'It's amazing how people forget all the good they do. Thank you for your service.'

While another thanked the Phoenix Police Department for the work they do serving their community.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 01:38:16|Editor: huaxia

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People protest outside the courthouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, March 29, 2021. The murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin charged with killing African American George Floyd in late May last year officially got underway in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Monday. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin charged with killing African American George Floyd in late May last year officially got underway in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Monday.

Ahead of opening statements in the trial, members of George Floyd's family and their legal team knelt in front of a Minneapolis courthouse for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the duration that video taken from the scene showed Chauvin had knelt on Floyd's neck while the 46-year-old black father was handcuffed, pinned to the pavement, and pled that he could not breathe. The video went viral and sparked weeks-long nationwide protests for racial justice last year.

"Today starts a landmark trial that will be a referendum on how far America has come on its quest for equality and justice for all," civil rights attorney Ben Crump said outside the courthouse on Monday.

"This murder case is not hard, just look at the torture video of George Floyd," said Crump.

Chauvin, fired by the Minneapolis Police Department after the video went viral online, faces charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Chauvin's attorneys are expected to argue that Floyd resisted arrest and had drugs in his system when he was being arrested, which they argue could have reasonably led to his death, said a report by The Hill.

The trial is expected to last several weeks. Enditem
EDINBURGH (dpa-AFX) - Cairn Energy (CNE.L) confirmed Tuesday that it received notice that the Government of India has petitioned the Dutch Court of Appeal to set aside the arbitration award dated 21st December 2020 issued pursuant to the UK-India Bilateral Investment Treaty which was granted unanimously in favor of Cairn. Cairn said it has full confidence in its position. The company will continue to take all steps necessary in order to protect the interests of its shareholders. An international arbitration tribunal in December 2020 ruled in favor of Cairn Energy in a tax dispute with the Government of India. The tribunal ruled that India had breached its obligations to Cairn under the UK-India Bilateral Investment Treaty and awarded to Cairn damages of $1.2 billion plus interest and costs. 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.
A witness in a Minneapolis murder trial involving Derek Chauvin compared the former police officer's hold on George Floyd to a martial art "kill choke" move.

Donald Williams, 33, said he has been a mixed martial arts fighter since 2003 and recognized the move done by Derek Chauvin on many occasions while he pressed his knee against Floyd's neck.

Williams was the third witness called by state prosecutors in the case and said that the knee was diagonal across the throat.

"The officer on top was shimmying to actually get the final choke in while he was on top, the kill choke," Williams told Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank during the direct examination as New York Post reported.

Williams said that Derek Chauvin only looked up when he told the former cop that it was a blood choke.

"We looked at each other dead in the eye," he noted. Williams yelled at Chauvin to check for a pulse as he knelt on George Floyd for over nine minutes in May.

READ NEXT: Derek Chauvin Trial Moves Forward, Video of George Floyd's Final Moments to Be Played

Opening Statements on Derek Chauvin's Trial

Chauvin's lawyer claimed that unruly bystanders had distracted Minnesota police officers while the former cop kept his knee on Floyd's neck for an extended period of time.

Lead defense attorney Eric Nelson suggested that the screaming crowd were somehow to blame for the serious events that ended with George Floyd's death.

The defense attorney said that Derek Chauvin acted within the scope of his job and that he acted appropriately, as he surveyed potential threats from a growing group of an enraged bystanders, according to a Crime Online report.

Nelson noted that there was a growing crowd and what officers perceived to be a threat, adding that they "are called names."

Hennepin County's autopsy report stated that there was no evidence to support the claims of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation.

However, an independent autopsy showed that sustained forceful pressuring against George Floyd's neck and back led to his death.

Both of the said autopsy reports mentioned drugs in George Floyd's system but concluded that the death was a homicide.

Derek Chauvin is charged with third-degree murder, second-degree unintentional murder, and second-degree manslaughter charges connected with George Floyd's death.

Aside from Chauvin, three other former police officers were also charged, namely Thomas Lane, 37, J. Alexander Kueng, 26, and Tou Thao, 34.

They were all charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

If convicted for second-degree murder, Chauvin could face up to 40 years imprisonment and 25 years for third-degree murder, Daily Mail reported. If found guilty of manslaughter, the former police officer could face a maximum penalty of 10 years.

Reverend Al Sharpton, Floyd family attorney Benjamin Crump, Floyd's nephew Brandon Williams and other supporters were in the silent act of protest.

Nelson maintained that George Floyd died not because of Chauvin but because of Floyd's own making, such as his hypertension, ingestion of opioids, and the adrenaline in his system as he struggled with the officers.

Nelson noted that when the public hears the law and applies reasons, the verdict would be Derek Chauvin not guilty.

READ MORE: Court Thinking to Reinstate Third-Degree Murder Charge vs. Derek Chauvin

WATCH: Derek Chauvin Trial Begins With Opening Statements and First Witnesses - From Washington Post
In January, Bidens new administration called for a suspension of all new oil and gas leases as part of its efforts to drive forward climate change policies. But several states are fighting back in support of the oil industry. Last week, 13 states sued the current administration to put an end to the new oil and gas lease suspension on federal land, in the hope of rescheduling leases in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska waters and western states.

The republican-leaning states wants to reinitiate canceled leases that were scheduled in the Gulf of Mexico for March 17, as well as a planned lease sale in the Cook Inlet of Alaska. Other suspended leases in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma, Nevada and New Mexico have also been called into question.

In the lawsuit, Bidens government is accused of avoiding the required notice and comment periods needed for the suspension to go ahead. The suit also blames Biden for harming the coastal oil economy, reducing oil revenues that could be put towards climate change projects such as coastal restoration.

While several praised Bidens efforts to address climate change early in his time in office, the lack of end date given to the suspension has left thousands in the oil sector worried about the security of the industry.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry stated, Bidens Executive Orders abandon middle-class jobs at a time when America needs them most and put our energy security in the hands of foreign countries, many of whom despise Americas greatness".

Biden has already come under fire this year by many Republicans and oil firms for the cancellation of the 830,000 bpd Keystone XL pipeline, which led to thousands of pipelayers losing their jobs.

Related: Novatek Looks To Start Hydrogen Production In Russias Arctic



The Energy Information Administration has suggested that while the pause will have no immediate effect, from 2022 we could be seeing a decrease in production of around 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

In a virtual meeting last week, White House national climate adviser Gina McCarthy was adamant that Bidens administration "is not fighting the oil and gas sector". McCarthy suggests that the U.S. oil industry became far too used to ex-President Trumps pro-oil mentality and needs to accept the change in administration and increased focus on climate change.

Earlier this month, the Democratic party introduced a new bill to the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee which seeks to achieve party commitments to decarbonize the electric grid by 2035.

CLEAN, the Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nations Future Act, sets an objective of 80 percent clean electricity by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035. It also presents the goal of a fully decarbonized economy by 2050.

The bill also outlines plans to expand electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure over the next decade. Under the bill, we would see an investment of $100 million a year between 2022 and 2031 to provide publicly accessible EV supply equipment, as well as investing heavily in EV access for disadvantaged communities.

While some are critical of Bidens pause on oil and gas, others have stated their support of his climate change action. During last weeks virtual meeting, several oil and gas CEOs vowed greater collaboration with Biden in his fight against climate change, including praising his return to the Paris climate agreement.

Many remain in wait-and-see mode as the president has not yet set a date for the end of the suspension on new oil and gas leases. However, communication with some of the industrys largest firms points towards a greater effort to work with Biden in the combat of climate change going forward in oil and gas.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com



More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
[March 30, 2021] Inspur Information Ranked Among Top 3 x86 Server Vendors Worldwide

Inspur Information, a leading IT infrastructure solutions provider, today announced it was ranked among the top three x86 server vendors worldwide in the IDC (News - Alert) Worldwide Quarterly Server Tracker (Q4, 2020). According to the report, the total shipments of x86 servers in 2020 reached over 11.8 million units with the global revenue at $82.6 billion USD, up by 1.8% (YOY) and 3.2% (YOY) respectively. Inspur's market share in terms of shipments is now 9.6%, up by 14.9% year-on-year. The global pandemic has brought about the explosive growth of new application scenarios of IT such as online education, remote work, and intelligent manufacturing. Propelled by increasing competition, Internet companies and traditional industry users are now more willing to adopt new technologies such as cloud, AI, and big data and are speeding up their investment and deployment of IT infrastructure. This has greatly accelerated the growth of the global server market. From a regional perspective, x86 server providers in the US market increased their revenue slightly, with a market share of 43.5% and a year-on-year increase rate of 1.2%. Chinese players welcomed a revenue increase of 17.8% (YOY) and a market share of 25.2%. Inspur ranked first among all the Chinese x86 server providers in terms of revenue, with a market share of 35.6% and a year-on-year growth of 33.3% in 2020. "COVID-19 accelerated the application of digitalization, IoT, and artificial intelligence, which requires the computing power of servers to meet diversified needs," said Peter Peng, CEO of Ispur Information. "We are now increasingly seeing the development path from general computing needs to heterogeneous computing and edge computing. The emerging, diversified, and niche application scenarios and the need for computing power derived from them have spurred the growth of Inspur's server business."



Having spearheaded the technology advancements in AI and edge computing with major data centers, Inspur offers full-stack capabilities and an agile business model called Joint Development Manufacturing (JDM) and therefore can customize scenario-specific solutions for customers faster. According to the latest global AI server market data from IDC1, Inspur AI servers take up over 50% of the market share in China, with the strongest, and the most comprehensive array of AI computing products in the industry that covers use cases ranging from training and inference to edge computing and more. For edge computing, Inspur has created four series of edge product: edge micro center, edge server, portable AI server, and intelligent computing microserver to meet the diversified needs of computing power in different edge scenarios.

Now, Inspur is quickly expanding its global footprint and operations. Its business spans 120 countries and regions worldwide, with eight international R&D centers, six global production centers, and two global service centers. Global customers widely recognize the technology of Inspur's server product and solution capabilities, and its market share in the United States, Germany, France, South Korea, and other overseas regions is steadily increasing. About Inspur Information Inspur Electronic Information Industry Co., LTD is a leading provider of data center infrastructure, cloud computing, and AI solutions, ranking among the world's top 3 server manufacturers. Through engineering and innovation, Inspur delivers cutting-edge computing hardware design and extensive product offerings to address important technology arenas like open computing, cloud data center, AI, and deep learning. Performance-optimized and purpose-built, our world-class solutions empower customers to tackle specific workloads and real-world challenges. To learn more, please go to https://www.inspursystems.com/. 1 2020H1 China Semiannual Accelerated (News - Alert) Computing Tracker, IDC, Mar.22, 2021 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005474/en/

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MINISTER of information and communication technology Peya Mushelenga is suing a businesswoman for N$630 000, accusing her of failing to pass on rental payments from apartments he owns at Ondangwa.

Mushelenga has, however, indicated he would withdraw the case.

The businesswoman claimed in court papers the money was paid to her for being the minister's "girlfriend".

Pressure groups, such as the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement, have for years accused ruling party politicians of dragging their feet in finding a solution to the housing crisis, because they are key beneficiaries.

Mushelenga, who is also a shareholder in a fishing company, has been a Swapo member of parliament for 15 years and has served as minister of urban and rural development from 2018 to 2020.

Court documents show the minister has been an active businessman in the residential property rental sector, an industry he was tasked to find solutions for during his time as urban and rural development minister.

Mushelenga has in the past accused property developers of exploitation and making houses unaffordable.

He was in charge of the ministry when the AR movement was pushing for the government to implement rent control.

BITTERSWEET

In 2016, Mushelenga declared in parliament that he owned a business plot at Ondangwa.

The plot accommodates a complex called Omukwiyu.

Court documents show this transaction started in 2015 when Mushelenga entered into an oral agreement with businesswoman Monica Simeon to manage the nine flats at Omukwiyu.

Simeon and her companies were to find tenants to lease the nine units of the complex, after which she would manage the property and collect rentals on behalf of the minister.

The companies she used were Faith Construction and Property Development CC and Fanta's Properties and Construction CC.

These companies would negotiate with tenants and enter into lease agreements on behalf of the minister, as well as collect rent for the minister.

This arrangement lasted from 2016 to 2020.

During that period, court documents show the total amount of rental payments collected at Mushelenga's complex amounted to N$912 000.

He claims he only received N$283 00, leaving a difference of about N$630 000.

Court documents show that tenants paid N$224 050 in 2016, but only N$95 960 of this was paid to Mushelenga.

In 2017, tenants paid N$301 000, however, only N$69 500 was paid over to the minister.

In 2018, occupants paid N$274 900, but Mushelenga only received N$107 400.

Between May 2019 and August 2020, tenants paid N$112 200, of which the minister only got N$10 300.

The minister claims he only detected the purported "false and fraudulent representation" in December 2020 after some of the tenants enquired about their monthly rentals.

Mushelenga in the court documents accused Simeon of fraud and wanted her to repay the outstanding amounts - with 20% interest.

'GIRLFRIEND ALLOWANCE'

Court papers show that Simeon rejected Mushelenga's version that she breached the agreement to act diligently and honestly on behalf of the minister.

Simeon also denied claims that she failed or refused to pay the alleged outstanding amount to Mushelenga "which is being withheld unlawfully".

Instead, she says she was entitled to the money she took from Mushelenga due to their romantic relationship.

According to documents, Mushelenga and Simeon entered into a romantic relationship between 2015 and 2016.

As a result of the relationship, documents state that Mushelenga and Simeon entered into an oral agreement which mandated the businesswoman to assist Mushelenga "on an ex gratia basis" to collect the rentals form the tenants as well as to be responsible for the general upkeep and maintenance of the complex.

In addition, the documents state, Mushelenga would then "donate by way of benevolence and pure liberality" to Simeon and her companies certain amounts as it relates to the rental received from the tenants.

The businesswoman insisted that Mushelenga was aware of the rentals paid by tenants at his complex, as he "would frequently visit the complex and was aware of and in contact with the tenants who leased premises in the complex".

She claimed the minister only got wind of the money she took after she ended their romantic relationship.

Simeon said this was a "spiteful attempt to intimidate" her. Attempts to get comment from Simeon and her lawyer yesterday proved futile.

'TALK TO MY LAWYER'

Mushelenga last week declined to comment on his relationship with Simeon, saying the matter was being handled by his lawyer.

He, however, said the records at parliament relating to his asset declaration clearly indicates "all my business interests".

Apart from a business plot which he declared at Ondangwa, Mushelenga also owns 20% of a fishing firm called Aloe Investments.

The minister is also a 20% shareholder of a company called Marazul Pty Ltd registered in Mozambique.

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Mushelenga's lawyer, Francois Bangamwabo, declined to comment on the matter yesterday.

"I'm unable to attend to your request, because the matter is sub judice. My client's rights are and remain reserved," he said.

Bangamwabo said Mushelnega's withdrawal of the lawsuit is not complete and "has no legal effect until the same is sanctioned by the court. There is no such court order".

AR leader and Windhoek mayor Job Amupanda has for years blasted politicians for failing to tackle the housing market due to them benefiting from it.

The AR movement has been pushing for the government to set up a regulatory board to keep rental prices in check, which has failed to take off.

Amupanda told The Namibian he is not surprised that politicians are highly involved in the property market.

He cited examples of senior politicians, such as president Hage Geingob and Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa, with business interests in the property market.

Shaningwa received land from the Windhoek municipality to construct a kindergarten on, but later changed her mind to rather set up a service station.

"They have always benefited from the housing crisis, and for that reason they have been refusing to implement rent control," Amupanda said.
Flash flooding in Tennessee has claimed a fifth victim after authorities said a man drove his car around barricades and apparently drowned.

The latest death occurred Sunday night in Ashland City, just west of Nashville, when the man in his 60s ignored a sign warning of flooding and went into high water, Cheatham County Emergency Management Director Edwin Hogan told news outlets. The mans name was not immediately released.

Four others died in Nashville and dozens more had to be rescued after the city received more than seven inches of rain, the second-highest two-day rainfall total ever recorded, Mayor John Cooper said at a news conference Sunday.

The deluge flooded homes and left roads impassible. Some were still closed on Monday as the waters began to recede.

The Harpeth River crested 15 feet (about 4.6 meters) above flood stage Sunday night at Kingston Springs and was expected to fall below flood stage by Monday night.

But the National Weather Service warned that up to two inches of rain could fall in parts of Tennessee on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Pat Kenny has revealed he had to self-isolate. after he was identified as a close contact of someone with Covid-19.

Speaking on his Newstalk show today, the broadcaster (73) was complimenting HSE chief clinical officer of the Dr Colm Henry on the efficiency of the organisation.

I was identified as a close contact, went for a PCR test on Friday, had the result by lunchtime Saturday, he said. [It was] at the RDS centre there on Shrewsbury road, [a] very efficient operation.

[I] walked in, friendly people, very, very quick to be done, in and out in five minutes. So it is fantastic, and Im happy I got a negative.

But I still have to stay out of the way of people for the next while until I get a second one with the all clear. But its very well run and I have to compliment the HSE on that.

The presenter also discussed the opening of five asymptomatic Covid-19 testing centres across Ireland, with four of them being in Dublin and one in Offaly.

Dr Henry explained why theyre distributed like this for now.

The locations were picked because of public health advice, he said. The local public health departments, particularly in Dublin North Central, in Offaly, [there are] high levels of disease there, as you pointed out earlier in the interview.

This is part of the whole profile of public health measures that we have to try and pick up cases, particularly in this case asymptotic cases, recognising that at least one fifth - if not more of cases - are asymptomatic.

We want to facilitate people who might be concerned. Who want to get tested. Just so we can pick up additional cases.

Read More

Dr Henry added that so far, the centres have proved to be quite popular.

They want to enhance the existing access to testing, and these walk-in centres we found a big take up since it was opened last week, 7,500 people tested, Mr Henry said.

[Around] 2-3pc positivity, slightly higher in Dublin than in Offaly. Certainly a little bit higher in younger age groups than older people.

And this again is part of a menu of options that will allow us to identify cases, not just through people presenting to their GPs with symptoms.

However, these testing spots are not permanent, and will move around depending on which areas are at greater risk of Covid-19.




The genius of Chinas grey zone methods of warfare is once again on display. Three weeks ago the Philippines authorities discovered that a fleet of about 220 Chinese fishing vessels had entered the Philippines exclusive economic zone and anchored offshore at the Whitsun Reef in the West Philippine Sea. They are not the sort of low-slung fishing boats you might see unloading at an Australian harbour. The Chinese vessels are huge, steel-hulled, ranging in length from 30 metres to 100 metres, according to the Philippines National Security Adviser, Hermogenes Esperon. He calls them an intimidation.

And they havent been observed doing any fishing. They are lashed together in line formation. They run powerful lights at night but dont move. The Philippines government has described it as incursion. On March 21 it demanded publicly that the Chinese government remove them. Chinas ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, has said that the vessels were fishing boats that sought refuge at the reef due to rough sea conditions.

Mabini (Johnson) Reef part of the disputed islands China has built up in the South China Sea. Credit:New York Times

How could they be ordinary fishing vessels seeking shelter, as Ambassador Huang says, when the weather is so good? Esperon said to reporters on the weekend. And they have been there in increasing numbers since November 2020. And they are not visibly there to fish.

They are still there. Manila says the vessels are part of the China Maritime Militia; China denies this. Beijing says that theyre privately owned and operated fishing boats, end of story. They dont have any weapons systems in evidence but, says Andrew Erickson of the US Naval War College, they dont need to: The ships themselves are the main weapon. Far larger and stronger than typical fishing vessels from the Philippines or other South China Sea neighbours, their comparatively robust hull designs  with additional rub strakes welded onto the hulls steel plating aft of the bow, and  typically  powerful mast-mounted water cannons, make them powerful weapons in most contingencies, capable of aggressively shouldering, ramming, and spraying overmatched civilian or police opponents.
Chipotle Mexican Grill said it will give away $100,000 in free burritos and $100,000 in bitcoin to celebrate National Burrito Day on April 1.

According to Chipotle, the company is the first U.S. restaurant brand to offer a cryptocurrency giveaway to consumers.

On National Burrito Day, Chipotle and Stefan Thomas, the founder and CEO of Coil, will launch an interactive game called Burritos or Bitcoin.

In a playful ode to Thomass experience losing the login to his hard drive that stored $387 million in Bitcoin, Chipotle is encouraging fans to carry out a mock chiptocurrency rescue mission and crack the code on its digital wallet.

Players each will get 10 tries at guessing a six-digit code to win a free burrito or up to $25,000 in bitcoin.

If players are unsuccessful in their [10] attempts and endure the same fate as Thomas, they may be surprised and delighted with a special offer from Chipotle.

The contest goes live at noon EST on April 1 and ends at 9 p.m. EST the same day. To enter go to burritosorbitcoin.com.

Chipotle said 10,000 people will win a free burrito, 50 people will win $500 in bitcoin and three people will win $25,000 in bitcoin.

National Burrito Day is a huge moment for Chipotle as our fans traditionally flock to our restaurants and digital platforms to order their favorites, said Chris Brandt, chief marketing officer.

Were always looking for unique ways to enhance the celebration, and this year, were giving fans the opportunity to acquire two highly valuable assets: Burritos or Bitcoin.

Chipotle said the bitcoin will be award based on the USD exchange rate as of the contest deadline.

READ MORE

Pregnant Mom Escorted by Police From Dallas Church for Not Wearing Mask, Gets Trespass Warning

A pregnant Catholic woman said she was escorted from the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas, for not wearing a mask and was later issued a trespass warning.

I mean, youre going to arrest a 28-year-old nursing mom whos already socially distanced? I mean it proves that its not really about the health. Its just about control, Deirdre Hairston told Church Militant.

According to video footage of the incident, Hairston appeared to be holding a crying baby.

Am I getting arrested? Hairston asks the officer in the video. No, not right now. But if you dont listen you will be arrested, the officer says.

Whats the crime? Hairston asks. The church does not want yall here, the officer responds.

A Facebook post from the Catholic Diocese of Dallas responded to the womans claims, saying she was not arrested or ticketed.

The young woman involved in this incident that occurred two weeks ago was not arrested or tickets. She was issued a trespass warning, it said.

The post added: The pastor of the parish has required masks at Mass out of concern for the health and welfare of his entire congregation. Canon law grants pastors jurisdiction over their parishes, and while the bishop has not mandated masks for every parish, he has left these specific details to the pastors of the Diocese, adding that he expects the faithful to wear masks out of charity and concern for others. We recognize that not everyone can wear masks, but that those who can, should.

Hairston also told Church Militant that the head pastor of the church approached her in the middle of Mass and allegedly told her: Now, if you want to be an obedient Catholic, you put that mask on or youll have to leave. Hairston told him that she was not going to leave, adding that he then informed her he would be calling the police.

And after she was taken outside, police officers reported her and gave her a ticket for trespassing.

The usher proceeds to come out, very aggressively yelling to the police officers to write me a ticket. He then takes the liberty to go to my car, take pictures of my license plate; yelling at them to ban me, Hairston said.

Hairston noted that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently rescinded statewide mask orders and allowed businesses to reopen in the midst of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic.

Even the government has made this a more lenient issue than our own church. Our own church decides to be more aggressive and militant on the matter, she remarked.

It is now time to open Texas 100 percent, Abbott said on March 2 in announcing that people and businesses dont need the state telling them how to operate.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Catholic Diocese of Dallas for comment regarding the pastors alleged statements to Hairston.
Members of Congress introduced legislation last week that would elevate the Coast Guard's role on the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- a move they say would bring it "in line" with the Defense Department services.

Reps. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., and Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., have sponsored a bill that would give the Coast Guard commandant full voting rights on the Joint Chiefs. The panel includes six military service chiefs -- the heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force and National Guard -- along with a chairman and vice chairman.

Currently, the Coast Guard's head is a de facto member, a setup Crist said potentially omits the service's "unique perspective on national security concerns."

Read Next: Marines Vow Safety Improvements After Fatal AAV Accident Reveals Serious Flaws

"The Coast Guard plays a key role in keeping our nation safe, making the service more than worthy of a seat at the Joint Chiefs of Staff table," Crist said in a release Tuesday.

"The Coast Guard plays a very important role in our national defense strategy, and it is past time they have an equal role when it comes to advising the president, the secretary of defense and the National Security Council," Palazzo added.

The Coast Guard, the only branch of the U.S. armed forces not housed within the Defense Department, is responsible for a number of national security missions and has seen activity pick up in the past several years.

Since 2019, it has participated in freedom of navigation operations with the U.S. Navy in the Taiwan Strait; stepped up its counter-narcotics role in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific as part of an overall push by U.S. Southern Command to crack down on drug trafficking; and sent its only heavy-duty icebreaker to the Arctic to assert America's maritime sovereignty in the region.

The service has forged relationships with the coastal forces of numerous nations in the Western Hemisphere; is expanding its footprint in the Indo-Pacific region; stepping up diplomatic relations with strategic partners; and strengthening its oversight of illegal fishing -- a "threat to global food sustainment, marine ecology and national security," according to Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz.

"The counter-drug mission is just one example of our global maritime operations. Throughout our 230-plus-year history on the global maritime stage, we have earned the reputation of being a 'preferred partner' for like-minded countries who support the international rules-based order," Schultz said in a speech to Coast Guard members March 11. "Our broad authorities, multi-mission capabilities, and suite of international agreements with partner nations and allies make the U.S. Coast Guard a 'preferred partner' to strengthen the United States government's multi and bilateral relationships in key regions."

The Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security, where it is responsible for 11 statutory missions, including five homeland security or national security missions and six non-homeland security missions such as search and rescue, marine safety, aids to navigation and environmental protection.

Questions sometimes arise as to whether the service is housed in the appropriate Cabinet department. Since its consolidation in 1915, it has moved among the Departments of the Treasury, Navy, Transportation and Homeland Security.

In 2017, then-Rep. Duncan Hunter Jr., R-Calif., wrote President Donald Trump saying the service deserved to be "housed in a department that recognizes the importance of its mission."

Coast Guard officials said at the time that they believed the service fits appropriately in the Department of Homeland Security. "Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul F. Zukunft has said 'the best place for us is the Department of Homeland Security, and I agree with him,'" then Vice Commandant Adm. Charles Michel said during a conference of defense journalists on March 31, 2017.

Neither Crist nor Palazzo has advocated for moving the Coast Guard. They said, however, that the extension of a vote on the Joint Chiefs would "reinforce the value" of the service to national defense.

"While the U.S. Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security, its work with the Pentagon is constantly growing," Palazzo said.

"[It would] bring the Coast Guard in line with other military services, and elevate the Coast Guard's role in Florida and across the globe," Crist said.

The Coast Guard declined to comment on the proposal, saying it does not weigh in on proposed legislation.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Coast Guard Seizes $330 Million in Illegal Drugs
ATLANTA, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law one of the most restrictive voting bills in our history. The passage of Georgia Senate Bill 202 (SB202) is borne from a concerted effort to undermine public trust in a process that rarely experiences fraud. It's a perversion of our values and seeks to injure Black and Brown voting power.

Neighborhood FORWARD condemns this action in the strongest possible terms. In response to progressive efforts that improved voter turnout in 2020, 134 members of the Georgia Legislature have bowed to what some consider white supremacist ideology and surrendered the principles of plurality and equality. New limits on mail-in voting, unreasonable identification requirements, and the criminalization of offering food and water to voters stuck in line are attacks on marginalized communities across the Peach State.

For too long, even the most well-intentioned public policy has negatively impacted the lives of people of color in this country. Neighborhood FORWARD, however, denies that Gov. Kemp's actions are well-intentioned. Rather, they are a calculated attack on our neighborhoods.

Federal legislators must respond with an equal but opposite effort to reduce the harm leveled against Black and Brown communities. Right now, the U.S. Senate is considering the For the People Act (S1), which would dramatically expand voting rights by bolstering voter rolls, ending gerrymandering, and mandating voter registration.

Only the filibuster stands in its way. Some senators have repeatedly voiced their concerns with abolishing this archaic rule  implying that tradition trumps democracy. Procedure cannot stand in the way of equality. Neighborhood FORWARD is calling on all senators, Democratic and Republican alike, to condemn recent developments in Georgia and exercise their constitutional authority to fortify democracy against similar attacks. Without the passage of the For the People Act, we fear for the safety and agency of marginalized communities.

Meanwhile, we look forward to working with community, faith, and business stakeholders such as Coca-Cola and Delta, etc. in Georgia to combat these laws. Neighborhood FORWARD is ready to facilitate collaboration between all of the above to usher in a new era of prosperity.

ABOUT:

Neighborhood FORWARD is a movement built by concerned citizens, faith leaders, civil rights activists, elected officials, business partners, and non-profit organizations throughout the country. Join the movement: https://www.neighborhoodforward.org

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Neighborhood FORWARD

314-440-3605

[email protected]

SOURCE Neighborhood FORWARD
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha yesterday singled out police officers securing KCSE exams countrywide as a potential risk in the fight against cheating.

Revealing that the just concluded KCPE exams were by Monday morning 35 per cent marked -- the exercise being speeded up to beat cheating at that level -- the CS also banned ferrying of exam papers by use of public or private means, saying, ferrying must be done by school vans or government-procured means."

He reiterated government's commitment to seal all loopholes that might breed cheating, and warned that the State has the fortitude to even cancel the whole exercise if it demands so in its pursuit to deliver results that most honestly captures the academic position of the two levels of education.

The CS said there were conspiracy schemes being hatched to transport the papers using matatus, boda bodas and tuktuks with an intention of winning some ground to tamper with the papers.

"We cannot be too sure of what is happening to our exam papers as those insecure means of transport snake past all manner of corners and bushes. It must not apply at whatever cost," he said in Kenol, Murang'a where he supervised the opening of exam containers.

The CS cited incidents -- one in Western and three in Nyanza -- where teachers are suspected to be colluding with officers to tamper with the integrity of the exams. "...a male head teacher at a school somewhere in Western region is reported to be engaged in attempts to corrupt the examination exercise... " Prof Magoha said.

He said three teachers in Migori County are under investigations following their attempts to tamper with the exam papers. The CS wondered how it could happen in the presence of police.

To that effect, the CS ordered that starting today, all the police officers participating in the exercise be denied entry into exam centres if in possession of mobile phones. "These mobile phones are being used to take screenshots of the test questions and intended to be sent to destinations that will facilitate cheating..."
(Newser)  The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is again throwing around insults. Kim Yo Jong referred to South Korea's leader as a "parrot raised by America" on Tuesday following critiques of the North's ballistic missile launches. President Moon Jae-in said the "undesirable" actions, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, would hurt efforts at dialogue between Washington, Pyongyang, and Seoul, and that "people are greatly concerned," per Yonhap News. In a Tuesday response, Kim Yo Jong said Moon's "illogical and brazen-faced" comments echoed those of US President Joe Biden, who promised to respond to further escalations but said denuclearization was the ultimate goal.

story continues below

Top North Korean official Ri Pyong Chol had accused Biden of "gangster-like logic" on Saturday, noting the US tests intercontinental ballistic missiles, per the AP. Kim Yo Jong echoed those words Tuesday, saying South Korea's thinking "is exactly the same as the gangster-like logic of the US faulting the right of [North Korea] to self-defense," per Al Jazeera. "We can hardly repress astonishment at [Moon's] shamelessness," she added, per the AP. "He cannot feel sorry for being 'praised' as a parrot raised by America." South Korea's Unification Ministry expressed "strong regret" over her statement, saying the neighbors must maintain "the rules of minimum etiquette in any circumstance," per Deutsche Welle. (Read more North Korea stories.)

Here's what you need to know: Tuesday, March 30
In picture - BASF's Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Around 200 production plants at the site produce numerous products for customers from virtually every industry.

LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY: BASF is setting itself even more ambitious goals on its journey to climate neutrality and wants to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Based on the most recent progress in developing low-emission and CO 2 -free technologies, the company is significantly raising its medium-term 2030 target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions: BASF now wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions worldwide by 25 percent compared with 2018  and to achieve this despite targeted growth and the construction of a large Verbund site in South China.

Excluding the effects of the planned growth, this means cutting CO 2 emissions in half in the current business by the end of this decade. Overall, BASF plans to invest up to 1 billion by 2025 to reach its new climate target and a further 2 billion to 3 billion by 2030.

In 2018, BASF Groups worldwide emissions amounted to 21.9 million metric tons of CO 2 equivalents. In 1990, this figure was roughly twice as high. The new 2030 emissions goal represents a reduction of approximately 60 percent compared to 1990 levels, which exceeds the European Unions target of minus 55 percent.

The new climate goals underscore our determination and BASFs commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement. Climate change is the greatest challenge of the 21st century. In response, we must adapt our processes and our product portfolio. We need to accelerate this transformation now. We must first concentrate on the initial steps of this journey, not the final ones. That is why BASF will increase its use of renewable energies. And we will accelerate the development and deployment of new CO 2 -free processes for the production of chemicals, said Dr. Martin Brudermuller, chairman of the board of executive directors of BASF SE.

With transparency and offerings to systematically and incrementally reduce the carbon footprint of BASF products throughout the entire value chain, we help our customers in all industries to reduce the carbon footprint of their own products, said Brudermuller.

One of the most important new technologies that BASF is currently developing are electrically heated steam crackers for the production of basic chemicals such as ethylene, propylene and butadiene. These chemicals are building blocks for numerous value chains and are essential for chemical production. Hydrogen is another important feedstock for many chemical production processes.

To achieve CO 2 -free production of hydrogen, BASF is pursuing two processes in parallel: the commercially available water electrolysis and methane pyrolysis, for which BASF has developed a new process technology. Another important lever to increase energy efficiency is the use of electrical heat pumps to produce CO 2 -free steam from waste heat. BASFs goal is to work with Siemens Energy to gradually ramp up this technology to industrial scale and use it for waste heat recovery at entire sites.

This will require investments for the development and construction of new production plants. A precondition for the transformation of chemical production is the reliable availability of large quantities of renewable electricity at competitive prices. At the moment, that is not the case in Germany. BASF therefore aims to participate in investments in renewable energy generation facilities to meet its own demand. Regulatory framework conditions are also essential for making this transformation economically feasible, added Brudermuller.

 WorldofChemicals News
Minister Files Federal Lawsuit to Hold Good Friday Service at US Capitol Building After Request to Hold Service was Denied

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Christian Defense Coalition

March 30, 2021



WASHINGTON, March 30, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- Rev. Patrick Mahoney filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.



Both Vice-President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, acting in their Official Capacities, are defendants in the lawsuit.



Rev. Mahoney will be seeking injunction relief to conduct his Good Friday Service and prayer vigil at the Capitol.



Rev. Mahoney was told last week by the US Capitol Police the Good Friday Service would not be allowed because it was in a "restricted area."



Below is a picture from the lower western terrace of the Capitol where last year's service was held. It is the same location where Rev. Mahoney intended to have this year's Good Friday Vigil.







While peaceful First Amendment activities are being prohibited at the US Capitol, other business is going on as usual. For example, members of Congress and their staff are entering and using the Capitol. Vendors, the media and their crews, invited guests, lobbyists and so many more are also allowed to enter and use the Capitol grounds.



However, American citizens who want to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights at the "People's House," are being prohibited from the Capitol,



Brian Chavez-Ochoa, of Chavez-Ochoa Law Offices and an attorney for Rev. Mahoney, comments;

"The systematic trampling of our First Amendment Rights must come to an end and the Capitol must be reopened to the people. The right sought by Rev. Mahoney to pray at the lower western terrace of the Capitol on Good Friday, asking God to heal this nation and bless our leaders with wisdom, should and must be honored."

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Washington, D.C. based Christian Defense Coalition, states;

"The 'People's House,' as the US Capitol Building is so rightly called, must be a place where all Americans are afforded the right to come and peacefully celebrate and express their First Amendment Rights. Tragically, those rights and freedoms are being denied and prohibited.



"Business is going on as usual at the Capitol. Members of Congress and their staff are entering and using the Capitol. Vendors, the media and their crews, invited guests, lobbyists and so many more are also allowed to enter and use the Capitol grounds.



"Yet, I am being prohibiting from holding a Good Friday Service to pray for God to heal our nation from division and bring hope and comfort to all those struggling during the pandemic. I am filing this federal lawsuit to ensure the 'People's House' is returned to the people and the First Amendment is once again celebrated and honored at the United States Capitol."

For more information or interviews call:



Brian Chavez-Ochoa at: 209.772.3013

Rev. Patrick Mahoney at: 540.538.4741



SOURCE Christian Defense Coalition



CONTACT: Brian Chavez-Ochoa, 209-772-3013;

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741



Published: 30 March 2021

Finnish residents' domestic trips to free-time residences increased in 2020

The travel phenomenon of 2020 was spending time at free-time residences in Finland and the number of overnight stays on domestic trips to free-time residences doubled compared with the previous year. In 2020, Finnish residents made a total of 2.3 million different leisure trips abroad, the number of which was only good one quarter compared to the year before due to the coronavirus crisis. Altogether 21.4 million different domestic leisure trips with overnight stay were made, which is nearly one fifth fewer than in 2019. However, trips were clearly longer in duration than in the previous year, for which reason the number of overnight stays increased by over 10 per cent. No significant change took place in the overnight stays of domestic leisure travellers outside Greater Helsinki compared with the previous year. By contrast, domestic leisure trips with overnight stay increased by nearly 50 per cent among residents in Greater Helsinki.

Finnish residents travel in 2012 to 2020 (excl. domestic leisure trips with free accommodation)

Finnish residents' leisure trips abroad plummeted in 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis. The number of all leisure trips abroad went down by 72 per cent.

Leisure trips to our southern neighbour Estonia decreased to under one half from the previous year and to our western neighbour Sweden they plummeted to under one fifth from the year before. The number of trips to Norway was one half of the previous year's figure. Among the neighbouring countries, the number of trips to Latvia decreased only by a quarter due to cruises.

The number of trips to Central Europe decreased by 82 per cent and those to Southern Europe by 80 per cent. The number of trips to Spain decreased by only 63 per cent despite the difficult pandemic situation. However, January and February 2020 had a strong impact on the number of trips to Spain, then travelling was completely normal.

Finnish residents most popular destinations for leisure trips with overnight stay in the destination country in 2020, 2019 and 2018

The number of domestic trips with paid accommodation decreased by one quarter from the previous year. In 2020, the number of such trips was 5.5 million.

Short trips lasting under four nights decreased from the year before, but the number of trips lasting at least four nights increased a lot. July, August and October were the most popular times to travel in Finland.

The most popular destinations were located in the region of Lapland. The next most popular regions were Uusimaa and North Ostrobothnia. The most popular towns were Helsinki, Tampere, Kuopio, Turku and Kuusamo.

Compared with the previous year, nights spent at hotels decreased by one third, but nights spent at rented cottages increased by almost 50 per cent from the previous year.

Trips with free accommodation numbered 15.9 million and their most popular destination was Uusimaa. The next most popular destinations with free accommodation were Southwest Finland and Pirkanmaa. Of nights spent in free accommodation, overnight stays at own free-time residences increased most, as their number nearly doubled. By contrast, the number of nights spent at friends and relatives decreased by one fifth.

The number of business trips in Finland halved and business trips abroad remained under one fifth compared to the previous year.

Leisure trips of an average Finn in 2020:

1.2 domestic leisure trips with paid accommodation,

3.5 domestic trips with free accommodation,

0.4 trips abroad that included overnight stay in the country of destination,

0.1 same-day trips abroad or cruises to neighbouring areas.

Data collection

The data concerning travel were collected with a web questionnaire or interviews from 15,475 persons aged 15 to 84 permanently resident in Finland.

The numbers of persons who had travelled during the year were collected from 1,174 persons with additional questions asked in connection with the survey concerning travel in December.

Additional tables are found in the PX Web database at:

http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__lii__smat/?tablelist=true

Source: Finnish Travel, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Taru Tamminen 029 551 2243, Ossi Nurmi 029 551 2984, liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

Publication in pdf-format (396.9 kB)

Updated 30.3.2021

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Finnish Travel [e-publication].

ISSN=1798-9027. 2020. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 4.6.2021].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/smat/2020/smat_2020_2021-03-30_tie_001_en.html
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31)  Several lawmakers pushed the Food and Drug Administration to take the initiative of conducting a clinical study on Ivermectin, as regulators maintain it has not received any application to approve the drug.

Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor on Tuesday said the FDA should have more urgency in looking for COVID-19 treatments as patients continue to die from the disease. He also pointed out that several people, including himself, have taken Ivermectin and reportedly felt better from it.

"Ang daming may gusto at imbis na kayo maging hadlang...sana maging proactive tayo [There are many who want it and instead of being an obstacle, let us be proactive]," Defensor said in a House Committee on Health hearing. "We can do a study using Ivermectin."

His argument was supported by fellow lawmakers 1-PACMAN Rep. Enrico Pineda, BH Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, and Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan, among others.

Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug which currently has no registration with the FDA except for animals' use. The Department of Health in multiple occasions warned the public not to take Ivermectin since its use is hounded by "uncertainties."

World Health Organization Country Rep. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said in the same hearing the study that showed Ivermectin's effects on COVID-19 was conducted in Australia with a concentration that was a thousand times higher than what is normally used on humans. Abeyasinghe said the WHO has since conducted smaller scale studies on Ivermectin but they all gave results that were "statistically not significant."

"Let me explain, if you are looking at the total number of COVID patients, many have not yet been infected so we can assume people who drank water are protected from COVID," Abeyasinghe illustrated. "We can assume people who took Ivermectin are protected, but it is not evident, it needs to be statistically significant."

The same results were seen in hydroxychloroquine, Abeyasinghe recalled.

"What we are creating is a false confidence that if they take Ivermectin they can be protected, and that can be harmful, that's why it requires a clinical study," said the WHO official. "What we are recommending is that we look at carefully planned, controlled clinical trials to have a proof that Ivermectin works."

FDA Director General Eric Domingo said they have not yet received any application for Ivermectin's registration, compassionate use, or emergency use. He said the FDA will process the application quickly once received.

Dr. Allan Landrito, who used to work for the Muntinlupa City government, said he had given Ivermectin that he compounded himself, to thousands of patients, who in turn allegedly did not experience any side effects. He did this without a permit to compound. Landrito, who is also applying to be a pharmaceutical trader for Ivermectin, claimed the drug is anti-parasitic, anti-viral, an immunomodulator, and an anti-cancer drug.

Landrito's colleague, Dr. Pierre Kory from the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, also called Ivermectin a "life-saving drug." He earlier touted the medicine in a US Senate committee hearing but no less than the US FDA warned against Ivermectin's use to treat COVID-19.
A Harare businessman, who is being tried on allegations of raping his daughter on several occasions since 2017, has queried the DNA results of tests conducted during police investigations.

He objected to have the investigating officer who handled the matter to testify in court, saying the State should have made that indication before the trial opened.

DNA tests were done on tissues that were used on one of the occasions where he allegedly raped his daughter.

Through his lawyer, Mr Gwinyai Shumba, the businessman told Harare regional magistrate Mrs Gloria Takundwa that allowing the investigating officer, Tendai Muchero, to testify will subject him to an unfair hearing.

The State led by Miss Audrey Chogumaira wanted Muchero to testify on how the police took the semen for DNA testing.

"I wanted the investigating officer to explain how the DNA and exhibits were handled," she said.

Mr Shumba then objected saying: "The accused has a right to a fair trial. The State knew from the beginning who was to testify during trial.

"Accused has a right to craft his defence. This Tendai Muchero did not give a statement. The State cannot do investigative prosecution."

Mrs Takundwa ruled in the businessman favour and turned down the State's application to have Muchero testify.

The businessman's wife last week told the court how she traced and picked out tissues used by the businessman after allegedly raping his daughter in Harare.

"I used a plastic paper to pick the tissues that were used and I took them to the police," she said. "The police placed them in an envelope and I do not know what happened to them."

The wife said she wanted justice to prevail and to prove that her husband had raped their daughter.

"I never fabricated the story about this offence," she said. "I am the one who paid for the DNA because police indicated that machines at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals were down.

"The police even said their equipment was down and suggested that we approach other institutions for DNA tests."
Peter Ben Embarek speaks during a press conference to wrap up a visit by an international team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) in the city of Wuhan, in China's Hubei province on Feb. 9, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Critics Challenge WHO Virus Origins Report, Saying It Lacks Independence

A report from scientists assembled by the World Health Organization (WHO) and China into the origins of the pandemic is drawing criticism challenging the independence of its findings.

The report, released on March 30, left unresolved the question of how the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus (which causes the COVID-19 disease) entered the population but concluded the possibility of it being leaked from a lab as extremely unlikely.

The long-awaited report was put together by a team of Chinese and foreign experts, based on their findings from an early February two-week fact-finding mission in central Chinas Wuhan.

The report found the likely to very likely scenario was that the virus was transmitted to humans from another animal that was infected by bats. The possibility that it was directly transmitted from bats to humans was determined to be a possible-to-likely pathway.

It further found that contaminated cold-chain food products being the source of the virus was possible but not likely.

The Chinese regime started making unsubstantiated claims that the initial outbreak in Wuhan might have originated from imported frozen food in June last year, when it suspected European salmon could be contaminated with the virus.

There is currently no evidence that people can catch COVID-19 from food or food packaging, the WHO says on its website.

One of the teams investigators has already said China refused to give raw data on early COVID-19 cases to the WHO-led team, potentially complicating efforts to understand how the global pandemic began.

In my discussions with the team, they expressed the difficulties they encountered in accessing raw data, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday. I expect future collaborative studies to include more timely and comprehensive data sharing.

Ghebreyesus also called for further studies to build upon the reports findings, saying that all hypotheses remain on the table.

We have not yet found the source of the virus, and we must continue to follow the science and leave no stone unturned as we do, Ghebreyesus said.

Criticism

Since the reports findings were leaked on Monday, it has since been heavily criticized by several U.S. lawmakers for being biased, including Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The WHO should never have allowed the Chinese Communist Party to have such a heavy hand in drafting this report, said McCaul in a statement ahead of the expected release of the report.

He added: A report censored by the CCP is worse than no report at all because it allows the CCP to continue to spread misinformation about the virus and cover up the role they played in allowing it to spread.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) took to Twitter to say that the report was a joke, as the WHO is covering for China.

As a result, Scalise stated that it did not come as a surprise that the WHO report exempts the Wuhan lab.

The lab, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, has long been speculated that it could be the source of the pandemic through an accidental leak. Researchers at the lab have conducted extensive research on deadly bat viruses.

A fact sheet released by the U.S. State Department in late January stated that it had reason to believe several researchers at the institute fell ill with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses in the autumn of 2019. A senior researcher at the institute previously said in July 2020 there was zero infection among lab staff and students.

The WHO report also said that it was inconclusive what role the Wuhan-located Huanan Seafood Marketwhich Beijing claims was ground zero for the outbreakmay have contributed to the spread of the virus.

Jamie Metzl, an Atlantic Council senior fellow who is also a WHO adviser, told Fox News on Tuesday that the findings of the report would have been a result of a compromise between the foreign scientists and the Chinese regime.

Metzl challenged the reports finding dismissal of the lab leak theory as extremely unlikely saying theres a lot of evidence that suggests  that that is a very, very real possibility.

He called for full and credible investigation into the origins of the CCP Virus.

There have been a lot of controversies prior to the release of the WHO report. Some of the team members who traveled to Wuhan earlier this year have been found to have relationships with the CCP, raising conflict of interest issues.
To say that over the past few years something approaching dead calm has descended on Colombia could be considered erroneous. High rates of violence, the clash over judicial independence and a lack of progress in the implementation of the peace process have cast any hypothetical plain sailing into the wind. The problem is that today, even more uncertainty has been added to Colombias problems: public healthcare of course, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but also economic concerns, with an alarming increase in poverty and a serious lack of institutional cash flow.

All of this, amplified by the upcoming presidential elections in 2022, has served to place Colombia in a situation that has a recurring resonance in the countrys history: just when it appears everything is about to go up in smoke, it is smoothed over instead. There is a palpable tension in the air and in speeches, such as those held recently by a procession of senior politicians and analysts that have given rise to a number of key points offering a sneak preview into what promises to be an uncertain year ahead.

(Almost) everyone against Petro. Next years elections already permeate every aspect of Colombias daily life. If in any other part of the world it could be reasonably expected that the potential candidates would be defined at this stage, but drawing up a diagram in Colombia is practically impossible due to a convoluted consultation process among political parties that can result in anything up to 20 contenders. These will eventually be whittled down to no more than a selection of five: those who have the best chances in the first round of voting scheduled for May 2022, two months after the Congressional elections have been held. The only certainty, whether we are on the left or the right, is that Gustavo Petro is the man to beat. The former mayor of Bogota and an ex-M19 guerrilla, Petro has embraced a change of tack toward pragmatism similar to that which swept Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to power in Mexico in 2018. This shift has attracted politicians of all persuasions and, more importantly, powerful networks of patrons while attempting to assuage the fears that many sectors, principally those of an economic nature, hold over the prospect of electing a first leftist president in Colombias history.

Followers of Gustavo Petro at a protest in Bogota. LEONARDO MUNOZ / EFE

In the progressive center, the latest attempt to ascend to the presidency by former Medellin Mayor Sergio Fajardo is as certain as the number of buts that accompany every mention of his name. Meanwhile, the expectations generated by former Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria throwing his hat into the ring are as dizzying as the challenges that lie ahead of him: firstly, to convince himself of his own decision, and secondly to align himself with the structure of parties such as the Liberals and the Greens, which will come at a high cost to his campaign. On the conservative side there is fervor for a grand alliance, but it remains unclear what sort of weight will be provided by the candidate put forward by the Democratic Center, the ruling party founded by Alvaro Uribe and run under the iron fist of the former president.

COVID-19 vaccination delays. As is the case in most Latin American countries, with the exception of Chile, Colombia is lagging behind both in procurement and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Far from railing against the most developed nations or the pharmaceutical industry, President Ivan Duque has been transmitting a message of optimism that flies in the face of hard data. Colombia passed the symbolic barrier of one million vaccinations in the third week of March, representing two doses per 100 inhabitants, roughly half of what Mexico has managed in total but at a faster rate, as Colombias rollout began later. In order to vaccinate 70% of the population before the end of the year, the target the authorities have set themselves, 200,000 doses will need to be administered daily. Up to now, the single-day record stands at 109,000 and the average number of vaccinations per day has been approximately 50,000.

A social tax reform. Colombia is set to become the first country in the region  although more will certainly follow suit  to implement tax reform, seen by many as necessary and overdue in equal measure: a bone of contention with the markets in view of sustaining current investment levels and another primer for a weary population. Cognizant of this, the government has gone to great lengths to sell it as a social initiative. What is undeniable is that for the government to provide the benefits it has promised the citizenry, it needs money and some 40% of products in Colombia are VAT-exempt. Duque insists there will be no tax on everyday foodstuffs but he has also failed to give a credible answer to the doubts generated by a reform that is also likely to meet with little enthusiasm in a Congress consumed by electoral matters.

Medical personnel in observation after being vaccinated at La Samaritana University Hospital in Zipaquira, Colombia. IVAN VALENCIA

Tension in the streets. The pandemic has condemned three million people back into poverty. The fuse that was lit at the end of 2019 has not been extinguished  it was reignited amid displays of police brutality last September  and growing xenophobia toward hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants is flammable material in an electoral context. In the political sphere there are plenty of voices, within the governing party and in opposition, warning that social and economic setbacks combined with a vaccination program that has yet to fully take off could result in a backlash against the Democratic Center and torpedo their ambitions in the presidential elections.

Chronic insecurity. Drug trafficking remains one of the biggest problems that Colombia faces. Battles between FARC and ELN dissidents and other criminal gangs, or the free-for-alls being staged in some areas, are serving to perpetuate a chronic issue. Massacres of dozens of people are no longer the norm in Colombia, but shootings remain constant. Up to mid-March there had been 17 reported, with 65 victims, the majority of them social leaders. More environmentalists are killed in Colombia than anywhere else in the world, a bloodletting that the government is incapable of putting a stop to. A sense of insecurity has skyrocketed in the big cities. A recent survey found that 76% of people in Bogota do not feel safe  largely due to an increase in robberies  a rise of 16 percentage points over the same poll in 2019.

Forensic experts at an exhumation at Dabeiba cemetery on March 11. Luis Eduardo Noriega A. / EFE

A report to reconcile a country. Colombia has been waiting three years for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission resulting from the Havana peace agreement between the government and FARC rebels to deliver its report. What was seen as a parting of the waters toward reconciliation in Colombia could yet serve to exacerbate growing polarization, not least among the government, the ruling party and those critics of the pact who have not conceded a millimeter of peace during this time. Meanwhile, former rank-and-file combatants are urging the implementation of the agreement to bring an end to the hunting down of their leaders and to facilitate a return to normal life in rural areas, which were the hardest hit during decades of violence. A devastating report by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, which states there were 6,400 extrajudicial killings of supposed FARC combatants by the military between 2002 and 2008  the so-called false positives  has placed the Havana agreements principal detractor, former president Alvaro Uribe, back under the spotlight.

Uribe and justice. There is no figure in the political history of Colombia who attracts as much attention as Alvaro Uribe. Twenty years after his ascent to power, the country has had a glimpse of a post-Uribe political landscape but has yet to fully feel it. The attrition is such that the former presidents legacy now faces the paradox that after eight years in power and having hand-picked his two successors  Juan Manuel Santos broke his ties with Uribe when he won the presidency, something that has been neither forgiven nor forgotten by his former mentor  it paved the way for a leftist president to possibly assume the reins. In the meantime, the next year will be marked by the judicial process against him, one that has set the Supreme Court of Justice, one of the institutions the state is built upon, and the Public Prosecutors Office, which is inclined to acquit Uribe of charges of alleged bribery, witness tampering and crimes against humanity, on a collision course. Among Uribes closest advisors there is a feeling that a trial is inevitable, one that will be staged in the middle of an electoral campaign. More flammable material for Colombias powder keg.

English version by Rob Train.
Pashinian has toured villages in two Armenian regions and held rallies there after announcing on March 18 plans to hold the elections amid continuing opposition protests against his rule. The weekend trips were not announced beforehand and virtually no media outlets were able to cover them.

Pashinian mentioned the anticipated polls when he addressed villagers in Armavir province on Sunday. Speaking at one of those rallies, he urged supporters to vote against wolves seeking to come to power and give his administration a mandate to strangle the wolves.

I hope and believe that you will solve that problem, said Pashinian.

Opposition leaders condemned what they described as illegal campaign trips and gatherings facilitated by local government officials.

Nikol Pashinian is now doing something against which he had for decades fought as a journalist and a parliament deputy, said Naira Zohrabian, a senior member of the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK). He is doing so in a much more ugly, immoral and open manner than the former authorities did.

Nikol Pashinians every trip to the regions is a total abuse of administrative resources, Zohrabian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. She claimed that public sector employees and other local residents are forced to attend his rallies.

Daniel Ioannisian of the Union of Informed Citizens, a Yerevan-based civic group, likewise charged that Pashinians trips constitute a blatant abuse of administrative resources.

When you meet with voters, speak about elections, the future and your programs, and say at the same time that you have just decided to pave roads in their village that gives those who possess administrative resources a clear advantage over other parties, said Ioannisian.

Pashinians office could not be immediately reached for comment on these accusations.
The creative services team at Advance Media New York was one of 290 finalists from around the world and 35 others from the United States nominated for the International News Media Associations 2021 Global Media Awards.

The International News Media Association (INMA), a community of market-leading news media companies with more than 16,000 members in more than 70 countries, announced finalists for its 2021 Global Media Awards March 10. The competition garnered more than 600 entries from 37 countries.

This years INMA Global Media Awards include 20 categories focused on excellence in news brands, media platforms, subscriptions, business development and data and insights. In the category of Best Idea to Grow Advertising Sales, Advance was chosen as a finalist for its work on the 2020 Northeast Virtual College Fair.

Creative Services Manager Matt Sourwine said this is the first time his team has entered a global awards competition. We have a very talented creative team here at AMNY and its a real honor to be recognized on a global level. 2020 was a challenging year and we saw an opportunity to create a virtual experience that would benefit both students and colleges. Its humbling to see where the other finalists for this award are from too!

The virtual college fair connected higher education institutions and high school students during a global pandemic when in person visits werent possible. This unique opportunity gave prospective students a feel for the college campus from the comfort of their home while putting recruitment officers in touch with students interested in their schools. The Northeast Virtual College Fair was a joint effort between AMNY, PA Media Group and MassLive Media.

Countries leading the finalist list include India (47), United States (36), Austria and Norway (22 each), Australia, New Zealand and Sweden (with 19 finalists each).

Winners will be revealed in a virtual announcement June 3.

The second rendition of the Northeast Virtual College Fair runs March 22  April 11. Students can register at https://necollegefair.com/
He has been hard at work filming Amazon's new spy thriller Citadel.

And Richard Madden was seen getting a head cast made in a behind-the-scenes video that he then shared via Instagram on Tuesday.

The actor, 34, looked relaxed as the make-up and special effects crew got to work, first protecting his hair and face before they covered him in plaster.

Wow: Richard Madden was covered in plaster to make a head cast in a behind-the-scenes video from Amazon's new spy thriller Citadel, which he shared via Instagram on Tuesday

The plot for Citadel has been kept tightly under wraps, and it is not yet known what character Richard will be playing.

Putting a bald cap over his brunette locks, the team then dabbed talcum powder on his chest before applying a mould down to his shoulders, leaving him nose holes to breath through during the process.

After completely covering him, the crew then put a plaster cast over the first mould to get a full scale replica of his head.

Richard appeared in good spirits after they took the plaster cast and mould off him, as he smiled to the camera before ending the video.

First stages: The actor, 34, looked relaxed as the make-up and special effects crew got to work protected his hair and face before they covered him in plaster

Covered: The crew applied a mould over his head and down to his shoulders, leaving him nose holes to breath through during the process

Not done yet: After completely covering him, the crew then put a plaster cast over the first mould to get a full scale replica of his head

Earlier this month, he was seen filming action-packed mid-air stunts with Priyanka Chopra and he has also acted alongside Ashleigh Cummings for the drama.

While filming with Priyanka, Richard was ever the suave spy as he wrapped an arm around The White Tiger star's shoulders as they flew in the air.

Citadel, which also stars Stanley Tucci, is described as an 'action-packed spy series with a compelling emotional centre'.

At ease: Richard remained relaxed as the crew worked on fitting the head cast

All done: Richard appeared in good spirits after they took the plaster cast and mould off him, as he smiled to the camera before ending the video

The series is directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the brothers behind several hit Marvel films, including Avengers: Endgame, and will feature a number of spin-off productions.

While plot details remain scarce, it's known the show will include several productions in countries like Italy, India and Mexico for the spin offs.

Earlier this month, Priyanka promoted the shoot while posing with a bouquet of flowers for a picture posted on Instagram, and she wrote: 'Day 1 on #Citadel. Thank you team for a sweet welcome! Let's goooooo!'
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Much of the focus for a special session scheduled to begin at noon Tuesday has been on a proposal to legalize, tax and regulate cannabis for adult use.

But Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has added a second issue to the special session mix  a bill to expand a state economic development program that is already in line for a big funding infusion.

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In announcing the special session agenda last week, Lujan Grisham called the program a winner for New Mexico and said it would create higher-paying jobs and a more diverse state economy.

One thing we have learned about job creation in our states recent history is that we cant keep doing exactly the same things from the same old playbook, Lujan Grisham said.

Specifically, the economic development proposal would authorize some tax revenue generated by large-scale construction projects to be recaptured by a state closing fund used to offset the costs of business expansions and relocations.

Such an arrangement would also require approval by local governments that participate in the Local Economic Development Act, which functions as the states closing fund.

Economic Development Department spokesman Bruce Krasnow said Monday that the proposal  which would apply only when infrastructure and construction costs exceed $350 million  is targeted at manufacturing companies, but not at any specific project currently in the states pipeline.

Nothing is on the table now, but we are seeing more and more inquiries from large job-creating companies interested in relocating or expanding operations in New Mexico, and this will give us another tool to compete with bigger, wealthier states for these jobs, Krasnow told the Journal.

A similar tax arrangement was offered in 2017 to entice Facebook to build a massive data center in Los Lunas, although that incentive package involved tax reimbursements and industrial revenue bonds, among other provisions.

During this years 60-day session, the economic development proposal was initially included in a small-business grant measure but was stripped out by a Senate committee to simplify the bill.

It was later amended into a separate bill that stalled on the House floor when the session ended March 20.

Meanwhile, lawmakers also appropriated $100 million from a federal pandemic relief package for the states closing fund in a $7.4 billion budget bill that is awaiting Lujan Grishams signature.

But Krasnow said Monday that its unclear whether that will ultimately be determined to be an allowable use of the federal funds.

New Mexico special sessions can last up to 30 days per the state Constitution, but this weeks special session is expected to be wrapped up in just a few days, according to legislative leaders.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks at a press conference before receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine at at St George Hospital in Kogarah on March 10, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

New South Wales on Alert After Women from Queensland Test Positive for Virus

Health authorities in New South Wales (NSW) are on alert after two Queensland women infectious with the CCP virus visited several venues in Byron Bay, a tourist hotspot near the states northern border.

This comes after Queensland imposed a snap three-day lockdown for the Greater Brisbane area on Monday after recording four locally-acquired cases of the UK strain of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Tuesday that residents need to brace ourselves for cases to arise in her state out of Queensland.

We are expecting more cases [linked to] Queensland and hopefully most of those cases will be people in isolation or although we have to assume this is an evolving situation, she said.

NSW Health is currently undertaking contact tracing efforts for around 20,000 people who entered the state from Queensland between March 20 and March 26.

New testing clinics and more hours have been provided across Northern NSW. Two new clinics will be in operation in Byron Bay, including a drive-through, and Byron Central Hospital will increase its operating hours.

NSW Health is providing new #COVID19 testing clinics and increasing the hours of existing clinics across Northern NSW today. Two new clinics will be in operation in #ByronBay, including a drive-through, and Byron Central Hospital will increase its operating hours: pic.twitter.com/YrFWdrGkZr  NSW Health (@NSWHealth) March 29, 2021

The premier urged NSW residents to postpone Queensland travel plans for the upcoming Easter break and asked anyone with even mild symptoms to get tested and self-isolate.

If youve attended any of the venues NSW Health has identified, get tested, stay home and isolate for the full 14 days, she said.

The border between the two states is still open but Berejiklian said if cases begin to emerge in NSW the state government will have to respond.

Im hoping it doesnt come to that, she said.

The two infected travellers from Queenslanda nurse and her sistervisited a number of venues (listed below) between March 26 to March 28, before knowing that they were infected.

The Byron Beach Hotel,

The Mokha Cafe,

The Farm at Ewingsdale,

The Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Parks women communal toilets, and;

The Mokha Cafe on Lawson Street.

The Queensland government has reported 10 new cases overnight, 8 of which were locally-acquired, and 2 came from Papua New Guinea, where there is a severe outbreak occurring.

There are now two clusters of the UK variant in Queensland, one linked to a doctor and another linked to a nurse, both of whom worked at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.
Kim Kardashian is known for many things. Of course, Keeping Up with the Kardashians is at the top of the list.

More recently, the topic of conversation has been the reality television stars divorce proceedings with the popular musician Kanye West. Through the ups and downs, it is safe to say that Kim Kardashian has gained quite an astonishing amount of fans and followers over the years. However, to be honest, there have been quite a few downs.

Take a look back at some of the scandals Kardashian has found herself at the center of, and how this internet-breaking magazine cover ended up being one of her biggest controversies.

Kim Kardashians controversial past

Kim Kardashian West | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

RELATED: Kim Kardashians Controversial Blackface Appearance on Magazine Cover Explained: Could This 1 Thing Be to Blame?

On and off-screen, Kardashian has been known to get herself into some hot water. The reality television star upset many people when she revealed her new SKIMS maternity line.

As Insider shared, even though she ensured her fans and customers that these products were designed with safety and comfort in mind, many people still didnt appreciate the overall message it sent.

Fans and followers of Kardashian might remember that SKIMS used to be called Kimono. However, the mayor of Kyoto, Japan wrote to the reality television star explaining that kimono is a traditional Japanese dress, and her products had nothing to do with it. Variety shared all the details behind the concerning incident.

Her photoshoot with 7Hollywood was another instance that didnt go over well with the public. Teen Vogue shared the details behind the magazine cover that led to the celebrity being accused of blackface.

Kardashian did apologize and explained that her darker than normal tan and the dim lighting could have played a role. Unfortunately for the celebrity, this wouldnt be the first or last controversial photoshoot she would find herself connected to.

Her magazine cover photo shoot with Paper

RELATED: Kim Kardashian and Kanye Wests Most Scandalous Photo Shoots Ever

Kardashian appeared on Papers Winter 2014 issue accompanied by the words Break the Internet, and the photoshoot did seem to do just that. Unfortunately, her photoshoot broke the internet for all of the wrong reasons. It was clear that celebrity from Keeping Up with the Kardashians was very happy with the end result, but, shortly after the photos and feature started to circulate, it quickly became clear that the public did not feel the same way.

Many people began speaking out on social media about Kardashians insensitivity toward black imagery. The Guardian and many other platforms shared the frustrations behind the highly-discussed cultural appropriation accusations. Unfortunately, Kardashians reaction only seemed to make matters worse. Take a look at what went down, or more specifically, what didnt.

Kardashians internet-breaking magazine cover

RELATED: In Honor of Kim Kardashian Wests Birthday, Here Are Her Most Iconic Moments of All Time

It didnt take long for fans and viewers to head to social media platforms to voice their concerns and frustrations. Kardashian knew people were far from pleased. In the Spotify podcast Even the Rich, the hosts broke down her reaction to the backlash from her Paper photoshoot in Break the Internet.

Simply put, she said nothing. Her lack of response only seemed to make many even more upset. As a result, her cover feature from Paper continues to be one of her biggest controversies to date. Hopefully, moving forward, Kim Kardashian has learned her lesson.
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China's tourism sector embraces continuous recovery

By Zhao Shan (People's Daily Overseas Edition) 08:51, March 30, 2021

Photo taken on March 14 shows a night view of the East Lake, Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhao Guangliang)

Successful COVID-19 control is gaining robust revitalization for China's tourism sector. China Tourism Academy estimated that over 85 percent of Chinese residents are willing to go on a trip this year to make up for what they had lost in the previous year due to the epidemic.

China's tourism industry has embraced continuous recovery after the Spring Festival in February. Hongmei village, a tourism destination in Lanxi, east China's Zhejiang Province, received over 50 orders since it resumed operation for its online store on Ctrip, a major Chinese online tour service provider, on Feb. 27.

Statistics also indicated an explosive growth in the demand for medium- and high-end tours. According to Ctrips data, the number of tourists signing up for private tour groups for the upcoming three-day holiday of China's Tomb-sweeping Day surged by 260 percent from a year ago, and there is also an 80 percent growth in the number of people ordering tour products related to the peach blossom festival, an annual event held in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Besides, the positions in 50 tour groups to Xisha Islands in the South China Sea have been booked in just half a month, though the price for on position stands at 10,000 yuan ($1,525).

The Chinese capital Beijing no longer requires those arriving from other areas in China with a low risk of COVID-19 infection to undergo nucleic acid tests since March 16. "Learning this information, I immediately booked tickets to Wuhan to see the cherry blossoms there," said Li Yali, who works in Beijing and was planning for her first trip this year.

The search volume of tours related to Tomb-sweeping Day and Labor Day holiday experienced obvious growth recently on multiple online tour service platforms. According to Ctrip, China is about to see 100 million trips during the Tomb-sweeping Day. The search volume of Labor Day holiday tours also went up by 130 percent from a month ago on Mafengwo, which is considered the travel bible by younger Chinese netizens. Qunar, a rival of Ctrip, said more air tickets have been booked for the upcoming Labor Day holiday than those in the same period of 2019, and hotel rooms in multiple tourism destinations, including Luoyang, Dali, and Suzhou have already been on short supply.

The tourism popularity of nearly 100 cities in China has risen by over 50 percent as the temperature slowly climbs in spring. According to Mafengwo, the popularity of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region rocketed 317 percent this spring.

Fliggy, a burgeoning online travel platform in China, introduced that the orders of short trips on the platform increased 400 percent this March from a year ago. Noctivagation for cherry blossoms, taking portrait photos in tea plantations and mountain climbing remain the most popular tourism activities in 2021, the platform said.

As the COVID-19 epidemic is gradually under control, the cultural and tourism industry will experience accelerated recovery this spring, said Wu Ruoshan, a research fellow with the Tourism Research Center, Chinese Academy of Social Science. Spring outing, agritainment facilities, featured B&Bs, hiking and recreational activities will be specifically favored by consumers, he added.

Apart from traditional tours, tourist trains are also welcomed in many parts of China, especially by senior tourists. Such an innovative tourism method features high flexibility and one-stop services, and are environmentally friendly, low-carbon and safe.

On March 15, a tourist train left Deyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, carrying over 700 tourists. It was the first inter-provincial tourist train departing the province this year. It crossed a series of tourist attractions, including the Yellow Crane Tower and East Lake in Hubei Province, the Huangshan Mountain in Anhui Province, Wuyuan and Jingde in Jiangxi Province, as well as Yandang Mountain in Zhejiang Province.

Earlier this month, a tourist train also traveled 5,000 kilometers from northeast China to Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, passing by over 20 well-known tourist sites in Ningxia, Gansu, and Qinghai.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Announcement of the 2020 annual profit distribution plan

Cash dividends of RMB3.66 per 10 shares

The share capital of this profit distribution is based on the total share capital registered on the record date for the implementation of the profit distribution after deducting the repurchased shares on the special account for repurchase. The payment date will be specified in the announcement on implementation of profit distribution

If the total share capital of the Company changes before the record date for the implementation of the profit distribution, the Company intends to maintain the unchanged distribution amount per share and adjust the total amount of distribution accordingly, and the specific adjustment will be announced separately.

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt, 30 March 2021 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (D-Share 690D.DE, A-Share 600690.SH, H-Share 6690.HK, 'Haier Smart Home' or the 'Company') published today an announcement with regard to the 2020 annual profit distribution plan.



I. Description on profit distribution plan

Upon the audit by Hexin Certified Public Accountants LLP, as of 31 December 2020, the profit of the parent company available for distribution at the end of the period amounted to RMB4,349,961,964.23. Upon the consideration by the Board of Directors, the Company intends to distribute the profit based on the total share capital after deducting the repurchased shares on the special account for repurchase registered on record date for the implementation of the distribution for 2020. This profit distribution plan is described as follows:

Apart from the repurchased shares on the special account for repurchase, the company intends to distribute cash dividends of RMB3.66 per 10 shares (tax inclusive). As of 28 February 2021, the total share capital of the Company was 9,284,895,068 shares, the repurchased shares on the special account for repurchase was 2,715,800 shares, Based on this, the total share capital for cash dividend distribution is 9,282,179,268 shares, total amount is RMB3,397,277,612.09 (tax inclusive), corresponding a payout ratio 38.27% of the net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company for the year. The undistributed profits retained by the Company will be primarily used for project construction, foreign investment, R&D investment and daily operations related to the primary business of the Company, so as to maintain sustainable and stable development for the Company, and maximize the returns for investors.



Note: For dividends paid to foreign shareholders of D-shares or H-shares in foreign currencies, the exchange rate with this regard shall be calculated in accordance with the subsequent provisions of the Articles of Association of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.



"Article 281 For stock dividends, cash dividends or other payments paid in foreign currencies, the applicable exchange rate shall be the mid-price of the relevant foreign exchange trading announced by the People's Bank of China one week prior to the declaration of dividends and the decision on the payment."



During the period commencing from the date of disclosure of this announcement to the record date for the implementation of the equity distribution, if the total share capital of the Company changes due to share repurchase and cancellation of share repurchase granted by equity incentive, and cancellation of share repurchase resulted from major asset restructuring, the Company intends to maintain the unchanged distribution amount per share and adjust the total amount of distribution accordingly. If the total share capital changes subsequently, the specific adjustments will be announced separately.

The proposed profit distribution plan has to be submitted to the general meeting for consideration and approval.



II. Decision-making procedures performed by the Company

(I) Convening, considering and voting at the meeting of the Board of Directors

On 30 March 2021, the Company held the 17th Meeting of Tenth Session of the Board of Directors. Upon its consideration, the Board of Directors of the Company unanimously adopted the 2020 Annual Profit Distribution Plan of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. and agreed to submit it to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration. For details of the board meeting, please refer to the Announcement on 17th Meeting of Tenth Session of the Board of Directors of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (No. L 2021-016) disclosed on the same date as this announcement.

(II) Opinion of the independent directors

The independent directors are of the view that the 2020 annual profit distribution plan of the Company is in line with the requirements of the Company Law, Guidance of Cash Dividends of Listed Companies of Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association and other relevant requirements. It has reflected that the Company pays close attention to the reasonable returns to investors and maintains the continuity and stability of the profit distribution policy. It is agreed to submit this profit distribution plan to the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Company for consideration.

(III) Opinions of the Supervisory Board

The 13th meeting of the Tenth Session of the Supervisory Board of the Company considered and adopted the 2020 profit distribution plan of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., and is of the view that it complied with the relevant laws, regulations and the requirements of the Articles of Association. The decision-making procedures of which were in compliance with the laws and regulations, in line with the strategic plan of the Company and is beneficial to establish the stable mechanism for returns on investment and there is no situation that is detrimental to the interests of the shareholders of the Company, especially the small and medium-sized shareholders.



III. Relevant risk warning

The profit distribution plan still has to be submitted to the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Company for consideration and approval before implementation. Investors are urged to make rational judgments and pay attention to investment risks.

The Board of Directors

Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.

30 March 2021



Note: This Announcement has been prepared in both Chinese and English. Should there be any discrepancies or misunderstandings between the two versions, the Chinese version shall prevail.



IR contact:

Yao Sun (Sophie) - Haier Smart Home Germany

T: +49 89 380 334 235

M: +49 160 9469 3601

Email: y.sun@haier.de
The Supreme Court is seen in Washington, U.S., (Photo : REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo)

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a bid by Kentucky's Republican attorney general to defend a restrictive state law, struck down by lower courts, that abortion rights advocates have said would effectively ban the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy.



Attorney General Daniel Cameron has asked the justices to let him intervene in defense of the Republican-backed law after Democratic Governor Andy Beshear's administration dropped the case.



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The Supreme Court is being asked to decide only that narrow issue, and not whether the law violates Supreme Court precedents holding that women have a right to obtain an abortion. Abortion opponents are hopeful that the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, will curb abortion rights.



Abortion rights advocates have said the 2018 law would effectively ban an abortion method called dilation and evacuation - the most common form of abortion performed during the second trimester of a pregnancy.



The law was passed by Kentucky's legislature and signed by a Republican governor, but Beshear subsequently was elected and decided not to continue to defend the measure after the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck it down in June 2020. The 6th Circuit later that month declined to allow Cameron to intervene to defend the law.



The 6th Circuit ruling came just five days before the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision struck down a Louisiana law that imposed restrictions on doctors who perform abortions. Cameron wants to be able to ask the 6th Circuit to reconsider its ruling against the Kentucky law in light of language contained in the Louisiana decision.



The Kentucky law was one of a growing number passed by Republican legislators at the state level imposing a variety of restrictions on abortion. The state's previous governor, Republican Matt Bevin, had defended the law.


The South American country Ecuador adopted new restrictions on mobility and the sale of alcohol in an effort to further restrict Covid-19 spread during the upcoming holidays, President Lenin Moreno announced on Monday.

Moreno said the new restrictions were approved a day earlier by the Emergency Operations Committee (COE), which manages the health crisis at the national level, for the upcoming Easter holiday, ie on April 2, 3 and 4, and International Workers' Day on May 1, reports Xinhua news.

Restrictions were placed on light vehicles on national roads according to the last odd or even number of their licence plates from 12 p.m. to midnight. The sales and consumption of alcohol was also prohibited on those holidays starting at 6 p.m. Moreno added that local authorities were asked to close beaches on April 2, 3 and 4, and suspend large events.

The National COE President Juan Zapata said in a statement that the data delivered on the accumulated incidence rate, hospital capacity and number of deaths, "are very concerning".

He pointed out that in the provinces of Pichincha, Guayas and Manabi, the hardest hit by the pandemic in the country, there are dozens of patients on waiting lists for intensive care unit beds.

Ecuador, has so far reported 3,25,124 Covid-19 cases and 11,880 deaths.

Brazilian President forced into Cabinet shuffle, changes top diplomat

Spain extends further one-month restriction on travel from outside EU area

UN Chief Guterres calls on US leadership to address global challenges
A 12-year-old Colorado boy is in critical condition after trying a challenge he found on TikTok in which participants choke themselves to see how long they can hold their breath.

Community members gathered on Monday to pray for Joshua Haileyesus of Aurora, who is hospitalized at Childrens Hospital Colorado, CBS Denver reported.

Joshuas twin brother found him on Mar. 22 not breathing and unconscious, according to the TV station.

The Blackout Challenge is a social media trend that encourages participants to choke themselves until they pass out, according to The Denver Channel. Joshua saw the trend on TikTok and tried it himself before his brother found him, the TV station reported.

Doctors said Joshua is brain dead and that his remaining time may be short, CNN reported.

Hes a fighter, I can see him fighting, I am praying for him every day, said Joshuas father Haileyesus Zeryihun, according to the publication.

The social media trend has been around for years  predating TikTok  and led to the deaths of dozens of children, including at least 82 from the years 1995 to 2007, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A 14-year-old South Carolina teen died in 2016 after participating in the choking game another name for the dangerous challenge, the Rock Hill Herald reported at the time.

Erik Robinson, a 12-year-old boy from Santa Monica, California, died in 2010 after his mother found him slumped over in the doorway with his Boy Scouts rope, which he had used to practice knots, tied around his neck, according to Time. Police reportedly listed his cause of death as choking game.

CDC officials say the trend is done with ropes, scarves and belts or other items tied to doorknobs or bedroom furniture.

The agency encourages health care providers, parents and educators to recognize the signs of the choking game, which involve discussing the activity, marks on the neck or bloodshot eyes.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Sea turtles have been around since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, stretching back about 110 million years. Yet now their existence is at risk, with six of today's seven species classified as threatened or endangered.

While efforts are ongoing to protect turtles, part of the puzzle that requires more knowledge concerns the effects of interspecies mating, or hybridisationparticularly between hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata) and loggerheads (Caretta caretta) in one area of Brazil.

Hybridisation has been observed in five of the world's existing species, yet much of this has been at low levels. However, in Brazil's northeastern state of Bahia, genetic analysis has uncovered that as many as 30 to 40% of female hawksbills at some nesting sites are, in fact, first-generation hybrids resulting from cross-breeding with loggerheads.

These hybrids can then produce viable second-generation offspring by interbreeding, or 'backcrossing," with members of either parent species.

Understanding why this is happening may be important for informing conservation efforts because hybridisation can have consequences for species' survival. It could also shed an intriguing light on the potential role played by hybridisation in long-term evolution, given that hawksbills and loggerheads are estimated to have diverged genetically as long as 30 million years ago.

"You don't see that a lot in the animal kingdomspecies that have diverged so long ago and they're capable of still hybridising," said Dr. Sibelle Torres Vilaca, a population geneticist at the University of Ferrara in Italy. "There's evolutionarily an interesting question there: what happens when these genomes meet again?"

Some cases of turtle hybridisation involve crosses between species that diverged more than 60 million years ago, which is very unusual. "If you think about primates, it would be something like humans and lemurs hybridising," said Dr. Vilaca.

Hybridisation

Dr. Vilaca is investigating the causes of this hybridisation and its implications in the TurtleHyb project.

She says that interbreeding is aided in Bahia by the overlapping nesting seasons of hawksbills and loggerheads. Taking into account that the two species mature between the ages of 20 and 40, while two hybrid generations have been observed so far, her team thinks high-frequency cross-breeding started before 1980.

The ensuing period coincided with falling populations of many turtles, through activities including egg and meat exploitation, coastal urbanisation and pollution. Climate change poses further threats, though signs of population increases have been seen more recently in the wake of conservation initiatives.

While the specific drivers of this hybridisation remain unknown for now, Dr. Vilaca says one possibility is that population decreases have meant a limited number of own-species partners for the hawksbillthe less numerous species in Bahiaand relatively more encounters with loggerheads.

Repeated interbreeding could affect the reproductive and survival prospects of future populations, says Dr. Vilaca. She notes that neither second-generation adults nor third-generation hybrids have yet been observed, maybe suggesting a 'hybrid breakdown' at this stage that affects their viability, due to the recombination of genes in such distant species.

But that's not the only possibility for the absence of second-generation adults, says Dr. Vilaca. "We don't know if this is a hybridisation event that is so recent we haven't seen them yet, or there is some sort of genomic incompatibility that means for some reason these backcrosses don't survive to adulthood," she said.

Lifespan

Sea turtles' lengthy lifespan, often estimated at 50 years or more, makes it hard to observe these processes long-term, as does the animals largely spending their lives at sea.

To help overcome such hurdles, TurtleHyb is carrying out analysis of the whole genomes of the two species and hybrid individuals, with the aim of inferring potential future consequences by elucidating hybridisation events in the distant past and their knock-on effects.

Dr. Vilaca explains that past studies have often focused on the analysis of mitochondrial DNA, or genetic information passed from the mother to offspring. While this is easier to obtain and sequence than the nuclear DNA inherited from both parents, it only tells part of the story.

But TurtleHyb is looking at both types of DNA, aided by recent advances and more affordable next-generation sequencing. "From the nuclear genome, we can infer if a hybrid is an F1 (first generation) or backcross; we can also tell the story from more ancient hybridisation events, and look for genes that might have been inherited from them," said Dr. Vilaca.

This could shed light on whether hybridisation has been a recurrent event in the turtles' history, as well as whether it has actually conferred any survival advantages through the import of beneficial genes. Dr. Vilaca's team, which hopes to publish some results on this soon, is also looking at how much hybridisation events in turtles' ancient history might have contributed to their genome.

The research may, meanwhile, have implications for understanding hybridisation in other animals, particularly other turtles and marine species that can travel long distances. "They can disperse a lot and migrate between oceans you have all these possible places where they can meet," she said, pointing to studies that refer to hybridisation between whales.

In addition, it could suggest special adaptations that marine animals might develop to help them remain separate species in such a fluid environment.

Professor Marc Girondot, an ecologist at Paris-Saclay University in France, says that turtle hybrids can be a 'mark of profound change of environment." However, he says, it is also unclear how prevalent hybridisation was in the past, so more research can help pinpoint how much of the process is 'normal' change and how much is caused by human pressures.

Consequences

Dr. Camila Mazzoni, an evolutionary and conservation genomics researcher at Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Germany who has previously collaborated with Dr. Vilaca, said there is a need to find out more about whether hybridisation between hawksbills and loggerheads will pose long-term problems because it may be something that has consequences decades or a century from now.

"If it is localised, it might not be a big problem and there might be ways of mitigating it. But if you have more and more male hybrids, and they start going away from their place of birth over time, then (it is) spreading."

Indeed, recent work on mitochondrial DNA and genetic markers that she carried out in the Abrolhos archipelago 70 kilometres offshore from Bahia, where hawksbills and loggerheads also cross-breed, suggested that hybrids were at a reproductive disadvantagewith only a quarter of their eggs producing live hatchlings, compared with more than half for pure breeds.

Dr. Mazzoni emphasises that these are early findings that cannot give detailed historical genetic information, with whole-genome analysis needed to provide further insight. Nonetheless, she suggests this case of hybridisation would seem unlikely to be beneficial at first sight, given the vast amount of time since the two species diverged.

At the same time, she notes that turtles have evolved more slowly than many other vertebrates, thus potentially remaining compatible for much longer. "So who knows? Maybe they are the special case that even if they are very far apart, they can still import something from the other species and have some benefits."

Yet one big challenge is understanding the movements and behaviour of males better, she says. Though female turtles return to their beach of birth to lay eggs, males remain at sea their whole livesmaking it difficult to collect samples and track them, even though more is being discovered indirectly through analyses of nuclear DNA from females.

Females

While not focusing on hybrids, Dr. Michael Jensen, a marine biologist at Aalborg University in Denmark who will also lead an upcoming project called SeaTGen, is seeking to tease out more about the behaviour of male green turtles in the southwest Indian Ocean, as well as looking at overall populations to aid their conservation.

One important reason for finding out more about males is reflected in his research on the Great Barrier Reef, which has revealed nesting sites producing almost all female hatchlings. That could have implications for how the turtles will be impacted by climate change, because higher incubation temperatures for eggs produce more females. "Will there be enough male turtles around in the future for females to mate with?" asks Dr. Jensen.

In SeaTGen, research will be carried out by analysing both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, as well as using satellite telemetry and ocean modelling, helping understand how turtle populations may be genetically linked through mating patterns.

"We will be able to get a more complete picture of how these populations are connected, something that is rarely done for marine turtles," said Dr. Jensen. "We will be able to look at migration routes, and factors such as ocean currents and sea surface temperatures that affect how turtle populations mix at foraging areas."

These methods hold promise for gaining better insight on how to conserve turtles, alongside other factors that may deplete populations such as hybridisation, he said.

"When we can accurately link turtles, or any species, sampled away from nesting beaches back to their population origin, we create a tool that is incredibly powerful for assessing threats to sea turtle populations, even if the threats occur far from the nesting beaches."

Explore further Angels in disguise: Angelfishes hybridize more than any other coral reef species

More information: Horizon: The EU Research and Innovation magazine
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SAN FRANCISCO and CHICAGO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Agrochemical giant Syngenta Group ignored and downplayed known risks of its paraquat-based weed killer Gramoxone despite research over decades linking the chemical to neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, according to the first two product defect lawsuits filed against the company in federal court.

The new lawsuits were filed by Dallas-based Fears Nachawati Law Firm in U.S. District Courts in California and Illinois, alleging that exposure to the herbicide led to the onset of Parkinson's disease in two men.

First manufactured in the U.S. in the early 1960s, paraquat products have been widely used to control weeds in orchards and farms. Chinese-owned and based in Switzerland, Syngenta Group includes Syngenta AG, headquartered in Switzerland; ADAMA (SZSE: 000553), based in Israel; and the agricultural businesses of Syngenta Group China. It is the leading manufacturer of paraquat-based herbicides. The lawsuits also name Chevron USA Inc. as a defendant. Chevron has licensed sales of paraquat products from Syngenta.

Parkinson's disease is an incurable progressive neurological disorder that affects the motor system, often characterized by tremors, body rigidity and impaired balance. Numerous scientific studies have established links between the chemical and Parkinson's, including research by the Agricultural Health Study in 2011 that found that people exposed to the chemical were twice as likely to develop Parkinson's.

According to medical studies, exposure is particularly dangerous because paraquat is easily absorbed by the body, in part because it is commonly applied using handheld sprayers and sprayers attached to airplanes and tractors. In addition, chemicals called surfactants are added to the herbicide to help penetrate the waxy surface of weeds and reach plants at the cellular level. Those same additives increase dangers for human exposure. There's no known antidote if accidentally swallowed, and ingesting even small amounts can cause death. Risks associated with paraquat have led to it being banned by more than 50 countries.

Internal documents obtained in related litigation have revealed debates within Syngenta and its corporate predecessor, Imperial Chemical Industries, over measures to make the product less dangerous.

"Syngenta has taken too long to acknowledge the very real health dangers associated with paraquat," said Fears Nachawati trial lawyer Majed Nachawati . "It's time for some real action to protect workers and anyone else who might come into contact with these inherently dangerous products."

The cases are Paul Rakoczy v. Syngenta Crop Protection et al., Case No. 4:21-CV-02083, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California; and Michael Joseph Kearns et al. v. Syngenta Crop Protection et al., Case No. 3:21-CV-00278, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

Dallas-based Fears | Nachawati Law Firm represents individuals in mass tort litigation, businesses and governmental entities in contingent litigation and individual victims in complex personal injury litigation. The largest and most diverse products liability law firm in the nation, Fears | Nachawati was ranked number one nationally in product liability filings in federal court. For more information, visit https://www.fnlawfirm.com/.

Media Contact:

Robert Tharp

[email protected]

214-420-6011

SOURCE Fears Nachawati Law Firm

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By Gergely Szakacs

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The hard-right prime ministers of Hungary and Poland will meet the leader of Italy's rightist League party on Thursday to discuss forging a new European political alliance, officials said.

The talks between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki and League leader Matteo Salvini are to be held in Hungary's capital Budapest.

Speaking to reporters in Rome, Salvini said the thrust of the discussions would be on policy issues such as health, immigration, education and economic growth.

However, he said they would also talk about international alliances and he hoped all of Europe's right-wing parties could join in a single group within the European Parliament.

Orban's Fidesz party quit the main pan-European centre-right bloc, the European People's Party (EPP), earlier this month, two years after it was suspended for policies criticised by mainstream conservatives as authoritarian.

Orban's nationalist policies have long been seen as a better fit with smaller blocs to the right of the EPP - notably the eurosceptic European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group that includes Morawiecki's Law and Justice (PiS) party, or the rightist Identity and Democracy group that includes the League.

"If I had a wish, it would be that the two groups that are currently divided...merge into a single large group that would put back into focus the original values of Europe," Salvini told foreign reporters.

"It would be the second largest group in the European Parliament," he added, denying that he wanted to push his League, Italy's most popular party, into the EPP.

Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has said he has held talks with like-minded parties about creating a new political alliance as Fidesz seeks a new home within the European Parliament.

He says the goal is an umbrella political group for Fidesz and similar parties in Europe that do not want to host migrants and seek to "protect" traditional families.

Orban faces elections in 2022, with the opposition spanning centrists, liberals and socialists united against Fidesz for the first time.

(Additional reporting by Crispian Balmer in Rome; Editing by Timothy Heritage and Mark Heinrich)
Thousands of organic farming businesses in the Organic Higher Level Stewardship (OHLS) will now be able to roll over their agreements.

Defra has agreed to continue environmental scheme payments preventing further organic farms going out of business.

The challenges arose following Brexit when Defra decided only farmers with no land in organic production with HLS agreements ending before 2024 would be offered annual extensions to bridge the gap.

Adrian Steele of the Soil Association and co-chair of the English Organic Forum welcomed the move, but said it was 'too late for many'.

He said Defras original decision not to allow OHLS agreements to be rolled over hit around 123 organic farms in 2020, and 50 went out of certification as a result.

"This is a sad loss for a growing UK organic market and at odds with government pledges to support environmental farming," he added.

"Many organic farmers have spent decades providing environmental benefits, as part of the HLS scheme.

The news follows months of pressure from Soil Association legal teams and the English Organic Forum.
"As we celebrate America's love affair with the simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich, we remember those who are at times without even the most basic of food items," said Drew Parsons, SKIPPY  brand manager. "Our gift is designed to feed thousands who struggle daily with food insecurity. What better way to mark the occasion of National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day on April 2?"

Conscious Alliance received the shipment of SKIPPY products during the week of March 22, loading more than 10,000 cases on box trucks headed for designated locations and to partners adept at food distribution. Helping to load the trucks was Cavanaugh Bell, an extraordinary 8-year-old who took the darkness and pain of being bullied and created the antibullying nonprofit Cool & Dope, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. With the help of his mother, Llacey Simmons, he provides food and other necessities to underserved communities, including children and their families on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Cavanaugh has earned the affection of Americans near and far, including Vice President Kamala Harris.

"We are so excited to have Cavanaugh here with us at our national distribution center in Colorado. His mission to spread love and kindness is beyond inspiring, and Conscious Alliance is honored to help amplify his efforts and impact," said Justin Levy, executive director. "During a time that is so painful for our community, we need to remember there is goodness everywhere and that kindness can win out if we work at it together."

Hunger relief is a key component of the Hormel Foods corporate responsibility platform. The company has donated more than $50 million in cash and product donations over the last five years.

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.

About Conscious Alliance

Founded in 2002, Conscious Alliance is a national nonprofit based in Colorado that brings healthy food to kids and families in their time of need. Their work empowers young people to get involved by mixing passion for music with opportunities to make a positive impact.

Through 'Art That Feeds' Food Drives at concerts, and large-scale donations from food brands, Conscious Alliance brings healthy food to communities across the U.S., with an emphasis on the Front Range of CO and Pine Ridge Reservation in SD. What began as a grassroots food drive at a local show has grown into a national movement  providing more than 7 million meals, to date.

Conscious Alliance is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation

Related Links

http://www.hormelfoods.com


An Australian mum-of-two has revealed a simple trick to remove pen ink stains from clothes and fabrics.

Carolina, from Perth, shared a video with her 600,000 TikTok followers and used three common household products.

She claims the 'best way' to remove ink is to first rub hand sanitiser over the stain, then wash on a hot cycle with half a cup of baking soda in the barrel and vinegar in the rinse cycle.

Scroll down for video

Carolina, from Perth, claims the 'best way' to remove ink is to first rub hand sanitiser over the stain

For the demonstration, Carolina purposely wrote 'hello' on the front of a white t-shirt then applied a generous amount of hand sanitiser over the ink and scrubbed the gel into the fabric with an electric toothbrush

For the demonstration, Carolina purposely wrote 'hello' on the front of a white t-shirt then applied a generous amount of hand sanitiser over the ink and scrubbed the gel into the fabric with an electric toothbrush.

She then placed the shirt in the washing machine with half a cup of baking soda in the barrel and white cleaning vinegar in the rinse cycle.

It's essential to wash the t-shirt on a hot cycle in order to remove the stain from the fabric, and Carolina said the wash can be repeated if necessary.

'This should get you out of trouble,' she wrote and revealed the ink had been removed from the t-shirt.

She then placed the shirt in the washing machine with half a cup of baking soda in the barrel and white cleaning vinegar in the rinse cycle

'This should get you out of trouble,' she wrote and revealed the ink had been removed from the t-shirt

Within 24 hours of sharing the cleaning hack the video was viewed more than 29,000 times and left TikTok users amazed.

'Going to try this today,' one person wrote in the comments, and others tagged friends.

It's thought the alcohol in the hand sanitiser lifts ink easily, and combining with the natural products is the best pairing.

Baking soda and vinegar are commonly used together to kill unwanted bacteria from laundry.
M&E sector witnessed 24% degrowth in 2020: FICCI & EY report Following a pandemic hit year, the Indian media and entertainment (M&E) sector declined by 24 per cent to Rs 1.38 trillion in 2020, compared to Rs 1.82 trillion in 2019. However, the allied sector is already seeing recovery with improvement in revenues for most segments in the last quarter of 2020. It is expected to recover 25 per cent to reach Rs 1.73 trillion in 2021, touching almost pre-Covid level scale, according to a report by FICCI and E&Y.............................................. Read More... BARC week 11: Reckitt retains top spot on advertisers list The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) of India has released its data for top advertisers and brands for the period between 13 March and 19 March 2021. The data reflects the top 10 advertisers and brands across genres on India's television, 2+ Individuals, NCCS. All demonstrating ads that were inserted the most in week 11 of 2021..................................................... Read More... 'OMG! Yeh Mera India' returns to HistoryTV18 with season 7 This Holi, viewers of HistoryTV18 are in for a colourful treat. India's longest-running hit factual entertainment series, OMG! Yeh Mera India marks its return to TV screens with a vibrant new season starting Monday, 29 March at 8 pm. In its fifth year and seventh season, the series has gone from strength to strength, reaching millions of viewers on television and digital platforms.................................................. Read More...
Chennai, March 30 : The Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu that shares its borders with Kerala was once a left citadel with the CPM having both MLAs and an MP from the district. However in the 2021 assembly elections, both Left parties, CPM and CPI have not one candidate as the DMK which is heading the 10 party Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) has not allocated a single seat to the Left.

This is the first time in the history of Tamil Nadu elections that the left parties do not have a single seat to contest from in the Kanyakumari district.

Party cadres are disappointed at not being able to bargain for even a single seat.

The DMK leadership knows that the Left parties do not have any cadre base in the district except for a few dedicated old timers.

CPM was a strong political party in areas bordering Kerala like Vilavancode, Old Thiruvattar and Padmanabhapuram, however, off late the party has gradually weakened and the cadre strength is almost zero.

The Vilavankode seat was won by the CPM in 1977, 1980,1996 and 2001 and in 2006 but in 2016 when the CPM contested the seat alone without the support of any Dravidian parties, it was pushed to a distant third place.

The adjacent Kuzhithura municipality was ruled by the CPM for three terms and that too without the support of the Dravidian parties. Party leader Delphin had become Chairperson three times in a row from here .

At the Padmanabhapuram constituency which is again in Kanyakumari district, CPM had won in 1980, 1984, 1999 and 2001 and J. Hemachandran, who had won the seat was once even the opposition leader in the Tamil Nadu assembly.

CPM state committee member N.A. Noor Mohammed was Padmanabhapuram MLA, as well as the Chairman of the municipality and after Thiruvattur and Padmanabhapuram merged and became a single constituency, CPM was not able to win the seat or even prove its strength.

In the Nagercoil Lok Sabha seat, CPM leader A.V. Bellarmin had defeated Pon Radhakrishnan of BJP. The seat is now named Kanyakumari instead of Nagercoil and the fight is between Radhakrishnan and Vijay Vasanth of Congress party.

The CPM and CPI is also facing brickbats on having received an amount of Rs 25 crore in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the DMK which was declared by the latter in its affidavit before the Election Commission.

Superstar-turned politician and President of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), Kamal Haasan, had recently raked up this issue and the CPM and CPI had to defend this and the CPM Politburo member from Tamil Nadu, G. Ramakrishnan had come out against the actor. The CPM leader defended the donation stating that it was for the expenses indulged by the DMK cadres and leaders who were campaigning for the left candidates.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The Navy amphibious dock landing ship Fort McHenry will soon be towed to a Philadelphia facility for inactive vessels after more than three decades supporting wartime and humanitarian missions across the globe.

Sailors held a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, on Saturday for the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship. The ship, which was commissioned in 1987, will be inactivated on April 16 -- one of eight ships that will be sidelined, sold or dismantled by the end of September.

The ceremony included a performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner," which was written during the daylong bombardment of Baltimore's Fort McHenry by British forces during the War of 1812. The ship is named in the fort's honor.

Read Next: 2 Moms Whose Marine Sons Died in Sinking AAV Say Command Mistakes Were 'Overwhelming'

"The history of Fort McHenry lies within each of the ship's sailors, and it is my hope this pride in their namesake guided all who crossed its quarterdeck and reported for duty," Rear Adm. Robert Katz, the commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 2, said during the decommissioning ceremony.

Fort McHenry participated in missions both at home and abroad during its more than three decades of service. It was first homeported in San Diego before moving to Japan in 1995 and later Florida.

In 1989, it accompanied the amphibious transport dock Juneau to Alaska, where it supported cleanup efforts after an Exxon tanker spilled millions of gallons of crude oil in the Prince William Sound. The ships were there for four months, serving as the command center and floating hotels for cleanup crews, according to the Navy.

Fort McHenry supported the Gulf War in the 1990s and the war in Afghanistan following the 2001 terror attacks in the U.S. The ship also assisted with disaster relief efforts in 2001 in the Philippines and Indonesia in 2004, its service history states.

The dock landing ship ended its final deployment in 2019 when it joined the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group through Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Fort McHenry operated with members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard.

That was more than 30 years after Fort McHenry's 1988 maiden deployment to the Pacific, during which it carried members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and made stops in Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, South Korea and Hawaii.

Women have served on Fort McHenry since 1994 when two female lieutenants -- a supply officer and an electrical officer -- were permanently assigned to the crew.

Cmdr. Michael Fabrizio, the ship's commanding officer, said Fort McHenry's final crew displayed toughness and resilience.

"Like their predecessors onboard, their efforts during the last phase of the ship's active service and the inactivation process have been nothing short of amazing," he said in a Navy release on the ship's decommissioning.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: Navy Announces Timeline to Dismantle Fire-Damaged Bonhomme Richard, Sideline 2 LCSs
In 2016, when the wildly prolific multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jenn Wasner released her first solo album as Flock of Dimes, she felt she had something to prove.

I had internalized a lot of the assumptions that people make about women in music, said Wasner, then best known as one-half of the indie-rock duo Wye Oak. I felt a lot of resentment about not getting the benefit of the doubt of my own artistry. So she doubled down on that time-tested indie ethos of Do It Yourself  writing, producing and playing just about every instrument on If You See Me, Say Yes.

As it turns out, Wasner, 34, recalled in a recent video chat from her home near Durham, N.C., thats not always what makes the best record.

If You See Me is full of dazzling sounds and bright melodic ideas, but it stimulates the mind more frequently than it pierces the heart. As someone who is very obsessed with language, I think sometimes it can actually be a barrier to feeling, Wasner added, lounging on a sage-green sofa that  she suddenly realized, catching a glimpse of her digital reflection in the Zoom screen  was the same color as the cozy sweatshirt she was wearing. I think that record, and pretty much any record you could point to would be better with some form of collaborative expression.
On Sunday night, CNN aired a two-hour special on the COVID-19 pandemic featuring interviews with the public health experts who nominally led the countrys response to the disease under the Trump administration.

The interviews are a devastating indictment of a government and political establishment that deliberately allowed hundreds of thousands of people to die in order to protect the interests of the financial oligarchy.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, listens as President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

According to the two leading figures interviewed in the programWhite House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Deborah Birx and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Faucialmost the entire US public health response to the pandemic took place in defiance of science and the advice of public health experts.

In the defining moments of the pandemic, according to the officials own admissions, the Trump administration was either actively engaging in a massive cover-up or pursuing a deliberate policy of allowing the pandemic to spread unchecked throughout the population.

If, in the words of CNN host Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the program is a postmortem on the pandemic, the cause of death must be deemed, in the words of the BMJ medical journal, social murder.

The US governments response to the pandemic was a disaster from the start, beginning with what Gupta called the original sin of failing to carry out any meaningful testing for the first two months of the pandemic.

The decision not to test the population throughout all of January and February has never been convincingly explained. The World Health Organization (WHO) formally alerted the world to the outbreak of what would later be called COVID-19 on January 1, 2020. But for the next two months, the United States would carry out no testing for the disease, even though a test from the WHO became available in early January.

In their interviews, the health officials faulted each other for failing to use the widely available WHO test, passing the blame like a hot potato until FDA Commissioner Steven Hahn finally claimed the WHO was itself responsible because it did not force the United States to use its tests.

This account is absurd. A far more believable explanation is offered by Birx: People really believed in the White House, that testing was driving cases, rather than testing is a way for us to stop cases.

In other words, since the White House claimed testing was the cause of cases, it discouraged testing. Conveniently, the fact that there was no testing meant that everyone, including Fauci and Birx themselves, could justify claiming that the danger was low, while discouraging the public from taking vital social distancing measures that could have halted the spread of the pandemic.

By mid-March, with the pandemic totally overwhelming Italy and rapidly spreading in New York, it became impossible to keep up this charade. Once the US finally began testing people who showed symptoms of COVID-19, it became undeniable that there was widespread community transmission all over the country.

Workers began walking off of shop floors, and the markets went into freefall. The US government responded by passing the CARES Act, a massive, multi-trillion-dollar bailout to major corporations, accompanied by trillions more in cash from the Federal Reserve. Sensing the need to buy time, the Trump White House temporarily encouraged remote work and the closure of schools.

Birx and Fauci claim the Trump administration seriously listened to their advice on only two occasions: when it initiated the development of vaccines in January and when it advised the public to work or engage in schooling from home whenever possible for 45 days beginning in March.

Within a matter of days, however, Trump began to advocate for the abandonment of these basic measures under the slogan, coined by the New York Times Thomas Friedman, that the cure cant be worse than the disease. This campaign led the White House to release a set of guidelines entitled Opening Up America Again.

While these guidelines nominally set out a set of criteria for states to reopen non-essential businesses, they in fact sent a political signal that all measures to contain the disease were to be abandoned. Governors in every state proceeded to reopen in violation of the Trump administrations own guidelines, including states with both Democratic and Republican governors where cases continued to surge.

The states, Birx said, went on to completely ignore the opening criteria. She added, I didn't see coming that no one would follow really the gating criteria... so when Memorial Day came, it wasit was shocking.

But the states actions did not come as a surprise to the World Socialist Web Site. Just days after the release of the guidelines, the WSWS wrote:

The Trump administrations cynical announcement of a set of fraudulent guidelines that will serve to legitimize a rapid reopening of businesses and a forced return to work, in unsafe conditions, brings to an end any public pretense of a systematic and coordinated effort within the United States to prioritize health and to protect human life in combating the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One year later, not a word of this analysis needs to be changed. With the announcement of the reopening criteria, Birx and Fauci were largely sidelined, going weeks without speaking to Trump, replaced with the right-wing ideologue and herd immunity proponent Scott Atlas.

As testing tsar Brett P. Giroir, who was also interviewed, put it, Dr. Atlass position is that we should just sort of let it go in the healthy population to create herd immunity. Atlas and his co-thinkers believed that any measures to contain the disease were compromising the American economy, the American lifestyle. In their mind, all of those things outweighed the fatalities.

The most highly cited passage from the CNN program came with the admission by Birx that nearly half a million deaths in the United States were preventable. As Birx put it, The first time, we have an excuse, there were about 100,000 deaths that came from that original search, all of the rest of them, in my mind, could have been mitigated or decreased substantially.

In other words, by closing non-essential businesses and schools, the spread of the disease could have been contained enough so as to be dramatically reduced through testing, quarantine, and contact tracing. But these measures conflicted with the social interests of Americas financial oligarchy. They were not carried out, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands.

While CNN calls its program a postmortem, the crime is still ongoing. Even as Fauci and Birx condemn the Trump administrations premature reopening of schools and businesses, the Biden administration is carrying out the same policies, with the same results.

On Monday, just one day after Birx made clear that most of the deaths in the United States were preventable, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky warned of impending doom if the United States does not change its course. Yet, only two weeks earlier, the CDC, bowing to the pressure of the Biden administration, modified its guidelines on social distancing to facilitate the reopening of schools.

One year after the events depicted in the CNN program, one thousand people are dying daily in the United States. And with deadly new variants of the disease emerging around the globe, COVID-19 is more dangerous than ever.

The catastrophic consequences of the pandemic are the product of the fact that the response of governments, led by the United States but repeated throughout the world, were dictated not by social need and public health, but by private profit. A solution to the pandemic, therefore, was and remains not primarily a medical issue. It is a matter of social and political struggle, waged by the international working class, against the capitalist system.
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Cooper University Health Care has announced it will open an outpatient medical center at the Morrestown Mall.

The building formerly used by Sears at Moorestown Mall is a perfect location in close proximity to where many of our patients live and work, Wendy Marino, a Cooper spokeswoman, said in a statement provided to NJ Advance Media.

Cooper University Health Care will occupy the 165,000-square-foot space that was once occupied by one of the malls anchors, Gillespie said.

I am thrilled to see this coming to Moorestown, particularly at this location, Moorestown Mayor Nicole Gillespie told NJ Advance Media. The towns vision is to turn that into a mixed-use space.

When this came up I thought that was perfect because it no longer signaled this is going to be just a mall trying to get by. We are really envisioning something new there.

Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, the malls owner, emerged from bankruptcy in December following the announcement of a restructuring plan, according to published reports.

Future development at the mall could include housing, a hotel and a town center. PRIET earlier this year said it was selling part of the mall property to NRP Group, following PRIETs announcement it would sell land to developers of multiunit housing, according to a media report.

A new zoning for the area would help Moorestown meet its state requirement for affordable housing by including reduced-cost units among market-rate housing. Gillespie said the township has until July to complete its redevelopment plan.

PRIET CEO Joseph Coradino did not respond to a request for comment. Coradino did address the companys current strategy in a call with investors earlier in March.

Our portfolio is comprised of a differentiated mix of uses that attracts robust demand from a variety of non-retail uses, strengthening the company and fortifying our revenue stream, Coradino said.

PREIT also owns the Cherry Hill and Cumberland malls in New Jersey and nearly 22 million square-feet of retail space with concentrations near Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust.

Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com.
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The dominant party in Malaysias ruling coalition might break ranks with the government before the next general election is called, top leaders said, even though the party had promised earlier it would back Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin until the national polls.

The United Malays National Organization had agreed to support the Muhyiddin government until August, UMNO Deputy President Mohamad Hasan said during the partys general assembly session over the weekend, referring to Aug. 1, when an emergency declared by the king is scheduled to end.

So, earlier we had agreed to pull out in August, so we have to pull out in August, Hasan said at the UMNO general assembly, held on Saturday and Sunday.

[N]ow we have announced what we want to do, so lets prepare, so if there is nothing happening in August, we walk out from the government, he said, speaking about Muhyiddins promise to advise the king to call general elections when the coronavirus pandemic subsides.

Muhyiddin, an unelected PM, however, had never pinpointed a date by when a national election would be held. And UMNO had also not specified a date until which it would stay with the ruling coalition, when it said on March 4 that it would not contest the next election with the PMs alliance.

On Saturday, Hasan said there would be no government without UMNO as its leader. Without the support of the biggest Malay party, there also would be no stability in the government, he said.

No other Malay party has the influence and moderation that UMNO has, Hasan said.

Meanwhile, UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the partys rank-and-file had approved withdrawing from the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition whenever the top leaders of the party decided it was time to go.

It is understood that the delegates have given the mandate to the president and the supreme council to determine that we can withdraw from the PN government any time, Zahid said.

The partys members want to split with Perikatan in August, he added.

UMNOs alliance with Muhyiddins Bersatu party has been rocky for months. UMNO feels it has not reaped the rewards of holding the most parliamentary seats in the ruling coalition, observers had noted.

After the king, on Muhyiddins advice, imposed a national emergency in January, the prime minister also suspended parliament, a move that opposition parties and UMNO criticized. As one, they said that Muhyiddin only wanted to hold on to power because, at the time, his administration had lost majority support.

As it is, even with UMNO supporting the coalition, Perikatan had a razor-thin majority in parliament.

And it is still difficult to pinpoint exactly how many lawmakers support Muhyiddin. Since January, three UMNO lawmakers have withdrawn support to his government, while three opposition lawmakers have pledged their support to him after quitting Anwar Ibrahims Peoples Justice Party (PKR).

Muhyiddin had said in January that his advice to the king to impose an emergency was not because he wanted to hold on to power, but because it was necessary to deal with the pandemic. He has repeatedly said since then that he would advise the king to dissolve parliament and hold elections when the pandemic ends.

Common sense seems to be in short supply

The federal government may collapse if UMNO withdraws support to Perikatan before the next election, said Tunku Mohar Mokhtar, a professor at the International Islamic University of Malaysia.

If current UMNO ministers in the alliance government quit, the government would lose its legitimacy, he said, and after that its anyones game.

Darurat [the emergency] may not be a strong justification for the government to remain in power, and the Yang Dipertuan Agong [the king] may pick someone who he thinks commands the majority support of the legislature, Mokhtar told BenarNews.

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with the king as head of state. While his position is largely ceremonial, and he has to act in accordance with the wishes of the government, the king still has the discretion to appoint an MP who commands the majority support of elected members of the lower house of parliament.

The emergency, though, has muddied the waters, said Andrew Khoo, chairman of the Malaysian Bar Councils constitution committee.

Khoo believes the government would stay intact if the emergency were to be extended.

They [UMNO] are not saying they will pull out now. That is because the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021, under section 11, states that for as long as the emergency is in force, the existing cabinet shall continue to exercise its functions. So, if the emergency is extended, the cabinet would have to continue as is, he told BenarNews.

The ordinance also does not spell out whether cabinet ministers are allowed to resign from their post during the emergency period, Khoo said. He was referring to how several UMNO members serve as ministers in the Muhyiddin government.

Does the ordinance also prevent them from resigning? Well, I dont know. This kind of wording has never been used before, Khoo said.

It [the emergency ordinance] seems to have been drafted that way to achieve a particular purpose. Can it stop someone resigning? Can it stop someone dying in office? Common sense would suggest it cannot, but common sense seems to be in short supply at the moment.
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil prices drifted lower on Tuesday after concerns about likely disruptions eased after shipping traffic resumed through the Suez Canal. Traders were also weighing possible impact of the surge in coronavirus cases and extended lockdown measures in Europe on near-term energy demand. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for May ended down $1.01 or about 1.6% at $60.55 a barrel. Brent crude futures were down $0.91 or 1.4% at $64.01 a barrel a little while ago. Markets were looking ahead to the outcome of the upcoming meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies. The oil cartel is expected to take call on production cuts during the meeting. It is widely expected that the OPEC+ will stick with its tight production curbs for another month to safeguard the recovery in prices amid new coronavirus pandemic lockdowns. Meanwhile, although traffic through Suez Canal has resumed, authorities said it could take up to 3 days to clear the backlog of ships waiting to transit the route. Investors now await the weekly crude oil reports from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Energy Information Administration (EIA). The API's report is due out later today, while EIA's inventory data will be out Wednesday morning. 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.
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I saw an officer put the knee on the neck of George Floyd, she said. The ambulance had to push him off of him. They asked him nicely to get off him. He still stayed on him. They had some guys take him off of him.
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Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - GenTech Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: GTEH) ("GenTech" or the "Company"), an emerging leader in the high-end Premium Coffee and Functional Foods marketplaces, is pleased to announce that the Company has settled an outstanding judgement of $1.09 million from 2017 for a $50,000 payment.

"This is a tremendous result that bears directly upon our ability to foster growth given current resources," noted David Lovatt, CEO of GenTech. "We consider this a strong victory for GenTech and for our shareholders. The original judgement has been reported on our balance sheet as a liability valued at more than a million dollars. To see this settled and completely and definitively out of the picture for just 5% of that amount is a huge win for the Company, and one that is well deserved given the associated details."

The Company has already made the settlement payment, and the plaintiffs in the case now agree to "cause all third parties to, immediately cease, desist and forbear from enforcing or attempting to enforce or collect upon the Judgment and the Sister State Judgment (including without limitation by seeking, making, or implementing any orders, demands, levies, seizures, judgment liens, security interests, garnishments or other collections efforts)."

Management notes that this result allows the Company to reduce its Current Liabilities by over 30% for a deployment of cash that is less than 1/20th of the amount that appeared due given its recent financial reporting.

Lovatt added, "Given the increasing momentum we have seen in our SINFIT subsidiary over the past three months, getting this liability off the books could have significant implications for our ability to finance future high-ROI investments in brand growth and upgraded market positioning."

About GenTech Holdings, Inc.

GenTech Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded company under the symbol GTEH. The Company launched a high-end Coffee Subscription service in early 2020 called Secret Javas and has recently closed on its acquisition of Sinfit Nutrition, which offers a range of high-end Functional Foods.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including information about management's view of GenTech, Inc.'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. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the results of GenTech, its subsidiaries and concepts to be materially different than those expressed or implied in such statements. Unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on GenTech's future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. GenTech cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, GenTech undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this release, except as required by law, and also takes no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties that are not paid for by GenTech.

Corporate Contact:

invest@gentech.group

www.gentechholdings.com

Public Relations:

EDM Media, LLC

https://edm.media

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78854
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
WWE RAW REPORT: IF YOU LIKED SASHA AND BIANCA TOGETHER FOR A MONTH OR SO . . . YOU GET RHEA AND ASUKA TO DO THE SAME NEXT WEEK, MORE TALKING SEGMENTS THAN YOU CAN SHAKE A STICK AT, SOME WRESTLING, AND STUFF

We see Drew McIntyre entering the building earlier today and Sarah ambushes him to ask Drew about the bounty made by Bobby Lashley.

Drew says he heard about the offer and he says everyone is a potential threat. How many people will he face tonight. Drew says he wonders if Bobby will keep his offer and if you come after me, you will get a Scottish ass kicking.

We are in St. Petersburg, Florida and your announcers are Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton.

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley makes his way to the ring with Montel Vontavious Porter, Cedric Alexander, and Shelton Benjamin.

MVP starts off by saying this is an official message from the Hurt Business. They are less than two weeks away from Wrestlemania. Bobby Lashley will walk in and out as the champion. He is currently scheduled to face Drew McIntyre, but he wants to make crystal clear their business proposition.

Bobby says if anyone takes out Drew before Wrestlemania, they will be rewarded with a title match at Wrestlemania.

Porter says this offer is not to be seen as weakness. Drew has had his opportunity and they want to give someone else an opportunity to become a star and face the All Mighty at Wrestlemania. Who wants to step up and accept that offer?

Porter says he wants to talk about who will not be sharing the ring with Bobby Lashley at Wrestlemania.

We see footage from last week's handicap match when Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin failed to beat Drew.

Bobby tells them they had the perfect opportunity in a handicap match against Drew McIntyre. You are barred from ringside. Don't get him started about the tag titles. You are embarrassing him. I cannot trust either of you and I have worked too hard to get this title. I will not deal with incompetence.

Porter brings up they had a two on one match against Drew McIntyre and you failed miserably. Porter wants them to explain themselves.

Cedric says they could have done this in the back. Shelton asks if they were brought out here to be embarrassed. Shelton says Lashley wouldn't be champion if it wasn't for them.

Lashley attacks Cedric but Benjamin with a waist lock take down on Lashley. Lashley with punches and knees followed by a flatliner. Lashley knocks Alexander off the apron.

Lashley kicks Benjamin to the floor.

Porter tells Cedric and Shelton they should be ashamed of themselves.

Lashley says Cedric and Shelton are no longer part of the Hurt Business. He says the offer still stands.

We take a look at Sheamus and Riddle from last week.

Riddle is ambushed by Sarah and he is asked if he knows why he was attacked by Sheamus last week. Riddle says that he had some questions for Sheamus. Riddle sees Titus O'Neil and he asks if Titus would roast a pig at Wrestlemania. Titus tells Riddle he is a co-host. Riddle thinks he is going to do a roast.

Sheamus attacks Riddle on his scooter and he tells Riddle he will see him out there . . . fella.

We go to commercial.

Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander stop Adam Pearce and they say that if it wasn't for them Lashley wouldn't be champion. Cedric says that Shelton wants to face Lashley tonight and if anything is left, Cedric wants a piece of Lashley.

Pearce is hesitant to do anything and Cedric asks if he has to get Lashley's approval like he does with Roman on Smackdown. They tell Pearce to grow a sack.

MVP joins Tom and Byron on commentary.

Match Number One: Sheamus versus Riddle in a Non Title Match

They lock up and the referee has to separate Riddle and Sheamus in the corner. Riddle with a waist lock and Sheamus with a take down. Riddle with a waist lock and Sheamus with a drop toe hole into a reverse chin lock. Sheamus with a rollup for a near fall. Sheamus with a forearm and punch to the midsection. Sheamus with a side head lock. Sheamus with a shoulder tackle and a kick to the shoulder. Sheamus catches Riddle on a leap frog and Riddle goes for a sleeper and he gets Sheamus to the mat. Sheamus backs Riddle into the corner and Sheamus with elbows. Sheamus with a short arm clothesline and kicks. Sheamus with forearms to the back.

Sheamus and Riddle exchange punches. Riddle with a kick and round kick followed by a jumping knee and drop kick that sends Sheamus to the floor. Riddle with a kick and a twisting moonsault to the floor as we go to commercial.

We are back and Sheamus with a double fish hook on Riddle. Riddle with forearms and chops but Sheamus with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for a near fall. Sheamus with a forearm to the back. Sheamus gets Riddle up and he climbs to the turnbuckles for a super Air Raid Crash but Riddle counters and tries for a sunset flip power bomb but Sheamus wtih a boot. Riddle with chops. Sheamus pushes Riddle to the mat but Riddle gets up and hits a superplex and both men are down.

Sheamus and Riddle exchange punches. Riddle with a kick and Pele Kick. Riddle with a forearm and a second one into the corner followed by an exploder. Riddle with kicks to the chest. Sheamus blocks a kick and he gets Riddle up but Riddle lands on his feet and he hits a knee and back senton for a near fall. Riddle with a triangle and Sheamus with a one arm power bomb but Riddle holds on to the triangle. Sheamus gets to the ropes to force a break. Sheamus blocks a round kick and he gets Riddle up on the apron and hits an Air Raid Crash on the apron for a near fall. Sheamus with an Alabama Slam for a near fall. Sheamus sets for the Brogue Kick but Riddle with a knee into teh corner and an inside cradle for a near fall. Sheamus blocks a knee and kicks Riddle in the leg and hits a jumping knee for the three count.

Winner: Sheamus

After the match, Sheamus celebrates his victory and Riddle kicks Sheamus off the turnbuckles because he is a sore loser.

We take a look at what happened with Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon last week.

Shane walks in the back with Elias and Jaxson Ryker.

Kevin Patrick ambushes Shane and asks if there is anything he can reveal about the Braun Strowman expose. Shane refuses to give any details but he says there will be some interesting things.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Drew McIntyre is walking in the back and he sees AJ Styles and Omos. Drew says he won't turn his back on them. He says Lashley's offer is something that AJ wants.

AJ says they have bigger plans for Wrestlemania but Lashley is in Drew's head. AJ says they will embarrass the New Day at Wrestlemania and become the new Raw Tag Team Champions. AJ has to focus on his match against Xavier Woods. He says their paths will cross soon enough.

Drew wants to know who will take Lashley up on his offer.

Shane McMahon is in the ring with Elias and Jaxson Ryker.

Shane says he wants to address the elephant in the room, not Braun Strowman. Shane says that people have said his knee injury was illegitimate. Shane says it was adrenaline that gave him enough pain relief to get out of the way so he would not injure himself any further so he can be ready to defeat Braun Strowman at Wrestlemania.

Shane says he has discovered something interesting about Braun Strowman that gave him some insight into young Braun.

Shane takes us back to the fifth grade and we see Braun's report card and he did not do well. Shane says that the comments from his teachers show that he was a bully. We take a look at a graphic of Braun in a dunce cap. Shane says this shows that Braun is intellectually challenged.

Jaxson says big guy . . . tiny brain is true about Braun. Shane says he will outwit Braun and so will Jaxson later tonight.

Shane says Braun needs a great big hug from everyone.

Shane starts to shuffle in the ring while Braun makes his way to the ring.

Match Number Two: Braun Strowman versus Jaxson Ryker (with Elias and Shane McMahon)

Braun with a boot to the chest and a biel. Braun with another biel. Braun goes to the floor and he starts to get on the tracks but Shane goes into the ring to avoid Braun. Braun sends Ryker into the corner an dBraun with punches and elbows. Elias gets on the apron to distract Braun and Shane does the same. Ryker hits Braun from behind and he punches Braun. Braun sends Ryker into the corner and he runs into a boot. Ryker with a shot to the leg area followed by a bulldog.

Ryker with a forearm but Braun with a boot. Braun goes to the floor and we get sound effects as he knocks Ryker down. Braun with a splash into the corner followed by a power slam for the three count.

Winner: Braun Strowman

After the match, Braun chases Shaen into the ring and Elias hits Braun from behind. Shane and Elias attack Braun and Braun pushes them away.

Braun wants to know where is Shane running to? He asks Shane if he accepted his challenge to a match and you forgot that Braun could choose any match that he wanted. Braun says he has been thinking and he made up his mind. It will be one that your goons cannot get invovled in. You will not be able to run away. There will be nowhere to run and nowhere to be hide. You are going to GET THESE HANDS . . . in a steel cage match.

We see Miz's challenge to Bad Bunny from last week's Raw and Bad Bunny accepting the challenge.

We go to commercial.

Coverage Continues on Next Page

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Overdoses are still increasing at an alarming rate

While overdoses of all substances have increased by 16% from 2019 to 2020, fatal overdoses more than doubled. In 2019, 25% of all overdoses involved opioids. In 2020, this rate has increased to 30%. In 2019, we saw an average of 15 reported overdoses per month. Since COVID-19, the average has increased to 18 per month. For January and February 2021, 51 overdoses have been reported, which translates into alarming 26 overdoses per month. Tragically, we have already lost five community members to overdoses this year. These are frightening numbers, indicating an upward trend that many communities around the country experience. More importantly, the numbers represent people who deserve our empathy and care and our best efforts as a community to make help available and easily accessible  without stigma, prejudice or undue barriers. Just imagine for a moment: What if it was your child? How many phone calls should it take to get care, and how quickly should it be available?
NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that Diamond Foundry, Inc. modify its advertising by clearly and conspicuously disclosing the origin of Diamond Foundry's laboratory-grown diamonds (LGDs), which the company manufactures and retails directly to consumers through its subsidiary and e-commerce platform VRAI & Oro, LLC.

NAD recommended that Diamond Foundry discontinue the use of certain terms that could create confusion about the origin of these LGDs, modify certain website claims to more prominently disclose the man-made origin of its diamonds, and discontinue or modify certain social media claims that its LGDs are "real" diamonds.

The claims at issue were challenged by the Natural Diamond Council, an association of the world's leading diamond companies who represent approximately 75 percent of the world's rough diamond production. The challenged advertising appears on Diamond Foundry's and VRAI's websites and social media accounts, including in product descriptions at the point of sale.

Manufacturers of man-made diamonds such as Diamond Foundry rely on technological innovations which allow diamonds to be created in a laboratory rather than extracted from the earth. Diamond Foundry's technology replicates the environmental conditions necessary to create a diamond, starting with a thin slice of a diamond and adding carbon to a plasma reactor, resulting in a man-made diamond. Man-made Diamonds or LGDs have the exact same physical characteristics as mined diamonds due to their identical atomic composition and tetrahedrally-crystallized carbon structure. LGDs and mined diamonds are indistinguishable to the naked eye.

NAD found that the advertiser's general brand messaging, for both the Diamond Foundry manufacturing brand and the VRAI retail brand, is replete with clear messaging as to the man-made nature of its diamonds and often plainly contrasts its products with mined diamonds. NAD noted, for example, that both the Diamond Foundry and VRAI websites and social media accounts prominently use the theme "Just Diamond. No Mining" and the Diamond Foundry website features readily accessible material describing its manufacturing process and distinguishing LGDs from mined diamonds.

However, in assessing the messages reasonably conveyed regarding the origins of Diamond Foundry's LGDs, NAD reviewed the challenged advertising as experienced by consumers, who may not be exposed to that general messaging.

The Natural Diamond Council challenged certain social media advertising in which Diamond Foundry-brand diamonds were advertised simply as "diamonds," without any accompanying description or disclosures identifying the diamonds as LGDs or otherwise indicating the man-made nature of the diamonds.

NAD determined that Diamond Foundry must, consistent with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Jewelry Guides, make an effective disclosure that its diamonds are man-made. NAD further found that, consistent with the FTC Jewelry Guides and the FTC Dot Com Disclosure publication, the advertiser should distinguish its LGDs from mined diamonds.

NAD recommended that Diamond Foundry modify its advertising to make these clear and conspicuous disclosures immediately preceding, with equal conspicuousness, the word "diamond."

To avoid communicating a misleading message, NAD recommended that Diamond Foundry should also account for the fact that consumers may view and purchase its products while using mobile devices and that such disclosures should be typically visible on mobile devices without the need to scroll down to view them.

NAD also considered the terminology used by Diamond Foundry in its advertising to identify its products as LGDs. NAD determined that Diamond Foundry's use of the terms "created diamonds," "diamonds created aboveground," "sustainably created" or "sustainably grown," and "world positive," as they appear in the context of the challenged advertising do not sufficiently communicate that the diamonds are laboratory-grown and unmined. Therefore, consumers may be confused and not distinguish between the origins of Diamond Foundry's LGDs and competing mined diamonds. For this reason, NAD recommended that the claims be discontinued.

However, to the extent the Natural Diamond Council challenged Diamond Foundry's use of the term "created" where it is paired with "Diamond Foundry" as an identifier of the "creator," NAD determined that such use was not misleading. Further, NAD noted that nothing in its decision precludes Diamond Foundry from using the phrase "diamonds created aboveground" if it appears in a context where it is clear that the LGDs are man-made. NAD also noted that nothing in its decision precludes the advertiser from making more narrowly drawn and supported non-misleading claims using the phrase "world positive" if it is tied to a specific benefit or feature of Diamond Foundry's LGDs when accurately disclosing the diamonds' origin.

Regarding the advertiser's claims on its Diamond Foundry website, NAD had some concern that the plain header on the page that reads "Real" may lead to confusion as to the diamond's origins. To avoid conveying the misleading message that the LGDs are mined diamonds, NAD recommended that Diamond Foundry modify its claims on this page to more prominently disclose the man-made origin of its diamonds.

In addition, NAD recommended that the advertiser discontinue social media claims that its LGDs are "real" diamonds or modify the claims to make clear that its LGDs are not mined diamonds. NAD found that, without context explaining that "real" diamonds are created in a laboratory and not mined, consumers may reasonably take away the unsupported message that Diamond Foundry's diamonds are mined diamonds.

In its advertiser statement, Diamond Foundry stated that it will comply with NAD's recommendations. Further, the advertiser thanked NAD "for their time and attention in providing industry regulation of advertising claims," but noted that it disagreed with certain aspects of NAD's decision.

All BBB National Programs case decisions can be found in its case decision library .

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs is where businesses turn to enhance consumer trust and consumers are heard. The non-profit organization creates a fairer playing field for businesses and a better experience for consumers through the development and delivery of effective third-party accountability and dispute resolution programs. Embracing its role as an independent organization since the restructuring of the Council of Better Business Bureaus in June 2019, BBB National Programs today oversees more than a dozen leading national industry self-regulation programs, and continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-directed marketing, and privacy. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org

About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.

SOURCE BBB National Programs

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When three 28-year-old men got together to open a coffee shop in the U.S. city of Seattle on March 30, 1971, the American idea of a cup of joe was a very different thing from what it is today.

Then, it was all too often a luke-warm, cloudy, brown liquid from a pot that had been sitting on its burner for rather too long and came served in a porcelain mug or a spongy foam cup in a choice of just three sizes: small, medium or large.

The coffee company they christened Starbucks changed all that. Using quality beans from a celebrated Californian coffee roaster called Alfred Peet, and inspired by one of their managers trips to the espresso bars of Italy, it staged a revolution and half a century on is a global phenomenon.

That one outlet in Seattle, Washington, that opened 50 years ago has grown into an empire with 31,000 coffee bars in 80 countries employing 349,000 people.

Starbucks founders Zev Siegl, Jerry Baldwin and Gordon Bowker, outside the first Starbucks in Seattle in February 1979

Today, Starbucks sells four billion cups of coffee a year, and the days when your coffee choice was limited to cup or mug are long gone.

Indeed, nobody asks for a coffee any more. A barista will want to know whether you want a latte, a cappuccino, an espresso or an Americano.

And it has long since diversified into ever more exotic concoctions, from the iced white chocolate mocha and pumpkin spice latte to the cinnamon roll frappuccino and decaf oat-milk flat white.

A Starbucks advertisement once claimed: If you take all of our core beverages, multiply them by the number of modifiers and customization options, you get more than 87,000 combinations.

Today, Starbucks sells four billion cups of coffee a year, and the days when your coffee choice was limited to cup or mug are long gone. Pictured: The first Starbucks in Seattle

Visiting Starbucks with your baby? You can order a babyccino, which is a tiny serving of the froth from the top of the heated milk. A similar offering aimed at the dog market is known as a puppuccino.

Small, medium or large are not your only options either. The equivalent these days are tall, grande and venti but in 2011, Starbucks introduced the trenta size, a cup that holds 31 fluid ounces (trenta is Italian for 30). Critics pointed out that this is larger than the average human stomach.

And the good news for Starbucks is that the average customer is so addicted to its brews that they visit a Starbucks six times a month. About one in five are such devoted fans that they pop in 16 times a month.

No wonder Starbucks annual revenues today top $20 billion (14.5 billion).

When three 28-year-old men got together to open a coffee shop in the U.S. city of Seattle on March 30, 1971, the American idea of a cup of joe was a very different thing from what it is today

And like so many other nationalities around the world, we Brits woke up and smelt the (Starbucks) coffee long ago. The companys first UK branch opened on the Kings Road in Chelsea in 1998.

At the time, the market leaders in this country were brands such as Costa and Coffee Republic but Starbucks didnt mess around. It turned itself into a 56-branch chain overnight by buying the Seattle Coffee Company (which despite its name was UK-based), and rebranding its outlets. Today, it has more than 1,000 branches.

Its critics say this pell-mell expansion has been gained at the expense of independent operators.

In 2008, Starbucks settled an antitrust lawsuit in its city of origin that charged it with passing out samples of its habit-forming sugary drinks in front of rival coffee shops and strong-arming landlords into not leasing space to competitors.

It is also accused of using its resources to secure the best locations, driving up prices and forcing local mom-and-pop enterprises to set up on streets with lower footfall. But the biggest controversy arose over its tax arrangements.

Today, Starbucks sells four billion cups of coffee a year, and the days when your coffee choice was limited to cup or mug are long gone

In 2012, it was revealed that since its UK subsidiary opened in 1998, Starbucks had racked up over 3 billion in coffee sales and opened 735 outlets but paid only 8.6 million in income taxes.

This appears to have been made possible by eroding the British companys profitability by charging royalty payments for the use of its brand name and business processes, allocating a portion of its UK profits to its Dutch roasting and Swiss trading units, and the shrewd arrangement of inter-company loans.

Such controversies did little to impede its growth, however. For many people, the culture pioneered by Starbucks is something they couldnt live without because its branches have become so much more than coffee shops. They have been described as the nations second living room, meeting place and study hall.

In 2012, the company decided to underline the personal relationship it had with customers, by instituting a policy of asking for your name so the barista could write it on your cup.

This was said to be part of our promise to make your coffee experience as perfect as it can be. However, in one London branch, it came up against the British sense of humour  when the man at the front of the queue was asked his name, someone shouted, like Captain Mainwaring in Dads Army: Dont tell him, Pike!

Somewhere else that proved resistant to the policy was the CIAs offices in Langley, Virginia. The U.S. intelligence services HQ has its own branch of Starbucks  but, funnily enough, customers there were less than keen to broadcast their names. So the staff dont even ask.

And baristas do draw the line at some requests. When one woman asked a Starbucks employee to write Its Over on a cup, they replied: Im not breaking up with your boyfriend for you, and I honestly dont think a flat white is going to soften the blow.

Its all a world away from that day when Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker, three ex-students of the University of San Francisco, opened their first store.

When it came to choosing a name for their company, Bowker  who had his own advertising agency  told his partners that words beginning with st were considered powerful. Someone recalled Starbuck, the first mate on the whaling ship in the novel Moby Dick, they added an s, and were off and running.

For the first decade Starbucks sold only coffee beans, and the equipment to grind and serve them, rather than the actual drink. But in 1982 it started offering brewed coffee.

Two years later, after one of their managers, Howard Schultz, had visited Milan and seen how coffee drinking was an inherent part of Italian life, they opened their first espresso bar.

By 1989 there were 46 Starbucks stores across Americas northwest, and the company was roasting nearly 1,000 tonnes of coffee a year.

As the company expanded and went more mainstream, the mermaid in its logo became more respectable. The original figure displayed bare breasts, and was seen by the firms founders as a siren enticing passers-by into their store. But in 1987 her hair was rearranged to cover the breasts, and in 1992 her navel was hidden.

By 1999, the brand was so ubiquitous that the Brad Pitt movie Fight Club had a Starbucks coffee cup in every scene. This was a nod by the movies director David Fincher to the fact that when I first moved to LA in 1984, you could not get a good cup of coffee to save your life. Then Starbucks came out, and it was such a great idea: good coffee.

In 2014, Starbucks image was burnished further by a heart-warming episode at a drive-through store in the St Petersburg, Florida.

At 7am a woman paid for her iced coffee, then asked  simply because she was in a good mood  to also pay for the driver behind her.

That person, learning of their good fortune, did the same for the motorist behind them. The chain lasted all the way until 6pm, by which time 378 people had bought drinks for complete strangers. (Unfortunately the 379th customer  an unnamed woman in a white Jeep Commander  declined to take part, and pay-it-forward day came to an end.)

Today, Starbucks is valued at $128 billion (93 billion) but, unfortunately for Jerry, Zev and Gordon, they sold out long before the big bucks came in.

The buyer was their former manager Howard Schultz. It was he who took it from a handful of sleepy stores in Seattle to a global behemoth. While the founders pocketed $3.8 million (2.8 million) between them, he now has a net worth of $5.1 billion (3.7 billion).
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The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Tuesday reacted to a video clip showing how its chairman, Umar Danladi, physically assaulted a security guard at Banex Plaza in Wuse, Abuja.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Danladi was seen in a viral five-minute video slapping and kicking the yet-to-be-identified security guard.

This newspaper had contacted the Head, Press and Public Relations of the CCT, Ibraheem Al-Hassan, who denied that Mr Danladi assaulted the guard.

Security guard was rude

In a later statement, titled, I was rather assaulted  CCT Chairman, on Tuesday, Mr Al-Hassan accused the guard of being rude and issuing a threat against the tribunal chairman following an altercation between them over a parking space on the plazas premises on Monday.

Though the chairman didnt identify himself, because, to him, it was needless, and it was a place he visited often, the boy was rude in his approach and threatened to deal with the chairman if he refused to leave the scene, Mr Al-Hassan stated.

Narrating how the incident happened, the official said the plaza had been Mr Danladis usual place of visits for the past 18 years for shopping and repairs of his phones and he had never had any dispute with anyone during any of his visits to the place.

Unfortunately, yesterdays altercations started over a parking lot, which the chairman met vacant and it was directly opposite a shop where he wanted to make a purchase and to fix his phone when the young security guard sighted him and ordered that the chairman should not park his car in that particular empty space, the statement added.

Mr Al-Hassan, who was responding to media reports on the incident did not deny that the CCT chairman slapped and kicked the security guard.

Assaulted by miscreants

But he stated that Mr Danladi was assaulted by some miscreants whom he said ordered the closure of the gate before the arrival of police team from Maitama Police Station.

The spokesperson stated that Mr Danladi had not visited the plaza to cause trouble, adding that the policemen seen in the video clip were not his security details.

Again, if the chairman had gone there to cause trouble or intimidate someone, as suggested in the report, he would have gone there in his full official paraphernalia, but he went there alone with his younger brother, the statement stated.

Many Nigerians have since taken to their various social media handles to demand proper investigations into the assault against the security guard.

Our findings

PREMIUM TIMES findings showed that the pandemonium started with an altercation between Mr Danladi and the guard over a parking space on the Banex premises on Monday.

Mr Danladi was said to have arrived at the premises at about noon on Monday for a phone repair.

On getting to the premises, his driver had parked at an open parking space, but the guard who sighted them from a distance insisted they could not park there.

The CCT chairman insisted that he would not pull out of the parking lot.

The verbal exchange between them, which drew a crowd to the scene, later reportedly degenerated into a physical attack on the guard by the CCT chairman.
The recently released report by a team commissioned by the French government to probe the latter's role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, does not give enough explanation and leaves a bitter taste because it does not admit complicity.

This is the observation of Yolande Mukagasana, a Genocide survivor and president of the Yolande Mukagasana Foundation whose objectives include fighting against denial and revisionism of the 1994 Genocide.

In a statement published on Monday, March 29, Mukagasana noted that her foundation salutes the French government's effort but pressed that Genocide suspects living in the European country be brought to justice.

France is known to be home to at least 47 indicted Genocide suspects.

President Francois Mitterrand who was in power in France during the Genocide, and his government and relatives, bear great responsibility in the 1994 Genocide, Mukagasana noted.

"President Mitterrand and his relatives were the first deniers and revisionists of the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, which offered a significant place to denial and revisionism of all kinds in the world. Rwandans still have to face this today," the Foundation stated.

"The responsibility of President Francois Mitterrand and his entourage is overwhelming, especially that of Hubert Vedrine, his secretary. Hopefully, France will not wait for his death or some serious illness to hold him accountable, and he is not alone."

As far as complicity is concerned, the conclusion of the report drowns the fish or does not give enough explanation "and leaves us with a bitter taste" because it does not admit complicity, the Foundation stated.

"Could this be a way to avoid justice?" the Foundation asks.

According to the Foundation, even if the report insists on the blindness of the power of Mitterrand and his close entourage, it was a deliberate choice because the French military fought alongside the Rwandan Armed Forces since 1990.

"We expect that this commission, for which we congratulate the step taken, will end up answering the questions we are asking ourselves about the role of French soldiers in Murambi where the French flag was flying during the Genocide, as well as in Bisesero, where the French soldiers are more noticed than elsewhere by the failure of their policy in Rwanda."

In addition, the foundation makes it clear that it is waiting for the Commission to also look into Operation Turquoise, an operation called humanitarian when it was military given its armament.

Operation Turquoise, it is noted, facilitated the escape of the genocidaires and absolutely wanted to put the country in their hands. It was in the Operation Turquoise area that the weapons passed to allow the forces of the genocidal regime to continue committing the Genocide during an embargo.

Guillaume Ancel, a retired French officer who was assigned to Operation Turquoise during the 1994 Genocide, has also published another article shedding light on facts including that the operation was a cover to prop up the falling genocidal regime.

Officials from Ibuka, the umbrella body for genocide survivors, declined comment as they are still reading the 1,200-page report and plan to come out with their own observations later this week.

Mitterrand and his acolytes

Alain Gauthier, president of Collectif des Parties Civiles pours le Rwanda (CPCR), a rights group in France which has for nearly two decades worked to bring Genocide suspects living there to book, said "we are pleased that the Duclert report speaks of 'the crushing responsibility of Mitterrand and his relatives including the soldiers.

Among the mentioned names include Gen. Christian Quesnot, Special Chief of staff of President Mitterrand from 1991 to 1995, and Gen. Jean-Pierre Huchon, deputy to General Quesnot from April 1991 to April 1993, and Hubert Vedrine, a top politician known to still wield much influence in France.

During the Genocide, Vedrine, the former Secretary-General of l'Elysee (French Presidency) under Mitterrand is known to have given direct orders to rearm the Rwandan army and Interahamwe militia, defying a UN arms embargo.

Gauthier said: "We would have preferred the term 'complicity,' which we have been pushing for over 20 years. If 'responsibility' for historians means 'complicity' for jurists, a big step towards a truth still to be discovered will have been taken. We will have to analyze the report closely."

And then Gauthier said there are questions to ask in this whole saga.

He posed: "Why did the Bureau of the National Assembly refuse access to the archives of the MIP, the Parliamentary Information Mission of 1998? Other archives could not be consulted. Why?"

Not much is revealed, Gauthier said, about the April 6, 1994 attack on former President Juvenal Habyarimana's plane and the possibility of French participation through mercenaries or through possible French links with the attack.

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He said activities of French agents such as Captain Paul Barril, an ex-French military officer, and Commander Gregoire De Saint Quentin, who was technical advisor to the Commander of the Para-commando battalion, Major Aloys Ntabakuze and training officer of aerial troops, from 1992 to 1994, should have been tackled.

The Duclert report, Gauthier said, is a first step which could go towards a little more truth.

More political than legal

According to Dr Alphonse Muleefu, a legal scholar and senior lecturer at the University of Rwanda, the Duclert Commission's report, was commissioned by the French President and as such, "it serves more in politics than in law."

Muleefu said: "It serves as a source of information, and I think it has more value now under international relations than international law, because it gives a basis to any good intentioned French official to publicly acknowledge the French role and work towards improving their relationship with Rwanda."
Agra, March 30 : Mathura reported 61 new Covid-19 cases, with three cases of the new variant, in the last 24 hours while nine were reported from Agra, the health officials said on Tuesday.

The local administration has announced a slew of strict measures to control the cases.

Health workers in Mathura blamed the Holi celebrations, which started a week ago in the district, while in Agra the district administration was targeted for being lenient towards the hospitality industry.

The district authorities have warned the people to strictly follow the guidelines and not to attend public functions without masks. A large number of programmes on Holi were cancelled including the Holi fair in the Paliwal park by the Agra Municipal Corporation.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Radical Democrats, not content to control all three electoral elements of the federal government, are urging that two new states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., be added to the union. Legislation to make Washington D.C, a state has already been drawn up. Given that Democrats control both D.C., and Puerto Rico overwhelmingly, this would ensure at least four more permanently Democrat-controlled seats in the U.S. Senate, thus potentially ensuring Democrat control of that body for generations. Democrats correctly view the nineteen months between now and the 2022 Congressional elections as their window of opportunity to consolidate their electoral stranglehold on American politics.

While it is crucial to defeat their proposals to do away with the filibuster and to defeat their companion effort to make permanent and nationalize the measures they took in swing states to stack the deck against Republicans, it is also time for Republicans to prepare for the battle ahead and respond to the arguments Democrats make in favor of the proposal to make D.C. a state with concrete proposals of our own. We must get ahead of this onrushing train.

To this end we must acknowledge that with respect to Washington D.C., the district is not what it was when Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson agreed that the site on the Potomac should be set aside as the seat of the national government, or when Pierre LEnfant laid out the original plan of the city. Jefferson regarded the region as little more than a swamp where nobody would ever want to live. To him, that was one of its greatest features. Geography itself would ensure that the federal government would remain small and ineffective. Accordingly there was no reason to provide for congressional representation of those who lived there.

But today over 700,000 people live in the city and over five million live in the metropolitan area. They have a legitimate claim that they deserve representation just like American citizens who live in any other American city. As it is, Democrats claim that the citizens of D.C. suffer taxation without representation. Since approximately 47% of the residential population of the city is Black, Democrats also make the claim that the failure to grant representation to the city is yet another example of the racism that is said to pervade American society and politics. Both of these claims have a powerful emotive force and can persuade a great many people that this is an injustice that needs to be made right. Republican claims that neither of these outcomes was intentional, though historically accurate, will persuade few that reform is unnecessary or inadvisable. It is the demand for political and racial justice that will carry the day.

Democrats almost always clothe their most radical demands in the language of justice. We can expect them to do so in this case. This is one of the reasons so many of the general public tend to support otherwise outrageous demands made by the left. When Americans perceive an injustice, they want to remedy it. In some cases they even feel guilty and want to atone for it. Hence the support for reparations for slavery, an evil that was abolished over a century and a half ago. After all, most Americans perceive themselves as fair. Fairness is generally seen as one of the most important of American virtues. So Democrats are often successful in making their demands on the basis of fairness, or as they now call it, equity. Republicans need to be able to meet Democrats on the same ground and they need to do it pre-emptively before the Democrats seize absolute control of the moral high ground and frame the issue as best suits their objectives.

Accordingly, Republicans and conservatives generally should acknowledge the inequity of the situation and propose a solution of their own, one that grants representation to most of the 700,000 people, predominantly African American, who live there, yet doesnt transform the district into a state entitled to two Senators. What follows is such a proposal.

Given that 100 percent of the territory that now constitutes the federal district was ceded to the national government by the state of Maryland, why should the federal government not retrocede to Maryland all of the district that is not currently occupied by the actual seat of the government, retaining only the facilities on, or immediately adjacent to the Mall such as the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, the White House, the Library of Congress, the monuments, parks, museums, administrative offices and buildings that are currently owned or operated by the federal government?

In this way all the residential neighborhoods and private businesses, parks and municipal facilities that are not part of the federal government, would revert to the state of Maryland and to a new city of Washington shorn of federal facilities. Those who reside within the newly drawn boundaries of the city would become citizens of the state of Maryland. They would vote for representatives to a newly formed city council, newly established statewide electoral districts, and brand-new congressional districts. They would be eligible to vote for senators from the state of Maryland. Meanwhile the states congressional delegation would be expanded to accommodate the additional 700,000 new residents. Washington would become the largest city in Maryland.

In this manner, all those who now live in Washington D.C. and are disenfranchised will be able to vote for their own representatives in Congress, the state house, and their own city council, just as all other Americans do. No longer will Democrats be able to claim that African Americans in the district are being disenfranchised or that they are the victims of either racism or taxation without representation. Justice will have been done, the racial issue will have been transcended -- and Democrat ambitions to gain another two senators will have been thwarted.

Meanwhile, the federal government, through Congress will still govern all remaining federal facilities and will become much like the Vatican, a city within a city.

Image: Peter Fitzgerald
Thompson and his two co-defendants, Jonathan Brown, now 19, and Roderick Silas, now 16, picked Saucedo up from her house in the 6200 block of Kathryn Court after Silas agreed to sell Saucedo marijuana for $100 and an iPhone for $80, though he didnt have any marijuana and suggested they rob her instead, according to court documents.
WARNING: This story contains content that may be distressing to some readers.

A Melbourne father who was the prime suspect in the 1970 disappearance of his first wife in South Australia has been identified as the likely killer of his stepdaughter, Barbara Ellen Dawson, whose naked body was found bound at Altona North in 1980.

Semen believed to be from stepfather Peter Dawson, who also has a stepson of the same name who is not accused of any wrongdoing, was found on Ms Dawsons body after she was discovered with her throat slit and a plastic bag over her head and legs in shallow water at Kororoit Creek on November 1, 1980.

Barbara Dawsona body was found bound and her throat slit in shallow waters at Kororoit Creek in 1980.

The revelations were aired in the Coroners Court of Victoria on Tuesday after officers from the homicide squad applied for the coroner to reopen the file.
The first comet known to have visited us from another solar system also appears to be more pristine than any other examined by scientists.

Those are the findings of a major new paper that examined the rogue comet 2I/Borisov, only the second interstellar object that hs been seen by scientists.

The object does not appear to have passed close to any other star  meaning that it represents an unspoilt piece of the gas and dust cloud that formed it.

2I/Borisov could represent the first truly pristine comet ever observed, says Stefano Bagnulo of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, who led the new study, published in Nature Communications.

Researchers have already been able to use information about the visitor to understand more about the distant system that it had come from, they reported in another study in Nature Astronomy. Imagine how lucky we were that a comet from a system light-years away simply took a trip to our doorstep by chance, said Bin Yang, an astronomer at ESO in Chile who worked on that study.

Read more:

The object has a coma, or dusty envelope, that is made up of very small grains, as well as water and carbon monoxide that were altered as they flew by the sun. That suggests the comet was made up of pieces taken from different parts of its own system, in turn indicating that whatever system it came from was mixed up, perhaps by giant planets, in a similar way to what happened in our own.

The comet was first spotted by an amateur astronomy named Gennady Borisov  who gave it its name  in 2019. As soon as it was spotted, experts rushed to gather as much information about it as possible, and were able to confirm that it was the first comet known to have come to us from outside our own solar system.

But further research has shown that our own sun was probably the first star it came near to, leaving it pristine.

2I/Borisov is very different from objects in our own solar system, apart from the famous comet Hale-Bopp. That was not only so interesting because it could be seen with the naked eye on its flyby in the late 90s, but also because it too was especially pristine, and so represented an unusual opportunity for scientists.

Hale-Bopp was thought to have only passed by our Sun only once before its famous journey more than 20 years ago. As such, it was a useful look at the dust and gas cloud that it and the rest of our solar system were born from in their very beginnings, some 4.5 billion years ago.

Research into 2I/Borisov suggests it is similar but even more pristine. It carries with it signatures  unchanged by its journey past other stars  of the place it was born.

The fact that the two comets are remarkably similar suggests that the environment in which 2I/Borisov originated is not so different in composition from the environment in the early Solar System, said Alberto Cellino, a co-author of the study, from the Astrophysical Observatory of Torino.
WESTFIELD  Richard Paul, a veteran city firefighter-paramedic, jailed last week after being charged with enticing a child under 16, is a danger to society, but can be released from jail while awaiting prosecution if he posts a $10,000 personal surety and adheres to a list of conditions.

This was result of dangerousness hearing at Westfield District Court Monday afternoon before Judge Charles W. Groce III.

Paul is accused of sending sexually explicit emails to a person he believed was a 13-year-old girl, according to a police report filed with the court. The charges came as the result of a government executed sting

This report says Paul sent the emails from a city-owned computer at the Northside Fire Station, 129 Southampton Road.

Paul, 42, was charged on March 22, and has been jailed pending the dangerousness hearing.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gullunis office requested that Paul remain in jail, saying there was no other way to protect the public, given his demonstrated intent to exploit and have sex with a child.

Pauls attorney argued he did not meet anyone, is not a danger, and that his career is already ruined, and most likely would have trouble finding employment in future.

In addition to posting the personal surety, the judge said Paul must turn in any firearms he may possess, report to the probation department twice a week via telephone, have no contact with anyone under 18, excepting family members, and cannot leave the state without prior approval.

If he violates any conditions, or breaks any laws, Paul could return to jail without right to bail until the case is decided. The case was continued to June 16 for pre-trial conference.

The sting involved an eastern Massachusetts police detective sergeant who is also a part-time member of the FBIs Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, posing as a 13-year-old girl, in online chats with Paul.

Paul proposed meeting in person if you pretend to be my daughter lol, an email included in police report says.

You dont have to know what to do. I will guide you : ) an email in the report says. The risk can be fun right, and we could snuggle and kiss a bit. Run my hands over your body and see how you feel after that, it states, quoting the Paul emails captured by police.

We could go shopping but you gotta call me dad, the report states, quoting from his emails introduced as evidence in the case.

In a statement last week, Westfield Fire Chief Patrick Egloff said Paul is currently on administrative leave, pending an investigation.
The government had already commenced developing a lead/zinc processing cluster in Ebonyi.

The Nigerian Government has begun the development of mineral resources across the six geopolitical zone of the country, the Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Uchechukwu Ogah, said Monday.

Mr Ogah disclosed this in Enugu during the closing ceremony of the 32nd Enugu International Trade Fair.

The minister said the government had already commenced developing a lead/zinc processing cluster in Ebonyi and funding the detailed exploration and development of salt and limestone deposits in the state.

According to him, the initiative is part of the government's regional mineral projects in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Mr Ogah said the mineral projects were cited based on comparative advantage and were aimed at providing the necessary support for the economy.

He said the lead/zinc processing cluster was located in Ebonyi for the South East region in order to harness the abundant minerals in the area.

He said the exploration and development of salt and limestone facilities would also serve as input materials for local fertiliser production.

According to the minister, a barite processing cluster is being developed in Cross-River State to meet the needs of the oil/gas sector and for the export of Nigerian mined and processed barite.

He appealed to Nigerians to support the Federal Government's efforts with business ideas and strategies for sustainable rapid economic growth and development.

Mr Ogah advised the business community, including investors in the region, to tap into the Federal Government's policies aimed at diversifying the economy.

He said the Federal Government would continue to provide helpful economic innovations and investment drive platforms like the Enugu International Trade Fair.

The minister said the trade fair had done well to keep abreast of global economic challenges by bringing economic players together to showcase their products and network for opportunities.

"It has also inspired innovative policy solutions to unexpected new challenges in the economic environment.

"I am confident that the Southeast will continue to be at the forefront of investment and industrial innovations to help steer Nigeria towards greater economic development," he said.

Mr Ogah said the Federal Government had introduced new ideas and strategies to stabilise and grow the economy in spite of the challenges posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The minister noted that the huge investments in critical infrastructure, including roads, railway, inland waterways, energy, and agriculture had impacted positively on the economy.

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"The pervasive economic disruptions induced by the COVID-19 pandemic have challenged nations to innovate.

"One pivotal way that proactive countries are adapting to survive the challenging global economic disruptions is to accelerate the evolution of the industrial sector through innovations in the digital economy," he said.

The minister said to build a robust and competitive economy, "one must adopt new technologies and strategies that can circumvent the limits of interruptions of global economic activities caused by COVID-19."

Earlier, the President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Emeka Nwandu, congratulated the exhibitors and participants for a success fair.

Mr Nwandu commended the minister for always identifying with the chamber in spite of his tight schedules.

He said that the chamber would continue to cherish the support of relevant stakeholders in future events.

(NAN)
Law enforcement has identified the car wanted in connection with a road rage shooting in Eastern North Carolina last week that killed a 47-year-old mom of six from Pennsylvania.

The Robeson County Sheriffs Office shared surveillance footage on Monday of a silver four-door Chevrolet Malibu made between 2008 and 2013 with North Carolina license plates. The driver is accused of shooting and killing Julie Eberly on I-95 near Lumberton, just shy of the South Carolina border, on Thursday.

Investigators are asking businesses and residents of Elm Street and Roberts Avenue in Lumberton to check their security tapes for similar images of the car between 11:40 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on March 25.

Someone recognizes this vehicle, Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said Monday. I am asking that anyone with information as to who or where this vehicle is, to contact our office immediately. We will continue to track this suspect until we are standing in his yard.

Law enforcement released a photo of the car wanted in connection with a road rage shooting in North Carolina that left a 48-year-old Pennsylvania woman dead. According to the sheriffs office, its a silver four-door Chevrolet Malibu manufactured between 2008 and 2013 with North Carolina license plates.

Eberly  a mother of six from Manheim, Pennsylvania  was shot while driving to Hilton Head, South Carolina, with her husband, Ryan, to celebrate their wedding anniversary, the sheriff said.

The incident unfolded near the 23 mile marker on I-95 around 11:40 a.m. Thursday.

While trying to change lanes, the couples car reportedly got too close to another driver, who then pulled up beside them, rolled down his window and fired into the passenger door, according to the sheriffs office.

Investigators said the Chevy Malibu was last seen driving south on the interstate toward Exit 22, crossing over the bridge and heading into Lumberton. The Eberlys pulled over on I-95 to wait for help.

Ryan Eberly was not injured, but Julie Eberly died later that afternoon at UNC Southeastern Hospital, McClatchy News reported.

The sheriffs office is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest with money put forward by an anonymous donor in Robeson County.

More than $53,000 has also been raised for the family through an online fundraiser.

I need your help. Lets show others that we wont tolerate this, Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said in a Facebook post Friday. This murderous coward must be caught. Please come forward with information that I know someone has. Or better yet, be a man and turn yourself in as I am sure you will read this.
[March 30, 2021] Kinaxis InConcert Unites Community through Music and the Arts

Concert series featuring shows by diverse set of Canadian music tastemakers

Created to celebrate and support artists and venues, while supporting employee and community wellbeing OTTAWA, ON, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - Kinaxis Inc. (TSX: KXS), the authority in driving agility for fast, confident decision-making in an unpredictable world, today released the latest lineup for the Kinaxis InConcert series, with shows curated by Canadian music tastemakers, featuring performers such prolific hip-hop duo Cartel Madras, dream-pop breakout Lucette, and trailblazing Celtic folk band Rum Ragged. The series is comprised of concerts streamed from Twilingate, NL to Edmonton, AB to Vancouver, BC and includes venues such as The Gate (NL), Poetry Jazz Cafe (ON), The Park Theatre (MB), and Fortune Sound Club (BC). The latest concert lineup can be found at Kinaxis.com/InConcert First announced in December 2020, Kinaxis InConcert, created in partnership with the Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA), unites the community and is designed to give back to the hard-hit music industry with a series of concerts live-streamed via stages across Canada. Ongoing from January to June 2021, the series is designed to celebrate artists, support venues, connect with music fans and thank all those in the supply chain ecosystem for their hard work during COVID-19.



"The Kinaxis culture is anchored in the belief that people matter here, and that extends to enriching the mind, body and soul of both our employees and their communities," said John Sicard, CEO, Kinaxis. "The one thing that unites us all is the pursuit of joyand for many people, music can be a life-changing source of that joy. This series is a way for us to give back to our employees, customers and partners, who have worked incredibly hard over the last year to keep supply chains moving, while supporting the artists and venues who have been hit hard. So far, we've seen a great response as people enjoy connecting with a diverse set of local artists, and we're excited to see that grow as the series continues." Kinaxis InConcert features an impressive lineup of Canadian musical artists performing from local venues across the country and covering a wide range of genres  soul, pop, hip hop, punk, jazz, folk  and more. To date, the program has successfully featured performances by string quartet Microcosmos at The Fox Cabaret, Jonny Moonbeam and Sol James at the Good Will Social Club, Lucette at Black Dog Freehouse, as well as a livestream of Electric Love's Frosted Beats festival for thousands of people across the globe.

"We are thrilled to have partnered with Kinaxis on such an important initiative to support Canada's live music community," said Erin Benjamin, CLMA president and CEO. "The program has been well-received in the music community and, in our first few concerts, we saw thousands coming together to celebrate and support our artists and venues. We thank Kinaxis for their support and look forward to continuing to connect with music fans throughout the rest of the program." For more information about Kinaxis InConcert, including upcoming dates, times and artist lineups, visit: kinaxis.com/InConcert. About Kinaxis Inc.

Everyday volatility and uncertainty demand quick action. Kinaxis delivers the agility to make fast, confident decisions across integrated business planning and the digital supply chain. People can plan better, live better and change the world. Trusted by innovative brands, we combine human intelligence with AI and concurrent planning to help companies plan for any future, monitor risks and opportunities and respond at the pace of change. Powered by an extensible, cloud-based platform, Kinaxis delivers industry-proven applications so everyone can know sooner, act faster and remove waste. For more Kinaxis news, visit Kinaxis.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. About Canadian Live Music Association

The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) is the voice of Canada's live music industry. Established in response to an identified need in the music industry, the CLMA represents the full spectrum of the live music sector, including concert promoters, festivals, talent agencies, venues, clubs, arenas, performing arts centres, ticketing companies, industry associations and networks, as well as suppliers to the sector. Its mission is to entrench the economic, social and cultural value of live music  creating the conditions for concerts to thrive, from coast to coast to coast. Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements as to Kinaxis' growth opportunities and the potential benefits of, and demand for, Kinaxis' products and services. These statements are subject to certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including our view of the relative position of Kinaxis' products and services compared to competitive offerings in the industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Kinaxis' actual results, performance, achievements and developments may differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such statements. Risk factors that may cause the actual results, performance, achievements or developments of Kinaxis to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such statements can be found in the public documents filed by Kinaxis with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Kinaxis assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by law. SOURCE Kinaxis Inc.

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Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - The 11th international fair of organic farm produce will be held in Tunis from April 1 to 3, a source close to the event organisers told PANA on Tuesday
A simple plastic water bottle isn't so simple when it comes to the traditional manufacturing process. To appear in its final form, it has to go through a multi-step journey of synthetic procedure, casting, and molding. But what if materials scientists could tap into the same biological mechanisms that create the ridges on our fingertips or the spots on a cheetah in order to manufacture something like a water bottle?

A research paper titled "Spontaneous Patterning during Frontal Polymerization" was published in the American Chemical Society's Central Science journal, a research tipping point into how material scientists can use biological truths to manufacture materials in a more sustainable way.

Evan M. Lloyd, a Ph.D. graduate of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Elizabeth Feinberg, a former postdoctoral research associate with the Department of Chemistry, led the project seeking answers on how to fabricate functionally useful patterns in ways inspired by developmental biology. While at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, they were both members of the Autonomous Materials Systems Group.

"When you build a house, you have to build every room in the house. But when you're making a body, nobody's putting the arms and the legs in the right place --it just happens," Feinberg said. "We wanted to know if we could do things more like nature, rather than how we typically do it ourselves."

In general, complex patterns integral to the structure and function of biological materials arise spontaneously during morphogenesis, or a biological process that causes a cell, tissue, or organism to develop its shape. In sharp contrast, functional patterns in synthetic materials are typically created through multistep manufacturing processes, making it difficult to change how materials are patterned.

"It's very hard to get patterns into materials but throughout biology, we see patterns with a large number of uses, from mechanical performance to camouflage," Lloyd said. "We wanted to see if we could look at ways that patterns could emerge spontaneously."

Step one for the researchers was to use a relatively new manufacturing technique known as frontal polymerization, a reaction-thermal diffusion system, which utilizes the diffusion of heat to promote chemical reactions. Under certain conditions, the chemical reaction produces regions with varying degrees of heat. The team took advantage of these properties to change polymer microstructure and mechanical properties, and subsequently fine-tuned the reactions based on the applications of heat.

"We can incorporate alternative chemistry that is thermally sensitive within that temperature difference regime to generate changes in color, morphology, mechanical property," Lloyd said. "It's really all about how we can translate changes in reaction temperature and see lasting material properties."

The result achieved in this paper is essentially the varying stiffness of materials, explained faculty author and Beckman Institute Director Jeff Moore, a Swanlund Endowed Chair of chemistry.

"The research was made possible by interdisciplinary collaboration. The team brought together chemists, materials scientists, and computational modelers," Moore said. "The diversity of thinking helped us realize a vision for polymer fabrication that may someday be important in manufacturing."

Nancy Sottos, Swanlund Endowed Chair and head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Philippe Geubelle, Bliss Professor of aerospace engineering, also collaborated on the paper.

Manufacturing materials created with this method could be implemented on a large scale within a few decades, Feinberg predicts, imagining these materials could be used in mundane, everyday items like desks, or in massive products like windmills or airplanes. But due to the nature of these reactions, the result is monumental in creating sustainable manufacturing production.

"When you cure a polymer, you have to thermally cure it at 100 degrees or more, and it has to bake for hours. That takes a lot of energy," Feinberg said.

When it comes to wind turbine blades or an airplane fuselage, massive amounts of energy must be applied to reach a suitable end result.

"But here, because the way frontal polymerization works, you apply energy to just one small spot and it propagates or releases the latent energy in the chemical precursor," she said. "It requires a lot less energy to get it going."

Additionally, by looking toward a future of multi-functional materials, it's also possible to reduce the number of single-use materials needed, Lloyd explained.

"The research is just the start of a more sustainable approach to manufacturing," Lloyd said. "As we become better as materials scientists, we want to start pushing towards more sustainable manufacturing processes. And so by eliminating the need for these multi step processes to get to this final form, we can improve the efficiency of manufacturing itself."

###

ACS Central Science is one of the flagstone journals for publishing interdisciplinary work.

"This project was really imagined by Scott White," Feinberg added. White was an aerospace engineering professor and mentor to both Lloyd and Feinberg who died in 2018. He was a pioneer of self-healing materials and one of the researchers who conceived the original idea for this project. "Finishing this project and having a beautiful outcome of it feels like a memorial to him in a lot of ways. There's this human component to it and it was really important to see this through, not just from a technical and curiosity perspective, but because it was important to him."
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-29 19:04:34|Editor: huaxia

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People carry a wounded municipal councillor on a stretcher inside a hospital for treatment in Srinagar city, Indian-controlled Kashmir, March 29, 2021. A municipal councillor and a policeman were killed, while another councillor wounded on Monday in a militant attack in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, March 29 (Xinhua) -- A municipal councillor and a policeman were killed, while another councillor wounded on Monday in a militant attack in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The councillors were attacked inside the premises of Municipal Council Sopore of Baramulla district, about 50 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today militants fired upon councillors in Sopore Municipal Office. In this incident, policeman Shafqat Ahmad and councillor Riyaz Ahmad were killed," a police official said. "Another councillor Shams-ud-din Peer was wounded and he was removed to hospital."

Following the attack, contingents of police and paramilitary were rushed to the spot to nab the attackers.

"Area has been cordoned off and search are underway for the militants," the police official said.

However, it seems the terrorists have managed to escape.

Reports said the councillors had assembled inside the office premises for a meeting.

The slain policeman was part of the security deployed outside the meeting venue.

Last week two paramilitary troopers belonging to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and two others wounded in a militant attack in Srinagar city.

On Saturday night two militants and an Indian army trooper were killed in a fierce gunfight in Shopian district.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in the region since 1989.

The militants often target government force personnel either with grenade attacks or resort to firing. The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Enditem
[March 30, 2021] McCain Foods Partners with WNS for F&A Transformation

WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE: WNS), a leading provider of global Business Process Management (BPM) solutions, today announced it has partnered with McCain Foods, a global leader in planet-friendly food, to transform and manage its Finance & Accounting (F&A) function. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005470/en/ In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, McCain Foods made the strategic business decision to transition their F&A processes from their incumbent service provider to a new BPM partner. WNS' domain expertise in the consumer goods and the manufacturing industries, robust governance model, and proven track record of delivering "co-created" finance transformation were the driving factors behind the selection. "Today, CFOs across the globe are increasingly responsible for driving business strategy and enabling growth," said Keshav R. Murugesh, Group CEO, WNS. "WNS, through its intelligent, automated F&A offerings powered by AI and ML, is helping CFOs create superior Finance organizations by accelerating speed, increasing accuracy, harnessing the power of data, and reducing cost." "We chose to partner with WNS for our F&A processing given the need for more intellgent automation opportunities close to our operations in India, accelerated by the rapidly changing dynamics brought on by the pandemic. Apart from their extensive experience, WNS brings a strong collaborative approach that has made them a valuable partner. They were able to adapt and manage an effective remote transition including a complex tri-partite governance and ensured appropriate work from home security protocols. We witnessed effective knowledge transfer without any operational needs being missed over our year end timelines. We are very happy to continue on this journey with WNS as a partner," said Pierre Danet, CFO, McCain Foods.



WNS partners with 100+ CFOs' offices, across industries, to co-create differentiation by building a digitally enabled finance function. The company leverages deep domain expertise, strategic processes, transformation frameworks, an ecosystem of intelligent technologies and global delivery models to drive enhanced business outcomes. With over two decades of experience in collaborating with global CFOs and marquee brands, WNS has the understanding and expertise to build robust, insight-driven and future-ready finance functions. About McCain

McCain Foods Limited is the world's largest manufacturer of frozen potato products and a global leader in appetizers and snacks. It employs approximately 22,000 people, operates 51 production facilities on six continents and generates annual sales in excess of CDN $10 billion. About WNS WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE: WNS) is a leading Business Process Management (BPM) company. WNS combines deep industry knowledge with technology, analytics and process expertise to co-create innovative, digitally led transformational solutions with over 375 clients across various industries. WNS delivers an entire spectrum of BPM solutions including industry-specific offerings, customer interaction services, finance and accounting, human resources, procurement, and research and analytics to re-imagine the digital future of businesses. As of December 31, 2020, WNS had 42,830 professionals across 60 delivery centers worldwide including facilities in Australia, China, Costa Rica, India, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For more information, visit www.wns.com. Safe Harbor Provision This document includes information which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied are discussed in our most recent Form 20-F and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. WNS undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005470/en/

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Sanjeev Gupta, owner of Liberty Steel. Photo: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

Liberty Steel UK has said it is set to restart production lines next week, despite a reported funding shortfall of 170m ($234.2m).

Over the weekend reports emerged that the UK government had declined an urgent request for cash in a move that could leave the business in danger.

Liberty Steel employs 3,000 workers at 12 sites around the UK, including in Rotherham, Motherwell and Newport. It is owned by Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance.

Unions have urged the government to take the business into public ownership  representatives met with ministers on Monday afternoon to discuss its future.

Gupta's GFG Alliance said on Saturday that the bailout was necessary to pay day-to-day operating costs and absorb recent losses, in a letter to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The government has been locked in discussions with Liberty Steel. Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has met with company bosses and trade unions on several occasions over the crisis at the group.

However, it emerged on Sunday the government has already rejected appeals from GFG for a 170m emergency loan.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the Government is very keen that any money given to Liberty Steel stays in the UK, citing the fact that the parent company has operations elsewhere.

My top priority is to make sure that the jobs and the plant (are) here in the UK, and were looking at all sorts of plans to try and keep those going, he said.

Were looking at all plans at the moment and you will appreciate that its commercially very sensitive.

I think that the current owner is looking at ways of refinancing the group and Ive been very clear that I want to see his plans worked through and before we actually go into anything in terms of a further plan to keep the jobs and the plant safe.

Watch: How to prevent getting into debt

A key financial backer to Liberty's parent company GFG, Greensill Capital, filed for insolvency earlier this month.

Story continues

Greensill had advanced hundreds of millions of pounds to firms linked to Sanjeev Gupta's using a state-backed coronavirus lending scheme, the Financial Times said.

READ MORE: Deliveroo IPO to list at bottom end of projected range

Liberty halted production lines earlier in March due to ongoing supply issues related to the demise of Greensill Capital. It says it expects to restart work on 6 April.

On Sunday, the steelmaker told Yahoo Finance UK: "While Greensills difficulties have created a challenging situation, we have adequate funding for our current needs.

"Discussions to secure alternative long-term funding continue to make good progress and while this takes place we have asked all of our businesses to manage cash carefully. Combined with the efficiency drive weve implemented over the past year this has ensured that most of our major businesses generating positive cashflows."

A Liberty spokesperson said on Tuesday: "The business is working on solutions to provide additional working capital facilities to replace the funding gap left by Greensill.

"LIBERTY Steel UK continues in constructive discussions with the UK government on measures to supplement these efforts and to highlight the importance of this business to the UKs industrial supply chains.

Watch: What are SPACs?
A Chinese diplomat attacked Canada as America's running dog and taunted its prime minister Justin Trudeau as a boy, as the ongoing feud over reports of alleged abuses in the Xinjiang region widened the rift between the two countries.

Chinas consul general to Rio de Janeiro, Li Yang, derided Mr Trudeau in a tweet on Sunday, blaming him for ruining friendly relations between the two countries.

Boy, your greatest achievement is to have ruined the friendly relations between China and Canada, and have turned Canada into a running dog of the US, he said.

Beijing and Ottawa have remained at odds over the growing row over alleged human rights abuses of the Uighur minority and attempts to alter Hong Kongs autonomy. The two nations imposed tit-for-tat sanctions on each other.

The latest outburst by the Chinese diplomat in Brazil came as Canada, along with the US, UK and European Union, stepped up pressure on China by imposing sanctions on its officials over human rights abuses on Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

Read more:

Rights groups have alleged that at least one million Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities have been confined in camps in the Xinjiang region and authorities have sterilised women and imposed forced labour.

China, however, responded by slapping retaliatory sanctions on Canadian opposition lawmaker Michael Chong and asked the critics to stop political manipulation on Xinjiang-related issues.

The insult running dog is a literal translation of a Chinese phrase in Mandarin, used for someone who is subservient to powerful people or countries such as the US.

Canadas foreign ministry condemned the sanctions and Mr Trudeau has called it an attack on transparency and freedom of expression.

Chinas sanctions are an attack on transparency and freedom of expression - values at the heart of our democracy. We stand with Parliamentarians against these unacceptable actions, and we will continue to defend human rights around the world with our international partners, Mr Trudeau said in a tweet.

David Mulroney, Canadas former ambassador to China, called Mr Lis comment extraordinary, saying the Chinese diplomacy seems out of control now.

Extraordinary. This looks and sounds like diplomacy that is out of control, as if China's adult diplomats have been sidelined or are choosing to remain silent. Not a good look for a country only a few decades removed from chaos and extremism, he said in a tweet.

China also took a tough stance against H&M, Nike Adidas and other brands after they were caught in a spiralling conflict over use of cotton produced by labours of the Xinjiang region.
This was rare. At the end of Mondays special called Committee of the Whole meeting of the City Councilconvened, in part, for Mayor Randall Woodfin to convey the actual economic impact on city revenue, thus far, of the year-long COVID-19 pandemiceveryone was smiling.

And relieved.

It was a stark contrast from last September, when the Council, in a meeting that lasted nearly five hours, grudgingly approved the mayors contentious $421 million FY21 budget, which projected a $63 million shortfall from the FY20 budget due to the coronavirus shutdown and included drastic cuts that bloodied almost every page of the budget. It also projected the need to pull up to $26 million from the citys reserve fund in order to balance the budget, based on $390 million in actual revenue.

No one was laughing back then. Especially not the picketers outside city hall angered by the myriad budget cuts made in anticipation of the shortfall.

Now, with the first seven months of actual revenue in the books (and in the bank), Woodfin projected the city will only need to withdraw up to $3.7 million from its reserve fund to balance the budget, with revenue now projected to be $416 million.

Thats huge considering what was projected, said Lester Smith, the citys finance director. Were still in a pandemic. But if the projections hold out, we would have gotten through a pandemic with only having to into our reserves for three million.

At this point a year ago, Woodfin said during the meeting, we met to discuss how to secure funds for an emergency response plan to provide PPE [pandemic protect equipment] to our employees, particularly police and fire; how to fund overtime we project would be needed and create a small business emergency relief fund to complete the fiscal year 2020. Im proud to say we collectively took quick action that has put us in a position to be here.

Among those actions was the suspension of nine paid holidays for city employees. After the presentation Monday, Woodfin requested approval to restore two of the holidays, at a cost of about $1.9 million. The council approved it unanimously.

Some good news for the city, said Councilor Hunter Williams.

A lot of numbers, revenue through January 31, 2021, were revealed, and most were cloaked with caveats based on timing and new collection processes created during the pandemic. For instance: ad valorem taxes (down $9.0 million year over year. I wouldnt be concerned about that, Smith said, due to changes and delays on collecting taxes during the pandemic); intergovernmental revenue (up to $7.4 million); sales use, lodging and occupational taxes (up to $26.7 million) and other revenue sources (down $16.9 million.

I like what I heard today, said Councilor John Hilliard.

Dramatically better than anticipated, said Councilor Darrell OQuinn.

Perhaps the most intriguing part of the presentation was about business license revenue, most of which comes in each year in January and February. Through March 19, the city collected $64,443,071.39, about $4.6 million less than it collected during the same period last year, just at the cusp of the pandemic.

Additionally, the 2021 business revenue was collected from 12,482 applicants, down from 13,041 applicants to this point in 2020. Could that deficit of 600 applicants represent the number of businesses in Birmingham lost to the pandemic economy?

Thats one area where were flying in the dark, Smith said. Business licenses were horses in the barn when the pandemic hit, we had no historical [data]. As we get into April, the water will become a little clearer.

Although we are still in a pandemic, I was greatly encouraged by the revenue report shared today, said City Council pro tem Wardine Alexander. [It] was great news!

The budget presentation, Smith, the citys finance director, and Chief of Operations Chaz Mitchell, came after discussions about excess workmans compensation claims totaling up to $1.2 million beyond the amount annually budgeted for workmans comp; and preliminary chatter about how to spend the $148 million in stimulus funds the city is slated to receive under the American Relief Plan, which President Biden signed into law on March 11.

It was painful watching last year, not one but two rounds of stimulus money come down and cities being left out, purely due to political reasons, Woodfin said. Im glad to see cities finally actually receiving a bailout to help employees and address things we want to address.

City officials nationwide are still awaiting instructions on exactly how they are able to spend the money, but parameters are generally expected to be broad and inclusive of almost any economic development or infrastructure project except for shoring up for lost revenue or funding employee pensions.

They want us to stimulate Birmingham, Woodfin said.

Im all for stimulating Birmingham, Councilor Valerie Abbott echoed.

I want to know the exact letter of what we can and cannot do, said Councilor Hilliard. I want to revitalize the ninety-nine neighborhoods. I want to do it in a way that makes a difference in our community.

Im good, said Councilor Steven Hoyt, when asked by Council President William Parker if he had any more questions following the presentations.

A rare moment, indeed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) welcomes the celebration, in March, of the 100th anniversary since the conclusion, in Bucharest, of the Convention of defensive alliance between the Kingdom of Romania and the Republic of Poland.

The Convention was signed on March 3, 1921 by the Romanian Foreign Minister, Take Ionescu, and his counterpart, Eustachy Sapieha, following the decision of the two heads of state, King Ferdinand I and Marshal Jozef Pilsudski. Through the signed agreement, the two parties undertook to provide armed assistance in case of an unprovoked attack at their eastern border, the MAE recalls.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, also evoked the special anniversary moment during the meeting he had on March 23, on the sidelines of the meeting of the Heads of Diplomacy of NATO countries, with his Polish counterpart, Zbigniew Rau.

"Our rapprochement has not only had an impact at the bilateral level, but has also contributed to regional stability. Romania and the Republic of Poland are today strategic partners, bilateral relations being characterized by a regular dynamic of dialogue and substantial cooperation in multiple areas," said Aurescu.

According to the MAE, the Romanian-Polish defensive alliance "was based on common political-strategic reasons, pragmatic objectives and cultural and spiritual affinities and was fundamental for the development of interwar relations between the two states." The alliance marked the regional security and defence policies of Romania and Poland in the interwar period, and bilateral relations have seen an upward evolution on multiple levels - political, military, economic, cultural and others," reads a press release of the MAE sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.

The conclusion of the alliance with Poland represented an important support for Romania in the system of alliances meant to guarantee the territorial integrity of Greater Romania. Poland, which in turn regained national sovereignty and independence on November 11, 1918, had similar strategic interests, the same source shows.

The spirit of the Convention of defensive alliance between the Kingdom of Romania and the Republic of Poland is highlighted by the provisions according to which the parties decided to synchronize their pacifist efforts, including by consulting on external issues of common interest. Military cooperation was regulated in a separate convention, signed by Generals Constantin Christescu and Tadeusz Rozwadowski, by which the General Staffs of the two armies established the concrete modalities for the implementation of the provisions of the political convention.

The Convention thus contributed to the establishment of special relations at the highest level and to the materialization of a series of bilateral visits and meetings at the highest level. King Ferdinand had cordial relations with the Polish head of state, Marshal Jozef Pilsudskila, as well as King Carol II with President Ignacy Moscicki.

These close relations have boosted bilateral cooperation, also reflected in the increase of the degree of diplomatic representation in the two capitals at embassy level, starting with May 1, 1938, according to the MAE.

In the spirit of this friendship and international humanitarian law, Romania offered support to Poland in the fall of the tragic year 1939. Thus, Romania contributed to the rescue of the Polish National Treasury and provided refuge and transit through Romania for about 100,000 Poles, including Senior Polish leaders, such as President Ignacy Moscicki and Foreign Minister Jozef Beck, as the document also mentions.
With nearly four decades of public service, Linda Webb looked out into a room with about a dozen members of the Worcester fire and police departments

Ive been doing this game since 1982. Nineteen-eighty-two, Webb said. Anybody been here longer than me or am I the old woman in the room?

Webb paused to look around. No ones hand raised.

Dang, man, Webb said as she began speaking about her program Racial Intelligence Training and Engagement (RITE), which focuses on improving the mental health of public servants to better address racial biases.

On Tuesday, Webb and RITE co-founder Randy Friedman spoke to members of the Worcester police and fire departments.

Nearly four decades ago, Webb remembered graduating from the police academy with a sense of innocence. The reality of her first few years never aligned with her dreams and expectations as a child.

Ill never forget sitting next to my dad at age 13, and telling my dad, Dad, I cant wait to be a cop, Webb said. Then at age 21, all hell breaks loose. I had no idea that at age 21, that I would face some of the worst sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, worst comments from my own peers.

Linda Webb, of Racial Intelligence Training and Engagement, spoke to members of Worcester police and fire on Tuesday.

Beyond the harassment, Webb said she lost her best friend in the police academy after she committed suicide. Webb said the woman was raped on duty in her police uniform. The trauma led to her putting a gun to her head.

My dad, [when I was] 13, didnt tell me I would face that kind of stuff, Webb said. As a cop, give me a murderer. Give me a rapist. I can handle that all day long. But to handle the unprofessional workplace culture inside the agency itself, I couldnt handle that.

The emotional trauma continued to build.

The trauma as a public servant is unrelenting, Webb said, revealing a story that during one call, she fell into a dead body and the fluids expelled on her.

I was messed up that day. And of course, what do we do as peers? We joke about it, Webb said. Then you take that banter like youre supposed to suck it up. So you see, probably about by my ninth year, I was messed up inside.

Webb pointed to the RITE program ladder, which illustrates emotional well-being. At the top rungs represent love, gratitude and joy. The bottom represents anger, hate and frustration.

After describing how she felt following her ninth year on the force, Webb pointed toward the bottom of the ladder. She was angry, frustrated and filled with hate.

Linda Webb, of Racial Intelligence Training and Engagement, spoke to members of Worcester police and fire on Tuesday about a ladder that represents one's mental health.

There was no way I could be respectful of the community. There was no way I was even ready to handle the community. I had become a product of the environment for who and where I worked, Webb said. Even when I left that police academy so innocent after nine years, man, I was nothing but a shell inside.

Some of the Worcester firefighters participating in the class relayed their first calls to traumatic scenes. They retold each story, now years old, with vivid details, the scars of the incidents still fresh.

The problem is when you go through these academies youre taught, you have no emotion, Suck it up buttercup, get on the line, shoulders back, carry out the mission, Webb said. So youre told you have no emotions. When the problem is, you do in fact have emotions, and emotions drive behavior.

The RITE program is meant to teach officers and firefighters how to help each other respond and live with the traumatic events they may experience daily.

Webb acknowledged life doesnt allow for a person to always be atop the ladder  love and joy  but through the support of their peers they can avoid falling too low on the ladder  near hate and anger.

If you are engaged in anger, it is a recipe for disaster, Webb said. What we teach in this class is when you witness your partner in anger, you need to step in, tell them to back away and let [you] take over. Thats the whole point.

Webb and Friedman have shared the program with more than 750 agencies. Webb said not one of them has been reported for unnecessary use of force.

Emotional intelligence is the key, Webb said.

Members of Worcester police and fire participated in Racial Intelligence Training and Engagement on Tuesday.

The program extends beyond the walls of the Grove Street Worcester Fire Department training room and into the community. If law enforcement can observe when their partners are teetering on anger and hate, they can also see the same within community members in responding to calls.

If I dont know that Im at the bottom of the ladder, Im not going to notice you are either, Friedman said. What were saying is take this ladder home, put it on your refrigerator and work on it at dinner with your family. Its going to take time.

The fire departments command staff attended the RITE program on Monday. Firefighters attended Tuesdays session. Once complete, attendees from Tuesdays class will then train the rest of the department.

This is the workplace environment that were going to have, Deputy Fire Chief Martin Dyer said. Were all going to work towards it. Its not going to be overnight. Its going to take people to buy in on it.

The top of the citys administration has already bought in. The training was part of the recommended strategies City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. presented to the city council last month in addressing racial inequities in the city.

It starts right with us, Dyer said. Its making sure that we have the environment that is inclusive and that people want to be a part of.

Related Content:
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - An upstate New York woman said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo grabbed her face and kissed her cheek at her home during a visit to inspect area flood damage, becoming the latest woman to accuse the embattled governor of inappropriate behavior.

Sherry Vill made the allegations Monday during a Zoom news conference with attorney Gloria Allred, describing a spring 2017 visit to her Rochester-area home after flooding near Lake Ontario.

"He said 'that's what Italians do, kiss both cheeks.' I felt shocked, and didn't understand what had just happened, but knew I felt embarassed and weird about his kissing me," said Vill. "I am Italian, and in my family, family members kiss. Strangers do not kiss -- especially upon meeting someone for the first time."

There was no immediate comment from the Cuomo administration. A series of women, some who worked for Cuomo, have accused the Democrat of sexual misconduct.

Allred says she will be presenting a statement and a photo of Governor Cuomo kissing Vill at that visit in 2017 to New York State Attorney General Letitia James to include in her investigation into the Governor.
A construction worker was killed when a trench collapsed on him while he was working in a residential development in the Hudson Valley community of Woodbury, New York, police said.

The 43-year-old worker was digging in a 10-foot ditch when the walls of the trench collapsed, Woodbury police said in a statement on their Facebook page.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. His name was not immediately released.

Police said there was no safety box in place in the trench. The accident is under investigation.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New York Law Enforcement Construction
In the end, there wasnt even a slap on the wrist.

Five months of PSNI investigation and interviews, three months of Public Prosecution Service deliberations... and no prosecutions.

The political ramifications of this decision, which went against the recommendations of the Chief Constable, will, predictably, continue for a long time  but what about the public?

Was it in the public interest not to prosecute? After all, the fines imposed on ordinary Joes over the past year were, supposedly, done in the public interest, so why not this?

And why cant those punished offenders now appeal, quoting PPS Director Stephen Herrons own words that the health protection regulations at the time were extremely difficult to navigate and inconsistent?

Ironically, the only consistency from the PPS appears to be in not prosecuting anyone involved in high profile funerals while the rest stick rigidly to the rules despite the heartbreak of losing loved ones during the pandemic.

Bobby Storey would surely be shocked at the thought that this furore would rise again, phoenix-like, nine months after his cremation.

It was mid-December when the PSNI submitted a file to the PPS following a lengthy investigation, overseen by Cumbria deputy chief constable Mark Webster, into potential breaches of health restrictions at the high-profile event in west Belfast, attended by most of Sinn Feins hierarchy.

Some 24 people suspected of having breached the regulations  all members of Sinn Fein  were interviewed, including Michelle ONeill, the deputy First Minister.

Rival parties called on her to resign but statements of regret that the health message had been compromised were all they were ever going to get.

Read More

It was early summer when thousands lined the streets as the remains of Mr Storey  a former IRA hardman  were taken from St Agnes Church on Andersonstown Road to Milltown Cemetery on the Falls.

Large republican funerals in west Belfast are nothing new and Mr Storey, who masterminded the notorious Maze escape in 1983 and acted as head of intelligence for the IRA in the mid-1990s, was never going to have a quiet send-off.

The 64-year-old north Belfast man, who joined the Provisional IRA in 1972 and was subsequently interned, was a close friend of the former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.

He was sentenced to 18 years in the Maze in 1981 for possession of a rifle following an attack on Army personnel and was one of 38 republican prisoners who broke out of the maximum-security prison two years later.

Security forces had linked him to several major incidents, including the 26m Northern Bank robbery in 2004.

He was also regarded as a crucial element in selling the peace process to republican hardliners.

His funeral, however, took place in the middle of the first Covid-19 lockdown, when regulations stated that no more than 30 people could gather outdoors.

One of the two main faces of those regulations was the deputy First Minister, who was part of the funeral cortege on June 30.

Ms ONeill also attended Requiem Mass at St Agnes with more than 100 other mourners and later, when strict social distancing had become almost second nature, posed for a close-proximity photograph with a mourner at Milltown.

Not surprisingly, the Sinn Fein northern leaders behaviour that day attracted fierce criticism from, among others, First Minister Arlene Foster, who questioned her fitness for office and demanded an apology.

The anger was understandable, with Ms ONeill having repeatedly urged the public to adhere to social distancing guidelines and then apparently contravening the very rules she had helped set.

While she apologised for posing for the photo, which took place in a blink of an eye and shouldnt have happened, there was no remorse for attending the funeral at a time when others had been prevented from paying their respects to loved ones.

Both Sinn Fein and Ms ONeill maintained that they had acted within the guidelines and broken no rules, the party itself insisting that the cortege itself contained no more than 30 people, all of whom had maintained social distancing.

She did, however, express regret  which was reiterated today  that other grieving families were experiencing more hurt over recent days, adding: I am sorry for that.

This wasnt enough to pacify Mrs Foster, who brought to an end to their joint Covid-19 press conferences.

That same day, this newspaper revealed that, rather than being buried at Milltown, the veteran republicans remains had actually been taken for cremation at Roselawn Cemetery, which is run by Belfast City Council. This newspaper also reported that some council staff had been sent home early, leaving Sinn Fein effectively in control of the premises.

The council later admitted an operational decision had been made to postpone other planned cremations that afternoon.

This revelation prompted even more controversy than the earlier funeral in west Belfast.

It later emerged that 28 mourners had attended the cremation, which was free from paramilitary trappings.

The families denied access to cremations that day were offered compensation by the council, which apologised to them individually for the hurt and distressed caused, and to offer to support them in whatever way we can.

It is understood, however, that at least one of the eight families later issued legal proceedings against the council, believing that the decisions taken that day were unlawful.

Council chief executive Suzanne Wylie and director Nigel Grimshaw also issued a joint personal statement apologising for what happened at Roselawn.

Several weeks later, Mr Grimshaw, who had been responsible for city and neighbourhood services and who had made the decision to allow up to 30 mourners at Mr Storeys cremation, retired by mutual agreement.

An internal council report said Mr Grimshaw acknowledged that it was a mistake for which he takes responsibility.

In February, an independent report into how the council organised the cremation found Sinn Fein did not pressurise the council to give his family special treatment. It also rejected suggestions there had been a takeover of Roselawn cemetery.

Regardless, it is difficult to understate the political damage done in the wake of the Storey funeral.

It was September before the First and Deputy First Ministers resumed their joint press conferences, following a reconciliatory statement from the latter issued on RTE.

Standing alongside her partner in government, Mrs ONeill said: I do accept the public messaging about the pandemic has been undermined by the controversy over the last number of months. It was never my intention that that would happen, but it did and I regret that.

I want to rebuild trust with the public as we have the most challenging times ahead of us on many levels in the coming weeks and months and we must work together for the common good.

Although it stopped short of the apology her unionist detractors had demanded, Ms ONeills comments were accepted as enough for the two women to move on from the controversy and focus on delivering the joint public health messages, which are continuing today.

The DUP leader said she believed Ms ONeills actions on June 30 had undermined their public messaging but there has been an acknowledgement and regret for what happened at the time, and I acknowledge that.

Despite the apparent entente cordiale, there have, however, been some awkward moments since the pair publicly reconciled for the greater good in the autumn, most notably when the DUP used the contentious petition of concern mechanism last November to stop the Executive endorsing tighter restrictions requested by Health Minister Robin Swann and backed by Mrs ONeill.

The Sinn Fein leader was, however, accused of displaying brass-neck hypocrisy just before Christmas after claiming on RTE that she had never deviated from public health advice.

She also accused the DUP of working against the Executive and its public health team, a claim rejected by Mrs Foster, who laid part of the blame for Northern Irelands new six-week lockdown on Sinn Fein politicians attitude and behaviour at the controversial Storey funeral.

Also in December, there were renewed claims that the PSNI failed to meet its responsibilities by handing over the effective policing of the funeral to Sinn Fein, after Chief Constable Simon Byrne said there would have been widespread violence and disorder if police had tried to stop or disperse the crowds.

Mr Byrne would not, however, be drawn on the extent of any advance planning between the PSNI and Sinn Fein as to how the funeral should be managed, and the extent of any deliberations remains unclear.

Todays developments eclipsed another noteworthy story  that the PSNI were investigating potential breaches of Covid restrictions, and parades legislation, following Sundays well-attended walk in Belfast in honour of tragic teenager Noah Donohoe.

After todays announcement, it remains to be seen whether no action will be taken there either.




South Africa: Have your say on draft climate change NDC

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, has officially launched South Africas updated draft Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for public consultation.

The Minister launched the NDC during a virtual stakeholder session on Tuesday.

Approved by Cabinet on 24 March 2021 to be released for public comment, the updated draft NDC is the cornerstone of South Africas climate change response.

The launch of the updated NDC is the start of a consultation process that will consist of a number of virtual consultations until the end of May 2021.

The consultations will be with other government departments through the inter-governmental committee on climate change (IGCCC), broader stakeholders through the National Committee on Climate Change (NCCC) and a number of targeted virtual consultations with interest groups and representative formations including business, labour, civil society, the agricultural and energy sectors.

It is South Africas commitment in terms of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement (PA) to contribute to the global climate change effort.

All Parties to the UNFCCC are updating their NDCs in the run-up to the 26th international climate change conference to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021.

Under the Paris Agreement all Parties are required to deposit NDCs every five years. South Africa deposited its first NDC with the UNFCCC in October 2015, committing to keeping national greenhouse gas emissions within a range from 389 Mt CO2-eq for 2025 and 2050, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said.

This as South Africa remains committed to addressing climate change based on science, equity and sustainable development.

Similarly, the present draft updated NDC seeks to balance the three structural components of mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation/support requirements.

The latest science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that more urgent and rapid reductions in emissions are required by all countries. The UNFCCC has found that the current global effort is not sufficient to avoid dangerous climate change, and all countries are in agreement that more needs to be done, faster.

NDC proposals

The updated mitigation NDC proposes a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) target ranges up to 2030, with the 2025 target range allowing time to fully implement the national mitigation system, including those elements contained in the Climate Change Bill.

It will also allow space for the implementation of Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019 and other key policies and measures, as well as the national recovery from COVID-19.

The 2030 target range (398 - 440 Mt CO2 e q) is consistent with South Africas fair share, and also an ambitious improvement on our current NDC target. The upper range of the proposed 2030 target range represents a 28% reduction in GHG emissions from the 2015 NDC targets, it said.

Meanwhile, Eskom recently released a call for proposals to repurpose the Komati power station in Mpumalanga with photovoltaic panels and battery storage.

Currently the utility is conducting feasibility studies on repurposing other power stations scheduled for decommissioning including Hendrina, Grootvlei and Camden coal power stations.

In February this year the Presidential Climate Change Commission representing government, business, civil society and organised labour met for the first time to discuss how the country develops a just transition from our current high emission economy to a low carbon climate resilient economy and society.

To do this we must ensure those who are currently dependent on the coal value chain do not carry the transition burden, the department said.

Paris Agreement

Accordingly, the Commission will advise government on ways to unlock new technology, new investment and above all new jobs as the country meets its commitments in terms of the Paris Agreement.

The first South African adaptation communication in line with the Paris Agreement outlines five adaptation goals, articulates efforts to be implemented and associated costs for a time period of 2021 to 2030.

The adaptation communication will enable support for key sectors that are affected by the impacts of climate change, including human settlements, agriculture, water and energy. It will also affirm the leadership role, which South Africa has played in the international climate regime on adaptation, the department said.

Adaptation measures

The updated draft NDC also contains a section on South Africas support requirements as a developing country.

This includes the costs of both mitigation and adaptation measures and defining the countrys goal for accessing international support.

With regard to the support requirements for a developing country such as South Africa, the draft updated NDC addresses not only the cost of mitigation and adaptation measures, but also outlines the international finance accessed thus far for climate change programmes.

While South Africa has accessed about USD 2 billion a year in 2018 and 2019, the draft updated NDC proposes access to four times the amount annually by 2030 to meet adaptation and mitigation needs, the department said.

South Africas updated NDC targets are aligned with planned policies and measures to provide opportunities for accessing large-scale international climate finance to fund low carbon infrastructure, and also to fund the just transition.

Consultation

Direct consultation will be held with the provinces, while written inputs can be submitted to the department by 30 April 2021.

Following integration of inputs from stakeholders, the updated NDC will be tabled with Cabinet for approval before being deposited with the UNFCCC ahead of COP26.

Link to the draft updated NDC: https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/reports/draftnationalydeterminedcontributions_2021updated.pdf

Link to NDC stakeholder consultation page: https://www.environment.gov.za/event/deptactivity/cop26indc_stakeholderconsultations

-SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Adaptive Lighting is a feature introduced with Apple's iOS 14, and this feature allows Aqara lighting products to change the color temperature automatically throughout the day to maximize comfort and productivity. For thousands of years human's work when the sun is up and rest when the sun is down, and the sun's color temperature - which shifts throughout the day from the warm morning to cool midday and then to the warm sunset - sends signals to the human body when it's time to stay alert or to go to sleep. By providing users the right color temperature at the right time of the day, Aqara smart lights with the Adaptive Lighting feature will help boost one's ability to remain alert and active at daytime, and wind down and relax at nights.

The Adaptive Lighting support can also be added to all Aqara smart light products via a new firmware update for the Aqara Hub M2, which is expected to be available in the coming months.

*Adaptive Lighting in the Apple Home app requires a home hub (iPad, HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV) running 14.0 or later.

About Aqara

Founded in 2016, Aqara is a leading smart home provider with offices in New York and Shenzhen. We provide comprehensive smart home products and solutions that are beautifully designed, affordable and easy to use. Our products range from a variety of sensors to switches, curtain controllers, and door locks, and we have opened more than 400 Aqara Home stores globally to provide more personalized smart home solutions.

We continue to expand our global footprint in the United States, EU, Russia, Southeast Asia, Korea and China, and our online devices have covered 192 countries and territories, serving more than 2 million customers. We aspire to bring smart home technology to every household around the world.

For more information, please visit our website and follow our social platforms.

SOURCE Aqara
Some social media users have become experts in editing to make themselves look their best in photos - but there are always a few who take it that step too far.

From the US to Canada, Europe and China, people have shared shocking editing fails in a Bored Panda gallery - showing why you should leave your snaps alone.

In one image, a social media user has edited his teeth to be whiter, but did such a bad job, he was ridiculed online.

In another picture, a man edited his legs to be so thin, they looked like they belonged to a stick figure drawing.

People from all over the world have shared bad picture editing jobs in a gallery for Bored Panda. Pictured: An Instagram model who overedited their legs to look thin and long

Tell us the tooth! This man from the US dreamed of pearly whites, but his ghastly editing skills gave his plan away to many people who then poked fun at him

This influencer from Kentucky edited her face so much, some people said they were 'scared' by her haunting stare

This social media user from Florida promised she had not edited her body in this picture, but people were not convinced

One person from the Netherlands showed how a man edited their legs so much, they looked like they belonged to a stick figure

Is that your Barbie? One person from the US shared this picture of an Instagram influencer who had edited her waist to look smaller than it actually was

Eye don't believe it! This woman from Seattle tried to edit her eyes to make them slightly bigger but ended with extraterrestrial-looking results

Tall story: One unknown person shared this badly edited advert they had seen in China where this woman's legs were massively elongated

Kim K eat your heart out: This person's derriere was edited to make it look like it could hold a glass of wine in a photograph shared and mocked online by a person from Texas

One person from Scotland shared this amusing photograph where a woman edited herself into a quaint street abroad

One person believed to be from the US shared this picture of a woman who seemed to have Photoshopped her bust, which made her head look smaller. She also appeared to have edited her eyes

One person from Spain shared and poked fun at this picture of an unknown woman whose bad edit made it look like she had no nose

One person from Glasgow pointed out the too-long-to-be-true legs of the dancer in this picture (right)
press release

The Western Cape Government does not support a move to Alert Level 2 - it is not supported by our data, and it will undermine our economic recovery

The Western Cape Government's response to Covid-19 has from the very beginning been based on data, evidence and science. We have also always maintained that a balance must be achieved in saving both lives and livelihoods in our province.

This is because a humanitarian crisis caused by economic restrictions will also cost lives in the Western Cape and South Africa. In considering whether a move to Alert Level 2 should be introduced ahead of the upcoming religious holidays, we have again applied these guiding principles and compared the data available to us.

Our health platform data, as per last week's DigiCon, is as follows:

There continues to be a decline in cases, admissions and deaths in the Western Cape (although starting to plateau).

The proportion of positive tests remains stable at 5.1%.

We are approaching the situation seen between the first and second waves, although we have not reached it yet.

The reproductive number remains below 1.

Cases in the Cape Metro declined by 20%.

Cases in the rural districts overall have declined by 26%.

18 treatment plants have detected no Covid-19 in wastewater, up from 9 previously.

There are only 20 active Covid-19 cases amongst our healthcare workers.

Occupancy in Covid-19 beds in the Cape Metro are at 15%, in the George drainage area at 16%, in the Paarl drainage area at 21%, and the Worcester drainage area at 23%.

Covid-19 positive patients and People Under Investigation (PUI) only make up 7% of all general acute care beds in the province.

There are just 27 patients at the Brackengate Hospital of Hope (338 bed capacity).

There are just 41 patients at the Mitchells Plain Hospital of Hope (200 bed capacity).

This data, overall, demonstrates a health platform that currently has the capacity to respond to Covid-19.

On the other hand, the Western Cape's economy was hit hard last year, and we are only now starting to see signs of a delicate recovery.

Our economic and humanitarian considerations are as follows:

According to Wesgro's research, net job losses in 2020 exceeded 150 000 in the Western Cape.

Almost all the top tourism attractions in the Western Cape reflected a more than 60% drop in visitors over the peak tourism season in December.

The Easter period is very important for domestic tourism in South Africa and limiting demand now will result in even more job losses.

Nearly 30% of restaurants surveyed have closed temporarily or permanently, based on data from the Restaurant Association of South Africa.

The previous beach ban is estimated to have cost the sector at least R120 million a month. Some 12,8% of visitors indicate beach visits as their top priority.

According to an industry impact report by Cape Town Tourism, released in February 2021, 68% of businesses surveyed have already let staff go and 83% have implemented pay cuts.

The same report found that of those businesses that are still operating, 68% are relying on the domestic market to keep their doors open, given low demand by international travelers.

The first two bans on alcohol have already resulted in an estimated 165 000 job losses country wide, and this sector is important for sustaining agri jobs in the Western Cape.

For example, wine grapes represent 50,3% of the 181,233ha under production in our province, and the replacement value of these wine grapes amounts to R33,94 billion.

The Western Cape's Department of Agriculture further estimates that 45 610 people work in the primary production side of the wine industry alone, supporting 228 053 people.

According to the National Income Dynamics Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey, 18% of South African households reported someone going hungry by the end of last year.

When comparing this concerning data with the current status of our health platform, it becomes clear that moving to Alert Level 2 at this stage would not achieve the balance we need to save both lives and livelihoods in the Western Cape.

I am particularly worried that it will level another devastating blow to our tourism and hospitality economy in the Western Cape, which is under immense pressure currently, and which needs this upcoming holiday period to recover.

One must also consider that there are currently numerous restrictions in place under Alert Level 1, which need to be properly enforced to ensure compliance with important health protocols.

With this said, our government will continue to do everything we can to ensure we delay a possible third wave for as long as possible.

We fully agree that this period is a major risk and that every single person, family, business, and civil society grouping has a role to play. Personal responsibility is going to be critical over the next few weeks.

For our part, we will not let our foot off the pedal and will continue to intervene to slow the spread of Covid-19:

We will continue with our targeted hotspot approach to ensure an all-of-government, all-of-society response to the pandemic.

We have already launched an awareness campaign to urge residents to behave responsibly over this upcoming religious period.

We will continue to work with religious groupings through our Faith Based Organisation Network to ensure the behaviour change needed.

We will use our advanced surveillance monitoring systems to detect and respond to clusters when they emerge, and we will transparently share this data with the public weekly so they can see when the situation changes.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Governance Coronavirus By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

We will continue to work with businesses to ensure they are compliant.

The Western Cape Liquor Authority will continue to take action against those businesses that break the rules.

We will leverage our partnerships across the Western Cape, especially with local governments, to ensure enforcement of existing restrictions to ensure compliance with important health and safety protocols.

I want to urge every single person to play their part so we keep our infections and hospital admissions down, and so that we can continue to get this delicate balance right in our province.

Please urge your family, friends, neighbours and loved ones to:

Avoid crowded places, especially where there is poor ventilation.

Wear a mask whenever in public, or with people outside of your own household.

Gather outdoors, and remember to keep it short and small, to limit exposure.

Protect those at greatest risk of severe Covid-19 infection such as those with comorbidities and the elderly.

Think smartly and act responsibly so that you don't put yourself in a situation where you either get infected with Covid-19 or spread Covid-19.

Let's all work together now to save both lives and jobs in the Western Cape.
Jesinta Campbell gave birth to her second child, a son, last week.

And on Tuesday, the Australian model and WAG revealed that she's binding her stomach in an attempt to hasten the healing process after labour.

The 29-year-old shared a video to Instagram Stories showing a practitioner binding her stomach with pieces knotted of fabric, in a process known as Bekung Belly Binding.

Bekung Belly Binding is a traditional Malaysian practice that is said to help the abdominal area after giving birth.

Women are usually advised to wear the wrap for up to 12 hours a day for approximately a month.

'Benkung Belly Binding. 'Promotes recovery and supports healing while your muscles retract,' she wrote in the caption.

Recovery: On Tuesday, AFL WAG Jesinta Campbell revealed she's binding her stomach in an attempt to hasten the healing process after labour - less than a week after welcoming her second child with Lance 'Buddy' Franklin

'Helps keep the body warn after the cooling process of childbirth. Supports organs and muscles,' she added.

This is the second time that Jesinta has had her belly bound after giving birth, previously having it done in March last year after the birth of daughter Tullulah, now one.

At the time, she said she explored the practice with the help of her doula and rather than it being for 'aesthetics,' was purely to 'support her body in the process of healing post-birth.'

Healing process: The 29-year-old shared a video to Instagram Stories showing a practitioner binding her stomach with pieces knotted of fabric, in a process known as Bekung Belly Binding

What is belly binding? - Bekung Belly Binding is a traditional Malaysian practice - It's said to help the abdominal area after giving birth - People are usually told to wear the wrap for up to 12 hours a day for approximately a month Advertisement

She recommended fans use a $75 binder kit from Etsy shop, and said it's best to use organic and natural cotton muslin.

'Once completed the wrap feels like a warm hug, with my body feeling so supported,' Jesinta said on her app at the time, adding that she got her stomach bound daily.

Talking about why she was so interested in the practice, Jesinta said that the female body changes so much while pregnant.

'The growth of our bellies and breasts are visually obvious to everyone yet the internal changes taking place to accommodate the growth of a little human are the ones not commonly spoken about,' Jesinta said.

'Our abdominal muscle separates, our uterus grow, skin and muscles stretch, our cervix dilates and our hips and pelvis move just to name a few.'

She's a fan: This is the second time that Jesinta has had her belly bound after giving birth, previously having it done in March last year after the birth of daughter Tullulah, now one

She added: 'It takes time for a woman's body to heal and for her organs to return to where they were before baby.'

Jesinta said that new mothers should always check in with their doctor before getting the binding done.

She said that from her research, benefits can include a reduction of postpartum bleeding and fluid retention and it is said to help with abdominal separation.

New addition: Jesinta gave birth to her son last Wednesday

Jesinta gave birth to her son last Wednesday.

Husband Buddy, 34, announced the birth on Instagram at the time, sharing a sweet black and white photo of himself cradling his newborn.

'Our baby boy has arrived,' he captioned the post, adding a blue love-heart emoji.

Proud dad! Husband Buddy, 34, announced the birth on Instagram at the time, sharing a sweet black and white photo of himself cradling his newborn

Last month, Jesinta admitted she was 'nervous' about having two children at home.

She shared a photo on Instagram of herself pushing a stroller, and wrote: 'Pre-dinner waddle to the shops. Can't believe we'll be whipping out the double pram soon.

'Would love any advice/tips from other mums with a one-year-old and newborn. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.'
[March 30, 2021] BrainChip Releases Latest Episode in 'This is our Mission' Series

BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN), a leading provider of ultra-low power high performance artificial intelligence technology, today announced that technology investment guru Alex Divinsky will join BrainChip Vice President of Worldwide Sales Rob Telson on the latest "This is our Mission" podcast episode designed to provide insight on the Company's strategy and progress. The 16-minute podcast will be available through the Company's website, https://brainchipinc.com/brainchip-podcasts/, as well as across all major podcast platforms April 6, at 4:00 p.m. U.S. PDT. With a background in remote sensors and a focus on AI, Divinsky currently serves as the Vice President of Strategy at RMG Media and the host of the popular YouTube (News - Alert) Channel, Ticker Symbol: YOU. In this fifth episode of the series, Rob Telson asks Divinsky to detail what he looks for in companies in which he invests; how BrainChip's technology plays out in real-life, real-time applications; and the importance in developing beneficial AI and the industries that can best leverage this technology. "With our successful history of developing next-generation AI technologies, we have been able to gain a keen understanding of the industry and ow BrainChip plays in that arena," said Rob Telson. "But it is equally as beneficial to have someone with similar knowledge from outside the company come in and tell us if our experience is in fact a reality. Speaking with Alex about the qualities he looks for from companies in which he invests in and the direction that the market is headed helps investors better understand how the on-chip learning and ultra-low power capabilities of our Akida neural networking processor is bringing AI to products from drones to medical devices. This podcast can't be missed if you're looking to understand where artificial intelligence is headed."



Akida brings artificial intelligence to the edge in a way that existing technologies are not capable. The solution is high-performance, small, ultra-low power and enables a wide array of edge capabilities. The Akida (NSoC) and intellectual property can be used in applications including Smart Home, Smart Health, Smart City and Smart Transportation. These applications include but are not limited to home automation and remote controls, industrial IoT, robotics, security cameras, sensors, unmanned aircraft, autonomous vehicles, medical instruments, object detection, sound detection, odor and taste detection, gesture control and cybersecurity. The BrainChip Podcast is a monthly event intended to provide company and industry insight for the engineering community in target markets, as well as analysts, technical and financial press and investors.

About BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN) BrainChip is a global technology company that is producing a groundbreaking neuromorphic processor that brings artificial intelligence to the edge in a way that is beyond the capabilities of other products. The chip is high performance, small, ultra-low power and enables a wide array of edge capabilities that include on-chip training, learning and inference. The event-based neural network processor is inspired by the spiking nature of the human brain and is implemented in an industry standard digital process. By mimicking brain processing BrainChip has pioneered a processing architecture, called Akida, which is both scalable and flexible to address the requirements in edge devices. At the edge, sensor inputs are analyzed at the point of acquisition rather than through transmission via the cloud to a data center. Akida is designed to provide a complete ultra-low power and fast AI Edge Network for vision, audio, olfactory and smart transducer applications. The reduction in system latency provides faster response and a more power efficient system that can reduce the large carbon footprint of data centers. Additional information is available at https://www.brainchipinc.com Follow BrainChip on Twitter (News - Alert) : https://www.twitter.com/BrainChip_inc

Follow BrainChip on LinkedIn (News - Alert) : https://www.linkedin.com/company/7792006 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330006063/en/

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With the holiday coming this weekend, many city entities will be closing their doors in observance of Good Friday and Easter.
The COVID-19 vaccine hurts for a little while, but the long-term effects are miraculous. For doctors, regulators, and patients, telehealth will likely have a similar timeline.

Ive seen some recent articles where: A blogger realized, Telehealth has become a commodity; Amazon announced its telehealth business is going national; prosecutors unveiled billions of dollars in telehealth fraud; some Montana doctors fear the encroachment of telehealth; and where two health care managers touted telehealth as a boon for under-served communities.

Lets consider them one by one.

 Health care analyst Olivia Webb wrote, Im not the first to say that telehealth has become a commodity. What might she mean? Wikipedia defines a commodity as a good where the market treats instances of the good as equivalent or nearly so with no regard to who produced them.

Traditional medicine is the opposite. Patients care immensely about which doctor treats them. Economists call this monopolistic competition. Local primary care doctors compete, but each has a mini-monopoly on a bundle of qualities  experience, reputation, personality, schedule, location.

Telehealth commoditizes medicine. In Virginia, I once used the telehealth app of Doctor on Demand to see a New York doctor about my sinus infection. When I opened the app, I didnt care which doctor answered the call. I didnt worry about her competency, since Doctor on Demand has a reputation for quality control. I didnt care what hours she worked, where her office was, how pleasant her staff is, or whether she just started work last Wednesday or plans to quit next Tuesday.

When I worked in banking in the 1980s, commoditization was all the rage. Instead of your friendly personal banker, you did business via ATM or by telephone with some anonymous character in who-knows-where. For a while, people were alarmed by the impersonal nature of it all. Today, when you deposit a check while lying in bed, you reap the benefits of commoditization.

 Amazon announced its Amazon Care telehealth business is going national. No telling whether this endeavor will succeed. But Amazons strength is commoditizing formerly artisanal businesses. Instead of the corner bookstore or hardware store, Amazon provides effortless access to goods  and no one cares which warehouse they come from. Amazon has also built its empire on quality control and fraud prevention. Were nostalgic about little storesand they still have an important place. But after a pandemic year of lockdowns, few would wish for a world without Amazon. I like my own doctor, but Im glad I can reach some unknown doctor at 2 a.m.

 Speaking of fraud, Kaiser Health News reported, A federal government watchdog is sounding the alarm that the pandemic-driven boom in telehealth services produced a dramatic increase in telehealth-related fraud. The Justice Department charged a group of providers with $4.5 billion in telehealth fraud. The problem isnt trivial. But $4.5 billion is around 0.1% of total health spending and likely a fraction of routine Medicare fraud. Thirty years ago, many thought e-commerce would never be feasible because of fraud. Markets learn and adapt.

 Kaiser Health News tells of doctors in Montana, concerned with an influx of out-of-state telehealth providers. They worry about losing revenues to the newcomers. Some wish to saddle the out-of-staters with certain costs that local doctors bear  licensing costs, Medicaid costs. One doctor said, Im all for competition, as long as its fair competition. Not a wholly unwarranted wish, but that word fair is often used to justify cost-increasing measures to discourage competition. (New York cab drivers wanted a requirement that Uber drivers have the same expensive credit card readers that cabs have  even though Uber drivers dont take credit cards.) Other doctors worried about the quality of care and access to telehealth.

 The bright promise of telehealth was described in a Boston Globe article: Telemedicine Can Address Historical Structural Inequities. The authors described how telehealth brings care to people in rural and under-served communities, including ethnic minorities, who might otherwise lack care.

As for quality, the pandemic year has massively demonstrated the virtues of telemedicine. There are kinks to work out on quality, fraud, and access. Thats what markets fix. Just give it a bit of time.

Robert Graboyes is a senior research fellow with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he focuses on technological innovation in healthcare. He is the author of Fortress and Frontier in American Health Care and has taught health economics at five universities. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American healthcare consumers remain hesitant about reentering hospitals and instead are looking to urgent care clinics to aid in health-related needs, according to Deputy's COVID-19 Healthcare Urgency Report, launched today. The report also reveals that many Americans question the validity of the emergency authorization of three vaccines, despite mounting evidence of efficacy and recommendations by the CDC.

The uncertainty may stem from the fact that 42 percent of respondents incorrectly believed only hospitals can administer the COVID-19 vaccine, indicating a significant knowledge gap among Americans. Americans have largely avoided hospital settings for the last year: 35 percent have done so for fear of contracting COVID-19, and 44 percent said they did not want to clog their hospital's patient load.

Instead, healthcare consumers in the US are opting for urgent care facilities or healthcare clinics. The urgent care market is currently worth $29.2B, up three percent since last year. Urgent care facilities  which have existed for the last half-century in the US  have become increasingly popular with younger generations that are unlikely to schedule visits with a general practitioner. In fact, urgent care serves 89 million patients per year, including over 29 percent of all preliminary care visits in the US.

In the last year, pharmaceutical companies have partnered with the US government to create and roll out vaccinations for COVID-19. They've seen incredible success in flattening infection rates as 331 million vaccinations have been administered across the country, and 13.5 percent of the US is now fully vaccinated  with eligibility expanding daily.

Despite this, some Americans are still raising questions about how quickly Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson have manufactured COVID-19 vaccines in the last year. Deputy's survey reports that about half of those surveyed cited fear of side effects as a vaccination concern, 43 percent cited vaccine safety, and another 38 percent said they were concerned with vaccine effectiveness. Further, 66 percent of respondents plan to get vaccinated once they're eligible and 23 percent don't plan on vaccinating at all. The remaining 12 percent are unsure if they will vaccinate.

"Clinics have seen a rise in popularity consistently over the years, and have really taken off during the pandemic as many Americans feel less exposed going to a smaller clinic over a hospital," said Dave Zinman, Global President, Deputy. "Deputy has seen a rise in clinician accounts activated, driven not only by consumer demand, but the need for practice owners to streamline operations and create thriving workplaces.

"Although it's widely understood that administrative tasks are the norm when you own or run a practice, your doctor, vet, or dentist didn't go to medical school because they were passionate about operating a business. Instead, they are passionate about providing medical care in their community. Our scheduling software is perfectly positioned to help reduce administrative burden, providing medical teams with much-needed flexibility and functionality, so they can provide better patient care."

Download Deputy's COVID-19 Healthcare Urgency Report to read the full report, and visit https://www.deputy.com/industry/healthcare/clinics for more on Deputy.

Methodology

The COVID-19 Healthcare Urgency report was commissioned by Deputy and conducted by OnePoll. The poll included a census-balanced study of 2,000 Americans and inquired about topics like, essential worker treatment, hazard pay, minimum wage, current hazard pay legislation, and more.

This random double-opt-in survey was conducted by OnePoll - a market research company and corporate member of both the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR) - and adheres to the MRS code of conduct. For more information about OnePoll's research in the media, find its portfolio here.

About Deputy

Founded in 2008, Deputy's mission is to make it easy for workplaces and employees to navigate the changing world of workforce management. The company simplifies scheduling, timesheets, tasks and communication for business owners and their workers. Deputy's software navigates workforce legislation calculating correct wages, entitlements and penalties - keeping your business compliant and employees protected. More than 250,000 workplaces globally are leveraging Deputy to make it easier for millions of shift workers to manage their work lives. For more information, visit www.deputy.com, or find us on Twitter, Facebook, the App Store or Google Play.

Media contact

Maya Varma

US PR Manager, Deputy

[email protected]



SOURCE Deputy
OAKVILLE, ON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. ("AQN" or "Algonquin" or "the Company") (TSX: AQN) (NYSE: AQN) announced today the appointment of Carol Leaman to its Board of Directors.

"We are very pleased to continue to expand the skills and diversity of our Board with the addition of Carol, who brings with her a wealth of experience in the entrepreneurial technology space," said Ken Moore, Chair of the Board of Directors of Algonquin. "Ensuring our Board consists of diverse perspectives and experiences is key to our ongoing success. We expect Carol will be a great asset to the Board and look forward to the contributions she will make."

Carol Leaman, is President & CEO of Axonify, Inc., a technology leader in developing and providing online training and work process solutions for frontline workers. Prior to that she was the CEO of PostRank Inc., a developer of social engagement analytics platforms that was sold to Google. Carol is an active member of Canada's Silicon North technology cluster in the Kitchener-Waterloo region and has been CEO of several technology and software start-up companies. She is the 2017 recipient of the Profit 500 Award for Canada's Leading Female Entrepreneur and an advisor to several Canadian high-tech firms.

Ms. Leaman will serve as a Director for a term expiring at the Company's 2021 annual meeting of shareholders when she will stand for election by shareholders.

About Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. and Liberty

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., parent company of Liberty, is a diversified international generation, transmission, and distribution utility with approximately $13 billion of total assets. Through its two business groups, the Regulated Services Group and the Renewable Energy Group, AQN is committed to providing safe, secure, reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy and water solutions through its portfolio of electric generation, transmission, and distribution utility investments to over one million customer connections, largely in the United States and Canada. AQN is a global leader in renewable energy through its portfolio of long-term contracted wind, solar, and hydroelectric generating facilities. AQN owns, operates, and/or has net interests in over 3 GW of installed capacity.

AQN is committed to delivering growth and the pursuit of operational excellence in a sustainable manner through an expanding global pipeline of renewable energy and electric transmission development projects, organic growth within its rate-regulated generation, distribution, and transmission businesses, and the pursuit of accretive acquisitions.

AQN's common shares, Series A preferred shares, and Series D preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols AQN, AQN.PR.A, and AQN.PR.D, respectively. AQN's common shares, Series 2018-A subordinated notes and Series 2019-A subordinated notes are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols AQN, AQNA and AQNB, respectively.

Visit AQN at www.algonquinpowerandutilities.com and follow us on Twitter @AQN_Utilities.

All amounts are shown in United States dollars ("U.S. $" or "$"), unless otherwise noted.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements included in this news release constitute ''forward-looking information'' within the meaning of applicable securities laws in each of the provinces of Canada and the respective policies, regulations and rules under such laws and ''forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, ''forward-looking statements"). The words "will", "expects", "anticipates", "may" and similar expressions are often intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Specific forward-looking statements in this news release include but are not limited to statements regarding the expected future contributions of the newly appointed Board member. Since forward-looking statements relate to future events and conditions, by their very nature they rely upon assumptions and involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Algonquin cautions that although it is believed that the assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances, these risks and uncertainties give rise to the possibility that actual results may differ materially from the expectations set out in the forward-looking statements. Material risk factors include those set out in the Annual Management Discussion and Analysis and in AQN's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2020, each filed with securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States. Given these risks, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of their dates. Other than as specifically required by law, AQN undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise.

SOURCE Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.

Related Links

http://www.algonquinpower.com



Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 19:40:17|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on March 18, 2021 shows a piece of broken glass of a vehicle at the site of a bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Photo by Rahmatullah Alizadah/Xinhua)

BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday called on the international community to play a more important role in promoting peace and development and building consensus in Afghanistan.

Wang made the remarks when attending the ninth foreign ministers' conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan via video link.

The current peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan is at an important juncture and the political settlement of the Afghan issue is facing a historic opportunity, he said.

The international community should work together to maintain the momentum of peace talks and reconciliation in Afghanistan, increase the impetus of Afghanistan's reconstruction and development, and adhere to the general direction of anti-terrorism cooperation related to Afghanistan.

China will do its best to continue to support, mediate and facilitate the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, and make joint efforts with all parties in the Istanbul Process and the international community to support and help Afghanistan achieve peace and development at an early date, said Wang.

The Istanbul Process on Afghanistan was established in 2011 as a regional cooperation mechanism concerning the Afghan issue. 
China urges foreign companies not to become pawn of certain political forces

Xinhua) 10:20, March 30, 2021

BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- China urges relevant foreign companies to operate in the country in accordance with laws and regulations, and not become pawns of certain political forces or challenge China's public opinion, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters Monday.

Zhao made the comments in answer to a question about claims by the United States that the Chinese people's spontaneous boycott of foreign companies who refuse to buy Xinjiang cotton was led by the Chinese government and the country uses the dependence of foreign companies on China's market to suppress freedom of speech.

Zhao said that some people in the United States not only stigmatize Xinjiang cotton and seriously damage the cotton-planting industry in Xinjiang and China's overall economic interests, but also attempt to separate the Chinese government from public opinion.

Noting that there is no so-called "forced labor" in cotton production in Xinjiang, the spokesperson said cotton pickers in Xinjiang have a high income and sign labor contracts with cotton growers on the basis of equality, free will and consensus, while the mechanization rate for cotton picking in Xinjiang reached 70 percent in 2020.

The Shanghai representative office of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) said that, since 2012, the BCI's team in China has strictly abided by audit principles, carried out second-party credibility audits and third-party verifications at its Xinjiang project site, and "has never found a single incident related to forced labor," Zhao said.

Noting that respect is important in doing business, he stressed that the Chinese market is always open, and that China welcomes foreign companies to invest in the country and always creates a good investment environment for foreign companies.

"It is hoped that relevant companies will operate in China in accordance with the laws and regulations, and not become pawns of certain political forces or challenge China's public opinion," Zhao added.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Recent incidents of racial discrimination and violence against Asians and Asian-Americans in the United States have prompted critical discussions about how to talk about such biases with younger age groups. New research from the University of Kansas shows using critical race media literacy, or examining how race and gender are addressed in popular culture, can be an effective way to discuss those topics and engage students.

KU researchers published a study in which they observed an American teacher using critical race media literacy to discuss racism and sexism in superhero movies in English as a foreign language classes in a South Korean high school. They argued that successful implementation can provide a model for discussing social topics in K-12 classrooms in countries like the United States.

"I think now, more than ever, it's important for us educators to teach our students how to contest prejudice and discrimination against certain racial groups," said Hyesun Cho, associate professor of curriculum & teaching in KU's School of Education & Human Sciences.

The recent mass shooting of several Asian-American women in Atlanta made headlines, but the topic can be difficult to discuss in schools.

"Teachers often are hesitant to discuss race and gender in the classroom because they are understandably concerned about sounding too political," said Peter Johnson, doctoral candidate in curriculum & teaching and study co-author. "I think that is one roadblock that we need to address, and this approach can help do that."

The study was published in the International Journal of Multicultural Education and presented at the Second Language Research Forum 2020 Conference hosted by Vanderbilt University.

Cho has led a study abroad program with KU students since 2015, traveling to South Korea to gain experience working in high schools while teaching English. The researchers observed classes where students explored issues of racism or sexism in popular culture on their own. Several groups of students shared examples in popular movies like "Black Panther" and "Dr. Strange" to appeal to their classmates. Students made presentations in English about how the wildly popular films addressed race both in positive ways, such as empowering African characters in "Black Panther," and in more negative ways, including a white actor portraying an Asian character in the 2016 film "Doctor Strange." The students were highly effective at discussing critical race theory and other complex topics, the authors wrote, and using media that students find compelling is a key way to give students a safe, comfortable way to discuss difficult topics.

"Do not underestimate our students' intelligence and higher thinking skills. That's the argument we're making here, even if they are working in a second or third language," Cho said. "Discussing critical race media literacy worked very well in Korean classrooms, despite misconceptions that often exist about these students' English proficiency and cultural background. If the teacher gets to know students and their interests and creates a safe space for them to express their thoughts about social issues, this approach can work in other teaching contexts."

Not only can using topics relevant to students' interests help encourage their participation, but it can help teachers connect with students. Educators are more effective when they get to know their students, their communities, families, backgrounds and experiences, Cho and Johnson wrote. The teacher in the study was born in Thailand, raised in the United States and speaks English as a first language. However, he faced discrimination when applying for jobs at South Korean schools, as it was assumed he was not a "true, American English speaker" because he was not white. Sharing such experiences can help expand discussions of power structures beyond media representations.

South Korea, like the United States, has an educational culture highly focused on testing and assessment. A common argument is that topics like racism and sexism can't or shouldn't be covered in school because they take time away from focusing on testing areas. However, the students displayed high levels of critical thinking, use of language, technological savvy and other educational skills in their presentations. That success suggests adaptability to other settings and levels of curriculum, Cho and Johnson wrote.

Cho said she hoped to return to South Korea to study other implementations of critical race media literacy in classrooms to gauge their effectiveness and to form new recommendations for teachers to address the topics in their own classrooms. Both Cho and Johnson also encourage prospective educators they are currently teaching to consider such methods to engage their future students and empower them to take ownership of their education.

"We try to frame it for our future teachers so that they understand they are able to have a classroom where students feel comfortable to ask the questions they have on their minds," Johnson said. "It can be tough to strike a good balance, but this shows they can use media such as films students are interested in to get them to think about deeper issues."

While it can be difficult to discuss to racism, sexism or the recent violence against Asians and Asian-Americans in a classroom setting, the use of critical race media literacy works, the researchers said.

"This is a new imperative for survival in the current, racially contested world. Especially given the anti-Asian-American violence we have seen in the U.S., it is everyone's responsibility to address it," Cho said. "Students want to be heard, and this study shows it's not an impossible task to discuss these social issues and can be done in a way that uses content relevant and readily accessible to students throughout K-12 education."

Explore further How teachers can use social media to improve learning this fall

More information: Hyesun Cho et al. Racism and Sexism in Superhero Movies: Critical Race Media Literacy in the Korean High School Classroom, International Journal of Multicultural Education (2020). Hyesun Cho et al. Racism and Sexism in Superhero Movies: Critical Race Media Literacy in the Korean High School Classroom,(2020). DOI: 10.18251/ijme.v22i2.2427
Lorraine Kelly was left horrified on Tuesday morning as she was shown a mock-up of how she'd look with lip fillers and Botox.

The presenter, 61, was left reeling in shock and exclaimed: 'I'm so terrified' as an image of her with inflated lips and puffy cheeks flashed up on screen.

Lorraine had been joined by showbiz correspondent Ross King, 59, as they discussed the filter which showed people how they'd look with a facelift without actually going under the knife.

Oh dear! Lorraine Kelly was left horrified on Tuesday morning as she was shown a mock-up of how she'd look with lip fillers and Botox

Speaking about the results of what people would look like if they'd had these 'daft things' done to them, Lorraine declared 'shall we have a look?' as she prepared for the unveiling of her striking new look.

And despite knowing what was coming up, the Scottish star was left gobsmacked by the result as she shouted: 'Oh my God!

'And then people will say to me why don't you have Botox or fillers - that's why!'

As she burst into giggles, she added: 'I'm so terrified!'

Shock: The presenter, 61, was left reeling in shock and exclaimed: 'I'm so terrified' as an image of her with inflated lips and puffy cheeks flashed up on screen

Speaking from Los Angeles, Ross noted how actresses including Sophie Turner and Ashley Benson have tried out the filter.

He then unveiled his own image, saying beforehand: 'If you want to be really frightened... Steve [Smith, Lorraine's husband] don't worry, it can't be any worse than mine!'

Lorraine has previously opened up on her thoughts on plastic surgery and treatments, telling Good Housekeeping in 2019: 'To be honest with you, I see people who have had work done particularly on their lips and think, What are you doing?

Filter talk: Lorraine had been joined by showbiz correspondent Ross King, 59, as they discussed the filter which showed people how they'd look with a facelift without actually going under the knife

Wow! Ross King unveiled his own image, saying beforehand: 'If you want to be really frightened... Steve [Smith, Lorraine's husband] don't worry, it can't be any worse than mine!'

Funny: Celebrities including Sophie Turner (left) and Ashley Benson have tried out the filter

'My make-up artist Helen tells me not to have anything done. She sees people who have had work done and has to work 10 times harder to make them look the same as they did pre-surgery.

'I think its really sad. Look if you have had it done and nobody can tell, then good for you because we dont know.'

It comes after Lorraine apologised to KSI as she welcomed him back to her show on Monday, following her 'very strange' antics just one week beforehand.

During her interview with the YouTube star, 27, last week, Lorraine was seen dealing with a pesky fly, leg cramp, a bout of yawning, and a mouse in the studio  all of which was orchestrated by Stephen Mulhern for Saturday Night Takeaway.

Apology: It comes after Lorraine apologised to KSI as she welcomed him back to her show on Monday, following her 'very strange' antics just one week beforehand

Funny: Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have revealed they were behind the outbursts that were seen on Lorraine, Good Morning Britain, This Morning, and Loose Women

And when the two met again on Monday, Scottish presenter Lorraine addressed the deliberate chaos, as she told KSI: 'You must have thought I was having a moment during that interview! I'm so sorry!'

Smiling broadly, KSI admitted: 'I was so confused when you had the whole cramp thing and the mouse! I was like, what is going on in that studio?'

'You're so kind and understanding,' Lorraine responded. 'And as if i would yawn while you're talking to me! You're one of the most exciting and beautiful people.'

So sorry: When the two met again on Monday, Scottish presenter Lorraine told KSI, 'You must have thought I was having a moment during that interview! I'm so sorry'

Discombobulated: Smiling broadly, KSI admitted, 'I was so confused when you had the whole cramp thing and the mouse! I was like, what is going on in that studio?'

Admitting he initially thought her reaction was just a symptom of her busy schedule, he told the TV personality: 'I just thought you were tired! It's early.'

Lorraine then chatted with the social media star about his stint on The Great Celebrity Bake Off 2021, his music and post-lockdown plans.

As the interview came to a close, Lorraine told KSI: 'I'm glad that we had a more normal interview this time around... Thank you so much for being such a good sport. I couldn't have wished for a better person to have a live meltdown in front of!'
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Iwobi cleared to face Lesotho

Tuesday, 30 March, 2021







Alex Iwobi played for Nigeria against Lesotho in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying after all following a negative test for the coronavirus.

The Everton forward was forced to sit out against Benin over the weekend after returning a positive result for COVID-19 but with the Nigeria camp believing it was a false positive, he was re-tested and came back negative.

Iwobi, who was asymptomatic, was in the line-up that kicked off against Lesotho today, a match that the Super Eagles won 3-0 thanks to goals by Victor Osimhen, Oghenekaro Etebo and Paul Onuachu, but he was substituted with around a quarter-of-an-hour to go.

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

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Hundreds of demonstrators gathered for the fourth Kill the Bill protest in Bristol on Tuesday after officers issued pictures of 14 people involved in last week's riots.

Activists arrived at College Green for the fourth rally held in the city since March 21, when a 'mob of animals' smashed through the windows of a police station and two officers were left seriously injured.

More than 500 people marched through the city centre, holding up a banner reading 'how man broke bones'. Demonstrators then staged a peaceful sit-down protest outside Bridewell Police Station, reported Bristol Live.

Footage had shown demonstrators sat in the road by the Bearpit roundabout earlier in the evening, with car horns and shouts of 'you're holding up the street' heard in the background.

A microphone had also been set up on the green with people making speeches, dancing to reggae and a woman singing Bob Marley.

Avon and Somerset Police had warned of potential traffic disruption, confirming they had 'engaged with a number of people' and approximately 150 people were in attendance, as of around 8.15pm.

The rally appears to have wound down with protestors moving to one side of the road to allow lorries to pass and police reducing the number of riot vans on standby from six to three.

So far, 25 arrests have been made overall in connection with the movement, which was launched following outrage at the government's proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Protesting is now legal in England following a change in Covid-19 lockdown rules which came into force yesterday, but organisers are required to submit risk assessments and ensure social distancing.

Demonstrators hold up a banner reading 'how man broke bones' as they march to Bridewell Police Station in Bristol during a 'Kill the Bill' protest this evening

Protestors seen marching through the city centre during a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol tonight against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Demonstrators protest outside Bridewell Police Station during a 'Kill the Bill' rally in Bristol

A crowd of demonstrators pictured taking part in tonight's protest against the Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Protestors sit in the street outside Bridewell police station during Tuesday's protest in Bristol

A police officer is seen on standby as protestors march to Bridewell Police station for a sit-down protest on Tuesday evening

'Kill the Bill' protestors march to Bridewell Police station for a sit-down protest on Tuesday

Demonstrators hold placards during the march. Bristol City Council said: 'Due to this evening's protest, Park Street, Anchor Road, and Haymarket from St James Barton are currently closed'

Police officers watch on as people take part in tonight's rally. The bill would give the police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests

Demonstrators seen at tonight's protest. It comes as officers were today appealing for help identifying 14 protesters they believe were involved in the first Kill the Bill riot on March 21

Police officers wearing face coverings watch on as people take part in the protest in Bristol

A man holds a placard while taking part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest march past Bristol's Bridewell Police Station

Protesters sit in the road on the Bearpit roundabout pic.twitter.com/l9shvlRQqd  Conor Gogarty (@ConorGogarty) March 30, 2021

In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police earlier said 150 people were 'continuing to take part in a peaceful protest', adding: 'The protestors are taking part in a march towards the city centre so there may be some disruption to traffic.'

The force later tweeted: 'A number of the protestors are now in Bridewell Street and some have sat down.

'It continues to be a peaceful protest and our police liaison teams are continuing to engage with those there.'

Bristol City Council also posted: 'Due to this evening's protest, Park Street, Anchor Road, and Haymarket from St James Barton are currently closed.'

A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police previously told the Bristol Post: 'We would encourage the organisers to engage with us.

'We maintain the risk (from Covid) is still there and would encourage people to find alternative ways to express their views. But there are policing plans in place to manage any protests that do go ahead.'

It comes as officers were today appealing for help identifying 14 protesters they believe were involved in the first Kill the Bill riot on March 21.

Violent scenes had erupted last Sunday when around 3,000 demonstrators took to the streets to protest the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Demonstrators hold a placard reading '4 protests in 9 days? Maybe this is a sign!' during tonight's protest at College Green in Bristol

Three demonstrators wearing face masks are seen sitting on the grass at College Green during tonight's protest. Police confirmed earlier that around 100 people were in attendance

People take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol tonight. Protesting is now legal in England following a change in Covid-19 lockdown rules which came into force yesterday

Demonstrators are seen holding placards during a 'Kill the Bill' protest against the Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in Bristol this evening

A demonstrator wearing a face covering and a face visor due to Covid-19 is seen holding a placard during the 'Kill the Bill' protest this evening

Demonstrators hold placards during a 'Kill the Bill' protest. Earlier tonight, police confirmed that they had 'engaged with a number of people' at the rally

Activists pictured at tonight's rally. Although protesting is now legal in England, organisers are required to submit risk assessments and ensure social distancing

A demonstrator talks with police officers during a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol this evening

A protestor seen holding a placard reading 'protest women not statues' at tonight's Kill the Bill demo in Bristol

A man wearing a face mask holds a placards reading: 'Who are you protecting?' at tonight's rally on College Green

A demonstrator with a placard showing a quote from John F. Kennedy during tonight's protest

CAN PROTESTS TAKE PLACE IN ENGLAND UNDER COVID RULES? Britons are permitted to gather in groups larger than six for the purpose of 'Covid-secure protests' under updated lockdown rules. The guidance had previously outlawed any large gatherings, meaning the previous three Bristol rallies weren't permitted under Covid restrictions. However, an update which came into force on Monday allows people to gather in larger groups for protest if the organiser has 'taken the required precautions.' This includes completing a risk assessment for the gathering. The updated guidance reads: 'You may gather in larger groups... for the purpose of Covid-Secure protests or picketing where the organiser has taken the required precautions, including the completion of a risk assessment.' Advertisement

The legislation would give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance, with those convicted under the bill liable to fines or jail terms.

Last night, Superintendent Mark Runacres had urged the organisers of today's protest to contact officers so they can ensure the demonstration will take place 'lawfully.'

He said: 'For tomorrow and Saturday's protests to happen lawfully, there needs to be engagement from organisers

'It's not like it can just happen the same way it did pre-Covid, but we are happy and keen to work with organisers.

'We will look to agree and identify issues around timing, duration, route, end-point and how we disperse at the end. We want to facilitate the protest through the day.

'That's what we did throughout last year but for the recent protests we've had no contact from organisers.'

It is understood no one has stepped forward as an organiser for the rallies.

Officers today released images of 14 people they would like to speak to regarding the 'violent disorder' that took place in Bristol on March 21.

Senior Investigating Officer DCI James Riccio said: 'Our investigation is continuing at pace and we continue to make significant progress in what is a really challenging inquiry.

'We've had fantastic support from the public so far and for that we're incredibly grateful.

'I'd like to once again ask for their help to look at our gallery and see if they recognise any of the people in the images.'

There have so far been 25 arrests in connection with the unrest, including nine men aged between 19 and 44 who were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder on the night.

Police are appealing for help identifying 14 protesters they believe were involved in a chaotic 'Kill the Bill' riot

Officers have released images of 14 people they would like to speak to regarding the 'violent disorder'

Police have so-far made 25 arrests in connection with the rally. Pictured: People officers would like to identify

Avon and Somerset Police previously shared photographs of ten others they hoped to speak with, some of whom have since been identified

The week of chaos in Bristol began on March 21, when around 3,000 demonstrators took to the streets to protest the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. Pictured: People during the protest

Four women, aged between 18 and 20, were then arrested between Thursday and Friday, also on suspicion of violent disorder.

Later, police arrested another three people, two men and a woman aged between 21 and 30, on suspicion of violent disorder during a third protest on March 26.

The rally, which followed a second night of violence on March 23, saw some 300 people join a march through Bristol against the controversial bill before the crowd swelled to more than 1,000.

And on Saturday, officers detained three men and two women - aged between 19 and 30 - on suspicion of violent disorder.

The legislation would give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance, with those convicted under the bill liable to fines or jail terms

Pictured: A man police would like to speak with in connection with 'violent disorder' in Bristol

One of the men was also detained on suspicion of arson.

A further four people were arrested in the same case between Sunday and Monday.

Andy Roebuck, chairman of the Avon and Somerset Police Federation, said: 'Disgusting scenes in Bristol by a mob of animals who are injuring police officers, members of the public and damaging property.

'Avon and Somerset Police Federation are attending stations to support officers. We have officers with suspected broken arms and ribs. This is so wrong.'

Chief Superintendent Will White of Avon and Somerset Police said: 'What started out as a peaceful protest has been turned by a small minority into violent disorder.

Senior Investigating Officer DCI James Riccio said: 'Our investigation is continuing at pace and we continue to make significant progress in what is a really challenging inquiry'

He added: 'We've had fantastic support from the public so far and for that we're incredibly grateful'

Timeline of the Bristol protests: Sunday, March 21: Around 3,000 were protesting the new policing bill peacefully on College Green before a hardcore of 500 activists arrived outside Bridewell Police Station in Bristol city centre. They torched police vans, smashed windows of buildings and attacked officers. Avon and Somerset Police is investigating assaults on 40 officers and one member of the media. Tuesday, March 23: Two days after the riot around 100 demonstrators gathered on College Green in the heart of the city's student area. On this occasion there was no rioting, but one witness described officers' dispersal of the protesters as 'quite heavy-handed', which was 'shocking to see.' Officers made 15 arrests. Friday, March 26: Ten arrests were made after what police called unacceptable 'violent conduct' at the third Kill the Bill demonstration in Bristol. Some 300 people initially joined a protest march through the city centre against the Government's new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on Friday night, before the crowd swelled to more than 1,000 as tempers flared. Advertisement

'Officers have been subjected to considerable levels of abuse and violence. One suffered a broken arm and another suffered broken ribs. Both have been taken to hospital. At least two police vehicles have been set on fire and damage has been caused to the outside of the station.'

He added: 'We have requested mutual aid from neighbouring forces to bring this incident to a safe conclusion.'

Detective Chief Superintendent Carolyn Belafonte previously said the investigation into scenes on March 21 will 'undoubtedly be one of the largest in Avon and Somerset Police's history.'

She said: '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.

'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.

A demonstrator skateboards in front of a burning police vehicle during a protest against a new proposed policing bill, in Bristol, Sunday

A demonstrator gestures in front of a burning police vehicle during a protest against a new proposed policing bill, in Bristol

Riot police, with police horses and police vehicles, move down Rupert Street in Bristol towards protesters

Demonstrators stand near a burning police vehicle during a protest against a new proposed policing bill, in Bristol

A demonstrator gestures near a burning police vehicle as two other vans arrive at the scene to drive protesters away

Protester smashes a Bridewell Police Station window as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol, demonstrating against the Government's controversial Police and Crime Bill

'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.'

Anyone who recognises those pictured is asked get in touch with police on 101.
Prosecutors in Northern Ireland have not recommended the prosecution of any individuals  including deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill  for alleged breaches of Covid-19 regulations last year at the funeral of a senior republican, Stormont sources have indicated.

Ms ONeill was among those interviewed by police over the scenes at Bobby Storeys funeral in west Belfast in June.

The Public Prosecution Service has considered police evidence files on 24 people, including several senior members of Sinn Fein.

Breaches of Covid-19 regulations are summary offences which are punishable by fines.

Expand Close Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, former party leader Gerry Adams, and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill attending the funeral (Liam McBurney/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, former party leader Gerry Adams, and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill attending the funeral (Liam McBurney/PA)

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The funeral of former IRA leader Mr Storey has been one of the most controversial events of the coronavirus pandemic in Northern Ireland.

More than 1,000 people lined the streets for the funeral procession at a time when strict limits on such events were in place.

The attendance of Sinn Fein leaders at the funeral and a subsequent memorial event at nearby Milltown Cemetery sparked a major political row at Stormont, with the republican party accused of disregarding rules they set for the rest of society.

Ms ONeill, party president Mary Lou McDonald, former president Gerry Adams, Stormont Finance Minister Conor Murphy, TD Pearse Doherty, Policing Board members Gerry Kelly and Linda Dillon, and MLA Martina Anderson were among senior republicans who attended.

Expand Close A crowd at the funeral (Liam McBurney/PA) / Facebook

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It is understood the police files considered by the PPS did not feature individuals resident in the Irish Republic.

Mr Storey was not buried at Milltown but was instead cremated at Roselawn Cemetery on the other side of Belfast in a separate event which generated its own controversy.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland commissioned Mark Webster, Deputy Chief Constable of Cumbria Police, to oversee its investigation into the events around the funeral.

Commanders sought external direction as those who attended the funeral included Sinn Fein members of the Policing Board, which is the polices oversight body.

The PPS is also expected to make public decisions over alleged breaches of regulations at three other funerals, including that of former Sinn Fein councillor Francie McNally in Co Tyrone in April 2020.
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MUMBAI: National Airline, Maldivian has announced that they will be operating direct flights from Mumbai, India to Noonu Maafaru from 13th April 2021.

Starting April 13, Maldivian will operate three flights a week on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays to Maafaru, with a flying time of around two-and-half hours. Currently, Maldivian operates three flights from the Indian Ocean island country's capital Male to Thiruvananthapuram, two to Kochi besides Chennai, with Mumbai set to join next month.

On March 14, Maldivians Managing Director Mohamed Mihad had announced that the airline has made the necessary arrangements to welcome the first direct flight from Mumbai to Maafaru. Our team has met with the resorts and guesthouses in the area and even met with Indian tour operators to make the arrangements,

Maafaru International Airport is located on the picturesque Noonu atoll of north Maldives and was opened for tourism in 2019, said an official.The region offers over 10,000 tourist beds spread across four atolls making this new sector a winner in the leisure markets.

Maldives, comprising 1,190 coral isles forming an archipelago of 26 major atolls, is among the top favourite global shooting destinations for Bollywood with scores of films having been shot there.

This year, so far more than 50,000 Indian tourists, including a large number from Mumbai, have travelled to the island nation which straddles the Equator and offers a year-round mild climate with natural beauty of the sea, sun and sand.

Spain extends further one-month restriction on travel from outside EU area

Irish PM says a lot more countries will be added to govts high-risk travel list

No quarantine mandatory for international travellers in Mumbai if vaccinated
Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it.





I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends.





More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it.





The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity.





About me:

I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS.

Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line).

Age: 42

Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed.





I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it).
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Researchers in India are developing a disinfection chamber that integrates a system that can deactivate coronavirus particles. The team reports details in the International Journal of Design Engineering.

As we enter the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are signs that the causative virus SARS-CoV-2 and its variants may be with us for many years to come despite the unprecedented speed with vaccines against the disease have been developed, tested, and for some parts of the world rolled out. Sangam Sahu, Shivam Krishna Pandey, and Atul Mishra of the BML Munjal University suggest that we could adapt screening technology commonly used in security for checking whether a person is entering an area, such as airports, hospitals, or government buildings, for instance, carrying a weapon, explosives, or contraband goods.

Such a system might be augmented with a body temperature check for spotting a person with a fever that might be a symptom of COVID-19 or another contagious viral infection. They add that the screening system might also incorporate technology that can kill viruses on surfaces with a quick flash of ultraviolet light or a spray of chemical disinfectant.

Airborne microbial diseases represent a significant ongoing challenge to public health around the world. While COVID-19 is top of the agenda at the moment, seasonal and pandemic influenza are of perennial concern as is the emergence of drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis. Moreover, we are likely to see other emergent pathogens as we have many times in the past any one of which could lead to an even greater pandemic catastrophe than COVID-19.

Screening and disinfecting systems as described by Sahu could become commonplace and perhaps act as an obligatory frontline defense against the spread of such emergent pathogens even before they are identified. Such an approach to unknown viruses is well known in the computer industry where novel malware emerges, so-called 0-day viruses, before the antivirus software is updated to recognize it and so blanket screening and disinfection software is often used.

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

More information: Sangam Sahu et al. Disinfectant chamber for killing body germs with integrated FAR-UVC chamber (for COVID-19), International Journal of Design Engineering (2021). Sangam Sahu et al. Disinfectant chamber for killing body germs with integrated FAR-UVC chamber (for COVID-19),(2021). DOI: 10.1504/IJDE.2021.113247
Carrie Lam speaks during a press conference at the government headquarters in Hong Kong on March 30, 2021 - ANTHONY WALLACE/AF

Britain accused China of breaching the joint declaration guaranteeing Hong Kongs freedoms after Beijing passed a law that would bar candidates from elections on the grounds of insufficient patriotism.

Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, said Beijing had broken international commitments after President Xi Jinping signed the new measures into law after it was unanimously approved by China's parliament on Tuesday.

Today China enacted changes to Hong Kongs electoral system which are a clear breach of the joint declaration  undermining the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and breaking Beijings international obligations, he wrote on Twitter.

The legislation establishes a committee to carry out background checks on anyone wanting to enter Hong Kong politics and review whether would-be candidates are sufficiently patriotic to hold electoral office.

The qualification review committee will receive reports from Hong Kongs National Security Committee and National Security Police on every candidate. Its decisions will be final and impossible to appeal.

The law also heavily dilutes the power of opposition politicians by slashing the number of directly elected legislators from 35 to 20 while expanding the size of the body from 70 to 90 seats.

Of the remainder, 40 will be appointed by a committee and 30 by functional constituencies, or trade groups. Both are historically loyal to Beijing.

Carrie Lam, the citys chief executive, said the law would mitigate "the excessive politicisation in society and the internal rift that has torn Hong Kong apart.

"Hong Kong's institutions of political power and governance must always be firmly in the hands of those who love the motherland and Hong Kong," said the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, which formulates Beijing's policies for the financial hub.

But pro-democracy campaigners described it as a drastic step backwards designed to further constrain the movement for electoral reform.

Story continues

I think this is a backward step, because the progress we had made in the past 20 odd years is gone. It is now even worse than when Hong Kong returned to China, said Lo Kin-hei, chairman of the Democratic Party.

Lo Kin-hei speaks to reporters after China's Standing Committee of the National People's Congress approved major changes to the city's electoral system - JEROME FAVRE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Most of the people who supported the pro-democracy camp for so many years are keen for Hong Kong to have fair elections and universal suffrage. When we see the proposal and changes of electoral methods, we know that we are getting farther and farther away from getting the universal suffrage we hope for, so I think most of the Hong Kong people will not be happy about it, he added.

Hong Kongs autonomy was guaranteed under a one country, two systems agreement enshrined in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration signed by then Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The first elections under the new system are to take place in December.
Eight armed robbers raided Gateway High School in Harare over the weekend and used explosives to blow open the safe to steal more than US$250 000 cash.

No one was injured and police have launched a manhunt for the robbers.

Sources close to the investigations yesterday said the eight first attacked a security guard who was manning the premises around midnight on Saturday before they forced open the office where the safe was positioned.

They then used explosives to blow up the safe and got away with the cash.

A team of detectives from CID Homicide, which deals with all very serious violent crimes, was yesterday morning at the school to probe the matter further.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said yesterday the police were confident they would arrest the gang.

"The ZRP confirms that investigations are in progress in connection with the armed robbery case which occurred at Gateway High School, Harare, on March 28, 2021 when eight suspects pounced on a guard and blasted an office safe and went away with US$250 000. We are confident the robbers will be arrested," he said.

In a statement, the chairperson of the school's board of trustees, Mrs Sarah Cross, said: "It is with great distress and concern that we inform you of an armed robbery that took place at Gateway High School on Saturday 27 March 2021. At midnight, a gang of eight robbers entered the school premises and blew up the strong room in the administration centre using dynamite.

"Though no one was injured, there was money stolen. Police and CID have been engaged and investigations are currently proceeding. We do have night guards and we work through a security firm, and all of this will be part of the investigations," she said.

Armed robbery cases have been on the increase countrywide although gangs are being rounded up and accounted for.

In one of the most recent gang eliminations, a suspected female armed robber who was part of an eight-member gang that has been raiding in Harare, Mutoko and Macheke, was shot and killed following a shoot-out with police in Kuwadzana. Police arrested seven of her accomplices who have been identified as Kudzanai Manyonga (35), Tonia Farai Ndoro (27), Prosper Magwejani (44), Gilbert Chikukwa (54), Chancellor Thandi (40), Robinson Chinhuka (42) and Amiah Chayi (18). The woman was identified as Lucy Nyakudya (20).

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Last month, 11 armed robbers were caught red-handed by police and other security personnel while they were in the process of robbing a 30-year-old man at Maruta Shopping Centre in Hatfield using two .303 Lee Enfield rifles, iron bars, a sjambok and catapults.

The police, who were manning a roadblock rushed to the rescue of the man after hearing commotion near the shopping centre.

Those arrested were Tatenda Manongwa (26), Jabulani Majoni (32), Blessing Mabhureni (27), John Machingauta (26), Piyson Pamehenza (age not given), Lawrence Kwashira (20), Tinashe Nyamaumba (25), Professor Majaya (28), Ashington Chamunorwa (31), Tashinga Madzana (age not given) and Farai Mangwanani (32).

Another four armed robbers, including a serving member of the ZRP were killed, while two others were arrested when they resisted arrest by shooting at the police who returned fire when they were caught after robbing a Harare businessman of US$10 000.

While four of the armed robbers were killed when the police shot back, Blessing Bheura (29) and Tichaona Kariwa (33) of Domboshava were arrested. Those that were killed are Constable Kudzai Kanjera (41) of ZRP Hatfield, Admire Nhetekwa (26), Brian Chibaya (37) and Tatenda Chari (35).

Police received a tip off that the robbers were planning to pounce on the businessman and they ambushed them soon after the robbery. One of the suspects, Bheura, had just been released on bail pending appeal.


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 

Cyberattacks are increasing in frequency, ramping up the data privacy threats they pose to government agencies and businesses alike. Governments both domestic and foreign need to step up efforts to pass legislation that bolsters technological defenses this year, warn privacy groups.

Stiffer privacy laws are gradually being reviewed and signed into the U.S. market. But that process is mostly taking place at the state level.

Meanwhile, cyberattacks present IT experts and legislators with a war on two fronts. The software industry struggles with security issues that make cyberattacks viable. Government officials and business execs struggle with complicated legal issues involving outdated or missing privacy protections.

Bigger and more successful incursions into government, business, and personal computers are common events. Phishing campaigns and ransomware attacks are finding new victims regularly. The situation is much like a game of Whack-a-Mole.

Privacy advocates see better opportunities for privacy laws taking hold as they focus on pushing federal legislators to enact stronger consumer privacy laws in the coming years. These new laws need to pay prime attention to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), cloud computing, and blockchain.

"I expect increasing regulation, especially when it comes to state laws that focus on sensitive personal data," says Scott Pink, special counsel in the Silicon Valley office of the international law firm O'Melveny & Myers, and member of the firm's Data Security and Privacy Group.

Pink regularly advises media and technology companies on how to comply with the current patchwork of state and industry-specific privacy regulations. He believes that 2021 could mark a new era in privacy laws aimed to safeguard a wide array of valuable digital information.

"COVID-19 health data is of immediate concern as we move into the pandemic's next phase. Governments and health care systems are collecting vast amounts of contact tracing and vaccine-related information. Implementing laws, policies, and procedures to ensure the integrity of that data will be key," Pink told TechNewsWorld.

Cyberattacks are a significant risk, especially as remote working and the increasing sophistication of phishing and social engineering attacks create more vulnerabilities than ever before, he emphasized. Cyberattacks and their impact on data privacy can severely impact the operations of government agencies, companies, schools, and beyond.

RATs in the Attack Mix

The most prevalent threats lurking in 2021 are RAT infestations. The acronym RAT stands for Remote Access Trojan, a form of malware that allows hackers to control devices remotely.

Once a RAT program is connected to a computer, a hacker can look at local files, acquire login credentials and other personal information, or use the connection to download viruses that can then, unbeknownst to the user, be spread to others.

Remote access intrusions can be problematic, especially with millions of people now working from home, noted Robert Siciliano, cyber social identity protection instructor at ProtectNow.

"Microsoft's remote desktop protocol and numerous third-party remote access technology services dramatically increase the attack surface for hackers wanting to break into corporate and government networks," he told TechNewsWorld.

Some of the cyberattacks are based on escalated tactics made available since the pandemic and are different from those prior to last year, he noted. Neither corporate America nor local, state, and federal governments never saw this coming.

The Cloud Factor Counts Too

Still, hackers are not succeeding strictly by using modern-day- high-tech tactics. Today's threats are an escalation of existing threat methods that have been around for years and that have been accelerated by even more prevalent use of cloud computing and agile development, according to Naama Ben Dov, associate at YL Ventures, an American-Israeli venture capital firm that specializes in seed stage cybersecurity investments.

The cloud migration is a big part of the data privacy troubles we are seeing today. Data remains the highest value target for attackers. As such, data theft is the most prevalent threat this year, insisted Eldad Chai, co-founder and CEO of Satori Cyber, a data access and governance firm in Tel Aviv that is one of YL Ventures' portfolio companies.

"Through access to a corporation's data, attackers can inflict reputation, legal and operational damages that are disproportional to any other attack vector," he told TechNewsWorld.

Of course, much of that data is in the cloud. The trend of moving data to the cloud has accelerated over the past years and is now at a record high with the success of platforms such as Snowflake and the boost 2020 provided to cloud migration programs, Chai noted.

"The massive migration of data to the cloud, the democratization of data within an organization, and the work-from-home environment have expanded the attack surface for data and make it extremely hard to operate an effective data protection program," said Chai.

WFH Also Problematic

The work-from-home scenario has made the hacker's job so much easier. Attackers follow where their targets go, observed Ben Dov. Right now, more than ever, that data is dangling between home workers' computers, in-office workspaces, and cloud storage banks.

Conventional wisdom has always been workers are more productive in an office environment; and when COVID hit, IT managers were mostly unprepared, Siciliano said.

Although some companies deployed tech help to those employees using their own computers and routers at home to address security with devices outside the network, it simply was not enough.

"Work at home devices connecting to company networks with misconfiguration is an IT manager's greatest fear," he said.

Too Little, Too Late

In the U.S., existing federal laws such as the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 never quite anticipated this level of work at home, for example. The federal government is unlikely to make any significant changes anytime soon with so many other life-threatening existential concerns, in Siciliano's view.

One growing threat to data privacy incursions is ransomware. But it is an effect and not the cause of privacy loss. Ransomware ultimately ends up being an effect of a remote access Trojan or technology, he noted.

"IT managers must be more proactive with hardware, software configurations, and security awareness training," said Siciliano about preventing data privacy disclosures.

Shifting Tech Threatens Effectiveness

Among the most prevalent privacy threats we faced in 2021 comes from a reliance on third-party IT services that increasingly displace, or replace, applications historically deployed on-premises, according to YL Ventures' Ben Dov.

"Like the SolarWinds incident, many supply chain attacks target IT management systems that were in use long before the rise of the cloud. Organizations still depend on these tactics, and this attack will force a rethink of the extent of IT supply-chain exposure," she told TechNewsWorld.

The same applies to software applications, she continued. Recent years have seen an explosion in the amount of third-party software. This reality makes organizations lose visibility into the risks entailed with being exposed to said third party components.

That situation will no doubt get worse before it gets better, Ben Dov warned. Increased data privacy breaches, particularly private data, is increasingly on the sprawl.

"As long as there is a lack of meaningful technological approaches to identifying and securing data, many leakages are bound to happen," she said.

Fix What's Broken

Many existing solutions focus on data governance and adherence to compliance. These goals are important but do not aim at the root of the problem. They are only good to the extent that certain regulations go, according to Ben Dov.

"We need solutions that are able to track and monitor data through an entire lifecycle, in a way which will meaningfully integrate with existing business units of organizations and enable them to execute rather than stifle R&D, sales, and marketing. Security should be a cross-enterprise interest and goal which supports business processes," she countered.

Currently, the lawmaker is mostly focused on our rights as individuals to privacy. While this is welcomed and needed, it overlooks the implementation of privacy programs, and every company has its own way of meeting the privacy requirements, offered Satori Cyber's Chai.

"Focusing the laws on the outcomes, such as if data is lost you get fined, does not deal with many of the underlying issues in actually protecting individuals' privacy," he said.

Chai is not sure it is likely to happen this year. But he hopes that governments will do a better job in defining and standardizing data protection programs in a manner that will guide the industry in implementing effective and sustainable programs.

New Privacy, Security Wrinkles

With adoption of both cloud infrastructure and cloud services (SaaS), more attacks tailored and customized to circumventing the existing guardrails of the cloud will occur. Hackers will seek ways to circumvent cloud authentication mechanisms, suggested Ben Dov.

A related concern involves the trend of companies developing their own in-house applications, becoming their own software company. That opens the door to application-specific attacks, she cautioned.

"Hackers will always choose the easiest path in, and until 2020 exploiting bugs in old operating systems to install malware or social engineering people to install malicious software on their laptops was an easy path in," added Chai. "With data and servers moving to the cloud, we will eventually see less such attacks and more attacks focused on the cloud environments."

A key element that needs to be addressed, according to Siciliano, is a lack of concern for the security role employees need to play. That is especially true regarding phishing. Employees need a better understanding of how their ineffectiveness could result in calamity.

"Security awareness training as it pertains to phishing simulation by itself is absolutely not enough and will not solve the problem. The discussion needs to shift from security awareness to security appreciation, and right now most organizations are not doing that," he complained.

Final Thoughts

The main gap Chai sees today regarding data security and privacy is that existing solutions are not suitable to a model that leverages the legal context of the data. Models for existing data protection tools are mostly black or white. Either you have or you do not have access to data, he explained.

However, the privacy and legal context of data is much more complex, he reasoned. A piece of data could be authorized for usage based on the consent given when collecting the data, the geographical location of the data, the size and nature of the data set, the way the data will be used, and a set of other considerations.

"Until the legal and privacy context are integrated into existing models for data protection, we will still be behind," he said.

That process will need increased industry-government-academic cooperation and partnerships to share data pertaining to cybersecurity threats. It will also take knowledge about the threat to counter them, added Ben Dov.

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.


When police showed up at Garret Miller's Dallas home earlier this year to arrest him on charges that he had participated in the Capitol riot, his wardrobe spoke for itself.

The 34-year-old unemployed man, who allegedly forced his way into the U.S. Capitol building and threatened a congresswoman and a police officer, was clad in a T-shirt emblazoned with a photograph of former president Donald Trump and text declaring: "I Was There, Washington D.C., January 6, 2021."

WHY?: Showtime is turning the Capitol riot into a TV series nobody wanted

New details of his Jan. 20 arrest were revealed this week in court documents as prosecutors urged a judge not to release him before his trial, noting that he allegedly admitted to bringing a gun into the Capitol during the deadly insurrection. Police also found an array of weapons and gear in Miller's house, prosecutors said, including a grappling hook, ropes, body armor, night vision goggles, a crossbow and arrows, and multiple firearms with ammunition.

"By bringing tactical gear, ropes, and potentially, by his own admission, a gun to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Miller showed that he was not just caught up in the frenzy of the crowd but instead came to D.C. with the intention of disrupting the democratic process of counting and certifying Electoral College votes," prosecutors said.

Many of the people arrested for storming the Capitol have allegedly incriminated themselves on social media. Alleged rioters have shared selfies inside the Capitol rotunda, taunted the FBI in videos, and showed off stolen police gear while recounting how they fought officers and forced their way inside the Capitol, according to prosecutors.

Miller, too, is accused of being vocal on social media about his role in the insurrection.

Miller boasted about storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to court records, and hours after the insurrection, he allegedly tweeted "Assassinate AOC," targeting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who said she feared for her life as an angry mob forced its way into the federal building where she works.

He also sent a selfie that showed him standing inside the Capitol Rotunda, according to court records, with the caption: "Just wanted to incriminate myself a little lol."

RELATED: Texas man smoked inside Capitol, wore 'Murder The Media' shirt during riot, FBI says

In another Facebook chat, a friend shared a concern that Miller might be arrested by the FBI.

"It might be time for me to . . . be hard to locate," Miller allegedly wrote back.

In the weeks after the riot but before his arrest, Miller also grew obsessed with Ashli Babbitt, the woman fatally shot by a police officer as she tried to breach a restricted area inside the Capitol building, according to court records.

"Miller viewed Babbitt as a 'sister in battle,'" prosecutors said. "He became consumed with her death and circulated photographs on Facebook of an African-American police officer that he believed was responsible for her death."

"Dead serious she fought fir me now I fight fir her," Miller allegedly wrote in one Facebook message.

In other messages, Miller allegedly declared it "huntin' season" for the Black officer he believed had killed Babbitt and said he wanted to "hug his neck with a nice rope," according to court records.

Although Miller declined to speak with the officers who arrested him, he talked to his mother on a recorded phone call from jail soon afterward.

"I don't feel that I've done anything wrong and now I'm being locked up," he allegedly told her.

Miller is being held in a detention facility in Oklahoma until he is extradited to D.C., where he will be tried in federal court. But he cannot be transferred until he receives medical treatment for a broken collarbone that he suffered inside a detention center in Dallas.

His defense attorney, F. Clinton Broden, has asked a judge to release Miller from custody until his trial.

"He has no history of violence, and he did not engage in any acts of violence in connection with the charged offenses, unlike many others who have previously been released," Broden wrote in a motion to revoke a previous detention order.

But prosecutors say that Miller should remain in jail because he has shown a lack of remorse, made violent threats and previously suggested he would try to evade police.

"Miller came to D.C. for a fight," prosecutors said. "The defendant contributed to the violence that took place on January 6, 2021, and he showed through his actions that he is a danger to our society and a threat to the peaceful functioning of our democracy."
A measure reintroduced in the Senate would order the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay for and provide service dogs to veterans suffering from mental health issues, following years of fruitless attempts.

The Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers, or PAWS, Act, introduced by Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., would require the VA to create a grant program to pay for and provide service dogs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health ailments.

"For veterans suffering from the invisible wounds of war, service dogs have been shown to provide comfort, hope, and companionship," Fischer said in a statement.

Read Next: This GI Bill Rule Change Could Cost Veterans Thousands of Dollars a Semester

The VA covers some costs of service dogs for veterans with certain physical disabilities, such as blindness, but only recently conceded that the animals are beneficial as a mental health treatment.

The PAWS Act has been introduced several times in each chamber over the past few years and has consistently failed to become law. The VA has repeatedly asserted that the science doesn't back up whether service dogs can be beneficial to mental health; the VA committees have taken their cue from the agency.

"We're very confident this is the best year ever to get the PAWS Act through the Senate," Rory Diamond, CEO of K9s for Warriors, said in an interview with Military.com. "In years past, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has said we need to wait on the VA's study. Well, now the study is out and it says service dogs work. So, giddy up. Let's go."

The bill would give grants of up to $25,000 per animal to eligible organizations to provide service dogs for veterans. The money covers the average cost of raising, training and pairing a dog with a veteran. K9s for Warriors, a group heavily lobbying for the effort, trains mostly rescue dogs and matches them to veterans suffering from PTSD. So far, the group has paired nearly 700 dogs to veterans.

Nonprofits are one of the only avenues for veterans to adopt service dogs. The VA currently covers only the veterinary costs of service dogs that support veterans with physical disabilities, including blindness and mobility issues.

The department recently wrapped up a study after nearly a decade and found that service dogs do indeed reduce PTSD symptoms. The results also showed that veterans paired with dogs had fewer suicidal behaviors and displayed a decrease in other symptoms, such as anger and disrupted sleep.

The VA also expressed concern about what would happen to a veteran's mental state when their dog eventually develops medical issues and dies. The department noted that veterans aren't automatically strong dog handlers.

From 2005 to 2018, 89,160 veterans died by suicide, according to the most recent data from the VA -- more than the number of Americans killed in each major U.S. conflict except World War II and the Civil War.

There's no evidence the federal government has put a dent into the veteran suicide crisis, with VA's data showing little change in the suicide numbers each year. Between 2005 and 2018, roughly 6,500 veterans died by suicide each year, according to the most recent VA data. Some lawmakers and advocates are urging out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to mental health treatment -- dogs being one idea.

A group of lawmakers introduced the PAWS Act into the House earlier this month.

"Frankly, it's comical except it's not funny that the VA has been studying this issue, thinking about it, pondering over it for a decade," Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., said at a press conference in early March. "Veterans should have a full menu of options and different types of therapies, whether that's service dogs, hyperbaric chambers or other alternative therapy. We have to get out of this paradigm of just providing drugs to vets."

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Lawmakers Push VA to Provide Service Dogs to Vets After a Decade of Failed Efforts
First Capital Bank (FCB) commemorated this year's Global Money Week with a digital campaign sensitizing communities, especially young people, on how money affects livelihoods now and across future generations.

The campaign included an interface with students at Bedir International Schools in Blantyre where bank officials imparted money knowledge and responded to random questions on the issue.

Bedir Trust Executive Thokozani Mbewe expressed gratitude at the banks initiative saying it was insightful and exciting.

"We are grateful as a school for the financial literacy initiative conducted by First Capital Bank. The seminar was insightful and very exciting, we look forward to hosting the bank again," said Mbewe.

This year's Global Money Week was observed from 22-28 March under the theme 'Take Care of Yourself, Take Care of Your Money'.

First Capital Bank Products Executive, Jodie Chikowi said the country can only be assured of inter-generational robust finance systems and sustainable development if deliberate steps are taken today to impart money knowledge to the young ones.

"As a financial institution we believe that a good harvest is a result of timely sowing. In this regard, if we want to attain generations of financially literate people then we must impart knowledge about money on the young ones. It is through these efforts that we can build financially literate communities," she said.

Chikowi added that early financial education also go hand in hand with the spirit of entrepreneurship.

"Children who learn about finances at a tender age grow with relevant knowledge to start and grow successful businesses in future. This is so because money becomes part of their mental and behavioral fabric as such it does not come as a distraction later in their lives," explained Chikowi.

Global Money Week is a global money awareness initiative that takes place every March. It is coordinated by the Child and Youth Finance International (CYFI) to raise awareness on Economic Citizenship and directly engage children, youth and their communities in financial education and financial inclusion.

Since its inception in 2012, the campaign has reached over 40 million children and youth in 175 countries worldwide.
Leading private banks have started sending messages to their customers that they will have to transact on their own for services they want to avail, instead of banks deducting the fee automatically on their behalf. For example, Axis Bank has sent a communication to its customers that said in accordance with regulatory requirements, processing of e-mandates for recurring transactions, registered on credit or ...

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Medical workers attend to an injured Karen villager from Myanmar who crossed Salawin river on a boat, at Ban Mae Sam Laep Health Center, Mae Hong Son province, northern Thailand on Tuesday March 30, 2021. The weekend strikes by the Myanmar military, which sent ethnic Karen people seeking safety in Thailand, represented another escalation in the violent crackdown by Myanmars junta on protests of its Feb. 1 takeover.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailands prime minister has denied that his countrys security forces forced villagers who had fled from military air strikes back to Myanmar, saying they returned home of their own accord.

Prayuth Chan-ocha said his country is ready to shelter anyone who is escaping fighting, as it has done many times for decades.

His comments came a day after humanitarian groups said Thailand had been sending back some of the thousands of people who fled a series of air attacks by Myanmars military.

There is no influx of refugees yet. We asked those who crossed to Thailand if they have any problem in their area. When they say no problem, we just asked them to return to their land first. We asked, we did not use any force, Mr Prayuth told reporters.

Expand Close A Karen villager from Myanmar is attended by medical workers in Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A Karen villager from Myanmar is attended by medical workers in Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

We wont push them back, he said. If they are having fighting, how can we do so? But if they dont have any fighting at the moment, can they go back first?

The governor of Thailands Mae Hong Son province, where as many as 3,000 refugees had sought shelter, said later that those still on Thai soil were expected to return to their own country in a day or two.

The weekend attacks, which sent ethnic Karen people to seek safety in Thailand, were another escalation in the violent crackdown by Myanmars junta on protests against its February 1 coup.

At least 510 protesters have been killed since the coup, according to Myanmars Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which says the true toll is likely to be much higher. It says 2,574 people have been detained.

Protests continued on Tuesday despite the deaths of more than 100 people on Saturday alone.

Engineers, teachers and students from the technology university in the southern city of Dawei marched without incident.

The number of protesters killed in the city rose to eight with the announcement of the death of a teenager who was shot by soldiers on Saturday as he rode a motorbike with two friends. According to local media, a hospital certificate attributed his death to serious injuries as he fell from a motorbike.

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Whatsapp Karen villagers from Myanmar arrive on a boat with an injured person in Mae Hong Son province, northern Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Medical workers in Mandalay, the countrys second biggest city, honoured three of their colleagues killed by security forces. The two doctors and a nurse were remembered in a simple ceremony in front of a banner with their photographs and the words Rest In Power.

At a cemetery in the biggest city, Yangon, three families gave their last farewells to relatives killed on Monday in a night of chaos in the South Dagon neighbourhood. Residents said police and soldiers moved through the streets firing randomly with live ammunition.

The coup that ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi reversed the countrys progress towards democracy since her National League for Democracy party won elections in 2015 after five decades of military rule.

At Thailands Mae Sam Laep village along the Salween River, which forms the border with Myanmar, paramilitary Thai Rangers on Tuesday twice waved off a boat that had come from the other side carrying seven people, including one lying flat and another with a bandage on his head. But ambulances soon arrived on the Thai side and it landed anyway.

Thai villagers helped medical staff carry the injured people on stretchers to a small clinic at a nearby checkpoint. One man had large bruises on his back with open wounds, an injury one medical worker said could have been caused by an explosion.

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Whatsapp An injured villager from Myanmar arrives by boat (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

An elderly woman in the group had small cuts and scabs all over her face. Thai nurses in protective gear to guard against Covid-19 attended to her, giving her and others tests for the coronavirus.

Another villager from the boat, 48-year-old Aye Ja Bi, said he had been wounded by a bomb dropped by a plane. His legs were hit by shrapnel and his ears were ringing, he said, but he was unable to travel to get help until Tuesday.

The air strikes appeared to be retaliation for an attack by guerrillas of the Karen National Liberation Army on a government military outpost, in which they claimed to have killed 10 soldiers and captured eight. The group is fighting for greater autonomy for the Karen people.

About 2,500-3,000 refugees crossed into Thailand on Sunday, according to several humanitarian aid agencies who have long worked with the Karen.

They said on Monday that Thai soldiers had begun to force people to return to Myanmar.

They told them it was safe to go back even though it is not safe. They were afraid to go back but they had no choice, said a spokesperson for the Karen Peace Support Network, a group of Karen civil society organisations in Myanmar.
Addis Ababa  Ethiopia is executing due activities to re-access Eritrean ports of Massawa and Assab whilst the Eritrean side is currently renovating the ports facilities to handle Ethiopia's shipment and provide seamless service for the future traffic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said.

MoFA Spokesperson Ambassador Dina Mufti told the Ethiopian Press Agency that Ethiopia's re-use of Eritrean ports is part of a comprehensive agreement Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki concluded in the former's last week visit to Asmara.

Dina further stated that Ethiopia and Eritrea's move to economic integration would have a paramount importance to the peace and stability of the Horn of Africa.

Apart from sharing borders and communities, Ethiopia and Eritrea were one state that is believed to be the main factor for the unique cultural and social bonds the two states have enjoyed.

"What owned by Ethiopia is lacked by Eritrea and what they have is not with us," he said, adding that Eritrea's extensive coastline avails a good opportunity to the land locked Ethiopia's import-export trade.

Noting the positive relationship between Ethiopia's economic growth and its utilization of Eritrean ports, he expressed his optimism about the joint use of the outlets to the benefit of the people and economies of the two countries.

As to Dina, both leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea have strong desire to put the relationship in a solid base and held commendable deliberations on ways to cement the partnership.

During his two-day visit to Asmara, Ethiopian delegation led by Premier Abiy held a fruitful discussion with the Eritrean leadership and the parties reached a consensus to excel the two countries bilateral relations in political and economic frontiers including reponing of the border.

Involving the border communities in Ethiopia's Tigray State and the Eritrean side has given due attention by the leaders so as to restore the two countries people-to-people ties, the spokesperson remarked.
A tradesman who worked as a 'male entertainer' at Byron Bay hen's party is among five new Covid cases linked to a Queensland cluster.

The new cases are all linked to a nurse from Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital and her sister, who spent March 25 to 28 at the holiday hotspot for a bachelorette party.

On Tuesday it was revealed that the cluster has blown out to at least 10 more people who are infected with deadly UK strain of Covid-19, bringing Queensland's total number of cases to 15.

Upon returning home to the Gold Coast, the entertainer went to an aged care facility where every resident had already had their first dose of the vaccine.

The nurse and her sister partied in NSW's Byron Bay (testing site pictured) for a bachelorette party while infected with Covid

Pictured: Health workers setting up a drive through Covid-19 testing site at the Cavanbah Centre on March 29 in Byron Bay

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said pathology results revealed the nurse has the same genome as a man who was treated in the Princess Alexandra Hospital and tested on March 22.

The nurse worked in the Covid ward on March 18 and then did a night shift on March 23 - but was not dealing with coronavirus infections that night.

'My hypothesis - and this all has to be tested, this all has to be checked out, this is very preliminary information - is that she has acquired the infection when at work that night,' Dr Young said.

'I don't know whether she's got it directly from that patient, because she wasn't working with Covid cases that night, but we have to confirm that, or whether she's got it from someone else in the hospital.'

Pictured: People socially distancing at Main Beach on March 29 after Covid-infected people visited the town

Pictured: Byron Bay Beach Hotel, where a Covid-infected nurse and her sister visited between March 25 and 28

Pictured: A closed sign due to COVID-19 positive case having visited at The Farm on March 28, 2021 in Byron Bay

Dr Young said five of the cases overnight were linked to the nurse and her sister.

'They're all linked cases, and they all attended a party together down in Byron Bay,' she said.

Byron Bay residents are being urged to be especially vigilant in monitoring their health and are encouraging anyone with even the mildest symptoms to get tested immediately and self-isolate until told otherwise.

Ghanda Clothing, Tiger Lily, Black Sheep, Quicksilver, Suffolk Bakery and the Park Hotel Bottle Shop are in that category as well as Byron Beach Hotel, The Farm and Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park.

NSW Health released an alert on Monday evening saying anyone who had visited the Queensland capital since March 20 must immediately self-isolate and not leave their house until Thursday at 5pm.

A line-up is pictured at a walk-through Covid-19 testing site at the Surf Life Saving Club in Byron Bay in northern New South Wales on Monday

Pictured: People lining up to be tested at a walk-through COVID testing site at the Surf Life Saving Club on March 29 in Byron Bay

The outbreak prompted NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to residents to brace themselves for another wave of Covid-19.

NSW recorded zero new cases overnight from 7,300 tests, but Ms Berejiklian said that number was too low for officials to know they hadn't missed any community transmission of the virus.

The state leader said she 'would not be surprised' if Queensland's outbreak of the highly-contagious B117 UK strain of the virus spread south of the border.

She ruled out though shutting the border despite the Sunshine State announcing 10 new local cases of the virus on Tuesday.

'The NSW government is confident we have the provisions in place to get on top of it,' she said.

'I hope we do not have any cases arise in New South Wales but I would not be surprised if we did, so we must brace ourselves.

'We are expecting more cases from Queensland and hopefully most of those cases will be people in isolation, although we have to assume this is an evolving situation.'
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 50 Master's in Social Work (MSW) Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 181 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 181 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 Social Work (MSW) Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-masters-in-social-work-msw-degree-programs/

2021 Master's in Social Work (MSW) Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Adelphi University

Arizona State University

Azusa Pacific University

Boise State University

Boston College

Boston University

California State University, North Ridge

California State University, San Bernardino

Case Western Reserve University

Colorado State University

Columbia University

Florida State University

Fordham University

Indiana University

Louisiana State University

Michigan State University

Monmouth University

New York University

North Carolina State University

Ohio State University

Our Lady of the Lake University

Portland State University

Rutgers University

San Diego State University

Simmons University

State University of New York, Albany

State University of New York, Buffalo

Texas State University

Tulane University

University of Alabama

University of California, Berkeley

University of Central Florida

University of Denver

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Maryland

University of Michigan

University of Minnesota

University of Montana

University of New England

University of North Carolina, Charlotte

University Of North Carolina, Wilmington

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Boris Johnson and other world leaders have called for a global treaty in response to Covid - similar to that agreed after the Second World War.

In the face of vaccine nationalism and clashes between countries, the Prime Minister, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel - among others - warned against isolationism.

They described the pandemic as a 'stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe'.

Writing for newspapers across the world - including The Daily Telegraph - the leaders also urged a new era of solidarity in the face of 'the biggest challenge to the global community since the 1940s'.

The group of 24 world leaders - and the head of the World Health Organisation Dr Tedros Adhanom - called for a new international accord similar to those agreed after the war which saw countries work together for the common good.

Boris Johnson (pictured yesterday) and other world leaders have called for a global treaty in response to Covid - similar to that agreed after the Second World War

In the face of vaccine nationalism and clashes between countries, the Prime Minister, French president Emmanuel Macron (left) and German chancellor Angela Merkel (right) - among others - warned against isolationism

Who are the 24 world leaders who signed the article? J. V. Bainimarama, prime minister of Fiji; Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, prime minister of Portugal; Klaus Iohannis, president of Romania; Boris Johnson, prime minister of the United Kingdom; Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda; Uhuru Kenyatta, president of Kenya; Emmanuel Macron, president of France; Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany; Charles Michel, president of the European Council; Kyriakos Mitsotakis, prime minister of Greece; Moon Jae-in, president of the Republic of Korea; Sebastian Pinera, president of Chile; Carlos Alvarado Quesada, president of Costa Rica; Edi Rama, prime minister of Albania; Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa; Keith Rowley, prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago; Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands; Kais Saied, president of Tunisia; Macky Sall, president of Senegal; Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain; Erna Solberg, prime minister of Norway; Aleksandar Vucic, president of Serbia; Joko Widodo, president of Indonesia; Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine; Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation. Advertisement

'At that time, following the devastation of two world wars, political leaders came together to forge the multilateral system,' the statement - which was also published in French, Spanish and German news outlets - reads.

'The aims were clear: to bring countries together, to dispel the temptation of isolationism and nationalism, and to address the challenges that could only be achieved together in the spirit of solidarity and co-operation: namely, peace, prosperity, health and security.'

An agreement 'should lead to more mutual accountability and shared responsibility, transparency and co-operation within the international system with its rules and norms', they add.

It comes in the wake of clashes between countries over vaccine supplies as some - including the UK - surge ahead with vaccination programmes.

The European Commission has threatened to block the export of the AstraZeneca jab to the UK after a row over its contract with the company.

Brussels accused AstraZeneca of reneging on its contract to supply the bloc with 120million doses in the first quarter, having only delivered 30million at the time.

Last month, Mr Johnson called for fellow G7 leaders to back a new global pandemic treaty to share health data between countries.

The group agreed to 'explore the potential value' of the idea and are due to discuss it at the summit in Cornwall in June.

It follows a row about the origin of the virus and concerns China has withheld information about the virus and access to facilities.

The world leaders conclude that regardless of the origins of this virus, another global pandemic is inevitable.

In the latest stage of Britain's vaccine rollout, Mr Johnson yesterday revealed GlaxoSmithKline will support the manufacturing of up to 60million doses of the Novavax coronavirus vaccine in the UK.

No10's vaccines taskforce has signed a deal with British drugs giant GSK to 'fill and finish' supplies of the American jab at its factory in Durham starting from May.

Mr Johnson said the move will 'further boost our vaccine rollout', which is slow down next month due to a a shortfall of five million AstraZeneca jabs from India.

The GSK deal means the Novavax jabs will not have to leave the UK. The raw chemicals are being produced at a site in Stockton-on-Tees, but the original plan was for the vials to be prepared and packaged in Europe.

Last month, Mr Johnson (pictured) called for fellow G7 leaders to back a new global pandemic treaty to share health data between countries

Britain has secured 60 million doses of the two-shot Novavax vaccine under an advance purchase agreement with the American firm, enough to fully vaccinate 30 million Britons.

Earlier this month Novavax announced its jab was 89 per cent effective at blocking symptomatic illness and stopped 100 per cent of hospital admissions and deaths.

The Prime Minister told last night's Downing Street press conference: 'I'm delighted by GSK's investment, which shows the strength of UK manufacturing, and will further boost our vaccine rollout.

Britain has secured 60million doses of the Novavax vaccine under an advance purchase agreement with the American firm

The GSK site at Barnard Castle is a specialised facility in GSK's global manufacturing network which supports production of GSK pharmaceutical and vaccine products

'The vaccines taskforce has worked hand in glove with business to successfully deliver vaccines to the whole of the UK and this agreement will continue to support our approach.

The article signed by 24 world leaders - including Boris Johnson - in full 'The Covid-19 pandemic is the biggest challenge to the global community since the 1940s. At that time, following the devastation of two world wars, political leaders came together to forge the multilateral system. The aims were clear: to bring countries together, to dispel the temptations of isolationism and nationalism, and to address the challenges that could only be achieved together in the spirit of solidarity and cooperation: namely, peace, prosperity, health and security. 'Today, we hold the same hope that as we fight to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic together, we can build a more robust international health architecture that will protect future generations. There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone. The question is not if, but when. Together, we must be better prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics in a highly coordinated fashion. The Covid-19 pandemic has been a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe. 'We are, therefore, committed to ensuring universal and equitable access to safe, efficacious and affordable vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for this and future pandemics. Immunisation is a global public good and we will need to be able to develop, manufacture and deploy vaccines as quickly as possible. This is why the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) was set up in order to promote equal access to tests, treatments and vaccines and support health systems across the globe. ACT-A has delivered on many aspects but equitable access is yet to be achieved. There is more we can do to promote global access. 'To that end, we believe that nations should work together towards a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response. Such a renewed collective commitment would be a milestone in stepping up pandemic preparedness at the highest political level. It would be rooted in the constitution of the World Health Organisation, drawing in other relevant organisations key to this endeavour, in support of the principle of health for all. Existing global health instruments, especially the International Health Regulations, would underpin such a treaty, ensuring a firm and tested foundation on which we can build and improve. 'The main goal of this treaty would be to foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics. This includes greatly enhancing international cooperation to improve, for example, alert systems, data-sharing, research, and local, regional and global production and distribution of medical and public health countermeasures, such as vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and personal protective equipment. 'It would also include recognition of a 'One Health' approach that connects the health of humans, animals and our planet. And such a treaty should lead to more mutual accountability and shared responsibility, transparency and cooperation within the international system and with its rules and norms. 'To achieve this, we will work with heads of state and governments globally and all stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector. We are convinced that it is our responsibility, as leaders of nations and international institutions, to ensure that the world learns the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic. 'At a time when Covid-19 has exploited our weaknesses and divisions, we must seize this opportunity and come together as a global community for peaceful cooperation that extends beyond this crisis. Building our capacities and systems to do this will take time and require a sustained political, financial and societal commitment over many years. 'Our solidarity in ensuring that the world is better prepared will be our legacy that protects our children and grandchildren and minimises the impact of future pandemics on our economies and our societies. Pandemic preparedness needs global leadership for a global health system fit for this millennium. To make this commitment a reality, we must be guided by solidarity, fairness, transparency, inclusiveness and equity.' Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Emmanuel Macron, president of France; Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany; Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation and 21 other world leaders. Advertisement

'We remain on track to offer a first jab to all over-50s by April 15, and all adults by the end of July, and I want to once again encourage everyone to come forward for a vaccine when you're called.'

Novavax is due to submit its late-stage trial data to Britain's medical regulator in the coming weeks and approval is expected in May.

So far three vaccines have been approved by the MHRA - made by Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna - and a fourth developed by Johnson and Johnson is currently under review.

Britain already has enough doses on order from AstraZeneca and Pfizer alone to vaccinate the entire nation with two doses. But officials anticipate 'booster' shots will need to be given annually to the elderly and vulnerable because immunity wears off quicker in those groups.

The Novavax jab differs from those already being used in the UK.

It combines a genetically engineered protein that causes a weakened version of Covid with a plant-based ingredient to help generate a stronger immune response.

Novavax says people should be given two doses of the vaccine, three weeks apart.

The vaccine, officially named NVX-CoV2373, can be stored in a regular medical fridge.

The site at Barnard Castle is a specialised facility in global manufacturing network which supports production of GSK pharmaceutical and vaccine products.

The protein antigen component of NVX-CoV2373 is also produced in the North East of England by Novavax's manufacturing partner, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, at their site in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees.

Roger Connor, president of GSK vaccines, said: 'GSK is delighted to support Novavax and the UK vaccines taskforce with this manufacturing arrangement for the UK and our Barnard Castle facility is now undertaking the rapid preparation work required to manufacture up to 60 million doses of this vaccine.

'We have ensured that we can deliver these volumes without impacting supply of our other vital medicines and vaccines, and without disruption to the other Covid-19 collaborations GSK is engaged in globally.'

It came as Britain's daily Covid cases dropped 13 per cent in a week with 4,654 more infections yesterday.

Deaths have risen slightly to 23  up from 17 last Monday. But the Department of Health's official fatality toll relies on registrations, meaning day-to-day counts can fluctuate.

Experts would be baffled by any genuine spike in deaths because infection rates have not spiralled out of control since schools in England reopened on March 8.

The mammoth vaccine drive, which has now reached 30.4million vulnerable adults, will also save thousands of lives.

Mr Johnson yesterday warned Britons 'don't risk the progress we've made', as England stepped out of lockdown straight into a three-day spring heatwave, with temperatures hitting 66.2F (24C) this afternoon and a predicted 76F tomorrow and Wednesday - just shy of the all-time record of 78F.

Meanwhile, Professor Chris Whitty warned last night that Britain's 'wall of vaccination' against Covid is 'leaky' because jabs aren't 100 per cent effective and millions have still yet to be fully inoculated,

England's chief medical officer acknowledged the wall  designed to stop the NHS from being overwhelmed and thousands from dying in the event of a third wave  will get stronger when top-up doses are dished out en masse in April.

But when asked if the UK was really at risk of enduring a third wave when lockdown restrictions are eased over the coming months, Professor Whitty said it is 'not complete'.

Addressing the country from Downing St's new 2.6million White House-style press briefing room, he said: 'It's a kind of a leaky wall, and therefore there will always be some people who either have chosen not to be vaccinated, or where the vaccine has had much less effect.'

Flanked by Mr Johnson and Sir Patrick Vallance, Professor Whitty also warned it was 'inevitable' infections would rise when restrictions are relaxed over the coming months. He claimed reopening schools in England has already caused Covid cases to flatten off.

Pointing to Sir Patrick's slide that showed how the rate of coronavirus hospitalisations among four different age groups would be drastically lower if everyone was vaccinated, Professor Whitty said 'we do have kind of a wall of vaccination that will get stronger with the second vaccines.

'And I want to repeat my emphasis it is critical people get their second vaccine.

'But it is not a complete wall, it is a kind of leaky wall. Therefore, there will always be some people who either have chosen not to be vaccinated, or where the vaccine has had much less effect.

'If we get a small surge, there will be cases of people who have been vaccinated who will have severe disease, and there will be cases of people who are not vaccinated, a much higher proportion, who will get severe disease, and some of those will go on to die.'
LAWRENCE -- Recent incidents of racial discrimination and violence against Asians and Asian-Americans in the United States have prompted critical discussions about how to talk about such biases with younger age groups. New research from the University of Kansas shows using critical race media literacy, or examining how race and gender are addressed in popular culture, can be an effective way to discuss those topics and engage students.

KU researchers published a study in which they observed an American teacher using critical race media literacy to discuss racism and sexism in superhero movies in English as a foreign language classes in a South Korean high school. They argued that successful implementation can provide a model for discussing social topics in K-12 classrooms in countries like the United States.

Hyesun Cho"I think now, more than ever, it's important for us educators to teach our students how to contest prejudice and discrimination against certain racial groups," said Hyesun Cho, associate professor of curriculum & teaching in KU's School of Education & Human Sciences.

The recent mass shooting of several Asian-American women in Atlanta made headlines, but the topic can be difficult to discuss in schools.

"Teachers often are hesitant to discuss race and gender in the classroom because they are understandably concerned about sounding too political," said Peter Johnson, doctoral candidate in curriculum & teaching and study co-author. "I think that is one roadblock that we need to address, and this approach can help do that."

The study was published in the International Journal of Multicultural Education and presented at the Second Language Research Forum 2020 Conference hosted by Vanderbilt University.

Cho has led a study abroad program with KU students since 2015, traveling to South Korea to gain experience working in high schools while teaching English. The researchers observed classes where students explored issues of racism or sexism in popular culture on their own. Several groups of students shared examples in popular movies like "Black Panther" and "Dr. Strange" to appeal to their classmates. Students made presentations in English about how the wildly popular films addressed race both in positive ways, such as empowering African characters in "Black Panther," and in more negative ways, including a white actor portraying an Asian character in the 2016 film "Doctor Strange." The students were highly effective at discussing critical race theory and other complex topics, the authors wrote, and using media that students find compelling is a key way to give students a safe, comfortable way to discuss difficult topics.

"Do not underestimate our students' intelligence and higher thinking skills. That's the argument we're making here, even if they are working in a second or third language," Cho said. "Discussing critical race media literacy worked very well in Korean classrooms, despite misconceptions that often exist about these students' English proficiency and cultural background. If the teacher gets to know students and their interests and creates a safe space for them to express their thoughts about social issues, this approach can work in other teaching contexts."

Not only can using topics relevant to students' interests help encourage their participation, but it can help teachers connect with students. Educators are more effective when they get to know their students, their communities, families, backgrounds and experiences, Cho and Johnson wrote. The teacher in the study was born in Thailand, raised in the United States and speaks English as a first language. However, he faced discrimination when applying for jobs at South Korean schools, as it was assumed he was not a "true, American English speaker" because he was not white. Sharing such experiences can help expand discussions of power structures beyond media representations.

South Korea, like the United States, has an educational culture highly focused on testing and assessment. A common argument is that topics like racism and sexism can't or shouldn't be covered in school because they take time away from focusing on testing areas. However, the students displayed high levels of critical thinking, use of language, technological savvy and other educational skills in their presentations. That success suggests adaptability to other settings and levels of curriculum, Cho and Johnson wrote.

Cho said she hoped to return to South Korea to study other implementations of critical race media literacy in classrooms to gauge their effectiveness and to form new recommendations for teachers to address the topics in their own classrooms. Both Cho and Johnson also encourage prospective educators they are currently teaching to consider such methods to engage their future students and empower them to take ownership of their education.

"We try to frame it for our future teachers so that they understand they are able to have a classroom where students feel comfortable to ask the questions they have on their minds," Johnson said. "It can be tough to strike a good balance, but this shows they can use media such as films students are interested in to get them to think about deeper issues."

While it can be difficult to discuss to racism, sexism or the recent violence against Asians and Asian-Americans in a classroom setting, the use of critical race media literacy works, the researchers said.

"This is a new imperative for survival in the current, racially contested world. Especially given the anti-Asian-American violence we have seen in the U.S., it is everyone's responsibility to address it," Cho said. "Students want to be heard, and this study shows it's not an impossible task to discuss these social issues and can be done in a way that uses content relevant and readily accessible to students throughout K-12 education."

###
Istanbul, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Executes definitive agreements to acquire 70% of Bel Medic 

6 th hospital of Acibadem's European portfolio and 4 th country of operations (3 hospital in Bulgaria, 1 in Netherlands and Macedonia) 

hospital of Acibadem's European portfolio and 4 country of operations (3 hospital in Bulgaria, 1 in Netherlands and Macedonia)  Bel Medic currently operates with one hospital and five outpatient clinics in Belgrade 

Leverages on the global brand and reputation of Acibadem and emphasizes to continuing the provision of the highest level of clinical care in the country

BELGRADE 29 March 2021 - Acibadem Saglik Hizmetleri ve Ticaret A.S. ("Acibadem"), via its subsidiary, Acibadem City Clinic B.V. ("ACC BV"), announced today that it has signed definitive agreements for the acquisition of Serbian-based Bel Medic Group and its subsidiaries ("Bel Medic"), leading private healthcare operator in Serbia.

The transaction is an acquisition of 70% of the Bel Medic Group by ACC BV which is the entity for holding Acibadem's investments in Eastern Europe.

Bel Medic, founded in 1995 by Dr. Jasmina Knezevic and Milan Knezevic, is a leading high-quality private healthcare provider in Serbia, operating in Belgrade. It operates one hospital and five outpatient clinics.

The group will operate under the name "Acibadem Bel Medic".

Mr. Mehmet Ali Aydinlar, Founder and Chairman of Acibadem, said, "We are pleased to have Acibadem's sixth European hospital in Belgrade. As a result of our partnership with Bel Medic, as one of the key healthcare service providers in the country, we will be transferring Acibadem's know-how into Serbia. I believe that, healthcare service delivery level in Serbia will be elevated to a much higher level led by synergies to be created with Bel Medic."

Mr. Angel Angelov, Chief Executive Officer of Acibadem City Clinic B.V., said, "We are extremely excited to further extend our operations in the West Balkans. We believe that our Group's strive for excellency and first-class patient service will have a positive contribution to the Serbian healthcare market."

Mrs. Jasmina Knezevic, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bel Medic, said, "It is my great pleasure that Bel Medic successfully entered into partnership with a world class hospital chain. Acibadem is also in Serbia recognized as the leading foreign healthcare institution. From my standpoint, it is of crucial importance that both our institutions share the same core values with focus on top-quality state of the art medicine, excellent patient care and satisfaction. I am sure that strategic merger of two strong brands, Bel Medic and Acibadem will bring premium class healthcare as well as an important impact to the Serbian economy."

The Transaction boosts Acibadem's beds globally to more than 4,200 across 22 hospitals in 5 countries. Pending necessary approvals and satisfaction of certain conditions, the deal is expected to close within 3 months. PWC acted as the financial and tax advisors to Acibadem for the Transaction. Acibadem's legal advisor leading the Transaction is Esin Attorney Partnership, a Member Firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein and local legal advisor is Prica & Partners.

Ernst & Young acted as the financial and tax advisors to Bel Medic Group and its shareholders. Bel Medic Group's legal advisor for the acquisition is Karanovic & Partners.

For further information;

Please contact:

Evren Gence Ceren Tarhanli

e. evren.gence@acibadem.come. ceren.tarhanli@acibadem.com

- Ends -

About Acibadem Healthcare Group

Acibadem Healthcare Group (http://www.acibadem.com/en/) is the leading private provider of diagnostic and treatment services in Turkey since 1991. Acibadem has 21 general-purpose hospitals (1 located in Macedonia, 3 in Bulgaria and 1 in Netherlands), 13 outpatient facilities and support services companies and a team of more than 22,500 employees and 4,000 physicians.

Acibadem is a part of a larger global network known as IHH Healthcare Berhad ("IHH") (http://www.ihhhealthcare.com/about-overview.php). IHH operates an integrated healthcare business and related services and has leading market positions in its home markets of Singapore, Malaysia and Turkey, and it also has healthcare operations and investments in the People's Republic of China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) ("PRC"), India, Hong Kong, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Netherlands (through Acibadem) and Brunei. IHH Healthcare Berhad is listed on the main markets of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad ("Bursa Securities") and Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited ("SGX-ST"), and is the world's second largest listed healthcare operator by market capitalization.

Attachments
The Irish Kidney Association has welcomed Leitrim County Council's support of the Organ Donor Awareness Week 2021 which is lighting up two public buildings in Green in support of the life saving awareness campaign.

Green is the internationally recognised colour which celebrates organ donation for transplantation.

From dusk to dawn throughout Organ Donor Awareness Week which runs from March 27 - April 3, Aras an Chontae Council Building and the Bush Hotel, Carrick- on-Shannon will be lit up in Green. The Leitrim public sites are among 70 buildings throughout the country lighting up in green for the week-long campaign demonstrating solidarity in support of organ donation and giving hope to people awaiting life saving transplants as well as honouring organ donor families.

The organ donor awareness campaign poster includes Cathriona Charles from Mohill, Co Leitrim who this year celebrates the 30th anniversary of her kidney transplant (she is featured on the second row of the poster - far right). She is among 32 transplant recipients, including heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas, who between them are enjoying over 400 years of extra life thanks to organ donation.

This years Organ Donor Awareness Week campaign is built around the theme #Life is a Gift Pass it On and Share your Wishes. The key message is that the public can play their part in supporting organ donation for transplantation by ensuring that their families know their wishes i.e. have the conversation #have the chat The words #Life is a Gift, Pass it On represent the transient beauty of the gift of life underpinned by the selfless generosity of the human spirit. Share Your Wishes represents the importance of discussion with loved ones about organ donation and sharing your wishes is the cornerstone of the campaign.

For three weeks leading up to and including Organ Donor Awareness Week, Adshel poster sites, located in 30 shopping centres around the country, displayed the campaign poster.

A full list of Adshel poster sites and public sites which are lit up in green for the campaign are available on the Irish Kidney Association website www.ika.ie/donorweek2021.

This page also contains a range of materials for social media and education packs.

All campaign posters which feature photos of 32 grateful transplant recipients are available in English, Irish and Polish and digital copies can be downloaded from the IKAs website www.ika.ie/donorweek2021 and have been distributed to 1,850 pharmacies in Ireland.

Individuals who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to keep the reminders of their decision available by carrying the organ donor card, permitting Code 115 to be included on their drivers licence and having the digital organ donor card APP on their smartphone.

Organ Donor Cards can be obtained by phoning the Irish Kidney Association on 01 6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050.

You can also visit the website www.ika.ie/ get-a-donor-card or download a free digital organ donor card APP to your phone.
After a gruelling, three-year campaign against plans for a floating gas terminal on Western Port, residents were elated on Tuesday to discover the Victorian government had rejected the proposal on environmental grounds.

I am relieved, vindicated but mostly I just feel like our environment has dodged a bullet, said Somers resident Chris Atmore.

Campaigners celebrate the state government decision not to build a gas terminal at Crib Point. Credit:Justin McManus

I know how much the environment means to the Western Port community and all the people who come to the peninsula, she said.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the proposal for the gas terminal and an associated pipeline to Pakenham would have unacceptable effects on the environment in Western Port. The area is listed as a Ramsar wetland of international significance.
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Another destroyed Starship prototype; another day of regulatory drama.

SpaceX, having pushed its test flight back a day because a federally mandated safety inspector wasnt onsite, launched its Starship prototype Tuesday morning amid heavy fog in South Texas. The haze made it difficult to see what was happening. Then a live video from SpaceX froze 5 minutes and 49 seconds after liftoff.

But John Insprucker, principal integration engineer for SpaceX, provided some clarity:

Previous test flight: Starship SN10 sticks its landing in South Texas - for a bit anyway

For those who just joined us, the frozen view we saw on the camera doesnt mean that we are waiting for the signal to come back, Insprucker said during the SpaceX video. Starship 11 is not coming back. Dont wait for the landing. We do appear to have lost all the data from the vehicle.

Video shared by NASASpaceFlight.com would later show a massive debris field. At least the crater is in the right place! quipped SpaceX founder Elon Musk on Twitter.

His company is developing prototypes of its Starship spacecraft that could one day take people to the moon, Mars and beyond. Tuesdays launch of SN11, standing for Serial No. 11, was the fourth high-altitude Starship launch from Boca Chica, an unincorporated area of Cameron County located outside of Brownsville.

SpaceX has been rapidly increasing its presence in this community, and Musk would like to incorporate Boca Chica into the city of Starbase. On Tuesday, after the SN11 explosion, he pledged to donate $20 million to Cameron County schools and $10 million to revitalize downtown Brownsville.

"Please consider moving to Starbase or greater Brownsville/South Padre area in Texas & encourage friends to do so!" Musk said on Twitter. "SpaceXs hiring needs for engineers, technicians, builders & essential support personnel of all kinds are growing rapidly."

But this growth will likely come with increased federal scrutiny. After issues with previous launches  SN8, SN9 and SN10 also caused explosions and debris fields, and regulators said SpaceX violated its launch license with SN8  the Federal Aviation Administration revised the SpaceX Starship license on March 12 to require a safety inspector be present for every flight. This pushed the SN11 flight from Monday to Tuesday.

This is the result of FAAs continuing oversight of SpaceX to ensure compliance with federal regulations to protect public safety, including issues arising from the SN8 launch in December 2020, the FAA, which issues commercial launch licenses, said in a statement. SpaceX must provide adequate notice of its launch schedule to allow for a FAA safety inspector to travel to Boca Chica.

Inspectors are often onsite for U.S. launch activities, but its uncommon that a safety inspector is required to be present as part of the launch license, said Jared Zambrano-Stout, a former official in the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transpiration and the current director of congressional and regulatory policy for the law firm Meeks Butera & Israel.

It is interesting theyre requiring it for the launch, he said, because that means they believe the FAA needs to have eyes and ears sitting there for the launch.

Regulatory drama: Inside the FAA-SpaceX regulatory saga that delayed Starship SN9

It opens a new chapter in the FAA-SpaceX saga that began in December. SpaceX, prior to the December launch of its SN8 prototype, had sought a safety regulation waiver from the FAA. The FAA denied the request to exceed the maximum public risk allowed by the agencys rules. SpaceX then moved forward with the launch and violated its license.

This became public in January when Musk accused the FAA of having a broken regulatory structure. On Twitter, he implied that the agency was hindering his efforts to reach Mars.

Musk is known for writing opinionated tweets, but this particular message caught the attention of Congress.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure sent a letter to the FAA to register our concerns regarding the December 2020 commercial space launch in violation of FAA safety requirements, the FAAs subsequent response, and the pressure exerted on the FAA during high profile launches, according to the letter.

Following SN8, the FAA required SpaceX to complete an investigation, including a comprehensive review of its safety culture and operational decision making. The FAA had to approve its proposed corrective actions to protect public safety before SpaceX could launch SN9.

But the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure chastised the FAA for not conducting its own independent review. And it urged the FAA to resist any potential undue influence on launch safety decision-making.

The committee also asked that the FAA establish a strict policy to deal with violations of FAA launch and reentry licenses and to evaluate its commercial space safety oversight and enforcement posture. It should report to the House committee any changes the agency makes in response to an evaluation.

The FAA said it has received the letter and will respond directly to the committee. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.

The company is developing its Starship spacecraft through a fast-paced cadence of testing, flying, failing, fixing and re-testing.

Renaming Boca Chica: Elon Musk seeks to create the city of Starbase in South Texas

With each Starship high-altitude launch, three Raptor engines are ignited to propel the vehicle upward. The engines shut down one at a time, causing the Starship prototype to enter a horizontal, belly flop-like position. Then the engines are supposed to reignite and flip the vehicle for a gentle vertical landing.

SN10 was the only vehicle to land upright, though it exploded several minutes later.

On Twitter, Musk said something significant happened to SN11 shortly after the engines reignited for landing. The company was investigating what happened.

He added that SN15 will roll to the launch pad in a few days.

It has hundreds of design improvements across structures, avionics/software & engine, Musk said on Twitter. Hopefully, one of those improvements covers this problem. If not, then retrofit will add a few more days.

andrea.leinfelder@chron.com

twitter.com/a_leinfelder
WESTBROOK, Maine, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, Infinity Federal Credit Union kicked off a year-long celebration of its hundredth year of operations.

Employees of Infinity Federal Credit Union's Portland branch at 29 Baxter Boulevard celebrate the credit union's 100th Anniversary by dressing in the company's signature red and yellow.

As Maine's first credit union, Infinity began serving its members in 1921, initially as the Telephone Workers Credit Union of Maine, then as Telco of New England FCU. Infinity is now community-based, available to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Cumberland and York counties and the city of Bangor. Infinity is a not-for-profit cooperative organization owned by its members and guided by the vision to 'do banking differently to keep you a step ahead in life', with the goal of consistently meeting their members' evolving social, economic, and cultural needs.

In addition to last week's day-long celebration, Infinity debuted an anniversary edition of their logo. The credit union's signature Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK) Campaign, launched in 2016 with monthly community act of kindness from each branch, is getting a major boost this year with each employee receiving $100 to perform RAOKs that are meaningful for them in their own neighborhoods. Infinity's generous community sponsorships and donations will also be elevated with more organizations receiving community volunteer time, financial support and long-lasting partnerships. Infinity plans to announce promotions on products, services, and membership incentives throughout the year, and larger celebration with its members is planned for later this year when it's safe to gather.

Infinity's operations center and main branch are located in Westbrook, with full-service branches in Portland, Scarborough, Bangor and Arundel. The $324 million credit union has 82 employees, has been on Maine's list of Best Places to Work for eight years, and has been a Small Business Administration (SBA) Top Credit Union Lender since 2018. Supporting their commitment to do banking differently, Infinity is a four-time recipient of the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award, and a two-time recipient of the Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award from the Maine Credit Union League.

About Infinity Federal Credit Union

Guided by our vision to do banking differently to keep you a step ahead in life, Infinity FCU has been serving Cumberland and York counties and the city of Bangor since 1921. We are a not-for-profit cooperative committed to the enrichment of Maine communities through financial inclusion, community service, and our dedication to Banking With Heart. To learn more about us, visit www.infinityfcu.com and follow us on social media @infinityfcu.

CONTACT: Ashley Wainwright

PHONE: (207) 854-6000 x1038

EMAIL: [email protected]

Photo caption:

Employees of Infinity Federal Credit Union's Portland branch at 29 Baxter Boulevard celebrate the credit union's 100th Anniversary by dressing in the company's signature red and yellow. Left to right: Helene Porter, Mariam Masudi, Alice Hakizimana, Germaine Mbayiha, Caitlin Kalloch, Innocent Ilunga, Catherine Alvarez, and Kim Garman.

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Portland Branch Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Employees of Infinity Federal Credit Union's Portland branch at 29 Baxter Boulevard celebrate the credit union's 100th Anniversary by dressing in the company's signature red and yellow.

SOURCE Infinity Federal Credit Union
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Meath teenager Rebecca OBrien has gone missing, and Gardai are appealing to the public for any information on her location.

Gardai are seeking the publics assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 17 year old Rebecca OBrien, who has been missing from the Ballinlough area of Navan since March 20.

She is described as being 55 (165cm) in height, of slight build with long brown hair.

When last seen she was wearing a black jacket, green t-shirt, blue jeans and white trainers.

Anyone with information on Rebeccas whereabouts is asked to contact Navan Garda Station on, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any other Garda Station.

Bethenny has confirmed she's is engaged to boyfriend Paul Bernon.

Reports emerged last week that the former Real Housewives of New York star had accepted a proposal from the 42-year-old real estate developer and since then she's been flashing an impressive rock on her left hand.

'I'm very excited, and its really wonderful.' Bethenny, 50, told Extra on Monday.

'I'm very excited, and its really wonderful.' Bethenny, 50, told Extra on Monday as she confirmed her engagement to boyfriend Paul Bernon

Asked where she plans on tying the knot, the Skinnygirl founder said, 'I'm not sure. I mean, I love New York, I'm not sure.'

Bethenny has been beaming with happiness while pictured out in recent days and has just returned from a a vacation in Florida.

She even hit the beach wearing her $3 million emerald cut diamond ring which is reportedly around 20 carats.

She began dating Paul in 2018 and they recently split for several months.

Late last year, while they were broken up Bethenny discussed the matter on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Asked where she plans on tying the knot, the Skinnygirl founder said, 'I'm not sure. I mean, I love New York, I'm not sure.'

Bling: On March 20, Bethenny hit the beach wearing her $3 million emerald cut diamond ring which is reportedly around 20 carats

'You know, not everything works out. 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?"' explained Bethenny.

'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.'

She made sure to clarify: 'Not everything has to end badly, some things just don't continue and it's not negative. It's just life.'

However Bethenny confirmed this February that she and Paul had rekindled their romance and posted a selfie with him for Valentine's Day.

Bethenny and her second husband Jason Hoppy separated at the end of 2012 and underwent a bitter divorce including a custody battle over their daughter Bryn, 10.

They spent years fighting over Bethenny's assets before a financial arrangement was apparently agreed upon in 2016.

However the drama continued - Jason was arrested and charged with fourth degree stalking and second degree harassment of Bethenny in 2017 and she sued him for full custody of their daughter in 2018.

The divorce was only finalized this January which meant that the entire process took eight years - four times as long as the marriage lasted before they separated.
Alabamas biggest advocate for expanding the states only deep water seaport is joining freight train operators in urging Amtrak to resume an analysis of the passenger rails potential impact on the Port of Mobile.

Republican U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, in a letter Tuesday, said he believes it is essential for the analysis to be completed to determine the impact Amtrak would have on existing fright rail service and port activity.

It is my hope that all parties involved can come to an amicable solution to ensure the study is completed, Shelby wrote in a letter sent to the CEOs of Amtrak, CSX Corp., Norfolk Southern and to the chairman of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.

The fate of Amtraks return to the Gulf Coast lies with the STB, which has been asked by the nations passenger rail company to expedite consideration for them to start up twice-daily service between New Orleans and Mobile, with four stops in Mississippi. Amtrak announced last month it was restarting the service for the first time since 2005, and that it was ending its talks with the two freight operators following one year of negotiations.

Amtrak officials said the study was only supposed to last seven months. With no end in sight, the company opted to seek the STB to provide a ruling. Amtrak has since argued that it has federal priority rights over freight trains to operate on a rail line that is shared by both operators, and is pushing to have its trains rolling on the Gulf Coast line by January 1, 2022.

It is time for the STB to step in to protect Amtraks rights to use freight railroad tracks to support service across America, Dennis Neman, Amtrak executive vice president for planning and asset development, said earlier this month.

Shelby, in his letter, argues that the completion of a comprehensive study prior to initiating passenger rail service is not unique to the Gulf Coast, and would provide a data-driven study identifying what additional infrastructure is necessary to prevent potential conflicts on the existing rail line.

As Shelby noted, the commitment of funds from Alabama toward the restarted service was contingent on the completion of the study.

Shelby also recognized that Mississippi and Louisiana state officials have dedicated funding for the project. His GOP Senate colleague in Mississippi, Sen. Roger Wicker, has long been an advocate for returning passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast since it was interrupted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Mississippi stops along the route include Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula.

In January, Wicker 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.

Reconnecting the Gulf Coast to our nations passenger rail network will increase access to jobs, boost tourism, provide a safe alternative to highway travel, and improve quality of life across the region, Wicker said in a March 16 statement, the same day Amtrak vowed to return service to the Gulf Coast by early 2022.

Shelbys letter did not call for specific action from the STB, and the Alabama State Port Authority has said it welcomes the federal agencys role as an investigator into the actual data and facts.

Shelby, in his letter, said the port is an essential economic driver for Alabama and the Mobile region, fueling $25.4 billion in economic activity and responsible for 150,000 jobs. The port, for several years, has fretted over the possibility of the Amtrak trains interfering with freight train activity within the state-owned complex in downtown Mobile.

Shelby has long been a backer for expanding the port, and led efforts in securing federal funding for a massive dredging project that will help keep the Mobiles port competitive with other deep water facilities in the Southeast, namely Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, S.C. The dredging project is aimed to make Mobile attractive to accommodate larger ships after the opening of the expanded Panama Canal in 2016.

Judy Adams, a spokeswoman with the port, said late last year that the modernization of the Alabamas seaport could not have been achieved without Shelbys backing.

The Amtrak-port conflict has also been aired out in recent months during Mobile City Council meetings. The latest dispute occurred last week, when Councilman Fred Richardson, who supports the Amtrak Gulf Coast service, requested Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson to issue a statement of support for Amtraks return. Stimpson said he wasnt wading into the matter right now, opting for the process involving Amtrak and the freight operators to play out.

Richardson, who is running against Stimpson during Augusts mayoral race, called on his colleagues to issue a letter of support for the service. That sparked more debate, this time involving Councilman Joel Daves, who said there is no proof that the restoration of passenger rail service wont significantly affect port operations. He called on Amtrak to return to talks with CSX and Norfolk Southern, and engage in an impact study.

Richardson said he believes both freight and passenger rail can co-exist.
DUBAI, U.A.E., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hozpitality.com now has launched a new 'My Network' section on its platform www.hozpitality.com where global hospitality professionals can find recommendations based on their own Job Role, Current Location, Industry, Job Level. The newly launched section can be found at https://www.hozpitality.com/my-network .

"The new section, 'My Network,' is extremely useful for hospitality professionals and will help them to connect and network with colleagues from similar mindsets and work ethics," said Raj Bhatt, Founder and CEO, Hozpitality Group. "If a General Manager would like to connect with other GM's on the platform he/she can easily find them and follow them through the My Network Section. Also, if a professional living in Canada wants to connect with other hospitality professionals based in Canada, he can also do so easily on Hozpitality," added, Raj.

"Hozpitality.com works for professionals and companies based on the location they are currently located in," explains Vandana Bhatt, Co-founder and MD, Hozpitality Group. "If a Company or Professional based in USA visits the website, he would always see all Jobs, Articles, Courses, Products, Companies, Suppliers, Events, and Institutes located in USA so that the information is relevant and useful for him," added Vandana.

The new portal for www.hozpitality.com with new advanced features and AI was launched in June 2020, and since then, over 100,000 new registrations, over 1500 companies, suppliers and institutes have joined the platform to share jobs, courses, news, promotions, and events. Hozpitality is now ready to partner with investors to join forces and grow the brand in other countries and regions. Currently, Hozpitality operates from Canada, UAE, and India with presence in over 180 countries.

About Hozpitality Group

Hozpitality is an online platform for professionals from Hotels, Restaurants, Airlines, Travel agencies, Clubs, Cruise Lines, Cinemas, Spas, Schools, Suppliers and Retail. Hozpitality offers Branding options, A Community Network for Employers and Job seekers, a directory of Hospitality Suppliers, Latest Hospitality News, Hotel News, Movements and Appointments and Hospitality Announcements Hotel Industry Recruitment, Professional CV designing, Hospitality Courses etc. We provide an effective platform where all hospitality professionals can come together, network and benefit.

Hozpitality.com offers a selection of best Hotel Management Institutes, Schools and Universities and Hotel management Courses. Hospitality Students can search and apply for Hotel management Courses and join the School's Alumni and network with their colleagues. Hozpitality also offers a Market Place for Hospitality Suppliers where Hospitality Products, Services, Offers and Deals can be listed and sold to millions of Global Hospitality professionals.

Hozpitality reaches out to over 1 million professionals thru its 2 group websites, www.hozpitality.com and www.hozpitalityplus.com with Registered Members and Social Media from over 186 countries.

The dedicated hospitality Media and News website Hozpitalityplus.com, publishes and shares Latest Hospitality News, Announcements, Hotel openings, Promotions, Events, Hospitality Movements and Appointments and Hospitality announcements, Reviews, Blogs etc.

Hozpitality Consulting is a Global Executive Search consultancy based out of Toronto, Canada. Our success lies in building a long-term relationship and delivering results quickly and efficiently for a "much lower cost". We are experts in locating the best possible suitable executive and management candidates for placements in all types of hospitality organizations around the world. Through our matchless database, communication and networking, over the world, we provide our clients with the most skillful candidates.

"Hozpitality Buzz- The inside scoop" is a TV show based on the hospitality industry in Dubai and UAE, is in English and telecast-ed on a premier TV channel in Middle East & North Africa reaching out to approx. 10-12 million viewers. To know more about the TV show, Please log on to:- www.facebook.com/hozpitalitybuzz and https://www.youtube.com/Hozpitality

Middle East Hospitality Excellence Awards are presented to recognize top industry organizations which have shown skill, creativity, ingenuity and success in the Middle East & North Africa's growing hospitality industry. Logon to www.hozpitalityexcellenceawards.com

To know more about the group, please log on to:

www.hozpitality.com

www.hozpitalityplus.com

www.hozpitalityexcellenceawards.com

Media contact:

Raj Bhatt

Founder & CEO

Hozpitality Group

A subsidiary of VR Online Group

P.O Box- 119395, Dubai, UAE

Phone:- +971 4 334 31 77, Fax:- +971 4 334 31 78

Email:- [email protected]





SOURCE Hozpitality Group
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Ko and Marek Bush outside their tiny home.(Courtesy of Living Tiny with the Bushes)

Couple Build Tiny Home to Pay Off $125,000 Debt in 2 Years, Embrace Tiny Lifestyle

Determined to get out of their six-figure debt, couple Marek and Ko Bush drafted a plan to downsize their debt by miniaturizing their home.

Two years later, after moving into the tiny house they designed, the couple became completely debt-freeand ready to tackle the next project in their lives: building a family. Their baby girl was born in March.

In 2017, Marek and Ko, from Kansas City, Missouri, were living in a 1,100-square-foot (102-square-meter) loft apartment in Florida. After doing the math and realizing they were $125,000 in debt, they set out drafting a budget to fix this.

We decided we were going to pay off everything we owed, Marek told Business Insider. Marek, who works in retail security, started looking into tiny homes, suspecting that downsizing would massively reduce their expenses.

Ko, a teacher and waitress, wasnt convinced right away.

It was the change of it all, she explained. We had a lot of furniture, and I just wasnt ready to let go of it. But once I got it through my head that it was just material things, I was like, You know what, its a good idea.

First, they set up a showroom in their loft apartment, inviting potential customers to peruse the furniture. That included a seven-piece bedroom set and a large sectional couch, neither of which would fit into their 200-square-foot (approx. 18-square-meter) soon-to-be-home.

They sold everything, amassing a lump sum in cash to pay off a large chunk of their debt.

In hindsight, Marek realized he and his wife had accumulated stuff just to fill up space.

Next came the downsize. Not only were the couple planning to move into a tiny home, they also had their sights set on designing it themselves.

The Bushes collaborated with Cornerstone Tiny Homes in Florida to draft a tiny mobile home floor plan that included all the features and comforts most important to them. They even showed off the features of the home in a Tiny Home Tours video on YouTube.

The living room houses a 55-inch TV and three-seater sofa with storage underneath; the multi-purpose bathroom/laundry room includes a full-size walk-in shower; the kitchen is customized with a stainless steel stove, microwave, and large wooden countertops.

Im like, Listen, if were gonna go tiny, Im not sacrificing my kitchen! said Ko.

I like to mount a lot of things in a tiny house, said Marek, who made sure the ceiling accommodated his 6-foot 5-inch height, because it helps you free up space so youre not using counter space or floor space.

The bedroom, complete with a king-size bed, is on the mezzanine level. Intricate paneling on the ceiling adds a personal stamp to the propertyas does the quote by General George S. Patton on the wall: If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isnt thinking.

Marek and Ko paid for the $55,000 space after securing a low-interest personal loan from LightStream of SunTrust bank. The build took four months to complete.

After living in RV parks for 18 months, the Bushes settled at The Lake Dallas Tiny Home Community in Texas in April 2019.

Two years of budget-conscious living paid off. Marek and Ko annihilated their $125,000 debt and paid off the tiny home as well.

After such successful planning, the couple were well prepared to handle furloughs during the pandemic. Throughout the debt-free process, we got really in tune with our budget, Marek said. Once we got furloughed from our jobs, it was very easy for us to go back to our budget and figure out what we can cut out and what we can shrink in order to have as little living expenses as possible.

In December, the Bushes began plotting out a 4-acre property in their hometown of Kansas City, where they will (prayerfully) be building a small Tiny House Community over the next 12 years! Marek shared on Instagram.

The couple, who saw their baby daughter born on March 17, also have a YouTube channel, Living Tiny with the Bushes, where they share insights into marriage, money, and the tiny home lifestyle.

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
Thailand Prime Minister has denied reports of Thai forces pushing back Myanmar villagers who were said to have fled the area after reported airstrikes conducted by the Myanmar army on March 28. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha also said that his government is ready to shelter anyone who is escaping the fighting. Earlier, there were reports that Thai forces pushed back more than 2,000 people attempting to flee Myanmar following a series of airstrikes carried out by the junta in the southeast of the country.

There is no influx of refugees yet. We asked those who crossed to Thailand if they have any problem in their area. When they say no problem, we just asked them to return to their land first. We asked, we did not use any force, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters.

According to CNN, an activist group the Karen Information Centre earlier said that nearly 2,009 people are internally displaced and hiding in the jungle as they have been forced back into Myanmar. However, in the latest statement, Prayuth Chan-ocha said that there is "no influx of refugees yet". Thousands of people had fled their homes in Myanmars southeastern Karen state after military jets carried out a bombing raid on villages controlled by an ethnic armed group.

"We have prepared the areas if the influx happens (so we know) where to keep them," Prayut had said during a media briefing. "We don't want to have any influx into our area, but we certainly have to take human rights issues into our consideration.

Myanmar crisis

It is worth noting that Thailand has sheltered refugees from Myanmar for more than three decades, with around 86,000 still living inside its borders in camps. The reported influx of people fleeing into neighbouring Thailand marks a new phase in the deepening crisis for Myanmar, which was thrown into turmoil when the military seized power in a coup on February 1 and ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The airstrikes also follow a bloody military crackdown over the weekend that was widely criticised by international leaders.

The death toll in Myanmar has been steadily increasing as authorities grow more forceful with their suppression. The coup also reversed years of progress toward democracy after five decades of military rule. The Advocacy group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reported the soldiers on Saturday killed 114 people - including children - in 44 towns and cities across the country.

(Image: AP)
Unaccompanied migrant children who have made their way to the U.S.-Mexico border in recent weeks were expected to arrive Monday night at a federally run shelter set up at Freeman Coliseum, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said.

Officials said the first group will include 500 boys  all minors, mostly ages 13 to 17  who will be housed in the 200,000-square-foot Expo Hall where 2,100 cots have been set up.

I dont know whether well reach that many at any one time, Wolff said Monday during the daily city-county coronavirus briefing.

The boys will spend five to nine days at the temporary shelter unless they test positive for COVID-19, Wolff said.

Another 300 beds have been set aside in a separate facility on the grounds to house any children who test positive for COVID-19, officials said. The entire group will be tested for the virus every three days, said Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger, the citys coronavirus czar.

On ExpressNews.com: Administration signs off on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland housing migrant children

Children will likely continue to arrive in groups of 500 as others cycle out of the facility, Wolff said. The idea is to make sure there arent too many children staying there at any one time.

The federal government is getting some assistance from the city to staff the facility while contractors make their way to the site. Some 40 employees with the citys Head Start program were filling in temporarily Monday evening in anticipation of the arrival of the first group of children, Bridger said.

The county reached an agreement last week with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to allow the federal government to use the arena to house migrant children for at least the next two months. Children are also expected to be housed at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland  as many as 350, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said last week.
MSU Commencements Next Weekend

By MSU Public Relations

MURRAY - Murray State University will host four in-person commencement ceremonies in the CFSB Center on May 7 and 8, for May and August 2021 graduates, as well as 2020 graduates.

On Friday, the ceremony for Masters, Specialist and Doctoral graduates will take place. On Saturday, three ceremonies at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. are planned for undergraduates.



All guests are required to have a ticket in order to enter the CFSB Center.



Each ceremony will also be streamed live at murraystate.edu/streaming.

Additional details are available at murraystate.edu/commencement.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Invaio Sciences, Inc., a Flagship Pioneering company focused on unlocking the potential of the planet's interdependent natural systems to solve pressing agriculture, nutrition and environmental challenges, announced today the appointment of Peleg Chevion as President and Chief Commercial Officer. Chevion, who joined the company in late 2020, will focus on accelerating the commercial activities of the company.

"Our goal at Invaio is to accelerate the transition in agriculture from a chemical-based industry to a biological-based industry that addresses the needs of farmers and society, while protecting the environment," said Ignacio Martinez, Co-Founder and CEO, Invaio. "The company is now transitioning from an R&D-focused organization to a full commercial enterprise."

Martinez continued, "Peleg has already made a significant impact at Invaio since he joined the company in late 2020. He brings a very unique set of experiences, commercial leadership, and an entrepreneurial mindset perfectly suited for the next phase of the company."

Prior to joining Invaio, Chevion was President and Chief Commercial Officer of Blendhub, a global leader in food and ingredients production. Before Blendhub, Peleg worked with Lindsey Goldberg, a leading global private equity firm based in New York. Chevion also worked for seven years as a senior executive at Syngenta where he started and then led the Abiotic Stress Management indication across the spectrum of chemical, biological, genetics and digital platforms. Prior to Syngenta, Chevion spent several years leading Business Development at Crucell before the company was acquired by J&J.

Chevion began his career as an officer in the Israeli Air Force, and later held diverse roles in the Israeli startup ecosystem. Chevion graduated from the IDF Computer Academy. He received an L.L.B from Tel Aviv University, an MBA from INSEAD and is a licensed attorney in Israel.

"Since joining Invaio last year, I have been impressed by the breakthrough platform technologies we are developing, our integrated solutions approach and the commercial traction of the company," said Peleg Chevion, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Invaio. "We are curing diseases like Greening in Citrus and Xylella in Olives, significantly reducing the use of chemicals with our precision delivery systems, and discovering biological products with consistent performance using proprietary Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies"

Chevion continues, "We are laser focused on developing unique solutions for our partner growers and other stakeholders in three segments: perennials, row crops and vegetable crops. We see the opportunity and have a sense of urgency to deliver."

About Invaio Sciences:

Invaio Sciences is a multi-platform technology company that unlocks the potential of the planet's interdependent systems to address pressing agricultural, nutritional, and environmental challenges. Founded by Flagship Pioneering in 2018, Invaio leverages discoveries from diverse fields including human therapeutics, agriculture, environmental science, and advanced manufacturing. The company's deep understanding of the physiology of insects, plants and trees, together with its novel integrated solutions approach, promises to refine agricultural practices and reduce the need for pesticides globally. Invaio Sciences is dedicated to developing solutions that are mindful of beneficial insects, bad for pests, and safer for us all. For more information, please visit www.invaio.com

About Flagship Pioneering:

Flagship Pioneering conceives, creates, resources, and develops first-in-category life science platform companies to transform human health and sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, the firm has, through its Flagship Labs unit, applied its unique hypothesis-driven innovation process to originate and foster more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in over $80 billion in aggregate value. To date, Flagship has deployed over $2.3 billion in capital toward the founding and growth of its pioneering companies alongside more than $19 billion of follow-on investments from other institutions. The current Flagship ecosystem comprises 41 transformative companies, including Axcella Health (NASDAQ: AXLA), Codiak BioSciences (NASDAQ: CDAK) Denali Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DNLI), Evelo Biosciences (NASDAQ: EVLO), Foghorn Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FHTX), Indigo Ag, Inari Agriculture, Kaleido Biosciences (NASDAQ: KLDO), Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA), Rubius Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RUBY), Sana Biotechnology (NASDAQ: SANA), Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MCRB), and Sigilon Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SGTX).

SOURCE Invaio Sciences
Four Muslim migrants from North Africa gang-raped a 36-year-old woman on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, after she stopped to ask how she could help them. According to the March 3 report,

The alleged victim is believed to have lived on the Canary Islands, whereas the suspects are thought to have arrived only recently on a boat. [T]hey were given initially government-provided accommodations managed by the Red Cross but later kicked out for breaking the rules. They are then thought to have set up camp in the park where the woman was allegedly attacked after enquiring about their situation. The woman had asked if she could help them with anything, but within a matter of seconds this had led to her being assaulted

This woman, who was described as either an Irish expat or coming from a Nordic country, joins countless other European women -- especially those from a Nordic country -- to be raped by Muslim migrants.

Why is this ongoing phenomenon not being checked? One of the reasons revolves around the specter of racism. The woke establishment tends to see European women accusing Muslim men of raping them through a skeptical light.

For example, in Sweden -- the rape capital of Europe -- studies continue to reveal that migrants, mostly from North Africa, the Middle East, and Muslim sub-Sahara, account for the overwhelming majority of rapes, as captured by the following title: Report: 9 in 10 Gang Rapists In Sweden Have Foreign Origins.

To neutralize these findings, on March 9, 2021, the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Bra) said that Immigrants sharp over-representation in rape statistics may be due to the fact that Swedish women are more likely to report immigrants for rape than they are to report Swedish men. Stina Holmberg, a research councilor at Bra, elaborated:

It may be that you are more inclined to report something you [a Swedish women] have been exposed to, if the crime was committed by someone you feel more alien to, and who has low social status.

Skepticism for rape reports against non-white males turns to open hostility whenever this issue is forthrightly discussed, as Sarah Champion, a Labor politician and MP for Rotherham (the epicenter of sex grooming), learned last summer, when she was accused of fanning the flames of racial hatred and acting like a neo-fascist murderer. Her crime? She had dared to assert that Britain has a problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls. (The same elements that accused Champion of being a murderer also, and rather unsurprisingly, characterize the UKs anti-extremism program, Prevent, as being built upon a foundation of Islamophobia and racism.)

Perhaps most telling is an April 2020 article titled, I was raped by Rotherham grooming gang -- now I still face racist abuse online. In it, a British woman (alias, Ella) revealed that her Muslim rapists called her a white whore, and much worse, during the more than 100 times the Pakistani grooming gang raped her in her youth.

We need to understand racially and religiously aggravated crime if we are going to prevent it and protect people from it and if we are going to prosecute correctly for it, Ella said in a recent interview.

Prevention, protection and prosecution -- all of them are being hindered because we are neglecting to properly address the religious and racist aspects of grooming gang crimes.... Its telling them that it's OK to hate white people.

That there are racial and religious aspects to the epidemic of Muslims raping European women is an understatement. According to Dr. Taj Hargey, a British imam, Muslim men are taught that women are second-class citizens, little more than chattels or possessions over whom they have absolute authority. The imams, moreover, preach a doctrine that denigrates all women, but treats whites with particular contempt. Consider a few earlier examples:

In short, there certainly is a racist aspect to the rape of European women by migrants -- though in reverse: nonwhite Muslim men tend to see white women as nymphomaniacs that are hot for being degraded and abused -- a stereotype that, incidentally, stretches back to the very beginnings of Islamic history.

Even so, Ellas attempts to highlight these religious and racist aspects that fueled the abuse she and other European girls and women experienced -- that is, her attempt to connect the dots in an effort to help eliminate this phenomenon -- led only to a lot of abuse from far-left extremists, and radical feminist academics, she said. Such groups go online and they try to resist anyone they consider to be a Nazi, racist, fascist or white supremacist.

They dont care about anti-white racism, because they appear to believe that it doesnt exist. They have tried to floor me and criticise me continually and this has been going on for a couple of months. They tried to shut me down, shut me up... Ive never experienced such hate online in my life. They accuse me of advocating for white paedophiles and being a sinister demonic entity.

Such is the price for speaking unpopular truths -- especially those that directly challenge the official narrative.

Raymond Ibrahim, author of Sword and Scimitar, is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.
Along with many things, COVID-19 will also have a substantial effect, perhaps forever, on the way we dress.

Does lockdown's loungewear quality as "fashion?" Are "work clothes" gone for good?

As we mentally and physically prepare to leave the house and return to our office spaces, top designers reveal the wardrobe essentials that will make day-to-day dressing fun.

9-5: Fashion experts, including Creative Director of Lafayette 148, Emily Smith, reveal what all women need to re-enter the workspace post pandemic

Rebecca Minkoff

While no one needed a purse during lockdown, clothing and accessory designer Rebecca Minkoff says the one item that all modern women need when heading back to the office this spring is an oversized bag.

Rebecca suggests her Edie Maxi handbag.

'Whats incredible about the Edie Maxi is that you can keep it casual with jeans and a cute top/jacket or dress it up and wear a maxi with a chic little vest,' shared the New York-based entrepreneur.

Spending more (if not all) time at home over the past year, most of us have amassed a wardrobe of loungewear.

And now that your work stations will be more than a few feet from your living room, it's time to re-imagine those separates to wear them on the streets.

'I think the key here is how you can style your comfort up,' said Rebecca. 'For instance, we have an incredible Janine Sweatshirt that is cozy and chic.

'It goes literally from couch to office or a zoom with just a great lip or pair of earrings!'

Janine Sweatshirt, $88; rebeccaminkoff.com Edie Maxi Shoulder Bag, $298; rebeccaminkoff.com Mini Pyramid Stud Door Knocker Earring, $48; rebeccaminkoff.com

Julez Bryant

Jewelry can amp up the formality of any outfit - including sweatpants!

California-based jeweler Julez Bryant believes her MICA Chain is the one piece of jewelry that all modern professional women should own.

'It is powerful and understated at the same time,' said Julez.

'It is one the most comfortable necklaces I make and speaks volumes about a person without having to say I have style and understand aesthetic. I am strong and feminine."

The rectangle link choker can be worn as a necklace or a double-wrap bracelet, it can be layered with other necklaces or stand on its own.

Mica Link Choker, $2,886; julezbryant.com

The made-to-order design comes in two sizes and is available in three golds (yellow, rose and white). It's versatile and can be worn from day to night.

'I made the piece to travel with you on all of your adventures,' shared Julez.

The pandemic has allowed women to pair back their lifestyles and dress for themselves despite trends or dress codes.

According to the business owner, 'the act of being able to get up, shower, sparkle and go out into the world, brings the wearer a feeling of being complete and brings the observer joy, too.'

Julez Bryant's rectangle link MICA choker is versatile. It can be worn as a necklace or a double-wrap bracelet, it can effortlessly be layered with other necklaces or stand on its own

L'Agence

Vice President of L'Agence, Tara Rudes Dann, deems the jean, blazer and blouse combo to be the ultimate post pandemic look.

'Pair the perfect blazer with a great soft printed blouse for the office, then slip into a chic pair of heels and your most fabulous jewelry for evening,' said the entrepreneur and mom.

While loungewear became all-day-wear in quarantine, 'we feel that our woman is tired of feeling comfortable and wants to be her best-dressed self.'

Kenzie Tweed Blazer, $595; lagence.com Holly Blouse, $295; lagence.com Shane Jean, $255; lagence.com Lolita Open Toe Mule, $395; lagence.com

By The Namesake

Moto jackets will never go out of style but there's a new outerlayer topping the must-have list for boss babes everywhere and it's in the form of a leather blazer.

By The Namesake is known for their lineup of leather jackets named after female leaders throughout history.

Designer Rosa Halpern's latest creation, the 'Kamala' is a nod to our first female Vice-President, Kamala Harris.

'It represents a fierce elegance and fashion forward take on the traditional blazer that she is known for impeccably wearing,' said Rosa.

The Kamala Blazer, $1,340; bythenamesake.com

Iron Maiden 1993 Vintage T-shirt, $300; bythenamesake.com Studio Essential Blouse, $285; bythenamesake.com

'Being a classic silhouette and material, the blazer can provide a bit of an edge when dressed up or elevate looks that are more casual.

'It is the ultimate badass power suit for any occasion.'

For work, Rosa favors teaming the blazer with a vintage t-shirt paired with silk lounge pants from her collection.

'Lately, Ive been all about silk basics. Our Studio Essential set provides the work-from-home comfort we have gotten used to, but looks professional and sophisticated.'

Left: Studio Essential Pant, $225; bythenamesake.com. Right: Front Lace Pant, $730; bythenamesake.com

Veronica Beard

The pandemic (like all major historical events) has caused everyone to change their daily life and also their fashion choices.

New York-based sisters-in-law Veronica Swanson Beard and Veronica Miele Beard created their eponymous label of classic-cool, versatile staples for the everyday woman.

While no one really knows how the pandemic will change fashion trends forever, the widespread return to street clothing may inspire a renewed interest in getting dressed up.

'We call the Dickey jacket the Wonder Woman cape because it is the outfit game changer,' said Veronica Miele Beard.

'It can be worn in any setting and you can style your jacket to suit your daily runway whether its to work or to a weekend adventure.'

Nisha Boyfriend Jacket, $595; veronicabeard.com

The Veronica's believe modern professional women should never apologize for wanting to feel and look gorgeous and confident.

'I live in jeans and a cool blouse or a white tee shirt with the Nisha Boyfriend Jacket and Carah Woven Sandals for daytime, shared Veronica Swanson Beard.

'Add a dickey to dress it up for night.'

Kollia Dickey Jacket, now $179; veronicabeard.com Beverly High-Rise Skinny Flare Jean, $298; veronicabeard.com Luciana Floral-Print Top, $350; veronicabeard.com Moto Leather Dickey, $550; veronicabeard.com Carah Woven Sandal, $325; veronicabeard.com

Alister Blazer In Coastal Cloth, $798; lafayette148ny.com

Lafayette 148

Creative Director of Lafayette 148, Emily Smith, believes Lafayette's blazers are the foundation of every wardrobe, regardless of a woman's size or age.

This season their range consists of soft and deconstructed to structured and tailored.

'Theres just an easy air of effortless luxury with our spring collection that feels right for our women and our Iconic blazer is a piece that polishes off every look,' she shared.

'I think its natural for us to be influenced by the effortless uptown/downtown style of New YorkI always love that mix of something fancy with something casual, such as our Eaton blazer with a pair of our Kind Cotton Authentic Denim Jeans for the office.

'Were focusing on soft constructions in both ready to wear and footwear, more relaxed shapes and stylesyet all still in beautiful, high quality materials so that no matter what shes putting on, its kind to her skin and feels luxurious.

'Our Spring collection offers unlined jackets, paper-light leather, soft suiting and easy trousers for polish that shifts seamlessly from the office to at home.'

'Comfort is still key for us, as well as an emphasis on versatility in our new way of living, working, going out, staying inThe world is forever changed, so its about addressing her new needs within the language of our Lafayette aesthetic,' shared Creative Director of Lafayette 148, Emily Smith

Blake Trench Coat In Sculpted Pleating Cloth, $1,298; lafayette148ny.com

'Our Spring collection offers unlined jackets, paper-light leather, soft suiting and easy trousers for polish that shifts seamlessly from the office to at home'

Loeffler Randall

'I feel like anything goes these days, ' said Jessie Randall, Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Loeffler Randall.

'Even sneakers can look very cool for work.'

The New York-based shoe designer who just opened her first brick and mortar store in SoHo, believed that after more than a year of working from home and wearing comfortable shoes its going to be hard for people to put on something that isnt comfortable.

'I think well see more dressy things that still have a comfort and ease element - like polished mules for work to dinner that easily slide on and also nicely made shoes that are inherently comfortable like sneakers, ballet flats and clogs.'
Acquitted of terror charges after a stint in jail, a Turkish professor of a French university remains stranded in Istanbul, stripped of his passport and subjected to an opaque probe.

Tuna Altinel's colleagues view the 55-year-old as another victim of a crackdown against academia and Kurdish causes that gathered force after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan survived a coup bid in 2016.

The professor of mathematical logic and set theory at Lyon's Claude Bernard University agrees.

"I am a hostage of the Turkish state," Altinel told AFP at his Istanbul home.

Gangly, bespectacled and occasionally sporting a shy grin, the professor's plight gained added attention as a diplomatic feud played out in the past year between Paris and Ankara.

Altinel's personal nightmare began in May 2019, shortly after he arrived for a holiday in Turkey.

Instead of returning well-rested to Lyon, the French city where he has taught and lived for 25 years, Altinel discovered that he was suspected of "membership in a terrorist organisation".

He was detained and tried for disseminating "terrorist propaganda" while acting as an interpreter at a pro-Kurdish meeting in France earlier that year.

Released in July 2019 and acquitted in January 2020, Altinel has since learned that he is the subject of a new Turkish investigation of which he knows little about.

That probe appears to have served as justification for the government's refusal to return his travel documents.

- 'A little sad' -

Altinel first popped up on officials' radar in 2016, when he joined nearly 2,000 academics in signing a petition demanding an end of Turkish military operations in the predominantly Kurdish southeast.

Outlawed Kurdish militants have been waging an insurgency in the mountainous region for decades that has killed tens of thousands.

But while the militants are viewed as terrorists by Turkey's Western allies, Erdogan's critics believe he is using the fight to suppress ethnic Kurds' legitimate rights.

Altinel was also charged and acquitted after signing the 2016 petition. Now, he said he is "doing everything I can" to get back his passport and return to Lyon.

He has filed a lawsuit against Turkish officials and been bounced from one court to another by an "administrative machine that seeks to drown, crush people with bureaucracy," he said.

Altinel said he has little choice but to conclude that his travel ban is punishment for his commitment to human rights and the Kurdish cause.

"The Turkish state prevents opponents who embarrass it from leaving, keeping them hostage," he said.

"It's a way of accepting that the country is a prison, which is a little sad".

- Still teaching -

Altinel considers himself relatively lucky because -- as a French civil servant -- he still gets his salary.

He also continues to teach, in his own special way.

"When I was in prison, I taught my fellow inmates English and French," Altinel said.

"So we continue these lessons through letters. They write to me and I write back letters that are 15 or 20 pages long. I teach them that way."

And while waiting for his legal problems to play themselves out, he also studies Kurdish, which he began to pick up from his fellow inmates.

Although supported by other academics in France, who are campaigning for him on social media, Altinel fears being forgotten by French officials and "falling into oblivion".

Nevertheless, and perhaps risking further alienating Turkish officials, Altinel still joins demonstrations for causes he backs in Istanbul, refusing to "self-censor".

"If I restricted myself, it would mean I accept that the state has won," he said. "And I do not accept that."
Arctic Blue Beverages Arctic Blue Oat

Category  Spirits, liqueur, gin-based, 17% abv

Available  In the next two months

Location  Initially available in Finland, ahead of a wider roll-out worldwide this year

Price  TBC



Arctic Blue Beverages Oy has launched a gin-based oat liqueur in its domestic market.

Announced by the Finnish brand owner yesterday, Arctic Blue Oat is produced using gin distilled in Ilomantsi, a village in Eastern Finland. Also included in the production process are organic Finnish oats

Arctic Blue Oat, which is vegan and gluten-free, is described by the company as a premium product but has not been designated an SRP. The liqueur will be available in 50cl bottles via Finnish alcohol e-tailer Alko, as well as on cruise liner Viking Line journeys from Finland to Sweden and Estonia.

Additionally, Arctic Blue CEO Valtteri Eroma confirmed the product would roll-out globally later this year.

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

In 2018, Scotlands Colonsay Beverages released a vodka made using oats grown in the country.

Is Plymouth Gin the unluckiest spirits brand ever?  click here for a just-drinks comment

Demonstrators hide behind a barricade during protests against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar March 28, 2021 in this screen grab (Photo : NO ARCHIVES.)

Myanmar security forces killed at least five protesters on Monday, three of them in the main city of Yangon, witnesses and media reported, as activists called on ethnic minority forces in the diverse nation to back their campaign against military rule.



After the bloodiest day since the Feb. 1 military coup with 114 deaths on Saturday, thousands took to the streets in towns across the country, determined to show their opposition to the relapse into military rule after a decade of democratic reform.



Advertisement

At least two people were killed in the Yangon district of South Dagon when security forces moved in to clear protesters' barricades, residents said.



"We can confirm two were killed in our ward," said one neighbourhood resident who asked to be identified as just Win.



Security forces fired a much heavier-calibre weapon than usual to clear a barricade in South Dagon, witnesses said and a video clip showed. It was not immediately clear what type, although a community group posted a picture of a soldier with a grenade launcher.



State television said security forces used "riot weapons" to disperse a crowd of "violent terrorist people" who were destroying a pavement and one man was wounded.



One man was killed earlier in another Yangon neighbourhood, when security forces fired on protesters and a Red Cross team, witness Thiha Soe told Reuters.



Police and a junta spokesman did not answer calls seeking comment. Myanmar's Red Cross said in a message it was checking the report.



Two people were also killed in shooting in the central town of Myingyan, student leader Moe Myint Hein told Reuters.



Based on a tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group, 464 civilians have been killed since the coup.



Despite the violence, crowds turned out in towns across the country, according to media and social media posts.



One of the main groups behind the protests, the General Strike Committee of Nationalities, called in an open letter on Facebook for ethnic minority forces to help those standing up to the "unfair oppression" of the military.



"It is necessary for the ethnic armed organisations to collectively protect the people," the group said.



'HEARTLESS ACT'



Insurgents from different ethnic groups have battled the central government for decades for greater autonomy. Though many groups have agreed to ceasefires, fighting has flared in recent days between the army and forces in both the east and north.



Heavy clashes erupted on the weekend near the Thai border between the army and fighters from Myanmar's oldest ethnic minority force, the Karen National Union (KNU).



About 3,000 villagers fled to Thailand when military jets bombed a KNU area after a KNU force overran an army outpost and killed 10 people, an activist group and media said.



The Free Burma Rangers activist group said 2,009 people had been forced to return to the Myanmar side of the border on Monday evening.



"Thailand's heartless and illegal act must stop now," Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher on Thailand for Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter.



A Thai provincial official said the refugees had not been pushed back but were on the Thai side of a border river.



Earlier, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said he wanted Myanmar's latest problems to remain there.



"We don't want to have an exodus, evacuation into our territory but we will observe human rights," Prayuth told reporters in Bangkok.



He also dismissed suggestions Thailand was backing the Myanmar junta.



In Myanmar's north, fighting erupted on Sunday in the jade-mining area of Hpakant when Kachin Independence Army (KIA) fighters attacked a police station, Kachinwaves media reported.



GRIP ON POWER



Both the KNU and KIA have expressed support for the anti-coup movement and called on the army stop the violence against civilian protesters.



Myanmar's military has for decades justified its grip on power by saying it is the only institution capable of preserving national unity. It seized power saying that November elections won by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's party were fraudulent, an assertion dismissed by the election commission.



Suu Kyi remains in detention at an undisclosed location and many other figures in her party are also in custody.



U.N. Special Rapporteur for Myanmar Tom Andrews said the army was carrying out "mass murder" and called on the world to isolate the junta. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the United States was suspending all trade engagement with Myanmar until the return of a democratically elected government.



But foreign criticism and Western sanctions have failed to sway the generals.



China and India have declined to condemn the coup and Russia has maintained its close ties with a visit by a Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin and a pledge to beef up military ties. The Kremlin said Russia's long and constructive ties with Myanmar did not signify its approval of "tragic events" there.



The U.N. Security Council is due to be briefed on Myanmar in a closed meeting on Wednesday, at Britain's request, diplomats said. Norway urged its citizens to leave because of the violence.


A swarm of bees came after a New Mexico shopper on Sunday after he left his car window down during a grocery store run.

Shortly after 4pm on Sunday, firefighters in Las Cruces responded to reports of a swarm of bees in a car at an Albertson's grocery store, as the fire department shared on Facebook.

The car's owner was shopping and when he returned to the car with his groceries, he proceeded to drive off before the bee swarm made itself evident, according to the Fire Department.

Approximately 15,000 bees swarmed a car outside of Albertson's in Las Cruces on Sunday

Off-duty firefighter Jesse Johnson, who is also a beekeeper, was able to remove the bees

It's unclear where the bees came from or why they decided to attack this particular unidentified shopper.

It's also not clear how he summoned help, but the sight of 15,000 bees buzzing around might have tipped someone off that he needed help.

Firefighters blocked off the area around the car, which appears to be a 1990s-model Buick Century, to protect others before calling in an off-duty firefighter who is a beekeeper during his spare time.

Jesse Johnson used a hive kit and lemongrass oil to help lure the estimated 15,000 bees out of the vehicle.

They were relocated to Johnson's property, which is located outside of Las Cruces.

Firefighters were on scene for almost two hours while Johnson worked to remove and relocate the bees.

Remarkably, only one person - a security guard at the grocery store - was stung, with no major injuries reported.

Johnson relocated the bees to his own property, which took under two hours to do

'The Las Cruces Fire Department does not regularly remove bee swarms,' the Fire Department said on Facebook.

'However, to mitigate the mid-afternoon hazard the large swarm presented in a relatively high-traffic area, firefighters determined the best remedy was to have the swarm removed and relocated swiftly.'

Several years ago, a swarm of bees attacked another resident of Las Cruces in their car.

The Las Cruces Fire Department revealed the crazy incident on Facebook after it happened

'It was a huge swarm of bees,' Seth Gillette told the Las Cruces Sun-News in May 2017. 'It was loud and the craziest thing I'd ever seen.'

Gillette's brother was stung by one of the bees before they were able to roll up the windows of the car.
Baking is part science and part art and to figure out what is more important, We are soon going to see Google Cloud AI taking on the winner of the Great British Bake Off winner, in a dessert face-off.

Sara Robinson is an amateur baker and a Google Cloud developer advocate who has built a machine learning (ML) model that has examined hundreds of baking recipes to help her create a new one, according to reports.

This ML model has generated lists of ingredients and amounts that are used as the bases for step-by-step recipes and was able to come up with hybrid recipes. Robinson picked one that had a ML-generated cake batter on top of a ML-generated cookie.

She tried out this recipe to create a dessert that includes Maltesers (a malt chocolate candy) to create the Maltesers AI Cakes (4d6172730a), the last bit is hexadecimal for Mars, which owns the Maltesers brand. This company had approached Google to create an AI-driven dessert.

On the other hand, Peter Sawkins, the winner of the Great British Bake Off 2020, has created his own Maltesers cake to compete with the AI. All of this is a part of a promotional campaign.

Both Sawkins and Robinson have used slightly unusual ingredients to balance out the sweetness of the chocolate with umami and salt. While Robinson used Marmite-infused buttercream frosting after Google Trends identified that Is Marmite sweet or savoury as the top search result related to sweet and salty", Sawkins added soy sauce to his recipe, something he has adapted from one of his mothers creations.

You can download both Robinsons ML-generated recipe and Swakins recipe and try them out at home to see which you like more. And you can also have the ML model come up with a fresh new recipe for you at this promotional website.
A Massachusetts man accused of beating his girlfriend to death on a Maine beach told police he recalled seeing a man running toward them and feeling threatened before he blacked out, according to an affidavit obtained by Seacoastonline.

Thirty-three-year-old Jeffrey Buchannan, of Bedford, is charged with killing his girlfriend Rhonda Pattelena, 35, on Short Sands Beach in York, Maine on Friday in view of others on the beach. Pattelena was the mother of three children, according to a GoFundMe set up for her family. The couple had a young son who was not present during the attack, multiple reports state.

According to the Seacostonline, an affidavit filed in the case shows Buchannan told police he and his girlfriend were spending the day in York and that he recalled seeing a man running toward them and his girlfriend making hand gestures behind him before he blacked out.

According to the outlet, the alleged attack was captured on surveillance video, which the news organization said appeared to show Buchannan strike Pattelena while her back was turned to him, followed by several more strikes. Buchannan reportedly told police he remembered seeing his girlfriend lying on the ground before walking away.

Buchannan was set to appear in a York County court Monday to enter a plea.

The Associated Press reported the attack happened behind a rock on the beach and prompted multiple 911 calls to York police by those who saw it.

Pattelena was already dead when police arrived; an autopsy concluded she died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Pattelenas sister, Jessica Pattelena, told the Boston Globe Monday that Buchannan had recently reentered her sisters life and that the beach in York was her favorite place since childhood.

We used to go there every summer, every summer, Jessica Pattelena told the Globe. She was a mermaid. She loved the beach. She always had her toes in the sand. She loved the waves.

Melissa Matranga, a close friend of Rhondas said Pattelena loved Buchannan.

She saw good in him when there really was no good in him. She just wanted to believe that he was her soulmate, she told the Globe.

A GoFundMe has been set up by Matranga to help Pattelenas funeral expenses and her children. According to the site, she leaves behind three children, ages 17, 14 and 2.

Rhonda was a beautiful, loving, caring, and generous person, she had such a big heart, she was always smiling and laughing. She was so full of life, Matranga said on the site.
Oakville, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: CRDL) (OTCQX: CRTPF) (FSE: CT9) ("Cardiol" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, today announced that Dr. Andrew Hamer has joined the Company as Chief Medical Officer (CMO), effective immediately. Dr. Hamer will lead the research and development of the Company's clinical-stage products and will also guide the development of additional novel therapeutics in the Company's pipeline. Retiring CMO and co-founder of Cardiol, Dr. Eldon Smith, will continue to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors and as an advisor to the Company.

Dr. Andrew Hamer brings 30 years of experience in the global life sciences industry, medical affairs, and cardiology practice to the Company. Most recently he served as Executive Director, Global Development-Cardiometabolic at California-based Amgen Inc., where he led the Global Development group for Repatha, the LDL cholesterol lowering PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab, which generated revenues of almost $900 million in 2020. As development lead, Dr. Hamer headed the Repatha global evidence generation team collaborating with safety, regulatory, health economics, observational research, scientific communications, publications, medical affairs, and clinical operations teams to design and execute several multi-center clinical trials in support of FDA and international regulatory filings. Prior to his five-year tenure with Amgen, Dr. Hamer served for two years as VP Medical Affairs at Capricor Therapeutics Inc., where he was responsible for the development of novel therapeutics for heart disease and for the supervision of the clinical operations of the company, including clinical trial design and execution.

Prior to joining the life sciences industry, Dr. Hamer practiced cardiology and internal medicine in New Zealand for 19 years. His distinguished career in cardiology culminated as Chief Cardiologist at Nelson Hospital, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, Nelson, while concurrently leading cardiac services nationally in New Zealand. Dr. Hamer graduated with a medical degree (MB, ChB) from the University of Otago, New Zealand, an internationally recognized medical school which recently ranked among the top twenty universities in the world in several medical subject categories. His clinical research training took place at various centres in New Zealand and London, UK, followed by a cardiology fellowship at Deaconess Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston. Dr. Hamer has co-authored many high-quality peer-reviewed scientific publications reflecting his considerable experience as a clinical trialist, having served as a principal or co-investigator for 40 multi-centre clinical trials in therapies for acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, hypertension, cholesterol disorders, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes.

"We are extremely pleased to have Andrew join our leadership team as we continue to advance our clinical development programs and promising basic research initiatives designed to explore additional therapeutic strategies to address inflammatory heart disease," said David Elsley, President and CEO of Cardiol Therapeutics. "Dr. Hamer's multi-faceted experience in cardiovascular medicine, research and commercial development, and medical leadership will be invaluable in the design, execution, and reporting the results of our clinical programs.

"On behalf of the entire Cardiol team and the Board of Directors, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Eldon Smith for his exceptional contributions to the Company and for his many years of service that have helped position us for success. I wish Eldon good health and happiness in his well-earned retirement."

Dr. Hamer commented: "I am excited to be joining Cardiol Therapeutics and look forward to working with the outstanding leadership team in progressing the clinical development of the Company's promising therapies. There are millions of patients worldwide suffering from heart disease, where inflammation is a critical underlying component, and they depend on the efforts of companies like Cardiol to develop new treatment options that are safe and effective. I am pleased to have the opportunity to play a leadership role in this important endeavour."

About Cardiol Therapeutics

Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: CRDL) (OTCQX: CRTPF) (FSE: CT9) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the research and clinical development of innovative anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease ("CVD"). The Company's lead product, CardiolRx, is a pharmaceutically produced oral cannabidiol formulation that is currently entering a Phase II/III outcomes study in hospitalized patients testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. This potentially registrational trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx as a cardioprotective therapy to reduce mortality and major cardiovascular events in COVID-19 patients who have a prior history of, or risk factors for, CVD, and to investigate the influence CardiolRx has on key markers of inflammatory heart disease.

Cardiol is also planning to file an investigational new drug ("IND") application for a Phase II international trial that will investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties of CardiolRx in patients with acute myocarditis, which remains the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in people under 35 years of age. In addition, Cardiol is developing a subcutaneous formulation of CardiolRx and other anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of chronic heart failure - a leading cause of death and hospitalization in North America, with associated annual healthcare costs in the U.S. alone exceeding $30 billion.

Cardiol recently commercialized Cortalex (cortalex.com) in the Canadian market. Cortalex is a pharmaceutically produced cannabidiol formulation, developed for patients who wish to avoid tetrahydrocannabinol ("THC") or for whom THC exposure is not recommended. For more information about Cardiol Therapeutics, please visit cardiolrx.com.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. ("Cardiol" or the "Company") believes, expects, or anticipates will, may, could or might occur in the future are "forward-looking information." Forward-looking information contained herein may include, statements relating to the Company's plans for clinical trials and its development of innovative anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Forward-looking information contained herein reflects the current expectations or beliefs of Cardiol based on information currently available to it and is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. These risks and uncertainties and other factors include the risks and uncertainties referred to in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2020, including the risks and uncertainties associated with product commercialization and clinical studies. These risks, uncertainties and other factors should be considered carefully, and investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Cardiol disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

David Elsley, President & CEO +1-289-910-0850

david.elsley@cardiolrx.com

Trevor Burns, Investor Relations +1-289-910-0855

trevor.burns@cardiolrx.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78898
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A Bulverde man on Monday entered a guilty plea for his role in an oil and gas scheme that defrauded investors.

Paul Russell Montgomery Jr., 45, pleaded guilty to a one count of mail fraud and one count of filing a false tax return during a hearing conducted via Zoom by U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Betsy Chestney in San Antonio.

After much reflection and time consulting with his family and attorneys, Mr. Montgomery accepts full responsibility for his actions, Derek Hilley, an attorney for Montgomery, said in an email. He looks forward to making things right for the investors involved.

A federal grand jury in San Antonio had indicted Montgomery in February 2020 on three counts of mail fraud, two counts of filing a false tax return and one count of failing to file an income tax return for 2016.

Montgomery faces up to 20 years in federal prison, up to three years supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000 on the mail fraud charge. Filing a false tax return carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

Montgomery also will be required to make restitution and forfeit interest in certain property, Chestney said.

On ExpressNews.com: Judge socks 2 San Antonio-area men over energy scheme

The guilty plea comes about three months after U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered Montgomery to pay nearly $3.7 million in civil penalties, ill-gotten gains and interest in a civil case brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The SEC had sued Montgomery and two others, Michael David Fischer, 41, of Canyon Lake, and James Hurst Willingham Jr., 73, of Cedar Park, for securities fraud.

The complaint, filed in May, alleged the trio raised at least $2.7 million from 15 investors in two fraudulent securities offerings relating to oil and gas leases.

The SEC said Willingham and a partner hired Montgomerys company to drill four new wells and rework existing wells.

Sales representatives solicited investors using pop-up advertising on websites, followed by emails with attached promotional videos. Individuals identified in a nearly 12-minute YouTube video as potential investors were actually Fishers sister-in-law and her parents, the suit said.

Biery ordered Montgomery to pay nearly $3.7 million and Fisher to pay more than $3.3 million after they didnt defend themselves in the case. The judge granted the SECs motion for final judgment by default in January.

The judge also permanently enjoined Montgomery and Fisher from committing any future violations of federal securities laws.

The judge found their fraudulent conduct permeated the projects from start to finish.

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Biery previously had permanently restrained Willingham, but had not determined how much he would have to pay in the case. In a March 12 court filing, the SEC asked the court to order Willingham to pay almost $3.3 million.

In Montgomerys indictment, prosecutors alleged he had raised funds through a company called Energon3 LLC. He presented investors misleading information and omitted other material, prosecutors added.

Rather than utilize the funds as Montgomery represented, prosecutors allege he paid 40 percent of the amount as commissions and converted some for his personal use.

Montgomery filed a 2014 tax return that reported total income of $108,019, though his total income was in excess of that amount, prosecutors said.

Montgomery is scheduled to be sentenced June 14 by Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra.

pdanner@express-news.net
The foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt and Iraq met in Baghdad on March 29, to reschedule a trilateral summit. The summit was originally scheduled for March 28 but was temporarily nixed following a tragic train crash in southern Egypt. However, speaking to media reporters in the aftermath, the country's foreign minister Sameh Shoukry asserted that he wanted the summit to be held at the earliest so as to expedite cooperation between the three middle eastern countries.

According to Arab News, Jordans monarch Abdullah II held a telephonic conversation with Iraqi PM Mustafa Al-Kadhimi to highlight the importance of building a network complementary to the needs of people of three countries. In a later statement, Iraqs Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein revealed that he had held an elaborate talk with his Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts. The topics under deliberation included aspects of joint economic cooperation including in civil, urban and industrial fields. Additionally, they also discussed economic, regional and international issues of common concern, including recent developments in a number of regional issues including the Palestinian situation, the conflict in Syria, the war on terror, and the crises in Yemen and Libya.

'Looking forward to effective summit'

"We emphasized fighting terrorism in all forms. We discussed cooperation with industrial integration to enhance it between the three countries," Hussein was quoted as saying by Iraq's national news agency. Adding to it, Egypt's foreign minister said, "There is a consensus between the visions of the three countries, in addition to discussing developments in the Arab region."

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi affirmed that his country stands with all capabilities on the side of Iraq, noting that "Iraq's security and stability are necessary for the security of all the region," adding that "we are looking forward to an effective summit to strengthen the tripartite action," He added that "the outcomes of the tripartite summit will be a step to strengthen joint Arab action.

Image Credits: IraqiMOFA/Twitter/ AP
Durango Resources (CVE: DGO- OTCQB: ATOXF) CEO Marcy Kiesman joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share details about the exploration company with a number of projects in Quebec. Two of those projects, Trove and East Barry are currently seeing work.

Kiesman sharing with Proactive more about that work including drilling at the Trove Property that recently showed visible Silver in a recent drill hole.
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Credit Suisse is facing a major investor backlash after the Archegos crisis left it nursing heavy losses.

The banking giant was already reeling from the aftermath of a spying scandal and its ties to bust lender Greensill Capital.

Now shareholder advisory group Ethos is recommending investors vote against the entire board, and its executive pay, after Credit Suisse said it would take a hit of 2billion to 3billion due to the Archegos meltdown.

Shareholders will be questioning the future of Credit Suisse chief risk officer Lara Warner (pictured), who has held senior positions in the banks risk and compliance offices since 2015

Chairman Urs Rohner, a former lawyer, was already due to step down at the annual meeting in April and hand over to departing Lloyds boss Antonio Horta-Osorio.

But an investor revolt would be an embarrassing blow for the 61-year-old Swiss banker, ending his decade-long tenure as Credit Suisses chairman on a sour note.

Ethos Foundation chief executive Vincent Kaufmann said: These new cases add up to an incredible number of governance failures during Mr Rohners tenure.

Harris Associates, one of Credit Suisses largest shareholders, has called for Rohner to pay for the events out of his own pocket.

The investment firms chief investment officer David Herro said: Given recent events and past performance, I certainly think it would be appropriate for Mr Rohner to forgo any further compensation from Credit Suisse.

Shareholders will also be questioning the future of Credit Suisse chief risk officer Lara Warner, who has held senior positions in the banks risk and compliance offices since 2015.

The firms checks and balances are being reviewed by external advisers in the wake of the Greensill and Archegos downfalls, as the bank was heavily exposed to both businesses.

It ran funds worth 7billion which invested clients money in Greensill loans, and questions are now emerging over whether those investments contained quite what clients were expecting.

On top of that, Credit Suisse lent Greensill 100million  money which it is unlikely to recover, since Greensill is now bust.

The Swiss bank has already axed bonuses for some senior employees involved in the Greensill debacle, and replaced the boss of its asset management unit.

Shares in Credit Suisse have tumbled by 16.5 per cent so far this week, wiping 4billion off its market value.
The White House on Tuesday accused China of hampering the World Health Organizations investigation into the origins of the coronavirus and demanded Beijing be more transparent by providing greater access to data about the initial outbreak in late 2019.

The joint report from a W.H.O. team and Chinese scientists, released on Tuesday, was inconclusive, but surmised that the pandemic most likely began from animal-to-human transmission and began widely circulating in the city of Wuhan, China, as Chinese officials have long asserted.

Some observers, including Robert Redfield, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have questioned that theory, arguing that the virus might have originated in a government lab, although U.S. intelligence officials have said they do not have evidence to determine where the virus came from.

The report lacks crucial data information and access  it represents a partial and incomplete picture, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said at a news conference on Tuesday, adding that Chinese officials have not been transparent, they have not provided underlying data.
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) on Thursday began a two-day training of staff of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and members of both the Gambia Police and Armed Forces on Access to Information and Elections.

Funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) through Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) in Uganda, the training is part of a project aimed at "improving transparency and accountability in electoral processes in Africa".

It is being jointly implemented in The Gambia by the GPU, in Uganda by AFIC, and in Zambia by the Panos Institute Southern Africa.

"This training comes at a critical time for Gambia. The IEC and law enforcement bodies are critical stakeholders in ensuring access to information in elections for the credibility of the democratic process," Sheriff Bojang Jnr, President of GPU said in his welcome remarks. "Conducting a successful election depends largely on whether or not there is transparency and accountability in the electoral processes, from registration of voters to the counting of election results," Bojang said.

Gambians will head to the polls in December this year to elect a new president, while National Assembly and local government elections are not due until 2022.

John Charles Njie, Chairperson of the Civil Society Coalition on Access to Information, said it is important that Gambians work together to enhance access to information. Njie said this will allow all stakeholders to play an effective role in the development of the country.

"The collaboration between civil society and the Gambia Government which resulted in a draft access to information law currently before lawmakers, is something we should be proud of," Njie said.

Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Commissioner Sireh Jabang, said the assurance of impartiality during an election year is essential to the attainment of the participants' confidence and commitment to the electoral process.

"The institutions responsible for the administration and security of an election must fulfil their mandate and must remain impartial. Therefore, this training on access to information and elections is timely," she said.

In his keynote address, the Chairperson of the IEC Alieu Momarr Njai, said "the IEC's mandate centres around policies that promote freedom, fairness and transparency."

"In this regard, transparency calls for the dissemination of timely and accurate information to all stakeholders in the electoral process," Njie said.

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He hailed the media as playing a very positive role in the success of previous elections, especially in the area of information dissemination. "Whatever is done in the election process is greatly influenced by the quantity and quality of electoral information that voters have been given access to," he said.

Access to election-related information is critical to the integrity of electoral processes in a democratic world.

It empowers the electorate to be well-informed about political processes with due regard to their best interest:

to elect political office holders;

to participate in decision-making processes on the implementation of the laws and policies, and

to hold public officials accountable for their acts or omissions in the execution of their duties.

As part of this project, stakeholders like the media, civil society, political parties, parliamentarians, the election management body and law enforcement in The Gambia, are being trained to advocate for and implement reforms, as well as monitor the preparation and management of the upcoming elections in line with regional and international norms.
As officers arrived on the scene, they found Zamudio in the intersection in critical condition. Witnesses said the pickup truck had driven off after the crash. Aurora paramedics took the man to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Paxton, IL (60957)

Today

A few clouds. Low 61F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 61F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Friends of Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie in the Eastern Region have called on the Agric Minister to consider contesting the presidential primaries of the ruling NPP when the party opens its nomination in 2022.



According to the group, it is their strong believe that Dr. Akoto Afriyie will be a very fine presidential candidate to lead the party in the 7th December 2024 presidential elections on the ticket of the NPP.



They add that his experience in parliamentary work, coupled with his background in Agriculture puts him above his competitors within the party and the country as a whole.



" . . we call on our own brother from the region Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto to consider to contest the presidential primaries when the time comes because he possesses all the essential qualities to continue with the good work of President Akuffo Addo.



"As a group we are aware of massive support from other regions as well for Dr. Akoto Afriyie to become the flag bearer for the New Patriotic Party in 2022 and we wish to encourage these other regions to also show same faith in propagating all good works of Dr. Afriyie Akoto to lead this great party of ours.," a part of the statement read.





Read below the full statement



FRIENDS OF DR. OWUSU AKOTO AFRIYIE



AGRIC MINISTER





Good afternoon Ladies and gentlemen of the media. We have called you this afternoon for a very short and concise information to the whole nation. It is our believe that as the 4th arm of government this urgent and all important message will get to the New Patriotic Party and the Citizenry as a whole.



Friends of Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie, Eastern Region is a group ready to propagate the good works of a noble man who has in many ways exhibited high level of patriotism from both party and national level. In January 2017, President Nana Akuffo-Addo nominated Afriyie Akoto for the position of Minister of Food and Agriculture and he was again nominated in 2021 for the same position.



Dr. Akoto Afriyie is a native of this region and hails from Koforidua. The two-time MP for Kwadaso is the driver for the Presidents vision of Planting for Food and Jobs which yielded enormous results in 2019 and 2020. Dr Akoto is a farmer himself with plantations at Manso Nkwanta in Ashanti and owner of Plantation Resources Company Limited and holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Cambridge University, UK.



Dr. Akoto Afriyie worked with the international Coffee Organization in London, England as Chief Economic Advisor. He also served as a Consuktant to the World Bank (United Nations Agency) between 1995-2008 and also served as CEO of Goldcrest Commodities Ltd and Plantation Resources Ltd.



Friends of the media, it is a known fact that Dr. Afriyie Akoto has been nursing a presidential ambition for some time now and it is only proper that he with all these qualities get the support of us patriots. We are here today to show our colossal support for Dr. Akoto Afriyies bid of becoming the flag bearer for the New Patriotic Party come 2022 presidential primaries.



As a group we are aware of massive support from other regions as well for Dr. Akoto Afriyie to become the flag bearer for the New Patriotic Party in 2022 and we wish to encourage these other regions to also show same faith in propagating all good works of Dr. Afriyie Akoto to lead this great party of ours.



Friends from the media, it is no surprise that H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, showered praises on the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, describing him as one of the most outstanding ministers in his first term.



The President noted that Dr. Afriyie Akoto, whom he described as a man he has known for the past 50 years, has performed beyond expectations since his appointment as the Minister for Food and Agriculture in his first four-year administration.



Today we celebrate a great man; a man I have known for the past 50 years. In all these years, I know him to be a man with passion and commitment for everything he did. When I appointed him as the Minister for Food and Agriculture, I had no doubt at all that this man I describe as my bosom friend will be able to deliver. Now the evidence is clear for everyone to see.



It is our strong believe that he Dr. Akoto Afriyie will be a very fine presidential candidate to lead the party in the 7th Dec, 2024 presidential elections on the ticket of the NPP. His experience in parliamentary work, coupled with his background in Agriculture puts him above his competitors within the party and the country as a whole.



Lastly, we call on our own brother from the region Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto to consider to contest the presidential primaries when the time comes because he possesses all the essential qualities to continue with the good work of President Akuffo Addo.



Ladies and gentlemen, this group in the coming days will be canvasing for more possible votes for Dr. Akoto Afriyie within the region and also help other regions do same.



Thanks for the attention and may God bless the NPP,



May God bless Ghana.







Signed



..



Mr. Isaac Aboagye



Regional coordinator (Eastern Region)





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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American culture is a grand mix of the old and the not so old, as we all know. As is true in other cultures, including the island culture here Read more
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 50 MBA in International Business Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 169 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 169 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 MBA in International Business Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-mba-in-international-business-degree-programs/

2021 MBA in International Business Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

American InterContinental University

American University

Arizona State University

Ashford University

Azusa Pacific University

Babson College

Bellevue University

Benedictine University

Bethel University

Brandman University

California State University, Los Angeles

Campbellsville University

City University of Seattle

Cleary University

Dallas Baptist University

Endicott College

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Institute of Technology

Fort Hays State University

Gardner-Webb University

George Washington University

Kettering University

Lehigh University

Liberty University

Lynn University

National University

Northcentral University

Northeastern University

Nova Southeastern University

Saint Joseph's University

Saint Thomas University

Southern New Hampshire University

State University of New York, Empire State College

Tennessee Technological University

Texas A&M International University

Tiffin University

University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

University of Delaware

University of Houston-Downtown

University of Michigan, Dearborn

University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska, Lincoln

University of North Alabama

University of North Dakota

University of Scranton

University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley

University Of Wisconsin, Whitewater

Washington State University

Wayne State University

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/.
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NASA is now taking major steps into the completion of its Psyche asteroid spacecraft with the arrival of an important component at the US space agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, where the spacecraft's assembly, test and launch operations is in full swing.

By 2022, Psyche will complete assembly and undergo rigorous testing and checks before it is delivered to Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA targets a Psyche launch to the main asteroid belt in August 2022.

ALSO READ: NASA Orion Spacecraft Successfully Completes First Water Drop Test





NASA said the component-Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis-was manufactured by Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California. It has the same size of a van and comprises more than 80 percent of the hardware that will make up the spacecraft.

The huge, box-shaped component was brought in the JPL's High Bay 1 in its Spacecraft Assembly Facility. Among the features of the SEP Chassis include a 6.5-foot-wide (two-meter-wide) high-gain antenna, the frame that is set to carry scientific instruments, and bright red protective covers to shield delicate equipment.
analysis

Dr. Msandeni Chiume Kayuni found herself in the middle of a supply crisis as COVID-19 spread to Africa in April 2020. As head of Pediatrics at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, her team faced a critical shortage of N95 and regular surgical face masks. Nurses and doctors were striking.

"We had members of hospital staff put their tools down because they did not feel it was safe to practice," she told us in an interview.

Ingenuity kicked in. The Malawi team purchased raincoats from the local market to use as personal protective equipment when they could not afford appropriate gowns that cost three times as much. Unlike disposable gowns, the rain gear could easily be sanitized in bleach and reused.

Worldwide, as the global supply chain for basic PPE, diagnostic tests and equipment to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients buckled under the strain, medical personnel improvised and engineers began developing solutions almost overnight. Engineering students used university-based maker spaces to invent and produce new technologies - face shields, automated hand washing stations, diagnostic testing equipment and respiratory support equipment - that allowed health care workers to safely deliver effective care.

As engineers working in the U.S. and Malawi to develop effective and affordable medical devices for low-resource communities, we routinely practice and teach this level of resourcefulness, dubbed "frugal design."

Spreading the light

Medical personnel reused available N95 masks, intended to be used once, for weeks or months, which required innovative ways to disinfect them, including heaters, gas sterilizers and ultraviolet light.

UVC - short-wavelength ultraviolet light - kills or inactivates viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In the pandemic, scientists set up UVC systems in spare rooms at hospitals to sanitize masks.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center equipped a room with UVC light towers and coated the walls with reflective foil to maximize the dose of UVC light. Dirty masks are clipped to rows of clothesline strung across the UVC room. An operator outside the room started the lights, and a detector in the room ensured the masks had received a virus-killing dose of light. Masks can be disinfected and reused multiple times without damaging their integrity.

Engineers in Houston, Malawi and Tanzania worked together to reduce the cost of room-based UVC disinfection systems to less than US$800, and several systems are now installed in hospitals in Malawi and Tanzania. Engineers at other locations built disinfecting stations by adapting UV lights in the hoods normally used to grow cells in culture or by repurposing the UV light in an aquarium sanitizer.

Local innovation for PPE

Across the world, engineering students used novel maker spaces at universities with 3D printers and laser cutters to rush new PPE designs into large-scale local production. Students and staff at Malawi's two engineering schools, Malawi Polytechnic and the Malawi University of Science and Technology, and at Tanzania's Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, adapted open-source designs to produce face shields. They consulted with clinicians at partner hospitals to improve comfort and safety while using only locally available materials.

Development organizations, including UNICEF and the United Nations Development Program, ordered over 8,000 face shields that were locally produced and delivered to area hospitals.

Rethinking diagnostics designs

Diagnostic laboratories could not obtain key supplies needed to run COVID-19 tests in the early stages of the pandemic. In early 2020, major hospitals and public health systems struggled to obtain swabs, sample tubes, reagents and equipment needed to meet the increased demand for testing.

The first available COVID-19 test relied on polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, a method that increases the amount of a viral RNA in a sample to detectable levels. This method of testing requires specialized reagents and equipment to isolate viral RNA, transform it to DNA, and trigger the amplification process.

Because of the complexity of PCR-based testing and the scarcity of test reagents, the National Institutes of Health invested $1.5B in the RADx program to spur innovators to find novel, affordable diagnostic tests. Many innovative tests have received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and are now used throughout the world.

For example, researchers at Harvard used a simple single-temperature reaction to amplify viral RNA, eliminating many of the necessary steps and reagents of PCR and speeding up the testing time. Researchers at Stanford adapted the mechanism inside a toy flashlight to build a simple electricity-free centrifuge to help perform this new COVID-19 test in areas that lack electricity and other laboratory infrastructure.

Reinforcing ventilator supplies

In response to the global shortage of ventilators in the first months of the pandemic last year, engineers designed simple devices to provide temporary breathing support. Open-source plans for two systems, one designed by the MIT Emergency Ventilator Project and one designed by students and staff at Rice University, are available online.

A global shortage of oxygen in low-resource countries has led many health care providers in those countries to fall back on mechanical ventilation. Ventilators are also in short supply, in part because of problems with a U.S. ventilator donation program.

Students and faculty at the Malawi University of Science and Technology developed a system similar to the MIT and Rice ventilators that can be assembled using materials available in Malawi. Students at Malawi Polytechnic worked with local physicians to develop a ventilator with more features.

Hygiene innovation

Public health officials emphasize the role of hand-washing, together with social distancing and face masks, to curb the continued spread of COVID-19. However, many schools and even some hospitals in low-resource settings do not have running water and sinks allowing students and patients to regularly wash their hands.

In response, Brenald Dzonzi, an engineering student at Malawi Polytechnic, designed a no-touch hand-washing station. Small amounts of soap and water are automatically dispensed from pre-filled containers when a user stands in front of the station. The system is made from local materials and is now installed at a local hospital. Up to 2,000 patients can safely wash their hands before the system needs to be refilled.

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Dzonzi was awarded the UNICEF Youth Challenge award to fund continued development of the hand-washing station.

Elegant and sustainable design

When equipment is unsuitable for an environment, because it can't tolerate hot, dusty conditions, for example, it ends up discarded in equipment graveyards -- serving no one. In contrast, successfully executed frugal designs offer sustainability and suitability for low-resource environments.

An example of this type of elegant design is the FoldScope, a low-cost paper microscope used to improve medical diagnostics and science education in low-resource settings. Other examples include LED-based phototherapy lights used to treat jaundice in newborns, and low-cost CPAPs that bring breathing support to small and sick newborns in low-resource health care facilities.

To encourage frugal design, universities across the world are changing how they teach engineering -- focusing on frugal design and engaging students like Dzonzi to invent solutions that solve real problems. Though the pandemic sparked a global need for frugal design, the practice is important generally for narrowing the health care gap between high- and low-resource communities and bringing health care services to underserved communities.

Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Professor of Bioengineering, Rice University and Theresa Mkandawire, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Malawi
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Economic Policy at the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, invited student loan giant Navient CEO Jack Remondi (NAVI) to an upcoming hearing that will explore the student debt crisis and the servicer's role.

The letter, obtained by Yahoo Finance, stated that Navient and other servicers "have the ability [to] offer a unique perspective on this crisis. Navient is one of the nations largest student loan servicers, and since 2014 has obtained contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars from the Education Department to provide student loan servicing."

Remondi has since confirmed his attendance, along with Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) CEO James Steeley. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) will also be joining the hearing.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) listens during the confirmation hearing for Marty Walsh, nominee for U.S. Labor Secretary, before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill February 4, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Mandel Ngan-Pool/Getty Images)

"Your company has also been a contributor to the problem, with a decade-long history of allegations of abusive and misleading practices aimed at student loan borrowers," Warren's letter asserted. Navient previously responded to several of the allegations detailed in the letter, contending that the accusations are built on false and meritless statements and misrepresents the public record.

Navient services federally-backed loans for roughly 5.6 million borrowers, holds an estimated $58 billion in Federal Family Education Loans, and is well known to Warren, attorneys general, and judges across the country.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which Warren helped create after the 2008 Financial Crisis, sued Navient in January 2017 over alleged deceptive practices. In January 2020, Warren demanded that the company pay $22.3 million owed to the federal government after a 2009 investigation by the Education Department (ED) found that Navient (then-Sallie Mae) had overcharged the federal government by abusing a program meant for smaller lenders. (Navient created a web page to address the various lawsuits against the company.)

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"Your testimony will provide you with an opportunity to offer context on the burden of student loans on borrowers and the economy," the Warren letter stated, "and on the problems created for borrowers due to the long record of abusive and misleading behavior by student loan servicers like Navient."

The invitation and hearing come at a time when Warren and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are urging President Biden to cancel up to $50,000 in federally-backed student debt for roughly 43 million borrowers.

The Biden-era ED has so far taken steps to cancel debt for some defrauded students of now-defunct for-profit schools as well as debtors who qualify for total and permanent disability discharge.

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This post has been updated to reflect that Navient accepted the invitation to appear at the April 13 hearing.



Aarthi is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. She can be reached at aarthi@yahoofinance.com. Follow her on Twitter @aarthiswami.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Abuja for London, United Kingdom, for a routine medical check-up.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president and aides departed the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja for London at about 2.30 p.m.

Those at the airport to bid the president farewell included the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammed Bello; Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu and other presidential aides.

Before departing the Presidential Villa, Mr Buhari had met behind closed doors with security chiefs where he directed them to fish out and crush heads of bandits, kidnappers and their local collaborators to restore confidence in the society.

The president, who last travelled to London for medical check-up in May 2018, is expected back in the country during the second week of April 2021.

(NAN)
Brazil's coronavirus death rate tripled among people in their 20s in February as the country's dangerous new variant took over, a study has found.

Researchers investigated the ratio of Covid cases to deaths in Brazil last month and found it surged in young people.

Even though the numbers of cases across the country were declining the number of people aged 20 to 29 dying of the disease rose three-fold, they noticed.

And the proportion of people dying of coronavirus between the ages of 30 and 60 doubled.

Academics said the data 'suggest significant increases in case fatality rate in young and middle-aged adults after identification of a novel SARS-Cov-2 strain circulating in Brazil'.

The variant referred to in the paper is known as P1 and has been spotted in 27 people in the UK already. It has mutations that seem to make it spread faster, infect people who have already had other strains of the virus, and it may be more deadly.

Scientists said the discovery should 'raise public health alarms' about the variant and vaccines should be rushed out to stop the mutant strain.

One major factor not accounted for in the study is the fact that Brazilian hospitals were overwhelmed with Covid patients in February, which may have made survival less likely for people with the disease.

The researchers admitted it was 'difficult to distinguish' whether the new variant or 'pressure on hospitals' was to blame but did not factor it into their numbers.

But they insisted the data, which came from the state of Parana, 'coincided with a steady two-month decline in overall cases'.

The study found that Covid death rates increased dramatically in some age groups in February, rising most from 0.04 per cent to 0.13 per cent in people in their 20s (yellow) and from 0.43 to 0.9 per cent in people in their 40s (green)

Hospitals in Brazil were overwhelmed by Covid patients in February as the country grappled to get its second wave under control (Pictured: A man in hospital in Baaru, Sao Paulo)

'The reasons for the sudden rise in CFR [case fatality ratio] are not entirely clear,' wrote the researchers, led by the Federal University of Parana's Professor Helena Santos de Oliveira. Academics from Cincinnati in the US and Verona in Italy were also involved in the study.

'During a surge, even in well-designed clinical studies, it may be difficult to distinguish between truly increased pathogen virulence versus increased pressure on hospitals, acute care beds and other healthcare resources, thus resulting in poorer clinical outcomes as the primary driver of increased mortality rates.

'However, while it may be reasonable to assume that increased transmissibility of a novel strain may have resulted in overburden hospital system and healthcare resources, the rise in CFR actually coincided with a steady two-month decline in overall cases in the state of Parana.'

The study, published online at medRxiv, said that 70 per cent of Covid cases in the Brazilian state of Parana were caused by the P1 variant.

It did not link the P1 strain to the patients who died  but the timing of the surge in death rate and the emergence of the variant suggested a link.

The researchers found the Covid death rate for people in their 20s was 0.04 per cent in January but then rose to 0.13 per cent in February.

For people in their 30s it rose from 0.17 per cent to 0.32 per cent.

Among those in their 40s it went up from 0.43 per cent to 0.9 per cent, and for 50-somethings it was 1.17 per cent up to 2.1 per cent.

The biggest increase was in the 20s age group, among whom the risk of death rose by 3.15 times, and in people in their 40s, who saw it rise 2.1 times.

The surging death rate came while Brazil was totally over-run by critically ill Covid patients in February and early March.

The Covid death rate among older age groups did not rise to the same extent as it did in younger people, the researchers found

The researchers noted that the death rate increased even when the number of people testing positive was coming down

Brazil has had one of the worst Covid outbreaks in the world, with more than 12million cases and 300,000 deaths (Pictured: People queue for vaccines near Rio de Janeiro in March)

On March 10 the country recorded more than 2,000 deaths in its worst day yet and regional governors warned the country was being buckled by the virus and called for lockdown.

Piaui state chief Wellington Dias described hospitals where infected patients could not even get a bed, let alone the intensive care they required.

'We have reached the limit across Brazil; rare are the exceptions,' Dias, who leads the governors' Covid forum, said earlier this month. 'The chance of dying without assistance is real.'

More than 80 per cent of intensive care beds were full across 25 major cities in the country at the start of this month, the BBC reported.

Full hospitals are known to have worse survival rates because people can't get the same level of attention and medical care that they would if there were fewer other patients.

So the increased death rates could have been linked to the fact that hospitals were busier, rather than the new variant.

The country has ranked among those with the worst Covid outbreaks in the world  it has recorded 12.6million cases and 314,000 deaths, second only to the US on both counts.

President Jair Bolsonaro has been constantly dismissive of the virus and allowed it to run rampant, comparing Covid to flu and publicly spreading anti-vaccine myths, hampering the country's pandemic response.
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Old photos of Ireland have been newly colorized with the help of artificial intelligence, shedding new light on what life was like in the country during the 1800s and 1900s.

The photos are part of a project called 'Old Ireland in Colour,' which has social media accounts and a book scheduled to be released in North America in the coming week.

The photos span over a century of life in Ireland, from the 1840s up into the 1960s.

Eamon de Valera addressing Sinn Fein supporters from Ennis Courthouse during the East Clare by-election in July 1917

Irish suffragette and nationalist Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington (right) arriving to a court martial in 1916

A group of workers knitting wool in Ireland in one of the many colorized photos of the country's working class people

'We're being bombarded with so much information, knowledge, bite-sized media and content, so, for the younger generation particularly, it can be hard for history to compete,' National University of Ireland, Galway professor John Breslin told CNN of the colorized photos.

'It's important to be able to relate more to our history, and colorization definitely makes things more relatable.'

The black-and-white photos were colorized using an AI tool called DeOldify, an open-source model that can utilize deep learning to spark color in photos that were once grayscale.

Mary Barlow works at the spinning wheel, which was commonly used for spinning flax before it was woven into linen

Pictured are several women wearing the Galway shawl, heavy-weight shawl popular at the end of the 19th century

Four visiting girls in traditional dress on Inis Meain. Some of those pictured are originally from Dublin

The software tool is trained in how to colorize various images by learning from color photos and black-and-white photos of the same image.

It can then be used to colorize other black-and-white photos, using the knowledge of what objects and people should look like in color based on the previous photos the tool has seen.

But because the software was developed in the United States - and therefore likely used mostly American pictures - more nuance was needed to apply it to the old Ireland photos.

This photograph depicts Mrs Bridget Flynn and five of her children - Francis (boy standing), Bridget (mother), Margaret (toddler), Philomena (girl standing), Norbert and Mary (seated) in September 1933

A large group of children, both boys and girls, mostly facing the camera in 1984

This photo was taken in the Temple Bar area of Dublin around 1969, with the boy carrying a wrapped-up toy gun

Breslin's fellow professor, Sarah-Anne Buckley, helped in this regard, researching social history along with Breslin, then manually adjusting shades and colors as they saw fit.

The end result was eye-popping color added to photos of history, as well as photos of the day-to-day lives of the Irish people.

These photos include the working class herding pigs, spinning wool, or riding around on the back of horse-drawn carts.

A unit of anti-treaty IRA men are seen patrolling Grafton Street in Dublin in 1922, as Ireland is on the brink of civil war

This photograph was taken after the Arranmore Boating Tragedy in which nineteen people lost their lives

The Riley family, from Bradford, England, were survivors of the Lusitania sinking (pictured in 1915)

The photos also show the depths of poverty in Ireland at the time, such as tenement buildings in Dublin and barefoot villagers.

'There were many different social classes in Ireland, as in many countries, so I think it's important to show the full range,' Breslin sold of the photos, which also include shots of the more wealthy class in Ireland.

'We have a mixture of the wealthier classes and the gentry, and then you've got people who are just trying to survive and gather water and turf [peat] to burn on their fires.'

A group of men listening to a gramophone in Inis Bigil. This photograph appears to be from between 1900 and 1930

This photograph was taken on the day of the final. Dublin beat Kilkenny that day, on a scoreline of 4-4 to 1-5

This image depicts Mr J.P. Longfield, 'Master of Fox Hounds', on his horse, surrounded by dogs, about to go on a hunt

Pictured: Violet Gibson, who shot Mussolini in the nose as he walked among the crowd in the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome

Breslin also pushed back against criticism of the colorizing of the photos, saying they're 'not vandalizing the negatives.'

'You can always go back and find the original photograph, and throughout the book we provide pointers to the original collection,' Breslin added.

Breslin and Buckley's book, which was the winner of Best Irish-Published Book of the Year at the Post Irish Book Awards in 2020, was published in Ireland in October 2020.

The book is set to be published in the United States on April 5.
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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - Goldsource Mines Inc. (TSXV: GXS) (OTCQB: GXSFF) (FSE: G5M) ("Goldsource" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional in-fill and expansion drill results for the Company's 100%-owned Eagle Mountain Gold Project in Guyana, South America. Newly reported results, for resource conversion, represent 16 core holes totalling 1,205 metres (see attached Figures and Tables below) drilled from December 2020 to February 2021 in the Ounce Hill and Bacchus areas of the Eagle Mountain deposit.

Highlights (Eagle Mountain deposit):

Ounce Hill: Results for nine (9) core holes totalling 651 metres (Table 1). In-fill drilling in the Ounce Hill area has continued to deliver gold grade-thicknesses that are greater than previous drilling. EMM21-009 intersected 51.0 metres (estimated true width ("ETW") of 44.0 metres) grading 2.02 grams per tonne ("gpt") gold from surface. EMM21-009 has extended the high-grade area, previously defined by drill holes EMM21-007 and 008, a further 50 metres to the east. Holes EMM21-007 and 008 intersected 42.0 metres (ETW of 34.0 metres) grading 20.38 gpt gold and 30.0 metres (ETW of 24.0 metres) grading 3.41 gpt gold, respectively, from surface and in saprolite (see February 8, 2021 News Release). Unlike surrounding holes, mineralization in EMM21-009 has continued into the underlying fresh rock by 22.5 metres with a grade of 2.69 gpt gold (Figures 2 and 3).

Bacchus: Results for seven (7) core holes totalling 554 metres (Table 2). Expansion drilling in the Bacchus area adjacent to the contact of granodiorite with a mafic volcanic unit has intersected up to four sub-horizonal mineralized horizons (Zones 1 to 4) within 75 metres of surface (Figure 5). The addition of more sub-horizontal zones opens the possibility of new extensional targets to the northwest in an area where Zones 1 and 2 are expected to be eroded away. This area is now a target for resource expansion, testing for near-surface extensions of Zones 3 and 4. In the upper Zone 1, in-fill holes EMD20-150 intersected 21.0 metres grading 1.44 gpt gold and EMD20-149 intersected 37.5 metres grading 1.05 gpt gold (Figure 5).



These results were not included in the updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") announced on February 22, 2021 for which the cut-off date for assays was November 6, 2020. The Company has continued drilling beyond this date with three rigs currently active at site and is planning a second resource update later in 2021. The four primary objectives for the 2021 drill program are unchanged, as follows:

In-fill drilling to upgrade a significant portion of the mineralization currently classified as Inferred to the Measured and Indicated categories. Re-classification to be used as the basis for a prefeasibility study, which is targeted to be delivered in 2022; Testing for new lateral extensions of the sub-horizontal zones of the Eagle Mountain deposit, notably to the north, west and southwest currently outside of the February 22, 2021 MRE outline, as defined in Figure 1; Follow-up exploration of several new target areas along the prospective Salbora-Powis trend, such as the Toucan, Powis, Ann and Montgomery prospects where the potential exists for Salbora-style mineralization; and, Using the above information, announce another MRE update in H2, 2021.

Steve Parsons, P. Eng., and CEO of Goldsource, commented, "Not only is the 2021 drill program confirming the continuity of mineralization in the Ounce Hill and Bacchus areas of the Eagle Mountain deposit, but it is also delivering several enhancements. Higher grades in the Ounce Hill area, with continuous gold mineralization over the reported intersections underscores the prospectivity of Ounce Hill in terms of expanding the higher-grade footprint. For the Bacchus area, discovery of up to four mineralized horizons or zones with the step-out drilling to the northwest is a noteworthy development. While our understanding of the granodiorite and mafic contact is evolving, the possibility exists for further expansions to the north and north-west direction along the lateral extent of the Eagle Mountain deposit. This potential will be tested in the coming months.

"As we progress our exploration objectives, including the recently reported MRE update, and identify new target areas for exploration, the favourable development characteristics of the Eagle Mountain Project come further into focus. These include a growing footprint of mineralization and tangible opportunities for phased development. We look forward to further exploration updates and the next mineral resource update later in 2021."

The following table shows the most significant results (uncut, undiluted):

Table 1: Eagle Mountain Deposit - Ounce Hill In-fill Intercepts

Hole ID (1) From (m) To (m) Drilled

Interval

(m)(2) Gold

(gpt)(3) EMM21-009 0.0 51.0 51.0 2.02 EMM21-010 0.0 33.0 33.0 0.95 Incl. 25.5 33.0 7.5 2.61 and 43.5 46.5 3.0 0.52 EMM21-011 0.0 30.0 30.0 0.96 and 39.0 52.0 13.0 1.15 Incl. 39.0 43.5 4.5 2.92 and 49.5 52.5 3.0 0.71 EMM21-012 0.0 25.5 25.5 0.69 and 28.5 30.0 1.5 0.75 and 39.0 42.0 3.0 0.69 EMM21-013 6.0 24.0 18.0 1.75 and 27.0 37.5 10.5 0.49 EMM21-014 6.0 16.5 10.5 1.53 EMM21-015 7.5 27.0 19.5 0.58 and 36.0 43.5 7.5 1.03 EMM21-016 21.0 22.5 1.5 0.67 and 51.0 66.0 15.0 1.51 EMM21-017 22.5 49.5 27.0 1.19 Incl. 39.0 49.5 10.5 1.35

Note: All numbers rounded.

(1) EMM defines core holes completed by drilling contractor.

(2) True widths are estimated to be 70 to 100% of drilled widths.

(3) Saprolite and hard rock cut-off grades of 0.3 and 0.5 gpt Au, respectively.

Table 2: Eagle Mountain Deposit - Bacchus In-fill and Expansion Intercepts

Hole ID (1) From (m) To (m) Drilled

Interval (m)(2) Gold

(gpt)(3) EMD20-146 0.0 7.5 7.5 0.51 EMD20-149 9.0 46.5 37.5 1.05 EMD20-150 0.0 21.0 21.0 1.44 and 42.0 43.5 1.5 0.59 and 76.5 79.5 3.0 5.32 EMD20-151 0.0 30.3 30.3 0.92 Incl. 0.0 19.5 19.5 1.26 EMD20-152 3.0 25.5 22.5 0.76 and 40.5 48.0 7.5 0.56 and 67.5 69.0 1.5 0.88 and 103.5 112.5 9.0 0.67

Note: All numbers rounded.

(1) EMD defines core holes completed by Company's diamond rig.

(2) True widths are estimated to be 70 to 100% of drilled widths.

(3) Saprolite and hard rock cut-off grades of 0.3 and 0.5 gpt Au, respectively.

All sample preparation and geochemical analyses were completed by Actlabs Guyana Inc. in Georgetown, Guyana. Holes EMD20-147 and EMD20-148 intersected mineralization below the Company's saprolite cut-off grade of 0.3 gpt Au.

Eagle Mountain Deposit - Ounce Hill and Bacchus Area Geology

Geologically, the Ounce Hill and Bacchus areas, located in the northeast of the Eagle Mountain deposit (Figure 1), are represented by two continuous sub-horizontal mineralized horizons or zones (Zones 1 and 2) along shallowly dipping shear structures (Figures 3 and 5), which feature a mylonitic base in areas of high shearing (see also Feb 8, 2021 News Release). The in-fill drilling in these areas has provided further support for the geologic model; however, with localized higher grades in Ounce Hill and new extensional targets at Bacchus.

At Ounce Hill, the increased length and grade of mineralization, specifically in the area defined by drillholes EMM21-007, 008 and 009, is currently believed to be associated with the convergence of Zone 1 and 2 (Figure 3) with no or limited unmineralized material separating the zones. This high-grade feature will be the subject of further drilling and analysis in the coming months as drills move back into this area of the Eagle Mountain deposit.

At Bacchus, the presence of additional mineralized sub-horizontal zones below that of Zone 1 and 2 (Figure 5) present opportunities for lateral extensions to the north and north-west in the area where the main Eagle Mountain deposit granodiorite unit contacts the adjacent mafic volcanic units, into which granodiorite was intruded. The lower of these sub-horizontal zones (Zones 3 and 4), while currently narrower in drill hole EMD20-152, is expected to trend closer to surface further down slope and to the north-west. Evidence from drilling at the Friendly area of the Eagle Mountain deposit shows a continuation of mineralization into the mafic volcanic units at the contact resulting in layered granodiorite and mafic volcanic units both with gold mineralization. The contact zone along the north and north-western flank of the Bacchus area will the subject of drilling later in 2021 to test for this potential.

Historic drill holes for the Ounce Hill and Bacchus areas are presented in Tables 3 and 4.

Table 3: Eagle Mountain Deposit - Ounce Hill Historic Intercepts

Hole ID (1) From (m) To (m) Drilled

Interval (m)(2) Gold

(gpt)(3) EM032 0.0 3.6 3.6 0.58 And 12.0 32.0 20.0 0.88 EM033 0.0 30.0 30.0 0.81 EM034 25.5 29.5 4.0 1.40 EM99-50 10.8 34.5 23.7 0.92 EM99-51 19.3 22.5 3.2 1.04 EM99-52 0.0 27.7 27.7 5.31 EM99-53 0.0 22.5 22.5 1.57 EM99-54 38.5 39.3 0.8 3.14 EMD08-13 7.3 20.8 13.5 0.59 and 41.8 45.3 3.5 0.63 EMD08-14 7.3 29.0 21.7 0.75 EMD11_054 0.0 18.0 18.0 1.12 EMD11_055 22.5 27.0 4.5 1.58 and 61.0 63.0 2.0 0.50 EMD11_056 0.0 28.0 28.0 1.81 EMD11_057 1.5 10.5 9.0 0.65 EMD11_058 7.5 31.0 23.5 0.73 EMD11_059 0.0 29.0 29.0 0.72 and 65.0 67.3 2.3 1.78 EMD11-060 0.0 34.5 34.5 0.84 EMD11_061 6.5 25.0 18.5 0.79 EMD11_062 5.4 19.5 14.1 1.82 EMC17-045 1.0 4.0 3.0 0.91 EMC17-048 0.0 15.0 15.0 1.05 EMC17-049 0.0 6.7 6.7 0.81 EMC17-050 0.0 2.4 2.4 1.82 EMC17-051 0.0 19.0 19.0 3.04 EMC17-054 0.0 15.0 15.0 0.70 EMM20-004 15.0 21.0 6.0 0.72 EMM21-005 15 31.5 16.5 0.84 EMM21-006 6.0 30.0 24.0 0.76 EMM21-007 0.0 42.0 42.0 20.38 Incl. 21.0 42.0 21.0 39.00 And Incl. 39.0 42.0 3.0 205.98 EMM21-008 1.5 31.5 30.0 3.41

Note: All numbers rounded.

(1) EMC17 defines shallow percussion drilled saprolite holes by Goldsource in 2017.

EMD08 defines diamond core holes completed by IAMGOLD in 2008.

EMD11 defines diamond core holes completed by Stronghold in 2011.

EM99 defines diamond core holes completed by Omai Gold Mines in 1999.

EM0 defines diamond core holes drilled by Golden Star Resources in the 1990s.

EMM21 defines core holes completed by drilling contractor in 2021.

(2) True widths are estimates to be 70 to 100% of drilled widths.

(3) Historic cut-off grade of 0.5 gpt Au.

Table 4: Eagle Mountain Deposit - Bacchus Historic Intercepts

Hole ID (1) From (m) To (m) Drilled

Interval

(m)(2) Gold

(gpt)(3) EMD07_02 20.5 21.5 1.0 1.15 EMD07_04 9.3 39.9 30.6 0.80 And 111.7 112.9 1.2 0.59 And 135.6 153.4 17.8 1.03 EMD07_05 5.9 15.7 9.8 0.96 EMD08_15 0.0 12.0 12.0 0.80 EMD08_16 0.0 17.0 17.0 0.93 EMD11-115 3.9 13.5 9.6 1.31 And 70.8 74.9 4.1 0.79 EMC17-033 5.0 17.0 12 1.31 EMC18-059 2.0 5.0 3 2.04 EMD20-138 22.5 31.5 9.0 0.41 EMD20-139 42.0 45.0 3.0 9.88 EMD20-140 0.0 4.5 4.5 1.70 And 46.5 48.0 1.5 1.07 EMD20-141 0.0 6.0 6.0 0.43 And 55.5 66.0 10.5 1.45 EMD20-142 0.0 4.5 4.5 0.44 And 21.0 31.5 10.5 0.60 EMD20-143 0.0 1.5 1.5 0.60 EMD20-144 0.0 1.5 1.5 0.77 And 6.0 13.5 7.5 0.59 EMD20-145 12.0 15.0 3.0 0.62

Note: All numbers rounded.

(1) EMD07 defines diamond core holes completed by IAMGOLD in 2007.

EMD08 defines diamond core holes completed by IAMGOLD in 2008.

EMD11 defines diamond core holes completed by Stronghold in 2011.

EMC17 defines shallow percussion drilled saprolite holes by Goldsource in 2017.

EMC18 defines shallow percussion drilled saprolite holes by Goldsource in 2018.

EMD20 defines diamond core holes completed by Stronghold in 2020.

(2) True widths are estimates to be 70 to 100% of drilled widths.

(3) Historic cut-off grade of 0.5 gpt Au.

The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng., Executive Chairman and VP Finance for Goldsource, who has reviewed and approved its contents.

ABOUT GOLDSOURCE MINES INC.

Goldsource Mines Inc. (www.goldsourcemines.com) is Canadian exploration and development company focussed on the 100%-owned Eagle Mountain gold project in Guyana, South America. The Eagle Mountain Project contains 23 million tonnes grading 1.14 gpt gold for 848,000 oz gold in Indicated Resources and 25 million tonnes grading 1.09 gpt gold for 868,000 oz gold in Inferred Resources with additional exploration targets and tangible opportunities for production scalability. The Company is led by an experienced management team, proven in making precious metals exploration discoveries and executing on phased project development in the Americas.

Steve Parsons

CEO

Goldsource Mines Inc.



For Further Information:

Goldsource Mines Inc.

Contact: Steve Parsons, CEO

Yannis Tsitos, President

Jacy Zerb, Investor Relations

Telephone: +1 (604) 694-1760

Fax: +1 (604) 357-1313

Toll Free: 1-866-691-1760 (Canada & USA)

Email: info@goldsourcemines.com

Website: www.goldsourcemines.com

570 Granville Street, Suite 501

Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT AND FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements concern Goldsource's strategic plans, timing and expectations for release of a second mineral resource update in 2021 and a prefeasibility study in 2022, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration and drilling programs at Eagle Mountain; and information regarding high grade areas projected from sampling results and drilling results. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results and availability of mining equipment; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on operations and future operating costs. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors including: the timing and content of work programs; the ultimate impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on operations and results, results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; the uncertainties of resource estimations; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; delays in release of an undated mineral resource, availability of funds and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.





Figure 1



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Figure 2



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Figure 3



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Figure 4



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Figure 5



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Equally unfamiliar is the scope of viable-seeming political possibilities for the characters to embrace. In the course of the show we meet Stalinists and Trotskyists and White Russians, nationalists and fascists and would-be restorers of the Kaiser, as well as the fractious defenders of the republic. Almost all of them, crucially, have real-world correlatives for their ambitions  still-extant monarchies, the Soviet Union, Mussolinis Italy. If the tragedy of Weimar is that it went through a doorway that opened into hell, the drama of Weimar is that so many doors were open, so many different political futures seemed entirely possible  in a way that makes our own eras radicalisms feel more fantastic, ungrounded or made for cable TV.

Then the final thing thats striking about Weimars world compared to ours is the sweeping institutional and cultural strength of the nationalist right. Indeed if anything the show underplays this power: It portrays a right-wing German military eager for a coup and conservative industrialists eager to support it, but the potency of right-wing ideas in the intelligentsia and the German university hasnt really been depicted; the lone student character so far is an idealistic Communist.

The overall vibe on the show, though, makes some kind of rightward shift in 1930s Germany seem all but inevitable. (Which only makes the role the non-Nazi right played in elevating Hitler seem more shameful.) But that is not at all the vibe of 2020s America, where conservatism feels much more decayed and self-marginalizing, with little of the right-wing infrastructure and ambition that the Nazis channeled, co-opted and corrupted.

Yes, conservatives have Fox News and talk radio, the Republican Party has its business-class support and Trump had Michael Flynn and the MyPillow C.E.O. and Jerry Falwell Jr. But our generals are mostly allergic to politics and the militarys most recent political intervention was a counterstrike against a critique from Tucker Carlson. Our corporations dislike socialism but their main strategy for keeping it at bay is to go all in on cultural-left politics. Our churches are fractured, scandal-ridden and declining. Our aristocracy  sorry, meritocracy  is divided between hand-wringing liberals and militant progressives. And our conservative party isnt eager to tear our constitution up and start anew: Instead its hyper-constitutionalist, because its current share of power depends on some of the Constitutions most antique instruments.

In this landscape I actually find myself in sympathy, in an odd sort of way, with liberals who might respond to Jesse Kellys invocation of some future fascist G.O.P. by saying actually, Donald Trump is already what American fascism looks like. Not because I think fascist is the proper term for Trumpism, but because in his presidency we already saw what happens when a weakened and marginalized right gets radicalized and claims the White House without a popular majority.

We got cruelty and demagogy and corruption  but also a pretty standard Republican agenda. We got flailing weakness in the face of opposition from almost every other power center. We got dramatic failures of governance, not the consolidation of power, when a historic crisis came along.

And when violence was instigated on this right-wing presidents behalf, it took a frightening but also futile form  one that very vaguely resembled the Reichstag Fire, except that the Jan. 6 riot ended with the organs of the security state turned against the extreme right, not mobilized on its behalf.
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The eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover begins Saturday. Despite being one of the most well-known Jewish holidays in the English-speaking world, many do not know the history or the traditions associated with Passover.
Bryah holds a suite of mineral rights over the project including nickel, copper and gold while AVL holds the mineral rights to vanadium, titanium, iron ore and cobalt.

AVL is the largest shareholder of Bryah with a 7.33% stake.

( ) (OTCMKTS:ATVVF) (FRA:JT71) welcomes ( ) results from gold assaying of a further 247 drill samples from 17 holes from Gabanintha Project within the Australian Vanadium Project in Western Australia's Mid-West.

Best gold intercepts are:

10 metres at 27.5 g/t from 53 metres, including 4 metres at 64.3 g/t from 54 metres, which includes 1-metre at 182 g/t from 55 metres and 1-metre at 6.4 g/t from 65 metres.

The samples were submitted by Bryah for gold analysis following encouraging results from assays of an earlier batch in 2020 and as part of a systematic review of Bryahs mineral inventory at its Gabanintha Project, including an updated copper/nickel mineral resource estimation, which is nearing completion.

Bryah holds the mineral rights to all nickel, copper and gold on the project whilst AVL holds the rights to cobalt as well as the large vanadium-titanium-magnetite resource itself.

Confirms exciting gold potential

Bryah managing director Neil Marston said: These latest gold assays are an outstanding result for the company and confirm the exciting gold potential of the historic mining area of Gabanintha.

Last year we started assaying for gold from historical drilling within the vanadium deposit at Gabanintha.

Recording exceptionally high-grade gold assays of 10 metres grading 27.5 g/t gold with 1-metre assays of up to 182 g/t gold within a fault cross-cutting the high-grade vanadium zone opens up a whole new exploration concept for the company to target.

AVL well-positioned

The vanadium-titanium-magnetite deposit is around 11.5 kilometres long with drilling into the deposit also identifying the presence of nickel, copper and gold  which could potentially be extracted economically.

The project is currently progressing through a bankable feasibility study into the mining and processing of the vanadium-titanium-magnetite deposit by AVL.

When developed, the project is expected to operate from multiple open pits for at least 25 years based on AVLs latest feasibility study.

AVL is Bryahs major shareholder holding 7.33% of shares on issue.

Gabanintha location map.

Follow-up work

Bryah is now conducting activities to further assess the gold, nickel and copper potential of the deposit with this work not interfering with AVLs activities.

It will now submit further archived drill samples pulps for gold analysis and plan a follow-up RC drilling program to test the mapped cross fault zone.

Bryah is also well advanced in updating the nickel-copper-cobalt mineral resource for the project utilising all the drilling completed in 2019 and 2020.

The current inferred mineral resource is 14.3 million tonnes at 208 parts per million cobalt, 666 ppm nickel, 217 ppm copper and 0.16% sulphur.
A much-anticipated Government decision on the future of one-off housing is expected in the coming months as local authorities in some areas face huge pressure over planning decisions.

The Government yesterday announced a new Rural Strategy which aims to boost rural living in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. New policy to give employees the right to work remotely and improved broadband is expected to boost the population in rural areas by over 500,000 by 2040.

Some county councils are already seeing a surge in interest in rural living, with Meath seeing an unprecedented rise of 61pc in applications, mainly relating to rural development.

Louth CC CEO Joan Martin recently said her authority was getting a lot of applications for one-off housing and... refusing a lot of them, describing it as not sustainable.

The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has also been critical of one-off housing levels in many counties. In recent months it expressed concerns over the levels of planned one-off housing developments in counties such as Mayo and Kerry.

Recent weeks have also seen concerns raised by TDs and councillors in Limerick and Wexford over county development plans that they claim would effectively ban one-off housing.

The future of rural Wexford lies in the hands of county councillors who will vote on planning changes later this year, Independent TD Verona Murphy said last week. She said changes requested by the OPR to its development plan would mean no one-off housing can be built. If a farmer decides to leave five sites to each of his daughters, for example, they will not be able to build on the sites, Deputy Murphy added.

Committed

In its new rural strategy, the Government has committed to updating the rural housing guidelines for planning authorities to address rural housing in a broader rural development and settlement context.

It is intended that draft guidelines will be submitted for consideration to the Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Peter Burke, in the coming months, before a public consultation exercise. The Strategy also sees the Government commit to working with

An Post to identify the scope to channel additional services through the post office network and invest in the local and regional road network to maintain roads to a proper standard and improve regional accessibility.

It has also committed to further rural development and investment under the Just Transition initiative related to the shift to a climate-neutral society.

ICMSA president Pat McCormack said his association was in favour of anything that made rural areas more attractive to live and work in.

This could be a chance for rural areas to renew and reverse decades of depopulation, he said.

But its a little concerning that the measures seem weighed in favour of people coming back to rural Ireland as opposed to helping the people already there  often connected to farming families, who want to live adjacent to their farms.

Can we look forward to an easing of the very hostile planning process and attitude to those people? They have every right to live and work in rural areas, certainly as much right as someone who wants to come back from Dublin and continue working in digital marketing or whatever.



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With Scott Morrison hit by a seemingly unending series of headline-making problems, his standard techniques for dealing with them are getting easier to detect. He sees them not so much as policy deficiencies to be rectified as political embarrassments to be managed away.

One technique is to tough it out, hoping the media caravan will soon lose interest and move on. When that doesnt work you give the appearance of responding to the outcry without actually doing much. Call an inquiry of some sort  maybe, if the pressure continues, even three or four different inquiries  then say you cant act, or even discuss the matter further, until the inquiry has reported many months hence.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison treats problems as political embarrassments to be managed away. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Im finding it hard to avoid the suspicion this is how hes dealing with the huge  and hugely expensive  problems in aged care. When Four Corners came up with (yet another) expose of the mistreatment of old people in institutional care as the election approached in 2019, he neutralised it as an election issue by promising a royal commission.

The commissions hearings and interim report confirmed our suspicions that mistreatment was widespread. While releasing the interim report, Morrison announced that quite some millions would be spent on measures that sounded like they should help ease the problem  a bit.

Conroy Gold has been building value on the ground in Ireland for some years

( ) hit high grade zinc in an infill soil sampling programme on the northern section of its holdings on the Longford Down massif in Ireland.

Values of 3,700 parts per million zinc were recorded, with 10 samples greater than 1,000ppm zinc.

The results also indicated the presence of a range of associated elements including lead, cadmium, manganese and nickel.

The zinc zone in the Longford-Down Massif lies to the south of the new district-scale gold trend which the company has discovered in the Massif and where, at Clontibret, the company proposes to develop its first gold mine.

The Longford-Down Massif has an established history of base metal mining including the antimony mines at Clontibret, where gold was first discovered, and a series of shallow lead and zinc mines which were worked in the nineteenth century.

A follow-up drilling programme is now planned.

I am particularly pleased at these highly encouraging results from the Aughnagurgan zinc target, said Professor Richard Conroy, the companys chairman.

The Longford  Down Massif is enriched with base metals, as well as gold, and has a significant history of mining for base metals, including zinc, lead, copper and antimony which demonstrate the size and extent of the metalliferous system in the Massif and its mining potential for both gold and base metals.

He emphasised that the companys primary focus remains on the district-scale gold trend which it discovered on the Longford Down massif within its 800 square kilometre licence area and on bringing in a mine at the Clontibret deposit where it has already proved up an existing JORC compliant gold resource of 517,000 ounces.

We have recently signed a letter of intent with Demir Export A.S. for a proposed joint venture on an earn-in basis over the twelve licences held by Conroy Gold in the Longford-Down Massif, said the Professor.

Demir Export is a long-established mining company with interests in iron, coal, gold and base metals, including zinc and copper, in Turkey. Demir Export has the mining expertise and the financial resources not only to bring the Clontibret gold deposit to construction ready status and into operation as a mine, but also to advance the significant gold potential of the other licences along the gold trend to the same status and also the base metal potential of the Massif.
[March 30, 2021] Amazon Donates $750,000 to Help Fund the Future of Ballard Food Bank

Ballard Food Bank announces Amazon has donated to its Hope Beyond Hunger capital campaign and formed a strategic partnership to bring food and hope to people across northwest Seattle. The multifaceted partnership includes $750,000 in total funding for the future of Ballard Food Bank, Amazon employee volunteering support, and an exploration of innovative community programs and markets where families can shop and access healthy food with dignity. "This is an exciting investment in Ballard Food Bank's ability to serve people in our community-now and for generations to come. Our partnership with Amazon will help build our amazing new home and bring critical resources to families at risk of hunger," said Jen Muzia, Executive Director of Ballard Food Bank. "Amazon has answered the call at a critical time when so many of our neighbors are struggling with the impacts of COVID-19." Amazon has provided grants totaling $500,000 for the Hope Beyond Hunger capital campaign to support Ballard Food Bank's future home-scheduled to open in fall 2021-plus $250,000 to support innovative programming for families and children in need. The two organizations are also exploring how Amazon's employees can bolster the 190-person volunteer force that fuels the Food Bank's operations. "Amazon is committed to addressing basic needs to help ensure children and their families are supported with the resources that they need," said Bettina Stix, Amazon Director of Right Now Needs and Disaster Relief. "With our partnership and donation to Ballard Food Bank, we are laying the groundwork together for long-lasting, innovative hunger relief programs that leverage Amazon's scale for good and help drive forward the organization's critical work to alleviate hunger and strengthen the Northwest Seattle community." Ballard Food Bank's future location at 1400 N.W. Leary Way will serve an expanded area including Licton Springs through Bitter Lake and up to 145th Street. Several of these commnities have pressing needs, and the Food Bank will provide greater access to nutritious food and other services. The new 11,000-square-foot building will feature a larger grocery-store-style food bank and improved Community Resource Hub, where organizations will offer housing assistance, medical care, veterans' benefits, and more-all in one place. The future home of Ballard Food Bank will be an innovative, holistic solution to addressing hunger and poverty by empowering and connecting individuals and families to healthy food and resources. Amazon and Ballard Food Bank are exploring many avenues of collaboration, including leveraging Amazon's logistics network to donate delivery services through Amazon's Community Delivery program, piloting a food and supply purchasing project, and other innovative hunger relief programming.



Amazon employees on Ballard Food Bank's board are excited about the company's support and eager to mobilize more Amazon employees to get involved. "This is an important moment for Ballard Food Bank. Needs have soared in the past year, and many people who have never been to a food bank now need help to feed their families. I'm proud of Amazon's leadership and commitment to support these critical efforts," said Nina Lindsey, Amazon Global Manager of Operations Support and a member of Ballard Food Bank's board of directors. The new building will open at a critical time. At the beginning of the pandemic, the Ballard Food Bank was already bursting at the seams with 3,200 household visits and deliveries each month; that number has now doubled to 6,400. Staff and volunteers have met this dramatic increase by quickly pivoting their service model to safer drive-thru and home delivery, avoiding person-to-person contact as much as possible.

"With so many people coming to us for food, our old space just doesn't work anymore. Our food bank is set up like a grocery store where people can browse and choose the food they need. When it's safe to have people back inside, we will absolutely need a bigger space in a new home," said Jen Muzia. This will be the first building that Ballard Food Bank has owned-an effort that has brought together supporters including The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the City of Seattle, the State of Washington, and many individual donors. To learn more about Ballard Food Bank's future home, please visit: https://www.ballardfoodbank.org/ournewhome About Ballard Food Bank: Ballard Food Bank's mission is to bring food and hope to our neighbors because there can be enough for everyone. We serve individuals living in Northwest Seattle, including Ballard, Magnolia, Queen Anne, Fremont, Phinney Ridge, Green Lake, Westlake, and parts of South Lake Union. To achieve our mission, we provide access to nutritious foods and services that support self-sufficiency, and we advocate for food equity and justice. For more information, please visit: https://www.ballardfoodbank.org/ournewhome. Facebook.com/ballardfoodbank

Twitter (News - Alert) @ballardfoodbank

Instagram @ballardfoodbank View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005309/en/

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- By GF Value





The stock of Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM, 30-year Financials) is estimated to be modestly overvalued, according to GuruFocus Value calculation. GuruFocus Value is GuruFocus' estimate of the fair value at which the stock should be traded. It is calculated based on the historical multiples that the stock has traded at, the past business growth and analyst estimates of future business performance. If the price of a stock is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. On the other hand, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher. At its current price of $57.4 per share and the market cap of $243 billion, Exxon Mobil stock shows every sign of being modestly overvalued. GF Value for Exxon Mobil is shown in the chart below.





Exxon Mobil Stock Shows Every Sign Of Being Modestly Overvalued

Because Exxon Mobil is relatively overvalued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be lower than its business growth.

Link: These companies may deliever higher future returns at reduced risk.

Companies with poor financial strength offer investors a high risk of permanent capital loss. To avoid permanent capital loss, an investor must do their research and review a company's financial strength before deciding to purchase shares. Both the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage of a company are a great way to to understand its financial strength. Exxon Mobil has a cash-to-debt ratio of 0.07, which which ranks worse than 79% of the companies in Oil & Gas industry. The overall financial strength of Exxon Mobil is 4 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of Exxon Mobil is poor. This is the debt and cash of Exxon Mobil over the past years:

Exxon Mobil Stock Shows Every Sign Of Being Modestly Overvalued

Companies that have been consistently profitable over the long term offer less risk for investors who may want to purchase shares. Higher profit margins usually dictate a better investment compared to a company with lower profit margins. Exxon Mobil has been profitable 9 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $178.6 billion and loss of $5.25 a share. Its operating margin is -16.49%, which ranks worse than 72% of the companies in Oil & Gas industry. Overall, the profitability of Exxon Mobil is ranked 5 out of 10, which indicates fair profitability. This is the revenue and net income of Exxon Mobil over the past years:

Story continues

Exxon Mobil Stock Shows Every Sign Of Being Modestly Overvalued

Growth is probably the most important factor in the valuation of a company. GuruFocus research has found that growth is closely correlated with the long term stock performance of a company. A faster growing company creates more value for shareholders, especially if the growth is profitable. The 3-year average annual revenue growth of Exxon Mobil is -9.1%, which ranks worse than 66% of the companies in Oil & Gas industry. The 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is -22.5%, which ranks worse than 76% of the companies in Oil & Gas industry.

Another method of determining the profitability of a company is to compare its return on invested capital to the weighted average cost of capital. Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. When the ROIC is higher than the WACC, it implies the company is creating value for shareholders. For the past 12 months, Exxon Mobil's return on invested capital is -7.24, and its cost of capital is 8.89. The historical ROIC vs WACC comparison of Exxon Mobil is shown below:

Exxon Mobil Stock Shows Every Sign Of Being Modestly Overvalued

In summary, the stock of Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM, 30-year Financials) appears to be modestly overvalued. The company's financial condition is poor and its profitability is fair. Its growth ranks worse than 76% of the companies in Oil & Gas industry. To learn more about Exxon Mobil stock, you can check out its 30-year Financials here.

To find out the high quality companies that may deliever above average returns, please check out GuruFocus High Quality Low Capex Screener.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.



Aiming to help Americans who are behind on their rent during the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Monday the extension of its eviction moratorium until June 30.

In her statement, CDC director Rochelle Walensky said the coronavirus pandemic had presented a "historic threat" to the United States' public health.

Walensky emphasized that keeping individuals in their homes and out of crowded areas or places, like homeless shelters, will also be preventing another wave of infections.

Housing advocates have urged the Biden administration to extend the eviction moratorium, which was initially set to expire on Mar. 31, sending a warning that millions of Americans who are still struggling financially due to the pandemic could be evicted.

The U.S. unemployment rate is currently at 6.2 percent, and there are an estimated 9.5 million lesser jobs compared to a year ago when lockdowns and restrictions were not yet established.

COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project

According to Fox News, the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project conducted an analysis and found out that around 110 million Americans live in rental households. It also showed that close to 23 million renters, or 20 percent of the total number, were at risk of eviction if the moratorium will not be extended.

Also, the Census Bureau published this month that 20 percent of renters stated that they were not able to pay their rent in February.

READ NEXT: Biden Seeks Volunteers to Help Curb Migrant Crisis, Post-Pandemic Passports Also Being Developed

The CDC has prohibited the alarming evictions in September while still under the administration of former President Donald Trump.

Covered under the latest extension of the eviction moratorium were individuals earning less than $99,000 in 2020 and joint-filing couples who earned less than $198,000, Sun-Sentinel reported.

To avail of the said protection, individuals also need to prove that they could not afford to pay their rent because of a job loss due to the pandemic or even income reduction as a qualification. Also, they need to affirm that they are likely to become homeless if evicted.

However, housing advocates are still concerned for renters despite the ongoing extensions as the order does not cancel or erase the rent, which means that it will be eventually due. Advocates are currently pushing for rent relief to fully support the considered preventive measure.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also extended a moratorium on evictions in federally assisted housing until June 30. HUD Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge discussed the move in a White House press briefing last week.

Fudge noted that many individuals living in federally-assisted housing have risk factors that make them specifically vulnerable to coronavirus, ABC News reported.

Fudge noted that there are many factors for the extension, including disability, race, and low-income. The secretary also shared that the federal state is doing its best to keep the people away from areas with higher COVID-19 risk. She added that the American Rescue Plan is critical for the success of these efforts.

READ MORE: San Diego Comic-Con May Happen on Thanksgiving Weekend and Fans Are Not Happy About It

WATCH: Biden Administration Extends Federal Eviction Moratorium Through End of June - From ABC Action News
SHREVEPORT, La. (AP)  A Louisiana school district has approved a $1,000 one-time supplement for employees to thank them for their work during a school year filled with challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Caddo Heroes Supplement is estimated to cost $6 million and is made possible through higher than estimated sales tax revenues. KSLA-TV reports the funds will be distributed in June to employees who worked at least 90% of their scheduled workdays during the calendar year. School officials say the Caddo Parish School Board is the first in the state to OK funds to be dispersed not only to full-time and part-time employees, but also any substitutes who meet the outlined criteria.
14th Five-Year Plan to lead high-quality development, economist says

From:ChinaDaily | 2021-03-30 11:33

China's economy will witness major improvements in the next five years, as reforms for sustainable development are underway based on the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the long-range objectives through 2035, Tsinghua University economist Li Daokui said at a recent forum, Economic Information Daily reported.

Innovation development, industrial transformation, regional distribution optimization, coordinating development and security, green and low-carbon development and people's well-being are the six major highlights of the plan, Li said, adding six major changes are expected to occur during the period.

The Chinese economy will continue to adjust and improve the quality of its growth, the economist said, adding both the structure and quality of the Chinese economy will improve during the 2021-25 period, triggering higher economic growth during the next five to 10 years.

Li also believes a number of industries in the real economy will undergo massive restructuring, with certain enterprises gradually withdrawing from the market.

Green industries are facing huge development opportunities, as tasks such as peaking carbon emissions and carbon neutrality are highlighted in the plan. Two technological paths can help achieve these goals, according to Li; namely the electrification of energy end-use, like using electric heating instead of coal and natural gas, and massive application of electric vehicles, including long-distance transportation trucks.

The other technological path is green power generation, with photovoltaic and wind power electricity the major methods, he said.

Science and technology innovation will become focal points, the economist said, adding the focus of the next round of innovation in China is to create more "hidden champions", relatively small but highly successful companies.

Li also noted the reform of State-owned enterprises will go deeper in the next five years, as the three-year action plan for SOE reform has charted a course in that arena.

China will open wider to the outside world, raise its level of opening-up in all respects, and force the reform, transformation and upgrading of enterprises during the five-year period, Li said.
A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld Gov. Gavin Newsoms restrictions on private indoor and outdoor gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, generally limiting attendance to members of three households at a time.

A Bible study group in Santa Clara County, which was among the challengers to the restrictions, contended the state was discriminating against religious worship  an argument the U.S. Supreme Court accepted in a different context Feb. 5 when it rejected Newsoms ban on indoor worship services in most of California. But the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said Tuesday that the states limits on private get-togethers, religious or secular, were no more stringent than rules for comparable business operations during the pandemic.

There is no indication that the state is applying the restrictions to in-home private religious gatherings any differently than to in-home private secular gatherings, Judges Milan Smith and Bridget Bade said in the 2-1 ruling.

In dissent, Judge Patrick Bumatay said the court had turned a blind eye to discrimination against religious practice. He argued  and the majority denied  that Newsoms rules imposed tighter limits on indoor private Bible study groups than on tattoo parlors.

Plaintiffs in the case also included Ritesh Tandon, a Fremont businessman and Republican politician who unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, in last years election and is considering another campaign next year. A federal judge ruled last month that Tandon could host debates and political fundraisers attended by more than three households, a ruling the state did not appeal.

The panel members, chosen by random draw, were all appointed by Republican presidents, Smith by George W. Bush, and Bade and Bumatay by Donald Trump.

Newsoms rules ban indoor gatherings in the three counties in the states high-risk purple tier, Stanislaus, Merced and Inyo. Elsewhere, the state says gatherings are strongly discouraged but allowed for up to three households.

The same restrictions apply in all counties to gatherings at public parks and other outdoor locations. Singing and chanting, which pose risks of spreading the coronavirus, are allowed at outdoor gatherings, if participants keep their distance and wear masks whenever possible, but are prohibited at indoor meetings.

Similar rules apply to outdoor political protests and rallies and to outdoor religious services. Indoor worship services, covered by earlier rulings, are allowed up to 50% of a buildings capacity in moderate-risk orange-tier counties, including San Francisco, Alameda, Marin, San Mateo and Santa Clara, and 25% of capacity in higher-risk red-tier counties, including Contra Costa, Napa, Sonoma and Solano. Singing and chanting are still banned during indoor services.

Arguing that the three-household limit on private gatherings violated constitutional freedoms of religion, speech and assembly, plaintiffs said the state allowed closer contact in train stations, airports, malls and retail stores. But the court said the state had offered legitimate reasons for the differing rules.

Citing findings by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh of San Jose, who upheld Newsoms restrictions last month, the court majority said state officials had reasonably concluded that when people gather in social settings, their interactions are likely to be longer than they would be in a commercial setting, (and) that participants in a social gathering are more likely to be involved in prolonged conversations

The state also observed that private houses are typically smaller and less ventilated than commercial establishments; and that social distancing and mask-wearing are less likely in private settings and enforcement is more difficult, Smith and Bade said.

Small businesses like barber shops and tattoo parlors that have close contact with customers are required to take additional safety measures, the court said: checking the temperatures of all workers as they arrive, requiring some to wear face shields and allowing only one person at a time in waiting rooms.

Bumatay, in dissent, said that under the current rules, a beauty shop may host an unrestricted number of households, half of them bare-faced and in immediate proximity to the other half, while private religious gatherings are restricted. He described the rules as a religious gerrymander.

Erin Mellon, a spokesman for Newsom, said the ruling reaffirms the states public health guidance focused on keeping people safe from this deadly virus.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs were not immediately available for comment.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Copenhagen, March 30 : The Danish government and a majority of parties in Parliament have agreed to set up a task force to investigate how to repatriate minors from refugee camps in Syria, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

By May 15, the group would present its findings including whether it would be feasible to evacuate Danish children without their parents, reports dpa news agency.

The agreement was supported by centre-right opposition parties as well as centre-left parties that often support the minority Social Democrats.

The development comes as the government has come under increasing pressure to act on behalf of the children amid worsening conditions in the camps.

Copenhagen was to initiate measures that in the short term can improve the children's conditions, the statement said.

The Foreign Ministry estimated there were 19 children in the refugee camps aged between one and 14, and six mothers who have said they want to return to Denmark.

The Foreign Ministry statement said that adults who had joined the Islamic State terror group and fought against Denmark's "democratic values of freedom and equality are undesirable".

"What we all have in common is that we want to help the children," Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said.
[March 30, 2021] Allegion Expands Partnership With CBORD to Support Contactless Mobile IDs on Android Devices For Higher Education Campuses

CARMEL, Ind., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allegion U.S., a leading provider of security products and solutions including Schlage readers and locks, together with CBORD , a leading higher education technology solutions provider, announced today that they have expanded their offerings and now provide on-campus mobile credential solutions on Android phones. Students, faculty and staff on participating campuses can now use their Android phones to conveniently, safely and securely access campus buildings and make purchases through Google Pay, while the universities benefit from operational efficiencies. Allegion and CBORD first launched contactless mobile IDs for campuses in August 2019, for Apple devices. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Vermont and University of San Francisco were among the first schools to leverage the solution. The solution was well-received and will be extended to Android phones on more campuses throughout this year to reach an even larger population. "COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of and demand for contactless solutions across the campus population. With many campuses looking to reopen for in-person classes this fall, having a contact-free solution became paramount to ensure a safe reopening," said Jeff Koziol, business development manager of campus software partners at Allegion. "Campus security directors can now offer students and faculty assurance that they can come back to campus safely, with contactless access in place to reduce touchpoints and trace outbreaks, whie adding convenience."



Once the CBORD credential is provisioned, users simply present their device to NFC-enabled readers to pay for food, vending or laundry, or access exterior and interior doors at campus buildings and residence halls. Schlage readers and locks also support the Transact NFC Android and the Apple iOS NFC mobile credentials. CBORD and Transact's Mobile Credentials for Google Pay leverage NXP Semiconductor's secure MIFARE 2GO cloud service, which enables use of the credentials on all compatible Android NFC-enabled phones. "Campus credentials in the mobile wallet continue to reinvent and enhance the student experience," said Larry Delaney, vice president of strategic alliances at CBORD. "The ability to issue student IDs and access privileges prior to students returning to campus is yet another example of modern convenience and improved efficiency that mobile credentials provide."

Additional benefits for further convenience and interoperability include that: They are wallet-based the credentials make the transition seamless, as the campus population already tends to utilize digital wallets

the credentials make the transition seamless, as the campus population already tends to utilize digital wallets The credentials allow for self-service which helps the campus population avoid lines to traditional university card offices, which is critical as traffic is an area of concern during this pandemic

which helps the campus population avoid lines to traditional university card offices, which is critical as traffic is an area of concern during this pandemic They are protected by two-factor authenticationthe solution allows students to request two-factor authentication by leveraging the pin pad or biometrics already present on their phone. The credentials can be remotely deactivated by the student or university, for added security This extended offering is the next wave in Allegion's pursuit to work with other leading providers in the industry for digital credential rollout in universities. To learn more about Allegion and its expansion of campus mobile credentials to Android phones, visit us.allegion.com . Android and Google Pay are trademarks of Google LLC. About Allegion

Allegion (NYSE: ALLE) is a global pioneer in seamless access, with leading brands like CISA, Interflex, LCN, Schlage, SimonsVoss and Von Duprin. Focusing on security around the door and adjacent areas, Allegion secures people and assets with a range of solutions for homes, businesses, schools and institutions. Allegion had $2.7 billion in revenue in 2020, and its security products are sold around the world. For more, visit www.allegion.com. About CBORD

CBORD powers technology solutions for higher education, healthcare, senior living and business campuses enabling users to create optimal experiences for their students, patients, employees and residents. Guided by customer-centric development and support, CBORD has pioneered software for dining operations, nutrition analysis, security, card systems and housing for over forty years. CBORD operates as a unit of Roper Technologies (ROP), a diversified technology company with annual revenues of $5.4 billion. Roper operates businesses that design and develop software and engineered products and solutions for a variety of niche end markets. Roper is a component of the S&P 500, Fortune 1000 and Russell 1000 Indexes. Discover more solutions for colleges and universities on CBORD's website . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allegion-expands-partnership-with-cbord-to-support-contactless-mobile-ids-on-android-devices-for-higher-education-campuses-301258264.html SOURCE Allegion US

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On March 20, the Oakland Education Association (OEA) narrowly passed an agreement reached by the union to force teachers to report for in-person instruction on April 14. The deal dropped many of the longstanding demands for which teachers had fought, including tying a return to school sites to low transmission rates in the county and hardest hit zip codes. Instead, after just a few days of teacher prep, students are expected to show up on April 19 regardless of the state of the pandemic.

In this Aug. 26, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Unified School District students stand in a hallway socially distance during a lunch break at Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

In tandem with the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA), the OEA pushed aggressively for teachers to approve their miserable agreement with Oakland Unified School District (OUSD). The vote in Oakland was 1,024 to 790 in favor, or 56 percent to 44 percent. Given that only 78 percent of Oakland teachers participated in the vote, less than half of OEA members actually approved the deadly deal to reopen schools. OUSD has 2,332 teachers, who serve roughly 37,000 students.

This deal recklessly endangers the health of educators, students and families, while also callously disregarding the educational needs of students. In order to contain the pandemic and save lives, Oakland educators must prepare to fight independently of the unions through the development of the Northern California Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee. This committee must be expanded into every school and neighborhood and serve as a democratic fighting organization to resist the reopening efforts driven by the ruling elites.

A new surge of the COVID-19 pandemic has already started across the US, fueled by school reopenings, the loosening of public health measures and the uncontrolled spread of more infectious and lethal variants. Over the past week, the rate of new infections increased in 34 states, test positivity rates increased in 38 states, and hospitalizations were up in 20 states. Vaccination rates remain far below what is necessary to safely achieve herd immunity.

In Michigan, where K-12 schools have become the top source of new COVID-19 outbreaks, the average daily infection rate is over four times higher than in February. The latest surge has barely registered in Californias statistics, but the rate of new cases has leveled out and begun to climb once again.

In California, the three main variants of concern are all spreading uncontrolled: the B.1.1.7 British variant that is significantly more transmissible, the P.1 Brazilian variant that current vaccines are less effective against and has caused numerous reinfections in patients, and the B.1.351 South African variant. The more the pandemic is allowed to spread, the greater the danger that new variants emerge that are resistant to current vaccines and could potentially turn COVID-19 into a persistent, endemic disease like the flu.

Beyond the health risks, teachers blindsided by the OEAs betrayal are now scrambling to cobble together plans to radically change their classes over the next two weeks. Underscoring the absurdity of the mad dash to reopen schools, when students return there will only be six weeks left in the school year. As of this writing, the union and the district have not even proposed a schedule, leaving teachers in limbo.

Jeffrey, a special education teacher at an elementary school in East Oakland, spoke with the World Socialist Web Site about the impact of the drive to reopen schools. As a resource service provider, he provides specialized academic support to students who spend most of their time in the general education classroom setting.

At the beginning of the year, it took us almost two months until we were able to provide services to our students. It was only in October that we started really seeing the kids and just last week that I felt like I finally was in the groove with good attendance and results from my caseload. I have full groups coming, and it works, but theyre going to throw it all out for something completely new and unprepared. My biggest fear is that it will take that long again to set up hybrid instruction.

Teachers have so far seen only rough proposals for schedules that raise more questions than they answer. Instead of fully remote learning, where teachers have built small reading groups with differentiated instruction, the district and union have been toying with hybrid instruction, in which students who opt-in are split into two cohorts that receive four hours of in-person instruction a week.

In the ordinary functioning of an elementary school, teachers rely on resources and techniques to help studentsespecially those who have experienced traumato emotionally regulate themselves throughout the school day. Common measures to help an upset student, such as letting them cool down in a neighboring classroom, are out of the question in a pandemic.

Particularly at the elementary school level, students who become upset might run out of a classroom (elope) and cannot be kept effectively in cohorts. Moreover, young students are not capable of doing academic work for hours straight but need breaks like recess where it would be impossible to maintain social distancing and other health measures. These basic issues, as well as others, including what curriculum teachers will use, are left up in the air under the unions agreement.

Jeffrey commented, Honestly, think what teaching under these conditions is going to be like. This might be even more traumatic for students than being remote. Now well have to police these kids over wearing masks, not sharing materials or touching, setting up routines. We will have to stay socially distanced, and students wont be able to read facial expressions and social cues through the masks. It will be like teaching in a hospital clean room.

Commenting on the undemocratic manner in which the agreement was reached between the OEA leadership and OUSD, Jeffrey stated, I honestly wonder how the TA got passed. I cant help but feel that the union pulled the wool over teachers eyes. The agreement begins by talking about a voluntary return to campus on March 30. Its only 10 pages in that they even mention that all teachers, regardless of whether they have in-person students to teach, have to come back in person on April 14.

Also, offering a $2,000 bonus for us to come back makes me feel dirty. Its creepy. I want to see my students and teach them if its safe. Throwing money at us just feels like theyre playing on desperation. Ive spoken to school employees in Oakland who are homeless because of the high rents. Theyd have a hard time walking away from that bonus.

Really it feels like the union has already laid down. The pandemic is not over even though the government wants us to act like it is. I went to the West Coast Rank-and-File meeting last Saturday because its outside the districts and the unions thinking on this. We cant just stop because the union does, especially when they arent fighting for us.

In the coming weeks before schools reopen, Oakland educators must expand the Northern California Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee into every school and neighborhood in order to mount a resistance to this reopening drive. Only through the unification of educators, parents, students and the broader working class can the homicidal policies of the ruling elites and both big business parties be stopped. We urge all those who support this fight to join and help build this committee today!
A polar bear has been spotted 300 miles inland from the Arctic coast and running even further away from its natural habitat along an icy road in Russia.

Footage shows the lost predator running in front of a car on a desolate highway heading towards Yakutsk, known as the world's coldest city.

The polar bear ignored the driver's attempt to scare it off the road and kept running towards the south - taking it further and further away from its natural source of food.

'What is it doing here?' people are heard asking in the car as the bear runs ahead of them in the darkness.

This polar bear stood out in the darkness as it ran ahead of a car on a desolate Russian highway, sparking concerns for its welfare

The bear was spotted 35 miles south of Batagai, as shown on this map, far south of its natural Arctic habitat and heading towards the city of Yakutsk

Ecology officials in Sakha, the far-flung Russian republic where the animal was seen, have launched an urgent search to locate and rescue the bear.

'We have sent inspectors to check the site where the bear was seen,' said regional ecology minister Sakhamin Afanasyev.

The bear's tracks were measured and photographed to be shared with experts, said another official, Yakov Sivtsev.

The animal had been spotted 35 miles south of Bagatai in the remote region also known as Yakutia.

'This polar bear wants to visit the lights of the city,' one viewer suggested, as it headed towards Yakutsk where temperatures regularly fall below -40F (-40C).

The bear's journey appeared to be taking it southwards towards the Arctic Circle - the latitude above which the sun never rises on the shortest day of the year, and never sets in midsummer.

The polar bear, similar to this one, kept running towards the south on a journey that appeared to be taking it further and further away from its natural source of food

On a previous occasion, a polar bear was caught and taken to a zoo after being found some 450 miles south of Siberia's Arctic coast

Normally polar bears do not venture far so far inland towards the warmer south, but it is not a unique case.

The last known time a polar bear wandered so far inland was in September 2017.

A ten month old female polar bear cub was rescued in Verkhoyansk district, some 450 miles south from the Arctic coast of Siberia.

Reports at the time said she had lost her mother and was found raiding a fishing processing plant on the Kolyma River.

The runaway bear was caught and passed first to Moscow Zoo, and is now a star attraction at Nizhny Novgorod Zoo.
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Darnitsa pharmaceutical company is awaiting the commencement of legal proceedings on the claim, which it filed as a shareholder of Borschahivsky Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plant against the management of the plant.

The lawyer of Darnitsa, advisor to Aequo law firm Yevhen Levytsky told Interfax-Ukraine the matter concerns the procurement of raw materials by Borschahivsky Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plant from Germany's Farmaplant Fabrikation Chemischer Produkte GmbH with the mediation of Metabay Import/Export Limited, which, according to Darnitsa, were carried out at prices significantly higher than the market average at the time of purchase.

"The essence of the dispute lies in the fact that at least since 2014, Borschahivsky Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plant has been purchasing pharmaceutical raw materials from the German company Farmaplant through Metabay at a price that, according to Darnitsa, is significantly higher than the market price. Darnitsa estimates the amount of damage caused by the management of the plant at least $ 4.2 million," he said.

According to the British register, Metabay is owned by the director of business development of Borschahivsky Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plant, the daughter of chairman of the supervisory board of Borschahivsky Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plant Mykola Bezpalko, Iryna Rzhepetska.

According to Levytsky, in general, Darnitsa initiated three processes - in Britain, Switzerland and Ukraine. At the same time, the statements in the UK and Switzerland are auxiliary and are aimed at ensuring the execution of the decision that the court will make in Ukraine.

All three processes started during March 2021. The High Court of Justice in London on March 19 seized the accounts of Metabay, and on March 26 a similar decision was made by a court in Switzerland.

The lawyer stressed that the claims of Darnitsa are justified by the fact that the management of Borschahivsky Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plant for many years, most likely, artificially inflated the costs of the enterprise, thereby damaging the enterprise itself and its shareholders.

Levytsky said that on April 16 the court in London will continue to consider the case of the seizure of funds.
Britain is a model to the world of a successful multi-ethnic society, a major review concluded last night.

It found no evidence the UK is institutionally racist  in a rejection of the common view among some activists - although there is evidence that 'overt' prejudice exists.

The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, set up by Boris Johnson in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, concluded that although Britain is not yet a 'post-racial society', its success should be a model for white-majority countries.

Commission chairman Tony Sewell said the UK had progressed into a 'successful multi-ethnic and multicultural community' which was a 'beacon to the rest of Europe and the world'.

He warned ministers must also consider the needs of the white working class, saying his report had uncovered how 'stuck' some groups were.

Dr Sewell this morning insisted he was not denying the existence of racism - but railed against people deploying the charge of institutional racism 'willy-nilly'.

He argued that institutional racism should be limited to 'deep-seated' biases and that breezily throwing out the allegation risked devaluing its seriousness.

The Commission's review, due to be published in full this morning, will set out 24 recommendations to the Government.

They will include ending the use of the BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) acronym, urging organisations to move away from funding unconscious bias training and calling for the school day to be extended, starting in disadvantaged areas.

Reports also suggest the review will recommend introducing tougher penalties on social media firms which fail to act over racist content.

Britain is a model to the world of a successful multi-ethnic society, a major review concluded last night Pictured: Black Lives Matter protest in central London, 07 June, 2020

It found no evidence the UK is institutionally racist  in a rejection of the common view among activists (stock image)

The landmark review found children from many ethnic minorities do as well or better at school than white pupils, which was creating fairer and more diverse workplaces.

It called on firms to phase out 'unconscious bias' training because other approaches were needed to 'advance fairness in the workplace'.

The report warned that Britain is not 'a post-racial society' and that 'overt and outright racism persists in the UK', particularly online.

But it said: 'We also have to ask whether a narrative that claims nothing has changed for the better, and that the dominant feature of our society is institutional racism and white privilege will achieve anything beyond alienating the decent centre ground  a centre ground which is occupied by people of all races and ethnicities.'

A spokesman for the commission said: 'We have not seen conclusive evidence of institutional racism in the areas we have looked at.

'That is not to dismiss it out of hand, but our report is built on data and evidence. There is definitely disadvantage, discrimination and there are barriers. That is what our report is about and how to overcome them.'

The review's conclusions will be controversial, partly thanks to the involvement of Dr Sewell, who runs the educational charity Generating Genius.

He chaired an inquiry into schools for Mr Johnson when he was Mayor of London, and when his appointment was announced the Muslim Council of Britain claimed he was 'keen on downplaying race disparities'. The Prime Minister chose him to lead the commission in the wake of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations last summer.

Dr Sewell was asked to explore race disparities in education, employment, the criminal justice system and health.

The report concluded that the success of many of Britain's ethnic minorities in education and, to a lesser extent, the economy 'should be regarded as a model for other white-majority countries'. It said that the aspirations and hard work of many ethnic minority communities had transformed UK society over the last 50 years into one offering far greater opportunities for all.

'Education is the single most emphatic success story of the British ethnic minority experience,' it concluded.

The report warned that Britain is not 'a post-racial society' and that 'overt and outright racism persists in the UK', particularly online (stock image)

RACE REPORT'S KEY FINDINGS The review's conclusions will be controversial, partly thanks to the involvement of Dr Sewell, who runs the educational charity Generating Genius Britain's success in creating a multi-ethnic society means that it should be considered a 'model' for other white majority countries.

The Commission has seen no evidence that the UK is institutionally racist.

Britain is not yet a 'post-racial' society and 'overt racism' is still prevalent, particularly online.

Children from many ethnic minority communities do at least as well or substantially better than white pupils at school.

This success is creating fairer and more diverse workplaces.

Organisations should stop using the acronym BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) to describe minorities.

The use of 'unconscious bias' training should be phased out in the workplace. Advertisement

'The Commission notes that the average GCSE attainment score for Indian, Bangladeshi and Black African pupils was above the White British average.'

Earlier this month, the Duchess of Sussex used a US television interview to make allegations about racism in the Royal Family. And Prince Harry claimed racism from the tabloid press that filtered into the rest of society was a 'large part' of why he and his wife left the UK.

But the report suggested that the well-meaning 'idealism' of many young people who claim Britain is still institutionally racist was not borne out by the evidence.

While there remain disparities at the top of the public and private sectors, it is an improving picture and there are increasing levels of diversity in elite professions such as law and medicine.

The report also noted the pay gap between all ethnic minorities and the white majority population had shrunk to 2.3 per cent. It concluded issues of race and racism were becoming less important and, in some cases, were not a significant factor in explaining disparities. Different outcomes had as much to do with social class and family structure as race, it said.

The report added: 'We found that most of the disparities we examined, which some attribute to racial discrimination, often do not have their origins in racism.'

The commission said some minority groups continue to be 'haunted' by 'historic cases' of racism. This creates 'deep mistrust' in the system which could prove a barrier to success. 'Both the reality and the perception of unfairness matter,' the report warned.

It concluded that as the differences between ethnic groups were at least as important as the things they shared, the use of the acronym BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) should be stopped. And it called on organisations 'to move away from funding unconscious bias training'.

Dr Sewell said: 'The report highlights the significance of education as the single most powerful tool in reducing ethnic disparities.

'Another revelation from our dive into the data was just how stuck some groups from the white majority are.'

This morning he told ITV's Good Morning Britain programme: 'No one denies that racism exists. In fact in this report we're doing the opposite. We actually think that institutional racism is being used in a way that's wrong.

'They use different terms... structural racism, systemic racism. A lot of people don't even know what they're talking about.

'They just use it willy-nilly in a way, in a sense that it's not being defined properly. We think it should be deep-seated racism, so we want to protect the term.'

Dr Sewell, a former teacher who grew up in Brixton, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the term 'institutional racism' was 'sometimes wrongly applied' as a 'sort of catch-all phrase for micro-aggressions or acts of racial abuse'.

The ten-person commission also featured Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, space scientist and co-presenter of the BBC's The Sky at Night, and former police superintendent Keith Fraser, chairman of the Youth Justice Board.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'disappointed' by the findings from the report published so far as he insisted there were structural problems that needed to be addressed.

He told reporters on a visit in Leeds: 'I haven't seen the full report yet and, obviously, I'll want to read that. I've seen the briefings out of it and I'm disappointed.

'On the one hand, there's an acknowledgement of the problems, the issues, the challenges that face many black and minority ethnic communities. But, on the other hand, there's a reluctance to accept that that's structural.'

Sir Keir said there had been 'report after report' on the issue as he called for action and the creation of a full race equality act.

Dr Halima Begum, chief executive of the Runnymede Trust, a race equality think tank, said it was 'deeply, deeply worrying' that the commission had denied the existence of institutional racism.

She said she feels 'massively let down' by the review and added: 'Institutionally, we are still racist, and for a Government-appointed commission to look into (institutional) racism, to deny its existence is deeply, deeply worrying.'

Matthew Ryder QC, lawyer to Stephen Lawrence case and ex-deputy mayor of London, was also critical of the review this morning.

Pictured: A Black Live Matter Protest, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, June 9, 2020

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I'm glad this work's being done, but from what I've seen I'm not optimistic this is going to be a helpful report and there are some glaring things I would mention.

'The report seems to rely very strongly on access to higher education of being a determination of racial equality. And it relies quite strongly on statistics that suggest working class white boys often have the lowest education attainment.

'We've known this for about 10 years so this isn't new, but if you put that statistic in context, it tells you something much more important that isn't mentioned in the report at all.

'And that is: even when white working class boys have lower educational qualifications and a lower likelihood of going to university, they have higher employment rates and higher social mobility, and that was highlighted in 2019 by the University of Aberdeen, and they called this the 'white working class paradox'.

'If you simply trot out what we've known for 10 years about access to education and say 'that shows racism has been solved', it doesn't show what the problem is.'
Tens of thousands of people are still expected to travel to Byron Bay for the annual Bluesfest music festival this Easter long weekend, despite a bachelorette party infected with COVID-19 triggering major health alerts at the holiday destination.

Five new coronavirus cases in Queensland on Tuesday were linked to the bachelorette group, including a tradesman described by authorities as providing entertainment for the group.

People in their parked cars waiting their turn for COVID-19 testing in Byron Bay. Credit:Oli Ayo

A sixth case is under investigation but likely also linked to this cluster. Two remaining cases are believed to be older cases linked to the doctor at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane who tested positive on March 11. The eight new cases were announced on the first day of a three-day lockdown for Brisbane.

With Bluesfest and the upcoming school holidays under threat, Byron Shire Council Mayor Simon Richardson said residents and businesses were waiting anxiously for information as to whats unfolding.
CALGARY - The Alberta Energy Regulator says an oil and gas company under court protection from creditors is reporting the leak of an estimated 100,000 litres of oilfield liquids from a pipeline in northern Alberta.

CALGARY - The Alberta Energy Regulator says an oil and gas company under court protection from creditors is reporting the leak of an estimated 100,000 litres of oilfield liquids from a pipeline in northern Alberta.

The provincial regulator says it is responding to the release of an oil-water mixture known as 'sour emulsion' from an Accel Energy Canada line about 24 kilometres southwest of Swan Hills, reported by the company last Thursday evening.

It says the pipeline has been shut down and depressurized and the company is taking steps to clean up the spill.

It says there are no reported impacts to the public or wildlife at this time.

The AER says that PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. has been appointed to monitor Accel while in creditor protection but the licence for the assets remains with the company.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 29, 2021.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 20:38:02|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China is providing vaccine aid to 80 countries and three international organizations, exporting vaccines to more than 40 countries, and cooperating with more than 10 nations in vaccine research, development and production, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.

Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a press briefing after World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned Monday against a widening gap between numbers of coronavirus vaccines in wealthy countries and those distributed to poorer nations through the global COVAX initiative.

According to statistics, rich countries, which account for 16 percent of the world population, now own 60 percent of the world's vaccines. Several rich developed countries have ordered two to three times as many vaccines as their own populations, while poor developing countries now do not have or have no access to Western vaccines, Hua noted.

Saying vaccine is a powerful weapon against viruses and a hope to save lives, Hua added it should serve the whole world and benefit all mankind. China took the lead in promising vaccines as global public goods and striving to improve the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries.

China has joined COVAX and made a clear commitment to provide an initial 10 million doses of vaccine to meet urgent needs in developing countries, she added.

China has also responded to the call of the United Nations to donate vaccines to peacekeepers from all over the world, Hua said. "We are also willing to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee to provide vaccines to athletes preparing to participate in the Olympic Games."

China opposes the immoral and irresponsible behavior of "vaccine nationalism" and creating "immunity gap", Hua said. "We also call on all countries with the ability to do their best to provide vaccines to countries in need, especially developing nations, so that people of all countries can afford them." Enditem
The late Henry Francis (Frank) Beale

The death has occurred of Henry Francis (Frank) Beale, Glendine Heights, Castlecomer Road, Kilkenny City, Kilkenny / Mulhuddart, Dublin. March 29, peacefully, at St Luke's Hospital, Henry Francis (Frank) (former ACNO at St Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman), beloved husband of Claire and adored father of Deirdre, Helen and Gillian, beloved grandfather of Sophia and Darcy, great-grandfather of Rhys, sadly missed by his loving family, brother John, sister Geraldine, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family and cherished friends.

In accordance with current Government/HSE guidelines and in the interest of public health and the safety of our most vulnerable, a private family funeral will take place for Frank (max 10 people). For those unable to attend due to restrictions, you may view the Requiem Mass at 10.30am on Wednesday, March 31 at the following link www.stjohnskilkenny.com

House private please. Frank's family would like to thank everybody for their support and understanding in these difficult days.

The late Thomas (Sid) Clarke

The death has occurred of Thomas (Sid) Clarke, Ardilea, Castlecomer Road, Kilkenny City, Kilkenny / Ranelagh, Dublin. March 28, peacefully, at home, in the loving care of his family, Thomas (Sid), beloved husband of Mary and much loved father of Susan, Ciara and James, sadly missed by his wife and family, brothers Philip, Paul, Alan, Declan and Aidan, sister Katrina, son-in-law Eamon, daughter-law Laura, grandchildren Anna, Darragh, Mick and TJ, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and friends.

In accordance with current Government/HSE guidelines and in the interest of public health and the safety of our most vulnerable, a private family funeral will take place for Thomas (max of 10 people). For those unable to attend due to restrictions, you may view the Funeral Service from Mount Jerome Crematorium online at 2.30pm on Wednesday afternoon March 31, at the following link www.vimeo.com/event/153499

House private please. The family would like to thank everybody for their support and understanding in these difficult days.

The late Jeanne Hickey

The death has occurred of Jeanne Hickey, Harristown, Dunmore East, Co Waterford, late of the Milepost, Slieverue, Co Kilkenny and Jeanne's Montessori School, Lower Yellow Road, Waterford, who died on March 28. Peacefully, at her home, surrounded by her loving family, Predeceased by her dad Finbarr, sister Anne (Donnelly). Jeanne will be sadly missed by her mam Nancy (nee Griffin), brother Barry, sisters Mary (Serff), Pat (Curtin) and Deidre (Freyne), her partner Alex, Amanda and Sharon, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends. Jeanne's removal will take place from her family home the Milepost, Slieverue on Wednesday, March 31, to the Church of the Assumption, Slieverue, arriving for Requiem Mass at noon, followed by private cremation.

To view Jeanne's Mass, please click link below at 11.50am on Wednesday https;//ferrybankslieverueparishes.ie/slieverue-webcam/

Due to HSE guidelines the funeral Mass and burial will be private to the immediate family and close friends. (10 people in church). Thank you for your co-operation and consideration at this difficult time.

The late Angela Kearney (nee Brennan)

The death has occurred of Angela Kearney (nee Brennan), Smithsland Court and formerly of 'Oriel', Waterford Road, Kilkenny City, Kilkenny. March 29 (peacefully) at her home in her 90th year. Predeceased by her loving husband Pat. She will be deeply missed by her loving children Joan, Tom, Mary, Niall, Des and Geraldine, brothers Seamus and Jerry, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, nieces and nephew, extended family and friends.

Due to current government guidelines regarding public gatherings a private family funeral will take place on Tuesday, March 30, after 2.30pm. Requiem Mass in St Fiacre's Church, Loughboy. Those who would have liked to attend but due to restrictions cannot may join the private Family Funeral Mass on https://youtu.be/sjtSrdv8RFU

Family flowers only please, donations, if desired, to the Carlow Kilkenny Home Care team or the Irish Cancer Society. Angela's family would like to thank you for your understanding and support at this difficult time.

The late Margaret Long (nee Doyle)

The death has occurred of Margaret Long (nee Doyle) Listerlin, Tullogher, and late of Thomastown, Co Kilkenny. March 28. Margaret peacefully at her residence, beloved wife of Eddie. Deeply regretted by her family, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and many friends. In accordance with Government / HSE guidelines, a private family funeral will take place on Wednesday, March 31, at noon (walking from her residence) in St David's Church, Listerlin (Mullinarrigle) followed by burial afterwards in the adjoining Cemetery. Thank you for your understanding in these difficult times.
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The National Arts Council says R68.4 million has been paid to 512 beneficiaries as part of Covid-19 relief. The steps outside the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town were a hive of activity on Saturday, with about 50 artists, musicians, dancers and puppeteers performing as part of ongoing protests.

Members of the Jazzart Dance Theatre perform on the steps of the Artscape in Cape Town in solidarity with artists who have been protesting at the National Arts Council offices in Johannesburg. Photo: Marecia Damons

National Arts Council starts distribution of PESP relief for artists Some 1 215 practitioners in the arts, culture and heritage sector are receiving much needed relief as the National Arts Council (NAC) starts the distribution of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP) grants to successful beneficiaries.

The NACs refusal to meaningfully engage and answer queries on the PESP matter has caused much frustration and anger amongst the arts community, said the protest organisers in a statement.

They are demanding better relief funding for all performing artists struggling to make ends meet during the Covid-19 pandemic. Performers have been staging sit-ins at the National Arts Council (NAC) offices in Johannesburg since 3 March 2021. They are demanding answers over the management of the relief funds and the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP).In October 2020, the Council handed over R300 million as part of the PESP. The funds were meant to assist with job retention through a wage subsidy. While a second package was aimed at creating jobs through projects that could create income opportunities, according to the NAC.At the end of February 2021, the NAC announced that the R300 million was oversubscribed and insufficient. Despite approving funding for 1,374 applicants, the budget could only accommodate 613 beneficiaries (a beneficiary could be an organisation that has to support many artists). This led the Council to reduce the amount initially promised to ensure that all 1,374 applicants benefit from the PESP funds.During a briefing on Friday, the NACs Dr Sipho Sithole announced that R68.4 million has been paid to 512 beneficiaries to date. He said that a further R216 million will be distributed soon to the remainder of the beneficiaries who had applied for funding.Over the past month, the Department of Arts and Culture and the NAC have been engaging with artists through online meetings. But artists believe this is not enough.Musician James Kibby who performed during the protest with the band Terrarium said that he earns a fraction of his income doing livestream shows. After five months of applying for relief funding through the NAC, he received R10,000 in August 2020 and has not received any more money since.I also have to consider regular expenses like basic groceries and paying rent. But now that one amount they paid is what Im supposed to survive on for a whole year? he adds.Musician Lynden Campbell said, Its really disgusting how the government hasnt helped most people but has generally given no assistance whatsoever to musicians in an already suffering industry.
A high school janitor has been jailed for 20 years after secretly filming girls changing in the school locker room with a hidden camera.

Jason Brian Goff, 45, was arrested after two 14-year-old girls at Clay High School spotted a camera lens hidden in an unassigned gym locker in August 2019.

School administrators opened the locker and found a cellphone taped to its inside wall with a lens pointing out of a 'pre-fabricated' hole towards the changing area.

Jason Brian Goff, 45, was arrested after two 14-year-old girls at Clay High School (pictured) spotted a camera lens hidden in an unassigned gym locker in August 2019

The phone was forensically analysed and investigators also found a 30-minute video taken from a window looking into the locker room.

It showed teenage pupils changing their gym clothes before the camera panned down, showing Groff's ID badge.

The high school custodian was arrested on September 13, 2019, and he later admitted he had tried to film girls in the locker room at least three times from different vantage points.

Analysis of his other devices revealed more photos from the girls' high school locker room and other child pornography material.

It included video and images of adults sexually abusing children of various ages including infants.

Goff pleaded guilty in September 2020 and was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in federal prison for the attempted use of children to produce sexually explicit videos

Homeland Security Investigations Jacksonville's K. Jim Phillips said: 'It is beyond reprehensible that this predator used his position of trust as a school employee to sexually exploit children.

'Thanks to HSI special agents and the Clay County Sheriff's Office, he will be held accountable for his crimes.'

Goff pleaded guilty in September 2020 and was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in federal prison for the attempted use of children to produce sexually explicit videos.

He was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.
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Coronavirus cases continue to rise across the United States, fueling fears of a fourth wave as officials urge Americans to keep following public health measures.

On Monday, the U.S. recorded 69,417 new infections with a seven-day rolling average of 66,159, the highest figure in about a month.

In the last week alone, the average number of cases has risen by 24 percent, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.

Although the figure is far below January's peak of about 247,000 average new cases, it is in line with the late July surge, when daily cases were averaging about 68,000.

Meanwhile, just 701 coronavirus deaths were reported, which is the second-lowest number reported this month, the analysis revealed.

Since the pandemic began, more than 30.3 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 550,000 have died.

However, even as the rollout of vaccinations continues to pick up speed in the U.S., cases of coronavirus are increasing in half of states and the District of Columbia, data from Johns Hopkins shows.

Michigan is currently leading the nation in average new cases with a 14 percent rise over the past week and a 208 percent increase over the last month.

Additionally, in the Northeast, New York and New Jersey are seeing spikes in infections and stubbornly high test positivity rates.

On Monday, the U.S. recorded 69,417 new coronavirus infections with a seven-day rolling average of 66,159, the highest figure in about a month

In the last week, the average number of cases has risen by 24%, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University

Despite an average of 2.7 million people being vaccinated every day, 25 states and the District of Columbia are reporting a rise in cases, according to Johns Hopkins data

On Monday, just 701 COVID-19-related fatalities were reported, which is the lowest number reported this month, a DailyMail.com analysis revealed

'We're skating on a knife's edge right now,' Dr Nicholas Reich, a biostatistician at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, told USA Today.

Reich said he believes a combination of immunity from previous infections and vaccinations will help prevent the surge from resembling the waves seen in spring 2020 or winter 2021.

However he says people will have to remain cautious for at least another few weeks until enough of the population can get vaccinated to reach herd immunity.

His comments echo the warnings made by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Dr Rochelle Walensky during a press briefing on Monday, as she voiced concerns of an 'impending doom.'

'We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope,' she said.

'But right now, I'm scared.'

In an interview with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, Walesnky said she her emotional reaction came after seeing the rising number of cases and hospitalizations.

'I'm watching the cases tick up, I'm watching us have increased numbers of hyper-transmissible variants, I'm watching our travel numbers tick up, and the sense is, I've seen what it looks like to anticipate the oncoming surge,' Walensky said.

'And what I would really hate to have happen is to have another oncoming surge, just as we're reaching towards getting so many more people vaccinated, you know, we're still losing people at 1,000 deaths a day.'

'I just can't face another surge when there's so much optimism right at our fingertips.'

Michigan is among the states experiencing the worst of the surge, with average cases rising 3,753 from 4,287 in just one week - and a dramatic rise from an average of 1,388 on March 1, a DailyMail.com analysis found.

What's more, state officials said the test positivity rate on Sunday hit 15.64 percent, which is the highest percentage reported since early December.

'It's a stark reminder that this virus is still very real. It can come roaring back if we drop our guard,' said Governor Gretchen Whitmer last week.

However, she said she currently does not have plans to tighten any restrictions, such as for indoor drining, after they were recently loosened.

Josh Petrie, a research assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, told NBC News there are a few reasons behind the increase in cases

Michigan is leading the nation in average new cases with a 14% rise over the past week and a 208% increase over the last month

Daily hospital admissions are continuing to spike in both Michigan (left), from about 100 at the beginning of March to more than 200 currently, and New Jersey, from about 250 at the beginning of March to more than 300 currently

'For the state as a whole, we are seeing increases in travel and nonessential trips outside the home that are approaching pre-pandemic levels,' he said.

'Certainly, less mask-wearing and social distancing is going to increase risk of transmission.'

In a tweet on Monday, Reich noted the daily hospital admissions are continuing to spike in Michigan, from about 100 at the beginning of March to more than 200 currently.

In the Northeast, in New York - the very first epicenter of the pandemic - cases are rising more rapidly than almost any other other state.

On Sunday, the Empire State recorded a seven-day rolling average of 8,601 cases, a nearly 10 percent increase of 7,820 average from one week prior.

According to a USA Today analysis, New York is the states where coronavirus is spreading the fastest 'on a per-person basis.'

Although the number of deaths and hospitalizations in the state remain low, the test positivity rate has remained above three percent for at least one month.

Cases in New York have risen by nearly 10% over the previous week and the test positivity rate has remained above 3% for the last month

New Jersey recorded 346.4 cases per 100,000 people over the last seven days, the highest rate in the nation, according to the CDC

In a statement on Sunday, Governor Andrew Cuomo encouraged people to get vaccinated, but still follow safety measures.

'The vaccine is the weapon that will win the war, and each day more New Yorkers are getting vaccinated for COVID-19,' he said.

'However, the infection rate also depends on what we do, and New Yorkers should continue staying safe and protecting one another as the virus continues to spread in our state.'

Meanwhile, neighboring New Jersey is leading the country in COVID-19 infection rates.

According to the CDC, New Jersey recorded 346.4 cases per 100,000 people over the last seven days, the highest rate in the nation.

What's more, the seven-day rolling average of cases has risen 12 percent from 4,099 new cases to 4,597 cases.

Reich also noted in his tweet that daily hospital admissions have risen in New Jersey, from about 250 at the beginning of March to more than 300 currently.

Governor Phil Murphy recently said the state would pause its plans to reopen for a couple of weeks due to surging case.

'I think what you'll see going forward is we will do that,' he told CNN recently.

'My guess is, we won't be opening up further capacity for some time now because of the caseload.'
KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 31, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Bin Zayed International (BZI) LLC has targeted bringing RM100 billion worth of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Malaysia in the next few years, to be delivered in phases, starting with the development of Widad@Langkasuka.BZI is a leading conglomerate owned by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is a senior member of the Abu Dhabi royal family member as well as a prominent business leader and philanthropist in the Gulf States, with diverse business interests in the local and international markets, and which its business ventures include management of real estate and construction of residential and commercial buildings and towers.In a formal letter to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, BZI expressed its strong interest to invest in Malaysia via an exclusive collaboration with Widad Business Group."After some productive meetings and further discussions, WBG and BZI are most proud and pleased to jointly inform the Prime Minister that we have agreed to form a joint venture entity in Malaysia for the specific purpose of the development project in Langkawi, Kedah, Widad@Langkasuka. We are confident that this project will become one of the iconic projects in Malaysia which will bring Langkawi global recognition and a truly iconic place that Malaysia would be proud of," said BZI Group Managing Director Sheikh Midhat Kidwai."Now that we have solemnized our business relationship via this joint venture, we would like to express our strong interest in acquiring or investing in more concessions and infrastructure projects. Starting with Widad@Langkasuka, we believe that our involvement in projects here can bring in FDI of more than RM100 billion for the next few years. This strong cash flow influx can assist to provide a significant recovery boost for the Malaysian economy as well as the creation of more than 30,000 jobs," he added.Issued by: Sense Consultancy on behalf of Bin Zayed InternationalFor further media enquiries please contact:Jaz NgTel: +6012 202 0096Email: jaz@leesense.comAnthony LeeTel: +6012 338 3705Email: anthony@leesense.comSource: Bin Zayed GroupCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Val-d'Or, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 29, 2021) - Abitibi Royalties Inc. (TSXV: RZZ) (OTC: ATBYF) ("Abitibi Royalties" or the "Company") announces that the Company's monthly dividend payments of CDN$0.015 per common share for Q2-2021 will be paid as follows:

Record Date Payment Date Payment Amount ($CDN) April 6, 2021 April 30, 2021 $0.015 May 6, 2021 May 31, 2021 $0.015 June 4, 2021 June 30, 2021 $0.015

The June 2021 payment will represent the 18th dividend payment made to shareholders since the Company's adoption of a dividend policy in September 2019. The full amount of the dividends will be designated as an "eligible dividend" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada).

About Abitibi Royalties

Abitibi Royalties owns various royalties at the Canadian Malartic Mine near Val-d'Or Quebec. In addition, the Company is building a portfolio of royalties on early stage properties near producing mines and generating mineral projects for sale or option. The Company is unique among its peers due to its strong treasury, no debt, monthly dividend, share buyback program and limited number of shares.

For additional information, please contact:

Ian Ball - President & CEO

2864 chemin Sullivan

Val-d'Or, Quebec J9P 0B9

Tel.: 1-888-392-3857

Email: info@abitibiroyalties.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78865
Algiers  Works of the knowledge Economy Conference began Monday in Algiers, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad, in the presence of government members.

PM Djerad has paid a visit to an exhibition organized on the sidelines of the conference held at the International Conference Center (CIC), where he met with exhibitors.

Held under the patronage of President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and organized by the Ministry Knowledge Economy and Startups, and the National Economic,

Social and Environmental Council (CNESE), this two-day conference will enable preparation of the necessary reforms for the emergence of knowledge economy.

To be attended by more than 1300 participants including 200 national and international experts, this conference will also be held virtually to allow participation of hundred experts from the diaspora.

Several workshops with different themes will also be part of this conference, namely the promotion of research and development in the economic sector, financing

innovation, intellectual property, technology transfer, training, education, governance and capacity building.

At the end of the conference, a platform will be launched to enable all stakeholders to contribute to the development of the suggested legal framework for the emergence of knowledge economy.
Princess Diana's biographer claims that the royal family has a 'history' of seeking help from professional bodies for psychological issues.

Andrew Morton, who famously penned Princess Diana's blockbuster biography in 1992, revealed that the Queen herself received help with 'breathing and relaxing' during her Annus horribilis in 1992.

He also pointed to Princess Margaret, who reportedly sought the help of a Harley Street psychologist for depression during her ailing marriage to Antony Armstrong Jones in the 1970s.

Appearing on Lorraine today, he admitted that he was 'baffled' by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in which the Duchess of Sussex claimed concerns about her mental health were ignored.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey saw the Duchess of Sussex claim concerns about her mental health were ignored

Princess Diana's biographer claimed on Lorraine today that the royal family has a 'history' of seeking help from professional bodies for psychological issues

'Its from a generation where - if its cold, put on a sweater, don't turn up the heating -make do and mend, people didnt talk about mental illness.

'But having said that, Margaret did go for psychological counselling and even the Queen herself during her Annus horribilis had someone to help her with breathing and relaxing.

'So in a funny kind of way the royal family have a history of going for help from professional bodies for psychological issues they face.'

Andrew went on to admit he was left with 'more questions than answers' after the bombshell interview.

He pointed to Princess Margaret, who reportedly sought the help of a Harley Street psychologist for depression during her ailing marriage to Antony Armstrong Jones in the 1970s

'That was a very sad admission', said Morton. 'But it left far more questions than answers.

'Especially as Harry is a patron of a mental health organisation, his godmother, Julia Samuel, is a well-known psychotherapist, shes on speed dial. So it left me baffled that assertion.'

During the interview, Meghan, 39, said that she later reached out to one of the best friends of Diana, Princess of Wales, amid her mental health battle, because she felt unsupported by the palace.



Meghan tearfully revealed that the stress of royal life made her suicidal when she was five months pregnant in the tell-all interview earlier this month.

The Duchess of Sussex told Oprah she 'couldn't be left alone' and told her husband she 'didn't want to be alive anymore' before claiming the Buckingham Palace HR department ignored her plea for help because she wasn't a 'paid employee'.

Meghan cited this event at the Royal Albert Hall in January 2019, claiming she was forced to go when struggling with her mental health

Describing how she considered ending her life believing it 'was better for everyone', Meghan said: 'I knew that if I didn't say it, that I would do it. I just didn't want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought.

'I remember how he just cradled me. I said that I needed to go somewhere to get help. I said that 'I've never felt this way before, and I need to go somewhere'. And I was told that I couldn't, that it wouldn't be good for the institution'.

She said that after confiding in her husband, she was forced to go to the Royal Albert Hall for a charity event in January 2019, claiming photos from that night 'haunt me'.

She 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'. Meghan said Harry had 'saved my life' by agreeing to move to Los Angeles.

Princess Margaret is said to have suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of her collapsing marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon. Pictured, the pair in 1970

Princess Margaret faced her own battles with mental health, receiving therapy from psychiatrist Mark Collins of the Priory Clinic for depression.

The royal is said to have suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of her collapsing marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon.

In the mid-1960s, as her marriage began to fall apart, Margarets mental health troubles took a more serious turn, with friends observing the princess was smoking and drinking excessively.

She reportedly overdosed on sleeping pills during after lover Roddy Llewellyn walked out on her for a trip abroad in 1974.
The second day of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who is accused of killing George Floyd, was marked by emotional testimony from witnesses who recounted what they saw and how it left them feeling traumatized. Six people testified in all, including four witnesses who were younger than 18 on the day of Mr. Floyds arrest.

Prosecutors walked through the arrest minute by minute with the witnesses. The youngest of them testified off camera, though viewers could hear them in real time. At times, their voices wavered as they recalled the events of May 25, and attorneys gave them time between questions to collect themselves. Here are the highlights of the second day.

The testimony of the young witnesses included the grief and anger felt so profoundly by people across the country in the days and weeks after Mr. Floyds death. Their presence made another point as well: They have become victims themselves. The trauma of seeing a man lose consciousness while they could do nothing to stop it clearly left its mark, as made evident by their tears as they testified.

The young witnesses told consistent versions of what they saw, and all said they believed at the time that something was going horribly wrong. I almost walked away at first because it was a lot to watch, said one witness, a high school senior. But I knew that it was wrong and I couldnt just walk away, even though I couldnt do anything about it.

The most emotionally jarring testimony came from Darnella Frazier, who took a video of the arrest that helped ignite protests across the country. Ms. Frazier expressed regret for not physically confronting Mr. Chauvin but said she ultimately believed the former officer was at fault for Mr. Floyds death. Its been nights I stayed up apologizing and apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more and not physically interacting and not saving his life, Ms. Frazier said, adding that she has often reflected on the similarities of her Black family members and Mr. Floyd. She worries for their safety and her own. I look at how that could have been one of them.

Mr. Chauvins attorney, Eric Nelson, had a testy exchange with a mixed martial arts fighter who was at the scene of the arrest and testified on Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday, Mr. Nelson argued that the witness, Donald Williams II, did not have enough medical or police training experience to analyze Mr. Floyds cause of death. Previously, Mr. Williams had testified that the placement of Mr. Chauvins knee could have caused Mr. Floyd to suffocate. The defense also highlighted the loud crowd that formed on the sidewalk and yelled at the police officers during the arrest. Mr. Williams pushed back on the attorneys description, saying, You cant paint me out to be angry.

Prosecutors continued to focus on how long Mr. Chauvin kept his knee on Mr. Floyd, pinning him to the street. While the defense may argue that use of force was necessary, prosecutors will want to convince the jury that the amount of time was unreasonable and unlawful. Even if the defense can effectively argue that force was necessary at first, prosecutors want to show that Mr. Chauvin kept Mr. Floyd pinned even after he lost consciousness.
MOSCOW  The war in eastern Ukraine, which has been on a low simmer for months, drawing little international attention, has escalated sharply in recent days, according to statements on Tuesday from the Ukrainian and Russian governments.

In the deadliest engagement so far this year, four Ukrainian soldiers were killed and another seriously wounded in a battle against Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk Region of eastern Ukraine, the countrys military said.

The soldiers deaths, along with a buildup of Russian forces on the border, has seized the attention of senior American officials in Europe and Washington. In the past week, the U.S. militarys European Command raised its watch level from possible crisis to potential imminent crisis  the highest level  in response to the deployment of the additional Russian troops.

The exchange of artillery and machine-gun fire in the Donetsk Region was unusual in that it lasted most of a day. Fighting across the so-called Line of Contact, a roughly 250-mile-long barricade of trenches and fortifications, are typically briefer.
Investigations editor

Larry Parnass, investigations editor, joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant and CommonWealth Magazine.
As the Myanmar military reportedly killed hundreds of people on March 27, several international leaders have condemned the violence against unarmed civilians. The French government has strongly condemned the violence against the people in Myanmar. French Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian has condemned the "murderous" violence by the Burmese military against the people of Myanmar.

French government condemns violence against Burmese

Jean-Yves Le Drian in his statement has said that he strongly condemns the brutal attacks by the Burmese security forces. The forces are attacking the civilians of the country who are leading peaceful protests. He added that Burmese people who have died due to the violence is increasing every day which has led to a tragic situation in Burma. He said the security forces on March 27 used weapons against the people to curb the protests.

"I reiterate with greatest firmness, France's condemnation of the brutal repression by the Burmese security forces and of the serious crimes they penetrate against the population," he said.

The French Foreign Affairs Minister has called on the Burmese security forces to end the violence against the people of Myanmar. He further said that all the political prisoners should be released immediately without laying any condition. He said that there should be a proper dialogue so that peace is restored in the country.



"Release unconditionallly and immediately all political prisoners and resume the path of dialogue and the restoration of civil and democratic order."

The killings of people in Myanmar have drawn international condemnation, with multiple diplomatic missions to Myanmar releasing statements. In a joint statement, the Chiefs of Defence from Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom condemned the violence caused by the Myanmar military against unarmed civilians. They called out the army in Burma to follow international standards of military professionalism.

Joint Statement of Chiefs of Defense Condemning Military-Sponsored Violence in Myanmar. Full statement: pic.twitter.com/DB6aFi0PJM  U.S. Embassy Burma (@USEmbassyBurma) March 28, 2021

On February 1, the Burmese military began detaining the democratically elected members of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party. State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other members of the Parliament were detained by the military, who later declared an emergency for a year. After the coup, Myanmar Army's Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing took charge of the country. The coup occurred a day before Myanmar's newly elected members of Parliament were supposed to be sworn-in. The death toll in Myanmar has been steadily increasing as authorities grow more forceful with their suppression of opposition to the coup.

(Inputs from ANI)

(Image Credits: ANI/AP)
Richard Roxburgh is one of Australia's top actors, known for his starring roles in global blockbusters such as Mission: Impossible 2 and Moulin Rouge!

And on Saturday, the 59-year-old Rake star revealed the crucial role the government must play in fostering Australia's recent boom in the film and TV industry.

The actor told Daily Mail Australia at the premiere of Hamilton in Sydney: 'It's quite extraordinary, it really is, because LA is completely shut down and Australia is experiencing a boom.

EXCLUSIVE: Richard Roxburgh says politicians need to 'nurture' Australia's local film and TV productions as the industry continues to a boom. The actor pictured with his TV chef wife Silvia Colloca and their son Miro at the premiere of Hamilton in Sydney on Saturday

'So it's a sign, if ever there was one to politicians that this area of Australian culture needs to be nurtured,' he added.

Over the past year, dozens of film projects have moved from Hollywood to Australia amid the Covid lockdowns and restrictions with which the US continues to grapple.

The Australian government has been commitment of $400 million to the Location Incentive to encourage foreign productions to set up in Australia.

Business is booming! The actor, 59, told Daily Mail Australia: 'because LA is completely shut down and Australia is experiencing a boom. So it's a sign, if ever there was one to politicians that this area of Australian culture needs to be nurtured'

Among the US films in production Down Under include Thor: Love and Thunder and the Nicole Kidman produced series, Nine Perfect Strangers, as well as the upcoming Julia Roberts and George Clooney rom-com Ticket To Paradise.

Richard, who attended the Hamilton premiere with his TV chef wife Silvia Colloca and their son Miro, also discussed his recent role playing Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke for season four of The Crown.

'It was quite strange, I felt like I almost did more work on it this time around strangely,' he said, referring to the previous time he played the former Australian leader in the TV movie Hawke.

Role reprise: Richard also discussed his recent role playing Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke for season four of The Crown. 'It was quite strange, I felt like I almost did more work on it this time around strangely,' he said, referring to the time played the former PM for the TV movie Hawke

He said of the hugely successful Netflix series: 'It was a huge production and it was an amazing production to be on.'

Richard also spoke highly of the show's young stars Josh O'Connor and Emma Corrin who played Prince Charles and Princess Diana, during their tour of Australia in 1983.

'I thought they were wonderful, I thought both of them were extraordinary,' he said.

'It centred on quite a pivotal moment in this particularly big moment in the attitude to the Australian republican movement, which is why I was so interested in it in particular.'
(Alliance News) - AG Barr PLC on Tuesday reported drops in revenue and profit for the 2021 financial year, as drinks sales were harmed by the pandemic.

Revenue in the financial year ended January 24 fell 11% to GBP227.0 million from GBP255.7 million the previous year. Pretax profit declined 30% to GBP26.0 million from GBP37.4 million.

Barr won't pay a dividend, but said it plans to resume payouts this financial year. The dividend has been suspended since April 2020.

Shares were down 2.7% to 507.13 pence in London.

Barr, whose brands include Irn-Bru and Funkin Cocktails, said it was hit by the loss of hospitality and on-the-go drinks sales as consumers stayed at home. Meanwhile, sales in supermarkets were broadly flat on the previous year.

Profit was hurt by net exceptional charges of GBP6.8 million, which included an impairment to its Strathmore bottled water brand.

The Cumbernauld, Scotland-based company gave a positive outlook, saying it ended the year with a stronger balance sheet and that it is focused on realising the growth potential of its brands as pandemic restrictions are lifted.

John Moore, senior investment manager at Brewin Dolphin, said: "Despite the very tough trading environment, AG Barr has demonstrated its resilience as a business, ending the year with a stronger balance sheet than it did the previous 12 months. Whilst there will be an element of higher investment in the re-opening and recovery phase, the key question will be what the company does with the GBP50 million net cash that has been built up over the course of the pandemic.

"There is a commitment to recommencing dividends in the year ending January 2022, but no firm plans announced. Another option could be to buy back shares at today's level, which would enhance the recovery potential for remaining shareholders. Or, taking a more organic approach, it could acquire another brand to replace Rockstar. Whatever decision it chooses to take, AG Barr is in a strong position to lean into the recovery and start looking at the next chapter for the business."

By Ivan Edwards; ivanedwards@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
As the only high-quality manufacturing development experimental zone in Nanjing, Lishui has formed three major industrial landmarks: new energy vehicles, aviation industry, and health industry. The integrated modern transportation pattern of "Air, Railway, Water and Highway" in Lishui, which can reach major cities in the Yangtze River Delta within 2 hours, has become an important reason for business to choose Lishui. Lishui has gathered a group of top international manufacturing companies such as American Conmet, Siemens, A.O. Smith and so on. Lishui always regards the manufacturing industry as the foundation, explores the path of innovation, transformation and upgrading, creates a sample for the high-quality development, and strives to integrate Lishui into global innovation and become the "Shining Window" and "Shiny business card" of Nanjing and Jiangsu.

At the conference, 18 innovative and headquarters-type projects were signed and settled, with a total investment of 13.2 billion yuan. Lishui released the Policy 2.0 for the manufacturing industry through global live broadcast, giving a supporting subsidy of up to 200 million yuan to the introduction of top experts for technical research, and the subsidy for digital transformation increased by 4.5 times. Lishui is taking the initiative with the spirit of exploration, striving to create 15 demonstration models, planning to use 3 years to promote the high-quality development in the forefront of the country. In 5 years, Lishui will build an influential new highland for industrial innovation and a cluster of foreign-funded enterprises in the country. In 10 years, Lishui will top 20 districts, and the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry will become a national model.

Image Attachments Links:

Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=387882

Caption: Promotion Conference in Shenzhen

SOURCE Publicity Department of Lishui District People's Government
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DENVER  The Colorado Legislature has halted plans to build permanent fencing around most of the state Capitol following criticism from residents.

Lawmakers previously considered allocating more than $1 million to erect a six-foot-tall (1.8-meter-tall), wrought-iron black fence to encircle the building, The Denver Post reported Monday. It was part of an $8 million budget allotment for security upgrades in response to vandalism during protests last year.

Its important to know that we listened, Democratic House Speaker Alec Garnett said. We heard folks raise concerns about the plans.

Garnett said the Legislature will embark on a public process about the topic, without providing specifics. He stopped short of committing to permanently scrapping the fence idea, but said the plan has been halted for now.

At the moment, people can feel comfortable that we pressed pause, if not stop, to allow for us to set up that process, Garnett said.

He added, Its essentially a pause-slash-stop of the fence. Clearly, people have opinions on a fence, so lets set up a process to talk about it.

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The fence was designed to avoid blocking public access, but residents and some state officials argued it would send a message saying otherwise. Some also criticized the projects cost.

Dozens of former state officials including Govs. Bill Owens and Dick Lamm signed a letter this month asking the Legislature to reconsider the substantive and symbolic impact of placing a permanent fence around the peoples house.

The Legislatures Joint Budget Committee unanimously voted last Friday to remove the funding planned for the fence from the proposed state budget, which is set to be finalized in coming weeks.

Weve heard loud and clear from the community, including former elected officials from both sides of the aisle, that a wall around the Capitol is highly problematic and not befitting of the institution, said Democratic state Rep. Leslie Herod, who serves on the committee.
[March 30, 2021] From Weeks to Same Day: NeuGen and PatientPing Partnership Enables Faster Transitions of Care and COVID-19 Identification Rates for Wisconsin Members

BOSTON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PatientPing, the nation's leading care collaboration platform, and NeuGen, a Shared Services organization providing support for WEA Trust and Health Tradition Health Plan, today announced its partnership, improving care coordination efforts for Wisconsin members. Through PatientPing's comprehensive suite of solutions, NeuGen receives real-time insights into member care events, including COVID-19 diagnoses, across the continuum. Rather than using traditional claims data, which can be up to a month old, real-time notifications immediately influence workflows that help optimize care delivery, ultimately improving both organizational and patient outcomes. "Our partnership with PatientPing provides us with the real-time insights we need to move the needle on delivering advanced care to our members," said Tim Bartholow, MD, VP, Chief Medical Officer at WEA Trust. "With PatientPing, we can ensure our members, especially those at-risk, are at the appropriate level of care, in the right care setting, and receive the support they need post-discharge. We're thrilled to be taking the next step towards enhancing the way we support our members, and look forward to evolving our partnership with PatientPing to continue improving these efforts." Prior to PatientPing, NeuGen needed to wait for healthcare systems to submit claims for emergency department (ED) encounters, which would often take 3-6 weeks, before being able to follow up with members. As a result of using PatientPing's platform, NeuGen has been able to identify ED visits in real-time and follow up with the member the same or next day to help set a follow-up appointment with an in-network provider or perform other coordination efforts that improve their care quality and effectiveness. "When our staff has the ability to connect with members less than a day after an ED visit, it makes a much better impression, and has much more impact on health outcomes than if we wait weeks to receive and process a claim," said Jeff Carter, Manager of Utilization Review at NeuGen. PatientPing notifies NeuGen as soon as members are admitted, discharged, or transferred to or from hospitals or post-acutes across PatientPing's nationl network. In Wisconsin, PatientPing partners with the Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network, Inc. (WISHIN), which enables NeuGen to access a rich set of clinical data from its community health record, WISHIN Pulse, via single sign-on from within PatientPing's web-based platform. With this timely information from WISHIN and PatientPing, NeuGen can quickly identify and intervene on high-risk and risk-rising member care events, helping to avoid unnecessary admissions, direct members to the appropriate level of care, and ensure members receive care at in-network facilities.



Moreover, when COVID-19 infections began to ramp up in Wisconsin in mid-March 2020, PatientPing's real-time identification of ADT activity helped NeuGen estimate the impact of COVID-19 hospitalization on its members. With claims lag and the delayed turnaround time for COVID-19 testing results during the first several months of the pandemic, PatientPing's daily identification of diagnoses associated with COVID-19 infections allowed them to identify members with possible COVID-19 infections weeks before they received a medical claim. "Claims data is delayed and effective care coordination relies on timing. The sooner a patient's care team can contact a discharged patient, the greater the likelihood the patient receives the necessary follow-up care and the less likely the person readmits to the provider facility," said Jay Desai, CEO of PatientPing. "We're excited to assist the NeuGen team realize better patient outcomes by providing a real-time solution that enables them to serve their members quickly."

PatientPing's national network includes over 9,000 health plans, hospitals, health systems, post-acutes, and other providers, all of which work together to deliver improved patient outcomes via seamless care coordination for their patients and members. About NeuGen

Founded in November 2018, NeuGen is a Shared Services organization based out of Madison, Wisconsin. In 1970, the not-for-profit WEA Trust was founded by the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC). Well known for high-touch, personalized customer service, WEA Trust serves Wisconsin public employers, their staff and families throughout the state. In 2018, WEA Trust acquired another Wisconsin-based health plan, Health Tradition, in order to serve both public and private employees in the state. Today, NeuGen supports both health insurance companies in addition to providing medical management and administrative services to other healthcare companies. About WISHIN

WISHIN is the state-designated entity (SDE) for health information exchange and an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing the benefits of widespread, secure, interoperable health information technology to patients and caregivers throughout Wisconsin. As the SDE for HIE, WISHIN has built a comprehensive network of engaged payers and providers to promote and improve the health of individuals and communities throughout Wisconsin. WISHIN Pulse is an EHR-agnostic community health record providing timely access to relevant information that can lead to better clinical decisions, less duplication, more effective care coordination and transitions of care, and reduced administrative costs. For more information, please visit www.wishin.org. About PatientPing

PatientPing is an innovative care collaboration platform that reduces the cost of healthcare and improves patient outcomes by seamlessly connecting providers to coordinate patient care. The platform enables providers to collaborate on shared patients through a comprehensive suite of solutions and allows provider organizations, health plans, governments, individuals and the organizations supporting them to leverage real-time patient data to reach their shared goals of improving the efficiency of our healthcare system. PatientPing's network consists of nearly 20 different provider types and currently connects over 9,000 healthcare providers including 1,250 hospitals, 6,000 post-acute care facilities, and hundreds of other providers such as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), social and human service agencies, urgent cares, and behavioral health organizations among others. Media Contact:

Sarah Larrow / Jill Anderson

SVM PR

401-490-9700

patientping@svmpr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-weeks-to-same-day-neugen-and-patientping-partnership-enables-faster-transitions-of-care-and-covid-19-identification-rates-for-wisconsin-members-301258226.html SOURCE PatientPing

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Access Bank paid about $60 million to purchase a controlling interest in South Africas 74-year-old Grobank, its CEO said Tuesday, signalling the culmination of the tier 1 lenders aspiration to foray into Africas most industrialised nation and tap its market.

The move makes it Nigerias first bank to do so, with Access Bank ploughing in both equity and debt in Grobank as part of the grand plan to explore trade banking deals on its way to becoming Africas Gateway to the World, Managing Director Herbert Wigwe told CNBC Africa.

It will open up the means to widen trade finance capacity in Grobank, which is presently increasing its attention on the countrys agriculture industry.

No mention was made of the precise stake size but the lender said in a note in September the first is an initial cash consideration for a 49 per cent shareholding, increasing to a majority stake in the second tranche.

Banks in Nigeria are stepping up efforts to create new ways of bolstering earnings beyond its shores as a buffer to an economic downturn that has triggered a fall in government bond yields and accelerated the incidence of restructured loan, helped by the pandemic.

ALSO READ: Access Bank seeks presence in eight African countries to tap AfCFTA opportunities

We have a full retail banking licence in South Africa. We will pursue a wholesale banking franchise. We will pursue trade finance, Mr Wigwe said.

The South African acquisition is its third in eight months, having taken over Kenyas Transnational Bank in July and Zambia-based Cavmont Bank in January.

It hopes to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement to enter Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Angola, Namibia and Ethiopia.
The measure makes it much easier to register to vote.

All voters would be able to register, designate party affiliations, change addresses and de-register online; 40 states and the District of Columbia offer some or all of those options. Voters would also be automatically registered when visiting state or federal agencies unless they explicitly decline, similar to what has been required of most states  but not always carried out  by the federal motor-voter law that passed in 1993. Voters could also register when they cast a ballot, either on Election Day or during early voting, as is already the case in 21 states.

Early voting would be expanded nationwide, with all jurisdictions offering it for 15 days, for 10 hours daily, at easily accessible polling places. All but a handful of states allow early voting; the average early-ballot period is 19 days, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The bill would also require jurisdictions to provide at least one secure ballot drop box for every 20,000 voters.

Mail voting would be extended nationwide, and states would have to prepay postage and electronically track ballots so voters know when their ballots arrive and whether they have mistakes that need to be fixed.

It would defang many voting restrictions imposed by Republicans.

Republicans have won enactment of voter-ID laws in most states by arguing that they are needed to combat fraud, even though the sort of in-person fraud that such rules would discourage is all but nonexistent. The bill would effectively nullify such laws, allowing voters to sign affidavits swearing to their identities rather than showing ID.

The measure would also require that voters be notified at least a week before an election if their polling places have changed, and order steps to reduce long lines. Voting rights activists and specialists argue that turnout falls when polling locations are closed or changed.

The legislation also tries to beat back rules adopted by some states, including Texas and New Hampshire, that make it more difficult for college students to vote. It would designate universities as voter-registration agencies and offer nonpartisan assistance to students who cast absentee ballots.

Under the bill, states would be barred from taking voters off the rolls because they had not participated in recent elections, a practice that the Supreme Court upheld in 2018. Critics argue that the practice is aimed at reducing turnout.
Dar es Salaam  Data science is one field that has a vivid gender gap. This is a result of so many different factors including demotivation, lack of support and discouragement of aspiring female scientists, to mention a few. The Citizen Rising woman spoke to Julia Seifert a research advisor at FSDT (Financial Sector Deepening Trust) whose passion for data science has made her garner recognition as one of the best specialists in the field.

Her first trip away from her home village of Zella-Mehlis in Germany was to Northern Uganda - this was prior to moving to Tanzania. In Uganda she did social service as a volunteer with the German Development cooperation in a Vocational training institute. The experience here was filled with so many lessons and so many first-time experiences. For the first time Julia was exposed to religion, something she had not known despite of being born after socialism in Eastern Germany.

Julia eventually returned home to pursue a dual bachelor degree in Arts Cultural Anthropology and study of Religion in Georg-August University Gottingen, Germany, during her undertaking she did exchange semester at the Tumaini University of Iringa, Tanzania. This would not be her first time in Tanzania, before she left for Germany while in Uganda Julia said she had visited Tanzania as a tourist and the language barrier made her miss her returning bus that left at 8 am while she waited for it until 2 pm.

Pursuing of this degree was not something Julia's father found intriguing but to an extent he understood Julia's passion and her curiosity to learn more, Julia's father is a mathematician and knew that Julia was good with sciences and wanted her to do sciences but eventually he understood and supported her. Julia's father's encouragement came more strongly because he had also experienced a denial of studying opportunity when he wanted to pursue cartography but it was impossible due to the times then.

Upon her return to Tanzania on a semester exchange, she completed her degree and then proceeded to do her internship in social services at the district. During this time Julia learned in-depth and worked in several areas in the districts including the village.

Julia then got an opportunity to pursue her masters at the University of Kent in the UK where she pursued Masters of Arts in international conflict analysis.

She eventually graduated in 2014 and during her graduation the chancellor of the University gave a speech and encouraged them to apply for an internship position to the Ipsos organization anywhere globally. Julia's experience in Tanzania made her want to return and she therefore looked up for Ipsos Tanzania, applied and scored an internship with Ipsos which is a research firm in Tanzania.

Julia arrived at Ipsos in Dar es Salaam, worked for 3 months and she said that she had a great experience and welcoming mentors which encouraged her to give her all and fortunately at the end of the 3 months she was invited to come back as an employee. At Ipsos, Julia said she worked as an assistant in data processing and eventually got promoted to become an executive in data processing and this position fully exposed her to fully working with numbers.

Julia continued working as an executive for Data extracting and until she became a Research executive, despite of the change Julia still got involved in data analysis. Julia then moved to FSDT as a research advisor and on this she says, "The work I do at FSDT makes me feel fulfilled because my work is very impactful and it allows for a collaborative partnership. At FSDT we use data to advise in different sectors, what I really like is that we use evidence for any advice we give".

Regarding data Julia says, "Data itself is not useful or informative, once you have data you have to be able to analyze and tell a story so you can link it with a realty. Tanzania is so rich in Data, but we want to be able to provide the information from the data. Data-insight and information. To be able to analyze data one has to be keen at the sector they work in, listen to the people and generate evidence".

About women and science, Julia highlighted the Women in Science event that usually takes place on 11th February, worldwide and that Tanzania recognizes and celebrates as well. Julia says these engagements are key, because aspiring young female scientists get to watch and hear from their role models and also have an opportunity to engage in science and test it out. She emphasizes that women should be involved in the data sector to weed out the underlying biasness.

She advices women to get into data science because this sector boosts confidence. She says, "Most people assume and dismiss women claiming they speak emotionally but if women hold facts in form of data, they will have proof to back up their words".

On trusting her abilities in the field, she says; "I have never for a second doubted myself in this field, if you always believe in yourself regardless of who you are eventually you become successful. It is easier for a person especially a woman to get frustrated in the things we do but the most important part is for one to Focus on what they do and aim to separate professional life with personal life".

As she continues with the discussion Julia points out that data science is not always a smooth ride, challenges come especially during data communication: Julia says, "People have personal perception and sometimes during communication it can go against one's perception and assumptions. This is a challenge faced by most data scientists but a well-built argument which is solid, assuring and valid with no doubts surrounding it alters this". To avoid challenges Julia adds that in this field it is so important for one to be keen on how the information is delivered so that the point is heard, this goes hand in hand with team work, it is important to work in a team and discuss with colleagues.

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Julia says her best achievement is to be able to contribute in both the private and public sector with impactful facts and this was made possible with her great supervisors, "I have male and female supervisors who are very instrumental to my achievement and if I did not have this support system I would not have achieved much of what I have and still are achieving. It is very important for one to have mentors and seniors who can support them," she adds.

Apart from work Julia says she feels at home in Dar Es Salaam and in Tanzania. Overtime she has gained friends through colleagues who have turned to be family. Also, through social groups Julia has expanded her network, she says, learning Swahili has been a key catalyst to the expansion of her network and it comes in handy for her work.

She ends the interview by saying, "Data Scientists and analysts fail to connect with reality because people tend to forget there is life to be lived. People fail to integrate well socially, focus is great but people need to choose other activities to dwell into so that they can expand their soft skills, knowledge and network".
Papua New Guinea will implement space-based air traffic surveillance through ICAO CRV Network, establishing best practices for safety-of-life APAC data sharing

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea and MCLEAN, Va., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NiuSky Pacific Limited (NSPL), formerly PNG Air Services Limited (PNGASL), the sole provider of Air Navigation Services for Papua New Guinea, has announced today that it has deployed Aireon's global, real-time, space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) for air traffic surveillance services. NSPL had previously relied on ground-based infrastructure for its surveillance capabilities. However, because of Papua New Guinea's extremely mountainous and difficult terrains, unpredictable and inclement weather and fairly large oceanic airspace, it was a challenge to provide efficient surveillance services for the region using ground-based technology.

NSPL is now operational with Aireon's space-based ADS-B air traffic surveillance data over the entirety of the Port Moresby Flight Information Region (FIR). Port Moresby shares common borders with Brisbane FIR, managed by Airservices Australia, the Oakland Oceanic FIR, managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Ujung Pandang FIR, managed by AirNav Indonesia.

Additionally, over the next six months NSPL will be phasing out the use of dedicated telecommunications lines to receive ADS-B messages in favor of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Asia Pacific Common Regional Virtual Private Network (CRV Network). The CRV Network is a cross-border, cost-effective, dedicated communication network for use by ICAO Member States, and provided by a common network service provider, PCCW Global Limited. NSPL, in collaboration with Aireon, is the first Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) to transmit and receive air traffic surveillance data through this network.

"NSPL deployed the Aireon space-based ADS-B data to solve our geographic, weather and infrastructure constraints," said Captain Ted Pakii, CEO and Managing Director, NSPL. "By having complete, real-time air traffic surveillance into our airspace, we are doing an overhaul of our safety and operational policies and procedures. This data has been welcomed by our air traffic controllers, with minimal integration requirements. Space-based ADS-B has really allowed us to usher in next generation technology in our remote region. Within the next few months, we are also migrating away from the local telecommunications lines to ICAO's CRV Network. We will have an incredible amount of reliability and data speed, solving our previous challenges."

CRV allows ANSPs to communicate without unique point-to-point leased telecommunications lines for the exchange of flight plan information, voice transmissions, and now, space-based air traffic surveillance services. There are other ICAO-sponsored communications networks, similar to CRV, including the Pan-European Network Service (PENS) in Europe, the FAA's Telecommunication Infrastructure (FTI) in the U.S. and Canada, Rede Digital da Regiao SAM (REDDIG) in South America and Mejoras al Enlace de Voz del ATS (MEVA) in the Caribbean.

"NSPL has established best practices for the deployment of space-based ADS-B in remote areas. Through their forward-looking, safety-minded values, NSPL is bringing state-of-the-art air traffic surveillance to all of the Papua New Guinea designated airspace," said Don Thoma, CEO, Aireon. "The use of the ICAO CRV Network will pave the way for other ANSPs to use this regional, high-fidelity network to access space-based ADS-B surveillance by minimizing dependence on point-to-point circuits. This deployment has been one of the most innovative and collaborative, allowing for the proliferation of our data throughout the region, regardless of connectivity and geography."

About NiuSky Pacific Limited

NiuSky Pacific Limited is a State Aviation Enterprise (SAE) that was registered as a company in 2007 but started its operation in April 2008. Its primary business is to provide Air Navigation Services to the domestic and international air operators who use PNG airspace, with the vision to be a leading Air Navigation Service Provider within the region and beyond. https://www.niuskypacific.com.pg/.

About Aireon LLC

Aireon operates the first ever, space-based air traffic surveillance system for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft throughout the entire globe. Aireon harnesses next-generation aviation surveillance technologies that were formerly ground-based and extends their reach throughout the world to significantly improve efficiency, enhance safety, reduce emissions and provide cost savings benefits to all stakeholders. Aireon's high-fidelity, low-latency surveillance data is available for various applications, allowing aerospace industry partners access to revolutionary data capabilities that enhance asset tracking, aircraft situational awareness and decision support analytical tools. In partnership with leading ANSPs from around the world, like NAV CANADA, Enav, NATS, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and Naviair, as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon provides global, real-time, space-based aircraft data for enhanced air traffic surveillance, innovation and analytics. For more information, please visit www.aireon.com.

Press Contacts:

Bessie Andrew

NiuSky Pacific Limited (NSPL)

+675 75010159

[email protected]

Jessie Hillenbrand

Aireon

+1 571 401 1407

[email protected]

SOURCE Aireon LLC

Related Links

http://www.aireon.com


In Spain, members of one specific age group have been watching people both younger and older than themselves get vaccinated against Covid-19, while they are told to wait.

They are the people born between 1942 and 1956, and who are now in their late sixties and seventies. Even though they represent one of the biggest risk groups in terms of developing a severe or even fatal case of Covid-19, there is a good chance that they will not be getting their shots before mid-April at the earliest.

Of all the fatalities since June 2020, 64.5% were 80 and older, while 20% were between 70 and 79

The governments guidelines are prioritizing the 80-and-over population, and health officials have now also authorized Oxford-AstraZenecas vaccine for adults under the age of 65.

There is a chance that this age limit will be expanded at a Tuesday meeting of the Public Health Committee thats advising the government on coronavirus matters. If not, 6.5 million people between the ages of 65 and 79 will have to keep waiting.

Spains chief epidemiologist, Fernando Simon, director of the Health Emergency and Alert Coordination Center, on Monday said that the AstraZeneca vaccine is being used on increasingly larger segments of the population, as new evidence emerges. The fact there is a debate about it at the [...] Public Health Committee shows that it is not an easy or a clear decision to make. A lot of variables have to be taken into account.

If the Public Health Committee keeps the 65 age limit in place, most of the people over the age of 80 will have to be vaccinated before the 70-to-79 age group starts getting calls for appointments. And those between 65 and 69 years of age will have to wait even longer, until most of the three million individuals in the 70-to-79 group have been inoculated.

Expanding the target group

The AstraZeneca vaccine was originally authorized for the under-65s across Europe because of a lack of scientific evidence of its effectiveness on older adults. But new data has emerged since early March, and many countries have now eliminated that age limit, including Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece and Austria. The United Kingdom never set an upper age limit, and neither did the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the World Health Organization (WHO).

Spain had originally set a conservative upper age limit of 55, but recently raised it to 65. Health Minister Carolina Darias justified this decision by saying that the AstraZeneca vaccine had only been tested on younger people, and thats why Spain was planning to use it on essential workers up to 65 years of age. But new data on the drugs effectiveness has since emerged, and on Wednesday of last week, Spain began administering it to the general population, not just essential workers.

The vaccination drive of teachers in Spains Valencia region. jOAQUIN DE HARO RODRIGUEZ

Angela Dominguez, the coordinator of the vaccination working group at the Spanish Epidemiology Society, believes that it makes no sense to keep limits in place with the new available evidence. Weve seen very high effectiveness, and even if it went down, it would still be better to administer the vaccine to older people than not to, she says.

Statistics show that age is the main determining factor in risk of death from Covid-19. Of all the fatalities since June 2020, 64.5% were 80 and older, while 20% were between 70 and 79. The percentages keep falling in line with age: 9.2% of deaths were among the 60-to-69 age group, and 3.5% among the 50-to-59 group. Only 1.4% of people who died of Covid-19 were under the age of 50, according to figures provided by the Carlos III Health Institute.

Use of the AstraZeneca vaccine was further hampered by a temporary pause caused by a health scare, after several EU countries reported cases of blood clots among a few recipients. After the EMA defended the use of the vaccine, administration resumed in Spain last week.

Different region, different pace

The pace of vaccination is very different depending on the region. Andalusia is going very fast and recently announced it might get started with people in their seventies by mid-April. Catalonia is lagging behind and does not expect to begin inoculating this target group until a month later.

The month of March is coming to an end, and Spain has not managed to vaccinate 80% of the 80-and-over group as it had been planning to. But the Health Ministry does not provide official figures, and not all regional governments do, either, so it is hard to determine exactly how much progress has been made. Based on conversations with regional health departments, around 60% of older adults may have already received their shots.

A survey on the vaccine rollout published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control showed that one of the challenges in Spain was the lack of homogenous progress across the regions.

English version by Susana Urra.


remaining of

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The Green Homes Grant scheme is to be axed tomorrow, a year earlier than planned, a decision that is 'disappointing' to tradespeople.

One industry expert said the scheme primarily failed because it was too 'complicated and costly process for small trade businesses, which severely hampered sign-ups.'

The news comes just a month after it was announced the Government would withdraw 1billion of funding to the much promoted programme, which launched last year.

This left 320million in the scheme which the Government said will initially be spent on fulfilling outstanding voucher requests received until 31 March at 5pm.

The ending of the Green Homes Grant scheme a year early is 'disappointing' to tradespeople

Any of this amount remaining after that will be reinvested in other energy efficiency schemes to be announced at the weekend.

An extra 300million will be made available to local authorities for green home upgrades, helping more low-income households to upgrade.

The 2billion grant was billed as a way of helping homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their home and to help stimulate a green jobs revolution.

The Government wanted 600,000 homes to take advantage of the scheme. It is estimated it only hit 10 per cent of this target.

It faced a number of criticisms over the last couple of months after it was revealed it was only due to be available for six months in which time households would have to sign up, find a trader and have all works completed.

Other issues include smaller traders being alienated from the scheme due to the current registration process which was said to be both lengthy and costly.

Many households also reported struggling to find any available tradespeople available due to the number of people looking to have works completed in the lockdown period.

Industry insiders have said they are disappointed with the news.

Adrienne Minster, chief executive of Rated People, said: 'It's disappointing that the Government has decided not to continue with the Green Homes Grant and are rather abruptly cutting off applications after 31 March 2021.

'The scheme had been extremely popular with homeowners looking to get help funding eco-friendly renovations, but the trade industry definitely struggled to meet demand.

'This is primarily because applying to be a Green Homes Grant approved tradesperson had been a complicated and costly process for small trade businesses, which severely hampered sign-ups.

'As such, a lot of homeowners struggled to find approved businesses for their projects and the scheme had only improved 10 per cent of its 600,000 home target.'

The Government said it is committed to building back greener from the pandemic despite cuts

However, she says that as a whole, tradespeople are are in incredible demand.

She adds: 'Even though the discontinuation of the Green Homes Grant will be disappointing for tradespeople who specialise in certain eco-friendly home improvements, such as insulation, it is actually a positive time for the trade industry overall.

'Homeowners are keen to spruce up their homes for potential post-lockdown visitors and we've seen overall job listings surge by 42 per cent year-on-year.'

Checkatrade agreed that trade was up saying it has seen a huge uptick in searches for sustainable home improvements, including a 28 per cent increase this most recent quarter.

Mike Fairman, CEO of Checkatrade, added: 'While it's clear there is consumer demand for green home improvements, there is a mountain to climb before this demand can be met  particularly when it comes to the delivery of more expensive and complex innovations like heat pumps.

'We therefore hope to see the Green Homes Grants resurrected in another form which makes it easier for trades and consumers to access funding.'

Despite the Grant being cut, the Government announced a further 300million of extra funding is to be invested to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the nation's homes through energy efficiency and low carbon heating schemes.

A Government spokesperson said: 'We're committed to building back greener from the pandemic, and the Prime Minister's 10-point plan gives us a clear strategy to eliminate our contribution to climate change by 2050 while creating green jobs and growing the low-carbon supply chain.

'All Green Homes Grant voucher applications received up to 31 March will be processed, meaning installations will continue over the coming months, supporting jobs and delivering much needed upgrades to households.'

It added that, over the last three decades, the UK has achieved record clean growth and has met its climate change commitments.

Aside from the Green Homes Grant, the Prime Minister's Ten Point Plan outlined plans to mobilise 12billion of Government funding into low carbon technologies and infrastructure.

The Energy White Paper also sets out plans for transformation of the UK's energy system for a greener future  including fully decarbonising the UK's electricity generation by 2050 and supporting up to 220,000 jobs by 2030.
On Monday, it has been reported that Sharon Osbourne received a massive payout from CBS after her controversial "The Talk" exit last week.

An insider revealed to Page Six that the red-headed Brit is walking away with $5 million to $10 million "minimum payout" and added how Osbourne "was able to spin that it was her decision to leave the show."

Another insider revealed to the outlet that not only was she receiving millions to her bank account, she would also get the freedom to speak the truth.

The second insider told Page Six, "Sharon will talk when she is ready."

"She still wants to give her side of the story. She has been on that show for 11 years and knows all the secrets."

The Truth About Sharon Osbourne's Payout Following 'The Talk' Exit

Following Page Six's report, a spokesperson for CBS told the Los Angeles Times debunked the outlet's claims.

They said of the report, "False, inaccurate or untrue. Take your pick."

As of writing, there are currently true reports of payout given to Sharon Osbourne.

Sharon Osbourne Quits 'The Talk'

One distinctive voice will not return on "The Talk," which would be Sharon Osbourne's.

Last week, CBS confirmed that she would not be returning to the show following controversy and recriminations over misconduct and offensive language claims used to past and present co-host.

In early March, Osbourne got into a heated argument about race with co-host Sheryl Underwood which triggered the controversy.

Following that, CBS launched an internal investigation and placed the show on a hiatus.

Once the probe was completed, CBS released a statement saying that Osbourne decided to leave "The Talk."

The network also revealed that the show, which was put on hold since Mar. 12 following Osbourne's outburst, will return on air on Apr. 12.

According to their statement, "As part of our review, we concluded that Sharon's behavior toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode did not align with our values for a respectful workplace."

What Will Sharon Osbourne Do Next?

It's unclear if Sharon Osbourne will be returning to UK's "The X Factor" to judge the singing competition after being a staple panelist from 2008 to 2018.

However, it would put Simon Cowell into an awkward position if Osbourne asked to return.

According to Cowell's friend Sinitta, "I think Simon would be in a difficult position because he won't stand for an he doesn't support any form of racism."

She told Metro, "I think it could be tricky for him if he were planning to work with them. I know it will be hard because he wants to stand up for what he believes in, but he's also a very loyal friend."

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Press Release

30 March 2021

Local people may be the best ambassadors for tourism in their home towns and cities, according to Ph.D. graduates Dr Philipp Wassler and Dr Liang Wang, and Dr Kam Hung of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Building a brand for a destination is an effective way of attracting tourists, but destination marketers rarely consider the needs of residents - the biggest and potentially most influential group of stakeholders in any destination. The researchers note that local communities can make or break a destination brand, and their marketing may be far more cost-effective, authentic and persuasive than traditional advertising. Surveying residents from Hong Kong, famously branded as "Asia's World City", this pioneering study offers important empirical insights into how residents' voices can help tourism destinations to differentiate themselves in an increasingly globalised and competitive market.

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Destination branding is a way to promote a tourist site by building a brand that conveys its unique identity. A good destination brand, note the researchers, is the sum of the experiences and stories a place has to offer, making the destination instantly recognisable to tourists. As attracting tourism is a critical strategy for local economic development, communities, cities and even countries can benefit from creating a memorable brand image.

However, this may not be an easy task. Indeed, as the researchers note, "few destination brands can be regarded as truly successful". Although we know much about branding products and services, destinations are far more complex. "Destination brands represent not only intangible goods and services", explain the researchers, "but also places, people, and ideologies, which cannot be simply packaged and sold". Therefore, destination marketing organisations (DMOs) must consider a wide range of stakeholders - not just tourists.

Chief among these stakeholders are local residents. Tourism has huge economic, socio-cultural and environmental effects on host communities. "Some of these effects are positive", write the researchers, "but many are negative". For example, although tourism growth may help residents to escape poverty, it may also damage the local landscape, bring traffic congestion and even erode the area's culture and traditions.

This places residents at the core of a destination's brand identity. As the researchers explain, "the sustainable development of a tourism destination is closely contingent on participation and support from residents". Understanding residents' needs can help DMOs to tailor their branding strategies accordingly. Local people also represent a rich but untapped resource for destination marketers. Nobody knows a place better than those who live there, which makes marketing by residents more cost-effective, less biased and more authentic than traditional advertising.

Surprisingly, however, little is known about what motivates local people to support a destination brand. Studies have ignored the vital difference between corporate branding and destination branding: unlike the employees of corporations, residents are not paid to market their home towns or cities. To make matters worse, write the researchers, "many past studies have focused on the negative consequences of negative brand attitude among residents, instead of their positive behaviours".

Seeking to fill these gaps in the literature and ultimately help DMOs better market local tourist sites, the researchers developed a novel theory to explain residents' role in destination branding. When local people feel that they and their community are represented accurately by a destination brand, they are likely to feel a greater affinity with the brand, known as "self-congruity". In turn, note the researchers, "residents' identification with a destination brand is a strong catalyst for different types of brand advocacy". It may reduce their resistance to tourism campaigns and increase their support for brand development and promotion, "finally transforming them into brand ambassadors".

Conversely, if residents feel that they have been misrepresented by a DMO, they may refuse to help maintain or further develop the brand. Some may even organise public resistance or launch counter-branding campaigns. Indeed, note the researchers, "residents' possible sensitivity about their representation within a destination brand is a persistent issue". In today's increasingly globalised world, conveying the complex identity of a community and its inhabitants is becoming ever more important. For example, Hong Kong may be "Asia's World City", but its history, culture and people are unique.

The researchers needed to select the right setting in which to explore local people's attitudes towards destination branding. As "residents form part of the brand identity and are therefore part of the branded product", the residents surveyed had to be well aware of their "own" brand. To act as brand ambassadors, they also had to participate in the branding process. Hong Kong offered the perfect match, given that for the last two decades the local community has been thoroughly involved in the process of branding Asia's World City.

One hundred permanent residents of Hong Kong were recruited to take part in the study. They were aged between 18 and 54, with roughly equal numbers of men and women, and came from Hong Kong's three main regions. Therefore, the researchers were confident that the participants' views on the World City brand would represent those of Hong Kong residents in general.

The residents were each invited to complete a questionnaire rigorously constructed and tested by the researchers. One section focused on their attitudes towards Hong Kong's World City brand. Another measured the extent to which they identified with the brand, such as whether it matched their self-image. The third section explored how likely they were to act as ambassadors for the brand. Brand ambassadorial behaviour can take many forms, from attending festivals and exhibitions to simply sharing information online.

The researchers then conducted a thorough statistical analysis of the participants' responses. Their findings provide important empirical insights for DMOs, showing above all that residents are "important receptors of the brand and simultaneously the most important marketers of the destination". They are both "an ethical responsibility and a possible resource of support for destination branding efforts".

DMOs' first task should thus be to identify residents' needs and enlist their support for brand development and implementation. Positive brand attitudes are important, but self-congruity is even more so. The researchers warn that "great care should be given to presenting community values in a way that coincides with residents' self-concept and sense of pride, as well as their local identity and self-esteem".

In turn, the researchers explain, this is "likely to transform residents into valuable marketing assets - brand ambassadors". Local authorities who carefully consider residents' input can more effectively rebrand and rejuvenate a destination for potential tourists. Indeed, travellers are increasingly looking to local people for authentic, unbiased experiences of destinations. These days, write the researchers, tourists "want to establish emotional contact with local residents and their culture, rather than merely consuming a destination through sightseeing".

The value of these findings lies not only in their practical implications for DMOs' branding strategies, but also in their guidance for harmonising the interests of tourism developers and local communities. Most previous research has focused on local people's resistance to tourism development, presenting branding authorities as inconsiderate or even hostile towards local communities. Instead, this study innovatively shows how to "access the possible economic benefits of residents' brand ambassadorial behaviour by understanding, respecting, and promoting local identity".

Hong Kong's branding authorities have already encouraged residents to market the World City brand, and offered a wide range of items for brand promotional use. In light of this study's findings, however, the next step may be to more closely connect Hong Kong's brand with the lives of its residents. In Hong Kong and beyond, branding that takes account of residents' needs and desires will help tourism destinations to distinguish themselves from their competitors and avoid homogeneity in an increasingly globalised world. Most importantly of all, it will enhance the sustainability of tourism by preserving communities' unique cultural heritage and natural landscapes into the future.

Philipp Wassler, Liang Wang and Kam Hung (2019). Identity and Destination Branding Among Residents: How Does Brand Self-Congruity Influence Brand Attitude and Ambassadorial Behavior? International Journal of Tourism Research, Vol. 21, Issue 4, pp. 437-446.

The Telegraph

Summer holidays abroad have been thrown into doubt after Portugal was axed from the green list because of a new Covid variant. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, suggested it could be mid-August before Europe caught up with Britain's levels of vaccination to enable travel restrictions to be lifted, raising fears of a second lost summer. Travel bosses reacted with fury to the axing of Portugal just two weeks after it was added to the quarantine-free green list, claiming ministers wanted to
Its before sunrise and Im doing some accounting while listening to conversations on Clubhouse. On the app, people can schedule and host audio chat rooms, or they can listen in the audience of someone elses room and ask to speak on the stage by raising their hand. Its the days following the Atlanta-area mass shooting, and were assembled in a #StopAsianHate room in solidarity and with empathy, acknowledging the rise in anti-Asian violence since the pandemic began. At peak times more than 1,000 people from around the globe are in this room, a testament to how rapidly Clubhouse is spreading. While its still invite- and iOS-only, tech incumbents are taking notice. Mark Zuckerberg has appeared on the app and is rumored to be developing a clone. Twitter has released its own Clubhouse-inspired voice-chatrooms feature called Spaces. People enjoy the way a real-time audio chat room gives their voice a platform. But as social media moves towards real-time voice, I worry that the millions of Americans who are like Joe Biden and Elon Musk will be silenced.

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More than 19 million Americans have a speech, language, or voice disorder, with about 3 million of those having a stutter. Most people who stutter begin doing so between the ages of 2 and 6, and 25 percent of them stutter for life. People who stutter can be mistaken as shy, nervous, or dishonest. They can be mocked, insulted, and even refused service. It is known to negatively affect employment.

I dont remember the first time my voice decided to revolt, but I internalized it at a young age. I remember elementary school. Were taking turns reading passages aloud from a book, but Im not paying any attention to the speaker. No, Im too busy counting the number of people ahead of me. Im busy finding the paragraph Ill have to die on. I understand every sentence and know every words pronunciation, but Im not going to sound like I do. There are landmines along each paragraphs lines. My peers stroll through their minefields unscathed. They dont even realize how lucky they are. Each person finishing their paragraph is the tick of a clock counting down to detonation. My heartbeat intensifies. We call this anxious feeling of impending doom anticipation. It is as much a part of being a stutterer as the actual stuttering.

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In middle school, sometimes my friends and I would hang out at the nearby library. Nobody had computers at home, so we surfed the web and played games on theirs. One day my friend showed me a website she made. It blew my mind. I didnt know that we could make webpages. I found a new voice. The digital world became a place I could say exactly what I want to say. I use the web to make meaningful contributions to our conversations.

My stutter became milder with age, but it never went away. Situations we take for granted can make it more pronounced. Near the end of high school I got my first flip phone, and my analog struggles began entering the digital world. I started feeling excommunicated when businesses began using automated phone systems. I sometimes stutter when I have to say specific words without substitution, which makes speaking to the robots impossible. Then came Siri and Alexa, which frustratingly misinterpret pauses in speech as the end of a command.

Now it enters social media. Voice assistants are nice-to-haves, but social media is practically unavoidable for many people. Almost half of the people on the planet use some form of social media. Situations such as speaking in front of a group or talking on the phone can be particularly difficult for people who stutter. As social media moves toward real-time-voice, people with speech impairments will be disenfranchised in that new normal.

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On the My Stuttering Life podcast, Pedro Pena recalls his first experience on Clubhouse. Pedro wants to ask one of his celebrity idols a question, but something happens: Let me tell you, as Im touching the hand icon to essentially raise my hand to ask a question, there was a physical change that I was experiencing. My heart was beating so hard, I was sweating, and I quickly un-raised my hand. Pedro has been podcasting for more than two years, but the prospect of stepping up on stage in that voice-chat room triggers the all-too familiar tension, variable heart rate, and anxiety that people who stutter experience. Ive had the same physical reactions. There have been situations where Ive put my hand down and stayed in the audience due to the anxiety.

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The sun still hasnt risen, and Im still in the audience of the #StopAsianHate Clubhouse room, when someone gets on stage to inflict pain on the community. He is swiftly booted from the stage. That may fly in most rooms, but not here. This is a safe space; a rare, inclusive room. Im wrapping up my accounting work when a man named Joze starts to speak. I do a double-take. Someone else with a stutter, on here? Finally. I listen intently. He begins by assuring everyone that nothing is wrong with their devices. It feels like a regular part of his introductions. He has a severe stutter and works his way through every word. He applauds the room for speaking up and using their voices. He mentions he avoided speaking for almost his entire life because of the stuttering. It was only three years ago when he found his own voice. He is completely fluent when he sings. With the rooms permission, he sings a song that illustrates the challenges we face and the necessity of speaking up. The audience is speechless. There is so much praise. He returns to his regular voice. Thank you. Im done stuttering, he jokes.

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What are the odds? asks the rooms moderator. Clubhouse is estimated to have up to 10 million users and is growing exponentially. After signing up, I listened for several hours a week, but it was 49 days before I heard a fellow human with a stutter step onto the stage. In his podcast episode, Pena mentions he was only able to find two other stutterers on Clubhouse after searching. The stage selects for fluency and eloquence. Like a bad date, people are uncomfortable with any silence. For stutterers, the performance anxiety can be a gag.

Rachelle Dooley is a founder of Deafinitely Inclusivity, a Clubhouse club that hosts talks about how to be more mindful of those with disabilities. In addition to impacting her speech, her hearing impairment poses additional difficulties on the app. Her speech-to-text translator makes it hard to tell who is speaking and doesnt always pick up every word. Unfortunately, she has been a victim of mockery and ridicule in some rooms.

Real-time voice chatroom platforms must make people with speech impairments feel welcome. If inclusivity remains an unsolved problem, then millions of people will be silenced.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Criminal proceedings open in Paris on Monday over the 2004 attack by two Ivorian warplanes against a French military base in Bouake, Cote d'Ivoire, killing nine French soldiers and an American civilian. More than 16 years later, the suspected pilots will be tried in absentia for murder, attempted murder and destruction of property.

"We know who are the killers and they're free," says Edwige Laliche, who lost his son in the attack, which also injured 38 people and resulted in the French army putting the Ivorian air force out of action.

None of the suspects will appear in the dock of the French court. Former Belarusian mercenary Yury Sushkin, a pilot of one of the Sukhoi aircraft has disappeared, and the two Ivorian co-pilots, Ange Magloire Gnanduillet Attualy and Patrice Ouei benefited from an amnesty law in 2007.

"They've destroyed me, destroyed my life," says Laliche, speaking to RFI's Laura Martel. "There's a case 16 years later and they're not there, that's maybe the hardest thing."

Unanswered questions

Families of the victims may find it hard to get any more closure from the legal proceedings in France given the absence of the accused.

There remains many unanswered questions about the attack on 6 November 2004, notably who ordered the raid on the French base hosting troops part of Operation Licorne, deployed during the Ivorian civil war.

Cote d'Ivoire was split in two at the time with forces loyal to former President Laurent Gbagbo in the south, and rebels supporting Guillaume Soro in the north, with a UN peacekeeping force and French troops stuck in the middle.

Victims of Bouake airstrikes still wait for justice, 15 years after

Despite a ceasefire signed in 2003 and against the advice of then-French President Jacques Chirac, Gbagbo launched an offensive to take back territory from the rebels, notably Bouake - the seat of the rebellion.

After having bombarded rebel positions from early morning to midday, the Ivorian Sukhoi fighter jets targeted the French base.

Ivorian authorities claimed the attack was not intentional, but the French government insisted it was deliberate.

However, the claim that the attack was in fact an error have been disputed by witnesses and details of the circumstances of the raid. So who did give the go ahead for the bombardment?

Several theories

"We have a simple explanation," says lawyer Lionel Bethune de Moro, saying that these were Ivorian planes, so it was therefore an Ivorian decision.

Yet further information on who gave the order is less clear, according to Bethune de Moro - "was it the head of state, the army chief - it's not so simple in a country in crisis split in two".

"But of course, what my clients want, above all, is the truth. Who authorised this attack?" the lawyer adds.

For those who believe the Ivorian authorities were responsible, the goal of the air attack was to cause France to reconsider its deployment in the West African country, withdraw its troops, as well as divert attention away from the difficulties Gbagbo encountered in retaking rebel territory.

The Togo connection

Nevertheless, this theory is somewhat complicated by a murky affair in Togo when 10 days after the attack Togolese authorities arrested eight Belarusians, which some believe could suggest French complicity.

The Belarusians nationals were suspected of being linked or in fact responsible for the bombardment in Bouake.

Despite being alerted, neither then-Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin, former Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, nor Michel Barnier, the ex-foreign affairs minister, followed up. The potential suspects were freed.

"The reality for me is extremely simple," says lawyer Jean Balan, acting for the majority of civil parties, describing how those in positions of power at the top of the French government were responsible for the Bouake attack.

"Look it's Gbagbo who attacked us, let's get rid of him," says Balan, outlining the argument that the attack was used as an excuse to remove Gbagbo.

Balan, who has worked on the case for past 16 years, claims responsibility must go to the upper echelons of French government, given that players such as Alliot-Marie or de Villepin could not stop the Belarusians slipping through their fingers, and therefore face French justice.

Ministers must answer

In February 2016, judge Sabine Kheris considered that "everything was orchestrated with the aim of making it impossible to arrest, question or judge the Belarusian authors of the attack".

She said the decision to do nothing about the pilots arrested in Togo was taken in concert by the interior ministry, defence ministry and ministry of foreign affairs.

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Kheris referred the case to the Law Court of the Republic, the only court able to judge government ministers on decisions taken during their time in office.

On 17 May 2019, the case filed with the court was dismissed and it was decided that the three former ministers would not be forced to give testimony.

It was decided that the "inaction" of these ex-ministers was not sufficient enough to force them to appear before court, and the suspicions that they had somehow interfered did not hold water.

The three ministers are, nevertheless, expected to appear as witnesses in the trial that opens this week.

Their testimonies is highly anticipated, even for those who do not believe in the theory of some sort of French conspiracy in the Bouake bombing.

"Having arrested the pilots, mercenaries, and then released them, it's still incredible," says Jean-Paul Roko, a former soldier who was at the base during the attack, questioning why they did not given the green light to have them transferred to France.

"If there are any military secrets, you have to give them up, we want answers," he adds.
You cultivate this deep bond, but still, your bird could always fly away, says Lauren McGough, 34, a licensed and permitted falconer, who rehabilitates eagles from her home in the suburbs of Oklahoma City. Eagles come together to mate and nest, but most of the time they are solitary and self-sufficient. Unlike humans, eagles arent social animals attuned to hierarchies, or to the push and pull of cooperative living. They have no desire to please you, McGough says. You are evolutionarily primed to need love and acceptance. An eagle longs for very different things: She needs to soar thousands of feet above the ground on a rising column of warm air, and when she comes down she wants to rip open the bloody innards of a jack rabbit with her talons.

Its up to you to convince this wild animal that staying with you is worth it, McGough says. Such persuasion begins with raw meat. When a bird is new to you, place meat inside its enclosure. Eventually, youll put the bit of flesh on your glove, and the eagle will willingly hop up on it to eat. Thats when you know youve got them, says McGough, who has worked with a dozen different birds and apprenticed under a Mongolian eagle master. She currently has two birds: a golden eagle named Vega, who suffered from lead poisoning and will be released back into the wild, and a Verreauxs eagle, who is part of a captive breeding program.

Every eagle has a different personality. Work toward mutual trust and respect. Stay attuned to the birds body language. They might give you the side eye, says McGough, which you should take as a warning and possible prelude to aggression. Be patient. Be gentle. Dont get angry, even if the bird claws you. The thing that will cement your bond is hunting together. McGough takes her dog and eagles into open spaces where she knows there will be thermal updrafts and wild hares. Sometimes her eagles fly so high the only thing she can see is a dark spot against the sky. All you can do is hope that youve made yourself useful and trustworthy enough to this wild predator that it will return to you. To befriend an eagle, you have to know your place. In the end, McGough says, Youre just a lowly human trapped on the ground.
As the nation slouches toward outright legalization and taxation, here's the Sunflower State showing up late to a party that has already started and the only real growth industry in the Midwest.



Read more . . .
Oil prices fell on Tuesday as the Suez Canal was cleared and concerns about global bottlenecks eased. Traders are now focused on the upcoming OPEC+ meeting, which most observers believe will result in an extension of cuts, and the impact of Covid-19 on oil demand in Europe.

Chart of the Week

- Annual spending by U.S. utilities on transmission has increased from $9.1 billion in 2000 to $40 billion in 2019.

- The increase includes both new investment and an increase in opex costs.

- One example: In 2020, Minnesota Power connected a 224-mile, 500-kV transmission line to bring Canadian hydropower to the U.S.

- Another example: PG&E and SCE spent more than $1 billion in 2019 on new transmission infrastructure, mostly related to wildfire mitigation.

Market Movers

- Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is the leading contender to purchase the 145,000-bpd Puget Sound refinery in Washington State from Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A).

- Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) said its first-quarter production would decline by 8% due to the Texas freeze.

- Vine Energy (NYSE: VEI) announced a bond sale to raise $950 million in senior unsecured notes due in 2029. Vine Energy recently launched an IPO and raised less money than it had hoped.

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

OPEC+ poised to extend cuts. Saudi Arabia wants OPEC+ cuts extended through June. Russia, the leader of the non-OPEC group in OPEC+, favors a rollover of the alliance's oil production cuts while seeking a slight increase for itself to meet higher seasonal demand.

Total evacuates staff from Mozambique. Total (NYSE: TOT) and other international contractors evacuated some staff from Mozambique over the weekend as insurgents advanced to the coastal town of Palma, a hub for the countrys nascent LNG industry. Totals $20 billion project is the largest foreign investment on the African continent but now appears to be at grave risk.

Iran and China sign an economic and security agreement. Iran and China signed a wide-ranging economic and security agreement, billed as a strategic partnership that will last 25 years. Details remain sparse, but the move likely paves the way for more Chinese investment in Irans oil sector and also open up more room for exports. The WSJ also says that the two countries could set up a joint bank that would help Iran evade U.S. sanctions. Reuters reports that Iranian oil exports are expected to continue to rise in March.

Sinopec to ramp up hydrogen investment. Sinopec, the largest oil refiner in Asia, announced plans to shift towards carbon neutrality by 2050, a plan that leans heavily on hydrogen.

Abu Dhabi debuts Murban contract. Abu Dhabi allowed trading in its futures contract, Murban, on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). The move is aimed at bolstering the emirate as an international oil trading hub.

Biden invites China and Russia to climate summit. President Joe Biden is including rivals Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China among the invitees to the first big climate talks of his administration, according to the AP. The event will be held virtually April 22 and 23. Related: Is Natural Gas Still A Safe Bet For Oil Majors?

Exxon and Chevron cautious on shale drilling. ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) and Chevron (NYSE: CVX) have dramatically scaled back drilling in the Permian compared to a year ago. According to Rystad, the two majors accounted for 28% of Permian drilling activity in the spring of 2020, a share that is now down to less than 5%. We essentially hit a pause button, said Chevron Chief Financial Officer Pierre Breber, according to Reuters.

Will U.S. shale exploration surge? Cheap financing and higher crude oil prices could kick off another round of drilling in U.S. shale, despite promises to exercise restraint.

Questions on Shells bet on LNG. The Wall Street Journal reports that massive billion-dollar bets on LNG appear riskier as the energy transition gains momentum. Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) spent over $50 billion to purchase BG Group in 2015, a large wager on the future of LNG. But the gas era could be short-lived as countries leap frog to renewables. Shell has written down gas assets and lowered its forecast for demand growth.

Shell links executive pay to climate. Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) has proposed linking directors pay more closely to its climate performance, while also severing the link between LNG production.

Vanguard and BlackRock make net-zero emissions plans. BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) and Vanguard Group are among 43 investment firms managing more than $22 trillion in assets that are joining Net Zero Asset Managers initiative.

Natural gas prices are stuck. The U.S. natural gas benchmark is set for several months of below $3 MMBtu price analysts and EIA forecasters say. The agency cited declining demand for heating in the spring along with rising American dry natural gas production.

New Mexico adopts flaring regulations. New Mexico regulators adopted new regulations that end routine flaring from Permian drillers. They can still flare in the event of an emergency, but no longer simply as a fact of doing business. Related: Oil Markets Already Priced In An OPEC+ Output Cut Extension

Biden announces offshore wind push. The White House announced Monday an ambitious plan to expand wind farms along the East Coast and jumpstart the countrys nascent offshore wind industry. The Biden administration is targeting 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030.

Biden infrastructure plan to include orphan wells. One aspect of President Bidens forthcoming $3-$4 trillion infrastructure proposal (to be unveiled Wednesday) is a big push to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells.

EIA: Battery boom on U.S. grid. The EIA laid out a long-term forecast for energy storage in the U.S., and in its reference case, the U.S. sees 59 GW of battery storage by 2050, a figure that could be much higher if renewables accelerate.

Aramco resists dividend cut. Despite a 44 percent drop in its 2020 profits, the Saudi Arabian government has instructed majority-state-owned Saudi Aramco to stick to the US$75 billion per year dividend payout for shareholders that it pledged at the time of its IPO.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As Clevelanders have stayed home during the pandemic, theyve been thinking more about their living space.

Some have seen the need for a home office. Others have wanted to update their kitchens and bathrooms, and some have even had complete first-floor renovations. Basements have been refurbished, too.

Theyve realized that their house doesnt fit their needs anymore because if theyre going to stay at home and work from home, they realized they need different spaces, said Mike Kandra, president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland. Or they just got tired of looking at their house and finally saying Hey, if were staying here we need to change out cabinets, we need to update our bathrooms, we need to update our flooring, we need to paint our house, so forth.

The home remodeling industry has boomed during the pandemic. Part of the reason for that, though, is because the housing market is so tight.

A homeowner may want to build a new house, but theres currently a lack of inventory of developed lots to construct one, Kandra said. Kandra, who also is the president of Edgewood Homes, said that means some families are then forced to remodel, particularly if they live in a nice neighborhood with a good school district.

And then the other thing too is the price of houses has gotten pretty damn high, Kandra said. It becomes a little bit more cost effective for people to just remodel their house versus trying to build one from scratch.

The median price for a new home in the suburbs is at least $550,000, Kandra said. On top of that, the price of lumber was up 188% as of the week of March 11. With lumber prices very high, that impacts home building, but not quite as much for home remodeling because lumber isnt as needed, said Otero Signature Homes president Ted Otero.

The new construction is difficult because of the availability of land and the cost of land, as well as lumber, Otero said. So remodel is a great option. If youre in a decent house with decent bones in a nice neighborhood in a good school district, then it makes a lot more sense to remodel the home than to build.

Cleveland.com spoke with several home remodeling and construction businesses to learn how much theyve seen an uptick in clients. Some have seen a rise in business, but others havent experienced much of a difference.

Harmoni Designs + Build

The work-from-home lifestyle is turning into a long-term situation for some folks.

And its become so much of a reality that people are wanting bigger, more workable home offices, said Martin Johannessen, president and director of Harmoni Designs + Build.

Were coming up with all kinds of creative ways to make actual home offices that people can use not just during the pandemic, but a lot of people are actually planning on continuing to work from home long after the pandemic, Johannessen said.

A picture of part of a home office, sitting above a new garage, that was constructed by Harmoni Designs + Build. The home office is enough space for two to work, and it also has a shared workout area. (Harmoni Designs + Build)

Johannessen runs Harmoni Designs + Build out of Cleveland Heights with his wife, Diana, the companys chief operating officer. Johannessen said some people are adding offices on top of garages. One office he has recently constructed has enough space for two people to work, plus a shared workout area.

Home offices have been Harmonis most common renovation during the pandemic, Johannessen said. The offices range from 300-500 square feet, much larger than in past years.

In the past, it may have been like 50 square feet, he said. Just a little area somewhere, an old closet or whatever it might be. Or an old spare small bedroom, something like that.

Clients want a good space to work in full time, so they are willing to put money into an office. The price is hard to say, though, because theyre typically part of an addition such as a full garage. A project he did last year, which included a garage, was $150,000. The home office portion was probably $80,000-$100,000.

With Harmonis revenue up over 40% for 2020 over 2019, Johannessen hopes the boom can last.

We get a lot of referral business because we have a lot of happy clients, Johannessen said. We try to do higher end work and more quality service, so we tend to get a lot of referrals, so we expect it to continue to grow for years to come.

New Beginnings Home Renovation & Property Management

Business has been slower for Patrick Powell during the pandemic, but work is still available.

Powell has owned New Beginnings Home Renovation & Property Management since 2018. Powell said clients havent looked to do huge upgrades, but hes recently received requests for bigger jobs such as kitchen and bathroom remodels.

Powell said those clients have been wanting to do kitchen and bathroom renovations but held off because of the pandemic, leery of having people in their homes.

So now its easing up and its not as much of a biggest threat like it was in the beginning, so now theyre ready to move forward with their projects, Powell said.

Working on both the East and West side of Cleveland, Powell receives a nice share of his jobs through referrals and gets good feedback from his clients. Going forward, hes not sure how long the home remodeling boom will last.

I have a lot of referrals, so you cant really put a time to that, Powell said. Now it can start off being one or two (projects) and next month it can be four or five that came in. Four or five projects could open just from the one because I post a lot of pictures onto the (website) page.

Odell Construction

During the first part of the pandemic, Odell Construction didnt have many projects going. Clients had pushed projects off because of concerns of having people in their homes.

But since last summer, business hasnt slowed down, said Jenna Raus, Odell Constructions business development manager. Operating out of Westlake, Odell Construction has worked on building home offices, renovating kitchens and remodeling bathrooms. People want to make sure they get what they need, Raus said.

Its the pain point for people, so a pain point of having the need for more space becomes a priority versus budget because of how theyre experiencing life at the moment, Raus said.

Odell Constructions boom in business has also included a rise in new clients. Raus said the company has had an increase in leads, or requests for new projects, from new clients.

I would say were probably 25% over what we would have expected for leads, Raus said.

Otero Signature Homes

Revenue for 2020 over 2019 stayed relatively stagnant for Otero Signature Homes, but 2021 is looking like it will be a bounce back year with increased demand, said president Ted Otero.

Otero, based in Chagrin Falls, does home remodeling, home construction and home design. Otero said the remodeling market has been strong as the company has worked on creating multiple home offices and workstations for children to do online learning.

Kitchen remodels are very important right now, Otero said. Were still doing a lot of exterior living environments, covered porches and so forth. Ways that the family can spread out a little bit more.

Otero said the company has also worked on creating dual laundry rooms, one on the first floor and one on the second floor.

Though Otero didnt have a revenue increase in 2020, this year has showed signs of promise because some of last years projects that got pushed aside have returned.

Theyre more certain about which direction were heading, the worlds not coming to an end, Otero said.

Payne & Payne Renovations & Design

Last March, Payne & Payne Renovations & Design had about a quarter of its year paused or canceled within the two weeks of the state shutdown, said co-owner Dean Tompkins.

But when the early summer rolled around, clients were willing to complete projects and Payne & Payne had more leads than before. Some of the companys most common renovations have been kitchens and bathrooms.

It seems like everybody now that theyve been cooped up in their space has realized the projects theyve been putting off, its time to do em, Tompkins said. I think theres been a pent-up renovations need for a while. Cleveland has older housing stock and just kind of a perfect storm of people being in their houses more and still having some cash to do it and move forward on it.

As the boom goes on, Tompkins said its hard to say how long it will continue. He said he prefers to have smaller, steadier growth because its easier to manage and make sure clients are connected with.

Its a great problem to have, Tompkins said. Its just you dont want to let anybody down and not return a phone call. Like were even looking to hire somebody right now just to take incoming calls.

Perrino Builders & Remodeling

Pat Perrino doesnt see the home remodeling and home buying market letting up any time soon.

With a shortage in housing and people moving to Cleveland because of lesser traffic and a lower cost of living, the market should look to remain vibrant. According to a 2020 U-Haul study, Ohio ranked fourth for Americans making one-way trips, right behind Tennessee, Texas and Florida.

I think this remote thing is huge because you can work from anywhere, said Perrino, owner of Perrino Builders & Remodeling. So were seeing a lot of people come from California, from New York from Chicago that can work remotely and that are picking Cleveland.

Perrino noted Clevelands quality healthcare and schools as potential reasons for people wanting to move to the city.

I mean why would you want to be in New York City, pay $4,000 for a 1,200 square foot apartment? Perrino said. Six hundred square foot apartment actually is probably more like it. Or California and deal with everything thats going on over there and the high costs of living.

Perrinos company is based in Chesterland, and focuses on large scale renovations, including first floor and kitchen remodels. They also do additions. A typical first floor renovation usually takes three-four months, and an addition takes six-eight months.

Theyre putting on bigger kitchens, theyre putting on bedrooms, theyre putting on bathrooms, family room, Perrino said of his clients. Increasing the size of the family room, and then redirecting their spaces.

The company has continued to ride its growth, as its revenue doubled for 2020 over 2019, Perrino said. Perrino said his company is currently working on around 10 projects.

Im like a yo-yo, its just really busy, which is great, Perrino said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Lisa Stockman-Mauriellos heartbreaking story began when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of an incurable neurological disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Then it took an even more agonizing turn.

The mother of three soon learned that her diagnosis came just weeks after enrollment closed for a placebo-controlled study of a promising drug  tofersen  that could potentially extend her life.

HOPE FOR A DRUG

Requests to receive the drug on an emergency basis were repeatedly denied by its manufacturer, American biotechnology company Biogen, whose spokesmen said ethics determined the decision. Now, her family and close to 100 supporters are engaged in a crusade to change minds, help her acquire it  and live to witness a precious few more of a mothers most cherished life experiences.

I want to survive long enough to be here for three milestones: to see my oldest son, Scott, graduate from college in May, my youngest, Dean, graduate from the 8th grade, and my middle son, Luke, leave for college in September,' Stockman-Mauriello says on her change.org page, which has garnered more than 99,000 signatures. We believe tofersen gives us that hope.

Additionally, a rally, organized by her brother-in-law, Brian Farley of West Brighton, was held Tuesday in front of Biogens corporate offices in Cambridge, Mass., in an effort to get top executives to change their mind.

Stockman-Mauriello, 51, has the bulbar form of ALS, which strikes first at speech and swallowing, and triggers far faster deterioration.

After battling the fatal disease for only a few months, speaking is now a struggle for Stockman-Mauriello, a Summit, N.J., resident. A feeding tube is required for eating, she uses a ventilator at night to sleep and she has also lost some mobility in her arms and legs.

Her supporters, including her husband, Grasmere native Bob Mauriello, and her physician, Dr. Neil Shneider, a neurologist and director of the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center at Columbia University, said they believe shes a perfect candidate for the drug, and petitioned Biogen unsuccessfully on her behalf.

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT

The outpouring from folks has been overwhelming,' said Mauriello, whose father, Louis J. Mauriello, lives in Grasmere. Weve been blessed.'

Tofersen is an artificial piece of DNA designed to slow the pace of ALS and is now in phase 3 of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the last before application for FDA approval. Tofersen has shown signs of promise, according to Massachusetts General Hospital.

Biogen, in a statement provided to the Advance/SILive.com, said company executives consulted with ethicists to discuss Stockton-Mauriellos request, and concluded that it could not ethically offer the drug to patients outside of the study while other ALS patients participating in the study are agreeing to possibly receive a placebo.

Providing individual access to tofersen at this time could jeopardize access to tofersen for hundreds of SOD1-ALS patients by impeding our ability to complete the study and seek subsequent regulatory approvals, Biogens statement said. If we offered the certainty of access to tofersen to patients outside of our study, we could not in good faith ask patients in our study to continue to receive placebo, without offering them the same opportunity for access to tofersen.

Though initially the family was seeking access to the drug outside the study, Mauriello said that now theyd be happy if his wife could be allowed to join the study.

DESPERATE FOR A CHANCE

Even if they open up the study to include her, she may still get the placebo, but shed rather have the chance than not even have a shot,' Mauriello said. Shes not interested in delaying it for others. She just wants the same opportunity she would have had if shed been diagnosed a week or two earlier.'

The company has not responded to questions regarding the possibility of expanding the study to include more patients.

Mauriello said his family holds no ill will toward Biogen, and has the utmost respect for the scientists who are honestly looking for a solution.'

This isnt a Disney movie where theres a clear villain, he said. We understand their side of it and appreciate all of the work theyve done. We just want her to have a chance.

Mauriello said his wife would be more than happy to participate in the clinical trial, knowing theres a chance shed be given the placebo, noting that she and he both participated in the Pfizer coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine trial.

He said hes sure his wife would have been included in the trial if shed been diagnosed sooner.
Judge lifts worship restrictions on DC churches in time for Holy Week services

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Churches in Washington, D.C. can hold in-person services without being limited to 25% capacity or 250 people after a federal judge lifted the city's coronavirus restrictions on houses of worship.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowsers approach to regulating houses of worship, which allowed churches to host only up to 250 people or 25% of the buildings maximum capacity, whichever was less, reflects a lack of adequate consideration for constitutional rights, Judge Trevor N. McFadden ruled late last week.

McFaddens ruling raises the capacity limit in churches to 40%, and churches must adhere to social distancing guidelines.

McFadden, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in 2017, ruled that the citys capacity restrictions discriminate against houses of worship. The judge pointed out that the city has allowed residents to buy alcohol or get restaurant takeout as essential services, but that label was not extended to churches.

Yet, after the Districts repeal of the same limit on [f]ood sellers and big box stores selling a range of essential and non-essential goods, those entities are subject to no maximum-capacity limitations, the judge wrote in his opinion.

They need only limit occupancy to the extent necessary for safety and make plans that provide for safe social distancing between persons. So while a synagogue or church may not admit more than [25 percent capacity or 250] persons, more favored businesses may admit as many people as they wish.

The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed against the city by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington seeking an injunction ahead of Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday.

In practical terms, this means that the Archdioceses churches must stop admitting parishioners once they become a quarter full, but Whole Foods or Target can take in as many customers as they wish while complying with social-distancing requirements, the judge stated.

[T]he Districts 25 percent and 250-person restrictions would not apply to its churches if they hawked wares instead of proclaimed the Gospel, he added.

The city argued that the difference between its restrictions and one allowing churches to operate at 30% to 40% capacity is minimal. However, McFadden argued that the citys rules would force the Cathedral of St. Matthew to turn away anywhere from 50 to 150 parishioners that it could otherwise seat if the capacity limit were higher.

And the Archdiocese says that the 250-person limit requires the Basilica to turn away approximately 750 worshippers that it could otherwise hold under its own protocols, the judge wrote. Anyone who has attended or performed in a concert knows instinctively that a largely empty hall and full house provide two very different experiences.

According to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, D.C. joins 37 states that have no numerical or percentage caps on attendance at houses of worship.

D.C. houses of worship are now free of arbitrary numerical limits and may welcome as many worshippers as can safely attend wearing masks and social distancing," the legal nonprofit tweeted.

D.C.s restrictions unfairly singled out worship services and mandated arbitrary numerical attendance caps regardless of building capacity. All other states have loosened their restrictions on in-person worship but it seems that D.C. never got the memo.

The Liberty Counsel, a conservative religious freedom legal nonprofit, also praised the judges ruling.

Judge Trevor McFadden clearly acknowledges that the First Amendment does not disappear because of Coronavirus, Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said in a statement. Mayor Muriel Bowser has clearly discriminated against every church in D.C. while participating in a mass gathering of protestors with no limitations. This unequal treatment of churches is unconstitutional. We will continue the fight until religious freedom is totally restored.

Last October, McFadden ruled in favor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church by striking down Bowsers restrictions on outdoor church services of more than 100 people as a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The ruling allowed the church to resume in-person outdoor services.

It is for the church, not the District or this court, to define for itself the meaning of not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, McFadden wrote in the ruling, citing Hebrews.

Bowser introduced rules limiting in-person services to 250 people or 25% of the buildings maximum capacity before Christmas. Bowsers previous coronavirus order said worship services could not have more than 50 people even if a churchs capacity were 10,000.

Bowser at the time called on Christians to celebrate Christmas virtually.

I have great faith in D.C. Catholics. Im one of them, she said at a press conference at the time. This year is not the year to pack churches full of people.

In February, a federal court permanently blocked even stricter restrictions placed on houses of worship in New York after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction last November.

The guidelines applied to all houses of worship listed in red and orange zones throughout the state. In red zones, churches were subject to a 25% maximum occupancy or a maximum of 10 people. In orange zones, places of worship were subject to a limit of 33% occupancy or 25 people, whichever is fewer.
A dad has shared his simple and delicious recipe for breaded chicken strips, and claims they are 'honestly nicer than KFC'.

The Australian man, called Michael, posted on Facebook, where he revealed exactly how he made them with the help of a Kmart air fryer, CC's chips, chicken breasts and mayonnaise.

'To make my chicken strips, you need the Kmart seven litre air fryer and any type of chips you like,' Michael posted.

'I used nacho cheese and original flavour, but chill works a treat too.'

A dad has shared his simple and delicious recipe for breaded chicken strips, and claims they are 'honestly nicer than KFC' (the finished result pictured)

The Australian man, called Michael, posted on Facebook, where he revealed how he made them with the help of a Kmart air fryer, CC's chips, chicken breasts and mayonnaise (pictured)

To make the strips, Michael said you need to crush the chips to your desired size and slice your pieces of chicken breast into bite-size chunks.

Then, mix the crushed chips with mayonnaise and dip the strips of chicken into the crushed chips until they are coated.

'Cook the strips for 12 minutes on 180 degrees Celsius, turning half way,' he said.

'They are honestly nicer than KFC's strips and the prep time is around five minutes.

'My secret tip is don't overcook the chicken for a succulent taste.'

To make the strips, Michael said you simply need to crush the chips to your desired size before mixing it together with the mayonnaise (the chips pictured after being crushed)

'To make my chicken strips, you need the Kmart seven litre air fryer and any type of chips you like,' Michael posted, adding he used nacho cheese and original (pictured)

Hundreds who saw the simple recipe said they would definitely try it at home, and the strips are the 'perfect snack for with the footy'.

'I usually use rice crispies, but will have to give this a go,' one person commented.

'You beautiful thing, I love this,' another added.

A third wrote: 'This is great for parmi too, just add salsa and cheese'.

Hundreds who saw the simple recipe said they would definitely try it at home, and the strips are the 'perfect snack for with the footy' (pictured cooking in the air fryer)

How to make the KFC chicken strips at home INGREDIENTS Chicken breasts Mayonnaise CC's chips in any flavour (Michael used nacho and original), crushed METHOD 1. Crush the chips in a bowl and slice the chicken into strips. 2. Mix the crushed chips with mayonnaise. 3. Dip the chicken strips into the mayonnaise and chip mixture. 4. Cook the strips for 12 minutes on 180 degrees Celsius, turning half way. 5. Serve hot with extra sauce for dipping if required. Source: Facebook Advertisement

Previously, a home cook wowed social media users with her recipe for KFC's chicken drumsticks (pictured)

Previously, a home cook wowed social media users with her recipe for KFC's chicken drumsticks.

Ernestina Agyei, 30, from London, revealed she mixes flour and spices before deep frying in oil to make the delicious chicken treat at home.

After posting the recipe online, KFC dubbed the dish 'exquisite' and praised the marketing manager's version of their famous dish, giving her a score of 9/10.
DUBAI, March 30 (Reuters) - Iran will not stop its 20% uranium enrichment before the United States lifts all sanctions, Iranian state TV quoted an unnamed official as saying on Tuesday in reaction to a U.S. media report that Washington would offer a new proposal to jump-start talks.

The Biden administration has been seeking to engage Iran in talks about both sides resuming compliance with the deal, under which economic sanctions on Tehran were removed in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear programme to make it harder to develop a nuclear weapon - an ambition Tehran denies.

"A senior Iranian official tells Press TV that Tehran will stop its 20-percent uranium enrichment only if the U.S. lifts ALL its sanctions on Iran first," state-run Press TV said on its website.

"The official said Tehran will further reduce its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal if the U.S. does not lift all sanctions, warning that Washington is rapidly running out of time," it added.

Politico said a U.S. proposal, the details of which it said are still being worked out, would ask Iran to halt some of its nuclear activities, such as work on advanced centrifuges and the enrichment of uranium to 20% purity, in exchange for some relief from U.S. economic sanctions.

U.S. President Joe Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed U.S. sanctions, prompting Iran, after waiting more than a year, to violate some of the pact's nuclear restrictions in retaliation.

The odds any progress to revive the deal before Iran holds a presidential election in June have dwindled after Tehran opted to take a tougher stance before returning to talks, officials have said. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
AS Covid-19 deaths show little sign of abating, good news has come to Trinidad and Tobago of a vaccine gift from the United States.

According to Shante Moore, Charge dAffaires at the US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago, this gift comes with no hidden conditions and imposing conditions as other countries are doing.
Millions of Americans are already waiting for their third stimulus payment, and talk for a fourth stimulus check is rampant.

Will there be a fourth stimulus check?

Although cases are on the rise in the United States and the pandemic-ravaged economy is not yet recovering, Americans have been told not to rely on another payment. Searches for the word "fourth stimulus check" have risen in recent weeks, based on Google Trends.

Over 60 members of Congress are urging President Biden to endorse a fourth stimulus plan, claiming that many Americans are already suffering a year after the COVID-19 crisis began. However, experts expecting a recovery in the wake of President Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill say the chances of a fourth stimulus check are still uncertain and doubtful, as per The Sun.

The Biden administration is focused on the $1,400 direct payments provided in the American Rescue Plan, as well as measures to raise tax credits, unemployment benefits, and small businesses. Two massive steps in the works but do not include new stimulus checks.

Biden Administration Works on Unified Vaccine Passport, Critics Call It 'Un-American'

On Wednesday, Biden will talk about an investment plan in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and lawmakers expect a resolution on child care and education in April. Democratic representatives of Congress and senators have signed letters asking the Biden administration to support regular stimulus checks to help Americans reach basic needs as long as the coronavirus threat continues.

While it doesn't provide a monetary figure for ongoing payments, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar suggested in January that the government allocate $2,000 per month to help people get through the pandemic. The senators wrote in their letter that the crisis is far from over, "and families deserve assurance that they will put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads," according to Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden and Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders.

After assessing Biden's proposal, policymakers are likely to revisit another round of pandemic-related stimulus checks once expanded unemployment benefits expire in September. However, analysts believe the administration's focus has turned to longer-term objectives, with Biden and other progressives looking to seize a generational opportunity to reform the economy and revitalize the labor force.

"These packages will be planned to solve long-term economic challenges such as infrastructure, climate change, and unequal income and wealth distribution," Moody's chief economist Mark Zandi told Fortune.

Joe Biden May Regret Passing the $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Bill, Realizes It Could Be Useful for Other Priorities

Biden's next recovery plan doesn't include stimulus checks

According to a report focused on how the first $1,200 stimulus checks were used last year, many Americans have used their boost checks for groceries, rent, and other basic needs. The money has also gone toward saving and spending, the BLS revealed.

Following an increase in demand after the pandemic, some individuals may have turned to low-cost life insurance. In the new stimulus round, the Internal Revenue Service has already issued 127 million checks, with millions more on the way in the coming weeks.

Last year, the Trump administration released rounds of $1,200 and $600 checks, totaling $325 billion. Republicans, on the other hand, criticized the third round of stimulus checks as being too costly and unnecessary, and moderate Democrats could feel the same way about any potential payments.

They insisted that the stimulus checks be "targeted" against the poorest Americans in the third round. According to The New York Times, Biden's next recovery plans could cost between $3 trillion and $4 trillion.

The president plans to spend billions on rebuilding roads, bridges, and modern renewable infrastructure, both of which he hopes would produce opportunities and child care and education, such as universal preschool and free community college. Democrats may win bipartisan support for an infrastructure plan, but they'll have a more challenging time injecting more money into the economy and Americans' pockets, particularly before the current unemployment benefits expire in September.

Biden Administration Eyes Vehicle Mileage Tax To Fund Infrastructure Plan

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 16:13:35|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will attend the 9th Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process ministerial conference on Tuesday in Dushanbe, th capital of Tajikistan, officials said

Jaishankar arrived in Dushanbe on Monday on a three-day visit.

"External affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be participating in the 9th ministerial conference of Heart of Asia -Istanbul Process on Afghanistan today in Dushanbe," Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

Ahead of the conference, Jaishankar called on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday and said they shared their perspectives on the peace process during the meeting.

Meanwhile, the highly-anticipated meeting between Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers has not been scheduled so far.

Ahead of leaving for the conference, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was quoted by a local daily as saying "no meeting has been finalised or requested" between the two.

The two countries last month agreed to uphold the 2003 cease-fire agreement and recently held a meeting on Indus water sharing after a gap of two years.

The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process was founded in 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey, to provide a platform for regional cooperation by placing Afghanistan at its center, in recognition of the fact that a secure and stable Afghansitan is vital to the prosperity of the Heart of Asian region.

Organisers say the conference represents the collective will of the participating countries to engage in sincere, result-oriented cooperation and channelise efforts for overall improvement of the situation in Afghanistan. Enditem
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

A group of detectives commissioned with tracking and monitoring dirty money reportedly investigated 12 cases last year before referring them to the Public Prosecution, it was revealed. According to the annual report issued by the Financial Investigation unit at the Ministry of Interior, which also uncovered that six illegal offshore money transfers, were documented and referred to the Public Prosecution.

Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director of the Financial Investigation Unit, said in the report that the crimes of money laundering, terrorist financing and illegal cross-border transfer activities are a result of the continued development of society, and we can call them modern-day crimes. She explained that the impact of these crimes goes beyond individuals, as they have a detrimental cluster effect on the societies of these individuals and their national interests.

In its 2019 report, the unit had monitored two cases of money laundering and 15 cases related to non-disclosure of cash at the border outlets. The report also documented nine cases of terrorist financing during 2019.
(Updated): For many Western Christians, an enduring memory of the pandemic will be the division it exposed in local churches as believers found themselves on opposite sides over Sunday service reopenings, mask policies, and vaccinations.

Thats not the picture Johnrose Austin Jayalal, president of the Indian Medical Association, paints of the Indian church. The Christian doctor has observed churches supporting members suffering from poverty, church hospitals serving the community at large, and fellow Christian physicians volunteering to serve in some of the places hardest hit by the coronavirus.

I am able to see, even amid persecution, even amid difficulties, even amid the control by the government, even among the restrictions we face in openly proclaiming the message of love, by various means and ways, God Almighty is present, he told CT.

India has reported 11.9 million cases of COVID-19 and 161,000 official deaths (compared to the US reporting 30.2 million cases and almost 550,000 official deaths), while only 58 million people (4.2% of the population) have received at least their first vaccine dose.

Jayalal recently spoke with Christianity Today about the pandemics silver linings for Indian Christians and what Western Christians can learn; tensions with the government over modern and alternative medicine; and how his faith has affected his leadership of one of his nations largest professional councils of health care workers.

What has the pandemic looked like in India?

The majority of people who got sick were from the middle or top socioeconomic statuses. The people on the lower levelyes, it was a problem, but most of the time its really the churches who were taking care of them. Because the churches were able to actively support the congregations, these people somehow managed. With the grace of God Almighty, I think that the crisis has now turned over. The mortality is also less among the people from the low socioeconomic status. People here have already been exposed to various kinds of other diseases, and their immunity was built up.

How has the church cared for people during this time?

This was during lockdown, so the churches were closed for six or seven months. Church leadership identified the families that needed support and offered financial and material support and counselling to the church members who were below the poverty line.

Only in the last two or three months have churches begun to meet. There are restrictions, but they can meet with less people. For instance, instead of one service, now we are having two services.

How did people worship during those months that churches were closed?

The congregational churches and independent churches were doing two things: social media and mass media support. Two main groups, Jesus Calls and Jesus Redeems, were systematically conducting services at particular times. In fact, people were able to spend a lot of time on religious activities.

I personally think that during this time, people have prayed and worshiped more than ever. People have also been able to spend their time with their family. We have seen how much time people will spend in front of the televisions and in front of the computers. But during the pandemic, families have come together, listening to the Word and participating in the prayers. That is a very good thing to happen.

I feel personally it was not a time of real difficulty for the Christians at that moment. We were able to worship and carry on our special assignments and duties. The only thing we were not able to do was meet as a congregation.

A Delhi megachurch pastor predicted in CT last year that the pandemic lockdowns would spur revival because Indian churches were turning unity efforts that started from persecution into service to community that extended beyond their church buildings on Sundays.

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That was exactly true. Many times, people had put their faith in materialistic things. But through the pandemic, they were really able to realize that our protection is only through the grace of God Almighty. We have seen members of parliament and ministers of the states succumbing to the disease. Whatever amount of money or power they had, it wasnt enough to protect them.

Its only the grace of God Almighty that helps us to get over the crisis and stay safe, and it was his grace that protected us. Through night-time prayers, family prayers, Christians began shifting from the materialistic things to the blessings in heaven. They began to concentrate more on that.

How have Christians helped others, whether its the Hindu population or the Muslim population, during the pandemic?

Not all doctors were willing to come forward and serve in the ICUs or areas where the most casualties were coming from. Many committed doctors did come and serve in those areas and helped.

Most church hospitals dont just serve Christians. They serve anyone from a low socioeconomic status. In the small, local areas, Christians offered health care not only for the members of the congregation but also to the other downtrodden people in the area, including in tribal and rural areas.

What do you make of the disparity between the West and India with regard to the severity of COVID-19?

The UK and the US technologically are advanced countries. But the number of people getting infected and the number of people dying is very high. India has certain limitations in different parts of the country, but we have been affected far less than the US. There are various reasons for that.

In India, we are exposed to so many types of bacteria, and so our immunity has been built up. Our people who live in rural areas are exposed to all types of unsanitized water and environmental problems. But most of the time in the UK and US, you are not exposed to those kinds of bacteria and viruses. You have a protected environment, and the resistance power is less with you. So when you are exposed to it, you are more likely to succumb to it.

You also have a very fragmented medical system. If someone wants to give some medicine to you, it is very difficult. But here in India it is very easy to get any medicine. Most of the time we mix many kinds of medicines. You have drugs which have been proven efficacy and unproven efficacy. But all can be used.

People here were able to get a lot of treatment, more than what people were able to get in Western countries. I know people in countries where they had a fever but they still were asked to stay home and could not come to the hospital. Here anyone can walk in. You dont have to go to your specialist from your family physician. Here if you want to go to a superspecialist, you can automatically go. So that kind of system is there. The health care infrastructure and manpower had clearly helped us in this coronavirus pandemic.

The third reason is that one of the vaccinations that we have used is an anti-tuberculosis. Its called a BCG vaccination. That is, as soon as a baby is born, the baby is given the BCG vaccinationeveryone has received it. And these vaccinations also have played a major role in making people not susceptible to infection.

I personally feel God must have been distracted with the US and now he is focusing on India, and he is having some grace on us in India [laughing]. So we want to proclaim the message that it is the grace of God, and it is not by our power, not by our might, but by the grace of God along with the good health care delivery system, that we are getting that positive response.

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What can Western Christians learn from Indian Christians?

The change in mindset from the materialistic perspective to the heavenly perspective. We now realize that we are powerless in front of this pandemic, and we are not able to predict what is going to happen for this, and we need to be pressed upon the almighty God to come to help us. After this lockdown, may Gods grace cultivate more people to look into the church as the place of blessings for them.

The pandemic is an opportunity for us to show to the world we can care for each other and share the burden of each other. That was able to be exemplified and amplified due to this pandemic. Indian churches were able to take care of the needs of others, not only taking care of their personal needs. They were able to realize the importance of the family as a unit, and they would also take part in the difficult areas and show the compassion of Christ. Indian Christians can practice the message of the goodness of God Almighty and the hope of salvation in their life.

Tell me about your work as head of the Indian Medical Association.

As a Christian, one opportunity which I was able to include in the medical association is the concept of family medicine. It is slowly vanishing from India. India is moving to a culture of the specialty-oriented health care system. We are trying to reintroduce the family medicine concept and make comprehensive, community-oriented care a priority concern for the association.

I feel this is a good opportunity to lead the country with an example of Christianity under the principles of servant leadership. Though Christians make up less than 2.5 to 3 percent of the population in this country, as a Christian doctor, I have the privilege to lead this organization. I pray to God Almighty to give me the wisdom, knowledge, and courage to lead this country in the medical profession.

Youve been quoted about concerns over how the current government views modern medicine. What did you mean?

The most common system is modern medicine based on the scientific evidence. The government of India, because of their cultural value and traditional belief believes in a system called Ayurveda. It is an ancient system of Medicine been practiced for a long time. Now as per the New Educational policy you will have to study modern medicine alongside Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, homeopathy, yoga, and naturopathy. The government wants to make it one nation, one system of medicine. We the modern medicine people, is not against any other system but do not want the mixing one system with another. We are carrying on various means to impress this upon the government.

As the leader of the Indian Medical Association, I need to continue fighting against the government on this issue. We have organized various demonstrations and protests. In the last 14 days, I have organized a hunger strike across the country, and most of our modern medical doctors have participated. I am also seeking the wisdom and guidance of God Almighty about what further I will do in this difficult time.

So would you say that you are not actually fighting against this type of medicine in particular, but youre fighting against it becoming the only system of medicine in the country?

Yes. We are not against any system. Each system has basic principles that are different, and when you are mixing the two systems of medicine, it will lose the specialty and the purity of the profession. And that will only produce the quackery of the system that cannot be good for the profession or good for the community. But I am sure and confident that God Almighty will strengthen us and sustain us and ensure this medicine, which just comes out of a lot of dedication and research, will definitely continue to grow.

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Say more about the hunger strike that you organized.

Usually, any protest from our organization might end in shutting down the hospital. But I personally feel that by closing down the hospital, we are only harming the common man, and that is not our purpose. We are not against the common man; we are against the principles. So I thought it is the doctors who should take the pain on themselves and fast. I believe in the power of fasting, and fasting takes you to a spiritual area.

It was not a usual practice of our association, so I was very happy that it was well accepted across the country. Now we are waiting for the response from the government, and we are also fighting the case in the Supreme Court that this mixing of the systems is not good for the country.

What is the Christian communitys relationship with other nationalists?

Most of the people are soft minded. There are fewer hardcore people, apart from excluding the people who are in power. Often people are more understanding; people are more tolerant; people are more able to go along with them.

One of the things we must always remember is that Hinduism or Hindutva is different from other religions because of polytheism. They accept different gods. They have no difficulty in accepting or proclaiming that Jesus is one of the gods or Muhammad is one of the gods. So religious restrictions are less when comparing them with systems of other countries. I personally feel that it is healthy in India.

What are specific ways where you see a link between your convictions as a Christian and how you live out your faith at work?

I firmly believe that wherever you are or whatever position you are, you can be a Christian doctor as it is a way of life. Normally in the medical profession we talk about the physical curing. I believe we are not here just here to physically cure, but God Almighty has called us to give holistic healing, which includes the spiritual healing, the mental healing, and the social healing. The World Heath Organization also defines health as not mere absence of disease, but a positive state of physical ,mental and social well being.

My primary concern when I work as a Christian doctor is to ensure that I have time to talk about the mental well-being and wholistic healing of the person. We need more Christian doctors to work more in secular institutions, mission institutions, and medical colleges. I am working as a professor of surgery in a medical college, so it is also a good opportunity for me to carry on the principles of wholistic healing there. I also have the privilege of mentoring graduates and the interns.

Theres this idea that if you want to be a serious Christian, you need to be a pastor or a minister or work in a church.

You can be a Christian police officer or work in the revenue department. The place does not decide how you are going to be a Christian. It is your relationship with God Almighty. When we have a relationship with the Father above, we know who we are and who is our master.

The opportunity in front of every Christian is splendid. It is not solely the responsibility of the pastor; it is that every Christian who is born again and who has experienced the love and affection of God Almighty will respond to the calling to go and preach the good news of love. I am able to see, even amid persecution, even amid difficulties, even amid the control by the government, even among the restrictions we face in openly proclaiming the message, of love by various means and ways, God Almighty is present.

[Editors note: This interview has been edited for clarity.]
One man was caught in a very prickly situation after discovering a giant porcupine standing in his kitchen.

Tim Baynham said he had only left the back door open for a few seconds at his home in Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, South Africa.

The 43-year-old, who lives with wife Tracy and his stepdaughter, briefly stepped out of the room before he heard a noise and went back to investigate.

But wildlife consultant Tim was surprised to discover a 20kg African porcupine staring back at him.

In the clip, which was recorded at around 9pm on March 24, Tim walks through his home before rounding the corner to reveal the African porcupine.

The wild rodent spots Tim but remains still for a few seconds with its massive quills standing to attention.

It then turns tail to make its way back toward the door and out on to the patio.

But Tim whispers to it in a hushed tone: 'Excuse me?'

Tim Baynham said he had only left the back door open for a few seconds at his home in Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, South Africa, before discovering a 20kg African porcupine in his kitchen

The 43-year-old (pictured), who lives with wife Tracy and his stepdaughter, said he has had many animals in his house over the years inclduing vervet monkeys, baboons, snakes, monitor lizards and warthog

The porcupine then turns its head to look at the homeowner once again before making its way back into the wilderness.

Tim said: 'When I heard the noise in the kitchen I quickly went to check what was going on. When I saw the porcupine there, I quickly chased it out.

'We don't get many visitors on the estate so I was sure it wasn't a human intruder but I certainly didn't expect such a large animal to be there. I thought it might have been a bush baby.

'I know this particular porcupine well. We call it Spikey. They are a regular visitor around the house and try to get in every now and then but usually I am around to stop them.

The wild rodent eventually turned tail to make its way back toward the door and out on to the patio

'This time I had left the door open and left the room. Pretty much as soon the porcupine saw me it went back out the door and carried on foraging outside.

'Our yard is not fenced and we have left the natural bush around the house so there are always animals around the house, everything from giraffes to squirrels.

'We have had many animals in the house over the years - vervet monkeys, baboons, snakes, monitor lizards and warthogs. One day I came home to find three warthog in the kitchen and the lounge full of monkeys.

'All these animals are completely wild. They have just gotten used to living in close proximity to humans.'
The government on Tuesday said Covaxin and Covishield vaccines, which are being used in India's vaccination campaign against COVID-19, are effective against the UK and Brazilian variant of the virus, while work against South African variant is currently going on.

Of 11,064 genome samples sequenced in the country, the UK variant of the virus was found in 807 cases, while South African variant was found in 47 cases and the Brazil variant in one, the government informed in a press briefing.

The Centre also called the rise in COVID-19 cases a cause of worry and said the situation has gone from bad to worse recently.

There has been a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country in the last few weeks. India reported 56,211 new COVID-19 cases in the preceding 24 hours on Tuesday.

Also read: Seven more COVID-19 vaccines in clinical trial stage in India: Dr Harsh Vardhan

Union Health Secreatry Rajesh Bhushan said states have been asked to ramp up testing, with focus on RT-PCR tests. Besides, the Centre has also asked states to promptly isolate infected persons and trace their close contacts, strengthen public and private healthcare resources, ensure social distancing and use of masks, and to quickly vaccinate people in the prirority age groups in districts which are reporting a surge in cases.

Saying that states had started opening private hospitals for non-COVID health services, Bhushan said, "We have requested states to once again turn hospitals into dedicated COVID facilities."

Also read: You can get COVID-19 vaccination without registration in Delhi from 3-6pm

While India's positivity rate stands at 5.65 per cent per week, it is much higher in states like Maharashtra (23 per cent), Punjab (8 per cent), Chhattisgarh (8.24 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh (7.82 per cent).

Amongst the top 10 districts with highest number of active cases, eight districts are from Maharashtra. Delhi, if taken as one district, is also among the top 10 COVID-19 high-burden districts. Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Nashik, Bengaluru, Delhi, Ahmednagar and Nanded have the most active COVID-19 cases.

On Tuesday, Delhi reported 992 new COVID-19 cases and 4 more deaths in the preceding 24 hours. While 1,591 people recovered from the infection, the positivity rate in the national capital stood at 2.7 per cent.

India will open COVID-19 vaccination for everyone aged above 45 years from April 1, irrespective of whether they have any co-morbidity or not. Bhushan said everyone in the eligible age group can register on the Co-WIN platform for vaccination or can visit the vaccination centre after 3 pm with any identity document for on-site registration.

(With inputs from PTI)

Also read: COVID-19: CMIE bats for higher vaccination, says lockdown leads to job losses
UCs College of Engineering and Applied Science maintained its overall ranking from last year at 92. Five UC engineering programs saw their rankings improve over last year: aerospace (38th), environmental (49th), materials (72nd), computer science (83rd) and electrical (99th).

Dean John Weidner says UCs high rankings are a testament to its co-op program, which allows students to earn valuable job experience in their chosen fields while attending class. This helps students launch their careers while making money during college.

The strength of all of our programs is our mandatory co-op, among the top-ranked engineering co-op programs in the country, Weidner says.

UC pioneered co-op in 1906, fittingly in engineering, and has expanded the concept across its colleges.

Not only does this provide excellent pay while attending college and a competitive advantage due to work experience upon graduation, but alternating semesters between the classroom and real-world experiences is the optimal way to learn the advanced skills required in an increasing complex world, Weidner says.
The seaborne low-volatility pulverized coal injection price increased in the fob market amid more procurement activity while falling down in the cfr market due to weak demand and sufficient local supply, sources said. Premium hard coking coal, fob DBCT : $113.74 per tonne, up $0.97 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang : $212.71 per tonne, down $0.74 per tonne Hard coking coal, fob DBCT : $105.65 per tonne, up $0.80 per tonne Hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang : $199.25 per tonne, down $0.23 per tonneIn the cfr China market, overall sentiment on imported premium hard coking coal was pessimistic amid the continuous falling domestic coke price and production curb at steel mills in north Chinas Tangshan city.Coke plants in north China have received a proposal for another domestic price cut of 100 yuan ($15) per tonne this week, which is a decrease of 800 yuan ($122) per tonne since January, while others started to negotiate with end-users to stop price cuts and stabilize market prices.Some market sources, however, said the supply of both domestic and imported premium hard coking coal is very limited and their prices will be supported at the current level.The price spread or cost between premium cargoes from Shanxi and America is very close and some south China mills still have regular replenishment plan for imported cargoes, a mill source from south China said.While other market sources may consider the overall cost with mid-sulphur hard coking coal from north China compared to related imported cargoes.The primary advantage for current imported hard coking coal is low sulphur content, if their price is higher than the total cost of domestic coking coal and de-sulphur cost, we wont consider buying imported cargoes, a mill source from south China said.In the fob market, most market participants adopted a wait-and-see attitude on the last workday of the week. The bidding level from some buyers in India inched slightly higher after several deals concluded in the fob market over the week.We know some Indian mills prefer to buy cargoes by capesize vessels to save the freight cost recently, and they have more buying interest in procurement demand, a coke plant from India said.An April 20-29 laycan cargo of 80,000-tonne premium mid-volatility hard coking coal traded at $114.50 per tonne fob Australia on March 24, with the trading value inched higher by $0.50 per tonne than previous day.For the seaborne low-volatility pulverized coal injection (PCI) market, there are only Russia PCI resources in Chinas market, and both the offering and trading level declining since previous week due to the weak demand from Chinese end-users.The domestic supply of PCI is sufficient, but demand is dampened due to the production cut in Tangshan from this week, a Russia low-vol PCI trader said. Fastmarkets index for low-vol PCI, cfr Jingtang was $126.80 per tonne on March 26, down by $1.20 per tonne on a weekly basis.In the fob PCI market, however, market participants reported increased demand, especially from India, with regular procurement demand.A mill source from Malaysia, however, said they may consider replenishing when Australia-origin PCI is offered at a lower price than the trading value of $104 per tonne fob Australia in the previous week because sea freight costs are very high for small-size ships and the demand from local mills is also limited. Fastmarkets index for low-vol PCI, fob DBCT was $106.62 per tonne on March 26, up by $3.09 per tonne on a weekly basis.The most-traded May coking coal futures contract closed at 1,560 yuan ($238.44) per tonne on Thursday, up by 11 yuan per tonne.The most-traded May coke contract closed at 2,211.50 yuan per tonne, up by 36 yuan per tonne.[Editors note: This article was updated to amend Fastmarkets indices for premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang and hard coking coal, fob DBCT, which had appeared incorrectly when this story was initially published.]
Italy's new quarantine measures come amid controversy over Easter travel restrictions.

Italy will require travellers arriving from all EU countries to spend five days in quarantine on arrival, following an order signed by health minister Roberto Speranza on 30 March.

The order will make it mandatory for all those travelling to Italy from another EU nation to undergo a coronavirus test as they depart, before self-isolating for five days in Italy after which they must be tested again.

The rules apply to foreign visitors as well as returning residents of Italy, and the measures will be in place from 31 March until 6 April, the day after Easter Monday. [UPDATE: The measure has since been extended until 15 May.]

The 14-day quarantine for non-EU arrivals remains in place.

News of the new measures comes amid growing controversy over the fact that people are allowed to travel abroad to certain countries while Italy will be in a 'red zone' lockdown for Easter.

"For Easter it is forbidden to move between regions in Italy, but you can go on holiday abroad. I cannot move outside my city but I can fly to the Canary Islands. It is unacceptable," said Giorgia Meloni, leader of the right-wing Fratelli d'Italia (FdI), in opposition to the coalition government of premier Mario Draghi.

Last night Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said on television: "We are absolutely not advising citizens to go abroad... we advise against travel because we are in a difficult phase."

This morning Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported of "2,450 passengers" booked on flights to Spain, predominantly the Canaries and Balearic Islands, over the Easter holiday weekend.

For travel updates see the Viaggi Sicuri website. Photo ANSA.

Ho appena firmato unordinanza che dispone per arrivi e rientri dai Paesi dellUnione Europea tampone in partenza, quarantena di 5 giorni e ulteriore tampone alla fine dei 5 giorni.

La quarantena e gia prevista per tutti i Paesi extra Eu. Roberto Speranza (@robersperanza) March 30, 2021
Douglas Peterson, the University of Georgia professor who was forced to retire last year for the improper billing of UGA-produced caviar, will pay back about $218,000 to the university, according to a UGA statement.
MINNEAPOLIS, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 1990, natural gas leaks, fires, and explosions have killed 264 people. More than 1600 people have been injured due to pipeline failures caused by negligent gas companies who value making a profit over human life. And it is only a matter of time before the next gas explosion destroys the lives of more innocent people. As one of the few personal injury law firms in the country with experience representing burn survivors and families who lost a loved one, Pritzker Hageman investigates pipeline explosions to hold gas companies accountable.

"These explosions create instant zones of death. Natural gas companies are morally complicit in every failure. Iron pipelines are categorically unsafe," says Eric Hageman, who has recovered millions for survivors and families in explosion lawsuits.

Aging iron pipelines with high explosion risk endanger lives

As of March 2021, gas companies have been operating with more than 21,000 miles of leak-prone iron pipes, some of which date back to the late 1800s. These aging pipelines pose a high risk of failure due to corrosion, cracks, and seam failures, which can lead to catastrophic explosions. Pritzker Hageman's review of federal data found the top ten states with the most mileage of underground iron gas pipes:

New Jersey New York Massachusetts Pennsylvania Michigan Connecticut Maryland Illinois Rhode Island Alabama

Under federal law, gas companies serving all ten of these states are required to install safe plastic pipelines. But some gas companies have been acting significantly slower than others. The natural gas industry claims that a speedy replacement of iron pipes is too expensive, and they do not want to hike rates. While Congress recognized the danger posed by iron pipelines when they passed the Pipes Act of 2020, lawmakers continue to side with industry's desire to operate at the lowest possible cost and prolong pipeline replacement timelines, which ultimately increases the risk of pipeline explosion injuries and deaths.

About Pritzker Hageman

Pritzker Hageman is a national personal injury law firm that represents burn survivors and families in explosion lawsuits. The fire and explosion legal team includes attorneys Fred Pritzker, Eric Hageman, Raymond Konz, David Coyle, Tariq Miller, and Alicia Brenhaug.

Contacts:

Eric Hageman

[email protected]

612-338-0202

Fred Pritzker

[email protected]

612-338-0202

SOURCE Pritzker Hageman, P.A.

Related Links

https://pritzkerlaw.com




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A child walks past tents inside the new refugee camp of Kara Tepe in Mytilene, on Lesbos, on March 29, 2021. (ARIS MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)

EU Official Urges Greece to Probe Reports of Asylum-Seeker Pushbacks

ATHENSGreece can do more to investigate reports it has pushed asylum-seekers back to Turkey, a senior European Union official said on March 29, as Greek authorities pledged that a new migrant reception center on the island of Lesbos would open in time for winter.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has said it has received a growing number of reports in recent months suggesting asylum-seekers may have been pushed back to Turkey at sea or immediately after reaching Greek soil or left adrift at sea.

Greek officials have always rejected the reports.

I am very concerned about the UNHCR report and there are some specific cases that I really think need to be looked into closer, Ylva Johansson, the EUs home affairs commissioner, said during a visit to the island of Lesbos.

I think the Greek authorities can do more when it comes to investigating these alleged pushbacks.

Greeces Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi, speaking at a news conference with Johansson, said Greece has adhered to European and international law.

We strongly deny that the Greek coast guard has ever been involved in pushbacks, he said, adding that independent investigations, including by the Greek judiciary and by the EUs border agency Frontex, hadnt found violations.

Greece and other front-line states including Italy, Spain, Cyprus, and Malta have called repeatedly for a more coordinated migration policy from the EU and more help from other EU countries in handling migrant arrivals.

Mitarachi said a new migrant reception center on Lesbos to house thousands of migrants living in squalid conditions in a temporary site should be opened by the winter to replace the sprawling Moria camp that burned down in 2020.

Greece, and Lesbos, in particular, was at the frontline of Europes refugee crisis in 2015, with nearly a million people, mostly Syrians fleeing war, arriving by boat from Turkey.

Numbers have decreased dramatically since the EU struck a deal with Ankara a year later and just over 16,000 people arrived in Greece in 2020, according to U.N. data.

Mitarachi said about 14,000 migrants were currently in camps on five islands, down from about 42,000 in 2019. About 58,000 were in camps across Greece, down from 92,000 in 2019.

By Karolina Tagaris
AvtoVAZ JSC and Kazakhstans Allur Group of Companies have signed a cooperation agreement that theey hope will lead to the resumption of local production of Lada cars in the country.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin.

As part of the Agreement, the new partner of AvtoVAZ intends to produce a wide range of Lada cars in Kostanay in the volumes that will be necessary for the local market, in full compliance with the regulatory framework in force in Kazakhstan. Information about the model range and production volumes will be announced additionally, as supplementary agreements are finalized.

I am sincerely glad to see the resumption of local production of Lada in Kazakhstan. In the shortest possible time, thanks to the professional approach of our partners, we were able to prepare and sign a cooperation agreement, as well as launch the first model  the Niva Travel SUV. In the coming months, the Kostanay plant will start producing other Lada models. Kazakhstan is a key export market for AvtoVAZ, and together with our new partner, we intend to further strengthen the presence of our brand here, said Yves Caracatzanis, President of AvtoVAZ JSC.

At the end of the signing ceremony, Mr. Caracatzanis took part in a meeting with Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin, where they discussed the prospects for further deepening the industrial cooperation between AvtoVAZ and SaryarkaAvtoProm through the organization of CKD production, including welding and painting; transformation of the Lada dealer network in Kazakhstan to ensure the continuity of providing services to customers.


CONWAY  CMC Carolina Forest is one step closer to fruition after Conway Medical Center announced on March 30 that it has received approval to move 50 hospital beds from their Conway headquarters to a proposed Carolina Forest facility.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control approved a "Transfer of Need," which allows CMC to transfer the medical beds, putting it one step closer to its plan to create a medical facility in Carolina Forest.

South Carolina is a part of the Certification of Need program which regulates health care facilities capacity to control health care costs and access to care, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures website.

The beds at Conway's main facility are under-utilized, according to CMC, leaving its Conway facility with 160 hospital beds.

This is a major win for the Carolina Forest community. We are thrilled DHEC recognizes the importance of what Conway Medical Center will bring to this area in a facility that will be unlike any other in the state," said Bret Barr, CMC president and CEO.

"As the first hospital in Horry County, there is no better healthcare system to provide the services so desperately needed in this growing area. This decision allows CMC to provide a total healthcare solution that will create happier healthier lives for the people of Carolina Forest and beyond.

Carolina Forest is one of the areas in Horry County that has seen the most growth, according to the Imagine 2040 project.

The hospital will create more than 250 jobs, according to CMC.

With that rapid growth, CMC officials clarified that while the Certification of Need approved by DHEC is for the 50 hospital beds, the master plan for the CMC Carolina Forest have the possibility to allow for an additional tower for beds and office spaces.

Barr said a possible expansion of the facility would be an additional step and would be something later down the road.

The Carolina Forest location will offer services from women's health, surgical, emergency, cancer care, orthopedics and imaging.

Along with the 50 hospital beds, the location will include eight labor and delivery rooms, two C-section rooms, six ICU beds, three operating rooms and a six-bay infusion center.

The $160 million project will take three years to construct once it breaks ground.

Barr was not able to give an exact date of when construction could began due to conversations that are still happening with Horry County Council.

"We're not trying to rush this process," Barr said in regards to the conversations with council. "We want it to be thorough, we want it to the point where everyone is extremely happy with the outcome  so I don't have a timeline on that. I'm more interested in making sure that everyone is happy with the outcome as opposed to rushing it through."

CMC will need to rezone a nearly 360-acre property on International Drive from General Residential to Inpatient Medical Services to allow the hospital to be built on the property, The Post and Courier reported in January.

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Horry County Planning Commission approved the rezoning 6-2 in January, sending it to County Council for consideration.

According to Horry County spokeswoman Kelly Moore, county council has deferred the rezoning conversation at this time and it will take a county councilmember to bring the topic back to council for the conversation to continue.

Councilman Johnny Vaught, who was specially appointed to the project, said conversations surrounding the project are close to being finalized and they have a development agreement in the works.

With the agreement they plan to address concerns from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and to transfer some of property that CMC cannot use to the county to be used for wildlife protection.

Horry County owns 3,750 acres next to the proposed CMC location to assure the area will not be developed.

Vaught added that the county plans to eventually hand the land over for wildlife use.

"The DHEC approval was part of the puzzle that needed to come in before we could even complete the rest of it," Vaught said. "Because if DHEC was not going to allow them to build the hospital there, then it was a moot point as to whether or not we rezone that property.

DNR does not approve of the project and asked Horry County to deny the project for rezoning in an Oct. 26, 2020, letter.

With the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve adjacent to the proposed CMC facility, DNR is concerned about its need to do prescribed burns to decrease the chance of uncontrolled wildfires.

"Consequently, the species that inhabit these unique habitats depend on the DNR's past and continued use of prescribed fire as a safe tool for managing this landscape," Robert Boyles, director of the DNR, said in the letter.

When asked if its position has changed since then, DNR spokesman David Lucas said it hasn't.

"While I understand and appreciate the need for medical facilities to meet the needs of a community, such a facility has other options, but there is only one Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve," said Boyles.

Since the beginning of its proposal, Barr said CMC shifted the location of the hospital on the property to the center to mitigate concerns from residents regarding noise, traffic and lighting.

When asked how CMC plans to address DNR's concerns, Barr said they have been in contact with county officials and DNR, coming up with a good solution that he believes resolves the concerns.

Barr went onto explain the hospital plans to have a fire barrier to surround the entire location to proved an extra layer of protection against the prescribed burns DNR does in the area. He added that CMC has also copied infiltration systems from hospitals in California's to alleviate smoke concerns.

"We feel like our engineers and architects have done an excellent job at taking all of those things into account," Barr said.
press release

Today, Premier Alan Winde delivered the budget vote speech for the Department of the Premier, detailing how this department will lead from the front in the rollout of recovery initiatives focusing on jobs, safety, and dignity and wellbeing, as well as on the response to Covid-19 in the Western Cape.

The Department has been allocated a budget of R1.748 billion in 2021/22.

Premier Winde said: "In the year ahead, we will harness innovation and collaboration even further, to become leaner, smarter and even more agile and responsive."

Covid-19 response:

The Department of the Premier has played a leading role in coordinating our whole of government response to Covid-19 and will continue to do so in any subsequent waves and in the rollout of our vaccine plan. As part of our response, our Western Cape Contact Centre scaled up their work, playing a pivotal role in our humanitarian response, as well as in contact tracing and in the VECTOR telemedicine programme.

In the last year, the Western Cape Government rolled out the biggest communications campaign on record, utilising radio, print, social media, posters, billboards, loudhailing and SMS campaigns to share information that members of the public needed to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

In the year ahead, a further R20 million has been allocated for communications on Covid-19 and the vaccine rollout.

Premier Winde said: "For our vaccination campaign to be truly effective, enough people must get vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. We know that there is still a lot of hesitancy around vaccines which is made worse by large amounts of irresponsible fake news. In countries around the world, communications and social mobilization are key components of this vaccine rollout.

"The Western Cape Government is committed to sharing factual, science-based information with our residents so that they can make informed choices when their turn to be vaccinated comes around. Just like we have done throughout this pandemic. "

Recovery response in jobs, safety, dignity and wellbeing:

The Department of the Premier, as the engine room of the Western Cape Government, has led the Covid-19 response and recovery interventions, providing the leadership, support, strategy and data that all departments rely on to deliver services to the public.

In the year ahead:

The Department will provide policy support to the ECD sector, which has been identified as an essential service by the Western Cape Government, to ensure the smooth transition from the Department of Social Development, to the Department of Education.

R1.5 million has been budgeted for a scoping exercise to understand the behaviours affecting early childhood development outcomes in the Western Cape, using behaviour change techniques focusing on parents, learners, centre managers and teachers, and partnering with global and local experts.

A similar partnership between the WCED, institutions of higher learning and international partners is being rolled out to conduct a needs assessment at 10 schools in Cape Town to assess perceptions of violence in schools. This will allow us to see how learners and others in the school community experience and perceive violence. The results will be used to design a pilot study to test the efficacy of violence prevention techniques which we can scale up, if positive results are found.

The Department of the Premier will continue to provide the data and information required in order to respond in a data driven and evidence led way to service delivery, the Covid-19 response and recovery, as well as the Western Cape Safety Plan.

Broadband and wifi:

One of the key services this department delivers to the public is the rollout of broadband and wifi.

Premier Winde said: " Over the past year, we have seen the importance of being digitally connected. Whether it was a patient who was able to video call their loved ones from one of our temporary Covid hospitals, learners using the internet to continue learning, or job seekers connecting to opportunities, access to broadband and wifi, has helped us to stay connected at a time when we couldn't be connected in person."

For the year ahead, earmarked allocations of R375 million and R30 million have been made available for the rollout of broadband and wifi hotspots respectively.

As part of the Western Cape Government digital ecosystem, we operate 47 Cape Access Centres, 1045 public wifi hotspots, 1911 broadband sites of which the majority are over 100 Megabits per second or higher, 13 citizen contact channels and the Western Cape portal.

Children's Commissioner:

The budget for the office of the Children's Commissioner also falls within the Department of the Premier. In the year ahead, this office has been allocated R9.8 million to complete this important work. Ms Christina Nomdo was appointed as the first Children's Commissioner in June 2020. Despite the difficulties she faced getting into communities during the lockdown, her office has taken enormous strides, with support from the Department of the Premier.

These include:

She has recruited 45 child monitors, with 42 of these currently still working with her, to advise her and give inputs on issues impacting their lives. The group includes children with disabilities, from the LGBTQI community, and children who live in care homes. They connect regularly using digital platforms like Whatsapp.

The monitors have advised her for submissions to the United Nations and on the Children's Act. They have made submissions on the reopening of schools during the pandemic, and matrics in the group launched a campaign to make their voices heard to cancel the rewrite. They have also made submissions to her on topics including sex education and mental health in schools.

Ms Nomdo has also allowed children to be part of the interview processes to appoint staff for her office, and they were instrumental in helping develop her brand, and have lived up to her office's slogan "Little Voice Must Count."

The Commissioner has also just recently launched her new website which can be viewed at www.westerncape.gov.za/childrens-commissioner/

Innovation and culture change:

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One of the key areas in which the Department of the Premier leads is the development of Innovation and Culture, as part of the 5 vision inspired priorities (VIPs) identified by Premier Winde at the start of this term. This priority is aimed at developing innovative ways to respond to service delivery and creating a culture in the Western Cape Government which makes the people of the Western Cape feel that they are our priority.

The department has budgeted R18,1 million for innovative initiatives in 2021/22

This includes an allocation of R3 million in this year, and an additional R4 million in the outer years, for the transformation of the Provincial Training Institute at Kromme Rhee into an innovation and learning hub. This hub will allow us to use new methodologies and technologies for skilling and training and help us come up with innovative solutions to service delivery.

R4.2 million has been allocated for culture change interventions aimed at identifying talent, developing staff and maturing leadership capabilities.

Premier Winde said: "Effective service delivery requires every single person in this government to share our values of competence, accountability, integrity, responsiveness and caring. To be truly citizen-centric, we must become a leaner, smarter and more agile government. The Department of the Premier will be taking the lead on this, developing a New Way of Work, which focuses on intergovernmental collaboration, and encouraging the kinds of exciting innovation which we put in place in our response to the pandemic, in all areas of our government. "
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

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Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

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New Delhi:

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami on Sunday accused ousted leader TTV Dhinakaran of trying to topple his government by colluding with the opposition DMK.

Without naming Dhinakaran, who has been demanding his ouster as chief minister, Palanisami said, Some are believing the DMK and making a miscalculation that they can bring down this regime and break the party (AIADMK).

The chief minister was addressing the gathering at the centenary celebrations of late chief minister and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, here in western Tamil Nadu.

Palanisami hit out at Dhinakaran, who claims the support of 21 of the 134 MLAs of the ruling AIADMK, alleging that he had joined hands with a party that was considered as an evil force by MGR.

They (the Dhinakaran camp) are not bothered about this party (AIADMK) and the government, he said and added that it was not even appropriate to expect that from the rival faction as Dhinakaran was expelled from the AIADMK by Amma (late chief minister J Jayalalithaa).

The almighty, which is Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, will punish them, he said. Stating that doubts about his governments stability were raised from day one by political rivals, Palanisami said they confused the people by raking up such suspicions.

On the contrary, the government was going ahead smoothly and all the schemes for the people were being implemented, he added. What are the deficiencies that you have found in this government?

Palanisami asked the gathering and listed out the welfare measures initiated by his regime, including the Kudimaramathu initiative (an ancient practice of desilting waterbodies with participation from the common people and farmers) and distribution of laptops among students for free.

Attacking the DMK, without naming it, for its refrain that his regime had become a slave of the BJP-led central government, he said his government enjoyed a cordial relationship with the Centre as only then the state could get the much-needed development schemes, new plans and fundings for the same.

The chief minister referred to the Japanese industrial township in the state, announced two days ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to drive home his point. In a series of questions pointed at the DMK, he wanted to know what did it achieve on the lifeline issues of Tamil Nadu such as the Cauvery and Mullaperiyar during its over-a-decade-long stint at the Centre as part of various regimes.

He accused the main opposition party in the state of only taking care of its family interests. Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, in his address, likened the AIADMK faction, led by Palanisami and him, to a mountain.

The AIADMK is a mountain. If anyone bangs against it, his head will be shattered to pieces...this is a warning to the conspirators who are trying to topple this government, the former chief minister said.

Earlier in the day, Palanisami flagged off vehicles, marking the launch of Swachhta hi Sewa (Thooimaye Sevai Iyakkam), a cleanliness drive of the Centre, in seven districts of the state at a function in Salem, his native district.

He also inaugurated a Rotavirus vaccination scheme for infants. Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, speaking at the centenary fete, said the Navodaya schools were about the three-language formula, and asserted that the AIADMK would not waver from the two-language formula.

These comments of his came against the backdrop of opposition from various political parties to the opening of Navodaya schools in the state.

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had recently directed the Tamil Nadu government to take a decision on issuing a no-objection certificate for opening the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in the state within eight weeks.

Following this, there was opposition to it from various political parties in the state, including the DMK, which claimed that it would lead to an imposition of the Hindi language.

With PTI inputs

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Two street dogs rescued from the streets of Romania are now living amazing new lives touring Europe with their owner.

Photographer Anne Geier rescued cross-breeds Finn and Yuri, who faced being put down in a killing shelter.

Now Ann and her two doggy companions enjoy travelling to some of Europe's most spectacular beauty spots in her VW T4 Campervan.

In her latest adventure with her two loyal canine companions, she spent two weeks touring the mountains and fjords of Norway documenting their trip with her camera.

Finn, a fox-terrier and Labrador cross, was adopted by Ann in 2014 and was joined in 2017 by Yuri, an Australian cattle dog and border collie cross.

Two street dogs rescued from the streets of Romania are now living amazing new lives touring Europe with their owner

Photographer Anne Geier rescued cross-breeds Finn (left) and Yuri (right), who faced being put down in a killing shelter

Ann and her two doggy companions enjoy travelling to some of Europe's most spectacular beauty spots in her VW T4 Campervan. Finn is pictured

The result is a stunning series of beautifully-crafted portraits of the two dogs with crystal clear lakes, snow-bound mountain peaks and foggy forests as the backdrop.

Ann, who lives in Tauplitz, Austria, when she is not travelling in her van, said: ' Its perfect, we can go wherever we want and whenever we want.

'We are totally free and flexible and not bound on any accommodation.

'The dogs love the van.

'Its like a home for them.

Finn, a fox-terrier and Labrador cross, was adopted by Ann in 2014 and was joined in 2017 by Yuri, an Australian cattle dog and border collie cross. Yuri is pictured

Finn (right) and Yuri (left) who were rescued by photographer Anne Geier and taken to Norway to see some of the beauty in the world. See

Anne creates a stunning series of beautifully-crafted portraits of the two dogs with crystal clear lakes, snow-bound mountain peaks and foggy forests as the backdrop

Ann, who lives in Tauplitz, Austria, when she is not travelling in her van, said: ' Its perfect, we can go wherever we want and whenever we want'. Finn is pictured in Norwegian Fjords

'I think moving from hotel to hotel every few days would be too stressful.

'This way of travel is different.

'It's a very simply way of life and you have to reduce everything on just important things.

'Of course sometimes its also quite hard, to have no shower for days, to sleep in a cold car or to have just a bit of space during a lot of raining days.

In her latest adventure with her two loyal canine companions, Anne (pictured) spent two weeks touring the mountains and fjords of Norway documenting their trip with her camera

Finn (left) and Yuri (right) are pictured in the campervan. They were both recused from a kill shelter in Romania

Finn and Yuri are pictured in Norway after travelling with Anne. Finn is right, Yuri is left

Anne is pictured in Norway with her dogs Finn (right) and Yuri (left)

'For us it is definitely the perfect way to travel and the biggest luxury we can imagine.

'We already travelled to several countries Norway, many times to South Tirol, Switzerland, Italy and Germany.

'And we made a lot of short trips to amazing places here in my home country Austria.'

Before the were rescued: Finn (left) and Yuri (right) are pictured in the Romanian kill shelter before they were adopted by Anne

Yuri the dog in Romania before Anne Geier rescued him

Sunset: Yuri is pictured enjoy a stunning sunset in Norway after being rescued by Anne

Finn the dog is pictured with swans in a lake in Norway after being rescued. He had been neglected before his rescue

Yuri had been held in a killing shelter after living on the streets for three years and according to Ann had been abused and neglected before she took him into her life.

She added: 'Yuri is a really lovely dog. But he needed time to trust.

'Yuri is a dog, who - I think - made bad experiences with humans in his former life.

'You can see it if you get a bit angry with him - then he is always afraid that something bad will happen.

Strike a pose! The adorable pooches are always camera ready and often look adorable in their pictures

Finn looks stunning as he poses in front of a Fjord in Norway (left) while Yuri (right) poses in the snow

Yuri is posing in front on a gorgeous blue lake in Norway. He had been held in a killing shelter after living on the streets for three years and according to Ann had been abused and neglected before she took him into her life.

Anne says that Finn (pictured) is the 'calm anchor in her life'

Finn (left) and Yuri (right) are seen overlooking a landscape in Norway

Anne says that Yuri and Finn (pictured) are perfect companions as they both have lots of energy

Finn, a fox-terrier and Labrador cross (pictured) was adopted by Ann in 2014 and was joined in 2017 by Yuri, an Australian cattle dog and border collie cross.

'Finn is the calm anchor in my life.

'But much more important he is Yuris calm anchor.

'Yuri is a mongrel of breeds with a lot of energy...so Finn is the best companion for Yuri.

'They supplement each other perfectly.'
Digital wallet and payments company MobiKwik, reportedly planning an initial public offering (IPO) around September this year to raise $200-250 million, on Monday denied claims that sensitive data of millions of its users has been leaked. Independent cybersecurity researchers have claimed that a database containing KYC details of nearly 3.5 million users of MobiKwik is up for sale on the Dark Web.

First tweeted by independent cybersecurity researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia and then by French researcher Elliot Alderson on Monday, the alleged breach includes 8.2TB data containing users phone numbers, emails, hashed passwords, addresses, bank accounts, and card details. MobiKwik, however, vehemently denied any such breach.

Some media-crazed so-called security researchers have repeatedly attempted to present concocted files wasting precious time of our organisation as well as members of the media, the company said in a statement shared with IANS. We thoroughly investigated and did not find any security lapses. Our user and company data is completely safe and secure, the company added.

Alderson had tweeted: Probably the largest KYC data leak in history.

Rajaharia had claimed earlier that 11 crore Indian cardholders cards data including personal details and KYC soft copy (PAN, Aadhaar, etc) allegedly leaked from the companys server in India.

According to the researchers, the entire database is available for 1.5 Bitcoin (nearly $84,000) on the Dark Web. The reports surfaced as MobiKwik last week raised $7.2 million in a funding round prior to the listing on the stock exchange, according to regulatory filings with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Up to 400 million doses of the Company's single-shot vaccine candidate will be made available to African Union member states

Availability of the vaccine is subject to national regulatory approvals

Data have demonstrated vaccine candidate protects against COVID-19 related hospitalization and death in broad geographic regions, including those with variants of significant concern

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., March 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (the Company), has entered into an agreement with the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to make available up to 220 million doses of its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine candidate to African Union's 55 member states with delivery beginning in the third quarter of 2021. AVAT also has the potential to order an additional 180 million doses, for a combined total of up to 400 million doses through 2022. The availability of the vaccine candidate is subject to its successful approval or authorization by the national regulatory authorities of AU member states.

"From the beginning of this pandemic, Johnson & Johnson has recognized that no one is safe until everyone is safe, and we have been committed to equitable, global access to new COVID-19 vaccines," said Alex Gorsky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson. "Our support for the COVAX Facility, combined with supplementary agreements with countries and regions, will help accelerate global progress toward ending the COVID-19 pandemic."

Johnson & Johnson is committed to ensuring equitable global access to its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine candidate on a not-for-profit basis for emergency pandemic use. In December 2020, the Company entered into an agreement in principle with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) in support of the COVAX Facility, which is supporting the initial vaccination needs of 190 participating economies, including many countries in Africa. The Company and Gavi expect to enter into an Advance Purchase Agreement (APA) that would provide up to 500 million doses of the Company's vaccine to COVAX through 2022.

Additionally, Johnson & Johnson recognizes the increasingly severe impact of COVID-19 in Africa, as well as the emergence and continued spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant in the Republic of South Africa that demonstrates increased transmissibility.

Data from the Phase 3 ENSEMBLE study showed that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was well tolerated and demonstrated a 67 percent reduction in symptomatic COVID-19 disease in participants who received the vaccine in comparison to participants given the placebo. The onset of protection was observed from day 14 and was maintained 28 days post-vaccination.

The data also demonstrated the vaccine was 85 percent effective in preventing severe disease across all regions studied and showed protection against COVID-19 related hospitalization and death across countries with different variants, beginning 28 days after vaccination. Variants observed in an ongoing analysis in the ENSEMBLE study included the B.1.351 variant which was identified in 95 percent of the COVID-19 cases in South Africa.

Manufacturing and Supply Chain Information

Johnson & Johnson has established a global manufacturing and supply network for its COVID-19 vaccine, collaborating with nine partners across four continents, including Aspen Pharmacare in South Africa. Aspen will support vaccine shipments to the AU member states and will also contribute to global availability of the vaccine.

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 single-shot vaccine is compatible with standard vaccine storage and distribution channels enabling delivery to remote areas. The vaccine is estimated to remain stable for two years at -25 to -15C, a maximum of three months of which can be at routine refrigeration at temperatures of 2-8C. This enables the vaccine to be shipped using the same cold chain technologies used to transport other medicines and vaccines in routine use.

Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 Vaccine

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine uses the AdVac vaccine platform, a proprietary technology that was also used to develop and manufacture Janssen's European Commission-approved Ebola vaccine regimen and construct its investigational Zika, RSV, and HIV vaccines.

Regulatory Filings

The Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine was granted Emergency Use Listing from the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 12, Conditional Marketing Authorization from the European Commission on March 11 and Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on February 27, 2021. The single-shot COVID-19 vaccine has also been granted Interim Order authorization in Canada, and additional rolling submissions have been initiated in several countries worldwide.

For more information on the Company's multi-pronged approach to helping combat the pandemic, visit: www.jnj.com/coronavirus.

About Johnson & Johnson

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That's why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world's largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com. Follow us at @JNJNews.

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension. Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at @JanssenGlobal.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding development of a potential preventive vaccine for COVID-19. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of the Company, any of the other Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2021, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in the company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

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SOURCE Johnson & Johnson
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 20:11:50|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Tuesday adopted the amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

This marks the completion of the state-level legislation revising and improving Hong Kong's electoral system. It is the central authorities' another major move to govern Hong Kong in accordance with the law after the introduction of the national security law for Hong Kong.

It is an entirely justified move to ensure the steady development of democracy and the realization of good governance in Hong Kong.

This will put the power to administer Hong Kong firmly in the hands of patriots. Moreover, anti-China and destabilizing forces will be excluded from the HKSAR administering structure. This way, the political turmoil and social unrest in Hong Kong can be prevented.

The legislation is a necessary move to improve the efficacy of the administration in Hong Kong and is welcomed by the city's residents.

A public petition launched in support of the legislative move received over 2.38 million signatures in Hong Kong.

The legislative move, aiming to develop Hong Kong's democratic system in an orderly manner, has the following forward-looking features.

It ensures the broad representation of the HKSAR electoral system as well as the balanced political participation of all sectors of Hong Kong.

It improves the efficacy of the administration in the HKSAR and embodies the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong."

The improvements provide Hong Kong residents with larger space and more channels for political participation and aim to promote the tangible development of Hong Kong's democracy, which is consistent with the overall and long-term interests of Hong Kong society.

Improving the HKSAR electoral system is in every way a milestone in the implementation of the "one country, two systems" policy. It is expected to lead Hong Kong out of its political mire and toward new prosperity. Enditem
Brisbane is booming as babies are born and southerners began to flee lockdowns for the Sunshine States (usually) COVID-free lifestyle.

Brisbanes population grew by 1.9 per cent during 2019-20, recording the highest growth rate of all capital cities, according to new Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

Brisbane recorded the highest population growth rate of any capital city in 2019-20. Credit:Michelle Smith

ABS demography director Phil Browning said Brisbane was closely followed by Perth, with a population growth rate of 1.8 per cent.

Third was Melbourne with growth of 1.6 per cent.
Using seismic recordings of human induced and natural earthquakes, the researchers study the processes in the subsurface. Credit: Damian Gorczany

A research team from Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) and McGill University in Montreal is investigating what exactly happens underground when the earth in western Canada shakes as a result of hydraulic fracturing activities. The team, headed by Bochum-based Professor Rebecca Harrington, wants to fundamentally understand how earthquakes occurwhether human induced or natural. "The hydraulic fracturing process is something like a scaled-up laboratory experiment for us," explains Harrington, who heads the Hydrogeomechanics Group at RUB. "We see what happens when the subsurface is exposed to controlled stress conditionsunder natural conditions changes in stress would be much more difficult to study." RUB's science magazine Rubin reports on the findings.

For the purpose of their study, the researchers evaluate records of natural and human induced earthquakes. One of the many data sources are the earthquakes triggered by hydraulic fracturing in a roughly 50 by 50 kilometer area in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. The process is used to tap oil or gas deposits that lie deep underground. A mixture of water, sand, and weakly concentrated hydrochloric acid is injected into the ground at high pressure to create cracks in the rock and make it more permeable to extract the gas or oil more easily. This can repeatedly cause earthquakes.

Fluids move not quite as expected

In 2018, a magnitude 4.5 quake occurred very early in the hydraulic fracturing process, when hardly any fluid had been injected. "This shows that fluids are moving underground in ways we wouldn't expect," says Harrington. The RUB team analyzed this earthquake and several of its aftershocks, the largest of which still reached magnitudes of 4.2 and 3.4, together with their colleagues at McGill University. The two institutions have set up 17 seismic stations in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin and have thus access to a comprehensive data network.

Using these records, the scientists reconstructed the sources of the various quakes and how they had spread underground. They linked the data with information about the hydraulic fracturing process and the nature of the subsurface and the interactions of the fluids with the rock. By means of computer simulations, they modeled the forces that had acted in the subsurface during the quakes. The conclusion: "Presumably there was a geologically young fault zone in the subsurface, i.e. a network of fractures in the Earth's crust, which acted as a natural pathway for fluids. The hydraulic fracturing fluid could then flow through the fracture network like a channel," as Rebecca Harrington describes the process. The fluid flow thus quickly reached the underlying fault, which disturbed the stress structure in the subsurface and triggered an earthquake that was stronger than expected.

Analysis of 8,200 earthquakes is in progress

The German-Canadian team has begun analyzing around 8,200 earthquakes recorded by seismic stations in western Canada between July 2017 and September 2020. The researchers showed that many earthquakes occur at locations where natural geological faults exist in the subsurface with which fluids interact. They also proved that these faults are optimally aligned in the stress field of the Earth's crust to trigger earthquakes.

"The earthquakes do originate from industrial activities, but once initiated, the geological faults behave pretty much like an earthquake of natural origin," concludes Rebecca Harrington. "Overall, our studies suggest that there are no fundamental differences between natural earthquakes and earthquakes triggered by hydraulic fracturing. Everything we learn about induced earthquakes can also help us understand natural earthquakesand hopefully one day help us minimize impacts to people and infrastructure from earthquakes."

Explore further Hydraulic fracturing linked to earthquakes in Ohio

More information: A. F. Pena Castro et al. Stress Chatter via Fluid Flow and Fault Slip in a Hydraulic FracturingInduced Earthquake Sequence in the Montney Formation, British Columbia, Geophysical Research Letters (2020). A. F. Pena Castro et al. Stress Chatter via Fluid Flow and Fault Slip in a Hydraulic FracturingInduced Earthquake Sequence in the Montney Formation, British Columbia,(2020). DOI: 10.1029/2020GL087254 Marco P. Roth et al. High-Resolution Imaging of Hydraulic-Fracturing-Induced Earthquake Clusters in the Dawson-Septimus Area, Northeast British Columbia, Canada, Seismological Research Letters (2020). DOI: 10.1785/0220200086 Journal information: Seismological Research Letters , Geophysical Research Letters
SANTA ANA, Calif., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CompWest Insurance Company is proud to recognize Pacific Interstate Insurance Brokers (PIIB) as its 2020 Agency of the Year.

"Our entire CompWest team has developed a great partnership with Tiffany Bertolini and the PIIB team," said Steve Cooper, president of AF Group's Workers' Compensation Division. "Like CompWest, PIIB is clearly committed to its customers. They regularly offer ongoing feedback and valued insight into the individual needs of their clients and we are proud to work with them in offering world-class workers' compensation products and services that meet those needs. We look forward to a strong partnership for many years to come."

"We are honored and thrilled to be named CompWest Agency of the Year," said Tiffany Bertolini, president of PIIB. "Our success is only made possible by partnering with outstanding carriers like CompWest. We partnered three short years ago, and to be named Agency of the Year in 2020, of all years, is a testament to our partnership and CompWest's commitment to our organization. We look forward to a long-term, successful partnership."

CompWest specializes in workers' compensation insurance, servicing accounts in California and select Western states with consistent risk evaluation and pricing. CompWest's appetite focuses on mid-size businesses in healthcare, social services, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services, construction, retail and wholesale services. Dedicated loss control consultants help implement customized loss prevention strategies, and CompWest's Workers' Compensation with Care and Keep at Work strategies provide assistance to injured workers throughout the entire claims process.

About CompWest

CompWest Insurance Company is a member of AF Group. Insurance policies may be issued by any of the following companies within AF Group: Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, Accident Fund National Insurance Company, Accident Fund General Insurance Company, United Wisconsin Insurance Company, Third Coast Insurance Company or CompWest Insurance Company.

Contact:

Bob Lapinski

(517) 331-4890

[email protected]

AFGroup.com

SOURCE AF Group; CompWest

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Gandhinagar, March 31 : Gujarat has run out of funds for calamity relief, as per government sources, while the Centre is yet to decide on the Rs 7,239.47 crore the state had sought for the people affected in last year's floods.

Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel, in response to a question seeking to know how much was spent in the last two years from the state Calamity Relief Fund and the amount provided by the Centre, told the Assembly that Rs 5,996.37 crore was spent on calamity relief between April 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020, and the Central government granted Rs 2,660.75 crore during the same period.

As on December 31, 2020, the state was left with Rs 93.94 crore in the fund, he added.

Patel also said that as against the provision of Rs 1,765 crore for the SDRF Fund in 2020-21, the government allotted an additional fund of Rs 806.60 crore due to the need arising out of the agriculture relief package, he said.

But, according to government sources, the Rs 93.94 crore left, as on December 31, 2020, was also utilised during the three months of 2021, and now the state's Calamity Relief Fund is empty.

To another question on the funds requested by the state for drought or flood relief from the Centre and how much was sanctioned, the minister said that in January 2019, the state had sought central assistance of Rs 3,370.31 crore for relief works in drought-affected regions, but was told that it "qualifies for zero financial assistance as the SDRF has Rs 2,355.12 crore funds as on April 1, 2018, 50 per cent of which, or Rs 1,177.56 crore, is more than Rs 127.60 crore granted to it by the high-level NDRF committee".

He also said that the state had also sought Rs 7,239.47 crore for the relief fund for the damages caused due to the 2020 flood, but was yet to receive a reply from the Centre on the matter.
Bengaluru, March 30 : The woman who has accused former Karnataka minister Ramesh Jarkiholi of raping her twice, appeared before a magistrate here on Tuesday and recorded her statement in what has come to be known as the Sleaze CD case.

Prior to her arrival at the court, her legal counsel Jagadesh K. N. Mahadev said his client will record her statement under the relevant provisions of law and that it cannot be revealed at this point of time.

Since it emerged on March 2, the case has seen many twists and turns and lived up to its reputation even in Tuesday as while media persons, lawyers and policemen eagerly waited outside the magistrates' court complex in Nrupatunga Road, but the woman was driven from her hideout straight to Gurunanak Bhavan, where she recorded her statement in front of a woman magistrate and a woman typist.

The woman had gone underground soon after video clips containing her intimate chats as well as of her in a compromising position with Jarkiholi went viral on social media and news channels on March 2. This led to the minister's resignation the next day.

Since March 13, the woman has released five video clips at different points of time from her secret hideout, alleging that her life was under threat from Jarkiholi. On his part, Jarkiholi lodged a police complaint on March 13 alleging that a 'fake CD' was in circulation to malign his reputation.

In his complaint, Jarkiholi has not named anyone till now. However, he has broadly hinted at Congress' Karnataka President D.K. Shivakumar's role in this incident.

Both were in a running feud since 2018, which was a primary reason for Jarkiholi to defect from the Congress to the BJP. He was one of the 17 defectors, who pulled down the Congress-JD(S) coalition government headed by H.D. Kumaraswamy in 2019, by crossing over to the BJP.
Brussels, March 30 : Twenty-five world leaders have supported a proposal from European Council President Charles Michel to draw up a new international treaty on pandemic preparedness in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

Leaders including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha signed an opinion piece along with Michel and World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, dpa news agency reported.

"There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone," the piece, published on Tuesday, said.

The article made the case for a new agreement anchored in the WHO's constitution that would improve global preparedness for pandemics and ability to respond.

A treaty would provide a framework for international cooperation to immediately exchange information at the start of possible pandemics, and channel global resources for research into possible treatments and vaccines, Michel said at a virtual press conference with Tedros on Tuesday.

"The time to act is now," Tedros said, "We must not allow the memories of this crisis to fade and go back to business as usual." Michel first put forward the idea in November, but has now won public support from heads of state or government from Indonesia, Kenya, Costa Rica, Tunisia and South Korea, among others.

However, notable omissions from the article's signatories include the US and China.

Initial reaction among the 194 WHO member countries was "positive", according to Tedros, who said he hoped all would help take forward debate on the initiative ahead of May's World Health Assembly.

It was too soon to say whether the treaty could cover contentious issues such as intellectual property on vaccines or more equitable sharing of shots, the WHO chief added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
While global foreign direct investment (FDI) collapsed significantly in 2020, China's inbound FDI grew against the trend by 4 percent to $163 billion, indicating that the country surpassed the U.S. as the largest recipient of FDI in the world, according to the latest Investment Trends Monitor of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Data from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) showed that the country's total volume, yearly increment, and global share of inbound FDI all climbed last year.

In particular, the country's actually used FDI totaled 999.98 billion yuan (about $152.9 billion) in 2020, up 6.2 percent from the previous year, while the paid-in FDI in China's non-financial sector grew by 4.5 percent year on year, ranking first in the world, according to the MOC, which also revealed that a total of 39,000 foreign-invested enterprises newly registered in China in 2020.

The continued growth in the amount of paid-in foreign investment in China against the trend of shrinking FDI worldwide has been accompanied by the country's constant efforts to open its door wider to the rest of the world.

"When economic globalization has been hindered by headwinds and protectionism and unilateralism are on the rise, China's notable growth in actual use of foreign investment has proven the huge attractiveness and growth potential of the Chinese market," said Cui Fan, a professor of the School of International Trade and Economics, University of International Business and Economics.

Such achievement is the result of the country's effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and earnest implementation of relevant policies and measures, which sped up the restorative growth of the Chinese economy and made the country the world's only major economy that achieved positive growth amid the raging COVID-19 last year, Cui said.

Factors such as lower market access threshold for foreign investment and continuously improving business environment are closely related to China's achievements in attracting foreign investment and have signaled the country's resolve to unswervingly expand its opening-up during the new development stage.

The super-large Chinese market is becoming more and more attractive to foreign investors as Chinese residents' income rises steadily, the country's middle-income group has constantly expanded, and the trend of consumption upgrading has continued to gain momentum.

"China has given play to its advantage as the world's factory and exerted strong manufacturing capabilities amid the COVID-19,"Cui said.

"The Eurostat pointed out that among the top ten largest trading partners of the European Union (EU), the EU saw positive growth in two-way trade only with China last year, which proves that China's strong economic recovery has laid a solid foundation for its trade growth with the EU and that the resilience and vitality of China's manufacturing sector should not be underestimated," Cui said.

"China has become the biggest trading partner of the majority of countries and regions in the world. This is already a fact,"Cui said, adding that the fact shows the great appeal of the Chinese market and that in the international trade arena, China can be called the center of manufacturing in the world and the hub of global value chain.

China, also the world's largest exporter, has complete industrial chain systems and is one of the few economies in the world with a complete range of industries, according to Cui, who believes that with the continued growth in the size of China's economy and the implementation of measures such as the ones for expanding imports, China is going to show more and more advantages in manufacturing and foreign trade, and the Chinese market will be opened wider and wider to the world.

China is facing considerable challenges in stabilizing foreign investment this year. On the one hand, multinational corporations may find themselves unable to make investments as their wealth shrank significantly due to the COVID-19. The UNCTAD estimated that global FDI fell by 42 percent in 2020.

On the other hand, global industrial and supply chains are being restructured after the outbreak of the COVID-19, which poses new challenges to China's efforts to utilize foreign investment.

The MOC will further improve China's business environment, earnestly implement the Foreign Investment Law and regulations for the implementation of the law, as well as the working mechanisms for handling complaints filed by foreign-invested enterprises, and strengthen protection for the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors, said Wang Wentao, China's Minister of Commerce.

The MOC will continue to create a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment and ensure that foreign investors enjoy better environment, better development, and greater accomplishments in China, Wang added.
Prep Golf: Riley Zebroski earns all-conference honors, Arrows take 7th in ESD tourney

MITCHELL  Sophomore Riley Zebroski earned all-conference honors by tying for 5th place on Wednesday in the Eastern South Dakota Conference girls golf tournament at the Lakeview Golf Course.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Mostly clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
JACKSON, MI  As mental health officials in Jackson and Hillsdale counties await the opening of a 24/7 crisis service center, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow applauded the work being done.

When we talk about integrative care, were talking about what the reality is, Stabenow, D-Lansing, said in a visit to LifeWays Community Mental Health in Jackson on Tuesday, March 30. We are a whole person and health care above the neck should be funded the same way as health care below the neck.

Funding for LifeWays new crisis service center is coming in part through a 2014 bipartisan law sponsored by Stabenow called the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act. It established quality standards and funding pathways for behavioral health clinics, and in 2020, Michigan began establishing certified community behavioral health clinics.

Related: New 24/7 crisis services are alternative to hospitals for mental health needs in Jackson, Hillsdale

Community mental health agencies are often funded through grants and voter-passed millages. But the 2014 law establishes behavioral health clinics, like Lifeways, as a new provider type so they can be reimbursed for the cost of services through Medicaid.

The goal is to create permanently funded, quality behavioral health centers in the community, Stabenow said. Serving people with mental illness and substance abuse (disorders), and doing it a way that is not stop-start because of grants, but as an integrated part of providing services in the community.

11 New LifeWays crisis center in Jackson

LifeWays joins 23 other certified community behavioral health clinics in Michigan. The certified clinic designation requires LifeWays to provide 24/7 crisis services, mental health and substance abuse treatment services, screenings, risk assessments and diagnoses and care coordination between the clinic and other emergency services.

Related: $3.8M federal grant awarded to LifeWays for expanded crisis services

Maribeth Leonard, LifeWays CEO, said the 24/7 center will open once the state awards it a license in the coming months. She said she looks forward to expanding the services available to Jackson and Hillsdale county residents.

We will change the dialogue from the conversation of What type of insurance do you have? to How can I help you? Leonard said.

The crisis centers opening will help officers better help community members in a mental health crisis, Jackson Director of Police and Fire Services Elmer Hitt said. Instead of taking people in crisis to the emergency room or to jail, officers can take them to a place equipped to handle their needs, he said.

Stabenow believes the impact of comprehensive care can be seen through law enforcement. She said behavioral clinics have contributed to the decline of emergency department visits for behavioral health, jail time and homelessness.

LifeWays round-the-clock service center at 1200 N. West Ave. includes several evaluation rooms, a crisis stabilization area where people can spend up to 23 hours, a five-bed crisis residential unit where people can spend up to 14 days, call center space and more.

Anyone in Jackson and Hillsdale counties, regardless of age or level of insurance, can seek assistance.

MORE JACKSON NEWS:

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City of Jackson most affected by surging COVID-19 cases throughout Jackson County

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.
Canberra, March 30 : Australia is a "long way short" of its coronavirus vaccine target, a health expert warned on Tuesday.

Stephen Duckett, a health economist from think tank the Grattan Institute, said that health authorities must learn from the failings of the initial phases of the vaccine rollout to achieve the government's goals, Xinhua news agency reported.

The government initially promised that four million Australians would receive vaccines by the end of March and that the entire population would be vaccinated by the end of October.

As of Monday 541,761 vaccines had been administered.

"We set a target of four million, we've got 600,000 or so. That is a long way short of the target," Duckett told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

"What are we going to do differently into the future? My hope is also that we are going to do things very differently in April and May from what we did in March." In the first week of phase 1B of the rollout, under which six million Australians are eligible for jabs, about 259,000 people were vaccinated.

Despite the slow start to the program, Health Minister Greg Hunt on Monday insisted it was on track.

"The latest guidance I have is we remain on track for all the first doses before the end of October," he told reporters.

About 1,000 general practitioners (GPs) have begun administering vaccines and Duckett said there were logistical challenges.

"GPs don't know how many vaccines they're going to get, they've booked patients, then they have to unbook patients," he said.

Australia has so far reported 29,278 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 909 deaths.
The real challenge facing commanders in the next war will be sorting through the overflow of information coming at them as they struggle to act faster than the enemy, according to the U.S. Air Force's top general.

"You can either have information overload or information that is not necessarily clear or it could be deceptive," Chief of Staff Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown told an audience Monday during the "Future of Defense Summit" webinar hosted by the news outlet The Hill.

"It's really about connecting the right sensor to the right shooter to the decision maker and being able to move forward and really being able to really make decisions when you have imperfect information," Brown said.

Read Next: Advocates Hope New VA Study Will Push Congress to Pass Service Dog Grant Program

Each U.S. service is conducting experiments to test how artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies can be used to create more efficient command-and-control networks in an effort to develop the Joint All-Domain Command and Control, or JADC2.

JADC2 is meant to link the services' radars and sensors. In the future, a fused, streamlined network could track incoming missiles and other threats and then feed targeting information to the right weapons system to destroy them much faster than today.

Brown and Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville used their time during the panel to keep their services' modernization efforts in the public spotlight as they work to maintain congressional support.

The Air Force has been zeroing in on a strategy to link weapons and capabilities for better centralized oversight and control. Its effort, known as the Advanced Battle Management System, or ABMS, is a state-of-the-art program that focuses on combined intelligence sensor data from weapons and spacecraft anywhere around the world.

The service conducted a series of ABMS tests last year.

One of the largest took place in September 2020, involving U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Space Command, "70 industry teams, 65 government teams from every service including the Coast Guard, 35 military platforms, 30 geographic locations and four national test ranges," according to an Air Force news release.

For the last three years, the service has been pushing lawmakers to think beyond the scope of single aircraft to do single-mission tasks in favor of the broad network approach. But Congress hasn't been quick to accept the concept since it isn't a visible show of warfighting strength, such as planes on a flight line.

The Government Accountability Office last year released its analysis of ABMS, stating the Air Force has yet to prove how the intricate network will work despite talking about the concept for years. During the 2019 budget cycle, the service began a monthslong campaign on why it favored ABMS over replacing the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft.

Last summer in draft legislation, the House Appropriations defense subcommittee said it "lacks enough confidence in the Air Force's structuring and execution" to justify increasing the program's budget.

And in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress cut the Air Force's funding request by nearly half, giving the service $159 million out of a requested $302 million. Lawmakers also requested a detailed report on what ABMS is intended to achieve.

As a result, some experiments to test the connecting technology have been curtailed, according to Preston Dunlap, the Air Force's chief architect. Dunlap told reporters earlier this month there had been one ABMS "on-ramp" test in February with U.S. Air Forces in Europe; another is scheduled for this summer.

But a third test, with Australia and other partners, has been canceled due to the funding gap, Dunlap said, as reported by C4ISRNET.

The Army's approach to JADC2 focuses on a series of experiments known as Project Convergence.

Last September, the service conducted the first of these experiments at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. The Army used satellites in low-Earth orbit and unmanned aerial systems to link ground sensors tracking surrogate incoming threats. The targeting information was fed into a network and then sent to howitzer artillery on the ground that was best positioned to destroy the target.

"We were getting lethal effects in tens of seconds versus tens of minutes," McConville said, adding that speed and range will be critical on the future battlefield.

The Army is planning on a more joint approach to Project Convergence 2021 with participation from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.

"I think what we are trying to do with the Joint All-Domain Command and Control approach is recognizing that everything we do in the future, we are going to fight jointly," McConville said.

JADC2 will allow the Army to "use all the sensors on the battlefield and get them using technology to get the information to the right shooter," he explained.

"It fundamentally changes the way we operate; it gives us decision dominance, which gives us overmatch," he said.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

-- Oriana Pawlyk contributed to this story.

Related: 'We Don't Have a Choice:' Military Exercises in 2021 Will Focus on This Big Problem
VietNam Holding Limited's ( ) Craig Martin joins Proactive London to discuss net asset value which rose by 38.7% in the half-year to end-December 2020.

Martin says the strength of the banking industry, the domestic consumer, industrialisation and urbanisation opportunities in the country have all contributed their their performance.

Martin talks through the drivers which include their exposure to banks and the country's success in combating Coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as the general growth of the Vietnam economy which grew by just under 3% last year.

He says Vietnam has been attracting a lot more interest lately in terms of their manufacturing sector too and is bullish towards opportunities in tourism and retail in the future.
analysis

Johannesburg  For nearly three years, South African investigators have been unearthing a web of corruption around former President Jacob Zuma in a public inquiry that has captivated the country.

There were bribes paid in top-shelf whiskey, luxury cars and a cash-stuffed Louis Vuitton bag. High-ranking officials distributed lucrative government contracts in exchange for monthly handouts. That era of graft drained tens of billions of dollars from state coffers and has become one of the most infamous chapters of South Africa's post-apartheid history.

Now, the country's highest court will determine whether Mr. Zuma can be held accountable for contempt of court, and for an era of consequence-free corruption, in a hearing that represents one of the greatest tests for South Africa's democratic institutions in recent years.

"This is an absolutely critical moment: The principle that all people will be equal before the law is being challenged and the constitutional system itself is being challenged," said William Gumede, the chairman of the Democracy Works Foundation, a South African nonprofit group. "Essentially, the former president is saying he is above the law of the country, he is above the Constitution, he is untouchable."

The hearing, taking place before the Constitutional Court on Thursday, comes a month after Mr. Zuma defied a court order to appear before corruption investigators, a move that challenged the legitimacy of South Africa's legal system and prompted the chief investigator to seek a two-year prison sentence for Mr. Zuma for contempt of court.

The Constitutional Court is unlikely to impose such a harsh sentence when the verdict is announced in the coming weeks. Doing so could set off mass protests by supporters of Mr. Zuma and destabilize the country as it reels from the worst coronavirus outbreak on the continent, an economy battered by the pandemic and record-high unemployment.

Nonetheless, the hearing is seen as an important moment for South Africa, which has been plagued with corruption over the last decade, with few officials held accountable.

Speaking at the virtual hearing on Thursday morning, a lawyer for the corruption inquiry framed Mr. Zuma's refusal to testify and recent attacks disparaging the high court as a fundamental threat to the country's democracy.

"There is a real risk, a threat, to the authority of the judiciary as a whole," said the lawyer, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi. "His conduct must be seen for what it is: We are dealing with a cynical maneuver to avoid accountability."

Mr. Zuma and his legal team did not attend the virtual hearing to respond to the contempt charges -- a move that analysts say is all but unheard-of in such a high-level case.

The case has also underscored the challenges facing the African National Congress, the party of Nelson Mandela that has governed the country since the end of apartheid in 1994. During Mr. Zuma's nine-year tenure, the party became consumed by corruption scandals that tarnished its image and fueled public outrage over mismanagement.

After Mr. Zuma was ousted from the presidency in 2018, the A.N.C. became increasingly polarized between loyalists of the former president and supporters of his successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, who vowed to crack down on corruption and restore the public's confidence.

Fierce resistance to Mr. Ramaphosa's efforts from within the A.N.C. have cast serious doubts over his ability to deliver on that promise.

But analysts say the high court hearing on Thursday may be the beginning of a turning point. Not only does Mr. Zuma face a possible prison sentence from the outcome, but he will also stand trial in May for accusations that he took bribes from arms dealers in the 1990s.

"For 15 years or more, Jacob Zuma has been using the strength of the South African court system to put off his day in court" by appealing cases against him, said Richard Calland, a constitutional law professor at the University of Cape Town. "But he is now running out of legal runway. This is the moment where he finally meets his Waterloo legally."

Mr. Zuma has denied all accusations from both cases. In recent months, he has also accused the corruption inquiry's leader, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, of harboring a personal vendetta against him, and attacked the investigation itself.

Established in 2018, the investigation is known as the Commission on State Capture, a term that has become a buzzword in South Africa and refers to corruption at such a high level that private groups effectively purchased the power to divert state resources into their own hands.

The commission has interviewed more than 250 witnesses in televised hearings that have become a telenovela of sorts about the country's deep-seated corruption. It is expected to end in June, and deliver a report to South African officials that could include suggestions for prosecution.

Taken together, the testimonies paint a damning portrait of post-apartheid South Africa, where relationships between former freedom fighters in business and government transformed into criminal enterprises and elites manipulated efforts designed to shift economic power from the country's white minority to Black South Africans to line their own pockets.

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At least 40 witnesses have directly implicated Mr. Zuma in arrangements to plunder tens of millions of dollars from state companies. In total, an estimated $33 billion was siphoned from state coffers during his tenure, which ended in 2018 amid public outrage over graft and bitter infighting within the governing party.

For months, many South Africans have anticipated a climactic moment when the former president would appear before the panel and investigators could demand a response to the nearly three years worth of evidence laid against him.

But that moment of reckoning seems unlikely to ever arrive. At the contempt hearing on Thursday, the commission's lawyer, Mr. Ngcukaitobi, conceded that investigators had abandoned hope that Mr. Zuma will ever testify.

"It is clear that the situation has escalated beyond what the commission could have anticipated," he told the nine justices, who appeared on Zoom in dark green robes with photos of the grand courtroom's red brick wall and large South African flag as their backdrops.

"The public has been deprived," Mr. Ngcukaitobi said, "of an opportunity to hear from Mr. Zuma, to hear his version, to get an explanation."
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New Delhi:

Thane police commissioner Parambir Singh on Tuesday said that the police will probe the involvement of politicians and corporators in connection with the extortion case after they arrested Dawood Ibrahims young brother Iqbal Kaskar late night on Monday.

Some politicians including Corporators could be involved, we are investigating, he said.

Singh said the police will also probe Dawoods connection whether he had direct or indirect involvement in the extortion racket.

Whether Dawood Ibrahim had an indirect or direct involvement in this extortion racket run by IqbalKaskar will be probed, he said.

Some politicians including Corporators could be involved, we are investigating: Thane CP Parambir Singh #IqbalKaskar pic.twitter.com/YU5AAAprnF  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2017

The police commissioner said threats were given in the name of Dawood Ibrahim. He said sometimes shooters were brought from Bihar to forcibly evacuate properties.

Threats given in name of Dawood,sometimes shooters were brought frm outside, some brought frm Bihar to forcibly evacuate properties:Thane CP  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2017

Threats were given in name of Dawood. Sometimes shooters were brought from Bihar to forcibly evacuate properties, he said.

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The average age of a farmer in Co Wexford is now in the late sixties and into the seventies. In a lot of cases, farmers have become slaves to their land.

People say he owns that land but we are all only custodians of the land. I am one and my son will be a custodian after me. If you regard it as yours alone, you will find it very hard to release it to your next of kin, says Jer OMahony.

Around 400 people attended a meeting on farm succession in Enniscorthy around 18 months ago. What surprised the new IFA Wexford County Chairman was the number of families in attendance.

Its a huge elephant in the room. I know people who will not sign a will because then theyd actually have to admit that they are mortal and that they will die.

If you sign a will it doesnt mean you will die tomorrow, but there is a pathway to carry on your legacy.

The Irish mindset is that the land is god and king. There are some cases that will never be changed and every situation has to be handled in a different way.

Over 50 years ago there were large farm families because it meant cheap labour.

Expand Close Jer is pictured with his wife Veronica and children Eva, Sarah, Katie and Patrick. Picture: Patrick Browne / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jer is pictured with his wife Veronica and children Eva, Sarah, Katie and Patrick. Picture: Patrick Browne

Farmers didnt have to adapt to technological change or pay hire. Life has changed but honestly believe it hasnt gotten any better. We have a lot more technology but no time.

Jer describes succession as a lock that is very hard to pick.

Its a really slow process. Every person, every farm and every situation is different. Sometimes you have to point them in the right direction.

We are only custodians. What better legacy can I leave than leaving the farm in a better place for my children to continue it, if thats what they want to do.

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Farming

The beef and tillage farmer from Ballingly, Wellingtonbridge, has a background in technology.

He was born and raised on the family farm but credits his mother with ensuring none of the eight children were reliant on the farm.

At age 14/15, I thought I was going farming and my mother sat me down and said there is enough cheap labour on this farm, go get a job and education. Then decide whether you want to farm or not.

My own son is 22 and within a month of finishing a Farm Business degree in Carlow, and Ive said to him get a job, enjoy yourself and if you decide to come back, the farm will be here.

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Jer himself went to WIT, did a Masters in Electrical Engineering, before getting a job with Hewlett Packard which took him all over the world.

Everyone in our house was educated and a number of years after my father died suddenly in 1993, I took over the farm.

Along with farming, he was also working locally, initially in the computer sector, but latterly in Nick Gores tractors in Duncormick.

Today, Jer buys dairy calves from a neighbouring dairy farmer, keeping them until they are 12-18 months old before selling them. Part of the farm is also in tillage and is bisected by a railway, while he also has an outfarm.

Apart from the tillage land the ground is most suited to grazing, he says.

The family home is being connected to better broadband this week, a must with three grown children, he says.

Technology is a must. Its not even an option anymore. I have been run out of the house most of this year as they needed broadband, but now as County Chairman and the children facing exams, we need to ensure there are no glitches with coverage.

The Covid space has changed everything. It was coming but it would have been another 10 years of pushing and shoving.

Covid has brought us Teams and Zoom and all online meetings and ways of doing business.

Jer is hoping that he can help up-skill people living in rural Wexford in technology.

As a society, we have become insular. There are more locked and electric gates in the countryside than ever before. The days of the back door being open and come on in have died off completely and the virus will have killed it off altogether.

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Comfort zones

The older generations have lost all of their comfort zones: banks are disappearing, post offices are disappearing.

Pubs have closed and a lot of them will probably never reopen. Threshing on farms 30 to 40 years ago took 20 to 30 people, now one man and a combine harvester can do the job.

That was where all of the news was shared and brought back to homes across the county.

Jer says all farmers suffer from loneliness and isolation, adding that a countywide mental health initiative is being formulated this month to improve the well-being of farmers.

We have a disconnect between communities. People want to look out at the calves and the lambs in the green fields and yet they are willing to let their dogs out.

The other weekend, heavily pregnant ewes were killed in Inch.

He also says that Wexford farmers are concerned about beef prices, with prices running 50c/kg behind production costs.

That happened a few weeks ago and in every walk of life, price increase happens overnight, but price decreases take weeks and months when it comes to the likes of diesel or petrol.

The environmental bill is a big concern for farmers and how it will affect them. We have no idea until we see the flesh on the bones but it will affect us big time, I think.

In the background too there is CAP and what that could mean for farmers.

A key issue in CAP is going to be armchair farmers and my frustration is that people are asking and I dont have all the answers.

At the moment, Im getting 20-plus phone calls a day with issues from IFA members and its difficult to have the answers for them all.

But I want to have a team around me in Wexford and whoever is managing that issue here will be able to help me, and well solve it together.

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They say cows are the issue, but grass sequesters CO2

You cannot leave farming behind for the sake of a better environment, according to Jer OMahony, who says farms are the solution to the environmental issue, not the problem.

Co Wexford more than covers its carbon emissions, but who is counting that? Everyone is willing to get on a plane and go on their holidays, but how much does an hour flight belch out?

You have to look at farming and how it has changed even in my time.

Farming practices have changed, along with mechanisation and the quality of the machinery under TAMS. This is all helping.

But attitudes have to change and thats a slow burner, but you wont do that by blaming farmers or pointing the finger at them.

Change must be done by encouraging them.

In the modern world, the keyboard warrior is king and everything gets labelled, including farmers in the environmental sphere. We get blamed for slurry and farm emissions.

What has to be borne in mind is that on my farm, as on all farms, there is grass, trees and hedgerows, providing acre upon acre of greenery which sequesters carbon for this country.

There is very little of that inside the M50.

Farmers are beaten down by prices, higher input costs and by social isolation.

Wexford is called the Model County for a reason. Its not called that for our sporting prowess or our politics; its for our agricultural practice.

Everyone can tell you how much methane a cow puts out, but no one can tell us what one acre of grass can do when it comes to CO2 removal from the atmosphere.

Issues

That is one of my big issues: people look at a cow eating grass but they dont see the grass. We are on the back foot from an environmental point of view for too long.

There is an attempt to move to the front foot.

Everyone now has an option as they can go on a keyboard without having any back-up or facts. In the environmental space, t They say cows are the issue  they have no idea of the facts, that grass sequesters CO2.

That is something I want to do in IFA, to help campaign on this front better.

On the farm, I would do anything I could environmentally, such as sowing trees from nuts on the ground. After 30 years of doing it every year, I have the trees and carbon sequestration to prove that little steps over time make a change.

On his farm Jer has embraced technology and environmental improvements down through the years.

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A friend of mine was into technology and had wind turbines and solar panels at his house. But the cost was quite high at the time. I had an SSIA coming to maturity and I had to do something with it.

So I decided to put up a turbine, the highest spot on the hill were on; that was in 2009.

Its been fuelling the house since then. We went from electricity bills of 1,000 to less than 100 every two months.

Then, we put in water solar panels on the roof eight years ago and they produce hot water from March to the middle of October. It was a slow burner to pay off but its cleaning its own face now.

(Newser)  Armie Hammer had a full slate of film roles lined up until accusations of sexual assault began surfacing a few months ago. Now, Walden Media has dropped the actor from Billion Dollar Spy, the last job on his schedule. That means all the studios that were working with Hammer when the allegations hit have ended their business relationships with him, Variety reports. No other project has moved past the initial talks phase. Several women have accused Hammer of sexual assault, and Los Angeles police are investigating a rape accusation by a woman who said, "I thought that he was going to kill me." Hammer has said all his sexual relationships have been consensual and called the rape accusation "outrageous." The actor also has been dropped by his talent agency and publicist.

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Dropping Hammer doesn't solve the dilemma for studios involving his films that are completed, per Variety. Disney has shuffled releases, postponing Death on the Nile until Valentine's Day 2022. Studios sometimes recast roles in such situations, but Disney evidently has no plans for reshooting. Actors also can stay in the movie but be pulled from publicity campaignseven movie posters. There's the option now of skipping theatrical releases and sending the film straight to streaming. Studios want to demonstrate respect for any victims, executives said. As for Death on the Nile, an executive at another studio said, "It seems like the only way to go with this is to come out front and say, 'Hundreds of people worked on this project, and were not scrapping it because of one individual.'" (Read more Armie Hammer stories.)
New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind may undergo bypass surgery at AIIMS in Delhi today. You may know that on Friday (March 26), he complained of chest pain. He was then taken to the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in Delhi. There he was routinely checked up and after that, the doctors referred him to AIIMS for further treatment. According to the information received now, the President has been shifted to AIIMS on the afternoon of 27 March. For your information, let us also tell that after President Kovind was unwell, on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took information about his health during his two-day visit to Bangladesh.

After that he also wished him to get well as soon as possible. During that time a tweet was also released from the Prime Minister's Office, in which the Prime Minister said that "I talked to the President's son. Took information about his health and wished him to get well soon". By the way, the most important thing being said is that President Ram Nath Kovind had given the Corona vaccine in the past.

In fact, he had taken the first dose of Corona vaccine at Army Hospital and he went with his daughter to get the vaccine. Not only this, he thanked all the doctors, nurses, health workers, and fans for successfully implementing the biggest vaccination campaign.

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Australians who have been forced to live in tents during a horror 2020 have penned heartbreaking letters detailing the dire circumstance that led to their homelessness.

Advocates say homelessness in New South Wales is becoming a 'humanitarian crisis' due to domestic violence, booming rent prices and the coronavirus pandemic.

Tents were put on display in Newcastle, about two hours north of Sydney, on Monday to raise awareness to the current housing crisis.

'There is a humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Hunter Region with levels of homelessness and insecure housing not seen by professionals in the sector,' the event description read.

Tents were put on display in Newcastle, about two hours north of Sydney, on Monday to raise awareness to the current housing crisis (pictured)

The demonstration included real life case studies from those suffering through homelessness (pictured)

'Crisis accommodation is at capacity and rental vacancies are virtually non-existent.

A 'tent city' was displayed in the old train sheds at Foreshore Park as part of a call to action.

The demonstration included real life case studies from those suffering through homelessness.

The experiences - hung on the tents - detailed how people slipped into homelessness when the owners were selling property or because they lost their job during the pandemic.

One woman, aged in her 50s, became homeless when she came into ill health and could not longer work.

'Alison is now accessing the Jobseeker payment from Centrelink, but due to unaffordability is unable to secure stable and long-term accommodation,' the case study reads.

Homeless and displaced people shelter in tents that are scattered throughout Martin Place in Sydney

A homeless man sits in front of a billboard by a construction site in Sydney

'With Specialist Homelessness Services overwhelmed, Alison is facing living in this tent with her pet.'

Others sleeping rough were forced to flee domestic violence.

The demonstration was hosted by Hunter Community Alliance, Nova for Women and Hunter Homeless Connect.

Kelly Hansen, the chief executive for Nova for Women, has worked in the field for 35 years and is 'terrified' by the current situation.

'I think that this is a humanitarian crisis and it is now going to be more visible to the wider community,' she told the ABC.

A 'tent city' was displayed in the old train sheds at Foreshore Park on Monday as part of a call to action

Ms Hansen said the crisis was impacting people who have never faced such a struggle before.

'Look around you, we have got people who are two-income earners getting evicted and they can't find properties, they are shocked, we are all shocked,' she said.

Homelessness NSW chief executive Katherine McKernan said Newcastle could see a 38 per cent increase in homelessness and 70 per cent increase in people living in housing stress with the loss of JobSeeker and JobKeeper.

'People are staying with their [domestic violence] perpetrators, or sleeping rough, under houses and stairwells,' Ms McKernan said.
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued her first veto of the year Tuesday, rejecting legislation that would have increased a fee on public water systems to generate $1.4 million a year in revenue.

The governor also signed a bill that eliminates certain fines and fees for juvenile offenders in childrens court.

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The veto centers on House Bill 92, which proposed a 67% increase  from 3 cents to 5 cents per 1,000 gallons  for a fee charged to public water systems. The revenue was to be deposited into a fund to cover the cost of testing drinking water for contaminants.

In a short veto message, Lujan Grisham said the money to conduct testing can be found elsewhere.

This bill creates a tax on water that is too onerous on New Mexicans as we strive to recover from the pandemic, the governor said. It is important to allow New Mexicans to regain an economic foothold during atypical circumstances.

The proposal had broad support in the Legislature, passing the House 49-17 and the Senate 37-1.

Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, has signed 15 bills and vetoed one. She has until April 9 to act on bills passed in the final days of the regular 60-day session, which ended March 20.

Any bill she doesnt sign or veto by April 9 is automatically rejected, a procedure known as a pocket veto.

The measure she signed Tuesday  House Bill 183  eliminates a fine for possession of marijuana by a minor, although 48 hours of community service could still be required. The legislation also eliminates a $10 application fee for representation by a public defender and certain other court fees for children.

These fees are disproportionately painful for lower-income families, Lujan Grisham said. Nickel-and-diming New Mexico families doesnt solve anything.

Removing the fees is expected to cost the state only $4,200 a year in revenue.

House Bill 183 was jointly sponsored by Democratic Reps. Roger Montoya of Velarde and Gail Chasey of Albuquerque.

It passed each chamber without a dissenting vote.

The governors actions came the same day she called the Legislature into special session to take up the legalization of marijuana for adults and an economic development proposal.
NEW DELHI: Kareena Kapoor Khan's Taimur Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan's daughter Inaaya Naumi Kemmu celebrated Holi with each other on Monday. Kareena and Saif Ali Khan, who recently welcomed their second bundle of joy, threw a mini Holi party for her family members at their Mumbai residence.

Among those who were seen arriving at her place were Soha Ali Khan, her husband Kunal Kemmu and her daughter Inaaya Naumi Kemmu. Kareena and Soha shared adorable photos and videos of their little munchkins from the Holi celebration. In the photos and videos that have gone viral on the internet, Taimur and Inaaya are seen enjoying their pool party to the fullest. In one of the videos, Inaaya can be seen applying colours on Taimur's cheeks.

In another photo, the little Tim Tim is seen posing with much swag and confidence in a complete white embroidered kurta set. Sharing the photo, Kareena wrote, "Stay safe people. Happy Holi from me (sic)."

Only recently, Kareena Kapoor shared a throwback family photo from their London outing on Instagram. The photo featured the actress along with her husband Saif Ali Khan, Taimur, Karisma Kapoor and her two kids - Samaira and Kiaan, and their mother Babita Kapoor. Kareena wrote, "Always better together. PS: London, I can't wait to be back (sic)."

On the work front, Kareena has resumed work, almost a month after giving birth to her second son. The actress was recently spotted at a Mumbai studio where she reportedly shot for a cooking show. She will be next seen in Aamir Khan's 'Laal Singh Chaddha', which is set to be released during Christmas this year.
Murkowskis Primary Challenger Hires 4 Trump Campaign Alumni

U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka has hired four former senior Trump campaign staffers as part of her Republican primary challenge against Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

Tshibaka, a former Alaska Department of Administration commissioner, contracted National Public Affairs, a political consultancy run by Trump campaign alumni Bill Stepien, Justin Clark, and Nick Trainer. Tim Murtaugh, who served as the director of communications for President Donald Trumps 2020 campaign, has joined as Tshibakas communications director.

Murtaugh confirmed the roster in an email to The Epoch Times. Politico was the first to report on the details.

Mary Ann Pruitt of PS Strategies in Alaska joined Tshibaka as a consultant, according to Murtaugh. Pruitt worked as a media consultant for Murkowskis 2016 campaign.

Tshibaka resigned from her post as the head of Alaskas Department of Administration to campaign against Murkowski. In a campaign video, she described herself as conservative, pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and America First, always.

Murkowski is among a handful of Republicans who has frequently criticized Trump and sided with Democrats on key votes. Club for Growth, an advocacy group tracking lawmakers votes on legislation related to economic freedom, ranks her lower than some far-left Democrats. She is only one of two Republican senators to receive a failing grade on the pro-life scorecard maintained by the Susan B. Anthony List.

There has been a Murkowski in the Senate since 1981, Tshibaka said, referring to the Senate tenure of Murkowskis father, Frank Murkowski, who appointed his daughter to succeed him in the U.S. Senate after he was elected governor of Alaska.

So what has she been doing in Washington, D.C.? Well, shes been voting with all of those D.C. insiders, especially the liberal ones. Shes been hurting our way of life. Shes become more like them than us.

Murkowski was among the seven Senate Republicans who voted in favor of convicting Trump during the second impeachment trial, in which he was ultimately exonerated. The former president has since vowed to make sure Murkowski is defeated in the Republican primary in 2022. Trump hasnt endorsed a candidate in the race.

Earlier this month, state Republican Party leaders voted to censure Murkowski over her impeachment vote. Party leaders in other states took similar measures against Republicans who voted as she did.

All but two of the House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are also facing primary challenges. Trump has already thrown his support behind Max Miller, a former Trump White House official who is challenging Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio).

Trump won Alaska in 2016 and 2020.

Murkowski filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission on March 9.

In 2018, Fox News host Laura Ingraham and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin also expressed interest in running for Murkowskis seat.

Tshibaka has overseen a vast department, with agencies including the Division of Motor Vehicles, Personnel and Labor Relations, and the office that maintains technology infrastructure for the state executive branch. Tshibaka has at times clashed with unions and with lawmakers over procurement issues and a proposal to close some Division of Motor Vehicles offices.

Her resume includes work in the offices of inspector general for the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Trade Commission, and Department of Justice before joining Gov. Mike Dunleavys administration.

Alaska instituted election reforms last year that scrapped party primaries for a system in which the top four candidates advance to the general election. The state also instituted a ranked-choice voting system for general elections.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Paul Robson, 50, was in breach of his prison licence when he murdered his ex-partner

A cage fighter has been found guilty of beating his teacher ex-girlfriend to death and trying to kill her schoolboy lover - after blackmailing her with threats to reveal their secret affair.

Paul Robson, 50, subjected his former partner Caroline Kayll, 47, to 60 injuries during the attack in her home in Linton, Northumberland, last year.

He knocked her to the floor and then repeatedly kicked her in the head while wearing heavy work boots.

Branded 'a cruel and calculating coward' by the prosecution, Robson then took a pair of scissors to her lifeless body, cut off her hair and slashed her buttocks.

During the frenzied attack Robson stabbed and bit Mrs Kayll's 15-year-old lover, who cannot be named, 45 times but the teenager miraculously survived.

Robson sprayed them both with ammonia and stole their phones  later updating Mrs Kayll's social media while he was on the run, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

It was a tragic end to Robson and Mrs Kayll's relationship, which began with a secret affair when he was serving ten years for drugs and firearms offences and she was working as a prison teacher.

Caroline Kayll, who died in hospital after attack in Linton, Northumberland on November 15

Instead of answering police questions, Robson prepared a statement to say he was 'broken' by her death and that someone attacked him when he visited her home. Pictured, during a police interview last year

When he was freed on licence they moved in together, but after they split up he discovered her illegal activities with the child and began blackmailing her for 29,000.

Robson should not have been free to kill after he was recalled to prison in March 2019 because he breached his release terms, but the authorities could not find him.

Instead, Newcastle Crown Court was told on November 15, 2020, he travelled 150miles from Glasgow to her home.

Video shows Robson skulking around Mrs Kayll's home. He later messaged one of her friends to say: 'I went up there and they are cuddled up on the sofa, watching TV.'

He had with him a locksmith bar, a magnetic GPS car tracker, screwdrivers, pliers, a wrench and the ammonia which he kept in a washing-up liquid bottle.

The jury heard as Robson left the scene he told a neighbour, who he knew was a nurse, that he had 'done something and she's in a bad way'.

The killer then went on the run for six days before he was located by police in Glasgow and arrested on suspicion of murder.

Instead of answering police questions, Robson prepared a statement to say he was 'broken' by her death and that someone attacked him when he visited her home.

Robson, of Wallsend, North Tyneside, denied murder, attempted murder and blackmailing his ex-partner. Today he was found guilty of all three charges.

The jurors were shown pictures of Robson stopping off on his way from Glasgow

The 'very harrowing evidence' jurors heard led to the judge excusing them from further service for ten years.

During his trial, career criminal Robson told the court he first met Mrs Kayll when imprisoned in HMP Northumberland in 2005 and it was then that their clandestine relationship began .

Robson was further jailed for 10 years in 2014 for drugs and firearms offences and returned to HMP Northumberland where he was re-united with Mrs Kayll.

At this time she was employed as a teacher in the education department of the prison and the pair re-ignited their secret affair.

Robson was released in 2018 but this time their relationship did not stop and they soon moved in with each other at the property in Linton.

The pair remained together until October 2020 but separated when Robson became aware of Mrs Kayll's relationship with the teenager.

The court was told how Robson then took the opportunity to blackmail Mrs Kayll, threatening to 'ruin' her if she did not pay him.

In a bid to ensure his silence a desperate Mrs Kayll transferred 29,000 to him  but just two weeks later she was dead.

Barrister Richard Bennett told the court Robson was jailed in 2014 for a total of 10 years for drugs and firearms offences, and that while at HMP Northumberland he gained 'trusted' status and worked in the education department, where Mrs Kayll was a teacher.

He was released on licence in November 2018, but was then recalled to prison in March 2019 because he had breached his licence, the court heard.

'Following this, Paul Robson was unlawfully at large,' Mr Bennett said.

After the murder police found an electronic copy of Robson's CV on a memory stick, in which he said he was a ex-professional fighter and amateur powerlifter who wanted to become an assessor and verifier.

The court heard Ms Kayll met her husband Ian Kayll in 2002 after she started work at HMP Northumberland, where he was a manager.

It is said he drove for three hours from Glasgow to Linton, having bought a locksmith's bar, a magnetic GPS car tracker, screwdrivers, pliers, a wrench and ammonia

Here Robson is pictured with a drink bottle that he picked up on journey, Newcastle Crown Court heard

They remained on good terms after they separated and would still meet up every few weeks.

Giving evidence, he admitted he heard rumours she was seen with Robson, but she denied the relationship.

Teenage lover's terror as he escaped murder In a video recorded interview, the boy said he was in an upstairs bedroom about to have a cigarette when a man, who was a stranger to him, came in, jumped on his back and stabbed him. He told detectives: 'He was on my back, I was face down on the bed. 'He was pushing me down and stabbing.' The youth said he tried to get his attacker off him and added: 'He said 'wait there, don't move or I will kill you' then comes back with a bigger blade.' He said what happened next was 'the same thing again but more of a struggle'. The teenager said he was told to go downstairs with his attacker. There he saw Mrs Kayll lying on the floor, face down. He added: 'He cuts her hair off and he was doing stuff to her. 'He gets another blade.' The teen said his attacker had taken a meat cleaver from a kitchen drawer and added: 'He hits my head, twice.' Advertisement

He told the court: 'I asked Caroline if the rumours were true and she categorically said no and got quite upset I had asked her.

'She really enjoyed her job working with the children and got on well with the staff.

'Caroline had a good lifestyle, she worked very hard for what she had.'

A pathologist at the court told jurors Ms Kayll had 60 injuries and died from blunt force to her head.

The boy was found to have suffered 45 injuries, having been stabbed, chopped and slashed, he had bite marks to his arm and defensive injuries to his hands, the court has heard.

Robson claimed in a defence case statement that he was attacked from behind while talking to Ms Kayll.

He said he came round from unconsciousness to find the youth standing over her as she lay motionless on the floor of her house last November.

But pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper, asked if Robson's injuries match up with Robson's own account, replied: 'No they don't.

'Usually the victim has injuries worse than the assailant. There's an enormous discrepancy in the number of injuries between (the boy) and Mr Robson. They are consistent with Robson being the assailant and (the youth) being the victim.'

Dr Cooper told the court Ms Kayll had a 'catastrophic brain injury'.

As well as multiple areas of bruising to various parts of her head, face, and body, arms and legs, there were cuts to both buttocks. She also had fractures to both cheekbones.

She suffered multiple fractures to her eye socket and nose.

Her brain was found to have been badly damaged by a lack of blood and oxygen. It was also severely swollen, there was nerve fibre damage and a small amount of bleeding.

Shortly after this picture was taken the powerfully-built defendant was seen on CCTV in heavy boots 'prowling' outside her house, the jury heard

Pictured: Police at the scene in November

Referring to the neuropathologist's report, Dr Cooper said: 'He says severe force has been applied to Caroline's head, including an action causing a violent rotational movement of the head.

'The brain has twisted violently inside the head to cause the fibre damage.'

Referring to causation of the brain injuries, Dr Cooper said a pathologist believes someone kicked or stamped on her head.

He added that it would require a 'severe' level of force.

Prison love triangle of the murdered teacher Murder victim Caroline Kayll told 'white lies' about the illicit relationship she had with a prisoner and the illegal one she started with an underage boy, jurors heard. The 47-year-old, married at the time to a senior prison officer, started a clandestine relationship with Paul Robson when he was serving at HMP Northumberland where she taught. She had previously worked as a social worker, a police officer in Cumbria, a prison officer, took on a teaching role behind bars, then moved into a school role, Newcastle Crown Court heard. She met her husband Ian Kayll in 2002 after she started work at HMP Northumberland, where he was a security manager. Robson was to claim he had a secret relationship with her during two jail stints, the second of which continued after he was released. Mrs Kayll remained on good terms with her husband after they separated and they would still meet up every few weeks. He heard a rumour she had been seen with Robson and said: 'I asked Caroline if the rumours were true and she categorically said no and got quite upset I had asked her.' After Robson broke up with her, she started an illegal sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy, claiming he was her godson if anyone asked. Nicholas Lumley QC, prosecuting, acknowledged she told 'white lies' about these illicit relationships and that she had made 'some life choices that not all of us in this room would make'. A keen horse-rider, she had two horses at a farm and a border terrier called Boxer who was always by her side. She owned her own home and pick-up truck but after paying Robson 29,000 in blackmail after he threatened to expose her, her savings were gone. Robson was convicted of murdering his ex-partner after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court. Advertisement

Meanwhile, Dr Cooper said the youth suffered three stab wounds, 19 slashing or chopping injuries, a chop wound to his face with an underlying fracture, seven scratches or similar marks which may or may not have been caused by a sharp weapon and superficial puncture wounds from something used repeatedly, possibly scissors.

The teenager also had four bite marks to his arms and four blunt force injuries.

There were other indistinct injuries and injuries to his hands, including to tendons, which could have been defensive.

Robson claimed he was struck from behind while speaking to Ms Kayll.

He said he remembered someone throttling him but didn't know how long he was unconscious and came round feeling dazed.

The statement said he saw the youth standing over Ms Kayll, who was lying motionless on the floor.

His defence statement added: 'He said he chased (the youth) who ran upstairs. The defendant says (he) was in a rage, calling Caroline a liar and a c*** and he was trying to stab the defendant.

'At one point he stabbed with such force his hand slipped down the hilt onto the blade.'

The statement went on to say Robson disarmed the youth of the knife but that the youth was in a rage and forced him out of an ensuite bathroom and into the bedroom and that he ended up on top of Robson and was saying 'she's a f****** liar'.

It added: 'He was intent on driving the scissors into the defendant's face.

'He bit him and managed to wrestle the scissors from him. He accepts stabbing him a number of times to subdue him.'

The statement went on: 'The defendant dragged him downstairs. He then went to Caroline Kayll and realised a lot of her hair had been cut off.

'The defendant attempted mouth to mouth but her mouth was full of blood.

'He sprayed her face with a hose to clear away the hair and wash away the blood.

'He tried mouth to mouth and put her in the recovery position.'

Robson then claimed the youth 'came at him again' with a meat cleaver but that he got the better of him and disarmed him.

He accepted he struck him a number of times with the knife but insisted he inflicted the injuries lawfully in self-defence.

Following the case, senior investigating officer at Northumbria Police, Detective Inspector Graeme Barr, welcomed the guilty verdicts.

He said: 'This is one of the most violent offences I have investigated in my policing career and I welcome the guilty verdicts of the jury.

'Paul Robson has been fuelled by a jealous rage and attended his former address that night with one thing on his mind.

'His attack on Caroline and his teenage victim was pre-meditated and demonstrated horrendous levels of violence.

'There is no doubt he wanted to kill or permanently disfigure both of his victims. He succeeded in killing his former partner and has left his teenage victim scarred for life.

'Not only that, but he spent the days that followed trying to avoid police before attempting to pin Caroline's murder on a vulnerable, teenage boy.

'Those actions have put the teenage victim, his family and Caroline's family through the ordeal of a trial and I want to praise the bravery they have shown throughout these proceedings.

'I know that for them no punishment will be enough, but today's verdicts do mean that Paul Robson will be handed a life sentence.

'There is a very real chance he will never experience freedom again and I hope that can bring some justice to his victims.'

Robson was remanded in custody until Mr Justice Lavender will pass sentence at 2pm on Wednesday at Newcastle Crown Court.
Yannick Bandaogo, charged with second-degree murder in a deadly stabbing rampage in North Vancouver this weekend, was wanted on a warrant in Winnipeg.

A wind warning and a blowing snow advisory are in effect for Winnipeg, and parts of various highways around the province are closed because of poor winter driving conditions. People who have to reschedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments can do so online or by calling 1-844-626-8222.

Take a look out your window. You figured a second winter was coming, and you were right. Your reward? Nothing but wind and a bit of snow. Thats life.
A woman is seen with a cart containing poster displays that slander Falun Gong, in Hong Kong, on March 25, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

Beijing-Linked Group Continues to Target Falun Gong in Hong Kong

Hong Kong resident admits to carrying out orders from Chinese authorities

Poster displays that slander the spiritual practice Falun Gong have emerged in some parts of Hong Kong in the past few weeks. Local Falun Gong adherents believe that an agency with direct ties to the Chinese regime has continued to target the practice.

The Chinese-language Epoch Times spoke to one local resident whose job was to set up anti-Falun Gong poster displays and she admitted to taking direct orders from Chinese authorities. Local lawmakers have expressed concern about the recent incidents.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient Chinese spiritual practice consisting of simple, slow-moving meditation exercises and moral teachings incorporating the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance in everyday life. It grew in popularity during the 1990s, with 70 million to 100 million adherents in China by the end of the decade, according to official estimates at the time.

Feeling threatened by its popularity, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a systematic elimination campaign in July 1999. Since then, millions have been detained inside prisons, labor camps, and other facilities, with hundreds of thousands tortured while incarcerated, according to Falun Dafa Information Center.

HKYCA Continues to Harass Falun Gong Practitioners

Recent evidence reveals that the HKYCA, which formally dissolved at the end of 2020, has resumed its harassment against Falun Gong.

The HKYCA was registered as a limited company in Hong Kong in June 2012. The background of its members and its funding sources indicate that the association has ties to the CCPs 610 Office, according to a report issued by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG). The 610 Office is an extralegal agency created for the sole purpose of carrying out the Falun Gong persecution. It has absolute power at each level of administration in the CCP and its influence trumps that of all of Chinas other political and judicial organizations.

Since HKYCA was established, it has targeted Falun Gong adherents and interfered with their activities in downtown Hong Kong.

Since March 6, an array of unattended poster displays that slandered Falun Gong and its founder were found near Falun Gong information booths in Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, and Wan Chai, according to a local female Falun Gong practitioner surnamed Zhou.

Those posters are full of lies, which are exactly in line with over two decades of the CCPs defamation propaganda [against our belief], Zhou told the Chinese-language Epoch Times.

The content on the displays is in simplified Chinese charactersthe style that is mostly used in mainland China.

A man was spotted taking out poster displays from a steel cabinet that had been bound to a pier in Tsim Sha Tsui and belonged to the HKYCA, according to an anonymous local Falun Gong practitioner.

Former high-ranking HKYCA members have been seen harassing Falun Gong adherents at their information booths almost every day, according to WOIPFG.

Resident Carries Out CCPs Orders

On March 25, Zhou and a reporter from the Chinese-language Epoch Times went to Mong Kok to check out the anti-Falun Gong poster displays.

Around 3 p.m. that day, an elderly woman in a blue sweater showed up around the junction of Fa Yuen Street and Nelson Street and began to set up the poster displays. She had a small cart containing more than 10 posters. Meanwhile, a man in a white T-shirt was taking a video of the woman on his cellphone.

The woman worked quickly. When the job was done, she walked to the next location, Argyle Street, and set up three posters.

When the old woman went back to her cart to get more posters, Zhou approached her and told her not to put up materials that slander Falun Gong. The woman got nervous and the man began recording the conversation.

The reporter asked the old woman who she works for. She replied in a local dialect: a ye a ye is a particular way for Hongkongers to address the Chinese government, and the term emerged prior to the 1997 handover of Hong Kong from the UK to China.

When asked again, she replied, The CCP.  The Shenzhen branch of the CCP. But she did not reveal the specific CCP department that gave her direct orders.

The elderly woman said, Ill have to upload [my videoed work] every day. Everyday.

The reporter inquired if she was a CCP member or a local member of the CCPs Shenzhen branch. The woman refused to answer the question.

When asked how much money she was being paid to do the job, the woman reacted negatively and said, Dont ask me about that!  I dont use the money. She also denied producing the materials.

The man came up to the old woman and called her mom.

When the reporter asked if the CCPs Shenzhen branch was against Falun Gong, the old woman admitted that she was carrying out the CCPs orders. The man averted the topic and told the reporter to report the incident to the police if she thought the materials were offensive.

The woman set up a total of 18 poster displays that daythree of them were tied to the sidewalk handrails with ropes.

In this undated photo, a man takes out poster displays that slander Falun Gong from a steel cabinet which is believed to belong to the HKYCA and is bound to a pier at Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong. (Provided to The Epoch Times)

LegCo Member Requests Citizens to Report Unattended Poster Displays

After his visit to Mong Kok on March 25, Legislative Council (LegCo) member Chu Kong Wai told The Epoch Times that he received complaints from neighborhoods about unattended poster displays vilifying Falun Gong. He said any citizen can take a photo of them and report it to the Food and Environment Hygiene Department (FEHD).

The FEHD will remove them under Hong Kongs existing system, he said.

Chu believes the emergence of the poster displays at multiple locations is an organized act.

The lawmaker said that under the Hong Kong national security law, it would be easier than ever for the CCP to target any individual or group politically. He expressed concern over the suppression of freedom of speech in the city.

Unattended Poster Displays Violate Rules

Lo Chun-Yu, LegCo member in the district of Tuen Mun, told The Epoch Times that he also noticed the re-emergence of anti-Falun Gong posters in the streets. Some of the contents incite community violence, he said.

We must condemn those individuals who place such displays and those organizations which send out such vicious remarks, he stressed.

The HKYCA is using a different way of continuing its harassment against Falun Gong, Lo said.

First of all, unattended poster displays are against the FEHD rules; they involve criminal risks of affecting street traffic, the lawmaker noted.

CCPs Big Stick Policy Against Falun Gong Will Backfire

The harsher the CCPs crackdown, the braver well be, said Lo. I believe neither Falun Gong nor [Hong Kong] pro-democracy activists would be intimidated.

Lo also expressed his admiration to Falun Gong practitioners who have endured 22 years of the CCPs persecution.

[I] particularly appreciate the endurance of core values in Falun Gong.  Im convinced Falun Gong will certainly continue to bring light to our society.

Falun Gong practitioner Zhou asks all residents to call the FEHD if they see any anti-Falun Gong poster displays.

Please help end the CCP from spreading poison among Hong Kong citizens, she said.

Sarah Liang contributed to this report.
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One of those involved in the rimegepant trials, Darlene LeBlanc, 63, describes how the drug was the first treatment shed tried in over 40 years that worked well for her debilitating symptoms

For almost three decades, Jennifer Farringtons life had been dominated by migraines so bad that the GP had to go on sick leave for nine months.

Then three months ago she was offered a chance to try a monthly injection of a preventative treatment called fremanezumab.

The effect has been transformative  not only halving the number of days she gets migraines, but when she does feel one coming on, its more likely to respond to painkillers such as ibuprofen.

I feel Ive got my life back, says Jennifer.

Fremanezumab is one of a wave of new drugs that have recently become available in the UK for chronic migraine  defined as having headaches more than 15 days a month  and episodic migraine, where it occurs less than 15 days a month.

These monthly jabs (the others include erenumab and galcanezumab) are administered into the stomach or thigh, and block a chemical, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), that is released in the brain.

They have made a big difference to Jennifer, who had previously been pinned to her bed for days on end with crippling, pulsing pain behind one eye, nausea and vomiting, before feeling wiped out for at least two days afterwards.

It has been horrific, says Jennifer, 42, who lives in Alsager, Cheshire, with her husband Gary, 47, a teacher, and their daughters Amy, 15, and Abigail, 14. I would just get over one migraine, and another would start straight away within hours  it was unbearable.

Jennifer was so debilitated by constant pain that she reluctantly went on sick leave last June.

However, in January this year, Jennifers neurologist suggested fremanezumab.

She is now starting to work again  and, most important of all, I now get very little of the after-effects of the migraine, which was at least two days of feeling completely exhausted. But this has almost stopped with the injections.

The good news for migraine patients is that trials have shown that a new form of tablet that targets the same CGRP pathway can also help prevent attacks  and unusually, could alleviate symptoms when a migraine starts too.

Three times more common in women (as a result of hormonal differences, it is thought), migraines occur when nerves and blood vessels at the top and front of the brain release CGRP, a chemical that carries messages between cells

One such drug, rimegepant, is licensed in the U.S. (as Nurtec) and is being considered by European regulators as both a rescue and preventative treatment.

A study in The Lancet in December, involving more than 700 migraine sufferers, found those who received rimegepant experienced migraines on 4.3 fewer days a month, compared with 3.5 fewer days in the placebo group.

Half said they had a drop of 50 per cent or more of their severe migraine days, compared with 41 per cent of the placebo group.

One of those involved in the rimegepant trials, Darlene LeBlanc, 63, describes how the drug was the first treatment shed tried in over 40 years that worked well for her debilitating symptoms.

Darlene, from Tampa, Florida, developed migraines at the age of 27, following the birth of her first child, and the mother of three has suffered between three and five attacks a month ever since.

It had such a big impact on not just me but my whole family, she says. I was bedridden for 15 or 20 days a month.

Darlene, who lives with her husband Kevin, 60, who works in insurance, tried many treatments which had no effect on her migraines and left her feeling unlike herself. The only treatments that made a difference were triptans, drugs that help relieve but wont prevent symptoms.

A study in The Lancet in December, involving more than 700 migraine sufferers, found those who received rimegepant experienced migraines on 4.3 fewer days a month, compared with 3.5 fewer days in the placebo group [File photo]

They lessened the migraine so that I could just about get up and function, but I still had an underlying migraine, the sensitivity to light, and nausea, says Darlene.

Two years ago she joined the drug trial and after just one tablet, the crippling pain, nausea and running eyes were gone.

Darlene is now prescribed the medication by her doctor and takes three to five tablets a month, when an attack starts. A single tablet is generally enough to halt all her symptoms.

In trials, rimegepant is taken as a tablet (which melts under the tongue) as a preventative every two days, but can also be taken if patients feel an attack coming.

Another tablet that works in a similar way is already licensed in the U.S., with others in development. None has had approval for use in the UK yet, but the hope is that at least one will soon.

They would be an easy option for the six million people in the UK who suffer from migraines.

Three times more common in women (as a result of hormonal differences, it is thought), migraines occur when nerves and blood vessels at the top and front of the brain release CGRP, a chemical that carries messages between cells. Research suggests that CGRP promotes pain signals in the head.

The injectable preventatives are laboratory-produced proteins that prevent CGRP molecules from docking onto receptors, where they would prompt and continue a migraine.

Brendan Davies, a consultant neurologist and headache research lead at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Foundation Trust, says these drugs represent a major step forward in migraine treatment. The CGRP drugs are the biggest change I have seen for people with migraines in the 18 years I have worked in headache care, he says. The new tablets could be easily prescribed by GPs and be more widely available than prevention treatments that must be prescribed by specialists.

Around 25 per cent of people with migraines respond to CGRP treatments, and they do spectacularly well on them, says Peter Goadsby, a professor of neurology at Kings College London, who first identified the CGRP mechanism to treat migraines.

For those who dont, there is probably another mechanism, and different chemicals, causing their migraine.

Furthermore, with studies showing the side-effects are minimal, the fact that these drugs both prevent and treat the problem is a major advance.

It totally changes how we look at medication, says Professor Goadsby. With a single packet of tablets, people could potentially take the drug as and when they need it. If they feel they are at high risk of having a migraine, they could take a tablet every day as a preventative.

Most existing migraine treatments were developed for other conditions and come with side-effects, which can be severe. They include beta-blockers, such as propranolol, which were originally developed to treat high blood pressure, and which cant be taken by people with asthma  side-effects include tiredness and fatigue.

Meanwhile, tricyclic antidepressants, which block serotonin, a brain chemical thought to also have a role in migraines, can make people feel drowsy and cause weight gain.

The CGRP tablet and injections, have fewer side-effects so far  about 2 per cent of patients report having nausea.

Andrew Dowson, the clinical lead for East Kent Headache Service, cautions that while the new injections and tablets are an exciting development: We need to sound a note of realism that a lot of people with migraines will not be eligible for these treatments.

The injections are only available to those who have failed on three other preventative treatments. Even when people access them, they may not work, adds Dr Dowson. The big hope is they will help those who cant take existing options.

Jennifer tried all standard therapies, including Botox injections (the mechanism by which it works is not fully understood), and while they had varying success, the side-effects are terrible, she says.

And none helped with the migraine after-effects. She now self-injects into the stomach or thigh muscle once a month. It has given me back to my family  and to my patients, she says.
President Biden has compared his political opponents to Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels, accusing them of telling the big lie.

But when it comes to global warming, Biden is telling the big lie.

Biden calls climate change an existential threat. He presumably means an existential threat to human beings. Yet the data show the opposite  that the warming of the planet saves lives.

A study by 22 scientists from around the world published in 2015 by the British medical journal The Lancet found that cold kills over 17 times more people than heat. The scientists examined over 74 million deaths in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States in 1985-2012. They found that cold caused 7.29 percent of these deaths, while heat caused only 0.42 percent.
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Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Life insurance is the greatest gift you can give your family and today, Survested, a new life insurance agency, is launching to make the process simple, honest, and completely transparent. Powered by artificial intelligence, Surevested's powerful technology matches consumer data with thousands of policies from top-tier life insurance companies. By making this complex shopping experience fast and easy, Surevested can help consumers find the best policy for their needs and budget, all in one place.

While the insurance industry is predominantly run by men, Surevested is a female-founded and operated agency, led by New York native Jessica Lepore. Pairing industry expertise with an entrepreneurial millennial mindset, Jessica is bringing the future of life insurance into the hands of everyday consumers with Surevested.

"We developed Surevested with the goal of creating a streamlined process of finding the ideal life insurance policy," says Jessica Lepore, Founder of Surevested. "The ongoing pandemic has proven the importance of protecting our family. Being insured can provide peace of mind, financial security for the future, and reassurance that the people you love most will be taken care of. It's never too early to invest in your future."

With decades of traditional brokerage experience, the team at Survested has learned through its clients how to improve the life insurance purchasing experience. Nobody likes pushy salespeople, long processing times, or shady quote practices. Consumers want honesty and transparency, especially when comparing options for a decision as important as life insurance. To turn this feedback into a reality, the agency partnered with technologists to build a new marketplace that works in minutes to match consumer personal data with thousands of policies.

Surevested works with several top carriers, not just one, and offers both term and permanent life policies. The platform allows consumers to apply to multiple carriers through a single application that displays comparative rates and projections in one user-friendly place. While exploring different policies, Surevested's clients can see the insurance company's credit rating (which indicates their financial strength and stability) right along with the coverage and term length for all quotes provided. The comprehensive technology pulls enough data to omit the need for a medical exam 90% of the time, even from a carrier that would otherwise require it. This full process demonstrates Surevested's goal of being completely transparent while simplifying the policy buying process for all.

Surevested is currently available in five states including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, with expansion continuing throughout 2021. To learn more about Surevested, visit surevested.com and follow us on Instagram ( @surevested ).

About Surevested

Surevested is an artificial intelligence-powered life insurance agency. Our powerful technology matches consumer data with thousands of policies from top-tier life insurance companies. By making this complex comparison shopping fast and easy, we help you find the best policy for your needs and budget. The Surevested team has been in the insurance industry for decades, and customer service has always been our top priority. By combining expertise and our ability to connect with clients, we're making the life insurance process simple, honest, and completely transparent.

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The White House announced Monday that US President Joe Biden would not meet with North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un because his response to Pyongyang would be "very different."

Joe Biden won't meet with North Korea Leader Kim Jong-Un

President Joe Biden said at a press conference on Thursday that if the North escalates tensions in the aftermath of its recent missile tests, the US will act appropriately and that he is also prepared to engage in diplomacy. In response to a question about whether Biden's diplomacy involves sitting with North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, "I think his approach would be quite different, and that is not his intention."

Psaki's statements reaffirmed Biden's desire to take a different approach than former President Donald Trump. The former President wanted denuclearization advancement from Pyongyang by direct leader-to-leader interaction, as per Korea Times.

Biden expressed openness to negotiations with North Korea at a press conference on Thursday but stressed that "it needs to be conditional on the end result of denuclearization." After National Security Advisor Suh Hoon and his US and Japanese counterparts, Jake Sullivan and Shigeru Kitamura, meet in Washington this week for talks on a structured regime approach. The US is scheduled to conclude its analysis of policy on the North.

North Korea Rejects Biden's Criticism on Missile Launch, Accuses Biden's Administration of 'Gangster-Like Logic'

North Korea threatens US with 'invincible physical power'

North Korea said on Saturday that the Biden administration had made a mistake by condemning its latest missile launch, showing 'deep-seated hostility.' According to Daily Mail, North Korea announced that it had launched a new tactical short-range ballistic missile on Friday.

President Joe Biden said the test violated UN Security Council resolutions, but he stayed open to diplomacy with Pyongyang. According to Ri Pyong Chol, secretary of the North's ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee, the drill was self-defensive against threats faced by joint military exercises and advanced missiles by South Korea and the United States.

Biden's comments were an "undisguised encroachment on our state's right to self-defense and provocation," he said, adding that if Washington proceeds to make "thoughtless remarks," it can face "anything that is not good." On a visit to Seoul with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged to denuclearize North Korea and condemn its 'systemic and pervasive' human rights violations.

North Korea has also slammed the recent military drills between South Korea and the United States. However, they were repeatedly cut down to allow for the revival of denuclearization talks with Pyongyang.

How North Korea's Leader Kim Jong Un Keeps Advancing With His Nuclear Missile Plans

US considers UN actions in response to North Korea missile tests

On Monday, the Biden administration said it is considering "additional actions" that the UN might take in response to North Korea's recent missile tests. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States' ambassador to the United Nations, did not elaborate on what such actions could mean.

But she acknowledged that the UN Security Council met last week and extended the experts who oversee North Korean sanctions. On Tuesday, the council is set to hold closed-door talks about North Korea.

The US and other Security Council members are considering further measures, according to Thomas-Greenfield. Meanwhile, as the administration finalizes analyzing how to handle North Korea, President Joe Biden's national security advisor Jake Sullivan will meet with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea in Washington soon to discuss North Korea's strategy.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who recently returned from Tokyo and Seoul, said that the three countries are working together to address problems posed by Pyongyang's problems. North Korea accused the UN of enforcing a "double standard" in its response to the launches, which are in breach of UN sanctions, and warned of serious consequences.

North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea last week, defying UN resolutions prohibiting such launches. According to some analysts, North Korea's missile tests were intended to put pressure on the Biden administration, at the initial of the year, South China Morning Post reported.

WHO Report From China Claims COVID-19 Likely Originates From Animals

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New Delhi, March 30 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Tuesday that it has attached 12 properties worth Rs 152.48 crore owned by the promoters of Unitech Group in Gurugram through proxy or benami entities.

An ED official said that the financial probe agency attached properties in the form of 12 land pieces measuring 48.56 acres in Gurugram with a registered value of Rs 152.48 crore under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The official said that these land pieces are owned by the promoters of Unitech Group through proxy or benami entities -- Crown Infra Projects Pvt Ltd, Kore Communities India Pvt Ltd and Joshu Gurgaon SEZ Pvt Ltd.

The official said that these three companies are part of one Trikar Group or Kore Group which is benami investment of the Chandra family of Unitech Group.

The official said that the agency had registered a case on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by the Delhi Police.

"During the money laundering probe, it was revealed that for purchasing these properties, funds were transferred through Singapore based companies namely Joshu Pte Ltd, Trikar Residential Developers Pte Ltd and Trikar Property opportunity Pte Ltd during the period 2015-2020," the official said.

He said the source of funds in these Singapore-based companies was from a Cayman Island-based entity namely Trikar Fund Limited (SPC), which is being controlled by the Chandra family through another Cayman-based entity, Trikar Asset Management Ltd SPC.

The official said that the agency had conducted searches at 35 premises in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai.

He said that during the analysis of seized records followed by the admissions of various persons, the above benami structure was unearthed.

The official said that further probe revealed that the promoters of Unitech Group had illegally diverted more than Rs 2,000 crore to Cyprus and Cayman Island.

The official added that it is highly likely that this benami investment is part of the funds diverted to Cayman Island and Cyprus.
A father who booked extra online lessons for his teenage daughter was astonished and disgusted to be paired up with a teacher who was struck off for sending naked pictures of himself to a 16-year-old girl.

He had contacted the multi-million pound Go Student website last Friday asking about extra Maths and Physics lessons to help with his daughter's GCSEs.

They booked in a trial session on Sunday and, 30 minutes before the class was due to start, they text him the teachers name  Anthony Canavan.

Being suspicious by nature I just googled the name, said the 49-year-old father, and up popped a story about how a teacher with this name had been struck off for sending naked pictures of himself to a teenage student.

There was a picture of the man so I waited to see if the same man appeared on the zoom call to teach my 15 year old daughter and sure enough, it was him. I could not believe what was happening.

Ex-teacher Anthony Canavan, 60, was banned from teaching for life in 2018 but was found to be offering tuition on 'Go Student'

After a few formalities, the Dad asked Canavan, 60, if he had ever googled his own name, saying: I have and youre a paedophile who has been banned from teaching.

Describing the scene, the Dad, who does not want to be named, said: He mumbled and fumbled and said, "Oh are you talking about that stuff from five years ago". At that point I terminated the connection and contacted the company.

In an emailed response, their CEO Felix Ohswald thanked the parent for informing them and said they had immediately blocked Canavan.

It claimed that he had applied to them using a different name and then, astonishingly, appeared to admit they hadnt bothered to carry out basic child safety checks on those they employ.

The email read: Providing a quality learning experience for our students in a safe environment is our top priority. We are a young and fast-growing company and we are doing everything to constantly improve on our service.

That's why we have immediately started working on the implementation of an automated process with DBS to prevent such incidents from happening ever again.

It went on to offer the parent a visit to their offices in London or Vienna and four weeks of free tutoring.

The father, from Pinner, Middlesex added: It was a pathetic response. How can they expect me to believe this man applied using a different name when I only know his name because they told me?

Go Student CEO Felix Ohswald thanked the parent for informing them and said they had immediately blocked Canavan

And what sort of company working with children across the world would not vet their staff?

Look, one accepts that there are risks to your children when they are outside of your home but to have a multi-national company sending that risk into your house is quite another matter.

I am horrified by how many children this man has had access to and horrified that a company with so much funding could care so little about the safety of their customers.

How many more paedophiles do they have on their books? Offering me a free tour of their offices was an insult. They honestly should be shut down.

The company, Go Student, based in Vienna, Austria, was launched in 2016 and claims to have worked with 10,000 families.

It has attracted over $100 million in venture capital backing and has boomed during the coronavirus pandemic with parents the world over looking to supplement the closure of schools with online support.

In the last few months it has opened new offices in Lyon, London, Madrid, Dusseldorf, Berlin and Milan with further offices in Athens, Istanbul and Amsterdam planned for later this year.

And this week it attracted a further 70 million euros in funding with plans to employ 10,000 tutors.

It was in 2018 that Canavan, then a teacher at the Manchester Communication Academy, was banned from teaching for life over his conduct.

Canavan, who was a teacher at the Manchester Communication Academy (pictured), was struck off after it was discovered he had swapped indecent images with a 16-year-old former pupil he befriended on Facebook

A hearing of the Teaching Regulation Panel heard he had swapped indecent images with the 16-year-old former pupil after befriending her on Facebook in 2016.

Police records showed he had sent numerous text messages to the girl and the Panels report found they were, overtly sexually suggestive regarding sexual contact between the two if they were to meet.

When Canavan was arrested in June 2016, six indecent images of children were found on his phone.

The panel in August 2018 Canavan was arrested for possessing an indecent image of a child in relation to the six photographs Mr Canavan had of Pupil A on his phone at the time of his arrest.

On 2 August 2016, Mr Canavan received a police caution for possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child.

In a letter to the TRA panel, Mr Canavan said he regretted what had happened and that his actions were foolish, irresponsible and unprofessional.

But panel members said his apology showed little remorse for his actions and said he was attempting to make excuses for his behaviour.

A spokeswoman for GoStudent said: In allowing Anthony Canavan to become a GoStudent online maths tutor we have fallen well below our own standards and safeguarding rules.

For this we are deeply sorry. When this was brought to our attention we immediately terminated Mr. Canavans freelance shifts and he is no longer able to work as a GoStudent online tutor.

We have already changed our hiring practices to make sure that we request an Enhanced DBS check, which is not currently required by UK law for tutoring services. We are also retraining all staff involved in hiring tutors to ensure they understand our safeguarding policies and can apply them properly.

Finally we have been in touch with the police and informed them that Anthony Canavan is continuing to seek work with organisations where he has access to children or vulnerable people.

A Florida man convicted of luring a 12-year-old Camden County girl to a hotel, where he held her captive and sexually assaulted her, has been ordered to pay more than $4 million to his victim.

Liam Heim, 24, met the girl in an online chatroom in March 2018 when she was a seventh-grader at Collingswood Middle School, according to a lawsuit filed by the girls parents.

The victim had been using a school-issued laptop for class assignments and other projects when she met Heim through a search engine known as Discord, according to the suit.

After frequent online chats, the girl met with Heim in person and he took her to a hotel in Philadelphia, where he sexually assaulted her over 36 hours, according to law enforcement and court records.

The girl was rescued after a search that involved tracking the victims cellphone, which she convinced her attacker to allow her to turn on under the guise of checking the time, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

The girls parents sued the district, claiming educators failed to install safeguards on the computer to prevent students from accessing inappropriate sites. The district recently settled a lawsuit with the girl and her family for $1 million.

In an order signed March 23, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Yolanda C. Rodriguez ordered Heim to pay the victim $4 million in compensatory damages and more than $160,000 in interest and other costs.

The judgment was entered by default because Heim, who is serving a 15-year sentence, had been served with court papers but failed to respond, the judge wrote.

Prison records show Heim is being held at a medium security federal prison in Edgefield, South Carolina. His scheduled release date is Jan. 11, 2031.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Veteran Labor frontbencher Penny Wong has used a speech to open the partys national conference to attack the Morrison government over womens equality, as more than 400-party members gathered online on Tuesday.

Senator Wong, the longest-serving member of Labors parliamentary leadership team, followed Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese to declare the ALP the party of equality, in which women speak and are heard.

Penny Wong (left), at the ALP national conference on Tuesday, said an Albanese Labor government would build a fairer society, a stronger nation and a better world. Credit:Janie Barrett

The opposition continues to sharpen its attacks on the Coalition following weeks of anger about the treatment of women since former Liberal adviser Brittany Higgins publicly alleged in February she was raped in Parliament House in March 2019.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a reshuffle on Monday in a bid to shake the controversy and created a new cabinet taskforce to oversee the status of women in Australia.
New Delhi: Days after the Delhi government reduced the age limit for alcohol consumption from 25 years to 21, state BJP chief Adesh Gupta on Tuesday (March 30) put up a strong opposition to the move.

Gupta said that Arvind Kejriwal-led government wants to push youth towards alcoholism and that the BJP will not allow Delhi to become "the capital of alcohol".

"Kejriwal-government is hell-bent upon drowning the youngsters of Delhi into alcoholism," Gupta was quoted as saying by PTI.

Gupta alleged that the new excise policy was only meant to increase political funding to the Aam Aadmi Party.

"The BJP will oppose it tooth and nail and not allow any new shop to come up. The new policy is aimed more at pushing Delhiites into alcoholism rather than at increasing its revenue," said Gupta.

"The new excise policy is only meant to increase political funding to the AAP and revenue of the government. In one go, the state government has raised commission on liquor to 10 per cent and this way they have ensured the party gets Rs 1,000 crore fund in its coffers," he added.

Rejecting the charge, the AAP alleged the involvement of BJP leaders in the alcohol business.

"They are millionaires because of nothing but their involvement in the alcohol business. The new policy will act as a deterrent for illicit liquor operations as, under the new policy, no new stores will be opened and existing shops will be improved. This is how the illicit liquor business will come to an end," AAP said.

According to the new excise policy, the government would withdraw from running liquor vends in Delhi. The move is expected to lead to annual revenue growth of 20 per cent.

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Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), one of Dubais most sought after lifestyle destinations, is hosting the best art and culture experiences for Art Week taking place from March 29 to April 3.



Art Week includes the 14th edition of Art Dubai, the worlds largest international art fair, being hosted across a number of purpose-built venues at the iconic Gate Building and throughout the Centre.



Part of Art Week is the 11th season of the popular biannual DIFC Art Nights. With late night gallery openings and an al fresco dining scene, art aficionados, connoisseurs and the cultural community can discover inspiration, admire breathtaking architecture, participate in workshops, and relax, dine, shop and play at DIFCs350+ retail and dining outlets. Visitors can also enjoy one of the UAEs largest public collections of art which are situated throughout the Centre.



Some of the top experiences to visit during Art Week are below:



Whats On



1. Explore Art Dubai

Art Dubai will feature 50 leading contemporary and modern galleries from 31 countries, showcasing a diverse selection of artworks, artists and practices, reflecting the multicultural identity of the city. Isabelle van den Eynde, founder of Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde (Dubai), Kristin Hjellegjerde, founder of Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery (London), Nathalie Obadia, founder of Galerie Nathalie Obadia (Paris, Brussels) are among the list of highly anticipated exhibitors.



Access to the fair will be via pre booked slots facilitated by the Art Dubai App. The event will ensure the highest COVID-19 safety protocols, creating a secure, safe and flexible environment for participants and visitors.



2. Celebrate the work of local artists at DIFC Art Nights

The much-loved event, resuming for its 11th year, provides a platform for both local and international artists to exhibit to a unique global audience at the Gate Village area on a complimentary basis. Themed on the sentiments of hope and positivity, this season will showcase creative art installations by eminent artists that are looking towards the future and aimed at creating positive experiences for the residents and visitors.



Dubai has had some big wins this year, including mission to mars, Art Nights carries on this sentiment allowing inspiring installations such as a set of LED astronauts hung-off the facades of the Gate Village buildings, to reflect the same excitement and vision for looking beyond the here and now. Furthermore, the vibrant art event will exhibit an exceptional breadth of sculptures, paintings, and more from art galleries across the Centre.

When: 1 to 2 April 2021

Where: Gate Village, DIFC



Sculptures to see



Amongst DIFCs public art collection are sculptures from internationally renowned artists. The Centre is home to five large-scale sculptures by celebrated New York-based Spanish artist, Manolo Valdes at the heart of DIFCs Gate Building area. These include:



3. Clio Dorada (2017) and La Mariposa (2015)



Clio Dorada and La Mariposa were chosen to balance each other. Placed in ponds on the side of DIFCs iconic Gate Building, the business and intricacy of Clio Dorada is the opposite of the apparent simplicity of La Mariposa.



4. Mariposas (2015) and Butterflies (2013)



Mariposas and Butterflies share the same theme and were positioned in the grass area opposite the Gate building. The choice was made to match the volumes and the architecture surrounding their environment.



5. La Diadema (2015)



La Diadema was installed on a platform, offering the viewers two very different angles and interpretations. The same artwork will look totally different when seen from the street than when seen from inside DIFC.



Art Galleries to visit



DIFC houses eight contemporary art galleries and auction houses. Since the inception of DIFC, art galleries have been an integral part of the Centres community. They include The Farjam Foundation, the centre for preservation and promotion of the arts located at Gate Avenue, Opera Gallery, representing international artists, Sconci Art Gallery presenting a wide range of work of art, from the seventeenth century to the present day and Empty Quarter one of only a handful of galleries in the Middle East devoted exclusively to fine art photography.



6. Sothebys



Sothebys has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744. A truly international auction house, Sothebys offers collectors a wide range of services and experiences to reflect an overriding passion for art across all categories  from paintings and sculpture to jewellery and cars. Host to a vibrant calendar of exhibitions, Sothebys gallery space in Dubai is a hub for art lovers with public displays of eclectic highlights from our auctions across the globe, educational events, workshops and lectures.



7. Tabari Artspace



Tabari Artspace, has been a pioneer in establishing a contemporary art scene in Dubai since it was founded in 2003 by collector and art consultant, Maliha Tabari. A strong passion for the arts led Maliha to become an expert in contemporary art in the Middle East, building her own personal collection and advising on the establishment of others. The gallery represents and champions a range of established artists and is dedicated to the global promotion of modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art.



During Art Week, art enthusiasts and visitors can also take advantage of amazing promotions and exclusive discounts ranging between 15 to 50 per cent on fashion, beauty, art, decor and lifestyle brands including INAAYAT by Divya Taimni, Fiori Jewels, Offwork, DB Artworks, Himalaya, The Gentlemans Community, Raw Music Store, Anyahh Art and House of Cenmar.



If youre looking for reliable and world-class wellness services to enhance your looks or improve your overall health, Dubais premium IV Clinic, DNA Health Medical Center in DIFC is offering an additional 15 per cent off IVs and IV push injections. From skin enhancement to anti-stress and anti-aging, the clinic provides 20 different kinds of IVs and Push IVs to meet various needs.



8. Gaia

Guests can indulge in a delectable meal at DIFCs acclaimed Greek-Mediterranean restaurant, Gaia. The homegrown food, beverage and lifestyle concept was born of a collaboration between Evgeny Kuzin and Chef Izu Ani, who showcase the core elements of Grecian culture with beautiful displays of seafood and freshly sourced vegetables.



9. Indochine



Indochine, a New York favourite, brings guests a modern French-Vietnamese fusion. Indochine combines stylish ambience, tropical decor and exotic French-Vietnamese cuisine that are perfect for intimate dinners and large groups alike.



10. Cipriani Dubai



Cipriani Dubai features an elegant setting with maritime-inspired interiors, complete with a blue and white nautical aesthetic, high gloss wood interior with polished steel finishes and signature brown leather chairs. Diners can experience a taste of Venice as the restaurant serves up a range of Italian inspired dishes.  TradeArabia News Service
The Rooftop Pool at Perry Lane Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah

Its no secret that spring is the perfect time to visit Georgia. As the weather starts to warm and flowers start to bloom, Savannahs squares and streets come to life with an abundance of flowers unique to the South.

Beginning in March, masses of azaleas start to bloom throughout the city. As a trademark to Savannah, they can be found seemingly every place you turn  with their bright hues of magenta and red, they are impossible to miss.

This spring, travelers can catch the radiant azaleas in bloom while enjoying all that Savannah has to offer, from lounging in the shade of a moss-covered Spanish oak in Forsyth Park to strolling the historic district, theres no better time to enjoy the charming city.

While in town, travelers can experience the spirit of Savannah at Perry Lane Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah. The stylish property offers luxury accommodations, three lively food and beverage venues, an expansive art collection throughout the hotel, and a rooftop pool. Guests can soak in exquisite views of the cityscape from Perry Lane Hotels rooftop bar, Peregrin. Offering a new menu of hand-crafted premium cocktails and vibrant dishes, the Peregrin experience is Southern elegance at its best.

Peregrin at Perry Lane Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah

For those looking for authentically Southern experiences during their stay, Perry Lane Hotel offers a new Afternoon Tea in the Library program. Offered Sunday through Wednesday in the hotels cozy library, the afternoon tea menu includes hot, cold and boozy teas from Tea Forte paired with sweet and savory bites such as scones, biscuits with jams, finger sandwiches and toasted breads. A perfect afternoon pick-me-up after exploring the city or lounging by the pool.

The Summer's Day Tipsy Tea Cocktail from Perry Lane Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah

With Perry Lane Hotels Spring Sojourn Package, travelers can save up to 15 percent off stays now through May 27, 2021. Offer requires a 3-day advance booking, pre-pay in full and is non-refundable.
The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia issued a statement regarding the recent controversy surrounding the division within the leadership of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). In the statement released yesterday, the NEBE announced that the new appointment of leadership by the splinter group as well as amendment of the party's bylaws are not recognized by the board due to procedural deficits.

Early in February, the board recommended that the party's leadership settle the internal split through a general assembly and reach a consensus. According to the statement issued on March 28, 2021, the board outlined that it received a letter dated March 13, 2021 that explains that the party has elected a leader through a general assembly.

The letter also requested an extension to the deadline for the registration of candidates of which ended on March 9, 2021, asking the board to take into consideration the 'difficulties' the party has been going through. The board inspected the documents that were sent to it about the amended party bylaws as well as the signatures of 500 participants of the assembly that was organized by the group led by the deputy chairman of the party, Ararso Bikila.

The board pointed out that the assembly convened by the deputy led group on March 13-14, 2021 was attended by only three members of the executive committee as opposed to the party's bylaws that requires the attendance of 2/3rd of the executive committee to hold a general assembly.

The board also cited the party's bylaws, Article 16.2 that stipulates that the attendees of the general assembly (the number which is to be decided by the executive committee) need to be people who are members of the party at different ranks, members of groups that are affiliated with the party or personalities who have contributed to the Oromo struggle.

Batte Urgessa, the public relations head of the party who is now in jail, told Addis Standard that the party was planning to hold a general assembly before the fallout and the seizure of its headquarters by Addis Ababa police. The board, in its statement noted that the assembly held by the deputy led group is not recognized by the organizing committee set up prior to the controversy.

Batte also confirmed that the general assembly was not attended by members of the party at all organizational levels nor was it requested by the central committee as per the party's bylaws. Similarly, the board, in its statement, explained that it wasn't able to confirm that the attendees of the assembly organized by the deputy led group fulfill the above criterias.

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The board also wasn't able to confirm that the attendees of the congress have served the party for at least two years in accordance with Article 17.1 of the party's bylaws. Additionally, the setting up of an organizing committee by only three executive committee members falls short of the proposal made by the board on January 27/2021 to settle the dispute in the leadership based on the party's legal and procedural instruments.

The board's decision that both the general assembly and its subsequent outcomes including the appointment of a new leadership will not be recognized by the board comes despite claims made by the splinter group that representatives of the NEBE attended the general assembly, the board did not make a mention of it in its statement. However, the statement addressed the request made by the splinter group to extend the deadline for candidates registration, the board said, "The requests were not reviewed by the board as it does not recognize the leadership that presented the request." AS
Russia's consul general in Strasbourg was expelled from France in 2018 for espionage

Recently, this story has gone viral in French, Ukrainian and even Russian media and social networks. A technical employee of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Strasbourg was caught red-handed because of a police operation while selling a bicycle.

A "PET" FOR HALF-PRICE

This is the elite model Vendredi 28.1 electric bicycle of the Moustache brand worth up to 3,000 euros, offered by a representative of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation, which was snatched from the former deputy mayor of Strasbourg Alain Fontanel. In early February, the politician left his recently purchased vehicle near the building of the Permanent Representation of France to the Council of Europe and went to meet with his wife, who actually serves as an ambassador there.

When Fontanel left the embassy, he discovered that his bicycle had disappeared and that some thieves had destroyed the padlock with a jigsaw.

Not giving up hope of returning the bicycle, to which, according to the politician, you become attached just like to a pet, Fontanel began to monitor actively the websites with advertisements on the sales of bicycles. The twelfth day of his searches has finally brought some good luck. The victim found offers of several electric bicycles of the same model on one popular website. They were offered for 1,400 euros, which is twice lower than the actual price.

Fontanel reported immediately the results of his investigation to the police who organized a special operation.

THE STOLEN BICYCLE WAS FOUND AT THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

It was such a surprise (or maybe not) when the seller arranged a meeting in the square near the building of the Consulate General of Russia in Strasbourg.

Fontanel, who was accompanied by an undercover police officer, noticed his bicycle on the territory of the Russian diplomatic mission. Then a Russian came out, accompanied by another employee of the diplomatic mission, who was acting as a translator. The seller was a 44-year-old driver of the consul-general of the Russian Federation in Strasbourg. The person presented a financial document, certified by the Consulate General, in order to confirm the alleged legal purchase of the bicycle. However, when Fontanel checked the serial number, which confirmed that this was his bike, there was no other doubt left. Two other police officers, who were in an ambush, detained the employee of the Consulate General after a special signal. The other Russian, who was accompanying the seller, presented a diplomatic passport, which ensured immunity from being delivered to the police station.

"My bicycle, which was stolen in front of the Permanent Mission of France to the Council of Europe, was found at the Russian consulate!", said the French politician, whose story had a happy ending instead.

During the interrogation, the employee of the Russian diplomatic mission denied everything, but his explanations were not convincing. Instead, on the prosecutor's decision, he was released in 24 hours.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE OR WHERE THE "MOUSTACHE" GROWS

And when the investigators summoned the suspect for questioning, the Consulate General declared that he had left for Russia because of health problems. The Strasbourg law enforcement is currently investigating the Russian nationals involvement in a large-scale plot of stealing and selling at least 300 luxury bicycles for a total of more than 100,000 euros. And this happened in just one year!

The former employee of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation has been declared as wanted in France. The trial may take place in absentia if he will not be detained on French territory.

In fact, the French politician Fontanel described the whole story in detail on the social network, marking the post with the tag "Bons baisers de Russie #Moustache007". This means something like a "hello from Russia with love", plus the name of the bikes brand ("Moustache") and the code "007" with an indication of other, not diplomatic, activities of Russian consuls in Strasbourg.

WILL THE POLICE BREAK THROUGH THE RUSSIAN "ROOF"?

Taking the scale and the number of offers to sell bicycles of doubting origins into account, the French police aims to identify and prove the existence of an organized theft scheme, of a subsequent sale of these popular vehicles and of the involvement of an employee of the Russian Consulate General.

In this regard, the following questions and considerations arise.

It is unlikely that a representative of the Russian diplomatic mission was personally stealing these bicycles; this was done by other thieves involved in illegal activities.

By the way, in Strasbourg alone, about 4,500 bicycles are stolen every year. On the national level, this number reaches up to several million.

Could the attacker carry out illegal activities by offering stolen bicycles, which were physically stored on the territory of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation, without the participation of other employees of this institution, i.e. under the Russian diplomatic "roof"? Therefore, it is unlikely that the driver has been personally keeping hundreds of thousands of euros in cash, earned from sales of the property stolen from citizens in France, and possibly even in neighbouring Germany and other European countries.

What was the purpose of these funds, did they serve only for the personal enrichment of the participants of this project in France or were they transferred to Moscow? Considering that Russian diplomats have evacuated their former employee back to Russia, and that the Consulate General itself and its diplomatic staff enjoy immunity, French law enforcement officers have a minimum of opportunities to prosecute those involved in this theft placed under the "roof" of Russian diplomacy.

STRASBOURG RESIDENCY

However, the bicycle story is not the first high-profile scandal surrounding the Russian Consulate General in Strasbourg. Back in April 2018, the French counterintelligence completed the disclosure of the ex-consul general of the Russian Federation in Strasbourg Valery Levitsky. He was exposed as an officer of the Russian GRU secret service, therefore, he was expelled from France for activities incompatible with the status of a diplomat. At the same time, Levitsky was not a simple spy, but a resident, i.e., the chief among the Russian military intelligence in the region. Therefore, the answer to the question of who really his subordinate diplomats at the Consulate General were rhetorical.

Obviously, Strasbourg can be the subject of the direct interest of Russia's intelligence services, as the city where the Council of Europe and partially the European Parliament has its headquarters. As for the Council of Europe, this organization is not that influential in shaping the policies of national governments that could counter Russia's aggressive interests.

Nevertheless, the capital of Alsace opens great opportunities for gathering information and establishing useful contacts in diplomatic circles of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe and beyond.

The potential network of Russian intelligence informants in Strasbourg is considerable. This is about 2,300 officials of the Council of Europe and about a thousand diplomats in the permanent representations of its member States and observer States.

In addition, Russian special services can conduct reconnaissance from the territory of France against other European countries, take measures in order to weaken the EU and NATO, blackmail the Council of Europe, promote attempts to legalize the consequences of international law violations by the Kremlin, commit international crimes.

Such large-scale special operations have a strategic dimension in the context of Russia's unleashed hybrid war against the West, which receives millions of euros and U.S. dollars in funding from Moscow. Against this background, several hundred stolen bicycles may seem trivial, but once again this confirms the dirty thieving nature of Russian diplomacy in the service of the aggressor state.

Andrii Lavreniuk, Strasbourg
KYIV. March 30 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The market for medicinal products of Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturers in 2020 expanded by 13% compared to 2019 and amounted to UAH 41 billion, President of the Association Manufacturers of Medications of Ukraine (AMMU) Petro Bahriy said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

"In 2020, the market share of domestic manufacturers has grown. The entire market of Ukrainian medicines was UAH 41 billion. It grew by almost 13% compared to the previous year. Exports also grew by 7%," he said.

According to Bahriy, in 2020, the consumption of cold-relief medicines, medicines for digestive disorders and drugs that are used in the hospital segment decreased due to a decline in planned operations. At the same time, the COVID-19 group of drugs expanded.

In turn, Director General of the SMD analytical company Iryna Horlova said that as of the end of 2020, the entire volume of the pharmaceuticals market amounted to $2.2 billion in purchase prices excluding VAT.

According to the expert, 2020 brought more growth in monetary terms than the total cumulative growth over the previous five years: on average, the market for the previous five years showed a rise of 8%, this year a rise of 13% precisely due to the active participation of the state. At the same time, there is a significant decline in prices.

"The state had the largest share of purchases (28%). The state-funded market shows an increase of 92%, with almost $600 million. Among state-funded segments, the most successful and interesting is the work of the procurement agency Medical Procurement of Ukraine, which at the end of the year had 8% of the share of procurements and partially supplies of all medicines. The Ministry of Health held tenders for a total of $330 million, of which $170 million was the procurement of medicines," she said, adding that the volume of procurement was also increased by medical institutions.

Horlova said that the retail segment has practically stagnated.

In addition, in 2020 significantly fewer new products entered the market, while 93% of them entered the state-funded segment "because the companies responded to the request," the expert said.

She predicts that under an optimistic scenario in 2021 there will be growth, in particular in the budget-funded segment, but not so active, and retail will still be close to zero.

"In the next five years, most likely the Rx segment will occupy a fairly large share (77-79%). The share of the local manufacturers will grow to 36-38%. Of course, we cannot rule out a pessimistic scenario associated with a further recession and lockdown," Horlova said.

At the same time, according to Manager of the Health Care Committee of the European Business Association (EBA) Dmytro Lurye, such an increase in the state-funded share is not enough.

"I want to note the growth of the state's share. But this is still far from the indicators in the EU countries, in the reference countries, because the state's share of procurement or reimbursement is 70-75%," he said.

Lurye added that international manufacturers are urging the state to create a strategy and further develop the reimbursement program. When creating a strategy, it is necessary to identify priority areas for the further expansion of the program and, in general, an understanding of how it will develop.

At the same time, Deputy President of the Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (IPMA), President of Euro Lifecare Private Limited Sanjeev Bhagat said that the government needs to stabilize the market.

"In 2020, government procurement grew significantly. In 2021, the state should invest in this market at the same pace to stabilize it," he said.

In turn, Strategic Development Manager (Healthcare and Official Service Providers) of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine Natalia Kravchenko noted the growth of electronic trade in medicines.

"We see some shifts in the regulation of this area. Development prospects include the importance of improving the regulatory system (GMP certification), simplifying the registration of medicines, which can positively impact the entry of international manufacturers into the market, and expanding the list of INNs that are reimbursed by the state," she said.

The experts called for mutual recognition with the EU of the results of inspections of good manufacturing practice (GMP) in the production of pharmaceuticals. In addition, they emphasized the need to bring the production of vaccines, in particular against COVID-19, in Ukraine, as well as other drugs.

"Ukrainian pharma deals with this issue, and we are convinced that the presence of a domestic manufacturer is a matter of national security, including the production of vaccines. The easiest way is to transfer technologies from well-known companies and bring production into Ukraine. Farmak, Lekhim and other companies are in talks, and I hope there will be results by the end of the year. Negotiations are underway on other product groups," Bahriy said.

Bhagat, for his part, added that Ukraine needs to cooperate on this issue with global manufacturers, in particular Indian ones.
The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Partners on the 26th day of March 2021 officially launched the 2021 Nationwide Polio Vaccination Campaign in Liberia.

With the support of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which includes WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, CDC and Rotary Club, the Ministry of Health will conduct two rounds of house-to-house polio nationwide campaign with an aim of vaccinating at least 95% of children aged under 5 years while observing COVID-19 protocols to ensure vaccinators, health workers and communities adhere to COVID-19 precautions and are protected from COVID-19.

With 3-million doses of the vaccines in Country, 972,870 children across Liberia are expected to be vaccinated with 2 rounds of the polio vaccines.

In February 2021, the Ministry of Health in Liberia declared the Polio virus outbreak in the country as a public health emergency.

Children in Liberia are at a risk of contracting this incurable disease if they are not vaccinated against polio, the Ministry of Health has said.

The Polio Vaccination Campaign will run from March 26-29, 2021.

The National launch of the 2021 Polio Vaccination Campaign was held at the Monrovia Christian Fellowship Church on 9th street Sinkor at 10:00 a.m.

This endeavor is in line with the world's effort to curb and eradicate the Polio virus.

The Liberian Government through the Ministry encourages all Citizens and residents in the borders of Liberia to make available their children under the age of 5 to be vaccinated.
A New Mexico rancher has revealed that migrants flooding across the US border are turning up in her yard asking for food and water - and her family helps them because they are afraid they'll get hurt if they refuse.

Amanda Adame told Fox & Friends on Tuesday that illegal migrants get 'fairly close' to her house and that she blames President Biden for giving them the 'greenlight' to cross the border.

She said she had spotted an increase in what she described as 'walkers' and border agents close to her home under the Biden administration.

'A lot of them... come into the yard asking for food and water,' she said.

'We don't want to get hurt so we feed and water them and try to get them to move on.'

Amanda Adame told Fox & Friends on Tuesday that illegal migrants get 'fairly close' to her house in New Mexico and she often has to call border agents to report them. Pictured are migrants after being detained by border patrol

She said she had spotted an increase in what she described as 'walkers' (pictured above on her property) and border agents close to her home under the Biden administration

Adame said they often just go back in their house and call border agents to alert them to the migrants walking through their yard.

Photos taken from her ranch show illegal migrants walking in the distance, as well as discarded clothes and shoes left on the property.

Adame said they turn up in her yard asking for food and her family helps because they are afraid of getting hurt if they refuse

Adame said she blames the Biden administration for the recent influx of migrants.

'I think in part, it's the asylum cooperative agreement that they terminated,' she said.

'They're not wanting to get caught. They're trying to run as fast as they can. They're not afraid.

'When they saw a border agent before, they stopped and they waited and now they keep trying to go.'

She added that border agents did 'catch them when they see them' but the 'big problem' was that the migrants aren't always found.

Border officials have been overwhelmed by the recent surge and thousands of minors are stuck in substandard holding facilities as the government struggles through a backlog to process them.

More than 16,000 unaccompanied children were in government custody as of last week, including about 5,000 in substandard Customs and Border Protection facilities.

Internal projections leaked on Monday show unaccompanied minor apprehensions are expected to surge as high as 26,000 in September.

Photos taken from her ranch show illegal migrants walking in the distance, as well as discarded clothes and shoes left on the property

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Overnight Sunday to Monday, more migrants arrived illegally from Mexico at the U.S. shore of the Rio Grande river

ROMA, TEXAS: Migrants from Central America, who arrived illegally from Mexico to the US to seek asylum, disembark from an inflatable boat after crossing the Rio Grande river before turning themselves over to border patrol agents

These figures only represent minors crossing through the southern border from Central America  as those from Mexico can be more easily returned to their home country.

The previous record of minor border crossings was under former President Donald Trump in May 2019 when it reached 11,475.

This month, that record was shattered with the numbers surpassing 16,000.

Biden had claimed at his first press briefing last Thursday: 'Nothing has changed,' adding that the massive influx 'happens every single, solitary year.'

White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield reiterated that point on Sunday, calling it a 'cyclical issue' that isn't any worse than other points in U.S. history.

'These are the same kind of surges that we've seen,' Bedingfield told ABC's 'This Week' host Jonathan Karl. 'They're not the result of one administration's policies or another administration's policies. They're the result of, for example, weather disasters in the region. They're the result of people fleeing poverty and violence.'

ROMA, TEXAS: A 'coyote' people smuggler guides an inflatable boat carrying migrants from Central America arriving illegally from Mexico to the US to seek asylum, on the Rio Grande river at the border city of Roma

A little girl from Ecuador steps off a raft after crossing the Rio Grande river

The group of migrants from Honduras and Guatemala where pulled ashore on an inflatable boat by a 'coyote' people smuggler

Biden insists family units and adults arriving at the border are being turned away and sent back to the country as the administration claims the 'border is closed.' Above a family of immigrants who arrived illegally stand in line at a processing checkpoint Sunday night

Despite her claims, the number of southern border apprehensions and illegal crossings, minor and otherwise, is the highest it has ever been regardless of circumstance.

The president and his senior officials insist the 'border is closed' and claim they are sending all adults and family units who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border back to their home countries.

Officials at the Department of Homeland Security, however, warn of a migration surge including adults and family units that could be the largest ever in the last two decades.

DHS expects somewhere between 500,000 to 800,000 migrants to arrive as part of a family group by September.

Border patrol processing and holding facilities have become quickly overrun and have reached at least 700% of its mass capacity.

The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking additional accommodations for minors, including a need for an extra 6,000 beds for shelters. The target is to keep facility occupancy at 90% capacity.

There are plans to open up space for an additional 5,000 minors on military bases.

Republican lawmakers have been criticizing the Biden administration on its border policies - Senator Ted Cruz led a tour last week and released photos of his visit to a crowded migrant shelter in Donna, Texas

Biden administration projections leaked and revealed Monday show Border Patrol is projecting up to 26,000 minor border apprehensions in September  more than double the record reached under Trump in May 2019

SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS: Migrants begin walking in a caravan towards the border with Guatemala on their way north

SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS: The movement of migrants from the south towards Mexico is a concern for the administration

SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS: Families are seen heading towards the Guatemalan border with little belongings for the journey
MINNEAPOLIS  The video of George Floyd gasping for breath was essentially Exhibit A as the former Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee on the Black mans neck went on trial Monday on charges of murder and manslaughter.

Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell showed the jurors the footage at the earliest opportunity, during opening statements, after telling them that the number to remember was 9 minutes, 29 seconds  the amount of time officer Derek Chauvin had Floyd pinned to the pavement last May.

The white officer didnt let up even after a handcuffed Floyd said 27 times that he couldnt breathe and went limp, Blackwell said in the case that triggered worldwide protests, scattered violence and national soul-searching over racial justice.

He put his knees upon his neck and his back, grinding and crushing him, until the very breath  no, ladies and gentlemen  until the very life was squeezed out of him, the prosecutor said.

Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson countered by arguing: Derek Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do over his 19-year career.

Floyd was fighting efforts to put him in a squad car as the crowd of onlookers around Chauvin and his fellow officers grew and became increasingly hostile, Nelson said.

The defense attorney also disputed that Chauvin was to blame for Floyds death.

Floyd, 46, had none of the telltale signs of asphyxiation and he had fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system, Nelson said. He said Floyds drug use, combined with his heart disease, high blood pressure and the adrenaline flowing through his body, caused a heart rhythm disturbance that killed him.

There is no political or social cause in this courtroom, Nelson said. But the evidence is far greater than 9 minutes and 29 seconds.

Blackwell, however, rejected the argument that Floyds drug use or any underlying health conditions were to blame, saying it was the officers knee that killed him.

Chauvin, 45, is charged with unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. The most serious charge, the second-degree murder count, carries up to 40 years in prison. This is the first trial ever televised in Minnesota.

Bystander Donald Williams, who said he was trained in mixed martial arts, including chokeholds, testified that Chauvin appeared to increase the pressure on Floyds neck several times with a shimmying motion. He said he yelled to the officer that he was cutting off Floyds blood supply.

Williams recalled that Floyds voice grew thicker as his breathing became more labored, and he eventually stopped moving. He said he saw Floyds eyes roll back in his head, likening the sight to fish he had caught earlier that day.

Williams said he saw Floyd slowly fade away ... like a fish in a bag.

Earlier, Minneapolis police dispatcher Jena Scurry testified that she saw part of Floyds arrest unfolding via a city surveillance camera and was so disturbed that she called a duty sergeant. Scurry said she grew concerned because the officers hadnt moved after several minutes.

In this image from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, and former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin listen as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over pre-trial motions prior to opening statements, Monday March 29, 2021, in the trial of Chauvin, in the May 25, 2020, death of George Floyd at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn. (Court TV via AP, Pool)AP

You can call me a snitch if you want to, Scurry said in her call to the sergeant, which was played in court. She said she wouldnt normally call the sergeant about the use of force because it was beyond the scope of her duties, but my instincts were telling me that something is wrong.

The video played during opening statements was posted to Facebook by a bystander who witnessed Floyd being arrested after he was accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. The footage caused revulsion across the U.S. and beyond and prompted calls for the country to confront racism and police brutality.

Jurors watched intently as the video played on multiple screens, with one drawing a sharp breath as Floyd said he couldnt breathe. Chauvin sat calmly during opening statements and took notes, looking up at the video periodically.

My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts, Floyd says in the video, and: I cant breathe, officer. Onlookers repeatedly shout at the officer to get off Floyd, saying he is not moving, breathing or resisting. One woman, identifying herself as a city Fire Department employee, shouts at Chauvin to check Floyds pulse.

The prosecutor said the case was not about split-second decision-making by a police officer but excessive force against someone who was handcuffed and not resisting.

Blackwell said the Fire Department employee wanted to help but was warned off by Chauvin, who pointed Mace at her.

She wanted to check on his pulse, check on Mr. Floyds well-being, the prosecutor said. She did her best to intervene. ... She couldnt help.

The timeline differs from the initial account submitted last May by prosecutors, who said Chauvin held his knee on Floyds neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds. The time 8:46 soon became a rallying cry in the case. But it was revised during the investigation.

Fourteen jurors or alternates are hearing the case  eight of them white, six of them Black or multiracial, according to the court. Only 12 will deliberate; the judge has not said which two will be alternates.

Before the trial began, Floyd family attorney Ben Crump blasted the idea that the trial would be a tough test for jurors.

We know that if George Floyd was a white American citizen, and he suffered this painful, tortuous death with a police officers knee on his neck, nobody, nobody, would be saying this is a hard case, he said.

After the days proceedings, a few hundred protesters gathered outside the courthouse. Speakers called for justice for Floyd and others whose lives were lost in encounters with police. One speaker, Jaylani Hussein, screamed: Police officers are not above the law!

The downtown Minneapolis courthouse has been fortified with concrete barriers, fences and barbed and razor wire. City and state leaders are determined to prevent a repeat of the riots that followed Floyds death, with National Guard troops already mobilized.

Chauvins trial is being livestreamed over the objections of the prosecution. Judge Peter Cahill ordered that cameras be allowed largely because of the pandemic and the required social distancing, which left almost no room for spectators in the courtroom.

Three other former officers go on trial in August because Cahill ruled there wasnt enough space to try all four at once.

___

Steve Karnowski and Amy Forliti of The Associated Press wrote this story.

Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
SEATTLE, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- JND Legal Administration/

The Class Action Settlement Administrator reports that a class settlement of economic loss claims by persons who owned or leased GM vehicles that were recalled in 2014 has been approved by the federal district court. The recalls involved the ignition system, key rotation, electric power steering and/or side airbag wiring. Plaintiffs claim that consumers overpaid when they bought or leased these vehicles. General Motors LLC ("New GM"), the Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust ("the GUC Trust") and the Motors Liquidation Company Avoidance Action Trust ("the AAT") deny these allegations. Plaintiffs, the GUC Trust, New GM and the AAT have agreed to a settlement to avoid the risk and cost of further litigation. The settlement does not include the release of any claims for personal injury, wrongful death or actual physical injury.

The settlement class includes all persons (individuals, businesses and organizations) who, at any time as of or before GM's announcement of the 2014 recalls, owned, purchased, or leased a vehicle subject to any of the recalls in the United States, or its territories and/or possessions. Daily rental fleet businesses, governmental entities and certain other persons are not included in the class.

Go to www.GMIgnitionSwitchEconomicSettlement.com to see if your GM vehicle is covered by the settlement and if you are eligible to file a claim. All claims must be received online or by mail before April 20, 2021.

The settlement fund is $121.1 million. Payment amounts to eligible class members depend on which recall applied to their vehicle, settlement implementation costs, and the number of eligible class members who file claims.

Learn more by calling 1-877-545-0241 or visiting www.GMIgnitionSwitchEconomicSettlement.com.

SOURCE JND Legal Administration


MECOSTA COUNTY  As the COVID-19 vaccine distribution continues, Mecosta County school boards are getting the clear to continue their meetings in person after meeting virtually for the past year.

The Morley Stanwood Community Schools Board of Education held its first in-person meeting in March, and Morley Stanwood Community Schools Superintendent said they likely will continue to meet in person in April.

"It was terrific," Cole said about the March meeting. "We kind of had a good time."

While previously streaming meetings for the public, Cole said the board is now allowed to have 25 people in a meeting room. If the capacity is reached, it will then be streamed.

"We rarely ever have guests at our meetings," he said, noting this likely will not be an issue.

However, with COVID-19 cases back on the rise, many Mecosta County school districts will meet in person, while continuing to stream meetings for the public due to the county's current emergency declaration.

As of Monday, Mecosta County reached 2,102 COVID-19 cases, with 51 of them being confirmed that day, according to the District Health Department No. 10.

"There's certainly been an uptick in cases," Reed City Area Public Schools Superintendent Mike Sweet said, noting the school district likely will continue to stream board meetings via YouTube for the public to watch.

Chippewa Hills Schools District Superintendent Bob Grover said they likely would do the same, offering both the option to view meetings online or in person.

"Legally you have to have it open to anyone who wants to attend," Grover said.

School boards in Mecosta County typically meet on the second or third Monday of each month. Those looking for more information on specific meetings, can find it by visiting their district's website.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration is extending a federal moratorium on evictions of tenants who have fallen behind on rent during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday moved to continue the pandemic-related protection, which had been scheduled to expire on Wednesday. The moratorium is now extended through the end of June.

RELATED: CDC director has feeling of 'impending doom' amid new spike

The ban, initially put in place last year, provides protection for renters out of concern that having families lose their homes and move into shelters or share crowded conditions with relatives or friends during the pandemic would further spread the highly contagious virus, which has killed more than 545,000 people in the United States.

To be eligible for the housing protection, renters must earn $198,000 annually or less for couples filing jointly, or $99,000 for single filers; demonstrate that theyve sought government help to pay the rent; declare that they cant pay because of COVID-19 hardships; and affirm they are likely to become homeless if evicted.

In February, President Joe Biden extended a ban on housing foreclosures to June 30 to help homeowners struggling during the pandemic.

Housing advocates had generally expected the extension of the tenant eviction moratorium and had been lobbying the Biden administration, saying it was too early in the country's economic recovery to let the ban lapse.

John Pollock, coordinator of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel, said that the moratorium is vital for ensuring there is enough time for Congresss emergency rental assistance to reach the millions of renters in need who would otherwise be evicted.

Pollack said current surveys show that 18.4% of all tenants owe back rent. That number also revealed significant racial disparity: The percentage of Black tenants behind on their rent was 32.9%.

But Pollock and other housing advocates were disappointed that Biden merely extended the ban without addressing several issues that put many tenants at risk of eviction.

READ MORE: Trump officials say coronavirus response was worse than known

In Massachusetts, judges have green-lighted over 1,700 evictions under the federal eviction moratorium. While it is protecting some families, its clearly not protecting all, said Denise Matthews-Turner, the interim executive director of City Life/Vida Urbana, a grassroots housing justice organization in Boston. The extension is a good thing, but its disappointing that the moratorium wasnt also strengthened to keep families from falling through the cracks, such as families with no-fault evictions or whose landlords wont accept rent relief.

Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said she and others had pushed to make the bans protections automatic and universal. Currently, tenants have to actively take steps to invoke the bans protections, which can lead to exploitation of those who don't know their rights or don't understand the process.

Also, some jurisdictions have allowed landlords to initiate the eviction process in court, a tactic that scared many families into leaving rather than having the eviction proceedings, even unfinished ones, on their records.

While the Biden administration is well aware of the shortcomings in the moratorium order that allow some evictions to proceed during the pandemic, the CDC director did not correct them, Yentel said.

Instead, the CDC simply extended President Trumps original order, leaving the loopholes and flaws in place, a disappointing decision that will result in more harmful evictions during the pandemic, she said.

Pollock said the moratorium should also include a provision ensuring tenants have a right to counsel, "so that they can effectively use rental assistance and fight the increasing wave of illegal evictions.

Landlords in several states have sued to scrap the order, arguing it was causing them financial hardship and infringing on their property rights. They remain opposed to any extension, saying it does nothing to address the financial challenges facing renters and landlords.

There are at least six prominent lawsuits challenging the authority of the CDC ban. So far, three judges have sided with the ban and three have ruled against, with all cases currently going through appeals. One judge in Memphis declared the CDC order unenforceable in the entire Western District of Tennessee.

"Though politically popular and well-intentioned, eviction moratoria push renters and their housing providers closer to the brink of financial ruin and jeopardize the stability of 40 million rental homes," Bob Pinnegar, President & CEO of the National Apartment Association, said in a statement. "These policies need to end, and we instead need to focus on swift distribution of federal rental assistance to keep renters securely housed and ensure housing providers can pay the bills that keep housing safe and operational.

___

Casey reported from Boston.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Areas of patchy fog. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Artificial intelligence monitoring for HPV (AIM-HPV) device for point-of-care HPV testing. Credit: Ismail Degani (Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital)

Emerging technologies can screen for cervical cancer better than Pap smears and, if widely used, could save lives both in developing nations and parts of countries, like the United States, where access to health care may be limited.

In Biophysics Reviews, scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital write advances in nanotechnology and computer learning are among the technologies helping develop HPV screening that take the guesswork out of the precancer tests. That could mean better screening in places that lack highly trained doctors and advanced laboratories.

Cervical cancer is the world's fourth-most common cancer, with more than 500,000 cases diagnosed every year. Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV, or human papillomavirus. Detecting precancer changes in the body gives doctors a chance to cure what could otherwise become a deadly cancer.

Pap smears, which were introduced in the 1940s, are subjective and not always reliable. The tests, which can detect about 80% of developing cervical cancer if given regularly, require high-quality laboratories, properly trained clinical doctors, and repeated screenings. These test conditions are not widely available in many countries or even in low-income and remote parts of wealthier nations.

"The Pap smear has done wonders in terms of reducing mortality from a cancer that is very treatable when caught early and almost invariably fatal when it is caught late," said author Cesar Castro, an oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School. "And it is not even a great test. Part of its imperfection is that there is subjectivity to it. The trained eye is the limiting step in the process. The untrained eye, or relatively untrained eye, can miss cancers."

The subjectivity of the test has led to a much higher death rate from cervical cancer in lower-income countries. The authors highlight a list of existing and emerging technologies that can be used to close the testing gap in those areas. They range from existing DNA testing and other Pap smear alternatives to next-generation technologies that use recent advances in nanotechnology and artificial intelligence.

One technique involves screening with tiny beads made of biological material that form a diamond shape when they contact HPV. Those shapes can be detected with powerful microscopes. When those microscopes are not available, a mobile phone app, built through machine learning, can be used to read them.

"Similar to COVID-19 testing, we have great technology in places like the United States that does not work well enough in other countries," said author Hyungsoon Im, a biomedical engineer at Massachusetts General Hospital and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. "This is why there is great motivation to find next-generation, affordable technology to address this problem."

Explore further AI method can detect precursors to cervical cancer

More information: "Addressing cervical cancer screening disparities through advances in artificial intelligence and nanotechnologies for cellular profiling" Biophysics Reviews, aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0043089 "Addressing cervical cancer screening disparities through advances in artificial intelligence and nanotechnologies for cellular profiling"
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2021 / MJ Harvest, Inc. (OTCQB:MJHI) announced that it has closed a loan to PPK Investment Group, Inc. ("PPK") in the form of a convertible note in the amount of $620,000. PPK does business as Country Cannabis, a vertically integrated Oklahoma based cannabis company involved in the growing, harvesting, processing, extraction, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail distribution of its Country Cannabis branded products. The convertible note bears interest at 6% per annum and is due on September 1, 2021. The conversion feature of the Note provides that MJHI may convert the Note to acquire a 6.2% interest in PPK provided such conversion is then in compliance with Oklahoma regulations governing ownership of cannabis licenses in Oklahoma. If converted, the interest accrued from the loan date of March 24, 2021 through the date of conversion will be forgiven. The intention of MJHI is to establish a relationship with PPK through the loan agreement, and then expand that relationship to an increasing ownership interest in accordance with Oklahoma law so that, over time, MJHI and PPK can effectively combine and grow their respective businesses.

CEO Patrick Bilton stated, "This is an excellent opportunity for the Company to join forces with a proven operator. We envision targeting expansion of Country Cannabis into emerging markets in the coming months".

The convertible note was agreed to March 22, 2021 with a closing date and effective date of March 24, 2021, and the loaned funds were provided to PPK on the Closing Date. In the event the Note is converted prior to maturity, MJHI will invest $1,000,000, consisting of the note conversion of $620,000 and issuance of MJHI common stock of $380,000, for an aggregate 10% interest in PPK. MJHI has an option to increase ownership up to 100% at any time prior to March 31, 2023 provided such increases can be accomplished in accordance with Oklahoma law then in effect. The definitive agreement also grants MJHI an option to acquire the real estate that Country Cannabis utilizes in its operations from an affiliated company. MJHI is now working with PPK to structure further investment in compliance with Oklahoma cannabis licensing requirements on a timeline that provides the capital PPK needs for its continuing expansion into new markets. Additional investment in PPK, if any, will be on the same terms as the initial investment.

Clinton Pyatt, Chief Executive Officer and President of PPK, has agreed to continue his role in the Country Cannabis business for at least the next three years. Under Clinton's leadership, Country Cannabis has been growing rapidly and is currently pursuing a number of expansion opportunities to enhance the business in the coming periods. Clinton stated, "we see our relationship with MJHI as an integral step in our efforts to grow our business as we continue to build our Country Cannabis Brand. We look forward to an evolving relationship with MJHI over time as we grow our business and pursue status as a publicly traded company."

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. Although the forward-looking statements in this release reflect the good faith judgment of management, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release.

CONTACT:

MJ Harvest, Inc.

9205 West Russell Rd., Ste. 240

Las Vegas, NV 89148

Telephone: 954.519.3115

Tcktsllc@earthlink.net

@HARVESTMJ

SOURCE: MJ Harvests Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/638035/MJ-Harvest-Inc-Provides-Convertible-Debt-Financing-to-PPK-Investment-Group-Inc
The Kent coronavirus variant is not more deadly than the original strain, a PHE study has found

The Kent coronavirus variant is not more deadly than the original strain, an official study has found.

Public Health England's analysis of more than 5,500 Covid patients in the second wave found there was 'no difference' in mortality rates between the strains in the month after getting infected.

However, the agency discovered people who caught the Kent B.1.1.7 variant were a third more likely to need hospital treatment than those infected with the older version, though the risk remained tiny for the majority of people.

Among the researchers behind the study were 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson, the SAGE scientist whose gloomy forecasts of the first wave plunged the country into its first shutdown, and Dr Susan Hopkins, one of PHE's chief epidemiologists.

The finding comes just months after No10 used a dramatic press conference to warn the public the Kent variant was at least 30 per cent deadlier.

Ministers claimed their shock announcement in January was justified because eight independent studies submitted to SAGE had pointed to increased lethality.

But the Government was accused of jumping the gun before there was hard proof and scaremongering the public into complying with the third lockdown.

It is hard to compare death rates between the first and second waves, to measure the impact of the different variants, because many people weren't tested in the first wave, meaning the ratio of infections to deaths is wrong.

Independent scientists told MailOnline today the latest PHE study was an 'outlier' and pointed out that several other recent studies had concluded B.1.1.7 was more deadly.

Dr Simon Clarke, cellular microbiologist at Reading University, said: 'As things stand, this paper is in the minority, it's an outlier.'

He also questioned the finding that the variant increases hospital risk but not mortality, adding: 'I don't see how that could make sense.'

A SAGE paper published in January cited three studies of the Kent strain: A London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine study (left) based on 2,583 deaths that said the hazard of death within 28 days of test for the mutant strain compared with non-mutant strains was 35% times higher An Imperial College London study (centre) of the Case Fatality Rate of the new mutant strain that found the risk of death was 36% times higher A University of Exeter study (right) that suggested the risk of death could be 91% higher. Both the Exeter and the Imperial studies were based on just 8% of deaths during the study period

The PHE study, which is still to be published, looked at more than 5,500 people in England who tested positive for the virus between October and December last year.

About half were infected with the original strain and the others had B.1.1.7.

A total of 131 needed hospital treatment and 76 died within 28 days of their test.

What do we know about the Kent variant? Name: B.1.1.7 Where did it come from? The variant was first found in Kent and can be traced back to September 2020. Scientists noticed that it was spreading in November and it was revealed to the public in December. What makes it new? The variant has a series of mutations that change the shape of the spike protein on its outside. The main one is known as N501Y. This appears to make it better able to stick to the cells inside the body and makes it more likely to cause infection and faster to spread. How did that happen? Viruses, particularly ones spreading so fast and in such huge numbers, mutate all the time. To reproduce they basically force living cells to copy and paste the viral genetic code, and this can contain errors that lead to slightly different versions of the virus. Often these mutations make no difference but, if they make the virus stronger, they can stick around for further generations and become the norm. What can we do about it? Nothing much. People who catch the virus won't know which type they have, and it will still cause the same symptoms and illness. Officials can try to contain it by locking down the areas where it is most prevalent, but if it is stronger than other versions of the virus it will eventually spread everywhere and become dominant as long as people continue to travel. Will our vaccines still work? Yes, every study into the jabs' effects on the strain shows they are highly effective. Advertisement

Initially, the researchers said there was no evidence of a link between the Kent strain and an increased likelihood of needing hospital care.

But after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, underlying health conditions and other Covid risk factors, they found a 34 per cent heightened risk.

Writing in the study, the researchers said: 'We observed an increased risk in hospitalisation associated with the variant compared to wild-type cases.

'However, no significant difference in the risk of mortality was observed.'

Dr Clarke said it wasn't immediately clear how the Kent variant could increase a person's chance of being admitted to hospital but not of killing them.

He told MailOnline: 'I don't see how that could happen, unless it [the Kent strain] is putting people into hospital with a milder infection.

'It's not clear how the virus could be serious enough to put you in hospital but not serious enough to kill you.

'You could argue that it gives you a disease that responds better to treatment once you're in hospital, but I haven't seen any data for that.'

Dr Clarke warned the results did not give him confidence that B.1.1.7 was not more lethal than the original Covid, highlighting that several studies had found the opposite.

His comments were echoed by Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia.

He told MailOnline: 'There have been other studies that have concluded otherwise...

'To me the big weakness in this new paper is that it does not really discuss its findings in relation to earlier studies and why it has different conclusions.

'So I do not think this is definitive. We need to see all the data and the different studies.'

It comes after a major study earlier claimed the Kent variant was 64 per cent more lethal than earlier versions of the virus.

The research, carried out by academics at the universities of Exeter, Bristol, Warwick and Lancaster, was published in the British Medical Journal. It looked at data from around 55,000 Britons.

Boris Johnson, Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty told a Downing Street press conference in January that early data suggested the variant could increase the risk of death for a man his 60s from 1 per cent to 1.3 per cent.

But confusion mounted following the claims, with a senior Public Health England boss playing down the fears and insisted it was not 'absolutely clear' if it was any deadlier.

SAGE then published the papers they used to make their estimate, which showed estimates of the death risk varied wildly.

The Kent variant dates back to September 2020, and was responsible for most of the second wave, while older variants from Wuhan and Spain caused the first wave.
Someone writes that if one doesnt get the vaccine they should be fired from their job. What country is that? North Korea? Communist China? Where, if you believe differently than the authoritarian government, you have no right to earn a living? Wake up America if you value freedom! They do not have the best interests of the American people at heart, regardless of race, creed or religion, no matter how nice they act or talk about unity. Let your representatives and senators know that the only way to unity is to respect and work with those you disagree with, not to marginalize them.
The founder of a website flooded with pupils' allegations of sexual harassment has said the scandal should not focus on 'naming and shaming' specific schools.

Soma Sara instead railed against an endemic rape culture that permeates 'every school, every university, at home and in society'.

Almost 10,000 people have anonymously posted experiences of misogyny and abuse on the Everyone's Invited website, sparking a reckoning that has been likened to the MeToo movement.

Harassment claims against pupils at high-profile private schools such as Dulwich College first brought the problem to public attention.

Ms Sara today urged campaigners against singling out individual institutions because it fails to tackle entrenched societal behavior.

She told Good Morning Britain: 'I think rape culture is a universal problem it exists everywhere; in all schools, all universities, at home and in society. So the question of responsibility is on everyone.

'I don't think this is about naming, or shaming or pointing the finger at a place, person or institution. It's about everyone participating in these conversations. It's so important we continue having them.

'It's about addressing and changing those sexist attitudes that are so deeply entrenched in society.'

While top public schools were the first to be engulfed in the scandal, Ms Sara has said the number of complaints from state schools has increased by a third.

Ministers are under growing pressure to confront the deepening scandal by launching an independent inquiry.

Gavin Williamson last night condemned the alleged abuses and vowed to take action to stamp out such 'sickening' behaviour.

Soma Sara instead railed against an endemic rape culture that permeates 'every school, every university, at home and in society'

Gavin Williamson vowed last night to take action over the pupil abuse scandal  and urged all victims of 'sickening acts' to report them to police

Ex-pupil sends claims dossier to Eton, Tonbridge and Charterhouse A former pupil at a private girls' school has sent a dossier of alleged experiences of rape culture to the heads of some of Britain's most elite schools. Zan Moon, 24, who attended Benenden in Kent, compiled experiences from 95 people before sending them to top public schools such as Eton College, Charterhouse and Tonbridge. The Princes Trust charity worker, who says she was assaulted by a boy from a different school as a 15-year-old, is worried some of the perpetrators will grow up to one day hold positions of power and influence. Urging heads to stamp out the behaviour at an early age, she wrote: 'The worrying reality of this situation is that many of these young boys grow up to land some of the most powerful leadership roles in society. 'It is therefore vital, to ensure safety for women across the country, that this misogyny issue is dealt with right from the start.' She added to The Times that unacceptable behaviour was too readily dismissed as a 'boys will be boys' mentality. In response, James Priory, headmaster of Tonbridge School, said: 'I have read this open letter with significant concern. These behaviours have no place at Tonbridge and are incompatible with the ethos of care and respect for others which we do our best to teach and live by. As a school, we treat allegations of this kind with the utmost seriousness.' Eton said: 'Eton insists that all our pupils treat others with kindness, decency and respect. Specific allegations are always taken extremely seriously and we work closely with the relevant external authorities when necessary. We run workshops about healthy relationships and educate our pupils about consent it was introducing classes on consent.' Charterhouse said: 'We take the concerns raised extremely seriously and have been working hard on issues such as gender-based discrimination, harassment and violence and healthy and respectful relationships.' Advertisement

Ms Sara said the experiences being recounted were 'shocking and harrowing' but was pleased such problems were being shared.

Recalling the impetus for establishing Everyone's Invited, she said: 'Back in June 2020, after having many conversations with friends and realising just how many of us had had experiences with rape culture and sexual violence throughout our teenage years that we hadn't really shared with each other or hidden from adults.

'I decided to share my experiences on Instagram, and I was overwhelmed with responses from friends, old friends and complete strangers, who were all reaching out to me to emphasise that they really resonated with everything I was saying about rape culture.

'And when I say rape culture I'm talking about when things that aren't normal are normalised. So things like sexual harassment, misogyny, the sharing of intimate photos or upskirting.

'When these are normalised, these can be a gateway to more serious criminal acts such as rape and sexual assault. So it's about addressing a culture that trivialises and normalises these behaviours.'

Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the education select committee, said there was a 'Lord Of The Flies culture' within schools and that counselling should be given to victims of sexual violence.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'It is pretty grim just reading through the Everyone's Invited website, your heart goes out to all the people who have suffered the abuse, the sexual harassment, the threats, the abuse online.

'I do think there is a Lord Of The Flies culture in some of our schools across our country and what needs to happen is an urgent inquiry to overhaul safeguarding procedures because they are not fit for purpose.

'The schools involved should immediately implement a system of providing counselling for students past and present as well... so they can get all the support they need.'

Speaking on the same programme, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said there was a 'duty for parents to make sure that their children are keeping the law'.

He agreed that 'unacceptable behaviour' was 'deeply to do with the culture and we all have a responsibility.'

'Not just in Government but also as parents and as teachers and also members of the community to make sure that people treat each other with respect'.

But Labour's Jess Philips said the Government has known about problems with sexual violence in schools for years and that being 'shocked and appalled' is not good enough.

The shadow domestic violence and safeguarding minister told BBC Breakfast: 'We put this very firmly on the shoulders of victims to sort out what the government should have been sorting out.'
Slain Colorado officer remembered for service to others View Photo

LAFAYETTE, Colo. (AP)  From helping someone with a flooded basement after a water main break to collecting memorabilia for a boy with cancer who wanted police stuff for Christmas, Officer Eric Talley was remembered Tuesday as a man of faith who put others first, long before he rushed into a Colorado supermarket where a gunman had opened fire.

Over 1,000 people, including relatives, community members and officers from as far away as New York City, honored the 51-year-old father of seven at a memorial service just over a week after he was credited with preventing more people from dying by hurrying into the store with other officers. Besides Talley, nine others were killed in the March 22 shooting in Boulder.

During the service at Flatirons Community Church in nearby Lafayette, Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said Talleys personnel file was filled with thank you letters from people he had helped during his decade with the department. A former information technology worker, Talley felt a calling to become an officer at age 41.

Since his death, behavioral health professionals have been calling to let the department know how grateful they were for Talleys compassionate approach to those in trouble, she said. Herold also noted that he helped found the departments drone unit, seeing the technology as an important advance that could help the public while protecting the safety of officers.

His supervisor, Sgt. Adrian Drelles, said Talley was enthusiastic about his life and the job, calling his boss so many times a day about what he was up to that Drelles had to limit him to 10 calls a day. He said the turnout at the service showed that Talley had character, which comes from the Greek word for leaving a mark.

I would say he has left his mark, but not because of how he died but how he lived, he said.

The Rev. Dan Nolan said a traditional Catholic requiem Mass celebrated in Latin on Monday was what Talley wanted for himself but that Tuesdays service is what he would have wanted for fellow officers who also would have tried to get into the store as others tried to escape. He said seeing the honor shown to Talley should assure them that their sacrifices will not be taken for granted and should also serve as a reminder to everyone else that law enforcement is there to protect them.

Love your officers, care for them, respect them, honor them. They are not here for themselves. They are here to lay down their lives for you if necessary, said Nolan, adding that Talleys faith is what motivated his response to the shooting.

The program for the ceremony included a poem written by Talleys seven children for Christmas 2019, called Our Unsung Hero. It praises Talley for doing whatever they asked of him and risking his life. It ends with a line asking for his protection: May God bless and protect you/And bring you home each day.

Last week, officers arrived at the grocery store one minute and 40 seconds after being alerted to the shooting, police say. They said Talley led an initial team of officers inside within 30 seconds of arriving and that the gunman fired at them, killing Talley.

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder over shots fired at another officer. Prosecutors expect to file more charges as the investigation progresses.

One of Alissas public defenders told a judge during his first court appearance that they needed to assess Alissas mental health but did not provide details about his condition.

His next court hearing will be May 25. His attorneys asked for at least two months before returning to court so they could evaluate him and review evidence gathered by investigators.

___

Slevin reported from Denver. 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.

By PATTY NIEBERG and COLLEEN SLEVIN

Report for America/Associated Press
Searing pain, sciatica, vomiting, fatigue and blackouts - just some of the symptoms dismissed by doctors who accused model Hannah Devane of 'starving herself' when she sought help for debilitating periods.

The Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model finalist first began experiencing life-altering symptoms when she was in her twenties.

It would take dozens of appointments with doctors and endless self-advocacy for the top model to be diagnosed with endometriosis.

Expand Close Hannah in an online exhibition alongside portraits of 17 other women to coincide with Endometriosis Awareness Month. Ester Keates series explores the illness through a images which include close-up photos of the womens faint surgical scars / Facebook

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The debilitating condition affects one in ten women and occurs when tissue grows outside of the uterus, and can cause chronic pain and infertility in some cases.

Shockingly, in Ireland the waiting time for diagnosis is up to nine years.

Clinic

Last week a dedicated treatment clinic for women with endometriosis was launched in the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital.

Hannah says it's one small step for women who have been forced to suffer in silence.

"Unless you are living with endometriosis you will have no idea about how much it can impact someone's life. I feel quite passionate about speaking out about it so women, at the very minimum, will know they're not alone."

Speaking of the condition which ravaged her life, Hannah, who now lives in London with her husband who she wed in an idyllic ceremony in 2018, said: "I get this really deep, aching pain right through my abdomen to my back and down my legs, it's a stabbing all-consuming searing pain.

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"I have fainted on trains and have had to remove myself from public transport to vomit. I experienced swelling in my lower abdomen, pain when urinating and extreme fatigue.

"In my twenties I had to take painkillers just to get through the day. I used all my energy to get through my working days. When I came home I had to go to bed with a hot water bottle. I wasn't doing what normal twentysomethings do, I missed out on a lot.

"For a long time, I didn't know what was going on and why this was happening. I thought it was part of being a woman, at least that's what I was told."

When Hannah could no longer function, she sought counsel from doctors and was unanimously dismissed.

"I had quite a hard time being listened to and taken seriously. I am naturally very tall and thin, I always have been.

"Doctors told me, 'you must be putting your body under strain, are you starving yourself? Are you over exercising?'

"Neither of which was the case. I've had doctors tell me I was in pain because I had a stressful job and that it was all in my head. It was always put back on me.

"I do think if a man went in with a level of pain and symptoms that it would be taken more seriously.

"There is this kind of issue in society that we're seen as overly sensitive or overly dramatic and that's not the case. There's so many women that are highly functioning through so much pain and that should not be the case, we shouldn't have to suck it up.

"Not being believed and being patronised by a lot of doctors was extremely difficult."

The social media influencer, who hopes to spread awareness of the condition and is looking to schools to educate about periods, also felt betrayed be her own body.

"I did feel a lot of almost resentment towards my own body because I thought 'why am I struggling? Why is my body not cooperating?' Now I see it in a different way, my body is resilient, it carried me through.

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Urging women to seek help, Hannah pleads: "If you don't get the proper care from somebody, get a second opinion, get a third opinion, get a fourth opinion until you find somebody who's going to give you the treatment you deserve.

"I knew there was something going on. I was told to go to a pain clinic and even at one stage referred to a pain psychologist.

"I would constantly have the same tests, antibiotics and painkillers. I felt like it was just like putting a band-aid on a broken neck - nobody wanted to get to the root of what was actually going on."

When the newlywed finally found a doctor in London who took her symptoms seriously she received a diagnosis of endometriosis.

"I underwent laparoscopy, a surgical procedure used to examine the organs inside the abdomen, that's the only way to confirm diagnosis.

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"I was treated with ablation which destroys the lining of the uterus but it is a very superficial treatment.

"It burned off superficial lesions but they just grow back. After surgery my pain came back and I wasn't taken seriously again."

Determined to find a resolution, Hannah found a specialist in excision surgery where the scar tissue and the roots of adhesions are removed.

"I underwent the treatment nine months before I got married, that was a real driving factor for me.

"I just wanted to be able to dance on my wedding day and be pain free, that was so foreign to me, and I got my wish, my wedding day was a dream come true. I've had really, really brilliant results from that it has truly changed my quality of life."

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The surgery may have been a success but Hannah adds: "It doesn't have a definitive cure. These are all treatments to improve your quality of life. They can't guarantee that it's not going to come back.

"I'm glad to see a shift in Ireland with the opening of this endometriosis clinic but I still think we have a long way to go.

"I just hope that we can get to a point where we value women's health enough to give us the treatment that we deserve, which is proper excision surgery and earlier diagnosis so women don't have to suffer. It's time that the medical world listens to women."




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Kolkata: The leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) have intensified their efforts to woo voters before the campaigning for the second phase for the upcoming assembly elections ends in the state.

The party leaders are, at least, leading 3-4 rallies on a daily basis. These public meetings have resulted into a bitter war of words between the leaders of the two parties, especially between ex-TMC leader and current BJP member Suvendhu Adhikari and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

While addressing rallies in Nandigram on Monday, which was also the second last day of campaigning for phase two of state assembly elections, in a barb directed at Adhikari and his father Sisir Adhikari, CM Mamata Banerjee said, "Too much greed is not good. They will be 'na ghar ka na ghat ka' (who is stuck in the middle and does not belong to either of the sides). He (Adhikari) is doing whatever he wants. I can play games too. I can also respond like a lion. I am a Royal Bengal Tiger."

Additionally, TMC supremo also attacked Adhikari by stating that the entry of police authorities in Nandigram on March 14, 2007 which had led to the killing of 14 supporters of the historic anti-farmland acquisition movement, could not have taken place without the knowledge of Adhikari.

"Without the knowledge of the father-son duo, police could not have entered Nandigram on that day. It is my fault that I had showered so much love on them," said TMC supremo, who further went on to brand the Adhikari father-so duo as "traitors".

"What did I not do for them. I had made him (Suvendu Adhikari) transport, environment, irrigation minister, I had made him the chairman of Hooghly River Bridge Commissioner. I made his father (Sisisr Adhikari) chairman of Digha Development Authority, I made his brother (Soumendu Adhikari) chairman of Haldia Development Authority. I made his brother the chairman of Contai Municipality. I had given at least 10 plum postings to a single family and this is how they reciprocated, this is how they betrayed as venomous traitors," she added.

Replying to Mamatas allegations and attacks on himself and his father, BJPs candidate from Nandigram constituency, Suvendu Adhikari said, "She is speaking nonsense as she has understood that she is going to lose in Nandigram."

The BJP candidates replies to CM Mamata Banerjee were sharp. While addresing a public meeting he said, "TMC Pvt Ltd owner is in Birulia with a bandage on her leg. The Managing Director is Bhaipo (nephew) and others are employees and small time thieves."

"Banerjee has reaped the benefits of the Nandigram movement due to Suvendu who had risked his life in the fight against the CPI-M terror. She had used him, she had used me in her rise to the seat of the CM. Now she is speaking against us as we had protested against her way of functioning. She stands exposed before the people of Nandigram and Bengal," he said.

Adhikari also added that TMC supremos allegations have no ground. He added that he and his family shifted to the BJPs cause to save themselves. "We had shifted to BJP after being ill treated and abused by the TMC leadership for the past several months despite giving our best for the TMC. People of Purba Medinipur (district) will give her a befitting reply," Sisir Adhikari said.

"In fact it is she who is communalising the atmosphere to get more votes. She had been pursuing the politics of appeasement for all these years and had sown the seeds of division. We (BJP) believe in taking along all in the path of development; we don't believe in preferential treatment to one community, said Adhikari.

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TASHKENT -- Uzbekistan's Interior Ministry has blamed Miraziz Bazarov, a well-known rights activist and blogger, for "provoking" an attack that left him in the hospital with severe head and leg injuries.

In a video statement placed on YouTube on March 29, the ministry claimed that Bazarov was attacked after he called on "individuals with nontraditional sexual orientation" to hold mass demonstrations near the Hazrati Imam mosque and Amir Timur avenue in downtown Tashkent.

Bazarov, who was attacked by three masked men near his apartment block in Tashkent late on March 28, remains in the hospital in very serious condition.

According to the latest statement by physicians at the Tashkent Traumatology Hospital, Bazarov sustained open and closed traumas to his skull, an open fracture of the right leg, and numerous bruises to his body.

The ministry said in its video that Bazarov "had deliberately ignored" social-behavior rules by distributing videos with contents "not typical for the Uzbek nation," and "demonstrating his perverted behavior to the society."

"[Bazarov], acting with the assistance and support of destructive external forces and ill-intentioned international nongovernmental organizations, attempted to propagate homosexualism and similar evils, despite the fact that it is banned by Uzbek law, and created the atmosphere of protest and intolerance," the ministrys statement said.

Bazarov is known for his criticism of the Uzbek government on his Telegram channel.

Among other issues, Bazarov has publicly urged the government to decriminalize same-sex sexual conduct, which is considered a crime in Uzbekistan.

Bazarov has said several times that he is not an LGBT activist, but believes that being gay is a personal issue and that laws should not be created to regulate it.

Pop Music Event

His mother, Miraziza Bazarova, who was allowed to see her son on March 29, told RFE/RL that she was shocked to see the severity of injuries her son sustained.

"There must be no place for such brutality and violence in our society. I met with law enforcement officers. They promised to find and punish the attackers. I hope very much that they will," Bazarova said.

WATCH: Uzbek Rights Campaigner And Government Critic Severely Beaten

Uzbek photographer Timur Karpov told RFE/RL that Bazarov was attacked when he was approaching his home with his girlfriend, Nelya. According to him, the couple had noted that they had been followed by a vehicle for several days before the attack.

Hours before the attack, a weekly public event for fans of Japanese anime and Korean pop music, which Bazarov organizes each Sunday, was disrupted by dozens of aggressive men who chanted Allah Akbar! (God is great!).

The Interior Ministrys video statement said that incident was the result of Bazarov's "provocative" statements.

"As a result, on March 28, a group of our citizens who considered [Bazarov's] calls as an insult, gathered on Amir Timur avenue," and "created a situation compromising public safety by staging mass disorders," the ministry said, adding that "individuals responsible for the disorder have been apprehended."

The ministry did not say whether any of those apprehended were also involved in the attack on Bazarov.

Bazarov has been critical of President Shavkat Mirziyoev for failing to rein in corruption and has questioned the efficiency of ongoing restrictions to battle the coronavirus pandemic.

Last summer, Bazarov was questioned by State Security Service investigators after he called on the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank not to provide loans to Uzbekistan without strict control over how the funds are used.

Bazarov had told RFE/RL that in recent weeks he had received many online threats. Despite informing police of the threats, no action was taken by law enforcement, he said.

Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, and the U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Daniel Rosenblum have condemned the attack against Bazarov and urged Uzbek authorities to thoroughly investigate it.
"We want to create a culture that supports equal parenting for all genders," said Hakan Samuelsson, chief executive. "When parents are supported to balance the demands of work and family, it helps to close the gender gap and allows everyone to excel in their careers. We have always been a family-oriented and human-centric company. Through the Family Bond programme, we are demonstrating and living our values, which in turn will strengthen our brand."

The global policy is more inclusive and supportive than many existing policies around the world, and includes all legally registered parents, including adoptive, foster care and surrogate parents, as well as non-birth parents in same-sex couples. Some countries do not offer any paid leave to new parents, or exclude certain groups of parents  the latter is particularly true for fathers.

Volvo Cars' global policy is inspired by national legislation in its home market of Sweden, famous around the globe for its generous parental leave arrangements, which have delivered tangible benefits for parents and children alike in recent decades. It follows a parental leave pilot scheme launched in the EMEA region in 2019, in which 46 per cent of all applicants were fathers.



"This is more than a new parental leave policy for our employees  it is the embodiment of our company culture and values," said Hanna Fager, head of corporate functions. "We want to lead change in this industry and set a new global people standard. By opting all our employees into paid parental leave we narrow the gender gap and get a more diverse workforce, boosting performance and strengthening our business."

When studying the outcome of its parental leave pilot, the company found that employees appreciated the policy for being gender neutral, inclusive and adaptable to personal needs. The studies also resulted in important insights on how to encourage even more employees to take parental leave and make parental leave for both parents the new 'norm'.



Some of the obstacles that limit the uptake of parental leave include parents' concerns around the potential impact it might have on their team, fear around long-term career opportunities, and a cultural mindset about of what is expected of fathers in the workplace and at home.



To encourage uptake, Volvo Cars has focused on communicating about its parental leave policy more effectively. By presenting the 24 weeks parental leave as a pre-selected option, the company aims to create a 'default effect'  essentially, people are highly likely to stick with pre-selected options. Ambiguous language, such as 'up to 24 weeks', is avoided as we tend to predict negative outcomes when there is uncertainty.



By using tactics like these, Volvo Cars aim to remove confusion and cultural barriers, and provide parents with certainty.



To further show its commitment to reducing the gender gap, Volvo Cars will share its participation results over time so that other companies can learn from its progress.

-------------------------------

Notes to Editors:

In any countries where local regulations offer a more generous parental leave, local regulations will take precedence.

Volvo Cars has developed a checklist on how the company plans to communicate around the policy to encourage uptake, which can be found by following this link .

Volvo Cars Media Relations, +46 031-596525, [email protected]

SOURCE Volvo Car Corporation
Xinjiang workers enjoy full freedom and benefits working in Guangdong, academics find through 9-month-long field study

Global Times) 10:21, March 30, 2021

Nilufer Gheyret (fourth from left) talks with ethnic minority workers from Xinjiang during her research in Guangdong factories. [Photo/Courtesy of Nilufer Gheyret]

A research report compiled through an in-depth investigation on ethnic minority workers from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region working in Guangdong Province was released by the Jinan University on Tuesday, which experts pointed out is the best representation to quash the "forced labor" allegations spread by the infamous anti-China pseudo-scholar Adrian Zenz.

Zenz alleged, in his latest report titled "Coercive Labor and Forced Displacement in Xinjiang's Cross-Regional Labor Transfer Program," that "labor transfers of ethnic minorities" in Xinjiang to other regions and provinces are to "forcibly uproot them, assimilate them and reduce their population density."

Zenz also claimed in his report that a working report released by the China Institute of Wealth and Economics of Nankai University (CIWE) in Tianjin in December 2019 "gives strong and authoritative evidence for large-scale, coercive stated-driven recruitments into labor transfers, and for the securitized nature of such transfers to other provinces."

On Monday, the CIWE released a solemn statement, denouncing Zenz, who, under the banner of so-called "academic research," reversed black and white and made a deliberate misinterpretation of the context of CIWE's research achievements. Zenz's so-called "conclusions" are full of mistakes and far from the truth.

The latest research report, "'Forced Labor' or 'Pursuit of Better Life' - Conditions of Xinjiang Workers Working in Other Regions" released by the Institute for Communication and Borderland Governance of Jinan University, fully exposed Zenz's fabrications. Nilufer Gheyret, a research fellow of the Institute for Communication and Borderland Governance of Jinan University and co-author of the approximately 18,000-word report, told the Global Times that in order to communicate with the interviewees comprehensively and obtain clearer and more detailed materials, the entirety of the interviews was conducted in their quotidian language.

Chen Ning, a research fellow of the same institute and co-author of the report, noted that the anti-China foreign forces' so-called "caring for Xinjiang's human rights" rhetoric is incredibly hypocritical. In the eyes of those Western "chess players," the ordinary citizens in Xinjiang are only pawns. "The chess players only want to win. Which chess player really cares about the pawns?"

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji)
Xiaomi announced a refreshed new corporate visual identity, fusing organic philosophy with the design concept of Alive. This new branding aims to further strengthen Xiaomis foothold in the premium market, while raising brand awareness with its audiences through its new dynamic logo.

Xiaomis brand new logo was designed by a world-renowned designer, professor of Musashino Art University and the President of the Nippon Design Center (NDC), Kenya HARA. Adopting a softer, rounder contour on the corners of the previously squared logo, along with redesigned MI typography, the new logo is now more aesthetically pleasing. Corporate color remains orange to continue to convey the liveliness and youthfulness of Xiaomi. Black and silver will also be used as supplemental colors to accommodate high-end product line applications.

Kenya HARA used the superellipse mathematical formula when designing the logo of Xiaomi. While there are infinite options between a square and a perfect circle, the designer achieved a visually optimal dynamic balance by adjusting the variables in the formula. Using n=3 struck the perfect balance between a square and a circle, epitomizing the core aspect of Alive, resulting in the brand new Xiaomi logo we see now. Compared with a right-angled object, a circle is a shape that is more agile, which is the perfect representation of Xiaomis flexibility, relentlessness and its will to move forward.

Kenya HARA proposed a very crucial design concept for Xiaomi  Alive. He believes Xiaomis innovative technology has brought convenience and offers people the ability to have optimal control of their lives, and can accommodate any changes in the environment. Alive interprets Xiaomis philosophy from a visual perspective, giving the brand a visual image full of life: people are alive  technology is created by people  technology, thus, is also alive. Technology will always serve the needs of life.

Xiaomi adopts a new dynamic logo format for the first time, disrupting the traditional rules of brand logo usage of the past. The new logo is not fixed at the four corners of the square, instead, it adapts to content and is placed at the most suitable position. The new dynamic logo further embraces the philosophical thinking, making the logo truly come Alive.

The concept of Alive is Xiaomis thinking and response to the turning point in the era of intelligent interconnectivity. As a technology company, Xiaomi is committed to bringing more innovations around the world and it is essential for the brand to grow along with its users. As Xiaomi is growing at a rapid pace, the brand is also making more friends along the way. Xiaomi is ushering into a new decade as it expands its presence from the masses to premium users, from technology to art space, from online to offline and all over the world. This new brand identity will propel Xiaomi forward in the upcoming decade.
The criminal trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin opened Monday, 10 months after George Floyds death ignited an eruption of mass multi-racial demonstrations that spread to every continent. Deliberations are expected to continue for three to four weeks.

Defense attorney Eric Nelson left, and defendant, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, right, listen as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over a hearing before jury selection, Monday, March 8, 2021. (Court TV/Pool via AP)

Last May 25, Chauvin pressed his knee to Floyds neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd was handcuffed and held to the ground by two other officers. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and third-degree murder. If convicted of the most serious charge, he could face 10.5 to 15 years in prison.

Attorney Jerry Blackwell began the trial with the opening statement for the prosecution. Speaking for about an hour, Blackwell presented Chauvins actions as a deviation from standard police policies and procedures that govern the Minneapolis Police Department. He told jurors the case is not about all police or the difficult split-second decisions police must make, but rather the 569-second period when Chauvin did not get up or let up.

You will learn that on May 25 of 2020, Mr. Derek Chauvin betrayed his badge when he used excessive and unreasonable force upon the body of Mr. George Floyd, Blackwell told jurors. He put his knees upon his neck and his back, grinding, and crushing him until the very breath until the very life was squeezed out of him.

Blackwell played the bystander video of the incident and presented jurors with a visual timeline, noting Floyd could be heard saying I cant breathe 27 times, and Chauvin did not get up even after Floyd did not have a pulse. Blackwell stated Chauvins excessive use of force caused Floyds death, pointing out Floyd experienced an anoxic seizure and agonal breathing because of oxygen deprivation.

Lead defense attorney Eric Nelson focused the defenses opening statement on Floyds alleged drug use and his altercation with officers during his arrest. Nelson argued the evidence in the case was far greater than 9 minutes and 29 seconds. He said it was not Chauvins knee but a combination of drug use and preexisting health conditions that caused Floyds death.

What was Mr. Floyds actual cause of death? The evidence will show that Mr. Floyd died of a cardiac arrhythmia that occurred as a result of hypertension, coronary disease, the ingestion of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and the adrenaline flowing through his bodyall of which acted to further compromise an already compromised heart, Nelson said.

Nelson indicated the jury would be shown footage captured where Floyd allegedly resisted arrest. He said the arrest was complicated by the fact that Chauvin is only 5-foot-9 and approximately 140 pounds, compared to Floyd, who was over six feet tall and 220 pounds. Nelson argued that the gathering crowd that witnessed Floyds death was threatening to officers, causing them to shift their attention away from Floyds well-being.

Nelson presented Chauvin and other officers as distressed and merely acting as they were trained. He said Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do over the course of his 19-year career.

The first witness the prosecution called was Jena Lee Scurry, a 911 dispatcher who notified a supervisor when she saw police using excessive force against Floyd. Scurry said she saw live feed of the incident from city surveillance videos. She said she remembered seeing Floyd in the police car before later seeing Floyd on the ground, and she initially thought the video feed had malfunctioned because no one appeared to move for some time.

I first asked if the screens had frozen because it hadnt changed, Scurry said, adding, I became concerned that something might be wrong it was a gut instinct of, in the incident, somethings not going right.

The prosecution played a recording of the call Scurry made to a police sergeant, where she can be heard saying, You can call me a snitch if you want to I dont know if they have used force or not. They got something out of the squad [car] and all of them sat on this man.

While cross-examining Scurry, the defense focused on the fact that Scurry does not have the same training as a police officer, suggesting she was not qualified to determine if the officers actions were in line with their training.

The second witness to take the stand, Alisha Oyler, said she saw police messing with someone while she was working at the Speedway gas station near the incident. Oyler recorded footage of the assault from across the street, saying she was recording because the police were always messing with people, and said, its wrong, its not right.

Donald Wynn Williams, the third witness, was one of the bystanders who yelled at police to get off of Floyds neck. Williams, who has mixed martial arts training, described how Chauvin used a blood choke against Floyd. Blood chokes are a form of strangulation that disrupt blood flow to the brain.

You can see his foot, his toe is pointing down, Williams said. And thats the pressure, to push more down, between his knee, Georges head and the concrete and cut off circulation.

Williams said the only time Chauvin looked at him was when he called out that the officer was doing a blood choke.

We looked each other dead in the eyes, when I said it, he acknowledged it, Williams said.

After technical difficulties disrupted the live stream of the trial, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill ended the days session early. The trial is set to resume Tuesday around 9:30 a.m., with further testimony from Williams.

Chauvins trial is extraordinary in many ways. State officials have bent over backwards to ensure Chauvin received a fair trial. The jurors in the case were meticulously selected, having to answer a 16-page questionnaire before being questioned by both parties in the trial. Judge Cahill allowed the defense to object to up to 15 jurors without reason, while the prosecution could reject up to nine.

Understanding millions of workers, outraged by police brutality, will pay close attention to the trial, Cahill made the decision to open the trial up for livestream. Meanwhile, there is extreme nervousness about social tensions in the city, with officials completely blocking the Minneapolis government center from the public and deploying the National Guard.

Incidents of police brutality, torture and murder are pervasive in the US. However, police are reluctantly prosecuted and only rarely by the state. Generally speaking, prosecutions are initiated only when the incident is caught on video, provoking a massive public response.

The Minneapolis Police Department issued a public statement May 26 that said nothing about Chauvin kneeling on Floyds neck: After Floyd got out [of his car], he physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress.

If bystanders had not captured the incident on their cellphones, that would have been the official story, just like hundreds of other incidents every year.

The American justice system routinely hands out brutal sentences to workers for the pettiest of crimes. It is easy to imagine the response of the state and media had Floyd or another worker been recorded kneeling on the neck of a police officer.

The media and the pseudo-left have taken great pains to promote a racial narrative in the case. However, the prevalence of police killings in the US is a consequence of the class war offensive waged by the ruling elite against the entire working class. Rather than simply being an issue of racist cops against minorities, the conflict is between the armed representatives of the capitalist state and the working class.
Becerra now heads the federal health and welfare agency and can be expected to crack the whip on any states that resist federal policies in the programs he manages. Thats how the food chain works; its not personal animosity, just institutional jousting for control.

The recently enacted $1.9 trillion stimulus that Becerras new boss, President Joe Biden, pushed through Congress provides another example. It gives state and local governments $350 billion in aid, supposedly to make up for revenue losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. But one provision prohibits recipients from using the windfall to reduce taxes, and that has generated criticism from state officials of all ideological stripes that it interferes with their ability to manage their finances.

In California, politicians and interest groups on the left say it could prevent them from reducing tax burdens on the poor, such as expansion of the earned income tax credit, and small businesses.

State Finance Direrctor Keely Bosler told Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a letter that strictly applying the tax cut prohibition would limit a states ability to adopt policies that support federal goals and could thus constrain the economic benefits that were intended by the authorization of these funds.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2021 / Turnkey Capital Inc. (OTCQB:TKCI), a premier business growth accelerator, announced today the launch of its new corporate brand identity which includes a redesigned logo and website. The upgrade comes at a time when the company is expanding its market reach.

The logo was redesigned to modernize the company's image and better represent its evolving portfolio. The feeling of one unit in forward motion signifies the company's commitment to work with its subsidiaries in partnership to drive accelerated growth. The regal colors represent the company's market position as a leader in providing premier customized resources across all key disciplines.

The newly redesigned website features a professional and streamlined visual with simplified messaging. The easy to navigate layout provides a showcase to highlight portfolio companies and provides users with a seamless experience. In addition to the redesign, the company also added an enhanced domain to its brand to simplify communications and will be implementing SEO campaigns to build brand awareness. To view the newly redesigned website please visit www.turnkeycap.com.

"Our new logo, website and brand story more accurately reflect what we can deliver to the market. With decades of experience in combined disciplines, we have the ability to streamline, build efficiencies and provide key resources for sustainable growth," stated Alan Tucker, President of Turnkey Capital, Inc.

About Turnkey Capital, Inc.

Turnkey Capital Inc. (TKCI) is a business growth accelerator focused on building a portfolio of under-valued assets. By providing capital for growth, strategic operational and management resources, financial infrastructure, and long-term corporate support, TurnKey becomes the key ingredient to maximize the potential of its acquired assets. Turnkey's extensive management team of seasoned corporate and financial executives bring their considerable resources to work on behalf of proven development-stage companies that have demonstrated strong potential and create opportunities for both the company and its shareholders to benefit from more rapid growth.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the Company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. Specifically, the Company's ability to raise additional capital, execute its business plan and strategy, sustain, or increase gross margins, achieve profitability and build shareholder value are forward-looking statements. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the Company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:

Investor Relations

ir@turnkeycap.com

SOURCE: Turnkey Capital Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/638196/TurnKey-Capital-Reveals-New-Brand-Identity
US authorities have said the breach appeared to be the work of Russian hackers. General Paul Nakasone, who leads the Pentagons cyber force, said last week that the Biden administration is considering a range of options in response. Russia has denied any role in the hack. Loading Since then, a series of headline-grabbing hacks has further highlighted vulnerabilities in the US public and private sectors. A hacker tried unsuccessfully to poison the water supply of a small town in Florida in February, and this month a new breach was announced involving untold thousands of Microsoft Exchange email servers that the company says was carried out by Chinese state hackers. China has denied involvement in the Microsoft breach. Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat and head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the governments initial response to the discovery of the SolarWinds hack was disjointed. What struck me was how much we were in the dark for as long as we were in the dark, Warner said at a recent cybersecurity conference.

Wolf and other top Homeland Security officials used new phones that had been wiped clean along with the popular encrypted messaging system Signal to communicate in the days after the hack, current and former officials said. Loading One former administration official, who confirmed the Federal Aviation Administration was among the agencies affected by the breach, said the agency was hampered in its response by outdated technology and struggled for weeks to identify how many servers it had running SolarWinds software. The FAA initially told the AP in mid-February that it had not been affected by the SolarWinds hack, only to issue a second statement a few days later that it was continuing to investigate. At least one other Cabinet member besides Wolf was affected. The hackers were able to obtain the schedules of officials at the Energy Department, including then-Secretary Dan Brouillette, one former high-placed administration official said. The schedules were not confidential and are subject to open records laws.

Energy Department spokesman Kevin Liao said it has found no evidence the network that maintains senior officials schedules was compromised. The new disclosures provide a fuller picture of what kind of data was taken in the SolarWinds hack. Several congressional hearings have been held on the subject, but they have been notably short on details. Loading Representative Pat Fallon indicated at one of the hearings that a DHS secretarys email had been hacked but did not provide additional detail. The AP was able to identify Wolf, who declined to comment other than to say he had multiple email accounts as secretary. DHS spokesperson Sarah Peck said that a small number of employees accounts were targeted in the breach and that the agency no longer sees indicators of compromise on our networks.

The Biden administration has pledged to issue an executive order soon to address significant gaps in modernization and in technology of cybersecurity across the federal government. But the list of obstacles facing the federal government is long: highly capable foreign hackers backed by governments that arent afraid of US reprisals, outdated technology, a shortage of trained cybersecurity professionals and a complex leadership and oversight structure. Stale Einstein Loading The recently approved stimulus package includes $US650 million in new money for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to harden the countrys cyber defences. Federal officials said that amount is only a down payment on much bigger planned spending to improve threat detection. We must raise our game, Brandon Wales, who leads the cybersecurity agency, said at a recent House committee hearing.

The agency operates a threat-detection system known as Einstein. Its failure to detect the SolarWinds breach before it was discovered by a private security company alarmed officials. Eric Goldstein, the agencys executive assistant director for cybersecurity, told Congress that Einsteins technology was designed a decade ago and has grown somewhat stale. Anthony Ferrante, a former director for cyber incident response at the US National Security Council and current senior managing director at FTI Consulting, said part of the problem, both in government and in the private sector, is the lack of a skilled workforce. The Microsoft Exchange hack, which to date has not affected any federal government agencies, was also discovered by a private firm. One issue thats flummoxed policymakers is that foreign state hackers are increasingly using US-based virtual private networks, or VPNs, to evade detection by US intelligence agencies, which are legally constrained from monitoring domestic infrastructure. The hosting services of Amazon Web Services and GoDaddy were used by the SolarWinds hackers to evade detection, officials said recently.

The Biden administration is not planning to step up government surveillance of the US internet in response and instead wants to focus on tighter partnerships and improved information-sharing with the private-sector companies that already have broad visibility into the domestic internet. Responsibility for responding to breaches, preventing new ones and providing oversight of those efforts is still unsettled, and last month leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee initially criticised the Biden administration for a disorganised response to the SolarWinds hack before the White House issued a statement clarifying its leadership structure. The Biden administration tapped Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emergency technology, to respond to the SolarWinds and Microsoft breaches. It hasnt appointed a national cyber director, a new position, frustrating some members of Congress. Were trying to fight a multifront war without anybody in charge, said Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine. The Biden administration says its reviewing how best to set up the new position. Cybersecurity is a top priority, said White House spokesperson Emily Horne.
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HONG KONG  China has sharply reduced the number of directly elected seats in Hong Kongs legislature in a setback for the territorys already beleaguered democracy movement.

The changes were announced Tuesday after a two-day meeting of Chinas top legislature.

The legislature will be expanded to 90 seats, and only 20 will be elected by the public. Currently, half of the 70-seat legislature  35 seats  is directly elected.

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The move is part of a two-phase effort to rein in political protest and opposition in Hong Kong, which is part of China but has had a more liberal political system as a former British colony. China imposed a national security law on Hong Kong last year and is following up this year with a revamp of the electoral process.

The crackdown comes in the wake of months of pro-democracy protests in 2019 that brought hundreds of thousands to the streets and turned violent as the government resisted the movements demands.

Its a very sad day for Hong Kong. The election system is completely dismantled, said former lawmaker and Democratic Party member Emily Lau.

They are going to get rid of opposition voices because under this new system, which is so oppressive and restrictive, I dont think any self-respecting individual will want to take part, Lau said.

Chinas top legislature, the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress, amended Hong Kongs constitution to pave the way for the changes. The Hong Kong government is now tasked with revising its electoral laws and holding an election.

In the current 70-member legislature, voters elect half the members and the other half are chosen by constituencies representing various professions and interest groups. Many of the constituencies lean pro-Beijing, ensuring that wing a majority in the legislature.

The new body will have 20 elected members, 30 chosen by the constituencies and 40 by an Election Committee which also chooses the citys leader.

The committee, which will be expanded from 1,200 to 1,500 members, is dominated by supporters of the central government in Beijing.

Election hopefuls will undergo vetting by the national security police and a committee that oversees national security in the city.

A new separate body will also be established to review the qualifications of candidates for office in Hong Kong to ensure the city is governed by patriots, in the language of the central government.

The full National Peoples Congress rubber-stamped a proposal in mid-March that authorized the Standing Committee to amend the Basic Law, the constitution that has governed Hong Kong since the former British colony was handed over to China in 1997 under a one country, two systems framework that promised it semi-autonomy for 50 years.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said at a news conference Tuesday that the new committee to vet candidates will consist of a few government officials who are also trusted by the central government.

Lam dismissed concerns that the changes will affect plans for the city to achieve universal suffrage and allow residents to vote for their leader.

I may as well say this very categorically that the central government is very sincere to give Hong Kong people so-called more democracy, that is, universal suffrage, Lam said.

She blamed pro-democracy lawmakers for objecting in 2014 to a proposal that would have allowed residents to vote for the chief executive on the condition that Beijing would vet the candidates.

As we move ahead with the current set of improvements in place, then in accordance with Hong Kongs actual situation and in an orderly and gradual manner  Im quite certain that we will still have universal suffrage in selecting the chief executive, she said.

We just need to act in concert, and make sure that we are not moving away from this very fundamental concept of one country, two systems,' she said.

The political opposition in Hong Kong  which has sought more democracy  sees the changes as part of a broader effort to keep them out of office.

Democratic Party chairman Lo Kin-hei said there are questions whether the new system can actually reflect what Hong Kong people think and what Hong Kong people believe.

Lo said members of the Democratic Party are still discussing whether they plan to run for election.

All those changes will affect how we discuss and affect how our party members think about the election system, and whether or not we will fun for election in the future, he said.

In part, it comes down to the definition of patriots. The opposition tried to block legislation by filibustering a key legislative committee for months and disrupting legislative proceedings.

Beijing, which prioritizes political stability, sees these actions as interfering with the governing of Hong Kong and wants to keep these actors out of government.

A statement by Beijings Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said the Hong Kong national security law provided a solid legal foundation to safeguard national security and that the electoral reforms provide a solid institutional guarantee of the citys one country, two systems framework and ensure that only patriots rule Hong Kong.

The statement also said that with the electoral changes, the relationship between the citys leader and the legislature will be smoother, and the various deep-seated contradictions and problems that have plagued Hong Kong for a long time will be more effectively resolved.

___

Moritsugu reported from Beijing.
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The National Assembly deputies praised the role in administration and management of the President and the Government in the past term.

Deputy Nguyen Anh Tri.

The National Assembly on March 29 discussed the President and the Governments working reports for the 2016-2021 term.

Speaking to the National Assembly, deputy Nguyen Anh Tri gave many compliments for the success in the past term, which created stability in the whole society. He said: "Personally, I am a Vietnamese citizen, like many other people Im very confident and happy to live in our loving country. We are proud to be the people of Vietnam!"

Deputy Tri said that one of the most basic reasons for the countrys development and stability is that Vietnam has a State "for the people" with the leaders who work "for the people". The Government has worked very well during the past term. All cabinet members made great efforts for the people "so that no one will be left behind", Tri said.

Tri said that the State President has been the center of solidarity, is the flag to gather the nation, and is the person who initiates the national proud. The people were extremely grateful when they learned about the domestic and foreign affair activities in which the President was involved in recent years," he said.

Tri said that thanks to the spirit of solidarity and unity, Vietnam - a country with limited resources - has achieved anti-epidemic miracles. Every time Covid-19 broke out in the country, thousands of health workers immediately rushed to the epidemic area; thousands of police officers were present at pandemic hotspots to help people fight epidemic; and thousands of border guards worked hard to prevent illegal entries.

The spirit of "fighting the epidemic like fighting an enemy" was not just a slogan but in loved concentric actions.

According to Tri, the problems of wasteful Ness and corruption still exist but the Government and the entire people unanimously fight against these. The Governments determination to eliminate these has built up the peoples trust.

The State President successfully completes his term

Deputy Luu Binh Nhuong

Deputy Luu Binh Nhuong of the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre highly praised the role of the State President, who has successfully completed his task during the term. The President called for the national unity to fight against the Covid-19 epidemic, which was highly appreciated by the voters and the people.

During the term, the Government has obtained very important successes, successfully implemented the tasks for the 2016-2021 period while overcoming the problems and difficulties left by the previous term.

Citing the latest information that Vietnam was in the top 10 of countries with the best economic growth and the top 40 economies in the world that are developing well, Nhuong said that this success was contributed largely by the Government.

However, he pointed out a number of limitations and some cases occurring during the term that have not been thoroughly resolved, causing public frustration, particularly land-related issues.

Nhuong proposed some issues: paying more attention to legal education and dissemination, appraisal of law projects, legal documents and examination of legal normative documents. Strongly maintaining discipline, researching, building and enforcing law, and intensifying inspection and examination of law implementation. Stepping up administrative reform. Focusing on solving people and voters' petitions, handling complaints and denunciations, executing administrative judgments to protect the rights and interests of the people, businesses and the interests of the State. Completely handling unprofitable projects.

Other issues include: strengthening environmental protection, urgently developing the project to plant 1 billion trees, being cautious in implementing urban planning along the banks of the Red River.

Tran Thuong - Thu Hang
Incremental, near-term recurring revenue stream from support services

Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - KWESST Micro Systems Inc. (TSXV: KWE) (OTCQB: KWEMF) ("KWESST" or "the Company") today announced that it has established an ATAK Centre of Excellence in Ottawa. The centre will facilitate customer requirements for integration into the U.S. battlefield management application known as ATAK (Android Tactical Assault Kit).

ATAK is an Android geospatial and situational awareness system that provides users with a drop-down menu of approved operational applications for shared situational awareness. It is the pre-eminent system used by more than a dozen U.S. government agencies and many NATO allies and partner nations.

As mentioned in the Company's announcement of March 16th, 2021, KWESST was officially sponsored by U.S. military authorities to integrate certain of the Company's networked soldier applications into ATAK. In conjunction, the U.S. military provided KWESST with specialized software necessary for this work.

"Since then, we have received many requests from government agencies and defence contractors in Canada and overseas to assist them with integrating their current or new applications into ATAK and providing through-life support," said Jeff MacLeod, KWESST President and CEO. He added that, "We are already engaged with a number of customers and have many others in the queue. As a result we are ramping up a dedicated practice for this and leveraging our expertise in ATAK integration."

The Company stated that its ATAK Centre of Excellence is a natural extension of its core business around digitizing applications "at the tactical edge" for shared situational awareness and targeting. KWESST's other applications include its TASCS system and its related Integrated Fires Module (IFM) application, currently being delivered to a major U.S. military customer.

"Apart from the revenue potential, this further positions KWESST as a leader in the digitization of land forces at the tactical level, pushing critical information and high-value applications to the individual soldier on the ground and back up through the chain of command," said MacLeod. "This continues to be a key missing link in the modernization of soldier systems."

The Company added that digitization of land forces at the tactical level is happening now and happening everywhere. One market study(1) projects it to be worth more than $15B CAD by 2024. "To our knowledge, KWESST is the only Canadian company with the credentials, official U.S. military sponsorship, specialized software and the experience to facilitate ATAK integration," said MacLeod.

The Company stated that its ATAK Centre of Excellence can assist government and industry clients with end-to-end ATAK application development, facilitate approval with U.S. ATAK authorities, and provide ongoing support. "We believe that this can contribute incrementally to our 2021 revenue plan, with recurring support revenue growth in out-years," concluded MacLeod.

(1) https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/soldier-system-market-137230260.html

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 Awareness 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 and on the U.S. OTCQB under the symbol KWEMF.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78884
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2. Mamma Mia! and Other Cheesy Musicals I just go on my own and watch Mamma Mia! [Laughter on both sides of the conversation] You cant laugh  that might have been a genuine answer. I actually probably would. But no, I used to secretly be delighted when my kids wanted to go and see a cheesy musical. I used to kick and scream but always love it. And I still to this day love musicals, unashamedly, and will weaken in the cheesiest of them.

For a year, the Offstage series has followed theater through a shutdown. Now were looking at its rebound. Join Times theater reporter Michael Paulson, as he explores signs of hope in a changed city with Lin-Manuel Miranda, a performance from Shakespeare in the Park and more.

3. Crust Pizzeria [Abersoch in North Wales] is our local community. And if you go offshore from there, youll see our little island. We go in often in the dark, in our boat, across the sea. Well pick up some pizzas and pile them back into our little boat and well head off into the waves and driving wind and rain. Theyre a wonderful team, and theyve always been always incredibly kind to us. I travel a lot and Ive had a lot of good pizza, but I still say these are the best  maybe because youve got to work so hard for them.

We have an epic, brilliant, super tough, Sealegs rigid inflatable boat. Aluminum hull, outboard, fast, military-style, can deal with any seas. All our boys have grown up driving it from a young age. Theyre really competent. Its actually amphibious, so you press a button and then the wheels go down, and you can drive up the foreshore, pick up the pizzas, turn around, drive back into the sea, put the wheels up and bomb across to the island.

4. Milan We spend quite a lot of time in the Swiss mountains. We have a little cabin up there. And my eldest son is going to university in Milan. So between the university and where we are are some of the most spectacular mountains on Earth. We have some amazing adventures up there. Milan is probably my favorite city because it still feels Italian and small. Its obviously big, but it doesnt feel scary. Rome can be quite intimidating, but Milan feels kind of cozy. The old part of it is still cobbled and has little trams and amazing buildings. And thats what I love.

5. Verbier, Switzerland Its amazing. We have some of the steepest mountains in the whole of the Alps there. Its not like a ski resort where people come to holiday. A lot of mountain guides and ski people will go there, and theyll have their families, and theyre building a great, adventurous, small mountain community. I love that our boys have grown up with it as a big part of their life as well. Its a really special place for us. I champion Verbier front and proud.

6. Monte Brento in Italy Monte Brento was my first-ever big-wall BASE jump  a 3,000-foot sheer overhanging wall. I did it for the start of the Captain America Anthony Mackie [Running Wild episode on March 29]. I knew that as Falcon in the Marvel movie he jumps off stuff all the time. And I thought, Its a perfect chance to do it  were filming near this place anyway. So we just dialed up the training and tweaked it a bit. Obviously its the sort of jump that you dont want to be doing regularly. Its definitely a higher-risk one. It all went well, and its probably the opening that Im most proud of. Its definitely the most dangerous thing weve ever done. I didnt sleep much the night before. In fact, I didnt sleep well for about eight nights before.
The mobile application 'Help 114,' which was developed by the Fire Fighting and Prevention Police Unit (PC07) under Ho Chi Minh Citys Department of Public Security, has been launched to help city dwellers report locations of fire incidents in real time.

The application was born out of a joint research initiative between PC07 and tech experts, which started in 2018.

Residents of Ho Chi Minh City can download 'Help 114' on Google Play Store for Android devices or App Store for Apple gadgets.

Users can submit coordinates of any fire, as well as finding the nearest police stations, fire brigades, and fire hydrants in their immediate area, according to Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Manh Truong, deputy head of PC07.

A screenshot from the mobile application 'Help 114'

The fire fighting unit has installed over 7,800 fire hydrants in the city for better response to fire.

It is calculated that the app has received over 1,000 fire reports per day since its launch.

PC07 will verify each call and deal with the false reporters via local police forces, said Senior Colonel Huynh Quang Tam, head of the unit.

The call center can also ban false reporters from the app by blacklisting their phone numbers.

As the dry season is approaching, the fire fighting force of Ho Chi Minh City suggests that city dwellers keep highly vigilant when burning grass and debris, as the fire should be kept distant from surrounding buildings.

City residents are also advised against trash burning near bushy areas, setting fires without monitoring them, and starting a fire in strong winds or around noon.

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Manitobas COVID-19 vaccine rollout hit another setback Monday, after the province hit pause on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in people younger than age 55.

Manitobas COVID-19 vaccine rollout hit another setback Monday, after the province hit pause on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in people younger than age 55.

A serious but rare side-effect reported among young European women related to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has forced the province to stop offering the fridge-stable shot to people under 55, Dr. Joss Reimer said Monday.

Reimer, medical lead for the provincial COVID-19 task force, said the change to provincial guidance on the use of the vaccine comes in the wake of emerging data that shows a risk of less than one in 100,000 of vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia, a blood-clotting condition.

"Despite the findings that there was no increased risk of blood clots overall related to AstraZeneca in Europe, a rare but very serious side-effect has been seen primarily in young women in Europe," Reimer said during a news briefing Monday afternoon.

"This is a pause while we wait for more information to better understand what we are seeing Europe," she said.

JOHN WOODS / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead for the provincial COVID-19 task force, said the change to provincial guidance on the use of the vaccine comes in the wake of emerging data that shows a risk of less than one in 100,000 of vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia, a blood-clotting condition.

So far, Manitoba has received 18,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccine manufactured at the Serum Institute of India, 14,000 of which have been distributed to patients through local pharmacists and doctors; 3,500 went to people under the age of 55, the province said.

"Because the data is so new, thats why we want to pause with younger people, so we have that chance to collect better data and have a better understanding of exactly what the risks are," Reimer said.

"We want this vaccine program to be safe, and while we still believe that probably the benefits for all ages outweigh the risks, I'm not comfortable with probably."

Reimer said appointments for people under 55 who were to get the AstraZeneca vaccine need to be cancelled and doctors and pharmacists will reach out to patients.

The province could not say Monday how many appointments might be cancelled as pharmacists and doctors booked the shots directly.

"We want this vaccine program to be safe, and while we still believe that probably the benefits for all ages outweigh the risks, I'm not comfortable with probably."  Dr. Joss Reimer

Doctors Manitoba president Dr. Cory Baillie said most AstraZeneca doses provided to Manitoba physicians have already been injected into arms.

"There may be a small number of vaccine appointments that need to be cancelled but Im sure that physicians will be able to find patients over 55 that theyre able to vaccinate," Baillie said. "And theres further guidance from Manitoba Health that if theres a risk of the vaccine expiring, that physicians or pharmacists can provide the vaccine to Manitobans over age 65 regardless of medical conditions."

So far, Baillie said the rollout through doctors offices has gone smoothly and people have been eager to sign up for the AstraZeneca product.

"The biggest issue has been just not enough vaccine," Baillie said.

Moving forward, the provinces special criteria list for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which includes a number of health conditions that can increase risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19, will still be used to guide prioritization of the product for people between the ages of 55 and 64 in Manitoba.

JOHN WOODS / CANADIAN PRESS FILES In a statement, NACI said while Health Canada continues to investigate the reported side-effect, adults 55 and older may still be offered the shot with informed consent, given the increased risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, and because the condition appears to be rarer among older adults.

Another 54,600 doses of the vaccine, this time from the United States, are set to arrive in Manitoba this week.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization also updated its guidance for the vaccine Monday. In a statement, NACI said while Health Canada continues to investigate the reported side-effect, adults 55 and older may still be offered the shot with informed consent, given the increased risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, and because the condition appears to be rarer among older adults.

Meanwhile, age eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 vaccine has been lowered to 44 for members of First Nations and 64 for other Manitobans.

Appointments can be booked to receive either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at all five mass vaccination clinics and at pop-up clinics in rural communities, the province said.

It is still too early to know whether the change to AstraZeneca eligibility will impact the timeline to give all adult Manitobans (assuming 70 per cent uptake) a single dose of vaccine by late May, or what impact the decision has on Canadians under 55 who have already received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

"There may be a small number of vaccine appointments that need to be cancelled but Im sure that physicians will be able to find patients over 55 that theyre able to vaccinate."  Doctors Manitoba president Dr. Cory Baillie

For those Canadians, NACI said a decision on which "type of second dose that will be offered" will be based on the latest available research.

Reimer said the delay between first and second doses  as long as four months  will also give medical experts additional time to review and collect data before making a decision on second doses.

Under a high-supply scenario, the province said it would be able to immunize all adult Manitobans with a single dose of vaccine by May 21. With lower, or irregular supply, that timeline was extended to mid-June.

However, the province was relying on regular shipments of the AstraZeneca product, as well as the Johnson & Johnson or another yet-to-be-approved vaccine, to meet the May 21 deadline. A provincial spokesman said Manitoba has been told by the federal government that it will receive 94,200 more doses of AstraZeneca over the next three months.

"Meanwhile, AstraZeneca is still being administered to those within the appropriate age eligibility, and as long as other vaccines continue to be received, we do not anticipate a low-range scenario," the spokesman said.

As of Monday, provincial data showed that 189,307 doses of vaccine had been given in Manitoba (including on First Nations), representing about 76.27 per cent of the vaccine supply the province has received from Ottawa.

Reimer apologized Monday to the hundreds of people who waited hours in lengthy queues at the mass vaccination clinic at the RBC Convention Centre in downtown Winnipeg Friday.

The province said an issue with the software it uses to schedule staff caused the clinic to be shorthanded Friday. At least 75 city employees were called to work at the clinic to make up the difference.

"While Friday was not the way we wanted to go, those lessons have been implemented and things are going much better today," Reimer said, adding the wait times for patients at the Winnipeg clinic was 10 to 20 minutes Monday.

On Sunday, the province reported that only 798 doses were given to people in Manitoba. However, a provincial spokesman said the data was not complete and that the province was experiencing a two- to three-day lag on data entry.

On Saturday, 5,200 doses were administered. The number was 7,147 Friday.

Officials with the task force said that this week Manitoba will administer as many as 8,000 doses daily through the provinces immunization network and near 10,000 daily doses when taking into account immunizations by First Nations and at clinics and pharmacies.

The province wont fully test its announced capacity of 20,000 doses a day until late April or early May when vaccine shipments increase, Reimer said.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca


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In this Jan. 21, 2021 file photo, Julia Letlow, widow of Republican U.S. Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, speaks to members of the press at the Louisiana State Archives after signing up to run for the 5th District seat in Baton Rouge, La. AP Photo/Brett Druke, file

GOP Rep-elect Julia Letlow is urging Republicans to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Letlow's husband, Rep-elect Luke Letlow, 41, died from COVID-19 complications in December.

"Look at my family, use my story," Letlow told CBS's "Face the Nation."

See more stories on Insider's business page.

GOP rep-elect Julia Letlow, the widow of congressman-elect Luke Letlow, who died of COVID-19, urged Republicans to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

"Look at my family, use my story. You know, I experienced a tragedy in my immediate family and COVID can touch every family out there. And so, you know, there is a vaccine that has lifesaving capabilities. I want to encourage everyone to trust it and get the vaccine," Letlow told CBS's "Face the Nation."

Her husband, Luke Letlow, 41, was an incoming GOP congressman from Louisiana when he died from COVID-19 complications in late December.

Letlow ran to fill his seat in a special Louisiana election and last week won with 62 percent of the vote in the 12-way race.

More than a third of adults have received their first shots as the vaccination rollout progress throughout the US, but several polls have found that white Republicans are expressing the most vaccine hesitancy.

Recent polling by Civiqs found that 56% of white Republicans said they were either unsure or would not take a COVID-19 vaccine if it were available to them.

By comparison, only 7% of white Democrats, 31% of Black Americans, and 30% of Latinx Americans expressed hesitancy.

Letlow, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, told CBS both Trump and President Joe Biden have spoken with her.

"They were both so gracious and expressed their condolences and President Biden, who is no stranger to loss as well, shared with me that he understood the pain that I was walking through and that it will get better. And I know it will," she said.

Letlow is also the first Republican woman elected to Congress in Louisiana and said she has plans to advocate for equal pay for women, as well as accessible broadband for her district, which has a high poverty rate.

Have a news tip? Contact this reporter at salarshani@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Charly Castillo and Sruthi Suresh

From constructing space transportation technology to planning the eventual colonization of Mars, the American company SpaceX has been making breakthroughs in the aerospace industry through its innovation. Even though substantial progress has been made in the field in recent decades, new ideas are needed to revolutionize the future of aerospace. To drive the next generation of scientific advancements, it is paramount that students push schools to incorporate aerospace-related topics into their curriculums from the elementary to high school levels.

As students in New Jersey public schools, we have personally seen the lack of aerospace topics covered in science courses and believe that by discussing them, students will find interest in aerospace careers and make a difference in the industry.

Currently, the aerospace sciences are not universally covered in New Jersey school curriculum, which may deter the next generation of potential STEM professionals from choosing to study the subjects in college, and eventually enter the industry. To garner interest in space science careers, exposure to the subject must start at a young age, but in reality, education in these subjects is not common in American high schools.

According to Larry Krumenaker, Ph.D., an astronomer, educator, and discoverer of the Milky Ways only microquasar, 4% of American high schoolers took an astronomy course in 2008, which is staggeringly low compared to other science subjects. Krumenaker attributes this to increased standardized testing due to the No Child Left Behind Act, as schools have begun redirecting their focus toward tested subjects like English and math. By not introducing students to the space sciences, schools are putting their students at a significant disadvantage since some may not choose to pursue fields they dont know the basics of.

Because of their lack of aerospace education, students, regardless of their interest in aerospace concepts, miss out on non-academic skills gained in courses addressing the field, including observational and exploratory techniques. According to Abdeel Khalid, Ph.D., professor of Industrial Engineering at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, introducing subjects like aerospace engineering to students is very useful. He states: Aerospace Engineering  is a discipline in which a lot of learning is done by hands on, experimental, operational, observational, and exploratory techniques. These techniques can be taught and enjoyed by students of all ages including middle and high school students.

Such skills would be useful in a multitude of fields and industries, including aerospace. The National Science Teaching Association lays out guidelines for potential aerospace education programs. Non-academically, students engage in activities that are hands-on, minds-on, and collaborative approaches to learning. The NSTA encourages teachers to discuss the economic, historical and social perspectives of the subject, along with its scientific parts, showing the multifaceted nature of aerospace science and can strengthen a students performance in other classes, too.

Some may argue that the point of high school education is to develop fundamentals, while college is to begin to specialize. However, school is also meant to spark interest and develop important critical thinking skills that are transferable to other subject areas. High schools must focus on giving students the opportunity to explore different fields and find their passions so they can have a clear path toward higher education. Implementing aerospace science curriculum in New Jersey high schools would accomplish that.

The second man on the moon, Buzz Aldrin, hails from New Jersey. But the states rich history of space exploration extends beyond its most famous astronaut and includes Kathryn Dwyer Sullivan, the first American woman to do a spacewalk; Scott Kelly, the American astronaut with longest time in orbit; Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, the astronomers who discovered echoes of the Big Bang; along with countless aerospace engineers who have contributed to the study of space.

March is STEM Month in New Jersey -- a time to reflect on the contributions of New Jersey scientists, inventors, engineers, and mathematicians, but also to look toward the future generation of STEM professionals.

It is evident just how necessary aerospace courses are for a students education. While not every high school student who takes an aerospace course will eventually pursue it as a career, students interest cannot foster without the introduction of such topics at a younger age. By encouraging their schools to cover aerospace science topics, students are taking initiative that can lead to the next generation of scientific discoveries.

Charly Castillo is a junior at Weehawken High School, prospective astrophysics major and a 2021 Governors STEM Scholar.

Sruthi Suresh is a senior at the Middlesex County Academy of Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies and is working with a Rutgers University professor to improve the security of Cyber Physical Systems, such as drones.
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[March 30, 2021] Savingforcollege.com acquires TheCollegeMonk.com, Strengthening its Position in the Education Content Space

NEWARK, Del., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Savingforcollege.com announced its acquisition of TheCollegeMonk.com, a one-stop platform that guides students through the college selection process. TheCollegeMonk, founded in June 2019 by Upneet Grover, Shameer Khan, and Lohith P, is the fastest-growing university search portal in the United States, reaching more than a million users each year. The platform provides detailed information about colleges, courses, scholarships, student loans and career opportunities so that students can make the right choice when it comes to their education. The acquisition extends Savingforcollege.com's reach to thousands of prospective and current college students and builds on its existing educational content offerings. "We were impressed by what TheCollegeMonk has accomplished in such a short period of time, and we're thrilled to add the site to the Savingforcollege.com family," said Marcos Cordero, Founder ad CEO of Savingforcollege.com. "This acquisition gives us the organic distribution capabilities to share our expertise with a broad audience of over a million students, parents and universities."



"Important college decisions  like selection, funding and courses  aren't made in isolation. We believe these are all connected, and that the information needs to be housed under a single roof. That's how the platform was born, and we're happy to find the right home for TheCollegeMonk with Savingforfollege.com. The company's vision matches ours, and we share their passion for helping students, similar to how we've done for our India business  Getmyuni.com," added Upneet Grover, founder of TheCollegeMonk, also the founder of Getmyuni education group  an India-based edtech company which has products in the higher education space like Ieltsmaterial.com and GetmyuniLearn. The deal size, though confirmed as an all-cash deal, was undisclosed.

About Savingforcollege.com:



Savingforcollege.com has been a leading independent authority on 529 savings plans since 1999. Their site compiles and analyzes data, and creates content and tools to provide parents, financial professionals and state agencies with resources to help them understand how to meet the challenge of increasing education costs. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/savingforcollegecom-acquires-thecollegemonkcom-strengthening-its-position-in-the-education-content-space-301258612.html SOURCE TheCollegeMonk

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
COLUMBIA  Former President Donald Trump doubled down on his endorsement of S.C. Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick for reelection, a day after attorney Lin Wood announced he would challenge the incumbent.

In a statement March 30 expanding on the endorsement he first offered McKissick in a handwritten note last month, Trump said the incumbent "has done an outstanding job as South Carolina GOP chairman, electing more Republicans in 2020 than in over 140 years."

"Drew fought all the way to the Supreme Court to defend our voting laws  and WON," Trump said. "He will continue to grow the party and help Conservatives get elected in the Great State of South Carolina."

Wood announced March 29 he would challenge McKissick for the chairmanship only a few months after moving to the Palmetto State from neighboring Georgia. The former Atlanta-based attorney rose to national fame last year for spearheading baseless claims of election fraud after Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

The chairman is elected at the state party convention, which is currently slated for May, while counties will hold local conventions throughout April.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices fell on Tuesday as shipping traffic resumed through the Suez Canal and investors shifted focus to upcoming OPEC meeting. Benchmark Brent crude dipped 0.6 percent to $64.54 per barrel, after having gained 0.6 percent on Monday. WTI futures were down 0.7 percent at $61.11 per barrel after falling 1 percent in the previous session. Shipping traffic through Egypt's Suez Canal resumed on Monday, but authorities said it could take up to 3 days to clear the backlog of ships waiting to transit the route. Investors look ahead to this week's OPEC+ meeting amid expectations that the group will stick with its tight production curbs for another month to safeguard the recovery in prices amid new coronavirus pandemic lockdowns. A fresh wave of Covid lockdowns across Europe may cause the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia in Vienna, collectively known as OPEC+, to extend cuts into May when it meets Thursday. With oil prices making steady gains earlier this year, Saudi Arabia is prepared to accept an extension of the production cuts through June, and is also ready to prolong voluntary unilateral curbs, media reports said on Monday, citing sources. 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.
March 30, 2021: Oslo, Norway, PGS has been awarded a high-fidelity 3D exploration program by a supermajor offshore Egypt. The survey will be acquired using an Extended Long Offset (ELO) configuration with Ramform Tethys towing a wide multi-sensor GeoStreamer spread with an additional source vessel located several kilometers ahead. This will enable efficient recording of offsets up to 16 kilometers critical for imaging deeper complex exploration targets. The source vessel will be towing a specially designed low frequency source.



The innovative ELO survey design combines optimal spatial sampling for better subsurface imaging together with long offset acquisition for accurate velocity model building. ELO is a cost competitive and efficient configuration compared to other solutions for imaging deep targets.

"We are very pleased to be awarded this contract, which secures PGS vessels to operate in Egyptian waters until May 2021, building on an extended campaign for several super majors since July 2020. In a rapidly changing energy market, exploration seismic requires increasingly advanced survey designs, such as the ELO configuration, to generate high quality seismic data in complex geologies.," says Nathan Oliver, EVP Sales & Services of PGS.

FOR DETAILS, CONTACT: Bard Stenberg, VP IR & Corporate Communication

Mobile: +47 99 24 52 35



***

PGS ASA and its subsidiaries.

***

The information included herein contains certain forward-looking statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are based on various assumptions made by the Company, which are beyond its control and are subject to certain additional risks and uncertainties. The Company is subject to a large number of risk factors including but not limited to the demand for seismic services, the demand for data from our multi-client data library, the attractiveness of our technology, unpredictable changes in governmental regulations affecting our markets and extreme weather conditions. For a further description of other relevant risk factors we refer to our Annual Report for 2019. As a result of these and other risk factors, actual events and our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The reservation is also made that inaccuracies or mistakes may occur in the information given above about current status of the Company or its business. Any reliance on the information above is at the risk of the reader, and PGS disclaims any and all liability in this respect.

--END--
Rundu  Communal land boards across the country are facing a challenge of many requests for land in their areas, with over 30 000 applications yet to be processed, land reform minister Calle Schlettwein has said.

Applications for both existing and new customary land rights have increasingly gone up despite numerous achievements recorded over the last three years by the outgoing communal land boards.

Schlettwein last week Friday inaugurated the communal land boards for Kavango East, Kavango West, Ohangwena and Zambezi at Rundu.

"Allow me now to extend my words of appreciation to the previous communal land boards for the achievement recorded during their tenure of office from 1 March 2018 to 28 February 2021," he said.

The outgoing communal land boards registered and issued 4 331 existing customary land rights certificates, and registered and issued 9 823 new customary land rights certificates.

They also registered and issued 494 rights of leaseholds certificates and registered and issued about 110 occupational land rights certificates, while they transferred 327 land rights and issued land rights certificates.

They also resolved 198 land-related disputes and removed four illegal fences in communal areas.

"For the same period, a total of 46 judgments were delivered for appeal cases against communal land boards' decisions," the minister noted.

Schlettwein appealed to the new members to develop a target-orientated strategy that will complete the registration of all outstanding applications in their respective regions, especially for existing customary land rights.

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The minister stressed that land administration matters are emotive; therefore, in some cases some, individuals incite communities, yet they are not capable of resolving land problems.

"Our commitment to land reform is genuine. Our course is to promote a peaceful land administration throughout our country - therefore, to ensure a functionary communal land administration throughout all our 13 regions where communal is found," he said.

So far, countrywide, a total of 181 members have been appointed to serve on the seventh communal land boards. Of this total, 75 are women, which represents 41%. Among others, communal land boards are expected to exercise control over the allocation and the cancellation of customary land rights by traditional authorities, to consider and decide on applications for right of leaseholds, to establish and maintain a register and a system of registration for recording allocations, transfers as well as cancellation of all land rights allocated in communal areas.

Schlettwein said he expects the new boards to create awareness in their respective communities on the provisions of the Communal Land Reform Act, with an emphasis on non-compliance to the provisions of the Communal Land Reform Act, registration of land rights, illegal sand mining, deforestation and illegal fencing.

"Tenure security is part of their legal rights to have and nobody must stop anyone from applying for the registration of their land rights.

Tenure security reduces incidences of land grabbing, evictions, non-compensation in terms of development, inheritance and so on," he said.
Chemicals and pieces of plastic produced through the use of packaging are migrating into food and harming plants and soil ecosystems, scientists warn.

Ecologists from the Free University of Berlin contributed one of three evidence-based essays exploring the problem of microplastics and how best to tackle them.

The German team, led by Matthias Rillig, they suggest that microplastic pollution appears to be interfering with the 'very fabric of the soil environment'.

They have called for a major concerted effort among scientists and governments to understand the pervasive effects of plastic particles on soils and ecosystems.

Chemicals and pieces of plastic produced through the use of packaging are migrating into food and harming plants and soil ecosystems, scientists warn

MICROPLASTICS CAN PASS FROM PREGNANT MOTHERS TO A BABY Tiny plastic particles have been discovered in the organs of unborn baby rats, the first time microplastics have been seen to cross the placenta in live mammals. Researchers found the particles inhaled by the mother travelled across the placenta and into the developing lungs, brain and heart of the foetus. The study also revealed that nanoparticles of polystyrene were able to reach the foetus within 90 minutes of the mother being exposed. One day before the foetuses were due to be born, the babies of mothers who had been exposed to plastic were seven per cent smaller than expected. Scientists do not yet know if the findings also apply to human pregnancy but the findings are a cause for concern, they say. Advertisement

Some 8,300 million tons of plastics have been manufactured since production exploded in the 1950s, with more than 75% ending up as waste, they found.

Plastic waste fragments into increasingly smaller but environmentally persistent 'microplastics,' with potentially harmful effects on people, wildlife and ecosystems.

Plastic production increased from two million metric tons a year in 1950 to 380 million metric tons by 2015 and is expected to double by 2050.

The plastic pollution crisis will worsen, experts say, as petrochemical companies shift from fossil fuels to fracking, which produces the plastic feedstock ethane.

Microplastics are found in environments, including terrestrial ecosystems, planetwide and so far most research has focused on ecotoxicology, examining effects on performance of soil biota in controlled settings.

As research pivots to a more eco- system and global change perspective, questions about soil-borne biogeochemical cycles become important.

Rillig and colleagues say microplastics can affect the carbon cycle in numerous ways, for example, by being carbon themselves and by influencing soil microbial processes, plant growth, or litter decomposition.

'Great uncertainty surrounds nano-sized plastic particles, an expected by- product of further fragmentation of microplastics,' said Rillig.

'Our knowledge of microplastic effects in soils is quite limitedconsidering that the first papers describing effects on soils appeared only a few years agobut rapidly increasing,' the study author added.

'A major concerted effort is required to understand the pervasive effects of microplastics on the functioning of soils and terrestrial ecosystems,' the team say.

As part of their essay, Rillig says future research needs to capture the immense diversity of these particles in terms of chemistry, ageing, size, and shape.

Ecologists from the Free University of Berlin contributed one of three evidence-based essays exploring the problem of microplastics and how best to tackle them

URBAN FLOODING IS FLUSHING MICROPLASTICS INTO THE OCEANS FASTER THAN THOUGHT Urban flooding is causing microplastics to be flushed into our oceans. Waterways in Greater Manchester are now so heavily contaminated by microplastics that particles are found in every sample. This pollution is a major contributor to contamination in the oceans, researchers found. This debris - including microbeads and microfibres - are toxic to ecosystems. Scientists tested 40 sites around Manchester and found every waterway contained these small toxic particles. It has long been known they enter river systems from multiple sources including industrial effluent, storm water drains and wastewater. Most rivers examined had around 517,000 plastic particles per square metre, according to researchers from the University of Manchester. Following a period of flooding, the researchers re-sampled at all the sites. They found levels of contamination had fallen at the majority of them, and the flooding had removed about 70 per cent of the microplastics. This demonstrates that flood events can transfer large quantities of microplastics from rivers to oceans. Advertisement

The fact that microplastics are particles that contain a lot of carbon, typically around 80% , makes them fairly unique in relation to other global change factors, including greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation.

Microplastic carbon is already present in our soils, probably still making up only a tiny proportion of total soil organic matter carbon in most cases, but Rillig says this is expected to change in the future.

The study authors say future studies should examine ways these plastics can be removed from the soil, as longer term they could have a serious impact.

They could affect plant growth in a number of ways, including by changing soil structure and bulk density, which can affect root penetration resistance, changes in water holding capacity, and others.

This could have a long term, detrimental affect on the availability of plants and foodstuff for animals throughout the planet.

This is one of three essays published in the journal PLOS Biology, exploring pressing challenges in a range of health and policy areas related to microplastics.

The different papers explore the difficulty of developing health protective policies to reduce the impact the plastics will have on human bodies.

They also look at the migration of toxic and undisclosed plastic additives into food and understanding how microplastics impact carbon in soils.

'Plastic, for all its uses, has left a trail of debris from the deepest ocean trenches to the remotest polar reaches,' wrote Liza Gross in a foreword for the studies.

'Researchers are finding microplastics in the gut or tissue of nearly every living thing they examine, including the placentas of unborn children.'

Gross said microplastics are everywhere and researchers are just starting to get a handle on how to study the influence of this emerging contaminant on diverse environments and organisms.

'But as the contributors to this collection make clear, the pervasiveness of microplastics makes them nearly impossible to avoid,' the author wrote.

'And the uncertainty surrounding their potential to harm people, wildlife, and the environment, they show, underscores the urgency of developing robust tools and methods to understand how a material designed to make life easier may be making it increasingly unsustainable.'

The collection of three papers are published in the journal PLOS Biology.
San Francisco, March 30 : The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has decided not to pursue the anti-trust case against global chip-maker Qualcomm.

In a statement, the agency said that given the significant headwinds facing the commission in this matter, "the FTC will not petition the Supreme Court to review the decision of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in FTC v. Qualcomm." The FTC first filed a complaint against Qualcomm in 2017, charging that the company has a monopoly in baseband processors, adding that the company used its position to "suppress competition and overcharge smartphone manufacturers".

In 2019, a judge for the US District Court ruled in favour of the FTC but in August 2020, the decision was reversed by a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter said on Monday that she continues to believe that "the district court's conclusion that Qualcomm violated the antitrust laws was entirely correct and that the court of appeals erred in concluding otherwise".

"Now more than ever, the FTC and other law enforcement agencies need to boldly enforce the antitrust laws to guard against abusive behaviour by dominant firms, including in high-technology markets and those that involve intellectual property," Slaughter said.

"I am particularly concerned about the potential for anticompetitive or unfair behaviour in the context of standard setting and the FTC will closely monitor conduct in this arena." The FTC's complaint challenged Qualcomm's unlawful maintenance of a monopoly in baseband processors, semiconductor devices that enable cellular communications in cell phones and other products.

It asserted that Qualcomm has engaged in exclusionary conduct that taxes its competitors' baseband processor sales, reduces competitors' ability and incentive to innovate, and raises prices paid by consumers for cell phones and tablets.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are highly effective at preventing COVID-19 in real-world conditions, with each reducing the risk of infection by approximately 90%, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Monday.

The report also found both vaccines are roughly 80% effective at preventing infection two weeks after the first dose of a two-dose regimen. The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses taken 21 days apart, while the Moderna vaccine requires two doses taken 28 days apart.

The findings underscore the effectiveness of the vaccines and reinforce the recommendation that all adults who are eligible should be vaccinated, the CDC said.

This study shows that our national vaccination efforts are working. The authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccines provided early, substantial real-world protection against infection for our nations health care personnel, first responders, and other frontline essential workers, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky said in a news release.

Clinical trials conducted last year found both vaccines were approximately 95% effective at preventing symptomatic infections. The data released Monday is based on the vaccines effectiveness outside of those clinical trials.

The findings are based on data from 3,950 health care workers, first responders and essential workers in six states. The participants underwent coronavirus testing each week between Dec. 13 and March 14, the report says.

Nearly 63% of the participants received both doses of the vaccine during the study period. More than 12% received a single dose. None of the participants had ever been infected with the coronavirus before getting vaccinated.

The report offers the first look at how the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are made with new technology, perform under real-world conditions. Both vaccines are made with messenger RNA, which teaches the body to make a harmless part of the spike protein that is found on the coronavirus. That induces an immune response that protects against the virus that causes COVID-19.

The study does not include any data on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Feb. 27. Clinical trials have indicated the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is 66% effective at preventing moderate to severe disease, although experts who spoke with cleveland.com cautioned against comparing the results to the clinical trials for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

This study is the first of many the CDC is planning to evaluate the effectiveness of the vaccines under real-world conditions, the news release says. Future studies will evaluate the vaccines among certain populations, as well as their effectiveness at preventing doctors visits, hospitalizations and deaths.

Your coronavirus vaccine questions answered:

Are you contagious if you have side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine?

Can I still get my second dose of coronavirus vaccine if I develop COVID-19 symptoms after the first?

Can you mix and match two doses of coronavirus vaccine from different manufacturers?

Can you request one coronavirus vaccine if you have concerns about the other?

Coronavirus vaccine misinformation permeates social media: Here are the facts to counter six false claims

How will local drug stores keep the coronavirus vaccine on site if it needs to be cold? How will they avoid waste?

If Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are for people 16 and older, what does that mean for children? What about minors with pre-existing conditions?

If the coronavirus vaccine is 95% effective, how will you know if youre in the other 5%?

Should cancer patients get the coronavirus vaccine?

Should you get the coronavirus vaccine if youve had a bad reaction to the flu shot?

Should you get the second vaccine if you contract COVID-19 after your first coronavirus vaccine dose?

What if you contract COVID-19 in between your two coronavirus vaccine doses?

Who should skip the second shot of coronavirus vaccine? Weve got answers

Why do I need to keep a mask on if Ive been vaccinated for coronavirus?

Will your COVID-19 vaccine be less effective if you need to wait longer for the second dose?
(Newser)  A congressional candidate who lost in November is running again. That in itself isn't so surprising, but Dan Rodimer is making headlines because he's now running in an entirely different statehe lost in Nevada and is now running in Texas only months later. More than that, though, the Republican is making headlines because he made an ad about bull-riding that has drawn ridicule from both sides of the political aisle, reports the Washington Post. Coverage:

The ad: Watch it here. A gravelly voiced Rodimer, or "Big Dan," drawls about defeating the "communists in DC," and Nancy Pelosi in particular, while wearing a cowboy hat. The video purports to show him riding a bull, though it never shows Rodimer's face.

Watch it here. A gravelly voiced Rodimer, or "Big Dan," drawls about defeating the "communists in DC," and Nancy Pelosi in particular, while wearing a cowboy hat. The video purports to show him riding a bull, though it never shows Rodimer's face. In contrast: When Rodimer ran in Nevada, he had a much different persona, and seemingly a higher-pitched voice, as a suburban dad and small-business owner, per American Independent. See ads here and here.

story continues below

Criticism: Democratic candidate Lydia Bean tweeted, "I know you're new around here so let me introduce you to an important Texas phrase: all hat, no cattle. Doesn't take a bull to notice someone completely full of it." But it wasn't just Democrats pouncing. "Fake Texan makes fake video of fake bull ride," tweeted GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida. "We already have enough phonies in Congress," he wrote. "Texans, please send this Nevada man back to his true home state (where he lost two prior elections)."

Democratic candidate Lydia Bean tweeted, "I know you're new around here so let me introduce you to an important Texas phrase: all hat, no cattle. Doesn't take a bull to notice someone completely full of it." But it wasn't just Democrats pouncing. "Fake Texan makes fake video of fake bull ride," tweeted GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida. "We already have enough phonies in Congress," he wrote. "Texans, please send this Nevada man back to his true home state (where he lost two prior elections)." An admission: In an interview with CNN Monday, Rodimer acknowledged what internet sleuths have alleged: that the ad used a body double. But Rodimer (a New Jersey native and former pro wrestler) insists he rode the animal. "I actually stayed on for 11 seconds and the only reason I was able to get offwell, unfortunately my hand was stuck, so I couldn't get off soonerwe didn't get the full filming of it, and, yeah, we had other people jump in to be body doubles."

In an interview with CNN Monday, Rodimer acknowledged what internet sleuths have alleged: that the ad used a body double. But Rodimer (a New Jersey native and former pro wrestler) insists he rode the animal. "I actually stayed on for 11 seconds and the only reason I was able to get offwell, unfortunately my hand was stuck, so I couldn't get off soonerwe didn't get the full filming of it, and, yeah, we had other people jump in to be body doubles." In defense: In regard to his voice, Rodimer tells CNN it's "shot" from campaigning, which is why it sounds so different. And of accusations that he's not a real Texan: "You know, we have an old saying here in Texas'I may not have been born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.' And that's why we came back." Rodimer's campaign website says he used to live in Houston and Galveston, though neither is near the district where he's running, south of Dallas.

In regard to his voice, Rodimer tells CNN it's "shot" from campaigning, which is why it sounds so different. And of accusations that he's not a real Texan: "You know, we have an old saying here in Texas'I may not have been born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.' And that's why we came back." Rodimer's campaign website says he used to live in Houston and Galveston, though neither is near the district where he's running, south of Dallas. Old accusations: All of this is dredging up old allegations against Rodimer, including two 911 calls in 2018 made by his girlfriend (now wife) alleging that he stole money, guns, and jewelry from her. However, she defended her husband in a campaign video of her own. Rodimer, who stands 6-7, also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge in 2010, while in college, over an altercation at a Waffle House, per the Post. He addressed that in a campaign spot in Nevada. And the AP reported in 2019 that he was accused of punching men outside nightclubs in 2011 and 2013, though neither incident resulted in charges.

(Read more congressional candidates stories.)
The State has been left open to lawsuits over claims the Department of Health covertly gathered confidential information about children with special needs who sued to gain access to educational supports.

Solicitors representing autistic children and their families say there could now be lawsuits against the Department of Health and the Department of Education for breach of privacy rights.

Doctors employed by the HSE could also face legal actions if it is shown they breached doctor-patient confidentiality.

The warning came after Shane Corr, a civil servant in the department, went public last week about the alleged practice.

In an RTE Investigates programme, he said confidential medical and educational information had been gathered by the department about children with special needs who took legal actions to get appropriate educational supports.

Dossiers were claimed to have been compiled in over 40 dormant cases as part of a strategy to defend the lawsuits.

According to the whistleblower, sensitive information on their siblings and their parents was also gathered.

A template letter for doctors, psychiatrists and social workers indicates they were explicitly told not to contact the plaintiffs about requests for information.

Solicitor Ernest Cantillon, who represents several families who battled the State for educational supports in the late 1990s and 2000s, said: The families are pretty cross about the whole thing and are very annoyed about it. They just see it as heavy tactics.

He said several clients had contacted his office since the programme trying to find out if they were among those affected.

What we are saying to them is we dont know but we can find out by making a GDPR request for whatever data the department has in respect of them and probe it further in that way, he said.

Mr Cantillon said that if what the whistleblower was saying was correct, the families would have a cast iron case for breach of their confidentiality rights.

It is hard to say what damages would be awarded. But I dont think they would be trifling damages, he said.

If this was done in the context of litigation, it may well amount to an abuse of process. I think there would be a fairly stern view taken of it [by the courts].

Solicitor Roger Murray SC, of Callan Tansey, who also represents families potentially affected, said privacy actions were now a possibility.

Doctor-patient confidentiality and the right to have your private health information kept to yourself has always been part of Irish law and has always been part of the doctor-patient relationship, he said.

Lets be clear. If you see a doctor and they are employed by the HSE and are not your doctor, they still have a duty of confidentiality.

Department of Health acting secretary general Robert Watt insisted last week the department had never unlawfully held sensitive medical and educational information of children involved in dormant court cases.

However, Taoiseach Micheal Martin ordered the setting up of a multi-disciplinary team to consider the issues raised.

A review conducted by a senior counsel following a protected disclosure by Mr Corr found the departments practices to be entirely lawful, proper and appropriate. No breach of data protection laws was identified by the senior counsel, the department said.
MEDFORD, Ore.  As advertised over the weekend, the Medford Police Department stepped up its enforcement of school speed zones on Monday, issuing dozens of citations in less than three hours.

Middle and high school students in Medford were returning to the classroom Monday morning, so the agency added extra patrols to some school zones through the morning hours. In the space of 2.5 hours, traffic and school resource officers issued 45 citations to drivers for speed violations.

"Many of the violations were for 15 to 20 miles per-hour over the speed limit," Medford Police said.

On top of the speeding tickets, officers issued 27 warnings for speed violations and handful of citations for other reasons. MPD issued one citations for driving while suspended, five for driving uninsured, and two for operating a vehicle without driving privileges.

"We continue to ask drivers to be aware of school zones and use caution when driving through them. It is important to know that fines for speed violations increase significantly when they are within a designated school zone," MPD said.

Zones adjacent to school grounds will have signage displaying the speed limit of 20 miles per-hour when flashing, or on school days from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Zones at school crosswalks away from school grounds will have signs displaying to speed limit of 20 miles per-hour when flashing or when children are present.
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Biocon announced a partnership between Biocon Pharma, its wholly owned subsidiary and Libbs Farmaceutica, a leading pharmaceuticals company in Brazil.

As part of the out-licensing deal with Libbs, Biocon Pharma will be responsible for drug development and manufacturing, while Libbs will leverage its deep expertise and reach in Brazil to import, distribute and market, subject to approvals from the Brazilian health regulatory agency, ANVISA.

This partnership, which marks the entry of Biocon's generic formulations into Latin America, builds upon a successful association with Libbs, which began in 2017 to launch biosimilar Trastuzumab in Brazil.

Libbs is a 100% national Brazilian pharmaceutical company, which has been in the market for more than 60 years. The company invests 10% of its revenue in R&D and innovation and sells around 90 products in more than 200 forms of medicines, distributed in the following specialties: cardiovascular, gynecology, oncology, hematology, dermatology, respiratory, transplants and central nervous system.

The announcement was made on Monday, 29 March 2021. Shares of Biocon fell 1.13% to settle at Rs 395.25 on Friday, 26 March 2021.

Biocon is an innovation-led global biopharmaceuticals company committed to enhance affordable access to complex therapies for chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer and autoimmune diseases.

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Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce the arrival of Larry Medvinsky as a partner in its Corporate Department. Mr. Medvinsky brings to the firm nearly 30 years of experience advising boards of directors, public and private companies, and executive management teams on a broad range of corporate transactions. He comes to Morrison & Foerster from another leading international law firm, where he spent the span of his career.

Mr. Medvinskys practice focuses on representing issuers and underwriters, particularly in the REIT and Specialty Finance spaces, in IPOs and securities offerings, private equity and other sponsors in the raising of capital for funds, private REITs, and permanent capital vehicles and other private companies in transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions (including UPREIT and DownREIT and real estate acquisitions), joint ventures, dispositions, and other exit transactions, among others.

Larry is a well-respected and skilled corporate lawyer with decades of experience and a unique practice, said Mitchell Presser, co-chair of Morrison & Foersters Global Corporate Department. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Corporate Department. Larrys practice is highly synergistic with our fast growing global corporate, private equity, capital markets, REIT, and corporate finance practices, and underscores the continued growth of our corporate team on the ground in New York.

Mr. Medvinskys arrival follows the addition of M&A and Private Equity partners Mitchell Presser and Omar Pringle, and Private Funds partner Leonora Shalet, in New York in 2020, as well as the addition of REIT-focused corporate partners Heath Linsky in Atlanta and Ali Connaughton in Washington, D.C., in 2019. Mr. Medvinsky is also the seventh partner to join Morrison & Foersters New York office since the start of 2020.

Some of Mr. Medvinskys representative matters include advising: Empire State Realty Trust, owner of the iconic Empire State Building, on its $1 billion NYSE-listed IPOone of the largest REIT IPOs in U.S. history; Antarctica Capital, LLC, a global investment manager, in connection with a strategic joint venture with TIAA to act as the managing member and investment manager for a consortium of funds that acquired a portfolio of parking assets; and CBRE Realty Finance and Gramercy Property Trust in their IPOs, many public offerings and joint ventures, their internalizations, and their public sale processes.

Having worked across the table from several Morrison & Foerster corporate lawyers for the better part of 20 years, I can personally attest to their professionalism and collegiality, which was a big draw for me, said Mr. Medvinsky. I am also really excited about the prospect of growing my practice at MoFoan undisputed industry leader well-known for its exceptional culture and global reach.

Mr. Medvinsky has been recognized for his exceptional work advising REIT clients on equity and debt offerings and joint ventures. He is ranked in Band 2 in Chambers 2020 USA-Nationwide: REITS category. Mr. Medvinsky also is a member of the Urban Land Institute and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Florida Foundation since 2019.

Mr. Medvinsky earned his B.S. in Accounting, cum laude, from the University of Florida and his J.D. from NYU School of Law, where he was the recipient of the Vanderbilt Medal (leadership award). He is a member of the New York State Bar and a member of the ABA & NYSBA.

ABOUT MOFO

We are Morrison & Foerstera global firm of exceptional credentials. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, investment banks, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. The Financial Times has named the firm to its lists of most innovative law firms in North America every year that it has published its Innovative Lawyers Reports in the region. In the past few years, Chambers USA has honored MoFos Privacy and Data Security, Bankruptcy, and IP teams with Firm of the Year awards, the Corporate/M&A team with a client service award, and the firm as a whole as Global USA Firm of the Year. Our lawyers are committed to achieving innovative and business-minded results for our clients, while preserving the differences that make us stronger. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community through pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education for poor children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, winning asylum for the persecuted, and safeguarding the environment.
HOLYOKE - With a visit to the City Clerks Office Monday morning, Councilor At-large Michael J. Sullivan launched his mayoral bid, becoming the third candidate to enter the political fray.

Sullivan took out nomination papers and began the process of collecting the necessary 250 signatures. He becomes the third official mayor candidate, joining City Councilor Rebecca Lisi and School Committee Member Devin Sheehan.

William Glidden, a former aide and speech writer of former Mayor Alex. B. Morse, had not announced an official candidacy. He has, though, pulled in thousands of early campaign donations locally and nationally.

I feel theres been a groundswell of support for me to run, Sullivan said. The people of Holyoke are looking for a mayor whos focused on building Holyoke, looking for a workhorse and not a show horse.

Sullivan challenged his campaign to recruit 100 volunteers from across the city, form an organizing committee and raise $25,000 in donations by mid-April. He added his campaign accomplished all three goals before the new month begins.

I wanted to make sure I had the support to do this. Ive been on the (City) Council for six years, and Ive watched a couple of mayoral elections, and I know what it takes, he said.

He added, Ive also seen what the other candidates are doing, and I see the outside money coming in from special interest groups, outside the Pioneer Valley. Its absolutely toxic to local campaigns, and it should not be tolerated.

Sullivans campaign will focus on the public schools, still under state control, infrastructure, unemployment, job creation and high tax rates. He plans to make a formal announcement in the coming days, including release of a campaign website and Facebook page.

The vice president of Max Salvage and Maintenance, Sullivan joined the city council in 2016. He earned a management degree at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is pursuing a masters in architectural preservation and design.

Sullivan noted a special City Council meeting called by Acting Mayor Todd McGee for Tuesday night. The council is slated to take up the latest Home Rule Petition revised by the Massachusetts Legislature.

The petition seeks to avoid a costly special mayor election and now likely runoff, let any city councilor become acting mayor, and swearing in the winner of the November mayors race immediately.

Sullivan and Councilor Joseph M. McGiverin submitted the original orders for the Home Rule Petition, which needs approval by the council, the legislature and Gov. Charlie Baker. McGee, who was sworn in only days ago, stated he could only serve two weeks.

If the petition is passed, McGee would remain as City Council president. The City Charter demands a special election if a mayor leaves office with more than six months remaining on a term.

Morse, who had nine months left in Holyoke, was appointed the town manager of Provincetown.

Related:
This is the shocking moment a police officer was forced to use his service weapon and shoot a farmer who attempted to attack him with a machete in Colombia.

The incident unfolded after cops in the center-west department of Tolima were called to evict Guillermo Lopez and four other people from a farm last week, according to Colombian radio station Caracol Radio.

Despite repeated pleas from councilman Wilson Perez and his family, Lopez had refused to remove his cattle from farmland that had been purchased by the politician's sister a year ago.

A police officer in Tolima, Colombia, aims his service weapon at local farmer Guillermo Lopez who refused to remove his cattle from a farm that was sold a year ago to the family of councilman Wilson Perez. The politician went with cops to enforce a notice of eviction handed by a local judge, but Lopez reportedly attacked him before he lunged at a cop and was eventually shot in the leg. He and four other farmers were placed under arrest but were released from custody

A police officer stands next to Guillermo Lopez moments after he shot him while defending himself from a machete attack

Lopez allegedly was part of a group of workers who had been employed at the farm by the previous owners and did not allow Perez's farm employees to enter the property.

A court order obtained by Perez called for Lopez to remove all of his livestock from the farm.

Perez showed up at the farm with members of the Herveo police department to evict Lopez, but in the process was hit by the machete-wielding farmer.

The footage shows a police officer restraining an unknown farmer while a cop attempts to get Lopez to voluntarily place the machete on the ground.

A police officer in Tolima, Colombia, restrains a farmer (left) while Guillermo Lopez (center left) tries to attack a cop who was trying to get him to voluntarily leave a farm that he illegally used to house his cattle

Still image from a video shows the moment a police officer (right) aims his weapon at Guillermo Lopez before shooting him in the leg

The cop fired a shot and initially missed, but struck Lopez's leg the instant he charged at him with the sharp weapon.

Lopez was taken to a local hospital and treated for his non-life threatening injury.

He and the other workers were placed under arrest, but a local judge ordered their release after revoking their detention.

Perez told online portal Alerta Tolima that his family owns several other farms in the area and now fears for their safety.

'I hold Mr. Guillermo Lopez responsible if something happens to me,' the councilman said.
Kolkata, March 30 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday questioned alleged coal smuggling case kingpin Anup Majhi aka Lala for over eight hours and has asked him to appear again on April 1, sources said.

A CBI source related to the probe told IANS that Lala was questioned for over eight hours in connection with the case.

"He was questioned about his business and financial dealings with several people," the source said, adding that Lala's questioning will continue on April 1.

The action comes in the wake of a case registered in November last year involving alleged illegal coal pilferage.

The CBI last week questioned former Asanol Commissioner, Laxmi Narayan Meena for over three and half hours in connection with the case.

It had registered a case against the alleged kingpin of the pilferage racket, Eastern Coalfield Ltd General Managers Amit Kumar Dhar and Jayesh Chandra Rai, ECL chief of security Tan Das, area security inspector Kunustoria Dhananjay Rai, and SSI and security in-charge Kajora area Debashish Mukherjee last year.

The CBI also recorded the statement of Rujira Banerjee, wife of Trinamool Congress MP and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee and his sister-in-law Menka Gambhir in the last week of February.

The agency has recently carried out searches at several locations in the state, including at the premises of Ait Agarwal, a close aide of Majhi, raising the heat in poll-bound West Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool and the BJP are engaged in a bitter battle.

Polling to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases, with the first round held on March 27, and the others slated on April 1, 6, 10, 17, 22, 26 and 29. Results will be declared on May 2.
San Antonio Metro Health

San Antonio may be moving to a new beat as COVID-19 indicators trend in the right direction and more vaccines become available, but a new mariachi song is reminding everyone to keep their guard up in order to continue winning against the virus.

Metro Health and Mariachi Campanas de America teamed up for the new song and video, shot at the Arneson River Theater, that will likely get stuck in your head. The video was released over the weekend and is getting rave reviews from a city who knows a thing or two about a mariachi music.
These are turbulent times. In the last year, cities have experienced many episodes of civil unrest with significant property damage and loss, physical harm to people.

For our purposes, civil unrest encompasses three types of conduct. First, spontaneous or planned protests can morph into riots or civil commotion with vandalism, looting and wanton destruction. Next, terroristic groups or individuals can cause similar mayhem. Third, individuals, groups or movements motivated by a range of purposes can become violent, at times elevating the level of violence of other protestors by supplying weapons such as Molotov cocktails.

On March 17, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released an unclassified assessment of domestic violent extremism. The first paragraph states that domestic violent extremists who are motivated by a range of ideologies and galvanized by recent political and societal events in the United States post an elevated threat to the Homeland in 2021.

The lines of this trichotomy can be blurred, with motives and causation difficult or impossible to ascertain or prove. But the distinctions have important consequences for insurance coverage purposes.

The starting point is the policy language, which sets the fundamental structure for coverage. Where questions of interpretation arise, they are resolved by judicial interpretations of state law, which varies across jurisdictions. Coverage determinations can require detailed, deeply drilled-down analysis.

Coverage for protest-based civil unrest

The most likely coverage for civil unrest is commercial property and casualty insurance. Coverage can arise from perils such as riots or civil commotion being identified as a Covered Cause of Loss, or from failure to exclude them. Conversely, some policies expressly exclude these perils. Where policies define these terms, the definitions are of course key. Often, though, policies do not to define these terms. But various statutes and courts have. Common definitions of riot require a public disturbance involving (1) an act of violence by one or more persons in a group of three or more persons, which act constitutes a clear and present danger of, or results in, damage or injury to the property of any other person or to the person of another individual or (2) a threat or threats of the commission of an act of violence by one or more in a group of three or more persons.

Civil commotion definitions are similar to riots, but the term is generally construed as requiring a more serious disturbance or a series of disturbances.

Other related coverages that may apply include vandalism (intentional damage or destruction of property) and malicious mischief (acts motivated by spite or hatred that result in damage or destruction that might not have been intended).

The scope of coverage typically extends to property damage, including destroyed, damaged, burned, or looted property, graffiti damage, and debris removal. There can also be coverage for lost income, subject to waiting periods (typically three days). The insurance may also cover costs incurred to protect against future, imminent harm or continued damage under Protection of Property, Sue and Labor, or similar clauses.

One of the key issues is the number of occurrences, which affects applicable deductibles, limits and sublimits. A policyholder could experience several losses at a single location, or losses at multiple locations, in the same city or in different cities. How many occurrences are there? Policies can sometimes limit the period of time to aggregate losses, or a specific geographic scope, or both. One common limitation is that different losses can be combined into a single occurrence if they took place within a 72-hour period.

One factor that may be important is whether and how Verisks Property Claims Services characterizes the circumstances. For example, PCS has assigned a catastrophe serial number CAT 2033 to losses from the disturbances following the death of George Floyd, running from May 26 to June 8, 2020. The losses took place in many states, and for the first time in its history, PCS expanded its designation to include losses in multiple specified cities and specified states. Note, however, that insurers are not required to follow the ISO CAT designation in making occurrence determinations.

Other complicating factors include the intersection of COVID-19 lockdowns with civil unrest losses. This will likely affect the calculation of many business income losses. There may also be coverage for lost income under a Civil Authority provision if access is prevented by an actual governmental order, although this is complicated because policies most often require actual physical damage to the property or adjoining property, so a purely prophylactic order, deigned to quell a disturbance and prevent further rioting, might not lead to coverage.

Coverage for terrorism

What if the Nashville Christmas Day bomber had been a terrorist?

The essential feature of terrorism is that it uses violence or destruction in an attempt to further political, religious, or ideological aims. The extent of coverage for terrorism varies depending on whether the insured has opted for coverage within the construct of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act and its successors (collectively, TRIA), or under standalone terrorism insurance forms.

Where the source of insurance is TRIA, there is coverage under commercial property and casualty insurance for an act of terrorism. Using the Patriot Act definition, such an act would need to be performed with the intent to intimidate or coerce the civilian population or to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion. TRIA requires the act of terrorism be certified as such by the secretary of the treasury in consultation with the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and the attorney general. Aggregate losses must be at least $5 million, but many state regulations do not allow this requirement to be used as a basis for denying coverage for an individual loss. The attack must be in the US or against certain US property or interests abroad. In an important recent change, the terrorists can be either foreign or domestic. (There are other limitations and requirements applicable to whether the US government backstop reimbursing insurers for a portion of the losses applies, but they are not relevant to the present discussion.)

The most salient point is that the US Government has never certified anything as a terrorist event. And certainly the present polarized environment would make it extremely difficult to make a designation in the context of domestic terrorism, because whether the terrorists were thought to be from the right or left could warp priorities and trump rational analysis.

For these reasons and others, many insureds opt out of TRIA and obtain coverage through standalone terrorism Insurance. These specialty policies are not subject to the certification requirement of TRIA, and they can be individually-crafted to address an insureds crucial exposures within a broader range of risks. Terms, conditions, limits and deductibles are individually negotiated. Terrorism can be defined broadly as any act or acts committed for political, religious or ideological purposes. Other perils can be included, such as vandalism, malicious damage, riots, strikes, civil commotion, insurrection, rebellion, revolution, and sabotage (subversive acts committed for political, religious or ideological purposes). Among other bespoke features, business interruption extensions can be broad and interruption periods can be long, e.g.,18 months. Coverage for threats leading to revenue loss also can be added, such as loss of revenue from a sporting event cancellation.

Note also that personal lines policies do not exclude terrorism at all.

The grey area of extremist actors

There is a grey area, inhabited by individuals and groups having both political beliefs or aspirations, on either side of the political spectrum, and a predisposition for violence. They may or may not have specific intent to coerce, influence, or overthrow a government. They may simply want to break things. How are they treated?

Most war exclusions include concepts such as insurrection, rebellion, and revolution. Arguably, some of the attacks by militant individuals or groups might fall into these. However, some legal interpretations have held that an insurrection or rebellion must be part of a movement specifically intended to overthrow the constituted government. This leaves open questions, such as whether their intent has to be realistic. What if there is no chance they will overthrow the government, yet that is the intent of their group or movement? What if their motivating ideology is too fanciful to be credible, such as QAnon? Do the insurrection and rebellion exclusions apply?

America is a deeply divided nation, with many people driven to expression in the streets, and regrettably, too many inclined toward violence. Ultimately, every serious problem becomes an insurance problem. The trauma of civil unrest is no different.

About the photo: In this July 26, 2020, file photo, federal officers launch tear gas at demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Despite rising crimes and violent attacks across the nation, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, on Tuesday, said the military has recorded a progressive return of peace to the North-east region and other parts of the country.

He stated this when the Senate Committee on Defence, led by its Chairman, Aliyu Wamakko, visited the ministry for oversight.

Mr Magashi, a retired major general, who said Nigeria had been contending with diverse internal security challenges, noted that peace was returning to some parts of the country affected by insurgents.

Nigeria has been contending with diverse internal security challenges even as it grapples with the unconventional warfare waged against her by the terrorist group, Boko Haram and banditry in some states like Niger, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara, he said.

The armed forces are confronting the emerging threat of banditry in other parts of the country especially in the North-central and the North-west.

These challenges have tasked the constructive capabilities of our armed forces with attendant losses of our gallant officers and men in the line of duty.

The armed forces have continued to contend with the challenges of ensuring insurgents intermittent incursions are constantly repelled.

However, we have achieved a level of tranquillity.

The minister, however, said that with the support of the National Assembly, the ministry would consolidate on its current strides and ultimately achieve sustainable tranquillity.

In his remarks, Mr Wamakko said he was confident that Nigeria would overcome its security challenges.

The entire country wants to know where we are in terms of security. I am confident that we will overcome our challenges as daunting as they are, he said.

More funding

Meanwhile, the Director-General, Defence Research and Development Bureau, Ubrufih Uzezi, an air vice marshal, on Tuesday, appealed to the National Assembly to increase its annual budgetary allocation for research and development.

Mr Uzezi made the appeal when the committee visited the bureau in Abuja, for oversight.

Providing a breakdown of the bureaus budget performance for 2019 and 2021, Mr Uzezi lamented the paucity of funds for research and called for more funds to be allocated to the bureau.

He said an upward review of the funds for research would enable the military to effectively prosecute the war against insurgency in the North-east, as well as tackle other security challenges in other parts of the country.

The money appropriated has been well spent and for the things we are doing, a lot has to do with funding to solve a lot of problems that our troops are facing in the North-east, North-west and North-central; the issue of insurgency, banditry.

For the 2019-2020 budget you will see that a very paltry sum was given to research and development. Research and development cost a lot of money, Mr Uzezi said.

The director-general further said Nigeria was experiencing a lot of insecurity, especially in the North-east, which required the military to prosecute with superior firepower; pointing out that the military research centre was expected to be the driving force.

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Our country is going through very challenging times and the armed forces is at the fore of resolving the challenges that we are facing, he said.

And for any armed forces to function effectively, they need equipment, they need capabilities that are technology-dependent.

I believe that those who initiated the idea of a bureau like this to be established, foresaw and indeed there is no country that can attain self- reliance in technology without research and development.

In his opening remarks, Mr Wamakko said the visit was aimed at carrying out a first-hand assessment of the military facility with a view to understanding its challenges.

We are here as part of our mandate to have an assessment of the constraints. We want to also hear about your 2019 and 2021 capital budget. We are concerned about the security situation, what is being done and what the constraints are. We are here to have a first-hand assessment, he said.

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Sociologist Abigail Saguy's scholarship has focused on understanding and articulating how our culture frames identity, and human vulnerabilities.

Her most-recent book, "Come Out, Come Out, Whoever You Are," (Oxford University Press, 2020) examines how the approach to "coming out" in the LGBTQ community has also led to a "coming out" process and vernacular for other elements of personal and political identitiesfrom undocumented immigrant youth to fat acceptance activists to the #MeToo movement.

"I have long been interested in how the stories we tell ourselves shape our experiences and how oppressed groups are sometimes able to gain freedom by finding new ways to understand or 'frame' their lives," said Saguy, who has been teaching at UCLA for 20 years and since July 2020 has been chair of the sociology department.

Saguy's scholarship has never been more urgent. Just in the past few weekssince Women's History Month begantwo major media moments have once again exposed the deeply engrained struggles that many women face. In Meghan Markle's and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey and the "Allen v. Farrow" documentary series, Markle and Dylan Farrow share their personal experiences with traumas that women have endured for centuries. To Saguy, the way these particular women chose to articulate those experiences, shows how we're seeing "coming out" processes adapt and evolve to fit different circumstances.

Markle and Harry spoke openly about issues that are often closeted, like mental illness and racism. Decades ago, Princess Diana gave a candid interview, in which she shared her own battles with mental illness, which functioned as a similar kind of "coming out," Saguy said.

"We know that the interview with Princess Diana encouraged others to be more open about their own experiences with mental illness, and I expect the interview with Meghan and Harry will ensure that this trend continues," Saguy said. "Meghan and Harry's discussion of racism within the royal family and British society at large is part of a larger reckoning we are currently having. It is both made possible by this moment and will, I expect, encourage more discussions and soul searching."

In the case of Dylan Farrow's allegations of sexual abuse against her adoptive father, director Woody Allen, her brother Ronan Farrow's investigative reporting played an important role in the #MeToo movement.

"His reporting on Woody Allen's alleged abuse of Dylan Farrow constituted a high-profile 'outing' of Allen as a sexual abuser," Saguy said. "Ronan Farrow's and others like Megan Twohey's reporting also encouraged other women to 'come out' about their experiences of abuse and, in some cases, to 'out' their abusers."

The seeds of "Come Out, Come Out, Whoever You Are" were planted 20 years ago when Saguy was researching her book "What's Wrong with Fat?" In that book, she tackles the societal structures around fat stigma, tracing its roots through classism and racism.

Saguy read hundreds of scientific studies about fatness and obesity. She interviewed scores of body acceptance advocates. Many of them described themselves as "coming out" as fat, claiming the word and their bodies back from how others view them.

"Bodies are real and material, but how we make sense of them is socially constructed," said Saguy. "It's just so taken for granted that it's some kind of moral accomplishment to be thin and maintain a thin body."

Saguy points to "Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia" by Sabrina Strings as a powerful example of how the "cult of thinness" (a term Saguy uses in "What's Wrong with Fat?") serves as a means of differentiating Black and white bodiesand denigrating Black bodies.

"It's also a civil rights issue, and some of our focus has to be on the fact that solution is not make heavy people thin, but make bigoted people less bigoted," she said.

As she worked on "Come Out, Come Out, Whoever You Are," Saguy found another powerful lens through which to view the issues our society faces. People "coming out" as gay, fat undocumented, or as survivors of sexual harassment or abuse, or with their struggles around mental illness, are rejecting the shame that society has historically said they should feel, Saguy said.

"Shame is never going to be helpful and is never going to get us to a better place," she said. "Starting with acceptance and love is the best place to start and then you can go somewhere positive."

Explore further Prince Harry joins $1.7 bn US counseling startup
More than 28,000 Michiganders went into Ford Field and came out with their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine during the federal clinics first week.

The eight-week clinic, which had its soft opening Tuesday, March 23, serviced 28,089 residents through the end of the day Sunday, with no significant issues to report, according to Kerry Ebersole Singh, director of the states Protect Michigan Commission.

Most appointments to date were pre-scheduled, and 90% of appointments for this week have already been booked. However, Singh noted that the clinic was able to accommodate some walk-ups during the opening week.

On Thursday, site volunteers had been pre-filling syringes to speed up vaccinations and avoid backups in line when they filled more syringes than the number of filled appointments. To avoid wasting any doses, health officials around the state sent out calls for residents in the area who wanted a vaccine to come between 5 and 6 p.m.

Its just part of us learning the regular flow within a day between scheduled appointments and accommodating some walk-ups, Singh said. We were able to use up the pre-filled syringes and we havent had a similar situation since.

Singh said she doesnt anticipate walk-up availability on a daily basis. She encourages residents to register online and watch their email for appointment alerts when there are openings.

However in the afternoon Friday, groups of residents did gather near the clinics two open gates in case there was another call for walk-ups. Singh said the clinic wasnt able to accommodate all who showed up without appointments.

There are a lot of moving parts as it related to getting 160,000 folks who have registered for the site scheduled, she said. Your best bet is to schedule an appointment, and you shouldnt just register at one place.

Related: 5 things you need to know about the Ford Field vaccine clinic

Other places to check for appointments or get on a wait list include your local health department, Meijer, Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS and other local retail and health system providers.

The Ford Field sites registration is handled by Meijer, and is currently open. There are three ways to sign up for an appointment:

You visit the online portal at clinic.meijer.com/register/CL2021

You text EndCOVID to 75049

Call the states COVID-19 hotline at 888-535-6136 and press 1. The Protect Michigan Commission warns this could be the slowest option and should only be used by those without internet access.

On Monday, Detroit announced it had expanded vaccine eligibility to all residents and workers who are 16 years or older. Thats a week earlier than when the rest of the state is slated to open eligibility to everyone 16 and older.

Ford Fields clinic is open between 8 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. every day and parking is free. Residents who schedule an appointment will be sent to one of two gates to go through a symptom checker, fill out a form, and get their vaccine. Afterward, residents are asked to sit in the observation area for 15 minutes, in case of adverse reactions, before leaving.

The Protect Michigan Commission was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to work with local and federal partners to promote the states vaccine sites and educate residents on how to make an appointment.

The health department announced Monday that its seeking more volunteers to greet individuals who have requested wheelchair assistance and escort them through the multi-step process of receiving their vaccine at Ford Field. The clinic also offers other assistance for people with disabilities. Interpreters are also available.

As of March 28, Michigan had administered more than 4.1 million doses of vaccine to more than 2.6 million residents. That means 32.5% of the states 16 and older population has initiated the vaccination process, and about 19% are fully vaccinated, meaning they received two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Read more on MLive:

Who and where Michigans coronavirus surge is hitting hardest

Michigan reports 8,202 new coronavirus cases, 6 new deaths for Sunday and Monday, March 28-29

Family doctors advocate for more coronavirus vaccines, say it will reduce hesitancy

Michigans COVID-19 numbers increasing at troubling pace. Whats going on?
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Is Enoteca Maria getting ready to reopen soon?

The 11-year old, St. George restaurant at 27 Hyatt Street, famed for its concept of a different Nonna cooking each night, has been closed since March 2020.

Proprietor Jody Scaravella predicts, We are hoping it will be safe enough to invite the Nonne back by late spring/early summer.

In the meantime the female chefs who normally have staffed the small eatery have produced their signature sauces for the patrons consumption at home. All preparations are available on the restaurants website, EnotecaMaria.com, with UPS as a delivery option. Pick-up is available for locals from Wednesday through Saturday by appointment.

Tomato-based sauce options for 32-ounce jars include the eggplant-centric Sugo alla Norma, Nonna Domenicas Ragu (made with meat), the Marinara Dolcissimo and a Spicy Puttanesca cooked with anchovies, capers and black olives. Prices on these sizes range from $13 to $15.

Now selling from Enoteca Maria: its signature sauces. (Courtesy of Casey Martinez)

As the restaurants food repertoire has expanded over the years into international eats, the to-go inventory expands outside of the Italian arena.

A 16-ounce container of Spicy Tamarind sells for $10. Scaravella explains this as a Trinidadian staple used as a topping for the most well-known carnival street foods. He suggests serving it atop roti bread and other foods of the Caribbean or presented as a sandwich accoutrement.

Ward Hill resident Anthony Martinez, a fan of the tangy stuff, enthuses over the tamarind sauces flavors and versatility. He maintains, It makes a great marinade. It has enough heat in it to make it interesting and enough of a base to a marinade. I throw some honey in it and a bit of sesame oil, fish sauce, just to kick it up a little bit.

Also for sale are 4-ounce and 8-ounce curry powder packages for $5 and $7, respectively. These hail from Enotecas Nonna Dolly of Sri Lanka. Scaravella points to it for seasoning lentil stew, chicken, meat, seafood and veggie curries.

A Nonnas of the World apron ($25) and Nonnas of the World tote ($20) are for purchase as well.

Prices include tax. To order, email nonnasoftheworld@gmail.com and include the shipping address. The restaurant accepts personal checks via snail and electronic deposit.

IS ENOTECA S.I.S MOST FAMOUS RESTAURANT?

Enoteca was born on Staten Island in the winter of 2007. Enoteca means wine bar and the restaurant has always maintained a carefully curated wine list.

In its Enotecas earliest days, female cooks from various Italian regions starred each night in the kitchen with their family recipes headlining on the menu. The novel idea grabbed attention of food bloggers and news outlets city-wide. Indeed, since its onset, the Hyatt street hole-in-the-wall has captured worldwide attention. Scaravella and his Nonnas, many of them Staten Island residents, have appeared on the Rachael Ray Show, Food Network and scores of other globally viewed broadcasts.

After eight years in business, the St. George restaurant expanded its concept to guest chefs from around the world with grandmas from Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Lebanon stepping up to the stove. And in 2017, Scaravella hit the airwaves with Enotecas first cookbook, Nonnas House: Cooking and Reminiscing with the Italian Grandmothers of Enoteca Maria (Atria Books). Owner and Nonnas began a book tour with the crew with a kick-off signing at Barnes & Noble, then in New Springville.

Enoteca Maria is located at 27 Hyatt St. in St. George and can be reached at 718-447-2777 or EnotecaMaria.com.


U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses the media following the closed-door morning talks between the United States and China upon conclusion of their two-day meetings in Anchorage, Alaska on March 19, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Blinken Suggests Punishing China for Pandemic Not a Priority

Secretary of State Antony Blinken remained elusive when asked whether the United States will hold the Chinese regime accountable for how it handled the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the attention should be on preventing future pandemics.

I think the issue for us is to make sure that we do everything possible to prevent another pandemic, even as were working through this one, he said during an interview on CNNs State of the Union that aired on March 28.

A large part of this, he said, is making sure that we have a system in place, including with the World Health Organization, that features transparency, that features information sharing, that features access for international experts at the start of something like this.

And thats where I think China, like every other country, has real obligations that it needs to make good on, he said. And thats going to require a lot of reform, and its going to require China to do things that it hasnt done in the past.

Blinkens remarks contrast with those of his predecessor, Mike Pompeo, who had been openly critical of the regimes lack of transparency regarding the virus and urged for holding the regime accountable.

President Joe Biden announced the United States reengagement with the World Health Organization on his first day in office, reversing the withdrawal decision by the Trump administration, which saw the agency as being too China-centric.

Pressed on whether that means no repercussions, no punishment for the damage that is being done around the world because of this pandemic, Blinken acknowledged a need to have accountability for the past, without elaborating on what possible measures would be taken.

I think our focus needs to be on building a stronger system for the future, he said.

Blinken also declined to label China as the United States biggest adversary, saying that there are also competitive and cooperative aspects of the relationship.

Virus Origin Probe

The WHO is due to release findings on March 30 from an investigative trip to Chinas Wuhan Province about the origin of the virus.

Leaked versions of the report, echoing lines of the WHO scientists at their trips conclusion, left open all hypotheses except an accidental lab leak, which it said was extremely unlikely.

The State Department under Pompeo flagged the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the lab at the heart of the lab theory debate, saying that several researchers there had fallen ill with symptoms similar to COVID-19 before the first identified virus patient.

The regime has bristled over criticism of its role in the pandemic. It has pushed claims that the virus may have arrived in Wuhan via packaging of frozen food products, an idea that both the WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had already dismissed.

The delay of the WHO report has called into question the independence of the report and raised concerns of possible Chinese influence, with Beijing on March 26 giving an outline on the research, a move critics see as an attempt to project its version of events.

Weve got real concerns about the methodology and the process that went into that report, including the fact that the government in Beijing apparently helped to write it, Blinken said during the CNN interview.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki, during a March 26 press briefing, said the administration has restaffed its public health team on the ground in Beijing and called for an investigation into the virus origin and the lack of transparency from the Chinese.

So well see what the report says, she said. Where we have concerns, well look at the underlying data, if we have access to that. And then well have to make a determination through an interagency process on whats next.
Roxen, the artist who will be representing Romania during the Eurovision contest, will be the 13th artist who will step on the stage in Rotterdam, during the first semi-final of the event, on May 18th.

The order for entering the competition, established by the Eurovision producers and approved by Martin Osterdahl, Executive Supervisor of the international contest, was announced on Tuesday by the organizers, informs a press release sent by public broadcaster TVR, to AGERPRES.

"13 is a lucky number for many. The Italians and French have sayings that this number is synonymous with success, and where we are concerned, this year our delegation has 13 people and we are entering the semi-final from the 13th place," declared Liana Stanciu, the head of the Romanian delegation at ESC 2021.

Roxen is also optimistic: "I like the number 13, it has always brought me luck and I hope it will this time as well. I can't wait to step on the Eurovision stage! Hugs and kisses!"

Being designated to represent Romania during the 2020 edition of the Eurovision competition, Roxen launched five songs for the national selection, the song "Alcohol You" being chosen as a winner. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eurovision competition of the year 2020 was canceled, but Roxen remains Romania's representative for the 2021 edition in Rotterdam, with a new song, "Amnesia".

Romania's best performances in this contest were: Twice on the third place (Luminita Anghel & Sistem - Kiev, 2005; Paul Seling and Ovi - Oslo, 2010) and once in the fourth place (Mihai Traistariu - Athens, 2006).

The Romanian Television, member of EBU, is the organizer for the National Selection and has been participating in the European competition since 1993.
" " Pretzels have a long history and are loved the world over. Owen Franken/Getty Images

The world can thank a frustrated teacher with leftover bread dough for the invention of the soft pretzel. In 610 C.E., while baking bread, an Italian monk decided to create a treat to motivate his distracted catechism students. He rolled out ropes of dough, twisted them to resemble hands crossed on the chest in prayer, and baked them. The monk christened his snacks "pretiola," Latin for "little reward." Parents who tasted their children's classroom treats referred to them as "brachiola," or "little arms."

From there the baked treats spread to Germany, where they were made with flour, malt, salt, baker's yeast, water and fat making them soft and chewy. Many of these Germans immigrated to Pennsylvania's Susquehanna Valley, where they became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, bringing their pretzels with them.

While the origins of the pretzel may be debated, our love for them certainly is not. These crunchy snack treats are beloved the world over. Here are 10 twisted facts about your favorite pretzels.

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1. Pennsylvania Rules

Speaking of Pennsylvania, there are about 45 pretzel companies in the state, including Snyders of Hanover. That means about 80 percent of the pretzels sold in the U.S. are made in Pennsylvania.

2. High in Carbs

Traditionally made from wheat flour, the average soft pretzel contains anywhere from 300 to 500 calories. They're high in carbs, low in protein but contain some B vitamins.

3. Mega Pretzel

The current Guinness World Record holder for largest pretzel is Pilsener, Industrias La Constancia (Pilsner of El Salvador). In October 2015, employees baked a massive pretzel that measured 29 feet 3 inches (8.93 meters) long by 13 feet 3 inches (4 meters) wide. It weighed a whopping 1,728 pounds (783.81 kilograms).

4. Tying the Knot

Pretzels were incorporated into Swiss wedding ceremonies during the 16th century. A bride and groom would break a pretzel together, make a wish, and each eat half to symbolize their union.

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5. Going Fully Automated

Pretzels were made entirely by hand until 1935 when the first automated pretzel machine was created. That allowed factory bakers to mass-produce about 250 pretzels per minute.

6. Soaking Gives That Shine

Pretzels get their flavor and trademark shine from soaking the dough for about 30 to 60 seconds in sodium hydroxide (lye) before they're baked. It's a technique that's similar to how bagels are prepared.

7. Who Eats the Most?

So, who eats the most pretzels in the U.S.? That honor goes to Philadelphia. While Americans on average eat around 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms) of pretzels annually, Philadelphians eat about 12 pounds (5.4 kilograms) per year!

8. The Perfect Pairing

Beer and pretzels could be the perfect snack pairing. Some say it's because the salty pretzels make you want to drink more beer, but the salt also may help boost the flavor and hop bitterness of some beers, and provide a flavor contrast for less hoppy styles.

9. A Crunchy Accident

One theory explaining the evolution of pretzels from hard to soft involves a 17th-century baker's apprentice in Pennsylvania who accidentally fell asleep while baking his pretzels. The soft pretzels ended up over-baked and crunchy. The master baker spared his apprentice's job because after just one bite, he loved them.

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10. Sans Salt Please

Prefer your pretzels without salt? Then you're a fan of baldies.

Originally Published: Apr 21, 2008




Second Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon called Monday for the world to reaffirm its commitment against racial discrimination amid concerns over a reported rise in anti-Asian sentiment related to the new coronavirus.







Choi made the call in a pre-taped speech for the UNESCO Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination, as the Korean community in the United States mourns the deaths of four women of Korean descent killed in last week's shootings in Atlanta.







"Given the recent upsurge of racial discrimination, indeed, this is a time to reaffirm our commitment to counter all forms of discrimination with a renewed sense of determination," Choi said.







Noting reports of hate speech, stigmatization and violence against certain racial groups, the vice minister said the COVID-19 pandemic was a painful reminder of how easily one can fall victim to "disinformation, suspicion and ignorance."







"Such inhuman behaviors not only undermine the fundamental tenets of human rights but damage international cooperation by weakening the mutual trust necessary to respond effectively to the crisis," he said.







"As clearly stated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the elimination of racism and discrimination is a pressing task for us to tackle," he added, referring to the global agenda for a world of universal respect for human rights and dignity.







Choi stressed the importance of education to combat racial prejudice.







"While the virus harms the body, discrimination harms the mind. Just as we need a vaccine to protect against a disease, we need education to fight against prejudice and hatred," he said.







The forum, which was held both online and offline, was attended by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria. (Yonhap)


Acquitted of terror charges after a stint in jail, a Turkish professor of a French university remains stranded in Istanbul, stripped of his passport and subjected to an opaque probe.

Tuna Altinel's colleagues view the 55-year-old as another victim of a crackdown against academia and Kurdish causes that gathered force after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan survived a coup bid in 2016.

The professor of mathematical logic and set theory at Lyon's Claude Bernard University agrees.

"I am a hostage of the Turkish state," Altinel told AFP at his Istanbul home.

Gangly, bespectacled and occasionally sporting a shy grin, the professor's plight gained added attention as a diplomatic feud played out in the past year between Paris and Ankara.

Altinel's personal nightmare began in May 2019, shortly after he arrived for a holiday in Turkey.

Instead of returning well-rested to Lyon, the French city where he has taught and lived for 25 years, Altinel discovered that he was suspected of "membership in a terrorist organisation".

He was detained and tried for disseminating "terrorist propaganda" while acting as an interpreter at a pro-Kurdish meeting in France earlier that year.

Released in July 2019 and acquitted in January 2020, Altinel has since learned that he is the subject of a new Turkish investigation of which he knows little about.

That probe appears to have served as justification for the government's refusal to return his travel documents.

- 'A little sad' -

Altinel first popped up on officials' radar in 2016, when he joined nearly 2,000 academics in signing a petition demanding an end of Turkish military operations in the predominantly Kurdish southeast.

Outlawed Kurdish militants have been waging an insurgency in the mountainous region for decades that has killed tens of thousands.

But while the militants are viewed as terrorists by Turkey's Western allies, Erdogan's critics believe he is using the fight to suppress ethnic Kurds' legitimate rights.

Story continues

Altinel was also charged and acquitted after signing the 2016 petition. Now, he said he is "doing everything I can" to get back his passport and return to Lyon.

He has filed a lawsuit against Turkish officials and been bounced from one court to another by an "administrative machine that seeks to drown, crush people with bureaucracy," he said.

Altinel said he has little choice but to conclude that his travel ban is punishment for his commitment to human rights and the Kurdish cause.

"The Turkish state prevents opponents who embarrass it from leaving, keeping them hostage," he said.

"It's a way of accepting that the country is a prison, which is a little sad".

- Still teaching -

Altinel considers himself relatively lucky because -- as a French civil servant -- he still gets his salary.

He also continues to teach, in his own special way.

"When I was in prison, I taught my fellow inmates English and French," Altinel said.

"So we continue these lessons through letters. They write to me and I write back letters that are 15 or 20 pages long. I teach them that way."

And while waiting for his legal problems to play themselves out, he also studies Kurdish, which he began to pick up from his fellow inmates.

Although supported by other academics in France, who are campaigning for him on social media, Altinel fears being forgotten by French officials and "falling into oblivion".

Nevertheless, and perhaps risking further alienating Turkish officials, Altinel still joins demonstrations for causes he backs in Istanbul, refusing to "self-censor".

"If I restricted myself, it would mean I accept that the state has won," he said. "And I do not accept that."

gkg/zak/jz/wdb
Jen Shah is one of the stars of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Her appearance on the Bravo reality series was controversial as she feuded with a number of her co-stars. As season 2 of the show films in Utah, it has been reported Shah has been arrested. The reality TV personality has been arrested on fraud charges and could potentially face up to 30 years in prison.

Jen Shah | Fred Hayes/Bravo

Why was Jen Shah arrested?

Shah was one of the breakout stars of RHOSLC during the first season last year. The Bravo star instantly became an icon when she feuded with co-star Mary Cosby after the latter said she smelled like a hospital. Shah was so offended by her comment as her relative was hospitalized and it was a sensitive subject for her.

RHOSLC is reportedly filming its second season and news just broke that Shah has been arrested along with her assistant after being indicted by a federal grand jury on fraud charges.

Federal prosecutors out of NYC sought the indictment, accusing Shah and assistant Stewart Smith of telemarketing/wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, journalist Ben Winslow tweeted. [Shah] he is to appear before a federal judge in SLC today.

Federal prosecutors out of NYC sought the indictment, accusing Shah and assistant Stewart Smith of telemarketing/wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.



She is to appear before a federal judge in SLC today. @fox13 #utpol #Utah  Ben Winslow (@BenWinslow) March 30, 2021

In a second tweet, Winslow reported that Sha and Smith were being accused of selling lead lists for business opportunities that did not exist. Shah faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

Here is @TheJusticeDept statement on the indictment of #RHOSLC star Jen Shah and her assistant, Stuart Smith.



They will make an appearance before a magistrate judge in SLC today. @fox13 #utpol #Utah pic.twitter.com/rI4tWMvN37  Ben Winslow (@BenWinslow) March 30, 2021

RELATED: RHOC Star Kelly Dodd Pulls a Mariah Carey on RHOSLC Star Jen Shah After Throwing Shade

Jen Shah appears in court

After Shah was detained by authorities, a court hearing was programmed to read them their rights and the charges against them. Journalist John Franchi live tweeted the proceedings that were broadcasted via Zoom.

The judge told Shah that she would not be able to travel internationally as her case plays through. She would also not be able to travel outside of Utah except to appear in court in New York. Franchi also reported that for the time being Shah wouldnt be able to continue with her telemarketing business and advised to avoid contact with co-defendants.

Heres a look outside the Federal courthouse in downtown SLC. You can see some photographers hoping yo get a shot of Jen Shah. No sightings yet and still waiting to be allowed in the Zoom hearing. pic.twitter.com/KWpjqf9u7h  (@JFRANCHIREPORTS) March 30, 2021

RELATED: RHOSLC Star Jen Shah Slams RHOBH Alum Brandi Glanville: Shut the F*** Up

Also important to note, the court indicated they are not seeking to detain her prior to trial.  (@JFRANCHIREPORTS) March 30, 2021

RHOSLC Season 2 is a Bravo priority

Season 2 of RHOSLC is reportedly still in production and all this drama could potentially be a storyline on the show. Andy Cohen recently revealed that the second season of the Salt Lake City-based show was given priority by Bravo as they saw a lot of potential with the cast. This was in contrast to The Real Housewives of Orange County that is on pause right now.

The status of OC right now is that were just taking a pause. Were in no rush to get into production, Cohen told Variety. One of the benefits of Salt Lake City coming out so strong out of the gate and becoming such a hit is you dont need to be in such a rush then to get Orange County back, because you have more to play with.

And we really wanted to get back in production in Salt Lake when it was still winter there, he continued. Its a stark contrast to all the other shows to see them with the mountains and the snow. So we love that aesthetic. But Orange County, Calif., is still fairly locked down.
For the second time in a month, U.S. Rep. John Katko will visit the southern border.

Katko, R-Camillus, said in an interview Tuesday with Fox Business that he will lead Republican members of the House Homeland Security Committee on a trip to the border. The delegation is scheduled to travel to McAllen, Texas on April 11. They will visit the Donna facility where migrants are being held after they enter the country.

For the upcoming trip, Katko hopes the press will be allowed to join the delegation and document what's happening at the border. President Joe Biden's administration has limited press access at border facilities.

When Katko last visited the border on March 15, he said the press was not allowed to accompany them.

"We were not allowed to bring our phones in. We couldn't take any pictures," Katko told Maria Bartiromo, host of "Mornings with Maria" on Fox Business. "It was all hush-hush, secret-secret because they didn't want us to portray to the American people what's really going."
If you didn't know, the Blues' biggest new supporter is none other than Andrew Mulligan.

Sure, he'll scream until he's red in the face that he's a Hurricanes for life fan, but don't believe him.

So, with a bit of help from Andrew Simms Kia the Auckland Blues, Rog and Bryce surprised Mulls with a brand new car that he can whip around in for a week - a beautiful Blues-branded Kia Niro. Check it out.

Suits ya Mullsy.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police force of Sint Maarten KPSM seeks the publics assistance to apprehend the armed robbers who have been targeting the jewelry stores in Philipsburg.

On Monday, March 20, 2021, around 11.45 am, Central Dispatch received several calls concerning an armed robbery at a jewelry store on Front Street. According to the victims, two men brandishing firearms entered the store and robbed them at gunpoint of cash and jewelry.

The suspects who were dress in gray and white clothing and had their face covered with surgical masks. After robbing the business, both suspects were spotted fleeing on foot through the ally next to the Methodist Church towards Back Street.

Several patrols conducted a search around Philipsburg for the suspects, but they were not located. Central dispatch was later informed that the two suspected robbers were seen fleeing on two scooters in the direction of the Dutch Quarter.

Anyone with information about this or any of the armed robberies that have taken place over the last weeks should contact SUR detectives via + 1 721 542 2222 ext. 203, 204 or 205, via 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.
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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - Psyched Wellness Ltd. (CSE: PSYC) (OTCQB: PSYCF) (FSE: 5U9) (the "Company" or "Psyched") a life sciences company focused on the production and distribution of artisanal functional and psychedelic mushrooms, is pleased to announce the company has signed an additional agreement with its CRO partner, KGK Science to further study the anti-inflammatory nature of AME-1.

KGK Science specializes in nutraceutical product testing and development and is leading the pre-clinical trials for Psyched. This new agreement will further advance the preliminary findings indicating an anti-inflammatory property of the AME-1 extract. This study will be the first to further explore the anti-inflammatory nature of the AME-1 extract from the Amanita Muscaria mushroom with a particular focus on gut health. When gut health is damaged, it can lead to inflammation thus promoting a chronic condition of the gut lining and impairment of barrier function of the digestive tract. The aim of the study is to explore the anti-inflammatory properties of AME-1 extract and demonstrate activities that may enhance digestive barrier function and immunity. This is significant as gut health and immunity promotion is substantial for health and wellness.

"This is a key first step in the health and wellness studies of AME-1, which lay the groundwork for future preclinical research," said Brian Tancowny, scientific advisor to Psyched Wellness

For further information, please contact:

Jeffrey Stevens

Chief Executive Officer

Psyched Wellness Ltd.

Tel: 647-400-8494

Email: jstevens@psyched-wellness.com

Website: http://www.psyched-wellness.com

For media relations, please contact:

Anne Graf

KCSA Strategic Communications

agraf@kcsa.com

786-390-2644

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Psyched Wellness Ltd.:

Psyched Wellness Ltd. is a Canadian-based health supplements company dedicated to the distribution of mushroom-derived products and associated consumer packaged goods. The Company's objective is to create premium mushroom-derived products that have the potential to become a leading North American brand in the emerging functional food category. The Company is in the process of developing a line of Amanita Muscaria-derived water-based extracts, teas and capsules designed to help with three health objectives: promote stress relief, relaxation and assist with restful sleeping.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Psyched Wellness Ltd. current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by Psyched at the date of the information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, (i) the accuracy of the Toxicology Assessment, (ii) the safety of Amanita Muscaria consumption and the safety and purity of any extracts thereof, and (iii) the uses and potential benefits of Amanita Muscaria. Given these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and Psyched is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Psyched Wellness Ltd. management's discussion and analysis for the six months ended May 31, 2020 and covering the subsequent period up to July 27, 2020 ("MD&A"), dated July 27, 2020, which is available on Psyched Wellness Ltd. profile at www.sedar.com.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state, province, territory 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, province, territory or jurisdiction.

This news release includes data that has been obtained from third party sources, including the findings from the Toxicology Assessment. The Company believes that the data is accurate and that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of this data. Third party sources generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of included information. Although the data is believed to be reliable, the Company has not independently verified any of the data from third party sources referred to in this news release or ascertained the underlying assumptions relied upon by such sources.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78853
Basic income programs that exclude white people could prove to be illegal if public money is used to fund them, an expert has warned.

Libby Schaaf, the mayor of Oakland, California, last week announced a privately funded program that will give low-income families of color $500 per month with no rules on how they can spend it.

It was then reported that the non-profit Marin Community Foundation in Marin County would also give $1,000 monthly grants to 125 women of color with children.

The Marin County Board of Supervisors has said it will provide $400,000 to the program following a vote last Tuesday, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

But Walter Olson, a legal expert at the libertarian Cato Institute, argues that federal and state law bars race-selected schemes and warned that Marin County's scheme could be 'racially discriminatory' following its decision to award public funding.

Olson told Reason: 'The structure of the program is racially discriminatory. It will probably not make it over the threshold for when government is allowed to discriminate.'

As for the Oakland scheme Olson says that is more complex, adding: 'The issue that comes out is, is there state action?'

The mayor of Oakland Libby Schaaf last week announced a privately funded program that will give low-income families of color $500 per month with no rules on how they can spend it

The programs are the latest experiment with a 'guaranteed income,' an idea that giving poor people a set amount of money each month helps ease the stresses of poverty that often lead to poor health while hindering their ability to find full-time work

The Oakland Resilient Families program has so far raised $6.75 million from private donors including Blue Meridian Partners, a national philanthropy group.

But is also being heavily promoted by the state.

Oakland's project is significant because it is one of the largest efforts in the U.S. so far, targeting up to 600 families. And it is the first program to limit participation strictly to Black, Indigenous and people of color communities.

The reason: White households in Oakland on average make about three times as much annually than black households, according to the Oakland Equity Index. It's also a nod to the legacy of the Black Panther Party, the political movement that was founded in Oakland in the 1960s.

The non-profit Marin Community Foundation in Marin County will also give $1,000 monthly grants to 125 women of color with children. A local food bank is pictured

The announcement in Oakland had already sparked an angry debate online, as hundreds of commentators on Reddit were critical of the move.

One commenter labeled it 'pure racism', asking: 'Is this even legal? Can a city government legally have a program that's only for certain races?'

Olson added: 'The legal controversy is only part of it. I think it's appropriate to have a controversy about what our mayors are getting into when they seem to put a city's endorsement behind these kinds of things.'

Max Ghenis, president of think tank the UBI Center, said: 'I do worry that something like this could be spun as something closer to reparations than [universal basic income].

'The polling is much stronger for semi-universal cash relief than it is for reparations. I think there's a political case and also an external validity case. If ultimately, we want to get to UBI, we need to see how more inclusive programs fare.'

To be eligible in Oakland, people must have at least one child under 18 and income at or below 50% of the area median income  about $59,000 per year for a family of three

Food bags for furloughed workers in Oakland last year. Oakland's project is significant because it is one of the largest efforts in the U.S. so far, targeting up to 600 families. And it is the first program to limit participation strictly to Black, Indigenous and people of color communities

The programs are the latest experiment with a 'guaranteed income,' an idea that giving poor people a set amount of money each month helps ease the stresses of poverty that often lead to poor health while hindering their ability to find full-time work.

The idea isn't new, but it's having a revival across the U.S. after some mayors launched small, temporary programs across the country in a coordinated campaign to convince Congress to adopt a national guaranteed income program.

The first program launched in 2019 in Stockton, California, led by former Mayor Michael Tubbs.

Walter Olson, a legal expert at the Cato Institute, argues that federal and state law bars race-selected schemes

Tubbs, who founded the group Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, has said about six similar programs in other cities should be up and running by the summer.

'We have designed this demonstration project to add to the body of evidence, and to begin this relentless campaign to adopt a guaranteed income federally,' Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said.

To be eligible in Oakland, people must have at least one child under 18 and income at or below 50% of the area median income  about $59,000 per year for a family of three.

Half the spots are reserved for people who earn below 138% of the federal poverty level, or about $30,000 per year for a family of three. Participants will be randomly selected from a pool of applicants who meet the eligibility requirements.

'Guaranteed income has been a goal of the Black Panther platform since its founding,' said Jesus Gerena, CEO of Family Independence Initiative, which is partnering with the program in Oakland.

'Direct investment in the community in response to systemic injustices isn't new.'

The idea of a guaranteed income dates to the 18th century.

The U.S. government experimented with it in the 1960s and 1970s when Republicans Donald Rumsfeld, later a defense secretary, and Dick Cheney, the future vice president, oversaw four programs across the country during the Nixon administration.

A history of universal basic income The concept of a guaranteed income has its origins in the early 16th Century, with the publication of Utopia by Sir Thomas More, which depicted everyone in society receiving a guaranteed income. Universal basic income (UBI) has been on the fringes of US government policy since the 1960s, when the Nixon Administration oversaw four programs across the country. Studies concluded the money did not stop people from working, and Nixon, a Republican, recommended expanding the program. But the proposal failed to make it through Congress. It gained attention again during the 2020 US Presidential election when Democratic candidate Andrew Yang campaigned on giving monthly $1200 stimulus checks to every single American citizen. Yang failed to win the nomination - losing to Joe Biden - and is now running to become New York Mayor. Meanwhile, the UBI baton was taken up by the mayor of Stockton, Michael Stubbs, who succeeded in implementing a plan to give 125 residents of the California city a $500 monthly check. The program has been hailed a success, with one analysis showing it was an effective way to pull people out of poverty. The cash transfer reduced income volatility, and most of it was spent on essentials like food, utilities and gas. Advertisement

Those studies concluded the money did not stop people from working, causing Nixon to recommend expanding the program. But it never got through Congress.

Decades later, proponents are trying again, only this time it's led by progressive mayors. The program in Stockton, California, ended in February. An independent review found that after one year of getting the money, 40% of recipients had full-time jobs compared with 28% before the program started.

'The fact that mayors are piloting (guaranteed income programs), using political capital to raise capital to allow their constituents to have basic necessities, is a policy failure,' Tubbs said. 'It's an admission that we need to do more.'

It's unclear what a national guaranteed income program would look like. A proposal by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang could have cost $2.8 trillion per year.

A form of guaranteed income could take effect for many parents this year as part of the latest federal stimulus package. Congress expanded the child tax credit, with the goal of giving many parents monthly payments of up to $300 per month. Those payments are temporary.

In California, a proposal by Assemblyman Evan Low to give $1,000 a month to adults with certain incomes could cost up to $129 billion annually  more than half the state's total budget  paid for by a new 1% tax on incomes above $2 million.

Low said that bill is unlikely to pass this year, but he said his goal is to get people comfortable with the idea.

'The initial shock seems to wear off the more people are educated and realize the benefits of having more control over their lives,' Low said.

Critics, including labor unions, worry such expensive programs could force the elimination of other safety net programs, like Social Security and food stamps. But Schaaf said she is unapologetic that 'the social safety net programs must remain.'

'We believe that those safety net programs should not go away, but should be supplemented with unconditional cash that gives families the dignity and flexibility to meet their needs,' she said.
Thai doctors attend to an injured Myanmar refugee who fled her home in Kayin state amid air strikes by government forces, at Sop Moei Hospital in Thailand's Mae Hong Son province, March 30, 2021.

Army air strikes killed six villagers in Myanmars eastern Kayin state Tuesday, as thousands of ethnic Karen people who sought refuge in Thailand were turned back by Thai authorities, and three rebel armies in Myanmar warned they might let a cease-fire lapse and fight to protect civilians from government forces.

The Karen National Union (KNU), which opposes the military regime that seized national power in a Feb. 1 coup and has provided refuge for protesters and striking workers, said the six killed were from Htee Phado village in Shwegyin township.

Myanmar forces also conducted two air strikes in areas controlled by the KNUs 5th Brigade in Hpapun district, the KNU said. RFA could not reach a military spokesperson for comment on the bombing raids.

The military also bombed villages in Hpapun district on March 27 and 28, killing and injuring some civilians, including children, and forcing about 10,000 people to flee their homes, the KNU said.

As tensions from the coup and bloody crackdown spilled into border regions, the latest flare-up came after the KNU captured a Myanmar Army base camp housing Light Infantry Battalion 394 on the border with Thailand on March 27. Ten soldiers, including a deputy battalion commander of the Myanmar Army, were killed, according to the KNU.

Thai authorities pushed back more than 2,000 people to the Ei Tu Hta displacement camp in Hpapun district, after they fled air strikes Monday evening, an official from a Karen advocacy group said.

But the Thai Army returned about 2,000 of them to Myanmar because they said the Myanmar Army had not targeted the Ei Tu Hta internally displaced persons (IDP) camp, according to Naw KNyaw Paw, general secretary of the Karen Womens Organization.

They said the IDP camp was not hit by the Myanmar Army, but the refugees are too afraid to return, so they are just staying in the mountains and in nearby jungles, she said. They were forced to return from the other side by boat, group after group  more than 2,000 of them.

A few thousand other Karen refugees arrived in the Thai border district of Mae Sariang, she said.

There are now more than 10,000 refugees [in Myanmar], and about 3,000 in Thailand, Naw KNyaw Paw said. Thousands of them haven't crossed into Thailand yet, but they are taking refuge on the other side of Thanlwin River which is in Thai territory.

The activist called on Thailand and the international community to press the Myanmar military to stop attacking civilians, reopen roads, and send medicine and food for the refugees.

An injured Myanmar refugee who fled her home in Kayin state amid air strikes by government seeks medical treatment in the Thai border village of Mae Sam Laep in Mae Hong Son province, March 30, 2021. Credit: Reuters





The Karen news agency KIC also said that thousands of refugees from the Ei Tu Hta camp and villagers living along the Salween (Thanlwin) River  nearly 10,000 people in all  had arrived at the border.

According to information we gathered, there are about 7,000 or so refugees from [the KNU's 5th Battalion area], he said. So with the 3,000 who fled to the Thai border yesterday, the total number has reached more than 10,000, but not all had entered Thailand yet.

Starting Monday, Thai authorities had been pushing back the 3,000-odd Karen refugees who started arriving a day before in Thailands Mae Hong Son province, said Pornsuk Kerdsawang, a member of Friends Without Borders Foundation, a Thai NGO.

From March 29 onward, Thai authorities have been trying to push them back into Myanmar, Pornsuk told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.

Three civilians died, and two houses were burned down during the March 27 bombings, the KNU said.

The Thai government said that more than 2,300 of the repatriated refugees had returned voluntarily, stressing that it wouldnt turn away those fleeing fighting in southeastern Myanmars Kayin state.

According to information provided to media late on Tuesday by Tanee Sangrat, a spokesman for the Thai foreign ministry, 2,897 people from Myanmar had crossed into Mae Hong Son, but 2,352 of them went back to the other side of the border of their own accord, while 545 remained on the Thai side.

It is Thailands policy not to push back anyone fleeing from fighting in Myanmar, Tanee said.

Some have gone back voluntarily as they have depleted their food supplies that they brought from their villages across the border in Myanmar. They often stay a few days until they are convinced that it is safe to retur, he said.

Tanee also confirmed that some of the refugees had been taken to a hospital in Mae Hong Son, but did not say how many.

Millions of Myanmar refugees have fled to Thailand since the 1990s to escape conflict between armed ethnic groups and the Myanmar military.

Air strikes by the Myanmar military on March 27-28 leaves a high school in ruins in Dwelo township, southeastern Myanmar's Kayin state, in a photo taken on March 29, 2021. Credit: AFP/ Free Burma Rangers





Ethnic armies issue warning

The ethnic armies that comprise the Three Brotherhood Alliance  the Arakan Army (AA), the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA)  said Tuesday they might not renew a unilateral cease-fire with the Myanmar Army.

TNLA spokesperson Lt. Col. Mai Aik Kyaw told RFA that leaders of the three rebel groups are discussing violence directed at peaceful protesters and other civilians by the military regime since the coup began to decide whether to continue their one-way truce, which expires Wednesday.

As a result of the actions taken by the Myanmar Army following the military coup, we are reconsidering out unilateral cease-fire, said a statement the groups issued.

Civilians in northern Rakhine state, where a cease-fire between the AA and Myanmar military has been in place for nearly four months, say they fear that fighting could resume without a truce extension.

The alliance condemned the crackdowns and demanded that Myanmar soldiers and police stop the attacks on civilians that have killed more than 500 people in brutal assaults on protesters and residents in the eight weeks since the military takeover that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

If not, our Three Brotherhood Alliance will have to support and cooperate with our own oppressed brethren and multiethnic people who are waging the Myanmar Spring Revolution in self-defense against the Myanmar Army, their statement said, referring to the local name of the domestic civil resistance efforts.

The Myanmar military has not yet commented on the threat.

Violent attacks on protesters claimed 20 lives nationwide in the largest city, Yangon, and in several other cities and towns, witnesses said.

RFA and the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a Thailand-based Myanmar NGO, recorded the deaths of at least 14 people in Yangons southern suburbs.

A burned body was discovered in the morning on a street in Yangons South Dagon township, where protesters erected heavy barricades to defend themselves from indiscriminate gunfire into streets, wards, and houses, after another burnt corpse was found on March 27 in Mandalay.

Rumors circulated on Monday that a police officer in civilian clothes killed and set the man ablaze in an act of revenge, locals said. The rumors prompted security forces in Mandalay to enter the area, shooting their weapons and making arrests.

RFA could not independently confirm whether the policeman in Mandalay had been killed or whether the two men had been burned alive or set on fire after they had died.

RFA could not reach military regime spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment on the incident.

Myanmar anti-junta protesters run during a demonstration against the country's military regime in Thaketa township, Yangon region, March 30, 2021. Credit: Handout/Facebook/AFP





Lethal force in Yangon townships

Several videos have emerged online showing security forces entering and shooting in South Dagon township during the past five days.

A South Dagon township resident said there had been shooting all night in ward 56 and that a burned body found on the street near a tea shop was that of a male in his late teens.

Security forces removed sandbags in wards 70 and 71 on Monday, though there was no shooting, she said. But we heard a lot of gunfire in ward 56 during the entire night last night.

Other residents described the scene as a battlefield, with machine-gun fire ringing out, and people on the streets being shot on sight. Soldiers and police used lethal force in wards 70, 71, 56, and 57 because protesters had put up barricades against them and shown strong resistance, residents said.

One person was killed, and five other people were injured, during a crackdown by security forces in Yangons Thanlyin township on Monday, a resident said.

They came in shooting at about 5 p.m., he said. One was killed, and about five were injured. One was hit in the groin, and we heard he is in critical condition.

In Thaketa township, across the Yangon River from Thanlyin, a man was shot in the head when police and troops fired at a group of protesters, a witness who declined to give his name told RFA.

One died in Yanpyay ward, and four were wounded, he said. One was hit on the lower right side of the chest, one hit in the thigh, another hit on his right hand.

The one killed was hit on the top of his head by a rubber bullet, he said. He was trying to throw something at them when a hail of bullets hit him, and he didn't even make it to the hospital.

Other residents said junta forces used heavy weapons and grenades against the street barriers and shot at random into small alleys.

A Myanmar anti-junta protester uses a slingshot amid a clash with security forces during a demonstration against the military regime in Thaketa township, Yangon region, March 30, 2021. Credit: Handout/Facebook/AFP





Shooting in Tanintharyi region

Two protesters were killed by security forces in Kawthaung, the southernmost town of Tanintharyi region, residents said

The shooting started at about 10 a.m. while we were still preparing for the protest, a local said. A young man about 20 years old was killed. They didnt use heavy weapons but tear gas and live ammunition. They came in at us from both sides.

Videos shot by witnesses show police using navy boats to patrol the waterfront and shoot at protesters.

In Muse, northern Shan State, soldiers and police wearing civilian clothes shot dead a man Tuesday morning, local residents said on a Facebook post.

RFA has recorded a total death toll of nearly 500 since Feb. 1.

The AAPP said that as of Tuesday, authorities had detained 2,608 people in relations to the military coup, and put the total number of people killed at 521, but said the actual figure could be higher.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a news briefing Tuesday condemned the killing of more than 100 nonviolent protesters and bystanders by Myanmar security forces on March 28, noting that the military said in advance that it might shoot protesters in the back or in the head.

And they made good on that threat, he said, adding that four children, including a five-year-old boy, were among those killed.

We condemn these and other widespread violations by Burmas security forces in the strongest terms, and we continue to call on the military regime to release all those people who have been unjustly detained, stop its attacks on civil society members, journalists, labor unions, halt the killings by security forces, and return to power the democratically elected government, Blinken said.

The United States is committed to working with its allies and partners to hold the perpetrators of these abhorrent acts accountable, he added.

Reported by Soe San Aung and Lu Seng for RFAs Myanmar Service, and by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Translated by Thane Aung and Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Getting pregnant with my son Wolfie wasnt the easiest. We had to employ several reproductive medical treatments, medications and procedures. Ultimately, I did have a healthy and successful pregnancy after a family donated their remaining frozen embryos to my husband and me using a website that can only be described as online-dating-meets-wanting-to-have-children.

There is quite a bit of science and several legal steps to receive and medically transfer donated embryos, but in a nutshell its similar to the way that donated blood is used in a blood transfusion or donated kidneys are used in kidney transplants. To put it in a way that we all can understand, the ingredients came from someone elses kitchen, but the challah baked in my oven.

While the science behind getting pregnant using donated embryos is truly something out of a Mary Shelley novel, the heart of embryo donation lies within the donors who offer the gift of life and parenthood to individuals and couples affected by infertility  people like my husband and me. Our donors  who literally gave us a piece of themselves so that we could be parents  are a same-sex female couple living in Rhode Island. Because they are both women, they had their own unique journey to have a child, but with the help of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), they now have a spunky 5-year-old daughter who is a 100% genetic sibling to my son. While many embryo donors and recipients remain unknown to each other, we (and our donors) always wanted to have a long term, lasting relationship and a genuine, natural connection. This would provide our child with healthy access to his genetic family and their daughter would have healthy access to her siblings.

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When our donors gave us the official green light, things began falling into place fast and so did the butterflies in our stomach. Our minds were racing with all kinds of thoughts. On one hand, we were eager to have a child and felt 100% confident that this was our intended road to follow next. On the other hand, what kind of situation would we be putting ourselves and any future children in?

These women were still basically strangers to us  were we prepared to sign up for a life being connected to them? Would our future children be upset that their genetic mother and sister live in a completely different part of the country? Would they be confused about who their parents really are? What about the Jewish component? Would our children need to convert to Judaism?

And the fact that our donors were both women added another layer to an already seemingly complicated situation. We reached out to our tribe  a therapist skilled in the area of infertility, our close friends and family members, our rabbi. Slowly the layers of doubt faded and in April of 2017 we were legally  and humbly  the owners of four frozen embryos and ready to begin the medical part of our journey.

On Aug. 22, the day after the Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017, another miracle from the universe happened. I had a procedure to have two of my four frozen embryos medically transferred in the hopes of getting pregnant  we lovingly call this day our transferversary. Although we lost one of the embryos early on, the other grew to be my son, who was born on May 7, 2018.

Our family isnt so different from anyone elses. At first, people would comment on the resemblance my son shares with my husband. I never really knew what to say. There were a couple of episodes where I would share our story and receive questions like, Are you going to meet his real mom? (Spoiler Alert: I am his real mom). But if weve learned anything from our sons beautiful birth story, its that love is love and family is family. I cant wait until Wolfie is old enough to understand how much he was wanted by us and by our donors. They made my dreams come true the moment they offered us their embryos. The only way I know how to repay them is by raising Wolfie to be as kind, loving and generous as they are.

We were fortunate enough to fly to Rhode Island with our son to meet our donors and their daughter in person before the COVID-19 pandemic, and for a moment the world froze. I realized standing there with my husband, our son, his genetic sister and her two moms that I didnt just gain a child  I gained an extended family. In a world where many people like to argue that same-sex couples are unnatural because of the reproductive piece, Im proud to tell people that the only reason I am a mother to my sweet Wolfie is because two women fell in love and created a family.

My son is a living confirmation to me that love is love and family is family. If anyone has been given an infertility diagnosis or would like more information about Embryo Donation or would simply like to share their unique family story with me, please feel free to email me at [email protected]
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THE CHOICE: The governor considers a bill that would sharply curtail the use of solitary confinement in state prisons.

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a choice to make in the next few days, between whether he allows the continued torture of human beings in New Yorks custody, or takes steps to put an end to it.

One would think this would be an easy call for the governor. If history is any indication, though, it is not.

Sitting on Mr. Cuomos desk is the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Confinement Act, which would end the excessive use of solitary confinement in New York prisons. While isolation may be necessary for short stretches in certain instances to protect an inmate or those around him, the United Nations says it amounts to torture once it goes past 15 days.

In New York, however, solitary confinement, used mainly as a disciplinary and punitive tool, can last months, even years, leaving people with mental and emotional scars under the dubious guise of improving their behavior.

The state Legislature has talked since at least 2013 about curtailing this inhumane, antiquated, counterproductive practice, only to be met with resistance from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and ultimately from Mr. Cuomo. In persuading lawmakers not to impose limits on the use of solitary, DOCCS said it would voluntarily and even dramatically reduce the use of it.

A 2019 study by the New York Civil Liberties Union, however, found that the states use of solitary confinement, under the euphemistic term keeplock, actually increased, with hundreds more prisoners confined to cells for 23 hours a day.

DOCCS has also objected to limiting solitary confinement to 15 days, saying instead that it would prefer to phase in a 30-day maximum over a period of years  still twice the UN definition of torture. As of 2019 when the NYCLU report was released, the average was 100 days.

There are better things the state could do in its prisons than throw people into isolation. One would be expanding the opportunity for them to get more education by restoring their ability to apply for college financial aid through New Yorks Tuition Assistance Program. Both the state and federal government eliminated college aid for inmates in the 1990s in tough-on-crime initiatives that ignored the connection between poverty, poor education, and crime. Congress recently restored prisoners eligibility for Pell grants; New York should do the same with TAP.

It could easily pay the tab  estimated at $5 million a year  by reforming solitary, a costly practice that, if reformed, would save state and local governments $1.3 billion over a decade, according to an analysis by the Partnership for Public Good, a Buffalo think tank.

New Yorks prison system has had long enough to reform this practice. HALT could be one of the most significant criminal justice reforms enacted this legislative session. Mr. Cuomo should sign it. In 2021, New York should no longer be debating how much torture is acceptable.
ExxonMobil is considering investing up to $334 million at its Baton Rouge Chemical plant just north of downtown and is seeking economic incentives for the project.

The plan is for both expansion and ongoing maintenance of unspecified units, according to an advance economic incentives filing with the Louisiana Economic Development department.

The company estimates the work could be completed in 2023. Roughly 750 construction jobs are expected to be supported over a two-year period on various improvements. At least five new permanent jobs would be created at the chemical plant, which is the minimum requirement for state program incentives, but exact job creation is unknown, according to the company. The plant already has 3,722 workers.

"We continue to invest in our chemical facilities, which have helped to supply health and cleaning related products around the world during the COVID-19 response effort," said Stephanie Cargile, spokesperson for ExxonMobil Baton Rouge. "Potential projects during the contract period included a variety of equipment upgrades and technology enhancements to ensure the site stays competitive and in anticipation of future growth opportunities."

The Baton Rouge Chemical Plant sits along Scenic Highway, just north of the crude oil refinery, and produces 6.1 billion pounds of petrochemical products each year ranging from adhesives to rubber liner for tires and isopropyl alcohol.

ExxonMobil is seeking incentives through the Enterprise Zone program, which is a sales tax credit of either $3,500 one-time or $1,000 for each new job in addition to a rebate of state sales and use taxes on materials such as machinery or equipment or 1.5% refundable investment tax credit on the total value of the capital investment. The Enterprise Zone program doesn't require local approval, unlike the state's property tax abatement program.

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10-year, $23 million tax break for Exxon project approved by East Baton Rouge Metro Council A request from ExxonMobil for a 10-year tax break worth an estimated $23 million sailed through the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council on W

ExxonMobil already is expected to spend $410 million for modernization efforts at its 500,000-barrel-per-day crude oil refinery nearby. All the local taxing entities, such as the school board, parish council and sheriff's office, approved an Industrial Tax Exemption Program tax abatement for that project in recent weeks.

The company has been connecting with small businesses to expand its supplier network as it embarks on these maintenance and modernization projects at the integrated petrochemical facility.
A man and a woman have been arrested after a man in his 50s died following an incident in Dublin.

The man, aged in his 40s, and the woman, aged in her 30s, were arrested on Tuesday morning and have been detained at Pearse Street Garda station.

A post-mortem examination is to be carried out on Tuesday to establish the cause of death.

Garda were called to Markievicz House in Dublin at approximately 11am on Monday where they found the injured man.

The victim was taken to St James Hospital and was later pronounced dead.

The scene continues to be preserved and examinations are ongoing by the Garda Technical Bureau and Divisional Scenes of Crime personnel.
Beverly Wright, founder and executive director of the New Orleans-based Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, has been appointed as the lone Louisiana representative on a panel counseling President Joe Biden's administration how to address current and past injustices to minority and low-income communities.

The White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council is one of a slew of the new president's creations meant to show the administration's commitment to address the climate crisis. Wright, a longtime environmental justice activist and scholar, has won numerous awards for her work, including the 2008 EPA Environmental Justice Achievement Award. Her center, founded in 1992, focuses on supporting and developing leaders within communities of color that are vulnerable to environmental hazards.

+3 Environmental justice gains notice in Louisiana race to succeed Cedric Richmond Activists see candidates Troy Carter, Karen Carter Peterson as more vocal than former representative

Wright said she was honored by the appointment.

"The elevation of this body to the Office of the President demonstrates the importance of environmental justice to this administration," she said. "I pledge to do all that is within my power to raise issues of concern to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region and to work tirelessly ... to improve the health and wellness, including economic conditions, in communities disproportionately exposed to toxic pollution and climate-induced disasters."

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The advisory council, filled with volunteers, is to provide their perspectives on several efforts laid out by Biden's Jan. 27 executive order, including:

Creating a "climate and economic justice screening tool" highlighting disadvantaged communities.

Strengthening enforcement actions for environmental violations that disproportionately affect underserved communities.

Creating a community notification program to monitor and update residents on pollution.

The advisory council held its first meeting Tuesday.
President Paul Kagame on Tuesday, March 29, said that modernising international debt architecture should not be a Covid-19 emergency measure, but, rather, a long-overdue discussion that tackles apparent inequalities.

He was speaking at the high-level meeting of Heads of State and Government on the international debt architecture and liquidity.

The meeting was jointly convened by the Secretary-General of United Nations, Antonio Guterres, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, and Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness.

In his remarks, Kagame highlighted that much as global countries are seeking to recover from Covid-19 adverse effects, inequalities have to be dealt with as well.

He said: "Recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic depends on adequate fiscal space and liquidity. However, there is a sharp dividing line in today's world."

"Without corrective action, this divergence will entrench a profoundly unequal global order, in which the poor have no chance of ever catching up with the prosperous," he added.

Kagame, therefore, proposed some measures that should be considered by the international community to ensure effective Covid-19 recovery.

"Modernising the international debt architecture should not be seen, as merely a Covid emergency measure. It is a long-overdue discussion that goes to the heart of the inequalities that continue to bedevil our world," he noted.

Among the measures he proposed include extending the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative and a new issuance of Special Drawing Rights would enhance liquidity.

He emphasized that debt relief negotiations should be conducted with the welfare of citizens in mind, and with a long-term view of development objectives, including the SDGs.

The Debt Service Suspension Initiative, which is where bilateral official creditors are, during a limited period, suspending debt service payments from the poorest countries that request the suspension, took effect in May last year and is expected to end in June this year.

Concerning IMF's Special Drawing Rights, Kagame underscored that; "there needs to be a system of accountability for how SDRs are used, as well as a method of allocating them according to need rather than quota."
3 1 of 3 Texas Department of Transportation Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Transguide Show More Show Less 3 of 3





Interstate 35 has been closed at Eisenhauer Road as San Antonio police investigate a major wreck, according to a release from the department.

All northbound traffic is exiting at Eisenhauer Road. Drivers are advised to take an alternate route.
Tokyo Metropolitan University (TMU) is constantly striving to maintain a cutting-edge research environment, not just to keep its place among the top universities in the world, but to promote research that resolves the big issues of big cities.

As part of this mission, 2020 saw TMU roll out an extensive local 5G network over its Minami-osawa and Hino campuses, the largest of its kind in Japan. This is part of the "'Future of Tokyo' Strategy" proposed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), specifically contributing to the vision of a "Smart Tokyo" which harnesses Tokyo's full potential for its residents using digital technology. New initiatives will also enable cutting-edge research that makes full use of this environment and create new collaborations between TMU and the TMG as well as private companies, helping industry, academia, and the public sector work together.

A key feature of TMU's local 5G network is its sheer size - the largest of its kind in Japan, 60 antennas cover an area of 490,000 sqm over the Minami-osawa and Hino campuses. It is also the first network in Japan to cover such a large area using a standalone architecture with the 4.7GHz band at its core.

Projects have already begun to explore how this local 5G environment might be used to usher in the future, a human-centered society that achieves economic growth and resolves social problems through a high-level integration of cyberspace (virtual space) and physical space (real space). The university has founded a series of new research grants to stimulate research on high-speed and large-volume mobile communications, core infrastructure for such a society, as well as research on social implementation of services that would improve the quality of life of city dwellers.

In 2020 and 2021, TMU will select eight research projects from an open call within the university. Each project will receive a total of 100 million yen over 5 years. Projects are divided into two categories: "Exploratory Research", fundamental research contributing to solving problems in future society, and "Research for Social Implementation", applied research whose results are expected to lead directly to deployment.

On February 15, 2021, TMU hosted an online symposium to showcase these research initiatives titled "Kick-off Meeting for 'Smart Tokyo' at Tokyo Metropolitan University."

In the first half, a keynote lecture was delivered by Kaname Hayashi from GROOVE X, a leading start-up entrepreneur in Japan and an alumnus of the TMU graduate school. Mr. Hayashi delivered a lecture on the family-oriented robot LOVOT as an example of a technology that can make us feel happy, commenting that "the goal of technology is not to replace human work, but to support the emotional growth of humans. Experimentation with 5G will begin to reveal how technology might even enable emotional care. With ample data and the availability of AI, it is sure to play a role in providing emotional care." Other lectures gave an overview of local 5G legislation in Japan, projects led by private companies and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and local 5G and research programs at TMU.

In the second half, a panel discussion was held on the topic "Hints for a 'New Normal' Society built by Industry, Academia, and the Public Sector." Panelists representing industry, academia, the public sector, and citizens, including Manabu Miyasaka, the Vice Governor of Tokyo, took part in a lively discussion on a 'new normal' made possible by close collaboration between all sectors.

Remarks reflected many diverse views: "While many things can now be done online simply due to Covid-19, we live in a real, physical society; the virtual world can also be a means for enriching everyday 'real' life. To this end, it is crucial to think imaginatively about how the real world and the virtual world can be linked together."; "DX (Digital Transformation) is a human-centered tool that serves to connect people. We need to think how this tool can be used productively by involving more citizens, not just leave it to governing bodies."; "Emotional care is extremely important. Motivation springs from emotion. The combination of emotion and technology is sure to become a key concept."

TMU hopes cutting-edge research that takes advantage of this state-of-the-art research environment will accelerate the positive feedback between high-level research and excellent education that is the university's hallmark, allowing it to contribute even more to society.

Watch this space for more exciting new projects from TMU in the future.

###
U.S. President Joe Biden / Reuters



U.S. President Joe Biden does not intend to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as his approach to Pyongyang will be "quite different," the White House said Monday.



During a press conference on Thursday, Biden said that the United States would respond accordingly if the North escalates tensions in the wake of its recent missile tests and that he is also prepared for some form of diplomacy.



"I think his approach would be quite different, and that is not his intention," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told a press briefing in response to a question of whether Biden's diplomacy includes sitting with the North Korean leader.






Beer enthusiasts keeping an eye out for the next release of Piano Keys, the limited edition imperial stout collaboration from writer and craft beer ambassador Dennis Malcolm Byron (popularly known as Ale Sharpton) and New Belgium Brewing Company are in luck.

Sharpton and New Belgium re-released the brew on March 29. The limited edition stout crafted with specialty malts, cocoa nibs and Ugandan vanilla beans is still only available in Georgia. But this time, the duo has more than doubled the number of retailers carrying the beer. While youll still have to cross state lines to get your hands on Piano Keys, the brew is also now available at more restaurants, bars, and stores across the metro-Atlanta area, including Kroger and Walmart. Outside of Georgia, Piano Keys is available for curbside pick-up in both the New Belgium tasting rooms in Fort Collins, Colo. and Asheville, N.C. tasting rooms, as well as mail delivery in certain states.

Piano Keys imperial stout (Courtesy: Ale Sharpton)

Folks accustomed to tracking down a limited edition (and high demand) beer know the process can be overwhelming. There are two ways to make the search for Piano Keys a little easier. New Belgium has its city and area code-based beer finder. And for those who prefer a more visual method, Sharpton has created a Google Map of the more than 50 restaurants, bars, bottle shops, and grocery stores that carry the brew.

A portion of the proceeds from the stout will go to BrewGether, a collaborative project from Sharpton and New Belgium created with the mission to provide resources, education and support for diversity and inclusion efforts in the beer industry.

When Sharpton and New Belgium introduced Piano Keys in 2019, the stout was only available on draft. Last year, the team dropped a second limited-run release that included bars and retailers in the Atlanta area, Athens, Ga. and the New Belgium locations in Colorado and North Carolina.

The idea for the stout blossomed out of a conversation between Sharpton and New Belgium about increasing the participation of underrepresented communities in the beer industry. New Belgium invited Sharpton, who has collaborated with the brewery for years as an ambassador, to be a consultant on a project with the goal to diversify the number of beer consumers and employees in the beer industry. Sharptons talks with New Belgium executives included ideas for the formation of a diversity committee, a symposium, and the imperial stout.

The Piano Keys brand is co-owned by Sharpton and New Belgium, according to a press release. Sharpton plays a key role in the design and marketing strategy of Piano Keys: the label design is based on Sharptons product sketches, and Sharpton also designed the brands accompanying line of hooded sweatshirts.

Sharpton, a writer who has covered and innovated the craft beer industry for more than two decades, considers the creation of Piano Keys to be a highlight of his career.

Ale Sharpton in the specialty designed hoodie for Piano Keys. (Credit: Cork Boys)

Ale Sharpton and Skinny Deville at Scofflaw Brewing in Atlanta (Shauna Stuart for AL.com)

I am going to make sure the Piano Keys dark chocolate and vanilla imperial stout I just brewed with New Belgium will forever be one of my favorites, he told Forbes in a July 2019 article. This collaboration was based on the initiative to further diversify the craft beer world, level the playing field, bring awareness to the industry and brew something I greatly helped conceptualize alongside pioneer brewer New Belgium.

A craft beer marketing pioneer, Sharpton has long championed the achievements of people of color in the craft beer industry, from recipes to creative design. But for Sharpton, its not enough that craft beer brands just notice buying power and creativity of people of color. He says more people of color need to be in decision making positions in the industry.

There needs to be more hiring of us. And more of us just getting in the room and learning how to make beer, he told Al.com in a 2019 interview.

Piano Keys is available in four-packs and on draft at retail locations and taprooms until supplies last. Sharpton and New Belgium hope to release the stout nationally in late fall.

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COLUMBIA  Calling it a "no-brainer," Democratic legislators asked Gov. Henry McMaster to take advantage of Congress' latest offer and expand Medicaid to tens of thousands of poor South Carolinians.

"It does not make any economic sense to not do this," Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto said March 30 in the Statehouse lobby, joined by seven other members of his caucus.

Their appeal follows new incentives Congress passed as part of its nearly $2 trillion COVID-19 spending package to encourage more GOP-controlled states to expand the joint federal-state government health plan for the poor.

In South Carolina, the extension is estimated to cover nearly 190,000 additional adults who earn too little to afford federal health care subsidies.

But McMaster has already made clear he will not sign off on an expansion. And the Legislature  which has its largest Republican majority ever in both chambers following November's elections  has no desire to force him to do so.

McMaster told The Post and Courier last week the expansion is still too costly, especially since the incentives are temporary. He said his opposition hasn't changed since 2010, when Congress passed the health care law known as Obamacare, which paid 100 percent of states' expansion for several years.

McMaster and his predecessor, Nikki Haley, repeatedly rejected the idea, saying the state couldn't afford the eventual costs.

"The reason we didnt like it to begin with is because the federal governments paying for it at first  and the federal government is us, were the ones paying the money into the federal government  but then it would impose a cost after some number of years, McMaster said at The Post and Courier's Pints & Politics event on March 25. "Pouring more and more money into a system that is full of waste through an enormous bureaucracy  is not the answer."

Sen. Ronnie Sabb, D-Greeleyville, said COVID-19 has shown the importance of health care for all and should change the years-old arguments.

"What's different are the hearts and minds of South Carolinians at the moment," he said.

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Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey initially had a single-word response about the possibility: "No."

Asked to expand on his stance, the Edgefield Republican said that beyond the costs, he has a "real philosophical problem in giving free stuff to able-bodied adults" and transforming what is now a program largely for children, very poor families and the disabled.

The federal government already covers 90 percent of the costs of expanding Medicaid coverage to more low-income adults. Thirty-six states have signed on to the expansion. Two more  Missouri and Oklahoma  are scheduled to begin their expansions in July.

More than 1 million South Carolinians are already covered by Medicaid and the federal government currently pays for about 70 percent of the program's cost. The latest enticement would temporarily boost the federal government's share by 5 percentage points for two years. The cost for adults newly eligible under the expansion would be covered at 90 percent by the federal government.

South Carolina spends $1.4 billion in state taxes on Medicaid. The nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation estimates the two-year boost could send South Carolina a net $600 million through 2023.

The Democrats did not immediately have an estimate for the state's eventual cost, but Hutto said the 10 percent share has to be better than the cost added to taxes or private insurance premiums to cover expenses for the uninsured who show up at hospitals for care.

Sen. Kevin Johnson, D-Manning, argued the state's share of the expense is far outweighed by the cost of people dying or becoming seriously ill without access.

And Sen. Dick Harpootlian, D-Columbia, called it the "best economic development deal I've ever seen," saying the additional money would add health care jobs and make South Carolinians healthy and more employable.

Jamie Lovegrove contributed from Columbia.
Deskrig specializes in making virtual presentations and events look more professional, and they have donated their software and resources to make the Chattanooga Area Food Banks HullaBOWLoo Auction virtual for the first time. The annual auction raises funds and educates the community about food insecurity. Bidding for the silent auction begins on April 16 at 6 p.m. and ends on April 25.

COVID-19 has forced many businesses and organizations to rely on virtual resources for events and meetings. Deskrig uses integrated hardware and software solutions that enable virtual meeting attendees to engage and present at a professional level from any home office.

Deskrig Founder Garren Parkins and Co-Founder David Rowland were aware that the Chattanooga Area Food Bank would be hosting their usually live HullaBOWLoo auction virtually this year and wanted to give back. We are incredibly honored to help the Chattanooga Area Food Bank run an online auction to help drive donations for our community," said Mr. Parkins and Mr. Rowland. "We are looking forward to helping them reinvent how they can raise money for local families in need during these trying times. Our organization believes in doing anything we can to support our community, and this is a great opportunity."

The Chattanooga Area Food Bank works with a network of 240 Partner Agencies providing over 14 million meals to children, families, seniors, and individuals experiencing food insecurity in Northwest Georgia and Southeast Tennessee. Their director of Events and Major Gifts, Shelley Armstrong, said that with a 40 percent increase in food insecurity, donations from this auction are vital to keeping up with the food demand.

Our partnership with DeskRig has allowed us to transform HullaBOWLoo into not only an online auction but a virtual experience for our supporters," said Ms. Armstrong. "From handling our design, video, and production needs, to creating a fun and entertaining bidding experience, DeskRig is giving us the virtual presence to have a unique and successful event."

Founded in 2020, Deskrig has provided hardware and software for several companies, schools, and organizations. Some of their clients include ETSU, The Guarantors, Dev.Global, Gordon Law, and G2.
Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces it is advising Opus 2, a portfolio company of Five Arrows Principal Investments (FAPI), on its pending acquisition by Astorg Partners (Astorg). Opus 2 is a leading provider of integrated software and services for the global legal disputes market. The transaction is being led by Thierry Monjauze, Julien Oussadon and Mathew Tsui of the Harris Williams Technology Group and John Levy of the firm's London office.

"Under Opus 2 Founder Graham Smith-Bernal's leadership and with FAPI's support and partnership, Opus 2 has solidified its position as a trusted partner to its clients in the legal community across the globe," said Thierry Monjauze, a managing director at Harris Williams. "It was a pleasure advising Opus 2 and the shareholders on this transaction, representing our third legal software transaction in the past nine months and our 10th technology transaction announced in 2021. We look forward to watching the company's next chapter as they continue to expand in the U.K. and internationally across litigation, arbitration and other legal practice areas."

"Opus 2 has been at the forefront of technological innovation across the legal sector and we continue to see phenomenal interest in the space. With a clearly differentiated software and services offering, combined with a leading market position and management team, Opus 2 has an exciting path ahead of them for their next stage of growth," added Julien Oussadon, a managing director at Harris Williams.

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in London, Opus 2 is a leading provider of integrated software and services used in legal disputes around the world. Opus 2's cloud-based collaboration software is designed for case preparation and multi-party hearings enabling all stakeholders to work on a single platform. Opus 2 provides associated technology-enabled services including court reporting and real-time transcription, as well as virtual hearing services. The business has a blue-chip, global client base, including all of the top 50 U.K. law firms and 88% of the AmLaw 50 firms in the U.S. Opus 2 is the U.K. market leader and has started expanding rapidly at an international level in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region; North America; and Asia Pacific.

FAPI is the European private equity arm of Rothschild Co's Merchant Banking business. Merchant Banking manages over 15 billion globally which includes approximately 3.8 billion dedicated to corporate private equity, as well as a series of funds dedicated to senior and junior credits, primary and secondary fund investing, and co-investments, with offices in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles and Luxembourg. FAPI is focused on investing in middle market companies with highly defensible market positions; strong management teams; business models with high visibility of organic unit volume growth and strong free cash flow conversion; and multiple operational levers that can be used to unlock latent value. Sectors are limited to data and software, technology-enabled business services and healthcare.

Astorg is a leading independent private equity firm with over 10 billion of assets under management. The company works with entrepreneurs and management teams to acquire market-leading global companies headquartered in Europe or the U.S., providing them with the strategic guidance, governance and capital they need to achieve their growth goals. Astorg enjoys a distinct entrepreneurial culture, a long-term shareholder perspective, and a lean decision-making body. Astorg has valuable industry expertise in healthcare, software, business-to-business professional services and technology-based industrial companies. Astorg has offices in London; Paris; New York; Frankfurt, Germany; Milan; and Luxembourg.

Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across industry groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC).

The Harris Williams Technology Group advises leading private and public companies, founders, and private equity, growth equity and venture capital firms on mergers and acquisitions and capital-raising transactions worldwide. The Technology Group has deep domain expertise in software and technology-enabled services and dedicated focus areas across a variety of vertical software applications and end markets. For more information on the Technology Group and its recent transactions, visit the Technology Group's section of the Harris Williams website.

Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 8th Floor, 20 Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4AB, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams Co. Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Harris Williams Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is Bockenheimer Landstrasse 33-35, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: hwgermany@harriswilliams.com). Geschaftsfuhrer/Directors: Jeffery H. Perkins, Paul Poggi. (VAT No. DE321666994). Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams Co. Ltd and Harris Williams Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005754/en/

Contacts:

For media inquiries:

Julia Moore

media@harriswilliams.com
Court docs show slain pastors widow slept with alleged killer while he was on mission trip

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Harmony Free Will Baptist Church in Ada, Oklahoma, grieved in fresh shock Friday as investigators alleged their late pastor, David Charles Evans, was a swinger and his widow confessed to plotting his murder with a man she spent three nights with while he was in Mexico on a mission trip.

The circumstances that are now coming to light have taken us by surprise and we are greatly saddened. We serve a perfect Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us. These revelations do not diminish that truth and we will continue to serve Him, a spokesperson for the church told KFOR in a statement.

We are aware that even pastors can succumb to human frailty and we ask that our privacy be respected at this time as we as a church family grieve and process all of these events.

Pastor Evans was shot dead inside his home last Monday, hours after he warned his flock in a moving sermon that the devil would seek to kill and destroy them for being witnesses to God's power in the world.

Three days after the pastor was killed, his wife, Kristie Evans, 47, who previously told police that an intruder had shot her husband, confessed to investigators with the Ada Police Department that the intruder, Kahlil Deamie Square, 26, was known to her.

Square, she told police, had spent the night with her on March 17, 18 and 19 while her husband was on his mission trip to Mexico.

Kristie Evans told investigators that she and her husband led a secret life as swingers and met Square for sex at a Super 8 "on more than one occasion" months ago.

"On one of those occasions, Kristie secretly dropped her phone number on the floor for Kahlil," an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent reported in arresting documents obtained by The Oklahoman. "Kristie continued to communicate by phone daily with Kahlil without David's knowledge."

She then asked him to kill her husband and provided him with a gun and bullets. She reportedly left open the backdoor of the home she shared with her late husband on the night of his murder.

At one point, Square crouched down in the couples dining room because he was worried about making too much noise. But Kristie Evans urged her lover to "proceed with the plan" to kill her husband.

She said she called the police after her husband was shot, and Square ran through her back door.

The pastors widow, who interviewed with investigators several times, also claimed her husband called her names like "slut, fat, ugly and whore." She shared these concerns with Square, and he replied, "Damn." She further told her young lover, "it would be nice to have more freedom."

In his sermon on Sunday, March 21, during which he revealed he had only recently returned from his mission trip to Mexico the week prior, Evans preached about the popularity of Christianity from John 12:1-11.

He examined the final days of Jesus ministry on Earth, including why the chief priest in the Scripture wanted to kill Lazarus after Jesus had raised him from the dead.

This guy cannot catch a break. What an interesting life hes lived here. Youre alive; youre dead. Youre brought to life; youre alive again, now the chief priest wants to kill you. Thats a full life, he told congregants.

I mean, ironically. But why? Why kill Lazarus? he posited before pointing to verse 11, which says, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

He then told congregants that if their life is bearing witness to the power of Jesus, they should get used to being attacked by the devil.

Sometimes, I just stop and think. If the devil is not attacking you with everything hes got in trying to destroy and kill you, maybe [its] because youre not the reason anybody is believing in Jesus. And as a pastor and just as a Christian, what a waste, he said.
CONTRACT OPPORTUNITY

Raytheon-MetTel team to pursue $3.5B FAA telecom program

Raytheon Technologies and Manhattan Telecommunications Corp. have unveiled their partnership to bid for a large telecommunications and information management services contract with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Also known as FENS, the FAA Enterprise Network Services program is anticipated to have a $3.5 billion ceiling value over up to 15 years with an award due sometime within the next 12 months. Proposals were due to the FAA on Feb. 5.

In a release Monday, the companies said Raytheons Intelligence & Space and Collins Aerospace businesses are bidding as the prime with MetTel lined up as the managed network services provider.

Our solution delivers a secure network while avoiding telco vendor and technology lock-in to ensure that the FAA can adopt new technologies and tools in the future by leveraging commercial industry investments, said Denis Donohue, vice president of communications and airspace management systems for Raytheon Intelligence & Space.

We look forward to the opportunity to partner with Raytheon to help the FAA accomplish its critical mission," said Robert Dapkiewicz, senior vice president and general manager of MetTel's federal business.

Raytheon and MetTel are one of those companies or teams seeking to unseat the long-time incumbent in L3Harris Technologies, which has held the contract since 2002.

FENS is a big undertaking by the FAA to roll out a new network infrastructure that can support new technologies and entrants into U.S. civilian airspace.

The FAA plans to connect around 4,400 FAA and Defense Department facilities with voice, data and video communications for operating the National Airspace System.
Capt Rtd Nkrabeah Effah Dartey, a Private Legal Practitioner and a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described as embarrassing the attitude of some people already lacing their boots to step in the shoes of President Akufo-Addo as the next Presidential Candidate of the party while the NPP government is barely 3 months old into its second term in office.



According to him, the party leadership should rather concentrate on building structures in the party by ensuring that they open the Electoral College to include all card bearing members of the party in electing Parliamentary Candidates as the current model of choosing candidates affected the fortunes of the party woefully in the 2020 general election.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Capt Rtd Nkrabeah Effah Dartey insisted the need to build stronger structures in the party is a must because of the outcome of the 2020 general election.



He added that the 2020 general election has proven that former President John Mahama is still a strong force in the largest opposition NDC for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to contend with as he got massive votes than anticipated regardless of the negative things said about him prior to the elections.



He again mentioned that the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has demonstrated to be a national party; thus, the strength of the NDC brings shivers down his spine going forward in the 2024 general election.



He, however, warned the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to change the notion of winning the Parliamentary Election by sinking so much money to buy delegates to win primaries.



He reminded his party that Ghanaians are more discerning now to the point where they cannot be taken for granted.



The electorates were not happy with some of the parliamentary candidates that we selected for the parliamentary election. For instance, I dont understand why Hajia Alima Mahama, Local Government Minister who has created a region for her constituency will lose her seat, and I also dont know why Yaw Buaben Asamoa, our Director of Communication should lose his seat in the Adentan Constituency? he stated.



All that I am saying is that NPP should liberalise our primaries, we should make it open and anybody who is NPP card bearing member should be allowed to vote in the primaries. If we do that, there is no way one can bring 10 billion Cedis to bribe the delegates . . ." he advised.





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Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









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Veteran Labor frontbencher Penny Wong has used a speech to open the partys national conference to attack the Morrison government over womens equality, as more than 400-party members gathered online on Tuesday.

Senator Wong, the longest-serving member of Labors parliamentary leadership team, followed Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese to declare the ALP the party of equality, in which women speak and are heard.

Penny Wong (left), at the ALP national conference on Tuesday, said an Albanese Labor government would build a fairer society, a stronger nation and a better world. Credit:Janie Barrett

The opposition continues to sharpen its attacks on the Coalition following weeks of anger about the treatment of women since former Liberal adviser Brittany Higgins publicly alleged in February she was raped in Parliament House in March 2019.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a reshuffle on Monday in a bid to shake the controversy and created a new cabinet taskforce to oversee the status of women in Australia.
Former Chief Minister has tested positive for Covid-19, his son and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed on Twitter on Tuesday.

Omar said he and his family members will be self-isolating and getting themselves tested for Covid.

"My father has tested positive for COVID-19 & is showing some symptoms. I will be self-isolating along with other family members until we get ourselves tested. I request anyone who has come in to contact with us over the last few days to take all the mandated precautions," Omar tweeted.

Earlier this month, had taken the first Covid jab at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar.

--IANS

zi/dpb
The San Antonio councilwoman who leads a committee on public safety said the citys secrecy about a taxpayer-funded review of potential bias on the part of airport police gnaws at her  and she wants the city to brief the committee in public on the findings.

My concern is the perception of a government that isnt open to the people, the people that I represent, Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda said. Its detrimental to all of us  its detrimental to me, to the people that I represent, and its detrimental to the city.

The review was triggered by the arrest of Fire Chief Charles Hoods teenage son at the airport last June on suspicion of carrying a fake ID and giving false information to police.

Hood, who is Black, complained that the arrest was unnecessary and possibly the result of racial basis. An outside lawyer was hired to examine the circumstances of the arrest.

The lawyer was not required to file a written report of her findings. Her contract and related records were kept secret  including from Havrda and the public safety committee she leads.

The arrest, which occurred at the height of last years racial justice protests, opened a rift between Hood and Police Chief William McManus, who believed it was done by the book. He opposed any review of the incident, sources said.

Nonetheless, at the behest of a parent (who) raised a concern about potential racial bias, the city hired Danielle Hargrove, a mediation specialist who charged $325 an hour, to probe an incident at the airport, city spokesman Jeff Coyle said.

Hood and McManus have barely spoken since, sources said.

Robin Jerstad/Photo Correspondent/San Antonio Express News

For six months, the city refused to release a copy of the arrest report after the San Antonio Express-News requested it under the state open records law. The city never cited a specific reason, as required under the law, for keeping the record hidden from the public.

While the Express-News continued to press for the document, the arrest of Hoods son was expunged. Expungement is a legal process that erases any record of it.

The city now says it has no documents about the arrest. The newspaper independently obtained a copy of the arrest report.

The findings of the outside review remain unclear. The city attorneys office spent $5,525 on Hargroves services but did not ask her to provide a written report. Instead, she reported the results verbally.

Hargrove did not return calls for comment. In a statement, City Attorney Andy Segovia said Hargrove determined there was no discriminatory racial bias but that the situation could have been handled differently.

Last week, Havrda asked the city for the reviews conclusions  to no avail.

I did, and I havent had a response from the city, she said. I have not gotten an adequate response.

Councilwomen Jada Andrews-Sullivan and Shirley Gonzales declined to comment, as did Councilmen Roberto Trevino and John Courage. Councilman Clayton Perry and Councilwomen Rebecca Viagran, Ana Sandoval and Adriana Rocha Garcia did not return calls.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg also declined to comment.
Kabuga, now detained in The Hague after his arrest nearly a year ago in France, imported shipments of machetes in the months leading up to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. This fact is verifiable and is not disputed by the accused. But what were these machetes used for? To cut grass in the fields or to kill Tutsis? Did the rich businessman import them as part of a plan to destroy the Tutsi ethnic group? In any case, this is the thesis that has long prevailed since Kabugas indictment by the former International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in 1997, and which will probably remain entrenched in public belief.

It has, however, been gradually qualified over the years by successive prosecutors in this case. And now the accusation has been abandoned in the indictment newly amended by Belgian magistrate Serge Brammertz, prosecutor of the UN Mechanism that carries out the residual functions of the ICTR.

Machetes distributed in Gisenyi

In an indictment dated August 22, 1998, Cameroonian Bernard Muna, then deputy prosecutor of the ICTR, stated: As from 1992, Felicien Kabuga, through his company, ETS Kabuga, made massive purchases of machetes, hoes and other agricultural implements knowing that they would be used as weapons during the massacres. The businessman was indicted together with seven other personalities from the National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND), the party of former president Juvenal Habyarimana. Four of them were tried and convicted by the ICTR. Former MRND secretary general Joseph Nzirorera died during the trial, former defence minister Augustin Bizimana died on the run, and former education minister Andre Rwamakuba was acquitted.

On October 1, 2004, Gambian ICTR prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow made a slight change in the charges against the businessman, who became the subject of a separate indictment. Felicien Kabuga ordered the employees of his company Kabuga ETS to import a record number of machetes into Rwanda in 1993. In April 1994 he ordered and instigated members of the Interahamwe, over whom he had effective control, to transport machetes and other weapons to Gisenyi and to distribute the machetes and other weapons to the Interahamwe in Gisenyi. The Interahamwe used machetes in Gisenyi between 7 April and 17 July 1994 to exterminate the ethnic Tutsi population, and by ordering and instigating the importation and distribution of machetes to the Interahamwe, Kabuga aided and abetted the killing carried out by these Interahamwe.

In his April 2011 amended text, Jallow no longer drew such a clear conclusion about Kabugas original intent. He simply wrote: In April 1994, Felicien Kabuga instructed and prompted members of the Interahamwe which he controlled to transport machetes and other weapons to Gisenyi and to distribute them to the Interahamwe in Gisenyi on 3 and 7 April 1994. The said Interahamwe used these weapons and machetes in Gisenyi between 7 April and 17 July 1994 to exterminate and kill persons identified as Tutsis in Commune Rouge and other locations in Gisenyi Prefecture.

Accusation dropped definitively

After more than 20 years on the run, Kabuga, whom the Rwandan public said was protected by the spirits of his ancestors, was arrested on May 16, 2020, in Paris. Immediately, the prosecutor of the Mechanism set out to update the case. All the evidence that was used to have the arrest warrant confirmed and the indictment confirmed is very old. So we have to go back to the witnesses of the time, to see who is still available, Brammertz explained to Justice Info in September 2020. He said he had strengthened his team in Rwanda by transferring five of his staff and hiring five other new prosecutors and investigators. Among them is Frenchwoman Aurelia Devos, a former magistrate at the Paris war crimes unit, where she acquired knowledge of the Rwandan case.

This work resulted in a new amended indictment, filed by Brammertz on January 15 and confirmed by the judges on February 24. The charge of importing machetes for genocidal purposes was definitively dropped, and only the transport and distribution of machetes in certain areas of the capital Kigali and in the prefectures of Gisenyi and Kibuye were maintained.

Similar machete orders by another company

Why was this point in the original indictment dropped when it had previously been considered a matter of public record? Brammertzs office did not wish to answer our questions. But American Stephen Rapp, former head of prosecutions at the ICTR, gave an explanation to Justice Info: We had evidence of the massive order of machetes by Kabugas company from China Machinery and of their delivery to Rwanda through Mombasa in 1993. The challenge always was in showing that these machetes were distributed to the killers and used in the genocide. There were similarly massive purchases by an unrelated company at the same time, and there was a large need for these tools in the agriculture of Rwanda and Zaire.

This is also what French sociologist Andre Guichaoua, an expert witness for the prosecutor in numerous cases at the ICTR, said in an article published on October 1, 2020. Very quickly, the ICTRs research came up against the absence of tangible evidence, he wrote. The archives from the ministries, including military expenditures, did not make it possible to establish the links (of Kabugas imports) with the genocide. The machete thesis was very uncertain. It was almost impossible to establish the direct and personal responsibility of the accused and to prove that the machetes were imported with the intention to kill.

Kigali refuses to comment

Unanimity is the law in Kigali. When questioned by Justice Infos correspondent in Kigali, Raissa Mucyo, advisor to the Rwandan Minister of Justice, refused to comment on an ongoing case. The prosecutors office and the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide also said they were awaiting the outcome of the trial. Jean-Damascene Karinda, legal advisor for Ibuka (the main genocide survivors organization), agreed, saying the prosecutor has the responsibility to bring to court the facts for which he hopes to find evidence at the time of the trial. So we have no problem with this indictment, given that Kabuga remains accused of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Indeed, Kabuga still faces serious charges of conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, persecution for political reasons, extermination and murder. As in the previous indictments, the prosecutor asserts that Kabuga is responsible for the content of incendiary broadcasts on Radio-Television des mille collines (RTLM), that he provided moral, logistical, material and financial support to the Interahamwe militia in the capital Kigali and in the prefectures of Gisenyi and Kibuye. He is accused of having put vehicles at the disposal of the Interahamwe to facilitate their movements during their murderous operations, of having distributed machetes and other weapons to them, of having given them money and food, of having congratulated the most zealous in the massacres and reprimanded the less active.

A quick and efficient strategy?

The new indictment, while narrow in scope, does not dwell on presenting the accused like previous indictments, but is full of details of Kabugas alleged crimes, suggesting that a large number of witnesses will be called to the stand. Abandoning earlier assertions that Kabuga exercised power, authority, and influence over all the military, the Interahamwe, other militias, armed civilians, and administrative authorities, prosecutor Brammertz is more specific than his predecessors about the responsibility of the accused in RTLM and his multi-faceted support for the Interahamwe youth, Guichaoua points out. Given the profile and age of the accused, this strategy is intended to be quick and efficient, he says. It establishes the charges on the basis of crimes documented by direct witnesses, crimes whose gravity and scope justify an exemplary sentence. Twenty-five years after the events and given the multiplicity of the crimes identified, no defence lawyer will be able to find contrary evidence for the alleged facts on the ground amongst a population closely supervised by the authorities.

Speed has so far been relative. The opening of the trial is not expected before the last quarter of 2021, while in the meantime the health of the accused is deteriorating, according to his lawyer.
(Newser)  The family of slain Boulder police officer Eric Talley won't need to worry about their mortgage. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit supporting families of fallen first responders and other service members, will pay it off, CNN reports. Talley, 51, left behind a wife and seven children. He was the first officer to arrive at the King Soopers grocery store after the shooting was reported, and was the last of the 10 victims to be killed. Tunnels to Towers, founded in honor of a fallen 9/11 firefighter, also builds mortgage-free smart homes for veterans and first responders who've been catastrophically hurt, and provides surviving military spouses who have young kids with mortgage-free homes.

story continues below

A memorial service will be held Tuesday morning after a procession, the Denver Post reports. A private funeral mass was held Monday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver; Colorado Public Radio has photos. Meanwhile, various organizations are raising money for families of the victims; the Loveland Reporter-Herald has a list of places people can donate. And Fox Denver reports the Museum of Boulder will eventually collect and preserve memorial items that have been left outside the supermarket. (Read more Boulder shooting stories.)

Kisumu  The body of Mama Sarah Obama, the step grandmother of the former US President Barack Obama was laid to rest Tuesday afternoonnoon at her Kogelo residence in Siaya County, a day after she passed on.

Her burial, although delayed, was conducted in line with Islamic traditions.

The body was interred next to the grave of her husband, Obama's grandfather, in a ceremony presided over by Kisumu Muslim Community Chairperson Sheikh Musa Ismail.

Musa recounted a trip he took with Mama Sarah to Mecca in Saudi Arabia sometimes in 2010.

He said Mama Sarah was at peace with herself after stepping into Mecca saying she was ready to die after fulfilling her desires.

"She told me that right now even if I die, my heart is at peace because I longed to come here," he recollected.

Musa said Mama Sarah lived a wonderful life on earth and her death should be celebrated because she has gone to be with her Maker.

The burial ceremony that was restricted to a large crowd due to COVID-19 regulations was attended by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Rachael Omamo, who represented President Uhuru Kenyatta, Siaya County Governor Cornel Rasanga and his Kisumu counterpart Anyang Nyong'o.

In a speech read by Rachael, President Kenyatta said Mama Sarah impacted positively on the lives of the vulnerable in the society and her contribution to better humanity will remain engraved in people's hearts.

"We celebrate her life as a woman of substance who was outstanding. She made her work the most welcoming place to everyone who visited," President Kenyatta said.

Other leaders eulogized Mama Sarah as a cheerful giver, a mother of all who was out to bring smiles in the faces of widows, after becoming a widow herself in 1975 when her husband Hussein Onyango Obama died.

Siaya County Commissioner Michael Oleitalal said the late Mama Sarah had left a rich legacy behind which should be emulated.

Oleitalal said widows and orphans who passed through the hands of Mama Sarah have a story to tell the world.

"A lot has been told about the late, she was a developmental oriented lady who helped widows and orphans in this region," he said.

Malik Obama, the half brother to President Obama had to be escorted out of the podium after being overcome by grief while paying tribute to Mama Sarah.
A decision on whether to allow WinCo Foods to build a supermarket at the site of the vacant Kmart will not be rendered for at least six weeks,
(Natural News) Having been at the border today, I can tell you anyone denying that there is a crisis is delusional, said Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, reacting to the revelation that the Associated Press wont let their reporters and contributors say the word crisis about the border.

(Article by Fred T republished from TheRightScoop.com)

Literally the only reason is because Jen Psaki and Joe Biden dont like it. The administration said they wont call it a crisis, they refuse to budge, and the Associated Press just rolls over and complies.

Associated Press Vice President and Editor-at-Large for Standards John Daniszewski advised reporters this week to avoid using the word crisis in their immigration coverage, write Becket Adams at the Washington Examiner, putting the global news wire on the same page as the Biden administration, which likewise asserts theres no crisis at the border.

The current event in the news  a sharp increase in the arrival of unaccompanied minors  is a problem for border officials, a political challenge for Biden and a dire situation for many migrants who make the journey, but it does not fit the classic dictionary definition of a crisis, the memo ridiculously claims.

Fox News posted the internal memo, shared in a tweet, which came in a memo titled From the Standards Center: A note about the current increase in border entrances.

The memo sets it up with a LOT of padding, because they know its a scam.

With immigration and border back in the news, it is especially imperative for the AP to consistently use accurate and neutral language in its coverage along with giving proper context to border numbers given the political rhetoric on the topic. there has been a rise in unaccompanied minors cross the southwestern U.S. border in the last two months since the start of the Biden administration. This follows a monthly increase in border crossings each month since April, or the last eight months of the Trump presidency. The current level of crossings in 2021 is roughly equal to the last upturn that occurred in mid-2019. Migration has waxed and waned in recent years. The variability is tied to changes in economic and political conditions in the countries of origin and in the United States, as people decide whether the opportunities and risk justify making the attempt to try to cross into the United States. Some believe that the current increase is a product of regular season fluctuation.

Who are you trying to convince? Then they get to the meat.

Here are some tips to language to use and not use:

Crisis The current event in the news  a sharp increase in the arrival of unaccompanied minors  is a problem for border officials, a political challenge for Biden and a dire situation for many migrants who make the journey, but it does not fit the classic dictionary definition of a crisis, which is: A turning point in the course of anything; decisive or crucial times, state, or event, OR a time of, or a state of affairs involving, great danger or trouble, often one which threatens to result in unpleasant consequences [an economic crisis]  SYN. Emergency. Therefore, we should avoid, or at the least, be highly cautious, about referring to the present situation as a crisis on our own, although we may quote others using that language. If using the word crisis, we need to ask of what and to whom. There could be a humanitarian crisis if the numbers grow so large that officials cannot house the migrants safely or in sanitary conditions. Migrants may face humanitarian crises in their home countries. In theory, there could be a security or a border crisis if officials lose control of the border, allowing people to enter unencumbered in large numbers. But, in general, avoid hyperbole in calling anything a crisis or an emergency. The current events in the news  a sharp increase in the arrival of unaccompanied minors  is a problem for border officials, a political challenge for Biden and a dire situation for many migrants who make the journey, but it does not fit the classic dictionary definition of a crisis, the memo reads. Therefore, it adds, we should avoid, or at least, be highly cautious, about referring to the present situation as a crisis on our own, although we may quote others using that language. If using the word crisis, we need to ask of what and to whom.

Becket Adams points out at least one missing piece of context:

It is strange that the Associated Press has not yet deployed the term humanitarian crisis to describe the current situation at the border. Its strange given the Associated Press used this term specifically during the Trump administration, even when undocumented immigrants came in smaller surges.

Go figure.

Read more at: TheRightScoop.com and GovtSlaves.com.
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REDDING  As the pandemic shook Redding classrooms this fall, some Joel Barlow High School students questioned whether they would see a graduation stage or have a commemorative prom to celebrate a bittersweet goodbye to their high school years.

But school community members are adamant about ensuring this class of graduates gets those special moments, even if they come with a pandemic twist or two.

Gina-Marie Pin, assistant superintendent and head of Joel Barlow High, has been working with other school administrators, students and the schools Parent Teacher Student Association to spearhead planning for several events, including a senior show, prom and graduation.

Superintendent Rydell Harrison said he thinks students are grateful to have some of these big end-of-the-year memorable moments.

Its going to be good for them to sort of put an exclamation point on their high school careers, especially with our seniors and given its been such a different senior year for them, he said. Im excited theyll have some sense of normalcy with these end-of-the-year activities.

Although none of the details are set in stone yet, Pin and Assistant Principal Julie McTague spoke about the potential for each during a Region 9 Board of Education meeting earlier this month.

McTague said they have decided to merge the senior prom and banquet, which were previously two separate events. Activities like the silent auction that used to be held at the banquet will occur at prom.

They initially did not think it would be possible to have an event at a venue, said McTague adding the group has started looking at local places that will host 200 students outdoors since state restrictions were eased.

Suzanne Nolan, president of the Parent Teacher Student Association, said the students have been driving the planning and trying to work within the state parameters. Still, tasks that were once easy, such as decorating and arranging music, are more complicated now, and theyre trying to fill in the blanks, she said.

I feel so bad for these kids. I wish they could have a normal prom and graduation and finish up this two-year insanity, said Nolan, adding she is glad that theyll get something.

The proms location has not been set, but McTague said they are working with a May 21 date pending further details.

Joel Barlow held a drive-through graduation for students last year, but Pin said theyre moving away from that for the 2021 senior class.

We are looking at moving that ceremony to the stadium, having more of a traditional graduation ceremony instead of recorded speeches and a recorded reading of names and have that all live, she said.

In past years, students accepted their diplomas at the Western Connecticut State Universitys ONeill Center, a cost-efficient venue that wont be available this spring because the center is refraining from hosting such ceremonies. The school is calculating how much it would cost to host graduation at the Barlow campus.

The school would need to rent a stage and chairs for the fields and invest in a turf saver, which is essentially a big carpet that goes over the turf to protect it from any potential damage.

Were trying to do this in the most cost-effective way, Pin said.

Graduation is tentatively scheduled for June 16, the last day of school. Pin said holding the ceremony on the students last day would be cost-friendly since employees would already be working and not have to come in an extra day for overtime.

If COVID stipulations end up limiting attendance or the weather changes, the school is considering having a morning and afternoon graduation.

Well have to keep it fluid because we dont know right now how many people we can have in attendance, she said.
press release

Government has already discussed with the COVAX Facility and an agreement has been reached so that 20% of the population can be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, announced the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal, this evening, during the daily press briefing of the National Communication Committee on COVID-19, in Port Louis.

The Health and Wellness Minister highlighted that the COVID-19 situation so far is as follows: 251 positive cases detected through the contact tracing exercise and in testing centres; 38 detected in quarantine centres; and 13 through random testing. He added that 51 patients who are considered to have recovered from the coronavirus have been discharged and that 251 COVID-19 positive patients are being treated in treatment centres.

In addition, Dr Jagutpal underscored that in the last 24 hours, 5 766 PCR tests were effected and revealed 21 cases yesterday, and 20 cases this morning: seven through the contact tracing exercise; three in quarantine centres; and 10 dialysis patients.

He pointed out that results have been obtained for 736 PCR tests, showing 13 cases positive: seven through contact tracing; five are still being determined; and one patient who was in a private clinic. As at date, random testing carried out in the south has not revealed any positive case.

Minister Jagutpal also recalled that 24 000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine have reached Mauritius this morning, from the COVAX Facility. These will be used in the national vaccination programme and will ensure that all those have been inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine receive get their second due dose.
HAMDEN  A town man was arrested Friday and charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a young female in 2013, according to police.

Officers had first responded to to the case in March 2013 for a report of an alleged sexual assault involving strangulation, Capt. Ronald Smith said in an email.

Local residents had alerted police that a young female was banging on their doors, screaming for help. Officers ascertained that Arpi strangled the victim during the assault and that he had threatened to kill her, Smith said. She attempted to contact police during the violent assault, however, Arpi grabbed her cell phone. She eventually escaped from the vehicle, in search of help.

Police arrested Arpi at the time, charging him with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree unlawful restraint, third-degree strangulation, risk of injury to a minor, and interfering with an emergency call, Smith said.

Arpi posted bond and did not appear at his scheduled court appearance, Smith said. Officers determined he had taken a flight to Ecuador, Smith said.

On Friday, after the department learned Arpi had returned to the country, Detectives Mark Sheppard and Andrew Lipford saw him walking on State Street and arrested him, Smith said.

Arpi also is charged with first-degree failure to appear and was detained in lieu of $350,000 court-ordered bail, Smith said.

Arpi is also charged on four outstanding warrants for failure to appear issued by the East Haven, Madison and the Yale police departments, a warrant for second-degree failure to appear from Guilford police, and a failure to respond warrant from state police, Smith said.

Apri is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Meriden on June 18, Smith said.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com




By Jun Ji-hye







Tickets for domestic flights departing on Tuesdays are the cheapest compared to others, while tickets for flights departing on Fridays, when the weekend begins, are the most expensive, according to global travel search engine Kayak.







The findings were the results of the company's analysis on its flight search data from Nov. 1 last year to Jan. 31.







Kayak carried out the analysis as demand for domestic travel has increased due to COVID-19 pandemic-induced travel restrictions around the world.







According to the data, searches for domestic flights last year increased by 11 percent compared to 2019. Korea reported its first case of COVID-19 in January last year.







The company said the most-searched domestic route by users during the three-month period was the Seoul-Jeju route, noting that it was one of the world's busiest air routes with an average of 48,000 passengers using it per day.







Kayak said Jeju's popularity as a domestic travel destination is expected to continue this year as the resort island has become an alternative to overseas trips.







"Kayak recommends leaving on Tuesday if you are planning a trip to Jeju Island," a Kayak official said. "In particular, when analyzing the Seoul-Jeju route by number of nights, a two-night schedule is usually the cheapest. When you are trying to plan a trip to Jeju for a reasonable price, you'd better remember the schedule of Tuesday departure and Thursday arrival."







While the Seoul-Jeju route took the top spot among the most-searched domestic routes, the Busan-Jeju route ranked second, followed by the Daegu-Jeju and Busan-Seoul routes.


Some 500 boys from Central America, part of a wave of unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the U.S., arrived early Tuesday at the Freeman Coliseum, where they were given hot meals, new jeans and sports shoes and set loose to play soccer on the arena grounds.

A group of elected officials who toured the facility Tuesday afternoon said conditions were spare but sanitary and humane.

This may not be the Marriott resort, but its clean, its air-conditioned, its climate-controlled, said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who negotiated with federal officials for several days to set conditions for the use of the county-owned arena. We are doing everything we can to make sure we take care of these kids in a safe environment.

The 497 migrant children, ages 13 to 17, were transferred from detention facilities along the border operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Those temporary holding centers have been overwhelmed by a spike in unaccompanied children fleeing violence and poverty in Central America.

Buses carrying the children arrived at Freeman at 1:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Derrick Howard, executive director of Bexar County Community Arenas.

About 500 more children are expected Thursday, Howard said.

Bexar County reached agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to house up to 2,400 children at Freeman until May 30. Hundreds of additional children are expected to be housed temporarily in a vacant dormitory at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

At Freeman, the federally run migrant shelter will occupy about 250,000 square feet of space in Expo Hall and several nearby rooms. The children will have three hot meals and two snacks per day, along with access to portable showers and toilets, indoor and outdoor recreation areas, television and wifi.

Wolff said that three outdoor soccer fields have been set up for the boys.

The children will stay at the coliseum until they have been placed with family members or other sponsors while their applications for asylum are being considered. Some also could also be transferred to state-licensed local youth-care facilities to await decisions in their asylum cases.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, who toured the arena with Wolff, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Precinct 1 County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores, said the elected officials wanted to make sure the children were being treated humanely and with dignity.

On ExpressNews.com: Migrant children expected to begin arriving at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio

We found that although theyre in very spartan conditions, as you would expect in an emergency shelter, that they are being treated in that manner, said Castro, a San Antonio Democrat. Nobody would say this is an ideal situation for kids. But its a better situation than what you see at the border.

Pictures taken inside crowded CBP facilities at the border have shown children sleeping on bedrolls with foil blankets, in living areas partitioned with sheets of clear plastic. Castro called the conditions cramped, unsanitary.

Wolff said he had been moved by his interactions with the newly arrived children, who he said greeted the elected officials with applause.

Remember, they came up over 1,000 miles from the southern border of Mexico to make their way to the United States, Wolff said. These are good, good kids.

Clay-Flores said the children were given name tags, cloth linens and pillows for their cots, as well as new jeans and gym shoes.

They seemed relieved, she said.

About 40 employees of the citys Head Start program are working at the coliseum until contractors hired by the federal government arrive.

About 2,100 cots have been set up there. An additional 300 have been set aside in a separate facility for children who test positive for the coronavirus, officials said.

Some children who tested positive have already been placed there, Castro said.

Children will be tested for the virus every three days, officials said.

On ExpressNews.com: About 2,400 migrant children coming to Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio

The goal is for children to spend no more than five to nine days at the temporary shelter, unless they have tested positive for the coronavirus and need to be quarantined.

Bexar County staff will monitor conditions at the coliseum.

Federal officials have not given any indication that they want to extend the agreement beyond 60 days, Howard said.

We hope and we expect that this will be a quick and efficient stop on their way to their family sponsors while they seek asylum in the United States, Castro said. These are just folks who want to seek their day in court and seek asylum.
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Developing a high-speed highway is a matter of special public concern. Under the 2021-2030 draft railway development plan, Vietnams railway would undertake the transport of 16.5 million tons of cargo and 30.9 million passengers by 2030.

It would undertake 15 percent of total cargo and 19 percent of passengers by 2050.

To implement the plan, Vietnam would need VND665 trillion, of which VND561 trillion would be spent on a high-speed railway.

Consultants are estimating the development of a 350 km/h high-speed railway from Hanoi to Vinh and from HCM City to Nha Trang with the length of 651 kilometers. The railway would be put into operation by 2030 if transport demand is high, or by 2032 if demand is low.

Another high-speed railway section, from Vinh to Nha Trang, would be built by 2050. Other routes, including Lao Cai  Hanoi  Hai Phong, Di An  Loc Ninh and Thap Cham  Da Lat, would be considered.

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The has asked the consultancy firm to assess whether a north-south high-speed railway is needed and analyze forecasts about demand. They will also compare other transport means based on the same corridor and transport distance so as to determine investment plans for different periods.

Vu Anh Minh, chair of Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), said with Vietnams geographical, natural and geopolitical conditions, developing high-speed railways is a necessity.

He believes that investment should be implemented as soon as possible, as a high-speed railway would serve as leverage to change the transport market share and population distribution, and act as an impetus for socio-economic development.

According to VNR, 200 km distance is a suitable distance for roads, 200-300 km for roads and railways, 300-1,500 km for railways, 1,500-2,000 km for railways and airways, and over 2,00 km for airways.

As such, with the terrain stretching from north to the south, a high-speed highway is reasonable.

Passengers spend five hours to fly from Hanoi to HCM City. With a high-speed railway, passengers will spend six hours. For short distance routes such as Hanoi-Vinh, people would prefer a high-speed railway which will bring them to the destination in one hour.

Phan Le Binh from Japan's JICA commented that the investment in a high-speed railway requires huge capital and that it would be better to make investments in stages. The Hanoi-Vinh and HCM City-Nha Trang sections should be developed first.

Regarding capital arrangement for the projects, Dang Quyet Tien from the Ministry of Finance said the capital could be sourced from ODA, government bonds and private investment.

Vu Diep

Vietnam speeds up high-speed railway projects The two high-speed trains are expected to be put into operation by 2030.
Appointed to the board in 2019, Schladt said in an email she is running for her first full term after eight years on the Planning and Economic Development Committee. She wants to use all available stimulus money from the federal government to help residents and businesses recover from the pandemic. She will also push economic development.
Tires burn on a street as protests against the military coup continue, in Mandalay, Burma, on March 27, 2021. (Stringer/Reuters)

Burmese Sink Into Despair as Military Crackdown Continues

A Burmese (also known as Myanmar) military source recently told The Epoch Times in an exclusive interview that despair is spreading amongst Burmese people as the expected international support has not arrived and they are faced with an ongoing ruthless military crackdown.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that for more than a month, the Burmese people waited and waited, but international help didnt arrive. Can [the] people of Burma only count on ourselves? he asked.

Up to now, weve tried everything we can think of, but no one cares whether we in Burma live or die. Weve exhausted all our means just to stay alive, he said emotionally.

He revealed that even children have not been spared during the military crackdown on protesters.

A child from Sagaing Region was abused by soldiers on the street. Seven-year-old Shwe Mi was crying when three Burmese soldiers violently burned his forehead and ears with cigarettes. He was kicked around like a ball, and then abandoned on the side of the road, where volunteers found him dying and took him to the hospital for resuscitation, he said.

Burma Army Has A Hereditary System

According to the source, the Burmese Army has a hereditary system in which the son inherits the fathers position. Troops are organized into battalions based on clansmen. Soldiers from the same hometown are assigned to the same battalion.

The army system is mainly hereditary, joining the army is a profession, he said.

He revealed that since the protests started, Burmese soldiers in Yangon have stolen more than 20,000 motorcycles from protesters, and sold them in the second-hand market.

Just recently, during the crackdown in Mandalay, five soldiers broke into a cell phone store, smashed the counter, and stole 119 cell phones. They even posted selfies. This sparked outrage across Burma. [The] soldiers image as heroes who fought bravely on the front line to protect the country is now replaced by bandits and thieves, he said.

Military Commission Ordered All Industries to Resume Work

The source said, on March 25, an additional suspected CCP virus case was imported from outside the Kokang Autonomous Region, an area that borders southern China. Checkpoints for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus were rendered useless as the military, which was supposed to manage them was deployed to suppress demonstrations.

At the same time, the Military Commission issued an order that all industries must resume work and production, and that those who disobey the order will be fined between 2 million kyats and 100 million kyats ($1,417 to $70,889) per day.

Those who do not pay the fine within 10 days will be severely punished according to the law on defiance of the government and economic management, with a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

Aung San Suu Kyis Court Session Postponed, Detention Could Be Extended

Under Burmese law, suspects must be released if not charged within two months of being taken into custody. Although Aung San Suu Kyis detention period expires soon, the Military Commission has already stated that because Aung San Suu Kyis case is huge and complex, it is not subject to the maximum detention period.

According to an aide to Aung San Suu Kyis lawyer, her court appearance date has been postponed until April 1.

Heavy Casualties, Parliament Representative Committees Outlawed

Since the militarys coup, there has been a ruthless crackdown on public protests and more than 400 people have died.

According to the source, to date, more than 4,000 people have been injured, and more than 5,000 people have been arrested.

The source said Burmas military-controlled Burma National Television declared that the current representative committees of both houses of the Burmese parliament are outlawed. In addition, members of parliament who support the National League for Democracy are wanted for treason.
Ellington Capital, a specialised real estate asset and fund management firm, has appointed Simon Townsend as its new chief executive officer.

A global property investment expert, Townsend will be responsible for driving the growth of Ellington Capital with a focus on identifying property development and investment opportunities in key markets in the region and internationally, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar, and delivering consistent and strong returns to investors from across the world.

Townsend began his career in the UK where he was responsible for private client and family office real estate investment portfolios with a specific focus on valuation, asset management and portfolio optimisation.

He was also involved in CBREs Middle East business from the outset focusing on the advisory, consulting, valuation and investment service lines.

Townsend has also worked at investment and Islamic investment banks in the Middle East region leading the real estate advisory and transaction teams completing more than $800 million of real estate transactions internationally including Europe, the United States, Asia, the Middle East and Russia.

He has a BSc (Hons) in Urban Land Economics from Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, and is also a Fellow of the RICS. Townsend has post graduate diplomas from Cornell University in Real Estate Investment as well as Hospitality Investment and Asset Management.

His appointment comes at a time when the company is gearing up for the launch of Ellington Opportunities Fund I, the first real estate fund in the Middle East to offer investors access to developer project returns, with capital raising about to commence.

It limits risks by building on its successful track record of best-in-class corporate governance and execution, both in the region and globally, it stated.

With its game-changing approach to build to rent independently, Ellington Capital offers the opportunity for investors with large and smaller sized portfolios a diversified solution to maximise returns whilst mitigating risk, said the company in a statement.

Led by a team of investment professionals with over 45 years of investment experience in private equity and real estate and over 100 years' in real estate development, Ellington Capital will also address the aspirations of millennials, who opt for rental living rather than home ownership.

Executive Chairman Robert Booth said: "The launch of Ellington Capital follows a thorough evaluation of the market potential for property investments in the region where we identified an industry white space to offer tangible value propositions for investors."

"Through diligent fund management and strong property development and management expertise, Ellington Capital will deliver focused returns for investors. With his deep industry expertise, Simon Townsend will champion the roll out and growth of the firm in the region and beyond," he added.

On the appointment, Townsend said: "The differentiating strength of Ellington Capital is its vision to support investors from across the world, irrespective of the size of their investment portfolio, to benefit from the positive prospects in the Middle East and North Africa regions property sector."

"By developing world-class assets and managing their rental portfolio, we are committed to creating long-term value for our investors. The potential offered by independent real estate funds is still significant in the region and we are providing investors a bespoke fund with very clear underlying fundamentals targeting a specific market segment," he stated.

"The focus is to provide a transparent independent fund with world-class procedures to ensure every step from land acquisition through investment divestment is aligned with best practices and third party audit verification," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine is safe and there's still no proof it causes blood clots, British scientists insisted today as Germany banned the use of the vaccine in people under the age of 60.

Regulators in the UK and the World Health Organization insisted there was no proof of a link between blood clots and the jab and said as Covid was more dangerous the jab must be used.

It came as German health officials agreed to restrict the use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine in under-60s amid fresh concern over unusual blood clots reported from those who received the shots.

German health minister Jens Spahn and state officials agreed unanimously today to only give the vaccine to people aged 60 or older, unless they belonged to a high-risk category for serious illness from Covid and had agreed with their doctor to take the vaccine.

The move, which follows the recommendations of Germany's independent vaccine expert panel, comes after the country's medical regulator released new data on the reported blood clots.

It showed a total of 31 unusual blood clots, including nine deaths, were reported by March 29 out of some 2.7 million doses of AstraZeneca administered in Germany.

Twenty-nine of the cases were in women aged 20 to 63 and two in men aged 39 and 56.

AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine is safe and there's still no proof it causes blood clots, a British scientist insisted today as German officials banned the use of the jab in those under the age of 60

German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a crisis meeting with state governors amid fresh concern over unusual blood clots last week

In a statement, AstraZeneca said that tens of millions of people worldwide have received its vaccines and noted the European Medicines Agency's conclusion that the benefits of the shot outweigh the risks.

The company said it would continue to work with German authorities to address any questions they might have, while also analysing its own records to understand whether the rare blood clots reported occur more commonly 'than would be expected naturally in a population of millions of people.'

Last Thursday German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a crisis meeting with state governors amid fresh concern over unusual blood clots.

Several German regions suspended the use of the shots in people under 60, and the country's independent vaccine expert panel recommended restricting them to people above that age after reviewing the latest data on the rare side-effects.

Earlier today it was revealed Berlin, Munich and the eastern state of Brandenburg had stopped giving the vaccine to under-60s.

Hospitals in the major cities made the controversial move on their own after hearing about cases of blood clots in women who had received the jab.

However British MPs called the decisions 'ludicrous' and said they 'reek of total confusion', adding that regulators have repeatedly said the jab is safe and the rollout is urgent.

It marks a U-turn for Mrs Merkel's government after it lifted an original ban on the jab when the European Medicines Agency declared there was no blood clot link, but has now gone back on this and suspended it again.

Scientists insist the risk of blood clots is no higher than in the general population but Canada has also pressed ahead with a surprise ban on giving it to under-55s.

Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, said: 'There is no evidence that there is a problem but even if there was then you're reducing what, at worst, is a tiny risk and imposing a bigger one by not giving people the protection of a vaccine.'

He added that people who were more worried about the minute possibility of a blood clot than they were of Covid-19 'have their priorities all wrong'.

This chart shows how Britain is still racing ahead of the EU in vaccinating its population against Covid-19, more than three months after the continent started its jab programme

Germany, as with many other countries on the Continent, has a spiralling infection rate amid a third wave of the virus

Deaths in Germany appear to still be declining from a second peak but are likely to tick up again within weeks in the wake of surging infection numbers

The 31 blood clots announced by German officials were its justification for the new vaccine ban.

Most of them have been in younger women but the AstraZeneca vaccinations have been stopped for both men and women. People can still get the Pfizer and Moderna jabs that are being used on the continent.

The 31 clots are the condition that first worried regulators, known as cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT).

CSVT is a rare clot in a vein draining blood from the brain that, left untreated, can cause a life-threatening brain haemorrhage or stroke.

WHAT NEW EVIDENCE PROMPTED GERMANY'S U-TURN ON ASTRAZENECA'S JAB? German health chiefs based their vaccine ban on 31 reports of a rare type of brain blood clot called cerebral sinus vein thrombosis (CSVT). Twenty-nine of the cases have been in women and two in men, all of them under the age of 65. These clots are the same as the handful of cases that caused widespread European suspensions of the jab earlier this month and had a link to the vaccine ruled out by European regulators. The Germans are not known to have any more evidence to suggest that the vaccine might be causing the clots, but appear to have been spooked by the cases appearing. Cerebral sinus vein thrombosis (CSVT) is an extremely rare type of blood clot in the brain. It occurs when the vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a blood clot, resulting in potentially deadly bleeding or a stroke. Symptoms can quickly deteriorate from a headache, blurred vision and faintness to complete loss of control over movement and seizures. John Hopkins University estimates it affects five in a million people in the US every year, which would suggest 330 patients in Britain suffer from the condition annually. According to the university, it can affect patients with low blood pressure, cancer, vascular diseases and those prone to blood clotting. Head injuries can also trigger the condition. Britain's regulator said CSVT is so rare they aren't even sure how common it is in the general population. Advertisement

It was this condition that panicked European drug regulators earlier in March but the European Medicines Agency found no proof the jab was causing it. Scientists and politicians slammed Germany's move as a backwards step going over old ground.

Dr Clarke told MailOnline: 'Whenever you do these things you need to have a reason to do them. It's all a balance of risk.

'There is no evidence that there is a problem but, even if there was, then you're reducing what, at worst, is a tiny risk and imposing a bigger one by not giving people the protection of a vaccine.

'People still get on airplanes and we know that there is a real risk of blood clotting if you're sat on a plane for hours, but people still do it because they want to go on holiday.

'So if people are more concerned about blood clots than they are Covid, I'd say they have their priorities all wrong.

'You have to wonder what the thinking is. Are they being entirely up front? Because it just doesn't make sense as it is presented. Maybe they know something they're not letting on.'

Berlin's health minister, Dilek Kalayci, said 'everyone who has already received a first jab of AstraZeneca has very good protection' but that there were new worries about possible side effects.

As a result, all upcoming appointments for the vaccine would be cancelled in Berlin for the coming days.

MPs in the UK said the move was 'ludicrous' and a repeat of what happened earlier in the month, which later turned out to be baseless.

Senior Tory backbencher Peter Bone said the decision to ban the drug 'reeks of total confusion within the European Union'.

'One thing is for sure, while the majority of our adult population has had its first jabs only a fraction in Europe have,' he said.

'None of it makes any logical sense, they seem to be in total confusion. The medical advice is that it does a great job.'

He added: 'My constituents are very happy to have it and if the Germans don't want it, send it over to us, we will use it, no problem.'

Another Tory MP said: 'This is ludicrous. The WHO has said it is perfectly safe. The EMA has said it is safe. Our regulator has said it is safe.

'It does look very much like a vendetta that the EU is maintaining both against AstraZeneca, because they are adhering to their contract, and the UK, out of spite.'

A Government spokesperson said: 'The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is safe, effective and has already saved thousands of lives in this country. As the UKs independent regulator has said, when people are called forward, they should get the jab.

'Over 30million people have already received their first dose of a vaccine, and we are on track to offer jabs to all over 50s by 15 April and all adults by the end of July.'

Vaccine regulators in the UK saw five cases after the first 11million people had been vaccinated  a rate of around one per 2.2million.

This was lower than an estimate by Johns Hopkins University in the US which suggests CSVT affects around five people per million each year.

Blood clots are reported as part of a routine system of logging every health problem that someone has after a vaccine to see if there are any trends.

Women under 55 will not get the AstraZeneca jab at a top German hospital because of fears of blood clots, despite EU regulators' ruling earlier this month that the vaccine is safe

RESEARCHERS CLAIM IMMUNE SYSTEM REACTION TRIGGERS CLOTS Research teams in Germany and Norway claim the blood clotting issue may be caused by the jab, in very rare cases, causing the body to attack its own blood platelets. Platelets are tiny chunks of cells that the body uses to build blood clots when someone is injured, to stop them losing too much blood. But they are also components of unwanted clots. Experts from Oslo and Greifswald University believe the jab could cause the body to produce antibodies normally used to fight off viruses  which mistake platelets in the blood for foreign invaders and attack them. To compensate, the body then overproduces platelets, causing the blood to thicken and raising the risk of clotting. They admitted they 'don't know why this is happening'. But the researchers say the phenomenon is similar to one that can occur in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), when sufferers take a drug called heparin. Experts say the condition has not been proven to be caused by the jab and may simply be showing up just because millions of people are being vaccinated and reporting their health conditions. They added that, if spotted early, it could be diagnosed with a simple blood test and quickly treated with blood-thinners. They stressed that even if the clots do turn out to be caused by the vaccine they are still extremely rare. Advertisement

The Charite hospital in Berlin, which employs 19,000 people at its clinics, ordered the new ban along with a handful of other healthcare providers in Germany, including another Berlin hospital group which also operates care homes.

A Charite spokeswoman that none of their staff had suffered any complications after around 16,000 jabs were handed out to hospital workers, mainly AstraZeneca ones.

But the clinic nonetheless claims that the ban is 'necessary because in the meantime further cerebral venous thromboses have come to light in women in Germany'.

One such case was a 47-year-old woman who reportedly died after developing a blood clot in the brain, although no link to the vaccine has been proven.

There was another case of a 28-year-old woman who developed a thrombosis after having the jab, but was said to be in a stable condition. Again no link to the vaccine was made.

Authorities in the district of Euskirchen said they had informed health authorities in Berlin about the two cases and stopped jabs for women under 55 in the meantime.

Others to have imposed the same new rule, including a university hospital in nearby Cologne, according to media reports.

EU regulators examined a series of reported blood clots across Europe earlier this month and found there was no increased risk, saying the number of clotting problems was actually lower than in the general population.

Safety experts at the European Medicines Agency said that 'most of these occurred in people under 55 and the majority were women'.

But they did not recommend limiting use of the jab, saying the blood clots were 'very rare cases' and that the benefits of preventing Covid-19 were greater than the risks.

The blood clot issue mainly concerns a condition called cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT), in which a clot develops in the head and blocks a vein that drains blood from the brain.

If left untreated it can cause blood vessels to burst when pressure builds up, causing a haemorrhage and stroke.

Symptoms may include a severe headache, blurred vision, losing consciousness or seizures.

Experts studying the rates of CSVT in people who have had the AstraZeneca vaccine found that it didn't appear to be happening more often than would be normal.

The EMA's verdict prompted most European countries which had suspended AstraZeneca shots to start them up again soon afterwards.

That included Germany, which like France and several others had initially restricted the jab to under-65s because of limited trial data on older people.

The Charite hospital in Berlin, a prestigious clinic which has previously treated Angela Merkel and Alexei Navalny among others, announced the ban on Tuesday

France has since broken with the EMA's guidance and banned over-55s from having the vaccine, in a 180-degree turn from its earlier position.

In addition, Canadian health officials said on Monday that they would stop giving the jab to under-55s and ordered a new analysis of the risks based on age and gender.

CANADA SUSPENDS ASTRAZENECA JAB Canada is pausing its use of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine for people younger than 55, amid 'safety concerns.' The country's National Advisory Committee on Immunization is recommended the pause, citing lingering worries over rare blood clots, and Health Canada officially called for the suspension on Monday. So far, no cases of the rare but life-threatening clotting condition have been reported in Canada. Canada is set to receive a shipment of 1.5million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine from the US, which has not yet authorized the shot. It comes after European health regulators ruled that concerns that the shot might cause blood clots were unfounded. Before that, some European countries thought paused use of the shot in elderly people, due to claims it was ineffective. Advertisement

'There is substantial uncertainty about the benefit of providing AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines to adults under 55 given the potential risks,' claimed Dr Shelley Deeks of Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

The repeated U-turns and doubts raised by top officials have been blamed in part for the low uptake of the AstraZeneca shot, which was approved in the EU in January.

Germany has received more than 3.8million doses of AstraZeneca despite the EU's ongoing row with the firm over supplies.

But only 2.7million of these have been used, with fewer than 1,000 getting two doses - leaving more than a million shots lying unwanted.

Recognising the jab's poor image, German officials have sought to boost uptake by reassuring the population that the vaccine is safe and effective.

But a poll published last week showed that some 55 per cent of Germans regarded the AstraZeneca jab as unsafe in the wake of the blood clot row.

The position was even worse in France where 61 per cent said it was unsafe, weeks after Emmanuel Macron claimed it was 'quasi-ineffective' in older people.

By contrast, in Britain - which has never suspended use of the jab or limited it to certain age groups - only nine per cent said the AstraZeneca jab was unsafe.

The EU's jab roll-out remains far slower than Britain's more than three months after the bloc started vaccinating, leaving it vulnerable to a third wave.

Germany has given a first dose to barely 10 per cent of its population, reaching only 9.2million people compared to more than 30million in Britain.

While Germany has given higher priority to second doses than Britain, it is still barely ahead by that measure with 4.0million people fully vaccinated compared to 3.7million in the UK.

Germany's slow vaccine roll-out and prolonged lockdown have piled pressure on Angela Merkel, pictured, who is set to leave office after September's general election

The slow progress means that nearly 90 per cent of Germans remain unvaccinated as infections climb rapidly in a resurgence blamed partly on the British variant.

Millions of Germans are facing tough new restrictions as cases rise, although Angela Merkel is struggling to persuade regional leaders to implement the new rules.

The chancellor last week had to abandon plans for an ultra-strict Easter lockdown which had been widely criticised as impractical.

France is also seeing a rapid increase in cases, which has already forced ministers to throw the Paris region back into full lockdown after months of a nationwide curfew.

The number of patients in French intensive care units yesterday surpassed the worst point of the country's last coronavirus surge in the autumn of 2020.
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Education is in crisis. Teachers, students, parents all know it; anyone with even a tenuous connection to the education system knows it. A global pandemic did not cause this crisis, but it has shown a spotlight on increasing problems and turned subtle warning signs into glaring marquees of distress. Cracks in the system that have been noticeable for decades now seem as deep chasms that perhaps cannot be bridged, let alone mended. At a time when societys push for individual rights is at an all-time high, accommodation for individual educational needs is at an all-time loweven though the technology is available to do it. This is because the promotion of state-mandated conformity and the promotion of contrived individualism are mutually exclusive. One cannot accommodate the other. Thats why a new approach is needed. The church can provide a solution.

The Problem

It has been a full year since the world shut down and schools began scrambling to change their entire method of education. Government schools rushed to figure out how to provide online education, and to do so with no existing infrastructure in place for the teacher or the student. Private schools found themselves in only slightly better situations, simply because they had to do it on a smaller scale. In the assumption that shut-downs would only last a couple of weeks, simple stopgap measures were taken. Some schools took an extra week of Spring Break. Others sent busy work home with students, prepared to go back to real instruction once in-person classes resumed. Once it became evident that learning would be virtual for the remainder of the year, learning became even more rushed, patched, unplanned, and inadequate. It was justifiable; after all, it was only for one quarter, right?

Now here we are a full year later. What was novel is now the norm. Virtual learning has become an essential and integral part of education. Platforms such as Google Classroom and Zoom are part of the common vernacular. Curriculum companies have pushed to meet the needs and demands; schools have exceeded budgets in trying to catch up with the demands. And students? Students are failing. At the end of the fall semester, F grades had spiked by 83%. Teachers? Teachers are pulling their hair out. Ask any teacher and they will tell you they are working harder and accomplishing less than they have in their entire teaching career. Parents? Parents are at their wits end. Even non-essential workers had to go back to work, yet their kids are still learning from home with no supervision. How do you homeschool when you arent home?

Many school districts have declared that the student shouldnt be held responsible for a global pandemic. Therefore, even if a child does no work for the 2020-2021 school year, they will still not be given a failing grade. They will move on to the next grade, and the next teacher will have to determine how to proceed. (Congratulations, Sixth Grade teachers. Next year you will be teaching Fifth Grade.) Conversely, a chronically-ill student in Florida who homeschools through the state-provided virtual system is still required to attend a brick and mortar school for standardized testing. Regardless of the individual needs of this straight-A student, if they do not attend in-person standardized testing, they will be given a 59 on their student transcript. They will, however, still be promoted to the next grade. So much of public education is upside down!

Who is being served by passing students who are failing? Whose needs are being met? Certainly not the students. Not the parents. Not societys. What is being accomplished in this commitment to the status quo? In twenty years will it be enough to explain that we have an entire generation without basic skills simply because the education system could not handle a global pandemic? Or will America continue to progress downward in the global ranking of education? Are we really so ill-equipped that we will continue to patch up a failing system with bubble gum and duct tape, just because no one could figure out how to meet the crisis?

For years we have hollered that the educational system is broken and must be fixed. The GW Bush administration tried to fix it with No Child Left Behind, and left us with a system that teaches a test rather than conceptual learning. The Obama administration tried to fix it with Common Core, and left us with such a convoluted set of essential concepts (such as Critical Race Theory and sex-equality education) that the teacher has no time for the Three Rs. Covid has done nothing but highlight and exacerbate these weaknesses. The entire education system has been systematically deconstructed over the past 12 months, and no amount of patching and stopgaps are able to hold up. The mandate is clear: If you want your child to have an education with any sort of normalcy and educational value, the parents must start taking charge of their childs education. After all, when the world shut down, who was left with the responsibility? The parent.

And parents are stepping up. Unwilling to settle for mediocre but passing grades, parents are making changes to their entire family life in order to improve their childs educational chances. Parents used the availability of working from home to monitor their childs progress. Private tutors have become small classroom facilitators. As pod schools became a trend in the fall, churches began opening their doors to host virtual learning. Purely by necessity, the responsibility for learning has returned to the cornerstones of society: family and church.

The Solution

The church CAN HELP! We have outlined a bleak and frustrating situation. The pains and annoyances of the current educational market provide the church with a unique opportunity for ministry. Here is a way for the church to not only reach into the community and assist in real-time problems, but it is also a way to fulfill the Great Commission. How often have we regretted that churches only get 3-5 hours per week with a child, but the school gets 30-40? How often have we lamented the wicked, vile things being indoctrinated into our children, and wished there was a way to shelter them from the evil? You can provide a shelter from this onslaught, and at the same time instill Biblical values into this generation. The church can provide a high-quality education that fills in the many learning gaps that have been created. The answer is individualized Christian education.

One group of people was not taken by surprise by the global shut down. This group continued their childs educational studies with little to no accommodations being made. Parents, schools, and educators who already use individualized Christian educational curriculum saw barely a hiccup in the education of their students. Christian schools using individualized, self-instructional curricula (e.g., Ignitia or Accelerated Christian Education) simply sent the necessary materials home with the student and continued to monitor their progress in the same way as before. Homeschoolers never even looked up. Students finished the year with a complete, uncompromised transcript. Parents and educators didnt spend the summer trying to figure out what to do in the fall. It was business as usual. One such school in Massachusetts was able to report that 75% of the student body had completed 100% of all required assignments for the year with no adjustments or accommodations for COVID. This is unheard of! However, it is commonplace in Christian schools with individualized programs.

The media and medicine are saying that virtual learning is harmful to students, but what about the success stories? It is certain that Zoom classes on a strict schedule dont work. Yet it is also certain that individualized, self-instructional curricula (that have been around for 50 years) do work and produce results.

Its now time for the church to leverage what weve learned. Daily discipleship through effective Christian education is possible for our children. As parents take up the mantle of responsibility for their childrens education, the church must be a support system. Pastors need to thunder sermons on this topic regularly. Maybe its time for the church to start a school. Perhaps opening the doors of the church building so that families can practice shared responsibility for learning is a better format for your congregation. Whether its an every day program, a homeschool hub, or a hybrid approach, the church needs to be a presence and encouragement.

This level of ministry opportunity hasnt been seen in decades. People are looking for answers. They are looking for solutions. The church leadership needs to be like Moses and help guide in the great exodus from secular education that is taking place. Lets provide a place of shelter, hope, and help to our families and communities. In the process, we can share the Gospel and train a new generation of Christian leaders to be faithful to the cause of Christ.
Universal Studios Hollywood is finally set to reopen after its pandemic-forced closure shut its doors for more than a year, but the theme park will open at first only to California residents.

Comcast, which owns Universal, announced Tuesday that the theme park will officially reopen on April 16.

It will open only to California residents to comply with state regulations that discourage travel from out-of-state. It's not clear when it will open to everyone.

The announcement of Universal's reopening comes after Disneyland announced a reopening date of its own, signaling the revival of the amusement park industry in California.

Universal Studios Hollywood is preparing to reopen to the public on April 16, 2021

Universal Studios Hollywood has been shuttered by the pandemic since March 14, 2020

A number of health/safety guidelines will be in place, including a facial covering requirement

The park first closed due to the coronavirus pandemic on March 14, 2020, leaving it out of commission for over a year.

Some rides and attractions will not be open yet, however - it's not clear which rides and attractions are affected.

Capacity limits will be in place, with Los Angeles' current tier status within the state allowing for 25 percent capacity, according to ABC7.

Temperature checks will be given at the entrance and face coverings will be required. Meanwhile, social distancing will be enforced and eating and drinking will only be allowed in designated areas.

'We are incredibly thrilled to finally be able to open Universal Studios Hollywood, return team members to work and welcome guests back to enjoy our amazing rides,' said President & COO of Universal Studios Hollywood, Karen Irwin.

Annual and season pass members will be allowed to book tickets for a 'preview' on the day before of the official opening.

Those with passes can begin booking tickets on April 5, while the general public will have to wait until April 8 to book their own tickets.

Two new rides will be available when the park opens: 'Jurassic WorldThe Ride' and 'The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash,' which features '64 technologically-advanced animated figures with hyper-realistic media and projection mapping.'

Additionally, only California residents will be allowed to go to the park right now, which is in accordance with state mandates.

Additionally, Universal Studios Hollywood will only be open to California residents for now

Universal Orlando reopened in June after being closed for just a couple of months

After Universal Orlando reopened, capacity limits at the park quickly became an issue

'It has been a very challenging year and we are overjoyed to have arrived at this moment.'

Disneyland, which closed the same day as Universal Studios Hollywood, recently announced it would reopen on April 30, meaning Universal Studios has a two-week head start.

Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, meanwhile, is set to reopen on Thursday, the first day allowed under the state's guidelines.

Meanwhile, Universal Orlando reopened over the summer and quickly found itself hitting capacity limits.

Crowds particularly became a problem during the holiday season, often an annual boon for the theme park industry.

On December 30, the theme park hit its capacity limit within 10 minutes of its 8am opening for the day.

'We have been working to give our guests a great experience while we manage park attendance and access to our attractions as part of our COVID health and safety protocols,' Universal said in a statement at the time.

'We are doing the best we can during a busy holiday period, while making sure we do not compromise our strict protocols and we ask guests for their patience and understanding.'

Over 30.3 million people have been infected with COVID-19 in the United States so far

Coronavirus cases have been leveling off in Los Angeles County in recent weeks, though COVID-19 remains a threat.

On Monday, the county reported 378 new cases, reaching a total of 1,218,583. They also reported seven new deaths, with the death total standing at 23,084.

In the United States, more than 30.3 million people have been infected with COVID-19, with 550,071 dying from the disease.
LOCAL photographer, Duduzile Tamary Kudita has won the prestigious Sony World Photography award in the creative category.

According to the World Photography Organisation website, the Open competition category winners were chosen for their "excellent technical, creative skills, and fresh approach to their subject matter".

There were 10 winners from the categories: Architecture, Creative, Motion, Landscape, Lifestyle, Natural World & Wildlife, Portraiture, Object, Street Photography and Travel.

The Sony world photography competition is part of the World Photography Organization, which is based in the UK and it's the world's leading photography competition.

The organisation activates initiatives in over 50 countries each year that help support artists working in the medium of photography.

The organisation also hosts international exhibition tours, online competitions, prestigious awards, collaborative projects, high-end art and art fairs.

"I entered my image in 2020. I had every intention of entering this competition because I'm creative and I resonated with the creative category and I wanted to create something that captures the authenticity of the African identity.

"So, that's why I decided to use traditional African elements that also show that Africans can be represented in many different ways.

"We don't all look the same. We don't all have the same story, said the 26-year-old artist in an interview with NewZimbabwe.com.

Kudita said she resisted pressure from some family members who were sceptical about her decision to study fine art at the Michaelis School of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town.

Against the odds and with her father having passed on in 2014, Kudita graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

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She runs her own gallery in Harare and creates bespoke images that have adorned home walls and buildings around the world.

Her investigation looking at the legacy of colonialism on the family structure has resulted in exhibitions delving into the history of the post-colonial identity.

Kudita's first solo exhibition was held at the PH Centre gallery in Cape Town. It explored notions of race and representation.

Her previous exhibitions have been held at the Michaelis Galleries also in Cape Town, titled 'Maintaining Memories'.

"We've got our individual stories. So, this is the type of narrative that I wanted to advance in my photo. So, it was culturally and racially motivated. So, I entered the image and saw that I was the category winner," she said.

Kudita has been featured in various international publications such as Photo District News Magazine, TSA Contemporary Art Magazine and a special mention in the British Journal of Photography.

She has also been awarded the VAW Journal Most Inspiring Art Piece Award 2020 and The Voices of African Women Cover Book Award.

The talented artist is also vying for the grand prize entitled Open Photographer of the Year.

The winner will be announced on the organisation's online platforms on 15 April.

The ward carries a prize of US$5 000.
[March 30, 2021] NuLink, Powered by WOW! Internet, Begins to Rebuild its Network After Tornado Causes Significant Damage

NEWNAN, Ga., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone (NYSE: WOW), operating as NuLink in Newnan, Georgia, is taking swift action to repair damage caused to its network by last week's tornado and at this time has restored all services to approximately one-third of the company's customers. NuLink engineers and field technicians have assessed the damage in the area and are repairing multiple fiber connections in order to restore network connectivity. Full restoration of the network is anticipated once debris is removed, the area is deemed safe by local authorities for our repair crews to gain access, and as commercial power is brought back online. "We are deeply saddened by the devastation left behind by the tornado in Newnan. Our hearts go out to this community," said Teresa Elder, CEO at WOW!. "We know how important it is to have access to the internet in the aftermath of a natural disaster and our teams are working with the community to restore servicesas quickly and as safely as possible."



NuLink, powered by WOW! Internet, has made available free community WiFi hotspots in strategic locations in Newnan to help residents connect with critical services, work, school and friends and family, and to file insurance claims. The free community WiFi hotspots can be found at the following locations: CEC Education Center - 160 MLK Jr. Dr. Newnan, GA 30263

160 MLK Jr. Dr. 30263 Newnan Chamber of Commerce - 23 Bullsboro Dr. Newnan, GA 30263 The best way for customers to get the latest information on the outages is to visit NuLink's service outage update page at NuLink.com.

NuLink is required by law to follow all emergency management procedures and evacuation mandates issued by the state; however, all storm-related repairs will be prioritized and resolved, as soon as it is safe for NuLink engineers to do so. About WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone

WOW! is one of the nation's leading broadband providers, with an efficient, high-performing network that passes three million residential, business and wholesale consumers. WOW! provides services in 19 markets, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast, including Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. With an expansive portfolio of advanced services, including high-speed Internet services, cable TV, phone, business data, voice, and cloud services, the company is dedicated to providing outstanding service at affordable prices. WOW! also serves as a leader in exceptional human resources practices, having been recognized by the National Association for Business Resources for seven years as a Best & Brightest Company to Work For, winning the award for the last three consecutive years. Visit wowway.com for more information. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nulink-powered-by-wow-internet-begins-to-rebuild-its-network-after-tornado-causes-significant-damage-301258423.html SOURCE WideOpenWest, Inc.

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Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Areas of patchy fog. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 30 : Following a huge outrage, especially from the Congress, former Lok Sabha MP Joyce George on Tuesday apologised for his remarks against Rahul Gandhi.

George had said that 'women in Kerala should be wary of Rahul Gandhi'.

He made this controversial remark while campaigning for state Power Minister M.M. Mani at Erettayar in Idukki district on Monday.

George was the Idukki Lok Sabha member of the Left in 2014, but lost to Congress' Dean Kuriakose in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

In his speech, George said 'Gandhi is a bachelor and he goes only to interact with girls at the college campus'.

"Gandhi is a problem maker and, hence women should be wary of him," said George, while Mani was sitting on the dais.

From early Tuesday morning there was a huge public outrage, especially from the Congress leaders, who demanded that George should be arrested and both the CPI-M and the CPI condemn the act of George. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, however without naming any or condemning the incident, just said, "it should not happen".

Following these outbursts, George in a political rally in his home district, Idukki and in the presence of CPI-M politburo member Brinda Karat said that he wished to withdraw his statement and would like to render an unconditional apology for his statement that was made.

Earlier, reacting sharply to these remarks, Kuriakose said they treated these statements with disdain and would approach the appropriate authorities.

Idukki district Congress committee president Ibrahimkutty Kallar said this showed the way George has been groomed and what he actually is. "We will be approaching the Election Commission and also organise a protest in Idukki, later in the day," said Kallar.

Kerala goes to the polls on April 6 to elect 140 legislators.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
The Biden administration is creating a network of outside health experts and community leaders charged with building trust in coronavirus vaccines, as the shots become available to the entire adult population, according to documents obtained by POLITICO.

The all-volunteer group  dubbed the Covid-19 Community Corps  would amplify the governments vaccine messaging within their own communities, and lead on-the-ground efforts to combat skepticism and misinformation.

The new program, set to be unveiled Thursday, comes as the administrations focus shifts from expanding supply of the shots to ensuring people seek them out as soon as theyre able.

HHS and the CDC will oversee the initiative, which will provide the volunteers with weekly fact sheets, FAQs and other talking points that theyd be expected to promote on social media and distribute within their own networks.

The groups members will also participate in virtual events aimed at building vaccine confidence, and eventually host their own vaccination drives, according to fact sheet sent to health experts and medical surrogates.

The Covid-19 Community Corps will be an effort to galvanize trusted messengers  doctors, nurses, faith leaders, rural stakeholders, leaders across the country in local communities  to encourage people to get vaccinated, White House Covid response official Ben Wakana wrote in an accompanying message obtained by POLITICO that encouraged them to become founding members.

Neither HHS nor the White House would comment on how many Corps members the administration is hoping to recruit, or who it has already signed up.

But the effort is part of the administrations broader push to target specific vaccine-skeptical populations and recruit messengers who can convince Americans to get the shots. Those messengers are likely to include a range of organizations and people both inside and outside health care with ties to key communities.

Polls show there is still stubborn resistance to vaccinations across various racial and ethnic lines, including among African-Americans and Latinos  as well as rural conservatives who may be less inclined to listen to Biden administration officials.

Story continues

Federal officials have met privately for weeks with various community groups to discuss the vaccine rollout and the resources needed to encourage people to get the shots.

The Corps planned public rollout comes days after the government debuted a broader We Can Do This vaccination campaign designed to boost confidence with the shots. Corps members are likely to be among the key faces of that effort.

The administration last week also pledged to funnel $10 billion from its $1.9 trillion Covid aid package to ramp up vaccinations in hard-hit and underserved communities and shore up trust.
Father charged over ammunition in search for son firing shots into air

PHUKET: In the search for a man wanted for shooting a handgun into the air three times at the Chaofa Villa 3 housing estate in Wichit last Wednesday night (Mar 24), police have arrested and charged the mans father for illegal possession of ammunition.

crimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 30 March 2021, 12:38PM

The father, named by Wichit Police only as Mr Eakkamol, 56, was charged after officers armed with a search warrant arrived at his home yesterday (Mar 29).

Police were granted the search warrant after a video was posted online last Friday showing Mr Eakkamols son, named by police only as Mr Orasa, 31, standing in front of the home and firing a handgun into the air three times at about 9:10pm last Wednesday (Mar 24).

At the home, officers found a handgun and two bullets, as well as two 12-gauge shotgun cartridges.

Wichit Police in their report made no mention of any action being taken over the handgun, but noted that Mr Eakkamol was taken to Wichit Police Station and charged for illegal possession of ammunition for the two shotgun cartridges found.

The report by Wichit Police made no mention of when police action began, despite the video being posted online on Friday. The report also made no mention of whether any formal complaint had been filed by residents in the housing estate.

Wichit Police also made no mention of what action was being taken to locate Mr Osara, but did promise to pursue charges of firing a weapon in a public area against him, which can incur a fine of up to B500, or up to 10 days imprisonment, or both.
President Joe Biden's dog Major has bitten another employee at the White House, according to reports.

A National Park Service employee was taken to the White House Medical Unit for treatment after the German Shepherd 'nipped' him while out for a walk.

Jill Biden's press secretary Michael LaRosa told CNN: 'Yes, Major nipped someone on a walk.

'Out of an abundance of caution, the individual was seen by WHMU and then returned to work.'

President Joe Biden's dog Major has bitten another employee at the White House, according to reports. The German Shepherd was last seen on a walk with an aide on Monday at 5pm

It comes just three weeks after Major bit another security guard, and was banished to Biden's family home in Delaware.

He received training alongside the Bidens' other dog Champ.

Major was last spotted on a walk on Monday at around 5pm on a leash. It's unclear when exactly the latest biting incident occurred.

At the beginning of March, press secretary Jen Psaki defended the first biting incident, saying the first dogs were 'still getting acclimated and accustomed to their new surroundings and new people'.

She said Major, whom Biden and his wife Jill adopted in November 2018 from an animal shelter, 'was surprised by an unfamiliar person and reacted in a way that resulted in a minor injury to the individual, which was handled by the White House medical unit with no further treatment needed.'

She declined to say if the person was a Secret Service agent or give any other identifying information.

Major is the first rescue dog to have lived in the White House, having moved in after Biden's inauguration in January.

The Bidens adopted him as company for 14-year-old Champ after being told it would help the health of the older dog to have a younger companion.

It comes just three weeks after Major bit another security guard, and was banished to Biden's family home in Delaware

Joe and Jill Biden rescued the pair of German Shepherds in 2018 and have moved them into the White House

Biden's predecessor Donald Trump did not have any pets at the White House.

First Lady Jill Biden said in an interview last month she had been focused on getting the dogs settled into their new home in Washington.

'They have to take the elevator, they're not used to that, and they have to go out on the South Lawn with lots of people watching them. So that's what I've been obsessed with, getting everybody settled and calm,' she said on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show.'

The dogs joined the Bidens at the White House shortly after they relocated to Washington.

Since then, they have been allowed to roam unleashed on the White House grounds and often feature in the background of Oval Office photos.
A Covid-19 situation at the National Insurance Board (NIB) led to late pension cheques this month, says Social Development Minister Donna Cox. And the ministry yesterday apologised for any inconvenience caused to pensioners and other recipients of social welfare as a result of the late payment of benefits.
It was roughly a decade ago when hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, was identified as a crucial means for boosting Colombias meager hydrocarbon reserves and production. A shortage of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves along with declining production is threatening Colombias economy. Despite only possessing two billion barrels of proved oil reserves with a short six-year production life, Colombia is highly reliant upon petroleum production to drive the economy. During 2020, at the height of the pandemic and oil price crash, petroleum accounted for 28% of exports by income, 3% of gross domestic product, and 17% of fiscal revenue. A dearth of significant conventional oil discoveries since the late 1990s means Colombia must find alternate means of boosting crude oil and natural gas reserves if its hydrocarbon-dependent economy is to grow. In fact, a lack of significant discoveries combined with weak natural gas production due to rising decline rates at aging offshore fields and growing demand forced Bogota to start importing liquified natural gas in 2017. This shortage triggered a crisis that challenged the Andean countrys energy security, forcing the national government to work feverishly to resolve the crisis by implementing incentives aimed at promoting exploration and development activity, including paying higher than market natural gas prices at the wellhead.

In 2018, when President Ivan Duque was championing fracking as means of addressing Colombias lack of hydrocarbon reserves, the Council of State, the countrys highest administrative tribunal, placed a moratorium on the controversial technique. That essentially prevented the introduction of fracking in Colombia as a means of extracting crude oil and natural gas. In 2019 the tribunal upheld the ban on fracking but roughly a week after announcing that decision clarified it did not include pilot projects. A 2020 bid to block fracking pilots failed and in September that year the National Hydrocarbon Agency (ANH  Spanish initials) finalized the regulations for selecting pilot participants. Colombias fracking pilots are restricted to be conducted in the Middle Magdalena Valley and Cesar-Rancheria Basins. The head of the ANH, Armando Zamora, in a March 2021 Reuters article, stated he expects the 2018 moratorium on fracking in Colombia to be lifted during 2022 when environmental regulations are modified.

Story continues

The Middle Magdalena Valley Basin, located in central Colombia between the eastern and central Andes mountain ranges, has over 40 discovered conventional oilfields with the U.S. Geological Service (USGS) predicting it holds undiscovered oil resources of up to 1.4 billion barrels.

EIA

Source: U.S. EIA.

Since 1918, when crude oil was first discovered in Colombia at the La Cira-Infantas oilfield in the basin, it has produced most of Colombias oil. The key fracking target in the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin is the La Luna geological formation which has been compared to the prolific U.S. Eagle Ford shale play. It is a Cretaceous age geological formation typified as a classic shale-gas system in which the rock is the source, reservoir, and seal. The USGS estimated in 2017 that the La Luna possesses undiscovered shale oil resources of up to 521 million barrels and over two trillion cubic feet of natural gas. It has been predicted that the Middle Magdalena Valley basin, in total, contains unconventional crude oil resources of up to seven billion barrels, or more than triple Colombias current proved reserves and 13 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Those copious hydrocarbon resources, if proven to be commercially viable to extract, will resolve the significant economic downside posed by Colombias limited crude oil and natural gas reserves.

The push to bring fracking pilots online is gaining considerable momentum after a fraught 2020 where significant risks, including sharply weaker oil prices and continued community opposition, indicated they may never eventuate. National oil company Ecopetrol, which is 88.49% owned by the Colombian government, launched the Kale fracking pilot in the Middle Magdalena Valley in the department of Santander near the town of Puerto Wilches. The national oil company has budgeted almost $77 million to develop the project, with drilling scheduled to commence during the second half of 2021. Earlier this month global oil supermajor ExxonMobil also announced it had submitted a proposal for a fracking project in the Middle Magdalena Valley near Puerto Wilches. Exxon has earmarked $57 million for the project, which has yet to be approved by the ANH.

Related: Houthi Rebels Launch Missile Attack On Saudi Oil Terminal

The economic importance of developing fracking in Colombia cannot be emphasized enough. The Andean countrys peak petroleum industry body, the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP  Spanish initials), believes commercial fracking in the Andean country could eventually add 450,000 barrels of daily production to current production and attract $5 billion of investment. That will provide an important source of revenue for a cash-strapped national government still reeling from the pandemics severe economic fallout and crude oils prolonged price slump. Bogota is struggling to restart a stalled economy which, despite being projected to grow by 4% during 2021 compared to contracting by 7.8% in 2020, will see the budget deficit blowout by almost one percent year over year to 8.6% of GDP. Unemployment is still alarmingly high with DANE, the national statistical agency, reporting it reached 17.3% in January 2021 the highest since July 2020 at the peak of Colombias pandemic lockdown. Those worrying numbers indicate that Colombia is still unable to shake off the profound economic aftermath of the pandemic, indicating that Bogota needs to find ways to restart the economy.

The Andean countrys considerable economic dependence on hydrocarbon extraction makes it especially vulnerable to its limited oil and natural gas reserves, including their short production life and oil price slumps. It appears that Colombia is unable to end its addiction to extracting fossil fuels to power the economy. The Andean countrys energy minister recently stated Colombia would double down on thermal coal mining, despite it being the first fossil fuel to be phased out as part of the fight against global warming. By bolstering hydrocarbon reserves and production Bogota will only further expose the economy to volatile oil prices and the immense downside which exists once peak oil demand arises, which according to some industry analysts could be in as little as seven years. Considerable community opposition to fracking remains tremendous. That, combined with the petroleum industrys slowly waning social license and ongoing security issues, is creating considerable uncertainty which is weighing on investment in unconventional oil and gas production in Colombia.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

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Police yesterday arrested fugitive Collen Jamu in Highfield after he allegedly poured hot cooking oil on his wife, resulting in her sustaining serious injuries all over her body.

The wife is reportedly admitted at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, where she is battling for her life.

Prior to yesterday's incident, Jamu has been at large and evading arrest on charges of brutally killing his girlfriend in 2015.

He was arrested, but then skipped bail in February 2017 and was issued with a warrant of arrest.

Jamu is accused of killing his lover Mitchel Chipere in Glen Norah A in 2015 over several misunderstandings.

He had a misunderstanding with his wife Vimbayi Muzozo yesterday and reports are that he took some hot cooking oil and poured it on her.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest.

"Police have arrested Collen Jamu (28) after he burnt his wife with cooking oil," he said.

"The wife suffered serious burns and is admitted at Sally Mugabe Hospital."
At a half-built residential development a few blocks from Apples biggest iPhone plant in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou, Wang Lina has made an unusual offer to attract business following a 10 per cent price drop over the past 12 months.

Instead of requiring a standard 30 per cent downpayment, the sales manager has asked for a 5 per cent deposit and makes up the difference by offering a two-year, interest-free loan funded by the projects developer.

We once hoped that the expansion of Foxconn would bring in migrant workers and boost home sales, she said, referring to the worlds largest contract manufacturer that built a production base in the city of 10m people a decade ago. But it didnt work out that way and we have to do what we can to make ends meet.

Wang is just one of several local developers grappling with softening home prices and sluggish sales. Dozens of inland cities face a similar problem.



In Chinas coastal hubs, however, a speculation-driven housing boom has prompted developers to raise prices and select buyers through lottery.

The contrasting experience of the countrys thriving coastal cities and struggling inland centres provide a glimpse into Chinas growing regional divide that threatens to undermine the post-coronavirus recovery of the worlds second-largest economy.

An advert for a development in Zhengzhou. The citys housing transactions, measured by floor space, were down almost by half in the first two months of this year from the same period in 2019, data show  Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images

Zhengzhou has historically been facing an oversupply of apartments and the pandemic is making the problem worse, said Larry Hu, an economist at Macquarie Group in Hong Kong. The situation is going to deteriorate in the coming 12 to 24 months.

While home sales shot up across Chinas developed markets, led by Shanghai and Shenzhen, following Beijings successful control of the virus, the picture remained weak in Zhengzhou.

Official data show the citys housing transactions, measured by floor space, were down almost by half in the first two months of this year from the same period of 2019. That compared with a 76 per cent jump among the top 10 coastal cities over the same period.

The tepid demand has lifted supply to a risky level. According to CRIC, a Shanghai-based consultancy, it will take 15 months  a high level by industry standards  for developers to sell their inventory in Zhengzhou provided no new project enters the market.

Our top priority is to make sure our existing projects are cleared rather than putting new ones on the market, said an executive at Changjian Holding, a developer that has spent more than two years trying to sell off a residential complex in a suburb of Zhengzhou.

The property overhang follows several years of a runaway building boom coupled with a government crackdown on real estate speculation that damped demand.

Zhengzhous housing construction took off in 2016, when efforts to curb a property bubble in coastal cities, led by purchase limits, prompted investors to flood the central business hub where new homes could be sold without those restrictions.

The bonanza, however, ended a year later after Zhengzhou unveiled measures, including restrictions on both homebuyers and sellers, to keep housing prices in check. The citys new residential sales plunged more than a third in 2017 following a 62 per cent surge in 2016.

The days of Zhengzhou as a paradise for house flipping ended when they stopped one from selling a property until three years after the purchase, said Wang Yan, an investor who made more than Rmb1m in trading apartments in the city in 2016.

Despite the roller-coaster sales ride, the building spree continued. Zhengzhous new housing starts between 2016 and 2019 totalled more than the previous decade combined, according to official statistics. Developers said they were committed to the capital of Henan province  home to more than 100m people  in the belief that migrants from nearby cities would keep moving in.

No other city in Henan could rival Zhengzhou when it comes to job opportunities as well as education and medical resources, said an executive at Youwell, a local developer. Thats enough to drive the property market up.

While Zhengzhou did attract migrants, most of them took low-paid manufacturing and service jobs that could not support local home purchases.

In the citys airport economy zone, home to Foxconns vast factory complex, a standard one-bedroom apartment requires a monthly mortgage payment of more than Rmb4,500 ($690). An average worker at Foxconn earns less than Rmb5,000 a month.

My current salary wont allow me to afford a Zhengzhou apartment in the years to come, said Li Chaoyong, a Zhengzhou Foxconn worker who earns Rmb4,800 a month.

There is no quick fix to the problem. Zhengzhous economy relies heavily on labour-intensive manufacturing known for its low wages. The city, located in one of the nations most rural provinces, has made little progress in growing high value-added industries such as finance or internet services,

With little hope of a rapid rebound, Zhengzhous once ambitious developers are starting to cut back. The citys residential land sales, a leading indicator of housing investment, fell more than a third in the first two months of this year from a year ago as many developers chose to suspend building.

The worst days are not over, said an executive at China Merchants Property Zhengzhou Branch.

Financial Times
State police determined the four were shot in an attack involving at least two vehicles on I-57. The four who were shot were taken to two hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed a sweeping, GOP-sponsored overhaul to the state's election law on Thursday.

Why it matters: It is the first battleground state to pass such a law in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds already signed a bill into law scaling back early voting in the state.

"Republican efforts to change voting laws in Georgia followed record-breaking turnout that led to Democratic victories in the presidential contest and two U.S. Senate runoffs in the once reliably red state," AP writes.

Joe Biden won the state by only slightly more than 12,000 votes in the 2020 presidential election.

The new law includes measures that:

Cut the time period voters have to request absentee ballots and impose new identification requirements.

Make it easier for state officials to take over local elections boards.

Limit the use of ballot drop boxes.

Allow challenges to voting eligibility.

Criminalize any attempt to approach voters in line, even if only to give them food or water.

"[R]eplace the elected secretary of state as the chair of the state election board with a new appointee of the legislature after Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger rebuffed [former President] Trumps attempts to overturn Georgias election results," AP writes.

What they're saying: "Few are more important than the law I signed moments ago," which ensures Georgias elections are "secure, accessible and fair," Kemp said at a press conference on Thursday.

"It's like the Christmas tree of goodies for voter suppression," Democratic state Sen. Jen Jordan said on the Senate floor Thursday, per CNN.

Some lawmakers argue restrictions will boost election integrity, despite no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

Meanwhile, critics say these measures are intended to target heavily Democratic jurisdictions and will hurt Black and Latino voters the most, Washington Post reports.

President Biden called the GOP effort "sick" and "un-American" at his press conference on Thursday.

Former President Jimmy Carter, who previously served as a state senator in Georgia and then governor, also voiced opposition early on.

Of note: During the signing ceremony, Georgia state Rep. Park Cannon (D) was handcuffed and "forcefully removed" after knocking on the governor's office door, Atlanta-based WXIA-TV reports.

Cannon led rallies against the measures in February, according to The Atlanta-Journal-Constitution newspaper.

The big picture: Republican lawmakers have proposed at least 253 laws to restrict voting access in 43 states across the country, according to data compiled as of Feb. 19 by the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice. More proposals have reached the floor since, CNN writes.
Omar Moreno Arroyo (pictured), 33, of California, who was being held in a county jail on a drug charge in January choked to death on a face mask, according to an autopsy

A California man who was being held in a county jail on a drug charge reportedly choked to death on a face mask as his widow claimed that police sealed the case within hours of his death and refused to tell her what happened.

Omar Moreno Arroyo was being held at the San Diego County Jail in January while awaiting release on a charge of being under the influence of drugs, the San Diego Union Tribune reported on Tuesday.

His wife, Tammy Wilson, said they were at home when she called 911 on the morning of January 6 because Arroyo was acting strangely and wouldn't let her take him to a hospital.

The 33-year-old was then arrested by sheriff's deputies on suspicion of being under the influence of methamphetamine.

He died in a holding cell just before midnight.

The medical examiner ruled that Arroyo died from accidental asphyxiation, with acute methamphetamine intoxication as contributing factor, according to a statement from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

According to the medical examiner, Arroyo choked on a mask and could not be resuscitated despite aggressive life-saving measures from paramedics.

'There were no illicit drugs, no prescription medications, no alcoholic beverages, no tobacco products, and no notes of a suicidal nature found,' Medical Examiner Investigator Scott Morrison wrote in a report with the autopsy.

His wife, Tammy Wilson (left), said she called 911 on the morning of January 6 because Arroyo (right) was acting strangely and wouldn't let her take him to a hospital. She is claiming that hours after he died, police sealed his case and refused to tell her what happened

Arroyo's death has been ruled an accident. It's unclear why Arroyo was taken to jail since under the 'zero bail' policy, which reduces jail populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities are supposed to cite people for certain crimes instead of jailing them.

For this particular offense, Arroyo should have been cited and not taken to jail.

Following his death, Wilson claimed that that the Sheriff's Department had sealed the case within hours of her husband's death. She said they also refused to tell her what happened.

According to the medical examiner's report, obtained by the Tribune, a sheriff's detective told Morrison that Arroyo didn't mention any face mask but had possibly swallowed a baggie of drugs before he was arrested.

Morrison wrote: 'Jail staff informed me that there appeared to be a foreign object in his abdomen on an x-ray that appears to be (a) possible 'baggy' of illicit substance.'

While Arroyo did test positive for methamphetamine, the autopsy found no baggie in his stomach. Instead, Morrison found the mask.

In addition, the report says that there was video footage showing Arroyo collapsing onto the floor of the San Diego Jail (pictured) and experiencing 'seizure-like activity'

In addition, the report says that there was video footage showing Arroyo collapsing onto the floor and experiencing 'seizure-like activity'.

It's unclear what happened in the moments leading up to the suspected seizure.

Wilson's attorney Julia Yoo told the Tribune that the report doesn't reference 'nursing staff attempting to save Omar's life'.

'There is no time reference as to when Omar fell. How long was it between the time of the seizure until the deputies got to the cell?' Yoo added.
Truong Thi Nhuong, 71, from Hai Duong province, who has long wanted to meet the person who received her sons heart, has been granted her wish.

Nhuong and her son

After many days of longing, Nhuong said a representative of the family contacted her via phone.

A 60-year-old woman in district 7 in HCM City received her son's heart.

After the heart transplant operation, the family tried to make contact but could not find any information because of regulations on information privacy and security

As Nhuongs story was shared on social media, the son of the heart recipient called her to thank her for the donation and provided information about the health situation of his mother. He said he will connect his mother and Nhuong and arrange video calls between them.

Nhuong said she may later fly to HCM City to visit the heart recipient.

I feel as if my son has returned. Barriers and sorrow in my heart have been lifted. Thanks for helping make my wish come true, she said.

On March 16, Nhuong spoke about her family on social network and her pain and sorrow.

Her only son was killed in a traffic accident on September 16, 2020 and was declared brain dead at Military Hospital 108. Nhuong and her family agreed to donate the sons organs to save six other patients.

The Military Hospital 108 carried out lung, liver, kidney and forearm transplant surgeries. The heart was carried to the Vietnam - Germany Friendship Hospital and transplanted into a patient with myocarditis.

Five organ recipients, who were patients at Military Hospital 108, later contacted Nhuong. Meanwhile, Nhuong had not found any information about the sixth recipient for a long time. There was a rumor that Nhuong sold her sons heart at VND2 billion.

Nhuong, who was depressed about her sons death, felt even worse because of rumors about selling the organs. She became sleepless and had to take tranquillizers every day.

Nhuong could not get information about the organ recipient from the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital which carried out the transplant surgery.

A representative of the hospital cited current laws and rejected Nhuongs proposal to provide information.

The other five recipients contacted Nhuong without any information support from hospitals.

In principle, organs are donated for humanitarian purposes. Donations will be refused if donors propose any requirements.

Tran Binh Giang, director of the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital, saud that the heart recipient is in good health.

Nguyen Lien

Mother wants to meet recipient of sons heart A 71-year-old mother has asked for help to meet the person who received a heart from her son, but she has been refused by the hospital.

Low number of organ transplant cases due to attitudes toward organ donations The Ministry of Health affirmed that Vietnam now can master organ transplantation techniques, but the number of transplants remains modest.
Burma Myanmar Nationals Allowed to Flee Regime for India After Initially Being Blocked

Myanmar nationals fleeing from Tamu were turned back by Manipur authorities. / Imphal Free Press

Authorities in Indias Manipur State reversed their order to turn back Myanmar nationals fleeing from Sagaing Regions Tamu on Saturday, according to the Imphal Free Press.

On March 26, home affairs authorities in Manipur issued an instruction not to provide assistance to Myanmar nationals fleeing to India following the militarys Feb.1 coup.

However, on March 30 the Special Secretary (Home Affairs) of the Manipur government said that the previous order had been misinterpreted and that he has decided to withdraw the previous letter in order to avoid misunderstandings.

The state government has been taking all humanitarian steps, including taking injured Myanmar nationals to Imphal for treatment. The state government continues to provide all aid, said Special Secretary Gyan Prakash.

A Tamu resident said on March 29 that the Manipur authorities were accepting elderly people, children and those holding valid ID cards.

They accept elderly persons and children. It appears that they accept those holding Myanmar citizenship ID cards and those who have contacts in Manipur. But theyre not accepting the mass of people who dont have contacts in India. Some people from Chin villages at the border have fled. But the young villagers cant flee, she said.

One civilian died and seven others were injured in Tamu during security forces crackdowns on anti-regime protesters on March 25 and 26.

I think it is still unnecessary for Tamu residents to flee from their homes. The situation here is not as bad as in other places. Fleeing can cause fear and could lead to a further exodus. I am participating in the protests. I can flee but I have not. I would like to ask the people to support each other, said one Tamu resident.

Despite the violent crackdowns, Tamu residents have continued resisting the juntas rule.

Although Myanmar nationals fleeing from Tamu were turned back at the Manipur border, Indias Mizoram State authorities are providing shelter for hundreds of striking police, government employees and civilians.

On March 21, Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga held talks with acting foreign minister Daw Zin Mar Aung of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, a body representing the deposed parliamentarians of the National League for Democracy. The Mizoram chief minister has also urged the Indian government to help Myanmar nationals fleeing to India.

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COLUMBIA  Signs urging slower traffic to move out of the left lane on highways could soon be posted  and drivers failing to heed them punished  if state House and Senate lawmakers can reach an agreement on specifics about the severity of the penalties.

The state Senate approved a bill on March 30 that would levy fines of $25, the same punishment as for not wearing a seatbelt, for drivers who hog the left lane on highways when they are not passing or overtaking other cars.

That's a less severe penalty than the one included in a similar bill the House passed earlier this month, which would slap left-lane slowpokes with a $200 fine and even up to 30 days in prison.

State Sen. Sean Bennett, who chaired the panel that made changes to the bill, said senators felt the House proposal was too harsh.

"As big as a problem as it is sometimes and frustrating as traffic can be, I don't think that we really want to send somebody to prison in order to affect their behavior on a driving violation," Bennett said.

The Senate bill would also only apply to highways with three or more lanes, whereas the House version included two-lane highways, as well.

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That change came at the recommendation of state transportation officials, who said that forcing all traffic to the right lane without a middle lane option would create a greater risk of crashes with merging drivers as they enter the highway.

State Rep. Jay West, who sponsored the stricter House version, said he expects they will be able to reach an agreement with the Senate on punishments.

After all, West said, the primary motivation for the legislation was to put more signs on the highways encouraging slower traffic to move right, which both the House and Senate bills would do.

"The biggest deal is to get people to understand that it's unsafe," said West, R-Belton. "Courtesy saves lives."

Similar proposals have been introduced for several years but failed to gain momentum in the Statehouse, including a bill last year that died when lawmakers wrapped up the session early due to the emergence of the coronavirus.
Derry City and Strabane District Council is to ask the British government for a 15m contribution towards the cost of running the local airport for the next six years.

At present, the council is responsible for paying all the costs associated with the management of City of Derry Airport.

This is costing local ratepayers 3.4m a year.

However, the council says that if the airport is to have a future, large-scale financial support is needed from both the British and Irish governments.

Details of a new business case for the management of the airport were revealed today at a meeting of the council's Governance and Strategic Planning committee.

The council's Lead Finance Officer, Alfie Dallas, told the meeting that the business case has three key elements.

The first is a request for a funding package of 15m from the British government over the next six years.

This, Mr Dallas said, would equate to a contribution of 2.5m a year towards the running costs of the airport.

The second main element of the business case would be a further request that the British government continues to provide 100% of the funding required to maintain the air route from Derry to London.

The government has already said that it will continue to cover the cost of the London route through a Public Service Order (PSO) until 2023.

PSOs provide funding for air routes which are seen as vital for the economic development of the region they serve.

The new business case from the council asks the British government to continue fully funding the London route after 2023.

Another key aspect of the business case, Mr Dallas said today, was negotiating with the Irish government to create a PSO air route between Derry and Dublin.

Mr Dallas said the council had received significant support from the British government and the Northern Ireland Executive to cover the losses at the airport as a result of the pandemic.

However, in relation to the long-term future of the airport, he said the council could not continue to subsidise the facility at the current rate.

The need for government intervention at this point is critical, said Mr Dallas.

The council's chief executive, John Kelpie, said a lot of hard work had gone in to the preparation of the business case.

If this application to government or governments is successful it will significantly reduce the financial challenge on council and the responsibility for the sustainability of the airport will become a shared responsibility with the council and our partners in government.

Clearly the journey ahead to reach that point will be challenging. It will require a lot of hard work to progress our case but it is actually very encouraging at this stage even in advance of producing this report to government that we have seen a number of positive engagements from government over the last number of months.

Councillors at today's meeting unanimously supported a proposal that council officers now 'urgently communicate' with the two governments in relation to the new business case for the airport.
[March 30, 2021] Insurity 2021 Analytics Outlook Report: Despite the Pandemic, 83% of P&C Insurers will Invest in Data & Analytics in 2021

Insurity, a leading provider of cloud-based software for insurance carriers, brokers, and MGAs, recently released its 2021 Analytics Outlook Report, which is the company's eighth annual report. Employing industry and proprietary research, the report identifies evolving property and casualty (P&C) underwriting and data analytics trends, including how the COVID-19 pandemic is shifting strategies and propelling investments in data analytics by 83% - despite market volatility and lower investment yields. The report includes major factors impacting commercial lines, such as how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact workers' compensation insurers, catastrophe risk trends, data governance, and why a heightened focus on underwriting excellence is necessary for insurers to safeguard loss ratios and establish competitive differentiation in a post-COVID market. "The benchmark of what makes 'good underwriting' is evolving rapidly," said Kirstin Marr, Head of Data Solutions at Insurity. "It's no longer enough that insurers have solutions to manage their internal data, explore third-party data, and utilize advanced analytics. To build competitive advantage, they must seamlessly incorporate analytics at every point in the decision-making process. We can expect to see more insurers shift their mindset to becoming analytics-driven throughout the policy lifecycle." Key findings from the report and Insurity's 2020 Underwriting Survey include: 83% of insurers are planning to invest more heavily in data and analytics in 2021

73% of respondents indicated the pandemic has moderately or greatlyaccelerated their digital strategies

59% of respondents cited predictive scoring, pricing, and risk selection tools as a priority for their data and analytics investments.

Other high-priority investments include real-time underwriting performance monitoring and management (39%), and third-party data (36%)

72% of respondents said they have "moderate," "significant," or "high" concern about their underwriters' adoption of predictive analytics, a sentiment consistent with Insurity's 2020 Outlook Report

53% of respondents who underwrite workers' compensation stated that they anticipate returning more than 10% of premium due to decrease in payroll, affirming findings revealed earlier this year in Insurity's Workers' Compensation Industry Trends Report

49% of respondents indicated that they are actively pursuing a better understanding of their portfolio accumulations/aggregates to cope with increasing catastrophe risk, followed by 32% who indicated incorporating more third-party hazard data



"It's clear that insurers who are putting advanced analytics into practice are seeing the value in both the short- and long-term," said Marr. "The competitive differentiation provided by data consortiums, predictive analytics, geospatial analytics, and other forms of advanced analytics enables more actionable insights. We're clearly seeing market momentum behind investing in data and analytics to drive better decision-making."

About Insurity

Insurity is a leading provider of cloud-based software and analytics for insurance carriers, brokers, and MGAs. Insurity is trusted by 15 of the top 25 property and casualty carriers in the US and has over 250 cloud-based deployments. Through its best-in-class digital platform and with unrivaled industry experience and thought leadership, Insurity is uniquely positioned to deliver exceptional value, empowering customers to focus on their core businesses, optimize their operations, and provide superior policyholder experiences. For more information, visit www.insurity.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005787/en/

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Education Chief Administrative Secretary Sarah Ruto addressing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education candidates at St.Peters Mumias Boys High School in Kakamega County on March 29.

Nairobi  The country's COVID-19 positivity rate on Monday rose to 26.6 per cent after 902 cases were reported from 3,395 samples tested within 24 hours0.

Nairobi remained the hardest hit county with 707 cases, followed by Nakuru (40), Uasin Gishu (39), Machakos (29), Kiambu (21) and Kajiado (21).

Kagwe also reported 18 virus-related deaths which he noted were fatalities that occurred on diverse dates but whose verification delayed.

The country's death toll rose to 2,135.

He reported the recovery of 407 patients, including 237 who were under home based care raising total recoveries to 92,161.

The number of COVID patients admitted in hospitals across the country shot up to 1,270. Another 4,620 patients were on home based isolation and care.

"The numbers in the Intensive Care Unit have also gone up to 137, 36 of them on ventilatory support and 91 on supplemental oxygen," Kagwe explained.

He said 90 other patients were separately on supplementary oxygen, 78 of them in general wards while 12 others were in the High Dependency Unit.

CS Kagwe appealed to Kenyans holding oxygen cylinders to return them to manufacturers for refill, amid a surging demand which he noted had doubled to 880 tonnes.

"Kagwe said it's unfortunate that there are about 20,000 oxygen cylinders are out there, when they can be used to save lives," he stated during an address earlier in the day.

While pleading with Kenyans to return the cylinders, Kagwe explained that they are costly to replace with a single cylinder costing Sh40,000.

"I appeal to those holding cylinders please return them to manufacturers so they can refill and use them in hospitals that need them, remember oxygen is not just a precious commodity in the fight against the virus, it can actually mean life and death for our people," Kagwe said.

He also noted the need to increase piping of oxygen to hospitals, so as to maximize the use of the cylinders.

According to the CS, there are 73 oxygen plants in the country, some of which are not operational.
BMW said it would source EV battery lithium from a second supplier, US-based Livent.

The value of the multi-year contract will total around EUR285m and Livent will supply the lithium directly to the group's battery cell manufacturers from 2022.

By 2030, at least half the automaker's global sales are expected to be fully electric vehicles, increasing the need for lithium.

"Lithium is one of the key raw materials for electromobility. By sourcing from a second supplier, we are securing requirements for production of our current fifth generation of battery cells. At the same time, we are making ourselves technologically, geographically and geopolitically less dependent on individual suppliers," said BMW purchasing chief Andreas Wendt.

The group previously signed a contract for lithium from hard-rock deposits at Australian mines back in 2019. Now, the company is broadening its supplier base and additionally sourcing lithium from Argentina where the material is obtained from brine from salt lakes. Livent employs an innovative method, that emphasises sustainable water use and minimises the impact on local ecosystems and communities. The company will also contribute important data to a study of sustainable lithium mining initiated by the BMW Group.

The salt lakes in the border region between Argentina, Bolivia and Chile are home to roughly half the world's lithium reserves. In conventional lithium mining, brine from the layers below the salt lakes is pumped out of the ground and evaporated in shallow basins.



Livent obtains lithium from a brine resource in northern Argentina, using a proprietary method that is particularly sustainable. To minimise the impact on the surrounding ecosystem, most of the brine used is returned directly to the surrounding habitat and not evaporated. This largely preserves the balance between the brine layers and groundwater layers. Solvents and other chemicals do not come into contact with the environment during this process. It also takes up much less space, since evaporation basins are barely used. The company is also involved in local educational programmes and infrastructure measures.

The BMW Group and BASF commissioned a scientific analysis of the water use of different lithium mining methods in South America from the University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Massachusetts Amherst in late 2020. The study will investigate the impact of lithium mining on local water resources and the surrounding ecosystems.

The aim is to improve the scientific understanding of the relationship between fresh water and lithium brine aquifers, to evaluate different technologies and thus provide the foundation for assessing sustainable lithium mining. The study will provide companies with a scientific basis to make more informed decisions on sustainable lithium mining in Latin America. The results of the study should be available in the first quarter of 2022.
Nurie Langlois, a junior linguistics and Asian languages and literature major at the University of Georgia who is half Korean and half white, shared her previous experiences with racism and discrimination. Socially-enforced stereotypes, such as the model minority stereotype, molded some of her experiences.

When I was in the ninth grade, there's this guy who stood up and was like, Hey guys, isnt it weird that Nuries Asian, but she's the best in our English class? I turned to him, and I was like, I was born in Alabama, Langlois said.

On the rise

Over the last year, an increased reporting of Asian-directed hate crimes has been observed in the United States.

In Stop AAPI Hates national report, released on Feb. 28, approximately 3,800 incidents were reported between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021. The majority of incidents concerned verbal harassment. Other incidents range from online harassment to physical assault. Women reported more incidents, and the most affected nationality was Chinese individuals.

Since the Atlanta mass shooting, hashtags such as #StopAsianHate have been trending worldwide. Communities have held vigils for the mass shooting and Congress held a hearing regarding Anti-Asian hate on March 18.

Langlois shared sentiments of feeling othered and alienated due to her mixed-race identity. Even though she was born and raised in the South, her classmates didnt consider her Southern.

Nothing shes faced has been super bad, Langlois said. However, microaggressions can lead to the enforcement of stereotypes.

Microaggressions entail a large variety of acts, statements and behaviors.

What makes them so disconcerting is that they happen casually, frequently and often without any harm intended, in everyday life, writes Jenee Desmond-Harris for Vox.

The distinction between racism, discrimination and microagressions can be determined by the severity of the incident. General gestures include mocking physical characteristics, mocking accents and reinforcing stereotypes.

Experiences at UGA

Most of these incidents occurred during Langloiss high school career, and she said UGA has been a lot more accepting.

Although UGA has been more accepting in Langloiss life, racially-insensitive experiences continue throughout her time at UGA, including microaggressions from other students. Langlois has received videos of peers mocking Hibachi chefs while doing an imitation of a Chinese accent and being a recipient of bat jokes'' as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I've noticed that a lot of Asian creators also make jokes like, Oh, I eat dog, just because it was a way to fit in, in a way, and I think that made things worse, Langlois said.

Langlois said that some of the reasons she used to not stand up for herself was due to the notion that a lot of times Asians don't speak out about these things.

I think I used to be more silent, like, Oh, who cares, and just ignore it, but now I'm a lot more okay with calling people out, going, Hey that's not okay. You can't say that at all. You shouldn't be making bat jokes, Langlois said.

Hannah Lee, a junior landscape architecture major, who is Korean-American, takes a different approach to monitoring Asian-directed discrimination.

I had a couple of like Asian professors and whenever they'd have an accent, Id always be checking and making sure that no one was irritating them or trying to make fun, Lee said.

Lees faced racial discrimination directly as well. During the summer 2019, Lee and her family faced racism while on vacation.

My grandma bumped into a white man there, and he called her a fucking stupid Chinese bitch, Lee said. She believes the man had thought she and her family didnt know English.

Although UGA hasnt been blatantly racist, Lee has experienced incidents that could be defined as microaggressions. In an Instagram post, Lee compiled a list of quotes shes heard including, Have you ever eaten dog before? and, Are you from North or South Korea?

Lee said she wouldnt speak up in defense in fear of what reactions [shed] stir up in people. The post covers Lees experience with internalized racism, self-hatred and her journey toward self-love and the need for love and community.
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(Newser)  Kayleigh McEnany will host a daytime talk show as part of her new gig with Fox News. The former White House press secretary will join co-hosts Harris Faulkner and Emily Compagno on Outnumbered, which features a rotating panel of guests, starting April 6, Variety reports. Deadline notes it's the most-watched cable news show in the noon time slot. "Kayleigh's unique background in politics and law coupled with her experiences confronting womens health challenges and life as a new mom will add robust insight to Outnumbered," Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott says in a statement, welcoming the 32-year-old Harvard Law School graduate back to the network "where she began her media career."

story continues below

McEnany was a production assistant on Fox's Huckabee, hosted by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, before becoming a CNN contributor in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election. She became a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee and President Trump's re-election campaign before taking the role of press secretary in April 2020. Fox previously hired another of Trump's press secretaries and Huckabee's daughter, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, though she's since left the network to pursue the gubernatorial office her father once held, per the Los Angeles Times. Former Trump economic advisor Larry Kudlow also has a show on Fox Business Network. (Fox just announced the hiring of a Trump family member.)
PM urges states to ensure containment to avert a second Covid wave

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for concerted efforts to avert a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic through an expanded `Test, Track and Treat process and setting up of micro containment zones to curb the spread of the disease.

In an interaction with state chief ministers regarding the Covid-19 situation via video conference, the prime minister said the country cannot afford to have another wave of the pandemic that has already debilitated the people and the countrys economy.

The chief ministers thanked the prime minister for the smooth implementation of the vaccination drive all across the country, while also giving their inputs and suggestions to further expand the vaccination coverage.

The challenge of maintaining Covid appropriate behaviour in the general public was also discussed, in light of the recent rise in the number of cases in some states. The chief ministers agreed on the requirement of greater vigilance and monitoring of the situation.

Union home minister listed out the districts on which the chief ministers need to put special focus, in order to contain the spread of the virus. The union health secretary gave a presentation on the current Covid situation in the country and the vaccination strategy.

Addressing the chief ministers, the prime minister said that more than 96 per cent of the cases in India have recovered and India is having one of the lowest fatality rates in the world. He expressed concern about the high test positivity rate in Maharashtra and MP. 70 districts of the country witnessed 150 per cent rise in the last few weeks. He urged to stop this emerging "second peak" of Corona immediately and warned, if we do not stop this growing pandemic now, then a country-wide outbreak can occur.

For stopping this emerging "second peak" of Corona, the prime minister stressed the need to take quick and decisive steps. Noting that the seriousness of the local administration about the use of masks is going down, the PM called for addressing the governance problems immediately at the regional level. He warned that the confidence which came from our achievements in the battle against Corona should not turn into negligence. He further stressed that the public should not be brought to panic mode and at the same time also get rid of trouble. He stressed the need to strategise by incorporating our past experiences, in our efforts.

The prime minister said there is a need for creation of micro containment zones and even as he stressed the need to be serious about 'Test, Track and Treat'. He said it is very important to track every infected person's contacts in the shortest time and keep the RT-PCR test rate above 70 per cent. He insisted on more RT-PCR tests in states which give more emphasis to Rapid antigen tests like Kerala, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and UP.

The prime minister called for an increase in testing and on paying special attention to the "referral system" and "ambulance network" in small cities. He said this is because now the whole country has opened up for travel and the number of people travelling has also increased. He stressed on the need for a new mechanism for sharing information among themselves. Similarly, responsibility of following the SOP for surveillance of the contacts of the travellers coming from abroad have also increased.

He also pointed to the need for identifying mutants of coronavirus and assessing their effects. He lauded the continually increased pace of vaccination in the country and the vaccination rates crossing more than 3 million in a single day. At the same time, he warned against wstge of vaccine doses. He noted that the vaccine waste in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to the tune of 10 per cent. He urged to immediately correct the drawbacks of planning and governance at the local level to reduce vaccine wastage.

MOSCOW -- Hundreds of Russian physicians have demanded authorities provide immediate medical assistance to jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny amid growing concerns over the state of his health.

Some 500 doctors and medical experts signed the online petition that was launched on March 28, one of the initiators of the petition, a journalist from the Insider website, Oleg Pshenichny, told RFE/RL.

The petition says that at a bare minimum, an independent physician whom Navalny trusts should have the opportunity to examine him. Better yet, it suggests Navalny be examined by experts from the Charite clinic in Berlin, Germany, where he was treated after he was poisoned in Siberia last year as the current deterioration of his condition may be related to the attack.

"We demand the Federal Penitentiary Service, all related entities, and the political leadership of our country immediately intervene in the situation and, without delay, secure medical assistance to create all necessary conditions for the normalization of Aleksei Navalny's state of health," the petition states.

Back Pain

Navalny's health condition became an issue last week after his allies said they were concerned over his deteriorating health and called on prison authorities to clarify his condition.

Navalny said he was suffering from severe back pain and that nothing was being done by prison authorities to solve the problem other than being given some ibuprofen.

Members of the Public Monitoring Commission in the Vladimir Region visited the prison over the weekend and met with Navalny in order to learn about problems with his health and the provision of medical treatment, according to the commission.

The commission's deputy chairman Vladimir Grigoryan told Dozhd television channel on March 29 that Navalny was faking his illness.

Grigoryan was unable to explain why he thinks that Navalny is simulating the illness and stopped the interview when he was asked to explain his comments, abruptly telling the Dozhd correspondent: "Goodbye, my dear."

Navalnys lawyers, meanwhile, have said that their client has not yet received official results of his MRI examination he had in a hospital outside the prison last week.

Vadim Kobzev, one of Navalny's lawyer, quoted his client as saying that the Public Monitoring Commission in the Vladimir region is "a bunch of swindlers and liars, who serve the administrations of concentration camps and make the situation for inmates even worse."

Navalny was detained at a Moscow airport in January immediately upon returning from Berlin, where he was recovering from what several Western laboratories determined was a poisoning attempt using a Novichok-type nerve agent that saw him fall seriously ill on a flight in Siberia in August 2020.

Navalny has said the assassination attempt was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin -- an allegation rejected by the Kremlin.

A Moscow court in February ruled that while being treated in Germany, Navalny had violated the terms of parole from an old embezzlement case that is widely considered to be politically motivated.

His suspended 3 1/2-year sentence was converted into jail time, though the court reduced that amount to 2 1/2 years for time already served in detention.

The petition signed by Russian physicians reminded Russian authorities that the European Court of Human Rights in 2017 ruled that the case which is the basis for Navalny's current incarceration was "unfair," and therefore Putin's most-vocal critic should not even be in jail.

Navalnys imprisonment set off a wave of national protests and, in turn, a violent police crackdown against his supporters.

The European Union, the United States, and Canada imposed a series of sanctions against Russia over the Navalny poisoning, his jailing, and the treatment of protesters by security forces.

With reporting by Dozhd
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has nominated Dr Philip Mpango as her Vice President.

The National Assembly Speaker, Speaker Job Ndugai unveiled his names at the Parliament in Dodoma Tuesday immediately a Question and Answers session.

Read more Dr Mpango nominated as Tanzania's 14th Vice President

But who is Dr Philip Mpango?

Dr Mpango is the Minister for Finance and Planning of the United Republic of Tanzania, and has been in office since November 2015.

Dr. Mpango previously held positions as the Acting Commissioner General of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), the Executive Secretary in the President's Office (Planning Commission), the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance & Economic Affairs, according to the World Bank.

Read more Dr Mpango: I will work hard, fights for oppressed

He also worked as the Personal Assistant to the President (Economic Affairs), the Head of the President's Economic Advisory Unit, Senior Economist for the World Bank as well as visiting Lecturer in Public Economics, Collaborative Masters program for Anglo-phone Africa, AERC, Nairobi-Kenya, and Lecturer, Economics Department University of Dar es Salaam.

Some of Dr Mpango's notable publications include: Macro-micro Linkages in the Fight Against Poverty: Missing Links and Enabling Bridges (2004); Some Reflections on Semi-privatization of Customs Administration in Tanzania (1996), and a chapter on Spatial Dimensions of Economic Growth published in Tanzania Sustaining and Sharing Growth.

Dr. Mpango was also the Principal Supervisor for the preparation of The National Five Year Development Plan 2011/12 - 2015/16.
Were drawing to the end of Womens History Month, a month that I think deserves some special reflection within the financial services industry. Financial services and products have historically been designed by and for men, presenting formidable barriers for womens financial independence, even in 2021.

In honor of Womens History Month, we thought wed take a look at services and products that have helped to financially empower women as far back as 1870:

Personal loans: In 1973, Feminist Federal Credit Union was founded for women, by women. According to Michigan Credit Union League, Unable to get loans in their own name, a group of amazing women pooled their resources so that women who were saving money could lend it to those who were in need. The first loans that were given were for a motorcycle, a kiln, college tuition and divorce attorney fees.

Business loans: Micro-lending took the financial world by a storm after Mohammed Yunus launched the Grameen Bank Project in Bangladesh in 1976. The project started with a $27 loan to local women who wove bamboo stools, who were making just a few pennies off each stool because they couldnt afford to pay for their materials up front. While microlending is certainly not limited to women, today 83% of Kiva microloans support female entrepreneurs. Some credit unions, like Lake Trust Credit Union, have designed their own microloan products.
Ajay Devgn found himself in midst of a controversy after a video of a brawl outside Delhi's Aerocity mall made its way to the Internet. When the video went viral, many claimed that its the actor who was beaten up during the brawl. Yes, you read that right. The video has two groups fighting outside the mall which resulted in them flouting COVID protocols. A quarrel broke out between them after one of their vehicles 'slightly touched' the other.

People on social media thought that Ajay was a part of this brawl but as soon as his team got to know about the same, they issued a clarification on the actors part and said that he hasnt traveled to Delhi post the promotion of his last film, Tanhaji-The Unsung Warrior.

The statement reads, "Post the promotion of Tanhaji-The Unsung Warrior in January 2020, Actor-filmmaker Ajay Devgn has not visited Delhi. So media reports of a brawl involving the superstar outside a Delhi pub are absolutely baseless and untrue. We request news agencies and media to please note that Mr. Devgn has been in Mumbai the entire time shooting for Maidaan, MayDay, and Gangubai Kathiawadu and he hasnt set foot in the Capital in 14 months. Request all media to please cross-check before putting out anything. Spokesperson to Mr. Ajay Devgn."

Heres the video:

After his team, Ajay has also weighed in to put an end to the confusion and said that these reports are completely baseless. He tweeted, Some doppelganger of mine seems to have got into trouble. Ive been getting concerned calls. Just clarifying, Ive not traveled anywhere. All reports regarding me being in any brawl are baseless. Happy Holi.

Some doppelganger of mine seems to have got into trouble.

Ive been getting concerned calls. Just clarifying, Ive not traveled anywhere. All reports regarding me being in any brawl are baseless. Happy Holi  Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) March 29, 2021

When his tweet started getting traction, people started to react to his statement, suggesting him not to bother himself with a fake video.

I was telling my friends that it's a fake https://t.co/KIssv2XeGL hour before I saw that video.kya se kya bana dete hai Ajayji.  Rishi Sharma (@Rishirsharma28) March 29, 2021

ye sb ignore kia kro sir .. lovee you!  NISHANT (@NishantADHolic_) March 29, 2021

Ye baat mujhe pahle se hi pata tha sir ,ki aap kisi trouble mai involve nhi ho,ye kuch ghatiya log h jo apni ghatiyapan ka sabut dete h is tarah ka news phailakar, don't worry sir ,jiska naam hota hai log usi ko badnam karne ki kosis karte h  Lalit Kumar (@LalitKu82595367) March 29, 2021

Its a fake news. I have already told my friends about it.



Kindly ignore it sir. Happy Holi. pic.twitter.com/Dny3ve7NO4   (@nawaabshahab) March 29, 2021

Happy holi sir aap inke fake video par react hi mat kijiye jinhone fake video share kiya unki bajaa di gayi hai.  Ajay   fan (@RAID_FANCLUB) March 29, 2021

Meanwhile, on the work front, Ajay will next be seen in a special appearance in Rohit Shetty's Sooryavanshi where he will reprise his role as DCP Bajirao Singham. The film is releasing on April 30, 2021.

The actor also has an important role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi for which he has been shooting in Mumbai. Ajay will also be seen in SS Rajamouli's RRR.
The two companies operating Melbournes train and tram services pocketed $16 million in taxpayer-funded bonuses for exceeding their performance targets during the pandemic  despite there being almost no passengers.

Between April and December last year, when commuters had largely deserted the train and tram networks, Metro Trains and Yarra Trams received the money on top of the payments the two overseas-owned firms receive to operate the network.

A train last April during what would normally have been the morning peak. Credit:Luis Ascui

The bonuses also came on top of special COVID-relief payments the operators were granted by the Andrews government.

Metro pocketed $12 million in bonuses  more than 80 per cent of all the incentives it earned since the start of 2019, an internal Transport Department breakdown reveals.
When Natasha Daniels, a senior at the University of Albany, first participated in Fresh Acts, the colleges annual festival of student plays, she was so shy, she recalls, I couldnt even tell someone Excuse me on a bus.

But after acting, writing and directing for the festival over the past four years, I feel like I have a power now that I didnt have before, she said recently. I know how to navigate the world in a way thats more precise and clear, and theres a grace to my awkwardness that I didnt think I had.

This spring, Daniels has been living at home in New Jersey, Zooming in to her classes and to Fresh Acts rehearsals. Shes directing Brewed Kindred, written by Ryan Buchholz, in which the heroine struggles to escape her dark past by taking a new job in a small town.

Its really hard to stay creative during this time, and this has lit a fire within me, Daniels said. I get to be around people and be a part of someones vision.

Modeled on professional play development festivals around the country, Fresh Acts gives Broadway hopefuls the opportunity for collaboration with their peers, which is really at the heart of the American theater, explains associate professor Kate Walat, who launched the series in 2018 and serves as its artistic director. All of us, including myself, are looking for ways to connect, and the Fresh Acts process has always been about thatconversation and connection focused around art and theater, which can continue even in a virtual platform.

Created by a team of 26 student actors, playwrights, directors and stage managers, this years festival features staged readings of four one-act plays, which will be livestreamed via Zoom April 710. Brooklyn-based playwright Amina Henry, whose work Interstate kicked off the festival last week, made the final selection.

I picked the plays that felt the most resonant and had a really clear voice, Henry said recently. I also wanted to pick a diversity of playsplays that approached theater-making or playwriting or storytelling from different angles. Its really interesting to me to see what young playwrights are responding to and what theyre thinking about. Theyre writing about sexuality in a way that I find inspiring, and about existential dread in a way that I find heartbreaking but also really interesting.

One of the four finalists, Christopher Guillaumes Hope, directed by Colin Gioia, takes place in Queens in the 1990s, and follows a police officer torn between his partner on the force and the women in his life.

I wanted to write something gritty, something raw, and as a writer, it was important for me to challenge myself to write about a period I wasnt necessarily accustomed to, Guillaume said. In response to last years protests following George Floyds death, he added another character that better represented what was going on in the police community in the 90s and whats going on now, he said.

Also on the Fresh Acts docket is Please Listen, written by Witnie Dupre and directed by Billy Feerick, about a high school senior whose mother is trying to keep her safe in the Brooklyn neighborhood where her brother was shot; and Face the Music, a comedy-drama by MJ Johnson, directed by Liv Larson, about the impossibility of returning home. In the Solo Showcase on Friday afternoon, 10 students in the theater programs crafting solo performance class will read five-minute excerpts of their work.

Some of the plays featured in the festival have gone on to full productions, in one of the colleges New Works/New Ways shows or in Capital Repertory Theatres Next Act! series. But perhaps most important for students like Daniels and Guillaume, the experience has affirmed their creative path and the importance of their unique voices.

Fresh Acts has elevated me not only as a writer but as a person, said Guillaume. The process has taught me to maintain who I am as an African American writer, and stick true to myself in my writing and my identity.
LONDON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FinecoBank today announces that funds from CANDRIAM are now available to Fineco customers via its investing platform.

CANDRIAM is a global multi-asset manager focused on sustainable and responsible investment It offers diversified investment solutions in fixed income, innovative thematic equities, absolute performance strategies, asset allocation and alternatives including real estate and private credit.

This new partnership means that CANDRIAM will join a range of other leading platform providers on Fineco's investing platform including Carmignac, Robeco, JP Morgan Asset Management, Fidelity Investments, Aberdeen Investments, M&G Investments, and Columbia Threadneedle Investments.

Paolo Di Grazia, deputy general manager, Fineco: "This collaboration strengthens our sustainable investing offering. ESG investing is rightfully becoming increasingly popular amongst our customers, and through our investing platform with its competitively priced fees, it could not be easier for people to invest in funds that can foster a more sustainable future for our planet."

Renato Guerriero, Chief Sales and Distribution Officer, CANDRIAM added: "We are delighted to partner with FinecoBank in the UK to extend our offering to their growing client base. CANDRIAM has long standing responsible investment credentials, we launched our first ESG strategy in 1996 and today we have one of the largest ESG offering available in Europe. We are fully committed to channelling capital for the common good. Since 2017,10 per cent of the management fees of CANDRIAM's Sustainable strategies support social inclusion projects and charities through our Institute for Sustainable Development. We are pleased to offer our innovative products to FinecoBank customers in the UK."

About FinecoBank

Launched in 2017 in UK, FinecoBank, the multi-currency bank and one of the most important FinTech banks in Europe, has built an integrated business model proposing customers its One-Stop-Solution: it offers from a single account banking, trading and investment services through innovative transactional platforms developed with proprietary technologies. Fineco represents a new way of banking, a smart way to invest money.

Fineco's mission is to simplify customers' lives when dealing with financial services, and has developed a very powerful yet user-friendly platform. Learn more about us on finecobank.co.uk.

About CANDRIAM

CANDRIAM stands for "Conviction AND Responsibility In Asset Management" and is a European multi-specialist asset manager with a 20-year track record. CANDRIAM manages around EUR 140 billion of assets under management[1] with a team of more than 600 professionals. It operates management offices in Luxembourg, Brussels, Paris, and London, and has client representatives in more than 20 countries throughout continental Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Middle East. CANDRIAM offers investment solutions in several key areas: bonds, equities, absolute performance strategies, and asset allocation. CANDRIAM is also a pioneer and leader in sustainable investments with, since 1996, a broad and innovative range covering all its asset classes.

CANDRIAM is a New York Life Company. New York Life Investments[2] ranks among the world's largest asset managers[3].

For more information see: www.candriam.com.
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SEATTLE, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Javad Sajan, of Allure Esthetic Plastic Surgery, is among one of the United States' top plastic surgeons. Having performed over a thousand plastic surgery procedures, Dr. Sajan offers a higher standard of skill and care to his patients. Known for his revolutionary surgical techniques that allow him to perform complex and difficult procedures at the same time, leading to better results and lessened recovery. His dedication to making progress in the plastic surgery field makes him one of the best plastic surgeons in the United States .

Along with his proven surgical skill, Dr. Javad Sajan is frequently referenced in news and media outlets. As one of the foremost plastic surgeons in the US, Dr. Sajan has been featured in Cosmopolitan magazine and Plastic Surgery Practice magazine . In combination with his media appearances, Dr. Sajan also hosts the Plastic Surgeon Podcast where he features real patient stories and provides background on each surgery. He also created realdrseattle , a TV series that shows transgender and plastic surgery journeys from start to finish.

Dr. Sajan's patients also agree that he is the best plastic surgeon in the US. One of his patients says, "Dr. Sajan and his team are incredible! I'm a little over a year post op and I'm thrilled with my results! Dr. Sajan and his team have been nothing but supportive, caring, and attentive the entire way. From answering all of my questions to going above and beyond the call to make sure that I am comfortable and happy with my body. I cannot recommend this team and office enough!"

About Dr. Javad Sajan: Dr. Javad Sajan of Allure Esthetic Plastic Surgery is one of America's leading plastic surgeons performing plastic and gender affirming surgeries at his Seattle based clinic. He continues to refine his techniques to better meet patient goals. Patients come from across the country and even internationally to undergo surgery with Dr. Sajan because of his high level of skill and expertise.

Contact: realdrseattle Medical Marketing

Phone: 206-787-0784

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Allure Esthetic Plastic Surgery
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Kington, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/30/2021 -- QuickBooks has launched software for global business owners, and is empowered to work with country-specific tax structures, currencies, and languages.



For example, the Canadian, British and Australian divisions uniquely inhibit the tax calculation needs of each region, such as Canada's GST, HST or PST sales tax, European VAT for the United Kingdom edition and Australia's GST sales tax. The U.S. has a sales tax and associates taxes with the customer. The Canadian system, on the other hand, associates taxes with the item.



The QuickBooks UK edition also includes support for Irish and South African VAT. The US version of QuickBooks does not handle VAT so data files need to be converted to the UK version to handle VAT filings.



Another example is language. To represent both of Canada's official languages, QuickBooks has a French language version. This version is localized and professionally translated for ease of use. QuickBooks Canada can interestingly create invoices in 6 different languages, English, Canadian French, Spanish, Italian, Traditional Chinese, and Portuguese. QuickBooks USA is only available in English.



A conversion of QuickBooks may be necessary when adopting sales tax of the region. If businesses operate in more than one country, or if a company file was set up in a different nationality of QuickBooks  such as having a main office in Canada and a division in the USA with its own QuickBooks file. "Because the US version of QuickBooks won't read a file from the Canadian version it is difficult to switch the file to the appropriate software, John Rocha, E-Tech's Technical Services Manager said.



E-Tech's conversion service looks after the converting a data file from one international version to another - fromQuickBooks Canada to US, UK to US, or vice versa.



More service specifications for E-Tech's International Version Conversion: US, Canada & UK Editions can be seen at https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/quickbooks-data-conversions/canada-to-uk-conversion/.



About E-Tech

E-Tech is the leading service provider of QuickBooks File Repair, Data Recovery, QuickBooks Conversion and QuickBooks SDK programming in the UK and Ireland. In their 20 years plus of experience with Intuit QuickBooks, they have assisted over 1000 satisfied customers with their requirements. E-Tech UK covers US, UK, Canadian, Australian versions which include Reckon Accounts, and New Zealand versions of QuickBooks through PC and Mac platforms.



For media inquiries regarding E-Tech, individuals are encouraged to contact Media Relations Director, Melanie Ann via email at Melanie@e-tech.ca.



To learn more about the company, visit: https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/



Media Contact



Melanie Ann

E-Tech

61 Bridge St.

Kington HR5 3DJ

Melanie@e-tech.ca

www.quickbooksrecovery.co.uk
New Delhi, March 30 : BJP supporters on Tuesday reportedly greeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with 'Jai Shri Ram' chants in Nandigram.

Banerjee, who is contesting the Assembly elections from Nandigram against BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, her once close aide turned adversary, is campaigning in the constituency since Sunday.

It is learnt that before she was about to leave for Bhangabera, BJP supporters greeted Banerjee with Jai Shri Ram chants at Reyapara. A local Trinamool worker said that sensing defeat, the BJP is resorting to cheap tactics to make others uncomfortable.

The personnel deployed for the Chief Minister's security ensured that the BJP supporters did not reach near her.

A BJP worker said that raising Jai Shri Ram chant is not a crime.

Banerjee had strongly reacted to Jai Sri Ram chants in the past, including at a function in Kolkata's Victoria Memorial to mark the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present in the function.

With Nandigrah set to go to the polls in the second phase on April 1, the war of words between Banerjee and Adhikari has escalated in the last few days.

While Adhikari has accused Banerjee of indulging in appeasement politics, the Chief Minister has alleged that the saffron party is terrorising the voters by deploying forces from BJP ruled states.
Surfers walk past a seawall built in front of a home at Victoria Beach, in the city of Laguna Beach, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Laguna Beach Seawall to be Demolished After High Court Declines Review

The California Supreme Court has upheld an order requiring a Laguna Beach couple to remove an unpermitted seawall in front of their beachfront home and pay a $1 million fine for its illegal construction.

The March 25 decision ends a lawsuit more than three months after an appellate court upheld the California Coastal Commissions fine and cease and desist order.

In limited circumstances, shoreline armoring or seawalls may be an appropriate adaptation tool to protect communities, infrastructure, and public access facilities, Noaki Schwartz, California Coastal Commission spokesperson, told The Epoch Times via email.

They can provide immediate, short-term protection, but they also cause significant adverse impacts to beaches. Seawalls can lead to increased erosion, loss of public beaches, and harm to neighboring properties.

Resting on Victoria Beach, the 11-foot seawall served as an 80-foot-long protection against the Pacific Ocean.

Jeffrey and Tracy Katz earlier petitioned the Fourth Appellate District Court, arguing that the home remodel that prompted the fine was permitted as repair and maintenance rather than a new development.

The California Coastal Commission said in a statement following the Supreme Court ruling: The commission is committed to ensuring the protection of our coast in a careful and thoughtful way, and the courts action this week puts an end to years of litigation seeking to undermine those efforts at this site.

Protecting Californias beaches and the publics access to them is at the very heart of the Coastal Act. Our obligation to ensure that the public has good access to healthy beaches is more challenging than ever in light of the threats from sea level rise, and we must take care of this precious resource.

A three-panel judge appellate court last December unanimously upheld an order by the coastal commission that required the couple take down the seawall and pay the fine.

The Katzs argument rested on whether construction at their 11 Lagunita home constituted a major remodel or if it was merely a routine repair and maintenance, which doesnt require as much government oversight.

The homes previous owners had made a deal with the commission in 2014 that would allow them to build a seawall on the condition that the seawall would not be used to protect any future development at the site. The purpose of this condition was to ensure that any future residence on the site would be located further back from the bluff to avoid the continuing need for a seawall, a report states.

The permit specified that when the new ownersthe Katz family bought the property, that approval for the sea wall would expire if the home were significantly remodeled.

These requirements were crafted to protect the home as it existed at the time, but also ensure that any new construction which extended the life of the structure would have to be relocated further from the ocean bluff to avoid the need for a future seawall, and the beach could be restored, a report said.

The Katz bought the property in 2015, and decided to make changes to the home.

Laguna Beach city officials offered building permits to the family in 2016 for repair and maintenance, rather than a major remodeling. The owners would have needed a development permit in order to do a major remodeling.

A neighbor complained that the Katzs residence was undergoing extensive construction, and requested a cease-and-desist order from the coastal commission.

The coastal commission deemed the Katz remodeling an expansive rebuild that increased the homes value from $14 million to $25 million.

The commission doesnt usually allow seawalls because they damage beaches by preventing sand from reaching the beach, which eventually causes beaches to shrink until they disappear, a report states.

In 2018, the coastal commission ordered the seawall to be removed and the Katz pay a $1 million fine for not obtaining the proper permits.

The state Supreme Court decided not to review the $1 million penalty and cease and desist order, and the original order was upheld.

The Katzs lawyer was not immediately available for comment.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30) There will be a "slight delay" in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to be supplied by the COVAX facility to the Philippines due to logistical issues, Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Tuesday.

"Ang latest information po natin sa COVAX ay magkakaroon po tayo ng slight delay considering of the constraints sa ating global logistics," Galvez told a virtual Palace briefing.

"Nagkakaroon ng massive vaccination iyong mga countries na nandoon ang manufacturing," he explained. "So ang nakita po natin ay magkakaroon po ng restrictions on the exports of these vaccines."

[Translation: Our latest information from COVAX is that we will have a slight delay considering the constraints in global logistics. Massive vaccination is ongoing in countries where the manufacturing also takes place. So we're seeing there will be restrictions on the exports of these vaccines.]

The pronouncement comes after the COVAX facility had announced deliveries of vaccines from the Serum Institute of India will be delayed this March and April due to the South Asian country's battle against a new wave of virus infections.

COVAX is a global initiative led by the World Health Organization, vaccine alliance Gavi, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations that seeks member countries' equitable access to coronavirus vaccines.

The Philippines has been expecting the arrival of one million more doses from COVAX this April, regardless of brand.

TIMELINE: COVID-19 vaccine deliveries and rollout in the Philippines

Galvez said the government is "trying its best" to facilitate the remaining commitment from COVAX.

This is not the first time the country encountered roadblocks in vaccine deliveries from the global facility.

The Philippines was supposed to receive 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines in February, but the delivery was hampered due to the absence of an indemnification deal between the parties. The initial AstraZeneca vaccine donations the second shipment to arrive in the Philippines earlier this month were also delayed by a few days.
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Sovereign Metals Ltd (ASX:SVM) managing director Julian Stephens tells Proactive Investors that the style of mineralisation at its Malingunde Graphite Project in Malawi means it will have "one of the lowest operating costs globally," as laid out in the PFS published last week. On the...
(Newser)  A website for Donald and Melania Trump's personal offices has gone live, promising to preserve "the magnificent legacy of the Trump Administration, while at the same time advancing the America First agenda." So far, content on 45office.com is thin, USA Today reports. There's a page with a bio of each of them and forms inviting visitors to "share your thoughts," "request a greeting," and invite the former president or his wife to an event. The form asks who else is going to the event, such as media or any "notable attendees," per CNN. The site also has a series of photos of the Trumps during his term in office.

story continues below

"Through this office, President Trump will remain a tireless champion for the hardworking men and women of our great country," the homepage says, per the Hill. Since being removed from social media sites after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, the former president has used an email subscriber list when issuing political statements. The effort has been less successful than his Twitter posts were, per USA Today, and Trump might being putting his releases on the new site. An aide said recently that Trump was in talks about starting a site that would "redefine" social media, but there's been no sign of it yet. (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
New observations with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT) indicate that the rogue comet 2I/Borisov, which is only the second and most recently detected interstellar visitor to our Solar System, is one of the most pristine ever observed. Astronomers suspect that the comet most likely never passed close to a star, making it an undisturbed relic of the cloud of gas and dust it formed from.

2I/Borisov was discovered by amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov in August 2019 and was confirmed to have come from beyond the Solar System a few weeks later. "2I/Borisov could represent the first truly pristine comet ever observed," says Stefano Bagnulo of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, Northern Ireland, UK, who led the new study published today in Nature Communications. The team believes that the comet had never passed close to any star before it flew by the Sun in 2019.

Bagnulo and his colleagues used the FORS2 instrument on ESO's VLT, located in northern Chile, to study 2I/Borisov in detail using a technique called polarimetry [1]. Since this technique is regularly used to study comets and other small bodies of our Solar System, this allowed the team to compare the interstellar visitor with our local comets.

The team found that 2I/Borisov has polarimetric properties distinct from those of Solar System comets, with the exception of Hale-Bopp. Comet Hale-Bopp received much public interest in the late 1990s as a result of being easily visible to the naked eye, and also because it was one of the most pristine comets astronomers had ever seen. Prior to its most recent passage, Hale-Bopp is thought to have passed by our Sun only once and had therefore barely been affected by solar wind and radiation. This means it was pristine, having a composition very similar to that of the cloud of gas and dust it -- and the rest of the Solar System -- formed from some 4.5 billion years ago.

By analysing the polarisation together with the colour of the comet to gather clues on its composition, the team concluded that 2I/Borisov is in fact even more pristine than Hale-Bopp. This means it carries untarnished signatures of the cloud of gas and dust it formed from.

"The fact that the two comets are remarkably similar suggests that the environment in which 2I/Borisov originated is not so different in composition from the environment in the early Solar System," says Alberto Cellino, a co-author of the study, from the Astrophysical Observatory of Torino, National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Italy.

Olivier Hainaut, an astronomer at ESO in Germany who studies comets and other near-Earth objects but was not involved in this new study, agrees. "The main result -- that 2I/Borisov is not like any other comet except Hale-Bopp -- is very strong," he says, adding that "it is very plausible they formed in very similar conditions."

"The arrival of 2I/Borisov from interstellar space represented the first opportunity to study the composition of a comet from another planetary system and check if the material that comes from this comet is somehow different from our native variety," explains Ludmilla Kolokolova, of the University of Maryland in the US, who was involved in the Nature Communications research.

Bagnulo hopes astronomers will have another, even better, opportunity to study a rogue comet in detail before the end of the decade. "ESA is planning to launch Comet Interceptor in 2029, which will have the capability of reaching another visiting interstellar object, if one on a suitable trajectory is discovered," he says, referring to an upcoming mission by the European Space Agency.

An origin story hidden in the dust

Even without a space mission, astronomers can use Earth's many telescopes to gain insight into the different properties of rogue comets like 2I/Borisov. "Imagine how lucky we were that a comet from a system light-years away simply took a trip to our doorstep by chance," says Bin Yang, an astronomer at ESO in Chile, who also took advantage of 2I/Borisov's passage through our Solar System to study this mysterious comet. Her team's results are published in Nature Astronomy.

Yang and her team used data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in which ESO is a partner, as well as from ESO's VLT, to study 2I/Borisov's dust grains to gather clues about the comet's birth and conditions in its home system.

They discovered that 2I/Borisov's coma -- an envelope of dust surrounding the main body of the comet -- contains compact pebbles, grains about one millimetre in size or larger. In addition, they found that the relative amounts of carbon monoxide and water in the comet changed drastically as it neared the Sun. The team, which also includes Olivier Hainaut, says this indicates that the comet is made up of materials that formed in different places in its planetary system.

The observations by Yang and her team suggest that matter in 2I/Borisov's planetary home was mixed from near its star to further out, perhaps because of the existence of giant planets, whose strong gravity stirs material in the system. Astronomers believe that a similar process occurred early in the life of our Solar System.

While 2I/Borisov was the first rogue comet to pass by the Sun, it was not the first interstellar visitor. The first interstellar object to have been observed passing by our Solar System was ?Oumuamua, another object studied with ESO's VLT back in 2017. Originally classified as a comet, ?Oumuamua was later reclassified as an asteroid as it lacked a coma.

Notes

[1] Polarimetry is a technique to measure the polarisation of light. Light becomes polarised, for example, when it goes through certain filters, like the lenses of polarised sunglasses or cometary material. By studying the properties of sunlight polarised by a comet's dust, researchers can gain insights into the physics and chemistry of comets.

More information

This research highlighted in the first part of this release was presented in the paper "Unusual polarimetric properties for interstellar comet 2I/Borisov" to appear in Nature Communications (doi: [10.1038/s41467-021-22000-x] - https:/ / www. nature. com/ articles/ s41467-021-22000-x ). The second part of the release highlights the study "Compact pebbles and the evolution of volatiles in the interstellar comet 2I/Borisov" to appear in Nature Astronomy (doi: [10.1038/s41550-021-01336-w] - https:/ / www. nature. com/ articles/ s41550-021-01336-w ).

The team who conducted the first study is composed of S. Bagnulo (Armagh Observatory & Planetarium, UK [Armagh]), A. Cellino (INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Italy), L. Kolokolova (Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, US), R. Neic (Armagh; Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, UK; Centre for Planetary Science, University College London/Birkbeck, UK), T. Santana-Ros (Departamento de Fisica, Ingenieria de Sistemas y Teoria de la Senal, Universidad de Alicante, Spain; Institut de Ciencies del Cosmos, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain), G. Borisov (Armagh; Institute of Astronomy and National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria), A. A. Christou (Armagh), Ph. Bendjoya (Universite Cote d'Azur, Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange, Nice, France), and M. Devogele (Arecibo Observatory, University of Central Florida, US).

The team who conducted the second study is composed of Bin Yang (European Southern Observatory, Santiago, Chile [ESO Chile]), Aigen Li (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA), Martin A. Cordiner (Astrochemistry Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, USA and Department of Physics, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, USA), Chin-Shin Chang (Joint ALMA Observatory, Santiago, Chile [JAO]), Olivier R. Hainaut (European Southern Observatory, Garching, Germany), Jonathan P. Williams (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, USA [IfA Hawai'i]), Karen J. Meech (IfA Hawai'i), Jacqueline V. Keane (IfA Hawai'i), and Eric Villard (JAO and ESO Chile).

ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It has 16 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile and with Australia as a Strategic Partner. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope and its world-leading Very Large Telescope Interferometer as well as two survey telescopes, VISTA working in the infrared and the visible-light VLT Survey Telescope. Also at Paranal ESO will host and operate the Cherenkov Telescope Array South, the world's largest and most sensitive gamma-ray observatory. ESO is also a major partner in two facilities on Chajnantor, APEX and ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope, the ELT, which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky".

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international astronomy facility, is a partnership of ESO, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) of Japan in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. ALMA is funded by ESO on behalf of its Member States, by NSF in cooperation with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and by NINS in cooperation with the Academia Sinica (AS) in Taiwan and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI). ALMA construction and operations are led by ESO on behalf of its Member States; by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), managed by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), on behalf of North America; and by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) on behalf of East Asia. The Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) provides the unified leadership and management of the construction, commissioning and operation of ALMA.

###

Links

* Research papers:

* Bagnulo et. al, Nature Communications - https:/ / www. eso. org/ public/ archives/ releases/ sciencepapers/ eso2106/ eso2106a. pdf

* Yang et. al, Nature Astronomy - https:/ / www. eso. org/ public/ archives/ releases/ sciencepapers/ eso2106/ eso2106b. pdf

* Photos of the VLT - http://www. eso. org/ public/ images/ archive/ category/ paranal/

* Photos of the ALMA - https:/ / www. eso. org/ public/ images/ archive/ category/ alma/

* For scientists: got a story? Pitch your research]- https:/ / www. eso. org/ sci/ publications/ announcements/ sciann17369. html

Contacts

Stefano Bagnulo

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium

Armagh, UK

Tel: +44 (0)28 3752 3689

Email: Stefano.Bagnulo@Armagh.ac.uk

Alberto Cellino

INAF Torino

Turin, Italy

Tel: +39 011 8101933

Email: alberto.cellino@inaf.it

Ludmilla Kolokolova

Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland

College Park, Maryland, USA

Tel: +1-301-405-1539

Email: lkolokol@umd.edu

Bin Yang

European Southern Observatory

Santiago, Chile

Email: byang@eso.org

Olivier Hainaut

European Southern Observatory

Garching bei Munchen, Germany

Tel: +49 89 3200 6752

Cell: +49 151 2262 0554

Email: ohainaut@eso.org

Barbara Ferreira

European Southern Observatory

Garching bei Munchen, Germany

Tel: +49 89 3200 6670

Cell: +49 151 241 664 00

Email: press@eso.org
Editor's note: This is part two of a three-part report. To read the report in full, visit auburnpub.com.

"Our flag does not fly because the wind moves It. Our flag flies with the last breath of each soldier who dies protecting it."  Author unknown

Poppy campaign

Each year we have made available to the community poppies bearing the name of each of the warriors killed in Vietnam. Prior to 2020, we recognized 27. With our due diligence, we discovered two more of our Cayuga County fallen. These poppy sales help the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter No. 704 raise funds for chapter activities on behalf of all veterans in the community.

Scholarship program

We make available one scholarship to every high school senior class in our county. The chapter firmly believes in helping students achieve their educational goals. The scholarship recipients are selected by the local school districts. Availability is dependent upon the fundraising efforts of the chapter and the generosity of the public.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor Tribute Ride
Over the past quarter of a century a dangerous new belief has sprung up in political circles.

It is that ex-prime ministers have every right to enrich themselves as much as possible by exploiting the contacts and know-how they acquired in office.

Tony Blair has done this on an epic scale. He has made tens of millions of pounds in order to live the life of a tycoon. And if this has sometimes necessitated pocketing money from dodgy dictators, he has held his nose and got on with it.

It grieves me that David Cameron has now followed suit.

Tony Blair (pictured with wife Cherie) has made tens of millions of pounds in order to live the life of a tycoon

David Cameron has now followed suit and stood at one stage to make as much as 70 million out of a very ill-judged financial relationship

The former Tory prime minister stood at one stage to make as much as 70 million out of a very ill-judged financial relationship that does not appear to have involved him in a great deal of work.

The main difference is that whereas Blair has hung on to his great wealth, Cameron's has slipped through his fingers.

This misfortune does not in any way absolve him of some very serious charges.

Dubious

The question is whether he was merely guilty of a degree of naivety alarming in someone who once ran the country. Or was it worse?

Did he betray greed and an absence of integrity that are shocking even in a man who some of us always suspected of being a bit flexible?

At the centre of the allegations against Cameron is the figure of Lex Greensill, a controversial Australian financier who wandered into the then PM's life around 2012 with what sounds a pretty dubious idea.

This was that Greensill's company would speed up the payment of invoices raised by NHS-linked pharmacies  for a fee. Some civil servants asked why the NHS couldn't be made to pay its bills more quickly, but this sensible idea was batted aside by No 10.

Cameron was entranced by Greensill, as was Sir Jeremy Heywood, the then Cabinet Secretary, who had introduced him.

At the centre of the allegations against Cameron is the figure of Lex Greensill - a controversial Australian financier

Without any announcement, Greensill was afforded the assistance of civil servants, and reportedly allowed to pitch other proposals to 11 Government departments or agencies.

If that were the end of the story, the only question would concern Cameron's judgment in allowing such a seemingly unorthodox character so free a run in the corridors of power.

But the plot thickened in 2018 when Cameron joined Greensill's company as an adviser, trousering some share options in the process.

By this stage, Greensill Capital had grown quite large, and having a former prime minister on the books was obviously a significant boost.

Two years having elapsed since he had left office, David Cameron was acting perfectly within the rules in accepting the position of adviser.

The question we must ask is whether he cultivated a potentially lucrative future relationship with Greensill when he was still in No 10.

Although, as I say, he doesn't appear to have worked especially hard for Greensill Capital, he did his bit.

In 2019, the former PR man hosted a lunch for the British Chambers of Commerce in Singapore at which Lex Greensill was a guest. His presence was not mentioned in an account of the meeting on Cameron's official website.

Cameron was entranced by Greensill and in 2018 he joined his company as an adviser

Later in the same year, Cameron attended an investment summit in Saudi Arabia. On the eve of the conference, a Japanese firm called SoftBank announced a 504 million investment in Greensill.

This came from its 'Vision Fund' in which the unpleasant Saudi regime had a 45 per cent stake.

By 2020, Greensill Capital was running short of money  and Cameron's shares in the business were in danger of heading south.

He sent Rishi Sunak numerous text messages. The Chancellor referred him to senior Treasury officials, who rejected the company's application for loans.

Greensill collapsed into administration this month, putting thousands of jobs at risk. Liberty Steel, which enjoyed a close and dependent financial relationship with the company, is teetering on the verge of bankruptcy.

Was David Cameron's behaviour since he joined as an adviser in 2018 really seemly in a former prime minister? After all, he is paid a handsome pension and can command up to 120,000 for a single one-hour speech to American businessmen rash enough to pay to hear his words of wisdom.

The Chancellor referred him to senior Treasury officials, who rejected the company's application for loans

In the year to April 30, 2019, Cameron made 836,168. Hardly a contemptible sum of money by most people's standards. But it seems he wanted even more. Much more.

According to a report in the Times, he told friends that he stood to make $60 million (about 44 million) from his Greensill share options, though this is denied by 'sources close to him'.

Most of us, I think, would not begrudge Cameron any amount of money if it was transparently made and  old-fashioned words  in a respectable and decent manner.

Rules

If the former prime minister had started a successful and productive enterprise  though that would require hard work and grit and grind  most of us would applaud him.

Piggybacking on a questionable company like Greensill, and hoping to make a quick killing, doesn't fit the bill.

Whether he has broken any actual rules I will leave to others to judge, though he has just been cleared by a watchdog on the relatively narrow point of breaking lobbying regulations (which his own administration created) in approaching Rishi Sunak as he did.

The question we must ask is whether he cultivated a potentially lucrative future relationship with Greensill when he was still in No 10

But he has surely offended against decent behaviour. People will justifiably think much less of him.

I don't mean the likes of Lex Greensill, whose firm in its pomp maintained a fleet of four private jets to ferry staff (and David Cameron, on occasion) around the world.

No, I mean ordinary people, whether Tory, Labour or Lib Dem voters, who endured the sacrifices demanded by Cameron and the Chancellor, George Osborne (now earning millions in finance), during the grim years of austerity.

It is the shamelessness of it all that so appals, the sheer lack of any sense of propriety. I suppose some will draw consolation from the fact that, in the end, Cameron did not receive his undeserved millions. But how he wanted to!

Unsavoury

There is no requirement for former prime ministers to be financially hard-pressed.

Let them make well-paid speeches and write often unreadable books and join the boards of proper companies, so long as they don't expect to be showered with instant easy money.

Some of them know how to behave  Gordon Brown, Theresa May and John Major.

They get along quite cheerfully. None of them is starving. But they do not disgrace themselves or let down their parties.

David Cameron, however, seems to be in a class of his own.

Even Tony Blair, although he has linked arms with some unsavoury people in his frantic quest for riches, has started a foundation which does some good in the world.

Cameron, though, appears wholly unapologetic. He reportedly hung up last week on a reporter from the Financial Times. His office has not replied to calls from the Mail.

The longer he remains silent, the more his badly damaged reputation will suffer. Seldom has it been clearer that it is often after they have left office that we learn most about the true character of prime ministers.
A bull shark.

The claim: After an accident in Hot Springs, Arkansas, dozens of bull sharks were dumped into the Ouachita River, including a 15-foot shark named Jaws

A March 25 Facebook post, that shows a screenshot of a Google search "bull shark in hot springs arkansas" with an excerpt from an article by Spa City Chronicle in the results, claims there was a highway accident that resulted in over a dozen bull sharks ending up in the Ouachita River.

"Highway Accident Leads to Over a Dozen Bull Sharks Being Dumped in Ouachita River Hot Springs, AR - An early morning accident on Airport Road led to the accidental release of over a dozen Bull Sharks into the Ouachita River, one being 15ft in length," reads the screenshot in the post.

The post received more than 16,000 shares and more than 900 comments. USA TODAY reached out to the user who made the post for comment.

"Spa City Chronicle is Arkansas' most reliable source of media garbage," the site states. It's "fake news" section is described as home to "Satire articles also centered around central Arkansas."

This article falls in the section described as "fake news." It details 34-year-old Matthew Tucker swerving in an attempt to miss a deer in the middle of the road. His truck then "left the roadway close to Paradise Cove Marina" and fell into the Ouachita River, where the claimed release of sharks happened. It adds that a shark named Jaws is the priority for capture because of "his extremely aggressive behavior."

But the viral Facebook post shared the article's description without identifying it as satire.

A look at bull sharks

Bull sharks are hardy, stout fish with aggressive tendencies, and they'll try to eat just about anything. Of the 20 or so species of sharks common in Florida waters, the bull shark is often the culprit in attacks on humans.

According to National Geographic, bull sharks are found in the shallow, warm waters of all the world's oceans. They are fast and agile predators that will consume almost anything they see: fish, dolphins, and even other sharks.

Although humans are not exactly on their menu, they will often, out of curiosity or inadvertently, attack people when they are in muddy waters of estuaries and bays.

Story continues

Our rating: False

The claim that there are bull sharks in an Arkansas river is FALSE, based on our research. The article that details the supposed event was posted on a website that describes itself as satire and posts sharing the story do not note that.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Story of bull sharks in Ouachita River started as satire
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By Aditya Kalra and Abhirup Roy

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Indian authorities have blocked at least two of ByteDance's bank accounts for alleged tax evasion, prompting it to ask a court to quash the directive that it fears will hit its operations, two sources with direct knowledge told Reuters.

ByteDance in January cut its Indian workforce after New Delhi decided to retain a ban on its popular video app TikTok, first prohibited last year following a border clash between India and China.

China has repeatedly criticised India's move and said it suspected it was against WTO rules.

ByteDance, which issued a statement contesting the Indian decision, has around 1,300 employees in India, most of whom service its overseas operations, including work on activities, such as content moderation.

In mid-March, authorities ordered two of ByteDance India's bank accounts in Citibank and HSBC to be blocked because of alleged evasion of certain taxes in online advertising dealings between the ByteDance unit in India and its parent entity in Singapore, TikTok Pte Ltd, the two sources said.

The authorities also directed Citibank and HSBC to prevent ByteDance India from withdrawing funds from any other bank accounts linked to its tax identification number, the first source said.

In a court filing, which is likely to be heard this week at a High Court in the financial capital Mumbai, ByteDance India has said that although it had only about $10 million in its accounts, the blocking decision was an abuse of the legal process and would make it hard for it to pay salaries and taxes, the source added.

Both the sources declined to be identified as the details of the bank freeze and company's court challenge were not public.

ByteDance said "we disagree with the decision of the tax authority" in this matter, adding that it was committed to legal compliance and will cooperate with the government.

Citibank and HSBC declined to comment, while the finance ministry, did not respond to a request for comment.

Story continues

The TikTok app ban was imposed when India banned dozens of Chinese apps last year saying it was in the interest of national security and sovereignty.

The move was widely linked to India's broader pushback against Chinese businesses after clashes at a disputed Himalayan border site left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

The directive to freeze ByteDance India's bank accounts came after tax authorities last year inspected documents at the company's office, scrutinised documents and questioned some executives in relation to the advertising and other transactions with its parent entity, the first source said.

BUSINESS AT A STANDSTILL

In its court document, which the source was privy to, ByteDance India has said its entire business had come to a standstill because of the bank freeze and that such an action violates its rights "to carry free trade and business".

"The company was already struggling with the India ban. This can hit employee salaries, vendor payments," the second source said.

TikTok had come under scrutiny around the world. During former U.S. president Donald Trump's administration, which alleged that the app posed national security concerns as personal data of U.S. users could be obtained by China's government, an allegation the company denied.

U.S. President Joe Biden's new administration has paused a government lawsuit that could have resulted in a de facto ban on TikTok's use in the United States.

(Reporting by Aditya Kalra in New Delhi and Abhirup Roy in Mumbai; editing by David Evans and Barbara Lewis)
Gaborone  Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security (MMGE), Mr Lefoko Moagi says the mining sector is showing signs of recovery after the devastating COVID-19 pandemic affected both production and sales of minerals.

Giving an update on his ministry's programmes and projects for the 2020/2021 financial year, Mr Moagi said the signs of recovery were mainly due to companies re-arranging their operations and recovering from the COVID-19 impact which had earlier led to restrictive containment measures, including social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities.

He specified that the ministry had seen signs of recovery with copper prices increasing from US$2.57/lb end of 2019 to US$3.52 (37 per cent) by the end of 2020 while gold prices had shown an increase from US$1270/oz end of 2019 to US$1524 (20per cent) by end of 2020.

"What is also encouraging is that investors have started showing optimism for the development of minerals in the country and this has led to Maatla Energy Resources being granted a mining license for the development of a coal mine in Mmamabula coalfields. Some other existing companies are also investing money to increase the life of Mine and production such as Karowe diamond underground Mine expansion, Morupule coal open cast extension, and Jwaneng Mine post cut 9 studies which are focused on an underground mine," he said.

Despite the difficulty, posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has seen positive consumer demand for diamond jewelry since the beginning of the holiday season, supporting the continuation of demand for polished diamonds from the midstream sector, he said.

This, in turn, he said supported a steady demand for rough diamonds in the last quarter of 2020, while the diamond industry ended the year 2020 on a positive note.

He said it was worthy recognising the risks that the on-going COVID -19 pandemic presented to the sector recovery as we head into 2021. "As part of interventions to mitigate against the travel restrictions globally, my ministry authorised diamond producers to take diamonds directly to the markets in Europe and Asia to sell, after valuation by our government diamond valuers. While the sales have resumed, the market remains fragile," he said.

Mr Moagi highlighted that the Orapa Mine Cut 3 Project was still at the feasibility stage and the project has been deferred following the optimization of Orapa Cut 2, which has extended the life of Cut 2.

He said preparatory works were planned to start in 2023 and waste stripping in 2026, with various mining sequences and production schedules being explored with the objective of delivering the most optimal business case for implementation.

"As part of cost reduction measures, Orapa Plant No.1 will be decommissioned due to its old age and high maintenance costs, and Damtshaa Mine will be placed under care and maintenance with effect from April 2021 because it is currently loss-making. While on care and maintenance, Debswana will evaluate the best options for Damtshaa Mine going forward," he underlined.

He said the development of Morupule Coal Mine's Motheo Project was progressing well, and the open cast mine would commence operation in October 2021 and the plant would be commissioned by December 2021.

Mr Moagi said the project would produce 1 million tonnes per annum of washed coal to be sold locally and regionally. The Mining Coal project at Medie in Kweneng District continued both its development and production activities in 2020 and the coal processing plant for the mine was under construction and it was expected to reach full production capacity by the first half of 2021.

"Khoemacau Copper Mining has completed the construction of three box cuts at Zone 5. The first ore mined was moved in October 2020. The haul road from Zone 5 Mine to the Bosetu processing plant at Toteng is now complete. The processing plant is under refurbishment and development will be complete in May 2021. The Mine currently employs 2 131 persons, of which 1 952 (91.6 per cent) are citizens," he said.

On other issues, Mr Moagi said the ministry strived towards sustainable and secure energy supplies, by creating an enabling regulatory environment for stimulating private sector participation in local power generation. especially for renewable and cleaner energy sources.

He said that Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) has licensed Botho Park at the Botho University Campus, Feune being Airport junction Mall, Bank of Botswana, Okavango Diamond Trading Company, Primetime Property Holdings at Sebele Mall, Thobo Energy at Francistown, and Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) for Solar Photovoltaic Plants producing over 100Kva.

Mr Moagi highlighted that Tlou Energy was also issued with an IPP license for local power generation under the government's Coal Bed Methane (CBM) power generation programme.

In addition to driving towards the goal for self-sufficiency in local power generation through increased participation of Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Mr Moagi underlined that the authority continued to facilitate private investment in power generation for exports.

To date, the authority has issued licenses to two IPPs (Sese Power and ENRC) for power export, he said.

Further, he said the ministry was in the process of migrating to cost-reflective electricity tariffs to enable further investment in the sector, sustainable provision of service by the utility, and efficient use of electricity.

To this effect, BERA reviewed the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) electricity tariffs for the financial years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, and tariff increases of 22 per cent and 3 per cent respectively were awarded to BPC, he said.

"Despite these increases, electricity tariffs are still not cost-reflective hence necessitating review on an annual basis. My ministry has started the implementation of the Rooftop Solar programme into the grid. The programme guidelines were developed for end-users who can generate their own electricity and sell the excess to BPC," he said.

Mr Moagi underpinned that the development of the included applicable rules, regulations, standards, tariffs as well as a review of implementation processes (such as metering, interconnection, vending, and billing).

"The Rooftop Solar Programme would run for a period of three years, with the system-wide aggregate capacity of 10MW in the first 12 months. The programme was launched on the November 3 2020 and applications (through the BPC website) were opened for both Commercial, Industrial, and Domestic BPC customers from November 30, 2020, until the aggregate capacity limit of 10MW is reached. Sixty applications have been received between 1st of December 2020 and February 15, 2021 consisting of 50 domestic and 10 business applications. The evaluation of the submissions is ongoing," he said.

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The minister explained that the ministry had also developed an Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity Generation (IRP) to establish a robust electricity generation build Programme from 2020 until 2040.

Mr Moagi highlighted that implementation of the IRP was envisaged to add approximately 1,540MW of new generation capacity by 2040 and the projects were earmarked to be by Independent Power Producers (IPP).

Mr Moagi reiterated that the majority of the planned new capacity would be from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

Currently, he said, about 60 per cent of the national electricity demand of 600MW was being met from domestic generation facilities (Morupule A and B) while the balance was imported from other power utilities in the Southern African Pool (SAPP).

He said the country mitigated the risk of power supply shortfall through diesel-based emergency power generation facilities at Orapa (90MW) and Matshelagabedi (70MW) as the said power imports are limited due to demand exceeding installed generation capacity in the region as a whole.

<i>Source : BOPA</i>
A view of the M87 supermassive black hole in polarized light. The lines mark the orientation of polarization, which is related to the magnetic field around the shadow of the black hole. (EHT Collaboration)

First Polarized Image of Black Hole Hints at Its Magnetic Field Structure

Astronomers from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration have produced the first-ever polarized picture of a black hole.

In 2019, the same team obtained the first-ever image of a black hole. Both images were taken of the same object in the center of the M87 galaxy.

The 2019 image, which shows a bright ring-like structure with a dark central region that is the black holes shadow, marked a major step forward in our knowledge of these exotic astrophysical objects.

Two years later, the new image with polarization information has been released.

It is the first time astronomers have measured polarization, a signature of magnetic fields, so close to a black hole, according to a statement. The new image looks similar to the first one, but with crisp lines that show the orientation of polarization.

We are now seeing the next crucial piece of evidence to understand how magnetic fields behave around black holes, and how activity in this very compact region of space can drive powerful jets that extend far beyond the galaxy, said Monika Moscibrodzka, Coordinator of the EHT Polarimetry Working Group, in the statement.

Polarization is a property of light in which it prefers to oscillate in a specific direction. It has wide applications in everyday life, from 3D movie glasses to polarized sunglasses that help filter out glare.

It can also be a powerful tool for astronomers, because it reveals the magnetic field structure in very powerful magnetized plasma.

The newly published polarised images are key to understanding how the magnetic field allows the black hole to eat matter and launch powerful jets, said EHT collaboration member Andrew Chael in the statement.

The M87 black hole is a very active and extreme one, because it consumes a huge amount of the surrounding matter and launches a relativistic plasma jet. The jet is very bright and can extend to thousands of light-years from the black hole.

However, the jets origin remains mostly unknown to astronomers. In particular, the size of the jet can exceed the size of the M87 galaxy, but it comes from a tiny region that is smaller than our solar system.

In addition, the radiation mechanism that makes the polarized light from the black hole, the electron synchrotron, is a crucial radiation process that happens in nuclear reactors. It is important to scientists to understand this physical mechanism in extreme environments such as the neighborhood of a black hole.

The observations suggest that the magnetic fields at the black holes edge are strong enough to push back on the hot gas and help it resist gravitys pull. Only the gas that slips through the field can spiral inwards to the event horizon, explained Jason Dexter, coordinator of the EHT Theory Working Group, in the statement.

To observe the M87 black hole, the EHT collaboration linked eight telescopes around the world, including the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX), to create a virtual Earth-sized telescope. Using an advanced technique called radio interferometry, the resolution of the EHT is able to see an object the size of a credit card on the surface of the moon.

With ALMA and APEX, which through their southern location enhance the image quality by adding geographical spread to the EHT network, European scientists were able to play a central role in the research, said Ciska Kemper, European ALMA Programme Scientist at European Southern Observatory (ESO), in a press release. With its 66 antennas, ALMA dominates the overall signal collection in polarised light, while APEX has been essential for the calibration of the image.

ALMA data were also crucial to calibrate, image and interpret the EHT observations, providing tight constraints on the theoretical models that explain how matter behaves near the black hole event horizon, said Ciriaco Goddi, a scientist at Radboud University and Leiden Observatory, Netherlands, in the press release.

The EHT is making rapid advancements, with technological upgrades being done to the network and new observatories being added. We expect future EHT observations to reveal more accurately the magnetic field structure around the black hole and to tell us more about the physics of the hot gas in this region, said EHT collaboration member Jongho Park in the press release.

The new work is described in two papers in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, with a related study also published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Video credit: ESO
By Allison Brace '22

University of Dayton professor Jon Hess is writing an interpersonal communication textbook with a twist. Hess and colleague, Elizabeth Baiocchi-Wagner, a former University of Portland adjunct professor of communication who now works in industry, are testing the textbook with their students during the 2021 spring semester, prior to the books publication.

They created the textbook based on questions from students at nine U.S. universities related to their own interpersonal relationships. The authors collected more than 1,200 questions for the textbook, tentatively titled Because You Asked: Questions Shaping Interpersonal Communication.

Hess, professor of communication and College of Arts and Sciences associate dean, is teaching an interpersonal communication course this semester with the goal of promoting engagement and participation among students, and strengthening the quality of the textbook. His students have the opportunity to pose questions about the text, give feedback and share their ideas about the book.

We are still using the same research on communication theory, but rather than setting the book up as a report on research and theory, were addressing what students are interested in learning about and using the research and theory to help answer that, Hess said.

Hess, who doesnt typically teach because of his administrative duties in the College, used several chapters in a 2020 spring semester interpersonal communication course while the book was still being written. Now Hess is teaching another section of the interpersonal communication course and is using the majority of the text in PDF form with his class.

In addition, Michelle Kleine, one of Hess doctoral advisees from the University of Missouri, is also using the textbook with her class at Truman State University during the 2021 spring semester and sharing feedback from her students with Hess.

Hess capped his class at 15 students to allow them to be more deeply engaged with the project.

With only 15 students, they have the chance to share input and engage in discussion more than in a larger class, he said.

Hess has built a mutually beneficial relationship within his classroom where students are able to learn beyond the traditional coursework and develop a deeper understanding for how a textbook is written. In return, he is able to get feedback on the questions college students have in the 21st century.

Talking with students has allowed me to distinguish the important difference between digital natives and digital immigrants, Hess said. College students today are using their phones in ways that help maintain relationships that are much different than they were during my time in college, which is why having a dialogue with current college students has been very beneficial.

Students are expected to read a chapter of the textbook in preparation for an in-class quiz. Once they take each quiz at the start of class, Hess goes over it and answers anything that was unclear to the students.

One of the really cool things about him writing the textbook is that he will rewrite anything that we are confused about because he wants to make it clear for student interpretation, said Kate Doyle, a communication major from Chicago. It feels like we are really making an impact by giving Dr. Hess a different perspective on things.

This approach allows the textbook development process to be fluid and change dynamically to best answer the questions of current students.

Hess students had the opportunity to come up with an idea for sidebar stories through an essay assignment. Based on the ideas and theories examined in each essay, Hess will be able to decide if he would like to incorporate them into the book. For example, one idea was to talk about the challenges of dating during a pandemic.

Completing and going over the quizzes takes up a good chunk of class time and gives us time to answer questions and discuss, Doyle said. Dr. Hess does not create PowerPoints for class, but rather we have an open discussion.

Keeping the idea of a low-cost option for students in mind, the textbook will be published by FountainHead Press, which has been used for other communication textbooks at the University. While publication dates are fluid, the publication team would like to see the book in press by this November.

It is so much more fun to be having a dialogue with students than just doing research and reporting back the findings, Hess said. We have really been able to change this from what feels like a book report to a dialogue.

For more information, visit the Department of Communication website.
Lee said she was so shocked in the moment that she didnt say anything. She later went home and teared up because of how uncomfortable it made her and how guilty she felt to be a bystander in (her) own incident. She wished she had talked to the student and the teacher, she said, but now uses that incident as a reminder to never stay silent.
[March 30, 2021] UKG Workforce Activity Report: Hot March Start Cools, Ending with Negative Growth as Hiring Confidence Remains in Flux

UKG (Ultimate Kronos (News - Alert) Group): This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005944/en/







National Overview: According to the U.S. Workforce Activity Report from UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group), total shift work1 decreased 1.2% in March with declines concentrated in the second half of the month. This is in contrast with growth experienced during the first half of March, including a 2.6% increase in shift work volume during the mid-month window used by the Department of Labor to calculate employment gains and losses. By Business Size: Businesses experienced varying levels of declines based on segment size. Only the largest businesses experienced growth in March: Fewer than 100 employees: -0.9% 101-500: -1.3% 501-1,000: -1.6% 1,001-2,500: -2.4% 2,501-5,000: -3.2% More than 5,000: 3.5% Industry Analysis: Following positive gains to start the month, all industries incurred modest declines in March: Healthcare: -2.2% Public sector: -1.9% Manufacturing: -1.6% Services and distribution: -1.2% Retail, hospitality, and food service: -0.3% Region Snapshot: Shift work volume decreased across all four regions in March, though declines in the Southeast are especially pronounced due to pre-scheduled public school and higher education breaks. Southeast2: -4.2% West:3 -0.8% Northeast4: -0.7% Midwest5: -0.6% Recovery Scale: UKG Workforce Recovery Scale - a measure of shift work momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic - now sits at 85.5, down 1.1 points compared to February. In April 2020, the UKG Workforce Recovery Scale reached a low point of 66.8. Commentary: Dave Gilbertson, vice president, UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) "Last March, we watched stunned as COVID-19 began to wreak havoc on our society. One year later, we see promising signs of green shoots for a return to normalcy. Still, it could be another 18-plus months before employment reaches pre-pandemic levels. This is an important reminder that there is a long road ahead for millions of Americans still out of work. Hiring confidence at the business level will be critical going forward." Timeliness: The UKG Workforce Activity Report is an index of high frequency shift work data spanning 3.3 million employees across 35,000 organizations measuring workplace activity to measure the pace of employee activity. It is current through March 28, 2021. For more insights, visit www.ukg.com/workforceactivityreport.

Supporting Resources Note to editors: Please refer to this as the "UKG Workforce Activity Report for March 2021."

View all reports in the UKG Workforce Activity Report archive.

Learn why Our Purpose is People at UKG.

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Follow UKG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. About UKG

|At UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group), our purpose is people. Built from a merger that created one of the largest cloud companies in the world, UKG believes organizations succeed when they focus on their people. As a leading global provider of HCM, payroll, HR service delivery, and workforce management solutions, UKG delivers award-winning Pro, Dimensions, and Ready solutions to help tens of thousands of organizations across geographies and in every industry drive better business outcomes, improve HR effectiveness, streamline the payroll process, and help make work a better, more connected experience for everyone. UKG has more than 13,000 employees around the globe and is known for an inclusive workplace culture. The company has earned numerous awards for culture, products, and services, including consecutive years on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list. To learn more, visit ukg.com. Footnote 1: "Shifts worked" is a total derived from aggregated employee time and attendance data and reflects the number of times that employees, especially those who are paid hourly or must be physically present at a workplace to perform their jobs, "clock in" and "clock out" via a time clock, mobile app, computer, or other device at the beginning and end of each shift. Footnote 2: Southeast is defined as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Footnote 3: West is defined as Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Footnote 4: Northeast is defined as Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Footnote 5: Midwest is defined as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.  2021 UKG Inc. All rights reserved. For a full list of UKG trademarks, please visit https://www.ukg.com/trademarks. All other trademarks, if any, are property of their respective owners. All specifications are subject to change. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005944/en/

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Amid speculation of the possibility of an India-Pakistan detente, New Delhi has underlined that durable peace in Afghanistan would require peace within and around the conflict-ravaged country.

Though New Delhi has, in the past, always blamed Islamabad for supporting terrorism in Afghanistan, it refrained from doing so when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a statement on behalf of the Government of India at a meeting of the Heart of Asia  Istanbul Process in Dushanbe on Tuesday.

For a durable peace in Afghanistan, what we need is a genuine double peace, that is, peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan, Jaishankar said.

Spoke at the 9th Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference in Dushanbe. Three key points: pic.twitter.com/M3Nl79Y6Tv  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 30, 2021

It requires harmonizing the interests of all, both within and around that country, he added.

Jaishankar said India would welcome any move towards a genuine political settlement and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan. He also extended New Delhis support to a regional process under the aegis of the United Nations to end the conflict in Afghanistan. (The) UN stewardship would help to take into account all relevant UN resolutions and improve the odds for a lasting outcome.

The External Affair Minister flew from Delhi to Dushanbe on Monday to take part in the ninth ministerial meeting of the Heart of Asia  Istanbul Process, a multilateral initiative to end the conflict in Afghanistan.

Read: Jaishankar, President Ghani exchange views on peace process in Afghanistan

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi too participated in the multilateral conclave hosted by the Government of Tajikistan and so did ministers or representatives from Russia, China, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkey.

Islamabad did send informal messages to New Delhi through backchannels, exploring the possibility of a bilateral meeting between Jaishankar and Qureshi on the sideline of the Heart of Asia meeting in Dushanbe. But as Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has decided to tread cautiously, no such meeting took place.

Jaishankar noted that India has been supportive of all the efforts being made to accelerate the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

Read: Jaishankar, Qureshi in Dushanbe, no bilateral meeting scheduled so far despite speculation

If the peace process is to be successful, then it is necessary to ensure that the negotiating parties continue to engage in good faith, with a serious commitment towards reaching a political solution, said the External Affairs Minister, who had, on September 12, virtually participated in the ceremony held in Doha to mark the beginning of the formal negotiations between the Ghani government in Kabul and the Taliban.

He, however, conveyed grave concern over the continued violence and bloodshed in Afghanistan.

The last few months have also witnessed an escalation in targeted killings of civil society. 2020 sadly marked a 45 per cent increase in civilian casualties in Afghanistan over 2019. 2021 does not look very much better.
(Newser)  A falling redwood in northern California ended two lives last week and changed five more forever. The California Highway Patrol says Jake Woodruff, 36, and Jessica Woodruff, 45, were killed when the 175-foot tree crushed their vehicle on Highway 199, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. They were on a road trip along the coast to celebrate Jessica Woodruff's birthday. They leave behind five children ranging in age from eight to 24. Cousin Emma Miravelle Hood tells the Wild Rivers Outpost that the two adult children "are from Jessicas prior marriage and they have immediately stepped up to take on raising their younger siblings that share Jake and Jessica as parents."

story continues below

"This was a shocking and unexpected event, and the tragedy of this accident makes it difficult to accept as real," relatives wrote at a GoFundMe fundraiser for the children. Police say they don't know why the tree fell as the couple drove along a stretch of highway lined with redwoods between Crescent City and Hiouchi Thursday. Authorities say there were only light winds in the area at the time. "It's in the middle of the redwoods," CHP spokesperson Brandy Gonzalez says. "Its just old growth and we have no idea why the tree fell. It was Mother Nature." Gonzalez says the tragedy is "very, very unusual." (Read more redwoods stories.)

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Malicious Zerodium Commit. Credit: GitHub

On Saturday, 28 March 2021, security researchers Nikita Popov and Rasmus Lerdorf announced the discovery of two malicious backdoors installed on the php-src repository. The researchers suspect that this mishap had something to do with a compromised git.php.net server rather than a compromised individual git account.

In the meantime, while the research team works to get to the bottom of the issue, they have deemed continued use of their own git infrastructure as an unnecessary risk and will therefore cease use of the git.php.net server. Now, the related repositories on GitHub will go from being mirrors to actual canonical repos. As a result, any changes should be pushed to GitHub directly rather than through git.php.net.

To harden security status, repository users will now only have write access via the PHP organization on GitHub instead of the repo's native karma system. As organization membership requires the use of two-factor authentication, users who wish to join the repo should contact Nikita directly with their GitHub account and php.net account names as well as the permissions to which they require access.

Finally, this change has made it impossible to merge pull requests directly from the GitHub web interface.

On the technical side, so far it appears as though the attackers gained code-execution abilities through knowledge of the secret password "zerodium". The hackers used an account disguised as belonging to researcher Lerdorf as a means to carry out this malicious activity. The subsequent malicious change was made via Popov's account name.

Zerodium is actually the name of a company that purchases exploits from researchers and sells them to government agencies for the purpose of cybersecurity investigations. However, while both malicious commits used to initiate these code changes reference Zerodium, the CEO Chaouki Bekrar insists the organization had no involvement. In fact, Bekrar even suggested that researchers themselves wanted to destroy evidence of the commit after failure to sell the backdoor.

This incident harkens back to a similar event in early 2019 which involved the popular PHP Extension and Application Repository temporarily shutting down the majority of the platform after finding that hackers had replaced the main package manager with a malicious package. Like this most recent incident, users of the impacted repository who registered within the past six months could be infected.

As of yet, the estimated 80 percent of websites operating on PHP do not seem to have run this evil commit in their production environments.

Explore further Researcher hacks into 35 major technology firms

More information: "Changes to Git Commit Workflow." PHP, GitHub, 28 Mar. 2021, "Changes to Git Commit Workflow." PHP, GitHub, 28 Mar. 2021, news-web.php.net/php.internals/113838

 2021 Science X Network
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Ad-free App Offers Prayer Times and Guides With Data Protection At Focus

DOHA, Qatar, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thakaa Technologies launches a mobile App, which offers prayer times and guides for over 14 prayers, with more features available in due course. The user-friendly App is free to download and use via the Apple Store and Google Play. Best of all it offers an ad-free experience and does not sell user data with third parties.

To coincide with the launch, the App is hosting an Islamic quiz competition, offering a prize of up to $500 for lucky winners.

The mobile app has been launched by Qatar-based, Thakaa Technologies QSTP LLC, the start-up behind the award-winning world's first smart prayer rug.

Sajdah is also developing a Smart Prayer Rug to help create an even more fulfilling prayer experience, which will be rolled out in the coming months.

Abdulrahman Saleh Khamis, Co-founder, and CEO of Sajdah said: "We developed the Sajdah mobile App for an ad-free experience with a promise to not sell customer data without their permission. It's the perfect digital companion for keeping up with prayers, with more than 14 different prayer instructions, a Qibla direction, and accurate prayer times available at the touch of a few buttons. As we enter the Holy month, we plan to introduce even more benefits to take it to the next level."

Abdul Ali, Co-Founder, and Chief Growth Officer added: "Based on customer feedback and insights, we have developed a user-friendly App that connects with the Sajdah Smart Prayer Rug.New and existing users are invited to join our webinar this week to learn more about our new product."

Some of the key features Sajdah offers, include:

Accurate prayer times: Offers accurate prayer times wherever users are located

Offers accurate prayer times wherever users are located Prayer support: Features more than 14 different prayer instructions, along with the Hijri date on the home screen

Features more than 14 different prayer instructions, along with the Hijri date on the home screen Customizable: Ability to choose the type of sound to be played for Athan

Ability to choose the type of sound to be played for Athan Observes data protection: As well as being free, Sajdah does not feature advertising and never sells user data.

To mark its launch, and in the run-up to Ramadan, Sajdah is hosting a free webinar on 'Prayer for Success' on 31 March at 19:30 (GMT). Inviting Muslims to come together ahead of the blessed month. Reserve a free spot here

To learn more or download the App, please visit getsajdah.com and follow @getsajdah on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

For further information or images, please contact:

Media Contact:

Abdul Ali

Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer

Email: hello@thakaa.io

Mob: +919930763623

Related Images

sajdah-mobile-app.png

Sajdah Mobile App

Sajdah Mobile App -Prayer Times and Guides
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks Tuesday about a global human rights report and criticizes the Trump administration's focus on religious freedom above other rights. "There is no hierarchy that makes some rights more important than others," he said. (Associated Press)

The Biden administration Tuesday issued a sharp repudiation of Trump-era policies that diminished women's and reproductive rights and gave priority to religious freedoms even to the detriment of other liberties.

Saying that human rights are universal and "co-equal," Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a reversal of the way Trump officials collected and assessed some data on freedom in scores of countries.

Blinken made the comments as he released the State Department's annual global human rights report, compiled during the last year of the Trump administration. Sections on women's rights and reproductive health were stripped under former President Trump and his secretary of State, Michael R. Pompeo.

Blinken announced the unusual step of releasing later this year country-by-country addenda to the report to address rights for women, including maternal healthcare, access to contraception, and discrimination against those with sexually transmitted diseases.

Pompeo, a conservative Christian evangelical, insisted that religious freedom was the single most important human right, from which all other rights arose. He established the Commission on Unalienable Rights and held annual international religious freedom conferences that critics and some participants said sanctioned discrimination against LGBTQ communities and others.

"Human rights are also co-equal; there is no hierarchy that makes some rights more important than others," Blinken said in releasing the report.

"Past unbalanced statements that suggest such a hierarchy, including those offered by a recently disbanded State Department advisory committee, [the 'unalienable rights' panel], do not represent a guiding document for this administration."

In addition to the emphasis on religious freedom, Pompeo took other steps criticized by activists, such as withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council and reimposing the so-called Mexico City policy, nicknamed the global gag rule on abortion.

Story continues

As late as October 2020 he was warning, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, that policies he had implemented denied U.S. aid to any organization around the world that performed abortions or even offered counseling on termination of pregnancy.

Blinken on Tuesday reiterated the Biden administration's intention to repeal those measures; he revoked the Mexico City policy in January.

"One of the core principles of human rights is that they are universal," Blinken said Tuesday. "All people are entitled to these rights, no matter where theyre born, what they believe, whom they love or any other characteristic."

Human rights organizations welcomed Blinken's announcement and the apparent shift in U.S. direction.

"No hierarchy of human rights. Not revolutionary. Just factual statement of human rights law. Yet. So good to hear it stated," Amanda Klasing, who handles women's issues at Human Rights Watch, said in a tweet.

In an interview, she added that the silence on these issues from the U.S. government for the last four years often emboldened abusive governments that felt they could escape accountability.

It is difficult to gauge the full impact Trump policies had on women's rights and health, officials and activists said.

Serra Sippel, president of CHANGE, which advocates for sexual health rights, said that when human rights lawyers and defenders have attempted to challenge officials, not having State Department information left them exposed, without U.S. backing and made their cause more difficult.

The bulk of the report released Tuesday covered the wide and expanding range of dire human rights conditions across the planet. It blasted China's "genocide and crimes against humanity" inflicted on the Muslim minority Uyghurs and harsh crackdown on activists and dissidents in Hong Kong.

It denounced "extreme repression" of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, but the report predates last month's military coup, which has led to scores of killings of civilians.

Venezuela, where Trump unsuccessfully sought to overthrow the leftist government, came in for criticism because of civil rights abuses and fraudulent elections, as did Cuba. The accounts of Saudi Arabia and Israel were much the same as in previous years, a listing of abuses in relatively neutral terms. Iran received a much more harsh discussion, accused of "materially contributing" to violations of its own citizens and those of its neighbors.

The reports are not intended to rank countries' records, said Lisa Peterson, acting assistant secretary of State for democracy and human rights, but are "factual" and not judgmental. They retained the tone and material collected during 2020 and could not be altered by the current administration, she said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A former Southern University marching band director pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge that accused him of misappropriating school money.

Nathan Haymer, whose duties as director of the "Human Jukebox" included making purchases and paying expenses during the band's many trips across Louisiana and the country, was charged in June with federal program theft of more than $30,000.

Ex-band director at Southern faces charges of misappropriating school money A former Southern University band director has been charged with misapplying more than $30,000 of school money, U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremi

"At this time we will reserve comment," said his attorney, Karl Bernard.

Haymer, 42, was accused of submitting false documents, like forged invoices, on more than a dozen occasions between November 2016 and March 2018.

Haymer, who became the marching band's director in November 2014, is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 28. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor said in a report last year that Haymer used an unauthorized third party to collect public funds and kept about $293,000 in possible violation of state and federal laws.

Where'd $293,000 of public funds go? State audit says former Southern Band director pocketed it Former Southern University band director Nathan Haymer used an unauthorized third party to collect public funds due to the school and then kep

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Haymer set up the collection system without approval of the school and used some of the money for personal purposes, the audit said.

The review stated, for example, that Haymer received $43,900 in payments from Mardi Gras krewes for Southern band performances during parades and other events from February 2015 to February 2018.

Southern fired Haymer in 2018, saying an audit by the school showed that $300,000 in band camp and other fees were in Haymer's personal bank accounts.

Bernard had said previously that Haymer had been directed to set up the unusual system by school officials, and that more evidence would clear his client.

+9 Attorney: Former Southern University band director will be cleared once more records reviewed An attorney for former Southern University band director Nathan Haymer said Friday about $300,000 in band camp and other fees ended up in Haym

After Haymer was fired he paid the school $34,081.

The university audit stemmed from complaints that Haymer sought kickbacks for the band to appear at an event for schoolchildren.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - Dynasty Gold Corp. (TSXV: DYG) (FWB: D5G) (OTC Pink: DGDCF) ("Dynasty" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has received the drill permit from the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines ("ENDM") Ontario for the Thundercloud property (the "Property") located in the Archean Manitou-Stormy Lakes Greenstone belt in Ontario. The Property is under option from Teck Resources Limited and the Company can earn up to a 100% interest (see press release dated February 1, 2018).

"It has been a challenging operating environment due to the Pandemic this past year and a pivotal moment for the Company was to receive the drill permit to proceed to the next stage of developing the Thundercloud property," stated Ivy Chong, President and CEO of the Company. "We would like to thank the Wabigoon First Nation communities in showing their support and the Ministry's effort in facilitating the process during these difficult times."

In 2011, Fladgate Exploration Consulting ("Fladgate) prepared a 3D geological model of the mineralized portion of the gold deposit and the Company plans to delineate the mineralization envelope through drilling as well as developing new drill targets in areas of showing high grade potential. 2007 trench results in the West Contact Zone returned 8.02 g/t gold over 39 meters, including 89.4 g/t gold over 3 meters. The mineralized strike length has been extended to 69 meters by the 2018 field work (see press release dated August 22, 2018). This and other areas of the Property have seen little drilling.

About Dynasty Gold Corp.

Dynasty Gold Corp. is a Canadian exploration company currently focused on gold exploration in North America with projects in Ontario and Nevada under development. The 70% owned Hatu gold mine in the Tien Shan Gold belt, Xinjiang, China, one of the most prolific gold belts in the world, is in legal dispute with the Xinjiang Non-Ferrous Industrial Group Limited and its subsidiary Western Region Gold Co. Ltd.. For more information on the Company and its projects, please refer to the website www.dynastygoldcorp.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DYNASTY GOLD CORP.

"Ivy Chong"

_________________________________

Ivy Chong, President & CEO

For additional information please contact:

Vancouver Office:

Ivy Chong

Phone: 604.633.2100. Email: ichong@dynastygoldcorp.com

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" that involve a number of 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. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78954
Many national problems have simple, effective solutions. To curb global warming, reduce fossil fuel use. To combat child poverty, give money to families with kids. To end a pandemic, get people vaccinated. But some problems are impervious to any plausible remedy. Mass shootings are one of those.

In the days after the bloody carnage in Georgia and Boulder, Colorado, politicians and activists offered familiar proposals: Ban assault weapons. Outlaw high-capacity magazines. Expand federal background checks. Close the Charleston loophole that allows gun sales to go through if the FBI cant complete the background check within three days.

Not all of these ideas are without value. But none holds any serious prospect of averting future horrors. The proposals stem from the idea that the perpetrators of this kind of slaughter are weakly motivated and easily foiled. They rest on mistaken beliefs about the guns that are often used.

The term assault weapon is a triumph of marketing over function. These guns have no capabilities that ordinary ones lack. They are no more lethal than any number of semiautomatic firearms, and they dont fire more rapidly. They can accommodate magazines holding 30 or more cartridges, but so can traditional rifles.

Banning them would be a fools errand. First, because some 16 million have already been sold, and no one is going to confiscate those. Second, because any attempt to define them allows manufacturers to produce modified versions that are no less deadly. The shooter who murdered 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 had an AR-15-style rifle designed to comply with Connecticuts ban on assault weapons.

Third, because anyone bent on taking many lives can find innumerable alternatives. The shooter who killed eight people at spas in Georgia used a 9 mm pistol. The statistics portal Statista notes that handguns are involved in about 78% of mass shootings. Most mass shooters dont use assault weapons.

Advocates who want to prohibit them make much of the supposed success of the 1994 federal ban, citing data that mass shooting deaths declined while it was in effect and rose when it expired. But a good deal of scholarly research found no overall benefit. A 2017 analysis in JAMA Internal Medicine, for example, found that laws forbidding these guns were not associated with changes in firearm homicide rates.

If the number of mass shooting deaths rose after 2004, the expiration of the ban is not necessarily to blame: Correlation is not causation. Often, its coincidence.

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The advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety says mass shootings are far deadlier when they involve assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. But that doesnt mean guns and magazines are the reason.

Florida State University criminologist Gary Kleck told me by email, The strength of motivation of shooters (how badly they want to hurt a lot of people) affects both 1) how many people they shoot, and 2) their choices of weapons and magazines to use in their attacks.

Take away assault weapons and these criminals would use other, equally deadly firearms. Take away 30-round magazines and they would use several 10-round magazines or multiple guns. Most mass shooters bring more than one gun.

There is a common belief that forcing a shooter to stop to switch out magazines would save lives by allowing someone to subdue him. But in a real-life situation, he would not be surrounded by potential victims who would leap to grab his gun during the few precious seconds they would have. Its a scenario more likely in movies.

Expanding background checks to private sales and eliminating the Charleston loophole would be justifiable measures to make it harder for people who are not allowed to own guns, such as felons and fugitives, to get guns. There is no good reason to maintain holes in a dike. But its not likely that tighter rules would avert mass shootings anytime soon, if ever. Most of the mass shooters, including the most recent ones, were not barred from buying firearms.

The conservative notion that more armed citizens are the answer is equally flawed. Colorado allows adults to openly carry rifles and pistols without a permit. Only three states have more people with concealed-carry permits than Georgia. Neither fact was any help to those who were attacked.

Its painful to consider that even in America, mass shootings are such freakish, random events that they are impossible to prevent. But the writer Flannery OConnor once noted, The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.

Steve Chapman is a columnist with The Chicago Tribune.
The African Development Banks Fashionomics Africa initiative has named a women-led Kenya shoe design house as the winner of its competition to support producers of sustainable fashion.

Pine Kazi, which converts pineapple leaf and recycled rubber into fashionable footwear, won the $2,000 Fashionomics Africa competition cash prize. In addition, the business will have the opportunity to showcase its creation in online events, share insights on key sustainability challenges facing the industry and receive a certificate.

The brand, co-founded by Olivia Okinyi, Angela Musyoka and Mike Langa, will also have access to media opportunities and receive mentoring and networking opportunities from competition collaborators.

Pine Kazi is greatly humbled to be the winners of the first Fashionomics Africa contest in Africa. This is indeed an honour to the Kenyan people and the African continent at large, said Okinyi.

Musyoka added: All our dreams can come true if we have the courage and the patience to pursue them.

Competition judges said Pine Kazis shoes are innovative and sustainable. The upper of the shoe is made from pineapple textile, while the inside is lined with organic cotton. The sole is made from sisal plant fiber, fitted with recycled tyre underneath.

The Fashionomics Africa contest honours African fashion brands working to change how fashion is produced, bought, used and recycled, to encourage more sustainable consumer behaviour. A panel of four judges representing the Bank and competition collaborators  the United Nations Environment Program, the Parsons School of Design and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation  reviewed 110 entries from 24 African countries and selected three finalists: Pine Kazi; CiiE Luxuries, an eco-friendly accessories business based in Abuja, Nigeria; and clothing brand Labake Lagos.

We were pleasantly surprised by all the applications received for the first edition of our Fashionomics Africa competition. It was very difficult to make a choice, but the finalists stood out with their innovative, durable and contemporary designs, said Emanuela Gregorio, coordinator of the Fashionomics Africa initiative at the African Development Bank.

Of the applications, 65% were submitted by women and the businesses were predominantly micro-enterprises (54%), solo entrepreneurs (35%) and small businesses (12%).

What we learned from this Fashionomics Africa contest, in this month celebrating women around the world, is that many women entrepreneurs are advocating for sustainable production and consumption, and we commend their efforts, said Amel Hamza, Division Manager at the Banks Gender, Women and Civil Society Department.

An online public vote by 986 participants determined the winner: Pine Kazi got 400 votes, 318 votes went to CiiE Luxuries, and 268 to Labake Lagos.

Competition judge and a Program Director at New York-based Parsons School of Design, Brendan McCarthy, congratulated Pine Kazi during the competition winners announcement last Friday: You transformed waste materials from pineapples into profound new textiles and absolutely beautiful new shoes, he said.

The shoes are 100% handmade to reduce carbon footprint and can last three years, Pine Kazi says.

Okinyi wrote in Pine Kazis competition entry that if they won, they would invest half the winnings in machinery used to make shoe source materials. [This machinery] will see pineapple leaf waste put to work and create more green jobs for unemployed youth, she added.

The design house said resources would also be divided equally between research and development of natural dyes, the acquisition of professional stylists and the establishment of a centralized production system.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday 27th, 2021, the Ministries of Justice, VSA, and TEATT met to lay the foundation of establishing a working agreement or covenant to tackle the various loopholes used to defraud the system to acquire certain things like residency permits. Ministers support staff and relevant department heads engaged in a highly-anticipated meeting to identify issues within the labor and immigration system that allows persons coming to the island to abuse the system and acquire residency. The meeting served to introduce certain talking points and discuss the way forward with the intention of developing a joint covenant between all three Ministries that will tackle many aspects such as the employment-related immigration matters from the Ministry of Public Health, Labor, and Social Development (VSA) and the abuse of the Business Directors License from the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT) to acquire residency.

A covenant was first created in 2020, between the Minister of Justice and the Minister of VSA to cooperate on issues affecting both the labor and immigration systems. A task force was developed with representatives from both ministries to enhance the coordination and work relation specifically between the Immigration and Border Protection Services (Justice) and the Division of Labor, Affairs and Social Services (VSA) on employment-related immigration and to specifically address the ongoing issue whereby employers are employing persons who are not legally registered on the island. Representatives of the Ministry of TEATT were also invited to specifically discuss the misuse of the Business Director's licenses that persons are requesting in order to acquire residency status on the island.

The issue of the abuse of the Director's license for residence purposes is an on-going issue. Persons are paying for Directors licenses but the physical businesses are non-existent. The individuals continue to pay for the renewal of these licenses which is completed at the Receivers Department and not at the Ministry of TEATT. For this reason, the Government of Sint Maarten lead by the three respective ministers is moving forward to have a covenant established to continue to tackle this issue in a holistic manner.

Another manner in which the ministries will work together is on joint controls. Currently, the Ministry of TEATT controllers is visiting businesses to ensure they are legally operating their business. Within short, the Mobile Unit of the Immigration and Border Protection Services will be joining the controllers of TEATT to ensure the business is employing Dutch nationals and persons with legal status.

The respective members of staff from each ministry will be meeting in a subsequent meeting just after the holidays to proceed with the discussions and ensure the draft covenant covers all relevant areas needed to properly regulate processes while upholding laws and policies. This working agreement once firmly established to be most effective will then be signed by the Honorable Minister of Justice, Anna E. Richardson, the Honorable Minister of TEATT, Ludmila De Weever, and the Honorable Minister of VSA, Richard Panneflek.
Mr Sani urges Mr Gumi not to be discouraged by "words and lack of recognition".

A former senator, Shehu Sani, has urged popular Islamic cleric, Ahmed Gumi, to intervene in securing the release of the 39 students of Federal Forestry College and members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) held by kidnappers in Kaduna State.

The former lawmaker made the appeal when he visited the cleric in his residence in Kaduna, Monday afternoon.

Mr Gumi has been in the news in recent times after following an appeal he made to the government to grant amnesty to bandits.

The cleric has also met bandits in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Zamfara to negotiate their peaceful surrender after years of killing hundreds and displacing many from numerous communities.

He also reportedly met the bandits responsible for the abduction of 27 students and 15 others from the Government Science College, Kagara in Niger State to negotiate the release of the hostages. He has been criticised for his efforts by some Nigerians.

But he had argued that the easiest way to end the menace is to negotiate with the killers.

Visit

Speaking during the visit, Mr Sani expressed his desire to see the end of banditry in the country.

He urged the cleric not to relent on his efforts "as many people were proud of what he was doing".

"I'm one of the Nigerians passionate about bringing an end to insecurity in the country and I will not relent. I beg you not to retreat from whatever effort you are putting in place," the former lawmaker said.

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"We cannot also defeat people until we understand them and win some of them over. So do not be discouraged by words and lack of recognition.

"A mother whose child is in the hand of kidnappers will simply want their release at all cost. I call on you to use the privilege, the opportunity and the power which God has personally endowed you with to help free the 39 Afaka forestry college students and the RCCG members in captivity."

Responding, Mr Gumi appreciated Mr Sani's efforts towards restoring peace in the country.

He said he had met the parents of the abducted students prior to their meeting with the Kaduna State Government.

"As for the college students, we have done all we can do. In fact, I had a meeting with parents of the kidnapped students, sequel to their meeting with the government. I show them what the problem is and they went to visit the government and returned," Mr Gumi said.

He said he was not a negotiator for bandits, as he always ensured that government officials were present in his discussions with bandits in the forests, before the federal government's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/448237-buhari-restates-shoot-on-sight-order-for-illegal-possessors-of-ak-47.html">shoot at sight order</a> on armed bandits.

"As for the college students, we are making arrangements for them through a contact to see how these problems can be solved.

"The case has been referred to 'someone' and he is doing his best," the cleric said.
Strategy signals commitment to the principles of sustainable development and goal of contributing towards a more sustainable global economy

SINGAPORE, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) today unveiled its new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, which outlines its ambition, goals and targets for the next 5-10 years. The strategy is centred around three key goals that will drive STT GDC's sustainability efforts under the ESG pillars and signifies the group's commitment towards contributing to a more sustainable global economy.

"Sustainability has always been a key priority for STT GDC, and the group recognises its responsibility in delivering future-proof data centres that are aligned with society's current and future expectations. Today, we operate across various countries and as a Group, 43% of our electricity consumption is already derived from zero-carbon renewable sources. But we are not resting on our laurels. Through this ESG strategy, we are formalising our approach and accelerating our commitment to providing responsible digital infrastructure across all our existing data centre platforms, even as we expand to new geographies," said Bruno Lopez, President and Group CEO, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres.

The ESG strategy was developed in alignment to the objectives and framework set out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), and on the basis of a formal process of engagement, established concepts of long-term value creation, recognition of challenges, and adaptation to the specific nuances of the data centre sector.

Carbon-neutral data centre operations by 2030

As STT GDC continues to grow, in current and new markets, it remains committed to delivering reliable, resilient, and responsible digital infrastructure. The centrepiece of its ESG plan is a commitment to transitioning its data centre operations to be net carbon neutral by 2030 . While STT GDC's pledge is deliberately ambitious, the organisation recognises that it is necessary given the vital role the business and industry have to play in addressing climate change.

Progress will be measured through intermediate milestones and STT GDC will adhere to the best practice principles and standards of corporate reporting by disclosing its sustainability performance in annual public reporting. The organisation intends to publish an inaugural ESG report later this year which will further detail its targets and performance to date.

Other important environmental targets include the implementation of water efficiency programs and a commitment to conduct water stewardship assessments for all its properties. This is especially important for data centres which operate in water-stressed regions.

"At STT GDC, we are acutely aware of the unique position we occupy as a data centre operator -- essential for society, governments and the global technology industry to function and yet part of an industry where resource consumption levels are continuing to grow," said Lopez. "As businesses actively move to mitigate climate change, the onus has fallen on businesses like ours to take the lead, maintain the social licence to operate and ensure full alignment with national and international sustainability agendas such as the recently announced Singapore Green Plan 2030."

A safe, secure and inclusive workplace for all

STT GDC's ESG plan also includes topics such as workplace health and safety, social impacts of construction, as well as inclusion and diversity. Key components of its Social targets include:

Commitment to world-class safety performance of construction and operational activities, including certification to relevant standards such as ISO45001

Enhancing commitment to workplace diversity

Encouraging and up-skilling under-represented minorities in technical roles

Ethical and responsible operations

Corporate integrity and responsible business practices are paramount to STT GDC and continue to govern the Company's values and culture. STT GDC will continue to apply its already rigorous focus on ethical best-practice governance and maintaining the highest levels of integrity in every operational location. This includes further enhancing its code of conduct for suppliers, and ensuring all staff receive regular training on anti-bribery and corruption frameworks.

STT GDC is focused on growing its business sustainably, ensuring the economic vitality of the communities it operates in and creating value for customers, employees, investors, and other business stakeholders. This plan will serve as a roadmap to guide its employees and business practices. Read more about the ESG initiatives at www.sttelemediagdc.com/esg and in the STT GDC ESG Report that will be published later this year.

About ST Telemedia Global Data Centres

ST Telemedia Global Data Centres is one of the fastest-growing data centre providers, headquartered in Singapore. With a global platform of data centres in the world's major business markets of over 120 facilities across Singapore, China, India, Thailand and the UK, STT GDC offers a full suite of best-in-class, highly scalable and flexible data centre solutions, connectivity and support services that best meet customers' current and future colocation needs. For more details, please visit sttelemediagdc.com.?

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A teacher who showed pupils a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad in a religious studies class is in fear of his life, his father has said.

The 29-year-olds mother has also gone into hiding amid growing concerns the wider family may be targeted by extremists enraged that he showed the image to his students at Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire.

My son keeps breaking down crying and says that its all over for him, his father said. He is worried that he and his family are all going to be killed.

Mass protests have been held outside the school since it emerged the teacher used the caricature  thought to be and image from French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo  as part of a lesson looking at blasphemy last Monday. He should never teach again, one demonstrator, 20-year-old Hash Hash, told The Independent on Friday. Well keep coming here until he is gone.

Despite appealing for calm, community groups and local leaders have noticeably stopped short of calling for the protests to stop.

Read more:

Now, the teachers father has spoken about the full impact the episode is having on the whole family.

My sonknows that hes not going to be able to return to work or live in Batley, he told the Daily Mail. Its just going to be too dangerous for him and his family.

Look what happened to the teacher in France who was killed for doing the same thing. Eventually they will get my son and he knows this. His whole world has been turned upside down. He's devastated and crushed.

Teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded in Paris in October after showing his class the same image from Charlie Hebdo. His killer, 18-year-old Abdullakh Anzorov, was shot dead by police shortly afterwards.

The Batley teachers father added: My wife is petrified that we'll also be targeted and has become a bag of nerves since all this happened. She's unable to stay in our home. This whole incident has had a devastating impact on us, and we are all scared about the situation we find ourselves in.'

He added that CCTV cameras are being set up at his home and that police officers have visited to provide advice on staying safe.

The school and my son have issued a full apology, and both have said that they won't allow the same thing to happen again, he said. That should be the end of the matter and my son should be allowed to get on with his life.

His words came as a petition supporting the teacher approached 70,000 signatures, while the former chief inspector of Ofsted Sir Michael Wilshaw weighed into the debate saying that a firm line had to be taken to defend free speech in schools.

Sir Michael said: Theres no excuse for the sort of demonstrations weve seen outside the school. It does raise a whole issue of the sort of society we are and the value that we put on free speech. People need to protect that.

Speaking to the i newspaper, he added: It [protesting] intimidates both children and staff. What it does  and Ive had experience of this  is encourages the more radical, the more extreme elements in the community to come from all over the country to demonstrate, and thats not a good thing.

Batley Grammar itself  which has some 850 pupils aged between four and 16  has now broken up for Easter.

In Islam, depictions of Muhammad are explicitly forbidden.
by Nirmala Carvalho

Thousands of Myanmar refugees, including policemen, have fled to neighbouring India. In Manipur, state authorities have been forced by public opinion to rescind an order to turn back refugees. Some 3,000 Karen fled to Thailand because of air strikes, and are stranded at the border.

New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Myanmar's crisis is spreading to neighbouring countries, as more and more people flee army violence crossing into India and Thailand.

The situation is particularly tense in the Indian State of Manipur. The local government has been forced by public opinion to backtrack after asking border officials last Friday to politely turn away those seeking refuge in India after local authorities started setting up food and shelter camps for Myanmar citizens fleeing their homeland.

The States Home Department had instructed deputy commissioners in Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Ukhrul, and Churachandpur to prevent Aadhar (identity) enrolment and take to safe custody the kits used in the procedure. Officials had also been asked to report on the situation by today.

In the letter withdrawing the order, the Home Department said that its order had been misconstrued.

In order to avoid this misunderstanding I am directed to convey the decision of the government that it has decided to withdraw the letter dated 26.03.2021, writes H Gyan Prakash, Special Home Secretary to the State government, in the letter. The government has been taking all humanitarian steps . . . including taking them (refugees) to Imphal, to treat the injured Myanmarese nationals.

Another 1,042 refugees have also reached neighbouring Mizoram in the past few weeks, including a number of police officers and firefighters who choose to desert rather than go against protesters. Local NGOs are offering assistance to refugees.

On 10 March, Indias Home Affairs Ministry wrote to the chief secretaries of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh and to the Assam Rifles guarding the Indo-Myanmar border to check the influx of people from Myanmar and identify illegal migrants and deport them.

However, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga replied that, since the people of his state were ethnically related to Chin refugees from Myanmar, they could not remain indifferent to the suffering in the neighbouring country.

Meanwhile, Myanmar's ambassador to the UN, who is still loyal to the democratic government overthrown by the military, appealed to India and the governments of other neighbouring countries to accept refugees during the ongoing crisis.

On Myanmar's eastern border, about 3,000 ethnic Karen have fled to Thailand in the last few hours after Myanmar planes carried out air strikes against a village controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU). The military operation was retaliation for a KNU-led attack on an army outpost that left 10 people dead.

Karen groups have accused Thailand of turning back at least 2,000 of these refugees. Thai authorities have rejected the accusation, claiming that they are still at the border. Thailand's policy, said an official source, is to block them at the border, and deny them any contact with outside relief organisations.
After years of stasis for new homes at the Hunters Point shipyard, construction has finally begun again. No project is more important to the citys housing goals than Hunters Point and nearby Candlestick Point  and none is as contentious.



An EPA-designated superfund site, hazardous chemicals left the former Navy shipyard dangerously contaminated. The Navy has spent decades and upwards of $1 billion trying to make it fit for human habitation so that the city and private developers can create more than 9,000 new homes here, by far the most ambitious housing project in San Francisco.



But not everyone in the Bayview community trusts the cleanup plan, and all attempts to detoxify the sites public image have, if anything, made it more controversial. Given this history, the average San Franciscan may still wonder, is it really safe to build housing in the shipyard?

Since the base closed nearly 50 years ago, many state and local administrations, the Navy, the Environmental Protection Agency and developers like Lennar and FivePoint have assured the public over and over again that Hunters Point cleanup will be sufficient and that the finished neighborhood will face no unusual public health risk.



But in recent years, headlines around Hunters Point have fomented doubt. In 2018, two employees of Tetra Tech EC, the contractor charged with testing soil at Hunters Point for radiation, pleaded guilty to falsifying results, a scandal that froze construction at the shipyard until just a few weeks ago and prompted still-ongoing investigations. That same year, radiological surveys around already populated parts of Hunters Point discovered a radioactive piece of an old Navy ship in a place where no contaminated materials were ever supposed to have been located.



In 2019, a private environmental watchdog group concluded that the Navy "quietly abandoned" its longstanding promise to remove all contaminated materials from the shipyard, opting instead to leave many contaminants buried. And over the years, some areas of the site proved to be far more contaminated than originally expected.



A 2020 San Francisco Chronicle investigation found that an aerial survey of the site was of limited value, and that a key public health watchdog knew of the surveys limitations, even as she touted it in conversations with potential shipyard condo buyers and in public hearings. (SFGATE and the San Francisco Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently of one another.)



While these are just a few unhappy shipyard surprises that have popped up since construction began years ago, none of these or other scandals have dented public assurances about the suitability of the development. Beyond fuel for shipyard skeptics, the cleanup at Hunters Point isnt just about radiation. Its also about the toxic legacy of institutional racism that for decades relegated many of San Franciscos Black residents to the most dangerous jobs and unhealthy neighborhoods, creating a culture of suspicion that modern residents have inherited.



Ray Tompkins, a chemist and onetime member of the Hunters Point Restoration Advisory Board, accuses the military of exposing Black service members to dangerous materials without regard. Because Bayview was as an African American community, they didn't give a damn about potential health risks in or around the shipyard today, he said.



I know a lot about radiation health, but you can't communicate through a cloud of mistrust, says Thomas McKone, a professor emeritus of environmental health sciences at UC Berkeley who also served on a four-person scientific panel auditing radiation testing standards in some parts of Hunters Point. The committees 2020 report concluded that testing methods were adequate, but McKone says that many Bayview neighbors simply dont believe it.



We didn't realize what we were stepping into, McKone says. It was so tied to a long history of misinformation and failure to address the concerns of the community  we walked right into that.



Both of the other surviving committee members (Nobel Prize-winning environmental scientist Kirk Smith died a few months after the committees final report  his death was not related to work at Hunters Point) expressed regrets about the process as well.



We should never have embarked on what we were trying to do, because it was a no-win situation, UC Berkeley environmental health professor John Balmes says. I've had to apologize both for my faulty memory and for not delivering the environmental justice advocacy some wanted from us.



(Balmes faulty memory comment refers to an apology he made last year for not disclosing everything about his past work advising shipyard developers, which some critics used to discredit him.)

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai, founder of the Hunters Point Community Biomonitoring Program, goes so far as to allege that the whole neighborhood should be considered a public health emergency. Were [testing] people with four to six radioactive elements in their urine, Sumchai says. While its actually surprisingly common for people to have materials like uranium in their bodies, Sumchai says that these are extreme findings. In people we are detecting them in high to toxic ranges.



For every shot fired at the shipyard, theres an official response aimed at quelling the controversy. What should ordinary San Franciscans believe about the state of this critical development?

The Questions

Q: Are people living with dangerous radiation Hunters Point?

Only a small part of the shipyard is currently developed. This area, dubbed Parcel A and slated for more than 1,400 homes, was not initially subject to radiation scans because the Navy claimed that this part of the base was never used to handle hazardous materials. In 2018, radiological surveys conducted in the wake of the Tetra Tech EC scandal did turn up an irradiated artifact here, a deck marker (an object used to illuminate the edge of Navy ships), buried beneath about 10 inches of soil. Nobody knows how it came to be on Parcel A, but possibly it was discarded there accidentally decades ago.

Q: Was the deck marker dangerous?

In 2019, the California Department of Public Health released a report concluding that the object did not pose a health risk, since among other things, it was buried deep enough to shield most of the latent radiation. A person would have to be sitting on top of the [marker] for over 16 hours to receive the equivalent amount of radiation as a dental x-ray, the report says. Unearthing and handling such an object could be more dangerous if people were directly exposed to the radium inside, but that didnt happen in this case.



Q: Can you really shield people from radiation with just dirt?

Kai Vetter, head of Berkeley Labs nuclear science division, says the CDPH is correct that the soil over the deck marker would have blocked most of the harmful exposure. Buried, the deck marker's gamma signature is highly diffuse, Vetter says. At a depth of 12 inches or deeper  roughly the range of the scanners used on Parcel A  most similar radioactive artifacts are pretty well insulated.



Vetter said common building materials like concrete and plastic can also effectively insulate against many radioactive elements. Sources like NASA and the Journal of Global Radiology corroborate this principle  which is good, since the Navy plans to use shields made of just such materials to cover submerged contamination in other areas of Hunters Point.



However, this doesnt mean that burying and capping dangerous materials is a fool-proof plan; the 2019 watchdog report From Cleanup To Cover-Up alleges that natural factors like burrowing animals and tree roots can churn soil and damage protective barriers, phenomena that have sometimes happened at other waste sites.



Q: Could there be other unexpected radioactive artifacts on Parcel A?

Possibly, but no others turned up in the scans and Tetra Tech EC and testing by various regulatory agencies have deemed the area safe. That means that any irradiated objects that might exist are more than a foot beneath the surface, or are buried under existing homes (which were not part of the area scanned in the survey). Construction and terraforming removed a lot of soil from parts of Parcel A and then replaced it with new materials, in some places up to 30 feet, a California Department of Public Health spokesperson told SFGATE.



The surveys of the shipyard searched only for gamma radiation. According to EPA guidelines, other types of radiation are less of a risk; alpha particles cant penetrate human skin, and materials as thin as aluminum foil or most clothing block beta particles. (CDPH also tested surface dust at Parcel A to see if nearby construction spread alpha and beta particles to homes; the testing didnt find anything.)



Critics like Tompkins ask what happens if someone goes digging in an irradiated area that eluded gamma scans, either because it was buried deeper or because its a different kind of radiation? Or what if an earthquake drives irradiated materials closer to the surface? A spokesperson for the U.S. Geological Survey told SFGATE that none of their staff have studied the effect of earthquakes on waste sites and arent sure whether this is a plausible scenario. UC Berkeleys McKone says he believes its unlikely that seismic activity would push buried materials upward. CDPH believes that so much excavation and fill-in was done while building homes on Parcel A that any undiscovered objects would be too far down for an earthquake to unearth.



But Berkeley Lab's Vetter disagrees, saying its perfectly possible that an earthquake might expose hypothetical buried artifacts, although the degree of risk is hard to calculate. Vetter also agrees that theres potential for danger if future residents go digging up Hunters Point properties where they shouldnt. An object like a deck marker or radium dial is not that dangerous while underground, Vetter tells SFGATE, but if you grabbed it and you opened it up and exposed it to the air, you get it on your hands, you ingest particles left on your fingers, thats the danger. Of course, this assumes anything is down there to begin with.



Q: Thats Parcel A, but what about the rest of the site?

All of the rest of the base is part of what the city dubs Phase 2 of the Hunters Point plan. Right now, transfer of any more land from Navy to S.F. jurisdiction is on hold, and the Navy is surveying and retesting the base in the fallout of the Tetra Tech EC scandal. Those findings  and their implications for the future of the development  are still forthcoming.



Q: Does the shipyard make people sick?

The EPAs environmental justice screening map shows that Bayview is in the 90th percentile or higher nationally for variables like particle pollution, cancer risk, respiratory hazards and lead exposure. Historically, Bayview residents have suffered higher-than-average rates of cancer and respiratory diseases, worse air quality and significantly shorter life expectancies.



Many of these health problems are exactly what wed expect from exposure to the kinds of materials present at Hunters Point, but there are other potential sources for these health woes as well. (In the past, many activists blamed the nearby Potrero power plant, which has since shut down.) Advocates like Dr. Sumchai are pressing for more rigorous independent investigations into whether the symptoms her patients complain about are related to shipyard activities. She expects a scandal on the scale of the Flint, Michigan, water crisis to someday break, she said, but right now, no public investigation has ever directly faulted the presence of the shipyard.



The San Francisco Department of Public Health did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Office of Community Investment & Infrastructure said questions about public health should be directed at the US Navy. Navy spokespersons did not directly comment, but referred to public documents about the Hunters Point cleanup process. In response to questions about potential public health risks, a spokesperson for developer Lennar deferred to related agency FivePoint. A FivePoint spokesperson declined to comment. Gerald Green, project manager for Tabernacle Community Development Corporation, a Bayview-based developer working on Parcel A, said that community members rarely bring up public health concerns with TCDC.

---

Its Bayview Month at SFGATE. Well be diving deep into the neighborhood for the entirety of March as part of a new series where well be highlighting a different corner of San Francisco every month this year.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article said that nuclear weaponry contributed to the contamination of the superfund site. The use of the word weaponry was inaccurate. A previous version of this article also stated that the employees that plead guilty to falsifying test results were employed by Tetra Tech. This has been corrected to state that the employees were employed by Tetra Tech EC, which is owned by Tetra Tech, Inc.
The Bethlehem Area School District may be projected to receive $51 million in federal stimulus dollars, but that wont solve the $7.9 million budget gap in its 2021-22 spending plan.

Using one-time money to bridge a budget hole just creates a deeper hole to dig out from next year, Chief Financial Officer Stacy M. Gober emphasized during a Monday district budget workshop.

This means the district has four options  cull down the budget, raid its savings accounts, raise taxes or a mix of the three  to balance next years estimated $310 million budget. The district has not asked the state to exceed its 3.7% cap on annual property tax increases.

Bethlehem Area began the budget process with a $10.7 million budget hole that it has trimmed to $7.9 million as of Monday. Much of the budget workshop focused on how the district plans to spend the $51.4 million its estimated to receive from the three coronavirus relief bills. The money must be spent by September 2023.

The district plans to use a major chunk of the money to address a long list of major capital needs, like 16 new buses and HVAC systems at six schools, that otherwise would take years to tackle. The administrations also identified ways to address pandemic-related student learning loss, such as summer programs and mental health supports, as well as COVID-expenses like Chromebooks and internet hotspots for virtual learning.

Superintendent Joseph Roy said the administration will lay out its educational recovery plans for the school board in April.

Gobers challenge is to only use the money for one-time costs and revenue losses related to the pandemic, which will hopefully go away or rebound as the economy recovers, she said.

The stimulus money gives Bethlehem a unique opportunity to tackle a number of expensive projects it wouldve taken years to save up money for, such as a back-up network at Nitschmann Middle School ($400,000) and the six HVAC projects estimated at almost $26 million.

HVAC isnt very sexy, but weve got to do it, Director Kim Shiveley said. And it just seems like this is a golden opportunity to take that that off the plate so we have room for other things.

The districts biggest financial stressors continue to be its $40.6 million of mandated employee pension contributions, up 4.4% this year, and the almost $34 million it will send to charter schools, a 5.3% increase. Excluding those costs district spending is only up by 2%, Roy and Gober repeatedly emphasized.

Charter schools are independent public schools funded by taxpayer dollars funneled from each enrolled students home district. Roy argued for charter school funding reform.

Since the 2008-2009 budget, district pension and charter school costs have risen by $64.6 million. And special education costs are up almost $18 million from 2013-14.

The districts last two budgets have held the line on taxes, relying on district savings to close budget holes. The current budget has about a $4.5 million deficit.

Theres not a lot of room there to cut without doing some surgical dissection, Gober said. So, we really do have to think about: how do we close that gap without being tempted to us the federal funds to do so and also not looking at our fund balance?

School Director Karen Beck Pooley said it is frustrating that federal officials are emphasizing how the stimulus is one-time funding, yet the state is using it as an excuse to flat fund education. That means property taxes will likely need to be increased, she said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.


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Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Add one more tornado to the count from Thursdays round of severe weather.

The National Weather Service offices in Mobile and Birmingham have added one tornado as of Monday evening.

The tornado moved from Choctaw County (covered by the weather service in Mobile) into Marengo County (covered by the weather service office in Birmingham).

It peaked as an EF-2, according to the weather service, but all the details on that storm havent been released yet.

The weather service also adjusted the ratings for several previously confirmed tornadoes  upgrading three of them to EF-3s.

The upgraded storms were the Sawyerville-Centreville-Columbiana tornado, the Ohatchee-Wellington tornado and the Elliotts Creek tornado.

The strongest tornado of all of them was the Sawyerville-Centreville-Columbiana tornado, an EF-3 with top winds estimated at 150 mph.

It was on the ground for more than 80 miles.

There were four EF-3s, three EF-2s, three EF-1s and one EF-0, according to the weather service.

The storm surveys arent yet done. The weather service in Birmingham said there are potential areas still to survey in Jefferson and Blount counties.

Here is a look at all of the tornadoes confirmed so far in Alabama from March 25:

1. Hale-Tuscaloosa counties (Elliotts Creek), EF-3 (upgraded), 140 mph. Path 11.15 miles long. No injuries.

2. Bibb-Shelby-St. Clair counties (West Blocton-North Shelby), EF-3, 140 mph. Path length 50.36 miles long. Five injuries.

3. Pickens County (Cochrane), EF-1, 90 mph. Path 5.63 miles long. No injuries.

4. Calhoun County (Ohatchee-Wellington), EF-3 (upgraded), 140 mph. Path 24.31 miles long. Five deaths, TBD injuries.

5. Cherokee County (Piedmont), EF-0, 75 mph. Path 3.57 miles long. No injuries.

6. Greene County (Clinton), EF-1, 100 mph winds. Path 12.05 miles long. No injuries.

7. Hale-Perry-Bibb-Chilton-Shelby counties, EF-3 (upgraded), 150 mph winds. Path length 80.38 miles. Two injuries.

8. Jefferson County (South Roebuck), EF-1, 90 mph winds. Path 4.78 miles long. No injuries.

9. Chilton-Coosa counties (Lake Mitchell), EF-2, 115 mph. Path 13.94 miles long. No injuries.

10. Clay-Randolph counties (Sikesville-Wehadkee), EF-2, 125 mph. Path 27.73 miles. No injuries.

11. Choctaw-Marengo counties, EF-2, details TBA.
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Greek president meets with Chinese defense minister

Xinhua) 13:36, March 30, 2021

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe in Athens, Greece, March 29, 2021. (Photo by Li Xiaowei/Xinhua)

ATHENS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou met here on Monday with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe.

Noting that Greece and China are both ancient civilizations, Sakellaropoulou said the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries continues to develop. She thanked China for its strong support in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greece attaches importance to China's position in international affairs, and appreciates China's achievements in economic and social development and its great progress in human rights, said the Greek president.

Greece is willing to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, Sakellaropoulou said.

It is hoped that the European Union and China will maintain close communication and jointly promote sustainable development of the world, she said.

During the meeting, Wei introduced China's recently-concluded "two sessions," its fight against COVID-19, achievements in economic and social development, and the actual situation in Xinjiang.

He said that China and Greece enjoy a long friendship and have achieved remarkable results in jointly building the Belt and Road.

China will work with the CEE countries to promote more stable, substantial and far-reaching cooperation in various fields, said the Chinese minister.

The Chinese army is willing to strengthen strategic communication with the Greek army, carry out extensive personnel training, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and advance bilateral military ties to a higher level, said Wei.

He emphasized that China always upholds the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, unswervingly pursues a defensive national defense policy, and strives to work with other countries to build an international security architecture featuring fairness, justice, joint contribution and shared benefits.

Wei also held talks with the Greek Minister for National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos on Monday, exchanging in-depth views on relations between the two countries and the two armies, and on international and regional situations.

(Web editor: Wen Ying, Liang Jun)

COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc with BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc reduced risk of infection by 80% two weeks or more after the first of two shots, according to data from a real-world US study released on Monday. The risk of infection fell 90% by two weeks after the second shot, the study of nearly 4,000 US healthcare personnel and first responders found.

The results validate earlier studies that had indicated the vaccines begin to work soon after a first dose, and confirm that they also prevent asymptomatic infections.

Some countries dealing with limited vaccine supplies have pushed back schedules for second doses with the hope of getting some protection to more people. USpublic health officials, however, continue to recommend two doses be given on the schedule authorized by regulators based on clinical trials.

The study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) evaluated the vaccines' ability to protect against infection, including infections that did not cause symptoms. Previous clinical trials by the companies evaluated their vaccine's efficacy in preventing illness from COVID-19, but those studies would have missed asymptomatic infections.

The findings from of the real-world use of these messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines also confirm the efficacy demonstrated in the large controlled clinical trials conducted before they received emergency use authorizations from the US Food and Drug Administration.

The study looked at the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines among 3,950 participants in six states over a 13-week period from Dec. 14, 2020 to March 13, 2021. About 74% had at least one shot, and tests were conducted weekly to catch any infections without symptoms.

"The authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccines provided early, substantial real-world protection against infection for our nation's healthcare personnel, first responders, and other frontline essential workers," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. The new mRNA technology is a synthetic form of a natural chemical messenger being used to instruct cells to make proteins that mirror part of the novel coronavirus. That teaches the immune system to recognize and attack the actual virus.

The CDC study comes weeks after real-world data from Israel suggested that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was 94% effective in preventing asymptomatic infections. Britain and Canada were among the countries that have allowed extended gaps between doses of up to three or four months. UK authorities said in January that data supported its decision for a 12-week gap between doses.

Pfizer and its German partner have warned that they had no evidence to prove that. In their pivotal trials, there was a three-week gap between Pfizer shots and four weeks for the Moderna vaccine.

The CDC said the study results on Monday provide reassurance that people start to develop protection from the vaccine two weeks after their first dose, although the agency reiterated that the greatest protection was seen among those who had received both recommended doses of the vaccines.

Also read: India's COVID-19 vaccination picks up pace as infections surge

Also read: Dr Reddy's expects India to approve Sputnik V in next few weeks
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Low 49F. WNW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Low 49F. WNW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.
Medical assistants are some of the most dedicated health care professionals, and this program offers students a great career path by offering the right type and amount of preparation, as well as a stepping stone to other rewarding medical careers.

Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, central Pennsylvanias preeminent educational institution for the health care field, announced a new Medical Assistant (MA) Program, beginning in the Fall 2021 semester. Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences nine-month full-time Medical Assistant Program will allow students to learn the specialized skills to play a key support role as an administrator or clinician in a medical office.

This program comes at a time when there is high demand for certified medical assistants across central Pennsylvania. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobs for medical assistants are projected to grow by 19 percent from 2019 to 2029, outpacing many other occupations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also anticipates there will be more than 139,000 new medical assistant jobs over the next decade. The aging population will increase the demand for preventative medical services, which will require more medical assistants to help with clinical and administrative duties.

Medical assistants are a critical part of a health care team, providing administrative and clinical support services to ensure care delivery is efficient and effective, said Heather Myers, Program Director for the Medical Assistant Program at Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences. Being a medical assistant means that no two days are the same. You may take patient vitals, draw blood or process lab samples one day, and spend the next day at the front desk checking in patients and processing insurance claims. This is an excellent foundation for anyone interested in entering the health care field or joining a local health system.

At PA College, students will complete their medical assistant education in as little as nine months. The full-time curriculum includes both theory and hands-on clinical practice courses, as well as a six-week externship experience in a medical office or ambulatory clinic setting. At the end of the program, students are eligible to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam through the National Healthcareer Association to earn the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant designation, though students may be able to start working in the field before they are certified.

The program will combine a mix of online and face-to-face instruction in an accelerated format.

PA College is dedicated to continually developing new programs to reflect the needs of the health care community in our area, said Dr. Karen Dielmann, Dean of Health Sciences for Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences. Medical assistants are some of the most dedicated health care professionals, and this program offers students a great career path by offering the right type and amount of preparation, as well as a stepping stone to other rewarding medical careers.

PA College is currently accepting applications for this program for the Fall 2021 semester. To learn more about the new Medical Assistant Program, visit: https://www.pacollege.edu/academics/health-sciences-certificate-programs/medical-assistant-technical-certificate/

To learn more about Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, please visit: http://www.PAcollege.edu.

About Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

A dynamic and academically rigorous institution, Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences is a private, accredited, four-year college focusing exclusively on the field of health care. Offering associate, bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs, as well as a number of certificate programs, PA College provides professional development for health care workers throughout their career. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the College attracts a select group of more than 2,000 students to study with faculty who are experts in their specialty areas.
OAKLAND (BCN)

Police arrested two people, issued 10 citations, towed six vehicles and recovered one firearm during a busy Sunday night of sideshow activity that includes as many as 300 vehicles driving through East Oakland looking for an intersection to take over.

Oakland police responded on the ground and with the department's helicopter -- as well as with support from other local law enforcement agencies -- to prevent the sideshow from starting.

Police noted that one of those arrested was from Portland, Oregon, and is affiliated with a car club that area.

Oakland police thanked the other agencies for their support, including the following: Alameda County Sheriff's Office, San Francisco Police Department, Richmond Police Department, Vallejo Police Department and California Highway Patrol.

Police encourage community members and visitors to use the non-emergency email sideshowtips@oaklandca.gov to report information regarding illegal sideshows, as well as vehicles and people involved in this illegal activity.

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.
Mumbai, March 30 : Actor Amit Sadh feels he can qualify for a toothpaste brand, going by his post on social media.

Amit posted a picture on Instagram, where he is seen smiling ear-to-ear.

He wrote: "I can easily qualify for a toothpaste brand!" The actor was recently seen in web series like "Breath: Into The Shadows", "Avrodh: The Siege Within", "Jeet Ki Zid", and "7 Kadam".
DONGGUAN, China, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Featuring 10 exhibition halls for more than 1,500 brands in an area of 770,000 sqm, the 45th International Famous Furniture Fair (Dongguan) ("Dongguan 3F" or "3F"), has closed the doors to its latest exhibition, held from March 15-19 at the Guangdong Modern International Exhibition Center in Dongguan, setting a new record of 192,551 visitors in total.

Many exhibitors participating in the event this year, such as Ashley, Treca, Magniflex, DeRUCCI, COOMO and Lacquer Craft, have displayed a complete home furnishing collection in their spaces. While some exhibitors have brought not only a new solution but also new concepts of home furnishing to the visitors.

Chen Sheng, the VP of SCIHOME, a professional sofas manufacturer in China, said the company's exhibition highlight this year is to provide one-stop solutions by combining different product portfolios flexibly. The company set up four production lines in 2020 for its customized and integrated home furnishing business, and planned to add four more in 2021 as it has seen the potential of the market.

Huang Haitao, the Marketing Director of Rongfeng International Home Furnishing said the company has presented the idea of new integrated home furnishing by displaying its exhibition space like an art exhibition for its brand CITYNEST.

In addition to welcoming a diverse and enthusiastic crowd of participants during the five-day event, Dongguan 3F also held several forums and activities to focus on design, including a ceremony for its Golden Wing Award. The Award was created to celebrate the milestones and achievements in China's furniture industry, championing the power of design as the engine driving the industry's development. Eight major awards and twenty sub-item awards were announced at the ceremony held on March 16. This year's Golden Wing Award went to Shanghai Expocasa's Horizon, which also won gold for Excellent Product Design in the Cabinet category.

Dongguan 3F is held to link the upstream and downstream supply chain to showcase wide-ranging brands and products from across the industry. As the Chinese home furnishing industry's definitive event, it is also the most important platform for furniture sourcing opportunities in the country. The next exhibition will be held in Dongguan from August 18-21, 2021. For more information, please visit: http://jul.gde3f.com/

Media Contact

International Department

+86-0769-85989921

fbf@gde3f.com
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23 Gov. Kay Ivey tours tornado damage at Eagle Point in Shelby County

An angel statue on the front porch is about all thats left of the home of Larry and Mary Rose DeArman, whose house in the Eagle Point subdivision of Shelby county was completely destroyed on March 25 while they hid in a basement closet.

Even the angel statue had its arms blown off.

Im not sure where they are, Mary Rose said. If I find them, Im going to glue them back on.

Maybe the arms were blown off protecting the DeArmans.

The wind, the sound, oh God, Mary Rose said. Her husband, Larry, was downstairs, looked out the window and shouted upstairs to her.

Larry stayed downstairs and looked outside and said, Get down here right now, she said.

The house started shaking, she said.

Her neighbors were feeling the same thing. It was crazy, said Tonja Sims, who lives directly across from the DeArmans. I knew it was a tornado. I could feel the pressure. My ears were popping.

The DeArmans hid in a basement closet. Larry pointed to where the basement bathroom was. If we had gone in there, wed be dead, Mary Rose said.

I was praying to God, Mary Rose said. When we got in that closet, I prayed to God, Let it stop, and it stopped.

Larry smiled and said, Why didnt you start praying sooner!

Standing on the front porch by the angel statue, Mary Rose pointed down to where she and her husband rode out the storm.

I dont know why we got spared, she said. Most people look at that and say no way anybody could have survived.

The entire house appeared to have collapsed all around them.

Sims, who emerged to find the back of her house blown in, and other neighbors helped rescue the DeArmans.

The neighbors pulled me out, Mary Rose said. If it hadnt been for them, wed still be in there.

Larry, 74, and Mary Rose, 69, had to climb up two ladders to get out of the rubble. Never in my life did I think I would be climbing a ladder, she said. I climbed that ladder like a monkey up a flagpole.

Soon volunteer work crews showed up. State Rep. Arnold Mooney said volunteer crews from the Church of the Highlands and Meadowbrook Baptist Church helped clear debris from the road so emergency vehicles could enter the neighborhood.

Within an hour, there were people out here with chainsaws, Mooney said.

Gov. Kay Ivey came by the house on Monday afternoon and met Larry and Mary Rose at the front steps.

Thats the spirit of Alabama folks - resilient, Ivey said. Neighbors helping neighbors. Thats what we Alabamians are all about.

The DeArmans are Catholic and attend weekly Mass at Our Lady of the Valley Church. Mary Rose said she prays the rosary every morning.

It had to be from God, Mary Rose said of her brush with death.

Gods got a purpose, she said. We dont know what that purpose is. Well have to wait and see.

She has a hunch, though. This will get the message out that God is in control of everything, she said.

Gov. Kay Ivey tours tornado damage at Eagle Point in Shelby County. Posted by Greg Garrison on Monday, March 29, 2021
Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net
For its April 13 Speakers Series and networking event, NJ Cannabis Insider is hosting a talk on homegrow and hemp with industry insiders. The two-hour event will touch on topics that revolve around the medical and recreational aspects of letting residents grow their own cannabis, how the hemp industry is going to grow alongside it and the future of CBD.

Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, who last week introduced a bill for adult-use home cultivation, will be one of the featured speakers.

We shouldnt be criminalizing growing a plant if voters already made it legal, Gopal said during a panel hosted by the New Jersey Political Science Association on Friday.

NJ Cannabis Insiders April Speaker Series presented by Foley Hoag will be from 10 a.m. to noon. Gopal will discuss the status of the bill and other efforts he and the Legislature are working on for the cannabis space. Gopals bill would allow those who are above 21 to grow up to six plants and a maximum of 12 per household. Homegrow has often been cited as beneficial for medical patients and those who cannot afford the price of recreational cannabis sold through retailers.

The event will also feature a panel to discuss developments in the hemp and CBD space with Pure Genesis CEO Faye Coleman, HillviewMed CEO Ken VandeVrede and Foley Hoag cannabis law practice counsel Mike McQueeny.

McQueeny also serves as counsel for the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association, a trade organization that represents the medical marijuana providers within the state. Outside of their respective business roles, Coleman and VandeVrede are founding members of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Associations Hemp Policy Committee.

The committee was established in the wake of the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill when hemp went from being a Schedule 1 drug to being an agricultural commodity.

The virtual speakers series also offers serious a networking session, where cannabis insiders have the opportunity to discuss and connect with one another. Roundtables will have focused discussions on what what you need to know to get in on New Jerseys Green Rush. Supporting sponsors, include:

Supreme Security Alarms , New Jersey leaders in the security space, providing custom designed, state-of-art systems to protect your business.

Hance Construction was selected to build one of the first cannabis grow facilities in New Jersey, and has since worked on other medical cannabis projects, offering consulting and site-location services was selected to build one of the first cannabis grow facilities in New Jersey, and has since worked on other medical cannabis projects, offering consulting and site-location services

Click here for more details and to purchase tickets. Space is limited. Early-bird registration ends March 31.

NJ Cannabis Insider is a weekly subscriber-based online trade journal and events group produced by NJ Advance Media, which also publishes NJ.com, The Star-Ledger and other affiliated papers.

Jelani Gibson is content lead and an assistant editor for NJ Cannabis Insider. Find him on twitter at @JelaniGibson1
Russian authorities have opened a criminal case against four Jehovah's Witnesses in Siberia, in the latest persecution against the religious group.

The Investigative Committee in the Tomsk region charged the four believers for participating in an extremist group, the human rights monitoring group OVD-Info and Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia said on March 29.

The four were identified as Sergei Belousov, Andrei Kolesnichenko, Aleksei Ershov, and Andrei Ledyaykin.

The case was opened in Seversk, a closed city due to its nuclear and chemical facilities.

Russia labeled the Jehovahs Witnesses an extremist group and banned it in 2017, leading to a wave of court cases and prison sentences against its members.

For decades, the Jehovah's Witnesses have been viewed with suspicion in Russia, where the dominant Orthodox Church is championed by President Vladimir Putin.

The Christian group is known for door-to-door preaching, close Bible study, rejection of military service, and not celebrating national and religious holidays or birthdays.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 30, 2021 - 21:55 | All, World, Japan

Japan has suspended the provision of new aid to Myanmar in response to last month's military coup, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tuesday, as the violent crackdown against protesters draws a wave of international condemnation.

The move follows criticism Japan was taking a soft stance on Myanmar compared with the United States and other Western countries that have placed sanctions on individuals and companies linked to the military junta that ousted the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Japan is the largest provider of economic assistance to Myanmar, and we aren't planning any new projects. We have taken a clear stance," Motegi told a parliamentary session.

Motegi argued withholding official development assistance, or ODA, would do more to put pressure on the military than those sanctions, saying, "If you consider which is more effective, I think it's pretty clear."

"To say it's good and courageous to impose sanctions and cowardly to not, such a dichotomy doesn't make sense on the international stage," he said.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Japan's aid to Myanmar totaled nearly 190 billion yen ($1.7 billion) in fiscal 2019, by far the biggest contributor other than regional rival China, which does not disclose corresponding data.

Security forces have used force to quell protests across Myanmar, with the death toll topping 500 on Monday according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group monitoring the situation.

Japan has joined other Group of Seven members in condemning the coup and urging the release of Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other detained members of the National League for Democracy, which decisively won last November's general election.

The military seized power on Feb. 1, claiming the election results were fraudulent and imposing a one-year state of emergency.

But Tokyo has been reluctant to impose sanctions due to its strong economic ties to Myanmar and relations with the military, which directly ruled from 1962 to 2011. It is also wary that Beijing would take advantage of the situation and increase its clout in the country.

About 450 Japanese companies, mostly in the manufacturing sector, operate in Myanmar and Japan is the fifth-largest foreign investor there, according to the Myanmar government.
While the salvager teams, dredgers, and numerous tugboats were needed to dislodge the stranded mega container ship MV Ever Given, the rescue was made possible due to the unforeseen galactic entity propelling force needed to push the 400-meter (1,300-foot) giant vessel out of the canal, the full moon! Mammoth Panama flagged cargo ship, that wedged lengthways for nearly a week, blocking good cargoes and oil tankers behind waiting to traverse the key maritime passageway, channeled buoyant force due to strategic alignment of the Sun, moon, and the Earth that led to super high spring tides in the canal waters.

Hours before the Salvagers and at least 14 tug boats could wrench the vessels stern free with strenuous pulling maneuvers from three directions, Ever Given was partially refloated as the high tides caused by the Marchs supermoon peaked on Tuesday, Suez canal forecasts stated. A tide forecast data compiled by Suez authorities stated, The predicted tide times today on Tuesday 30 March 2021 for Suez are: first high tide at 00:08 am, first low tide at 6:25 am, second high tide at 12:28 pm, second low tide at 6:45 pm. This was when the salvagers were more vigilant in their rescue mission, as after Tuesday, the spring tides would decline again.

One of the most discussed news is the incident in the #SuezCanal. One of the world's largest container ships #EverGiven has blocked one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Specialists are making every effort to restore shipping.



You can see it now from the @SpaceStation: pic.twitter.com/PCKlFO5Ya1  Sergey Kud-Sverchkov (@KudSverchkov) March 27, 2021

[Russian cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov shared images taken from the International Space Station of the Ever Given cargo ship stuck askew in the Suez Canal on March 27, 2021. Image credit: Roscosmos/NASA]

A team, on the same day, was quickly dispatched by Dutch dredging and heavy-lift firm Boskalis to the key global trade marine corridor, taking advantage of the lunar effect. ROSCOSMOS astronaut Sergei Kud Svlchkov shared images of the stranded Ever Given at the canals chokepoint, showing Taiwan's Evergreen Marine Corp. operated mega tankers' orbital vantage point. As dredgers utilized the heights of tides and waves due to the lunar pull to refloat the vessel, the Japan-based Shoei Kisen Kaisha, who owns the ship confirmed Monday that the refloat operation was in fact going well. The firm, however, did not estimate a timeline.

Freed from navigational artery chokepoint

Boskalis CEO Peter Berdowski cautioned issuing a statement, Do not cheer so soon, as foghorns and cheers engulfed the air from both sides of the canal from vessels on a tailback since March 23 with goods worth billions of dollars as EverGreen was finally refloating. Shortly, Suez Canal Authority (SCAs) announced that the Ever Given had been restored to nearly 80 percent of accurate direction in the navigational artery, and will be sailed to Great Bitter Lake, a wider stretch of water after it is fully refloated when operation concludes.

Ahead of being completely pulled out of the bank, the ship briefly stranded at 205-meter southern section of the canal due to strong gust of winds, exposing the vessels fragility and vulnerability. The Suez Canal Authority stated in a release that the teams will initiate a probe to scrutinize the vessel and what likely prompted the historic accident that disrupted the worlds maritime shipment.

[Image Credit: AP]

[Image Credit: AP]

[Image Credit: AP]
(Natural News) In this study, a researcher at Pamukkale University in Turkey assessed the potential of antimicrobial films for use in active food packaging. His full report was published in the journal Food Science and Technology.

For his experiment, the researchers packaged manti, a tortellini-like Turkish food, with antimicrobial films to extend its storage time at 4 C.

Before inoculating manti pieces with 5 log concentrations of two common food-poisoning bacteria, namely, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, he separately incorporated polycaprolactone (PCL) with cinnamaldehyde (CNMA) and Punica granatum (pomegranate) methanolic extract (PME) to form antimicrobial diffusion films.

The films and manti pieces were then inserted in polyethylene bags that were filled with 100 percent N2 gas and monitored at 4 C for 28 days.

The researcher found that storage at low temperature and the addition of antimicrobial films effectively controlled microbial growth in the manti packages under modified atmospheric conditions for almost a month.

Both PCL-CNMA and PCL-PME films suppressed the growth of S. aureus for 21 days at 4 C, but the PCL-CNMA films had fewer colony forming units (CFU) at Day 28.

A similar result at Day 28 was observed for manti packages inoculated with E. coli; while PCL-PME films provided a bacteriostatic effect from Day 7 to Day 28, the PCL-CNMA films caused significantly larger reductions in CFU from Days 21 to 28.

Based on these findings, the researcher concluded that both cinnamaldehyde and P. granatum extract films can be used to control microbial growth in foods in modified-atmosphere packaging during cold storage.

Read the full article at this link.

Journal Reference:

Uzunlu S. EFFECT OF ACTIVE ANTIMICROBIAL FILMS ON THE GROWTH OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN MANTI. Food Science and Technology. 2019;39(1):203209. DOI: 10.1590/fst.01118
A former treasurer of St John the Baptist Catholic Cathedral in Norwich, who is in jail for defrauding the cathedral of 235,000, has been ordered to pay back just 1 because he has no assets.

A former treasurer of St John the Baptist Catholic Cathedral in Norwich, who is in jail for defrauding the cathedral of 235,000, has been ordered to pay back just 1 because he has no assets.

Come and help at North Norfolk Christian centre The Pleasaunce Holiday Centre in Overstrand is holding a work-party morning on Saturday June 12 and would like as many people as possible to join in to help get the gardens ship-shape. Read more

St Francis church in Heartsease goes for growth St Francis Church in Heartsease is organising a practical Let it Grow event this weekend to celebrate World Environment Day. Read more

Giving young people a vision for world mission The missionary organisation OMF is putting on a training event for Christian youth workers and their friends. Read more

God can use old age to bring new life Anna Heydon encourages to make the most of the new opportunities which God offers us as we approach the more mature years of our lives. Read more

YMCA Norfolk Housing Engagement Worker YMCA Norfolk is seeking a Housing Engagement Worker, based in Norwich, to help provide a programme of positive activities for residents. Read more

Will does 13-hour run for north Norfolk homeless Will Aldred ran 62 miles along the Angles Way over the Bank Holiday weekend to raise money for the Saint Vincent to Paul Society (SVP) in Norfolk. Read more

Yarmouth area churches are phoning a friend Five churches in the Yarmouth area are taking part in a phone befriending scheme, but more are being urged to join, as demand for the service grows. Read more

TV film as Norfolk man changed one million lives A documentary about the amazing story of Norwich-based charity Care for Childrens dream to foster one million children in China will be premiered tomorrow night on Sky TV. Read more

Have your say on future role of Celebrate Norfolk The team behind ecumenical Christian charity Celebrate Norwich and Norfolk wants to hear your thoughts about its future role. Read more

After the Storm will be a chance to reflect After the Storm? is a series of events set to take place at St Stephens Church, Norwich, in September 2021 to give people the chance to reflect on the global Covid-19 pandemic which has enveloped us all. Read more

Quiet Waters has summer offer for keyworkers The Quiet Waters Christian retreat house in Bungay would like to give a big thank you to those who have been Essential Workers during the past year. Read more

Breakfast fellowship in Cromer for forces veterans An Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club (AFVBC) has started meeting again in North Norfolk, ending the recent social isolation of veterans during pandemic restrictions. Read more

Two Recovery Workers needed by Matthew Project The Matthew Project is advertising two exciting full time opportunities as Recovery Workers, to support people in the community delivering 1:1 and group work. The roles will be centred in either Great Yarmouth or Kings Lynn and Thetford. Read more

Call to Prayer finds a new home in Heartsease The Call to Prayer ministry is moving this summer to a new base in Heartsease. Read more

YMCA opens cafe and soft play in Norwich A brand-new cafe and soft play area is set to open in Norwich on May 28 run by YMCA Norfolk in its new community hub on Aylsham Road near the city centre. Read more

A record-breaking year for Mid-Norfolk Foodbank Wellspring Church in Dereham, Swaffham Baptist Church, and Fakenham Salvation Army centre have provided the bases for a record-breaking year at Mid-Norfolk Foodbank. Read more

Transforming Norwich offers chance to meet Transforming Norwich will hold its next ministers and Christian leaders meeting on Zoom on Wednesday June 30. Read more
The programme has been announced for the 2021 Brighton Festival, which takes place throughout May. This year's guest director is poet Lemn Sissay.

Centring on the theme of 'care', 94 events will run both online and, from 17 May, in person. Thirty of these will be free to access.

Highlights include ten world and UK premieres, including new work by the actress Jane Horrocks (Yolk and Aliens); theatre director Neil Bartlett (Tenebrae: Lessons Learnt in Darkness); Tim Crouch (House Mother Normal) and Peter Sellars (This Body is so Impermanent...).

There will also be performances from classical artists Roderick Williams, Paul Lewis, Jessie Montgomery and Isata Kanneh-Mason; musicians Le Gateau Chocolat, Eliza Carthy and Gwenno; visual artist Olafur Eliasson; comedians Josie Long and Mark Watson; author Jacqueline Wilson and poet Michael Rosen.

Lemn Sissay's Tell Me Something About Family will invite people to contribute stories via a website exploring the "complexity and variety of what family can mean".

Sissay said: "The range of events on offer is incredible and I'm honoured to have some of my favourite artists taking part, presenting opportunities to reflect and discuss what's been happening socially and politically. There are also plenty of events that are simply joyful and celebratory, giving everyone the chance to enjoy themselves and be inspired by the arts."
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Pfizer has agreed to move up deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday, one day after restricting AstraZeneca jabs over safety concerns.

"Pfizer has now confirmed that they will be moving up five million doses from later in the summer into June. That will bring our total from 4.6 million to 9.6 million doses for that month alone," Trudeau told a news conference.

The arrival of these, as well as Moderna and AstraZeneca shots, bringing total doses expected by June 30 to more than 40 million, will allow the country to "begin our ramp-up phase" and meet its goal of inoculating all Canadians by the end of summer, he said.

"We want to get more doses of vaccines... to as many Canadians as possible in the coming months," he said.

Canada, with a population of 38 million, has ordered or reserved more than 400 million doses of vaccine from seven pharmaceutical groups.

But its rollout, started in December, has suffered several setbacks.

Only four vaccine candidates so far have been approved for use in Canada: AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech.

On Tuesday, Canada received 1.5 million surplus AstraZeneca doses from the United States, which has yet to approve its use domestically.

But Canadian experts on Monday recommended halting the use of AstraZeneca shots for people aged under 55, after a small but rising number of patients abroad suffered blood clots.

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

 2021 AFP
[March 30, 2021] NACO Announces First Ever Canada Zone Pan-Regional Hub for Investors in Partnership With Platform Calgary

Today, NACO announces the establishment of the first ever Canada Zone, a pan-regional digital hub for investors and high potential entrepreneurs. NACO's state-of-the-art Canada Zone will initially be a custom built space within Calgary's Platform Innovation Centre that leverages digital infrastructure to facilitate inter-provincial investment and deal syndication. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005440/en/ Left to Right: Terry Rock, President and CEO of Platform Calgary and Claudio Rojas, CEO of National Angel Capital Organization (Photo: Business Wire) NACO will leverage its expanding national footprint to build a constellation of digital-first environments, which will open up new pathways to capital for entrepreneurs in investment-constrained regions and industries. Working with Platform Calgary and local partners, NACO will establish a direct digital connection between Canada Zone hubs across the country. "NACO is thrilled to launch its first Canada Zone in partnership with Platform Calgary to attract new pools of capital into the region," says Claudio Rojas, CEO of NACO. "This will ensure that high potential entrepreneurs in Calgary have instant access to a national network of investors." NACO's recent 10th Annual Report on Angel Activity reveals an uneven distribution of angel investment activity across the country, with Western Canada accounting for 13% of national angel investment activity. Inter-provincial investments have also increased to 30% of total investments, and with the deep pools of capital that exist in Western Canada, it is critical to ta into this potential to ensure that Canadian entrepreneurs are well supported with the capital and mentorship they need to scale and drive our economic recovery.



"The digital infrastructure NACO has created over these past 12 months will amplify national deal syndication," said Sandi Gilbert, Past Chair at NACO based in Alberta. "This will support both entrepreneurs and local investors, which is key to leveraging NACO's national reach to ramp up investment within Alberta and across Western Canada." Through this partnership and the launch of the new Canada Zone, NACO will work in partnership with Platform Calgary and local organizations, stewarding the investor experience at the Platform Innovation Centre. NACO will leverage its network, membership and expertise to provide a concierge-style experience and valuable training and networking for established and emerging investors and industry partners, driving impact for entrepreneurs and supporting business growth.

"NACO is uniquely positioned to support Platform Calgary's vision to attract and mobilize deep pools of capital to accelerate the growth of Calgary's innovation economy," said Terry Rock, President and CEO of Platform Calgary. "NACO's Canada Zone is an exciting hub within the Platform Innovation Centre, Calgary's new home for innovators. In the Canada Zone, Alberta-based entrepreneurs will have instant access to NACO's national network, which spans the entire startup, scale-up, and growth funding continuum." Canada Zone is part of NACO's recently announced Pathways initiative to address critical gaps in the investment landscape with particular emphasis on opening up new pathways to capital for Canada's entrepreneurs. For more information about NACO, please visit www.builtbyangels.com. About NACO National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) members have invested over $1 billion into more than 1,500 Canadian companies. Established in 1998, NACO pioneered the "access to capital" movement and led the formation of angel groups in Canada. As the only national platform for both angel investors and the innovation hubs that support Canada's entrepreneurs, its national network includes 4,200 angel investors, 45 incubators and accelerators, and 44 angel groups. www.builtbyangels.com. About Platform Calgary and The Platform Innovation Centre Platform Calgary brings together the resources of Calgary's tech ecosystem to help startups launch and grow. Through collaboration with over 50 partners and targeted programming, we are a hub and engine for technology-focused economic diversification and job creation. In the fall of 2021, Platform Calgary will open the doors to Calgary's home for innovators - the Platform Innovation Centre - located downtown in the heart of the East Village neighbourhood. When a tech innovator walks through the door of the Platform Innovation Centre, they will have access to everything they need to achieve success including a connected community of like-minded entrepreneurs, investors and innovators. www.platformcalgary.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005440/en/

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Mass COVID-19 immunisation is expected to start in Georgia in July, head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze said, adding that it does not mean that getting the vaccination against coronavirus will become mandatory.

"From July, we want to establish mass vaccination centers in big cities, such as Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, with a daily capacity of 3,000-4,000 vaccines" Agenmda.ge cited Gamkrelidze as saying.

Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze said that new websites will be launched for citizens to be registered for vaccination. She said that so far 14,097 individuals registered to get Pfizer vaccination.

Tikaradze also said that a Chinese vaccine will be delivered to Georgia by the end of this week.

"Next week we will have an additional Chinese vaccine, which is also recognised by the strict regulator of Hungary. 100,000 doses of the vaccine will be imported from China. We are consulting with the World Health Organisation on how to deal with this vaccine. When the vaccine is delivered, we will provide additional information", Tikaradze said.

Georgia received 43,200 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine on March 13, while the vaccination of health workers started on March 15 throughout the country. So far more than 4,048 health workers have been innoculated against Covid-19 in the country with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

In addition 29,250 doses of the US-German Pfizer/BioNtech coronavirus vaccine entered Georgia on March 24.

Starting March 25, people over 65 years of age are allowed to register for the Covid-19 vaccination in Georgia and make a choice between Pfizer and British AstraZeneca vaccines.
An Australian woman was left in disbelief after discovering her beloved tasty cheese wasn't sold in the United States.

Tasty cheese is a type of aged cheddar that Aussies often buy from their local supermarket to add to sandwiches, pizzas, salads and other meals.

But in a now viral TikTok, Loucineh Mardirossian has revealed the iconic dairy product isn't found outside Australian and New Zealand.

In the video Ms Mardirossian detailed the hilarious moment her request for the cheese was misunderstood while grocery shopping in Chicago.

'I lived in the US for a few years and when I first lived there I lived above a Whole Foods,' she said in her video.

'I went to Whole Foods and I was in the cheese section and I needed some shredded tasty cheese for this recipe I usually made.'

Ms Mardirossian said after searching the aisles with no luck, she asked one of the staff where she could find the tasty cheese.

'She looks at me and goes, "Oh do you want to try some of this burrata? It's real tasty",' she said.

'And that was the day I learnt that tasty cheese does not exist outside of Australia, can you believe? You just have to use other types of cheddar.'

The TikTok has now been viewed more than 100,000 times with many quick to inform Ms Mardirossian the cheese was also available in New Zealand.

Loucineh Mardirossian has detailed the hilarious moment her request for the popular dairy product was misunderstood at a grocery store in Chicago

'My Aussie husband and I have fought over cheese because he asked for tasty and I got something I thought tasted good,' one person commented.

'When I went to Australia I was so confused why the cheese was called tasty and none of my friends could explain what kind of cheese it was,' another foreigner said.

'My entire childhood consisted of three types of cheese. Plastic singles, tasty cheese and the dried parmesan in the container,' one wrote.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Mardirossian said she can't help but laugh every time she goes to buy tasty cheese since the encounter three years ago.

'I ended up finding a brand of organic aged white cheddar (while in Chicago) but it's not 100% identical. It's a decent substitute but it's not the exact same,' she said.

'Also Americans often mix white cheddar with the orange colored cheddar and for us Aussies - it's too much of a departure from what we are used to.'

Ms Mardirossian, who returned to Sydney to launch her own size-inclusive jewellery brand Zart, said she was overwhelmed by the response to her video and her newfound TikTok fame.

'My sister has now nicknamed me the spokesperson for tasty cheese and I'm here for it!' she said.
A logo is pictured outside a building of the World Health Organization (WHO) during an executive board meeting on update on the coronavirus outbreak, in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 6, 2020. (Reuters/Denis Balibouse)

US, 13 Nations Question the Integrity of WHO-China Study on CCP Virus Origin

The United States on Tuesday joined more than a dozen other nations to express shared concerns about a World Health Organization (WHO) study into the origins of the CCP virus, pointing to the reports delay and lack of access to crucial data.

Together, we support a transparent and independent analysis and evaluation, free from interference and undue influence, of the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, reads the statement signed by the governments of Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, South Korea, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In this regard, we join in expressing shared concerns regarding the recent WHO-convened study in China, the statement continued, acknowledging the importance of the international mission into the Chinese megalopolis of Wuhan, where the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus first emerged, but also emphasizing that the study was significantly delayed and lacked access to complete, original data and samples.

The Chinese communist regime, although wasnt directly mentioned in the joint statement, has been criticized for deliberately holding back the truth about the virus and allowing it to turn into a global crisis. Beijing for months rejected calls for an international probe and it wasnt until this January that a WHO-led team of foreign experts was allowed to conduct a 2-week study in Wuhan and exchange information with their Chinese counterparts.

The 10-member team was met with obstructions after their arrival. Two members were denied entry into China due to visa issues, which Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying attributed to a misunderstanding. Another team member, Australian microbiologist Dominic Dwyer, revealed that they had requested raw patient data on 174 cases identified by the Chinese health authority in December 2019 around Wuhans wildlife market, as well as other potential earlier cases, but were only provided with a summary.

Meanwhile, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has agreed that the probe was not extensive enough and the experts had struggled to get their hands on key information during their stay in China.

The WHO report, while not making any firm conclusions, rated the theory that the CCP virus escaped from a lab as extremely unlikely, and the theory that the virus jumping from bats to humans via an intermediary animal as most likely.

I welcome the recommendations for further research, including a full analysis of the trade in animals and products in markets across Wuhan, particularly those linked to early human cases, Tedros said Tuesday.

Although the team has concluded that a laboratory leak is the least likely hypothesis, this requires further investigation, potentially with additional missions involving specialist experts, which I am ready to deploy, he added.
Lisbon  Authorities in Guinea-Bissau should investigate the assault and attempted abduction of journalist Adao Ramalho, and ensure that those responsible are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

On March 12, in the capital, Bissau, five armed men in plain clothes attacked and tried to abduct Ramalho, a reporter for the local broadcaster Radio Capital FM, while he was covering the return of exiled opposition leader Domingos Simoes Pereira, according to the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, and media reports.

The men beat Ramalho with their rifles, punched and kicked him, and tried to shove him into an unmarked vehicle, he said. He resisted, and bystanders intervened and pulled him away from the attackers.

On March 18, Ramalho filed a complaint to the public prosecutor's office, which CPJ reviewed. In the complaint, he identifies one of the attackers as "Yaya Camara," a member of the country's presidential guard. Ramalho told CPJ that a bystander had recognized Camara during the attack and called out his name, and that Camara had responded.

Previously, on March 9, a group of four unidentified men abducted, robbed, and beat journalist Antonio Aly Silva in Bissau, as CPJ documented at the time. Silva told CPJ that he suspected the attack may have been linked to a recent article he had written criticizing the administration of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo.

"This attempt to abduct yet another journalist in Guinea-Bissau shows that journalists perceived to be critical of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo are working under immense risk," said Angela Quintal, CPJ's Africa program coordinator, in New York. "Embalo must ensure press freedom is respected and encouraged in Guinea-Bissau by guaranteeing that those responsible for targeting Capital FM journalist Adao Ramalho are speedily arrested and face the full force of the law."

Ramalho reports for Capital FM and hosts "Primeira Hora," a news program that covers social and economic topics, and is often critical of government, according to Capital FM director Lassana Cassama, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app.

Ramalho told CPJ that he was covering a press conference by Pereira and parked his car nearby as directed by a police officer. While he was organizing his backpack in the car, the men attacked him, dragged him from his vehicle, and attempted to force him into an unmarked white vehicle, he said, adding that the vehicle matched the description of the one used in Silva's abduction earlier this month.

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Ramalho told CPJ that the men broke his glasses and cellphone in the attack. He also sustained an edema and ulcer to his left eye, which required a week of medical treatment, according to a medical report the journalist filed with authorities, which CPJ reviewed.

Contacted by phone and email, presidential spokesperson Pamela Ferreira referred CPJ to President Embalo's previous comments on the alleged involvement of a member of his guard in the attack.

According to media reports, the president had condemned the attack and said that Guinea-Bissau did not have a culture of abducting journalists. He claimed that the guard who was identified as one of the assailants had accompanied him to Senegal and was not in the country at the time of the assault.

Contacted by CPJ over messaging app, Queba Coma, a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, said that authorities are investigating the attempted abduction, as well as the attack on Silva and last year's vandalism attack on Radio Capital FM, which CPJ documented. Coma said the investigations were still in the inquiry phase, and details could therefore not be made public.

Indira Balde, head of the local journalists' union, known as SINJOTECS, told CPJ via messaging app that the attack signaled that Guinea-Bissau was increasingly unsafe for journalists. Bubacar Ture, the vice-president of the nonprofit Guinean Human Rights League, told CPJ in a phone interview that the violence against journalists and other citizens in the country were organized by groups emboldened by the government's treatment of such issues.
PUNE, India, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brandessence Market Research is working on a new report title "Pharmaceutical Robots Market By Product Type (Traditional Robots, Collaborative Robots), By End-User Type (Pharmaceutical Companies, Research Laboratories), By Application (Inspection Of Pharmaceutical Drugs, Laboratory Application, Picking And Packaging) Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2021  2027" Increasing investment in pharmaceutical industry by global pharmaceutical players and growing use of robots for drug discovery process drives growth of pharmaceutical robots market.

Get Sample Copy of This [email protected] https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestSample/PostId/1476

The first industrial robot was invented in 1954, after that modern industrial robot arms continued to evolve in the 1960's and 70's around the globe. The robots which are used for the pharmaceutical industry are the pharmaceutical robots. These robots composed of manipulator, sensor devices, robot tooling. The robot in pharmaceutical industry has several benefits. Robots are 3 or 4 times efficient than humans and they can work 24/7. Robotics plays an important role in the manufacture of pharmaceutical drugs because nowadays production of pharmaceutical products increasing hence many pharma companies looking for the speed with accuracy and automation. These robots can be used for packaging, filling, inspection, etc. Another contribution of robotics is speeding up the drug discovery process and also these robots are used to make devices such as syringes, inhalers, IV bags and diabetes test kits. The use of robotics systems in the pharmaceutical industry has great potential and pharmaceutical companies are gradually introducing more robotic systems into their operations. For example, American surgical instrument manufacturer, Argon medical devices set up an example that how manufactures in the pharmaceutical industry gain benefits from robots. In its Chicago facility, Argon medical devices use MiR200 robots from mobile industrial robots transport materials from production to warehouse. Due to this the company can optimize its resources.

Global pharmaceutical robots market has turn out to be an important topic during COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Pharmaceutical robots market gaining huge attention due to pandemic outbreak.

Recent News: Parata Systems Launched New Pharmacy Vial-Filling Robot

News: On October 10, 2019 Parata Systems launched next generation vial-filling robot, Max 2. Parata Systems is a leading pharmacy technology solution provider that supports business growth for better health outcomes. This pharmacy automation robotic automates the labeling, filling and capping of vials, aimed to enhance workflow and meet needs of busy pharmacies. The company said that, Max 2 can contribute to reduce costs and medication errors by automating up to 80% of a pharmacy's oral solids with accuracy for drug and dose. This Max 2 include some new advances like enhanced software that includes user-friendly navigation, color-coded LEDs provide visible clues to alert pharmacy group members, vials are refilled. Max 2 has verification camera that captures the contents of every vial before capping, automated drug cellular calibration for quick and accurate National Drug Code (NDC) changes, a 2D barcode scanner to reduce manual NDC entry time.

Key players for global Pharmaceutical Robots Market reports:

Global pharmaceutical robots market report cover prominent players Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Fanuc America Corporation, ABB Ltd., Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Denso Wave Inc., Seiko Epson Corporation, Marchesini Group S.p.A and Universal Robots A/S. KUKA AG, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation,Shibuya Corporation and many others

Get Methodology @ https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestMethodology/PostId/1476

Pharmaceutical Robots Market Segmentations:

The global pharmaceutical robots market is segmented on the basis of product type, end-user, application and region and country level. On the basis of product type, the pharmaceutical robots market is classified into traditional robots and collaborative robots. On the basis of end-user, the global pharmaceutical robots market is segmented into pharmaceutical companies and research laboratories. On the basis of application, the pharmaceutical robots market is classified into inspection of pharmaceutical drugs, laboratory application and picking and packaging.

Pharmaceutical Robots Market: by Product Type

Traditional robots

Collaborative robots

Pharmaceutical Robots Market: by End-user type

Pharmaceutical companies

Research laboratories

Pharmaceutical Robots Market: by Application

Inspection of pharmaceutical drugs

Laboratory application

Picking and packaging

The regions covered in global pharmaceutical robots market report are North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. On the basis of country level, Global pharmaceutical robots market sub divided in U.S., Mexico, Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Italy, China, Japan, India, South East Asia, GCC, Africa, etc.

Global Pharmaceutical Robots Market dynamics

The key factor for the growth of global pharmaceutical robots market is increasing investment in pharmaceutical industry by global pharmaceutical players and the requirement of the innovative drugs and clinical trial in the pharmaceutical industries raise the demand for robot system. According to the Robotics Business Review, in January 2020 the investment in healthcare robots was USD 110 million while in April 2020 it was USD 123 million for various purposes such as for developing radio surgical robots for brain tumor, neurosurgical robots and robots to aid orthopedic surgeons. According To International Federation of Robotics, by 2020 more than 1.7 million new industrial robots will be installed in factories worldwide so as the investment in robotics in healthcare increases, so the growth of the pharmaceutical industries also increases.

In the era of Industrial revolution 4.0, automation took place every industry, as a result of this lab automation is rapidly applying in pharmaceutical industries and this lab automation act as an another factor for growth of global pharmaceutical robots market. This lab automation helps in major concern of drug discovery like the cost benefit and error reduction. A quality control lab can reduce costs by around 25% - 45 % through enabling robot system. If the lab work is done by robots there is less chances of contamination and gives error free results. Along with these some lab functions like screening, plate replication, reformatting, protein extraction and others are possible due to the lab automation. For example, universal robot UR3 ROBOT helps in picking and placing, conducting lab analysis as well as injection molding. However, high costs of robots and lack of skilled technicians who can work in automated units may restrain the growth of global pharmaceutical robots market. The various technological advancements like speech recognition, force sensing, under water robots and many others will create huge opportunity to fuel the global pharmaceutical robots market during the forecast period.

Pharmaceutical Robots Market Regional Analysis:

Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region in the global pharmaceutical robots market as there is large number of local pharmaceutical companies located and growing adoption of robot strategy. China, Japan and South Korea are the major countries which have global hub of key pharmaceutical companies and also presence of leading robotics companies in this region boosts the market growth in Asia-Pacific region. According to International Federation of Robotics in 2018 around 2, 83,000 Units of industrial robot were installed while in 2019 it is increased to around 2, 85,000 units in Asia Pacific region.

Europe is expected to grow in pharmaceutical robots market followed by Asia pacific region owing to high penetration of robotics. Germany is holding key position in the European market. The World Robotics report indicates that, Europe has high robot density globally, with an average rate of 114 devices to 10,000 personnel within the production industry. Robot supplies in the Europe surge by 8 percent according to International Federation of Robotics

North America is the expected to emerge as the largest regional market due to rising use of robots in pharmaceutical industry. As per Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, North America alone recorded for almost 34 % of vertical growth in primary pharmaceutical packaging, with robots as the primary assisting arm.

Get Full Access of Report: https://brandessenceresearch.com/pharmaceutical/pharmaceutical-robots-market

Have a Look at Related Reports At Bellow:

Rehabilitation Robots Market 2020 By Type: (Therapeutic Robots, Exoskeleton Robots, Assistive Robots, Others), By End-User: (Rehabilitation Centers, Hospitals, Others) Forecast To 2025

Robotic Nurse Assistant Market 2020 By Type (Independence Support Robots, Daily Care & Transportation Robots, Autonomous Mobile Robots ), By Application (Hospitals , Clinics, Senior Care Facilities, Homecare Settings ) Forecast To 2025

Assistive Robotics Market Size By Mobility (Stationary, Mobile), By Type (Physically Assistive Robots, Socially Assistive Robots, Mixed Assistive Robots) Forecast To 2021-2027

Pharmaceutical Robots Market By Product Type (Traditional Robots, Collaborative Robots), By End-User Type (Pharmaceutical Companies, Research Laboratories), By Application (Inspection Of Pharmaceutical Drugs, Laboratory Application, Picking And Packaging) Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2021  2027

At 5.76% CAGR, Food Service Packaging Market Size to Cross 67.94 Billion by 2027, Brandessence Market Research

Covid-19 Medicine Market worth over USD 28 Million by 2027, Says Brandessence Market Research

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New research published in Anaesthesia (a journal of the Association of Anaesthetists) challenges the guidance that special aerosol precautions are only needed when using oxygen therapies for COVID-19 patients, and raises concerns about safety of staff and patients on hospital wards, if they are not protected from infectious aerosols.

The study set out to examine whether oxygen therapies used for patients with severe COVID-19 produce large amounts of small respiratory particles called aerosols, which can transmit virus and can evade routine precautions used on hospital wards. The study found these oxygen therapies do not produce excessive amounts of aerosols and in fact reduce aerosols suggesting these therapies can be made widely available.

The study also showed that respiratory activities such as coughing and deep breathing are a major source of aerosol particles, and this has the potential to expose healthcare workers to an increased risk of infection. Importantly, the authors make clear that this study used 10 healthy volunteers to produce the aerosols measured, not patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

The authors of the study, who include Dr Nick Wilson (Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Scotland), Prof Euan Tovey (University of Sydney), Prof Guy Marks (University of New South Wales, Sydney) and Prof Tim Cook (Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK) say that their findings could in part explain why staff working on wards who wear only surgical masks have around two to three times higher rates of infection and hospitalisation than those working in ICU where more complete personal protective equipment such as N95/FFP3 respirator masks are used.

The researchers built a new chamber providing extremely clean air, in which 10 healthy volunteers sat. They breathed into a large cone, and the researchers collected the particles that were breathed out and used a specialised machine called an 'optical particle counter' to measure the number and size of the particles. In contrast to previous studies the researchers collected almost all particles breathed out and this enabled a clear comparison between the amounts of aerosols generated by respiratory activities and oxygen therapies.

First, the volunteers performed respiratory activities including breathing, talking, shouting, coughing and exercising, designed to mimic respiratory activity of patients with respiratory infections such as COVID-19. This showed that increased respiratory activity (such as coughing and deep breathing) which is common in patients with COVID-19 increases aerosols by more than 100 times.

The volunteers then repeated the experiments while receiving oxygen therapies commonly used in hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19, first the delivery of oxygen at high flow into the nose (high flow nasal oxygen) and then oxygen delivered under pressure through a tight-fitting facemask (non-invasive ventilation). Aerosol numbers were not increased and during increased respiratory activities and were actually reduced.

There is much debate over the role of respiratory particles in guidelines for preventing transmission of COVID-19. Larger particles (larger than 1/200th of a millimetre) are traditionally called 'droplets' and are deemed to travel only 1-2 metres from an infected patient before falling to the ground. Aerosols are smaller particles (smaller than 1/200th of a millimetre) and stay floating in the air for prolonged periods, spread further, may accumulate in poorly ventilated spaces, can be inhaled deep into the lungs and bypass looser fitting facemasks. Much current guidance is designed to protect from droplets and infection spread by aerosols is only considered a risk when caused by medical therapies. In this new study, the volunteers produced up to 100 times more aerosol particles with activities such as coughing than they did during treatment with oxygen therapies.

This challenges the current guidelines which state healthcare staff looking after patients with COVID-19 who are coughing and have breathing difficulty only need PPE that protects against the larger droplets. 'Droplet protection' includes surgical masks but does not prevent aerosol particles passing around the edges of the masks and being inhaled. N95/FFP3 respirators which are tightfitting and filter better, block more aerosols but guidelines currently recommend these only for staff looking after patients receiving the advanced oxygen therapies.

Study lead author Dr Nick Wilson explains: "More than 90% of the total number of particles produced by both activities and therapies were the smaller aerosols. Aerosols are important as they can travel long distances in the air, evade loose fitting surgical facemasks and be inhaled deep into the lung. This raises concerns about the safety of those around patients with COVID-19."

Prof Euan Tovey says: "The coughing and laboured breathing common in patients with COVID-19 produces a lot more droplets and aerosols than is produced by patients being treated with oxygen therapies. Surgical facemasks provide inadequate protection against aerosols and staff safety can only be increased by more widespread use of specialised tight-fitting respirators (N95 or FFP3 masks) and increased indoor ventilation. Also, as the respiratory therapies did not significantly increase aerosols, these treatments should be made widely available to patients with COVID-19 who need them."

Prof Guy Marks says: "The study also has implications beyond hospitals. The generation of both droplets and particularly aerosols by everyday breathing activities reinforces the importance of maintaining social distance, having excellent ventilation in buildings and transport, being outside where possible and using effective masks both to protect from breathing in virus and reducing the amount of virus they spread when breathing out."

Prof Tim Cook concludes: "Our findings strongly support the re-evaluation of guidelines to better protect hospital staff, patients and all those on the front line who are dealing with people who have, or are suspected of having, COVID-19."

###
Nokia announced the completion of a narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network deployment in L 800 band as part of its strategic partnership with Mobily. As a result of this deployment, Mobily and Nokia have connected more than 4,000 sites and facilitated NB-IoT cell radius coverage averaging 20 km per cell, which is much wider than normal LTE cells. The completion of the project increases Mobilys digitalization by offering new NB-IoT services to better serve its enterprise customers.

As part of the project, Mobilys existing LTE base stations have been upgraded to enable NB-IoT in all Nokia footprints  Central, North and East of Saudi Arabia without additional hardware but with a simple software update. Nokias LTE solution will help Mobily enterprise customers to enhance their operational efficiency and deliver improved customer experience through IoT connectivity for enterprises in verticals such as energy, transport and health.

Nokias NB-IoT technology solution meets the dynamic demands of connected devices. By utilizing Nokias cutting-edge NB-IoT business platform, Mobilys enterprise customers can deploy IoT devices on Nokias network without the need to manually configure the devices or switch networks. The platform also enables wider coverage indoors and outdoors, ideal for rural and deep indoor locations because it allows the signal to reach further inside buildings to connect sensors and devices and transmit information. It also provides enhanced machine-to-machine communication as it supports more connections and lowers power consumption.

Alaa Malki, CTO at Mobily, said, The partnership reinforces a robust IoT infrastructure and network, allowing enterprises to accelerate the expansion of their IoT footprint. As our long-standing partner, we are excited to strengthen the cooperation with Nokia and empower enterprises to harness the power of IoT through excellent connectivity.

Tareq Khalaf, customer Team Head of Mobily, at Nokia, said, We are proud to be working with Mobily to meet the needs of modern enterprises by enabling a wide range of commercial uses such as smart metering for utilities, powering connected health and industrial appliances, and smart city infrastructure. Our latest NB-IoT technology will allow Mobilys customers to utilize IoT services regardless of their location, area, or region.
Farmers would rather do their banking business online or by telephone so that they can spend their day running their farm, Bank of Ireland chief executive Francesca McDonagh has claimed.

Speaking at a hearing of the Oireachtas Finance Committee, she defended the banks recent decision to reduce its number of physical branches by 88 from 257 to 169 from September onwards.

She said the bank was responding to a change in consumer behaviour and that similar changes were occurring in other sectors.

Not everyone necessarily enjoys going into a branch. If customers can find a more convenient instant way, for example, to apply for a loan, they will do so, she said.

According to Ms McDonagh, some 80pc of Bank of Irelands loans in the agricultural sector are done outside of branches.

We bank 40,000 farmers. When we speak to farmers, we hear they would prefer one of our mobile advisers to visit them and this would have been pre-Covid, she said.

They would rather do their business online or by telephone so that they can spend their day running their farm. This is about customer behaviour.

ICMSA president Pat McCormack

said it wasnt clear whether mass bank branch closures reflected changes in customer behaviour or actually caused it.

It was not good enough, he said, for essential services like banking or access to state agencies and departments to be reserved exclusively for those who were comfortable online or had the option at all.

Of course we recognise the migration to online business, he said. But we dont accept that just highlighting that can be the end of any debate.

What about those elderly people  often customers of many decades of Ms McDonaghs bank  who dont have the skills to access online or even the necessary infrastructure or coverage? What happens them?

Theres a fair degree of chicken and egg logic being deployed here, where we see commercial and state enterprises closing down bricks-and-mortar locations and then pointing at the resultant replacement digital business as a justification for the closures in the first place.

But sure, the people had to go online because that was the only way of accessing the services after they disappeared physically.
The leadership of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) has called for calm within the rank and file following the consensus recommendation of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta after his appearance at the vetting committee.



In a statement signed by the General Secretary, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, he explained that following what transpired previously in respect of vetting and approval of some Ministers-designate, the Minority leadership, the Party leadership, as well as the Council of Elders, have engaged in extensive consultations with the view to adopt a common position based on the exigencies of the situation.



"I, therefore, urge all members to remain circumspect when the need for reaction arises. The NDC Parliamentary Caucus and FEC will be fully briefed accordingly," the statement read.



Read below a copy of the statement



NDC URGES CALM ON CONSENSUS RECOMMENDATION OF KEN OFORI ATTA



It is hereby announced to the rank and file of the party and to the notice of all Comrades, that a decision by the Appointments Committee to recommend Ken Ofori Atta for approval by consensus will be made public today in Parliament.



Following what transpired previously in respect of vetting and approval of some Ministers designate the Minority leadership, the Party leadership, as well as the Council of Elders, have engaged in extensive consultations with the view to adopt a common position based on the exigencies of the situation.



I, therefore, urge all members to remain circumspect when the need for reaction arises. The NDC Parliamentary Caucus and FEC will be fully briefed accordingly. Issued in Accra on Monday, 29th March, 2021.



Signed



Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, General Secretary

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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A straight-talking takeaway boss has won praise for hitting back at bad online reviews in a hilarious fashion.

Alice Cheung, 50, runs Oriental Express in Leeds, which, despite its five star rating on Just Eat, still attracts the occasional complaint.

But the restaurant owner is more than ready to put angry punters in their place.

She has joked about not having a 'crystal ball' for delivery times, invited customers to show her the 'right way' to cook meals and even branded one complainant an 'idiot.'

Mrs Cheung said she started leaving the hilarious replies after someone complained their vegetarian meal had no meat.

Alice Cheung, 50, has gained praise for how she handles customers complaining about food from the Oriental Express in Leeds

Mrs Cheung, pictured with her son Matthew, 24, has branded customers 'idiots' and told another to 'get off the couch,' and pick up food themselves after they complained about delivery times

One customer, named Joanne, gave a four star review on Just Eat, but complained the chicken wings she ordered were not 'cooked properly'.

In a fiery response, the restaurant owner replied: 'Hi Joanne, please get in touch so we can arrange for you to come in and show us how to cook chicken wing properly.'

Another complainant, named Dan, gave the restaurant a one-star review, prompting Mrs Cheung to reply: 'What sort of idiot orders 'Salt and Pepper Chicken' and then complains it has salt in it,' before telling he customer to take 'your foul mouth and business somewhere else'.

Just last month it told one reviewer: 'We are good but mind reading the stupid is not one of our skills.'

Mrs Cheung, who has ran the family business in the Pudsey suburb of Leeds since 2004, said: 'One of the funniest complaints we have had is when someone ordered a vegetarian box and then complained there was no meat.

'That's when we first started leaving replies, when we noticed that some people were leaving bad reviews about things we weren't to blame for or just weren't true.

'Someone called in once asking for a free meal and they left a bad review on Google because we wouldn't give them one.

'It's like they are using the threat of a bad review to blackmail businesses.

'We just want to be honest with people if we get a bad review. If we are at fault, we will admit to it, but sometimes there are things you can't control like busy delivery times.

'We do make mistakes sometimes, we will always do something to compensate, such as free delivery next time you order.

'If we have messed up, we'll always hold our hands up. But if not, people should expect some banter.'

The restaurant owner, who has a 24-year-old son, Matthew, told Leeds Live she wanted to give honest answers to what she described as 'silly comments'

She said: '[Negative] reviews tend to put business owners down and demotivate them, I want to be realistic.

'I think review [responses] should be honest and not corporate responses.'

In December, one customer took exception to being the food was 'on its way,' when she called to ask where it was.

Mrs Cheung's blunt reply was: 'That is a strange comment, what did you want us to say.'

When another review gave a mediocre two-and-a-half star rating, the restaurant's tongue-in-cheek reply read: 'Thank you Tina, let me guess, too much food, too hot, too tasty, delivered too quickly.'

The takeaway has 149 reviews on food ordering website Just Eat, with an overall rating of five stars. The maximum rating a restaurant can have is six stars.

In another reply over a late and incorrect order, Mrs Cheung wrote: 'But you did get the food and we replaced the wrong item, and we all this when the side roads and your path were full of snow and ice.

'You could get off the couch and collected (sic) the food and then you would have had it in 20 minutes.

'Two and a half hours is an exaggeration. We look forward to not serving you again.'

Mrs Cheung says 95 per cent of the restaurant's reviews are positive.

While she admits some of the remaining five per cent are due to errors from the restaurant, she urged customers to be honest when leaving reviews.

The business owner said the shop had to adapt to modern technology in recent years, which included 'troll' reviews.

She added: 'Just Eat and everything has become a big thing so we have had to adjust from the old days of taking calls and writing everything down on a piece of paper.

'That has given people more of a voice and a platform to say what they think.

'The majority of our reviews are pretty good, we have a lot of return customers.

'Sometimes we have reviews where people are just plain rude or will say something that is not true.

'If people are leaving comments like that there's a chance they wont come back again anyway, so we tell them how it is.

'But our regular customers have really loved it and have been supportive of the viral stuff.'
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In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, violent attacks and harassment toward Asian Americans have spiked.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham will host a Social Justice Cafe conversation Wednesday to talk about the rise of anti-Asian sentiment experienced by Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The free virtual event will be from 4-5 p.m. CST on Wednesday, March 31. Peter Verbeek, Ph.D., UAB associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Anthropology, will lead the discussion. Verbeek lived in Japan for 20 years and is deeply connected to Japanese people and their culture, a press release on the event said.

On March 21, more than 100 people attended a candlelight vigil at dusk in Birminghams Linn Park to remember victims of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Read more about the vigil here.

The rally was one among many taking place around the country recently, as organizers sought to bring attention to incidents of violence that they say have increased in the past year. The group lit candles and recited the names of eight people - seven women and one man - who died in a series of shootings at spas in and around Atlanta on March 16. Six of the victims were women of Asian descent. Police arrested a 21-year-old Georgia man for the crime.

Speakers said incidents of hate have increased in 2020 and since against Asian Americans because of racist associations and political rhetoric surrounding the pandemic. Speakers also said the shootings were just another manifestation of stereotypes of Asian women as subservient and exotic sex objects.

This is the first step in starting a conversation thats long overdue for the Asian American community, said Jacqueline Le, one of the speakers.

The Social Justice Cafe is a bimonthly community lecture and conversation series sponsored by UABs Student Multicultural and Diversity Programs.
Sydney West was last seen near the Golden Gate Bridge in the early morning hours of Sept. 30, walking near Crissy Field.

Dressed in a blue sweatshirt, leggings and Vans slip-on sneakers, the 19-year-old college student last contacted her family the day before with a lengthy phone call to her dad, Jay West.

West was in the Bay Area to take summer classes at UC Berkeley; she was supposed to enter school in the fall, but due to a concussion she sustained and classes being held remotely, she opted to defer for another year  but stayed in California with family friends. She is from Chapel Hill, N.C.

Her father grew worried when she didnt call the next day  the day she was last spotted in San Francisco. Footage in the area, according to a website the family recently set up in light of her disappearance, was blocked by fog and morning haze.

SFPD

As 6 months passes where we have not seen or heard from Sydney, it becomes increasingly painful, her parents, Jay and Kimberly West, said in a statement provided to SFGATE. Holidays and milestones come and go while we continue to feel Sydney's absence continuously. We remain hopeful that someone knows something that will be helpful in finding her.

All clues so far, the family has revealed, have not been fruitful. West took a rideshare service to the Golden Gate Bridge; the driver cooperated with San Francisco police and is not believed to be a suspect. Since Sept. 30, there has been no activity on her phone or credit cards.

The West family has also upped its reward for her return to $25,000. Anyone in the Bay Area with any information regarding her disappearance can contact Sgt. Michael Horan at 415-553-1028 or the family's private investigator at 925-705-8328.

San Francisco police and the Orange County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE.

SFGATE news editor Amy Graff contributed to this report.
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Riyadh, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Mar, 2021 ) :Saudi Arabia announced plans Tuesday to pump $3.2 trillion in fresh investments by 2030 to boost the private sector, as the OPEC kingpin pushes to diversify its oil-reliant economy.

The announcement by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman comes as the petro-state battles high unemployment and a coronavirus-triggered downturn.

"The total investment injected... into the national economy is expected to reach 12 trillion Riyals ($3.2 trillion) by 2030," Prince Mohammed said in a speech on state television.

That amount includes three trillion riyals from the kingdom's vast Public Investment Fund.

The initiative would help "strengthen the private sector", create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and provide support to Saudi companies, Prince Mohammed added.

The announcement comes after the crown prince said in January that the PIF, the sovereign wealth fund, would invest $40 billion annually in the domestic economy over the next five years.

The kingdom is pushing to boost job creation and revive businesses decimated by the pandemic.

Joblessness in Saudi Arabia touched 14.9 percent in the third quarter of 2020, dipping slightly from an all-time high of 15.4 percent in the previous quarter, according to official data.

Last year, the twin shocks of the pandemic and a drop in oil prices prompted the top crude exporter to triple its value-added tax and suspend a monthly allowance to civil servants to rein in a ballooning budget deficit.

Saudi Arabia, the biggest Arab economy, has been struggling to attract foreign investment, a key pillar of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's "Vision 2030" economic diversification plan to boost non-oil revenue.
 We need to figure out what it takes to make sure we have the proper mitigation, so we are sticking to what needs to be done to avoid outbreaks, because we want the kids to be in school and we want to assure their parents we have followed every rule.

While the latest round of federal aid stands to help school districts like NVUSD recover the cost of COVID-19 safety measures that have been in use since a hybrid curriculum began Oct. 26, directors of other school systems in the country that are not as far down the path to reopening have said the assistance will not immediately lead to full classrooms this late in the school year.

One of the biggest obstacles to a wider-ranging reopening remains parent fears about the spread of the coronavirus in schools, said Andre Perry, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. He said districts have to show parents they are safe, especially in traditionally underserved schools where bathrooms often lacked soap or working sinks even before the pandemic.

In Fairfax County in Northern Virginia, where schools earlier this month completed the transition from fully remote to a mix of remote and in-person learning, surveys indicate many families in the states largest district may not want more time in classrooms.
Infectious Advertising, an integrated independent agency, has roped in Nitin Sharma as its Vice President, Business. In his last stint, Nitin was Director Marketing Strategy for UAE Exchange based in Dubai.

At Infectious, Nitin will be responsible for leading important businesses for the agency. He will work closely with Nisha Singhania to not only consolidate existing businesses but also look at organic plus new business growth.

Nitin has close to two decades of work experience spanning across advertising & marketing and has managed brands across the entire spectrum of categories for agencies like Ambience, O&M, DDB Mudra and Leo Burnett.

Nitin Sharma, Vice President, Infectious Advertising, had this to say on his appointment, Todays complex and dynamic marketing landscape demands a truly integrated, multi-dimensional approach to fully leverage the opportunities businesses have or solve for the problems they face.

Nitin further added, I am delighted to be a part of the Infectious family. Our purpose here is not about creating fancy ads, but explore the unique calibrations of communication, technology and data to shape consumer behaviour and move businesses.

Nisha Singhania and Ramanuj Shastry, Founding Partners, Infectious Advertising said, Nitin brings with him the experience of working on big brands across markets. We look forward to having him on board as we have a shared vision for the agency. We are sure Nitin will help in taking Infectious to the next level.

Some of the key clients handled by Nitin in the past include McDonald's, Johnnie Walker, HDFC Life), Bajaj Electricals, The Indian Express, The Indian National Congress, Godfrey Philips India, Philips, Dabur, Tata Press Yellow Pages, Kamasutra, Elf Lubricants, among others.
As tensions between UAE and Iran escalated, Israel warned its citizens to avoid travelling to UAE citing safety issues. Israels National Security Agency on Monday revised the tourist guidelines for UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain among other Gulf nations stating a threat of attack from Iran. The warning included both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and the Kurdish region of Iraq. We estimate that Iran will continue to operate in the near future to harm Israeli targets, Israels INSAs anti-terrorism office said in a statement in the local language, cited by The Associated Press.

Israels advisory against the threat to its citizens in the Gulf nations comes even after ties were normalized between UAE and Israel by the former Trump administrations senior adviser Jared Kushner and US National Security Adviser Robert OBrien, both of whom brokered the peace deal. The Kingdom and Israel signed the Abraham Accords, and as of February 2021, at least 130,000 Israeli tourists have already visited UAE after air travel resumed between the Jewish state and the Arab world in a historic first, Head of Israels embassy in Abu Dhabi, Eitan Naeh told UAEs state news agency WAM. In fact, UAE has remained one of the popular tourist places for the Israelis since the normalization of ties.

The Americans are happy that several #pitiful states have normalized relations with the Zionist regime. These states are not effective. The Islamic nation will never forget, nor will it capitulate on the issue of Palestine.  Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 26, 2021

Did you Americans know what a disaster you were creating for the Saudis? If you did know, how miserable your allies are to be treated in such a way! And if you didn't know, again how miserable they are that they trust you!#Yemen  Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2021

Iranian attack plot on UAE embassy hatched

Iran and UAE have engaged in a bitter spat since the US announced that it was ending military support for the Saudi-led coalition in the years-long war against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis rebel. Last month, Ethiopia claimed that it hatched an Iranian plot of attack on the UAE embassy after it arrested at least 15 people and seized weapons and explosives from the rebel group planning an attack on UAE embassies. The operation was a part of Irans motive to seek revenge for the killings of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani by the US and Irans main nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) reported. The group took the mission from a foreign terrorist group and was preparing to inflict significant damage on properties and human lives, Ethiopias state-run agency said in a statement.

Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also took aim at UAE saying,  ' How miserable they [Saudi] are that they trust you [US], as Biden announced that he was ending the Saudi-led military offensive in conflict-ridden Yemen to put an end to the country's civil wars.

(Image Credit: AP)
A seven-year-old girl has died after a metal structure fell on her when she was playing with other children at a country property in the municipality of Estepona.

The accident happened just before 6pm on Saturday in the Padron area of the town when the parents of the girl - of Colombian origin - were celebrating a birthday with several other couples and their children.

Sources say the adults suddenly heard a loud noise and ran to see what had happened. They found the little girl had been hit by a large metal structure which, apparently, the children were playing on.

The adults rushed the child to a health centre in Estepona where the doctors tried to stabilise her condition while an ambulance was called. But their efforts were in vain and the child died at the health centre.

National Police officers in Estepona have taken over the investigation but sources close to the case say that the evidence points to an unfortunate accident.
The Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) has given the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, a three-day ultimatum to appear before the committee over the alleged missing $9.5m interest accrued from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) investment.

The principal sums deposited, the tenor and rate of interest were shrouded in secrecy, according to the Senate panel chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide.

LEADERSHIP reports that the PPT is a tax applicable to upstream operations in the petroleum industry.

It is particularly related to rents, royalties, margins and profit sharing elements associated with oil mining, prospecting and exploration leases.

Speaking on the development, the chairman of the committee, Senator Uroghide, said there were many issues Emefiele needed to respond to in order to reconcile some statements of account.

He added that the governor of the apex bank has till Thursday this week to appear before the Senate panel to address the issues raised.

It will be recalled that the committee had two weeks ago summoned the officials of the CBN over alleged disappearance of the fund. But the bank officials failed to appear before the lawmakers.

The summon was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Auditor-General for the Federation, which probed the spending of federal government's agencies.

The report had said: "During the examination of transfers to Foreign Excess PPT/Royalty and Foreign Excess Crude Accounts, it was observed that during the year 2016, amount totalling $6 million and $3.5

million were credited to the Foreign PPT/Royalty and Foreign Excess Crude Account as interest on funds investments."
Announcement on the resolutions of the 17th meeting of the tenth session of the Board of Directors



Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt, 30 March 2021 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (D-Share 690D.DE,A-Share 600690.SH, H-Share 6690.HK, 'Haier Smart Home' or the 'Company') published today an announcement with regard to the resolutions of the 17th meeting of the tenth session of the board of directors.

The 17th Meeting of the Tenth Session of the Board of Directors of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the "Company") was held in the morning on 30 March 2021 at Conference Room 118, Ecological Brand Center Building, Haier Information Industry Park. 12 directors were expected to attend the meeting and 12 directors actually present. Of which, Mr. Wu Changqi, Mr. Lin Sui, Mr. Yu Hon To David, Ms. Eva Li Kam Fum, Mr. Dai Deming, Mr. Chien Daqun, Mr. Wong Hak Kun, Mr. Li Shipeng attended the meeting by conference call, and the attendance met the requirements of laws and regulations and the Articles of Association of the Company. The notice of this meeting was sent via e-mail on 23 March 2021. The supervisors and senior management personnel of the Company attended the meeting as non-voting attendees. The notice and convening of the meeting were in compliance with the Company Law and the Articles of Association, and the meeting was presided over by Chairman Liang Haishan. The following resolutions were adopted after earnest consideration by the directors present at the meeting:



I. Report on the 2020 Annual Financial Statements of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

Hexin Certified Public Accountants LLP and HLB Hodgson Impey Cheng Limited are the two audit agencies engaged by the Company to issue the auditing report under the PRC accounting standards and the auditing report under the international accounting standards, respectively. There is no difference between the auditing reports in terms of important financial information.

For details, please refer to the 2020 Annual Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (A-shares annual report) published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same day as this announcement, the 2020 Annual Report published on the Company's website (D-shares annual report) and the 2020 annual results announcement published on the website of Hong Kong Stock Exchange (and the H-shares annual report to be disclosed by the Company before 30 April 2021.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



II. 2020 Annual Report and Annual Report Summary of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

In accordance with the relevant requirements of the Securities Law and Guidelines for the Content and Format of Information Disclosure by Companies Offering Securities to the Public No. 2 - Content and Format of Annual Reports (Revised in 2017) and the relevant laws and regulations in Hong Kong, Germany, after we, as the directors, supervisors and senior management of the Company, have fully understood and reviewed the 2020 Annual Report of the Company, in our opinion:

1. The Company operates in strict compliance with the corporate accounting standard. The 2020 Annual Report fairly reflects the financial conditions and operating results of the Company for the year;

2. The 2020 Annual Audit Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. audited by Hexin Certified Public Accountants LLP and HLB Hodgson Impey Cheng Limited is factual, objective and impartial;

3. We warrant that the information disclosed in the 2020 Annual Report of the Company is authentic, accurate and complete, and undertake that there are no false representations, misleading statements and material omissions in the report, and are individually and jointly responsible for the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of the content herein.

For details, please refer to the 2020 Annual Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. and the 2020 Annual Report Summary of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same day as this announcement,the 2020 Annual Report published on the Company's website (D-shares annual report) and 2020 annual results announcement published on the website of Hong Kong Stock Exchange (and the annual report of H-shares to be disclosed by the Company before 30 April 2021.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



III. 2020 Annual Work Report of the Board of Directors (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)



For details, please refer to the relevant contents of the 2020 Annual Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange and on the Company's website on the same day as this announcement and the 2020 annual results announcement published on the website of Hong Kong Stock Exchange (and the H-shares annual report to be disclosed by the Company before 30 April 2021.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



IV. 2020 Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)



For details, please refer to the 2020 Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same day as this announcement.



V. 2020 Annual Internal Control Evaluation Report (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)



For details, please refer to the 2020 Annual Internal Control Evaluation Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same day as this announcement.



VI. Internal Control Audit Report (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)



For details, please refer to the Internal Control Audit Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same day as this announcement.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



VII. 2020 Annual Profit Distribution Plan (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)



The proposed 2020 annual profit distribution plan of the Company is to distribute cash dividend of RMB3.66 (including tax) per 10 shares to all shareholders based on the total share capital of equity record date when implementing the dividend distribution after deducting the repurchased shares under the repurchase account. The undistributed profit retained by the Company would be primarily used for project construction, external investment, R&D investment and daily operation related to the operating business of the Company, so as to maintain continuous and stable development of the Company and maximize the return to investors.

For details, please refer to the 2020 Annual Profit Distribution Plan of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange and on the Company's website on the same day as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-018.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



VIII. Resolution on the Anticipated Provision of Guarantees for its Subsidiaries in 2021 (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

For details, please refer to the Announcement of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on the Anticipated Provision of Guarantees for its Subsidiaries in 2021 published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange and on the Company's website on the same day as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-019.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



IX. Resolution on the Conduct of Foreign Exchange Fund Derivatives Business (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

For details, please refer to the Announcement of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on the Conduct of Foreign Exchange Derivatives Business published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Company's website on the same day as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-20.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



X. Resolution on the Election of Independent Director (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)



The term of office of Mr. Dai Deming, the current independent director of the Company, will expire soon and he will cease to hold any office of the Company upon the election of a new independent director at the general meeting of the Company. The Company expressed its heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Dai Deming for his contribution to the Company during his tenure as an independent director of the Company.

To ensure the normal operation of the Board of Directors of the Company, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Company Law, the Articles of Association and the opinions of the Nomination Committee under the Board of Directors of the Company, we hereby nominate Mr. Wu Qi as an independent director with the term consist with that of the Tenth Session of Board of Directors of the Company. His qualification as an independent director has been filed with Shanghai Stock Exchange without any objection.

For details, please refer to the Announcement of the Election of Independent Director of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same day as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-021.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



XI. Resolution on Adjusting the Allowance of Directors (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)



According to the resolution of the general meeting of the Company, the current highest allowance of directors of the Company is RMB200,000 (before tax) in total per year, including fixed allowances of RMB150,000 per year, performance allowance of up to RMB50,000 per year, and the exact amount of performance allowance will be determined based on the comprehensive consideration of the contribution of directors to decision making process of the Board, the effectiveness of the proposals and recommendations to the Board, the participation of the meetings of the Board of Directors, attendance rate of all Board meetings and other factors. The travelling expenses for attending the meetings of the Board of Directors and general meetings and other expenses necessary for performing their duties pursuant to the Articles of Association shall be fully reimbursed.

The listing of H-shares of the Company has been completed since 23 December 2020. In order to cater for the development of the Company, based on the work complexity and workload of directors and general benchmarking industry standards, the Company proposes to adjust the director's allowance to a maximum total of RMB260,000 before tax per year, including fixed allowance of RMB210,000 per year and performance allowance of up to RMB50,000 per year. The factors for considering the actual allowance payment and full reimbursement of travelling expenses of directors and other contents remain unchanged

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



XII. Resolution on Closing Certain Fund-raising Projects through Convertible Corporate Bonds and Permanently Supplementing the Working Capital with the Surplus Funds (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

The "Project on the Intelligent Manufacturing Upgrading of Air-Conditioners Production Base in Haier (Zhengzhou) Innovation Industrial Park" and the "Project of Intelligent Household Operation System Based on Natural Interaction and Cloud Brain (U+)" with the funds raised from the convertible corporate bonds of the Company are proposed to close. The surplus funds of RMB73.75 million are proposed to be used in permanently supplementing the working capital.

For details, please refer to the Announcement on Closing Certain Fund-raising Projects through Convertible Corporate Bonds and Permanently Supplementing the Working Capital with the Surplus Funds of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Company's website on the same day as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-022.

Independent directors have expressed independent opinions on the resolution. This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



XIII. Resolution on the Postponement of Certain Investment Projects with the Funds Raised from Convertible Corporate Bonds (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

The completion of the construction of the following projects with the funds raised from the convertible corporate bonds of the Company is proposed to be postponed: (1) The completion of the construction of the "Project on High-end Central Air Conditioners with an Annual Capacity of 1.50 Million Units" is proposed to be postponed to December 2022; (2) The completion of the construction of the "Project on the Industrial Park (Phase I) in North India of Haier" is proposed to be postponed to December 2021; (3) the completion of the construction of the "Project on New Factory for Haier Kitchen Appliances" is proposed to be postponed to December 2021.

For details, please refer to the Announcement on the Postponement of Certain Investment Projects with the Funds Raised from Convertible Corporate Bonds of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same day as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-023.

Independent directors have expressed independent opinions on the resolution.



XIV. Resolution on the Special Report on the Deposit and Actual Use of the Funds Raised in 2020 (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

For details, please refer to the Special Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on the Deposit and Actual Use of the Raised Funds in 2020 published on the website of the Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same day as this announcement.



XV. Resolution on Proposing the General Meeting to Grant General Mandate to the Board of Directors on Additional Issuance of H-shares (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

In order to meet the need of the Company's business development, in accordance with the Company Law of the People's Republic of China, the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the Articles of Association and on the prerequisite of complying with the listing rules of the stock exchanges in the place where the shares of the Company are listed, the Board of Directors intends to propose at the General Meeting to generally and unconditionally authorize the Board of Directors to re-delegate the Chairman and its authorized persons to determine to allot, issue and deal with the H-shares and/or D-shares of up to 10% of the number of the H-shares in issue of the Company, or securities, share options, warrants, or the similar rights which may be converted into such shares to subscribe for the H-shares of the Company (hereinafter referred to as the "Similar Rights", and the above-mentioned authorization is hereinafter referred to as the "General Mandate"). The specific authorization is as follows:

I. To generally and unconditionally authorize the Board of Directors to re-delegate the Chairman and its authorized persons to determine to allot, issue and deal with the H-Shares or Similar Rights, and to determine the terms and conditions for allotment, issuance and disposal of new shares or issue Similar Rights, including but not limited to:

1. Class and number of new shares to be issued;

2. Pricing mechanism and/or issue price of the new shares to be issued (including price range);

3. The starting and closing dates of such issue;

II. The number of the H-shares (excluding the shares issued by way of the conversion of public reserve into share capital) to be allotted, issued and dealt with (whether pursuant to an option or otherwise) by the Board of Directors or the Chairman and its authorized persons in accordance with the General Mandate referred to in the first paragraph above shall not exceed 10% of the number of the H-shares in issue of the Company at the time when this resolution is considered and passed at the General Meeting of the Company.

III. To authorize the Board of Directors or the Chairman and its authorized persons to obtain approvals from all relevant government departments and/or regulatory authorities (if applicable) in accordance with the applicable laws to exercise the General Mandate.

IV. To authorize the Board of Directors or the Chairman and its authorized persons to approve, execute, modify and do or procure to be executed and done, all such documents, deeds and things as it may consider necessary in connection with the allotment, issuance and disposal of any new shares under the abovementioned General Mandate, handle the necessary procedures and take other necessary actions.

V. Where the Board of Directors or the Chairman and its authorized persons have, during the effective period of the General Mandate, determined to allot, issue and deal with the H-shares or Similar Rights, and the Company also has, during the effective period of the General Mandate, obtained the relevant approval, permission from, or registration (if applicable) with the regulatory authorities, and the Board of Directors of the Company or the Chairman and its authorized persons may, during the effective period of such approval, permission or registration, complete the relevant allotment, issuance and disposal of such shares.

VI. To authorize the Board of Directors or the Chairman and its authorized persons to increase the registered capital of the Company and make appropriate and necessary amendments to the Articles of Association of the Company in accordance with the way, type and number of the allotment and issuance of new shares of the Company and the actual shareholding structure of the Company upon completion of the allotment and issuance of new shares.

VII. The effective period of the General Mandate shall be from the passing of this proposal to the following date, whichever is earlier:

1. The date of the conclusion of the 2021 annual general meeting of the Company;

2. At the time of passing a proposal at any General Meeting to revoke or vary the mandate under this resolution.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



XVI. Resolution on Proposing the General Meeting to Grant General Mandate to the Board of Directors on Additional Issuance of D-shares (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

In order to meet the need of the Company's business development, in accordance with the Company Law of the People's Republic of China, the Listing Rules of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Frankfurt, the Market Abuse Regulation of EU, the relevant EU regulations on the issuance and trading of securities and the Articles of Association, on the prerequisite of complying with the listing rules of the stock exchanges in the place where the shares of the Company are listed, the Board of Directors intends to propose at the General Meeting to generally and unconditionally authorize the Board of Directors to re-delegate the Chairman and its authorized persons to determine to allot, issue and deal with D-shares of up to 10% of the number of the D-shares in issue of the Company, or securities, share options, warrants, or the similar rights which may be converted into such shares to subscribe for the D-shares of the Company (hereinafter referred to as the "Similar Rights", and the above-mentioned authorization is hereinafter referred to as the "General Mandate"). The specific authorization is as follows:

I. To generally and unconditionally authorize the Board of Directors to re-delegate the Chairman and its authorized persons to determine to allot, issue and deal with the D-Shares or Similar Rights, and to determine the terms and conditions for allotment, issuance and disposal of new shares or issue Similar Rights, including but not limited to:

1. Class and number of new shares to be issued;

2. Pricing mechanism and/or issue price of the new shares to be issued (including price range);

3. The starting and closing dates of such issue;

II. The number of the D-shares (excluding the shares issued by way of the conversion of public reserve into share capital) to be allotted, issued and dealt with (whether pursuant to an option or otherwise) by the Board of Directors or the Chairman and its authorized persons in accordance with the General Mandate referred to in the first paragraph above shall not exceed 10% of the number of the D-shares in issue of the Company at the time when this resolution is considered and passed at the General Meeting of the Company.

III. To authorize the Board of Directors or the Chairman and its authorized persons to obtain approvals from all relevant government departments and/or regulatory authorities (if applicable) in accordance with the applicable laws to exercise the General Mandate.

IV. To authorize the Board of Directors or the Chairman and its authorized persons to approve, execute, modify and do or procure to be executed and done, all such documents, deeds and things as it may consider necessary in connection with the allotment, issuance and disposal of any new shares under the abovementioned General Mandate, handle the necessary procedures and take other necessary actions.

V. Where the Board of Directors or the Chairman and its authorized persons have, during the effective period of the General Mandate, determined to allot, issue and deal with the D-shares or Similar Rights, and the Company also has, during the effective period of the General Mandate, obtained the relevant approval, permission from, or registration (if applicable) with the regulatory authorities, and the Board of Directors of the Company or the Chairman and its authorized persons may, during the effective period of such approval, permission or registration, complete the relevant allotment, issuance and disposal of such shares.

VI. To authorize the Board of Directors or the Chairman and its authorized persons to increase the registered capital of the Company and make appropriate and necessary amendments to the Articles of Association of the Company in accordance with the way, type and number of the allotment and issuance of new shares of the Company and the actual shareholding structure of the Company upon completion of the allotment and issuance of new shares.

VII. The effective period of the General Mandate shall be from the passing of this proposal to the following date, whichever is earlier:

1. The date of the conclusion of the 2021 annual general meeting of the Company;

2. At the time of passing a proposal at any General Meeting to revoke or vary the mandate under this resolution.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



XVII. Resolution on Proposing the General Meeting to Grant the General Mandate to the Board of Directors to Repurchase not more than 10% of the Total Number of H-shares of the Company in Issue (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

The Company convened the 2021 First Extraordinary General Meeting, the First A-shares Class Meeting of 2021, the First D-shares Class Meeting of 2021 and the First H-shares Class Meeting of 2021 on 5 March 2021, which considered and approved the Resolution on the General Mandate to Repurchase H-shares after the Listing by way of Introduction. It approved to authorize the Board of Directors of the Company to repurchase H-shares subject to the Articles of Association and the relevant laws, regulations and rules of the place where the securities of the Company are listed. The number of H-shares proposed to be repurchased shall not exceed 10% of the total number of H-shares of the Company in issue as at the date of the passing of this resolution at the general meeting and class meetings. It is expected that the total repurchase amount within one year from the effective date of the authorization will be no less than HKD1.0 billion. Such authorization shall lapse upon the conclusion of the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Company.

In order to strengthen the market value management of the Company and meet the needs of the Company's operation, in accordance with the Company Law of the People's Republic of China, the Securities Law of the People's Republic of China, the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Listing Rules") and the Articles of Association and based on the current operation and financial conditions and the development prospects of the Company, the Board of Directors intends to propose at the general meeting and the class meeting of the Company to authorize the Board of Directors the general mandate to repurchase certain H-shares of the Company in issue. The specific authorization is as follows:

I. To authorize the Board of Directors during the effective period of the general mandate to exercise the rights of the Company to repurchase H-shares of the Company in issue and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in accordance with the regulations of the domestic competent securities authorities or regulatory authorities and applicable laws, regulation and/or rules on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange;

II. The aggregate nominal amount of H-shares of the Company authorized to be repurchased by the Board of Directors pursuant to the approval mentioned above during the effective period of the general mandate shall not exceed 10% of the number of H-shares of the Company in issue as at the date of the consideration and passing of this resolution at the general meeting, the A-shares, D-shares and H-shares Class Meetings of the Company, respectively;

The effective period of the general mandate to repurchase H-shares mentioned above shall be from the passing of this resolution at the general meeting and class meetings to the following date, whichever is earlier:

1. the date of conclusion of the 2021 annual general meeting of the Company;

2. at the time of passing a resolution at any general meeting to revoke or vary the mandate under this resolution.

Meanwhile, the Board of Directors proposes to the general meeting to authorize the Board of Directors or the Chairman and its authorized persons to take all necessary acts as they consider necessary to execute, complete and deliver all documents as they consider necessary to implement the authorization mentioned in this resolution, including but not limited to:

(i) formulate and implement the specific repurchase plans, including but not limited to repurchase price and number of repurchased shares, and determine the time and duration of repurchase, etc.;

(ii) notify creditors and issue announcements in accordance with the requirements of the Company Law of the People's Republic of China and other relevant laws, regulations, normative documents and the Articles of Association (if necessary);

(iii) open overseas share accounts and carry out the related changes of foreign exchange registration procedures (if necessary);

(iv) carry out the relevant approval and filing procedures as required by regulatory authorities and the stock exchanges in the place where the shares of the Company are listed (if necessary);

(v) carry out, execute and implement all such documents, do all such acts and things or take any steps as they consider desirable, necessary or expedient in connection with and to give effect to the repurchase of shares in accordance with the requirements of relevant laws and regulations and the listing rules of the stock exchanges in the place where the shares of the Company are listed;

(vi) carry out the cancellation procedures for repurchased shares, reduce the registered capital, and make amendments which it deems appropriate to the Articles of Association of the Company to reflect the relevant provisions such as the total share capital and shareholding structure of the Company, and carry out the relevant statutory registrations and filings procedures at home and abroad;

(vii) execute and handle other documents and matters related to the repurchase of shares.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting and the Second A-shares / D-shares / H-shares Class Meetings of 2021 for consideration.



XVIII. Resolution on Proposing the General Meeting to Grant the General Mandate to the Board of Directors to Repurchase not more than 10% of the Total Number of D-shares of the Company in Issue (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)



In order to strengthen the market value management of the Company and meet the needs of the Company's operation, in accordance with the Company Law of the People's Republic of China, the Securities Law of the People's Republic of China, the EU Market Abuse Regulation and relevant EU regulations on securities issuance and trading (collectively, the "Relevant Listing Regulations") and the Articles of Association and based on the current operation and financial conditions and the development prospects of the Company, the Board of Directors intends to propose at the general meeting and the class meetings of the Company to authorize the Board of Directors the general mandate to repurchase certain D-shares of the Company in issue. The specific authorization is as follows:

I. To authorize the Board of Directors during the effective period of the general mandate to exercise the rights of the Company to repurchase certain D-shares of the Company in issue and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in accordance with the regulations of the domestic competent securities authorities or regulatory authorities and the Relevant Listing Regulations;

II. The aggregate nominal amount of D-shares of the Company authorized to be repurchased by the Board of Directors pursuant to the approval mentioned above during the effective period of the general mandate shall not exceed 10% of the number of D-shares of the Company in issue as at the date of the passing of this resolution at the general meeting, the A-shares, D-shares and H-shares Class Meetings of the Company, respectively;

The effective period of the general mandate to repurchase D-shares mentioned above shall be from the passing of this resolution at the general meeting and class meetings to the following date, whichever is earlier:

1. The date of conclusion of the 2021 annual general meeting of the Company;

2. At the time of passing a resolution at any general meeting to revoke or vary the mandate under this resolution.

Meanwhile, the Board of Directors proposes at the general meeting to authorize the Board of Directors or the Chairman and its authorized persons to take all necessary acts as they consider necessary to execute, complete and deliver all documents as they consider necessary to implement the authorization mentioned in this resolution, including but not limited to:

(i) formulate and implement the specific repurchase plans, including but not limited to repurchase price and number of repurchased shares, and determine the time and duration of repurchase, etc.;

(ii) notify creditors and issue announcements in accordance with the requirements of the Company Law of the People's Republic of China and other relevant laws, regulations, normative documents and the Articles of Association (if necessary);

(iii) open overseas share accounts and carry out the related changes of foreign exchange registration procedures (if necessary);

(iv) carry out the relevant approval and filing procedures as required by regulatory authorities and the stock exchanges in the place where the shares of the Company are listed (if necessary);

(v) carry out, execute and implement all such documents, do all such acts and things or take any steps as they consider desirable, necessary or expedient in connection with and to give effect to the repurchase of shares in accordance with the requirements of relevant laws and regulations and the listing rules of the stock exchanges in the place where the shares of the Company are listed;

(vi) carry out the cancellation procedures for repurchased shares, reduce the registered capital, and make amendments to the Articles of Association of the Company to reflect the relevant provisions such as the total share capital and shareholding structure of the Company, and carry out the relevant statutory registrations and filings procedures both domestically and abroad;

(vii) execute and handle other documents and matters related to the repurchase of shares.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting and the Second A-shares / D-shares / H-shares Class Meetings of 2021 for consideration.

XIX. Resolution on Amending the Articles of Association (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

For details, please refer to the Announcement of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on Amending the Articles of Association of the Company published on the Shanghai Stock Exchange website and the Company's website on the same day as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-024.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



XX. Resolution on Amending the Rules of Procedure for the Board of Directors (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

According to the actual situation of the Company, the Company has made amendments to the Rules of Procedures of the Board of Directors of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. For the revised provisions, see Appendix 1: "Rules of Procedure of the Board of Directors" of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. Revised content published on the company's website at https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/ .

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



XXI. Resolution on Amending the Management System of External Guarantees (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)

According to the actual situation of the Company, the Company has made amendments to the Management System of External Guarantees of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. For the revised provisions, see Appendix 2: "Management System of External Guarantees of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd." Revised content published on the company's website at https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.

XXII. Resolution on Amending the Management System of Information Disclosure (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)



According to the actual situation of the Company, the Company has made amendments to the Management System of Information Disclosure of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. For the revised provisions, see Appendix 3: "Management System of Information Disclosure of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd." Revised content published on the company's website at https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/.



XXIII. Resolution on Unified Expression of Amended Parts of Corporate Systems (Voting results: For 12, Against 0, Abstain 0)



According to the existing Articles of Association and the amendments and the actual situation that the H-shares the Company have been listed, the Company has made unified amendments to the relevant provisions of certain corporate systems. For the amended provisions, see Appendix 4: "Unified Amended Contents of Certain Systems of Haier Smart Home" published on the company's website at https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/.



XXIV. Resolution on Convening the 2020 Annual General Meeting and the Second A-shares / D-shares / H-shares Class Meetings of 2021



The Company intends to convene the 2020 Annual General Meeting and the Second A-shares / D-shares / H-shares Class Meetings of 2021 (the four meetings to be convened successively) at 14:00 CST on 25 June 2021 to consider the relevant resolutions approved by the Board of Directors and submitted to the Shareholders' Meetings for consideration.

For details, please refer to "Notice of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on Convening the 2020 Annual General Meeting and the Second A-shares Class Meeting of 2021" published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange and the company's website on the same day as this announcement, with announcement number: L.2021-025 as well as the circular on the 2020 Annual General Meeting the Second D/H-shares Class Meeting of 2021 and other matters separately issued to D shareholders and H shareholders on the overseas corporate information disclosure platforms of the Company (the German information disclosure platform, https://www.dgap.de/, the German Federal Gazette, the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange https://www.hkexnews.hk, and the website of the Company http://smart-home.haier.com/en/ggyxw/).



The Board of Directors

Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.

30 March 2021



Note: This Announcement has been prepared in both Chinese and English. Should there be any discrepancies or misunderstandings between the two versions, the Chinese version shall prevail.



IR contact:

Yao Sun (Sophie) - Haier Smart Home Germany

T: +49 89 380 334 235

M: +49 160 9469 3601

Email: y.sun@haier.de
Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, left, holds a virtual meeting with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the new head of the World Trade Organization, at the Government Complex in Sejong, Tuesday. Yonhap



South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee on Tuesday held a virtual meeting with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the new head of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and voiced joint support for free trade amid the new coronavirus pandemic.



During the meeting, Yoo and Okonjo-Iweala vowed to make progress in normalizing the role of the WTO before the upcoming 12th ministerial conference of the WTO, which is slated for November this year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.



The two especially shared opinions to make joint efforts to come up with a blueprint to revamp the WTO's role in mediating trade disputes. The dispute-settlement body of the WTO has been suspended since December 2019 as the Donald Trump administration declined to name new members of the appellate body.



South Korea and the WTO agreed to find ways to expand cooperation to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic as well.



Yoo said the WTO made significant progress in the supply of COVID-19 vaccines around the globe and suggested that South Korea's capabilities in production of vaccines can also lend hands to other nations.



The two acknowledged that the global trade of medical supplies should not be limited amid the COVID-19 pandemic, expressing concerns over the export ban on vaccines imposed by some countries.



Yoo also requested the WTO to give more opportunities to South Korean officials to be stationed at the organization, pointing out that only four South Koreans are working at the body, while Asia's No. 4 economy was responsible for 2.9 percent of the budget.



The two vowed to lower gender barriers in the trade segment and help more women benefit from free trade. Okonjo-Iweala is the first woman to head the WTO.



It marked the first time for Yoo and Okonjo-Iweala to hold a meeting since the latest race for the top post at the WTO.



Last month, Yoo withdrew her bid to lead the Geneva-based organization, clearing the way for her Nigerian rival to take the post. Yoo was one of the two finalists. Candidates from six other countries dropped out of the competition in previous rounds.



While Okonjo-Iweala garnered more support than Yoo from the WTO's 164 member states, the South Korean candidate took a wait-and-see approach as the process to pick a new leader at the WTO is based on consensus, not a majority vote.



The U.S., under the previous Trump administration, had expressed support for Yoo. (Yonhap)


Nike files copyright lawsuit over Satan Shoes collaboration with rapper Lil Nas X

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Nike has filed a federal copyright infringement lawsuit in response to the "Satan Shoes" collaboration between New York-based company MSCHF and rapper Lil Nas X, the artist behind the popular song "Old Town Road.

Nike filed the complaint against MSCHF on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York after the duo announced the release of their modified Nike Air Max 97s.

The shoes are all black and decorated with a pentagram pendant. They also reference the scripture "Luke 10:18" in red, which says: And he said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

According to the website, which sells the sneakers for $1,018, the shoes also contain a drop of human blood in the sole of each pair. A total of 666 pairs are available, a number widely associated with the devil.

The 21-year-old openly gay rapper, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, was not named in the lawsuit.

"Nike filed a trademark infringement and dilution complaint against MSCHF today related to the Satan Shoes," Nike told Fox Business in a statement.

"We don't have further details to share on pending legal matters. However, we can tell you we do not have a relationship with Lil Nas X or MSCHF. The Satan Shoes were produced without Nike's approval or authorization, and Nike is in no way connected with this project.

Nike claims that MSCHF buys the sneakers and then creatively modifies them before selling them at a higher price.

Decisions about what products to put the swoosh [logo] on belong to Nike, not to third parties like MSCHF, the lawsuit states. Nike requests that the court immediately and permanently stop MSCHF from fulfilling all orders for its unauthorized Satan Shoes.

Nike also argues that the "unauthorized Satan Shoes are likely to cause confusion and create an erroneous association between MSCHFs products and Nike."

"In fact, there is already evidence of significant confusion and dilution occurring in the marketplace, including calls to boycott Nike in response to the launch of MSCHFs Satan Shoes based on the mistaken belief that Nike has authorized or approved this product," the court filing states.

Although Lil Nas X is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, he took to social media following the lawsuits announcement.

He tweeted a meme of a homeless Squidward from "Spongebob Squarepants" begging for change.

The release of the Satan Shoes followed Lil Nas X's latest single, "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)." The music video for the song is loaded with demonic imagery.

In the video, the rapper descends on a stripper pole and vulgarly gives Satan a lap dance.

The song is reportedly about a guy he met last summer, which he may have compared to satan. However, the video ends with Lil Nas X snapping the devils neck and becoming Satan himself.

Immediately, the sneakers drew backlash from several Christian and conservative leaders and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. Before filing the lawsuit, Nike assured the public that they are not affiliated with the product.

"We do not have a relationship with Little Nas X or MSCHF," Nike revealed in an initial statement share by NBC News. "Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them."

The Satan Shoes and the music video were both released ahead of Palm Sunday.

The "Satan Shoes" line is a follow-up to the release of the companys "Jesus Shoes," which reportedly contain holy water. The white shoes are marked with the phrase "MT. 14:25," which is a reference to Matthew 14:25. The Nike lawsuit does not mention the Jesus Shoes.
The U.S. accused China of carrying out an ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in an annual human rights report released on Tuesday.

Why it matters: Introducing the report, Secretary of State Tony Blinken said President Biden would put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy in dealing with friends and foes alike. He also announced that an effort to redefine human rights by his predecessor, Mike Pompeo, would be disbanded.

Pompeos Commission on Unalienable Rights had elevated values like religious freedom and over others, like LGBTQ and reproductive rights. Blinken said the Biden administration would repudiate such "unbalanced statements.

He also acknowledged that the U.S. had work to do at home on human rights, including in combating systemic racism, but would face those challenges in the daylight, unlike autocratic countries.

What theyre saying: Blinken highlighted human rights violations last year by the governments of Russia, Uganda, Venezuela and Belarus, as well as abuses by the warring parties in Ethiopia and Yemen.

The trendlines on human rights continue to move in a negative direction in every region of the world, Blinken said.

Zoom in: The report finds that more than one million mainly Muslim Uyghurs were held in detention camps in Chinas Xinjiang region, with some subjected to forced sterilization, rape, forced labor and torture.

Another two million Uyghurs were subjected to daytime-only re-education training, according to the report.

The report notes that the camps were expanded in 2020, and the abuses are ongoing.

Of note: The Trump administration, in its final days in office, declared China's actions against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang a "genocide."

Go deeper: Read the full State Department report.
One of the most active natural gas exploration firms in Pennsylvania has agreed to pay $1.9 million after it disclosed in 2014 that its construction work had damaged waterways and wetlands, without proper permits, according to paperwork filed in federal court.

Officials from Chesapeake Energy Corp. of Oklahoma City and federal and state environmental protection agencies signed the consent decree in December before it was filed in federal court in Williamsport.

The consent decree must go through a 30-day public comment period and requires court approval to take effect.

The consent decree said Chesapeake in 2014 disclosed possible violations in Beaver, Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties, including damming streams and filling in wetlands.

As part of the agreement, Chesapeake will either clean up the wetlands and waterways affected by its construction work, or seek a permit to offset the damage by improving another site elsewhere, the agencies said.

The state Department of Environmental Protection said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Chesapeakes work applies to nearly 26 acres of wetlands and more than 2,300 linear feet of streams.

The two agencies will split the $1.9 million fine.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Pennsylvania
Nandigram has been regarded as a prestigious seat for the TMC because mass movements against land acquisition in the area during 2006-08 paved the path for Banerjees political resurrection and propelled her to power in 2011.

Top leaders of both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are scheduled to hit the streets and hold a series of rallies and roadshows on Tuesday as few hours are left before campaigning ends ahead of the second phase of the assembly elections on Thursday. It has been regarded as a prestigious seat for the TMC because mass movements against land acquisition in the area during 2006-08 paved the path for Banerjees political resurrection and propelled her to power in 2011.

Even though 30 assembly constituencies spread over four districts will be going to polls on April 1, all eyes will be on Nandigram where chief minister Mamata Banerjee will be contesting against her former protege Suvendu Adhikari.

Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to participate in at least three roadshows, including one at Nandigram in East Midnapore, and one public rally in Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas. He will attend two more roadshows in Debra and Panskura.

Also Read: Philippines and Vietnam slams China over South China Sea; warns of more Chinese occupation

Also Read: Fully committed to environment: Pak responds to US climate summit snub

A senior Trinamool Congress leader commented that Banerjee is scheduled to hold at least three public meetings and one roadshow in Nandigram today [on Tuesday]. He added that she started camping in Nandigram from Sunday after the first phase elections were over. Since then she has been holding at least four rallies and roadshows every day apart from attending other meetings. While the chief minister will be concentrating on her own constituency in Nandigram, her nephew Abhishek Banerjee will be camping in South 24 Parganas to hold rallies and public meetings in the four constituencies.

Also Read: EAM S. Jaishankar lands in Tajikistan to attend Heart of Asia ministerial conference
The Covid-19 third wave has hit City Hall hard with five employees losing their lives on Saturday alone due to complications arising from the disease.

The workers had been receiving treatment at various hospitals across the county after contracting the deadly virus, nation.africa has learnt.

They include an employee in the prosecution office under the legal department, a county gym instructor at the City Stadium working under the social services department, an employee at the Rates office, another staff member at the Valuation department and a driver.

Nation has omitted their names for legal and ethical reasons.

The multiple deaths of the county employees forced Deputy Governor Ann Kananu to close all offices offering non-essential services for 30 days to contain further spread of the virus.

"The third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has been escalating and has proven severe leading to loss of lives of County Staff, family and friends. It is important to note that we consider the safety of our employees and customers as core to our operations. It is in this regard that we need to consider reviewing our work environment and daily interactions," said Ms Kananu in her statement announcing the closure on Sunday.

The shutdown order, which began today (Monday), leaves only offices offering critical and essential services to continue operating uninterrupted.

The services include health, disaster management and coordination (firefighters), revenue collection services, water, environment and sanitation, finance and economic planning, procurement and supply chain services, security services as well as public communications and customer service.

"This is a carefully considered measure to help in curtailing the spread of the deadly Covid-19 infections witnessed in recent days," said Ms Kananu.

A spot check by the nation.africa revealed that there were no sanitisers or handwashing points at the entrance of City Hall.

Spraying booth

A spraying booth that had been installed at the entrance last year has been broken down for several months now.

However, long queues at the Rates and Cash offices by Nairobi residents paying for various services is still the order of the day with no social distancing.

Even at the two offices, there were no sanitisers or water for washing hands.

"The fumigation of offices that used to happen last year is no longer there. No masks are provided yet one has to report to work. Fumigation has been commercialised," lamented a senior employee who sought anonymity.

According to the staff, interns working under the Kazi Mtaani would spray City Hall but left due to payment disputes.

Since then, health protocols are not being adhered to at the county government with offices still full of people.

"It only became a concern when the five employees died on Saturday since they were working in very sensitive offices. How many people have the five infected?" posed the employee.

Regular fumigations

There have been sustained calls by senior staff for the return of regular fumigation amid an increase in positive cases.

Requests for people to work from home or work in shifts and limit access to City Hall by outsiders or completely locking down the county government for two weeks to curb the spread of the virus have fallen on deaf ears.

"There is a time a member of staff who had tested positive he had to be dragged out of office as he insisted on coming to work despite being Covid-19 positive," said the staff member.

Since the third wave, which has been described as a "more aggressive, non-discriminatory strain", began, the daily Covid-19 cases have been averaging around 1,300, with Friday recording the highest number (2,008) in the history of the pandemic in Kenya.

As of Sunday, 2,117 deaths had been reported in Kenya since the beginning of the pandemic, with more than 40 deaths occurring in the last week alone.

According to the Health ministry, Nairobi and Mombasa counties continue to have the highest attack rates of Covid-19 at 1363.7 and 818.1 per 100,000 people, respectively when compared to 271.9/100,000 for the whole country.

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Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Nakuru and Kajiado lead in the number of Covid-19 cases so far reported, with Nairobi accounting for 46 per cent (over 58,600 cases) of all cases which have been reported in Kenya.

Last week Friday, four of the counties above with exception of Mombasa were declared a "disease-infested zone" with movements into and out of the areas restricted.

This follows the imposition of a new lockdown by President Uhuru Kenyatta to combat a spike in new coronavirus infections.

All gatherings and in-person meetings have been banned, curfew time moved to 8pm, alcohol sales in bars in the zone banned and restaurants are only allowed to provide takeaway services.

This is in addition to the suspension of all face-to-face teaching, meetings by county assemblies and offices asked to encourage their staff to work from home except in special circumstances.

In the intervening week, Kenya recorded between 1,000 and 1,500 cases per day with experts warning that the peak of the third wave is expected in the next 30 days, with more than 2,500 to 3,000 cases per day likely to be witnessed.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday called upon the Ambassador of Switzerland to India, Ralf Heckner, at the latter's office.

According to the office of the Delhi Chief Minister, Heckner appreciated Delhi government' health system, especially its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kejriwal said that the Delhi government has taken several initiatives in the fields of health and education and also for reducing the city's air pollution in the past six years.

After the meeting, Kejriwal tweeted, "Had a fruitful meeting with Swiss Ambassador to India H.E. Ralf Heckner and discussed a range of issues. Shared with him Delhi's efforts to improve air quality in the national capital. Happy to share that H.E. praised Delhi's innovative COVID management."
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Irn-Bru manufacturer AG Barr has seen its revenues and profits slump following the coronavirus pandemic's harmful impact on the hospitality sector.

The group said it started 2020 strongly only to be knocked off course by strict lockdown measures that closed pubs and bars and led to bigger but less frequent orders of drinks for at-home consumption.

Pre-tax profits plummeted by 30.5 per cent to 26million in the 12 months to January 24, while overall sales declined 11.2 per cent to 227million, with second-half revenues falling 14.6 per cent year-on-year.

Sales of AG Barr's carbonated soft drinks fell as demand for its Irn-Bru (pictured) and Rubicon Spring products were badly affected by the loss in 'out of home' trade

This was nearly twice the rate that first-half sales fell as the FTSE All-Share company was hit by the end of its contract with energy drink producer Rockstar from November and the reimposition of national lockdowns across the UK.

Sales of carbonated soft drinks, which are responsible for over 80 per cent of the firm's revenue, decreased by 6.2 per cent on account of demand for its Irn-Bru and Rubicon Spring products being badly affected by the loss in 'out of home' trade.

Nonetheless, AG Barr said the segment had a 'creditable performance,' with take-home purchases helping cushion the blow from the closure of hospitality venues, and sales of its Barr Flavours group of drinks rose 3.3 per cent.

Its stills and water division, by contrast, was severely affected by a 10million impairment charge incurred by the Strathmore bottled water brand, whose demand plunged by 80 to 90 per cent during the lockdown periods.

The Cumbernauld-based business also blamed a lack of promotional activities during Ramadan for its revenue from Rubicon Stills slumping by more than a sixth on the previous year.

Dividend payments were suspended by the group, with further cost cuts coming from reducing capital spending and executive pay, and restructuring the business. On top of that, it received 1.3million from the UK government's furlough scheme.

AG Barr has been negatively impacted by the shutting of pubs and bars over the last year

Chief executive Roger White said that despite the pandemic, 'we closed the year in strong financial health, with our brands and business poised for growth on a like for like basis, and with the clear intention to recommence dividend payments in 2021.

'Whilst there now appears to be a route out of lockdown, the immediate future remains uncertain. Notwithstanding this current backdrop, our strategy for the year ahead is to support our core growth initiatives with significant investment.'

AG Barr said it is benefiting from the trend for locked-down Britons to drink cocktails at home, which is boosting demand for its Funkin ready-to-drink cocktails.

Chief executive Roger White said that despite the pandemic, 'we closed the year in strong financial health, with our brands and business poised for growth on a like for like basis'

The Funkin brand was heavily reliant on hospitality sites before the pandemic - around 85 per cent of revenue - and this led to its total annual sales sliding 11.5 per cent over the year.

It is also investing in the growing energy drink market, recently launching Rubicon RAW Energy and driving sales for its Irn-Bru Energy brand.

Julie Palmer, a partner at business rescue specialist Begbies Traynor, remarked: 'AG Barr has been going through some tough times.'

But she added: 'However, the brand is one of the many looking forward to the reopening of offices and the hospitality sector to increase the sales it makes from the lunchtime trade.

'It will also be hoping that advice to meet outside may result in some significant picnic purchases of fizzy drinks meaning sunny weather could be reflected in a sunnier outlook for its financials when the time comes to wrap up the year.'

Shares in AG Barr ended trading 6.7 per cent down at 4.86 today.
Sixty-two per cent of people say their view of frontline jobs has changed since the pandemic began, including work done by health professionals, teachers, journalists, couriers, restauranteurs and childcare practitioners.

Of these, 66% say they have a new-found respect for jobs that are now considered essential, according to findings from a new report from Matrix Recruitment.

The Matrix Recruitment Dream Job Survey of more than 1,800 adults in Ireland looked at a range of career-related topics since the onset of the pandemic.

Of those whose views of certain professions have changed since the pandemic, 16% have less respect for jobs that do not contribute positively to society with almost a quarter (24%) saying that careers based on fame or prominence in society are no longer of interest.

Over one-third of people surveyed (38%) say that their idea of the dream job has changed over the past year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and job security is now key, according to 45%.

35% of Irish adults said that their new dream job is one where they could help others and 32% said it is one that cannot be impacted by future crises.

The shift in perceptions is tangible and given the number of people that have lost their jobs or have been furloughed, its understandable that the idea of what now constitutes the dream job has changed, said Matrix Recruitments Breda Dooley.

Job security is really important to people right now, whereas pre-pandemic, perks such as a free gym pass, lunch or sleeping pods and games in the office would have often been top of peoples wish lists.

We were not surprised to see that people have changed their perception of those in essential roles. Over the past year, essential workers have worked tirelessly ensuring shop shelves are stocked, home deliveries arrive and that we have access to transport when journeys are necessary. People recognise this hard work and they appreciate it, Breda added.

IRISH WORKFORCE READY TO BREAK UP WITH THEIR JOB

The Matrix Recruitment Dream Job Survey also found that 43% of people in Ireland have fallen out of love with their job. When asked why:

46% said they feel stuck in a rut and need a change

40% said they are bored and uninspired

35% said they are not being paid enough

27% cited the pandemic as a factor that has made them re-evaluate their career choice

Four in ten people (41%) said they would consider changing jobs this year if the right opportunity came along and 38% are actively looking to move job. Of those, 34% are in search of a better work/life balance, while 30% have decided to take the plunge and pursue their dream job.



MISS A WEDDING OR FUNERAL FOR DREAM JOB?

The Matrix Recruitment survey, conducted in March 2021, also asked respondents what they would do to secure their dream job:

64% said they would go back to further education and retrain

38% said they would take a pay cut

34% said they would move abroad

One quarter would forego a funeral or wedding to secure their dream job

Breda Dooley said: The pandemic has made many people re-evaluate their lives and their careers. For some, extra time for family or to pursue hobbies and passion projects have become more important over the past twelve months. For others, the pandemic has made them realise that life is too short to stay in a job they dont love and has given them the impetus to seek out new challenges or pursue their dream job.

As recruiters, we work with candidates of all ages so its important to remember that its never too late to change career.

CAREER REGRETS

Three in five respondents (59%) said they had some idea of what their dream job would be when they were a child. However, only 18% are now working in that profession. The majority (56%) said they regretted not chasing their dream job.

For some people, following their favoured career is not an option, according to Breda Dooley, referring to the 27% of people who said that financial barriers prevented them from pursuing their dream job. Other reasons cited include:

Lack of requisite skills (16%)

Prioritising raising a family (13%)

Not getting the points in the Leaving Certificate (12%)

Pressure from family to pursue another option (11%)

OWNING A BUSINESS CONSIDERED THE ULTIMATE DREAM JOB

Job satisfaction was ranked top of the priority list when it came to what constitutes the dream job, followed by having a salary that allows me to live life to the full along with having a great work-life balance. Being rich and famous was deemed the least important factor when it came to peoples dream job.

In addition to business owner, other dream jobs included scientist, doctor, vet, nurse, interior designer, accountant, artist, social care worker, engineer, journalist, blogger and IT consultant.

The last year has put things in perspective for a lot of people and has highlighted what is really important, so its not surprising that aspirations like being rich and famous are being shunned in favour of job satisfaction and a good work/life balance, said Breda.

We were surprised to find that being a business owner was chosen by so many as being the ultimate dream job, particularly given the challenges so many SMEs have had to deal with in the past year. But the response is possibly indicative of Irelands resilience and enterprising spirit. Perhaps with so many people out of work and the precariousness of some sectors, people want to be in charge of their destiny and create their own success by starting a business.
Maputo  The spokesperson of Mozambique's National Elections Commission (CNE), Alice Banze, has resigned only three days after she was elected to the post.

Banze was elected chairperson at a plenary session of the CNE held on 19 March. But in her letter of resignation, circulating on the Internet, and dated 22 March, she claimed she had not been given the opportunity "to present expressly my declaration of acceptance or not" of the post.

"Taking into account the responsibilities of the job, and the other functions I exercise in other organisations, and taking advice from my family, I now present, of my own free will, my resignation", she wrote.

It is worth noting that she is only resigning as spokesperson and not as a member of the CNE. So she is not giving up the handsome salaries paid to members of the CNE, the housing allowance, the car, the diplomatic passport, and all the other privileges which the electoral legislation grants to CNE members.

Membership of the CNE is supposed to be a full time job, and should prevent her from undertaking "other functions in other organisations" regardless of whether she is spokesperson.

The CNE will now have to meet in plenary to choose a new spokesperson. It is known that the outgoing spokesperson, Paulo Cuinica, wanted to keep the job, but was defeated in the vote on 19 March.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with Senate President Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the State House, Abuja.

Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Mr Lawan said they deliberated on crucial national issues including the issue of supplementary budget meant to provide for the funding of the COVID-19 vaccination.

He said the supplementary budget would also cater for the logistics and welfare needs of the nations security agencies to enable them effectively tackle the challenges of insecurity across the country.

We have come to meet with Mr. President, to discuss issues of serious national concern. And one of those issues is the issue of a supplementary budget.

Both executive and legislative arms believe that we should have a supplementary budget to provide for funding of the COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, as well as the security, providing more resources and platforms to our security agencies.

And today, Im sure in Nigeria, there are no more grave issues than COVID-19 and the security situation in the country. And I want to take this opportunity to say that the security situation is gradually improving.

And Im sure that when we will have more resources our security agencies will see an even faster recovery of our situation, he said.

On COVID-19 vaccines, Mr Lawan stressed the need for Nigerian scientists to collaborate with other scientists from across the globe to develop an effective COVID-19 vaccine locally.

The senate president expressed the readiness of the National Assembly to support such scientific ideas to boost local manufacturing of vaccines in the country.

He stated that local production of the vaccines had become imperative in view of the decisions of some vaccine producing countries not to supply their products to other countries for reasons best known to them.

As for the COVID, I believe that our country, Nigeria should have some resources for our scientists to collaborate with other scientists from across the globe, to also have our own vaccine.

Because we cant rely on what other countries are doing now, every nation to itself, thats what is happening.

The US is not allowing vaccines to go out of the US. The EU is not allowing AstraZeneca vaccines produced in the UK to be sent out of the EU. India is not allowing AstraZeneca vaccines they produce to be exported out.

So where do we go from here? We will have to fall back on our own capacities and abilities. And we have great scientists in this country.

We have many Nigerians outside Nigeria, who are also helping develop the vaccines in other countries.

So why dont you bring them home? Why dont you put some resources so they will also produce ours locally here and take care of our population, and the other African countries especially our neighbours.

So I believe that we had a very good discussions and interaction with Mr President along those lines, Mr Lawan said.

On security challenges, Mr Lawan assured that the National Assembly would continue to approve funds meant to provide more sophisticated equipment and gadgets for security agencies to tackle insurgency and other criminal activities in the country.

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Were expecting some APCs from China. And we believe that weve not had enough, we still need to approve more resources for the purchase of weapons for our armed forces, because this is the number one priority of the government or any government really, to secure the people, and of course later the welfare.

So we believe that we will be doing the right thing, if there is a request through a supplementary appropriation bill from the presidency or executive arm of government, well look at it and approve.

Of course, we have to have a clear cut definition of how much is going for what, were not going to just give approval like that for a general thing. We want to see how the funds will be utilised.

But it is mandatory that we provide more resources for our armed forces, and they are doing well, he said.

On his part, Mr Gbajabiamila, who fielded questions on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), said the National Assembly was committed to approving the bill by the end of April.

He said: We made a commitment to the Nigerian people and that commitment is April, end of April.

But let me just add that, you know, give or take two three weeks, like he said, may only because at the time the commitment was made, we didnt take into cognizance the fact that Easter break and Ramadan are coming up as well.

Were still shooting for the end of April. But were not going to straitjacket ourselves into a particular date. When I say end of April, we are talking thereabout, it maybe a week after maybe two weeks after at most, our best.

(NAN)

Kenneth I. Chenault '73, H'96

Chenaults nomination for the Bowdoin Prize was approved in February 2020 by the Bowdoin College Board of Trustees and confirmed by the Committee of Award, the members of which are the presidents of Harvard University and Yale University, and the chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. The announcement and planned event were delayed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chenault served as chief executive officer and chairman of American Express from 2001 to 2018. He has been called one of the most successful and talented business strategists of our time, a powerful communicator and ubiquitous motivator, and the best CEO of his generation.

Chenault joined American Express in 1981 as director of strategic planning, after working first as a lawyer and then for Bain and Company, and he rose steadily in the ranks as a visionary leader, first heading up the consumer card group and then travel related services, followed by a two-year stint as vice chairman of the entire company and four years as president and chief operating officer before becoming CEO in 2001.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, cemented Chenaults reputation for exemplary leadership. Eleven American Express employees lost their lives that day, and the companys corporate headquarters adjacent to the World Trade Center was badly damaged. Chenault had been chairman and CEO for just a few months, but his careful and humane stewardship of the company, its customers, and its employees during that traumatic and demanding period has been written about widely as a textbook example of leadership and integrity in a crisis. Chenault later had to lead American Express through a global economic turndown and the financial crisis of 2008.

Currently chairman and a managing director of the venture capital firm General Catalyst, Chenault is recognized as one of the business worlds experts on leadership and brand management. He has been honored by multiple publications, including Fortune magazine, which named him as one of the Worlds 50 Greatest Leaders in its inaugural list in 2014, describing Chenault as the most accomplished leader in global finance.

Ken is a leader. He's competitive. He's smart, said Warren Buffett, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, while describing Chenault. But the real test of leadership is when you go up the mountain, and your troops follow you. And they follow you because they believe in you. They believe that you see the valley over the top of the mountain. And though they can't see it, they follow.

Buffett also called Chenault the gold standard for corporate leadership and the benchmark that I measure others against.

Reflecting on his career for a special that aired on PBS, Chenault spoke of the impact he hopes he has made. My most important legacy that I can leave is that I made a meaningful difference in peoples lives. I hope I have been a catalytic agent for change, he said. I firmly believe that none of us should be satisfied by the status quoyou should always try to change the status quo.



Chenault has said that because he believes so strongly in leadership, what he looks for and tries to assess is integrity. Compassion can be offered without sacrificing a sense of urgency or a strong will to win, he told Bowdoin magazine in 2004. Thats one of the values I believe in very strongly, and I talk about it in the organization. Im very competitive. Ive got a strong will to win, but I want to win the right way. Thats my focus.



Chenaults service to Bowdoin includes his time on the board of overseers (19861993) and as a Reunion Committee member, Presidential Search Committee member (19891990), and as a panelist for the Inaugural Symposium in 2015 and featured speaker during the Colleges AF/AM/50 Celebration in 2019. He established the Pamela E. Herbert Memorial Scholarship Fund in 1989 in memory of a member of the Class of 1990 killed in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. He was awarded an honorary degree in 1996.

Chenault serves on the boards of Airbnb and Berkshire Hathaway. Chenault is also on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations, including the Harvard Corporation, the Smithsonian Institutions Advisory Council for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National September 11 Memorial Museum, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Council on Foreign Relations, the board of trustees for NYU Langone Health, and the Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Institute Advisory Council at Stanford University. He is a cofounder of OneTen, a coalition of leading executives coming together to upskill, hire, and advance one million Black Americans over the next ten years into family-sustaining jobs with opportunities for advancement.Chenault was named to the NCAA board of governors in 2019, part of the initial class of independent governors.



He and his wife, Kathryn, live in New York City, and they have two sons.

The Bowdoin Prize



The Bowdoin Prize was established in 1928 as a memorial to William John Curtis, LLD, of the Class of 1875, by his wife and children. It is awarded every five years to the graduate or former member of the College, or member of its Faculty at the time of the award, who shall have made during the period the most distinctive contribution in any field of human endeavor. The Bowdoin Prize is presented to those who are recognized as having won national and not merely local distinction, or who, in the judgment of the committee, is fairly entitled to be so recognized.



The first Bowdoin Prize was awarded in 1933 to Dr. Fred Houdlett Albee, Class of 1899. Other Bowdoin Prize recipients are US Senator Paul Douglas (Class of 1913), Red Cross commissioner Harvey Dow Gibson (Class of 1902), Bowdoin president Kenneth C. M. Sills (Class of 1901), Rear Admiral Donald MacMillan(Class of 1898), US Supreme Court Justice Harold Burton (Class of 1909), journalist William Hodding Carter Jr. (Class of 1927), penologist Austin H. MacCormick (Class of 1915), Dr. Leonard W. Cronkhite (Class of 1941), former Northeastern University president Asa S. Knowles (Class of 1930), Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson (Class of 1979), Bowdoin professors Samuel S. Butcher and Dana W. Mayo, US Special Envoy for Middle East Peace and former US Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell (Class of 1954), former US Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen (Class of 1962), US Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering (Class of 1953), and L.L. Bean chairman Leon A. Gorman (Class of 1956), Geoffrey Canada (Class of 1974), and Stanley Druckenmiller (Class of 1975).
HELSINKI, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sako is one of the world's most prestigious rifle and cartridge brands. Our reputation, high-quality products and credibility are rooted in the unique skills of our employees and in their professional pride. Sako has an eventful and rich history behind it. Over a period of 100 years, the company has grown by focusing on internationalisation, the excellence of its products, respect for its own craftsmen and personnel, and on offering innovative solutions for the needs of its customers.

Sako, a manufacturer of firearms founded 100 years ago on 1 April 1921, is a special case in Finnish industrial history. The factory was established as part of the Civil Guard to meet its needs for gun repair. The workshop became an independent financial unit on 1 April 1921, so Sako has determined that date to be its moment of establishment. In addition to repair work, Sako also began to manufacture firearms.

After the war, it was owned by the Finnish Red Cross and later by Nokia and Valmet. Over the last 20 years, Sako has been under the ownership of one of the world's oldest family firms, Beretta. As a Finnish company of rare quality, Sako also ensured the successful entry of its rifles into the large American gun market back in the 1950s. Still today, Sako is Europe's largest supplier of rifles to North America, and exports its products globally to over 50 countries.

The workshop had initially been called Suojeluskuntain Ase- ja Konepaja Osakeyhtio (Civil Guard Firearm and Engineering Co Ltd) and in 1927 became a limited company with its name abbreviated to the acronym, Sako. The company continued to be wholly owned by the Civil Guard, and competitive marksman and Civil Guard leader, P.E. Svinhufvud, was elected the first Chairman of the Board. At the same time, the company moved from Helsinki to a factory site in Riihimaki, where it continues to operate to this day. In Riihimaki, the assembly of a new model of rifle, the M28, began. Nicknamed `Pystykorva' (the dog breed `Spitz'), this rifle proved to be even better than similar weapons being used by the defence forces, in terms of its quality. At the same time, the company also began to manufacture cartridges. Sako is the world's only rifle manufacturer that also makes cartridges itself.

Despite the good quality of its products, however, Sako Ltd's development was initially poor. Nevertheless, this situation changed when the tense political situation in Europe in the late 1930s prompted the Finnish government to launch an extensive armaments programme. Thanks to substantial orders for pistol cartridges, the company's financial situation became well-established and the factory was able to expand.

The Winter War, the Interim Peace and the Continuation War were very busy periods for the company. Sako became the country's largest producer of pistol cartridges, as practically all the cartridges fired from Finnish machine pistols were made by the company. Orders for the newest model of rifle, the M39, also swelled to unprecedented proportions and the number of personnel at the factory increased to 800, a considerable number of whom were women during the war years. Riihimaki was bombed during the war, but the grounds of the Sako factory were spared the worst of the destruction.

The end of the war marked a threatening turning point for Sako. In November 1944, the Civil Guard ended up on a list of organisations prohibited by the Control Commission. The organisation's leadership had, however, already made preparations to secure its assets, as a result of which Sako shares were transferred to the ownership of the Finnish Red Cross under the leadership of Field Marshal Mannerheim. The Finnish Red Cross thus undoubtedly became the only national unit of its global organisation to have ownership in the weapons industry.

After the war, Sako had to find new articles to sell. The cartridge department began manufacturing tools and small metal products like lipstick tubes, and the engineering department repaired guns. Economically more significant was the textile machinery production that was launched in 1947. The machines were mainly sold to Finnish textile mills.

In 1946, Jaeger Colonel Elias Hyden was appointed General Manager of Sako and the company reverted to manufacturing firearms. The L46 hunting rifle conceived during the war was introduced into production in 1946. It sold very nicely, not only in Finland but also in the Nordic countries and Western Europe.

The most significant breakthrough and, at the same time, the greatest achievement of Colonel Hyden was Sako's entry into the US market. Jan Winter, an agent of the American company Firearms International, had acquired a Sako L46 and was ready to sell it in the USA. The possibilities in this prosperous country with a strong gun culture were immense, but competition was also tough. The popularity of the high-quality rifle surprised everyone, however, and Sako's exports to the USA increased year on year during the 1950s.

In 1952, the US was already Sako's largest export country and, in 1953, sales even exceeded those in Finland. Success for Finnish consumer products in the American market was then - and continues to be - quite an exceptional achievement, and it was also a decisive step forward in the development of Sako.

In 1962, Suomen Kaapelitehdas Oy (Finnish Cable Factory Ltd) bought the entire shareholding of the growing company from the Finnish Red Cross. At the end of the decade, Kaapelitehdas and Sako were transferred to the ownership of the upwardly mobile conglomerate of Nokia. For Sako, the 1960s was a decade of good growth. In addition to hunting rifles and cartridges, the company also returned to the production of military weapons when it received an order from the Finnish Defence Forces for new assault rifles.

The boom, however, turned negative during the 1970s. Profitability weakened and the workforce had to be reduced year after year.

In 1986, Nokia agreed with state-owned Valmet the merger of the two companies' weapons businesses. Sako-Valmet Oy, which comprised three firearms factories, Riihimaki, Jyvaskyla Tourula and Tikkakoski, began operations at the beginning of 1987. In order to achieve profitability, over the years it had to prune both its operations and workforce.

The Sako 75 range of products unveiled in 1996 became the turning point for the company. The success of Sako's first weapon to be designed as new from the very beginning turned the company's share price around and also helped Sako in its next step: It had long been evident that the resources of a company the size of Sako and the interest of its then owners, Nokia and Valmet, would not suffice in international competition, and that the company would have to merge with a larger player in the weapons industry. At the end of the millennium, the Italian Beretta Group expressed an interest in Sako and acquired all the company's shares.

Under Beretta's ownership, Sako has enjoyed 21 years of growth. Being owned by this large company dedicated to the weapons industry has supported Sako in its development and in the growth of its volumes. A major sales success has been the Tikka T3, the one millionth unit of which Sako sold in 2020. Rarely have bolt action rifles sold as many as this anywhere in the world. That same year, the company also launched the revamped Sako S20 hybrid rifle. The launch of this technically highly developed weapon coincided nicely with Sako's all-time production record, which was more than 113,000 rifles in 2020. Also that year, Sako launched the first copper bullet designed and manufactured in-house, the Sako Powerhead Blade, and broke its record for cartridge production with more than 11 million cartridges made.

Sako is moving into its second century as a skilled weapons manufacturer that operates on a long-term basis and keeps abreast of the times. Sako is developing world-class hunting-, military- and target rifles and cartridges and, by combining its knowledge of both rifle and cartridge production, Sako is able to offer products whose strengths are uncompromising precision and reliability.

Sako is looking to the future with more confidence than ever. We are proudly continuing the development of the skills and know-how of rifle production and respecting the surrounding nature as we navigate towards the next 100 years.

Further information:

General Manager Raimo Karjalainen, Sako Ltd, tel. +358 10 830 5201

Materials

Documentary film:

Sako 100 years short documentary film in English:

https://youtu.be/9kmWnvy0wY0

Credentials for media bank:

Sako.materialbank.net

Sakopress

Sakopress1

Social media:

www.sako.fi

www.tikka.fi

Instagram: @sako_international

Instagram: @tikka_international

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sakointernational

YouTube: www.youtube.com/sakoltd

Sako's key figures

Net sales 98.0 million

Personnel 320

Sites:

 Riihimaki - Head office and rifle- and cartridge factory

 Hausjarvi - Cartridge charging

 Stockholm - Sako Sweden

 Toronto - Stoeger Canada Inc.

Production 2020:

 Rifles - 113,000

 Cartridges - 11 million

Export:

 Main market areas: USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia and Europe

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/19193/3317166/1395143.pdf Press release (PDF) https://mb.cision.com/Public/19193/3317166/84f1412de0a77a5c_org.jpg Sako Hyden https://mb.cision.com/Public/19193/3317166/9332806f776edb45_org.jpg sako hq

SOURCE Sako Oy
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Syracuse, N.Y.  Firefighters rescued a child from a burning home on Syracuses North Side this afternoon, according to the Syracuse Fire Department.

The 8-year-old boy suffered burns and is in critical condition at Upstate University Hospital, the fire department said in a news release. He is expected to survive, officials said.

The firefighters rushed to the home at 1247 Park St. at 2:30 p.m. and found the back of the building engulfed in flames, according to emergency dispatches. The three-family, two-story home is between Kirkpatrick and Pond streets.

Firefighters encountered heavy fire on the first and second floors of the large apartment building, officials said.

When firefighters arrived, they were told that several people  including the boy  were trapped in the home, Syracuse Fire Chief Michael Monds said at the scene.

Firefighters from Truck Company 2 began searching the first floor apartment, which is where the child was last seen, officials said. After a few moments searching through high heat and zero visibility, they located the boy and rushed him outside.

The nearly 60 firefighters worked to put out the fire, Monds said.

No one else was injured in the fire, he said.

The wind-driven fire is believed to have begun in the basement of the home and to have worked its way up to the attic, Monds said. Winds were blowing at 23 mph with gusts of more than 30 mph at the time of the fire, according to the National Weather Service.

Flames could be seen shooting from the collapsed roof as firefighters used several hoses to put out the fire. Firefighters were forced to battle the fire from outside the structure.

The fire spread to a neighboring house at 1245 Park St., but firefighters were able to quickly put that fire out, Monds said.

Both buildings suffered significant damage, and the Red Cross will be assisting families displaced by the fire, officials said.

Members of the Fire Investigation Bureau are working to determine the origin and cause of the fire.

Along with firefighters, American Medical Response ambulance crews and Syracuse police officers were also called to the scene.

Syracuse firefighters work to put out a smoky fire at a three-family home in the 1200 block of Park Street on Tuesday afternoon, March 30, 2021.Chris Libonati | clibonati@syracuse.com

Staff writer Samantha House covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach her at shouse@syracuse.com.
Hagerstown Housing Authority closes in on end of McCleary Hill project

After objections from neighbors, the Hagerstown Housing Authority's McCleary Hill project is done its first phase. Officials held an open house.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The committee leading the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin issued a statement today, in reaction to his appearance on Sunday March 29, 20201 on CBS' "60 Minutes":

"Mr. Boudin is an expert in misdirection, deflection and avoidance of responsibility. Years of defending criminals is his specialty, bending the truth, omitting facts, having evidence tossed and disregarded, making every deal possible for the accused to avoid jail time. The trouble is, his now $400,000 annual salary is meant to prosecute those criminals and hold them accountable, in the position as District Attorney since January 2020, meaning; to go through each step from arrest, to trial, to conviction by jury, then sentencing to jail time. His appearance on CBS 60 Minutes was reprehensible and a slap to the face of every one of San Francisco's victims of crime, bodily and property - including the widows, parents and children of those killed as a result of Mr. Boudin's damaging and deceitful position as District Attorney. The broadcast segment was clearly and solely in response to his deeply unpopular stance among our city's residents as well as a response to the recall effort underway against him."

The Committee Supporting the Recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin leads the recall effort, with website at https://RecallChesaBoudin.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Committee Supporting the Recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin

Richie Greenberg, Spokesman

Email: [email protected]

Office: 415-349-0106

SOURCE Committee Supporting the Recall of DA Chesa Boudin

Related Links

https://recallchesaboudin.org


For Marie-Claude Boudreau, Womens History Month is important to celebrate, not only because of the influential women in her life, but also because of the contributions she hopes to achieve through making the male-dominated field of management information systems more accessible to women. (Photo/courtesy: Marie-Claude Boudreau)
Dehumidifiers with enhanced polyimide membranes (white disc) will be energy efficient with a smaller carbon footprint. Credit: Dharmesh Patel/Texas A&M Engineering

On sultry summer afternoons, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems provide much-needed relief from the harsh heat and humidity. These systems, which often come with dehumidifiers, are currently not energy efficient, guzzling around 76% of the electricity in commercial and residential buildings.

In a new study, Texas A&M University researchers have described an organic material, called polyimides, that uses less energy to dry air. Furthermore, the researchers said polyimide-based dehumidifiers can bring down the price of HVAC systems, which currently cost thousands of dollars.

"In this study, we took an existing and rather robust polymer and then improved its dehumidification efficiency," said Hae-Kwon Jeong, McFerrin Professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering. "These polymer-based membranes, we think, will help develop the next generation of HVAC and dehumidifier technologies that are not just more efficient than current systems but also have a smaller carbon footprint."

The results of the study are described in the Journal of Membrane Science.

Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air to a comfortable level of dryness, thereby improving air quality and eliminating dust mites, among other useful functions. The most commonly available dehumidifiers use refrigerants. These chemicals dehumidify by cooling the air and reducing its ability to carry water. However, despite their popularity, refrigerants are a source of greenhouse gases, a major culprit for global warming.

As an alternative material for dehumidification, naturally occurring materials known as zeolites have been widely considered for their drying action. Unlike refrigerants, zeolites are desiccants that can absorb moisture within their water-attractive or hydrophilic pores. Although these inorganic materials are green and have excellent dehumidification properties, zeolite-based dehumidifiers pose challenges of their own.

"Scaling up is a big problem with zeolite membranes," Jeong said. "First, zeolites are expensive to synthesize. Another issue comes from the mechanical properties of zeolites. They are weak and need really good supporting structures, which are quite expensive, driving up the overall cost."

Jeong and his team turned to a cost-effective organic material called polyimides that are well-known for their high rigidity and tolerance for heat and chemicals. At the molecular level, the basic unit of these high-performance polymers are repeating, ring-shaped imide groups connected together in long chains. Jeong said the attractive forces between the imides gives the polymer its characteristic strength and thus an advantage over mechanically weak zeolites. But the dehumidification properties of the polyimide material needed enhancement.

The researchers first created a film by carefully applying polyimide molecules on a few nanometers-wide alumina platforms. Next, they put this film in a highly concentrated sodium hydroxide solution, triggering a chemical process called hydrolysis. The reaction caused the imide molecular groups to break and become hydrophilic. When viewed under a high-powered microscope, the researchers uncovered that the hydrolysis reactions lead to the formation of water-attractive percolation channels or highways within the polyimide material.

When Jeong's team tested their enhanced material for dehumidification, they found that their polyimide membrane was very permeable to water molecules. In other words, the membrane was capable of extracting excess moisture from the air by trapping them in the percolation channels. The researchers noted that these membranes could be operated continuously without the need for regeneration since the trapped water molecules leave from the other side by a vacuum pump that is installed within a standard dehumidifier.

Jeong said his team carefully designed their experiments to partial hydrolysis wherein a controlled number of imide groups become hydrophilic.

"The strength of polyimides comes from their intermolecular forces between their chains," Jeong said. "If too many imides are hydrolyzed, then we are left with weak material. On the other hand, if the hydrolysis is too low, the material won't be effective at dehumidification."

Although polyimide membranes have shown great promise in their potential use in dehumidification, Jeong said their performance still lags behind zeolite membranes.

"This is a new approach to improve the property of a polymer for dehumidification and a lot more optimizations need to be done in order to further enhance the performance of this membrane," Jeong said. "But another key factor for engineering applications is it has to be cheap, especially if you want the technology to be reasonably affordable for homeowners. We are not there yet but are certainly taking strides in that direction."

Explore further Polyimide membranes for the purification of natural gas

More information: Sunghwan Park et al, Enhancing air-dehumidification performance of polyimide membranes by generating hydrophilic Poly(amic acid) domains using partial hydrolysis, Journal of Membrane Science (2020). Sunghwan Park et al, Enhancing air-dehumidification performance of polyimide membranes by generating hydrophilic Poly(amic acid) domains using partial hydrolysis,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.119006
China, Bahrain to promote cooperation to further deepen bilateral ties

Xinhua) 16:13, March 30, 2021

MANAMA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed to enhance cooperation to further strengthen their relationship during their meeting here Monday.

China cherishes its traditional friendship with Bahrain and is willing to work with the kingdom to carry forward the fine tradition of mutual trust and mutual support between the two countries, as well as jointly safeguard the legitimate interests of the two sides, the development rights of developing countries, and world peace and stability, Wang said.

Wang said that China hopes the two sides will enhance the synergy between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in infrastructure construction, big data, e-commerce and other fields, so as to contribute to the upgrading of Bahrain's economy.

China appreciates His Royal Highness Prince's personal participation in China's vaccine clinical trials, and stands ready to continue to advance vaccine cooperation with Bahrain and to provide support and assistance within its capacity in Bahrain's fight against the epidemic, he noted.

Against the backdrop that the world today is entering a period of turbulence and change, joint cooperation among various countries is essential for maintaining world peace and stability, Wang said.

Noting that non-interference in other countries' internal affairs is a basic norm in international relations, he said countries across the world should first and foremost put their own house in order.

Multilateralism is the cornerstone of world peace and stability, the foundation of international rule of law, and also a guarantee for the survival of small and medium-sized countries, he added.

The COVID-19 pandemic has once again taught us that the destinies of all countries are closely related, said the foreign minister.

Beyond different social systems, ideologies and cultural backgrounds, countries worldwide should work together to build a good earth home on which we depend for survival, and join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

For his part, Salman said that Bahrain-China relations have made great progress in recent years. The kingdom sincerely appreciates China's strong support in its fight against the epidemic, the crown prince said, adding that he feels very proud to participate in the international Phase III clinical trial of China's COVID-19 vaccine.

"The Chinese vaccine has demonstrated sufficient safety and efficacy, which has not only protected people's lives and health, but also greatly enhanced Bahraini people's understanding of and goodwill towards China. Bahrain hopes to continue to promote vaccine cooperation with China," he added.

Bahrain is willing to keep closer exchanges and visits with China at all levels, deepen cooperation in various fields including energy, infrastructure construction and high technology, in order to push the friendly cooperative bilateral relations to a new level, said the crown prince.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
A Maryland mom was placed behind bars after stabbing her three-year-old daughter in the neck using a pair of scissors.

Authorities said Anne Catherine Akers is now facing multiple charges, including one count of attempted second-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, and one count of first-degree child abuse.

According to Crime Online, the disturbing incident happened in Montgomery County in Maryland. A family member immediately called 911 after seeing blood on the floor at the victim's home on Saturday morning.

READ NEXT: Child Abuse Cases Down, Experts Warn Lockdown Measures Forces Victims to Silence

Maryland Mom as the Suspect

Authorities, who immediately responded to the call, found Anne Catherine Akers, 28, under a blanket on her bedroom floor with a wound on her neck.

The Maryland mom was cradling her daughter in her arms. Police then saw a life-threatening wound on the girl's neck.

"Officers removed a blanket Akers was holding observed her three-year-old daughter with a life-threatening laceration on her neck," the Montgomery County Department of Police said in a statement.

Police also found a pair of bloody scissors on the floor, making them believed that it was the suspect's weapon used to harm the toddler, Fox 5 reported.

The officers immediately began a life-saving procedure on the toddler. The three-year-old girl was escorted by Fire and Rescue personnel in a helicopter to a local hospital. The toddler was reportedly in critical condition.

The physician from the hospital where the girl was brought credited the officers' life-saving measures on the child. The physicians noted that without the officers' life-saving efforts, the child's wounds would have been fatal.

Police said the Maryland mom is now being held without bond at the Central Processing Unit. No motive has yet been established by authorities who are working on the case.

Maryland Crime Rate

As of March 30, Maryland's annual crimes were recorded at 145,157, according to Neighborhood Scout. Among these numbers, about 27,456 are credited to violent crimes.

On the other hand, 117,901 are recorded to be crimes concerning properties in Maryland. It is also estimated that one in every 220 people in Maryland can become a victim of violent crime.

Among these violent crimes, 542 were considered murder, while 15,798 were classified as assault.

Montgomery County did not also make it to the cut of the top 10 Safest Cities in Maryland as analyzed by Safewise. Safewise noted that Maryland has higher violent crime rates than most of the states. The report also indicated that 50 percent of people from Maryland say that their personal safety was affected by the COVID pandemic.

Meanwhile, Akers' bond review happened at the Rockville District Court on March 29. A judge ordered the Maryland mom to meet with a psychiatrist to determine if she's mentally fit to stand trial for murder.

Court records showed that Anne Catherine Akers filed a complaint on custody of the girl in 2019.

READ MORE: Brazilian Girl Beaten to Death by Stepfather for Wetting Bed; Teen Mom Also Charged

WATCH: How to Recognize Child Abuse and Neglect - From ProCPR
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  The family of an inmate who died at the Muskegon County Jail has filed a federal lawsuit alleging authorities covered up the circumstances of his death.

Paul Bulthouse, 39, died April 4, 2019.

He died of natural causes after he suffered seizures in a detoxification cell, an autopsy showed.

The seizures were triggered by withdrawal of prescription medication that caused severe and fatal withdrawal symptoms that were ignored, the lawsuit said.

Jail officials had viewed Bulthouse having numerous and continuous seizures both in person and viewing on camera (or ignoring the video surveillance of same over a long period of time); and simply not offering medical attention to his emergency medical needs ultimately causing his death, the lawsuit said.

Following this senseless tragedy, Defendant Muskegon County and Defendant Wellpath, embarked on an effort to cover up the circumstances surrounding the death of Paul Bulthouse, Royal Oak attorney Marcel Benavides wrote in the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids.

The investigation into Bulthouses death was closed May 22, 2019, but Sheriff Michael Poulin re-opened the case less than a month later upon learning of reports that a deputy may have witnessed one of Bulthouses seizures but did not act.

State Attorney General Dana Nessels criminal division is conducting the investigation. Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson sought the outside investigate because of his close working relationship with the Sheriffs Department.

The attorney general investigation, announced Aug. 19, 2019, is not complete, a spokesperson said.

Poulin said he was aware the lawsuit would likely be filed but he has not be served with the documents. He said he has worked to be transparent throughout the process and is awaiting the attorney generals findings.

He said that an investigation by the Michigan Sheriffs Association, using investigators from outside agencies with expertise in corrections, has been forwarded to the attorney general.

Wellpath, formerly known as Correct Care Solutions, providing medical care at the jail, said in a statement that it is unable to comment on ongoing or pending litigation.

The lawsuit also names as defendants multiple sheriffs deputies, doctors, nurses and emergency-medical technicians.

On the day he died, Bulthouse suffered 15 seizures, starting at 2 a.m., before he died shortly after 5:30 a.m. The seizures were recorded on jail cameras but apparently missed by deputies making regular checks, according to documents obtained by MLive/Muskegon Chronicle in an earlier Freedom of Information request.

Because of alcohol withdrawals, he was supposed to be checked on every 30 minutes. But there was an hour-long gap in checks before his death and another gap  nearly an hour  when he died, documents showed.

Bulthouse was jailed on March 22, 2019, for a parole violation. He had pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in October 2018.

The sheriff said he was in a detoxification cell because he was recovering from heavy alcohol use and having suicidal thoughts.

The lawsuit said that Bulthouse had long been prescribed a psychotropic medication, a benzodiazepine, to treat anxiety disorders and other conditions. If a person abruptly stops or reduces the medication, it will lead to withdrawal.

Bulthouse was dependent on the medication, the lawsuit said.

All medical providers in a county correctional facility must know the risks of benzodiazepine withdrawal and must be able to recognize the signs and symptoms thereof, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit said that a doctor wrote in a report that Bulthouse was faking symptoms. The doctors incompetent medical assessment led staff to ignore Bulthouse, and therefore his worsening condition led to his death.

In the days before his death, Bulthouses hallucinations and vocal outbursts were becoming more frequent and disturbing other inmates, the lawsuit said. He was moved to a private cell where he could be monitored by cameras.

His seizures continued but several believed he was faking, according to statements in the lawsuit. He had seizures the night before he died into the early morning but a deputy monitoring Bulthouse was deliberately indifferent for not seeking emergency medical care for Paul Bulthouse for each and every seizure he sustained on April 3, 2019, through his death on April 4, 2019, Benavides wrote in the lawsuit.

He said deputies did not act while Bulthouse suffered no less than 8 massive seizures.

From approximately 1:44 a.m.  until his body was found dead at 6:15 a.m., no deputies  or medical personnel would enter Paul Bulthouses cell to communicate or check in on him, the lawsuit said.

He said that several people were near the monitor showing Bulthouses cell while he was suffering seizures but no one acted.

Read more:

Attorney generals criminal division probing jail inmate death

Muskegon County sheriff reopens investigation into inmates death

Special prosecutor sought in jail inmate death probe
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Listyo Sigit Prabowo, the national police chief, said 13 people had been detained in Greater Jakarta, West Nusa Tenggara, and Makassar after the attack and played various roles in its execution, from making explosives to detonating them.

After a series of raids following a suicide attack outside a cathedral on the first day of the Easter Holy Week, Indonesian police found powerful explosives and detained more alleged Islamist extremists on Monday. The Jakarta police department refused to comment on the raids, and the national police department did not respond to a request for comment.

The two bombers were the only people killed in Sundays attack in Makassar, Sulawesi, which injured 19 people and occurred as mass was finishing. The bombers were a married couple who belonged to Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), an Islamic State-inspired organisation accused of carrying out suicide attacks on churches and police stations in Surabaya in 2018, killing at least 30 people.

National Police spokesperson Argo Yuwono said the couple had been married for six months and that police were investigating their Makassar home. L and his partner, YSF, were only known by their initials. The couples neighbours named the man as Lukman and his wife as Dewi, and said they were between the ages of 23 and 26.

Read More: WB Assembly Elections 2021: Mamata to hold massive 5-Day Camp In Nandigram; BJP and TMC throw allegations and counter-accusations

Listyo Sigit Prabowo, the national police chief, said 13 people had been detained in Greater Jakarta, West Nusa Tenggara, and Makassar after the attack and played various roles in its execution, from making explosives to detonating them.

The raids yielded 5.5 kg (12.13 lb) of explosives and a number of chemicals, including triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a strong yet unreliable mixture often used by Islamist militant groups, according to Listyo. At a press conference, Listyo said the male bomber wrote a letter to his family expressing his desire to die for his beliefs.
Churches and leaders of all religious denominations decry the Makassar cathedral bombing on Palm Sunday.

By Lisa Zengarini

Security measures to protect Christians during the Holy Week celebrations have been tightened in Indonesia, following the suicide bomb attack against the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral of Makassar, in South Sulawesi, on Palm Sunday. The bombing, which occurred at the end of Palm Sunday Mass, has left the two perpetrators dead and at least 20 people wounded, drawing worldwide condemnation and solidarity with the Church in Indonesia. Pope Francis called for prayers for the victims during the Angelus prayer in St. Peters Basilica.

Bishops' concern and prayers

Indonesian Bishops have expressed concern, prayer and deep sorrow for the attack saying it is not just on the Catholic community but on the entire Nation and State of Indonesia". It degrades human dignity, destroys human values and adds to the long list of acts of terrorism in our beloved archipelago", a communique reads. The statement, signed by Bishop Yohannes Harun Yuwono, chairman the Commission for Interreligious Relations of the Bishops' Conference of Indonesia, calls on Catholics and all Indonesians to keep calm and to "remain vigilant". The Commission also expresses the bishops "full confidence" in the Indonesian government, the armed forces and the national police, and hope that the attack will not damage and weaken the relationship which has been built up over the years between religious believers and faiths.

Solidarity from Indonesian Christian and Muslim leaders



The chairman of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia, has conveyed his condolences to the victims and has invited Christians in the Country not be afraid but alert, UCA news reports. Indonesian President Joko Widodo condemned the incident and said terrorism is a crime against humanity. The bombing was also decried by Anwar Abbas, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ulama Council, who said the attack contradicts religious values. According to the Muslim leader, the attack was connected to the arrest of dozens of terrorists in several regions in the Country by the police anti-terror squad since January.

World Council of Churches unites in solidarity

The World Council of Churches (Wcc) too united in condemning the bombing. We pray for the victims of this cruel attack, for their families and loved ones, for the worshippers who were just concluding their Palm Sunday service, said the acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca. We pray for the perpetrators, who fell prey to such extremist ideologies that they were willing to destroy themselves in order to hurt others.

Sauca also called for solidarity from the world in bringing peace, security and justice not only to Indonesia but to all people, in every nation. An attack on a local church an egregiously misguided act targeting grandparents, and their children and grandchildren, as they worship, is an attack on us all, he said.

A long standing tradition of tolerance threatened by fundamentalism

Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country in the world, but has a long standing tradition of tolerance and pluralism, which is enshrined in its five founding principles, the Pancasila. However, over the last two decades this tradition has been put to the test by Islamic radicals and terrorist groups connected with al-Qaeda and more recently with the so called Islamic State, who have also targeted Christians. Catholics are around 3 per cent of the population.

Many internet companies posted record performance during the pandemic as consumers turned to apps and other cloud software to work, study, socialize and shop from home. But as vaccines roll out and restrictions relax, some of this unprecedented digital demand is fading.

Data from research firm Apptopia reveal how the superstar apps of the Covid-19 era are faring now in the US Plus, stats from New Zealand, a country that reopened earlier, show what the future might hold for these services.

Heres the main takeaway: Many well-known apps are losing ground, or usage has stabilized. Some behaviours are sticking, though, suggesting the pandemic will provide a more-permanent boost for a few internet companies.

Also read: Zoom adds video SDKs for developers to help them leverage the service for their apps

Zoom Video Communications Inc.s app has been so ubiquitous during the pandemic that its now a verb. Lately, though, workers complain of Zoom fatigue, and data from New Zealand are ominous. Usage has dropped in that country as employees and students return to offices and schools. Even in the US, where most offices remain virtual, Zoom use peaked in September. The company said recently its well-positioned for strong growth.

Microsoft Corp.s Teams communication software was another work-from-home hit last year. That service has seen mobile app usage decline, too, especially in New Zealand. (This data excludes web users and some services are often accessed this way from company-issued laptops).

Other staples of the virtual workplace are here to stay, according to Apptopia data. DocuSign Inc.s app, which lets you sign contracts and other documents digitally, has seen consistently high usage lately. The app has become a popular way to close real estate transactions, so it is likely getting an extra boost from the housing boom.

A central question during reopening is whether the appetite for ultra-convenience will continue. Food delivery apps, such as those from DoorDash Inc. and Instacart Inc., have experienced continuously high usage in the US, even as Covid-19 cases declined in 2021. Amazon.com Inc.s app is still growing strong, too.

The data on Wayfair Inc., an online retailer of home goods that competes with Amazon, are less bullish. Usage of the companys mobile app peaked in June and July as people relocated and set up home offices. There may be only so many office chairs people can buy  or limited cash left from stimulus checks. And as consumers venture outside more, they may pay less attention to home upgrades and spend money on other things.

Social media apps have seen a steady increase in usage over the course of the pandemic as more people connect with each other digitally, rather than in person. Facebook Inc.s main mobile apps, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, collectively grew their US daily active user base by almost 40 million between January 2020 and February 2021.

Other social-media apps have seen similar gains in the US Googles YouTube remains above pre-pandemic levels. Pinterest Inc. is consistently growing as more consumers turn to the app for inspiration and tutorials. Snap Inc.s Snapchat app, which is popular with teenagers, saw user growth surge as schools shut.

Read more: Majority of Indian firms reported jump in cyber threats while WFH: Cisco report

Short video platform TikTok saw usage soar in the spring, likely for similar reasons as Snapchat: kids were not in school so had more time to spend online. TikTok also gained national attention in early July when Donald Trump threatened to ban the app, spurring a rush of downloads before it potentially disappeared. That didnt happen, but the app is being used less now, according to Apptopia data.

Travel restrictions are still common across the US, but travel apps are being used more than ever. Vacation rentals have been the star of the pandemic travel sector. Airbnb Inc., a home-sharing pioneer, has fared better than rivals as travellers take advantage of work-from-home opportunities, road-tripping to nearby mountain villages or beach towns, often booking longer stays than usual.

While many are fantasizing about travel, Americans are still staying home more than they used to, according to Google Maps app data. A rebound is likely, though. In New Zealand, usage of Google Maps just eclipsed pre-pandemic levels.
A woman confronts a man holding a sign saying "Hold CCP Liable Stop Asian Hate" at an anti-Asian hate rally in Vancouver on March 28, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

Man Holding Sign Calling for CCP Accountability Is Blocked at Vancouver Anti-Asian Hate Event Organized by Mysterious Group

A man holding a sign calling for the Chinese Communist Party to be held accountable had his sign obstructed by several people at an anti-Asian hate rally organized by a group that local community members in Vancouver have raised questions about.

On March 28, Stop Anti-Asian Hate rallies were held by the Asian Canadian Equity Alliance Association (ACEA) in cities across the country, including Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and others.

Footage from the Vancouver event has cast doubt on whether critics of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were welcome at the rally.

Video and images of the rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery show a person who was holding a sign saying Hold CCP Liable, Stop Asian Hate, being obstructed by a number of attendees, including by a man wearing a vest that said security who appeared to be an organizer.

An article published on ACEAs website criticizes Global News reporters for an April 30, 2020, article on how the CCPs United Front Work Department had urged the Chinese diaspora in Canada to buy PPE in bulk and ship it to China, while the rest of the world soon after faced a shortage of PPE amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heiky Kwan, a community organizer in Vancouver, said on Twitter that people in her network dont know anything about ACEA.

I ask many community organizers and no one seems to know who the organizers of the #StopAsianHate rally are. Anyone know? We wanted to attend at first but were checking and it seems like no one else other than Chinese elites are part of this? Kwan said in a tweet.

I asked cuz we wanted to host a rally against racism w/ other organizers in diaspora/ the equity space & found out someone else is doing it. BUT, no one in the community have heard about these folks before or aware they were doing work to unravel systemic racism.

While some in the Asian community avoided the rallies, some prominent figures, among them current and past politicians, took part, including BC MLA Teresa Wat.

A man holding a sign that says Hold CCP Liable Stop Asian Hate is obstructed by people at an anti-Asian hate rally in Vancouver on March 28, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

ACEAs website says the group is a non-profit organization focused on confronting bullying and harassment due to discrimination of your Asian heritage. The Epoch Times reached out to ACEA for comment but didnt hear back.

ACEA earlier listed former Richmond mayoral candidate Hong Guo as one of its co-founders, but has since deleted her name from the website. In an interview with theBreaker.news in 2018 while running for mayor, Guo denied there are human rights violations in China.

In a tweet in response to a question by a journalist on Twitter, ACEA said, Hong Guo is not an active member of the group. We are not tied to CCP in any way. We are Canadians who want to stand united with our community in decrying Asian hate.

The Epoch Times contacted Guo seeking comment but didnt hear back.

The CCP has faced increased criticism in recent years for its human rights abuses in mainland China and Hong Kong.

Last week, Canada, UK, and the United States announced sanctions against four Chinese officials and an entity related to human rights violations of Uyghurs in Chinas Xinjiang region. The sanctions were announced in solidarity with the European Union, which had announced its own sanctions against China earlier.

In February, Canadian MPs unanimously voted to pass a motion to declare the CCPs persecution of Uyghurs an act of genocide.

According to Sheng Xue, co-founder of China Rights Network, a group that aims to unite communities that have suffered under the CCP, Beijing is working behind the scenes to use anti-Asian racism campaigns to fuel support for the CCP.

Sheng noted that Chinese community members in Calgary have received messages that said the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., was urging oversea Chinese to join an anti-Asian hate rally in San Francisco on March 27.

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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Its hard to rattle Greys Anatomy fans. Theyve seen it all, from weird ghost sex to multiple plane crashes.

There seems to be no drama too juicy to shock Greys most diehard supporters. But that doesnt mean fans always agree with the decisions writers make for their favorite characters. When it comes to Teddy Altman, head of Cardiothoracic surgery, fans on Reddit think that the shows creators have made a mistake.

Fans think the writers did Teddy dirty with the cheating storyline

KIM RAVER, GREG GERMANN | Eric McCandless via Getty Images

RELATED: Greys Anatomy: Will Teddy Marry Owen After He Found Out She Cheated?

Teddy and Owen Hunt had a whirlwind, on-again, off-again romance from the beginning. It seems that one was always chasing the other. But when they did get together, things didnt seem to calm down. The two were still unstable, and things got worse when Teddy cheated on Owen with Tom, a fellow surgeon. Teddy was pregnant at the time with Owens baby.

Fans thought that Teddy wasnt the type to cheat, and in general they dont think the writers should have added that part to the show. It was out of character for her, and she and Tom actually made a pretty good couple. Fans think they should have gotten together in a better way. One fan on reddit wrote Theyve done her dirty with the cheating storyline. I hate it. Others seemed to agree that the writers are to blame. The cheating was out of character for Teddy, and seems like a cheap way to create drama. When one fan wrote that Teddy doesnt deserve Tom, another replied Teddy would have deserved him if the writers hadnt completely botched her character these last few seasons.

The old Teddy would have been perfect for Tom

RELATED: Greys Anatomy: Will Teddy Altman Tell Owen Hunt About Tom Koracick in the Season 16 Finale?

If it werent for the cheating, Teddy and Tom could have made a great couple. Fans think Tom was a better fit for Teddy than Owen. Teddy got pregnant with Owens baby before meeting Tom, and in a way that surprise pregnancy tied them together, but fans arent sure it was necessary. One fan wrote In my opinion Owen should never have gone to Germany and got Teddy Pregnant. He should have let her go, let her come back on her own accord and then she falls in love with Tom.

Other fans agreed that a relationship between Teddy and Tom without the pregnancy would have been just as compelling. Theyre also not sure why writers added in another baby for Owen. He was famous for wanting to start a family with all of his various love interests before meeting Teddy, but he had his adopted son Leo by the time Teddy got pregnant.

Surprise babies are overdone on the show, according to fans

RELATED: Greys Anatomy Season 17: Are Owen and Teddy Still Together? Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver Still Have Hope for the Relationship

Fans are getting tired of surprise babies tying couples together on Greys Anatomy. They think Teddys pregnancy wasnt really needed to move the story forward, and the idea of so many surprise pregnancies in one friend group is pushing the limits of whats believable. According to one fan The multiple accidental babies makes the whole thing feel a little bit ridiculous, and this is Greys so thats saying something.

It is surprising that so many doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital cant use birth control. It seems somewhat incongruous that highly educated medical professionals cant manage taking a pill, getting injections every three months, or properly using a condom. Fans are starting to roll their eyes at all the unplanned pregnancies running rampant at the hospital. As one fan put it, Not for nothing, and Im fully aware that its just a showbut it always makes me laugh to myself that these extraordinarily trained and supposedly capable doctors who run around diagnosing extremely rare cases and do sensitive time consuming technical operations on every part of the body cant manage proper forms of birth control.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, and Google/Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Mar. 25, 2021

Over the course of five-plus hours on Thursday, a House Committee along with two subcommittees badgered three tech CEOs, repeatedly demanding that they censor more political content from their platforms and vowing legislative retaliation if they fail to comply. The hearing  convened by the House Energy and Commerce Committees Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and the two Chairs of its Subcommittees, Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)  was one of the most stunning displays of the growing authoritarian effort in Congress to commandeer the control which these companies wield over political discourse for their own political interests and purposes.

As I noted when I reported last month on the scheduling of this hearing, this was the third time in less than five months that the U.S. Congress has summoned the CEOs of social media companies to appear before them with the explicit intent to pressure and coerce them to censor more content from their platforms. The bulk of Thursdays lengthy hearing consisted of one Democratic member after the next complaining that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google/Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey have failed in their duties to censor political voices and ideological content that these elected officials regard as adversarial or harmful, accompanied by threats that legislative punishment (including possible revocation of Section 230 immunity) is imminent in order to force compliance (Section 230 is the provision of the 1996 Communications Decency Act that shields internet companies from liability for content posted by their users).

Republican members largely confined their grievances to the opposite concern: that these social media giants were excessively silencing conservative voices in order to promote a liberal political agenda (that complaint is only partially true: a good amount of online censorship, like growing law enforcement domestic monitoring generally, focuses on all anti-establishment ideologies, not just the right-wing variant). This editorial censoring, many Republicans insisted, rendered the tech companies Section 230 immunity obsolete, since they are now acting as publishers rather than mere neutral transmitters of information. Some Republicans did join with Democrats in demanding greater censorship, though typically in the name of protecting children from mental health disorders and predators rather than ideological conformity.

As they have done in prior hearings, both Zuckerberg and Pichai spoke like the super-scripted, programmed automatons that they are, eager to please their Congressional overseers (though they did periodically issue what should have been unnecessary warnings that excessive content moderation can cripple free political discourse). Dorsey, by contrast, seemed at the end of his line of patience and tolerance for vapid, moronic censorship demands, and  sitting in a kitchen in front of a pile of plates and glasses  he, refreshingly, barely bothered to hide that indifference. At one point, he flatly stated in response to demands that Twitter do more to remove disinformation: I don't think we should be the arbiters of truth and I don't think the government should be either.

Zuckerberg in particular has minimal capacity to communicate the way human beings naturally do. The Facebook CEO was obviously instructed by a team of public speaking consultants that it is customary to address members of the Committee as Congressman or Congresswoman. He thus began literally every answer he gave  even in rapid back and forth questions  with that word. He just refused to move his mouth without doing that  for five hours (though, in fairness, the questioning of Zuckerberg was often absurd and unreasonable). His brain permits no discretion to deviate from his script no matter how appropriate. For every question directed to him, he paused for several seconds, had his internal algorithms search for the relevant place in the metaphorical cassette inserted in a hidden box in his back, uttered the word Congressman or Congresswoman, stopped for several more seconds to search for the next applicable spot in the spine-cassette, and then proceeded unblinkingly to recite the words slowly transmitted into his neurons. One could practically see the gears in his head painfully churning as the cassette rewound or fast-forwarded. This tortuous ritual likely consumed roughly thirty percent of the hearing time. Ive never seen members of Congress from across the ideological spectrum so united as they were by visceral contempt for Zuckerbergs non-human comportment:

But it is vital not to lose sight of how truly despotic hearings like this are. It is easy to overlook because we have become so accustomed to political leaders successfully demanding that social media companies censor the internet in accordance with their whims. Recall that Parler, at the time it was the most-downloaded app in the country, was removed in January from the Apple and Google Play Stores and then denied internet service by Amazon, only after two very prominent Democratic House members publicly demanded this. At the last pro-censorship hearing convened by Congress, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) explicitly declared that the Democrats grievance is not that these companies are censoring too much but rather not enough. One Democrat after the next at Thursdays hearing described all the content on the internet they want gone: or else. Many of them said this explicitly.

At one point toward the end of the hearing, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), in the context of the January 6 riot, actually suggested that the government should create a list of groups they unilaterally deem to be domestic terror organizations and then provide it to tech companies as guidance for what discussions they should track and remove: in other words, treat these groups the same was as ISIS and Al Qaeda.

Words cannot convey how chilling and authoritarian this all is: watching government officials, hour after hour, demand censorship of political speech and threaten punishment for failures to obey. As I detailed last month, the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that the state violates the First Amendments free speech guarantee when they coerce private actors to censor for them  exactly the tyrannical goal to which these hearings are singularly devoted.

There are genuine problems posed by Silicon Valley monopoly power. Monopolies are a threat to both political freedom and competition, which is why economists of most ideological persuasions have long urged the need to prevent them. There is some encouraging legislation pending in Congress with bipartisan support (including in the House Antitrust Subcommittee before which I testified several weeks ago) that would make meaningful and productive strides toward diluting the unaccountable and undemocratic power these monopolies wield over our political and cultural lives. If these hearings were about substantively considering those antitrust measures, they would be meritorious.

But that is hard and difficult work and that is not what these hearings are about. They want the worst of all worlds: to maintain Silicon Valley monopoly power but transfer the immense, menacing power to police our discourse from those companies into the hands of the Democratic-controlled Congress and Executive Branch.

And as I have repeatedly documented, it is not just Democratic politicians agitating for greater political censorship but also their liberal journalistic allies, who cannot tolerate that there may be any places on the internet that they cannot control. That is the petty wannabe-despot mentality that has driven them to police the unfettered discussions on the relatively new conversation app Clubhouse, and escalate their attempts to have writers they dislike removed from Substack. Just today, The New York Times warns, on its front page, that there are unfiltered discussions taking place on Google-enabled podcasts:

New York Times front page, Mar. 26, 2021

We are taught from childhood that a defining hallmark of repressive regimes is that political officials wield power to silence ideas and people they dislike, and that, conversely, what makes the U.S. a free society is the guarantee that American leaders are barred from doing so. It is impossible to reconcile that claim with what happened in that House hearing room over the course of five hours on Thursday.
Vallarta Living



Puerto Vallarta Inspired Living: The Heavenly Siesta



On this side of the border it's called a "siesta," that time-honored snooze after a heavy lunch. On the other side of the border it has a different name: "the power nap" - no matter which name you choose, it's a great way to recharge. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Learning about la Siesta was one of our favorite lessons when we arrived in Puerto Vallarta many years ago. With the coming warmer months, we will schedule this activity as mandatory, in a binding contract with our very own selves, knowing full well the pup is willing to sign on, as well.



As it's well known that "only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun," we've taken the sensible position of how important a power nap is to one's existence, man or beast. One does not need to become slave to one's own aspirations in order to sustain grand achievements. Relaxation is endemic among the successful. Several reports indicate that those who nap have less risk of heart attack and maintain better health.



Famous nappers have included Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Thomas Edison and Napoleon. The eccentric Spanish artist, Salvador Dali had his siesta perfected, as did Einstein, with a method taught by Capuchin monks, in which sleep in limited to the amount of time it takes to drop a key on a brass plate. Though we recommend a longer duration, this was a technique that not only restored energy, but also rejuvenated the creative process. One sits in a chair and holds a key between thumb and forefinger, sits back in a relaxing manner and awakes with a start to the sound of clang on metal. One second is apparently sufficient. We prefer a hammock in the shade, after a cheerful shot of tequila.



Studies have shown that Mexicans and Japanese are the hardest working cultures, putting to bed the image of a large belly under a sombrero sleeping beneath a cactus. Therefore, the siesta should never be viewed as a symbol of laziness, but one of intelligent and healthy behavior.



The siesta has been around since the beginning of time, when smart people who live in hot climates, such as Puerto Vallarta, sleep through the hottest part of the day and eat a light dinner in the cool evening hours, after the sun's gone down.



The word "siesta" comes from the Latin hora sexta, which means the sixth hour. In a more reasonable era a day actually began at dawn, making the sixth hour noon, a perfect time to rest and collect one's thoughts, following what should be the grandest meal of the day.



Practiced in the Mediterranean and the South of Europe (called "riposo" in Italy), as well as the Philippines and much of Latin America, it is common for businesses to close, giving both proprietors and customers a chance to stay at home, have a long and hearty lunch, and a well deserved rest. Siesta is not limited to countries with warm climates; many locations in South America, such as Patagonia, make it a practice.



When homeostatic sleep and circadian rhythms, the subjects of sleep, are the topic of talk shows and scientific studies, we know we have made the correct choice of living in the paradise we find in Puerto Vallarta. Que es como es.



The number one selling and listing agency in the greater Bay of Banderas region since 2011, Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the city's Romantic Zone. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate and, with 5 sales offices around the bay, we know our communities well. If you are looking to sell or purchase a property in the Banderas Bay area, download their



Click HERE to learn more about Timothy Real Estate Group - Learning aboutwas one of our favorite lessons when we arrived in Puerto Vallarta many years ago. With the coming warmer months, we will schedule this activity as mandatory, in a binding contract with our very own selves, knowing full well the pup is willing to sign on, as well.As it's well known that "only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun," we've taken the sensible position of how important a power nap is to one's existence, man or beast. One does not need to become slave to one's own aspirations in order to sustain grand achievements. Relaxation is endemic among the successful. Several reports indicate that those who nap have less risk of heart attack and maintain better health.Famous nappers have included Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Thomas Edison and Napoleon. The eccentric Spanish artist, Salvador Dali had his siesta perfected, as did Einstein, with a method taught by Capuchin monks, in which sleep in limited to the amount of time it takes to drop a key on a brass plate. Though we recommend a longer duration, this was a technique that not only restored energy, but also rejuvenated the creative process. One sits in a chair and holds a key between thumb and forefinger, sits back in a relaxing manner and awakes with a start to the sound of clang on metal. One second is apparently sufficient. We prefer a hammock in the shade, after a cheerful shot of tequila.Studies have shown that Mexicans and Japanese are the hardest working cultures, putting to bed the image of a large belly under a sombrero sleeping beneath a cactus. Therefore, the siesta should never be viewed as a symbol of laziness, but one of intelligent and healthy behavior.The siesta has been around since the beginning of time, when smart people who live in hot climates, such as Puerto Vallarta, sleep through the hottest part of the day and eat a light dinner in the cool evening hours, after the sun's gone down.The word "siesta" comes from the Latinwhich means the sixth hour. In a more reasonable era a day actually began at dawn, making the sixth hour noon, a perfect time to rest and collect one's thoughts, following what should be the grandest meal of the day.Practiced in the Mediterranean and the South of Europe (calledin Italy), as well as the Philippines and much of Latin America, it is common for businesses to close, giving both proprietors and customers a chance to stay at home, have a long and hearty lunch, and a well deserved rest. Siesta is not limited to countries with warm climates; many locations in South America, such as Patagonia, make it a practice.When homeostatic sleep and circadian rhythms, the subjects of sleep, are the topic of talk shows and scientific studies, we know we have made the correct choice of living in the paradise we find in Puerto Vallarta.The number one selling and listing agency in the greater Bay of Banderas region since 2011, Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the city's Romantic Zone. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate and, with 5 sales offices around the bay, we know our communities well. If you are looking to sell or purchase a property in the Banderas Bay area, download their Free Real Estate Buyer and Seller's Guides to learn more, then contact one of the Timothy Real Estate Group agents for the best experience in Puerto Vallarta real estate. For more information, visit TimothyRealEstateGroup.com.



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Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany is joining Fox News' Outnumbered as a full-time co-host.

The network announced McEnany's new appointment in a press release on Tuesday, saying that beginning April 6, the newly minted presenter will appear alongside Outnumbered's founding anchor Harris Faulkner, co-host Emily Compagno, and a series of rotating panelists.

The move comes just weeks after McEnany, 32, joined Fox News as an on-air political commentator, appearing on Fox & Friends, America Reports and The Five.

Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany is joining Fox News' Outnumbered as a co-host

McEnany will appear alongside Outnumbered's founding anchor Harris Faulkner (center), co-host Emily Compagno (far right), and a series of rotating panelists

Prior to that, McEnany served 10 months as press secretary in the administration of President Donald Trump.

'I am thrilled to join the incredible women of Outnumbered and look forward to working alongside the talented Harris Faulkner and Emily Compagno as we discuss the top issues impacting the country,' McEnany said in a statement released by the network.

In making the announcement, Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott invoked McEnany's 'unique background in politics and law,' along with her experience as a new mother.

'We are delighted to welcome her back to FOX News where she began her media career,' Scott stated.

The move comes just weeks after McEnany, 32, joined Fox News as an on-air political commentator (pictured during an appearance on Fox Business)

McEnany served 10 months as press secretary in the administration of President Donald Trump (pictured together in September 2020)

According to Nielsen Media Research data, as cited by the network, Outnumbered is the most watched cable news program in its 12-1pm timeslot and has also nearly doubled its viewership since premiering in 2014.

McEnany is following in the footsteps of other Trump White House alumni, including former economic adviser Larry Kudlow, who launched a daily show on Fox Business last month, and the ex-president's daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who made her first appearance as a paid contributor on Fox & Friends on Monday.

McEnany began her media career as an intern at Fox News and later became a production assistant before entering Harvard Law School. She also holds a degree in international politics from Georgetown Universitys School of Foreign Affairs and studied politics and international relations at Oxford University, St. Edmund Hall.

In the run-up to the 2016 election, McEnany worked as a political analyst for CNN and was critical of then-candidate Trump.

Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump made her inaugural appearance as a paid contributor on Fox News on Monday

Former Trump economic economic adviser Larry Kudlow, who launched a daily show on Fox Business last month

But after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, McEnany became a fierce supporter of the 45th president of the United States and was tapped to become national spokesperson for the Republican National Committee the next year.

After working for President Trump's re-election campaign, she was hired as White House press secretary in April 2020, replacing Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

She got her start in politics as an intern for former Rep. Adam Putnam, a Republican from Florida, and later, in the White House Office of Media Affairs during President George W. Bushs administration.
Students in South Carolina public schools will still take springtime standardized tests this year, but families concerned about COVID-19 safety can choose to opt out.

State Superintendent Molly Spearman announced Monday that the federal government denied a request from the S.C. Department of Education to suspend this year's statewide assessments, including the South Carolina College-and Career-Ready Assessments (SC Ready), the South Carolina Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS) and high school end-of-course examinations.

"I am very disappointed," Spearman said during the Monday media briefing.

Although schools will have to administer the tests, there will be no penalty for students, teachers, schools or school districts if families decide to skip them this year.

Some families who have remained in all-virtual schooling this year may not wish to send their children to in-person exams as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the area, SCDE officials noted in the media briefing.

"If a family believes it is unsafe for their child to attend school in person to take assessments, the SCDE and school districts will not require them to do so," reads press release from SCDE.

Typically, schools are federally required to test 95% of students, but the U.S. Department of Education approved a waiver that suspends that requirement and other accountability measures, according to the SCDE.

This year's assessments will not affect teacher evaluations, SCDE officials said.

SCDE officials said students statewide have experienced learning loss this year, leading many districts to begin allocating federal COVID-19 relief funds for summer academic programs, after-school programs and other resources. School districts have been using students' existing interim test results to address learning loss, Spearman said Monday.

Such is the case in Aiken County, where the school district is putting more than $9.8 million in federal funds toward three years' worth of summer academic recovery programs.

In a press release, Spearman argued using a series of easily administered interim tests instead of federally required assessments would have provided immediate, student-centered results to drive instruction and deploy resources for any struggling learners.

"Unfortunately, as so often happens, Washington D.C. thinks they know best, and now educators and students will be forced to spend an inordinate amount of time preparing, administering and taking tests whose results won't be known for months, when they should be focused closing academic gaps and addressing the social and emotional needs of our students who have had the most stressful academic year ever," Spearman said in the press release.

The Palmetto State Teachers Association released a statement Monday voicing disappointment at the Biden administration, citing increased stress and a need for uninterrupted instructional time as some of the reasons for canceling the assessments.

"A small minority in our state will claim the federal governments action is a victory for the students of South Carolina. This position is well intentioned but misguided. As every educator knows, the tests administered this spring will be high stakes, high stress and highly disruptive of instruction," reads PSTA's statement.
MBABANE  Some ex-politicians are of the view that senators should not interfere with what happens in the House of Assembly.

This follows utterances made in particular by Senator Moi Moi Masilela, who stated that Members of Parliament (MPs) were playing political games and did not behave as if they were in a country, but instead in a drinking hall. However, some former politicians have stated that the senators should stick to their mandate. One of the former politicians, who spoke on the role of the senators, was former Senator Mbho Shongwe. Shongwe said Parliament was formed by the two upper and lower Houses.

He said the upper House was one of the two chambers which was occupied by the senators and was usually smaller and often had more restricted power than the lower house. He said the chambers were not supposed to interfere with the others businesses, especially on issues dealing with the appropriation Bill as they had no power over the budget when compared to the House of Assembly. Instead if they have any issues which they wish to raise, they can do so through a motion in their chamber and these are issues which they believe greatly affect the operations of the country, said Shongwe. He said senators represented mainly what was national policy to ensure that the Executive arm of government did things which would benefit the entire nation. Shongwe said in the House of Assembly, the MPs normally had their own views as they were people chosen at tinkhundla level where they could come with very diverse ideas.

Whatever senators do, they must implement it through their own motions and not engage in the other House business, he said. He stated that the only time that the two chambers should interact must be during a joint sitting, which normally occurred if the chambers disagreed on the Bill. He said statements made by Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza about the changing of the system were correct in that Parliament had the power to amend the Constitution just like it was done in 1973 when King Sobhuza II issued a decree which eventually introduced the Tinkhundla System of Governance.

Anonymity

Another former senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the current Senate had been offside to discuss the operations of the House of Assembly. They have no business talking about what MPs are doing in their line of duty and if they have concerns, they should privately raise them with their presiding officer, said the former legislator.


MASON CITY, Iowa  A Clear Lake man is pleading not guilty to multiple burglaries to start 2021.

Richard Dale Sigler, 54 of Clear Lake, is charged with ongoing criminal conduct, second-degree burglary, three counts of third-degree burglary, and two counts of assault while participating in a felony.

Investigators say Sigler committed several burglaries from late January to early February until a resident finally caught him breaking into an attached garage. Police say Sigler tried to run away and had to hit two people in the head with a screwdriver before being able to escape. Sigler also allegedly bit someone in the arm and would not let go.

His trial is now scheduled to begin on May 25.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  Most of us grew up being taught to brush at least two times a day and have been convinced that if we only follow that simple rule we learned from preschool, our oral health is already well taken care of.

Yet as years went by, we experienced toothache and tooth loss due to plaque and gum diseases, as well as incessant bad breath. Others were not so fortunate because oral problems caused systemic diseases that led to other illnesses in their bodies. All of these happened because apparently, we relied on brushing alone.

The truth is that brushing alone only reaches 25 percent of your mouth, according to a University of Glasgow study published in 1991. Brushing only cleans our teeth, right? But we have a lot of bacteria in other parts of our mouth like below the gum line and the tongue especially, Dr. Ashita Bhatia, Oral Care Scientist at Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health unit told the viewers of CNN Philippines MedTalk.

So thats where a mouthwash can help because it can clean your entire mouth and it can kill the bacteria in the full mouth, and thats the important thing, she said.

So how long should one swish to fully clean the mouth? Mouthwash brands have different recommendations, usually indicated at the back of their bottles. But for Johnson & Johnsons mouthwash product Listerine, Bhatia said it is twice a day for 30 seconds to reach its deep-clean effectiveness. Usually once in the morning and once in the night, after you brushed your teeth, the oral care scientist recommended.

When choosing a mouthwash, it is also important to do your research on which of the oral care products in the market that have certain ingredients are fit for you. You should look for a mouthwash that has proven its efficacy in clinical studies and that the ingredients such as fluoride, essential oils, and zinc chloride that can give you the benefits that you need, Bhatia said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Alvin Laxamana, president of the Philippine Dental Association, reminded that apart from using mouthwash and brushing, flossing and regular visits to the dentist twice a year will also help in achieving holistic dental health.

You have to see your dentist," he said. "Dont be afraid of dentists. These procedures are essential for us to give you a beautiful smile.

Laxamana also pointed out that brushing should be done twice a day within two minutes. If you want your oral health to be optimum, you can adjunct this with dental floss and mouth rinses, he said.

Watch the full interview here:

The Listerine mouthwash is a unique formulation to fight plaque, gum problems, and bad breath. Check out Listerine mouthwash products at www.listerine.com.ph and shop at Lazada, Shopee, Watsons and Zalora.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
Seguin, Texas (78155)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 64F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 64F. Winds light and variable.
Pollster, the Malawi Electoral Commission says polling in some areas has to go on despite political violence.

MEC chairperson Chifundo Kachale has since decried violent acts in some constituencies where the electoral body is conducting by-elections.

He made the remarks at St Anthony Polling Station in Lilongwe Msinja where he confirmed that Mec has received reports of some violent acts in some constituencies.

Kachale said the electoral body has been briefed of an incident in Lilongwe Msinja Constituency where some people blocked some roads to polling centres.

He nonetheless expressed satisfaction with the turnout of voters in most polling centres.

Voting stopped for over an hour at Chilumba School in Chikhwawa following disagreements arising from accusations that some people are blocking people who want to go and vote.

Commissioner Arthur Nanthuru visited the centre to quell the situation.

Nanthuru said the disagreements do not warrant suspending the polling, saying voting should continue.

UDF candidate protest

Meanwhile, UDF candidate for Chikwawa East Constituency, Rodrick Khumbanyiwa, says he has written MEC informing the electoral body that some candidates continued to campaign after the official close of the campaign period.

He also said supporters of other political parties smashed a vehicle which was going round airing campaign messages for his candidacy.

Khumbanyiwa said this today when he cast his vote at Mitondo Primary School Polling Centre.

However when asked, MEC Commissioner Jean Mathanga said the electoral body had not yet received such a complaint.

She said this yesterday when she briefed the District Elections Supervisory Team (Dest) on poling management.
Were proud to have once again achieved Acumatica certification for our payment integration, said Mo Elhanafy, CTO/VP of Software Engineering at Century Business Solutions.

EBizCharge, an integrated payment solution developed by leading provider Century Business Solutions, has achieved distinction as an Acumatica Certified Application (ACA) for Acumatica ERP 2021 R1.

Acumatica, a comprehensive, browser-based cloud ERP solution optimized for ease of use, adaptability, speed, and security, offers a full suite of business management applications and serves customers around the world. The ACA title highlights outstanding development partners whose applications have met the highest standards for integration and functionality, as set and upheld by Acumatica.

As an Acumatica Certified Application, EBizCharge demonstrates commitment to quality and seamless integration by passing the Acumatica software test and aligning to future Acumatica roadmap releases.

Were proud to have once again achieved Acumatica certification for our payment integration, said Mo Elhanafy, CTO/VP of Software Engineering at Century Business Solutions. As a company, were committed to continually improving our products to meet customers ever-changing needs and deliver an unparalleled payment processing experience. Were excited to work alongside Acumatica to provide cutting-edge solutions to customers.

The Acumatica 2021 R1 release includes updates that allow users to work smarter, not harder, enable growth through best-in-class functionality, and enjoy the benefits of future-proof technology. The EBizCharge payment integration supports these capabilities by providing simple payment processing solutions that streamline merchants workflows and save them time.

EBizCharge installation is quick and straightforward, enabling Acumatica users to begin experiencing the payment integrations cost effectiveness and robust functionality benefits immediately. EBizCharge is designed to address todays challenges in the payment space so that businesses can focus their resources on the future.

About Century Business Solutions:

Century Business Solutions is an all-in-one payment solution that provides payment processing technology to over 30,000 merchants in the U.S. and Canada. In 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, Century was ranked on the annual Inc. 5000 list honoring the nations fastest-growing private companies. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, Century was also awarded the Silver Stevie Award for Payment Product and Service of the Year by the American Business Awards, the worlds largest premier business award. Century develops fully integrated payment processing solutions for over 100 major ERP, CRM, and accounting systems. For more information, visit https://www.centurybizsolutions.net or https://www.ebizcharge.com

About Acumatica:

Acumatica provides cloud-based business management software that enables small and mid-size companies to accelerate their businesses. Built on cloud and mobile technology and a unique customer-centric licensing model, Acumatica delivers a suite of fully integrated business management applications, such as Financials, Distribution, CRM, and Project Accounting, on a robust and flexible platform. For more information, visit http://www.acumatica.com

Before venturing onto Highway 281, driving along Hildebrand, you may develop the impression that clans of cartoonishly colorful cryptids have taken residence on the outskirts of Brackenridge Park. As someone easily distracted while driving, I first sighted these creatures earlier this month, and ever since, their existence has proven to be a thing of whimsical obsession. Initially, I assumed divinity was at play, and the dragons had descended upon us to ring in a new era in the geological time-scale. I had made peace with that. But after a little digging, I learned of their animatronic origins, their passionate keepers, and a little bit about why the dragon legend endures.

On Friday, following much anticipation, I was finally able to don my finest medieval wench attire and venture through the Dragon Forest, the latest attraction courtesy of the San Antonio Zoo, featuring 15 mythic beasts, hula-hoopers, falconers, and food. And reader, I have lived to tell the tale  with nary a dragon causal injury. Well, barring a slight headache from the signature drink of the forest, Dragons Blood  an infectiously scarlet cocktail, containing Fireball and cranberry juice, complete with a chamoy rim, because despite the fairytale, we are still in San Antonio.

Upon entering the wooded premises, located behind the Zoo parking garage, I was immediately greeted by a sense of enchantment, locking eyes with one of the scaled beasts, the Ninki Nanka, with the armor of a pangolin and the stretched neck of a giraffe. Continuing down the path, with the smell of funnel cake and Medieval lute music in the air, I encountered many other creatures of a different sort. Notably, a towering, popsicle-hued Water Dragon, with rubbery Octopus skin and water dribbling down its whiskers, and the Cockatrice, a giant fuzzy rooster with leathery wings and the dagger-like tale of a manta-ray. Not to mention, a serpentine Central American dragon, named after the Aztec deity, Quetzalcoatl.

Upon entering the food and stage area, I soon realized that other than the costumed employees, I was one of the few to actually dress as a true wench for the festivities. Many of the Dragon Forest patrons were indeed children, but there were plenty of adults enjoying the drinks, Bavarian pretzels, and the falconry demonstration, which additionally included the stylings of a man in a vest and his partner, a vulture named Ziggy  who was surprisingly adept at aerial acrobatics.

Though they arent the real thing, theres still something thrilling about witnessing animatronic dragons in the flesh, perhaps due in part to the sense of wonder they inspire in all, by exciting kids and returning even the most cynical adults to their childhood, or Game of Thrones phase. Walking amongst them, staining my teeth while sipping Dragons Blood, marveling at the hula-hoop artists and Ziggy, I was left with a burning desire to know more about this strange new Renaissance-themed world around me, the origins of the mythic beasts most of all. I wondered why it is that dragons persist in the cultural consciousness, and how these legends first came to be. For more answers, I turned to the guides.

Dragons are as real as you want them to be, said resident Dragonologist' Nathaniel Marek. Being suspicious of why a zoo might want to suddenly embrace cryptids, I asked Marek to confirm that the inspiration for these particular dragons' was drawn not only from international mythology, but also the natural world.

We wanted to be able to make the connection that dragons are cool, but they are based off of these equally awesome animals that you can help us save and conserve, said Merek, wearing a face mask adorned with the fire breathing creatures  courtesy of his grandmother.

It follows that the zoo would want to hybridize their mythical creatures to educate the public about animal life, but it took chats with two more on-site experts to understand why dragon lore first emerged, enshrouded in the romance of fire and ash, hundreds of thousands of years ago.

There's this theory that we all inherit this instinct, and that the dragon is an archetype or mosaic of all the things that hunted and fed on our early human ancestors  big snakes, eagles, leopards  it was easier to combine all these dangers into one, said Ken Gerhard, who in his free time specializes in Cryptozoology, the study of unknown, disputed, creatures.

Camille Sauers for MySA

Thats what a cultural anthropologist would say, said Wes Copas, a fellow guide and Anthropology professor at San Antonio College.

It's pretty much inevitable that people in the Americas would find fossils weathering out of the rocks, not just here but everywhere around the world, and there are certain features of those fossils that could easily lead to them constructing a draconic image, and that could easily lead into these kind of legends, Copas continued, You give that kind of construct a couple of generations and it becomes reality.

Yet, 16 to 20 thousand years later, we stand in the Dragon Forest, surrounded by manifestations of these legends, in a time where common threats to humanity have largely shifted from apex predators to things like nuclear war, environmental crisis, and global plague. Perhaps we still carry bits of our primal brains tucked away with us, and the Dragon mythos still captures these innate fears and intuitions. Maybe these beasts, through their amalgamation of traits, are now symbols of these newer dangers that we now anticipate  fear being the throughline connecting us to our ancient past.

Camille Sauers for MySA

But my overall impression, after experiencing my off the highway dragons for myself, is that they mostly just grant us something crucial in our modern world  fun. Seeing something so amusing and frivolous looking given the respect of a life-size monument, the sort we usually erect for stuffy historical figures, just feels right.

With respect to our fearful ancestors, it's not hard to imagine how this contemporary dragon clan could be a temporary antidote to any condition, material or biological, colored by low serotonin levels. In modern life, dragons offer us something joyful, and something light. If youre looking for an adventure, or a distraction, perhaps the dragon forest will provide a path.

The Dragon Forest will be open to visitors in San Antonio through the end of October.Tickets are $ 10 dollars, $ 8 for members. Admission to the San Antonio Zoo is separate. For more ticket information, visit the Zoos website.

Camille Sauers is a freelance writer based in San Antonio. Find her on Twitter @camillesaccount. Send her emails to camillefrancissauers@gmail.com.
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COMPLICATIONS around the late Genius Ginimbi Kadungures estate have assumed a new dimension, with prominent businesswoman Zodwa Mkandla demanding that a Bentley Continental GT hidden in South Africa be surrendered.

The car is believed to be under the custody of Ginimbis long-time friend, Nomatter Zinyengere in South Africa and Zodwa wants it registered with the Master of High Court as required in terms of the Administration of Estates Act and surrendered to the Executor.

Zodwa bought the car from the UK in 2013, while Ginimbi paid for duty in Zimbabwe. Last week, Zodwas legal team, Venturas and Samkange wrote to Zinyengeres lawyers, Shomwe-Nyakuedza Attorneys with the demand.

Our client instructs us that sometime in October 2013, she bought a Bentley Continental GT from the United Kingdom under the name Traverze Travel.

Same was delivered through the Plumtree border post and the late (Ginimbi) was authorised to collect it. The motor vehicle at the time of the deceaseds passing on was in South Africa under his custody. This vehicle would be used by the late (Ginimbi) and our client (Zodwa) whenever in South Africa on business or leisure trips.

We are further instructed that the motor vehicle is currently in the custody of Nomatter Zinyengere, who is your client. The car has not been registered with the Master of High Court as required in terms of the Administration of Estates Act.

Our instructions are, to demand as we hereby do, that the motor vehicle be surren[1]dered to the Executor dative so that it forms part of the deceased estate since he (Ginimbi) had been authorised to put the car in his name.

May the request be complied with within five days of receipt of this letter failing which further instructions are to approach the relevant authorities, reads the letter.

Zodwa told H-Metro that all she wants is for Ginimbis properties to be fully accounted for amid claims that the Bentley is now being kept away from the public.

I am not even expecting anything from this, Im not greedy, I have my own things. But what I want is for people to do the honourable thing and surrender all the things that belonged to Genius and have to be registered in his estate.

Everyone knows that I bought that car and because it was registered by Genius, it should be part of his estate, no two ways about it.

People think that the cars that Genius left and all the other things are his net worth not realising that there are some huge bills that are outstanding and would need to be cleared first.

That is why everything that Genius left must be included in the estate and outstanding bills are settled before anyone can benefit. People, including his friends, should not hurry to lay claim to any of his properties before due processes.

We know he had businesses in South Africa, vehicles for those businesses, bank accounts and so forth and all those have to be accounted for and included in his estate.

She availed proof in form of all the paperwork from the purchase of the vehicle in the UK to the shipping from Southampton to Walvis Bay in Namibia and all documents bear the name Traverze Travel. Zodwa also dismissed claims that the Bentley might have been sold while Ginimbi was still alive.

There is nothing that happened with Genius, with regards his businesses, that he would not inform me and, especially that car given that I am the one who bought it. H Metro
A Co Down pensioner has written a book bringing together some of the legends of the Mournes.

Cathal O'Baoill from Newcastle has penned Rurai: Red Beach, a collection of 10 ancient legends associated with the majestic mountains.

"It can be argued that all of these stories happened within a couple of miles of deepest, darkest Newcastle," said Cathal, who turned 80 in January.

"One of the stories reveals the origin of another name for Slieve Donard - Sliabh Slaigne - and tells the tale of a hero who came here from Egypt 2,000 years ago with his father and brother.

"That's according to one source, of course.

"While another says they arrived in Waterford, and a different one again says they landed in Donegal.

"But, as anyone with any sense knows, they definitely came here to Newcastle."

Expand Close A drawing from the book by Cathal and Norah's daughter Eilis, who is an illustrator / Facebook

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Whatsapp A drawing from the book by Cathal and Norah's daughter Eilis, who is an illustrator

The name of his book, which he worked on along with illustrator daughter Eilis O Baoill and son Sean Paul, was inspired by Slaigne's brother Rurai.

"Rurai was the younger brother of Slaigne," he said. "And as the brothers and their father approached the shoreline at the foot of the Mournes in their boat, the brothers fell out about who would own the land.

"Their father told them whoever was first to put a hand on the shore will own it - and the brothers began to race. Rurai took off faster than his brother, but Slaigne then took the lead.

"In his desperation to win, the younger brother chopped his hand off and threw it on the beach, where it bled. It's a wonderful story, and brought lovely links with it. Rua means red in Irish, and Tra means beach, so it's one of the stories connected to the name Rory, and of course it's where the Red Beach in Newcastle comes from too."

As well as writing the stories in Irish, grandfather-of-15 Cathal has translated the collection into English.

"I suppose writing a book was a good thing to do over the past year - an interesting reaction to disaster," he said.

"But I thought it was as good a time as any. There are lots of people out there shouting for a united Ireland at the minute, as there have been for years. But if that happens, I wonder what will be achieved. Will there be a reverse of what people see as dominance, and one community will take precedence over another? What is the point of that?

"The point behind these stories is to illustrate that this place belongs to all of us, and that all of us belong here. There has been movement in and out of this island for thousands of years, and these wonderful stories make the point. There are no strangers here and the stories belong to all of us."

As an Armagh native, the retired music teacher says if a "blow-in" like him can take ownership of Co Down stories, then no one should be made to feel like an outsider.

"I moved to Newcastle with my wife Norah in 1966. Before that we'd taught in Tyrone and lived in Nigeria for a time, but we had to come home when war broke out there," he said.

"So I'm a blow-in to Newcastle, like everyone in Ireland, and I think that's the point. All of us is a blow-in from somewhere."

Daughter Eilis, who also lives in Newcastle, says she has loved seeing the stories come to life in the book, which is available on Amazon.

"It's been a really joyful experience," said the mum-of-two.

"These stories have been around us for years, and it's so lovely to have them come together like this.

"In the last exhibition I did before the lockdown, which showed in the Glass Gallery in Newcastle, I did a series of copper repousse pieces around the Rurai story, and when my brother Sean Paul suggested we pull the stories all together and make them more widely accessible, I was delighted to do it."
The equity benchmarks extended early gains and hit fresh intraday high in morning trade. Asian equity markets climbed on optimism that vaccines might allow business and travel to return to normal. The Nifty crossed the 14,750 mark. Barring the Nifty Realty index, all other sectoral indices on the NSE traded in the green.

At 10:28 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, surged 789.33 points or 1.61% at 49,797.55. The Nifty 50 index was up 244.65 points or 1.69% at 14,751.65.

In broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 1.12% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.95%.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On the BSE, 1620 shares rose and 1340 shares fell. A total of 175 shares were unchanged.

COVID-19 Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 127,581,652 with 2,791,072 deaths. India reported 540,720 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 162,114 deaths while 113,93,021 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

India saw 68,020 new coronavirus cases in a span of 24 hours on Monday, the highest single-day rise so far this year, taking the country's COVID-19 tally to above 1.20 crore, according to Union Health Ministry data. Registering a steady increase for the 19th day in a row, the active cases have increased to 5,21,808, which comprise 4.33% of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 94.32%, the data stated.

Maharashtra on Monday added 31,643 fresh infections, but the lower tally was attributed to reduced testing because of Holi. The state has recorded close to six lakh cases this month and registered over 2,100 deaths. State officials said that for now, local trains will continue to run but fresh restrictions will be introduced to reduce overcrowding at restaurants, malls, public places, private offices and pubs.

Politics:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address election rally in Puducherry today, 30 March 2021 to seek support for the NDA in the union territory.

All eyes will be on outcome of state assembly elections. Polls are to be held for 294 seats in West Bengal, 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, 140 seats in Kerala, 126 seats in Assam and 30 seats in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The eight-phase election in West Bengal which began from March 27 will continue till April 29. Elections in Kerala will be held in a single phase on April 6. Puducherry will vote in a single phase on April 6.

Elections in Tamil Nadu will be held in a single phase on April 6. Assam will vote in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6. The counting of votes for all states will be held on May 2 and the results will be declared the same day.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Metal index jumped 3.25% to 3,980.70, rising for third trading session. The index surged 7% in three trading days.

Steel Authority of India (up 4.04%), JSW Steel (up 3.8%), Tata Steel (up 3.53%), Jindal Steel & Power (up 3.42%), NMDC (up 3.12%), National Aluminium Company (up 2.23%), Coal India (up 1.85%), Hindustan Zinc (up 1.15%), Hindalco Industries (up 0.89%) and Vedanta (up 0.49%) advanced.

New Listing:

Shares of Nazara Technologies were trading at Rs 1783.70 at 10:13 IST on the BSE, a premium of 62.01% over the initial public offer (IPO) price of Rs 1101. The stock was listed at Rs 1971, a premium of 79.02% to the IPO price. So far, the stock hit a high of Rs 1729.10 and low of Rs 2026.90. On the BSE, 2.63 lakh shares were traded on the counter so far.

The IPO of Nazara Technologies received bids for 51.25 crore shares as against 29.20 lakh shares on offer, according to the stock exchange data. The issue was subscribed 175.46 times. The issue opened for bidding on 17 March 2021 and closed on 19 March 2021. The price band for the IPO was set at Rs 1100-1101 per share.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Adani Transmission (ATL) rose 2.75% to Rs 892.95 after the company said it has signed definitive agreements with Essel Infraprojects (EIL) for the acquisition of Warora-Kurnool Transmission (WKTL). ATL's acquisition values the enterprise valuation of the target at Rs 3,370 crore. WKTL will develop, operate and maintain transmission system aggregating to about 1,750 ckt km in Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and a 765/400 kV substation at Warangal.

Minda Industries jumped 3.39% to Rs 560 after the company's board approved expansion in four wheel lighting and alloy wheel businesses. The company said the capacity expansion is undertaken considering the improved market scenario and increased demand, wherein the said businesses have been operating at near capacity. The expanded facilities are expected to commence operations by quarter ending March 2022 and expected to stabilize by June 2022.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

LONDON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Farming rewards have begun for UMBR holders depositing into the Umbria Farm.

Currently, approximately 1 UMBR token is minted per minute; a share of which is distributed to anyone who has staked their Uniswap ETH LP- UMBR tokens in the Farm (smart contract). Rewards for those depositing commenced on Saturday 27th March at block 12120000 and will continue for a further 50,000 blocks. The APY at time of writing is 1187%.[1]

The Umbria DeFi protocol, which uses cutting edge layer 2 technology, provides full flexibility on governance rewards given to holders with the amount minted per block easy to change and vary as many times as necessary. Umbria offers an improvement to the SushiSwap protocol by leveraging the next generation of DeFi technology - layer 2. Community members can make governance proposals on the Umbria Discord channel. As the project matures there will be full on chain governance so token holders will be able to vote on how many UMBR per block are minted for farming.

Anyone staking their ETH-UMBR LP tokens can unstake them at any time and the tokens

plus the Umbria rewards received will go back into their metamask wallet. Those that have added their LP tokens to the Umbria Farm will be included in the Umbria airdrop snapshot on April 15th and eligible to claim their free tokens on May 15th.

"Our code base provides more flexibility on governance and, specifically for yield farmers, more flexibility for token distribution than SushiSwap," said Barney Chambers, Co-lead developer at Umbria. "We're really excited by the progress of Umbria and the very positive response of our growing community."

See the latest price of UMBR on CoinMarketCap:

https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/umbria-network/news/

Head on over to our Discord channel or Telegram to find out more on the latest developments.

If you are interested in becoming an official Umbria Ambassador and earning additional UMBR please get in touch at [email protected] using the subject 'Brand Ambassador' in your email. You can also contact on the above channels as well as Twitter and Facebook.

About Umbria

https://umbria.network/

Umbria is a decentralized protocol, which enables DeFi (Decentralised Finance) applications on the Ethereum blockchain. It aims to demystify and simplify DeFi and get people earning income on their crypto. Using cutting edge-layer two technology developed by Polygon, Umbria is developing a suite of popular DeFi features at fractional on-chain cost of many current DeFi platforms with greater transaction speed (while maintaining all the cryptographic security provided by Ethereum).

Umbria is available on Uniswap and users can add liquidity to earn fees. A user of Umbria will soon be able to swap tokens and earn interest on their cryptocurrency positions on the Umbria website with other facilities coming online (via developers and community initiatives) which will utilise the Umbria protocol and its governance token. One of the initial features of Umbria is that it will allow users to deposit cryptocurrency as liquidity in AMM (automated market making) pools to earn fees from token swapping and earn additional Umbria as an incentive for providing liquidity. The Umbria governance token will also enable users in the network to take control over decision-making and have voting power over the development and governance of Umbria's protocol.

UK-publicly listed Online Blockchain plc (LSE:OBC) is acting as Umbria's coordinator, administrator and advisor.

[1] APY as of 5pm BST on March 29th

Contact Details:

Francesca De Franco

+44(0) 794 125 3135

[email protected]

SOURCE Online Blockchain plc

SCP certification demonstrates we are ready not only to go on this journey with our customers, but to guide them.

Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX) announced today that its North American Customer Support team has achieved certification under the prestigious Service Capability & Performance (SCP) Standards from Service Strategies. GHX achieved certification after an extensive audit of its Louisville Service Operation. The SCP Standards quantify the effectiveness of customer service and support operations based upon a stringent set of performance factors that represent best practices in the industry.

We strive to serve as an extension of our customers teams with an industry-leading support organization that continually advocates for our customers. Our mission became even more meaningful in the past year as we supported the healthcare community in their tireless battle with the COVID-19 pandemic, said Paul Feicht, senior vice president of Global Customer Operations for GHX. One of the silver linings of the pandemic has been an even greater alignment and partnership with our customers to help healthcare emerge stronger. SCP certification demonstrates we are ready not only to go on this journey with our customers, but to guide them.

SCP Standards are designed to improve the quality and effectiveness of technology service operations. SCP and a consortium of leading technology companies created the internationally recognized standards, which define best practices for delivering world-class technology service and support, quantify performance levels and establish a framework for continuous improvement. Certified companies must continue to demonstrate their performance and commitment to excellence through annual certification audits.

GHX demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the continuous improvement of service operations during their recent certification audit under the SCP Standards, said Greg Coleman, vice president of Strategic Programs for Service Strategies. GHX customers can be assured that the company is working hard to deliver an exceptional service experience. Attainment of certification under the SCP Standards helps to validate these efforts.

GHX joins the ranks of leading technology companies certified under the SCP Standards. Currently, more than two hundred service organizations around the world are using the SCP Standards to improve their business operations. These companies include industry leaders such as SS&C | Advent Software, Cloudera, Fresenius Kabi, Kongsberg Digital, McKesson Corporation, FujiFilm Medical Systems, and many others.

About Service Strategies Corporation

San Diego, CA based Service Strategies advances service excellence by providing training, consulting, certification and industry standards programs that ensure delivery of world-class customer service and support. Thousands of service professionals around the world have enhanced their skills through participation in the companys training and certification courses. In addition, the worlds leading service providers have adopted Service Strategies Service Capability & Performance (SCP) Standards as their roadmap to service excellence and benchmark measure of success. For more information, visit http://www.servicestrategies.com, call 858.674.4864 or email info@servicestrategies.com

About GHX

Building on decades of collaboration between providers, manufacturers, distributors and other industry stakeholders, Global Healthcare Exchange, LLC (GHX) is leading the charge in helping organizations run the new business of healthcare. By automating key business processes and translating evidence-based analytics and data into meaningful action, GHX is helping the healthcare ecosystem to move faster, operate more intelligently and achieve greater outcomes. With the support of GHX, healthcare organizations have removed billions of dollars of wasteful healthcare spend. For more information on GHXs suite of world-class, cloud-based supply chain solutions, visit http://www.ghx.com and The Healthcare Hub. GHX has also launched a COVID-19 Information Center that provides a wealth of free resources and access to data and information needed to help serve patients and protect staff during the pandemic.


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School district administrators in Paterson and the local teachers union are at odds over reopening classrooms on May 3.

The Paterson Education Association is asking the K-12 district to hold off on approving the plan until members of the union are given a tour of school buildings, which district officials said are being retrofitted with numerous safety measures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A vote on whether to proceed with the reopening plan is expected when the school board meets on Wednesday.

We arent saying no to reopening, the unions president, John McEntee, told NJ Advance Media on Monday.

We are saying that, before the board of education makes a decision on reopening, they need to give the union an opportunity to inspect their work, McEntee said.

Approximately 28,000 students in Paterson, the states third-largest city, have been relying on virtual instruction from home since schools across the state first closed in mid-March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic.

Paterson Superintendent Eileen Shafer is standing by the May 3 reopening date. In a statement from the school district Monday, Shafer discussed more than a half-dozen measures being taken to improve safety, including portable shields on student desks and air filters, and said the reason why the union is not being offered a tour until April 21 is because work remains ongoing.

If we could do walkthroughs sooner, we would. If we were ready today, we would open schools for in-person instruction and not wait until May 3rd, Shafer said.

Gov. Phil Murphy, who has been urging more New Jersey schools to return to classroom instruction, reportedly phoned three officials in Paterson  Shafer, McEntee and Mayor Andre Sayegh  on March 18, according to NorthJersey.com.

McEntee told NJ Advance Media it was a cordial conversation, in which Murphy mostly thanked teachers in Paterson for their hard work this year.

He didnt put the screws to me, McEntee said.

One day after the phone calls, the school district announced a special meeting would be held on March 31 and moved up the vote on the reopening plan, which had been scheduled for April 14.

John McEntee, president of the Paterson Education Association, speaking at a rally in 2016File photo

Asked about his outreach in Paterson, Murphys spokesperson, Alyana Alfaro, said, The Governor understands that there is no substitute for in-person learning and the administration continues to encourage districts to pursue in-person instruction as soon as it is safe to do so.

Paterson is among several urban school districts that have been unable to resume in-person instruction due to the coronavirus pandemic. Officials in Trenton said last month that students will not return to classrooms before May 3, the same tentative return date set by Paterson.

Newark and Jersey City have extended all-remote learning until April 12 and April 21, respectively. In Hillside, the school district announced in January that students will continue learning from home for the remainder of the school year.

The Paterson teachers union on Monday posted an open letter, addressed to Paterson parents and community leaders, detailing its concerns. It shared about a half-dozen photos showing roof and water damage, at John F. Kennedy High School, that were taken earlier this month.

For years, our schools have needed serious upgrades and basic repairs: HVAC systems are inadequate, classrooms and other common areas do not have functional windows or access to fresh air, and class sizes have forced too many people into spaces that simply are not conducive to optimal learning  not to mention the ongoing leaky roofs that contribute to an ongoing issue with exposure to mold, the union said in its open letter.

These issues were not good for Patersons students previously, but now that we are considering returning to school buildings while still fighting the COVID virus, it is unconscionable to leave anything to chance. When it comes to the health and safety of our Paterson community, we must get it right, the letter stated.

In response, district spokesperson Paul Brubaker said Monday night that the damage seen in the photos is being repaired and will be ready for the reopening of classrooms.

Shafer, in her statement, outlined safety improvements. All students will be issued tri-fold partitions to use on desks in classrooms, in cafeterias during lunch, and in other shared areas, with the partitions turned in at the end of every school day to be disinfected.

All rooms are being equipped with ionic air purifiers and, wherever possible, HVAC units will be upgraded to include the recommended, MERV-11 air filters, and additional efforts will be made to reduce air recirculation. Air purifying devices, known as air scrubbers, will be used in classrooms and rooms without windows.

The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority, and the districts administration and principals have been working hard to create safe environments in our school buildings according to the guidance and protocols of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the New Jersey Department of Health, the New Jersey Department of Education, and local public health authorities, Shafer said.

With the several layers of protection in place, I am confident everything will be in order for our school buildings to reopen on May 3rd, Shafer said.

The union, though, wants to see it for themselves.

The bottom line is that Patersons students and staff deserve nothing less than a safe environment when they return. Fast-tracking a reopening decision in the wake of political pressure instead of the science and data we have followed thus far is both unwise and unfair, read the unions letter.

Earlier this month, the Paterson school district marked one year since classrooms closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, with a nearly 10-minute retrospective video on persevering through hardship.

Towards A Promising Tomorrow: A Year Of Pandemic, features photos and videos of students, teachers, administrators, parents and others grappling with the educational impact of COVID-19.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.

Hong Kong: Officials welcome NPCSC's approval

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung, Financial Secretary Paul Chan and Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng welcomed the approval by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) of the amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law today.

In his statement, Mr Cheung said he strongly supports the amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law as it ensures that Hong Kong's electoral system can progress with wider representation and cope better with the city's actual situation, with a view to putting Hong Kong's political structure back on a firmer and more promising footing.

He noted that through improving Hong Kongs electoral system, the fundamental principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" can be fully implemented, national sovereignty, security and development interests can be fully protected and Hong Kong's constitutional order established according to the Constitution and the Basic Law can be fully safeguarded.

It will also restore order from chaos and ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems" and the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

As the electoral system is improved, Hong Kong can find its way out of a political swamp and create a stable social environment conducive to good governance, thereby enabling the Government to focus on developing the economy and improving people's livelihoods.

Mr Cheung believes that the executive authorities and the legislature can better interact and co-operate with each other, put aside their differences for the common good of the community, develop a cordial, close and constructive working relationship, and work smoothly together on a people-oriented policy vision to propel Hong Kong forward.

He said the Government will render full co-operation and strive to complete the amendments to the relevant local electoral laws in accordance with the amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law by introducing a bill to the Legislative Council as early as practicable. He will, together with the governing team and the civil service, make all-out efforts in explaining the amendments to the community.

Mr Chan and Ms Cheng also supported the passage of the amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law for improving Hong Kong's electoral system.

In his statement, the finance chief said through improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong SAR, the principle of patriots administering Hong Kong can be fully implemented with institutional safeguards and Hong Kongs political development can be back on track.

The executive authorities and the legislature can restore better interaction with Hong Kong's overall interests as the core consideration, which can play a pivotal role in maintaining the citys long-term prosperity and stability.

Mr Chan also said an improved electoral system will strengthen the executive-led political system and enhance the governance capability of the Hong Kong SAR Government, thereby enabling the community as a whole to focus on progressively resolving Hong Kongs deep-seated issues to allow sustained social and economic stability and prosperity.

In a statement, the justice chief emphasised that the increase in the size and composition of the Election Committee and LegCo reflect a more balanced and orderly political participation as well as a broader representation of society, signifying an important move to advance Hong Kong's democratic electoral system.

Ms Cheng said she will lead the Department of Justice to render full support to the Government's work to improve the electoral system as early as possible to enhance Hong Kongs governance efficacy.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Security John Lee and the heads of six disciplinary forces also issued a statement in support of the passage of the amended annexes to the Basic Law.

Mr Lee said he will lead the disciplinary forces to continue to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and ensure Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

The heads of six disciplined forces said they will stand in solidarity and attend to their duties steadfastly to safeguard national security as well as maintaining the law and order, stability and security of the Hong Kong community.

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
We were impressed they were able to accomplish record first month sales in the shortest month of the year and we know this is just the start of something special in the Denver area for these fantastic new franchise owners.

TruBlue Total House Care, the first and only nationally-franchised provider of full-service home maintenance and repair for seniors, congratulates its newest franchise owners on a record-setting first month in business.

Mark and Julie Odell, who recently opened TruBlue Total House Care of Centennial in the Denver, Colorado market are off to the fastest start in the brands history, posting record first-month sales during the month of February.

This couples amazing success parallels the brands impressive systemwide performance over the past year. According to Sean Fitzgerald, President of TruBlue Total Housecare, more growth is expected from TruBlue in 2021 after a very impressive 2020.

Despite the pandemic, 2020 was a banner year for us at TruBlue as we doubled systemwide revenue, broke opening sales records twice, and smashed the all-time monthly sales record, stated Fitzgerald. Now, as we start the new year off by breaking the recently achieved opening sales record in February, all indications suggest TruBlue will experience continued growth in 2021.

TruBlue, part of the Strategic Franchising family, provides resources to help aging Americans stay in their homes rather than transitioning to a senior care facility. Some of the resources provided by TruBlue include: Age Safe America-certified home safety assessments and modifications, handyman repairs, house cleaning services, yard work, seasonal tasks, and minor home renovations.

We knew Mark and Julie would have a lot of success with their new business during the training and on-boarding process, said Fitzgerald. We were impressed they were able to accomplish record first month sales in the shortest month of the year and we know this is just the start of something special in the Denver area for these fantastic new franchise owners.

The Odells both have personal experiences that led them to the TruBlue model. Julie Odell, who lost both of her elderly parents in the last few years, constantly found herself in a battle to keep them safe in their homes as they aged.

I had to call four of five different companies just to be able to help my parents with chores and tasks they needed to get done, said Julie. If I could have just called one number, like TruBlue, it would have been such a relief.

Julie Odell grew up in the Centennial area and is delighted to be back in her hometown with the ability to offer these crucial services to people she has known for decades.

Mark Odell spent the first part of his career as a financial planner before purchasing a TruBlue franchise. Marks experience in financial planning gave him a great deal of exposure to clients various life transitions and he saw a major gap in senior care.

I constantly heard stories from adult children about the struggles of caring for parents and the difficulty of finding reliable companies to help their parents remain in their homes safely, Mark said. This definitely played into our decision to purchase a TruBlue franchise because we knew the need was there.

TruBlues House Care Plus provides quarterly and monthly service packages which traditional in-home senior care providers do not offer. While traditional caregivers can help look after the person, TruBlue Total House Care works to make sure the homes of seniors are safe and well-maintained through regular care. TruBlue is positioned to revolutionize the way families protect their loved ones and allow them to safely age in place.

There are plenty of home care agencies in this country that take care of seniors, added Fitzgerald. But there hasnt been a national provider focusing on taking care of the senior's home  inside and out, which is just as important for their physical safety. TruBlue is that trusted provider.

Further, the demand for TruBlues services is certainly there as the senior population grows each year. Today, more seniors than ever before are planning on aging in place because of the pandemic and TruBlue is the missing piece of the senior home care puzzle.

TruBlue currently has more than 50 locations and is rapidly expanding across the U.S. For more information on franchise opportunities available with TruBlue Total House Care, please visit https://trubluefranchise.com/.

About TruBlue Total House Care

TruBlue Total House Care provides a helping hand around the house  inside and out. TruBlues services include to-do list chores, handyman services, house cleaning, maintenance, yard work, emergency repairs, seasonal work and preventative maintenance, all handled by a personal House Care Manager. TruBlue strives to provide affordable, worry-free living for seniors and hassle-free living for busy adults by providing full-service, trustworthy house care services. TruBlue franchise owners are required to complete the Senior Home Safety Certification program through Age Safe America. As specialists, TruBlue franchisees will be able to perform Senior Home Safety Assessments and can make those recommended safety modifications if needed.

For more information, please contact Chelsea Penzone, Vice President of Brand Management, at 513.334.1436 or email cpenzone@strategicfranchising.com.
A former Boston police captain was arrested Tuesday over accusations he conspired with officers in the departments evidence warehouse to steal tens of thousands of dollars during so-called purge overtime shifts, according to federal authorities.

Former Capt. Richard Evans is accused of conspiring with officers he supervised at the Boston Police Departments Evidence Control Unit (ECU) to collect pay for work they did not do over the course of five years, according to Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division.

It is deeply troubling when officers who have sworn to uphold the law violate their oath and use their badge as a license to commit a crime, Bonavolonta said in a statement. We would like to thank the Boston Police Department for its cooperation and commitment to ending this practice.

Evans was charged in an indictment unsealed Tuesday with conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

The 62-year-old Hanover man will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston later Tuesday via videoconference, the statement said.

The public counts on police supervisors to lead by example and serve as models of honor, integrity and professionalism, said acting U.S. Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell. When they break the law for personal financial gain with the officers they supervise, they not only violate the trust of the public, but they dishonor their fellow officers. I want to thank the Boston Police Department for its continued cooperation with our investigation.

According to the indictment, Evans oversaw the ECU, which was responsible for, among other things, storing, cataloging and retrieving evidence at the warehouse. Officers in the unit were eligible to earn overtime pay of 1.5 times their regular hourly pay rate for overtime assignments.

Evans, who worked as a captain in the department from at least March 2015 to April 2016, made nearly $197,000 a year in taxable income from the city of Boston in 2016, the indictment details.

Authorities say starting in at least March 2015, Evans and other officers routinely departed from overtime shifts two or more hours early and then submitted false and fraudulent overtime slips claiming to have worked the entirety of each shift.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, the alleged fraud happened during one particular overtime shift, called purge overtime, that was focused on reducing the inventory of the evidence warehouse. The shift was supposed to be performed from 4 to 8 p.m. on weekdays.

However, authorities say, on days Evans claimed to have worked until 8 p.m., the warehouse was closed, locked and alarmed well before that time, often by 6 p.m. or earlier. The former police captain is accused of routinely submitting false overtime slips claiming to have worked from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and endorsing dozens of fraudulent overtime slips from his subordinates.

From March 2015 to February 2019, prosecutors allege, Evans and his subordinates are accused of collecting tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent overtime. The former police captain in particular is accused of receiving over $12,395 for overtime hours he did not work.

Former Captain Evans allegedly conspired to commit theft and defraud taxpayers. The alleged conduct is antithetical to the job we trust law enforcement officers to do  uphold the law and act with honesty and integrity, said Russell W. Cunningham, special agent in charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Washington Field Office.

The goal of the officers accused of being involved in the conspiracy, the indictment says, was to enrich themselves personally by obtaining payment for overtime hours they didnt work and embezzle funds from the Boston Police Department, an agency that receives federal funding.

From 2015 through 2018, authorities noted, the Boston Police Department received annual benefits from the United States Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Justice worth more than $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants.

The newest arrest comes a few months after nine current and former Boston police officers were also arrested and charged in connection with overtime pay theft in federal court.

Those nine people were assigned to Boston Police Departments Evidence Control Unit, where they were responsible for storing, cataloging and retrieving evidence at the warehouse, the DOJ said.

Beginning in May 2016, the officers regularly left purge overtime shifts two or more hours early but submitted false timecards claiming to have worked the entire shift, the DOJ said.
WARSAW, Ind., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With its limited marketing department, The Crossing School of Business & Entrepreneurship didn't have sufficient resources to appeal equally to prospective students, their parents, and potential donors. In order to increase enrollment while sustaining fundraising initiatives, The Crossing reached out to 212 Media Studios for an end-to-end social media strategy.

"We've been consistently impressed with 212's ideas and creativity in the face of unexpected challenges," says Crossing Director of Operations Lisa Heeter. "They've been able to develop a social media strategy that seamlessly connects our messages to both students and parents, while also establishing a good rapport with potential donors."

Though 2020 was plagued with uncertainty for many educational institutions, 212's tactics helped The Crossing sustain momentum through multiple enrollment cycles. "The Crossing has a diverse set of target audiences, so we delivered consistent messaging across multiple platforms in order to meet prospective students and donors where they were," says 212 Managing Partner & CMO David Phelps. "We're excited to continue our efforts toward ongoing enrollment and fundraising initiatives in 2021."

For more information on 212 Media Studios and the leading strategies they provide for clients, visit 212mediastudios.com or call (574) 269-0720.

212 Media Studios is a team of strategic thinkers and visionary creators based in Warsaw, Indiana. Through research, branding and inbound marketing, 212 creates comprehensive, personalized strategies that meet the business needs of clients in industries like technology, healthcare, higher education and non-profit. To learn more about 212 Media Studios' services and offerings, visit 212mediastudios.com.

Contact: Bailey Gerber

Phone: (574) 269-0720

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE 212 Media Studios

Related Links

www.212mediastudios.com


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Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Nanded: Nanded police have registered a case under IPC sections 307, 324, 188, 269 against 400 accused of attempting to take out a Hola Mohalla procession outside the Sachkhand Gurdwara, without permission.

The police have arrested 18 accused so far. Efforts to nab the rest are ongoing.

It is a tradition to take out the 'Hola Mohalla' procession every year on the occasion of Holi from Sachkhand Gurudwara of Nanded. This time too, police permission was sought for the procession, but due to the Coronavirus pandemic, restrictions were placed on gatherings from March 25 to April 4.

In the meeting held with the police on behalf of the gurdwara management, it was assured that all religious programs would be done peacefully and no procession would be carried out inside the gurdwara.

But as soon as Nishan Saheb was brought out at 4 pm in the afternoon on Monday, some people started arguing with the police and broke the barricading of the police outside the gurdwara.

The mob took to the streets carrying swords, spears, stones and other deadly weapons in their hands.

Seeing such a huge crowd and a deadly weapon in their hands, the police retreated a bit. But the miscreants did not settle and started throwing stones on police vehicles.

SP Pramod Kumar Shaiwale was attacked with a sword. His bodyguard Dinesh Pandey was injured in the incident. He has undergone surgery in a hospital.

A total of eight policemen have been injured in the attack, who are being treated at a local government hospital.

The situation around the gurudwara in Nanded is tense but under control at present.

What Happens Hola Mohalla Procession?

Just as Hindus play with colours on the second day of Holi, there is a tradition of carrying out the Hola Mohalla procession in Sikhism. Sikh youth perform their martial arts in the procession.

Nanded Gurudwara Sachkhand is considered as one of the five 'takhts' of Sikhs. The tenth and last Guru of Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh is said to have spent some time here.

Live TV
(Natural News) For Americans who hoped that the Justice Department and FBI, weaponized against citizens and the Trump administration by the tyrannical Barack Obama, would go back to normal and begin serving the people again after Joe Biden ascended to the White House can forget it.

They wont. They havent. And frankly, theyre not going to.

After the Jan. 6 riot, the DoJ and its militant FBI wing took up the deep state Democrats cause and tried to claim that it was really an insurrection aimed at toppling the U.S. government.

Mind you, none of the rioters showed up armed or with an agenda to occupy the Capitol indefinitely and take lawmakers hostage.

In fact, the only people who were armed that day were Capitol Police; the only person who died by gunfire was an unarmed female rioter shot by one of those officers  and gosh, there were no street marches, no looting, and no burning of businesses afterward.

But try as they may, the Biden DoJ just cant make the insurrection narrative stick, so now prosecutors are backing off their initial claims and will seek to charge people more accordingly.

Reuters reported:

Prosecutors made some serious claims after the deadly U.S. Capitol attack, saying they had evidence rioters planned to kill elected officials, suggesting a Virginia man at the building received directives to gas lawmakers, and accusing another suspect of directing mayhem on Jan. 6 with encrypted messages.

But the Justice Department has since acknowledged in court hearings that some of its evidence concerning the riot  carried out by a mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump to try to overturn his election loss  is less damning than it initially indicated.

Thats not all: The DoJ was also legally backhanded by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, a Barack Obama appointee, who threatened to place prosecutors under a gag order after the former lead prosecutor on the case, Michael Sherwin, said during an interview with CBS News 60 Minutes that there was evidence some rioters could be charged with sedition.

Sedition, which is an incitement to rebel against the duly elected government, has not been levied against the 400-plus people who have been arrested thus far. (And how come the Feds havent arrested at least that many Antifa scumbags who were attacking a federal courthouse in Portland all last summer?) The most serious offenses to date are charges of assault, conspiracy and obstruction of Congress and/or law enforcement.

Still, prosecutors are trying to build cases and are in their early stages of doing so. Five people associated with the riot either died or were killed, one of whom was a Capitol Police officer who died sometime later. Three others died from conditions said to be unrelated to the protest.

But because the Justice Department is thoroughly politicized and corrupt, many of its cases are likely to be challenged in terms of just how credible they are, even as people accused of being ringleaders are already seeking to have courts dismiss the most serious of charges.

They are trying to build the most horrendous cases they can because the public wants it  and this is politicizing criminal justice, said Gerald B. Lefcourt, who for decades has represented high-profile defendants in political demonstrations, including Black Panther leaders and Chicago Seven trial figure Abbie Hoffman, Reuters added.

Obamas DoJ, as well as Democrats, have made all kinds of accusations against Trump supporters, the vast majority of whom were in Washington to hear the presidents speech and had no part in the riot. Mostly, they are characterizing his supporters as being white supremacist neo-Nazi terrorists, none of which is true.

In fact, if anyone is guilty of plotting against the country as it was founded, its the Democratic Party.

Still, Bidens minions will try to use the riot and subsequent prosecutions to persecute the legions of Americans who voted for Trump. And thats when society will really begin to break down.

See more reporting like this at Corruption.news.

Sources include:

Reuters.com

FalseFlag.news
New Delhi:

Myanmars leader Aung San Suu Kyi is addressing the crisis engulfing Rakhine state. It is her first speech since scores were killed in violence that has sent nearly 380,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh and sullied her reputation as a defender of the oppressed.



A crackdown by Myanmars army, launched in response to attacks by Rohingya militants on August 25, has pushed vast numbers of refugees from the stateless Muslim minority across the border.

Here are highlights of Suu Kyi's speech:

#On Aug 25, 30 police outposts were attacked; consequently, govt declared Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army a terrorist group: Aung San Suu Kyi



#We don't want Myanmar to be a nation divided by religious beliefs or ethnicities. Hate and fear are main scourges: Aung San Suu Kyi



#Myanmar prepared to start a refugee verification process for those who wish to return: Aung San Suu Kyi

#Throughout the last year, we continued with our program of development and establishment of peace: Aung San Suu Kyi

#We had invited Dr Kofi Annan to lead a commission that would help us resolve long-standing problems in Rakhine: Aung San Suu Kyi



#We had made a central committee for implementing rule of law & development in Rakhine: Aung San Suu Kyi

#There have been allegations and counter allegations will listen to all, culprits will be punished irrespective of race or religion: Suu Kyi

#We have invited Dr Kofi Annan to lead a commission that would help us resolve long-standing problems in Rakhine: Aung San Suu Kyi

#We have made a central committee for implementing rule of law & development in Rakhine: Aung San Suu Kyi

#Many Muslim villagers have remained, not all have fled

#Government has been making every effort to restore peace and stability and to bring harmony in Rakhine communities: Aung San Suu Kyi

#We would like to find out why this exodus is happening, would like to talk to the people who have fled: Aung San Suu Kyi

#Myanmar feels deeply for suffering of all groups in Rakhine, concerned to hear about Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh: Aung San Suu Kyi

#Myanmar does not fear international scrutiny, committed to sustainable solution in Rakhine state: Aung San Suu Kyi

#We condemn all human rights violations, we are committed to peace and rule of law: Aung San Suu Kyi

#Peace and stability was something we had to achieve after nearly 70 yrs of internal conflict: Aung San Suu Kyi

#Myanmar is a complex nation. People expect us to overcome all the challenges in shortest time possible: Aung San Suu Kyi









The violence has incubated a humanitarian crisis on both sides of the border and put intense global pressure on Suu Kyi to condemn the army campaign, which the UN has described as having all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing.



The government spokesman Zaw Htay on Thursday announced that Suu Kyi would speak for national reconciliation and peace in a televised address on September 19.



He said the Nobel laureate, who has been pilloried by rights groups for failing to speak up for the Rohingya minority, would skip the United Nations General Assembly next week to tackle the crisis unfurling at home.



She was needed in Myanmar to manage humanitarian assistance and security concerns caused by the violence. Competing rumours have intensified anti-Muslim rhetoric across the Buddhist-majority country.

Read | UN chief urges Myanmar to halt attacks on Muslim minority



In the northern area of Rakhine, 176 of the 541 Rohingya villages there were empty after the whole village fled, Zaw Htay said, adding others were partly deserted or intact.



Suu Kyi has been condemned for a lack of moral leadership and compassion in the face of a crisis that has shocked the international community.



Her limited comments so far have referenced a huge iceberg of misinformation and played down alleged atrocities against the Rohingya.



Bangladesh is struggling to provide relief for exhausted and hungry refugeessome 60 per cent of whom are children -- while nearly 30,000 ethnic Rakhine Buddhists as well as Hindus have also been displaced inside Myanmar.



Nine thousand more Rohingya refugees poured into Bangladesh today, the UN said, as authorities worked to build a new camp for tens of thousands of arrivals who have no shelter.



Suu Kyi, Myanmars first civilian leader in decades, has no control over the powerful military, which ran the country for 50 years. A free election was finally held in 2015.



There is also scant sympathy among Myanmars Buddhist majority for the Rohingya, who are branded Bengalis shorthand for illegal immigrants.



But outside of her country Suu Kyis reputation as a human rights champion is in ruins.



Rohingya refugees have told chilling accounts of soldiers firing on civilians and razing entire villages in the north of Rakhine state with the help of Buddhist mobs.



The army denies the allegations.

Read | Myanmar rejects temporary ceasefire declared by Muslim Rohingya insurgents



The UN Security Council was scheduled today to discuss the refugee crisis in a closed-door meeting, with China expected to block any attempts to censure its Southeast Asian ally.



Ahead of the meeting 12 Nobel laureates signed an open letter urging the Security Council to intervene immediately by using all available means to end the tragedy and crimes against humanity unfolding in Rakhine.



Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner garlanded for her dignified and defiant democracy activism under the former junta, was once the darling of the international community.



She made her debut before the UN assembly last September, winning warm applause for a speech delivered months after she became Myanmars first civilian leader in decades.



In it she vowed to find a solution to long-running ethnic and religious hatred in Rakhine that will lead to peace, stability and development for all communities within the state.



In a sign of how far her star has fallen, the same rights groups that campaigned for her release from house arrest have blasted her for failing to speak up for the Rohingya.



Sympathisers say her hands are tied by the army, which still runs parts of the government and has complete control over all security matters.



While the US and other Western powers - as well as the Muslim world - have criticised the military campaign, Beijing yesterday offered Myanmar support - saying the country was entitled to safeguard its stability.



Human Rights Watchs Phil Robertson urged the Security Council to pass a global arms embargo on Myanmars military but said he expected China to to water down any moves.



The 1.1-million strong Rohingya have suffered years of discrimination in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship even though many have long-lasting roots in the country.



Bangladesh does not want the group either, though it is providing the refugees with temporary shelter.



Many Rohingya have died making the perilous journey across the border, with nearly 100 drowning in boat trips across the Naf river that divides the two countries.

(With inputs from PTI)

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Artificial intelligence-powered customer engagement solution brings consumption-level insights for customers to better manage energy usage and carbon footprints

Bidgely in partnership with Electric Ireland, Ireland's largest energy retailer, announced the introduction of an AI-powered customer engagement solution delivered via email and web portal that creates new customer value from smart meter data. With the roll out of approximately 2.4M smart meters in Ireland over the next three years, the customer-centric programme will provide appliance-level consumption insights based on a home's actual energy usage data collected by smart meters and is aimed at helping customers more effectively manage their energy usage and carbon footprints.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005164/en/

Bidgely and Electric Ireland introduced an AI-powered customer engagement solution using smart meter data aimed at helping customers more effectively manage their energy usage and carbon footprints. (Graphic: Business Wire)

"Smart meters introduce new opportunities for Electric Ireland to create more customer value through personalised and engaging insights that reveal the details about how customers are using energy," said Susan Whyte, smart meter programme manager at Electric Ireland. "Our pioneering use of established tools for maximising the value of customer data in Ireland is backed by Bidgely's global track record of delivering increased customer engagement and satisfaction."

Through email and web portal enhancements that personalise energy insights and educate customers on their individual usage, Electric Ireland can recommend the best price plans for each consumer. Electric Ireland can seamlessly integrate these insights to provide tailored content for generated email notifications and also add value to its residential web portal.

"We applaud Electric Ireland for being a first-mover in AI-powered data analytics; an initiative that brings greater value to energy consumers and serves as a strong competitive advantage in a region that vies for customer loyalty and satisfaction," said Abhay Gupta, CEO of Bidgely. "Bidgely has worked diligently to bring its Silicon Valley innovation to energy providers around the world, and like others, Electric Ireland stands to benefit from our higher than average industry engagement and satisfaction rates."

To learn more about how personalised energy insights are driving the new normal and global energy revolution, watch this session with research firms IDC and Delta-EE from Bidgely Engage Europe.

About Bidgely

Bidgely is an AI-powered SaaS Company accelerating a clean energy future by enabling energy companies and consumers to make data-driven energy-related decisions. Powered by our unique patented technology, Bidgely's UtilityAI Platform transforms multiple dimensions of customer data such as energy consumption, demographic, and interactions into deeply accurate and actionable consumer energy insights. We leverage these insights to empower each customer with personalized recommendations, tailored to their individual personality and lifestyle, usage attributes, behavioral patterns, purchase propensity, and beyond. From a Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and Grid Edge perspective, whether it is smart thermostats to EV chargers, solar PVs to TOU rate designs and tariffs; UtilityAI energy analytics provides deep visibility into generation, consumption for better peak load shaping and grid planning, and delivers targeted recommendations for new value-added products and services. With roots in Silicon Valley, Bidgely has over 17 energy patents, $50M+ in funding, retains 30+ data scientists, and brings a passion for AI to utilities serving residential and commercial customers around the world. For more information, please visit www.bidgely.com or the Bidgely blog at bidgely.com/blog.

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Another 368 cases of Covid-19 and 14 additional deaths linked to the virus have been reported by the Department of Health this evening.

Twelve deaths occurred in March, one in February and one in January.

There has been a total of 4,681 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland, while there is now 235,444 confirmed cases of the virus.

Of the cases notified today, 127 are in Dublin, 34 in Kildare, 26 in Meath, 21 in Limerick, 19 in Offaly and the remaining 141 cases are spread across 18 other counties.

There are 310 Covid-19 patients in hospital, of which 67 are in ICU.

As of March 27, 802,502 doses of the Covid19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland, with 577,641 people receiving their first dos and 224,861 people have received their second.

Read More

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheal Martin will address the country on changes to lockdown restrictions this evening, with the reopening of hairdressers, barbers and non-essential retail in May being discussed at Cabinet.

It comes after the Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 were given dire warnings last night from Nphet and the HSE about the transmission of the virus and the impact it will have on the health service.

With the rate of daily cases remaining stubbornly high, it urged against easing of restrictions over the next four to eight weeks as it could jeopardise progress made in controlling the virus.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn gave a presentation to a Cabinet Committee on Covid-19, which sources at the meeting described as grim.

One source said Nphet want to hold off easing restrictions significantly for another four to eight weeks to reduce the risk of another wave of the virus.
Srinagar, March 30 : Former Chief Minister and Lok Sabha member, Dr. Farooq Abdullah has tested positive for Covid-19, his son, Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday.

"My father has tested positive for COVID-19 & is showing some symptoms. I will be self-isolating along with other family members until we get ourselves tested. I request anyone who has come into contact with us over the last few days to take all the mandated precautions", Omar Abdullah tweeted.

Earlier this month, Farooq Abdullah had taken the first Covid jab at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar.

The pandemic has been registering an alarming surge in J&K during the last one week and the number of people testing positive has steadily increased.

Health officials are blaming the casual approach of the general public to preventive measures as the main reason for the surge in the numbers of people getting infected.

Authorities have mandated wearing of masks in public places and ordered on the spot testing and imposition of heavy fines on violators.

With the tourist season picking up in Kashmir, it is feared that unless strict action is taken to impose preventive measures, the situation could worsen.

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
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
Mostly what were doing so far is putting a Band-Aid on a wound that needs stitches  eventually its going to bleed out, she said. Considering her own situation, she added: Were making enough to keep from drowning, but were not making enough to pay for the things we actually need. Were certainly not making enough for child care.

Mothers and advocates for families cite a long list of policy frustrations. Congress declined to mandate paid leave in the stimulus bill, opting instead to extend a tax credit to employers who voluntarily offer the policy. While the relief bill included money for school reopenings, the support has not been well-targeted and comes toward the end of the school year. And it remains unclear whether the administration will push for the child care tax credit to be made permanent.

Moms are getting screwed on the right or the left. I dont feel like anyone is out there fighting for us, said Reshma Saujani, the founder and chief executive of Girls Who Code, a group that works to attract more young women to become programmers and engineers. There is an enormous amount of populist mom rage and I dont think that moms feel seen. Why arent the schools open now? Every day that goes by, another mother is losing their job. Its not a priority.

Ms. Saujani is the creator of the Marshall Plan for Moms, a package of policies funding paid leave, affordable child care and pay equity aimed at helping mothers who have struggled during the pandemic. While pieces of her plan have been introduced in Congress and were included in the relief bill, and have been embraced by policymakers, celebrities and activists, Ms. Saujani would like to see more attention paid to a situation she views as a national emergency.

Absolutely everything is a struggle right now  getting sick days, getting my son to learn, getting help, said Adriana Alvarez, a single mother of a 9-year-old, who works at a McDonalds just outside Chicago and has significantly cut back her hours in the last year. There has to be a solution thats funded by the government to help people like me.

For others who have pushed for these policies for years, the moment seems most ripe: If a pandemic is not enough to persuade lawmakers to pass policies like paid family leave, will anything ever convince them?

Nearly 200 businesses signed on to a letter to congressional leaders last week urging them to include paid family and medical leave in the upcoming infrastructure package, which many believe is the best chance to get the policy approved by Congress. Liberal organizations and caregiver advocacy groups started their own $20 million campaign, called #CareCantWait, that is pushing the administration to expand access to child care, paid family and medical leave, as well as home and community-based services for people with disabilities and aging adults.
Press Release

March 30, 2021 IMEE: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, FOR EASING VACCINE PROCUREMENT Senator Imee Marcos has lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for striking down an attempt by the Department of Health (DOH) to block certain industries from purchasing vaccines. "Thank you, Tatay Digong, for being a true father of the nation. Truly, there is hope that more Filipinos can be vaccinated at the soonest possible time, now that private companies can freely purchase vaccines," Marcos added. The senator exposed last week the attempt by the DOH to block "not just companies but whole industries" from purchasing vaccines, including manufacturers of tobacco products and those deemed in conflict with public health, as liquor, sugared drinks, and even breast milk substitutes. The attempt was contained in a draft administrative order about to be passed to the President for his signature. Various Filipino-Chinese manufacturers had complained that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), led by Health Secretary Francisco Duque, had been preventing them from procuring vaccines as early as June last year, Marcos said. Marcos added that the extent of the IATF's apparent squeeze on private companies affected members of four Filipino-Chinese chambers of commerce. "There's a hint of corporate lobbying and maneuvering there, if not racism," she said. President Duterte's new directive to Carlito Galvez Jr., chief of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, to "sign any and all documents" allowing the private sector to buy vaccines would benefit the whole country, according to Marcos. "This will accelerate the pace of the government's mass inoculation program. Whole industries will now be able to provide vaccines not only for their workers but also for other Filipinos through donations stipulated in tripartite agreements among the government, vaccine makers and private companies," Marcos explained. However, Marcos added a caveat: "After the collective sigh of relief, the pandemic and its opportunists remain. The President must take care. Friends as bogus as fake vaccines may spoil his wise decision and good intentions. Watch out for the entry of fake vaccines!" Marcos warned.
WASHINGTON  As secretary of state during the Trump administration, Mike Pompeo had little regard for his jobs genteel diplomatic protocols, routinely throwing verbal punches against foreign governments, political opponents and the mainstream media.

Out of office for more than two months, Mr. Pompeo has not stopped punching. In a series of speeches, interviews and Twitter posts, he is emerging as the most outspoken critic of President Biden among former top Trump officials. And he is ignoring, much as he did in office, the custom that current and former secretaries of state avoid the appearance of political partisanship.

In back-to-back appearances in Iowa and during an interview in New Hampshire over the past week, Mr. Pompeo questioned the Biden administrations resolve toward China. In Iowa, he accused the White House of reversing the Trump administrations immigration policy willy-nilly and without any thought. He derided Mr. Biden for referring to notes during his first formal news conference on Thursday.

Whats great about not being the secretary of state anymore is I can say things that when I was a diplomat I couldnt say, Mr. Pompeo said the next morning, to a small crowd at the Westside Conservative Club near Des Moines.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Comcast Corp. plans to spend $1 billion over the next decade to help low-income Americans connect to the internet, company officials said Wednesday.

The Philadelphia cable giant said the money would go toward wiring community centers with WiFi, donating laptops and computers, awarding grants to nonprofits working with low-income Americans, and continued investment in its Internet Essentials program, a low-cost broadband service. Comcast estimates that the $1 billion investment could affect 50 million people.

Comcast announced the commitment on the 10th anniversary of Internet Essentials, launched in 2011 as a condition to federal approval of the company's purchase of NBCUniversal. Comcast continued the reduced-cost broadband program beyond its three-year commitment, which would have ended in 2014. The program offers home internet service to low-income customers for $9.95 a month.

"We are rededicating ourselves to this mission to ensure that the next generation of students in America has the tools, resources, and abilities they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world," Dave Watson, CEO of Comcast's cable unit, said in a statement.

The coronavirus pandemic has laid bare the necessity of internet access, with millions of Americans relying on broadband to work or study from home. A February 2021 survey by Consumer Reports, a consumer advocacy group, found that 76% of Americans agreed that internet service is as important as electricity or water service in today's world. A nearly equal percentage (75%) said they rely on the internet every day.

As the coronavirus closed schools and offices, Comcast offered 60 days of free service for new Internet Essentials customers, opened its vast network of business and outdoor WiFi hot spots for public use, and partnered with school districts to connect kids online.

But elected officials and activists have called on Comcast to do more during the crisis, criticizing Internet Essentials' slower speeds and demanding the company open residential WiFi hot spots for school children. The company has said those residential networks were not engineered for broad public use.

Comcast recently doubled download speeds for Internet Essentials to 50 megabits per second (mbps) and increased uploads from 3 to 5 mbps. Download speeds reflect how quickly you can receive data, such as loading web pages or streaming videos. An upload speed is how fast you can send data, such as using a video chat to talk to someone.

The company said the program has connected 10 million people across the country and more than 520,000 Philadelphia residents since 2011, including more than 9,000 who were connected at no cost through PHLConnectED, a partnership including the city and school district. Comcast does not share current enrollment numbers.

In Philadelphia, Comcast has opened more than 40 "Lift Zones"community centers connected to free WiFito give students safe spaces for virtual learning while their guardians are occupied. The company aims to open roughly 1,000 across the country by the end of 2021.

Meanwhile, Comcast's broadband business has continued to boom during the pandemic. Its cable unit added a record 1.6 million customers in 2020, helping push its 2020 fourth-quarter profits to $3.4 billion, an improvement of 6.9% from a year earlier.

Explore further Comcast doubles the speed to 50Mbps for Internet Essentials plan without added fees

2021 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
DENVER, March 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cin7, a pioneer in cloud-based inventory management software (IMS), announces the release of B2B Online Stores, helping companies to showcase their wholesale products with B2B pricing in beautifully laid out, easily searchable catalogs. Now their B2B customers will find what they need, buy more, and place orders in just a few clicks. It's all fully integrated with their inventory and order workflows, eliminating traditional admin work and giving time back to sell more.

"Our B2B Online Stores are designed for wholesalers to sell more, sell faster and with more efficiency," says Cin7 CEO David Leach. "Product Sellers can increase their wholesale distribution sales, gain efficiencies from automation, and build stronger B2B customer relationships."

As part of every Cin7 plan, B2B Online Stores come with inventory management, real-time stock levels, order workflows and product and customer data built in, allowing product companies to quickly set up catalogs with customer-specific pricing and products, with no integration or development work required. Their customers can easily browse, re-order and purchase in bulk, with orders going to a selected branch for streamlined fulfillment, reducing the time companies have to spend processing every routine or repeat order.

"For us, the manual entry was the problem, and that's what Cin7's B2B Online Store has stopped, and it's definitely time saved," says Daniel David, of homeware brand KAS Australia. "It's a brilliant little platform that allows business customers to go on a website, order what they want and...happy days."

B2B Online Stores are highly configurable, making it simple to showcase different sets of products to different customers, and to have orders fulfilled from a specific warehouse or transferred to an integrated 3PL warehouse.

For more details, visit our website .

About Cin7

Cin7's inventory and order management platform connects more than 700 ecommerce platforms, online marketplaces, 3PL warehouses, and native EDIs in one solution, helping retailers and product sellers quickly and efficiently get their products to customers wherever they are, from any channel. Cin7 was founded in New Zealand and supports product sellers in 25 countries. In early 2020, Cin7 established a significant US presence to serve its growing customer base and accelerate growth in the North American market. Every month, millions of orders flow through the platform, representing over a billion dollars of product sales, as Cin7 helps over 6,000 growing brands sell more products, to more customers, in more places.

SOURCE Cin7

Related Links

http://www.cin7.com


Jaime Burgess believes she could have lost her thumb after incident

A concerned Kmart shopper has claimed she nearly severed her thumb after cutting it with a cheap ceramic measuring spoon.

Mother of two Jaime Burgess, from Aldinga Beach in South Australia, issued a warning on a Facebook community page, revealing she 'lost a lot of blood' following the recent incident in her kitchen.

She directly linked her gruesome injury to the tablespoon measurement she purchased from the retail giant in a bargain packet of four for just $5.

'For those who have purchased these, please, please, please be careful as they snap very easily and are VERY sharp,' Burgess posted on a Facebook page for customers where her thumb was seen wrapped in a thick bandage to stem the blood flow.

Mother of two Jaime Burgess issued a warning on a Facebook community page, stating she 'lost a lot of blood' following the recent incident in her kitchen

The aged care worker has claimed she nearly severed her thumb after cutting it with a ceramic measuring spoon

'I have never sliced my thumb so deep and lost a lot of blood.

'Feeling a little worried about how deep the cut is so will definitely get my doctor to have a look at it.'

The aged care worker also told Yahoo News Australia customers needed to be aware of the potentially dangerous item.

'I could have lost my finger,' she said.

'I was so close to fainting, luckily my partner was home. 'I am worried about future buyers having the same problem... imagine if this happened to a child.'

After contacting Kmart, Ms Burgess claims she received a $20 voucher following the mishap - but she also wants the item taken off the shelves permanently.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kmart for comment.

Kmart's four pack of ceramic measuring spoons retail for just $5 online or in store across Australia
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-31 05:02:16|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Turkey reported 37,303 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, breaking its record of single-day infections since the outbreak of the pandemic last year. Meanwhile, Jordan's total COVID-19 infections exceeded 600,000.

Among the new cases in Turkey were 1,376 symptomatic patients, as the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country surged to 3,277,880, according to the Turkish Health Ministry.

The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 155 to 31,385, while the total recoveries climbed to 2,995,033 after 19,925 more recovered in the last 24 hours.

On Monday, the Turkish government decided to tighten restrictions, including extending weekend lockdowns, amid a surge in the number of infections after Turkey eased the anti-pandemic measures on March 1.

The country started mass vaccination against COVID-19 on Jan. 14 after the authorities approved the emergency use of China's Sinovac vaccine. More than 8,889,000 people have been vaccinated so far.

Turkey will also begin administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the next few days, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said Tuesday.

The total COVID-19 cases in Jordan climbed by 7,751 to 605,007, while the death toll from the virus rose to 6,747 after 96 new fatalities were added, according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Minister's office and the Ministry of Health.

It added that 9,535 recoveries were registered in Jordan, bringing the total number of recoveries to 503,952, while there were 94,308 active COVID-19 cases.

Iran reported 10,250 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, raising its nationwide caseload to 1,875,234.

The pandemic has so far claimed 62,569 lives in Iran, up by 91 in the past 24 hours, while a total of 1,608,807 people have recovered from the disease and 3,953 others remained in intensive care units.

The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday 5,995 new coronavirus cases, raising the total nationwide infections to 844,260.

The ministry also reported 37 new deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 14,286, while the total recoveries in Iraq climbed by 4,915 to 755,350.

During a press conference in Iraq's capital Baghdad, World Health Organization representative in Iraq Ahmed Zouiten called on Iraqi citizens to get vaccinated because "it is the best option to reduce the danger of coronavirus and the number of infections."

Israel's Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday 506 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total confirmed tally in the country to 832,574.

The death toll from the virus stood at 6,189, while the total recoveries in Israel rose to 818,506 with the addition of 1,004 newly recovered cases. The number of active cases decreased to 7,879, the lowest in the country since Nov. 15, 2020.

Morocco's COVID-19 tally rose to 495,421 on Tuesday as 665 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, the Moroccan Health Ministry said.

The COVID-19 death toll in Morocco rose to 8,813 with six new fatalities confirmed, while the total number of recoveries increased to 483,165 after 580 new ones were added.

Lebanon registered 2,668 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 465,007, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the virus in Lebanon went up by 48 to 6,184, while the total recoveries stood at 366,639.

The Kuwaiti Health Ministry reported 1,271 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total infections in the country to 230,821.

The ministry also announced 10 more fatalities, taking the death toll to 1,308, while the tally of recoveries rose by 1,308 to 215,250. A total of 14,263 coronavirus patients are receiving treatment, including 240 in the intensive care units.

The Qatari health ministry announced 720 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 179,184.

It also reported 412 more recovered cases, bringing the overall recoveries in Qatar to 163,684, while the fatalities increased by three to 289.

The Omani health ministry announced 1,173 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total confirmed cases in the country to 158,056.

It also reported 454 more recoveries from the virus and seven more deaths, raising its total recoveries to 143,398 and its death toll to 1,669. Enditem
Id like to start this article with a couple of disclaimers and a caveat. First of all, I am not a medical doctor. This article is not intended as medical advice. Its a laymans account of how an extremely cheap, safe and widely available off-patent medicine called ivermectin appears to be saving the lives of countless Covid-19 patients across Latin America and beyond. Yet hardly anybody is talking about it.

Heres the caveat: The first section of the article, which was completed on Friday, is about Mexico Citys recent deployment of ivermectin in its fight against Covid-19. On Saturday, Mexicos Ministry of Health jacked up its total excess death count due to Covid (for the whole country) by 60%, from 182,000 to 294,000. However, most of these deaths took place before Mexico City began using ivermectin as part of its its test-and-treat approach to Covid.

Covid-19 vaccines are reaching most emerging and developing economies in only drips and drabs, with a few notable exceptions such as Chile. In many countries, locking down entire cities or regions and paying millions of non-essential workers not to work while front-line doctors and nurses battle to contain the virus is not an option. There simply isnt enough money available. This has left doctors and health authorities with little choice but to try out cheap, widely available generic medicines. Those drugs include ivermectin, a well-studied, well tolerated, (in the words of a 2013 FT article) off-patent anti-parasitical.

The results have been extremely promising, according to almost all of the clinical studies conducted thus far. Many of the studies took place in Latin America where around half of the countries in the region have used or are using ivermectin to some degree or another. A meta analysis of 42 clinical trials, involving approximately 15,000 patients, found that 83% showed improvements with early treatment, 51% improved during late-stage

treatment and there was an 89% prevention of onset rate noted. Yet the studies have received scant attention in more advanced economies  so much so that the vast majority of the people I talk to here in Europe have still not even heard of the medicine.

Bucking the Trend

On December 29th of last year, Mexicos Institute of Socal Security (IMSS) allowed ivermectin to be prescribed to outpatients with Covid. On the same day the Secretariat of Health of Mexico City and the State of Mexico decided to adopt a protocol in which anyone testing positive at any one of the citys 250 rapid testing sites would be given ivermectin. As you can see in the graphs below, courtesy of Juan Chamie, a data scientist from EAFIT University in Colombia, based on data provided by Mexico City authorities, the number of hospitalizations due to Covid and excess deaths peaked shortly after the New Year and have been falling sharply ever since. They are now almost back to their prior base line.

Mexico City is the first major global city to adopt what amounts to a test-and-treat approach to covid-19 involving ivermectin. But it was the largely indigenous southern state of Chiapas that led the way last summer. In July 2020, as Mexico was buckling under its first wave of the pandemic, the state decided to distribute ivermectin as a Covid-19 treatment, having already deployed the medicine in its battle against mosquito-borne RNA viruses such as Zika and Chikungunya. Since October Chiapas has consistently occupied the lowest risk level on the federal governments coronavirus stoplight map.

Thanks to ivermectins apparent success in Chiapas, IMSS allowed the medicine to be prescribed nationwide. It also helped launch the pilot program in Mexico City, for which it received a barrage of criticism. An official group of health experts argued that theres no scientific evidence that the drug is effective, and called for the immediate repeal of its use. To their credit, both the Secretariat and IMSS have stuck to their guns.

Playing With Lives

Of course, theres no way of definitively proving that the rapid falloff in hospitalizations and deaths, first in Chiapas and then Mexico City, is due to the use of ivermectin. Correlation, as we well know, is not causation. Its also true that Mexico City authorities have introduced tougher social distancing measures and travel restrictions since December. But similar dramatic drop offs have been witnessed in other regions and countries where ivermectin has been used widely, including across the length and breadth of Peru and Iran as well as parts of Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic and India.

In Peru, ivermectin was used in eight states during the very early stages of the pandemic (May-July). Its use was then extended to the whole country except Lima, which did not start deploying the drug until months later. For the 24 states with early IVM treatment (and Lima), excess deaths dropped 59% (25%) at +30 days and 75% (25%) at +45 days after day of peak deaths. But in October, after the first wave had been brought under control, the new government in Peru took the inexplicable step of withdrawing a number of medicines, including ivermectin, from its treatment guide for the disease. Within weeks hospitalizations and deaths were soaring once again.

The following graph, taken from a study by Juan Chamie, Jennifer Hibberd of the University of Toronto and David Scheim of the US Public Health Service, shows the sharp rise, fall and resurgence in excess deaths (among the over 60 year-old cohort) in Peru as the virus waxed, waned and waxed again. Between August and December case fatalities dropped sharply in all states but Lima, yet six indices of Google-tracked community mobility rose over the same period, before rising once again. In other words, the treatment appeared to be working even as the country reopened.

In the Brazilian city of Belem authorities began using ivermectin way back in June 2020. Since then the city has managed to escape the massive surge in covid-related deaths that has plagued Brazil since early November, as the graphic below shows. In another study a like-for-like comparison of cities in similar regions of Brazil showed that the cities that began distributing ivermectin in June last year were, by September, registering much lower case counts than those that didnt.

Iran has also seen a sharp fall in covid-related deaths since late November followed by a flattening of the curve. Earlier that month the country, with a similar population to Germany and an urban population density twice as high, succeeded in gaining the technical knowledge to produce ivermectin and began distributing it to hospitals in the country.

What is Ivermectin?

First discovered in 1975 and launched onto the market in 1981, ivermectin is a safe, broad-spectrum anthelminthic drug registered for the treatment of a number of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) including river blindness (onchocerciasis), strongyloidiasis, trichuriasis, ascariasis, and lymphatic filariasis. It is also used widely in veterinary medicine. In recent years it has been discovered to have strong anti-viral properties against RNA viruses such as zika and yellow fever. In its use against river blindness in Africa it is estimated to have prevented 7 million years of disability.

The medicine is not only extremely effective in treating a broad range of illnesses, including RNA viruses; it is also well tolerated. To date, more than 3.7 billion doses have been distributed with an excellent safety profile. Most adverse reactions are mild, transitory and associated with parasite death rather than with the drug itself.

The reason why this medicine is distributed in Africa not by doctors and nurses but mainly by volunteers is that it is extremely safe, says Japanese microbiologist Satoshi Omura, who jointly with the Irish parasitologist William C. Campbell, led the team that isolated a strain of Streptomyces avermitilis that produce the anti-parasitical compound avermectin, the active ingredient in ivermectin. Omura and Campbell were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2015 for their discovery.

Dr. Omura himself believes theres already enough evidence of the benefits of ivermectin against Covid-19 for it to be granted approval as a therapeutic. One of its biggest benefits is that it appears to work in the early stages of the disease, he co-writes in an article published earlier this month in the Japanese Journal of Antibiotics:

Currently, there are no therapeutic agents available for mildly ill patients who are being treated at home (or in self-isolating accommodations) or for moderately ill hospitalized patients. Nothing is as helpless as a disease without a cure.

Anti-Viral, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Long Haul

Another major ivermectin proponent is the Frontline Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), which has been trying to repurpose medicines already on the market for the treatment of Covid-19. In October it created the I-MASK+ protocol for prevention and early outpatient treatment, which includes ivermectin, vitamin D3, vitamin C, zinc, melatonin and quercetin.

The FLCCC believes that ivermectin is not only one of the worlds safest, cheapest and most widely available drugs, it is also the most effective against Covid. The studies we presented to the NIH revealed high levels of statistical significance showing large magnitude benefit in transmission rates, need for hospitalization and death, says Dr. Pierre Kory of the FLCCC, who twice gave testimony to the US Congress on Covid-19.

Besides the dozens of clinical studies conducted so far on the efficacy of ivermectin against Covid, the FLCCC also cites natural experiments in Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic and Mexico where ivermectin was distributed widely, with large decreases in case counts  soon after distribution began.

Another recent convert to the cause is Dr Alessandro Santin, a renowned cancer researcher who runs a large laboratory at Yale. Santin believes that ivermectin is a game-changer that could significantly reduce Covids toll on human health.

The bottom line is that ivermectin works. Ive seen that in my patients as well as treating my own family in Italy, Santin said, in reference to his father, 88, who recently suffered a serious bout of COVID. We must find a way to administer it on a large scale.

In an interview with Italian daily Il Fatto Quotidiano, Santin explains why he believes ivermectin is so effective against Covid:

Its powerful anti-viral properties : The theory behind the main mechanism of action is that ivermectin attaches itself to Sars-Cov2s Spike1 protein as well as at various strategic points used by the virus to bind and enter our cells. This is why it can also work against variants, unlike monoclonal antibodies.

: The theory behind the main mechanism of action is that ivermectin attaches itself to Sars-Cov2s Spike1 protein as well as at various strategic points used by the virus to bind and enter our cells. This is why it can also work against variants, unlike monoclonal antibodies. Its anti-inflammatory activity : Ivermectin has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect similar to that of cortisone. But unlike with cortisone, the effect is not immunosuppressive. Therefore the immune response of both T cells and B cells (producing antibodies) continues to function under ivermectin, acting on the transcription factor NF-KB (which informs our body to produce cytokines and causes a real cytokine storm when hyperactivated by Covid). This is why the drug also works well during the advanced phase of the disease.

: Ivermectin has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect similar to that of cortisone. But unlike with cortisone, the effect is not immunosuppressive. Therefore the immune response of both T cells and B cells (producing antibodies) continues to function under ivermectin, acting on the transcription factor NF-KB (which informs our body to produce cytokines and causes a real cytokine storm when hyperactivated by Covid). This is why the drug also works well during the advanced phase of the disease. It even seems to help long-haulers: I have treated and am treating long haulers, including people who have been sick for a year and who do not breathe well, who have tried out everything to no avail. Within two weeks of starting them on ivermectin these people have started to live again, with practically no side effects. The virus is an intracellular parasite; only if it enters our cells can it use the cellular machine to replicate. If it cant get in and hack our immune system, then it stays out on the doormat and gets attacked by our immune system much more easily.

More Evidence Needed, Say Regulators

Yet despite the growing body of evidence supporting ivermectins therapeutic effects against SARS-Cov2, national and supranational health authorities, particularly in more advanced economies, are dragging their feet. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded this week that the available data do not support its use for COVID-19 outside well-designed clinical trials. The decision comes just two months after Slovakia and Czechia became the first EU countries to approve the temporary use of ivermectin against Sars COV-2.

In the US Ivermectin is not yet FDA-approved for the treatment of COVID-19, but in January the NIH changed their recommendation for the use of ivermectin in COVID-19 from against to neutral. This is a major step forward. As a result, doctors are at liberty to prescribe ivermectin for Covid patients.

But most regulators and expert panels insist that definitive proof is still lacking, despite the abundance of real world data, and have called for randomized placebo controlled double blinded studies. But that is time consuming and time is a luxury most doctors and their patients can ill afford right now. As covid continues to rage and patients continue to die, growing numbers of doctors feel that the risk of doing nothing, particularly in the early stages of the illness, significantly outweighs the risk of doing something  especially if that something has already been shown to work across multiple trials and real-world experiments.

Clinical trials take time, but because of the abundance of overseas data, it may not be necessary to conduct clinical trials in Japan, says Omura. Experts have shown the numbers and announced that they are working. Therefore, I would like [the Japanese health authority] to grant it special approval. If you do not use it here, what is the special approval system for? Some people will die if they are waiting for a clinical trial.

According to a WHO-sponsored review and meta-analysis of 18 clinical studies, the drug could cut the number of deaths from Covid-19 by as much as 75%. Crucially, some of the studies suggest that it is effective not only as a treatment in the early and later stages of the virus but also as a prophylactic. Yet the conclusion of the WHO-sponsored review is that more studies are needed.

Contrast this with the FDA and EMAs mad rush to approve the anti-viral medicine Remdisivir for use against SARS-CoV-2 last October, despite the medicines lackluster performance in clinical studies and unproven safety record. On October 15, results from WHOs Solidarity trial suggest that remdesivir does not even reduce mortality or the time COVID-19 patients take to recover. Yet a week later the FDA approved the drug for use against SARS-CoV-2 in the US, becoming the first drug to receive that status.

With a five-day course of treatment costing around $2,600 per person, theres a lot of money to be made for remdesivirs manufacturer, Gilead. Once remdesivir was approved in the US and the EU, it set off a cascade of approvals across the world, including in countries such as Brazil and Mexico whose public health systems cannot possibly afford to administer it on a large scale. In this case that is a good thing given how ineffective the drug appears to be.

Meanwhile, a Nobel-prize winning medicine that has been used extensively for four decades and costs just a few dollars per course of treatment could prove to be one of our best lines of defense again covid. Time and again it has been shown to work. Yet for the moment most health authorities in advanced economies  and quite a few in less advanced ones (South Africa, the Philippines, Peru)  do not seem to be interested. In the coming days the World Health Organization is expected to come out with a definitive recommendation for or against ivermectin. If it opts for the latter, the pressure on doctors to stop using it will only increase.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 00:31:48|Editor: huaxia

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ZAGREB, March 29 (Xinhua) -- It's a sunny Sunday afternoon and the terraces of bars and restaurants in the center of Croatia's capital Zagreb are teeming with guests. As if there is no coronavirus pandemic, people are casually chatting and incuriously enjoying their drinks.

After a three-month shutdown, on March 1 the government allowed bars and restaurants to reopen, and the terraces throughout Croatia filled up quickly.

"We have regular customers and they are really happy to come, sit down with their friends for a chat, drink a cup of coffee and get back to their routine," Marko Benkovic, a waiter at the Kavanica cafe here, told Xinhua.

Last year was exhausting for the people working in the country's service industry. The first case of coronavirus in the country was recorded on Feb. 25, 2020. And on March 19, the government shut down all bars and restaurants as part of the anti-COVID measures, which lasted until mid-May. In November, when the number of new COVID-19 cases spiked, the authorities introduced a new lockdown, which is still partially in force.

Many caterers were dissatisfied with the measures, which they considered illogical and unfair. They even staged protests around the country, arguing that the exemption for food delivery services did not ease their situation and that the catering industry was witnessing a 70 percent downturn.

On March 1 this year, bars and restaurant terraces were allowed to reopen on condition that they follow the strict social distancing rules.

"Most people respect the epidemiological measures. We all have a common interest, which is to end the pandemic as quickly as possible," Benkovic said.

Since the first lockdown, the Croatian government has introduced measures to support the economy and save jobs. For businesses that could not operate during the lockdown, or whose turnover has dropped more than 60 percent, the government offers a monthly allowance of 4,000 Croatian kuna (621 U.S. dollars) per worker. This measure has saved many jobs last year but, as Labor Minister Josip Aladrovic recently said on national television, the state budget has its limits and the budget for this support may not last long.

Before the pandemic hit the country, Croatia had run budget surpluses, but for 2020 an eight percent deficit is projected. The European Commission expects Croatia's economy to grow 5.3 percent in 2021.

Jelena Tabak, president of the National Association of Caterers, told Xinhua that the government's initiative to save jobs was "fantastic," but it was not enough to help businesses remain sustainable.

"The situation is extremely difficult. Almost half of all caterers are in financial straits," she said. Tabak stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic has hardly hit caterers who had already been struggling due to the country's high taxes.

"Many people have had to leave the service industry. This will be a lasting crisis and I believe that we will be back in full strength only in 2023 or 2024," Tabak added.

Marko Benkovac, a waiter in Zagreb, commented that it has become hard to find a decent waiter. "Many have left the business and moved into the construction or information technology sector," Benkovac said.

During the past year, over 267,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in this southeastern European country of four million, and nearly 6,000 have died of the disease. Although the terraces filled with people in Zagreb suggest normality, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Croatia is on the rise again.

Last week, the number of new cases increased by almost 50 percent compared to the week before. The authorities are urging people to act responsibly, while the counties are implementing new lockdown measures.

Meanwhile, the vaccination campaign has been marred by supply delays. To date, over half a million vaccine doses have been delivered to Croatia, with more than 400,000 doses already administered. Around 300,000 people have received both doses.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said last week that Croatia would try to offset the shortage by securing additional vaccine shipments from Pfizer. By the end of summer, he noted, Croatia aims to catch up with the other European countries in vaccination. (1 Croatian kuna = 0.16 U.S. dollar) Enditem

[March 30, 2021] Wisdom announces its upcoming not-to-be-missed Blockchain event

London, UK, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (via Blockchain Wire) Through a series of top-level presentations, interactive panel discussions, and solution-based case studies the Blockchain Finance Forum: Europe 2021 will explore the effects that this new disruptive technology has on the European financial sector, and at the same time showcase the best practices and models to recognize and seize the opportunities to generate new revenue, deliver process efficiency, improve end-user experience and reduce risk in business operations that come with it.



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The Nine logo is seen on the outside of their offices on July 26, 2018, in Melbourne, Australia. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Crippling Cyber Attack on Australian Media Network Could Be Politically Motivated

The cybersecurity director at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute has said that the cyberattack on the Nine Network on Sunday could have been politically motivated.

Fergus Hanson, cybersecurity director at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told Nine that while the attack appeared to be a ransomware attack, no ransom was demanded.

If you did get asked to pay a ransom, it might be a ransomware attack, in which case you would be looking at a cybercriminal, Hanson said. If you didnt get asked to pay a ransom, you may be looking at other actors, including state actors.

The attack is currently under investigation by the media network and the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), and Nine said it has managed to isolate the source of the attack.

Our focus in the first 24 hours was on containment, and we are confident our technology teams have isolated the attacker and the specific destructive activity that was initiated, Nines chief information and technology officer Damian Cronan said.

The network was crippled by the incident, with many of its systems forced offline, causing publishing delays and preventing some shows from airing.

Staff members have also been asked to work from home until further notice.

Nine wrote on Twitter: Whether its criminal sabotage or the work of a foreign nation is still being investigated, but this attack could reveal a nationwide vulnerability.

The Australian Parliament also suffered a cyber attack over the weekend, which caused the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) email service to shut down.

DPS has commenced a staged restoration of services on DPS issued smartphones and tablets following the disruption over the weekend, a spokesman told CNN business on Monday. Protective mechanisms have operated correctly to prevent an unsophisticated attempt to access the Parliamentary Computer Network.

The network was not compromised, and there is no identified data loss.

The news about the cyber attack on Nine and Parliament House comes after two other attacks were registered in Australia in March.

Many of Melbournes Eastern Health service systems have remained offline since a cyber attack on March 16, forcing some administration work back to pen and paper and causing significant delays.

Western Australias Parliamentary Services Department had also been attacked on March 4, during the middle of the state election. Beijing-backed hackers are suspected to be behind this incident, which was part of a global cyberattack involving Microsoft software.

Last year, cybersecurity was brought to the forefront of Australias attention after Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the countrys public and private agencies dealt with sustained cyberattacks from a sophisticated state-based cyber actor.

The ASCS has urged many Australian organisations to patch vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Exchange program.
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China today imposed new rules to ensure only 'patriots' loyal to Beijing can govern Hong Kong.

Beijing slashed the number of seats in parliament by a quarter while bolstering the size of a loyalist committee which selects Hong Kong's leader.

The Communist Party has increasingly tightened its grip over the former British colony since it moved to crush dissent with its national security law in June.

Officials claimed the latest shake-up is aimed at getting rid of 'loopholes and deficiencies' that put the country at risk during anti-government unrest in 2019 and that it was important that only 'patriots' ruled the city.

Pro-democracy protesters march on a street during a protest in Hong Kong on December 8, 2019. Beijing imposed a new national security law in June to eradicate the pro-democracy movement

President Xi Jinping presides over a military meeting in Fujian on March 24

The Communist Party slashed the number of directly elected parliamentarians from 35 to 20 and reduced the size of the legislature by 20 seats to 70.

Meanwhile an 'election committee' in charge of selecting the chief executive in the city was increased from 1,200 to 1,500 members.

The measures are part of Beijing's efforts to consolidate its increasingly authoritarian grip over its freest city following the imposition of a national security law in June, which critics see as a tool to crush dissent.

The representation of 117 community-level district councillors in the election committee would also be scrapped and the six district council seats in the Legislative Council will also go.

District councils are the city's only fully democratic institution, and almost 90% of the 452 district seats are controlled by the democratic camp after a 2019 vote. They mostly deal with grassroots issues such as public transport links and garbage collection.

The electoral restructuring was endorsed unopposed by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, at the apex of China's legislature.

As part of the shake-up, a powerful new vetting committee will monitor candidates for public office and work with national security authorities to ensure they are loyal to Beijing.

Chinese authorities have said the shake-up is aimed at getting rid of 'loopholes and deficiencies' that threatened national security during anti-government unrest in 2019 and to ensure only 'patriots' run the city.

The measures are the most significant overhaul of Hong Kong's political structure since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997 and alter the size and composition of the legislature and electoral committee in favour of pro-Beijing figures.

Beijing had promised universal suffrage as an ultimate goal for Hong Kong in its mini-constitution, the Basic Law, which also guarantees the city wide-ranging autonomy not seen in mainland China, including freedom of speech.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam wearing a face mask speaks during a news conference on March 23, 2021 in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam listens to questions during a question and answer session at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong

Critics say the changes move Hong Kong in the opposite direction, leaving the democratic opposition with the most limited space it has ever had since the handover, if any at all.

Since the security law was imposed, most pro-democracy activists and politicians have found themselves ensnared by it, or arrested for other reasons.

Some elected legislators have been disqualified, with authorities calling their oaths insincere, while scores of democracy activists have been driven into exile.

In February, Xia Baolong, head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, said patriots would also resolutely oppose foreign interference in Hong Kong.

Those who violate the national security law, or challenge the leadership of the ruling Communist Party, are not patriots, he said.
Minister Coveney announces pledge of 23 million to Syria Crisis

Press release

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, TD, today pledged a further 23 million in humanitarian assistance from Ireland in response to the Syria crisis in 2021. This brings Irelands response to the crisis since 2012 to more than 192 millionour largest ever response to a single crisis.

Minister Coveney made the pledge at the fifth Brussels Conference on Supporting the future of Syria and the region, a virtual event hosted by the EU and UN on 29-30 March.

This conference tragically marks a decade of conflict in Syria. The conflict, which followed the Syrian peoples expression of their legitimate aspiration to democracy and respect for fundamental rights, has forced millions to flee their homes. It has left millions of Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance.

Ireland is, together with Norway, leading the negotiations of the UN Security Councils resolution on the humanitarian situation in Syria. This resolution authorises the UN to deliver aid across the Turkish border to north-west Syria, where millions of vulnerable people depend on it to survive.

Recently, I visited the Bab Al-Hawa crossing, where emergency humanitarian aid is channelled to 2.7 million people in the Idlib area. Speaking with Syrian and international NGOs and UN agencies working in north-west Syria brought home to me the sheer human misery that results from conflict.

Minister Coveney called for all parties to allow access to populations in need, wherever they are located. He recalled their obligations under international law and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

In announcing Irelands pledge of 23 million to help meet the needs of those affected by the Syria regional crisis, the Minister concluded:

I strongly believe that the only way to bring lasting peace for all the people of Syria is through a sustainable, Syrian-owned political process. I urge all parties to engage seriously with the UNfacilitated process under the provisions in Security Council resolution 2254.

ENDS

Press Office

30 March 2021

Notes for Editors 15 March 2021 marked ten years since peaceful protests began throughout Syria. Their violent repression by the regime sparked a conflict that continues to this day. The conflict has taken a devastating toll on the Syrian people. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, including tens of thousands of children. The UN estimates that the crisis has created more than five and a half million refugees, mainly in neighbouring countries, and displaced a further 6 million Syrians inside their own country. Almost half of the countrys hospitals and primary healthcare centres are out of operation, and almost two and a half million children aged 5 to 17 are out of school. The objective of the Conferences is to mobilise continued support to the Syrian people, and for a comprehensive and credible political solution to the Syria conflict, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. The Conference also shines a light on the critical humanitarian issues inside the country and in the region, and provides an interactive platform for dialogue with civil society. Ireland took up its seat on the UN Security Council on 1 January 2021 and will serve as an elected member for a two-year term (2021-2022). Elected Council members take on a number of leadership roles during their terms, including as penholders of resolutions (primary drafters and facilitators of negotiations). Ireland and Norway are the co-penholders on the Syria humanitarian resolution, which authorises UN humanitarian agencies to deliver aid to nongovernment-controlled areas in northwest Syria via the Bab al-Hawa crossing point at the Turkish border. Todays pledge will bring Irelands humanitarian assistance to those affected by the Syria crisis to more than 192 million since 2012  our largest response to any single crisis. Irelands assistance in 2021 will be channelled through a range of trusted partners, including United Nations agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and NGOs. Activities supported will cover Syria and the neighbouring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.

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VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) -- Across the country, there's been a recent rise in COVID-19 cases, hospital admissions, and deaths. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention director made an emotional appeal to Americans on Monday to stay focused on beating the pandemic.

"There's so much reason for hope, but right now I'm scared. So, I'm speaking today not necessarily as your CDC director but as a wife, as a mother, as a daughter to ask you to just hold on a little while longer," Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.

Meanwhile, President Biden announced steps the administration has taken that will allow 90% of US adults to be eligible for the vaccine by April 19. But he called on every governor, mayor and local leader to maintain and reinstate mask mandates.

"We're giving up hard-fought, hard-won gains, and, as much as we're doing, America, it's time to do even more. All of us have to do our part. Everyone of us," he said.

The Biden administration said it's reviewing a World Health Organization report, expected to be released Tuesday, about the origins of the pandemic. There are already questions about the study, which the WHO has jointly produced with China. It's expected to find the virus was likely transmitted from animals to humans through the wet markets in Wuhan, China, and not leaked from a chinese lab.

"I also would like to inquire as to the extent in which the people who were on that group had access directly to the data that would need to make a determination," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director for the NIAID said

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has announced the mask mandate for the hoosier state will be lifted starting April 6th. Illinois right now has a mandate until at least June 3rd

Aston Martin seemed to have built up some ground in the winter test and these suspicions were confirmed during the Bahrain Grand Prix. Only Lance Stroll was able to play a significant role and eventually finished in tenth place. For Aston Martin this result was a bit of a shock, after their victory in Bahrain a few months earlier.

Otmar Szafnauer also noticed that it was a bit of a switch once the gap became clear. "I think it only really became clear in qualifying. Then we analyzed the data and it showed that the cars with a low rake really suffered more from the rule changes. That's why we were already expecting a tough race, but there are some positives we can take from this weekend," the Aston Martin team boss explained to Formula1.com.

Understanding changes

"We need to understand that in race conditions we are a bit faster than over one lap. Compared to where we were a few months ago, before the changes, we still have a lot of work to do though," Szafnauer acknowledged. Nevertheless, he is still holding out hope for a recovery in 2021 and is not giving up everything to shift the focus to 2022 early on.

"I think now it's going to be mostly working on the backlog we've been given by the FIA. When you talk to other teams, you hear that they make up their backlog, we don't do that. That's because of the different philosophy around aerodynamics that we use. We will work hard to reduce that gap in the coming races", concluded Szafnauer.
Pelosi plans to give up her gavel at the end of her current term. But she doesnt want to hand it to Kevin McCarthy. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Election-weary readers may think its too early to pay any attention to the 2022 midterms  but like it or not, they are relevant right now. Joe Biden and his congressional allies are only guaranteed a governing trifecta through the end of next year (and thats if a Democratic resignation or death doesnt disrupt the Senate control they hold via Kamala Harriss tiebreaking vote). If they adjudge themselves likely to lose that trifecta in the midterms, they may take greater risks in getting as much of their agenda enacted now, as opposed to later (including such gambits as Chuck Schumers trial balloon on obtaining Senate parliamentarian approval of multiple reconciliation bills for each budget resolution).

Thanks to the staggered nature of Senate elections, 2022 actually doesnt look bad for Democrats in the upper chamber. Twenty Republican seats are up compared to 15 Democratic ones, and five Senate Republican retirements have already been announced, with others still possible, while so far no Democrats are retiring.

The House, though, is another matter. A swing of just five seats would give Republicans control, and the average swing against the party controlling the White House in midterms since World War II is 27 seats; only twice (in 1998 and in 2002) has the White House party actually gained House seats in midterms. Add in a likely Republican advantage in redistricting prior to 2022 (enhanced by the fact that the GOP will totally control the process in Florida and Texas, which together will gain five House seats), and history would suggest that Democrats have an uphill path to retaining their majority.

Some fresh analysis from Kyle Kondik at Sabatos Crystal Ball shows how many Democratic House districts could be in peril. Using data comparing House results in the last four midterms (2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018) to the previous presidential cycles, Kondik suggests a substantial number of Democratic incumbents in competitive districts need to be on high alert:

Of the 1,325 races in our collection of results, roughly half (659) featured presidential party incumbents. On average, their performance fell by six percentage points from the presidential year to the midterm, or 12 points in terms of margin. Just to put that in perspective, 44 House Democrats won by 12 points or fewer in 2020.

But even though a goodly number of incumbents may be vulnerable, the risk of losing competitive seats goes up significantly if they are open:

[In the last four midterms] there were 80 open seats defended by the presidents party. These kinds of seats often end up as the best targets for the nonpresidential party in midterms: Close to half of them, 35, flipped to the nonpresidential party, and the presidential party lost an average of 9.9 points of voteshare in these districts from the presidential to the midterm (or about 20 points in terms of two-party margin).

So the odds of the House flipping to the GOP could grow steadily every time a Democratic House member announces a retirement. Just two (Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona and Filemon Vela of Texas) have retired so far, but its early, and adverse redistricting is often a prime reason for House members to hang it up.

Barring some change of plans, another House Democratic member already planning to retire (if not from Congress, then from her leadership position) is Nancy Pelosi, who will not seek reelection as party leader in the next Congress, as part of a commitment she made to restive members of her caucus in 2018. She will have personal reasons to hope for the maximum harvest of legislative achievements this year and next. But if she hands over her gavel to Kevin McCarthy, you can expect a quick halt to any Biden-administration legislative priorities until at least 2025.


CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - Epic Games said that it has filed a complaint to the United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in support of its investigation into Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) anticompetitive behavior.



The complaint alleged that Apple's anticompetitive behavior and prohibitively restrictive rules governing the distribution of apps and payment processing constitute a clear violation of the UK rules.



The complaint also illustrated Apple's monopolistic practices, which forbid users and developers respectively from acquiring or distributing apps through marketplaces other than Apple's App Store, while simultaneously forcing any in-app purchase to be processed through Apple's own payment system.



The CMA said earlier this month that it launched an investigation into Apple following complaints that its terms and conditions for app developers were unfair and anti-competitive.



The iPhone maker also operates the App Store, which is the only way for developers to distribute third-party apps on Apple's iPhones and iPads, and the only way for Apple customers to access them.



The probe has been prompted by the CMA's own work in the digital sector, as well as several developers reporting that Apple's terms and conditions are unfair and could break competition law.



Apple requires that all apps available through the App Store have to be approved by it. This approval hinges on developers agreeing to certain terms. Only Apple can distribute their apps to iPhones and iPads via the App Store.



Epic Games said Tuesday that it has also commenced legal proceedings against Apple in the U.S. and Australia, and has filed an antitrust complaint against Apple in the European Union in support of its ongoing investigation into Apple's harmful App Store conduct.



Epic Games noted that it is not seeking monetary damages. Instead, it is pursuing regulatory remedies that will prevent Apple's intentional distortion and manipulation of the market and ensure fair access and competition for consumers and developers in the UK and around the world.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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WASHINGTON  The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made an impassioned plea to Americans Monday not to let their guard down in the fight against COVID-19, saying she has a recurring feeling "of impending doom," even as President Joe Biden announced further efforts to expand access to coronavirus vaccines.

Speaking during a virtual White House briefing, Dr. Rochelle Walensky grew emotional as she reflected on her experience treating COVID-19 patients who are alone at the end of their lives.

"We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope," she said. "But right now, I'm scared."

"I'm going to lose the script, and I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom," she said.

Cases of the virus are up about 10 percent over the past week from the previous week, to about 60,000 cases per day, with both hospitalizations and deaths ticking up as well, Walensky said. She warned that without immediate action the U.S. could follow European countries into another spike in cases and suffer needless deaths.

"I have to share the truth, and I have to hope and trust you will listen," she added.

Later Monday, Biden addressed the nation from the White House, declaring, "If we let our guard down now, we can see the virus getting worse, not better. People are letting up on precautions, which is a very bad thing."

Biden delivered a direct appeal to governors, state and local leaders to reinstate mask-wearing requirements if they have eased them.

"Please, this is not politics, reinstate the mandate if you let it down," he said.

Biden announced that by April 19 at least 90 percent of the adult U.S. population would be eligible for vaccination  and would have access to a vaccination site within 5 miles of home. Quick vaccination would still depend on supply as well as overcoming some people's hesitancy about the shots.

Biden had previously directed that all states make all adults eligible for vaccination by May 1, but many have moved to lift eligibility requirements sooner in anticipation of supply increases.

Meanwhile, the White House was moving to double the number of pharmacies participating in the federal retail pharmacy program  which has emerged as among the most efficient avenues for administering vaccines  and increase the number of doses for them to deliver. The retail pharmacies are located in close proximity to most Americans and have experience delivering vaccines like the flu shots.

Biden announced that the U.S. was expecting delivery of 33 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine this week  including 11 million doses of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot.

"The president has not held back in calling for governors, leaders, the American people to continue to abide by the public health guidelines," said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. "He will continue to do that through all of his engagements."

Walensky and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, appealed to elected officials, community leaders and everyday Americans to maintain social- distancing measures and mask wearing.

"We are doing things prematurely," Fauci said, referring to moves to ease up on restrictions. Walensky appealed to Americans, "Just please hold on a little while longer."

She added: "We are not powerless, we can change this trajectory of the pandemic."

Walensky pointed to an uptick in travel and loosening virus restrictions for the increase in cases. "People want to be done with this. I, too, want to be done with this," Walensky said.

"We've seen surges after every single holiday," she reiterated: "Please limit travel to essential travel for the time being."

The White House, meanwhile is ruling out the creation of a national "vaccine passport" for Americans to verify their immunization status, saying it is leaving it to the private sector to develop a system for people show they've been vaccinated. Some other countries are establishing national databases to allow vaccinated people to resume normal activities.

"We do know that there is a segment of the population that is concerned that the government will play too heavy-handed of a role in monitoring their vaccinations," said White House COVID-19 adviser Andy Slavitt. He said officials are worried that "it would discourage people" from getting vaccinated if the federal government was involved.

The administration, instead, is developing guidelines for such passports, touching on privacy, accuracy and equity, but the White House has not said when those guidelines will be ready.
Cameroons military on Tuesday said it deployed troops to its northern border with Nigeria after a series of attacks authorities say were carried out by the terrorist group Boko Haram.

The group did not claim responsibility, but Cameroonian authorities said they also deployed village militias in response to the attacks.

Cattle rancher Donald Kulbe says economic activity has been halted since Saturdays Boko Haram attack on Cameroons northern village of Dabanga on the border with Nigeria.

The 52-year-old director of the Dabanga village cattle market says the fighters killed at least 50 animals and chased hundreds of civilians and cattle buyers from their village. He spoke to VOA from Dabanga via WhatsApp.

Kulbe said the economy has taken a hit in his village due to attacks claimed by the terrorist group, Boko Haram. This, he says, is on top of the economic downturn the Dabanga village is facing because of the coronavirus pandemic. Due to insecurity in the village and fear of customers, cattle ranchers are seeing their income fall drastically.

Several dozen villagers fled for their lives and are still hiding in the bushes in the areas near the border of the village, Kulbe said. Villagers identified at least 20 corpses after the fight between the attackers and the Cameroon military.

Midjiyawa Bakary is the governor of Cameroons Far North region that shares a border with Nigerias Borno state, epicentre of the terrorist group according to the U.N. He says more than 100 fighters attacked a Cameroon military base in Dabanga that Saturday.

The heavily armed fighters were on board six pick-up trucks and 20 motorcycles, Bakary said speaking to VOA from Maroua, capital of the Far North Region of Cameroon.

He says the terrorists killed a soldier and wounded two members of the Cameroon military who are undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

The Cameroonian military killed 20 fighters and seized six pick-up trucks, seven motorcycles and weapons the terrorists used in the attack, says Bakary. He says, unfortunately, two civilians including a pregnant woman died in the shootout between troops and the terrorists.

Boko Haram has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

On Tuesday, Cameroon said it had intelligence that several hundred heavily armed Boko Haram fighters are hiding on its northern border with Nigeria, planning attacks on Cameroon. The military said troops have been deployed to protect the border zone and recommended that civilians be vigilant and report strange visitors to their villages.

Bakary says Boko Haram fighters are planning to attack communities and military posts in Cameroon for supplies. He says the terrorist group suffered huge losses last year after frequent attacks on Boko Haram strongholds by Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad militaries.

He says besides wanting to seize weapons from Cameroon, Chadian and Nigerian troops, the terrorists intend to steal food, especially millet and cattle from villagers.

Bakary says the fighters are running short of food because their known supply routes are under the militarys control. The military is ready to fight, he added, until the terrorists whose firepower has been reduced, completely surrender.

The last heavy attack by the terrorist group in Dabanga was in 2014.

A Boko Haram assault on the base camp of road contractors killed a Cameroon soldier. Ten Chinese workers were abducted. Chinese workers abandoned the road and mining exploration sites following the attack at a camp in Waza. The kidnappers, who are suspected to be aligned with the terrorist group, also stole 10 vehicles and a container of explosives.

The captives were released in October along with 18 other hostages. The Cameroon government denied it paid ransom to secure their release.

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Six people were shot dead, while many others sustained gunshot injuries in Adani, a community in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State during a fracas on Sunday, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The report said the fracas was between the residents of the area and some hoodlums.

Houses, including shops, were razed in the area.

Normalcy has, however, been restored after the intervention of the police, the police spokesperson in Enugu, Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Ndukwe, an assistant superintendent of police, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Aliyu, visited the community on Monday in the company of heads of other security agencies in the state.

The commissioner, while calling for calm, ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to conduct thorough investigation to identify and bring perpetrators of the fracas to book.

He reassured of the Commands commitment to collaborate with sister security agencies and relevant stakeholders in the community to avert a recurrence, the police spokesperson said.

The police commissioner, he said, appealed to members of the community to be their brothers keepers and to eschew violence.

The Chairman of Uzo the local council, Chukwudi Nnadozie, thanked the police and other security agencies for their quick intervention.

Heads of security agencies, who accompanied the police commissioner, were- Brown Ekwoaba, State Director of the State Security Service, Valentine Afrika, Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Enugu State, and Abdul Abdullahi, NDLEA State Commander.

(NAN)
Tehran wont agree to stop its 20 percent uranium-enrichment work before the United States lifts all sanctions, state television quoted an unnamed official as saying, after a U.S. media report said Washington would offer a new proposal for talks to resolve the standoff over Irans nuclear program.

"A senior Iranian official tells Press TV that Tehran will stop its 20 percent uranium enrichment only if the U.S. lifts ALL its sanctions on Iran first," the state-run TV channel reported on its website on March 30.

The report quoted the official as saying that Tehran will further reduce its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers if the United States does not lift the sanctions.

Washington is rapidly running out of time" as Iran holds a presidential election in June, with campaign season kicking off in May, it added.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has been seeking to engage Iran in talks about both sides resuming compliance with the international nuclear agreement.

The accord provided relief for Iran from international sanctions in exchange for limitations on its nuclear program, which Iran says is strictly for civilian energy purposes.

But Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, withdrew the United States from the pact in 2018 and reimposed crippling economic sanctions on Iran.

Tehran responded by violating some of the accords nuclear restrictions, including a 3.67 percent limit on the purity to which it can enrich uranium.

Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran was enriching uranium up to 20 percent purity, and that its enriched-uranium stockpile had reached 14 times the limit established by the 2015 nuclear deal.

The media outlet Politico on March 29 quoted two people familiar with the situation as saying that U.S. administration officials plan to put forth a new proposal to jump-start the talks as soon as this week.

The proposal would ask Iran to halt some of its nuclear activities such as work on advanced centrifuges and the enrichment of uranium to 20 percent purity, in exchange for some relief from U.S. sanctions, according to one of the people, who said the details were still being worked out.

Iran's mission at the United Nations tweeted that "no proposal is needed for the U.S. to rejoin the nuclear agreement.

It only requires a political decision by the U.S. to fully and immediately implement all of its obligations under the accord," it added.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 21 reiterated Iran's "definite policy" that the United States must lift all sanctions if Washington wants to see Iran return to its commitments under the 2015 agreement.

With reporting by Reuters and RFE/RLs Radio Farda
As the days grow warmer and vaccination shots reach more arms, you may be looking ahead to getting out and about. An Axios-Ipsos poll released this month found that the number of Americans engaging in social interactions outside the home is increasing. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued new recommendations that individuals who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus can start to gather in small groups, without masks, offering a measure of hope in particular to those who have missed the intimacy of double dates and dinner parties.

But after a year spent internalizing public health precautions for social distancing and mask-wearing, the prospect of readjusting to in-person social engagements may be a daunting one. For many, it provokes a sense of profound discomfort, apprehension or ambivalence.

Its a new version of anxiety, said Dr. Lucy McBride, an internist in Washington who writes a newsletter about managing the coronavirus crisis. You may discover that your continuing concerns about the virus are colliding with a new set of worries about seeing others more regularly: What am I comfortable with? How do I act? What do I say?

Theres two feelings that are continuing to exist for me, said Allison Harris-Turk, 46, an events and communications consultant and mother of three in San Diego. Harris-Turk created the Facebook group Learning in the Time of Corona, where many among the roughly 16,700 members are discussing the pros and cons of reentry. Theres the excitement and the optimism and the hope, and then theres also the grief and the trauma and oh, my goodness, how are we going to recover from this? 

Heres how some individuals and experts are starting to think about closing the social distance.

Start small

Though you may be chafing at the confines of the lockdown, remember that its still not entirely safe to resume social activities as before. Across most of the country, the risk of coronavirus transmission remains high.

If youre wary of reentry, begin with a lower-stakes outing. Its like little baby steps getting back into it, said Dr. David Hilden, a Minneapolis-based internist who hosts a weekly radio show during which he answers listeners pandemic questions. Hes observed this firsthand: Earlier this month, he met up with a friend to share a beer for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. Now that weve dipped our toe in the water, a lot of Zoom meetings end with, Hey, I think we can get together now, he said.

Understand that hanging out might take more effort

After receiving her first shot of a coronavirus vaccine, Aditi Juneja, a New York-based lawyer, expected to feel the same flood of relief that some of her peers had described after getting theirs. While on the phone with a friend, she started to consider future late nights and travel to far-off destinations. I was like, Man, I want to dance on bars,  Juneja, 30, said. There was a euphoria about imagining the possibilities.

But after 10 minutes, she found even the fantasy versions of these scenarios exhausting. The reality can be, too. She described the sensory overload and disorientation she felt while dining outdoors with a friend for the first time in months. I think our ability to take inputs has really lowered, Juneja said.

This is especially true for individuals suffering from social anxiety, for whom the lockdowns have offered some relief, and for whom reopening presents new stressors. But even extroverts may experience an adjustment period as our brains adapt to planning and monitoring responses to unfamiliar situations. At the beginning of the pandemic, people had to change their behaviors to comply with social distancing, mask-wearing and sheltering in place. But learning those new behaviors  and now, relearning old ones  can take a cognitive toll.

Social settings are particularly demanding, said David Badre, author of the book On Task: How Our Brain Gets Things Done and a professor of cognitive, linguistic and psychological sciences at Brown University. When we have to really focus and plan what were doing, that comes with an experience of mental effort, he continued. It feels like a mental fatigue.

There is good news, however. Youll most likely find it easier to relearn old behaviors than learn entirely new ones. The key is to not avoid that effort, Badre said. By reengaging, you will get used to it again.

Set boundaries for yourself

Though the past month has seen a spate of reopenings across the country, some scenarios might still set off a siren in your head. And because these facilities are open doesnt mean you need to go.

But what if a friend or family member does want to see a movie or dine out? If you express disagreement over what is safe, you might feel as though you are implying your companions are less responsible or unethical.

Sunita Sah, a professor at the University of Cambridge and Cornell University, has researched this phenomenon, which she calls insinuation anxiety. In studies, Sah has found that patients frequently follow medical advice from their doctor even if they believe their doctor to have a conflict of interest, and that job candidates often answer interview questions they know are illegal to ask. These reactions come partly out of concern that to disagree would suggest the other person  the doctor or the job interviewer  is not trustworthy.

A similar situation can play out if youre confronted with someone whose attitude toward public health protocols differs from your own. Sahs research has shown that when individuals have the opportunity to weigh their decisions in private, they are less likely to experience this anxiety and do something that makes them uncomfortable. She recommended writing down the boundaries that you would like to adhere to and taking time before agreeing to someone elses plan.

Assess your own risk level and comfort, Sah said, so youre very clear about what you would and would not like to do. This will also provide you with a clear document of how your comfort levels are changing over time as you readjust.

Brace for tough conversations

Over the past year, public health guidance often wildly varied on federal, state and even city levels, with some areas flinging open their doors while experts still advised caution. This has also been reflected in interpersonal relationships. Its created friction between couples, families and friends, and prompted individuals to ask challenging, sometimes seemingly intrusive questions. Now, you may be adding Are you vaccinated? to that list. (On Twitter, one woman recently proposed reentry doulas to help families navigate conversations about setting boundaries.)

Still, it will continue to be important to have these conversations in the coming months. This isnt abstract, said Marci Gleason, an associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin whose lab has been surveying relationships in quarantine. It comes directly to the question of whether we can socialize with others or not, in the way that they want to. Sometimes, it can feel like a proxy battle over how much you value each others friendship. Be open about your own fears and vulnerabilities, and make it clear that when you disagree, youre expressing your own preference and not rejecting the other person. Keep it simple, too, especially with friends or relatives with whom you dont frequently have emotional, candid talks.

This empathy and candor will also be an asset if you find that your friends and peers have developed the tendency to overshare, either out of anxiety or being starved for conversation. (You may be doing it yourself, too.) If a conversation subject makes you uncomfortable or anxious, say so.

Being really open and direct is the best way, said Dr. Danesh Alam, a psychiatrist and the medical director of behavior health services at Northwestern Medicine Central Dupage Hospital. Alam suggested studying up for conversations, preparing some questions and topics in order to chat with more intention and keep things on topic.

Take your time

Its OK if you dont feel ready to see people socially again. Through the challenges of the lockdown period, you may have found that your mental health is served best when you have time for calm and rest and introspection, McBride said.

So pace yourself while considering the benefits of getting back out there.

Even casual interactions have been shown to foster a sense of belonging and community. Social interaction is critical to our existence, Alam said. Remember, too, that there are bound to be some weird moments as you start seeing others more regularly and your pandemic instincts (no hugging) and before-times instincts (Do you want a bite of this?) collide.

If youre comfortable going to a dinner at a small family restaurant, you can do that, Hilden said. If you want to wait a month or two, thats OK, too.
Agricultural Commercialisation Project (Agcom) funding of K19 250,000 to Mchinji Dairy Farmers Cooperative has been used to procure three machines worth K12 million to be used to make feed for dairy cattle.

Mchinji Dairy Cooperative Chair Clement Mayeso Banda confirmed to Nyasa Times about the procurement, saying the Cooperative is expected to grow on its output as compared to the current output.

He said the Cooperative has been spending more on dairy feed.

"What was happening is that we have been spending a lot in procurement of feed for our dairy animals. Now we will be making the feed ourselves and this is a big achievement," he said.

Banda said the group worked hard and managed to contribute K9 million making the total amount to K28 Million.

He has since encouraged others to form Cooperatives , contribute 10 percent and access the grant from World Bank funded Agcom.

Agcom national coordinator Ted Nakhumwa commented: "Let me commend Mchinji for the what they are doing. It's true they have bought equipment and have contributed money for the second trank, this is a welcome development."

Nakhumwa said its sad that some people up to now intend to doubt the importance of 10 percent contribution.

He said the organisation has agremetns with 40 off-takers to increase commercialisation of selected agriculture value chain products.

An off-taker agreement is a deal between a producer and a buyer that formalises a buyer's intention to purchase a certain amount of the producer's future output.

Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, are implementing a $95 million (about K70 billion) Agcom project with a loan from the World Bank. The project will be implemented countrywide for six years from 2018-2023.
Million Maskless March, Mask Burning Event Being Planned in Florida

Florida residents who oppose mask mandates due to the COVID-19 pandemic are trying to organize a large protest and mask burning event next month.

You are invited to the Million Maskless March and Mask Burning, Saturday April 10, 2021 at 3pm at the Corner of A1A and Las Olas in Ft Lauderdale! said Chris Nelson, the organizer of the protest, in a post online. Nelson added that April 10 marks one year of mask tyranny in Broward County and we will mark that date with a celebration of freedom!

The event, dubbed the Million Maskless March and Mask Burning, will be held on that date in Fort Lauderdale, he said.

Authorities have given him permission, Nelson also said. The City of Fort Lauderdale has been contacted for comment.

The mask burning is in full cooperation with local law enforcement and will be done in a safe and controlled manner. Following the mask burning we will March north on A1A, make a sharp left at Seabreeze and march back to where we began. The event will be over by 5pm, he wrote, adding that signs are VERY important, saying that people should have signs with slogans like: MASKS ARE SLAVERY, NO MORE MASKS, MASKS OFF CHILDREN, and NO VACCINE PASSPORTS.

April is a very busy time for Ft Lauderdale Beach and this is exactly why this location was chosen, Nelson added. Our goal is for people to see us and be inspired to join in!

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has been among the most vocal critics of lockdown measures and so-called vaccine passports. DeSantis has rolled back mask mandates as well as other restrictions in his state, which he says has not triggered a spike in CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus cases or a health catastrophe.

The lockdowns failed to stop the virus but did a great deal of societal damage along the waydamage that a more targeted approach, seeking to reduce total harms, would have been able to avoid (and did, in places like Sweden and Florida), DeSantis wrote in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal on March 18.

And over the past weekend, DeSantis criticized plans for a vaccine passport system that is reportedly being drafted by the Biden administration. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday that the administration wants the private sector to take the lead on such proposals.

As a result, the governor announced he would take executive action against such measures.

You want the fox to guard the hen house? I mean, give me a break. I think this is something that has huge privacy implications, he said.

On Monday, Biden said that governors should re-implement their mask policies and pause re-opening efforts, coming after Texas, Mississippi, and other states rescinded their face covering mandates and moved to allow businesses to open again.

Im reiterating my call for every governor, mayor, and local leader to maintain and reinstate the mask mandate. Please, this is not politics. Reinstate the mandate if you let it down, he said at a White House event.
PHOENIX  Ken Koshio has hiked Piestewa Peak every day for a year to perform a prayer at sunrise. The Japanese folk artist carries his taiko drum, flute and other instruments on his back.

I tell people 100 pounds  (its) maybe 30, 40, I dont know. But thats not heavy, said Koshio, whose performances gained something of a following each morning.

Hiking the 1.2-mile Summit Trail is hard even without extra weight. Near the top, the trail quickly turns steep, requiring hands and feet to clear the jagged rocks. When he first started doing this morning ritual, he said, the hike was grueling.

But now every day, you know, its not heavy, but more like a balance, said Koshio of Phoenix, who describes himself as a global peace warrior on his website.

Koshio specializes in taiko, an ancient Japanese drumming practice. He started a version of this ceremony at dawn each New Years Day in 2009 on Camelback Mountain. He has added instruments over the years, and started going more often. But when the pandemic hit, his in-person performances were canceled.

So then I thought, OK, I want to start (to do it as) a prayer every day. On top of that, you know, Piestewa.

Koshio said Piestewa Peak was a natural place to go after the Cholla Trail on Camelback closed last year. In March 2020, a boulder came loose after some rain on the trail, forcing the closure, according to an article from 12News. Phoenix is restoring the trail.

Koshio said Piestewa Peak also was significant because of who its named for.

And then also this mountain after the name of Lori Piestewa, Koshio said. Her memorial day was also March 23. So then, after that, every day, Ive been doing this.

Piestewa, an Army private from Tuba City, was the first Native American woman to die in combat as a member of the U.S. military. She was killed in March 2003 during the invasion of Iraq, and the peak was renamed in her honor the next month.

Koshio said this prayer and ceremony has allowed him to start his day grounded in his culture and spirituality.

Taiko, which means drum in Japanese, has been part of the culture for centuries and has been used in military, religious and cultural arenas, according to Stanford Taiko. The practice has evolved in North America.

Koshios daily ceremony captured the attention of other hikers, including Erez Kessler of Israel.

Were waiting for that every morning, Kessler said. Im waiting to see my friends.  We like a small community of family, different languages. We all come in here to watch Ken and enjoy his spirit.

Koshio said everyone who watched his 15-minute performance took time to reflect on their own ideals and beliefs.

So, maybe what Ive been doing inspired them to feel that so maybe that gives them some kind of feeling, Koshio said.

Thats exactly what Marisa Ramella-Hicks said she thought when she first experienced Koshios performance. She said she started hiking the peak on April 28.

That was the day my aunt was dying from COVID, and (to) take my mind off things, I came up, she said, calling it a fabulous experience.  We were all magnetized.

Abhijit Ganguly of India has hiked Piestewa for the past 10 years. He describes himself as an early riser who hits the trail at 4:30 in the morning.

And by the time Im here, Ken is here, Ganguly said. And then we start. We have a great, great morning.

Koshio said this daily ritual is all for his personal devotion. But those who watch him also take something from this ceremony.

And sometimes, Ramella-Hicks said, its the whole song that just brings tears to my eyes, and sometimes I can just smile through the whole song and at the end, just tears  tears of joy, really  come to me.

Koshio ended his daily ritual Tuesday on Lori Piestewas memorial day, March 23.

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
Published on 2021/03/29 | Source

Actress Shim Eun-woo admitted to the allegations of school violence after about a month it first came out. Along with Shim Eun-woo's acknowledgement of school violence, attention is also being paid to the response of the production team of "Fly High Butterfly" which she is currently starring in.

On the 28th, Shim Eun-woo said on her personal social media that she met with the victim who made accusations on school violence, and that she knew that she had hurt the victim.

On this day, Shim Eun-woo said, "I realized that what I said without thinking in the past could remain a long pain to the other person, and I have deep concerns about my past life and my present self. I am truly sorry".

Actress Shim Eun-woo is currently filming "Fly High Butterfly".

Shim Eun-woo is known to play a significant character in "Fly High Butterfly" and many parts of the filming are known to have been carried out. In the early days of the suspicion, "Fly High Butterfly" said through a media outlet that it was aware of the controversy, but that it was not discussed whether Shim Eun-woo was to drop out or not.

However, the situation changed when Shim Eun-woo admitted to the accusations. There are precedents such as the suspension of the activities of Hyunjin of Stray Kids, who has already admitted to school violence, and the drop-out of actor Ji Soo from the KBS2 drama "River Where the Moon Rises".

Therefore, netizens are also showing interest in Shim Eun-woo's "Fly High Butterfly". In fact, the work is being mentioned in the online community and others as 'the drama that Shim Eun-woo is starring in'.

Attention is focusing on what position the drama "Fly High Butterfly" will take against Shim Eun-woo.
New Delhi: More than 3,400 challans were issued for various traffic violations on Holi, including 100 against those engaged in drunken driving, while 730 people were fined for not wearing a face mask, Delhi police said on Tuesday (March 30).

Two accidents took place this year as compared to 23 last year and 28 in 2019, they said.

"Several traffic police teams were deployed to check violations across the city. Due to awareness campaigns and the strict presence of police on the ground, there was better compliance observed by the general public this year," an official said.

Police said 3,446 challans were issued this year on Holi, which was celebrated on Monday, for various traffic-related violations as compared to 4,918 challans last year and 16,556 challans in 2019, the police said.

According to police data, out of the 3,446 challans issued, 1,255 challans were against those found riding without a helmet, 170 for triple riding, 100 for drunken driving, 121 for dangerous driving and 1,800 for other traffic violations.

Out of the 4,918 challans issued last year, 964 were for riding without a helmet, 180 for triple riding, 726 for drunken driving, 150 for dangerous driving and 2,898 for other traffic violations.

The Delhi Police had made elaborate arrangements to ensure that the guidelines by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority regarding COVID-appropriate behaviour are strictly enforced on the ground without hampering the festive spirit of Holi, the police said.

At the district level, a total of 72 cases were registered for violations of DDMA guidelines, while four incidents of gatherings were reported.

Till 4 PM on Monday, 730 challans were issued to people who were found without a face mask, nine were fined for not adhering to social distancing norms and three for spitting in public places, according to the data shared by the police.

As many as 871 persons were prosecuted/arrested, even as 1,696 vehicles were impounded by local police while no major incident was reported.
Washington, March 30 : The US has recorded more than 10,000 infection cases of coronavirus variants as experts warn of another Covid-19 surge.

Among the total of 10,985 variants cases reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of Sunday, 10,579 cases were caused by the variant known as B.1.1.7, which was originally detected in Britain, Xinhua reported.

There were 288 cases of a new strain initially discovered in South Africa, called B.1.351, and 118 cases of the P.1 strain first discovered in Brazil.

In addition, the B.1.427 and B.1.429 variants, two coronavirus strains first detected in California, are also being closely monitored by the CDC.

The five coronavirus strains are currently classified by the CDC as "variants of concern," as evidence shows an increase in their transmissibility, increased hospitalizations or deaths, significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures.

Virus variants may contribute to "increased spread" of infections, Stanley Perlman, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Iowa, told Xinhua in an interview.

"Cases may be increasing again. We need to still wear masks and practice social distancing," he noted.

Experts have repeatedly expressed concern that the country would face another surge in Covid-19 cases if Americans did not keep protective measures such as wearing masks, avoiding travel, and continuing social distancing until more people are vaccinated.

Despite the drop of new Covid-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations for weeks, now the country has seen a rise in new cases in 27 states.

Currently the seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases is about 61,000 cases a day, a 10 percent increase over the previous period, according to the CDC.

The current seven-day average of daily new hospitalizations is about 4,816 people, a 4.2 per cent increase over the previous week, CDC data show.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Monday she feels a sense of "impending doom" about another surge in COVID-19 cases as infections increased by 10 per cent.

Walensky said CDC data show that new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are increasing, which she attributed to increased travel in recent weeks, lifting restrictions, and more relaxed behavior.

"I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom. We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are, and so much reason for hope. But right now, I'm scared," Walensky said during a White House briefing.

Public health officials said protective measures like mask use, physical distancing, hand hygiene and prompt vaccination can help prevent against Covid-19 infections and emerging strains.
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Humans have salivary glands, while snakes possess venom glands. But researchers have found that humans might someday possess venomous saliva like snakes.

Researchers from Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University and the Australian National University studied the genes that work together and interact with venom in pit viper snakes.

Their findings suggest that the genetic foundation needed for oral venom to evolve can also be found in the genes of reptiles and mammals. This means that humans may be on the evolutionary path of evolving to having venomous saliva.

The study, entitled "An ancient, conserved gene regulatory network led to the rise of oral venom systems" published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first concrete evidence on the underlying molecular link between the venom glands found in snakes and the salivary glands in mammals.





New Meaning of a Toxic Person

Sky News reported that scientists found the genetic foundation required for oral venom to evolve in both reptiles and mammals.

"It definitely gives a whole new meaning to a toxic person," study author Agneesh Barua jokingly said.

Researchers studied the venom glands found in the Taiwan habu snake, which is a pit viper found in Asia, and looked for genes that work together and cooperate with the venom genes.

They were able to identify about 3,000 of these cooperating genes that play a significant role in protecting the cells from stress brought by the production of lots of proteins.

Also, the researchers investigated genomes from other mammals, such as dogs, chimpanzees, and humans, and found that these mammals have their own version of such genes.

ALSO READ: Humans, First Animals on Earth Show Surprising Similarities; Oldest Creatures Found Multicellular





Venom's Ancient Foundation

The study reveals the ancient foundation of the snake's oral venom. Barua said that venoms are the cocktail of proteins that animals use against prey to immobilize them, and also acts as their self-defense.

But aside from snakes, other animals also possess venom, like jellyfish, spiders, scorpions, and some mammals. Understanding how different genes interact helped the researchers further understand the key in regulating protein modification and folding.

According to MailOnline, the long amino acids must fold in a certain way during gene production because even a single misfolded protein could accumulate and damage the cells.

Barua explained that a robust system in place is needed to manufacture all required proteins for the genes to ensure that it is folded correctly and therefore could function effectively.

When they found that mammals, like humans, have genes in their salivary glands that have similar patterns of activity seen in the venom glands they believed that both glands share an ancient foundation that has remained since the two lineages split hundreds of millions of years ago.

Barua noted that this is the first solid evidence that venom glands evolved from salivary glands. With the apparent ease of salivary glands being repurposed as venom glands, scientists are starting to look at mammals in a different light.

For instance, in the 1980s, researchers have observed that male mice produced toxic compounds when injected into rats. If under certain ecological conditions, mice continue to develop toxic saliva and with reproductive success, they could become venomous mice in a few thousand years.



RELATED ARTICLE: Genes of Half-Billion-Year-Old Sea Monsters Surprisingly Similar to Humans





Check out more news and information on Human Evolution in Science Times.
Nine more men have filed separate civil lawsuits in Union and Hudson Superior Courts accusing Robert Goodlin, a former shop teacher, of sexual assault when they were students in Elizabeth and Secaucus.

Goodlin was convicted in February 2019 of sexually assaulting two former students while he worked at Battin Middle School in Elizabeth from 1993-2004. In May 2019, Goodlin was sentenced to three years in state prison. He is currently incarcerated at the Adult Diagnostic Treatment Center in Avenel.

Before he worked in Elizabeth, Goodlin taught wood shop and auto mechanics at Secaucus High School and ran the schools fishing club in the 1980s. The newly filed lawsuits include two alleged victims from the Elizabeth school district and seven from Secaucus. The men, who are only identified in the lawsuits by their initials, range in age from 30 to 53.

Since 2013, we always believed there were more victims; however, it was not until the last few years that we learned just how many children were groomed and abused by Goodlin, said Brian Schiller, attorney for the victims.

Last June, Goodlin, 77, applied for early release due to COVID-19, but was denied. His appeal was also denied in November. Goodlin will become eligible for parole on Dec. 6, 2021.

The Secaucus school board did not return a request for comment. A spokesman for the Elizabeth school district said the districts current administration and board of education sympathize with the individuals involved.

The individual accused in these instances has not been employed by the school district for 17 years, a time that predates all current members of the school board and the superintendent, said Pat Politano, a spokesman for the district.

Yearbook photos of Robert Goodlin when he worked at Secaucus High School.

One student, who was in the Secaucus district, alleges Goodlin took him to New York City in order to hire prostitutes, who gave the students oral sex while Goodlin watched and masturbated, according to the lawsuit.

Another Elizabeth district student claims Goodlin showed students porn videos, offered alcohol, rides home and trips to his lake house. Goodlin also asked male students questions about whether they masturbated and whether they liked anal sex, according the one lawsuit.

I have been saying for the past several years that Goodlin was a monster who wreaked havoc on so many peoples lives, but as our investigation continues, we learn truly just how manipulative and evil Goodlin really was, and it is quite disturbing, Schiller said.

Depositions and school documents from Elizabeth allege Goodlin demonstrated what experts called some of the most obvious signs a teacher could be grooming students for abuse, prompting reports from concerned teachers and calls to the Union County prosecutors office.

Goodlin was never removed from the classroom for more than a few days. Instead, in 2004, he was allowed to retire. After retiring, Goodlin worked again in Secaucus for four months as a substitute teacher and then for two years as a substitute in Wood-Ridge.

According to the new lawsuits, multiple administrators at Secaucus felt that Goodlin was too friendly with the male students, and they monitored Goodlin during the school day under what was termed Bob Watch. However, the staff members who were part of Bob Watch never called the police or DYFS, the filings say.

Former Elizabeth teacher Robert Goodlin was sentenced to three years to be served in the states prison for sex offenders in Avenel after he pleaded guilty to charges he sexually assaulted two middle-school students numerous times over a decade.

The lawsuits also allege that the Elizabeth Police Department received an anonymous tip in 1996 concerning Goodlin and his after-school relationships with teenage boys attending Battin Middle School. Upon receiving the tip, police officers set up surveillance on Goodlin and observed him with middle school aged boys in his car after school several times, the lawsuit alleges.

The lead detective stated that what he saw made the hair on [his] neck stand up, Schiller said.

A spokesperson for the city did not respond to a request for comment.

In September 2018, a Union County jury awarded $1.15 million in damages to one of Goodlins victims. The Elizabeth school district also paid a $600,000 settlement awarded in June 2017 in the same case, for a total of $1.75 million. A civil lawsuit filed by a second Elizabeth victim is ongoing.

Goodlin was one of the teachers featured in an NJ Advance Media investigation that revealed a broken system for vetting and hiring teachers. The damning cycle, known as passing the trash, helped multiple educators get hired in new schools after allegations of misconduct or abuse, including one teacher later convicted of sexually assaulting six students in three different school districts.

After NJ Advance Medias report, a law that would require schools to reveal investigations about sexual misconduct was passed by the state legislature and signed by Governor Murphy in April 2018.

Read more:

List of men accusing N.J. shop teacher of sexual abuse grows by two

Im sorry for anybody Ive inconvenienced, says former shop teacher who sexually abused 2 students

Teachers accused of sexual misconduct keep getting jobs in N.J. Heres why

Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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The B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants of SARS-CoV-2 were first detected in the UK and South Africa respectively, and have since spread to many other countries.

Scientists from the Institut Pasteur joined forces with Orleans Regional Hospital, Tours University Hospital, Creteil Intercommunal Hospital, Strasbourg University Hospital and Georges Pompidou European Hospital to study the sensitivity of these two variants to neutralizing antibodies present in the serum samples of people who have been vaccinated or previously infected with SARS-CoV-2.

They compared this sensitivity with that of the reference virus (D614G), which was until recently the most widespread strain in France. The scientists demonstrated that the UK variant is neutralized to the same degree as D614G, whereas the South African variant is less sensitive to neutralizing antibodies.

To neutralize the South African variant, the antibody concentrations need to be six times higher than for D614G. This difference in sensitivity was also observed in vaccinated individuals; the antibodies in their serum are effective against the UK variant but less so against the South African one. The study was published in Nature Medicine on March 26th, 2021.

On December 14, 2020, the UK authorities informed WHO that a variant (B.1.1.7) had been detected in the south east of England. Within a few weeks, this variant took over from the viral strains circulating in this region and in London. On December 18, 2020, the South African authorities reported that a variant (B.1.351) had been detected and was spreading rapidly throughout three provinces of South Africa.

According to WHO's epidemiological bulletin dated February 14, the UK and South African variants are now present in 94 and 48 countries respectively. These two variants are considered to be 'variants of interest' and are subject to epidemiological surveillance at national and international levels.

In a new study, scientists from the Institut Pasteur joined forces with Orleans Regional Hospital, Tours University Hospital, Creteil Intercommunal Hospital, Strasbourg University Hospital and Georges Pompidou European Hospital to study the sensitivity of the UK and South African variants to antibodies in comparison with the reference strain circulating in France (D614G).

The aim of this study was to characterize the capability of antibodies developed by people who had been vaccinated or previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 to neutralize these new variants.

The scientists isolated the SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 using samples provided by the National Reference Center for Respiratory Infection Viruses, hosted at the Institut Pasteur. Serum samples of people who had been vaccinated or previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2 were used to study the sensitivity of the variants to the antibodies present in this serum.

"Previously, the efficacy of neutralization had been mainly assessed using tests with pseudoviruses. We believe that it's crucial to use authentic infectious virus strains in addition to pseudoviruses to assess viral sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies.

In this study, we isolated and used authentic B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 strains and developed a novel rapid semi-automated neutralization assay based on 'reporter' cells that turn fluorescent after a few hours of infection", explained Olivier Schwartz, co-last author of the study and Head of the Virus and Immunity Unit at the Institut Pasteur.

The results of the study showed that the UK variant (B.1.1.7) was neutralized by 95% (79 out of 83) of the serum of people who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and whose samples were taken up to nine months after the onset of symptoms.

The same proportions were observed for the D614G strain, which has been the most widespread strain in France since the start of the epidemic. Moreover, there was no major difference in the antibody concentrations required to neutralize the D614G or B.1.1.7 strains.

However, the scientists noticed a decline in neutralizing activity against the South African variant in 40% of the serum samples of individuals who had been exposed to the virus, for samples taken nine months after the primary infection.

They also demonstrated that to neutralize the South African variant (B.1.351), the antibody concentrations needed to be approximately six times higher than for D614G.

We showed that the faster-spreading variants, particularly the South African one, have become partially resistant to the antibodies produced after a natural infection. This reduced efficacy is particularly visible among individuals with low antibody levels." Olivier Schwartz, Study Co-Last Author and Head of Virus and Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur

The research teams also investigated the serum samples of people who had been vaccinated with one of the first vaccines used in France (Pfizer-BioNTech COMIRNATY). The vaccinated individuals were studied two to four weeks after their first vaccine injection.

The results showed that after two weeks, the serum only neutralized the D614G strain, whereas the B.1.1.7 strain started to be neutralized at week 3, although less efficiently than D614G. The anti-B.1.351 response was negative up to week 3, and could be detected at week 4.

Four weeks after the first vaccine injection (i.e. one week after the second injection), the serum samples of the vaccinated individuals were almost as effective against the UK variant as against D614G, but remained less effective against the South African variant. 80% of the serum samples were neutralizing for D614G and B.1.1.7, and 60% of the samples were neutralizing for the B.1.351 variant.

"The vaccine generated a neutralizing response that efficiently targeted the D614G and B.1.1.7 strains, despite a delay in the emergence of neutralizing antibodies against B.1.1.7. The efficacy of neutralizing antibodies for the B.1.351 strain was lower", explained the co-last authors of the study, Sylvie van der Werf, Head of the National Reference Center for Respiratory Infection Viruses at the Institut Pasteur, and Thierry Prazuck, Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Orleans Regional Hospital.

The scientists also analyzed the presence of neutralizing antibodies in the nasal samples of vaccinated individuals. They did not observe any neutralizing activity in the nasal mucosa of these people, apart from in individuals who had already been infected with SARS-CoV-2 prior to being vaccinated. This suggests that vaccination does not induce neutralizing antibodies in the nasal mucosa, at least at an early stage after vaccination (four weeks after the first injection).
RTHK: Calls grow to fight 'rape culture' in UK education

Pressure intensified on Tuesday on the UK government to act over claims that a "rape culture" is "endemic" throughout the country's education system, after thousands of victims' testimonies were collated online.

Politicians and education leaders were among those calling on ministers to respond following the deluge of first-hand accounts of sexual abuse, assault and other misconduct posted anonymously on the website "Everyone's Invited".

Created by 22-year-old Sara Soma last summer, it has catalogued nearly 10,000 testimonies from more than 38,000 contributors, detailing harrowing alleged incidents ranging from catcalling to rape across schools, colleges and universities.

The number of reports has increased dramatically since the disappearance and death of 33-year-old Sarah Everard as she walked home in London this month, sparking outrage and a national debate on women's safety.

"From the testimonies 'Everyone's Invited' has received it is clear that rape culture is endemic," Soma wrote in The Times newspaper this week.

"Let's hope there is a snowball effect and rape culture is better understood, and eradicated," she added.

"It's in all parts of society including all universities and all schools."

Incidents involving boys from scores of schools have been collated, including some attending elite fee-paying establishments such as Sherborne, Westminster and Eton, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prince William studied.

In recent days, the reports have broadened to include numerous schools in the state-run education system as well as universities.

London's Metropolitan Police has said it is assessing whether those who have posted their stories could be encouraged to report crimes, and that "a number of reports of specific offences" were being examined.

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) has urged parents to take their sons to the police if they are responsible for a sexual assault.

Education minister Gavin Williamson has called the victims' testimonies "shocking and abhorrent" and vowed to take "appropriate action", while providing few specific details.

"Any victim of these sickening acts that we've seen reported should raise their concerns with someone they trust, whether that's a family member or friend, a teacher, social worker, or the police," he said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the education and interior ministries, along with the NPCC, are in contact with "Everyone's Invited" to provide "support, protection and advice to those who are reporting abuse", a government spokeswoman said.

That includes contacting professionals or the police if requested, she added.

However, the main opposition Labour Party is pushing for a more comprehensive response.

"I'm really worried about what we are seeing," its leader Keir Starmer said. "There's got to be an inquiry and it has got to get going very fast; this is serious."

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, agreed there was "clearly an urgent need to ask ourselves what more we can all do to prevent sexual harassment and violence".

He added: "There is no doubt that schools can and should play a key role in this work, but this is a problem that reaches far beyond the school gates."

Maria Miller, an MP from the ruling Conservatives who oversaw a 2016 watchdog report into the issue, said it appeared little had changed in the five years since it published its findings.

She noted that British schools regulator Ofsted was now required to monitor sexual harassment allegations and action, and called for it to conduct a "deep dive" to assess if that was happening. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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MT Hjgaard Holding's business unit, MT Hjgaard Danmark, has won DSB's tender for the establishment of a train workshop and railway facilities in Nstved. The workshop will be used for repair and maintenance work on DSB's recently purchased electric trains, trainsets and double-decker carriages. The tender is divided into three phases, and if MT Hjgaard Danmark qualifies for all phases, as expected, the tender's total value is expected to amount to around DKK 900 million.

The project is comprised of the following phases:

Phase 0: Implementation phase including kick off workshop

Phase 1: Cooperation phase

Phase 2: Turnkey and execution phase

It is expected that DSB, in accordance with tender regulation, will enter into the agreement with MT Hjgaard Danmark after the standstill period expires on 8 April 2021. The turnkey and execution phase is expected to be initiated in 2022 and completed in late 2024.

The tender does not change MT Hjgaard Holding's previously announced 2021 outlook, but it will contribute significantly to the group's long-term, sustainable development in the coming years.

Additional information:

CEO Morten Hansen and CFO Martin Solberg can be contacted on telephone +45 22 70 93 65.

Attachment
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A bestselling author who became 'obsessed' with freeing a convicted murderer from prison has revealed how the nearly six years she has spent on the case has left her 'absolutely broke,' 'seriously ill,' and 'years past deadline' on her next book.

Sara Gruen, whose 2006 novel Water for Elephants sold 10 million copies worldwide, has devoted countless hours and more than $500,000 of her own money trying to prove the innocence of Charles Murdoch, who was sentenced to life without parole for first-degree murder in the early 1990s.

In a piece published in partnership with The Marshall Project and New York Magazine, fellow author Abbott Kahler detailed how the 52-year-old from Asheville, North Carolina, has nearly ruined her life by taking on the case.

'Since 2016, she has been in a perpetual state of emergency. She has borrowed against her house. Death threats forced her to flee her home for months. Her health declined mysteriously and with terrifying speed,' Kahler wrote.

'As Saras friend of nearly 20 years, I worried that she might die  or that if she lived, it would be as an incomplete, foreign version of herself, one incapable of coherent conversation, let alone writing books.'

Dedicated: Sara Gruen, 52, Asheville, North Carolina, from has devoted countless hours and more than $500,000 trying to prove the innocence of convicted murderer Charles Murdoch

When Murdoch first wrote a letter to Gruen in June 2015, he wasn't looking for money, help, or even a response. He just wanted to talk about her book Water for Elephants, which was adapted into a movie of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson four years prior.

Murdoch, an inmate at Californias Pleasant Valley State Prison, explained that like the star-crossed lovers in the novel, his grandparents were performers in a circus in the early 20th century. He wanted to know if the character Lottie the Aerialist was based on his grandmother.

Gruen did, in fact, research a real-life performer named Lottie, but that wasn't the only reason she was drawn to the prisoner, who drew flowers on the letter to make it look like stationary.

Murdoch told her that former chief justice Alex Kozinski of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit called his 'wrongful' conviction a 'truly spectacular miscarriage of justice,' which stuck with her.

Gruen was working on a novel about the Orient Express when she read his letter and started Googling his case. She later wrote back to him, something she rarely does, and sent him copies of all of her books with a note that said: 'May justice finally prevail.'

Connection: Murdoch, who was sentenced to life without parole for first-degree murder in the 1990s, wrote her a letter in 2015 to discuss her 2006 book Water for Elephants

She regretted her choice of words after it quickly dawned on her that no one was going to help Murdoch clear his name.

The author acknowledged to Kahler that Murdoch was not the 'fuzzy bunny of wrongfully convicted inmates.' His penchant for holding up ice-cream stores in Long Beach, California, earned him the nickname the 'Baskin-Robbins Bandit,' but he insisted that his .38-caliber revolver was never loaded.

Murdoch's murder conviction stemmed from the robbery of Chriss Horseshoe Bar in Long Beach on May 17, 1983. Three men were involved in the holdup, which led to one customer being fatally shot and another critically wounded after being stabbed.

After more than a decade, advancements in forensics allowed law enforcement to identify Dino Dinardo as one of the robbers from a fingerprint left on the cash register. He was arrested in 1994 and ended up naming Murdoch as an accomplice. They were both charged with murder and tried separately.

However, at Dinardo's trial, he testified that homicide detective Ronald Pavek had coerced him into naming Murdoch as one of his accomplices. He was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison, but Judge Charles Sheldon told him he might be willing to reduce his sentence if testified against Murdoch.

Dinardo agreed to the terms, but ahead of the trial, he wrote a letter to his then-lawyer stating that Pavek had coerced the statement from him and assured him he wouldn't be charged with murder if he implicated Murdoch.

The letter was sealed under attorney-client privilege, but a judge who had seen it told Kahler that Dinardo had stated he didn't know Murdoch and had never committed a crime with him. He only knew Murdoch's older brother.

Murdoch was accused of firing the shot that had killed the patron in the robbery, and while Dinardo testified against him at the trial, the jury didn't know about the letter he had written.

After being convicted of first-degree murder, Murdoch was sentenced to life without parole, while Dinardos sentence was lessened to 12 years for voluntary manslaughter. He only served five years.

The California Court of Appeal had upheld Murdochs conviction, and the states Supreme Court had denied his petition for review. His federal petition to the district court was also dismissed.

After looking into the case, Gruen and her husband, Bob, both concluded that Murdoch was innocent.

'We naively thought that with Sara having a public image, we could just push it and tell people about it and someone would clear it up,' Bob told Kahler. 'But it became obvious that that wasnt true.'

Gruen, who had to take care of herself as a teen, continued to write to Murdoch, learning that the father of two had a difficult childhood that she could relate to.

'Of course he fell in love with her,' Bob said of Murdoch. 'I wasnt bothered by it. I knew she wasnt attracted to him. I know people want to make her into one of those women who, for whatever reason, fall in love with men in jail.'

Murdoch explained in his letters that he had been charged with possession of three shanks after a prisoner was stabbed during a fight that broke out in the common room he was hanging out in the year before.

He insisted he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Gruen found it hard to believe that the then-57-year-old who walked with a cane was responsible.

Four months after she received Murdoch's first letter, she hired criminal defense attorney Jeffrey Hammerschmidt to defend him against his 'possession of deadly weapon' charge and also try to find information to prove his innocence in the 1983 robbery.

In October 2015, Gruen gave the lawyer a $7,500 retainer check and agreed to pay him $20,000 per month to work on Murdoch's cases after he gave her an estimate of $78,000.

Gruen, who hoped to have Murdoch released by spring 2016, continued to her do her own investigating. As she poured over the 10,000 pages of his case files in her office, she became even more convinced of his innocence.

She visited him for the first time in November 2015 and emailed Kahler about the experience after.

'I saw hope bloom across his face, and it was honestly one of the most poignant moments of my life,' the mother of three wrote. 'Right up there with seeing my babies for the first time.'

Success: Water for Elephants sold 10 million copies worldwide and was adapted into a move of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson in 2011 (pictured)

By the time spring 2016 was on the horizon, Gruen hadn't worked on her novel in nine months and Murdoch wasn't any closer to release.

'In touch with her on a daily basis, I began to worry about Saras growing fixation on the case, her willingness to put her life on hold in the hope of saving Murdochs,' Kahler wrote. 'Other longtime friends and I pleaded with her to focus on her novel, even if she continued to finance the legal battle.'

Gruen was frustrated by Hammerschmidt's lack of progress and ended up firing him. after paying him far more than his original estimated fee of $78,000.

In his place, she hired Robin Sax, a former prosecutor in the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office; Steven Graff Levine, a criminal defense attorney who had worked on high-profile cases involving the likes of Michael Jackson; and Luis Bolanos, a private investigator.

The writer once again agreed to pay $20,000 per month for their services. The team worked quickly to get rid of the weapons charge against Murdoch by arranging aW

Gruen had already sunk more than $250,000 on Murdoch's case at this point and had refinanced her house. She had two children in college and one in high school. She was the family's only source of income as her husband Bob is 25 years her senior and retired.

The financial stress left her suffering from crippling vertigo, and she hadn't made any progress on her book as the deadline approached, but she wouldn't give up.

Bob insisted that Gruen is not romantically involved with Murdoch in any way, although he knows that the prisoner is in love with his wife.

'I wasnt bothered by it. I knew she wasnt attracted to him,' he told Kahler. 'I know people want to make her into one of those women who, for whatever reason, fall in love with men in jail.'

Bob explained that they were just too deep into Murdoch's case to let it go.

'The more you get into it,' he said, 'the more money you spend, you just hate to give up. You always think youre close. And then you think, wow, we spent a half-million here, and thats crazy.'

WHO IS CHARLES MURDOCH? Charles Murdoch from Long Beach, California, was sentenced to life without parole for first-degree murder in the 1990s. His murder conviction stemmed from the robbery of Chriss Horseshoe Bar in Long Beach on May 17, 1983. Three men were involved in the holdup, which led to one customer being fatally shot and another critically wounded after being stabbed. After more than a decade, advancements in forensics allowed law enforcement to identify Dino Dinardo as one of the robbers from a fingerprint left on the cash register. He was arrested in 1994 and ended up naming Murdoch as an accomplice. They were both charged with murder and tried separately. However, at Dinardo's trial, he testified that homicide detective Ronald Pavek had coerced him into naming Murdoch as one of his accomplices. He was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison, but Judge Charles Sheldon told him he might be willing to reduce his sentence if testified against Murdoch. Dinardo agreed to the terms, but ahead of the trial, he wrote a letter to his then-lawyer stating that Pavek had coerced the statement from him and assured him he wouldn't be charged with murder if he implicated Murdoch. The letter was sealed under attorney-client privilege, but it stated that he didn't know Murdoch and had never committed a crime with him. He only knew Murdoch's older brother. Murdoch was accused of firing the shot that had killed the patron in the robbery, and while Dinardo testified against him at the trial, the jury didn't know about the letter he had written. After being convicted of first-degree murder, Murdoch was sentenced to life without parole, while Dinardos sentence was lessened to 12 years for voluntary manslaughter. He only served five years. The California Court of Appeal had upheld Murdochs conviction, and the states Supreme Court had denied his petition for review. His federal petition to the district court was also dismissed. Advertisement

The author became increasingly worried about her safety, which led to paranoia. She received death threats and rape threats, but perhaps what was most terrifying was the direct Twitter message she received from a man named Richard Isaac Powell.

Powell told her that Todd Alcorn  the inmate who had been stabbed with the shank that led to the weapons charges against Murdoch  had new information.

Gruen's did some sleuthing and learned that Powell had been Alcorns bunkmate in county jail. Alcon serving time for conspiring to murder a woman whom he and four others held captive, beat, and stabbed.

Instead of responding, she sent the message to her legal team, but she feared that one of Alcorn's contacts outside of prison would attack her or worse. She got an attack dog, beefed up her home's security cameras, and bought a BB gun designed that looked like a real pistol.

'I really, really dont want to alarm you but I need to just put this out there in case something happens. This thing Im involved in is much bigger than I ever imagined. The corruption runs through the police, the DAs office, the Attorney General and the FBI,' she wrote in an email to Kahler and another friend.

Levine, one of her attorneys, chalked up her fears to an overactive imagination, but she was adamant that Kahler needed to advocate for her if she suddenly went missing.

Over the years, Gruen turned to The Dr. Phil Show for help, sold Hatchimals toys on eBay to fund some of Murdoch's legal fees, and considered starring in a reality series to bring attention to the case, but it all led nowhere.

She thought they had finally gotten a break when her legal team got Kozinski  the judge who issued a dissent at Murdoch's trial  to agree to speak on the record and sign an official letter of support to Los Angeles Countys Conviction Review Unit.

Gruen had Bob take over correspondence with Murdoch and their team while she resumed work on her book, but the relief was short-lived.

Even though she had repeatedly told Murdoch that she was happily married and had no interest in him romantically, she learned he had 'gotten Sara Roo'  his nickname for her  tattooed on her wrist.

'Im mortified, horrified, embarrassed, cringing  if the media sees it, theyll consider it confirmation of their theory that Im cuckolding Bob and using all our combined resources to free my prison lover,' she wrote to him, according to Kahler.

'If they see that tattoo, I cant  I cant  I dont even know. My mental illness number just shot off the top of the barometer.'

In too deep: Gruen's fixation on proving Murdoch's innocence led her to spend nearly all of her money on legal fees and miss the deadline for her next book multiple times

Gruen also had to beg her literary agent for an extension after failing to meet her deadline, writing: 'I let Chucks case get in the way, and I wish Id never heard of him and Im sick to death of him and hes taken a toll on every single aspect of my life, but I think I made the right decision.'

She got the extension she needed, but her hope was once again shattered when Judge Kozinski suddenly retired after being accused of sexual misconduct. He would no longer be able to help Murdoch get another appeal.

As Gruen's health continued to deteriorate, she suffered from an episode of transient global amnesia on Christmas Day in 2017. She doesn't remember eating with her family, exchanging presents, or playing games. Hours from that day are missing from her memory.

In spring 2018, Murdoch received a letter that had her name, 'Sara Gruen,' listed as the sender, which he forwarded to her.

'Dear Bad Luck Chuck, We set your golden goose free. Want to know why? Because water is for elephants. Not lame b*****s like you. Get comfy. Youre going to be there for a while,' the letter read. 'Hugs and Kisses, Dino Dinardo and the Man with the Keys to the B Yard XOXOXO.'

Bolanos, the private investigator she had hired, consulted with the FBI about the letter and advised her to leave her house. That March, she told Kahler via email that she was having a safe room installed in her house with a 'with an interior bullet-proof safer room.'

Fears for her safety led her to buy a blonde wig and check into a hotel under an alias. She moved six times in five months and used a burner phone to contact her family, according to Kahler.

Gruen's book still wasn't done, and she was out of money. As their last hope of freeing Murdoch, she prepared a 50-page dossier stating her case to the DA's Office.

'This is the culmination of three years of work and money and it is the ONE and only chance to get him free,' she told Kahler. 'I have to do this. Otherwise, Ive flushed all of everything, including missing my deadline, down the drain. And its still a guys life. If I don't at least try to convince the DA, I have done all of this for absolutely purely nothing.'

Gruen was determined to write her novel as she waited for the Conviction Review Unit to review the dossier, which could take a year, but her failing health prevented her from doing so.

She couldn't 'understand anything' she had written and had to reread her own book from the beginning. Her vertigo had come back along with a host of other issues, including migraines, severe brain fog, the flu, and pneumonia.

The author could barely eat and dropped down to 95 pounds. She would faint daily and her adrenal glands were so out of wack she felt nothing but stress or fear. Her crippling migraines kept her from writing, and she spent her days lying in a dark room trying to stave off nausea.

Kahler recalled visiting Gruen in August 2019, detailing how her friend was unable to form short-term memories or hold sensical conversations. She was too sick to go to the doctor's, so her mysterious health issues went undiagnosed.

Gruen's stepdaughter, Margaret, a veterinary doctor at North Carolina State University, thought her symptoms might be related to the near-deadly case of cat-scratch fever she had when she was 11.

Stress, among other things, can cause Bartonella  the bacteria that causes the infection  to flare up after years of being dormant.

The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed her treatment, but she was prescribed medications to help stabilize her adrenal levels. Now, she works on her book when she can, when she feels lifted from her brain fog.

Aside from drives with her husband and walks to her backyard, Gruen hasn't been out in public for three and a half years. Despite everything that has happened, Bob continues to write to Murdoch, who tested positive for COVID-19 in prison.

The couple is now waiting on a final decision from the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office regarding Murdoch's case, and Gruen still hopes that he will one day soon be free.
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Longtime harness racing industry participant David Blair Smith of Surrey, B.C. passed away peacefully on March 6, 2021 at the age of 84.

David was born into the prominent Cyril Smith racing family of Prince Edward Island. In 1955 he moved to Alberta where he worked in the trucking industry. In the early 1970s he returned to his harness racing roots and spent the next 45 years racing in Alberta and B.C.

Smith raced his stable at Stampede Park, Northlands Park, Fraser Downs and Sandown Park. During this time he made many life-long friends and generated many happy memories. Some of his favourite horses included Mistaken Colors, Jodana, Jolly Jo Irish and Brian Almahurst.

By his side for 43 years and left to mourn his passing is Diane Fuller who continues to race a horse at Fraser Downs. Also left to mourn are his sons Blair and Todd, daughters Shelley and Tanya, 11 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers Elmer (Joan), Clark, Neville (Helen) Grant, sister Marjorie Ann and sister-in-law Betty as well as many nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by parents, sister Eleanor ,brother Wendell (a fellow horseman at Fraser Downs), sisters-in-law Dottie and Claire.

Davids ashes will be returned to P.E.I. for burial at a later date. No matter where he lived P.E.I. was always called home.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of David Smith.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - UGE International Ltd. (TSXV: UGE) (OTCQB: UGEIF) (the "Company" or "UGE"), a leader in commercial and community solar energy solutions, is pleased to announce that it has signed agreements to develop, build, own, and operate a rooftop community solar project in Peekskill, New York.

UGE was an early leader in the greater New York City solar market, with experience dating back to 2010. This new project is one of a growing number of community solar projects in the region developed by UGE. Community solar programs allow energy users within the same region to purchase energy credits from a solar system, offsetting their energy costs otherwise paid to their utility. In doing so, energy users save money, and the environment.

"With community solar set to accelerate rapidly under the Biden administration, UGE's proven track record in New York community solar will be vital to transforming the energy landscape," said Nick Blitterswyk, CEO. "We expect that within a decade, most New Yorkers will pay their utility bill to a solar company, and we're excited to be a part of this massive movement towards cleaner, cheaper energy."

In addition to this newly signed project, in nearby Tuckahoe, NY, UGE reached the Substantial Completion milestone on another project's first building, with the remaining buildings that make up the project close behind. The Tuckahoe solar project is being completed in partnership with a housing authority, in which the complex will receive an annual lease payment for hosting the system, while also lowering its energy bills, a 'win-win' for all parties involved.

The new Westchester project adds approximately USD$2.3 million to UGE's project backlog. Once operational it is expected to generate recurring revenue of USD$0.25 million per year. Since the Company's most recently released quarter, which ended September 30, 2020, UGE has announced over USD$33 million of additional project backlog. UGE will release its 2020 full year results in late April.

Interested consumers can visit www.ugei.com/community-solar-marketplace to view current opportunities to sign up to receive solar energy in the states UGE services.

About UGE

UGE develops, owns, and operates commercial and community solar projects in the US and strategic markets abroad. Our distributed energy solutions deliver cheaper, cleaner energy to businesses and consumers with no upfront cost. With over 400MW of global experience, we work daily to power a more sustainable world. Visit us at www.ugei.com.

For more information, contact UGE at:

+1 917 720 5685

investors@ugei.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, the anticipated closing of the Offering, the anticipated use of proceeds, and the receipt of regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Market Regulator (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/78867
Chennai, March 30 : The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered counselling for the parents of a lesbian couple who had married and are under the protection of NGO International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care.

The court said that the services of a counsellor, who has experience in LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex) matters, be utilised to provide counselling to the parents who had threatened the couple.

The women had fallen in love while studying in college and entered into a relationship. After the parents opposed their decision, they left for Madurai in February. The couple had told the court that they will be a partner to each other through their life.

Justice N. Anand Venkitesh, in his interim order on Tuesday, observed that he is in the process of "unlearning" preconceived notions that were held by him on such issues and is into deep study of the subject.

Directing the counsellor to submit a report to the court in a sealed cover by April 26, he said: "I am trying to develop this case brick by brick and ultimately construct something purposeful on this issue." The judge has also sent a request to the Chief Justice requesting him to allow him to continue the case. He was due to change his portfolio from April 1 and the next hearing of the case has been slated for April 28.

The court also ordered that status quo be maintained in the case of the couple and that they continue to be under the protection of the NGO.

The state government prosecutor also informed the court that police will not interfere in the case hereafter and that the kidnap case filed by the parents will be closed with immediate effect.
An Oregon man has been arrested by the US Secret Service for allegedly entering the DC home of Jacques Pitteloud, the Swiss Ambassador to the US and assaulting him

An Oregon man has been arrested by the US Secret Service for allegedly entering the Washington, DC, residence of the Swiss Ambassador to the United States and assaulting him.

According to documents obtained by NBC 4 reporter, Scott MacFarlane, the incident occurred just after 2pm on Monday when Secret Service agents were called about a report of 'an unwanted guest' at the residence of Ambassador Jacques Pitteloud.

The individual, who was identified by authorities as Christian David Mandeville, allegedly refused to leave the premises.

The responding agent noted that he spoke with Pitteloud and other employees to get a sense of the situation before entering the home.

Upon entering the residence with the ambassador, 'Mandeville attempted to run further into the building'.

'The Ambassador put his hands out to stop Mandeville, but Mandeville used his arms to knock away the Ambassador's arms,' according to the Secret Service agent.

'Mandeville then used his body to try and push his way past the Ambassador. His actions pushed the Ambassador backward,' the agent added.

Authorities said another staffer was also assaulted by the suspect when he was stopped by the employee. Documents say Mandeville pushed the employee who was trying to stop him from entering the home.

According to documents obtained by NBC 4 reporter , Scott MacFarlane, the incident occurred just after 2pm on Monday when Secret Service agents were called about a report of 'an unwanted guest' at Pitteloud's residence, which is attached to the embassy

Both the ambassador and employee were unharmed.

When the agent attempted to detain Mandeville, he allegedly resisted and fought against the agent.

The agent said he received help from other officers and eventually they were able to restrain Mandeville. However, the agent said he sustained abrasions on his forearm from the altercation.

According to a statement from the Swiss Embassy, the suspect was initially denied entry but jumped over an exterior fence and made his way inside.

Documents also showed that Mandeville left a backpack outside the gate to the property, prompting agents to clear the area while the bag was investigated. It's still unclear what was inside the bag.

Authorities charged Mandeville with assault on a foreign official, resisting arrest and unlawful entry.
New Delhi, March 30 : As the government's new disinvestment policy moves ahead, the Union Cabinet is likely to consider the privatisation of IDBI Bank in its meeting next week, sources said on Tuesday.

The LIC-owned IDBI Bank would be the first-ever public sector bank to be put on the block.

People in the know said that the Centre is likely to offer its stake in the bank, along with that of the state-run insurance major.

At present, the Centre holds 45.48 per cent and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) a 49.24 per cent stake in the bank.

The likely move comes after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) earlier this month took IDBI Bank out of the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework.

The central bank noted that as per published results for the quarter ending December 31, 2020, the bank is not in breach of the PCA parameters on regulatory capital, net NPA and leverage ratio.

The RBI had put the bank under the PCA in May 2017.

In February, while presenting the Union Budget FY22, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that along with the IDBI Bank, two other state-run banks would be privatised in the next financial year.

Apart from the divestments, sources said that the Centre also plans to lease out its prime hotel -- The Ashok -- located in Lutyens Delhi.

The Centre is planning the put the hotel on lease for a 60-year period, which according to sources, may fetch Rs 5,000 crore during the period.

The ITDC-owned hotel in the heart of the national capital was built at the behest of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to host the UNESCO meet in 1956.

This follows the government's decision to sell entities in the non-strategic segments under the new disinvestment policy.

Sitharaman had said during the budget presentation that all the previously announced disinvestment processes will be completed in the next financial year.

During a recent webinar, Chief Economic Adviser K.V. Subramanian also exuded confidence that the disinvestment target of Rs 1.75 lakh crore for the financial year 2021-22 was "imminently achievable".
[March 30, 2021] Edgewater Closes First Tranche of $0.115 Financing and Announces Increase to $0.13 Financing

Edgewater Wireless Systems Inc. (YFI: TSX.V) (OTCQB: KPIFF), the industry leader in Wi-Fi Spectrum (News - Alert) Slicing technology for residential and commercial markets, is pleased to announce that the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement announced on March 12, 2021 (the "Offering") has closed. In the first tranche closing the Company issued 6,316,405 units (each a "Unit") for total proceeds of $726,387. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one warrant of the Company (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.23 for twenty-four (24) months following the closing of the Offering. It is anticipated that the second tranche of the Offering, for aggregate proceeds of approximately $75,000, will close on April 1, 2021. The Company also anticipates closing its additional offering of units (the "Secondary Units") at a price of $0.13 per Secondary Unit (the "Secondary Offering") on April 1, 2021. Due to exceptional demand, the Secondary Offering has been increased from the 10,153,847 Secondary Units announced in the Company's news release dated March 18, 2021 [9,230,770 Secondary Units plus a 10% (923,077 unit) over-allotment option] to up to 11,000,000 Secondary Units for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,430,000. Each Secondary Unit is comprised of one common share and one warrant of the Company (each a "Secondary Warrant"). Each Secondary Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.23 for twenty-four (24) months following the closing of the Secondary Offering. "Demand for our recently announced private placements has exceeded supply," said Andrew Skafel, President and CEO of Edgewater Wireless. "Management and Directors will participate in this second offering, in addition to the first." Finder's fees of 7% of the gross proceeds of the Offering and Secondary Offering may be payable in cash. In addition, finders may receive share purchase warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") entitling them to purchase that number of common shares of the Company which is equal to 7% of the total number of Units and Secondary Units purchased by subscribers introduced to the Company by such finders, exercisable for two years from the closing of the Offering or Secondary Offering, as applicable, at a price of $0.23 per common share, all in accordance with the policies of the TSXV. In connection with the closing of the first tranche of the Offering, the Company will pay cash finders' fees in the aggregate of $33,563 as follows: $23,905 to Haywood Securities Inc. / $2,012 to Leede Jones Gable Inc. / $644 to Canaccord Genuity Corp. / $7,002 to Granger Cumberford. In addition, the Company will issue 291,854 Finders' Warrants as follows: 207,869 to Haywood Securities Inc. / 17,500 to Leede Jones Gable Inc. / 5,600 to Canaccod Genuity Corp. / 60,885 to Granger Cumberford.



The common shares issued in connection with the first tranche of the Offering and any common shares purchased on the exercise of the attached Warrants will be subject to a four-month hold period expiring July 31, 2021. The common shares issued in connection with the second tranche of the Offering and the common shares issued in connection with the Secondary Offering, and any common shares purchased on the exercise of the attached Warrants or Secondary Warrants, as applicable, will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing of the Secondary Offering. The Offering and Secondary Offering are subject to TSXV acceptance. It is intended that the proceeds of $2,230,000 from the Offering and the Secondary Offering will be used for: Operating Expenses, including sales, marketing and business development ($446,000); Engineering and Product Development ($1,226,500) and Working Capital ($557,500). The Company may reallocate the proceeds from the Offering as may be required depending upon the development of the Company's business.

In connection with the Offering and the Secondary Offering, the Company will issue Units and Secondary Units to directors, officers and insiders of the Company. As a result, the Offering and Secondary Offering will constitute a related party transaction pursuant to TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company has determined that exemptions from the various requirements of TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and MI 61-101 are available for the issuance of the Units and Secondary Units to related parties. The Company is relying on Section 5.5(c) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the formal valuation requirement on the basis that the transaction is a distribution of securities for cash, and on Section 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the minority shareholder approval requirement, as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves related parties, will not be more than $2,500,000. About Edgewater Wireless We make Wi-Fi. Better. Edgewater Wireless (www.edgewaterwireless.com) is the industry leader in innovative Spectrum Slicing technology for residential and commercial markets. We develop advanced Wi-Fi silicon solutions, Access Points, and IP licensing designed to meet the high-density and high quality-of-service needs of service providers and their customers. With 24+ patents, Edgewater's Multi-Channel, Single Radio (MCSR) technology revolutionizes Wi-Fi, delivering next-generation Wi-Fi today. For more information, visit www.edgewaterwireless.com or www.aera.io. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. Although Edgewater Wireless believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward looking statements and information because Edgewater Wireless can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. By its nature, such forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause Edgewater Wireless' actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. These risks and uncertainties, include, but are not limited to access to capital markets, market forces, competition from new and existing companies and regulatory conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this news release or otherwise, and to not use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. Edgewater Wireless undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330006048/en/

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New Delhi, March 30 : Cyrus P. Mistry, the former chairman of Tata Sons, said on Tuesday that he is personally disappointed as a minority shareholder of Tata Sons over the outcome of the recent Sumpreme Court judgement that upheld Tata Sons decision to sack him as the chairman of the salt-to-software conglomerate.

"As a minority shareholder of Tata Sons, I am personally disappointed by the outcome of the judgement with respect to our case," Mistry said in a statement.

"Although I will no longer be able to influence the direction of governance of the Tata group directly, I hope that the issues I have raised will cause deeper reflection and influence the individuals concerned to catalyse change. I sleep with a clear conscience," he said.

According to Mistry, his aim at the Tatas was to ensure a robust board driven system of decision making and governance that is larger than any one individual.

"A key focus was to enable the directors on various boards to discharge their fiduciary duties without fear or favour, while still ensuring that shareholders views were reflected in strategy and actions.

"To this end, my performance was reviewed by nearly 50 independent directors across multiple Tata Boards that I served. Beyond the performance metric that speaks for itself and the documented appreciation for my initiatives, I am humbled by the continued support I have received from my former colleagues and other board members," Mistry said.

Last Friday, the Supreme Court had accepted all the contentions of the Tata Group and set aside an order of the NCLAT, which restored Mistry as the executive chairman of the Tata conglomerate.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde had said that all questions of law are in favour of Tata Group, while dismissing the appeals filed by Mistry. The top court upheld the Tata Sons decision to sack Mistry on October 24, 2016.

The counsel for the Shapoorji Pallonji Group had argued that Mistry was removed because he was going to place a draft governance structure at the board meeting on October 24, 2016.

"We find all the questions of law are liable to be answered in favour of the appellants (Tata Group) and the appeals filed by the Tata Group are liable to be allowed and Shapoorji Pallonji group is liable to be dismissed," the top court had said.

The top court said the value of SP Group shares will depend on the valuation by Tata Sons equities and the court will not determine the fair value.

In December 2019, the NCLAT had ruled that the proceedings of the Board meeting of Tata Sons held on October 24, 2016 removing Mistry as chairperson was illegal.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced Tuesday his plans to nominate 11 candidates to the federal judiciary, the most any recent president has put forth in his first 100 days. The slate of candidates reflects a range of diversity in both personal and professional backgrounds.

This trailblazing slate of nominees draws from the very best and brightest minds of the American legal profession," Biden said in announcing the slate.

"Each is deeply qualified and prepared to deliver justice faithfully under our Constitution and impartially to the American people  and together they represent the broad diversity of background, experience, and perspective that makes our nation strong," he continued.

Among the nominees are jurists who have experience on military and family courts, professionals with backgrounds as public defenders and prosecutors, a county administrator and an intellectual property lawyer.

The group also includes three Black women nominated to serve on the powerful Circuit Courts, the first Muslim American to be nominated to a federal court and the first Asian Pacific American woman to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

An especially notable nomination is Biden's intent to place U.S. District Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The D.C. Circuit Court is widely seen as one of the most influential courts in the country and has long been viewed as a steppingstone for Supreme Court nominees.

Biden has promised to name a Black woman to the Supreme Court, a commitment that put renewed scrutiny on the lack of diversity on the federal bench. The president's first round of announcements signals an interest in diversifying the court system across multiple dimensions.

The move comes after years of concern among liberals that the legal system had shifted too far to the right under the tenure of former President Donald Trump. With unified control of Congress and the White House, Democrats and progressive legal organizations are pressuring the White House to prioritize changes to the courts.

Story continues

The Senate will work quickly to confirm President Bidens superb and accomplished judicial picks. America is so much better when our rich diversity is reflected in every aspect of society, especially our justice system," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement promising swift action on Biden's nominees.

"We will have hearings and confirm judges to fill the growing number of vacancies on the federal bench and significantly mitigate the influence of Donald Trumps unqualified, right-wing judges," Schumer promised.

There are 68 vacancies on the federal judicial system, including seven appellate court vacancies and 61 district court vacancies. That count is less than the open Supreme Court seat, 86 district court seats and 17 circuit court seats that Trump was able to fill when entering office, but more than the 44 district court vacancies and 13 Circuit Court vacancies inherited by former President Barack Obama.

Below are some of the nominees Biden has put forth to serve as jurists on the federal district and circuit courts.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

Judge Kentaji Brown Jackson was nominated by Obama in 2013 to preside over the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She has served as a public defender in Washington and clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer after attending Harvard Law School. There is widespread speculation that Jackson may replace her former mentor and boss as the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Tiffany Cunningham

Cunningham is a partner at the Chicago law firm Perkins Coie LLP with a long legal career as a patent lawyer. Cunningham, who is Black, has been nominated to oversee the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Candace Jackson-Akiwumi

Jackson-Akiwumi is a partner at the Washington law firm Zuckerman Spaeder, where she specialized in complex civil litigation, white-collar criminal defense and investigations. Jackson-Akiwumi worked for a decade as a staff attorney at the Federal Defender Program in the Northern District of Illinois.

Jackson-Akiwumi would replace Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals based in Chicago and serve as the only Black woman on the court.

Judge Deborah Boardman

Boardman serves as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, which she was appointed to in 2019. Prior, she served as a public defender for a decade and worked as an associate at the law firm Hogan Lovells, then known as Hogan & Hartson, in Washington.

Judge Zahid N. Quraishi

Quraishi has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey since 2019. Prior, he was a partner at New Jersey law firm Riker Danzig where he led white-collar criminal investigations. Biden has nominated Quraishi to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. If confirmed, Quraishi would become the first Muslim American to serve as a federal judge.

Regina Rodriguez

Rodriguez is a partner at the Denver law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr where she leads practices handling complex litigation and government investigations. Rodriguez also worked as a federal investigator within the Department of Justice. Rodriguez has been nominated to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

Judge Lydia Griggsby

Griggsby served as chief counsel to Sen. Patrick Leahy, I-Vt., and has served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims since 2014. Raised in Baltimore, Griggsby has been nominated to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. On the court, she has overseen cases that address civil monetary claims against the government. She would be the first woman of color to serve as a judge on the district court in Maryland.

Julien Neals

Neals has served as county counsel for Bergen County, N.J., since 2015. He also serves as the county's acting administrator. Biden has nominated Neals to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Neals was a partner at the New Jersey law firm Chasan Leyner & Lamparello for eight years before entering Newark city government.

Judge Florence Y. Pan

Biden will nominate Pan, an associate judge on the D.C. Superior Court, to serve on the U.S. D.C. District Court. Pan has served in her current position since 2009. Pan was previously nominated in 2016 to serve on the court, though she was never provided a hearing. She has worked at both the Treasury and Justice departments and would be the first Asian American woman to serve on the court.

Margaret Strickland

Biden will nominate Strickland to serve on the New Mexico District Court. Strickland has worked as a partner at the New Mexico law firm McGraw & Strickland LLC since 2011, where she has handled both civil rights and criminal cases in federal courts for the firm's clients. She started her legal career working a public defender for the state of New Mexico for five years before going into private practice.

Judge Rupa Ranga Puttagunta

Biden will nominate Puttagunta to serve on the Superior Court of D.C. Puttagunta is an Administrative Judge for the D.C. Rental Housing Commission. Before her judgeship, Puttagunta conducted pro bono legal work in representing indigent criminal defendants in trial and on appeal and still frequerntly does pro bono work for victims of domestic violence and families in the D.C. Superior Courts Family Court Self-Help Center and Attorney Negotiator Program.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden's first judicial nominees bring diverse experiences
Over 1,000 breaches of Covid-19 regulations last year have been classified as crimes by gardai including the non-wearing of face coverings and international travel.

Other criminal offences recorded among the 1,101 breaches were for people breaking domestic travel restrictions and licensed premises operating outside of guidelines.

The figures have been released as part of the Central Statistic Offices (CSO) review of recorded crimes in 2020 which show a significant drop in criminality during the pandemic.

Drug crimes were one of the few categories to increase, with a 9pc rise which gardai say is driven by enforcement, while there was an almost 15pc increase in weapons and explosive offences.

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Crimes for dangerous or negligent acts, including drink driving, were similar to the previous year with 8,717 recorded offences.

However, the number of people caught driving while under the influence of drugs more than doubled in 2020, with 2,643 crimes reported.

Physical assaults and similar offences decreased by 13.2pc, although the CSO noted that attacks on women have not fallen as sharply as assaults on men.

They also noted that assaults on women aged between 30 and 44 is the only group to have increased in 2020, albeit it marginally by 2.1pc.

Sexual offences have also decreased by 10.6pc with 354 less incidents reported, an offence category that had consistently increased year-on-year.

Read More

Among the biggest drop in crime rates was for burglary offences, which fell by a third, while thefts dropped by a quarter last year and robberies were down 22pc.

The CSO said that homicide related offences had increased by nine cases compared to the previous year, but noted that this was driven by an increase of 10 in incidents classified as dangerous driving leading to death.

Crimes classified as damage to property fell by 11pc with a similar decrease for public order related crimes.

The CSO added that Covid-19 related offences were not included in their statistical table due to difficulties aligning them with the existing statistical classification.

Last July Operation Navigation was launched by gardai to target pubs and restaurants operating outside of Covid-19 regulations, as well as illegal Sheebens.

The number of liquor licensing offences recorded in 2020 fell significantly, by 42.6pc, from 530 to 304 crimes.

Sam Scriven, statistician with the CSO, said: The statistics released today show a considerable fall in the number of crime incidents recorded in 2020 compared to 2019 across a range of crime incident types.

The number of assaults on women in 2020 fell in comparison to 2019, but not as sharply as the decline in the number of assaults on males.

The number of homicides recorded rose by nine compared to 2019 but was driven by an increase of 10 in the number of incidents classified as dangerous driving leading to death. The combined figure for murder & manslaughter incidents fell by one compared to 2019, he added.

Read More




The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, has resulted in over 125 million cases and 2.7 million deaths. The virus has disproportionately affected the elderly and those with underlying health problems. In particular, a large percentage of deaths in Europe and North America has been in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF) residents, albeit they make up less than one percent of the population.

A new preprint released on the medRxiv* server deals with the effect of two widely used vaccines in eliciting humoral immunity against the virus in this group. These are the Oxford/AstraZeneca viral-vectored vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19), and the Pfizer/BioNTechs messenger RNA-based vaccine (BNT162b2). Both express the viral spike antigen, and both are currently being employed in the UKs vaccination program.

In clinical trials, both showed efficacy above 62%, with the latter going as high as 95%. Since these trials excluded older and frailer individuals, vaccine efficacy in this group is largely unknown. Real-world data is emerging from vaccine rollouts, but is again not specifically directed at this population.

Study aims

Anticipating their efficacy in LTCF residents, the UK already put this group on its high-priority group for vaccination.

The current study aimed especially to examine the efficacy of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection, both its extent and the duration, after a single dose of either vaccine. This is in view of the recent decision made by the UK government to extend the interval between the two doses of the vaccine from the three weeks and four weeks, recommended by the respective manufacturers, to 12 weeks.

This policy is intended to cover as much of the most vulnerable population with a single dose of the vaccine, driven by the rapid spread of the highly transmissible UK B.1.1.7 variant within the general population, and especially within the LTCFs, beginning in November 2020.

Study details

The VIVALDI study is a prospective study that began in May 2020 to explore the spread and outcomes of, and immune response to, SARS-CoV-2 within LTCF staff and residents aged 65 years or more.

The study included over 10,000 LTCF residents, with a median age of 86 years. About 70% were female, and 11% had a history of prior infection.

Approximately 88% had received one or two doses of either vaccine, 67% the Pfizer and 33% the Oxford vaccine. About 900 received two doses at a median interval of nine weeks. Regular testing for the infection is in place for all LTCF residents in the UK, and has been since June 2020, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays of nasopharyngeal swabs. This has been used to test LTCF residents monthly, and in case a cluster of cases was detected, all residents were tested twice, with an interval of one week.

Positive tests led to the exclusion of such individuals from testing for the subsequent 90 days unless new symptoms of the infection arose, though symptoms are unreliable in this group.

What were the results?

There were about 1.6 PCR tests per person per month, for a total of over 36,000 results in about 671,000 person-days. Of 1.335 positive PCR results, 85% were from routine testing, with a crude infection rate of 20 per 10,000 person-days at risk overall.

Vaccine efficacy

Compared to a rate of 21 in the unvaccinated group, the rate dropped to about ten at 28-34 days, and nine at 35-48 days after vaccination in the vaccinated group. After adjusting for age, sex, local infection rates, history of prior infection, and other factors, the effect of vaccination was observed to be significant only after 28-34 days.

At this time point, the adjusted risk of infection was reduced by 56%, and at 35-48 days, by 62%.

Significant differences in risk between the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups were not observed at 49 or more days following vaccination, but in those with prior infection, the risk dropped by 80%.

Reduced transmissibility

The vaccines also appeared to reduce the risk of contagion. The mean cycle threshold values was 27 among positive PCR results from the unvaccinated group and in the vaccine recipients up to 27 days post-vaccination, on average. After this period, the mean Ct was 31.

Early Oxford vaccine efficacy?

When analyzed separately, there was a reduced risk of PCR-positivity among those who received the Oxford vaccine but not the Pfizer vaccine in the early post-vaccination period (0-13 days). The reduction was by about half over this period.

Thus, by day 28, the risk of infection following the first dose of the Oxford vaccine was reduced by 67%, but this was not observed with the Pfizer vaccine.

However, this could be because the LTCF residents had a lower ongoing risk of infection after being vaccinated, as assessed by the guidelines for deferring the second dose of the vaccine.

These guidelines came into effect towards the end of 2020. Since the Oxford vaccine was rolled out later than the Pfizer, a larger proportion of LTCF residents would have been assessed for risk-based deferral of vaccines, allowing single-dose vaccine efficacy to be evaluated. This aspect could not be examined due to the lack of data on deferral decisions.

Effect of prior infection

Overall, the risk of becoming PCR positive was lower in unvaccinated residents with a history of prior infection relative to those without a history of infection, by approximately 80%. The magnitude of reduction was not increased in the former group by a single dose of vaccination at any point.

The efficacy of a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine in this population is controversial, since a single Danish study indicated a lack of effectiveness. In that study, the second dose was administered at a mean of 24 days from the first, which may not have allowed protective effects to set in, as indicated by the current findings.

What are the implications?

Thus, a single dose of either vaccine was associated with a significant reduction of risk of positive PCR tests for the virus, from 28 days onwards, which remained observable for at least seven weeks.

This supports the UK guidelines for deferring the second dose in order to achieve optimal coverage of the vulnerable population. The effect extends beyond the prevention of symptomatic disease to reducing transmission itself, as well as the total incidence of infection.

In the real world, the risk of infection was significantly reduced in both groups. If unvaccinated people among the LTCF residents are excluded from the analysis, the vaccine efficacy increases to 76% at 35-48 days.

The reduction in transmissibility is supported by the higher Ct values found at 28 days or more after the first dose, which indicates that those who contract the infection despite being vaccinated are less likely to transmit the virus to others.

This adds to the early real-world experience of vaccine efficacy with the Oxford vaccine, even though only one dose of each vaccine was evaluated. It also provides evidence for vaccine efficacy in older adults.

The findings support the earlier figure of 64% vaccine efficacy against asymptomatic and symptomatic infection at 22-90 days, in adults over 70 years, after one dose of the vaccine. This data was obtained from the pooled results of earlier clinical trials with the Oxford vaccine.

More research is required to assess the effectiveness of the second dose, as well as the overall efficacy of the vaccine against both infection and transmission. This will help shape vaccination protocols for this high-risk population, and the nature of intervention required to protect them against future waves of infection.

*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.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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

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A year into the pandemic, the global community has managed to figure out, with astonishing speed, a whole host of vaccines that ward off the most harmful of COVID-19s health effects, but we still havent been able to pin down exactly where the virus came from. Sneak peaks of a World Health Organizationled report into the origins of COVID-19 circulating ahead of the publications official release Tuesday offered new details but no real new insight into how it all began, other than to reiterate what we dont know. This despite a hundred-page document built on the findings of a four-week, WHO-led investigation in Wuhan earlier this year. The grand takeaway: We dont have enough data to make any firm conclusions about the coronaviruss origins. Why dont we have the data? Well, China.

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The report did create a hierarchy of likelihood for the coronaviruss origins, stating that the virus was most likely passed from bats through another animal and into the human populationmore likely than it passing directly from bats to humans. The report dismissed the Chinese governments pet theory that the virus was introduced via frozen food packaging as possible but unlikely. It also stated that it was extremely unlikely that the virus originated from a Chinese laboratory. But beyond that, a full year and nearly 3 million deaths laterstill nada. Why the data deficit? The [WHO] team had little power to conduct a thorough, independent investigation during their trip, the Wall Street Journal notes. China initially resisted international pressure for an inquiry, and later imposed strict limitations, secured China veto rights over participants and expanded its scope to encompass other countries. Critics of the reports findings point out that investigators didnt have full access to Chinas lab records and raw data, making it hard to come up with independent conclusions. Instead, China has offered its analysis of early outbreak data but never the actual data itself.

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The report was produced in conjunction with Chinese scientists, using Chinese data, so the extent to which the world ultimately understands what happened in Wuhan is, as you might expect, ultimately up to China. The entire process taps into the sensitive issue of how long the virus was spreading in China before its government reported the disease to the WHO or responded in full, the WSJ reports. WHO has been caught between Beijingwhose officials have suggested the pandemic may have begun outside Chinaand Washington, where the Biden administration has raised questions about Beijings transparency on the viruss origins and the integrity of data provided to the WHO-led team.

The process of tracking down a viruss origins is painstaking. To answer numerous remaining questions, the report recommends further retrospective studies of human infections, including the earliest cases, and more virus testing of livestock and wildlife in China and Southeast Asia, the New York Times reports. It also calls for more detailed tracing of pathways from farms to markets in Wuhan that would require extensive interviews and blood tests for farmers, vendors and other workers. China, the worlds preeminent surveillance state, says it doesnt have the data.
New York - The AfCFTA Secretariat and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a strategic partnership to promote trade as a stimulus for Africas socioeconomic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, and as a driver of sustainable development particularly for women and youth in Africa, in line with the SDGs and Agenda 2063 common vison for the continent.

The agreement was sealed yesterday by the AfCFTA Secretary General, H.E. Mr. Wamkele Mene, accompanied by Ambassador Fatima Mohammed Kyari, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, and by the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa.

The AfCFTA is beyond a trade liberalizing instrument. It is an enabler of inclusive growth and sustainable development, said Mr. Wamkele Mene, who made the journey to New York for the historic occasion. We must rebalance Africas role in global trade. As African countries implement COVID-19 recovery plans, this collaboration with UNDP will drive momentum, on the ground in AfCFTA state parties, to ensure that women and youth are the leading beneficiaries of the AfCFTA.

The partnership will leverage UNDPs presence in all African countries, working in close collaboration with other UN entities, and includes direct support to the AfCFTA Secretariat through a financial grant of US$3 million. This will enhance AfCFTA Secretariat advocacy among policy makers, business, civil society, academia, youth and other stakeholders.

UNDP is pleased to support the AfCFTA as a development enabler and accelerator that can move the continent beyond COVID-19 recovery, towards the Africa We Want and the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasized Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa. If we succeed, we will have contributed to creating stronger and more resilient inclusive and green economies in Africa characterized by rising incomes, jobs, more balanced trade, and better returns from Africas natural resources

Trade is recognized as a mean of implementation for the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 1963. The new collaboration aims to address inequalities, promote value addition and create jobs. As Africa trades more with itself, it will be essential to target critical hurdles faced in exporting within Africa such as SME export competitiveness; rules of origin; technical and product safety standards.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) - the worlds largest free-trade area - started trading on 1 January 2021, creating a market of 1.2 billion people and the eighth economic bloc in the world with a $3-trillion combined GDP, that is expected to more than double by 2050.

The partnership signing is part of a two-day official visit to New York by the AfCFTA Secretariat Secretary General. Since its launch, the AfCFTA has been ratified by 36 countries, and already possesses 90% of tariff offers and 34 services offers, which enables sound business and investment decisions in intra-African trade, strengthening accelerated action for trade as a means of implementation for the Africa We Want, and for the SDGs.



Note to editors

Trading under the AfCFTA started in earnest on 1 January 2021, following a five-and-half-year period since negotiations were launched on 15 June 2015. Tough negotiations were followed by signing of the Agreement on 21 March 2018, entry into force on 30 May 2019 and start of trading on 1 January 2021. UNDP is the first strategic partner for the implementation phase of the Agreement. The Memorandum of Understanding has been carefully designed following comprehensive consultations based on a shared vision of the future of the continent, and is an expression of the strong commitment to see the AfCFTA becoming an engine for Africas sustainable economic development.

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

Learn more at undp.org or follow @UNDP



Join the conversation @AfCFTA, @UNDPAfrica and #OneAfricanMarket

For more information on the AfCFTA please contact: Jemila Abdel Vetah

(jemila.abdelvetah@au-afcfta.org)

For more information on the Partnership with UNDP, please contact: Dr. Joy Kategekwa

(antonia.joy.kategekwa@undp.org)

For more media inquiries please contact:

Ms. Faith Adhiambo, African Union / ochiengj@africa-union.org

Ms. Eve Sabbagh, UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa / eve.sabbagh@undp.org
Allstate Corp. struck another deal to sell part of a life-insurance business and warned investors that the divestitures will result in a roughly $4 billion net loss in the first quarter.

Wilton Re agreed to pay $220 million to buy Allstate Life Insurance Co. of New York in a transaction that will complete Allstates exit from the life and annuity market, according to a statement Monday. In January, Allstate reached a deal to sell a life business to Blackstone Group Inc. for $2.8 billion.

Allstate has been adjusting its strategy to focus more on personal property-liability coverage, expanding its distribution with independent agents through a $4 billion agreement to buy National General Holdings Corp. that was completed this year. The two life-insurance divestitures will contribute to the estimated $4 billion net loss under generally accepted accounting principles, while also generating $1.7 billion of deployable capital, the company said.

This transaction has minimal impact on our strategy of increasing market share in personal property-liability and expanding protection solutions for customers, Allstate Chief Financial Officer Mario Rizzo said in the statement. Wilton Re is a trusted name with a history of excellent customer service and expert management of life-insurance and annuity portfolios.

Allstate also agreed to contribute $660 million of capital into the New York life business unit and then receive the $220 million payment from Wilton Re. Both the New York sale and the deal with Blackstone are expected to be completed in the second half of this year, Allstate said.
New Delhi: In what could be termed as a major data and privacy issue, around 11 crore users of Mobikwik face potential data breach.

As per reports in the media, the KYC details of the digital wallet company that usually includes PAN card, Aadhaar card, debit/credit cards, phone numbers among several personal details, have been leaked online and is up for sale on the dark net.

In February this year, independent security researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia had claimed that personal data of about 11 crore Mobikwik users,

probably the largest KYC data breach, had been compromised and were up for sale on the darknet. But the claim was completely denied by the company then.

Again!! 11 Crore Indian Cardholder's Cards Data Including personal details & KYC soft copy(PAN, Aadhar etc) allegedly leaked from a company's Server in India. 6 TB KYC Data and 350GB compressed mysql dump.@RBI @IndianCERT #InfoSec #dataprotection #Finance pic.twitter.com/yjc7davH3k  Rajshekhar Rajaharia (@rajaharia) February 26, 2021

Meanwhile, renowned French cybersecurity expert Elliot Anderson also known as Robert Baptiste has backed Rajaharia data breach claim.

Probably the largest KYC data leak in history. Congrats Mobikwik... pic.twitter.com/qQFgIKloA8  Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 29, 2021

The volume of the data leak on the dark web amounts to 8.2 TB of data. Media reports further said that a seller who has set the data on sale in the darknet is seeking 1.5 Bitcon (approximately Rs 63 lakh) for deleting the leaked data.

Meanwhile, a MobiKwik spokesperson told Zee Media, As a regulated entity, the company takes its data security very seriously and is fully compliant with applicable data security laws. The company is subjected to stringent compliance measures under its PCI-DSS and ISO Certifications which, includes annual security audits and quarterly penetration tests to ensure security of its platform."

"As soon this matter was reported, the company undertook a thorough investigation with the help of external security experts and did not find any evidence of a breach. The company is closely working with requisite authorities on this matter, and considering the seriousness of the allegations will get a third party to conduct a forensic data security audit. For its users, the company reiterates that all MobiKwik accounts and balances are completely safe, the spokesperson added.
The Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research (AQF) and the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education (AGFE), have virtually signed an MoU to deliver high-quality education and career guidance services to youth in the UAE.

After a long-standing relationship of mutual support, the two entities will serve UAE youth through a collaborative three-year partnership. Together, they will provide workshops for Ras Al Khaimah based Emirati students on the AGFE Young Thinkers Programme (YTP), introducing resources such as career guidance counseling and university preparation to help them excel.

AGFE and AQF will work together to strategically increase the quality of learning for UAE youth and fill the gaps in student career guidance needed to transition them seamlessly from their education to a meaningful career path. By the end of their collaboration, both entities aim to provide services to thousands of youth across the emirate and conduct virtual sessions for parents and educators in Ras Al Khaimah to help them provide education and employment guidance to their children and students, respectively.

This initiative is aligned with the UAE National Strategy for Higher Education 2030, which aims to prepare a new generation of Emiratis to face future challenges. It also reflects AGFEs commitment to elevating Emirati and Arab students livelihoods in the UAE and across the region.

Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of AGFE said: Youth in the UAE are at the heart of the nations economic growth. Recognising their potential, our partnership with the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research will support them in developing the skills needed for these young people to find greater success along their education to employment journey.

Our mission at AGFE is to contribute to the sustainable development of the region through inclusive, innovative, and wide-reaching education opportunities for Emirati and Arab students. With this goal in mind, we are proud to collaborate with partners who share our vision to encourage and support the young people of this country to achieve excellence.

Seeking to generate a world-class body of research on Ras Al Khaimah and the broader UAE, develop local capacity in the public sector, and engage the community in its work, the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research was established in 2009 through Emiri decree by His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

Mohammad Omran Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research (AQF), said: One of our aims at the Foundation is to establish fruitful relationships with strategic partners that ultimately serve to benefit students in the UAE along their education journey. When youth are guided and are provided high quality learning opportunities, it allows them to reach their full potential, and contribute to the development of their nation. I am confident that this partnership with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, a long-standing ally, will help students realise their passions and explore future career pathways that will inspire them to create a better future for themselves, their communities and society at large.

AGFE and AQF have worked together in previous years, supporting one another in several capacities. During AGFEs early days of establishment, AQF offered valuable insights to the Foundation that contributed to the design and development of the Al Ghurair Young Thinkers Program (YTP). Having explored ways to work together over the years, AGFE and AQF are looking forward to collaborating closely in the implementation of university and career readiness programming. -- Tradearabia News Service
[March 30, 2021] Givinga Appoints John Schreiber to Board of Directors

Givinga, the leader in providing technology solutions that enable modern philanthropic giving, today announced the appointment of former InfoArmor CEO John Schreiber to its Board of Directors. Schreiber has spent more than three decades in finance and business, and his expertise in raising capital and allocating resources for shareholders uniquely positions him to help guide Givinga in its next growth phase. Currently the president of Desert Norseman Holdings, Schreiber brings extensive experience leading strategy, operations and finance for companies in the technology and financial services industries. Most recently he was at the helm of identity and privacy protection giant InfoArmor (now Allstate Identity Protection). During his 12-year tenure at InfoArmor, Schreiber held roles of increasing responsibility in strategic areas of finance and operations, including CFO, president, and most recently CEO, a title he held for more than four years. Prior to InfoArmor, he helped lead Boston-based equity hedge fund Granite Point Capital as partner for nearly six years. Before Granite Point, Schreiber spent six years at Janus Henderson Investors U.S. as analyst and portfolio maager, and served as an equity analyst at Fidelity Investments.



"Givinga is in the right place at the right time, as increased scrutiny from investors and major shifts in consumer and customer expectations have transformed ESG and corporate social responsibility into business imperatives," Schreiber said. "Givinga operates in one of the most exciting segments in fintech today, and I'm thrilled to bring my operational experience and capabilities in delivering shareholder value to help the leadership team market its proprietary Philantech offerings." A CFA Charter holder, Schreiber holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington, and he received an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was also co-president of the Investment Club. Schreiber also serves on the Board of Directors of MASA Global, and, prior to a successful 2018 recapitalization, spent nearly 15 years as a Board member and key advisor for promotional products data processor iPROMOTEu.

"We've been making huge strides at Givinga, advancing a very exciting pipeline of customers and partners that recognize the need to implement modern technology that reflects a shift toward a more purpose-driven society," said Joe Phoenix, co-founder and CEO of Givinga. "John's contributions will heighten Givinga's ability to continue to scale, and will help us leverage our momentum in the market at this pivotal time while we drive a unique product offering." Givinga provides companies with essential charitable giving capabilities that are easy to manage, simple to implement and easily integrate into existing consumer and workplace platforms. Givinga's technology solutions unlock the full potential of charitable giving to spark innovation, drive meaningful brand engagement, and unify business and societal impact. "Working with Givinga also gives me the opportunity to fulfill a personal mission to find unique ways to give back," continued Schreiber. "If I can help Givinga and its leadership team deliver philanthropic technology to more companies and enable more people to give back proactively, it multiplies the positive effect of my personal desire to do good." About Givinga

Founded in 2015, Givinga was built around the idea that everyone deserves an equal opportunity to make a meaningful impact. It's Philantech cloud offering combines philanthropic tools with financial technology, empowering companies to develop modern giving solutions that align with and enhance corporate strategy. Its products support enterprise partners powering workplace giving, startups reimagining B2C charitable giving, financial service companies offering social impact investing, and foundations looking to enhance donor engagement. www.givinga.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005151/en/

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You will see that his respiration gets shallower and shallower, and finally stops when he speaks his last words, I cant breathe. So how do we begin to analyze and organize this evidence? I suggest that you let common sense and reason guide you. We have two objectives in this trial, ladies and gentlemen  the first objective is to give Mr. Chauvin a fair trial. And a second objective, ladies and gentlemen, is to bring you the evidence. The first thing that Officer Chauvin sees is Officers Kueng and Lane struggling with Mr. Floyd. Mr. Chauvins conduct was not consistent with Minneapolis Police Department training. Was not consistent with Minneapolis Police Department policy, was not reflective of the Minneapolis Police Department. We are bringing this case, this prosecution against Mr. Chauvin for the excessive force he applied on the body of Mr. George Floyd, for engaging in behavior that was imminently dangerous, and the force that he applied without regard for its impact on the life of Mr. George Floyd. So we learn here that Mr. Floyd, at some point, is completely passed out. Mr. Chauvin continues on as he had, knee on the neck, knee on the back. You will see he does not let up. And he does not get up. The first call, officers called for paramedics to arrive, Code 2, because Mr. Floyd had a nose injury. He was bleeding from the nose  that occurred during the struggle. Mr. Floyd banged his face into the plexiglass partition of the squad car. The evidence will show that Mr. Floyd died of a cardiac arrhythmia that occurred as a result of hypertension, coronary disease, the ingestion of methamphetamine and fentanyl and the adrenaline flowing through his body.
Louisiana will loosen coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday, which will remove capacity limits for some businesses.

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the move Tuesday, one day before the expiration of his current order and one day after vaccine eligibility opened to all adults.

+7 Louisiana keeping mask mandate, lifting capacity limits on bars, restaurants, gyms In Louisiana's biggest step towards reopening to date, Gov. John Bel Edwards on Tuesday lifted occupancy limits on bars, restaurants, salons, 

The mask mandate will stay in place, Edwards said.

New Orleans officials said Tuesday that current capacity limits will remain in place for the city.

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

Click here to read a PDF of the full order.

Here's a full rundown of what the new order allows and prohibits:

The Chairman of THISDAY Newspapers Editorial Board, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, and other senior journalists in Nigeria yesterday tasked the Nigerian media to begin the de-escalation of insecurity as well as the violence in the country through mature way of reporting.

Speaking at a one-day roundtable on 'The Media and Security Challenges: The Way Forward', Adeniyi charged the media to work towards comprehending the real issues of insecurity in the country before discharging their task of informing the public.

Also, others who spoke at the roundtable organised by a non-governmental organisation, Vision Centre for Communication and Development Advocacy, (VICCDA), President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo; acting Chairman of VICCDA, Otunba Onayiga, among other leading practicing journalists, called on the federal government to rise up to the challenge of insecurity threatening the peace and wellbeing of the country.

Adeniyi, who stated that there's anger among the people in the country owing to the devastating activities of bandits, charged journalists that before writing their reports, they should ask themselves: "What can I do to help de-escalate the crisis."

He also warned against telling only one sided story, adding that instead of dwelling on negatives of the crisis, they should highlight instances of resilience and other inspiring human angles in conflict.

While stating that "we create more crisis when we frame religion into it," he advised, adding that journalists should rather ask: "How do we help to promote culture that would promote peace and dialogue?"

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Earlier, the National President of the NUJ, Isiguzo, noted that the worsening security situation in the country is threatening national peace and development.

He, therefore, challenged the federal government to rise to the occasion by doing everything possible to protect lives and property of the citizens.

The NUJ president also urged journalists to communicate in such a way that the security challenges would be surmounted by the government instead of worsening the situation.

He, however, commended the organisers of the event, adding that it comes at the right time where Nigeria is facing security challenges.

Similarly, acting Chairman VICCDA, Onayiga, maintained that the dialogue comes at a decisive moment in proffering solutions and assistance to the federal government in curbing the negative effects of insecurity.

According to him, "We needed to call top journalists to put heads together to see what we can do to salvage the current insecurity in the country. Because of the responsibility given to us by the constitution, we will see to it that we deliver responsible reportage.

"We are here to proffer solutions as media professionals to mitigate the negative effects of the current security situation facing the country. Our vision is to have a vibrant voice for the society and a mission to train, sensitise and promote accountability."

Other speakers at the event urged Nigerians, the media and relevant security agencies to seek peace and security rather than strife and conflict.
Major Food Group

Forget the crazy reservations  now you can enjoy the famous taste of Carbone from the comfort of your own kitchen.

The iconic New York City Italian restaurant, located in Greenwich Village and loved by critics and celebs alike, is launching a line of pasta sauces through its new consumer goods brand, Carbone Fine Food, according to a press release.

The sauces are available now on Amazon and Carbone Fine Food's website and are set to enter Stop & Shop locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and across the Eastern Seaboard in the coming months.

RELATED: This Baked Feta Pasta Has Taken Over TikTok  But Is It Actually Good?

Created by Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalaznick, co-founders of global restaurant company Major Food Group, the jarred sauces are available in three varieties: marinara, arrabbiata and tomato basil. (No word on whether they're planning to release their famous vodka sauce yet.)

Major Food Group

"Creating staple sauces for the home cook that possess the craft we're known for has been a goal for some time," Carbone said in the release. "The challenge was to create a product that would not only cut down cooking time but also truly deliver on the promise of unequaled flavor, and we can now say that that's exactly what we've done. We couldn't be more excitedand there's much more to come."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

According to the release, the sauces highlight fresh ingredients and take approximately one hour to produce. Carbone's team of chefs make each variety in small batches using Italian tomatoes picked at peak ripeness.

RELATED: Celebrity Restaurant Sightings: See the Hot Spots Where the Stars Are Dining

alamy

The Carbone sauces retail for $8.99 per 24-ounce jar.

"The sauce category is a crowded one, but what it is lacking is a premium product that can stand up to what's served in restaurants," Carbone Fine Food CEO Eric Skae said. "Chefs Mario and Rich have created the highest quality sauce on the market. They found a way to jar the Carbone experience. I've never seen anything like it."
Google is currently on a bad seat since its Chrome Incognito Mode, which is supposed to be securing the users' browsing activities, is allegedly allowing websites to track search history. Bloomberg previously reported that the search engine giant is facing a lawsuit after it was accused of tracking users when they are using Chrome's private browsing mode.

According to Forbes' latest report, the default search engine of the users still remains Google, which could lead to linking your sensitive data to your IP address.

"Incognito mode in Chrome gives you the choice to browse the internet without your activity being saved to your browser or device," defended Google against the accusation.

Also Read: Apple iOS Critical Security Alert: Install iOS 14.4.2, iPadOS 14.4.2, and watchOS 7.3.3 Immediately!

"As we clearly state each time you open a new incognito tab, websites might be able to collect information about your browsing activity during your session," added the tech giant firm.

Chrome Incognito's best replacement

Various experts claimed that a new browser might be able to protect users' privacy more efficiently. Right now, it is suggested that people switch to using Vivaldi, a web browser that is also built on Google Chrome's engine. It is also compatible with all of Chrome's extensions.

The great thing about the Vivaldi browser is that it offers a safer feature set, including a more secured privacy mode. This Incognito alternative mode of Vivaldi is called Private Window. Although it also doesn't prevent websites or internet service providers from monitoring your search activities, it still has far superior security capabilities.

Is Vivaldi better than Chrome browser?

Vivaldi is considered a better alternative for Google Chrome since it has greater privacy protections. Its settings have a section called the Privacy tab, which provides the users an option to prevent trackers and ads. Aside from this, the new web browser also doesn't store users' information. This includes browsing history and bookmarks. If you want to know more details, all you need to do is click here.

For more news updates about Google and privacy innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Lawsuit Accusing Google Of Collecting Data Of Users During Incognito Browsing To Continue

This article is owned by TechTimes.

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
analysis

In just three years, an Islamist insurgency in northern Mozambique has killed an estimated 2,600 people. Last week's attack on the town of Palma, which lasted days, should worry neighboring countries, experts say.

On October 5, 2017, armed men carried out a pre-dawn attack on three police stations in Mocimboa da Praia, a district in Mozambique's northern province of Cabo Delgado. The attackers killed 17 people and made away with guns and ammunition. They reportedly told the villagers that they don't believe in western education and would not pay taxes.

Since that first ambush, the attacks have spread to several districts in the region and have become more frequent. The attack last Wednesday claimed dozens of lives and lasted several days. Three years later, the mystery surrounding the identity and motivation of this group persists. Locally, they are known as al-Shabab (the youth), but the group has no known connection to the Somalia's jihadi group with a similar name.

According to Sergio Inacio Chichava, a senior researcher at the Institute of Social and Economic Studies (IESE) in Mozambique, by now, the country's authorities must be aware of who these attackers are. "The government has enough intelligence to say who the group that is attacking Cabo Delgado is and what their intentions are," Chichava said.

"This group has never hidden, from the beginning, that it intends to impose sharia," Chichava told DW.

Who are Mozambique's Islamist insurgents?

"That is the million-dollar question," Adriano Nuvunga, executive director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in Mozambique, said. "Everyone has been asking for the past three years who these people are. There is an understanding that local grievances drive this conflict, and it might have been hijacked by international terrorist dynamics," Nuvunga told DW.

Nuvunga, a human rights activist, blamed marginalization and extraction of natural resources by the elites without local development as a critical source of the conflict. French energy giant Total has invested $20 billion (16.9 billion) into extracting liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Cabo Delgado.A network of illicit economic activities, including drug trafficking, brutality, and violation of human rights by different interests of politically exposed people, might also have contributed.

There was talk of radical Islamist groups in Mozambique as early as 2016, Chichava said. However, some experts believe they had started mobilization a decade earlier.

Around 2007, local Muslim leaders said they had noticed a "change" in the behavior of some Muslim youth. The group started practicing a different form of Islam, drinking alcohol and entering the mosque with shoes. Later the disenfranchised young men formed Ansar al-Sunna and quickly adopted a stricter version of Islam.

According to military intelligence sources on the ground, the group currently has about 4,500 members, 2,000 carry arms, AFP reported. It is also believed that foreign fighters from Tanzania and Somalia are part of the group, but their role is unclear.

After the October 5, 2017 attack, the group released a video stating their intention of turning the gas-rich Cabo Delgado region into a caliphate.

Mozambique plans to start exporting natural gas from Cabo Delgado as early as 2022. But the growing military presence of insurgents poses a severe threat to megaprojects. The violence has claimed at least 2,600 people, half of them civilians, according to the US-based data-collecting agency Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED). More than 700,000 have fled their homes.

Government's confusing explanations

Maputo has sought to explain the identity and objectives of the brutal attackers by issuing four different hypotheses. At first, the government admitted that the "insurgents" were individuals aiming to install an Islamic State. In 2019, the main Ansaru al-Sunna extremist group declared their allegiance to the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).

Authorities then changed their story and pointed the finger at former miners from Montepuz, who foreigners from Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo were allegedly manipulating. The authorities reportedly expelled the foreigners from the mines for conducting illicit operations. Another explanation was that a group of Mozambican businessmen in Beira allegedly financed the insurgents because they were supposedly unhappy with the government's fight against the illegal timber trade. Lastly, they said this was a "war waged by external forces in collusion with some Mozambicans."

Researcher Eric Morier-Genoud believes that there is still "a lot of silence" from the authorities. "It would be good for the government, the army, and the police to give a substantial official explanation of what is happening in Cabo Delgado and to do regular briefings on the situation," Morier-Genoud told DW. "This way, the government could control the narrative, while the people would be more enlightened and more reassured," the academic, based at Queen's University Belfast, added.

Threat to neighboring countries

Mozambique's violence has sent jitters to neighboring Tanzania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. "There is already some overspill into Tanzania," Alex Vines, head of the Africa program at Chatham House, said.

Earlier this month, the United States designated ISIS Mozambique a foreign terrorist organization. The US named Abu Yasir Hassan -- a Tanzanian national -- as leader of the group. The US this month started training Mozambican forces in counterinsurgency operations.

"It is important to remember that although this is a Mozambican problem at the core, it is also a regional issue," Vines said, adding that coordination and cooperation between Mozambique and Tanzania on this particular issue has improved. "

However, Jasmine Opperman, a researcher at ACLED, sees US support as a "real step towards expanding its influence and presence" in the region. "It is a clear attempt by the US to ingratiate itself in Mozambique and various countries in Africa," Opperman told DW. She said she was concerned by "the internationalization of Cabo Delgado that may, in turn, ignore the local roots of the problem. "It gives the Islamic State a status in Mozambique that it does not have."

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'SADC has been silent'

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has remained largely silent on Mozambique's security challenges. "There is a disappointment on how SADC has been silent," rights activist Nuvunga said. "Not only its inability to act proactively in supporting Mozambique to fight extremist violence in northern Mozambique but also the mere silence when it comes to solidarity."

Alex Vines said he thinks military advisers from SADC members South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe could be embedded with Mozambican forces. "A full force would struggle. This is not the sort of conflict that SADC has a lot of experience in confronting," Vines said.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the fiscal challenges that have hit SADC countries make it difficult for the regional body to assemble a united force.

Nuvunga said it was unfortunate that regional bloc had failed to amplify Mozambique's voice in mobilizing the international community to support its fight. "I think it is frightening," the Mozambican activist said.

Antonio Cascais, Jane Nyingi, Nadia Issufo, and Madalena Sampaio contributed to this article.
"Charlotte Figi is our company's North Star, guiding us to work vigilantly every day to improve access to CBD wellness products for everyone," said Deanie Eisner, CEO and President of Charlotte's Web Inc. "We send love and gratitude to the entire Figi family."

The world lost a true hero last year when Charlotte Figi passed on April 7, 2020. As Charlotte was a lover of music, a concert seemed a fitting tribute and a positive way to honor her and her family's contribution to the CBD wellness movement and now industry.

'ROCK THE ROC' CONCERT DETAILS:

WHEN: April 7, 2021 at 8:00 PM EST  "Charlotte Figi Day" in Colorado

at  "Charlotte Figi Day" in HEADLINERS: The Avett Brothers, Jason Mraz , and Michael Franti

ARTISTS: 2020 Grammy-nominated Ruthie Foster , Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers, Glen Phillips , Graham Nash , The War and Treat, and Johnnyswim

, of The Lumineers, , , The War and Treat, and Johnnyswim SPECIAL GUESTS: Colorado Governor Jared Polis and CNN's Sanja Gupta

HOW: Will stream on Nugs.tv on April 7 at 8 pm EST and on the Charlotte Web website.

"We are so appreciative of the continued support that Charlotte's Web has given to Realm of Caring, said Heather Jackson, Co-founder and Board President of RoC. "They have been shoulder to shoulder with us since the beginning, improving lives, and I cannot think of a better partner for us to celebrate the big light of Charlotte Figi and the movement she inspired."

Advocates for access to the healing powers of botanicals and to plant-based wellness products may support global change by donating to the Rock The RoC kickstarter campaign. Contributions support RoC's mission is to serve consumers and medical professionals through education, science and a supportive community.

"Charlotte showed us that everyone deserves quality of life, that Nature provides profound solutions, and that a caring community is a powerful force for good, said Jared Stanley, co-founder of Charlotte's Web and Chief Cultivation Officer. "April 7th will forever mark our commitment to Charlotte and the RoC community in celebration of the spirit that inspired science, changed perceptions, and sparked a global wellness movement."

Charlotte's Web is taking this moment as a company to pause, breathe and remember all of the fighters, including Charlotte, who helped to found the company and establish its mission. During its inaugural "Founder's Week" (March 31  April 6, 2021) the Company will remember its roots each day and profile one Stanley brother through video vignettes, social media and on the Company's website.

About Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc.

Founded in 2013 by the pioneering Stanley Brothers, Charlotte's Web's mission is to unleash the healing powers of botanicals through compassion and science, benefitting the planet and all who live upon it. Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc., a Certified B Corporation headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, is the world's most trusted hemp extract. The Company's CW Labs division, focused on the science of hemp CBD, is located 0n the University at Buffalo, New York campus, as part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system of universities. The Charlotte's Web family of brands includes Charlotte's Web, CBD Medic, CBD Clinic, and Harmony Hemp. The Company's premium quality wellness products start with proprietary hemp genetics that are 100-percent American farm grown under certified organic practices and manufactured into whole-plant hemp extracts containing a full spectrum of naturally occurring phytocannabinoids including CBD, CBC, CBG, terpenes, flavonoids and other beneficial hemp compounds. Charlotte's Web product categories include CBD oil tinctures , CBD gummies , CBD capsules , CBD topical creams and lotions , as well as CBD pet products for dogs . Charlotte's Web is the number one selling CBD brand in the U.S. and is distributed through more than 22,000 retail locations, select distributors and online through the Company's website at www.CharlottesWeb.com . Charlotte's Web is a science-driven and a socially and environmentally conscious company. It is committed to using business as a force for good and a catalyst for innovation. The Company weighs sound business decisions with consideration for how its efforts impact its employees, customers, the environment, and underserved communities. Charlotte's Web donates a portion of its pre-tax earnings to numerous charitable organizations in support of the greater good.

SOURCE Charlotte's Web PR Marketing
WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump launched a new website designed to stay in touch with supporters.

Trumps office announced the site, 45office.com, in a statement Monday night, The Hill reports. The site allows people to send comments, request an appearance or request a greeting.

It also includes brief summaries of Trumps and former first lady Melania Trumps time in the White House.

The site comes as Trump has remained suspended or banned from major social media outlets, including Twitter and Facebook, following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

During the attack, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the building as Congress was convened to certify then-President-elect Joe Bidens Electoral College victory. They broke windows, scaled walls and forced lawmakers to evacuate. The siege resulted in five deaths.

Many, at least in part, pinned the riot on Trumps rhetoric surrounding the 2020 presidential election.

He repeatedly made false claims that the election was stolen from him and, at a rally shortly before the attack, told his supporters to march on Capitol Hill, saying they have to show strength.

The U.S. House of Representatives impeached Trump one week later on a charge that he incited an insurrection  making him the only U.S. president to be impeached more than once. He was later acquitted of the impeachment article by the Senate in February.

Twitter locked Trumps account, which he frequently used to tout false claims about the election, for at least 12 hours following the Jan. 6 attack.

Shortly after his account was unlocked, Twitter made the decision to permanently ban him from the platform, which the company said was due to concerns Trump would incite more violence.

Facebook, which also owns Instagram, has indefinitely suspended Trumps account while it says an oversight board reviews the decision.

Trump previously launched the Office of the Former President in Florida as a way to issue public statements and manage his public appearances and activities a few days after leaving office in late January.

Jason Miller, a spokesperson for Trump, told Fox Newss Media Buzz this month that the former president is planning to create his own social media site.

Trumps Twitter ban has been a topic of debate. A Pew Research study conducted from Jan. 19-24 found 58% of U.S. adults agree banning Trump from social media platforms was the right thing to do while 41% said it was not.

Supporters of the ban have questioned why platforms didnt take action sooner while critics have called it an attack on free speech or expressed concern about social media companies being able to make such decisions.

But some legal experts have said suspending or banning Trumps accounts doesnt violate the First Amendment as social media outlets are private companies.

--

Bailey Aldridge of McClatchy Washington Bureau wrote this story.

2021 McClatchy Washington Bureau.

Visit at mcclatchydc.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Announcement on Proposed Amendments to the Articles of Association



Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt, 30 March 2021 - The board of directors of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (D-Share 690D.DE, A-Share 600690.SH, H-Share 6690.HK, 'Haier Smart Home' or the 'Company') announces that:

Subject to the approval at the Board meeting held on 30 March 2021, the Company proposes to make the following amendments to e existing valid Articles of Association of the Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the 'Articles of Association') to further improve the corporate system:



No. Original provisions Amended provisions Basis or reason of amendment 1 Article 7 The Company's registered capital is RMB9,027,846,441.

Article 7 The Company's registered capital is RMB9,284,895,068.

Conversion of H-share convertible bonds issued by the Company 2 Article 25 The capital structure of the Company was comprised of 9,027,846,441 ordinary shares in total, of which the domestic shareholders hold 6,308,552,654 shares (representing 69.88% of total number of ordinary shares issued by the Company);the shareholders of overseas-listed foreign shares (D Share) hold 271,013,973 shares (representing 3.00% of total number of ordinary shares issued by the Company); the shareholders of overseas-listed foreign shares (H Share) hold 2,448,279,814 shares (representing 27.12% of total number of ordinary shares issued by the Company).

Article 25 The capital structure of the Company was comprised of 9,284,895,068 ordinary shares in total, of which the domestic shareholders hold 6,308,552,654 shares (representing 67.94% of total number of ordinary shares issued by the Company);the shareholders of overseas-listed foreign shares (D Share) hold 271,013,973 shares (representing 2.92% of total number of ordinary shares issued by the Company); the shareholders of overseas-listed foreign shares (H Share) hold 2,705,328,441 shares (representing 29.14% of total number of ordinary shares issued by the Company).

Conversion of H-share convertible bonds issued by the Company

3 Article 197 Rights of an independent director:

..

(4) independent directors shall account for at least over one-half of the members of the remuneration and evaluation committee, audit committee, nomination committee, strategy committee or other such committees under the Board of Directors of the Company.



Article 197 Rights of an independent director:

..

(4) independent directors shall be the majority in the remuneration and evaluation committee, audit committee, nomination committee,strategy committee or other such committees under the Board of Directors of the Company.



Consistent with Article 205 of the Articles of Association





















































































The Board agrees to submit the above proposed amendments to the Articles of Association at the Company's Annual General Meeting of 2020 (the 'AGM') for consideration and approval. A circular containing, among others, the information regarding the proposed amendments to the Articles of Association, together with a notice for convening the AGM, will be dispatched to the shareholders of the Company in due course.

In addition, according to the latest provisions of the Articles of Association and in view of the fact that the listing of the Company's H-shares has completed, the attached system is submitted to the General Meeting for revision:

(1) The expressions involving 'general manager/manager' and 'deputy general manager/deputy manager' in the Company's current system have been uniformly revised as 'president' and 'vice president'. The systems concerned include the Rules of Procedures for the General Meeting of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., the Investment Management System of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., the Foreign Exchange Derivative Transaction Management System of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., the Management Measures for Hedging Business of Bulk Raw Materials of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., the Management Measures for Raised Funds of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. and Management System for Entrusted Wealth Management of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.;

(2) The expressions in the system involving 'these rules/measures/systems/implementation rules have been adopted at the Company's general meeting and will take effect on the date when the Company's overseas listed foreign shares (H-shares) are listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited', have been uniformly revised as 'these rules/measures /systems /implementation rules shall take effect from the date on which it is adopted at the Company's general meeting'. The systems concerned include the Rules of Procedures for the General Meeting of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., the Investment Management System of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., the Management Measures for Raised Funds of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. and the Independent Director System of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.;

(3) The expressions in the system involving the reference to the serial numbers of specific articles in the Articles of Association shall be updated in accordance with the latest serial numbers in the Articles of Association. The systems concerned include the Rules of Procedures for the General Meeting of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.



The Board of Directors

Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.

30 March 2021



Note: This Announcement has been prepared in both Chinese and English. Should there be any discrepancies or misunderstandings between the two versions, the Chinese version shall prevail



IR contact:

Yao Sun (Sophie) - Haier Smart Home Germany

T: +49 89 380 334 235

M: +49 160 9469 3601

Email: y.sun@haier.de
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Guns confiscated by the Santa Ana Police Department are displayed for a press event in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 11, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Santa Anas Gun Troubles Continue Following Deadly Shooting

Santa Ana police are investigating another fatal shooting as city officials continue to grapple with a rise in gun crimes.

The latest homicide happened March 26, when police said a man fatally shot his neighbor with a handgun in a mobile home park on the 3100 block of West 1st Street.

The victim died before he could be transported to the hospital.

Alfonso Jasso, 36, later turned himself into police after driving himself to the police department to surrender, and he was booked on suspicion of homicide.

Santa Ana police have said that gun seizures are on the rise.

The city consistency reported an increase in gun seizures from September 2019 to February, according to Santa Ana Police Department data.

Last month, police seized 25 guns, compared to 20 in February 2020. In January, police seized 30 guns as opposed to the 21 they seized in January 2020.

Overall, Santa Ana police seized 71 illegal weapons off the streets during the first 70 days of 2021.

During the week of March 22, police seized approximately another 10 guns of the streets, among loads of drugs and cash.

The increase in gun seizures comes as the Santa Ana Police Department launched a new crime fighting initiative March 11 called Operation Community First after they experienced eight homicides from the beginning of the year to March 10. There was one homicide during the same period of 2020.

One of the operations top priorities will be getting illegal guns off the streets.

The increase in violent crime, unfortunately, is consistent with patterns, both in small and large cities across the country throughout 2020, Santa Ana Chief of Police David Valentin said during a March 11 press conference.

The department remains committed to community-oriented policing and partnering with our community to address violent crime.

Additionally, shootings in Santa Ana are up year-over-year, although they have decreased overall in the last five years.

Removal of illegal firearms from the street is very, very important, Valentin said. Its one of our top priorities. For every weapon that you remove off the streets, you likely further prevent violent crime.

Since the beginning of the operation, Santa Ana has continued to crack down on weapons being seized during arrests of parolees and other people who are prohibited of owning firearms.
[March 29, 2021] ADA and Insider Announce Strategic Partnership to Help Enterprises Drive Data-Led Growth Marketing Initiatives

SINGAPORE, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ADA, a leading data and artificial intelligence (AI) company, and Insider, one of the world's leading Growth Management Platforms have forged a strategic partnership. Together, they will provide seamless multi-channel personalisation, data-driven strategy, and end-to-end digital, analytics, and marketing solutions. Unifying ADA's newly formed MarTech-as-a-Service offering and Insider's AI-powered Growth Management Platform (GMP) the partnership will empower enterprises to scale up and predict customer behaviour in real time. Marketers can also seamlessly personalise and streamline campaigns to acquire, activate, and retai customers.



Chris Wiseman, Head of Marketing Technology, ADA, said: "We're really excited to be working with Insider. We believe this partnership will help our clients realise more value by allowing us to offer an end-to-end solution that covers the full marketing and sales funnel. We have big goals to continue to expand our business in Asia; so, ADA and Insider's strong MarTech proposition will help us achieve our ambitious targets." Patrick Steinbrenner, Managing Director  APAC, Insider, said: "Having the right recommendation algorithms powered by AI will help enterprises deliver precise individualised cross-channel recommendations and uncover their full revenue potential. ADA's digital and data maturity models' expertise combined with Insider's platform capabilities will take marketing to the next level. We've enjoyed collaborating with the team at ADA to bring more value to our end customers."

Learn more about the partnership here: http://ada-asia.com/ada-x-insider/ About ADA ADA is a data and artificial intelligence company that designs and executes integrated digital, analytics, and marketing solutions. Operating across nine markets in South and Southeast Asia, ADA partners with leading brands to drive their digital and data maturity, and achieve their business goals. We are anchored on the following main services: Providing business insights, data enrichment, and advanced analytics

Understanding the consumer mindset and designing data-driven creative marketing strategies

Executing end-to-end digital marketing solutions for growth hacking, funnel optimisation, and goal optimisation ADA complements its unique digital expertise with deep proprietary data of 375 Million consumers. About Insider Leveraging real-time predictive segmentation powered by artificial intelligence, Insider's Growth Management Platform (GMP) empowers marketers to deliver personalized journeys across the web, mobile web, mobile apps, messaging platforms, and ad channels. Built on a unified data layer, the GMP is easy to implement and simple to use, eliminating complex integrations and dependency on IT teams. Insider is featured in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Multichannel Marketing Hubs 2020 and has been the #1 leader on G2's Mobile Marketing Software and Personalization Grids with a 4.6/5 rating based on 100% user reviews, 17 quarters in a row. SOURCE ADA

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Alzheimer Europe has launched a new report, 'Dementia Monitor 2020', providing a high-level overview of how countries across Europe have responded to the challenges posed by dementia

Luxembourg, 30 March 2021 - Alzheimer Europe has launched a new report, "Dementia Monitor 2020", providing a high-level overview of how countries across Europe have responded to the challenges posed by dementia.

Alzheimer Europe's Dementia Monitor 2020, provides a high-level overview of countries across Europe, outlining their responses to dementia, across 10 areas, including care and support services, participation in European research, policy drivers and legal protections. The report was developed by Alzheimer Europe, working together with its national member associations.

Alzheimer Europe published a similar report in 2017 which established a benchmark for countries and has made it possible to identify changes in the dementia landscape over the past three years.

Some key highlights from the Dementia Monitor 2020 include:

Care and support services continue to be largely insufficiently available, despite some minor improvements since 2017

A majority of care and support services continue to receive some level of financial support from the state (either fully funded or co-funded)

An increasing number of countries are engaging in policy processes designed to prioritise dementia, for example, through the development of dementia strategies

Countries in central and eastern Europe continue to be less well represented in clinical trials related to dementia

A majority of countries continue to have a poor level of legal protections in place to guarantee the rights of people with dementia or carers, particularly in relation to employment matters

There continues to be significant differences between Western and Northern European countries and those in Central and Eastern Europe in terms of how governments are responding to dementia.

Commenting on the launch of the report, Alzheimer Europe's Executive Director, Jean Georges, stated:

"There is a mixed picture emerging from the Dementia Monitor 2020. Whilst we have seen some minor improvements in the availability and affordability of care since the 2017 Dementia Monitor, it remains the case that overall, too many services remain insufficiently available.

Whilst progress in the areas of policy and international commitments are certainly welcome, it is evident that there is still much work to do in order to translate commitments on paper into everyday reality for people living with dementia.

The number of people with dementia in Europe is likely to double by 2050, increasing from 9.78 million to 18.8 million. People with dementia and their carers must be supported throughout the duration of the illness, from the point of diagnosis through until the end of life. If this is to be achieved, particularly in light of an inevitable increase in demand for supports and services, we must see significant investment in health and social care systems to fix the shortcomings in the availability and financial support, as well as securing their long-term sustainability.

Alzheimer Europe strongly calls upon the EU to use its Cohesion Funds, including the EU4Health programme, to support Member States to address the identified gaps in care and support services for people living with dementia."

###

To download (PDF): http://bit. ly/ DementiaMonitor2020

For further information, contact: Jean Georges, Executive Director, Alzheimer Europe, 14, rue Dicks, L-1417 Luxembourg, Tel.: +352-29 79 70, Fax: +352-29 79 72, jean.georges@alzheimer-europe.org, http://www. alzheimer-europe. org Notes to editors:

Alzheimer Europe is the umbrella organisation of national Alzheimer associations and currently has 37 member organisations in 33 European countries. The mission statement of the organisation is to change perceptions, practice and policy to ensure equal access of people with dementia to a high level of care services and treatment options.

The 10 categories covered by the Dementia Monitor 2020 are:

1. The availability of care services 2. The affordability of care services 3. The reimbursement of medicines 4. The availability of clinical trials 5. The involvement of the country in European dementia research initiatives 6. The recognition of dementia as a priority 7. The development of dementia-friendly initiatives 8. The recognition of legal rights 9. The ratification of International and European human rights treaties 10. Care and employment rights.
Up to 250,000 Feared Jobless as Largest Wage Subsidy in Australian History Ends

A potential 250,000 people could be on unemployment benefits after the JobKeeper wage subsidy officially ended on March 28, according to the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS).

The JobKeeper program, which ran for just over a year, supported businesses significantly affected by the CCP virus by providing financial aid so businesses could keep staff employed throughout the COVID-19 recession.

ACOSS chief executive officer Cassandra Goldie said that the schemes end was a distressing day for Australians.

I guess many people are waking up this morning not sure what their futures going to be, Goldie told 7News on Monday. Were not out of the health pandemic yet, borders are still closed, and many industries are still distressed.

But Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Australians knew that there would come a day when the government would have to step back from the JobKeeper.

That should be seen as a statement of confidence in the Australian economy and in Australian businesses because you cant run the Australian economy on taxpayers money forever, Morrison said.

New government figures show there were one million employees and 379,000 businesses that were still reliant on the JobKeeper subsidy at the end of January.

Treasury boss Steven Kennedy also estimated that the jobless figure when the JobKeeper program finished wouldnt be trivial.

We believe that 100,000 to 150,000 JobKeeper recipients may lose employment at the completion of the program, though there is a wide band of uncertainty around this estimate, Kennedy told senators in Canberra.

He said that JobKeeper has played a critical role in returning the economys health but should discontinue as other support measures take effect and allow the economy to continue adjusting because if allowed to continue, the subsidy would likely have many adverse impacts.

In particular, it distorts wage relativities, it dampens incentives to work, it hampers labour mobility and the reallocation of workers to more productive roles, and it keeps businesses afloat that would not be viable without ongoing support, Kennedy said.

Since JobKeeper was first introduced in April, more than 2.7 million employees and about 680,000 businesses have left the scheme, representing a 72 percent drop.

Data from the Australian Taxation Office also shows that all industries have seen a significant fall in the number of employees covered by JobKeeper, including an 83 percent fall in retail and a 69 percent drop in accommodation and food services.
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The "Resurrection" movie, the story illustrating the events after the crucifixion of Jesus, is now available on Discovery+ just in time for Easter.

The film was produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett of LightWorkers and MGM, as well as The Bible's Richard Bedser.

Speaking to CBN's The 700 Club, Downey spoke of being delighted for the movie's release before Easter Sunday. She also shared details about the film, covering the book of Acts, focusing on the death and resurrection of Jesus.

"The movie opens up at the crucifixion of Jesus and we wanted to tell the story from the point of view of the disciples. They scattered when He was murdered, they're heartbroken, they're afraid. In those few days, they wait to see if He will come back or not. In that time in Jerusalem, there's so much going on," she said.

She continued by describing the situation after the death of Jesus.

"The drama plays out like a triangle because we have the oppression of the Romans and they were ruling with an iron fist. We have the Temple authorities led by Caiaphas and they're very anxious about Passover and keeping peace in the city which is why they tried to kill Jesus off so quickly. Then we have the disciples who have just lost their beloved teacher, their leader, their Lord, and they're unsure what to do next," Downey stated.

"The way the disciples are presented, there's such a humanity in them that we the audience are able to relate to them. We are able to identify with the variety of emotions that they're going through and we will see that fear and that grief turn to joy and elation when on the third day as promised Jesus does rise again," she further said.

The producer explained that they were looking for a platform to show the film and found that Discovery+ was the best option to release the movie, given the closure of theaters due to pandemic. She said that the channel offered to take the film for Easter.

Moreover, she revealed that Discovery+ is interested in showcasing family-friendly programs, adding that it is a channel people can trust and find value for their money.

In conclusion, she invited Christians to watch the beautiful movie, stating that it is the cornerstone of a believer's faith. She is also hoping that people will support the film so they can continue creating Christian content of quality.

The film used footage taken during the filming of The Bible. The production team decided to use the technique, which was already tried in other movies before, given the limitations of filmmaking due to pandemic.

MOVIEGUIDE commended the filmmakers for creating a "fresh version of the Passion and Resurrection." It also said that the film was "entertaining and exciting" but was able to keep the relevance of the Gospel story.

Juan Pablo Di Pace portrayed Jesus in the movie. Other cast members include Adam Levy, Richard Coyle, Joanne Whalley, Vincent Regan, among others.

Directed by Ciaran Donnelly, the film made its debut on March 27 via Discovery+. It is also available on DVDs.
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The United States has announced nearly $600 million in new humanitarian assistance in response to the war in Syria, noting that it is aimed at helping people who have faced innumerable atrocities, including air strikes carried out by the regime and its ally, Russia.



U.S. assistance will benefit many of the estimated 13.4 million Syrians inside Syria, as well as 5.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.



"We offer support to alleviate the suffering of the world's most vulnerable people because it aligns with our values as a nation and with our national interests," Blinken said, urging other donors to support the Syrian people.



Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his backers, including Russia, have been blamed for much of the violence, which started in March 2011 as part of a wave of protests calling for political reforms in several countries in the Middle East.



Blinken said in his statement that the Syrian people "have faced atrocities, including Assad regime and Russian air strikes, forced disappearances, [Islamic State] brutality, and chemical-weapons attacks."



Corruption and economic mismanagement by the Assad regime have exacerbated the dire humanitarian crisis, which has been further compounded by COVID-19, Blinken said.



The aid was announced during the fifth Brussels Conference on supporting Syria and the region, which brings together more than 50 countries and 30 international organizations in the biggest annual drive for pledges to assist people affected by the war.



The United Nations has set a goal of $10 billion in 2021 for Syria and refugees in neighboring countries. The UN says about $4 billion of the total is needed for humanitarian relief inside Syria. The rest is for refugees and the nations in the region hosting them.



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said more than 13 million people need humanitarian assistance to survive this year.



"That's over 20 percent more than last year, and the majority of the population is now facing hunger," Guterres said in a video message.



The $596 million pledged by the United States brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region to nearly $13 billion since 2011.



Germany has pledged the most during the donor conference -- 1.74 billion euros ($2 billion).



"The Syrian tragedy must not last another 10 years. Ending it begins by restoring hope. It begins with our commitments -- here, today," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Mumbai, March 30 : Actress Raveena Tandon on Tuesday reacted to the appalling incident of a minor rape victim being paraded with the accused, after being beaten up by a mob in a Madhya Pradesh village. The video of the incident has gone viral.

Raveena tweeted demanding harsh punishment for the accused. She also hinted at a lack of trust on India's legal system. She used the government's "beti bachao" slogan in a hashtag.

"Appalling visuals. #betibachao. Hope the criminals even if they happen to be her own family members, are brought to justice and pay dearly for scarring the life of this 16 year old. But then our courts ..that's a different story. #injusticeagainstwomen #violenceagainstwomen," the actress wrote.

In the tribal-dominated Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh, the rape victim, a 16-year-old girl, was paraded with the accused after being beaten up by a mob.

The police have registered case against six people and arrested all the accused.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Netflix is moving into Stamford this April to film murder thriller The Good Nurse, featuring Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain.

Stamford turning into a film set means more than movie stars walking down Washington Boulevard. The casting agency is looking for paid extras to play everyday pedestrians.

Click here to apply.

"You may be asked to do a variety of different things in the scene such as walking, crossing camera, sitting down with a friend, engaging in pretend conversation, doing a specific task or activity. It's all up to production and they will give you instructions on the day based on the scene," the casting site explains.

Those interested can apply via the link and will be asked to answer a variety of specific questions ranging from proximity to Stamford to hair color and visible tattoos.

But theres also a twist: the team wants contortionists, sword swallowers, and circus performers, too. "If you were contacted because you are a circus performer or individual with contortion or sword swallowing experience, click the box below," the site notes at the bottom.

In the film, Redmayne will play prolific serial killer Charles Cullen  a nurse who confessed to murdering 40 patients in hospitals across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Some experts estimate that Cullen actually killed more than 300 people, making him the most prolific serial killer in modern history.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 30, 2021 - 18:28 | All, Japan

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is still willing to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Japan's top government spokesman said Tuesday, after the White House ruled out a summit between Kim and U.S. President Joe Biden in the near future.

The overture underscores Tokyo's hope for progress in securing the return of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s, but could be seen as a break from Washington's efforts to pressure Pyongyang to denuclearize.

Suga said after taking office last September he would inherit his predecessor Shinzo Abe's willingness to meet with Kim "without preconditions."

Asked at a press conference on Tuesday whether the offer still stands following the remarks from the White House, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said Suga "firmly maintains" the stance taken by Abe.

Biden has said the United States would "respond accordingly" if North Korea chooses to further raise tensions following last week's ballistic missile test, but also said the door remains open for "some form of diplomacy."

Responding to a reporter's question Monday on whether this includes meeting with Kim, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, "I think his approach would be quite different, and that is not his intention."

The Biden administration is reviewing its North Korea policy after his predecessor Donald Trump's three summits with Kim failed to produce a deal amid disagreement on the level of sanctions relief Pyongyang should get for winding down its nuclear and missile programs.

Meanwhile, Japan will extend by two years its own sanctions on North Korea, consisting of a total ban on bilateral trade and forbidding entry to ships that have stopped at a North Korean port, Kato said.

The sanctions, which were first imposed in 2006 and gradually expanded in scope, have gone through repeated extensions with the latest deadline coming on April 13.

The latest two-year extension must be approved by the Cabinet.

The sanctions are aimed at pushing North Korea to address the abduction issue, though Japan's efforts have stalled after a 2014 agreement to investigate the fate of victims fell apart.

Japan officially lists 17 nationals as having been abducted by North Korean agents, including five who have been repatriated, but suspects their involvement in many more disappearances.

Related coverage:

Biden does not plan to meet North Korea leader Kim for now: White House

North Korea keen to cozy up to China for economy by giving up U.S. talks

North Korea raps U.S. for infringing on right to "self-defense"
Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the lawsuit against Guardian Pharmacy of Southern California, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

The San Diego employment law attorneys at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a lawsuit against Guardian Pharmacy of Southern California, LLC, alleging the company violated Labor Code  2699, et seq. seeking penalties for DEFENDANTs alleged violation of California Labor Code  201, 202, 203, 204, 210, 226(a), 226.7, 351, 510, 512, 558(a)(1)(2), 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802. The lawsuit against Guardian Pharmacy of Southern California, LLC, is currently pending in the San Diego County Superior Court, Case No. 37-2021-00008791-CU-OE-CTL. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here.

Cal. Lab. Code  204(d) expressly requires employers to pay employees all wages owed within seven (7) days of the close of the payroll period. Allegedly, DEFENDANT from time to time failed to pay PLAINTIFF and other AGGRIEVED EMPLOYEES all wages owed to them within seven (7) days of the close of the payroll period.

PAGA is a mechanism by which the State of California itself can enforce state labor laws through the employee suing under the PAGA who do so as the proxy or agent of the state's labor law enforcement agencies. An action to recover civil penalties under PAGA is fundamentally a law enforcement action designed to protect the public and not to benefit private parties. The purpose of PAGA is not to recover damages or restitution, but to create a means of "deputizing" citizens as private attorneys general to enforce the Labor Code. As a result of their rigorous work schedules, "PLAINTIFFS and other AGGRIEVED EMPLOYEES were from time to time denied their proper rest periods by DEFENDANT and DEFENDANTs managers."

For more information about the lawsuit against Guardian Pharmacy of Southern California, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today.

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7 newly qualified chartered accountants from Longford are among 1,600 students to be admitted to membership of Chartered Accountants Ireland. The virtual admissions ceremony was the first of its kind in the Institutes 130-year history. The Institute is the largest professional accounting body on the island of Ireland, with almost 30,000 members, 5,000 of these spread all around the world.

The newly admitted members are the first cohort of students to have sat their Final Admitting Exams (FAEs) entirely online, in a year in which all aspects of life were adapted in response to COVID-19. Chartered Accountants Irelands education delivery across its entire 7,000-strong student body at first year (CAP1), second year (CAP2) and final year (FAE) levels was immediately moved online in March 2020.

Commenting, president of Chartered Accountants Ireland Paul Henry said

I want to congratulate students on their admission to membership. In response to the pandemic, the Institute moved almost overnight to entirely online education delivery last March, building on an already existing hybrid model of in-person and virtual instruction.

While maintaining continuity in education, we were equally determined from the outset that the challenges of the pandemic were not going to unduly delay examinations and the onward progression of our students, particularly final year students seeking to progress their careers.

From the early days of the pandemic, Chartered Accountants Ireland worked to expedite the development of an e-assessment platform, with remote invigilation, to ensure that examinations at all levels could go ahead in accordance with public health measures.

The 2020/2021 academic year saw over 15,000 individual exams taken on the Institutes online assessment platform.

The overall grade achievements were similar to previous years and reflect students efforts in a very challenging environment.

Mr Henry continued: It is a testament to students own dedication and resilience that they so quickly and competently adapt to an entirely new way of working. Exams are a challenge at the best of times but coupled with the uncertainty and stresses of the pandemic, we are particularly proud of their achievement and admission to the profession.
PRAGUE  U.S. safety inspectors sought clues on Monday to what caused the mountainside helicopter crash in Alaska that killed billionaire Petr Kellner, the wealthiest man in the Czech Republic and founder of investment group PPF, during a weekend ski outing.

Kellner, 56, was among five people, including the pilot, who perished on Saturday when the helicopter slammed into a snow-covered slope of the Chugach Mountains near Knik Glacier, about 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Anchorage, Alaskas largest city, officials said.

One person survived the crash, David Horvath, 48, a resident of the Czech Republic. He remained in serious but stable condition at an Anchorage-area hospital, according to Alaska state police. Another Czech national, Benjamin Larochaix, 50, was among the dead.

Kellner, who avoided public attention but was pictured in one PPF annual report on a snowboard, was part of a group who had been out for the day on a heli-ski tour before theaccident, state police said.

A spokeswoman for the exclusive Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, where the crash victims were staying, said Kellner had been a frequent guest since 2012.

Authorities mounted a search for the helicopter Saturday night after the aircraft was reported overdue for its return, and located the wreckage a short time later. The victims bodies were recovered on Sunday.

A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team found that the helicopter, an Airbus AS350B3, crashed about 15 feet (4.5 meters) below a ridgeline and slid 900 feet (274 meters) down the slope before coming to rest, agency spokesman Eric Weiss said.

Photos from the crash site, an elevation of about 5,500 feet (1,676 meters), showed the aircraft largely intact. NTSB member Tom Chapman told a briefing in Washington on Monday that investigators had yet to interview the survivor.

The area is very rugged, both in terms of terrain and in terms of weather conditions, Chapman said.

As with all NTSB investigations, agency inspectors will be examining a wide variety of factors that may have contributed to the crash, including airworthiness, human performance, weather and operations, Weiss said.

Kellner was a towering figure in the Czech Republics post-communist era, amassing wealth estimated at $17.5 billion according to Forbes. He ranked as the worlds 68th richest person on Forbes 2020 list, tied with media giant Rupert Murdoch and his family.

PPF in a statement expressed deepest grief at the death of its founder and 98.9% shareholder.

Ladislav Bartonicek, a 30-year PPF veteran who owns just over a 0.5% stake, will take over management duties, the company said.

PPFs third shareholder, Jean-Pascal Duvieusart, also with just over 0.5%, said the company would continue building and keeping with Kellners vision.

Petr was somebody who was truly extraordinary in terms of energy, in terms of creativity, in terms of a drive to build new things, Duvieusart said in a telephone interview.

Kellner is survived by his wife Renata and four children.

He started out selling copy machines as the country opened up following the 1989 Velvet Revolution. He set up PPF with partners for the countrys privatization program.

With holdings in finance, telecommunications, manufacturing, media and biotech, PPF reported assets of 44 billion euros ($51.8 billion) in mid-2020.

PPF controls telecoms firms in central and eastern Europe including O2 Czech Republic, Telenor CEE and CETIN.

Its biggest firm is consumer lender Home Credit, active in markets including Russia, China and India.

Home Credit was an early entrant into China market, starting lending there as the first fully foreign-owned firm in 2010.

Its business there was championed by Czech leaders, which critics saw as a turning away from the countrys human rights diplomacy course set by the first post-communist leader, Vaclav Havel.

President Milos Zeman has sought warm relations with China and took Kellner into a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014.

Kellner also financed a think tank set up by former President Vaclav Klaus, architect of the 1990s privatization that allowed Kellners business rise.

His life story was an example of harnessed opportunity offered to young people by the economic transformation, Klaus said.

Kellner had recently focused on his home market, with PPF acquiring a stake in MONETA Money Bank and proposing merging it with its Air Bank and parts of Home Credit. MONETA shares fell 1.7% on Monday.

Last year, PPF completed the acquisition of Central European Media Enterprises, a group of television stations, from Time Warner.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Whether parents prefer a conformance-oriented or independence-oriented supplemental education program for their children depends on political ideology, according to a study of more than 8,500 American parents by a research team from Rice University and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

"Conservative parents have a higher need for structure, which drives their preference for conformance-oriented programs," said study co-author Vikas Mittal, a professor of marketing at Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business. "Many parents are surprised to learn that their political identity can affect the educational choices they make for their children."

Supplemental education programs include private tutoring, test preparation support and educational books and materials as well as online educational support services. The global market for private tutoring services is forecasted to reach $260.7 billion by 2024, and the U.S. market for tutoring is reported to be more than $8.9 billion a year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 100,000 businesses in the private education services industry. Supplemental education program brands are among the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur magazine's 2020 rankings, and they include popular providers such as Kumon (ranked No. 12), Mathnasium (No. 29) and Huntington Learning Center (No. 39).

For over five decades, education psychologists have utilized two pedagogical orientations conformance orientation and independence orientation. A conformance orientation is more standardized and guided, emphasizing lecture-based content delivery, knowledge and memorization, frequent use of homework assignments, standardized examinations with relative evaluation and classroom attendance discipline and rules. In contrast, an independence orientation features discussion-based seminars and student-led presentations, an emphasis on ideas rather than facts, use of multimodal interaction instead of books, and highly variable and unstructured class routines. The two approaches do not differ in terms of topics covered in the curriculum or the specific qualities to be imparted to students.

The research team asked parents about their preferences for different programs framed as conformance- or independence-oriented. In five studies of more than 8,500 parents, conservative parents preferred education programs that were framed as conformance-oriented, while liberal parents preferred independence-oriented education programs. This differential preference emerged for different measures of parents' political identity: their party affiliation, self-reported political leaning and whether they watch Fox or CNN/MSNBC for news.

"By understanding the underlying motivations behind parents' preferences, educational programs' appeal to parents can be substantially enhanced," Mittal said. "Supplemental tutoring will be a major expenditure and investment for parents grappling with their child's academic performance in the post-pandemic era. Informal conversations show parents gearing up to supplement school-based education with tutoring. Despite this, very little research exists about the factors that affect parents' preference for and utilization of supplemental education."

Mittal cautioned that these results do not speak to ultimate student performance. "This study only speaks to parents' preferences but does not study ultimate student achievement," he said.

Explore further Parents say their children have tutors to fill gaps, not to charge ahead

More information: Jihye Jung et al, EXPRESS: Political Identity and Preference for Supplemental Educational Programs, Journal of Marketing Research (2021). Journal information: Journal of Marketing Research Jihye Jung et al, EXPRESS: Political Identity and Preference for Supplemental Educational Programs,(2021). DOI: 10.1177/00222437211004252


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A total of 22 new flights under regional connectivity scheme UDAN were started in the last three days, said the Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday.

Under the UDAN scheme, financial incentives from the Centre, state governments and airport operators are extended to selected airlines to encourage operations from unserved and underserved airports, and keep airfares affordable.

"Till date, 57 unserved and underserved airports, including five heliports and two water aerodromes, with 347 routes have been made operational under UDAN across the length and breadth of India," the ministry's statement noted.

On Sunday, 18 new flights were operationalised under the UDAN scheme on routes such as Gorakhpur-Lucknow, Kurnool-Bangalore, Kurnool-Vishakhapatnam, Kurnool-Chennai, Agra-Bangalore, Agra-Bhopal, Prayagraj-Bhubaneswar and Prayagraj-Bhopal route, the statement noted.

Also Read: Centre targets at least 1,000 routes under UDAN scheme: Hardeep Singh Puri
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Islamabad, March 30 : Sardar Masood Khan, the President of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), has called on US President Joe Biden's administration to intervene in resolving the decades-long Kashmir conflict.

In a statement, Khan "called upon the new US administration to play its role in ending plights of the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK)".

He demanded the US to compel India to "cease and reverse illicit transfer of the Indian Hindu population".

"The least the the US can do is to ask India to cease and reverse illicit transfer of the Indian Hindu population to the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and stop killing unarmed Kashmiris in the occupied territory," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

"Washington has to revise its brief on Kashmir. It thinks that 900,000 Indian military and para-military troops are fighting terrorists in Kashmir. But this is a false premise constructed by India to delude the world." Khan said that US' intervention should be focused on ending the repression and restoration of "civil liberties and fundamental freedoms in IOJK".

"Being A promoter of the right to self-determination throughout the last century, the US should not stand in the way of Kashmiris' freedom of choice for their political identity as envisaged and mandated by the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions." He also criticized the UN for its "disappointing" performance on the Kashmir dispute.

"The UN's role on Kashmir is disappointing and the UN Secretary General knows it. But his hands are tied. He cannot do much about the issue because the UN Security Council is not moving at all." The President highlighted that Pakistan's and the PoK's political parties need to first put their complete focus on Kashmir, in order to attract world attention on the conflict.

"Before the world refocuses its attention on Kashmir, the people and political parties of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir will have to do so. The world needs to first witness how intense we Kashmiris and Pakistan are. Their attention will be directly proportionate to our passion and endeavours.

"The besieged and unarmed people of IOJK are giving blood for liberty every day. Under and unrelenting reign of terror by Indian occupation forces, they have not capitulated. As free citizens, we should do better than that," he added.
Attacks on Asians Not White Supremacy, Just Thugs, Researcher Says

The notion that white supremacists are responsible for violent attacks on Asians falls apart under scrutiny, according to a political science researcher who collected and analyzed a database of such attacks.

Wilfred Reilly, assistant professor at Kentucky State University, collected publicly available information on about 100 attacks on Asians reported in the media in the past 14 months or so.

I dont think any of them have turned out to be the work of a kind of white racialist, like someone affiliated with an actively prejudiced group, or even a Proud Boy in a street fight, something like that, he told The Epoch Times in a phone call, referring to the right-wing group that has engaged in street fights with members of the anarcho-communist Antifa network.

Reilly characterized the attackers on Asians as diverse urban goons, mostly black, though that doesnt mean at least some of the perpetrators werent biased against Asians.

The suspect was identified as black in over 60 percent of the cases. Another more than 25 percent were white, he said. Black people comprise about 13 percent of the population. White people about 60 percent.

None of the whites seem to be racists, Reilly said, referring to what could be gleaned from their background, such as their online association with any racial or radical group. Similarly to the black suspects, the whites fitted a profile of an urban thug, he said.

People are looking for easy scapegoats, he said, and white supremacy fits that bill.

In fact you just have a diverse group of goons beating up and robbing Asians, he said.

He also examined the 2018 violent crime victimization survey by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) to see how much crime Asians face in general and who are the perpetrators (pdf).

Asian victims most commonly identified attackers as black (over 27 percent), then white (over 24 percent), and then Other (over 14 percent), which includes Pacific Islanders, people of multiple races, and others. This data was not included for Asian victims in the latest BJS report for 2019 (pdf).

Asians face the least violent crime of the races and ethnicities listed by the 2019 reportless than 0.8 percent fell victim that year, compared to 2.1 percent of whites and Hispanics and less than 1.9 percent of blacks.

What reduces crime against Asians isnt that whites or blacks target them less. They target them more, Reilly said.

The reason, as the data shows, is that only about 24 percent of violent crimes against Asians are committed by other Asians. For whites against whites, that percentage is over 62 percent, for blacks on blacks its over 70 percent, and for Hispanics some 45 percent.

They dont have that home team disadvantage that most of us do, Reilly said.

For other groups, conversely, Asian perpetrators are barely on the radar. Though comprising about 6 percent of the population, they have been identified as only 2.2 percent of attackers on whites, 0.6 on Hispanics, and less than 0.1 percent on blacks. The report cautions that the latter two figures have a limited statistical value.

Attacks on Asians have gained media attention after a 21-year-old man killed eight people in several massage parlors in the Atlanta area on March 16; six of the victims were Asian women. 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. Authorities said the man used to frequent some of the establishments and may have been addicted to sex. He told police he was trying to eliminate the temptation.

The investigation hasnt so far uncovered an anti-Asian motive on the mans part.

There appears to be an increase in hate crimes against Asians last year. In 16 of the countrys largest cities, there was an increase to 122 incidents in 2020 from 49 the previous year, according to an analysis by researchers from California State University (CSU) in San Bernardino (pdf). The FBI will release its 2020 hate crime data later this year.

Based on 2019 FBI data, anti-Asian sentiment motivated about 2.2 percent of hate crimes reported. About 45 percent of hate crimes arent reported to police, according to 2015 survey data by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (pdf).

Hate crimes are crimes for which authorities seek a higher penalty, alleging that the perpetrator was motivated by animus toward characteristics such as race, religion, and sexual proclivities.

A significant portion of hate crimes may be hoaxes, according to a 2017 analysis by Reilly, who specialized in empirically testing political claims.
"There is no end to our sufferings," said Renuka Adhikary, an 84-year-old resident of Debra in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur, who still has to walk two kilometres every day to fetch drinking water for her family.

Renuka lives with her daughter in a mud house in the Nanda Bari area on the bank of Kansabati -- though a river, it resembles a barren field in the summer months.

People of several neighbouring villages such as Pujanpat, Kolkuria, Chak Chandramer, Kankra Mohanpur and Gayaspur complained that they have to walk long distances every day to fetch clean water with many alleging that local TMC leaders were forcing them to buy drinking water from those "approved" by the party.

Humayun Kabir, a former IPS officer who resigned earlier this year as the Police Commissioner of Chandannagar in Hooghly to join politics, is the Trinamool candidate from the seat.

Kabir, pitching himself to be the "son of the soil", said that there was a need to resolve the water crisis immediately.

"Yes, there are some areas in our constituency where there are drinking water problems. We need to address this. But, it's just in a few blocks. Other areas are fine," he told PTI after a daylong door-to-door campaign.

Kabir said that though the Mamata Banerjee government has done a lot of development works in the area, there are scopes for more, especially building infrastructure such as constructions of roads, bridges and new hospitals.

"Debra, like other parts of West Bengal, has developed a lot but still it requires more development. There are scopes of constructing more roads. There are huge scopes for infrastructure development. We also need more hospitals and the locals badly need a bridge on the Kansabati river," he said.

Kabir, however, brushed aside the suggestion to brand the election in the seat as a fight between two former police officers -- the other being BJP candidate Bharati Ghosh, also a former IPS officer who gained prominence as the police chief of the district after TMC formed government in the state in 2011.

"I am a native of this land. I was born and brought up here in Marhtala and I know this place like the back of my palm and you cannot compare me with Bharati. I am a very senior IPS officer and my record speaks for me. I do not think this is a battle between us," he claimed.

Ghosh, once considered close to the chief minister, said the people of Debra are waiting to give a befitting reply to the TMC, which, she alleged, has "cheated" them for the last ten years in the name of development.

"Our agenda is in our election manifesto. It will be implemented in totality. This area has been deprived completely. In the last ten years, everything came to a standstill here," she alleged.

"There is no drinking water supply in several areas. There are houses where there is no toilet. The majority of the houses are built of mud. The basic infrastructure is missing here. We have to build everything," she told PTI on the campaign trail.

Ghosh, who was promoted from the Police Service to the Indian Police Service (IPS), has declared assets worth Rs 19 crore, making her the richest politician in the state to contest the elections.

She alleged that Kabir has been embroiled in "corruption" and is banking on appeasement politics for winning the elections.

"He is no match for me. His chances are zero here as he is not fit to contest against me," she claimed.

Ghosh, who once courted controversy by terming the chief minister as the "mother of Jungle Mahal", had resigned from the police service in 2017 after being removed as the district police chief and joined the BJP in 2019.

She fought that year's Lok Sabha elections from the Ghatal constituency, of which the Debra assembly seat is a part, as the BJP candidate but lost to Bengali superstar Dev, the TMC nominee, by a margin of 1,07,973 votes.

However, Ghosh ensured a BJP lead in the Debra seat by around 4,000 votes.

In the 2016 assembly elections, TMC's Selima Khatun (Bibi) won the seat, beating CPI(M)'s Jahangir Karim Sk.

This time, the Left-led alliance fielded CPI(M)'s Prankrishna Mondal from the seat.

Hitting out at both the TMC and BJP, he said youths of the area are fleeing to other states in search of jobs and his campaign is centred on the issue of unemployment.

"Unemployment is a raging issue in our area. Youths are going out of We need to stop it and that can only happen if job opportunities are created here. People want a change and we will win the elections," Mondal said, exuding confidence.

Sumanta Das, a 24-year-old BSc graduate who ferries ice cream on a cycle in the area, said lack of opportunities is forcing people to go to other states in search of jobs.

"There is no job opportunity here. I am a BSc graduate and have to do all the odd jobs to earn my livelihood. All the young people are either going to Kolkata or other states to look for jobs. Debra is full of old people whose children are away," he said.

Both Kabir and Ghosh agreed that unemployment was an issue of concern in the area with many migrant workers returning during the lockdown.

"The unemployment issue is very real. We have to garner more job opportunities for the locals and tap the talents. We will address it too. Once we win, our focus will be on the overall development of Debra," Kabir promised.

A few locals also alleged that though the state government was announcing several schemes for the poor, it was not reaching them.

"I lost my husband last year and have three daughters to look after. Where is the pension? I had approached a local TMC leader and he asked for cut money. Why should I have to pay him?" said Pushpa Halder, 37, a resident of Gayaspur.

Many residents of Nanda Bari also raised the drinking water issue, pointing to the only tubewell in the area which has not been working for long.

"I don't remember how long we have been waiting for proper drinking water supply to our area. Leaders come with promises before the elections and forget once the polls are over," Renuka said, sitting beside a few empty earthen pots outside her house.

"I have seen the Congress and the Left coming to power, but they never kept their words. It's the same with this Trinamool Congress government. There is no end to our sufferings," she added.

Many also alleged that local TMC leaders were making money out of their sufferings.

"We have to buy drinking water from people who are connected to the Trinamool Congress. How will we survive?" Nakuleswar Mondal, a paddy farmer in Pujanpat, questioned.

Denying the allegations, Khatun, the sitting TMC MLA, said development works have been uninterrupted ever since her party wrested the seat from the CPI(M) in 2011.

"The Left Front government did nothing for our area. We are fighting for the cause of the people but we have to do more," she said.

Spread over 342.41 sq kms, Debra has a total of 2,33,848 voters. Of them, 1,16,948 are women, marginally higher than the number of male voters, which is 1,16,899.

Debra has 12 per cent Muslim voters, around 17 per cent are SC, while 23 per cent are tribals, as per official sources.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JUDI.AI, technology leader in small business lending and growth analytics, today announced that Dr. Russell Anderson has joined the team as Chief Credit Scientist. Dr. Anderson will drive the data science strategy behind JUDI.AIs proprietary credit risk models and small business growth analytics.

Over the last year, many community banks and credit unions have struggled to answer two really important questions: What is the financial status of my small business customers, and how can I help them grow their business? explained Gord Baizley, CEO of JUDI.AI. With the addition of Russells deep domain expertise, we will continue to find innovative and efficient ways to surface answers to these questions, and solidify JUDI.AI as the data science experts in small business lending.

Dr. Anderson has spent over 30 years developing artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions for Retail, eCommerce, and Financial Services, with specific expertise in credit and fraud risk management. Past roles include:



Chief Scientist for IBMs Data Science Studio, where he developed the data science solutions and applications of 17 IBM/Watson products

Analytics Lead for Opera Solutions, which involved working with customers such as Hess Oil, VISA, Volkswagen, MasterCard, Westpac Australia, ACI Worldwide and Synovus Bank

Head of Decision Science at Halifax Bank of Scotland, where he supported full-lifecycle modeling for the retail bank including credit cards, loans, mortgages, risk and fraud

Head of Transaction Analytics at Chase Card Services, which involved the re-design of their transaction analysis system and developing analytics services for partners such as United Airlines, Marriott and Disney

Director of Modeling at HNC Software (now FICO), where he worked on the development of the first, billion-dollar commercial neural network application, Falcon

The many moving variables of a small business - different operating models, costs, margins, demand drivers, competition, and seasonality - make small business credit decisioning more complex than consumer credit, said Dr. Anderson. This risk has traditionally caused hesitation within credit unions and community banks to help existing members or to take new SMB customers on, even though it is in their DNA to grow their communities. A critical capability enabled by the JUDI.AI platform is allowing a real-time review of cashflow for every loan applicant, both pre- and post- funding. This means financial institutions can monitor predictive success indicators such as debt-to-service credit ratios, and offer proactive business advice. The next AI chapter is all about adding the intake of other relevant and vertical-specific data, creating adaptive credit risk assessment models and teasing out more business growth insights that really matter.

The JUDI.AI platform has now supported over $1 billion worth of small business loan applications. Three out of the top ten largest credit unions in Canada are current customers, including Vancity (Canadas largest credit union).

About JUDI.AI

JUDI.AI is at the forefront of the small business lending space, providing a software platform that makes it easy for credit unions and community banks to digitally transform lending processes, become smarter lenders and build deeper relationships with their small business customers. JUDI.AI pledges 1% of our equity, revenue, time and product to not-for-profits of our customers' choice. For more information, visit https://www.judi.ai
TPT Global Tech Inc. invites individual and institutional investors as well as advisors and analysts, to attend its real-time, interactive presentation at the Emerging Growth Conference.

SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2021 / TPT Global Tech, Inc. www.tptglobaltech.com ("TPTW or the Company") (OTCQB:TPTW) , a technology-based company with divisions providing telecommunications, medical technology, media content for domestic and international syndication as well as technology solutions today announced its CEO Stephen J. Thomas III will be presenting at the Emerging Growth Conference on Wednesday March 31, 2021 at 2:00pm Eastern.

The next Emerging Growth Conference will be held on March 31, 2021. This live, interactive online event will provide existing shareholders and the investment community at large the opportunity to hear from and interact with the Company's CEO in real time.

Stephen Thomas will present the company's current and future plans covering a variety of different industry verticals and will also take some questions from the host and likely open the floor for questions as well. Attendees are urged to ask their questions during the event and Mr. Thomas will do his best to respond to as many of them as possible.

Please register here to ensure you are able to attend the conference and receive any updates that are released. TPT Global Tech will be presenting form 2:00pm to 2:45pm Eastern on Wednesday March 31st.

Here is the link for the Registration: https://goto.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1448272&tp_key=2849e0b0c0&sti=tptw.

For any attendees who are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available on EmergingGrowth.com and we will release a direct link after the event.

About the Emerging Growth Conferences

The Emerging Growth conference is an effective way for public companies to present and communicate their new products, services and other major announcements to the investment community from the convenience of their office, in a time efficient manner.

The Conference focus and coverage includes companies in a wide range of growth sectors, with strong management teams, innovative products & services, focused strategy, execution, and th overall potential for long term growth. Its audience includes potentially tens of thousands of Individual and Institutional investors, as well as Investment advisors and analysts.

All sessions will be conducted through video webcasts and will take place in the Eastern time zone.

About TPT Global Tech, Inc.

TPT Global Tech Inc. (TPTW) based in San Diego, California, is a technology-based company with divisions providing telecommunications, medical technology and product distribution, media content for domestic and international syndication as well as technology solutions. It's TPT MedTech subsidiary is a provider of Covid/Health testing services on a global scale and its industry leading platforms are helping travelers get back to travel, events take place and generally speaking helping life get back to a new normal. TPT Global Tech offers Software as a Service (SaaS), Technology Platform as a Service (PAAS), Cloud-based Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS). It offers carrier-grade performance and support for businesses over its private IP MPLS fiber and wireless network in the United States. TPT's cloud-based UCaaS services allow businesses of any size to enjoy all the latest voice, data, media and collaboration features in today's global technology markets. TPT Global Tech also operates as a Master Distributor for Nationwide Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) and Independent Sales Organization (ISO) as a Master Distributor for Pre-Paid Cell phone services, Mobile phones Cell phone Accessories and Global Roaming Cell phones.

For more information about how TPT Global's technologies are helping international travel, large events and other sectors get back on their feet and to speak directly with TPT CEO Stephen Thomas, please contact Shep Doniger at 561-637-5750 and sdoniger@bdcginc.com. For IR inquiries, please contact Frank Benedetto at 619-915-9422.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of various provisions of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, commonly identified by such terms as "believes," "looking ahead," "anticipates," "estimates" and other terms with similar meaning. Specifically, statements about the Company's plans for accelerated growth, improved profitability, future business partners, M&A activity, new service offerings, and pursuit of new markets are forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the assumptions upon which its forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements should not be construed as fact. The information contained in such statements is beyond the ability of the Company to control, and in many cases, the Company cannot predict what factors would cause results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. All forward-looking statements in the press release are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and by reference to the underlying assumptions.

SOURCE: TPT Global Tech, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/638228/TPT-Global-Tech-CEO-Stephen-J-Thomas-III-to-Present-at-the-Emerging-Growth-Conference-on-March-31-2021
Foaling season is once again in high gear, and a Pennsylvania breeding operation is giving racing fans and horse lovers an up-close look at the first moments of their youngest Standardbreds' lives.

Diamond Creek Farm's Wellsville, Pa., location, just south of Harrisburg, is participating in the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association's Foalcam project again in 2021 after doing so last year. In addition to providing a glimpse of the farm's foals and weanlings to horsepeople and fans alike, the live video streams of footage captured by webcams installed at Diamond Creek  as well as at Thoroughbred facility Walnut Green Farm  have gone a long way toward generating interest and fostering connections.

"We get a lot of emails," Ashley Eisenbeil, marketing director for the PHRA, recently told Harrisburg ABC outlet WHTM. A lot of messages on Facebook asking how mom and baby are doing, asking us what the process is, of giving birth to foals, and what happens in the days following after they were born.

Caroline Vazquez, Diamond Creek's director of marketing and stallion syndicates, concurs that the impact of the new technology is positive, and that the added transparency of the live streams goes a long way toward the health of the sport.

"Theres a lot of misconceptions about the sport, and breeding farms in general," she said. "It gives people an insight into actually what happens at these farms."

During foaling season  the busiest time of the year at Diamond Creek  a lot of what occurs centres on learning foals' personalities and helping them acclimate to everyday life before embarking on their racing careers.

"You have to teach them how to behave, so you have to have the patience to understand theyre not going to understand you all of the time," Vazquez continued. "If you go into a situation angry or upset, youre going to just get that right back at you."

After putting their annual open house on hold last year due to the pandemic, Diamond Creek is hopeful to be able to open their doors up to visitors again later this year to further augment the connection between the public and the developing Standardbreds.

"If you come out here, and you spend some time with the horses, youre definitely going to learn something, about yourself and about animals in general," Vazquez concluded.
Five-star hotels in Busan and on Jeju Island are 80-90 percent booked as many tourists make their way down to enjoy spring or their honeymoon.

Hotels in resort areas are starting to recover thanks to domestic tourism, but elsewhere they languish in coronavirus-induced misery.

Top chains are going ahead with plans to open new hotels in the south despite the epidemic. Hotel Shilla opens a Shilla Stay, its "boutique" business hotel brand, in a new international township in western Busan. It is the second Shilla Stay in the southern port city after the one in Haeundae, the city's most famous tourist area.

Josun Hotels & Resorts also recently opened boutique Grand Josun hotels in Busan and Jeju, with more suites for honeymooners.

Lotte Hotel Jeju is offering a honeymoon package with champagne and cakes, and its booking rate for April has more than doubled on-year.

An industry source said, "Hotels in Seoul are struggling to stay afloat as nearly no foreign visitors, their main customer base, come to travel due to the pandemic, but in popular tourist cities, business is reviving."
Over the past decade, Taiwan has seen a steady rise in pet ownership; the number of registered dogs and cats peaked at 2.5 million in 2017, almost double what it was in 2005. In 2019, Taiwan reported 2.3 million dogs and cats, rates that surpassed the number of children under age 15 in at least five counties, according to the Council of Agriculture. I dont have kids, so I consider Baoer my son, says Albert Wu, a client of pet psychic Jasmine Shiau. MUST CREDIT: Photo for The Washington Post by An Rong Xu Credit:Washington Post/An Rong Xu In Taipei, it is not uncommon to see dogs carted around in strollers or businesses advertising pet services like massages or swim classes and yoga for dogs. Residents can arrange funerals for departed animals complete with monks chanting last rites and a ceremony for burning joss paper [special paper used for burnt offerings] so their spirits will live well in the afterlife. Pets are part of political life. President Tsai Ing-wens two cats and three dogs, who featured in her reelection campaign last year, are still part of public relations efforts; one of Tsais former campaign managers was an animal communicator. Local politicians frequently signal support for animal-related initiatives like new dog parks and animal rights legislation. While pet ownership has increased, enthusiasm for having children has waned, the result of rising living expenses, stagnant wages and life in densely packed cities. Taiwans population shrank in 2020 for the first time on record.

People want company, but they dont necessarily want to raise a child, said Ariel Hu, a communicator also known as Bu Ma, who teaches courses on how to talk to animals. The cost of owning a pet is a lot less than raising a child. That may be changing as residents increasingly see their pets as family members. Pet care sales jumped more than 40 per cent between 2016 and 2020, to more than $US1.2 billion a year, according to Euromonitor, a market research provider. As people indulge their animal friends, they are turning to communicators whose services range from finding lost pets to divining the relationship between owner and pet in a past life. Communicators like Hu and Hsu say they have talked with all manner of beings, from dogs and cats to hedgehogs, birds, turtles, dolphins, insects and plants. Albert Wu, 43, the owner of a hair salon in Kaohsiung, hired communicator Jasmine Shiau to speak to his 3-year-old Westie, Baoer, or baby boy. As Baoer sits in Shiaus lap, Wu asks whether he likes steak and if he enjoyed their last trip to Kenting, a beach destination. The answer to both questions is yes.

I dont have kids, so I consider Baoer my son, said Wu, who believes Shiau was accurate in her reading. Shiau told him that Baoer pees in Wu and his partners bed because they turn in too late. Its true. He glares at me while I stay up watching TV, Wu said. Others have more serious questions near the end of a pets life. Poyin Chen, 28, a graphic designer in Taipei, did a session last year for her sick hedgehog, Dimple. The communicator told her Dimples preferred way of being held (snuggled on top of Chens stomach) and her favorite food (apples). I understood better how she feels, so we just accompanied her until she died, she said. Those in the industry attribute its popularity to factors from Taiwans dominant religions of Daoism and Buddhism and related beliefs in reincarnation and spirits, to a growing acceptance of alternative health practices like reiki and hypnosis. Others refer to ancient Chinese folklore figures like Gongye Chang of the Zhou dynasty who, according to legend, could talk to birds. But experts say the more plausible explanation is that this is an urban, middle-class phenomenon caused by a growing sense of isolation.

Our ability to communicate with other people is declining, said Huang Tsung-chieh, an associate professor at National Dong Hwa University, who studies urbanism and the role of animals in literature, adding that the trend was exacerbated by the pandemic as more people stayed at home. Shiau said that during the pandemic, several owners, stuck overseas, have needed her services to explain their extended absences to their pets. In one case, a client asked Shiau to tell her dog, suffering from a serious urinary tract infection, not to wait for their owner. The dog died soon after. At a workshop in Kaohsiung taught by Hu, a dozen students sit in a circle on the floor, gazing at photos of their classmates pets as they try to summon a connection. Answers to questions are supposed to come in the form of images, a voice or a feeling, physical or emotional. How do I know that what Im seeing isnt just from my own head? asks Jason Yang, 21, one of the students. Hu tells him to have confidence that what he is seeing is right. Animal advocates say that whether humans are able to telepathically connect with their pets is less important than what the industry signals - that animals and their feelings are worth considering, a belief activists hope will translate to better treatment of animals in the food supply chain, in zoos and in the wild.
Members of Parliament have visited National Medical Stores (NMS) facilities to assess its abilities as the institution moves to fully automate its supply chain systems.

"We have come to see what is on the ground in terms of achievements and challenges in as far as implementation of government programmes in regard to delivery of essential medicines are concerned," said the Parliament Health Committee chairman, Dr Michael Bukenya (Bukuya County).

"We toured the old facility in Entebbe and the new pharmaceuticals warehouse which is about to be launched. We have appreciated how NMS is being innovative in delivery of health supplies and managing its finances," he added.

Mr Bukenya further said MPs would continue to monitor operations of NMS and other sister agencies to ensure the common men in the remotest parts of the country are able to access drugs.

NMS' mandate is to procure, store and deliver drugs to health facilities across the country.

The Health Committee inspected the cold storage rooms where experts took them through the process of handling critical vaccines.

The lawmakers were surprised to learn that the new NMS warehouse in Kajjansi, off Entebbe road will use green energy to power its operations.

NMS' Chief Stores and Operations Officer, Paul Okware, told MPs that the huge structure sitting on 10 acres will not have air conditioning.

"There will be plenty of fresh air. We also have over 200 solar panels to generate the electricity we need," he said, adding: "A medical oxygen gas plant capable of filling over 100 cylinders will be installed as soon as possible."

The solar panels will generate 0.3 megawatts of electricity, leading to a reduction in power bills.

The building boasts an extensive room for the cafeteria, permanent dedicated space for breastfeeding employees, gym and office space for 200 staff.

It also has a gym for staff to keep fit because they work for long hours.

The spacious warehouse in Kajjansi will allow vehicles to drive in to pick and drop medicines which is not the case at the stores in Entebbe.

The cold rooms which store sensitive medical supplies such as vaccines and laboratory commodities will have their storage capacity increased five-fold at the new structure.

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To reduce the costs of servicing transport vehicles, space has been created for an in-house service centre.

On his part, Okware emphasised the need to maintain NMS' autonomy to remain flexible in managing the distribution of essential medicine.

"We can't even ask a health facility to wait for two weeks. If we kept our budget, we would remain flexible to serve our people better," he said.

Drug theft

MPs said they were keen on plugging loopholes exploited by officials at the district and health centre levels to steal government drugs.

To mitigate theft and other loss of EMHS along with the supply chain, NMS is implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that is intended to digitize the entire supply chain process end to end in order to ensure effective tracking of EMHS to the final users.

Upon full operationalization of ERP, NMS will have the capacity to trace the medical supplies to the final user (patients and other healthcare clients) through individual identification using the national identification number (NIN) that will be captured into the ERP system.

This will provide end user data that will then be reconciled with procurement and distribution data to ensure that there is no leakage in the supply chain.


CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar gained ground against its major counterparts in the Asian session on Tuesday, as the faster vaccine rollout and the prospect of more stimulus measures sent U.S. treasury yields higher.



President Joe Biden is set to outline his infrastructure spending plan on Wednesday in Pittsburgh.



The economic package worth about $3 billion will be split into two parts, with the first one focused primarily on transportation and other infrastructure.



U.S. bond yields jumped amid continued expectations for a swift economic recovery in the wake of stimulus and vaccination progress.



The U.S. jobs data due Friday is expected to signal that the labour market recovery remains on track.



The greenback jumped to 110.21 against the yen, its biggest level since March 2020. On the upside, 112.00 is likely seen as its next resistance level.



Data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed that Japan retail sales fell 1.5 percent on year in February - coming in at 11.628 trillion yen.



That beat forecasts for a decline of 2.8 percent following the 2.4 percent drop in the previous month.



The greenback appreciated to a 4-day high of 0.9415 against the franc from Monday's close of 0.9390. If the greenback continues its rise, 0.96 is possibly seen as its next resistance level.



The greenback rose to its highest level since November 2020 against the euro, at 1.1741. The greenback is seen finding resistance around the 1.15 level.



The greenback edged up to 1.2603 against the loonie, after falling to 1.2582 at 11:15 pm ET. Next key resistance for the greenback is seen around the 1.27 level.



The greenback approached a 4-day high of 1.3742 against the pound, rising from a low of 1.3783 seen at 1:00 am ET. The greenback may possibly face resistance around the 1.34 level.



The U.S. currency recovered to 0.7006 against the kiwi and 0.7632 against the aussie, from its early 1-week lows of 0.7033 and 0.7664, respectively. The greenback is likely to find resistance around 0.68 against the kiwi and 0.72 against the aussie.



Looking ahead, Eurozone economic confidence index for March will be released in the European session.



At 8.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's flash consumer prices for March.



Federal Housing finance agency's house price index and S&P/Case-Shiller home price index for January and consumer confidence index for March will be featured in the New York session.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday (March 30, 2021) announced that the two COVID-19 vaccines Covishield and Covaxin are effective against the UK and the Brazillian variants of the novel coronavirus. The government also informed that studies were being conducted at several laboratories against the South African strain.

In a weekly press conference by the Union health ministry, ICMR Director-General Balram Bhargava said 11,064 genome samples have been sequenced in the country, the UK variant of the virus was detected in 807, the South African variant in 47 and the Brazilian variant was found in one.

"Both the vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin- are effective against the UK and the Brazillian variants and the work against the South African variant is ongoing at several laboratories," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Bhargava further said that mutations are sporadic and single mutations are not found to be dominant in any particular area in India.

"In terms of significance of the point of double mutations they are not significant as far as India is concerned and their relationship with increased severity or increased transmissibility has not been established in Indian context," he said.

Last week, the Union health ministry said the new "double mutant" variant of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in Delhi, Maharashtra and some other places in addition to the three "variants of concern" -- first noticed in the UK, South Africa and Brazil -- that have been found in at least 18 states and union territories.
[March 30, 2021] WP Engine's Award-Winning Documentary make|SHIFT Available Now on Apple TV and Other VOD Platforms

WP Engine, the world's most trusted WordPress technology company, today announced the release of its feature-length, award-winning documentary make|SHIFT, which explores the history of modern advertising and the role that creative technology played in its evolution. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005984/en/ WP Engine, the world's most trusted WordPress technology company, today announced the release of its feature-length, award-winning documentary make|SHIFT, which explores the history of modern advertising and the role that creative technology played in its evolution. The documentary is widely available for purchase or rent today via most video-on-demand platforms, such as Apple TV, Google Play, iTunes, Vimeo, Vudu and YouTube (News - Alert) . (Photo: Business Wire) The documentary is widely available for purchase or rent today via most video-on-demand platforms, such as Apple (News - Alert) TV, Google Play, iTunes, Vimeo, Vudu and YouTube. The film highlights the makers, agencies and brands who had the courage to adopt new technologies, test new business models, and in so doing drive the Internet forward. WP Engine worked with September Club, HeyLet'sGo! and Gravitas to create and distribute this feature-length film, directed by Casey Suchan.



"This film, about adaptability in the face of an ever-shifting digital landscape, celebrates the agency leaders who dared to say 'yes' to new technologies, and stretched our idea of what's possible," said Lisa Box (News - Alert) , Senior Vice President and General Manager - Enterprise Business Unit at WP Engine. "We realized there was a need to tell this story given these pioneers led the change from an advertising world where you could pay for attention to one where you had to earn it. This need for digital creativity is even more relevant today as we look to exit the pandemic." make|SHIFT

From the heyday of TV advertising to the dawn of the Internet to the rise of the headless digital experience, make|SHIFT is a story about the agencies and makers behind some of the world's most successful brands. WP Engine interviewed a range of agency founders and executives who helped advertising evolve from the "Mad Men" era of one-to-many advertising to a new age centered around the Internet where consumers have the power to determine how, when and where they connect with a brand.

As the advertising industry finds itself in a period of evolution, adaptation and, ultimately, rebirth, advertisers must again learn to harness technology to find new ways of earning the attention of audiences. The film's portrayal of the scrappy determination that led agencies to revolutionary successes five, 10 and 20+ years ago we hope will inspire a new generation of leaders. Agencies featured include 10up, 72andSunny, Active Theory, Barbarian, Crispin Porter Bogusky, Crowd Favorite, Digital Kitchen, Droga5, Elephant, Havas, Hello Monday, HUGE, Humanaut, Instrument, Johannes Leonardo, MediaMonks, Organic, Pereira O' Dell (News - Alert) , Sid Lee USA, Unit9, The Venturous, The Webby Awards and Wieden+Kennedy. Agency founders in the documentary include Alex Bogusky (Crispin Porter Bogusky), John Boiler (72andSunny), David Droga (Droga5), Piero Frescobaldi (Unit9), Jake Goldman (10up), Justin Lewis (Instrument), David Littlejohn (Humanaut), Karim Marucci (Crowd Favorite), Nick Mountford (Active Theory), PJ Pereira (Pereira O'Dell), Nick Strada (The Venturous), Wesley ter Haar (MediaMonks) and many other industry leaders. Please visit make|SHIFT, a film by WP Engine, for more information on where to rent or buy the documentary. About WP Engine:

WP Engine, the world's most trusted WordPress technology company, powers the freedom to create on WordPress. We provide the most relied upon and trusted brands and developer-centric WordPress products for companies and agencies of all sizes, including Atlas, Flywheel, Local and Genesis. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, WP Engine has offices in Brisbane, Australia; Krakow, Poland; Limerick, Ireland; London, England; Omaha, Nebraska and San Antonio, Texas. Read more at www.wpengine.com. About Gravitas

Gravitas Ventures is an all rights independent film distributor - bringing you the movies you want in theaters and On Demand. As consumer habits evolve, Gravitas is a cutting edge 21st century independent film distributor with the ability to release a film in over a billion homes worldwide. Gravitas Ventures is a Red Arrow Studios company.

http://gravitasventures.com/ About September Club

September Club is a collective of editors, producers and directors who specialize in documentaries - from feature films to digital shorts & shows. Their work has regularly been featured at film festivals such as Sundance, Toronto, Venice and SXSW (News - Alert) and has been produced in collaboration with clients such as Hulu, Live Nation, A&E Films, AppleTV+, BBC Films, CNN Films, Innerscope, ESPN Films and Netflix.

http://september.club/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005984/en/

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Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli-led ruling of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) has suspended senior party leaders Madhav Kumar and Bhim Rawal, accusing them of carrying out anti-party activities.

In two separate letters issued to former prime minister Madhav and Vice-chairperson Rawal, the party said that they had been suspended from the party's membership for six months.

This action has been taken as the party was not satisfied by the clarifications furnished by you for your anti-party activities. This is your last chance to correct yourself, the letter said.

The suspension period can be reduced if you revise your opinions and correct your anti-party activities, said the letter signed by UML Chairman and Prime Minister Oli.

In the letter, Madhav Nepal and Rawal have been accused of promoting factional within the party by holding unauthorised gatherings of party members.

Oli's decision to suspend them comes at a time when the intra-party rift within the ruling party has climaxed owing to factional feud.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced new lockdown rules for the Easter period, which include restrictions on the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption.

Ramaphosa was addressing the nation on developments in the countrys response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This address followed meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), the Presidents Coordinating Council (PCC) and Cabinet.

Ramaphosa said due to the specific circumstances around Easter, a few changes to the lockdown rules were needed.

The sale of alcohol for off-site consumption will be prohibited for 4 days  from Friday 2 April to Monday 5 April. On-site sales of alcohol will be allowed.

This alcohol sales ban did not go down well with the South African Liquor Brandowners Association (SALBA).

The association has submitted an urgent request for information in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) requesting information the Government has used to decide to ban alcohol sales.

The request was made to both the Minister of Cooperative Government, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize.

SALBA has given the government until Wednesday, 31 March 2021 to furnish this information on which the organization would base its next course of action.

SALBA chairperson Sibani Mngadi said they hope the government will be transparent and make this information available.

We would like to understand what the rationale and evidence-based reasoning is behind the ban of alcohol sales when they also increase the maximum number of people allowed in a gathering, he said.

Mngadi also expressed concern that the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, has failed to meet with the industry to discuss the ban.

Through its National Liquor Authority division, the Department of Trade and Industry is responsible for the licensing of manufacturing and distribution of alcohol in the country.

We have had three bans totalling 19-weeks of lost trade days since the start of the lockdown, said Mngadi.

These bans resulted in a R36 billion loss in sales revenue for the industry and R29 billion loss in tax revenue for the government.

Despite these losses, Mngadi said, Minister Patel has only met with the industry once to inform them of the third liquor ban.

Lucky Ntimane, convener at the National Liquor Traders Council, was equally scathing towards the alcohol ban. He said the ban will decimate the sector as we know it.

He said he is perplexed as to why the government is condemning the livelihoods of 250,000 people who are dependant on the alcohol industry.

Ntimane added that there is no credible scientific evidence to suggest a ban is efficient in containing the virus.

We continue to encourage our traders to be responsible in how they conduct themselves when selling liquor, he said.
United Nations alarmed at Cabo Delgado horror in Mozambique

Geneva  United Nations agencies have expressed horror and alarm at the violence inflicted on civilians in Palma, where they have no access and insurgents who are locally known as "al-Shabaab" have control.

"What has happened in Palma is an absolute horror being inflicted on civilians by a non-state armed group," said Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) at a UN press conference in Geneva.

"They have done horrific things; they are still doing so; we have reports this morning of continued sporadic clashes, that is why we are talking about our expectations of thousands more people moving out from Palma district towards other areas of the country and the border with Tanzania."

He added that "communications are down in Palma, and it is extremely challenging to verify information on the situation."

At the same time, Laerke said, UN agencies are hamstrung in the area due to a lack of response to the organisation's appeal for contributions to Mozambique's joint humanitarian response plan.

He said the plan, which is heavily focused on the situation in the north of the country, calls for aid totalling $254 million.

"But today it is one percent funded, so we can do one percent of what we would like to do to help those people," said Laerke. "We are going to have a lot more people who are going to need a lot more aid in the days and weeks ahead."

UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) spokesman Paul Dillon spoke of the plight of civilians in the troubled Mozambican province that has been wracked by sporadic violence since 2017.

"As of this morning, March 30, we can tell you that 3,361 internally displaced people - that's 672 families - have been registered by IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix," Dillon said.

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"They are arriving by foot, by bus, by plane, and by boat, from Palma to Ullongwe, Mueda, Montepuez districts, as well as Pemba city."

Insurgents who operate under the name Al Sunnah wa Jama'ah (ASWJ), and who are supported by ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria, have consolidated their hold in Cabo Delgado and captured the city of Mocimboa da Praia last year.

They are reported to be in control of Palma, where the UN does not have access. UN humanitarian agencies refrain from naming the group.

UN Refugee Agency spokesman Andrej Mahecic said, "This is a crisis where the violence has directly targeted civilians, in villages and cities in Cabo Delgado. Many have been killed and maimed, houses have been looted and burned, and the fields of these people have been destroyed.

"People have been chased from their homes and have fled with very few possessions, in most cases without even their documents. The women and girls have been abducted, forced into marriages, in some cases raped, and subjected to other forms of sexual violence. There are also reports of children being forcibly recruited into these insurgent armed groups."

Marixie Mercado of the UN Children's Agency UNICEF, spoke from Pemba in Cabo Delgado of children's plight in the conflict.

"Many have spent days hiding in the bush without food and water. There were some terrible scenes. One injured girl, around five years old, was carried off the plane moaning in pain," said Mercado.

UN officials were asked about the risks of failure for the Total energy company's onshore development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) but could not add information.
Hyderabad, March 30 : Rana Daggubati completes 11 years as an actor this year, and his new Telugu film "Aranya" opened on Friday. The multilingual film is titled "Kaadan" in its Tamil version, and also has a Hindi version titled "Haathi Mere Saathi", which got postponed owing to surge in Covid cases in Mumbai.

Dadasaheb Phalke-winning producer D. Rama Naidu's grandson and Telugu superstar Venkatesh's nephew, Rana started out starring in the Telugu political drama "Leader" in 2010, and made his Bollywood debut in Rohan Sippy's multistarrer "Dum Maaro Dum" a year later. Ever since, he has mostly been active in his home turf of Telugu cinema but has occasionally also worked in Bollywood and Tamil films.

"When I came into the industry, there was nothing, no alternatives. We only had mainstream cinema and I had very little to choose from. I am not someone who did regular love stories. I didn't go to college so I never connected with college stories either. I was not somebody who was a big fan of regular, commercial cinema that were set on patterns of revenge, action and pieces like that," Rana tells IANS.

The actor, whose role as the antagonist Bhallaladeva in the blockbuster "Baahubali" films brought him pan-Indian recognition, says he never considers language as a barrier while signing projects.

"I have never kept language as a barrier. All of it eventually came and fell into where I am today, in my comfort zone," he says.

Over the past decade in Bollywood, after "Dum Maaro Dum", Rana has worked in the films "Baby" and "Department", besides essaying cameos in "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani", "Housefull 4", and "Welcome To New York". He feels this is the best time to tell new stories on screen.

"Now I get many stories whether it is Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi. I get all stories. So, I think it's beautiful whether you are a filmmaker or an artiste. Definitely, there was never a better time than today for storytelling," he says.

The actor's film "Aranya", which is titled as "Haathi Mere Saathi" in Hindi recently got postponed due to the rising cases of Coronavirus in Mumbai.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Also on this day in 2020 flags flew at half-mast on more than 14,000 public buildings in Spain as the European nation held its first of 10 days of national mourning for the victims of the coronavirus. See more top news photos as selected by the Associated Press.
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[Read more on what we know about the investigation of Matt Gaetz.]

The three people said that the examination of Mr. Gaetz, 38, is part of a broader investigation into a political ally of his, a local official in Florida named Joel Greenberg, who was indicted last summer on an array of charges, including sex trafficking of a child and financially supporting people in exchange for sex, at least one of whom was an underage girl.

Mr. Greenberg, who has since resigned his post as tax collector in Seminole County, north of Orlando, visited the White House with Mr. Gaetz in 2019, according to a photograph that Mr. Greenberg posted on Twitter.

No charges have been brought against Mr. Gaetz, and the extent of his criminal exposure is unclear.

Mr. Gaetz said in an interview that his lawyers had been in touch with the Justice Department and that they were told he was the subject, not the target, of an investigation. I only know that it has to do with women, Mr. Gaetz said. I have a suspicion that someone is trying to recategorize my generosity to ex-girlfriends as something more untoward.

Mr. Gaetz called the investigation part of an elaborate scheme involving false sex allegations to extort him and his family for $25 million that began this month. He said he and his father, Don Gaetz, had been cooperating with the F.B.I. and wearing a wire after they were approached by people saying they could make the investigation go away. Mr. Gaetz claimed the disclosure of the sex trafficking inquiry was intended to thwart an investigation into the extortion plot.

In a second interview later Tuesday, the congressman said he had no plans to resign his House seat and denied that he had romantic relationships with minors. It is verifiably false that I have traveled with a 17-year-old woman, he said.
ARCHIVED - Spain and Algeria commit to working against illegal immigration



The Foreign Affairs ministers from both countries sat down together on Monday to discuss the problem and agreed to collaborate to seek solutions.

Spain and Algeria have agreed to work together to open orderly, regular channels for businesspeople, students and workers to migrate to Spain in a legal manner, seeking to curb the arrival of irregular immigrants, particularly from the Sahel region of Africa.

This last week hundreds of illegal immigrants, mainly from Algeria, arrived in small boats along the Spanish coastline in Andalucia, Murcia and Alicante province, one of which sunk off the coastal town of Mazarron in Murcia on Saturday evening, killing eleven people.

During the first visit to Spain since his appointment, the Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Sabri Boukadoum, sat down with his Spanish counterpart Aracha Gonzalez Laya on Monday to discuss the matter and plan ways help African citizens migrate legally rather than risking their lives in attempts to enter Spain illegally.

Both ministers entirely agree that the two countries must work together to fight the criminal immigration networks that profit from the transport of illegal migrants.

They agreed to hold a meeting in Spain during the second half of this year for further discussions about the measures which could be taken.

Following the meeting, the Spanish minister reported that Algeria is a strategic partner and that both countries are working in close collaboration on sensitive issues such as migration and the fight against terrorism. She also highlighted Algerias efforts to maintain stability and peace in the Sahel region, especially in Mali.

"Were working together to improve the socio-economic conditions and stability of these countries in order to prevent an increase in illegal immigration flows through Algeria to our country," said the Spanish minister.

Mr Boukadoum expressed a desire to deepen economic relations between the two countries and pointed out that Algeria has always honoured its commitments with Spain where migration issues are concerned and intends to continue to do so. He stressed the importance of facilitating legal, regular migration channels between the two countries to reduce the numbers of migrants trying to enter the country illegally in search of a better life.

Image: Fernando Calvo. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez meeting with Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Sabri Boukadoum




PORTAGE, MI -- Pfizer is breaking ground this week on a new pharmaceutical production facility.

The company will break ground on the new facility at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, according to a press release from Pfizer.

The new facility, one of the worlds most technically advanced sterile injectable pharmaceutical production facilities -- known as Modular Aseptic Processing, will be a multi-story, 420,000-square-foot production engine in Kalamazoo County, the release said.

The new facility, located at the global manufacturing campus at 7171 Portage Road, is expected to bring 450 new jobs to the region. Construction at the site, which is west of a 98,000-square-foot warehouse near the corner of Romence and Portage roads, will begin this spring and is expected to end in 2023. Pfizer officials expect the facility to be in operation in 2025, a spokesperson for Pfizer said.

In 2018, plans for the $465 million expansion were applauded in Portage by Mayor Patricia Randall and others. Projected revenue to the city over 20 years is estimated to total $26.7 million, Randall said, and the economic benefit to the larger region is projected to total $49.2 million in six years.

Portage City Manager Joe La Margo said Monday that the expansion is great for the regions economy.

Its a positive for the entire community, for the entire region, La Margo said.

Bringing new jobs to Portage and the surrounding area positively impacts other industries such as restaurants, retail and housing, the city manager said.

Pfizer is a great community partner, La Margo said. Were happy they are continuing to invest in the city of Portage.

Pfizer was granted a tax cut for the expansion that city leaders argued was worth it to secure the economic benefit for the region.

The facility will initially manufacture the pain medicine known as Dynastat, which is supplied to several international countries, Pfizer said.

Pfizer, which manufactures a variety of pharmaceutical products, worked with German partner company BioNTech to create a COVID-19 vaccine that was the first to win U.S. regulatory approval in 2020.

Shipments of the vaccines first left Pfizers Portage production facility on Dec. 13. Since, millions of doses of the vaccine have been distributed across the country and world.

President Joe Biden visited the vaccine production site in Portage this February, urging Americans to take the vaccine when it was available to them. The country has exceeded the presidents first goal of 100 million vaccines given in the first 100 days of his presidency.

Last week, Biden doubled his goal and promised to have 200 million vaccinations given by the same deadline. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the country is already on track to meet the new goal, the New York Times reported.

As of Thursday, March 25, about 1.5 million Michigan residents are completely vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. More than 2.5 million have received at least the first dose.

Also on MLive:

Monday, March 29, coronavirus data by Michigan county: Macomb, Genesee among 13 counties now above 15% positivity rate

Pfizer begins studying use of COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 months to 11 years old

Who and where Michigans coronavirus surge is hitting hardest
Last fall, our organization conducted an analysis that revealed a $639 million funding gap between Connecticuts majority white school districts and all other public school districts in the state  $639 million.

As staggering and unconscionable as that $639 million figure is, it is an unacceptable yet unsurprising reality for tens of thousands of Connecticut students, their families and their teachers who continue to be shortchanged and inequitably funded. It is a reality that has only worsened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on public education and its disproportionate impacts on communities of color. And it is a reality that has been caused by our states education finance system.

While positive steps have been taken by the General Assembly over the past few years to improve how Connecticut funds K-12 public education, our states education finance system sadly remains inequitable, disjointed and inadequate for addressing the systemic racial disparities and wide funding gaps our students, our teachers, our school districts and our communities face every single day.

This legislative session, however, Connecticut has an opportunity to finally change this unacceptable status quo and drastically reduce the racial disparities in education funding by creating a student-centered funding system that provides equitable education funding for all students.

SB 948 is this opportunity.

Passed out of the Education Committee by a wide bipartisan margin and now before the General Assemblys Appropriations Committee, SB 948 is a straightforward yet comprehensive approach to education funding that helps address Connecticuts educational inequities, fixes the states current complex and disjointed way of funding public schools, and makes significant strides in reducing the alarming funding disparities that currently exist between the states students of color and white students.

The bill would accomplish this by:

fully funding all districts;

increasing funding for students learning English;

driving greater resources to districts with concentrated poverty; and

expanding the formula to include all Connecticut public school students.

Taking these steps would reduce Connecticuts racial funding disparities by 66 percent and decrease that $639 million gap by $419 million. Additionally, SB 948 would invest essential operating funds into Connecticuts neediest school districts to help ensure all public school students receive the equitable funding they need in order to succeed in and outside of the classroom.

Supported by superintendents, town leaders, members of boards of education, current and former teachers, parents, students, faith leaders, and hundreds of community members, SB 948 offers the positive change Connecticuts education finance system desperately needs. Change that puts students at the center of how funding is distributed and finally funds each and every one based on their learning needs and the needs of their school district.

Our state cannot continue down the inequitable road it has been on for decades. We cannot continue to accept a system that perpetuates disparities in education funding, contributes to the states wide opportunity gap, and fails to provide all public school students with the resources they need and deserve.

SB 948 offers an opportunity for Connecticut to chart a new path. A path that will bring equitable funding for all students. A path that will reduce the states racial education funding gap. A path that will help ensure all students receive a high-quality education no matter their socioeconomic status, where they live or what type of public school they attend.

The opportunity is here. Now is the time to seize it and pass SB 948.

Lisa Hammersley is the executive director of the School and State Finance Project , a nonpartisan, nonprofit policy organization, focused on education funding and state finance issues, with a commitment to providing independent analysis, building public knowledge, improving transparency, and developing fair, sustainable solutions.
[March 30, 2021] FinancialForce Names Aaron Koenderman VP of Global Partner Strategy

SAN FRANCISCO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FinancialForce , the leading customer-centric ERP and #1 professional services automation ( PSA ) business suite, today announced the appointment of Aaron Koenderman as VP of Global Partner Strategy. Koenderman will define and execute channel partner strategy to grow revenue and fuel success for the channel ecosystem. Additionally, he will continue to support the strategy and growth across the Global System Integrators (GSI) & Global Professional Services portfolio within the Enterprise segment. Koenderman brings a broad array of relevant experience to his role after spending the bulk of his 15-year consulting career at Avanade, an Accenture-Microsoft joint venture. He worked across several roles within the Avanade business during his tenure including large-scale program delivery, client leadership, practice development, direct and channel enterprise sales, and P&L responsibility. "Aaron is a proven leader with a passion for ustomer and partner success, and we are thrilled to have him lead this critical area of our business," said Tony Kender, Chief Revenue Officer at FinancialForce. "Since joining FinancialForce in 2020, Aaron has led targeted efforts to build our business across the GSI portfolio. His leadership and direct partnership with the field teams has contributed to meaningful engagement and pipeline development with many leading global organizations over the past 12 months."



Most recently, Koenderman was Vice President of Growth at Connected, a software product development firm where he was responsible for developing client strategy, business growth and helping clients realize the business impact from building better products. "I'm excited to be part of FinancialForce's exceptional team," said Koenderman. "We have ambitious growth goals across all segments and I'm extremely bullish about the potential to scale our partner ecosystem, especially in the Enterprise given the maturity of our product, our sales motions with Salesforce, and the overall market demand for our offerings." Koenderman received an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University.

About FinancialForce

FinancialForce offers customer-centric business applications on the leading cloud platform from Salesforce. We accelerate business growth with the only modern ERP suite and the #1 professional services automation (PSA), enabling real-time insights and intelligent decision-making. See your customers in full color with Salesforce and FinancialForce. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, FinancialForce is backed by Advent International, Salesforce Ventures, and Technology Crossover Ventures. For more information, visit www.financialforce.com . *Most adopted PSA solution in SPI Research's 2021 PS Maturity Benchmark; most adopted PSA solution by Technology Services Industry Association in 2020; leader in IDC MarketScape for Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled Midmarket Finance and Accounting Applications, 2020; #1 Enterprise and Mid-Market PSA and leader in Accounting by G2. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/financialforce-names-aaron-koenderman-vp-of-global-partner-strategy-301258259.html SOURCE FinancialForce

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Last year, Steve Canes fortunes flipped: He moved from San Franciscos streets into a free city-run hotel room with a private bathroom, cable TV and three meals a day.

He wants to move into a permanent place, but is wary about the quality and location of the citys subsidized housing, which hes lived in before.

I dont want to be in the Tenderloin, right in the middle of drug central, and in a room that doesnt have my own bathroom, said Cane, who struggles with medical issues and drug use. I cant go through that torture again.

As Cane worries about where hell end up, San Francisco faces a daunting task with a looming deadline: Find housing for him and more than 1,700 other homeless people staying in hotels before federal reimbursement for the program runs out at the end of September. The city, which opened the shelter-in-place hotels at the start of the pandemic to slow the spread of the coronavirus, has pledged not to turn anyone out onto the streets who moved in before Nov. 15.

But as of Monday, the city had rehoused only 181 people out of more than 2,000 since November. Most went into supportive housing, which provides social services. The citys new goal is to get 200 people a month out of hotels and into housing starting next month. The city didnt say how much it would cost to reach this goal, but most costs, including salaries, are reimbursable by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The pressure is on for City Hall to make sure these folks dont end up on the streets again after the city faced a lawsuit over an explosion of tents last year and as advocates say the population of unhoused people has only grown during the pandemic.

Hurdles abound, including a limited number of units, a referral system that can take months to get people into empty spots and the uneven quality of supportive housing, which some people in hotels already turned down.

The city is trying new approaches and wants to give residents as many options as possible  but officials say they need to be straight about the limits of the situation.

We need to incentivize folks ... and to be clear about the consequences that there are going to be options, these are the options that are available to you, and that, at a certain point, those options will cease to be available, said Mary Ellen Carroll, director of San Franciscos Department of Emergency Management, which is overseeing the rehousing program. These are folks who have experienced trauma, this isnt something that is necessarily easy to communicate or easy to digest, and that is really the challenge.

Carroll said she feels really confident that with city departments and nonprofit partners, together we are going to do this.

To accomplish the task, the city recently hired Chris Block, a leader with the nonprofit group Tipping Point, as a temporary employee to run a team of around a dozen city workers. To speed up the process, the team is giving out rental vouchers with social services so people can get their own apartments and sending batch referrals to housing providers to place them in available units.

The city sent the first batch of 50 to the nonprofit group Delivering Innovation in Supportive Housing two weeks ago. The organization had about 40 vacancies, co-director Doug Gary said. So far, 18 have been interviewed, and of those, four people have declined housing and five have moved in, with more moves and interviews planned this week, he said.

Gary said the new approach allows the organization to more quickly match people with available units and offer them another option  in a different neighborhood, for example  if the first isnt a good fit. Previously, the city would send one referral at a time for a specific unit. If it didnt work out, the process would start over.

Providers pushed the city to bundle referrals during a meeting in mid-February, Gary said.

Unfortunately with the systems that the city has been so deeply committed to, its locked itself out of a lot of speed and creativity, he said, adding that the new system is a breakthrough.

Providers have been frustrated at the pace of referrals over the past two years under centralized, city-run placement systems. During that time, supportive housing vacancies have risen to 10%.

Vacancies more than doubled during the pandemic, Gary said, as the city prioritized rehousing hotel residents, worried about when federal reimbursement would end. Randy Shaw, executive director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, which runs more than 2,000 supportive housing units, said his organization received only two referrals in December.

The city has set a goal of dropping its vacancy rate to as low as 3%. It plans to do so by improving the database that tracks empty units, lowering documentation barriers to get into an open spot, funding providers so they can staff up and turn over units quickly and launching the new team. There has been progress: Shaw said referrals for his units ticked up to eight a week by mid-March.

One challenge the city faces is that supportive housing doesnt have the same amenities as shelter-in-place hotels. Early this year, the city referred 148 people to 68 available units in the Granada Hotel, where residents pay 30% of their income for a room without a private bathroom, said Beth Stokes, executive director with Episcopal Community Services, which runs the hotel. Only 51 signed leases, with some not showing up to appointments and others not wanting a unit, she said. Once the city opened up Granada Hotel spots to people living on the streets, the remaining 17 vacancies filled up quickly.

Providers and the city understand that staying in a shelter-in-place hotel is more attractive for many and the timeline on when they had to move out hasnt always been clear. There is now a firm end date.

We are really trying hard to offer folks choices in the sense of where they want their home to be, Stokes said.

Some are ready to leave. Susan Griffin was one night away from sleeping on the streets when she got into a hotel near Union Square in late October last year. Shes applying for apartments, but said her income from social security and a temporary job during tax season is too low to afford a market-rate apartment, but too high to qualify for the citys subsidized housing.

Im saving like crazy to try to get living arrangements that are not this motel, Griffin said. As wonderful as it is from keeping the rain off my head, its not where I see myself living forever.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench
As part of the American Rescue Plan by Congress in March, the Tennessee education system will receive an unprecedented $2.2 billion in additional funding. A recent report from WZTV Nashville Fox17 has calculated that the state could receive a total of $4 billion through three COVID-19 relief bills passed by Congress, including the American Rescue Plan.

The recent plan will allocate more resources to districts with a greater percentage of students from low-income families. As a result, Shelby County Schools (SCS) will receive over $503 million, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) will be given $277 million and Knox County Schools (KCS) will receive $114 million. The average school district in the state will receive just over $15 million.

A student e-learning, wearing a mask. (Photo: Envato)

While Tennessee is ranked 46th in terms of education funding compared to other states, the crisis of public education in the United States is not the product of a lack of resources in the wealthiest country on earth but rather the allocation of those resources.

As the Tennessee Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee has pointed out since our founding, the administration of Republican Governor Bill Lee has prioritized a rapid reopening of schools in order to get parents back to work over providing safe, quality education for students or adequate teaching resources for teachers.

In fact, as early as June, Lee began slashing the salary pool for K-12 and higher education employees. The immediate impact was the elimination of the long-awaited four percent raise for teachers, many of whom would need to take on additional costs of purchasing their own cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment as classrooms reopened amid a pandemic. On the other hand, Lee and other officials received salary increases totaling $794,900. He also padded his cabinet with an avid school choice proponent, John DeBerry, to be special advisor on education, granting him a salary of $165,000.

Despite the claims that teachers raises needed to be delayed for budgetary reasons, hundreds of millions of dollars have sat in state coffers, including the states rainy day fund, for no justifiable reason. Tax revenues have increased amid the pandemic, and the state had an estimated $3 billion budgetary surplus at the start of the year.

Last May, $596 million had been allocated to the state by the Education Stabilization Fund, but by December the state had only used $229 million. If the Department of Education had immediately used these funds appropriately, the state could have helped provide high tech remote learning across the state at the start of the pandemic.

Instead, Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn shed crocodile tears for the crisis in education and decried the horrible learning loss that they claimed students experienced from remote learning. In January, Lee opened a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly, doubling down on his position that schools should open for in-person learning in the pandemic and pushing for programs to combat learning loss, such as summer and after-school tutoring programs. He later specified that funds for new programs would only be provided to schools that resume in-person learning.

Later, the governor continued his thuggish tactics against districts teaching virtually by threatening to withhold funds from MNPS and SCS unless they began offering in-person classes. The governors ability to force districts into in-person learning was later solidified with the state senate passing a bill that gives him and the boards of education the power to open schools regardless of the health risks.

His administration further allocated $10 million out of the $63.6 million Emergency Education Relief funds to charter schools. In effect, the plan is transferring millions nominally provided to help schools struggling from the COVID-19 pandemic to support his school choice project, which pours taxpayer dollars into private pockets.

The decision by Congress and the Biden administration to provide massive resources to Lee and other corrupt state politicians affirms the bipartisan support for the unsafe reopening of schools. Biden has made clear that he wanted all schools to hold face-to-face learning within his first 100 days in office, a demand that has gone unchanged despite the spread of more infectious and lethal COVID-19 variants across the country.

The federal governments only stipulation is that a fifth of the funds be used to help students that had fallen behind due to the pandemic, a demand that echoes Lees and Schwinns claims of learning loss. Schwinn, in a statement to Chalkbeat, said about the recent funds, Weve never had anything like this amount of relief funding in such a short period of time. It is our moment in time to really invest wisely.

However, she conveniently forgot to mention that the state does not intend to use these funds for meaningful long-term changes to public education. Superintendents have been told not to add any recurring expenses, such as giving teachers raises or shrinking classroom sizes.

The experience of educators in Tennessee and across the US has exposed that not even the most minuscule reform will be achieved without teachers entering into struggle and putting forward their own demands. The unionsincluding in the recent strikes of graduate students at Columbia University and New York Universityhave sought to pacify their membership by praising concession contracts. In opposition to this, the Tennessee Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee demands the following:

 Smaller class sizes! Research has supported the benefits of smaller class sizes to student achievement for years. We are demanding that class sizes be limited to a ratio of 15:1 or less than the current 20:1 ratio in Grades K-3; 18:1 or less in Grades 4-6, currently 25:1; and 18:1 or less in Grades 7-12, currently 35:1.

 Fully fund student supports! Hire more psychologists, social workers and behavior specialists to support the social and emotional needs of students, and fully fund and staff restorative justice programs in schools.

 Invest in remote options! While many parents and teachers have raised issues with remote learning, the reality is that remote learning was designed to fail. The implementation of the countless varieties of models for remote and in-person instruction across the state and within each district caused confusion and miscommunication of expectations for students and teachers in regard to learning. Most teachers learned to design virtual instruction on the fly with minimal guidance and training on the particular demands of online teaching. Teachers have had to pay out of pocket for educational software to engage students and provide interactive learning opportunities as the teacher evaluation rubric mandates. Additionally, internet access in remote and low-income areas of the state must be upgraded and subsidized in order to remove inequities of access to virtual instruction. As the pandemic continues to spread and with many districts offering remote learning in the fall, we demand adequate resources and training for teachers to provide a high quality education to remote students.

 Increase teacher pay! As soon as Tennessee teachers received a two percent raise in 2020-21, health insurance premiums increased. No educator should need a second job! The pandemic has exposed the crisis in teacher compensation. According to a Pew Research poll in 2019, one in six teachers works a second job, including during the school year. Many of these teachers have been doubly impacted by the pandemic as they may have lost their second jobs working in restaurants or other workplaces. Teachers must have a salary commensurate with similarly credentialed professionals in order to be recognized and remunerated appropriately for their expertise and dedication.

 Tax Tennessees billionaires! Funding for Tennessee public education can only be solidified through a tax on the superrich, including those that have witnessed their wealth surge amid the pandemic. These demands should be paid for through a massive surcharge on Martha Rivers Ingram, Frederick Smith, Brad Kelley, Mason Hawkins and more. Thomas Frist Jr., co-founder of HCA Healthcare and one of the wealthiest men in Tennessee, has seen his wealth increase by roughly $2.5 billion during the pandemic. These funds should be used to help the failing education system and the numerous families that have been impacted by the pandemic.

We urge all educators, parents, students and other workers in Tennessee who agree with these demands to join and help build our committee today!
American culture is a grand mix of the old and the not so old, as we all know. As is true in other cultures, including the island culture here Read more
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Animal rescuers in South Africa are warning residents in the Johannesburg area to steer clear of a loose baboon wandering into urban neighborhoods.

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The baboon has been spotted wandering loose in suburbs including Emmarentia, Northcliff and Roosevelt Park, and witnesses reported the primate was seen perched on the roof of a local hospital.

Security company Suburban Control Center posted a video to Facebook showing the baboon climbing into a gated community in Roosevelt Park.

Cora Bailey, founder of rescue group Community Led Animal Welfare, or CLAW, said the male baboon likely left his troop when he came of age and now is searching for a new community.

"Baboons live in huge family groups and when the males become adults they cannot stay with the troop any longer. In order for genetic diversity, males leave the troop. Sometimes they are ousted, sometimes they leave on their own," Bailey said in a statement provided to The South African.

"This is the case with this baboon and he is not the first: A lot of them seem to follow the same route."

Bailey urged anyone who spots the baboon to keep a safe distance and contact CLAW, so the animal can be safely relocated.

Watertown, NY (13601)

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Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 77F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Mainly clear skies. Low 63F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Samgyetang / gettyimagesbank



By Park Ji-won



China has claimed that Samgyetang, or traditional Korean ginseng chicken soup, is theirs, upsetting many Koreans who are tired of the neighboring country's cultural provocations.



On Baidu, the Chinese equivalent of Google, Tuesday, Samgyetang was described as a chicken soup dish originating from Guangdong province, China, which was later introduced to Korea. It adds that the dish later became one of the most iconic dishes beloved by Korea's royal family members.



The description is incorrect. According to the Rural Development Administration, Koreans have been making a soup with chicken since at least the Joseon era. Samgyetang was popular among wealthy Koreans during the Japanese colonial period and they enjoyed the chicken soup with ginseng powder. It became more popular among ordinary people following the 1960s.



Prof. Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University, a self-proclaimed "publicist" for Korea, who has volunteered to correct inaccurate understandings of Korean history overseas, said he sent a complaint email to Baidu, urging the portal to revise the wrong information about the food.



"Baidu has stirred up a controversy by distorting history with Samgyetang, as it did with Kimchi recently  so I immediately sent an email to Baidu saying, 'China doesn't even use the Harmonized System (HS)  or international names and numbers designated for traded products  for Samgyetang, while Korea classifies the food with the number, 1602.32.1010." He added that he urged the website to revise the information to provide the proper information to Chinese netizens.



Some Koreans claimed that there should be no issue, as Samgyetang is simply Korea's dish. "There should be no feud over the origin of the food, because it is made in Korea. The more the controversy spreads, the more it helps the Chinese claim that the dish is theirs."



The controversy came after the website and China's influencers also claimed some Korean dishes as theirs over the last few months.



Last year, China's state-run "Global Times" newspaper claimed that China had led the international standard for pickled vegetables, including kimchi, following approval of the pickled food, paocai, by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Even though "paocai" in Chinese refers to a Chinese dish that is different from kimchi, which can be read as "paocai" in Chinese as well, the media wrote the story as if the two are same, which upset many Koreans and Korean media for "stealing a cultural asset."



Last year, Baidu also claimed that kimchi was made in China. The website removed the claim after Seo filed a complaint, but then added it again.


New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (March 30, 2021) attacked the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and likened the alliance to the Judas. While addressing a public meeting in Kerala's Palakkad, the Prime Minister said that for many years, the worst kept secret of Kerala politics was the friendly agreement of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and LDF.

He attacked the incumbent LDF and opposition UDF and alleged a match-fixing by the two fronts.

PM Modi said, "For many years, the worst kept secret of Kerala politics was the friendly agreement of UDF and LDF. Now, the first time voter of Kerala is asking - what is this match-fixing?"

About LDF it can be said: Judas betrayed Lord Christ for a few pieces of silver. LDF has betrayed Kerala for a few pieces of gold. - PM @narendramodi #KeralaWithModi pic.twitter.com/UhRwDiPcCJ  BJP (@BJP4India) March 30, 2021

He added, "About LDF it can be said: Judas betrayed Lord Christ for a few pieces of silver. LDF has betrayed Kerala for a few pieces of gold."

Prime Minister Modi also said, "LDF govt should be ashamed of showering Lathis on innocent devotees. UDF should be ashamed of remaining silent when this was happening."

"I am proud to belong to a party that has, is and will always defend the culture of our land," the Prime Minister added.

The PM said that the left parties have been in power many times here, but their leaders still behave like junior level goons or party leaders.

"Under their eyes and with their blessings, political rivals are killed, hacked, beaten," he alleged.

PM Modi stated that the high number of road-blocks by UDF and LDF has made the speed of development slower.

The Prime Minister was felicitated by 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan, following which he expressed, "I am delighted to be in Palakkad and address my first rally in the state from here. The people of Palakkad have had a close bond with our Party."

"Today, I have come among you to seek your blessings for the BJP in the upcoming state elections," he added.

I am delighted to be in Palakkad and address my first rally in the state from here. The people of Palakkad have had a close bond with our Party. Today, I have come among you to seek your blessings for the BJP in the upcoming state elections. - PM @narendramodi#KeralaWithModi pic.twitter.com/4EoJEAt6iS  BJP (@BJP4India) March 30, 2021

PM said that the youth of Kerala want a change and the BJP assures that change.

"When you vote on the 6th, vote for good governance and development. Vote for a government that guarantees peace and prosperity. Vote for BJP," he said.

PM Modi's address comes ahead of the elections for the 140-member Kerala assembly that will be held in a single phase on April 6, for which, the counting will be done on May 2.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson at the state capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas, on July 20, 2020. (Staci Vandagriff/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)

Ban on Gender Transition Procedures for Minors Passes Arkansas Senate

Bill heads to governor's desk

The Arkansas Senate on Monday approved a bill that would ban gender transition procedures on minors, sending it to the governors desk.

The Republican-controlled state Senate voted 28-7 in favor of the measure.

Katie Beck, a spokesperson for Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, said that the governor will review the bill more closely, listen to the debate, study it and make a decision on the legislation before deciding if he will sign the bill into law.

The bill, HB 1570, is titled the Arkansas Save Adolescents From Experimentation Act, or SAFE Act. It prohibits physicians and healthcare professionals from providing gender transition procedures to people under 18 years old, or referring the minors to other healthcare professionals for the procedures.

The measure also prohibits use of public funds for gender transition procedures. Public funds shall not be directly or indirectly used, granted, paid, or distributed to any entity, organization, or individual that provides gender transition procedures to an individual under [18] years of age, the text of the bill (pdf) reads.

Procedures that are not gender-transition procedures will not be affected by the legislation. This includes providing services to people born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development, including a person with external biological sex characteristics that are irresolvably ambiguous, such as those born with 46 XX chromosomes with virilization, 46 XY chromosomes with undervirilization, or having both ovarian and testicular tissue.

A second area not impacted by the bill include services provided when the doctor has diagnosed a disorder of sexual development via genetic or biochemical testing that shows a person does not have normal sex chromosome structure, sex steroid hormone production, or sex steroid hormone action.

The bill will also not impact any treatments for infection, injury, disease, or disorder caused or made worse by previous gender transition procedures, whether or not the procedure was done legally, and whether or not funding for the procedure was legal.

Doctors who perform gender transition procedures on minors, or refer minors for such procedures, will be subject to discipline by the appropriate licensing entity or disciplinary review board with competent jurisdiction in this state, according to the bill.

Procedures affected under the bill include the prescription of puberty-blocking drugs and of cross-sex hormones, both of which carry potential side effects that can be serious. Other procedures affected include genital gender reassignment surgeries, which are irreversible and invasive procedures on male or female genitalia of children. The bill also covers non-genital gender reassignment surgeries, which cover various invasive procedures that can change or remove body parts.

If enacted, the bill would be the first of its kind in the United States. Hutchinson has five days, not counting Sunday after the bill reaches his desk, to sign or to veto the legislation. It would otherwise become law without his signature.

Sixteen other states are considering similar bills. Certain advocacy organizations, including the left-leaning civil rights advocacy group American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have said they are likely to sue to stop any such bills that are enacted.

Those who oppose the bill say the measures are unconstitutional and rely on outdated stereotypes.

As a trans person, as a parent, I cant stress enough how devastating the consequences would be, Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice at the ACLU, told a news conference on Monday, reported Reuters.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, which represents 67,000 pediatricians, has also signaled opposition to the bill. Its president, Lee Beers, said during an ACLU press conference that the measure is discrimination by legislation. She also said that it is unfortunate and dangerous to politicize medical care, and that the bill will interfere with the physician-patient relationship.

Meanwhile, the conservative-leaning American College of Pediatricians, which represents 600 physicians and healthcare professionals, has come out in favor of the legislation, saying affirming gender discordance too early will push young people to transition.

Supporters of the legislation say they want to protect children from irreversible procedures they could later regret, as well as the resultant potential health impacts from such procedures.

The opening text of the bill notes, The risks of gender transition procedures far outweigh any benefit at this stage of clinical study on these procedures.

This bill sets out to protect children in an area where they very much need protection, Republican state Sen. Alan Clark, a sponsor of the bill, said before the vote, reported The Associated Press.

It is of grave concern to the General Assembly that the medical community is allowing individuals who experience distress at identifying with their biological sex to be subjects of irreversible and drastic nongenital gender reassignment surgery and irreversible, permanently sterilizing genital gender reassignment surgery, despite the lack of studies showing that the benefits of such extreme interventions outweigh the risks, the bills opening text reads.

Reuters contributed to this report.
A year since the coronavirus pandemic prompted Baton Rouge General Medical Center's Mid City campus to become the regional surge hospital for COVID-19 infected patients, the local health care provider looks to continue investing at the site amid an uptick in patients.

Baton Rouge General plans to invest upward of $500,000 on renovations at the Mid City campus, but is still finalizing its plans as it also looks to build out community health support systems. Early plans include a new front entrance with more green space to make the campus more inviting, while removing the fence and staff parking lot facing Florida Boulevard and instead building a landscaped park with a plaza and seats. The goal is for the new green space to host community events and there are plans for an 800-square-foot mural on the hospital through The Walls Project, expected to be completed in June.

The campus which sits along Florida Boulevard near South Acadian Thruway saw more than 26,000 patients in 2020, an uptick of 33% compared to 2019. It included primary care visits, radiation oncology, rehabilitation and radiology, in addition to coronavirus patient care.

With more people coming through our doors here, a new vision started to unfold, said Trisha Guidry, chief operating officer at Baton Rouge General-Mid City.

But it's still roughly half as many patients who were coming through the door in 2015 before the hospital closed its emergency room due to significant financial losses before being reopened last year.

Despite more patients, Baton Rouge General was losing $2 million a month on the ER at the time. About 90% of its patients either had Medicaid, which doesn't reimburse providers for the total cost of care, or no insurance coverage. Beyond that, four out of five patients who visited the emergency room could have gotten medical treatment through urgent care, officials previously said.

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A year after the Mid City emergency room shuttered, Medicaid coverage was expanded in Louisiana. Two years later, the share of uninsured adults in East Baton Rouge Parish was nearly cut in half to 7.39%.

But it wasn't until a state contract last year worth millions enabled Baton Rouge General to dust off the hospital campus and open its doors for an overflow of coronavirus patients in its intensive care unit. The hospital hired 100 employees in just one month.

By May 2020, it opened a 32-bed mental health unit for patients struggling with coronavirus and mental health issues. By June, its emergency room was back open for the first time in five years, which enabled the hospital to "close a gap in access to care," said Edgardo Tenreiro, CEO of Baton Rouge General.

The organization's CARE Initiative, which stands for community, access, resources and education, has been offering transportation, medical equipment and food to patients. For example, about 20% of patients who leave its skilled nursing unit require a ramp at home during rehabilitation, but can't afford it so the hospital offers a $500 grant to eligible patients. Top Box is a fresh food delivery service for Baton Rouge residents, while Rebuilding Together Baton Rouge helps patients install wheelchair ramps at home. Transportation agreements with Yellow Cab, Uber and Lyft enable free rides for Pennington Cancer Center patients to the Mid City campus for treatment.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  Potential COVID-19 vaccine recipients are not required to have a Philippine Health Insurance Corporation identification number or PIN, the Department of Health clarified Tuesday.

This, after the state health insurer said the ID number is among the "unique identifiers" needed for Filipinos to register for inoculation.

According to the DOH, the PIN is only needed when claiming benefits from PhilHealth in cases of adverse events following immunization. To ensure coverage of Filipinos who experience serious side effects, it added the government will set up PhilHealth registration booths at official vaccination sites.

"The DOH further reiterates that under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, all Filipinos, whether direct or indirect contributors, including dependents of contributors, indigent members, senior citizens, and persons with disability, are automatic members of PhilHealth," it wrote in a statement.

DOH Memorandum 2021-0099 states, "All potential vaccine recipients shall be registered using their unique identifiers as identified during the masterlisting process such as but not limited to full name and birthday, PhilHealth identification number, system generated alphanumeric or QR or unique codes, or similar."

Potential vaccine recipients could also present any government-issued ID or government document.

PhilHealth President and CEO Dante Gierran said the corporation will provide assistance in the process.

"For those who do not know their PIN or not yet registered with PhilHealth, they should coordinate with any PhilHealth office or call us so we can provide them their PIN or facilitate their registration," said Gierran.

At a televised briefing on Tuesday, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said, "Pwede naman nila gamitin yung lahat ng mga pwedeng IDs po nila, at saka nakita po natin yung ating PhilSys is also mobilizing its units para makahabol sa vaccination program. Wala naman pong problema for as long as magkaroon tayo ng tinatawag na prescreening and listing para ma-validate na taga-doon talaga sila. And then yung office ID pwede po 'yon."

[Translation: They can use all their IDs, and we sau that PhilSys is also mobilizing its units to catch up with the vaccination program. There will be no problem as long as there is a prescreening and listing to validate they are from the area. And they can use office IDs.]

Non-PhilHealth members have to fill out the PhilHealth Member Registration Form or PMRF that can be downloaded here.

The accomplished PMRF and a scanned copy or clear photo of any valid ID can be sent to actioncenter@philhealth.gov.ph, with the subject: Register <space> Name <space> City/Province, Region.

After processing, the PIN will be sent to the email address in the registration form.


JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) - Traffic through the Suez Canal has been partially resumed after a large container ship that ran aground in the strategic waterway's southern end was refloated.



The Panama-registered ship Ever Given, which has been wedged across the narrow single traffic lane of Suez Canal since last Tuesday, was dislodged at 3 pm Monday local time with the help of dredgers and tug boats.



The 224,000-ton fully-loaded vessel, with a capacity to carry 20000 containers, was towed to Great Bitter Lakes for technical inspection.



Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Mounir Rabie said at a news conference that navigation on both directions of the Canal resumed at 6 PM local time Monday.



More than 400 ships are currently waiting to transit through the canal, and the backlog is expected to be cleared in three or three and a half days, he told reporters.



Ships carrying livestock were given priority and allowed to enter the first convoy, he added.



The Suez Canal Authority said that out of 36 ships that entered the Canal Tuesday morning, 22 are heading for Port Said and 14 are heading for Suez.



37 vessels that had been waiting at Great Bitter Lakes since last week have now exited the Canal. Another six that remained at Great Bitter Lakes are due to resume their journey at about 2 PM local time, along with 30 ships which entered the Canal for southbound transit yesterday. This group is expected to start exiting the Canal about three hours later, the Authority added.



The Canal Authority said that convoys in both directions are running round the clock until the backlog of vessels is cleared.



Ever Given, sailing to the Dutch port of Rotterdam, had run aground after being affected by a stand storm and strong winds before entering the Mediterranean in the morning last Tuesday.



The traffic jam caused by the accident in one of the world's most important and busy waterways left hundreds of vessels, including large container ships, tankers carrying oil and gas, and bulk vessels carrying grain held up at either end of the Suez canal.



Goods worth nearly $10 billion were being held up each day in the strategic trade route, which provides the shortest link between Asia and Europe.



Shipping experts estimate that the effect of the week-long logjam on global shipping could take weeks or even months to resolve.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - Governor Doug Ducey signed legislation making National Navajo Code Talkers Day a legal state holiday every year on August 14, honoring the courage of the Code Talkers and their critical role in the Allied victory of WWII.

The Navajo Code Talkers are American heroes, said Governor Ducey. They assisted on every major operation involving the U.S. Marines in the Pacific theatre, using their native language to come up with an unbreakable code. More than 400 Code Talkers answered the call to serve our nation, and Arizona is grateful for their dedication to protecting our nation. Im proud to sign legislation that makes National Navajo Code Talkers day an official holiday, and I thank Senator Peshlakai for leading on this initiative.



Under Senate Bill 1802, if National Navajo Code Talkers Day falls on a day other than Sunday, the Sunday following August 14 is to be observed as the holiday.



Its important that all Arizonans remember the service and bravery of the Navajo Code Talkers, said Senator Jamescita Peshlakai, who sponsored the legislation. Their crucial service during WWII will not be forgotten, and we will continue to honor them every August 14th. Thank you to everyone who supported Senate Bill 1802.



Last year, Governor Ducey issued a proclamation and posted a video recognizing Navajo Code Talkers Day. The Governor has issued four proclamations to honor the Code Talkers since 2017.



The United States government recruited and enlisted more than 400 Navajo men to serve in standard communications units. The Navajo Code Talkers used their unbreakable code to assist in every major operation involving the United States Marines in the Pacific Ocean theatre, including during the battle at Iwo Jima where they successfully transmitted more than 800 messages without error.



Navajo Code Talkers Day was established through a presidential proclamation by President Ronald Reagan on August 14, 1982. In 2014, Arizona passed legislation declaring every August 14 Navajo Code Talkers Day in Arizona.
Berlin, Germany -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/30/2021 -- The German Port of Kiel is using ground-breaking technology from Siemens to monitor energy usage. By optimising the cloud-based technology, the team working there is able to improve operations by collecting a wide range of data. This project focuses on the shore power system which allows ships to connect to an onshore power plant rather than using their own generators, thus improving air and noise quality. Siemens has stated that the new technology will enable operators at the port to "determine consumption, identity faults, avoid downtimes, and plan maintenance routines better".



Glocomms, founded in 2013, is one of Germany's, and Europe's, leading specialist recruiters for business-critical talent within the tech industry. The firm is part of the award-winning Phaidon International Group, which makes them the preferred recruiting partner for 71 global market leaders. Their international network, made up of 750 industry experts based in 12 global offices, provides them with a worldwide awareness of the IT and technology industry.



The team at Glocomms Germany works ardently to provide their clients with the best possible hiring solutions within an ever-changing industry. Glocomm's Berlin-based team are able to provide exceptional careers to promising professionals throughout Germany, from Hamburg to Frankfurt, Munich to Cologne. The firm's primary goal is to provide peace of mind to industry leading companies and clients alike, by ensuring that their recruitment needs are in expert hands. Glocomms has invested heavily in the training of their consultants to ensure that they are using the best-in-class recruiting technologies - so that all parties involved equally benefit from quick, efficient and accurate hiring solutions.



There is currently a wide range of positions available in Germany for talented professionals who are ambitious and looking for a long career within the industry. The firm creates bespoke recruitment solutions across the tech industry in Germany from commercial services, enterprise solutions, cloud and infrastructure, cyber security, development and engineering and data and analytics. Positions available through Glocomms at present include, Salesforce Developer, Mulesoft Developer, Mulesoft Architect, 3x SD-WAN Engineer, L1 Engineer, Account Executive Public Sectors, Remote Scrum Master, Remote Release Manager, and Remote Delivery Manager  Agile to name just a few.



"Like many sectors, 2020 marked a defining moment for recruitment. Challenged by uncertainty, but unwavering in our commitment to our clients, we enter 2021 with a sense of duty to clients and candidates", commented Luis Rolim, Global Marketing Director at Glocomms. He went onto say, "as we reflect on the challenges of virtually securing and retaining talent, we're inspired by a team who have demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt and continue to help all our clients secure top talent on a global scale."



To find out more information about Cloud Infrastructure Jobs Deutschland visit



https://www.glocomms.de/.



For any media enquiries please contact Gary Elliott at Iconic Digital  020 7100 0726.



For all other enquiries please contact Glocomms Germany : +49 30 72 62 11 444.



For more information about Glocomms Germany services, please go to https://www.glocomms.de/.



About Glocomms Germany

Glocomms Germany supports organisations across Germany looking to secure key talent to help build the workforce of the future. The firm wasnestablished in 2013 and has extensive industry and candidate connections and a deep well of expertise in the specialist recruitment market.
Masks and gloves are used to protect everyone from the coronavirus pandemic.

However, a new study showed how big a threat they are to animals when thrown away irresponsibly.

PPE Pollution

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a new generation of litter: protective face masks and gloves. These goods, which are meant to keep people safe, potentially damage the animals in the immediate vicinity. The website provides the first detailed review of all incidents of COVID-19 litter entanglement, entrapment, and ingestion, as well as the use of gloves and face masks in bird nests. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a new generation of litter: protective face masks and gloves. These goods, which are meant to keep people safe, potentially damage the animals in the immediate vicinity.

Related Article: World's First Plant-Based Face Mask Invented in the UK!



Animals Entangled

Among the victims were a fish that has gotten stuck in the finger of a rubber glove in the Netherlands, a penguin in Brazil with a mask in its stomach, and a fox in the United Kingdom entangled in a mask.

The researchers studied garbage hunters, birdwatchers, animal rescue centers, and veterinarians on various news outlets and social media and uncovered accidents on land and in water all over the country. They have, however, stated that even more data is needed and have opened a website where anybody can upload a report.

Findings

The research, which was published in the journal Animal Biology, is the first to look at reports of Covid-19 litter entanglement, entrapment, and ingestion by animals. The PPE litter mostly consisted of single-use latex gloves and single-use masks made of rubber bands and mostly polypropylene cloth.

The first victim discovered by the researchers was an American robin caught in a mask in April 2020 in Canada. A checkered pufferfish was also found dead near Miami Beach, Florida, after being trapped in a face mask, and a shore crab was killed by a mask in France.

According to the researchers, a serotine bat was stuck in between two masks in the Netherlands, a hedgehog was caught in a glove in the UK, and a monkey tried to eat a mask in Malaysia. Masks were also found to be eaten by pets, including dogs.

One of the report's contributors, Liselotte Rambonnet of Leiden University in the Netherlands, said, "Animals get weakened due to being entangled, or die due to the plastic in their stomach."

After volunteers alerted Rambonnet and Auke-Florian Hiemstra of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden to a perch stuck in a glove during a canal cleaning, they began investigating. Coots have also been seen making nests out of masks and gloves in Dutch canals.

Rambonnet and Hiemstra hope that their findings will raise general consciousness about the risks of discarding masks and gloves to wildlife. They encouraged people to wear reusable masks, while some proposed chopping up disposable gloves and snipping the straps on masks before discarding them to protect animals from being entangled. Any jurisdictions in the United States have since increased the penalties for littering with PPE.

PPEs Everywhere

PPE was discovered on almost a third of the beaches surveyed by beach-cleaning volunteers in the UK in September.

Although the proportion of Covid-19-related litter is limited in contrast to packaging litter, the researchers believe it is a striking illustration of our disposable culture. They concluded, "People might be affected by the coronavirus pandemic, but nature is sick of our plastic."

Related Article: 'What can be Found in the Ocean': Pink Undies, Double Mattress, Christmas Tree and More



Covidletter.com

Covidletter.com is the website that the researchers created as some sort of hotline to report PPE-related incidents to further record the cases and provide more data for the study.

The website provides the first detailed review of all incidents of COVID-19 litter entanglement, entrapment, and ingestion, as well as the use of gloves and faces masks in bird nests.

Also Read: Seafood's Secret Ingredient: Microplastic

For more Environmental News, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Prime Minister has written a letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, saying creation of an "enabling environment" is imperative for a constructive and result-oriented dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues between and India, in particular the Jammu and Kashmir issue.

Khan's letter was in reply to Prime Minister Modi's letter to him last week to extend greetings on the occasion of Day. In his letter, Modi had said that India desires cordial relations with but an atmosphere of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, is "imperative" for it.

In his reply to Prime Minister Modi's letter, Khan thanked him and said the people of Pakistan also desire peaceful cooperative relations with all neighbours, including India.

While Prime Minister Modi talked about a terror free environment for peace, Khan said that peace was possible only if outstanding issues like Kashmir were resolved.

"We are convinced that durable peace and stability in South Asia is contingent upon resolving all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan in particular the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," he wrote in the letter dated March 29.

Khan said that creation of an "enabling environment is imperative for a constructive and result-oriented dialogue."



He also expressed best wishes for the people of India in their struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The militaries of India and Pakistan announced on February 25 that they have agreed to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors.

Weeks later, both Pakistan's Prime Minister Khan and powerful Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa made peace overtures towards New Delhi saying it was time for the two neighbours to "bury the past and move forward".

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 relations further nosedived after India withdrew special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the State into two union territories in 2019. Since then, India and Pakistan are without high commissioners in each other's capital -- New Delhi and Islamabad, respectively.

On March 18, powerful Army chief Bajwa said it was time for India and Pakistan to "bury the past and move forward".

(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 United Democratic Party UDP) regional chairman of North Bank Regional chairman (NBR) has warned the Brikama Area Council (BAC) chairman to refrain from criticizing the party leader as he has already been sacked from the party.

Karamo Njie made the statement in response to the recent comments made by the chairman of Brikama Area Council Sheriffo Sonko on West Coast Radio. Sonko in an interview which was reported by The Point, called on the UDP leader Ousainou Darboe to resign from the party, saying he (Darboe) would never rule The Gambia following his victory against UDP at the Supreme Court. He further opined that there is huge difference between President Barrow and Ousainou Darboe.

Reacting to Sonko's comments, Mr. Njie said the fate of United Democratic Party in winning the presidential election cannot be determined by any person except Allah, stating that comments made by Sheriffo Sonko on their party leader is insensitive and should refrain from such despicable comments since he has been sacked.

"What I wanted to inform Sheriffo Sonko is that it is better for him to leave the UDP and its party leader alone and mine his business because he is no more a party member."

"So what business does he have to advise our party leader to resign the UDP? Sonko should know that today he is the chairman of the Brikama Area Council due to UDP and Ousainou Darboe; so his words cannot take us anywhere."

"And beside; because of his statement; people called to show their love to the party," Njie disclosed.

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He said BAC being the largest area council in the country has the largest tax collection in terms of finance. However, he added, under Sonko's watch, this could not be translated into development for the benefit of the people of the region.

The UDP NBR regional chair then compared BAC and KMC and BCC, saying: "I want to inform you that today; Brikama Area Council is the largest in term of rate collection, but still, it cannot match the ongoing development at KMC and the BCC.

"So I think Sonko should concentrate more in providing development to his people than talking unrealistic statement against the UDP."

"Let me tell you that with his comment against the UDP, he is not going to win the next chairmanship election because Gambians are no more sleeping."

"There is no one who can stop the UDP from winning the 2021 presidential election and he Sonko will face the Commission of Inquiry after the elections on funds he misused at the council," he alleged.
An Accra High Court, hearing the case of the alleged murderers of the late Major Maxwell Mahama, will on April 12, 2021, show in open court an evidential video by the prosecution.



The video, which is on a pen drive, was supposed to be shown in open court today but the ICT officer could not provide a projector and other appropriate equipment.



The Court, presided over by Madam Mariama Owusu, Justice of the Supreme Court, sitting as an additional High Court Judge, therefore, adjourned the trial for continuation on April 12, 2021.



Chief lnspector Samuel Agyakwa, the Investigator in the trial and the 14th Prosecution Witness was giving his evidence in chief before the trial was adjourned to February 27, 2020.



The outbreak of the COVID-19 also slowed proceedings.



Defence Counsel had objected the showing of the video in open court as evidence but the objection was overruled.



According to the witness, the video contained details of how the late Major Mahama was murdered.



Fourteen persons are standing trial at an Accra High Court over the killing of Major Mahama, who was an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, at Burma Camp.



The late Major was on duty at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region when on May 29, 2017 some residents allegedly mistook him for an armed robber and lynched him.



The mob had ignored his persistent plea that he was an officer of the Ghana Armed Forces.



The accused persons are William Baah, the Assembly member of Denkyira Obuasi, Bernard Asamoah alias Daddy, Kofi Nyame a.k.a Abortion, Akwasi Boah, Kwame Tuffour, Joseph Appiah Kubi, Michael Anim and Bismarck Donkor.



The rest are: John Bosie, Akwasi Baah, Charles Kwaning, Emmanuel Badu, Bismarck Abanga and Kwadwo Anima.







Source: GNA









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After five years of research, development, planning and testing the CryoHub project team were proud to present the results of their work at a webinar on 17th March. Attracting 127 attendees from across Europe and ten presentations from the project partners, the webinar provided an overview of the aims and objectives of CryoHub. It also dived into the detail of how the demonstrator was modelled and developed and hosted a discussion of what has been learned from the project about the future potential for energy storage technologies. The CryoHub demonstrator equipment is currently installed at a refrigerated food processing plant at Frigologix in Belgium and its operation is being monitored remotely.

Those taking part in the webinar were invited to share their views on a number of key questions such as attitudes to investment in innovation. The results showed that businesses are increasingly interested in the potential of such technologies although current business models for return on investment remain important barriers to their adoption.

The event concluded with a panel of independent industry experts discussed how CryoHub has proved that liquid air energy storage can work in practice moving beyond mere modelling and simulation. They acknowledged that, while businesses may be willing to trial new environmental technologies, issues such as economic feasibility, cost of capital investment and return on investment still need to be overcome before this can be more widespread.

CryoHub was funded by the EU Horizon 2020 framework and managed by a team of research, association and business experts. Projects such as CryoHub that focus on innovation are challenging with a number of unexpected difficulties arising that have to be overcome  such as optimising the technology within the budget constraints and the difficulty of sourcing components and expertise in cryogenics. The project team had to balance issues such as maximising efficiency versus the operational practicalities - what was termed techno-economics. They concluded that issues such as understand the power market, business models and policy context were just as important as engineering concepts to build the technology. Ultimately, the discussion at the close of the webinar was optimistic - the market interest for such innovative CryoHub technology could be expected to increase in the future as governments and grid operator turn to incentives to encourage energy storage and grid balancing to manage demand peaks.
Malawi Police in Karonga has released an influential UTM regional official Mzondi Mkandawirfe after he was arrested for political violence ahead of March 30 by-election in Karonga north west.

He is suspected to have masterminded the aborted attack on Home Affairs minister Richard Chimwendo Banda who was in the district campaigning for a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) parliamentary candidate.

Police have charged him with an offence of"malicious damage."

Mkandawire denies the charges.

Social media is awash with reports that UTM spokesperson Frank Mwenifumbo is being marked for an arrest on the same charges.

MCP is accusing its alliance partner in government, the UTM, of perpetrating violent attacks on its senior officials, including the Director of Youth Chimwendo Banda.

The accusations follow a similar complaint by the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) that UTM followers attacked its supporters in the same district.
A man has been knifed to death and two others were left in hospital after a 'triple stabbing' on a street in south London.

Officers were called to reports of a stabbing on Alpha Road in Croydon at around 9.10pm today and attended with the London Ambulance Service.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene and no arrests have yet been made.

Two other men, thought to be connected to the incident, arrived at a hospital in south London with stab injuries. Police are awaiting an update on their conditions.

Officers were called to reports of a stabbing on Alpha Road in Croydon at around 9.10pm today and attended with the London Ambulance Service. Pictured: police at the scene this evening

A crime scene is in place with enquiries ongoing to trace the deceased man's next of kin, a spokesperson for the Met Police said.

In a statement, the force said: 'Police were called at approximately 21:10hrs on Tuesday, 30 March to reports of a stabbing on Alpha Road, Croydon.

'Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service. A man was pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries are ongoing to trace his next of kin.

'Two men have self-presented at a south London hospital with stab injuries. They are believed to be connected to the prior Alpha Road incident. We await an update on their conditions.

'A crime scene remains in place and enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.

'At this early stage, there have been no arrests.'

A crime scene is in place with enquiries ongoing to trace the man's next of kin, a spokesperson for the Met Police said. Pictured: police vehicles at the scene

It follows a man, aged 19, being stabbed to death on the same street at around midday on March 3.

Multiple attacks also took place in Croydon on February 5, with one man killed and 10 people left injured. 10 stabbings took place in the space of two hours.

There is currently no link between these stabbings and today's incident.

Police urged anyone with information to call 101 quoting CAD 7449/30March or leave information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 86F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low 63F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
A federal grand jury has indicted a Greer man on seven charges, including three new charges, related to his alleged involvement in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

William Robert Norwood III was indicted March 19. He was arrested Feb. 25 by FBI agents at a home in Greenville.

Norwood bragged in a family Facebook chat that he assaulted law enforcement and stole police equipment inside the Capitol. He said beforehand that he planned to dress in black as Antifa. Afterward, he said, It worked ... I got away with things that others were shot or arrested for.

He also texted the group a photo of himself wearing a red "Make America Great Again" hat and what appears to be a U.S. Capitol Police tactical vest.

When agents searched a box trailer Norwood used as storage, they located a Capitol Police helmet and tactical vest, and when they searched his vehicle they found a coaster that he took from inside the Capitol, according to testimony by an FBI special agent at an initial detention hearing in Greenville.

Norwood was initially charged with theft of government property, obstruction of Congress, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority. He was indicted on each of those charges. In addition, he was indicted on charges of entering and remaining in certain rooms in the Capitol building; disorderly conduct in the Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

He has not been indicted in any direct acts of violence in the case.

Norwood was ordered held in detention by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin McDonald following the March 1 hearing. He has since been transferred from the Spartanburg County Jail and is being held in custody at a District of Columbia Department of Corrections jail.

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At his initial hearing, Norwood said that though he told his family of assaulting police and stealing their equipment, he actually sought to protect some officers from attacks and had only said he assaulted officers to sound tough. He said he took the vest and helmet from an equipment pile outside the Capitol building.

McDonald said at the detention hearing that he didnt find Norwoods testimony entirely credible and that he was concerned about Norwoods own words to his family about assaulting police.

Though nearly 350 defendants have been charged in the Capitol breach so far, most have been released on some sort of bond. Norwood and about 55 others remain in jail.

Federal prosecutors are preparing to begin a process of engaging in plea talks with many of the defendants as soon as this week, according to The Washington Post.

Norwood is one of four South Carolina men charged in the Capitol riot.

Andrew Hatley was charged with breaking into the U.S. Capitol building after investigators used GPS data and a selfie Hatley allegedly took inside the Capitol.

Elias Irizarry, 19, a freshman at The Citadel and Elliot Bishai, 20, both from Fort Mill, were each charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building without lawful authority, knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in any restricted buildings, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Also on this day in 2020 "Ni una menos," or Not One Less, founded in Argentina, marked its 5th anniversary by protesting against women and child exploitation and trafficking. See more top news photos as selected by the Associated Press.
Luanda  A message from the Angolan President, Joao Lourenco, was delivered Saturday in Kinshasa to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Head of State and acting chairman of the African Union (AU), Felix Tshisekedi.

The Directorate of Information Technology, Institutional Communication and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement published today in Luanda that the message handed over by the head of Angolan diplomacy, Tete Antonio.

The content of the message from the Angolan statesman and Acting Chairperson of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) has not been made public.

Tete Antonio was accompanied by the director of the Africa, Middle East and Regional Organizations Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Bembe, and by the Angolan ambassador to DRC, Miguel Costa.

On Saturday, before landing in Kinshasa, the Foreign Minister visited Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, where he met with his counterpart Jean Gakosso, to whom he delivered a message from Joao Lourenco to President Denis Sassou N'Guesso.

Recently re-elected President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou N'Gussou also holds the rotating presidency of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), an organisation to which Angola and the DRC also belong.

Angola has excellent relations in several areas with the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, sharing common interests.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Angola Governance Congo-Kinshasa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

The Directorate of Information Technology, Institutional Communication and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement published today in Luanda that the message handed over by the head of Angolan diplomacy, Tete Antonio.

The content of the message from the Angolan statesman and Acting Chairperson of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) has not been made public.

Tete Antonio was accompanied by the director of the Africa, Middle East and Regional Organizations Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Bembe, and by the Angolan ambassador to DRC, Miguel Costa.

On Saturday, before landing in Kinshasa, the Foreign Minister visited Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, where he met with his counterpart Jean Gakosso, to whom he delivered a message from Joao Lourenco to President Denis Sassou N'Guesso.

Recently re-elected President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou N'Gussou also holds the rotating presidency of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), an organisation to which Angola and the DRC also belong.

Angola has excellent relations in several areas with the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, sharing common interests.
Nova Poshta has allocated another UAH 10 million to help hospitals in small towns and charitable foundations that provide targeted assistance to patients with COVID-19.

The press service of the company said these funds will be used to purchase oxygen equipment and other medical supplies.

"Now we see that the number of diseases is growing again, and in hospitals there is an acute problem with a shortage of medical equipment that provides oxygen to patients. Therefore, we have allocated additional funds and have already purchased oxygen bags and concentrators for them to support the cities. And we also want to help where it is most needed - hospitals in small towns and villages. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians live in them, but the attention of organizations and foundations to them is several times lower. If you know how you can help such hospitals, tell us, and we will do our best to solve this problem," co-founder of Nova Poshta Inna Popereshniuk said.

It is reported that at the end of last week the company has already purchased and delivered the first batch of aid: 120 oxygen concentrators and 100 oxygen bags were delivered to charitable foundations in Kyiv (Svoyi Charity Foundation), Odesa (Monsters Corporation) and Lviv (Kryla Nadiyi). They provide oxygen equipment for free use to those who need it, especially people at home.

As reported, to date, Nova Poshta has already allocated UAH 48 million for the fight against coronavirus.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-31 03:20:42|Editor: huaxia

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PARIS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- France registered 30,702 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, pushing the total count above 4.5 million. The country's hospitals are nearing the breaking point and a third nationwide confinement is very much on the cards, figures released by the health authorities showed on Tuesday.

In a single day, 188 people have been hospitalized, bringing the total to 28,510. COVID-19 patients currently occupy 5,072 resuscitation beds, the largest number since mid-November 2020, when the country entered its second confinement.

A total of 95,337 people have died of coronavirus since the start of the outbreak. The death toll was 360 on Monday and 381 on Tuesday.

Unlike its European neighbors, France has refrained from imposing a third full lockdown and kept schools open, but a night-time curfew has been in force since Jan. 16.

In the country's high risk zones, non-essential shops are closed, people are asked to work from home and travel to other regions is banned.

"We have to limit the spread of the virus and we won't do that with these half-measures," Gilles Pialoux, head of infectious diseases at the Tenon hospital in Paris, told France Inter radio on Tuesday.

"Braking measures have almost no effect," he said. "Since January, the political decisions have no scientific consistency."

On Sunday, 41 hospital doctors in the Paris region signed an article that appeared in the weekly newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, saying that they would be forced to choose between patients for emergency treatment due to overwhelmed hospitals.

Speaking at the National Assembly earlier in the day, Health Minister Olivier Veran pledged to "not let doctors be in a situation where they have to choose among patients."

"The measures taken ten days ago might start to show their effect, we will see that within 24-48 hours. If necessary, we would decide other measures to protect the French people," he said.

President Emmanuel Macron will chair a Defense Council meeting on the epidemic situation on Wednesday to decide on new restrictions.

On Tuesday, the Health Ministry reported that over 11 million COVID-19 vaccine doses had already been administered. In total, 8,259,656 citizens (15.7 percent of the population) had received the first jab, and 2,797,060 (5.3 percent) both jabs. Enditem

France confirms 30,702 new COVID-19 cases as stricter restrictions loom

PARIS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- France registered 30,702 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, pushing the total count to over 4.5 million, while hospitals are reaching breaking point amid rising prospect of a third nationwide confinement, figures released by health authorities showed on Tuesday.

Coronavirus-related data continued to rise for the second week. 188 people were hospitalized in one day for the respiratory illness, making the total count to 28,510. Some 5,072 resuscitation beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, marking the highest level since mid-November 2020 when the country entered its second confinement.

A total of 95,337 people infected with the coronavirus have died since the epidemic outbreak, up by 381 compared with Monday's 360.

Unlike its European neighbours, France has refrained from imposing a third full lockdown and kept schools open. But it has introduced a nightly curfew since Jan.16.

It has also opted for approaches at the local level by ordering stricter rules in high-risk zones where non-essential shops are closed, and people are asked to work at home and not travel to other regions.

"We have to limit the spread of the virus and we won't do that with these half-measures," Gilles Pialoux, head of infectious diseases at the Tenon hospital in Paris told France inter radio early Tuesday.

"Braking measures have almost no effect," he said. "Since January, political decisions have no scientific consistency."

On Sunday, 41 hospital doctors in the Paris region signed an article in the weekly newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, saying that they would be forced to choose between patients for emergency treatment due to overwhelmed hospitals.

When questioned at the National Assembly earlier in the day, Health Minister Olivier Veran pledged to "not let doctors be in a situation where they have to choose among patients."

"The measures taken 10 days ago might start to show the effect or not, we will see that within 24-48 hours. If necessary, we would decide other measures to protect French people," he said.

President Emmanuel Macron will head a defense council on the epidemic situation on Wednesday to decide on new restrictions to curb accelerating viral circulation.

Health Ministry on Tuesday reported that over 11 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far. Some 8,259,656 citizens have got the first jab, accounting for 15.7 percent of adult population, and 2,797,060 others who completed their inoculation, or 5.3 percent of adult population. Enditem
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Violent demonstrations broke out in Senegal earlier this month in protest of injustice and inequality in the country. Artist Omar Ba protested in a different way: he painted.

Ba said that what young people are doing in the streets, he is doing in his workspace near the countrys capital, Dakar.

Ba is one of Senegals best-known modern artists. He has often used his art to make political statements. Currently, some of his paintings are on show at the Galerie Templon in Brussels, Belgium. The show, called Anomalies, comments on power-hungry world leaders through a series of paintings of imaginary heads of state. An anomaly is something that is unusual or unexpected.

Ba said he was shocked to see such intense violence on the streets of his own country.

These are things I had seen on TV, but never here, he told Reuters.

I think visual art is something I have to use to denounce whats not working, or to talk about what is positive, in society.

The protests began after the arrest of a popular opposition leader, but widened into demonstrations about economic inequality, a condition worsened by the COVID-19 crisis. Thousands took to the streets. Some protesters threw rocks at police. Security forces fired their guns at protesters.

Some people worry that Senegals President Macky Sall will try to extend his rule beyond the permitted two terms. Other African leaders have used constitutional changes to extend their time in power.

Sall has not commented on whether he will seek a third term.

Ba normally does not give names to the subjects he paints. But for his next collection, he said he might paint Sall.

Ba said once leaders are elected, they completely change their way of thinking and speaking. He said that is why he named his art show Anomalies.

Four of the 12 paintings in the series deal with the COVID-19 crisis. Colorful shapes and Bas own footprints cover the canvas, representing a sense of confusion and how it feels to be trapped.

COVID-19 exposed inequality and corruption in Africa, Ba said. He said the wealthy were forced to depend on the same troubled public health services that the poor must use. Normally, the rich seek better care elsewhere.

Ba said, Nobody could take planes to get treatment in Europe or the United States." He add that "for once people realized that in their own hospitals there was nothing.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Nellie Peyton and Ngouda Dione reported on this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

visual  adj. relating to seeing or to the eyes

positive  adj. good or useful

society n. people in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions, and values

canvas n. a specially prepared piece of cloth on which a picture can be painted by an artist

confusion n. a situation in which people are uncertain about what to do or are unable to understand something clearly
Shares in Deliveroo tanked today, wiping 1.8billion from the tech takeaway firm's value as it made its long-awaited stock market debut.

The listing price of 390p per share valued the company at 7.6billion, which was at bottom end of the delivery firms initial pricing range following an investor backlash over staff working conditions.

But on the London open shares plunged 30 per cent to 271p, before recovering some of the losses to stand 95p down at 295p - a fall of 24 per cent on the opening price of thge float.

Strong demand for Deliveroo's float has been overshadowed in recent days by criticism from heavyweight investors over the status of tens of thousands of the firm's delivery riders

Lee Wild, Head of Equity Strategy at interactive investor, called the IPO 'disastrous'.

'The run-up to Deliveroos stock market debut has been marred by criticism of the companys treatment of delivery riders, and by doubts among many top fund managers who chose not to invest in the flotation,' he said.

He noted that existing shareholders in Deliveroo sold stock amounting to 500million pre-open at the launch price of 390p, which 'looks like great business for the sellers'.

Big City investors have been put off by a number of concerns. The company doesnt make a profit despite huge tailwinds from the pandemic. Deliveroo had to be bailed out by Amazon last year, and it continues to operate in a highly competitive market.

Aviva and Aberdeen Standard opted out of the IPO citing ESG concerns related to the companys treatment of its employees.

There are fears that it could face an employment rights crackdown akin to Uber, which was forced to overhaul how it pays taxi drivers.

ESG investors are also turned off by governance issues: founder and chief executive Will Shu still has more than 50 per cent of shareholder voting rights.

Nevertheless, it was Londons biggest listing for a decade, raising around 1billion for expansion efforts. Chancellor Rishi Sunak, hailed Deliveroos decision to go public in London as a true British tech success story.
The Government has published its 'Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 - Our Rural Future'.

Welcoming the strategy, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue said it would "help develop and revitalise communities".

He added: "It is a commitment by the Government to improve the lives of people living in rural communities. This was one of my key goals in entering politics and I Will continue pressing the need to protect rural Ireland at the Cabinet table.

"The policy reflects the unprecedented change in living and working patterns during COVID-19 and the significant opportunities this presents for rural communities  from remote working and revitalising our town centres to job creation, developing a green economy and enhancing our outdoor amenities."

The five year strategy was launched in Croke Park by An Taoiseach Micheal Martin, An Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, and Minister for Transport and the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan.

Our Rural Future sets out a blueprint for the development of rural Ireland over the next five years.

It is supported by 150 commitments across Government, which will address the challenges facing communities and deliver new opportunities for people living in rural areas.

The policy will help rural Ireland to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, enable long-term development of rural areas, and create more resilient rural economies and communities for the future.

Commenting on the launch, Minister McConalogue said: This whole of-Government approach to rural development highlights the importance of our rural and coastal communities. Balanced economic development throughout the country, including the development of our rural and coastal communities, is necessary for the overall economic and social wellbeing of Ireland as a whole.

"One of the key policy commitments identified is the preparation of a new Agri-Food Strategy to 2030, which is also a commitment under the Programme for Government, and will be published in the Summer.

"It will set a high ambition for the sector in the years ahead, focussing on sustainability in its three forms: environmental, economic and social. This will ensure that the agri-food sector, encompassing agriculture, seafood and forestry, will continue to be the foundation for rural and coastal development.

"l look forward to working with Minister Heather Humphreys, her Department and the rest of Government in realising the vision outlined in the Rural Development Policy, and to progressing the specific actions relating to the agri-food sector," concluded Minister McConalogue
Even as transmission of the coronavirus in San Antonio continued to wane Monday and all Texas adults became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the city will ban camping at public parks over Easter weekend.

Overnight camping at city parks is a prized Easter tradition that also was canceled last year because of the pandemic. But parks will still be open to the public during the day, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said at the daily city-county coronavirus briefing.

I know that this has been a disappointing and difficult year for everyone, Nirenberg said. Were asking for your patience as we try to put this pandemic behind us.

The positivity rate, or the percentage of people tested for the virus who turn out to be infected, dropped to 2.1 percent Monday, officials said. A week ago, that figure  a measure of how widespread the virus is  sat at 2.3 percent.

Transmission of the virus is significantly down from when the winter surge of COVID-19 pushed local hospitals to the brink. At that time, the positivity rate hit 23.2 percent. Health officials consider any rate below 5 percent a sign that virus transmission is at a manageable level.

Still, officials warned residents not to let their guard down as cases rise across the country and more contagious variants spread  even as local numbers trend downward.

We dont want to take a chance of another outbreak, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said.

More than 467,000 people in Bexar County have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Texas Department of State Health Services. Thats a little more than 30 percent of the adult population  about 1.6 million. Nearly 268,000 have been fully vaccinated.

Of Bexar County residents age 65 and older, almost 60 percent have received at least one vaccine, officials reported Monday. Thirty percent of residents age 16 and up have gotten at least one shot, they said.

Some of the 30,000 appointments made available at the citys mass vaccination site at the Alamodome last week were still available Monday by calling 311, said Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger, the citys coronavirus czar.

University Health System, the countys hospital system, will soon make appointments available to all residents regardless of their age, Wolff said.

Were really trying hard to make sure that we have multiple systems in place so that people who dont have access to the internet still have access to get appointments, Bridger said.

Officials reported 159 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Bexar County since the pandemic began last March to 205,258.

The seven-day moving average of new cases stood at 183 Monday  up seven from a week ago but down from 376 at the beginning of the month. At the height of the pandemic in January, the seven-day average of exceeded 2,000.

Officials reported no new deaths Monday. The total confirmed death toll since last March stands at 3,144.

Bexar County hospitals reported 192 COVID-19 patients  up slightly from 188 this time last week but less than half of the 464 patients hospitalized with coronavirus March 1.

Twenty more patients were admitted to local hospitals within the past 24 hours, officials said.

Seventy-eight patients are in intensive care for severe cases of the virus while 38 are hooked up to ventilators to help them breathe.
Michaela Dunn (pictured) was stabbed repeatedly by Mert Ney on August 13, 2019

A knifeman who stabbed a woman to death in a hotel room has been led from court in an orange prison jumpsuit after giving graphic evidence of his heinous crime.

Mert Ney has pleaded guilty to murdering Michaela Dunn in her Clarence Street apartment on August 13, 2019.

Michaela Dunn's mother left the courtroom before Mey continued to describe what happened, after he warned his barrister Belinda Rigg SC it was 'too graphic' and 'pretty violent'.

The 23-year-old told his NSW Supreme Court sentence hearing he had wanted to stop the sex worker screaming.

'Just to make her be silent,' he said on Tuesday.

'I stabbed her everywhere - face, hands, arms, chest, leg.'

Ney was led away from court wearing an oversized orange prison jumpsuit with his hands shackled to a waist band attached to cuffs.

Since his time in custody, the knifeman has gotten 'G59' tattooed to the right side of his face in front of his ear.

Ney was led away from court wearing an oversized orange prison jumpsuit with his hands shackled to a waist band attached to cuffs

Since his time in custody, the knifeman has gotten 'G59' tattooed to the right side of his face, in front of his ear

G59 is the name of an record label which manages American hip hop duo Suicideboys. It's not known whether the label was Ney's intended reference for his tattoo.

Ney has pleaded guilty to murdering Ms Dunn, 24, in her Clarence Street apartment in August 2019.

He has also admitted other violent offences including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm for stabbing Lin Bo on the street during his CBD rampage.

When Ms Rigg asked him how he now felt about the murder, Ney said he had destroyed lives for no reason.

'It was all pointless and selfish,' he said.

Ney said he had reached 'the point of no return' after there were 20 or 30 stab wounds in her neck.

'She was going to die, no question about it.'

Michaela Dunn's mother (left) left the courtroom just as Ney started to describe what happened when he pulled out a knife and used it to kill the 24-year-old sex worker

Joanne Dunn, the mother of Michaela Dunn leaves during a recess at the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney, Tuesday, March 30

He said he was then fully committed to his 'final chapter' of being killed by police.

Ney summarised his history of mental health issues, addictions and his desire to die at the hands of police.

He had repeatedly watched footage of the Christchurch massacre, and other terrorist and mass shootings.

One reason was to understand his mother being distant due to trauma and torture she experienced in a civil war.

But another was a 'real bad obsession to watch really bad acts'.

He said he never agreed with the perpetrators or the message they said they were trying to get across.

He disagreed with a psychiatrist's suggestion that he may have been motivated to kill Ms Dunn as retribution for Muslims who were murdered in Christchurch.

The shooter's manifesto 'didn't make sense' and was pretty much a joke.

He denied a suggestion by prosecutor Craig Everson that he was motivated by religious extremism.

'I'm not even sure why I did it, it's speculation,' he said.

Ney said he only yelled 'Allahu Akbar' on the street and delivered the Islamic State salute so that the police would shoot him.

He had gone to a mosque in the lead-up to his offending to get help with his addictions which he said included gambling, seeing prostitutes, taking tablets and watching pornography excessively.

Ney has pleaded guilty to murdering Ms Dunn in her Clarence Street apartment on August 13, 2019

Mr Everson submitted Ney should be sentenced to life behind bars, despite his young age, guilty plea and mental health issues.

Although there was no evidence of him being linked to terrorist groups or ideologies, he was involved in his 'own violent jihad' which was in his mind when he conducted himself the way he did.

But Ms Rigg referred to her client's evidence indicating he had been in a deeply disordered state and panicked when Ms Dunn started screaming.

She noted the absence of any evidence of his being motivated by religious extremism and his repeated statements to police to shoot him.

Justice Peter Johnson will sentence him on May 14.
Here in 2021 New Jersey, we are having a debate over the powers of the police to conduct searches.

Let us consider in that light a case that led to our constitutions strict controls over searches. I learned about it on the site of Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

The article by Notre Dame law professor Gerard V. Bradley cites a couple of cases from the 1760s in which two authors of writings critical of the British, one of whom was named John Wilkes, had their homes raided by the authorities.

They were arrested and their books and papers were seized (including, in John Wilkes case, all the papers of forty-nine of his friends) using warrants that named neither the suspects nor the places to be searched, Bradley writes. Both defendants sued the seizing agents for trespass and won judgments in their favor.

Bradley goes on to explain how that incident influenced the framing of the Fourth Amendment, with its requirement that no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The meaning of that passage couldnt be more plain. Yet we actually have no more protection against arbitrary searches now than we had when the Brits were running things.

Thats mainly because of the doctrine of qualified immunity. Qualified immunity states that agents of the government can do pretty much anything they want to the citizenry without being held personally liable for the consequences  except in a few cases in which the courts have already issued rulings.

In one case in Fresno, Calif., two officers got to invoke sovereign immunity even though they were accused of stealing $225,000 during a search. An appellate panel concluded that the pair did not have clear notice that it violated the Fourth Amendment.

The issue of suing over searches goes to the heart of the current dispute now raging in our Legislature over the latest clean-up bill for the bill legalizing marijuana.

The sticking point this time is the power of the police to conduct searches of underage users of marijuana. The first clean-up bill included possible criminal prosecution for police officers accused of conducting allegedly illegal searches of young people. It also prohibited police from reporting such incidents to parents.

The latter brought stiff opposition from parents all over the state. That led to a second clean-up bill that got rid of the parental notification prohibition but kept the possible criminal penalties for police.

Now a number of Republican legislators have introduced a clean-up bill for that clean-up bill. Their bill would prohibit prosecutions of police for allegedly illegal searches unless the officer acted with the purpose to intimidate or discriminate against a person or group of persons because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity.

That sounds reasonable. But when I ran it by an ex-cop and current state senator, he said he and his fellow urban Democrats would have preferred to curb illegal searches by getting rid of qualified immunity. (Thats also the view of conservative Justice Clarence Thomas.)

As a former cop, I support the police, said state Sen. Ron Rice of Essex County Rice, who was a Newark policeman before getting his law degree. But I do know, coming up through law enforcement, there has to be some fairness and balance in it.

Rice said the New York City Council just passed a bill to eliminate qualified immunity there. But here, the police organizations pushed against us eliminating qualified immunity.

If the police wont accept an end to qualified immunity, Rice said, then theyre stuck with the current statute.

The community is saying, No, they gotta have something, he said. If you look at whats been happening across the country, there has to be a deterrent mechanism.

The reference was to the current trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd. Another conservative with ties to Notre Dame Law School, Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano, said the existence of qualified immunity leads to the sort of situation in which Floyd was killed.

If he had not had qualified immunity. George Floyd would be alive today, Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano said of Chauvin.

Qualified immunity is pernicious to personal freedom because its a license for police to do whatever they want, said Napolitano, a graduate of Notre Dame Law School. It allows them to cut holes in the Fourth amendment with impunity.

One of the sponsors of the Republican clean-up bill, state Sen. Declan OScanlon of Monmouth County, said hes sympathetic to that argument but doesnt think it applies to current kerfuffle in New Jersey.

If you want to talk about eliminating qualified immunity, thats a discussion to be had, OScanlon said. But you dont want to fix it in the middle of a marijuana decriminalization bill.

Maybe not. But when Americans had more rights under George III than they do today the discussion is long overdue.

ADD - GREAT MINDS LIKE A THINK:

Im not the only one who wonders whether our government infringed on our rights once we cut loose from the Brits.

That was the warning from Samuel Seabury of Connecticut, who argued that American democracy would be less respectful of individual rights than the British system. Heres a column I did on that:

Seabury said he believed that upon the whole, that liberty under the supreme authority and protection of Great Britain, is infinitely preferable to slavery under an American Congress.

It took a while, but Congress proved him right. In 1920 the Volstead Act imposed Prohibition on every state in the union. National Prohibition was repealed after 13 years, but the busybodies in Congress were just getting started when it comes to pushing people around.

In 1937 they passed a national ban on marijuana. Strict constitutionalists opposed the ban on the grounds that the weed grown and consumed within a state was not the business of the federal government. But they were overruled and a national ban on cannabis remains in effect to this day, even as states legalize it.

Contrast this with Canada. Our friends in the Great White North played around a bit with Prohibition around the time we did, but only on a province-by-province basis.

Once the Noble Experiment got going below their southern border, the Canadians took up the role of liquor producer and made a fortune running booze to the states.

That was duly noted by perhaps the most prominent critic of Prohibition, H.L. Mencken, who famously said, Congress consists of one third, more or less, scoundrels; two thirds, more or less, idiots; and three thirds, more or less, poltroons.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Press Release

March 30, 2021 De Lima seeks probe into PNP-PDEA shootout Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has urged the Congress to investigate the legitimacy of the misencounter between the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police's Dangerous Drug Enforcement Unit (DDEU) which resulted in a bloody shootout last Feb. 24. De Lima, a former justice secretary, filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 688 urging the appropriate Senate Committee to ensure not just the legitimacy of such an operation, but as well as the legal bases upon which the country's anti-drug law enforcers operate to avert same incidents in the future. "It is imperative to determine the legitimacy of the operations of law enforcement agencies that resulted in deaths of officers and civilians, as well as the legality of utilizing inmates in the operations of law enforcement agents and officers which poses a number of serious risks both to the public and the success of legitimate law enforcement operations," she said. "With no less than the Justice Secretary admitting before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that more than half of the anti-drug operations conducted by law enforcement agencies failed to follow protocol, it is important to determine whether the issue of compliance of both the PNP and the PDEA in the established rules concerning anti-drug operations, could have been the cause of the bloody misencounter," she added. Last Feb. 24, PDEA and PNP operatives engaged in a deadly shootout along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City that left five people dead, including two members of PNP and one PDEA agent. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin later revealed that the asset or informant of the Quezon City Police District named Jonaire Decena participated in the operation when she was supposed to be detained having been arrested in a buy-bust in January. Decena was reportedly the person coordinating a transaction with PDEA asset Untong Matalnas before the shootout. Matalnas was one of the casualties and his death is of special interest as CCTV footage seemed to show that several men, believed to be members of the PNP, took him into custody. Notably, on the same day, Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra revealed before the UNHRC that more than half of the thousands of anti-drug operations launched by the police under the Duterte administration failed to comply with the rules of engagement and protocol. To avoid misencounters among agents of government and other incidents with the same nature in the future, De Lima said it is imperative for the Senate to determine necessary policy reforms or come up with remedial legislation on certain law enforcement procedures and standard protocols. De Lima likewise said that reforming certain law enforcement procedures and protocols is necessary to "improve the legal mechanisms for the accountability of state actors and strengthen the mandate and responsibilities of relevant government agencies involved in such legitimate operations." The lady Senator from Bicol further stressed that law enforcement agencies must be reminded that they are bound by the established rules and guidelines on "buy-bust" operations. "Any reported irregularity in the performance of their duties concerning these operations must be dealt with to the full extent of the law and that the commission of abuses and outright crimes during and after such operations by government agents must be held accountable," De Lima said. Section 86 of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the "Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002", requires the NBI, PNP and the Bureau of Customs to maintain close coordination with the PDEA on all drug related matters.
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Alleged fake au pair Samantha Azzopardi will admit to being a lying child thief after agreeing to a plea deal with prosecutors.

The 31-year-old Victorian woman had been facing 55 charges, including child stealing, before agreeing to plead guilty to a handful of charges.

Police had alleged Azzopardi posed as a qualified au pair named Harper Hernandez to dupe unsuspecting families out of $6500 in wages over six months.

She was also accused of posing as a nurse named Sakah and of possessing identification documents belonging to 19 different people, including a child.

Alleged fake au pair Samantha Azzopardi will admit she defrauded families by lying about her identity

It's alleged she posed as a qualified au pair named Harper Hernandez, dishonestly obtaining $6500 in wages over six months

Samantha Azzopardi is set to plead guilty to child stealing charges later this month

Azzopardi, who remains in custody at Melbourne's Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, is expected to plead guilty to the charges when she returns to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court later this month.

On Tuesday, he lawyer indicated she would plead guilty to three charges of child stealing, handling stolen goods, theft and an obtaining property by deception charge that incorporated 25 charges.

The matter had been scheduled for a contested preliminary hearing after Azzopardi challenged the nature of the fraud she was alleged to have committed.

Six witnesses were due to give evidence at the hearing, including Jazze and Tom Jervis, who employed Azzopardi between December 2018 and June 2019.

Azzopardi was arrested in November 2019 at a Myer store in Bendigo - in country Victoria - where she allegedly took a 10-month-old girl and a four-year-old girl without their parents knowledge.

CCTV footage allegedly showing Azzopardi with the children was aired on Channel 9 at the time.

It showed Azzopardi wearing what appeared to be a school dress and sunhat, holding the baby while her four-year-old sister walked behind.

Samantha Azzopardi is set to plead guilty to a swag of charges related to a series of bizarre kidnappings in 2019

The 31-year-old Victorian woman was facing 55 charges including child stealing

Police had alleged Azzopardi posed as an au pair and moved into the family home in Pascoe Vale just weeks before the CCTV was captured.

She allegedly told the children's parents that she was taking them for a day trip, but ended up in Bendigo.

The alarm was raised when Azzopardi was allegedly spotted inside a mental health centre and detectives swooped.

The girls were returned unharmed in the bizarre kidnapping.

At a hearing in June, the court heard Azzopardi was accused of calling herself Harper Hernandez and stealing the drivers license of a woman who hired her to look after her young children.

CCTV footage showing accused fake au pair - Samantha Azzopardi - in Bendigo with two children she allegedly took off with

Samantha Azzopardi appeared in a Melbourne court on Tuesday where her lawyer indicated she will plead guilty to child stealing charges

She allegedly helped the woman apply for a new passport but kept the original, news.com reported at the time.

She was further accused of using the womans drivers license to book into a motel as part of a second con, which saw her allegedly portray a woman named 'Marley' to convince a 12-year-old girl to undertake a series of bizarre tasks.

Azzopardi allegedly told the girl she was a casting agent auditioning for a voice-over role for an upcoming Disney Pixar movie in Sydney.

The matter will return to court on April 27.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  The government is looking into at least three unauthorized suppliers which are behind the entry of some fake vaccines in the country.

During the Palace briefing on Tuesday, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said they found out that these firms have already been offering fake vaccines in some local government units. Galvez did not name these groups.

"Nagkaroon ng warning ang World Health Organization on the fake vaccines. Kahapon, nagbigay na ako ng directive sa national task force to coordinate with the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), the police intelligence, and also NICA (National Intelligence Coordinating Agency)," said Galvez, who is also the chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

[Translation: The WHO already issued a warning on fake vaccines. Yesterday I gave a directive to the national task force to coordinate with the NBI, the police intelligence, and also NICA.]

"May tatlong company kaming pinapaimbestigahan. Kasi we record-check kung saan sila galing and we found out na hindi sila authorized ng mother company ng vaccine...and with that medyo spurious ang kanilang pagpasok dito and even offering it to different LGUs," he added.

[Translation: There are three companies under probe. Since we record-check where they come from, we found out that they were not authorized by the mother company of the vaccine...and with that, their entry here was a little spurious, and they were even offering doses to different LGUs.]

Galvez said charges may be filed against these firms for misrepresentation.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte allowed the private sector to procure their own COVID-19 vaccines "so the economy can be opened."

READ: Duterte allows private sector to import COVID-19 vaccines at will

However, Duterte warned private firms against importing from "dubious sources."

The people would have themselves vaccinated and avail of it even at high prices because its all thats available. Im just warning you: Just dont make that mistake, especially now that Filipinos are really suffering and you add to their burden with this way of making money, Duterte said in his public address.

RELATED: How can you spot a fake COVID-19 vaccine?

Importation still subject to tripartite deal

Galvez and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stressed that the private sector must still follow the tripartite agreement.

"Let me clarify. The importation will be subject to a tripartite agreement, Roque said, noting that vaccines issued an emergency use authorization cannot be sold for commercial use.

Procurement by the private sector will also be tax-free, but they are reminded to follow the prioritization scheme set by the government.

Galvez also called on local government units to keep the national government updated with their vaccine deals to easily track irregularities with private entities.

"That's why we need a nationwide alert with LGUs, if they will conduct negotiations with different vaccine companies, it should be coordinated with us because we have the remittals, and we have agencies that can look at the profile of companies that could be putting [the LGUs] at risk with what we call smuggled and illegal vaccines."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has acknowledged that its packages do not cover patients' stay in hospital tents for which some patients were reportedly charged 1,000 per hour.

Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite told the House Committee on Health on Tuesday that a colleague of his stayed in a hospital tent while waiting to be admitted to the then busy intensive care unit. He said the bill was around 140,000 for an overnight stay.

"Nahihirapan na nga 'yung mga pasyente [Patients are already having a hard time] then we aggravate the situation by imposing such policies that would negate the benefit they would have gotten from Philhealth," said the lawmaker.

PhilHealth Acting Senior Vice President Neri Santiago said it is currently not in the protocol to include use of hospital tents in its packages, but adds that it should be.

"Siguro irevisit na lang namin kasi sa ngayon, hindi siya part noong protocol na kasama sa package," said Santiago. "Supposed to be 'yung temporary treatment sa temporary facility na part ng hospital should be part of the package."

[Translation: Maybe we should revisit (the policy) because for now it is not part of the protocol to include it in the package. The temporary treatment in the temporary facility that is part of the hospital should be part of the package.]

For his part, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III asked for the name of the hospital, calling the 1,000/hour rate "highway robbery." Gaite did not mention the hospital's name during the hearing but said he would tell the health chief.

"Meron tayong [We have a] benefit package ng [of] PhilHealth and we have already upgraded these benefit packages to be inclusive of different levels of accommodation," said Duque, who was also in the hearing. "We will have that revisited."

Senator Joel Villanueva said the reported 1,000 hourly rate in a hospital tent was "ridiculous" given that it should have been covered by the state-run agency.

Citing Section 6 of the Universal Health Care Act, Villanueva said the situation must be considered as part of "emergency health services" since patients were forced to be admitted to a hospital tent as the emergency rooms were already "overflowing."

"So, it makes no sense to exclude them from coverage from the mere fact that that the emergency room is already overcrowded," he said in a Twitter post on Thursday night.
At least 22 buses have been caught over the past two weeks leaving Beitbridge carrying goods smuggled across the Limpopo.

The National Security Taskforce recently deployed to Beitbridge Border Post has found that the smugglers are carrying goods across the Limpopo River well away from the bridges used by legitimate importers and then load these into buses heading out of Beitbridge along the two main highways to towns and cities across the country.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said that between Friday and Sunday, eight buses that were intercepted and searched were carrying smuggled goods.

"Our teams are busy on the ground enforcing the law, and we want to strongly warn bus operators that they must not be used as conduits to transport contraband," said Asst Comm Nyathi.

"We have discovered that after using illegal crossing points, the smugglers are boarding intercity buses in Beitbridge heading to various towns in the country. Such actions are prejudicing the State a lot of potential revenue."

Asst Comm Nyathi said police will descend heavily on both the smugglers and the bus operators who connive to break the law.

"You will note that the borders are currently closed to ordinary people, and hence some criminals are using undesignated entry points to bring in goods," said Asst Comm Nyathi.

The bulk of the smuggled goods include electrical appliances and groceries requiring payment of duty on import.

Asst Comm Nyathi said the police had deployed adequate forces and will continue adapting to all tactics used by criminals, so that they bring them to justice.

Near the border yesterday, 12 buses were still being processed by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).

While these importers were using the legal entry point, a border official said there were many cases of people under-declaring the goods to evade duty payment.

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"The whole idea is to make people pay duty where it is due," said the official.

"Nobody is being discouraged from importing goods as long as that is done within the confines of the law."

A cross-border transporter, Mr Tendai Mujaji, said he was turned back to the border at a security check point at Bubi, some 80km north of Beitbridge along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Highway.

"Initially when we passed through here, we paid import duty for the goods we are carrying and now the goods have been re-assessed," he said.

"We are yet to get feedback from the customs authority on whether we are paying duty top-up or being released."

A traveller, Ms Patience Gumbo, said they were turned back 12km after leaving Beitbridge heading to Masvingo.

"We had hired a vehicle to bring our goods from South Africa which we then loaded in a Karoi-bound bus, but we were told that we need to get goods checked again for conformity by Zimra," she said.

Zimra spokesperson Mr Francis Chimanda said he was yet to get an update on the Beitbridge situation where duty assessments for most goods were yet to be completed.

Zimra has also introduced a 100 percent search initiative on all cargo being carried in light commercial trucks with a carrying capacity of between 15 tonnes and 20 tonnes.

This followed an upsurge in a trend of false declarations by either the transporters or the importers.
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The Southwest Side shooting Thursday near a Home Depot in the 2400 block of West 46th Place began as a possible theft and ended with a security officer being gravely injured, a Chicago police officer having to undergo surgery for his gunshot wounds and the fatal shooting of the 18-year-old. An updated condition for the security officer was not available Tuesday.
Thomson Reuters First-Quarter 2021 Earnings Announcement and Webcast Scheduled for May 4, 2021

Conference call and webcast scheduled for 8:30 a.m. EDT

TORONTO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Reuters (NYSE, TSX: TRI) announced today that its first-quarter 2021 earnings will be issued via news release on Tuesday, May 4, 2021.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/13199/THOMSON_REUTERS_LOGO.jpg

Steve Hasker, president and chief executive officer, and Mike Eastwood, chief financial officer, will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast that morning at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Discussions may include forward-looking information.

You can access the webcast by visiting the "Investor Relations" section of the Thomson Reuters website. Registration for the webcast is now open. Additionally, an archive of the webcast will be available following the presentation.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the world's most global news service - Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com.
The EB-5 industry has entered a new era. The investment amount increase, on top of lengthy backlogs and wait times, as well as lack of visa capacity, had already slowed investor subscriptions before the pandemic hit.

Specialty financial administrator NES Financial | JTC announced today that it will host its next EB-5 webinar, Preparing for the New EB-5 Era Together, with Jill Jones, General Counsel at NES Financial | JTC; Gregory Sweeney, Managing Member at International Investors Mortgage; Daniel Lundy, Partner at Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP; and Suzanne Lazicki, Principal of Lucid Writing Professional.

The informational webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, March 31st at 2 p.m. Eastern Time and will be moderated by Reid Thomas, Chief Revenue Officer and Managing Director, at NES Financial | JTC. The event is free and open to the public to attend.

The EB-5 industry has entered a new era. The investment amount increase, on top of lengthy backlogs and wait times, as well as lack of visa capacity, had already slowed investor subscriptions before the pandemic hit. Now, with travel restricted and many pipelined projects disrupted, the typical business models of many EB-5 stakeholders are under stress.

In this webinar, NES Financial | JTC will host a panel of experts to discuss the EB-5 programs near-term realities, and real-world strategies for success.

To RSVP and attend this webinar, please click here for more details or visit nesfinancial.com.

NES Financial | JTCs suite of EB-5 Solutions is designed to provide security and transparency to issuers and investors over the entire EB-5 process no matter what external influences may arise. Whether utilizing select products or the entire bundle, these solutions take care of the middle- and back-office administration so issuers can focus on raising and deploying capital and their investors stay informed. As market leaders in the industry, more than 700 projects, representing over $20B in EB-5 capital have used NES Financial | JTCs EB-5 Solutions.

About NES Financial | JTC

NES Financial | JTC is the US division of JTC Group, a multi-jurisdictional provider of fund, corporate and private client services. Listed on the London Stock Exchange and included in the FTSE 250 Index, JTC Group administers more than $130 billion in assets and employs more than 900 people in 23 offices worldwide. NES Financial | JTC is a leader in specialty financial administration, serving markets characterized by high administrative complexity, elevated transaction security needs and challenging compliance requirements. The companys technology-driven solutions streamline best practices in these markets by simplifying specialized financial transactions, reducing back-office overhead, curtailing fraud and abuse, and offering security, transparency and regulatory compliance during each step of an investments life cycle.

For more information, visit nesfinancial.com.

About JTC PLC

JTC PLC is an award-winning provider of fund, corporate and private client services to institutional and private clients. Founded in 1987, JTC PLC has more than 900 people working across its global office network and is trusted to administer more than $110 billion of client assets. The principle of true shared ownership for all employees is fundamental to their culture and aligns them completely with the best interests of their clients and other stakeholders.

JTC PLC fund services administers a wide variety of listed and unlisted funds across a diverse range of asset classes, including real estate, private equity, renewables, hedge, debt and other alternatives. The firms corporate services provide company secretarial and administration services to a broad range of clients, including SMEs, public companies, multinationals and sovereign wealth funds. JTC PLCs private wealth services include the formation and administration of vehicles such as trusts, companies and partnerships on behalf of predominantly HNWIs and UHNWIs and their families and dedicated private and family offices.

About International Investors Mortgage LLC

International Investors Mortgage LLC provides tailored U.S. mortgage solutions to qualified foreign nationals, particularly EB-5 investors. A large percentage of international investors are underserved by traditional lenders due to their lack of sufficient credit history, assets, or employment income in the U.S. International Investors Mortgage provides flexible, good quality credit while unlocking value for the EB-5 investors.

About Klasko Immigration Law

Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP has offices in Philadelphia and New York and provides top-tier legal services to individuals, investors, developers, regional centers, multinational corporations, small companies, universities, research institutions, and hospitals. The firm has been selected as one of the top 6 business immigration law firms in the United States by the prestigious Chambers Global: The Worlds Leading Lawyers for Business (Chambers and Partners) for the past ten years. The firm serves as the North American Regional Representative of the Investment Migration Council, the worldwide association Investor Immigration and Citizenship-by-Investment. For more information, please see klaskolaw.com.

About Lucid Professional Writing

Lucid Professional Writing offers business writing and consulting services, with a specialty in immigrant investment. Principal, Suzanne Lazicki, works personally with clients to prepare high-quality business plans and reports. She brings a decade of experience with the EB-5 program, and a track record of over three hundred successful business plans. Suzanne has been recognized as a Top 5 Business Plan Writer in the EB5 Investors Magazine industry poll every year since 2016.
ANN ARBOR, MI  With DTE Energy permanently pulling hundreds of its employees out of downtown Ann Arbor, theres now a big space to fill on Main Street.

The Detroit-based utility company is seeking a buyer for its office building at 414 S. Main St.

Weve been considering the future of work and in that process we decided we should put Ashley Mews up for sale, DTE spokesman Pete Ternes said.

DTE is accepting offers at this point and has not set an asking price, Ternes said.

The company wants to get a good resale price and thinks its in a great market being located near the University of Michigan campus, Ternes said, suggesting it could be a good space for startups and other businesses that would want to move in particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

We think it has a lot of potential as a building, he said. Were also protecting the arrangements that we have with the other tenants there so their occupancy in the building is unfazed.

The Jagged Fork will get to stay as DTE Energy sells its building at 414 S. Main St.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

DTE pulled its nearly 400 workers out of the Ashley Mews office building at 414 S. Main St. last April, sending them to work from home amid the pandemic, and theyre not returning to the office, DTE confirmed last week. Its other office building across the street was demolished in September to make way for a new high-rise apartment building now under construction.

The first seven floors of the Ashley Mews building, nearly 117,000 square feet, are listed for sale through Signature Associates, which describes it as a Class A office building.

The first floor is 16,149 square feet, comprised of a building lobby and conference room, the Jagged Fork restaurant and two vacant retail spaces, the listing states.

The Jagged Fork will be allowed to stay as the building changes hands, Ternes said.

Another ground-floor space that was occupied by Teaspressa, which sold coffee, tea and pastries, is empty after the business closed its doors last September due to COVID-19 and shifted to selling products via Teaspressa.com.

The second through seventh floors of the building are office spaces offering panoramic views of downtown, with a gym on the fourth floor, according to the listing.

A total of 120 parking spaces in the garage below the building are included in the sale, plus 275 additional parking spaces available for lease in the nearby Fourth and William public parking deck, the listing states.

The top two floors of the nine-story building contain residential condominiums and are not included in the sale.

DTE has over 5,000 employees in Michigan whove been working from home during the pandemic, Ternes said. As for where the nearly 400 who were in downtown Ann Arbor will land after the pandemic, it could be a mix, he said.

Some may never come back to a traditional office and others may come back to our headquarters in Detroit. Were still working through that, he said.

Weve had so many people successfully work from home and prove that they can be highly productive that we may not bring all of our employees back to Detroit, either.

Even though DTE is pulling out of downtown Ann Arbor, its service center on Broadway Street, a 24-7 operation responding to the areas electricity needs, will remain, Ternes said.

We still have a lot of presence in Ann Arbor, he said, noting the DTE Foundation donates generously to local philanthropic efforts and many DTE employees still live in the Ann Arbor area and thats not going to change.

MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

Is downtown Ann Arbor poised for a post-pandemic comeback?

How they voted: Ann Arbor City Council vote breakdown for March 2021

Ann Arbors TheRide seeks public feedback on proposed service changes

Literati Bookstore to host Jenny Lawson and Neil Gaiman at virtual event

Another group asks University of Michigan, GOP chair to resign after witches, assassination comments
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Its officially British Summer Time  and it seems the weather has shifted up a gear to mark the occasion.

Temperatures were set to climb above average on Tuesday  and could top 24C (75.2F) on Wednesday in some areas, the Met Office said.

But with the warm weather coinciding with the relaxation of coronavirus lockdown measures in England, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged those heading out to proceed with caution.
The US Navy's training on 'extremism' says staff can advocate for Black Lives Matter (BLM) while at work but service members are not allowed to discuss 'politically partisan issues', training slides reveal.

The Navy described BLM as a 'public policy issue' in the slides and advocating for the organisation was allowed as long as the behavior is lawful.

But they stated that advocacy would be prohibited if it was 'politically partisan in nature'.

In the 'scenarios for discussion' slides, obtained by Fox News, Navy personnel were asked if they think BLM is 'political stuff' that those in command are 'not supposed to be talking about at work'.

In response, the Navy stated that BLM is a 'public policy issue' and advocating for the global organization was allowed 'as long as the behavior is otherwise lawful and the advocacy is not politically partisan in nature'.

The US Navy's training on 'extremism' says staff can advocate for Black Lives Matter (BLM) while at work but service members are not allowed to discuss 'politically partisan issues', training slides reveal. Pictured: US sailors aboard the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill while it anchors in Port Sudan on March 1 [File photo]

It comes after the defense secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a military-wide stand-down last month following a meeting with the US military branch leaders, who are under pressure to show progress in combating extremism after current and former military service members were found to have participated in the siege of the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

The slides, which were obtained from a US military official who took part in the training exercise at the Pentagon, stated: 'Advocating for or against a public policy issue (as here) is authorized as long as the behavior is otherwise lawful and the advocacy is not politically partisan in nature (e.g. it doesn't specifically address a political party.

'If the discussions make you uncomfortable, discuss the matter with your boss or another supervisor.'

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby speaks during the briefing on Monday

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby was asked on Monday whether talking about BLM at work is 'considered partisan' - to which he said he 'was not able to answer that question'.

He added that to answer why that is the case could 'go down a rabbit hole on a million different things'.

'What we're trying to get after here is the kind of ideology that inspires conduct and behavior - and it's not about one side or the other on the aisle,' Kirby continued.

'It's not about what God you worship or choose not to worship. It's about ideology that inspires you or can inspire others to bring harm inside the force.

'And that's what we're trying to get after.'

Kirby said the Pentagon was taking 'seriously' the importance of combating extremism while admitting the issue is 'a hard problem to get our arms around'.

'But we can't just put our head in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist. We can't just say: "Well, it's not a problem." It is a problem,' he added.

'The other problem is, we don't know how big it is. And so that's what we're trying to learn. And I think you're gonna see this unfold over time.'

'I'm not going to be able to come to the podium this week, next week or the week after with a plan and say: "This is it. This is how this is how it's defined,"' Kirby said.

'And this is exactly how deep the problem is. This is going to be something and Secretary Austin has made very clear he's going to work on every day that he's the Secretary of Defense.

'It's not something that you can take your foot off the pedal on.'

It comes after the US military last month acknowledged it was unsure about how to address white nationalism and other extremism in its ranks, and announced plans for military-wide stand-downs pausing regular activity at some point in the next 60 days to tackle the issue.

President Biden's defense secretary Lloyd Austin orders troops to stand down for 60 days to address 'white nationalism and extremism in the ranks'

The decision to a hold a stand-down was made by Lloyd Austin, who made history by becoming the military's first Black defense secretary after a long career rising in the ranks of the Army.

In his confirmation hearing, Austin underscored the need to rid the military of 'racists and extremists'.

A stand-down order means taking the military off an offensive footing but does not mean all military operations would stop at once.

The Pentagon did not define whether stand-downs pausing regular activity across the US military might last minutes or hours, or what commanders would do during that time to express opposition to extremism.
New Delhi, March 30 : Torrent Gas has signed a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with the promoters of Sanwariya Gas for the takeover of the company to provide Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) in Mathura.

The transaction is subject to the approval from PNGRB and fulfilment of other condition precedents. With this acquisition, Torrent Gas has authorisation to set up CGD network across 17 geographical areas spread over 33 districts in seven States and one Union Territory in the Country.

Torrent Gas plans to invest over Rs 8,000 crores in the development of CGD network in these districts over the next 5 years, of which Rs 1,500 crores has already been invested.

In a statement released on the occasion of signing of the SPA, Jinal Mehta, Director, Torrent Gas said, "We are pleased to announce the acquisition of Sanwariya Gas, which increases our presence in 33 districts across India.

"The Sanwariya Gas acquisition is our 4th acquisition in the CGD sector in 3 years and is a demonstration of Torrent's commitment to contributing towards the achievement of the PM's vision of creating a gas-based economy and increasing the share of natural gas in the Indian energy basket.

"Mathura, the land of Lord Krishna, has significant potential for growth in both the CNG and PNG segments and we are committed to significantly expand the already existing CGD infrastructure in Mathura and making CNG and PNG widely available, thereby making it a natural choice for families, small businesses and industries".

H.P. Singh, Director Sanwariya Gas said, "Selling our stake in Sanwariya to Torrent has been a very conscious and considered decision. Torrent Gas brings in a lot of value and we believe the city and the residents of Mathura will immensely benefit from the experience and expertise of Torrent Gas in project execution and its customer centricity. We wish Torrent all the success in taking forward the task that we undertook more than 10 years back." Apart from being a clean source of fuel, CNG offers greater mileage and lower maintenance costs for vehicle owners. Its superior fuel efficiency and significantly lower cost have resulted into its rapid adoption across the country as a safe and eco-friendly alternative to petrol and diesel.

Similarly, PNG also offers significant savings on costs and is far more convenient as compared to other traditional fuels. Supply of PNG through a reliable network of pipelines will offer enhanced safety, convenience and economy to residential, commercial and industrial customers in Mathura.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 22:44:11|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday that COVID-19 introduction through an intermediary host was considered to be "likely to very likely."

The WHO made the remarks in a report released on Tuesday following a joint research with China on the global tracing of COVID-19 origins. Enditem
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By Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday replied to a letter written by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, and said Islamabad desires peaceful relations with New Delhi, an official source told Reuters.

Modi had written to Khan on the occasion of Pakistan's Republic Day on March 23, also calling for peaceful relations between the two nuclear-armed rivals.

Dated March 29, the letter wasn't officially released by either side but the official, speaking on anonymity, confirmed its contents which were shared widely on social media.

"The people of Pakistan also desire peaceful, cooperative relations with all neighbours, including India," Khan said in his reply, adding, "I thank you for your letter conveying greetings on Pakistan Day."

Neither the Indian or Pakistani foreign ministries responded to requests for comment.

Pakistan's Dawn newspaper quoted Modi's letter on March 23, Modi as saying that "India desires cordial relations with the people of Pakistan" and "for this, an environment of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, is imperative."

India and Pakistan have fought three wars and have shared a fractious relationship since the two gained independence in 1947, and in 2019 tensions rose dramatically as they sent combat planes into each other's territory.

Pakistani army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has called on both the nations to bury the past after the militaries of both countries released a rare joint statement last month announcing a ceasefire along a disputed border in Kashmir.

(Writing by Asif Shahzad; Additional reporting by Devjyot Ghoshal in New Delhi; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Hosting the Vietnamese diplomat, Governor of Trujillo Henry Rangel Silva affirmed Duyens visit is a boost to Vietnam  Venezuela collaboration prospect in trade and investment.

With its rich soil, Trujillo shares similarities with Vietnam in the development of agriculture, animal husbandry, and tourism, the governor said, stating that the state wants to learn from Vietnams experience to further tap into its own potentials and develop local rice projects.

For his part, Duyen highlighted his wish to discuss multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Trujillo.

He hoped that with assistance from the Venezuela-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (CAVENVIET), the sides will step up join projects in economy, trade, investment, and agriculture.

As part of the trip, the embassy organised a workshop on Venezuelas economic, trade, investment policies as well as opportunities for Vietnam in investment and expansion of labour and export market. The event gathered representatives from the Trujillo administration, the CAVENVIET and about 30 local companies.

Addressing the workshop, Duyen introduced Vietnams strengths in the export of rice, coffee, peppercorns, mobile phone-electronic components, apparel and aquatic products.

The ambassador affirmed Vietnam is willing to share its reform experience to help Venezuela implement economic reform, including the development of agriculture.

Vietnam has strengths in farming production experience, human resources, techniques and varieties, while Venezuela boasts advantages regarding soil, climate, and market, therefore Vietnam pays significant attention to agricultural cooperation with Venezuela, Duyen stated.

Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.

China hands over donated COVID-19 vaccines to Palestine

Xinhua) 09:49, March 30, 2021

A Palestinian man prepares to unload the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on March 29, 2021. China on Monday handed over a batch of donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to Palestine to support its nationwide fight against the pandemic. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, March 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday handed over a batch of donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to Palestine to support its nationwide fight against the pandemic.

This is "(China's) latest move to implement both the important consensus reached between the two heads of state and the solemn commitment by Chinese President Xi Jinping to provide COVID-19 vaccines as a global public good," said Guo Wei, head of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, during the handover ceremony.

China has been helping Palestine in its anti-coronavirus fight since the outbreak of the disease in the country in March last year. China has donated several batches of medical supplies to Palestine in 2020, and a Chinese team of medical experts was sent to Palestine last June to support its fight against the pandemic.

On March 21, Palestine launched a mass COVID-19 inoculation campaign in a bid to curb the fast spread of the virus across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The rapid arrival of the Chinese vaccines to help along the Palestinian inoculation campaign demonstrates the sincere friendship of the Chinese people toward the Palestinians, writing a new chapter of their joint fight against the pandemic, Guo said.

"This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Palestine. In this special year, China is ready to work with Palestine to meet challenges, build a community with a shared future for mankind and inject new content into the friendly Sino-Palestinian relationship," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila thanked the Chinese government and people for contributing to Palestine's vaccination campaign, noting the batch from China is the largest single donation of COVID-19 vaccines Palestine has received so far.

"Palestine highly appreciates China's commitment to provide coronavirus vaccines as a global public good and its selfless assistance to Palestine and other developing countries with a responsible attitude and concrete measures," she said.

Palestine already approved China's Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use, according to the Health Ministry.

On Monday, Palestine recorded 1,786 new COVID-19 cases, 18 deaths and 1,181 recoveries in the past 24 hours. A total of 266,720 infections have been registered in Palestine so far. Enditem

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Centre plans big boost to `Study in India' programme

The centre has stressed upon the need for developing world class infrastructure, providing on-campus support and building socialisation opportunities to expand the base of the `Study in India programme and allow more institutions to participate in the programme.

In a review meeting of the ministrys Study in India programme with partner institutions on Wednesday, the ministry of education has called upon participating institutions to enhance tie-ups with universities abroad under Twinning, Joint and Dual Degrees with Credit Transfer Mechanism.

Secretary for higher education Amit Khare said that the criteria for institutions partnering under the programme will soon be revised so that more institutions that have the necessary infrastructure and academic quality can join the programme. He also said that no distinction will be made between private and public institutions in matters of supporting internationalisation.

While deliberating on measures to increase the number of international students coming to India for higher studies, officials also pointed to the need for providing on-campus support and building socialisation opportunities

`Study in India is a programme of the Government of India that aims to attract international students to higher education institutions in India. Select 117 institutions are partners under the programme that was launched in 2018. Admissions are merit based and done through a common portal. Around 7,500 students from over 50 countries have come to Indian institutions so far under this programme.

The government has also recognised the importance of creating a conducive, on-campus ecosystem for the international students, where they not only get quality academic inputs but can also feel safe, welcome, happy and hassle free. In this regard the secretary called upon all partner institutions to set up world class hostels for international students. There is a provision for financial assistance for this under the Champion Services Sector Scheme that supports SII, which can be provided to some institutions.

In addition, there is an urgent requirement of setting up International Students Offices in every institution that takes in international students. This office should work as a single window support for anything that the international students may need, right from the day they get selected to join the institution.

Besides this, avenues like networks of families, mentors etc should be developed, who can help the students to socialise so that they feel welcome in the country and have an enjoyable stay here, with memories that they can cherish, and positive experience to share with others, the ministry stated in a release.

In addition to this, the ministry has also asked institutions to consider organising orientation for international students when they join, as well as orientation for the faculty to sensitise them to teach using contexts that these students can relate to.

The ministry is also looking towards enhanced academic collaborations between Indian and international institutions under Twinning, Joint and Dual degrees with credit transfer mechanism.

UGC has already brought out draft regulations in this regard that have currently been put up for stakeholder consultation. These regulations will give a boost to student exchange programmes and short programmes of one or two semesters.

The ministry has plans to take up the issue of allowing internship for international students with the concerned department of the government. Many of the partner institutions pointed out that the absence of internship for international students was a big drawback for any programme of higher studies in India. The ministry said it would iron out other issues of concern for international students, including visa issues.

All institutions have also been asked to activate their Alumni network and use this connect to draw more students to Indian institutions.
30 March 2021

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Information and updates from the Grass10 team



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The key messages in this weeks newsletter are:

PastureBase data for the week & Elodie Ruelles MoSt Grass Growth Prediction Model.

Grass growth improved last week, however cold weather promised at the weekend so it is very important to walk your farm weekly.

Grass growth improved last week, however cold weather promised at the weekend so it is very important to walk your farm weekly. Michael Lally, Co. Meath discusses his plan for grazing as he starts the 2 nd rotation on his farm.

He highlights the importance of the weekly grass measurement and matching growth vs demand on his farm.

rotation on his farm. He highlights the importance of the weekly grass measurement and matching growth vs demand on his farm. Farm manager Aidan Lawless from Teagasc Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford gives us a Spring grazing update from the Winter Milk herd.

Spring Grazing Update from Grassland Farmer of the Year Sheep category winner Peter McGuinness from Co. Meath.

Teagasc researcher Tomas Tubritt from Teagasc Moorepark, explains the Pasture Profit Index for 2021 and also the new Grazing Utilisation sub index. Watch the video here

Quick grazing tips for busy sheep farmers!

The Grass10 team and PastureBase Ireland will host their April webinar on Wednesday 7th April at 7pm titled  Hitting Grazing Targets in 2021 with PastureBase Ireland - Register on: www.teagasc.ie/grass10
P2 Science, Inc. (P2), a green chemistry company, today announced the launch of the third product in the bioderived and patented CitroVisc line of high-performance cosmetics fluids. CitroVisc10K imparts emollience and reduces tackiness on both skin and hair. Like the other CitroVisc products, 10K is built on P2s proprietary green chemistry platform. As such, it is derived from upgraded forestry by-products from Forest Stewardship Council certified pine trees. The CitroVisc line now includes fluids with viscosities of 1,000 cPs, 5,000 cPs and 10,000 cPs.

Commercial production of CitroVisc 10K is underway at P2s state-of-the-art green chemistry manufacturing facility in Naugatuck, CT. Samples and product literature are available at the companys website, and CitroVisc 10K can be purchased directly on the companys e-store  also on the website.

CitroVisc 10K is another silicone alternative breakthrough, brought to market in record time, said Neil Burns, CEO of P2. Customers will love this product for many reasons including its superior hydration effects and of course its 100% bioderived composition.

Our customers are demanding high-performing and sustainable ingredients to make innovative beauty products. We are so happy to bring them CitroVisc 10K to meet even more of their needs, said Ryan Cheng, VP Business Development at P2.

The Citrovisc 10K launch represents the 11th green-chemistry based product to be commercialized by P2 since April 2020. The CitroVisc product line, along with Citropol and Citrolatum products, will also fall under P2s Plant a Forest initiative, where P2 plants a tree for every kilogram of product sold. Each tree removes about 1 ton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during its life.

About P2 Science:

P2 Science is a green chemistry company, co-founded by Professor Paul Anastas, head of the Yale Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering. P2 has developed and patented technologies for converting renewable feedstocks into high-value specialty products. Investors in P2 include BASF Venture Capital, Xeraya Capital, Elm Street Ventures, Connecticut Innovations, Ironwood Capital, HG Ventures and Chanel. The company started up its first manufacturing plant in September 2018 which produces novel renewable aroma chemicals and cosmetic ingredients. For more information, visit http://www.p2science.com


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EIGHT conventional buses have been impounded along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo and Beitbridge-Harare highways since last week for allegedly aiding the smuggling of goods from South Africa, NewsDay has learnt.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed yesterday that the buses were seized in a joint blitz involving police, army and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. He said the buses were intercepted after leaving Beitbridge Border Post where various smuggled goods including groceries, clothes, electrical gadgets, among others, were recovered.

The ZRP confirms that since last week, eight buses which were travelling from Beitbridge to Bulawayo and Harare have been impounded for smuggling groceries, clothes, electricals and other items into the country.

The police are, therefore, warning bus operators to avoid being used as conduits by smugglers who board buses in Beitbridge en-route to various towns or cities across the country, Nyathi said. One of the bus operators said they will appeal against the seizure.

Its not my business to ask a passenger where they have bought their stuff. All I do is load and charge, he said.

Government recently launched an operation where police and soldiers from other areas other than Beitbridge handle all border operations and curb smuggling activities.

The impounded buses were reportedly abusing their passenger permits and carrying commercial goods.

The border post is not yet open for buses, but some operators pretended that they were carrying returning residents, yet they were smuggling goods, a source revealed.

Zimbabwe has not yet opened its borders with South Africa and smugglers have been sneaking into the neighbouring country to buy goods, which are then smuggled by the buses.

At times the smugglers work with organised syndicates who cross the Limpopo River using boats. Zimbabwe is reportedly losing nearly US$1 billion a year in unpaid customs duty through smuggling activities. Newsday
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University of Detroit Mercy's MBA program ranked No. 25 in nation by U.S. News & World Report Tweet this

Antoine M. Garibaldi, president of Detroit Mercy, said that this recognition is a tribute to the program's impact on preparing professionals to lead their organizations.

"University of Detroit Mercy's MBA Management program has again demonstrated its quality, strength and depth as one of the best programs in the country," he said. "Our faculty, staff and students are to be commended for this prestigious honor for the seventh consecutive year. It is because of their hard work and determination that the program's alumni become important industry leaders for organizations around the world."

"Over the past two years, we have adjusted our tuition to make our MBA program as affordable as those at other peer institutions without diminishing the quality. In fact, our program has been enhanced by the opening of our new Center for Practice & Research in Management & Ethics. And because we now offer both in-person and online options, students anywhere can enroll and we continue to deliver personal attention to them," said Joseph Eisenhauer, dean of Detroit Mercy's College of Business Administration.

In recent years, the College of Business Administration has achieved a number of recognitions that set it apart from other institutions. In 2018, Detroit Mercy Accounting graduates achieved the nation's best first-time pass rates on the Certified Public Accounting exam, according to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). Additionally, the College's business programs have been fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for more than 70 years. AACSB accreditation places the College of Business Administration among the top 5% of business schools in the world.

Each year, U.S. News ranks professional programs in business, education, engineering, law, medicine and nursing, including specialties in each area. Data for the rankings in all six disciplines came from statistical surveys of more than 2,125 programs and from reputation surveys sent to more than 23,000 academics and professionals, conducted in fall 2020 and early 2021.

For more about the College of Business Administration's MBA program in management, please visit http://business.udmercy.edu.

SOURCE University of Detroit Mercy

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http://www.udmercy.edu


She received her fourth Oscar nomination this year for Netflix movie Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

And ahead of next month's Academy Awards, Viola Davis stars in a pictorial essay for W magazine directed by her good friend and fellow Oscar winner Regina King.

Davis is featured on the magazine's cover with her daughter Genesis, 10, and inside the two are joined by the actress' husband Julius Tennon for a series of photos titled Black Americana.

Tells a story: Viola Davis stars with her family in a pictorial essay for the April issue of W magazine directed by her good friend, actress and filmmaker Regina King

Posting an image of the cover to her Instagram on Monday, Davis, 55, shared: 'The best shoot of my life. Julius, Genesis and I are so grateful to receive the overflow of your artistry @iamreginaking. Love you.'

The photos were shot in the historic West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles by photographer Andre D. Wagner, under King's direction.

The series starts with the family on the porch of their modest home fixing greens for dinner before Davis and Tennon enjoy a Saturday night out together.

The following morning, the three are snapped going to church before returning home to a phone call delivering tragic news.

Family: The photos titled 'Black Americana' feature Oscar winner Davis, 55, her husband Julius Tennon, 67, and their daughter Genesis, 10

Chores: The series of photos, taken in the historic West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, starts with the family on the porch of their modest home fixing greens for dinner

Date: Davis and Tennon then head out for a Saturday night on the town

Sunday best: The next morning, the family walks to through the neighborhood to church

According to King, the photo essay is meant to convey an authentic portrayal life as a Black American.

'I don't think any of us are particularly happy with the state of America, but we still embrace the fact that we are Black Americans, even with all of the things that have happened in history,' the One Night In Miami filmmaker, 50, explained in the W article.

Davis put it this way: 'There's a life beyond the tragedy, there's life even within the tragedy, and there was a life before the tragedy.

'That you can be experiencing moments of joy when tragedy comes in and invades your life, and then it melts into something elsewe understand that about life in general, but not always with Black folks in it. This is the first time I've ever done a photo shoot like this.'

Heartbreak: Once back home again, Davis receives a devastating phone call with tragic news

Davis summed up the photo shoot this way: 'There's a life beyond the tragedy, there's life even within the tragedy, and there was a life before the tragedy'

'That you can be experiencing moments of joy when tragedy comes in and invades your life, and then it melts into something elsewe understand that about life in general, but not always with Black folks in it,' the actress explained

Davis and actor and producer Tennon, 67, married in 2003; she's his third wife.

They adopted Genesis in 2011 and in an Instagram post celebrating her 10th birthday last July, Davis described her daughter as 'our heartbeat, our love, our baby.'

W Magazine Volume 2 The Directors Issue hits newsstands on April 6th.

Tribute: Posting an image of the cover to her Instagram on Monday, Davis shared: 'The best shoot of my life. Julius, Genesis and I are so grateful to receive the overflow of your artistry @iamreginaking'
New Delhi:

In what comes a shocking incident, a 25-year-old housewife was allegedly murdered and burnt by her techie husband at home on Sunday. Dismissing the claims of accused M Rushi Kumar that it was a case of suicide, LB Nagar ACP P Venugopala Rao told media that the crime scene did not appear as that of a suicide, but the woman could have been killed.

Rushi Kumar married Harika two years ago. Rushi was working with a corporate firm in city, while Harika secured a seat in Bachelor of Dental Surgery at Kamineni Medical College.Rushi who was reportedly not happy with his wife not securing a MBBS seat, had fights with her.

On Sunday night, Rushi called her mother and informed her that she immolated herself by pouring kerosene. Harikas family rushed and found her dead. Harikas parents alleged that he killed her and then burnt her. They alleged that he had been harassing her for few months. Since marriage, my daughter is living in a hostel as he was forcing her to study and crack MBBS. When we requested him to be together, he said he would live with her only if she secures a MBBS seat, said Harikas mother.

Rushi has extra marital affairs. He never cared for her. He only told that she washed clothes and was about to dry them, but suddenly she committed suicide. It is a planned murder, alleged Harikas elder sister.





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Beacon Hospital CEO Michael Cullen told the Junior Principal at St Gerards school in Bray that the vaccination of teachers at short notice had HSE permission, according to a new letter from the Chairman of board at St Gerards, John Behan.

In the letter sent to teachers and parents, Mr Behan said the Principal of the Junior School was assured on the call to Mr Cullen that the use of vaccines in this manner, which would otherwise go to waste, was appropriate and had HSE permission.

Mr Behan said that no person acting on behalf of the school sought early access to vaccines, and that unsolicited contact from Beacon CEO Michael Cullen resulted in the teachers being vaccinated.

Mr Behan said that St Gerards were initially offered five vaccines at short notice but this number then grew to 15 and then 20 after further doses had been identified as surplus.

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The Principal of the Junior School, who received this contact, was assured on this call - and subsequently - that the use of vaccines in this manner, which would otherwise go to waste, was appropriate and had HSE permission. The need for urgency was emphasised, Mr Behan said in his letter this afternoon.

Over the following 45 minutes, a further text and phone call were received from the Hospital to explain that first an additional five and, then (at 5pm) a further 10 doses had been identified bringing the number of doses which would go to waste, if not used within the next hour, to 20, Mr Behan said.

Mr Behan said that while the administration of vaccines is a matter of great sensitivity, the board are satisfied that the individuals in the school who dealt with this matter and those who received the vaccines did so in good faith, having had a number of assurances that using the vaccines in this manner in order to avoid waste had HSE permission.

The fact that the board of the Beacon hospital has now confirmed that the decision to offer the vaccines was not in line with the sequencing guidelines in place from the HSE is deeply concerning, Mr Behan said.

The board of the Beacon Hospital have said an independent review will be conducted following the administration of 20 vaccines to the teachers.

HSE Chief Paul Reid said on Sunday that he immediately flagged the vaccinations as a clear breach of the vaccination programmes sequencing document, once the Beacon informed the HSE of the matter on Thursday evening.

The HSE and the Beacon Hospital did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The board apologised for the schools involvement in the incident and said it would work to rebuild trust and will ensure that no incident like this can happen again.
A flotilla of small boats launched a Dunkirk-like rescue of thousands of survivors of a terror attack in Mozambique, it has emerged.

The boats transported people from Palma, which was stormed by hundreds of gunmen last week, to the town of Pemba, 150 miles further down the Mozambican coast.

Brendon Bekker, the Zimbabwean director of KEA projects, a construction firm working locally, was among those who were evacuated on the boats. He told how one of his colleagues was fatally shot from the shore after boarding one of the vessels.

'When the insurgents first attacked Palma, they came in from about three different directions,' he told the Daily Telegraph, adding that 'there was people all over the different beaches.'

Meanwhile efforts were ongoing to locate the thousands of people still remaining in the town, with reports that militants were still in control despite claims from Mozambican security forces that it had been retaken.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on Monday and announced they had seized the coastal town after days of fighting, the terrorist group said in a statement on its Telegram channels.

An ex-police officer shot dead two militants after breaking into a government vehicle and grabbing an AK-47 as he escaped an ISIS massacre in Mozambique.

Nick Alexander, a dual British-South African citizen, was rescued on Sunday having spent two nights crawling through the bush after his convoy fleeing a hotel in Palma was ambushed.

Seven people, including a British contractor, were killed as they fled the Amarula Lodge hotel compound on Friday after two days of gunfire near the site of a 14billion major gas project.

Amarula Lodge was considered an oasis of safety by the expatriate workers who were staying in the region, with a well-guarded compound that was deemed secure from attack, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Briton Philip Mawer (left) has not been heard from since attempting to flee Palma, while Nick Alexander (right) grabbed an AK-47 while fleeing militants

An ex-police officer shot dead two Islamist militants after breaking into a government vehicle and grabbing an AK-47 amid the bloodshed in Mozambique

Al-Shabab, an ISIS-affiliated jihadi group, has made gains in Cabo Delgado, the northeast of Mozambique, and seized the strategic port of Mocimboa da Praia in August before the latest attack in Palma

Philip Mawer, a caterer from Somerset who works at the hotel, has not been seen since the attack and is among an unknown number of expats who remain missing.

Thousands of survivors were evacuated by boat or plane on Sunday, with witnesses forced to wait on beaches strewn with headless bodies after the decapitations by the militants.

Battles are continuing between the insurgents and government forces after the terrorists arrived in Palma on Wednesday, Omar Saranga, a spokesman for Mozambique's defence ministry, said in a statement.

Palma is six miles away from Africa's biggest gas project which is run by French energy giant Total.

The Sea Star 1 has evacuated around 1,400 people, mostly workers from the French energy giant Total, after armed insurgents attacked the city of Palma

The rise of ISIS in Mozambique Mozambique is a majority Christian country, with Muslims comprising around a fifth of its population. A religious movement, Ansar al-Sunna, first appeared in 2015 in the north of the country, formed by followers of radical Kenyan cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed who has been linked to the 1998 US embassy bombings. The group attracted disaffected young men who resented a lack of opportunities in an area of rich natural resources. It started building mosques and religious schools, becoming more and more popular with locals. But in 2017, the group starting launching attacks and became known locally as al-Shabab, although they do not have any known connection to Somalia's jihadist rebels of that name. Militants started posting photos on the encrypted messaging service Telegram posing in front of the ISIS flag and praising its then leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Islamic State then confirmed that jihadis in Mozambique had joined its Central Africa Province division (ISCAP), along with militants in the Democratic Republic of Congo. ISIS have since claimed responsibility for many of the attacks carried out in Mozambique, including brutal beheadings and massacres, often posting photos of the victims online. In an official ISIS news bulletin in June last year, leaders taunted the West and African nations for failing to stop the insurgency in Mozambique, and said its interest there is financial with the country's huge coal and gas reserves. The militants still refer to themselves as al-Shabab but they are now strongly considered to be an arm of ISIS, which was confirmed by US officials in December. Coordinator for counter-terrorism Nathan Sales said: 'What we're seeing today is a committed ISIS affiliate that embraces the ISIS ideology, that embraces the ISIS tactics and procedures, and embraces the ISIS vision of a caliphate with territorial control.' As part of ISCAP, al-Shabab is part of ISIS's formal structure and the jihadi group in the Congo allegedly helps fund its Mozambican counterparts. Attacks have become increasingly sophisticated, using new and advanced weapons which indicate the group's involvement in the militant network. The rebels are mainly active in Cabo Delgado province and their attacks became much more frequent and deadly in the past year as they look to hold strategic towns. In August, they captured the port town of Mocimboa da Praia and nearby villages, one of the first territory gains by ISIS in months. The terrorist group then declared Mocimboa da Praia the capital of ISCAP. The insurgents are fighting against Western and Christian values as they seek to install a radical form of Islam and Sharia law in the country, targeting civilians as security forces struggle to quell their uprising. Their attacks have left an estimated 2,600 dead and caused 670,000 to flee their homes, creating a humanitarian crisis. US special forces arrived in Mozambique this month to train marines in counterinsurgency. Advertisement

Mr Alexander is one of hundreds of expats working as a contractor on the natural gas site where he builds camps for the staff.

After spending two days hiding out escaping the jihadis, he found safety on Sunday and made contact with his daughter Jayde, 29, in Johannesburg.

She told The Times: 'He saw the commotion with the ambush ahead and got out.

'There was a government vehicle with an AK47 in it, so he broke in, got it.

'He and two others from the car then ran to hide into the bushes with the gun. They were literally crawling through the bush until they were rescued.'

One survivor said that he shot a couple of people but his daughter said later that the gun had not worked.

Philip Mawer, believed to be in his 50s, is understood to have been with around 200 other expatriates at Palma's Amarula Lodge hotel, from where a convoy of vehicles fled on Friday and ran into militant ambushes, the newspaper reported.

Mawer works for RA International, a Dubai-based firm that provided living quarters and other logistics for expatriate workers.

A statement from the firm said: 'Our last communication with him was on Friday afternoon after which he was part of a convoy of vehicles that left the Amarula Lodge later that day.'

Evacuees included foreign gas workers, the BBC reported.

A South African woman, Meryl Knox, said that her son Adrian Nel died in the attack.

Her husband and another son hid with his body in the bush until the following morning, when they were able to make it to safety in Pemba, she told Reuters.

'He died on a very violent and unnecessary day,' Meryl told AFP.

Nel, his younger brother and father had only been in the coastal town since January, leaving Meryl to run a hotel business in the southeastern Kwa-Zulu Natal province of South Africa.

He had been contracted to build workers' accommodation camps in the town, a gas hub in the province of Cabo Delgado.

On Wednesday, an unknown number of gun-wielding terrorists set upon the town, shooting indiscriminately and forcing nearly 200 workers, including expatriates, to seek refuge at the Amarula Hotel.

The family was holed up in the hotel for two days as the sound of heavy artillery echoed outside the walls.

With communications cut, Nel's father got hold of a satellite phone and told Meryl of plans to evacuate them from the besieged hotel where food was beginning to run low.

A convoy of cars was ready to take them to safety.

'As they were leaving, they were ambushed. They shot my son,' Meryl said.

'There's no way to possibly describe what you feel when you get news like that.

'It's just devastating, body numbing, mind numbing.'

Six other people were killed during the ambush.

Only seven of the 17-car convoy that had planned to make a dash from the hotel made it to safety.

Some had to turn back, witnesses said.

Meryl has no details of the exact nature of the attack that claimed her son's life

Her youngest son will return to South Africa on the available first flight while her husband will wait to complete formalities to bring the remains of their son home.

Nel's body is at a morgue in Pemba, the provincial capital where many survivors have been evacuated to.

Speaking to Sky News, Knox said of her son's death: 'When they were driving out unfortunately the insurgents ambushed them and my son was shot,' she told the news outlet.

'I learnt on Friday night that people had been killed as they tried to leave the hotel. We didn't hear who had been killed.

'It was only on Saturday morning that I got news that unfortunately it was Adrian.'

Thousands of survivors evacuated by boat or plane on Sunday, with witnesses forced to wait on beaches strewn with headless bodies

Battles are continuing between the insurgents linked to Islamic State and government forces

Hundreds of people fleeing the attack are arriving by boat in the port city of Pemba, a diplomat and an aid worker said.

Militants struck Palma, a logistics hub for international gas projects, on Wednesday. The government has yet to re-establish control, the diplomat and a security source directly involved in the operations to secure Palma said.

Reuters could not independently verify the accounts, as most communications with Palma were cut on Wednesday.

Calls to officials at the foreign ministry and provincial government went unanswered or did not go through on Sunday.

The government has said it is working to restore order in Palma.

Adrian Nel, 40, pictured above, from South Africa was shot dead in a vehicle he was trying to escape in with his father and younger brother

Locals gathered at the port on Sunday for news of family members after the savage attacks

The boats arriving in Pemba on Sunday carried both locals and foreigners, including employees from the gas projects, the aid official and diplomat said. One boat was carrying around 1,300 people, said the diplomat.

French energy group Total said on Saturday it was calling off a planned resumption of construction at its development following the attack and would reduce its workforce to a 'strict minimum'.

The company pulled out the majority of its workforce in January due to insecurity in Cabo Delgado province, which has been the target of an insurgency linked to Islamic State since 2017.

Government-contracted helicopters were searching for more survivors. Lionel Dyck, who runs a private security firm working with the government, said his helicopters had rescued at least 17 people on Sunday.

The number of people injured and killed in the five-day assault on Palma, or still unaccounted for, remained unclear. The town had previously been a refuge for people fleeing violence elsewhere in the province.
The human rights of those fleeing military coup-hit Myanmar into Thailand will be respected, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha said Monday as local authorities confirmed that several hundred ethnic Karen refugees have entered the country following attacks by the junta.

Prayuth said he was aware of the ongoing violence in Myanmar after the coup but that he did not want a wave of refugees showing up in Thailand. On Monday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesman and a local government official denied reports that refugees who had crossed the border were being pushed back to their home country.

We know about the problems in our neighboring country; we are considering these issues, Prayuth, a former army chief and ex-junta leader, told reporters. However, in the meantime, let it be an internal matter because we dont want to have an exodus into our territory. But we will observe human rights.

We have a common border and feel the impacts when fighting flares and causes migration. We have to cope with this, the prime minister said. How many refugees are expected? We have prepared an area, but for how many  we are not talking about that.

The fallout from eight weeks of increasingly violent army attacks on civilians since the Feb. 1 military takeover of Myanmar spilled across the border into Thailand over the weekend.

Some of the attacks targeted villagers in Myanmars Karen state, which borders Thailands Mae Hong Son province. Aid groups were quoted as saying by Reuters news agency that 3,000 villagers in southeastern Karen state had fled into Thailand after deadly air attacks by the army.

Sangkhom Kudchiangsaen, chief of Mae Sariang district in Mae Hong Son province, said the Thai military had set up five screening spots, but could not confirm the number of refugees who had crossed the border since the coup began.

Other government agencies are not authorized to share information. The military disallows access by other government officials because of security concerns, Sangkhom told BenarNews in a phone interview. There are displaced people and [they] are under the military control.

Sithichai Chindaluang, Thailands Mae Hong Son provincial governor, said several hundred Karen were taking refuge at screening centers, according to a military radio broadcast.

He and a foreign ministry spokesman denied reports that refugees were being pushed back to Myanmar.

Thai authorities will continue to look after those on the Thai side while assessing the evolving situation and the needs on the ground, foreign ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said in a statement.

The Thai PBS channel reported that Myanmar government forces launched air strikes on Karen-held areas to retaliate for an attack by the military wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) on Saturday. A Karen source who requested anonymity said the KNU, the armed ethnic group which controls the southeastern region, has vowed to protect anti-coup activists who fled to the region.

Prayuth also defended the participation by Thai troops in Myanmars Armed Forces Day on Saturday  the same day that Myanmar government forces killed more than 100 people during anti-junta protests nationwide, in the single bloodiest day of violence since the Feb. 1 coup.

Lately we have had to find a mechanism to enable us to follow the political developments or violence in Myanmar, Prayuth said, saying the government needed to maintain a military channel with Myanmar to monitor the situation there.

Myanmar has seen weeks of violence as troops turned weapons on protesters throughout the nation after the coup that saw the military overthrow the government, which was democratically elected in November 2020. Coup leaders detained Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of her government.

Security forces unleashed machine guns and grenades against protesters on Sunday, killing more than a dozen a day after forces killed 114 people, including six children, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA), a sister entity of BenarNews. More than 450 have been killed since the coup began, drawing international condemnation.

Also on Monday, Vivian Balakrishnan, the foreign minister of Singapore, a member of the 10-state Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes Myanmar, called for national reconciliation there.

All sides, all stakeholders have to sit down peacefully, in good faith and have frank, open, and constructive dialogue to create the future that the young people in Myanmar so dearly want, he said, according to a ministry transcript.

He called on ASEAN to assist Myanmar find peace.

But I think it is essential for ASEANs credibility, centrality and relevance to have a view, have a position and to be able to offer some constructive assistance to Myanmar  a fellow member state of ASEAN, he said.

The regional bloc has been widely criticized for not taking a hard stance against Naypyidaw over the coup and the killings of protesters since the military takeover, although in recent weeks Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia have called for a special meeting of ASEAN leaders to address the crisis in Myanmar.

ASEAN officials have not yet come out publicly to condemn Saturdays slaughter.

I must confess to you that I am pessimistic, Vivian said. We still do not believe in foreign interference in domestic politics but as fellow ASEAN member states we hope they will take into consideration the views of our leaders.

He was referring to one of the blocs founding principles that its members do not interfere in the domestic affairs of fellow ASEAN states.
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SHELTON  Concerns over the use of a drive-thru have stalled  but not quashed  one Shelton residents plan to open a deli and convenience store in the vacant Huntington Plaza building which once housed a bank.

The Planning and Zoning Commission, at its Zoom meeting Wednesday, voted 3-3 on David Ghazals application to open a deli and convenience store at 5 Huntington St., which has been vacant for the past couple of years.

The developer said he will amend his plans and return with answers to their questions.

Commission Chair Virginia Harger and fellow members Ruth Parkins and Charles Kelly voted against the plan, but the entire commission agreed they welcomed the concept. Harger, Kelly and Parkins denied the proposal because of the proposed use of the drive thru, which was used previously by the bank, they said.

I do not think a drive thru will work at this location, Parkins said.

Those who approved the plan also voiced concern about the use of the drive thru, and the potential for long lines of traffic affecting the plazas larger parking area. But the trio said the application was sound and zoning department staff could work with Ghazal on any drive thru issues.

Plans call for redesign of the 2,619-square-foot interior, with display cases, a deli counter and two tables for indoor dining.

Ghazal said his plan would be to use the drive thru only for pickup of preordered items. He said this would done to keep the employees and customers safe during the pandemic.

Those denying the plan sought more details on how  whether through signs or other means  Ghazal planned to keep people from driving into the drive thru and attempting to order.

One of the things that attracted me to this location was the drive thru. I want people to feel safe during these times, even making our convenience the best user-friendly by developing a mobile application for ordering, Ghazal stated in his application. If a customer decides to order through line, we will dedicate a spot for them to park and have a runner run out their order to avoid any lines.

Commissioner Jimmy Tickey told Ghazal not to be discouraged and come back with an altered proposal.

Ghazal told Hearst Connecticut Media that he plans to return with a revised plan. Having lived in the city for more than two decades, Ghazal said his goal is to make Shelton a better place, a better community and hopes his business, if approved, would help do that.

In other business, the commission unanimously approved Good Guys Development LLCs request for a zone change at 0 Petremont Lane to a Planned Development District.

Good Guys Development LLC, owner of the 2.1-acre site, is proposing a building with 47 apartment units  six of them designated as affordable in compliance with state of Connecticut requirements  and 93 parking spaces.

In all, there will be 22 one-bedroom units, 15 one-bedrooms with an office and nine studio apartments, according to the proposal. The building would also have a meeting room, gym and storage.

During the public hearing process, the commission voiced no concerns with the site plan, focusing instead on the possible impact on Petremont Lane, which is a tight roadway connecting Coram Road to River Road. Petremont Lanes intersection with Coram Road is close to the intersection with Constitution Boulevard South, an already congested traffic area.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Alex Rossetti said if the PDD is approved, no certificate of occupancy would be granted for the building until the roadway is improved.

Rossetti said Petremont Lane will remain two-way, and the intersection is still going to have an island or other traffic calming measure. But because it is a city street, Shelton is likely going to engage the services of an engineering firm to make sure work is done the best way possible, he said.

Good Guys Development had originally submitted plans for a 56-unit apartment complex with 113 onsite parking spots, but reductions in the scope were made during the public hearing process.

Petremont Lane is just off River Road. The property abuts a nonresidential area and a residential area, and, according to the application, the purpose of the PDD is to allow the construction of an apartment building to accomplish a transition between single-family use and an established nonresidential area.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
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It is unusual for African leaders to speak the truth about one another.

This is because they fear that the yardstick which they apply to judge their fellow politicians could be used to embarrass them!

But when a politician who courted controversy dies, the truth is bound to come out, as former colleagues and enemies are provoked to say what they knew, in order to dispel the "wrong"opinions being circulated.

The late President of Tanzania, John MAGUFULI, has been widely criticised for ignoring the scientific knowledge he acquired at University, in his approach to the Covid-19 pandemic. But that somewhat short-changed his reputation.

As millions of his countrymen and women flocked into the towns of Tanzania where his body was sent for tributes to be paid to him, I observed from the TV pictures that: Tanzanian roads are built with the wananchi (those who walk on foot) in mind!

In one town, I saw a pavement that allowed at least six people, running abreast of each other, to keep up with the motorcade accompanying the dead leader's hearse! There was no open gutter in sight. And yet, this was in rural Tanzania, not in Dar-es-Salaam or Dodoma.

The answer to this surprising feature of life in Tanzania was given to me by Mr Raila Odinga, an Opposition leader in neighbouring Kenya, who was once Kenya's Prime Minister. In a tribute, Mr Raila Odinga wrote:

"When rumours started going around about the health and whereabouts of my friend, President John Pombe Magufuli, I placed several calls to him. When his death was confirmed (as I myself was self- isolating after testing positive for Covid-19) I felt the full weight of double tragedy. It was the worst time to lose a friend and a comrade. It was a bond forged over [our joint] war on corruption and quality infrastructure.

"I first met Dr Magufuli at an international conference on infrastructure in Durban, South Africa in 2003. I had just assumed office as Minister for Roads, Public Works and Housing in the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) government of President Mwai Kibaki. By that time, Dr Magufuli had held a similar portfolio for some time in Tanzania.

"At the ministry, I discovered that I had inherited a bigger problem than I had imagined. The ministry was mired in massive corruption. Contractors were demanding pay -- and getting paid -- for works they had not done, or those done way below specifications. Nearly the entire ministry budget was being used to clear pending bills that kept rising. The ministry was neither constructing any new roads nor maintaining the existing ones.

"It was in that context that I attended the Durban conference. I wanted to share my experiences, learn from fellow ministers and other experts and, hopefully, also attract some funding for the massive infrastructure Kenya needed.

"Dr Magufuli took immense interest in my presentation. He was particularly intrigued by my admission that corruption had found a home in the ministry and it was denying the country the good infrastructure needed for economic growth.

"The two of us had lengthy discussions on the side-lines of the conference. During our discussions, he disclosed that the problems I had mentioned were the same ones he encountered when he took over at Roads and Public Works in Tanzania.

"He offered to share his experiences in dealing with the vices of corruption and cowboy contractors and driving them out of town. For a start, he advised that I look into two areas: procurement and designing and tendering processes.

"From his experiences in Dar es Salaam, he had ring-fenced these areas as the hideouts for corruption and conduits for the loss of government funds. His advice was that I needed to shorten the procurement process, which is usually long and winding, just to facilitate corruption. Then he advised that we adopt a system of designing and building roads at the same time, as opposed to designing the entire road first, then tendering and then constructing. That, too, was a conduit for corruption. His advice was that the sections of the road that had been designed could be tendered and construction commenced, as design of other sections went on. That way, we would get quality roads faster and at cheaper prices.

"From there, our friendship kicked off. We became advisers to each and partners in the war on corruption and cowboy contractors in the roads sector. Before the conference ended, Dr Magufuli asked me to get my engineers at the ministry [to come] for a meeting with his engineers in Dar-es-Salaam so that they could exchange ideas on how to deliver quality infrastructure at value-for-money costs.

"Next, Dr Magufuli invited me to accompany him on a tour of Mwanza where he was to supervise and launch the construction of hospitals and roads. It was during this trip that he named a road after me; Raila Odinga Road in Mwanza. During this trip, we visited his home in Chato. I also invited him to visit us in Kisumu and Bondo

"As we got down to work in Kenya, we identified the Meru-Maua Highway as one of the key roads that needed immediate and massive renovation. I invited Dr Magufuli to launch the reconstruction of this road, which he did. I also instructed the ministry to name the road after him.

"As Prime Minister in the Grand Coalition Government, I visited him with a delegation. When Dr Magufuli declared his interest in the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ticket for the presidency in 2015, I took a keen interest because his contest was my contest, just as mine had been his. We got deeply involved and we were excited when he won.

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"He invited me to Dar almost immediately after his inauguration. During that visit, the newly elected president was frank. He said he had known how to run ministries; now he needed advice on how to run a government. He particularly wanted to know how we managed to raise revenues to deliver services, and stop corruption.

"I advised my friend that, for a start, he should look no farther than the revenue and procurement officers at all levels of government. I told him that in most cases, those officers were the ones driving the latest car models, building classic apartments in cities and putting up castles in rural areas, despite their lower salaries. He needed to subject them to a lifestyle audit, retire or even jail the incorrigibly corrupt and transfer others, then revenue collection would shoot up.

"He listened. In some cases, he personally walked into offices to see how work was being done. Soon, Tanzania's revenue doubled, then trebled. The new president suddenly had money to build roads, ports, hospitals and railways, without relying on donors.

The President developed very keen interest on what happened to Kenya's standard gauge railway in terms of its cost. He was determined to avoid the pitfalls, and he did. That is how he constructed Tanzania's SGR four years later, at a much lower cost than ours."


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Along with current team members Michael Walton, Vice President of Retail Sales; and Stuart McAllister, Vice President of Foodservice/Industrial Sales & Marketing, the group will work with the global team to continue the transformation of a 170-year-old company into a purpose-led business.

The enhanced leadership team will focus on purpose driven, consumer centric, top line growth in the Americas, in conjunction with The Dole Promise.

"The Americas team will continue to drive our transformation under the Dole Promise with a focus on growth through people, planet and prosperity," said Pier Luigi Sigismondi, President of Dole's Worldwide Packaged Foods division. "We know that the goals set forth in our Promise will only be made possible by keeping our eyes, ears and doors open to people with the experience and innovations that can move us quickly forward."

JC Dalto joined the Dole team in January 2021 as President & Managing Director of Dole Packaged Foods in the Americas, including North and Latin America, succeeding Brad Bartlett, who retired at the end of 2020. Originally from Argentina, Dalto brings over three decades of focused fast-moving consumer goods and food experience, spending more than half of his career with nutrition and wellness companies around the world including Danone, The Pillsbury Company, Kraft Foods, and most recently, Savencia Fromage & Dairy. A worldwide Italo-Argentinean executive, Dalto and the other new leaders will work from Dole's Westlake Village, California Americas headquarters.

"The need for good nutrition for all is something that is universal, and something I have been working towards throughout my career," said Dalto. "I am excited to join this team and to be a part of a company that is purpose-built, focused on the consumer, and is committed to working together to achieve ambitious goals towards sustainable and profitable growth."

The executive team will look to support the ambitious goals set forth in The Dole Promise with a focus on bridging the gaps to good nutrition for all: accessibility, acceptability, awareness, and waste reduction and grow value for the company's stakeholders, including farmers and shareholders.

"I'm delighted to join the Dole Packaged Foods executive team in the Americas. I look forward to working closely with the team to build campaigns that push us forward and that help us make an impact with our customers and with the world," said Hodi, who joined the team this month. Originally from Hungary, she comes with significant experience in the Food and CPG environment, previously Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Foster Farms. Prior, Hodi held leadership positions with the fresh bakery division of Grupo Bimbo Bakeries, gaining exposure to and a strong familiarity with the Latin American market.

Michael Walton joined Dole in September 2019 and now serves as Vice President of Retail Sales. An accomplished senior sales executive with more than 19 years of consumer-packaged foods experience, Walton brings his sales operations, customer management and trade strategy development expertise to bear in this new role. Previously, Walton served as Head of Channel and Customer Development  Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever working across multiple trade areas including Natural/Specialty, eCommerce, Mass, Club, Drug and Grocery

Finally, Stuart McAllister's journey with Dole began in 1989 as a summer intern, and over the past three decades he has held roles with increasing responsibility in Marketing, Sales and Sales Strategy. Now, as Vice President, Sales and Marketing Foodservice and Industrial he brings a unique combination of operations and sales experience, as well as marketing and planning processes from across the organization. McCallister previously led the marketing planning process, developed packaging, and conducted sales negotiations with customers in Japan, the United States and Europe.

About Dole Packaged Foods, LLC

Dole Packaged Foods, LLC, is a world leader in growing, sourcing, distributing, and marketing fruit and healthy snacks. Dole sells a full line of packaged shelf stable fruit, frozen fruit, dried fruit, and juices. The company focuses on four pillars of sustainability in all its operations: water management, carbon footprint, soil conservation and waste reduction. For more information, please visit dolesunshine.com.

Dole Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd.

Dole Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd., is a worldwide leader and innovator in the production and marketing of high-quality packaged fruit and healthy snacks. Dole Asia Holdings is also one of Asia's largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables. For more information, please visit dolesunshine.com or doleintlcsr.com.

About The Dole Promise

In June 2020 Dole announced The Dole Promise, with its three pillars around nutrition, sustainability and the creation of shared value.

Better for People: making nutritious foods accessible for 1 billion people and moving towards zero processed sugar in all Dole products by 2025.

Better for Planet: zero fruit loss from Dole farms to markets by 2025, zero fossil-based plastic packaging by 2025. net zero carbon emissions in Dole operations by 2030.

Better for all Stakeholders: Dole will continue to positively impact all farmers, communities and people working for Dole  through its commitment to equal opportunity, living wages, and an ever-increasing level of safety, nutrition, and wellbeing. The company also seeks to advance human rights within the direct operations and supply chains by building a culture of transparency and accountability. The company also aims for a 50% increase in the value of its business by 2025.

SOURCE Dole Packaged Foods, LLC

Related Links

http://www.dole.com


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The police have arrested a 19-year old man, Ayuba Umar, for allegedly stabbing his friend, Mustapha Hassan, to death with a pair of scissors during a quarrel over a horse.

The police spokesperson in Kano State, Abdullahi Haruna, disclosed this in an audio message he sent to journalists on Monday.

He said the incident happened on Friday at Tudun Wuzirchi Quarters in the Kano metropolis.

On Friday 26th of this month around 10 oclock in the evening, we received a sad report from Tudunwuzirchi Quarters, that a 19-year old, Ayuba Umar, while riding a horse had a quarrel with his friend, Mustapha Hassan.

Mustapha was reported to have stabbed Ayubas horse with scissors. The angry Ayuba jumped down, snatched the scissors and stabbed Mustapha to death.

We took Mustapha to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, where he was pronounced death by the medical doctor on duty.

The commissioner of police, CP Samaila Shuaaibu Dikko, has directed for the transfer of the case to the state CID for further investigation.

The suspect will be prosecuted before a court of competent jurisdiction after thorough investigation, Mr Haruna said.
RIO DE JANEIRO  The three commanders of Brazils armed forces resigned jointly on Tuesday, a day after President Jair Bolsonaro fired his defense minister as part of a big cabinet shake-up.

The departures of the military leaders, which followed the unexpected replacement on Monday of five other cabinet members, fueled rampant speculation in the capital about a breakdown in the relationship between the president and the countrys military, which has played a central role in the Bolsonaro administration.

The dismissal of the heads of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force after the sudden shift in leadership at the defense ministry is unprecedented in the era since democracy was restored, one lawmaker, Rep. Rodrigo de Castro, said in a statement. It reveals a real crisis between the military and the government.

The political turbulence in Brasilia comes as the government faces withering criticism, including calls for Mr. Bolsonaros impeachment, for its cavalier and chaotic handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 313,000 Brazilians. A surge in infections has overwhelmed hospitals across the country, leaving patients to die waiting for a hospital bed.
A medical worker puts boxes of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine in a freezer at a vaccination center in Seongdong District, Seoul, Tuesday. The vaccines will be administered to elderly citizens aged 75 or older. Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye



Korea is facing possible setbacks in carrying out its COVID-19 vaccination program as planned, due to unstable supply of vaccines amid growing competition between countries to secure the products.



India, a major supplier of the AstraZeneca vaccine, has decided to curtail exports of the vaccines to meet domestic demand as infections have been rising in the country, triggering difficulties for many other nations in securing vaccines, according to Reuters.



In addition, Novavax has also reportedly delayed the signing of a contract with the European Union to supply its vaccines, citing a lack of some raw materials.



Health authorities here are paying keen attention to the possibility that these situations could exert an adverse influence on the country's vaccination program, which began on Feb. 26 with an aim of administering vaccines to 12 million people by the first half of the year and having almost all of the population vaccinated by September to achieve herd immunity by November.



Bad news has been already reported here as the government said Tuesday that the planned delivery of AstraZeneca vaccines via COVAX Facility, the World Health Organization-led global vaccine distribution project, has been pushed back to the third week of April.



The AstraZeneca vaccines for 345,000 people were originally scheduled to depart from the Netherlands Wednesday, but the plan has been postponed due to a delay by the manufacturer, according to Korean authorities.






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The Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation has granted scholarship to over 600 undergraduates from poor families in the 19 Northern states and Federal Capital Territory.

The Managing Director of the foundation, Abubakar Umar, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Mr Umar explained that the scholarship grant was for undergraduates studying sciences, engineering, medicine, and related courses like Information Communication Technology (ICT).

According to him, the foundation has been selecting 200 undergraduates, 10 from each state and FCT for the award of the scholarship.

The scholarship is only awarded for those students who are indigent and have difficulty in settling their school fees.

We ensure that those that benefit from the scholarship are brilliant students who have CGP of 2.5 and above both in universities and the polytechnics.

The managing director added that it was awarded to students from 200 level, and each receive N100,00 yearly until they graduate.

According to him, about 47 per cent of the beneficiaries have graduated with first-class degrees and distinction from universities and polytechnics.

We are happy to say that we have touched their lives and it is a thing of pride they have become what we call the Sir Ahmadu Bello scholars, he said.

Mr Umar explained that the foundation has been bringing the beneficiaries together to know themselves, share experiences, and participate in mentorship programmes.

Some of them that were not able to get jobs, we help them through referrals to get employment in public service or private sector, he said.

Mr Umar disclosed that since the establishment of the Foundation in 2009 by the 19 Northern Governors, it had intervened in education, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and health sectors.

We have done a lot of intervention on leadership values, holding annual lectures on good governance, and we have been able to achieve a lot in conflict resolution and peace building across the north.

We have also done a lot of intervention on the problems associated with internally displaced persons and refugees across the North.

(NAN)
Sesame seeds, or beni-seeds as they are locally known, are among the most commercially viable crop critical to the agricultural economy of Nigeria.

Despite the high viability of the crop, data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows Nigerias production of sesame has been uneven compared to demand over the years.

The countrys best output was in 2012 when the country produced 994,800 tonnes. Thereafter, the output fell and picked up in 2015. It fell again in 2017.

Despite the fluctuation in output, Nigerias export of sesame has improved significantly. Although there was no continuous increase in export, data seen by PREMIUM TIMES shows that the country recorded the highest export of sesame in 2019.

Prior to this period, export fell from 2015 to 2018 before attaining the feat in 2019 which was the highest export value in the 10 years period.

Sudan is the highest producer of sesame in Africa. Its output in 2019 was 11.2 million tonnes. Sudan alone accounts for 45.8 per cent of the total output of the top six African countries put together. Nigeria s output makes up 18.2 per cent of the total output. By implication, Nigeria is the second-largest producers of sesame in Africa.

Economic Potential

The use of the sesame seed is wide and varied and is dependent on the parts of the seed being processed. The sesame seed is used in confectionery, biscuits, and in bread making.

Also, oil extracts from sesame seeds have a wide range of applications. It is used for cooking, used in medicine for treating ulcers and burns, used in making aerosols, and in manufacturing margarine.

Also, low-grade oil of sesame is used locally in manufacturing soap paints, lubricants, and illuminants. The by-product from processing sesame seed is used in making animal feeds. Beyond these listed applications, sesame is also used in different countries for their local dishes and delicacies.

The market for sesame seeds is quite vast with Japan and China as the major importers of the seeds. Countries like Turkey, India, Poland, and the Netherlands have also traded with Nigeria in the past.

Sherrif Balogun, president of the National Sesame Seed Association of Nigeria, said sesame is the largest contributor of foreign exchange among agriculture products to Nigerias economy.

We are currently doing 500,000 tonnes. For Nigeria to maximize its potential, it has to first increase production, and secondly set up dehauling plants for value-addition, and thirdly to set set up a sesame oil processing plant.

If you look at production in itself, its very easy for Nigeria to grow our production to 1.5 million tonnes per annum. This we need to do by putting a million hectare of land for cultivation.

If you take the producing states which starts for about 28 states producing, with each state producing, putting additional 50,000 hectares of land under cultivation, thats about 5 million tonnes in one year. If we are able to do that, we get about three times more than what we are earning today, Mr Balogun said.

Profitable venture

Data shows that 90 per cent of the sesame seed produced in the country is exported abroad. Currently, there are 26 sesame-growing states in Nigeria; Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Nassarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Abuja. Jigawa has the highest area of production and total production in the country followed by Benue State.

Mr Balogun admonished major stakeholders to carry out sesame processing because there is money to be made in value addition along the sesame value chain.

We are lucky we dont have the challenge about selling, because theres demand for sesame, theres no problem of saying you produce and cannot sell. Theres a market for the product. I encourage more people to go into sesame business because its a very profitable business, and is not a seed that is difficult to grow, and can provide a lot of employment for women and youth, Mr Balogun said.

Iordye Charles, a sesame farmer with about 20 years of experience in Benue State, said sesame is so lucrative in terms of oil and it is an international product that farmers can sell and earn money, while the shafts can be used for animal feed.

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His view was corroborated by another sesame farmer, Nwafor Ernest, the CEO of Ermopre farms in Ebonyi State.

Its very very profitable. Its the number one exported agro product in the country, and for its production, you dont need to carry out too much work on it. You spend a little and gain more. Theres a market for sesame. We are not looking for buyers as far as sesame is concerned, he said.

Another farmer based in Sokoto, Ismaila Gumbi, added: Theres a market for sesame, as we have plenty off-takers for it, and many marketers of sesame who buy from our farmers. It is very profitable and easy to farm.

A profitability analysis shows that sesame seed cultivation generates N2.08 for every N1 invested. Farmers on average incur an average total cost of production of N60,036.06 per hectare cultivated. After harvest, they generate an average revenue of N184,701.98 per hectare. This leaves them with a net profit of N124,665.92 per hectare. Breaking this down, farmers make a profit of N12,466.59 per 100Kg bag of sesame and N124,665.92per tonne harvested. However, the range from cultivation to harvest is three months to four-month.

Mr Balogun said the sesame seed is currently generating $700 million annually. He said the country generates an average of $1,400 per metric tonne of sesame exported.

Opportunities

In a bid to harness its numerous opportunities and competitiveness globally, theres the need to improve Nigerias processing value chain. Nigerias sesame presents huge opportunities as regards generating fiscal and export revenue.

Nigeria sesame value chain includes production and processing. And the processing is divided into two. We can process oil by dehauling, and process into flour that is used in the confectionery. Our full course is to set up dehauling plants, oil processing plants, and flour processing plants. We already have about three companies dehauling right now, Mr Balogun said.

Mr Ernest added: There are lots of opportunities in sesame seeds value chain, as a producer which is the first point of call, as a processor, there are various aspects of processing, you can extract the oil, the end products can be used for feeds; i.e poultry and fish meal, also used in pharmaceuticals.

Insecurity

For Mr Nwafor, the pervasive state of insecurity keeps farmers away from accessing their farms since a hostile environment would also affect the yield during production, as farmers wont be able to manage their farm properly the way it ought to.

Mr Charles said insecurity affects sesame production mostly in the Fadama areas due to the bush in the area. He also added that: Cattle like to move around the area, they also come out at upland areas where we plant sesame seeds, and disturbing the production of sesame. We are having difficulties in production. It affects our yield.

Mr Ismail also said: People interested in sesame are ready to produce in commercial quantities but the insecurity is a challenge. As there are challenges of bandits in the bush, it is safer to plant in nearest city farms, because if you plant deeper into the bush you can attract so many problems.

He added that the major challenge in sesame apart from the insecurity is the lack of machinery capacity to extract the sesame oil. He said most sesame farmers are only able to harvest, thresh, clean, and put in bags for sales.

He said the lack of training is also a challenge so that farmers can increase their yield.

Mr Charles said low-income sesame farmers are not mechanised, which makes them produce twice in a season.

We hardly farm dry season sesame because we need lots of water. We dont have boreholes, irrigation pumps, dams. All we have is the river. We hardly find machineries readily available, Mr Charles said.

Mr Ernest said: One of the major challenges is funding to carry out production in commercial quantity, and as such sesame farmers need assistance from both the government and nongovernmental organization and international donors.

Increasing sesame production

According to some of the farmers who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, although they have not benefited from the anchor borrowers program in boosting their production, they still have market for their sesame produce.

Mr Balogun said: Even before the anchor borrowers programme, the sesame association has been far ahead of thinking of ways to help the farmers, to grow and earn from the sesame seeds. It was designed in such a way that the farmer takes 25 per cent, and the bank provided a loan of 25 per cent, and after the farmer harvest his products, sell his products, and then pay off his loan. First Bank took the bull by the horn as at that time. It was the only bank that was there to listen to us, and partnered with us in that scheme, we did it for two years in Kebbi state, and for one year in Borno State, it was a learning curve for us as an association.

In Borno, it was very successful because recovery rate was about 95 per cent, while in Kebbi the recovery rate in the first year was about 50 per cent, and the second year about 60 per cent, but it increased the production in Borno and Kebbi, and brought more awareness, now Kebbi is doing a lot of sesame seeds, Borno, also, but because of the problems of Borno now, we dont have much farming activities going on, Mr Balogun said.

Mr Balogun noted that the scheme dated back in 2007, was years ahead of the governments anchor borrowers programme, as it increased production, brought more awareness, providing an additional source of revenue for the sesame farmers, and helped open up opportunities for sesame farmers in seeing the potential in sesame seeds.
A Charleston-based convenience store and gas station chain is appealing a Mount Pleasant board's denial of a proposed retail location near a major highway.

Refuel Operating Co. filed an appeal March 25 in Charleston County asking a judge to reverse the Board of Zoning Appeals' decision in February, alleging the panel disregarded the town's rules that allow convenience stores near Johnnie Dodds Boulevard.

Refuel wants to build a store with a car wash on a corner parcel at Bowman Road and Hospital Drive.

The convenience store chain is asking for a special exception from the town because the property is within an "overlay district" that allows fast-food restaurants and convenience stores at intersections, according to the court filing.

Refuel alleges its proposal met the town's regulations for setbacks and buffering, traffic flow, parking, entry and exit points, and compatibility with nearby businesses. The company also said staff initially indicated that Refuel had met the requirements for a special exception.

The convenience chain also said in its appeal it met with residents of the nearest neighborhood, Parish Place, who had no objections to the plan.

A representative of the town did not respond to a request for comment March 30.

The 1.6-acre undeveloped lot, which is across from Vibra Hospital, is owned by an affiliate of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp., which also owns the nearby East Cooper Medical Center.

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Refuel has a contract to buy the property for an undisclosed price, subject to the town's approval of a gas station.

Several residents who live on Marsh Court Lane on the opposite side of Johnnie Dodds opposed the development, saying it would generate more traffic and is unnecessary since Bowman Road is already served by two gas stations, one at Mathis Ferry Road and another at Chuck Dawley Boulevard.

Tenet supports Refuel's proposal. It said traffic won't interfere with emergency vehicles traveling to East Cooper Medical Center or endanger pedestrians on Hospital Drive or Bowman Road.

The healthcare provider also said the site is not part of a medical corridor, and it does not want a competing medical use for the property.

Refuel filed its application last summer, and the zoning appeals board denied it in June. The company appealed the decision in circuit court, and a judge in January sent it back to the town's board, which denied it again Feb. 22.

Refuel operates several other gas stations throughout the Charleston area, including two in Mount Pleasant.
The jewellery retailer is planning to increase its retail footprint by 13% in the first quarter and enhance operations across seven states, adding 14 new showrooms all on 24 April 2021.

Kalyan Jewellers India said that it will also focus on the Tier-II and Tier-III markets, with mid-size showrooms. In the Tier-I cities, the company plans to launch a total of five new outlets including a flagship showroom. The company plans to open another flagship store in Chennai's North Usman Road. The company will also be strengthening its presence in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, with a showroom each in Dwaraka, Matunga, Lower Parel Phoenix Palladium and Dilsukhnagar.

Kalyan Jewellers is set to add nine showrooms across key locations like Noida (UP), Nasik (Maharashtra), Jamnagar (Gujarat), Pathanamthitta (Kerala), Nagercoil, Madurai and Trichy (TN) and Khammam and Karimnagar (Telangana). These new standalone showrooms will offer a safe and hygienic shopping environment, and will retail market specific hyper-local jewellery designs.

Kalyan Jewellers currently has 107 showrooms in India and 30 in the Middle East. With the addition of these new outlets, the company will be present in 151 locations. Kalyan Jewellers recently raised Rs 1,175 crore through an IPO and most of its proceeds are earmarked towards enhansement of working capital. The brand will enhance its working capital by Rs 500 crore in the first quarter.

Shares of Kalyan Jewellers India rose 0.60% to Rs 75.75 on BSE. On a consolidated basis, the company reported a net loss of Rs 80.49 crore and revenue of Rs 5,516.70 crore in the nine months ended on 31 December 2020.

Kalyan Jewellers is one of the largest jewellery companies in India in terms of revenues. The company designs, manufactures and sells a wide range of gold, studded and other jewellery products across various price points ranging from jewellery for special occasions, such as weddings, which is the highest-selling product category for the company, to daily-wear jewellery.

Shares of Kalyan Jewellers India entered the bourses on 26 March 2021. The stock was listed at Rs 73.9, a discount of 15.06% to the IPO price. The IPO of Kalyan Jewellers India was subscribed 2.61 times. The issue opened for bidding on 16 March 2021 and closed on 18 March 2021. The price band for the IPO was set at Rs 86-87 per share.

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Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday ordered a review of how the Justice Department can best deploy its resources to combat hate crimes during a surge in incidents targeting Asian-Americans.

Garland issued a department-wide memo announcing the 30-day review, citing the 'recent rise in hate crimes and hate incidents, particularly the disturbing trend in reports of violence against members of the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community since the start of the pandemic.'

Garland's order came the same day that the Biden administration announced a set of measures responding to anti-Asian violence, including deploying $49.5 million from COVID-19 relief funds for U.S. community programs that will help victims.

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday ordered a review of how the Justice Department can best deploy its resources to combat hate crimes during a surge in incidents targeting Asian-Americans

At the same time, President Joe Biden's administration will put $49.5 million in pandemic relief funds toward U.S. community programs that will help victims, including a new task force dedicated to countering xenophobia against Asians in healthcare

The Asian-American and Pacific Islander community was rattled after a trio of shootings at Georgia spas earlier this month, in which six of the eight victims were Asian-American women. The shootings happened at a time when violence against Asian-Americans is on the rise

Biden's new steps include $49.5 million of pandemic relief funds for 'community based, culturally specific services and programs for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault' as well as a new task force dedicated to countering xenophobia against Asians in healthcare.

The measures come after a shooting in Atlanta earlier this month left eight people dead, six of them Asian-American women.

The shooting stoked fears among those in the Asian-American Pacific Islander community, which has reported a spike in hate crimes since March 2020 when then-President Donald Trump began referring to the novel coronavirus as the 'China virus.'

Police departments across the U.S. are reporting an uptick in hate crimes and attacks on Asian-Americans and lawmakers and community leaders have been increasingly outspoken about the need for the federal government to do more to combat hate crimes.

In July, about 150 members of Congress called on the Justice Department to take action against crimes targeting Asian Americans, and last week a bipartisan group of former U.S. attorneys penned an open letter expressing support for the Asian-American community and condemning acts of hatred against any group.

For federal officials to combat the trend, federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials should place an emphasis on investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, while increasing community outreach, Garland said.

They should also focus on improving the FBI's collection of data on hate crimes, which is 'critical to understanding the evolving nature and extent of hate crimes and hate incidents in all their forms,' he wrote in the memo.

A main criticism from lawmakers and civil rights groups has been that the U.S. government vastly undercounts hate crimes because the FBI's reporting system is voluntary.

In some states, just 5 per cent of police departments reported any hate crimes last year.

'We must recommit ourselves to this urgent task and ensure that the Department makes the best and most effective use of its resources to combat hate,' Garland's memo said.

The review is aimed at determining how the Justice Department can better prioritize investigations and prosecutions, increase and track reporting of hate crimes and other incidents that could violate federal law and use civil remedies to address bias incidents that dont amount to federal hate crimes.

It will also seek to ensure each of the 94 U.S. attorney's offices across the country has resources dedicated to identifying hate crimes and bias incidents and review how the department can better engage with communities, among other things.
Elektra Catalog Group; Elektra Catalog Group; RhinoThe Eagles will be reissuing three of their albums as two-LP sets pressed on 180-gram vinyl on Friday, April 2.

The albums, which you can pre-order now at Eagles.com, are 1980's Eagles Live, 2000's The Millennium Concert, and 2007's Long Road Out of Eden.

Eagles Live, which originally was released as a two-disc set in November 1980, featured performances from several concerts that took place in 1976 and 1980. The album peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200, and has sold more than three million copies in the U.S. The reissue includes a poster.

The Millennium Concert originally was issued as part of the box set Selected Works: 19721999, which was released in November 2000. The album has never been released as a standalone vinyl package before. It features highlights from a New Year's Eve show that the Eagles played in 1999 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Long Road Out of Eden, which is the final Eagles studio album to date, was released as a two-disc set in October 2007, and went on to top the Billboard 200. It's been RIAA-certified seven-times Platinum in the U.S.

All three reissues will feature the discs housed in gatefold sleeves, and are priced at $39.98.

The Eagles are scheduled to return to the road with an August 28-29 stand at London's Wembley Stadium. The band is slated to kick off a U.S. trek on September 16 in Denver.

Here's the Eagles Live track list:

Side A

"Hotel California"

"Heartache Tonight"

"I Can't Tell You Why"

Side B

"The Long Run"

"New Kid in Town"

"Life's Been Good"

Side C

"Seven Bridges Road"

"Wasted Time"

"Take It to the Limit"

"Doolin-Dalton (Reprise II)"

"Desperado"

Side D

"Saturday Night"

"All Night Long"

"Life in the Fast Lane"

"Take It Easy"

Here's The Millennium Concert track list:

Side A

"Hotel California"

"Victim of Love"

"Peaceful Easy Feeling"

Side B

"Please Come Home for Christimas"

"Ol' 55"

"Take It to the Limit"

Side C

"Those Shoes"

"Funky New Year"

"Dirty Laundry"

Side D

"Funk #49"

"All She Wants to Do Is Dance"

"The Best of My Love"

And here's The Long Road out of Eden Track List:

Side A

"No More Walks in the Wood"

"How Long"

"Busy Being Fabulous"

"What Do I Do with My Heart"

"Guilty of the Crime"

"I Don't Want to Hear Anymore"

Side B

"Waiting in the Weeds"

"No More Cloudy Days"

"Fast Company"

"Do Something"

"You Are Not Alone"

Side C

"Long Road out of Eden"

"I Dreamed There Was No War"

"Somebody"

"Frail Grasp on the Big Picture"

Side D

"Last Good Time in Town"

"I Love to Watch a Woman Dance"

"Business as Usual"

"Center of the Universe"

"It's Your World Now"

By Matt Friedlander

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
A nurse prepares Russia's Sputnik-V vaccine against the coronavirus disease for inoculation at a clinic in Tver, Russia, October 12, 2020. Photo by Reuters/Tatyana Makeyeva.

Vietnamese companies are in negotiations with foreign Covid-19 vaccine producers amid global supply problems, the Ministry of Health said.

Amvibiotech Inc, Vabiotech and Vinmedimec are in talks with companies in the U.S. and India for diversification of vaccine sources as Vietnam seeks to obtain a total 150 million doses this year to immunize 70 percent of its population.

The Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals has reached a deal with Russia to import Sputnik V vaccine, but has disclosed no further details.

The government has so far approved the AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines.

Vietnams vaccination campaign began on March 8 after a batch of 117,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were delivered last month. They were part of 30 million doses Vietnam Vaccine JSC had ordered. The rest are expected to arrive between April and August.

On Wednesday UNICEF said on behalf of the Covax vaccine-sharing facility that the delivery of vaccines to all countries would be delayed due to production delays.

Over 811,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine via Covax will arrive in Hanoi next month and not March 25 as previously announced.

Covax, or the Global Covid-19 Vaccine Facility, is a global mechanism for facilitating and supporting member countries in procuring the vaccines as they become available.

So far in Vietnam 39,817 medical and other frontline workers in 19 localities have received a first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Though there has been one case of third-degree and five cases of second-degree anaphylaxis, everyone vaccinated is now in stable condition, allowing the country to continue with the inoculation program.

Vietnam expects to start producing its own vaccine by the end of the third quarter, according to the ministry.
Japanese retail sales fell for the third straight month in February as households kept a lid on expenditure amid the coronavirus emergency, underscoring the fragile nature of the economy's recovery from last year's slump. Analysts expect Japan's economy sharply contracted in the first quarter, as lacklustre consumer spending and weakening exports create challenges for policymakers who have already rolled out massive stimulus.

Retail sales lost 1.5% in February from a year earlier, government data showed on Tuesday, a smaller fall than the median market forecast for a 2.8% drop. But it marked the third straight month of declines following January's 2.4% fall and a 0.2% drop in December.

"That the coronavirus isn't subsiding is a major reason to worry about a delay of an economic recovery," said Atsushi Takeda, chief economist at Itochu Economic Research Institute. "Clothes aren't selling because people aren't going out," he said. "People are not really returning to commercial facilities, the trend is for them to go shopping at supermarkets in their neighbourhoods."

The broader decline in retail sales was driven by falls in spending on items such as clothing, toiletries and general merchandise, the data showed. Compared with the previous month, retail sales rose 3.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis. Separate data showed the nationwide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was steady at 2.9%, lower than the median forecast of 3.0%.

There were 1.09 jobs per applicant in February, down from the previous month's 1.10, labour ministry data showed. The world's third-largest economy is set to contract by an annualised 6.0% in the current quarter, which would be the first decline in three quarters partly due to sagging consumer spending, according to the latest Reuters poll data.

Some analysts are worried that a longer contraction in household spending and weakening exports raise the prospect of a slower economic recovery than initially thought.

Also read: Former US President Obama's step-grandmother passes away in Kenyan hospital
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
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Russian Supreme Court grants initiation of fatal crash case against ex-regional judge

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

13:26 30/03/2021

MOSCOW, March 30 (RAPSI)  The Supreme Court of Russian on Tuesday upheld the Higher Judges' Qualifications Boards consent to the institution of criminal proceedings over vehiculary manslaughter against a magistrate judge emeritus from Lipetsk Nadezhda Fedorova, the courts press service told RAPSI.

The Supreme Court therefore dismissed Fedorovas administrative lawsuit challenging the Boards decision.

Reportedly, the traffic fatality involving Fedorova took place in Lipetsk in November 2020. An older woman became the victim of the accident and died.




ALBERT LEA, Minnesota - We may not think about the roads we drive on every day, except when we hit one of those pesky potholes. Nationwide, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the U.S. a C- in their annual Report Card for America's Infrastructure.

This week, President Biden is set to reveal the 'Build Back Better' package, which aims to make generational investments in infrastructure by repairing aging roads, bridges and rail lines, revive domestic manufacturing, and combat climate change.

Political expert Rayce Hardy notes of a few key facets of infrastructure in both Minnesota and Iowa that must be addressed, like roads, public transit, broadband access, water quality, and even state park maintenance, particularly in Minnesota.

"We've deffered over 14 million dollars of just maintenance of parks. That's been pushed down the road. If this infrastructure bill passes and the money is sent to states, states like Iowa and Minnesota are going to have to start right there."

As the price tag is slated to cost anywhere between $3-4 trillion, Hardy notes of private-public partnerships that could be valuable to help cover the cost, which in turn, would be a long-term investment.

"We need that expertise and those efficiencies of private industry. We need that teamed up with private investment banks like Goldman Sachs, and the federal government. They have to team together, they need to get going now, because it's time to be done talking about it."

Republicans are objecting to the scope of the enormous package and the potential tax increases that would be needed to pay for it. Last week, Missouri Rep. Sam Graves, the top Republican on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, said a transportation bill needs to be focused on roads and bridges, and not incorporate climate regulations. With the Senate evenly split 50-50, Democrats could very well be once again forced to rely on their own votes for passage.
WABASH VALLEY, Ill. (WTHI) - The potential COVID-19 spike is something health officials are monitoring across the nation. Locally, Illinois is one of the states feeling a significant impact from the rising case numbers.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the seven-day average for COVID-19 cases in Illinois is over 2,200 cases per day. This is the highest average the state has seen in over a month. Officials are concerned that if this number keeps rising, we could see another surge of cases.

The New York Times says COVID-19 cases in Illinois are up 43 percent in the last two weeks. This is coupled with the fact that restrictions are easing across the country and more people are traveling.

"At this point, it's pretty bad, Dr. Jo Edwards, a family medicine doctor at Crawford Memorial Hospital, said. Because at this point, our cases are really, really high still. They are higher than they At this point our cases are really high still. They are higher than they were at the very beginning of the pandemic"

Dr. Edwards says the faster spreading COVID-19 variants are also contributing to this recent rise. The biggest impact is left on more younger, unvaccinated people getting sick. To prevent a serious spike, she is encouraging the community to prioritize others during this time.

"We are only as strong individually as we are as a community, she said.

Dr. Edwards is reminding everyone to continue wearing masks and social distance. Additionally, she is encouraging community members to get the vaccine when they are eligible. All of these factors together will help reduce the chances of a possible significant surge in cases.

"I think everyone's tired of hearing it, but I think they're going to be even more tired of hearing it if this continues to go on for another year," she said.

Governor Pritzker plans to open vaccine eligibility to all residents 16 and older beginning April 12. Locally, some counties are already dropping eligibility requirements. Both Jasper and Clark counties are offering the vaccine to anyone over the age of 16 and Richland county is offering the vaccine to those over the age of 18.

To learn more about the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Illinois, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health's website here.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI  A portion of a busy road in Richfield Township will be closed for several hours on Tuesday as tree removal takes place.

Crews with the Genesee County Road Commission will close Irish Road between Potter Road and Richfield Road in Richfield Township from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 30 for tree removal.

Traffic will be maintained via flagging operation, according to a release from the Genesee County Road Commission.

Motorists are advised to allow additional time to reach their destination.

Read more on MLive:

MDOT virtual meeting will focus on $300 million in potential I-475 improvements

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Three attorneys and two law firms in Texas have been indicted on organized crime and other charges in relation to alleged workers compensation fraud.

The indictments stem from Texas Division of Workers Compensation (DWC) Fraud Unit investigations that were referred to DWCs prosecutor embedded in the Travis County District Attorneys Office.

The first round of indictments involve Leslie Casaubon, Roger Farahmand, and the North Texas-based Langford, Wise and Farahmand Law firm, according to the DWC. The indictments allege that from July 1, 2017, to Aug. 31, 2019, Casaubon and her staff submitted billing to DWCs attorney fee processing system for work they did not do.

Casaubon is currently under indictment and has a similar matter pending in Travis Countys 460th Judicial District Court.

The defendants are charged with engaging in organized crime, a first-degree felony and securing the execution of a document by deception, a second-degree felony. If convicted each could face up to life in prison and a $10,000 dollar fine.

The grand jury also returned indictments against Houston attorney Adam Henderson and the Adam Henderson Law Firm. The indictment alleges that between Jan. 1, 2012, to Jan. 31, 2019, Henderson submitted bills for work he did not do.

The defendants are charged with securing the execution of a document by deception, a first-degree felony and tampering with a government record, a second-degree felony. A conviction could result in a sentence of life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Attorneys who represent injured employees in the Texas workers compensation system submit their fees through an automated system at DWC. Those fees are taken out of injured employees benefits. As a result of the false and fraudulent fee bills the defendants were paid more than $900,000.

DWC adopted an attorney fee rule in January 2017 to allow DWC to monitor attorney billing more effectively.

An indictment is an allegation of criminal conduct. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Source: Texas DWC

Topics Texas Workers' Compensation Fraud Abuse Molestation
Receipts of national budget 2021 in Q1 2021 to be UAH 10 bln more than Q1 2021 target  finance minister

The targets of the national budget of Ukraine in the first quarter of 2021 were met two days before the end of the term, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"It is expected to be over-performed in the first quarter in terms of receipts by about UAH 10 billion," he said.

The minister said that the budget outturn was achieved thanks to the improved work of the State Tax and Customs Services, as well as the growth of trust of taxpayers.

Marchenko added that currently UAH 31 billion are on the Single Treasury Account.
Head of Monitoring at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu has called on government to expedite the prosecution of the bankers whose conduct has caused many Ghanaians to lose their monies.



Charles Owusu wondered why the court hasn't yet ruled on the case when these people have been found to have mismanaged their financial institutions leading to a near-collapse of the financial sector.



It could be recalled that the Government of Ghana under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in 2018, embarked on a mission to rescue the financial sector and in rescuing the sector, some financial institutions were shut down or merged.



Charges were brought against the financial heads and executives caught in various financial malfeasances but it appears little has been done with prosecution.



Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo", Charles Owusu asked ''why are they walking free?'' adding ''if it were an ordinary Ghanaian who stole a goat, he would have by now been sentenced to jail".



"If it's true that those sent to court indeed mismanaged the sector, how many years do we want to hear the case? Since November 2018 did the banking cleanup happen. Since November 2018 till date, they are walking free. Some have even had the audacity to rather send the government to court," he fumed.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Mumbai, March 30 : Maldivian, the flag carrier of the Maldives, will launch its first direct flight connecting Maafaru with Mumbai, proving a boon to Bollywood, business and leisure travelers, an official said on Tuesday.

Starting April 13, Maldivian will operate three flights a week on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays to Maafaru, with a flying time of around two-and-half hours.

Maafaru International Airport is located on the picturesque Noonu atoll of north Maldives and was opened for tourism in 2019, said an official.

Currently, Maldivian operates three flights from the Indian Ocean island country's capital Male to Thiruvananthapuram, two to Kochi besides Chennai, with Mumbai set to join next month.

Dotted with some of the most sought-after luxury resorts and guest houses, the region offers over 10,000 tourist beds spread across four atolls making this new sector a winner in the leisure markets.

Maldives, comprising 1,190 coral isles forming an archipelago of 26 major atolls, is among the top favourite global shooting destinations for Bollywood with scores of films having been shot there.

This year, so far more than 50,000 Indian tourists, including a large number from Mumbai, have travelled to the island nation which straddles the Equator and offers a year-round mild climate with natural beauty of the sea, sun and sand.

Last month the country's Minister of Tourism Dr Abdulla Mausoom announced plans to welcome around 1.50 million tourists this year - nearly five times the country's population of around 339,000 - as tourism is the main revenue source.
Since it has been developed Holywood Exchange Retail Park has never been fully let out.

A retailer that has yet to have a presence in NI could be considering occupying the last remaining unit at Holywood Exchange Retail Park, it has emerged.

The 4,000 sq ft unit, which is between Burger King and Subway at the retail park, has gone on the market to rent.

Home to larger retailers including Harvey Norman, Decathlon, Next Home and one of Lidls newest stores, Holywood Exchange was sold for 18m in December last year to UK-based David Samuel Properties.

Its the second major acquisition David Samuel Properties has made here, after buying Crescent Link Retail Park in Londonderry in 2019.

Paul Wilson, director of retail at Savills, which has listed the Holywood Exchange site, said: Weve had lots of new interest in the space and expect a few offers in the next couple of weeks. There are some interesting new uses including a retailer who would be a new entrant to Northern Ireland.

Since it has been developed Holywood Exchange Retail Park has never been fully let. Certainly, the take-up by Lidl has created a really strong anchorage here as its sits alongside Decathlon. Its strengthened the park dramatically.

We have a different pattern of shopper who visits now because we have that grocery element which creates a higher spend per visit.

There has been a marked level of improved experience in the park.

Mr Wilson said DS Properties acquisition of the park would further boost the offering. He added: DS Properties are acquisitive, and theyve done great things with Crescent Link. They see this park as a key asset to their portfolio.

Speaking at the time of the acquisition, Holywood Exchanges new owner said it was very confident about the economic prospects for Belfast and Northern Ireland as a whole and says the latest purchase very much builds on this confidence in the Northern Ireland economy.

The impact of the pandemic has affected all businesses and the retail sector has been no exception to this, spokesman Matthew Beddow said.








It was supposed to be a pandemic triumph, a way for a prestigious school to keep its doors open when many others could not. Instead, the coronavirus testing program at New Trier High School, outside Chicago, offers a cautionary lesson about what happens when educators are asked to take on public health responsibilities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged school administrators to implement regular testing of students in order to identify coronavirus outbreaks before they become more widespread. Late last year, New Trier, which serves families from some of Chicagos most affluent suburbs, rolled out a $1.3 million testing campaign, part of an ambitious plan to keep classrooms open for the school year regardless of rising infection rates in the community.

Administrators made testing mandatory for all 4,000 students on the schools two campuses. But the school chose a lab that had not been certified to run a testing program of its kind, led by a scientist who was not qualified under federal guidelines to run a diagnostic lab. The saliva test the lab used was neither vetted nor authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.

The test relies on a widely used technology, but a study describing its uses has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal nor validated by independent experts. According to federal guidelines, the assay should not be used to identify potentially infected students.
CHISINAU -- Moldovan President Maia Sandu says she has appealed to the Constitutional Court for its opinion regarding her intention to dissolve parliament and call early parliamentary elections.

I, like experts on constitutional law, believe that the legal circumstances for the dissolution of parliament have been met, Sandu told reporters on March 30, five days after the Socialist-dominated parliament failed for a second time to approve the candidate nominated by the pro-Western president to serve as prime minister.

Lawmakers on February 11 rejected Sandu's first choice for the post, former Finance Minister Natalia Gavrilita.

Under the constitution, the president has the right to ask for the dissolution of the legislature and organize snap elections after a second failure to approve a new prime minister within 45 days, or if the formation of a new government is blocked for three months.

In her press conference, Sandu reiterated her criticism of the current parliament, saying it includes corrupt deputies who "impoverish the country."

The president has refused to nominate two candidates for prime minister proposed by the parliamentary majority led by the Moscow-leaning Socialist Party.

After Sandus announcement, the Socialist Party head and former Moldovan President Igor Dodon said his party would use "all legal means" to prevent general elections from being held during the coronavirus pandemic.

A U.S.-educated former adviser with the World Bank, Sandu defeated Dodon in November 2020 on a pledge to fight entrenched corruption and improve relations with the European Union.

She has repeatedly said she wants to push for snap elections in order to acquire a working majority in the 101-seat legislature.

Moldova, with a population of about 3.5 million, is one of Europes poorest countries and is sharply divided between those who support closer ties with Russia and those who advocate stronger links to Brussels and neighboring EU member Romania.
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The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, was unhappy when he noticed that both the Minister of Health and the Minister of State for Health failed to show up for a public hearing at the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Messrs Osagie Ehanire and Olorunnmibe Mamora did not only snub the meeting which was scheduled for 1 p.m., they also failed to send representatives from the ministry to the hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Health.

It is, however, not clear if they sent a message to the panel excusing themselves from the meeting.

The scheduled public hearing was for three health bills being considered in the Senate.

The bills are: A Bill for an Act to amend the Orthopaedic Hospital Management Board Act No. 21 of 1979 and for other related matters to provide for the establishment of the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Kuta (Niger State), Bill 2021 sponsored by Sani Musa; National University of Health and Medical Sciences Suleja, Niger State, (Establishment), Bill 2021 also sponsored by Sani Musa; and the Federal University of Medical Sciences Abeokuta, Ogun State (establishment) Bill 2021, sponsored by Ibikunle Amosun.

Mr Lawan, who was invited to declare the session open, noticed the absence of representatives from the ministry and registered his displeasure before doing so.

The event, he noted, is responsible for bills passed by the National Assembly which are sometimes denied assent by President Muhammadu Buhari due to wrong advice from ministry officials.

I have a written speech for this event but before then where is the Minister of Health or Minister of State Health? Or is there anyone representing the Ministry of Health?

This is an anomaly and we dont take it kindly because sometimes the National Assembly would process a bill and the bill will be taken to Mr President for his assent and somebody will just go round and misadvise that that Bill should not be assented to. And this is done mostly by ministry officials, the Senate president said.

He wondered why an invitation by the Senate committee will be snubbed by the ministers when the session is in the interest of the government and good governance.

It is always in the interest of the government and good governance that when there is a public hearing  the ministry, government officials, the technical people  should be around to hear the views of the people.

And if they have any objection, they should say so in the presence of everyone, so that they listen to arguments.

Therefore it is sad that neither the minister, nor the minister of state, nor anyone from the federal ministry of health is here to attend this particular public hearing and I think it is sad. And nothing should happen to our bills, he added.

He, however, went ahead to declare the event open. Officials were called to make their inputs to the bills with regards to their provisions.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the panel, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, said the purpose of the hearing was to articulate the views of stakeholders and the general public on the three bills with a view to coming up with balanced legislation that would be acceptable to all.

Efforts to ask why the ministers were absent at the hearing were unsuccessful as the Director of Information, Brenda Nwokike, could not be reached via phone.
On Tuesday morning, for the fourth time, SpaceX attempted a high-altitude test of its next-generation rocket and for the fourth time, it exploded.

Through a series of test flights since December, SpaceX has successfully launched prototypes of Starship, intended to take people to Mars one day, and after reaching an altitude of several miles, demonstrated a controlled belly flop back toward to the ground. But each time, the rocket encountered trouble during or after landing, resulting in spectacular explosions.

This time, something went wrong earlier, as the engines reignited at the start of the landing procedure. Video from SpaceX then froze, at 5:49 minutes after liftoff.

Coverage by NASASpaceflight, a website for space enthusiasts, showed shards of metal raining down around the launch site including debris that hit one the cameras.
South Dakota bans abortions based on Down syndrome diagnosis; Noem signs 4 pro-life bills

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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed four pro-life bills into law last week, including a bill that makes abortions performed in the state because of a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis a felony.

Known as House Bill 1110, the measure was signed into law last Friday and bans abortions for the sake of terminating a Down syndrome baby, with an exemption given for life-threatening medical emergency for the mother.

No person may perform or attempt to perform an abortion with knowledge that the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion because the unborn child either has been diagnosed with Down syndrome or has had a genetic screening indicating that the unborn child may have Down syndrome, the bill reads.

Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 6 felony. No penalty may be assessed against the woman upon whom the abortion is performed or attempted to be performed.

In a statement last Friday, Noem cited the Declaration of Independence, noting that God created each of us and endowed all of us with the right to life."

"This is true for everyone, including those with an extra chromosome," she wrote.

I look forward to the day when the Supreme Court recognizes that all preborn children inherently possess this right to life, too," she added. Until that time comes, I am pleased to sign a ban on the abortion of a preborn child, just because that child is diagnosed with Down syndrome, as well as several other important pro-life bills.

The legislation was criticized by pro-choice groups like the South Dakota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, claiming that it wrongfully marginalizes reproductive rights.

We oppose House Bill 1110 because forced pregnancy threatens a persons physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as the stability and wellbeing of their family, stated the ACLU of South Dakota before the bill was signed.

This bill is an attempt to push abortion access even further out of reach out of reach in a state with some of the heaviest abortion restrictions possible in this country.

In addition to HB 1110, Noem has signed three other anti-abortion bills.

Senate Bill 183 bars contracts from forcing women to undergo abortions. House Bill 1114 creates a definition of abortion that labels the fetus an unborn human being."

House Bill 1130 creates requirements for clinics to present information on the controversial abortion reversal procedure for medical abortions. The bill states that information presented to mothers must state that "even after a pregnant mother takes Mifepristone, or another drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the same use, it is still possible to discontinue a drug-induced abortion by not taking the prescribed Misoprostol."
Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican and a close ally of former President Donald Trump, is being investigated by the Justice Department over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him, according to three people briefed on the matter.

Investigators are examining whether Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws, the people said. A variety of federal statutes make it illegal to induce someone under 18 to travel over state lines to engage in sex in exchange for money or something of value. The Justice Department regularly prosecutes such cases, and offenders often receive severe sentences.

It was not clear how Gaetz met the girl, believed to be 17 at the time of encounters about two years ago that investigators are scrutinizing, according to two of the people.

The investigation was opened in the final months of the Trump administration under Attorney General William Barr, the two people said. Given Gaetzs national profile, senior Justice Department officials in Washington  including some appointed by Trump  were notified of the investigation, the people said.

The three people said that the examination of Gaetz, 38, is part of a broader investigation into a political ally of his, a local official in Florida named Joel Greenberg, who was indicted last summer on an array of charges, including sex trafficking of a child and financially supporting people in exchange for sex, at least one of whom was an underage girl.

Greenberg, who has since resigned his post as tax collector in Seminole County, north of Orlando, visited the White House with Gaetz in 2019, according to a photograph that Greenberg posted on Twitter.

No charges have been brought against Gaetz, and the extent of his criminal exposure is unclear.

Gaetz said in an interview that his lawyers had been in touch with the Justice Department and that they were told he was the subject, not the target, of an investigation. I only know that it has to do with women, Gaetz said. I have a suspicion that someone is trying to recategorize my generosity to ex-girlfriends as something more untoward.

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorneys office in Central Florida.

Greenberg pleaded not guilty last year and was sent to jail this month for violating the terms of his bail. He is scheduled to go on trial in June in Orlando.

A frequent presence on Fox News and other conservative media, Gaetz has recently mused with confidants about quitting elected politics and taking a full-time job with the conservative television channel Newsmax or another network, according to a person familiar with the conversations. Axios first reported on Tuesday that Gaetz was considering leaving Congress.

Greenberg maintained ties to controversial figures who have supported Trump, an examination of court records, social media posts and far-right websites showed. A website run by a member of the far-right group the Proud Boys and a network of fake social media accounts linked to Trumps longtime political adviser Roger Stone have promoted false accusations about Greenbergs rivals similar to rumors that prosecutors accused Greenberg of secretly trying to spread.

It was not clear how Greenberg knew either Gaetz or Stone. He posted a selfie with both in 2017, tweeting, Great catching up. The following year, Gaetz expressed support for Greenbergs successful bid for local office, predicting he would someday make a great member of Congress.

On Capitol Hill, Gaetz has embraced the role of villain to the left as much as he has served as one of Trumps staunchest defenders and enablers, often with theatrical flair. He wore a gas mask on the House floor last year in the early days of the pandemic, insisting he was demonstrating concern for public safety amid accusations he was mocking the seriousness of the spread of the coronavirus.

Gaetz was first elected to Congress in 2016. As a member of the Florida Legislature and the scion of a Republican political family, he had initially backed former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida in the Republican presidential primary that year before hitching his political fortunes to Trump.

It paid off. He won a seat in Congress representing part of the Florida Panhandle, and as one of Trumps most flamboyant supporters on Capitol Hill and on cable television, his profile skyrocketed.

Gaetz invited a right-wing Holocaust skeptic to the State of the Union address in 2018, and attended an event last year where he said the Proud Boys had provided security, though he has distanced himself from the group on his podcast. When Democrats moved in 2019 to impeach Trump for the first time, Gaetz and a phalanx of Republicans following him barged past Capitol Police into the secure rooms of the House Intelligence Committee to briefly break up the investigation into the president.

After Trumps defeat last year, Gaetz once again rallied to his side, defending the presidents baseless claims of widespread election fraud. Gaetz helped organize efforts among lawmakers to challenge President-elect Joe Biden's victory during Congress certification of it on Jan. 6 that was disrupted for hours by a pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol. Gaetz later traveled to Wyoming to hold a rally against Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican leader who had voted to impeach Trump for inciting the riot.

In 2017, Gaetz was the only member of Congress to vote against a law that gave the federal government more power and money to fight human trafficking.

Voters in Northwest Florida did not send me to Washington to go and create more federal government, Gaetz said in a local television interview at the time. If anything, we should be abolishing a lot of the agencies at the federal level.

Gaetzs personal life has gained attention before. Last summer, he announced that he had a son, Nestor Galban, 19, though Gaetz said he was not Galbans biological father, nor had he adopted him. Galban had been 12 when they met and had come to the United States from Cuba; Gaetz was at the time dating Galbans sister.

He is a part of my family story, Gaetz told People magazine in June. My work with Nestor, our family, no element of my public service could compare to the joy that our family has brought me.

Gaetz proposed to his girlfriend, Ginger Luckey, at Trumps Mar-a-Lago club on Dec. 30.

It was unclear how investigators in the Greenberg case began examining Gaetzs conduct. Last June, federal prosecutors secured an indictment against Greenberg, accusing him of stalking a political rival.

Around that time, federal authorities seized Greenbergs phone and laptop, according to court records. They discovered evidence that Greenberg, whose job responsibilities included issuing licenses, was creating fake identification cards for himself and a teenage girl, and was experimenting with holograms used on permits for concealed firearms, according to court documents.

Two months later, he was indicted on the sex trafficking charge. From May to November 2017, prosecutors said, Greenberg targeted the girl, who was between 14 and 17, saying he recruited and solicited her for sex acts in exchange for unspecified perks or favors.

Greenberg worked in advertising before running successfully at the age of 31 in 2016 for tax collector in Seminole County.

Within days of taking office, he fired three employees who had supported his predecessor and began spending more than $1.5 million in taxpayer money on personal expenses, including guns, ammunition, body armor and a drone, as well as on computers for his own cryptocurrency venture, a county audit later revealed.

The following year, according to The Orlando Sentinel, Greenberg posted a photograph of himself on social media with Milo Yiannopoulos, a right-wing personality who has a history of making racist remarks. The newspaper also detailed Greenbergs own misogynist and anti-Muslim comments on Facebook.

In his bid for reelection, Greenberg turned in late 2019 to clandestine tactics to undermine a possible rival, according to court papers. Prosecutors said he sent an anonymous letter to the school where one potential candidate worked that made unfounded accusations of sexual misconduct with a student and making similar claims on a fake Facebook account.

As the primary race intensified last summer, similar messaging began appearing on fake social media accounts that have been tied to Stone.

Watch out Seminole county, someone named April Goad said on Facebook, warning Floridians dont open your door to the rival candidate, according to Graphika, a company that specializes in analyzing social media.

The post linked to an article about the rival published on Central Florida Post, a website controlled by Stones associates that had written favorable articles about Greenberg. The website was founded by a member of the Proud Boys who has been linked to security providers for Stone on Jan. 6 in Washington in the lead-up to the insurrection at the Capitol.

Greenbergs reelection efforts quickly evaporated when he was first indicted last June, and he resigned a day later.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Christian mother raises awareness on sex trafficking after attempted abduction of 2 y-o daughter

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A Texas mother's harrowing run-in with suspected child sex traffickers who attempted to abduct her 2-year-old girl recently shared what she believes every parent needs to know so they can protect their children.

During an appearance on pro-life advocate Abby Johnsons hit podcast, "Politely Rude," Amanda Florczykowski, a Christian mother of four from Longview, Texas, shared how in 2016, she and her 2-year-old daughter and infant son were shopping in Walmart when a strange man commented on how cute her children were.

Thinking nothing of it, Florczykowski proceeded to the check-out line but noticed the man was still observing her family. While in line, another strange woman struck up a conversation with her.

Her first words are, How old is your daughter? She's so cute. How old is your daughter? And she wants to talk about my daughter, Florczykowski recalled. She asked me again, like 10 seconds later, OK, she's so cute. How old is your daughter?

At that point, the woman turned over her shoulder to talk to a second man behind her in a different language, Florczykowski said.

He is like a stone statue, facing the opposite direction, never looks at my kiddos, she said. She is communicating with him in a different language over her shoulder about my kids. And she asked me a third time, How old is your daughter?

LISTEN: Subscribe to the Politely Rude With Abby Johnson Podcast on Edifi

At this point, Florczykowski said caution started to rise up in her: I'm thinking to myself, this is really bizarre that she's asked me for a third time, she said. It finally dawns on me that she's interpreting what I'm saying. It still gives me goosebumps. I'm having an unwanted conversation with this man about my young daughter through this woman.

Disconcerted, Florczykowski picked up her daughter  and the woman began inching closer, even placing her hand on her grocery cart.

Even a security camera wouldn't have picked up that this was like a scary, creepy couple. I mean, they were really savvy, really smooth, she said. And I thought, This is bizarre she's got her hand on my cart. She's asking about my kiddo.

The woman asked Florczykowski to hold her little girl  and after she refused, the woman suddenly grabbed the toddlers wrists and began to walk away. "Say bye to mommy, the woman told her.

She's not even making eye contact with me at this point, she's just looking at my daughter and she takes her little wrists, Florczykowski said. I lunged forward, grabbing my child; it's like slow motion. At that same time, [the couple is] exiting the store and leaving. I finally have my daughter back. I'm like slumped over the register; my knees are shaking.

The cashier asked Florczykowski if she was OK  and she replied, No. Im not. I do not know what just happened, but I think ... my child was just potentially abducted by a sex trafficking ring.

The second she said sex trafficking, Florczykowski noticed a third, suspicious-looking tattooed man glaring at her.

He looked like pure evil. He's terrifying. And when I said the word child sex trafficking, he caught my eye ... he did not want me to say anything else. His look was, If you dont shut up, Ill make you shut up.

That evening, Florczykowski got home and began researching sex trafficking and shared her experience on Facebook, where it shortly went viral.

I go, OK, nobody else is going to be a victim, she said.

Shortly after sharing her story, a woman reached out to Florczykowski and identified the strange man in Walmart as a notorious drug and sex trafficker and serial rapist who had been released from prison just a few weeks prior to their encounter.

Though the police department wasnt initially helpful, Florczykowski said she continued to demand answers. After some investigating, it was confirmed that the first man she encountered at Walmart had left the store with the third man she encountered  a known trafficker and serial rapist.

That moment it was a lightbulb moment ... like this is the reality of what's happening, she said.

Determined to raise awareness about sex trafficking and prevent others from having the same experience, Florczykowski wrote a book, Unraveled: Mothering Fiercely in a World Full of Fears,and launched a website.

She encouraged other parents to be aware of their surroundings at all times and trust their gut instincts about those around them.

We've been so conditioned as a culture that we want to be nice. We want to be friendly, she said. But let me tell you something, that right there needs to be thrown out; that conditioning culture of being politically correct and wanting to appease everybody has got to be thrown out ... trust the Holy Spirit [who] lives inside you. Its pretty basic.

Florczykowski also stressed the importance of maintaining a strong family unit, pointing out that sex traffickers can seek out and identify vulnerable children in a matter of seconds.

It's not like they're dragging children and the children are kicking and screaming and they have their hands over their mouths. That's not what child trafficking looks like, she said, adding that traffickers know how to groom children and make them feel comfortable.

She encouraged parents to educate themselves, prioritize their families, and advocate for those vulnerable.

I think it speaks to this shift in our culture where we just don't value our kids. People are not valuing their children. So you know what? We as parents have to because nobody else will value them, Florczykowski said.

According to Human Trafficking Hotline, the United States, along with Mexico and the Philippines, was ranked as one of the world's worst places for human trafficking in 2018. It's estimated that between 18,000 and 20,000 victims are trafficked into the U.S. every year.



Ashleigh S. Chapman, a human rights lawyer and the founder of Engage Together, an organization that helps individuals and churches combat human trafficking, recently told The Christian Post that the Church is uniquely positioned to combat the crisis.

Churches are already serving in every community and often know the needs of their community better than anyone. They are regularly interacting with people who might be vulnerable to human trafficking. They also are in a position to equip their leadership and mobilize church members to respond to the needs of their community. Each individual member of a congregation has an important role to play in preventing and ending human trafficking, as does the church as a whole, she said.

And the truth is, there are not 10 things to do to end human trafficking in your city. There are a thousand things that need to be done. Instead of being overwhelmed by that, see it as an opportunity. And know that there is absolutely something (or many things) your church and members can do to make a substantial impact.
Steve Gonzales, Staff Photographer / Houston Chronicle

Police have arrested a man accused of bludgeoning his estranged wife in the head with a hammer during a night time attack that, authorities say, left her brain dead and unlikely to survive.

The womans screams  and then moans  at the Cypress home woke at least one of the couples six children. The next morning, the children  one of the children as young as 5  discovered their mother, Thi Nguyen, in the living room  bleeding from a head wound on the mattress where she had been sleeping, according to court records. Their father, Minh Hoang, 55, then forced the children to clean up her blood.
Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.
Cracking the whip in a case related to Zenith Birla (India) Ltd, on Tuesday barred six individuals and seven entities from the for varying periods and also directed some of them to disgorge illegal gains.

In a 92-page order, the watchdog has imposed a three-year ban on Zenith Birla, Arun Panchariya and Vintage FZE.

Besides, High Blue Sky Emerging Market Fund, Pan Asia Advisors Ltd, Mukesh Chauradiya, India Focus Cardinal Fund and P V R Murthy have been barred from the for two years.

has also restrained Cardinal Capital Partners (CCP), Golden Cliff, Yash Birla, M S Arora and A P Kurias for one year each.

According to the order, Panchariya, Vintage FZE, India Focus Cardinal Fund and Blue Sky Emerging Market Fund have to disgorge, jointly and severally, illegal gains of Rs 59.06 crore made by way of sale of equity shares after conversion of GDRs (Global Depository Receipts) of Zenith by IFCF and HBS as sub-accounts in the Indian

This amount has to be disgorged along with an interest of six per cent per annum from the date of sale of those equity shares, within 45 days, said.

In case they fail to comply with the direction within the stipulated time, Sebi said they would be restrained from accessing the securities market till the actual payment of disgorgement amount or till the completion of their debarment, whichever is later.

"This direction is without prejudice to any other action including action for recovery of such amounts from these noticees which may be initiated by Sebi," the order said.

While passing the order, Sebi Whole Time Member S K Mohanty said that Zenith Birla should continue to pursue all the measures to bring back the outstanding GDR proceeds amounting to USD 14.50 million into its bank account in India.

After bringing the outstanding GDR proceeds into its Indian bank account, it should furnish a certificate from a peer reviewed chartered accountant along with necessary documentary evidences to Sebi, certifying compliance with the direction, he said in the order.

The case pertains to issuance of GDRs by Zenith Birla. It had issued 1.81 million GDRs for USD 22.99 million in May 2010.

Sebi noted that European American Investment Bank AG, Austria (Euram Bank) had granted a loan to Vintage FZE to subscribe to the GDRs.

Panchariya had signed the loan agreement on the behalf of Vintage as Managing Director and the issue was subscribed only by Vintage.

As per Sebi, the company pledged its entire GDR proceeds with Euram Bank as a security against the loan availed by Vintage for subscribing to the GDRs.

It was also found that all the 1.81 million GDRs were cancelled and converted into equity shares. After cancellation, it was noticed that 4.77 crore shares of Zenith on conversion of 13.77 lakh GDRs were sold in the Indian securities market through FII-sub account namely India Focus Cardinal Fund (IFCF).

Similarly, 1.15 crore shares of Zenith on conversion of 319,626 GDRs were sold in the Indian securities market through FII-sub account namely High Blue Sky Emerging Market Fund (HBS).

"In my opinion, without the role and support of CCP and Golden Cliff, the said fraudulent scheme conceived by the company pertaining to the issuance of GDRs followed by loan default by Vintage, forfeiture of GDR proceeds by Euram Bank and unlawful gains made by IFCF and HBS out of the underlying equity shares of those GDRs of Zenith which were allotted to Vintage for inadequate consideration, could not have been completed...," Mohanty said in the order.

He also noted that those underlying equity shares of Zenith could not have been dumped in the Indian securities market.

Panchariya was also a director at Pan Asia Advisors Ltd, which was the lead manager of Zenith's GDR issue.

(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.)
Kolkata: Campaigning for the second phase of West Bengal assembly elections ended on Tuesday (March 30) evening.

The 48-hour silence period came into force before the voting which is set to take place on April 1.

A total of 171 candidates are in the fray in the upcoming phase which will see 30 constituencies across four districts go to polls.

The total number of voters who will exercise their franchise stand at 75,94,549. Polling will be conducted in 10,620 booths, according to Election Commission.

All the booths where polling will be held in the second phase have been declared as "sensitive" by the EC, PTI said quoting sources.

The EC will deploy total 651 companies of Central Armed Police for this phase of election which will be held in Bankura (Part II), Purba Medinipur (Part II), Paschim Medinipur (Part II) and South 24 Parganas (Part I), sources said.

A total 199 companies of CAPF will be deployed in Purba Medinipur, 210 companies in Paschim Medinipur, 170 in South 24 Parganas and 72 in Bankura, they added.

On the final day of campaigning, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held roadshows with actor Mithun Chakraborty in support of Adhikari in Nandigram.

TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee also addressed multiple rallies at several venues.

Banerjee on Tuesday urged the voters in Nandigram to maintain their cool and cast their votes to her party Trinamool Congress on the day of the polling.

During the election, cast your votes peacefully. Keep in mind, 'cool cool Trinamool, thanda thanda cool cool, vote pabe joda phool'. Keep your mind cool for 48 hours, the West Bengal CM said in Sona Chura, Nandigram.

Counting of votes for the ongoing elections will be done on May 2.

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[March 30, 2021] CyberLink Releases Significant Updates to its Director Family, Including the New PhotoDirector 365 for macOS with Shutterstock Integration for Royalty-Free Premium Content

CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW) today announced the first macOS release of PhotoDirector 365, CyberLink's flagship subscription photo editing software for content creators, enthusiasts, and professional users. With the addition of PhotoDirector 365 Mac, CyberLink is now the only brand in the industry offering software support for its flagship video and photo editing solutions across all platforms and operating systems. CyberLink customers now have access to both PowerDirector and PhotoDirector value-loaded subscription versions on Windows, Mac, Android (News - Alert) , iOS and Chromebook. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005473/en/ CyberLink Releases Significant Updates to its Director Family, Including the New PhotoDirector 365 for macOS with Shutterstock Integration for Royalty-Free Premium Content (Photo: Business Wire) The new PhotoDirector 365 Mac comes with free and unlimited access to an extensive, royalty-free library of premium content from market leader Shutterstock. This service is integrated into the software's content library, bringing an invaluable resource to users' fingertips. This new release from CyberLink also adds the Shutterstock library to PowerDirector 365 Mac, completing availability across all the Director 365 offerings, and included at no extra cost with the subscription. For the first time, all 365 users can leverage hundreds of thousands of professional-grade photos, videos and audio clips for consumer and commercial use. Beyond the introduction of PhotoDirector 365 Mac, CyberLink's update comes with several new features and add-ons, together with noticeable user interface enhancements across all its Director 365 creative software offerings, on all platforms, while maintaining its highly competitive and flexible pricing options: PhotoDirector 365 for Mac features a new Shutterstock integration, and both PC and Mac versions come with new photo editing capabilities, including: Auto color enhancement Bokeh effect Salient object segmentation

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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba appreciated Canada and Australia for the imposition of sanctions against a number of individuals and companies from Russia due to the construction of the Crimean bridge.

"I welcome Canada's and Australia's additional steps to hold Russia accountable for the ongoing occupation of Crimea and human rights violations there. The campaign of increasing sanctions pressure on Russia will continue until the territorial integrity of Ukraine is fully restored," Kuleba wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

Canada has imposed sanctions on two Russians and four companies associated with the construction of the Crimean Bridge, the Canadian Foreign Office said. Canada has sanctioned the First Crimean Insurance Company, Crimea Railway, Lenpromtransproyekt, the Berkakit-Tommot-Yakutsk Railway Line's Construction Directorate, Grand Service Express CEO Alexander Ganov, and StroyGazMontazh Deputy CEO for Infrastructure Projects Leonid Ryzhenkin.

In addition, the Australian Foreign Ministry announced the imposition of sanctions against one individual and four companies from Russia due to the construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait.


remaining of

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MBABANE  Disorder!

The above phrase describes the first day of opening of schools yesterday. It was a bad start to the reopening of schools as a lot seemed to have gone wrong. Teachers had a tough time while trying to arrange pupils who had no clue which classrooms they had to occupy. Most pupils went straight to classrooms they were familiar with when they last attended school in March last year. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, most pupils did not attend school and government allowed for automatic progression to the next class, something which puzzled the pupils. Meanwhile, some of the pupils in Grade IV, V and VI had to be turned back as they had attended school yet they were not supposed to. Also, teachers were left confused as to which classes to take, especially because the classrooms had been divided to accommodate at least 20 pupils per class as per the regulations.

Allocation

Head teachers faced a hard time when trying to explain the allocation of classes and a way forward. In an interview with St Marks Primary School Head teacher Bhekile Mabuza, she said it was not easy to handle the situation following the long break. Mabuza said the school enrolment was about 1 500 pupils and it was not easy for the newcomers in Grade I and II as they were still young, hence they requested guardians to accompany them. Some of the pupils are not sure of which class they belong to as they asked; Am I in Grade I or am I in Grade II yet they had been promoted to the next class, said Mabuza. Further, she said the teachers were moving class by class verifying with their class list whether the pupils were supposed to be in the grade they were in. She said according to governments arrangement, the Grade Is and IIs were supposed to attend school on the same day but it would not be the case with them.

Mabuza stated that the grades would come on different days as the pupils were too many. She said the numbers they had before the outbreak of COVID-19 were 40 pupils in each class, which they had to split to two to adhere to the regulations. However, she said when admitting pupils, they made sure that they registered 20 pupils per class but it was not the same with the Grade IIs, who were many due to the fact that they were admitted while the country was still COVID-19-free. According to Mabuza, Grade I pupils would have to be accommodated in the Grade II classrooms as well due to the numbers, adding that it would be impossible then for the two grades to come on the same day.
Vaccinating the masses is underway in California, but Kern County continues to lag behind almost all other counties in its vaccination rates, 
New Delhi, March 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday wished National Conference (NC) chief and Lok Sabha member Dr. Farooq Abdullah a speedy recovery from the Covid-19 infection.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Praying for the good health and speedy recovery of Dr. Farooq Abdullah Ji. Also praying for your and the entire family's good health @OmarAbdullah." The senior most Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader's son Omar Abdullah confirmed on Tuesday that the 83-year-old leader has tested positive for Covid-19.

"My father has tested positive for COVID-19 & is showing some symptoms. I will be self-isolating along with other family members until we get ourselves tested. I request anyone who has come into contact with us over the last few days to take all the mandated precautions", Omar Abdullah tweeted.

Earlier this month, Farooq Abdullah had taken the first Covid jab at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar.

The pandemic has been registering an alarming surge in J&K during the last one week and the number of people testing positive has steadily increased.

Health officials are blaming the casual approach of the general public to preventive measures as the main reason for the surge in the numbers of people getting infected.

Authorities have mandated wearing of masks in public places and ordered on the spot testing and imposition of heavy fines on violators.

With the tourist season picking up in Kashmir, it is feared that unless strict action is taken to impose preventive measures, the situation could worsen.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Security forces in trucks with a bus for people in custody stand by on Hledan road in Kamayut township of Yangon in Myanmar, March 29. The United States suspended a trade pact with Myanmar. AP



The US suspended a trade pact with Myanmar Monday and led international condemnation of the junta's ruthless crackdown, as protesters and mourners took to the streets after the deadliest weekend since the military coup.



Soldiers and police have killed hundreds in a brutal campaign against mass anti-coup protests demanding a restoration of democracy and the release of ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.



At least 107 people, including seven children, were killed on Saturday, the United Nations said, as the regime staged a major show of might for Armed Forces Day  an annual parade showcasing Myanmar's military prowess.



More than 450 people have been killed in the crackdown on protests since the February 1 coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) monitoring group, as security forces have used rubber bullets and live rounds to break up demonstrations.



US President Joe Biden's administration announced Monday that the 2013 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, which laid out ways to boost business but was not a fully-fledged deal, would remain suspended until democracy is restored.



"The United States strongly condemns the Burmese security forces' brutal violence against civilians," US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said, using Myanmar's former name of Burma.



The statement effectively removes Myanmar from the Generalized System of Preferences, in which the United State grants duty-free access to some imports from developing nations if they meet key standards.



Despite the weekend violence, protesters turned out at dawn in towns and cities around the country.



Hundreds paraded through the town of Plate, in Mandalay region, with banners saying: "The people will never be defeated".



In Sagaing region, hundreds of mourners lined the street to pay tribute to 20-year-old nursing student Thinzar Hein, who was shot dead while helping rescue workers provide first aid to injured protesters.



As child casualties mount, 60 youngsters in a town in eastern Karen state staged their own protest parade accompanied by their mothers, local media reported.



In Yangon, a one-year-old girl is recovering from surgery after being shot in the eye with a rubber bullet while playing near her house on Saturday, which was also her birthday.





A man uses a slingshot during a protest against the military coup, in Yangon, Myanmar, March 28. Reuters
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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

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Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

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Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

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NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

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The government will issue 9m worth of funding to organisations so they can support farmers with the transition away from the EU's Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).

Defra's Future Farming Resilience Fund (FFRF) will soon award grants to industry groups who will, in turn, support up to 9,000 farmers free of charge.

Organisations have been invited to apply for funding, with the deadline for submitting applications set for 7 May.

The average farm in England will see direct payment cuts of over 50% by 2024 before new post-Brexit schemes are fully available, the department confirmed in November.

The Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS) will be rolled out in its place, to incentivise sustainable farming practices while boosting the environment.

Defra said resilience support should help individual farmers learn more about topics such as the impact of BPS reductions, business planning and succession planning.

It could be delivered in the form of workshops supported by experts or through direct, one-to-one advice.

Defra said: "We want farmers and land managers to feel supported to make the best decisions for their farms, families and future.

"Weve had to revise the timetable for the roll-out of the fund given the timing of the launch of this tender exercise.

"We now expect that the support to farmers and land managers will be available from late July/ August rather than May."

The successful grant applicants will be announced in July and support will be scaled up from April 2022.
New Delhi:

Mumbai Police arrested a woman for contracting her own son and his friends to murder her youngest son, who repeatedly sexually assaulted her and several other relatives.

According to a senior police official of Thane Police, the woman got her son killed as he was regularly sexually assaulting her and maintaining sexual relations with multiple women.

"The woman told us that she planned to kill her son as she was tired of the regular sexual harassment, said a senior police officer.

The fact surfaced up after the woman was detained on Sunday. The woman has been identified as Rajani

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Palghar, Raj Tilak Roshan told the media that the police had recovered a body of a 22-year-old youth with slit throat from the outskirts of Gokhivare village in Vasai under Waliv Police station jurisdiction.

Also read: Son raped 75-year-old mother for over 2 years in Punjab



During course of investigation they identified the victim has Ramcharan Dwivedi from the tattoos embedded with his and mothers name.

We called the woman to identify the victim but she bluntly denied to identify the body, added the ASP.

Another police official of Waliv police station said that her behaviour was bit suspicious.

During investigation we learnt that the woman had lied initially and she hired her son from first marriage and his friends for Rs 50,000 to kill her youngest son, added the ASP.

Also read: Mother spends night on road with sons dead body after landlord denied entry



The ASP added that the woman was detained and during questioning she accepted the crime and told the police that he was living in a rented home with a woman but had not married her.

The woman told us that her son was also maintaining sexual relationships with others too. She planned the murder after Dwivedi recently molested a relative, added the ASP.

The ASP added that all accused in the crime have been arrested.

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CARY, N.C., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Chartered Bank has been awarded IDC's "2021 Smartest Bank in Asia" award for its Scenario Based Analytics Platform (SBAP) by IDC Financial Insights at its annual Financial Insights Innovation Awards (FIIA) 2021. The solution not only meets the demands of increasingly challenging stress test requirements, but also excels in its scalability across other use cases.

In partnership with SAS, the leader in analytics software and services, the bank built a robust stress testing platform that started out as a tool for regulatory compliance, and has been expanded to assess the impact of crisis scenarios on its future P&L and balance sheet. Standard Chartered Bank's efforts in building a competitive advantage around risk analytics and intelligence are a key element of their success in digital transformation.

Standard Chartered Bank's initiative was among the 100 high-quality entries submitted for this award by leading banks across Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) or APEJ region. This year, there are fifteen winners.

Each year, IDC Financial Insights invites financial services organizations across Asia-Pacific to nominate the initiatives that they believe warrant special recognition in the area of innovation. The FIIA recognizes the successes of these institutions in displaying innovation to realize business objectives.

These initiatives are measured by the FIIA Assessment Panel (made up of IDC Financial Insights analysts and an independent panel of industry practitioners) against a rigorous set of matrices that look at responsiveness to market needs, effectiveness of rollout, and market take-up and sustainability.

According to Daniel Gelinas, Head of the Stress Testing Strategic Program at Standard Chartered Bank, one of the major reasons for choosing SAS as the main vendor for the SBAP project was that the SAS solution allowed for easy integration with other tools and software in the market. The bank's principles of openness to running models on many programming languages aligned their stress testing solution with what SAS is doing with its analytical platform. This laid the foundation for a strategic partnership. Another key reason for selecting SAS was its advanced technology tools, particularly on the software's ability to connect risks to finance data.

According to Gelinas, choosing SAS as the correct technology partner was crucial in allowing the stress testing platform to continually adapt and grow on its transformation journey. The bank is currently migrating the SBAP to a centralised and more powerful second generation, with plans to gain greater efficiency in managing data. There are plans to make the platform available to as many as 20 regions, entities, and countries by the end of 2021.

The SBAP was initially built for regulatory stress testing but is now doing much more for the bank. The platform is not only able to calculate impairment cost created by a crisis, it can also project its impact on the bank's financial statements for specific future periods in time.

"For the first time, we have a process where the risk and the finance numbers across the organization are integrated and optimized. The platform allows us to run all the models for balancing revenue with the risk profile within the organization as fully integrated," said Gelinas.

The output is a full balance sheet projection and P&L statement for each of the forecast periods. This means that scenario planning for a five-year period will provide the team insights into how much profit can be expected each year. With this, Standard Chartered Bank can fulfil its ultimate goal of stress testing: to ascertain the sustainability of the bank over its capital funding position.

"Working with Standard Chartered Bank to create a comprehensive stress testing capability for the whole bank has taken less than three years, and we are looking forward to continuing our partnership with them as we expand the solution into the next generation. We are aiming to gain greater efficiency in managing data and will be working with them to make the platform nimbler, to run faster, be more elastic, and be cloud native," said Remco den Heijer, Vice President for ASEAN at SAS.

"The SBAP is a key example of getting the best out of scalable technology innovation that factors in the consideration of future roadmaps and business objectives around risk analytics. As we assessed the submissions of this year, we recognize that digital transformation journeys are becoming more distinct. The role of technology vendors like SAS extends beyond that of merely being a service provider, to also playing a key role in taking ownership over Standard Chartered Bank's journey and working collaboratively with the business to grow their technology capabilities and implementation across a wide range of use cases. The bank's continuous transformation strategies in partnership with SAS, along with their commendable achievements in the SBAP project reiterates their standing as Asia's Smartest Bank," said Darshiniy Selvaratnam, Program Director of the FIIA Awards.

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.

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Standard Chartered bank through the Standard Chartered Foundation has unveiled a Shs 750 million cash boost to support 600 youth in agribusiness as part of the 'Futuremakers By Standard Chartered' programme.

The programme that will be implemented by its NGO partners; ICCO Cooperation and Youth Business International was unveiled at Kampala Serena hotel by minister of Agriculture, Animal, Industry and Fisheries Vincent Ssempijja.

The donation is earmarked to support micro, small and medium agri-businesses in northern Uganda districts of Lira and Nebbi that have been negatively impacted by the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and further escalated by the slow recovery process that has had far-reaching effects for vulnerable groups like; women, refugees and persons with disabilities.

"It is commendable that you are supporting and empowering disadvantaged youth in agri-business so they can be empowered as change agents, employers and skilled entrepreneurs who will transfer the skills learnt. I appeal to the beneficiaries to put the skills and recovery cash grants they will receive to good use. Be good stewards and ensure your impact in your districts is far-reaching and is felt for the good of the entire community and our country." said Ssempijja.

The project aims to support the re-establishment of 600 young entrepreneurs in Nebbi and Lira districts whose businesses were hard-hit by the COVID-19 by ensuring that a diverse range of young entrepreneurs continue to contribute towards a richer, more varied and more resilient economy for everyone.

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The youthful farmers will be provided with a holistic package that includes; entrepreneurship, business development and digital marketing skills training, linkages to finance and new markets, mentorship and recovery cash grants to facilitate the efficiency and sustainability of their businesses. 100 of the most vulnerable youths will receive cash grants worth Shs 2 million each to revive their businesses.

"Our donation today through the Standard Chartered Foundation is a continuation of our COVID-19 emergency relief measures that we embarked on last year that culminated into the donation of Shs 1.6 billion through over 8 NGOs to support various communities navigate and stay afloat during the pandemic. These funds will be used to reach some of the most vulnerable people in Lira and Nebbi as in any crisis, the young and the most vulnerable suffer disproportionately," said Albert Saltson, CEO Standard Chartered Bank Uganda.

Petra Van Haren country manager, ICCO Uganda said through interventions that focus on blending finance, climate-resilient food systems, new technologies and youth entrepreneurship, they seek to strengthen food and nutrition security and economic empowerment for smallholder farmers and SMEs.

She added that priority would be given to traditionally disadvantaged business owners who have been particularly affected by the COVID-19 economic crisis, including rural, micro and female entrepreneurs, business owners with disabilities and visual impairments and those excluded from the formal sector.
If you get an accident during curfew hours and you are not an essential service provider, you are on your own.

This is after insurers disclaimed themselves from eventualities likely to occur between 8pm and 4am, though a notice stating that they will not settle claims out of incidences that occur during hours the government has barred movement.

In the "Important industry notice", the Association of Kenya Professional Insurance Agents (AKPIA) - insurance companies, agencies and brokers - warned the insured against driving past curfew hours if they are not listed as essential service providers, or if anything happens they will be on their own.

"Driving past curfew hours without essential services authorisation or valid emergency reasons could render your motor insurance claim invalid. Please AVOID DRIVING PAST 8:00PM/Curfew Hours and adhere to all other GOK/ MOH COVID-19 guidelines," AKPIA stated in the Sunday public notice.

The notice sets the ground for controversies between insurance service providers and the insured against how claims resulting from incidences occurring within curfew hours will be handled, how the insurers define "emergency reasons" and what insurance contracts state.

The association has asked those insured to contact companies/agents/brokers they have taken cover with to get clarification, although its statement has already elicited fury from a section of the public who argue that curfew hours can never supersede terms of the contracts.

"This is a breach of contract. There is nowhere in the Policy that the Policy holder is advised to drive a car during certain times. A vehicle is insured inside and outside the curfew hours. Unless the Insurer refunds premiums and states that the car is insured excluding curfew hours," argued Kaluki Kyallo in response to the notice shared by the association on its Twitter handle.

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Other members of the public have questioned the association's move, wondering whether the insurers are also ready to refund their clients premiums covering for the curfew hours and amend contracts with their clients.

In response to the notice by AKPIA, the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) on Monday, however, stated that it was discussing with the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) to agree on the matter.

"We are reviewing the matter in liaison with IRA and shall communicate the position," AKI tweeted on Monday.

But the association had last year, in response to a complaint by a person that an insurance company refused to pay his claim since he was driving past curfew hours, stated that timing of an accident is immaterial.

"Unless there was another reason such as intoxication or other issue that is excluded in the motor policy, the timing of the accident is immaterial," the association said on July 30, 2020.

With 51 members across the country, AKI is the most powerful and popular association in the insurance industry and its decisions affect more players in the sector.

On the other hand, AKPIA is a membership based Association that represents the agency force in the Kenyan insurance industry, bridging consumers, the government, the underwriters and other stakeholders in the industry.
The State House Directorate of Lands has ordered the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers to cease operations and withdraw from a disputed land at Lebngec Upper Village, Longulu Sub-county in Nwoya District.

The officials were in the district for a fact-finding mission on March 24 following a petition to the President's office in which locals asked to restrain the army from torturing and assaulting them.

Speaking during the meeting at Lebngec Upper Village, Mr Edward Sunday Ochieng, the assistant private secretary to the President on Lands, said the soldiers were not only deployed illegally but had blocked locals and registered land owners from accessing their properties.

"The land belongs to Uganda Land Commission and if he (Capt Emmanuel Oloya Luger, a UPDF officer attached to UPDF 3rd Division) brings soldiers to guard the land, he is not only violating the rights of the other land users but also illegally claiming ownership of land," Mr Ochieng said.

In November 2020, Capt Oloya deployed a team of seven soldiers to guard the land. The team also forcefully evicted 31 families and fenced the land.

While evicting the residents, Capt Oloya said he was carrying out the evictions on the orders of State House.

When asked during the meeting to explain his actions, Capt Oloya instead told the team to challenge him in court.

Although he claimed that the soldiers were his bodyguards and did not assault anyone, Capt Oloya could not prove that the soldiers were assigned to him as bodyguards from the UPDF 4th Division.

"I am asking the District Police Commissioner (DPC), DISO, and the security team who are here to remove that gate today, let Capt Oloya go to court himself. Let it be removed and we see his soldiers kill us," Mr Ochieng said.

Meanwhile, Lt Patrick Mindra, the Nwoya UPDF commandant, said the army was investigating the accusations against the soldiers and that the culprits would be prosecuted.

Mr Ochieng ordered the DPC to block any form of eviction on the land and asked the evicted to re-occupy land as investigations continue.

The petition

In a February 19 letter, one of the petitioners Prof Ogenga Otunnu asked the President to prevail and assist him to recover Yusto Otunnu's (his dad) 800 acres of land located at Lebngec Upper Village that had been grabbed by Capt Oloya.

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"In November 2020, Capt Oloya, who had no legitimate claim of the land, violently seized the land and the surrounding on claims that he was directed by the State House," Prof Otunu wrote.

Locals asked the President to stop their eviction from the 5,200 acres of land, claiming that they have been under constant threats, torture, and intimidation by soldiers illegally deployed by Capt Emmanuel Oloya Luger, a UPDF officer attached to UPDF 3rd Division in Moroto District.

This newspaper established that Capt Oloya is claiming 3,100 acres of the land, according to survey documents.

The Nwoya District police commander, Mr Filbert Waibi, said land conflicts have continued to escalate in the district due to failure by the locals to document their land.

It was discovered during the meeting that none of the victims or the petitioners had a land title to warrant the legal claim of the land, including Capt Oloya, except Ms Santa Opiyo Lukone, whose lease title for 528 acres of land expires this year.

Records indicate that Dr Yusto Otun nu, applied for 800 acres of land for a period of 49 years from Gulu Land Office on October 20, 1980, although, a title was never issued and the process has since been pending.
Sea turtles find safe haven in Costa Rican national park

Tortuguero (Costa Rica), Nestled in the Costa Rican Caribbean is Tortuguero, a small village surrounded by fresh water, the sea and the splendours of nature that it has learned to preserve for its own benefit and for the enjoyment of thousands of tourists.



To reach Tortuguero requires a boat trip of more than an hour along the rivers and canals of the Costa Rican Caribbean, where crocodiles sunbathe on the banks, monkeys climb to the treetops and majestic birds like herons and anhingas spread their wings.



Surrounded by the Caribbean jungle and freshwater canals on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other, this is one of the favourite places for the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) to emerge from the salt water and lay its eggs on the beach in conditions of total darkness.



So extreme is the protection extended to the green sea turtle in Tortuguero National Park that no lights of any kind are permitted on the beach, except for an infrared used by a guide, and even less is anyone allowed to shoot videos or take photos.



The green sea turtle, which can grow to more than one metre in length and weigh up to 150 kg, has its nesting period between July and October. During that time last year some 26,000 nests were counted.



Each turtle can lay up to 100 eggs that hatch in 90 days, but few of the newborn turtles are believed to live long enough to attain full maturity.



The arrival of turtles on the beach in the nights from July to October is Tortuguero's main attraction, while during the rest of the year tourists can enjoy the freshwater canals and the getting-away-from-it-all peace and quiet offered by the waterside hotels.



Few of the hotels have television or alarm clocks in the rooms, because the philosophy of the owners is to bring visitors close to nature and the wild sounds of the jungle.



The village of Tortuguero was founded in 1934 when Walton Martinez and his family sailed from the island of San Andres, Colombia, and settled in the place that today has close to 1,500 residents, Karla Taylor, a descendant of the village founders and a tourist guide, told Spanish news agency Efe.



Tortuguero has no streets and not a single car. The locals get around on boats and most make a living out of tourism, owning or working in small stores, inns or hotels, selling handicrafts or offering services of one kind or another to the tourists.



"The development of the village has been interesting. In the 1940s, lumber companies arrived and that provided jobs for the first families that settled here. After two decades of logging, the conservation movement began," Taylor said.



Little by little, the villagers began to understand that it was better to protect and learn from the sea turtles, the deer and the iguanas than to eat them.



Source:IANS
Wesley Belisle, 4, died in April 2018 when he was swept into the Atlantic Ocean while on a vacation in North Carolinas Outer Banks with his parents, Lindsey and Derek Belisle. At the time, authorities said Wesley was walking along a beach with his mother when he was pulled out to sea by a rogue wave.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration has reinstated paid overtime for public safety departments, the latest sign of recovery for a municipal government that took a fiscal beating amid coronavirus restrictions.

The New Orleans Police Department and New Orleans Fire Department will see a collective $7.2 million in overtime pay through the rest of this year after having gone without for much of the pandemic, Cantrell and public safety leaders said at a Tuesday press conference.

The city also expects to reinstate overtime for its Emergency Medical Services division once leaders put a critical eye on that department's budget to ensure it can absorb the extra cost.

Officials hope the change will boost the morale of first responders who have lost income in recent months as overtime has been halted. The change is also meant to ensure that police in the field can better tackle the issue of violent crime; overtime at NOPD, for example, will be offered to officers and sergeants only.

"Our road to recovery truly depends on us reopening this city safely, and ensuring that we protect our residents as well as our visitors," Cantrell said. "It is important that we move forward with a full complement again to our public safety team."

+12 New Orleans airport sees traffic rebound; see which international flight is returning New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport said last weekend's passenger traffic rose to the highest level since the beginning of the p

The move is another positive economic sign for a city that is poised to receive a whopping $375 million in federal relief funds under the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed this month.

In recent weeks, visitors  and with them the revenue from sales taxes  have started to trickle back into New Orleans amid rising COVID-19 vaccinations and looser restrictions on restaurants and bars.

Last week, Cantrell announced the end of furloughs for about 1,900 city employees who earn over $35,000 a year and who had since October taken a 10% cut from their paychecks.

+2 Furloughs for New Orleans city employees to end as federal aid helps fill budget hole With an estimated $375 million in federal coronavirus relief slated for New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced on Thursday that her admi

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Earlie this year, before the relief funds were announced, the mayor had ended unpaid days for public safety employees by tapping into a line of credit.

Though the city plans to set up a spending task force to determine how the large pile of aid should be used, officials have said they are likely to stretch out some of the funds over a few years.

On tap for now, though, are extra paid hours for a police department that will need manpower as people begin to increasingly go out in public this summer and fall, and for a fire department that has had to take some of its crews out of service amid staffing shortages.

The overtime was officially restored on Sunday.

NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said the paid time will be used to entice officers to work extra shifts to combat the city's rising violent crime rate and to increase police visibility in certain districts. The agency's recruiters will also use the overtime to stay in contact with potential hires in order to help expand the force, he said.

+3 $375M in relief aid is headed to New Orleans, an 'extraordinary' step in stabilizing finances New Orleans is set to receive a whopping $375 million from the federal coronavirus relief legislation passed last week, an infusion equal to m

"We are starting a [recruit] class next month, and we want to ensure that that class can be as big as we can possibly handle it, given the COVID restrictions," Ferguson said.

NOFD Chief Roman Nelson said his department will be able to have more crews respond to incidents and return its rescue units to full staffing with the hours.

Collectively, the city saved between $15 and $18 million last year through the elimination of overtime and the lack of special events in the city, Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano said.
House Speaker Dade Phelan returned to his Southeast Texas stomping grounds on Monday to advocate for expanding internet access for nearly 900,000 Texans, many of them in rural parts of the state that have been on the losing side of the digital divide.

The Beaumont Republican brought a couple of influential colleagues from the Texas Legislature to drive the message home.

With a pandemic, the importance of closing the digital divide has never been greater, Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference with Phelan and state Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, at the Hamshire-Fannett Elementary School library.

Phelan said he thought Hamshire-Fannett, which has experienced so much turmoil over the past few years, was the perfect place to make clear that a process to close that divide could be on the horizon.

Related: A year into pandemic, schools wrestling with the fallout

The trio made the stop to give an update on expanding broadband access across the state.

House Bill 5, which Ashby filed in late February, last week left committee and is expected within the next few weeks to hit the floor for a vote.

The legislation, which was given a low bill number to show its importance, would establish a statewide broadband office that is pushing every day to expand the capability for our citizenry to have access to this critical technology, he said.

It also would require that office to create a statewide broadband plan within 12 months of enactment and include extensive mapping, down to individual households, to determine which of the states residents have access to broadband.

Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox

Phelan and Ashby are looking at funding options.

The specifics havent been ironed out, but Phelan said the state is reading through the fine print of the third CARES Act to determine if any of that funding can be used. There also is the opportunity to use federal grant money, and a revolving loan program using state rainy day dollars likely will go in front of voters in November.

It would be a revolving loan program that will fund modernization and weatherization of utility generation and transmission. We need that after the storm we experienced a month ago, but also broadband, he said.

Right now, its a $2 billion ask out of the (rainy day fund) to help build out that infrastructure.

Phelan said he thinks political will is behind the plan to use more funding from the rainy day fund for such improvements, and conversations with the Texas comptroller have revealed that the states creditors have actually said the state needs to use some of the money for infrastructure improvements.

Related: Deep East Texas to see broadband expansion

Funding sources like these are vital to building buy-in from private internet providers that likely will play a big roll in actually building out the network that would increase broadband access for Texans, Ashby said.

Agencies, such as the Deep East Texas Council of Governments, that already have a plan to boost broadband in that area, would get priority for such funding.

Broadband access is not a Republican or Democrat issue, Ashby said. This is a Texan issue. We have worked very hard to make sure all walks of life, all legislators, all stakeholders have had a seat at the table to make sure we get this right.

As of Monday, the bill had more than 70 sponsors, split largely evenly between Republicans and Democrats.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/KaitlinBain
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - Lorne Park Capital Partners Inc. (TSXV: LPC) ("LPCP") is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has approved the initiation of quarterly cash dividends to its shareholders and the declaration of the first cash dividend in the Company's history. The dividend of $0.005 per common share is payable on April 27, 2021 to the shareholders of record as of April 13, 2021.

LPCP was created to bring together boutique investment management and wealth advisory firms in order to deliver robust, cost effective investment solutions to its clients. The Company has grown substantially and had its best year on record in 2020. President and CEO Robert Sewell states, "Since our core investment philosophy is designed for income investors, we feel its appropriate that LPCP take the next step in becoming a dividend growth company. Our team has worked very hard to build the Company to what it is today. Our growth and solid financial situation tells us the time is right to begin what we believe will be a lasting quarterly dividend payment initiative. We have a strong shareholder base that has loyally provided their support over the years, and I am pleased to say that this dividend declaration is part of our strategic plan to maximize returns to our shareholders."

The dividend payments qualify as eligible dividends for Canadian income tax purposes. The declaration, amount and payment of future cash dividends are subject to the Board of Directors' continuing determination that the payment of dividends is in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and is in compliance with all laws and agreements of the Company applicable to the declaration and payment of cash dividends. The ability of the Company to pay future dividends will be reviewed on a quarterly basis taking into consideration actual and forecasted cash flows and the macroeconomic outlook at that point in time.

About Lorne Park Capital Partners Inc.

LPCP was created to bring together boutique investment management and wealth advisory firms in order to deliver robust, cost effective investment solutions to affluent investors, foundations, estates and trusts. LPCP's unique strategy creates better alignment between investment managers and wealth advisors while providing them with additional resources to accelerate their growth.

For further information, please contact:

Robert Sewell

Chief Executive Officer

Lorne Park Capital Partners Inc.

investor.relations@lpcp.ca

(905) 337-2227

Cautionary Notes

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 contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", "plan", and other similar expressions. Forward looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, LPCP's objectives, goals and future plans. Forward-looking information addresses possible future events, conditions and financial performance based upon management's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. In particular, the forward-looking information contained in this news release reflects assumptions about the timing and results of the amalgamation and regulatory approvals. Management of LPCP considers the assumptions on which the forward-looking information contained herein are based to be reasonable. However, by its very nature, forward-looking information inherently involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such information. Such risks include, without limitation, changes in economic conditions, applicable laws or regulations. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. LPCP disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES, ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78993
Hagerstown Housing Authority closes in on end of McCleary Hill project

After objections from neighbors, the Hagerstown Housing Authority's McCleary Hill project is done its first phase. Officials held an open house.


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Automobile dealers in Illinois are suing the secretary of state and a pair of electric-vehicle companies, including Lucid Motors, challenging the companies ability to sell their vehicles online, rather than through a dealership, as pictured in this screenshot.
Is it possible for humans to produce venom? For humans to join rattlesnakes and platypuses in the ranks of venomous animals is unlikely; however, a recent study reveals that humans have tool kits to evolve venom - in fact, all mammals and reptiles do.

Salivary Glands in Humans

The collection of flexible genes, specifically associated with salivary glands in humans, explains how the toxin evolved independently from non-poisonous ancestors more than 100 times in the animal kingdom.

The study co-author and doctoral student in evolutionary genetics, Agneesh Barua from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology in Japan said "Importantly, we have all the building blocks in place, so it is now up to evolution to get us there." Biologists knew that oral venom glands have altered salivary glands, but the new research reveals the mechanical molecules behind the change.

A biochemist and toxin specialist who was not involved in the study, Bryan Fry from the University of Queensland in Australia said, "This will be a real landmark in the field, they did an absolutely amazing task of some extremely wide studies."

Also Read: Snakes: The Evolution of their Venomous Bite

A Flexible Weapon

Venom is the ultimate example of nature's flexibility. Many of the venomous toxins are common in a variety of animals; some parts of centipede venom, for example, are also found in snake venom. This was revealed by Ronald Jenner, a venom scientist at the London's Natural History Museum who was not involved in the study.

The new study does not focus on the toxins themselves, because they are rapidly changing and a complex mix of compounds, Barua told Live Science. Instead, Barua and co-author Alexander Mikheyev, an evolutionary biologist at the Australian National University who centralizes on "housekeeping" genes, the genes are related with the toxin but not responsible for creating the toxins themselves. These regulatory genes form the basis of the whole toxin system.

Constellation of Genes

The researchers started with the genome of Taiwan habu (Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus), a brown pit viper that has been well studied, in part because it is an invasive specie in Okinawa.

Barua also reported that because they understand the function of all the genes present in the animal, they can only see which genes are linked with the toxic genes.

The team found a constellation of genes that are common to many body tissues in all amniotes. (Amniotes are animals that fertilize their eggs internally or lay eggs on the ground; they include reptiles, birds, and some mammals.) Many of these genes are involved in folding proteins, said Barua, which makes sense, because venomous animals must produce large quantities of poisons, which are made of proteins.

The Genetic Foundation

"A tissue like this really has to make sure the protein it makes is of high quality," Barua said.

Not surprisingly, the same type of home care regulatory genes is found in abundance in the human salivary gland, which also produces an important stewed protein - found in saliva - in large quantities.

This genetic foundation enables a wide range of independently evolved toxins throughout the animal kingdom.

Related Article: Funnel-Web Spider: Venom of Deadliest Spider in Australia May Help Save Heart Transplant Patients

For more news, updates about venomous creatures and siomilar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
A coroner has called for a public inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic at the conclusion of an inquest for a nurse who died of Covid-19 days after hospital staff saved her baby.

Coroner Emma Whitting last week heard three days of evidence on the circumstances surrounding how sister Mary Agyapong died at Luton and Dunstable Hospital where she worked, including claims from her widower, Ernest Boateng, that she was concerned about becoming infected at work while heavily pregnant.

Ms Whitting was unable to say where the nurse had contracted Covid-19, and delivered a narrative verdict at the inquest's conclusion.

The coroner urged Boris Johnson to carry out a full public inquiry into the pandemic.

She went on: 'As a society, it is important we learn from all the lives that have been lost as a result of this terrible pandemic and consider the wider policy implications that may arise from each and every one of these.

'Since this is a process which goes far beyond the scope of a coroner's inquest and the Prime Minister has indicated his intention to hold a full public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic, I urge him to proceed with this as soon as is practical.'

Mary Agyapong, 28, was admitted to Luton and Dunstable Hospital with breathing difficulties on April 5. The nurse was discharged the same day, but was readmitted two days later with Covid symptoms while 35 weeks pregnant

Her partner, Ernest Boateng, said in the days after his partner's death 'I was only able to carry on because of the need to care for our children'

The inquest last week heard the 28-year-old had been signed off work since March 12, 2020, due to back problems,

She returned to the hospital on April 5, this time as a patient struggling with breathing difficulties, despite a doctor's concerns that she may have had Covid, she was discharged the same day and given a course of antibiotics.

Two days later she returned to Luton and Dunstable Hospital, where she was diagnosed with Covid-19 - while she 35 weeks pregnant.

Surgeons safely delivered the baby, also named Mary, by Caesarean section before Ms Agyapong was transferred to the intensive care unit on April 8, where she died four days later.

The preliminary cause of death was given as pneumonia and Covid-19.

Delivering a narrative conclusion at the inquest earlier today, Ms Whitting said: 'The deceased died after contracting Covid-19 but it remains unclear where and when her exposure to the virus had occurred.'

Ms Whitting told Mr Boateng the death was a 'tragedy for you her husband, for her children, and all her relations, colleagues and friends, it is for society too'.

After the ruling, Mr Boateng said: 'The sudden death of my wife and the mother of our two children has been the hardest pain to bear. In those early days after Mary's death, I was only able to carry on because of the need to care for our children and provide them with a loving home.

'Mary was strong, capable, vibrant, full of life and the most precious person in my life. It is still difficult to believe that she lost her life to the Covid-19 virus.

'I am glad that those who were involved in Mary's care in the final weeks of her life have had to give a full account of what happened.

'I hope that the fact that they have had to do so will remind them of the need to always give the best possible care to women in Mary's situation - especially black women who are themselves on the frontline of healthcare.'

Last week Mr Boateng accused the trust of claiming Ms Agyapong was on maternity leave when the pandemic hit - despite her being not due to begin maternity leave until April 27, he said.

Ms Agyapong, pictured with her son AJ, underwent a C-Section a month prematurely so doctors could deliver her daughter, who was named Mary in her memory

Mr Boateng said after the coroner's narrative verdict: 'Mary was strong, capable, vibrant, full of life and the most precious person in my life. It is still difficult to believe that she lost her life to the Covid-19 virus'

Mr Boateng said he was contacted by several well-wishers following his wife's death, including some senior staff members who were worried about safety at the hospital.

He said: 'Following Mary's death, I was approached by a group of concerned clinicians ... who raised concerns about their safety at work and the lack of protective equipment available to frontline staff in the midst of the pandemic.'

Mr Boateng also rejected suggestions he said came from the trust, that the nurse could have contracted Covid-19 from her father, who had recently died with the virus at the time.

He said: 'Mary never saw him or anyone outside of work.'

Earlier at the hearing, Mr Boateng told the inquest his partner felt 'pressured' to return to work where she caught the virus.

Mr Boateng said he strongly believed his wife, originally from Ghana, contracted coronavirus while at work.

Ms Agyapong's baby, also named Mary, was delivered by caesarean section on April 8, but the nurse died in intensive care four days later. Her widower, Ernest Boateng says she was 'very concerned,' about working in hospital during the pandemic

Ms Agyapong, 28, leaves behind her partner Ernest, along with their two children AJ and Mary

Giving evidence to the inquest, Mr Boateng said: 'Mary continued to work during this time (the start of the coronavirus outbreak), but she was very concerned about the situation involving Covid-19, so much so that when she came home from work she would take her clothes off at the front door and take a shower immediately.

'She was very worried about bringing Covid into the home.'

Mr Boateng, a mental health worker currently studying for a Masters in law, said she also began sleeping in the spare room at the family home to protect her husband and their son, AJ.

Mr Boateng, 30, added: 'She told me the staff were very scared about the virus because they were on the front line and likely to come into contact with Covid-19 patients.

'I wanted her to stay at home. But due to high demand at the hospital, she had to continue working.

'She tried to reassure me that everything would be okay but I could understand she was anxious and panicking deep down.'

Dr William Manning, who decided to discharge Ms Agyapong on her initial admission to hospital, told the inquest he 'suspected she had Covid-19', but sent her home because she did not require oxygen.

The inquest last week heard the 28-year-old had been signed off work since March 12, 2020, due to back problems

A doctor who treated Ms Agyapong on April 5 told an inquest he 'suspected' she had Covid-19, but sent her home as she did not require oxygen

Dr Manning added: 'She didn't seem particularly happy to go home.'

Other medical staff told the coroner they were satisfied with the care provided to Ms Agyapong, and said her condition deteriorated rapidly.

Dr Deborah Shaw, an intensive care consultant who saw Ms Agyapong the day after she gave birth, said: 'I was very happy with the level of care she was getting.'

Dr Muhammad Peerbhoy, a consultant physician who saw the patient the same day, added: 'In my opinion, I think the treatment was proportionate.'

The coroner said she had not been pointed to any systemic failures at the hospital, and suggested it may not be possible to conclude the circumstances in which Ms Agyapong contracted Covid-19.

A crowdfunding campaign for Ms Agyapong's two children, set up in the wake of her death, has raised almost 200,000 to date

After the hearing today, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief executive David Carter described Ms Agyapong as 'a highly valued and loved member of our team and a fantastic nurse'.

He said: 'We are reassured that the coroner has found no areas of concern regarding our support for, or care of Mary, and I would like to pay tribute to our staff who did everything they could for Mary in hugely challenging circumstances.'
Australia will gain the capacity to make its own guided missiles in a $1 billion federal plan to build a new weapons facility with a global arms manufacturer, preparing for greater tensions in the region.

The spending will upgrade Australias capabilities at a time of rapid advances in guided missiles, which are changing the dynamics of national defence with the development of hypersonic weapons that exceed the speed of sound.

Raytheons Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile. Raytheon is among the companies seen as likely bidders for the work.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will announce the plan on Wednesday with a warning the changing global environment highlights the need to create the sovereign capacity.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute estimates the country may have to spend $100 billion on missiles and other guided weapons over the next two decades to respond to rising powers such as China.
NEW YORK  The U.S. governments first look at the real-world use of COVID-19 vaccines found their effectiveness was nearly as robust as it was in controlled studies.

The two vaccines available since December  Pfizer and Moderna  were highly effective at 90% after two doses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday. In testing, the vaccines were about 95% effective in preventing COVID-19.

This is very reassuring news, said the CDCs Mark Thompson, the studys lead author. We have a vaccine thats working very well.

The study is the governments first assessment of how the shots have been working beyond the drugmakers initial experiments. Results can sometimes change when vaccines are used in larger, more diverse populations outside studies.

With nearly 4,000 participants from six states, the study focused on health care workers, first responders and other front-line workers who had first priority for the shots because they are at higher risk. They were given nasal swab test kits to use every week to check for signs of a coronavirus infection.

The evidence base for (currently available) COVID-19 vaccines is already strong, and continues to mount ever higher with studies like this one, said David Holtgrave, dean of the University at Albanys School of Public Health, in an email.

The study included roughly 2,500 volunteers who had completed two vaccine doses, about 500 who got one dose and about 1,000 who did not get vaccinated between mid-December and mid-March.

The researchers counted 205 infections, with 161 of them in the unvaccinated group. Of the remaining 44, the CDC said 33 were in people apparently infected within two weeks of a shot. Experts say it takes two weeks before a dose takes full effect.

No one died. Two people were hospitalized. Thompson did not say whether the people hospitalized were vaccinated or not.

Besides the 90% figure for two doses, the study found it was 80% effective for participants two weeks or more after a first dose.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky called the studys findings tremendously encouraging.

Our national vaccination efforts are working, she said during a White House press briefing Monday. She added that over 93 million Americans have received at least one vaccine dose and over 51 million people have been fully vaccinated.

Different researchers have tried to look at how the vaccines have performed in real-life conditions, including work done in Israel and the United Kingdom, and a U.S. study of Mayo Clinic patients.

Unlike the Mayo study, which focused on hospitalization and death, the CDC study looked for any infection  including infections that never resulted in symptoms, or were detected before people started feeling sick.

About two-thirds of the vaccinations in the study were Pfizer shots, one-third were Moderna and five people got the newest single-dose shot from Johnson & Johnson. The study was done in Miami; Duluth, Minnesota; Portland, Oregon; Temple, Texas; Salt Lake City; and Phoenix and other areas in Arizona.

Moderna, meanwhile, announced Monday that it had shipped its 100 millionth dose to the U.S. government, meeting its pledge to supply that amount by the end of March. The company said it expects to meet its next deadlines, of delivering another 100 million doses by the end of May and its final 100 million by the end of July.

___

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





Many outside observers predict that the Chinese economy this year would easily grow by more than 8 percent. But the Chinese government presented a modest goal of just "over 6 percent" in the Two Sessions  the annual two meetings of the National People's Congress (the national legislative body) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (the political advisory body).



Why the low target goal for growth?



China, which was the only major country in the world to achieve 3.2 percent economic growth in 2020, is planning a mid- to long-term strategy by focusing on qualitative growth, rather than excessive quantitative growth. The aim is to improve social stability, which will enhance, in the end, the legitimacy of Communist Party rule in China. Domestic support internally is essential, as China will face more intense political competition with the U.S. moving forward.



Last year, for the first time in history, the Chinese government issued special government bonds worth 1 trillion yuan, for the purpose of stimulating the economy ravaged by COVID-19.



But there will be no such stimulus this year. This decision means that the Chinese government will not release additional liquidity to prop up the economy artificially, implying that China's economy is already on the trajectory towards normalization. So the figure, "6 percent," should be seen as a sign of China's competence regarding its economic situation. China aims to create 11 million new jobs this year. The figure, "6 percent," also means that it should be able to create those 11 million jobs.



Among those in need of new jobs, the main targets are: new college graduates, military veterans and peasants. Among them, of particular interest to the government are the 9,900,000 college graduates this year. This interest is because young adult unemployment can lead to social unrest.



It should be also noted that, out of the 20 major indicators to be achieved in the 14th Five-Year Plan, which starts this year, seven of them are related to "public welfare" and "welfare." This number is the highest ever that the Chinese government has placed on welfare, showing its importance. This number also means that China has shifted its focus from quantitative growth to qualitative growth. There is a keyword, "shared prosperity (gongtong fuyu)," being used in this regard.



The term began to be used in the days of Mao Zedong, but was first entered into the official government document of the 5th Central Committee plenary session of the 19th Chinese Communist Party last fall. The phrase indicates that the pursuit of a welfare state is China's official policy now. In the field of employment that the government is most concerned about, now we also have begun to see an emphasis on "fair employment (gongping jiuye)," as well.



The Two Sessions are also an occasion for beginning to implement the decisions made by the Chinese Communist Party's 5th Central Committee plenary session last year as a national policy, after deliberation by the National People's Congress. Therefore, familiar terms, such as the so-called "dual circulation" economic strategy, which centers on domestic growth and "building a science and technology powerhouse," reappeared. China has been emphasizing "technological independence" and "improving domestic demand," so as to fend off U.S. restrictions on Chinese companies accessing its technology.



After the Trump administration banned Huawei from using U.S. communications networks in 2019 and tightened rules around it using U.S. technology in its semiconductors, along with incidents involving other companies, China has hardened its determination to achieve technological innovation and independence in advanced science. Accordingly, the Two Sessions decided to promote the "Science and Technology Innovation 2030  Major Project."



Chinese Premier Lee Keqiang said, "We need to make a major breakthrough in the core technology area with the spirit of sharpening one knife for 10 years." When China talks about a "knife" in its national narrative, it means something.



The Chinese government has cited artificial intelligence, quantum science, big data, brain science, semiconductors, and cloud computing as related key fields. To this end, it plans to increase R&D expenditures by an annual average of 7 percent or more during the ensuing five years. It will further expand the budget by an annual average of 10.6 percent or more for more rapid growth, in the case of "central-level (zhongyang ji)" basic science research.



The focus on "self-reliance" in science and technology, especially in the strategic fields, is a demonstration of China's determination not to be "seized by the throat (qia bozi)" by the U.S.' "strangling" attempts, according to how the Chinese media interprets U.S. efforts to limit the access of Chinese companies to American technology.



Whether China will be able to build a welfare state domestically while avoiding the U.S. stranglehold on technology will be an integral part of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's goal of realizing the so-called "China dream."



Lee Seong-hyon (sunnybbsfs@gmail.com), Ph.D., is the director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the Sejong Institute




As of March 30, twenty-eight battalion tactical groups of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are stationed along the state border of Ukraine.

As of March 30, twenty-eight battalion tactical groups of the enemy are stationed along the state border of Ukraine and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, namely in Bryansk, Voronezh, Rostov [regions] and on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea. Lately, the Russian Armed Forces have been building up troops near Ukraines border in the north, in the east and in the south, namely in Bryansk and Voronezh regions and in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, pulling the forces from different regions of the Russian Federation under the guise of control exercises for the winter period of training, maintaining combat alert and general combat readiness for upcoming West 2021strategic exercises, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ruslan Khomchak said at an extraordinary plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to him, up to 25 additional battalion tactical groups are expected to be concentrated, which, along with the forces and means already deployed near the border, pose a threat to Ukraines military security.

During the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula since 2014, Russia has built up the multi-service force of the Russian Armed Forces, which now stands at about 32,700 service members, the Commander-in-Chief noted. In mid-March, at the Opuk test site, the aggressor country practised air and naval landings by two battalion tactical groups with the support of an artillery tactical group from the 7th Air Assault Division. After the training, these units stayed in the area of the test site. Additionally, the grouping expanded due to the redeployment of five more battalion tactical groups.

In addition, according to Khomchak, groupings of Russian occupation troops were deployed in the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions: 1st and 2nd Army Corps consisting of 14 combat brigades, regiments and support units numbering about 28,000 people and operating with the support of Russian regular troops. Officers of the Russian Armed Forces hold command positions there. The staff of military advisers and instructors of the Russian Armed Forces totalling more than 2,000 people stay in the occupied territories to train reconnaissance agents.

"In Rostov region, there are up to 12 additional battalion tactical groups having a readiness period of 1-2 days, securing the minimum necessary set of measures for immediate response to possible military actions by Ukraine," Khomchak said.

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MASON CITY, Iowa  A 19-year-old who crashed into a Mason City home is sentenced.

Zachary Tyler Baker-Ostrand of Ankeny pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary, a felony, and a misdemeanor count of assault.

Police say Baker-Ostrand had a fight with some people on June 5, 2020, and tried to run over one of them before crashing into a house across the street. Baker-Ostrand then allegedly took a BB gun he had with him and started shooting. Police say Baker-Ostrand also kicked in a door and threatened people.

Hes been given a deferred judgment and three years of supervised probation for the burglary charge, which means it will be removed from his record if he successfully completes his probation. Baker-Ostrand was also sentenced to 30 days in jail for the assault charge, with credit for time served.
Two years after drafting an initial set of regulations, New Orleans officials are preparing to rewrite the rules that govern 5G technology in the city, citing a need to ensure the devices better match the aesthetics of city neighborhoods.

Under draft guidelines submitted to the City Council, the antennae and other hardware aimed at bringing faster wireless speeds to the city will face height restrictions and will have to be mounted on poles that resemble other utility infrastructure in the area.

Wiring and cabling will need to be concealed, and the poles themselves will need to be spaced apart considerably from trees, streetlights and other things on the street. Companies installing the poles will need to inform nearby residents and avoid placing them directly in the sightlines of individual properties. Additional approvals will also be needed in historic districts.

The newly proposed rules come after a 2018 Federal Communications Commission order sparked an initial wave of approvals by city officials. Residents complained about the unsightly or in some cases very tall poles in historic districts, arguing they were out of step with surrounding neighborhoods.

The aim this time around is to ensure the devices do not intrude too heavily on the city's world-renowned streetscape, while still allowing wireless providers such as AT&T, Verizon and Sprint the chance to bring cutting edge technology to their customers, said city Utilities Office Director Jonathan Rhodes at a recent public hearing on the guidelines.

Our goal at the city of New Orleans is to ensure that these small cells have designs that are compatible with the character of our neighborhoods, and that their locations do not cause visual or physical clutter," he said.

Rhodes submitted the draft guidelines to the council last week; the council is expected to consider them at a May meeting.

Global operators in 2019 began to launch small cell technology, the backbone for 5G wireless, in select cities and countries around the world. The 5G tech offers data browsing speeds that are at least eight times faster than what currently exist on 4G and older cellular networks.

In addition to making smartphone browsing faster, at those speeds, New Orleans and others across the world can begin to incorporate "smart city" technology into their operations. That could include sensors that monitor for gunshots or traffic lights that turn themselves off when not needed, the consultants who advise council members on utility and telecommunications matters said in 2019, before the original plans were approved.

But small cells have a shorter range than traditional cell towers, and must be placed closer to the ground and closer to each other in order to function properly. That has required phone companies to affix their devices to utility poles, use them in conjunction with street signs, and use other methods to integrate the technology into the streetscape so that it doesn't overtake public rights of way.

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Sometimes the installations leave much to be desired aesthetically, Rhodes acknowledged. He showed a picture during the February meeting of a pole installation on St. Charles Avenue and Julia streets that appeared several feet higher than the nearest building.

Under the new proposed guidelines, no pole or other support structure for the small cells can be more than 10% higher than any other pole on the same block, to a maximum height of 50 feet.

Companies would also be be dissuaded from installing new poles in areas where they didn't exist previously unless no alternative options are available. The rules also account for new technology that Rhodes said could prevent multiple cell phone providers from overtaking public streets with several devices. Instead, two companies could affix their small cells to the same pole.

Those poles would be significantly larger than many existing small cell poles, however, and could not go in every neighborhood.

For 18 historic districts governed by the Historic District Landmarks Commission and the French Quarter, companies must have their applications reviewed by the HDLC and VCC before installation can begin.

There are already some poles in place across the city, including the French Quarter. Only Jackson Square will be kept from having the small cells entirely, but Rhodes stressed that the new rules were aimed at ensuring improved technology didn't take away from the look and feel of the city.

"We have to balance the visual landscape, our rights of way, and our historic and cultural protection against our need for connectivity, for innovation and economic development and for smart city services that will improve services to people and businesses in New Orleans," Rhodes said.

The initial kit to link Kerry's remote Black Valley to Elon Musk's Starlink internet has arrived in the Kingdom and is to be installed within days.

The pilot project in the valley is being conducted by the Department of Rural and Community Development, under license by the Commission for Communications Regulation, more commonly known as ComReg.

Shrouded in secrecy, the Starlink company has been liaising directly with Kerry County Council since late 2020 to trial the technology.

The size of a small satellite dish, the kit that has made its way to Kerry includes a long cable and an indoor box said to be "the size of a lump of turf".

It will need a sheltered location, according to the councils digital officer.

Community groups in the valley have been co-operating eagerly, and a location where the device could serve a number of single houses would be selected this week, Brian Looney confirmed.

The only requirement is to see the sky, he said of the location for the dish.

Simple to use, he said that he had already run a test on it.

Communications blackspot

The satellite beta pilot was among a suite of solutions being looked at to solve the communications problems of the valley, Mr Looney said.

While it would speed up internet, companies such as Eir would also be trying to resolve the valleys long-term landline and poor mobile problems, he added.

Mayor of Kerry and Kenmare area councillor Patrick OConnor-Scarteen has welcomed the multi-span approach.

Cumeendiff lake in The Black Valley, Killarney County Kerry Ireland. Picture: Don MacMonagle

Given the valley was the last area to get telephone or electricity, he said he did not want it to be left trailing again.

There was a time when running water was the essential issue. Now it is access to the internet which is necessary now for most Government services, Mr OConnor-Scarteen said.

Light pollution

Mr Musk, founder of SpaceX and electric carmaker Tesla, is deploying a chain of satellites into space to provide cheap and fast broadband connection for remote rural locations across the world.

However, the impact of the low-hanging satellites on Kerrys international dark sky reserve, the only gold reserve in the Northern Hemisphere has been raised in the Dail by Fine Gael TD, Eoghan Murphy.

The status was awarded to south Kerry in 2014 because of the pristine view of the constellations in the Kells to Skelligs area.

Low light bulbs have been put on the street lights in Cahersiveen, and the amount of light emanating from a single house is assessed in planning applications by the local council, lest they impact on the night sky.

Environment minister, Eamon Ryan, told the South Dublin TD there is currently no legislation in Ireland dealing specifically with environmental light pollution.

The decision to proceed with the pilot project was a matter for Kerry County Council and his department had no role in the matter, Mr Ryan said.
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Chloromethane Market - Overview

Chloromethane are chemical compound that belong to a class of organic compound named haloalkanes. They are predominantly used as precursors for the production of silicone polymers and drug manufacturing. Chloromethane market is expected to witness strong growth due to its profound usage in automotive, construction, and medical. Methyl chloride accounted for the largest market share in 2016 and is expected to retain its dominance over the estimated period due to its wide utilization as a solvent in butyl rubber manufacturing & petrol refining, and for the manufacturing of lead-based gasoline additives. However, environmental concerns and shift in preference towards bio-based sources is set to challenge industry participants. On the basis of application, silicone polymers dominated the market in 2016 on account of its wide utilization in various application such as construction, medical, and automotive. Growth of global chloromethane market is predominantly driven by automotive industry. Furthermore, increasing construction activities in developed and developing countries across the globe is predicted to fuel the demand for chloromethane over the estimated period. In addition to this continuous growth of pharmaceutical sector is expected to propel the market growth.

Access Complete Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/chloromethane-market-2417

Geographically, Asia Pacific emerged as the leading market for chloromethane followed by North America and Europe in 2016. The Asia Pacific region accounted for largest market share and is estimated to register highest CAGR due to continuous growth of automotive, agrochemical, and pharmaceutical industry specifically in China, India, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and South Korea. Furthermore, In Asia Pacific escalating investments and supporting government regulations is predicted to drive market growth. Furthermore, increasing investment by major companies and shifting of chloromethane manufacturing facilities as well as end use industries expansion in this region is expected to propel the chloromethane regional market growth. North American market is predicted to witness steady growth on account of expansion of personal care and pharmaceutical sector. Europe is expected to witness sluggish growth owing to the stringent regulations associated with industrial toxic gas emission and higher adoption rate of eco-friendly products. Additionally, high adoption rate by the end use industries is estimated to drive the market growth over the forecast period.

Key Players:

The Dow Chemical Company, Asahi Glass Co. Ltd, Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd, Alfa Aesar, Akzonobel N.V., Solvay SA, INEOS Group, Tokuyana Corporation, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Occidental Chemical Corporation among others are some of the prominent players at the forefront of competition in the Global Chloromethane Market and are profiled in MRFR Analysis.

Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:

May 2017- AkzoNobel and Gujarat based Atul chemical announced plans to set up a Monochloracetic acid (MCA) plant and the production is expected to commence by 2019. MCA plant is set to start with initial capacity of 32,000 tons per year. With this AkzoNobel strengthen its position in global chloromethane market.

March 2017- GFL is planning to restructure its chemical segment and separate its chemical business into a separate business group.

February 2017- Meghmani Finechem Ltd, a subsidiary of Meghmani Organics Ltd announced to setting up chloromethane plant of 40,000 metric tonne per annum at Dahej, Gujarat. With this expansion, the unit will manufacture chloroform, carbon tetra chloride, and methylene dichloride. The company will be able to meet the growing demand of agrochemical and pharmaceutical for methylene dichloride.

January 2016- AkzoNobel and Evonik Industries will start production for chlorine and potassium hydroxide solution in Germany. With this joint venture, the company expand its business and strengthen its position in chloromethane market.

November 2016- GACL will set up a chloromethane plant with annual capacity of 105,000 TPA or 315 MT per day at Dahej location. With this expansion the company expand its business and further increase its presence in chloromethane market across the Asia Pacific.

March 2016- The Olin Corporation took the decision to reduce the capacity of chlor alkali capcaity by 433,000 tons across three different locations namely, Henderson, Niagara falls, Freeport. The company will restructure its business segment and will shift their focus on other business areas

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Competitive Landscape

The Chloromethane report analyzes the degree of competition among the key manufacturers as well as industry growth and market scenario. The global Chloromethane market consist of various players operating in the market including large scale and medium size producers. The key market players operating in the global Chloromethane industry is concentrating towards growth association specifically by Asia Pacific as medium scale and key operating players are from this region specifically from China, South Korea, India, and Japan. Moreover, the company is focusing on enhancing their product portfolio by strategic acquisition and mergers, joint ventures, and exclusive agreements. Some of the companies are expanding their production capacity of chloromethane to meet the growing demand for chloromethane.
WWE RAW REPORT: IF YOU LIKED SASHA AND BIANCA TOGETHER FOR A MONTH OR SO . . . YOU GET RHEA AND ASUKA TO DO THE SAME NEXT WEEK, MORE TALKING SEGMENTS THAN YOU CAN SHAKE A STICK AT, SOME WRESTLING, AND STUFF

We see Drew McIntyre entering the building earlier today and Sarah ambushes him to ask Drew about the bounty made by Bobby Lashley.

Drew says he heard about the offer and he says everyone is a potential threat. How many people will he face tonight. Drew says he wonders if Bobby will keep his offer and if you come after me, you will get a Scottish ass kicking.

We are in St. Petersburg, Florida and your announcers are Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton.

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley makes his way to the ring with Montel Vontavious Porter, Cedric Alexander, and Shelton Benjamin.

MVP starts off by saying this is an official message from the Hurt Business. They are less than two weeks away from Wrestlemania. Bobby Lashley will walk in and out as the champion. He is currently scheduled to face Drew McIntyre, but he wants to make crystal clear their business proposition.

Bobby says if anyone takes out Drew before Wrestlemania, they will be rewarded with a title match at Wrestlemania.

Porter says this offer is not to be seen as weakness. Drew has had his opportunity and they want to give someone else an opportunity to become a star and face the All Mighty at Wrestlemania. Who wants to step up and accept that offer?

Porter says he wants to talk about who will not be sharing the ring with Bobby Lashley at Wrestlemania.

We see footage from last week's handicap match when Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin failed to beat Drew.

Bobby tells them they had the perfect opportunity in a handicap match against Drew McIntyre. You are barred from ringside. Don't get him started about the tag titles. You are embarrassing him. I cannot trust either of you and I have worked too hard to get this title. I will not deal with incompetence.

Porter brings up they had a two on one match against Drew McIntyre and you failed miserably. Porter wants them to explain themselves.

Cedric says they could have done this in the back. Shelton asks if they were brought out here to be embarrassed. Shelton says Lashley wouldn't be champion if it wasn't for them.

Lashley attacks Cedric but Benjamin with a waist lock take down on Lashley. Lashley with punches and knees followed by a flatliner. Lashley knocks Alexander off the apron.

Lashley kicks Benjamin to the floor.

Porter tells Cedric and Shelton they should be ashamed of themselves.

Lashley says Cedric and Shelton are no longer part of the Hurt Business. He says the offer still stands.

We take a look at Sheamus and Riddle from last week.

Riddle is ambushed by Sarah and he is asked if he knows why he was attacked by Sheamus last week. Riddle says that he had some questions for Sheamus. Riddle sees Titus O'Neil and he asks if Titus would roast a pig at Wrestlemania. Titus tells Riddle he is a co-host. Riddle thinks he is going to do a roast.

Sheamus attacks Riddle on his scooter and he tells Riddle he will see him out there . . . fella.

We go to commercial.

Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander stop Adam Pearce and they say that if it wasn't for them Lashley wouldn't be champion. Cedric says that Shelton wants to face Lashley tonight and if anything is left, Cedric wants a piece of Lashley.

Pearce is hesitant to do anything and Cedric asks if he has to get Lashley's approval like he does with Roman on Smackdown. They tell Pearce to grow a sack.

MVP joins Tom and Byron on commentary.

Match Number One: Sheamus versus Riddle in a Non Title Match

They lock up and the referee has to separate Riddle and Sheamus in the corner. Riddle with a waist lock and Sheamus with a take down. Riddle with a waist lock and Sheamus with a drop toe hole into a reverse chin lock. Sheamus with a rollup for a near fall. Sheamus with a forearm and punch to the midsection. Sheamus with a side head lock. Sheamus with a shoulder tackle and a kick to the shoulder. Sheamus catches Riddle on a leap frog and Riddle goes for a sleeper and he gets Sheamus to the mat. Sheamus backs Riddle into the corner and Sheamus with elbows. Sheamus with a short arm clothesline and kicks. Sheamus with forearms to the back.

Sheamus and Riddle exchange punches. Riddle with a kick and round kick followed by a jumping knee and drop kick that sends Sheamus to the floor. Riddle with a kick and a twisting moonsault to the floor as we go to commercial.

We are back and Sheamus with a double fish hook on Riddle. Riddle with forearms and chops but Sheamus with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for a near fall. Sheamus with a forearm to the back. Sheamus gets Riddle up and he climbs to the turnbuckles for a super Air Raid Crash but Riddle counters and tries for a sunset flip power bomb but Sheamus wtih a boot. Riddle with chops. Sheamus pushes Riddle to the mat but Riddle gets up and hits a superplex and both men are down.

Sheamus and Riddle exchange punches. Riddle with a kick and Pele Kick. Riddle with a forearm and a second one into the corner followed by an exploder. Riddle with kicks to the chest. Sheamus blocks a kick and he gets Riddle up but Riddle lands on his feet and he hits a knee and back senton for a near fall. Riddle with a triangle and Sheamus with a one arm power bomb but Riddle holds on to the triangle. Sheamus gets to the ropes to force a break. Sheamus blocks a round kick and he gets Riddle up on the apron and hits an Air Raid Crash on the apron for a near fall. Sheamus with an Alabama Slam for a near fall. Sheamus sets for the Brogue Kick but Riddle with a knee into teh corner and an inside cradle for a near fall. Sheamus blocks a knee and kicks Riddle in the leg and hits a jumping knee for the three count.

Winner: Sheamus

After the match, Sheamus celebrates his victory and Riddle kicks Sheamus off the turnbuckles because he is a sore loser.

We take a look at what happened with Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon last week.

Shane walks in the back with Elias and Jaxson Ryker.

Kevin Patrick ambushes Shane and asks if there is anything he can reveal about the Braun Strowman expose. Shane refuses to give any details but he says there will be some interesting things.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Drew McIntyre is walking in the back and he sees AJ Styles and Omos. Drew says he won't turn his back on them. He says Lashley's offer is something that AJ wants.

AJ says they have bigger plans for Wrestlemania but Lashley is in Drew's head. AJ says they will embarrass the New Day at Wrestlemania and become the new Raw Tag Team Champions. AJ has to focus on his match against Xavier Woods. He says their paths will cross soon enough.

Drew wants to know who will take Lashley up on his offer.

Shane McMahon is in the ring with Elias and Jaxson Ryker.

Shane says he wants to address the elephant in the room, not Braun Strowman. Shane says that people have said his knee injury was illegitimate. Shane says it was adrenaline that gave him enough pain relief to get out of the way so he would not injure himself any further so he can be ready to defeat Braun Strowman at Wrestlemania.

Shane says he has discovered something interesting about Braun Strowman that gave him some insight into young Braun.

Shane takes us back to the fifth grade and we see Braun's report card and he did not do well. Shane says that the comments from his teachers show that he was a bully. We take a look at a graphic of Braun in a dunce cap. Shane says this shows that Braun is intellectually challenged.

Jaxson says big guy . . . tiny brain is true about Braun. Shane says he will outwit Braun and so will Jaxson later tonight.

Shane says Braun needs a great big hug from everyone.

Shane starts to shuffle in the ring while Braun makes his way to the ring.

Match Number Two: Braun Strowman versus Jaxson Ryker (with Elias and Shane McMahon)

Braun with a boot to the chest and a biel. Braun with another biel. Braun goes to the floor and he starts to get on the tracks but Shane goes into the ring to avoid Braun. Braun sends Ryker into the corner an dBraun with punches and elbows. Elias gets on the apron to distract Braun and Shane does the same. Ryker hits Braun from behind and he punches Braun. Braun sends Ryker into the corner and he runs into a boot. Ryker with a shot to the leg area followed by a bulldog.

Ryker with a forearm but Braun with a boot. Braun goes to the floor and we get sound effects as he knocks Ryker down. Braun with a splash into the corner followed by a power slam for the three count.

Winner: Braun Strowman

After the match, Braun chases Shaen into the ring and Elias hits Braun from behind. Shane and Elias attack Braun and Braun pushes them away.

Braun wants to know where is Shane running to? He asks Shane if he accepted his challenge to a match and you forgot that Braun could choose any match that he wanted. Braun says he has been thinking and he made up his mind. It will be one that your goons cannot get invovled in. You will not be able to run away. There will be nowhere to run and nowhere to be hide. You are going to GET THESE HANDS . . . in a steel cage match.

We see Miz's challenge to Bad Bunny from last week's Raw and Bad Bunny accepting the challenge.

We go to commercial.

Coverage Continues on Next Page

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Gambia's Defense Minister, Sheikh Omar Faye, has told Parliamentarians that the Gambia Armed Forces is an organization that subscribes to Constitutional Order of Government through the ballot box, and wishes to reiterate its readiness to defend and protect the sovereignty and integrity of the Gambia at all times.

Minister Faye gave this statement in response to a parliamentary question raised by the Member for Foni Jarrol Constituency, Alhagie Sankung Jammeh.

Jammeh in his question asked the following: "Can the Honorable Minister for Defense update this Assembly on the findings of the 31st December 2014 attack at the State House, which took some lives?"

In his response, Minister Faye said the following: "The attackers who lost their lives were Ex Major Lamin Sanneh, Ex Captain Njaga Jagne and Ex Sergeant Alagie Nyass. The attack was led by Lamin Sanneh, a dismissed Major from the Gambia Armed Forces and one time Commander of the State Guard Battalion."

The Minister added after his dismissal, Sanneh fled to Senegal and later re-settled in the United States of America. He said the other attackers were Njaga Jagne, a retired Captain of the United States National Guards; Baboucarr Low, former Warrant Officer Class Two of the Gambia Armed Forces referred to as Bai Low; Ex-Private Momodou Njie and Private Landing Sonko, all of the Gambia Armed Forces, with the latter who was on study leave at the time.

Minister Faye averred that during the exchange of fire at State House, Sanneh, Nyass and Jagne were killed in action, whilst Low and Sonko escaped and Momodou Njie was captured.

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"The investigations further revealed that the attackers from the rear gate of the State House included Ex Lance Corporal Musa Sarr of the Gambia Armed Forces; Ex-Sergeant Papa Faal of the US Air Force; Ex-Sergeant Alagie Nyass of the defunct Gambia National Gendarmerie and Private Dawda Bojang of the Gambia Armed Forces," Faye said; that other members of the group were stationed at Brufut Heights, some 25 kilometers from Banjul, and they include Mr. Cherno M. Njie, the main sponsor of the attack and proposed interim leader; Alagie Saidy Barrow, the coordinator of the group and responsible for logistics and clearing of their weapons and other gadgets from the sea port, and EX-Lieutenant Musa Faal, a Gambian Resident in Germany, who deserted the group before the attack.

He further said that other items retrieved after the attack were 2 heavy machine guns with telescopic lenses, 17 MP15 individual riffles with optic lens devices, 9 AKM Automatic Assault rifles, 4 light machine guns, 3 pistols, 1 night vision goggle, 11 sat-pro communication devices, 17 body armor, 20 jackets and 5 canal bags.

He said the weapons recovered during the attack are in safe custody of the Gambia Armed Forces, and stressed that the aftermath of the coup witnessed the trial and sentencing of personnel who were alleged to have participated in the coup, both in the United States of America and the Gambia.

"As part of the National Reconciliation efforts after the change of Government in the Gambia, all those convicted in the Gambia were pardoned by the new Government," Faye concludes.
The Louisiana Department of Health reported 318 more confirmed coronavirus cases and 9 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Tuesday.

The number of hospitalizations increased by 1, and the number of patients in need of ventilators decreased by 1.

There are now a total of 379,727 confirmed coronavirus cases and 64,687 total "probable" coronavirus cases in Louisiana, according to the agency's dashboard.

These are another few key statewide statistics as of Tuesday:

Total confirmed cases: 379,727

Total "probable" cases: 64,687

Total confirmed deaths: 9,288

Currently hospitalized: 363

Currently on ventilators: 61

Vaccine series initiated: 1,174,213 (updated twice weekly)

Vaccine series completed: 720,598

Note: The Advocate and The Times-Picayune staff calculates daily case count and confirmed death increases based on the difference between today's total and yesterday's total of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. The Louisiana Department of Health releases a daily case count on its dashboard that includes probable cases as indicated by a positive antigen test. That case count can be different than the one listed here.

Here are some of the parishes with the highest single-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, based on the Tuesday report:

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Calcasieu: 58

Lafayette: 56

Jefferson: 48

East Baton Rouge: 46

Orleans: 38

Caddo: 34

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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.
In recent columns, I have explored what laws or rules are in place to set aside land to replace that which is being developed. The focus has been on identifying set asides to compensate for habitat destruction. I found that there are no laws or local rules requiring one-to-one compensation. Of course, that means that once wildlife habitats are lost, they are lost forever.

Deer dont live in parking lots.

As development has intensified, regional organizations have been actively acquiring land for preservation and public recreation, or to just preserve it for the future.

Heartlands Conservancy president, Mary Vandevord, said that the organization has acquired Poag Sand Prairie, which consists of 10 acres of sand prairie for restoration. Heartlands partnered on that project with The Nature Conservancy in Illinois. Small time compared with the 9,000 acres Heartlands has protected since 1989

In 2004, with funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Heartlands Conservancy was able to acquire an additional 94 acres on Chouteau Island, which was deeded to the IDNR for management. In 2006, the 90-acre Bohm Woods was acquired and designated as an Illinois State Nature Preserve. In 2018, the 70-acre Drda Woods was acquired in partnership with the City of Edwardsville for eventual public use. And, Richards Woods is in the process of becoming a public, passive park of 35 acres.

Some organizations are planning for the future by planting trees. Cedarhurst Senior Living is working with the Edwardsville Childrens Museum in an environmental initiative by adding 100 trees annually, over the next 12 years, to populate Edwardsvilles first micro forest, to be located along Route 143.

In many municipalities in the region, land is required to be set aside or acquired to compensate for its loss through residential and commercial development.

In Edwardsville, the Land Development Code requires green space be included in developments at the site, or purchase green space for $41,000 per acre to compensate for its loss, according to Emily Fultz AIPC, Edwardsvilles City Planner. For active developments, such as single-family home subdivisions, 10 percent must be set aside or 20 percent for multifamily.

Commercial developments must set aside four percent. If a developer is allowed to purchase green space, the money goes to the Park Improvement Fund to add parkland, maintain existing parks or add to them.

Wait. What? Four percent?

Toni Oplt, a board member of the Piasa Palisades Chapter of the Sierra Club, does not think green space is an accurate term.

I think theyve created a very convenient definition of green space. Its a feel good policy that does not address critical issues such as community well being.

Oplt defines that as including a certain amount of walkable areas with old-growth trees.

A certain quality of life, if you will.

She also expressed concern about runoff and flooding noting that the more asphalt you put down, the less water will be absorbed.

Community well being is not an island of green in the middle of a parking lot, she said

The question in my mind is, Is this enough? Are we adequately protecting our environment for the present and future? Are we compensating for the destruction of wildlife habitat that big-box retail, residential development and highway construction are causing? What about the water runoff from the top of the bluffs to the American Bottoms from paving over farmland?

The environmental impact of commercial development is not a minor issue. As the Metro East continues to see rapid growth and redevelopment, they will become bigger problems. More land will be developed. More gems like the 54-acre Foucek Farm will be lost.

We need managed-growth initiatives at all levels of government, rather than saying yes to every developer that comes along. Ideally, land preservation and protection initiatives by the organizations mentioned above will continue. And, we clearly need to require a larger percentage of green space to be set aside for commercial development than we now require.

James M. Grandone is a longtime resident of Edwardsville. He holds a bachelors degree in political science from the University of Illinois and is a former Coro Fellow. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and the New York Center for Foreign Policy Affairs. He lives in the Leclaire neighborhood with his wife, Mary.
MSNBC

MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan took the mainstream media to task on Monday night for going out of its way to normalize former Trump White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, saying the repugnant far-right ideologue should potentially be prosecuted and definitely be shunned.

Despite former President Donald Trumps ignominious exit from the White House, capped by an insurrectionist riot incited by the outgoing president, a number of Trump administration officials have been welcomed into the world of media punditry with open arms.

Ex-Trump economic chief Larry Kudlow has scored a Fox Business show, while former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany is now a Fox News analyst.

But Hasan, filling in as guest host on All In with Chris Hayes, took specific issue with the current image rehabilitation of Miller, the architect of Trumps draconian and restrictive zero-tolerance immigration policy.

There is no shortage of odious people who gained power thanks to Donald Trump, the MSNBC host said. But if you had to pick just one who should be pushed out of public life, who should hang his head in shame and never be heard from or taken seriously ever again, it would have to be Stephen Miller.

Calling Miller the person most responsible for stealing children at the border and taking them from their parents arms, Hasan laid out Millers history of demonizing immigrants and sharing white nationalist propaganda. Hes probably the most repugnant individual to serve in the Trump White House, Hasan said.

Yet were now seeing the normalization of Stephen Miller, the host continued. And not just on Fox News, where he gleefully trolls the new administration about the situation at the border.

The political news outlet Politico, Hasan noted, has not only written up Millers new anti-Biden legal group but also quoted him in its influential Playbook newsletter like a pundit whose sage thoughts on immigration we should take very, very seriously.

Story continues

Look, the media have a tendency to treat anyone who has held a prominent government position as worthy of respect after they leave office, he added. But thats not right. Stephen Miller does not deserve to be normalized. Some would say he deserves to be prosecuted. At the very minimum, he deserves to be shunned.

Hasan then brought on journalist and Daily Beast columnist Jean Guerrero, author of the book Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda, who sounded the alarm over the mainstreaming of white supremacy and Millers radical ideas.

Were helping people like Stephen Miller launder incredibly dangerous conspiracy theories about white genocide that have motivated acts of extreme white terrorism like we saw in El Paso, where 23 people were killed, she said.

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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In February 2021, consumers in China bought the MLI (Mandatory Liability Insurance for Traffic Accidents of Motor Vehicles) for 93,680 China-built new energy vehicles (NEVs) , representing a marvelous surge of 841% over the previous year, according to the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC).

The remarkable growth was mainly due to the low base for the year-ago period when the country was at the height of the coronavirus pandemic and many consumers were locked down in their homes.

Chinese startups also scored extraordinary year-on-year growth for the same reason. Last month, insurance registrations of the vehicles from Chinese startups amounted to 13,057 units, rocketing 705.5% from the previous year, while plunging 48% month on month due to the Chinese New Year holiday.

For the first two months of the year, the NEV insurance volume totaled 239,136 units (+346.6% YoY), 16% of which came from Chinese startups.



It is noteworthy that Tesla was streets ahead of Chinese startups in terms of monthly insurance registrations. Last month, consumers in China bought the MLI for 18,039 China-made Model 3s and Model Ys, more than the totals of all Chinese startups. Of the vehicles registered, there were 13,394 Model 3s and 4,645 Model Ys.

Although most EV manufacturers faced month-over-month plunge in Feb. due to the holiday, Tesla China achieved a growth of 9.2% thanks to the surging demands of the Model Ys. The Model Y, Tesla's second locally-produced model in China, had an insurance volume of 1,967 units in Jan. after it hit the market at the beginning of the month.



As for the landscape of Chinese startups in Feb., the majority of market share was still dominated by the six companies, namely, NIO, XPeng, Li Auto, WM Motor, HOZON Auto and Leapmotor. With aggregated registrations of 12,445 units, they contributed to around 95% of the Chinese startups totals.

Clearly, NIO, XPeng and Li Auto firmly maintained their leadership as the first-tier Chinese startups. NIO still took the crown with an insurance volume of 5,739 units, which more than doubled that of the runner-up XPeng. Li Auto's volume was only 41 units fewer than that of XPeng, while 1,485 units more than that of WM Motor.



NIO posted a month-on-month decrease of 20.2% in Feb. registration with all three models facing decline. The ES8, the ES6 and the EC6 had insurance volume of 1,351 units, 2,277 units and 2,111 units respectively, of which the EC6 recorded the biggest month-on-month drop.

Among coupe SUV models priced above 300,000 yuan ($45,870) in China, the EC6 was honored the runner-up by Feb. insurance volume. In addition, in terms of registrations, the ES8 was the No.6 full-sized SUV model priced over 400,000 yuan ($61,160), while the ES6 was the No.7 mid-sized SUV priced above 300,000 yuan.



XPeng saw its monthly registrations tumble from 5,542 units in Jan. to 2,332 units in Feb., which included 880 G3s (-55.2% MoM) and 1,452 P7s (-59.4% MoM). According to the monthly data compiled by Gasgoo, the P7, the company's second production model available for scale delivery from June 2020, had outperformed the G3 for eight consecutive months as of Feb. 2021.

The Guangzhou-based company moves much ahead of many other Chinese startups regarding the scale application of self-developed autonomous driving technologies. XPeng released in Jan. the first OTA (over-the-air) of XPILOT 3.0, its full-stack in-house-developed automotive driving system, which has become a core selling point of XPeng's vehicles.

As a main part of the XPILOT 3.0, NGP (Navigation Guided Pilot), the company's navigation-assisted highway autonomous driving solution, had been activated in around 20% of all P7s delivered and has assisted customers in driving for more than 1.3 million kilometers by the end of February, He Xiaopeng, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of XPeng, said at a quarterly earnings call.



Li Auto witnessed its Feb. insurance volume flop 53.9% compared to the previous month, while rocket 646.3% compared to the previous year.

The EV maker currently has only one model for sale, namely the Li ONE REEV with a NEDC range of up to 800 kilometers. It also revealed the plan of launching all-electric vehicles, while the specific timeline has not been announced yet.

Li Auto said the cumulative deliveries of the Li ONE surpassed 40,000 units as of Feb. 18, 2021, only 14.5 months after the delivery kicked off. Notably, Li Auto was also the first Chinese EV startup that achieved the milestone in such a short time.

As for the car ownership, NIO's registrations for private usages amounted to 4,683 units in Feb., versus 1,056 units handed over to business users. For XPeng and Li Auto, the proportion of individual users stood at 86.1% and 82.6% respectively.

Among the second-tier ones, WM Motor, HOZON Auto and Leapmotor all failed to surpass 1,000 units in Feb. insurance registrations.

All three Chinese startups had a major sales contributor that upstaged the other models. WM Motor recorded an insurance volume of 806 units, of which 793 units were the EX5. With registrations of 682 units, the Nezha V made up 96.9% of HOZON Auto's Feb. totals. For Leapmotor, the T03 had an insurance volume of 548 units, while the S01 only recorded 25 units.

To seize more market share, the second-tier Chinese startups are intensifying their business deployment. Freeman Shen, founder and CEO of WM Motor, said the company will quicken its deployment in products, intelligentization, sales channels and technologies in 2021, and will tap mobility service. HOZON Auto plans to invest 2 billion yuan ($305.82 million) this year in the construction of an intelligent technology R&D hub, and roll out the mass-produced version of the concept car Eureka 03 and two new refreshed models. Leapmotor announced in Jan. it raised a total of 4.3 billion yuan ($657.512 million) in its series B financing, exceeding the target by over 1 billion yuan ($152.91 million). It also formed partnership with Hefei municipal government, planning to build its second manufacturing plant with an annual capacity of 200,000 units in the capital of Anhui province.
IRELANDS contact tracing is to experience an overhaul this coming week, with the aim to catch the source of 'community transmission' cases.

Up to now, Ireland has operated on a 48-hour contact-tracing system, where anyone who tests positive for Covid has to recall where they were and who they met within the last 48 hours.

Now, contact tracers will help people trace their footsteps back over the previous seven days.

This programme is being run to establish cases that have been marked as community transmission, which currently represents around 20pc of cases.

So, how does Ireland's contact tracing system compare to other countries in Europe and beyond?

Read More

Ireland

There are currently over 830 contact tracers and there are enough to carry out the additional work, according to the Health Service Executive's National Lead for Testing and Tracing, Niamh OBeirne.

Ireland was operating off a 48-hour track-and-trace system, whereby contact tracers would speak to people who received a positive Covid test about their recent contacts and activity. Now, the purpose of a seven-day track-and-trace is to identify higher risk settings so the public can be informed and identify any additional clusters.

Dr Greg Martin, clinical leader for contract tracing, said those who have caught the virus will be asked additional questions over the phone. Those questions will go back over the last seven days, instead of 48 hours.

Dr Martin said: "When we identify cases of Covid-19  about 20pc of those cases  were not sure what the context was in which they were infected, so we call it community transmission.

"What well be doing, as of the 31st of March, is those cases will be asked additional questions about where it is theyve been, settings that theyve been in, events they have been at. And those questions will go back seven days, instead of what we usually do in terms of contact tracing, which is two days.

The additional data will then be made available to public health departments, which will decide which cases need more investigation.

UK

Each UK nation has its own contact-tracing system. England has the NHS Test and Trace system, Scotland has Test and Protect, Wales has Test, Trace Protect and Northern Ireland has Contact tracing service.

People who have tested positive for coronavirus are contacted by app, text, email, or phone. They are asked to log on to a website and give personal information, including their name, date of birth and postcode; who they live with; places they visited recently; names and contact details of people they have recently been in close contact with.

Those identified as a close contact must self-isolate for 10 days, even if they do not have symptoms.

Earlier this month, MPs criticised the British government's test-and-trace system, saying it's too expensive, and has had no clear impact on fighting the pandemic.

France

So-called brigades as referred to by the French prime minister, were set up last May and tasked with contact tracing. These teams are made up of staff from health authorities.

GPs are on the frontline of information-gathering and are asked to identify likely contacts. Brigades fill in gaps where GPs are not able to successfully identify all people.

The brigades ask the contacts to undertake a free test, and do follow-up checks to see if the person did as requested. Contacts are asked to self-isolate for seven days from the last time they were in contact with the infected person.

Germany

Contract tracing in Germany is the responsibility of local health authorities. Contact tracing is done by phone and there are about 400 call centres across the country. Quarantine periods differ from state to state.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has prioritised tracking infection chains as the key to slowing the spread of Covid-19. In June 2020, she aimed for the country to have one tracer per 4,000 people in a population of 83 million.

Spain

Spain hit headlines in October for using its army to carry out contact tracing. At five army bases in Madrid, 150 volunteer soldiers spend their days calling people who have been diagnosed with Covid-19, mapping recent social interactions, and asking those potentially infected to stay at home.

Authorities at the time said it was difficult to identify the origin of an outbreak in a populous area like Madrid, and one infected person could infect two or three more, so teams had to move fast.

Japan

The practice of contact tracing was originally developed in Asian countries and has been particularly effective in Japan and South Korea, where tracing has always extended beyond 48 hours.

This has been effective in establishing where the infected person initially caught the virus, and to track where the virus has spread since.

US

In the US, contact tracing is conducted over the phone for close contacts of laboratory-confirmed or probable Covid-19 patients. Close contacts with no symptoms are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days from their last potential exposure and referred for testing.

... And what about the tracing apps?

In 2020, several EU countries, including Ireland, established contact-tracing apps to track Covid-19 contagion, but they have failed due to a lack of downloads and usage.

Contrary to early predictions that up to 85pc of potential users would download contact-tracing apps, worldwide download rates were much lower.

Germany was around 21pc, Italy 14pc, Frances latest version is at 15pc and Iceland was around 40pc.
TOKYO, Mar 30, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation's production and sales results for February 2021 are summarized below.I. Production1. Domestic ProductionMazda's domestic production volume in February 2021 decreased 4.9% year on year due to decreased production of passenger and commercial vehicles.[Domestic production of key models in February 2021]CX-5: 26,777 units (down 11.9% year on year)MAZDA3: 9,462 units (down 26.3%)CX-30: 7,454 units (down 19.7%)2. Overseas ProductionMazda's overseas production volume in February 2021 decreased 0.8% year on year due to decreased production of commercial vehicles.[Overseas production of key models in February 2021]CX-30: 9,878 units (down 17.0% year on year)MAZDA2: 4,590 units (up 8.7%)MAZDA3: 3,998 units (down 15.2%)II. Domestic SalesMazda's domestic sales volume in February 2021 increased 1.2% year on year due to increased sales of passenger vehicles.Mazda's registered vehicle market share was 5.6% (unchanged year on year), with a 2.0% share of the micro-mini segment (up 0.2 points) and a 4.2% total market share (up 0.1points).[Domestic sales of key models in February 2021]MAZDA2: 2,673 units (up 10.8% year on year)CX-5: 2,587 units (down 13.2%)CX-8: 2,557 units (up 67.5%)III. ExportsMazda's export volume in February 2021 decreased 8.0% year on year due to decreased shipment to North America and Europe.[Exports of key models in February 2021]CX-5: 26,497 units (down 11.2% year on year)MAZDA3: 7,843 units (down 25.0%)CX-9: 5,866 units (up 15.1%)IV. Global SalesMazda's global sales volume in February 2021 increased 4.4% year on year due to increased sales in Japan, China and other regions.[Global sales of key models in February 2021]CX-5: 29,845 units (down 3.2% year on year)CX-30: 17,299 units (up 12.7%)MAZDA3 (includes Axela): 16,682 units (up 7.6%)For more information, visit https://newsroom.mazda.com (bit.ly/3sEfAmY).Source: MazdaCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.

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.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
For you Trumpers out there, you cannot deny Trump was not a president for the working poor. He gave tax breaks to the rich and corporations. He radicalized the hate groups in the United States and we now have homeland terrorists. He tried to overturn our election results. Promoted voter suppression. Had a love affair with criminals and dictators. Have not paid federal income tax. He tried to destroy our democracy, bottom line.

Girardville



Anyone working against President Biden by spreading division and animosity is not a patriot. It only leads to a weak America leaving us vulnerable to our enemies.

Auburn



Why dont some department stores, like Kohls and Boscovs, have the shopping carts with electricity for the handicap? It would make it so easy and convenient for the handicap to get around. Please be considerate.

Lake Wynonah



I think all these moderate Democrats that support the Biden-Harris policies that are destroying our country should be recalled. Lets start with our own senator, Bob Casey, and our neighbors congressman, Matt Pelosis puppet Cartwright, because neither one of them are doing anything to stop this insanity.

Frackville



I am calling about the gas tax and state of our roads in Schuylkill County. Schuylkill County has the worst roads of any county surrounding it. We pay more for gas in this county and our roads are terrible. Now, they want to raise tolls to help fix the bridges. Maybe they need to fix the roads in this county. They are the worst.

Saint Clair



President Biden doesnt want the kids in school because of COVID, yet he brings the illegals across the border, some who may have COVID. Is this man insane? Trump 2024. God bless America.

Mahanoy City



Pope Francis recent visit to Iraq was amazing in these difficult times because it brought hope to Christians living in a troubled country. But there was very little coverage of his visit. However, there was front page coverage of Pope Francis not blessing same-sex marriages.

Pottsville
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 23:55:36|Editor: huaxia

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SOFIA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian law enforcement officers in the port city of Burgas have captured more than 13 million smuggled cigarettes destined for Hungary, authorities said Tuesday.

The illegal shipment was found in a semi-trailer that arrived by ferry from Georgia on Sunday, the National Customs Agency (NCA) and the country's Prosecutor's Office said in a joint statement.

The 651,062 cigarette packs were from two brands unknown in the Bulgarian market, the statement said, adding the shipment had to be transported by truck to Hungary.

The total value of the seized cigarettes is about three million U.S. dollars, the statement said.

Due to its location, Bulgaria is a favorite destination for traffickers, with 16.1 million illegal cigarettes seized by the NCA in 2020. Enditem
















HONG KONG, Mar 30, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Turnover and net profit increased at the same time, innovative pipeline continued to expand, and the synergy between its businesses became increasingly obvious .....China Medical System Limited (the "Company" or "CMS"), who has just released its annual results, has brought too many surprises to the market.In recent years, CMS has successfully completed its transformation from an "old CMS" driven by sales and promotion to a "new CMS" driven by innovative R&D by deepening its innovative pipeline and promoting the synergistic development of multiple business lines. Now, with its strength in business development and sales promotion, the innovative pipeline and new businesses continued to expand, which has become a powerful driving force to lift the Company's valuation ceiling.According to zhitongcaijing.com app, on March 16, CMS released its 2020 annual results. The financial report shows that the Company's overall performance achieved solid growth in 2020, with annual turnover up 14.4% y-o-y to RMB6.946 billion, net profit up 30.7% y-o-y to RMB2.556 billion.In fact, the Company's ability to grow against the odds in an environment affected by the global public health event in 2020 was made possible by the stable revenue from its existing core products. In addition, the Company has actively participated in innovation and acquired products with differentiation advantage. With the smooth progressing of registration and clinical processes for a number of its high-quality products, and the approaching of the commercial launch of its blockbuster innovative drugs, certainty for its future growth continues to improve. In addition, CMS is also expanding the healthcare business as well as the dermatology and medical aesthetic business, aimed at forming a synergistic development between the old and new business lines to bring new growth engine for the Company and promote the continuous release of intrinsic value in the future.Behind its solid growth, lies the strength of its core products.CMS' overall performance relies on the Company's strong abilities in academic promotion and retail network, and more importantly, on the strength of its core products.According to the annual report, the Company has four core product lines: cardio-cerebrovascular line, digestion line, ophthalmology line and dermatology line. In terms of product sales, the cardio-cerebrovascular line and digestion line, the Company's most important core product lines, continued to maintain growth in 2020, with revenue up by 18.9% and 18.5% respectively. Whilst, in the second half of the year, the ophthalmology and dermatology lines saw extremely strong revenue growth, reversing the slightly downward trend seen in the first half of the year under the impact of the pandemic, achieving revenue increases of 16.3% and 20.3%, respectively.The key reasons for the stable growth of the Company's core product lines are the low impact of policies and the stability of the products' markets.On the policy side, so far, the expansion of "centralized procurement" has no impact on CMS yet. Take Plendil and Deanxit, the Company's heavyweight products in its cardio-cerebrovascular product line, for example, in China, no generic Plendil has passed the consistency evaluation, and there is only one generic Deanxit.According to the current rules of "with three or more generic drugs that have passed consistency evaluation" in the selection of drugs for centralized procurement, it can be seen that national centralized procurement policy will not affect the performance of the Company in the short run.As for the product market, many of CMS' core products are drugs for chronic diseases with strong brand stickiness. Patients often need long-term or lifelong medication with low product replacement rate and low daily treatment cost. So they are not only less affected by public health events, but even if they are included in national centralized procurement in the future, the impact may be lower than the market expectation due to the product's high retail market share and strong patient stickiness.In fact, in addition to promoting the stable growth of its core products, CMS has also made great progress in the field of innovative R&D.Innovative pipeline R&D continues to advance with "fresh blood" continuously injectedAs a pharmaceutical company with international development capabilities, CMS has developed an innovative drug pipeline through its excellent BD capabilities and the integration of international resources, which is another important path to meet the huge unmet medical needs. Today, CMS, which has responded quickly and actively laid out its innovative pipeline, is already reaping the fruits of its innovative R&D.According to the data, CMS has altogether over 20 innovative drugs, all of which are innovative products with high innovation level, good market potential and competitive differentiation advantages. Among them, 9 products have been approved for marketing in the U.S. and/or Europe, and 3 products are in the process of registration clinical trials in China.Take the core product Diazepam Nasal Spray as an example, by the end of 2020, CMS has completed dosing and blood sample collection of all subjects in the comparative PK study, and the product is expected to be launched in China this year.Notably, Diazepam Nasal Spray is also the first out-of-hospital emergency drug approved by the U.S. FDA for acute repetitive seizures in patients with epilepsy 6 years of age and older. If the product is successfully marketed in China, it is speculated that it will become the home remedy for children with epilepsy based on parents' protective mindset towards their children. The market of Diazepam Nasal Spray is very promising after its launch. It is estimated that there are about 6 million active epilepsy patients in China, and about 400,000 new patients each year. Among patients who receive formal treatment, 20-30% still cannot be effectively controlled, and the number of recurrent seizures is frequent, averaging as many as nearly 70 times per year.Assuming that 15% of the 2 million patients who receive formal treatment need Diazepam Nasal Spray to control recurrent and frequent seizures, and an average of 40 seizures attacks per person per year, the annual demand is estimated at 12 million units. Currently, the selling price of Diazepam Nasal Spray is approximately $300 per unit in the U.S., and assuming a selling price of RMB300 per unit in China, the annual sales market potential of the product would be RMB3.6 billion.Recently, the registration bridging Phase III trial in China of Tildrakizumab, a novel monoclonal antibody specifically targeting IL-23, has completed enrollment of all 220 subjects within only 2.5 months (including holidays of the New Year and Chinese Lunar New Year), highlighting another yet-to-be-discovered innovative advantage of CMS's rapid clinical advancement capability based upon its professional sales and promotion network as well as expert resources.In addition to Diazepam Nasal Spray and Tildrakizumab, there are seven other products in the Company's innovative pipeline, including Cyclosporine Eye Drops 0.09%, all of which have been approved for marketing in Europe and/or the U.S., and the Company is now actively promoting the marketing of these products in China.In addition to advancing the research and development of existing innovative pipeline, the Company also realized sustained expansion of innovative pipeline in 2020.According to zhitongcaijing.com app, in January 2020, CMS strategically cooperated with Zydus and acquired the exclusive license of innovative product Desidustat Tablets; in June, the Company made equity investment in Gelesis and acquired innovative product PLENITY; in September, the Company strategically cooperated with medac and acquired innovative products Methotrexate Pre-filled Syringe/Pen and BCG for Intravesical Instillation; in December, the Company acquired innovative product Methylene Blue MMX through strategic cooperation with Cosmo. All of the above products are introduced based on the actual needs of the Chinese market, and the market space of each product is at least RMB one to several billion.In terms of the Company's development plan, in the short term of about 3 years, CMS will have 6-7 blockbuster innovative drugs marketed in China, with a market potential totaling over RMB 20 billion. The Company expects to introduce at least 5 innovative drugs per year on average, and is expected to become one of the Chinese pharmaceutical companies with the most innovative drugs in the long term.High-quality innovative drugs with huge market demand, combined with strong drug commercialization and academic promotion capabilities, will be a big boost to the Company's revenue and profits in the short- to mid-term once these innovative drugs are approved for marketing in China.Deep plowing the healthcare industry to create trending healthcare products through industrial synergyIn 2020, with the growing demand for healthcare, driven by policy, Internet technology and the impact of COVID-19, the healthcare industry in China is facing a great window for development, which also brings new development opportunities for CMS.CMS's rich overseas channel resources and good reputation, mature product introduction system, responsive international supply chain system and strong sales promotion network have formed significant industrial synergy with the healthcare segment, supporting the healthcare segment to continuously create "best-selling" products and establish strong market advantages.According to zhitongcaijing.com app, CMS has cooperated with major e-commerce platforms to open cross-border e-commerce "CMS Health Overseas Flagship Stores" to create a one-stop shopping platform for high-quality overseas healthcare products.On November 1 last year, CMS Health Overseas Flagship Stores were launched in JD Worldwide and Youzan Mall; by the end of last year, 18 products from 4 well-known European brands had been launched. It is expected that by the end of 2021, the flagship stores will have more than 300 cooperative products, covering nine core areas.In addition, CMS is continuously injecting new energy into its healthcare business. It is reported that as of press date, its flagship store has nearly 60 products, the surprisingly rapid development of the business clearly shows the extremely strong execution of CMS.Diving deep into the golden track of dermatology and medical aesthetics, CMS continues to strengthen its ability to integrate upstream and downstream industry chainIn addition to the healthcare business, the dermatology and medical aesthetic business is also a key area for CMS to develop vigorously. CMS has been involved in skin treatment and has established certain expert network resources. In order to further enter the medical aesthetic product line and achieve deeper development in skin management and medical aesthetics, on February 1 this year, CMS completed the acquisition of Luqa, a dermatology and medical aesthetics specialty company, to go further into the golden track of medical aesthetics.Luqa's key prescription medicines and medical devices cover Aethoxysklerol, Stratamark/Strataderm, and Zalain, and Aethoxysklerol is one of the leading brands that has long been clinically used for the sclerotherapy of varicose veins; Luqa's medical aesthetic products feature Mesohyal and Mesoeclat from Mesoestetic of Spain, and Neauvia hyaluronic acid series.CMS' acquisition of Luqa is noted by the market because of the strong synergy effect between upstream and downstream industries.From the upstream of the industry chain, Luqa has rich leading European medical aesthetic resources, while CMS has more than 20 years of experience, resources and channels of investment in products in overseas markets, and has a good reputation overseas, especially in Europe, the acquisition to achieve the interchange of resources in the upstream of the industry line, which will undoubtedly promote the integration and fission of resources more effectively and achieve the effect of "1+1>2". With the addition of Luqa, it is expected that more leading skin management and medical aesthetic products will be included, enriching CMS' product lineup and expanding the area of its business.In the downstream part of the industry chain, CMS has rich resources of dermatology experts, who will be able to give advice, build brand and create reputation for dermatology and medical aesthetic products from a professional perspective, while Luqa's sales channels covering a wide range of medical institutions and agency network will complement CMS's advantages and help CMS to form a more comprehensive and in-depth downstream network layout in the future.In terms of the overall medical aesthetic market, China's medical aesthetic industry grew at a CAGR of 22.5% from 2014-2019, which made China one of the fastest growing countries in the world, and is expected to maintain a high growth rate of over 20% in the coming years. In a growing dermatology and medical aesthetic market, there is not yet a leading company in China. The resource synergy between Luqa and CMS will help CMS to have strong competitive advantages in both product and sales. With these advantages, CMS is expected to become the first high-end beauty and health management company in China.However, the market has not yet reasonably valuated CMS, who has strong innovative R&D strength and multi-industry synergy.According to zhitongcaijing.com app, although the valuation of CMS has increased recently due to strong performance, the dynamic PE reflected by the Company's share price is only about 12.34x as of the press date. While the already undervalued pharmaceutical and healthcare stocks in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange are still trading at the PE of nearly 20x, which verified that CMS is obviously undervalued.In fact, there is a certain lag in the market for the valuation of CMS. From the perspective of business development, it is not only the existing drugs that are currently driving the Company's valuation growth, but also the Company's innovative pipeline, healthcare business and dermatology and medical aesthetic business, which are all immune to China's "centralized procurement" and will bring strong performance momentum to the Company in the future, and are also powerful engines to drive the Company's valuation growth.From the perspective of innovative drug development alone, as mentioned earlier, CMS will have 6-7 blockbuster new drugs marketed in China in 1-3 years, with a combined annual market potential of over RMB 20 billion. According to an institution's previous estimation, the target price will raise to HK$19.80 using the PE valuation method, based on a conservative estimate of the value of seven blockbuster innovative products, as well as the value of seven generic drugs and without considering the value of the Company's healthcare business and Luqa's brand value for the time being.zhitongcaijing.com app observed that on March 18, the share price of CMS jumped 15.01% to close at HK$18.24 per share. It can be seen that the market's attitude towards the "new CMS" has started to improve significantly. Taking into account the positive impact of the healthcare and dermatology and medical aesthetic segment, CMS is expected to see further valuation growth in the mid to long term.In the dermatology and medical aesthetic sector, for example, in China's A-share, the average valuation of stocks under the Choice medical aesthetic concept stock has exceeded 140 times. As a scarce quality target in the concept of dermatology and medical aesthetic in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, after the acquisition of Luqa, CMS has the conditions and advantages for its entry into the medical aesthetic industry through the great synergy in skin management and medical aesthetic field, and the Company's valuation is also expected to rise accordingly.According to zhitongcaijing.com app, Citi has recently released a research report, raising the target price of CMS by 134% to HK$26 from HK$11.1, with a "buy" rating.By: zhitongcaijing.com appSource: China Medical System Holdings Ltd.Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
WETTEREN, Belgium, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services ("Aji Bio-Pharma"), a leading provider of biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing services, is pleased to announce a manufacturing agreement expansion with AstraZeneca to include drug product manufacturing.

This agreement expands the scope of Aji Bio-Pharma's service offerings to AstraZeneca to include aseptic fill finish services at its San Diego, California facility, in addition to small molecule manufacturing services proceeding in Belgium.

"We are excited to expand our manufacturing agreement with AstraZeneca and to support them with additional service offerings," said Magnus Busch, Global Account Manager, Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services. "Our San Diego team is proud to join our Belgium colleagues in support of AstraZeneca. This expanded agreement builds on our commitment to be a leading, trusted, innovative partner to our clients."

About Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services

Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services is a fully integrated contract development and manufacturing organization with sites in Belgium, United States, Japan, and India, providing comprehensive development, cGMP manufacturing, and aseptic fill finish services for small and large molecule APIs and intermediates. Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services offers a broad range of innovative platforms and capabilities for pre-clinical and pilot programs to commercial quantities, including Corynex protein expression technology, oligonucleotide synthesis, antibody drug conjugations (ADC), high potency APIs (HPAPI), biocatalysis, continuous flow manufacturing and more. Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services is dedicated to providing a high level of quality and service to meet our client's needs. Learn more: www.AjiBio-Pharma.com

SOURCE Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services

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https://ajibio-pharma.com


People take part in a protest against Asian hate in New York, the United States, on March 21, 2021. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua)

With mounting pressure from nationwide protests against anti-Asian hate, the U.S. government is likely to take some perfunctory measures. But one thing is clear: without sweeping reforms and an earnest attitude, Uncle Sam can hardly clean up its mess in human rights protection, let alone act as a beacon.

by Xinhua writer Dong Yue

BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The videos and images of a 76-year-old Asian woman pitifully crying with a bruised eye after being assaulted by a white man in San Francisco have gone viral on social media and shocked the whole world.

The elderly woman who bravely beat off the attacker was yet the latest victim of a surging tide of anti-Asian violence and hate crimes in the United States, which has traumatized millions of Asian Americans and plunged them into growing fear. Ealier this month, six Asian Americans were shot dead in cold blood by a young white gunman in Atlanta, Georgia.

When people across the world are expressing sympathy for the victims as well as their indignation against those perpetrators, they are also wondering why the United States, a country known as a nation of immigrants, is struggling with waves of violence and xenophobia?

A man wearing a face mask walks on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

With a short history densely stained by a racist tradition, the country built by immigrants is unsurprisingly infamous for racial discrimination. From the state-sanctioned killings of native Indians and the extreme abusive policies against African slaves and Chinese laborers, to the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Immigration Act of 1924, the United States has a deplorable track record in maltreating its minority groups.

As time passes, such a racist tradition has turned more extreme and violent. When political, economic and social problems arise, ethnic minorities have always been made the scapegoats. That is also the case in the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far infected over 30 million people in the world's most developed country.

To gloss over the country's incompetence in fighting the pandemic and shift the blame, unscrupulous Washington politicians and media outlets have been explicitly manipulating racist rhetoric and sentiments by linking the deadly pathogen to specific ethnic groups, leading to increasing violence and hate against Asian Americans.

According to Stop AAPI Hate, a California-based nonprofit social organization tracking incidents of violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, it received nearly 3,800 reports of attack or abuse against people of Asian descent between March 2020 to February 2021.

People take part in a rally against anti-Asian hate crimes in San Mateo, California, the United States, Feb. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Erika Lee, a historian and the author of "America for Americans," described the acts of racism and violence facing Asian American and Pacific Islander communities "a systemic national tragedy."

Behind the tragedy is the U.S. society's deep-seated and long-standing white supremacy, a belief that white people constitute a superior race and should therefore dominate the society. This extremist bigotry has gained fresh momentum in recent years from the intensified polarization of American politics.

In 2020, distribution of white supremacist propaganda in the United States increased nearly twofold from a year ago, with 5,125 incidents of racist, anti-Semitic and other hateful messages being reported, according to the Anti-Defamation League, an anti-hate organization headquartered in New York.

Regrettably, successive U.S. administrations have been tolerant and insensitive to these problems, letting the systemic national tragedy deprive ethnic minorities of their basic rights in wealth distribution, employment, healthcare, education and political participation.

A protester holds a sign near the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on June 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

In fact, devastating racism is only the tip of the iceberg of America's mess in human rights protection. China's State Council Information Office on Wednesday issued the Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2020, depicting the whole picture of the country's chaotic human rights situation.

Besides comprehensive, systematic and continuous racism, the report also disclosed Washington's incompetent pandemic containment, the American democracy disorder, the continuous social unrest, the growing polarization between the rich and the poor as well as the U.S. trampling on international rules that has resulted in worldwide humanitarian disasters.

With mounting pressure from nationwide protests against anti-Asian hate, the U.S. government is likely to take some perfunctory measures. But one thing is clear: without sweeping reforms and an earnest attitude, Uncle Sam can hardly clean up its mess in human rights protection, let alone act as a beacon. 

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]
You are here: China

China's National Immigration Administration said Monday that a total of 7,194 individuals have been seized for illegal border crossing since the end of 2020, up 326 percent year on year.

Investigations were carried out into 2,514 criminal cases involving actions that jeopardized border security, capturing over 6,200 suspects nationwide, since the Ministry of Public Security launched a related crackdown late last year.

Targeting criminal networks and organizers behind the scenes, Chinese police and border authorities have busted 93 groups disrupting border security, as well as 25 dens functioning as transfer stations, seizing 412 vehicles.

Efforts have also been made to improve the efficiency of such work, such as by launching joint law enforcement efforts and enhancing information sharing.

An official with the administration said Chinese police and border authorities will further strengthen the crackdown on border control-related crimes, resolutely prevent the imported COVID-19 cases due to illegal border crossing, and safeguard national security and social stability.
Authorities are asking for the public to be on the lookout for a 53-year-old man with a mental condition who is missing in Birmingham.

Othello Thompson was last seen about 6 p.m. Monday in the 1800 block of Sixth Avenue South. He was wearing a black hoodie, black shoes and pants of an unknown color. Officer Truman Fitzgerald says Thompson suffers from mental conditions that impair his judgement and cause him to have combative behavior.

Thompson is a Black male, 5-feet, 11-inches tall and weighs 225 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to call the Birmingham Police Departments Special Victims Unit at 205-297-841 or 911. If you have additional information on this investigation, contact Crime Stoppers 205-254-7777.
UPDATE 9:05 a.m.: This story has been edited to reflect that appointments cant be booked at Portland International Airport by calling 211. People who dont have internet access can schedule an appointment by calling 833-647-8222.

Thousands of COVID-19 vaccination appointments for Portland International Airport will be available for booking at 9 a.m. Tuesday, with Portland-area residents still able to schedule their own shots and the facility no longer limited to serving only those with mobility challenges.

Apparent confusion over how to book slots at the airport left scores of future appointments uncharacteristically open for hours on Monday.

Those currently eligible to book appointments include people in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas or Columbia counties who are 45 or older with an underlying condition or those who hold frontline jobs that have been granted high priority by the governor.

It took about three hours Monday morning for Portland-area residents to claim 5,845 appointments at the airport and Hillsboro Stadium, said Franny White, a spokeswoman for Oregon Health & Science University, which operates both drive-thru sites. Thats far longer than on most mornings in February and early March when up to 767,000 seniors statewide became eligible for their shots.

But part of the reason might be that there was some confusion about whether Portland-area residents could book appointments online after Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, said last Friday that the state had taken down its chatbot vaccination tool at covidvaccine.oregon.gov, which had been the primary portal metro-area residents had been using to schedule appointments at the airport and the stadium.

The chatbot did go away. But vaccine appointments could still be booked directly through www.ohsu.edu/covidvaccines -- something that wasnt clear last week, as some thought appointments would be doled out through the lottery registration system used for slots at the Oregon Convention Center. Appointments also can be scheduled by calling 833-647-8222, but OHSU asks that only people who dont have internet access use this phone option.

The airport site previously had been limited to vaccinations for individuals with mobility issues. That restriction has been lifted now that a wider and younger swath of the population has been given the green light for vaccinations.

Monday was the first day the Portland areas mass vaccination sites began offering appointments to the latest wave of residents eligible for their shots: People ages 45 to 64 with health conditions such as heart disease, active cancer, type 2 diabetes and obesity as well as pregnant people age 16 and older. Also eligible are frontline workers including those in agriculture and food processing. In all, Allen estimates this entire group encompasses about 800,000 residents statewide.

There are still three primary ways residents of Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Columbia counties can schedule appointments:

Visit www.ohsu.edu/covidvaccines or call 833-647-8222 at set times, the next being 9 a.m. Tuesday. This week, OHSU also might release appointments 9 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, but that hasnt been decided yet, said White, the OHSU spokeswoman. Check back at www.ohsu.edu/covidvaccines for the most up-to-date schedule. The state has sent more than 15,000 first Pfizer doses this week to OHSU for vaccinations at the airport and stadium.

Register at getvaccinated.oregon.gov , which will enter you into a lottery. The state will send randomly selected names to of people whove registered to the operators of the mass vaccination site at the Oregon Convention Center in Northeast Portland. Those on the lists will be sent emails or texts with links that allow them to book appointments. The state has sent more than 18,000 first doses this week to the convention center.

Go to vaccinefinder.org , which will provide links to pharmacies with available appointments. Or visit covidvaccine.oregon.gov and click on Vaccine Information by County to learn if you can book appointments in other areas of the state. The state fairgrounds, for one, is vaccinating thousands of Oregonians each week regardless of their counties of residence.

To view details of precisely who qualifies for vaccinations in Oregon, visit covidvaccine.oregon.gov and click on the chart that outlines the vaccine rollouts phases of eligible people.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee
Bengaluru, March 30 : The woman involved in the Sleaze CD case appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing this case to record her statement as well as provide a voice sample, her legal counsel, Jagadesh K.N. Mahadev said on Tuesday.

Briefing the media outside the Technical Cell in Kadugodi here, he told reporters that after the victim recorded her statement before the magistrate, the SIT wanted to record her statement under the Criminal Procedure Code's Section 161.

The provision is regarding examination of witnesses by police, and such a person shall be bound to answer truly all questions relating to such case put to him by such an officer, other than questions the answers to which would have a tendency to expose him to a criminal charge or to a penalty or forfeiture.

In response to a question, Jagdesh said that recording statements before a magistrate is one thing and recording statements before the police is also a part of procedure, but under different sections of the CrPC.

"Yes, she will have to undergo a medical test, voice test and evidence collection drive by the police. These are all procedures, which she will be part of. It is a lengthy battle. As far as today is concerned, she will undergo voice test alone," he said in response to another question.

He said that the security provided by the police and state government's measures are above satisfactory. "We are happy about the security arrangements. She is allowed to go along with her lawyers to register her statement. She will be accompanied by lawyers wherever she will go," he said.

The lawyer also said that it was time up for the accused (former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi) as he should be behind bars now. "After victim records her statement, the police will have to act and arrest hi first," he contended.
TEL AVIV, Israel, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognni today announced it has been named a finalist for the Microsoft Security 20/20 Compliance Trailblazer award. The company was honored among a global field of industry leaders for demonstrating excellence in innovation, integration, and customer implementation with Microsoft technology.

"All of the team at Cognni are so proud to be recognized by Microsoft for the work we do in automating M365 security," says Guy Eisdorfer, Cognni's Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. "As information is the lifeblood of every organization, we want to ensure CISOs and InfoSec teams can sleep at night. Because of this we have created an AI platform that thinks like a human and understands when important information is at risk, enriching your Microsoft tools. Cognni puts your InfoSec on Autopilot, taking compliance and security to new frontiers."

At the second annual Microsoft Security 20/20 awards to be held May 12, 2021, we will celebrate finalists in 18 categories spanning security, compliance, and identity. Cognni has been nominated as a finalist for Compliance Trailblazer.

"The pandemic has forever changed our perspective on the world, the role of technology, and how we work, learn, and live," said Rani Lofstrom, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft Global Security Partnerships. "In recognition of our new reality, the theme for the Microsoft Security 20/20 Awards this year is 'PerspectiveThrough the Looking Glass.' The awards ceremony this year will honor our security partners who have gone above and beyond during an unprecedented time of change to support, secure, and protect remote workers everywhere."

The Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) was established to help further the security ecosystem, fostering an environment where solution providers can collaborate to create a future that's safer for people and organizations alike. This year, the industry veterans in MISA will vote to select the winners of the Microsoft Security 20/20 awards, providing an opportunity for colleagues to honor their peers for delivering exceptional work to our shared customers.

About Cognni

Cognni is a pioneer in delivering information intelligence with meaningful insights to organizations. Offering a unique platform Cognni enables infosec teams to make sense of shared activities by mapping, detecting and then investigating exposures. Cognni's AI can autonomously identify risky behavior that a company wouldn't even know about. Cognni is a member of the prestigious Microsoft Intelligent Security Association and is now offering its core services for free so that every company can access the insights to make actionable decisions, ensuring the flow of information remains secure.

Press Contact:

Shelley Levin

+972543914695

http://cognni.ai

SOURCE Cognni
Dubai Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a high-level Italian business delegation from Confindustria Cisambiente to discuss joint cooperation and the possibility of Dubai being the hub for expansion of the Confederations activities in the region, keeping in view the importance that Dubai gives to sustainability and innovation.

The delegation, led by Dr Giovanni Bozzetti, President - External Relations, Confindustria Cisambiente and Nicola Lener, Ambassador, Embassy of Italy in UAE, met with Hamad Buamim, President & CEO, Dubai Chamber, Omar Khan, Director, International Offices, and other senior officials of the Chamber, along with Dr Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson, Emirates Environmental Group.

The purpose of this meeting was to introduce Confindustria Cisambiente and its companies to Dubai Chamber, understand the targets that Dubai has in term of ecology, sustainability and circular economy, how Dubai companies are working to achieve these targets, as well as meet with representatives of the Emirates Environmental Group

Welcoming the delegates, Hamad Buamim spoke about the strong bilateral relationship that the UAE and Italy share and the importance of taking it to the next level by focusing on environmental services and circular economy, which aligns with Dubais vision of diversifying its economy and encouraging sustainable business practices.

He also pointed out that companies are becoming aware of the benefits of circular economy in terms of enhancing productivity, competitiveness, ethical practices, and business reputation, while protecting the environment and reducing waste.

"We are ready to support joint economic partnership between Italian companies specialising in sustainable solutions and companies based here. Through our flagship initiative, the Centre for Responsible Business, we have been helping companies adopt optimal environmental and sustainable practices, he further added.

Dr. Giovanni gave an overview of Confindustria Cisambiente and how it supports its member companies by offering various services and also expressed interest in helping them connect with UAE companies to identify opportunities and share their innovative waste management concepts. He also elaborated on how they can work with Dubai companies to promote sustainable practices, specifically focusing on the wastage of resources during construction.

He pointed out that Italian companies have been participating in important events in the UAE such as the Water, Energy and Environment Technology Exhibition (WETEX) in Dubai and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, as the UAE is considered one of the main global markets for innovative solutions in the field of environmental sciences, sustainable practices and circular economy.

The Confindustria Cisambiente brings together companies working in the field of environmental conservation. Since its establishment in 2016, its 600 member companies have generated sales worth more than Euro 25 billion, and employ more than 40,000 people.TradeArabia News Service
The business of clean cooking is evolving into a viable, sustainable industry. To highlight some of the innovations, investments, and business models driving this change, the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) is interviewing leaders of companies working across the clean cooking sector.

Read more below, including insights from the leadership team of India's largest clean cooking company, the creators of the first commercially scalable biodigestors in South East Asia, and the CEO who led Circle Gas to make the largest private equity deal in the clean cooking sector.

If youd like to suggest an executive to be featured as part of this ongoing series, please contact CCA's Communications team at comms@cleancookingalliance.org.

PayGo Energy: Striking Strategic Partnerships to Scale up Clean Cooking PayGo is an early innovator in Pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) smart meters for liquified petroleum gas (LPG). PayGo CEO, Nick Quintong, recently spoke with CCA about the future of the company and their contribution to scaling up clean cooking solutions. Read more.

From Cookstove Designer to Leading African Manufacturing Company: An Interview with BURN Founder and CEO Peter Scott A CCA Venture Catalyst portfolio company, BURN, a leading Kenya-based cookstove manufacturer, is raising US$7 million of debt and equity in a Series C round to scale-up its operations. Founder and CEO Peter Scott recently spoke with Peter George, Senior Director of Private Sector and Investment, about BURNs exciting growth prospects. Read more.

Bringing Innovation to Biogas: An Interview with Connected Energy Managing Director Vijay Bhopal After recently closing their Seed B funding round and bringing their total funding to USD $1.25 million, CCA spoke with Connected Energy Managing Director Vijay Bhopal about the company's growth prospects Read more.

ASAT/SSM: Turning Simple Stoves High-Tech CCA spoke with the CEOs of Advanced Studies in Appropriate Technology Lab and the Zhejiang Huiwenmei Stove Company about their long partnership and the jointly-developed Jet-Flame, a new accessory that improves combustion in wood-burning stoves. Read more.

Greenway Appliances: Scaling to New Markets Co-founded by Neha Juneja (2019 Clean Cooking Alliance Woman Entrepreneur of the Year) and Ankit Mathur in 2011, Greenway Appliances has grown from a small start-up to Indias largest manufacturer of biomass cookstoves. CCA spoke with Juneja, Mathur, and recently named CEO Achal Mehra about the future of Greenway and the impacts of COVID-19 on their business. Read more.

Circle Gas: Clean Cooking's Largest Private Equity Deal to Date In the second of a series of conversations with clean cooking industry leaders, CCA spoke with Volker Schultz, CEO of Circle Gas Limited, about the company's recent acquisition of KopaTech's smart meter technology that integrates pay-as-you-go options with LPG. Read more.
[March 30, 2021] Li-Cycle Announces Filing of a Registration Statement on Form F-4 in Connection With Its Proposed Business Combination With Peridot Acquisition Corp.

Li-Cycle Corp. ("Li-Cycle" or "the Company"), an industry leader in lithium-ion battery resource recovery and the largest lithium-ion battery recycler in North America, and Peridot Acquisition Corp. ("Peridot") (NYSE: PDAC), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company sponsored by Carnelian Energy Capital, today announced the filing of a registration statement on Form F-4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) ") in connection with their recently announced proposed business combination. While the registration statement has not yet become effective and the information contained therein is subject to change, it provides important information about Li-Cycle's proposed business combination with Peridot and the proposals to be considered by the Li-Cycle and Peridot stockholders. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005368/en/ Completion of the business combination, which is expected in the second quarter of 2021, is subject to approval by Li-Cycle and Peridot stockholders and other customary closing conditions, including the registration statement being declared effective by the SEC. Upon closing, the combined company will be renamed Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., which is the entity that filed the registration statement, and will apply to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the new ticker symbol "LICY." The combined company will be led by Ajay Kochhar, Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Li-Cycle, and Tim Johnston, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman. Li-Cycle is expected to receive approximately $615 million in gross transaction proceeds, assuming no redemptions by Peridot shareholders, enabling the company to fully fund its planned global expansion. 100% of Li-Cycle's existing shares will roll into the combined company. The transaction includes a fully committed, upsized $315 million PIPE from investors that include Neuberger Berman Funds, Franklin Templeton and Mubadala Capital, as well as Peridot sponsor Carnelian Energy Capital, existing Li-Cycle investor Moore Strategic Ventures and global marketing and strategic off-take partner Traxys S.A. Additional information about the transaction can be viewed here: https://li-cycle.com/investors/ About Li-Cycle Corp. Li-Cycle Corp. (Li-Cycle) is on a mission to leverage its innovative Spoke & Hub Technologies to provide a customer-centric, end-of-life solution for lithium-ion batteries, while creating a secondary supply of critical battery materials. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are increasingly powering our world in automotive, energy storage, consumer electronics, and other industrial and household applications. The world needs improved technology and supply chain innovations to better manage battery manufacturing waste and end-of-life batteries and to meet the rapidly growing demand for critical and scarce battery-grade raw materials through a closed-loop solution. For more information, visit https://li-cycle.com/. >



About Peridot Acquisition Corp. Peridot Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The Company's sponsor is an affiliate of Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., a Houston-based investment firm that focuses on opportunities in the North American energy space. For more information, visit https://peridotspac.com/.

Additional Information and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed business combination involving Li-Cycle and Peridot, Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. ("Newco") has prepared and filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 that will include a document that will serve as both a prospectus of Newco and a proxy statement of Peridot (the "Proxy Statement/Prospectus"). Li-Cycle, Peridot and Newco will prepare and file the Proxy Statement/Prospectus with the SEC and Peridot will mail the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its shareholders and file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus or other documents Peridot or Newco may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY PERIDOT OR NEWCO WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Peridot or Newco through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Investors and securityholders will also be able to obtain free copies of the documents filed by Peridot and/or Newco with the SEC on Peridot's website at www.peridotspac.com or by emailing investors@li-cycle.com. PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION Li-Cycle, Peridot, Newco, and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other relevant materials when it is filed with the SEC. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of Peridot is contained in Peridot's final prospectus for its initial public offering, filed with the SEC on September 24, 2020 and certain of its Current Reports filed on Form 8-K. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Peridot or Newco or a solicitation of any vote or approval. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this communication may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the proposed transaction involving Li-Cycle and Peridot and the ability to consummate the proposed transaction. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as "may," "will," "should," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "likely", "believe," "estimate," "project," "intend," and other similar expressions among others. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the risk that the conditions to the closing of the proposed transaction are not satisfied, including the failure to timely or at all obtain shareholder approval for the proposed transaction or the failure to timely or at all obtain any required regulatory clearances, including under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act; (ii) uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the proposed transaction and the ability of each of Li-Cycle and Peridot to consummate the proposed transaction; (iii) the possibility that other anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction will not be realized, and the anticipated tax treatment of the combination; (iv) the occurrence of any event that could give rise to termination of the proposed transaction; (v) the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the proposed transaction or other settlements or investigations may affect the timing or occurrence of the proposed transaction or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (vi) changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions; (vii) possible disruptions from the proposed transaction that could harm Li-Cycle's business; (viii) the ability of Li-Cycle to retain, attract and hire key personnel; (ix) potential adverse reactions or changes to relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or other parties resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; (x) potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships, during the pendency of the proposed transaction that could affect Li-Cycle's financial performance; (xi) legislative, regulatory and economic developments; (xii) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism, outbreak of war or hostilities and any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including COVID-19), as well as management's response to any of the aforementioned factors; and (xiii) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in Peridot's reports filed with the SEC, including Peridot's annual report on Form 10-K, periodic quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, periodic current reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Neither Li-Cycle nor Peridot can give any assurance that the conditions to the proposed transaction will be satisfied. Except as required by applicable law, neither Li-Cycle nor Peridot undertakes any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005368/en/

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Maputo  The Mozambican health authorities on Monday urged all Mozambicans and tourists to avoid crowds during the impending Easter festivities.

Speaking at a Maputo press conference, the Deputy National Director of Public Health, Benigna Matsinhe, said she recognized the importance of Easter for Christians and that traditionally these celebrations in Mozambique involve "an enormous migratory movement characterized by the entry of our citizens who live or work in South Africa, and of tourists from that neighbouring country".

Matsinhe pointed out that, under the regulations to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 respiratory disease, all churches remain closed and large scale religious ceremonies are suspended. Furthermore, the country's beaches are closed to swimmers (though not to walkers, provided they maintain social distancing).

She appealed to all the Christian faithful and to tourists "to avoid crowds over this period, so that there is no dissemination of Covid-19".

"Our country is making an enormous effort to hold back the spread of Covid-19", Matsinhe added, "and the results are visible. We should hold on to the gains we have made by complying strictly with the preventive measures decreed by the authorities".

Updating the media on the current state of the Mozambican epidemic, Matsinhe said that in the previous 24 hours, a further five people had died of Covid-19, and 95 new cases were reported.

The latest victims were three men and two women, all Mozambican citizens, and aged between 39 and 76. Two had died in Nampula, and one each in Maputo city, Maputo province and Inhambane. This brings the total Covid-19 death toll in Mozambique to 769.

Since the start of the pandemic, 477,794 people have been tested for the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, 1,233 of them in the previous 24 hours. Of the samples tested, 313 came from Maputo city, 244 from Nampula, 144 from Maputo province, 127 from Inhambane, 97 from Niassa, 88 from Gaza, 86 from Sofala, 84 from Tete, and 50 from Cabo Delgado. No tests were reported from Zambezia or Manica.

1,138 of the tests gave negative results, while 95 people tested positive for the coronavirus. This brings the total number of Covid-19 cases diagnosed in Mozambique to 67,292.

Monday's positivity rate (the proportion of people tested found to be carrying the virus) was 7.7 per cent - which is in line with the rates found over the previous few days (11.5 per cent on Sunday, 5.4 per cent on Saturday, 7.9 per cent on Friday, 7.1 per cent on Thursday, and 10.1 per cent on Wednesday) .

Matsinhe said that 92 of the cases reported on Monday are Mozambican and two are foreigners (but she did not give their nationality). In one case, nationality has yet to be confirmed. 56 are men or boys and 39 are women or girls. Four are children under the age of 15, and six are over 65 years old. For three cases, no age information was available.

25 of the new cases were from Nampula, 21 from Maputo city and 20 from Sofala. There were also nine cases from Gaza, six from Inhambane, six from Niassa, four from Gaza, three from Cabo Delgado and one from Tete.

In the same 24 hour period, two Covid-19 patients were discharged from hospital, both in Zambezia, and one new case was admitted (in Tete).

As of Monday, 99 people were under medical care in the Covid-19 wards (down from 105 on Sunday). Almost two thirds of these, 62, were in Maputo. There were also 13 patients in Zambezia, eight in Nampula, five in Sofala, four in Inhambane, four in Matola, two in Tete, and one in Gaza. There were no patients in the Covid-19 isolation facilities in Cabo Delgado, Niassa or Manica.

Matsinhe said that 63 of those hospitalised are men and 36 are women. 50 are aged 60 years and above, while 28 are in the 45-59 year age bracket. She described the condition of 50 of the patients as "moderate" - but 41 are seriously ill, and eight are in a critical condition. 84 are receiving supplementary oxygen while eight are on ventilators in intensive care units.

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Matsinhe said that a further 96 people made a complete recovery from Covid-19 on Monday (45 in Manica, 26 in Nampula, 14 in Zambezia and 11 in Inhambane). This brings the total number of recoveries to 55,371, or 82.3 per cent of all those ever diagnosed with Covid-19 in Mozambique.

The number of active Covid-19 cases is now 11,148 (down slightly from the Sunday figure of 11,154). The geographical distribution of these cases was as follows: Maputo city, 8.781 (78.8 per cent of the total); Maputo province, 1,286; Sofala, 297; Nampula, 191; Inhambane, 187; Niassa, 182; Cabo Delgado, 101; Tete, 42; Gaza, 41; Manica, 28; and Zambezia, 12.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Virgin Galactic rolled out its newest spaceship Tuesday as the company looks to resume test flights in the coming months at its headquarters in the New Mexico desert.

Company officials said it will likely be summer before the ship  designed and manufactured in California  undergoes glide flight testing at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico. That will coincide with the final round of testing for the current generation of spacecraft, which will be the one that takes British billionaire and Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson to the fringes of space later this year.

CEO Michael Colglazier said the addition of the new ship marks the beginning of Virgin Galactic having a fleet that will one day be capable of ferrying paying customers and scientific payloads from spaceports around the globe. The company is still aiming for commercial operations to begin next year following testing and a few months of downtime for maintenance and other upgrades.

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Virgin Galactic has reached space twice before  the first time from California in December 2018. The company marked its second successful glide flight over Spaceport America last June.

Virgin Galactic is one of a few companies looking to cash in on customers with an interest in space. Jeff Bezos Blue Origin launched a new capsule in January as part of test as it aims to get its program for tourists, scientists and professional astronauts off the ground.

The mirror-like finish on Virgin Galactics new ship is as much about aesthetics as it is about function. A key part of the ships thermal protection system, Colglazier said it also was chosen so the craft could take on the look and feel of its surroundings  whether its on Earth, in the sky or in space.

The other task of the engineers was to create a new version that would be easier to manufacture and to maintain.

Obviously for us to take tens of thousands of people to space, we need a number of ships. But it really matters then how often can each of these ships fly, Colglazier said. We expect as we get going on this to see a much quicker turnaround time and that really will help us grow the business.

First, Virgin Galactic needs regulatory approval for the current generation and that means successful rocket-powered test flights.

The first powered test from Spaceport America was scheduled for December but computer trouble caused by electromagnetic interference prevented the spaceships rocket from firing properly. Instead of soaring toward space, the ship and its two pilots were forced to make an immediate landing.

The test was rescheduled for February but then scrapped as the team continued working on the interference issue. Colglazier said the flight now is scheduled for May.

The delay didnt help stock prices. Colglazier said while its important to put points on the board and meet market expectations, the companys focus is on safety at each step and the decades ahead.

I think this is moving as we want it to move. It is stepwise  that is what we want to do with human spaceflight, he said, but you can also see the monument building. Were excited for this unveiling today and were excited for May and were excited for the summer to come.
Epidemic situation keeps improving, 10 districts will remain in black tier

Experts warn to stay disciplined during upcoming holidays.

Our paywall policy: The Slovak Spectator has decided to make all the articles on the special measures, statistics and basic information about the coronavirus available to everyone. If you appreciate our work and would like to support good journalism, please buy our subscription. We believe this is an issue where accurate and fact-based information is important for people to cope.

The behaviour of people during the upcoming Easter holiday will be crucial for the improvement of the pandemic situation, chief hygienist Jan Mikas wrote in an open letter.

The recent statistics suggest that there is a chance for such an improvement, he continued.

These anti-Covid measures will apply to Slovakia this Easter Read more

It is good news for us after a long and difficult time, Mikas wrote in the letter. But to confirm this positive trend, we have to stick together and be disciplined.

He asked people to avoid meeting their families and friends during the holiday, recalling the development after Christmas when the situation drastically deteriorated.

Lets not repeat it, Mikas stressed.

The same request was voiced by Finance Minister Eduard Heger (OLaNO), who is currently at the helm of the Health Ministry.

More districts in the red tier

The positive trends have been confirmed by the Health Ministry. Although the entire country remains in the black tier, particularly due to the high number of Covid patients in hospitals, there is the chance that once the number falls below 3,000 Slovakia will switch to the dark red tier of the Covid automat warning system.

The situation in the districts is improving as well. Starting next Monday, April 5, there will be only 10 districts in the black tier, while 52 districts will be in the dark red tier and 17 districts in the red tier.

(Source: Health Ministry)

Tiers of districts from April 5 Districts at Warning Level 4 (black) Cadca  Ilava  Krupina  Kysucke Nove Mesto  Lucenec  Myjava  Nove Mesto nad Vahom  Poltar  Poprad  Trencin Districts at Warning Level 3 (dark red) Banovce nad Bebravou  Banska Bystrica  Banska Stiavnica  Bardejov  Bratislava I-V  Brezno  Bytca  Detva  Dolny Kubin  Dunajska Streda  Galanta  Gelnica  Hlohovec  Humenne  Levoca  Liptovsky Mikulas  Malacky  Martin  Michalovce  Namestovo  Partizanske  Velky Krtis  Vranov nad Toplou  Zarnovica  Ziar nad Hronom  Zilina  Zvolen  Pezinok  Piestany  Povazska Bystrica  Presov  Prievidza  Puchov  Revuca  Rimavska Sobota  Roznava  Ruzomberok  Sabinov  Sala  Senec  Senica  Skalica  Snina  Sobrance  Stara Lubovna  Trebisov  Turcianske Teplice  Tvrdosin Districts at Warning Level 2 (red) Kezmarok  Komarno  Kosice I-IV  Kosice - okolie  Levice  Medzilaborce  Nitra  Nove Zamky  Spisska Nova Ves  Stropkov  Svidnik  Topolcany  Trnava  Zlate Moravce

Millionth jab soon expected

Meanwhile, altogether 680,983 people have received the first Covid vaccine shot and 257,105 have been vaccinated with the second shot as of March 29.

The vaccination rate is growing in nursing homes where 70 percent of patients received the jab, and 39 percent have received both shots, said State Secretary of the Health Ministry Jana Jezikova.

Vaccination opened for another age group Read more

She expects the millionth vaccine jab in Slovakia to be administered during the Easter holidays.

Slovakia should receive 120,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, to be delivered to the country this week. This will allow to increase the capacity of a large-scale vaccination centre from 45,000 jabs per week to 60,000 per week, according to Jezikova.

Slovakia has received 55,000 Pfizer vaccines this week. Starting in April, the number should increase to 73,000 vaccines per week. As a result, it will be possible to vaccinate 15,000 people with Pfizer vaccines every day. The country is simultaneously receiving about 2,000 Moderna vaccines on a weekly basis.

The first vaccines by Johnson & Johnson are expected to arrive to Slovakia on April 19, and another 16,800 vaccines are expected to arrive later in the month.

The Sputnik V vaccines are still not being used, as the ministry is still missing some data. The vaccines expire after six months, Jezikova noted. Those delivered to Slovakia were produced at the end of February.

What rules apply in the tiers: Schools (kindergartens, grades one to four of primary schools, final grades of secondary schools) Black tier: closed

Dark red tier: based on the recommendation of the Regional Public Health Authority (RUVZ)

Red tier: Open Test validity for work (depends on the district where one works) Black and dark red tiers: 7 days

Red tier: 14 days Travelling out to nature Black tier: only within the district, forbidden to travel in or out of the district

Dark red and red tiers: travelling between districts allowed with a test no older than 7 days

More on coronavirus development in Slovakia:

30. Mar 2021 at 17:49 | Compiled by Spectator staff
One person is dead following a shooting inside a Northeast Philadelphia shopping mall Monday evening, police said.

Police are hunting the gunman after the shooting at 5pm at the Philadelphia Mills Mall, ABC News reported.

The Philadelphia Police Department said officers responded to a report of a shooting inside the mall and found a man in the food court area with several gunshots wounds.

The 21-year-old victim was shot multiple times in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene by medics. Police have not released his identity.

A man was shot and killed inside the food court of a mall in Northeast Philadelphia Monday around 5 p.m.

Police found a man in the food court area with several gunshots wounds to the chest

The 21-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. His name was not immediately released

Police said a single shooter fled the scene and officers were looking for the suspect and the weapon.

Further details of the investigation were not immediately available.

The entire mall was placed on lockdown, but people who had locked themselves inside individual stores were later told by police it was safe to leave and were escorted out by officers, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

People inside the mall locked themselves in individual stores as police locked down the entire facility. They were later escorted out by officers
Draft law on rural tourism submitted to Russias State Duma

 Flickr.com/ m.nikitin

16:54 30/03/2021

MOSCOW, March 30 (RAPSI)  A bill envisaging support and development of tourism in rural areas and small towns of Russia has been submitted to the State Duma, according to the official website of the lower house of the Russian parliament.

The document seeks to fix the concept of "rural tourism" in the federal legislation on tourism activities, to determine the conditions for the provision of relevant services, as well as the powers of the Government to regulate and provide state support in this area of tourism, the statement reads.

According to one of the authors of the initiative, first deputy head of the United Russia political party MPs in the State Duma, Viktor Kidyaev, the legislation defines rural tourism as visits to the countryside or small towns of Russia, where tourists will be provided with such services as temporary accommodation, meals, leisure activities, and excursions.

As it follows from the explanatory note to the bill, the move is to supplement the law on tourism adopted back in 1996, which does not envisage development of tourism in the countryside, although on the global scale this type of tourism is considered to be one of the fastest growing.

The new version of the bill is supplemented by a rule that extends the possibilities of visits to small towns with populations of up to 30,000 or 50,000 residents. There are about eight hundred such cities in the Russian Federation, including Suzdal, Uglich, Tarusa and other recognized tourist centers. The document is to give these locations a new tool for territorial development, replenishment of local budgets and generate employment, according to Kidyaev.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act seeks to protect those who have faced atrocities in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the Congress has turned the Act into a political issue. And by doing so, the party proved that it is against the interest of those persecuted and victimised.

This was stated by BJP leader and Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani while addressing a press conference here today as part of her election campaign in the State. Attacking political rival Congress, she said, Congresss main motive is to save its dynasty and not the democracy of the country. So in Assam the party allies with the AIUDF led by Badruddin Ajmal who wants to seal the future of Assam. But he will never be able to do so because it is the people of Assam who will decide the future of the State, Irani said.

Asked as to why Ajmal is an issue in the election, Irani said that the AIUDF chief turned himself into an issue when he indulged in breaching the composite thread of society and tried to spread fear among the common masses.

Commenting that the Congress has lost the narrative of development in the election, Irani asserted that her party is committed to all the promises its leadership had made during the 2016 elections.

When Congress was in power in Assam, the party did not take any step to open bank accounts of the downtrodden. On the other hand, during the tenure of the BJP government, people of Assam were benefited under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. Following the trail, the State government has initiated the Orunodoi Scheme under which as many as 22 lakh families, especially women, are availing Rs 830 per month. If the BJP returns to power, the amount will be increased to Rs 3,000, she asserted.

Irani also claimed that her party has turned a number of proposed development projects into reality in Assam, due to which the party will retain power in the ongoing Assembly elections.

Development is the top priority for the BJP government. But the Congress in coalition with the AIUDF is trying to deviate the people from the path of development. Even a former president of the Congress had once termed the AIUDF chief the identity of Assam, she alleged.

Criticising the Congress, Irani further said that the party had taken the help of AIUDF to keep itself alive in the political discourse of Assam adding that it would not stand with the cause of the people in the coming days. She also claimed that in its tenure the BJP government has developed basic infrastructure in the State.

For a long time the people of Assam had relied on the Congress. Even one of its elected MPs from Assam went on to become the Prime Minister of the country, but the party did nothing for the State. But the BJP has brought about a change in the State. Even during the pandemic, BJP workers worked a lot to help the people in need, she added.
The government has called on farming businesses who employ foreign agriculture workers to register for free Covid-19 workplace testing.

It follows the roll out of a new testing regime for international arrivals, which extended the supply of free Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests to employers of seasonal workers in the horticulture sector.

Under the regime, workers who are in the UK for longer than two days will be required to take a test before the end of day two and to take a further test every three days.

Those who receive a positive test result will be required to take a further Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test for variant surveillance.

Defra has confirmed that seasonal agricultural workers will be able to access these tests through several routes, including home tests and community testing sites.

The workers should remain on the farm for the 10 days after they arrive, except where necessary to access testing, the department added.

Employers of seasonal agricultural workers who register for workplace testing can now access free tests to help meet this testing requirement.

Defra said this will protect farmers from having to take on the greater costs of regular PCR testing, which could save an estimated 10m for growers across the UK..

Farming Minister Victoria Prentis has written to farming businesses, encouraging them to take up the offer and register to deliver regular testing of their workers.

"As we look towards resuming a more normal way of life, we must stay vigilant and do what we can to ensure we continue to operate as safely as possible.

"Regular testing protects businesses, helps keep workers safe and is vital to our continuing recovery.

"I urge our farmers and growers to work with us to protect their workforces, their businesses and our food supply," she said.

The tests can be carried out at a designated workplace site, and for businesses of over 10 people, employers can dispense those tests for staff to take at home.

If positive results come back, Defra said staff must take swift action to isolate and undertake a confirmatory PCR test.

Employers must register for the programme by the 12 April to receive a supply of free test kits until the end of June.
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By Yarrow Willman-Cole

The historic American Recovery Plan (ARP) will bring much-needed relief to families, parents, childcare providers, and small businesses. The bill provides significant improvements in access to affordable health insurance and an immediate financial boost to workers and especially for parents. Yet in spite of this relief, millions of Americans are still struggling to get by and could lose everything if they or a family member gets sick.

As strong as the ARP is, it does nothing to guarantee U.S. workers access to paid leave. President Biden had proposed extending and expanding emergency paid leave, which was part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act but was left to expire at the end of 2020. Under the Republican-controlled Senate, Congress only extended the voluntary option for employers to provide emergency paid leave and be able to receive federal tax credits. The ARP ultimately only continued voluntary paid leave tax credits, and as a result, tens of millions of workers in the U.S. have no pay or job security if they get sick during a historic pandemic.

Paid leave is a vital tool for stopping the spread of the virus and keeping workers employed. It keeps our economy running while maintaining working families economic security. A recent study found that requiring emergency paid sick days helped to flatten the curve by as much as 56%. Voluntary tax credits mean paid leave is substantially less effective in helping mitigate the spread of the pandemic. More workers will get sick and die without enough paid sick time.

While New Jersey implemented an Earned Sick Leave law a few years ago, employers are only required to provide five paid sick days per year. Whats more, workers can be required to earn their time, which means employees working 40 hours a week have only earned about 14 hours so far this year. This is not sustainable. The pandemic put our paid leave policy to the stress test and it is letting our workers, especially our essential workers, down.

New Jersey lawmakers have a unique opportunity to help save lives and ensure workers have enough paid sick time by requiring that all employers provide emergency paid leave. The good news is there are no valid argument against our governor and Legislature taking action; small and midsize businesses can take advantage of the federal paid-leave tax credits to fully compensate them for providing their employees with this paid leave. Businesses must be required to provide emergency paid leave so that the paid-leave tax credits can truly be effective and protect workers and support our economy.

As New Jerseys new cases are double the national average and there is an increase in virus variants, it is now more urgent than ever that all workers have access to adequate paid leave to protect public health and workers economic security. Critically, everyone must also be able to take time off to receive a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them. If we do nothing, our most vulnerable workers will fall through the gap and, too often, its the same frontline and essential workers we have been thanking for their hard work.

Workers have shared their experiences about employers who have not provided paid sick time; they are employers who are either unaware of or they cannot be bothered to apply for the federal paid-leave tax credit. Even worse, there are some reports of some employers not allowing workers to take time off when they have been exposed or have even tested positive, forcing them to return to work despite risking others safety and public health recommendations otherwise.

New Jersey lawmakers should do everything feasible to support workers access to paid leave. Our states recovery and workers health depend on it. The NJ Time to Care Coalition recently sent a sign-on letter to our elected officials asking them to take action to close these glaring gaps.

While we are glimpsing the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, it will be many months before widespread vaccination occurs and workers are still getting sick and being forced to choose between their health and their jobs. Workers need adequate paid leave right now, and we need our leaders to advance fiscally creative solutions that will get everyone through this crisis.

Yarrow Willman-Cole is the workplace justice program director for New Jersey Citizen Action.

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Raise your hand if 2020 was a tough year for you. Keep your hand up if you'd like to live rent-free in Healdsburg and earn $10,000 a month. Keep it up if you've always dreamed of breaking into the wine industry.

Hand still up? Sonoma County's Murphy-Goode winery may have the perfect job for you.

The winery has launched a competition for a year-long "Really Goode Job" that includes all of the above plus a year's supply of wine (which works out to 30 cases) for applicants who submit a 30- to 90-second video describing why they would want to work with Murphy-Goode by the end of July.

The winner will start work in August 2021 by shadowing winemaker Dave Ready, Jr. tolearn the ins and outs of the Sonoma County wine harvest. The rest of the year will be shaped around the winner's ideal position as described in the application video.

"Every day will be different, depending on how the winner and the Murphy-Goode team develop the customized role," says Rick Tigner, the winery's president and CEO. "Our job is to help guide their path in the wine business, support their passions, and provide a platform to achieve their dream job."

This could be you! (Courtesy of Murphy-Goode)

Murphy-Goode winery, founded in 1985 by three friends around the concept of not taking life so seriously, has done this before. In 2009 they ran a job hunt with the same name, focused on finding someone who could create a strong social media presence for the business. More than 2,000 people applied.

"Back in 2009 when we first launched this campaign, the goal was to create a real job opportunity in the wine industry at a time of economic distress and high unemployment," says Tigner. "Today, the country faces a new set of challenges, and creating access to a viable career opportunity is more important than ever."

Not sure you're the right candidate? Ask yourself if these qualifications apply to you: Do you take life one sip at a time? Is your answer to the question "red or white?" "yes, please"? Is your preferred Swiss Army knife a wine key? Does the idea of making a career and life pivot into the wine industry sound like a dream come true?



The gig could be "anything from winemaking to viticulture, hospitality, culinary, digital marketing, and beyond" says Tigner, so think outside the box.

// Apply online at murphygoodewinery.com.


Over the past month, we traveled the Portland metro area trying every smash burger we could find, then ranking them in a big roundup today. To compare apples to apples, we separated smash-adjacent burgers (those where smashing isnt the central part of the process) and restaurant-style smash burgers (those with thin patties hidden under a cavalcade of extras), focusing our attention on true smash burgers with classic toppings. Below, find the great local burgers that didnt quite fit our big ranking, but you still need to try.

Bit House collective's double smash burger comes with a fermented habanero and roasted pineapple glaze and a disc of crunchy cheese.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

Bit House Collective | Isla Hamburguesa

Adding a new contender in the fancy smash category, chef Carlo Lamagna and his self-styled Wild Rice Boys take two thick and juicy, gently smashed patties and top them with a fermented habanero and roasted pineapple glaze, Filipino-style pickles and a compact disc of crunchy cheese on a house-baked sesame seed pandesal bun ($13). Down the line, I would love the option to trade the second patty for a handful of chopped lechon. 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday; 727 S.E. Grand Ave.; 503-954-3913; bithousesaloon.com

A six-pack of steam burgers from Canard.Jamie Hale | The Oregonian

Canard | Steam Burger

When I asked chef Gabriel Rucker if his White Castle-inspired sliders were smash burgers, he claimed ignorance. Kind of? he wrote in a text. Im not sure of the definition. Turns out, Canards little burgers ($6 in the before times, but $3 at happy hour) do involve a genre-defining smash on the flat-top, followed by a quick steam to meld together the American cheese, caramelized onions, spicy relish and beef infused with French Onion soup mix, all suspended on a slider-sized Hawaiian roll. Theres a reason these were our favorite new burger of 2018. Currently unavailable, the steam burger will return for takeout on April 7; 734 E. Burnside St.; 971-279-2356; canardpdx.com

The kitchen-sink hamburguesa at Northeast Portland's Guero.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

Guero | Hamburguesa

Some of us still pine for the original Gueros hamburguesa, a messy double dripping with American cheese, surrounded by a moat of Juanitas tortillas chips. The updated version ($13), with its lettuce and avocado and escabeche and ham and grilled red onion and two-types of melted cheese on a sesame seed bun, took a little getting used to. But now I appreciate it for what it is: A well-constructed burger with some serious smash that wouldnt be out of place at a midscale Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles for double the price. 11 to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; 200 N.E. 28th Ave.; 503-887-9258; guerotortas.com

Hit The Spot gets great char on its pre-formed patties.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

Hit The Spot | Cheeseburger

I figured the greasy good cheeseburgers ($5) at this 2019 Best New Food Cart honoree were a lock for a Top 10 spot on this list. In the past, the blue and orange truck just across from the original Killer Burger did just about everything right, with beef seared to a gorgeous crust, a nicely griddled bun and a slight tingle from some smoky chipotle aioli. But on our visit for this roundup, owner Jeremy Sivers told us he no longer smashes his burgers, opting for pre-formed patties instead. Its still a good burger, just not right for our smash burger list. Noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 4835 N.E. Sandy Blvd.; hitthespot.net

It's killer, and it's a smash.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

Killer Burger | Classic Burger (w/o bacon)

When you think about Killer Burger, you probably think about out-there sandwiches topped with peanut butter and bacon, and less about the patty itself. But Portlands home-grown burger chain actually does employ a smash technique, pressing down on a heavy spatula with a metal weight that looks a bit like a trailer hitch, seasoning it as heavily as anyone this side of Mid City Smash Burger, then steaming it to finish under a dome. For our ranking, the resulting burger didnt have quite enough smash  it was lightly browned on one side, not at all on other. Still, this is a tasty burger, and a good entry point to the greater smash world.

Toki's steamed bao burger is a smash burger wrapped in bao dough and seared on both sides.The Oregonian

Toki | Bao Burger

On a menu filled with dishes inspired by TikTok trends, the steamed bao burger ($8) is a true Toki original. At his new downtown Portland restaurant, chef Peter Cho smashes two dry-aged beef patties, adds American cheese, onions and a mustard-y special sauce, then wraps the whole thing in bao dough that gets dusted with sesame seeds and seared to order. It hasnt gone viral yet, but it probably should. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday-Sunday and 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; 580 S.W. 12th Ave.; 503-312-3037; tokipdx.com

Underneath it all, the St. Jack burger & frites has a true smash patty.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

St. Jack | Burger & Frites

According to chef Aaron Barnett, it was ChefStable owner Kurt Huffman who persuaded him to buy a snazzy chrome griddle when St. Jack relocated to Northwest Portland in 2014. Were glad he did. Today that grill is used in service of a loaded smash burger ($17, avec frites) with cheddar and American cheese, thick-sliced bacon, shredded lettuce, onion, a creamy sauce gribiche and five-six pickles on top of that, not to mention a little cornichon spiked to the top. Youve gotta balance out all that fat, Barnett said. 5 to 10 p.m. daily; 1610 N.W. 23rd Ave.; 503-360-1281; stjackpdx.com

-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell
Mount Sinai researchers have found that a widely available and inexpensive drug targeting inflammatory genes has reduced morbidity and mortality in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In a study published today in the journal Cell, the team reported that the drug, Topotecan (TPT), inhibited the expression of inflammatory genes in the lungs of mice as late as four days after infection, a finding with potential implications for treatment of humans.

"So far, in pre-clinical models of SARS-CoV-2, there are no therapies--either antiviral, antibody, or plasma--shown to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 disease burden when administered after more than one day post-infection" says senior author Ivan Marazzi, PhD, Associate Professor of Microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "This is a huge problem because people who have severe COVID19 and get hospitalized, often do not present symptoms until many days after infection. We took a different approach, and sought to find a potential therapy that can be used during later stages of the disease. We found that the TOP1 inhibitors given days after the infection can still limit the expression of hyper-inflammatory genes in the lungs of infected animals and improve infection outcomes." Moreover, says Dr. Marazzi, topotecan (TPT), an FDA-approved Topoisomerase I (TOP1) inhibitor, as well as its derivatives, are inexpensive clinical-grade inhibitors available in most countries around the world for use as antibiotic and anti-cancer agents.

Although the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 is not yet fully understood, scientists have observed that the virus triggers excess production of cytokines and chemokines--chemicals which are secreted by cells of the immune system to help fight infection. An exaggerated immune system response, which characteristically occurs in the lungs of COVID-19 patients, can flood the infected area with white blood cells, resulting in inflammation, possible tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Reduction of the inflammatory state in such patients could therefore improve their clinical outcomes.

In a previous study published in Science in 2016, the same group at Mount Sinai found that inhibiting the activation of inflammatory genes could help prevent animal deaths from viral and bacterial infections and suggested this could be a potent strategy against future pandemics. The current study, led by Mount Sinai along with partners from Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other global sites, expands on that earlier work to show how epigenetic therapy (which addresses the chemical modifications that influence gene expression) could be harnessed against severe cases of COVID-19.

The team's research suggests that many other anti-inflammatory agents are less effective against COVID-19 because they target only a single inflammatory mediators, such as IL6 or IL1, or a specific gene expression program. "The fact is, a multitude of inflammatory genes and signaling pathways are dysregulated during a SARS-CoV-2 infection," explained lead author Jessica Sook Yuin Ho, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at Icahn Mount Sinai. "We demonstrated that TOP1 inhibitors were able to broadly or systemically dampen inflammatory gene expression in animal models, regardless of the gene or activation pathway."

Co-author Mikhail Spivakov, PhD, head of the Functional Gene Control group at the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences added, "We found that infection prompts extensive changes in the 3D connections between inflammatory genes and the 'molecular switch' regions that control their expression. This may partially explain why inhibiting topoisomerase, a protein that helps reshape DNA, helps dampen the cells' hyper-inflammatory response."

The safety and efficacy of this treatment strategy in humans will soon be evaluated at clinical sites around the world, including India, where a trial recently began and Singapore, where the National Medical Research Council of Singapore has also funded a phase 1 clinical trial of topoisomerase 1 inhibition in COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also expected to play an important role in subsequent studies.

"Findings from our work suggest that repurposing the TOP1 inhibitor could be a valuable global strategy for treating severe cases of COVID-19," emphasizes Dr. Marazzi. "Particularly attractive is the fact that TPT is already FDA-approved and that its derivatives are inexpensive, with generic formulations existing throughout the world. This makes these drugs readily accessible and available for immediate use in both developing and developed countries across the world."

###

About the Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai is a national and international source of unrivaled education, translational research and discovery, and collaborative clinical leadership ensuring that we deliver the highest quality care--from prevention to treatment of the most serious and complex human diseases. The Health System includes more than 7,200 physicians and features a robust and continually expanding network of multispecialty services.
Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) has announced a total income distribution payout of RM1.55 billion for five of its Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) funds, for the financial year ending 31 March 2021.

The five funds include two fixed price funds, Amanah Saham Bumiputera 2 (ASB 2) and Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM)  and three variable price funds, ASN Equity 3, ASN Imbang 2, and ASN Sara 1.

PNB declared a dividend of 4.25% for ASB 2, translating into a total income distribution payout of RM488.2 million. This benefits a total of 459,416 unit holders who currently hold 11.5 billion units. For ASM, a total income distribution payout of RM851.2 million or 4.0% dividend was declared, benefitting 559,222 unit holders currently holding 21.3 billion units.

Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) mengumumkan pengagihan pendapatan untuk dua dana harga tetap iaitu Amanah Saham Bumiputera 2 (ASB 2) dan Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM) bagi tahun kewangan berakhir 31 Mac 2021. Kenyataan Akhbar: https://t.co/Ps9Vm9N3m5 pic.twitter.com/ElRM55rH3o  ASNB (@ASNBmy_official) March 29, 2021

As of March 25, 2021, ASB 2 recorded a net realised income of RM499 million, while ASM recorded a net realised income of RM727.6 million, said PNB. The performance of ASB 2 and ASM is benchmarked against the 1.95% return of Maybanks 12-month fixed deposit.

Meanwhile, PNB said ASN Equity 3, ASN Imbang 2, and ASN Sara 1 registered double-digit total returns of 18.7%, 17%, and 10.8% respectively. This was driven largely by the recovery of the equity markets from the lows in the year 2020. These returns are benchmarked against the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Top 100 Index (FBM 100) and Maybanks 12-month fixed deposit, at a ratio customised to each fund, PNB said.

Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) mengumumkan pengagihan pendapatan untuk tiga dana harga berubah iaitu ASN Equity 3, ASN Imbang 2 dan ASN Sara 1 bagi tahun kewangan berakhir 31 Mac 2021. Kenyataan Akhbar: https://t.co/Ps9Vm9N3m5 pic.twitter.com/edpsQ46HQH  ASNB (@ASNBmy_official) March 29, 2021

For ASN Equity 3, a total income distribution payout of RM76.4 million was declared, which is equivalent to 3.53 sen per unit to 86,306 unit holders with 2.2 billion units. Meanwhile, ASN Imbang 2 declared a total income distribution payout of RM45.4 million, which is equivalent to 3.11 sen per unit to 85,147 unit holders with 1.5 billion units, and ASN Sara 1 declared a total income distribution payout of RM91.8 million, which is equivalent to 3.52 sen per unit to 85,776 unit holders with 2.6 billion units.

These represent a dividend yield of 3.15%-3.95%t for each fund, based on its respective net asset value (NAV) as of March 25, 2021, said PNB. The income distributions declared by these funds are derived from the funds realised gains, dividends and other income. Income from international investment grew significantly with contributions of 40% to 52% to each respective fund for the financial year to date, reflecting the positive impact of the diversification initiatives undertaken by these funds.

(Source: The Edge Markets)

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Chandigarh, March 30 : The cash-rich Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Tuesday passed an annual budget of Rs 912 crore for the next fiscal at its executive meeting held in Amritsar, a decline of Rs 69 crore from the present fiscal that was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The budget, which is a deficit of Rs 44.66 crore, has an estimated income of Rs 871 crore, mainly coming from donations and offerings.

The SGPC, considered a mini-parliament of Sikh religious affairs, also passed a resolution urging the United Nations to observe 2021 as International Human Rights Year to mark the 400th birth anniversary of the ninth Sikh master, Guru Teg Bahadur.

It urged the Central government to declare his birth anniversary as 'Religious Tolerance Day', besides constructing a memorial on the lines of Virasat-E-Khalsa in his memory.

The SGPC also asked the Central government to repeal the three farm laws.

It also demanded reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor, which links the last resting place of first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev in Narowal district in Pakistan's Punjab province with the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district.
The San Diego Convention Center is seen in San Diego, Calif., on July 22, 2020. (Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

San Diego Teachers to Instruct Immigrants In-person as Schools Remain Closed

Teachers in San Diego are going to the citys convention center soon to instruct immigrant children in-person, even as schools in the county largely remain online-only.

A March 29 message to teachers from the San Diego Board of Education reviewed by The Epoch Times asked for volunteers to teach immigrant girls at the center.

Teachers were told to share their contact information, background, and availability.

The in-person educational program may not have traditional hours, so there may be opportunities for involvement outside of regular work hours, the message stated. Any opportunities will be voluntary, and employees will be compensated.

A spokesperson for the San Diego Unified School District told The Epoch Times via email: Some of our educators have volunteered to give up their vacation time  this week is our spring break  to help hundreds of teenage girls who are sheltering in our city, away from their families and in some cases thousands of miles from home. Our teachers have volunteered to help  we are not paying them in any way  because caring for children is central to who they are as human beings. The power of their example should inspire us all, and hopefully many others will be inspired to show these girls that we are a compassionate community.

About 13 teachers have volunteered to work with the minors, Roberto Carrillo, a principal at the San Diego County Office of Education, told KPBS.

We definitely want to introduce them to the arts, the visual arts, and the performing arts, he said. Well give them the opportunity to start expressing themselves through written formats, giving them a basic understanding of the English language.

Instruction was slated to start as soon as Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the office confirmed to The Epoch Times that it is providing an educational program for children who are being housed at the San Diego Convention Center.

Supervisor Jim Desmond told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement: We have 130,000 kids who havent been allowed in a classroom for over a year in the San Diego Unified School District. Its great theres in-person learning for those unaccompanied minors from Central America, but I wish every child in San Diego County was allowed the same opportunity for in-person teaching.

San Diego officials, including its superintendent, issued statements late last week urging students, parents, and others to avoid large gatherings as part of an effort to stop the surge of COVID-19 over spring break.

(L-R) San Diego congressmen Scott Peters, Juan Vargas, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Vice Chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Nora Vargas, and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs at the San Diego Convention Center on March 27, 2021. (Jane Yang/Epoch Times)

Unaccompanied minors are loaded into a U.S. Border Patrol transport van after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, in Hildalgo, Texas, on March 25, 2021. (John Moore/Getty Images)

We want to speak directly to our students today because they have demonstrated incredible courage and resilience through this pandemic. This is not the time to let our guard down. Have fun, get lots of rest and make sure you stay healthy for when school reopens online on April 5 and for in-person learning on April 12, Cindy Marten, the superintendent, said in a statement.

According to statistics from the county, some 40,000 students are learning full-time on-campus, nearly 130,000 are engaged in hybrid learning, or a mix of in-person and remote, and another 317,855 are learning online-only.

Federal officials reached a deal to convert the San Diego Convention Center into an emergency immigration shelter earlier this month. The facility has an initial capacity of 1,400.

I think everyone up here acknowledges that this is a this is not a perfect system, but were bound by our international agreements and by our American values to deal with this humanitarian problem, Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) told reporters during a recent briefing at the center.

The population being housed there are immigrant girls between the ages of 13 and 17.

Dozens of the girls have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

President Joe Bidens administration reversed the Trump-era policy of expelling unaccompanied minors back to their home countries. Instead, officials are working on quickly giving the minors to family or friends in the United States.

The number of illegal border crossings rose sharply during Bidens first month in office, including a rise in unaccompanied children from 5,694 to 9,297.

Because of the increase in unaccompanied minors and families reaching the border, coupled with the policy reversals, Customs and Border Protection are holding some minors over the 72-hour mandated limit. The agency is supposed to quickly transfer the children to the Department of Health and Human Services, which runs facilities like the convention center.

A senior Border Patrol official told reporters in a call last week that he expects there will be a continued rise in apprehensions over the coming months, as the weather gets nicer.

On one recent day, 6,000 immigrants were apprehended. In the last 30 days, agents averaged about 5,000 encounters a day, with approximately a quarter of those being unaccompanied minors.

Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report.
A commenter suggested that you have 3 forms of identification to buy a gun in Tuesdays Quickly. But if you want to use mail-in voting, I guess you wont need to identify yourself with any form of identification at all. Nope you can trust the American voter to save democracy with no identification at all if you just vote for H.R.1. Superman and Bozo the Clown will love you for it and a Republican will never hold another seat in office ever again. A guy like Trump never again just think of the possibilities.
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The African Development Banks Board of Directors has approved a $5 million investment in the SPARK+ Africa Fund to deliver clean cooking solutions to over two million households across Africa.

The European Commission will contribute an additional 10 million. The Banks investment, which will come from its Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), is expected to enable the participation of other interested investors. As an anchor investor, the Bank will channel first-loss equity from SEFA and the European Commission thematic blending facility.

In addition to delivering clean cooking technologies, the investment is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 15.9 Mt of CO2 equivalent, by cutting emissions from the use of inefficient stoves and open fires and forest degradation for wood fuel.

Switching to cleaner cookstoves reduces exposure to harmful cooking smoke and the time spent collecting firewood, a burden that falls disproportionately on women.

By investing in the rollout of clean cooking solutions to millions of households, the Bank is also contributing to womens empowerment, employment creation and reduced deforestation associated with charcoal production, said Dr. Kevin Kariuki, African Development Bank Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth.

The investment complements the Banks wider efforts to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said: Positive health impacts from the reduction of household indoor air pollution also contributes to resilience toward diseases attacking respiratory systems such as COVID-19.

Dymphna van der Lans, Chief Executive Officer of the Clean Cooking Alliance said: The Clean Cooking Alliance is very pleased to have collaborated with Enabling Qapital, the African Development Bank, and the European Commission to develop this ground-breaking investment facility. We believe the SPARK+ Africa Fund will have a tremendous impact in the market and accelerate clean cooking sector growth to positively impact the lives of millions of people in the years to come.

Xavier Pierluca, Managing Partner of Enabling Qapital stated: We have designed the SPARK+ Africa Fund to take an ecosystem approach to further the outreach of quality solutions to low-income communities by offering tailored investment instruments throughout the value chain from design and manufacturing companies to last-mile distributors.

SPARK+ Africa is a pioneering impact investment fund launched by Enabling Qapital and the Clean Cooking Alliance to channel debt and equity financing to enterprises that manufacture, distribute and finance clean cooking solutions across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Fund targets a capitalization of $50- 70 million.

The scale of the challenge of widening access to clean cooking in Africa remains daunting, in part because much-needed investment has been hindered by high perceived risks and, in many cases, a return profile insufficient to attract commercial investment. The SPARK+ Africa Fund is a direct response to this challenge and is a key component of the AfDBs response to the clean cooking challenge. The investment in the Funds first-loss tranche will directly address a critical financing gap and enable the participation of other interested financiers.

The Clean Cooking Alliance works with a global network of partners to make clean cooking

accessible to the three billion people who live each day without it. Enabling Qapital Ltd. is an impact investment advisory company with a track record in advancing financial inclusion and access to energy.

SEFA is a multi-donor special fund administered by the African Development Bank and anchored by the Governments of Denmark, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Spain  to support Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) projects in Africa. The approval was made on November 24, 2020.
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Pablo Rodriguez responds to a question in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on December 11, 2020. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)

Opposition MPs Express Anger as Liberal House Leader, Not PM Aide, Testifies on WE

OTTAWAA parliamentary hearing on the federal governments now-dead deal with WE Charity threatened to devolve into chaos on Monday after the Liberals sent a cabinet minister to answer questions on behalf of one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus senior aides.

Members of the House of Commons ethics committee had expected to hear from Trudeaus director of policy Rick Theis after opposition parties used their majority in Parliament last week to demand he appear to answer questions on the WE deal.

Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez instead appeared via teleconference, even though he admitted that he had no direct involvement in the multimillion-dollar agreement to have WE run a federal student grant program last summer.

While the committee ultimately opted to hear what Rodriguez had to say in place of Theis, opposition members repeatedly criticized his testimony over the course of nearly three hours, and accused the Liberals of ignoring Parliaments will and trying to mount a coverup.

The Conservatives suspect the Liberals of steering the deal to WE Charity because of the organizations close links to members of Trudeaus family.

Rodriguez and Liberal committee members in turn accused the opposition of trying to score cheap political points by dragging out the committees study on WE, suggesting there was little more to learn about how the deal came together.

The stage for a battle was set from the start of the meeting as committee chair Chris Warkentin struggled to keep order while opposition and Liberal members talked over one another, trading barbs and accusations.

Warkentin himself described Rodriguezs appearance on behalf of Theis as an unusual situation given last weeks vote in the Commons for the committee to hear from either the prime minister or several senior political staff members.

Opposition members suggested that while they would hear Rodriguezs testimony, they still intended to call the prime minister or Theis and other senior political staffers to testify at a future date.

For his part, Rodriguez accused the opposition parties of trying to use the committee hearing to intimidate and mistreat staff members who work in political offices, and said he was there as a representative for cabinet, which had ultimate responsibility.

He also suggested that he was simply following a precedent set by Stephen Harpers former Conservative government, which refused to let ministerial staff testify at committees in 2010. Harper led a minority government, as Trudeau does now.

Rodriguezs testimony largely repeated what the government has previously said about the decision to have WE administer the $543-million Canada Student Service Grant program before it was cancelled in early July.

That included the assertion that non-partisan civil servants were responsible for selecting the Toronto-based organization founded by Craig and Marc Kielburger to run the grant program.

Rodriguez played down a phone conversation that Theis had with WE on May 5, saying Trudeaus aide had told him the call lasted about 25 minutes and focused on how the charity would ensure the grant program included degrees of diversity and inclusion.

Yet Rodriguez, who said he spoke to Theis on Sunday and Monday in advance of the committee meeting, was unable to answer several questions, including more specifics of the aides phone conversation with WE in May.

Youre testifying on his behalf here today, but you claim not to know anything about what he did, Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said. And so its hard to understand what youre able to share.

Rodriguez was also accused at times by opposition members of contradicting some of the thousands of pages of documents produced by the government last summer about the deal.

Rodriguez shot back by accusing Poilievre of cherry-picking from the pages, and suggested the questions being asked at the committee had already been answered during previous testimony.

I think that Mr. Poilievre is looking for information that he already has, he said. And theres nothing new here.

The committee, which has also asked to hear from Trudeaus senior adviser Ben Chin and Amitpal Singh, a senior adviser to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, is scheduled to continue its study on Wednesday.

The deal between the government and WE fell apart last year following questions and concerns about the organizations close ties to members of the prime ministers family, before the student grant program was cancelled entirely.

It also led to the demise of WE Charitys Canadian operations.

By Lee Berthiaume
Shade uses offensive attack to take down Shanksville in D5-A semis

sports
PORTLAND, Ore., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: UMPQ), parent company of Umpqua Bank and Umpqua Investments, today announced that it will host its first quarter 2021 earnings conference call on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. PT (1:00 p.m. ET). During the call, the Company will provide an update on recent activities and discuss its first quarter 2021 financial results, which are expected to be released after the market closes on April 21st, 2021. There will be a live question-and-answer session following the presentation.

(PRNewsfoto/Umpqua Holdings Corporation)

To join the call, please dial (866) 440-7407 ten minutes prior to the start time and enter conference ID: 7292532. A re-broadcast will be available approximately two hours after the call by dialing (855) 859-2056 and entering conference ID 7292532. The earnings conference call will also be available as an audiocast, which can be accessed on the Company's investor relations page at https://www.umpquabank.com/investor-relations/

About Umpqua Holdings Corporation

Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: UMPQ) is the parent company of Umpqua Bank, an Oregon-based community bank recognized for its entrepreneurial approach, innovative customer experience, and distinctive banking solutions. Umpqua Bank has locations across Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho and Nevada. Umpqua Holdings also owns a retail brokerage subsidiary, Umpqua Investments, Inc., which has locations in Umpqua Bank stores and in dedicated offices in Oregon. Umpqua Holdings Corporation is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit umpquabank.com.

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SOURCE Umpqua Holdings Corporation
The UK took a gamble with choices around the vaccine rollout. Now that seems to be paying off and could possibly benefit Ireland too.

Up to Saturday, March 27, some 839,609 vaccine doses were given in Northern Ireland alone, and more than 29m people in the UK have at least had their first dose.

Concerns are growing in Stormont about the slower Irish rollout. First Minister Arlene Foster has now said she will ask prime minister Boris Johnson to share excess vaccines with Ireland.

It is quite the change from 2020, when Ireland watched as British health experts scrambled to curb a staggering Covid-19 death-rate.

Emergency-use authorisation

The turnaround started when the British health regulator granted emergency-use authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on December 2, weeks before EU approval.

The next deviation came after Fermanagh woman Margaret Keenan became the first in the world to get a Covid-19 vaccine on December 8.

The plan then was to follow Pfizers guidelines and apply a 21-day gap between doses.

But chief medical officers in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England were watching Covid-19 numbers with concern.

On December 23, they were notified of 744 deaths. In late December, the daily case count hit 50,000 and kept rising.

12-week gap

To the worlds shock  and interest  on December 30, the UK suddenly switched to a 12-week gap between doses.

Pfizer was not on board, immediately issuing a statement saying its trials did not support this.

But the chief medical officers insisted: In the short term, the additional increase of vaccine efficacy from the second dose is likely to be modest; the great majority of the initial protection from clinical disease is after the first dose of vaccine."

The aim was to get protection to more people in a shorter time, according to the governments Covid-19 greenbook.

This was based, the book says, on Pfizer trials  showing an efficacy of 89% between 15 and 21 days after the first dose.

The British Medical Association was aghast. Worried for confused patients, doctors threatened to ignore the change.

Arlene Foster receiving her first Covid vaccination at Castle Park Leisure Centre in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, on Saturday

Dr Alan Stout, GP representative for the BMA in Northern Ireland, said they certainly had concerns.

But he said: Actually in hindsight, the decision has been shown to be a good one because we havent seen any significant increase in infections for healthcare workers, which was one of our concerns.

And we have also shown we got the vast majority of the population most at risk vaccinated. It was a risk worth taking.

Queens University Belfast virologist Connor Bamford had been worried about risks for partially-vaccinated people, but three months into the experiment, he too is less concerned.

Public Health England published a pre-print in March showing protection against symptomatic Covid, four weeks after the first dose, ranged between 57% and 61% for one dose of Pfizer and between 60% and 73% for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine".

Lockdown restrictions probably helped reduce the risk, Dr Bamford said.

Now the majority of vaccines given by a fair distance are Oxford/AstraZeneca, said Dr Stout. This rollout also started under emergency authorisation.

All over-18s

A 12-week gap is used with this vaccine, as in Ireland. But unlike Ireland, it is given by GPs and to all over-18s.

Department of Health NI data shows GPs gave 385,000 doses up to Saturday, March 27.

Dr Stout said:

The levels of vaccination are quite astounding. We are at 96 or 97% of over 80s vaccinated. And at the moment, they are getting their second doses.

More than 11m AstraZeneca doses were given in the UK without reports of cerebral blood clotting, so the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) did not advise any pause in the rollout, unlike Ireland.

For Dr Stout, it is crucial Ireland has re-started, but he said about the pause: It took us a wee bit by surprise.

More than 11m AstraZeneca doses were given in the UK without reports of cerebral blood clotting, so the MHRA did not advise any pause in the rollout, unlike Ireland. Picture: Admir Buljubasic/Pool via AP

Dr Bamford said safety was really important, but that "we have to balance that with safety in having the vaccine".

I think a lot of countries looked at Europe, and even countries in Europe looked at the people who were doing that, thinking what were they doing?

Vaccines versus variants race

The focus in Northern Ireland now is on winning the vaccines versus variants race.

NI health minister Robin Swann plans to have at least the first dose to all adults by late July, despite AstraZeneca reducing shipments for April.

Restrictions stay in place for now, and Dr Bamford warned: More variants can pop up within our borders if we let the virus spread.

He said: The B117 is deadly. Our restrictions and the vaccines do work well against it but it can still make our lives a lot more difficult.

Meanwhile the vaccines impact is clear  98 deaths notified on March 24 and a seven-day average of just over 5,500 cases across the UK.

Both experts expect to see a slow return to normal running into 2022.

Dr Stout said: We are doing a very slow and steady cautious re-opening, I think we have all learned that over the past year.

And a closer relationship between the Irish and British vaccine programme is to be welcomed, said Dr Bamford.

You have to start thinking about increasing the vaccination across the island of Ireland and across Europe, our closest neighbours, he said.
Mumbai, March 30 : Edtech platform WhiteHat Jr on Tuesday announced a multi-year partnership with EnduroSat, a leading space company, to deliver advanced learning opportunities to students in the field of space.

The collaboration will create applied science opportunities for students who will be able to send commands to, and access data from a satellite operating in space.

"We are absolutely thrilled to offer this unique learning opportunity to our students, and are in the process of involving multiple strategic and corporate partners to popularise it globally," said Karan Bajaj, Founder and CEO at WhiteHat Jr.

The collaboration entails a satellite launch in December this year, which will have a payload dedicated to WhiteHat Jr, that provides its students with exciting learning opportunities related to space, the company said in a statement.

In addition, WhiteHat Jr students will also have access to another satellite on a trial basis scheduled for launch in June this year. Both satellites will leverage SpaceX Falcon 9 ride share.

"This marks the first mission where a partner is fully dedicated to advancing the education of children from an early age. EnduroSat has long advocated for space education to be democratised and made available to everyone through our own Spaceport Academy," said Raycho Raychev, Founder and CEO at EnduroSat.

From analysing sensor data (there are over 30 sensors onboard each satellite, including infrared, temperature, sun sensor, gyroscope, etc.) to controlling cameras (taking pictures of various space objects), to relaying messages to and fro, the applied science opportunities that students would get are endless.

Moreover, students would be able to participate in different ways of orchestrating space data on WhiteHat Jr's payload computer (a Raspberry Pi 4 with a direct link to the main onboard computer), the company informed.

All of these learning experiences would be seamlessly integrated with WhiteHat Jr's curriculum and would follow a gamified content aimed to ensure maximum student engagement.

WhiteHat Jr currently has more than 175,000 students from around the world.

EnduroSat provides exceptional NanoSats and space services for business, exploration, and science teams.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
High-ranking members of the provincial government dropped by Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College on Monday to tour the schools facilities for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak hit.

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High-ranking members of the provincial government dropped by Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College on Monday to tour the schools facilities for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak hit.

This group included Education Minister Cliff Cullen (MLA for Spruce Woods), Central Services Minister Reg Helwer (MLA for Brandon West) and Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Wayne Ewasko (MLA for Lac du Bonnet).

Brandon East Progressive Conservative MLA Len Isleifson also joined this crew later on.

During these back-to-back tours, school officials used this opportunity to showcase how their respective institutions have adapted to the pandemic through new education programming and renovations on campus.

Assiniboine Community College President Mark Frison, back left, talks with Ewasko in the Food Processing Centre for Animal Proteins at ACCs Victoria Avenue campus during a tour of major completed projects at the campus by Ewasko and other Progressive Conservative MLAs on Monday.

In the morning, the trio of ministers joined up with BU representatives to see how the school was moving forward with on-campus operations since a small number of students still need to attend in-person activities to receive their degrees.

After visiting the John R. Brodie Science Centre and Queen Elizabeth II Music Building, the group met up with BU Dean of Education Heather Duncan, who was proud to announce a new program that will be available starting in September.

Duncan said that the Technical/Vocational Bachelor of Education program is designed to give prospective teachers an accessible route to obtain a Bachelor of Education degree, especially if they are looking to teach subjects like science.

"Because we all know the importance of sciences across the province, and we dont have enough science teachers," she said.

A followup press release from BU explained that this program will also be open to teachers who already received a Technical Vocational Teacher Education diploma from Red River College and want to become fully certified.

David Docherty, left, President and Vice-Chancellor of Brandon University, and MLAs Reg Helwer, Cliff Cullen and Wayne Ewasko are reflected in a piano in the BU School of Music during a tour of the campus on Monday.

Later on, Cullen mentioned that this kind of programming lines up with his governments current push for K-12 education reform, which aims to cut $40 million worth of administrative costs and redirect that money to the classroom.

"So I think, clearly, investing in the education front for the teaching portfolio is a positive thing, since its going to pay dividends down the road for K-12," he said.

The Technical/Vocational Bachelor of Education program involves two years of full-time study and requires students to register in arts, science and education courses.

For the afternoon leg of the tour, the ministers got a closer look at the major construction projects that the ACC administration has been spearheading over the past five years.

This includes a visit to the schools new Food Processing Centre, Assiniboine Early Learning Centre and Public Safety Training Centre, which were all constructed in spaces that werent being fully utilized on campus beforehand.

Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Wayne Ewasko and Central Services Minister Reg Helwer visit the Food Processing Centre for Animal Proteins at Assiniboine Community Colleges Victoria Avenue campus on Monday.

ACC president Mark Frison said that the school will start building a new Adult Collegiate space and 10,050 square-foot Centre for Creative Media at the end of the month to complete this recent round of renovations.

These final two projects will cost around $6 million to complete, with the Centre for Creative Media being home to three new creative media programs: Digital Art and Design, Media and Communications and Web and Interactive Development.

"Its great to be able to showcase it all at once," Frison said after Mondays tour wrapped up. "You sort of do (these projects) one by one and you forget how much has changed during that period. So to be able to show how beneficial its been to us, to be able to use that space during a period of great growth, has been good."

Afterward, Cullen, Helwer and Ewasko all told the Sun that they were impressed with how both BU and ACC have managed to stay busy and innovative during this time of uncertainty.

"You can see people being forced to make some changes and everybody has to adapt along the way," Cullen said. "So hats off to them."

Ewasko hopes that these schools can keep this momentum up moving forward since Manitobas post-secondary institutions have the important task of preparing students for a job market that has been completely changed by COVID-19.

"The (school) presidents and I have spoken in the past about being nimble and being able to pivot at times with regards to labour market demands," he said. "And I think ACC and BU are showing that thats absolutely possible."

 kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @KyleDarbyson
BCCL

As COVID-19 cases are going up rapidly in Mumbai, the city civic body decided to discharge asymptomatic patients at the earliest to vacate beds for the patients with more serious symptoms. Read more

Here's more top news of the day:

1) IIM-Ahmedabad Becomes COVID Hotspot After More Than 70 People Test Positive In Two Weeks

IIM-Ahmedabad

Five more people have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A), taking the number of the infected students, faculty and staff to 70 over the last two weeks, according to a report by news agency PTI. Read more

2) Interval Between 2 COVID Vaccine Covishield Doses Between 4-8 Weeks Now: All You Need To Know

Reuters

As the COVID cases go up, the government has decided to increase the interval between the first and second doses of Covishield to up to eight weeks in its ongoing vaccination drive against the coronavirus pandemic. Read more

3) Indians Are Partying Like There's No COVID, Here's Proof From Across States In Our Country

Indiatimes

The second wave of coronavirus is hammering India, especially Maharashtra, Kerala and Punjab, with daily infections rising at a record pace. But this hasn't fazed the spirit of Indians to come out to the streets to celebrate and party together. Read more

4) How Jammu & Kashmir Govt Is Using Smartphones To Put Out-Of-School Children In Classes

Representational Image

The Jammu and Kashmir Samagra Shiksha has rolled out a mobile app for mapping of "out-of-school children (OOSC)". The 'Talaash' app was launched virtually by Jammu and Kashmir Samagra Shiksha Project Director Dr Arun Manhas. Read more

5) This Man From Odisha Got Rs 12,500 Electricity Bill, All He Had In His House Was 'One Bulb'

Representational Image

In a shocking incident, people living in Odisha have received electricity bills of over Rs 12,000 in Kalahandi, where people under BPL (Below Poverty Line) category have been living. The irked residents burnt an effigy of state Energy Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra on Monday, expressing their anger. Read more
TICKERS: NRG; NRGOF

Source: Streetwise Reports (3/30/21)

A research report from Noble Capital Markets discusses Newrange Gold Corp.'s recently completed an Induced Polarization geophysical survey across its entire Pamlico Gold Project in Nevada that led to the company enlarging the land area two-fold with additional claim stakes.



In a March 24 research note, Noble Capital Markets Inc. senior research analyst Mark Reichman discusses Newrange Gold Corp. (NRG:TSX.V; NRGOF:OTCQB) after the company announced "the completion and interpretation of an expanded Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical survey on the Pamlico Project in Nevada."

The report indicated that the total scope of the IP survey work carried out at Pamlico exceeds 76.5-line kilometers and encompasses the entire property and noted that results from the latest 56.35-line kilometers surveyed were instrumental in not only further delineating and extending known anomalies, but also aided in the identification of previously unrecognized structural anomalies, the analyst noted.

Based upon the IP survey data, Newrange Gold was able to significantly enlarge the Pamlico project area and has staked out large amounts of additional land in three areas where anomalous chargeability was detected, Reichman noted.

The three new zones, called the Northwest, East and Southeast areas, are all two to three kilometers in size and all intrude on the property boundary. "Collectively, they reflect a district-scale opportunity extending approximately five kilometers east to west and more than six kilometers north to south," the analyst wrote.

The bulk of Newrange's past drill work has been conducted in the Norwest Area. The firm plans to complete additional reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the recently discovered Merritt Zone to better define close to surface mineralization and to determine the potential for an open pit mine there. The company also plans for at least 2,500 meters of drilling in a minimum of five five new holes at Merritt to target deep chargeability anomalies.

The analyst commented, "Newrange has made significant progress with its exploration and drilling program at Pamlico." From late May 2020 through March 1, 2021, Newrange completed 9,044 meters of drilling in 74 RC holes. Reichman noted that the recent discovery of high-grade mineralization near-surface at Merritt appears to strongly support the views of Newrange's management that "multiple high-grade zones surrounded by halos of lower grade material exist over a much broader area" than previously thought.

Noble Capital Markets commented that a multi-million ounce resource may be in the making at Pamlico.

Noble Capital Markets rates Newrange Gold as an Outperform with a target price of US$0.20 per share versus its current share price of approximately US$0.12.

[NLINSERT]

Disclosure:

1) Stephen Hytha compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. He or members of his household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He or members of his 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: Newrange Gold. 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 Newrange Gold, a company mentioned in this article.

Disclosures for Noble Capital Markets, Newrange Gold Corp, March 24, 2021

Company Specific Disclosures

The following disclosures relate to relationships between Noble and the company (the "Company") covered by the Noble Research Division and referred to in this research report.

The Company in this report is a participant in the Company Sponsored Research Program ("CSRP"); Noble receives compensation from the Company for such participation. No part of the CSRP compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to any specific recommendations or views expressed by the analyst in this research report.

The Company has attended Noble investor conference(s) in the last 12 months. Noble has arranged non-deal roadshow(s) with investors in the last 12 months.

Noble intends to seek compensation for investment banking services and non-investment banking services (securities and non-securities related) within the next 3 months.

Noble is not a market maker in the Company.

ANALYST CREDENTIALS, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE

Senior Equity Analyst focusing on Basic Materials & Mining. 20 years of experience in equity research. BA in Business Administration from Westminster College. MBA with a Finance concentration from the University of Missouri. MA in International Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis. Named WSJ 'Best on the Street' Analyst and Forbes/StarMine's "Best Brokerage Analyst." FINRA licenses 7, 24, 63, 87.

RESEARCH ANALYST CERTIFICATION

Independence Of View:

All views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject securities or issuers.

Receipt of Compensation:

No part of my compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to any specific recommendations or views expressed in the public appearance and/or research report.

Ownership and Material Conflicts of Interest:

Neither I nor anybody in my household has a financial interest in the securities of the subject company or any other company mentioned in this report.
Everli, the European marketplace for online grocery shopping that started in Italy but now also operates in Poland, Czech Republic and France, has raised a $100 million in Series C funding.

The round is led by Verlinvest, with participation from new investors Luxor, DN Capital, C4 Ventures and Convivialite Ventures. FITEC (part of Fondo Italiano dInvestimento), 360 Capital, Innogest and DIP also followed on.

Everli, formerly called Supermercato24, says it will use the injection of capital to accelerate growth and further expand its international footprint.

Founded in 2014, Everli lets customers order from local supermarkets for delivery. The company uses gig economy-styled personal shoppers who go into the store and "pick" the products ordered and then deliver them same-day, or for an added cost within an hour. The company charges a delivery fee to consumers, but also generates revenue from fees charged to partnering merchants, and, notably, through advertising.

It has become the delivery partner of some of Europes largest grocery brands, offering access to over 300,000 products across the 70 cities in which it operates. And, like other online grocery offerings, Everli has benefited from a boost in e-commerce and a reliance on delivery services prompted by the pandemic and country lockdowns.

"Everli is focused specifically on the grocery space," says Federico Sargenti, CEO at Everli. "Rather than small baskets, or picking up just the basic essentials, Everli is focused on delivering whatever you need right up to your full weekly shop, with same-day delivery and a one-hour delivery window of your choice."

He says that what further differentiates Everli is its strong relationships with retailers, and the use of their existing infrastructure. "Instead of being tethered and restricted to a radius around our own expensive central warehouses, we are able to operate across a much wider geographical footprint, entering small-to-medium density areas and offering many customers their first opportunity to receive same-day groceries, [all] while retaining sustainable unit economics".

Story continues

Sargenti describes Everli as more similar to Instacart than many other European delivery firms, including the new crop of dark stores or those that offer groceries as a secondary service to take-outs. "[This is] why were leading the grocery space in Europe and securing brands like Lidl, Kaufland and Carrefour," adds Sargenti.

In 2020, Everli sales almost quadrupled to $130 million. That growth is happening more and more outside Italy, with its international expansion now responsible for over 20% of orders.

"We are proud to have played a role in helping many people during these difficult times, but we are only getting started, as this industry will never be the same again," says Sargenti in a statement. "The shift to online delivery is not reversing, and expectations on all sides are only increasing. We have built a model which we believe offers unparalleled value to consumers, through wide access to the retailers and products they love, even in less urban areas, and to retailers, who are now able to affordably compete online and reach a whole new consumer base".

Adds Simone Sallustio, executive director at Verlinvest: Everli combines its tech & data excellence with the grocery retail experience of its partners and this combination provides it with the perfect position to cement itself as the European e-grocery market leader, delivering the best experience to consumers, value to retail partners, and digital activation to brands".
New Jersey on Tuesday reported another 4,378 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 61 additional confirmed deaths, while COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state continued to rise and slightly more than 1 in 5 adults have now been fully vaccinated in the state.

The Garden State has one of the the highest new infection rates as numerous states across the U.S. are seeing upticks in daily positive tests, even as vaccine rollout continues. New York and Connecticut are witnessing similar increases.

This marks the second time in five days New Jersey have reported more than 4,000 cases in one day. The states seven-day average for newly confirmed cases is 3,783, up 11.6% from a week ago and 31.2% from a month ago.

Were at a pretty critical moment, Gov. Phil Murphy said during a television interview Tuesday afternoon with News 12 at the Prudential Center in Newark. Theres good news and bad news. I continue to think the good news outweighs the bad. But the bad news is real.

President Joe Biden on Monday urged Americans to continue to be cautious about the pandemic and called on states to pause reopenings, saying our work is far from over. Earlier in the day, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said she has a feeling of impending doom as cases grow again in the country.

New Jersey officials said this week there are a number of reasons why cases have been rising lately: There are multiple COVID-19 variants spreading, there is pandemic fatigue, the weather is only now getting warmer, the state has the densest population in the nation, and its located next to New York City.

Its a race between these vaccines and the variants, Murphy said Tuesday.

But the governor stressed the weather is improving and vaccinations are increasing.

I still think by Memorial Day were in a whole different ballgame, he added.

NEW JERSEY #COVID19 UPDATE:

4,378 new positive PCR tests

796,700 total positive PCR tests

1,071 new positive antigen tests

108,444 total positive antigen tests

61 new confirmed deaths

21,951 total confirmed deaths

2,535 probable deaths

https://t.co/JW1q8awGh7 pic.twitter.com/jX9pUK5GQ3  Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 30, 2021

Tuesday marks the first time in six days New Jersey has reported more than 30 COVID-19 deaths in one day, though some deaths often happen weeks or months earlier and were just confirmed. There have now been 1,083 coronavirus deaths reported in March, compared to 2,377 in January and 1,589 in February.

There were 2,329 coronavirus patients across the states hospitals as of Monday night  the most since Feb. 15. After falling below 2,000 late last month, hospitalizations have been slowly creeping up the last two weeks.

The states rate of transmission fell to 1.09 after five days at 1.10. Any number over 1 indicates that the outbreak is growing, with each new case leading to at least one other case.

The latest statewide positivity rate was 10.38% on Friday, the day with the latest data, on 52,737 tests.

New Jersey health facilities and vaccine centers have now administered slightly more than 4.11 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since the states first shot was given Dec. 15. That includes about 2.67 million people with at least one dose and 1.5 million people considered fully vaccinated, according to state data.

The states goal is to vaccinate 70% of its eligible adults  about 4.7 million people  by the end of May. So far, about 22% of the states 6.9 million adults have been fully vaccinated.

VACCINE UPDATE: 4,112,087 vaccine doses have been administered as of mid-morning today:

2,593,740 first doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer Vaccine

1,517,331 fully vaccinated New Jerseyans



Learn more: https://t.co/JW1q8awGh7  Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 30, 2021

In all, New Jersey has now reported 796,700 coronavirus cases out of more than 12 million PCR tests in the year since the state reported its first case on March 4, 2020. There have also been 108,444 positive antigen tests, including 1,071 reported Tuesday. Those cases are considered probable, and health officials have warned that positive antigen tests could overlap with the confirmed PCR tests because they are sometimes given in tandem.

The state of 9.2 million people has reported 24,486 residents have died from complications related to COVID-19  21,951 confirmed deaths and 2,535 fatalities considered probable.

The state has reported 574 COVID-19 variants of concern, as defined by the federal Centers for Disease Control. The majority are of the U.K. variant.

Despite the recent case upticks, the state is set to increase its outdoor gathering limit to 200 people as of 6 a.m. Friday. The indoor gathering limit will remain 25 people. In addition, venues that can seat 2,500 people will be permitted to increase indoor seating capacity to 20%, up from 10%, and outdoor capacity to 30%, up from 15%.

Murphy was asked Monday why he wont lift restrictions more quickly because hospitalizations arent rising as much as cases.

I think were gonna continue to be incremental, the governor said. Were comfortable with that. We want to open, theres no question about that, but we want to make sure its a one-way street and we dont go back. With the variants in our state and the level of transmission right now, which is about as high as it is anywhere in the country, we are in the better-to-be-safe-than-sorry category.

Meanwhile, officials say vaccine demand continues to outpace supply from the federal government, causing a backlog of people trying to get appointments. But officials say doses are expected to increase significantly in the coming days.

Im confident we get through the next number of weeks, its gonna be in a dramatically different place, Murphy said Tuesday.

This past Monday, another round of people became eligible to receive the vaccine in the state  including restaurant employees, warehouse workers, hospitality workers, clergy, and more.

This coming Monday, people ages 55 to 64, those 16 and older with intellectual or developmental disabilities, higher education teachers and staffers, communication support workers, sanitation workers, and members of the media will become eligible.

Murphy repeated Tuesday that every adult in the state will be eligible by May 1  five weeks from now.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

HOSPITALIZATIONS

There were 2,329 patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases across New Jerseys 71 hospitals as of Monday night  104 more than the previous night.

That included 452 in critical or intensive care (39 fewer than the night before), with 239 on ventilators (one fewer).

There were also 185 COVID-19 patients discharged Monday.

Hospitalizations peaked at more than 8,300 patients during the first wave of the pandemic in April and more than 3,800 during the second wave in December.

SCHOOL CASES

New Jersey has reported 205 in-school coronavirus outbreaks, which have resulted in 947 cases among students, teachers and school staff this academic year, according to the states dashboard.

The state defines school outbreaks as cases where contact tracers determined two or more students or school staff caught or transmitted COVID-19 in the classroom or during academic activities at school. Those numbers do not include students or staff believed to have been infected outside school or cases that cant be confirmed as in-school outbreaks.

There are about 1.4 million public school students and teachers across the state, though teaching methods amid the outbreak have varied, with some schools teaching in-person, some using a hybrid format and others remaining all-remote.

Murphy last week announced most New Jersey schools can move classroom desks three feet apart, instead of six feet, under new social distancing guidelines.

The governor also said the states schools will return to full in-person classes for the next school year and districts will not be allowed to offer virtual learning, even for parents who want that option due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

AGE BREAKDOWN

Broken down by age, those 30 to 49 years old make up the largest percentage of New Jersey residents who have caught the virus (30.9%), followed by those 50-64 (23%), 18-29 (19.7%), 65-79 (10.7%), 5-17 (8.9%), 80 and older (4.8%) and 0-4 (1.8%).

On average, the virus has been more deadly for older residents, especially those with preexisting conditions. Nearly half the states COVID-19 deaths have been among residents 80 and older (47.07%), followed by those 65-79 (32.79%), 50-64 (15.68%), 30-49 (4.05%), 18-29 (0.37%), 5-17 (0%) and 0-4 (0.02%).

At least 7,980 of the states COVID-19 deaths have been among residents and staff members at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

There are active outbreaks at 232 facilities, resulting in 3,792 active cases among residents and 4,546 among staffers. Those numbers have been slowing as vaccinations continue at the facilities.

GLOBAL NUMBERS

As of early Monday afternoon, there have been more than 127.86 million positive COVID-19 tests across the world, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. More than 2.79 million people have died from coronavirus-related complications.

The U.S. has reported the most cases, at more than 30.34 million, and the most deaths, at more than 550,100.

Have a news tip or story you want to tell about COVID-19 or the vaccination process? Contact us on our tip form.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com.
PM denies backing junta government

THAILAND: The government yesterday (Mar 29) denied allegations that it was supporting Myanmar and its use of force against its own people, saying it is preparing for a possible surge of refugees as the political conflict across the border escalates.

Myanmarimmigrationviolencedeathmilitary

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 30 March 2021, 09:17AM

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha speaks to reporters at Government House in Bangkok yesterday (Mar 29). Photo: Screenshot.

In what ways do we support Myanmar troops? Nobody supports use of violence against the people, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said when asked about claims the government was providing aid to Myanmar troops.

Gen Prayut made the remark when he spoke to the media at Government House yesterday - two days after at least 90 Myanmar citizens, including several children, were killed after Myanmars security forces opened fire on anti-coup protesters. As the death toll since the Feb 1 coup soared to over 460 yesterday, the Myanmar junta staged a major show of might for its annual Armed Forces Day.

The prime minister also defended the Thai militarys decision to send representatives to attend the Armed Forces Day celebrations, saying Thailand needs to engage and maintain a communications channel.

It is a military channel. We need mechanisms which will enable us to follow political developments in Myanmar. The countries share a border and we will be affected, he said.

Gen Prayut said authorities were preparing for a possible flood of refugees fleeing the violence in Myanmar.

We dont want an exodus into our territory, but we will observe human rights, too, Gen Prayut said while declining to estimate the number of people who might flee across the border.

Gen Prayut said economic activities between Thailand and Myanmar are continuing as usual because they are vital to the livelihoods of people in both countries.

However, he said the government will have to carefully weigh this against measures imposed by Asean and other international organisations.

Meanwhile, when asked about political violence in Myanmar, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday said that Thailand will remain committed to Aseans non-inference principle.

When asked about the crackdown on anti-coup protesters, Gen Prawit said: I dont get involved. I dont look.

In the border province of Mae Song Hon, authorities were preparing for a surge of refugees following reports of air strikes near the Thai-Myanmar border.

Thai villagers in tambon Mae Sam Lap in Sop Moei district told district officials they spotted aircraft from Myanmar yesterday afternoon.

It was reported that about 3,000 Karen villagers crossed the Salween River from Myanmar into Thailands Mae Hong Son province on Sunday out of fear of another air strike on Sunday.

Governor Sitthichai Chindaluang said yesterday measures have been rolled out to accommodate refugees, with the Naresuan Task Force put in charge of handling the refugees.

He said that those who fled out of panic would be asked to return while those who fled out of fear for their safety will be sheltered on a humanitarian basis. He said the refugees will only be allowed to remain near the border.

A source said that almost 2,200 people fled across the border to Mae Hong Sons Mae Sariang district after airstrikes on a military base controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU), which is located opposite Mae Sariang district, killed one soldier and injured two others.

Meanwhile, Singapores foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan has called the situation in Myanmar an unfolding tragedy, saying it is essential for Southeast Asian countries to have a stance on the matter.

It is going to take quite some time to resolve. I must confess to you that I am pessimistic, Mr Balakrishnan, according to a transcript released yesterday.

Mr Balakrishnan has spoken strongly about the coup and the subsequent deadly crackdown. He has been pushing for Asean to play a more active role in finding a way out of the crisis.
As Vietnam Airlines is going to open direct flights to the US, Tran Thi Bao Thu, communications director of Fiditour JSC, said that travel companies like hers and passengers will profit from it.

The number of tourists on trips to the US had steadily increased over the years before the pandemic, but transit remains a hindrance. Currently, the transit fees from Vietnam to the US can amount to $3,500-7,400.

Another step closer towards direct Vietnam-US flights

Vietnam Airlines will open a new direct route to the US with the initial arrival options being San Francisco or Los Angeles, while Vietjet and Bamboo Airways are also expressing their interest in such routes. Do Xuan Quang, deputy general director of Vietjet, said that the airline has deployed cargo flights from Hanoi to Los Angeles and Chicago using Boeing 747 aircraft.

There is currently no airline operating direct flights to the US from Vietnam. According to Dinh Viet Thang, director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the route is 12-13 hours long and airlines have to recalculate loads or buy more modern aircraft. To fly straight to the US, Thang explained, Vietnam Airlines wide body aircraft (B787, A350) has to reduce their load by reducing cargo volume or the number of passengers.

Thus, making a viable business plan for a direct flights to the US is a difficult exercise. Groups including Vietnam Airlines typically spend about 10-15 per cent of the total cost on fuel, while fuel consumption varies widely depending on age and type of the aircraft as well as the length of each flight.

Long-haul flights, such as to the US, correspond to lower fuel costs per mileage and a lower number of available seats since takeoff and landing consume significant amounts of fuel.

Regionally, Singapore Airlines has developed direct flights to the US since 2018, with tickets priced at $740-870 per passenger depending on the chosen class. Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, and Philippines Airlines are also planning to develop direct flights to the US but have not yet done so.

Vietnam has more than one million expatriates and a large number of international students in the US, creating certain advantages for Vietnam Airlines compared to regional airlines when implementing direct US flight plans. However, Vietnam Airlines still needs business passengers as their travel frequency can bring about a sustainable financing of the route.

Directs flights to the US must rely on cost competition and revenue. Flying directly to the US, Vietnam Airlines will have to compete with other international airlines with competitive fares, while the cost of such a route will also add pressure to the companys budget planning. Vietnam Airlines estimates that the initial loss may reach more than $30 million in the first years of operation and it could take 5-10 years to break even with such a route.

Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing air transport markets in the world, having grown at about 15.8 per cent a year during the last decade. Vietnam Airlines forecasts that the international aviation market will recover by 2023, but revenue and costs, the problems causing the airlines headaches, will remain even after a full reopening of international routes.

Dang Ngoc Hoa, chairman of Vietnam Airlines Board of Management said, There are problems arising from the interaction of state-owned enterprise management agencies and aviation companies. Policy mechanisms and business culture, two main factors resonating with the pandemic, have exacerbated the issues of Vietnams aviation industry.

Hoa pointed out that air fares have been adjusted according to a circular issued by the Ministry of Transport in 2019, causing difficulties for domestic airlines. However, as Vietnam has been deeply integrated into the worlds economy, Hoa said, it is necessary to minimise the participation of state management agencies in enterprises business activities.

Hoa added that Vietnam Airlines has invested in new generation aircraft, such as the A350 and Boeing 787, as well as 4-star services and is now moving towards upgrading to 5-star standards to stay competitive in the region and the world.

As it holds a large controlling stake in Vietnam Airlines, the government is forced to take responsibility for investments and avoid the loss of state capital by national airlines. To do so, the chairman of Vietnam Airlines also proposed to continue reducing the take-off and flight management fees for airlines until the end of 2021, as well as reducing environmental tax on kerosene from VND3,000 (13 US cents) to VND2,100 (9 US cents) per litre until the end of the year.
Oman has announced closure of all commercial activities and a ban on movement of people and vehicles from 8 pm to 5 am with effect from Sunday (March 28) till April 8 owing to the alarming rise in Covid-19 cases, according to Oman News Agency (ONA).

The Supreme Committee of Oman on Covid-19 took note of the surge in daily cases and the growing number of patients admitted to hospitals and intensive care units and the unfortunate spike in deaths, stated the report.

As per the latest official data, the sultanate had recorded 11 deaths in 24 hours bringing the Covid death toll to 1,644.

The Supreme Committee warned that it will take a series of tougher and more comprehensive measures that might culminate into lockdown and total ban on movement during the above-mentioned period, reported the ONA.

The panel also decided to continue with online classes for all students of government schools till April 8, except Class 12 students, who have to stick to the Blended Learning System, it added.
guest column

While the rich history of Womens Day goes back to 1909 with civic action by working women in the streets of New York and was highlighted in 1911 across several European cities, it was not until 1967 that the United Nations firmly dedicated 8 March as the International Womens Day.

This years theme, Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world recognises the place of women in the pandemic fight. For the women and girls in the Sahel and the wider West and Central African region, the month of March in which the womens day is celebrated remains special. It comes under the backdrop of a distressing Covid-19 pandemic and a regional conflict that has led to the rise in extremism and a humanitarian crunch in the Sahel.

The 2021 theme has a strong resonance with the women in the Sahel. Still nursing the wounds of the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, handling humanitarian crises in the Sahel, combating obstetric fistula cases, and now confronting the Covid-19 pandemic are four key milestones illuminating the resilience of the Sahelian women. They steadfastly spearhead initiatives meant to alleviate humanitarian suffering, protect vulnerable women, adolescents, and children alongside the promotion and protection of the fabrics that weave strong communities and the core strands that ascertain sound family health.

Within the Sahel, women continue to stand out in the fight to contain Covid-19. They form the majority cluster working as frontline health personnel countering the pandemic as doctors, nurses, caregivers, community mobilisers, and even innovators providing tangible homegrown sustainable solutions, coordinating humanitarian assistance, and offering family support. With the recent news of renewed cases of Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) in Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the same template of women leading from the front amidst all the risks involved is at play.

Facing an unprecedented pandemic accompanied by multiple challenges of shouldering the heavy burden of humanitarian emergencies in the region is a demonstration of the Sahelian womens indefatigable spirit and her resilience. They stand alert, unbowed, have refused to be subdued, and remain resolutely vigilant in their quest for a just, healthy, peaceful, and prosperous future for all.

A good case study of the inventiveness of the women in this part of the world is the one ably demonstrated by the Sahel Womens Empowerment and Demographic Dividend (SWEDD). It was launched in 2015 and involves nine countries, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. SWEDD, which is coordinated by the UNFPA and supported by the World Bank, promotes easier and affordable access to quality family health services. This initiative has led to a marked improvement in womens average incomes and significantly reduced the number of child marriages. Within the SWEDD countries, 102,600 girls who did not attend school or out-of-school girls got a second chance thanks to the setting up of 3,420 SWEDD safe spaces. The high school completion rate for girls increased from 35.1 percent to 40.3 percent between 2015 and 2018. The education of girls continues to remain a priority,

These are not all.

In phase one, it helped to train thousands of midwives and nurses across the implementing countries. Between 2015 and 2018, the number of midwives and nurses in the SWEDD countries increased from 31,043 to 35,775, and another 100 general health workers were trained. These successes came in handy during the pandemic as the trained medics were deployed to lead response teams, facilitate health clusters and intensify preventive and even curative services alongside public awareness at the grassroots. Having noted the intrinsic value of the SWEDD model, it will scale-up as more countries join the noble initiative.

As we formalize our strategies and measures to build back better, it is incumbent upon us to accommodate women at all levels. Covid-19 has solidified the credentials of our women, illustrated the boldness of their resolve, and highlighted the integrity informing the core values they possess in uplifting and safeguarding our collective interests in health, peace, security, and development in the Sahel.

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Going forward as the world embraces drastic post-pandemic recovery measures it is vital to recognize the resilient Sahelian women, acknowledge the role they have played, appreciate the strides they have made, salute the progress achieved and accept them as equal partners in development.

The lessons learned from Covid-19 pandemic implore us to scale up investments and shore up women-friendly financial packages; bolster equality at all levels; shatter all discriminative practices and legal statutes that bar womens empowerment and accommodate them as equals in the build back better strategy.

We begin 2021 with a renewed determination to drastically reduce the number of victims of obstetric fistula in the region. We are launching the regional strategy to eliminate fistula and restore the dignity of fistula patients, by leveraging broad-based partnerships.

Mabingue Ngom is the Regional Director of the UNFPA-West and Central African Regional Office. He oversees 23 countries.
Hamirpur : , March 30 (IANS) A 15-year-old girl set herself ablaze at a village in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur district on Tuesday after allegedly being molested by a boy, police said.

The girl has been rushed to Kanpur for advanced treatment as she has received severe burn injuries.

Hamirpur Superintendent of Police Narendra Kumar Singh said that on Monday, the girl's family had beaten up the 16-year-old boy for allegedly molesting her. The victim's family had refused to lodge a complaint.

The family, however, later alleged that the boy used to often harass the girl, and had done the same on Monday.

Apparently upset over repeated harassment and then molestation, the girl sprinkled kerosene on herself and set herself ablaze on Tuesday.

The girl's statement was recorded before a magistrate before she was shifted to Kanpur for treatment.

The SP said that further action will be taken on the basis of the complaint of the girl's family.
HANOVER, N.H. - March 30, 2021 - Cyanobacteria living at the bottom of lakes may hold important, under-researched clues about the threat posed by these harmful organisms, according to a Dartmouth-led study.

The research, published in the Journal of Plankton Research, urges a more comprehensive approach to cyanobacteria studies in order to manage the dangerous blooms during a time of global climate change.

"Most studies of cyanobacteria focus on the times when they are visible in the water column," said Kathryn Cottingham, the Dartmouth Professor in the Arts and Sciences, and a professor of biology. "By concentrating on this part of the life cycle, we may be missing important clues about how these harmful organisms are responding to ongoing global change."

Also known as blue-green algae, blooms of cyanobacteria are increasing in many freshwater systems worldwide, damaging the quality of lake water and affecting lake communities. The blooms also threaten human health through toxins that can damage organ systems.

Cyanobacteria are complex, but researchers are bringing together clues on how they respond to changing seasons.

Freshwater cyanobacteria live either suspended in the water column or at the lake bottom depending, in part, on water temperature. During warmer months, suspended "pelagic" cyanobacteria thrive in warm, well-lit surface waters. In the fall, they sink to the bottom and spend the winter in a resting or fully dormant state.

The Dartmouth-led study focuses on how cyanobacteria behave around the bottom-dwelling "overwinter" period. The research stresses that the sediment-dwelling stage returns to the water column with higher water temperatures, often following the mixing of the water column. Climate change is decreasing some types of mixing but increasing others - such as that caused by extreme precipitation events.

According to the paper, if mixing is constrained and cyanobacteria are left at the bottom, blooms could decrease. "A more complete understanding of all stages of the cyanobacterial life cycle will enable plankton researchers to better predict how ongoing climate change will affect the frequency, intensity and duration of cyanobacterial blooms," the study said.

Land-use changes--such as deforestation, fertilizer use, and development--and climate change are considered the main drivers of cyanobacteria outbreaks. Although the precise causes of the blooms are still being studied, researchers believe that they come from ongoing increases in nutrient loading, temperature and precipitation.

"Our work indicates that cyanobacterial blooms could either increase or decrease as a result of climate change, necessitating preventative lake management to limit human health risks," said Cayelan Carey, associate professor of biological sciences at Virginia Tech and co-author on the study. "Avoiding fertilizer use and installing waterfront buffers can help decrease cyanobacteria, thereby providing 'insurance' against potential cyanobacteria increases due to warmer temperatures in the future."

The study focused on temperate lakes, but the research team stresses that other waterbodies should be include in the proposed research agenda.

Kathleen Weathers from the Cary Institute, and Holly Ewing and Meredith Greer from Bates College also contributed to the study.

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KEENE VALLEY  Hiking some of the most popular High Peaks trails will require a reservation for people looking to head out across the 7,000-acre Adirondack Mountain Reserve this summer, reserve owners and state conservation officials announced Monday.

Parking in AMRs 70-spot lot near Keene Valley will require a reservation May 1 through Oct. 31. Hikers, whether parking a vehicle, getting dropped off or arriving on a bicycle, will need to make one of the reservations, according to a joint news release from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the AMR.

Walk-ins will not be permitted, though each of 70 available reservations is good for up to six hikers. The system affects popular routes to places such as Rainbow Falls, Indian Head, Noonmark Mountain and Round Mountain.

The DEC said there is no cost for making a reservation. The parking lot will be accessible between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily, with the exception of overnight parking, according to a news release.

Reservations to hike on the property may be made two weeks in advance, and may include use for the day or overnight, including overnight parking. The AMR parking lot will have a bike rack, where all bicycles must be left. (Bicycles are not allowed on the reserve.)

A website, hikeamr.org, will take the reservations. It is not live yet, but DEC and AMR have said it will be online starting April 15. It was not immediately clear if there is a limit to the number of hikers who can reserve a hiking spot.

Those arriving to Keene Valley via Greyhound or Trailways bus lines may access with a valid bus ticket from within 24 hours of arrival, according to the news release. Those arriving by bus must check in at the AMR hiker parking lot.

The AMR is privately owned by a group of trustees who are also members of the Ausable Club. Through a conservation and foot traffic easement with the state, the trustees allow the public to access many popular Adirondack Park trailheads. The club was considering its own hiker limits to its property last year around Columbus Day weekend, but that ultimately did not happen.

Ausable Club President Roland Morris had previously said the club would pursue limits of some kind for 2021, regardless of whether the state was on board. The club said it keeps its own records of visitor use and has seen a significant increase in traffic. As a result we are seriously degrading the resource, Morris said. Ausable Club trail registers, for example, saw fewer than 5,000 hikers in 1978 but 25,000 in 2017.

There already were some parking limits enforced in 2020. The AMR lot reduced its vehicle capacity to 28, but DEC had cited the coronavirus pandemic and public safety. The pandemic appeared to drive even more hiker traffic last year, though, and the AMR lot would fill often before 6:30 a.m. The Roaring Brook Falls lot across the street and several pull-offs along Route 73 filled up shortly after.

Were trustees of that property, Morris said in September, and we have an obligation to protect that property with the DEC. And its become clear, from our point of view, the AMR, that limits will have to be part of that program.

Morris also said visitor numbers would have been astronomical if the Canadian border had been opened last year.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos has said in the past that a hiker permit system would be a last resort, and on Monday he reiterated that position. In an emailed statement, he said this new pilot reservation system is meant to address concerns at this particular location, while DEC still considers a permit system to be the tool of last resort.

With the increasing number of visitors to trailhead accessed through AMR, exacerbated in 2020 by New Yorkers looking for a nature break as a respite from COVID-19, DEC and AMR are working together to promote sustainable recreation and protect public safety, Seggos added, in a news release.

The reservation system is meant to address the growing traffic, parking and public safety problem on Route 73 in Keene. The state has already cracked down on illegal roadside parking, added state Department of Transportation message boards and increased law enforcement presence.

The pilot reservation system was also a suggestion in the recently released High Peaks Strategic Planning Advisory Groups report. That state-appointed group convened over the last year to come up with solutions to the growing visitor use.

Visit the Adirondack Mountain Reserve Conservation Easement Tract page on DECs website for a full list of rules and regulations.

The Adirondack Council and Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve are two advocacy groups who have been in favor of some sort of permit system. On Monday, both praised the new pilot program.

This is a big leap forward for fair access to the High Peaks for everyone, Adirondack Council Communications Director John F. Sheehan said in a statement. Until now, people with homes inside the park and people with access to cars had a huge advantage over the rest of the state when it came to finding a parking space or camp site in the High Peaks. A system like this really levels the playing field. It doesnt cost anything, but it gives everyone an equal shot to get your own spot, even on a holiday weekend. All you have to do is reserve a parking spot and go.

Gwendolyn Craig covers state environmental policy for the Adirondack Explorer, a nonprofit news organization covering the forest preserve.
BINGA Chief Sikalenge (pictured below), who died March 25 aged 69, was laid to rest at his homestead on Monday amid calls for the community to emulate his legacy work.

His death comes barely six months after the death of another long serving Binga Chief Sinamagonde due to old age.

Born Bayela Charles Tshuma, Chief Sikalenge (pictured below) died at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo.

He was one the traditional leaders that pushed for establishment of Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme in a neighbouring chiefdom which is also without a chief following death of Chief Binga last year.

Local Government minister July Moyo, who was represented by his deputy Marian Chombo at the burial, praised Chief Sikalenge for shunning corruption as he worked tirelessly for government with no record of abusing office for personal gain.

"He shunned corruption and traditional malpractices and strived to provide for his family and mostly to assist the vulnerable among his folk.

"He actually led by example. He was a visionary leader who sought to bring people together under his stewardship and government appreciates his selfless leadership and his commitment to impartial and fair traditional leadership," said Moyo.

He said Chief Sikalenge will be remembered as a hero after taking on board the needs and ambitions of the Binga community which he demonstrated through promoting the development agenda and sound local governance in his area.

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Moyo said the late chief was instrumental in the construction of several schools and clinics, including Binga District Hospital and Siabuzuba Clinic.

"He was a gallant and fearless custodian and protector of traditional heritage and his death leaves a vacuum which will be hard to fill. He hosted a number of cultural events such as Chilimba Cultural Dance with the aim of preserving the Tonga culture.

"It is unfortunate that he died without fulfilling some of his dear aspirations such as the Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme.

"He was development oriented and desired to bring his community together in the spirit of progress and prosperity.

"To the Sikalenge people and his family in particular, this is not a loss to you alone. As government, we share and feel for you at this dark hour of bereavement.

"I am aware that a leader and father of this calibre will not be easy to replace and I therefore appeal to you to let us work hard to safeguard the good milestones that he has achieved during his time and strive to bring to fruition those of his unrealised dreams," said Moyo.

Chief Sikalenge had been unwell for some time.

He was born on 23 September 1952 and leant at Manjolo Secondary School in Binga before getting a job at Turnal Asbestos in Bulawayo.

He left employment to take the chieftaincy and was appointed in 1984.

He became a member of the National Council of Chiefs for three consecutive terms between 1991 and 2005 and also between 2013 and 2017.

Chief Sikalenge is survived by five wives, 23 children, 40 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
The TMC has written to the Election Commission alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Bangladesh violated the model code of conduct in place for the West Bengal Assembly polls and some of his programmes there "intended to influence the voting pattern" in certain constituencies of the state.

The letter dated March 28 was released by the Trinamool Congress on Tuesday.

Modi visited Bangladesh from March 26 to 27 to attend the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the country's independence and the birth centenary of 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman following an invitation from his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

Follow live West Bengal Assembly elections updates here

The subject line of the letter written by TMC national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien read: "Gross violation of democratic ethics and the Model Code of Conduct by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his visit to Bangladesh."

"We have no objection whatsoever to his visit to Bangladesh for this official purpose. After all, India played a critical role in the liberation of Bangladesh. West Bengal, in particular, made an immense contribution to the heroic struggle of our fellow Bengalis in (what was then) East Pakistan for freedom from the brutal regime in West Pakistan.

"However, the All lndia Trinamool Congress strongly objects to Shri Modi's programmes in Bangladesh on March 27. These had nothing to do with either the 50th anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh or the birth centenary of 'Bangabandhu'. Rather, they were solely and exclusively intended to influence the voting pattern in certain constituencies in the ongoing elections to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal," O'Brien said in the letter.

Also Read | BJP supporters greet Mamata with 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans in Nandigram

"No lndian Prime Minister has so brazenly indulged in an unethical and undemocratic act and violated the Model Code of Conduct by indirectly campaigning for his party from foreign soil," he said.

The TMC leader further alleged that the political motive behind Modi's visit is proven by the fact that he took along with him BJP MP from West Bengal Santanu Thakur, who holds no official position in the government of lndia.

"No MP or representative from the Trinamool Congress or other parties was invited to accompany the PM. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has thus grossly misused his official position to interfere from foreign soil in the election process in West Bengal," O'Brien said.

"The All lndia Trinamool Congress demands that the Election Commission of lndia not only censure him but also take deterrent punitive action against him so that he dares not repeat such misconduct in future," he 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.
(Natural News) A number of shipping companies are reaching out to the United States Navy with regard to piracy concerns. The move followed the incident involving cargo vessel Ever Given becoming stuck in the Suez Canal in Egypt. Given the obstruction of a vital shipping artery, shipping firms are opting to take the alternative  a longer and riskier route around Africa.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Navys Fifth Fleet confirmed the move by global shipping companies, saying that the firms have sent inquiries over maritime security in the region. They have expressed concern regarding ships carrying cargo worth billions of dollars that make the detour and pass by the dangerous African coast. Shippers have also confirmed the inquiries regarding pirate attacks. Hong Kong Shippers Council Chair Willy Lin said naval warships might be required to protect cargo vessels passing by the region.

The area is notorious for piracy, with the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) pointing out a rise in the number of pirate attacks in 2020. The IMB said in its 2020 annual report that a total of 195 attacks by pirates were recorded, up 33 from the 162 recorded in 2019. IMB Director Michael Howlett remarked that the increased attacks showed the increased capabilities of pirates  with more and more attacks taking place further from the coast.

Given the situation, the White House said on March 26 that talks with Egypt are ongoing on how the U.S. could best support efforts to re-open the Suez Canal. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy remarked that there had not yet been an impact on naval actions in the region  but confirmed companies concerns of possible risks involved in taking a different route.

Ships can drop anchor and wait until the Ever Given is dislodged, or take a longer detour which adds at least a week to total travel time. True enough, a number of shipping companies have started re-routing their cargo vessels around South Africas Cape of Good Hope. But this results in ships being exposed to two piracy hotspots in the African continent  the Gulf of Guinea in the west and the Gulf of Aden in the east. (Related: Cargo thefts up during second quarter of 2020, threatening supplies of food and fuel.)

Suez congestion affecting global shipping even after blockage was cleared

The BBC reported on March 30 that traffic has resumed in the Suez Canal after the Ever Given was refloated the previous day. Boskalis CEO Peter Berdowski confirmed that the giant cargo vessel had been re-floated on the afternoon of March 29, making free passage through the Suez Canal possible again. The Dutch salvage firm Berdowski heads helped in dislodging the cargo ship, almost a week after it blocked the canal.

Boskalis sent in a specialist salvage team and 13 tugboats  11 harbor and two seagoing ones  to help get Ever Given back on the sea. Dredgers also helped out by removing 30,000 cubic meters of sand from below the ship. The tug boats honked their horns after successfully freeing the giant vessel.

The delays caused by the blockage of the Suez Canal are now impacting shipping firms with difficult decisions and rising costs. Around 12 percent of global trade passes through the canal in Egypt  and the blockage has impacted shipping schedules and costs.

AP Moller-Maersk CEO Sren Skou warned that urgently-needed goods would have to be sent by air due to the blockage. For goods urgently needed,  they will have to be reproduced and air freighted. Ships that are there are going to have to wait, he said. More than 200 ships have anchored near Suez in north-east Egypt to wait out the blockage, with 137 more to follow within a five-day period.

Meanwhile, Hapag-Lloyd AG CEO Rolf Habben Jansen said it had diverted three allied vessels away from the canal. He remarked that nothing can be done about the goods on ships awaiting entry into the canal. Other options such as unloading them at alternative ports or transporting them by air or rail would be impractical, Jansen added. Even though the Ever Given has already been refloated, Jansen estimated that it would take at least  a few weeks before congestion at the Suez Canal would subside. (Related: Global shippers now losing a billion dollars a month as pandemic-induced slump hits the worlds product transport infrastructure.)

Visit Risk.news to read more articles about the dangers of piracy that threatens cargo vessels.

Sources include:

Forbes.com

FT.com

France24.com

BBC.com
Statement by Minister Coveney at UN Security Council Open Debate on humanitarian situation in Syria

Statement

Thank you Secretary Blinken and thank you for the invitation to be with you this morning. Your presence today as chair of our meeting - and the strength and clarity of your remarks - are welcome signs of the urgency the United States attaches to alleviating the plight of Syrias long suffering people.

Let me begin by aligning myself with the co-penholder statement that was delivered on behalf of Ireland and Norway by Minister Sreide.

Our joint role as humanitarian co-penholders reflects a consistent support to the humanitarian response in Syria. For what is now over a decade of conflict.

Ours is a shared commitment to ensuring that humanitarian assistance continues to reach all people in need.

I would like to make two brief points this morning in my national capacity.

The first is to focus our attention on the devastating scale of need in Syria.

I want like others to thank our briefers  Mark Lowcock, Henrietta Fore and in particular Dr. Amani Ballour  for their stark and unsparing accounts of the terrible realities of life in Syria today. A full decade after this conflict began.

We are confronted in Syria with a humanitarian crisis that continues to be truly staggering in scale and severity.

We know the cold, hard facts we hear them very month. And the situation is worsening. The Secretary-General tells us that humanitarian needs have increased by one fifth in the last year alone.

History will judge this council so harshly for failing after a full decade to protect the Syrian people from mindless war, violence and utter misery. Women, children, hospitals, schools  whole cities in rubble. And even now, we are unable to fully deliver basic humanitarian assistance to children in tents starving without even basic needs and supports being met.

Mr President,

We, collectively around this table, have a duty to act  even 10 years late.

This Council must ensure that humanitarian actors can carry out their work safely.

My second point is to amplify what we have heard clearly from the Secretary General - and from OCHA, once again today  that in order to meet the significant humanitarian needs on the ground, intensified cross-line and cross-border deliveries are both essential.

This includes the continued provision of UN support through the border crossing in the North West.

I visited Bab Al-Hawa crossing a number of weeks ago, and saw first-hand the UN operation that provides a vital lifeline to over 3 million people in North West Syria.

While there, I met with Syrian and international NGOs and UN agencies working in North West Syria.

Their first-hand accounts brought home to me again the sheer human misery  and the waste of human potential - that results from this conflict.

I also met with the Head of the United Nations Monitoring Mission and was very impressed by the thorough nature of the monitoring and oversight at the transshipment hub. The ability to confirm the humanitarian nature of consignments which of course is important - and provide thorough supervision and inspection - is an essential part of the overall UN operation there.

All of the evidence that we have before us tells us clearly that this Council needs to renew the mandate for this crossing before it expires in July. In truth we need more crossings, more than just one, but at an absolute minimum we must maintain whats currently there.

Ireland believes in the UNs efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria. And we will work to support that.

Only a sustainable political solution can end conflict and bring hope and stability to a country that has been torn apart.

But in the meantime, many millions of Syrians are desperately in need of humanitarian assistance. And they are relying on us to provide the answers and support. Lets not make them wait any longer.

This Council must not fail  any more than it already has - in our collective responsibility to the Syrian people.

Thank you.

 Previous Item | Next Item 
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 40 MBA in Nonprofit Management Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 176 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 176 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 40 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 MBA in Nonprofit Management Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-mba-in-nonprofit-management-degree-programs/

2021 MBA in Nonprofit Management Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Arizona State University

Asbury University

Bay Path University

Brenau University

Cairn University

Case Western Reserve University

Chaminade University, Honolulu

Columbia University

Concordia University, Chicago

Concordia University, Wisconsin

Crown College

Dallas Baptist University

DePaul University

Doane University

Gratz College

Hope International University

Johnson & Wales University

Johnson University

Judson University

Liberty University

Lindenwood University

Louisiana State University, Shreveport

Metropolitan State University

National Louis University

New England College

North Park University

Oklahoma State University

Our Lady of the Lake University

Regent University

Regis University

Touro University Worldwide

University Of Central Florida

University of Houston-Downtown

University of Maryland Global Campus

University of Portland

University of San Francisco

University of Tampa

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Washington University, St. Louis

Wilmington 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/.
By Ritah Kemigisa

The Women and Girl Child Development Association has called for increased efforts to reach girls with sexual and reproductive health information and services so they can avoid early pregnancies.

The call follows release of the new education ministry 2020 policy on pregnancies which recommends that girls who conceive while in school should be sent home at three months of pregnancy and return after the baby has made at least six months.

The policy also recommends that if the boy who impregnates the girl is in school, they should also be suspended at the same time and only return after the girl has given birth.

The associations Advocacy Officer, Viola Nayabare says although sending both the boy and girl away is fair and deterrent enough, it should be accompanied with increased access to vital information to help girls avoid the pregnancy in the first place.
About 61% of Americans have had at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), experts' formal term for a traumatic childhood event

About 61% of Americans have had at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), experts' formal term for a traumatic childhood event.

ACEs--which may include abuse, neglect and severe household dysfunction--often lead to psychological and social struggles that reach into adulthood, making ACEs a major public health challenge. But the long-term consequences of ACEs are just beginning to be understood in detail. To fill in the picture, two recent BYU studies analyzed how ACEs shape adolescents' delinquent behaviors as well as fathers' parenting approaches.

ACEs linked to girls'--but not boys'--delinquent behavior

Although the role of adversity in adolescent delinquency has long been examined in the field of criminology, only in the past decade have criminologists referred to these events as ACEs and seriously considered how early ACEs predict a person's delinquency, according to BYU sociology professors Hayley Pierce and Melissa S. Jones.

In their study of that relationship, published in the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Pierce and Jones showed that ACEs do have a significant effect on teenagers' criminal behavior--at least for girls. Girls who experienced four or more ACEs by age five, during the most sensitive period of brain development, were 36% more likely to participate in delinquent behavior. Boys' delinquent behavior, on the other hand, appeared unrelated to early ACEs, although boys have an overall higher rate of delinquency.

"These results run counter to previous research suggesting that girls are far more likely than boys to internalize trauma through developing an eating disorder or other self-harming behaviors," said Jones. "What we find here is the opposite: girls are externalizing trauma through delinquent acts."

Pierce and Jones drew their data from the longitudinal Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study. The survey examined childhood adversity and adolescent behavior over a 15-year period for approximately 5,000 children, with a high proportion born to poor, single-parent or minority families in the U.S.

"Our analysis points toward the need for gendered strategies in working with children with ACEs because the different ways boys and girls are socialized shape how they process trauma," Jones said.

The study should also promote compassion and understanding for adolescents who act out, the researchers emphasized.

"One of the most important things I teach in my juvenile delinquency class is that delinquency is a symptom of an underlying problem," said Jones. "If an adolescent is getting arrested, there's often something else going on in the child's life, such as problems at home."

"When adolescents engage in delinquency, it's important first to ask, 'Okay, what got you here?' and work from that knowledge," Pierce added.

ACEs predict less warmth, more harsh discipline in fathers

Even though ACEs may not be linked to teen boys' delinquency, having ACEs earlier in life does apparently impact how men parent.

Most existing research on ACEs and parenting focuses on mothers and looks exclusively at abuse. Curious about ACEs' effects on fathers and the wider range of ACEs that may influence more day-to-day aspects of parenting, BYU sociologist Kevin Shafer and Scott Easton of Boston College decided to examine parenting patterns in men with past ACEs.

In a study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, they found that fathers who had experienced at least three ACEs were more likely to use harsh disciplinary techniques. Compared to the mothers with ACEs from previous studies, these men were also less likely to exhibit positive parenting characteristics, such as giving affection to their kids, providing care for young children and being emotionally supportive. The more ACEs a father had, the greater their effect on his parenting.

ACEs likely influence fathering partly because ACEs are associated with poor mental health, including depression, anxiety or anger management problems. Mental health challenges in turn influence how men parent their children.

"While on the face of it that sounds bad, it's weirdly also a good thing because even though ACEs happened in the past and can't be changed, you can get treatment for mental health issues in the present," said Shafer. "When men get that help, they can blunt the impact of their ACEs on how they parent their kids, and that improves their kids' outcomes. So their own childhood isn't destiny."

The study analyzed data from the 2015-16 U.S. Survey of Contemporary Fatherhood, which queried over 2,000 fathers about their adverse childhood experiences, degree of psychological distress and parenting habits.

The connection between ACEs and negative fathering techniques is especially indicative of the "untreated trauma" suffered by many men, which Shafer believes is "one of the biggest public health issues we have."

"We have a lot of individuals walking around with ACEs going untreated, and our study shows that has a wide-ranging impact on people in their lives," said Shafer. A big part of the solution would be a "comprehensive public mental health strategy" for fathers, which may include better incorporating fathers into the childbirth experience and early pediatric care, as well as regularly screening fathers for mental health, he concluded.

###
A box of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is shown at a vaccination hub in Rome, Italy, on March 24, 2021. (Andreas Solaro/AFP via Getty Images)

Canada Pauses AstraZeneca Vaccine for People Under 55

TORONTOCanada has suspended the use of the AstraZeneca/Oxford coronavirus vaccine for people under the age of 55 following concerns it might be linked to rare blood clots.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization had recommended the pause for safety reasons and the Canadian provinces, which administer health in the country, announced the suspension on March 29.

There is substantial uncertainty about the benefit of providing AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines to adults under 55, given the potential risks, said Dr. Shelley Deeks, vice chair of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

Deeks said the updated recommendations come amid new data from Europe that suggests the risk of blood clots is now potentially as high as one in 100,000, much higher than the one in 1 million risk believed before.

She said most of the patients in Europe who developed a rare blood clot after vaccination with AstraZeneca were women under age 55, and the fatality rate among those who develop clots is as high as 40 percent.

Dr. Joss Reimer of Manitobas Vaccine Implementation Task Force said despite the finding that there was no increase risk of blood clots overall related to AstraZeneca in Europe, a rare but very serious side effect has been seen primarily in young women in Europe.

Reimer said the rare type of blood clot typically happens between four and 20 days after getting the shot and the symptoms can mirror a stroke or a heart attack.

While we still believe the benefits for all ages outweigh the risks Im not comfortable with probably. I want to see more data coming out of Europe so I know exactly what this risk-benefit analysis is, Reimer said.

The AstraZeneca shot, which has been authorized in more than 70 countries, is a pillar of a U.N.-backed project known as COVAX that aims to get COVID-19 vaccines to poorer countries. It has also become a key tool in European countries efforts to boost their sluggish vaccine rollouts.

That makes doubts about the shots especially worrying.

This vaccine has had all the ups and downs. It looks like a roller coaster, said Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, the chair of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, when asked if the latest news will lead to further vaccine hesitancy.

Health Canada said it hasnt received any reports of blood clots in Canada, and the departments chief medical adviser, Dr. Supriya Sharma, said she still believes the vaccines benefits outweigh the risks.

Last week, the department changed its label on the vaccine to warn about the rare risk of blood clots.

Only those 60 and above have received AstraZeneca in Ontario, Canadas most populous province.

We have no concerns with those who have received it so far, said Dr. David Williams, Ontarios chief medical officer.

Several European countries that had suspended using the vaccine over concerns it could cause blood clots have resumed administering it, after the EUs drug regulator said the vaccine was safe.

The vaccine is used widely in Britain, across the European continent, and in other countries, but its rollout was troubled by inconsistent study reports about its effectiveness, and then more recently the scare about clots that had some countries temporarily pausing inoculations.

Canada is expected to receive 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca from the United States on March 31.

The messaging has been brutal overall. I am fearful it is toast. It shouldnt be, said Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and the medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Sinai-University Health Network.

Morris thinks those who are at a high risk for a bad COVID-19 outcome and over the age of 55 should get AstraZeneca if the other vaccines arent available to them, especially during a third wave of coronavirus infections.

Canadian regulators approved the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Canada has placed bigger bets on Pfizer and Moderna, ordering up to 76 million doses of Pfizer and up to 44 million of Moderna, compared with up to 20 million of AstraZeneca. It isnt known when Canada will receive its first shipment of Johnson & Johnson.

Canada received its first shipment of AstraZeneca this month500,000 doses from India. Of the 194,500 doses that Ontario received, about 10,000 remain. They expire April 2.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization earlier recommended a four-month delay between doses after data from the UK and Quebec showed a good level of protection offered by the first shot. The UK has instituted a similar delay.

By Rob Gillies
A century ago, the Mother Ship of Socialismthe Soviet Unionwas teetering on the precipice. The Poles had just vanquished the hopes of dictator Vladimir Lenin to sweep across Europe. Under the bludgeon of Marxist central planning, the economy had collapsed to a fraction of its pre-war dimensions. The country was seething in discontent. Insurrection seemed imminent. Indeed, the month of March 1921 had begun with hungry Soviet soldiers and sailors mounting the Kronstadt Rebellion against the Bolshevik regime.

What was Lenins remedy for his unfolding socialist catastrophe? It wasnt more socialism, at least for the moment. That would be like chasing a glass of tainted water with a gallon of Clorox. Desperate to reverse the consequences of socialism, Lenin turned to their only known antidotecapitalism.

Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of the start of Lenins New Economic Policy (NEP). In a stunning about-face on March 21, 1921, the NEP began undoing the previous four years. Expropriation of businesses and the nationalization of industries stopped. Lenin proclaimed a partial restoration of, in his own words, a free market and capitalism. Even state-owned firms would seek to operate on a profit basis. Individuals could own small enterprises again. Market prices would be permitted in place of state directives.

A little bit of freedom goes a long way. In this instance, it turned the economy around and saved the infant Bolshevik tyranny. But it did not last long. Three years later, Lenin would be dead. Before the end of the decade, Stalin obliterated the NEP with a massive collectivist campaign to re-socialize the economy. Of the NEP, former US national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski wrote in his 1989 book, The Grand Failure, For many Russians, even more than sixty years later, these were the best years of the era ushered in by the revolution of 1917.

On that March day in 1921, the very day winter bowed to spring, the socialists in Moscow effectively admitted they had to stop stealing. There just was not much left to steal. In a 1990 article, economist Peter Boettke cited a litany of mea culpas from leading Soviet intellectuals, including a most revealing tribute to free market economist Ludwig von Mises from socialist architect Nikolai Bukharin. He grudgingly admitted that Misess devastating critique of socialism made him one of the most learned critics.

It would be Mises, nearly 30 years later in Human Action, who expressed the distinction between socialism and capitalism in the following eloquent fashion:

A man who chooses between drinking a glass of milk and a glass of a solution of potassium cyanide does not choose between two beverages; he chooses between life and death. A society that chooses between capitalism and socialism does not choose between two social systems; it chooses between social cooperation and the disintegration of society. Socialism is not an alternative to capitalism; it is an alternative to any system under which men can live as human beings.

Many socialists, however, stubbornly adhere to their vision no matter what happens along the way. Some will read the above paragraphs and object that what Lenin sought to reverse was a more radical version of their philosophy. They will say, Were not for that! We are democratic socialists! as if the veneer of democracy blesses socialisms multitudinous sins. The truth is this: disastrous policies are disastrous policies; it does not matter much that their advocates were voted in.

The track record of the 20th century brand of socialism often labeled communism is horrificthe worst mass murdering cause in world history. The Black Book of Communism documented its crimes, including the murder of more than 100 million people.

Democratic socialism may be more seductive and less bloody but it too has a miserable track record. Like its nuttier communist cousin, it consumes lives and wealth and must sooner or later be administered the capitalist antidote. If countries embrace democratic socialism and stay afloat, their longevity is always explained not by the socialism they adopt, but rather, by the capitalism they have not yet destroyed. And the more a country drowns itself in democratic socialism, the more the democracy part evaporates in the face of concentrated state power.

Socialists and socialism possess no theory of wealth creation; indeed, they show no interest in it. Wealth is just there for them to vilify, confiscate and redistributeuntil its producers produce no more. Long-term thinking is not their strong suit.

The next time you hear a democratic socialist declare that his system hasnt been tried yet, reel off this list for starters (for more, check out the recommended readings below):

Ancient Romes Republic began its deadly experiment in democratic socialism in the 2nd century B.C. It began as a welfare state, degenerated into a regulatory nightmare, and finally collapsed into an imperial autocracy. Legislative assemblies voted into office by the Roman electorate constructed the socialist edifice brick by brick. Rome was not built in a day, but concentrated state power had no trouble tearing it down completely.

The Pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts, famously tried another version of democratic socialism 17 centuries later. It was the communal variety, in which they placed the fruits of their labors into a common storehouse and then distributed it to each other equally. Their governor was elected, by the way, which made it democratic. Starvation forced them to scrap it rather quickly in favor of private property.

Adolf Hitlers National Socialists came to power through the democratic process in 1933. Oops, back to the drawing board for socialists on that one too!

After World War II, Great Britain voted the democratic socialists into power and turned the country into the Sick Man of Europe. Margaret Thatcher administered a strong dose of capitalism 30 years later, before the patient would have expired.

Scandinavia adopted the welfare state version of socialism around the same time as Britain. Economic decline set in as it took hold. But Norwegians, Danes, and Swedes learned much from their mistakes and reversed many of them. Today, their economies are among the freest in the world.

New Zealand found itself mired in the doldrums of democratic socialism by the 1980s but recovered dramatically through drastic reductions in government. (See New Zealands Path to Prosperity Began With Rejecting Democratic Socialism.)

On and on it goes, like a broken record. Socialists make big promises, wrap them in velvet, and beat the economy into submission using the iron fist within. Then when its victims have had enough, capitalism must come to the rescue.

Wouldnt it make a lot more sense to simply avoid the socialist trap in the first place?

For Additional Information, See:

Soviet Admissions: Communism Doesnt Work by Peter J. Boettke

Private Ownership: A Must by Henry Hazlitt

The Soviet Tragedy: A History of Socialism in Russia, 1917-1991 and Russia Under the Bolshevik Regime by Richard Pipes, Martin Malia, and Ralph Raico

Socialism: Force or Fantasy by Lawrence W. Reed

Four Ways Socialism is Anti-Social by Lawrence W. Reed

Margaret Thatcher on Socialism: 20 of Her Best Quotes by Lawrence W. Reed

The British Parliamentarian Who Jumped Ship from Socialism by Lawrence W. Reed

Socialism on My Mind by Lawrence W. Reed

61 Quick Facts and Observations on Socialism, Jesus and Wealth by Jon Miltimore

A Revolution to Always Remember but Never Celebrate by Lawrence W. Reed

Dont Call Scandinavian Countries Socialist by Lawrence W. Reed
GREENWICH  As President Joe Biden eyes infrastructure as the next priority item on his agenda, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy sat down with state transportation and Metro-North Railroad officials Monday.

During a round-table discussion at Greenwich Town Hall, Murphy noted that the Northeast Corridor is the only rail corridor in the nation that has any chance of making money.

But thats jeopardized by this current pandemic, which has created real budget crises for our operators, and is threatened in the long run by an atrophying infrastructure thats increasing transit times and making a lot of people think twice about locating themselves in Connecticut, Murphy said.

Murphy outlined some of the money for transportation that was included in the American Rescue Plan Act, a pandemic aid package that Biden signed into law earlier this month. The law sets aside about $30 billion for transit grants, $970 million for Amtraks Northeast Corridor and $350 billion for state and local governments.

Meanwhile, Biden is expected to release a major infrastructure proposal this week. Murphy said he hopes that a bipartisan package will be possible, but he noted theres a big outstanding question as to whether we can agree on revenue sources for transportation.

Still, Biden has been successful in pushing Congress to enact his priorities thus far, Murphy said. And my hope is that hes going to put just as much focus on infrastructure as he did on the Rescue Plan.

Murphy and fellow U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal signed onto a letter to Biden last week requesting that the presidents infrastructure proposal include $55 billion or more for the Northeast Corridor over 10 years.

Murphy is a member of the Senate subcommittee that drafts an annual appropriations bill for the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.

Among the attendees of Mondays roundtable was Catherine Rinaldi, the president of Metro-North. She said at the height of the pandemic, the railroads ridership was down by about 95 percent. Now, its down about 79 percent.

We are now definitely on the upswing, Rinaldi said. We had a bit of a lull during the holidays when  COVID started up again. But really, since January, weve been seeing improvement pretty much every week.

She said while there may be fewer traditional commuters taking trains during the pandemic, intermediate travelers  for instance, those who catch a train in Bridgeport and hop off in Stamford  are still riding the railroad.

Since last June, Metro-North has been operating at about 63 percent of its pre-pandemic service levels, Rinaldi said.

Joseph Giulietti, the commissioner of the state Department of Transportation and a former president of Metro-North, said federal funding has been critical to continuing rail service in the state.

Your funding right now has put us in a position that I can safely say were OK to go for the next two years, and we have the projects in line to go in and fix up and increase the speeds on this corridor for both Amtrak and Metro-North, Giulietti said.

He also said he is optimistic about more infrastructure spending in the near future.

If I can impress nothing else in this meeting its that never have I felt that the stars have been more aligned than they are right now in terms of investment in infrastructure, in terms of relationships, he said, referring to connections on both the regional and federal level.
The campaign that ran from March 24-28, 2021 targeted 17, 649 households.

The population of Mutengene in Tiko Subdivision had through March 24 to 28, 2021 received the second round of Cholera vaccine. 17, 649 households were targeted with a population of 49 949. The vaccine was administered on anybody above one year of age and was taken through the mouth. Each group of those that carried out the vaccination were made up of three persons. There were the mobilizers (55), Recorders and vaccinators (165).

Launching the free vaccination campaign against cholera in Mutegene Health Centre on March 24, 2021, South West Regional Delegate for Public Health, Dr. Ebongo Zacheus, said that since August 2020 when the first mass vaccination in Tiko against cholera was administered, they had not receive any confirmed case of Cholera in Tiko Health District. That they are hoping that this booster vaccine laid to rest the problem of Cholera in Tiko Health District.

Dr. Kekay Krstel, Chief Medical Officer of the Mutengene Health Centre, explained to the population what cholera is all about and it manifestation. She spelt out the symptoms and insisted to the population that cholera vaccination is one of the preventive measures. Personal hygiene was prescribed to the populace.

Voh Armstrong, Divisional Officer for Tiko, called on the population to turn out in their numbers and receive the vaccine for it is safe. Before the watchful eyes of the population of Mutengene, he received a dose of the vaccine and joked that it tasted like milk.
UPDATE: Christian Halls unjustified killing was a call for help met with bullets, attorney says

Pennsylvania State Police troopers who fatally shot a suicidal man holding a BB gun on a Route 33 overpass were justified in their use of deadly force and will not face criminal charges, authorities announced Tuesday.

Christian Hall, 19, died after troopers opened fire Dec. 30 on the Route 33 South overpass bridge to Interstate 80 in Hamilton Township, Monroe County.

Use of deadly force was justified due to Halls actions under the circumstances, Michael Mancuso, Monroe Countys first assistant district attorney, said. A tragic situation, but a situation that was fueled by Halls mental state and his desire to end his life.

Mancuso announced his ruling in the use of force investigation into Halls death at a news conference Tuesday morning.

The announcement was livestreamed on Facebook and on YouTube, and included audio from a 911 call that morning and lengthy video from Pennsylvania State Police cruisers, including when Hall was shot.

Authorities said Hall was suicidal and armed with a pellet gun that appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun. Troopers believed it was a real firearm, the prosecutor said.

At all times, (Hall) acts like that gun is real, Mancuso said. Mr. Hall wanted to commit suicide, but not necessarily by his own hand...Its a testament to the troopers they didnt shoot sooner ... Its commendable they waited as long as they did, though the law does not require that.

Hall left a goodbye message for an ex-girlfriend and previously made social media posts with photos of the overpass, authorities said. One post asked, Who would miss me? according to Mancuso.

Hall called 911 anonymously that day to report a suicider on the I-80 bridge, and police received calls from drivers about a man on the Route 33 overpass.

Mancuso said the encounter with state police lasted about an hour and a half, from when troopers were dispatched at 1:40 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.

Video from state police cruisers showed two troopers initially responded that afternoon to find Hall, wearing a red t-shirt, standing on the concrete barrier on Route 33 overlooking I-80.

Howya doin sir? the initial trooper asks, and the troopers repeatedly asked Hall to get off the ledge and talk to them.

Hall began walking on the ledge, and troopers believed he was smoking pot from a glass pipe and had a black object in his left hand, according to the video.

Hes got a gun, one trooper says, as another yells, Gun! Gun! Gun! Gun!

Christian Hall was holding this BB gun when he was fatally shot by Pennsylvania State Police on Dec. 30, 2020, in Monroe County, the county district attorney's office said. The DA ruled troopers were justified in using deadly force when they fatally shot Hall.Image via the Monroe County District Attorney's Office | For lehighvalleylive.com

A corporal and other troopers arrived, including a negotiator with 15 years of experience, and negotiations with began Hall, whom they called CJ.

Authorities did not identify the state police involved, and their faces were blurred in video showed during Tuesdays news conference. Prosecutors did say 5 troopers and a corporal interacted with Hall that day.

Hall was told numerous times to drop the gun he was holding, and at one point he laid it down on the concrete barrier and walked a few feet away, but de-escalation proved fruitless, Mancuso said.

Hall walked back, picked up the BB gun and put it in his waistband.

During the incident, Hall sent suicidal messages to an ex-girlfriend from his cellphone, prosecutors said.

Troopers shot at Hall twice and two troopers fired: the corporal, who has been with state police for 22 years, and a trooper, a 7-year veteran of state police, from Troop N.

The first shots came after Hall ignored repeated orders to put his gun down and began walking toward troopers negotiating with him. The first rounds hit the nearby concrete barrier, authorities said.

Put it down! Drop it! Drop the gun! the troopers can be heard on the video.

Hall then raised his arms, with the gun in his left hand and pointed toward the sky, and again began walking toward troopers when troopers opened fire a second time.

Hall was shot three times. Hall was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono in East Stroudsburg, where he was pronounced dead.

Mancuso said he believes the cause of death will be ruled to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner will be deemed a homicide.

There were four incidents in 2020 where law enforcement shot someone in Monroe County, three of which were fatal, including Halls death.

Which was pretty high for the norm, Mancuso said.

Halls family have called for Pennsylvanias attorney general to lead an independent investigation of the case. Christian, who was Chinese, was adopted by Gareth and Fe Hall.

Christian Hall had a life. Christian Hall had a family. He loved, and he was loved, his mother, Fe Hall, said during a rally outside the outside the Monroe County Courthouse. On Dec. 30, my world stopped. My world was completely changed forever.

The family is represented high-profile civil rights lawyer Ben Crump and Devon Jacob. A news conference is scheduled for Wednesday morning to respond to the district attorneys ruling.

The family in a Facebook post on Monday said their attorney reached out to the DAs office to speak with them before the news conference.

To date, our family has not received a call, email or letter from the District Attorneys office of Monroe County or from any criminal investigators. Tomorrow will be the first official statement made by anyone in law enforcement in Halls shooting death, the post said.

Mancuso said investigators attempted to speak with the family and there was reportedly a suicide note, but investigators were rebuffed and told to speak to the familys attorneys.

Were sorry for your loss. We cant imagine the impact it has had on you, he said. CJ had a lot of metal health issues and in the end they proved too much for him.

Letter from the Hall Familys Attorney, Devon Jacob, Esq. sent to District Attorney Christine on 3/25/21 via email to... Posted by Justice for Christian Hall on Monday, March 29, 2021

Mancuso said video that made the rounds on social media showing Hall with his hands up before getting shot was from the incident, but that Hall was holding the BB gun at the time.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
Catholic Bishop known for LGBT advocacy comes out in support of the Equality Act

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A Catholic bishop has joined a growing list of Christians who've come out in support of the Equality Act, a sweeping legislative initiative recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Bishop John Stowe of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, long criticized by conservative Catholics for his stance on LGBT issues, sent a letter to the top senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which was obtained by the Jesuit publication America magazine.

Addressing his letter to Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Stowe proclaimed that, As a Catholic bishop, I hate to see any form of hateful discrimination protected by law and it is consistent with our teaching to ensure that LGBTQ people have the protection they need.

In the letter, Stowe asserted, LGBTQ people reflect the image and likeness of God, just as anyone else, and so it is our duty to love and defend them. He also expressed gratitude for the many LGBTQ Catholics who serve and lead their communities with distinction, adding, Their perseverance, their grace, and devotion to the common good has made Catholic communities holier and has edified our nation.

Stowes view of the Equality Act is widely divergent from the opinion held by the majority of U.S. Catholic bishops, who believe that the bill represents a grave threat to religious liberty and religious Americans in general.

On Feb. 23, just before the House voted to approve the Equality Act on a largely party-line vote, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote a letter to members of the House and Senate outlining their concerns.

The Equality Act purports to protect people experiencing same-sex attraction or gender discordance from discrimination. But instead, the bill represents the imposition by Congress of novel and divisive viewpoints regarding gender on individuals and organizations. This includes dismissing sexual difference and falsely presenting gender as only a social construct, they wrote.

Rather than affirm human dignity in ways that meaningfully exceed existing practical protections, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith, they warned. It would also inflict numerous legal and social harms on Americans of any faith or none.

The bishops listed provisions of the Equality Act they took issue with, expressing concern that it would punish faith-based charities such as shelters and foster care agencies, and in turn their thousands of beneficiaries, simply because of their beliefs on marriage and sexuality and force both people and organizations in many everyday life and work settings to speak or act in support of gender transitions, including healthcare workers and licensed counselors, even when its against their professional judgment.

Additionally, they predicted that the Equality Act would exclude people from the careers and livelihoods they love, just for maintaining the truth of their beliefs on marriage and sexuality and discriminate against individuals and religious organizations based on their different beliefs by partially repealing the bipartisan Religious Freedom Restoration Act, an unprecedented departure from law and one of Americas founding principles.

The bishops also worried that the Equality Act would force girls and women to compete against boys and men for limited opportunities in school sports, and to share locker rooms and shower spaces with biological males who claim to identify as women.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York, one of the five bishops who signed the letter, along with the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Religious Liberty, expanded on the implications of the Equality Act in a March 16 op-ed for The Public Discourse.

According to Dolan, the Equality Act expands the meaning of public accommodations, meaning that if a church has a banquet hall that it rents out for events and refuses to host a reception for a same-sex wedding ceremony, it would be engaging in discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The Equality Act also sneaks in an abortion mandate by defining sex to include pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition  a phrase that courts have interpreted to include abortion, he continued. With this trick, the Act can effectively say that refusing to perform an abortion constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex.

The Catholic Church teaches that while LGBT people must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity, like all human beings, homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.

The Vatican recently doubled down on this teaching by releasing a statement of its own affirming that God cannot bless sin, and therefore, the Catholic Church cannot endorse same-sex marriages.

Stowe is not the only religious leader to buck the national trend and express support for The Equality Act.

As the progressive think-tank the Center for American Progress reported, more than 100 faith groups have endorsed the Equality Act. Sister Simone Campbell, an outspoken progressive Catholic nun, Maine-based Rabbi Jared Saks, Muslim Advocates Public Advocacy Director Scott Simpson and Yvette Flunder, the presiding bishop at the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries were listed among the legislations supporters.

According to the Center for American Progress, more than 17,000 religious leaders and people of faith have endorsed the Equality Act. Following its passage by the House, Campbell and other members of the Faith for Equality Coalition presented Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., with a compilation of statements supporting the legislation.

A vote on the Equality Act has yet to take place in the Senate, where it has encountered unanimous opposition from the chambers 50 Republican senators as well as Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., leaving it short of the required support for passage.

A group of congressional Republicans and faith leaders have rallied behind The Fairness For All Act, billed as an alternative to the Equality Act that would enshrine protections for the LGBT community into law while enabling religious organizations to abide by their traditional beliefs about marriage and sexuality.

In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee spearheaded by the AND Campaign, a progressive civic engagement organization that highlights the voices of urban Christians, along with a group of black pastors, faith leaders and other prominent Christians, echoed many of the concerns shared by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The signatories proclaimed that the Equality Act would remove many of the basic rights that allow religious institutions to operate according to the tenets of their faith and allow LGBT rights to be used as a sword against faith institutions rather than a shield to protect the vulnerable.
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Three people were shot early Tuesday in a drive-by shooting in north Houston, police said. Minutes later, a fourth person was shot nearby, though it's unclear whether the shootings were connected.

Officers were dispatched about 12:45 a.m. to a drive-by shooting on the 3100 block of Stallings Drive where they found one man shot in the leg while inside a residence, said Lt. Christopher Bruce of the Houston Police Department.
Qatar Petroleum (GP) on Tuesday in a statement said it will take full control in 2022 of Qatargas 1, which produces LNG and related products.

Qatargas also known as Qatargas Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (QG1), is a joint venture project between Qatar Petroleum and affiliates of Total, ExxonMobil, Marubeni and Mitsui. The joint venture deal will expire on 31 December 2021 and GP notes that it will not renew the agreement.

As a result, Qatar Petroleum will become the sole owner of 100% of the QG1 assets and facilities on 1 January 2022, the company notes. Established in 1984, Qatargas 1 has a production capacity of approximately 10 million tons per annum of LNG, the venture says on its website.
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The White House on Friday said a total of 40 world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, were invited to the summit to be hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden.

Prime Minister Imran Khan was not invited to a U.S.-hosted virtual summit on climate change. The White House on Friday said a total of 40 world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, were invited to the summit to be hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden.

Pakistan Muslims League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah was quoted by Samaa TV channel as said that this displayed the failure of the government. Many Pakistanis took to various social media platforms to express surprise at the exclusion of Pakistan from the summit, particularly when the country is among the nations most affected by climate change.

The Pakistan Government has come under massive criticism from activists. However, Pakistan is one of the lowest emitters in the world and its commitment to addressing the simmering issue of climate change is well appreciated around the globe, the government has said.

Also Read: The Xinjiang Investigation: UN in negotiations with Beijing; China slaps sanctions against US and Canada

Also Read: India battles Covid second wave: Maharashtra CM imposes night curfew amid surge; over 68k cases recorded in last 24 hrs
NEWBURGH  The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is planning a new incentive program to attract new carriers to Stewart International Aiport, along with a marketing campaign that would attract travelers. Those moves, plus the completion of a new Customs and Border Protection inspection station, are intended to "relaunch" Stewart, which was particularly hard hit by the pandemic's impact on travel.

"As we continue battling the COVID-19 pandemic on the ground, New York State is looking ahead to a post-pandemic future with increasing opportunities for travel, tourism, and economic development," said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. "New York Stewart International Airport is an important gateway to the Mid-Hudson region, and these incentives, marketing and construction initiatives will market the airport to international and domestic travelers as we begin to see increases in passenger volume."
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  Bill Griffin waited more than a year for this moment: Newly vaccinated, he embraced his 3-year-old granddaughter for the first time since the pandemic began.

She came running right over. I picked her up and gave her a hug. It was amazing, the 70-year-old said after the reunion last weekend.

Spring has arrived with sunshine and warmer weather, and many older adults who have been vaccinated, like Griffin, are emerging from COVID-19-imposed hibernation.

From shopping in person or going to the gym to bigger milestones like visiting family, the people who were once most at risk from COVID-19 are beginning to move forward with getting their lives on track. Nearly 45% of Americans who are 65 and older are now fully vaccinated.

Visiting grandchildren is a top priority for many older adults. In Arizona, Gailen Krug has yet to hold her first grandchild, who was born a month into the pandemic in Minneapolis. Now fully vaccinated, Krug is making plans to travel for her granddaughters first birthday in April.

I cant wait, said Krug, whose only interactions with the girl have been over Zoom and FaceTime. Its very strange to not have her in my life yet.

The excitement she feels, however, is tempered with sadness. Her daughter-in-laws mother, who she had been looking forward to sharing grandma duties with, died of COVID-19 just hours after the babys birth. She contracted it at a nursing home.

Isolated by the pandemic, older adults were hard hit by loneliness caused by restrictions intended to keep people safe. Many of them sat out summer reunions, canceled vacation plans and missed family holiday gatherings in November and December.

In states with older populations, like Maine, Arizona and Florida, health officials worried about the emotional and physical toll of loneliness, posing an additional health concern on top of the virus.

But that's changing, and more older people are reappearing in public after they were among the first group to get vaccinated.

Those who are fully vaccinated are ready to get out of Dodge without worrying they were endangering themselves amid a pandemic that has claimed more than 540,000 lives in the United States.

Now theres an extra level of confidence. I am feeling good about moving forward, said Ken Hughes, a 79-year-old Florida resident who is flying with his wife for a pandemic-delayed annual trip to Arizona in April.

Plenty of older adults are eager to hop on a jet to travel. Others are looking forward to the simpler things like eating at a restaurant, going to a movie theater or playing bingo.

Sally Adams, 74, was among several older people who showed up for parking lot bingo in Glendale, Arizona. She felt safe because shed been vaccinated and because she was in her car at the first bingo event in more than year.

Once she fulfills the time to reach peak immunity, she plans to indulge in little things like eating out. Both her and her husband, who is also vaccinated, have only done takeout. Now, they feel like it will be OK to even eat indoors  as long as its not crowded.

Well probably go in and take the farthest table from other people just to be on the safe side, she said.

Indeed, many older adults are taking a cautious approach, especially when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declined to ease recommendations for travel.

Frequent traveler Cindy Charest was so excited about the prospect of jetting away for the first time in more than a year that she posted an airplane emoji with a photo of her being vaccinated on social media.

But shes taking a wait-and-see attitude after the CDC recommended against nonessential air travel, for now.

I think I got prematurely excited about it, said Charest, 65, of Westbrook, Maine. But shes ready to jump when the time comes. Shes watching for changing guidance.

Others are also cautious.

Were still in the thick of it, said Claudette Greene, 68, of Portland, Maine. "Weve made a lot of progress but were not done with this.

Kathy Bubar said she and her husband are completely vaccinated but are in no hurry to push things. The 73-year-old Portland resident is planning to wait until fall before planning any major travel. She hopes to go on a safari in December.

My goal in all of this is to not be the last person to die from COVID. Im willing to be patient and take as long as it takes, she said.

The Griffins were also cautious before they were reunited with their granddaughter.

Bill Griffin, of Waterboro, didnt dare have close contact with family members until after being vaccinated because he has lung disease, heart disease, kidney disease and high blood pressure, all factors that pushed him into a high-risk category for COVID-19.

Everybody wants to live for the moment, but the moment could have been very deadly. We listened to the scientists, he said.

___

Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami and Terry Tang in Phoenix contributed to this report.
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The late President John Magufuli lies in state at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday 20, March 2021.

Dar es Salaam  It is now official. The stampede that occured on the second day when Dar es Salaam residents were paying their last respects to the body of the late President John Magufuli killed 45 people.

Thirty-seven more people were injured as a huge number of mourners sought to force their way into the stadium to pay their last respects to the fallen President on Sunday, March 21, 2021, police have confirmed.

It was on Sunday, March 21 that a stampede occurred when some Dar es Salaam residents attempted to enter the stadium via unofficial entrance points as the crowd got larger. "These people were not criminals.

They went to the stadium in order to express their love for their departed leader but because the num- ber of people was huge, some became impatient and opt- ed to using unofficial entry points and that was how the problem occurred," Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone commander, Mr Lazaro Mambosasa, told The Citi- zen's sister paper Mwananchi yesterday.

He said all the 37 people who were injured in the stampede were progressing well and had been discharged from various hospitals.

"Whenever there is a national event that brings many people together, it is advised that people should obey the laid down procedures.

That way, we will be able to avoid a recurrence of the loss of lives that we have just had," he said. Though Mr Mambosasa could not name the victims, what is known is that the stampede dealt a heavy loss to the family of David Mtuwa of Dar es Salaam.

On Thursday, March 25, hundreds of mourners turned up at the home of Mr David Mtuwa in Dar es Salaam to pay their last respects to five family members who lost their lives during the stampede at Uhuru Stadium on Sunday, March 21.

Christian (11), Michelle (8), Nathan (6), Natalia (5), Suzan Ndana Mtuwa (30s) and a housemaid Anita Mfik- wa (27) died as they went to pay their last respects to the body of former President John Magufuli.

The body of Anita was later transported to her home in Njombe for burial.

Another reported victim was Rose John who was also killed during the stampede and her body was transport- ed to Kagera for burial.

Dr Magufuli died at the Mzena Memorial Hospital in Dar es Salaam on March 17, and his body was laid to rest at his Chato hometown on Friday, March 26.

The burial took place after Tanzanians had paid their last respects in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Zanzibar, Mwanza - and, finally Chato.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 12:23:26|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Tuesday confirmed 105 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 2,377, said a Ministry of Health (MoH) statement.

The new infections included 104 local cases -- 46 in capital Phnom Penh, 34 in Preah Sihanouk province, 20 in Svay Rieng province, two in Kampong Cham province, one each in Prey Veng and Tboung Khmum provinces, and one imported case, the statement said.

The imported case was detected on a 36-year-old Indonesian man traveling from Indonesia on March 16 via a connecting flight in Singapore, it said, adding that he was found positive for the virus on the 13th day of quarantine.

The Southeast Asian nation has officially registered a total of 2,377 confirmed COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic in January last year, with 11 deaths and 1,176 recoveries, the MoH said.

The country began an anti-COVID-19 inoculation drive on Feb. 10. As of Monday, more than 391,000 people in priority groups had been vaccinated against the virus, a government report showed. Enditem
A 34-year-old woman from the Gota area of Ahmedabad city on Sunday filed a complaint with Adalaj police against her NRI husband, based in Dubai, alleging he had forced beer down the throat of their 2-year-old daughter.

Twitter (Representational Image)

In addition to that, she also alleged that her husband did not have sex with her for a year, according to a Times of India report.



In the FIR filed, the woman has stated that the accused whom she married back in December 2016 had also forced her to drink beer and gave empty beer tins to their 2-year-old daughter to play with. The complaint further includes that she had gone to Dubai with her husband in March 2017 where he used to physically assault her due to constant provocation by her in-laws.

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My husband used to create ruckus after getting drunk. He used to beat me seeking dowry from my parents. He often drank beer and forced me to drink it even though I never liked it, she said. My husband also forcibly made my two-year-old daughter drink beer, she further stated.

After he drank beer, he used to throw empty beer tins in front of her daughter and told her to play with them instead of playing with toys, she alleged in the FIR.

He used to taunt me about my delicate physical condition and did not even have sex with me for around a year, she alleged.

She added that her husband did not give her money and even when she asked for it to buy medicines for their ailing daughter, he told her to get money from her parents' place.

She said that they returned to India from Dubai in March this year and he left her at her parents place. Later, her husband and in-laws fled to Dubai without informing her.



He left my home on March 25 afternoon and later went incommunicado, she alleged.

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Adalaj police registered a complaint of domestic violence against the NRI man and his parents and began an investigation.
RESTON, Va. - Greater sage-grouse populations have declined significantly over the last six decades, with an 80% rangewide decline since 1965 and a nearly 40% decline since 2002, according to a new report by the U.S. Geological Survey. Although the overall trend clearly shows continued population declines over the entire range of the species, rates of change do vary regionally.

The report represents the most comprehensive analysis of greater sage-grouse population trends ever produced and lays out a monitoring framework to assess those trends moving forward. The study can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of greater sage-grouse conservation efforts and analyze factors that contribute to habitat loss and population change -- all critical information for resource managers.

"Every day, the USGS brings diverse stakeholders the compelling science they need to make strategic, on-the-ground policy and management decisions," said David Applegate, associate director exercising the delegated authority of the USGS director. "With this framework in place, resource managers can more nimbly respond to population declines with actions such as redistributing monitoring efforts or prioritizing where management intervention may be needed."

USGS scientists and colleagues developed the framework to estimate greater sage-grouse population trends in the 11 western states where the species lives - California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The greater sage-grouse is a vulnerable species and an indicator of the overall health of the iconic sagebrush ecosystem.

The research found that in recent decades the rate of greater sage-grouse decline increased in western portions of the species' range, particularly in the Great Basin, while the declines have been less severe in eastern areas. Western Wyoming was the only region to show relatively stable sage-grouse populations recently. Taken as a whole, the greater sage-grouse population now is less than a quarter of what it was more than 50 years ago.

To complete the framework, USGS and Colorado State University researchers collaborated with the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, individual state wildlife agencies and the Bureau of Land Management. Together, they compiled information and created a rangewide database of greater sage-grouse breeding grounds. Researchers used that information to assess past and current sage-grouse population trends in different parts of the species' range.

In addition to the database and population-trend assessment, researchers also developed a "Targeted Annual Warning System" to alert biologists and managers when local greater sage-grouse populations begin to decline or have diverged from regional trends. The research identified the most at-risk breeding grounds, with the greatest risk seen at the periphery of the species' range. The report shows that there is only a 50% chance that most breeding grounds, called leks, will be productive in about 60 years from now if current conditions persist. USGS scientists will continue to analyze information to determine the factors driving changes in breeding areas and populations, including the influence of habitat loss and degradation.

"The framework we developed will help biologists and managers make timely decisions based on annual monitoring information," said Peter Coates, USGS scientist and lead author of the report. "This will allow them to address local issues before they have significant impacts on the population."

###

For more details about "Range-Wide Greater Sage-Grouse Hierarchical Monitoring Framework," read the full report [link].
Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange traded 154 points higher at 14,774, indicating a gap-up start for benchmark indices in Tuesday's session.



Here are the top stocks to track in trade today:



Shares of will be in focus as they are set to make their stock market debut today. The IPO which ran between March 17-19 was subscribed a whopping 175 times.

DRL: Pharma major Dr Reddy's Laboratories (DRL) expects the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V to get approval from the Indian regulator in the next few weeks, a company official has said.

Biocon: The company said its subsidiary, Biocon Pharma, has joined hands with Libbs Farmaceutica to launch generic drugs in Brazil.

Manappuram Finance: The company is toying with the idea of hiving off and taking its microfinance arm Asirwad Microfinance public within a year, a top company official said.

Vascon Engineers: The company has received letter of acceptance amounting to Rs 515.63 crore from Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department for establishment of new medical colleges.

JSW Energy: The company's board has approved a proposal for issuance of green bonds by JSW Hydro Energy, the company's material subsidiary, for raising $750 million from international

Coal India: The company is likely to post marginal contraction of its output for the year 2020-21 by 5-6 million tonne in 2020-21 as its production will below the 600 million mark, a PTI report said. That apart, the company said it has loaded an average 312 rakes per day in the current month, registering a growth of 24.6 per cent.

Kirloskar Brothers: Leading pump makers Kirloskar Brothers is close to be a debt-free company and will continue its growth journey into domestic and international markets, said a top company official. After being debt-free, the company will focus on cash flow and will not chase topline (revenue) numbers at the cost of profitability, said KBL Director Alok Kirloskar.

Cochin Shipyard: The company expects to operationalise a Rs 170 crore modern shipbuilding facility that it is building in West Bengal by June 2021.

Minda Industries: The company said it will invest over Rs 250 crore in expanding its four-wheel lighting and alloy wheel business to meet the increased demand as its existing units are operating at near capacity.

Adani Green: Adani Green Energy (AGEL) has acquired 100 per cent equity stake in Spinel Energy and Infrastructure from Hindustan Cleanenergy and Peridot Power Ventures. This acquisition is part of AGEL's overall growth strategy where the company is planning to build a capacity of 25 GW by 2025.

Apollo Hospitals: Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, on Saturday, said its board has approved a proposal to seek members' nod for the amalgamation of two wholly-owned subsidiaries into the company.

Adani Transmission: said it has entered into a pact with Essel Infraprojects to acquire Warora-Kurnool Transmission for an enterprise value of Rs 3,370 crore.

IDBI Bank: IDBI Bank said its board has approved a rupee bond borrowing limit of Rs 8,000 crore for the next financial year. Earlier last week, the lender had informed about the borrowing plan for the next fiscal through bonds.

IndiGrid: IndiGrid, on Friday, said it has completed the acquisition of NER-II Transmission Ltd from Sterlite Power at an enterprise value of Rs 4,625 crore.

JSW Steel: The compant said it has paid Rs 19,350 crore to the financial creditors of Bhushan Power & Steel towards implementation of the resolution plan for acquiring the company. With the move, has closed the acquisition of Bhushan Power & Steel.

South Indian Bank: The RBI has given final approval for setting up of a wholly-owned non-financial subsidiary for undertaking activities permitted by the central bank.

NBCC: The company has awarded the work for redevelopment of Netaji Nagar in New Delhi on an EPC basis including operation and maintenance to NKG Infra for at Rs 1,356 crore.

Vodafone Idea, Airtel: The telecom department has received about Rs 5,000 crore from Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea in license fee and spectrum usage charges for the January-March quarter.

Lumax Industries: The company approved capital expenditure amounting up to Rs 80 crore for setting up of new manufacturing unit(s) in Sanand, Gujarat to cater to the orders received from MG Motors and other customers.

Raymond: The company's promoter entity J K Investors (Bombay) increased stake in Raymond to 28.44 per cent from 28.10 per cent earlier. The promoter acquired more than 2.2 lakh equity shares or 0.34 per cent stake in the company via open market transaction on March 25.
Webb County ranks as one of the top counties in Texas with fully-vaccinated individuals, the City of Laredo Health Department announced Tuesday.

"We are delighted to see members of our community vaccinating with confidence, the proof is in the data," Health Director Richard Chamberlain said. "We are one step closer every day to defeating this virus. We will continue our efforts to ensure everyone in the city and surrounding areas is vaccinated as quickly as possible."

The data shows that when compared to similar-sized counties, Webb County tops the list of when it comes to the percentage of the eligible population that has been fully vaccinated. The report only tracked data between March 26 and 29.

According to the table provided by the health department, Laredo leads in vaccination percentage, reporting that 23.75% of the population has been fully vaccinated. The rate outperforms similar counties such as Lubbock, McLennan, Hays, Brazos and Jefferson, who were also included in the study.

It also outperformed Bexar and Travis counties, though those counties have a much higher population and as such, a much higher number of vaccines administered. For instance, Bexar reports 267,901 people that have been fully vaccinated. Webb reports a fully vaccinated count of 46,775 people, though that makes a larger amount of the total population. Lubbock, which has a similar population, reports a count of 56,913 persons fully vaccinated or 23.23% of their eligible population.

The ranking is the latest indicator of the progress the city has made against the virus, with the vaccine quickly making its way into the arms of Laredoans.

As of today's report, 44.9% of eligible Laredoans have received at least one dose of the vaccine. 68.76% of Laredoans 65 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Despite the news, Laredo Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino continued to urge Laredoans to continue to heed caution against the virus.

According to Trevino, the CDC issued a warning Monday due to 23 states reporting an increase in COVID infections in the last week. Thirteen states have also shown an increase in COVID-19 deaths.

"I want to urge everyone in Laredo not to lower their guard and to hold on a little bit longer, until we get more people vaccinated," Trevino said. "We're still a far cry from the 75-80% needed to reach herd immunity. Were moving in the correct direction, but were not yet there. This virus feeds on our patience and the relaxation of public health measures."

In Webb County, 81 positives were recorded from Saturday through Friday last week. The week previous, 98 cases were confirmed, indicating a a slight decrease in reported cases last week. However, in today's report, 22 positives were recorded, totaling now 83 new cases since the beginning of the week. Laredo must be judged on a Saturday through Friday weekly format to accurately account for the time period it briefly stopped providing updates over weekends.

A total of 120 people are estimated to be actively infected in the community, with an estimated recovery count of 42,248 persons.

A slight rise in hospitalizations was also reported Tuesday, with 13 people now reportedly hospitalized in Laredo with the virus, up from Monday's 12. Despite the rise, the Texas Department of State Health Services continues to report a low hospitalization rate in the Laredo hospital region.

A 2.5% hospital rate was recorded based on data from Sunday. While higher than the record low of 1.9% from last Friday, it's still far below the 15% target set by the state that would allow county judges to impose additional coronavirus restrictions. Monday's rate had still not been made available by the DSHS as of Tuesday afternoon.

As of noon Tuesday, 319,063 tests for the virus have been administered in Laredo. In total, 43,186 people have tested positive and 818 deaths have been reported.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 02:58:33|Editor: huaxia

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Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe in Athens, Greece, March 29, 2021. (Photo by Li Xiaowei/Xinhua)

ATHENS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou met here on Monday with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe.

Noting that Greece and China are both ancient civilizations, Sakellaropoulou said the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries continues to develop. She thanked China for its strong support in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greece attaches importance to China's position in international affairs, and appreciates China's achievements in economic and social development and its great progress in human rights, said the Greek president.

Greece is willing to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, Sakellaropoulou said.

It is hoped that the European Union and China will maintain close communication and jointly promote sustainable development of the world, she said.

During the meeting, Wei introduced China's recently-concluded "two sessions," its fight against COVID-19, achievements in economic and social development, and the actual situation in Xinjiang.

He said that China and Greece enjoy a long friendship and have achieved remarkable results in jointly building the Belt and Road.

China will work with the CEE countries to promote more stable, substantial and far-reaching cooperation in various fields, said the Chinese minister.

The Chinese army is willing to strengthen strategic communication with the Greek army, carry out extensive personnel training, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and advance bilateral military ties to a higher level, said Wei.

He emphasized that China always upholds the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, unswervingly pursues a defensive national defense policy, and strives to work with other countries to build an international security architecture featuring fairness, justice, joint contribution and shared benefits.

Wei also held talks with the Greek Minister for National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos on Monday, exchanging in-depth views on relations between the two countries and the two armies, and on international and regional situations. Enditem
Kristen Bell is probably one of the most famous and popular female celebrities in Hollywood, and there is no doubt that she has worked hard for her career and reputation. Born in Michigan, Bell found herself interested in the arts from an early age.

By the time Bell was 13 she already had an agent. After high school, Bell attended Tisch School of the Arts. Eventually, Bell moved to Los Angeles to help advance her acting career.

Take a look back at Bells journey to fame, and find out if the well-known star is naturally blonde.

Kristen Bells journey in the spotlight

Actress Kristen Bell | Jim Spellman/Getty Images

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Bells initial years of acting included a tremendous amount of guest appearances on popular television series. In 2003 she appeared on Everwood as Stacey Wilson, a local cheerleader with an injured wrist. The following year she was cast as Flora Anderson on HBOs Deadwood. Initially, Bell was having trouble landing a recurring role when it came to television series, but that quickly changed.

In 2004 Bell landed the lead in Veronica Mars. Her character was well-known for her sleuthing skills and sense of humor. The series ran for four seasons and propelled Bells career and reputation. However, over the years, Bell has also received a lot of praise and attention for her roles in the movie industry. Fans enthusiastically watched her in the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall. A few years later Bell played Beth in When in Rome. That same year Sarah Marshall, a fan favorite, returned to the big screen for Get Him to the Greek. IMDb has outlined her extensive and remarkable acting resume.

More recently, Bell has been recognized for her work in NBCs The Good Place and for her voice contributions and singing skills in Frozen. Over the years, Bells fans and followers have gotten to know her on and off the screen, and her professional life definitely seems to happily overlap with her personal life.

Kristen Bells personal life

Dear @daxshepard1, this is john. My side piece in orlando. I hope u understand. Im powerless over a man who serenades me. #Irma2017 pic.twitter.com/YkT0MCDL7J  Kristen Bell (@KristenBell) September 10, 2017

RELATED: When Did Kristen Bell And Dax Shepard Get Married? Why She Will Never Remember Their Anniversary

Bells fans cant seem to get enough of her relationship with Dax Shepard. Shepard is also a well-established actor and the two first met in 2007. The two eventually began dating and got married in 2013. The couple has two children together, and seem to be supportive of one another in every possible way.

Just a few weeks ago the couple announced that they will be hosting a new family game show on NBC. The couples fans are looking forward to the premiere, but this isnt the first time the pair will be working side-by-side professionally. Hello Bello is the baby line Bell and Shepard founded together. So many enjoy the products as well as being able to see another side of the popular actress.

Is Kristen Bell naturally Blonde?

RELATED: Veronica Mars: Kristen Bell Describes What Stunned Her About Filming the Series



Bells ambition, work, and charismatic personality are just a few reasons her fans and followers love her so much. Her sense of style and constant good looks definitely dont seem to hurt things. However, when it comes to her hair, some people might be wondering if blonde is the stars natural color?

The good news is her fans and followers no longer have to wonder. In a Wired Autocomplete interview with Melissa McCarthy, Bell answered the burning question that so many people searched. Just like her character on Veronica Mars, Bell is blonde through and through.
The Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association (SSCA) is calling for farmers to review the Government of Canadas proposed Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System regulations and provide their feedback.

The proposed regulations are currently open for comments and will remain open until May 5, 2021, for a total of 60 days.

Jocelyn Velestuk, an SSCA director, says there are points the group wants farmers to think about as they provide their feedback.

Some of the things that the SSCA has been pushing for, and weve been quite solid on our position, is that we need to separate biological carbon sinks from industrial point source emissions in order to have carbon offset markets. But that encompasses agricultural soils as a carbon sink.

The other thing we would need to include is no-till continuous cropping, which greatly increases the amount of carbon sequestered in the soil. There are also issues with words like additionality and like businesses as usual, theres a 40% penetration rate for practices before theyre considered business as usual and basically taken off the system completely.

The third point we would be pushing for is that we need transparency in the carbon offset market, which means that we need to know where the moneys flowing and we need the person who is creating the offset o the farmer to own the carbon credit and be able to even bank that credit if need be.

She says that the Government of Canada had invited the SSCA to help develop the regulations, which Velestuk notes was an opportunity for the organization to voice concerns on behalf of Saskatchewan producers..

For the past year we were involved in representing a lot of the farm groups. APAS (The Agriculture Producers Association of Saskatchewan) and SARM (The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities) were represented as well and were invited to participate in a technical working group for industrial carbon sequestration and carbon offsets in agricultural soils. There was also the Ministry of Ag and Ministry of Environment folks that were on that technical working group, said Velestuk.

Story continues

We worked for a year on that technical working group and we were very solid in our position because this is the way we see forward, as a way for farmers to really be involved in the carbon offset system.

We have research backing us up with this too and SSCA is a long-standing organization thats always been industry-driven and so when no-till was first getting adopted 30 years ago is when SSCA came to be. In 1995 SSCA initiated the Prairie Soil Carbon Balance project. Weve been sampling soils on a large scale in Saskatchewan to determine carbon change over time with our practices. So that project was initially introduced with no-till in 1995 and soils were measured four times in the last sampling that happened in 2018.

So we have data saying that yes, farmers are sequestering more carbon than theyre taking out, so we know that we have a net positive carbon change in our soil with our current practices, which includes our no-tilling continuous cropping.

We know this happening, we know youre probably not going to go back to when we started this practice, but if we totally ignore the fact that with our current practices that were sequestering carbon, then were missing out on huge opportunities. If you want to measure real change and real carbon offset, we cant just throw away an entire practice. So weve really been standing by that in our discussions with the government.

Velestuk says that the SSCA's main goal is to have zero-till farming acknowledged as a practice by the Government of Canada for the proposed Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System, noting that a vast majority of Saskatchewan farmers take part in the practice.

Each year, through no-till practices, Saskatchewan farmers sequester about 9-million new tonnes of carbon dioxide. We are committed to achieving a regulatory environment that recognizes this significant positive impact, added Velestuk.

Velestuk notes that farmers in Saskatchewan are open to change and will adopt new practices if needed.

We just want to let the government know that Saskatchewan farmers will not be happy if no-till is not included as a practice. What were currently doing, were sequestering carbon and we know its being measured in the federal inventory.

So were saying we need to measure that offset and we need to give value to the farmgate. If farmers see value in carbon, theyre going to adopt practices to put more carbon in the ground. So it could only be a good thing.

If carbon is a commodity, then farmers will be able to manage that quite well in an offset system.

To get involved in the federal consultations producers can visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/pricing-pollution-how-it-will-work/output-based-pricing-system/federal-greenhouse-gas-offset-system.html

Spencer Kemp, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The World-Spectator
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said that banks will conduct special clearing operations exclusively for government cheques on March 31 to facilitate accounting of all the government transactions for the current financial year.

In a notification to all scheduled banks along with small finance banks and the National Payments Corporation of India, the central bank said that it is mandatory for all banks to participate in the special clearing operations on March 31, 2021.

It noted that normal clearing timings as applicable to any working Wednesday shall be followed on March 31.

"Further, to facilitate accounting of all the government transactions for the current financial year (2020-21) by March 31, 2021, it has been decided to conduct Special Clearing exclusively for Government Cheques across the three CTS (Cheque Truncation System) grids on March 31, 2021," said the notification.

The RBI added that all the member banks under the respective CTS Grids are required to keep their inward clearing processing infrastructure open during the special clearing hours and maintain sufficient balance in their clearing settlement account to meet settlement obligations arising out of the special clearing.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
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If the United States wants to out-compete China in key technology markets, Congress and the Biden Administration must act now, maintained a Washington, D.C. think tank in a report released Monday.

"With the rise of China, the U.S. economic and technology environment has fundamentally and inexorably changed," explained the report by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation.

"America needs an advanced technology industrial policy to compete effectively," it continued, "but that will require modernizing hidebound economic thinking that has long considered 'industry policy' to be anathema."

The report called on government to take an active role in promoting industrial competitiveness and to formulate an advanced industry and technology strategy, which should include a set of policies and programs explicitly designed to support specific industries and technologies.

It recommended industries targeted by the policy meet four criteria:

They must be one that without proactive government policy support would underperform, either in general or because of foreign competition.

The United States must have some potential for success in the industry or technology because of existing assets and strengths.

Success in the industry or technology must be important to achieving key national goals, such as national defense and security, energy security and climate, a better trade balance, or faster productivity growth.

The firms in the industry should want support and be willing to invest at least some of their own resources in the efforts.

Conceptualization of industrial strategy tools. Source: ITIF

One Chip Fits All

ITIF President Robert D. Atkinson, who authored the report, explained that governments engaging in industrial policy has been given a bad rap by economists.

"Economists believe the market does everything right," he told TechNewsWorld. "What they focus on is allocation efficiency," he continued. "So industrial policy is inherently bad because you are helping one industry over another. Potato chips or computer chips, every industry is equally important to them."

"The notion that the government can't do this is not born out by historical evidence in the U.S.," he asserted. "The Internet alone would make up for any loses for the next 50 years."

He explained that with industrial policy, the government is trying to invest in a sweet spot between areas the private sector won't invest in because the risk is too high and areas so poor no one can make any money in them. "Government shouldn't be substituting for the private sector, but it should be focusing on areas where the risk is a little higher and the payoff is higher," he said.

"Government investments should yield big social benefits," he continued. "We don't expect the private sector to be thinking about social benefits. We don't expect it to be thinking about U.S. competitiveness vis a vis China. It's not their job. But it is the government's job."

Riddled with Failure

Doug Barry, senior director of communications and publications for the US-China Business Council, an organization of more than 200 American companies that do business with China, told TechNewsWorld that one argument against national industrial policies is that they're less efficient than markets and lead to wasteful spending.

However, he added, "That argument does not give proper credit for massive government funding during the Sputnik era which contributed to many important commercial applications such as the Internet, GPS, and the smart phone."

One reason the United States has shied away from industrial policy is because of innovation in the private sector, observed Richard Stiennon, founder and chief research analyst at IT-Harvest, a cybersecurity industry analyst firm in Birmingham, Mich.

"There's also another good reason not to have an industrial policy," he told TechNewsWorld. "Governments are the least able to identify future growth areas. In 2007, for example, an industrial policy wouldn't have predicted we were going to dominate the market in high-end cell phones."

Industrial policy -- where the government targets certain industries for non-market support in order to achieve commercial outcomes within national borders that could not be achieved without that support -- has been riddled with failure throughout U.S. history, contended Scott Lincicome, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a public policy think tank in the Washington, D.C.

"It doesn't work in the United States due to a combination of the U.S. economic system having relatively liquid capital markets, which means the market is pretty good at picking winners and punishing losers, and our political system, which is characterized by high turnover and intense lobbying," he told TechNewsWorld.

"Those two factors make industrial policy a pretty shoddy way to compete, regardless of what China is doing."

R&D Credit

The industrial policy outlined in the ITIF report includes a doubling of the R&D tax credit. "We have a very low R&D tax credit compared to our competitors," Atkinson said.

Lincicome noted, however, that private and public investment in R&D as a percentage of GDP just broke three percent for the first time and is growing.

"In terms of total dollars spent, we're still the biggest spender on R&D in the world," he said.

He also questioned the effectiveness of the R&D tax credit as a means of stimulating innovation.

"There's pretty good evidence at this point that the R&D tax credit hasn't really induced a real increase in R&D spending," he observed. "Instead, companies have simply recharacterized spending as R&D to get the subsidy."

"Any time you dangle a tax credit in front of a corporation," he continued, "they're going to hire some accountants to figure out how to be eligible for it."

"The better move is to lower the corporate tax rate overall," he added. "There's a lot of good research that shows lower corporate tax rates tend to induce more R&D spending, patenting and hiring of researchers."

Strategy Needed

Even without an industrial policy, there are measures the United States can take to keep a leg up on China.

"In the short run, we can reform our immigration policies to enable more foreign students to work here after finishing their studies," Barry recommended.

"Similarly," he continued, "we can make it easier to attract the best STEM minds from other countries. And we can improve STEM education in our primary and secondary schools."

"To make innovation more geographically dispersed, we can create technology innovation centers in different parts of the county," he added.

"We know where to focus: AI, quantum computing, robotics, bio tech, environmental technologies," he said. "Whether or not it's called industrial policy, the U.S. government needs to be more strategic in its thinking and action if we're to avoid losing our competitive edge. Once lost, it will be very hard to regain it."

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.


Veteran news anchor Peter Hitchener will take time off work after he was taken off air after stumbling over his words during a live bulletin.

The 75-year-old, who has been reading the Nine news since 1998, was struggling to speak during the channel's 6pm Melbourne news segment on Monday when producers quickly cut to a pre-recorded story.

A Nine spokesman has said Hitchener will not return to work to read the 6pm news on Tuesday night.

'Hes feeling fine and ready to go, but hell take another day to rest up,' they said.

Veteran news anchor Peter Hitchener was taken off air mid-bulletin after suffering a migraine on Monday night

Nine had issued a statement on social media to say that he had suffered from a migraine.

He had been expected to return to the program on Tuesday evening, but will take a further night off until he is feeling back to normal.

'He is now resting and we expect to see him back on deck tomorrow night. He is grateful for everyones concern,' Nine's Twitter account wrote on Monday.

The beloved newsreader thanked viewers for the support in a tweet on Tuesday, saying he was eager to return to work.

'Thanks so much for your well wishes  I am feeling better already. I am most grateful for your support,' he wrote.

'I look forward to returning to @9NewsMelb tomorrow night.'

Hitchener was replaced on the broadcast by Clint Stanway who acknowledged the anchor's absence before moving on with the news.

Nine tweeted that the news legend was feeling OK before the end of the broadcast, with Hitchener himself tweeting just after its conclusion at 7pm that he was fine.

'Thanks so much for your well wishes... I am feeling better already. I am most grateful for your support,' the 75-year-old said.

Peter Hitchener has been a mainstay as the face of Nine News Melbourne since 1998

Nine tweeted that the news legend was feeling OK before the end of the broadcast, with Hitchener himself tweeting just after its conclusion at 7pm that he was fine

There was immediate concern for Hitchener's health, with Australian wheelchair star Dylan Alcott one of the first to comment

There was immediate concern for Hitchener's health, with Australian wheelchair star Dylan Alcott one of the first to comment.

'@9NewsMelb can someone please replace Peter Hitchener for the rest of the night and make sure the king is ok? Worried about him!!!' the reigning Australian Open champion tweeted.

'Fingers crossed he is feeling a bit better. I know all his viewers would be very concerned,' another Twitter user said.

Other observers said Hitchener looked to have been struggling throughout the broadcast and were relieved to see him taken off and hear that he was fine.
Minda Industries jumped 3.39% to Rs 560 after the company's board approved expansion in four wheel lighting and alloy wheel businesses.

The company said the capacity expansion is undertaken considering the improved market scenario and increased demand, wherein the said businesses have been operating at near capacity.

The auto ancillary company will be setting up lighting manufacturing plant at Bhagapura, Gujarat to cater to increased demand for 4W automotive lighting. The new plant will be in vicinity of key OEM's hence will also achieve better logistic management. The plant will have state of art manufacturing facilities with unidirectional flow of material, robotic automation for unloading, motorized conveyor system which will result in better operational efficiencies. The company also plans to tap potential export business in Europe and America in future from this plant. Total capital expenditure for this new facility in Gujarat is Rs 90 crore which will be funded through mix of debt and internal accruals. The plant is expected to commence operations by quarter ending March 2022 and will stabilize in subsequent couple of quarters.

Minda Kosei Aluminum Wheel, one of the key subsidiaries of Minda Industries, will be expanding its 4W Alloy wheel capacity by 60,000 wheels/month at its plant in Bawal, Haryana, to cater to the increased demand. The additional capital expenditure for the aforesaid capacity expansion will be Rs 167 crore. The expanded facilities are expected to commence operations by quarter ending March 2022 and expected to stabilize by June 2022.

Minda Industries is a flagship company of UNO MINDA Group. UNO MINDA, a technology leader in Auto Components Industry is a leading supplier of proprietary automotive solutions to OEMs as Tier-1. It manufactures automobile components for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

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Less than a week after the chaotic and unfortunate events at the Capitol building on January 6, New Jersey Democratic congresswoman Mikie Sherrill went public in a Facebook Live broadcast to make brazen accusations against Republican members of Congress. She claimed that she had witnessed them leading people through the Capitol building on January 5 in what she termed "reconnaissance for the next day."

In her video explaining to her constituents why she was voting for impeachment, she further took aim at members of Congress who she believed incited the violent crowd. She vowed she was "going to see that they're held accountable and if necessary, ensure that they don't serve in Congress."

With nearly three months now passed, Sherill has yet to proffer any evidence to back up her claims. Neither has law enforcement or federal prosecutors investigating the events of January 6 provided any support.

Sherrill's accusations are serious and should not go unheeded. What she did was to presume guilt with sweeping foregone conclusions based on what she thinks she observed. But she failed to specify whether the groups were President Trumpsupporters or detail what took place with these visitors to signify they were actually conducting "reconnaissance" of the Capitol building in advance of the next day's events.

She further did not identify any of her Republican House colleagues or staff members who may have led these alleged "reconnaissance" tours, ascertain who was in the tour groups, or provide any details on how she knew they were connected to the incursion. But her narrative was clear: it was seditious behavior by House Republicans. Sherrill pledged that she was going to see that someone was "held accountable." Regardless of whether she deliberately went before a camera to make her claims with the express intent of attacking congressional Republicans or chose to appear in a hasty, ill considered reaction to the chaotic aftermath of the events of January 6, neither response is a good look for the congresswoman.

As a Naval Academy graduate who lived under that institution's Honor Code that stresses "fairness" and "integrity," Sherrill should have known better than to have gone public with her politically charged accusations before having locked down evidence of wrongdoing. If she were still wearing her service's uniform and had made such serious, unsubstantiated allegations against her fellow officers, she would surely have faced consequences in the form of professional repercussions, ostracism, or perhaps disciplinary action.

With no evidence to support her accusations yet presented, the honorable thing for Congresswoman Sherrill to do is to publicly apologize to her House Republican peers. If Sherrill will not formally apologize for her actions, Republicans should pursue her censure in Congress to put on record their formal disapproval of her conduct. Her colleagues, her constituents, and the American people should expect there to be consequences for a member of Congress who would make unfounded and unrepentant allegations that call into question another member's oath-sworn commitment to their nation.

Image: Joeshmonobody.
Coronavirus deaths are soaring across Europe, which passed 900,000 COVID-19 deaths in mid-March, with over 39 million recorded cases. The United Kingdom has Europes highest official death total, at 126,615, followed by Italy (108,350), Russia (96,413), France (95,114), Germany (76,139), Spain (75,199) and Poland (51,932). These figures represent a major undercounting, as excess mortality statistics show significantly higher numbers.

Since mid-February, nearly every country on the continent has seen a rapid rise in daily cases and deaths. Last week, nearly 25,000 people died of the virus in Europe, the highest seven-day total in a month. Europe is on track to see a staggering 1 million dead before the end of April, becoming the first continent to reach this milestone.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Macron at the EU Summit in Brussels on 17 July [Credit: Stephanie Lecocq/Pool via AP]

The looming death toll of 1 million is a damning indictment of the entire European bourgeoisie. Whether openly or otherwise, governments across Europe have pursued the same herd immunity strategy, forcing workers back into factories and offices and children back into schools in order to keep profits flowing to big business. With only a tiny proportion of Europes population vaccinated, hundreds of thousands are to die needlessly as the ruling elite obstinately rejects life-saving lock-downs.

Central and Eastern Europe are currently the worst affected. Last Friday, Poland and Hungary both recorded their highest ever one-day COVID-19 infection totals: 35,145 and 11,265, respectively. On Saturday, Ukraine (29,458 new cases) and Serbia (9,722) registered record daily infection totals.

Ukraine and Hungary suffered their highest coronavirus death tolls last week, with 2,057 and 1,710 fatalities recorded in a seven-day period. Serbia, with a population of less than 7 million, reported a record 76 deaths on Saturday.

France has also been particularly badly hit, as the explosion of cases overwhelms hospitals across the country. Around 90 percent of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in France are now occupied. On Monday, 4,974 patients were in ICUs, the most since April 2020. A further 28,322 people are currently hospitalised in France with coronavirus.

Doctors in France are demanding a strict lockdown, with Eric DOrtenzio, an epidemiologist at Inserm (the National Institute of Health and Medical Research), telling Le Parisien that a lockdown should last a month at the minimum. Another epidemiologist told the same newspaper that France must strictly lock down, as in March 2020, for at least six weeks. President Macron is expected to announce further restrictions tonight.

A similarly catastrophic story is repeated across Europe. ICU occupancy in the Greek capital of Athens reached 95 percent in mid-March.

The Polish health care system is stretched to its limit, with hospitals so full that extra beds are erected in corridors. On March 21, Poland reached a record high 23,583 hospitalised COVID-19 patients. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told a press conference last Wednesday that his government will impose further restrictions before Easter.

In Hungary, almost 12,000 people are hospitalised with COVID-19, by far the highest number since the start of the pandemic. The majority of hospital wards have become COVID wards, intensive [care] wards are exponentially overloaded, operating rooms have shut down and their ventilators are occupied by COVID patients fighting for their lives, the Hungarian Chamber of Doctors wrote. Weve run out of available health care workers and hospitals are looking for volunteers to help.

Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Estonia also saw record numbers of hospitalisations at the end of March. Italy also saw a surge in hospitalisations, with nearly 31,000 coronavirus patients in hospital as of March 21.

Meanwhile, the vaccine rollout is still proceeding at a glacial pace. As of March 28, only 15.79 jabs per 100 people had been administered in Europeor a total of 118.2 million doses. Europe is trailing behind the United States, where 42.9 vaccines have been handed out per 100 inhabitants, according to Our World in Data.

The distribution of vaccines is vastly unequal across the continent, amid accusations that wealthier countries are hoarding vaccines. In Albania, one of Europes poorest countries, only 0.2 percent of the population has received even a single dose of the vaccine.

Other poorer countries in eastern and south-eastern EuropeUkraine, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Latvia and Croatiahave all fully inoculated less than 2 percent of their inhabitants. While the United Kingdom has administered at least one jab to 45 percent of its population, most European countries have not even vaccinated a quarter.

There are growing nationalist conflicts over the distribution of vaccines between the European Union and non-EU countries, particularly the UK. Last week, EU leaders debated a proposal to ban the export of COVID-19 vaccines to highly inoculated countries outside of the bloc, such as the United Kingdom.

The EU-UK dispute largely revolves around British-Swedish vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca. The EU has accused AstraZeneca of failing to honour its contract, after the pharmaceutical giant fell significantly short on promised vaccine deliveries to the bloc. The UK government, meanwhile, has demanded EU leaders not block vaccines or vaccine components manufactured at AstraZenecas Dutch facility from entering the UK.

While a summit of EU leaders ultimately retreated on the proposal to block COVID-19 jab exports, both German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron endorsed vaccine nationalism. Following the summit, Merkel told a press conference that the EU must provide [for] our own population.

We are, she continued, as the EU, the part of the world that is not only supplying itself but also exporting to the wider worldunlike the US, unlike Britain.

Macron was even more explicit, telling reporters: Every day, when I read the press across the Channel [in Britain], they make a case against us saying that it is the EU that is being selfish. This is false!

With the right-wing Le Figaro complaining that the EU is participating in the international Covax vaccine distribution scheme and has exported 21 million vaccine doses to Britain while receiving none in return, Macron declared: Its the end of naivety.  I support export control mechanisms put in place by the European Commission. I support the fact that we must block all exports for as long as some drug companies dont respect their commitments with Europeans.

Despite the lack of available vaccines, the ruling class across Europe is calling for the relaxation of lockdown restrictions this summer, to ensure large tourism profits, no matter the cost in lives.

On Sunday, the European Commissions vaccine taskforce head, Thierry Breton, unveiled a vaccine passport to be issued to EU citizens by mid-June. It will certify that the bearer has been vaccinated against the virus or previously recovered from it, allowing them to travel freely.

Breton said, This will be the price for having a tourist season that I hope will be comparable to last years, which in the end wasnt so bad in the context were in.

In Germany, Merkels chief of staff Helge Braun told the newspaper group Funke that while he was very sceptical about tourism picking up at Easter, we can talk in a significantly more relaxed way about travel and leisure from Whitsun [May 23]. Braun insisted Germany could return to full normality by the summer if vaccinations proceed and no new mutation emerges.

In Spain, where tourism revenue has fallen more than 75 percent compared to 2019, the ruling elite is calling to open the country up to holidaymakers, while restrictions are in place on the movements of citizens within Spain. Last week, Malaga mayor Francisco de la Torre called on Spaniards to sacrifice themselves in the interests of tourism profits: We are sacrificing our own mobility in order to guarantee a safer space for those who visit from abroad and invigorate our economy.

Amid widespread anger in Spain, the European Commission was forced to call on Madrid for coherence between its domestic and international coronavirus travel restrictions.
The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has launched an initiative to support international shipping lines stranded at the Suez Canal, extending the services of Jeddah Islamic Port for ship transfers and container offloading.



The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has launched an initiative to support international shipping lines stranded at the south end of the Suez Canal on the Red Sea coast, extending the services of Jeddah Islamic Port for ship transfers and container offloading.



Contributing to the support of the global logistics sector and maritime trade, measures include an extended period of exemption from storage fees for transshipment containers  from 30 days to 60 days  for a duration of three months as of March 27, 2021, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA).



The initiative underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to mitigating the impact on global supply chains, in addition to affirming Saudi ports' readiness to adapt to shifts in the international transport market and the associated challenges.



The support also reasserts the advanced capabilities of Jeddah Islamic Port and its capacity to accommodate the estimated number of containers on these vessels without affecting the port's operations.



Located on the commercial maritime artery that connects the Far East, Europe and the Horn of Africa, Jeddah Islamic Port ranks first among the Red Sea ports, with a capacity of 130 million tons across 62 berths equipped with the latest technologies and to international specifications.
Chennai, March 30 : Royapuram, the fishermen-dominated constituency of Chennai is in for a Battle Royale with sitting MLA, D. Jayakumar, pitted against D. Murthy, an industrialist and businessman.

Jayakumar the state fisheries minister and former Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly is an advocate by profession and belongs to the fisherman community. He has represented the constituency since 1991 losing only in 1996 when an anti-incumbency wave was sweeping against the AIADMK.

The former Speaker who is known for singing Tamil movie songs in public campaigns, exuded confidence of winning the seat with ease.

The senior AIADMK leader told IANS: "The people of the constituency know me well, and the development that I have brought in here. I am meeting all the people in person as I know each and everyone in this constituency.

"They know me and I know them, there is no tension and AIADMK is contesting elections for a continuation of our good governance for the people of the state and the constituency." Jayakumar in public appearances and electioneering is seen donning a white fur cap popularised by the former Tamil Nadu Chief minister late M.G. Ramachandran, who was a matinee idol turned political leader.

The DMK, which had tasted success only once in Royapuram is fielding R. Murthy, 54, who is the owner of iDream cinemas and iDream properties to take on Jayakumar but the fight seems to be one-sided.

Murthy is expecting anti-incumbency in the constituency and expects to script an upset by defeating "DJ Annan", as D. Jayakumar is popularly known.

AIADMK city unit secretary, M.R. Rajendran, told IANS: "There is no challenge or threat to "DJ Annan". He is a very popular grassroot-level leader and will romp home with ease in this constituency." The local fishermen have, however, some reservations over Jayakumar and A. Sounder, head of the Fishing Union of Kasimedu, told IANS: "Some people who are related to Jayakumar introduced Chinese engines in fishing boats that are much faster to what we use and this gives a leverage for those with the new engine.

"We protested against this with the Fisheries Ministry to remove the Chinese engines from the boats, but we were lathi-charged and Jayakumar will be answering for this." Another important point which the AIADMK and Jayakumar may face is the anti-CAA protests in the constituency. The Muslim community which was active in protests against the CAA is having a sizeable population in the constituency.

However, the popularity of Jayakumar is too high for R. Murthy and this may be the deciding factor for AIADMK and Jayakumar in Royapuram.

R. Manohar, who contested on a Congress ticket against Jayakumar in 2011 and 2016 and lost the elections, is now with the AIADMK this time. Manohar told IANS: "Jayakumar has won the seat five times and this in itself shows for itself as to what he is. It will be "DJ Annan" again for Royapuram."
(Bloomberg) -- Oil climbed to the highest in almost two weeks as traders looked ahead to this weeks OPEC+ meeting with speculation that renewed demand concerns will spur the group to keep production in check.

Futures rose nearly 1 percent in New York, notching a second straight daily gain. Worries over the near-term recovery in demand, amid reimposed lockdown measures in Europe particularly, have raised expectations for OPEC+ to decide to keep production restrained at Thursdays meeting. At the same time, the U.S. is providing a bright spot in the consumption rebound, with long-ailing jet fuel flashing signs of strength.

West Texas Intermediate for May delivery rose 59 cents to settle at $61.56 a barrel.

Oil has done a really good job of shrugging off last weeks selloff, and hopefully can have a run back up to recent contract highs, said Phil Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures LLC in Chicago. The expectations are for OPEC+ to maintain cuts because they can see how fragile the market is, and they dont want to derail the current recovery in prices.

Oil is set to close out a fourth consecutive quarterly gain this week, aided by sustained supply curbs by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, and optimism that global demand will expand with Covid-19 vaccines. But a run of three weekly losses for WTI has put a dent in the rally.

There will likely be a reprise of the last meeting, and the Saudis will likely be tough again, highlighting the recent price action, said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC. The potential for a demand hit remains.

Traders were also tracking the introduction on Monday of a new futures contract, with Abu Dhabi kicking off its bid to establish a new benchmark. The product provides an additional tool that the market has been looking for, Khaled Salmeen, executive director of supply and trading at Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

Jet fuel at New York Harbor was trading near the strongest level in weeks, giving hope to refiners who had been coping with swelling jet-fuel stockpiles as demand for the fuel lagged starkly behind that of gasoline and diesel. Foot traffic in U.S. airports rose to nearly 1.6 million on Sunday at the highest since the pandemic started, and the rebound for jet fuel may accelerate now as American Airlines Group Inc. pledges to mobilize most of its fleet in the wake of surging travel demand at home and overseas.

Pointing to the markets underlying firmness, the spread between WTIs two closest December contracts recovered above $4 a barrel in backwardation -- a structure indicating expectations for improving supply and demand. Brents nearest timespread continued trading in a slight backwardation following a brief venture into a bearish contango structure last week.

Meanwhile, ships were starting to move in the Suez Canal after the giant container ship thats blocked one of the worlds most important waterways for almost a week was pulled free from the bank. Hundreds of vessels were waiting to transit through the canal, shipping agent GAC said earlier, citing the canal authority.

2021 Bloomberg L.P.
OTTAWA, ON, March 29, 2021 /CNW/ -

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create stress and anxiety for many Canadians, particularly those who do not have ready access to their regular support networks. Through the Wellness Together Canada online portal, people of all ages across the country can access immediate, free and confidential mental health and substance use supports, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Monitoring the broader impacts of the pandemic on the health and wellbeing of the population, especially among individuals at higher risk of exposure and/or severe outcomes, remains a priority. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), in collaboration with Statistics Canada, has funded and developed a new Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health, which examines how life satisfaction, sense of community belonging, self-rated mental health, and suicidal ideation have changed since 2019 among a diverse range of Canadian adults across a variety of sociodemographic characteristics. This survey also includes questions on parenting, use of alcohol and cannabis, as well as clinical screening tools to assess symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Initial findings from the survey show that one in five (21%) Canadians screened positive for depression, anxiety or posttraumatic stress disorder. Individuals screened positive for these disorders if their score on the screening tools indicated moderate to severe symptoms. Women and young adults aged 18 to 24 were more likely to report symptoms of these conditions. Many Canadians have been negatively affected by the pandemic; these impacts include feelings of loneliness or isolation, job or income loss, and difficulty meeting financial obligations or essential needs. Those reporting these impacts were four times more likely to screen positive for depression, anxiety or posttraumatic disorder. Results from this survey underscore the need to continue supporting the mental health and wellbeing of diverse Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Story continues

This is why the Government of Canada launched Wellness Together Canada in April 2020 to provide Canadians with access to free and confidential mental health and substance use supports, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Depending on their needs, individuals can access different levels of support, ranging from information and self-assessment tools, to connecting with peer support, social workers, psychologists and other professionals for confidential text sessions or phone calls. It also provides individuals the opportunity to assess their mental health and monitor their progress as they engage in their chosen care option.

As COVID-19 activity continues in Canada, we are tracking a range of epidemiological indicators to monitor where the disease is most active, where it is spreading and how it is impacting the health of Canadians and public health, laboratory and healthcare capacity. At the same time, the Public Health Agency of Canada is providing Canadians with regular updates on COVID-19 vaccines administered, vaccination coverage and ongoing monitoring of vaccine safety across the country. The following is the latest summary on national numbers and trends, and the actions we all need to be taking to reduce infection rates, while vaccination programs expand for the protection of all Canadians. Due to reduced reporting over the weekend, national seven-day averages have not been updated in today's statement. These data are still being collected and analysed. I will provide the latest numbers during my remarks tomorrow.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 965,404 cases of COVID-19, including 22,880 deaths reported in Canada; these cumulative numbers tell us about the overall burden of COVID-19 illness to date. They also tell us, together with results of serological studies, that the vast majority of Canadians remain susceptible to COVID-19. As vaccine delivery ramps up at an accelerated pace, there is cause for optimism that widespread and lasting immunity can be achieved through COVID-19 vaccination. We now have multiple safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines with unique advantages that are authorised for use in Canada. Vaccine coverage is increasing across Canada, with benefits being seen in prioritized high-risk populations. As of March 29, more than 5.2 million doses have been administered across Canada. Ramp up of vaccine supply and acceleration of vaccination programs will return further benefits to protect more Canadians, over the coming weeks and months.

However, with COVID-19 activity increasing and a high proportion of cases involving more contagious variants of concern, strong public health measures and individual precautions must be sustained where COVID-19 is circulating. Average daily case counts are rising nationally, driven by areas with high infection rates in Canada's most populous provinces. The latest national-level data show a seven-day average of 4,057 new cases daily (March 19 to 25). Currently, there are 43,590 active cases across the country. Sustained high infection rates are also impacting lagging indicators of COVID-19 severity, which are levelling off or increasing, particularly in areas with elevated disease activity. Provincial and territorial data indicate that an average of 2,194 people with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals each day during the most recent seven-day period (March 19 to 25), including 605 of whom were being treated in intensive care units. During the same period, there were an average of 29 COVID-19-related deaths reported daily.

While COVID-19 continues to impact people of all ages in Canada, infection rates are highest among those aged 20 to 39 years of age. Although severe illness is less common among young adults, it is important to remember that serious illness can occur at any age and evidence indicates that the B.1.1.7 variant of concern is associated with more severe illness outcomes in adults. In addition, circulation of COVID-19 in younger, more mobile and socially-connected adults presents an ongoing risk for spread into high-risk populations and settings. The emergence and spread of certain SARS-CoV-2 virus variants heightens this concern. For the week of March 14 to 20, there were on average of 101,165 tests completed daily across Canada, of which 3.7% were positive for COVID-19. As of March 28, a total of 8,266 variant of concern cases have been reported across Canada, including 7,725 involving B.1.1.7 variants, 272 P.1 variants and 269 B.1.351 variants.

Amid the concerning trends of increasing disease activity, shifting severity trends, and a rising proportion of cases involving variants of concern, a high degree of caution must be maintained, while vaccination programs continue to accelerate. Any easing of public health measures must be done slowly, informed by an assessment of key indicators and local circumstances, and accompanied by enhanced testing, screening, and genomic analysis to detect and respond to variants of concern quickly. In particular, there must be sufficient contact tracing capacity and supports for effective isolation, given increased transmissibility of variants of concern.

Canadians are urged to remain vigilant, continue following local public health advice, and consistently maintain individual practices that keep us and our families safer: stay home/self-isolate if you have any symptoms, think about the risks and reduce non-essential activities and outings to a minimum, avoid all non-essential travel, and maintain individual protective practices of physical distancing, hand, cough and surface hygiene and wearing a well-fitted and properly worn face mask as appropriate (including in shared spaces, indoors or outdoors, with people from outside of your immediate household).

Aiming to have the fewest interactions with the fewest number of people, for the shortest time, at the greatest distance possible, while wearing the best-fitting mask is a simple rule that we can all apply to help limit the spread of COVID-19, as vaccine programs expand to protect all Canadians.

Canadians can also go the extra mile by sharing credible information on COVID-19 risks and prevention practices and measures to reduce COVID-19 in communities and by downloading the COVID Alert app to break the cycle of infection and help limit the spread of COVID-19. Read my backgrounder to access more COVID-19 Information and Resources on ways to reduce the risks and protect yourself and others, including information on COVID-19 vaccination.

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2021/29/c4380.html
Posted Monday, March 29, 2021 10:41 am

Clark County received a $40,000 fine due to a judges ruling that it withheld documents in a lawsuit from former county employees of a department dissolved five years ago.

On March 11, Clark County Superior Court Judge Gregory Gonzales granted a motion ordering the county to pay $40,000 to plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit of former employees of the now-defunct Clark County Department of Environmental Services, as well as provide privilege logs and other withheld documents requested by the plaintiffs.

The motion request, dated March 4, alleged that the county had withheld hundreds of pages of significant and relevant discovery under the guise of privilege as part of the lawsuit. The lawsuit, initially filed in December 2016, alleges that former Washington State Sen. Don Benton was ultimately fired from his position as director of the Department of Environmental Services in part due to alleging financial wrongdoing and retaliation against him for those allegations. The department was dissolved in May 2016 by then-county manager Mark McCauley, who himself was fired in 2017.

The suit at the heart of the reason for the fine and order alleges improper behavior on the part of McCauley who the suit characterizes as interfering with Bentons management of his department and verbally abusing Benton at times.

The suit names Benton as well as two others, Susan Rice and Christopher Clifford, then-employees of the now-defunct department, as plaintiffs against the county.

The 16-page motion details allegations that since March 2017 the county had improperly withheld documents requested by the plaintiffs for the lawsuits discovery process. The county had enumerated withheld documents in the privilege log, claiming that the documents could not be revealed during discovery due to attorney/client privilege and/or work product doctrine, the motion request stated.

Last month the county had begun to provide hundreds of pages of documents for the case, the motion request stated, adding the documents directly relate to key issues in the case and should have never been withheld. The documents included communications between Benton and the county regarding issues handled by his department, which the motion request noted in many cases did not involve an attorney.

According to the lawsuit involved in the countys fine, a few weeks before the dissolution of his department, Benton filed a whistleblower complaint against McCauley, accusing the county manager of, among other claims, violating hiring and firing practices found in the countys charter, misusing funds, violating the Open Public Meetings Act and interfering with Bentons handling of his department.

On May 11, 2016, Benton was given notice of his termination, according to the lawsuit, which alleges that the action was retaliation for Benton speaking out against McCauley and his perceived violations.

Apart from past claims of negligence and violating county policies, the complaint also alleges the county violated the First Amendment rights of Bentons co-plaintiffs, Rice and Clifford. The complaint argues that the two had reported intimidating behavior at the hands of McCauley to their supervisors, which allegedly was a motivational factor in the countys decision to fire them.

Apart from providing some 1,700 pages of documents as part of the order, Clark County has not made much response to the case. An attorney for the county involved in the case, Megan Starks, said that the county had no statement regarding the pending case last week, though she noted that the $40,000 fine would be paid by her law firm, and will not be funded by the county or (its) taxpayers.

Gonzales order also moved the date of the trial from this month to April 26.
At least, 1,175 civilians were also killed in different attacks in the country.

No fewer than 497 police officers were killed in different attacks across Nigeria in the last six years, a report has said.

It also said at least, 1,175 civilians were also killed in different attacks in the country.

The report by SBMorgen, a Lagos-based intelligence platform, covered the period between January 7, 2015 and March 22, 2021, about 75 months.

According to the report, sent to PREMIUM TIMES, the 497 police officers and men were killed in 554 incidents across the country during the period.

The group, which based its data on reported incidents, said its findings were corroborated by at least two different media sources across the six geopolitical zones in the country.

The figures arguably underscored the extension of the mind boggling cases of insecurity in Nigeria in recent years.

Zonal analysis

SBMorgen said, of all the six geopolitical zones in the country, the South-south region tops the chart with 163 incidents that sent 174 policemen to their early graves during the years under review.

It said 51 policemen were killed in Delta State alone within the period, making the state the highest among the six states in the region.

Akwa Ibom State recorded 11 deaths within the 75 months.

The North-central zone trailed the South-south zone having recorded 85 deaths of police officers out of the 88 reported attack incidents in the zone.

In the geopolitical zone, Benue recorded the highest number with the killing of 22 police officers during the 16 reported incidents during the period under review. The state witnessed herders-farmers clashes during most of the 75 months.

It is followed closely by Kogi which recorded the deaths of 19 police personnel in 49 violent attacks.

Kwara State, the report said, recorded two deaths out of the three cases reported in the state.

As fairly 'safe' as the South-west seems, the region recorded 112 incidents, which led to the demise of 72 members of Nigerian police.

In the region, Lagos topped the chart with 47 attacks and 21 reported cases of death.

Ondo State recorded 11 deaths of police officers out of the 16 attack incidents. Ekiti recorded the least.

The report said the North-west and South-east respectively accounted for 59 and 58 deaths of police personnel in 64 and 82 incidents in the geopolitical zones.

The North-east region surprisingly recorded 45 attack incidents and 49 death cases. The zone, comprising Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba, is one of the volatile regions in the country.

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Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States have been the epicentre of the insurgency in the region.

State by state basis

One a state by state basis, the gathered data by SBMorgen, showed that Kebbi was the safest state for police officers while Zamfara, Delta, Edo, Kogi, Yobe, Benue, Borno, Adamawa, Rivers, Abia, Plateau and Cross Rivers are states "where more than one police officer was killed per attack."

There were more reported killings of police officers across the six geopolitical zones between 2018-2020 than in 2015-2017.

Between January 1, 2021 to March 22, 2021, the report said 48 police officers were killed across the zones.

The South-eastern part of Nigeria accounted for 16 of those deaths while the South-south accounted for 20. They both accounted for more than 60 per cent of the total figure.

Commenting on the report, a data expert with SBMorgen, Joachim MacEbong, told PREMIUM TIMES that the firm arrived at the figures "after compiling reports from at least two newspapers over the years".

Brad Pitt is doing his own stunts on his upcoming film Bullet Train.

The film's second-unit director and stunt coordinator Greg Rementer told Vulture that the A-list actor, 57, 'did 95 percent of his physical stunts' and 'the fighting' sequences for the thriller film, which co-stars Sandra Bullock, Joey King, Brian Tyree Henry, Zazie Beetz, and Andrew Koji.

Rementer added, 'Hes like a natural-born athlete. He really got in there!'

The latest: Brad Pitt, 57, is doing his own stunts on his upcoming film Bullet Train, as the film's second-unit director and stunt coordinator Greg Rementer said that the A-list actor 'did 95 percent of his physical stunts' and 'the fighting'

Rementer said that the cast of the film has stepped up their game in the physically-daunting roles.

'Never have I ever done so many huge actors in one feature where all of them excelled at the physical movement of our training,' he told the outlet. 'So Brad, Brian, Michael Shannon, Hiroyuki Sonada, Andrew Koji - who was already a stud in terms of where he comes from with the show "Warrior" - all these actors put out some great action and did a lot of their [own] stuff.'

The David Leitch-directed motion picture, which is derived from the book Maria Beetle from Japanese author Kotaro Isaka, casts an eye on a group of trained killers aboard a Tokyo train.

Pitt is less than two years removed from playing Cliff Booth Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood; Booth - a sidekick/stunt double for fading actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) in the film - was based on Burt Reynolds' longtime stunt double Hal Needham.

Groovy: Pitt played stuntman Cliff Booth in Tarantino's most recent film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

The Booth character was a sidekick/stunt double for fading actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) in the film, based in the year 1969

Eureka! Pitt won his first acting Academy Award for his efforts in the period piece

The role of Booth was one of Pitt's most acclaimed performances, as he won an Academy Award for his efforts in the Quentin Tarantino movie.

With the win, Pitt beat a who's who of Tinseltown icons he was nominated against, including The Irishman's Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, The Two Popes star Anthony Hopkins, and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood's Tom Hanks.

The Oscar ended a dry spell for the Hollywood stalwart who had whiffed on his previous three acting nominations in the past 25 years: for Best Supporting Actor for 1995's Twelve Monkeys; for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for 2008's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for 2011's Moneyball.
New Jersey officials released a report Tuesday that found an immediate and clear breakdown of communication between the State Police and county prosecutors amid a sexual assault investigation in 2017 that gained widespread attention.

But the 101-page review by an outside law firm found no evidence of any improper or corrupt influence by either the troopers who initially investigated the accusation or by the Sussex County Prosecutors Office, which ultimately decided not to pursue charges.

Details about the sexual assault investigation were first reported by northjersey.com and Newsweek.

Laura Gallagher alleged she was sexually assaulted outside a bar by a high school acquaintance in the early morning on Jan. 22, 2017. Troopers arrested Ian Schweizer, the son of a county official, according to the report. But prosecutors later decided there was not enough evidence to pursue charges, prompting both sides to accuse the other of impropriety.

NJ Advance Media does not usually name alleged victims of sexual assault, but Gallagher has publicly testified about her experience.

The review released Tuesday concluded that State Police and Sussex prosecutors each did what they believed was right.

Nonetheless, normal investigative protocols were not followed, investigators wrote, and a woman who claimed to be the victim of a sexual assault came away with the belief that the criminal justice system  a system that is supposed to protect victims of crime  had failed her.

The review partially blamed the breakdown on the states new bail reform law which changed the process for charging suspects.

Several people involved praised the report.

Gallaghers attorney, Lauren Fraser, said the investigation was thorough.

The conclusion that prosecutors could have done a better job explaining their decision not to prosecute did provide a level of vindication and closure, Fraser said. I think thats going to make her feel at least a little bit better.

Prosecutors had previously defended their actions to the Star-Ledger. In a statement Tuesday, Sussex County Prosecutor Francis Koch did not address his offices interactions with Gallagher but was harshly critical of the the troopers who pushed for an arrest over prosecutors objections.

I agree that there was a breakdown on the part of the certain members of the NJSP Sussex Station regarding this matter, but deny any such breakdown by our office, Koch said. Our actions were done solely in the interests of justice and our sworn ethical duties.

The head of a troopers union declined to respond to Koch directly, but he said the review proved the troopers integrity.

In the cases aftermath, some troopers were transferred. The State Troopers Fraternal Association successfully fought to move one trooper back to their original assignment and the union continues to fight disciplinary charges against another, according to union president Wayne Blanchard, who said he still questioned the outcome of the sexual assault investigation.

I dont think justice has been served, Blanchard said.

Investigators also cleared the head of the State Police, Col. Patrick Callahan, of wrongdoing.

Callahan and other leaders had been accused of improperly intervening in the sexual assault case. The report said Callahan acted in good faith and there is no evidence to support that those actions were the result of any corrupt or improper influence.

The accusations have hung over Callahan especially. Despite taking over in 2017, he has not been confirmed by the state Senate and remains an acting superintendent.

It was not immediately clear if Tuesdays report might clear the way for a vote. A spokesman for Senate President Steve Sweeney declined comment.

Representatives for the State Police and Schweizers attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The report was released by the state attorney generals office, which in June hired former federal prosecutor Matthew Beck, an attorney with the law firm Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi, to lead the inquiry.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com.

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This satellite imagery taken on March 23 shows Chinese vessels anchored at the Whitsun Reef

A Philippine air force jet is conducting daily patrols over Chinese fishing vessels parked near a disputed reef, the defence chief said, as Beijing refuses to pull the ships out of the area.

Around 220 boats were first spotted earlier this month at the boomerang-shaped Whitsun Reef around 320 kilometres (175 nautical miles) west of Palawan Island, sparking a diplomatic row.

Manila has ordered Beijing to recall the vessels, describing their presence as an incursion into its sovereign territory.

But China, which claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, says the flotilla is made up of fishing vessels sheltering from bad weather.

The Philippine foreign ministry has filed a diplomatic protest, and several countries, including the United States and Australia, have expressed concern over the renewed tension in the region.

Philippine navy and coast guard ships have been deployed to the area to monitor the situation, in addition to the aerial patrols, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said late Saturday.

"We are ready to defend our national sovereignty and protect the marine resources of the Philippines," Lorenzana said, repeating a call for the Chinese ships to withdraw.

He added there will be an "increased presence" of navy and coast guard ships patrolling Philippine waters.

The resource-rich South China Sea is contested by several countries, including the Philippines and China.

Beijing often invokes the so-called nine-dash line to justify its apparent historic rights over most of it, and has ignored a 2016 international tribunal decision that declared this assertion as without basis.

President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed concern over the presence of the vessels to the Chinese ambassador in Manila, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Thursday.

Duterte has fostered warmer ties with Beijing since taking office in 2016 in exchange for greater economic cooperation with its superpower neighbour.

But the shift has failed to stem Chinese ambitions in the South China Sea, or unlock much of the billions of dollars of promised trade and loans.

rbl/amj/reb
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Insurtechs focused on consumer management of insurance policies and commercial fleet analytics are expanding their reach following funding rounds.

Also, a new platform for offering management liability insurance to small firms debuts with backing from Markel.

Marble

Digital insurance policy wallet and loyalty platform Marble is opening its platform to U.S. personal lines policyholders who want an easy way to keep track of and pay all of their policies, earn rewards toward gifts and premium credits, and comparison shop for coverages and rates.

The announcement follows Marbles $2.5 million raise in seed round funding last month that was backed by IA Capital Group, MS&AD Ventures, Reciprocal Ventures, Fintech Ventures Fund, The Takoma Group, and HU Investments.

The new funding is being used to build a suite of tools that Marble says will fulfill the real promise of insurtech by putting users in control of their insurance.

The company also plans to launch enterprise partnerships, leveraging its API (Application Programming Interface) backend to help national insurance carriers improve engagement and retention.

Marble is re-imagining the insured-insurer relationship by building a platform that allows both parties to benefit and engage, says Stuart Winchester, founder and chief executive officer at Marble.

Members earn rewards by engaging with Marbles site, purchasing policies and referring friends to Marble. Rewards can be redeemed towards premium payments, gift cards, charitable donations and in other ways.

Consumers sign up at MarblePay.com and link their personal insurance policies by uploading their declarations pages or, if their insurance carriers are currently supported by Marble, by signing into the insurance carriers site via Marbles interface. Members can manage, bundle and keep track of all of their personal insurance policies, regardless of carrier, in a single digital wallet.

Most consumers only interact with their insurance policy once a year, at renewal, and have to deal with frustrating rate hikes for a product theyre often legally required to own. Meanwhile, insurance companies spend billions on advertising to attract these same consumers year after year. Its an extremely inefficient arrangement, Stuart said. Marble offers a different, much more intuitive way for modern customers to interact with their policies and for insurance carriers to engage with their customers.

Source: Marble

Idelic

AXA is an investor in a $20 million fundraising round for Idelic, a Pittsburgh-based insurtech that produces commercial trucking analytics plus driver management products and services, Carrier Management reports.

Highland Capital Partners led the Series B round. Beyond Highland and AXA (which invested through its AXA Venture Partners arm), previous investors Birchmere Ventures, Origin Ventures, TDF Ventures, and SaaS Venture Capital also participated. Highlands Craig Driscoll will join Idelics board of directors.

Idelic pitches its software as helping to prevent accidents, reduce driver turnover, lower insurance costs, and save lives. Safety Suite  Idelics signature product  uses machine learning to turn fleet data into predictive insights that enable fleets to manage their entire safety operation and identify at-risk drivers before crashes occur.

AXA is a major player in the commercial transportation insurance space.

Carnegie Mellon University graduates Hayden Cardiff (co-CEO), Nick Bartel (co-CEO), and Andrew Russell co-founded Idelic.

Raising our Series B will enable us to reinvent how the transportation industry underwrites driver risk and evaluates the fleets they insure, Co-CEO Hayden Cardiff said in prepared remarks.

Idelic plans to use the new funding to bolster its engineering and data science teams. It will also expand its sales and marketing operations.

Source: Idelic

Counterpart

Counterpart is launching a data-driven management liability platform with risk mitigation tools in partnership with Markel and $10 million in funding, led by Valor Equity Partners.

Counterpart offers management liability insurance from insurer Markel Specialty and its Evanston Insurance unit for private small businesses in the U.S. with fewer than 250 employees and less than $250 million in revenue. It offers $10 million in aggregate limits.

Counterpart leverages technology at every touchpoint  application submission, coverage selection, binding, claims management, and loss prevention.

Lead investor Valor Equity Partners was an early backer of Tesla, SpaceX, Addepar, and GoPuff. Joining Valor Equity Partners are Susa Ventures and Felicis Ventures. Susa has backed startups Robinhood, PolicyGenius, and Newfront Insurance, while Felicis has funded Hippo, Plaid, and Credit Karma.

Tanner Hackett, CEO of Counterpart, has launched multiple businesses including, Lazada Malaysia, which was purchased by Alibaba, and Button.

Mike Levins, head of Insurance, has experience as head of Broker Relations and U.S. MGA Operations at Hiscox, head of Sales at CNA, and underwriting management at Liberty International.

Source: Counterpart

Topics AXA XL
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mRNA COVID-19 vaccines offer substantial protection from infection by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, in the "real-world," concludes a large study carried out at six regions across the U.S. including Salt Lake City, Utah. The performance of the vaccines was consistent with their performance in closely controlled clinical trials that led to their approval for emergency use.

The results are particularly noteworthy considering that participants in the study were amongst those at highest-risk for being exposed to the virus, the researchers say. These included health care workers, first responders and essential workers who routinely come in close contact with the public as a routine part of their job.

"There are usually differences in how well interventions perform in clinical trials as compared to real-world settings," explains Sarang Yoon, D.O., assistant professor at the University of Utah Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH) and principal investigator of the RECOVER (Research on the Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Essential Response Personnel) study in Utah. In this case, the results support a large body of evidence, from clinical trials and other research, showing that COVID-19 vaccines are very safe and effective.

"This research is showing how well these vaccines work," says Yoon.

The study published on March 29 in the Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study showed the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were:

90% effective at reducing risk for infection once participants were "fully" vaccinated, two weeks after the second dose.

80% effective at reducing risk for infection after "partial" vaccination, two weeks after the first dose (before the second dose was given).

Among those fully vaccinated, there were only three infections among 2,479 workers and no severe COVID-19 infections or deaths in people who were vaccinated. This is much lower when compared to the period when participants were not immunized, 161 infections were identified.

The authors note that even though the vaccines were highly effective after one dose, it is not known how long that immunity lasts. The CDC recommends two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

3,950 study participants submitted samples for COVID-19 tests on a weekly basis for 13 weeks between December 14, 2020 to March 13, 2021. During that time, 2,479 participants have been fully vaccinated, receiving two doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. In addition to submitting samples for COVID-19 test, participants reported weekly whether they had COVID-like symptoms including fever, shortness of breath and loss of taste or smell.

Study participants were:

Health care workers (e.g., physicians, nurses, medical assistants),

First responders (e.g., firefighters, police officers, staff at correctional facilities), and

Frontline and essential workers (e.g., teachers, hospitality, retail, restaurants, airlines).

Results from COVID-19 tests and surveys also showed that among those who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 87.3% had COVID-19 symptoms and 10.7% were asymptomatic.

"We are incredibly grateful to our participants for their time and dedication to the study." says Yoon. "With their help, we will be able to better understand COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and COVID-19 illness."

The RECOVER study is ongoing and results from future phases will help determine how long COVID-19 vaccines protect against infection and the real-world effectiveness of newer vaccines.

The research will also investigate how well COVID-19 vaccines protect against new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that are highly transmissible and are now circulating in the U.S.

The research is titled "Interim Estimates of Vaccine Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Healthcare Personnel, First Responders, and Other Essential and Frontline WorkersSix U.S. Region, December 2020-March 2021."

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

More information: Interim Estimates of Vaccine Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Healthcare Personnel, First Responders, and Other Essential and Frontline Workers  Six U.S. Region, December 2020-March 2021.
Bucharest Prefect Alin Stoica has announced that the officials will not give up the COVID-19 restrictions in place in the city, as he considers that the measure to close shops at 18:00hrs does not represent "such a dramatic change" in the life of the citizens, but just a "lack of comfort", according to AGERPRES.

"Almost all the people of Bucharest follow these restrictions and understand their importance. They are not actually restrictions, but limitations to comfort to protect people's health. We will not give up these measures, because they are meant to protect us. The action of 2,000 people who do not understand the importance of these measures, will not determine us to change them (...)," Stoica told a joint news conference on Tuesday with Chief of the Bucharest Police Bogdan Berechet and the commander of the Bucharest Gendarmerie.

The prefect also said that the protest on Monday evening was kept under control by the Police, who acted calmly and determinedly to restore order.

As many as 188 people were taken to police stations after a protest on Monday evening in Bucharest, and 222 fines were issued amounting to over 200,000 lei, according to the heads of the Bucharest Gendarmerie and the Bucharest Police.

The Bucharest Police, under the supervision of the relevant prosecutor's offices, have started investigations into the commission of outrage, public disturbance, destruction, arson, aggravated theft, failure to comply with weapons and ammunition regulations, and criminal possession of dangerous objects.

Most women diagnosed with breast cancer have surgery to remove it. A new technique being trialled aims to make operations more precise.

Samantha Matthews, 48, a head of university admissions from Surrey, was one of the first to undergo the technique, as she tells Adrian Monti.

The patient

Samantha Matthews, 48, a head of university admissions from Surrey, was one of the first to undergo the technique

A few days after Christmas last year, I noticed an uncomfortable swelling in my left breast. Two years previously I'd had a similar problem in the same breast.

This had been caused by harmless cysts which were painlessly removed in hospital, so I wasn't too worried and assumed it was cysts again.

In early January, I spoke to my GP, who referred me to hospital. I went for my appointment a week later. After a physical examination, a mammogram was taken, which detected nothing abnormal, although an ultrasound did pick up more cysts.

These were drained and a biopsy was taken. But a few days after, I felt a pea-sized lump, which was worrying.

A week later, the biopsy results showed I had an early, low-grade tumour, about 1.5cm in size. I was strangely calm. My husband Brian, 56, gave me a hug and said it would be all right. Telling our daughter Maisie, 16, was hard.

During the next appointment in late January my consultant Edward St John explained that a tiny magnetic seed  the size of a grain of rice  would be inserted into my left breast, to act as a marker to pinpoint the tumour during surgery. This was a new technique to make the tumour easier to find. The seed would be removed during the operation.

The seed was put in via a thin needle by a radiologist that same appointment, using ultrasound to guide it into place. This took seconds. To check it was in the right spot, a mammogram was taken.

On the day of surgery ten days later, dye was put into my breast to show up the sentinel lymph nodes in my armpit  where cancer cells are most likely to spread first. Three nodes were removed during the procedure to see if the cancer had spread. It had not.

Diagnosis: MRI scan showing a tumour

Then I had a general anaesthetic, and the next thing I remember was coming round with a dressing on my chest. Brian picked me up and I was home four hours after going down for the surgery.

I had some soreness where the nodes had been taken out, but no pain in my breast. Within three days I was working from the sofa.

The surgery has left a small dip near the nipple where the tumour was removed.

Once I have fully completed my treatment, I can have some minor reconstruction surgery if I want.

I start a two-week course of radiotherapy on April 13 to destroy any cancer cells that could have been missed.

Afterwards, I will start taking tamoxifen, an oestrogen receptor blocker, for at least five years. The hormone oestrogen can encourage cancer cells to grow, so this will reduce that supply, but also bring on menopausal symptoms.

We always take part in the Marsden March, a charity walk from the Royal Marsden's site in Chelsea to Sutton; this year will be special because of the amazing treatment I have had there.

I had some soreness where the nodes had been taken out, but no pain in my breast. Within three days I was working from the sofa

The surgeon

Edward St John is a consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.

Every year there are about 55,000 new breast cancer patients in the UK. Of these cases, almost one third are picked up through screening.

When a patient is referred, we carry out a physical examination of the breast and armpit area, before imaging with a mammogram and an ultrasound scan. Finally, a biopsy is taken.

If cancer is detected and has to be removed, the exact position of the tumour needs to be accurately marked. A few decades ago, if a patient had a tumour, the whole breast was removed.

But now studies have shown that a lumpectomy  where a tumour is removed with a small margin of healthy tissue  followed by radiotherapy gives the same chance of survival, and may bring a better quality of life than removing the whole breast in a mastectomy could.

Every year there are about 55,000 new breast cancer patients in the UK. Of these cases, almost one third are picked up through screening

Pinpointing just where the tumour is in the breast is crucial for preserving more healthy tissue. The traditional way of marking the tumour is via a thin, flexible wire with a barb at one end. This is guided into the tumour using either an ultrasound scan or a mammogram.

It usually happens a few hours before surgery and takes less than ten minutes. However, it needs to be done on the day, which can delay surgery and add to the patient's anxiety. The surgeon would then use the guidewire as their marker and tunnel into the breast tissue to remove the wire along with the tumour.

This method is still commonly used in hospitals across the country. However, on rare occasions the wire can be accidentally dislodged, meaning the tumour cannot be found and an additional wire placement might be required.

Also, if for some unforeseen reason surgery was cancelled after the wire was put in, it cannot be easily removed, because there is a barb on the end to fix it in place.

In the past five years, a new method of pinpointing a tumour has been introduced, using a tiny 'seed' inserted via a thin needle to help locate small or early-stage tumours. Some use radiofrequency to mark the tumour, while others use radar technology.

The seed can be put in weeks before surgery, which can be useful if, for example, the patient needs chemotherapy before surgery.

In January, the Royal Marsden began a study with a new type of 'seed' called the Sirius Pintuition, which was developed in the Netherlands in recent months. We were the first UK hospital to start using it.The seed consists of a magnet with a titanium coating. Once it is inside the patient, I use a small hand-held magnet detector to locate it.

On a screen, I can see how far the detector is from the seed in millimetres as I tunnel through the tissue to reach it. It also emits a beeping sound, with the pitch changing as you get closer.

This is far more precise than the wires, which do not give any indication of how far you are from the tumour. The new seed can be inserted up to 180 days in advance, so there is no pressure of having to do it on the day of the surgery.

Samantha had her seed put in ten days before, so on the day of her surgery all I needed to do was check the detector was getting a good signal.

I then make my incision with the seed as my guide and, once I am close, remove a cube of tissue containing the tumour and the seed, before closing the incision. You can't know for sure if you have taken enough tissue during a lumpectomy, but this is confirmed through lab analysis after.

I am carrying out our study here with fellow oncoplastic surgeon Katherine Krupa. We hope it will tell us if using the seed for lumpectomies is safe and more precise compared with wires.

Depending on the findings, the seed could be used in other hospitals after a national evaluation study by iBRA-NET, a collaboration of UK breast surgeons which looks at new devices. The seed could possibly be used for other types of cancer surgery, too.

What are the risks?

A magnetic seed could affect anyone with a pacemaker as these can be switched off with a magnet.

The sirius magnetic seed costs about 160 each  cheaper than others, but more expensive than wires which cost about 60.

Naren Basu, a consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at Spire Little Aston Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, says: 'With wires, about one in five women will undergo further surgery when tests show cancerous cells in the 'healthy' margin of tissue removed with the tumour. It is hoped the seeds will reduce the need for second surgery by being more precise.'

Home gym

How doing housework can improve your health. This week: Build torso strength by carrying shopping

Who knew you could work out your torso and arms using shopping bags?

'Try an exercise called the farmer's carry,' suggests Pilates personal trainer Hollie Grant (pilatespt.co.uk).

'This essentially involves wielding weights  here, full carrier bags  in each hand and walking along, without allowing yourself to lean on either side.

'The bags should ideally be the same weight. You can challenge yourself further by only carrying the weight in one hand. Just make sure you swap the heavy bags between hands for the same amount of time for each.

'This is fantastic for strengthening the obliques  the abdominal muscles that run down the side of your torso  and all the core muscles,' says Hollie.

Try to do this for the whole walk home from the supermarket.
Cybersecurity

Expected breach disclosure mandates will test government-industry cooperation

The Biden administration is planning to release a executive order in the coming days that requires contractors to notify government customers in the event of a cybersecurity breach, according to multiple press reports.

During congressional hearings about the breach involving SolarWinds, lawmakers have emphasized the fact a private cybersecurity firm both detected and voluntarily alerted the government to the flaw that led to breaches at nine federal agencies.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said that was the case "despite all of the increased funding that has been appropriated for cybersecurity" through legislation from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees multiple cybersecurity programs defending federal networks.

In addition to the anticipated executive order, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) and Reps. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said they intend to introduce bills to make breach notification requirements standard in government and in the private sector.

Why has government not instituted breach notification through contract requirements already, given the number of high profile breaches and leaks over the last decade? According to experts interviewed by FCW, a big issue is that each agency has its own contracting rules and culture.

"Who would do it? There is no central directive to do it. So that leaves it up to each agency and each agency's contracting officer, and sometimes they think about it, and sometimes they don't," said James Lewis, a cybersecurity expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Defense Department, for example, does impose notification requirements on contracts that involve classified networks, according to Andrew Hunter, also an expert at CSIS focused on the defense industry, but for unclassified data, the Pentagon's requirements are less stringent and focused around aligning with industry best practices.

"This issue of notifying information about cybersecurity breaches has been an incredibly contentious one with industry," Hunter said.

At the core of that contention are questions about industry's legal liabilities, concerns about who in the government will get access to trade secrets and proprietary information and what constitutes an adverse cybersecurity event requiring notification.

"I think the biggest challenge for industry is going to be what is shared -- with whom -- and then what's going to be done with whatever is shared," said one former government official who spoke anonymously to be candid about why companies may challenge an executive order.

This official said the government has not provided clear definitions for what information should be shared in case of a breach or any guidelines for what department or agency should receive that information. The individual predicted the White House may look to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or an interagency panel chaired by CISA, as the central gathering point.

"You can't have all of these various definitions for what may or may not need to be shared in hundreds of different contracts that only goes to these agencies that can't really do anything about it," the former official continued.

Like governments, major corporations have their networks pinged by hostile actors thousands of times a day, even if none are successful. Companies don't want to be on the hook for reporting to the government every time a phishing message is intercepted or every time a hacker is probing network defense.

"One thing to think about in either legislation or an EO is if you put in a threshold, you're not going to learn everything. And it's because the companies will say, 'Well, I get lots of breaches all the time.' I think that's good to report because it would hint that there's a problem," Lewis said.

He said government contractors could provide monthly or quarterly reports summarizing the number of attempted penetrations but only provide specific details if an attempt succeeds or data is exfiltrated.

Lewis also said the potential for an industry challenge to the executive order's legality is why legislation is more preferable. But congressional action comes with its own set of challenges, starting with committee jurisdiction.

"Commerce, Homeland, Judiciary, Intelligence -- [they] all have sweat equity in a data breach and incident reporting," said Mark Montgomery, a senior advisor to the Cyberspace Solarium Commission that recommended more than a dozen cybersecurity provisions included in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

Montgomery said the commission has worked on developing specific thresholds for when compromises need to be reported. He also distinguished between "breach reporting" and "incident reporting."

The former requires a company to notify their customers promptly if personally identifiable information is compromised. The latter is an additional provision that requires federal authorities to be alerted if a database containing sensitive information is breached.

"We're trying to put the two of them together and get it through because this has struggled in the House and Senate over the last year. There's been three or four bills in both chambers that have petered out," Montgomery said.
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Funeral details have been announced for the brave little Offaly boy who tragically lost his battle with a rare disease at the weekend.

One-year-old Daire McDonnell had a rare bowel disease and sadly passed away after being transferred to Crumlin Hospital on Friday having undergone treatment in the UK since last October.

Despite being so young, Daire was an inspirational little man in the town and his passing has been felt throughout the community with people in the town releasing balloons in his honour in recent days.

Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions there will be a family funeral for Daire on Wednesday at 12 noon in St. Mary's Church, Edenderry followed by private cremation at Lakelands Crematorium at approximately 3pm. You can take part in Daire's Funeral Mass via the Edenderry Parish Webcam by clicking here

The family have requested that should only be family flowers but if desired, you can make a donation to BUMBLElance via the following link https://www.bumbleance.com/product/makeadonation/

BUMBLEance is the official Childrens National Ambulance Service of Ireland. We provide safe and comfortable transportation for Irelands youngest patients as they travel between their homes and hospitals, hospices, treatment centres, and respite centres nationwide
A Cork girl leapt into action to support the Irish Guide Dogs during the month of March - clocking up over 30,000 jumps on her pogo stick in a unique fundraising challenge.

Ahead of her 10th birthday on March 20, Avery Peters from Rochestown decided to undertake a fundraising challenge using her newfound lockdown hobby as inspiration.

"She was turning 10, her birthday was going to be in lockdown again so she wanted to do some sort of fundraising challenge," her mother, Megan Morris, told The Echo.

Avery, set herself the challenge to do 1,000 pogo jumps a day in various locations within her 5km.

"We looked at a few different charities, but shes been following the Irish Guide Dogs for a little while now because she loves seeing the puppies and them growing up and helping people.

"They had a pogo stick all along, but they never used it but then she and her little sister started challenging themselves in February and they got really good at it so then she decided on her pogo stick challenge for the month of March."

Avery set herself the challenge to do 1,000 pogo jumps a day in various locations within her 5km.

Avery's fundraising campaign has even garnered international attention, with donations from America, Australia, Germany and the UK.

"She is nearly there now and will have completed at least 31,000 jumps in March.

"She's gotten so good at it and can do 1,000 jumps in a row now.

"She really loves it too, she's always really excited to go out," Ms Morris said.

At the start of her challenge, Avery even got a shout out from Ryan Tubridy on his RTE radio show, wishing her well.

So far, Avery has managed to raise almost 1,400 and her fundraising campaign has even garnered international attention, with donations from America, Australia, Germany and the UK.

To donate to Avery's campaign, you can visit her fundraising page.
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We've heard that Senator Mitt Romney will receive the "profile in courage" award for voting to impeach President Trump. Yes, the left loves him now after trashing the rich businessman who tied the dog on the family car.

My suggestion to the JFK Library Foundation is to look to South Texas for a man saying a lot of courageous things.

This is from an interview with CBS News:

While journalists have been blocked from accessing the sites themselves, Cuellar provided to CBS News photos from a Border Patrol facility in Donna, Texas, some of which show children with foil blankets waiting to be processed. Other images from the Texas Democrat show families under a bridge in McAllen, Texas, at a temporary processing site as they wait to get into a holding facility. More photos show scores of young girls who Cuellar said have been held at the border facility for days, far longer than the legal limit of 72 hours that border officials have to turn over unaccompanied minors to the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is responsible for housing the children.

Let me translate: in your face, Joe Biden!

Cuellar apparently warned the Biden transition team to avoid quick changes on the border. He has been screaming about the mess down on the border.

I hope Democrats are listening to Representative Henry Cuellar. He is a true "profile in courage" for standing up to his president and party message.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

Image: U.S. House.
[March 30, 2021] Technology With Heart: Blue Prism's COVID-19 Impact

Blue Prism's digital workers prove an invaluable source of help during the global health crisis LONDON and AUSTIN, Texas, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the past year, Blue Prism, a global leader in intelligent automation, has donated resources to those most in need during the pandemic as part of its COVID-19 Response Program. COVID-19 struck industries quickly and with force and it was imperative that solutions were deployed rapidly to meet the challenges head on. Blue Prism's AI-powered robots have been at the forefront of this effort. By relieving humans from resource-heavy and time-consuming processes, Blue Prism technology has enabled workers to focus on what really matters - high value, customer-centric care. Helping organizations across 14 industries so far, the program has been instrumental in keeping health workers stay safe with PPP supplies, helping small businesses stay afloat and people keep their jobs through accelerating loan applications, making it easier to record and report on essential statistics and in facilitating the rearkable effort to get vaccines in arms.



"From supporting front line health workers to maintaining business continuity in uncertain times, we are honored to have been able to give something back. Providing support through technology was an obvious way for us to help during this crisis, as we transitioned online to cope with the challenges that we all faced." says Jon Theuerkauf, chief customer strategy & transformation officer, Blue Prism. The Response Program has donated more than 500 licenses, with a value of more than 4m worth of software, to help organizations under strain become more efficient and capable in handling the operational challenges they face. On average, across more than 60 projects, 8,000 hours have been saved by these organizations (equating to more than three years in human hours worked) per project, representing millions of pounds of financial return.

Through the donation of digital worker software licenses and services, organizations, who lacked access or means to implement or scale intelligent automation have been able to make use of best-in-breed technology or extend their existing services for free to alleviate the impact of the pandemic. "Blue Prism's free services allowed us to support even more teams during the pandemic. We used additional Blue Prism intelligent automation capacity to further alleviate our administrative burden so that our Suffolk Short Breaks team had more time in the field, helping families who needed support. The response program helped us to help others, when they needed it most." says Richard Small, head of intelligent automation, Suffolk County Council. Blue Prism is still helping organizations by donating digital worker licenses and services. Find out more about how you can apply to the COVID-19 Response Program. Notes to editors: About Blue Prism

Blue Prism is the global leader in intelligent automation for the enterprise, transforming the way work is done. At Blue Prism, we have users in over 170 countries in more than 2,000 businesses, including Fortune 500 and public sector organizations, that are creating value with new ways of working, unlocking efficiencies, and returning millions of hours of work back into their businesses. Our digital workforce is smart, secure, scalable and accessible to all; freeing up humans to re-imagine work. Blue Prism's vision is to provide a digital workforce for every enterprise. To learn more visit www.blueprism.com and follow us on Twitter @blue_prism and on LinkedIn.  2020 Blue Prism Limited. "Blue Prism", the "Blue Prism" logo and Prism device are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Blue Prism Limited and its affiliates. All Rights Reserved. Infographic: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1476181/Blue_Prism_COVID_19_Response_Program_Infographic.jpg

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Season 13 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta has seen some new friendships and new adversaries arise, leading some fans to take sides. OG cast member Kenya Moore has had her share of spats, but shes not the only one.

Newcomer Drew Sidora and Moore have gone at it several times this season and at one point seemingly made peace. But off camera, things are not that peachy as Moore just took a verbal shot at Sidoras weight.

Kenya Moore on Watch What Happens Live | Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

Kenya Moore shades Drew Sidora on Twitter

Episode 15 took the women on a trip to New Orleans  a trip hosted by Drew Sidora. Kenya Moore brought her baby girl Brooklyn with her on the girls trip after Sidora extended a children are welcome invitation to all the ladies.

Once the group arrived in New Orleans following their flight on a private jet, they had lunch outside their hotel. Sidora received the room keys and proposed everyone have a dance contest to see who gets the best room. Moore didnt want to participate in the twerking, and some back-and-forth began between her and Sidora.

In their respective confessionals, Sidora made a comment about Moore paying for butt surgery, and Moore complained about the travel accommodations. The two had moments where they got along well, but they traded jabs throughout the entire episode.

Some of the shade spilled into the real world, and on Sunday evening, Moore sent out a tweet about Sidoras body. She needs to pay for a tummy tuck, she wrote.

She needs to pay for a tummy tuck https://t.co/77rdJsVIK7 pic.twitter.com/wvfzYFZzwK  KENYA MOORE (@KenyaMoore) March 29, 2021

RELATED: RHOA: Why Kenya Moore Said Drew Sidora Is Grasping for Relevancy

Sidora has yet to respond to the tweet.

Moore felt Sidora was being competitive about the trip

The tension between Moore and Sidora is only one example of feuds within the circle. The South Carolina trip rubbed Sidora the wrong way after Moore excluded everyone but LaToya Ali from traveling by private jet.

The other ladies had to take a bus and didnt care for it. And Sidora also thought it was unfair that Moore was the only woman who brought her young child on the trip.

During Moores appearance on the RHOA After Show, she said she felt Sidoras New Orleans trip was all a form of payback shade toward her, alluding to the South Carolina excursion.

Drew was taking every opportunity to take digs at me, said Moore. I see and hear everything. Im used to it from her, so I just ignored her.

Sidora shaded Ali about RHOA reunion

The shade continues off camera. Sidora sat down for an interview with E! News Daily Pop which aired on March 29, and said Ali made up a story to try to get out of filming the reunion.

She implied that Ali faked an illness to avoid conflict but went out with a boyfriend afterward. Girl was fine. Im not buying it! she said.

Additionally, Sidora weighed in on the Bolo bachelorette party controversy and Kenyas part in stirring up drama. She alleged that Moore was acting frisky at the party because she wanted in on the action and said her castmate was trying to audition for Pornhub.

Catch the next episode of RHOA on Sunday, April 4 on Bravo.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  Medical devices will be sourced from healthcare facilities in other regions should hospitals in Metro Manila run out of equipment for COVID-19 patients, the Department of Health said Tuesday.

For example, the high flow nasal cannula, which is something that they use for critically ill patients, we have a total of 1,300 supplies [of] these and the private hospitals also procured their own. If these run out, we need to source from the other regions like what we have done last July and August, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told CNN Philippines New Day.

In July and August last year, hospitals in Metro Manila got overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients, prompting the government to look for ways to augment their capacity such as referring COVID-19 patients to hospitals outside of the region and deploying more healthcare personnel and equipment from other areas.

The government also tightened restrictions in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal from August 4 to 18 of the same year in response to the call of the medical community for a timeout.

These areas are currently under the strictest form of lockdown due to a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases.

As for the stocks of investigational drugs used for COVID-19 treatment, the DOH is coordinating with pharmaceutical firms so government hospitals could directly buy from manufacturers to augment their dwindling supply, Vergeire said.

The health department earlier reported that hospitals were running low on stocks of remdesivir and tocilizumab that are used for COVID-19 treatment. The agency has given DOH hospitals P5 million each to replenish their supplies.

READ: Stocks of remdesivir, tocilizumab in PH to be replenished this month
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The company is planning follow-up activities to further test the Koongulla Dome structure for Telfer-style mineralisation initially with additional airborne geophysics.

Five potential exploration targets have been identified for copper-gold mineralisation within the Koongulla tenements.

Ltd ( ) non-executive director Domenic De Marco has demonstrated his faith in the companys multi-commodity exploration strategy with an on-market share purchase.

De Marco acquired 25,000 shares at 22.5 cents per share on March 30 in a direct interest, increasing the total number of shares to 360,500  comprising 334,500 in a direct interest and 26,000 in an indirect interest.

Dome-like structure at Koongulla

The company has identified a dome-like feature that may represent a target for Telfer-style copper-gold mineralisation at Koongulla project in Western Australia's Paterson Province.

It is relatively shallower than expected with an initial estimation of 200 metres to 250 metres of cover.

Recognition of the dome feature provides a key exploration target for copper-gold mineralisation like several other key deposits within the Paterson Province.

These include:

Newcrests ( ) Telfer (32 million ounces gold, 1 million tonnes copper);

Calibre and Magnum deposits (1.6 million ounces gold, 127,000 tonnes copper, 1.2 million ounces silver)  ( )/Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) JV; and

Minyari (551,000 ounces gold, 22,800 tonnes copper) - Antipa.

Five exploration targets have also been identified for copper-gold mineralisation within the Koongulla tenements through airborne geophysical survey interpretation.
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.
Reggae music broke through to international audiences in the early 70s, and the former Beatles were listening. You heard the sounds on solo albums by both John Lennon and Paul McCartney in that period. And Ringo Starr has taken his own cracks at reggae over the years.

If you picked up the Ringo 2012 record in the second decade of this century, youve heard Ringos reggae reworking of his 77 track Wings. Nine years later, Ringo has released an EP (titled Zoom In) he recorded while in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. And it features another Ringo take on reggae.

Though Ringo planned on recording songs written by others on Zoom In, he did pen the reggae track on the EPs second side. (It will be available on vinyl, cassette, and CD.) And Ringo brought in one of Jamaicas finest guitarists to record the track with him.

Ringo Starr returned to reggae on his new song Waiting for the Tide to Turn

Ringo Starr performs with his All Starr Band concert at The Greek Theatre on September 01, 2019. | Kevin Winter/Getty Images

RELATED: The Beatles Drum Part Ringo Starr Said He Copied on 1 of His Solo Hits

Prior to the release of Zoom In, Ringo spoke with Dennis Elsas of WFUV about the unorthodox making of the record  including his foray into reggae. Waiting for the Tide to Turn came about because my engineer [Bruce Sugar] had this track and a couple of words, Ringo said.

After hearing Sugars outline, Ringo suggested they write the song together. And the two of them took it in an unexpected direction. We made it reggae, which is a change for me, Ringo told Elsas. But a musician whod worked with Ringos son Zak Starkey really made it come together.

We found [guitarist Tony Chin], whod worked with my son Zak on Toots [Hibberts] album, Ringo explained on WFUV. Hes also worked with Bob Marley and now lives in L.A. So we got a real reggae style. It was great.

Indeed, Chins resume is as deep as they come. The guitarist has played with Dennis Brown, Justin Hinds, Tommy McCook, Horace Andy, and just about every other legend of Jamaican music. And he delivered on Waiting for the Tide to Turn.

Ringos strong vocal and Tony Chins guitar work make the song come off

Tony Chin and Zak Starkey perform at The Viper Room on November 4, 2016. | Ashley Beliveau/Getty Images

No one will blame you if you shudder at the thought of a 80-year-old British musician tackling a reggae song on his new record. Much can go wrong  especially when it comes to the vocal. But Ringo acquits himself well on Waiting for the Tide to Turn.

Not only does Ringos voice sound strong; he avoided adopting any sort of Jamaican patois on the track. Ringo sings it straight here, and his lyrics pay tribute to Marley, Toots, Burning Spear, and other reggae giants. Meanwhile, Chins guitar work shines throughout the recording.

Speaking with Elsas on WFUV, Ringo sounded happy with the unconventional recording process for his new EP. A lot of it was magic that came to the front door, Ringo said. Its not like I planned every single move. I just augmented whatever they gave me. I felt that was such a cool way of making this record. Id never done that before.
ROCHESTER, Minn.  A woman has pleaded guilty to stealing a pickup truck.

Cassandra Danielle Jessel, 22 of Rochester, was arrested on July 17, 2020, after a late night car chase. Rochester police say Jessel was seen around 3 am driving a truck on the curb and swerving into oncoming traffic before finally getting stuck in a ditch.

Investigators say no drugs or alcohol were involved in the incident.

Jessel pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor count of theft. Her sentencing is set for May 13.
CARMIEL, Israel, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: PLX) (TASE: PLX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, production and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins produced by its proprietary ProCellEx plant cell-based protein expression system, today reported financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and provided a business update on recent corporate and clinical developments.

"2020 was an important year for Protalix, as we continued to strengthen the clinical profile of PRX102 for the treatment of Fabry disease and advance towards potential commercialization of our lead pipeline program," said Dror Bashan, Protalix's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We advanced our earlier stage pipeline with the exclusive partnership we announced with SarcoMed USA for our PRX110 asset, and we solidified our balance sheet to provide the financial backing to drive the Company through our 2021 milestones."

"We expect 2021 will also be an important year for Protalix as we await the FDA's review of the PRX102 BLA on the upcoming April 27, 2021 PDUFA date. We are grateful to our employees and external partners for their commitment and dedication during a very challenging time with the global pandemic. We look forward to continuing to build stockholder value," concluded Mr. Bashan.

2020 Full-Year and Recent Business Highlights

Regulatory Advancements

On August 11, 2020, the Company, together with its development and commercialization partner, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., or Chiesi, announced that the FDA had accepted the BLA for PRX102, and granted Priority Review designation for PRX102, for the proposed treatment of adult patients with Fabry disease. The FDA indicated in the BLA filing communication letter that it is not currently planning to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the application. The FDA set a PDUFA action date of January 27, 2021. However, as previously announced in November 2020 , the FDA subsequently extended the PDUFA action date to April 27, 2021. As we disclosed last year, the FDA has advised that it will have to inspect our manufacturing facility and the facility of a third party in Europe that performs fill and finish processes for PRX-102 as part of its review of the BLA to ensure cGMP compliance. Due to COVID-19-related FDA travel restrictions, the FDA has advised that it may be unable to conduct the inspections prior to the PDUFA action date. The Company, together with Chiesi, is addressing this issue.

Clinical Advancements

On February 23, 2021, the Company, together Chiesi, announced positive topline results from the phase III BRIGHT clinical trial, a study designed to evaluate the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of pegunigalsidase alfa, or PRX102, treatment, 2 mg/kg every four weeks, in up to 30 patients with Fabry disease previously treated with a commercially available enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) (agalsidase alfa  Replagal  or agalsidase beta  Fabrazyme  ). Topline results indicate that 2 mg/kg of PRX-102 administered by intravenous infusion every four weeks was found to be well tolerated among treated patients, and stable clinical presentation was maintained in adult Fabry patients.

or agalsidase beta  Fabrazyme ). Topline results indicate that 2 mg/kg of PRX-102 administered by intravenous infusion every four weeks was found to be well tolerated among treated patients, and stable clinical presentation was maintained in adult Fabry patients. On December 30, 2020, the Company, together with Chiesi, announced final study results from the phase III BRIDGE clinical trial, a 12month open-label, single arm switch-over study evaluating the safety and efficacy of PRX102, 1 mg/kg infused every two weeks, in up to 22 Fabry patients. Final results of the data generated in the study showed substantial improvement in renal function as measured by mean annualized estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR slope) in both male and female patients who were switched from agalsidase alfa to PRX-102.

On October 2, 2020, the Company, together with Chiesi, announced the launch of an Expanded Access Program (EAP) in the United States for PRX102 for the proposed treatment of Fabry disease.

Corporate & Financial Developments

On February 17, 2021, the Company successfully completed a public offering of its common stock raising gross proceeds of approximately $40.2 million at a price equal to $4.60 per share, before deducting the underwriting discount and estimated expenses of the offering, which was led by BofA Securities and Oppenheimer & Co.

at a price equal to per share, before deducting the underwriting discount and estimated expenses of the offering, which was led by BofA Securities and Oppenheimer & Co. On February 10, 2021, the Company entered into an exclusive partnership with SarcoMed USA for the worldwide development and commercialization of alidornase alfa, or PRX-110, for use in the treatment of any human respiratory disease or condition including, but not limited to, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis and other related diseases via inhaled delivery.

for the worldwide development and commercialization of alidornase alfa, or PRX-110, for use in the treatment of any human respiratory disease or condition including, but not limited to, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis and other related diseases via inhaled delivery. On March 18, 2020, the Company successfully completed a private placement of its common stock to certain existing and new institutional and other accredited investors raising aggregate net proceeds of approximately $41 .3 million at a price equal to $2.485 per share. Each share of common stock issued in the transaction was accompanied by a warrant to purchase an additional share of common stock at an exercise price equal to $2.36 .

.3 million at a price equal to per share. Each share of common stock issued in the transaction was accompanied by a warrant to purchase an additional share of common stock at an exercise price equal to . On March 16, 2020, the Company announced that it had agreed to conduct a feasibility study with Kirin Holdings Company, Limited, or Kirin, to evaluate the production of a novel complex protein utilizing ProCellEx. Kirin is providing research funding for Protalix scientists to conduct cell line engineering and protein expression studies on the target protein.

Financial Results

For the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to the year ended December 31, 2019

The Company recorded revenues from selling goods of $16 .2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to revenues of $15 .9 million for the same period of 2019.

.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to revenues of .9 million for the same period of 2019. Revenue from licenses and R&D services for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $46 .7 million compared to $38 .8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Revenue from license agreements is recognized in conjunction with the license and supply agreements with Chiesi. The increase is primarily due to revenues recognized in connection with an updated cost estimation of two completed phase III clinical trials of PRX-102.

.7 million compared to .8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Revenue from license agreements is recognized in conjunction with the license and supply agreements with Chiesi. The increase is primarily due to revenues recognized in connection with an updated cost estimation of two completed phase III clinical trials of PRX-102. Cost of goods sold was $10 .9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019.

.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019. Research and development expenses net for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $38 .2 million compared to $44 .6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease is primarily due to the completion of two out of the three phase III clinical trials of PRX-102 and reduced costs related to the phase III BALANCE study, as well as a decrease in costs related to manufacturing of the Company's drug in development as some of the manufactured drug product and related costs have been recorded as inventory. The Company expects research and development expenses to continue to be its primary expense as it enters into a more advanced stage of preclinical and clinical trials for certain of its product candidates.

.2 million compared to .6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease is primarily due to the completion of two out of the three phase III clinical trials of PRX-102 and reduced costs related to the phase III BALANCE study, as well as a decrease in costs related to manufacturing of the Company's drug in development as some of the manufactured drug product and related costs have been recorded as inventory. The Company expects research and development expenses to continue to be its primary expense as it enters into a more advanced stage of preclinical and clinical trials for certain of its product candidates. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $11 .1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, an increase of $1 .2 million, or 12%, from $9.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in share-based compensation costs.

.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, an increase of .2 million, or 12%, from $9.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in share-based compensation costs. Financial expenses, net was $9 .2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $7 .6 million for the same period of 2019.

.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to .6 million for the same period of 2019. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits were approximately $38 .5 million on December 31, 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company raised gross proceeds of $8 .8 million from the sale of common stock under its ATM program and gross proceeds of $40.2 million via the public offering of its common stock.

.5 million on December 31, 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company raised gross proceeds of .8 million from the sale of common stock under its ATM program and gross proceeds of $40.2 million via the public offering of its common stock. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $6 .5 million, or $0 .22 per share, basic and diluted, compared to a net loss of $18 .3 million, or $1.23 per share, basic and diluted, for the same period in 2019.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The Company will host a conference call today, March 30, 2021 at 8:30 am Eastern Daylight Time, to review the clinical, corporate, and financial highlights, which will also be available by webcast. To participate in the conference call, please dial the following numbers prior to the start of the call:

Conference Call Details:

Tuesday, March 30, 2021, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Domestic: 1-877-413-2408

International: 201-689-8573

Conference ID: 13716316

The conference call will be webcast live from the Company's website and will be available via the following links:

Webcast Details:

Company Link: https://protalixbiotherapeutics.gcs-web.com/events0

Webcast Link: https://tinyurl.com/hz84rysc

Conference ID: 13716316

Please access the websites at least 15 minutes ahead of the conference to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

The conference call will be available for replay for two weeks on the Events Calendar of the Investors section of the Company's website, at the above link.

About Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.

Protalix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system, ProCellEx. Protalix was the first company to gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a protein produced through plant cell-based in suspension expression system. Protalix's unique expression system represents a new method for developing recombinant proteins in an industrial-scale manner.

Protalix's first product manufactured by ProCellEx, taliglucerase alfa, was approved for marketing by the FDA in May 2012 and, subsequently, by the regulatory authorities of other countries. Protalix has licensed to Pfizer Inc. the worldwide development and commercialization rights for taliglucerase alfa, excluding Brazil, where Protalix retains full rights.

Protalix's development pipeline consists of proprietary versions of recombinant therapeutic proteins that target established pharmaceutical markets, including the following product candidates: pegunigalsidase alfa, a modified version of the recombinant human -Galactosidase-A protein for the proposed treatment of Fabry disease; alidornase alfa or PRX-110, for the treatment of various human respiratory diseases or conditions; PRX-115, a plant cell-expressed recombinant PEGylated uricase for the treatment of refractory gout; PRX-119, a plant cell-expressed long action DNase I for the treatment of NETs-related diseases; and others. Protalix has partnered with Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., both in the United States and outside the United States, for the development and commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa, and with SarcoMed USA, Inc. for the worldwide development and commercialization of PRX-110 for use in the treatment of any human respiratory disease or condition including, but not limited to, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and other related diseases via inhaled delivery.

Forward-Looking Statements

To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The terms "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "project," "may," "plan," "will," "would," "should" and "intend," and other words or phrases of similar import are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future experience and results to differ materially from the statements made. These statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations as to such future outcomes. Drug discovery and development involve a high degree of risk and the final results of a clinical trial may be different than the preliminary findings for the clinical trial. Factors that might cause material differences include, among others: failure or delay in the commencement or completion of our preclinical and clinical trials which may be caused by several factors, including: the timing, progress and likelihood of approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the Biologics License Application for PRX-102 by the PDUFA date or at all, and, if approved, whether the use of PRX-102 will be commercially successful; the risk that the FDA, the European Medicines Agency or other foreign regulatory authorities may not accept or approve a marketing application we file for any of our product candidates; risks associated with the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, outbreak, which may adversely impact our business, preclinical studies and clinical trials; failure or delay in the commencement or completion of our preclinical studies and clinical trials, which may be caused by several factors, including: slower than expected rates of patient recruitment; unforeseen safety issues; determination of dosing issues; lack of effectiveness during clinical trials; inability or unwillingness of medical investigators and institutional review boards to follow our clinical protocols; and inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment; risks related to any transactions we may effect in the public or private equity markets to raise capital to finance future research and development activities, general and administrative expenses and working capital; the risk that the results of the clinical trials of our product candidates will not support the applicable claims of safety or efficacy, or that our product candidates will not have the desired effects or will be associated with undesirable side effects or other unexpected characteristics; risks related to our ability to maintain and manage our relationship with our collaborators, distributors or partners; risks related to the amount and sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents; risks relating to our ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on or to refinance our outstanding notes or any other indebtedness; our dependence on performance by third party providers of services and supplies, including without limitation, clinical trial services; delays in our preparation and filing of applications for regulatory approval; delays in the approval or potential rejection of any applications we file with the FDA or other health regulatory authorities, and other risks relating to the review process; the inherent risks and uncertainties in developing drug platforms and products of the type we are developing; the impact of development of competing therapies and/or technologies by other companies and institutions; potential product liability risks, and risks of securing adequate levels of product liability and other necessary insurance coverage; and other factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The statements in this press release are valid only as of the date hereof and we disclaim any obligation to update this information, except as may be required by law.

Investor Contact

Chuck Padala, Managing Director

LifeSci Advisors

+1-646-627-8390

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/999479/Protalix_Biotherapeutics_Logo.jpg

PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (U.S. dollars in thousands)





December 31,



2019

2020 ASSETS

























CURRENT ASSETS:











Cash and cash equivalents

$ 17,792

$ 18,265 Short-term bank deposits



-



20,280 Accounts receivable  Trade



4,700



2,000 Other assets



1,832



2,096 Inventories



8,155



13,082 Total current assets

$ 32,479

$ 55,723













NON-CURRENT ASSETS:











Funds in respect of employee rights upon retirement

$ 1,963

$ 1,799 Property and equipment, net



5,273



4,845 Operating lease right of use assets



5,677



5,567 Total assets

$ 45,392

$ 67,934













LIABILITIES NET OF CAPITAL DEFICIENCY

























CURRENT LIABILITIES:











Accounts payable and accruals:











Trade

$ 6,495

$ 7,221 Other



11,905



13,926 Operating lease liabilities



1,139



1,420 Contracts liability



16,335



5,394 Convertible notes



-



54,427 Promissory note



4,301



4,086 Total current liabilities

$ 40,175

$ 86,474













LONG TERM LIABILITIES:











Convertible notes

$ 50,957



- Contracts liability



16,980

$ 1,716 Liability for employee rights upon retirement



2,565



2,263 Operating lease liabilities



4,528



4,467 Other long term liabilities



509



51 Total long term liabilities

$ 75,539

$ 8,497 Total liabilities

$ 115,714

$ 94,971













COMMITMENTS

























CAPITAL DEFICIENCY











Common Stock, $0.001 par value: Authorized - as of December 31, 2019 and

2020, 120,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding - as of December 31, 2019 and

2020, 14,838,213 and 34,765,280 shares, respectively



15



35 Additional paid-in capital



270,492



320,280 Accumulated deficit



(340,829)



(347,352) Total capital deficiency



(70,322)



(27,037) Total liabilities net of capital deficiency

$ 45,392

$ 67,934

PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)





Year Ended December 31,



2018

2019

2020 REVENUES FROM SELLING GOODS

$ 8,978

$ 15,866

$ 16,236 REVENUES FROM LICENSE AND R&D SERVICES



25,262



38,827



46,662 TOTAL REVENUE



34,240



54,693



62,898 COST OF GOODS SOLD



(9,302)



(10,895)



(10,873) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES, NET (1)



(33,330)



(44,616)



(38,167) SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES



(10,916)



(9,899)



(11,148) OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)



(19,308)



(10,717)



2,710 FINANCIAL EXPENSES



(7,685)



(7,966)



(9,671) FINANCIAL INCOME



536



407



438 FINANCIAL EXPENSES - NET



(7,149)



(7,559)



(9,233) NET LOSS FOR THE YEAR

$ (26,457)

$ (18,276)

$ (6,523) NET LOSS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK-BASIC AND DILUTED

$ (1.80)

$ (1.23)

$ (0.22) WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK



14,713,518



14,838,213



29,148,047 USED IN COMPUTING LOSS PER SHARE  BASIC AND DILUTED

















(1) Includes deductible grants

$ 2,204

$ 77

$ 75























SOURCE Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.

Related Links

https://protalix.com


External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday called on Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon here and discussed expanding bilateral economic and development cooperation.

Jaishankar, who is in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe to attend the 9th Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference, also conveyed the greetings of President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Rahmon.

"Thank President @EmomaliRahmon of Tajikistan for receiving me. Conveyed the greetings of President Kovind & PM Modi. Discussed expanding our bilateral economic and development cooperation. Appreciated his assessment of the Afghan situation," Jaishankar tweeted.

Talking to reporters, Jaishankar said he discussed with President Rahmon bilateral cooperation and also the situation in Afghanistan.

"We discussed how to expand our economic, trade and investment cooperation. How to expand more in terms of capacity building, how to strengthen our political cooperation and how to work more closely on Afghanistan," he said.

He also expressed Indias strong solidarity with Tajikistan in the fight against Covid-19.

Later, Jaishankar met Tajikistan's Defence Minister Colonel General Sherali Mirzo and discussed ways to further strengthen defence and security cooperation.

"Productive discussions with Defence Minister Colonel General Sherali Mirzo of Tajikistan. Focused on further strengthening our defence & security cooperation," he tweeted.

Tajikistan shares a 1,400-km-long porus border with Afghanistan and has immense geo-strategic significance for India which has been providing military assistance to it as part of counter-terrorism cooperation. India has also developed the Ayni airbase near the Tajik capital Dushanbe.

On the sidelines of the Heart of Asia conference here, Jaishankar also met his Kazakh counterpart Mukhtar Tileuberdi and reviewed bilateral and international cooperation.

"A good meeting with DPM & FM Mukhtar Tileuberdi of Kazakhstan. Useful review of our bilateral and international cooperation," he tweeted.

Jaishankar also met Executive Director of the Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Kairat Sarybay on the sidelines of the conference.

"Glad to receive @CicaSecretariat Executive Director @KairatSarybay on the sidelines of @HeartofAsia_IP. Reiterated Indias commitment to a pluralistic cooperative security order in Asia. Agreed to work together to further strengthen CICA," he tweeted.

The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) ministerial conference is part of the Istanbul Process - a regional initiative on security and cooperation for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan - that was launched on November 2, 2011 in Turkey.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Although the clocks went forward an hour on Sunday, signifying the start of summer time, last weeks weather was more akin to the middle of winter with cold winds and icy rain moving in bands across the country. All of which didnt do a whole lot to encourage those buying at marts last week to loosen their purse strings. Indeed, with fields cutting up, many with cattle released to grass over the last couple of weeks were forced to re-house, yours truly included.

Before getting into how the trade performed last week, however, Sean Ryan of Sixmilebridge raised the question with me of why so many mart manager positions remain unfilled across the country. Its a very interesting question.

Despite the cold and wet of last week the overall ringside averages on the bullock table improved by 1-2c/kg. Granted, thats not a lot, but with ringside averages for better continental-type stock ranging from 2.43/kg in the 600kg+ section to 2.64/kg in the 400-499kg division and 2.54/kg in the 500-599kg section, how much further can their prices go? That will, I suspect, depend on how the factory develops and at present there is definite upward movement on that front.

The big numbers and price movers going forward will come, however, among the more traditional breeds with the likes of Hereford, Angus and Friesian coming into their own once ground dries. At present your Hereford or Angus store bullock from 400-600kg+ is averaging from 2.05-2.10/kg with the tops hitting 2.20-2.30kg while your Friesian is operating from 1.75-1.80/kg with 1.90-2.00/kg achievable for the better one.

While summer grazers have been actively buying for over a month, last weeks downturn on the weather front checked their enthusiasm somewhat, but they will come again.

Feedlot buyers have no such weather worries with marts continuing to report very strong demand for all types of forward and heavy stock. Indeed one west of Ireland finisher told me that demand for quality Angus is so strong he now considers them the new Charolais.

Adding to the competition for southern finishers and factories is the apparently insatiable appetite being shown by northern buyers with the likes of Billy Loftus in Ballina reporting that northern men at his last sale were very active for the 450-500kg heifer.

In relation to heifers, last week saw overall ringside averages slip by 3c/kg to 2.23/kg in the 350-399kg section with the better one easing by 4c/kg to 2.58/kg. Above this the trade strengthened by between 1-5c/kg with the overall average price from 400-600kg+ a consistent 2.22/kg.

Despite the trade performing well, Im inclined to agree with the likes of Sean Ryan in Sixmilebridge and Maurice Brosnan in Gortatlea who both wondered, as mart numbers eased last week, if some of those planning to buy are currently waiting to see if the restrictions in place because of Covid will be relaxed after April 5. Thirteen months into the Covid emergency, and despite online buying now the norm, who in the cattle game doesnt wish for a return to proper sales days?

Read More

Around the marts

Gortatlea

Numbers were less following on from a run of strong sales in recent weeks, however with a large turnout of calves the yard was nicely occupied. Maurice Brosnan reported your 2-3 week-old Angus calf as selling from 200-300/hd with the stronger 4-6 week-old making 280-350/hd. Coloured calves sold in general from 350-450/hd with the tops seeing 550/hd. Among the bullocks, 500-550kgs continentals sold from 2.30-2.50/kg, Friesians averaged from 1.70-1.90/kg to a top of 2/kg. R and U grade cull cows sold from 2-2.30/kg while Friesians sold from 1.40-1.60/kg with the odd 1.70/kg thrown in.

Ballina

Billy Loftus reported a strong turnout with prices holding well. Were seeing a lot of competition between northern and southern feed-lots online, and thats putting your 550kg continental bullock into 1,300 with the good one making 1,450, he told me. Those northern men like that good R+ cull cow with their prices here averaging from 2-2.30/kg. On the heifer side southern feed-lots were keen on the 500-700kg forward animal at prices from 2.20-2.40/kg while their northern cousins seemed content with the 450-500kg store.

Sixmilebridge

With numbers easier Sean Ryan wondered if farmers were waiting to see if restrictions might be eased after April 5. As it was, Angus bull and heifer weanlings sold from 2.06/kg with Belgian Blues making up to 3/kg. Bullocks sold from 2.20-2.70/kg with Sean commenting that prices are now 100/hd ahead of this time last year. Among the cull cows, continentals averaged from 1.80-1.96/kg while Friesians sold from 1.40-1.55/kg, up 20-25c/kg in eight weeks, Sean noted.

Kanturk

Calves comprised just shy of half the total turnout of 1,370 here. Samples including six Herefords at 350/hd, four two-week-old Angus averaged 240/hd while eight 18-day-old Herefords made 260/hd. An entry of 20 pure-bred Friesian heifer calves sold from 650-700/hd. Samples among the bullocks saw eight 350kg Friesians average 580/hd, with six 525kg Herefords averaging 1,100/hd while three 705kg Angus clicked 1,430/hd. On the heifer side were four 535kg Angus at 1,040/hd with six 605kg Herefords making 1,230/hd.

Ballinrobe

Last weeks sale here focused on quality bullocks with prices clipping along very nicely. Samples among those bullocks included a 590kg Charolais who headed to pastures new at 2.47/kg, a 605kg Limousin made 2.41/kg while a 445kg Angus eventually stopped at 2.36/kg. Among the heifers was a 550kg Charolais X who sold for 2.38/kg, a 640kg Limousin made 2.25/kg, while a 480 Angus X settled at 2.15/kg. Strong demand for factory cows saw a top of 1,500/hd achieved with sucklers topping out at 1,480/hd.

Mountbellew

A good trade all round but particularly so for the heavier cull cow with samples seeing a 735kg Limousin making 1,310, a 610kg Limousin settled at 1,140 while a 660kg Friesian fell just shy of 1,000 at 980. On the heifer side, strong interest pushed a quality 460kg Limousin into 1,160 with another Limousin at 505kg seeing the hammer also at 1,160. Among the bull weanlings the tops sold from 2.30-2.50/kg while two 330kg Friesians were an interesting proposition at 1.45/kg.

Baltinglass

With farmer buyers becoming anxious as we head into April, and new grass, demand for good quality Limousin and Charolais store bullocks from 510-570kgs saw prices average 2.15-2.30/kg. In the lighter division Herefords from 280-350kgs sold from 2-2.28/kg with two 360kg Charolais at 2.30/kg an interesting option, as were two 340kg Friesians at 2/kg. On the heifer side samples included a 650kg Hereford who made 1.92/kg, two 440kg Limousins averaged 2.27/kg while a 205kg Charolais cracked on to 520 or 2.54/kg.
China's development approach sets model for other countries: expert

Xinhua) 14:05, March 30, 2021

Bernadette Deka-Zulu, executive director of the Policy Monitoring and Research Center in Zambia speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Lusaka, Zambia, March 26, 2021. China's people-centric development approach has led the Asian country to become the world's second largest economy and provides a model for others to emulate, an expert has said. (Photo by Martin Mbangweta/Xinhua)

LUSAKA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- China's people-centric development approach has led the Asian country to become the world's second largest economy and provides a model for others to emulate, an expert has said.

Bernadette Deka-Zulu, executive director of the Policy Monitoring and Research Center in Zambia, said it was not a surprise that China has managed to lift hundreds of millions of its rural population out of poverty due to a development approach that puts people first.

"(Since) China has recorded a victory over poverty eradication for its people, we can point out to the governance system that promotes efficiency in a way of running business. And this is government business," she told Xinhua.

The central leadership's efforts to reach every corner of the vast country have accelerated the country's development, according to the expert.

Putting people at the center of development has also encouraged patriotism among citizens, a move that has allowed the country to make strides in poverty eradication.

She noted the important role of the Communist Party of China in combating corruption and its impact on China's development agenda, adding that the extension of the fight against corruption to all provinces has also ensured that development efforts reached intended targets.

On China's opening up policy, she said signing multilateral and bilateral agreements as well as cementing friendships with other nations has enabled China to contribute immensely to global poverty eradication.

Its opening up, she said, has benefitted the infrastructure development and industrialization of other countries, with Chinese companies encouraged to invest overseas.

She noted that other countries should emulate China by ensuring strict implementation of global programs such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

"China has had to take serious steps in implementing international goals and if we are to see meaningful development, we need to emulate this," she said.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Abakaliki  Ebonyi State governor, Chief David Umahi has ordered the immediate re-arrest of the Ohaukwu local government chairman, Barr Clement Odah and the State House of Assembly member representing, Ohaukwu North constituency, Hon Chinedu Awo over renewed hostilities between the people of Effuim and Ezza Effuim communities.

Others to be rearrested include the spokesperson of Effuim community, Dr James Agina and the spokesperson of the Ezza Effuim community, Mr Titus Nworie.

The directive was handed down to the police commissioner during a stakeholders meeting between the people of Effuim and Ezza Effuim communities at the Christian Ecumenical Centre Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

The state governor also announced the suspension of all political appointees from Ezza Effuim clan who were not present during the stakeholders meeting.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the lawmaker, Hon Awo has before now been in military detention in the last four days and was brought to the meeting by the military who later handed him over to the police.

The council chairman and the lawmaker were whisked away in a waiting van by the police while the vice chairman of the local government Mrs Blessing Adagba was asked to take over and run the affairs of the local government pending the release of the council chairman.

Governor Umahi who expressed concern over a WhatsApp page created by the member representing, Ezza South state constituency, Hon Chris Uzulor, directed the lawmaker to shutdown the WhatsApp page.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

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Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

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Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

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Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation

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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

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Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day

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Posted Monday, March 29, 2021 10:15 am

On Wednesday, March 24, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, joined Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Delaware, and Joyce Better, D-Ohio, to introduce the Housing Supply and Affordability Act. According to a news release, the act will create a new grant program that would provide funding to help localities develop and implement comprehensive housing policy plans. The program will also provide technical assistance to help states and regional coalitions increase the housing supply, improve affordability and reduce barriers to new housing development.

Companion legislation in the U.S. Senate is led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Tim Kaine, D-Virginia.

Our nations housing crisis, coupled with the effects of the COVID pandemic, has hit Southwest Washington communities and families particularly hard. Finding solutions to meet our regions housing demands is a top priority of mine, and its why Im working in Congress on this issue. Im pleased to introduce the Housing Supply and Affordability Act to help increase affordable housing options for citizens throughout Southwest Washington, Herrera Beutler said in a news release.

According to the release, the Housing Supply and Affordability Act will establish a $300 million per year grant program to award planning and implementation grants to states, localities and regional coalitions of localities to support the development and implementation of comprehensive plans to expand the supply and affordability of housing, reduce barriers to new housing development and avoid the displacement of current residents.

This legislation has been endorsed by 100 national and local organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Up for Growth Action, NeighborWorks Association and American Planning Association.

The Housing Supply and Affordability Act will provide cities, states, regional association, and tribes the resources they need to connect housing with jobs, transit and opportunity, Up for Growth Executive Director Mike Kingsella said. The Local Housing Policy Grant program established by the legislation incentivizes recipients to develop housing policies that eliminate artificial barriers to housing production, including exclusionary zoning. The bipartisan Housing Supply and Affordability Act should be a key component of the countrys continued economic recovery. We applaud Senator Klobuchar, Senator Portman, Senator Kaine, Representative Blunt Rochester, Representative Herrera Beutler and Representative Beatty for developing and introducing this critical pro-housing legislation.
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.

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Angle PLC - Guildford-based liquid biopsy company - Says it has completed the fitout and staffing of its clinical services laboratories in Guildford UK, and Plymouth Meeting Pennsylvania. Says launch comes ahead of schedule with the US laboratory being completed sooner than anticipated and the UK laboratory opening in line with anticipated timescales. Together, these laboratories will allow company to accelerate the commercial deployment of the Parsortix system, it adds.

Current stock price: 83 pence

Year-to-date change: up 73%

By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Rick Wilcox is a local historian who specializes in the history of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community.
Less than two days before it was set to expire on March 31, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it will be extending the federal eviction moratorium, first implemented in September of last year, through June 30.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a historic threat to the nations public health, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in her statement announcing the extension. Keeping people in their homes and out of crowded or congregate settingslike homeless sheltersby preventing evictions is a key step in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Tenants rights advocates demonstrate in front of the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

The moratorium is all that is standing in the way between evictions and homelessness for an estimated 8.8 million households that are behind on rent according to a recent report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB also estimates that some 2.1 million families are behind at least three months on mortgage payments, the most since the Great Recession of 20082009.

Overall, the CFPB estimates homeowners owe nearly $90 billion in missed payments, while delinquent rent payments are estimated to be up to $57 billion as of this month. However, the moratorium does nothing for the mounting payments millions currently owe.

And while the misnamed American Rescue Plan enacted earlier this month and the December 2020 relief packages did allocate some $50 billion in rental assistance, barely any of those funds have been distributed as the infrastructure to distribute the money only recently materialized.

Meanwhile, the latest Census Bureau survey found that more than 5 million Americans say they are at risk of eviction or foreclosure. Nearly 15 percent of adults in Mississippi reported that they are not current on rent or mortgage payments and have slight or no confidence that they will be able to pay next months rent or mortgage on time.

While Mississippi leads the nation, 13.8 percent of adults in Alabama likewise reported to the Census Bureau that they have no confidence in their ability to pay next months rent or mortgage. This was followed by 10.6 percent of adults in New York and Ohio and 10.5 percent of adults in South Dakota.

Despite pleas from housing and tenants rights organizations, the Biden administration refused to update the language in the moratorium to prevent landlords from exploiting known loopholes in order to force tenants out.

Tenants can still be evicted for alleged breaches of the lease besides non-payment or if a landlord began eviction proceedings against a tenant before September 4, 2020. The moratorium only applies to single renters making $99,000 or less and couples earning less than $198,000. Those who wish to be eligible for the moratorium must sign a declaration saying they cannot pay rent because of COVID-related hardships and will become homeless if evicted.

However, as thousands of workers and families have found out in the last eight months, landlords have still been able to process evictions despite the supposed protection offered by the moratorium.

There are so many loopholes in the moratoriums that the landlords and judges exploit, Josh Poe, co-founder of the Root Cause Research Center, told the Louisville Courier-Journal.

The Courier-Journal found that between August and December 2020, when the state of Kentucky was covered by a state-wide and then the CDC moratorium, judges in the Jefferson District ruled against renters in 1,298 eviction cases.

I think anyone who looks at this data should feel a sense of outrage about whats happened. The fact is that the moratorium isnt working, said Poe. Theres simply too many loopholes.

In California, a review of public records conducted by KQED and CalMatters found that 527 evictions were processed in 9 counties between March 19 and December 31. In New Jersey, court records show that more than 50,000 eviction notices have been filed since the pandemic began in March 2020.

During a Florida Senate committee hearing in early January, Secretary Chad Poppell of the Florida Department of Children and Families acknowledged that about 40,000 evictions had been filed between March 1 and December 31, 2020. Poppell underestimated the figure by over 7,000 according to the Office of the State Courts Administrator, which found 47,484 eviction filings during that time.

The Eviction Lab at Princeton University, which has been one of the only academic sources that has tracked evictions throughout the pandemic, showed over 278,000 evictions processed during the pandemic. The figure is a severe underestimation as the Eviction Lab has only been actively tracking in 5 states, not including Florida, the third most populous state in the country.

Even with the moratorium, landlords are still permitted to begin eviction proceedings, meaning as soon as it does expire, in as little as three months, potentially millions could be made homeless in a matter of weeks.

In an email to Politico, Diane Yentel, CEO and president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said that the extension was essential but did not go far enough in protecting tenants.

Its disappointing that the administration didnt act on the clear evidence and need to also strengthen the order to address the flaws that undermine its public health purpose, said Yentel.

While the Biden administration is well aware of the shortcomings in the moratorium order that allow some evictions to proceed during the pandemic, the CDC director did not correct them, she added. She simply extended President Trumps original order, leaving the loopholes and flaws in place, an unfortunate and shortsighted decision that will result in some continued harmful evictions during the pandemic.

The CDC did the bare minimum, said Shamus Roller, the executive director of the National Housing Law Project, in comments to NPR on the moratorium extension. And that will mean many more renters will lose their homes before the pandemic is over.

Unlike in the majority of states last year, Democratic and Republican state governors alike have refused to enact their own statewide eviction moratoriums to complement the federal moratorium. This has allowed landlords to exploit the loopholes and proceed with evictions as the coronavirus and its new deadlier B.1.1.7 and P.1 variants spread unchecked throughout the country. The latest case numbers are exceeding the summer surge last year, with the seven-day average in the US showing upwards of 63,000 daily new cases and 1,000 deaths a day.

The increase in daily new cases, up 16 percent nationwide compared to a week ago per Johns Hopkins University, prompted an urgent warning of impending doom from Walensky during a Monday press briefing.

Im going to pause here, Im going to lose the script, and Im going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom, Walensky said. We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope, but right now Im scared.

Walenskys professed fear is nothing to that of the hundreds of thousands of teachers who have been forced back into classrooms after Walensky and the CDC evolved their social distancing guidelines down from six feet to three feet, in order to fit as many children as possible back into classrooms and force parents back into workplaces to generate surplus value for the ruling class.

This evolved guidance did not make it into the latest eviction moratorium order. Instead, it correctly states that, The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads very easily and sustainably between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person, coughs, sneezes, or talks.

The pandemic is a trigger event in world history: it has exposed capitalist society as it truly exists. Before the pandemic, millions of workers and their families faced eviction, homelessness and death due to skyrocketing rents, a dearth of affordable housing and stagnant wages.

Now, over a year later, as millions remain unemployed, with 10 million fewer jobs available compared to February 2020, coupled with rising housing costs, the preventable housing crisis shows no signs of abating. Meanwhile, a tiny layer of pandemic profiteers have enriched themselves fabulously over the bodies of over 560,000 Americans and over 2.8 million globally.

The elimination of homelessness and inequality is possible only through the abolition of private property and implementation of an international, scientifically coordinated socialist program.
Three Members of the National Assembly during the March 26, 2021 plenary sitting of the House expressed worries about diverse attacks against Head of State, army and the country.

Since the onset of the security crisis in the North West and South West Regions and the war against the Boko Haram terrorist sect in the Far North Region, Cameroon has faced a series of attacks with alleged atrocities of defence and security forces and other attempts to tarnish the image and destabilise the country.

All these attracted the anger and attention of Hons. Mariam Goni, Ebangha Johanna epse Agbor Ntui and Ngo Issi Rolande Adele who went to the rostrum during the question time plenary sitting of the National Assembly on March 26, 2021 to find out how government was reacting to the unfortunate attacks. The questions asked were answered by the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Relations with Commonwealth Felix Mbayu who represented the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella.

Minister Felix Mbayu told the people's representatives that, "Our diplomacy is not conducted in the market place but its efficiency is not diluted by the fact that it is done quietly and silently." He said that international organisations and countries in a global manner encourage government to seek peaceful solutions to the crisis but in so doing some of them do engage in ways that do not respect diplomatic canons and at time with hidden agendas. He stated that the position of Cameroon faced with the attacks is firm but diplomacy calls for somehow invisible action.

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Cameroon has systematically responded to calls and attacks perpetrated against the country in an appropriate manner and following diplomatic canons and courtesy. With respect to the specific ways government has been responding to the attacks, Minister Felix Mbayu said there are verbal exchanges with embassies of friendly countries when their stands openly hurt the Cameroon's national sovereignty. Ambassadors of some of the countries and representatives of some international organisations are also summoned to the Ministry of External Relations where government expresses its disapproval and disapprobation of the statements or actions. There are also direct talks with partners in order to present the security situation in the affected regions, re-establish facts and denounce interference into Cameroon's internal affairs. Cameroon's ambassadors in countries concerned are usually instructed to express Cameroon's disproval of the unfounded allegations.

The Ministry of External Relations also deploys diplomatic missions to friendly countries to carry out advocacy and block destabilisation attempts at the country's image. Cameroon, Minister Mbayu said, also engages in cooperation at different levels to follow up and seek humanitarian assistance and reconstruction of the affected regions and many countries have supported Cameroon. The country also participates in conferences where it presents the real facts about the country and crisis and reaffirm government's position.
YEREVAN, 29 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 29 March, USD exchange rate up by 0.59 drams to 530.08 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.25 drams to 624.12 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 6.98 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.83 drams to 733.05 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 60.78 drams to 29514.14 drams. Silver price up by 7.03 drams to 427 drams. Platinum price down by 199.29 drams to 19786.3 drams.
In one case, a family accrued $39,314 in charges for 12 tests this winter, all taken to fulfill requirements for returning to work or school. In another, an asymptomatic patient walked in because she saw the banner outside and wanted a test after traveling. Her insurance was charged $2,963.

Federal legislation last year mandated that coronavirus testing be free for patients, so individuals are typically protected. None of the patients tested at the Lenox Hill emergency room were billed directly for the service. But eventually, American patients bear the costs of these expensive tests in the form of higher insurance premiums.

Patient bills show that at least one additional hospital owned by Lenox Hills parent group, Northwell Health, has charged emergency room fees to patients at a mass testing site.

It felt like deception, and an effort to try and get money that they are not entitled to, said Ute Tabi. She was reviewing her familys insurance claims and saw a $2,793 charge for a drive-through coronavirus test her husband got at a Northwell hospital in the New York suburbs, Huntington Hospital on Long Island. The hospital pursued the family for a share of the bill, which Ms. Tabi has so far refused to pay.

The Times has been asking readers to submit bills so that we can understand the costs of coronavirus testing and treatment. So far, more than 600 patients have participated. Their bills have revealed high charges and illegal fees, as well as patients who face substantial medical debt for coronavirus treatment. If you have a bill for coronavirus testing or treatment, you can share it here.

Google is rolling out the developer trial for its Federated Learning of Cohorts technology  otherwise known as FLoC, or, in the world of third-party cookies, Death Itself. FLoC is a replacement for third-party cookies that gathers data based on the behavior of groups of internet users (called cohorts) in order to generate relevant online ads, rather than tracking an individual's browsing history.

"With FLoC, your browser determines which cohort corresponds most closely to your recent web browsing history, grouping you with thousands of other people who have similar browsing histories," Google Privacy Sandbox Product Manager Marshall Vale wrote. "The identification number of the cohort is the only thing provided when requested by a site. This is different from third-party cookies, which allow companies to follow you individually across different sites."

The trial is live for a small percentage of users in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines and the US. Anyone who's blocked third-party cookies in the current version of Chrome won't have access to the initial test.

This is all part of Google's plan to get rid of third-party cookies in Chrome and halt the practice of selling ads based on individual web activity. Ad sales are the foundation of Google's empire, and also the subject of multiple antitrust lawsuits targeting the company.

Earlier this month, Texas attorney general Ken Paxton updated his multi-state suit against Google to address the new FLoC system, arguing it doesn't eliminate antitrust issues at the core of the complaint. A total of 15 states have joined that particular lawsuit and the Department of Justice may throw its weight behind it, too. Regulators in the UK are also investigating Google's new tracking system, worried it could further concentrate data and ad revenue in Google's coffers.

[Google] could undermine the ability of publishers to generate revenue and undermine competition in digital advertising, entrenching Googles market power," the UK's Competition and Markets Authority said it found in a recent study.

In response to this scrutiny, Google has been publicly playing up the privacy benefits of FLoC without referencing the potential power imbalance built into such a system.

"Were working in partnership with the industry through Privacy Sandbox on privacy-preserving alternatives to third-party cookies that support the free and open internet," Google said in mid-March. "And as weve said, we will not replace third party cookies with alternative methods to track individual people across the web.
Assassin's Creed series is known for its vast and varied collection of quests that it presents to its players. Often times there will be easy quests for which the requirements and instructions are pretty straight forward. One of them is the "Man of Mystery" and here, you will know everything related to this quest in order to successfully complete it.

AC Valhalla Man of Mystery

This quest, known as "Man of Mystery", will appear in Ravensthorpe at some stage during the players' journey through England. Talk with Tekla, who should be in your longhouse, to begin this search. She'll tell you to speak with some Saxons in the settlement to find out more about "Guthban." At the teal diamond-shaped goal markers, have a conversation with each guy.

There are three people with whom to address Guthban. Guthban himself can be found in the dockside houses. Talk with him first, then with Tarben. Following him to the bandit hideout is the next step. A cutscene will begin when you arrive. Tarben will clear his name by retrieving the bandits' goods from a nearby military camp, as revealed here. So this means that you will need to go to this location.

When you arrive, either take everyone outside or use your Odin's Sight to find the products and steal them quickly before anyone notices. After that, return to Tarben and then return to the bandit hideout to escort Tarben back to Ravensthorpe.

AC Valhalla Update

Wrath of the Druids, the first Assassin's Creed Valhalla DLC, will be published in Spring 2021. Winning the favour of the Gaelic Kings opens a new map, and travelling to Ireland might hint at a similar storyline in the upcoming DLC. The official synopsis reads, According to the official synopsis:

"Explore the haunted wilds and beautiful landscapes of Ireland as you battle a druidic cult known as the Children of Danu. Conquer ring forts, master the art of smuggling, and gain the favour of Gaelic kings in a new open-world adventure."

Layla, Assassin's Creed's newest modern-day heroine, will be the one reliving Eivor's memories now that she has joined The Reader. As revealed in the storey, Basim is the new main character, and it's likely that players can play Basim as the storey continues into AC 2021. Wrath of the Druids is likely to reveal more detail about the Druids, thanks to the Druid's magic and Loki's involvement in Eivor's memories.

Image Source: Ubisoft Montreal
WEST SPRINGFIELD  Just a week after elementary pupils go back to full-time in-person learning, West Springfield High School and West Springfield Middle School will join them.

Were really excited, School Superintendent Timothy Connor said on Monday. A ton of planning has gone into this. We have been a conservative district, and the time is right, right now, to get the kids back in, five days.

The state requires elementary schools to reopen fully on April 5, but does not mandate five-day schooling at middle schools until April 28, with a later high school requirement to be announced. Connor said his team was able to complete its planning for the upper grades last week, however. Among the decisions was how to maintain 6 feet social distancing at lunch time, when students would not be wearing masks.

That question depended upon enrollment, which schools were able to determine by sending out a parent survey on March 22. Connor said both schools will see their in-person enrollment increase. Under the current model, a hybrid system where students go to school in two cohorts, two days per week, while learning remotely the other three days of the week, about 33% of high schoolers and 28% of middle schoolers have chosen cohort C, a group that learns remotely every day. When the schools adopt the full-in model, the share of students in cohort C will drop to 30% of high schoolers and 17% or less at the middle school. Those who chose cohort C will be committed to finishing the school year all-remote.

The 70% and 83% of students attending class in person starting April 12 compares with an in-person rate of close to 87% at the towns elementary schools, Connor said.

Like the elementary schools, the middle and high schools will rent large tents so that students can eat lunch outside, and some students will eat at their classroom desks. For days when the tents are not available, such as during a storm, school principals have identified other locations that can serve as temporary cafeterias, including gymnasium bleachers.

For most students, the week of April 12 will be their first week with five days of in-person classes in more than a year. West Springfield schools adopted an all-remote learning model after the statewide COVID-19 emergency declaration in March 2020, and the upper grades remained all-remote, except for some special needs students, until mid-February, when they adopted the current hybrid model.

High school and middle school students who choose to remain in cohort C will continue with the same teachers and schedule as before. Teachers will be responsible for instructing both students in the classroom and online. This is a difference from West Springfields plan for reopening its elementary schools, where the remote students will be reassigned to new all-remote classrooms. Connor acknowledged that the combined teaching method, known as synchronous instruction, will not be ideal for either group. Its necessary in the upper grades, he said, because of the complexity of the students schedules and wide variety of subjects taught.

Theres no way we could hire or even put through enough resources to make that work, Connor said. The most perfect scenario is when we get all kids back, in September, and [do] not have worry about cohort C or hybrid or any of the other models weve dealt with.

In-person students will be spaced at least three feet apart while masked, and six feet apart when unmasked, following state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines. Until the state mandate was announced this month, the local School Committee had held to the hybrid model to maintain 6 feet between individuals at all times.

Connor said the town is encouraging students to ride the bus, to avoid traffic jams during drop-off and pickup. He said its less likely to be a problem at the high school, which is designed to accommodate a large number of students driving themselves to school.

Administrators are working on bus routes now and should have them available the week before April 12, Connor said.
ROME, MAR 30 - Italian police on Tuesday seized over 60 million dangerous COVID-19 face masks across Italy. Police said they did not comply with proper standards and were dangerous to public health. They were left over from a previous Italian face mask scheme, police said. The masks were being held by the national structure for the COVID emergency, police said. (ANSA).
A French air strike killed at least 19 civilians in central Mali in January, according to a UN report released Tuesday, which added that the victims were protected under international law. The French defence ministry issued a statement refuting the findings in the report.

On January 3, French warplanes struck near the remote village of Bounti in circumstances that sparked controversy in the war-torn Sahel state.

Residents of the village said the strike hit a wedding party and killed civilians.

But Frances military rejected the accusation and said it had killed jihadists. It also denied that a wedding had taken place in Bounti that day.

The United Nations mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, subsequently launched an investigation into the affair.

In a report summarising the probes findings seen by AFP on Tuesday, the UN said a wedding had in fact taken place and had gathered about 100 civilians at the site of the strike.

It added that about five armed people, who are thought to be members of the jihadist group Katiba Serma, attended the celebrations.

The French defence ministry denied Tuesday the findings of the UN investigation. In a statement, the ministry said it maintains with consistency and reaffirms strongly that on January 3, French armed forces carried out an air strike targeting an armed terrorist group identified as such near the village of Bounti.

The statement added that the ministry had numerous reservations about the methodology used to carry out the UN probe.

At least 22 people died in the French strike, of whom 19 were civilians, according to the probe.

The group affected by the strike was overwhelmingly composed of civilians who are protected persons under international humanitarian law, the report said.

This strike raises serious concerns about respect for the principles of the conduct of hostilities, it added.

The UN report is based on 115 individual interviews and constitutes a rare criticism of the actions of French forces in Mali.

Story continues

Investigators also conducted group interviews and about 100 telephone interviews.

Mali has been struggling to contain an Islamist insurgency which first broke out in the north of the country in 2012 before spreading to the centre and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

France, the former colonial power, intervened in Mali in 2013 to beat back the jihadists, and now has some 5,100 soldiers deployed across the semi-arid Sahel region.

Central Mali, where the strike on Bounti occurred, is an epicentre of the brutal conflict.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
An evolutionary mystery that had eluded molecular biologists for decades may never have been solved if it weren't for the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Being stuck at home was a blessing in disguise, as there were no experiments that could be done. We just had our computers and lots of time," says Professor Paul Curmi, a structural biologist and molecular biophysicist with UNSW Sydney.

Prof. Curmi is referring to research published this month in Nature Communications that details the painstaking unravelling and reconstruction of a key protein in a single-celled, photosynthetic organism called a cryptophyte, a type of algae that evolved over a billion years ago.

Up until now, how cryptophytes acquired the proteins used to capture and funnel sunlight to be used by the cell had molecular biologists scratching their heads. They already knew that the protein was part of a sort of antenna that the organism used to convert sunlight into energy. They also knew that the cryptophyte had inherited some antenna components from its photosynthetic ancestors - red algae, and before that cyanobacteria, one of the earliest lifeforms on earth that are responsible for stromatolites.

But how the protein structures fit together in the cryptophyte's own, novel antenna structure remained a mystery - until Prof. Curmi, PhD student Harry Rathbone and colleagues from University of Queensland and University of British Columbia pored over the electron microscope images of the antenna protein from a progenitor red algal organism made public by Chinese researchers in March 2020.

Unravelling the mystery meant the team could finally tell the story of how this protein had enabled these ancient single-celled organisms to thrive in the most inhospitable conditions - metres under water with very little direct sunlight to convert into energy.

Prof. Curmi says the major implications of the work are for evolutionary biology.

"We provide a direct link between two very different antenna systems and open the door for discovering exactly how one system evolved into a different system - where both appear to be very efficient in capturing light," he says.

"Photosynthetic algae have many different antenna systems which have the property of being able to capture every available light photon and transferring it to a photosystem protein that converts the light energy to chemical energy."

By working to understand the algal systems, the scientists hope to uncover the fundamental physical principles that underlie the exquisite photon efficiency of these photosynthetic systems. Prof. Curmi says these may one day have application in optical devices including solar energy systems.

EATING FOR TWO

To better appreciate the significance of the protein discovery, it helps to understand the very strange world of single-celled organisms which take the adage "you are what you eat" to a new level.

As study lead author, PhD student Harry Rathbone explains, when a single-celled organism swallows another, it can enter a relationship of endosymbiosis, where one organism lives inside the other and the two become inseparable.

"Often with algae, they'll go and find some lunch - another alga - and they'll decide not to digest it. They'll keep it to do its bidding, essentially," Mr Rathbone says. "And those new organisms can be swallowed by other organisms in the same way, sort of like a matryoshka doll."

In fact, this is likely what happened when about one and a half billion years ago, a cyanobacterium was swallowed by another single-celled organism. The cyanobacteria already had a sophisticated antenna of proteins that trapped every photon of light. But instead of digesting the cyanobacterium, the host organism effectively stripped it for parts - retaining the antenna protein structure that the new organism - the red algae - used for energy.

And when another organism swallowed a red alga to become the first cryptophyte, it was a similar story. Except this time the antenna was brought to the other side of the membrane of the host organism and completely remoulded into new protein shapes that were equally as efficient at trapping sunlight photons.

EVOLUTION

As Prof. Curmi explains, these were the first tiny steps towards the evolution of modern plants and other photosynthetic organisms such as seaweeds.

"In going from cyanobacteria that are photosynthetic, to everything else on the planet that is photosynthetic, some ancient ancestor gobbled up a cyanobacteria which then became the cell's chloroplast that converts sunlight into chemical energy.

"And the deal between the organisms is sort of like, I'll keep you safe as long as you do photosynthesis and give me energy."

One of the collaborators on this project, Dr Beverley Green, Professor Emerita with the University of British Columbia's Department of Botany says Prof. Curmi was able to make the discovery by approaching the problem from a different angle.

"Paul's novel approach was to search for ancestral proteins on the basis of shape rather than similarity in amino acid sequence," she says.

"By searching the 3D structures of two red algal multi-protein complexes for segments of protein that folded in the same way as the cryptophyte protein, he was able to find the missing puzzle piece."

###
The publication of findings from Stranmillis comes after the majority of pupils have returned to classrooms, and suggests parents will be happy to hand education back to the experts. (Peter Byrne/PA)

The impact of home schooling on everyday life has been revealed by experts at Stranmillis University, with over 80% of parents reporting a negative impact on their own mental health and wellbeing due to the pressures of teaching their own children.

Some 67% said they had experienced a negative impact on their physical health and wellbeing, research from the College's Centre for Research in Educational Underachievement (CREU) has shown.

The publication of findings from Stranmillis comes after the majority of pupils have returned to classrooms, and suggests parents will be happy to hand education back to the experts.

Some 51% of parents/carers surveyed felt the current lockdown had resulted in the worsening of their children's mental health and wellbeing, compared to 31% in 2020.

But the survey revealed some good news, with 65% of parents saying the quality of learning resources was better or much better than during the first closure.

Read More

And the number of parents who reported their child's school had engaged in live online teaching has doubled since 2020.

Parents with higher levels of education feel more confident in homeschooling and children from low-income homes continued to have more restricted access to the digital resources required for online learning.

"The findings from our initial analysis confirm continued inequities of digital access, varying levels of parental confidence in home schooling, considerable pressures faced by parents as they juggled work and home schooling commitments, and resulting negative consequences for children's learning and development as well as their mental and physical health and wellbeing," said CREU Director Dr Noel Purdy.

"Once again, children from wealthier homes with better educated parents are more likely to have better digital access to their learning resources, are more likely to have the confident support of their parents to hand, and are more likely to have transitioned well to post-primary school.

"There seems little doubt that this second period of homeschooling has further exacerbated existing inequalities in our education system and in our society more generally."

Dr Purdy said that as children resume face-to-face learning "it is clear that parents will be enormously relieved, but also exhausted in many cases after weeks of juggling both home schooling and working either at home or outside the home".

He said this is something which employers must take into account as they seek to support staff.

"Parents are, in the main, not trained educators and have had to learn fast, negotiating unfamiliar learning platforms, struggling to understand subjects they never thought they'd need to teach, and trying to find time to run their house and attend to their own mental and physical health. We believe the findings will help towards a better understanding of the diversity of experience and help provide more tailored support as children return to face-to-face learning," he added.
Hagerstown Housing Authority closes in on end of McCleary Hill project

After objections from neighbors, the Hagerstown Housing Authority's McCleary Hill project is done its first phase. Officials held an open house.
The Oregon Health Authority cannot produce a written evaluation of a long-delayed phone application intended to slow COVID-19 by warning people about exposure to the coronavirus.

Months after agency officials said they were actively assessing the results of a trial conducted at Oregon State University, state officials now say they have no final documentation about efforts to evaluate the project.

The decision by state officials not to formally assess the technology helps explain why the project has been delayed for months, leaving Oregon as one of just four states along or west of the Continental Divide that has failed to adopt the technology.

The technology is free and available on Android and Apple smartphones in multiple languages. The apps use Bluetooth technology and alert users who opt in to potential exposures to people with confirmed coronavirus infections, encouraging them to isolate and get tested to help slow the spread of the virus.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown touted the technology in September and officials initially said they planned to adopt the exposure notification app in January, provided the pilot effort was successful.

Knowledge is power when it comes to stopping the spread of COVID-19, and this pilot project will help people make informed decisions to keep themselves healthy, while still protecting individual privacy, Brown said in a statement at the time.

The Oregon Health Authority has since provided vague answers regarding its plans for a more extensive rollout, with the application briefly going live in January in what official said was a mistake.

The Oregonian/OregonLive filed a records request March 3 asking for any records pertaining to the pilot project at OSU, specifically any final evaluation or assessment and recommendation on whether to proceed.

March 15, Oregon State officials confirmed through a public a records request that the university had no report or evaluation.

March 24, the Oregon Health Authority said it did not help to create an OSU Pilot summary report, due to the sudden shift to vaccine management in January.

Its unclear how or why vaccine management precluded state officials from writing a report, as vaccines first arrived in Oregon in December through a nationwide rollout that had long been anticipated.

Oregon sometime next week now plans to release a high-level summary report of the pilot project, the health authoritys public records officer said in an emailed response to the newsrooms document request.

Its not clear whether that summary will reveal whether Oregon plans to adopt the technology statewide. The health authority declined to provide more details Monday or answer additional questions.

As recently as March 2, Tim Heider, a spokesperson for the health authority, said the agency is still assessing the results of the pilot project to determine a date for rolling it out, but as previously mentioned, we are looking at spring for go-live.

California launched its system Dec. 10 and has millions of users. Washington adopted the technology Nov. 30 and similarly has widespread use.

-- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen
Karen refugees carrying belongings are seen at Salween riverbank in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, on March 29, 2021. (Karen Women's Organization/Handout via Reuters)

Thailand Denies Forcing Back Burma Refugees Blocked at Border

MAE SARIANG, ThailandThai authorities on Monday denied forcing back more than 2,000 refugees who had fled air strikes in Burma, but a local official said it was government policy for the army to block them at the border and deny access to outside aid groups.

Thousands of people fled Burmar (also known as Myanmar) over the weekend after fighter jets attacked villages near the border held by a force from the Karen ethnic group that had attacked a military post in the wake of a Feb. 1 coup by Burmas army.

Mark Farmaner, head of Burma Campaign UK, told Reuters that thousands of people had been forced to return to the Ee Thu Hta displacement camp on the Burma side of the border. Another activist group gave the number as 2,009.

Video shot by a Karen villager and published by Reuters showed refugees boarding boats under the watch of Thai soldiers.

Karen refugees are seen at Salween riverbank in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, on March 29, 2021. (Karen Womens Organization/Handout via Reuters)

Look, Thai soldiers told villagers to go back. Here, see old people have to go back. Look there, there are lots of Thai soldiers, a Karen villager is heard saying. Authorities stopped Reuters reporters from accessing the area.

Thichai Jindaluang, governor of Thailands Mae Hong Son province, told reporters the refugees were not being pushed back. They were in a safe place on the fringes of the border in Mae Sariang and Sop Moei districts, state media reported.

Thai authorities will continue to look after those on the Thai side while assessing the evolving situation and the needs on the ground, foreign ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said in a statement, also saying the reports that the Karens had been pushed back were inaccurate.

Block Those That Fled

But Sangkhom Khadchiangsaen, chief of Mae Sariang District, told a local meeting that those fleeing should be blocked.

All agencies should follow the policy of the National Security Council which is we need to block those that fled and maintain them along the border, he said, referring to the governments security coordinating body.

The military has the main responsibility in managing the situation on the ground and we must not allow officials from UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), NGOs or other international organizations to have direct contact and communication. This is absolutely forbidden.

Tanee told Reuters he had no further comment on what the local official had said.

The UNHCR did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Human rights groups and the European Karen Network, a foreign based support group, criticized the Thai government.

Thailands heartless and illegal act must stop now, said Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher on Thailand for Human Rights Watch.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said earlier on Monday the government was prepared to accept refugees and rebuffed claims that Thailand was supporting Burmas junta.

Burma security forces have killed at least 459 people since seizing power as it seeks to crush mass protests, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

The army, which has waged decades of wars against ethnic armed groups, carried out its coup saying that November elections won by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyis party were fraudulent, an assertion dismissed by the election commission.

By Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat
National Assemblys deputies have recognized the contribution of high-ranking leaders in rowing and steering the country to overcome difficulties and gain many achievements.

Deputy head of Quang Binh NAs Deputy Delegation Nguyen Ngoc Phuong

Discussing the reports reviewing the State President, Government and NA tenure on March 25, deputy head of Quang Binh NAs Deputy Delegation Nguyen Ngoc Phuong said after the 13th Party Congress that Quang Binhs voters have recognized the achievements of the congress, including personnel work.

The instructions on personnel work restrict the buying and selling of positions of authority and other matters in personnel work, Phuong said.

Phuong said that Politburo member and Head of the Party Central Organization Commission Pham Minh Chinh at the NAs sessions praised the achievements in institutional streamlining and asked the NA and the Government to confer the Hero title to organizations and individuals with streamlining accomplishments, and not just commend and reward them.

Phuong said that at the 13th NA session he talked about the fact that after 10 years of streamlining, the workforce did not decrease but even increased by 25 percent.

He emphasised the achievements in streamlining this tenure.

We need to recognize the contribution and success of Chinh, he said.

President's excellence as Head of the State

Bui Dang Dung, a NA deputy from Kien Giang, expressed his sympathy towards the State Presidents review report.

This is a special tenure, when the Party Secretary General who is also State President took office as President in mid-tenure, in the context of major events in the world and Vietnam, he said.

The Prime Minister compared the country to a ship that has experienced a stormy voyage. This is a lively image of a nation which can overcome all storms and waterfalls. The voters confidence and Vietnams international prestige has been heightened, he said.

Deputy Chair of the Vietnam Labor Federation Ngo Duy Hieu said this tenure faced difficulties and challenges but also accomplishments.

Hieu stressed that the President has demonstrated well the role of a State President, the symbol and center of national solidarity.

You can see that whenever the Party Secretary General and State President Nguyen Phu Trong appears, all people, cadres and Party members feel happy, Hieu said.

These factors create a consensus and solidarity in the Party and society under difficult conditions, which is important to gain great achievements.

During the tenure, the State President handled external relations well, especially with big countries and international organizations, thus helping stabilize the countrys conditions. Many sensitive and complex issues were solved in a flexible and harmonious way with national interests as a top priority.

Vietnams foreign policy spirit is multilateralism. It is willing to be friends with all countries which have good will and which respect Vietnams independence and sovereignty.

NA sessions' time shortened

During the tenure, the State President handled external relations well, especially with big countries and international organizations, thus helping stabilize the countrys conditions. Many sensitive and complex issues were solved in a flexible and harmonious way with national interests as a top priority.

An important feature of the NA tenure was "renovating, having ideas for innovations". In building laws, all draft laws must be prepared well and informed in a timely manner. The sessions of the 14th NA were shortened, which saved time and money.

Hieu said the NA continues affirming its role and position, and has produced many reforms. Important matters in life and issues of voters concerns were hot topics of discussions at the sessions.

To Thi Bich Chau from HCM City noticed that the NA showed the spirit of practicing thrift and fighting against corruption. When the NA tenure began, the NA Chair asked for "no party, no exchange".

Tran Thi Hang from Bac Ninh said she has been impressed by the supervision which has been more professional.

Voters highly appreciate the 'quick questioning, quick answering'. The number of deputies raising questions was higher and ministers needed to give direct and short answers, she said, adding that many issues of voters concerns have been put into discussion at parliament.

At meetings with voters, we realized that voters were satisfied about this, she said.

PM talks the talk, walks the walk

Commenting about the Government tenure, Hieu noted that there have been serious innovations in management, thus creating a basis for the whole system. The Government observes, cares and listens to businesses and the people so as to set up reasonable policies.

The Government is quick in approaching and settling problems and finding solutions. Dealing with Covid-19 is an example, Hieu said.

Politburo member and head of the Central Economic Committee Tran Tuan Anh, NA Deputy from Quang Ngai, said the Party and Governments have been pursuing innovation consistently.

These are key factors that help us deeply integrate into the world in the context of sudden global upheavals, he said.

Anh noted the Governments report put emphasis on proactivity and creativity in improving the efficiency of external relations and international integration.

The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 caused minus growth rates to large economies. Only a few countries, including Vietnam, had a positive growth rate last year. The growth allowed Vietnam to maintain production momentum, preserve markets for farmers and businesses, and increase the resilience of the economy.

Dinh Duy Vuot from Gia Lai noted the mat the PM promised when taking office that he would build a tectonic, upright, active and disciplined government, and said the PM had done what he promised.

The head of the government has inspired localities with the spirit of daring to think, daring to do and daring to take responsibility. The establishment of the PMs taskforce in charge of supervising and urging ministries and branches to implement their tasks has really brought effects."

NA deputies debate working reports of President, Government Legislators on March 29 mulled over working reports of the President and the Government during the 2016-2021 tenure, as part of the ongoing 11th sitting of the 14th National Assembly. In his remarks, NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu said 41 deputies raised opinions during the working session and they shared the view that the reports had been prepared thoroughly. They lauded efforts, responsibility and achievements made by the President, the Government and the Prime Minister in the tenure, according to the NA Vice Chairman. The deputies highlighted the Presidents role in Party and political system building, as well as the fight against corruption, wastefulness and other bad deeds, which, they said, has been carried out drastically, synchronously, comprehensively and effectively. Meanwhile, the Government and the PM have proven their innovation and dynamism in management, persistently pursuing targets and tasks set in resolutions of the Party and the NA. The Government has paid attention to reforming administrative procedures, improving the domestic business environment, raising national competitiveness, and improving the operational efficiency of State administrative agencies, in tandem with e-Government building. Notably, given the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam has successfully completed the dual goals of containing the epidemic and socio-economic recovery. The legislators, however, urged the Government to clarify limitations and shortcomings, including certain draft projects and documents that have yet to meet the set progress and quality. They reached consensus on the need to promote the great national unity bloc in national construction and defence. They also made proposals to the President and the Government in the new tenure. VNA

Thu Hang - Tran Thuong - Hong Nhi

Le Khanh Hai appointed Chair of State President Office Member of the Party Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Office of State President Le Khanh Hai has been promoted as the offices chairman.
[March 30, 2021]

Greenberg Traurig Grows Strong IP and Life Science Capabilities; Team Joins in Boston, Washington, D.C., Orange County, CA

NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of clients' critical need for intellectual property and life sciences legal counsel, Greenberg Traurig, LLP continues to grow its market dominance in these areas. The global law firm has added to five attorneys and a patent agent to its Intellectual Property and Technology and Life Sciences practices. Joining as Shareholders are Dr. Prashant Girinath and Dr. David Steven Harburger in Boston, and Dr. Charles Andres, in Washington D.C. They bring strong life sciences experience to existing capabilities.

"These important IP laterals practice in key areas where we are already strong and to which we have a commitment to continue to grow with strategic and focused additions," said Greenberg Traurig Chief Executive Officer Brian L. Duffy. "This team has an established and dynamic reputation for prompt, creative, proactive service to life sciences and biotechnology ventures."

The group joins from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. (WSGR), where they were longtime members of the patents and innovation practice. Also joining Greenberg Traurig from the group's former firm are their former colleagues, as Associates David G. Mata, Ph.D. in Washington, D.C., and Cecily Wilbanks, Ph.D. in Boston; and Patent Agent, Diana Hendricks, in the Orange County,/a> CA office, along with several valued support business staff members.







The experienced and collaborative group represents clients in the highly in-demand biotech and life sciences sectors, including emerging and predictive technologies in pharmaceutical and biotech. They also serve clients in intellectual property, transactional, and regulatory matters across markets.

"Having Prashant, Charles, and David join speaks to one of the firm's core goals of attracting diverse groups of attorneys who have unique and varied experience, in addition to their excellent legal reputation and dedication to our- high level of client service. Prashant's track-record in IP strategy and licensing, Harburger's methodical portfolio management, and Andres's thought leadership at the IP-regulatory intersection provide a full-suite of IP related services for emerging companies and complement the expanding life sciences arm of our practice group as we continue to build Greenberg Traurig's preeminent life sciences practice. These strategic hires further reflect our commitment to the life sciences and biotech sectors," said the co-chairs of the firm's Intellectual Property Practice shareholders Ian C. Ballon, Viola Bensinger, Scott J. Bornstein, and Mark R. Galis, in a joint statement.

"Greenberg Traurig's global reach and all-round capabilities with over 2,200 attorneys around the world, provides us a unique opportunity to service all legal needs for our clients under one roof, irrespective of size, specialization, and location anywhere in the world. Importantly, the firm's commitment, investment, and track record in diversity resonates well with our team's vision and objectives," Girinath said.

"Greenberg Traurig offers the platform, commitment to excellence in the delivery of legal services, and reputation that we know will benefit our clients. Additionally, our experience adds to the firm's already strong teams focused on patent prosecution, life sciences, and emerging technologies. We had many options before us and deliberately chose Greenberg Traurig for these reasons as the best new home for our growing practice," said Girinath, Harburger, and Andres in a joint statement.

Earlier this month, the firm added as shareholders David A. Gay, Ph.D., to its Intellectual Property & Technology and Life Sciences & Medical Technology practices in the Los Angeles office, and Andrew F. Halaby in the Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation practices in the Phoenix office. In January, patent attorney Nigamnarayan Acharya joined the practice as a shareholder in Atlanta. Earlier, Stephen G. Anderson, Ph.D., joined as an of counsel, registered patent attorney, in the Orlando office. With these hires, Greenberg Traurig has 18 attorneys and patent agents with Ph.D. degrees.

About Greenberg Traurig's Intellectual Property & Technology Practice: With more than 220 intellectual property attorneys and patent agents in the United States, Asia, and Europe, Greenberg Traurig provides a broad range of patent, trademark and copyright protection and strategic counseling. Greenberg Traurig was named "Law Firm of the Year" for Trademark Law and a "National Tier 1" Law Firm for IP Litigation, Patent Law and Litigation, Copyright Law, and Technology Law by U.S. News and Best Lawyers, 2020 "Best Law Firms."

About Greenberg Traurig's Life Sciences & Medical Technology Group: Greenberg Traurig's Life Sciences & Medical Technology Group advises clients ranging from start-ups to large multinational public companies to leading research institutions. The group's attorneys work closely with clients, providing innovative legal counsel to help them achieve their objectives  from discovery through commercialization and product marketing.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2200 attorneys in 40 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. The firm is net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage and Mansfield Rule 3.0 Certified. Web: www.gtlaw.com

Contact: Lourdes Brezo Martinez, martinezl@gtlaw.com

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/greenberg-traurig-grows-strong-ip-and-life-science-capabilities-team-joins-in-boston-washington-dc-orange-county-ca-301258980.html

SOURCE Greenberg Traurig
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The Select Board is hoping the dangerous unfinished pedestrian way at East Housatonic Street and Carson Avenue can be included in the proposed federal infrastructure bill.

Dalton Ponders Request for Infrastructure Bill

DALTON, Mass.  Dalton is keen to get a deferred pedestrian bridge project in front of Congressman Richard Neal for possible inclusion in the anticipated federal infrastructure bill.

The pedestrian bridge at East Housatonic Street and Carson Avenue is an infrastructure need that was already drafted, but deleted from a previous federal road construction project completed a few years ago. Select Board member John Boyle proposed now is the time to revisit it.

Neal, who Boyle says has been "very conscientious about taking care of the western part of the district," is a key architect in the legislation, as chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.

The previous project, which was undertaken from 2014-2018, included the installation of a sidewalk that now dead ends abruptly at the bridge, forcing pedestrians to cross traffic dangerously.

"Obviously this is a very unhealthy situation," said Boyle. "In my mind, it's a disaster waiting to happen."

Boyle recommended that the town submit a presentation including the previous study and design work, along with traffic commission endorsement, and other narrative materials explaining the importance of the project to Dalton.

Member Joseph Diver was reserved about the proposal, questioning if other town projects, such as needed sewer reconstruction, might be higher priorities to pursue in this bill. Diver suggested this bill has "some hill to climb" yet, offering time for a more exploratory conversation with Neal's office.

"I think we need to move very quickly," disagreed Boyle. "Everyone in the country is going to be having the same thought."

He maintained that the pedestrian bridge option has the advantage of being essentially shovel-ready, with a great deal of costly engineering already completed.

Town Highway Superintendent John Roughly added that upfront engineering costs for any other major project would need to be paid by the town, and it's unlikely they'll be able to fund studying such a project in the immediate future.

"This looks like a good opportunity that we could get a little slice of that pie," said board member Dan Esko.

In the end, Esko and Chairman Robert Bishop favored having Boyle "begin the conversation" with Neal's office about submitting the bridge proposal.

One percent of the approximately $3 trillion 2021 Infrastructure Bill will be devoted to congressional earmarks.

In other town business, the Health Department will make final determinations on Tuesday about plans for reopening Town Hall on Monday, April 5. Dalton will be one of the first town halls in Berkshire County to return to in-person business this year, following re-surging numbers in the region beginning in the fall.

After discussing various options and locations, the Select Board has decided to continue to permit the informal, wooden ramp "skate park" located at Pine Grove Park, for the time being. It was clarified that the town is not liable for their use, since the structures are the property of the youth who set them up.

"I'd rather see them doing it there, than doing it out in the street," said Bishop.
Many of us are beginning to feel like small children who have been dragged up one hill too many by a Victorian nanny pushing her luck, but for our own good.

We are getting tantalisingly close to a national tantrum.

Cajoling and promises of treats at the bend in the road are making us madder still.

The Government has played all its cards but we are where we are...

Liberation will come in six weeks or so, when real progress on vaccination is made.

Trouble is, the programme has been so unsatisfactory both nationally and at EU level that confidence is beginning to wane.

There, therefore, must be complete candour and consistency in handling the two months.

There is a real danger lockdown will become meltdown unless a sense of authority and firm direction is established from the centre, both here and in Brussels. Targets and deliveries have to be met.

For now, the Government knows whatever course it takes will lead to more resentment.

But if this time there really are timelines and achievable goals, which the EU can honour, people will stay the course.

While options are limited, over the past few days weve been told of some easing of State restrictions with a focus on outdoors.

Whether its 5km or 10km, we have grown to appreciate every cherished centimetre.

And as we fall further out of temper, a glimpse at what Sigmund Freud wrote in his Civilisation and its Discontents might be fruitful: It is impossible to escape the impression that people commonly use false standards of measurement  that they seek power, success and wealth for themselves and admire them in others, and that they underestimate what is of true value in life.

The past year has left us in no doubt about what matters, and what we value most.

The difficulty is, even after all the sacrifice, much of it still remains out of reach as the numbers remain so unacceptably high.

Therefore moving in increments is the only course available, despite pressure to do more.

Restoration of limited freedoms is all that can be offered if a fourth wave is to be avoided. Even the countries  including New Zealand, South Korea, Vietnam and China  that have largely stamped out the pandemic through border closures and lock-downs only did so by following up with vigorous test, trace, and isolate programmes.

We are a long way from being able to do likewise.

Many are becoming frustrated at the pace at which we are getting back to normal.

Realism suggests it might be more useful to stop looking at getting back and concentrate on going forward.

Responding to risks and adapting to them is all we can do, given the constraints.

But there is a wisdom in taking to the outdoors.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience...
Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testifies during a congressional hearing in Washington on March 18, 2021. (Susan Walsh/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

CDC Director: New Data Indicates Vaccinated People Do Not Carry CCP Virus

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that people who get COVID-19 vaccines dont carry the virus that causes the disease, the CDCs director said late Monday.

Our data from the CDC today suggests that vaccinated people do not carry the virus, dont get sick, and that its not just in the clinical trials, but its also in real-world data, Rochelle Walensky, the director, said during an appearance on MSNBCs The Rachel Maddow Show.

Vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer were found highly effective in preventing infections of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19, according to results from a real-world study released earlier Monday.

Nearly 4,000 frontline workers self-collected nasal swabs for 13 consecutive weeks in the study, which included about 2,480 people who were fully vaccinated.

The vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer at present require two doses.

Another 12 percent of volunteers were injected with only one dose. The rest received no vaccine.

The study is one of many that supports the vaccines being very effective in preventing virus transmission, Dr. Peter Gulick, an associate professor of Medicine at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University and an expert on infectious diseases, told The Epoch Times.

So you might be asymptomatic and still carry the virus, still be able to transmit it to somebody if there was enough virus, but more and more things are coming out saying thats not so, that even if there was virus in your nose, that it wouldnt be enough to transmit to somebody else, he added. So its kind of reassuring because that was the purpose of people always wearing their masks even after vaccinations when they went into places where people hadnt been vaccinated yet.

Still, Walensky of the CDC remains concerned about a rise in the number of daily CCP virus cases in the United States as a whole.

Im watching the cases tick up. Im watching us have increased numbers of hypertransmissible variants. Im watching our travel numbers tick up. And the sense is, Ive seen what it looks like to anticipate the oncoming surge. And what I really would hate to have happen is to have another oncoming surge. Just as were reaching towards getting so many more people vaccinated, were still losing people at 1,000 deaths a day. And so I just cant face another surge when theres so much optimism right at our fingertips, she said on MSNBC.

Another worry is whether variants of the virus make the vaccines less effective. That makes stopping the circulation of the virus even more urgent, Walensky said.

Approximately 52.6 million Americans were fully vaccinated against the CCP virus, with another 42.5 million getting one of two doses, as of March 29.
Sebastian Stan showed off his chiseled torso and muscular legs on a jog in Beverly Hills Sunday, after discussing whether he would portray a young Luke Skywalker on Good Morning America.

After exciting Star Wars fans by chatting about a future with the franchise, the 38-year-old Falcon And The Winter Soldier Star actor squeezed in his daily workout to maintain his shredded physique.

While going on a brisk run, he wore a plain white t-shirt, AirPods and a pair of black Nike shorts, which displayed his muscular legs.

Fit: Sebastian Stan showed off his chiseled torso and muscular legs on a jog in Beverly Hills Sunday, after discussing portraying a young Luke Skywalker on Good Morning America

Stan kept a pair of black sunglasses perched on top of his head and a face mask on his elbow, while maintaining distance from others amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

His outing comes after Robin Roberts asked him directly how he would feel about stepping into the role as Luke Skywalker, earlier this week.

'People are wondering about you perhaps playing a young Luke Skywalker...' the 60-year-old broadcaster mused during his recent GMA appearance.

Six-pack abs: After delighting Star Wars fans by chatting about a future with the franchise, the 38-year-old Falcon And The Winter Soldier Star actor squeezed in his daily workout to maintain his shredded physique

Active: While going on a run, he wore a plain white t-shirt, AirPods and a pair of black shorts, which displayed his muscular legs

'Even Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker himself, has tweeted his support,' she added.

'Well, if Mark Hamill calls me personally to tell me that he feels inclined to share this role with me, then I'll believe it,' he said cautiously.

Stan admitted: 'Until then, I won't believe it.'

Hot topic: 'People are wondering about you perhaps playing a young Luke Skywalker...' co-host Robin Roberts mused during Sebastian's recent Good Morning America appearance; Hamill seen in The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Hesitant: 'Well, if Mark Hamill calls me personally to tell me that he feels inclined to share this role with me, then I'll believe it,' Stan said cautiously. 'Until then, I won't believe it'

Roberts was referencing a 2017 tweet in which Hamil posted a headshot of Sebastian next to a film still of himself taken from the 1993 film Time Runner.

The side-by-side comparison showed the two actors have remarkably similar facial structures and features.

Other fans have even photoshopped the Marvel actor's face onto Luke Skywalker's body in Star Wars still to prove he's a dead ringer for Hamill, who's now 69.

Twins: Roberts was referencing a 2017 tweet in which Hamil posted a headshot of Sebastian next to a film still of himself taken from the 1993 film Time Runner to show how alike they looked

In 2018, Mark replied to a fan's tweet endorsing Sebastian with more words of encouragement.

'Sebastian doesn't need my stamp of approval!' he wrote. 'He's a wonderful actor & is never less than great in everything he does.'

Notably, the comparisons between Sebastian and Mark only works from The Empire Strikes Back and on.

Between 1977's Star Wars and the first sequel, Hamill was in a major car crash that fractured his nose and cheekbone.

Ouch: Between 1977's Star Wars and the first sequel, Hamill was in a major car crash that altered his facial structure. He returned for 1980's Empire with a significantly different look (Hamil L, Stan R)

He returned for 1980's Empire with a significantly different look, though fans never wavered in their support for the actor, who reprised the role in the most recent Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Sebastian is currently reprising his role as the Winter Soldier in Disney+'s new Marvel series The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, opposite his costar Anthony Mackie.

He debuted a significantly different version of the character in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger with Chris Evans playing the title character, but he emerged decades later as a villain in 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Since then, Sebastian has made major appearances in Captain America: Civil War and the last two Avengers films, this time as a hero.

Taking on the role of Luke Skywalker might not even be much of a stretch for the actor, as both Marvel and the Star Wars empire were bought up by Disney in recent years.
The fallout from Armie Hammer's sexual assault scandal continues, with the actor dropped from his last remaining film in development, Billion Dollar Spy.

The 34-year-old actor was originally cast in the Cold War drama back in October 2020, set to star alongside Mads Mikkelsen for director Amma Asante (Belle).

The project was the last movie he had in the works since word of scandal first broke in January, with Variety adding there is no word yet on who will take on the role now.

Dropped: The fallout from Armie Hammer's sexual assault scandal continues, with the actor dropped from his last remaining film in development, Billion Dollar Spy

Former co-star: The 34-year-old actor was originally cast in the Cold War drama back in October 2020, set to star alongside Mads Mikkelsen for director Amma Asante (Belle)

Hammer was slated to portray Brad Reid, who is a new arrival at the CIA's Moscow station during the Cold War.

Reid strikes up a friendship with Russian engineer Adolf Tolkachev (Mikkelsen), despite being warned that Tolkachev likely is working with the KGB.

Tolkachev is ultimately working with the KGB, though he surprisingly turns over a slew of military secrets, earning him the nickname Billion Dollar Spy.

Character: Hammer was slated to portray Brad Reid, who is a new arrival at the CIA's Moscow station during the Cold War

Engineer: Reid strikes up a friendship with Russian engineer Adolf Tolkachev (Mikkelsen), despite being warned that Tolkachev likely is working with the KGB

The project is based on a true story, with Benjamin August (Remember) writing the screenplay adaptation based on the book by David E. Hoffman.

Reps from director Asante and the project's financier, Walden Media, had no comment on Hammer's exit.

Hammer's departure follows him leaving two other high profile projects, in the wake of his sexual assault scandal.

True story: The project is based on a true story, with Benjamin August (Remember) writing the screenplay adaptation based on the book by David E. Hoffman

Director Amma: Reps from director Asante and the project's financier, Walden Media, had no comment on Hammer's exit

He previously backed out of Shotgun Wedding, where he was set to star alongside Jennifer Lopez.

He also bowed out of the Paramount Plus series The Offer, which chronicled the making of the 1972 classic The Godfather.

Hammer was slated to portray producer Albert S. Ruddy, who details his experiences making what would go on to be considered among the best movies of all time.

Producer: Hammer was slated to portray producer Albert S. Ruddy, who details his experiences making what would go on to be considered among the best movies of all time

Hammer has been accused by multiple women of rape, who came forward with attorney Gloria Allred in a press conference in March.

The allegations lead to the Los Angeles Police Department launching an investigation into the actor, whose only statement said the allegations were, 'bulls**t claims' and, 'vicious and spurious online attacks against him.'

The actor does have a number of projects that had already been shot prior to the scandal, including Kenneth Branagh's Death on the Nile and Taika Waititi's Next Goal Wins.
The airport ground workers who demonstrated in front of the Verdi trade union headquarters in Frankfurt am Main last Tuesday carried a funeral wreath. The group of workers were arbitrarily dismissed by the company, WISAG, three months ago.

At Tuesdays protest the workers loudly accused the Verdi service workers trade union of abandoning them. We are fighting for our jobs and our rightsbut where was Verdi all this time? cried out Riza Kodak, a spokesperson for the group.

The Verdi secretary responsible for the workers sent his apologies and refused to meet with them. Not surprisingly, the union had nothing to say to the WISAG workers.

The skyline on the banks of the Main River in Frankfurt; far left, the IG Metall tower

The funeral wreath is a fitting symbol for the trade unions as a whole in this day and age. Unions such as Verdi, IG Metall and others are no longer in the land of the living when it comes to defending the interests of the working class. The unions stand with both feet on the side of the corporations and defend the capitalist profit system. They are paid handsomely by the companies for assuming their roles as company police in the factories and directing workers opposition to wage cuts and dismissals into the dead end of toothless protests. The huge IG Metall tower alongside the German Trade Union Federation (DGB) building on the banks of the Main River in the finance centre of Frankfurt is emblematic of the role of the trade unions.

The WISAG workers have suffered personally from the vile role played by Verdi and have every right to turn their backs on the union. However, it is not enough to break with the organisation and then seek to build another union. To truly defend jobs and wages, workers have to break with the entire perspective of the trade unions, which advocate mass layoffs and wage cuts in order to advance the profits and competitiveness of the company that employs them. They effectively degrade workers to the level of supplicants.

This is particularly evident at WISAG. Some of the workers switched to the sectional IGL, hoping that the smaller union would better represent their interests than the Verdi bureaucrats. For its part the IGL leadership has made abundantly clear that it will not oppose Verdis cronyism, but instead seeks to replace Verdi as the companys union guard dog. The IGLs problem is that the airline companies have so far refused to take up the unions offer.

The deputy leader of the IGL, Daniel Wollenberg, had already made clear in a video broadcast on January 29 that his union would be prepared to impose punitive sanctions on airline workers if WISAG were prepared to accept IGL as negotiating partner.

We are not dreamers. We see whats going on at the moment. The crisis is getting worse and we all dont know where the journey is going, Wollenberg explained, adding that short-time work could be extended and layoffs eventually replaced by temporary part-time contracts. In order to impose such measures, WISAG would have to talk to the IGL executive. We would be willing to do that, Wollenberg said.

Temporary part-time contractsthis is a worse alternative to the miserable fixed-term contracts WISAG offered some workers back in December to replace their previous contracts. Workers quite rightly rejected them outright at the time.

The IGL never seriously supported the hunger strike and protests of the WISAG workers. It did, however, send futile pleading letters to Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (Social Democratic Party, SPD). At the same time it refrained from informing its members in other companies or WISAG workers at other locations about their colleagues industrial action. It also refused to organise any solidarity declarations or actions by other workers. The truth is that the union actively opposes those seeking to wage a real struggle.

When the World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party (SGP) publicised the WISAG workers hunger strike internationally and won the support of workers all around the world, IGL representatives excluded those expressing solidarity and SGP members from the Facebook group set up by the workers themselves.

One IGL member, who made it known on Facebook that he approved of the xenophobic, far-right Alternative for Germany grouping in the state of Hesse, threatened those who were critical of the IGL, stating that their presence at protest actions was not desired.

The sabotaging of the WISAG workers struggle by the IGL and the right-wing elements associated with it is no coincidence. It is the direct consequence of a trade union perspective. The globalisation of production has stripped away the basis for reforms based on a nationally organised labour market.

In the past the unions were able to achieve temporary improvements for workers by applying pressure to capitalist companies and the political parties in power. Today the reverse is the case. The unions put pressure on workers in order to maintain the competitiveness of their own companies on the world market.

This tendency has now come to a head with the pandemic. Big companies are raking in record profits having received billions of taxpayer euros at the expense of workers health. At the same time, they are using the terrible consequences of the pandemic as an excuse to carry out long-planned company restructuring, wage cuts and layoffs with the unions implementing the company strategy against the workers.

Workers can only defend themselves against this broad offensive by waging a common struggle. What is necessary is exactly what the unions are seeking to suppress at all costs: the international mobilisation of workers in a European general strike against the policies of mass infections, mass layoffs and wage robbery.

Such a mobilisation must commence with a socialist perspective. The rights of workers and their basic interests stand above the profit interests of the oligarchs, shareholders and speculators. The struggle against the pandemic requires a democratically planned economy serving the needs of the broad masses of the population. This necessity has been confirmed time and time again in the past few months with its attendant terrible death toll.

Under these conditions the struggle by WISAG workers gains great importance. It has inspired workers all over the world because it represented a break from the union straitjacket. The workers slogan Today ustomorrow you! is correct. It is not addressed to politicians and union bureaucrats, but rather to fellow airport workers and all the sections of the working class.

The key issue now is to extend the struggle and make it the starting point of a broad mobilisation. This is the only realistic way to defend jobs and requires a break not only with Verdi but also with the IGL leadership, which is offering its services to the bosses as the more effective policeman. Instead of protesting at the union offices, WISAG workers should approach Opel auto workers in Russelsheim, who are also threatened with layoffs, and commence a common struggle.

We need an open and uncensored discussion about these issues. I therefore call on all colleagues at WISAG to join the Facebook page of the Network of Action Committees for Safe Workplaces and prepare to discuss the basis for a genuinely democratic action committee at WISAG.
Business leaders last night united with MPs to plead with the Prime Minister to resume foreign travel.

They warned that more than a million jobs were at risk if Boris Johnson failed to get Britain flying again.

In letter to the PM, they said firms across the country faced devastation if planes were kept grounded.

Business leaders have united with MPs warning the Prime Minister that millions of jobs are at risk if Britain does not get flying again. Pictured: Passengers arrive at Heathrow last summer

The PM has pencilled in May 17 as the earliest date when foreign travel could resume, but there are fears he will push this back as the continent is hit by a third coronavirus wave.

Mr Johnson will give an update on his plans on Monday, but sources say he is likely to declare it is still too early to set a firm date for when borders can reopen.

Following pleas from a group of 40 MPs on Monday, industry leaders from the British Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses and UK Hospitality said the economic recovery would be put at risk if overseas trips remained illegal.

If we cannot start flying again this summer, the further damage to UK businesses large and small would be severe, they wrote.

The PM has pencilled in May 17 as the earliest date when foreign travel could resume, but there are fears he will push this back as the continent is hit by a third coronavirus wave

Aviation is vital to the UKs economic recovery from the pandemic. Our air links are not a frivolous luxury.

'They connect Britain with the world and link British products, experiences and expertise with billions of potential buyers overseas.

Masks are law on las playas Holidaymakers must wear face masks on Spanish beaches this summer  even while sunbathing, officials said yesterday. Children over the age of six will be included in the rule, the countrys government announced. Tourists breaking the law, which comes into force today, could be fined 85. The rule applies across Spain, including the Costa del Sol and Canary Islands. Masks will not be needed while swimming in the sea or exercising outdoors. Advertisement

The business groups said the success of the vaccine rollout should allow us to push on with rebuilding the businesses, jobs and livelihoods that have been hit so hard by our forced isolation.

Their warning was boosted by research showing the economy will take a 47.6 billion hit if Mr Johnson delays the resumption of foreign travel from May 17 until the end of the year  the equivalent of 200 million a day.

The study commissioned by Airlines UK, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester Airports Group warned this would put more than a million jobs at risk across the economy, including 125,000 in the international tourism sector.

The report stated that plotting a clear course out of lockdown for the aviation industry is vital not only for the survival of the industry itself but also for the recovery of the wider UK economy.

The UK is, fundamentally, a trading nation and has been for centuries. Its wealth and prosperity are inextricably linked to its ability to interact with global markets. Without air travel, this ability is severely limited.

It needs to be remembered that air travel is not just about holidays. A significant proportion of passengers travel for business and air transport also plays a central role in moving cargo around the world.

'The UKs ability to develop export markets, to source materials and expertise from overseas, to attract foreign direct investment, and to bring international visitors to the country is dependent on air travel.

'The longer that the reopening of international travel is delayed, the greater the economic cost will be to the UKs economy.

Following pleas from a group of 40 MPs on Monday, industry leaders from the British Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses and UK Hospitality said the economic recovery would be put at risk if overseas trips remained illegal. Pictured: Passengers at Heathrow in February

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: There are tens of thousands of jobs dependent upon aviation and restarting travel, and the sector cannot survive another lost summer with little or no revenue.

'We can do this proportionately and in a risk-based way  its not a question of opening up the border to every country out there.

Where it is safe to do so we need to start the process of opening up. We cannot with a straight face talk about Global Britain without aviation.

Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon fuelled suspicions Mr Johnson will delay plans to resume foreign holidays, saying: The four-nations discussions weve had in recent weeks would make me sceptical about whether international travel would resume in England from May 17.

Dear Prime Minister

Aviation is vital to the UKs economic recovery from the pandemic. Our air links are not a frivolous luxury.

They connect Britain with the world and link British products, experiences and expertise with billions of potential buyers overseas.

Pre-pandemic, some 49 per cent of the total value of UK exports outside of the EU travelled by air  a majority on board passenger aircraft.

If we cannot start flying again this summer, the further damage to UK businesses large and small would be severe  hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk, hospitality devastated, exporters unable to move their goods.

A safe, managed restart is the way forward, with restrictions remaining on high-risk countries, but air links re-established where the risks of variants is low and where the UKs vaccination success should allow us to push on with rebuilding the businesses, jobs and livelihoods that have been hit so hard by our forced isolation.

Yours sincerely
Shittu Adebayo narrowly escaped a kidnap attempt in February. The 40-year-old signage writer was returning from work around 8 p.m. when his car came under gunfire less than 200 metres to his house. The house is in an estate in Pegi, a community in Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Mr Adebayo abandoned his car and fled into the bush, keeping to a footpath that led to the fence of the estate.

They eventually turned back when they saw that I was approaching the estate gate. Police and other people that heard the gunshots were already waiting for me in the estate, he narrated to our reporter in February, as he showed pictures of his bullet-riddled and blood-stained car.

Edwin Obiekwe, 65, had a similar experience seven days earlier but was not as lucky as Mr Adebayo. He had instinctively turned off his cars engine when he saw two men shooting at his vehicle.

I turned off my engine and laid down in the bush behind my car. But the two men came flashing their torchlights. They found me and led me into the bush to join six other people they had kidnapped, he recalled.

I told them I was coming from Jabi where I went to collect money from my brother to eat. They asked how much? I said N20,000. They forced their hands into my pocket and took all the money, my eye glasses, handkerchief and car key.

Mr Obiekwe said the robbers then released him when they noticed his poor health.

Kidnap-for-ransom in Pegi

Despite housing a division of the Nigerian police and a naval barracks, kidnap-for-ransom is rife in Pegi.

Community leaders said at least 30 persons had been kidnapped in the area in the last two years and about N50 million had been paid as ransom. But PREMIUM TIMES investigation identified about 49 direct victims of abductions in the area within that period.

Situated south of Kuje, the headquarters of one of Abujas six area councils, Pegi has a population of about 16,000 made up of mostly farmers, civil servants and artisans.

A massive demolition of unapproved structures in Abuja between 2003 and 2007 when Nasir El-Rufai was the FCT minister had forced many to relocate from the municipality to new settlements in rural area councils like Kuje.

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Pegi had hosted the Abuja at 30 celebration in February 2006. Many of those who relocated to Kuje had hoped the event would hasten development in the area. But that hope has not been met as the government has failed to provide basic amenities for the rising population. The residents believe the neglect has contributed to security challenges in the area.

It started with burglary, rape, armed robbery and ritual killings. But the worst of it all has been the rise in kidnap cases in the last four years, the chairman of the Pegi community association, Aderibigbe Taiwo, told PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Aderibigbe moved into the community in 2010.

Genesis

Pegi recorded its first incident of abduction in December 2018. The victim, one Mr Atanda, was shot and left for dead at the scene before he was rescued. On December 6, 2018, a naval officer and one civilian were seriously injured in another incident less than 300 metres from the community.

What began as isolated incidents that year have since morphed into about six cases monthly, community officials said. Most of the attacks happened along bush paths within the area, in zones A and B, Kpapere and Pegi village.

In October 2019, nine persons were kidnapped in the community.

ALSO READ: Ogun community leader kidnappers demand N100 million

One of the nine persons, a Chief Superintendent of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NCDC), Samuel Ako, died of complications from the gunshot he received while he was being kidnapped, Mr Taiwo told this newspaper.

Another NSCDC officer and one Alhaji Rilwan were also later abducted and paid ransoms to regain their freedom.

Trauma

Cindy Jane (not real name) still carries the trauma of her encounter with kidnappers a few months ago. She was kidnapped right inside her house in Pegi and was released only after her family and friends paid a ransom of N3 million.

It was an experience I will never wish even for my enemies, Ms Jane told PREMIUM TIMES.

I would have left this area if not that this house is ours. Since that day, we have been living in fear of not if, but who next, she said.

Residents said most of the kidnap cases used to happen along the main road linking the area to the Abuja municipal area, until recently when the kidnappers took their operations to the residents doorsteps.

Pegi was thrown into pandemonium in November 2020 when five siblings were kidnapped from their home. Four months later on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, four other persons were also abducted from their homes in Kiyi, a village about three kilometres from Pegi.

One of the victims was Olalekan Salami, a senior official of the FCT Administration, for whose release the kidnappers demanded N50 million as ransom. It was not clear how much was eventually paid to the hoodlums.

Poor road network

Residents said about 80 per cent of the kidnap cases in Pegi occurred on roads within the community while most of the other cases were recorded on the abandoned 14-kilometre Kuje-Pegi road under construction. The road connects Pegi, Gafara and Kuje.

The contract was awarded over nine years ago at the cost of N678 million to Verallen Nigeria Limited when Adamu Aliero was FCT minister. But the project was abandoned despite the payment of N110 million as mobilisation fee to the contractor. The residents have sent countless letters of appeal to the FCT Administration, petitions to an anti-corruption agency, and even organised protests but all to no avail.

The FCT Administration has been playing politics with the construction of the road. We have written a petition for intervention of state services. We have also written to the ICPC, the community chairman said.

Officials: No comment

In reaction to inquiries by Premium Times, the spokesperson of Verallen Nigeria Limited, Allen Egbe, blamed the government for the abandonment of the project.

The government is owing us. Did anybody collect money from the government and not do the job? Talk to the government, he said over the phone.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Olusade Adesola, however, ignored repeated requests for comments. The Director of Satellite Town Development Department (STTD), Obiora Nwankwo, also declined comment on the ground that he did not have the permission of the minister to speak to the media.

The district police officer of Pegi Police Division, Magit Solomon, also refused to comment on the security challenges in the community, instead directing the reporter to the spokesperson of the police in the FCT, Mariam Yusuf. But Ms Yusuf also did not respond to phone calls and text messages.

The Commander of the Navy Barracks in the Pegi, Abdulahi Amhed, also declined to provide comments for this report.
To the Editor:

Re Stop It With Gun Control. Enough Already (column, March 28):

Frank Bruni is right that the phrase gun control is incendiary, unnecessarily getting in the way of the kind of common-sense gun policies that could attract broad bipartisan support. The phrase he is searching for is responsible gun ownership. This phrase recognizes that gun ownership will remain a feature of American life for the foreseeable future and emphasizes the necessity of responsibility, a key virtue in a republic.

Living in Vermont, a state where many people own guns and use them safely, I often say that we need gun regulations designed by Vermont hunters and sportsmen. With its positive assertion of the right to own guns, I am sure you could get a majority of them behind the phrase responsible gun ownership.

Al Zaccor

Bridport, Vt.

To the Editor:

The expression Frank Bruni is searching for is weapon management.

As a United Nations disarmament expert in Afghanistan, I learned that gun control proved unrealistic in that country, where, as the Afghans like to say, Women wear jewelry, men wear guns.

We moved from disarmament into management, which meant registration of legal firearms, verification of an owners good reputation, checks on safe ammunition storage, etc. Weapon management is something every American should be able to understand and approve.
VICTOR J. BLUE

A summary of President John Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage" posted on the U.S. Senate website describes how Kansas Sen. Edmund Ross cast the deciding vote against removing President Andrew Johnson from office. According to the summary he reasoned that "... if a president could be forced out of office by insufficient evidence that was based on partisan disagreement, the presidency would then be under the control of whatever congressional faction held sway."

Kennedy recognized in Ross a certain courage to stand on principle that is essential to the character of our democracy. A rush to judgment often renders bitter fruit. President Joe Biden is wise to show restraint and to support careful adjudication.
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TSXV: CSTR

TORONTO, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - CryptoStar Corp. (TSXV: CSTR) ("CryptoStar" or the "Company"), a cryptocurrency mining and data centre operator, is pleased to announce that, further to the execution of a definitive agreement announced on March 8, 2021, the Company and a Hong Kong based company (the "Vendor") have renegotiated an equipment purchase agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") effective March 7, 2021 to acquire a combination of GPU and ASIC miners in exchange for 5,927,151 units ("Units") of the Company at a deemed value of CAD$1,422,516.24 (the "Transaction"). The Company will issue an additional 355,629 Units (the "Finder's Fee") to Chen Peifeng in connection with Transaction. As compared to the terms announced on March 8, 2021, the renegotiation represents a 25.5% reduction in the deemed value of the Definitive Agreement and a 25.5% reduction in the number of Units to be exchanged.

Each Unit consists of one common share of CryptoStar (a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant of CryptoStar (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at a price of CAD $0.36 per Common Share for a period of 18 months from the date of issue.

The Transaction, including payment of the Finder's Fee, is subject to TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") approval.

Highlights of the Transaction:

The Vendor will deliver GPU and ASIC miners capable of an approximate total Hashrate of 25,950 MH/s and 5,510 TH/s respectively.

It is anticipated that the GPU and ASIC miners will be delivered to CryptoStar's data centres in Alberta, Canada within 14 days.

within 14 days. The deployment of 25,950 MH/s and 5,510 TH/s of Hashrate using the latest generation GPU and ASIC miners is expected to contribute USD$138,908.35 per month in self-mining revenue for CryptoStar. CryptoStar plans to continue to further expand its self-mining inventory of mining hardware.

(Source: https://whattomine.com/ Mining metrics are calculated based on and ETH - USD exchange rate of 1 ETH = $1,836.01 and a BTC - USD exchange rate of 1 BTC = $58,973.49 updated at 2021-03-30 11:07:01 UTC ).

CryptoStar is also pleased to announce that the Company has purchased additional mining Hashrate from additional suppliers (the "Purchases").

Highlights of the Purchases:

The additional suppliers will deliver GPU and ASIC miners capable of an approximate total Hashrate of 24,000 MH/s and 11,950 TH/s respectively.

It is anticipated that the GPU miners will be delivered to CryptoStar's data centres in Alberta within 21 days and the ASIC miners are scheduled for delivery by the end of May 2021 .

within 21 days and the ASIC miners are scheduled for delivery by the end of . The deployment of 24,000 MH/s and 11,950 TH/s of additional mining Hashrate using the latest generation GPU and ASIC miners is expected to contribute an additional USD$205,021.72 per month in self-mining revenue for CryptoStar. CryptoStar plans to continue to further expand its self-mining inventory of mining hardware.

(Source: https://whattomine.com/ Mining metrics are calculated based on and ETH - USD exchange rate of 1 ETH = $1,836.01 and a BTC - USD exchange rate of 1 BTC = $58,973.49 updated at 2021-03-30 11:07:01 UTC ).

The combined total deployment of 49,950 MH/s and 17,460 TH/s of self-mining Hashrate using the latest generation GPU and ASIC miners is expected to contribute USD$343,930.07 per month in self-mining revenue for CryptoStar.

(Source: https://whattomine.com/ Mining metrics are calculated based on and ETH - USD exchange rate of 1 ETH = $1,836.01 and a BTC - USD exchange rate of 1 BTC = $58,973.49 updated at 2021-03-30 11:07:01 UTC).

David Jellins, President and Chief Executive Officer of CryptoStar states, "We are delighted to be adding self-mining Hashrate using this highly sought-after GPU and ASIC mining equipment. We are looking forward to taking delivery of the additional GPU and ASIC miners from our Vendor and from our additional suppliers. We are also looking forward to self-mining on a larger scale as we continue to add further self-mining Hashrate throughout the remainder of 2021 and beyond. The Company has transitioned from a self-mining, Bitcoin only, company to a self-miner of both Bitcoin and Ethereum and CryptoStar is now able to host in Alberta, Canada for cryptocurrency mining customers from around the globe at amongst the lowest power rates available in North America."

About CryptoStar Corp.:

CryptoStar has cryptocurrency mining operations with data centres located in the U.S.A. and Canada. CryptoStar is currently dedicated to becoming one of the lowest cost hosting and cryptocurrency producers in North America and a major supplier of GPU and ASIC miners worldwide.

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 press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as, "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "intends", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include those relating to the Transaction and the Purchases including completion of the Transaction and approval of the TSXV thereof, the payment of the Finder's Fee, the time to deliver the GPU and ASIC miners, the expected revenue generating capabilities of the GPU and ASIC miners, and CryptoStar's plans to continue to further expand its self-mining inventory of mining hardware and self-mine on a larger scale. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from that expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements in this press release, and, accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements and they are not guarantees of future results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual future results or anticipated events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward looking statements. Except as required by law, CryptoStar undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE CryptoStar Corp.

For further information: CryptoStar Corp., Attention: David Jellins, President and Chief Executive Officer, Investors: [email protected], Sales: [email protected], W: www.cryptostar.com
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Ninik Lunde, a lecturer in the department of South and Southeast Asian Studies at UC Berkeley, performs a traditional dance during an event in 2018 at the universitys South/Southeast Asia Library. Thousands of UC Berkeley students of Asian descent, including Indian American students, organized against the universitys proposed move to close the South/Southeast Asia Library. (J. Pierre Carrillo/UC Berkeley Library photo)
On 23 March 2021, WCO Deputy Secretary General Mr. Ricardo Trevino Chapa attended a meeting of the European Union (EU) Council Customs Cooperation Working Party (CCWP) under the Portuguese Presidency. The CCWP focuses on operational cooperation among national Customs administrations within the EU with a view to increasing their enforcement capabilities.

On this occasion, Mr. Ricardo Trevino Chapa gave a keynote presentation on the WCOs approach regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Noting that the spread of the disease had had unintended impacts on borders and thereby on trade, transport and travel, he explained the four axes of Customs response to this pandemic, namely: i) facilitation of the cross-border movement of relief, essential and medical supplies; ii) support to the economy and the supply chain continuity; iii) protecting Customs staff; and iv) protecting society from counterfeit and sub-standard medical products.

Deputy Secretary General Trevino Chapa went on to describe the concrete actions taken by the WCO, such as the creation of a dedicated section on the WCO Website including all the relevant instruments, tools and guidance, the development of a WCO COVID-19 Action Plan stemming from the Resolution endorsed by the WCO Council to facilitate the cross-border movement of situationally critical medicines and vaccines, and the creation of a Passenger Facilitation and Control Working Group, which will meet for the first time on 8 April 2021. The publication of a Secretariat Note and of the Harmonized System reference codes for vaccines were also highlighted.

In addition, the WCO Deputy Secretary General mentioned that the success of Operation STOP had led to a decision to launch Operation STOP II to protect the public against counterfeit/illicit medicines and other sub-standard medical supplies and equipment linked to COVID-19. Furthermore, a global webinar series with pharmaceutical companies is currently ongoing, to improve Customs' awareness in relation to COVID-19 vaccines and help them fight against illicit trafficking.

He concluded his presentation by referring to the Information & Intelligence Centre (I2C) COVID-19 Activities, providing daily open-source news updates on COVID-19 issues, and by thanking the CCWP and the Portuguese Presidency for their continued efforts in Customs matters.
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Saney, the teacher from Greenwich Village, said some members of her immediate family do not yet qualify for the vaccine, and she longs to be face to face with them safely. But causing her greater anguish is the fact that her mother, an 89-year-old U.S. citizen, has been stuck in their home country of Iran where she was on a visit before the pandemic began, and unable to get a shot.

After losing thousands of jobs to the pandemic downturn, robotics and automation could slash hundreds of thousands more oil and gas jobs around the world and sharply reduce labor costs by 2030, according to Norwegian energy research firm Rystad Energy.

At least 20 percent of the jobs in drilling, operational support and maintenance could be automated in the next 10 years, Rystad said Monday, with U.S. employment needs reduced by more than 140,000 workers.

The industry has already seen significant job losses. Nearly 60,000 oil exploration and production jobs in Texas were lost in 2020, as the global pandemic caused an unprecedented oil crash. Nationally, the oil and gas industry lost an estimated 107,000 jobs during the pandemic, according to global consulting firm Deloitte.

The use of robots is already emerging as a low-cost alternative in the offshore industry, where they can stay underwater permanently and easily access places that are difficult to reach for submersibles remotely operated by humans.

JOB CUTS: Texas loses jobs for first time in 10 months

But their use in inspection, maintenance and repairs is where robotics has gained the most traction in recent years. For example, the self-propelled robotics arms developed by Kongsberg Maritime and used by Norwegian operator Equinor can travel longer distances and carry out subsea maintenance and repair in confined spaces.

Drilling, which is costly work and involves dangerous tasks in challenging environments, also stands to be upended by robots.

Robotic drilling systems can potentially reduce the number of roughnecks required on a drilling rig by 20 to 30 percent, decreasing the annual cost of U.S. wages in the industry by more than $7 billion by 2030, according to Rystad.

The number of drilling rigs in Texas has already plunged. The figure decreased by more than 60 percent in 2020, dropping to 155 in December, the lowest level since Baker Hughes started tallying the weekly rig count in 1944.

Technological advancements and resulting job cuts are not new to the industry, which has become more efficient over the years, said Karr Ingham, economist at the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, an industry organization focused on independent producers.

"We don't need as many employees to produce record and growing amounts of crude oil and natural gas, and potentially as much as we need," Ingham said. "These efficiencies have been coming. They've been in place and growing for some time. All industries do this."

The advancements will help the industry save money, Ingham said.

"It's time, labor and money saving," he said. "It is the objective of any firm, which is to produce to the most of what I can produce with the fewest resources deployed at the lowest cost possible."

Sumit Yadav, a service analyst at Rystad, said in a Monday release that these savings will be partially offset by the considerable investments in new technology.

While the emergence of robotics in the oil and gas industry seems inevitable, there are challenges that will delay full-scale adoption by a few years, including their long-term reliability. Robots, according to Rystad, have yet to be widely tested and have limited communication capabilities between units.

In addition, labor organizations will likely fight further automation and use of robotics, which may be subject to tests to ensure they meet federal safety and environmental standards, Rystad said.
LONDON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CCC), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, announced today it will report its financial results for the first quarter 2021 before the market opens on Thursday, April 29. The press release and earnings supplement, with accompanying financial information, will be posted on the Clarivate investor website at www.clarivate.com. The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, April 29 at 8:00 AM Eastern Time to review the results.

The live webcast of the call will be accessible through the investor relations section of the Company's website. To join the webcast please visit https://services.choruscall.com/links/clvt210429.html. A replay will also be available on the investor relations section of the Company's website.

Interested parties may access the live audio broadcast by dialing (888) 317-6003 (in the United States), 412-317-6061 (International) and 866-284-3684 (Canada). The conference ID number is 1743322.

An audio replay will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call at 877-344-7529 (in the US), 412-371-0088 (International) and 855-669-9658 (Canada). The replay access code is 10153161. The recording will be available for replay through May 13, 2021.

About Clarivate

Clarivate is a global leader in providing solutions to accelerate the lifecycle of innovation. Our bold mission is to help customers solve some of the world's most complex problems by providing actionable information and insights that reduce the time from new ideas to life-changing inventions in the areas of science and intellectual property. We help customers discover, protect and commercialize their inventions using our trusted subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise. For more information, please visit clarivate.com.

Category: Earnings

Source: Clarivate Plc

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Thats 24.1 centimeters if you prefer the metric system, which is a lot for a station wagon in crossover attire. The Wilderness also comes standard with the most powerful version of the 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder boxer, tuned to crank out 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet (376 Nm) of torque.Exclusive to North America for the 2022 model year, the Wilderness is aimed at customers with an elevated sense of adventure and a desire to discover more of whats out there. Overlanding is made easier by the dual-function X-Mode system, which includes Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes.Subaru modified the Lineartronic continuously variable transmission to achieve a final drive ratio of 4.44:1 up front as well, improving low-end torque at the wheels to climb gravel-ridden grades of up to 40 percent. Matte-black wheels complement the white-letter rubber shoes, and Subaru brings the point home with a front skid plate and large fender flares.Wilderness models further stand out in the crowd with the help of badges emblazoned on the liftgate and front fenders, hex-designed fog lights with light-emitting diodes, anti-glare hood decal in matte black, and black finish for the window trim. As for the two hooks and tie-down points, Subaru decided on Anodized Copper for maximum visual impact.The most capable Outback of them all utilizes a fixed ladder-type roof rack system that promises a static load limit of 700 pounds (318 kilograms), allowing the customers to use a roof-top tent wherever the off-road trail may take them. Finally, the Wilderness takes inspiration from National Parks in the U.S. and the automakers rally heritage for the Geyser Blue exterior color.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Areas of patchy fog. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has rejected austerity measures for Nigerians, asking the federal gov...

Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has rejected austerity measures for Nigerians, asking the federal government to introduce stimulus packages instead.





Speaking at the colloquium held in commemoration of his 69th birthday on Monday, Tinubu said citizens have been fasting for so many years.

Nigeria recently hit its highest record of unemployment ever just as the country exited a pandemic-induced recession.

The Buhari administration has, however, not been able to introduce new widespread measures to cushion effects of the ensuing hardship other than the social welfare packages that have been in place.





Speaking at the colloquium in Kano state, Tinubu said the executive and national assembly must intervene with heavy stimulus packages just as is being done in some countries like United States.

It is time to put stimulus in place. This is no time for austerity; this is not the time to constrain the economy, the former governor of Lagos told a gathering mostly consisting of the ruling APC chieftains.

This is the time to create the opportunity. If you hear America spending $1.9tn and they are not looking back and they are still asking for $3 trillion for infrastructure and renewal and creating jobs and your own unemployment rate is 33 percent and you ask us to keep on fasting.





We are not fasting any more. We have been fasting for many years. I hope the national assembly (and) the president himself will not pay attention to austerity.

Nigerians have been fasting for a very long time; we need a break now. Your own employment rate is 33 percent and you ask us to keep on fasting. The one we are fasting spiritually is voluntary. We have been fasting for so many years.

The APC leader added that the president and federal lawmakers must not pay attention to austerity because it is only the state that must constrain itself and balance budget.
[March 30, 2021] Augmedics, Augmented Reality Surgical Image Guidance Pioneer, Raises $36 Million in Series C Fundraising

Augmedics, a pioneer in augmented reality surgical image guidance, announced today that it has raised $36 million in an over-subscribed Series C financing with an international syndicate of Israel-US investors. This comes only eight months after the company closed a $21 million Series B financing, bringing the total funding to date to $63 million. H.I.G. Capital, Revival Healthcare Capital, and Almeda Ventures led this financing round and are joined by two strategic investors including HCA Healthcare Health Insight Capital, as well as existing investor XR Invest (formally known as AO Invest). With this financing Bruce Robertson (H.I.G.) and Rick Anderson (Revival) will join the board of Augmedics and Amir Blatt (Almeda) will join as a board observer. In December 2019, Augmedics announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance and the launch of its xvision Spine System (XVS) in the U.S., the first and only FDA-approved augmented reality surgical image guidance system. The xvision Spine System allows surgeons to visualize the 3D spinal anatomy of a patient during surgery as if they had "x-ray vision," and to accurately navigate instruments and implants while looking directly at the patient, rather than a remote screen. The system is designed to revolutionize how surgery is performed by giving the surgeon better visualization, control, and accuracy. Augmedics began sales of xvision Spine in the U.S. in the second half of 2020 and closed the year with over 250 spinal surgeries performed with the system. The financing round will be used by Augmedics to continue its commercialization throughout the U.S. and into OUS markets, develop the next generation of products, expand to new indications, and obtain CE certification for sales in Europe. "We are very pleased to have completed this large financing round led by H.I.G. Capital, Revival Healthcare Capital, and Almeda Ventures, which will enable us to promote and expand our operations and meet the strong demand we are experiencing for our technology in the U.S. following our commercial launch last year," said Nissan Elimelech, CEO and founder of Augmedics. "In this fundraising process, we could not have asked for stronger partners than H.I.G., Revival, and Almeda, who immediately recognized the enormous potential of Augmedics' technology. We are also thrilled to hav two key strategic partners invest in the round, including HCA Healthcare, the leading U.S. healthcare system."



"Augmedics is a commercial success story of integrating breakthrough medical technology into complex surgeries, a trend that we believe will only grow stronger," said Bruce Robertson, Managing Director at H.I.G. Capital. "The significant volume of sales they had in a short period of time during the COVID-19 pandemic indicates the strong demand for the xvision system by spine surgeons. We are excited to be partnering with the company's experienced leadership team, comprised of leading medical AR development professionals, experienced marketing and sales professionals, and a CEO who successfully led the company to success in a challenging year. This financing paves the way for continued growth and significant value creation." "Augmented reality is at the leading edge of medical technology innovation in navigation and digital surgery," said Rick Anderson, Chairman and Managing Director of Revival Healthcare Capital. "The majority of spine and orthopedic procedures performed today are done without navigation and we have the opportunity to significantly improve outcomes for patients and physicians alike. The xvision Spine System may enable surgeons to be better, faster and more accurate, providing a significant runway for expansion in the currently approved indication and beyond. We are excited to partner with Nissan and his team to bring this revolutionary technology to surgeons around the world."

Augmedics' mission is to give surgeons more control by creating technological advances that cater to their needs and fit within their existing workflow. The company's flagship xvision Spine System is designed to revolutionize surgery, as it gives surgeons the information they need, directly within their working field of sight, to instill technological confidence in the surgical workflow and help them do their jobs as effectively and safely as possible. The Augmedics xvision Spine System has now successfully launched and is being used in renowned hospitals and surgical centers in the U.S. to help surgeons confidently and efficiently care for patients. Augmedics plans to explore additional surgical applications for xvision beyond spinal surgery. The system's small footprint, economical cost, and compatibility with current instrumentation is designed to allow easy integration into any surgical facility worldwide. New Harbor Venture Partners acted as transaction advisors to Augmedics. About Augmedics Augmedics (Chicago, IL) is an augmented reality surgical image guidance pioneer that aims to improve healthcare by augmenting surgery with cutting edge technologies that solve unmet clinical needs and instill technological confidence in the surgical workflow. Its FDA-cleared revolutionary xvision Spine System, the first augmented reality guidance system for surgery, allows surgeons to "see" the patient's anatomy through skin and tissue as if they have "x-ray vision," and to accurately navigate instruments and implants during spine procedures. For more information, visit www.augmedics.com. About H.I.G. Capital H.I.G. is a leading global private equity and alternative assets investment firm with over $43 billion of equity capital under management. Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/ value-added approach. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com. About Revival Healthcare Capital Revival Healthcare Capital is a private equity firm specializing in the medical device and diagnostic sectors of healthcare. Through the creation of custom investment partnerships, Revival pursues a broad range of opportunities where its team of highly experienced operators brings an advantaged set of leadership, resources, and expertise to support companies' growth strategies. To learn more, visit rvlhc.com. About Almeda Ventures Almeda Ventures (TASE: AMDA.L) is a venture capital and the first HealthTech focused public R&D partnership traded in the Tel Aviv stock exchange. Almeda invests on a global basis in promising healthcare companies with focus on medical devices, digital health and bio-convergence. Almeda's founders are Dr. Irit Yaniv who also serves as CEO, Amir Blatt who serves as CIO and Tzahi Sultan. Since its establishment in 2020 the fund has invested in six companies. For more information, visit https://www.almedaventures.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005114/en/

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New South Wales residents have been warned to brace themselves for another coronavirus outbreak after a Covid-positive nurse visited Byron Bay for the weekend.

The state recorded zero new cases overnight from 7,300 tests but Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that number was too low for officials to know they hadn't missed any community transmission of the virus.

On Monday, it emerged an infected Queensland nurse went to a string of venues in the northern NSW tourist town with her sister including the Byron Beach Hotel, The Farm and Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park.

Ms Berejiklian said she 'would not be surprised' if Queensland's outbreak of the highly-contagious B117 UK strain of the virus spread south of the border.

She ruled out though shutting the border despite the Sunshine State announcing eight new local cases of the virus on Tuesday.

A masked woman is pictured outside a Woolworths in Newstead in Brisbane's inner-city on Monday as the city went into lockdown

'The NSW government is confident we have the provisions in place to get on top of it,' she said.

'I hope we do not have any cases arise in New South Wales but I would not be surprised if we did, so we must brace ourselves.

'We are expecting more cases from Queensland and hopefully most of those cases will be people in isolation, although we have to assume this is an evolving situation.'

The sisters had attended a bachelorette party at The Farm in Byron Bay on March 28 between 8am and 9.30am.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said a NSW resident is believed to have caught the virus at the party, although she is being treated as a Queensland case.

NSW Health released an alert on Monday evening saying anyone who had visited the Queensland capital since March 20 must immediately self-isolate and not leave their house until Thursday at 5pm.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she 'would not be surprised' if Queensland's outbreak of the highly-contagious B117 UK strain of the virus spread

New South Wales residents who have recently returned from Brisbane must immediately go into a three-day lockdown with Byron Bay (pictured) a potential hotspot

Byron Bay residents are being urged to be especially vigilant in monitoring their health and are encouraging anyone with even the mildest symptoms to get tested immediately and self-isolate until told otherwise.

Ghanda Clothing, Tiger Lily, Black Sheep, Quicksilver, Suffolk Bakery and the Park Hotel Bottle Shop are in that category as well as Byron Beach Hotel, The Farm and Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park.

The relevant times for the enforced isolation period can be found on the NSW Health website.

Several venues in Byron Bay have been listed as potentially at-risk including the Beach Hotel (pictured) - anyone who attended on Friday March 26 must be tested and isolate immediately

Byron Bay is believed to have been exposed to the latest outbreak of coronavirus that originated in Brisbane. Workers are pictured at a drive-through testing centre at the Cavanbah Centre in the town

People with even the slightest of symptoms are being encouraged to seek a test immediately and self-isolate until further notice

Greater Brisbane has been ordered into a three-day lockdown after a coronavirus cluster grew to seven cases with evidence of 'significant community transmission'

NSW Health say the lockdown will remain in place for residents who visited Brisbane since March 20 for the same duration as the Queensland mandate.

They will only be allowed to leave for essential reasons including food, medical care and exercise.

The state has also issued entry declaration forms from March 27 for people who have spent time in the Greater Brisbane area.

The forms are to help authorities track anyone who may be linked or exposed to the new outbreak of the UK strain of the virus.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the infected people have been out in the community and travelled to central Queensland and northern NSW.

To stem transmission, Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Redlands has gone into a three-day lockdown from 5pm on Monday - an area with about 2.5 million people.

'I didn't sleep last night so I think I am very worried, I'm very concerned,' Ms Palaszczuk told reporters.

'But we've done it before, we've got through this together, and I'm sure that if everyone does the right thing we will be able to get through it.'

NSW Health released an alert on Monday evening saying anyone that had visited the Queensland capital since March 20 must immediately self-isolate and not leave their house until Thursday at 5pm

New South Wales residents who have recently returned from Brisbane must immediately go into a three-day lockdown

Thousands have attempted to leave Brisbane after the three-day lockdown threw Easter long weekend plans into disarray

Brisbane residents had until 5pm on Monday to leave the state or be locked down

Ms Palaszczuk said the the lockdown would be reviewed on Thursday, ahead of the Easter holiday break this weekend.

Greater Brisbane schools and all non-essential businesses premises must close from Monday afternoon.

'This will also enable our health authorities to get on top of the contact tracing,' the premier said.

'This is a huge job now that we have to do because we've got more of this community transmission.'

It is the second Greater Brisbane lockdown this year after an earlier shutdown in January.

Anyone who has been in Brisbane since March 20 will also come under the lockdown restrictions.

One of the cases travelled to Gladstone and Gin Gin from March 25 to March 27 and two cases visited venues in Byron Bay in NSW on March 26 and March 28.

The premier said face masks would be mandatory in Brisbane, and will need to be worn indoors throughout the rest of Queensland.

All venues outside Greater Brisbane will only be allowed to host seated patrons.

Greater Brisbane schools and all non-essential businesses premises must close from Monday afternoon

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says four of the new cases are linked to two men in northern Brisbane and a Princess Alexandra Hospital doctor who tested positive.

Two cases are colleagues of a Strathpine man who tested positive on Friday night, while the other cases are a doctor, who tested positive on March 12, and her sister.

Dr Young said it was unclear where the transmission occurred and genomic testing on both latter cases was underway.

'We now have significant community transmission,' she said.

States and territories have also moved to restrict incoming travel from Brisbane and the state.

It is the second Greater Brisbane lockdown this year after an earlier shutdown in January

Western Australia will close its border to the entire state of Queensland from 1201am (WST) on Tuesday.

Tasmania has shut its border to Greater Brisbane travellers, while South Australia will do so from 4pm (CST) and Victoria closes to Brisbanites from 6pm (AEDT).

Anyone from Greater Brisbane must isolate and get tested upon entering the Northern Territory and the ACT.

In NSW, people who have been in the lockdown area since March 20 are now subject to the same stay-at-home restrictions as Greater Brisbane.

Entry declarations that ask for details of visits to venues of concern are required for Greater Brisbane arrivals, and NSW Health is advising against non-essential travel to the northern city.
Amnesty International is urging the Afghan government and the international community to scale up efforts to support the countrys 4 million internally displaced people (IDPs) who it says have little or no means of protecting themselves from contracting, spreading, and recovering from COVID-19.



In a report published on March 31, the London-based human rights watchdog said that IDPs in Afghanistan are living in "overcrowded" conditions, with "insufficient" access to water, sanitation, and health facilities.



Despite conditions "perfectly suited" to the rapid transmission of the coronavirus, IDPs have been provided with "precious little support to mitigate their situation," Samira Hamidi, the groups deputy regional director for South Asia, said in a statement.



The group said "specific funding and resources" should be allocated for IDPs to meet their urgent need to access adequate housing, food, water, sanitation, and health.



To prepare its report, Amnesty International said it spoke to IDPs in settlements in Kabul, Herat, and Nangarhar, which each accommodate more than 1,000 families living in "huts constructed from mud, poles and plastic sheets."

IDPs there are unable to practice social distancing and quarantining, with as many as 10 people staying in one or two rooms.



Without basic services such as access to water and sanitation, they are also unable to maintain the hygiene required to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.



Amnesty International quoted residents of the camps as saying that they "have also not received any personal protective equipment such as face masks or sanitizers, nor has any information been circulated to raise awareness of COVID-19."



Meanwhile, lockdown measures imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus have "disproportionately" affected the employment prospects of IDPs, who predominantly work for daily wages in informal jobs, resulting in a loss of income and a "steep" rise in the price of basic food items, the group said.



Women are also exposed to "greater risk" of domestic violence, with limited access to protection services, while COVID-19 regulations restricting women's right to travel without a male companion have left them "dependent on male family members for food and other daily necessities, as well as the ability to access healthcare facilities."



"Though unintended, measures aimed at tackling the pandemic have had a disproportionately damaging impact on IDPs -- the countrys most vulnerable group," Hamadi said. "Dedicated resources and greater support from the international community must be forthcoming to mitigate that impact to the furthest extent possible."
(ANSAmed) - MADRID, 30 MAR - Controversy continues to swirl in Madrid on Tuesday over clandestine gatherings and parties that took place last weekend in the city centre.



A statement from the municipal police said officers discovered 353 such gatherings, some of which had "a number of people higher than that permitted, hidden in unlikely places, and without masks or any precautions".



The issue has ignited the local political debate ahead of regional elections on May 4, said Spanish media.



According to ngel Gabilondo, a socialist candidate currently in the opposition, the situation is "true chaos" and is provoked by "drunken tourism".



The local press in recent weeks has often shown images of foreign young people attracted by the less-rigid health restrictions in Spain compared to their home countries and by bars and restaurants open until 11 pm that, at times, don't comply with the Covid curfew in place.



On the other hand, regional president and People's Party leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso said it is important the central government (led by Socialists) carries out the necessary checks in airports and at the borders.



"The problem isn't if a French person comes to drink in Madrid, but rather if that person is infected or not," she said.



(ANSAmed).


Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 00:51:07|Editor: huaxia

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ALGIERS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Monday reported 110 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total confirmed number in the North African country to 116,946.

The death toll from the virus rose to 3,084 after four new fatalities were added, said the Algerian Ministry of Health in a statement.

Meanwhile, 82 more patients recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries in the country to 91,349, the statement added.

A donation of Chinese Sinopharm vaccines arrived in Algeria on Feb. 24 to help combat the pandemic. Enditem
El Canciller Allan Wagner sostuvo una reunion con miembros del Comando Vacuna para intercambiar opiniones sobre el esfuerzo del gobierno para la adquisicion de vacunas. pic.twitter.com/FK7WGzwijD
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James Dobson outraged by Bidens first press conference: Outright lies

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Evangelical leader James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family, called President Joe Bidens first formal press conference held last Friday after over two months in office an hour of misrepresentations and outright lies."

In a statement last Friday, the author and psychologist blasted the president for pointing fingers at former President Donald Trump, calling his remarks outrageous for those who hold Judeo-Christian values.

"'Press conference' is an inadequate description of what took place, which was nearly an hour of misrepresentations and outright lies, as he claimed responsibility for the continued success of President Trumps 'Operation Warp Speed,' blamed the Trump administration for problems that he, himself, created at the border, and totally distorted the truth about legislation the Democrat party is seeking to ram through Congress," the 84-year-old Dobson wrote.

"All of this was communicated under the guise of uniting the people of our country."

He argued that even though the "press may have been satisfied" with Biden's press conference, "freedom-loving Americans and people who hold true to our Judeo-Christian values should rightfully be outraged."

Responding to Biden stating that his administration met his goal of getting "100 million shots in peoples arms in my first 100 days," Dobson contends that "[a]stute observers noted that the only way President Biden could have failed to deliver was if he completely bungled the process begun by the Trump administration."

"[T]o be specific, on the day Joe Biden was inaugurated, the U.S. administered almost 1.5 million vaccine shots!" Dobson, whose Family Talk radio show broadcasts on hundreds of radio stations nationwide, stated.

Dobson, who was among several conservative evangelical leaders who engaged informally with the Trump White House, further argued that Biden engaged in "co-opting of President Trumps accomplishments" on the economic front by predicting economic growth reaching 6%.

Given the roaring economy President Trump created  which only a worldwide pandemic could decrease  its not surprising we will see a spike in growth as the virus begins to recede," Dobson stressed. "Worth celebrating? Absolutely! But the credit shouldnt go to the Biden administration?

Referring to the ongoing crisis at the southern border, Dobson criticized president Biden for removing the previous administrations immigration policies, which he believes created a humanitarian and a national security crisis all within his first two months in office.

More than 100,000 people crossed the southern border illegally in February.

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.

While the Biden administration has not referred to the influx of migrants at the southern border as a crisis, White House Press Secretary Jen Paski rejected the term border crisis outright.

At the press conference, Biden blamed Trump for [dismantling] all the elements that exist to deal with  a problem for a long time."

"He, in fact, shut down  the number of beds available," Biden stated. "He did not fund HHS to get people to get the children out of those  Border Patrol facilities.

The president added that his administration "now is attempting to rebuild ... the system that can accommodate ... what is happening today.

Dobson pointed out that some of the thousands of migrants seeking to enter the U.S. are wearing Biden t-shirts" and "think Joe is a nice guy.

But this nice guy so happens to be our President who is charged to uphold the sovereignty and security of our nation," Dobson added. "Yet, he has no regrets for his actions  throwing open the border and putting his nations security at risk, and spending $86 million on hotel rooms for individuals illegally crossing our borders, when national guard troops were forced to sleep in a parking garage in the dead of winter while protecting our Capitol."

People outside the country need to be helped with great compassion, but we cannot usher in chaos, compromise national security, and embrace lawlessness in the process, Dobson continued.
German health officials have agreed to restrict the use of AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine in people aged under 60, amid fresh concern over unusual blood clots reported in a tiny number of those who received the shots.

Health Minister Jens Spahn and state officials agreed unanimously to only give the vaccine to people aged 60 or older, unless they belong to a high-risk category for serious illness from Covid-19 and have agreed with their doctor to take the vaccine despite the small risk of a serious side-effect.

The move follows the recommendations of Germanys independent vaccine expert panel and comes after the countrys medical regulator released new data showing a rise in reported cases of an unusual form of blood clot in the head  known as sinus vein thrombosis  in recent recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The news is a further blow to the vaccine, which is critical to Europes immunisation campaign and a linchpin in the global strategy to get jabs to poorer countries.

It comes less than two weeks after the EU drug regulator said the vaccine does not increase the overall incidence of blood clots following a similar scare.

The European Medicines Agency said at the time that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks, but it could not rule out a link between the jab and some unusual kinds of clots, and recommended adding a warning about possible rare side-effects.

Several German regions  including the capital Berlin and the countrys most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia  had already suspended use of the jabs in younger people earlier on Tuesday.

That decision came after the countrys medical regulator said its tally of the rare blood clots reported by March 29 had increased to 31, out of some 2.7 million doses of AstraZeneca administered in Germany so far.

Nine of the people died and all but two of the cases involved women, who were aged 20 to 63, the Paul Ehrlich Institute said.

In a statement ahead of the announcement, AstraZeneca said tens of millions of people worldwide have received its vaccines, and noted that the EU regulator and the World Health Organisation concluded that the benefits of the jab outweigh the risks.

The company said it would continue to work with German authorities to address any questions they might have, while also analysing its own records to understand whether the rare blood clots reported occur more commonly than would be expected naturally in a population of millions of people.

The suspensions come as Germany, along with other European countries, is scrambling to ramp up its vaccine programme, which lags far behind those in Britain and the US.

By Monday, some 13.2 million people in the country had received at least one dose of vaccine, while nearly four million had received both shots.

Use of the AstraZeneca vaccine was temporarily halted in several European countries, including Ireland, earlier this month over concerns about the rare blood clots.

After a review by medical experts at the European Medicines Agency, most European Union countries, including Germany, resumed use of the vaccine on March 19.

On Monday, Canada suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in people aged under 55, citing new concerning data from Europe.

There is substantial uncertainty about the benefit of providing AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines to adults under 55 given the potential risks, said Dr Shelley Deeks, vice chair of Canadas National Advisory Committee on Immunsiation.

Dr Deeks said the updated recommendations come amid new data from Europe that suggests the risk of blood clots is now potentially as high as one in 100,000, much higher than the one-in-a-million risk believed before.

Germanys decision is likely to affect appointments made by tens of thousands of teachers and people with pre-existing conditions who received invitations to get vaccinated in Berlin in recent days.

Appointments for the AstraZeneca jab were available sooner than ones for the vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

Scientists at the University of Greifswald, Germany, this week published the results of their investigation into the possible causes of the blood clots, saying the condition is similar to a side-effect seen in some patients who receive the blood thinning medication heparin.

The study, which has not been peer-reviewed yet, does not provide a conclusive explanation for why some people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca jab develop the rare blood clots.






















United Nations, United States, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Mar, 2021 ) :US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday urged the UN Security Council to reopen border crossings into Syria blocked by Russia, saying world powers should be ashamed by their inaction.

Chairing a virtual Security Council session on Syria, the mild-mannered top US diplomat spoke with clear passion as he voiced outrage at Syrians' continued suffering 10 years into the civil war.

"How is it possible that we can't find in our hearts the common humanity to actually take meaningful action?" said President Joe Biden's top diplomat, recalling his own two children.

"Look into your hearts," he implored. "We have to find a way to do something -- to take action to help people. That is our responsibility. And shame on us if we don't." Relief supplies into Syria, where most of the population relies on aid, as of July 2020 can enter only one crossing -- Bab al-Hawa on the Turkish border.

Veto-wielding Russia, which is allied with President Bashar al-Assad, successfully opposed other crossings on the grounds that they violate the Damascus government's sovereignty.

"Sovereignty was never intended to ensure the right of any government to starve people, deprive them of life-saving medicine, bomb hospitals or commit any other human rights abuse against citizens," Blinken said.

He pointed to a Russian strike last week near the Bab al-Hawa crossing that disrupted all aid delivery into Syria.

Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Vershinin, in his own remarks to the videoconference voiced outrage that Assad's government was not invited to an aid conference on Syria held in Brussels.

"There is a growing politicization of humanitarian aid," he said.

The proposed cross-border aid "violates the principles of international law" and is only because "the government that is in place does not suit" the West, he said.

- 'More pathways' to help - Blinken called for the reopening of closed crossings at Bab al-Salam, also on the Turkish border, and Al-Yarubiyah on the Iraqi border, saying that they respectively supplied four million and 1.3 million Syrians.

"Let's give ourselves more pathways, rather than fewer pathways, to deliver food and medicine to the Syrian people," Blinken said.

"And let's not pressure Syrian refugees to return until they feel they can do so in safety and in dignity," said Blinken, the stepson of a refugee who has often spoken of the need to protect people.

The border issue is expected to come to a head again in July when the one remaining crossing comes up for renewal by the Security Council.

Blinken called ultimately for a political solution in Syria based on Security Council Resolution 2254, approved unanimously in 2015.

While Russia has essentially declared Assad the victor of the war, the United States and its European allies are adamant that there must be accountability for crimes over a decade of war that has claimed nearly 400,000 lives, caused millions to flee and saw the rise of the Islamic State extremist group.
Elistair, a market leader in tethered drones, has raised 5M from Omnes and Starquest Capital, its historic investor. This Series B round follows an initial 2M funding round in 2018. Since its creation in 2014, Elistair's solutions have already been deployed by military forces and national security agencies in over 65 countries.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005817/en/

ORION 2 Tethered drone for defense (Photo: Elistair)

Automated tethered drones to protect military bases, surveil borders and provide security for major events

Elistair counts national security and defense organizations amongst its customers, offering them two patented product ranges: an automated tethered drone: Orion 2 and tether stations capable of transforming free-flying drones into tethered drones.

With their ability to detect vehicles more than 6 miles away, The Orion 2 drone acts as an aerial reconnaissance mast, substantially increasing the field of vision of operating forces and reducing vulnerable entry points. Orion 2, provides clear, and live information which is key for border surveillance and protection of perimeters and events. They are also used to deploy tactical communication networks, greatly increasing the range and coverage of military radios.

Thanks to its micro-tether technology, Elistair has solved the problem of a drones limited battery life. When connected to a generator or the electrical grid, the micro-tether powers the drone continuously, allowing it to function for 24 hours without interruption. It also provides secure data transfer between the drone and its operator through the tether. This means that the camera feed cannot be saturated and provides protection against hacking and other interference.

"Our tethered drones let units on the ground expand their field of vision considerably, as well as their understanding of their nearby environment during operations, which is often a critical factor.This funding round will allow us to consolidate our range of products for the national security and defense segment and to handle the significant amount of orders from recent months."- Guilhem de Marliave, Elistair CEO

International presence and investment in R&D

The reliability and sturdiness of Elistair's products have already earned recognition in the US, where the company conducts more than 40% of its business. After opening a subsidiary in Boston, the French start-up will be increasing its production capacity in order to assert its foothold in the American market, while reinforcing its presence in the European market.

"We plan to accelerate the industrialization of our production processes and build up our R&D capacity.Our technological roadmap aims to develop the next generations of tethered drones capable of responding to any and all kinds of situations and conditions.We will also be boosting our solutions' intelligence and automation."- Timothee Penet, Elistair CTO

Elistair is launching a campaign to recruit around 20 people for its Lyon and Boston sites. The goal is to retain its initial approach a combination of technological innovation and knowledge of conditions in the field thanks to a multidisciplinary R&D team and former defense operatives (from the Royal Air Force, Navy SEALs and the French Navy).

"Elistair is a leading name on the tethered drone market, which is still a relatively new market, but one that is growing quickly.Guilhem and Timothee have demonstrated an impressive execution capacity from the outset, and the company displays a rare level of business maturity after only a few years in operation.This funding will allow the company to shore up its technological leadership, and we are very eager to see the next innovations to be released on the market."- Fabien Collangettes, Venture Capital Principal, Omnes

About Elistair

Created in 2014 and based in Lyon (France), and Boston (USA), Elistair designs and manufactures tethered drone solutions for tactical surveillance and civil defense missions. Elistair's products are used by armed forces, civil security services and a number of private companies, in more than 60 countries. Elistair was co-founded by Guilhem de Marliave and Timothee Penet, both of them alumni of the scientific graduate school Centrale Lyon.

https://elistair.com/

About Omnes

Omnes is a leading private equity and infrastructure investor. With 5 billion in assets under management, it provides companies with the capital they need to fund their growth, in three key areas: venture capital, growth buyout capital and infrastructure. Omnes is wholly-owned by its employees. It is committed to ESG issues and has founded the Fondation Omnes to fund initiatives in favour of children and young people. It is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). www.omnescapital.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005817/en/

Contacts:

Press Contact Elistair

Gwenaelle Le Cocguen g.lecocguen@elistair.com +33 (0)6 67 10 62 22

Press Contact Omnes

Aurelie Blanchard-Massoni aurelie.blanchard-massoni@omnescapital.com +33 (0)7 63 13 65 74
DUBLIN, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "India Electric Vehicle (EV) Market 2021: Profiles of Key EV Manufacturers Making an Impact" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This study profiles the major EV manufacturers making an impact on the Indian market, including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and Mahindra and international giants such as Toyota, Renault, and Honda. The study also looks at start-ups that are innovating in the electric two-wheeler space (Athere and Ampere, for instance).

The automotive industry is rapidly evolving in terms of technology and its ability to tackle environmental issues. Electric vehicles (EVs) have been introduced as a clean energy initiative as they offer low or zero emissions and have come a long way to become an integral part of OEMs' business strategies. Automakers are creating separate EV business units to prepare themselves for the expected EV boom. However, the surge in EV demand will create significant demand for charging infrastructure; safety regulations and standards will also have to be implemented.

India is still a nascent market in terms of EVs; nevertheless, OEMs have started experimenting and preparing themselves for the inevitable - a future that is electric. Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra were the first entrants in the EV market, and Maruti Suzuki plans to enter this space in the near term with a small compact EV as its first offering.

Taking into account early adoption trends, eMobility will first penetrate the commercial and the fleet markets. Although mass adoption is not likely to happen in the short term, two wheelers and three wheelers are likely to witness substantial success right away. Battery capacity, especially for electric two wheelers, is likely to be a non-issue as bikes and mopeds are mainly used for inter-city travel/short distances; therefore, two wheelers are likely to be immensely successful.

eCommerce companies (Amazon, for example) are launching initiatives to use eMobility for last-mile deliveries to reduce carbon footprint. India is experimenting with eMobility for public transport and has deployed electric inter-city buses across some of the major cities. The electric two-wheeler market in India holds significant potential, especially because the country is the world's largest two-wheeler market in sales as well as production (ranked behind China).

This research service contains:

OEM overviews

Information about OEM R&D, EV product offerings, product specifications, partnerships, and future plans

A segment-wise analysis of current vehicle portfolios

Battery specification roadmaps

A summary of overall EV strategy and segment focus

Profiles of key two-wheeler EV start-ups

Key Issues Addressed

At present, which companies are actively participating in the Indian EV market?

What are the product strategies of these market participants?

Which segments are OEMs likely to prioritize by 2025?

Which companies are key participants in the two-wheeler start-up space?

What are the current/future offerings of these start-ups? What are their funding targets?

Key Topics Covered:

1. Strategic Imperatives

Why Is It Increasingly Difficult to Grow?

The Strategic Imperative

The Impact of the Strategic Imperative on the Indian Electric Vehicle Market

Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine

2. Key OEMs in the Indian EV Market

Indian Electric Vehicle Market Overview

3. Maruti Suzuki India Limited (Maruti)

Overview

Vehicle Segment-wise Analysis

Battery Specification - Roadmap

Summary

4. Tata Motors

Overview

Vehicle Segment-wise Analysis

Battery Specification - Roadmap

Summary

5. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Mahindra)

Overview

Vehicle Segment-wise Analysis

Battery Specification - Roadmap

Summary

6. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (Toyota)

Overview

Vehicle Segment-wise Analysis

Summary

7. Renault

Overview

Summary

8. Honda Cars India Limited (Honda Cars)

Overview

Vehicle Segment-wise Analysis

Summary

9. Key Electric Two-wheeler Start-up Profiles

Ather Energy - Overview

Ampere Electric Vehicles - Overview

Jitendra Electric Vehicles - Overview

Okinawa Scooters - Overview

Tork Motorcycles - Overview

Yulu Scooters - Overview

Bounce Scooters - Overview

10. Growth Opportunities

Growth Opportunity 1: Strong Distribution Channels for Geographic Expansion

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/og6sya



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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Amanda Burke covers Pittsfield City Hall for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise. Find her on Twitter at @amandaburkec.
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Jack Bradley, an ecstatic fan of Louis Armstrongs who became his personal photographer, creating an indelible and intimate record of the jazz giants last dozen years, died on March 21 in Brewster, Mass., on Cape Cod. He was 87.

The cause was complications of Parkinsons disease, his wife, Nancy (Eckel) Bradley, said.

Mr. Bradley first attended a concert by Armstrong and his band on Cape Cod in the mid-1950s. I never heard anything like that, he said in an interview in 2012 for a documentary about Armstrong, Mr. Jazz, directed by Michele Cinque. My life was never the same.

Using a Brownie, Mr. Bradley snapped his first photo of Armstrong at another performance  the first of thousands he would take, first as a devotee and then as part of his inner circle. He took pictures of Armstrong at his home in Corona, Queens; in quiet moments backstage; at rehearsals and concerts; during recording sessions; and in dressing rooms.
NORTHWOOD, Iowa  A Cedar Rapids woman is pleading not guilty to burglaries in Worth County.

Tomi Ann Clarke, 48, is charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree attempted burglary, second-degree criminal mischief, and fourth-degree criminal mischief.

Authorities say Clarke on February used a crowbar to break into the city hall in Kensett and the library/city hall in Joice. A petty cash bag was stolen from the Kensett city hall.

Clarke is now set to stand trial beginning June 9.
Woman sentenced to 15 months for threatening to bomb Catholic school over gay wedding announcements

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A California woman was sentenced to 15 months and 13 days in federal prison for threatening to blow up a Washington, D.C.-based Catholic school that planned to publish same-sex wedding announcements.

Authorities say Sonia Tabizada, a 36-year-old from San Jacinto, had sent multiple messages to Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School threatening to blow up the institution and kill people.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, at issue was the schools decision to publish announcements of any alumni who were going to marry someone of the same-sex.

The free exercise of religion is one of our nations most sacred constitutional rights," said Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D'Antuono of the FBI Washington Field Office in a statement.

"The FBI will continue to prioritize threats of violence and civil rights violations to ensure every citizen and community is free to exercise all of their protected liberties without fear and threats of violence.

In addition to the prison sentence, Tabizada was also sentenced to two years of supervised release under special conditions. If she wants to travel abroad, she must contact the court.

In May 2019, the school announced that it would begin publishing same-sex wedding announcements in its alumni magazine, sparking diverse reactions from the community.

Sister Mary Berchmans, the schools president emerita, sent out a letter explaining to families that the Church is clear in its teaching on same-sex marriages and equally clear in its teaching that we are all children of God, that we each have dignity and are worthy of respect and love.

As I have prayed over this contradiction, I keep returning to this choice: we can focus on Church teaching on gay marriage or we can focus on Church teaching on the Gospel commandment of love, wrote Berchmans, as reported by The Washington Post.

We reached this decision as a school and Monastery leadership after much prayerful consideration and thoughtful dialogue. We welcomed - as we always do - the respectful, earnest, faith-filled comments of several community members who contacted us directly.

According to the DOJ, Tabizada called the school and left a voice message stating that she would burn and bomb the church and kill students and staff.

Minutes after the first voice message, Tabizada called again and stated that she would blow up the school itself in an act that she described as terrorism.

Tabizada was arrested soon after. In January, she pled guilty in federal court to the charge of intentionally obstructing persons in the enjoyment of their free exercise of religious belief.

The defendant made violent threats against high school students, religious leaders, and school officials based solely on her disagreement with a private schools application of religious doctrine, said Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Eric Drieband in a statement.

Tolerance and religious freedom are cornerstone values in our society and the Department of Justice will continue to vigorously prosecute violent threats motivated by bias.
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The Washington Post has awarded Joe Biden four Pinocchios (the max) for a patently false claim he made about the new Georgia law on voting. Biden said the following during a press conference:

What Im worried about is how un-American this whole initiative is. Its sick. Its sick  deciding that youre going to end voting at five oclock when working people are just getting off work.

Two days later, he followed up with this official statement:

Among the outrageous parts of this new state law, it ends voting hours early so working people cant cast their vote after their shift is over.

But the Georgia law does no such thing. Biden, or whoever feeds him his material, is just making it up.

Glenn Kessler, the Posts lead fact checker, blows the whistle:

On Election Day in Georgia, polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and if you are in line by 7 p.m., you are allowed to cast your ballot. Nothing in the new law changes those rules. However, the law did make some changes to early voting. But experts say the net effect was to expand the opportunities to vote for most Georgians, not limit them.

(Emphasis added)

Heres how the law expands voting opportunities:

One of the biggest changes in the bill would expand early voting access for most counties, adding an additional mandatory Saturday and formally codifying Sunday voting hours as optional, Stephen Fowler of Georgia Public Broadcasting said in an excellent and comprehensive report on the impact of the new law. Counties can have early voting open as long as 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at minimum. If you live in a larger metropolitan county, you might not notice a change. For most other counties, you will have an extra weekend day, and your weekday early voting hours will likely be longer.

Kessler asked the White House to explain why Biden twice made obviously false claims about the Georgia voting law. He did not receive an on-the-record response. (Emphasis added)

Clearly, Bidens fabrications merited four Pinocchios. To his credit, Kessler awarded them. His explanation is damning:

Biden framed his complaint in terms of a slap at working people. The law would end voting at five oclock when working people are just getting off work or ends voting hours early so working people cant cast their vote after their shift is over. Many listeners might assume he was talking about voting on Election Day, not early voting. But Election Day hours were not changed. As for early voting, the law made a modest change, replacing a vague normal business hours  presumed to be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  to a more specific 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. time period. But thats the minimum. Under the new law, counties have the option to extend the voting hours so voters can start casting ballots as early as 7 a.m. and as late as 7 p.m.  the same as Election Day in Georgia. Moreover, an additional mandatory day of early voting on Saturday was added and two days of early voting on Sunday were codified as an option for counties. One could understand a flub in a news conference. But then this same claim popped up in an official presidential statement. Not a single expert we consulted who has studied the law understood why Biden made this claim, as this was the section of law that expanded early voting for many Georgians. Somehow Biden managed to turn [an] expansion into a restriction aimed at working people, calling it among the outrageous parts of the law. Theres no evidence that is the case. The president earns Four Pinocchios.

(Emphasis added)

Joe Biden is, and always has been, a liar.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-29 20:09:32|Editor: huaxia

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Indonesian police anti-terrorism officers stand guard behind cordon lines at the site where suspected terrorists were arrested in East Jakarta, Indonesia, March 29, 2021. The Indonesian police said that its anti-terror squad Densus 88 on Monday arrested a suspected terrorist in West Java Province's Bekasi district and two others in Kramat Jati district of the administrative city of East Jakarta. (Photo by Dasril Roszandi/Xinhua)

JAKARTA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian police said that its anti-terror squad Densus 88 on Monday arrested a suspected terrorist in West Java Province's Bekasi district and two others in Kramat Jati district of the administrative city of East Jakarta.

On the arrest made in Bekasi, the Jakarta police's Chief Inspector General Fadil Imran said, "We have arrested a suspected owner of the bomb and explosives."

In Kramat Jati, a man and a woman were arrested at a house with a second-hand car showroom.

Further investigations are underway into the two cases.

On Sunday, a suicide bomb exploded at a cathedral church in Makassar city of South Sulawesi province, killing the two perpetrators and injuring 19 other people.
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Brooke Shields has shared a series of snaps of herself getting hospital treatment after breaking her right femur in an accident at a New York City gym in January.

The actress, 55, took to Instagram over the weekend to share the images, which showed her in a hospital gown as she sported a heavily bandaged arm and leg.

One selfie saw the screen star sporting a number of chest monitors, while another image showed her hooked up to machines as she sat with a walker.

Snapshots: Brooke Shields has shared a series of snaps of herself getting hospital treatment after breaking her right femur in an accident at a New York City gym in January

Captioning the set of revealing images, the mother-of-two wrote: 'Ive come a long way since this, but the journey is just beginning.'

Shields sustained a life-changing injury when she fell off a balance board and flew into the air, landing on her upper leg and breaking the largest bone in the body.

But after a series of surgeries, a staph infection, and subsequent health hurdles, Brooke recognised her ability to overcome, telling People: 'If anything, I'm a fighter.'

The accident was surreal for Shields, who said: 'It felt like it was all in slow motion. And then I just started screaming. Sounds came out that I've never heard before.'

Bandaged: The actress, 55, took to Instagram over the weekend to share the images, which showed her in a hospital gown as she sported a heavily bandaged arm and leg

Emergency medical technicians rushed to the scene, at which point the star said 'survival kicked in'.

'I kept saying,"I can feel my toes" because I was so afraid I was paralysed,' she recalled of the harrowing moment.

The injury required serious surgery, stabilising the break with two metal rods - 'one from the top of my hip down, and another across into the hip socket'.

Shields had complications when a broken portion of her femur popped out, forcing her to have a second surgery to anchor her bones together with five rods and a metal plate.

'I never considered myself Zen,' she told the magazine, 'but I realised with a certain calm that the rest is up to me now.'

'Come a long way, but just the beginning': Captioning the set of revealing images, the mother-of-two wrote, 'Ive come a long way since this, but the journey is just beginning'

However, that wasn't the end of Brooke's battle. She spent two-and-a-half weeks in the hospital only to return home and develop a very serious staph infection.

The infection was so bad she had to return to the hospital for emergency surgery on the IV site where she had had three blood transfusions during earlier surgeries.

Though Brooke's bout with staph was terrifying, she said she was grateful because doctors feared the infection could be far worse.

'At first they feared it might be MRSA [a type of bacteria resistant to antibiotics],' she recalled. 'Thank God it wasn't. If it had been, my doctor said it would have been a race against time. That's how you can become septic. It seemed unthinkable.'

Being in the hospital was an isolating time for Shields, who wasn't able to see her husband Chris Henchy and daughters Rowan, 17, and Grier, 14 because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Harrowing: Shields sustained a life-changing injury when she fell off a balance board and flew into the air, landing on her upper leg and breaking the largest bone in the body

Road to recovery: The injury required surgery, stabilising the break with two metal rods, but complications meant she had to have further surgery to insert five rods and a metal plate

'I'll never forget how hard the doctors and nurses worked and hearing their stories about COVID,' she says. 'I have asthma but I kept thinking, "I feel blessed I can breathe."'

Returning home for a second time, Brooke said she was told: 'Your road is just about to begin.'

At first she thought she could power through healing, asking to do twice-a-day workouts instead of the recommended once-a-day physical therapy.

It made her realise that 'for the first time in my entire life, I thought, "I can't power through this."'

'I can't even stand on my leg or go up a step. I need to relearn how to even walk. The feeling of helplessness is shocking.'

Family: Being in the hospital was an isolating time for Shields, who wasn't able to see her husband Chris Henchy and daughters Rowan and Grier (above), because of COVID restrictions

Life-changing: 'This is my journey, and if it took me breaking the largest bone in my body, then recovery is something I want to share,' the screen star told People

But, added the brunette beauty defiantly: 'If anything, I'm a fighter.'

As she continues to heal, Brooke is focusing on her inner strength while celebrating every small success.

'I'm the only one that's going to be able to get through this,' she says.

'My career has actually been like that as well. One door gets slammed in my face and I search for another. It's not unlike how I felt when I wrote about postpartum depression in 2005.

'This is my journey, and if it took me breaking the largest bone in my body, then recovery is something I want to share. We have to believe in ourselves and encourage one another. There's no other way to get through life, period.'
AM Best has revised the outlooks to stable from negative and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of "a" of members of Donegal Insurance Group (Donegal Group). Concurrently, AM Best has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the Long-Term ICR of "bbb" of the publicly traded holding company, Donegal Group Inc. (Delaware) [NASDAQ: DGICA and DGICB]. (See below for a detailed listing of the member companies.)

The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect Donegal Groups balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The revised outlooks to stable largely reflect Donegal Groups improved operating performance in the most recent years (2019 and 2020), primarily driven by a number of initiatives implemented to help improve its underwriting performance, including significant rate actions, the transfer of unprofitable accounts and investing in new technology. Furthermore, the stable outlooks consider the improved loss reserving trends and the favorable impact on its risk-adjusted capitalization. Management attributes the favorable reserve development to reserve strengthening during 2019 and 2020 that far exceeded exposure growth.

Donegal Groups capital assessment reflects its Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which AM Best categorizes as strongest, sound liquidity position, conservative investment portfolio, and a comprehensive reinsurance program, which are offset partially by increasing underwriting leverage, and constrained surplus growth over the most recent five-year period due to stockholders dividend payments.

Although the individual members within Donegal Group play a specific role in the organizations overall business plan, and their operating performances may vary, each contributes favorably to the groups risk-adjusted capitalization. In addition, each member supports the corporate business strategy and benefits from shared senior management, intercompany reinsurance and the added financial flexibility of Donegal Group Inc. to raise capital through debt or equity offerings during favorable investment markets.

Story continues

Donegal Groups neutral business profile includes geographic and product line diversification, effective use of technology in the independent agency distribution channel, and a history of successful expansion through strategic acquisitions and affiliations.

Appropriate ERM is demonstrated through a formal risk management process, which provides assurances that the organizations key compliance, financial, strategic and operational risks are addressed in meeting organizational objectives. Additionally, Donegal Group purchases various excess of loss and per risk reinsurance treaties from high quality reinsurers to protect surplus, reduce volatility and increase capacity. In 2019, Donegal Group made significant changes to its reinsurance program, which AM Best expects to benefit operating results going forward, dependent upon the incidence of large loss activity and the occurrence of catastrophe events.

The affirmation of the Long-Term ICR of Donegal Group Inc. recognizes the overall financial strength of its property/casualty insurance operation, its moderate amount of financial leverage and the subordination of its creditors to the insurance companies policyholders.

The FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long Term ICRs of "a" have been affirmed, with outlooks revised to stable from negative for the following members of Donegal Insurance Group:

Atlantic States Insurance Company

Donegal Mutual Insurance Company

Michigan Insurance Company

Mountain States Commercial Insurance Company

Mountain States Indemnity Company

Peninsula Indemnity Company

Peninsula Insurance Company

Southern Insurance Company of Virginia

Southern Mutual Insurance Company

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Bests Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Bests Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005841/en/

Contacts

Adib Nassery

Senior Financial Analyst

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5205

adib.nassery@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Brian OLarte

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+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5138

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A convicted paedophile from Northern Ireland, who was serving a prison sentence in England for raping a young girl, has been convicted of raping a teenage boy.

The father, John Adams, and brother, David Adams, of Billy Adams, originally from Ballymena, and who was transferred to HMP Maghaberry from England in 2019, are also convicted sex offenders.

Last week he was convicted in Belfast Crown Court for the rape and attempted rape of a boy between 1982 and 1983.

He'd been serving 15 years in prison after being convicted in Liverpool in 2005 of the repeated rape a 12-year-old girl.

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During the case in England, it emerged that a priest in County Fermanagh, Father Jeremiah McGrath, who Adams was in a relationship with, had facilitated the paedophiles abuse of the girl.

McGrath himself was later sentenced to five years for his role in the appalling crimes.

It was also heard that McGrath, who had amassed a small fortune having invested in the stock market, was giving Billy Adams around 3,000 a month to pay for the flat where the rapes and attacks on the girl were carried out.

At one stage, as the abuse continued, Adams put a knife to the girl's throat, threatening to kill her if she spoke of what was going on to anyone.

Before moving to England, Adams also spent a number of years living in the Republic of Ireland where he was convicted of raping an eight-year-old girl in Dublin, which he served six years for.

Adam's father, John, was also convicted in 2003 for raping three girls aged between six and ten in the Republic of Ireland between 1991 and 1993.

It was heard in court how he took photographs of his victims while he abused them, and he was handed down four life sentences, the largest sentence ever given for sex crimes in the Republic.

He died in 2019 while serving his time in Arbour Hill Prison in Dublin, having previously been convicted for abducting a child in Northern Ireland.

Billy Adams brother, David, is also a convicted paedophile, having raped a 13-year-old girl in Bangor, Northern Ireland, in 2009.

Billy Adams was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.
British holidaymakers will have to wear facemasks on the beach if they are looking to head to a Spanish shore this summer.

The Spanish government issued a directive on Tuesday tightening up the use of face coverings.

Masks will become obligatory in public at all times, even on the beach when people are sunbathing and social distancing.

The new diktat is expected to remove powers from regional authorities to exempt sun seekers from taking facemasks off even when they are lying on their towels.

In response to the news, the Balearic Islands insisted it would try to make the Spanish government see sense and backtrack on the tough new rules.

It remains to be seen how police will enforce the rules to enable tourists to go for a swim in the sea without leaving themselves open to a fine, although they are expected to adopt a common-sense approach where they see people heading for the water without a face covering on.

But the tightening of the rules will leave holidaymakers at risk of mask tan lines this summer in popular tourist areas like the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol.

These tourists were among the first to enjoy a day on the beach wearing facemasks in Mallorca

British holidaymakers will have to wear facemasks on the beach if they are looking to head to a Spanish beach this summer, the Spanish government said on Tuesday. Pictured: Expats and locals on the beach in Benidorm [File photo]

Only children under six and adults with illnesses that could cause breathing difficulties will be exempted from wearing face masks in public at all times.

People doing individual sport outdoors will also be exempt, although regional communities are expected to maintain the right to make masks compulsory for the likes of runners and cyclists if they see fit.

Balearic Islands governors, responsible for Majorca and Ibiza, were among those who exempted beachgoers from wearing face masks last summer, though social distancing measures were in place.

However, the new decree from the central government, issued in an official state bulletin, makes masks obligatory at all times in public even when people are five feet apart.

Spain reported 1,5501 new cases and 989 deaths on Tuesday. The country is among the hardest-hit in Europe, having recorded 3.27million cases and 75,199 deaths since the pandemic began last year.

Life's a beach... but at least some people are getting to enjoy the sun

Spain reported 1,5501 new cases on Tuesday, along with 989 deaths. Cases have seen a sharp decline since restrictions were brought in following a spike in late January and early February

Balearic Islands Health Secretary Patricia Gomez insisted after the change was made public that she will try to seek an amendment to exempt people who live together as well as sunbathers who are on their own and practising social distancing.

She said the law had to be obeyed if the Spanish government stuck to its guns, but added: 'We consider that in the case of social meetings involving more than one family nucleus facemasks should be worn, but when it's the same family composed of people who live under the same roof, it shouldn't be necessary.

Mrs Gomez said the issue would be discussed at a meeting between the government and different regions before the end of the week, raising the prospect that alterations to the tough new diktat may be made.

Spanish government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero also confirmed parts of the new rules could be up for discussion after a cabinet meeting Tuesday.

Any move to soften them, and allow sunbathers to take their face masks off while sunbathing if they are with their own family or accompanied by a partner they live with, would be welcomed by tourist chiefs.

Spain is among the hardest-hit in Europe, having recorded 3.27million cases and 75,199 deaths since the pandemic began last year

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock gave hope to those hoping for holidays abroad this summer by insisting on Monday that the door 'was not shut.'

He told ITV's This Morning that more will be known from government scientists in the next few weeks regarding whether it will be safe for Brits to travel abroad for holidays.

'We're not yet sure, but we're doing the science in Porton Down, and watching very closely, and if that all goes well, then we haven't got a problem and then we'll be much more relaxed about international travel.

'We will know more over the next few weeks.'

Public Health England's lab in Porton Down is trying to determine whether current vaccines are less effective against variants of coronavirus such as those found in South Africa, Brazil and Kent.

Mr Hancock said: 'The door is not shut on foreign holidays this summer, it's just too early to say.'
Politicians, celebrities and social media influencers have led tributes have led Israella Bushiri, daughter of the leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) Church prophet Shephered Bushiri, who has died aged 8 in Kenya where she was hospitalised.

Bushiri said as a father it was his desire to see the daughter grow and serve the Lord.

"However, the will of God was for her to return back to Him," said Bushiri, who pointed out that the daughterhad always offered his wife Mary and himself "great comfort and enlightenment".

Following the news of his death, presidential aide Lucius Banda said: "Death is painful but death of a child is even worse. I share the pain and grief with the Bushiris in this tragedy. May the innocent soul of the little Angel, Israella rest in peace."

Alliance for Democrcay (Aford) president Enock Chihana said the death is "heartbreaking."

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson on finance in Parliament, Joseph Mwanamvekha has also condoled the family of Prophet Bushiri.

Mwanamvekha said he is equally saddened by the untimely death of the Bushiri's daughter.

"On behalf of my family and indeed on my own behalf send our deepest condolences to the Bushiri family and the entire ECG church.

"We mourn with you and celebrate the extraordinary life of this remarkable young daughter who was the source of inspiration not only to the Bushiri family but also to the ECG Church and the entire nation," said Mwanamvekha, who is also aspiring for the party's presidency.

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He added: "Your daughter was a kind person who lived the fruit of the Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. May we live up to her legacy."

Mwanamvekha concluded by asking God to comfort the bereaved family in these difficult times.

"May the good Lord, the one who has called our daughter to himself hold her in his arms until we are reunited in eternity," he said.

United Democratic Front (UDF) president Atupele Muluzi said his thoughts are with Bushiri family and he is sending a private message of condolence.

Last month Bushiri daughters and mother-in-law were prevented from leaving Malawi to travel to Kenya. Within days, Israella was allowed to travel for treatment with her guardians.

The daughter required a bone marrow donation.

On March 18, Bushiri said Israella had been battling a lung infection in ICU for the previous two weeks.

On Monday, Bushiri said a doctor had advised that if she had not been blocked at the airport the first time she needed to travel to Kenya for medical assistance, she may not have died.

He described his daughter as a strong young girl who loved to worship and serve God, despite her young age. Bushiri said he and his wife choose not to mourn her but to celebrate her life.
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Lawyers in a key immigration challenge debated in court Tuesday whether a Houston federal judge should hurry up and rule on the legality of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or await Biden administration policy and legislative action.

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen indicated at the hearing he wouldnt weigh in right away in a lawsuit seeking to halt the program, but said he didnt intend for his ruling on a summary judgment motion to remain in an indefinite holding pattern.

The new administration has promised dreamers a fundamental change in policy, but a decision by Hanen could jeopardize the prospects for DACA recipients if a new immigration bill doesnt pass.

Lawyers from Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund have argued that President Joe Bidens memo to Homeland Security to preserve and fortify DACA could alter the outcome of Texas v. United States, a 2018 suit filed by nine states that says the Obama administrations 2012 DACA memo is unlawful and circumvents Congress authority to make laws while in an effort to protect children who entered the country illegally.

Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton spearheaded the suit to halt the DACA program. Texas along with Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina and West Virginia contend they face irreparable harm because theyre paying for the education, healthcare and police protection for immigrants shielded by the law.

MALDEF represents 22 DACA recipients who intervened to defend the law. They said the Trump administration was allied with Paxton and would not mount an aggressive defense of the law. Lawyers from MALDEF, the Justice Department of Justice and the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office have asked Hanen to dismiss the case, on the grounds that the states have suffered no injury and have no legal standing to sue. They say ending DACA wouldnt cause all immigrants to leave or be deported.

Nina Perales, vice president of litigation for MALDEF, urged Hanen to hold off on his ruling. Perales and the lawyer for New Jersey said the White House is actively creating new Homeland Security regulations and Congress has already moved on new legislation.

Assume I decide Im not going to wait because I think weve counted up to 30 different bills that have been introduced and not passed, the judge said. So waiting for that may be like Waiting for Godot.

Hanen indicated he was already crafting his ruling in the case and asked Perales how long she was asking him to wait.

Six years, she said, referencing how long it took Paxton to sue over DACA. Laughing, Hanen said his law clerks would appreciate the extra time. He requested briefing by April 9 on how he should proceed.

The attorney for Paxtons office said the state was heartened and grateful to see the judge intended to move quickly on his ruling.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court tossed a separate Trump-era lawsuit over DACA.

On March 18, the U. S. House of Representatives passed the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021, which would open a path to citizenship for an estimated 2.5 million people who arrived in the U.S. as children. The bill is now before the Senate, where it faces an uphill battle as some Senate Republicans have said it would send the wrong message amid an influx of migrants headed to the southern border.

Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, have proposed a separate bipartisan immigration reform bill in the Senate, which would provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers while offering up border security measures. But Graham has since backtracked on his support, saying Im not in support of legalizing one person until youre in control of the border.

Will Thompson, special counsel for civil litigation at Paxtons office, told Hanen he didnt think the House bill could meet the 60 vote threshold to avert a filibuster.

I dont think we should hold our breath waiting for it to pass, he said. As for the Senate bill, Thompson said that Durbin has proposed similar bills every year and they never pass.

Texas has the second highest number of DACA recipients after California, with more than 120,000 young immigrants as of 2018. Houston is home to 32,000 DACA recipients and thousands more could be eligible to apply.

The DACA program grants recipients a renewable work permit and reprieve from deportation proceedings.

The Trump administration sought to end the program in 2017, saying Obama didnt have the authority to implement the policy.

The pandemic has shown there is momentum for retaining DACA and other protections for immigrants is essential for everyone and the Democratic majorities in two branches of government compel the country to act., said Greisa Martinez, director of United We Dream, an immigrant youth led advocacy group.

There is not time to punt this issue into the next year, she said. we must deliver for our communities.

Benjamin Wermund contributed.

gabrielle.banks@chron.com
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, 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 29-30, 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 borderline.
Philippines receives first batch of purchased Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines

Xinhua) 11:06, March 30, 2021

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (L) stands beside Health Secretary Francisco Duque as they present a case containing government-purchased Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines in Manila, the Philippines, on March 29, 2021. The Philippines on Monday received the first batch of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines its government has purchased from China. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

MANILA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines on Monday received the first batch of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines its government has purchased from China.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed the arrival of the CoronaVac vaccines alongside Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, at an air force base in the capital Manila.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the vaccine arrival "is very timely and most crucial," especially when Metro Manila and its adjacent provinces are experiencing a surge in coronavirus infections.

Two batches of the China-donated Sinovac vaccines had previously arrived in the Philippines since last February, allowing the Southeast Asian country to kick off its vaccination drive on March 1.

"China now is the first and only country to provide vaccines to the Philippines through both donation and commercial procurement, which is a testament to our traditional friendship with solidarity and closer partnership in the new era," Ambassador Huang said at the handover ceremony on Monday.

The Philippines' Department of Health reported 10,016 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, the highest ever daily tally since the coronavirus outbreak in January last year in the country, raising its total tally to 731,894.

The death toll rose to 13,186 on Monday after 16 more patients died from the viral disease.

The Philippine government is ramping up the vaccination efforts in Metro Manila and its four adjacent provinces where most infections have been detected. It aims to inoculate up to 70 million Filipinos this year to achieve herd immunity, starting with health care workers and the elderly.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
CHICAGO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zayed Law Offices, an Illinois based trial law firm, announced that the firm has hired Jim Osmani as its Chief Operating Officer as it continues expansion throughout Illinois. Prior to joining Zayed Law Offices, Osmani was COO for AnyCurb and Innovation Consultant for startup and growth stage companies within consumer finance, Proptech and e-commerce industries. He brings over 20 years of professional experience and is a graduate of University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business.

"Jim not only has a brilliant history of leveraging technology to drive operational success, but he also embodies the core values of our firm. Jim knows the responsibility we have to protect our clients and to do good," said Adam Zayed, Founder and Managing Trial Attorney.

Mr. Zayed has built a reputation among his peers in the legal field by providing vigorous yet compassionate representation for clients. Now in its 12th year of operation, Zayed Law Offices has created a tremendous platform for handling the most complex and significant cases in the state of Illinois. Zayed Law Offices leaves no stone unturned when building a case that will go into litigation. Their team works with nationally renowned experts and employs state of the art legal strategies with an eye towards leveling the playing field between their clients and large insurance conglomerates. This muscularity mixed with their unique brand of trial acumen has translated to overwhelming success for their clients including many millions in recoveries, numerous seven figure awards, and a stable of ongoing litigation cases that establish the firm as a national leader in medical malpractice, wrongful death and catastrophic injury matters.

"Adam has a contagious passion for making clients whole, and I look forward to unlocking more of his energy toward growing the team so that more people can get the quality representation that Zayed Law Offices provides," said Osmani.

Zayed's brand of client advocacy has resonated with clients throughout Illinois, as it now has six strategic locations across Chicagoland and continues to recruit like minded attorneys willing to fight hard for its clients.

Zayed Law Offices was founded in 2009 by nationally recognized and award-winning personal injury trial attorney trial attorney Adam Zayed. Zayed's trial advocacy integrates elements of medical acumen, statistics, business, finance, and strategy, mixed with tremendous legal experience. For more information visit https://zayedlawoffices.com or call 855-726-1616.

SOURCE Zayed Law Offices

Related Links

https://www.zayedlawoffices.com



The PSNI are appealing for information after a petrol bomb was thrown at police in Derry last night.

It was reported that shortly after 7:20pm the number of people had gathered in the Tullymore Road area of the city.

When officers arrived to disperse the crowd, around 40 gathered individuals began to throw items at the police including wooden planks and iron bars.

During the disturbance it was reported that a petrol bomb was thrown at a parked police vehicle but didn't strike it.

Other bits of masonry were thrown at the police during the violence, however there were no reports of any injuries.

The police were able to seize some of the projectiles during the incident stopping them from being used again as weapons.

A PSNI spokesperson said: We will continue to work alongside local representatives and partner agencies, but it is disappointing that some people continue to disregard our repeated warnings.

Read More

Those people who choose to engage in criminal and anti-social behaviour must understand it is unacceptable and must stop. People have a right to live in peace and to feel safe in their communities.

Parents and guardians have an important obligation to speak to keep young people safe by knowing where they are going and who they are with. Young people must understand the dangers of getting involved in behaviour which could result in injuring themselves, others, or ultimately, a criminal record.

Police officers are now reviewing the latest CCTV recordings to identify those involved. Where appropriate, we will make arrests and put people before the courts.
Thank you for reading!

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African countries will be able to access up to 400 million Covid-19 vaccine doses from US pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) said on Monday.

"This agreement is a significant milestone in protecting the health of all Africans," said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is chairperson of the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVATT), an initiative to help the continent secure coronavirus vaccine doses.

The agreement secures 220 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the first instance, with the opportunity to buy an additional 180 million doses. The price per dose was not outlined.

The vaccines will be produced by a South African pharmaceutical company Aspen Pharma through an agreement with the US drugmaker. Most of the doses will be produced at Aspen Pharma's facility in the Eastern Cape.

"Aspen belongs to us as South Africans," Ramaphosa said, during a visit to the vaccine production site on Monday. "We as South Africans must be in pole position to receive these vaccines and for them to be made available to the continent immediately,"

The deal was made through some US$2 billion provided by Afreximbank, who are effectively underwriting the purchase. It is understood that African countries will take out loans with the lender to buy the doses.

Explainer: What Covid-19 vaccines will Africa get, when and at what cost?

Afreximbank said that African countries had a strong preference for the Johnson & Johnson jab. It is a single shot dose that has been granted emergency use status by the US Food and Drug Administration.

The vaccine has been shown to be 66% effective in clinical trials, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, providing protection against Covid-19 some two weeks after receiving an injection.

The other popular viral vector vaccine, AstraZeneca, was sold by South Africa to other African countries over concerns that it offered minimal protection against the South African variant of the coronavirus.

The African continent had struggled to secure doses of Covid-19 vaccines, as pharmaceutical companies struck deals with more powerful and wealthy countries.

There are fears that insufficient vaccination programmes across Africa could leave the continent isolated and cut off from the world.

Africa is expected to receive 88 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines through the COVAX facility, a global initiative designed to provide equitable access to vaccines for all participating nations, by the first half of 2021.


Software Engineer, Payments and Reconciliation Austin , Texas , United States Software and Services Summary

Posted: Mar 29, 2021 Weekly Hours: 40 Role Number: 200232369 Apple Information Systems and Technology group is looking for a Software Engineer to drive design and development of a Payments Platform that serves multiple Business Units within the company. The Corporate Systems group at Apple primarily focuses on creative ways to engineer business solutions to meet growing needs of Apple's Finance, Payments, iTunes, Sales, Retail, Apple Pay and IT Service organizations. At core, our portfolio comprises of engineered custom solutions to process very high-volume micro-transactions from Apple Pay, iTunes Downloads, iPhone Activations, Sales from Retail, Online, and Resellers, etc. These solutions are based on cutting edge enterprise technologies ranging from Server Side Java, Web Technologies, Cocoa, iOS, Oracle, and No-SQL Databases. Accurately processing such high volume transactions is our core strength. Key Qualifications Experience in building high performance, scalable enterprise solutions

Very sound CS background

Passionate about writing code for high volume systems

Experience in all aspects of Software Development Life Cycle

Eager to identify opportunities presented by emerging technologies to improve scalability and contribute in their overall delivery

Good understanding of No-SQL database (preferably MongoDB)

Proficiency in building concurrent systems

Enterprise Java, Linux and Object Oriented Programming expertise are required

Working knowledge of the UI stack and Javascript Frameworks

Thrive in fast paced environment and communicate well Description Desired Skills: - Search platforms like Elasticsearch, Lucene - Map Reduce, Spark for large data sets - Data streams using Kafka - Redis or other caching Frameworks - Exposure to AWS Education & Experience BS Computer Science or Equivalent. Minimum of 5 years in Software development


Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) deputy governor Henry Mathanga has resigned, citing "constructive dismissal" after the central bank forced him to go on special leave and is yet to enforce the Industrial Relations Court (IRC) order to provide all his benefits.

Mathanga, who joined the central bank in 1984, said in his resignation letter dated March 25 2021, addressed to Secretary of the President and Cabinet (SPC) and RBM governor: " I would like to tender my resignation from the position of deputy Reserve Bank governor with immediate effect on the basis that I have been constructively dismissed.

He confirmed his resignation in an interview with Nyasa Times.

On March 2 this year, the Industrial Relations Court ordered the central bank not to effect a 50 percent cut on his salary and provide him with a new official vehicle befitting his position.

The court also ordered RBM to allow Mathanga purchase the vehicle he was using before he was appointed Deputy Governor of the RBM on 13th April, 2020.

The Industrial Relations Court made this order after Mathanga protested the unlawful move to cut his monthly salary without his consent and deny him a new vehicle befitting his new position as Deputy Governor.

RBM governor, Wilson Banda, who replaced Dalitso Kabambe, unilaterally decided to cut the salaries of some RBM executives contrary to tthe Reserve Bank Act and Employment Act and as such the Industrial Relations Court faulted the RBM Governor for acting against fair labour practices as well as the Reserve Bank Act on salaries and benefits.

Mathanga, therefore, protested by seeking an order restraining the RBM from slashing his salary. The Court agreed to his request and issued the order to Reserve Bank and the office of Attorney General to stop them from cutting his salary and all other benefits.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - German stocks rose notably on Tuesday as investors looked past concerns over a U.S. hedge fund default and rising yields to focus on recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. Germany's benchmark 10-year bond yield rose to its highest level in over a week, pushed higher again by rising U.S. Treasury yields in the wake of stimulus and vaccination progress. U.S. President Joe Biden is set to outline his infrastructure spending plan on Wednesday in Pittsburgh. The economic package worth about $3 billion will be split into two parts, with the first one focused primarily on transportation and other infrastructure. The U.S. jobs data due Friday is expected to signal that the labor market recovery remains on track. The benchmark DAX climbed 98 points, or 0.7 percent, to 14,916 after rising about half a percent the previous day. Banks rebounded, with Commerzbank and Deutsch Bank rising around 2 percent. Automakers BMW and Daimler rose more than 1 percent, while Volkswagen rallied 3.1 percent. Uniper SE lost 3 percent. The energy company said that its chief executive officer Andreas Schierenbeck and chief financial officer Sascha Bibert will leave the company immediately. Software company TeamViewer AG was down 0.7 percent. The company has announced its partnership with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team and Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team. In economic releases, German import prices increased for the first time in nearly two years in February, data released by Destatis showed earlier today. Import prices advanced 1.4 percent year-on-year in February, reversing a 1.2 percent drop in January. This was the first increase in import prices since April 2019. Export prices grew 0.7 percent year-on-year, following a 0.1 percent rise in January. 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.
A Credit Union Service Organization, CUMA partners with more than 90 credit unions nationwide to offer mortgage services and access to the secondary mortgage market and government-secured loan products, like Federal Home Association (FHA), Veteran Administration (VA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to their members.

CUMA's 2020 recognition is the Platinum Award for Piedmont Advantage's more than $26 million in mortgage loan production, placing Piedmont Advantage in the top 15 of mortgage loan producers of CUMA's member credit unions nationwide. This $26 million is a 30 percent increase from the previous year.

"We have a great lending team and are a making difference in the lives of our members," said Piedmont Advantage's President/CEO Dion Williams during the virtual presentation.

About Piedmont Advantage Credit Union: In 1948, Aviator Tom Davis launched a small airline, Piedmont Airlines, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to provide jobs for servicemen and women after the war. Under his leadership, the airline flourished and the need for a credit union was recognized. By 1949, Mr. Davis supported the launch of an aviation credit union to provide small loans and savings accounts to Piedmont Airlines' employees. The credit union grew rapidly along with the airline industry.

Over the years, this credit union became known as Piedmont Advantage to reflect its growing membership. With access to over 5,000 branches within the credit union network and 35,000 surcharge-free ATMs, membership is open to individuals, who reside, work, worship or attend school in the communities it serves in North Carolina or who are employed by one of its many employer companies. A nonprofit cooperative financial institution, Piedmont Advantage has 10 branches throughout its service regions. Piedmont Advantage is headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C.

SOURCE Piedmont Advantage Credit Union

Related Links

https://www.pacu.com/


THE liquidation of Namibia's national airline passed another milestone on Friday, with the High Court confirming the winding-up of Air Namibia a month after a provisional order was issued for the airline to be wound up.

Acting judge Kobus Miller issued an order in which he confirmed the provisional order of 26 February for the winding-up of Air Namibia after the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) filed documents at the Windhoek High Court in which it stated that it, too, wants the airline to be liquidated.

The NCAA informed the court that Air Namibia owes it close to N$81 million in air traffic and navigational charges and interest on that debt.

The NCAA also stated that the airline has failed to honour a settlement agreement in which it agreed in May last year to pay its debt to the NCAA in monthly instalments of N$3 million. Air Namibia has paid only three of those agreed instalments, the NCAA's interim executive director, Gordon Elliott, said in an affidavit filed at the court.

Elliott also said it was clear that Air Namibia is "hopelessly in debt" and unable to pay its debts.

The state-owned Namibia Airports Company (NAC) applied for Air Namibia's winding-up last month, when NAC chief executive officer Bisey /Uirab informed the court that Air Namibia owes it close to N$714 million.

An affidavit of the minister of public enterprises, Leon Jooste, was also filed at the court on Thursday. In the statement, Jooste said the government, as sole shareholder of Air Namibia, on 22 February passed a special resolution for the voluntary winding-up of the airline in terms of the Companies Act.

The special resolution was lodged and registered with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa) on 24 February, and Air Namibia's liquidation process has been under way since then, Jooste said.

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He further informed the court that the master of the High Court has appointed the liquidators Ian McLaren and David Bruni as provisional liquidators of Air Namibia.

According to a statement of the airline's affairs filed at Bipa, Air Namibia has assets valued at N$1,04 billion and liabilities amounting to nearly N$5,4 billion.

The airline's debts include an amount of nearly N$790 million owed to the Receiver of Revenue, which is one of Air Namibia's biggest creditors, close to N$410 million owed to Bank Windhoek, N$133 million due to people who have bought flight tickets which have not yet been used and N$105 million owed to the airline's nearly 630 employees.

According to the statement filed at Bipa, Air Namibia's single biggest liability amounts to N$2,5 billion, which is the cost of terminating a 12-year lease agreement with Castlelake involving two Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The lease agreement started in 2013.
Catholic parishioners gathered Monday to celebrate the aquatic Way of the Cross, a tradition of more than 40 years in the colonial city of Granada in southeastern Nicaragua. The pilgrimage brought together believers from across Nicaragua as well as other countries who sailed from islet to islet in Lake Nicaragua, recreating the Passion of Christ and the Stations of the Cross - also known as Via Crucis.

This year the celebration was marred by the coronavirus pandemic, with many of the believers wearing masks and observing social distancing. Many of the faithful said they prayed for the end of the pandemic and for peace in the country ahead of November's presidential elections. The Catholic Church of Nicaragua suspended Easter pilgrimages and celebrations that involve crowds to avoid further COVID-19 contagions.

(Image Credit: AP)

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Navy Pier provided a statement: We are devastated to see the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the theater industry and are sad to see this treasured experience go from the Pier as a result. While we will miss our partnership with AMC, we look forward to exploring and introducing a new and exciting attraction in that space very soon.
With a bid of 29.89 per MWh, Voltalia wins second solar tender in Albania

New 100 MW solar plant will diversify energy supply and increase energy security

EBRD supports energy market development to unlock renewables and attract investors

The French renewables company Voltalia has won the contract for the construction and operation of a 100 MW solar plant in Albania following its successful bid in a tender run by the Albanian Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) supported the tender by providing technical assistance.

The new plant, located in the area of Spitalle, in the coastal municipality of Durres in the west of the country, will diversify energy supply and increase energy security while delivering climate-neutral energy at an affordable price.

Harry Boyd-Carpenter, EBRD Director, Energy Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: The tender attracted high-quality foreign investment and will deliver solar power at a really competitive price. Delivering a tariff below 30 per MWh for wholesale electricity is stunning. This is a fantastic result for Albania and for the Western Balkans overall.

The tender builds on the success of a previous competitive bidding process for solar power supported by the EBRD in Albania at the coastal site of Karavasta, where Voltalia has won the tender to build and operate a 140 MW solar plant.

It replicates that successful model in support of the development of the local electricity market; part of the electricity produced at the new solar park will benefit from a guaranteed tariff, while part will be sold directly on the free market. EBRD policy engagement to implement the necessary regulatory changes is expected to help attract more investment in the future.

Matteo Colangeli, EBRD Head of Albania, commented: The tender delivered another landmark for the development of solar power in Albania and will attract more high-quality foreign direct investment to the country. We are proud to be supporting Albania on the path to a sustainable and diversified energy sector.

Albania is a mountainous country and its abundance of water resources has made it dependent on hydropower for electricity generation. The need to diversify its energy sources has been recognised as a policy priority, with a view to increasing climate change resilience and decreasing dependency on electricity imports. The country is committed to developing its solar and wind power potential.

The EBRD has been promoting the scale-up of this process through policy dialogue, technical assistance and investment. The Bank is also supporting Albania in launching the countrys first auction for utility-scale onshore wind power plants, expected in the weeks ahead. Projects totalling 150 MW of capacity will be eligible under the renewable-energy support scheme run by Albanias Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy. The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has provided grant funding to support the wind auction.

To date, the EBRD has invested more than 1.5 billion in 110 projects in Albania.
South Africa: Ivermectin still not authorised for COVID-19 treatment

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) on Monday refuted claims that it has authorised Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19.

This comes after Afriforum, which is pushing for the use of the drug, claimed court victory in a press statement saying "doctors can prescribe Ivermectin to patients if they deem it necessary".

This is grossly untrue, misleading to the public and irresponsible and could have dire consequences, said the regulator.

SAHPRA said its position remains steadfast and that it has not issued a green light yet for the use of Ivermectin.

Ivermectin may be prescribed and dispensed to patients without awaiting Section 21 authorisation, but is still subject to receiving Section 21 authorisation, informed consent and all reporting requirements normally required under Section 21, SAHPRA explained.

SAHPRA said the unregistered Ivermectin-containing finished pharmaceutical products may only be accessed under SAHPRAs Ivermectin Controlled Compassionate Use Programme Guideline through the authorised suppliers of such products.

Meanwhile, the entity said it has registered Soolantra cream, which is for topical treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory lesions of papulopustular rosacea or acne-like rash in adult patients.

However, it has stressed that the Soolantra cream is not for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

The effect of the registration of the Soolantra cream is that compounding is allowed in accordance with the provisions of section 14(4) of the Medicines Act such as for specific patients, on the basis of a prescription by a medical practitioner, the entity explained.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Researchers from Newcastle University, UK, working with colleagues at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Thailand and the Institute of Urban Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, analyzed samples of water and sediment taken from aquaculture ponds and nearby canals at five locations in central Thailand's coastal region.

The research, which was part-funded by an institutional links grant awarded by the Newton Fund via the British Council, and which has been published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, found that the highest prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes was in water from the Hua Krabue canal, originating in Bangkok. Fecal pollution markers were also high in these samples.

In comparison, they found a low number of AMR genes in all of the water and sediment samples collected from the aquaculture ponds.

Aquaculture is the fastest growing animal food production sector globally, and over 91% of global aquaculture is now produced in Asia. The worldwide increase in demand for farmed fish, shrimp and other shellfish has led to the widespread use of antibiotics in aquaculture, and there have been concerns that this is driving environmental AMR, threatening global food production systems.

In recent years, the Thai government has introduced measures aimed at tackling AMR in aquaculture including reducing the amount of antibiotics used in the industry and routinely monitoring antibiotic residues in aquaculture produce.

Dr. David Werner, from Newcastle University, said: "We found no evidence that aquaculture is driving environmental AMR. In fact, the data suggests that small-scale aquaculture farmers are complying with Thai government One Health policies to reduce antimicrobial use in aquaculture.

"Wide and regular monitoring of environmental antibiotic resistance with high-throughput diagnostic tools can identify pollution hot-spots and sources to pinpoint the most effective countermeasures. This study provides a further line of evidence for the importance of safely managed sanitation for combatting antibiotic resistance. Currently only around half of total domestic wastewater in Thailand is treated, and our findings have identified an urgent need to improve urban sanitation in the country's coastal aquaculture region, for the protection of global food production systems."

The global spread of AMR is one of the greatest health threats to human, animal and environmental health. Without effective sanitation and adequate treatment of wastewater, bacteria can evolve quickly, increasing resistance to antibiotic medicines.

This has led to fears that so-called superbugsbacteria that are resistant to all antibioticswill compromise our ability to combat many new biological infections.

Reducing the spread of AMR is a World Health Organization (WHO) top five priority, and guidance published by the WHO in 2020 provides a framework for countries to create their own national action plans that suit their own particular regional setting. The guidance included contributions from Professor David Graham, also from Newcastle University, and reflects growing evidence, including research by Professor Graham, which suggests that the spread of AMR will not be solved by prudent antibiotic use alone and that environmental factors may be of equal or greater importance.

Professor Graham, who was also part of the team involved with this aquaculture study, said: "The only way we are going to win the fight against antibiotic resistance is to understand and act on all of the pathways that accelerate its spread. Although the types and drivers of resistance are diverse and vary by region and country, there are common roots to its spreadexcess antibiotic use, pollution, poor water quality, and poor sanitation.

"This new work is crucial because it exemplifies how inadequate sanitation can affect the food supply, and may be among the strongest drivers of AMR spread."

The work in Thailand is just one example of how experts from Newcastle University are working with scientists from countries including China, Malaysia, India, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Nepal to track down the sources of waterborne hazards in rivers and their associated food production systems. By working together to carry out comprehensive water quality assessments, they are helping to address the global health challenges of safe water, safe food, and controlling AMR and infectious disease.

Explore further Aquaculture at the crossroads of global warming and antimicrobial resistance

More information: Thunchanok Thongsamer et al, Environmental antimicrobial resistance is associated with faecal pollution in Central Thailand's coastal aquaculture region, Journal of Hazardous Materials (2021). Journal information: Journal of Hazardous Materials Thunchanok Thongsamer et al, Environmental antimicrobial resistance is associated with faecal pollution in Central Thailand's coastal aquaculture region,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125718
KYODO NEWS - Mar 30, 2021 - 13:55 | All, Japan, World

Japan and the United States are arranging for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and President Joe Biden to hold their summit in Washington on April 9, a government source said Tuesday.

It will be Biden's first in-person meeting with a foreign leader since taking office in January, with the two likely to discuss human rights issues in China and ways to counter the Asian power's growing maritime assertiveness, as well as efforts to denuclearize North Korea.

Suga is expected to depart Tokyo on April 8 and return on April 11, the source said. The prime minister has already had his first shot of Pfizer Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine in preparation for the trip and is set to receive the second next week.

The meeting comes as the Biden administration ramps up criticism of China's treatment of the Muslim Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region and actions concerning Hong Kong and Taiwan, and as the United States seeks to rally allies in efforts to realize a "free and open Indo-Pacific" region.

According to different government sources, Suga and Biden are expected to affirm the Senkaku Islands, a source of tension between Tokyo and Beijing, fall under the scope of Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. security treaty.

The Japan-controlled uninhabited islands in the East China Sea are claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu.

Article 5 states the United States will defend territories under Japan's administration from armed attack.

Suga and Biden are also set to condemn North Korea's test-firing of two ballistic missiles last week in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and call for its complete denuclearization in a joint statement after the meeting, the sources said.

Related coverage:

Biden broaches need for initiative to counter China's Belt and Road

Suga to invite Biden to this summer's Tokyo Olympics

Suga, Biden to urge N. Korea's complete denuclearization in summit
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Although Italian artist Marcello Minelli died late last week, his work will be paraded through the borough annually for years to come.

Minelli, 96, was an artist from Gubbio, Italy  Jessup's sister city  who crafted the 9-foot-tall golden arches behind the statue of St. Ubaldo that is carried in a procession before the annual La Festa dei Ceri on St. Ubaldo Day, said Michael Cappellini, vice president of the St. Ubaldo Society.

The statue was completely handcrafted and designed in Gubbio by local artisans, Cappellini said. Jessup received the statue from Gubbio in 2013.

"Everything is done out of pure love and devotion to our patron," he said. "And that enthusiasm, that desire, that love, that passion is directly emulated in the art that that Marcello and every artist puts into it."

The annual Race of the Saints, originally scheduled for May 29, is canceled for the second year, but the society will still host a virtual event, Cappellini said. More information will be available at saintubaldosociety.org, and residents are encouraged to put out their flags for St. Ubaldo Day by May 1, he said.
Kolkata: Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to hold a massive roadshow in the poll bound state on Tuesday (March 30) as a part of BJPs campaign for the upcoming state assembly elections.

The last minute decision to field BJP leader Amit Shah on ground in the battle for Nandigram was taken by the party after West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee led an 8 km long roadshow in the area on Monday afternoon.

The Nandigram constituency is an important ground for both the parties as ex-TMC leader and current BJP member Suvendu Adhikhari has been fielded by BJP in the constituency against TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. Both the parties view Nandigram as a crucial seat for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

The intensified battle for Nandigram is a clear indication that CM Mamata Banerjees slogan khela hobe is true for poll bound state.

Our leader and Indias strong home minister, Amit Shahji, will hold a roadshow from Reyapara Bridge to Shiv Mandir tomorrow, said BJPs candidate from Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari.

Following Shah, star campaigner and veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty will hold roadshows in the poll bound state before the campaigning for the second phase of Bengal polls comes to an end.

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Ms. Woods brings an impressive blend of experience to the company in both engineering and business management over the course of her career. At ElectrifAi, she will oversee our overall market strategy, including our product offerings, pricing, packaging, and product development. Ms. Woods is responsible for generating awareness of Electrifai's industry-defining, machine learning Model Factory  the world's leading portfolio of pre-built artificial intelligence and machine learning models.

Ms. Woods is a career product management leader working in Personalization, AI and Deep Learning. She has spent 25 years designing complex SaaS, DaaS, Marketing Technology, Machine Learning and Identity Engine platforms. She specializes in the concrete side of product, such as understanding how to build a sound product given technical constraints, recognizing unmet customer needs, and sizing the total addressable market. In addition, she has a strong track record and expertise in product elevation, such as effective positioning against competitors, pricing models, package offerings and proactive brand management.

Her previous employers include technology leaders Oracle, Bronto, Netsuite and WhatCounts and has deep experience working with many of the world's largest brands to aid in their digital transformation into omnichannel retail giants. She holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School and an undergraduate degree in Engineering from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. Ms. Woods resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.

About ElectrifAi

ElectrifAi is a global leader in business-ready machine learning models. ElectrifAi's mission is to help organizations change the way they work through machine learning: driving revenue uplift, cost reduction as well as profit and performance improvement. Founded in 2004, ElectrifAi boasts seasoned industry leadership, a global team of domain experts, and a proven record of transforming structured and unstructured data at scale. A large library of Ai-based products reaches across business functions, data systems, and teams to drive superior results in record time. ElectrifAi has approximately 200 data scientists, software engineers and employees with a proven record of dealing with over 2,000 customer implementations, mostly for Fortune 500 companies. At the heart of ElectrifAi's mission is a commitment to making Ai and machine learning more understandable, practical and profitable for businesses and industries across the globe. ElectrifAi is headquartered in Jersey City, with offices located in Shanghai and New Delhi.

SOURCE ElectrifAi
Marc Ernest joined Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union ($1.4B, Chadds Ford, PA) in 2008 after several years as a branch manager in the community banking world. He held several branch management roles within the cooperative until he became FMFCUs chief relationship officer in August 2017.

Hes had a natural career progression, but not for the most obvious reasons. His current title typically speaks to relationships with individual consumers, but in this case, its about building relationships with the businesses while becoming their banker, too.

As part of role, Ernest assumed the leadership of new business development teams focused on lending, deposits, cash and wealth management, and even financial education. And so far, so good.

Were ahead of the curve when it comes to commercial accounts, Ernest says. Were opening just more than 500 new ones a year right now and adding $40 million to $50 million in new commercial loans.
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, slammed South Korea's president for calling the North's recent missile test "concerning" and suggesting Seoul, Pyongyang and Washington should not create hurdles for talks, state media KCNA reported on Tuesday.

North Korea launched two ballistic missiles into the sea near Japan last week, underscoring steady progress in its weapons programme and ramping up pressure on the United States.

Following the launches, South Korean President Jae-in Moon said the South, the North and the United States should make efforts to continue dialogue.

Kim Yo Jong called Moon's remarks disgraceful for agreeing with the United States, which condemned the missile test and said the North's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes constituted serious threats to international peace and security.

"Such illogical and brazen-faced behaviour of South Korea is exactly the same as the gangster-like logic of the US," Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by KCNA.

North Korea on Friday said it had launched a new type of tactical short-range ballistic missile. US President Joe Biden said the test violated UN Security Council resolutions, but he remained open to diplomacy with Pyongyang.

Also read: China pressures foreign brands to reject reports of abuses in Xinjiang


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Three witnesses in Mondays session of the ongoing war crimes trial of Gibril Massaquoi accused the Sierra Leonean former rebel leader of mass murder of civilians during Liberias second civil war.

The first witness, codenamed Soldier 13 by the court to hide his identity, was called by both the prosecution and defence lawyers.

He was a commander of the Sixth Navy Division for the Liberian government forces under former President Charles Taylor. Appearing before the Finnish court, he accused Gibril Massaquoi and his operation commander Salami of massacring civilians in Waterside and Konia, Lofa County in 2001.

I saw Massaquoi, Salami and their men when they came in a pickup (truck) and opened fire on some civilians who went to look for food in a store in Waterside. I was not on the spot to see who gave the command to kill the civilians but I saw Salami on top of the pickup, using a heavy calibre machine gun and shooting while Massaquoi and their men in the pickup all opened fire on the civilians, he said.

The witness said he carried the wounded civilians to JFK hospital and helped buried the dead. He reported the incident to Massaquois commander General Benjamin Yeaten, one of former President Taylors most trusted commanders, and never saw Massaquoi again. Salami, he said, was killed on the bridge in Waterside.

Soldier 13 said in 2001 Massaquoi and his men massacred people in Konia Town, Lofa County near the Guinea border. When he and his men arrived soon after they arrested many of the RUF fighters and called Yeaten to report the incident. Yeaten brought Massaquoi and his men to Monrovia.

Asked how and when he first met him Gibril Massaquoi, he responded: I was assigned to Lofa in 2000 and Massaquoi introduced himself to me as spokesperson for the RUF. And how come we were fighting together in Waterside, was because when LURD (a faction trying to overthrow the Taylor government) bypassed and attacked Monrovia, Yeaten told our boss man Roland Doue to send for additional manpower. So when we arrived Monrovia, we met Massaquoi and Salami in Waterside.

In court Soldier 13 responded to defence questions about the last time he saw Massaquoi saying it was in 2001.

But in the police investigation leading up to the trial he had said it was 2003. The defence played a recording of the investigation interview for the court in which he gave the later date. Soldier 13 explained the discrepancy claiming he was talking about Taylor turning over power to his vice president in 2003 by which time Massaquoi had left Liberia.

The witness expressed his shock as the recording was played and clearly contradicted that claim.

It was in 2003 Massaquoi and Salami were in Liberia and Salami was killed by rocket on Via Town Bridge and people were happy, he said in the recording. But after that, I did not see Gibril Massaquoi again. And it was not long after Taylor turned power over to his VP Moses Blah.

The defence caught the witness contradicting himself about the massacre in Konia. Solider 13 had said on the same day as the massacre in Konia in Lofa, Massaquoi gave the order to kill Jonny Paul Kromah, another Sierra Leonean rebel leader. The order was carried out.

Defence lawyer Kaarle Gunmerus asked the witness how it was possible that Jonny Paul Kromah was killed in 2001, when he contested in the 2002 general and presidential elections in Sierra Leone? The witness countered that he did not think it was the same Jonny Paul Kromah.

Massaquoi, a former top commander of the Sierra Leonean rebel group the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), is on trial in the European country of Finland where he had been relocated under a deal between the Finland government and the Special Court for Sierra Leone for which he was a key informant.

He was charged in March 2020 under the principle of international jurisdiction for war crimes and crimes against humanity that he allegedly committed in Liberia. In an unusual step the presiding judge decided the court of 12 people would travel to Liberia and Sierra Leone to hear from more than 80 witnesses rather than making the witnesses travel to Finland.

Massaquoi, who had played a leading role in the rebellion in Sierra Leone, joined the Liberian civil war because of the RUFs connection to former Liberian President Charles Taylor whose close ally was Foday Sankor, the founder and leader of the RUF.

The second witness, a former Liberian military officer turned prosecution witness codenamed Soldier 11, testified about the Waterside massacre saying it was Salami and another Sierra Leonean Yeanni who killed the civilians in the store at Massaquois order.

When Massaquoi arrived in Waterside and saw Yeanni and Salami, he said, Gentlemen you guys are doing well, fire anybody you see looting from any store. Plenty civilians, were killed while taking food and it hurt me because they were my mothers people.

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The defence lawyers dwelt on the dates raised by the witnesses. They insist that if the events occurred in 2003 as some witnesses have claimed at various times in their testimony, their client could not be guilty.

According to Gunmerus in 2003 Massaquoi was informing on his former colleagues at the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Liberias former President Charles Taylor, was one of several men tried and convicted there with Massaquois testimony. Taylor is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence in the United Kingdom for aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone.

A third witness called by the prosecution and codenamed Soldier 15, said he joined the Liberian army in 1997 after the Liberian elections. He served under Roland Duoe who was army chief of staff.

Soldier 15 was the first witness to raise the Maher Bridge massacre which took place in Bomi County in 2002. He claimed he saw the massacre and it was done at the orders of Yeaten.

After we captured Bomi, we put the civilians in a vehicle to carry them to a refugee camp, and when we reached to the Maher Bridge, Yeaten and his death squad soldiers including Zigzer Massa, and Superman, put all of the civilians down from the truck and they started killing the civilians and throwing their bodies into the water, he said.

Soldier 15 also spoke about the massacre of civilians in a store in Waterside saying when Salami died on the bridge, Massaquoi was assigned to Yeaten and killed the civilians. He said it was Yeatan who gave the order to kill the civilians in the store in Waterside.

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.
And the other problems were talking about, from immigration to guns and the other things you mentioned are long-term problems, he said to the reporter who asked about his political challenges. Theyve been around a long time. And what were going to be able to do, God willing, is now begin, one at a time, to focus on those as well, and  whether its immigration or guns or a number of other problems that face the country.
COLUMBIA  The American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina is demanding that Gov. Henry McMaster rescind his order telling state employees still working from home to return to their office.

But the governor has no intentions of changing his mind, said his spokesman Brian Symmes.

In its March 30 letter to McMaster, the ACLU's state chapter told the Republican governor to either take back his order indefinitely, "while the COVID-19 pandemic continues," or issue a new one delaying the mandate until at least June 15 and specify that employees should be given "any and all individual reasonable accommodations."

The letter refers to McMaster's March 5 order that directed all state agency leaders to quickly transition to normal operations. He gave no deadline, instead telling each to submit a plan to the Department of Administration to "expeditiously return" all employees to their workplace full time.

The ACLU accuses the governor's directive as discriminating against women, who are forced to find alternative child care arrangements or might be pregnant, and people with disabilities more at-risk of getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19.

"Crucially, the idea that all state jobs require employees to work in-person is factually absurd given the continued operation of state government over the last year," reads the letter, which asks for a response by April 1.

The organization won't have to wait for an answer.

Agencies have been given flexibility on bringing employees back "in a reasonable time frame" and allowed to give exceptions to workers depending on their circumstances, Symmes said soon after the letter was sent.

"This has worked as the governor envisioned, that the Department of Administration would work directly with agency heads to get a full understanding of unique situations and work through those particular issues and provide a grace period when necessary," Symmes said. "The governor fundamentally believes that, while we out of necessity had to provide flexibility to state employees over the course of the past year, it is time to bring them back to the office."

He noted people have worked in person at businesses across South Carolina throughout the pandemic.

Those include tens of thousands of state employees, according to the Department of Administration.

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While agencies were told to bring back the bulk of the rest between March 15 and April 5, allowed exceptions specifically included people who are disabled, those on family or medical leave, and those working from home before the pandemic hit, said Department of Administration spokeswoman Kelly Coakley.

The ACLU's attorney, Susan Dunn, said that's not happening in practice.

"I don't think the governor intended the havoc he has created. This order is upsetting people's lives across the state," she told The Post and Courier, calling it a matter of political optics instead of necessity.

She argued McMaster's order goes beyond his emergency powers, noting the employees weren't hired by the governor and don't report to him.

"If the governor said, 'We want you to reopen as quickly as possible,' that would be fine. But this is not fine, arbitrarily telling people you must come back to work two weeks after youre vaccinated," she said.

Workers are being told "if you don't show up, we'll fire you," Dunn said.

Dunn said the ACLU might sue McMaster if he does not change his order.

People are considered fully immunized two weeks after getting their last COVID-19 shot, whether that's Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, which take two shots several weeks apart, or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Eligibility for the vaccines open up to all South Carolinians 16 and up beginning March 31.

Since March 8, eligibility categories have included anyone 55 and older, people with underlying health problems and disabilities, and workers who can't socially distance on the job.

So far, about 1.3 million South Carolinians have gotten at least one shot, and about 55 percent of them have completed the process, according to the state's public health agency.
What makes this recognition even more impactful is that while we are the only travel agency on the midsize list, many of our travel partners from the cruise and resort industry are included on the large employers list and we are honored to be recognized beside them.

World Travel Holdings, the nations largest cruise agency, was recently named to Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers 2021 list.

It has been a challenging past year for the travel industry, our employees and our network of franchisees and independent travel agents, so to get the news that our company was ranked on Forbes list of Best Midsize employers was so exhilarating, said Loren Kennedy, senior vice president of Human Resources and Customer Care for World Travel Holdings. What makes this recognition even more impactful is that while we are the only travel agency on the midsize list, many of our travel partners from the cruise and resort industry are included on the large employers list and we are honored to be recognized beside them.

According to Forbes, In the wake of the global pandemic, midsize businesses have had to navigate countless challenges, from applying for Paycheck Protection Program loans to securing protective equipment, whether or not they employ healthcare workers. The companies on our list of Americas Best Midsize Employers have risen to the occasion, adapting in ways that benefit both their customers and employees.

World Travel Holdings mission is to Deliver a Remarkable Experience and has kept that promise to its employees and customers during the pandemic. The company has always prided itself on transparency and started hosting virtual Town Halls with its Executive Team to share updates on the state of the industry and the health of the company. Its corporate Virtual Fun Committee hosted new, fun, and engaging activities to stay connected with employees. When cruising came to a halt, the company quickly adapted to meet the needs of its customers by changing its marketing messages, creating new technologies, expanding its land vacation offerings, training its agents on the new travel health & safety protocols and more.

Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to compile the list by surveying 50,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees. Participants were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family, and to nominate organizations other than their own. The final list ranks the 500 large and 500 midsize employers that received the most recommendations.

About World Travel Holdings

World Travel Holdings is the nations largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company with a portfolio of more than 40 diverse brands. In addition to owning some of the largest brands distributing cruises, villas, resort vacations, car rentals, resort day passes and luxury travel services, World Travel Holdings has a vast portfolio of private-label partnerships comprised of top leisure travel providers, including almost every U.S. airline, leading hotel brands and prominent corporations. The company also operates a top-rated travel agency franchise and the country's original host agency, and is consistently recognized as an industry leader in work-at-home employment. Its global presence includes operating multiple cruise brands in the United Kingdom. World Travel Holdings has offices in Wilmington, Mass.; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; and Chorley, England. For more information, visit WorldTravelHoldings.com.

###


US deploys Green Berets to Mozambique; ISIS-linked militants accused of beheading children

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The United States has deployed U.S. Army Green Berets to Mozambique to train local troops as the country faces a growing insurgency that has seen children as young as 12 beheaded as well as thousands killed and displaced in the southern African country.

Analysts say this intervention is long overdue with a worsening humanitarian crisis and rise in appalling atrocities. More than 2,600 people have died since 2017 from the fighting and terrorist activity that began in north Mozambique, according to the United Nations.

The U.N. reports the mysterious group of insurgents has committed killing, rape and other atrocities.

The U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers were sent to train Mozambican marines for two months to counter the spread of violence by the Islamic extremist group, al-Shabab.

The United States is committed to supporting Mozambique with a multifaceted and holistic approach to counter and prevent the spread of terrorism and violent extremism, the U.S. Embassy in Mozambique said in a statement. Civilian protection, human rights, and community engagement are central to U.S. cooperation and are foundational to effectively counter the Islamic State in Mozambique.

This approach addresses socioeconomic development issues as well as the security situation, the statement adds.

The elite Green Berets are often deployed worldwide to build relationships, go on missions with locals and teach them how to fight effectively, Business Insider reports.

The U.S. government launched the two-month Joint Combined Exchange Training program to help prevent the spread of terrorism and will also provide communications and medical treatment.

The U.S. recently designated the Islamic State-linked insurgents in Mozambiques Cabo Delgado province a foreign terrorist organization on March 10.

Islamic State affiliates in Mozambique are also known as Ansar al-Sunna and known locally as al-Shabaab. The group reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in 2018.

Since October 2017, ISIS-Mozambique, led by Abu Yasir Hassan, has killed more than 1,300 civilians, and it is estimated that more than 2,300 civilians, security force members, and suspected ISIS-Mozambique militants have been killed since the terrorist group began its violent extremist insurgency, a State Department announcement reads. The group was responsible for orchestrating a series of large-scale and sophisticated attacks resulting in the capture of the strategic port of Mocimboa da Praia, Cabo Delgado Province.

According to the State Department, attacks by Islamic extremists in Mozambique have caused the displacement of nearly 670,000 persons within northern Mozambique.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a March 11 press briefing that designating Islamic State-Mozambique and Islamic State-DRC as specially designated global terrorist organizations is a decisive action against extremism and an important step in the global fight to defeat ISIS.

The United States will continue to expose and isolate terrorists, disrupt their support networks, deny them access to the U.S. financial system, and do everything in our power to preserve the security of the United States, Price said. We remain decisively engaged with our partners to address security challenges and to advance peace and security in Africa.

Islamic extremist-fueled violence in Mozambique has become a trend since 2017.

Senior leaders with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees warned of the urgent need in the Cabo Delgado province due to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of individuals.

The number of internally displaced people has increased from around 70,000 about a year ago to nearly 700,000 today. U.N. officials predict the number is expected to reach 1 million by June.

Most displaced people have fled south or found shelter with family or friends. The government is developing sites for those who remain. More than half of the displaced people are children.

The British aid organization Save the Children published a report earlier this month featuring interviews with survivors who recalled children as young as 11 being killed by insurgents.

A 28-year-old mother told the aid agency that her 12-year-old son was beheaded.

That night our village was attacked and houses were burned. When it all started, I was at home with my four children," she recalled. "We tried to escape to the woods, but they took my eldest son and beheaded him. We couldn't do anything because we would be killed too.

Christian persecution watchdog group Open Doors said the fresh wave of extremist violence in Mozambique ranked the country at No. 45 on the groups World Watch List of countries where Christians face the greatest persecution.

Instability in the region prevents a reliable count of those affected, but we believe the violence is widespread and often religiously motivated, Open Doors USA spokesperson Amy Lamb told The Christian Post in an email. Its part of a greater spread of extremist violence throughout the entire Sub-Saharan region, as factions of ISIS, al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, and their splinter groups expand their reach.

Lamb said this matter is of grave concern and is often fueled by religion against believers.

Make no mistake: this violence is religiously-motivated, and Christians alongside other religious minorities are being systemically targeted, Lamb wrote. Christians in the U.S. should pray urgently for the protection and provision of people in this region.

Christians make up over half of Mozambique, yet Islamic oppression is strong and accelerating.

Islamic extremists have destroyed Christian places of worship, schools and business, as many Christians have been forced to flee their homes, Open Doors reported. The presence of drug cartels in some areas also leads to increased persecution, especially in the country's northern region.
ARLINGTON, Va., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the specialty chemicals industry anticipates new policy and regulations coming under the Biden Administration, the Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) is hosting its Policy Webinar Series throughout April to focus on these key topics that are crucial to its membership and the value chain.

"With the new administration's initiatives under way, there are numerous regulatory changes and potential effects to the very framework of the specialty and fine chemical industry," said Robert Helminiak, Vice President, Legal and Government Relations. "SOCMA's Policy Webinar Series will deliver critical intelligence and background information on legislation, trade impacts, compliance challenges, worker health and safety requirements and ongoing regulatory activities that our member companies can utilize to ensure optimal business performance within the Biden Administration. These foundational issues significantly impact the specialties industry, and our members rely on SOCMA to obtain essential guidance necessary to the success of their operations."

Each webinar includes subject-matter experts from SOCMA member companies, industry partners and key federal agencies. Session dates, topics and speakers are as follows:

Thursday, April 1  COVID-19 Employer Vaccination Policy & Insurance Considerations | Expert panelists are Megan Glowacki , Partner, Thompson Hine, and Scott A. Watson , Vice President, McGriff Insurance .

 | Expert panelists are , Partner, Thompson Hine, and , Vice President, . Thursday, April 8  OSHA's New Hazard Communication Requirements | Expert panelist is Amy Wachs, Partner, Husch Blackwell .

 | Expert panelist is Amy Wachs, Partner, . Thursday, April 15  Trade Impacts on the Chemical Supply Chain  MTB, China 301 Tariffs, GSP, and More

 Thursday, April 22  A Closer Look at the Biden EPA and its Impact on the Specialty Chemical Industry

Register here for the first session on Thursday, April 1, to hear analysis about the impacts of COVID-19 on labor law, worker compensation and employer/employee expectations as the vaccine is rolled out nationwide.

For additional questions, or to submit feedback for each webinar, please contact SOCMA's Government Relations team at [email protected].

About SOCMA

SOCMA is part of a $300 billion industry that's fueling the U.S. economy. Our members play an indispensable role in the global chemical supply chain, providing specialty chemicals to companies in markets ranging from aerospace and electronics to pharmaceuticals and agriculture. For more information visit www.socma.org.

SOURCE Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates

Related Links

https://www.socma.org/


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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives of those honored for their outstanding work in China's campaign to fight organized and gang-related crimes in Beijing, capital of China, March 29, 2021. Wang Huning and Zhao Leji, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, were present at the event. [Xinhua/Rao Aimin]

BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met with representatives of those honored for their outstanding work in China's campaign to fight organized and gang-related crimes.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, expressed congratulations to the representatives, who were attending a gathering in Beijing to celebrate the victory of the campaign.

Wang Huning and Zhao Leji, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, were present at the event.

In 2018, China initiated a three-year campaign to crack down on organized and gang-related crimes. Significant results have been achieved, with more than 3,600 crime groups busted over the past three years.

Speaking at the event, Guo Shengkun, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, said the fight against such illegal activities should be advanced on a regular basis, calling for greater efforts to implement the Peaceful China initiative.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, poses for a group photo with representatives of those honored for their outstanding work in China's campaign to fight organized and gang-related crimes in Beijing, capital of China, March 29, 2021. Wang Huning and Zhao Leji, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, were present at the event. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen]

Guo Shengkun, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, speaks at a gathering to celebrate the victory of China's campaign to fight organized and gang-related crimes in Beijing, capital of China, March 29, 2021. [Xinhua/Yue Yuewei]

(Source: Xinhua)
Hartford Police / Contributed Photo

HARTFORD  One person was critically wounded in a shooting in the city over the weekend, according to police.

Around 6 p.m. Saturday, patrol officers responded to the 300 block of Wethersfield Avenue for a 911 call about a person shot.
NORTH CHARLESTON  The first ships won't dock at the Leatherman Terminal until sometime in April, but a container bound for an overseas journey is already sitting in the new freight yard.

The terminal's first cargo box arrived March 30.

The BMW automotive plant in Spartanburg County filled the container with car parts and placed it on a train at the State Ports Authority's inland port in Greer. From there it was taken to a Norfolk Southern Corp. rail yard in North Charleston, picked up by trucker Corinthian Brown of C&K Trucking and then hauled over to the Leatherman site on the former Navy base.

It likely won't be sitting alone for long. The SPA expects the $1 billion first phase of the Leatherman Terminal  named for state Sen. Hugh Leatherman, one of the port's biggest benefactors  will be able to move the equivalent of 700,000 20-foot cargo boxes every year. Ships able to carry as many as 20,000 containers at a time will visit the first of three berths to be built at the site.

Five ship-to-shore cranes towering 169 feet tall will move cargo to and from the vessels, while 25 rubber-tired gantry cranes running on hybrid power will move the containers around the terminal.

When it's fully built out in the next decade, the 280-acre, three-berth terminal along the Cooper River will double the Port of Charleston's existing cargo capacity.

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The first phase is opening just in the nick of time, according to SPA CEO Jim Newsome, as shipping lines deploy bigger and heavier vessels to meet a growing U.S. demand for imported consumer goods and the world's hunger for American manufactured products.

A $558 million Charleston Harbor deepening project will give the port the East Coast's deepest navigation channel, allowing those vessels to visit the port's terminals at any time regardless of the tide.

A new road connecting the Leatherman Terminal with Interstate 26 recently opened, keeping port-related truck traffic off local city streets. A near-dock rail yard to move cargo directly from the terminal to the hinterlands is in the works.

"The Leatherman Terminal will be a significant economic driver for South Carolina, further supporting growth of existing businesses and attracting new investments to the state," Newsome said.

In a separate statement, Newsome added the new terminal will provide "capacity and fluidity at a time it is sorely needed on the East Coast amid global shipping disruptions."

But it all begins with a single container, and Tuesday that shipment cemented its spot among the footnotes of the port's 350-year history.
As of March 2, 2021, S&P Global Ratings has evaluated over 65 entities across the globe using its ESG Evaluation. The average score on these evaluations is 68, and the highest score achieved is Philips' 90. Since the first ESG Evaluation, published in June 2019, we have finalized ESG Evaluations across 21 sectors globally. By region, the highest average score is 72, for companies headquartered in Europe.

Philips' ESG Evaluation score of 90 reflects our view that sustainability is at the core of its corporate strategy. The company built a digital, integrated, and solution-based business model before most of its global peers, which it leverages to respond to key challenges in the health care industry, such as inequality in the access and affordability of care, and shortages of medical professionals.

"We believe its business model will benefit from secular trends in the industry, including the unprecedented acceleration in connected care as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," say Marketa Horkova and Noemie de la Gorce, the primary contacts for the ESG Evaluation. "Philips also distinguishes itself by its robust governance, advanced supply chain management, and leading environmental practices, although it operates in an industry with relatively low environmental impact. We anticipate the company will manage its increasing exposure to risks related to data governance and cybersecurity well, but do not believe these can be fully mitigated."

Philips is a global diversified health technology and consumer products group present in over 100 countries. In 2020, Philips generated revenue of 19.54 billion. The group consists of three major segments: Diagnosis and Treatment (42% of 2020 revenue); Personal Health (28%); and Connected Care and Informatics (28%). Diagnosis and Treatment includes diagnostic imaging, ultrasound scanners, and image-guided therapy. Personal Health includes oral care, mother and child care products, male grooming and skin care, and small home appliances. The Connected Care and Informatics segment includes respiratory drug delivery products, patient monitoring, health care informatics, home ventilators, and respiratory masks.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  The Department of Health will now include in the official COVID-19 report the number of cases that tested positive using antigen tests in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces, amid the ongoing surge in infections.

"The rapid antigen test will be officially reported for this period that we have this increase in the number of cases," DOH Usec. Ma. Rosario Vergeire said during a House Committee on Health hearing on Tuesday. "We are going to use the antigen tests in the NCR Plus bubble as recommended by the [World Health Organization]."

The previous policy of the DOH stated that only confirmed cases using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR tests will be included in the official count as it is the gold standard of testing for COVID-19.

"Accuracy on the use of antigen is acceptable whenever there are outbreaks," Vergeire told CNN Philippines in a text message.

The NCR Plus bubble which was earlier implemented but has since been superseded by the imposition of the one-week enhanced community quarantine, covers Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal. Testing czar Vince Dizon earlier said the government will ramp up testing using antigen tests which provide faster results amid the outbreak of cases in these areas.

Vergeire said those who tested positive using antigen tests in these areas will no longer need to get a confirmatory RT-PCR test as previously required. However, the confirmatory tests are still needed if the individuals reside in areas with low prevalence of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Dizon said using antigen tests would also help prevent infections among lab personnel since they can be conducted outside a laboratory. Vergeire said establishments that will conduct the tests must submit case investigation forms which have been available since "months ago" and already covers rapid antigen and antibody testing. However, she pointed out that compliance with the submission of the forms has been "very low."

Antigen can use nasal or nasopharyngeal samples to detect specific viral antigen, which implies current viral infection, with results available within approximately 15 minutes, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. It is not as sensitive as the RT-PCR tests and is only appropriate to detect the most infectious cases, according to the WHO.
The Queen had a telephone audience with the Archbishop of Canterbury in which he wished her a happy Easter.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby said it was 'a great honour' as he bestowed blessings upon the monarch and her family.

The telephone call between Mr Welby and the Queen, who holds the title of Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, took place this afternoon.

The Queen had a telephone audience with the Archbishop of Canterbury (pictured) in which he wished her a happy Easter

Mr Welby tweeted a picture of himself with a phone to his ear and wrote: 'It was a great honour to have a telephone audience with Her Majesty The Queen this afternoon.

'I was able to update her on the work of @churchofengland throughout the pandemic and wish her a happy Easter. May God continue to bless and protect her and her family.'

The Royal Family Twitter account retweeted Mr Welby's post, confirming the telephone audience had taken place.

The Queen was reunited with the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor earlier this month after the duke spent a month in hospital.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby said it was 'a great honour' as he bestowed blessings upon the monarch (pictured in March 2021 during a video call) and her family

Philip, 99, 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.

The duke 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.

The Queen alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Justin Welby addresses the Tenth General Synod during its inauguration in Church House, London in 2015

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.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
Delivering medical care during a global pandemic has required teamwork at the highest level, and doctors are fundamental to this effort. As the country celebrates Doctors Day today, I invite you to join me in recognizing the heroic work of all physicians. The COVID-19 pandemic has called upon the expertise and skills of our local physicians and many more in the larger medical community who have worked to detect, treat, cure and develop vaccines against this highly infectious disease.

Life has been disrupted by lockdowns and restrictions but chronic diseases and medical crises have kept going. Doctors on our medical staff at Crestwood Medical Center have been steadfast partners supporting the safety and wellness of patients and our community. Theyve helped us adapt our practices as more is learned about the virus, its treatment, and the prevention of spread. Ive never been more grateful for their support.

Their knowledge and skills helped the more than 34,000 patient visits to our Emergency Room and the more than 10,000 patients admitted last year. While we cared for 800-plus COVID-19 positive inpatients, routine care also continued. Women delivered their newborns, medical emergencies were treated, surgeries were performed and a myriad of other medical concerns were addressed. Many providers adapted to new practices, using tele-visits to ease access. Patients who went to a clinic were seen in a safe environment to get care for chronic conditions and routine check-ups.

On this Doctors Day, please join me in reaching out to the physicians you know to say thank you. Today we acknowledge their contributions, sacrifices, skills and unwavering concern for patients. Lets be sure they know how grateful we are.

(Dr. Pam Hudson is CEO of Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville, Ala.)
She has been posting a slew of scantily-clad snaps while enjoying the sunny climes of Ibiza.

And Demi Rose put on a sizzling display on Instagram on Tuesday as she posed topless in white tie-up corset for a photoshoot with PrettyLittleThing.

The buxom model, 25, put on a very racy display as she covered her ample cleavage with a bouquet on flowers.

Racy: Demi Rose put on a sizzling display on Instagram on Tuesday as she posed topless in white tie-up corset for a photoshoot with PrettyLittleThing

The mesh corset highlighted Demi's tiny waist as she posed up a storm in matching white knickers.

The Birmingham beauty left little to the imagination as she used a spray of alstroemeria, white lisianthus and gypsophila to cover her modesty.

Demi wore her brunette locks up off her face and captioned the array of sultry shots: 'When you plant a seed of love, it is you that blossoms'.

Flower power: The buxom model, 25, put on a very racy display as she covered her ample cleavage with a bouquet on flowers

Ample cleavage: The Birmingham beauty left little to the imagination as she used a spray of alstroemeria, white lisianthus and gypsophila to cover her modesty

Demi has been sharing a slew of snaps from her sunny travels in recent months  including trips to the Maldives and Tanzania.

Last week the Demi looked sensational as she posed up a storm in a tiny white bikini top, leaving the straps untied and garment precariously placed over her ample assets.

Demi flaunted her killer physique in a pair of purple and white tracksuit bottoms, making sure to showcase her taut midriff as she snapped a selfie.

Flaunt it: Demi has been sharing a slew of snaps from her sunny travels in recent months  including trips to the Maldives and Tanzania. Here she is pictured in Ibiza last week

The brunette beauty wore her long locks down, letting them cascade over her toned frame and flow into a gentle curl.

Despite her confident display, the Wolverhampton-born beauty recently spoke to MailOnline about how she shot to stardom at the age of 14 after being bullied in school - before going on to sign for a modelling agency at the age of 18.

Demi recalled: 'I was bullied in school, I wanted to make friends outside of it so I ended up spending a lot of time online.

'I was even interested in virtual reality as a kid, I was always on the computer and then MySpace came around and I found my calling.'
RED BLUFF, Calif. - The American Legion and many others came together Monday to honor those who served in the Vietnam War.

The service included a moment of silence honoring those who died.

War veterans who were at the gathering shared why this day is so important to them.

Extremely proud when you see the people come out that you served during that period of time because there are so many young people today that don't even know what the Vietnam war is," Red Bluff resident Preston Epperson said. "And it makes you proud when you can see people come out and still salute the flag.

On March 29, 1973, the last American combat troops withdrew from then-south Vietnam, and the remaining U.S. prisoners of war were released.

More than 58,000 U.S. servicemen and women died in Vietnam during the war.

The American Legion in Red Bluff hopes to have its next service on Memorial Day.
Washington, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Howard Universitys graduate programs in nursing, business, law and education each received significant increases in the U.S. News and World Reports 2022 Best Graduate Schools listing. The School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences is ranked No. 46 for its nursing masters program and No. 79 in occupational therapy, the School of Business is ranked No. 64 for its full-time MBA program, the School of Law is ranked No. 91 and the School of Education is ranked No. 91. Under the academic disciplines for social sciences and humanities, the Graduate School was recognized with a specialty rank of No. 3 in African-American history and an overall rank of No. 48 in history; it also received a specialty rank of No. 7 in African-American literature and an overall rank of No. 62 in English. In the medical school rankings, the College of Medicine ranked No. 1 for Most Diverse Medical School, No. 40 for graduates who serve in medically needy areas and No. 47 for Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Specialties.

This is an incredible accomplishment for our faculty and staff who work tirelessly to help train the nations best and brightest students, says President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA. By climbing the U.S. News and World Reports graduate school rankings, we are demonstrating that our strategic plan to enhance academic knowledge is working. The credit goes to our faculty and administrators who live out our mission of truth and service every day. Our graduate students come to Howard to learn and hone their skills, but they leave here with a renewed vision of their purpose, and its great to have that work acknowledged by our peers.

The College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences soared on to the list this year with a ranking of No. 46 for its masters in nursing program and No. 79 in occupational therapy. The college is comprised of top-ranked educational programs that prepare health care professionals to be leaders and innovators in practice, education, research and service. Graduates are prepared to deliver patient-centered, interprofessional care and utilize cutting-edge technology and evidence-based practice to improve the health of all people with an emphasis on promoting health equity toward eliminating health disparities.

Howard Universitys College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences graduate nursing faculty and college leadership have worked extremely hard to demonstrate the excellence that we knew was embedded in the program, says Dean Gina S. Brown, Ph.D., MSA, RN. Due to our small size, many were not aware of the success and the ability of the program to achieve greatness. However, we realize that only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible. We celebrate our hard-working faculty who made this achievement possible. We cant wait to see what the next year holds for this and all of our outstanding nursing and health sciences programs.

Among the lists top full-time MBA programs, the Howard University School of Business rose to No. 64, elevating six spots from last year. The School of Business and its award-winning programs were the first business school in Washington, D.C to receive accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The MBA program was recently ranked No. 45 on Bloomberg Businessweeks 2021 Global Business School list.

The School of Business is very happy with our upswing in the U.S. News graduate rankings this year to No. 64. It reflects the hard work of our faculty and staff and recognizes that Howard produces students who are making a significant impact on the global business world, says Dean Anthony D. Wilbon, Ph.D., PMP. It is a wonderful acknowledgment, and we will continue to strive for excellence through enhanced programming, curriculum and research.

The Howard University School of Law (HUSL) jumped 16 spots to rank No. 91 on the U.S. News & World Report list. It is the schools first time breaking the top 100. HUSL has been educating legal scholars for 150 years and boasts such notable alumni as former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, legal trailblazer Pauli Murray, and former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. School of Law Dean Danielle Holley-Walker recalls how the law school ranked No. 135 when she arrived and how she and President Frederick discussed establishing the goal to ascend into the top 100.

It is gratifying to see the hard work of our faculty, staff and students recognized through our steady rise in the U.S. News rankings. While we know that rankings do not define the excellence of our law school, it is wonderful to see our gains in admissions, bar passage and career placement recognized through the rankings. It is an especially important signal for the entire legal profession to see Howard Laws ranking rise while we are also ranked the #1 law school in the country in the U.S. News diversity ranking, says Dean Holley-Walker.

The graduate program of Howard University School of Education (HUSOE) broke the top 100 for a second time with a rank of No. 91, up 22 places from last years ratings. This is the programs highest rank to date. HUSOE is a Council for the Accreditation of Educational Preparation-accredited provider, which features the opportunity to travel abroad for global education experiences, engagement with the Urban Superintendent Academy, and a Ph.D. program in higher education leadership and policy studies.

The unique challenges that we have faced teaching and learning in virtual environments have required innovative approaches to prepare our students for a rapidly changing world, says School of Education Dean Dawn Williams, Ph.D. It is our expectation that our graduates will succeed and remain steadfast in addressing social justice issues related to equity, access and opportunity across our academic disciplines. The elevated ranking has helped to highlight and affirm our ability to deliver academic programs that produce graduates that are able to bridge theory into successful practice. The School of Education faculty and staff are to be commended for maintaining high standards and balancing the needs of our students during these unprecedented times.

Under the academic disciplines for Best Social Sciences and Humanities Schools rankings, the Graduate School at Howard University was recognized with a specialty rank of No. 3 in African-American history an overall rank of No. 48 in history as well as a specialty rank of No. 7 in African-American literature and an overall rank of No. 62 in English. Howard University was established in 1867  the same year that the University offered its first masters degree. In 1934, the Graduate School was formally established; and in 1976, the school was reorganized into its current structure with divisions in the arts and humanities, biological and life sciences, engineering and physical sciences, and social sciences. The school awarded its first doctorate degree in 1958 in the field of chemistry. Today, the school offers 28 masters and 27 doctoral programs

We are enthusiastic about our continued rise in the rankings for our doctoral programs in history and English, says Interim Graduate Dean Dana A. Williams, Ph.D. We are consistently the leading producer of African-American doctoral recipients who earn a Ph.D. from an on-campus university. The quality of the programs that train our graduates is unparalleled. The national recognition of these programs will undoubtedly attract more students to the Graduate School, and we will continue to build a community of scholars dedicated to finding solutions to problems of the human condition.

The Howard University College of Medicine (COM) ranked No. 1 for Most Diverse Medical School, No. 40 for graduates who serve in medically needy areas, and No. 47 for Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Specialties. The College of Medicine has been on the frontlines during the coronavirus pandemic through support of the patient care at Howard University Hospital and the on-site vaccine clinic, which provides vaccination shots to the community. COM provides students of high academic potential with a medical education of exceptional quality and prepares physicians and other health care professionals to serve the underserved. Particular focus is on the education of disadvantaged students for careers in medicine. Emphasis is placed on developing skills and habits of life-long learning and producing world leaders in medicine.

There is an urgent need for more Black doctors in this country in order to meet the demands of our aging population. Therefore, its exciting to see that our mission to train a diverse group of physicians to serve the most disadvantaged populations is being recognized by our peers through rankings like US News and World Report, says College of Medicine Dean Hugh E. Mighty, M.D., MBA. The on-going pandemic has only magnified the significant role diverse doctors play in addressing health disparities in minority communities. We look forward to continuing this work to create a talented pool of healthcare professionals who are committed to truth and service.

In September 2020, Howard University reached a personal best, soaring to No. 80 on the U.S. News & World Report list of the best national universities, as evaluated on 17 measures, including first-year student retention, graduation rates, strength of the faculty and alumni giving. The University was ranked No. 145 in 2014 and has elevated 65 positions to achieve the No. 80 rank. Howard is also currently ranked No. 31 for undergraduate teaching, No. 50 best college for veterans, No. 58 most innovative schools and No. 3 among private institutions for social mobility (No. 11 overall).

2022 U.S. News & World Report Rankings:

Nursing (Master's)  No. 46

Business: Full-Time MBA  No. 64

Education  No. 91

English  No. 62

English: African-American Literature  No. 7

History  No. 48

History: African-American History  No. 3

Law (Full-Time Programs)  No. 91

Law: Trial Advocacy  No. 30

Law: Clinical Training  No. 32

Law: Legal Writing  No. 41

Law: Criminal Law  No. 50

Law: Constitutional Law  No. 52

Law: Intellectual Property  No. 52

Law: Contracts/Commercial Law  No. 62

Law: Corporate Law  No. 73

Law: International Law  No. 86

Medicine: Diversity Index  No. 1

Medicine: Direct Patient Care in Shortage Areas  No. 34

Medicine: Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Specialties  No. 47

Medicine: The Most Graduates in Primary Care - No. 84

Social Work  No. 25

Political Science  No. 68

Sociology  No. 70

Speech-Language Pathology  No. 72

Pharmacy  No. 75

Occupational Therapy  No. 79

Economics  No. 100

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 areas of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 17:02:40|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported on Tuesday 9,296 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the country's total tally to 741,181.

The COVID-19 related death toll rose to 13,191 after five more patients died from the coronavirus epidemic, the DOH said.

The Philippines reverted Metro Manila and its four adjacent provinces to the highest quarantine level on Monday following a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases this month. The seven-day lockdown ends on April 4.

The DOH has recommended extending the tight coronavirus restrictions in these areas, the epicenter of the latest surge, for another week.

"Extension for another week was recommended, but nothing is final," the DOH said in a brief statement.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Tuesday that the inter-agency task force will assess the situation before April 4 and decide on the possible lockdown extension. The task force will meet on Saturday.

"Our doors are not closed (to) this (lockdown) extension if we see that the hospitals cannot still manage the number of cases," Vergeire said in a television interview, adding that a week "is really not enough."

"We have to understand that even after one week of this strict lockdown, we really cannot see any change in the numbers or any change in the healthcare utilization (rate) because that is just a short time," Vergeire added.

Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the Philippines' National Task Force against COVID-19, said in a televised press conference that the government "will look seriously at the experts' recommendation" to extend the lockdown measures, especially if these areas will continue to see a "sharp, steep rise" in infections.

Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada was among those who recently contracted the novel coronavirus. Estrada, 83, was rushed to a hospital on Sunday afternoon but was forced to spend the night in an emergency room due to lack of available space, according to media reports.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar confirmed on Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19.

"Though I am asymptomatic, I was immediately isolated and placed on home quarantine," Andanar said in a statement.

Andanar is the sixth member of President Rodrigo Duterte's cabinet that caught the highly infectious virus. Enditem
Lawton, OK (73501)

Today

Partly cloudy. High around 85F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
"Weve seen impressive growth among our MSP members and weve worked hard to design a partner program that reflects our dedication to their success. The 20's success is inextricably linked to that of our MSP members," said Tim Conkle, CEO of The 20.

The 20 MSP is being acknowledged by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, in its 2021 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide provides a conclusive list of the most distinguished partner programs from leading technology companies that provide products and services through the IT Channel.

Given the importance of IT vendor channel programs, each year CRN develops its Partner Program Guide to provide the channel community with a detailed look at the partner programs offered by IT manufacturers, software developers, service companies, and distributors. Vendors are scored based on investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication.

The 20 is a group of Managed Service Providers across North America who have joined forces to perfect a single service delivery model with unified resources to deliver excellent IT support. Paired with outstanding service delivery, The 20 provides a successful platform with proven processes for lead gen, sales, and scale, to help IT providers grow.

We are honored to be recognized in the 2021 CRN Partner Program Guide, said Tim Conkle, CEO of The 20. Weve seen impressive growth among our MSP members and weve worked hard to design a partner program that reflects our dedication to their success. The 20's success is inextricably linked to that of our MSP members."

As innovation continues to fuel the speed and intricacy of technology, solution providers need partners that can keep up and support their developing business, said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. CRNs 2021 Partner Program Guide gives insight into the strengths of each organizations program to recognize those that continually support and push positive change inside the IT channel.

The 2021 Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April 2021 issue of CRN and online at http://www.CRN.com/PPG.

About The 20 MSP

The 20 is an exclusive business development group for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) aimed at dominating and revolutionizing the IT industry with its standardized all-in-one approach. The 20s robust RMM, PSA, and documentation platform ensures superior service for its MSPs clients utilizing their completely US-based Help Desk and Network Operations Center. Extending beyond world-class tools and processes, The 20 touts a proven sales model, a community of industry-leaders, and ultimate scalability. For more information, visit: http://www.the20.com.

Follow The 20 MSP: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

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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 nearly 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. http://www.thechannelcompany.com

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 22:05:35|Editor: huaxia

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GABORONE, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Botswana government on Tuesday started to restrict movement of people between COVID-19 zones with immediate effect as a way to curb the spread of the pandemic in the coming Easter Holidays.

A communique from the Presidential COVID-19 Taskforce said only essential workers executing their duties and in possession of valid permits will be allowed to move between zones as from Tuesday.

The country was demarcated into zones last year after recording the first case of the novel coronavirus to monitor movement of people between zones. Since then individuals need to apply for online permits to be able to move across zones.

The Tuesday communique also alerted members of the public who are in possession of valid inter-zonal permits that the permits are invalidated with immediate effects and they have to apply for a one-way permit to return to their bases.

Botswana goes to Easter Holidays on Friday and as usual, most people are expected to go to holiday destinations or visit their families and friends around the country. However, the holiday comes at the time when the country continues to register its highest number of COVID-19 infections and deaths.

The country had managed to keep the number of new infections and deaths moderately low for most of 2020, but realized a spike in cases in the New Year following the Christmas holiday period. Health officials believe the decision to loosen up travel restrictions during the holidays contributed to the spike in new cases and deaths.

Meanwhile, the Parliament on Tuesday voted for the extension of State of Public Emergency by a further six months. Enditem

Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 21:22:13|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The majority of Kenyan citizens have a positive attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccine despite misinformation about its safety and efficacy, said a survey that was launched in the capital, Nairobi on Tuesday.

The survey which was carried out by non-profit group, Africa's Voices Foundation (AVF) said that 39 percent of 1,525 respondents had faith in the vaccine as opposed to 16 percent who expressed skepticism towards the jab.

"From the analysis, 39 percent of participants indicated that the arrival of the vaccine is a good thing that will help to stop the virus and 24 percent suggested that more people need to be vaccinated across the country," said the survey that covered 44 counties.

It said that seven percent of respondents were concerned about the vaccine's side effects while 4.1 percent said that senior government officials should take the lead in the inoculation against coronavirus.

"Some participants also said that there is a need to educate the public on the vaccine," said the survey, adding that 66 percent of respondents were youth aged 18 to 35 years while 60 percent were women.

Kenya's ministry of health on March 4 kicked off COVID-19 vaccination campaign targeting frontline healthcare workers, teachers and security personnel.

The east African nation had earlier received 1.02 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine procured under the COVAX facility to inoculate high-risk groups and boost efforts to contain the virus.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 26 joined senior government officials to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and encouraged Kenyans to participate in the exercise.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that more than 60,000 Kenyans have so far received COVID-19 jabs as attention shifts to the elderly citizens aged 58 years and above due to their higher vulnerability to the virus.

The survey on citizens' attitudes towards the virus which was carried out from March 18 to 21 added that respondents were unequivocal on the need to give priority to vulnerable demographics including the elderly and marginalized. Enditem
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  The government is working to boost the country's vaccine supply, this time negotiating to procure three million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute has committed only 100,000 doses of the vaccine, but he added that they are working on improving that number.

"Sa ngayon po, nag-usap po kami ni Secretary Locsin at Usec. Dodo Dulay na kakausapin po nila si Prime Minister Lavrov at titignan po nila kung maiangat po nila ng three million," Galvez said at President Rodrigo Duterte's weekly address on Monday.

[Translation: Right now, (Foreign Affairs) Secretary (Teodoro) Locsin and Usec. Dodo Dulay said they would talk to (Russian) Prime Minister (Sergey) Lavrov to see if they could increase it to three million.]

Galvez earlier said the goal was to acquire two million doses. But the number increased after it was reported that the vaccine could be used to inoculate senior citizens.

A team from the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration was supposed to fly out to Russia from March 15 to 18 to finalize its assessment of Gamaleya's Sputnik V vaccine, which applied for emergency use authorization in January.

The trip, however, was canceled after the regulatory body received the remaining requirements needed for the application.

Russia was earlier criticized for an early rollout even before the completion of its Phase 3 clinical trial. The Sputnik V vaccine turned out to be 91.6% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100% effective against moderate to severe disease, according to an interim analysis of the vaccine's Phase 3 trial results published in the medical journal The Lancet.

On Monday, the country received one million doses more of CoronaVac vaccines worth 700 million from Chinese manufacturer Sinovac Biotech.

It was the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines bought by the Duterte administration.

The Philippines plans to buy 25 million doses of Sinovac vaccines by yearend.

During Monday night's briefing, Galvez said the target is to have 500,000 to one million vaccinations per week, ramping up to two to three million by June and July, and eventually three to five million by August to December.
People hold a banner during a candlelight vigil in Garden Grove, California, on March 17, 2021 to unite against the recent spate of violence targeting Asians and to express grief and outrage after the March 16 shooting that left eight people dead in Atlanta, Georgia, including at least six Asian women. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
Buna, the cross-border and multi-currency payment system owned by the Arab Monetary Fund, has plans to launch instant payments, in addition to trade finance solutions, securities settlement and ATM/ POS processing service, at a later stage.

This growing list of innovative solutions will complement Bunas current offering of multi-currency cross-border interbank payments, commercial payments, and consumer remittances.

Mehdi Manaa, Chief Executive Officer of Buna, made the announcement recently during his exclusive March session at Sibos, the leading annual financial services event organised by SWIFT. During the session Transforming a regional payment landscape, Manaa shared his thoughts on the positive impact of the cross-border payments system on participating banks in the Arab region and beyond and presented the added value that Buna is bringing to the payments industry by improving the speed, cost-effectiveness and transparency of cross-border payments flows in regional and key international currencies.

Buna has already onboarded four currencies since its launch 12 months ago by the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF). These are the Emirati Dirham, the Egyptian Pound, the Saudi Riyal and the US Dollar. The system first live payment was executed in UAE Dirhams last December. Manaa revealed imminent plans to onboard the Euro and the Jordanian Dinar. So far, approximately 90 banks from the Arab region are being onboarded out of more than 130 that are in various stages of preparation.

Buna was launched and created as a regional payments market infrastructure that aims to deliver advanced, secured, and highly efficient payment solutions, and can cater to the growing needs of financial institutions and their diversified client base in the region and beyond, without any geographical or technical barriers. In doing this, Buna is working closely with SWIFT, which can provide not only the reach that Buna needs, but also the highest security and availability. As Buna grows and continues to evolve its services, it will continue to work with SWIFT to enhance the value proposition of Bunas payments system by enabling instant payments capabilities.

A key aim of the initiative, strongly supported by the regions central banks, is to advance the growth and integration of Arab economies. To this end, Buna is transforming the payment scene, by serving as a single-entry point to the regions financial systems for global financial institutions, as well as a multi-currency and multi-instrument system for local ones.

We cant think about a well-functioning economy without the support of appropriate payment solutions, Manaa explained at his SIBOS session. Its a virtuous circle. Buna is supporting the economic growth of the region, and the economic growth of the region will support Buna.

Manaa said Buna strongly advocates public-private sector collaboration, supports the ISO 15022 and 20022 message standards, and enjoys interoperability with existing systems, currencies, and instruments.

This is a transformation, for the benefit of the economies of the region, empowering them to increase integration. Business models that would benefit from integration will see a lot of value in the system, said Manaa.

He highlighted the advantages of Buna which extend to banks outside the region. Offering a single access point to a broad region through a single market infrastructure, with efficiency, speed and low costs, is a huge change. For any trading partner, it makes cross-border payments and access to the region as simple as for a single country, he concluded. -- Tradearabia News Service
[March 30, 2021] MSouth Capital to Bring Debt Financing and Minority Equity Capital to Middle Market Companies in the South

MSouth Equity Partners IV, L.P. ("MSouth Fund IV") has formed MSouth Capital as a provider of private credit and minority equity financing solutions, to meet the needs of companies in the South that have a desire to pursue recapitalizations, acquisitions or other corporate initiatives, with a focus on businesses generating EBITDA of $3 million or greater. MSouth Capital aims to deploy in excess of $350 million in its target markets over the next three years. Frank Izzo has been chosen to lead the company given his long tenure in commercial banking, private debt and private equity. "We aim to support the small to mid-size businesses that form the backbone of the region's economy, bringing the resources and advisory services they need to grow and succeed," says Izzo, CEO of MSouth Capital. "Our team partners with the business owner, but also works with those who serve smaller business enterprises to accomplish next-stage growth, including wealth managers, accountants, attorneys, investment bankers and business brokers." There are 28 million small and mid-size companies in the U.S., which together comprise 99 percent of the nation's businesses. Yet, funding for this segment is often limited. According to the Small Business Administration, the most common - and largest - source of capital to finance business expansion is personal and family savings (22%). MSouth Capital seeks to bridge that gap, offering an alternative to typical majority-ownership equity financing by providing a wide range of funding that can combine debt structures and minority equity along with deep expertise in various organic and inorganic growth strategies. A key element of MSouth Capital's investment strategy is partnring with entrepreneurs and owners who have significant ownership stakes in their companies and experienced management teams in place. The company's affiliation with MSouth Equity Partners allows it to tap into more than 37 years of expertise focused on businesses across the South from Texas to Washington, D.C. MSouth Equity Partners has invested $1.2 billion across 34 companies in the South over the past 13 years.



"Whether it's a family-owned company planning a generational transfer or any type of business that sees an unmet need in the market they could expand into with proper funding, MSouth Capital can be the trusted advisor and financing partner that helps them realize their goals," says Michael D. Long, a partner and co-founder of MSouth Equity Partners. Founded in 2020, MSouth Capital is a portfolio company of MSouth Fund IV. MSouth Fund IV is managed by MSouth Equity Partners, LLC, a private equity investment manager with offices in Atlanta and Nashville.

About MSouth Capital MSouth Capital is an Atlanta-based provider of private credit and minority equity financing solutions. It provides capital primarily to small and middle market companies with EBITDA of $3 million or greater and a presence in the South. MSouth Capital serves businesses and industry sectors where its team has extensive investment, management and transactional experience. A key element of MSouth Capital's investment strategy is partnering with strong management teams and individuals who have significant ownership stakes in their company to share a commitment to stable and sustainable growth. MSouth Capital is a portfolio company of MSouth Fund IV. Learn more at www.msouthcapital.com. About MSouth Equity Partners, LLC MSouth Equity Partners, LLC is a private equity investment firm that provides equity capital and expertise to support management teams in acquisitions and recapitalizations of lower middle market companies typically valued between $25 million and $200 million. Based in Atlanta and offices in Nashville, MSouth Equity Partners, LLC invests primarily in the South with a consistent focus on management buyouts of business services, specialty distribution, niche manufacturing, healthcare services and telecommunications/media companies. With more than $2.2 billion raised across four funds, MSouth Equity Partners, LLC is a successor to Cravey, Green & Wahlen, Inc., which was founded in 1984. Learn more at www.msouth.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210329005723/en/

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BAODING, Mar.30 -- The 6th China's Manufacturing Power Forum themed "Stabilize manufacturing, boost real economy, break new grounds" kicked off in Baoding, central China's Hebei province on March 28.

Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND), revealed at the forum that the SASTIND is working with relevant Party, government and military departments to introduce relevant policies soon to promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements for national defense, so as to unleash the enormous vitality of "conversion of military industry to civilian production".

The upcoming policies will mainly cover six aspects. It is mentioned that the ownership of, and the rights to use, dispose of and profit from the national defense achievements will be separated, while the state retains the ownership. And also the policies will require the confidential departments to promote the declassification of defense-related scientific and technological achievements in the near future, so that the highly-valued achievements can be brought to the market.
DOHA, Qatar, March 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The fourth edition of the Arab Innovation Academy (AIA) is set to take place over a 12-week period during the fall semester 2021. In light of the health and safety restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this edition will be held virtually from August 31 to November 23. Applications are open now until 12 May 2021.

AIA is the first and the most extensive entrepreneurship program in the pan-Arab region and aims to provide aspiring university students and young entrepreneurs with the authentic experience of developing and launching new tech ventures under the guidance of leading global tech start-up mentors.

Additionally, the program is now officially accredited by Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Qatar. This means that participants who are students of HBKU or are cross-registered HBKU are eligible to gain credit once they complete both the AIA and HBKU requirements. Regular participants will receive a certificate of successful completion from the AIA. For students enrolled at HBKU or cross registered at HBKU should follow the HBKU course registration deadline for fall semester, while the rest of the applicants should apply to AIA 2021 before 12 May.

Last year saw Salamtak, a company that developed an online system for the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension while providing both patients and healthcare professionals with a real-time interface to monitor vital data, win first place. While, the company 'Hamza', for their development of a special program which assists with Arabic writing, automatically correcting grammatical errors, just like Grammarly in English, took the runner-up spot. Third place was secured by Go Star, who created a platform for parents to create gamified daily life tasks for their children such as cleaning their room or feeding a pet.

The AIA is a hands-on and groundbreaking accelerator program that was brought to Qatar and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through a collaboration between Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QF RDI), and the European Innovation Academy (EIA).

Beginning as an exclusive 10-day start-up boot-camp, AIA took place for the first time in 2018 with the involvement of more than 100 participants from Qatar and the region. The second edition, held in 2019 had more than 160 participants, while last year's third edition saw almost 200 young entrepreneurs from over 10 countries in the region taking part, demonstrating the rapid growth and popularity of the program.

Hayfa Al Abdulla, Innovation Director at QSTP, said, "Everyone at QSTP is very much looking forward to the fourth edition of AIA. The fantastic, innovative ideas that have been brought to us in the past three editions clearly show that extraordinarily talented entrepreneurs are in great abundance here in Qatar, as well as across the MENA region. We are eager to welcome all aspiring innovators who would like to take part in this year's program and are pleased to announce that applications are now open."

Dr. Richard O'Kennedy, Vice President, QF RDI and the Vice President for Research at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), added, "The advanced ideas brought in by talented entrepreneurs to platforms that channel them towards developing impactful products and services, remain pivotal to Qatar's aspirations  namely, a forward-thinking and progressive nation right at the spearhead of trailblazing ideas and new technology that will benefit both the local and international communities. To that end, AIA is a significant platform, and we at QF RDI are very much looking forward to receiving entries from tech entrepreneurs in Qatar and further afield for the fourth edition of the program."

QSTP believes that the virtual setting for the latest edition of the program will not detract from the many benefits it will bring to all participants. Although the ever-popular in-person networking will be unavailable, participants will have a rich, immersive experience that will prove to be beneficial to future plans and aspirations. Expert support and guidance will be available throughout the program, aiding participants every step of the way. For more details of this year's program and to apply, please visit www.inacademy.eu/qatar

Qatar Science & Technology Park

Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QF RDI), is a Free Zone, accelerator and incubator for tech-product development in Qatar. The park fosters an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Qatar that works to accelerate commercialization of market-ready technologies to realize Qatar's national diversification drive.

QSTP's focus ranges across four overarching themes, comprising Energy, Environment, Health Sciences and Information & Communication Technologies (ICT), in line with the Qatar National Research Strategy announced in 2012.

Located in Qatar Foundation's Education City, QSTP has access to the vital resources of a cluster of leading research universities. Members of QSTP's Free Zone include Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), international corporations and research institutions. They are collectively committed to investing in new technology development programs, creating intellectual property, enhancing technology management skills and developing innovative new products.

QSTP supports QF RDI's economic and human development objectives for Qatar and is increasingly recognized as an international hub for applied research, innovation, incubation, and entrepreneurship.

For more information, please visit the QSTP website at www.qstp.org.qa

Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QF RDI)

The Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QF RDI) division's role is to play an integral part in identifying and addressing challenges and opportunities across ICT, energy, environment and healthcare, in alignment with Qatar's national RDI strategy and priorities. QF RDI is at the forefront of Qatar's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, accelerating economic development through supporting the commercialization of market-ready technologies and facilitating the creation of new high-tech products and services.

QF RDI is responsible for translating Qatar's national RDI strategy into specific initiatives and actions for Qatar Foundation's (QF) RDI entities. It also directs their efforts in relation to economic value creation, knowledge transfer and the establishment of mutually beneficial national and international RDI partnerships. To ensure these efforts deliver maximum impact, the QF Vice President for Research, Development and Innovation plans, coordinates and oversees all RDI-related activities across QF.

Qatar Foundation  Unlocking Human Potential

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, research and development and community development.

QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF's world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation's development.

QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.

For a complete list of QF's initiatives and projects, please visit: www.qf.org.qa

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qatar-foundations-arab-innovation-academy-to-hold-virtual-fourth-edition-in-2021-301254642.html

SOURCE Qatar Science & Technology Park
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The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) today honored all Pennsylvanians who served in the Vietnam War as part of National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The DMVA is an official partner in the Department of Defenses Commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

A little over two million Americans served in uniform in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. This is a day set aside to publicly thank, honor and support our Vietnam veterans and their families for their incredible service and sacrifice, Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvanias adjutant general and head of the DMVA, said in a press release. Today, we need to take time out of our own lives to remember theirs  those who have fallen, and those who are our neighbors, relatives, or community members. We want every Vietnam veteran to know just how much their bravery and sacrifices are appreciated  not just on March 29, but every day of the year.

You can read Gov. Tom Wolfs proclamation commemorating Vietnam War Veterans Day at this link.

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 permanently designates that every year March 29 will be celebrated as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. How did they arrive at selecting that date? It was on March 29, 1973, when combat and combat support units withdrew from South Vietnam.

In 2019, the last one of the 3,150 photos of Pennsylvanians who died in the Vietnam War was found and posted on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Funds (VVMF) virtual Wall of Faces. For four years, the DMVA partnered with the VVMF in Washington, D.C., to find a photo of every Pennsylvanian whose name appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall  commonly referred to as The Wall.

The photo of Air Force Master Sergeant Matthew N. Harris Jr. was the final one to be found.

The VVMF has been posting the photos on the virtual Wall of Faces in order to put a face and a story to every name, allowing these Vietnam veterans to be honored by family, friends and others from around the world.

Nationally, fewer than 80 photos are needed to complete the Wall of Faces, a press release said. Information about these few remaining photos needed can be found at this link.

To view the virtual Wall of Faces, including those from Pennsylvania, click on this link.

ALSO READ: Website for PennLives 100 Years of Heroes project that ran in 2018
Kayte Gamble, a GP registrar, prepares to administer a dose of the Moderna vaccine at the GP vaccination clinic in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise. The vaccine is being administered by HSE peer vaccinators and the National Ambulance Service with clinics taking place this weekend in Galway, Sligo, Portlaoise and Dublin. Picture date: Saturday February 13, 2021.

Irelands largest teaching union has criticised moves to change the vaccination rollout plan once the most vulnerable and people aged over 70 have been inoculated.

Reports on Tuesday suggested that once those most at risk have been vaccinated, the priority list will be abandoned and will instead proceed based on age.

This means that key workers in essential jobs and the education sector who cannot avoid a high risk of exposure to the virus will lose vaccine prioritisation.

...It is essential teachers+all key workers should continue to be prioritised once vulnerable people and the elderly are vaccinated. INTO will be seeking an emergency meeting with the Department to protest strongly against any downgrading of our profession on vaccination list...  INTO (Irish National Teachers' Organisation) (@INTOnews) March 30, 2021

According to reports, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee has advised the Government that moving to an age-based system would be fairer and easier from an administration perspective.

But it means groups such as teachers and Gardai, who have lobbied to moved up the prioritisation list, will now have to wait.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation said it was extremely concerned by the news.

INTO general secretary John Boyle said: For months now we have heard the government say, time after time, that education is the top priority for government.

How then can teachers be treated with such blatant disregard as frontline education workers.

This move undermines the efforts of our education staff to keep our primary and special schools open safely.

This is unacceptable and the Government must prioritise the safety of teachers and all key workers once the vulnerable and elderly are first protected by vaccination.

Sinn Fein education spokesman Donnchadh O Laoghaire has said teachers must not be left behind in the vaccine rollout.

He said: I am horrified to hear that the Cabinet is considering throwing away the plans for the vaccine rollout, and removing any prioritisation for staff working in education.

The Governments approach to vaccine rollout has been chaotic.

The plans have been chopped and changed and, once again, we are hearing this news today from the media and not directly from a government minister. It really isnt good enough and is insulting to those affected.

Removal of vaccine priority for school staff a disgrace - @Donnchadhol



aIt makes no sense for someone without an underlying condition who is able to work from home to get the vaccine before teachers who go to work every day to support our young people."https://t.co/WZv2BOFsgH pic.twitter.com/Mvg2cShgAG  Sinn FAin (@sinnfeinireland) March 30, 2021

It doesnt make sense that someone without an underlying condition and who is able to work from home could get the vaccine in advance of teaching staff, who must go to work every day and support our young people.

He added: School staff urgently need clarity on when they will receive the vaccine, and the least they deserve is the Department of Education arguing their case for greater priority.

To remove this priority from those working in our schools is absolutely disgraceful.

The Department of Health has declined to comment on the story.
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Data highlight how prospective students perceive remote learning and preferred study destinations

RESTON, Va., March 30, 2021finds that the proportion of respondents reporting that they are extremely or very concerned about COVID-19 declined from 41 to 33 percent over the survey period. In addition, three in four (73%) international candidates planning to pursue an MBA outside their country of citizenship are not changing their original plans despite the pandemic.



Key Findings

Women candidates are more receptive to remote learning than men

Although studies have suggested that the impact of COVID-19 has been particularly severe on women as they shouldered more responsibilities of remote education and work, GMAC report has found that many female candidates remain undeterred and are willing to adapt their plans for higher education. Specifically, women candidates are more likely to seek the flexibility of online learning than men. They are willing to accept a higher proportion of their degree to be completed online and are more likely to agree that career opportunities gained through an on-campus graduate business degree are the same as those gained through an online degree.

"As vaccines become increasingly available, prospective students around the world are seeing light at the end of the tunnel regarding the global pandemic," said Sangeet Chowfla, president and CEO of GMAC. "It is especially encouraging to find female candidates seeking advanced business degrees for career advantages despite the unique challenges and barriers they face due to COVID-19."

More candidates are considering GME to upgrade skills amidst COVID uncertainties

While more than half of prospective candidates (58%) confirmed that they "always plan to pursue a graduate business degree at this point," over a third of the prospective candidates (37%) reported that they are seeking GME now because they "want to apply for a job but lack required skills and/or degree to be competitive." The accelerated demand for GME may be a result of the fact that more candidates recognize the need to emerge out of a shaky economy more career ready.

"COVID-19 has fundamentally disrupted the future of work and the skills that are required for future success," said Soojin Kwon, Managing Director, Full Time MBA Admissions & Program at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and GMAC Board Director. "This is something that business schools are fully aware of and adapting to as candidates seek to upgrade their professional and leadership skills to meet the demands of the rapidly changing workplace."

International candidates still prefer mobility over online

Over 40 percent of international candidates - those who wish to study outside of their country of citizenship - surveyed report working outside their country of citizenship as the primary career motivation. The opportunities to live and work abroad explain why international candidates (70%) are more likely to report that they are not changing their original plans compared to domestic candidates (52%) amidst a global pandemic. Most international candidates therefore continue to value mobility and do not prefer substituting in-person experience with online learning.

United States and United Kingdom remain top destinations for international students

International candidates continue to look to the US as one of their top three choices to study business abroad. Prospective students from India rank the US their top choice, ahead of their home country, while those from Canada and the UK pick the US as their first international destination. Prospective candidates from Greater China identify the United Kingdom (27%) to be their preferred study destination, followed by the United States (21%) and Singapore (12%). Rising tension between the US and China in recent years may have discouraged prospective Chinese students from coming to America for their advanced degrees, coupled with the growth of high-quality business school programs in China and the Asia Pacific region.

More on the GMAC Survey Series

The mba.com Prospective Students Surveywas conducted based on data collected on a monthly basis between July and December 2020 from a total of 2,515 individuals worldwide who indicated plans to enroll in a GME program in 2021. More than 7 million candidates on their business master's or MBA journey visited mba.comlast year to explore business school options, prepare and register for exams, and get advice on the admissions process.

The 2020 GMAC Application Trends Survey, released in November 2020, gathered and analyzed responses from over 1,000 graduate management programs worldwide to find that applications to graduate business school programs went up, with variations in growth rates by region and program due to online learning, travel, and visa concerns. This report and additional research on global trends in graduate management education are available on the GMAC website here.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a mission-driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. Founded in 1953, GMAC creates solutions and experiences that enable business schools and candidates to better discover, evaluate, and connect with each other.

GMAC provides world-class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry, as well as tools, resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Testand The MBA Tourare subsidiaries of GMAC, a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com
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.
The Ministry of Communications and Digitisation has reiterated the government's commitment to bridging the digital divide in the country through mechanisms that will make particularly, rural dwellers benefit from the fourth industrial revolution.

Mrs Magdalene Apenteng, Chief Director at the Ministry, disclosed this when she contributed to a discussion on the role of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations (UN) virtual World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held on Wednesday.

Speaking at the forum, Mrs Apenteng said that, to bridge the gap which currently exists among rural and urban dwellers regarding access to internet, reliable and affordable data a number of measures have been put in place including the introduction of the Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project.

"The project which was commissioned at Atwereboana in the Adansi South District, in the Ashanti Region in November last year by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was aimed at providing e-connectivity for over 3.4 million citizens in rural communities," she said.

According to her, the government, through the Ministry had introduced a school connect project to facilitate access to the internet, adding that, "this project makes information available to students and teachers to enhance learning."

About 411 schools in rural communities across the country have so far been connected, while there have been construction of community ICT centres.

Furthermore, she explained that platforms have set up to promote the growth of local start-ups in these rural communities, and also provide business services to support the functioning of information hubs for individuals at educational institutions.
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Mining group Kenmare Resources says it does not expect to be commercially affected by fighting which has broken out in the northern Mozambique town of Palma.

The Mozambican army on Sunday were continuing to fight rebels for the fifth straight day for control of the strategic town.

A spokesperson for Dublin-listed Kenmare resources said the situation in Cabo Delgado  the providence of Mozambique where the fighting has occurred  is tragic with many people displaced and suffering in what is a contained regional but very serious conflict.

Cabo Delgado is 700km from our operations in Moma and while we will continue to monitor the events, we do not anticipate there being any commercial issue for Kenmare in relation to this, the spokesperson added.

Kenmare Resources produces ilmenite, the primary ore of titanium, which is used in the manufacture of a number of consumer goods including paints, fabrics, paper, and cosmetics.

The company employs 1,500 people in the southern African county.

Kenmare currently has no Irish employees located in Mozambique, the spokesperson confirmed to the Irish Independent.

The attacks in Palma started on Wednesday just hours after the French energy company Total announced it would resume work outside the town on its huge natural gas project at Afungi, near Mozambiques northeastern border with Tanzania.

Reports coming from the affected region of Mozambique have said dozens of civilians have been killed and bodies were littering the streets.

A three-year insurgency by the rebels, who are primarily young, disaffected Muslim men, in the northern Cabo Delgado province has taken more than 2,600 lives and displaced an estimated 670,000 people, according to the United Nations.

The fresh rebel violence brings into question the fate of Total's gas project, one of Africas biggest private investments.

Total paid $3.9bn (3.3bn) for a 26.5pc stake in the project in 2019. Earlier rebel attacks prompted Total in January to suspend work on the project to extract gas from offshore sites. It had planned to start gas shipments in 2024 but the deteriorating security situation has made that goal unlikely.

Total issued a statement on Saturday saying due to the latest rebel attack it had obviously suspended all its operations in the Afungi peninsula.

Last year Kenmare Resources relocated its Wet Concentrator Plant B (WCB P), in what was one of the largest moves of a single piece of equipment in the world.

The firm reported a fall in revenue and profits in 2020, nonetheless, it increased its final dividend for the year by 22pc.

Revenues of $243.7m at Kenmare in 2020 were down 10pc on 2019 due to reduced volumes, partially offset by increased average prices.

Kenmare, headed by Michael Carvill, reported earnings of $76.7m, down 17pc year-on-year due to lower revenues, according to annual results released earlier this month.

Profit after tax of $16.7m fell 63pc due to lower earnings, increased depreciation charges and finance costs.

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Uber OOH's screens, furnished by Cargo Systems Inc. via a multi-year strategic partnership launched in 2018, will be installed on MTBOT taxicabs. By the fall of 2021, Uber OOH expects to be the largest digital cartop display operation in NYC. The first wave of newly digitized taxicabs is expected to begin roll out in May 2021, with an estimated 1,500 digitized taxicabs by fall. The transition to digital screens is estimated to continue into 2022.

"We are excited to extend our digital cartop advertising network to New York City and expand our partnership with Adomni and Cargo," said Guy Peterson, Senior Business Development Manager at Uber. "Adomni has built one of the top digital marketing platforms in the country while Cargo has developed a state-of-the-art operations and logistics organization. We are also looking forward to working with Creative Mobile Media to leverage their operational expertise in the New York advertising market."

We are forecasted to cross one billion monthly ad impressions in New York City by the end of the year; all of which will be programmatically purchasable by advertisers. Adomni, a leading programmatic digital out of home ad platform, will continue to serve as the exclusive ad sales and programmatic technology partner for Uber OOH. Advertisers are able to launch self-service ad campaigns on adomni.com or through their omni-channel demand-side platform (DSP) of choice via the Adomni NeonX ad exchange.

"As the media capital of the world, New York City has been on our mind since day one of the Uber OOH partnership," said Jonathan Gudai, CEO of Adomni. "We are inspired by the powerful capabilities that Uber OOH unlocks for brand-marketers: the ability to tell a captivating story to a large audience with performance-based reporting. Digital cartop ads are a big part of the next chapter in digital out-of-home advertising and we are thrilled to be a part of it."

The latest mobility data is showing that people are taking to the streets to move about town, at levels that are even higher than before the pandemic.

Ron Sherman, president of the MTBOT added, "The combination of MTBOT, CMM, Uber, Adomni, and Cargo yields a best-in-class offering for advertisers, both in scale and in operational reliability. We have been in the taxi top advertising business for over 28 years now. This is an exciting partnership and a great investment in the future of the yellow taxicab industry."

New York City will be the sixth Uber OOH U.S. market to launch, after Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles and Phoenix. Many more US markets are expected to go live by the end of the year.

To learn more about Uber OOH, visit www.uberooh.com or watch this short video https://vimeo.com/522963536

About Uber OOH

Uber OOH is the official Uber out of home car top advertising network. The Uber digital out-of-home network features two-sided, internet-connected screens on the tops of participating Uber drivers' vehicles. The network is available in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix with approximately 200-400 cars per city equipped with digital screens. Uber OOH mobilizes brands in an unmissable way, with hundreds of cars within a city, traveling thousands of miles monthly, delivering millions of impressions.

Learn more at www.uberooh.com

About Adomni

Adomni is a programmatic advertising platform that easily connects brands and agencies with on-the-go consumers via real-world digital screens. Advertisers can target audiences using mobile location data and launch campaigns in minutes, using one of the fastest-growing DOOH networks in the world. Currently, the Adomni platform offers access to over 60 billion monthly impressions on hundreds of thousands of digital screens across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia.

Learn more at www.adomni.com

About Cargo

Cargo specializes in logistics, hardware procurement, and maintenance for the Uber OOH program. As part of their previously announced multi-year strategic partnership with Uber, Cargo will continue to provide hardware, software, and operational support in all markets, including NYC.

About MTBOT

The Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade ("MTBOT"), established in 1958 is the oldest and largest taxicab trade association in New York City. MTBOT represents the owners and operators of more than 5,500 taxicabs. In 2015, MTBOT launched a Driver Resource Center that provides free training and licensing services to more than 20,000 drivers.

*Adomni, Inc. and Uber Technologies, Inc. are not affiliated with Uber, Inc. The services described herein do not include content creation services for advertisers.

Media Contact

Emily Roberts, R&R Partners

[email protected]

SOURCE Adomni

Related Links

https://www.adomni.com/


Dushanbe: The External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to attend Heart of Asia conference on Tuesday (March 30) in Tajikistans capital city. The EAM Jaishankars three-day visit to Tajikistan is focused on strengthening a regional and international consensus for Afghan peace. This years Heart of Asia conference will be the ninth ministerial conference.

Jaishankar will be attending the conference at the joint invitation of his counterparts from Afghanistan and Tajikistan. This conference is a joint initiative of the Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of Turkey and was officially launched in 2011 at a conference hosted by Turkey in Istanbul.

The external affairs minister is also expected to conduct meetings with the leaders of other participating countries on the sidelines, as per the statement from the external affairs ministry.

"Honour to call on President @ashrafghani before the commencement of @HeartofAsia_IP Conference. Shared our perspectives on the peace process," Jaishankar had tweeted earlier.

Honour to call on President @ashrafghani before the commencement of @HeartofAsia_IP Conference. Shared our perspectives on the peace process. pic.twitter.com/6s8HuTwkJO  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 29, 2021

However, the highly-anticipated meeting between Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers has not been scheduled so far. The Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was reported by Dawn news saying that "no meeting has been finalised or requested".

No meeting has been finalised or requested with India on the sidelines of 'Heart of Asia' conference at Dushanbe, Tajikistan, reports Pakistan media quoting Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi (file photo) pic.twitter.com/KZtvi4e3Hy  ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2021

Additionally, on Monday, Jaishankar held a meeting with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani to discuss Afghan peace process. Last week, Haneef Atmar, Afghan Foreign Minister, visited India and held numerous meetings with Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval.

Earlier, the MEA statement had revealed that both the nations reviewed the Troika Peace Meeting in Moscow and assessed the final declaration of the meeting as positive for strengthening and advancing the peace process.

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BOSTON, March 30, 2021 Aissel Technologies, the leading provider of Healthcare Professional Engagement Solutions has launched their new product - konectar Social. konectar Social is an AI-powered Platform for connecting Life Sciences companies to the right Digital Opinion Leaders. It is the largest database of Digital Healthcare Influencers across the globe.

Adoption of Social Media platform for sharing of scientific and medical information has been steadily increasing in the medical community. The pandemic era has accelerated the adoption of Digital technology and more exchange of information is happening over platforms like Twitter and YouTube. It is therefore imperative for the Life Sciences companies to have a close understanding of the interactions in the medical community on the Social Media and Digital platforms.

It has become important for Life Sciences companies to communicate the latest developments, scientific breakthroughs, and discovery of newer therapies to the medical community through Digital platforms. konectar Social provides the most effective way to identify the right DOLs or Digital Experts within the medical community. konectar Social automatically crawls the Social Media activity of DOLs and ranks them based on their influence and reach. konectar Social also generates real-time analytics on the DOLs and tracks their engagement across different Social Media platforms. By doing so, it helps Life Sciences companies develop an effective communication strategy for their product communication.

With the combination of AI and Machine Learning technology, konectar Social analyses the posts of the Digital Opinion Leaders and generates insightful reports on their technology and treatment preferences, interests, networks, influence and reach, which can be leveraged by the Life Sciences companies to accurately align their products with the right DOLs.

"konectar Social is the only product that provides complete Social Media analytics of all the Digital Healthcare Influencers helping Life Sciences companies to create better communication strategy using the Digital world in the new post-pandemic times." says Suraj Prabhu, CTO and Co-founder of Aissel Technologies.

About Aissel

Aissel's Medical Thought Leader Management solutions are deployed at leading global Life Sciences companies. Aissel's end-to-end software solutions are designed to help Life Sciences companies accomplish their business objectives. Aissel has 100+ employees working from offices in Hubballi and Boston.

For more information, visit https://www.aissel.com/konectar/social

Media Contact:

Preeta Nayak

Manager - Global Marketing

[email protected]

+1-(347)-966-8181

SOURCE Aissel Technologies, Inc.
Massachusetts public health officials reported 1,683 new cases of COVID-19 and 18 more deaths on Monday, with the state reporting the first drop in active cases in several days.

There are 31,298 active coronavirus cases as of Tuesday, according to the state Department of Public Health. For several days last week, the number of active cases was around 25,000 before rising by more than 5,000. On Monday, the state reported 31,428 active cases.

Last week, the state reported three straight days of more than 2,000 new cases before Sundays 1,877, just as the nation saw an average of about 60,000 new cases per day versus nearly 50,000 earlier this month, according to The New York Times.

Tuesdays new totals are based on 59,818 new molecular tests. The states seven-day average rate of positive tests stands at 2.55%, an increase over Mondays 2.37%. Last month, the state reported lows of 1.8%.

Throughout the pandemic, at least 595,925 Massachusetts residents have tested positive for the virus and 16,808 have died.

Hospitalizations continue to slowly rise, with 711 people currently being treated for the virus, up from 675 reported Monday. The patients included 172 in the intensive care unit and 95 who are intubated.

As of Tuesday, the state is closing in on having 3.5 million residents with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; so far, at least 3,483,277 have received at least one shot; 1.3 million are fully inoculated, according to DPHs daily vaccination report.

In a news conference Monday, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky warned of impending doom due to the prospect of another surge as several states including Massachusetts, see recent spikes as governors roll back mitigation measures.

Walensky on Tuesday toured the Hynes Convention Center in Boston alongside Gov. Charlie Baker, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Stephen Lynch and acting Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Bob Fenton. With federal help as part of a pilot program to get shots in arms in hard hit communities, the site is ramping up to vaccinate about 7,000 residents per day.

Walensky, previously the infectious diseases chief at Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as Baker urged people to remain vigilant as the nation continues to combat the deadly virus.

We are just asking you to hang on a little bit longer, Walensky said. Wear your masks, continue to distance and do all the things that keep you safe.

Lynch on Tuesday urged state and local governments, schools and businesses to use federal COVID-19 relief to buy personal protective equipment sourced and produced in the United States, making the case that ongoing reliance on suppliers in China represents a gap in our national security.

Here are the total COVID-19 cases by county:

Barnstable County: 12,046

Berkshire County: 5,459

Bristol County: 59,727

Dukes County: 945

Essex County: 89,018

Franklin County: 2,195

Hampden County: 45,670

Hampshire County: 8,298

Middlesex County: 121,737

Nantucket County: 1,295

Norfolk County: 49,760

Plymouth County: 43,982

Suffolk County: 84,399

Worcester County: 70,161

Related Content:
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a COVID-19 pandemic briefing from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Canada, on Nov. 20, 2020. (Lars Hagberg/AFP via Getty Images)

Senior Chinese Diplomat Mocks Trudeau

The Chinese consul general in Brazil openly mocked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling him a running dog to the U.S. government, and accusing him of ruining the friendly foreign relations between China and Canada.

Li Yang, Chinas highest-ranking diplomat in Rio de Janeiro, called Trudeau boy and a spendthrift in English on Twitter on March 28.

Boy, your greatest achievement is to have ruined the friendly relations between China and Canada, and have turned Canada into a running dog of the US., Li wrote on the social media site.

The term running dog is a Chinese pejorative that refers to someone who curries favour with a more powerful, often antagonistic, force. The term is frequently used in Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda, especially during the Mao Zedong era, to incite national zealotry to fight against the Western democracies.

Those are fighting words, and lack specificity, Charles Burton, former Canadian diplomat to Beijing, told the National Post.

Burton noted that Li did not specify what Trudeau has done to allegedly ruin the friendly relations between China and Canada. He said if the social media post had been made by a Canada-based diplomat, the individual could be declared a persona non gratameaning an unwelcomed personand sent back to his or her home country.

Since Li is based in a different country, he is covered from such consequences, but his remarks were undoubtedly approved by higher-up leadership in the Chinese foreign ministry, Burton said.

David Mulroney, Canadas former ambassador to Beijing, said it is extraordinary for a diplomat to make such hostile remarks against a foreign national leader.

This looks and sounds like a diplomacy that is out of control, as if Chinas adult diplomats have been sidelined or are choosing to remain silent. Not a good look for a country only a few decades removed from chaos and extremism, Mulroney wrote on Twitter.

Li had also retweeted a post made by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, who criticized the United States and European countries for launching wars in the Middle East after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

These aggressive remarks from Chinese officials are characteristics of the CCPs wolf-warrior diplomacy.

Hua claimed that Western countries dont really care about Muslims, as the U.S.-backed counter-terrorism campaigns against Islamic terrorists had led to the death and displacement of mass Muslim populations.

Lis remarks came days after Canada announced sanctions against four Chinese officials for their participation in the systemic human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The measures took effect on March 22, in coordination with the United States and the United Kingdom, and in solidarity with the European Union.

Muslim minorities in China have been victims of arbitrary detention, rape, forced labour, forced abortion, and sterilization.

Last week, China retaliated by sanctioning Conservative MP Michael Chong, who had sponsored a House of Commons motion declaring Chinas treatment of Uyghurs and other ethnic Muslims as a genocide.
Senate President Anca Dragu considers that Romania has taken the necessary steps to eliminating the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) this year, a fact also acknowledged by the Vice President of the European Commission, Vera Jourova.

"I was in this video conference with Vera Jourova, vice-president of the European Commission, and she said that Romania could get rid of this CVM. I think the dismantling of the SIIJ [the Section for the Investigation of Judicial Crimes] is a very good argument, but also the justice laws that the Ministry of Justice has already finalized. These are very good arguments through which Romania shows that it is very serious as regards the recommendations that came in the CVM and that we take the independence of the judiciary seriously," Anca Dragu told, on Tuesday, private radio broadcaster Digi FM.

She added that Renew Europe, the group to which Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity (USR PLUS) Alliance belongs, maintains that the new evaluation mechanism of the rule of law must be "very intensively" used in all European states.

"Ms. Jourova's announcement that Romania could get rid of the CVM this year is a historic fact. In fact, Renew Europe, the group USR PLUS is part of, maintains that the new evaluation mechanism of the rule of law will be used very intensively in all the European states and it must be somehow tied to this money that comes from the EU. The European Union does not have to be an ATM from which everyone withdraws money whenever they want, without any responsibility," said Dragu.

In her opinion, for a good result regarding the lifting of the CVM, Romania must send teams capable of presenting the measures taken "in a coherent manner", to the discussions with the European officials.

"I think we need to present these measures in a coherent way, we need to go with serious and courageous teams to the discussions with the EU. We have already repealed in Parliament, we have rejected all these changes that have been made to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code under the Dragnea governing. This is another argument that certainly weighs heavily in the Commission's decision to lift the CVM. We have shown that what we have promised regarding the protection of justice we are actually doing," concluded the President of the Upper House of Parliament.
The flowery crown of Dipteryx oleifera, one of the biggest trees on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, towers above the forest. Big trees may be most exposed to the effects of climate change: more frequent and severe drought, and the high winds and lightning of monster storms. Credit: Evan Gora, STRI

Giant trees in tropical forests, witnesses to centuries of civilization, may be trapped in a dangerous feedback loop according to a new report in Nature Plants from researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama and the University of Birmingham, U.K. The biggest trees store half of the carbon in mature tropical forests, but they could be at risk of death as a result of climate changereleasing massive amounts of carbon back into the atmosphere.

Evan Gora, STRI Tupper postdoctoral fellow, studies the role of lightning in tropical forests. Adriane Esquivel-Muelbert, lecturer at the University of Birmingham, studies the effects of climate change in the Amazon. The two teamed up to find out what kills big tropical trees. But as they sleuthed through hundreds of papers, they discovered that nearly nothing is known about the biggest trees and how they die because they are extremely rare in field surveys.

"Big trees are hard to measure," said Esquivel-Muelbert. "They are the pain in a field campaign because we always have to go back with a ladder to climb up to find a place to measure the circumference above the buttresses. It takes a long time. Studies focusing on the reasons trees die don't have enough information for the biggest trees and often end up excluding them from their analysis."

"Because we generally lack the data necessary to tell us what kills trees that are above approximately 50 centimeters in diameter, that leaves out half of the forest biomass in most forests," Gora said.

Only about 1% of trees in mature tropical forests make it to this size. Others wait their turn in the shade below.

Interview with co-authors Evan Gora, post doctoral fellow, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and Adriane Esquivel-Muelbert, Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, UK. Available with Spanish subtitles on request. Credit: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

The other thing that makes tropical forests so specialhigh biodiversityalso makes it difficult to study big trees: There are so many different species, and many of them are extremely rare.

"Because only 1-2% of big trees in a forest die every year, researchers need to sample hundreds of individuals of a given species to understand why they are dying," Gora said. "That may involve looking for trees across a huge area."

Imagine a study of blood pressure in people who have lived to be 103. One would have to locate and test seniors from cities and towns around the world: a time-consuming, logistically complex and expensive proposition.

A large body of evidence shows that trees are dying faster in tropical forests than ever before. This is affecting the ability of forests to function and in particular, to capture and store carbon dioxide.

"We know the deaths of largest and oldest trees are more consequential than the death of smaller trees," Gora said. "Big trees may be at particular risk because the factors that kill them appear to be increasing more rapidly than the factors that seem to be important for smaller-tree mortality."

Measuring the largest rainforest trees requires carrying a ladder out into the jungle, often to hard-to-access sites. Long term forest monitoring plots such as the Smithsonian's ForestGEO network use standard techniques to measure giant trees. However, in remote areas, researchers may decide to leave the biggest trees out of their studies, because it is too time-consuming to measure them. Credit: Sean Mattson, STRI

In large parts of the tropics, climate change is resulting in more severe storms and more frequent and intense droughts. Because big trees tower above the rest, they may be more likely to be hit by lightning, or damaged by wind. Because they have to pull ground water higher than other trees, they are most likely to be affected by drought.

Hoping to better understand what is happening to big trees, Gora and Esquivel-Muelbert identified three glaring knowledge gaps. First, almost nothing is known about disease, insects and other biological causes of death in big trees. Second, because big trees are often left out of analyses, the relationship between cause of death and size is not clear. And, finally, almost all of the detailed studies of big tropical trees are from a few locations like Manaus in Brazil and Barro Colorado Island in Panama.

To understand how big trees die, there is a trade-off between putting effort into measuring large numbers of trees and measuring them often enough to identify the cause of death. Gora and Esquivel-Muelbert agree that a combination of drone technology and satellite views of the forest will help to find out how these big trees die, but this approach will only work if it is combined with intense, standardized, on-the-ground observations, such as those used by the Smithsonian's international ForestGEO network of study sites.

Esquivel-Muelbert hopes that the impetus for this research will come from a shared appreciation for these mysterious living monuments:

"I think they are fascinating to everyone," she said. "When you see one of those giants in the forest, they are so big. My colleague and Amazonian researcher, Carolina Levis, says that they are the monuments we have in the Amazon where we don't have big pyramids or old buildings... That is the feeling, that they have been through so much. They are fascinating, not just in the scientific sense but also in another way. It moves you somehow."

Explore further Lightning strikes more than 100 million times per year in the tropics

More information: Evan M. Gora et al, Implications of size-dependent tree mortality for tropical forest carbon dynamics, Nature Plants (2021). Journal information: Nature Plants Evan M. Gora et al, Implications of size-dependent tree mortality for tropical forest carbon dynamics,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41477-021-00879-0
Suzanne Steele: "Since launch, we've been approached by a number of countries looking to replicate Skill Finder for their citizens."

The Federal Government has given a grant of $2.7 million to Skill Finder, the digital micro-skills marketplace developed by the Australian technology industry.

The group that set up Skill Finder was led by Adobe and developed in response to a call from Karen Andrews, the minister for industry, science and technology, who has been moved to home affairs as of Monday.

A statement from Skill Finder said the proof-of-concept platform was launched in October last year. The platform offers online courses so that people can upgrade their skills and knowledge of a particular branch of technology.

It was supported by Atlassian, Canva, MYOB Xero, Adobe, AWS, Google, IBM, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Salesforce and Twitter.

The new grant will help to move the platform to the next phase of production which includes optimising the user experience, building out new features and functionality, adding more courses and categories, and connecting people who are upskilling and reskilling to job boards.

The platform was built by Balance Internet, using Adobe technology and hosting from AWS.

Thus far, Skill Finder has helped about 5000 people upgrade their skills. Balance Internet chief executive James Horne [right] said: "While Skill Finder is a marketplace for digital skills, the end goal of this project has always been to get people into jobs.

"To help with that, we are looking to build career pathways that will help guide citizens into specific digital jobs and professions.

"We want SkillFinder.com.au to help Australians improve their employment prospects now and in the future."

Suzanne Steele, Adobe managing director for Australia and New Zealand, said, "Australia is leading the world with Skill Finder, showcasing how the public and private sector can work together to deliver valuable digital government solutions for citizens.

"Since launch, we've been approached by a number of countries looking to replicate Skill Finder for their citizens. We are looking forward to working with other governments and technology communities around the world, helping them to arm their workforce with the digital skills of the future."
CRANFORD, N.J., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- JerseyCAN, a nonprofit focused on advocating for high-quality schools for all New Jersey students, released today the first statewide study to quantify learning loss for New Jersey students during this school year. The study entitled "A Time to Act: COVID-19 Academic Slide in New Jersey" found significant drops in the number of students proficient -- at grade level -- in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. Compared to 2019 statewide proficiency numbers for students in grades 3-8, there is projected to be a 24 percentile point drop in ELA proficiency and a 23 percentile point drop in Math proficiency.

Patricia Morgan, Executive Director, JerseyCAN

A Time to Act reveals that, across the board, students lost significant amounts of expected learning in the first half of the 2020-21 school year, with Black and Latinx students losing more learning than their peers.

On average, New Jersey students lost 30% of expected learning in ELA and 36% of expected learning in Math, but the loss was greater for Black students, who lost, on average, 43% in ELA and 50% in Math.

students lost 30% of expected learning in ELA and 36% of expected learning in Math, but the loss was greater for Black students, who lost, on average, 43% in ELA and 50% in Math. Similarly, Latinx students lost 37% of expected learning in ELA and 40% in Math.

While economically disadvantaged students experienced a learning loss of approximately 40% in ELA, similar to their more-affluent peers, they experienced a greater expected learning loss in Math of 43%, compared to just 33% for non-economically disadvantaged students.

This research project issues a dire warning that, if learning loss continues, approximately 393,000 students in ELA and 430,000 students just in grades 3-8 will not be on grade level by the end of this school year. This includes students who were not on grade level before the pandemic as well as students who are projected to be off grade level due to the disruptions caused by COVID. The study was conducted by EmpowerK12, a research organization based in Washington, D.C., which analyzed data from the first half of the 2020-2021 school year. The full report can be found here.

In recent weeks, a coalition of educators, civil rights leaders, and advocates -- including JerseyCAN and leaders of the Urban League of Essex County, the New Jersey PTA, and the New Jersey Children's Foundation -- sent a letter to Governor Phil Murphy calling for critical learning interventions. Shortly thereafter, Governor Murphy announced a new grant program for schools to support learning loss with interventions called for by the coalition, including high-dosage tutoring and summer programming. In addition, the Murphy Administration has released a grant program to support student and staff mental health, which the coalition also supported. As part of the application process for the learning loss grants, schools will be submitting student data to enable the New Jersey Department of Education to conduct its analysis on learning loss.

In addition to these state-administered grant programs, local districts in New Jersey are receiving $1.1 billion in federal stimulus funds for education from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) and an additional $2.4 billion over the next three and half years from the newly signed American Rescue Plan. This is an unprecedented level of federal resources that will be used at the local level to address the COVID slide identified in this study.

In upcoming weeks, JerseyCAN will release additional briefs that feature best practices on accelerating learning and the effective use of these federal resources. In addition to the robust implementation of interventions such as high-dosage tutoring and more intensive summer programming, upcoming briefs will call for specific supports to address student and staff social and emotional wellbeing and mental health, individualized learning plans for each student, tools for parents to understand and support students' needs, and educator support and innovative staffing.

State Senator Teresa Ruiz, Chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, has led efforts to measure and address learning loss statewide. "I want New Jersey to be number one in the country for closing the achievement gap. The learning loss and its effects are clear. This is an urgent situation and we must be transparent and work collectively to address this issue. There is no time to wait. Students who were already lagging have slipped even further behind due to the pandemic," said Senator Ruiz. "We have specific opportunities to address this situation proactively. We can start by creating high-quality summer programs to help address the learning loss that has compounded over the last year so that our students have a better chance at succeeding in the 2021-22 school year."

"Our state and districts will be receiving significant federal resources from the American Rescue Plan. It is critically important that our leaders use these funds to implement proven solutions to help our students get up to speed before the upcoming school year begins," said Patricia Morgan, Executive Director of JerseyCAN. "Our schools must implement high-quality interventions to accelerate student learning and get as many students back on track as soon as possible."

"Our low-income, Black and brown communities are bearing the brunt of the COVID crisis - not just when it comes to the virus itself, but the long-term impacts of a year away from school buildings," said Vivian Cox-Fraser, President and CEO of the Urban League of Essex County. "This study should be a call to action for those of us who care about equity in our communities."

Previous research has documented steep learning losses dating back to last spring when schools were first closed because of COVID-19. An analysis by CREDO found that, on average in New Jersey, there were at least 58 days of learning lost in reading and over 174 days lost in math this past spring.

According to a recent report from McKinsey, COVID learning loss will have long-term economic impacts on students, estimating that the average U.S. K-12 student will lose $61,000 to $82,000 in lifetime earnings -- an entire year's salary -- due to the learning gaps exacerbated by COVID-19. These estimates are worse for Black and Latinx students.

The New Jersey Children's Foundation, a Newark-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting a fact-based discussion about education, funded this study as part of a yearlong effort to measure the impact of COVID-19 on education in New Jersey. The goal of the initiative is to ensure that education stakeholders have better information about how families are navigating the educational disruption caused by COVID-19 as well as getting better estimates of the scale of student learning loss caused by those disruptions.

About JerseyCAN: JerseyCAN: The New Jersey Campaign for Achievement Now is a nonprofit organization that advocates for all students across the state to have access to high-quality schools. We work to improve policies and programs to support equity and excellence in New Jersey education.

Contact:

Matthew Frankel, MDF Strategies, [email protected], 917.617.7914

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ROME, N.Y.  Two Rome women were arrested after police say they started fighting while officers were investigating a shots-fired incident in Rome Tuesday afternoon.

Officers were called to the 400 block of West Thomas Street around 12:40 p.m., after gunshots were reported in the area.

Witnesses told police a man fired several shots at another man with a .40 caliber Glock handgun. The suspect has not yet been located, and the victim is not cooperating with police.

The gun police believe was used in this incident was found nearby and taken into evidence.

While officers were conducting their investigation, police say two women got into a physical altercation at the scene.

Nevaeh M. Newsom, 18, and Taylor E. Harrington, 21, were both arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

The women were released with appearance tickets, and are scheduled to return to Rome City Court at a later date.

Anyone with information about the shots-fired incident is asked to call the Rome police tip line at 315-339-7744 or leave an anonymous tip at www.mohawkvalleycrimestoppers.com.
Navalny files new defamation suit against Presidents spokesman

 Lyudmila Klenko, RAPSI

17:55 30/03/2021

MOSCOW, March 30 (RAPSI)  Alexey Navalny has filed a new defamation claim against the Presidents spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to the Moscow Presnensky District Courts case file.

In November 2020, the court returned a previous suit against Peskov to Navalny because of errors committed during the drawing up of the document.

Navalny seeks to declare certain statements by Peskov about situation with the plaintiffs illness untrue and defaming. He also demands refutation of the statements on the official Kremlin website. There are no monetary claims, the courts representative noted.




According to a press release published by Naval Group on March 29, 2021, Naval Group received notification of the order for two FDI frigates by the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA), during a visit to Lorient of the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly. The acceleration of the FDI program will support the activity of the Naval Group site in Lorient where the frigates are designed and built, also ensuring the preservation of skills.

According to a press release published by Naval Group on March 29, 2021, Naval Group received notification of the order for two FDI frigates by the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA), during a visit to Lorient of the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly. The acceleration of the FDI program will support the activity of the Naval Group site in Lorient where the frigates are designed and built, also ensuring the preservation of skills.

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Artist rendering of the future Frigates for defence and intervention FDI (Picture source: Naval Group)

The two frigates - the second and third in a series of five - will both be delivered in 2025, whereas the original plan was to deliver them every 18 months.

The first FDI, for which construction work began in 2020, is scheduled for delivery in 2024.

With a tonnage of more than 4,200 tonnes and a length of 121 metres, the FDI frigates are based on a digital and scalable architecture built around our SETIS 3.0 combat management system.

They can conduct all the missions of modern navies (anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine warfare or special forces projection) and address new threats such as cyber attacks and asymmetric threats.

The FDI also benefits from the best technologies available on the naval defence market, including the latest Thales multi-function radar with active antenna and fixed panels as well as a fully digital electronic warfare system.

FDI (Fregate de defense et dintervention/ Defence and intervention frigate, the first digital native frigate, will benefit from an unparalleled level of digitalization thanks to a new IT architecture including two data centers, allowing for a very large capacity for data storage and analysis. She will also offer a new generation of equipment in terms of combat system, with increased capabilities such as Thales Sea Fire, the new generation four-panel fixed radar, MBDA's Aster missiles for air defense, a complete sonar suite with hull sonar and towed sonar from Thales for anti-submarine warfare.

Its maximum speed is 27 knots and it has an autonomy of 45 days with operational availability of 3500 hours per year. The frigate can accommodate 125 men and women + 28 passengers and will be able to carry at the same time a helicopter (capacity of 10 t, the actual helicopter will weigh 5t) and an Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), developed as part of the SDAM program with Airbus Helicopters.

A new bridge will allow the crew to detect any object in the close vicinity around the ship and to safely drive the ship in all situations, whether they are common (navigational, maneuvering) or threatening (asymmetric threats), by night and day. This reinforced combat system against asymmetric threats is placed in a room dedicated to threat assessment, enabling a 360 watch of the environment close to the ship and centralization of necessary actions.

FDI digital systems are natively protected. Indeed, cybersecurity on FDI is "By Design". They provide protection and defense adapted to any cyber threat the ship may be exposed to. The Cybersecurity Management System (CyMS) supervisory console has particularly intuitive man-machine interfaces. This user-friendly system offers to the operator a centralized real-time view of information on the cyber state of the platform, by gathering information from the equipment and analyzing it in detail with regard to the ship's operating modes, enabling the detection of an attack on the vessel. The software provides feedback to the operator in case of an incident. Once the corrective decision has been taken by the operator, the system makes it possible to automate and monitor the commanded actions.
Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship

Resource List for Teachers

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For Maps, Photographs, Prints, Political Cartoons, Motion Pictures, Manuscript, Sheet Music, Sound Recordings, Books,

Selected Internet ResourcesCherry Blossoms (Science Reference Services) These Internet sources link to information about the 3,000 cherry trees given as a gift from the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington, DC in 1912.

National Arboretum U.S. Department of Agriculture, The Japanese Flowering Cherry Trees of Washington, D.C.

Today in History (July 29) The Harris Treaty (Today in History) On this date in 1858, the United States and Japan signed a commerce treaty.

Today in History (March 27) Potomac Blossoms (Today in History) On this date in 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. The event celebrated the Japanese government.

American Memory Timeline: World War IIJapanese American Internment (Presentation) Learn about the treatment of Japanese Americans following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Mrs. Taft Plants a TreeHow the Cherry Blossoms Came to Washington (PDF, 4.25MB)

Amy Uyematsu (Webcast) Poet Uyematsu is a sansei (third-generation Japanese) and lives near Los Angeles. View her 2006 National Book Festival presentation.

Asian Collections: Library of Congress Illustrated Guide (Presentation) This online guide provides an overview of the Asian Collections at the Library of Congress. Visit the Asian Reading Room for additional online resources.

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (Presentation) The Library of Congress celebrates the millions of Asian/Pacific Americans whose contributions have helped make America a strong, free society.

Country Studies: Asia (International) Link to an online description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of Asian countries. Updated information on some countries can be accessed in Country Profiles.

Databases and E-Resources at the Library of Congress: Asian Studies (Internet Resources) Many of these online resources related to Asia are publicly available.

Fine PrintsJapanese Pre1915 (Prints and Photographs) About seventy percent of a collection of more than 2,500 woodblock prints and drawings by Japanese artists of the seventeenth through early twentieth centuries is currently available online. Scroll to the bottom of this page to conduct a search or learn more about this collection.

The Floating World of Ukiyo-E (Exhibition) This exhibition showcases the Library's holdings of Japanese prints, books, and drawings from the 17th to the 19th centuries and is complemented by related works by 20th century Japanese and Western artists.

The Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (American Memory Collection) Search this collection using the term "United States. Dept. of State. Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs" for interviews describing foreign affairs in Asian countries.

Immigration: Japanese (Presentation) Learn about the Japanese experience in America from the mid 1800s to modern times. Be sure to click the globe on the left to view patterns of Japanese immigration across the United States.

On the Cutting Edge: Contemporary Japanese Prints (Exhibition) This exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the College Women's Association of Japan Print Show.

A Teacher's Guide to Folklife Resources (American Folklife Center) This guide provides information on many useful print and electronic publications for folklife educators. Click on the name of an Asian country for information and Internet links.

World Treasures of the Library of Congress (Exhibition) The Library's international collections include research materials in more than 460 languages and in many media. This exhibition includes many treasures from the Asian Division.

Japan American Society of AmericaWashington, DC (external link)

Origami Patterns (external link)

Resources outside the Library of Congress

National Archives

National Endowment for the Humanities

National Gallery of Art

Teaching Edo Art in Japan, 16151868

An overview of two centuries of art and culture in the city now known as Tokyo. Ceramics, screens, textiles, prints, paintings, and armor are among the materials examined in this program. Includes activities and bibliography.

An overview of two centuries of art and culture in the city now known as Tokyo. Ceramics, screens, textiles, prints, paintings, and armor are among the materials examined in this program. Includes activities and bibliography. Loan Materials Finder

Numerous Asian art programs may be borrowed free-of-charge from the National Gallery of Art's Department of Education Resources covering a broad range of topics for countries including Cambodia, China, Indonesia and Japan.

National Park Service

Smithsonian Institution

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Colombo, March 30 : Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that his country will not succumb to any pressure in response to a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution passed last week, which would allow the body to investigate incidents during the three-decades long civil war.

In a statement released by his office on Monday, President Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka will face the challenge without fear and that it will not succumb to pressure, reports Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile he noted that Sri Lanka's national development strategies are in place including environment-friendly projects such as for providing electricity power to all households while boosting economy in the country.

The President said that therefore foreign and local forces who are against the country's progress are misleading the public.

"If you give in to those lies the damage could be irreversible," Rajapaksa added.

The UNHRC resolution calls for accountability over incidents related to Sri Lanka's 30-year civil conflict between the government forces and the Tamil Tiger rebels who were militarily defeated in May 2009, when Rajapaksa was the Defence Minister.

The resolution was passed at the UNHRC with 22 countries voting in favour, 11 countries against, and 14 abstaining.

It allows the UN "to collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information and evidence, and to develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka, to advocate for victims and survivors, and to support relevant judicial and other proceedings".

A budget of $2.8 million has been allocated to hire investigators to work on the collection of evidence.
An image of trails caused by the fifth deployment of satellites making up the Starlink constellation. CREDIT Andreas Moller

Scientists reported new research results today suggesting that artificial objects in orbit around the Earth are brightening night skies on our planet significantly more than previously understood.

The research, accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, finds that the number of objects orbiting Earth could elevate the overall brightness of the night sky by more than 10 percent above natural light levels across a large part of the planet. This would exceed a threshold that astronomers set over 40 years ago for considering a location "light polluted".

"Our primary motivation was to estimate the potential contribution to night sky brightness from external sources, such as space objects in Earth's orbit," said Miroslav Kocifaj of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and Comenius University in Slovakia, who led the study. "We expected the sky brightness increase would be marginal, if any, but our first theoretical estimates have proved extremely surprising and thus encouraged us to report our results promptly."

The work is the first to consider the overall impact of space objects on the night sky rather than the effect of individual satellites and space debris affecting astronomers' images of the night sky. The team of researchers, based at institutions in Slovakia, Spain and the US, modelled the space objects' contribution to the overall brightness of the night sky, using the known distributions of the sizes and brightnesses of the objects as inputs to the model.

The study includes both functioning satellites as well as assorted debris such as spent rocket stages. While telescopes and sensitive cameras often resolve space objects as discrete points of light, low-resolution detectors of light such as the human eye see only the combined effect of many such objects. The effect is an overall increase in the diffuse brightness of the night sky, potentially obscuring sights such as the glowing clouds of stars in the Milky Way, as seen away from the light pollution of cities.

"Unlike ground-based light pollution, this kind of artificial light in the night sky can be seen across a large part of the Earth's surface," explained John Barentine, Director of Public Policy for the International Dark-Sky Association and a study co-author. "Astronomers build observatories far from city lights to seek dark skies, but this form of light pollution has a much larger geographical reach."

Astronomers have expressed unease in recent years about the growing number of objects orbiting the planet, particularly large fleets of communications satellites known informally as 'mega-constellations'.

In addition to crowding the night sky with more moving sources of artificial light, the arrival of this technology increases the probability of collisions among satellites or between satellites and other objects, generating further debris. Recent reports sponsored by the US National Science Foundation and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs identified mega-constellations as a threat to the continued utility of astronomy facilities on the ground and in low-Earth orbit. In the UK the Royal Astronomical Society has established several working groups to understand the impact of mega-constellations on optical and radio astronomical facilities used by scientists.

The results published today imply a further brightening of the night sky proportional to the number of new satellites launched and their optical characteristics in orbit. Satellite operators like SpaceX have recently worked to lower the brightness of their spacecraft through design changes. Despite these mitigating efforts though, the collective effect of a sharp increase in the number of orbiting objects stands to change the experience of the night sky for many across the globe.

The researchers hope that their work will change the nature of the ongoing dialog between satellite operators and astronomers concerning how best to manage the orbital space around the Earth.

"Our results imply that many more people than just astronomers stand to lose access to pristine night skies," Barentine said. "This paper may really change the nature of that conversation."



Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
By Abhinav Ramnarayan and Paul Sandle

LONDON (Reuters) -When food delivery firm Deliveroo joins the London stock market on Wednesday, it will be Britain's biggest listing in a decade, even though some of the country's leading investors - worth over $1 trillion between them - will be conspicuous by their absence.

British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak has hailed the company's decision to go public in London as a "true British tech success story," and said he hopes it will set the stage for more listings by fast-growing technology companies.

But strong demand for the IPO - it was fully subscribed within hours of the order book being opened - has been overshadowed by complaints over its share structure, questions about potential legal problems for its gig-economy business model and the threat of strike action from some of its workers.

Heavyweight investors Aberdeen Standard Life, Aviva, Legal & General Investment Management and M&G are sitting this one out, citing concerns about gig-economy working conditions and the outsized voting rights that will be handed to founder Will Shu.

Some of them also question whether the loss-making business can ever justify its valuation.

Having initially looked for up to 8.8 billion pounds ($12.1 billion), the British tech firm went with a narrower price range and said on Tuesday it would price at the bottom of the new range, valuing the company at 7.6 billion pounds.

"Given volatile global market conditions for IPOs, Deliveroo is choosing to price responsibly and at an entry point that maximises long-term value for our new institutional and retail investors," a spokeswoman for Deliveroo said.

One question is whether the Amazon-backed company will face the kind of clampdown experienced by Uber over the employment status of its staff.

"Deliveroo's narrow profit margins could be at risk if it is required to change its rider benefits to catch up with peers, in an industry that is already facing severe competitive pressure between the large tech platforms," Andrew Millington, head of UK equities at Aberdeen Standard Investments, said.

Story continues

PANDEMIC SURGE

Deliveroo has seen demand soar during the pandemic as restaurants were closed for several months of the last year.

Its self-employed riders, distinctive in their cyan and white uniforms, have often outnumbered other traffic in cities during lockdown.

One rider Reuters spoke to - Krzysztof - said he had few complaints about his treatment, although he wished he could get an electric bike. He said he earns 300-350 pounds a week delivering food to families in Walthamstow in east London.

"I was working in a construction site nearby but I lost my job after COVID-19 and I found this quite easy to switch to," he said, preferring not to give his surname.

Many riders, including Krzysztof, don't work every day. Deliveroo riders are classed as self-employed contractors and earn a fee for every job. Employees, by contrast, are entitled to the minimum wage, sick pay and holiday pay.

London's High Court said last month that a group of Uber drivers were workers and thus entitled to the minimum wage in a ruling that could have ramifications across the gig economy.

Deliveroo says its riders are self-employed because this gives them the freedom to choose when and where to work.

"We are confident in our business model, which has been upheld by UK courts three times, including the High Court twice," it said.

It dismissed criticism over conditions.

"We communicate with thousands of riders every week and satisfaction is currently at an all time high," it said in a statement.

'DARK KITCHENS'

Some critics questioned whether Deliveroo can maintain its growth when restaurants reopen and younger consumers no longer have to eat at home.

But Tim Vasilakis, founder of Greek street food vendor The Athenian in Shoreditch, east London, said customers' habits had changed for good.

"It is a valid business model and I think it's proven itself now," he said. "I think the pandemic just accelerated something that was already happening."

Three years ago he agreed an exclusive deal with Deliveroo, resulting in lower commission and the chance to use the company's "dark kitchens", where food is prepared by chefs in delivery-only facilities.

The Athenian set up its first dark kitchen in Battersea, London, just before the pandemic hit. Sales were comparable to some of the group's eight bricks-and-mortar restaurants, he said.

Deliveroo, which is battling competitors, such as Uber Eats, Just Eat Takeaway.com, lost 226.4 million pounds in 2020 despite the pandemic boost.

But investors in tech companies are used to losses. Many remember that Facebook and Amazon were loss-making for many years before profits shot up.

In a low rate environment, they are particularly tolerant.

"We've been in an environment where growth has been scarce, lacklustre and investors have been happy to pay up for growth wherever they can find it," Duncan Lamont, head of research and analytics at Schroders, said.

"So long as investors are happy to finance those losses, companies like Deliveroo can continue to go down that route of losing money to gain scale to become profitable in the long run."

The broader question of how British fund managers view weaker corporate governance and the possible advent of more expensive regulation on the gig economy, however, will determine London's success in becoming a hub for tech companies.

(Reporting by Abhinav Ramnarayan and Paul Sandle; editing by Barbara Lewis and David Evans)
Photo: Chuanchai Pundej/EyeEm/Getty Images

Last week, I dug up one of the most awkward emails Ive ever sent. I dont think I can recap New Girl this week, it reads. Im currently undergoing a miscarriage. I remember pausing to wonder if undergoing was the right word. Experiencing? Then it goes on: I think Ill be fine by Thursday for 30 Rock.

My miscarriage in the winter of 2012 was long, drawn-out, and baffling  a complete fluke, as the doctors kept telling me. Because of a polyp in my uterus, the amniotic sac never developed properly, and I bled on and off during the whole first trimester. Things calmed down around 12 weeks, which is traditionally when you tell people youre pregnant, since the vast majority of miscarriages happen before then. But at 16 weeks, the bleeding started again, and this time it didnt stop. Which meant that I had to start having some uncomfortable conversations.

At the time, I had a full-time job at a media start-up and I was freelancing as a TV recapper on the side. Explaining myself to my recap editor was actually not the worst part, since at least it was over email. Telling my primary place of work, on the other hand: whew. The start-up had a handful of founders, mostly men a few years older than me. We worked in an open-plan office, which we shared with another tech start-up, which was one flight of stairs above an incubator for yet more tech start-ups. The place was crawling with hoodie-wearing guys with whom I did not want to talk about vaginal bleeding.

The day before my water broke and my pregnancy ended for real, I was at work when I started to feel like something was wrong. I remember going out into the stairwell to call my doctor, who told me I needed to go home right away. But what I didnt remember, until I reread my journal yesterday, is the lie I told my boss. He was obsessed with restaurants, and I suppose thats why I picked food poisoning. The image it conjured up was humiliating, but at least it was something hed presumably been through himself.

2011 was a long time ago. Since then, Ive had two kids, switched jobs, and forgotten most of what happened on New Girl. But I started thinking about it again because on Wednesday, New Zealands Parliament approved legislation that would give couples three paid days off after a miscarriage or stillbirth.

New Zealand isnt the first country to recognize the need for this kind of leave: India offers women six weeks after a miscarriage or termination for medical reasons, and Vietnam gives women between 10 and 50 days off, partially paid, depending on how long the pregnancy lasted. Three days also isnt that long  especially if youve had a stillbirth; you might need a lot more than three days for medical reasons. And the law doesnt account for abortions, which can feel like a pregnancy loss for some people. Still, this kind of codified compassion is fairly unusual. (In the U.S., if you want time off, youre legally out of luck, just the way you would be if you wanted a guarantee of paid maternity leave or any paid leave after a death.)

And pregnancy loss remains very common. Up to 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage, at least in America, with research indicating that Black women experience higher rates of loss than white women. Over the past decade, the topic has become more public thanks to celebrities like Meghan Markle speaking out, but its still not something that many people think about if theyre not actively trying to have a baby. Writing a script into law  Hey managers, if this happens, heres what you do  is a way to normalize the experience for the whole working population. It makes thinking about miscarriage a requirement even for people who will never have one. And it might make those awkward conversations so much easier.

After my miscarriage, I admitted that it wasnt salmonella. The company sent flowers, and my boss asked me how much time I needed, which was kind of him  not every manager would have. But once again, I felt like I was operating without a script. Given this countrys fraught discussions around reproductive rights, it was hard to even determine what words to use. Was I in mourning? I guess Ill take a day? I said.

During that day, I watched Waynes World, thinking that a nostalgic movie might help (it did not). I bought some Italian ice and a sweater that I have never worn because it makes me too sad. And then, because I didnt know what to do with myself, I went back to work, where I continued to feel out of sorts for months.

Its not like that for everyone, of course. Some people arent especially sad after a miscarraige. Some are relieved, or even grateful. But others mourn, sometimes for years, and for them, everyone seems to recommend trying to get some kind of official closure. Which is the other nice thing about the New Zealand law  it acknowledges, on a state level, that some people need an ending.

Three days isnt a ton of time, but at least it gives you space to do more than buy a sweater. Back in 2012, I didnt understand that I needed that space. But I wish someone had offered it to me.

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WINSTED  School and town leaders held the first of several public hearings on the proposed budgets for the public schools and The Gilbert School this week and the discussions quickly turned to the funding sources that support programs during the pandemic, as well as annual federal grants.

Superintendent of Schools Melony Brady-Shanley presented a proposed budget for the Winchester Public Schools totaling $20.6 million, a 2.99 percent increase over 2020-21, or $596,818.

Gilbert School Superintendent of Schools Anthony Serio presented a proposed budget totaling $7.8 million, which includes tuition at $7.3 million, and a capital improvement budget of $462,544, part of an overall spending plan for 2021-22. Capital improvements include a new roof for the auditorium, as well as heating units in the gym and cafeteria. Gilberts proposed budget reflects a 2.11 percent increase.

Brady-Shanley warned board members that some grant funding is ending, meaning the district will have to find other funding sources going forward. Since 2016, Winchester schools have been part of a grant program by the Commissioners Network, which provides grants to low-performing schools in exchange for heightened accountability, according to the state. Brady-Shanley said the network grant is worth $450,000, and that about $116,000 in other grant funds also will end.

Brady-Shanley has said her biggest challenge is finding more money to replace grants that are ending, as the grants have fed the district much-needed dollars for the last five years.

Grant revenues in 2020 totaled $10,234,769. For 2021-22, grant revenues for the school district are expected to be $9,688,280, a difference of $546,489.

Some of the funding has paid for COVID-19 related expenses. Since the pandemic hit Connecticut in March 2020, school districts like Winchester have provided a varying schedule of distance learning and in-person instruction. Schools have provided personal protective equipment and other prevention efforts  Plexiglas shields for teachers, constant disinfecting and cleaning in the buildings, for example. Remote learning efforts also have impacted the students education, Brady-Shanley said. She said that in the coming year, staff positions are being shared with Gilbert to provide intervention and academic support to help students catch up after a year of in-school and remote learning.

Mayor Candy Perez on Tuesday said Winsted was at a pivotal point in their finances, and needed every penny to keep the town and the schools moving forward.

Theres money out there to help us, but its only for a limited time, she said. Weve been fortunate not to have a mill rate increase in five years, but weve had some grand list growth, and thats going to affect it.

Winsteds tax rate is 33.54 mills.

Winsted Town Manager Bob Geiger is preparing the town side of the budget for 2021-22, which will be presented April 5 with a projected increase of about $250,000. How much the town gets in PILOT funding and COVID-19 relief funding could affect that increase, Perez said.

Right now the best we can do, is do a good analysis on whats going to happen (with funding), she said.

Geiger agreed, saying, Were trying to put a budget together without knowing how much funding were getting in 2021-22.

I struggle each year to present a budget so we dont have a mill rate increase, he said.

Perez said funding has restrictions, particularly money from the CARES Act established to help towns and schools during the pandemic.

There was a person who kept asking about the elephant in the room: why cant we use the federal grants that are coming through to offset the increase to these budgets, she said. What I keep saying is, the budgets a work in progress, presented with whats known at the time.

There are restrictions on each of these sources, she said. Were hoping the state has some clarity on April 23, which is the last day we can make changes to our budgets.

What that means is, theres a lot of time left to make changes, Perez said. But ultimately, the decision on the budgets lies with (the taxpayers).

Residents can see the school budgets on the towns website, townofwinchester.org. Hearings are scheduled for April 5 and April 10, followed by the town meeting and subsequent referendum in May.
Rebecca Flores arrived at the protest in downtown San Antonio on Saturday with a cardboard sign asking Why are property taxes rising? and a fistful of solicitations shed received about buying her house.

Flores, a community activist, said she is frustrated that some of the apartment complexes in the area are exempt from property taxes, depriving the city, Bexar County, local school districts and other agencies of revenue.

We need affordable housing, but do not do it at the price of eliminating money for those taxing entities, she said.

Whos picking up that gap? Flores added as she stood at the corner of Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and South Flores Street, about 2 miles north of her house. It falls on us.

Land values and property taxes are rising in her neighborhood, she said, and investors are calling and sending flyers about purchasing her house. She plans to pass it on to her daughter but worries about the tax bill.

On ExpressNews.com: Failings of San Antonio Housing Trust revealed in report

Flores and a handful of others stationed at the busy downtown intersection were protesting deals approved by the San Antonio Housing Trust Public Facility Corp., a powerful entity that most area residents have never heard of.

The public facility corporation is the most active arm of the San Antonio Housing Trust, a nonprofit created to generate and preserve affordable housing. Five City Council members appointed by the mayor sit on its board.

Through the trusts partnerships with developers, more than $1.4 billion worth of apartments have been built, are under construction or are in the planning stages, according to a 2020 analysis by the San Antonio Express-News.

Heres how the deals work: The trust buys the land, exempting it from property tax under state law, and the developer doesnt have to pay sales taxes on purchases made for the projects construction. In exchange, the developer must rent at least half the units to tenants making up to 80 percent of San Antonios median household income.

Thats $46,100 a year for a couple or $57,600 for a family of four, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The tax breaks that developers are set to receive through these deals are worth more than $39 million annually, the newspapers analysis showed.

School districts can recover much of the lost revenue from the state through a provision that reimburses districts for property tax exemptions on low-income housing. But property owners bear a bigger share of the tax burden because of the exemptions, Michael Amezquita, chief appraiser for the Bexar Appraisal District, told the Express-News last year.

On ExpressNews.com: How a big Texas tax break created not-so-affordable housing

Proponents of the trust say its succeeding in producing affordable apartments. Nearly half the units built or planned as of the Express-News analysis last year are for families making up to 60 percent of the area median income.

The units also wouldnt be financially viable without the tax breaks, they say, and are sparking investment in neighborhoods where developers usually would not build. Revenue that the trust gains through the deals can be used to fund other housing.

Thirty complexes with nearly 7,500 apartments are complete or under construction, including 4,389 units for residents earning between 30 percent and 60 percent of the area median income, said Pete Alanis, the trusts executive director.

But the nonprofits critics contend that the public facility corporation board often approves units out of reach of San Antonios poorest residents  those the organization was created to help. They also question whether the threshold of 80 percent of the area median income should be considered affordable.

The NRP Group, a Cleveland-based company involved in a number of deals with the trust, came up frequently at Saturdays protest.

Critics say property owners are bearing the brunt of the exemptions.

Developers are using the affordability crisis to meet their goals, not the needs that have been documented in our city, said Sofia Lopez, a former San Antonio Housing Authority board member who organized the protest.

I want (the board) to reject these deals, say that theyre not good enough, set the actual terms that they want to achieve based on input from impacted people, and then if the developers want to go for it, they can, Lopez said.

On ExpressNews.com: City nonprofit fights soaring housing costs, but at what price?

A 2019 report commissioned by the city showed the trust and its affiliates operated for years with little supervision and frequently approved projects with few apartments for the citys lowest-income residents.

Another study published last fall by the University of Texas School of Law also revealed that the housing produced through these deals is often just as pricey as market-rate units. A number of Texas cities have public facility corporations, but the local trust entity has facilitated more deals than any other.

The trust and developers have built some of the projects within the San Antonio Independent School District.

The affordable housing definition that many of these developments use is completely out of the range of the families that we serve, said Alejandra Lopez, president of the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel, which represents SAISD employees. Its not my students that are living in these new housing developments.

This legislative session, Texas lawmakers have an opportunity  to make improvements to public facility corporations in Texas, including lowering income targets, standardizing rent and income requirements, improving access for Section 8 voucher holders, and enhancing tenant rights, Alanis said.

While each local community in Texas should decide how to best utilize available housing financial tools to meets the needs in their community, the undeniable fact is affordable housing challenges occur in every community in Texas, he added.

Whether or not legislators make those changes, the trust will work with the public in crafting its multifamily policies, Alanis said.

The nonprofit will also be part of the citys Strategic Housing Implementation Plan, which will reassess housing goals set in 2018 and outline timelines, developers, funding and other aspects, according to city staff. Staff expect to present the plan to City Council this year.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
The Bangalore office of Mullen Lintas was recently appointed as the brand strategy partner for OkCredit. The app-based solution has given a modern makeover to the traditional record keeping system of small businesses.

The three-year-old OkCredit simplifies bookkeeping for shop owners and their customers in tier II, tier III, and beyond cities. Currently, its users are spread across 2,800 Indian cities. The app is available in 13 vernacular languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and others. OkShop, another product from OkCredit stable, enables them to take their shop online - easily and free of cost, and become a part of Digital India. OkStaff lets small businesses and shop owners manage employees payments, attendance and more. Together, these solutions aim at digitizing the small-scale businesses of India and contribute to the nation's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat or self-dependency.

OkCredit has already seen transactions worth billions resulting from over 55 lakhs active merchants, while OkShop and OkStaff have on boarded over 1,50,000 and 20,000 active merchants, respectively.

Speaking about the partnership with Mullen Lintas, Harsh Pokharna, CEO, OkCredit said: We are excited to bring on board Mullen Lintas as our partner to help build the Brand Identity for OkCredit. Their consumer understanding and experience with building brands is what really stood out for us and we are confident that we can create a unique and engaging story for OK Credit as we move into our next phase of market development.

Excited about playing this crucial role in digitally transforming a large section of business owners in India, Hari Krishnan, CEO, Mullen Lintas said: OkCredit is revolutionizing the small business economy in India and we are delighted to be given the opportunity to partner them. Its an exciting new category that is poised for growth and we are looking forward to partnering the team at OKCredit to create relevance and engagement for the brand as it charts its journey towards creating success for the small business economy

Mullen Lintas is already working on campaigns to get small businesses, merchants, shop owners and entrepreneurs onboard with their clients to make their businesses efficient.
Graphic warning: the video in this story has distressing images.

Mexico City: An autopsy of a Salvadorean woman who died in custody confirmed that police broke her neck when they knelt on her back in broad daylight on a footpath in the Mexican resort town of Tulum.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador flatly said that Victoria Esperanza Salazar was brutally treated and murdered by police.

Victoria Esperanza Salazar let out a scream on Saturday afternoon (Sunday AEDT) as a female police officer knelt on her back to cuff her hands behind her. Salazar was face down on the street and barefoot. Her feet flailed. A couple of people passed slowly by on a bicycle. There were food stands a few metres away.

Clips of video cobbled together give no sense of how much time elapsed. Then three other officers are seen standing around her motionless body still face down, talking casually. Later, three officers lift her still handcuffed body into the back of a police pick-up truck and drive away.


Galapagos island's airport officials discovered 185 baby turtles in a suitcase en route to mainland Ecuador. A statement from Aeropuerto Ecologico Galapagos located on Isla Baltra - one of the 21 islands in the famous Pacific archipelago - said the turtles were found during a regular inspection by customs officials on Sunday morning.

The cargo was illegally shipped by smugglers to the port city of Guayaquil, which is 700 miles to the east. The turtle was spotted by operators on an X-ray machine at the airport, who noticed "irregularities" in the suitcase, which allegedly contained "souvenirs."

The Three Months Old Tortoises

Officials said the tortoises were not more than three months old, and it was difficult to determine where they came from. The photos show the turtles wrapped in plastic. The smugglers likely did this to immobilize the animals so that authorities would not see them.

While most baby tortoises survived their trial, airport officials said 10 of the animals died, according to BBC. So far, authorities have made no arrests regarding the incident, but members of the transportation company who checked the suitcase are being held for questioning.

To preserve the turtles 'lives, officers took them to a special place inside the airport facilities.

Marcelo Mata, the environment minister of Ecuador, in response to the incident on Twitter, said he categorically rejected these crimes against wildlife and the natural heritage of Ecuadorians.

Also Read: Human and Turtle Skin: Similar Proteins Evolved From Common Ancestor To Toughen Skin

Investigation of the Incident

Mata said authorities are investigating the incident, and the turtles were not taken from Galapagos National Park breeding centers but from the wild. He said vets were examining the surviving turtles to know their species as part of the investigation process.

The Galapagos Islands are home to nearly a dozen species of turtles, including the archipelago's famous giant turtles. Illegal animal trafficking is one of the biggest threats to turtles that live on the islands. Young-sized juveniles could fetch more than $ 5,000 in the global exotic pet market, the BBC reported.

Illegal animal trafficking to the islands can be punished with between one and three years in prison. The archipelago is a protected area known for its wealth of unique species of flora and fauna. The island's endemic species were studied by the famous Charles Darwin, with his findings contributing to the creation of his theory of evolution.

Charles Darwin Theory Of Evolution

Darwin's evolutionary theory is that new species appear naturally, through an evolutionary process, rather than created - forever unchangeable - by God. According to the solid creationist theory of Darwin's time, the fine adaptations of many species - such as bivalve shell hinges and wings and volumes in wind -scattered seeds - are compelling proof designed by each species for its intended place in the economy of nature.

Darwin wholeheartedly accepted this theory, confirmed by the biblical account in Genesis, until his experiences on the Galapagos Islands began to weaken in this way of thinking about the biological world.

Related Article: Leatherback Turtles may become Extinct within 20 Years: Study

For more news, updates about tortoises and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
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Emmeline Hartley is smart and tech-savvy. But last week the actress, 28, unwittingly became the face of Britain's fraud epidemic.

On March 21, she tweeted how she had been 'scammed out of every penny' in a sophisticated con involving a fake Royal Mail text and a 'spoof' call from Barclays.

Her message has since been shared 14,500 times and Emmeline says she has received hundreds of messages from people who have fallen foul of the same scam and are struggling to get refunds from their banks.

Scam text: The message purporting to be from Royal Mail that is thought to have been sent to millions of phones across the country

It's thought the texts have been sent to millions of phones across the UK in recent weeks - and is perhaps the worst example yet of a costly year that has seen fraud victims lose a record 479 million.

On Monday, Graeme Biggar, the top fraud investigator at the National Crime Agency, said scammers were 'finding it too easy' to bombard the public with millions of fake texts, emails and phone calls.

Today, a Money Mail investigation reveals how cyber criminals are evading detection by using cheap Chinese technology to beat flimsy barriers put up by banks, telecoms firms and regulators

Duped out of 1,000

Emmeline first received a text purporting to be from Royal Mail asking her to pay a 2.99 'postage fee'.

It was the day before her birthday and she was expecting deliveries, so she clicked on the link in the text. This took her to a fake Royal Mail website where she entered her details and made the payment.

Two days later she received a call, seemingly from a Barclays number. The caller, who spoke with a London accent, claimed to be from the bank's fraud unit.

He knew the details of her accounts and said she had given away her bank details to scammers on the fake Royal Mail website.

He told her to transfer all the cash she had - around 1,000 - to a 'safe account', which she did.

Duped: Actress Emmeline Hartley lost 1,000 in the Royal Mail text scam

Emmeline, who lives in Birmingham, only realised it was a scam when the fraudster tried to get her to transfer her overdraft, but by then it was too late.

'I broke down on the phone, I was crying and calling him a liar,' she says.

She has since been refunded by Barclays. But other victims are still struggling to get their money back.

Experts say fraudsters are preying on the confusion faced by online shoppers following Brexit, with many being asked to pay extra customs fees and VAT charges.

It is not known how many people have fallen foul of this particular fraud.

Last year there was a 94 per cent increase in 'impersonation scams', in which criminals pose as trusted organisations, says UK Finance.

How it works

Steve Smith, director of blocking service trueCall, says the scammers are likely using 'Sim farm' machines to send texts en masse.

Money Mail found one available to buy for just 57.35 from Chinese website AliExpress, which can pump out 4,800 texts an hour.

We also found a Chinese 'Sim farm' (which also have legal uses) available to buy on eBay for 230.

The device can be hooked up to 16 pay-as-you-go Sim cards, which, unlike mobile contracts, do not require buyers to provide proof of identity.

It means even if investigators can trace the Sim or phone number, they do not know who's behind it. Targets can be generated randomly, or from data breaches.

'Number spoofing' is a common scam tactic that makes a message or call appear to be from the same number as your bank or another trusted business.

The texts will show up in the same thread as real messages sent by your bank. Likewise, a 'spoofed' call will show the caller ID you have saved to your phone.

If you were to call the number back, you would likely hear an automated message saying 'number unobtainable'.

Fake websites used by scammers to collect personal details or payments are also too easy to set up. Scammers are able to buy fake web addresses for just 25 a year

Why no action?

Ofcom says it has blocked outbound calls on 361 numbers provided by banks and government bodies, such as HMRC.

But it's not watertight. Ofcom says not all of Barclays fraud team numbers are on its list, which means that some may still be able to be spoofed by scammers. This is also the case for other firms.

And Money Mail has spoken to a victim who said the fraudster called him from the number on the back of his bank card.

Seamus McCormack was scammed out of 12,000 in savings after he was duped by a fake Royal Mail text.

The 33-year-old from Walthamstow, North-East London, received a message on March 11 saying he needed to pay 2.99 in postage fees.

It led to a convincing phone call, apparently from the number shown on his bank card, which told him to move the money. His bank is investigating.

David Hickson, of the fair telecoms campaign, says scammers have already adapted and only need to change one digit to avoid being blocked.

He says the only way to stop them is for banks, telecoms firms and other businesses to pledge never to contact customers by phone unless requested.

Ofcom hopes authentication technology will be rolled out in the next few years to stamp out 'spoofing'.

Scam texts are harder to stop, but most major mobile providers will apply an 'SMS filter', which can block scams by recognising suspicious patterns, such as many messages being sent from a single source in a short space of time.

Mr Smith says it would be much easier to track fraudsters if pay-as-you-go Sim cards came with identity checks - or if mobile providers imposed a realistic cap on texts to stop mass scams.

But he believes the real problem is that fraud is not being taken seriously enough.

Scams are cheap

Fake websites used by scammers to collect personal details or payments are also too easy to set up. Scammers are able to buy fake web addresses for just 25 a year.

Postoffice-myfees.com - one of the sites behind the Royal Mail scam - was hosted by U.S. tech firm Namecheap.

Once victims enter their details into the websites, the fraudsters can access and use the details to win trust during the follow-up 'spoof' call.

Namecheap has been accused of not doing enough to tackle fraud on its platform.

Last March, Facebook filed an ongoing lawsuit against the firm alleging it had refused to co-operate with an investigation into dozens of malicious sites.

Matt Russell, chief cloud officer at Namecheap, says the firm 'shut down all domains and websites' engaged in the Royal Mail scam as soon as it emerged.

He says Namecheap is stopping websites registering similar domain names.

Barclays says: 'No genuine bank would message you to transfer money to a 'safe account'. Ignore anyone who asks you to do this.'

A Royal Mail spokesman says: 'In cases where customers need to pay a surcharge for an underpaid item, we'd let them know by leaving a grey Fee To Pay card. We would not request payment by email or text.'

miles.dilworth@dailymail.co.uk
Three white St. Louis police officers accused of beating a black undercover colleague so severely that he had to undergo multiple surgeries have walked free after a jury did not convict on any charges.

City police officer Luther Hall was mistaken for a protester during violent demonstrations in the city in 2017.

The jury was told Hall, who had been recording criminal activity, became separated from his partner while fleeing officers who were firing pepper-spray pellets and bean bag rounds into the crowd.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Costantin said Hall was complying with orders to get on the ground when he was knocked down, hit, picked up and knocked down again before being attacked with fists, feet and a baton.

Hall suffered a hole in his lip that had to be stitched closed, injuries to his jaw and injuries to his neck that later required spinal fusion. He was unable to eat solid food for weeks, causing him to lose 20 pounds.

Hall said he did not push, fight or pull away from the officers. He said he was stunned. 'I couldn't believe it was happening,' he told the jury.

Luther Hall, a St. Louis police officer, was badly beaten by fellow officers while working undercover at a protest in 2017

St. Louis Police officer Christopher Myers, left with attorney James Towey in 2018, was acquitted of one charge and a jury failed to reach a verdict on another over the 2017 attack on his fellow officer Hall

Protests erupted in St. Louis in 2017 after police officer Jason Stockley was acquitted over the death of Anthony Lamar Smith in 2011

He described the 2017 attack to jurors as a 'free-for-all.'

The protests had erupted on the night of September 15, 2017, when a white St Louis police officer named Jason Stockley was acquitted of the 2011 murder death of African-American suspect Anthony Lamar Smith.

The St. Louis region was still recovering from unrest that followed the fatal 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson.

Two nights after Stockley's acquittal, demonstrators broke windows downtown. Police made 123 arrests, but protesters and civil rights leaders said many of those arrested were peaceful demonstrators, journalists and onlookers who were brutalized and taunted.

A total of five officers faced charges stemming from the incident.

Officer Steven Korte was acquitted of charges of deprivation of rights under color of law and of lying to the FBI.

Former officer Christopher Myers also was acquitted Monday of a deprivation of rights count, but the all-white jury could not reach a verdict on a charge of destruction of evidence against Myers for allegedly smashing Halls cellphone.

The jury was also deadlocked on the deprivation of rights charge against former officer Dustin Boone, leading the judge to declare a mistrial on counts where the jury could not agree.

Two other officers, Randy Hays and Bailey Colletta, who also are white, previously entered guilty pleas. Hays admitted hitting Hall with a baton and shoving him to the ground. Colletta pleaded guilty to making false statements to the grand jury about the assault.

During the trial, defense lawyers had argued that chaos and dysfunction within the St. Louis Police Department meant that officers and supervisors on the street didn't know undercover officers were working that night.

They also challenged Halls ability to identify his attackers.

The verdicts reignited criticisms that an all-white jury was picked to decide the case.

'If an undercover cop cant get justice, how will the rest of us who have been maced, shot, beaten, and brutalized ever get justice?' tweeted U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a black Democrat who represents the Missouri district that includes St. Louis.

Protesters stop traffic on Interstate 64 overpass in St. Louis after the 2017 acquittal of police officer Jason Stockley. Undercover officer Luther Hall was badly beaten in the protests

St. Louis Police officers Bailey Colletta, left, and Randy Hays, right pleaded guilty to separate charges stemming from the attack on Hall

St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden said Tuesday that the department would begin an internal affairs investigation, which he said was delayed at the request of federal prosecutors to avoid compromising the criminal investigation.

'It is our hope to now obtain all relevant evidence from the FBI to conduct a complete and thorough internal investigation,' Hayden's statement said.

It was unclear if the internal investigation would involve only Korte and not Myers and Boone, who could still face charges. Hayden said he would not make any further statements or answer questions.

Kortes lawyer, John Rogers, lauded his client's acquittal, saying outside the courthouse that Korte could now 'return to the St. Louis Police Department if he so chooses.' Korte is still employed by the department, but has not returned to duty since being charged.

Attorney Scott Rosenblum, who represented Myers, maintained as he had during the trial that federal prosecutors failed to prove Myers was among those who beat Hall. After the verdict Monday, he accused prosecutors of basing their case on rumors from within the department.

An attorney for Boone, Patrick Kilgore of St. Louis, did not immediately return phone and email messages left Tuesday seeking comment.

Prosecutors have said Myers and Boone were motivated by an eagerness to harm protesters, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Hall recently settled a lawsuit against the department for $5 million.
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Kabul, March 30 : Three members of a polio vaccination team were killed in two separate incidents in Afghanistans Nangarhar province, officials said on Tuesday.

Provincial police chief Jumagul Hemat told dpa news agency that one member of the team was killed in Police District four of the provincial capital of Jalalabad.

The other two deaths took place in the city's Police District seven.

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the incidents, police said.

Initial investigations show that the health workers were killed by gunshots.

There was no claim of responsibility.

On Monday, Afghanistan started a five-day anti-polio campaign aimed at vaccinating 9.6 million children in 32 of the country's 34 provinces.

About 3 million Afghan children were unable to get access to the polio vaccine during the past three years due to Taliban militants preventing door-to-door campaigns, according to the Health Ministry.

Healthcare workers frequently come under attack in the war-torn country.

Last yeat, gunmen attacked the maternity ward of a hospital in Kabul, killing 24 people, including several health workers.

Nangarhar is among the volatile provinces where Taliban and the Islamic State (IS) terror groups are active.

Earlier this month, gunmen killed three employees of a private TV network in the province.

The IS claimed responsibility for the attack.
Preble, N.Y.  A 23-year-old Queens man was found Monday with 116 pounds of marijuana in a vehicle in Cortland County, according to the New York State Police.

Mateo Vargas Vega was charged with first-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a felony, troopers said in a news release today.

The troopers saw Vega driving slowly north and swerving in and out of a lane on Interstate 81 in Preble before pulling him over, according to state police.

During the stop, troopers say they found the marijuana.

Vega was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter.
Katy, Texas, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CW Petroleum Corp (OTCQB: CWPE), a leading provider of Proprietary No-Ethanol Gasoline and Biofuels, today announced that effective March 15, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) declared its Form 1-A offering statement qualified.

The Company may now proceed with its plan to publicly offer up to $50,000,000 of Common Stock at a price of $0.75 per share, to qualified investors in a Reg A+ public offering.

The funding from this offering will be used to execute the companys long-term expansion of its existing sales of Reformulated No Ethanol Gasoline based on Isobutanol, Biofuels, Refined Products Trading Operations and the purchase of Convenience Stores to realize increased profits from the retailing of its diversified fuel products.

Please see the Companys Qualified Offering Circular at: CWPE SEC Form 253G1

For additional information, visit our website at cwpetroleumcorp.com or call 281-817-8099

About CW Petroleum Corp

CW Petroleum Corp supplies and distributes Biodiesel, Biodiesel Blends, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel, Gasoline, and a Proprietary EPA Approved Reformulated No Ethanol Gasoline to distributors, retail stations, marinas and end-users.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may contain "forward-looking statements" regarding future events and our future results. All statements other than statements of historical facts are statements that could be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the markets in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects", "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "endeavors," "strives," "may," or variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, estimate or verify. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include those factors described in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 1-K, as such may be amended or supplemented by subsequent semiannual reports on Form 1-SA, or other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements. For more information, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Prince Andrew was seen leaving Windsor Castle today as he was dragged into the US court battle engulfing Ghislaine Maxwell after she was charged with new offences linked to Jeffrey Epstein at a time when the paedophile was socialising with the royal.

The Duke of York is facing renewed calls to be questioned by the FBI after developments in the child sex inquiry overnight expanded the breadth of the investigation.

Maxwell, who was Epsteins longtime associate and former girlfriend, faces new charges of sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking of a minor in the eight-count indictment, as well as earlier charges that include perjury.

An amended indictment against Maxwell now covers alleged crimes stretching from 1994 to 2004 in New York and Florida, including accusations that she paid the girl, known as Minor Victim-4, hundreds of dollars for each sexual act with Epstein. The girl was 14 when the grooming began, the indictment said.

She had previously pleaded not guilty to helping Epstein recruit and groom three teenage girls for sex between 1994 and 1997 in New York. Maxwell, 59, has been held in a jail in Brooklyn since her arrest last July.

The time frame of the new allegations has expanded to between 1994 and 'at least' 2004, which covers the period where Epstein was associating with powerful men like Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton.

During this period Prince Andrew became friends with Epstein and allegedly had sex three times with one of his victims, Virginia Roberts, allegations the Duke denies.

Neither Prince Andrew or Mr Clinton is mentioned in the court documents but it significantly raises the prospect of them both being brought up at Maxwell's trial.

Prince Andrew leaves his home in the grounds of Windsor Castle as his friend Ghislaine Maxwell was charged with more offences in the US

The Duke of York (followed by his security team) is facing renewed calls to be questioned by the FBI after the investigation period into Maxwell was extended from 1994 and 1997 - to 1994 to 2004 - when he was socialising with Epstein

Ghislaine Maxwell faces new charges during a time when Prince Andrew became friends with Epstein and allegedly had sex three times with one of his victims, Virginia Roberts, allegations the Duke denies. Andrew is pictured with Virginia Roberts, aged 17, and Maxwell in 2001

Ghislaine Maxwell was charged with two new counts of sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking of a minor

According to a new indictment, Maxwell paid the girl hundreds of dollars to give Jeffrey Epstein sexual massages and even sent her lingerie

Prince Andrew's friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his girlfriend Ghislaine 1999 - Andrew first meets Epstein, reportedly introduced through his friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell. Andrew welcomes Epstein to the Queen's private Scottish retreat in Aberdeenshire. Andrew later says he sees Epstein 'infrequently', adding 'probably no more than only once or twice a year'. 2000 - Andrew and Ms Maxwell are seen on holiday with Epstein at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Epstein and Ms Maxwell attend a party at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen to mark Andrew's 40th birthday, the Princess Royal's 50th, the Queen Mother's 100th and Princess Margaret's 70th. 2001 - Virginia Roberts claims to have had sex with Andrew 'three times, including one orgy', with the first encounter allegedly taking place in Ms Maxwell's London townhouse. Ms Roberts claims to have had sex with Andrew on two more occasions, at Epstein's New York home and at an 'orgy' on his private island in the Caribbean. 2008 - Epstein admits prostituting minors and is sentenced to 18 months in prison. 2010 - Epstein is released from jail. Andrew is photographed with the disgraced Epstein in New York's Central Park. Footage emerges years later, reportedly shot on December 6 2010, showing him inside Epstein's Manhattan mansion, from where he is seen looking out from a large door. 2011 - The duke quits his role as UK trade envoy after the fallout from the Central Park photos. 2015 - Buckingham Palace denies Andrew has committed any impropriety after he is named in US court documents related to Epstein. A woman, later named in reports as Ms Roberts, alleges in papers filed in Florida that she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17, which is under the age of consent in the state. In April the claims against Andrew are struck from US civil court records following a federal judge's ruling. 2019 - Epstein is found dead in his jail cell on August 10, having killed himself after being charged with sex trafficking. 2020 - Ghislaine Maxwell is found in New Hampshire and arrested Maxwell was charged with enticement of minors, sex trafficking of children, and perjury on July 14, 2020 2021 - Ghislaine Maxwell was hit with two new charges over her alleged role in paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epsteins abuse of underage girls. The allegations increase the time period of the criminal allegations against Maxwell to between 1994 and at least 2004. Previously it was until 1997. Advertisement

The indictment also reveals that prosecutors intend to seize Maxwell's assets if she is convicted . During a bail application she revealed that she and her husband Scott Borgerson are worth $22.5million.

The new indictment dramatically increases the legal peril faced by Maxwell, who has pleaded not guilty to all the allegations so far.

The 24-page document says 'beginning at least in or about 2001' Maxwell and Epstein 'enticed and recruited, and caused to be enticed and recruited, minor girls to visit Epstein's Palm Beach residence to engage in sex acts with Epstein, after which Epstein, Maxwell, or another employee of Epstein's would give the victims hundreds of dollars in cash.'

Maxwell is accused of calling victims to 'schedule an appointment for the victim to massage Epstein' at his Palm Beach home.

The indictment says: 'When a victim initially arrived at the Palm Beach Residence, she would be greeted by an employee of Epstein's, including, at times, Maxwell.

'The victim would then be escorted to a room with a massage table.

'Once inside, the victim would provide a nude or semi-nude massage for Epstein who would himself typically be naked. During these encounters, Epstein would escalate the nature and scope of the physical contact to include sex acts such as groping and direct and indirect contact with the victim's genitals'.

Maxwell 'facilitated Jeffrey Epstein's access to minor victims knowing that he had a sexual preference for underage girls and that he intended to engage in sexual activity with those victims,' the indictment says.

The new accuser, referred to a Minor Victim-4, allegedly met Maxwell at Epstein's Palm Beach home when she was around 14.

Maxwell subsequently interacted with her on 'multiple' occasions even though she knew she was under 18 at the time, it is claimed.

These interactions took place between 2001 and 2004, the indictment alleges.

Clinton flew on Epstein's plane on trips to Asia and Africa in the early 2000s and the other passengers included actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker.

The indictment says: 'Maxwell groomed Minor Victim-4 to engage in sexual acts

with Epstein through multiple means.

'For example, Maxwell asked Minor Victim-4 about her family and other aspects of her life.

'Maxwell also sought to normalize inappropriate and abusive conduct by, among other things , discussing sexual topics in front of Minor Victim-4 and being present when Minor Victim- 4 was nude in the massage room of the Palm Beach residence'.

Maxwell allegedly offered to help the girl get a passport for foreign travel but she declined.

On 'multiple occasions' Maxwell sent the girl 'gifts' including lingerie from an address in Manhattan, which appears to refer to the townhouse she was living in at the time.

Maxwell also allegedly encouraged the girl to recruit 'other young females to provide sexualized massages to Epstein', it is alleged.

Minor Victim- 4 brought 'multiple females, including girls under the age of 18' and was paid 'hundreds of dollars in cash', it is claimed.

Previously Maxwell, 59, had been charged with six counts including enticing minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.

The new accuser, referred to a Minor Victim-4, allegedly met Maxwell at Epstein's Palm Beach home when she was around 14

The indictment also reveals that prosecutors intend to seize Maxwell's assets if she is convicted - during a bail application she revealed that she and her husband Scott Borgerson are worth $22.5million. The couple are pictured in 2013

She was also charged with perjury in relation to a separate civil case.

Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide in jail in 2019 before he could face trial in a sex trafficking case in New York

All those six counts remain and with the additional two, Maxwell now faces a total of eight allegations.

Earlier this month Maxwell was denied bail for a third time after US District Judge Alison Nathan ruled again that she was a flight risk.

Maxwell had offered to give up her British and French citizenship and offer all her $28.5m assets she and husband Scott Borgerson owned as a surety.

The superseding indictment includes a new section called 'forfeiture allegations' which says that if convicted Maxwell will be forced to give up 'any property, real and personal, that was used to commit or facilitate the sixth count'.

The indictment says that if any of the property has been 'transferred to a third person', or 'placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court' or 'commingled with other property which cannot be subdivided without difficulty' then the prosecution will still 'seek forfeiture' of the property.

The provisions appear to be a clear reference to how Maxwell used a series of trusts to move her assets to the ownership of Mr Borgerson, as detailed in financial disclosures she filed to the court.

Maxwell is due to go on trial in July.
Gardai in Co Donegal are hunting for a gang of livestock rustlers following the theft of a large flock of sheep.

The flock of more than 60 sheep had been left grazing in the Dunlewey area near Errigal Mountain just before Christmas.

However, when the farmer returned to check on the sheep on March 15, he found that 40 of the sheep were missing.

The sheep have been marked with distinctive purple markings by the owner.

Gardai say the sheep would have to be moved by a truck or a large vehicle.

They have appealed to anybody who may have bought any of the sheep or offered them for sale to get in touch.

Read More

They have also asked people working in livestock marts to remain vigilant for anybody trying to pass the sheep through the marts.

A spokesperson said This is a serious incident and there is obviously somebody engaging in illegal activity here.

There is an element of trust when livestock are left out to graze.

These animals have obviously been taken and we would appeal to anybody who knows where they are or who may have been offered them for sale to contact Gardai.

We would also appeal to anybody working at livestock marts in Donegal or elsewhere who may recall these sheep to get in touch.

This is a mans livelihood and this is happening all too often.
An international human rights group on Tuesday urged Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum to lift her opposition to reversing nonunanimous jury convictions  recently declared unconstitutional  against people who have completed their appeals.

Since Oregon enacted its law in 1934, juries could convict people of most felonies by a 10-2 or 11-1 vote. Louisiana was the only other state that allowed nonunanimous jury convictions, until voters struck down the law in 2018.

Last April, the U.S. Supreme Court found nonunanimous jury convictions unconstitutional in the case of Ramos v. Louisiana. It allowed Oregonians who were in the middle of their appeals process to have their convictions overturned and retried by the courts.

But hundreds convicted by nonunanimous juries remain in Oregon prisons because their cases and sentences were final at the time of the high courts decision. They are now seeking post-conviction relief in civil court in hopes of having the Ramos decision apply to them and getting a chance for retrials.

Prisoner advocates have criticized Rosenblum, saying she is blocking that relief.

Its something that should be changed, and the attorney general has the power to do that, John Raphling, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

In a letter written by Raphling, the group said nonunanimous juries are discriminatory and violate international human rights law and undermine the integrity of Oregon Courts.

Rosenblum spokesperson Kristina Edmunson said the attorney generals office has already sent back hundreds of cases on appeal for retrials and it is committed to reviewing the remaining cases after the U.S. Supreme Court makes a ruling in a pending case that will explicitly address whether past nonunanimous jury convictions should get retrials.

I cannot resolve Oregons nearly 100-year practice of less than unanimous jury decisions by executive fiat, Rosenblum said in the statement. It is the courts that decide what the Constitution requires. And the Legislature is the place to decide the best policy for the state based on the will of the people.

Raphling noted that the United States participates in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which prohibits policies that restrict rights based on race or policies that appear to be race neutral but create racial disparities.

Oregons nonunanimous jury law was put in place almost explicitly as a way to marginalize the voices of racial and ethnic minorities, Raphling said.

He was referring to a sensational murder trial in Oregon in 1933 involving a Jewish suspect that prompted a public vote to create the law.

The law appears to have succeeded in its intent, Raphling said.

In Multnomah County, Black people are incarcerated at roughly six times the rate of white people, according to a study of 2014 incarceration data by the MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge cited by Human Rights Watch.

Black people represent 18% of petitioners in Ramos cases statewide and 45% of petitioners in Multnomah County, according to a study by the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School. Census Bureau figures show just 3% of Oregonians identify as exclusively or partly Black, including 8% of Multnomah County residents.

Just because these are past convictions doesnt mean that harm hasnt been done and that she shouldnt be taking steps to mitigate that harm, Raphling said.

Though Rosenblum has spoken in support of getting rid of nonunanimous convictions in Oregon, she filed a brief opposing the Supreme Courts decision in the Ramos case, citing the practical consequences of retrying hundreds and potentially thousands of past cases.

Doing that, she argued, would re-traumatize crime victims and survivors and overwhelm our states criminal justice system.

Instead, Rosenblum is choosing to block civil court petitions to revisit cases that have exhausted appeals until courts decides whether Ramos applies retroactively to concluded cases.

The issue of retroactivity is a legal doctrine that was specifically not decided by the Ramos decision, Edmunson previously told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Edmunson said if the office chose to do as people are suggesting, it would not be based on the current state of the law  either federal or state.

Raphling urged Rosenblum to not prioritize efficiency over fairness and uphold the rights of those convicted by the now unconstitutional rule.

By refusing to give those convicted under the non-unanimous jury rule who have completed their appeal an opportunity to reverse their conviction, you are arbitrarily deciding that some peoples rights are too burdensome to honor, Raphling wrote.

-- Jaimie Ding

jding@oregonian.com; 503-221-4395; @j_dingdingding
EVA VAZQUEZ

March 2021 marks the first anniversary of the outbreak of Covid-19 in many countries, with all its tragic consequences. For millions of women around the world, this pandemic has produced grievous suffering, exposing them to rising levels of violence and abuse, often endured in silence.

The lockdown and quarantine measures adopted, which are vital to limit the spread of the virus, have also led to an alarming increase in violence against women worldwide. The United Nations estimates that gender violence increased by 30% globally during lockdown. According to the latest data, in Latin America, helplines received 30-50% more calls than before, while in Spain the number of calls for assistance increased by 60% in the last 12 months.

Confined with their abusers, the women exposed to this violence have had even greater difficulty in accessing support networks and care services. Moreover, the economic impact of the pandemic, which has disproportionately affected women, has created additional barriers. The massive loss of female employment, both formal and informal, the resulting economic insecurity and the increased burden of care responsibilities have prevented many from leaving their oppressors or from reporting the violence suffered. By the end of this year, for every hundred men living in extreme poverty, there will be 118 women. In many cases of gender violence, the lack of household income is, literally, life-threatening. Without financial independence, womens vulnerability increases exponentially.

Violence against women is not only a profound injustice, it also drags the social and economic progress of society as a whole

Latin America is one of the most progressive regions in the world in terms of its legislation against gender violence. For example, many countries in this region have adopted new laws or have reformed their criminal codes to classify as femicide the murder of a woman, merely for being a woman. However, much remains to be done throughout the continent to ensure the effective implementation of these laws, to strengthen womens access to justice and to provide comprehensive support for the victims and survivors of gender violence.

At the present point in time, well into the 21st century, it is intolerable that this invisible pandemic should persist, affecting one in three women at some time in their lives and claiming thousands of lives every year. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, in 2019 alone, at least 4,640 women were victims of femicide in Latin America, 30% more than the previous year.

Violence against women and girls takes many forms, from the most absolute manifestation, that of femicide, to that which is specifically directed against young girls, such as child marriage or female genital mutilation. It also includes sexual violence exercised in humanitarian contexts and conflict situations, harassment in public spaces and in the workplace, political violence and, of course, intimate partner violence. Many of these aggressions converge in the trafficking of human beings, a worrying phenomenon that must be countered decisively. Women and girls account for over 70% of the victims of trafficking. This scourge, its impunity, the too-frequent silence and the complex international coordination required to combat it, must all be urgently addressed.

No society and no political leader can look the other way. Violence against women is not only a profound injustice, it also drags the social and economic progress of society as a whole. According to the United Nations, the cost of gender-based violence is equivalent to 2% of the global gross domestic product (GDP). Poverty will not be overcome until we all say no to gender violence.

If the present health crisis and its economic consequences are to be overcome, vigorous collective measures must be taken to achieve greater equality between women and men. This was an urgent priority before the pandemic, and it is even more so now; not only as part of the obvious necessity to fight against gender violence and its intolerable impunity, but also to combat all those forces that sustain and perpetuate discrimination and inequality against women, in all areas and at all levels.

Womens contributions are essential to strengthening our democracies and to making us more resilient to future crises

A society that integrates women and men alike, in politics as well as in the economy, will be not only fairer, but more prosperous, and will enjoy more sustainable growth. The participation and leadership of women in determining public policies is necessary not only to address the specific needs of women and the gender-differentiated impacts of the pandemic, but also because womens contributions are essential to strengthening our democracies and to making us more resilient to future crises. The economic empowerment of women will generate employment, health and prosperity, both for themselves and for their families, because women tend to invest more in the households. In short, gender equality is a crucial element of our much-needed economic recovery.

To achieve this goal, we need more feminist leaders, to transform institutions and civil society; to deploy a range of public policies promoting real equality between men and women; and to heighten public awareness and support, thus ensuring the success and irreversibility of collective reforms. Institutional actions are much less effective if they are not accompanied by change from below, if they are not complemented by a strong drive of an informed population. We have already seen this in practice, in our response to challenges such as climate change. It was public involvement in the fight for our planet  especially by the younger generations  that really made a difference to change attitudes among public authorities and the private sector.

In recent years, the feminist cause has made great advances but much remains to be done. For this reason, we will take to the streets in ever-greater numbers to call for our rights, to demand real, effective equality. Every year, this sentiment is given voice on March 8, International Womens Day, with multitudinous demonstrations, in Madrid, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Jakarta, London and Rabat, and all over the world.

However, the current pandemic is threatening to reverse the gains made, with dire consequences for millions of women around the globe. To prevent this, the UN Women Generation Equality Forum, co-chaired by Mexico and France meeting this week in Mexico City, must call for worldwide support towards this cause and to help transform the reality of millions of women and girls. Their cause is one that should be defended by all  in Ibero-America and elsewhere, in the institutions and in the streets  to make feminism our collective destination.

Arancha Gonzalez Laya is the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain; Rebeca Grynspan is the secretary-general of the Ibero-American General Secretariat; Marta Lucia Ramirez is the vice president of Colombia; Isabel de Saint Malo is the former vice president of Panama; Patricia Mercado is a Mexican senator and Carmen Aristegui is a Mexican journalist and writer.
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A body found by a motorist near Cherry corner at Calloway County in Kentucky on early Friday morning has been identified as one of the Murray State University students from Virginia.

The discovery of the body in a ditch happened after the Murray State campus police conducted a welfare check when Sarah Townsend did not show up for work on Friday.

After discovering the body, the state police immediately sent out a description and a photographed shoe of the victim on Friday afternoon as they were not able to identify her right away. Family members and the student profile of the University helped detectives to identify Sarah Townsend.

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, the Kentucky state police confirmed on Saturday in a preliminary autopsy report conducted at the Western Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office that the 21-year-old student died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Further investigations also led to the immediate arrest of a suspect who also had ties to a similar area in Georgia.

Based on the Kentucky state police's follow-up investigation, they have arrested 22-year-old Julius Sotomayor and charged him with the killing of the college student.

Investigators of the state police honed in on Sotomayor after interviews with friends and relatives helped them learn her last known location, Murray Ledger & Times reported.

Furthermore, the Toyota Camry of the young student who went missing showed up on traffic cameras in central Georgia, where Sotomayor has ties.

At around 4 a.m. on Saturday, Julius Sotomayor was arrested by the investigators and transported back in Kentucky close to his home, and he still had the stolen Toyota Camry.

READ NEXT: Five People Killed in Alaska Helicopter Crash, Including Czech Billionaire Petr Kellner

The Arrest

The state police detailed the situation and shared that in the early morning hours of Saturday, they were able to determine that the Camry has made its way back to Kentucky. Evidence and statements gathered by the investigators throughout their inquiry established probable cause to arrest Sotomayor.

The suspect was charged with murder, tampering with physical evidence, and theft by unlawful taking. Julius Sotomayor is currently being held in the Calloway County Jail on a $1 million bond, based on the jail records.

During a news release, Kentucky State Police Trooper Adam Jones said that numerous intelligence services helped the discovery of the vehicle of the victim. Traffic cameras have observed Sarah Townsend's Camry in central Georgia.

The Kentucky State Police were assisted by many agencies, including the Calloway County Sheriff's Office, Murray State University Police, and the officials with Murray State University, Crime Online reported.

Kentucky is reportedly a safe state overall. The state's safest city is Somerset that recorded just 23 violent crimes in 2017. Madisonville earned the state's second safest city with a 1.55 per 1,000 violent crime rate. Lawrenceburg is in the third position for having nine violent crimes in 2017.

READ MORE: Feds Arrest Armed Colorado Man After 'Boulder Massacre' Remark

WATCH: Kentucky Man Held on $1M Bond in Death of University Student - WSIL News 3
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Anyone travelling into Mombasa must now provide a negative coronavirus Rapid Antigen test, which will be authenticated by a multi-agency team stationed at the exit and entry of the tourism hub.

At the same time, the over 300,000 ferry commuters who daily cross the Likoni crossing channel, will be diverted to the Sh1.9 billion Likoni floating bridge starting Wednesday this week.

These are just part of the new measures formulated by Mombasa County Emergency Response Committee on Covid-19 to curb the infection rates at the port city, including immediate closure of all madrassas, and Sunday schools.

The team has also banned indoor and contact sports, and elderly above 55 barred from attending religious congregations.

"For the elderly, they should not attend religious congregations as 90 percent of the coronavirus deaths affect individuals within this age group. We are encouraging the use of the floating bridge and decongesting the ferries," said the Mombasa deputy county commissioner Martin Mbae.

During the schedule time for the floating bridge, all matatus and passengers will be diverted to the facility.

Speaking at Mombasa county offices, the Mombasa deputy county commissioner said the proposals are rules to guide on how to move towards mitigating the dangerous effects of this disease.

"The interfaith committee is mandated to guide the congregation on infection prevention within churches and mosques. Madrassas and Sunday schools must be shut down with immediate effect," said Mr Mbae.

Sensitisation

He said the religious leaders and public health teams will sensitise faithful within mosques and churches.

Mombasa deputy governor William Kingi said the move will help in dealing with the infection rates.

"We are all aware that we are on the third wave and as a committee we have deliberated on how we can ensure we protect the residents against the pandemic. If you lack a certificate showing you are negative, you will not be allowed in Mombasa," said Mr Kingi.

The floating bridge connects Mombasa Island to the South Coast. It was built last year to decongest at the Likoni crossing channel which has been a major challenge.
Dodoma  The government has announced the start of five new subject combinations for students who are set to join Form Five in 2021.

Authorities say the aim of the of latest addition is to increase the number of professionals in various fields to eliminate the long-standing shortage of experts in the country.

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Office of the President, Seleman Jafo today Monday March 29, 2021 in Dodoma while speaking to reporters.

The new combinations are Physics, Mathematics and Computer (PMC); Kiswahili, French, Chinese (KFC); Kiswahili, English, Chinese (KEC); Physical Education, Biology, Fine Art (PBF) and Physical Education, Geography, Economics (PGE).

Jafo said the PMC combination will be taught at Dodoma Secondary School which will be special for girls while for boys it will be taught at Iyunga Boys Secondary School.

He said the KFC and KEC combinations will be taught at Morogoro girls' Secondary and Usagara Boys Secondary Schools respectively, whereas PBF and PGE will be taught Makambako girls' secondary school, Kibiti boys' secondary school and Mpwapwa secondary school which are a mixed.

He asked students to start selecting the combinations from today until April 11, 2021 when the system closes at 6pm.
Police recovered arms and ammunition including three AK 56, three AK 56 magazines and 157 rounds of bullets in the Gossaigaon area of Kokrajhar on Monday.

It was ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kokrajhar that a huge cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered from here. He is scheduled to address an election rally in Kokrajhar on April 1.

"During a search operation, we have seized three AK 56 rifles, magazines of three AK 56 and 157 rounds of bullets. Probe on," said Police

L R Bishnoi, Additional director general of police and Inspector General of Police Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District said, "Prime Minister is to visit Kokrajhar on April 1. Due to this, strict security arrangements have been made in the district. The group could have planned to do something big in the jungle. The exact plan is not known. Today, at 6:00 pm, the police team has conducted a search and recovered three AK 56, three AK 56 magazines and 157 rounds of bullets.

(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.)
Police Captain Back at Work; No Charges Filed

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A captain with the Paducah Police Department has returned to work after an investigation into a criminal complaint against him.In a press release, the department said a special prosecutor declined to file charges against Captain Troy Turner. Hickman County Attorney Jason Batts had been assigned to the case after the conclusion of an independent investigation by Kentucky State Police.Turner was suspended with pay by the police department on February 9, after an off-duty domestic-related incident on February 7. Paducah Police began an internal investigation to determine if he had violated any department policies, and his status was changed to suspended without pay on March 2, pending the results of the investigations.On Monday, police say Turner violated two standards of conduct policies, for changing his work hours without permission from a supervisor, and for allowing a department computer to be damaged while in his care. He was suspended for two days without pay for these violations.We believe that this matter has been investigated thoroughly, by Kentucky State Police, the Hickman County Attorneys office and our department, said Chief of Police Brian Laird. None of the three agencies found evidence of criminal wrong-doing on the part of Capt. Turner."Laird said, Capt. Turner has been held accountable for his policy violations and we look forward to putting this investigation behind us and continuing to serve the citizens of Paducah.On the Net:
[March 30, 2021] Infomo merges with Australian AdTech firm Adfomo to create a self-serve media management platform for large publishers in India

- Looking to disrupt the USD 12 billion advertising industry in India (Digital, Print, TV, OOH, Radio and DOOH channels) - Targeting a 15 % market share in the next 12 months across advertising platforms - In advanced talks with leading publishers and telecom carriers in India BENGALURU, India, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Infomo and Adfomo today announced they had entered into a binding strategic merger agreement, subject to shareholder approval, to create a multi-channel self-serve media management platform for large publishers, and advertisers, globally. The platform extends the capabilities of the legacy Google Delivery Network (GDN/Programmatic) to include the selling and buying of traditional media. The new multi-channel self-serve media sales platform delivers unique capabilities that enable large multi-channel media publishers to standardize and automate their sales processes to cover all types of media advertising including Digital, Print, Radio, TV, Out-Of-Home (OOH) and Digital-Out-Of-Home (DOOH) channels. The platform standardizes and automates traditional media buying and selling and enables publishers to take control over digital ad sales. Infomo's standardized media sales process provides substantial benefits to media buyers supporting marketing and advertising needs of brands, agencies, and the SME sector. This initiative extends Infomo's total addressable market significantly. According to Magna1, in 2020 the global ad spend was US$569 billion of which traditional media was estimated to be US$233 billion. Unlike USA, Australia, and a number of European countries, ad-spend with traditional media still outweighs digital ad spend. In Idia, digital advertising is still in its infancy with 2020 data revealing that digital advertising accounted for only 11% of the US$12.2 billion yearly ad spend.



Speaking about the merger, Peter Jermyn, Chairman of Infomo, said: "Infomo's vision has always been centred around empowering sellers to take control over their own marketing value chains. By aggregating the significant potential of Adfomo with our own, we will be able to automate and standardize the digital and traditional media selling process and more strongly project ourselves as a unique media advertising group. The merger, in my view, creates the classic business equation of 1+1=3." Julian Glynn, the Chairman of Adfomo, noted: "Merging with Infomo will provide Adfomo an opportunity to immediately address a global market. Adfomo is a perfect fit with Infomo's global strategy adding necessary components to integrate the selling of all types of traditional media sales into Infomo's digital sales platform."

Welcoming this merger, Infomo Founder & CEO Ananda Rao said: "Advertisers in today's world require self-serve automated solutions to buy media and they need extensive audience reach, known audience targeting, and measurable audience engagement. Our partnerships with telecom carriers and leading publishers around the world provide advertisers access to massive known audiences. Our merged platform provides a range of new and powerful capabilities enabling publishers to directly expose multi-channel inventory and advertisers to directly target, engage and interact with known audiences." Speaking about the strategic possibilities, Adfomo Founder & CEO George Papadopoulos commented: "Adfomo was founded to provide a standalone marketplace to sell and buy traditional media inventory. Empowering publishers with their own comprehensive multi-channel media sales solution will automate and standardize the buying of any kind of media. Most media publishers run traditional and digital channels separately. It is difficult to commercially justify a stand-alone digital division. Further, running separate traditional and digital businesses is not efficient. Together with Infomo, we now deliver one fully integrated media management platform that makes it extremely easy for publishers and advertisers to work collaboratively to design and run customized multi-channel campaigns." 1 https://magnaglobal.com/magna-advertising-forecasts-december-2020/ About Infomo: Infomo is the first company in the world to design and deploy a publisher-centric platform to sell digital inventory. Infomo provides an innovative web and app advertising ecosystem that harnesses the unique power and reach of telecom operators and large publishers and their significant subscriber communities to deliver engaging, media-rich, and highly targeted premium advertising and promotional content to subscribers during their everyday online activities. Learn more at www.infomo.com. Media Contact:

Jigar Chatwani

jigar@wearevicara.com

+91-9819026976

Vicara PR

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Freetown International Conference Centre, Aberdeen, Monday 29 March 2021- His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has officially opened the First Extraordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Parliament in Freetown for the year 2021.

After requesting the gathering to dedicate a moment of silence in memory of ECOWAS citizens and other citizens in Africa lost to the global pandemic and other causes, the President said he wanted to be the first to officially welcome representatives of member states to Sierra Leone.

He said they might have already discovered that the country was a peaceful place with golden beaches, breath-taking hillscapes, a rich history and culture, and a very friendly people.

"It is no longer the land of war, pestilence, bad governance, and natural disasters. We owe a debt of gratitude to ECOWAS leaders, soldiers, and citizens who helped us safely navigate those dark days in our history. We owe everything else to the sheer willpower of Sierra Leoneans to cope, recover, and move on even stronger.

"Ours is now a land at peace where we have consolidated our democracy and, guided by our human capital development priorities and our Medium-Term National Development Plan, we are firmly focused on achieving inclusive national development," he said.

He added that it was indeed an honour for all Sierra Leoneans, for the first time ever, to host the Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament here in Freetown.

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Mohamed Sidi Tunis, said that he was overwhelmed by joy and felt exceedingly glad to host the ECOWAS Parliament in Sierra Leone, saying that even though after the inauguration of the 5th Legislature of his administration, COVID-19 took a toll on humanity with the outbreak last year that limited the execution of their activities.

"Permit me to express publicly my greatest gratitude to the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency, Dr Julius Maada Bio, for the unprecedented support accorded me from the very beginning of this journey. Mr. President your support for this administration and the ECOWAS Parliament is enormous. Your advice and affectionate concern have helped us achieve greatly and I have no words to express how grateful the ECOWAS Parliament is for the support you have shown.

"Furthermore, on behalf of my colleagues, I wish to extend our deepest appreciations to Your Excellency and the wonderful people of Sierra Leone for hosting the first in-person Session of the ECOWAS Parliament during this very difficult period of the global pandemic. This is a clear demonstration of your support for not just the ECOWAS Parliament, but also for the ECOWAS' policy on regional integration and the drive to bring ECOWAS and its organs closer to the people we serve," he noted.

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The Speaker said that the Parliament had converged on Freetown to execute a solemn responsibility in line with the Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of the Powers of the ECOWAS Parliament, adding that Article 27 (2c) provided that Parliament should endeavour to hold its Extraordinary Sessions in the respective Member States, either on the initiative of the Bureau or at the invitation of the Member State.

Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission, thanked President Julius Maada Bio, the government and people of Sierra Leone for hosting them, saying that the presence of President Bio at the gathering demonstrated strong leadership and willingness to foster development in the ECOWAS community.

He further stated that the essence of their convergence was to put together a strategic plan for the 2021 that would see the organisation foster peace and promote economic diversification among member states.

"Our gathering here today builds on our democracies, security, economic infrastructure, Human Capital Development that could see a new ECOWAS," he noted.

For More Enquiries: State House Media and Communications Unit
Thankfully, nobody was injured as the decline of the American middle-class persists.

Read more and credit to KMBC for posting suspect description . . .


Domestic flights into and out of five counties listed by the government as Covid-19 infected zones will remain banned for both local and international tourists.

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) director general captain Gilbert Kibe, in a statement, said the directive takes effect from March 29 at 6pm.

Domestic flights outside the zoned areas will operate as normal within the stipulated curfew hours, the KCAA boss also said.

"In compliance with the presidential executive order, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority wishes to clarify that as from 6pm (29 March 2021) all domestic passenger flights into and out of the zoned areas shall cease to operate until further notice. This includes international tourists on planned itineraries with tour operators and travel agents," said Capt Kibe.

Earlier, local airlines Safarilink and AirKenya had announced that they would continue with operation of domestic flights but will only cater to international tourists.

In their statements shared on their social media handles, Safarilink and Airkenya said they had been given the green light by KCAA to resume operations.

This is a day after KCAA had issued a statement stating that the deadline for domestic flights was March 29, 2021.

Their operations, they said then, would include flights into and out of the five zoned areas which the government had listed as high-risk areas of Covid-19 infections.

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"Following the notice issued by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority KCAA we are pleased to announce that International Tourists can continue their safari flights in Kenya with Safarilink. All existing bookings for international tourists will be honoured and we welcome any new bookings through tour operators and travel agents handling international clients," read part of the statement from Safarilink.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, during his 15 address on the Covid-19 situation in the country, issued a raft of measures aimed at containing a fresh surge in Covid-19 infections.

Some of the measures included cessation of movement by road, rail and air into and out of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru counties, which record highest infections.

International flights are however to continue to operate as normal as the president ordered.

According to the Ministry of Health, the rate of Covid-19 cases and deaths are set to peak in April as the third wave of Coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep across the country.

pic.twitter.com/p8RjhTjZNw

- AirKenya Express (@AirKenyaExpress) March 28, 2021

TRAVEL UPDATE - 28 March 2021. - Safarilink Continues To Operate Domestic Flights for International Tourists. pic.twitter.com/kDpUL4LQnE

- Fly Safarilink (@Flysafarilink) March 28, 2021
There was a slight altercation between members of the Obama family after a section of Mama Sarah's kin was barred from entering the home where the burial was taking place on Tuesday morning.

The commotion started after security officers placed barricades about 70 metres from the home in a bid to control who comes in. Even the media had difficulty accessing the home after journalists were told to set up their equipment almost 100 metres away.

It was amid this tight security that a section of the Obama matriarch's family, who came from Kendu Bay in their tens, found themselves barred from accessing the home they once had unlimited access to after being asked to produce their invitations.

"We have driven all the way to mourn our grandmother. The home to which I had unlimited access is now a sacred place that not even me, the late's granddaughter, can access to mourn her in peace," protested Ms Hildah Were, Mama Sarah's grandchild.

Together with a group of about 15, the dejected family members protested outside the home while claiming there was discrimination in the manner in which the family inside was allowing guests in.

"They are locking out family members from accessing the home and allowing politicians. It is embarrassing and disgusting to say the least. Even women who are to dress Mama Sarah are still locked outside here," complained Ms Were.

The family is divided into two with others now at Kogelo in Siaya and others in Kendu Bay, Rachuonyo District, where the great grandfather was buried.

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Obama's great grandfather is said to have left Alego in Siaya and settled at Kanyadhiang in Kendu Bay where the grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama, was brought up.

Funeral organisers insisted that only 30 people were to be allowed inside the compound due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Leaders present at the burial are Rachael Omamo, Cabinet Secretary for Defense, Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga and his Kisumu counterpart Prof Anyang Nyong'o.

The CS arrived at around 9.45 am in a military chopper and the two governors arrived 10 minutes later. By the time the CS came in, she could not view the body which was still being washed and dressed.

By 9am, the grave where Mama Sarah would be laid to rest beside her husband, Hussein Onyango Obama, was ready.

By 10.20am, everybody was ready seated but the funeral ceremony was yet to commence.

However, organisers from the Muslim community maintained that when it reaches noon, they will be bury Mama Sarah according to religious dictates.
An Afghan human rights group says it is investigating the alleged killing of civilians during fighting between government forces and Taliban insurgents in the eastern province of Khost.

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) announced the launch of its probe on March 29 after a number of women, children, and other civilians were reported killed by Afghan special forces in Saberi district last week.

A video taken circulated on social media purportedly shows an old man from Saberi carrying a childs lifeless body and claiming several members of his family were killed.

An unidentified official was quoted as saying that a pregnant woman and her unborn child were killed and four children wounded in an explosion inside a house.

Officials claimed the blast was due to explosives hidden by the Taliban, while the militant group accused pro-government forces of lobbing mortars at civilian houses.

Provincial Governor Mahmand Katawazi confirmed that an operation was ongoing in Saberi but denied any civilian casualties.

All those videos and photos that are claiming to be of civilians, those are not true, Katawazi said, adding that four members of the security force were wounded and several Taliban fighters were killed in the fighting.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the government should stop such attacks if it seeks a reduction in violence. The Taliban has resisted agreeing to a cease-fire long sought by the government.

The Afghan special forces operate under Afghanistans intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security.

They have in the past been accused of repeated attacks on civilians and have been criticized by human rights activists and the United Nations for their heavy-handed tactics.

Based on reporting by AP and dpa
Page Content

Both Domino's Pizza and Movida Bar & Grill have provided the vaccination team at the Belair Community Center with a delicious lunch in the last two weeks. Additionally, the Belair Community Center has made the facility available for the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.





The Vaccination Management Team (VMT) and the vaccination team at the Belair Community Center would like to publicly express their gratitude for this kind gesture and support!





The Belair Community Center as a vaccination location has been a great addition to the vaccination campaign, as it provides the opportunity to significantly scale up the administering of vaccines. To reach herd immunity (70% of the population vaccinated), the possibility of scaling up is very important in fighting this virus.





The Belair Community Center is very well equipped, with plenty of parking space; a shaded area where persons can stand out of the





sun; its a central location across the road from the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC); and is very spacious inside the building. The VMT is therefore incredibly grateful, that this location was offered, to be utilized as a vaccination administering location.





Dominos is always there to help however we can in a time of need and crisis. We are honored to show appreciation for those helping with recovery. In this case, it is those helping with prevention by facilitating the vaccination process. Pizza seems so inconsequential compared to their daily efforts. I am happy to be there for the vaccination team with great pizzas for them to enjoy. We encourage everyone to do their part by registering for the vaccination. Its going to be our best and safest way out of this mess, said John Caputo, from the St. Maarten Dominos franchise.





Anish Chugani, of Movida Bar & Grill, said: ''With this promotion, we would like to boost the morale of the front-line workers as a kind gesture. It is not an easy job, being in a very serious and high-pressured environment, so we thought we can bring some smiles in the middle of the day.'' Movida was the first new restaurant opened Post COVID-19 in October 2020, and has a variety of dishes, and is operated by Avantika Thai Kitchen & Lounge & Astra Steak & Seafood in Simpson Bay.





Almost 11.500 persons have currently registered for the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the VMT encourages everyone who hasn't registered to do so, as it is essential to prevent another outbreak like we're currently seeing on the sister islands of Curacao and Bonaire.





Curacao reported a record number of 2234 active cases on Saturday and has gone back into lockdown due to the more





contagious UK variant, which has also been found on Sint Maarten.





Members of the community are reminded to register for the COVID-19 vaccine.





Registration can be done via the online registration form which is available in English, Spanish, and Creole, and can be found via this link: https://forms.sintmaartengov.org/form.aspx?v=OGtn05kNmb





Both Cole Bay and Dutch Quarter Community Helpdesks are currently equipped to provide information and can assist with registration on the spot. They are open from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Monday to Friday. You must bring a form of identification when you visit the helpdesk.





Lastly, the paper-based COVID Vaccine Registration Form can be picked up at several locations, including CPS at the Vineyard Office Park Building, the Division of Labor Affairs at the Simpson Bay Public Service Center in Simpson Bay, doctors offices, the Government Administration Building, and select pharmacies.





Organizations who wish to inform their staff about the Covid-19 vaccine and vaccination program via an information session can send an email to bvdmeijden@whiteyellowcross.org





If you have a friend, parent, neighbor, or relative that may need assistance with registration, transportation, or emotional support, please do your part. If you need help with the registration process, your appointment, or wish for more information about the vaccination campaign, you can also call CPS at 914 or email: vaccination@sintmaartengov.org





Sint Maarten protected together.




Kourtney Kardashian arrived at celeb haunt Nobu for her weekly sushi dinner accompanied by son Mason.

The 41-year-old Poosh founder had enjoyed a weekend getaway with beau Travis Barker in Las Vegas but was back with her kids on Monday at one of their favorite spots.

Not afraid to take risks with her fashion, the reality star proved she could pull of anything as she paired a flannel with silk trousers.

Dining in style: Kourtney Kardashian, 41, arrives at Nobu for dinner with son Mason in a pair of silk trousers and a flannel following a weekend getaway with beau Travis Barker in Las Vegas

Seaside meal: For the oceanside dinner she prepared for cooler temperatures as she draped a grey checkered flannel over her petite frame

Stepping out of her black Range Rover Kourtney looked effortlessly chic in earth tones.

She paired the silky flared pants with a white tank top, continuing to push the envelope with a black bra underneath.

For the oceanside dinner she prepared for cooler temperatures as she draped a grey checkered flannel over her petite frame.

Kourtney continued to dress up the look with a pair of crocodile pumps and brought a white Prada bag along.

Family feast: Mason went super casual in sweatpants and slides, the chic sushi spot's dress code not being an issue for him

Stepping out: The Poosh founder paired the silky flared pants with a white tank top, continuing to push the envelope with a black bra underneath

Personal escort: The reality star was seen with an escort to her valeted Range Rover

She slipped her extended raven tresses back into a low ponytail and kept herself protected while entering the restaurant in a beige face mask.

And Mason, 11, was seen strolling behind his mom in sweatpants and slides, the upscale restaurant's dress code not applying to the famous offspring.

He brought a friend along for the meal as Kourtney proved to be a doting parent.

The mega famous star always gets the VIP treatment, and was escorted to her car in valet by a smartly dressed staff member.

Protected: She slipped her extended raven tresses back into a low ponytail and kept herself protected while entering the restaurant in a beige face mask

Protection: The high profile celebrity always gets the VIP treatment at Nobu, enjoying meals there a few times a week

She was seen flashing a smile as she got back into her car with Mason in the passenger seat, calling it a night.

Her new love interest Travis was not present for the outing, but the pair enjoyed a weekend getaway in Sin City.

They had dined together at Nobu last week and grabbed brunch the morning after, before heading to watch the UFC fight.

While there Barker performed with Machine Gun Kelly who also brought along his lady love Megan Fox.

Belted details: As she walked the intricate pant's details were revealed

Extra belts: The khaki colored trousers featured a few harness style belts that wrapped her frame

Love glow: And it seems the pair have already said I love you, the Blink-182 drummer showing off a handwritten note on Instagram last week

Kourtney posted photos of his and hers lollipops from the room they shared as she continues to give a glimpse into their relationship.

And it seems the pair have already said I love you, the Blink-182 drummer showing off a handwritten note on Instagram last week.

He seemed to make their love permanent by way of tattoo as he inked 'You're so cool'  a track from his favorite movie True Romance  on his thigh, in her handwriting.

On her way: Her new love interest Travis was not present for the outing, but the pair enjoyed a weekend getaway in Sin City

Heading out: She was seen flashing a smile as she got back into her car with Mason in the passenger seat, calling it a night

Their longtime friendship turned romantic in recent months and she confirmed their relationship on Instagram with a photo of their hands interlocked just after Valentine's Day.

Though Kourtney has been tight lipped about their relationship with the exception of her posts, Barker has publicly gushed about their romance.

'I'm spending time with someone who's a great mom, who's a great friend. You don't have to worry about those things. It comes natural. It's just a maturity thing,' he said, while speaking to Drew Barrymore about dating someone who also has kids.

He added that he really likes 'missing someone' at the beginning of a relationship, though the pair seem to be spending a ton of time together, as they both reside in Hidden Hills.
For all the challenges that came with COVID-19 school closures, they may have been a boon to the market for educational technology. According to the research firm the Learning Counsel , K-12 districts in the U.S. alone spent $35.8 billion in 2020 on hardware, software, curriculum resources and networks, representing a more than 25 percent increase over 2019. While market analysts projections about the future vary widely, many expect investments in classroom technology will remain on an upward trend  even after the pandemic becomes a memory and the majority of schools go back to full-time, in-person learning.According to business consulting firm Grand View Research , the worldwide ed tech market is projected to reach $285.2 billion by 2027. The firms analysts noted that the market had been inching upward until 2019, when it reached a total of $76.4 billion, and ed tech investments are expected to continue to grow by 18 percent from 2020 to 2027.Lisa Snell, director of K-12 policy partnerships at education philanthropic nonprofit Stand Together, said the growth of the ed tech market could be partly due to a cultural shift in education that has increasingly encouraged digitization. She said it might also have to do with growing skepticism from the public about the perceived rigidity of the American education system, and she expects the demand for individualized learning options will continue to play a role in school district spending.I think were in a cultural inflection point where people have been able to have an individualized educational experience [through ed tech], and that paired with the fact that digital infrastructure has lowered the barriers to access, I think, is the key, she said.Up until very recently, culturally, weve had a very standardized, factory-model education system, and we have a lot of nostalgia and comfort with that, she continued. In other sectors, were way ahead in using technology to meet families needs. In education, were just starting to scratch the surface of that.The pandemic may have played a role in some companies joining the ranks of major ed tech players, according to Snell. She noted that Outschool, for instance, recently climbed nearly 60 spots among consumer spending rankings to become a major player in the market. Others include the Utah-based company Instructure, developer of Canvas, which is one of the most widely used learning management systems in U.S. public schools.MasterClass, Course Hero, Varsity Tutors, Skillshare  the whole sector saw these really big jumps on the list into the top 50, she said. I think its telling that actual consumer spending is supporting the trend that online education is the future.Jonathan Fry, higher education business lead at consulting firm Accenture, believes much of the recent growth of learning platform companies has to do with how K-12 schools are utilizing technology now compared to previous years. Fry noted that educators were using devices and programs such as Chromebooks, Google Classroom and Canvas before the pandemic, but as supplemental rather than central components of their teaching.Fry said much of the focus on K-12 ed tech tools before now revolved around using the devices for homework and research purposes, rather than making them essential parts of a teachers toolkit.There was already a move toward digital tools and online learning, and that had been going on for a few years preceding the pandemic, he said. Whats happened was this proliferation of using collaboration tools like Zoom or Teams and others to help facilitate teaching.If you were in a classroom before the pandemic, kids in K-12 would get a Chromebook, but it wasnt used from a learning standpoint, he said. It was pretty siloed, but [ed tech] wasnt a driver or core capability that was used [widely] up until now.The pandemic has sparked more public discussion about the role public funds should play in efforts geared toward digital equity in education. Over the past year, states and local districts have poured billions into purchasing devices and Internet connectivity for millions of students through federal relief funds awarded to school districts. President Joe Biden also recently approved a stimulus bill that expanded Federal Communications Commission funding for student broadband access by more than $7 billion.Still, Snell said, public subsidies play a smaller role in the market than some might imagine.Right now, its a tiny number of public funds that actually do this, she noted.However, the ed tech market could receive a major boost from pending legislation, such as the Affordable Broadband Act , reintroduced March 11 by House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., and Senate Broadband Caucus co-chair Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., to provide over $90 billion in funding aimed at expanding broadband infrastructure and adoption in underserved communities.Snell said shes seen citizens increasingly demand public funds for ed tech and infrastructure. Fry said this could create more incentives for private companies to branch out into underserved communities.In the United States alone, we spend [about] $800 billion on public schools, and the majority of that is still going to school districts traditional infrastructure and ways of funding students. At the margins, we see all these school districts that plan on keeping an online option separate from their traditional district full-time [options]. Theres opportunity there, Snell said. Theres going to be a growth in public policy, which is usually a lagging indicator of where people are at ... I think equity concerns are going to push that.Herb Thompson, senior strategist at software company VMware, said higher education ed tech investments were growing before the pandemic and will likely continue to increase following the public health crisis. And now that many public schools plan to expand online learning options following the pandemic, Thompson and Fry said those looking closely at the market dont expect it to plateau anytime soon.When the pandemic ends, what will remain is the demand for hybrid curriculums with the ability to combine university experience along with the dynamic flexibility to learn when and where the student wants, Thompson said in an email toThompson said the primary demand among schools is devices and platforms that enable collaboration and student support, but theres also growing interest in ed tech tools that utilize artificial intelligence , which could be used for communication and for classroom functions like exams.AI and machine learning skills-based exams will drive a change in curriculum development, and AI/ML-based test creation and test assessments will drive the curriculum change, Thompson said. The most in-demand are and will continue to be remote learning environments, hybrid classroom collaboration tools, student-centered support systems and curriculum skills-based tools.
Families of those who died from COVID-related causes will soon be able to apply to get reimbursed for funeral expenses as part of the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus plan passed earlier this month.

The federal assistance will be limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral, with a maximum of $35,500 per application for multiple funerals of other family members after Jan. 20, 2020.

At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters, said Acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton in a statement. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense grief for so many people. Although we cannot change what has happened, we affirm our commitment to help with funeral and burial expenses that many families did not anticipate.

The agency said it will be setting up a toll-free 800 number and an application process in the coming weeks, with details to be provided on the FEMA website at COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.

The program was enacted under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Under the program, an official death certificate must attribute the death to COVID-19 and show that the death occurred in the United States. The death certificate must indicate the death may have been caused by or was likely the result of COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are considered sufficient attribution.

Separately, bills now before the New Jersey Legislature would allocated another $20 million to help defray funeral expenses incurred by families of those who died because of the coronavirus. Under the state program, applicants would need to be a New Jersey resident filing for a death attributed to COVID-19.

The amount of money being allocated in federal program is significant, helping to cover expenses that were never planned, said George Kelder, CEO and executive director of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association.

This is huge, he remarked. There is the potential for a lot of family members and next of kin to be reimbursed for costs that probably hurt them at the time.

Kelder noted that the job of FEMA is to respond to natural disasters around the country and typically there are funeral costs associated with that aid. Still, he called the COVID program a pretty significant offering for the federal government.

Funeral directors can alert families to the funding program, but the applications for assistance must come from the next-of-kin.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

So far, more than 24,400 people in New Jersey have died from COVID-related cases. And the costs of those funerals, which in this state can average from $8,934 to $9,239  not including the casket or burial  left many with bills they were hard-pressed to pay.

The person applying for funeral assistance can be either a U.S. citizen, a non-citizen national or a qualified alien who incurred the funeral expenses.

The federal assistance will be limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral, with a maximum of $35,500 per application for multiple funerals of other family member.

FEMA officials recommended that families planning to seek assistance gather all funeral expense documents, such as receipts and the funeral home contract, that include the applicants name, the deceased individuals name, the amount of funeral expenses and dates the funeral expenses were incurred.

The agency said it will also require proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs, noting that FEMA assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, or other sources.

Kelder said some of his members have been alerting families who have lost relatives to COVID that FEMA reimbursement was coming. He expects with the large loss of life across the country, it may take some time to file for assistance once the agency sets up its toll-free lines.

Im sure the phone numbers will be overwhelmed, he said.

State Sen. Richard Codey, D-Essex, who owns funeral homes in Caldwell and Boonton, said the pandemic in some cases led to costs that could be higher and lower than normal times. In the early days of the outbreak, for example, there was no visitation at funeral homes. Families could not even assemble at graveside.

Yet as funeral homes were overwhelmed by the number of COVID deaths, there were other costs to prepare and store the body.

You had to embalm every body because there was no way to handle all that in the regular time period, Codey explained.

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Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL.
The American drug maker, Johnson & Johnson, will supply the African Union (AU) with 400 million doses of its single-shot Covid-19 vaccine beginning in the third quarter, the multinational corporation said on Monday, March 29.

In a procurement agreement signed earlier on March 28, a related statement indicates, all African Union member states, through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) set up in November 2020, will have access to 220 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson single-shot Covid-19 vaccine.

The joint statement by AU, African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT), African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and the Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP) notes that there is also the potential to order an additional 180 million doses.

The AMSP is a non-profit initiative launched by the AU as an immediate, integrated and practical response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The online platform was developed under the leadership of the African Union special envoy, Strive Masiyiwa.

Dr. John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC, said: "The Africa CDC recommended to the African Union that a minimum of 750 million Africans (60%) must be immunized if we are to contain the spread of Covid-19."

"This transaction enables Africa to meet almost 50% of that target. The key to this particular vaccine is that it is a single-shot vaccine which makes it easier to roll out quickly and effectively, thus saving lives."

Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, AU Champion for the Covid-19 vaccine strategy and acquisition, and Chairman of AVATT, welcomed the historic agreement, which he initiated directly with the company, during his tenure as AU Chairperson.

"This agreement is a significant milestone in protecting the health of all Africans. It is also a powerful demonstration of African unity and of what we can achieve through partnership between the state sector, the private sector and international institutions that put people first," Ramaphosa said.

AVATT is a 10-member team drawn from across the continent. It was established in August 2020 to ensure that the continent would be able to secure sufficient Covid-19 vaccine doses to achieve herd immunity.

Over a period of 18 months, it is noted, the vaccines will be made available to African countries through AMSP, a non-profit initiative launched by the AU as an immediate, integrated and practical response to the pandemic.

Most supplies will be produced at the giant pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in South Africa operated by Aspen Pharma.

The direct acquisition of vaccines by the African countries through the AVATT initiative is part of the continental objective to achieve a minimum of 60% immunization of the African population, in order to eliminate Covid-19.

Rwanda - which plans to vaccinate at least 7.8 million people representing 60 percent of the population by June next year - requires about $120 million to complete its Covid-19 vaccination plot, with short-term costs standing at $47 million, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The international donor community pledged to provide 27% through the COVAX Initiative while Africa must find the rest.

Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, said: "In the midst of a very tight Covid-19 vaccine market, we are highly honoured to have been given the opportunity by the African Union to facilitate this impactful transaction under the auspices of the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT)."

"Acting as Financial and Transaction Advisors, Guarantors, Installment Payment Facility Arrangers and Payment Agents, we look forward to beginning the deployment of the US$2 billion Vaccine Procurement facility approved by the Bank's Board of Directors towards assisting the continent to begin to rid itself of the pandemic and rebuild its economy."

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Rwanda Coronavirus Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

Oramah said the financing will support Intra-African Trade and "we have already commenced engagement with our financial partners" to secure the additional funding that would support procurement if Africa decides to procure the additional 180 million doses.

Prior to the conclusion of the agreement, AU countries were asked to make pre-orders for the vaccines "and many countries showed strong preference for this particular vaccine."

It is noted that countries will be able to purchase the vaccines either using cash, or a facility from Afreximbank.

Most countries have already completed their pre-orders, reads the statement.

jkaruhanga@newtimesrwanda.com

Follow https://twitter.com/KarhangaJames
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe in Athens, Greece, March 29, 2021. (Photo by Li Xiaowei/Xinhua)

ATHENS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou met here on Monday with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe.

Noting that Greece and China are both ancient civilizations, Sakellaropoulou said the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries continues to develop. She thanked China for its strong support in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greece attaches importance to China's position in international affairs, and appreciates China's achievements in economic and social development and its great progress in human rights, said the Greek president.

Greece is willing to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, Sakellaropoulou said.

It is hoped that the European Union and China will maintain close communication and jointly promote sustainable development of the world, she said.

During the meeting, Wei introduced China's recently-concluded "two sessions," its fight against COVID-19, achievements in economic and social development, and the actual situation in Xinjiang.

He said that China and Greece enjoy a long friendship and have achieved remarkable results in jointly building the Belt and Road.

China will work with the CEE countries to promote more stable, substantial and far-reaching cooperation in various fields, said the Chinese minister.

The Chinese army is willing to strengthen strategic communication with the Greek army, carry out extensive personnel training, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and advance bilateral military ties to a higher level, said Wei.

He emphasized that China always upholds the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, unswervingly pursues a defensive national defense policy, and strives to work with other countries to build an international security architecture featuring fairness, justice, joint contribution and shared benefits.

Wei also held talks with the Greek Minister for National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos on Monday, exchanging in-depth views on relations between the two countries and the two armies, and on international and regional situations.
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A public memorial service was held for the Colorado police officer killed during the Boulder mass shooting.

Officer Eric Talley, 51, was the first law enforcement officer to arrive at the scene in the university town, where he and nine others were killed on 22 March.

A procession and motorcade took place before the Tuesday memorial service at Flatirons Community Church for the fallen Boulder police officer and father of seven.

Crowds lined the route in cold temperatures waving American flags and saluting.

There are not enough people supporting our our officers, Angela Stephens, who flew from Kansas City to attend, told KMGH.

Read more:

We all need them. We need the police. I wouldnt miss this for anything.

The memorial service came the day after a funeral mass for Officer Talley was held in Denver, Colorado.

Officer Talley was the first Boulder police officer to be killed in the line of duty since 1994 and the sixth on-duty death in the departments history, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder.

He is accused of using a semiautomatic rifle and pistol when he walked into the King Soopers grocery store and opened fire.

In addition to Officer Talley, authorities identified 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.
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CALIFORNIA  Several North State counties are moving into less restrictive tiers, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Specifically in the North State, Butte, Modoc and Colusa counties will move into the orange tier. Glenn and Yuba counties will be moving from the most restrictive purple tier and into the red tier.

The tier changes take effect at midnight on Wednesday, March 31.

Moving into the orange tier will allow more businesses to reopen and some that are already open to increase capacity.

Overall, Fresno, Glenn, Kings, Madera and Yuba counties went from the most restrictive tier to the less restrivtive red tier. Eight counties across the state also joined the orange tier: Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Los Angeles, Modoc, Orange, Santa Cruz and Tuolumne.

This is a developing story.
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opinion

My 11-year-old son, Habakkuk, was at it yet again--talking beyond his age. "Dad, this road is so fresh and beautiful. Is it [President] George Weah who built it?" he quipped, eyes apparently still marveling at the deep black tarmac road running fast beneath us as we drove on. Like many kids and most Liberians, he called him, simply, George Weah.

I was concentrating on something else as we drove on the newly built Johnsonville pavement. He did not get an answer. But Habakkuk knew the condition of the route on which we were riding. We had plied the route hundreds of time. At that time, the road was then worse than any Southeastern road or any distant rural road in the raining season. Johnsonville road was a complete and clear catastrophe. It was total disgrace to modern man.

When I could not respond to him immediately, Habakkuk, as his nature is, pestered me more: "I was asking whether it is [President] George Weah who built this road."

At this point, the answer came smoothly and calmly--perhaps proudly. "Yes, it's President Weah who built it," I said with a smile as our eyes caught up briefly. And he returned a smile.

"Why did you ask?" I asked.

"He must be crazy for development, dad," Habakkuk said firmly.

Chills ran through my spine hearing this very young, innocent mind say that. But acting like I did not hear him again, I almost yelled, "What? Say that again!"

Perhaps feeling that I had a problem, like I was uncomfortable with his use of the word 'crazy', he almost recoiled. "Sorry for the use of the word crazy, but I meant to say George Weah likes to make things look fine too much."

He continued: "I am saying so because I also saw a video on mom's phone the other day with new street lights in the night and a lot of people were dancing, saying it was [President] George Weah who provided it. The areas I saw in the video were looking very fine in the night. And someone said the President will soon bring street lights to Johnsonville, too."

To assure the lad that he was not rude in the use of "crazy" in talking about President Weah's passion for development", I hastened to tell him this: "You are not wrong at all, my son, in using the word 'crazy'. In fact, I am thinking about the craziest word to use because the President we have now in this country is more than crazy for development. In fact, he is mad for development. As you, the kids, would say, he is 'arbue' or 'greedy' for development."

How can a Liberian President, who has not gone four years in office be so anxious, so intentional, so speedy, so sleepless, and so restless about making this long backward country fine like other countries and making people so happy, so peaceful and so relaxing.

Give him the US$15billion that came into the country shortly after the civil conflict. Make him President of the 'Growth Without Development' epoch when Liberia's per capital income toppled the wild world. Can anyone imagine what would happen to this country if we had a 'development crazy" president, a leader who says what he does and does what he says; a president who feels instantly itchy and attracted to cries and woes of indigent people and communities? Can anyone imagine how Liberia--from Cape to Cape Palmas, from Montsererado to Lofa would like in three years, not to mention six years?

Watching President Weah closely interact with rural Liberians, from Bong to Grand Kru through Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Maryland, then from Bomi to Gbarpolu and Grand Mount unequivocally confirms that Liberia has had no such president like President Weah who's so exceedingly passionate, enflamed and crazy, to borrow from Habakkuk, for tangible, speedy transformation of Liberia.

And the problem with President Weah's itchiness about development is that he's not just obsessive with building roads all over the place, as one would see in Johnsonville, Duahn Town and Tusa Field and Pipe Line. Or when one talks about paved roads in Neklay Town in Paynesville or Fair Ground in Buchanan and all over the place. The President is at the same time building market buildings here and there, almost every community now feeling the impact of modern, state-of-the-art market halls. Everywhere one turns, the noises of hammers, zincs and cement mixers are heard. He cruised through the countryside, President Weah leaves impression of the long neglected people cascading not just pledges but iron commitments to building market halls for the rural people.

Sleepless is actually is about how the impoverished majority of Liberians are feeling the pains and discomfort of living in dilapidated homes, homes that resemble those of Stone Age people--leaking roofs, mud and bamboo walls, ceiling-less houses--the President moves with deliberate speed to build concrete houses replete with bathrooms, kitchens and living-rooms for poor Liberians who had not known decent homes all their life before. Not only is he moving with deliberate speed, he is also spreading the benefit of good, modern homes to every nook and corner of Liberia. Slum communities and people are seeing finished, painted and colorful houses cropping up before their eyes, and in their lifetime.

And lest one forgets, as roads are being built connecting communities and cities, with ambitious plans for many including inter-country superhighways, WAEC/WASSCE fees are also being paid yearly for all Liberian students facing those public exams, including private school students. Special tutorial classes are being fully funded for the beneficiary students. At the same time, millions of dollars have been spent to make public universities and colleges free, not to mention the first ever electronic registration portal for students at the University of Liberia. Amid cheers and celebrations in nine rural provinces already visited, the President acquiesced building vocation and technical schools in communities distant from those facilities.

At the same time, while street lights are being lighted with utmost speed, costing millions, and electricity grid is being catapulted or de-stagnated to full acceleration, reaching more homes and communities in Monrovia and its environs, there also is the President going crazy again planting solar lights in almost every community so far visited.

And he is moving with utmost speed re-budding and expanding the long-forgotten agriculture sector. Concretizing this, a big agriculture fair is taking place soon this year besides the one held recently in Gbarnga, Bong County. Also, the President has just issued orders to heads of line ministries and agencies to begin communal mechanized farms this year in nearly all counties. Combing communities in the hinterland, the President excites rural Liberians to ascribe for or assess up to US$16 million set aside for farmers towards food security in the country.

As if that was not enough burden of development craziness on hand in a short period of time, the President is going worry and restless about the Coastal High Way that is to pierce the mangrove swamps, savanna grass, sandy beaches and thick forests of the Bassas and the Krus. Along with the Coastal Highway, the President is simultaneously weight-lifting the North and Southeastern corridor with tarmac superhighway running thence through the high woods of the Manos, Gios, Krahns and Grebos. Already, the Kissis and Lormas and Kpelles are celebrating the development craziness that is also taking paved road in their tick forests from Gbarnga to Lofa County.

Indeed, the President hardly goes to bed comfortably, as he's preoccupied with pressing donors and other stakeholders to hasten with ongoing bidding processes for the Southeastern corridor roads to start this year.

With all these also comes restless anxiousness to better the health sector. While John F. Kenneh Hospital has got ample facelift in terms of rehabilitation works, pushing dozens of doctors for specialized training amongst many other things, including the recent installation of the country's first dialysis, Liberia's first ever state-of-the-art hospital for the armed forces and paramilitary is already complete. Another huge hospital complex, the new Redemption Hospital, is nearly complete, while groundbreaking has already taken place for a similar modern facility on the Western flank of Liberia, specifically Gbapolu. Meanwhile, there is also restlessness to contain COVID-19, as the country is widely internationally praised for its incredible handling of the pandemic.

The list of development initiatives, both completed and ongoing within three years and earmarked to be completed in six years, and a litany of projects broken ground for during the first two nationwide tours, is long for a single commentary. It calls for a 300-page yearbook.

But the point being made here is that Liberians and friends of Liberia did not see this level of intentional craziness for development in the past. Yes, there were attempts, or say efforts in the past, by one administration or the other to undertake some aspects of development or another and at one time or the other. Absolutely, there is no reason to discredit any one or the other on this. But the undisputed true is, what is currently ongoing in this country, and under the watch of the 24th President of this Republic, in terms of development and transformation strides in just three years, is purely, utterly stunning and crazy. Bundling up all and every development need at once, and doing so in a measured, deliberate, hasty and skillful way, and for all counties and communities, is stunningly rare and unprecedented in history.

What makes this President's courage for rapid development more inconceivable and crazy is this--toting the responsibility of building more paved roads, more decent housing units for the poor, many huge hospitals, countless decent market halls, driving away long time darkness away with lightening of streets, expanding electricity, providing free college education and free public examinations, etc.-is not only because everything is being done at the same time and with unusual speed. It is also because this is happening when the country's breadbasket or revenue regime has hit its worst famine.

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The economists will admit, and say all this is happening when the value and taste for Liberia's traditional sources of revenue such as iron ore, rubber, timber, etc. on the international market have grossly diminished. They will say, for instance, that what has got things a bit buoyant during the decade and half that followed the end of civil war--the period between 2003 and 2017--was the huge presence of foreign forces on the ground, the massive international goodwill and the excuse of 'we are just from war'.

But with all the advantages and opportunities of yesteryears nearly dried up--former Vice President Joseph NyumahBoakai would say "squandered"--it is expected and natural that the Liberian economy would emaciate and get malnourished. And it would also be expected that the Government which bumped into the raging drought would decide to pick and choose, and even downplay some development needs and just simply shrug full commitment towards speedy national transformative developments.

Because, after all, even those who presided over epochs of Liberia's Gold Ages--like when the country's per capita income toppled all nations on Planet Earth except for Japan and also between 2006 and 2017--made excuses. Some had said, "We cannot do what past leaders from Joseph Jekins Roberts' time could not do".

In other words, while clawing away the fortune of those good old days, political administrations before this period made excuses. They simply, truly squandered opportunities. And with a debilitating drought of things everywhere in the country and out, President George Weah and his administration could have made excuses, too. But they are not.

Let it be made clearer: The President and his people are not saints. They are not blameless. Can they do even better? Yes? But something is however indisputable: For this Government, and mainly for this President, and under the prevailing famine-shrouded social, economic and political circumstances, bundling up and toting on his chest all the critical development needs of this 173-year-old nation in just a short time, and with few available resources, and meeting those needs concretely and speedily without complaining and without making excuses is totally insanely, crazily humane, patriotic and presidentially called for.

One can understand why kids like Habakkuk would say rather divinely that the President is crazy for development.The big question is, if all this is happening in just two or three years, can one guess what can possibly happen in six or 12 years? By Sherman C. Seequeh
Prep Golf: Riley Zebroski earns all-conference honors, Arrows take 7th in ESD tourney

MITCHELL  Sophomore Riley Zebroski earned all-conference honors by tying for 5th place on Wednesday in the Eastern South Dakota Conference girls golf tournament at the Lakeview Golf Course.
Investigations editor

Larry Parnass, investigations editor, joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant and CommonWealth Magazine.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 73F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 73F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
French mobility firm has been awarded a 220-million euro (Rs 1,854 crore) contract by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to design, manufacture, supply, test, and commission 234 metro cars, including training of personnel for Mumbai Metro Line 4 and the extension corridor (Wadala-Kasarvadavali-Gaimukh).

These new products have been added to Alstoms portfolio as part of the acquisition of Bombardier Transportation on January 29. The combined portfolio of products  signalling, engineering, and services allows a significantly increased offering for customers across India and the Asia-Pacific Region, the company said.

These are exciting times, and this first order, following our merger with Bombardier Transportation demonstrates our continued commitment towards partnering in the Make in India mission. We are glad to have been awarded this project by MMRDA and look forward to commencing work on this. is proud to play a part in strengthening the countrys infrastructure and providing world-class mobility solutions to the commercial capital of India, said Ling Fang, region president, Asia-Pacific.

The line is a 35.3-km-long elevated corridor with 32 stations. It will provide connectivity among the existing Eastern Express Roadway, Mono Rail, the ongoing Metro Line 2B (D N Nagar Mandale), and the proposed Metro Line 5 (Thane-Kalyan), and Metro Line 6 (Swami Samarth Nagar Vikhroli). Metro Line 4 & 4A is expected to cut the current travel time by 50-75 per cent, depending on road conditions.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

On Sunday Night, CNN ran a special, Covid War: The Pandemic Doctors Speak Out  (Covid War) which gave rise to the narrative embodied in the following headlines (which cross the political spectrum, from the Independent to the Daily Mail):

All these stories are basically wrappers for a Fauci quote from Covid War, which Ill get to, and if you look carefully, the headlines are pretty vague. What does pioneered mean, and is OWS the project? What decision did Fauci make? What does started the ball rolling mean?

So how much credit should we give Fauci? How much credit should we give to Operation Warp Speed? And what is the over-arching narrative that the Biden administration, through Fauci, and with the help of CNN, is trying to construct?

First, lets get the question Faucis role in Operation Warp Speed (OWS) out of the way. He had none. Here is the OWS org chart:

Fauci appears nowhere on it, nor does his institutional base, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, of which he is Director. Of course, that doesnt mean that Fauci did not interface or liaison with OWS. But he played no role within it. If you will look at the bottom middle of the chart, you will see the vaccine developers involved: Johnson and Johnson (Jannsen), Merck, Moderna, Novavax, Sanofi, AstraZenaca, and Pfizer (the agreement with Pfizer was for purchase only).

Now lets see what Fauci actually said on CNN. There are no clips up on the Internet yet, but here is a CNN transcript. The interview is Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 40 percent increase in New York hospitals in just 24 hours. FAUCI: Thats a big number. When I saw what happened in New York City. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Refrigerated trucks are now being mobilized as makeshift works. FAUCI: Almost over running of our health care system. It was like, oh, my goodness. And thats when it became very clear that the decision, we made on January the 10th, to go all out and develop a vaccine . We have a number of vaccine candidates may have been the best decision that Ive ever made with regard to an intervention as the Director of the Institute. GUPTA (voice-over): The life saving and record-breaking vaccines that Dr. Fauci oversaw, were a giant success for the doctors, for science and for the world. But remember, a vaccine does nothing for the patient on the table. In this case, the hundreds of thousands who perished before science could save them.

Gupta clearly assigns credit for all the vaccines to Fauci, who oversaw them, and if Fauci disagreed, the transcript doesnt show it. How Fauci oversaw OWS vaccine development without being on OWSs org chart is a question that Im not sure science can answer; perhaps Faucis oversight was supernatural.

Turning to what Fauci said, we have the curious date of January 10. (At this point, we remember  oh my goodness  that Fauci was saying people didnt need to mask up as late as February 15). What happened on January 10?

Heres the decision that happened on January 10. From Science Magazine. The institutional players are Faucis NAIAD, and the The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI), essentially a globalist vaccine accelerator NGO[1].

Each of the three efforts that CEPI supports began within hours after Chinese researchers first posted a sequence of 2019-CoV in a public database. That happened on Friday evening, 10 January, in Bethesda, Maryland, home of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Barney Graham, deputy director of NIAIDs Vaccine Research Center, began to analyze the sequence with his team on Saturday morning. The following Monday, Graham discussed his findings with researchers at Moderna, a vaccinemaker. On Tuesday, they signed a deal to collaborate.

(The other two CEPI efforts were Innovio and the University of Queensland. Innovios vaccine is expected in the second quarter of this year. The Queensland trial was cancelled.) So, of the six OWS vaccines (excluding Pfizer) we see that Faucis NIAID oversaw only one, Moderna, despite Guptas grotesque distortion and Faucis unblushing acceptance of it.[2]

Fauci described the Moderna/NIAID effort this way in Scientific American on January 22, 2020:

How long will it be before we have a vaccine for this virus? Weve already started to develop a vaccine. We got the [genetic] sequence from the Chinese. Were partnering with a company called Moderna to develop a messenger RNAbased [mRNA] platform for a vaccine. We will likely have a candidate in early phase I trials for safety in about three months. That doesnt mean we will have a vaccine ready for use in three months; even in an emergency, that would take a year or more. But were already on it.

Here Fauci, correctly, says a vaccine (singular), Moderna, versus Guptas life saving and record-breaking vaccines (plural), which Fauci allows to stand uncorrected.

So, I give Fauci full marks for his January decision to fire up an mRNA development effort with CEPI, NAIAD, and Moderna. If Fauci wishes to think of himself as a pioneer, have at it, say I. That in no sense means that he oversaw all vaccine development. It also does not mean that Faucis program architecture was best for the American people. Faucis program architecture had a single-threaded development process with an NGO accelerator funded in the millions. OWSs program architecture had parallel development process funded in the billions.

Fauci understand the problem: Risk. From an interview Fauci did on Face the Nation:

MARGARET BRENNAN: How do you speed up that timeline and how do you fix the problem you said you have, which is finding a manufacturer? DR. FAUCI: Right. Well, first of all, MARGARET, that one year timeline would be the worlds indoor record of ever getting a vaccine out, at least to be able to early deploy. You cant do any better than that. If you go any faster, youll be cutting dangerous corners. MARGARET BRENNAN: And no manufacturer, yet? DR. FAUCI: Oh yeah manufacturers. Once you get a vaccine that, you know works, the difficulty is having companies take that risk of hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars to scale up to make it available . MARGARET BRENNAN: All right. So youre still looking for a partner on that? DR. FAUCI: I think were gonna get them

Meaning he doesnt have them

MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. DR. FAUCI: because Im seeing interest on the part of pharmaceutical companies that we did not see with SARS and other outbreaks.

Here is how OWS handled risk. From NC, Trumps Operation Warp Speed Covid-19 Vaccine Development Program: Dominated by Military Personnel, Accused of Corruption:

I have been remiss in not covering Operation Warp Speed (OWS), the public/private partnership the Trump administration set up to develop a vaccine for Covid-19. Bloomberg described the origin and purpose of OWS back in April, in Trumps Operation Warp Speed Aims to Rush Coronavirus Vaccine: The Trump administration is organizing a Manhattan Project-style effort to drastically cut the time needed to develop a coronavirus vaccine, with a goal of making enough doses for most Americans by years end. Called Operation Warp Speed, the program will pull together private pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and the military to try to cut the development time for a vaccine by as much as eight months, according to two people familiar with the matter. Vaccine development is typically slow and high risk. The projects goal is to cut out the slow part, the people said. Operation Warp Speed will use government resources to quickly test the worlds most promising experimental vaccines in animals, then launch coordinated human clinical trials to winnow down the candidates. The best prospective vaccines would go into wider trials at the same time mass production ramps up . The project will cost billions of dollars, one of the people said. And it will almost certainly result in significant waste by making inoculations at scale before knowing if theyll be safe and effective  meaning that vaccines that fail will be useless. But it could mean having doses of vaccine available for the American public by the end of this year, instead of by next summer. The parallel development and manufacture of vaccines seems, well, innovative to me, and in a good way. Since the alternative to a vaccine is ruin, the project really shouldnt be descibed as wasteful.

In short, the OWS program architecture minimized risk by guaranteeing the pharmaceutical companies a market, and by developing multiple vaccines in parallel; one was likely to pan out even if all the others failed; in the end, we got at least three. By contrast, Faucis program architecture, at the very best, would have given us a single vaccine (and Moderna a monopoly), and at the worst, nothing at all. I dont want to sound like a squeeing MBA-clutching fan boy, but it feels to me like a business or engineerin imagination  I dont know who, and Im not saying Trump  came up with OWS, and Faucis imagination was not adequate for the task.

A final word on the propaganda effort in which the Biden Administration, Fauci, and the press are colluding. First, the American public has already been primed for crediting Fauci with the life saving and record-breaking vaccines, as Gupta baselessly puts it. I tried to track down the origin of Fauci ouchie, referring to the jab, and gave up with some Etsy links in June 2020. Hes somehow managed to get all the vaccines named after him, so posts like this, sadly, are swimming against the tide. Second, a cult of personality is accreting around Americas Doctor,, much one did around Hero Of The Resistance Robert Mueller; people named their dogs after him. For example:

Am I sewing Dr. Fauci tea towels for someone? Yes, yes I am.  pic.twitter.com/4j8YKBZbFg  Jen (@Sprigglebear) March 28, 2021

Finallly, Teh Science. From the White House, this charming video:

We know you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines but not always time to do your own research, so we asked Dr. Fauci to try to answer some of them in 15 seconds or less. Wondering how they were developed so quickly? See if he can beat the clock (and get your answer, too)  pic.twitter.com/SjprxxuFFT  White House COVID-19 Response Team (@WHCOVIDResponse) March 28, 2021

Readers know I love science. But I dont confuse science with the science, and I certainly dont confuse either with scientists, and especially not scientists embedded in a political faction. In the video above, Fauci carefully erases a program architecture that was superior to his own and of great benefit to the American people, by giving all the credit to science. Its as if he gave all the credit for the success of the Manhattan Project to Oppenheimer, Teller, et al., and none to General Leslie Groves (or FDR, for that matter). He does so having allowed a television personality to make baseless claims about his responsibility for all vaccine development, although his efforts, albeit showing great initiative, hastened the development of one vaccine among many.

NOTES

[1] From CEPIs About page:

CEPI is an innovative global partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organisations launched in Davos in 2017 to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics. Our mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases and enable equitable access to these vaccines for people during outbreaks.

[2] Fauci knows very that that OWS played a crucial role in developing and delivering Modenas vaccine. Here is a photo from the Defense Department:

The caption:

From left: Drs. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institutes of Healths National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Matt Hepburn of the Defense Department; and Francis Collins, NIH director, stand for a photo at NIH in Bethesda, Md., July 27, 2020, while launching the first efficacy trial of an investigational vaccine for COVID-19 under Operation Warp Speed.

The first efficacy trial of an investigational vaccine was, as it happened, Moderna. From the NIH press release describing the July 27 event:

NIAID scientists developed the stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike immunogen (S-2P). SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19; the spike protein on its surface facilitates entry into a cell. Modernas mRNA-1273 uses the mRNA (messenger RNA) delivery platform to encode for an S-2P immunogen. The investigational vaccine directs the bodys cells to express the spike protein to elicit a broad immune response. A Phase 1 clinical trial found the candidate vaccine to be safe, generally well-tolerated and able to induce antibodies with high levels of virus-neutralizing activity. Moderna initiated Phase 2 testing of the vaccine in May 2020.

Credit where credit is due. And:

Moderna is leading the trial as the regulatory sponsor and is providing the investigational vaccine for the trial. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and NIAID are providing funding support for the trial. The vaccine efficacy trial is the first to be implemented under Operation Warp Speed, a multi-agency collaboration led by HHS that aims to accelerate the development, manufacturing and distribution of medical countermeasures for COVID-19.

And credit where credit is due. Would it really have been so hard for Fauci to interrupt Gupta and at least utter some generalities about team effort?

Environmentalists are demanding stiffer penalty for pangolin hunters.

Mathews Malata is pushing for laws that can protect pangolins from the risk of extinction.

Locally known as Ngaka, pangolins play an important role in the ecosystem, as they prey on pests which affect human health.

But the rising pangolins trade in Asia, is quickly threatening to push into extinction this wild animal, as the poachers have now invaded Africa and Malawi.

The country's wildlife department reveals that in 2020 about 90 people were arrested for illegal possession of pangolins whose destination was Asian countries.

Malata, who is the president of Association of Environmental Journalists has since called for concerted efforts especially on awareness.
The Falconeer is Now On Xbox Game Pass with New 'The Hunter' DLC That Adds Dragons
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Since the January 6 riot, increasingly strident voices from the political left have stigmatized Evangelicals as a threat to America. A recent article published in Foreign Affairs by Drs. Muhammed Fraser-Rahim and Melissa Graves, is yet the latest of these rising anti-Evangelical denunciations. This article was written by two tenured professors at my Alma Mater, The Citadel, and from the Department of Intelligence and Security Studies. As the conclusions are completely at odds with the cited evidence, this article demands response and refutation. The title provides insight into the bias involved: The US Needs Deradicalization  for Christian Extremists, and the conclusions fall apart under scrutiny.

Drs. Fraser-Rahim and Graves begin by framing the January 6 riot at the Capitol as primarily a case of white, Evangelical Christian violent extremism. To begin their argument, they recite a selectively edited and anecdotal statement by one of those who entered the Capitol, Joshua Black. Mr. Black distinguishes himself from others at the riot in stating I wanted to get inside to plead the blood of Jesus over it (Senate Chamber). The Professors failed to include Mr. Blacks statement about what he believed to be the motivations of the riot: Black claimed that the riot started when protesters learned VP Pence was moving forward with counting the electoral college votes. Political and not religious motivation. Mr. Black did explain he protected a Capitol Hill Police Officer based on his Christian beliefs, but this was left out of the article. Fraser-Rahim and Graves then asserted: That Black would storm the Capitol in the believe that he was carrying out Gods will should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed the troubling relationship between white Evangelical Christians and conspiracy theories over the past four years. However, the article Fraser-Rahim and Graves cite to make this outrageous claim did not back such a generalization of white Evangelicals. It solely noted: the likelihood of supporting conspiracy theories is strongly predicted by a willingness to believe in other unseen, intentional forces and an attraction to Manichean narratives.

The next line of anti-Evangelical attack by Fraser-Rahim and Graves came with their assertion of the support of white Evangelicals for Trump. They dont explain how support for a Presidential candidate is connected to radicalization but assume the reader would get it. To further their radicalization charge, Fraser-Rahim and Graves cited that 50% of Protestants who attend church once or more per week believed Trump was divinely anointed by God. However, the cited material showed the same percentages regardless of President and conclude: it is important to see that this is not just an evangelical Republican problem. The religious significance of the presidency is swelling across the board for the religious, indicating further polarization along religious and partisan lines is continuing."

Beyond the selective, misleading, and flat-out false assertions and conclusions of cited material, Fraser-Rahim and Graves base personal conclusions on faulty reasoning. For example, they write: Though QAnon conspiracy theories are not unique to Christianity, evangelical Christians have nevertheless embraced the bogus claims with unusual enthusiasm. In the days surrounding the Capitol siege, prominent QAnon personalities posted scores of Bible verses in support of their cause. The professors conclude that Evangelicals have embraced the bogus claims with unusual enthusiasm because QAnon personalities posted scores of Bible verses. A reasoned conclusion might be that the few QAnon personalities were Christian, but is illogical to affirmatively conclude from this evidence that all white Evangelicals embraced with unusual enthusiasm QAnon bogus claims. I would hope these professors would not accept such illogical and unproven conclusory assertions from their students.

The most despicable aspect of the article came with the accusation of racism, bigotry, and hate on the part of white Evangelicals. Fraser-Rahim and Graves point out that QAnon posts grew on social media by substantial numbers from March until June 2020. They then assert without further evidence: a significant number of Evangelical Christians have, through social media, descended into QAnons conspiratorial depths. Without further explanation, the authors posit that this dynamic is unique to white Evangelical Christians. Then Frazer-Rahim and Graves engage in charges of white Evangelical hate by writing: QAnon myths are infused with anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic rhetoric. They go so far down the pit of slime as to assert: Christians have denigrated Jews since Medieval times. This completely disregarded the distinctions between the Roman Catholic Church and post-Medieval Protestantism, and between 19th century Protestantism and modern Evangelicalism. Nor did Fraser-Rahim and Graves recognize the modern Evangelical support of Israel and the Jewish people (in contrast to the modern secular lefts criticisms of Zionism and Israel). Having allegedly proven the case of the danger and hate of white Evangelicals, the article goes on to explain why white Evangelicals must be deradicalized similar to the terrorists we faced during and after 9-11.

In countering the rising defamatory attacks against Evangelicals, regardless of color, we must scrutinize the evidence used to make the attacks. As seen with this article, the conclusions will fall apart under scrutiny, as Evangelicalism is not a danger nor extremist. Evangelical Christianity has been a positive force throughout American history, and will continue to be so for the years to come. That must be recognized and defended.
New Delhi :

Northeast Nigerian state of Borno which is also the operational heaven of Islamist militant Boko Haram was hit by suicide bombers that killed at least 12 people and left 43 injured.

As per media reports this is a pattern of attacks that had claimed at least 200 lives since June. The alleged bombers went inside a small settlement in Konduga Local Government.

The area is around 35 kilometers southeast of the state capital, Maiduguri. The alleged suicide bombers mingled with a gathering of farmers and then detonated the bomb at around 11:45 AM.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the use of suicide bombers screams the style of Boko Haram.

Tripple suicide attack in Nigeria's Borno, claims 15 lives and leaves 43 injured Tripple suicide attack in Nigeria's Borno, claims 15 lives and leaves 43 injured

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Anti-coronavirus vaccination with Russias Sputnik V has begun in Lebanon on March 30.

The first batch of the Russian vaccine was flown to Lebanon on March 26.

Registration of companies and organizations willing to vaccinate their staff began on Thursday. According to Sarraf, the vaccination will be carried out under the Lebanese Health Ministrys control, in clinics and medical centers.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health approved the emergency use of the Russian vaccine on February 5. On February 26, it was announced that 20 private firms had been granted the right to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies manufacturing anti-coronavirus drugs. According to the ministry, 13 of them plan to sign contracts for the supply of the Russian-made Sputnik V, and seven more expect to purchase vaccines from Chinese corporation Sinopharm.
Labor wants to revive Australia's car industry with $15billion subsidies to fund new electric models.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on Tuesday announced a new plan to build cars locally for the first time since October 2017, when Holden made its last Commodore in Australia.

While Australia was long known as the land of V8s and six-cylinder large cars, Labor's National Platform calls for a revival in Australian car manufacturing with environmentally-friendly models.

Labor's virtual national conference, starting on Tuesday, is set to unveil a series of policies, including to plan to 'create a space for a revitalized vehicle industry in this country'.

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Labor wants to revive Australia's car industry with $15billion subsidies to fund new electric models. Pictured is a Tesla Cybertruck, Elon Musk's concept of an all-electric ute

Poll Does Australia deserve to have its own car industry again? Yes No Does Australia deserve to have its own car industry again? Yes 241 votes

No 95 votes Now share your opinion





Mr Albanese announced that should Labor win the next election, a government led by him would establish a $15billion National Reconstruction Fund.

'Australia must be a country that makes things, to have our own industrial and manufacturing capabilities,' he said.

'If there is anything that Covid has taught us, it is the need for Australia to be a place which makes things-to have our own industrial and manufacturing capabilities  our own sovereign capabilities.'

Under his plan, Australia would be manufacturing fully-electric vehicles, emulating the likes of Tesla.

'In addition, Labor will work to develop a domestic decarbonized vehicle industry strategy across the country comprising electric vehicles utilising the latest in digital technology,' Labor's platform said.

Australian motorists are yet to embrace green cars with fully electric vehicles having a minuscule 0.3 per cent market share, comprising just 262 of the 83,977 cars and trucks sold in February, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries data showed.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on Tuesday announced a new plan to build cars locally for the first time since October 2017, when Holden made its last Commodore in Australia

Australian car tariffs Australia's bipartisan dismantling of car import tariffs began in 1988 when Bob Hawke's Labor government slashed them from 57.5 per cent to 45 per cent Car tariffs were reduced to 35 per cent in 1992 and to 30 per cent in 1994, under Paul Keating, but four-wheel drives, then classified as primary producer vehicles, had tariffs slashed to 15 per cent Liberal PM John Howard's government reduced car tariffs to 25 per cent in 1996, 20 per cent in 1998, 15 per cent in 2000 and 10 per cent in 2005 Labor under Kevin Rudd continued his predecessor's plan to cut tariffs to five per cent in 2010 By October 2017, the last Australian-made car rolled off the production line when Holden manufactured its final Commodore in Adelaide Advertisement

Petrol-electric hybrid cars had a 6 per cent market share, with 5,016 sold last month in Australia.

When Labor was last in power, former prime minister Kevin Rudd's government in 2009 established a $1.3billion Green Car Innovation Fund.

This saw Toyota receive $35million from Australian taxpayers to manufacture in Melbourne 10,000 hybrid versions of the Camry.

A decade ago, the Australian-made Camry hybrid was mainly sold to government fleets.

But in 2020, private buyers really embraced the Japanese-built RAV4, with the SUV in August making history as the first-ever hybrid to be Australia's No.1 selling car.

The gradual dismantling of imported car tariffs from 1988 led to Australian cars eventually losing favour with motorists.

During the early 1990s, the Ford Falcon and the Holden Commodore continued to engage in a fierce sales chart battle.

The Commodore, however, prevailed and was Australia's top-selling car every year from 1996 to 2010.

But since then, no Australian car has led the sales charts.

Ford stopped making cars in Australia in 2016 with Toyota and Holden pulling out in 2017, despite generous taxpayer subsidies.

Australia had no fully manufactured car for the first time since 1948, when the first Holden 48-215 rolled off the production line at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese (pictured with girlfriend Jodie Haynon) announced that should Labor win the next election, a government led by him would establish a $15billion National Reconstruction Fund

Both sides of politics in Australia have, over the decades, supported generous taxpayer subsidies to car manufacturers.

But cracks began to emerge in this bipartisan consensus when National Party leader Warren Truss in 2009, in Opposition, said car manufacturers were too reliant on Australian taxpayers to keep making cars locally.

'The car industry certainly has a pampered and subsidised history in this country, and we pay a very high price for this industry operating in our nation,' he told Parliament.

Ford in May 2013, when Labor was still in power, announced it would stop manufacturing cars in Australia.

Under his plan, Australia would be manufacturing fully-electric vehicles, emulating the likes of Tesla. Pictured is a Model X being recharged in Brisbane

Holden followed suit in December 2013, three months after Liberal leader Tony Abbott won the election.

Toyota in February 2014 announced it too would cease making cars locally, as the loss of Ford and Holden killed the local car components sector.

The Labor platform blamed the Liberal and National parties for the death of Australian car manufacturing, even though Mitsubishi in 2008 and Nissan in 1992 ceased making cars locally when Labor was in power.

'Labor notes the massive failure of policy by the LNP and the consequent abandonment of workers and their communities which arose from the closure of Australia's car assembly plants,' it said.
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UNITED Kingdom Minister for Africa, James Duddridge yesterday condemned the continued harassment of opposition activists in Zimbabwe.

In a tweet, Duddridge called on the Harare government to reform and treat all people equally before the law.

His statement follows a similar one recently issued by the European Union which also condemned the continued incarceration of MDC Alliance members Joanah Mamombe (Harare West MP) and activist Cecilia Chimbiri.

The pair was denied bail last Thursday in a matter in which they are being accused of breaching COVID-19 regulations by addressing a Press conference at the Harare Magistrates Court.

Bail denied again for Joanah Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri in Zimbabwe I call upon Zimbabwe authorities to ensure all are treated equally under the law and show action on the governments commitment to reform. Harassment of political opponents needs to end, Duddridge wrote.

Mamombe and Chimbiri were denied bail by High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi, who said there were compelling reasons for denial of bail.

The two MDC Alliance activists have been in pre-trial detention for three weeks after they were arrested for holding a Press conference in Harare.

Mamombe and Chimbiri allegedly protested at the Harare Magistrates Courts calling for the removal from remand of fellow party activist, Makomborero Haruziviishe.

Haruziviishe was allegedly arrested at gunpoint by suspected State security agents dressed in civilian clothes.

The court was told that the men also attempted to kidnap him, but he screamed for help, prompting them to divert their route and drop him at the Harare Central Police Station. He was arrested after several arrest warrants were issued against him for defaulting court attendance.

Haruziviishe is accused of kidnapping Impala Car Rental employees, accusing them of having a hand in the abduction of a journalism student, Tawanda Muchehiwa. He is also languishing in remand prison after bail was denied on several occasions. Newsday
The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) has now successfully taken charge of the country's multi-million-dollar National Oil Storage Facility, which consists of a tanker jetty, multiple product pipelines and a terminal consisting of seven tanks with a capacity of 75 million litres.

The construction of the facility commenced in January 2015 and was officially handed over to Namcor on 1 March 2021, by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

Cabinet took a decision in 2019 that Namcor will operate and maintain the facility upon completion after considering several international bidders who were also interested in operating and managing it.

Namcor's official take over of the facility was announced on 29 March by Namcor's Board Chairperson, Jennifer Comalie, who said that the facility was designed and constructed as a strategic storage facility with the primary aim of increasing Namibia's security of fuel supply from the previous 7-10 days to 30-45 days in situations where the country will be unable to import petroleum products from the international market.

"A decision was made to convert it to serve as a commercial storage facility, in addition to the strategic storage imperative, to make sure product is continually used and replenished," Comalie said.

Comalie added that Namcor recruited and trained competent Namibian staff that in the process also assisted government with the completion and commissioning of the facility.

"We are proud that Namcor was instrumental in advising Government to convert this facility from merely a strategic storage facility to a National Oil Storage Facility that will be operated on commercial principles while still obtaining its objectives of strategic fuel security," said Comalie.

Namcor Managing Director Immanuel Mulunga explained that commissioning the facility meant bringing in fuel equivalent to the capacity of the terminal in order to test the operation of the jetty, pipelines and tanks and various systems.

"As per the Operatorship Agreement between the Ministry of Mines and Energy and Namcor, the latter was to supply the commissioning stock and on-sell it to its customer base once commissioning was completed," Mulunga said.

He added that the commissioning strategy was carried out with the approval of the Namcor Board, the Ministries of Mines and Energy and Public Enterprises, having followed the due procurement process in procuring the commissioning stock.

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The facility will not only be used for Namcor's own trading purposes, but also to host other international oil marketing companies such as Vitol, Gunvor, Vivo and Total to ensure that it is utilized optimally and that Namibia becomes a strategic gateway through which neighbouring African countries are supplied.

Mulunga stated that the first shipment of commissioning stock arrived on 1 December 2020, which heralded the testing and commissioning of the facility. The commissioning stock was valued at N$407.3 million and consisted of approximately 37 million litres of Diesel (ADO), 21 million litres of Unleaded Petrol (ULP) and 9 million litres of Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (LSFO) (5 million litres of this went for commissioning while the rest went into our existing HFO tanks).

The procurement of this fuel was funded by Namcor with extended payment terms from Namcor suppliers in order to assist the owner (National Energy Fund) with the commissioning of the facility.

So far, Namcor has already begun to successfully sell the commissioning stock to its retail, commercial, bunkering and export customers, as well as other local marketing companies with success. The company has also realized a total revenue of N$152 million on the three products sold, since commissioning.
CRR  The regional rice value chain development project was recently lunched at Wassu youth center in Central River Region (CRR) North.

The launch was organised to enlighten rice cultivators in CRR about the new project introduced to improve quality rice cultivation in the region.

CRR Governor Sheriff Abba Sanyang called on farmers and people of the region to ensure the sustainability of the project as well as make best use of it.

He appealed for accessible roads for farms, markets to sell their products, tractors, power tiller among others farming tools.

Ebrima Sisawo, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture urged beneficiaries to make best use of the project in developing the rice sectors in the area.

Chief Pierre Bah expressed gratitude to the ministry of agriculture for the project which he said would improve the lives and livelihood of his people.

Hon. Alhagie Sillah National Assembly Member for Niani constituency described the project as very important and timely for the region.

The project director Fafanding Fatajo called on people to "grow what we eat and eat what we grow". He highlighted government efforts towards agriculture and rice production in the country.

Sakou Jawara, chairman Kuntaur Area Council said the project will make rice available and cheap for people of the region as well as bring rapid development.
Phuket Governor pushes to vaccinate 50,000 in seven days

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew has called for people to register to be vaccinated for COVID-19 in a push that he hopes to see 50,000 people in Phuket receive their first injection within seven days of the April delivery arriving on the island.

COVID-19tourismhealthVaccine

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 30 March 2021, 02:52PM

Photo: PR Dept

The call for people to register came at a special meeting of Phuket Communicable Disease Committee at Phuket Provincial Hall on Sunday (Mar 28)

We will certainly receive 100,000 doses of vaccines in April, and we plan to administer injections to 50,000 people within seven days, Governor Narong said.

The 50,000 people will be mainly those who work in the tourism industry, Governor Narong said.

At this stage, 15,000 people have registered to be vaccinated. However, the vaccine will also be provided to officers and people from other industries who want to be vaccinated, he said.

The push to get mass vaccinations underway is in line with the goal of opening Phuket to receive foreign tourists by July 1 without enforcing any quarantine, Governor Narong explained.

The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration on Friday approved Phuket to receive vaccinated foreign tourists from July 1 under the Phuket Tourism Sandbox plan on the condition that 70% of the islands residents had also been vaccinated for the virus.

For the Phuket Tourism Sandbox plan to open and welcome foreign tourists without quarantine from July 1, we will vaccinate our Phuket-registered people, those from other provinces but who work in Phuket, and foreigners, Governor Narong said.

We all have to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity as well as to boost confidence among foreign tourists [wanting to travel to Phuket], he added.

So, I want everyone to register for vaccination as fast as possible, in order to show our intention to the central government, he said.

Show them that we all will be vaccinated before July 1 in order to recover Phukets economy as soon as possible, Governor Narong urged.

However, the logistics of how so many people in Phuket can receive vaccination injections in just seven days remains to be explained.

Repeated explanations by officials report that nine vaccination centres will be set up across Phuket. Administering injections to 50,000 people in just seven days will require each centre to vaccinate nearly 100 people an hour, every hour for eight hours a day, during the seven days.

However, the vaccination centre set up at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, according to the online registration form, is open only from 9am to 4pm.

Also not yet confirmed is when the vaccines will arrive. Governor Narong kept repeating next month, which starts on Thursday this week.

Another aspect that has raised much concern across the island is whether expats and retirees are included in the definition of foreigners when officials report who will be vaccinated.

The online form to register to be vaccinated is in Thai-language only and applicants must be Thai nationals. Applicants must enter a Thai government ID card number in order for the application to be accepted.

One foreign retiree reported to The Phuket News yesterday that he had presented himself at Vachira Phuket Hospital in person to register to be vaccinated at a later date, only to be declined as he did not have a Thai government ID card.
Combine a society where information is disseminated by word of mouth, add in gargantuan generation gaps, account for inevitable fear of the unknown, and you've got a potent formula for pearl-clutching ...

As if we didn't have enough to worry about, in addition to the garbage that fate regularly shovels in our face, we manage to fabricate worries on our own. For every odd witch-hunt that we invented pre-electricity, we have something equally asinine in the current day.

5 Communities Banned Jazz for Causing Mental Breakdowns and Spontaneous Miscarriages

A century before jazz was dying a slow natural death, the '20s and '30s were a crazy time to be a jazz snob. Yet, something was closing up jazz joints. Was some veiled fear of racial integration shutting them down? Well, yeah ... probably. But, in addition to the racial aspect, towns viewed the musical form as an existential threat to their actual health, as if the vibes of people dancing and having fun caused psychic pollution.

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The stated cause of residents' concerns singled out vibrations. With blaring horns peeling the paint off the walls, the legal documents stressed that jazz would hypnotize or destroy fragile minds.

Robert Runyon/Wikimedia Commons Peeling paint no small complaint when your house is slathered in five layers of lead paint.

In Cincinnati, bebop was deemed fatal to fetuses. Meanwhile, in the Land of Lincoln, it was believed that excessive motion could reduce you to a spastic wreck. The Illinois Supreme Court upheld a ruling banning zoning of jazz clubs in Phelps v. Winch, citing disturbance to the nervous system as a public nuisance. Not to be outdone, Washington state dubbed the physical effects of rambling saxophone solos and improvised drum fills as "jazz intoxication" in an attempt to ban the genre after listeners were afflicted by insanity. We're not arguing they weren't nuts, but we're guessing the jazz was coincidental.
A return to rural living and working has been announced as the Government policy  even though over 87pc of country homes will still be without high-speed broadband into next year.

The Taoiseach refused to offer figures on media-flagged mention of possible grants for those moving from urban to rural areas, saying he could not discuss the 2022 Budget.

The 122-page policy document, Our Rural Future, contains 150 aspirations and tasks, but no timelines, just one deadline, and no costings, except a small number borrowed from the Project 2040 development plan  which is under review in light of Covid.

It does not have any target number, either, for those who might be attracted from cities to live in the country.

Despite the National Broadband Plan first being announced nine years ago, Communications Minister Eamon Ryan said it was hoped to have 70,000 houses connected by the end of the year.

This would represent 12.7pc progress towards a target over the lifetime of the broadband plan of 550,000 houses  revised downwards from 840,000 originally. There is also an aim to hook up more than 100,000 businesses over the next seven years.

Speaking at the launch of the policy in Croke Park, Mr Ryan said that 290 broadband connection points had been established, while 196,000 houses had been surveyed.

Thats what we always have to do first, to measure how exactly could you get into the house. It is taking time, and its only a small number of houses which are up and running,

but that was always the case, he said.

I expect by the end of the year it will be something like 70,000 houses first connected.

Were looking to accelerate what was a seven-year programme to see can we do that in a quicker timeframe because of the urgency of this, he said, adding he is to write to National Broadband Ireland next week to see if the programme can be achieved within five years.

Asked how many of the 70,000 homes target for this year were connected right now, the Green Party leader said: Very few. Just over 1,000 and another 34,000 under construction.

The 1,000 figure represents a 1.42pc completion rate for this years target, with the first quarter about to end, and an achievement of 0.18pc of the total.

The Taoiseach said at Croke Park, after an online launch held elsewhere at GAA headquarters (which at one stage had 92 viewers on Twitter), that the policy represented a direction of travel, rejecting complaints about its lack of figures.

We know the pandemic has had a significant impact on the agri-food and tourism sectors in particular, he said. On the other hand, we have learned from the pandemic as well, and certainly trends have accelerated, most notably remote working.

The Government plans to establish 400 hubs for remote work around the country, via local authorities  an idea already trialled in the UK.

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said self-help community hubs have already been established in Ireland, but refused to be drawn on funding/renting models.

The glitzy launch saw self-starters extol how they had set up businesses in rural Ireland, or were enjoying the lack of a commute.

There is a target to have 20pc of the public service working remotely by the end of this year, but no equivalent aim for the private sector.

Ms Humphreys pointed out that the majority of the public service is already working from home because of the pandemic, regardless of where they live in the country.

It is a working reality for tens of thousands of people, she said, referring to worker-led decentralisation.

She said her officials were also working on a pilot scheme to support rural pubs of the type that only open on weekends, to see if they could be accessed for remote working during the week.

She also spoke of the relocation grants working akin to the US state of Georgia wooing tech workers from Silicon Valley in California to the city of Savannah, via $2,000 hello money, which is dependent on qualifications and length-of-time commitments.

Admitting there were no specific targets or conditions yet for any such scheme, she said: Im not putting a figure on it. Its not about telling people that you must go there.
Shade uses offensive attack to take down Shanksville in D5-A semis

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New York must immediately begin to offer COVID vaccines to all incarcerated people in the states prisons and jails, a judge ruled on Monday, making the state one of few in the nation to provide doses to such a broad population behind bars.

The order, the first involving any of the countrys largest correctional systems, comes as the coronavirus continues to roar through facilities in New York. At least 1,100 people living behind prison walls have tested positive for the virus since the start of last month, and five have died.

But even as corrections staff and many other groups, including some who live in close-contact settings like group homes and homeless shelters, have gained access to the vaccines in recent weeks, most incarcerated people in New York have remained ineligible to receive doses.

Justice Alison Y. Tuitt of state Supreme Court in the Bronx wrote in her ruling Monday afternoon that people in prisons and jails had been arbitrarily left out of the rollout and that doing so was unfair and unjust and an abuse of discretion.

State officials, she said, irrationally distinguished between incarcerated people and people living in every other type of adult congregate facility, at great risk to incarcerated peoples lives during this pandemic.

She added: There is no acceptable excuse for this deliberate exclusion.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos office did not signal an intention to appeal the decision and said in a statement on Monday evening that eligibility would be expanded to all people behind bars as the judge ordered.

Our goal all along has been to implement a vaccination program that is fair and equitable, and these changes will help ensure that continues to happen, said Beth Garvey, acting counsel to the governor.

Public health researchers and infectious disease specialists widely agreed, even in the earliest stages of vaccination efforts when supply was more limited, that the roughly 50,000 people in correctional facilities across the state should be made eligible because of their uniquely high risk for contracting and spreading the virus. A disproportionate number of them are also Black and Latino, groups that have been hit hard by the pandemic.

But vaccinating incarcerated people has proved politically fraught across the country as states grappling with the same ethical, logistical and legal questions have drawn up drastically different timelines for offering doses. In New York, most of those behind bars had been left out, though other high-risk groups like restaurant workers, public-facing government employees and essential building service workers recently became eligible.

Florida has not yet made people in state prisons eligible, while Texas and Arkansas announced last week that they would start providing doses to some of those behind bars. Some other states, including New Jersey, began inoculating incarcerated people late last year, just as the first vaccine doses were being made available. And in Massachusetts, the roughly 6,400 people in prison have all already been offered a vaccine.

In a similar suit last month in Oregon, a federal court judge ordered the state prison system, which has a population of around 12,000, to offer doses to all incarcerated people. It was the first successful legal battle of its kind nationwide.

Hours after the lawsuit in state Supreme Court in the Bronx was filed early last month, state corrections officials announced that incarcerated people ages 65 and older, who make up roughly 3% of the prison population, would be offered the vaccine.

Around 1,100 detainees in New York City jails, many of whom were at the highest risk of complications from infection, also received doses, starting in the first weeks of January.

In recent weeks, the states age threshold for eligibility was lowered to include anyone 60 years of age and older, and then 50 and older. People with some chronic health conditions were also allowed to sign up for vaccination appointments.

State officials announced Monday that all adult residents would be eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine by April 6, which might have led more people behind bars to soon be offered doses even had the ruling not been issued.

Inside prisons, roughly three-fourths of the 1,066 incarcerated people over 65 opted into receiving shots, a spokeswoman for the state corrections department said last week. More than 2,500 people with eligible conditions also received their first doses.

Still, public health experts say that incarcerated people regardless of age or condition should have already been made eligible since they often live in congested units and eat in crowded facilities where social distancing is nearly impossible.

Its a population that should be at the top of the list, Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, an epidemiologist at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health, said in an interview in January, during the first weeks of the states rollout. I cant think of an insurmountable barrier in all honesty to getting it done aside from stigmatization and discrimination.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends offering doses to everyone at correctional facilities simultaneously, public defenders and civil liberties groups noted in their arguments. Prison and jail workers across the state were made eligible to receive the vaccine on Jan. 11.

Efforts to place incarcerated people ahead of the general public in the rollout have drawn pushback from some lawmakers in other states. The state Senate in Kansas, where the majority of members are Republicans, passed a nonbinding resolution demanding that the governor revise a vaccination plan that prioritized those in prisons. Colorado backtracked on a plan to give prisoners early access to vaccines following opposition from Republican lawmakers and on social media.

And in New York, Republicans in the state Senate and Assembly had raised concerns over vaccinating incarcerated people before fully inoculating essential workers.

Several advocacy groups plan to now focus on continued education and outreach around the vaccine. Some incarcerated people, they worry, may be reluctant to accept doses, largely because of the governments history of medical experimentation on prison populations and people of color and the dearth of information available to people behind bars.

Still, the order came as a welcome source of relief for family members of incarcerated people and those waiting their turn to be vaccinated.

Alexander DelPriore, 26, is incarcerated at a state prison in Fulton County and has Type 1 diabetes, placing him at a higher risk for serious complications from the virus.

His mother, Robin, said he was recently offered a vaccine. But prison officials told him he would have to relinquish his place in line for a work-release program, she said, because they claimed it might prevent him from being present to receive his second dose.

Her son declined the vaccine in order to keep his spot, she added, even though he wanted to be inoculated.

The rollouts lack of focus on those behind bars had left lasting frustrations, Robin DelPriore said.

Why are we picking and choosing whos deserving? Who gets to be judge and jury on that  saying You deserve it, but you dont? DelPriore asked. How is that right?

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia
FORMER LIMCO EMPLOYEES CONTINUE TO DEMAND THEIR DISSOLUTION PAY FORMER LIMCO EMPLOYEES CONTINUE TO DEMAND THEIR DISSOLUTION PAY

MONROVIA-For the past 16 years, since 2oo5 the Liberian Government entered into a mineral development agreement MDA, in August 17, 2005, with the global mining conglomerate, Mittal Steel Holdings A.G. /and Mittal Steel Holdings Liberia Limited, the redundant employees from the former LAMCO mining co. have yet to receive their just benefits as stated in the statutory document that appointed professor Willie Belleh as Agent -in-dissolution.

An official to that effect was signed by the then Minister of Lands, Mines, and Energy, Dr. Eugene H. Shannon and approved by the former Minister of Finance, Hon. Antoinette M. Sayeh on May 21, 2007.

According to the chairman of the aggrieved former employees, Mr. James Freeman Kofeeh, the representatives of the aggrieved workers met on several occasions with Mittal Steel's top officials in order to find an amicable solution to the settling of their salary arrears and redundancy settlements.

Mr. Koffeh went on to state that "these meetings resulted in the payment, by Mittal Steel Liberia Ltd., of some fifteen Million [15,000,000 USD] United states Dollars to the Ellen Johnson administration through Dr. Eugene Shannon who at that time was Minister of Lands and Mines".

"Out of the 15 Million USD that was paid by Mittal Steel, the sum of six million, nine hundred thousand [6, 900000] was allegedly given by the government of Liberia as 'part payment' constituting some 22% of the settlement of the workers benefits." Mr. Koffeeh continued.

Since then not a single cent has been paid to complete full payment of their salary arrears, benefits Mr. Koffeeh stressed.

"in this light, we are calling on the President, His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah to see reason to instruct the Finance Ministry to pay the remainder of our money that is currently in the accounts of the Ministry of Finance".
CHICAGO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CCC Information Services Inc. (CCC) announces today a redesign of CCC Repair Methods, launching the solution with General Motors (GM) as the first OEM. CCC Repair Methods now includes OEM repair procedures displayed as the OEM presents information in its own repair procedure guides. In addition, CCC Repair Methods includes a new user interface, allowing estimators and technicians to perform dynamic searches across all repair procedure information with the most relevant results prioritized for easy access.

"We're excited to launch our redesigned CCC Repair Methods solution," said Mark Fincher, vice president, market solutions, CCC. "With increasing vehicle complexity, having procedure data available as developed by the OEM can help repairers be confident that they are accessing complete, timely information. We are excited to bring this new capability to market with GM and are committed to growing the list of OEMs we support with this new functionality."

CCC Repair Methods has always connected repairers to OEM procedures as estimates are written, making it easy to identify the necessary operations required to repair the vehicle properly. With the new user interface and powerful new search capabilities, estimators and technicians can now quickly navigate to the most relevant procedures for the specific vehicle. The new enhancements break down today's complex vehicle information in a more consumable way, making it easy to search for information and research procedures.

"I love the updated Repair Methods in CCC ONE," said Andrew Hill, Shop Manager at Sherrill's Paint & Body in Birmingham, AL. "I can get to the information I need quickly and navigating between sections is so simple. If I am looking at procedures for a quarter panel and need to swap over to a door, it's just point and click. Great tool for us."

Added Fincher, "Our customers continue to tell us that they are spending more time than ever researching repair procedures. It's not uncommon for shops to spend two hours or more researching the necessary procedures for a single job. Our next generation Repair Methods solution is designed to make sure repairers can access information as quickly and easily as possible, helping them to provide complete, safe, and timely repairs, every time."

GM data and solution enhancements are included upgrades to existing CCC Repair Methods users and are available in the latest release.

Learn more about CCC Repair Methods.

About CCC

CCC is a leading SaaS platform for the multi-trillion-dollar P&C insurance economy powering operations for insurers, repairers, automakers, part suppliers, lenders, and more. CCC cloud technology connects more than 30,000 businesses digitizing mission-critical workflows, commerce, and customer experiences. A trusted leader in AI, IoT, customer experience, network and workflow management, CCC delivers innovations that keep people's lives moving forward when it matters most. Learn more about CCC at www.cccis.com.

CCC and the CCC logo are registered trademarks, and CCC ONE is a trademark, of CCC Information Services Inc.

SOURCE CCC Information Services Inc.

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WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday slammed the Trump administration for creating a "hierarchy" of human rights that placed religious liberty and property rights above other fundamental freedoms.

"Human rights are also co-equal. There is no hierarchy that makes some rights more important than others," Blinken told reporters as the State Department unveiled its 45th annual report on the status of human rights around the world.

He called the Trump administration's framework "unbalanced" and said he had disbanded the "Commission on Unalienable Rights," set up by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in what critics viewed as pandering to religious conservatives in the United States.

Pompeo had derided what he called a "proliferation of rights" and said the U.S. needed to focus on "foundational, unalienable rights," naming religious freedom and property rights as "foremost."

Pompeo's commission came under intense fire from human rights advocates, who said it was a means to overriding or neglecting women's reproductive freedoms and the rights of LGBTQ people.

"At my confirmation hearing, I promised that the Biden-Harris Administration would repudiate those unbalanced views. We do so decisively today," Blinken said in touting Biden administration's first country-by-country assessment of human rights.

Human rights concerns grow amid pandemic

Blinken said the report, which covered abuses in 2020, shows the "trend lines on human rights continue to move in the wrong direction" and that was exacerbated by the pandemic. The report says some governments used the COVID-19 crisis "as a pretext to restrict rights and consolidate authoritarian rule.

"Women and children faced heightened risk as the prevalence of gender-based and domestic violence increased due to lockdowns and the loss of traditional social protections," the report concludes. "Other marginalized populations, including older persons, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ persons, experienced particular vulnerability."

Story continues

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks about the release of the '2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices,' at the State Department in Washington, Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

In his remarks, Blinken also vowed to reverse the Trump administration's controversial decision to exclude data on women's reproductive health around the globe. The Trump administration's annual human rights reports omitted data on discrimination against women, maternal mortality rates and women's access to contraception, among other information.

Blinken said those issues were not addressed in Tuesday's report because of the Trump administration's directive. But he said he has asked the State Department staff to produce an addendum later this year addressing those issues.

"It's one of many steps ... we're taking to promote women's health and equity at home and abroad," Blinken said, "because women's rights, including sexual and reproductive rights, are human rights."

Report details China's actions against Uyghurs

Tuesday's report does include the most detailed official American assessment that China is engaged in genocide against the Uyghurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority living in its western Xinjiang region.

The report says China has engaged in "mass detention" of more than 1 million Uyghurs and other members of predominantly Muslim minority groups and has subjected another 2 million people in Xinjiang to re-education training in less severe settings.

The report says China has also subjected the Uyghurs to forced sterilization, rape, torture and forced labor, as well as "draconian restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, and freedom of movement."

The report outlines human rights abuses in nearly 200 countries and territories, from North Korea to Syria. Blinken said there is evidence of a downward slide on human rights in "every region of the world."

Blinken said the State Department report was finished before the military coup unfolded in Burma, "but we must highlight them," pointing to reports that over the weekend, more than 100 people were killed by that country's military, including four children.

A child from the Uyghur community living in Turkey wears a mask during a protest against the visit of China's foreign minister to Turkey, in Istanbul on March 25, 2021.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Antony Blinken slams Trump's 'hierarchy' of human rights as skewed
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(Photo : Youtube / Space Videos) SpaceX SN11 crash landing

The latest SpaceX prototype of its Starship rocket was destroyed during a landing attempt after the prototype had a clean launch on Mar. 22.

SpaceX's livestream of the flight test froze as soon as the rocket came in to land, and the thick fog around SpaceX's facility in Texas made it difficult for people to see what actually happened.

SpaceX Starship SN11 destroyed

The Starship prototype Serial Number 11, or SN11, had reached its target altitude of around 10 kilometers, or around 32,800 feet. The rocket is made out of stainless steel, representing the early versions of the rocket that was revealed in 2019.

According to CNBC, SpaceX is currently developing Starship with the goal of launching cargo and people on missions to the moon and even to Mars.

Also Read: Elon Musk's SpaceX Lifting Gigantic, Heavyweight Starship 'SuperHeavy' In This Timelapse

The Starship prototypes stand at 150 feet tall, or around the size of a 15-story building, and each one is powered by at least three Raptor rocket engines.

Elon Musk posted on his Twitter account half an hour after the test that "at least the crater is in the right place."

Musk added that something significant happened shorty after landing burn start. He said they would know what it was once they examine the bits of the prototype.

SpaceX principal integration engineer John Insprucker noted that the thick fog in the area had prevented SpaceX from showing the camera viewers beyond those that were on the rocket.

Insprucker stated that the frozen view that was seen in the camera does not mean that they were waiting for the signal to come back. He said that Starship 11 is not coming back and told people not to wait for the landing.

The SpaceX engineer further said that they do appear to have lost all of the data from the vehicle and the team, of course, is away from the landing pad, so they will have to investigate and see what they are able to save.

SpaceX has successfully launched 4 Starship prototypes on high-altitude flight tests, starting with SN8 in December 2020, the SN9 in February, and SN10 and SN11 this month.

However, while the launches have largely gone according to plan, the landing attempts have each ended in different explosions.

SpaceX's next prototype

SpaceX is the only massive rocket builder that is currently attempting to land its vehicles after a launch. Traditionally, massive rocket boosters are discarded after launching.

Elon Musk's goal is for Starship to be fully reusable, envisioning a rocket that is similar to a commercial aircraft and capable of launching with minor maintenance and fuel between flights.

While SpaceX has only landed prototype SN10 successfully after a high-altitude flight test, even though the rocket exploded a few minutes later, the company has landed previous prototypes after short flights to about 500 feet in altitude.

According to Elon Musk, SpaceX's next prototype, Starship SN15, will roll out to the launchpad in a couple of days, as reported by CNN.

Starship is one of the two Manhattan Projects that SpaceX is developing. The other project is Starlink satellite internet program.

Elon Musk has previously estimated that it will cost around $5 billion to fully develop Starship, even though SpaceX has not disclosed how much it has spent on the program to date.

Last month, Elon Musk brought in $850 million in its latest capital fundraise at a $74 billion valuation.

Related Article: SpaceX's Starlink to Launch Satellite Internet Service in the Philippines, a Country With One of the World's Worst Internet Connections

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sieeka Khan

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Fair City star Maclean Burke bravely opens up today for the first time about his mental health issues surrounding the break-up of his marriage.

And the popular actor, who plays Damien Halpin in the hit RTE soap, reveals that when he left a message on the Men's Aid phone line the charity's chief executive Kathrina Bentley rang him back thinking he was making a charity proposal, only to be told he actually needed help.

Maclean explains that he has been involved with Men's Aid since a Fair City storyline almost 11 years ago brought him into contact with the organisation.

"I didn't know who to turn to and I just left a message in 2019 saying it was Maclean Burke, I'd like to talk to someone.

"And then the CEO rang me and said 'Hey Maclean how are you?' and I said 'actually I wanted to talk to a counsellor rather than touching base seeing if there was anything I can do for you - I'm actually looking for a bit of help'," Maclean (42) tells the Sunday World.

He said he is grateful for the organisation's help.

"They are dealing with guys on the phone all the time and it's part of what they do," he says.

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"They were able to put perspective on it and I think that's important for people who need help, which they did give me."

Maclean has four children, ranging in age from 20 to nine.

His marriage to his wife broke down in recent years.

"I'm a prime example, the stress that I was under," he reveals. "It was probably five years coming.

"We kind of push it aside and get on with it, you don't deal with the lows.

"But it came to a head for me and I had to do something about it and they were my first port of call and they got me through it.

"It's not something I'm going to hide. It's something that's vitally important.

The actor stresses he is not looking for sympathy, and in the past year he has started a new relationship with HSE worker Cat Nolan.

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Whatsapp Maclean and his partner Cat

It was Cat who noticed the difference in Maclean's temperament and the change in his wellbeing in the last few months.

He posted a picture on social media of what he looked like three years ago compared to what he looks like now.

"It's not a 'woe is me' kind of thing either, it was just about being able to talk," Maclean says.

"To be honest, there was no intention of posting about it until my partner said to me 'look at that photo and look at you now'.

"I could remember where my mindset was in the other photo and it was just 'Jesus Christ' - it was trying to tell people that you can pull back and turn things around and just feel better in yourself, no matter what is going on behind the scenes.

"Time is a great healer as well."

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Whatsapp Macleans before and after photos

Maclean has nothing but high praise for Men's Aid, which deals with a variety of problems affecting men and their relationships.

"It's a great organisation," he says. "For someone that needs help you will get it and you will get counselling over the phone.

"You never know. I would have never thought I was one of those guys, but when it came to the crunch, I was."

Earlier this year Maclean admitted on social media that the picture from three years ago was when he was "coming to the end of an unhappy marriage, which happens to men and women every day, I was not taking care of my mind or body, and it showed!"

He added: "Sometimes the people that seem to have it all together are the very ones that are falling apart behind the scenes where no one sees. Eighteen months ago I discovered a passion for fitness and weightlifting and I got stuck in and started to see and feel the physical and mental changes in my mind and body and I have never looked back!

"I am hooked on trying to be the best version of myself that I can be. They tell you on a plane that in an incident of a crash, to put the oxygen mask on yourself first so that you can then take care of your loved ones and I try to apply that to my everyday life now. It is so important for us all to mind our minds in these uncertain times in particular, there are people that will listen if we just reach out and talk.

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Whatsapp Maclean with daughter Beau

"I think the physical and mental changes in me shows and it feels good to feel good/ There are still dark days, we're human, but we have to try and let them pass and not unpack and live there, that is the reasoning behind the competition, I am currently running.

"It wasn't gifted to me and it's not a sponsored paid ad, it's just me trying to help someone get on the right road, it comes from experience of knowing what it feels like to feel stuck, so thanks for all the support."

Maclean lives in Ashford Co Wicklow, having grown up in Sallynoggin in south Dublin and later in Greystones, Co Wicklow.

He has played the role of 'lad next door' Damien Halpin in Fair City for the past 23 years and is currently in a storyline around his upcoming marriage to Mairead Casey.

His first marriage in the soap was to Suzanne, but that marriage fell apart when battered husband Damien was the victim of domestic violence.

"That was a really good, interesting story because of the reactions it got," he says.

"The amount of fellas who came up to me and told me it had changed their life... I have been involved in Men's Aid since."

Men's Aid can be contacted on a confidential helpline on 01-5543811 or by emailing hello@mensaid.ie.
ADDIS ABABA - Ministry of Trade and Industry disclosed yesterday that the country obtained 2.1 billion USD from export trade over the past eight months.

According to the report of the Ministry, in the first eight months of this fiscal year, it was possible to earn 2.1 billion USD from the export trade, of the planned 2.5 billion USD.

This accounts for 82 percent of the plan. It shows 16 percent or 290 million USD increment compared to last year's same period, the report indicated.

It is to be recalled that addressing 6th year 11th regular meeting of the House of Peoples' Representatives and answering questions of members of the House last week, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed( PhD) said that export earnings have showed great increment in the first half of this Ethiopian fiscal year despite many problems.

Gold has the largest share of all sectors, he said, adding the trade deficit has been narrowing in the past four years, and it was able to reduce the trade deficit by less than 4 percent via increasing the export market and extensive inspection applied on imported items.
With India in the grip of the second covid-19 wave, the government said that the situation was going from bad to worse with serious cause for concern in some states, even as it expected a fast uptake in the vaccination from April 1 onwards.

No state and no part of the county should be complacent. Trends show that the virus is still very active and can penetrate our defences. When we think we have controlled it, it strikes back. There is a concern we should all be mindful of, said V K Paul, member-health, Niti Aayog while addressing a weekly briefing on covid situation in India.

The health ministry has asked 47 districts across the country to increase RT-PCR testing significantly for faster identification of affected cases and effective tracking and tracing exercise.

Of the ten top districts with the most active cases, eight are in Maharashtra and the other two include Delhi and Bengaluru urban. In Maharashtra the positivity rate in the last week crossed 23 per cent underlining the need to increase the testing significantly. From just over 3,000 average daily cases in the second week of February, the figure has crossed 34,000 in the last week of March in Maharashtra. If the virus is there somewhere in our country then it is everywhere, Paul added.

Countrys average positivity rate for Covid during the last week was 5.65 per cent. Against this the rate of patients testing positive is in the range of 7 to 9 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Punjab.



ALSO READ: Data Story | India's active Covid cases now over 53% of September 2020 peak level

In a letter to chief secretaries of all states, health secretary Rajesh Bhushan called for proactive and focused action to ensure the infection does not spread into areas which have low prevalence. The current rise of cases is of concern and has the potential of overwhelming the healthcare systems, unless checked right now.

From April 1 onwards, with the vaccine against Covid-19 opening for all above 45 years of age, the government is expecting an uptake in the vaccination drive . While the health ministry has not given an estimate of the size of this population group, it has found that 88 per cent of Covid deaths occured in those above the 45 year age bracket.

We have to do micro projection within the district, rather than us sitting in Delhi and giving a projection.We now have the confidence to accelerate (vaccination). People must give up hesitancy and embrace the vaccine, Bhushan added.

States have also been told to utilise the private sector capacity in ramping up vaccination. Private facilities in some states such as Haryana, Meghalaya and Uttarakhand account for less than 20 per cent of total vaccinations for Covid.

The rising cases have so far been attributed to lack of social distancing, mask wearing and all covid related precautions. As far as the variants go, since December over 11,000 samples went through genome sequencing. Of these 807 were found to be the UK variant, 47 of South Africa lineage and one was the Brazilian strain.


Often within the code of companion Android apps for wearable devices, there can reference to new and upcoming products ahead of their official launch. In the new Galaxy Wearable apps APK from Samsung, there are references to a possible Galaxy Buds 2, suggesting that the device is in development.

According to the APK teardown, the unreleased wireless earbuds has the codename berry, and the code also reveals that it will support multi-device connection, along with support for non-Samsung devices and tablets. The codename has been confirmed to be for a new product and not an alternate name for an existing product.

If Samsung does launch the Galaxy Buds 2, it will likely replace the original Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Buds+. At the moment, Samsung also offers the Galaxy Buds Live and the Galaxy Buds Pro, both of which are more expensive than the Galaxy Buds+. Since the product was spotted in the new Wearables app, we can expect the official launch sometime in H2 2021.

Source

With the disbursement of a N5 billion bailout in January 2021, there are some airlines who said they have not benefited from this first tranche.

Out of the N5bn, airlines got N4bn, while others, including ground handlers, caterers, travel agents, aviation fuel marketers, as well as airport car hire operators, got N1bn.

Despite this, Aero Contractors, West Link, and Tropical Arctic Logistics (TAL) Helicopters Company, among others said they have not benefited from the payroll support.

The managing director of West Link, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia, said: "My office submitted the necessary documents. They said we should submit our accounts and other details to the Ministry of Aviation for the collection of palliatives. We wrote to the minister directly and alerted the committee, which was received."

Mshelia said the issue of palliative was shrouded in secrecy, adding that many of his colleagues have not benefited.

Femi Adeniji, an engineer of Tropical Arctic Logistics TAL Helicopter said, "I have tried; I have called the Federal Ministry of Aviation; I have four helicopters that I am operating. They asked us to send account numbers, which we did.

"Up to last Friday, I still called them to find out what was going on. Unfortunately, I was in the US when my company's name was published among those who would receive the palliative, but we have not gotten anything up until now."

Meanwhile, operators have demanded the balance of N22bn of the bailout as the total approved sum is N27bn.

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The N27bn was approved by the federal government for the industry by the Economic Sustainability Committee headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the industry.

The fund was to extend grant support, including payroll support to the aviation industry - airlines, handlers, caterers and related services; provision of single digit soft loans, with long term repayment plan; deferred payment of taxes and filing dates. An aviation analyst, Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd), said the six aviation agencies also deserved the palliatives to fix their equipment, which are critical to smooth airline operations.

On the latest update on the fund, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, a former general secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) said, "The agencies are liaising with the Ministry of Finance for the money, but I was made to understand that there were small challenges between the finance and the Ministry of Aviation."

When contacted, the director of public affairs in the ministry, Mr James Odaudu, did not respond to our correspondent's enquiries on the palliatives at the time of filing this report.
Incumbent Charles Cunningham will be challenged by Linda Greenan for Place 2 on the Humble City Council this spring.

It is one of three contested races on the ballot for Humble in May. Norman Funderburk and Arliss Ann Bentley are running for the position of Mayor while Charles Andy Curry and Eric Lacy are running for Place 1 on the city council.

LIFESTYLE: In east Harris County, a push to vaccinate 'hardworking humble people'

Election Day voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Humble Civic Center on May 1.

Early voting will be conducted at the Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble, and at the Harris County Law Library in the basement conference room at 1019 Congress Street, Houston. Early voting is from April 19-24 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., April 25 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., and April 26-27 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., although some locations will remain open for 24 hours April 26 into April 27 according to the City of Humble website.

To confirm if you are registered to vote, visit votetexas.gov. Thursday, April 1, is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming elections.

The Observer asked a series of questions to Place 2 candidates Greenan and Cunningham about issues related to the community of Humble.

Linda Greenan

Q: Tell me about yourself

A: I was born and raised in the Chicago area, (and) moved to Colorado then to Texas. (I) have lived in Humble for 25 years. Currently working as a dispatcher for a logistics company but a majority of my career has been as an aircraft dispatcher (25 years) with Expressjet Airlines.

Married, no kids, well unless you count my 2 dogs as kids, which I do.

Q: Why are you running for this position?

A: I am running for this position for many reasons. First and foremost, I want to see Humble grow and change but in a way that its not just another Houston suburb. I want to see active community involvement. I want people talking, asking questions, engaged in the day-to-day issues that we as a community face, care about, improvements made, ideas, solutions. I feel we are stagnant.

Q: What are your top three priorities?

A:  Communication  I personally see a need to get mass communication out to the Humble community. Whether it be disaster assistance, recovery, events, local elections (many people that I have spoken to recently are unaware there are local elections). I feel we need a dedicated source to get direct communication to our residents  all residents.

 Community involvement  This is huge. Without it, we are just a few people trying to make improvements, ask the questions and find answers. Everyone needs to be involved to make this happen. Ive noticed speaking to my neighbors, local business owners and the like they want that too. Its just giving that little push thats needed. If you have a local council out and about, really listening to people, their wants and needs, and concerns I feel you are more likely to get that involvement.

 Downtown revitalization  Been on the books, minds, agenda for a long time. Lets see some action. We have a gold mine here. Such rich history. Lets get some more businesses downtown. A place where families can go for a bite to eat, to shop. We can bring in much needed jobs and revenue for this city. The possibilities are endless.

Q: What qualifies you for this role and how do you plan to use that experience to support community needs?

A: In all of my jobs, past and present I have been in leadership roles. Being able to make the tough decisions, to be fair, to look at it from all sides. But the most important thing that qualifies me is my compassion. My desire to stand up and be a voice for whomever it may be. To be actively involved. I dont have all the answers nor do I claim to, but Im willing to try.

Charles Cunningham

Q: Tell me about yourself.

A: Im a former school board president of the Humble Independent School District. Im a distribution account consultant for CenterPoint Energy. I have a bachelors degree from Our Lady of the Lake University and am also a United States Army veteran. Currently married to my wife, Stella and have four kids and nine grandchildren. I have been a resident of the city of Humble for 27 years and have served on the Humble City Council since 2019.

Q: Why are you running for this position?

A: Im running for another term to serve this community and address the issues that matter most to the residents of Humble.

Q: What are your top three priorities?

A:  Public Safety  It is important that the people who are maintaining and protecting our city have the best equipment and training possible.

 Flooding/Drainage  As the citys representative, I will work with local, state and federal agencies to implement strategies, both financial and operational to meet existing challenges and plan for the citys future needs.

 Economic Development  The citys key to financial security is economic development. I will work with federal, state, and local officials to ensure Humble continues to recover from the COVID-19 economic crisis.

Q: What qualifies you for this role and how do you plan to use that experience to support community needs?

A: My private sector management experience (38 years) and background as a local, regional, state and national school board member (12 years) have given me a blueprint on how to make agencies work and thrive. I will use this experience to bring sound business and proven decision-making skills to deal with the issues facing Humble today.

Q: The revitalization of downtown Humble has been a priority for many. What are your thoughts on this topic?

A: The city began a downtown revitalization initiative in January of 2020. Ive attended strategic planning sessions with developers, urban planners and other Texas city representatives. Before we as a city can push for revitalization, we need to ask ourselves, how can we make our community the best it can be? How can we reinvent ourselves, attract the right kind of businesses, and transform Humble into a great place to work, live and play? This will have to include the private, public and government entities and all stakeholders to revitalize Humble into a No. 1 urban leading city in Texas.

savannah.mehrtens@chron.com
[March 30, 2021] UberMedia Rebrands to 'UM' to Deliver Data Intelligence to Every Business

PASADENA, Calif., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UberMedia , the leading data insights platform, today announced it is changing its name to UM as part of a strategic rebranding initiative. The new brand reflects the company's mission to deliver best-in-class business intelligence and data analytics solutions across various industries. UberMedia was founded in 2010 to help brands unlock the value of their social media assets. At the height of the mobile boom in 2012, the company expanded its offerings to help brands tap into intelligent mobile advertising. As mobile continued to grow, so did the opportunity to leverage location data to inform critical business decisions. Given UberMedia's roots in data science and technology, the company expanded beyond advertising, and pioneered the first location intelligence platform in 2015 with a focus on retail, commercial real estate, restaurants and tourism. This was a pivotal moment for the company, which ultimately served as the catalyst for the rebrand to UM. "Our new brand represents our unrelenting drive and dedication to making data accessible and actionable for every industry," said Gladys Kong, CEO, UM. "We have been at the foreront of many industry shifts, but nothing compares to where we are today. We're enabling all types of organizations  from cities to research institutions to retail establishments  to leverage data to transform how they do business."



Today, a number of Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies as well as large research firms, universities and tourism boards rely on UM to inform more timely, accurate and efficient business decisions. Customers include RAND Corporation, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Columbia University, Yale University and many others. Kong added, "This milestone is a culmination of our efforts to help our customers harness the power of data to grow their organizations. We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved, and we're just getting started. There is massive opportunity for growth, and we will continue to build on our world-class intelligence platform to ensure data is accessible for every business, large or small."

In 2020, UM dedicated its resources to helping communities during the pandemic. The company conducted research to show the impact of data in city planning, economic development and recovery, COVID-19 vaccination planning and more. "For the past several months we have been developing data-rich tools for national, state, and local leaders to combat the devastating effects of COVID-19. This effort requires a data-driven approach to understand everything from vaccination capacity to staffing and population movement patterns," said Alan Worden, CEO of Community Data Platforms. "The data scientists and engineers at UM are able to provide that, and more, through their data intelligence services. They are an invaluable partner in our efforts to support effective and equitable vaccination programs." ABOUT UM

UM is a provider of business intelligence and data analytics solutions. For more information, please visit https://ubermedia.com/ View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ubermedia-rebrands-to-um-to-deliver-data-intelligence-to-every-business-301258454.html SOURCE UM

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Germany is again suspending the use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for people under the age of 60 due to reports of blood clots, AP reported.

Berlin's health minister Dilek Kalayci said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure after the country's medical regulator announced 31 rare blood clots in people who had recently received the vaccine. Nine people died. All but two cases involved women between the ages of 20 and 63, according to the Paul Ehrlich Institute, Germany's regulatory medical authority.

An unusual form of a blood clot in the head, known as sinus vein thrombosis, prompted several European countries to temporarily stop using the AstraZeneca vaccine in early March.

The European Medicines Agency concluded that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks, but recommended warning patients and doctors about possible rare side effects. Since then, most countries in the European Union have resumed the use of the vaccine.

Earlier on Tuesday, two public hospitals in Berlin announced they would end vaccination against the AstraZeneca COVID-19 for female employees under the age of 55. Heads of five university hospitals in West Germany have called for a temporary halt to vaccinations for all young women, citing the risk of blood clots.

So far, about 2.7 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered in Germany.
(Natural News) Adm. John Aquilino, the current commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, expressed worry during his recent confirmation hearing that communist China might try to invade and annex Taiwan a whole lot sooner than many anticipate.

Hoping to become the next head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Aquilino told Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton that the possibility of China invading Taiwan is a critical concern as it has the potential to breathe fresh life into the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Why would Beijing so desire to have Taiwan annexed to the mainland, and how would it complicate your military planning if Beijing did invade and annex Taiwan? Cotton asked Aquilino.

They view it as their number one priority, Aquilino responded, referring to Chinas goal of invading and annexing Taiwan in the very near future. The rejuvenation of the Chinese Communist Party is at stake.

Adm. Philip Davidson, the current head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, recently warned that China could attempt to invade Taiwan within the next six years. In Aquilinos view, the true timeline could be anywhere from today to 2045.

If confirmed, Aquilino wants to establish a $5 billion fund known as the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) in the near term and with urgency. Back in early March, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command submitted a budget for PDI to Congress that included $27 billion in proposed spending through 2027.

All signs point to future problems with China that could result in war

For decades, China and Taiwan have sparred over who is the rightful owner of the land on which Taiwan now sits. Beijing has continually threatened Taiwan with war for refusing to allow itself to be absorbed back into the Chinese mainland.

Back in early March, Chinese President Xi Jinping is said to have told his countrys military to be prepared for conflict amid an unstable security situation. This instability has accelerated greatly ever since the installment of Joe Biden into the White House.

When asked during a press briefing about how confident the Department of Defense (DoD) is when it comes to preventing a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby declined to speculate about potential future operations.

Nobody wants this to result in conflict, he added, suggesting that the Pentagon could be preparing to interfere if necessary.

[Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin] is concerned at the significant changes that have been taking place in [Chinas] strategic forces, Kirby further revealed to reporters.

And hes also concerned about the lack of transparency by Beijing about what theyre doing. We would certainly welcome greater transparency about both their intentions and their modernization program.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is apparently on Chinas side, as the United Nations body refused to acknowledge the existence of Taiwan in its early coverage of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

When reporting on case numbers in Asia, the WHO lumped China and Taiwan together for reporting purposes. This implies that the UN sees no difference between China and Taiwan and believes the two countries to be one and the same.

When China invades Taiwan, Biden will say, Its a cultural thing,' wrote one commenter at The Daily Caller. When China controls the South Seas, Biden will say, Its theirs.'

When China dominates the world, Biden will say, They ate our lunch. And all those CCP politicians from both parties will cash in and celebrate, this same commenter added.

Another concurred, adding that this is what happens when you put a demented, communist pedophile in charge of things.

Should war break out between China and Taiwan, you will find coverage of the details at NationalSecurity.news.

Sources for this article include:

DailyCaller.com

NaturalNews.com
FREDERICK, Md., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vireo Health International, Inc. ("Vireo" or the "Company") (CSE: VREO; OTCQX: VREOF), the science-focused, multi-state cannabis company, will host a grand opening event for the Company's first Green Goods dispensary in the state of Maryland, located in the town of Frederick.

"Vireo is excited to open our first Green Goods dispensary here in Maryland," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kyle Kingsley. "We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the community of Frederick by providing best-in-class cannabis products and medical expertise to area patients."

Vireo's Director of Medical Education, Dr. Paloma Lehfeldt will be on-site to provide media tours of the new Green Goods dispensary on March 30 from 10 a.m. ET  2 p.m. ET. The new Green Goods is located at 1080 W Patrick St Suite 13, Frederick, MD 21703.

The dispensary will offer a wide variety of Vireo products, including the popular flower brands 1937, Amplifi, and LiteBud. The store will also feature a full selection of medical cannabis products from other licensed Maryland growers. See the full menu at https://frederick.visitgreengoods.com/stores/green-goods-frederick.

Green Goods will also launch a fundraiser for Last Prisoner Project ("LPP") called, Roll it Up for Justice. The program will raise money to support LPP's effort to free people currently in prison for simple, non-violent cannabis offenses now considered legal in Maryland. LPP is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to cannabis-related criminal justice reform.

The new Green Goods location is part of Vireo's continued investment to expand its infrastructure in Maryland. The Company recently began cultivation at a new 110,000 sq. ft. greenhouse in Massey, MD, and expanded its manufacturing capabilities at its facility in Massey, MD. Later this year, Vireo also expects to begin development of an additional 75,000 sq. ft. of cultivation capability at the site in Massey.

About Vireo Health International, Inc.

Vireo Health International, Inc. is a physician-led cannabis company focused on bringing the best of technology, science, and engineering to the cannabis industry. Vireo manufactures proprietary, branded cannabis products in environmentally friendly facilities, state-of-the-art cultivation sites and distributes its products through its growing network of Green Goods and other retail locations and third-party dispensaries. Vireo's team of more than 400 employees, led by scientists, engineers, and cultivation experts, is focused on efficiency and the creation of best-in-class products, while driving scientific innovation within the cannabis industry and developing meaningful intellectual property. Today, Vireo is licensed to grow and/or process cannabis in nine markets and operates 16 dispensaries nationwide. Vireo holds additional retail licenses in four markets. For more information about Vireo Health, please visit www.vireohealth.com.

Media Inquiries

Albe Zakes

VP, Communications

[email protected]

(267) 221-4800

SOURCE Vireo Health International, Inc.

Related Links

www.vireohealth.com


We are excited to be a part of the EMA team and the possibilities this partnership will deliver. EMA is a clear leader in the industry and combined with our experience, we are committed to provide local engineering communities with the first-class support and technology they have come to rely on.

EMA Design Automation (http://www.ema-eda.com), a full-service provider and innovator of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) systems solutions, today announced it is expanding its operations in the United Kingdom with the addition of Parallel Systems to its sales channel. This announcement marks EMA's continued growth and commitment to bring leading-edge technology and first-class support to the worldwide EDA Market.

We are happy to have Parallel Systems be a part of the EMA team, said Manny Marcano, President and CEO of EMA Design Automation. We are looking forward to this new chapter and the potential of this collaboration, and the positive impact it will have on the UK and IE engineering communities.

Parallel Systems has served as the Cadence channel partner for the United Kingdom and Ireland since 1997. This addition will allow them to leverage EMAs three decades worth of experience to further support the UK and IE engineering teams and expand their coverage. This collaboration combines EMAs commitment to quality and innovation with Parallel Systems integration into the European market, allowing both entities to provide exceptional service to multi-national customers.

We are excited to be a part of the EMA team and the possibilities this partnership will deliver, said Simon Wood, Managing Director from Parallel Systems. EMA is a clear leader in the industry and combined with our experience, we are committed to provide local engineering communities with the first-class support and technology they have come to rely on. Were proud to be a part of the team.

To mark this new partnership, EMA is extending its OrCAD PCB software offer, giving engineers access to the professional grade tools they need from Cadence. To get the offer, visit go.ema-eda.com/OrCADOffersUK.

For more information about EMA, go to http://www.ema-eda.com or call toll free at 877.362.3321. To learn more about the Parallel Systems team, visit http://www.parallel-systems.co.uk.

About EMA Design Automation, Inc.

EMA Design Automation is a trailblazer in product development solutions offering a complete range of EDA tools, PLM integrations, services, training, and technical support. EMA is a Cadence Channel Partner serving all of North America. EMA develops Ultra Librarian, TimingDesigner, CircuitSpace, CIP, EDABuilder, and a host of custom solutions to enhance the OrCAD and Dassault products, and all are distributed through a worldwide network of value-added resellers. EMA is a privately held corporation headquartered in Rochester, New York. Visit EMA at http://www.ema-eda.com for more information.

About Parallel Systems UK

Parallel Systems was established in 1997 to be a focused Electronic Design Automation (EDA) distributor for the UK and Ireland. Parallel Systems delivers new-generation platforms of integrated design technologies and methodologies that help address all aspects of electronics design, including functional verification, digital IC design, custom IC design, PCB design, and design for manufacturing technologies. Parallel Systems is based in Bracknell, England. Visit Parallel Systems at http://www.parallel-systems.co.uk for more information.

# # #

EMA Design Automation, TimingDesigner, CircuitSpace, EDABuilder, Ultra Librarian, and the EMA and Ultra Librarian logos are registered trademarks, and Component Information Portal is a trademark of EMA Design Automation, Inc.

Cadence, Allegro, and OrCAD are registered trademarks of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All other trademarks in this release are the property of their respective owners.
Two weeks after canceling student debt for around 72,000 defrauded borrowers, Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announced on Monday the relief measures for borrowers with total and permanent disabilities.

Under the previous rule imposed under the administration of former President Barrack Obama, if an individual will be determined by a physician, the Social Security Administration, or the Department of Veteran Affairs as permanently disabled, the individual would be eligible for federal student debts cancelation.

There were documents required that need to be submitted within a three-year monitoring period as it would serve as verification of their incomes that did not exceed the poverty line. Now, the said requirements were waived by the Education Department, The Washington Post reported.

According to Business Insider, the Education Department noted that the move would help more than 230,000 borrowers. The 41,000 individuals who had $1.3 billion of loans in total will no longer repay their loans as they will no longer have a further obligation to pay the student debt and be refunded on any payment they have made during the pandemic. Also, the other 190,000 borrowers would not be asked to submit any earnings documentation.

READ NEXT: San Diego Comic-Con May Happen on Thanksgiving Weekend and Fans Are Not Happy About It

Miguel Cardona emphasized in a statement that borrowers with permanent disabilities should focus on their overall well-being and should not put their health on the line just to submit earnings information in the middle of the pandemic.

Miguel Cardona also noted that by waiving all of the requirements, the government could ensure that no borrower who is totally and permanently disabled risks having to repay their loans simply because they could not submit paperwork.

In a 2016 report from the Government Accountability Office, they have found out that 98 percent of reinstated disability discharges occurred because borrowers were not able to submit the required documentation and not because their incomes were too high.

The Education Department noted that eligible borrowers would start to see their loans return to a discharge status in the next few weeks. The Education Department is considering further changes for how it monitors borrowers' earnings with total and permanent disabilities.

Despite the fact that the rule change on student debts is welcome news for borrowers with disabilities struggling to pay off their debt, some experts said it is still not enough as there is a need to address the root cause of the problem.

Previous Investigation

An investigation in 2019 by the NPR found that only 28 percent of eligible borrowers were getting the debt relief they were entitled to.

Starting from March 2016 until September 2019, 75,000 individuals among 200,000 borrowers failed out of their programs due to failure of submission and had their debt reinstated, NPR reported.

Lawmakers earlier urged the Trump administration to automatically discharge the student debts with permanent disabilities, but it did not happen.

READ MORE: CDC Extends Eviction Moratorium, Landlords and REnters Have Until June to Get Aid

WATCH: Do You Qualify For $1 Billion Of Student Loan Cancellation - From Business News
Do you know where your green energy comes from? Would you proudly support Californias energy policies if you knew they contributed to the opp
ALBANY  Intel, the world's largest computer chip maker, says it is considering building a computer chip factory in New York state, joining both Samsung and GlobalFoundries who are also considering building new facilities here as part of a push by the U.S. government to bolster the domestic chip supply.

An Intel spokesman confirmed the company's interest in New York on Tuesday, a day after Intel's new CEO Pat Gelsinger spoke with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York about the company's new research partnership with Westchester-based IBM that would take place in Albany.

"Intel is considering New York state for future manufacturing facilities, along with several other potential locations," Intel spokesman William Moss told the Times Union. "We appreciate the opportunity to speak to Senator Schumer about New Yorks talent and industrial base."

It is unclear where Intel would want to build. There are four available upstate sites, including the 1,400-acre Luther Forest Technology Campus in Malta, where GlobalFoundries operates its Fab 8 chip plant.

Tom Roohan, who chairs the board that oversees the Luther Forest campus, says that while he and his fellow board members are often not told by real estate consultants the identity of companies interested in the site, there is nothing stopping another large chip maker from locating there even with GlobalFoundries building a second potential fab.

"We do have some land left, and we've got space for other things to happen," Roohan said.

Intel announced last week it plans to spend $20 billion to build two new factories in Arizona as it pushes to expand its manufacturing services to other chip companies. However, New York is being considered for what Intel calls its "next phase of capacity expansions" that will be revealed within the next year.

GlobalFoundries wants to build a second fab next door to Fab 8 if it can secure federal financing through the Biden administration, which is offering chip makers $37 billion in subsidies to invest in U.S. manufacturing and research.

The federal chip subsidy program, known as the CHIPS Act, has led many of the top chip makers in the world to propose new factories in the United States, with New York being considered along with Texas and Arizona as the top chip manufacturing clusters in the country.

The CHIPS Act, which still requires funding approval from Congress, would also pay for a new federal semiconductor research center that New York state officials are hoping to land at the state's Albany Nanotech complex on Fuller Road that is home to SUNY Polytechnic Institute, IBM and other companies that utilize the shared clean room facilities.

Intel and IBM's new research partnership announced last week will use the Albany Nanotech facilities as well as Intel's research center in Hillsboro, Oregon.

IBM has had a presence at Albany Nanotech for decades with hundreds of millions of dollars in support from New York state, allowing it to partner with other chip makers from around the world, including most recently Samsung and now Intel, to share research costs on developing new chip technologies.

Officials in the Cuomo administration acknowledge that while the new CHIPS Act is going to produce a wave of new chip fabs built in the U.S., New York's financial support of Albany Nanotech, IBM and SUNY Poly over the past two decades set the stage for GlobalFoundries and now maybe other chip makers to pick upstate New York for manufacturing, since such fabs are best located near their research operations.

Back in 2019, Gov. Andrew Cuomo pledged $300 million to a new IBM artificial intelligence research center based at Albany Nanotech, a key reason why Intel decided to join IBM in Albany.

Through its Empire State Development agency, the state has spent billions more attracting others in the chip industry to both Albany and other parts of upstate.

"We were excited to see IBM and Intel announce their unprecedented Albany-based research collaboration," ESD spokeswoman Kristin Devoe said Tuesday. "While we cannot confirm or deny any conversations that we may be having with specific businesses, whether its with existing (research) partners like Samsung, and now Intel, we welcome discussions with any semiconductor company looking to take advantage of our existing depth of talent, the nations largest public university system, the array of existing semiconductor manufacturers and New Yorks robust semiconductor supply chain."

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the biggest rival to GlobalFoundries, is also planning to build a fab in Arizona to take advantage of the U.S. subsidy program, which is designed to ensure the U.S. has a stable computer chip supply chain that has increasingly been dependent on facilities in Asia, specifically China.

The U.S. military is especially worried that without adequate domestic chip manufacturing it won't be able to control the supply or security of its chips used in weapons and equipment like tanks and airplanes. GlobalFoundries has a major contract with the Department of Defense to make chips in the U.S., and that relationship is expected to expand, especially if GlobalFoundries builds a second factory at Luther Forest.

Samsung, which is based in South Korea, does all of its U.S. manufacturing in Austin, Texas, where it has two chip factories, which are called "fabs" in the industry, short for fabrication facility. The company has announced plans to build a third U.S. fab that would cost $17 billion and employ 1,800 people, with Austin being its first choice.

However, Samsung is also hedging its bet that it will get the $1 billion-plus incentive package it wants from Texas, local governments and the school district and so it is also courting New York state as a potential backup plan should negotiations fail.

"This project is highly competitive, and the company is looking at alternative sites in the U.S. including Arizona and New York, as well as abroad in Korea where Samsung Austin Semiconductors parent company is headquartered," an application submitted to the Texas comptroller's office states.

Schumer has lobbied for Samsung to locate at the so-called STAMP site in western New York between Rochester and Buffalo, where Plug Power in Latham is planning to build a $290 million hydrogen-production facility.

However, Schumer says that any of upstate New York's four sites  the STAMP in Genesee County, Luther Forest in Saratoga County, the Marcy Nanocenter outside of Utica, or the White Pine Commerce Park outside of Syracuse  are good possibilities for Intel.

"An Intel fab in upstate New York would not only help shore up our domestic production of chips, but it also positions the company to take even more advantage of its partnership with IBM to develop and lead in next generation semiconductor technology, a point I made to Intels CEO as they consider further building out their U.S. manufacturing operations in the year ahead," Schumer said in a statement.

Intel is based in Santa Clara, Calif., but its U.S. fabs are located in Arizona, New Mexico and Oregon. Ironically, the organizers of Luther Forest, which straddles the towns of Malta and Stillwater, were originally courting Intel to become the first tenant at the site when Advanced Micro Devices came into the picture looking to build a new fab in 2006.

AMD later decided to spin off its manufacturing operation as GlobalFoundries, which built Fab 8 a decade ago.
Four police officers involved in the death of a Salvadoran woman in Mexico were charged with probable involvement in femicide.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that the 36-year-old victim identified as Victoria Salazar Arriaza had been put into brutal treatment and was murdered by four police officers on Saturday in the tourist resort of Tulum, Reuters reported.

"It's a situation that fills us with sadness, pain and shame," Lopez Obrador said in a press conference.

READ NEXT: Cases of Femicide in Mexico Continue to Increase

The Incident

Social media users posted videos of the incident on Saturday night, showing a female officer kneeling on Salazar's back while she was being arrested.

The footage also showed three other male police officers chatting casually and standing around her motionless and facedown body. The three officers were then seen to pick her up while she was still handcuffed into the back of a police pickup truck and drove away, The Guardian reported.

Some reports said the police were responding to a public disturbance complaint. An autopsy showed that the victim's neck had been broken.

Oscar Montes de Oca Rosales, the attorney general of Quintana Roo state, said Monday that the four municipal police officers had already been charged with femicide after what the autopsy revealed.

"The police restraint technique was applied with a disproportionate and excessive force," Montes de Oca noted.

This incident drew comparisons with the death of Black man George Floyd in Minneapolis, wherein a white police officer pressed his knee against his neck.

El Salvador's foreign ministry commented on the incident, saying there will be no impunity for those who participated in Salazar's death.

"All the force of the law will be brought to bear to bring those responsible to trial," the state attorney general's office said.

Salazar was a single mother and was working in Tulum cleaning hotels, according to her mother, Rosibel Arriaza.

Arriaza said authorities are supposed to protect people with all the techniques they have to arrest and subdue some. However, she noted that this was an abuse of power, adding that her daughter did not deserve "this death."

She said she wants justice for her daughter as it was not fair with what they did to her. Arriaza further noted that her daughter was just a woman and was not armed.

The Salvadoran woman was reportedly living in Mexico since at least 2018 on a "humanitarian visa." El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said the government would support Salazar's two daughters.

Sympathies Pour In for the Salvadoran Woman

On Monday, some people placed a small potted plant and a couple of candles outside the convenience store where the Salvadoran woman was killed. Someone wrote "here they killed Victoria" on the pavement.

Salazar left Sonsonate five years ago to look for better opportunities and escape the area's street violence. Her mother is currently working with Salvadoran authorities on getting her daughter's body repatriated.

Tulum has been known to suffer growing pains from its development, land disputes, and gang activity.

READ MORE: Mexican Women Urge Government to Put A Stop To Violence And Femicide

WATCH: Calls For Justice For Victoria Salazar Arriaza A Salvadorian Woman Murdered By Police In Mexico - From YAC Protect






World leaders pushed Tuesday for a new international treaty to prepare for the next global pandemic -- and avoid the unseemly scramble for vaccines hampering the Covid-19 response.

Leaders from 25 countries, the European Union and the World Health Organization (WHO) sought to get the ground rules down in writing to streamline and speed up the reaction to future global outbreaks.

The treaty would aim to ensure that information, virus pathogens, technology to tackle the pandemic and products such as vaccines are shared swiftly and equitably among nations.

"The time to act is now. The world cannot afford to wait until the pandemic is over to start planning for the next one," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual press conference.

Without an internationally-coordinated pandemic response plan, "we remain vulnerable", he warned.

The call came in a joint article published in international newspapers on Tuesday, penned by leaders from five continents.

The signatories included Germany's Angela Merkel, Britain's Boris Johnson, France's Emmanuel Macron, South Korea's Moon Jae-in, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesia's Joko Widodo and Chile's Sebastian Pinera.

- Vaccine commitment -

"Nations should work together towards a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response," the article said.

"We must be better prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics in a highly coordinated fashion.

"We are, therefore, committed to ensuring universal and equitable access to safe, efficacious and affordable vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for this and future pandemics."

Leaders from key world powers including the United States, China, Russia and Japan are not among the signatories so far.

But Tedros said the mood music from Washington and Beijing was positive and insisted it was not a problem that they had not yet signed up.

Story continues

Tedros hoped to have a resolution squared up in time for the World Health Assembly in May. The assembly is the WHO's decision-making body, attended once a year by delegations from the UN health agency's 194 member states.

The push to bolster common efforts comes as the planet struggles to combine forces to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic that has killed almost 2.8 million people worldwide and battered the global economy.

The spread of the virus has seen blame traded between capitals and accusations that rich nations have hoarded vaccines.

According to an AFP count, some 53 percent of the Covid-19 vaccine doses administered so far have been in high-income countries accounting for 16 percent of the global population.

Just 0.1 percent have been administered in the 29 lowest-income countries, home to nine percent of the world's population.

- Building for future generations -

The WHO said that while the existing 2005 International Health Regulations covered first alerts, travel measures and sharing information on how to break an epidemic, the Covid-19 pandemic had exposed gaps such as supply chains, research and development.

The joint article said the additional treaty should be aimed at "greatly enhancing international cooperation" on alert systems, data-sharing and reasearch to help track rising threats and the production of vaccines, medicines and protective equipment to tackle diseases.

First proposed by European Council president Charles Michel at the United Nations in December, the notion of a treaty has since been endorsed by EU and G7 countries.

"Now it's time to come together as one global community to build a pandemic defence for future generations that extends far beyond today's crisis," EU chief Michel told the joint press conference with Tedros.

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations lobby group said the importance of incentives to develop tests, treatments and vaccines should be reflected in the treaty.

"The biopharmaceutical industry and its supply chain is part of the solution for future pandemics and therefore should play a role in shaping an international pandemic treaty," IFPMA chief Thomas Cueni said in a statement.

rjm-burs/nl/tgb
Nike has filed a federal copyright infringement lawsuit in response to the "Satan Shoes" collaboration between New York-based company MSCHF and rapper Lil Nas X, the artist behind the popular song "Old Town Road.

Nike filed the complaint against MSCHF on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York after the duo announced the release of their modified Nike Air Max 97s.

The shoes are all black and decorated with a pentagram pendant. They also reference the scripture "Luke 10:18" in red, which says: And he said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

According to the website, which sells the sneakers for $1,018, the shoes also contain a drop of human blood in the sole of each pair. A total of 666 pairs are available, a number widely associated with the devil.

Source:The Christian Post
The Federal Government is set to create 30,000 jobs through the Community Safety and Human Security Programme (CSHSP) initiative to reduce...

The Federal Government is set to create 30,000 jobs through the Community Safety and Human Security Programme (CSHSP) initiative to reduce crimes and violence across the country.

The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Sen. George Akume, made the disclosure at the inauguration of a 22-man committee of CSHSP, Nasarawa State chapter, on Tuesday.

Akume said that CSHSP was also working towards creating skilled manpower for 50,000 persons in all the 774 local government area, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Implementation of CSHSP is prepared to work with relevant security institutions, stakeholders and non-state actors in expanding the narratives and intelligence toward community safety, he said.

The minister, however, expressed worries that in spite of efforts by government, NGOs and community leaders to stem the tide of insecurity and violence, crimes in the country were still on the increase, NAN reports.

According to him, the countrys national security, under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, places emphasis on enhancing the social well-being of citizens.
W&M launches leadership course for alumni and the general public

The W&M Washington Center has announced a new online leadership course, open to all members of the W&M community and beyond.

The leadership course, "Modern Leadership: Reflections and Tools for the Values-Based Leader," combines theory and practice and is designed to engage participants in discussion, hands-on applications and reflections. Concrete takeaway tools are expected help current and aspiring leaders alike, according to the center.

The course includes 10 virtual sessions delivered over five weeks and will consider how shared values can help leaders achieve the mission of their group, organization or business.

Set to begin on April 27, the course is being taught by Higher Education Professor Pamela Eddy from the W&M School of Education. Eddy is the recent recipient of the 2021 SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award. She is joined by alumnus Michael K. Powell 85, D.P.S. 02, president and CEO of NCTA  the Internet and Television Association and chair of the W&M Foundation Board of Directors, who will be featured in the course.

Im thrilled to be the faculty lead on the upcoming continuing studies series 'Modern Leadership: Reflections and Tools for the Values-Based Leader,' says Eddy. There is not a cookie-cutter mold for what leadership looks like. Leadership occurs in many places and does not require a top-level title. Reflecting on what works best for them will help participants develop a plan for their future growth as leaders and describe their own leadership philosophy to others.

Featured speakers include prominent alumni, faculty and campus leaders. Course participants will receive a certificate of completion from the William & Mary Washington Center. Benefits and learning outcomes are shared on the website.

As our mission states, William & Mary cultivates creative thinkers, principled leaders, and compassionate global citizens equipped for lives of meaning and distinction, said Ann Marie Stock, vice provost for academic and faculty affairs. This course aims to help leaders live their values and serve their communities.

The W&M Washington Centers leadership initiative was born out of COVID-induced innovation as the center looked for ways to continue engaging alumni in a virtual world. The course comes on the heels of three popular webinars that were held in the fall for students, faculty, alumni and the public about compassion, inclusivity and adversity in leadership.

Alumni have often shared with us that they miss the classroom. They miss learning in a safe space with professors who inspire and challenge them to think in new ways. We also understand from our alumni that they crave leadership opportunities, so a continuing studies opportunity on values-based leadership seemed perfect, says Roxane O. Adler Hickey M.Ed. 02, director of the Washington Center.

The course is an example of the integrative and collaborative approach that the center team embraces. Partners throughout the university helped shape the course.

The center, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is best known for producing Study in D.C. academic opportunities for undergraduate students, in which W&M students take classes in Washington, D.C., engage with alumni in potential career fields, hear from guest speakers and assistance finding internships.

Alumni volunteers are key to this experience for our students, and offering this leadership course allows us to give something back to alumni, she says.

The course costs $1,500, but alumni can register for half that price. Special rates are offered for Young Guarde alumni (within 10 years of graduation), W&M employees and students. Need-based scholarships are also available. Revenue from the leadership course supports the center and its students.

Learn more and register at www.wm.edu/dc/leadership.
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 84F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening. Cloudy skies overnight. Low near 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
In recent years, the emphasis in deals moved from getting across the day one finish line to the successful implementation of the thesis strategy, said Tomek Jankowski, Analyst Lead, ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research.

New analysis from the ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research team has found that after a brief pause in the spring of 2020 because of COVID-19, M&A markets have roared back to life. Many professional services providers focused on M&A report that their pipelines are as full as theyve ever been. However, a significant shift has taken place due to record-high valuations and increasing government scrutiny of deals clients are being driven to focus on their assets longer-term performance.

In recent years, the emphasis in deals moved from getting across the day one finish line to the successful implementation of the thesis strategy. The way clients view the value of deals has lengthened, so they are now looking not just at the value realization on day two, but in six months or a year, five years, and beyond, said ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research Analyst Lead Tomek Jankowski. The reality is that the full value of a deal now means developing a strategy for asset performance over the acquired assets lifecycle. This change is putting M&A back into its broader corporate development context and is becoming a key competency for clients to build internally for their long-term value creation strategy. This evolution adds up to a very different engagement model for providers in this space.

In ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research: M&A Services 2021-2022, the Pacesetter Advisory Council assesses the strategies and service offerings of twenty-one providers identified as Market Leaders for their ability to deliver client impact in todays challenging M&A environment. Additionally, the research and analysis provide insights into the competitive dynamics and service delivery trends, driving convergence across financial advisors, insurance, legal, management consulting, and multiservice firms.

Research Highlights:



Markets remain flush with dry powder and cheap credit and will likely continue for the next several years

Valuations are sky-high, but the quality of assets is an important variable, prompting comprehensive and intense inspections of the due diligence process. The resulting scrutiny is facilitating increased efforts at utilizing robotic process automation (RPA) and AI in the deal process

Increased competition for assets, coupled with growing government antitrust scrutiny in deals, has led to compressed deal timelines. These compacted windows translate to intense pressures for accelerated deal deadlines, reinforcing trends towards significant roles for advanced technologies in transactions while materially shifting the role and risk providers assume in deals

There was a clear separation between the approaches of those professional services providers which focus on the deal process and those which focus on longer-term outcomes and relationships

By most accounts, failure rates in deals (meaning the transaction fails to achieve its stated thesis value or even ends up destroying value) remain north of 50%. Providers are finding enhanced deal chances with clients who build experience internally managing structural change -- while conversely, the deals at greatest risk are one-off events involving inexperienced parties

This has translated into a trend among some clients (especially, but not exclusively private equity firms) of developing in-house M&A and change management capabilities, less to supplant external providers than to have greater control over deal strategy and process, using external providers to fill capability gaps

ALM Intelligence evaluates providers abilities to bring the full advantage of their extended organization, innovation capability, service delivery model, client enablement capabilities, and brand eminence to create impact and value for clients. ALM Intelligence evaluated the M&A capabilities of the following providers: Alvarez & Marsal, Ankura, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Chubb, Crowe, Deloitte, EY, FTI Consulting, Goldman Sachs, Goodwin Procter, JP Morgan, KPMG, LEK, Lockton, McKinsey, Mercer, North Highland; Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt; PwC, and West Monroe Partners.

ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research provides independent, objective research to providers and buyers of professional services, coupled with practical insights that inform the decision-making process for strategic planning and procurement professionals. For more information or to obtain the full versions of the ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research series, visit: https://www.alm.com/intelligence/pacesetter-research/ or contact our Strategic Accounts Manager, James Doyle at JDoyle@alm.com.

About ALM Intelligence

ALM Intelligence provides proprietary data, analysis, tools, and knowledge that empower our clients to succeed. The product suite and vast data repository arm professionals with the critical business information required to make the most impactful and informed decisions possible. The exhaustive data repository and product functionality enable professionals to combat competitive challenges head-on with the confidence to remain ahead of the field. The depth of ALM Intelligences expertise across the benefits, insurance, consulting, and legal industries provide a broad spectrum of actionable intelligence to facilitate and execute strategy. Visit http://www.alm.com/intelligence for more information.

About ALM Media, LLC

ALM, an information and intelligence company, provides customers with critical news, data, analysis, marketing solutions, and events to successfully manage the business of law. ALM serves a community of over 6 million business professionals seeking to discover, connect, and compete in highly complex industries. Please visit http://www.alm.com for more information, and visit http://www.alm.com/events/ to learn about our upcoming events. Please follow us on Twitter at @ALMMedia.
Australia has imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against a Russian individual and four Russian companies connected to the construction and operation of the Kerch Strait Railway Bridge linking Russia to the illegally annexed territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

The Kerch bridge is an attempt to consolidate Russias control of the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula. By virtue of their activities, this individual and the entities are complicit in seeking to legitimise Russias illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol and support separatist activities in eastern Ukraine. This year marks the seventh anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. Australia continues to urge Russia to return Crimea and Sevastopol to full Ukrainian control. Australia rejects Russias illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol and will continue to call out its ongoing intervention, interference and provocative actions in eastern Ukraine, reads the statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia Marise Payne.

As noted, the sanctions are imposed in coordination with Canada and align with action taken by the United Kingdom and European Union.

On March 29, Canadas Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau announced sanctions against two individuals and four entities in response to Russias illegal occupation and annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

In particular, sanctions were imposed against First Crimean Insurance Company, Federal State Unitary Enterprise Crimea Railway, JSC Lenpromtransproyekt, JSC The Berkakit-Tommot-Yakutsk Railway Lines Construction Directorate, as well as Director General of JSC TC Grand Service Express Aleksandr Ganov and Deputy CEO for Infrastructure Projects at StroyGazMontazh Leonid Ryzhenkin.

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Ursula von der Leyen refused to sign a plea from more than 20 world leaders calling for a new global treaty on pandemic preparedness, it was claimed today.

Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron were among the senior figures to put their name to a joint article which urges more collaboration to ensure countries are better able to respond to a future health crisis.

The document said Covid-19 had been a 'stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe'.

It outlines a commitment to 'ensuring universal and equitable access to safe, efficacious and affordable vaccines, medicines and diagnostics'.

The absence of the President of the European Commission's signature from the article is likely to reignite fears that she could return to her threat of banning the export of coronavirus vaccines to the UK.

Ursula von der Leyen refused to sign up to a plea from more than 20 world leaders calling for a new global treaty on pandemic preparedness, it was claimed today

Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron were among the senior world figures to put their name to the joint article which urges more collaboration to ensure countries are better able to respond to a future health crisis

Who did sign up to the plea to better prepare the world for future pandemics? J. V. Bainimarama, prime minister of Fiji Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, prime minister of Portugal Klaus Iohannis, president of Romania Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister, Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda Uhuru Kenyatta, president of Kenya Emmanuel Macron, president of France Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany Charles Michel, president of the European Council Kyriakos Mitsotakis, prime minister of Greece Moon Jae-in, president of the Republic of Korea Sebastian Pinera, president of Chile Carlos Alvarado Quesada, president of Costa Rica Edi Rama, prime minister of Albania Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa Keith Rowley, prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands Kais Saied, president of Tunisia Macky Sall, president of Senegal Pedro Sanchez, prime minister of Spain Erna Solberg, prime minister of Norway Aleksandar Vucic, president of Serbia Joko Widodo, president of Indonesia Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation Advertisement

An EU official told The Telegraph: 'Indeed the Commission was informed of the op-ed and the scope of the Treaty on Pandemics but chose not to co-sign.'

The document was signed by Charles Michel, the President of the European Council.

Responding to the claim, the Commission's deputy chief spokeswoman said: 'Let me emphasise that there is strong cooperation going on between the president and the president of the European Council on future pandemic preparedness.'

The EU and the UK remain locked in talks over vaccine supply after a furious row erupted over Ms von der Leyen's export ban threat.

The two sides appeared to step back from the brink last week after they issued a joint statement saying 'we are all facing the same pandemic'.

The statement said Brussels and Britain will discuss 'what more we can do to ensure a reciprocally beneficial relationship between the UK and EU on Covid-19'.

It said the two sides wanted to create a 'win-win situation and expand vaccine supply for all our citizens'.

Ms von der Leyen issued her export ban threat amid growing pressure over the bloc's botched vaccine rollout and a row over supply between Brussels and AstraZeneca.

The article signed by Mr Johnson and his fellow world leaders said that after the 'devastation of two world wars, political leaders came together to forge the multilateral system'.

It called for a similar show of unity to take place in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

It said: 'Today, we hold the same hope, that as we fight to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic together, we can build a more robust international health architecture that will protect future generations.

'There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone. The question is not if, but when.

'Together, we must be better prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics in a highly co-ordinated fashion.

'The Covid-19 pandemic has been a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe.

'We are, therefore, committed to ensuring universal and equitable access to safe, efficacious and affordable vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for this and future pandemics.

'Immunisation is a global public good and we will need to be able to develop, manufacture and deploy vaccines as quickly as possible.'

The article said nations 'should work together towards a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response'.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks with the media on February 22, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

NSW Residents Urged to Cancel Their QLD Easter Holidays

The New South Wales (NSW) government has urged the states residents to cancel any holiday plans to Queensland as Brisbane battles an emerging coronavirus outbreak.

Greater Brisbane has been ordered into a snap three-day lockdown after a coronavirus cluster grew to seven cases, sparking fears of significant community transmission.

In addition, NSW is on high alert after several venues in Byron Bay were visited by two of the newly diagnosed cases.

Contact tracers have identified almost 1500 people who attended venues during the exposure risk periods.

Queensland Health advises anyone who was in Greater Brisbane on or since March 20 but has since left must follow the same lockdown rules.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian stressed the southern state would not shut the border but asked residents eyeing a trip north over the Easter break to change their plans.

If you were going to Queensland for a holiday, unfortunately, we will ask you to reconsider, especially you shouldnt go to Greater Brisbane, she told reporters on Monday.

Holiday in NSW.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard also had a simple message for anyone whod visited the Greater Brisbane region and planned to attend Bluesfest in Byron Bay over the weekend.

Dont. Dont come, he said.

Up to 16,000 people will flood through the festival gates each day.

Organisers were in the process of working out ticket refunds, he said.

A number of places in the Byron Bay area have been identified as potential exposure sites.

Patrons who visited the Byron Beach Hotel between 7.15 pm and 8.30 pm on March 26, the Mokha Cafe between 10:30 am and 11:30 am on March 27, or The Farm at Ewingsdale between 8 am, and 9:30 pm must immediately get tested and isolate.

Anyone who attended the Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park public toilets during certain times on March 26 and 27 must also quarantine until further notice.

NSW Health would know more about the risk soon and contact them if anything changed, Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

Several other venues have been listed as casual contact venues, meaning anyone who visited must get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

Health authorities are particularly concerned about the Byron region, as hordes of people move between northern NSW and southeast Queensland each day.

The next few days would be a critical time for NSW, Ms Berejiklian said.

It is an evolving situation, and Im concerned about the community transmission in Greater Brisbane because it does suggest that there were previous strands of the virus which were undetected, she said.

The scare comes as a wide range of restrictions in NSW lift completely.

Masks are no longer mandatory anywhere in NSW; there is no limit on the number of visitors allowed in homes, caps on weddings and funerals are gone, and dancing and singing is allowed in any environment.
LOBAMBA  There is concern on what criteria was used to have some politicians vaccinated for COVID-19.

The apprehension was raised by Senator Cleopas Dlamini during the debate on the Appropriation Bill by the committee of the Whole House. It took place at Senate yesterday. Senator Cleopas said he was well aware that politicians were under the threat of contracting the virus. However, he highlighted that due to that duty calls, they found themselves having to break some of the laws they passed for the nation, as the situation called for them to do that. It was revealed in the past weeks that there had been means to secure some COVID-19 vaccines for the country. Frontline workers were said to be the ones who would be the first to get the COVID-19 vaccine, since they are the most exposed, he relayed. The senator added that it was then declared that politicians would be inoculated at a later stage.

However, we have heard through the grapevine that the minister has picked and chosen a select few among us to get vaccinated. Madam president, I am not talking about the acting prime minister, who obviously had to lead by example and show the nation that the vaccination works, said Dlamini. He elaborated that he was not even talking about some ministers because they too, were categorised. I am talking about some who were specially chosen from us to get vaccinated. There are some from the House of Assembly and others in Senate. And those are not even 60 (years of age), the senator clarified. He further requested the Health minister to explain if the time had come for all politicians to get vaccinated since they all needed to get the vaccine.

Privilege

What criteria did the minister use because we all registered and are waiting for the vaccine, but others have already been vaccinated. We need to know this so that everyone can also be given the privilege to get inoculated, Dlamini said. Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini highlighted that the minister had informed her that her (minister) staff was ready to have senators vaccinated yesterday. But due to that we were having a busy day and the vaccination process requires its own time, we had to postpone and have to choose another day, said the Senate president. Responding, Minister Lizzie Nkosi said the senator had asked a relevant question. Nkosi said no one was specially chosen to vaccinate.


Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak has had a telephone call with United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, during which he asked the United States to play a more active role in settling the conflict in Donbas.

"The United States could play a more active role in promoting peace talks to put an end to the war in Donbas, the Ukrainian presidential press service said, citing Yermak on Monday evening.

Yermak briefed Sullivan on the security situation along the line of contact in Donbas. He said the past few weeks have seen a dangerous trend toward a higher number of ceasefire violations and fatalities. Yermak also informed Sullivan of the deaths of four Ukrainian soldiers in a mortar attack near Shumy in Donetsk region on March 26.

Yermak said that Ukraine remains "an outpost of the democratic world in eastern Europe and pays a high price for this, in particular, losing the lives of its best citizens."

At the same time, Yermak thanked the United States for a clear and consistent policy to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as for providing important security assistance in enhancing Ukraine's defense capability. In particular, for supporting the reform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and strengthening the naval forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Crimea.

"We appreciate the recent strong statements by President Joe Biden and your administration's representatives on Crimea. It is very important for us to confirm the U.S. policy regarding non-recognition of the attempt to annex Crimea, condemn the illegal occupation of the peninsula, as well as support our Crimean Platform initiative," the head of the President's Office said.

He also said that "owing to support from the United States, Ukraine has been recognized as NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner and expects to be granted a Membership Action Plan."

In addition, Yermak told Sullivan about the reforms of the Ukrainian president. "The goal of the President of Ukraine is to build a modern democratic state based on rule of law, free from corruption and the influence of oligarchs," the official said.

He said that, on the initiative of Zelensky, "the Center for Countering Disinformation was created, the head of which will soon be presented to the public."

"The events that have taken place in recent years in Ukraine and in other countries prove that information warfare and the spread of disinformation are no less destructive than armed confrontation," Yermak said.

In turn, the adviser to the U.S. President stressed the importance of cooperation in countering disinformation.

"We have a lot to learn from you in countering disinformation. We hope for the possibility of further cooperation in this area," Sullivan said.

He also noted the efforts of Ukraine in conducting reforms. The adviser to the U.S. President said that Washington will help Kyiv achieve its political and economic security goals. Sullivan pledged his readiness to continue helping Ukraine to obtain full membership in NATO.
Olympic swimming champion Daniel Kowalski has revealed a number of media publications threatened to 'out' him before he publicly confirmed he was gay.

Kowalski, who initially confided his sexuality to family and friends in 2005, wanted to address the growing rumour on his own terms.

'It wasn't until about 2010 that I started receiving calls from a number of publications saying they were going to 'out' me,' he said.

'I really felt as though a part of me was being taken away from me, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.'

Olympic swimming champion Daniel Kowalski has revealed a number of media publications threatened to 'out' him before he publicly confirmed he was gay in 2010

Australian swimmers Ian Thorpe (middle), Michael Klim (pictured left) and Daniel Kowalski were legends in the pool in their heyday

Kowalski also stated he felt his silver medal behind Kieren Perkins in the 1500m at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 left him feeling like a failure.

'Going into the last day and the 1500m final  the one event that I really wanted to win  I was in lane four and Kieren (Perkins) was in lane eight and I was absolutely petrified,' Kowalski told Yahoo Sport Australia.

'I didn't want to be there. I wanted to be that nine-year-old kid in my lounge room watching because that's when it was fun and innocent.

'I was beyond scared....'To come away with a silver medal was a massive failure and massive disappointment.'

Despite becoming the first man almost 100 years to win medals in the 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle events at one Olympics, Kowalski still felt second rate.

He said he 'felt his time had passed' and after moving from Melbourne to base himself at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in the late 1990s, he thought about taking his own life.

At the time he also battled an eating disorder and masked his mental health struggles.

A couple of years later at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Kowalski finally snared his coveted gold medal - in the 4x200m relay, where he swum in the heats alongside Grant Hackett, Bill Kirby and Todd Pearson.

These days, Kowalski is now the Olympian Services Manager for the Australian Olympic Committee, helping athletes transition to a normal life after retirement.

Losing to fellow Australian Kieren Perkins in the 1500m final at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 left Daniel Kowalski feeling second rate
NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the pandemic rattling last year's global wine market, imports of Georgian wines to the U.S. continued to thrive. Figures from The National Wine Agency of Georgia show that for six consecutive years, Georgian wine exports to the United States have averaged +31% year-over-year by volume. Average bottle price also climbed each year; in 2020, the average ex-cellars price rose to $5.14. As the American Association of Wine Economists wrote on Feb. 28, "Georgia has continued its amazing run ... The value of wine imports from Georgia have continued to surge; with value climbing by 21.4% in 2020 (after 51.3% in 2019)."

Despite the pandemic rattling 2020's global wine market, imports of Georgian wines to the U.S. continued to thrive. National Wine Agency of Georgia figures show that for 6 consecutive years, Georgian wine exports to U.S. averaged +31% YOY by volume.

"Education will continue to be the foundation of growth, as each bottle reflects Georgian wine history, culture, varietals and its 8,000 vintages of winemaking tradition," explains Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of Georgia's National Wine Agency. "Georgia has much to share about its rich winemaking tradition, from its qvevri winemaking method to its leading native varietals such as Saperavi and Rkatsiteli. At the same time, it's important to share how these traditions continue to flourish and evolve in present Georgian winemaking, from wineries large and small. Merging these two points will allow us to tell the full story of Georgian wines and continue to help wine producers penetrate, broaden, and deepen their U.S. market presence this year."

From 2016 to 2020, the number of registered wineries within Georgia's 10 wine regions grew from 402 to 1,575, and the number of wineries imported to the U.S. grew from 40 to 150. Both increases coincide with a dramatic rise in acclaim from around the globe. Over the last two and a half years, more than 100 Georgian wines have received 90+ wine scores from publications of prominence like Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, and Wine & Spirits. These honored labels include qvevri wines fermented with skins -- colloquially known as amber or orange wines -- as well as those made using European methods.

Georgian wines available in the U.S. are featured on the Wines of Georgia website at www.winesgeorgia.com, which also includes a Where to Buy directory. The organization's YouTube channel also has individual videos on 60 wineries. Please also follow Wines of Georgia on FB: @winesgeorgia, Instagram: @winesgeorgia, and Twitter: @Wines_Georgia.

About Georgian Wines

Scholars recognize Georgia as the birthplace of wine. In 2015, archaeologists working in Georgia discovered ancient, egg-shaped clay vessels (qvevri) containing the residue of cultivated grapes. Using archaeological, biomolecular, and other methods, researchers dated these artifacts to 6000 BCE, during the Neolithic Period. A research report published by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences describes the discovery as the earliest evidence of viniculture and winemaking.

Related Files

About Georgian Wines and Winemaking.docx

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georgian-wine-imports-carry.jpg

Georgian Wine Imports Carry Momentum Into 2021 With Six Years 30%+ Average Year-Over-Year Growth

Despite the pandemic rattling 2020's global wine market, imports of Georgian wines to the U.S. continued to thrive. National Wine Agency of Georgia figures show that for 6 consecutive years, Georgian wine exports to U.S. averaged +31% YOY by volume.

georgian-wine-imports-carry.png

Georgian Wine Imports Carry Momentum Into 2021 With Six Years 30%+ Average Year-Over-Year Growth

Despite the pandemic rattling 2020's global wine market, imports of Georgian wines to the U.S. continued to thrive. National Wine Agency of Georgia figures show that for 6 consecutive years, Georgian wine exports to U.S. averaged +31% YOY by volume.

Media Contact

Christine Deussen

Deussen Global Communications, Inc.

New York, NY

Mobile: 917-545-1459

[email protected]

Trade & Strategy Contact

Julie Peterson

Wines of Georgia - U.S. Office

Marq Wine Group

Washington, DC

Mobile: 202-999-7533

[email protected]

SOURCE The National Wine Agency of Georgia
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

The Regional Judiciary authorities joined the Penitentiary corps 22 March, 2021, at the ENAP School premises in Buea to affix new epaulets on the shoulders of promoted recipients.

Following a Ministerial Order (arrete) of last 23 February, 2021, by the Minister of State in charge of Justice, Laurent Esso, some 57 penitentiary staff members working in the South West Region have been promoted to higher ranks. Among the laureates were Hospital Nurses, Agricultural Technicians, Livestock Technicians and Ordinary Warders.

Accomplishing the Ministerial Order, the newly promoted staff converged on the ceremonial ground of the National School for Penitentiary Administration (ENAP) last 22 March, 2021, to receive their new ranking epaulets. On hand to chair the ceremony was Administrator General of Prisons, Nganjoh Mama Lanya, who is also Director of the Buea-based ENAP. Flanking the chair were the South West Regional Delegate for the Penitentiary Administration, Administrator General of Prisons Tiwa Jonas, South West Attorney General, Mbia Emmanuel, the Mayor of Buea, David Mafany Namange among other local authorities and family members.

The promoted Warders ranked as Senior Warders and Chief Warders actually received their epaulets in the eyes of family members and observers who turned out to witness the splendid event. The positioning of State emblems with Music from the ENAP band, the military march past and merry making by family members sharing congratulatory flowers marked the event in Buea.

Strict rules to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic were observed with all attendees wearing their nose and mouth masks as well as disinfecting their hands on the ceremonial ground.

Meanwhile, the Buea ceremony revealed the multifaceted nature of training within the penitentiary corps to involve technicians from other fields of knowledge. For example, in a recent past, agriculture, livestock, and nursing technicians were recruited and trained as Warders for a well-defined purpose. As explained by the Director of ENAP to this reporter, Nganjoh Mama, the technicians would form and convert prisoners to end their jail-term as fully integrated citizens with professional skills in the mentioned trades. In another dimension, some of the prisons in Cameroon would become de facto production centres for self-sustenance through these new technicalities.
No charges have been filed in connection with the probe. A company spokesman wrote in an email to the Tribune: Green Thumb takes compliance very seriously and operates with the highest standards of ethical business conduct. We are not aware of any such investigation. Full story here.
We have become as much of a religious state as Pakistan and this is a fact

It appears that many Indians are not primarily voting on the basis of issues like the economy and their own well-being as measured by data provided by the government. (Photo: AFP)

I wrote a book that was published a few months ago. The problem with writing books in India, especially non-fiction and related to history, is that not many people read such books. The quality of the book and the fame of the author is not important for the most part. The print run, meaning the number of copies of such books printed, is limited to a few thousand. Usually that print run lasts for years and it is not uncommon to see books that were published years ago still on the shelves.

I wrote a book translating the Urdu non-fiction writing of Saadat Hasan Manto in 2014. Manto is a very famous name in literature, but even that book is still in its first print run. The new book is called Our Hindu Rashtra, and it examines where India stands today with respect to its constitutional promise of being a secular and democratic state.

We are a democracy if you consider democracy simply to be free and fair elections. The rest of the world does not. In the Freedom House rankings, which recently demoted India to partly free, only 40 per cent weightage was given to the political rights of citizens, where full marks were given to India for free and fair elections. It was on civil liberties and fundamental rights that India scored so badly that the good work done by free elections was negated.

My book examines this same, process but over a longer timeframe. The book is called Our Hindu Rashtra because in my opinion, we have already become one. No constitutional or other major change is required for India to continue doing what it has been doing since 2014. In Pakistan, the exclusion of minorities has been done by law, and in India it has been done by practice.

That is the only difference between the two nations. We have become as much of a religious state as Pakistan and this is a fact. Pakistan has no Hindu chief minister in its four provinces and India has no Muslim chief minister in its 28 states. Of Indias ruling partys 303 Lok Sabha members, there is no Muslim, and in 15 Indian states there is no Muslim minister. In 10 other states there is only one, who is usually given the minority affairs portfolio.

Laws that specifically gave rights to religious minorities, such as propagation and occupation, have been undone by India. The various, deviously named freedom of religion laws that Indian states have passed actually take freedom away from us. The bans on cattle slaughter go against the right to occupation, which is a fundamental right only in name.

As a nation, we do not have a problem with these things and this is why they are not a political issue (only some columnists keep whining about them all the time). This is why I say we are already a Hindu Rashtra structurally.

The other thing is that this marginalising of Indias minorities and the writing of laws and policies that inconvenience them appears to be a very large part of why Indians vote the way they do. India is an economy that is in its fourth year of slowing in terms of GDP growth. But there is not much media around this fact. India is the only economy in South Asia to be in recession, but we dont seem concerned by this either or it would be an election issue and a subject for the media. Similarly, unemployment, which is at historic highs and has been since 2017, is not apparently as important as laws that stop women from marrying outside their religion, or who is allowed to enter temples and such things.

We are told we are being led by a nationalist party but we are also informed that the situation in Ladakh is no different today than it was last year. The fact that newspaper reports have claimed that about 1,000 sq km of land that we could patrol earlier we cannot today has not led to any questioning of the idea that this is a nationalist government. Its nationalist credentials have been established and bolstered by the actions it has taken against its own citizens, including the minorities, and not externally. This is the other reason I believe that we are already living in a form of Hindu Rashtra.

The question is what comes after this. My view is that it will be more of the same. It appears that many Indians are not primarily voting on the basis of issues like the economy and their own well-being as measured by data provided by the government. They seem to be as concerned and perhaps more concerned about other things, especially those that have to do with the harassment of Indias minorities. Much of the media has joined them in this and avoids issues like jobs and economic decline even if a leader of Rahul Gandhis stature raises them. This is quite remarkable in a nation that is democratic and gets offended by the world saying that it is headed in the wrong way. But every fact on the ground shows that we are, in fact, headed in the wrong way and that there is no mechanism we appear to have to correct our course.
Flat prices of as high as 4.15c/kg for Angus stock are being reported as factories struggle to fill supermarket contracts

Meat processors are coming under pressure to break through the 4/kg barrier for base beef prices in the face of a surging UK market.

The British beef price has risen by 8c/kg in the past week, driven by supermarket demand, the anticipated re-opening of the foodservice sector and tight supplies of cattle.

Irish processors have been forced to row back fully on their February price cuts as they battle to keep pace with a booming mart trade.

While factories remain determined not to move too much on price reports, quotes of 3.85/kg for bullocks and 3.90/kg for heifers are now available, particular in the south and midlands.

Stunning flat prices of as high as 4.15c/kg for Angus stock are also being reported as factories struggle to fill supermarket contracts.

Sentiment among finishers is also being boosted by a strong mart trade, with R-grade stock in the 650kg+ range freely making 1,000-1,150 along with their weight.

Much of the price bounce is being driven by buoyant British retail demand as more consumers have been preparing and cooking meals at home due to the major disruption to the foodservice sector from the Covid-19 restrictions.

According to the latest available data from Kantar Worldpanel, spend on beef in Britain during the 12 weeks ending February 21 increased by almost 16pc year on year, to 1.15bn (1.35bn).

IFA president Tim Cullinan said its clear numbers of cattle here are not meeting demand from the marketplace, and immediate and substantial price rises are justified.

Its time to call a halt to the control meat factories have exerted on beef prices over the past number of weeks and make them pay the market returns, he said.

The value of Irish beef in comparison to our main markets has moved well past the 4/kg base price and this must be the immediate target, Mr Cullinan added.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has decided not to pursue the anti-trust case against global chip-maker

In a statement, the agency said that given the significant headwinds facing the commission in this matter, "the FTC will not petition the Supreme Court to review the decision of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in FTC v. "

The FTC first filed a complaint against in 2017, charging that the company has a monopoly in baseband processors, adding that the company used its position to "suppress competition and overcharge smartphone manufacturers".

In 2019, a judge for the District Court ruled in favour of the FTC but in August 2020, the decision was reversed by a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter said on Monday that she continues to believe that "the district court's conclusion that Qualcomm violated the antitrust laws was entirely correct and that the court of appeals erred in concluding otherwise".

"Now more than ever, the FTC and other law enforcement agencies need to boldly enforce the antitrust laws to guard against abusive behaviour by dominant firms, including in high-technology markets and those that involve intellectual property," Slaughter said.

"I am particularly concerned about the potential for anticompetitive or unfair behaviour in the context of standard setting and the FTC will closely monitor conduct in this arena."

The FTC's complaint challenged Qualcomm's unlawful maintenance of a monopoly in baseband processors, semiconductor devices that enable cellular communications in cell phones and other products.

It asserted that Qualcomm has engaged in exclusionary conduct that taxes its competitors' baseband processor sales, reduces competitors' ability and incentive to innovate, and raises prices paid by consumers for cell phones and tablets.

--IANS

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.)
Demonstrators raise their fists after marching through downtown following the first day in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, who is facing murder charges in the death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Picture: Reuters

A man who was among onlookers shouting at a Minneapolis police officer to get off George Floyd last May was to continue testifying Tuesday, a day after he described seeing Floyd struggle for air and his eyes rolling back into his head, saying he saw Floyd slowly fade away ... like a fish in a bag.

Donald Williams, a former wrestler who said he was trained in mixed martial arts including chokeholds, testified on Monday that he thought Derek Chauvin used a shimmying motion several times to increase the pressure on Floyd. He said he yelled to the officer that he was cutting off Floyds blood supply.

Williams recalled that Floyds voice grew thicker as his breathing became more labored, and he eventually stopped moving.

From there on he was lifeless, Williams said. He didn't move, he didn't speak, he didn't have no life in him no more on his body movements.

Read More

Williams was among the first prosecution witnesses as trial opened for Chauvin, 45, who is charged with murder and manslaughter in Floyd's death.

Prosecutors led off their case by playing part of the bystander video that captured Floyd's arrest on May 25. Chauvin and three other officers were fired soon after the video touched off outrage and protest, sometimes violent, that spread from Minneapolis around the world.

Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell showed the jurors the footage at the earliest opportunity, during opening statements, after telling them that the number to remember was 9 minutes, 29 seconds  the amount of time Chauvin had Floyd pinned to the pavement last May.

The white officer didnt let up" even after a handcuffed Floyd said 27 times that he couldnt breathe and went limp, Blackwell said.

He put his knees upon his neck and his back, grinding and crushing him, until the very breath  no, ladies and gentlemen  until the very life was squeezed out of him, the prosecutor said.

Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson countered by arguing: Derek Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do over his 19-year career.

Floyd was fighting efforts to put him in a squad car as the crowd of onlookers around Chauvin and his fellow officers grew and became increasingly hostile, Nelson said.

The defense attorney also disputed that Chauvin was to blame for Floyds death.

Floyd, 46, had none of the telltale signs of asphyxiation and he had fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system, Nelson said. He said Floyds drug use, combined with his heart disease, high blood pressure and the adrenaline flowing through his body, caused a heart rhythm disturbance that killed him.

There is no political or social cause in this courtroom, Nelson said. But the evidence is far greater than 9 minutes and 29 seconds.

Blackwell, however, rejected the argument that Floyds drug use or any underlying health conditions were to blame, saying it was the officer's knee that killed him.

Minneapolis police dispatcher Jena Scurry testified that she saw part of Floyd's arrest unfolding via a city surveillance camera and was so disturbed that she called a duty sergeant. Scurry said she grew concerned because the officers hadnt moved after several minutes.

You can call me a snitch if you want to, Scurry said in her call to the sergeant, which was played in court. She said she wouldn't normally call the sergeant about the use of force because it was beyond the scope of her duties, but my instincts were telling me that something is wrong.

The video played during opening statements was posted to Facebook by a bystander who witnessed Floyd being arrested after he was accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. Jurors watched intently as the video played on multiple screens, with one drawing a sharp breath as Floyd said he couldnt breathe. Chauvin sat quietly and took notes, looking up at the video periodically.

My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts, Floyd says in the video, and: I cant breathe, officer. Onlookers repeatedly shout at the officer to get off Floyd, saying he is not moving, breathing or resisting. One woman, identifying herself as a city Fire Department employee, shouts at Chauvin to check Floyds pulse.

The prosecutor said the case was not about split-second decision-making by a police officer but excessive force against someone who was handcuffed and not resisting.

Blackwell said the Fire Department employee wanted to help but was warned off by Chauvin, who pointed Mace at her.

She wanted to check on his pulse, check on Mr. Floyds well-being, the prosecutor said. She did her best to intervene. ... She couldnt help.

The timeline differs from the initial account submitted last May by prosecutors, who said Chauvin held his knee on Floyds neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds. The time 8:46 soon became a rallying cry in the case. But it was revised during the investigation.

Fourteen jurors or alternates are hearing the case  eight of them white, six of them Black or multiracial, according to the court. Only 12 will deliberate; the judge has not said which two will be alternates.
New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind was successfully operated upon at the AIIMS in Delhi, he had undergone a successful bypass surgery, the information was shared by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday.

President Kovind had been shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi on Saturday for a planned bypass procedure.

Taking to Twitter, Rajnath Singh wrote: I congratulate the team of Doctors for successful operation. Spoke to Director AIIMS to enquire about Rashtrapatijis health. Praying for his well-being and speedy recovery."

The President of India, Shri Ramnath Kovind has undergone a successful bypass surgery at AIIMS, Delhi. I congratulate the team of Doctors for successful operation. Spoke to Director AIIMS to enquire about Rashtrapatijis health. Praying for his well-being and speedy recovery.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 30, 2021

Kovind, 75, had undergone a health check-up at the Army Hospital (R&R) in Delhi after complaining of chest discomfort on Friday. After initial tests, doctors advised him to undergo a planned bypass procedure.

The AIIMS, in a the statement said, "The Presidents health is stable and he is under the care of the experts."

Earlier on Saturday, the Army hospital said in a medical bulletin that the president is being referred to AIIMS, Delhi for further investigation. The hospital had on Friday said, President of India visited Army Hospital (R&R) following chest discomfort this morning. He is undergoing routine check-up and is under observation.
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese smartphone maker Corp has formally entered the automotive industry with a new smart electric vehicle (EV) business, the company announced on Tuesday in a filing.

The firm will initially invest 10 billion yuan ($1.52 billion) in the wholly-owned subsidiary, with a total investment goal of $10 billion over the next ten years.

CEO Lei Jun will also serve as CEO of the smart electric vehicle unit, the company added.

The company's move into the EV industry follows similar steps by other tech giants, both in China and overseas.

In January, Chinese search giant Baidu Inc announced it would develop an EV unit via a partnership with domestic car maker Geely Holdings Ltd.

In February, Reuters reported that beleaguered Chinese smartphone giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is currently in talks with state-owned automaker Changan and other companies to manufacture EVs.

Apple Inc has also long been planning an entry into the EV market, according to reports.

Last week Reuters reported exclusively that was in talks to partner with Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor Co for help in manufacturing EVs.

Xiaomi declined to comment on the report, while Great Wall said in an exchange filing that it had not discussed such a partnership with Xiaomi.

($1 = 6.5647 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Josh Horwitz, editing by Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan)

(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.)
PHOENIX, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisor Group, the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, today announced the successful recruitment to its network of Rosenblum Wealth Management, a solo practice based in Jupiter, Fla., and Flemington, N.J., that oversees $173 million in total client assets.

Rosenblum Wealth Management joins Advisor Group through its subsidiary and network member firm SagePoint Financial. Advisor Group also includes FSC Securities, Royal Alliance Associates, Securities America, Triad Advisors, and Woodbury Financial Services.

Led by CEO Lee Rosenblum, a 30-plus-year veteran of the financial services industry, Rosenblum Wealth Management specializes in investment management services, tax services, life insurance products and long-term care solutions.

Desiree Sii, President and CEO of SagePoint Financial, said, "Dedicated financial professionals are always looking to enhance their clients' experiences through the best platforms, technology and culture. We are excited that Lee and his team found the right fit with SagePoint and Advisor Group, and we look forward to supporting his continued growth and the development of his service-driven approach."

Mr. Rosenblum said, "The flexibility provided at SagePoint was a clear driver of our decision to join the larger Advisor Group family. But the cultural fit that we found with the team at SagePoint made our choice much easier. I am excited to work with Desiree and the entire team at SagePoint and Advisor Group to take full advantage of the services our new platform offers."

Greg Cornick, Advisor Group's President, Advice & Wealth Management, said, "We're pleased that Rosenblum Wealth Management joined the Advisor Group family through SagePoint. It is a testament to Desiree's relationship and management style that she and the excellent recruitment professionals on her team continue to partner with such incredible financial professionals. Advisor Group's momentum continues to enhance its position as a preferred partner that leverages technology to help our financial professionals grow their businesses and serve their clients efficiently."

About SagePoint Financial

SagePoint Financial, Inc. is part of one of the nation's largest independent broker-dealer organizations and a Registered Investment Advisor, member FINRA and SIPC. SagePoint is supported by Advisor Group, one of the largest truly independent broker-dealer networks in the industry. The firm has approximately 1,400 advisors across the U.S. For more information, please visit www.sagepointfinancial.com.

About Advisor Group

Advisor Group, Inc. is the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, serving approximately 11,100 financial professionals and overseeing over $450 billion in client assets. The firm is mission-driven to support the strategic role that advisors can play in the lives of their clients. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial professionals and is committed to being in their corner every step of the way. For more information visit https://www.advisorgroup.com.

Securities and investment advisory services are offered through the firms: FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities are offered through Securities America, Inc., a broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisory programs offered by FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., are sponsored by VISION2020 Wealth Management Corp., an affiliated registered investment adviser. Advisor Group, Inc. is an affiliate of these firms. 20 E. Thomas Rd., Ste. 2000, Phoenix, AZ, 85012. 866.481.0379.

Media Inquiries

Joseph Kuo / Chris Clemens

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424 317 4851 or 424 317 4854

[email protected] or [email protected]

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - Golden Independence Corp. (CSE: IGLD) (OTCQB: GIDMF) (FSE: 6NN) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the next series of drill results from its recently completed 2020 resource expansion drill program at the Independence project, south of Battle Mountain, Nevada. Results from these three reverse circulation (RC) holes targeting the main oxide zone include:

1.01 g/t gold and 7.3 g/t silver over 210 feet (64.0 metres) including 1.37 g/t gold and 9.8 g/t silver over 140 feet (42.7 metres) including 3.29 g/t gold and 21.0 g/t silver over 45 feet (13.7 metres)

0.25 g/t gold and 3.2 g/t silver over 215 feet (65.5metres) and 0.51 g/t gold and 13.7 g/t silver over 30 feet (9.7 metres)

0.46 g/t gold and 5.0 g/t silver over 40 feet (12.2 metres)

"These three holes continue to firm up the main oxide zone, and also show indications of additional mineralized zones at downhole depths of 850 to 900 feet (259 to 274 metres), including 0.51 g/t gold and 13.7 g/t silver over 30 feet and 0.46 g/t gold and 5.0 g/t silver over 40 feet," commented Golden Independence President, Tim Henneberry. "The Company will follow up on these deeper initial intersections in the up-coming Phase II program, anticipated to commence in early Q2," he concluded.

"Hole AGEI-33 returned 210 feet grading 1.01 g/t gold and 7.3 g/t silver from surface," noted Golden Independence CEO, Christos Doulis. "This hole was drilled in the center of the Independence property and of particular note is the 45 foot interval grading 3.3 gpt gold and 21 gpt silver at the bottom of the hole supporting our model that vertical fracture structures have enriched portions of the near surface oxide material with higher grades," he continued.

Figure 1



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7273/78829_c188d050745938a9_001full.jpg

or

https://goldenindependence.co/docs/GI-2020_DrillMap_AGEI_31-33-45.pdf

Table 1. 2020 Reverse Circulation Drill Results

Hole ft from ft to ft length m length g/t gold g/t silver AGEI-31 150 365 215 65.5 0.248 3.2 and 875 905 30 9.1 0.506 13.7 AGEI-33 0 210 210 64.0 1.012 7.3 including 70 210 140 42.7 1.373 9.8 including 155 200 45 13.7 3.293 21.0 AGEI-45 200 330 130 39.6 0.183 3.3 and 845 885 40 12.2 0.460 5.0

All assay results are drill widths not true widths, which is undetermined at this time.

Figure 2



To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7273/78829_c188d050745938a9_002full.jpg

or

https://goldenindependence.co/docs/Section_4489121N.pdf

Quality assurance

All samples were shipped to the ALS Minerals prep lab in Elko, Nevada with analyses completed at the ALS Minerals Lab in Reno, Nevada. Both facilities are ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certified. All samples are analyzed utilizing ALS ME-ICP41 procedure, an aqua regia digestion with ICP-AES finish, with gold determined by the Au-AA23 procedure, a 30-gram fire assay with AAS finish. ALS Minerals is independent from Golden Independence. Golden Independence institutes a rigorous QA/QC program of duplicate samples, blanks and standards. Based on a review of the QA/QC data is not aware of any other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.

R. Tim Henneberry, PGeo (British Columbia), President and Director of Golden Independence Mining Corp., is the qualified person who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release on behalf of the company.

About Golden Independence Mining Corp.

Golden Independence Mining Corp. is an exploration company currently focused on exploring the advanced-stage Independence property located in the Battle Mountain-Cortez Trend, Nevada and the Champ precious metal property near Castlegar, British Columbia. The Independence property benefits from over US$25 million in past exploration, including over 200 holes drilled, and is located adjacent to Nevada Gold Mines' Phoenix-Fortitude mining operations in the Battle Mountain-Cortez trend of Nevada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Christos Doulis, Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 1.647.924.1083 Email: christos@goldenindependence.co

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78829
Those who fabricate and spread lies must pay the price

09:02, March 30, 2021 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily

Photo taken on March 26 shows a picturesque view formed by colorful residential buildings and snow-covered mountains in Burqin County, Altay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Wang Jianfeng)

China recently hit back after a few western countries took a unilateral move to sanction Chinese individuals and entities over Xinjiang affairs based on lies and misinformation and under the pretext of human rights.

It announced sanctions on 10 individuals and four entities from the EU, nine individuals and four entities from the UK, as well as relevant individuals and entities from the US and Canada that have severely harmed China's sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation.

China's countermeasures were necessary, legitimate and righteous. They sent a clear signal to the relevant arrogant and biased countries in the west that they must pay the price for fabricating and spreading lies.

The fact that Xinjiang residents of various ethnic groups enjoy stability, security, development and progress, makes it one of the most successful human rights stories. However, some politicians in the US, the UK, Canada and the EU clearly don't want to acknowledge this fact. They grabbed the so-called "evidence" maliciously fabricated by some anti-China politicians and scholars, even though the so-called "facts" are nothing but patchwork based on false "internal documents," "victim statements" and information from unknown sources. They have even taken out of context and distorted Chinese official documents and data.

Facts prove that what some politicians from certain western countries care about is not truth or human rights protection. They are merely interfering in China's domestic affairs under all kinds of excuses, trying to contain China's development and undermine its stability. They don't want to see a prosperous China, or a better life of the Chinese people. They did everything to fabricate lies, slander and offend the reputation and dignity of the Chinese people, and threaten the national interests of China.

Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to former US Secretary of State Colin Powell and retired US Army Colonel even said openly that "The CIA would want to destabilize China and that would be the best way to do it to foment unrest and to join with those Uyghurs in pushing the Han Chinese in Beijing from internal places rather than external."

Some politicians from a few western countries believe they can hit China by just fabricating stories and lies. However, that is nothing but daydreaming. Their hegemonic practices don't go with China, as the Chinese don't buy such approaches. Chinese people do not stir up troubles, and they are not cowards when involved in some. The Chinese side will never accept any political blackmail, and justice must be practiced. Just as what international observers commented, China is able and willing to fight back western oppression.

Over than 80 countries voiced support for China's righteous position on Xinjiang affairs, through joint and separate statements, at the 46th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. This proves that justice will finally prevail. The political manipulation by a few western countries is not the mainstream voice of the international society, nor will it deceive the world.

China is firmly determined to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests. The retrogressive behavior of some politicians from a few western countries can't stop China from progressing forward, or reverse the trend of historical development. If they keep going down the wrongful path, they will definitely pay the price for their own stupidity and vicious practices.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Kim So Hyun and Na In Woo set off to war between the Northern Zhou Tribe in "River Where the Moon Rises" Episode 13.

Before going to the North, On Dal (Na In Woo) and Yeom Ga Jin (Kim So Hyun) gather all the members of the Sunno Tribe to discuss their plan. The whole tribe is ready to fight with their swords.

Sunno Tribe Defeated the Northern Zhou Tribe

Sunno Tribe bravely met the Northern Zhou Tribe, led by On Dal and Yeom Ga Jin. The leader of the Zhou tribe welcomed them in their place. To make sure that no one will start any fight yet, the Sunno tribe surrendered their weapons and waited for On Dal's signal.

Yeom Ga Jin tried her best to get the leader's trust, but instead, according to him, the princess should kneel first in front of Zhou tribe's king to grant her wish. The lady warrior complied.

Together with the northern tribe soldiers, they started to travel going to their mainland. But something is bothering Yeom Ga Jin, On Dal, and the Sunno tribe.

Instead of heading to the king, she rushed back to where her tribe is. And from there, she saw that the Northern Zhou Tribe already started the war.

On the other hand, On Dal showed his outstanding skills in holding his sword. He bravely defeated some Northern Zhou soldiers, but he didn't expect to be wounded.

After the Zhou tribe leader stabbed him, Yeom Ga Jin immediately went to him and held him in her arms.

After the bloody war, they went back to Goguryeo to take all the wounded soldiers from the Sunno tribe. One thing they didn't expect is to lose a friend during the battle. Tara San (Ryoo Ui Hyun) was killed while saving Tara Jin (Kim Hee Jung). They buried his body in the mountains.

On Dal and Princess Pyeonggang Returned to the Palace

Meanwhile, On Dal and the princess went to the palace to tell the news that they defeated the Northern Zhou Tribe. King Pyeongwon (Kim Pub Lae) was happy to see his daughter again and very proud of what she had accomplished along with On Dal.

The two remained at the palace for some days as per the King's request. But Go Won Pyo (Lee Hae Young) and General Go Gun (Lee Ji Hoon) were unhappy. They started to look for another plan in kicking out the princess from the palace. But it is a dilemma for Go Gun because he still has feelings for the princess.

To release his frustrations, Go Gun went to Hae Mo Yong (Choi Yu Hwa). In front of her, he started to put Pyeonggang painting into flames to show that he is finally ending his feelings towards the princess.

Go Gun and Hae Mo Yong spend more time together talking until the general pulled and kissed her.

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins
Roadside drug tests piloted in Michigan last year cant immediately tell police if a driver is high, but they are expected to detect recent ingestion of certain drugs.

In some cases, however, they may mislead police to believe drivers have consumed drugs when they havent, at least not enough to be confirmed by blood test.

With $626,000 in funding, state police led a year-long, statewide trial for SoToxa handheld roadside oral fluid drug testing devices that provide results for select drugs, including amphetamines, methamphetamines, benzodiazepines, marijuana (delta 9 THC), cocaine or opiates, in as little as five minutes.

Of 934 positive test results recorded by the SoToxa devices in Michigan between October 2019 and Sept. 30, 2020, nearly a quarter, 222, were later proven wrong by blood tests, according to analysis reported to legislators in January.

Cumulatively, nearly 11% of all tests produced incorrect results, either false positives or false negatives that didnt match findings from follow-up blood tests.

Blood tests are the gold standard, the report said, and the measure against which the handled devices were compared to determine accuracy.

Police said some of the false positives are attributed to the delay between submission of a roadside saliva test and a blood draw, which could take several extra hours, state police spokeswoman Shanon Banner said. Additionally, police say the detectability of drugs in a blood sample degrades over time as it awaits analysis.

The problem is: saliva tests arent admissible in court, so blood tests are the current standard for prosecution.

The oral fluid test instrument was proven to produce accurate results for preliminary roadside testing, which is depicted in the accuracy and confidence level statistics included in the report, provided by Dr. Sharma with Michigan State University, Banner said.

MLive attempted to reach Sharma for further explanation of the results. He deferred back to state police for comment.

The advent of legalized recreational marijuana and other drug-use trends have spurred law enforcement officials to look for new ways to improve tools and education for officers so they can quickly determine whether a stopped driver is impaired by drugs.

Despite marijuana legalization, drug-involved fatalities and fatal crashes declined nominally in 2019, dipping to 237 and 214, respectively, from 247 and 220 the year prior, according to state police traffic crash data.

Michigan State Police deployed 125 officers across the state to test SoToxa devices. Each participating officer was required to be a certified drug recognition expert, which entails 72 hours of classroom study and 40 hours of field training.

This is the second pilot program conducted by state police using the devices that were estimated to cost about $6,000 each prior to the first pilot program. The first pilot concluded in 2018 but didnt produce enough data for police administrators and legislators to make a decision regarding ongoing use of the roadside drug testing devices. So they ordered another one with approval from the state Legislature.

As of this time, no recommendation was made or has been requested by the Legislature, Banner said.

The pilots resulting report doesnt provide any clear conclusions regarding the value of the SoToxa drug-screening machines that are made by Illinois-based Abbot Laboratories, a company thats also created quick-response testing for the coronavirus.

State police have purchased 126 SoToxa devices since the trials began but have no contracts in place to acquire more.

Pilot program, phase II roadside drug tests by county. Source: Michigan state police

Impaired driving suspects each provided one oral fluid sample that underwent six separate roadside tests for the detection of amphetamines, methamphetamines, benzodiazepines, marijuana (delta 9 THC), cocaine or opiates. The vast majority also provided saliva and blood for lab analysis and comparison.

The report summary explaining the SoToxa findings was vague:

Roadside oral fluid testing in the phase II pilot has been proven to be accurate to a certain degree as demonstrated in the data contained within this report, the pilot program report summary said. Each of the six drug classes demonstrated varied percentages of accuracy when compared to the Gold Standard, which is a blood test.

The machines performed best when detecting marijuana, or Delta-9 THC, the high-inducing compound in cannabis. Of 355 positive test results for THC, 16, or 5%, were false positives. Marijuana was also the most prevalent drug detected by the devices, accounting for 38% of all positive test findings.

5% is too high, if that data is correct, said East Lansing defense attorney Michael Nichols, who handles drugged-driving cases.

Nichols said hes dubious of the studys findings because raw data, testing methods and protocols havent been fully divulged.

My concern with using roadside saliva gizmo is cross-reactivity, said Nichols. Based on the science, the device is susceptible to reporting one drug, when another drug may be on-board. Sometimes the drug on board the driver is a drug that is a prescription.

The devices were much less accurate when detecting other drugs. The test data shows 65% of SoToxa test samples that issued positive results for opiates were wrong when compared to blood tests. More than 30% of the positive test findings for cocaine and amphetamines were also later discredited by blood tests. The positive findings for benzodiazapene were wrong 60% of the time.

Matt Abel, a cannabis industry attorney and director of Michigans chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said its time for police to go back to the drawing board.

He suggested a phone app, DRUID, which is designed to test cognitive and motor skills, would do a better job identifying drugged drivers than the SoToxa device.

Even if the device accurately detects someone has a drug in their system, where does that get us, Abel wondered.

MLive sent emails to each member of the House and Senate committees that were slated to receive and review the final report, and left voice messages with the committee chairs, but received no response.

A request for comment from the device manufacturer went unanswered.

Its unclear if state police or the Legislature plan to move forward with laws or funding to promote further roadside drug testing using the SoToxa or other devices.

Some defense attorneys said they would recommend their clients refuse to take the roadside drug tests because they are too unreliable.

The penalty for refusing the test is a civil infraction, the fine for which varies by community, but its a better option than having unreliable results used to prosecute you in court, said Michael Komorn, a Farmington Hills-based drugged- and drunk-driving attorney.

The science just is not there, Komorn said. " ... I advise people that if it has to do with saliva tests, you should refuse it.

Even if officials deem test results accurate enough for use, police say verifying the presence of a drug is a minor step in an impaired driving investigation.

These instruments dont prove impairment, said Grand Blanc Township Police Chief Ron Wiles, who oversees three officers who participated in the second pilot program. They prove a substance is in that person (but) further investigation is required to make an arrest in those situations.

The manufacturer, which doesnt publicly disclose error rates based on trials, has established thresholds that determine a positive result for each substance. Unlike roadside blood-alcohol breath tests that estimate levels to within .01%, the SoToxa device doesnt quantify how much of a substance is in a persons system.

Roadside breathalyzer tests are generally inadmissible in court when prosecuting drunk-driving cases, and experts dont believe roadside results would be allowed in the prosecution of drugged-drivers.

Marijuana is a good example, Wiles said. Marijuana was legalized in the state of Michigan for recreational use and you can (use it) assuming youre over 21 and meet all the other legal requirements.

So, just because you have the presence of marijuana in your system doesnt mean youre impaired.

The state police Impaired Driving Commission studied whether a threshold level of THC in the blood could determine impairment. The purpose was to establish a legal maximum amount of detectable THC drivers could have in their system, similar to the .8% alcohol limit that is imposed on drivers under the influence of alcohol.

A March 2019 report determined there is no scientifically supported threshold of (THC) bodily content that would be indicative of impaired driving, due to a poor correlation between impaired driving and THC levels at the time blood is drawn. It also determined the level of impairment doesnt correspond to the level of THC in the blood. Regular users have high tolerance, while minuscule amounts of marijuana may cause significant impairment to infrequent users.

If we were to use the instrument, its just one piece of the puzzle, Wiles said. More investigation is required ... Theres no number that if you get to it means youre impaired.

In order to support equipping all officers with SoToxa or other similar roadside instant drug testing devices, Wiles said there would need to be better parameters establishing how the machines would be used and what the objective is.

According to the study, it was found to be accurate for the purposes of preliminary roadside testing, Wiles said. So if the goal is to identify if someone has the presence of a substance in their body, this device does that.

If the purpose is to determine impairment in someone, this device does not do that.

More on MLive:

Attorneys: just say no to roadside drug testing

Roadside drug testing pilot extended

Marijuana most prevalent drug found in roadside tests

The dos and donts of driving with marijuana

Recreational market poised to boom in 2020

Michigan wants Weedmaps to stop advertising for unlicensed marijuana businesses

Michigan not collecting personal information on customers
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Mostly clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
Martha Kalifatidis showed off her latest fashion acquisition on Tuesday.

In a series of Instagram Stories, the 32-year-old flaunted her new Crocs shoes, which were adorned with a number of charms.

In the videos, the Married At First Sight star explained the meaning behind the custom adornments, with one of the shoes representing her, and the other her boyfriend, Michael Brunelli.

Custom: Martha Kalifatidis (left) showed off her latest fashion acquisition on Tuesday. In a series of Instagram Stories, she flaunted her new Crocs shoes, which were adorned with a number of charms, which included a tribute to her boyfriend, Michael Brunelli (right)

'I did an MB for Michael Brunelli and an MK, and I have the lock and the key,' she said, with the lock on Michael's side and the key on hers.

'I really like the cactus, because Michael can be a pr**k sometimes,' she then said, pointing to the green charm.

'I also gave him some chill pills because he needs to chill,' Martha explained, before pointing out a camera charm.

Cute: 'I did an MB for Michael Brunelli and an MK, and I have the lock and the key,' she said, with the lock on Michael's side and the key on hers

Details: 'I really like the cactus, because Michael can be a pr**k sometimes,' she then said, pointing to the green charm. 'I also gave him some chill pills because he needs to chill,' Martha explained, before pointing out a camera charm

'Obviously a camera for me, because I take selfies, and an alien, because you know, I'm out of this world,' she continued.

'And a gummy bear, because they're my favourite lollies in the world,' she went on, adding, 'Anyway I am obsessed with them!'

Earlier on Tuesday, Martha showcased the whopping AUD $800 haul of items she likes to have on hand.

Look inside: Earlier on Tuesday, Martha showcased the whopping AUD $800 haul of items she likes to have on hand. First she showed off her purse - a black, leather 2018 Louis Vuitton model valued at AUD $3770

First she showed off her purse - a black, leather 2018 Louis Vuitton model valued at AUD $3770.

She then showed fans various items she carries, including a Chanel hand cream, Charlotte Tilbury brand lipsticks, brush and powder, NARS concealer, Mecca and Tarte lip balms, various vitamins and a $50 comb.

Martha's bag also contained a Sharpie pen, Lotus Biscoff cookies, chewing gum, and a vape pen.
The Hanoi bus rapid transit (BRT) 01 route, which had investment of thousands of billion dong sourced from the World Bank (WB) loans, has failed to meet expectations after five years of operation.

When investing in the construction of this route, local authorities expected that it could reduce the number of personal vehicles and traffic congestion in the city thanks to its advantages of large transport capacity and fast speed. However, after five years of operation, these targets have not been achieved.







The priority lane for BRT is occupied by private vehicles

Every day, during rush hour (7:30am to 8:30am), the roads of Le Van Luong and To Huu Street are congested because huge numbers of vehicles flow to these center-forward roads. Without the presence of traffic police officers or functional forces, the priority lanes for BRT on these roads are occupied by private vehicles and the rapid transit buses are unable to run at designed speed.



Ms. Le Thi Linh in Van Khe urban area, in Ha Dong district, Hanoi, told VietNamNet that sometimes she took a rapid bus from her home in Ha Dong to Giang Vo street. However, during peak hours, the special lane for BRT buses was usually congested because of the encroachment of private vehicles.

Mr. Le Ngoc Minh, a resident in Ba La, Ha Dong district, said that so far BRT can be seen as a major failure of Hanoi. This is an overall failure from the vision on urban transport planning.



As BRT routes are set on high-traffic volume roads, with many high-rise buildings, the road area for traffic is too narrow with many intersections, so they cannot work effectively.







The priority lane for BRT is occupied by private vehicles

BRT lanes account for 1/3 of the road and go through many intersections, so all the roads with BRT lane are congested. In addition, the fact that some BRT stations do not have flyovers for pedestrians poses a traffic safety risk," Minh said.



In fact, Hanoi has come up with solutions to address shortcomings for BRT routes. One of them is to allow normal buses to run on the priority lane for BRT buses. However, the bus stations are often located on the right side of the road. To call at stations to pick up passengers, normal buses have to cut the road, making traffic more chaotic.



High cost for failed tests



Traffic expert Nguyen Xuan Thuy said that the reason for the failure of Hanois BRT routes is that the city has used an imported model from other countries without relying on actual traffic conditions in the city.



Mr. Bui Danh Lien, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Transport Association, acknowledged that BRT is an advanced model of public transport. However, on Hanois narrow roads, problems have risen, as BRT buses conflict with private vehicles.

The BRT buses are operating like normal ones, but the investment is huge, Lien said. Hanoi had to borrow capital to implement this project. It was a very expensive price for an experiment that has not worked as expected, he added.

Gia Van
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says President Muhammadu Buharis medical trip abroad is a direct indictment of his presidency over its failure to fix the countrys healthcare system.

Mr Buhari, on Tuesday, departed Abuja for London for a routine medical check-up.

The president and his aides departed the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja at about 2.30 p.m.

He is expected back in Nigeria during the second week of April 2021.

Criticism

In a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said it was worrisome that under Mr Buhari, even the highly-rated State House Clinic had become moribund that it cannot provide medical check-up for the president.

The opposition party said though it had nothing any person, including Mr Buhari seeking medical services, it was worried that the Buhari presidency is taking no decisive steps to fix our healthcare system, ostensibly because Mr President can afford overseas medical treatment at taxpayers expense.

It advised the president to think of millions of Nigerians cannot afford overseas treatment and have become despondent by his failure to take decisive steps to address our national healthcare needs.

Read the full text of the statement:

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the routine overseas medical the check-up embarked by President Muhammadu Buhari is a direct indictment of his Presidency over its failure to fix our healthcare system, which has been wrecked by his administration.

It is indeed worrisome that under President Buhari, even the hitherto highly rated State House Clinic, has become so moribund that it cannot provide a simple medical check-up service for Mr. President.

While the PDP has nothing against where any person, including President Buhari, seeks his or her medical services, our party is worried that the Buhari Presidency is taking no decisive steps to fix our healthcare system, ostensibly because Mr. President can afford overseas medical treatment at taxpayers expense.

The PDP is disturbed that while Mr. President jets out for medical treatment in well-equipped hospitals abroad, our hospitals and medical personnel are in very sorry situations while millions of our compatriots suffer, with many dying on a daily basis from conditions that have simple medical solutions.

It is indeed heartrending that Nigerians are suffering this huge misfortune of having this highly insensitive, incompetent and corrupt leadership of very selfish individuals who do not care about the welfare of other citizens.

More saddening is that all the institutions, policies and programmes established by the PDP, which hitherto ensured access to affordable healthcare for Nigerians have been wrecked by the Buhari administration.

Our party urges President Buhari to show leadership by reflecting on the fact that millions of Nigerians cannot afford overseas treatment and have become despondent by his failure to take decisive steps to address our national healthcare needs.

President Buhari must know that his duty as President is not only for his personal needs but more importantly for the needs of the generality of Nigerians.

The PDP however calls on Nigerians to remain calm and not resign to despondency as we collectively work to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of misrule.

Signed:

ADVERTISEMENT

Kola Ologbondiyan

National Publicity Secretary
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A man who set a mannequin on fire in a police cruiser during the Grand Rapids riot has been sentenced to a year in jail and five years of probation.

Ronald Raymond, 38, was credited for already serving 192 days in jail prior to his sentencing Tuesday, March 30 in Kent County Circuit Court.

Raymond was only the third person to be sentenced for the riot of nearly two dozen people charged. Many others are awaiting trial.

Related: Rioter torched police car with burning mannequin, took tray of Kilwins fudge

During an earlier plea hearing, Raymond admitted to setting a Wyoming police cruiser on fire. Several Wyoming cruisers parked on Pearl Street NW, east of Monroe Avenue, were burned in the early morning hours of May 31.

He pleaded guilty to charges of riot, attempted third-degree arson, malicious destruction of police or fire property and entry without breaking.

Vandals smashed hundreds of windows and looted some downtown Grand Rapids stores late May 30 and early May 31, causing an estimated $2.1 million in damage.

Raymond also admitted to taking a tray of fudge through a smashed window at Kilwins on Monroe Center Avenue NW at Pearl Street.

As part of his sentence, he also was ordered to pay $71,000 in restitution with others tied to the destruction of the cruisers, if they are convicted.

More from MLive

Looking back at Grand Rapids riot, the damage and charges in unprecedented melee

Michigan reports 5,177 new coronavirus cases, 48 deaths Tuesday, March 30

DeVos Place COVID-19 vaccine clinic opening eligibility to everyone 16 and older
EASTPOINTE, MI  Six people are charged with first-degree murder in a case that police believe involved retaliation for the death of a suspects boyfriend, authorities said.

Jason Foster, 38, of Eastpointe, was shot to death while he sat in a vehicle that was parked in front of his home around 3 p.m. on Dec. 9 on Rein Street, according to a news release from Eastpointe Police. Officers responded to reports of several shots fired. Witnesses reported that two or three vehicles were involved in the shooting. Eighteen shell casings from two different caliber weapons were recovered from the scene.

Between Dec. 10 and March 9, police arrested six suspects - one was apprehended in Tennessee - who have been charged by the Macomb County Prosecutors Office, police said. Jevone Melton, 28, of Detroit, and Jermaine Hunt, 30, of Warren, are both charged with first-degree murder, felony firearm and felon in possession of a firearm. Larry Bell Jr., 27, of Detroit, is charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm. 30-year-old Delenia Howell, 30-year-old Keenan Delbridge and 28-year-old Kevin Foy Jr., all of Detroit, are each charged with first-degree murder.

Police believe the death of Foster was retaliation for the murder of Howells boyfriend in Detroit on Dec. 8, police said. Howell and Foster had a previous relationship and have children together. That case remains under investigation by the Detroit Police Homicide Division.

I am very proud of the efforts our officers invested into this complex investigation, said George Rouhib Jr., director of Eastpointe Public Safety. Each mentioned agency played a pivotal role in the arrests of these individuals. The networking with the other agencies was key to bringing this case to fruition. The officers diligence and perseverance is a true reflection of their character and their dedication to the profession and community they serve.

Eastpointe Police was assisted in the investigation and arrests by Macomb County Violent Crimes Task Force, Detroit Police Department, Detroit Police Fugitive Apprehension Team, Warren Police Department, Harper Woods Police Department, Macomb County Prosecutors Office, and the FBI in Tennessee.

READ MORE:

Couple who hosted underage drinking prior to teens fatal crash sentenced to 15 days in jail

Teen without pants, attacking passing cars, was on LSD, police say

Michigan parents charged with felonies in shooting of 3-year-old son

Mother charged in non-fatal shooting of 13-year-old son
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.

BRATTLEBORO  Firefighters dressed in their finest clothes gathered near the American flag in a wooded area at Brattleboro Fire Departments Station 2 in West Brattleboro to watch the swearing-in ceremony of the new fire chief and assistant fire chief on Monday evening.

Brattleboro Town Clerk Hilary Francis administered the oath of office to Leonard Howard III as he becomes the new fire chief effective April 1, and Charles Keir becomes the new assistant fire chief, taking effect April 5.

Before they took the oath for their new positions, the current fire chief, Mike Bucossi, who retires on April 1, talked about Howards family legacy in the area and how being a firefighter is deeply rooted in his blood.

Leonard Howard III comes from a background of firefighting. His father, Sam, was the chief in Putney, his uncle Bruce was also the chief in Putney, and now his son, Lenny, is a captain in Putney, Bucossi told the crowd of firefighters and family that gathered to watch the event. Lenny joined the call staff in 1987, and became a career firefighter in 1997.

Bucossi told the audience how Howard rose in the ranks over the years to become the assistant chief, and shared some anecdotes about their time working together, covering some of the bigger fires in the towns recent memory.

We just read each others looks over the years, and it has just been a really good working relationship and I appreciate everything that Lenny has done for me, Bucossi said.

After being sworn in as the new chief, Howards wife, Becky, put the pin on his uniform and the couple shared a kiss in front of the audience.

Then Chief Bucossi called up Capt. Keir to honor the firefighter, talking about Keirs impressive resume and heroic actions, before he took the oath as assistant fire chief.

Chuck was hired in 2001; Chuck was the only person I know that would show up to a job interview wearing a Yankees hat, said Bucossi.

Keirs wife, Katie, pinned his uniform and gave her husband a kiss.

Before closing the ceremony, Bucossi bestowed some words of wisdom to the new chief and assistant.

Fire chief to retire after decades of service BRATTLEBORO  Fire Chief Mike Bucossi is retiring after working for the Brattleboro Fire Dep

You will be putting your members into harms way, and your first responsibility is to make sure they are safe and that everyone goes home, including yourself, said Bucossi.
Leading press freedom and journalists organisations, including Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, strongly condemn the decision by the Court of Appeals to reject Jovo Martinovics appeal and uphold the first instance verdict of the High Court in Podgorica which convicted Martinovic to 12 months of prison. While he will not be imprisoned due to time already spent behind bars, Jovo Martinovic will have a criminal record, solely due to his journalism. The undersigned organisations condemn the verdict and regret that the Court of Appeals has not seized the opportunity to acquit the internationally awarded journalist and send a message of support to investigative journalism in Montenegro.

Martinovic was convicted for violating the Criminal Code of Montenegro relating to the creation of a criminal organisation, as well as illicit production, possession and distribution of narcotics. While he did set up a meeting with defendants over the filming of smuggled weapons in France, he did so for journalistic purposes. We believe that throughout the detention and subsequent trial, his rights to a fair trial have been violated. Prior to his arrest on 22 October 2015, Martinovic had already been held in custody for almost 15 months before being finally freed, provisionally.

A retrial formally began on 2 December 2019 and on 8 October 2020, the High Court of Montenegro sentenced Martinovic to one year in prison for participating in drug trafficking. He was acquitted on charges for membership in a criminal organization. Yesterday, while Martinovics appeal was rejected, an appeal brought by the state calling for these charges to be reinstated was also rejected. This offers little solace either to Jovo Martinovic or other investigative journalists who can read the ongoing judicial persecution as an attempt to dissuade and chill reporting of corruption and organised crime in Montenegro. Investigative journalism is not a crime and should not be treated as such by the Montenegrin authorities.

In 2019, the Court of Appeals returned the case against Jovo for a retrial precisely due to lack of evidence against the journalist. The undersigned organisations highlight the continued absence of evidence that would justify a conviction. This further highlights a fundamental flaw in yesterdays verdict. While Jovo Martinovic will not be imprisoned, this politically motivated judicial persecution is an attack on investigative journalism and a damning indictment of media freedom in Montenegro.

There remain few precedents for this level of judicial persecution aimed at an investigative journalist in the Balkans and Europe more broadly and highlights a significant failure for the rule of law, which remains important as Montenegro is seeking ascension to the European Union. In a 2020 report, the European Commission, highlighted that while there are legal guarantees in place to protect judicial independence, the system is still vulnerable to political interference. To ensure this situation does not continue and to build trust in the judicial system, these guarantees need to be strengthened as a priority.

The undersigned organisations condemn the Court of Appeals verdict and stand in solidarity with Jovo Martinovic and all investigative journalists in Montenegro. We call on Montenegrin authorities and courts to work in line with their commitment to media freedom and European standards, as part of their commitment to the ascension process for the European Union, to ensure Martinovic is not further criminalised or persecuted for his journalism.

Signed:

ARTICLE 19

Centre for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG)

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Free Press Unlimited

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

International Press Institute (IPI)

OBC Transeuropa

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)

Trade Union of Media of Montenegro

IFEX

Read the original letter here
BRATTLEBORO  Firefighters dressed in their finest clothes gathered near the American flag in a wooded area at Brattleboro Fire Departments S


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Did you know: Healthy City is a local nonprofit that has a mission to raise awareness about a whole, plant-based foods diet and increase education on how to improve overall health and prevent/reverse the most common disease processes.

--

If we have learned anything in the past year, it is our health really matters. The world was consumed with daily updates, new interventions and best practices to slow the spread. We picked up new lingo. In March we were talking about PPE and by April and May it was all about the PPP. And there were terms that were overused like novel, unprecedented and underlying conditions. The last was used many times as an explanation as to why someone was hospitalized or had succumbed to COVID-19.

But what did it mean? Underlying condition? It sounds horrible. Unfortunately 60 percent of Americans have an underlying condition. An estimated 30.3 million U.S. adults have diagnosed heart disease. More than 32 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, with more than 7 million cases undiagnosed. In 2015, an additional 88 million American adults had prediabetes, the early stage of this condition. Millions more may have an undiagnosed heart condition. More than 42 percent of American adults  around 108 million  have obesity. Obesity occurs in 40 percent of young adults ages 2039.

Barry M. Popkin, PhD, a professor of nutrition in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, said the high obesity rate in the United States may be one explanatory factor behind our high COVID-linked mortality. He recently co-authored a paper looking at the link between obesity and COVID-19.

It seems like very dire news until you realize all three of these underlying conditions are considered lifestyle diseases and can be reversed through modifications to an individuals lifestyle. This is the usual prescription of more exercise, more sleep, more whole, plant-based foods and less meats, dairy, eggs and processed foods. These changes can not only lower your body-mass index (BMI) but reverse diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and many other diseases.

In the Permian Basin, we are blessed to have the Lifestyle Medicine Center to help our neighbors through their journey of eliminating disease. Healthy City, a local nonprofit, creates a community for those adjusting to a healthier lifestyle through community meals, grocery store tours, webinars and seminars. Each year (sans 2020), Healthy City brings Food is Medicine to Midland. This all-day seminar features lifestyle medicine industry leaders that have studied the effects of lifestyle changes on different disease processes.

This year we are happy to bring Dr. William Li, a world-renowned physician, scientist, speaker and author of EAT TO BEAT DISEASE  The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself to Food is Medicine. He is best known for leading the Angiogenesis Foundation. His groundbreaking work has impacted more than 70 diseases including cancer, diabetes, blindness, heart disease and obesity. Joining Dr. Li is Dr. Saray Stancic, the founder of Stancic Health & Wellness in Ridgewood, New Jersey, an innovative medical practice whose mission is to educate and empower patients to achieve optimal health via lifestyle modification. Her focus is shedding light on the building body of scientific data supporting the importance of optimal nutrition in disease prevention. The concept for this practice came in response to her experiences as a physician for nearly 20 years and as a patient with multiple sclerosis.

We would love for you to join us Oct. 2 for Food is Medicine or check out the many resources available through the Healthy City website, www.ourhealthycity.com Today is a beautiful day to take back your health.
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SPRINGFIELD  When Springfield students return to school next week, theyll see reminders of why theyve been away so long: signs telling everyone to mask up, tape over the water fountains in the hallways and arrows to help maintain social distancing will be prominent in every building.

At a press conference Tuesday at the Rebecca M. Johnson School, Springfield Superintendent Daniel Warwick and Assistant Superintendent Lydia Martinez discussed many of the changes in place when students begin returning to school buildings under a hybrid learning model on April 5. The students will return over a year after the city shuttered the schools as COVID-19 took root in Massachusetts.

Besides desks being spaced six feet apart, wearing face coverings all day except for mask breaks and not having the use of lockers, students will also eat all of their meals in the classroom. And, they will not be required to wear uniforms for the remainder of the school year.

Martinez said for the safety of students there will be limited access to school buildings come Monday.

In an abundance of caution we are going to be welcoming our parents by Zoom and other teleconference methods. And in the rare case that they have to come to school we are going to do that by appointment, she said.

Warwick said that while the district is ready to welcome students back, any parent who wants to keep their child remote for the remainder of the school year had the option. Parents also had the choice to accept or refuse transportation for their child.

We have about 50 percent who are returning to school and 50 percent continuing remotely, Warwick said. We also have some parents whose children were eligible for transportation but opted out of that, and will bring them to school themselves.

Jessica Davila, a second grade teacher at Rebecca M. Johnson School, said she is excited to meet her students in person after teaching them virtually since the school year began. Davila said she has been teaching them the protocols and has even given them a virtual tour of their classroom to help them get ready.

They were in awe when they saw the classroom and they are excited to be back in school, she said. The best thing I can do is prepare the students so there are no surprises. Kids really like to have a place to belong to and their classroom is their own little place of belonging.

Rebecca M. Johnson School Principal Christopher Sutton said his staff is ready for the arrival of students next week.

We are absolutely excited about Monday. These halls have been closed for over a year and with the safety protocols we are ready to come back, he said. Our teachers have been coming into the building with smiles on their faces and getting their spaces ready for their students.

Schedule in place

The district will begin its hybrid re-entry plan with pre-k through fifth grade starting April 5 and returning for a full five-day week on May 3.

Sixth-graders will return Monday under the hybrid model, but will transition to five days a week on April 10. Seventh- and eighth-graders will begin with a hybrid model on April 26 and will go full-time on May 10.

English Language Learners Level 1 and high needs special education students  as well as some students who have had interrupted learning, like some children of refugees  will return with their grade, but will be immediately starting at five days a week.

No return date has been set for high school students, Warwick said.

The high schools are a bit more challenging when it comes to planning hybrid cohorts, so we are going to take it slow and wait to see what Education Commissioner (Jeffrey) Riley announces, he said.

Some 10th- through 12th-graders at Putnam Vocational Technical Academy will be returning to the school to complete necessary vocational hours starting April 5.

Azell Cavaan, chief communications officer for the school district, said theres a lot of information, including detailed protocols related to COVID-19, for parents and students to remember. She urged families to visit the districts website, springfieldpubicschools.com, to documents explaining the new procedures as well as video presentations of classrooms. The site also includes information about how food will be prepared and sanitation plans for each school.

It is a lot of information, but its all on or website. There is a Getting Back to School Safely page that anyone can access to see detailed plans, she said.

While it will take time for students and teachers to get acclimated to an in-person learning environment, Warwick said there has been a lot of enthusiasm about the upcoming return to school. He also credited teachers, parents and students for excellent participation in the past year.

He said during the pandemic attendance has been 92.2%.

That is a testament to the work of our principals, our teachers, and our staff, keeping kids engaged through these very difficult times and moving the system forward, he said. They have done a great job providing a quality remote program for our kids...Our priority now is getting students back to the classroom with all of the safety protocols in place.

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Despite a 44 percent drop in its 2020 profits, the Saudi Arabian government has instructed majority-state-owned Saudi Aramco to stick to the US$75 billion per year dividend payout for shareholders that it pledged at the time of the companys initial public offering (IPO) in December 2019. Sticking to such a huge dividend payout  a guaranteed US$18.75 billion paid every quarter  has necessitated a significant cut in Aramcos capital expenditure in the coming year that will damage the companys prospects for growth and even the sustainability of its current operations. So why does the Saudi government not just reduce the dividend payable to Aramcos shareholders instead?

The basic answer to this often-asked question is that without such a massive payment being guaranteed virtually no one would have bought the shares in the first place and few would hold on to them now. This failure then or now would be highly dangerous for the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS). It should be remembered that MbS was only appointed as Crown Prince in June 2017, unprecedentedly taking over the role from Mohammed bin Nayef (MbN), a direct-line grandson from the founding father of the modern Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz. From that point, the jostling for succession after the current, frail King Salman dies between the two groups of supporters became even more energised. It was in this febrile atmosphere that MbS hit upon the idea of internationally listing Aramco as a symbol of the new Western-style, commercially-minded but socially-aware, savvy oil player that he wanted it to be seen as. Vital to this cornerstone strategy to ensure his succession as king  not to mention his very survival as Crown Prince  was that the Aramco IPO was seen as a palpable success and he himself set the metric for this appraisal: that the value of the intended 5 percent stake sold in Aramco should place a total value on the company of at least US$2 trillion. With an eye on bolstering his wider support amongst his own people as well, MbS made it clear that the new money coming in from the Aramco IPO would go into his Vision 2030 development plan that seeks to diversify Saudi Arabias economy away from its reliance on oil and gas exports.

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The basic problem for him achieving his own targets was that the more that international investors came to know about Saudi Aramcos operations, the less they wanted to take any part in it. This included all of the lies about its crude oil reserves claims, spare capacity claims, output claims, terms of its oil concessions claims, and independence from government influence claims, among other toxic elements for investors. This meant that by the time that the company was finally floated at the very end of 2019, it was not a 5% stake that MbS was able to sell but just 1.5% in the IPO window. It was also not at a value that would put a total value on Aramco of US$2 trillion but rather at a listing price per share of SAR32 (US$8.53), which implied a total value for Aramco of US$1.7 trillion. Worse still was that not a single major (or minor, for that matter) international stock exchange had wanted Aramco to list on it and that even in order to sell the 1.5% stake sold in the IPO, MbSs team had to resort to tactics that did his reputation no good at all internationally.

One of these was encouraging the same senior Saudis who had been imprisoned and tortured in the Ritz-Carlton in 2017 (to force them to hand over hundreds of billions of riyals to the government for supposed corrupt payments that they had accepted in their business dealings, despite such payments  seen as commissions - being a standard part of all business done in Saudi Arabia) to buy shares in the Aramco IPO. A similar-style tactic was also employed on those Middle East countries that wanted to avoid suffering the same fate as the blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia in 2017, which bought Aramco shares via their sovereign wealth funds and similar. Much of the remainder of the Aramco IPO was taken up by the investment vehicles of countries that sought to gain a geopolitical advantage such as China and Russia and by the investment banks working for Aramco and acting in the underwriting syndicates. Finally, Saudi nationals were promised the unprecedented deal of being able to take out new loans at a 2-to-1 ratio for every riyal that they would invest in Saudi Aramco, compared to an average leverage ratio limit for loans of 1-to-1. And it is precisely in light of this that MbS and his bankers knew that they had to offer an unheard-of massive guaranteed payment for years  in the form of the US$75 billion dividend paid every quarter  to all buyers of Aramco stock. Related: Is Natural Gas Still A Safe Bet For Oil Majors?

So, why was there so little common interest in Aramco shares? In the most basic terms, it is because Aramcos future is highly uncertain. It could suffer a huge level of value destruction again if the Saudi lawmakers decide to launch another oil price war. The 2014-2016 Oil Price War launched by Saudi Arabia against the then still-nascent U.S. shale oil sector cost the OPEC member states collectively at least US$450 billion in revenues, according to the International Energy Agency, and caused Saudi Arabia to move from a budget surplus to a then-record high deficit in 2015 of US$98 billion and to spend at least US$250 billion of its precious foreign exchange reserves over that period that even senior Saudi officials said were lost forever.

The 2014-2016 Oil Price War also irrevocably broke the Kingdoms most important relationship in the world, established with the U.S. in 1945 in a deal signed by then-U.S.President Franklin Roosevelt and then-Saudi King Abdulaziz. The deal was, simply: the U.S. would receive all of the oil supplies it needed for as long as Saudi had oil in place, in return for which the U.S. would guarantee the security both of the ruling House of Saud and, by extension, Saudi Arabia. After the 2014-2016 Oil Price War, this effectively changed to: in return guaranteeing the security both of the ruling House of Saud and Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia will supply the U.S. with all of the oil it needs for as long as Saudi has oil in place and will allow the U.S. shale oil sector to prosper and to grow. After the 2020 Oil Price War broke this final pledge yet again, then-U.S. President Donald Trump directly told MbS during a telephone call on 2 April 2020 that unless OPEC started cutting oil production  that is, stopped the oil price war - he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from the Kingdom. In addition, it was made very clear by Trump that he expected from then on that the next time that the Saudis tried to destroy the U.S. shale sector it would be the end of the 1945 Agreement, with no further warning, and that U.S. military would be withdrawn immediately.

Even if new president Biden did not go through with his predecessors threats in the event that Saudi Arabia does start another oil price war, he can use the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Bill (NOPEC) threat that was taken to the line as well both by Trump and before that by George W. Bush. At the beginning of 2019, a committee from the U.S. House of Representatives approved the NOPEC bill that would have a broad mandate, making it illegal to artificially cap oil (and gas) production or to set prices, which is precisely what OPEC and Saudi Arabia attempt to do. It would also immediately remove the sovereign immunity that exists in U.S. courts for OPEC as a group and for its individual member states. This would leave Saudi Arabia open to being sued under existing U.S. anti-trust legislation, with its total liability being its estimated US$1 trillion of investments in the U.S. alone. The U.S. would then be legally entitled to freeze all Saudi bank accounts in the U.S., seize its assets in the country, halt all use of U.S. dollars by the Saudis anywhere in the world (oil, of course, is denominated in U.S. dollars), and to go after Aramco and its assets and funds, as it is still a majority state-owned production and trading vehicle. It would also mean that Aramco could be ordered to break itself up into smaller, constituent companies that are not deemed to break competition rules in the oil, gas, and petrochemicals sectors or to influence the oil price. Effectively, this would reduce the value of Aramco to zero.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Chinese professor Zang Qichao talks about how China steals technologies from the United States in his speech in Shenzhen, China on March 21, 2021. (Screenshot/Zang Qichao's Xigua Video Channel)

China Copied Its Way to Economic Success, Chinese Professor Boasts

A Chinese professor recently bragged in front of a mainland Chinese audience that China had successfully copied its way to the worlds front row, which has emboldened the regime to take a more aggressive line towards the United States.

For the past 40 years, the Chinese regime only did one thing: plagiarize, Zang Qichao, a prominent marketing expert and visiting professor of Beijings Tsinghua University, told a group of Chinese entrepreneurs recently.

We plagiarized wildly, copied wildly, Zang said.

What intellectual property rights? What patented technology? Well get it first and deal with it later.

Through this approach, China has skyrocketed to become one of the worlds leading economies, and now finds that theres nothing left to replicate, Zang said.

Inflated by its achievements replicating foreign technology, the Chinese regime is now emboldened to be tougher against the United States, Zang said, as demonstrated by the public tongue-lashing dished out by Chinese diplomats to U.S. officials in Alaska earlier this month.

Zang is a Chinese professor, author, and businessman, who also chairs two companies, a communications company and investment firm. The companies clients include Chinas state-owned banks and telecom firms. His brief remarks were first published on his Chinese social media channel on March 21 and have since been circulated widely.

Workers producing LED chips at a factory in Huaian city, in Chinas eastern Jiangsu Province, on June 16, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Four Decades of Cheating

Since the Chinese regimes economic reforms of the late 1970s, it has depended heavily on foreigners bringing in their investments, technology, and know-how to spur the countrys economic development, Zang said.

Specifically, Zang said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) forced foreign businesses to enter into partnerships with domestic firms, so the locals could learn from the foreigners and eventually replace them by running the businesses themselves.

Known as forced technology transfer, the CCP has forced foreign companies to enter into joint ventures with local firms and handover their intellectual property (IP) as a condition of entry to the Chinese market.

After four decades, weve learned everything, and can do everything ourselves, he said.

When we look back, the factories are ours, the equipment is ours, the technology is ours, the patents are ours, Zang said. The foreigners have all gone.

The CCPs rampant theft of foreign IP has sparked rising push back in recent years, particularly during the Trump administration. U.S. officials have described Beijings strategy to overtake the United States as the lone superpower as centered on the actions: rob, replicate, replace.

After finding the CCP was engaged in state-sanctioned theft of American IP, the Trump administration in 2018 launched the U.S.-China trade war in an attempt to get the regime to drop a range of unfair trade and economic practices, such as forced technology transfer, subsidies for domestic industries, and currency manipulation. A phase-one trade deal was reached in January 2020, but many trade barriers were not addressed.

Federal authorities have also ramped up prosecutions of alleged technology theft by Chinese students and company insiders, as well as Chinese cyberhackers.

In his speech, Zang said the United States had finally found out about Beijings plans.

They dont let us copy anymore, he said.

An elderly woman pushes a cart along a street near the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on March 5, 2021. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images)

Arrogance

According to Zang, the Chinese regime was in a position to be tough with the United States during the recent talks in Alaska because of its strengthened economic standing achieved through four decades of state-sanctioned theft.

Thats why our Foreign Minister Yang [Jiechi] and Wang [Yi] could be so tough when they talked to the United States. [They thought] you have no right to talk to us in this way, Zang said, while laughing.

The CCPs top diplomat Yang Jiechi and its Foreign Minister Wang Yi sparked headlines in March when they publicly lambasted the United States over a series of alleged offenses during the first face-to-face talks with Biden administration officials, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

Going forward, Zang said the CCP is focused on encouraging citizens to develop native technology through the slogan innovation is the top driver for production. The slogan has been repeated by Chinese Leader Xi Jinping since 2015, as he aims to shift the country to focus on domestic innovation.
With a large number of businesses still recovering from the financial repercussions of COVID, the use of an effective SEO strategy has become crucial to getting companies back on their feet

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 PPC companies in the United States.

SEOblog analysts determined the 15 best PPC 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 PPC companies that provide a very competitive digital marketing landscape.

With a large number of businesses still recovering from the financial repercussions of COVID, the use of an effective SEO strategy has become crucial to getting companies back on their feet, said Ignacio Vanzini, digital marketer at 598 Los Angeles. Incorporating a strong SEO campaign, along with content-rich social media marketing campaigns, is the only way to truly stand out in a market that no longer is interested in spammy ads that bring no benefit to the customer.

Mark Lane, president of Eco York, added:

SEO is no longer about keyword stuffing and trying to trick Google to get better rankings. It's all about developing a user experience that is data-driven. Customers are searching for a solution to rank for specific results. It's a combination of science and art to successfully rank a website.

Sean Kapoor, owner and managing director at Digital Marketing 360, also added:

Businesses are the contestants, people are the audience and the search engine is the judge. Show the people that you are unique and an expert in your profession so that you will get the best judgment from search engines.

Ryan Brannon, owner and CEO of Digital Sprout, also added:

When was the last time you clicked on something on the second page of Google? Rank Top 3 for relevant keywords and you are guaranteed more business.

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 PPC companies in the United States in 2021:

Kodeak Digital Media Experts, 1111 Media Group, 310 Creative, 598 Los Angeles, Anytime Digital Marketing, California SEO Professionals, Catalpha Advertising & Design, Digital Dex, Digital Marketing 360, Digital Sprout, Digital Success, Dot Com Media, Duckpin, Eco York and Fitz Designz.

Link: https://www.seoblog.com/best-ppc-companies/

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.
Ramy Eid, the first Egyptian-American named to the Jersey City municipal court bench seven years ago, has been promoted to chief judge of the citys municipal court, Mayor Steve Fulop announced.

Eid will fill the position that opened when Chief Municipal Judge Carlos Abad was appointed to serve on the Hudson County Superior Court. Eid must first be approved by the Jersey City City Council on April 10, 2021.

The appointment of Eid, who is Muslim, comes on the same day that President Joe Biden announced the historic appointment of the first Muslim as a federal district judge.

Im extremely honored and excited to be appointed chief judge, Eid said. I look forward to building upon our successful operations as one of the most dynamic courts in the state, with many specialty courts handling complex issues, including mental health, domestic violence, and community court.

The Jersey City municipal court has one of the largest case dockets in the state city officials said.

I have no doubt that Judge Eids tenacity and leadership skills will continue to lead our court system with policies outlined around fairness and equality, Fulop said.

As a municipal court judge, Eid assisted with the development and implementation of the Jersey City Community Court, which focuses on quality of life offenses utilizing community service as an alternative to incarceration and fines while linking offenders with service providers to improve both individual and community outcomes.

Eid also has been involved in cases regarding compliance in quality of life measures and similar code violations to ensure the citys policies to safeguard residents are upheld, officials said.

On behalf of the Egyptian, Arab, and Muslim Community of Jersey City, we congratulate Ramy Eid for his outstanding achievements, said Jersey City Islamic Center President Ahmed Shedeed, who also called Eid an inspiration to all future generations of Egyptian, Arab, and Muslim Americans. Over the last couple of years, Ramy defined what the American Dream truly means through hard work and dedication.

As a municipal court judge, Eid also assisted with the launch of the Jersey City Youth Court Program, which enables young adults facing minor offenses to remain out of the justice system and, instead, face a court of judges, attorneys, and jurors of their peers in an effort to reduce juvenile delinquency rates.

Mayor Fulop chose wisely here with a selection that exudes goodwill towards our Egyptian community and benefits the entire City, said Deacon Emad Attaalla of the Saint George Egyptian Coptic Church. Judge Eid is very organized and very fair. He will add a lot to our municipal court as chief judge.

Zahid N. Quraishi, 45, who is nominated for the U.S. District Court for New Jersey, is Muslim and of Pakistani ancestry. Currently he is a U.S. magistrate judge for New Jersey, a position he was appointed to in 2019. His appointment must be approved by the U.S. Senate.
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By Jeff Mason and Carl O'Donnell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Biden administration officials pleaded with Americans on Monday to continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amid an increase in cases across the country.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with emotion in her voice, urged public officials and others to spread the word about the seriousness of the situation in an effort to prevent a fourth surge.

She said the United States surpassed 30 million cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, and that the seven-day average of new cases was slightly less than 60,000 cases per day - a 10 percent increase compared with the prior seven-day period. Hospitalizations also increased and deaths started to rise.

"I'm going to lose the script and I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom," Walensky told a briefing with reporters. "Right now I'm scared."

Officials cited states opening up their economies and loosening COVID restrictions prematurely, along with an increase in travel, as reasons for the uptick.

Walensky said the trajectory of the pandemic in the United States looked similar to countries in Europe, such as Germany, Italy and France, which have experienced a spike in cases.

"We do not have the luxury of inaction. For ... the health of our country, we must work together now to prevent a fourth surge."

President Joe Biden has set a goal of getting 200 million vaccine shots in people's arms in his first 100 days in office, and vaccinations are increasing across the country.

But some parts of the United States have started to do away with mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions, while Americans have gotten out to travel more for spring break and leisure, as fatigue over a year of a pandemic-changed way of life takes hold.

"Hang in there," said infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. "It will be a race between the vaccine and what's going on with the dynamics of the outbreak, and we can win this by just hanging in there a bit longer."

The officials discouraged nonessential travel and encouraged measures such as mask-wearing and keeping socially distant to stop the spread of the virus and its dangerous variants.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Carl O'Donnell; additional reporting by Lisa Lambert; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
One death as hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to fall in South Dakota
Zimbabwe is among few African nations returning to Italy for the 59th Venice Biennale, often described as "the Olympics of the art world".

The 59th Venice Biennale runs from next month to November next year. Interrupted by the global Covid-19 pandemic, Zimbabwe's return to the Venice Biennale, marks the nation's sixth consecutive appearance, where it will fly high the brand Zimbabwe flag.

Four artists -- one female and three male -- who will represent the country at this most prestigious cultural and creative industries' global event, were unveiled on Wednesday in Harare. The participating artists are Kressiah Mukwazhi, Wallen Mapondera, Ronald Muchatuta and Terrence Musekiwa.

Zimbabwe's representatives at the 58th Venice Biennale comprised Kudzanai Violet Hwami, Georgina Maxim, Cosmas Shiridzinomwa and Neville Starling.

Prior to that, the nation's representatives at the 57th Venice Biennale were Charles Bhebe, Admire Kamudzengerere, Dana Whabira and Sylvester Mubayi. In announcing the artists who will represent Zimbabwe next year, Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry, saluted the quartet and their predecessors, pointing out that they had made an impact on the global arts arena through their work.

She explained: "These men and women have been steadfast ambassadors, who made Zimbabwe to be revered and viewed through a different lens; as cultured as our history, as critical in thought as any other nation in the world, and, above all as fearless in telling their own stories. "Now, a new crop of artists steps to the fore. The culture of creativity is proving inexhaustible, even in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic."

The Ministry, she explained, will strive to ensure that as a sector, the international visibility of Zimbabwe's creative and cultural industries is guaranteed.

"In assuming this character, the sector continues to contribute to the positive image-building for Zimbabwe," said Minister Coventry. "Most importantly, the Zimbabwean pavilion in Venice is a platform for our artists to shine at this most prestigious global art event.

"As a Government, we supported the Zimbabwe pavilion with other partners on our inaugural and second appearances. We have taken the full responsibility to make sure that the Zimbabwe pavilion remains a priority on our budget list.

"I am excited that this quartet reflects my Ministry's mandate; Youth and Art."

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Minister Coventry explained that in sending the four artists to represent the country at the 59th Venice Biennale, the Government was walking the talk in implementing four of the 10 pillars in Zimbabwe's Cultural and Creative Industries strategy.

She identified these as follows: establishing cultural markets and business development; raising intellectual property and copyright awareness; establishing cultural diplomacy and global business for purposes of re-engagement; and safeguarding cultural heritage.

The Wednesday event observed a minute's silence in honour of creatives who died recently.

Kressiah Mukwazhi

Kressiah Mukwazhi received her introduction to visual arts and photography at the Zimbabwean National Gallery School of Visual Art and design in Harare and the Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2019, Mukwazhi was a resident artist at the Nafasi Art Space, which culminated in an artist talk in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She was also a resident artist at Katutura Art Centre in Windhoek, Namibia.

She has participated in various symposiums, notably -- Live Art Workshop at the Institute of Creative Arts at the University of Cape Town and The Arts of Africa and Global South at Rhodes University.

Mukwazhi had her debut solo exhibition, Bedroom Interview with SMAC gallery in Cape Town, South Africa, 2018.
Detectives are investigating a formal complaint in relation to allegations against Liberal MP Andrew Laming for an incident in which he allegedly took photos of a young woman.

Crystal White, who alleged Mr Laming took photos of her bending over with her underwear visible in 2019, attended Cleveland police station on Monday, saying she had documented the incident.

Liberal MP Andrew Laming. Credit:Andrew Meares

Ms Whites colleague, Sean Blinco, also fronted the police station on Monday to tell his version of the event.

Ms White alleged Mr Laming took a photo of her as she bent over filling a bar fridge at a Queensland landscaping supplies company.
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The science symposium of the Asian Forum for Polar Sciences (AFoPS) was held successfully online

The AFoPS Science Symposium was held online on March 3 and 4 (Japan time). The symposium was organized by the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR, Japan) and led by Dr. Takuji Nakamura, Director-General of NIPR, who chaired the Forum for 2019-2020. The symposium focused on the stimulation of joint observations in the polar regions among Asian countries. Due to the influence of COVID-19, it was held online for the first time and attended by 61 participants from 11 countries.

Six member countries (China, Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, and Thailand) presented their latest results in the "Scientific projects for future collaborations" session. From Japan, Associate Professor Yusuke Suganuma of NIPR gave a talk entitled "A scientific collaboration with NCPOR, India: Schirmacher Oasis Nippon (Japan) India Coring expedition." In addition, sessions were planned to introduce researches from Iran, Australia, Egypt, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, which participated as observers. Through the lively question and answers, the symposium successfully provided an opportunity to exchange information and ideas for new collaborative research. It was a great pleasure as a host institute that this first online symposium was very effective and that there were many positive comments from the participants, including the expectation to hold such meetings several times a year.

A Member Countries' Meeting was held following the symposium on March 4. Representatives of the AFoPS members exchanged opinions on the current status of polar observations under the COVID-19 pandemic and discussed the future activities of the Forum.

###

As the only polar research network among Asian countries, AFoPS plans to promote advanced polar research continuously and contribute to further cooperation under the COVID-19 pandemic. NIPR will continue to support AFoPS as a Representative of Japan.

About Asian Forum for Polar Sciences (AFoPS):

The Asian Forum for Polar Sciences (AFoPS) is a non-governmental organization established in 2004 to encourage and facilitate cooperation for advancing polar sciences among countries in the Asian region. The Forum consists of its 6 Members, national polar research institutions representing China, Japan, South Korea, India, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Many cooperation among Asian countries, such as invitation of observers for each training course for polar expeditions, collaborative field research in Arctic and Antarctic, and joint publication of AFoPS special issue, have been carried out with the support of this research network.

About National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR)

The NIPR engages in comprehensive research via observation stations in Arctic and Antarctica. As a member of the Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS), the NIPR provides researchers throughout Japan with infrastructure support for Arctic and Antarctic observations, plans and implements Japan's Antarctic observation projects, and conducts Arctic researches of various scientific fields such as the atmosphere, ice sheets, the ecosystem, the upper atmosphere, the aurora and the Earth's magnetic field. In addition to the research projects, the NIPR also organizes the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition and manages samples and data obtained during such expeditions and projects. As a core institution in researches of the polar regions, the NIPR also offers graduate students with a global perspective on originality through its doctoral program. For more information about the NIPR, please visit: https:/ / http://www. nipr. ac. jp/ english/

About the Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS)

The Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS) is a parent organization of four national institutes (National Institute of Polar Research, National Institute of Informatics, the Institute of Statistical Mathematics and National Institute of Genetics) and the Joint Support-Center for Data Science Research. It is ROIS's mission to promote integrated, cutting-edge research that goes beyond the barriers of these institutions, in addition to facilitating their research activities, as members of inter-university research institutes.

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Boston Dynamics has built its reputation as one of the leading robotics design companies since 1992. Over the past years, it has constructed a lot of technologies that involve special robots that could dance and even jump - actions similar to what humans usually do.

At the time, the company will open its company to other people. The 60 Minutes team of CBS has managed to access the Massachusetts workshop after years of trying. Let's take a look at the workshop.

Boston Dynamics Now Offers Special Workshop

Through the video posted on CBS' 60 Minutes on its website, Anderson Cooper showed what it felt to be in the workshop while conversing with the founder of Boston Dynamics, Marc Raibert.

For Boston Dynamics chairman, Raibert, failure is just a natural part when developing a technological product. Raibert also noted his motto with his team: "Build it, break it, fix it."

This only meant that regardless of the trials that they have experienced previously with their robots like Spot, Handle, and Atlas, the company remained happy to impart their videos for the public to see.

Previously, Raibert and his team had constructed high-tech robots that could dance like humans. Their performance was synced with the music. According to the team, it took them eight months to finalize everything - from their development to the execution of the robots.

Moreover, since Hyundai bought Boston Dynamics from SoftBank for a $1 billion deal last 2020, the company could now start monetizing its creations. Furthermore, the company also began to market a $75,000-dollar robot named Spot to other industries.

The robot had landed its first gig in Norway, where its tasks included detecting gas leaks, collecting information, conducting inspections, and creating reports. In a Ford car factory, Spot was also helpful in gathering information and scanning the plant's entire layout.

Read Also: This Robot Modifies its Body Based on a Particular Terrain - Shape-Shifting from Grass to Concrete is Possible!

Boston Dynamics Readies 'Stretch' Robot

According to a report by Digital Trends, Boston Dynamics said that Stretch, a new robot will be due for sale in 2022. The robot was created to carry out tasks in a warehouse. Its tasks feature moving around 800 boxes in an hour. The wheel-based machine could also function for up to 16 straight hours without charging.

"This generation of robots is going to be different," "They're going to work amongst us. They're going to work next to us, in ways where we help them but they also take some of the burden from us," Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter said.

In a report by Mashable last July 2020, Stretch robot could do laundry tasks. It also has a strong grip. For $18,000, Stretch could also vacuum your couch at home.

While many people thought that robots could one day overtake the world through doing human tasks, the robots created by Boston Dynamics will be a big help for humans to accomplish an activity in a much more convenient and more efficient way possible.

Related Article: [UPDATE] Spot, Dynamic Robot Dog, Hired As New Employee in Alberta Shell Refinery



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Written by Joen Coronel

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SEA ISLAND, GA / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2021 / Top Sea Island Luxury Interior Designer, VPI Design by Dina Varner, discusses options to create a custom dining nook.

Creating the perfect, cozy dining nook is a unique way to create a dining space that is personalized and custom to the space, but also functional. Adding a table with banquette seating creates an open concept without consuming too much floor space, and there are several options and configurations to explore.

One option is to turn a bay window area or other window kitchen space into a cozy and welcoming nook. This option helps bring the outside in, while delivering style and comfort. Dining, or even relaxing with a cup of coffee or a good book close to natural light streaming in adds to the charm and the comfort of the nook. Take it a step further and make the most of every inch of a kitchen's space with a banquette bench designed for storage inside.

Or take advantage of an unused wall, by adding banquette seating and a table with artwork positioned in the center. Corners are also a great option to transform the space into a dining nook. Choose L-shaped bench seating and easily accommodate 6 or more people in what was an unused corner.

On the other hand, for areas that have a lot of space, another option is to use a long banquette with a large table, or even two tables and either place it between two furniture pieces, or between a window and a wall.

Fabrics used for the cushions and pillows of a banquette seating area can further customize the desired look and feel of the space. Bold fabrics can add a lot of depth, nuance, and texture to the dining nook.

Traditional table and chair dining areas don't always lend the homeowner to be creative with the design. With a dining nook, options are endless whether your goal be to save space, create a cozy intimate dining option, situate your dining space around a window view, or take advantage of an unused corner or wall. Enhance the nook further by adding personality with colors and pattern elements from fabrics for the cushions and pillows, to overhead lighting choices, to wall decor, and everything in between.

About VPI Design by Dina Varner

Dina Varner is founder and creative director of VPI Design, an Atlanta and Sea Island Interior Design Firm working with both residential and commercial clients. She and her husband have been in the commercial construction industry for many years. Her inspiration comes from over twenty-five years of collecting and selling art and antiques through venues like Sotheby's, Babcock Gallery, and Christie's. This love of art and antiques started as a passion and has evolved into a successful business. Dina's rich southern heritage, in addition to her love of fashion and travel, also act as her creative influence. The VPI Design team work together with a distinct flair for aesthetic insight into unique designs exhibiting elegance and style. They explore the use of light and texture for an organic appealing experience in every timeless interior. Combinations of art deco, vintage, and contemporary styles are combined to create elegance while simultaneously exuding simplicity and comfort in each living space. Her designers enjoy getting to know their clients personally to create a home that suits their individual taste. Dina believes that every aspect of a room should complement one another to tell a unique story.

For more information please visit: https://vpi-design.com

VPI Design by Dina Varner

Contact Name: Dina Varner

Address: 120 Interstate North Parkway, Suite 154 Atlanta, Georgia 30339

Website: https://vpi-design.com

Email: VPIDesign1@gmail.com

Phone: (770) 422-2000

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vpidesignatlanta

SOURCE: VPI Design

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/638186/Sea-Island-Interior-Designer-VPI-Design-Discusses-Dining-Nooks-with-Banquette-Seating
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.
New York:

India on Tuesday (IST) sought a probe into North Koreas nuclear proliferation linkages and demanded that those responsible for it should be held accountable, in a veiled reference to Pakistan.



External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs remarks came after North Korea fired another mid-range ballistic missile over Japan on Friday.



It follows North Koreas sixth and most powerful nuclear test on September 3 which was in direct defiance of United Nations sanctions and other international pressure.



External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj deplored North Koreas recent actions and stated that its proliferation linkages must be explored and those involved must be held accountable, the ministrys spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters at a news conference here.



Swarajs remarks came as she met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono yesterday on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly session here.

Read | North Korea launches intermediate range missile over Japan; UNSC condemns



Though there was no direct reference to Pakistan in her remarks, it came amid reports that Pyongyang had clandestinely received nuclear enrichment technology from Pakistan when A Q Khan was at the helm of Islamabads nuclear programme.



Responding to questions, Kumar did not specify the country, but said the hints were enough to determine that.



I think I am giving you enough material to try to figure out what we are talking about, he said.



We have very clearly mentioned that we not only deplore North Koreas recent actions but also stated that its proliferation linkages must be explored and those involved be held accountable, Kumar said.In addition to proliferation, the three leaders discussed the issue of maritime security and connectivity.



Three broad issues were discussedmaritime security connectivity and proliferation. We have spelled out what these heads mean on security the ministers emphasised the need to ensure freedom of navigation respect for international law and peaceful resolution of disputes, he said.



On connectivity, there was discussion on how to base them on universally recognised international norms prudent financing and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, Kumar said.



The first trilateral ministerial meeting between the three countries was held in 2015. Senior official level meeting has been taking place since 2011.

Read | Donald Trump warns North Korea of 'overwhelming options' as UN condemns 'highly provocative' missile launch

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  The Commission on Higher Education is now finalizing a list of additional schools whose facilities will be used as inoculation sites as the government accelerates its vaccination program.

During the Laging Handa briefing, CHED Chairperson Prospero De Vera III said he will meet with the Department of Health this afternoon to discuss how more than 30 schools will be used in the said program.

By this afternoon siguro may magandang balita na tayo kung ilan pang mga pamantasan ang makikipagtulungan sa mga local governments para dagdagan iyong vaccination centers na gagamitin natin mula itong mga susunod na linggo, he added.

[Translation: Maybe by this afternoon we already have good news on how many more universities will partner with their local governments to increase the number of vaccination sites that we will use in the following weeks.]

De Vera assured that these schools have complied with the government standards to ensure safe implementation of the vaccination since they also retrofitted their facilities to be able to conduct limited face-to-face classes.

On March 26, the CHED announced that it has permitted 24 colleges and universities to hold limited in-person classes only for selected health-related courses. However, some schools have once again stopped this due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in their areas.

Along with this, the agency also said six higher education institutions partnered with their local governments to use their facilities as vaccination centers, namely University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila Central University Gymnasium, St. Louis University Baguio Gymansium, De La Salle Medical Health Sciences Institute, Our Lady of Fatima University, and Central Philippine University.

With the current spike in infections, the government placed areas several areas under enhanced community quarantine and said it will now speed up administration of vaccines by starting to inoculate other members of the priority groups including senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.

The country started vaccinating healthcare workers this month using supply donated by China and other nations. The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines bought by the Duterte administration arrived in the Philippines only Monday.

By year-end, national authorities are eyeing to immunize up to 70 million Filipinos.
The federal government has said efforts were being intensified to establish a trade remedy authority that will be responsible for the enforcement of rules of origin and tightening of borders against fraudulent invoicing.

It stated that this was part of government's efforts to ensure a successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) Agreement.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, disclosed this during a call on Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at Lagos State Government House recently.

Adebayo further expressed government's readiness to establish a designated and competent authority in the country, that will see to the administration of the AfCFTA rules of origin as well as automation of process for managing exporter and product registration.

He stated that the visit to Lagos was part of nationwide sensitisation exercise by the National Action Committee on the AfCFTA.

He said the National Action Committee on the AfCFTA which he chairs, was forging an alliance with the National Trade Facilitation Committee domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to facilitate the execution of the regional trade facilitation roadmap.

He said, "The AfCFTA implementation plans included domestication of the AfCFTA Agreement, border enforcement and Rules of origin enforcement, trade facilitation and ease of doing business, production and service capacity growth, power and trade logistics infrastructure, market access, skills and human capacity development as well as quality infrastructure."

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Responding, Sanwo-Olu, expressed the state readiness to domesticate AFCFTA policies so as to accelerate the actualisation of the recently launched Lagos 30- year Development Plan.

"We will explore all the opportunities inherent in the AfCFTA Agreement to grow our revenue and GDP base and create employment for youth," he said.

Also speaking, Secretary of the National Action Committee, Francis Anatogu, clarified the objective of the committee as it has to do with ACFTA.

He said, "Our strategy is to work with the states based on their areas of comparative advantages and Lagos State has been identified to have trade strength in ICT, telecommunication, transportation and financial service.

"The AfCFTA is expected to deliver an integrated continental market of 1.27 billion consumers with an aggregate GDP of $3.4 trillion. Nigeria constitutes a significant portion of these figures largely spread across our states."

In his remarks, Lagos state Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Samuel Egube, reiterated that AfCFTA Agreement would boost the Lagos economy as result of free movement of people, goods and services.
Ernesto Araujo, the foreign minister of Brazil, tendered his resignation on Monday after criticism over alleged diplomatic failure to secure COVID-19 vaccines for Brazilians.

According to ANI, Brazil is currently facing shortages of the COVID-19 vaccines amid efforts of different countries in immunizing their constituents. Ernesto Araujo is deemed to be a key member of Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro's "ideological wing," according to an AFP report.

READ NEXT: Brazil Approves Sinovac and AstraZeneca Shots, Begins Vaccinations

Resignation of Brazil's Foreign Minister

The foreign minister sent a letter of resignation addressed to the president of Brazil. The minister also notified his staff about his decision to leave his office.

Ernesto Araujo aligned himself with former president Donald Trump having the same sentiments and views. Araujo's attacks on climate change, gender ideology, and "COVID-ism" have raised many people's eyebrows.

"Globalists are taking a disease caused by a virus, Covid, and trying to turn it into a huge prescriptive apparatus... to control the entire planet's social and economic relations," Araujo said last October.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that Brazil has 12,490,362 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Mar. 29, with 310,550 deaths. As of Mar. 18, a total of 13,028,391 COVID vaccine doses have been administered by the Brazilian government.

Despite the huge number of COVID vaccines administered, severe COVID-19 cases and deaths have pushed the country's hospitals to the limit.

Criticisms from the people also haunted the current administration for rejecting an offer of 70 million vaccine doses from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer last August. The president joked that the vaccines could turn someone into an alligator.

The administration also declined an offer with Brazil's top trade partner China. Chinese-developed CoronaVac is currently the most-administered COVID-19 vaccine in Brazil. But the country acquired the shots only after the government of Sao Paulo state defied resistance from the Bolsonaro administration.

There were reports that many lawmakers blamed Araujo for delays in shipments of COVID-19 vaccine inputs from China. The lawmakers said this explains why the country has fallen behind peers in the race for vaccines.

Araujo reportedly took up the foreign minister post with a vow to "resist Maoist China," which has repeatedly provoked disagreements with Beijing.

Other Brazil Officers Who Resigned

On the same day that Araujo sent his resignation letter, Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva also tendered his resignation.

According to a Reuters report, there were no rumors of exit or discontent before his resignation.

"I leave in the certainty of mission accomplished," said Azevedo e Silva in a ministry statement.

Bolsonaro appointed his current chief of staff, Walter Souza Braga Netto, to replace Azevedo e Silva. Carlos Alberto Franco Franca, a diplomat close to Bolsonaro, was reportedly named the new foreign minister.

Outgoing Solicitor General Jose Levi Mello also said in a letter that he would also resign. The president will replace him with current Justice Minister Andre Mendonca.

Mendonca's role will go to Anderson Gustavo Torres, a federal police officer presently in charge of public security for the Federal District, including Brasilia.

Former general Luiz Eduardo Ramos will be assigned to take over as chief of staff, leaving his Cabinet-level post handling legislative priorities to Flavia Arruda, a first-term lawmaker.

Meanwhile, newly-appointed Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga said on Monday that he would be meeting with the U.S. ambassador for the procurement and earlier delivery of 20 million doses. Queiroga replaced former Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello last week.

READ MORE: Brazil Hits 300,000 COVID-19 Deaths, Bolsonaro Under Scrutiny

WATCH: Brazil Begins Roll-Out of 2 million COVID Vaccines Amid Protests - From Al Jazeera English
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Tehran: The covid virus epidemic in Iran is growing even faster. The country's Ministry of Health and Medical Education has issued a warning against it. Sunday said that the rate of hospitalization is increasing across the country and the threat of a new wave is a serious sign. Authorities have warned against travel and mass celebrations in Iran between the New Year holidays beginning March 21. Coronavirus cases in Iran reached 1,855,674 on Sunday, of which 62,397 people have lost their lives so far. The first case of covid-19 was reported in Iran on February 19, 2020. In this central world, the total number of cases of covid-19 has reached 127.70 million, while more than 27.8 million people have lost their lives due to this disease.

Johns Hopkins University has reported this. The University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update on Sunday morning that the current global cases and deaths figures are 127,092,284 and 2,782,944 respectively. According to CSSE, America remains the most affected country with the highest number of 30,262,037 cases and 549,335 deaths in the world.

At the same time, Brazil is in second place with 12,534,688 cases and 312,206 deaths. According to CSSE data, other countries with more than 2 million cases are India (11,971,624), France (4,606,185), Russia (4,469,327), Britain (4,347,013), Italy (3,532,057), Spain (3,255,324), Turkey (3,208,173), Germany. (2,784,652), Colombia (2,382,730), Argentina (2,308,597), Poland (2,250,991) and Mexico (2,224,767).

Also Read:

Satish Kaushik returned home after recovering, but his daughter is in hospital, said- 'Pray'

This famous actress became corona positive, gave information by herself

Don't vote for Begum Mamata, Bengal will become mini Pakistan: Suvendu Adhikari
Thankfully, it has been a quiet few days as the local crime debate now focuses on longstanding prison issues and springtime for homeless crooks . . .

Overland Park Box Store Shootout Aftermath

'They're shooting': Witness recounts scary shots fired incident at Walmart in Overland Park OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Overland Park police are looking for two suspects following a Monday afternoon shooting inside a Walmart. Police say they're also looking for the intended target who left the scene during the confusion. The shooting happened just after 5 p.m. Monday when a lot of people were running errands.

Traveling Tragedy

Kansas City man shot, burned in vehicle in southern Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Law enforcement in southern Missouri is investigating after the body of a 46-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, man was found last week in a burned vehicle. Eric B. Rodriguez had been shot before his body was burned inside a vehicle on March 23 near Walnut and Bass roads in Laclede County, Missouri, according to the Laclede County Sheriff's Office.

Cruel Kansas City Crooks Target Broken Down Family

KC woman says men posed as good Samaritans, stole her car, as husband helped son change tire KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One Kansas City woman said she will never view Good Samaritans the same after two men stole her car from her husband as he was assisting their son with a flat tire.

SHOW-ME PIMP IN TRAINING LOCKED UP!!!

Missouri man charged with attempted sex trafficking CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri man has been charged with trying to become a pimp for someone he believed was a woman who would work as his prostitute. Prosecutors charged Eric Niles, 36, of Columbia, Missouri, earlier this month with one count of attempted sex trafficking in the case, according to the St.

Downtown Jail Debated

Jackson Co. legislators ask for more transparency in new county jail project KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The Jackson County Legislature is moving forward with its largest project in decades; a new county jail. The project, which addresses overcrowding and deteriorating facilities, was met with criticism by some legislators who demanded more transparency during Monday's county legislature meeting.

Kansas Crackdown

More than 250 arrested in Kan. sting targeting violent crime TOPEKA - An operation by federal, state and local law enforcement to reduce drug-related crime in Topeka has led to more than 250 arrests and the seizure of 24 firearms, nearly 19 kilograms of illegal drugs and $25,000 in cash. Dubbed Operation Frontier Justice, the 10-day joint effort carried out in mid-March targeted violent fugitives and gang members.

Show-Me Forgiveness

Missouri Gov. Parson issues 17 pardons, commutes 1 sentence JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Mike Parson on Tuesday announced he has issued pardons for 17 people and commutated the prison sentence of one person, but did not immediately provide details. The move is part of Parson's pledge to reduce a backlog of thousands of clemency requests that he inherited when he took office in 2018.

Have You Seen Her???

Kansas City police seek help locating woman missing since Friday KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Kansas City police are seeking help locating a missing 33-year-old woman. Nicole Nelson was last seen near 62nd Street and College Avenue at 10:30 a.m. on March 26. She was wearing green puffy jacket, pink silk shirt and black floral skirt.

Developing . . .
My family and I are mourning the loss of our beloved grandmother, Sarah Ogwel Onyango Obama, affectionately known to many as "Mama Sarah" but known to us as "Dani" or Granny.

Born in the first quarter of the last century, in Nyanza Province, on the shores of Lake Victoria, she had no formal schooling, and in the ways of her tribe, she was married off to a much older man while only a teen.

She would spend the rest of her life in the tiny village of Alego, in a small home built of mud-and thatch brick and without electricity or indoor plumbing.

There she raised eight children, tended to her goats and chickens, grew an assortment of crops, and took what the family didn't use to sell at the local open-air market.

Although not his birth mother, Granny would raise my father as her own, and it was in part thanks to her love and encouragement that he was able to defy the odds and do well enough in school to get a scholarship to attend an American university.

When our family had difficulties, her homestead was a refuge for her children and grandchildren, and her presence was a constant, stabilising force.

When I first traveled to Kenya to learn more about my heritage and father, who had passed away by then, it was Granny who served as a bridge to the past, and it was her stories that helped fill a void in my heart.

During the course of her life, Granny would witness epochal changes taking place around the globe: world war, liberation movements, moon landings, and the advent of the computer age.

She would live to fly on jets, receive visitors from around the world, and see one of her grandsons get elected to the United States presidency.

And yet her essential spirit--strong, proud, hard-working, unimpressed with conventional marks of status and full of common sense and good humor--never changed.

We will miss her dearly, but celebrate with gratitude her long and remarkable life.
: lubbock12 (), : Military

 : 

: BBS  (Mon Mar 29 22:00:17 2021, )



APPLOL



Our 'Front Line' With China Is the Mexico Border | Opinion



Chinese "money brokers," working for Latin American drug gangs, are quickly

displacing Mexican and Colombian money launders.





With burner phones and Chinese banking apps, the gangs are "moving vast sums

quickly and quietly." As a result, they are taking over the movement of

dirty cash, especially in Mexico. For instance, one Chinese ring, based in

Guadalajara, worked for the Sinaloa Cartel and other drug gangs. Criminals

from China, in the words of federal prosecutors, "have come to dominate

international money laundering markets."



China, long a source of deflation, starts raising prices for the world

Fiery wreck closes I-71 South near Lewis Center



Chinese "money brokers," working for Latin American drug gangs, are quickly

displacing Mexican and Colombian money launders.



a view of a cactus: U.S.-Mexico border wall in Arizona Andrew

Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images U.S.-Mexico border wall in Arizona

With burner phones and Chinese banking apps, the gangs are "moving vast sums

quickly and quietly." As a result, they are taking over the movement of

dirty cash, especially in Mexico. For instance, one Chinese ring, based in

Guadalajara, worked for the Sinaloa Cartel and other drug gangs. Criminals

from China, in the words of federal prosecutors, "have come to dominate

international money laundering markets."



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China's Director Yang Says U.S. 'Not Qualified' To Talk From 'Position of

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"I look at this hemisphere as the front line of competition," said Admiral

Craig Faller, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, to the Senate Armed

Services Committee earlier this month.





He called Chinese activities "insidious." "One of the prime sources that

underwrites their efforts is Chinese money laundering," Admiral Faller

stated.



The Chinese Communist Party is, either directly or indirectly, responsible

for money laundering for Latin America drug gangsand others. The Party

runs a near-total surveillance state and tightly controls the Chinese

banking system. Most of China's large banks are either wholly or majority-

owned by the state.



No one could launder sums through the Chinese financial system without the

knowledge of the regime, especially given the regime's near-total

surveillance state.



Even if the Chinese regime is not a direct participant in the money

laundering, it at least knows about these activities and chooses to let them

continue. As Reuters reported, China's authorities did not cooperate with U

.S. requests for assistance in connection with the Chinese gang in

Guadalajara.



Beijing has also been uncooperative regarding large and far-flung Chinese

drug gangs, which are responsible for much of illegal fentanyl pouring into

the United States through the southern border. Fentanyl and precursor agents

are often either cooked in Chinese labs and smuggled into the U.S. through

Mexico or made from Chinese compounds by gangs south of the American border.

In either case, the result is, as Vanda Felbab-Brown of the Brookings

Institution states in a paper issued last July, "the deadliest drug epidemic

in U.S. history."



China's gangs don't just operate in Latin America; they also corrupt ruling

elitesin other words, countriesin the process. Moreover, the corruption,

as it has in other regions, follows and supports even legitimate trade. "

For me, in the near term, the most dangerous aspect of China's presence in

Latin America and the Caribbean is its distortion of the region's business

and politics as it uses state-supported predatory practices to secure its

strategic objectiveslargely economicthere," Robert Evan Ellis of the U.S

. Army War College told Newsweek.



China merchandise trade with the region has soared since 2001, when it

joined the World Trade Organization. In 2002, such trade totaled $17 billion

. In 2019, it surpassed $315 billion. Reuters reports that, if Mexico were

removed from calculations, China is now Latin America's biggest trading

partner.



"Along with the trade," Joseph Humire tells Newsweek, "comes Chinese

military training, spy tech, security supplies and a range of other extra-

economic activities, including the People's Liberation Army-run satellite

stations and almost 50 Confucius Institutes." As the executive director of

the Center for a Secure Free Society tells this publication, "The results

are more corruption, more conflicts and greater destabilization in the

region where we live, giving rise to more anti-American authoritarians in

our neighborhood." Of course, the Chinese presence in Latin America's

democracies is intended to both undermine representative governance and

further Beijing's anti-America agenda.



Humire calls China's approach to the region "neo-colonial." That assessment

appears correct. As Ellis notes, Beijing's actions ensure that its companies

and not those in Latin Americasecure most of the benefit from the

extraction of resources, the building and operation of infrastructure, and

merchandise trade.



Moreover, China's trade and loans, Ellis says, "extend the life of corrupt

authoritarian regimes such as Venezuela, and create a safe path for leftist

populists from Argentina to Bolivia to Ecuador to hijack democratic

institutions, destroy the private sector and pursue anti-Western activities

without having to fear the financial repercussions."



As Ellis told this publication, "Beijing is moving us toward a dystopian

world, far removed from the West, in which any depredation is permitted so

long as it serves the interests of China."



China's moves are becoming openly brazen. Admiral Faller reports China's "

illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing." Chinese crafts have appeared

off the coasts of Chile, Ecuador and Peru.



Moreover, Beijing is almost surely behind the cyberattack beginning

September 24, 2019 on the network of the Inter-American Development Bank.

The persistent requests from thousands of Chinese IP addresses resulted in

portions of the institution's website going offline. The bombardment,

revealed this month, coincided with the 60th anniversary celebrations of the

bank in Washington, D.C.



Beijing's arrogance is showing. It made fast gains in the region, as

Washington welcomed Chinese participation in the Inter-American Development

Bank and across the hemisphere, more broadly. Now, America is pushing back.

A "senior State Department official," speaking anonymously to Time, said "

China is a malign influence."



And that is one reason why Americans should view with alarm the Chinese

presence in the Bahamas. In Freeport on Grand Bahama island, a Chinese party

is committing about $3 billion to building a container port. The facility

is supposed to benefit from improvements in the Panama Canal, but the

economic justification looks weak, especially in a period of stagnant trade

volumes. The port is, in fact, part of Beijing's highly ambitious Belt and

Road Initiative. So far, 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean

have signed on to the Chinese plan.



Even more suspicious is a Chinese-built port on the Abaco Islands in the

Bahamas. There appears to be no discernible commercial justification for the

facility, and the project without additional investment is essentially

unusable.



The Bahamian ports could become another Hambantota, which in turn could

become another Colombo. China in December 2017 took control of the

Hambantota port in Sri Lanka by grabbing 70 percent of the equity and

signing a 99-year lease after that project could not repay high-interest

loans extended by China. Beijing's takeover was inevitable because

Hambantota was misled from the get-go. In both September and October 2014,

furthermore, the Sri Lankan government allowed a Chinese submarine to dock

at the Chinese-funded Colombo International Container Terminals facility at

the Port of Colombo.



So will we soon see Chinese warships docked at Abaco and Freeport?



Abaco is about 193 miles from Florida. Freeport is 87.



Gordon G. Chang is the author of The Coming Collapse of China. Follow him on

Twitter: @GordonGChang.

--

 :WWW  mitbbs.com [FROM: 107.]


Matt Gaetz is mulling retiring from Congress and taking a job at Newsmax, a conservative news outlet, a shocking new report revealed on Tuesday.

Gaetz, a Republican congressman from Florida, has privately told friends he's seriously considering not seeking re-election in 2022 and may even leave Congress early for the media job, Axios reported.

He's told confidants he's weighing being a medial personality rather than a politician.

Gaetz's office did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz is mulling retiring from Congress and taking a job at Newsmax, a conservative news outlet

The congressman, 38, lost much of his personal power in Washington when President Donald Trump, a close ally, lost the White House and Republicans failed to take back control of the House of Representatives.

On Capitol Hill, power is also accumulated through seniority and, a mere two-term incumbent, Gaetz has a long way ahead of him before he would earn a committee chairmanship or a spot in leadership.

Newsmax, meanwhile, has become a favored outlet for conservatives after Trump started criticizing Fox News, leaving an opening for it and competitor One American News.

Gaetz is a frequent guest on the network, which recently hired former White House staffer Andrew Guiliani, the son of Rudy Giuliani, and former Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller.

But Gaetz also frequently appears on Fox, judging by videos he's posted to his Facebook page - a gig he would have to give up if he signed on to Newsmax.

His retirement could also signal the dire straights Trump loyalists find themselves in in Washington D.C. with the former president out of office.

Gaetz and Trump are close and the congressman is a frequent guest at Mar-a-Lago, the former president's posh private club in Palm Beach, Florida, which is about an hour from Gaetz's congressional district.

Gaetz made a name for himself as a fervent defender of Trump, defending Trump on both impeachment charges.

He also said that MAGA supporters who swarmed the Capitol during the January 6th rioters were from Antifia - they were not.

Gaetz falsely said there was 'pretty compelling evidence from a facial recognition company showing that some of the people who breached the Capitol today were not Trump supporters. They were masquerading as Trump supporters, and in fact were members of the violent terrorist group antifa'.

He also made news for wearing a gas mask on the House floor during the COVID pandemic and criticizing Democrats for banning guns in Congress.

Matt Gaetz has been a frequent guest on Newsmax, a conservative news outlet now favored by Republicans since Donald Trump started criticizing Fox News

Matt Gaetz and former President Donald Trump are close with Gaetz a frequent guest at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club in Palm Beach

In June 2020, he surprised the public when he revealed he had been living with a 19-year-old immigrant from Cuba, Nestor Galban, since Galban was 12. He said he considered Nestor his son.

He later clarified that Galban is the brother of an ex-girlfriend of Gaetz's and that Galban spends time with his sister, with Gaetz's family, and with Gaetz.

'Our relationship as a family is defined by our love for each other, not by any paperwork,' Gaetz said.
Kate Ferdinand has admitted she feels 'nervous' about what to wear post-lockdown after her body 'changed' following the birth of son Cree.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, she snapped a selfie in the mirror - with her giant walk-in closet in the backdrop - teasing her midriff in a busty black crop-top.

Kate noted that it's the first time she's worn such an item since welcoming Cree three months ago - and that her body 'has changed'.

New mum: Kate Ferdinand has admitted she feels 'nervous' about what to wear post-lockdown after her body 'changed' following the birth of son Cree

She added a black and white silk flowing jacket and trouser set to the look, and styled her blonde locks in sleek straight lines.

She completed the look with a glam wash of make-up.

She penned: 'Anyone else been nervous about what to wear when lockdown is over? Ive been wearing leggings for 4 months straight!

'My body has changed since having the baby and Ive really been stuck with what to wear so I decided to have a big try on and get myself together... anyone else struggle with what to wear post baby, I just feel like a different woman!'

New mum: Kate noted that it's the first time she's worn such an item since welcoming son Cree three months ago - and that her body 'has changed'

Honest: The former TOWIE star is a new mum to son Cree, who she welcomed in December

She penned: 'Anyone else been nervous about what to wear when lockdown is over? Ive been wearing leggings for 4 months straight!'

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday: Kate teased her midriff in a busty black crop-top

She recently revealed that she chose not to breastfeed her son Cree, three months, but was worried about admitting it.

And Kate , 29, put on a dazzling display as she posed for a set of glamorous behind-the-scenes snaps from a recent photoshoot on Friday.

Taking to Instagram, the former TOWIE star looked radiant as she wore a plunging beige vest top and silk pyjama bottoms.

Glamorous: Kate put on a dazzling display as she posed for a set of glamorous behind-the-scenes snaps from a recent photoshoot on Friday

Kate tied her blonde tresses into a neat bun, while she accessorised with a gold bracelet and a small ring situated on one of her fingers.

She opted for a full face of make-up to enhance her stunning features, which included rosy blush and bright red lipstick.

Kate looked radiant as she beamed to the camera and captioned the photos with: 'Such a fun day shooting today.'

Stunning: Taking to Instagram, the former TOWIE star, 29, looked radiant as she wore a plunging beige vest top and silk pyjama bottoms

Hair up: Kate tied her blonde tresses into a neat bun, while she accessorised with a gold bracelet and a small ring situated on one of her fingers

It comes after the reality star opened up about her decision to not breastfeed her son Cree, three months.

The former TOWIE star told how she feels there is 'so much pressure' on women to breastfeed and that she was hesitant to admit she decided to bottle feed instead.

Kate, who shares her son with husband Rio Ferdinand, 42, posted a heartwarming shot of herself feeding the tot and described him as 'the happiest little soul'.

Pretty in red: She opted for a full face of make-up to enhance her stunning features, which included rosy blush and bright red lipstick

She said: 'Me and my bubba. I just love it when he looks at me when I'm feeding him. I chose not to breastfeed Cree.

'For so many reasons and I was worried about admitting it at first as there is so much pressure to breastfeed, but thankfully now I just know that a fed baby is a happy baby and Cree is the happiest little soul and we are so grateful.

'We had a few issues with other bottles for Cree, but @mamababy_uk has been amazing for us as a family.

Candid: It comes after the reality star opened up about her decision to not breastfeed her son Cree, three months

Worries: In a candid post, Kate revealed she was worried about admitting to the fact she does not breastfeed her son

'They give babies the breastfeeding experience because their shape requires the same movement that a baby would use at the breast. They also prevent colic with the vented base. If Cree is happy we are happy.'

The candid snap comes after Kate shared a cryptic post about leading a 'stress-free' life to Instagram on Thursday.

Earlier this month, the new parent recalled crying 'every single day for five weeks' after giving birth to her baby boy as she struggled with her mental health.

She wrote: 'I don't want to be around drama, conflict, or stress. I want to be around happy people, have happy times and a happy life.'

Kate also juggles her career with raising Rio's three children Lorenz, 14, Tate, 12, and Tia, nine, from his relationship with late wife Rebecca Ellison.

Former personal trainer Rebecca tragically passed away from breast cancer aged 34 in May 2015.

In February last year, the self-help author discussed the struggles she overcame when she took on the role of stepmother to Rio's three kids in the BBC documentary Rio and Kate: Becoming a Stepfamily.

The media personality was left feeling tearful for over a month after having an emergency C-section when she gave birth to her first child.

Difficulties: Earlier this month, the new parent recalled crying 'every single day for five weeks' after giving birth to her baby boy as she struggled with her mental health (pictured with Rio)

Since announcing the arrival of her tot, Kate has kept a relatively low profile while she recovers from her C-section at home.

The blonde told Fabulous magazine recently: 'I think I cried every single day for about five weeks.

'You expect to be doing everything you possibly can for your baby and when you cant it was something I really struggled with.

'I was in my own little world, I felt really confused and had lots of anxiety and I didnt think anyone understood.'

Kate added that she was 'all over the place emotionally' because she found it challenging to carry out daily tasks such as putting on clothes, and would need to call out for help if she dropped her phone because she couldn't pick it up herself.
OTTAWA - International Development Minister Karina Gould says Canada will provide $49.5 million in aid for millions of Syrians affected by a decade of conflict.

Karina Gould, Minister of International Development holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - International Development Minister Karina Gould says Canada will provide $49.5 million in aid for millions of Syrians affected by a decade of conflict.

Gould says the additional humanitarian funding will help in delivering nutritional assistance and health services for communities affected by the war.

The new funding was announced during the fifth Brussels conference, hosted by the European Union and the United Nations to address the needs of millions of people inside Syria and across the region.

Gould says Syrian people deserve the continued support of the international community, noting that Canada will assist Syrian refugees and those who have been internally displaced.

The United Nations is seeking to raise US$10 billion to provide the necessary humanitarian aid for Syrians affected by the ongoing war and COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding needs include US$4.2 billion for the humanitarian response inside Syria and US$5.8 billion to support refugees and communities in the region.

Canada has committed up to $3.3 billion in funding for Syria and the region since 2016, including significant humanitarian, development and stabilization assistance.

Gould says Canada will continue working with the international community and Syrians to put an end to the conflict through a sustainable political solution.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2021.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.




Haiti - FLASH : Truck against bus, at least 10 dead and 30 injured





Early Monday morning, March 29, on the national road #2, a bus operating the Port-au-Prince/Jeremie route was the victim of a violent head-on collision with a truck also carrying passengers coming in the opposite direction. The accident occurred in the Coq Chante locality (1st communal section of Petit-Goave, West Dept.)



According to the Haitian organization Technical and Operational Services for Accidents (STOP-Accidents) this terrible accident would have killed at least 10 people (including the 2 drivers) and made around thirty injured, several seriously (partial assessment).



The injured were rushed to Notre-Dame Hospital in Petit-Goave. Due to the severity of the injuries, one of the injured died while being transported by ambulance, and at least one died in hospital.



PI/ HaitiLibre




















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Chandigarh: As Covid cases and deaths continue to escalate, with the UK strain emerging the most prevalent in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered extension of curbs till April 10, while directing the Health Department to increase the number of vaccination sites to target the priority categories on urgent basis.

Reviewing the Covid situation with the Chief Secretary and other top officials, the Chief Minister said all restrictions that were in place till March 31 will now remain in force till April 10, after which they would be again reviewed.

Captain Amarinder SinghThe Chief Minister also ordered the launch of a vaccination drive in the prisons, in the wake of 40 women in Patialas Nabha Open Jail testing positive for Coronavirus.

Expressing grave concern over the situation, Captain Amarinder asked Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan to issue the necessary directions for carrying out testing and vaccination in busy market areas along with other crowded places. He asked all DCs and Civil Surgeons to identify places where mobile Covid Vaccination Centres can be created, such as Police Lines, Colleges & Universities, bigger Industrial Units, Bus Stands, and Railway Stations, PRTC/ Punjab Roadways bus depots, market places, etc. to ramp up vaccination.

All eligible govt employees, and other categories which he had requested for inclusion in vaccine coverage (such as judges, teachers etc), should be facilitated in getting vaccination to the extent of being eligible on account of being over 45 years of age, said the Chief Minister. He directed pooling of resources available in districts with high number of cases for effective management of the pandemic and uptake of the vaccination.

CoronavirusNotably, the latest data shows the UK strain of the virus to be the most prevalent in the state. While 326 of the 401 Covid positive samples sent initially to NCDC for genome sequencing were found positive for the UK variant, subsequently of the 95 samples sent to IGIB for genome sequencing, 85 samples were found to be positive for the same

Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare (PSHFW) shared the updated status of CoViD pandemic and the status of vaccination of the eligible categories of beneficiaries. The meeting was informed that the positive cases and deaths were rising rapidly in some of the districts, with projections presented by CMC Ludhiana showing steep rise in the number of cases and peak around 6th April. The number would be decreasing by mid or late May, 2021, as per the estimates, which suggest that Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala are expected to contribute more cases and positivity is likely to be high in the younger population of 40 years of age or less.

DGP Dinkar Gupta apprised that since the last meeting when the decision to challan the Covid protocol offenders along with RT-PCR testing was taken, 90,360 persons had been challaned and tested for Covid. He requested for a special vaccination drive in the police lines.

Dinkar Gupta

While the availability of L2 and L3 beds in Government as well as in private sectors seemed to be comfortable for now, there was need to increase the bed availability in some of the private hospitals which are treating critically-ill patients, the Chief Minister stressed. He also directed all districts to ramp up sampling in general and sampling of contacts of Covid positive patients in particular, increasing RAT to 30%.

Strict monitoring of home isolation patients should be done, they should be transferred to the appropriate level of healthcare facilities if need be, directed the Chief Minister, asking all DCs and Civil Surgeons to ensure that no deaths occur in L2 facility as a rule, and there is early shifting of the patient to L3 facility once it is established that the patient needs critical care.

All districts have also been asked to strengthen their teams so that the data entry of Covid sampling and transportation of samples to the designated Lab takes minimum time, and the result is made available within 24 hours.

On the vaccination front, the Chief Minister directed that any photo ID shall be sufficient to approve the vaccination of eligible beneficiaries. All districts have been ordred to increase the number of vaccination centres by including all health facilities up to the Sub-Centre level, dispensaries, Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic healthcare facilities and private empanelled hospitals.

Captain Amarinder Singh

While 45+ age group shall be slated for vaccination from 1st of April, 2021, all the districts shall ensure that all health facilities do get started as Covid Vaccination Centres as early as possible and latest by 31.3.2021 with a view to understand the infrastructural bottlenecks, if any, so that there is smooth increase in the number of vaccination centres and the beneficiaries get hassle free vaccination experience.

The Chief Minister further asked all DCs and Civil Surgeons to identify places where mobile Covid Vaccination Centres can be created, such as Police Lines, Colleges & Universities, bigger Industrial Units, Bus Stands, and Railway Stations, PRTC/ Punjab Roadways bus depots, market places, etc. to ramp up vaccination.

All districts have also been advised to motivate all HCWs and FLWs to get themselves vaccinated and those who do not get vaccinated, should be strictly directed to undergo Covid testing every week to ensure that they do not get infected and thereby spread infection to others, the Chief Secretary disclosed after the virtual meeting.

Dr K.K. Talwar, Adviser Health & Medical Education to the Government of Punjab has suggested that routine non-Covid treatment in some of the selected private hospitals may be deferred by 2-4 weeks, and more ambulance be made available to the District Hospitals where there are no Medical Colleges.

The Chief Minister was assured that the Health department is ready to increase RT-PCR testing to 35,000 tests per day.
The Manifest event will bring together the best and brightest in the industry to discuss the industry trends impacting our business in 2022 and beyond.

The Manifest team is pleased to announce that registration is officially open! Amid a global pandemic that continues to disrupt lives and the way goods/essentials are moved across the globe, the acceleration and innovation of the logistics industry is inevitable and insurmountable. Manifest is privileged to be able to capture this acceleration under one roof January 25  27, 2022, at the Paris Las Vegas. The premier gathering for the global LogisticsTech community will include investors, entrepreneurs, technology leaders and executives from shippers.

Any brand will find it vital to stay up to date on the latest technologies that are transforming supply chains from air, ocean, ports, to first mile, middle mile, last mile, and warehousing. And, Manifest is the place to be.

Modern supply chain and logistics technology is mission critical in todays global economy  intelligent planning, execution and visibility are foundational pillars to the supply chain agility and resiliency businesses require, said Michael Farlekas, President & CEO of E2open. Im thrilled to join fellow industry leaders and disruptors at Manifest next year to discuss these leading-edge technologies and their transformational potential for the global supply chain."

E2open is one of the esteemed headline sponsors of Manifest along with Dematic and Ryder, who will be leading our 'Off the Grid Experience Hall and speaking during our program.

Mike Larsson, EVP and CEO, Americas Region of Dematic also voiced his enthusiasm to be a part of this event, Dematic is excited to be the headline sponsor for the inaugural Manifest event. As a leader in the intelligent automation space, we look forward to sharing the way Dematic is responding to the ever-growing demands of todays consumers. The Manifest event will bring together the best and brightest in the industry to discuss the industry trends impacting our business in 2022 and beyond."

In addition to Mike Larsson, Dematic President & CEO Hasan Dandashly will also speak at Manifest.

Event highlights include multiple keynote addresses, pre-arranged meetings, unlimited networking opportunities, a robotics zone, an autonomous vehicle zone as well as a dedicated start-up area with a stage.

For more information on Manifest and to secure your spot for this must-attend event please visit https://www.manife.st. Prices increase May 29th!

Visit E2open at https://www.e2open.com

Visit Dematic at https://www.dematic.com

Visit Ryder at https://www.ryder.com

About Manifest:

Manifest is brought to you by the same team that created InsureTech Connect, Blueprint, and The Future of Logistics Tech Summit. Manifest will offer unparalleled access to a comprehensive gathering of entrepreneurs, investors and executives from BCOs/Shippers. The inaugural event will bring together over 1,500 executives on January 25-27, 2022 at the Paris Las Vegas.
While efforts are ongoing to protect turtles, part of the puzzle that requires more knowledge concerns the effects of interspecies mating, or hybridisation  particularly between hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata) and loggerheads (Caretta caretta) in one area of Brazil.

Hybridisation has been observed in five of the worlds existing species, yet much of this has been at low levels. However, in Brazils northeastern state of Bahia, genetic analysis has uncovered that as many as 30 to 40% of female hawksbills at some nesting sites are, in fact, first-generation hybrids resulting from cross-breeding with loggerheads.

These hybrids can then produce viable second-generation offspring by interbreeding, or backcrossing, with members of either parent species.

Understanding why this is happening may be important for informing conservation efforts because hybridisation can have consequences for species survival. It could also shed an intriguing light on the potential role played by hybridisation in long-term evolution, given that hawksbills and loggerheads are estimated to have diverged genetically as long as 30 million years ago.

You dont see that a lot in the animal kingdom  species that have diverged so long ago and theyre capable of still hybridising, said Dr Sibelle Torres Vilaca, a population geneticist at the University of Ferrara in Italy. Theres evolutionarily an interesting question there: what happens when these genomes meet again?

Some cases of turtle hybridisation involve crosses between species that diverged more than 60 million years ago, which is very unusual. If you think about primates, it would be something like humans and lemurs hybridising, said Dr Vilaca.

Hybridisation

Dr Vilaca is investigating the causes of this hybridisation and its implications in the TurtleHyb project.

She says that interbreeding is aided in Bahia by the overlapping nesting seasons of hawksbills and loggerheads. Taking into account that the two species mature between the ages of 20 and 40, while two hybrid generations have been observed so far, her team thinks high-frequency cross-breeding started before 1980.

The ensuing period coincided with falling populations of many turtles, through activities including egg and meat exploitation, coastal urbanisation and pollution. Climate change poses further threats, though signs of population increases have been seen more recently in the wake of conservation initiatives.

While the specific drivers of this hybridisation remain unknown for now, Dr Vilaca says one possibility is that population decreases have meant a limited number of own-species partners for the hawksbill  the less numerous species in Bahia  and relatively more encounters with loggerheads.

Repeated interbreeding could affect the reproductive and survival prospects of future populations, says Dr Vilaca. She notes that neither second-generation adults nor third-generation hybrids have yet been observed, maybe suggesting a hybrid breakdown at this stage that affects their viability, due to the recombination of genes in such distant species.

But thats not the only possibility for the absence of second-generation adults, says Dr Vilaca. We dont know if this is a hybridisation event that is so recent we havent seen them yet, or there is some sort of genomic incompatibility that means for some reason these backcrosses dont survive to adulthood, she said.

You dont see that a lot in the animal kingdom  species that have diverged so long ago and theyre capable of still hybridising. Dr Sibelle Torres Vilaca, University of Ferrara, Italy

Lifespan

Sea turtles lengthy lifespan, often estimated at 50 years or more, makes it hard to observe these processes long-term, as does the animals largely spending their lives at sea.

To help overcome such hurdles, TurtleHyb is carrying out analysis of the whole genomes of the two species and hybrid individuals, with the aim of inferring potential future consequences by elucidating hybridisation events in the distant past and their knock-on effects.

Dr Vilaca explains that past studies have often focused on the analysis of mitochondrial DNA, or genetic information passed from the mother to offspring. While this is easier to obtain and sequence than the nuclear DNA inherited from both parents, it only tells part of the story.

But TurtleHyb is looking at both types of DNA, aided by recent advances and more affordable next-generation sequencing. From the nuclear genome, we can infer if a hybrid is an F1 (first generation) or backcross; we can also tell the story from more ancient hybridisation events, and look for genes that might have been inherited from them, said Dr Vilaca.

This could shed light on whether hybridisation has been a recurrent event in the turtles history, as well as whether it has actually conferred any survival advantages through the import of beneficial genes. Dr Vilacas team, which hopes to publish some results on this soon, is also looking at how much hybridisation events in turtles ancient history might have contributed to their genome.

The research may, meanwhile, have implications for understanding hybridisation in other animals, particularly other turtles and marine species that can travel long distances. They can disperse a lot and migrate between oceans you have all these possible places where they can meet, she said, pointing to studies that refer to hybridisation between whales.

In addition, it could suggest special adaptations that marine animals might develop to help them remain separate species in such a fluid environment.

Professor Marc Girondot, an ecologist at Paris-Saclay University in France, says that turtle hybrids can be a mark of profound change of environment. However, he says, it is also unclear how prevalent hybridisation was in the past, so more research can help pinpoint how much of the process is normal change and how much is caused by human pressures.

Consequences

Dr Camila Mazzoni, an evolutionary and conservation genomics researcher at Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Germany who has previously collaborated with Dr Vilaca, said there is a need to find out more about whether hybridisation between hawksbills and loggerheads will pose long-term problems because it may be something that has consequences decades or a century from now.

If it is localised, it might not be a big problem and there might be ways of mitigating it. But if you have more and more male hybrids, and they start going away from their place of birth over time, then (it is) spreading.

Indeed, recent work on mitochondrial DNA and genetic markers that she carried out in the Abrolhos archipelago 70 kilometres offshore from Bahia, where hawksbills and loggerheads also cross-breed, suggested that hybrids were at a reproductive disadvantage  with only a quarter of their eggs producing live hatchlings, compared with more than half for pure breeds.

Dr Mazzoni emphasises that these are early findings that cannot give detailed historical genetic information, with whole-genome analysis needed to provide further insight. Nonetheless, she suggests this case of hybridisation would seem unlikely to be beneficial at first sight, given the vast amount of time since the two species diverged.

At the same time, she notes that turtles have evolved more slowly than many other vertebrates, thus potentially remaining compatible for much longer. So who knows? Maybe they are the special case that even if they are very far apart, they can still import something from the other species and have some benefits.

Yet one big challenge is understanding the movements and behaviour of males better, she says. Though female turtles return to their beach of birth to lay eggs, males remain at sea their whole lives  making it difficult to collect samples and track them, even though more is being discovered indirectly through analyses of nuclear DNA from females.

Females

While not focusing on hybrids, Dr Michael Jensen, a marine biologist at Aalborg University in Denmark who will also lead an upcoming project called SeaTGen, is seeking to tease out more about the behaviour of male green turtles in the southwest Indian Ocean, as well as looking at overall populations to aid their conservation.

One important reason for finding out more about males is reflected in his research on the Great Barrier Reef, which has revealed nesting sites producing almost all female hatchlings. That could have implications for how the turtles will be impacted by climate change, because higher incubation temperatures for eggs produce more females. Will there be enough male turtles around in the future for females to mate with? asks Dr Jensen.

In SeaTGen, research will be carried out by analysing both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, as well as using satellite telemetry and ocean modelling, helping understand how turtle populations may be genetically linked through mating patterns.

We will be able to get a more complete picture of how these populations are connected, something that is rarely done for marine turtles, said Dr Jensen. We will be able to look at migration routes, and factors such as ocean currents and sea surface temperatures that affect how turtle populations mix at foraging areas.

These methods hold promise for gaining better insight on how to conserve turtles, alongside other factors that may deplete populations such as hybridisation, he said.

When we can accurately link turtles, or any species, sampled away from nesting beaches back to their population origin, we create a tool that is incredibly powerful for assessing threats to sea turtle populations, even if the threats occur far from the nesting beaches.

The research in this article was funded by the EU. If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.
Shade uses offensive attack to take down Shanksville in D5-A semis

sports
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A plan to ban gas appliances in Sydney - including gas-powered cookers, heaters, hot water systems and barbecues - has been slammed as 'crazy' by the federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor.

Under the plan, devised by the City of Canterbury-Bankstown, appliances powered by a gas main could not be used in new developments in Bankstown and Campsie by 2036 - suburbs with a combined population of over 60,000.

'We believe in choice - people should be able to choose whether they want to have a gas barbecue,' said Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor said on 2GB.

The Aussie staple of using the gas-main powered barbecue on the balcony or terrace could be banned if a City of Canterbury Bankstown plan goes ahead

An artist's impression of the Bankstown town centre at 2036 as shown in the draft masterplan for the area

'I'm sure there's a lot of people listening right now who want to continue to have their gas barbecues, I'm sure they'll rev them up over Easter and I think that's a choice that people should be able to make.'

Poll Are you in favour of a ban on gas barbecues, heaters and cookers to help the environment? Yes No Are you in favour of a ban on gas barbecues, heaters and cookers to help the environment? Yes 25 votes

No 232 votes Now share your opinion





The proposal is contained in the sustainability report, part of the draft master plans for Campsie and Bankstown, which are open for public feedback until May 14.

The report says: 'A statement of compliance is required at DA stage, which is to confirm that no natural gas service is provided and that the application is designed as an all-electric building.'

It requires new buildings to be 'all-electric' and stated: 'It is expected that all hot water heating and cooking must be electrical.'

The only gas that would be allowed in the suburbs would be 'medical facilities or morgues (incineration), education (kilns, metal shops) and heavy industrial (kilns, etc.)'

While there is no current plan to extend these restrictions, it is not a stretch to see if they were accepted they could apply in future to all planning for Canterbury-Bankstown - which has over 360,000 residents.

New apartments in Campsie and Bankstown would not have gas cookers, water heaters, barbecues or room heaters under the proposal

The humble balcony barbecue could only be used if a portable gas canister is used, not a gas main supply

Canterbury Bankstown mayor, Khal Asfour, defended the plans to Daily Mail Australia, which he said 'will create thousands of jobs, bring in billions of dollars in investment' to the area.

'No, I am not banning all gas appliances in our City. What I am doing is presenting a vision.'

'What we are proposing in the two town centres is to gradually move away from reliance on fossil fuels and move more and more towards renewable energy.'

'This is one of the biggest things we can do to reduce our future carbon emissions, and work towards our commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.'

He added that portable gas bottles could still be used, if strata laws allowed them.

'We are not proposing to change the existing rules for barbecues that are fuelled by portable gas canisters, and they can still be used in new apartment buildings subject to individual building strata laws.'

Gas-powered heating could be on the way out as plans such as the one put forward by City of Canterbury Bankstown

The artists impression of Campsie at 2036 from the draft masterplan

The plans were supported by the Climate Council, which said they should be adopted across all of New South Wales.

'Gas is a fossil fuel driving climate change, which is hurting Australians now and driving up prices' a Climate Council spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

'In the electricity sector, gas is already being out-competed by clean, affordable, reliable renewable energy.'

'These new developments in Bankstown and Campsie are a step in the right direction for New South Wales - with the state government leading on the uptake of renewables, energy storage, and other clean industries - this should be adopted as a state-wide policy, just like weve seen in the ACT.'

Mr Taylor said a 'simple, practical approach' was needed to bring down carbon emmissions, not 'crazy bans of gas or fording people to drive a car that they don't want to drive.'

Mr Taylor was on 2GB to promote the government's '$10million Powering Communities' program.

Under that plan community organisations can apply for grants between $5000 and $12,000 to replace inefficient appliances.

'Whether it's replacing an old fridge or creaky airconditioning or putting solar cells on the roof this is allowing those groups to make those investments that they often find hard to get the money together for, Mr Taylor said.

'That will allow them to continue to bring down their bills.'
Ideal Feeling scored a 16-1 upset win in Pompano Park's $11,500 Open Handicap Pace on Monday night (March 29) at Pompano Park while trainer Jake Huff celebrated his 60th birthday with a training double -- make that daily double -- to share the limelight.

Ideal Feeling, despite coming off a seasonal best 1:50.4 win in his last start, was dismissed as the second longest proposition on the tote-board. He got picture perfect handling from Kevin Wallis to score in 1:52.4, with his :26.3 sprint home wearing down the favoured Skip To My Lou (Joe Chindano, Jr.) in the final strides. Seeing Eye Single (David Miller) closed in :26.1 -- fastest of all -- to finish third, 3-1/4 lengths away while Funknwaffles was an evenly rated fourth. McMach picked up the nickel in the classy sextet.

As the wings folded, Ideal Feeling (post 2) left with alacrity to take charge into the opening turn before yielding to Skip To My Lou shortly thereafter. Through an opening panel in a moderate :27.4, Skip To My Lou lolly-gagged over to the half in :58, leading to the belief that, for all intents and purposes, the races was "over" at that point.

The pace picked up on the backstretch with Skip To My Lou using a :28 third panel to reach that beam in 1:26, but the best was yet to come as Ideal Feeling was stuck to the leader's helmet turning for home.

In a classic duel to the wire, Skip To My Lou and Ideal Feeling exchanged punches with the latter squeaking by in the final stages for the decision.

In a post-race interview, Ideal Feeling's trainer, Peter Blood, said. "That was the definition of a real duel down the lane with neither giving an inch. Skip To My Lou was his very game self and my horse had a great trip back of him. When I spoke to Kevin (Wallis) going to to the track for the post parade, I just said, 'Ideal Feeling is really sharp now and, if you can put his nose on the other guy's helmet, he can sprint home with any of them."

Jokingly, he added, "And when I showed Ideal Feeling the program page, he looked at it and didn't seem all that concerned! Of course, there were some powerhouses in there and, with the draw and the trip, we things worked out our way. Sometimes they do...and sometimes they don't!"

For Ideal Feeling, a six-year-old son of American Ideal, it was his third success of the year in 11 starts, pushing his 2021 earnings to $20,760 for owner Rick Berks. He's banked $292,708 career-wise to go along with his 1:48.4 Meadowlands mark achieved last season.

Ideal Feeling paid $34.60 to his faithful.

Trainer Jake Huff celebrated his 60th birthday by sweeping the early daily double with Lets Roll in the $10,000 Open II pace and Everyones Talkin in the Florida Amateur Driving Club trot.

Lets Roll, a six-year-old son of Roll With Joe, went a very game journey to hit the final light beam in a seasonal best 1:51, among his victims being the fast-closing Saulsbrook Deputy (David Miller) and La Rockin Sampson (Ken Holliday) with Rockin Machine and Mach West next in the field of seven.

Driven by Mike Simons for owners Rosie Huff, Beauty Bridle Racing Stable and our Three Sons Stable, Lets Roll started his grind to the front from the get-go from his outside post, reached the lead three-eighths into the mile after a hot :27 opener and proceeded through panels of :55.2 and 1:22.4 to hold off Saulsbrook Deputy with a :28.1 finale.

Lets Roll won for the fourth time this semester to send his earnings for the year to $24,945 and $176,440 lifetime. He paid $5.00 to win.

Everyones Talkin completed the Huff birthday double sweep with co-owner Ron Cusimano in the bike, using a late surge to score by a head in 1:56.4 over Utopia (Steve Oldford) and Uva Hanover (Dein Spriggs).

Carlo Angelillo, Henry Tanzer and Erika Sirianos also share ownership in the winner.

Everyones Talkin paid $3.80 as the 4-5 tote-board favourite and sent his career bounty to $320,099.

David Miller had a triple of the Monday program, scoring with Double Metal ($7.40), Live Lucky ($4.00) and Uncle Si ($2.40) while Wally Hennessey picked up a double with Giant Muscles ($4.20) and New Number Who Dis ($2.60).

Racing continues on Tuesday with a $20,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool (with an industry low 12% takeout) and a Super Hi-5 jackpot that has ballooned to $123,091.13.

On Thursday, there will be a mandatory payout on the Super-Hi-5 -- that event being the $10,000 Send It In Invitational Pace featuring a full field of 10. There is also a companion event for trotters in the fourth race Pentafecta.

First post time is 7:20 p.m.

(Pompano Park)
The owner of the Holden has been reunited thanks to the power of social media

Another man used a stolen ute and trailer to drive away with the green ClubSport

Two men used bolt cutters to break into Pat Junior Racing at Arundal, QLD

A high performance race car has been reunited with its owner thanks to the power of social media after a team of brazen thieves stole the vehicle from a repair shop.

A group of three men and a woman broke into Pat Junior Racing at Arundal on the Gold Coast and drove off with a $60,000 Holden Commodore on March 28.

Two men jumped the fence and broke into the business by crushing the lock with a pair of bolt cutters while a woman kept watch on the footpath.

Four thieves broke into Pat Junior Racing at Arundal on the Gold Coast in Queensland and drove off with a $60,000 Holden Commodore on Friday

Two of the men crushed the lock with a pair of bolt cutters while a woman kept watch on the footpath

The heist took a dramatic turn as a fourth man backed a stolen ute and trailer into the driveway - waiting for the stolen vehicle.

The green Club Sport was effortlessly pushed across the workshop and up onto the trailer's ramps before the thieves drove off with the souped up race car.

Manager Julie Le Noble described the theft as 'brazen', as the car was a gift to one of their mechanics named Steve from his late father who recently died from cancer.

'It's like they didn't have a care', she told 7News.

The other manager Mark Schwartz said they usually keep all their vehicles inside and locked up.

The green Holden Commodore was later found in Pimpama - 17kms out from Arundal - with only minor dents and no serious damage

The theft (pictured) has been described as 'brazen' by the managers at Pat Junior Racing

The car was a gift to one of their mechanics named Steve (pictured) from his late father who recently died from cancer

The heist took a dramatic turn as a fourth man backed a stolen ute and trailer into the driveway waiting for the stolen vehicle

'That was Steve working on his own car and being a bit lazy and left it in the car park,' he said.

When Ms Le Noble discovered the car was missing, she took to social media pleading for help.

'We had names and numbers within 10 to 15 minutes it was amazing,' she said.

Police found the car on Tuesday morning dumped at Pimpama - 17kms out from Arundal - with only minor dents and no serious damage.

Pat Junior Racing posted on Facebook their gratitude for everyone involved in the Commodore's recovery.

'The car has been found thanks to all of you out there and our team at PJR and our close mates who tonight didn't give up and all backed each other to the end,' they wrote online.

Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia no arrests have been made over the theft.
Swakopmund  Murder accused Daniel Robberts yesterday made his first court appearance for the alleged murder of well-known Swakopmund resident Frikkie van Schalkwyk (69).

Robberts allegedly strangled Van Schalkwyk to death during an argument over money at the victim's residence in Ocean View on Thursday and then handed himself over to the police on Friday.

The slender-built Robberts, who tried to cover his face throughout his first court appearance in the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court, is also facing an additional charge of theft after he allegedly exchanged Van Schalkwyk's Jeep Wrangler for drugs shortly after the murder.

Roberts indicted to magistrate Nelao Brown, who was handling his case, that he will apply for a State-funded lawyer to represent him for future court proceedings.

State prosecutor in the matter Cleopatra Boois told the court the State is opposing bail at this stage, as investigations are still at an early stage - and that Robberts might interfere with the investigation. Brown then postponed the case to 18 May for further investigation and ordered that Robberts remains in police custody. Police over the weekend stated Robberts, who is originally from Otjiwarongo, was temporarily living with Van Schalkwyk while looking for a job. Crime investigations coordinator for Erongo Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu also said the murder was only detected when Robberts handed himself over to the police on Friday afternoon.

"The suspect, after the alleged murder, locked the deceased inside his home, took his green Jeep and drove to Walvis Bay to a drug dealer's house in Narraville and bought drugs without money," Iikuyu said on Saturday.

It is alleged that the suspect allegedly exchanged the vehicle for N$1 400 worth of drugs and for taxi fare back to Swakopmund.

The car was, however, traced back to the drug dealer's house and impounded by the police.

New Era learned that the drug dealer allegedly skipped town after hearing that the car was stolen from the victim.
Camilla with Rail to Refuge representative, CEO of Reigate and Banstead Women's Aid, Charlotte Kneer (right). (PA/Rail Delivery Group)

The Duchess of Cornwall has shown her support for a scheme which helps victims of domestic abuse escape during the coronavirus pandemic.

Camilla visited Victoria station in London on Tuesday to hear about the impact of the Rail to Refuge initiative, which helps survivors with the cost of train tickets to refuge accommodation.

An average of four people per day used it since the first lockdown.

Camilla, 73, met Darren OBrien, a South Eastern Station Manager, who came up with the idea. O'Brien thought of it after watching a documentary, Safe at Last, about Reigate and Banstead Womens Aid.

The scheme was taken up by all rail operators on 9 April and was set to go on for the first lockdown, but has been extended for the foreseeable future.

Meeting O'Brien, she praised his idea and said "we need more Darrens".

Camilla speaking to Rail to Refuge representative, Darren O'Brien, Southeastern station manager who first proposed the idea of free travel for survivors. (PA/Rail Delivery Group)

The Duchess of Cornwall speaking with a representative from Rail to Refuge in a train carriage. (PA/Rail Delivery Group)

Read more: The Queen has 'built tremendous arm muscles' from constantly waving at royal fans

She told him: "This is a brilliant initiative and you should feel very proud of yourself.

Its amazing during this lockdown how many wonderful ideas have been thought up we need more Darrens!

More than 1,300 people have benefitted from a free ticket since the scheme launched, including 362 children over five.

Those fleeing abuse may not have access to money, so the scheme can be vital.

Camilla has made tackling domestic abuse a key part of her royal work in recent years. She offered support for the Rail to Refuge scheme earlier this year, and shared a video message for Women's Aid, who help run the scheme.

Watch: Robot delivers gift to Camilla during pharmacy visit

Read more: Duchess of Cambridge says COVID-19 showed 'we need each other more than we had ever realised'

O'Brien said: "When I first came up with the idea, I had no idea how many people it would support, but I was motivated by the possibility that it could be life changing, even if just to one person.

"Im incredibly proud to have played a part, and hopeful that todays activity will help to raise even more awareness of the scheme so that it continues to help others."

Story continues

Camilla has also recently supported a scheme called Ask for ANI, which helps people seek support in pharmacies in a discreet way.

After the visit in central London, Camilla went to East Sussex, where she visited Kamsons Pharmacy in Uckfield, which was founded in 1979 by Uganda Asian refugees.

Camilla is shown around the warehouse by Zoe Hough and Jenny Milton at Kamsons Pharmacy head office in Uckfield, East Sussex. (Eddie Mulholland-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Camilla chats to Tracey Cheesman (L) at Fitzjohn's Food Bank and the Lewes Open Door charity at Christ's Church. (Gareth Fuller-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Read more: The Queen takes her own chocolates when she visits people, lifelong friend reveals

She travelled by train - thought to be the first journey by rail for a senior royal this year.

Clarence House said the duchess was there to praise the "unsung heroes" of the pandemic, including "delivery drivers, warehouse and office staff, who have kept the warehouse, and therefore pharmacies, running".

She was also given a gift via a robot, as the warehouse has moved to an automated system, with the Weasel robot transporting and collecting items.

Camilla ended the day at a food bank in Lewes, in Christ's Church, which operates weekly deliveries to the vulnerable, as well as a lunchtime drop in for the homeless.
Watch our conversation on the player above on April 22 at 1:30 p.m. E.T. | 10:30 a.m. P.T. | 6:30 p.m. B.S.T.

There are many links between climate change and public health, but what can technology do to address new solutions? This Earth Day, tune in for a special broadcast that will look at how the climate crisis affects our health, and how technology can help us accelerate solutions for a greener and healthier future.

Moderated by Rebecca Blumenstein, deputy managing editor at The Times, on April 22 at 1:30 p.m. E.S.T., we will hear from climate leaders including Rahaf Harfoush, digital anthropologist; Audrey Tang, programmer and Taiwanese cabinet minister; Dr. Cheryl Holder, a physician who focuses on climate change; Geraldine Matchett, the Royal DSM co-chief executive; Ian Hamilton, executive director of The Lancet Countdown; and Dario Gil, director of research at IBM.

We will also see and hear from young social influencers and artists  including Leah Thomas, Sophia Li and Maja Petric  on how they are using their platforms to address climate change while sparking global conversations.

Directly following the event, viewers will enjoy an exclusive premier screening of the short film Mother of the Sea, a tale exploring the dangers of our warming planet. Presented by WaterBear, we will also hear from Nic Brown, the Emmy-award winning director, in conversation with Henry Fountain, a climate reporter at The Times, on how the film came to life.
With Fianna Fail utterly stuck in opinion poll hell, and Micheal Martin barely insulated from a backbench revolt more by Covid-19 immobilisation than by dint of holding the Taoiseachs office, do not bet on this Coalition lasting much beyond 2022.

Today Martin again addresses the nation with a new version of live horse and youll get grass in the form of eventual additional freedoms. Minimal Covid restrictions easing next week and the promise of far more through May and June will be dangled by the embattled Taoiseach.

The idea of ousting a sitting Taoiseach as party leader is a phenomenal taboo. But these are desperate times. The prospect of a putsch cannot be dismissed out of hand.

The frustration and anger of Fianna Fail councillors, surviving backbench TDs, those TDs now relegated to the Seanad, and the dwindling band of local activists, is building and building. This time last year the Fianna Fail organisation was smarting from a very disappointing general election.

Read More

They had hoped polling day on February 8, 2020, would allow their party to very clearly overtake their old rivals Fine Gael, and go up to around 60 TDs. Instead they were in second place in vote share behind a surprisingly resurgent Sinn Fein, and only fractionally ahead of Fine Gael, who had also scored below their expectations.

Since then it has been all downhill for Martins team. Three consecutive monthly surveys by Red C for the Business Post have pegged Fianna Fails popularity well below the 17pc record low in the historic meltdown of 2011.

This past weekend, Fianna Fail was rated on 11pc and down two points from its February showing. Picking a different pollster is not a great help because at the end of last month Ipsos MRBI for the Irish Times put it on 14pc, and down 3pc from their previous survey in October 2020.

The galling thing for Fianna Fail stalwarts is that Sinn Fein has consolidated its general election gains and advanced a nice bit. That latest poll gives it 29pc, up from its 25pc general election score.

The more infuriating thing is that Fine Gael  who the Fianna Fail party members voted by 3:1 to help back into Government  is still way ahead and on 30pc.

In fact since last autumn, Leo Varadkar and his colleagues have been hovering around one in three voter-support.

It looks horribly like the bulk of Fianna Fails losses have been Fine Gael gains. The early part of that trend was put down to Leo Varadkar & Co being credible in government during the consensual first national lockdown.

It was compounded by Fianna Fail gaffes and a dollop of bad luck. Since then, Fianna Fails prolonged sojourn in the slough of despond can in part be attributed to wrong location and wrong time, as the inevitable bad news to the public is no longer so readily acceptable as it was a year ago. While rummaging in the excuse department, you can also add the EUs blunders in procuring Covid-19 vaccines.

It is not credible to suggest Ireland should have gone it alone in a world market to pay for fewer vaccines to be delivered later.

Thus you can argue that Martins embattled status is shared by many of his EU counterparts. His beleaguered Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, would gain solace from talks with EU counterparts sharing the same fate.

But few party stalwarts at every level buy into the idea that all will be well if hopes of vaccine supplies picking up really happen. They do not see Fianna Fail bounding to new-found popularity on the back of significant freedoms this summer.

For too many, the popular view that Fianna Fail lacks competence  and indeed luck  will cling to them.

The view is that one last burst for renewal is necessary, under a new leader as soon as is Covid practicable. That suggests a leadership heave in early autumn.

But Fianna Failers who take that subversive view also know that Martin is a skilled and experienced politician able to box off the ropes. They also know that any would-be successor, be it Jim OCallaghan, Michael McGrath or Darragh OBrien, will not come bearing huge hopes of reversing the organisations decline.

The other reassuring thing for Martin is that he has few options beyond driving onwards on his chosen route with all the verve he can muster.
Contra Costa County on Tuesday expanded eligibility for coronavirus vaccinations to everyone 16 and older, becoming the first in the Bay Area and one of the first large counties in the state to offer shots to all comers.

The move brings Contra Costa Countys roughly 1.2 million residents in line with about a dozen states that have opened up vaccinations to those 16 and older. It marks an early start to so-called vaccine open season, at least in one corner of the Bay Area, and preempts by about two weeks Californias target date to do so statewide.

The county was also one of the first to extend vaccinations to people 50 and older, which it did last week, ahead of the states plan to do so Thursday.

The expansion means there are no more eligibility requirements  such as age, job or underlying medical conditions  for people who live or work in Contra Costa County, other than being at least 16. There are 375,000 people who are 16 and older who have yet to be vaccinated, according to the county.

Im grateful that my entire family is eligible, said Scott Bloom, 51. The Pleasant Hill father of two teenagers was among the first in the newly extended age group to get a shot on Tuesday, and he scored appointments for his two children as well.

Bloom said he was tipped off to the expanded eligibility through an email sent out by Supervisor Karen Mitchoff; he used the countys MyChart app to find the appointments.

It gives us peace of mind, Bloom said.

County officials are urging residents to request vaccine appointments by filling out an online request form. People must live or work in the county in order to qualify for shots. And the newly eligible must book the appointments through the county system, CCHealth.org; they will not be able to book appointments through the state system, MyTurn, until the state opens vaccines up to people 16 and over on April 15. It appears many but not all vaccination sites in the county are accepting appointment requests from the newly expanded group as young as 16.

One private provider, John Muir Health, said it has not yet expanded to 16 and over, though it plans to do so in April. Nonetheless, county-run sites do represent more than 70% of the countys total vaccination capacity, and people do not have to go through their normal providers to get vaccinated.

The county said in a statement Tuesday morning that its community clinics had thousands of appointments available, urging those over 16, now eligible ahead of the coming statewide over-16 expansion on April 15, to sign up.

Appointments were full almost immediately, Bloom said. I am the first person I know to take advantage of this new eligibility.

About 27% of county residents ages 16-49 have already been vaccinated because they were eligible for other reasons, such as being an essential worker or having underlying conditions, officials said.

While more vaccine supply is coming from the state and federal governments  the county has received 84,500 doses this week, an increase of 30,000 doses compared with last week  people may not be able to get their shots right away even though they are eligible. The county is prioritizing people who live in low-income areas, which generally have higher infection rates, and plans to soon open walk-in clinics at the Richmond Auditorium and Bay Point Health Center.

Will we have supply to vaccinate 375,000 in the next week? Probably not, Contra Costa Countys deputy health officer Dr. Ori Tzvieli said at a briefing Tuesday. Supply should catch up to demand in a few weeks, he said.

We have 20,000 open appointments right now and start sending out tickets today, he said. But over the next three to four weeks I expect that us, along with our partners La Clinica, LifeLong, community pharmacies, Kaiser, John Muir, Sutter  all of us together will be vaccinating 100,000 doses a week. Within a few weeks we'll be able to work through the backlog. Please be patient with us.

Contra Costa is not the first California county to offer shots to those as young as 16. Butte County announced Monday that it is doing so, and its health director said a few other smaller Northern California counties also took the step before Monday.

Bloom said that even after his children get their shots they will not stop following the established coronavirus mitigation measures.

I feel its too soon to tell if the vaccine will spare us from another surge, so I think our lifestyles will be similar for at least a little while longer, he said. For my son, who is an athlete, I know he was worried and now he can play with less anxiety.

Contra Costa County has been able to expand eligibility faster than many other counties in part because of the way the county manages community health clinics known as federally qualified health centers, the county said. These health centers  which include clinic networks like LifeLong Medical Care and La Clinica  recently started getting more vaccine directly from the federal government through the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Removing barriers of all kinds, including confusing eligibility criteria, is an important step in furthering our equity goals, Contra Costa County Health Director Anna Roth said in a statement. This is an important day.

In Contra Costa County, these clinics are managed by the county, which has deep freezers that can store the Pfizer vaccine. The federal Health Resources administration currently has a lot of Pfizer vaccine but can give it only to vaccination sites that can store the doses, which require ultra-cold temperatures. That suggests one reason federally qualified health centers in Contra Costa County could be getting more vaccine than federally qualified centers in other counties, which do not all manage clinics locally.

Last week, after the county expanded vaccine eligibility to everyone 50 and over, demand for vaccine appointments quickly surged, according to John Muir Health, a major vaccinator in the county. Within 24 hours of the announcement, 90% of vaccine appointments were booked and just a few open spots were left as of Tuesday, said the health systems spokesman Ben Drew.

Simply expanding eligibility to all, without making the signup process simpler, could mean low-income communities that need shots the most will still not be able to access them, said Dr. Michael Stacey, chief medical officer of LifeLong Medical Care, which runs community clinics in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. It already happens, he said, because many in those communities dont have internet access or a smartphone to constantly check for appointments. He said the county should offer more vaccine options that dont require online booking, such as drop-in or walk-in clinics, and restrict vaccine at those sites to people who actually live in those communities.

I get concerned when criteria is expanding and the process hasnt been made easier to get those appointments, he said. Theres still a lot of high-risk individuals in the impacted communities who still have not had access, true access, to being vaccinated. I believe people in those communities want to be vaccinated, if it was just easier to get that vaccine.

Chronicle staff writer Aidin Vaziri contributed to this story.

Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho
UPDATE: (3/30) Pilot used treetops to survive SW Washington crash: I looked for a space that was heavily forested

Two people are missing after their plane lost contact with air traffic controllers near a Clark County forest Monday afternoon.

The Washington State Department of Transportation reported around 9 p.m. that the small plane took off from a Bend airport Monday afternoon, bound for the Tacoma Narrows Airport near Gig Harbor, Washington.

KATU News first reported the missing plane.

Shortly after takeoff, the pilot began reporting engine trouble, according to the department of transportation. The pilot told air traffic controllers that they werent able to stay up in the air, and soon lost contact with them. Controllers last heard from the pilot a little before 4 p.m. as the plane was flying over a Yacolt, Washington forest.

Several agencies, including a U.S. Navy helicopter and the Clark County Sheriffs Office, are searching for the missing people.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR
Biocon share price gained nearly 3 per cent intraday on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Tuesday after the biopharma company announced that it has signed pact with Libbs Farmaceutica to launch generic formulations in Brazil.

Buoyed by the development, Biocon shares rose as much as 2.71 per cent to hit intraday high of Rs 406 on the BSE. The Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw-led company shares opened higher at Rs 400 against previous close price of Rs 395.25 on the BSE. On the volume front, 0.81 lakh shares changed hands over the counter as compared to two-week average volume of 2.93 lakh shares. The market cap of the company surged to Rs 48,438 crore.

In a similar trend, shares of Bioncon were trading 2.09 per cent higher at Rs 403.50 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), against previous close price of Rs 395.25. The stock hit a high and low of Rs 406.00 and Rs 399.05, respectively.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was trading 1,039 points, or 2.1 per cent, higher at 50,047, while NSE Nifty gained 311.2 points, or 2.15 per cent, to trade at 14,818.

Biocon Pharma, a wholly owned subsidiary of Biocon, and Libbs Farmaceutica, a leading pharmaceuticals company in Brazil, to launch generic drugs in Brazil, the world's sixth most populous country. This partnership, which marks the entry of Biocon's generic formulations into Latin America, builds upon a successful association with Libbs, which began in 2017 to launch biosimilar Trastuzumab in Brazil, the company said.

As part of the out-licensing deal with Libbs, Biocon Pharma will be responsible for drug development and manufacturing, while Libbs will leverage its deep expertise and reach in Brazil to import, distribute and market, subject to approvals from the Brazilian health regulatory agency, ANVISA.

Siddharth Mittal, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Biocon Ltd, said, "Expanding our association with Libbs Farmaceutica, a trusted partner, to our generic formulations, will help us establish a firm footing in Latin America, starting with Brazil. We remain committed to expanding our global presence with high-quality and affordable medicines and invest in strengthening capabilities that enableus to serve patients globally."

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Speculation is swirling that Mike Pence could be laying the groundwork for a White House run in 2024 after being snubbed by Donald Trump for refusing to back his election fraud claims.

The former vice president is steadily reentering public life.

GOP strategists say Pence's actions since leaving office, like remaining in the Washington, D.C. area and joining conservative think tank the Heritage Foundations, are signs he could seek public office again  even aiming for the presidency.

Also seen as signs of a run are him writing op/eds, delivering speeches and launching a 'video podcast' with an advocacy group focusing on promoting Trump accomplishments.

Pence, 61, broke with Trump, 74, after November 2020 when the then-president instantly pushed claims of widespread voter fraud and that Democrats 'stole' the election from him.

Donald Trump refused to say in 2019 if he would back Pence if he ran for president.

He was asked during an interview with 'Fox & Friends' in June 2019 whether Pence would have his 'automatic endorsement.'

'Well, it's  I love Mike, we are running again, you're talking about a long time, so you can't put me in that position,' Trump sidestepped at the time. 'But I certainly would give it very strong consideration. He's a very, very outstanding person.'

Former Vice President Mike Pence could be laying the groundwork for a White House run in 2024

A potential run could be further complicated by Pence's rift with Donald Trump in January when he did not try to block Congress overturning the Electoral College results  an authority a vice president does not hold

On Jan. 6, when Pence was at Capitol Hill to oversee certification of the Electoral College results, the pro-Trump mob chanting 'Hang Mike Pence' breached the building.

The former leaders have reportedly not been on speaking terms since then.

Trump has not said whether he will try to win back his seat at the Resolute Desk in 2024.

He did suggest at CPAC last month, however, that he would reenter the race for the White House  potentially in a rematch against Joe Biden as he seeks reelection.

Trump was asked during a podcast interview earlier this month to list those he considers the future leaders of the Republican Party.

He rattled off names like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and GOP Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ted Cruz of Texas.

Noticeably absent from the list, however, was his former No. 2. Trump aides warned against reading too much into the omission.

'That was not an exclusive list,' longtime Trump adviser Jason Miller said.

During the interview, however, Trump continued to deride Pence, falsely claiming he somehow had the authority to unilaterally overturn the results of the election  even though vice presidents do not have that power.

Pence built his reputation as being one of Trump's most steadfast supporters, but he is now viewed negatively by the former president's supporters for observing his constitutional duty in January to facilitate a peaceful transfer of power.

To prevail in a Republican presidential primary, Pence would have to reinforce his loyalty to Trump while defending his decisions during the final days of the administration when the president alleged widespread voter fraud, which Democrats impeach him for in claiming he incited the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol.

But some Republican have faith Pence could maneuver the awkward balance.

'Anybody who can pull off an endorsement of Ted Cruz and become Donald Trump's vice presidential nominee should not be counted out,' Republican strategist Alice Stewart, who worked for Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign when Pence endorsed him, said.

'He has a way of splitting hairs and threading the needle that has paid off in the past,' she added.

Pence aides generally brush off talk of the next presidential election.

They insist he is focused on his family and next year's midterm elections, when Republicans are well positioned to regain at least one chamber of Congress. Allies argue that, over time, the anger will subside.

'I think 2024's a long time away and if Mike Pence runs for president he will appeal to the Republican base in a way that will make him a strong contender,' Republican Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, who chairs the conservative Republican Study Committee and has already endorsed a Pence 2024 run, said.

'If and when Mike Pence steps back up to the plate, I think he will have strong appeal among Republicans nationwide,' Banks said.

Pence declined to comment for this story.

Pence and his wife Karen have remained in the Washington, D.C. area after leaving office and the former vice president has slowly reentered the public sphere after joining conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation

Trump has not said whether he will seek the White House again in 2024. If he doesn't, other Republicans are making clear they won't cede the race to Pence. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for instance, is already visiting the critical primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

Since leaving office in January, Pence, who served as Indiana's governor and a member of Congress before being tapped as Trump's running mate, has kept a lower profile. He's pieced together a portfolio aimed at maintaining influence, paying the bills and laying the groundwork for an expected presidential run.

He's forged a partnerships with the conservative Heritage Foundation and has even been discussed as a potential president of the organization, according to two people familiar with the discussions. He's joined the Young America's Foundation and a top speakers' bureau, penned an op-ed for the Daily Signal in which he perpetuated falsehoods about the 2020 election, and recently toured a Christian relief organization in North Carolina. He will make his first public speech since leaving office next month at the Palmetto Family Council's annual fundraiser in South Carolina, another crucial primary state.

Pence has also discussed writing a book, according to aides, has been in continued conversation with his evangelical allies, and plans to spend much of the next two years helping Republican candidates as they try to reclaim House and Senate majorities in 2022. He's also planning to launch an advocacy organization that aides and allies say will give him a platform to defend the Trump administration's record and push back on the current president's policies as he tries to merge the traditional conservative movement with Trumpism.

'He's doing what he needs to be doing to lay the groundwork in the event he wants to set up an exploratory committee,' Stewart said. 'You have to make money, lay the groundwork, gauge the support and then pull the trigger.'

Pence's allies see him as the natural Trump heir, someone who can keep his base engaged while winning back suburban voters who left the party in droves during the Trump era.

'Obviously Mike Pence has a very different persona, a very different tone. That probably is an understatement,' said former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a longtime friend who now leads the Young America's Foundation. 'As long as he can still talk about the things that Trump voters care about, but do so in a way that's more reflective of kind of a Midwesterner, that I think ... would be attractive to those voters.'

Skeptics, meanwhile, see another old, milquetoast white man saddled with Trump's baggage, but without his charisma. For these critics, Pence is a sycophant who debased himself for four years to avoid Trump's wrath - only to take the blame when Trump insisted, wrongly, that Pence could unilaterally overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The anger at Pence took a dangerously personal turn on Jan. 6 when rioters paraded through the Capitol chanting 'Hang Mike Pence' as a mob outside set up a makeshift gallows. During Trump's impeachment trial for sparking the insurrection, video was presented showing Pence being rushed to safety, sheltering in an office with his family just 100 feet from the rioters.

Signs that many in the GOP still hold Pence responsible for losing the election have dotted the highway in many Trump strongholds, where masking tape and markers block out his name on Trump-Pence flags and lawn signs.

Meanwhile, others, like Pompeo, are trying to claim the Trump mantle without as much baggage.

'In many ways I think his future's in Trump's hands,' longtime Republican pollster Whit Ayres said of Pence. If Trump publicly praises Pence as a loyal lieutenant, Ayers said, he can see him being a viable candidate. But if Trump continues to publicly blame Pence for their loss in November, 'he's toast,' Ayres said.

In the meantime, Pence has tried to project the impression that he and the former president have mended fences, referencing their conversations at a meeting last month with members of the conservative Republican Study Committee. Pence and Trump have spoken multiple times since leaving office, according to aides for both men.

'He was very complementary of President Trump and he told us that he and President Trump had been talking and reminiscing about the great accomplishments of the administration and all of that,' said Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., who attended.

While Johnson acknowledged the tensions during the final days of the administration 'obviously adds a degree of difficulty' for Pence, he argued that the former vice president could overcome trepidation with a focus on Trump's policy achievements.

'He helped achieve those and so lays claim to that legacy,' Johnson said.

'I think if he does get in he's a viable candidate,' added Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, whose endorsement could provide Pence with a boost if he becomes a candidate. 'He's a force to be reckoned with.'
Families in Need of Childcare for Children Under Age Four Left out of Nova Scotia Budget

Early childhood educators in Nova Scotia are deeply disappointed that the provincial budget released last week by the Rankin government does not include any new funding to provide early childhood education to families of children under the age of four and to stabilize the sector of work.

Early childhood educators in Nova Scotia's childcare centres do not receive the same compensation as those working in public schools, even though they do the same work and have the same qualifications.

"For decades, the provincial government has suppressed wages for the early childhood educators - who are predominantly women," says Margot Nickerson, president of CUPE 4745.







The provision of regulated childcare spaces in Nova Scotia is directly related to how well the operation of services is funded - a responsibility that rests squarely on the shoulders of Premier Rankin and Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Derek Mombourquette.

Until the provincial government establishes a clear vision and commits to providing early childhood education for children under the age of four, the sector will continue to be severely compromised.

:sm/cope491

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005774/en/
Stormont is to be recalled from its Easter recess after an SDLP petition to recall the Northern Ireland Assembly in the wake of the PPS decision over the Bobby Storey funeral received backing from the Stormont parties.

The Northern Ireland Assembly is to be recalled from the Easter recess this Thursday, April 1, to debate a motion criticising Sinn Fein ministers over the Bobby Storey funeral.

The Public Prosecution Service said on Tuesday it will not prosecute those reported for attendance at the funeral of former IRA prisoner Bobby Storey last June.

The decision prompted a significant reaction from the parties in Stormont, including the DUP who called for the PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne to resign.

Read More

The SDLP tabled a recall motion to the Assembly on Tuesday evening, with Stormont not currently sitting over the Easter holidays.

The motion drafted by the party stated that it condemns the deputy First Minister and the Finance Minister for their actions and that the Assembly acknowledges the pain endured by families across Northern Ireland who have experienced loss during the Covid-19 crisis.

Such a petition requires 30 signatures for the Assembly to be recalled to debate the motion to censure Sinn Fein. It is believed the SDLPs move is backed by the DUP, UUP and Alliance Party.

With the support of @GreenPartyNI @allianceparty @uuponline @duponline, our motion to the Speaker to recall the Assembly has the 30 signatures required. At the very least those who make the rules should follow them.  Nichola Mallon (@NicholaMallon) March 30, 2021

The SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the decision by members of Sinn Fein to attend the funeral demands accountability through the Assembly.

In June last year, in the middle of a public health emergency, when people were urged not to gather in large numbers and to make sacrifices to protect our health service, the Sinn Fein leadership decided that the pleas we made to the public did not apply to them, he said.

The Public Prosecution Service has made a determination about the prospects of conviction. That is for them, based on the evidence available and the advice of senior counsel.

But we should be clear, a decision not to prosecute is not a determination that no law was broken and it is not a verdict on the actions of those who took part.

Those who hold high office must observe high standards. That is not what happened in June. There can be no impression that there is one rule for those in government and another for everyone else. The SDLP will be holding Ministers to account through the Assembly processes.

Commenting on the PPS decision on the Bobby Storey funeral investigation, Green Party NI leader Clare Bailey MLA said: "This episode has demonstrated an abject failure of leadership at a time when people needed it the most.

"Apologies to date have been reserved and fall short of acknowledging the standards required from those in senior public office.

"People have sacrificed so much as we enter into the second year of the pandemic. This in spite of the lack of leadership from people who knew better but chose to act otherwise.

"Politically, the pandemic has laid bare the inability of the five party Executive to cope with crisis.

"I only hope that our people stay the course in the coming weeks and months as we continue to struggle through this crisis."
South Africa has a proud Internet history which tracks back to Rhodes University in 1988 when Francois Jacot Guilarmod, Dave Wilson, and Mike Lawrie established an email link to the Internet.

Using donated and salvaged equipment, these Internet pioneers built their own Internet gateway and Rhodes University received its first IP network number.

Most of the early work happened at South African universities, but a few people saw the commercial potential of the Internet.

Three such people are Chris Pinkham, Paul Nash, and Alan Barrett, who founded South Africas first commercial Internet service provider  The Internetworking Company of Southern Africa.

The ISP operated out of a small office in Cape Town with a single 64kbps link to UUNET Technologies in the United States.

Colin Pinkham, who helped to start the ISP and build its IP network to over 23 locations, shed light on the early days of Internet access in South Africa.

He said The Internetworking Company of Southern Africa started with only four original customers.

One of these customers was The Internet Solution (TIS), an ISP founded by Ronnie Apteker, Phil Green, Tom Mcwalter, and Joe Silva.

It would later change its name to Internet Solutions, which was acquired by Dimension Data and became one of the largest commercial ISPs in South Africa.

Pinkham said the first packets from The Internetworking Company of Southern Africa crossed the international line in November 1993, as seen by the following post:

>Newsgroups: uninet.config,sanet.config

>From: [email protected] (Chris Pinkham)

>Subject: New Internet link in place

>Message-ID: <[email protected]>

>Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1993 18:26:51 GMT

>Organization: Aztec Information Management & Guest logins The Internetworking Company of Southern Africa (Ticsa) is pleased to announce that its 64K link to The Internet is up and running. Ticsas Cape Town hub is connected to Alternet in Falls Church VA. Ticsa is a new company whose goal is to extend Internet services in the region to those who have previously not had access, such as commercial organisations and other non-academic bodies, as well as those in neighbouring countries. It operates with a voluntary, not-for-profit philosophy, based on the founders desire to make these services available for as low a cost as possible. As of tonight (Monday, 1 November), four companies have access to the Internet via Ticsa, with another six connections scheduled for the coming week. A connection between Uninet-ZA and Ticsa is planned, linking all the local IP nets. Currently, communication between Ticsa and Uninet sites crosses the Atlantic (twice :-). For more information about Ticsa, contact us on (021) 419-2768, or send us email at [email protected]

One of the original companies using Ticsas services was Compustat, who had created the iaccess.za service for dial-up users.

Compustat bought into Ticsa and they moved their operations into new offices in Newlands. They also changed their name to Internet Africa.

This is where real growth, mostly in the dial-up space, occurred. It was also starting to gain traction in corporate, Pinkham said.

This growth changed the way the ISP functioned technologically  from standalone modems on racks with individual phone lines to banks of modem racks with ISDN PRI circuits connected to support hundreds of modems in a single cabinet.

Likewise, leased lines entered as multiplexed lines and later on as channelised circuits, starting with channelised E1s, he said.

By 1996 Internet Africa enjoyed strong dial-up uptake and they started to rapidly grow their corporate client base.

This attracted the attention of larger players, and Datatec acquired a large stake in Internet Africa to create an ISP to take on the corporate world.

Initially, the combination of these two operations became Pipex Internet Africa with Datatec the majority shareholder and Unipalm Pipex holding a minority share, said Pinkham.

After Unipalm Pipex was acquired by UUNET Technologies, the company changed its name to UUNET Internet Africa.

After MWEB launched Internet services with a strong drive into the residential dial-up market, a long-term strategic agreement was formed between MWEB and UUNET Internet Africa.

Through this agreement the dial-up consumers from UUNET Internet Africa were transferred to the management of MWEB. In turn, the corporate leased line customers of MWEB were transferred to UUNET Internet Africa.

UUNET Internet Africa was later rebranded to UUNET SA. Worldcom, who owned UUNET, also acquired the controlling 76% of shares held by Datatec.

After Worldcom filed for chapter bankruptcy in 2002, UUNET re-emerged globally as a wholesale unit and rebranded as MCI. The South African operations continued under the UUNET brand.

Verizon acquired MCI in 2006 and all the business units were integrated into Verizon Business. This included UUNET SA which rebranded to Verizon Business South Africa.

Despite all of the shareholder issues, the business in South Africa was remarkably resilient and had managed to keep hold of some excellent technical skills, Pinkham said.

Verizon Business South Africa was bought by MTN in 2009.

Credit to Colin Pinkham for his excellent series on South Africas first commercial ISP. Read more here.
The Senate Committee on Health has summoned the minister of trade and investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; minister of health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; and the director-general of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, over the manufacturing, importation, and policy guideline for syringes in Nigeria.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central) issued the summon yesterday at a public hearing on "the need to regulate the manufacturing, importation and use of syringes and needles to protect the lives and safety of Nigerians as well as the economy of the country."

Members of the panel expressed displeasure over failure of Ministry of Trade and Investment to activate the Backward Integration Policy (BIP) on local production of syringes five years after it was validated.

The Senate committee also slammed NAFDAC for licensing companies in India and China to import syringes into Nigeria.

"You can't keep licensing agents outside Nigeria to import syringes, while local firms are dying. There is no complexity in the production of syringes," Oloriegbe said.

He said despite the capacity of the local firms to meet the market demands, an estimated over 1 Billion units per annum of syringe and needles are being imported into the country causing the country to lose huge foreign exchange.

Meanwhile, the president of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MEDMAN), Akin Oyediran, said all the seven licensed local manufacturers have the potential to produce 2.4 billion units of syringes per annum if provided with a favourable business environment.
Bahrain Car Parks Company, a specialist in parking management and property leasing, said it has won shareholder approval for distribution of cash dividends at 5 per cent of paid-up capital, equivalent to BD546,513 ($1.44 million) at 5 fils per share.

The company had reported a net profit of BD658,292 for 2020, down 26% compared to 2019. The drop was predominantly due to the Covid-19 impact on the companys operations. The operating income too fell to BD1.64 million in 2020 compared to BD1.66 million in the previous year; resulting in a net profit ratio of 34%.

The announcement was made at today's (March 24) Annual General Meeting held via video conferencing using Bahrain Clears virtual meeting platform, where the company endorded the 2020 financial results and also discussed its future outlook.

Established in October 1981, Bahrain Car Park Company is a public company that has been listed on the Bahrain Bourse since March 2006. It operates in the commercial and professional services sector and specialises in the construction, development and management of parking lots.

The positive results achieved indicate the companys flexibility and ability to adapt in the face of adversity, said the company in a statement.

In 2020, the board had approved an ambitious five-year strategy to drive the economic growth.

The strategy is focused on transforming the company's services by leveraging its assets and turning its regular parking buildings into mobility hubs through adopting advanced technologies. Providing smart solutions to overcome challenges that the public and private sector are facing is one of the companys goals for the year,. said its top official.

"We were able to maintain profitability in 2020 which allowed us to pay dividends to our shareholders despite the turbulent times," remarked its Chairman Amin Alarrayed.

"Our outlook for 2021 is positive and vigilant as we work diligently to execute our strategy which aims to position the company as the leading and preferred integrated parking solutions and mobility partner in Bahrain and the GCC through providing customer journey solutions to public and private entities using innovative world class technologies," stated Alarrayed.

A number of significant announcements will be made soon, specifically in regard to technological improvements at our facilities, he added.

CEO Tariq Aljowder, said: "Despite the unprecedented global challenges, we managed to achieve positive results which would not have been possible without the companys flexibility and ability to adapt. The executive management received endless support from the board, as it has laid out an ambitious strategic plan, and communicated a clear and precise vision for the future to the companys team members."

"By the end of the first quarter, we are aiming to activate a contactless payment system at one of our strategic locations, and with the collaboration of our financial partners, we are planning to roll this out and introduce additional services across the rest of our owned and managed locations," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
press release

Today, the United States joined the Government of Ethiopia and development partners to launch the next five-year phase of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP). The PSNP is the Government of Ethiopia's multi-billion dollar food security, public works, and social safety net program for millions in need across Ethiopia.The PSNP was first established with U.S. support in 2005. As the largest donor, USAID's contribution accounts for over $550 million.

Today's launch represents a total additional $2.2 billion investment by the government and Ethiopia's international partners in PSNP. Over the next five years, the PSNP will reach up to nine million people each year as it provides food assistance and services that will lift vulnerable families out of poverty. Minister of Finance Ato Ahmed Shide and Minister of Agriculture Ato Oumer Hussein launched the new, fifth phase of PSNP with heads of agencies from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Bank, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, World Food Programme, UNICEF, Irish Aid, and the Netherlands at a ceremony in Addis Ababa.

USAID Mission Director Sean Jones said, "The American people's commitment to this Ethiopian-led program is long-standing. We are pleased to continue our work together to build upon the success of the PSNP in improving food security and nutrition, and resilience in poor and vulnerable communities. We applaud the Ethiopian government's commitment, leadership, and increased ownership under this initiative. The American people greatly appreciate the opportunity to be a partner of the Ethiopian people in the coming years."

The United States has supported the PSNP initiative since its inception and remains Ethiopia's largest bilateral assistance partner, investing over $4 billion in the last five years alone.

#USInvestsInEthiopian
Reacting to Union minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan's statement that the NDA would bring a law against in Kerala, former Union Minister and Congress leader asked why the BJP has combined the words "love" and "jihad" apparently without understanding their meaning.

Khurshid said, "I don't know whether BJP members understand the English language. Do they know what is Jihad? And do they know what is love? They have combined these two words again."

Khurshid further said, "The Supreme Court has clarified in the case that they came from Kerala, clarified in cases that came from Madhya Pradesh and elsewhere. There is a right to autonomy and the right to dignity that every human being has. Every person under the Constitution has this right. And the implications of autonomy and equality and dignity. The implications of that can be seen in different cases on different facts. I am not quite sure that the judgment given by the Supreme Court has in any way endorsed what the BJP thinks."

"Frankly, who would endorse something the BJP thinks, because one doesn't know on they think. I don't know what they mean by it. What is it I wish they would explain. And one could disabuse them and say I am sorry but this is all you are talking about. Reality is completely different," he said.

On the NDA's promise to bring a law to protect the traditions of Sabarimala, he said, "Sabarimala is as we all know an extremely important and sensitive subject. This subject is one on which the Supreme Court's constitutional bench pronounced its judgement. Curiously, it was the only woman judge, Justice Malhotra who dissented and said the constitutional morality of our constitution doesn't permit interference whereas four judges said that interference was justified."

"This is something that one can simply say it is the final word although there is four-judge majority in this. I think it has become more apparent that the way people have responded that this is not the final word. This is not the only area in which there is difficulty in how we and society perceive our traditional rights what we associate as being religious rights and the manner in which moral cause has sometimes interpreted has not been relevant," the Congress leader said.

He further said, "This is not something you should exploit for an election. This is a very important sensitive thing on which people may have to separate views. But the fact that you have a separate view shouldn't mean that you should insult the view of the other side or that you should consider that to be relevant.

'I personally think and I believe all sensible people will say this. Sabarimala is the problem with we all have to internalise and find an ultimate working solution. It is not that something you should exploit for the purpose of an election and reduce it to slogans," he added.

The BJP has supported the remark of Kerala Congress (M) chief Jose K Mani who had said that the alleged 'love jihad' cases in Kerala should be studied and clarified if there is such suspicion.

Speaking to ANI, Muraleedharan said BJP didn't rake up the issue and the Christian community is worried about this. "BJP didn't rake up the issue. This is an issue that has been there and alive in the society about which many community leaders had expressed their opinion. Christian community is worried about the issue that marriages are happening in the guise of love marriage ultimately aiming at conversion," Muraleedharan said.

"I would say Jose K Mani has raised worries and apprehensions of the Christian community. It is for mainstream parties to come out openly and express their opinions on the issue. BJP has responded to this and has come out openly to a live issue saying that there are apprehensions in minds of people and it should be addressed," he said.

State assembly elections for the 140-member Kerala will be held in a single phase on April 6. 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.)
The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has organized a quiz competition for secondary school students in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to educate them on legislative processes.

The Director General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, Monday, said the competition was aimed at sensitising the students as well as entrenching legislative tenets and democratic ethos in the younger generation.

The competition featured 90 schools, public and private, in the FCT.

Government Secondary School, Jikwoyi, Olumawu College; School for the Gifted; Government Day Secondary School, Abaji; Handmaid Girls College, Kuje, GSS Kuje and GSS Apo emerged winners in their zones and they head to the finals at the National Assembly.
Researchers at the Federal University of Sao Carlos (UFSCar) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, have developed a novel far-red light-emitting luciferin-luciferase system that is more efficient than those available commercially. An article on the subject is published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

The study was supported by Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP via the Thematic Project "Arthropod bioluminescence: biological diversity in Brazilian biomes, biochemical origin, structural/functional evolution of luciferases, molecular differentiation of lanterns, biotechnological, environmental and educational applications", for which the principal investigator is Vadim Viviani, a biochemist, and professor at UFSCar.

We obtained a novel luciferin-luciferase system that produces far-red light at the wavelength of 650 nanometers and emits the brightest bioluminescence ever reported in this part of the spectrum. It's a highly promising result for bioluminescence imaging of biological and pathological processes in mammalian tissues." Vadim Viviani, Principal Investigator, Biochemist and Professor, Federal University of Sao Carlos (UFSCar)

Luciferases are enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of luciferins, compounds present in some animals, algae and fungi. The oxidation reaction is responsible for the phenomenon of bioluminescence, which consists of the emission of light at wavelengths ranging from blue to red.

The firefly's luciferin-luciferase system is widely used to help produce images of cell cultures and live animal models. It helps physicians monitor metastasis, for example, and see how tumors respond to treatment. It is also used to follow the viral infection process and the effects of candidate drugs on viruses, including the novel coronavirus.

"Red bioluminescence is preferred when imaging biological or pathological processes in mammalian tissues because hemoglobin, myoglobin and melanin absorb little long-wavelength light. Detection is best of all in the far red and near-infrared bands, but bioluminescent systems that naturally emit far red light don't exist," Viviani said.

"Some genetically modified forms of luciferase and synthetic analogs of natural luciferins are produced commercially. In conjunction, they produce light at wavelengths as long as 700 nanometers, but the light produced by these artificial systems is generally much weaker and more short-lived than light from natural bioluminescent systems."

Viviani and collaborators used genetic engineering to modify luciferase from the Railroad worm Phrixothrix hirtus, the only luciferase that naturally emits red light, cloned by Viviani two decades ago. This they combined with luciferin analogs synthesized by colleagues at the University of Electro-Communications in Tokyo, Japan. The result was a much more efficient far-red luciferin-luciferase system.

"Our best combination produces far-red at 650 nanometers, three times brighter than natural luciferin and luciferase, and roughly 1,000 times brighter than the same luciferase with a commercial analog," Viviani said.

"Besides the long-wavelength and intense brightness, our combination has better thermal stability and cell membrane penetrability. Above all, it produces more lasting continuous bioluminescence, taking at least an hour to decay and significantly facilitating the real-time imaging of biological and pathological processes."

The project was a continuation of a Ph.D. thesis recently defended by Vanessa Bevilaqua on the effect of synthetic luciferin analogs on red luciferase from Phrixothrix. The other co-authors are PhD candidate Daniel Sousa, Gabriel Pelentir with a scientific initiation grant, and Michio Kakiuchi and Takashi Hirano in Japan.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Teenagers' addiction rates for cannabis are about the same as for prescription opioids, according to a new study of drugs and youth.

A year after first trying cannabis, almost 10.7% of adolescents age 12 to 17 met the criteria of addiction. Those in the same age group who tried prescription opioids had a similar addiction rate of 11.2%, according to the study, published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics.

The findings contradict widely held perceptions that cannabis isn't particularly addictive and may attract attention amid a broad U.S. push to liberalize its use. The rates of addiction were significant, especially since teenagers' brains are still developing, according to Nora Volkow, an author of the study and the current director of the United States' National Institute on Drug Abuse.

For adolescents who experiment with cannabis, the risk is real: "One in 10 teens having a marijuana addictionthat's huge," Volkow said in a phone interview. Using cannabis also gives them a higher chance of becoming addicted to other drugs later, she said.

If users were younger when they first tried cannabis and other drugs, they were more likely to become addicted, the study found. For those in the 18-to-25 age range, only 6.4% developed an addiction a year after first trying cannabisabout half the rate of the younger age group. In the older 18-25 category, opioid addiction rates were similar to marijuana addiction rates after one year, according to the study. Cocaine addiction rates were slightly lower.

The findings underscore how important it is for doctors to ask teenage patients about recreational drug use, something that isn't always emphasized at younger ages, the researchers said.

Emily Einstein, one of the study's authors, said a rise in cannabis' potency in recent years could help to explain the higher addiction rates. She cited separate studies that have found marijuana with higher levels of THC to be more addictive.

The study is based on data from 2015 to 2018 collected by national surveys done by an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Recreational cannabis is spreading rapidly at the state level and federal lawmakers are debating bills to legalize it nationwide. While states that allow cannabis restrict its use to those age 21 and over, some studies have found that more widespread availability in legalized states is linked to more use by young people.

Explore further Younger age of first drug use associated with faster development of substance use disorder

More information: Nora D. Volkow et al. Prevalence of Substance Use Disorders by Time Since First Substance Use Among Young People in the US, JAMA Pediatrics (2021). Journal information: JAMA Pediatrics Nora D. Volkow et al. Prevalence of Substance Use Disorders by Time Since First Substance Use Among Young People in the US,(2021). DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.6981

2021 Bloomberg L.P.

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This handout from Free Burma Rangers taken and received on March 29, 2021 shows Saw Ta Eh Ka Lu Moo Taw (C) receiving medical treatment in Day Pu No in Hpa-pun in eastern Myanmar's Karen state, after he was injured by shrapnel, while sitting in the lap of his father, who died during an air strike in the area on March 27.

Myanmars bloodiest weekend since the Feb. 1 military takeover raised the child death toll to 38 among more than 500 killed as the juntas increasingly violent suppression of anti-military protests drew a trade suspension from the United States and calls from Britain for U.N. Security Council action.

On Armed Forces Day in Myanmar Saturday, security forces killed at least 110 people, including eight children, some of whom were hit by bullets inside their own homes, according to RFA sources.

Htoo Myat Win, 13, was killed by police gunfire in his home in the northern Sagaing region.

His mother told RFAs Myanmar Service that the attack was unprovoked.

He was just a little boy and did not understand anything. He didnt do anything. He didnt even look outside when the protesters passed on the street because he was content just playing his games, she said.

If they wanted to intimidate or disperse the crowd, they should have shot upwards into the sky. Instead, they take aim to shoot people. Why? The bullet went right through my boy and my old heart is broken now, said the grieving mother.

Two other youngsters, both from the Mandalay region, were killed in their homes that day: a 14-year-old girl who was shot in the chest, and a 13-year-old boy who was playing at home when he was shot in the back of the head.

These children are the future of our country and killing them is like killing our countrys future, a spokesman for local rights group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) told RFA.

These kids are so young, and it is unthinkable that they could be shot inside their own homes. Children have no security now, and they will suffer psychological trauma and have feelings of insecurity, said the spokesman, who requested anonymity for security reasons.

Days earlier, seven-year-old Khin My Chit was shot in the abdomen while sitting on her fathers lap at their house in Mandalay.

Our whole family is devastated, and we pray that other children will not have to face the same fate. Khin Myo Chits elder sister told RFA of the childs death on March 23.

We never thought that they would be this cruel. They keep saying they are there to defend the people. Look at all the atrocities these days. Is this what they mean by defending us? How can we trust the police and the military after all this? she said.

Fortify Rights, another Myanmar-founded NGO, said killing children was part of the juntas strategy.

They are trying to instill fear among the public. Its one of their ways to intimidate and frighten people into stopping anti-military protests, Nickey Diamond, a human rights specialist for Fortify Rights, told RFA.

The international community as well as the United Nations have called for a stop to end these violent actions. Killing children is the worst kind of human rights violations. Its a crime against humanity, Diamond said.

Karen refugees carrying belongings are seen at Salween riverbank in Mae Hong Son, Thailand March 29, 2021. Credit: Karen Women's Organization/Handout via REUTERS

International childrens rights groups, meanwhile, condemned the junta for failing to ensure the safety of Myanmars children.

We are truly appalled that children continue to be among the targets of these fatal attacks on protestors. Children are no longer safe in Myanmar, now that girls and boys as young as 7-years old are being shot and killed in their own homes, said UK-based Save the Children.

Children in Myanmar have a right to grow up free from violence. The fact that so many children are being killed on an almost daily basis now shows a complete disregard for human life by armed forces, it said.

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a statement Sunday that the attacks on children were child rights violations and those responsible must be held accountable.

I am appalled by the indiscriminate killing, including of children, taking place in Myanmar and by the failure of security forces to exercise restraint and ensure childrens safety, Fore said.

Security forces must immediately refrain from perpetrating abuses of child rights and ensure the security and safety of children at all times. Security forces should cease the occupation of education facilities, she said

RFA attempted to contact military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun for comment, but telephone calls went unanswered.

The weekend carnage prompted U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to announce the suspension of trade with Myanmar, effective Monday until the return of a democratically elected government.

The United States supports the people of Burma in their efforts to restore a democratically elected government, which has been the foundation of Burmas economic growth and reform, said Tai.

The United States strongly condemns the Burmese security forces brutal violence against civilians. The killing of peaceful protestors, students, workers, labor leaders, medics, and children has shocked the conscience of the international community. These actions are a direct assault on the countrys transition to democracy and the efforts of the Burmese people to achieve a peaceful and prosperous future.

Bilateral trade volume between the two countries totaled $1.4 billion in 2020, according to the office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also condemned the juntas violent crackdown on protests.

We condemn this abhorrent violence against the Burmese people. The Burmese junta continues to use lethal force against its own people, Psaki told reporters during a press briefing, using the former name of Myanmar.

Last weeks killing of children is just the most recent example of the horrific nature of the violence perpetrated by the military regime. We continue to make clear that we will impose costs on the military regime for the deadly violence against peaceful protestors and the suppression of human rights, she said.

Britain called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to convene on Wednesday. Any action by the council would face the threat of a veto by Russia and China, authoritarian states which have shielded Myanmar from U.N. action.

Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, urged the council to act against the junta atrocities.

Its their job. Members should urgently produce a resolution on #Myanmar & put it to a vote, Andrews said on Twitter.

Nations who stand w the people of Myanmar can work together to stop the flow of junta revenue & weapons & hold them accountable, he said.

Japan condemned the use of live ammunition on protesters welcomed efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to deal with the situation in Myanmar during a discussion in Tokyo with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who visited Tokyo.

The Government of Japan once again strongly urges the Myanmar military to immediately stop resorting to violence against civilians, release those who are detained including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and swiftly restore Myanmars democratic political system, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in a statement Sunday.

Death toll rises Monday

In Myanmar on Monday, security forces killed at least 10, with unknown number of people wounded.

In Yangon, police and soldiers killed five people in the townships of Thaketa and South Dagon.

They started shooting from the other side of the road near the gas station on Thuwanna Road at about 10:30 a.m., said a witness from Thaketa. We fled to the other end of the road as one of us got hit in the head, but they were shooting at us from the other side as well.

The Thaketa man, who requested anonymity to speak freely, told RFA that the group had to run for their lives as automatic fire rained down upon them.

Some people got trapped but I escaped. The man who was shot in the head must be dead by now. The soldiers were looking for him, but we picked him up and put him on an ambulance. We hear it was circling around the town because most of the roads were blocked, he said.

In South Dagon, where there have been shootings every day and night since Friday, residents were able to retrieve two bodies this morning.

Police and soldiers spent the morning clearing barricades and shooting randomly into the streets and at homes.

Witnesses told RFA that the military used hand grenades and RPGs to attack protesters, a claim that RFA could not independently verify.

Aung Ko Oo, a 29-year-old man, was shot Sunday as he walked onto the street from the entrance to his house in Ward 19.

Yesterday afternoon at about 2 p.m., he was out on the street and a passing military patrol truck shot him. It was just one shot, and he was hit in the temple. He was still alive when we put him on an ambulance and sent him to the hospital, but he passed away around 6:30 p.m. a witness who requested anonymity told RFA.

Independent news outlet Myanmar Now reported three Sunday deaths in other parts of the city. Soldiers killed Pyay Pyo Maung, 39, and Maung Maung Aye, 30, and Khine Zar Thwe, 26, who was shot in the face.

In the Sagaing regions Kalaymyo township, the police crackdown on protests Sunday night left five killed and many more wounded. The protests defied a declaration of martial law.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an NGO based in Thailand, reported that at least 510 people have been killed in the crackdown as of Monday, while an RFA tally has counted 420.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Announcement on the Resignation of Director and Proposed Election of Independent Non-Executive Director



Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt, 30 March 2021 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (D-Share 690D.DE, A-Share 600690.SH, H-Share 6690.HK, 'Haier Smart Home' or the 'Company') published the Announcement on the Resignation of Director and Proposed Election of Independent Non-Executive Director in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and applicable PRC laws.



I. Resignation of Director

On 30 March 2021, the board of directors (the "Board") of the Company received a written resignation report from the Company's director Ms. Tan Lixia. Due to personal job reasons, Ms. Tan Lixia needs to devote more energy to the businesses she is in charge of. Therefore, she proposed to resign from the positions of vice chairman and director of the Company, member of the remuneration and appraisal committee of the board of directors, and member of the management committee of the Company's employee stock ownership plans. After her resignation, Ms. Tan Lixia no longer holds any position in the Company.

According to the relevant provisions of the Company Law of the People's Republic of China and the Articles of Association of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., Ms. Tan Lixia's resignation has not resulted in the number of directors sitting on the board of directors being less than the statutory quorum. The foregoing resignation report shall take effect from the date of delivery.

The resignation of Ms. Tan Lixia will not affect the Company's ordinary production and operation. During her tenure of office as a director of the Company and in the aforementioned positions, Ms. Tan Lixia has performed her duties diligently and conscientiously, and played an active role and provided a lot of support in the Company's strategic development, corporate governance and capital operation.

Ms. Tan Lixia has confirmed that there is no disagreement with the board of directors, and there is no matter that needs to be brought to the attention of the Company's shareholders. The Company would like to express its sincere gratitude to Ms. Tan Lixia for her contribution to the Company during her tenure.



II. Proposed Election of Independent Non-Executive Director

The term of office of Mr. DAI Deming, the current independent non-executive director of the Company, will expire soon. He will cease to hold any office in the Company upon the election of a new independent non-executive director at the General Meeting of the Company. The Company would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to Mr. DAI Deming for his contributions to the Company during his tenure as the independent non-executive director.

To ensure the normal operation of the Board of the Company, according to the relevant provisions of the Company Law of the People's Republic of China and the Articles of Association of the Company as well as the opinions of the Nomination Committee under the Board of the Company, the Board hereby nominates Mr. WU Qi as the independent non-executive director of the 10th session of the Board, whose term of office shall be the same as the 10th session of the Board. The Board also agreed to submit such proposal at the Company's Annual General Meeting of 2020 (the "AGM") for consideration and approval. His qualifications as the independent non-executive director have been filed with the Shanghai Stock Exchange with no objection. The biographical details of Mr. WU Qi are set out in Appendix I to this announcement.

The independent directors have carefully verified the manner and procedure of nomination of the candidates for independent director, the qualification of the nominator and the qualification of the independent director candidate for appointment and other related matters involved in the above proposal and expressed their opinions as follows.

"We are of the opinion that the nomination of Mr. Wu Qi by the Board of Directors as a candidate for the tenth session of the Board of Directors of the Company, the manner and procedure of nomination and the qualification of the nominator are in compliance with the relevant laws and regulations and the provisions of the Articles of Association of the Company, as reviewed by the Nomination Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. We are of the opinion that the above-mentioned candidate does not have the circumstances of being not allowed to be directors of the Company as stipulated in Article 146 of the Company Law and Article 10 of the Guidelines on the Election and Conduct of Directors of Listed Companies on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and his qualification is in line with the conditions for being an independent director of a listed company, and he is capable of fulfilling the requirements of the duties and responsibilities of the position he is appointed for, in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company.

We agree to elect Mr. Wu Qi as a candidate for the tenth session of the Board of Directors of the Company as an independent director and to submit this proposal to the shareholders' meeting of the Company for consideration."

An invitation letter containing, among others, the relevant information on the proposed election of independent Non-executive directors, together with the notice of convening the Shareholders' Meeting, will be dispatched to the shareholders of the Company in due course.



Appendix: Biography of the candidate independent director

Wu Qi, male, born in 1967, has 25 years of working and management experience in a global top management consulting firm. He is currently a senior advisor of strategy and smart manufacturing of D sub-business group of Foxconn and an advisor of Xnode, a famous startup and corporate accelerator. He has served as Global Vice President and Vice Chairman of Greater China of Accenture as well as Chairman of Shunzhe; Member of Global Management Committee and President of Greater China of Roland Berger; Member of Global Supervisory Board of Roland Berger. He was awarded the 2015 Outstanding Talent of Jingan District Shanghai. Mr. Wu Qi's consulting experience covers a wide range of industries, including transportation/logistics, high-tech manufacturing, tourism, finance, consumer goods, real estate and government sectors etc. He has extensive experience in many areas, including development strategy, organizational change, sales and branding strategy, corporate innovation, digital transformation and smart manufacturing, post-merger integration of companies and regional industrial economic development and upgrading. Mr. Wu Qi is a well-known expert on Industry 4.0, transportation and regional planning and development in China. He has held social positions such as consultant of Hangzhou Bay Development Planning, member of Shenzhen Government's Smart Manufacturing Expert Committee, deputy head of 13th Five-Year Plan Expert Committee of Zhengzhou City Henan Province and vice chairman of China Cold Chain Alliance.



The Board of Directors

Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.

30 March 2021



Note: This Announcement has been prepared in both Chinese and English. Should there be any discrepancies or misunderstandings between the two versions, the Chinese version shall prevail.



IR contact:

Yao Sun (Sophie) - Haier Smart Home Germany

T: +49 89 380 334 235

M: +49 160 9469 3601

Email: y.sun@haier.de
PARIS, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 health crisis is driving transformation in manufacturing businesses, especially in the furniture industry. The change in consumer behavior and expectations is forcing upholstered furniture manufacturers to adapt in order to meet the growing demand for personalized furniture. These changes in consumer demand, introduce major challenges to the production process, requiring furniture manufacturing companies to industrialize and switch from manual operations to automated and digital processes. A major global player in the furniture, fashion and automotive industries, Lectra designs smart industrial solutions combiningsoftware, equipment, data and servicesfor brands, manufacturers and retailers.

Furniture On Demand by Lectra is Lectra's 4.0 offer dedicated to personalized furniture and small series production. It is a turnkey solution for manufacturers of sofas and armchairs, covering the entire furniture manufacturing workflow, from order processing to cutting.

Artificial intelligence (AI), the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), cloud computing and big data are key Industry 4.0 technologies that Lectra has integrated in its solutions since 2015. This is particularly the case with Furniture On Demand by Lectra, which helps furniture manufacturers industrialize and optimize their production, both for small series and personalized orders, thanks to on demand (Made to Order) and customized (Made to Customize) production processes.

In practice, Furniture On Demand by Lectra captures automatically the styles, materials and components information of the product, directly from the customer's order. This data is then transformed into a cutting order, transmitted to the cutting room, and monitored in real time during the entire process. The one-click cutting solution speeds up production while minimizing the risk of error.

COVID-19 i ncreased the importance of home in people's lives

COVID-19 disrupted the lifestyles of people across the globe, encouraging them to spend more time at home. At the height of the pandemic, 78% of consumers worldwide decided that home was their haven and two out of five made changes to their homes in 20201.

With reduced spending on travel, dining and leisure, consumer purchasing is shifting to home decor and design. The immediacy of the need increased during the pandemic, as retailers saw the emergence of compulsive buying behavior, both on the high street and online.

A trend that is benefiting the upholstered furniture market. , which had already been growing steadily over the past decade. This trend that existed before the pandemic should strengthen.

In the office furniture market, manufacturers must now meet the expectations of new customers who work from home. They must adapt their B2B model to a B2C approach and totally rethink their offer, pricing strategy and distribution network accordingly.

Personalization: a global structural trend

Consumers increasingly want to participate in the design of their own furniture. In the United Kingdom3, nearly one in two buyers shows a keen interest in custom-made furniture, while nine out of ten American consumers4 are willing to pay up to an additional $300 for a personalized sofa. In China, this market segment5 is even expected to grow by 18%.

This trend is driven by Millennials, those born between 1980 and 2000, who want to buy furniture that reflects their personality and customize it themselves. They see furniture as a way to reflect a certain lifestyle within a given moment and no longer consider it a long-term investment. The average lifespan of a sofa, for example, has been halved since the 1980s and 2000s2. Millennials are even prepared to pay more for their furniture as long as they don't have to wait for delivery. This is a side effect of buying online.

Furniture On Demand by Lectra: a sought-after solution by leading manufacturers

Furniture on Demand by Lectra is a solution designed specifically to meet the needs of furniture manufacturers, regardless of their geographic location and business model. As evidenced by the many companies that have already adopted it and are improving the efficiency of their day-to-day operations:

ATL Group, Andreu World, Cassina, DFM, Duresta, Euroline, Design Foundry, Furia Cuscini, Karimoku, King Hickory, Lee Industries, Molteni , OFS, Plumbs, Poliform, Polipol, Ruchaud, Sherrill Furniture, Smith Brothers, Tetrad, Vilmers, Whitemeadow, Zanotta.

"Today, with Furniture On Demand by Lectra, furniture manufacturers no longer have to choose between quality and profitability. In an economic context in which it is crucial to control costs and reinvent the customer experience, they can produce small series and personalized furniture as quickly as standard products and make on-demand production a new growth driver", enthuses Maria Modrono, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Lectra.

To discover Fashion On Demand by Lectra on video, click here .

Sources:

1 Ikea, Home Reboot 2020 : https://lifeathome.ikea.com.

2 "Sofas: How old is too old?" Star Tribune, November 7, 2012: http://www.startribune.com/sofas-how-old-is-too-old/177662441.

3 Deloitte Consumer Review. Made-to-order: The rise of mass personalisation, 2015: https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/ch/Documents/consumer-business/ch-en-consumer-business-made-to-order-consumer-review.pdf.

4 "What will entice consumers to spend more?" Furniture Today, July 4, 2016: http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/532985-what-will-entice-consumers-spend-more.

5 China's Furniture Market. HKTDC China, August 21, 2017: http://china-trade-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/China-Consumer-Market/China-s-Furniture-Market/ccm/en/1/1X000000/1X002L63.htm.

About Lectra

For companies that breathe life into our wardrobes, car interiors, furniture and more, Lectra is crafting premium technologies that facilitate the digital transformation of their industry. Lectra's offer empowers brands, manufacturers and retailers, from design to production, providing them with the market respect and peace of mind they deserve. Founded in 1973, today Lectra has 34 subsidiaries across the globe, serving customers in over 100 countries. With over 1,700 employees, Lectra reported revenues of 236 million in 2020. Lectra is listed on Euronext-Paris (LSS).

For more information, please visit www.lectra.com.

Follow Lectra on social networks:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/8538/

https://www.youtube.com/user/LectraTechChannel?hl=fr

https://www.facebook.com/LectraOfficial/

Media contact:

Lectra - Headquarters

Adeline Fogel

Public Relations Manager

t: +33 (0) 6 03 03 63 12

e: [email protected]

SOURCE Lectra

Related Links

www.lectra.com



Colorados U.S. senators were joined by colleagues from New Mexico, Nebraska and California in a letter to Pentagon investigators that questions the Trump administrations decision to uproot U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs.

The letter to Defense Department Acting Inspector General Sean ODonnell questions whether the process was thorough and fair. A top question for Colorado Democratic U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper centers on how the Pentagon scuttled an earlier endeavor to pick a home for the command and its 1,400 troops, relying on a new process that came about amid growing political pressure.

Following the relocation announcement in January, Bennet and Hickenlooper denounced the decision and expressed concern that the Trump White House injected politics into the process, the offices of Hickenlooper and Bennet said in a news release. Later that month, Bennet, Hickenlooper and the entire Colorado congressional delegation urged President Joe Biden to suspend the Trump administrations decision to move U.S. Space Command.

At the center of concern are reports that President Donald Trump picked Huntsville for the headquarters, countermanding Pentagon advisers who wanted to leave it in Colorado. By enlisting powerful lawmakers including California Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Nebraska Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, the letter could turn up pressure on the Pentagon and White House to revisit the Huntsville decision.

The Government Accountability Office and the Pentagon are probing the decision, including the role politics may have played in it. Lawmakers including Colorado Springs U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn have said those investigations could lead to a wider ranging probe by congressional committees.

Colorado has been the hub for military satellite operations since the 1980s and housed the first iteration of U.S. Space Command before it was shuttered in 2002 amid post-Cold War belt-tightening. The latest version of the command was created in 2018, and the military picked Colorado Springs as its interim home. Last May, the Pentagon said the command would remain here until at least 2026.

That announcement came with a new process that opened up courtship for the command to most American cities. Dozens of cities joined the fray, desiring the industry that would accompany the command and the billions of dollars in federal contracts it could generate.

Unlike the new Space Force, which trains and equips satellite troops, the command takes the lead in defending all American interests in space and would oversee troops from every service branch if a war reached orbit.

Texas, Nebraska, Florida, New Mexico and Alabama were eventually named as the finalist states to house it.

Local leaders cheered when Colorado Springs was again announced as a finalist for the command, but they were stunned when the Pentagon in the waning days of Trumps tenure said it would be moved to Alabama.

Pentagon efforts to justify the move havent helped, including a document obtained by The Gazette that Colorado came in second place for aerial access to the command despite the fact that Peterson Air Force Base, where the command is headquartered now, has an airfield while Redstone Arsenal, which came out on top, does not.

One key question from the senators is whether the Pentagon examined simple questions, including whether having existing military facilities on hand could save money on construction.

Did the Department of Defense consider each of the sites existing infrastructure in evaluating costs? the lawmakers asked in their letter.

The Pentagon and the Government Accountability Office havent release timelines for when they expect to wrap up their investigations. But with Pentagon belt-tightening expected in the 2022 budget, congressional pressure on military leaders and the White House over the issue could mount.

#YR Colorado Springs Gazette. Visit at gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba discover a novel mechanism by which the brain regulates the cardiovascular system in response to stress

Tsukuba, Japan - Although the heart beats autonomously, its function can be regulated by the brain in response to, for instance, stressful events. In a new study, researchers from the University of Tsukuba discovered a novel mechanism by which a specific part of the brain, the lateral habenula (LHb), regulates the cardiovascular system.

The cardiovascular system, specifically the heart and blood vessels, have a certain autonomy that allows them to function independently from the brain. In order for the individual to adapt to new, potentially threatening situations, the brain does have some regulatory power over the cardiovascular system. This is achieved by controlling the autonomic nervous system, which consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system. While the former has a stimulating effect on the cardiovascular system, including increasing the heart rate and blood pressure, the latter causes the opposite.

"From an evolutionary standpoint, the brain has had in incredibly important function in protecting the individual from predators," says lead author of the study Professor Tadachika Koganezawa. "But even in the absence of predators, our bodies react to stressful situations. In this study, we wanted to determine how the brain regulated the cardiovascular system via the autonomic nervous system."

To achieve their goal, the researchers focused on the LHb. Located deep within the brain, the LHb has been known to control behavioral responses to stressful events, and as such to elicit strong cardiovascular responses. However, the way in which it does so has remained unclear. To address this question, the researchers electrically stimulated the LHb in rats by inserting an electrode through the skull. Stimulation of the LHb resulted in bradycardia (low heart rate) and increased mean arterial pressure (MAP), which is a clinically useful parameter for assessing overall blood pressure.

To determine how the LHb interplays with the autonomic nervous system to regulate the cardiovascular system, the researchers then turned off the parasympathetic system by means of cutting the main parasympathetic nerve, the vagal nerve, or using a drug to antagonize it. While this suppressed the LHb's effect on the heart rate, it did not change the MAP. Antagonizing the sympathetic system did the opposite--it decreased the MAP but did not change the heart rate.

To understand the mechanism by which the LHb elicits these cardiovascular responses, the researchers focused on the neurotransmitter serotonin, which plays an important role in the brain in modulating mood, cognition, and memory, among other functions. While blocking all serotonin receptors significantly reduced the LHb's effect on both the MAP and heart rate, the researchers found that specific subtypes of serotonin receptors were particularly involved in the process.

"These are striking results that show how the lateral habenula controls the cardiovascular system. Our results demonstrate the mechanism of a neural circuit that plays an important role in stress-induced behavioral responses," says author of the study Professor Masayuki Matsumoto.

###
Google Maps is no longer an outdoor navigation system  the tech giant is rolling out an upgrade that provides directions inside different facilities.

Users can now use Live View on smartphones to maneuver around malls, airports and train stations.

The Indoor Live View Feature uses AR cues to provide turn-by-turn directions over a live shot of the area.

The 2021 upgrade also includes a new weather layer that shows the current and forecasted predictions, along with eco-friendly routes as many nations aim for a carbon free world.

Scroll down for video

Google Maps is no longer an outdoor navigation system  the tech giant is rolling out an upgrade that provides directions inside different facilities. It has also added the option for eco-friendly routes (right)

Google Maps made its way to the iPhone and Android smartphones in 2019, but the latest announcement is the first time it will include directions for indoor spaces.

Dane Glasgow, VP of product, shared in a blog post: Since then, weve been pushing the boundaries of what a map can do, propelled by the latest machine learning.

This year, were on track to bring over 100 AI-powered improvements to Google Maps so you can get the most accurate, up-to-date information about the world, exactly when you need it.

Here's a snapshot of how we're using AI to make Maps work better for you with a number of updates coming this year.

The new weather layer is to help users plan for rain, snow, sunshine or whatever conditions Mother Nature may have planned. You can quickly see current and forecasted temperature and weather conditions in an area

Although the update is packed with a number of new features, the most exciting may be the indoor Live View.

Users can access it in Google Maps just allow their camera to capture the space around them, which is then overlaid with AR cues to follow.

If youre catching a plane or train, Live View can help you find the nearest elevator and escalators, your gate, platform, baggage claim, check-in counters, ticket office, restrooms, ATMs and more, Glasgow shared.

Arrows and accompanying directions will point you the right way. And if you need to pick something up from the mall, use Live View to see what floor a store is on and how to get there so you can get in and out in a snap.

The indoor Live View feature is now on Android and iOS in a number of malls in Chicago, Long Island, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.

Google has gathered insights from the U.S. Department of Energys National Renewable Energy Lab to build a new routing model

It starts rolling out in the coming months in select airports, malls, and transit stations in Tokyo and Zurich, with more cities on the way.

The new weather layer is to help users plan for rain, snow, sunshine or whatever conditions Mother Nature may have planned.

You can quickly see current and forecasted temperature and weather conditions in an area - so youll never get caught in the rain without an umbrella, Glasgow wrote.

And the new air quality layer shows you how healthy (or unhealthy) the air is -information thats especially helpful if you have allergies or are in a smoggy or fire prone area.

The weather layer will be available globally and the air quality layer will launch in Australia, India, and the U.S., with more countries to come.

The last upgrade will show users optional routes that are deemed eco-friendly.

Google has gathered insights from the U.S. Department of Energys National Renewable Energy Lab to build a new routing model that optimizes for lower fuel consumption based on factors like road incline and traffic congestion.

Soon, Google Maps will default to the route with the lowest carbon footprint when it has approximately the same ETA as the fastest route, stated Glasgow.

In cases where the eco-friendly route could significantly increase your ETA, well let you compare the relative CO2 impact between routes so you can choose. Always want the fastest route?

Thats OK too  simply adjust your preferences in Settings. Eco-friendly routes launch in the U.S. on Android and iOS later this year, with a global expansion on the way.
[March 30, 2021] Rizek Becomes the First App in the World to Make at-home COVID-19 Vaccinations a Reality

DUBAI, U.A.E, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In alignment with the ambitious drive of the UAE to present premier and global services for citizens and residents alike, Rizek, one of the fastest-growing Abu Dhabi-based start-ups, and the first 'super app' for on-demand home services in the country, has made what was once a far-fetched dream a reality, as the startup proudly announces that it is now the first app in the world to provide at-home COVID-19 vaccinations. Abdallah Abu-Sheikh, founder and chief executive officer of Rizek, said: "Since our inception, we have been continuously raising the bar of customer-centric services, achieving sevral milestones over the past year alone that culminated into Rizek becoming the only app in the world to offer at-home COVID-19 vaccinations. This is an initiative that could not have been realised without the fundamental support that the UAE government and its leadership offer to everyone."



From the onset of the pandemic, Rizek has been instrumental in providing its customers with the utmost in convenient healthcare. Offering at-home COVID-19 vaccines consolidates the app's trustworthiness and reliability as an innovative app that is fundamental in healthcare, and whose ambitions and vision are set towards the future, with the people being at the heart of its mission. Rizek is actively working with labs, nurses, and healthcare personnel across the UAE to assist in limiting and stopping the spread of COVID-19. The company brought PCR tests, antibodies and vaccines to users' doorsteps, emphasising their well-being and presenting them with the utmost in safe and convenient patient care.

About Rizek Founded in 2019 by Abdallah Abu-Sheikh, a seasoned entrepreneur from Amman, Rizek is a super app for on demand services that directly connects users to service professionals from a wide range of industries, thereby enabling better and more efficient relationships between them. Through transforming the way services are rendered, Rizek is strengthening the service sector in the region, with a focus on improving service quality and increasing job opportunities. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rizek-becomes-the-first-app-in-the-world-to-make-at-home-covid-19-vaccinations-a-reality-301258211.html SOURCE Rizek

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Penalties for possessing the date rape drug GHB will be more than doubled, Priti Patel will announce today.

The Home Secretary has reclassified the drug from Class C to Class B after recommendations by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

This means the maximum penalty for possession will increase from two years in jail to five.

The chemical is widely sold online as an industrial solvent, particularly to clean alloy wheels, and as a rust and paint remover, and nail varnish thinner

A small dose can cause unconsciousness and Miss Patel said GHB was used to commit some truly sickening crimes

The maximum sentence for dealers will remain at 14 years.

A small dose can cause unconsciousness and Miss Patel said GHB was used to commit some truly sickening crimes.

She added: These changes will make the drugs harder to access and introduce tougher penalties for possession.

GHB was used by Britains most prolific rapist Reynhard Sinaga who was jailed for life last year for 159 sex offences, including 136 rapes.

The chemical is widely sold online as an industrial solvent, particularly to clean alloy wheels, and as a rust and paint remover, and nail varnish thinner.

Even a small dose of the tasteless and odourless drug can cause victims to fall unconscious if it is slipped into their drink by sex attackers.

Other changes will see restrictions on two substances which are converted into GHB on ingestion.

Gamma-butyrolactone, also known as GBL, and 1,4-butanediol will require a licence for legitimate industrial use.

Sinaga, a churchgoing PhD student, preyed on at least 195 young men in Manchester and filmed his sickening attacks.

When he was handed a 30-year sentence in January last year, a judge described Sinaga as a monster.

GHB - or gamma-hydroxybutyric acid - was also used by wicked and monstrous serial killer Stephen Port, who poisoned four young men with lethal doses of the drug.

The chef lured his victims to his flat before giving them GHB. He used fake suicide notes in a bid to cover up two of his murders.

Port was handed a whole life tariff - meaning he will die in jail - at the Old Bailey in 2016.

Miss Patel asked the ACMD to review controls on the drugs in January last year.

Changes to the drugs classification under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 can be introduced quickly under secondary legislation.

A Home Office spokesman said the measures would be introduced when parliamentary time allows.
TOKYO (AP)  Japan's famous cherry blossoms have reached their flowery peak in many places earlier this year than at any time since formal records started being kept nearly 70 years ago, with experts saying climate change is the likely cause.

Japans favorite flower, called sakura," used to reach their peak bloom in April, just as the country celebrates the start of its new school and business year. Yet that date has been creeping earlier and now most years the blossoms are largely gone before the first day of school.

This year peak bloom was reached on March 26 in the ancient capital of Kyoto, the earliest since the Japan Meteorological Agency started collecting the data in 1953 and 10 days ahead of the 30-year average. Similar records were set this year in more than a dozen cities across Japan.

Some say it is the earliest peak bloom ever based on records from historic documents, diaries and poetry books from Kyoto. Osaka Prefecture University environmental scientist Yasuyuki Aono, who tracks such documents, said the earliest blooms he has found before this year were March 27 in the years 1612, 1409 and 1236, though there are not records for some years.

We can say its most likely because of the impact of the global warming, said Shunji Anbe, an official at the observations division at the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The agency tracks 58 benchmark cherry trees across the country, and this year 40 of those already have reached their peak bloom and 14 have done so in record time. The trees normally bloom for about two weeks each year from first bud to all the blossoms falling off.

Cherry trees are sensitive to temperature changes and the timing of their blooming can provide valuable data for climate change studies, Anbe said.

According to the agency data, the average temperature for March in Kyoto has climbed to 10.6 degrees Celsius (51.1 F) in 2020 from 8.6 C (47.5 F) in 1953. So far this year's average March temperature in Japan has been 12.4 C (54.3 F).

Sakura have deeply influenced Japanese culture for centuries and regularly been used in poetry and literature with their fragility seen as a symbol of life, death and rebirth.
The headteacher of an independent boarding school for boys has told an inquiry that it is 'not fair' to single out boys-only schools when examining a 'predatory culture'.

Jonathan Anderson, head of the 35,00-a-year Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, told the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) that the issue affected all schools across the UK.

Mr Anderson said the school had undertaken the 'harrowing' process of a full review of historical files and accepts there may have been abuse between 1930, when the school moved to its current site in Colinton, and 2014.

Jonathan Anderson, headteacher at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh (pictured), told an inquiry that it was 'not fair' to single out boys-only schools when looking into 'predatory culture'

Counsel to the inquiry, Andrew Brown QC, questioned him on recent media reports of a 'predatory culture' that boys' schools can produce.

Mr Anderson, who took up his role at Merchiston in 2018 after a 20-year career teaching at boarding schools in England, said: 'I think it is an issue across all schools.

'I think it's unfair to single out boys' schools as I think it's a societal issue.

'I think it's about how we educate young men, and we take that responsibility very seriously.

'Being able to have a frank discussion with them in a boys-only space is very healthy in that regard.

'To say it's only an issue for boys' schools is not fair.'

The inquiry also heard from a written statement from the school which said the review of records found it had failed to protect some children from abuse, in particular in relation to a now-dead member of staff.

The review found there may have been physical and emotional abuse at the school over the nine decades examined - including bullying, voyeurism and 'lewd practices'.

The records point to this mainly involving staff abuse of pupils but the files also contain references to verbal and physical bullying among students.

One account from a pupil in the 1950s describes both sexual abuse and bullying from students.

Mr Anderson said the boarding school had undertaken a full review of historical files

Further documents indicate in the past that the school - the only remaining boys-only independent boarding school in Scotland - had not adequately recorded all reports of abuse.

Mr Anderson said: 'It has been a salutary experience and a harrowing experience for all involved and we are deeply sorry that it's taken this to bring it to our attention but the school of today absolutely recognises that safeguarding is our top priority.'

The inquiry heard the school has updated its child protection policies, trains both pupils and staff on this and has increased oversight on the issue.

Mr Anderson added: 'We have absolutely learnt from process. Safeguarding is our number one priority and the wellbeing of the young people in our care is of uppermost importance to us.'

The inquiry being heard before Lady Smith in Edinburgh, continues.
DO NOT DISTURB

The Story of a Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad

By Michela Wrong

In 1996, when I was a Times reporter in Africa, an insurrection broke out in the eastern stretches of a country twice as large as Western Europe and then known as Zaire. Like almost every journalist based in the capital, Kinshasa, in the countrys far west, I struggled to understand how a rebel group that no one had heard of three months earlier could have morphed into the army that would soon march across the country and drive from power its dictator and longstanding American client, Mobutu Sese Seko. Making the story all the stranger, this force was supposedly built from an ethnic community considered marginal even in its home region.

The explanation, which began to emerge only after the rebellion was well underway, was that this was no local uprising that had snowballed in popularity and momentum as it swept westward  the cover story backed by American diplomats and initially conveyed unquestioningly by many journalists or depicted as a positive development. It was a carefully disguised invasion by tiny, neighboring, post-genocide Rwanda of a country 90 times its size.

The details of Rwandas role in that war, and in a second invasion less than two years later of what by then had been renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo, have been minutely chronicled by historians and specialists of the region, including the millions of deaths. Yet these events, and Rwandas continuing economic exploitation and military dominance over the border, have left remarkably little trace on its gilded reputation under the leadership of a man named Paul Kagame, who remains a darling of the international donor community and the Davos crowd.

Much the same can be said of Rwandas record on human rights, which under Kagame has included a campaign of assassinations targeting his exiled critics. After the most famous of these killings, that of his former spy chief Patrick Karegeya, in 2013, a smiling Kagame told a national prayer breakfast: Whoever is against our country will not escape our wrath. The person will face consequences.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The spy shot of Foxconn's first all-electric model was recently exposed by a local media. The photo is only about the clay model of the C-segment SUV, while displays many elements applicable to the styling of a mass-produced model. The vehicle is expected for sale in 2023.

Spy shot of Foxconn's first BEV; photo credit: diandong.com



According to the spy photo, the full-electric model has a sporty appearance thanks to the closed-off grille, the headlight cluster that runs across the vehicle's width and two protruding lines on the bonnet. The SUV is likely to carry concealed door handles. The futuristic wheels would cater to tech-savvy consumers. At the front, the lettering FOXTRON seems to be the future brand name of Foxconn's vehicles.



MIH platform; photo credit: Foxconn



The yet-to-be-launched model will ride on Foxconn's MIH electric car platform. As a BEV-focused modular platform, the MIH is designed to include all key hardware and software components, and can be adapted for car and SUV body styles. Based on the platform, vehicles can be tailor-made in many details like the size of battery pack and the wheelbase, setting the platform apart from those that are difficult to make changes to.

Foxconn declared the MIH platform the linchpin of its electromobility offensive in October 2020. Currently, the MIH Alliance has embraced many partners such as Amazon Web Services, Arm, CATL, DANA, Eaton, Microsoft, Qualcomm, MediaTek, STMicroelectronics, and others. The open-source platform will welcome more automakers to divvy up research and develop costs and generate large market scale.
[March 30, 2021] Loomis Sayles Global Growth Strategy Reaches Five Year Anniversary

Loomis, Sayles & Company, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, marks the five year anniversary of the Loomis Sayles Global Growth strategy. Managed by Aziz Hamzaogullari, founder, chief investment officer and portfolio manager of the Loomis Sayles Growth Equity Strategies (GES) team, the $2.2 billion strategy has delivered its investors an annualized net return of 18.93%, outperforming the MSCI All Country World Index by 6.07%, a return that ranks ahead of 96% of its global growth peers^ (since inception 1/1/2016 through 12/31/2020). The GES team has $78 billion in total assets under management* (as of 12/31/2020). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005943/en/ An active, high-conviction portfolio, the Loomis Sayles Global Growth strategy seeks to produce long-term excess returns by investing in selected high quality companies, globally. The strategy is underpinned by the GES team's singular and differentiated investment philosophy and supported by their proprietary bottom-up, fundamental, seven-step research framework. With its long-term, private equity approach to investing, the GES team looks to invest in those few high-quality businesses with sustainable competitive advantages and profitable growth when they trade at a significant discount to the team's estimate of intrinsic value. Because the team believes developing a deep understanding of each investment can also help mitigate risk through investment insights, their active risk management process is integral to its active investment process. The Global Growth portfolio is concentrated, high-conviction and low-turnover, typically holding 30-45 stocks with an annual turnover of 9.0% since inception and active share** typically above 90%. "We believe the qualities that make a business great are universal in nature, regardless of geographic location. With our structural bottom-up approach, our goal is to identify those businesses with rare qualities in their value chains and profit pools, globally," said Aziz Hamzaogullari. "Our alpha thesis defines our key differentiators and competitive advantages as a team. We believe these tenets are durable in sustaining alpha generation." The team's investment process is differentiated through its seven-step research framework, which uses disciplined and thorough implementation of bottom-up fundamental analysis to understand the drivers, opportunities and limits of each business. All GES strategies are supported by a single alpha thesis, which encapsulates a deeply held system of persistent beliefs, a rigorous, repeatable investment process and substantive proof points. The GES team believes a focus on the quality of a manager's investment philosophy, process, and decision-making is essential for assessing the probability of future success. Aziz brought this differentiated approach to equity investing with him when he joined Loomis Sayles in 2010 to manage the flagship Loomis Sayles Growth Fund. Aziz is also the portfolio manager of the Loomis Sayles All Cap Growth and International Growth long-only strategies, as well as an equity long-short fund. Additionally, he manages the Loomis Sayles Growth and Global Growth mutual funds and offshore strategies. Aziz is also an executive vice president and a member of the firm's Board of Directors. Under his management, GES platform assets have grown from less than $2 billion to $78 billion. He joined Loomis Sayles in 2010 from Evergreen Investments, where as a managing director and senior portfolio manager, he led the large cap and all cap growth strategies since 2006. He was head of Evergreen's Berkeley Street Growth Equity team and founded that team's research and investment processes. ^As of December 31, 2020. Source (News - Alert) : eASE Analytics System; eVestment Alliance is the ranking agency. *Ranking out of 790 observations. (eVestment Alliance's Global, Large Cap and Global All Cap Equity Universe.) Annualized performance is calculated as the geometric mean of the product's returns with respect to one year. Returns-based data are gross of management fees and net of trading costs. The highest (or most favorable) percentile rank is 1, and the lowest (or least favorable) percentile rank is 100. Rankings are subject to change. Although we believe it is reliable, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of data from a third party source. This information cannot be copied or redistributed in any form. *Total strategy assets include all assets managed by the respective team. **Active share indicates the proportion of the portfolio's holdings (by market value) that are different than the benchmark. A higher active share indicates a larger difference between the benchmark and the portfolio. LOOMIS SAYLES GLOBAL GROWTH COMPOSITE PERFORMANCE (%) AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2020







Global Growth (Gross) Global Growth (Net) MSCI All Country World Index MSCI All Country World Growth Index* 4Q 2020 13.58 13.42 14.79 13.14 1 Year 36.30 35.53 16.82 33.94 3 Years 19.19 18.43 10.64 18.03 Since Inception 1/1/2016 19.73 18.93 12.86 17.33

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. *The benchmark for the Global Growth Composite is the MSCI All Country World Index. Performance for the MSCI All Country World Growth Index is shown as supplemental information. Current performance may be lower or higher than quoted. Returns are shown in US dollars and are annualized for one and multi-year periods. Gross returns are net of trading costs. Net returns are gross returns less effective management fees. Indices are unmanaged and do not incur fees. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Returns may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations For additional information on this and other Loomis Sayles strategies, please visit our website at www.loomissayles.com. There is no guarantee that the investment objective will be realized or that the strategy will generate positive or excess return. Any investment that has the possibility for profits also has the possibility of losses. About Risk: Equity securities are volatile and can decline significantly in response to broad market and economic conditions. Foreign and emerging market securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit, currency and information risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than US securities due to varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. Investments in small and mid-size companies can be more volatile than those of larger companies. Growth stocks may be more sensitive to market conditions than other equities as their prices strongly reflect future expectations. Currency exchange rates between the US dollar and foreign currencies may cause the value of the fund's investments to decline. ABOUT LOOMIS SAYLES Since 1926, Loomis, Sayles & Company has helped fulfill the investment needs of institutional and mutual fund clients worldwide. The firm's performance-driven investors integrate deep proprietary research and integrated risk analysis to make informed, judicious decisions. Teams of portfolio managers, strategists, research analysts and traders collaborate to assess market sectors and identify investment opportunities wherever they may lie, within traditional asset classes or among a range of alternative investments. Loomis Sayles has the resources, foresight and the flexibility to look far and wide for value in broad and narrow markets in its commitment to deliver attractive sustainable returns for clients. This rich tradition has earned Loomis Sayles the trust and respect of clients worldwide, for whom it manages $347.8 billion ** in assets (as of December 31, 2020). **Includes the assets of Loomis, Sayles & Co., LP, and Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC. Loomis Sayles Trust Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Loomis, Sayles & Company, LP. ABOUT NATIXIS INVESTMENT MANAGERS Natixis Investment Managers serves financial professionals with more insightful ways to construct portfolios. Powered by the expertise of more than 20 specialized investment managers globally, we apply Active Thinking to deliver proactive solutions that help clients pursue better outcomes in all markets. Natixis Investment Managers ranks among the world's largest asset management firms1 with nearly $1.1 trillion assets under management2 (910.0 billion). Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Investment Managers is a subsidiary of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Investment Managers' affiliated investment management firms include AEW; Alliance Entreprendre; AlphaSimplex Group; DNCA Investments;3 Dorval Asset Management; Flexstone Partners; Gateway (News - Alert) Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management; Harris Associates; Investors Mutual Limited; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Mirova; MV Credit; Naxicap Partners; Ossiam; Ostrum Asset Management; Seeyond; Seventure Partners; Thematics Asset Management; Vauban Infrastructure Partners; Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; Vega Investment Managers;4 and WCM Investment Management. Additionally, investment solutions are offered through Natixis Investment Managers Solutions, and Natixis Advisors offers other investment services through its AIA and MPA division. Not all offerings available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit Natixis Investment Managers' website at im.natixis.com| LinkedIn (News - Alert) : linkedin.com/company/natixis-investment-managers. Natixis Investment Managers' distribution and service groups include Natixis Distribution, L.P., a limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of various U.S. registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by affiliated firms of Natixis Investment Managers, Natixis Investment Managers S.A. (Luxembourg), Natixis Investment Managers International (France), and their affiliated distribution and service entities in Europe and Asia. 1 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2020 ranked Natixis Investment Managers as the 17th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2019. 2 Assets under management ("AUM") as of September 30, 2020 is $1,067.3 billion. AUM, as reported, may include notional assets, assets serviced, gross assets, assets of minority-owned affiliated entities and other types of non-regulatory AUM managed or serviced by firms affiliated with Natixis Investment Managers. 3 A brand of DNCA Finance. 4 A wholly-owned subsidiary of Natixis Wealth Management. MALR027009 3510553.1.1 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005943/en/

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Remember the bistro burger? Those towering restaurant creations with a half pound of beef and a small salads worth of toppings? The ones stacked high with fried onion rings or crispy pork belly that dominated best burger lists throughout the aughts?

Yeah, me neither.

About five years ago, a simpler sandwich began to dominate Portlands burger landscape, one defined by thin patties, melted American cheese and minimal toppings. At the time, it seemed like a new fleet of food carts was rejecting the over-the-top, $15 restaurant burgers, swinging the pendulum back towards cheaper ingredients with a side of summertime nostalgia.

In hindsight, the change had less to do with vibes, and more to do with technique. Back in 2012, a Serious Eats blog post had upended burger orthodoxy, arguing that pressing down on your burger meat wasnt just allowed, but actually helped coax maximum flavor from your meat (via the Maillard reaction). Smash burgers, as they became known, made with meat smashed into a rough-edged patty shape directly on a stainless steel grill, became the most important burger development of the decade.

Not that they were completely new. Line cooks at drive-thrus and burger bars have long used grease-slicked spatulas to lean on their burgers. But the modern smash fanatic goes further, using cast-iron weights to obliterate their beef and sharpened paint scrapers to transfer every last browned bit from the grill to your griddled bun.

The resulting super-flat, lacy-edged patties tend to dictate a certain burger style, usually with two small patties doubled up to increase the meat-to-bun ratio, pickles and other acid-heavy toppings capable of cutting through fattier beef blends and fast-melting American cheese to hold everything together. And they tend to go best in a more modest receptacle, which around these parts means regular old hamburger buns from Franz Bakery.

The updated method has been a hit, in part because it guarantees that even if your burger looks like fast food, the meat inside will be fresh, not frozen. Since Burger Stevens debuted in 2016, at least 25 more carts, pop-ups and restaurants have started serving smash burgers in the metro area, including five new spots since January alone. Nearly every important new Portland burger in the past five years  the ones at Burger Stevens, Canard, even Tokis new bao burger  has been a smash in some form.

We went out and tried all of them, from Rough Drafts austere smash burgers with their paper-thin white onions to Gueros kitchen-sink hamburguesas stacked high with avocado, pickled jalapenos and ham. To compare apples to apples, we separated smash-adjacent burgers (those where smashing isnt the central part of the process) and restaurant-style smash burgers (those with thin patties hidden under a cavalcade of extras) into their own sections, focusing our ranking on true smash burgers with classic toppings. For the ranked contenders, points were awarded for taste, with a bonus given for smash level, aka how devoted they are to the art of the smash.

The burger pendulum could just as easily swing back tomorrow, with super-sized bistro burgers returning to prominence. But for now, the smash burger reigns supreme.

PORTLANDS BEST SMASH BURGERS

A note on our methodology: The Oregonian/OregonLive.com visited more than 20 food carts and restaurants to put together this smash burger survey, ordering anonymously and paying for our food. Each classic cheeseburger was assigned a score out of 100 -- 90 for flavor and construction, plus a maximum 10-point smash level bonus. This being a smash burger roundup, we only included those that met the definition and that had a smash score of 4 or higher. Ties went to the smash-ier burger.

Black Seed Burger Cult's signature buns come from Fleur de Lis Bakery.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

No. 14 | Black Seed Burger Cult

In different times, this North Portland burger bar, with its red booths, arcade games and Weirdo-style branding, would be a worthy hangout for families still adrift after Foster Burgers 2019 closure. For now, with North Mississippi Avenue under heavy construction, even outdoor seating is on hiatus. Black Seeds burgers are smashed, then steamed to finish under a dome, arriving with nice browning on one side and an array of toppings. The simple cheeseburger ($10) has the works: lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and the restaurants own better than ranch sauce, all on a neat-looking black sesame seed bun from Fleur de Lis bakery. This is a very enjoyable burger.

Total score: 75 (71 for taste and construction, with a smash level of 4)

Extras: Chicken and egg sandwiches, fries, a selection of fully loaded burgers including bacon, eggs and roasted jalapeno. Everything on the menu can be made vegan.

Details: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (as with all businesses during COVID times, its best to call ahead to confirm hours); 3746 N. Mississippi Ave.; 971-544-7277; blackseedburgercult.com

Let it all hang out: Yes Please's bun hangs on for dear life.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

No. 13 | Yes Please

You dont need to look far to find Portland chefs who grind their own beef, bake their own buns or ferment their own pickles. But make their own American cheese? Yes Please, a roving pop-up set to open a food cart in front of Southeast Hawthornes old Third Eye head shop, does just that for its $12 burger, topping well-smashed grass-fed beef (made from a blend including a little heart meat, owner Tai Pfeifer says) with a burger sauce and drippy house American cheese. Its all a bit much for the lightly griddled bun  eat quickly or remember to load up on napkins before you begin.

Score: 75 (smash level: 7)

Extras: Unique burger specials and, on my visit, a tasty pistachio pudding.

Details: Look for Yes Please up at 3950 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.

Burger Stevens' cheeseburger has been among Portland's best since it opened in 2016.Dave Killen/Staff

No. 12 | Burger Stevens

At its best, the 5-year-old Burger Stevens makes something close to the perfect backyard burger, with crispy patties, melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles on a golden toasted Franz bun. Chef Don Salamones powder-blue food cart, now with two locations, has been the place Ive casually thought of as offering my favorite Portland burger since it first opened in 2016, and its success inspired several other smash burgers on this list. That burger ($5) is still very good, though on a first visit to the North Portland cart, the beef was dry. A follow-up to the Beaverton location had mushy tomato, a hazard of using the out of season produce. Still, the smash level is fantastic, the fries are near McDonalds-level and the branding is on point. If anyone here looks ready to make the brick-and-mortar jump, its Burger Stevens.

Score: 76 (8; remember, tie goes to the smashier)

Extras: Burgers in regular and snack size, hot dogs, shoestring fries, veggie burgers, lemon chiffon pie and add-ons including fried eggs and grilled jalapenos.

Details: Noon to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday; at Prost Marketplace, 4237 N. Mississippi Ave., and BGs Food Cartel, 4250 S.W. Rose Biggi Ave., Beaverton; burgerstevens.com

Holler makes fried chicken, smash burgers and more in Sellwood.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

No. 11 | Holler

Though theyre better known for fried chicken, Doug Adams and Jen Quist take burgers seriously. At their downtown Portland restaurant Bullard, the dry-aged beef burger comes with a swipe of mustard ala Whataburger, Adams beloved Texas chain; at next door cocktail bar Abigail Hall, the burger nods to Quists favorite In-N-Out. Neither are regularly available at the moment, though Ive spotted (and ordered) Abigail Halls as a pandemic-time special. At Holler, the duos latest restaurant, the house burger ($11) nails its nostalgic vibe with two patties, stringy Tillamook cheddar, red onions, sweet pickles, shredded lettuce and a tangy sauce spilling out of a scrunchy soft Franz bun. Smash fans will wish for more crust, and over two recent visits, I longed for a less soggy bottom bun. But that wont stop you from inhaling your burger in three minutes flat.

Score: 78 (4)

Extras: Big salads, fried chicken, ice cream and cocktails to-go round out Hollers full pub menu.

Details: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily; 7119 S.E. Milwaukie Ave.; 971-200-1391; hollerpdx.com

The OG Smash Burger from Monster Smash, with two 2.5 ounce patties, American cheese and house turmeric pickles on a brioche bun from Dos Hermanos bakery.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

No. 10 | Monster Smash

After eight years making synthesizers and guitar pedals in Portland, former San Francisco chef Rico Loverde decided to dive back into his first love: cooking. He didnt need to look far for a spot. Next to his home sat Monks Deli, the beloved cheesesteak cart that closed last year. After toying with a tapas concept, Loverde returned to his first idea: cheeseburgers. Monster Smashs OG Smash burger ($10) is built around two grass-fed patties smashed and seared then topped with American cheese, a sweet burger sauce and cart-made turmeric pickles on a fluffy brioche bun from Dos Hermanos bakery. Pair it with a West Coast IPA from Belmont Station, the great beer bar next door.

Score: 78 (7)

Extras: Salty fries with a Spanish-style garlic aioli, a vegan version with Beyond Meat patties, a fancy salad and a soup & sando combo with tomato bisque and one of the best grilled cheeses in the city.

Details: Noon to 6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday; 4500 S.E. Stark St., behind Belmont Station.

Get your greens: Union Burger serves its lightly smashed burger with plenty of chopped romaine.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

No. 9 | Union Burger

At Union Burger, John Hunts classic burgers are front and center, while you have to opt in to try the over-the-top creations featured at his previous joint, Stoopid Burger. The year-old cart, which takes its name from the pre-1986 name for Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, serves a basic cheeseburger ($7.50) with chunks of romaine, tomato, pickles, onion, secret sauce and American cheese melted on a thicker patty that gets smashed by hand before being placed under a weight on a hot grill. Its an unorthodox style of smash, and personally, I might swap the romaine for iceberg. But this remains a tasty burger, with a lean beef blend Hunt buys fresh each day and brioche buns from, you guessed it, Franz.

Score: 81 (5)

Extras: Lemon-pepper fried-chicken sandwiches, good onion rings, blue and purple Union Drink and build-your-own burgers with bacon, hot links and more.

Details: Noon to 7:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 7339 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; 503-744-9745; unionburgerpdx.com

First unveiled as a special at the old Bunk Bar Wonder, this missing-link burger lives on at Cliff's.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

No. 8 | Cliffs PDX

Originally whipped it up as a limited special at the old Bunk Bar Wonder, our 2017 Burger of the Year found a permanent home on the menu after chef Josh Luebke bought the bar two years later. As an early entrant in Portlands smash burger wars, the Ballroom Burger ($10), named for the Wonder Ballroom that Cliffs sits underneath, has a style all its own, with a well-griddled brioche bun, a relic of a time before everyone decided to just go ahead and use Franz. (Note: The porky onion jam from the original version is gone, the mustard notes remain.) These arent the super-thin patties youll see later on this list, but with nicely browned and juicy meat, a golden bun and shredded lettuce, theres more than enough crunch to go around.

Score: 85 (5)

Extras: A full pub menu and fun cocktails courtesy of co-owner Sierra Kirk-Luebke.

Details: Noon to 9 p.m. Thursday-Friday and 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; 128 N.E. Russell St.; 503-327-8234; cliffspdx.com

Smoke 'em if you got 'em: The double smash burger at Wolf's Head Smokehouse in Beaverton.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

No. 7 | Wolfs Head Smokehouse

Burger Stevens is a short stroll away in the same food cart pod, but after eating both back-to-back, I was surprised to prefer the one at this overachieving Beaverton barbecue cart. Wolfs Head Smokehouse makes a stacked smash burger ($10) from fresh-ground brisket, melted American cheese, caramelized onions and plenty of house-made pickles, all doused in burger sauce on a Franz bun (Were not doing some half-pound artisanal tomato-jam burger, owner Jason Wittek says of using those ubiquitous buns. These are what we want for a smash burger.) The only problem with ordering a burger? Missing out on a chance to order the carts smoked meat. Luckily, Wolfs Head lets you sub out one patty for a slice of brisket or a handful of the carts signature chopped pork.

Score: 87 (6)

Extras: Various sandwiches, smoked meat trays and classic barbecue sides.

Details: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; 4250 S.W. Rose Biggi Ave., Beaverton; 503-380-8055; wolfsheadbbq.com

The classic cheeseburger on an An Xuyen bakery butter roll at Jojo's Southeast Portland home.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

No. 6 | Jojo

Jojo, the fried chicken and jojo cart outside Southeast Powell Boulevard beer emporium Johns Marketplace, was among Portlands second wave of smash burger connoisseurs. When I first tried the burger in 2019, after also plowing through some loaded jojos and a fried-chicken sandwich, I found it too decadent, the handful of pickles unequipped to cut through the richness of the meat and An Xuyen bakery butter roll. A recent revisit on an empty stomach helped me appreciate the burger ($9) more, particularly the way the golden-griddled bun collapsed pleasantly around the iceberg lettuce and crispy-edged double patties. I still longed for a touch more acid, a few more pickles or a less buttery bun, but with a crisp pilsner from the Johns beer window in hand, those seemed like trivial concerns.

Score: 87 (8)

Extras: Jojos, fried-chicken sandwiches and sandwich specials, plus a spicy version of the cheeseburger, if thats your thing.

Details: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; 3582 S.E. Powell Blvd.; 971-331-4284; jojopdx.com

A saucy tavern burger from Tulip Shop Tavern in North Portland.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

No. 5 | Tulip Shop Tavern

Hollers Doug Adams recommended this burger to me in 2019, around the time Tulip Shop Tavern started classing up the space once home to Ducketts. But what finally brought me in was the beer. Specifically, the otherwise hard-to-find cans from some of Seattles most in-demand breweries, including Cloudburst, the IPA specialists that are virtually impossible to find elsewhere in Oregon. Adams was right about the burger, which I love, a simple tavern-style quarter-pounder ($8) given a gentle smash, topped with American cheese, doused in the right amount of mayo-forward special sauce, and placed on a fluffy Dos Hermanos milk bun with shredded lettuce and sliced pickles. Its not the smashiest of smash burgers, but it just might be your new favorite.

Score: 89 (5)

Extras: A full pub menu, cocktails and a great beer list.

Details: Noon to 10 p.m. daily; 825 N. Killingsworth St.; 503-206-8483; tulipshoptavern.com

The Beast Burger at Farmer and the Beast comes with a Thousand Island-ish special sauce.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

No. 4 | Farmer & The Beast

This isnt so much a cheeseburger as a double-decker Trojan Horse: The burger gets invited in, only for the farm-fresh salads and seasonal lemonades to invade your taste buds. Found at Northwest Portlands new Nob Hill food cart pod, this forest green cart comes from Jeff Larson and Schuyler Wallace, a pair of chefs who met at David Machados last hotel restaurant, Tanner Creek Tavern. The duo had some creative license there, but more crucially, its the place they learned the value of a good burger. Compared with the top two on this list, the Beast Burger ($10) doesnt have the deepest, crispiest smash. But it does have two beautifully seared patties, melted American cheese, shaved onion, plenty of pickle slices and a special sauce with more pickle, all propped up on a chapbooks worth of iceberg leaves and trapped in a sesame seed Franz bun.

Score: 90 (6)

Extras: On our visit, a rosemary and Meyer lemonade and a fennel and winter citrus salad were too good to pass up. Look out for sandwich specials and milkshakes as well.

Details: 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday-Friday and noon to 7:30 p.m., Saturday; 1845 N.W. 23rd Pl.; 971-319-0656; farmer-and-the-beast.square.site

Fox in the snow: Bless Your Heart's classic cheeseburger on a tasty Martin's potato roll.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

No. 3 | Bless Your Heart

In my memory, the patties in Bless Your Hearts burgers, typically doused in Dukes mayonnaise or hidden under chili and white onion, more closely resembled a loose meat sandwich at some North Carolina roadhouse than your typical modern smash burger. I was wrong. On a recent revisit, the classic double cheeseburger ($10) at the Northeast Portland stand had a Burger Stevens-level smash, with a smooth, crispy sear and those hallmark lacy edges protruding from a good Martins potato roll (Franz only competitor for smash burger supremacy). A distinct mustard note cut through the Dukes, with lettuce, onions, sweet house pickles and not-quite-melted American cheese rounding out the toppings. Though the former chain is down to one location at the moment, Bless Your Heart is a serious smash burger contender.

Score: 92 (8)

Extras: Various burgers and hot dogs, including the Carolina-style chili burger; regular, barbecue and down & dirty smothered fries; soft serve and floats.

Details: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; 5410 N.E. 33rd Ave. (a location at downtowns Pine Street Market remains closed); 503-719-6447; byhpdx.com

Double down: The meat-to-bun ratio improves with the double version of Rough Draft's super smash burger.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

No. 2 | Rough Draft

Last year, a new food cart with serious smash burger bona fides rode into town. Rough Draft Burger Shop, which started life as a Seattle burger pop-up, opened this charming cart at Uptown Beer, a craft beer bar and bottle shop so deep in Southwest Portland you could cross the street and be in Beaverton. Here, chefs Nick Jarvis and Aaron Wilcenski take Portlands nostalgic burger obsession to its logical conclusion, with its two skinny patties hanging over a soft Franz bun, the meat edges as lacey-crisp as a Detroit-style pizza ($8 for the double). In a recent review, I called this Portlands new classic smash burger, while also lamenting the limited toppings, with little more than paper-thin white onions, a few pickles and a swipe of tangy house sauce. I stand by that, but this is a smash burger roundup, and in that context, Rough Draft can hold its own with the very best.

Score: 94 (10)

Extras: Waffle fries, deluxe fries, a broccoli supreme, vegetarian Impossible Burger patties, canned soda and 36 taps of beer at the adjacent Uptown Beer.

Details: 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; 6620 S.W. Scholls Ferry Road; rdburgershop.com

No. 1 | Mid City Smash Burger

Born one late night in New Orleans, this fun-loving former porch pop-up relocated to Portland, and an available food cart, in January. Here, Mike Aldridge channels years of cooking experience  first at the Skyway Bar & Grill and Timberline Lodge restaurant on Mount Hood, then at Vitaly Paleys former Imperial and Headwaters in downtown Portland  into a deceptively simple cheeseburger ($5) with American cheese and buns from nearby Franz. The skill shows in the details. The fully melted cheese. The nicely griddled bun. The superior smash given to each ball of nicely seasoned St. Helens beef by an oversized cast-iron weight. But the magic is in the burger sauce, a mustard-mayo blend with a dozen secret ingredients, including bits of onion and pickle that Aldridge fine-dices by hand. Each burger gets a healthy dollop both above and below two crispy burger patties  a little more than you think you need, but enough to keep the burger from tasting dry.

Score: 96 (10)

Extras: Crinkle-cut fries, also available in a deluxe version with burger sauce and nacho cheese, Pepsi (no Coke), Wendys-style Tillamook ice cream milkshakes.

Details: Noon to 6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday; 1015 S.E. Stark St., in front of the Art Design Xchange.

-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell
Successful organisations that will see the future are those earnestly embracing inclusivity and bringing talented and capable women into their decision making tables, and not those merely doing it to meet a quota, a senior business executive Gloria Zvaravanhu said yesterday.

Zvaravanhu who is the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) chief executive told The Herald that: "We have long moved on from the equality and quota talks. We are talking inclusivity for sustainable businesses and recognition based on merit. The female talent is overwhelmingly there!"

To continue removing barriers to women's leadership, meaningful participation, and decision-making, Zvaravanhu said it is important to have a diversity of views to ensure efficient and effective decision making.

"One can't afford leaving out the views of the majority gender in the country from the decision making tables. Inclusivity is the key to customer oriented products and services," she pointed out.

Zvaravanhu has proved that in the 21st century, women continue to make huge strides with their leadership and innovation.

A chartered accountant by profession, she was the second female president in ICAZ's 100-year history. With 17 years of experience in financial management, 13 years at executive management level, Zvaravanhu has been around for a long time and has seen it all to understand customer needs.

The market, she explained, is dominated by female consumers.

"The wise organisations know that to effectively tap into that consumer base you need to have like-minded people on the decision making tables. For illustration purposes, how can a company that manufactures sanitary wear or diapers or baby food not have a single woman in the top management team?" Zvaravanhu pointed out.

With vast experience in the insurance sector, where she served in both life and non-life insurance companies at executive level between the period 2005-2018 her record speaks of her accomplishments, leadership, work ethic and wisdom.

She has also served as a general manager at NicozDiamond Insurance Limited, and as a finance executive at First Mutual Life.

In the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Zvaravanhu has served on insurance company boards in Mozambique and Zambia.

Before joining the insurance sector in 2005, she was a manager at KPMG Chartered Accountants in both audit and corporate finance departments.

She said being the current ICAZ CEO is an honour, which enables her to contribute to the narrative of the future leaders for the country and beyond borders where their current and future members serve and influence.

"It also gives me an opportunity to future set the Chartered Accountant profession for inclusive transformational and vibrant leadership. That is what the future requires and we are enthusiastically ready to deliver future proofed professionals," she further explained.

Zvaravanhu's list of accomplishments is long and proves that determination and hard work pays.

She joined the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) Professional Accountants in Business Advisory Group in January 2020, after her nomination by ICAZ.

An alumnus of the prestigious Fortune 500 Global women mentoring programme, she was mentored by one of the top "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" in the United States.

A holder a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from Rhodes University, South Africa and a Master in Business Leadership degree from the University of South Africa, she recently completed (October 2019) an LLM degree in International Business Law with the University of Cumbria, UK.

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Zvaravanhu also serves as the chairperson of Chengetedzayi Depository Company Board in Zimbabwe.

She is also the chairperson of the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe and serves on several other audit committees in the country.

At continental level she also serves on the Pan African Federation of Accountants Board where she represents Southern Africa and also serves on the Africa Integrated Reporting Council.

She has won several business accolades in Zimbabwe that include Female Manager of the year (2013), Corporate Governance Professional of the year (2017), Young Professional leader of the year (2018).

As we round up women's month, we salute women like Zvaravanhu who continue to claim their space in male dominated positions.
Police busted a 30-person Covid-breaching rave taking place in an underpass beneath the busy M6 motorway.

A member of the public raised the alarm about the planned event, with revellers given a muster point before the location, underneath the bridge at junction 4 on the border of the West Midlands and Warwickshire, was revealed.

West Midlands Police were able to locate the rave which took place in the early hours on Saturday with the help of police drones, a helicopter and thermal imaging cameras which showed the group dancing to the booming music.

A rave attended by around 30 people (pictured) underneath the bridge at junction 4 on the border of the West Midlands and Warwickshire was broke up by police

Police used a drone with thermal imaging cameras and a helicopter to safely break up the rave during the early hours on Saturday

Some of those gathered fled into the night but officers were positioned nearby as the event broke up they took the details of 22 people to issue them with 200 fines.

One man was found with a suitcase carrying sound equipment and a van believed to have been used in setting up the event has been seized after getting stuck in the mud.

The man could now face a 10,000 if he's found to have organised the event.

Officers found the gathering, which was being held dangerously close to a river and motorway, but decided not to move in immediately.

Worried that those gathered may flee and fall into the river or try to escape onto the motorway if large numbers of officers suddenly appeared, they called in support from the police drone and helicopter.

The organiser of the event faces a possible 10,000 fine and 22 people are to be issued with 200 fines for the breach

The thermal imaging cameras on the drone revealed around 30 people partying under the bridge and the helicopter's night lights were used to break up the gathering.

The motorway was briefly shut to minimise the risk to people there and one woman was helped from the river after falling in.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd said: 'This was an unauthorised event that would have been illegal outside of CoVID-19 legislation  but considering the public health context it's an even more irresponsible act.

'I'd like to thank the officers who attended what was a very challenging scene, late at night, by a motorway and on the banks of a river, acting with public safety as their priority throughout.

One man was found with a suitcase with sound equipment inside and a van has been seized after it became stuck in mud close to the rave

'They made sure everyone was safe by closing the motorway for a short period and even helped one woman from the river. Thankfully no-one was hurt.

'We will be issuing 22 people with fines and will be looking to identify other people who attended the illegal gathering.

'I understand people's frustrations at having endured a long lockdown but amassing in large numbers like this for an unlicensed event in such a dangerous environment is not acceptable and we have to take action.'

While social contact rules eased today, meaning people gather in groups of six, West Midlands Police stressed such events are illegal and we'll continue to break them up and fine those involved.
Classes in the Wilkes County Schools will start on Aug. 23 and end on May 25 in 2021-22 as a result of a calendar approved by the Wilkes Board of Education on Feb. 1.
ROME, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Angelini Pharma, an international pharmaceutical company part of the privately held Italian Angelini Group that has recently acquired the biopharmaceutical company Arvelle Therapeutics, announced today that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for ONTOZRY for the adjunctive treatment of focal-onset seizures with or without secondary generalization in adults patients who have not been adequately controlled despite an history of treatment with at least two anti-epileptic medicinal products.

The EC marketing authorization is valid in all European Union Member States plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

"ONTOZRY will be a welcome new treatment option in Europe for adults who have not yet been able to control their focal-onset seizures with available treatments. Treatment-resistant epilepsy has a devastating effect on patients and their families, and we are proud to help address this urgent health challenge," said Pierluigi Antonelli, CEO, Angelini Pharma. "Angelini Pharma looks forward to bringing ONTOZRY to patients across Europe and will continue to address the needs of patients with central nervous system disorders through our innovative product portfolio and pipeline."

"This approval marks a breakthrough in the treatment of focal-onset seizures in adults with epilepsy. It is very important that patients have a new treatment option because most of them continue to have seizures that can have devastating effects on their lives," said Agnese Cattaneo, Chief Medical Officer, Angelini Pharma. "There are an estimated six million people in Europe with epilepsy[1] and approximately 40% of adult patients with focal epilepsy have inadequate control of seizures after treatment with two anti-seizure medications (ASMs)[2]. The EC approval of cenobamate gives them all hope for a better life."

"Antiseizure medications introduced during the last three decades have improved our ability to tailor treatment choice to individual needs but have had little impact on seizure outcomes in people with refractory epilepsy," commented Emilio Perucca Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Pavia, and Immediate Past President, International League against Epilepsy. "Cenobamate differs from these medications because its use results in unprecedented seizure freedom rates for these patients. This is important because only freedom from seizures can permit a return to a normal and fully productive life."

The EC approval is based on three key trials involving over 1,900 patients. The pivotal trial (study 017) published in The Lancet Neurology[3] is a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that demonstrated that cenobamate at doses of 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg/day significantly improved seizure control versus placebo for adult patients with focal-onset seizures taking 1-3 ASMs.

Cenobamate demonstrated significantly higher responder rates (percentage of patients achieving 50% reduction in seizures) across all doses during the 12-week maintenance phase compared to placebo. The responder rates were 40% (p=0.036), 56% (p<0.001), and 64% (p<0.001), for the 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg groups, respectively, compared to 25% for the placebo arm. Furthermore, 4% (not significant), 11% (p=0.002), and 21% (p<0.001), of patients treated with cenobamate 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg, respectively, reported zero focal-onset seizures (100% seizure freedom) compared with only 1% of placebo treated patients during the maintenance phase.[3]

The global disease burden of epilepsy is high.[4],[5] A diagnosis of epilepsy confers significant disability on the individual, including physical, psychological and social issues that negatively impact self-esteem, family environment, relationships, leisure and working life.[4],[6]

In addition, people with epilepsy whose seizures are poorly controlled have higher morbidity and mortality rates and often experience comorbid illnesses, social stigmatisation and an impaired quality of life.[7],[8]

Cenobamate, which was discovered by SK Biopharmaceuticals and SK life science, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of partial-onset (focal) seizures in adults in 2019, and it is commercially available in the U.S. under the brand name XCOPRI (cenobamate tablets) CV.

"The approval by the European Commission is another major milestone in our efforts to increase access to cenobamate and to support patients with a much-needed new treatment option," said Jeong Woo Cho, PhD, President and CEO of SK Biopharmaceuticals and SK life science. "As a fully-integrated global pharmaceutical company, we are committed to discovering, developing and delivering new treatment options for epilepsy and other central nervous system disorders to people around the world."

Epilepsy Alliance Europe. Background information. https://www.epilepsyallianceeurope.org/about/background/. Last accessed 03.12.2020 . Chen Z et al. JAMA Neurol. 2018 Mar 1 ;75(3):279-286. Krauss GL et al. Safety and efficacy of adjunctive cenobamate (YKP3089) in patients with uncontrolled focal seizures: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-response trial. Lancet Neurol. 2020 Apr;19(4):288-289. Epilepsy: a public health imperative. Geneva : World Health Organization; 2019. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. ILAE/IBE/WHO. Global Campaign Against Epilepsy: Out of the Shadows. 2003. Kaiser S, et al. Long-term follow-up of topiramate and lamotrigine: a perspective on quality of life.

Seizure. 2002;11:356360. Engel J. Bringing epilepsy out of the shadows. Neurol. 2003;60(9):1412. Engel J. Approaches to refractory epilepsy. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2014;17(Suppl 1):S127.

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[March 30, 2021] Bluecell Intelligence and STACS join hands to build Blockchain Infrastructure and support Green Loan Projects

SINGAPORE, March 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bluecell Intelligence PTE Ltd. and HASHSTACS PTE LTD. (STACS), the two Singapore based Fintech firms have decided to get into a collaboration w.e.f 11th Mar 2021. They will work together to provide Blockchain based solutions and Greenloan projects with enhanced capabilities. Bluecell Intelligence recently launched a Digital Lending Platform for SME loans. It strives to provide better solutions and efficient systems through the online platform where loan dealings can be done in a faster and more advanced way. SMEs can reach multiple lenders with just one single application with various Financing options. Bluecell is onboarding lenders and partners at a fast pace to provide value and more options to its customers. STACS is a Singapore FinTech development company with a vision to provide Transformative Technology for the Financial Industry. STACS is leading the way forward by digitalizing assets, processes, and documents using its Blockchain technology. STACS is an Award Winner of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Global FinTech Innovation Challenge Awards 2020, a technology partner of Project Ubin led by MAS. They provide production-ready enterprise blockchains and end-to-end solutions for implementation. They work alog with financial institutions to discover new opportunities through its technology. With recent trends of blockchain adoption in the industry, STACS serves as a complete solutions partner and an innovative fintech development company to help financial institutions to embrace advanced technology and seek new opportunities.



With this collaboration STACS and Bluecell will build up its platform on blockchain infrastructure. STACS is a fintech award winner for MAS global fintech festival. They are appointed to be the blockchain infrastructure platform builder under project greenprint to facilitate Green Loans. STACS will provide GreenSTACS as supporting infrastructure for loans. This will be aligned with MAS direction, Project Greenprints, Green loan, etc. Using blockchain will track the green impact of the loan towards the borrower. Bluecell is an aggregator of lenders who can offer green loans. Borrowers with "green" elements in their business can come through BC platform to apply for loans from the "green" supportive lenders at better than usual terms. Bluecell will use this technology for processes like Smart contract, digital signing, verification of original financial documents, etc. The Green Fintech initiative by Singapore focuses on challenges faced by financial institutions with respect to sustainability and climate risks. Greenprint is a technology platform aimed at promoting a green financial ecosystem. SMEs and FinTech firms working on green and sustainable projects often face difficulty accessing capital in an efficient manner. Project Greenprint provides a platform for these firms to connect with financial institutions and investors to access a wider pool of capital and green solutions.

With emphasis by the Singapore govt. on Green loans many small businesses are focusing on sustainable projects for future growth. With more businesses shifting their regular transactions digitally and using services offered by Online platforms it is deemed to enhance the efficiency of the financial sector due to the newer technologies. Fintech platform helps to automate the process and make the delivery of services faster. Click here for Company Logos - Bluecell and STACS Click here to know more about Bluecell Intelligence

Click here to know more about STACS SOURCE Bluecell Intelligence

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On Friday 27th, 2021, the Ministries of Justice, VSA and TEATT met to lay the foundation of establishing a working agreement or covenant to tackle the various loopholes used to defraud the system to acquire certain things like residency permits. Ministers support staff and relevant department heads engaged in a highly-anticipated meeting to identify issues within the labor and immigration system that allows persons coming to the island to abuse the system and acquire residency. The meeting served to introduce certain talking points and discuss the way forward with the intention of developing a joint covenant between all three Ministries that will tackle many aspects such as the employment-related immigration matters from the Ministry of Public Health, Labor and Social Development (VSA) and the abuse of the Business Directors License from the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT) to acquire residency.





A covenant was first created in 2020, between the Minister of Justice and the Minister of VSA to cooperate on issues affecting both the labor and immigration systems. A task force was developed with representatives from both ministries to enhance the coordination and work relation specifically between the Immigration and Border Protection Services (Justice) and the Division of Labor, Affairs and Social Services (VSA) on employment-related immigration and to specifically address the ongoing issue whereby employers are employing persons who are not legally registered on the island. Representatives of the Ministry of TEATT were also invited to specifically discuss the misuse of the Business Director's licenses that persons are requesting in order to acquire residency status on the island.





The issue of the abuse of the Director's license for residence purposes is an on-going issue. Persons are paying for Directors licenses but the physical businesses are non-existent. The individuals continue to pay for the renewal of these licenses which is completed at the Receivers Department and not at the Ministry of TEATT. For this reason, the Government of Sint Maarten lead by the three respective ministers are moving forward to have a covenant established to continue to tackle this issue in a holistic manner.





Another manner in which the ministries will work together is on joint controls. Currently the Ministry of TEATT controllers are visiting businesses to ensure they are legally operating their business. Within short, the Mobile Unit of the Immigration and Border Protection Services will be joining the controllers of TEATT to ensure the business are employing Dutch nationals and persons with legal status.





The respective members of staff from each ministry will be meeting in a subsequent meeting just after the holidays to proceed with the discussions and ensure the draft covenant covers all relevant areas needed to properly regulate processes while upholding laws and policies. This working agreement once firmly established to be most effective will then be signed by the Honorable Minister of Justice,





Anna E. Richardson, the Honorable Minister of TEATT, Ludmila De Weever and the Honorable Minister of VSA, Richard Panneflek.




Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 21:28:33|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, March 30 (Xinhua) -- As Kenyans thought they were shrugging off the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, the virus fastened its firm grip on the east African nation painfully erasing families and confining many in intensive care.

It is against the backdrop of this grim situation that President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 26 reinstated restrictive measures to tame a vicious third wave. The well-intended pronouncements, however, now threaten the livelihoods of citizens who were well on their way to economic recovery.

"The message from the president threw the staff in distress; everyone was concerned about the fate of their jobs, only last year nearly three-quarters of the workforce was out of work for close to five months. The management is yet again with a tough decision to make," Jane Kombo, assistant manager at a city restaurant, told Xinhua Monday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that Kenya alongside 11 other African countries was experiencing an uptick in COVID-19 cases, attributing the rise to mass gatherings and indifference towards observing public health care measures.

With President Uhuru Kenyatta issuing Public Order number 2 of 2021 on the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, strict measures including cessation of movement by air, rail or road in the five COVID-19 disease infected counties and revised curfew to 8 p.m. have effectively kicked in.

"The new directive spells loss for us because our restaurant is popular for dining in services vis-a-vis take out. On the other hand, we find ourselves with the benefit of experience thanks to last year's similar directive," said Kombo.

Similarly, a resort that sits along the busy Outering Road is uncharacteristically unoccupied with only a few people ambling in. The bar area remains shut while three chefs shuffle in the kitchen preparing the last of the stocked foods.

"I have moved from my usual post to wait tables because the waiters were sent home, what we are now doing is serving room guests and a few walk-in customers. Everything fell silent after Friday," said Titus Were, head of security at Pioneer Kings resort.

"Ken wa manguo" who is referred to by his trade in second-hand clothes said he will now not be able to frequently travel to Kitale in the northwest Kenya to oversee his other businesses.

Some Kenyans have faulted the measures for not being accompanied by some form of economic relief. "The government should send us money like it did when it instituted similar measures because our operating time has been interrupted. If they do not do something we shall slip into complete poverty," said an impassioned Loise Akinyi who sells sweets by the roadside.

After putting in place tough restrictive measures last year, the president offered an economic reprieve -- launching a stimulus package worth 53.7 billion shillings (about 492 million U.S. dollars ) while also revising down corporate tax and PAYE taxes. Banks restructured loans at the same time mobile transaction charges were reviewed.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that both strains first reported in Britain and South Africa have been mapped out in the population. Health officials, however, say more investigations are needed to detect the absolute number of variants circulating in the population.

The Ministry of Health on Monday announced that 902 people tested positive for COVID-19 from a sample size of 3,395 tested in the last 24 hours, taking the total confirmed infections to 131,116 with a positivity rate of 26.6 percent. Enditem
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Magistrate Court in Lilongwe has ruled that Prophet Shepherrd Bushiri's South African accusers should come to Malawi to testify as part of authenticating their sworn affidavits.

Bushiri had asked the court to let his South African accusers appear before Malawi courts to be cross-examined by the defence.- The magistrate says, the law says, the court must receive evidence in the same way that a preliminary inquiry would.

In his ruling, magistrate Patrick Chirwa said that state argued that the court must interpret the law is wrong.

He said that the law as he reads it in section 9 of extradition act says the court must have same powers and jurisdiction as in a preliminary inquiry.

Chirwa noted that the court must rely on part 8 of the same section. He further said that he he agreed with defence that the state violated the law by not reading out charges, and not interviewing witnesses for evidence.

He also said the state cannot rely on statements taken by other people in some other places, adding that the law allows the accused people should be allowed to interview witnessed.

Magistrate further added that the Bushiri's have a right to question all witnesses and that the state must allow the Bushiri's the right to question witnesses.

He then ruled that witnesses must be present in Malawi and sign under oath in Malawi

"The court says witnesses must be present in court in Malawi so as to satisfy the rights of the Bushiri's," he said.

The matter has since been adjourned to April 19.
Santos, one of Australias largest oil and gas producers, has given the go-ahead to its $4.7 billion Barossa gas project north of Darwin after its plans were put on hold last year amid the coronavirus-driven market crash.

The green light for the offshore gas and condensate project also kickstarts a $US600 million ($786 million) investment in the Darwin LNG plants life extension and pipeline projects, which will extend the facility life for around 20 years, the company said.

Santos has given the go-ahead to develop a major gas field off northern Australia. Credit:Glenn Campbell

As the economy re-emerges from the COVID-19 lockdowns, these job-creating and sustaining projects are critical for Australia, also unlocking new business opportunities and export income for the nation, Santos managing director Kevin Gallagher said.

The Barossa and Darwin life extension projects are good for the economy and good for local jobs and business opportunities in the Northern Territory.
A leader of the Proud Boys charged in an alleged conspiracy to attack the Capitol on Jan. 6 claims he has a longstanding relationship with the FBI, which he said regularly sought him out for information about antifa networks in Florida and other parts of the United States.

Joseph Biggs, one of four Proud Boys organizers charged in one of the Justice Departments biggest cases stemming from the Capitol siege, said the bureau regularly turned to him for advice on antifa  a loosely affiliated collection of violent leftists that the bureau has described as adherents to an ideology rather than part of an organized group.

In late July 2020, an FBI Special Agent out of the Daytona Beach area telephoned Biggs and asked Biggs to meet with him and another FBI agent at a local restaurant. Biggs agreed, according to a late Monday court filing issued by Biggs attorney in an effort to keep Biggs out of pretrial detention. Biggs learned after he traveled to the restaurant that the purpose of the meeting was to determine if Biggs could share information about Antifa networks operating in Florida and elsewhere. They wanted to know what Biggs was seeing on the ground.

Biggs claims, not immediately corroborated by the FBI, nevertheless are likely to sharpen concerns that law enforcement has tolerated violence by the Proud Boys, who have long styled themselves as allies of the police in a fight against leftists. Like Biggs, Proud Boys national chair Enrique Tarrio has said in media interviews that he had long proactively communicated with law enforcement about Proud Boys plans in various cities  plans that routinely led to violent confrontations with leftist protesters.

Trump-era intelligence agencies have faced criticism  long denied by top officials like FBI Director Christopher Wray  that they were pressured to inflate the threat of antifa while downplaying the threat posed by right-wing extremists. Invited to denounce the group during an October presidential debate, former President Donald Trump instead famously invited the Proud Boys to Stand Back and Stand By, which the group interpreted as a rally cry and adopted as a motto.

Story continues

The relationship between law enforcement and the Proud Boys has become a significant focus after more than a dozen of the groups members, including several key leaders, were charged with participating in the assault on the Capitol. One, Dominic Pezzola, is charged with smashing a Capitol window with a riot shield early in the day, leading to the first surge of rioters coming into the building. And in a case unsealed earlier this month, Biggs  along with three other regional leaders  was charged in a wide-ranging conspiracy to disrupt Congress Jan. 6 effort to certify President Joe Bidens Electoral College victory.

Per Biggs attorney, John Daniel Hull, Biggs July meeting at the restaurant sparked a relationship between Biggs and the local FBI agent that kept them in regular contact for months. They spoke often, Hull said.

In fact, when Biggs  an Army veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan  learned the FBI had obtained images of him inside the Capitol, he reached out to the same agent and made plans to turn himself in, according to Hull.

Biggs, via his court filing, suggested he had maintained a relationship with the bureau since 2018, when he began organizing Proud Boys events and touting their efforts on social media and radio. He personally planned two Proud Boys events in Portland, Ore., meant to counter antifa.

As part of the planning, Biggs would regularly speak with by phone and in person to both local and federal law enforcement personnel stationed in Portland, including the FBIs Portland Field Office, Hull indicated. These talks were intended both to inform law enforcement about Proud Boy activities in Portland on a courtesy basis but also to ask for advice on planned marches or demonstrations, i.e., what march routes to take on Portland streets, where to go, where not to go. Similar conversations were held regularly with local police and FBI personnel for less major events in other cities.

By late 2018, Hull wrote, the FBI began proactively contacting Biggs to inquire about his provocative commentary, often issued through the pro-Trump Right Side Broadcasting Network or InfoWars. And Biggs stayed in touch with multiple FBI agents since that time, he said.

In a separate filing, Seattle-area Proud Boys organizer Ethan Nordean  charged alongside Biggs in the alleged conspiracy  submitted excerpts from what he said were 1,500 pages of Proud Boys Telegram messages supplied by prosecutors in ongoing pretrial discovery. Those messages, per Nordean, show that rather than executing a well-orchestrated plot, Proud Boys members were disorganized, confused about their Jan. 6 plans  in part because Tarrio had been arrested and banished from Washington, D.C., on Jan. 4  and surprised the mob of pro-Trump normies helped overtake the Capitol.

Nordean also submitted two sworn affidavits  from musician Michale Graves and his manager Arturo Santaella  indicating that Nordean had arranged to have Graves perform for the Proud Boys on the afternoon of Jan. 6. That arrangement, per Nordeans lawyer, would have made little sense if Nordean had been planning to carry out a violent insurrection that day.

Though the Proud Boys and another militia charged with a Jan. 6 conspiracy, the Oath Keepers, have claimed their purpose for being in Washington was not to disrupt Congress but rather to protect pro-Trump demonstrators from antifa, a federal judge has emphasized that a conspiracy does not need to be planned well in advance to be a legitimate charge. Judge Amit Mehta, who is presiding over the Oath Keepers case, has said that in fact it need only be hatched in the moment or on the fly.
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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
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. (TSXV: CEM) ("Constantine" or the "Company") is pleased to announce 2021 plans for the Palmer VMS Project located in Southeast Alaska ("Palmer" or "Project"). A budget of US $8.8 million for the 2021 work program has been approved by the Constantine Mining LLC Joint Venture, ("CMJV") including plans for 6,000 meters of drilling. Dowa Metals & Mining Alaska Ltd. has committed to fund the entire 2021 work program which will result in dilution of Constantine's CMJV interest. Dilution is pro-rated according to expenditures and Constantine's interest in the CMJV will be diluted to no less than 44%. Constantine will remain as operator of the Project to oversee the 2021 work program.

The multi-purpose 2021 drilling program at Palmer will consist of i) 1800 meters of exploration drilling to explore for the fault off-set of the thick South Wall deposit, ii) 2500 meters of resource upgrade drilling on a thick copper rich portion of the down-dip inferred South Wall copper-zinc-silver-gold resource and iii) 1700 meters of geotechnical drilling to support the planned underground exploration program and provide information required to advance the project to feasibility.

Engineering and environmental studies will include a seismic survey and overburden drilling to establish overburden stratigraphy, groundwater monitoring wells and bedrock information to expand the hydrological database of the project area and for infrastructure planning.

Garfield MacVeigh, President and CEO of Constantine states, "last year's US $2.2 million Palmer program was very successful in advancing our understanding of the South Wall offset geology and expanding our environmental knowledge of the Project. The 2021 drill focused work program at Palmer will allow us to explore for the faulted offset of the thick high-grade South Wall zone, upgrade the resource within the thickest portion of the South Wall zone and provide important information to guide the planned underground exploration that will be a major step towards advancing the Project to feasibility."

About the Palmer Project

Palmer is a high-grade volcanogenic massive sulphide-sulphate ("VMS") project located in a very accessible part of coastal Southeast Alaska, with road access to the property and within 60 kilometers of the year-round deep-sea port of Haines. Mineralization at Palmer occurs within the same belt of rocks that is host to the Greens Creek mine, one of the world's richest VMS deposits.

In 2019, the Company reported a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the Project with a post-tax NPV 7% of US$266 million (see Company news release dated June 3rd, 2019). The PEA outlined the potential for a low capex, low operating cost, high margin underground mining operation with attractive environmental attributes. Metal prices used for the PEA were copper $2.82/lb, zinc $1.22/lb, silver $16.26/oz, gold $1296/oz, barite $220/tonne .

The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that PEA results will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Exploration work at Palmer has continued to grow the resource estimate to its current size of*4.68 million tonnes indicated grading 5.23 % zinc,1.49 % copper, 30.0 g/t silver, 0.30 g/t gold and 9.6 million tonnes inferred grading 4.95 % zinc , 0.59 % copper, 69.3 g/t silver, 0.39 g/t gold. VMS deposits are known to occur in clusters, and with at least 25 separate base metal and/or barite occurrences and prospects on the Project, there is abundant potential for discovery of multiple deposits.

Qualified Person Statement

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Vande Guchte, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101.

About the Company

Constantine is a mineral exploration company led by an experienced and proven technical team with a focus on the Palmer base metal project being advanced as a joint venture between Constantine (50.04%) and Dowa Metals & Mining Co., Ltd. (49.96%), with Constantine as operator.

In September 2019, Constantine successfully spun-out its gold assets into HighGold Mining Inc. that included the high-grade Johnson project in south-central Alaska and the Munro-Croesus Gold property which is renowned for its high-grade mineralization in the Timmins area, Ontario.

In 2020, the 100% owned Big Nugget Gold project, located only 8 kilometers east of our flagship Palmer CMJV Project, was recognized as a potential gold lode source area, immediately upstream from the +80,000 ounce Porcupine Gold Placer operations and is as an attractive drill target opportunity.

Management is committed to providing shareholder value through discovery, meaningful community engagement, environmental stewardship, and responsible mineral exploration and development activities that support local jobs and businesses.

Please visit the Company's website (www.constantinemetals.com) for more detailed company and project information.

On Behalf of Constantine Metal Resources Ltd.

"Garfield MacVeigh"

President

For further information please contact:

Garfield MacVeigh, President or Michael Vande Guchte, VP Exploration

Phone: 604-629-2348. Email: info@constantinemetals.com

*For details of the mineral resource estimate for the Palmer Project including the quality assurance program and quality control measures applied and key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resource, please refer to the technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Resource Estimate to include the AG Zone for the Palmer Exploration Project" dated effective December 18, 2018 (the "Palmer Technical Report"). The Palmer Technical Report is available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.Mineral resources as reported are undiluted. Mineral resource tonnages have been rounded to reflect the precision of the estimate. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Notes:

Forward looking statements: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively "forward looking statements")." Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", 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. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the scope of the 2021 drilling program at Palmer; Dowa Metals & Mining Alaska Ltd. funding the entire 2021 work program at Palmer and the resulting dilution of Constantine's interest in the CMJV; the completion of the 2021 work program at Palmer; Constantine continuing as Operator of the Project to oversee the 2021 work program; and the anticipated results of the 2021 work program at Palmer. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include actual exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78906
Barber Karl Manke cuts a client's hair at his barber shop in Owosso, Mich., on May 12, 2020. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images)

Michigan Barber Fined $9,000 for Opening Shop, Cutting Hair at Capitol Protest

A barber from Michigan has been hit with a $9,000 fine for license violations after re-opening his shop and cutting hair for free during a hairstylist protest on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol last spring.

Shiawassee County barber Karl Manke was issued fines totaling $3,000 by the Michigan Board of Barber Examiners for violating state sanitation and equipment regulations as well as another $6,000 for his participation in the May 2020 state Capitol demonstrations in Ingham County, The Associated Press reported.

It shows their pettiness, it shows their vindictiveness. The lack of proportionality here is almost breathtaking really, said Mankes attorney, David Kallman.

Kallman added that his client will be fighting the penalties in court.

Barber Karl Manke cuts a clients hair at his barber shop in Owosso, Mich., on May 12, 2020. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images)

Manke was at first issued several misdemeanor citations by local police two days after re-opening and operating his shopBarber & Beauty Shop in Owosso, a small town between Lansing and Flinton May 4, 2020, and violating Gov. Gretchen Whitmers CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus lockdown orders.

The 77-year-old barber had his barber and business license summarily suspended, according to a May 12, 2020, order (pdf) signed by Debra Gagrialdi, director of the Bureau of Professional Licensing, which claims that the situation at the Owosso barber shop required emergency action to protect the public health, safety, or welfare.

Mankes license was reinstated in June 2020 and he decided to continue to cut hair during that time. A former proceeding to sanction his license then started later that month.

Earlier this month, a judge ruled that Manke wasnt allowed to cut hair while taking part in a hairstylist protest on the steps of the state Capitol last May because he wasnt licensed to operate outside of his barbershop.

The media record barber Karl Manke, of Owosso, giving a free haircut to Parker Shonts on the steps of the State Capitol during a rally in Lansing, Mich., on May 20, 2020. (Paul Sancya/AP Photo)

Respondent had the option of protesting without cutting hair, Administrative Law Judge Stephen Goldstein said. He chose a different path and in so doing has violated the Code.

Mankes case garnered national attention after he refused to close his shop amid the order that forced non-essential businesses in Michigan to close.

Whitmer, a Democrat, said at the time she announced last years executive order prohibiting barbers from operating, they are needed to prevent a second wave of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, which emerged from China in late 2019.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during a drive-in campaign rally with Democratic presidential-elect Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama at Belle Isle in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 31, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Manke told ABC12 at the time of the misdemeanor citations he has done everything he can, short of shutting down, to prevent the spread of the CCP virus.

Im following all the guidelines here, Manke said. Ive got the mask on, the sterilizer, hand sanitizer, and trying to distance as best we can here.

As long as I have two hands and Im capable of cutting hair, thats my occupation, he added. Thats what I do. Thats what Im going to continue to do.

Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Charleston residents who experience difficulty scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine can now receive free assistance at city recreation facilities on the peninsula and in West Ashley and James Island.

This free service is being made available since all South Carolinians 16 and older become eligible for the vaccine March 31.

Some people in traditionally underserved communities have experienced difficulty navigating the scheduling process as the availability of the vaccines became more widespread, the city said.

This free service aims to ensure eligible residents can easily secure vaccination appointments and ultimately help build COVID-19 immunity in Charleston.

Those who are interested can visit the following recreation facilities to access a public computer and receive assistance from staff: St. Julian Devine, Arthur W. Christopher and Shaw community centers; Martin Park and Freddie Whaley Playground on the peninsula; Forest Park Playground in West Ashley; and Thomas Johnson Playground on James Island.

Call the Recreation Department at 843-724-7327 for details.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 344 confirmed, 243 probable.

Total cases in S.C.: 464,538 confirmed, 86,131 probable.

Percent positive: 5.7 percent.

New deaths reported: 4 confirmed, 1 probable.

Total deaths in S.C.: 8,056 confirmed, 1,070 probable.

Percent of ICU beds filled: 65.2 percent.

How does S.C. rank in vaccines administered per 100,000 people?

Sign up for our new health newsletter The best of health, hospital and science coverage in South Carolina, delivered to your inbox weekly. Email

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41st as of March 29, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hardest-hit areas

In the total number of newly confirmed cases, Greenville County (83), Richland County (24) and Spartanburg County (25) saw the highest totals.

What about the tri-county?

Charleston County had 16 new cases on March 30, while Berkeley had 11 and Dorchester had 9.

Deaths

Four of the new confirmed deaths reported were patients 65 and older.

Hospitalizations

Of the 514 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of March 30, 128 were in the ICU and 58 were using ventilators.

What do experts say?

As more people continue to be vaccinated, DHEC said it is important to continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including testing. Testing locations are listed on the agency's website at scdhec.gov/FindATest.

Students who will celebrate spring break in the coming weeks are encouraged to continue to physically distance, wear a mask and get tested before and after the break.
Press Release

30 March 2021

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced its partnership with the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) to launch Hilton Liya Diriya - a specially curated female development program in Sri Lanka.

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Translating to 'female courage,' Hilton Liya Diriya aims to provide training opportunities for local female students keen to build a career in hospitality. Selected participants will undergo two training phases to pick up practical knowledge, skills and experiences, involving a one-month period dedicated to theoretical training with SLITHM and a six-month industrial traineeship at one of Hilton's properties in Sri Lanka.

The establishment of the program is in line with Hilton's Travel with Purpose 2030 goal of doubling its social impact investment, and underscores its continued commitment to ensuring inclusive growth, sustainable solutions and economic opportunities for all, even during these unprecedented times. Furthermore, by empowering its female participants and enabling them to pursue a career in hospitality, Hilton Liya Diriya also aims to create a positive impact on the community by increasing the historically lower1 labor force participation rate for women in Sri Lanka.

On top of the training, participants will receive support from Hilton throughout the duration of the program, in the form of accommodation, allowance and mentoring. Upon graduation, they will also be awarded certifications, as well as employment opportunities at a Hilton property in Sri Lanka or abroad.

"Sri Lanka has shown immense potential for us over the years, evidenced by the resilience of the country, its promising tourism sector and ongoing improvements to infrastructure which have laid a strong foundation for us to kickstart our robust expansion plans," said Paul Hutton, vice president, operations, Hilton in South East Asia. "Despite the challenges caused by the health pandemic, we continue to recognize its long-term prospects and have doubled down on our commitment to putting Sri Lanka on the global roadmap with the recent opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila Rajawarna Resort in November - our third Hilton property in the country."

Commenting on the opportunity to further extend the Hilton Effect in Sri Lanka, Hutton added: "In line with our growing presence in the country, we also want to continue honoring our founder, Conrad Hilton, and his ambition to be the most hospitable company in the world, by doing our part for the communities we operate in. Through the introduction of Hilton Liya Diriya, we hope to leverage our scale and capacity to advance women's economic empowerment in the country by identifying and developing the best local talents, and I look forward to seeing them excel in their careers with us."

Kimarli Fernando, chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism, said: "We aspire to achieve a higher level of female participation in Sri Lanka's hospitality industry, especially in the skilled and value creation areas, which would provide more opportunities for them to further their careers in the longer term. Currently, women make up less than 10 percent of the hospitality workforce locally, compared to 54 percent globally. This is a strategic change Sri Lanka Tourism is striving for and we are delighted to partner with Hilton on the Hilton Liya Diriya program, which is a major step forward to champion the strategic change in our workforce."

1 2019, The World Bank, Labor force participation rate, female - Sri Lanka
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YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian received today Ambassador of Japan to Armenia Jun Yamada on the occasion of completion of his diplomatic mission, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

President Sarkissian thanked the Ambassador for all his efforts and personal investment in the development of the Armenian-Japanese relations. He highlighted further deepening the inter-state ties between the two countries.

In his turn the Japanese Ambassador said he is leaving Armenia with warm memories and will remain Armenias good friend.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Google has been working hard to make Maps a useful tool for navigating the world and it's continuing to roll out new features. Today, the company is unveiling a set of updates that should make the app more helpful in more scenarios. For one thing, it's bringing its AR navigation tool Live View to some indoor locations like select malls, airports and transit stations. It's also prioritizing more eco-friendly directions when recommending routes, adding weather and air quality data to destinations and integrating pickup and delivery options with grocery retailers.

Indoor Live View

As a recap, Live View is an AR feature that let you see exactly where your destination is by pointing your camera at your surroundings and overlaying directions on the scene. To make that work indoors though, Google had to "develop an entirely new technology" that it's calling "global localization." Google Maps' director of product said in a press briefing that this has become "the backbone of the Live View feature we know today."

It uses AI to scan "tens of billions of street view images and maps them up with images on your phone to identify where you are." With adjustments made in the last few years, Google adapted that to understand "the precise altitude or placement of an object in a building." That way, it doesn't give you the instructions to get to some other gate in another airport, for example. You can use this feature to look for the gate to your connecting flight (next time you're traveling by air), or find that hot new restaurant in a mall before rushing to your movie, for example. It'll also help you find the nearest elevators, escalators, ATMs, restrooms, check-in counters, ticket offices and more.

Google

Indoor Live View is now live in some Westfield malls in US cities including Newark, Los Angeles, Chicago, Long Island, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle. It starts rolling out over the next few months on Android and iOS in select transit stations, malls and airports in Tokyo and Zurich. Google said support for more places and cities is coming, too.

Environmentally rich and eco-friendly guidance

As part of its commitment to help its users reduce their environmental footprint, Google is continuing to surface greener means to get around. Later this year, when you use the iOS or Android version of Maps to look up directions, it will default to the route with the lowest carbon footprint if it takes about the same time as the fastest route. If the eco-friendly option will take significantly more time, Maps will display a comparison of their CO2 impacts so you can consciously decide whether speed or the environment is more important. You can revert back to seeing the fastest route as the default by changing this in Settings. This feature is headed to the US first, and Google says a "global expansion" is on the way.

Speaking of other countries, many places around the world have designated "low emission zones" that restrict vehicles like diesel cars which cause pollution. This June, Maps will start alerting users if they'll be navigating through one of these and offer alternative directions when necessary. It'll be available in the app in Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK, and the company says more countries are coming soon.

Google

Google is also revamping its directions interface that will put routes for all transportation modes in one page, instead of having separate tabs for things like car, walking and public transit. This will make it easier to compare the time it will take across the different routes. Maps will also use machine learning to understand your preferred means of getting around to prioritize them, and also "boost modes that are popular in your city." Those in New York City or Singapore, for example, will likely see the subway or MRT routes higher up, while Citibike regulars will see bike routes more.

To help users better anticipate the environment at their destination, Maps is also adding new Weather and Air Quality layers. These will show the current temperature and forecasted hourly weather conditions (pulling data from The Weather Company) so you can bundle up for your outdoor dining reservation on a windy evening, for example. Google also uses info from AirNow.gov and the Central Pollution Board to give details on a location's air quality so those who have allergies or live in smog-affected areas can adjust their plans accordingly.

Making pickup and delivery easier

The final set of updates (this time, anyway) is around grocery shopping. Google is adding info like pickup and delivery windows, fees and order minimums to stores' Business Profiles on mobile search, starting with Instacart and Albertsons Cos. in the US. Google plans to expand this to more stores and bring it to Maps, though it hasn't said when.

Google

The company is also launching a pilot program with US supermarket Fred Meyer in some of its Portland, Oregon stores. When you order something for pickup on Fred Meyer's app, you can add it to Maps to get alerts when it's time to head to the store for your pickup. You can also share your arrival time with the store, and your ETA will be continuously updated based on location and traffic. This way, the store can prioritize your order when you're close, and you can check in via Maps so they can bring your stuff out when you arrive.

Though this is just a limited pilot program for now, it's easy to see how Google might be able to integrate with more retailers and partners to fully bring this feature to Maps in time. As we continue to rely on curbside pickups for the foreseeable future, this could become a truly useful tool whenever it becomes more widely available.
Hagerstown Housing Authority closes in on end of McCleary Hill project

After objections from neighbors, the Hagerstown Housing Authority's McCleary Hill project is done its first phase. Officials held an open house.
The Telegraph

Summer holidays abroad have been thrown into doubt after Portugal was axed from the green list because of a new Covid variant. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, suggested it could be mid-August before Europe caught up with Britain's levels of vaccination to enable travel restrictions to be lifted, raising fears of a second lost summer. Travel bosses reacted with fury to the axing of Portugal just two weeks after it was added to the quarantine-free green list, claiming ministers wanted to
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
Ethiopia and Djibouti have expressed keenness to explore ways to further strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation, according to Ministry of Finance.

minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide today discussed with Djiboutian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mohammed Idris Farah focusing on economic cooperation between the two countries.

During the discussion, the minister said Ethiopia and Djibouti have strategic relations that include wide-ranging cooperation on infrastructure, trade, and people-to-people ties.

Appreciating the service given by Djibouti in terms of providing outlets for Ethiopia's import and export goods, Ahmed affirmed the commitment of Ethiopian Government to economic and socio-cultural relations.

Ambassador Mohammed Idriss Farah on his part expressed his commitment to continue working closely with Ethiopia for the growth and stability of the Horn of Africa.
The first batch of Covid-19 vaccines sourced via Covax, containing 811,200 doses, would arrive in Vietnam early next month, said the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE).

"This batch would be sent to NIHE for storage, then distributed by the Ministry of Health for inoculation," Dang Duc Anh, director of NIHE, said Tuesday.

Previously, global vaccine access mechanism Covax planned to supply Vietnam with 1.37 million Covid-19 vaccine doses produced by British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca on March 25. But due to a lack of supply, only 811,200 doses were made available in the first batch.

Rana Flowers, UNICEF's representative in Vietnam, said Covax still guarantees to give Vietnam over four million vaccine doses by the end of May despite supply shortage.

Vietnam has so far received about 117,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses for its mass Covid-19 inoculation program from 30 million doses it has ordered from the producer. It expects to receive 60 million doses in total this year from multiple sources, though the plan may be partially delayed into 2022.

The country seeks to secure 150 million Covid-19 vaccine doses this year to cover 70 percent of its population. It expects to start producing its own Covid-19 vaccine by the end of this years third quarter, according to the health ministry

Over 46,000 Vietnamese, mainly frontline workers in the Covid-19 fight, have received their first Covid-19 vaccine shots since March 8.
BANGOR, MI -- A 9-year-old student was hit by a car this week while being dropped off at school.

The child was first hit when exiting a vehicle that was still moving at South Walnut Elementary School in Bangor around 8 a.m. Monday, March 29, according to a press release from Bangor Police Department.

The driver then stopped before hitting the child again while in reverse, police said.

The child, whose identity was not released by police, was transported to a nearby hospital. The child suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery, police said.

Bangor Police was assisted by Bangor Fire Department, Pride Care Ambulance and the Pokagon Tribal Police.

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By Joseph Ax

(Reuters) - Civil rights groups intensified their legal fight against Georgia's new voting restrictions with a third federal lawsuit, while Atlanta-based corporations Delta Air Lines Inc and Coca-Cola Co continued to face boycott calls from activists who say they need to do more to oppose the law.

The Republican-backed law, which Governor Brian Kemp signed last week, strengthened identification requirements for absentee ballots, gave lawmakers the power to take over local elections, sharply limited the use of ballot drop boxes, shortened early voting periods for runoffs and made it a misdemeanor for members of the public to offer food and water to voters waiting in line.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta late on Monday called the law racially discriminatory and "an attack on democracy itself".

"This law is voter suppression, plain and simple, and aimed at making it harder for Black and brown and other historically disenfranchised communities to have a voice in our democracy," said Sophia Lakin of the American Civil Liberties Union.

"It is an absolutely shameful response to the historic participation by these communities in the last election cycle."

The ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed the latest lawsuit on behalf of several grassroots groups. They included the Sixth District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), which takes in more than 500 churches in Georgia, and the historically Black sorority Delta Sigma Theta.

The state already faces two other similar lawsuits brought by civil rights groups over the law.

Kemp's office declined to comment on pending litigation.

MORE MOVES TO RESTRICT VOTING

Republican lawmakers in several other political battlegrounds, including Florida and Arizona, are pursuing voting restrictions as well, which they say are aimed at curbing fraud. Research has shown that voter fraud is exceedingly rare in the United States.

Story continues

Delta and Coca-Cola, both headquartered in Atlanta, have faced boycott calls on social media from critics who say the companies have not taken a forceful enough stand against the restrictions.

"While we are disappointed in the outcome, we don't see this as the final chapter," Coca-Cola said in a statement released on Monday. The company said it would "continue to press for improvements to Georgia's election laws in future sessions".

Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian said on Friday the airline had "engaged extensively with state elected officials in both parties to express our strong view that Georgia must have a fair and secure election process", and that the legislation had "improved considerably" during legislative deliberations.

"Nonetheless, we understand concerns remain," Bastian said.

In an open letter on Monday, Bernice King, the daughter of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., criticized the Atlanta business community for its "shocking silence," especially after last year's civil unrest prompted a national reckoning on race.

The letter was also signed by the sons of two other civil rights icons: John-Miles Lewis, whose father was the late congressman John Lewis, and Al Vivian, son of the late Reverend C.T. Vivian.

Democrats won Georgia in November's presidential election for the first time in decades, and then followed it up by sweeping two U.S. Senate races in January, giving the party narrow control of Congress.

Republican former President Donald Trump has claimed falsely that his loss to Democratic President Joe Biden was due to massive voter fraud, including in Georgia.

Multiple state recounts found no significant irregularities.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Jonathan Oatis and Mark Heinrich)
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rejected Australian of the Year Grace Tames criticism that his ministerial reshuffle, including the promotion of Liberal senator Amanda Stoker to assistant minister for women, is a distraction posing as a solution.

Ms Tame said improving the representation of women in the ministry wouldnt address the abuses of power. She also accused Senator Stoker of endorsing columnist Bettina Arndts fake rape crisis tour aimed at falsifying instances of sexual abuse on school and university campuses across Australia and failing to support victims of sexual assault.

Queensland Senator Amanda Stoker. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Morrison said he respected Ms Tames contribution but didnt share her views, while Senator Stoker acknowledged Ms Tame was passionate but appeared unaware of her former career as a prosecutor and barrister working for justice for women and children who were victims of sexual crime and harassment.

In an Instagram post, Ms Tame said Senator Stoker had also supported an Australia Day honour for Ms Arndt, a woman who gave a platform to the convicted paedophile who abused me.
OTSEGO, MI  One man was killed in a motorcycle crash in Otsego Monday afternoon.

A 63-year-old male was found lying in the road at the intersection of Allegan Street (M-89) and Kalamazoo Street at 3:53 p.m. Monday, March 29, a news release from Otsego Police Department said. The crash was reported to 911 dispatch by Otsego Fire Department Capt. Dave Kranz, the release said.

Firefighters started lifesaving measures before the man was taken to Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo by Plainwell EMS, police said. He died at the hospital.

The mans name is being withheld while next of kin are notified, police said.

The crash is under investigation by the Allegan County Sheriffs Office and the Otsego Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to call Otsego police at 269-692-6111.

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MEDFORD, Ore. -- In a Facebook Live press conference on Monday, Governor Kate Brown was joined by Oregon Department of Education director Colt Gill, and Yosalin Arenas Alvarez  a South Medford High School student and a student member of my Healthy Schools Reopening Council  addressed the return of Oregon students to classrooms.

"Its truly a moment worth celebrating," said Gov. Brown. "I know that students, parents, educators and all of us have been looking forward to this for months."

For over a year now, Oregon students have mostly been restricted to comprehensive distance learning, with only limited in-person learning available to some students. The effects of CDL have taken their toll on Oregon's students  whether that be mentally, physically, or their drive to want to continue to learn.

Although the challenges of students having to learn in CDL haven't been easy, Colt Gill says that Oregon's students will be stronger than ever going forward, especially after dealing with this type of adversity.

"I believe that we are stronger today," Gill said. "We have certainly learned a lot, but not just about Covid-19 and how to prevent exposure and spread. But about our inner strength and how to face new challenges and grow from our experiences."

According to Yosalin Alvarez, although her senior year traditions at South Medford have been cancelled or changed because of the pandemic, that's the last thing on her mind.

Her biggest concern, is the stress, anxiety, depression and grief that many students are having to deal with because of the Covid-19 pandemic. She also says that she is just glad that students can return to some sort of normalcy with the return of more in-person instruction and hopes that the healing process can begin.

"I went back home on Wednesday to go show some freshmen around and they loved being on campus," said Alvarez. "A lot of them came to me and told me about their stress, anxiety and depression. Although it was really nerve racking, I was able to connect them with various sources to help to get them the help that they needed."

"I would like to thank Oregon students who have persevered during this difficult year," said Gov. Brown. "Distance learning has never ever been attempted on such a large scale and I know it hasn't been easy."
(HealthDay)Rates of in-hospital cardiac procedures continued to increase in people with gout and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from 1998 to 2014, although they decreased for the general population, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease.

Jasvinder A. Singh, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., and John Cleveland, M.D., both from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, used data from the U.S. National Inpatient Sample (1998 to 2014) to examine the frequency of seven common cardiac and orthopedic procedures in hospitalized people with gout and RA compared to the general population.

The researchers found that both in-hospital cardiac and orthopedic procedures increased for gout and RA patients with time, while cardiac procedures declined for the general U.S. population. Cardiac procedures were significantly higher in patients with gout versus RA in 1998 (59 percent higher) and 2014 (92 percent higher). By 2014, orthopedic procedures became more common than cardiac procedures in gout and RA patients. The cardiac-orthopedic procedure volume difference was significant in 1998 and 2014 for RA patients.

For gout patients, there were no significant differences noted between cardiac and orthopedic procedures in 1998, but the difference was significant in 2014. In 1998, the rate of orthopedic procedures among gout patients was significantly lower than that seen for RA patients (33 percent lower), but by 2014, the rate was significantly higher than that seen for RA patients (5 percent higher).

"The widening gap in cardiac procedures between gout and RA and crossing over for orthopedic procedures over time indicates that optimal treatment and treat-to-target implemented in RA treatment may need to be implemented in gout to improve disease outcomes and associated morbidity and resource burden," the authors write.

Explore further Gout diagnoses rising worldwide

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
HOLYOKE  The City Council on Tuesday approved, 11-1, a revised home rule petition that seeks to forgo a special mayoral election in the wake of Alex B. Morses recent exit.

Interim Mayor and City Council President Todd McGee called for the special meeting held online Tuesday night. The council accepted changes to the petition made by the Massachusetts Legislature.

Besides eliminating a special election and special runoff, the petition would let any city councilor serve as acting mayor. McGee made it clear during his March 26 swearing-in that he could serve no more than a few weeks.

State Rep. Patricia Duffy, D-Holyoke, notified House leaders of McGees limited tenure and the importance of forgoing costly special elections. Duffy will present the petition Wednesday to House leaders.

In a recent interview with The Republican/MassLive, Duffy said she did not expect the Legislature to pass the petition this week. Duffy, who took office in January, joined Tuesdays Zoom meeting.

Everyone knows this is coming, and the Legislature and governors office want to do what you (the City Council) want to do, she said. Its a sensible course of action, and theres no controversy here. I think we can push it through pretty quickly.

The city charter clearly states that a special election must occur if the mayors office is vacated with more than six months remaining on the term. Councilors pushed for a one-time exception, which requires approval from the Legislature and governor. The Legislature recently passed similar petitions from Boston and Lawrence.

Acting City Solicitor Crystal Barnes and a Statehouse lawyer hashed out the petitions final language. Barnes told the City Council little changed from the original petition, only the language required by the Legislature. She said the City Council would have 10 days to appoint an acting mayor if a vacancy occurs.

On Monday, Barnes submitted her letter of resignation, which takes effect in late April. Councilor James Leahy wished Barnes future success. She joins a long list of department heads who have tendered their resignations in recent months.

If the home rule petition fails, then a special election would occur, and a likely runoff. The mayoral race has three declared candidates, School Committee Member Devin Sheehan and City Councilors at Large Rebecca Lisi and Michael J. Sullivan.

City Councilor Joseph M. McGiverin, who served as acting mayor in 1991, said the latest petition draft is what the council initially supported.

Its unfortunate we have to fill in for nine months, but its good to know that a couple of city councilors are willing to step forward and do the service until the November election, McGiverin said.

Ward 3 Councilor David Bartley was the lone no vote. Ward 1 Councilor Gladys Lebron-Martinez was absent.
[March 30, 2021] Bank of Asia Being Voted the BVI Financial Services Tech Savvy Firm of the Year 2020

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The BVI headquartered Bank of Asia is proudly awarded the "Tech Savvy Firm of the Year" in the annual Financial Services Award hosted by BVI Finance on 28 March 2021. The FinTech-enabled Bank has been recognised for its digital solutions that not only sustain its own business growth in the challenging time of Covid-19, but also help other business adapt and transform digitally by providing fully digitalised banking services. The BVI Financial Services Awards is an annual event to celebrate the accomplishments of companies and individuals who have played important roles in the offshore financial services industry. This year, there are 13 Award Categories and the winners were voted by members and players from the industry. Bank of Asia outvoted the other four nominees from Accounting, Legal Services and Corporate Services in its category. President of Bank of Asia Lisa Lou commented at the Award Ceremony: "The award going to Bank of Asia is a message that it's the time of technology. For BVI, it's also the time to go technology. We look forward to building a financial centre powered by technology together with the BVI Government"



As a BVI bank offering digital banking services under a General Banking Licence, Bank of Asia is uniquely positioned to take advantage of its extensive industry insight and rich FinTech expertise, in coming up with innovative strategies and business models, and in offering to its domestic and international clientele a comprehensive range of products and services, including banking, insurance, and investment, global eCommerce and payment, asset and fund management, lifestyle and other value-added services, in a user-friendly, cost-effective and efficient manner. In doing so, the Bank aspires to become the "Bank of Choice" for companies incorporated in the BVI and other jurisdictions, along with their owners and directors, subject to a robust regulatory compliance regime on AML/KYC, data privacy, and cybersecurity. Being part of the BVI business community, Bank of Asia works closely with Corporate Services Providers, Registered Agents, and professional firms on the Islands, in Asia, and other major markets across the world. Through digital channels and mobile devices, Bank of Asia offers a best-of-breed customer service experience to its customers. The Bank knows the local market well and understands the challenges offshore companies face in acquiring quality banking and financial services and has thus devised products and services that cater to their needs.

The Bank's Founder and Chairman Mr. Carson Wen commented: "It's an honour for Bank of Asia to be voted as the 'Tech Savvy Firm of the Year'. The award is the best example of the BOA teamwork across the regions. We will continue the FinTech journey with insights, courage and the passion to change the way people bank. The Bank will continue to invest heavily in people, processes, technologies and in growing its ecosystem of collaborators and partners in the years to come." About Bank of Asia Bank of Asia provides banking and asset management services to companies, high net worth individuals, family offices and trusts across the globe, especially those with interests in offshore jurisdictions, through its digital platform. The Bank's vision is to change the way people bank through delivering cost effective, efficient and user-friendly FinTech solutions, underpinned by innovative technologies and robust quantitative analytics in the Know Your Customer and Anti Money Laundering process. In addition to general banking services such as deposits and loans in multiple currencies, cross-border payments and remittance, it also provides investment banking, corporate advisory and structured financing, private banking, insurance, investment and asset management services through its business partners. Bank of Asia is licensed and regulated by the Financial Services Commission of the British Virgin Islands (BVI FSC). For more details, please visit www.bankasia.com. SOURCE Bank of Asia

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Mynts POS solutions are designed to meet the diverse needs of retailers and restaurants. The integration of Paystris payment solutions takes it a step further by offering businesses more choice in how they run their payment programs.

Mynt, a leading provider of point of sale (POS) technology for retailers and restaurants, is now partnering with Paystri for integrated payments. The partnership gives Mynts clients access to an array of payment solutions that can be customized to the unique needs of their businesses.

Mynt is a complete POS solution thats affordable, powerful, and easy to operate. All Mynt hardware is enterprise grade and designed for the rigors of daily use in fast paced environments. In addition, Mynts software is easy to use and full of features that help businesses run smoothly.

Paystri partners with solution providers like Mynt to deliver seamlessly integrated payment experiences to their clients. Paystris solutions can be tailored to the unique needs of solution providers and the businesses they serve, delivering fully customized payment programs.

Mynt and Paystris partnership is a natural fit, says Nick Melnyk, Director of Business Development at Mynt. At Mynt, we believe that every business is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and we design our solutions accordingly. Paystri built its business by delivering custom payment solutions and support to its customers, making our two organizations well aligned.

Jonathan Arst, Founder and CEO of Paystri, adds, Mynts POS solutions are designed to meet the diverse needs of retailers and restaurants. The integration of Paystris payment solutions takes it a step further by offering businesses more choice in how they run their payment programs. This is particularly true for Paystris Cash Discount offering, which is sure to be a game changer for many of Mynts clients.

Melnyk continues, Giving our clients the ability to choose a traditional payments acceptance program or a program like Cash Discount gives them even more flexibility in how they accept customer payments. Cash Discount can provide our clients long-term financial benefits by offsetting card processing fees. Were excited to see the positive impact that our partnership with Paystri creates for clients.

ABOUT PAYSTRI

Paystri is a payments technology and strategic solutions company that serves independent software vendors (ISVs), technology companies, and businesses of all sizes. The Paystri Payment Platform is a flexible, fully customizable payments acceptance solution that delivers frictionless payment experiences to customers. In-house payment experts are accessible around-the-clock to provide strategic support and guidance. Paystris unique blend of optimized payments technology, straightforward pricing, and concierge-level customer service creates value that is unparalleled in the payments industry. Visit paystri.com to learn more.

ABOUT MYNT

Mynt, a Custom America company, is a complete POS solution providing everything needed for bars, restaurants, and retail stores. Mynt provides multi-location management and reporting, remote access, tab management, inventory tracking, report generation, smooth transaction processing, and more. Mynts standard retail-hardened equipment includes a POS terminal, printer, cash drawer, and magnetic stripe reader. Mynt customers receive comprehensive setup services and support such as full menu build or SKU load, remote installation, live training, and a lifetime hardware warranty. On top of that, the Mynt support team is available 24/7 via chat, email, or direct phone support. Learn more at myntpos.com.
The Australian Federal Police and NSW Police have been asked to help investigate the cyber attack that has crippled Nine Entertainment Co, as Australias largest media company begins to restore its internal technology network.

A Nine spokesperson said no data had been removed from its computer systems as of Tuesday afternoon, but attempts to isolate the attacker continues to affect multiple parts of the business, including its publishing operations. Nines publications include The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age as well as The Australian Financial Review. The company also owns the television network that airs shows such as Married at First Sight and The Block, streaming service Stan and radio stations such as 2GB and 3AW.

Nine has contacted the NSW Police and AFP as it starts to restore its systems. Credit:Bloomberg

"As a precautionary measure, we isolated our network in order to protect the systems and data held on them, a Nine spokesperson said. At this stage there is no indication any data has been removed from our systems. We are now moving to restore full services."

Late on Tuesday the company also warned staff to be vigilant about suspicious external communications and asked them to not engage with emails, social media messages or invitations from people claiming to be connected to the attack.
SPRINGFIELD  A proposed car junkyard at the former Roys Towing storage yard on lower Liberty Street drew a mix of support and opposition Monday night, with some concerns raised about traffic congestion and noise.

The company, Pick-n-Pull, is proposing to store up to 700 cars at any one time at the 7.8 acre property, to be stripped and sold for car parts and then crushed on site, and later transported off-site. The property is located at 255 Liberty St. and an adjacent lot between Cass and Franklin streets.

The City Council conducted a public hearing on the special permit on Monday, by remote, and continued the hearing to allow additional comments under COVID-19 guidelines. A final vote could occur at the next council meeting, scheduled April 5.

The companys lawyer, Raipher Pellegrino of Springfield, said the business will be a good neighbor and will provide 30 jobs to the community, and will be environmentally sound. The site is zoned for industrial use.

I think its a perfect site, Pellegrino said.

While the company is applying technically for a special permit for a junkyard, it will look like a parking lot with lined up cars, Pellegrino said. The site has been used most recently as a tractor tractor driving school, and has not had a junkyard use in recent years, company and city officials said.

We all understand that has a negative connotation, but what you are really talking about here is an environmental company that actually assists the community in many ways, Pellegrino said.

Crushed cars will not be stacked higher than eight feet, and cars will be regularly moved on and off the property, he said. The property will be surrounded by an 8-foot-high opaque fence, and its location is virtually hidden from sight, Pellegrino said.

The business model involves the company draining all fluids by vacuum, removing and selling some of the parts, and allowing customers to remove some of the parts.

The Planning Department, in its submitted review of the proposal, said it recommends the council reject the special permit.

While stating it was not disparaging the company or business model, the staff report said it just does not believe that a junk yard is an appropriate use this close to downtown and located within the larger Metro Center area.

There are efforts to expand use the adjacent east-west rail line, and to draw more commercial and market rate housing in the area, and having a large junk yard right along the rail line will ultimately diminish this central gateway into Springfield, the planning staff said.

The Lower Liberty Heights Citizens Council voted to support the plans, with its president, Gladys Rivera, saying the plans and a view of other Pick-n-Pull businesses in the country, showed it was completely different from traditional junkyards.

She said the community needs the 30 jobs, and is pleased the company has agreed to provide educational programs n the neighborhood for children in Grades K-12,. in collaboration with the city. She also praised their safety and operations plans.

Some neighbors, however, raised concerns.

Rod R. Sitterly, of Sitterly Company, submitted a letter of opposition, read at the meeting, that he was concerned about further traffic and congestion in that area, and the potential harm to residents and businesses.

I envision hundreds of cars coming in for salvage and going out as junk, Sitterly said.

Rev. Maria Santos, identified in a recorded telephone message as pastor of Pentecostal Bethel Church on nearby Cass Street, said she was opposed to the business being in a community that is improving and is a nice place for people to live.

Pellegrino said that customers will drive into the business from Liberty Street, and cars will be towed in and out of the lot from Chestnut Street.

Pick-n-Pull has 51 business locations in the United States and Canada including two businesses in Rhode Island, he said. The businesses have very positive reviews, he said, sharing some letters from other communities.

Pellegrino also asked the council to consider allowing the company to be open either 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., or 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Councilor Victor Davila said he does have concerns about noise and traffic, and said he would plan to propose an additional restriction, if approved, of a council review of the operations in one year.

Pellegrino said the company is open to that and other conditions, but said the location of the crushing equipment is far enough from any home to cause a noise nusiance. He said he would not expect anything more than muffled noise.
For COVID-19 safety reasons, New Trier Township spokesman Jack Macholl promised a contactless event. Donors are requested to place the items they want to give away in a box or nice bag. When drivers arrive at the church parking lot, mask-wearing volunteers will come out and retrieve the items from either the car or trunk.
An attorney representing patients of a former gynecologist accused of sexual abuse says 175 women have now signed on to a lawsuit against Robert Hadden and his former employer, Columbia University.

In the lawsuit, first filed in 2018 by 17 women, Hadden is accused of sexual abuses dating back to the early 1990s, including licking and digitally penetrating his patients' vaginas without gloves, and fondling their breasts and anuses. The women involved in the case said they were assaulted while undergoing treatment ranging from basic pregnancy and postpartum care to HPV exams. At least two of the plaintiffs said they were assaulted when they were teenagers.

Anthony DiPietro, an attorney for the former patients, told CBS News that the case has grown tenfold. The number of potential plaintiffs ballooned in size after Evelyn Yang  whose husband Andrew sought the Democratic nomination for president and is currently running for New York City mayor  revealed in January 2020 that she was among Hadden's former patients.

"There's 175 that have come forward, and meanwhile, that number seems to increase every few days," DiPietro said.

Columbia University said in a statement to CBS News that "Nothing is more important to Columbia than the safety of our patients, and we condemn sexual misconduct in any form."

"We commend the women who have called Robert Hadden to account for his abhorrent actions and deeply regret the harm he caused to patients who were in his care, and to their families," Columbia University said.

The Columbia Spectator first reported that the number of women suing has grown to include 175 women.

Hadden was charged in 2014 in New York state court on allegations of sexual assault involving six women. In 2016, he agreed to plead guilty to two individual counts of a criminal sex act in the third degree and forcible touching. The no jail plea deal downgraded his sex-offender status to the lowest level  meaning he is not listed in New York State's online sex offender registry.

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In September 2020, federal prosecutors unveiled new charges in six cases in which patients traveled between states for their appointments with him, but prosecutors alleged in the indictment that Hadden assaulted "dozens of female patients, including multiple minors" between 1993 and 2012. Each of the six counts of enticing and inducing individuals to travel interstate to engage in illegal sexual activity carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Hadden entered a not guilty plea in the case. An attorney representing Hadden in his federal court case did not reply to a request for comment.

Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said at the time that "Hadden acted as a predator in a white coat. "

"He allegedly used the cover of conducting medical examinations to engage in sexual abuse that he passed off as normal and medically necessary, when it was neither normal nor necessary  it was criminal," Strauss said.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office said in September that it is pursuing a criminal investigation into Columbia University's handling of incidents involving Hadden. That investigation is ongoing, according to a spokesperson for the office.

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SUEZ, Egypt - Experts boarded the massive container ship Tuesday that had blocked Egypt's vital Suez Canal and disrupted global trade for nearly a week, seeking answers to a single question that could have billions of dollars in legal repercussions: What went wrong?

A cargo ship sails through the town of Suez, Egypt, Tuesday, March 30, 2021 as traffic resumed through the Suez canal after it was blocked by a massive ship that had been stuck sideways for nearly a week. (AP Photo/Mohamed Elshahed)

SUEZ, Egypt - Experts boarded the massive container ship Tuesday that had blocked Egypt's vital Suez Canal and disrupted global trade for nearly a week, seeking answers to a single question that could have billions of dollars in legal repercussions: What went wrong?

As convoys of ships again began travelling through the artery linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas, a canal service provider said more than 300 vessels carrying everything from crude oil to cattle were still waiting for their turn in a process that will take days. Egyptian government officials, insurers, shippers and others similarly waited for more details about what caused the skyscraper-sized Ever Given to become wedged across the canal on March 23.

When blame gets assigned, it will likely lead to years of litigation to recoup the costs of repairing the ship, fixing the canal and reimbursing those who saw their cargo shipments disrupted. Since the vessel is owned by a Japanese firm, operated by a Taiwanese shipper, flagged in Panama and now stuck in Egypt, matters quickly become an international morass.

This ship is a multinational conglomeration," said Capt. John Konrad, the founder and CEO of the shipping news website gcaptain.com.

Experts boarded the Ever Given as it idled Tuesday in Egypt's Great Bitter Lake, just north of the site where it previously blocked the canal. A senior canal pilot, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to journalists, told The Associated Press that experts were looking for signs of damage and trying to determine why the vessel ran aground.

There could be significant damage to the the ship, Konrad warned. Stuck for days across the canal, the ship's middle rose and fell with the tide, bending up and down under the tremendous weight of some 20,000 containers across its 400-meter (quarter-mile) length. On Monday, when workers partially floated the ship, all that pressure came forward to its bow.

In this photo released by Suez Canal Authority, the Ever Given, a Panama-flagged cargo ship is accompanied by Suez Canal tugboats as it moves in the Suez Canal, Egypt, Monday, March 29, 2021. Salvage teams on Monday set free a colossal container ship that has halted global trade through the Suez Canal, bringing an end to a crisis that for nearly a week had clogged one of the world's most vital maritime arteries. (Suez Canal Authority via AP)

Structural integrity is No. 1. You know, there was a lot of strain on that ship as it was sagging in the waterway, Konrad said. They have to check everything for cracks and particularly that rudder and the propeller in the back thats connected to the engine room.

"And then they have to go through all the mechanical equipment, make sure they test the engines, all the safety valves, all the equipment, and then determine that its safe to sail either by itself or with a tug escort to the next port, he added.

The ship's owner, Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd., said Tuesday that it would be part of the investigation along with other parties, though it did not identify them by name. It also refused to discuss possible causes of the grounding, including the ship's speed and the high winds that buffeted it during a sandstorm, saying it could not comment on an ongoing investigation. Initial reports also suggested a blackout struck the vessel, something denied by the ship's technical manager.

The company added that any damage to the ship was believed to be mostly on its keel. It said it was not immediately known whether the vessel will be repaired on site in Egypt or elsewhere, or whether it will eventually head to its initial destination of Rotterdam. That is a decision to be made by its operator, rather than the shipowner, the company said.

The Ever Given was seen to be stationary in the canal lake from the town of Fayed on Tuesday, still stacked with containers, with a specialist tugboat nearby. Other vessels in transit navigated around it.

The grounding of the ship had halted billions of dollars a day in maritime commerce. Analysts expect it could take at least another 10 days to clear the backlog  though Egypt's president said Tuesday it would take just three. The losses to shippers, as well as any physical damage to the vessel itself, likely will see lawsuits.

Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd. is covered with some $3 billion in liability insurance through 13 Protection & Indemnity Clubs. Those clubs are not-for-profit mutual insurers used by the vast majority of global shipping firms.

Global legal firm Clyde and Co. said the Ever Given's owner likely would pay Egypt's canal authority for the assistance already rendered to the vessel. The authority also could fine the Ever Given.

We anticipate a detailed investigation will follow which will determine the cause," the firm said. Evidently the cause will impact upon the legal liabilities of the ship and cargo interests."

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi travelled Tuesday to the canalside city of Ismailia to praise those who freed the vessel.

Speaking to a small group of reporters on a dock overlooking the waterway, el-Sissi deflected questions about the investigation, saying Egypt would not interfere in a probe that will be left to the specialists.

We want to confirm to all the world, that things are back to as they were, he added. He stood before a sign that said: "Welcome to the Suez Canal: Egypt's lifeline of peace, prosperity and development."

On Monday, a flotilla of tugboats helped by the tides, wrenched the bulbous bow of Ever Given from the canals sandy bank, where it had been firmly lodged. The tugs blared their horns in jubilation as they guided the Ever Given through the water after days of futility that had captivated the world, drawing scrutiny and social media ridicule.

The Ever Given had crashed into a bank of a single-lane stretch of the canal about 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) north of the southern entrance, near the city of Suez. That forced some ships to take the long, alternate route around the Cape of Good Hope at Africas southern tip  a 5,000-kilometre (3,100-mile) detour that costs ships hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel and other costs.

The unprecedented shutdown, which raised fears of extended delays, goods shortages and rising costs for consumers, added to strain on the shipping industry already under pressure from the coronavirus pandemic.

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Isabel DeBre in Dubai contributed to this report.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the signs for Easter are looking positive as she revealed the decision on whether the greater Brisbane lockdown would be extended would be announced at 9am on Thursday.

The state recorded three new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours - two acquired locally and one detected in hotel quarantine.

The locally acquired cases were linked to the COVID-19 ward at Princess Alexandra Hospital, a nurse who had received her first vaccine dose and her roommate.

The nurse was infected by a returned traveller from India. The person infected another nurse, who passed the virus onto a group of women who had attended a bachelorette party at Byron Bay.
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Syracuse, N.Y. -- The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for April Fools Day, otherwise known this year as Thursday.

Five to 10 inches of snow could fall in Central New York, and even more in a few isolated spots in the Adirondacks and on Tug Hill.

The heavy, wet snow could make driving treacherous and weigh down trees and power lines enough to cause power outages. The snow comes courtesy of a coastal storm and then some light lake effect snow trailing in its wake.

The watch will be in effect from late Wednesday through Thursday evening for most of Upstate north of the Southern Tier, from Western New York through the Adirondacks.

Greater than 4 inches of snow is looking more likely for much of the Finger Lakes region into the New York Thruway corridor, with isolated amounts of 6 inches where the heaviest snow band sets up, said the weather service office in Binghamton, which forecasts for the Finger Lakes and Central New York.

The storm will start as rain Wednesday, but switch over to snow as temperatures fall Wednesday night into Thursday morning. That makes the snow forecast tricky; if temperatures linger above freezing longer than expected, there will be more rain and less snow.

The initial ratio of snow-to-water will be about 4 to 1, meaning that 4 inches of snow contain the equivalent of an inch of rain. Thats extremely wet snow; as temperatures plunge that ratio will drop to a something like 12 or 14 to 1, the weather service said, more typical of a winter snow.

The snow wont stick around. Thanks to the strong sun this time of year and some breaks in the clouds on Thursday, in fact, the snow might melt faster than it falls. And it will certainly be gone by the weekend, when temperatures climb into the 50s amid sunny skies.

READ MORE

Not a joke: Significant snow headed for Upstate NY for April Fools Day

March goes out like a lamb in CNY, but April roars in with cold, snow

As warm weather emerges in Upstate NY, so do hungry ticks
With the edible oil price increasing about 60 per cent in a span of only six months, Odisha government Tuesday accused the Centre of imposing excess taxes leading to the price hike.

The issue was discussed in the assembly when the opposition Congress blamed both the state and the Central government for putting common man in trouble by raising the price of edible oil when people are battling the economic impact of the pandemic.

In reply during a discussion on the admissibility of an adjournment motion on the issue, Odishas Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister RP Swain admitted that the price of edible oil has skyrocketed, during the pandemic situation, for which he blamed the Centre.

The Centre, he said, has imposed 5.5 per cent GST, 17.5 per cent agricultural cess and 21 per cent import duty on edible oil.

While the price of a litre of Palmolive oil was Rs 80 in October, it now costs Rs 126 per litre.

Mustard oil price has also increased from Rs 100 to Rs 150 per litre.

The requirement of edible oil for Odisha is 3 million tonne per annum, the minister said.

"The state government has no role in the regulation of the edible oil price as this is the entire lookout of the Centre," he said.

While 55 per cent of Palmolive oil is imported from Indonesia and Malaysia, mustard oil is procured from Gujarat and Rajasthan, and sunflower oil and soya oil are imported from Canada and the USA.

The hike in the import duty has led to an increase in the price of edible oil, Swain said.

Besides this, mustard oil price was raised because the Centre hiked the MSP of mustard oil seed by Rs 200 a quintal, the minister said.

The state government has taken several measures to check black marketing and adulteration of edible oil in Odisha.

The Opposition Congress, which moved a notice for an adjournment motion on the issue, said that the state government and Central government have no concern for the people.

The common man is suffering due to skyrocketing price of edible oil which is an essential ingredient of daily dishes, said Congress whip Taraprasad Bahinipati.

He was critical over the central governments taxes on edible oil.

The state government should take steps to raise domestic production of edible oil in the state, said Bahinipati.

Production of mustard has been reduced by 50 per cent in Odisha due to lack of patronage from the state government, he said.

BJP Mohan Charan Majhi pointed out that despite remaining in power for 20 consecutive years, the states BJD government has failed to increase production of edible oil seeds in Odisha.

It must take steps for increasing production of edible oil and should intensify action against adulteration, Majhi said.

The BJP leader said the state government cannot escape from the responsibilities just by blaming the Centre on every issue.

Majhi said, the state has failed to implement the central government programmes to increase oil seed production in Odisha.

Government chief whip Pramila Mallick admitted that there has been reduction in the oil seed production in the state.

However, she claimed that the state government has taken several measures to curb black marketing and adulteration of edible oil.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Chennai, March 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed his apprehension that the DMK and the Congress will "insult more women in Tamil Nadu" if they are voted to power, citing DMK leader and former Union Minister A. Raja's attack on Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and his mother.

"DMK and Congress have insulted the late mother of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. God forbid, if they come to power, the Congress and DMK will insult more women of Tamil Nadu," he said at a public meeting at Dharapuram.

Recalling how late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was insulted in the Assembly on March 20, 1989 when the DMK had come to power, he alleged that "insulting women is part of the DMK culture".

"We believe that the progress of the society is not complete without empowerment of women," he said. He also spoke of his high esteem for the ideals of late Chief Ministers MGR and Jayalalithaa, of the AIADMK.

Modi also said that India is proud of the culture of Tamil Nadu and his government wants to promote Tamil culture and Tamil language to empower the farmers, poor and women of the state.

"I had got a chance to speak a few words in the oldest language in the world - Tamil in the United Nations and it was one of the proudest moments of my life," he said.

He said that higher education should be in Tamil and the government is trying to promote even medical and technical education in Tamil language.

He said that the people from Tamil Nadu had created wealth and value for the nation are are known for business sense and compassion. "The small and medium businessmen of this state had gone out of the way to help others," he said, adding that his government will support any business to grow and prosper.

The Prime Minister said that the defence corridor in Tamil Nadu will bring lot of benefits, adding that he is proud to announce that tanks made in Tamil Nadu are deployed on the border in north India to protect the nation.

He said that a toy cluster will be opened in Tamil Nadu and will support several artisans and people who make dolls and toys.

"Our key focus is the MSME sector... the bedrock of our economy and our government has changed the criteria for MSME business... Rs 14,000 crore has been sanctioned for 3.6 lakh MSMEs in state and 8.5 lakh MSMEs have benefitted from the Credit-linked guarantee schemes." Hitting out at the opposition alliance, he alleged: "The corrupt eyes of the Congress and the DMK will never allow business grow and their local strongmen will be busy in money collecting drives. Frequent power cuts will not allow business to grow." Quoting the Tamil epic Tirukkural, he said: "One very common thing in Tirukkural is respect for farmers. The kural says farming is the best, farmers are the kings of the world" and that the agriculture sector is in urgent need of modernisation.

"Our government has initiated reforms that will free small farmers from the clutches of middlemen... The Soil card, Kisan Credit Card are aimed at empowering farmers. Rs 6,000 annual stipend for farmers and fishermen is prominently stated in our manifesto," he said.

Calling upon the people to read the BJP manifesto in detail, he said: "Together we will serve you all and fulfil your dreams and guarantee a bright future for your children." Chief Minister Palaniswami presided over the meeting which was attended by Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, BJP state chief and Dharapuram candidate L. Murugan and other leaders.
"It seems that we have all agreed on one point that notwithstanding our diversity, ethnic, religion and group, Nigerians are better together and even stronger together. "

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has urged Nigerians to keep faith in the promise of a great Nigeria.

Mr Buhari made this call on Monday while speaking virtually at the Bola Tinubu 12th colloquium.

The 12th colloquium is tagged: "Our Common Bond, Our Common Wealth: The Imperative of National Cohesion for Growth and Prosperity.

The event holds virtually and physically, Kano State being the host state for this year.

Mr Buhari, the chairperson of the occasion, congratulated the APC's National Leader, Mr Tinubu,on his 69th birthday.

"This colloquium is a reflection of the service that Asiwaju has given, not only to Lagos state but to Nigeria and Africa."

The president said the colloquium will be a resource for wisdom in Nigeria and to the development of Africa at large.

Speaking of the theme of the colloquium, the president said it is a more relevant and impactful discussion than ever before.

"It seems that we have all agreed on one point that notwithstanding our diversity, ethnic, religion and group, Nigerians are better together and even stronger together.

"Asiwaju is an advocate of unity and constant cohesion in Nigeria.

"The lessons of this colloquium are clear. Our very best of conduct as citizens and leaders is to ensure that justice and unity now reigns in Nigeria.

"We need to commit resources to the development of Nigeria so that every Nigerian feels conformable in every part of the country. We should keep faith to the promise of a great Nigeria," Mr Buhari said.

Speaking on his experience in the Nigerian military, the president said he relates with the idea of one country because of his experience as a military officer.

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"I have served with great comrades from all the nooks and crannies of the county. I was part of those that fought for the unity of Nigeria in the civil war of 1967 to 1970," he said.

Mr Buhari urged leaders, policy makers and individuals present at the colloquium to begin to develop ways to contribute to the development of the country.

The 12th Bola Tinubu Colloquium features a selection of speakers including policymakers, mediators, innovators, security experts, thought-leaders, academics and individuals in governance.

Some of the speakers and panelists at the event are Dani Rodrick, Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy; Funmi Olonisakin, Professor of Security, Leadership & Development King's College, London; Amaka Anku, Practice Head, Africa Eurasia Group; Mohamed Yahya, Resident Representative in Nigeria, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); and Charity Namsoh, Founder/CEO, HoP Africa.

The President of Liberia, George Weah, Former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Koroma, Vice President of ECOWAS Commission, Finda Koroma also graced the occasion.
When introducing herself to parents of incoming freshmen at Loyola University, Asia Wong used to explain her role on campus in a straightforward manner. My job is to make sure students are healthy, happy and well, she would say.

Then COVID-19 came calling in 2020, and Wongs job, as the universitys director of counseling and health services, required a more verbose description to assure parents that Loyolas support system is strong enough to help counter the emotional toll the virus has taken on college students.

Wong and her counterparts saw a noticeable uptick in anxiety and depression as the pandemic lingered into the fall semester and students found themselves still detached from normal campus life.

While college students are not considered at high risk for dangerous outcomes if they contract the virus, they are susceptible to the collateral damage caused by social distancing, lockdowns and other measures to prevent the spread. Many classes are still virtual, and life is anything but normal as the threat of the virus lurks in the halls of learning.

The pandemic has had very real impacts on the structure of their lives, Wong said in a telephone interview to discuss the pandemics toll on campus life. Not being able to go to class, hang out with friends or do other things that students normally do can have a negative impact on mental health.

Wongs assertions are supported by national studies highlighting an issue that has been drowned out by other devastating aspects of the pandemic, which has killed more than a half-million people in the United States. There is now both anecdotal and scientific evidence showing significant changes in college students physical activity, sleep, computer screen time and social interaction that coincide with large declines in well-being.

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of California San Diego examined data from 682 college students who used a smartphone app and a wearable tracker for the spring and fall semesters of 2019 and the spring semester of 2020.

The study found that at the onset of the pandemic, the average number of steps per day among the young adults declined from 10,000 to 4,600; sleep increased by up to 30 minutes a night; time spent socializing declined by one hour to less than 30 minutes; and screen time more than doubled, to over five hours per day.

Published in February by the National Academy of Sciences, the study found that 61% of university students surveyed were at risk of clinical depression, two times higher than pre-pandemic levels. It determined that a disruption to physical activity is a leading risk factor for depression during the pandemic.

There is an alarming rise in the rate of anxiety and depression among young adults, especially among college students, the studys lead author Silvia Saccardo told the Carnegie Mellon news outlet. The pandemic has exacerbated the mental health crisis in this vulnerable population.

Percy Castillo, a 19-year-old Loyola sophomore studying mass communications and philosophy, is one of many whose college experience has been turned upside down by the pandemic.

Its been tough because Ive been super anxious, Castillo said. I expected to have a standard freshman year, but that didnt happen.

Castillo attended Mardi Gras parades like most every college student last year and feared spreading the virus to family members in Gulfport, Mississippi. The lockdown that followed was downright depressing.

Its hard not going out, not seeing all of your friends, Castillo said. Because of the coronavirus, my anxiety and depression worsened.

Wong said these times can cause an array of problems for students that they may not realize is attributable to the pandemic.

I try to help them understand that this is why your body hurts or why you have trouble focusing, she said, noting that recognizing the early indicators of stress can help mitigate its impacts.

Campus leaders have also stressed the importance of anxiety management techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing, muscle relaxation, paying attention to and changing negative self-talk and other holistic strategies. Many college campuses also offer stress management workshops that can help students cope.

The general rule of thumb for Loyola students is outlined in Wongs invitation to an anxiety management workshop: Learn how to focus on the present rather than getting lost in anxiety about the future or regrets about the past. Find ways to attend to your emotions without magnifying problems or getting lost in criticism and self-judgment.
Kazia will receive an upfront payment of US$11 million in cash and shares, and contingent milestone payments of up to US$281 million, with further milestones payable for indications beyond glioblastoma.

Transaction proceeds will be applied directly to the further development of paxalisib

( ) ( ) (FRA:NV9) has entered into a licensing agreement with Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Ltd (HKSE:2096) to develop and commercialise Kazias investigational new drug, paxalisib, in Greater China.

Simcere will assume responsibility for the development, registration and commercialisation of paxalisib in Greater China - which includes mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Under the terms of the agreement, Kazia will receive an upfront payment of US$11 million in cash and shares, and contingent milestone payments of up to US$281 million, with further milestones payable for indications beyond glioblastoma.

One of worlds largest pharma markets

Kazia chief executive officer Dr James Garner said: China is one of the worlds largest pharmaceutical markets, with specific requirements and opportunities for innovative oncology products.

We are delighted to partner with Simcere to secure the commercial success of paxalisib in this critical territory.

Simceres track record of success is unrivalled, and they bring to paxalisib first-class capabilities in clinical development, regulatory affairs, and commercialisation.

We look forward to working closely with our new partners to make paxalisib available for Chinese patients as swiftly as possible.

Need for new therapies in brain cancer in China

Simcere senior vice president Dr Renhong Tang added: We are tremendously excited by the potential for paxalisib to make a difference in this very challenging disease.

The need for new therapies in brain cancer is significant in China, and we share Kazias commitment to bringing forward new treatment options for patients.

Terms of deal

The terms of the deal include:

Simcere will assume responsibility for the development, registration, and commercialisation of paxalisib in Greater China;

Kazia retains rights to the development and commercialisation of paxalisib in all other territories and will continue to drive forward the GBM AGILE pivotal study as planned, including in China;

Kazia will receive an upfront payment of US$11 million (about A$14.2 million), comprising US$7 million in cash and a US$4 million equity investment, priced at a 20% premium to recent trading;

Kazia will also receive contingent milestone payments of up to US$281 million (about A$362 million) for glioblastoma, with further milestones payable for indications beyond glioblastoma; and

Simcere will additionally pay mid-teen percentage royalties on commercial sales.

Simcere

Simcere is one of Chinas leading pharmaceutical companies, with more than 40 marketed products and an extensive development pipeline.

It was incorporated in 1995 and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Simceres primary areas of strategic focus are in oncology, central nervous system disease, and autoimmune disease.

Paxalisib

Paxalisib is a brain-penetrant inhibitor of the PI3K / Akt / mTOR pathway, which is disordered in the vast majority of patients with glioblastoma, the most common and most aggressive form of primary brain cancer.

In a Phase II study in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma with unmethylated MGMT promotor status, paxalisib has shown highly encouraging signals of clinical efficacy.

In January 2021, patient recruitment commenced for paxalisib in the GBM AGILE platform study, which is expected to serve as the basis for registration in key territories.

Paxalisib is currently the subject of six additional studies in other forms of brain cancer beyond glioblastoma.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) spoke on the US House Floor about the southern border crisis.

McCarthy was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

Madam Speaker  I am going to say something that President Biden refuses to.

There is a crisis on our southern border.

It is a humanitarian crisis.

A public health crisis.

A national security crisis.

It is the Biden Border Crisis.

And its spiraling out of control, with no signs of ending.

When candidate Biden told migrants in June to immediately surge to the border, I knew his immigration policies would be bad.

But I didnt think theyd be this bad.

I didnt think they would mean 13,000 unaccompanied minors in U.S. custody.

I didnt think it would mean moving them from the border to facilities across the country  1,000 of them to Midland, 3,000 to Dallas, and likely to more cities.

I didnt think the Biden Administration would require COVID tests for American citizens entering the country, but not illegal immigrants.

I didnt think Bidens own DHS Secretary would have to admit that we are on pace to encounter more individuals on the southwest border than we have in the last 20 years.

I didnt think Id hear the President of Mexico call Joe Biden the Migrant President.

And I didnt think it would take only two months to create the worst border crisis in history.

But that is exactly what has happened.

When I visited the border on Monday, one thing was abundantly clear: this crisis started at midnight on January 20.

It started when President Biden stopped building the wall  even though there were only a few miles left to complete  and when he promised to make all 11 million illegal immigrants citizens.

My colleague Mr. Gimenez of Florida spoke with a family from Honduras about their journey to the border. He asked them how long their trek was. Twenty Two days, they said.

This familys story is not unique. Thousands decided to cross the border now because of President Bidens promises and policies.

As one migrant recently told Fox News, Yes, I listened to the news that they were letting people in.

Speaking to border patrol agents, American citizens, and migrants, another thing was clear: the crisis at the border is the worst Ive ever seen.

Republicans toured the El Paso Processing Facility. 98,000 sq ft. It can hold 1,040 people. But the same morning we were there, it broke a record, and now it is over capacity.

This is what a crisis looks like.

We also saw overworked border patrol agents. In the El Paso Facility alone, 120 agents were no longer patrolling the border, but processing paperwork for migrants. That leaves gaps in our security.

This is what a crisis looks like.

Then, there are the health concerns during the pandemic. A doctor we spoke to told us that 10 percent of migrants are testing positive for COVID, but not all the migrants are being tested, so that number could be even higher.

This is what a crisis looks like.

And more alarming, Republicans were briefed by border patrol agents in El Paso that suspected terrorists were caught trying to enter the country.

This is what a crisis looks like.

I shared this alarming news because the American people deserve to know about it.

But once again, Democrats were in denial.

Congressman Gallego  the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations and a border state member  tweeted on Monday that I was either lying or wrong because he hadnt heard anything about it.

Congresswoman Escobar  who represents El Paso  also attacked me, saying I was trying to fuel the division.

But on Tuesday, Axios confirmed that Four people matching terror watchlist [were] arrested at border. Three from Yemen. One from Serbia.

Bidens DHS Secretary also confirmed that this indeed happened.

If members with security clearances havent heard about terrorist threats on the border, I suggest they pay closer attention during classified briefings.

Madam Speaker  The responsibility for this crisis rests squarely on the shoulders of President Biden.

After weeks of claiming they could handle it, his administration is now attempting to blame the growing crisis on the previous president.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

Words and actions have meaning, and Biden has sent the message that our border is open.

So there is no question that President Biden provoked this problem. The question is, how do we stop it?

So far, the Biden Administration and Congressional Democrats arent providing any solutions.

If anything, they are sending the message that anyone who makes the dangerous journey to cross the border will be rewarded.

We saw that from the Biden Administration, which told migrants we arent saying dont come, just dont come now.

We saw that last week with Democrats so-called COVID relief bill. $Twenty two billion in health care subsidies that illegal immigrants are eligible for, but zero dollars are dedicated to helping the men and women patrolling the border.

And we are seeing it today with Democrats wasting time on a bill that could not be less timely or targeted to the issue at hand.

The American people deserve leaders who work with the seriousness of purpose this crisis requires.

That is why I wrote a letter to President Biden two weeks ago asking to meet with him about the crisis.

Since then, the crisis has only gotten worse, but unfortunately, the President still hasnt responded.

So today, I sent President Biden a second letter offering to relay what I learned at the border.

I know he doesnt plan to travel there, but I believe he would benefit from hearing what we saw and heard.

I also included 5 solutions based on information from my trip. All of them are rooted in the basic idea: that we are both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws.

If implemented now, these common sense solutions would help to stop the border crisis.

Madam Speaker  As I said earlier, the Biden Border Crisis is a humanitarian, health, and national security crisis  and it is deteriorating quickly.

To protect our citizens from further harm, our government must send a clear and united message to the citizens of Mexico and Central America.

That message is simple: there is never a right time to break the law and enter the United States illegally.

The time for delay, denial, and distractions is over  and I yield back.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Chennai, March 30 : As Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress and the DMK as "dynastic, corrupt and anti-women" parties, BJP's Tamil Nadu BJP unit committed a major blunder, using a clip of Congress MP Karti Chidambaram's wife in its poll promo.

The BJP used the Bharathanatyam footage of Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member P.Chidambaram's daughter-in-law Srinidhi Chidambaram in its election promotion video "Lotus to bloom; Tamil Nadu to grow Vote for Lotus".

When the issue went viral on social media, the BJP deleted the video from its social media account.

Srinidhi had performed to the 'Semmozhi' song written by DMK's late President M. Karunanidhi for the World Tamil Conference held in 2010.

The BJP had taken Srinidhi's dance performance clip from that song for its poll promo.

Srinidhi and the Congress hit out at the BJP.

In a tweet tagging the BJP, Srinidhi said it was "ridiculous" that it has used her image for their propaganda.

The Congress' Tamil Nadu unit tweeted: "Dear @BJP4TamilNadu, we understand 'consent' is a difficult concept for you to understand, but you cannot use Mrs Srinidhi Karti Chidambaram's image without her permission. All you've done is prove that your campaign is full of lies & propaganda."


Cho Hyun-sik, vice chairman of Hankook & Company, left, and his younger brother Cho Hyun-bum, president of Hankook & Company / Courtesy of Hankook Tire & Technology



By Baek Byung-yeul



The sibling war in Korea's largest tire giant Hankook & Company between Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sik and his younger brother and President Cho Hyun-bum has become more complicated, as each one took their own victory in shareholders' meetings, Tuesday.



Formerly called Hankook Tire & Technology Group, Hankook & Company is the holding company of the tire giant supervising the group's flagship unit Hankook Tire & Technology and other affiliates.



The sibling war in Korea's largest tiremaker come as the brothers have been battling over management control of the group.



Currently, Cho Hyun-bum, which also serves as CEO of Hankook Tire & Technology, holds a 42.9 percent stake in Hankook & Company, while his older brother holds a 19.32 percent and their two sisters Hee-won and Hee-kyung have 10.82 percent and 0.83 percent stakes, respectively. The National Pension Service has a 5.21 percent stake.



Given Cho Hyun-bum holds the largest stake in the holding company, he was eligible for taking control of the group, but his older brother could seize it away from him thanks to the revised Commercial Act.



In December 2020, the National Assembly revised the Commercial Act that requires listed companies to name at least one outside auditor and limits the voting powers of the biggest shareholders and their families to 3 percent in the auditor's appointment.



Due to the so-called 3 percent rule, the sibling battle of the tire giant has become a proxy battle, in which a group of company shareholders is joining forces in an attempt to oppose the current management.



At the shareholders' meeting of Hankook Tire & Technology held on Tuesday morning, shareholders sided with the younger Cho's plan, which is appointing Lee Mi-ra, chief human resources officer at GE Korea, as an outside director of Hankook Tire & Technology as the auditor gained an 84 percent vote from shareholders. Cho Hyun-bum was also re-appointed as a registered director.



Against the younger Cho, the elder Cho and his sister Hee-kyung, head of Hankook Tire Foundation, gathered votes to appoint BRB Korea Advisers CEO Lee Hye-woong as an outside director, but Lee received only 16 percent of the votes.



However, the older Cho took advantage of the 3 percent rule in the shareholders' meeting of Hankook & Company, held on Tuesday afternoon.



At that event, the elder Cho fielded Korea University professor Lee Han-sang as an outside director and auditor, who beat the younger brother's recommendation of Kim Hye-kyung, an Ewha Womans University professor.


Confocal microscopy images of haemocytes of a DN-suggested mussel (J54) stained with DAPI (blue) and TRITC-labelled phalloidin (red). Images (a, b) are at two different magnifications (note the scale bars). Arrowheads point to normal adherent haemocytes with a small compact nucleus. Stars mark neoplastic aneuploid round cells with a large lobed nucleus and an altered actin cytoskeleton. Credit: SPbU

An international research team, including biologists from St Petersburg University, has identified a transmissible cancer lineage in the Far Eastern mussels. The disease can have an adverse effect on the populations of these molluscs, which are extensively farmed in Russia.

"A transmissible cancer was first discovered in dogs in the middle of the 19th century. It is transmitted sexually from a sick dog to a healthy one, the cancer cells themselves being the infective agent. In the 1990s, a contagious cancer was discovered in the Tasmanian devil. Since the cancer was found in only two species of mammals, scientists used to think that it is quite rare in nature. However, the time has come to reconsider this view. A transmissible cancer appears to be fairly widespread among bivalve molluscs," says Maria Skazina, a research associate at the Department of Applied Ecology at St Petersburg University and the first author of the publication in Scientific Reports.

Disseminated neoplasia (DN) is a large-scale, fatal cancer disease of bivalve molluscs, which can be compared to leukemia in vertebrates. Diseased mussels have cancer cells, which circulate in the hemolymph, a functional analog of blood. As neoplasia develops, they infiltrate all tissues and organs, disrupting their work.

The causes of this disease were described for the first time in 2016 in an article published by a group of scientists under the leadership of by Michael Metzger in Nature. The authors showed that disseminated neoplasia was a transmissible cancer lineage. Its cells have their own genotype, different from those of the molluscan hosts. In a way, they are parasites transmitted from sick individuals to healthy ones.

"A study proposing a mechanism of the transfer of cancer cells between individuals was published last year. When the mussel is under stress, the cells of its haemolymph can leave the body, exist for some time in the environment and then invade other mussels. This process has been observed in healthy molluscs. Cancer cells, it would seem, might use this mechanism too," says Maria Skazina. "However, this is only a hypothesis. To test it, sophisticated experimental research is necessary."

Mussels Mytilus are important commercial invertebrates. Two genetic lineages of transmissible cancer are known in them: BTN1 and BTN2 (BTN stands for bivalve transmissible neoplasia). Both of them originated from the Pacific mussel Mytilus trossulus, which is also found in the Far Eastern and Northern seas of Russia.

"So far, BTN1 lineage has been found in a single mussel population at the Pacific coast of North America. BTN2 is much more widespread. Before our research, it had been found in several mussel species in Europe and South America, though not in the parental species Mytilus trossulus," says Maria Skazina.

In 2019, marine biologists from St Petersburg University, A.V. Zhirmunsky National Research Centre of Marine Biology, and the University of Helsinki joined forces to search for transmissible cancer lineages in the mussels of the Russian seas. To diagnose the disease, they developed an integrated approach, which included cytological and molecular genetic tests, and applied it to the mussels Mytilus trossulus from the Sea of Japan, in which disseminated neoplasia had been previously shown.

In the haemolymph of molluscs from the Gaydamak Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry methods revealed neoplastic cells. They are large, have polyploid nuclei and an abnormal cytoskeleton resembling the spines of a bristling hedgehog. Genotyping of the haemolymph and other tissues by nuclear and mitochondrial characteristics revealed genetic 'chimerism' of the sick mussels, that is, the presence of more than one individual genotype. Multiple alleles (different forms of the same gene that determine the development of a particular trait) were separated by molecular cloning. All diseased mussels were found to have 'additional' genotypes corresponding to BTN2. This means that the scientists from St Petersburg University and their colleagues proved, for the first time, the presence of BTN2 in Mytilus trossulus as well as the presence of transmittable cancer in mussels from the Sea of Japan and the Northwest Pacific.

At the next stage of the research, the scientists used molecular phylogenetic methods to compare the sequences of the mitochondrial BTN genes obtained by them with all the homologous sequences of the mussels themselves stored in the NCBI genetic bank. It turned out that the mitochondria of BTN2 are most similar to those of Mytilus trossulus from the Russian seas. It was probably there that 'patient zero' lived, the mussel that 'gave birth' to this transmissible cancer.

The Baltic Sea mussels were also shown to have BTN2. In 2014, Polish biologists found an unusual mitochondrial genotype in a Baltic mussel, which they interpreted as the genotype of Mytilus trossulus. It is now clear that this was not a mussel genotype, but a BTN2 genotype. It appears that the transmissible cancer that the scientists were looking for in the Far East could be found much closer to St Petersburg. Whether this disease is common among the molluscs of the Baltic Sea remains to be found out.

"This disease is so virulent for invertebrates because they do not have a developed immune system that can reliably distinguish alien cells from their own. Transmissible cancer of molluscs cannot harm humans in any way. However, the disease can be detrimental for the mussel marine culture. We do not yet know how widespread transmissible cancer is among mussels in Russia," says Maria Skazina.

The scientists now continue to search for transmissible cancer in mussels in different seas of Russia. Preliminary evidence suggests that it is found not only in mussels in the Sea of Japan and the Baltic Sea and that its diversity is not limited to BTN2 lineage. They are also developing a method for rapid diagnosis of the disease in order to monitor it in natural and commercial populations of molluscs.

"Hopefully, our work might be of help for comparative oncology. I think that mussels, as a research model, can tell a lot about the mechanisms of the spread of cancer in different species, including humans," notes Maria Skazina.

Explore further Human link in spread of infectious cancer in mussels

More information: Maria Skazina et al, First description of a widespread Mytilus trossulus-derived bivalve transmissible cancer lineage in M. trossulus itself, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports Maria Skazina et al, First description of a widespread Mytilus trossulus-derived bivalve transmissible cancer lineage in M. trossulus itself,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85098-5
Union Minister Nishank has said is the largest democratic educational ecosystem in the world, with as many as 34 crore children studying here, which is more than the entire population of many countries.

He said this while speaking at a high-level ministerial meeting convened by UNESCO on Monday.

He said has 1.1 lakh teachers, and there are 10.5 lakh schools, 42,000 colleges and 1,043 universities in

The Minister said: "At least 10.5 lakh students from our (government) schools complete their matriculation every year. Annually, 80.2 lakh undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are offered in India and around 39,000 others are given Ph.D."

He also narrated the highlights of the new policy at the UNESCO meeting.

Nishank spoke to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UNESCO's Ministers about the challenges being faced in the country and the work being done on the strategy of leaving no students behind.

He said: "Despite the remarkable size of the educational ecosystem in India, we have successfully ensured that every child living in the remotest parts of the country continues to receive education even in the times of pandemic. We have used digital, television, radio to ensure that no child is deprived of education."

He also explained in detail about the PM eVidya scheme launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said: "India believes in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is a family) and if necessary, sets school curriculum in Africa, in the Caribbean, in Asia, with our brothers and sisters on the same high standards as our Indian schools are. As you know the Indian school education system is very good in mathematics, science, technology and humanities. "

Assuring everyone of all assistance, Nishank said: "The world has faced this epidemic on many levels. Despite the grave difficulties, global communities have made every effort to meet this challenge. Today, we can move forward proudly helping each other and learning from each other's struggles. Only our collective efforts will make us stronger in this difficult time. "

--IANS

gcb/sgk/pgh/dpb

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress MP Nusrat Jahan Ruhi, launched yet another attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) through her social media post.

She openly attacked the Uttar Pradesh police for what she called its shameless and inhumane nature and even tagged the department.

Recent reports of extortion from a sexual assault victim by a police constable in the Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh came to light. Nusarat Jahan did not let the incident slide past her and slammed the BJP on Twitter.

Nusrat Jahan tweeted on the incident, How can @Uppolice be so shameless & inhumane? This is the REAL picture of @BJP4India ruled UP! Stop your Tourist Gang activities in Bengal and focus on making lives of women better in UP first! #BohiragotoChaiNa

How can @Uppolice be so shameless & inhumane? This is the REAL picture of @BJP4India ruled UP! Stop your 'Tourist Gang' activities in Bengal and focus on making lives of women better in UP first!#BohiragotoChaiNahttps://t.co/Zi4XMg8mNb  Nusrat Jahan Ruhi (@nusratchirps) March 29, 2021

She also targeted BJP leaders calling them Bohirgoto (outsiders) and ended her tweet with #BohiragotoChaiNa (Outsiders not wanted).

Reports said that a constable named Dilip Kumar from Azamgarh demanded Rs 10,000 from the victims family. He allegedly threatened the family to implicate them in a false case if they failed to pay the money.

Uttar Pradesh has recently been severely criticized for the rising crime against women in the state.

Several incidents of rape, murder and molestation have been highlighted where the victims have been allegedly subjected to further harassment by the policemen and authorities during the investigation.

As the election process in West Bengal moves ahead, both the BJP and TMC leaders are seen to be indulging in intensified criticism of each other. Recently, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other BJP leaders had targeted Mamata Banerjee during election rallies in West Bengal.

Live TV
Amid the growing anti-Asian racism, the STOP AAPI HATE National report revealed that 3,795 cases had already happened between Mar. 19, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2021. Recently, the video-sharing platform YouTube has denied its action to delete an anti-Asian song.

The company employees requested the rap song, "Meet the Flockers" to be removed from the platform. However, the executives made a strong statement not to take down the videos featuring this song.

What do the Executives say About the Anti-Asian Song Removal?

In a report by Bloomberg written on Mar. 30, YouTube employees criticized their executives who denied eliminating the racist song which made its debut in 2014. The track was sung by YG, an American rapper from Compton, California.

The song features a theme about burglary, where the lyrics pointed out the location of the Chinese people. The controversial feud between YouTube and its employees started when workers questioned the Trust and Safety team to consider taking necessary action to take down the video.

However, the team executive of that department has completely refused to accept the request of the workers via an email sent to staff last Mar. 22.

"We find this video to be highly offensive and understand it is painful for many to watch, including many in Trust & Safety, and especially given the ongoing violence against the Asian community," the executives noted.

The rap song's lyrics have sparked hate speech across the affected race. The executives added that the platform, however, exempts those contents, which tackle contexts about the documentary, education, science, and arts.

Moreover, a spokeswoman from YouTube said in a statement that their platform is open to all employees to impart their perspectives in a decision like this.

Apart from that, the spokeswoman said that the platform will continue to foster openness for the protection of the whole YouTube community. For security reasons, the executive chose to not be named.

The platform has already exterminated over 97,00 clips and more than 46 million comments, which fall under the hate speech policy of YouTube during the final quarter of 2020.

Read Also: PewDiePie's Diss Track About Cocomelon Removed? YouTube Deletes Content After Violating Guidelines

The YouTube Employees' Side About the 'Meet the Flockers' Issue

Since songs are categorized under contents with artistic contexts, revenues are collected by the artists through the ads during the viewing of the videos.

However, this made one employee comment about the memo that was released by the executives. Furthermore, the anonymous employee criticized the "leadership" of the executives, which is in line with their "Racial Justice Initiative."

Moreover, the staff even used Edmund Pettus Bridge as a reference to what happened in 1985, when the police attacked about 600 Black civil rights activists in Selma, Alabama.

On Mar. 25, a virtual meeting about the issue was held between the YouTube executives and employees. However, the latter expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the discussion. One worker even lambasted the statement from the executive, who happens to have an Asian-American wife during the townhall meeting.

One employee said that Asian wives are not a credential. Another employee questioned the excuse of the executive to allow the video on YouTube since he knew someone who is Asian.

Related Article: YouTube Fake Animal Rescues: 'Disturbing Trend' Scripted Videos Now Banned



This article is owned by Tech Times.

Written by Joen Coronel

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Posted Monday, March 29, 2021 10:10 am

In mid-March, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, reintroduced the Student Loan Disclosure Transparency Act, according to a news release.

The bill is co-led by Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, and cosponsored by many bipartisan representatives in the House.

This bipartisan legislation requires that student borrowers who apply for and accept federal student loans receive a separate monthly loan disclosure statement with information on projected payments, accrued interest, total cost of attendance and other personalized details in easy and understandable terms.

Students who choose to further their education deserve simplicity and transparency in the student loan process. The lack of clarity around student loans today is contributing to this nations student loan debt crisis, and its why Im leading bipartisan legislation to address this issue. This bill will help set up Southwest Washington students for success by empowering them to make the best decisions for their educational and financial future, Herrera Beutler said in the news release.

According to the release, the Higher Education Act (HEA) currently requires disclosures at three points: disbursement, at or prior to repayment and during repayment. The Student Loan Disclosure Transparency Act would improve transparency across the entire life of the loan while a borrower attends college and during any period of repayment, deferment, forbearance or delinquency, according to Herrera Beutler.
Germany is reassessing AstraZeneca Plcs Covid-19 vaccine after the capital Berlin suspended its use for people under the age of 60, citing new data on potentially dangerous side effects.

Dilek Kalayci, the citys top health official, said that both Germanys independent STIKO vaccine commission -- which is supported by the RKI public-health institute -- and the Federal Institute for Vaccines will make new recommendations on how to proceed. Those could be published as soon as Tuesday.

Its a fresh blow for Astras vaccine, and another threat to Europes inoculation campaign. Germany and a number of other European countries temporarily suspended the Astra jab earlier this month before resuming use after the European Unions drug regulator said it was safe.

Regional German health ministers will also discuss the Astra vaccine with federal government officials at a special meeting later on Tuesday. RKI spokeswoman Susanne Glasmacher confirmed that the vaccine commission is assessing the latest information on the Astra vaccine.

We have to wait for the recommendations but we wanted to take this step as a precaution, Kalayci said at a news conference, adding that pending appointments will be canceled. This vaccine does prevent severe symptoms, and that is very valuable, but we have to be careful with it nonetheless.

In the review earlier this month, the European Medicines Agency concluded that the benefits of the Astra shot outweigh the risks, following a safety review after reports of blood clots in some recipients. While the EMA said the cases so far are rare, it recommended that a warning is added to make sure the public is better informed.

Germanys latest move comes after health officials in Canada suspended plans to give the Astra vaccine to younger people over the blood-clotting concerns. Several provinces halted shots this week after the nations vaccine advisory committee recommended a pause on administering it to people under 55 years old.

Norway has extended a pause on injections, while France and other countries have imposed age restrictions.
Former Malagasy President Didier Ratsiraka passed away on Sunday at the age of 84 after suffering from cardiac arrest. India sent condolences to the family members of Ratsiraka and the people of Madagascar, remembering the politician's immense contributions to strengthening the relations between New Delhi and Antananarivo. Indian ambassador to Madagascar, Abhay Kumar took to Twitter to express remorse on the passing away of Ratsiraka.

Deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of the former President Didier Ratsiraka today morning. His immense contribution to strengthening India-Madagascar relations will be fondly remembered. My deepest condolences to his family, the people and Govt. of Madagascar. pic.twitter.com/NcRpLJCvOY  Ambassador Abhay Kumar (@AmbassadorAbhay) March 28, 2021

Admirer of Mahatma Gandhi

Ratsiraka was president of Madagascar from 1975 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2002. Ratsiraka came to power after a coup in 1975, following which he started implementing socialist policies in the country. It was during Ratsiraka's presidency that India-Madagascar witnessed an upswing in bilateral ties. Ratsiraka visited India twice as president of Madagascar. In 1980, Ratsiraka arrived in New Delhi for a bilateral meet, while in 1983 he came to attend a Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit.

Ratsiraka was a vocal supporter of the Non-Aligned Movement, a pact that was created during the Cold War era between countries that stood neutral. Ratsiraka was a great admirer of Mahatma Gandhi and former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. According to news agency ANI, Ratsiraka even named two streets in Madagascars capital Antananarivo after Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi when he was the president of the country.

After the 2001 elections, Ratsiraka fled Madagascar and settled in Paris, France. Ratsiraka was convicted by a court over charges of corruption. Ratsiraka returned to Madagascar in 2011 after holding talks with President Andry Rajoelina and other leaders. Ratsirakas demise was marked by the government of Madagascar and a funeral ceremony was held in the main courtyard of the State Palace followed by a burial ceremony at the National Mausoleum.

(Image Credit: Didier Ratsiraka/Facebook)
Mumbai, March 30 : A day after Mumbai added 5,890 new Covid-19 patients to take the tally past the 4-lakh mark, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) geared up for a possible second war against the virus, a top official said here on Tuesday.

For starters, the BMC has made 2,269 beds, including 360 in ICU, available with immediate effect in private hospitals to cater to the growing rush of Covid patients since early-March.

"These will be in addition to more than 3,000 beds currently lying vacant in government and private hospitals. We are also operationalizing an additional 1,500 beds in the Jumbo field hospitals by this weekend to take the total bed availability to over 7,000," BMC Municipal Commissioner I.S. Chahal told IANS.

Moving swiftly, the civic body has also ordered takeover of 80 per cent beds and 100 per cent ICU beds in all private hospitals and barred them against admitting any Covid positive patients without the green signal from the Covid Ward War Room, he added.

Reverting to the policy enforced in May 2020, no patients shall be allowed direct admission to hospitals till their Covid positive report is received from the labs, and thereafter, the BMC teams will pick up the patient/s from their homes to the desitnated hospital.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
X-ray and radio light curves of MAXI J1348630 during its 2019/2020 outburst. Credit: Carotenuto et al., 2021.

An international team of astronomers has carried out a comprehensive radio and X-ray monitoring of a black hole X-ray binary known as MAXI J1348630. The observational campaign provided important insights into the evolution of the source's compact and transient jets. The study was presented in a paper published March 22 on arXiv.org.

Black hole X-ray binaries (BHXBs) are binary systems consisting of a black hole orbited by a stellar companion, typically a low-mass, evolved star. In BHXBs, X-rays are produced by material accreting from a secondary companion star onto a black hole primary. Such systems are usually detected in outbursts when the X-ray flux increases significantly.

MAXI J1348630 was initially detected on January 26, 2019 as a bright X-ray transient by the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Further observations of this source confirmed that it is a BHXB with a black hole mass of about seven solar masses at a distance of some 7,170 light years away from the Earth.

Almost immediately after the bursting activity of MAXI J1348630 started, a group of astronomers led by Francesco Carotenuto of the University of Paris, France, commenced a monitoring campaign of this source with the aim of shedding more light on its nature. They observed MAXI J1348630 in the radio band with the MeerKAT telescope in south Africa and the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), and also in the X-rays using MAXI and NASA's Swift spacecraft.

"In this work, we have presented the X-ray and radio monitoring of MAXI J1348630 during its 2019/2020, discovery outburst. With our X-ray monitoring, we have been able to follow the whole outburst," the researchers wrote in the paper.

The observations show that during the outburst MAXI J1348630 exhibited a rather typical X-ray evolution in the first part, completing a whole cycle in the hardness-density diagram (HID), and then showcased a complex sequence of hard-state-only re-brightenings in the second part.

During the outburst, Carotenuto's team observed the rise, quenching, and re-activation of the compact jets. They also identified two single-sided discrete ejecta, launched about two months apart and traveling away from the black hole. These ejecta had proper motion at a level of some 100 mas/daythe highest proper motion measured so far for such features in BHXBs.

The astronomers found that the first ejection happened during the hard-to-soft state transition of the source, before a strong radio flare. When it comes to the second ejection, it was launched during a short excursion from the soft to the intermediate state.

According to the authors of the paper, the results suggest that MAXI J1348630 appears to be inside a low-density cavity in the interstellar medium (ISM).

"After traveling with constant speed, the first component underwent a strong deceleration, which was covered with unprecedented detail and suggested that MAXI J1348630 could be located inside a low-density cavity in the interstellar medium, as already proposed for XTE J1550564 and H1743322," the researchers concluded.

More information: The black hole transient MAXI J1348630: evolution of the compact and transient jets during its 2019/2020 outburst, arXiv:2103.12190 [astro-ph.HE] The black hole transient MAXI J1348630: evolution of the compact and transient jets during its 2019/2020 outburst, arXiv:2103.12190 [astro-ph.HE] arxiv.org/abs/2103.12190

 2021 Science X Network
SCHENECTADY  As Rivers Casino & Resort looks toward later hours next week after the 11 p.m. curfew on casinos is lifted by the state, it is reopening another of its dining options.

Mian, the pan-Asian concept at Rivers, will reopen Friday after being closed since the pandemic began last March. Hour will be 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, closed Wednesday and Thursday.
Burma Thai Authorities Turn Back Villagers Fleeing Myanmar Regime's Airstrikes

Karen villagers in Papun have fled into forests following military airstrikes. / CJ.

Yangon  Ethnic Karen villagers fleeing Myanmar militarys airstrikes in Karen States Papun District have been forced to return to their villages after they were turned back by the Thai authorities.

Most of the villagers who had fled into Thailand are children, elderly people and women. They have no food and were given nothing after they arrived in Thailand. So they cant stay there for long and they are afraid to return home. They have nowhere to flee. As they were turned back by the Thai authorities, they have to return to their villages. They have dug holes and are living underground, said a spokesman for the Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN).

More than 10,000 ethnic Karen villagers fled their homes after the military regime carried out airstrikes on villages over the weekend and on Monday.

Some 8,000 have fled into forests and around 3,000 from villages along the Salween River, including Mae Nu Hta and U Weh Klo villages and Ei Thu Hta internal displacement camp, crossed the border to seek refuge in Thailand on Sunday.

However, Karen villagers were turned back by the Thai authorities and have since been returning to their homes. Over 2,000 villagers returned on Monday and some 500 followed on Tuesday.

The media and civil society organizations providing humanitarian assistance for Karen villagers were denied access to meet the newly displaced Karen during their brief stay in Thailand. Villagers said they lacked food and water during their stay.

Seventy-six more villagers have arrived in Thailand. They said they have not yet met the Thai authorities. It is not yet known if they will also be repatriated, said the KPSN spokesman.

The airstrikes followed increased military tensions in Papun between the Karen National Union (KNU) and Myanmars military after the KNU said it backs the people and resists the military regime. Based in Papun, KNU Brigade 5 has blocked food deliveries to Myanmars military and attacked military outposts around the town.

Three civilians were killed, nine injured and some houses were burned down during airstrikes on Day Pu No village.

There were also airstrikes on Monday night. It is not safe. No one dares to sleep inside their homes at night. Some sleep in bomb shelters they have dug. We have to stay where we think it is safe. And we cant sleep well, said a resident of Ei Thu Hta displacement camp.

After being denied entry to Thailand, villagers have no option but to reinforce their bomb shelters and remain in their villages, he said.

Over 8,000 people who have fled Day Pu No village remain in forests and their condition is unknown. Karen NGOs told The Irrawaddy they had lost contact with Day Pu No villagers.

The Thai government denies turning Karen villagers back to Papun.

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LGBTQ activists are looking at Arkansas after its legislature passed the Arkansas Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, which prevents medical professionals from providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth in the state.

But Texas has very similar bills up for consideration this legislative session.

AFTER THE FREEZE: Texans really hate ERCOT after winter storm, UH survey confirms

State Rep. Steve Toth and State Sen. Bob Hall quietly filed House Bill 2693 and Senate Bill 1311, respectively, which would make it illegal for any physician in Texas to provide gender-affirming care to transgender people under the age of 18., including prescribing puberty blockers and hormones or performing gender-affirming surgery.

Under the bills, health care providers who offer gender-affirming care would lose their license to practice in the state.

This isn't Toth's only bill he's filed targeting health care for transgender youth  House Bill 68 would reclassify gender-affirming care from a mental health professional or physician as child abuse.

Arkansas' HB 1570 only needs a signature from its governor to become law. Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, is currently reviewing the bill.

After its passage through the Senate, several activists decried the bill.

"Affirming health care can literally be life or death for anyone, but particularly for trans youth," Black trans activist and writer Raquel Willis said, according to CNN's Lauren Holt. "People think that's an exaggeration. It's not. People think you can just discipline identity out of someone and that is not true and in many ways is torture."

IN TEXAS: Here's where you can schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment

According to the ACLU, 28 states are reviewing legislation that would restrict the rights of transgender people.

HB 2693 was filed on March 3, followed by SB 1311 filed on March 9. Both bills are currently in committee.
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Barack Obamas grandmother, Sarah Obama, has died in Kenya at the age of 99.

She died on Monday while receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment at a hospital in Kisumu, Western Kenya.

In a tribute message posted on Twitter, the former U.S. President wrote, My family and I are mourning the loss of our beloved grandmother, Sarah Ogwel Onyango Obama, affectionately known to many as Mama Sarah but known to us as Dani or Granny. We will miss her dearly, but well celebrate with gratitude her long and remarkable life.

My family and I are mourning the loss of our beloved grandmother, Sarah Ogwel Onyango Obama, affectionately known to many as Mama Sarah but known to us as Dani or Granny. We will miss her dearly, but well celebrate with gratitude her long and remarkable life. pic.twitter.com/avDY4f1PVu  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 29, 2021

Although not his birth mother, Granny would raise my father as her own and it was in part thanks to her love and encouragement that he was able to defy the odds and do well enough in school to get a scholarship to attend an American university, Mr Obama said on Facebook. When our family had difficulties, her homestead was a refuge for her children and grandchildren, and her presence was a constant, stabilizing force.

Sarah Obama, a Muslim, was born in 1922 as part of western Kenyas Luo ethnic group.

She spent decades as the head of a foundation to educate girls and orphans, something she felt strongly about as she could not read herself, AFP reported.

Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of Kenya, paid tribute to Sarah Obama on Twitter.

The passing away of Mama Sarah is a big blow to our nation, he wrote. Weve lost a strong, virtuous woman. A matriarch who held together the Obama family and was an icon of family values.
Highlights:

Deforestation: Between 2000-2013, Papua New Guinea saw an average loss of 0.5% of its national rainforest annually or 197,000 hectares of forest. The highest annual deforestation figures came in 2013 with a loss of 39,676 hectares. Loss was primarily due to conversion of forests to croplands for both non-commercial agricultural needs of its population (63%) as well as commercial agriculture (30%).

Between 2000-2013, saw an average loss of 0.5% of its national rainforest annually or 197,000 hectares of forest. The highest annual deforestation figures came in 2013 with a loss of 39,676 hectares. Loss was primarily due to conversion of forests to croplands for both non-commercial agricultural needs of its population (63%) as well as commercial agriculture (30%). Degradation of remaining rainforests, primarily for commercial logging was also a major concern. Peaking in 2012 with 240,000 hectares, government action led to steadily declining degradation from 2013 onwards. 2014 and 2015 showed a marked decline in deforestation in both drivers.

of remaining rainforests, primarily for commercial logging was also a major concern. Peaking in 2012 with 240,000 hectares, government action led to steadily declining degradation from 2013 onwards. 2014 and 2015 showed a marked decline in deforestation in both drivers. Reforestation and forest rehabilitation activities: Conversely, efforts to enhance forest cover through reforestation and forest rehabilitation activities were limited, despite ambitious goals set out within Papua New Guinea's Vision 2050 to establish 800,000 hectares of forest plantation by the middle of this century.

"These results are a testament to over two decades of national action and leadership - and are a fitting and timely tribute to the late Sir Michael Somare who pioneered global rainforest conservation. The data from 2014-2015 clearly show that Papua New Guinea has now turned a corner in our battle to stop deforestation," said, Ruel Yamuna, Managing Director of the Climate Change and Development Authority.

Papua New Guinea's 9 million mt of carbon reductions will become the first nationally issued REDD+ forestry carbon credits to go on sale to corporations and consumers. This comes after a decade of international negotiation to establish Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+) as a global conservation mechanism under the Paris Agreement on climate change - which was achieved in 2015.

The REDD+ mechanism, the brainchild of late Sir Grand Chief Michael Somare - founding father of Papua New Guinea, was started by Papua New Guinea and the Coalition for Rainforest Nations in 2005 under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The government of Papua New Guinea intends to set up a national biodiversity and climate change trust fund to manage and distribute the wealth accumulated from the revenues of nationally issued REDD+ forest carbon credits and other grants and donations. This will be announced in PNG Parliament in April.

A signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) took place on Wednesday March 17 in Port Moresby between the government of Papua New Guinea and REDD.plus to permit the sale of the forest carbon credits. Wera Mori, Minister of the Environment, Conservation & Climate Change and Kevin Conrad, Chief Executive of REDD.plus signed the agreement.

"Today's agreement constitutes a significant milestone for the REDD+ story and for Papua New Guinea. People and companies will be able to purchase forest carbon credits that reward a country's successful conservation efforts as well as count towards the Paris Agreement and the global carbon budget," said Kevin Conrad, Executive Director, Coalition for Rainforest Nations. "Buying nationally issued REDD+ forest carbon credits is a powerful way to support global efforts to tackle the climate emergency."

While Papua New Guinea's nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement in which targets for emissions reductions in the land use and forest sector have not been identified beyond 2015, mitigation actions from its national policies, Vision 2050 and the Medium-Term Development Strategy 2030 have been set out.

Papua New Guinea's nationally issued REDD+ forestry carbon credits were made available for purchase today on REDD.plus registry - provided by IHS Markit and trading platform by CBL . REDD.plus is currently managed by not-for-profit, Coalition for Rainforest Nations.

About

Climate Change and Development Authority, Independent State of Papua New Guinea

The Climate Change Development Authority is mandated under the Climate Change (Management) Act 2015 with the responsibility to contribute toward global efforts in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, through low carbon development that fosters economic growth and social welfare for the people's wellbeing and prosperity. It is based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Learn more at PNG REDD+

Coalition for Rainforest Nations

The Coalition for Rainforest Nations is US 401c3 not-for-profit established by forested tropical countries to collaboratively reconcile forest stewardship with economic development. Its assists tropical governments, communities and peoples responsibly manage their rainforests. It is the architect of the REDD+ mechanism and is headquartered in New York.

REDD.plus

REDD.plus is the first digital platform enabling carbon neutrality under the Paris Agreement, and provided by IHS Markit and trading platform by CBL. It is a central registry and exchange for nationally issued carbon reductions or REDD+ Results Units from rainforest nations, certified by the United Nations. REDD.plus is owned and managed by the Coalition for Rainforest Nations.

SOURCE Coalition for Rainforest Nations

Related Links

https://rainforestcoalition.org


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VANCOUVER, BC, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Trilogy Metals Inc. (TSX: TMQ) (NYSE American: TMQ) ("Trilogy Metals" or "the Company") will hold the Company's 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders ("AGM") on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 10:00 am Pacific Time at the office of the Company, Suite 1150, 609 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Shareholders as of the record date of March 23, 2021 ("Record Date") will be eligible to vote at the AGM. All current directors will stand for re-election at the AGM. The Company's 2021 Management Information Circular, which contains information about all director nominees was filed today and is now available to the public.

No presentations or updates on the Company's activities will be provided at the AGM. The Company's most recent investor presentation can be found on our website at www.trilogymetals.com. Any investor who would like further information on the items of business at the AGM or the Company's activities is welcome to contact us directly.

Proxy Statement Filed with Regulators

Additional information about the director nominees can be found in the Company's 2021 proxy statement, which is available on the Company's website, on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and has been mailed to all shareholders as of the Record Date.

The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers are participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company's shareholders in connection with the Company's 2021 AGM. The Company has filed its definitive proxy statement with the SEC in connection with any such solicitation of proxies from the Company's shareholders. SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ SUCH PROXY STATEMENT AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

Impact of COVID-19

Trilogy is carefully monitoring the public health impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on a daily basis, and may decide to modify the date, time or location of the AGM depending on the situation. While we understand this could disrupt the travel plans of those who plan to attend the AGM, our first priority is the health and safety of our communities, shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. In the event we decide to modify the date, time or location of the AGM, shareholders will be notified and provided with additional details in a press release, at our website page for the AGM at https://trilogymetals.com/investors/proxy-circular and pursuant to filings we make with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the AGM.

About Trilogy Metals

Trilogy Metals Inc. is a metals exploration and development company which holds a 50 percent interest in Ambler Metals LLC ("Ambler Metals") which has a 100 percent interest in the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects ("UKMP") in northwestern Alaska. On December 19, 2019, South32 Limited, which is a globally diversified mining and metals company, exercised its option to form a 50/50 joint venture with Trilogy to form Ambler Metals. The UKMP is located within the Ambler Mining District which is one of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant districts located in one of the safest geopolitical jurisdictions in the world. It hosts world-class polymetallic volcanogenic massive Sulphide ("VMS") deposits that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to host high-grade copper and cobalt mineralization. Exploration efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler mining district - the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within land package that spans approximately 172,636 hectares. The Company has an agreement with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., a Regional Alaska Native Corporation that provides a framework for the exploration and potential development of the Ambler mining district in cooperation with local communities. Our vision is to develop the Ambler mining district into a premier North American copper producer.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, perceived merit of properties and the date and time of the AGM are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the uncertainties involving our assumptions with respect to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2020 filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and in other Company reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. The Company's forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

SOURCE Trilogy Metals Inc.

Related Links

www.trilogymetals.com


Former President Donald Trump is facing potential 'criminal exposure' in Georgia and two grand juries could be getting close to issuing subpoenas for information, in the latest chapter in Trump's legal woes.

Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis is probing Trump's alleged interference in the state's election, where state officials certified Joe Biden's win.

The DailyBeast reported two separate grand juries are investigating there, and that the secret proceedings would soon issue subpoenas.

Two grand juries in Fulton County, Georgia are reportedly investigating Trump, and could issue subpoenas soon

'I suspect that's in the very near future,' Willis said.

On Monday night, former acting U.S. solicitor general told MSNBC said Trump is 'certainly is looking at criminal exposure.'

'Donald Trump is the only president to have more open grand juries than election wins,' he quipped.

Katyal called the grand juries 'a very serious prosecutorial step.' And the next step may be even more significant.

'It looks like, according to the news reports, that they're on the verge of using their inquisitive powers to subpoena  that is, get documents  from the president,' he explained.

'Donald Trump is the only president to have more open grand juries than election wins,' said former acting solicitor general Neal Katyal

Fulton County DA Fani Willis is heading the investigation

Donald Trump was set to make a toast at a wedding being held at his country club but ended up talking about losing the 2020 election and the border crisis

It was not immediately clear why there were two grand juries investigating. 'But if you're Donald Trump right now, it's not looking good,' he said.

MSNBC host Ari Melber, who interviewed Katyal, noted that election company Dominion could still file suit against Trump. The firm has already sued Fox News and other outlets who aired comments by Trump supporters who raised conspiracy theories about election fraud involving their product without providing evidence.

Trump repeated his claims of election fraud in a bizarre wedding toast for a couple at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend. '

'They said get 66 million votes, sir, and the election is over. I got 75 million votes, and you saw what happened,' Trump told the crowd while celebrating the couple from a microphone.

'At 10.30pm in the evening, all of a sudden, they said that's a strange thing, why are they closing up certain places. There's a lot of things happening right now,' he said.

Some of Trump's interactions with state election officials and investigators during his election overturn effort have leaked since the November elections.

In one, he famously told secretary of state Brad Raffensperger: 'I just want to find 11,780 votes.' If Trump were ever charged, his lawyers would likely argue that he believed there had been fraud and he wanted officials to find it.

Democrats brought up the call in their impeachment effort for 'incitement of insurrection' following the Jan. 6th riot that resulted in Trump's acquittal in the Senate.

Trump also faces legal jeopardy in New York, where prosecutors in Manhattan have obtained his tax return information and have conducted multiple interviews with former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.


BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Switzerland stock market closed on a positive note on Tuesday, in line with the trend seen across Europe, as optimism about economic recovery outweighed concerns about virus spread and slowdown in vaccine rollouts.



The benchmark SMI, which stayed in positive territory save for a very brief while around mid afternoon, ended the session with a gain of 31.82 points or 0.29% at 11,121.42. The index touched a low of 11,079.88 and a high of 11,138.11 in the session.



Swatch Group shares gained nearly 2.5%. Alcon moved up 2.4%. LafargeHolcim and Partners Group both ended higher by about 1.7%, while Zurich Insurance Group, UBS Group, Sika, Swiss Life Holding, Geberit and Nestle gained 0.7 to 1.2%.



Credit Suisse, which plunged 14% on Monday after a profit warning, slid more than 3% today. Lonza Group ended 2.85% down, while Novartis and Roche Holding ended lower by 0.6% and 0.2%, respectively.



Among the stocks in the Swiss Mid Price Index, Dufry and Straumann Holding gained about 3.5% and 3.2%, respectively. Flughafen Zurich, Adecco, Georg Fischer, Clariant, OC Oerlikon Corp and Kuehne & Nagel gained 1.5 to 2.6%.



Lindt & Spruengli, Sonova and AMS ended lower by 0.9 to 1.1%.



In economic news, a measure signaling future turning points in the Swiss economy climbed to its highest in over a decade in March, suggesting a faster pace of economic recovery in the coming months.



The economic barometer rose to 117.8 from a revised 102.6 in February, the KOF Economic Institute said Tuesday. Economists had expected the index to climb to 104.6.



The latest score was markedly above its long-term average of 100.



The latest improvement in the index was largely due to the indicators from the manufacturing industry. The other groups of indicators, both for domestic and foreign demand, all signal a positive development, albeit significantly weaker, the think tank said.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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[March 30, 2021] Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company Signs Agreement to Sublicense Flamengo Esports to Free Fire Team for $100,000

Boca Raton, Florida, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company ( OTCQB:WINR ) (Simplicity Esports), announced that it has signed a two year agreement to sublicense the Flamengo Esports brand to a team competing in the popular mobile game Free Fire. The licensing agreement includes a minimum fixed fee of $100,000, as well as 20% of all sponsorship and advertising revenue received by the team.

Roman Franklin, CEO of Simplicity Esports, stated, I am happy to take another step forward in monetizing our Flamengo Esports brand. Flamengo Esports is one of the most visible esports brands in the world with an incredibly engaged fanbase. Broadening our fanbase to additional games and platforms increases the number of potential buyers for products and merchandise, such as previously announced NFTs. We look forward to continuing the growth of Flamengo Esports with additional sublicensing and sponsorship deals throughout 2021. About Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company: Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company (WINR) is an established brand within the esports industry, competing and streaming in popular games across different genres, includin Apex Legends, PUBG Mobile, Overwatch, League of Legends, and various EA Sports titles. Simplicity Esports is also in the process of designing, minting, and selling non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for the esports and gaming industries. Simplicity Esports also owns and operates 13 and is the franchisor for more than 20 Esports Gaming Centers providing the public an opportunity to experience gaming and esports in a social setting, regardless of skill or experience. Simplicity Esports also organizes and hosts various in-person events and play from home, online tournaments. Simplicity Esports also owns a Riot Games League of Legends franchise and top Brazilian esports organization, Flamengo Esports.



Apex Legends, PUBG Mobile, Overwatch, League of Legends, Fortnite, EA Sports and Free Fire are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond Simplicity Esports control, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of Simplicity Esports Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on August 31, 2020 and our subsequent SEC filings, as amended or updated from time to time. Copies of Simplicity Esports filings with the SEC are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Simplicity Esports undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Simplicity Esports Contact:



Roman Franklin

Chief Executive Officer

Roman@SimplicityEsports.com

561-819-8586



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Chinese lawmakers deliberate draft amendments to HKSAR Basic Law annexes

Xinhua) 10:40, March 30, 2021

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the first plenary meeting of the 27th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese national lawmakers on Monday deliberated draft amendments to Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The two annexes concern the method for the selection of the HKSAR Chief Executive and the method for the formation of the HKSAR Legislative Council and its voting procedures, respectively.

The draft amendments were submitted to a session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), which opened on Monday, for deliberation.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the first plenary meeting of the session on Monday afternoon. It was attended by 167 members of the NPC Standing Committee.

The draft amendments were put forward by the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee, following a decision made by the NPC earlier this month on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR.

Shen Chunyao, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, explained the drafts to the lawmakers at the session.

The session also deliberated other personnel matters.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
The slain Colorado police officer credited with preventing more people from being killed in the Boulder grocery store massacre is being honored at a memorial service today before being laid to rest.

More than 500 law enforcement vehicles took part in a procession that escorted the hearse carrying Officer Eric Talley's body to the service at Flatirons Community Church in the city of Lafayette.

A line of officers waited for Talley's casket to arrive before his family followed it inside the church escorted by police.

The large church is about 10 miles east of Boulder where the 51-year-old officer and nine other people were killed after a gunman opened fire at at the King Soopers store on March 22.

The service is open to the public, but attendance in the church's auditorium, which normally holds up to 4,200 people, is restricted because of COVID-19.

More than 500 law enforcement vehicles took part in a procession that escorted the hearse carrying Officer Eric Talley's body to the service at Flatirons Community Church in the city of Lafayette

A line of officers waited for Talley's casket to arrive before his family followed it inside the church escorted by police

A hearse carrying the flag-draped casket of fallen Boulder Police Department officer Eric Talley arrives at a memorial service

It comes one day after Talley's funeral mass was held in Denver.

Talleywas among the 10 people shot dead when gunman Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, opened fire at the King Soopers store in Boulder on March 22.

According to police, officers arrived at the store one minute and 40 seconds after being alerted to the shooting.

The 51-year-old father-of-seven was among the 10 people shot dead when gunman Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, opened fire at the King Soopers store in Boulder on March 22

They said Talley led an initial team of officers inside within 30 seconds of arriving and the suspect shot at the officers, killing Talley.

Nine other people, including customers and workers, were also killed.

Alissa, who was wounded in the leg during an exchange of shots with police, has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder for firing at another officer.

During Talley's funeral service, Denver's archbishop Samuel Aquila said the officer had sacrificed his life and showed what is best about police.

'Jesus has told us, greater love than this no man has than to lay down his life and Eric lived that,' he said.

Aquila offered his prayers and condolences for Talley's family, which include his wife and seven children.

He also said he would pray for the protection of police, who are too often 'taken for granted.'

'For too often, you are are taken for granted and yet in situations like this, you are the ones who protect human life,' Aquila said.

The procession of dozens police cars and other emergency service vehicles started in Thornton before making the 25 mile journey to Boulder

Motorcycle officers from various departments lead the procession for the hearse carrying the body of fallen Boulder

Horse mounted law enforcement watches as a procession of police vehicles approaching the memorial service for slain Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley

A man reacts while watching a procession of police vehicles approaching the memorial service for slain Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley on Tuesday
More than three years after Russell Teal was found dead on a street in the Treme neighborhood, New Orleans police detectives are still trying to identify the person who killed him.

Police released photos of a suspect and a person of interest who had been seen walking with Teal, 44, in the 1400 block of Governor Nicholls Street about 3 a.m. on Feb. 5, 2018, when he was hit on the head and left unconscious.

+2 Alabama man killed in Treme was 'an all-around good guy,' sister says The sister of a 44-year-old man from Alabama killed by a blow to the head from an unknown assailant last week described him as "an all-around 

Teal lay there, facedown, for several hours until officers were called to the scene about 11 a.m. By then, Teal had died of his injuries. An autopsy later determined he died of blunt force trauma.

Through surveillance video, New Orleans investigators obtained photos of two men who had been with Teal. One of them, wearing a black and white sweater, is accused of striking Teal, according to authorities.

The other man in photos released by the Police Department is considered a person of interest who has knowledge about the case. Authorities aren't sure how Teal knew the men.

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

On a Facebook page titled "Justice For Russ," relatives said they've received tips that the man in the black and white sweater may be known by the nickname "Midnight."

Teal, an Alabama native, moved to New Orleans about a year before his death because he had fallen in love with the city, relatives have said.

"SOMEONE KNOWS THESE MEN," Teal's relatives wrote on the Facebook page about the suspect and person of interest. "Please share to help Russ get the justice he deserves."

Anyone with information about the death of Russell Teal or the identities of the two men in the photos released by NOPD is asked to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. Callers do not have to give their names or testify and can earn a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an indictment.
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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
While the administration at Penn State embraces the spirit of a new report detailing the challenges the authors say are faced by Black professors, the university argues that progress is being made.

Part Two of the More Rivers to Cross report was released Thursday with the authors finding that Black professors are underrepresented in the university system as hiring and retention remain flat over 15 years, and eight out of 10 Black faculty members reported experiencing racism from students, administrators or colleagues.

Obviously, it is with considerable distress and disappointment that we read about the racist experiences described by faculty who completed the More Rivers to Cross survey, university officials said in the statement released Sunday evening. No one in our community should have to endure such treatment.

While university officials say such discrimination and biases have no place at Penn State, they do take issue with some facets of the More Rivers to Cross report.

We embrace the spirit, but not the pessimism, of this report produced by an independent group of faculty members and we share the commitment of its authors that more must be accomplished., officials said.

However, the authors took issue with their report being seemingly dismissed as pessimistic and released a statement Monday saying, One cannot be optimistic about racism, especially when it is ones lived experience.

But university officials say that while more must be accomplished it is important to recognize the tangible progress being made.

The university points to significant increases in the diversity of the student body and the leadership of the university. Students from underrepresented groups represent 13.6% of the student population, an increase of 2.2% between 2019 and 2020, the university states.

Penn State officials also said since the formation of the Presidential Commission on Racism, Bias, and Community Safety last year, university-wide initiatives are underway to combat racism and hate and to increase diversity, equity and inclusion. Key recommendations include:

Completion of a full inventory of Penn States investment in diversity, equity and inclusion programs and staff in order to find gaps and to create more effective programs.

Diversity, equity and inclusion reporting goes directly to the university president with a focus on accountability.

The development of mandatory, anti-bias training is in the works.

Consideration of the best approach to incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion into requirements for a Penn State degree for all students.

Creation of a scholarship center dedicated to anti-racist, anti-bias teaching methods and scholarly research.

Advancement of recruiting, mentoring and retention through researched best practices and investment from the administration.

The university also points to several new programs that include:

One of the More Rivers to Cross reports main findings was the lack of recruitment and retention of Black faculty members. The university noted in its response that Penn State President Eric Barron addressed this to the University Faculty Senate, saying every faculty member plays a vital part of the universitys efforts to increase the hiring of Black faculty, as hiring decisions are largely in the hands of the faculty itself.

University officials do admit progress must be improved and sustained, and the university acknowledged it is troubling that the number of Black faculty members has remained stagnant for the last 15 years.

We will not rest until every student, staff and faculty member feels represented, welcomed and supported. The president, provost, deans, chancellors and administrators across the institution are fully committed to this goal, university officials pledged in their statement.

The university also said efforts are underway that address some of the specific concerns in the report, from a comprehensive study on salary equity to modifying the use of student evaluations, which the report noted are unfair to faculty members of color.

But the authors of More Rivers to Cross said in their statement Monday that the university response seemingly dismisses the perspectives and experiences of Black faculty members. They wrote that our report presents a truth that the administration would do well to consider with serious reflection rather than a perfunctory response and a laundry list of actions that echo the universitys historical and perpetual responses to institutionalized racism.

The authors say the universitys response seems to be more aimed at maintaining the credibility of a process and of a commission that has not yet produced results and does not address the authors recommendations for changes. Those recommendations included:
Shanghai No 1 in 2020 foreign trade volume

From:ChinaDaily | 2021-03-30 11:10

China's financial hub Shanghai has taken the top spot in total foreign trade volume last year, followed by Shenzhen and Beijing, according to a report released by Chinese financial news outlet Yicai.

China's foreign trade grew by 1.9 percent year-on-year to 32.16 trillion yuan ($5 trillion) in 2020, hitting a record high, according to the General Administration of Customs. Its exports rose 4 percent year-on-year to 17.93 trillion yuan and imports went down 0.7 percent to 14.22 trillion yuan.

Last year, the foreign trade volume of a total of 16 Chinese cities surpassed 500 billion yuan, with 9 cities topping 700 billion yuan and five exceeding 1 trillion yuan, Yicai said.

Shanghai's foreign trade increased 2.3 percent year-on-year last year, with the volume of imports and exports totaling 3.48 trillion yuan. The city's imports rose 3.8 percent to 2.11 trillion yuan, while exports were flat at 1.37 trillion yuan.

Shenzhen's foreign trade grew by 2.4 percent year-on-year to 3.05 trillion yuan last year, surpassing the 3 trillion yuan mark for the first time. Exports rose by 1.5 percent to 1.7 trillion yuan and imports grew by 3.6 percent to 1.35 trillion yuan.

The total foreign trade volume for Beijing and Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, surpassed the 2 trillion yuan mark for both cities, at 2.32 trillion yuan and 2.22 trillion yuan respectively.

In terms of the growth rate in foreign trade, Chengdu, capital of China's Sichuan province, took the lead in the top 10 cities. Last year, the city saw a foreign trade volume worth 715.42 billion yuan, registering a 22.4-percent growth year-on-year. Of the total volume, exports reached 410.68 billion yuan, up 23.7 percent, and imports hit around 304.74 billion yuan, up 20.7 percent.

The robust growth in exports was related to products and industrial structure, He Fengkai, deputy director of the economic operation bureau of the Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, told Yicai. Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, electronic products experienced rising demand as working from home became a trend.

In terms of geographical distribution, except for Chengdu, the other cities ranked in the top 10 all come from eastern coastal areas, with three in the Yangtze River Delta, three in the Pearl River Delta, and two from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

The foreign trade dependence rate - a ratio of foreign trade volume to the city's gross domestic output - is a significant indicator reflecting how closely a regional economy is connected with the global economy.

Last year, five cities among the top 20 -- Dongguan, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Xiamen and Jinhua -- all saw their figures exceed 100 percent. Dongguan, a city dubbed the "world's factory" in South China's Guangdong province, took the top spot in the country with a foreign trade dependence rate of 137.9 percent.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) requested the DOJ and DHS clarification if Biden has things under control. Portland has had sporadic violence caused by the Left, which is getting serious. Many 'woke' Democrat cities like Portland have been ravaged by violence since last year.

Jim Jordan asks what is happening

The Ohio Republican is concerned that agencies like the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security are not doing their jobs. That is to safeguard all federal properties and personnel employed. According to him, President Biden is probably not in control of everything, reported the Epoch Times.

Last year when violence was at its worst and the mayor allowed the National Guard. Mayor Wheeler was personally threatened by the Left and was trapped in his apartment. Hostilities caused damage to Portland and ran amuck until the National Guard stepped in.

The Left protestors made George Floyd, their poster boy as the reason to cause chaos. Portland City in Oregon had rioters and looters running wild committing crimes punishable by law. They attacked the police, and even Trump supporters were assaulted.

In one incident, they weren't satisfied and attacked federal buildings. These federal properties, like a courthouse, were severely damaged by them.

Jim Jordan sent different letters to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas last Monday. He is requesting information on the agencies' attempts to protect federal employees and property in Portland.

Joe Biden's Vaccine Plan Not His, Says Warp Speed Official

Given that the number of incidents has dropped, some incidents of violence at various locations do happen. This includes the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse where skirmishes occurred.

Not satisfied with the damaged Leftists caused before, they were trying to force access to the courthouse and even attempted to burn the entrance.

Protestors were met by police in parts of the town, pushing back the Leftists. Police defended the city and arrested the rioters.

The letters wanted information from the department leaders' intentions on the issue. They wanted to know if they will do something to prevent potential harm and destruction to federal property. Another is prosecuting those considered criminal activities that should be charged.

Buildings also damaged by leftist violence include Edith Green-Wendall Wyatt Federal Building, the Gus J. Solomon U.S. Courthouse. The Leftist protesters also attacked the Pioneer Courthouse and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.

Biden's administration does have a responsibility to make sure that federal law is followed. To make particular federal property and employees are protected and kept safe in Seattle from violent leftists.

Last year, the Trump administration dispatched federal forces to Portland. It was an effort to shield federal buildings and monuments from the growing violence. The Democrat-run city had seen about 100 nights of violence in a stretch.

He wrote that cutting the police budget by $16 million was a mistake. It was mentioned in the letter of Jim Jordan scathing the DOJ and DHS. Rep. Jim Jordan said Garland and Mayorkas have until 5 p.m. on April 12 to give the information.

Also from HNGN

Trump Doubts Biden Saying He Must Be Dishonest, or Forgot Vaccines Were Ready Before December

Who Could be the 'Big Guy' Hunter Biden Refers to in His Emails? Jim Jordan Slams Bidens Alibis

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The man at the centre of a hedge fund meltdown has broken his silence after suffering 'one of the single greatest losses of personal wealth in history'.

Bill Hwang, a multi-billionaire financier who invested his wealth through his firm Archegos Capital Management, went to ground after his fund hit the rocks last week.

But in the first disclosure the firm has made since causing a 20billion sell-off, a spokesman for Archegos said Hwang, pictured, was having a 'challenging time' and was still trying to 'determine the best path forward'.

Fund crisis: Bill Hwang, a multi-billionaire financier who invested his wealth through his firm Archegos Capital Management, went to ground after his fund hit the rocks last week

The comments came as experts tried to get a grip on the losses which Hwang has suffered.

Mike Novogratz, a former Goldman Sachs partner who has been investing for almost three decades, said: 'When the facts come out, my sense is the Bill Hwang blow-up will be the most spectacular personal loss of wealth in history.'

Bankers and analysts have estimated that the personal fortune of Hwang, a former hedge fund manager known as a 'Tiger cub' because he earned his credentials at the renowned Julian Robertson's Tiger Management, could have topped 7billion before last week's meltdown.

But because he borrowed so much to increase the size of his trades, the sell-off he caused was much bigger.

Rival banks caught out by Goldman Goldman Sachs has riled rival banks after leading the Archegos sell-off, which left the likes of Credit Suisse and Nomura suffering heavy losses. The prime broker arm of Goldman lent heavily to Archegos. So had Credit Suisse, Nomura, UBS, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo. When it became clear some Archegos bets were turning sour, the banks realised they would need to sell some of the shares they held for Archegos to recoup money owed. They held talks that extended late into Thursday on how to do it in an orderly way. Sources said they were close to reaching an agreement. But on Friday, when markets opened, Goldman sold huge blocks of Hwangs shares, and prices fell. The rest rushed to follow suit. Nomura has said the incident could wipe out its profits from the last six months, and Credit Suisse estimated the hit would be between 2billion and 3billion. A source close to one of the banks said: There was certainly a bit of that Im alright, Jack mentality from Goldman.

Archegos said: 'This is a challenging time for the family office of Archegos Capital Management, our partners and employees. All plans are being discussed as Mr Hwang and the team determine the best path forward.'

So-called family offices like Archegos, which manage the money of one very wealthy family, are exempt from making many of the disclosures which normal hedge funds and investment firms are held to.

This means the actual size of Hwang's fortune, and how much has been eroded from it, are unclear.

Archegos fell into trouble last week, after a few stocks it placed big bets on  including US media titans Viacom, CBS and Discovery  fell in value.

Shareholders were worried that the companies were losing ground to newer rivals such as Netflix and Disney Plus.

But the situation spiralled out of control for Archegos. It had borrowed large amounts of money from the prime brokerage arms of banks to increase its stake in firms such as Viacom.

This allowed it to buy a larger exposure than it would otherwise be able to afford.

But when those prime brokers saw Viacom shares falling, they issued a margin call  essentially asking Hwang to give them more money as security, to protect them from any losses.

Hwang didn't have the cash to hand, meaning he defaulted on his loans with the prime brokers. This gave them the right to sell the shares they held on his behalf, to recoup the money he owed them.

It prompted a sell-off of around 20billion, as prime brokers including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and UBS rapidly offloaded Hwang's stock, causing their price to plummet further as the market was flooded.

Credit Suisse and Japanese bank Nomura, which were slower to sell, have suffered massive losses. Analysts at JP Morgan estimate losses across all banks from the crisis could hit 7bn.

Now, regulators around the world are quizzing the prime brokers involved, to see if any acted inappropriately.

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority and the US Securities and Exchange Commission have requested information from the banks.

Although the debacle might be the most financially painful for Hwang, it isn't the first scandal he has been involved in.

In 2012, he admitted in a US lawsuit to insider trading and manipulating Chinese bank stocks. He stumped up 32million in fines and agreed to be barred from the industry.

For years after, he was blacklisted by banks including Goldman Sachs which refused to work with him.

Goldman eventually relented, enticed by the lucrative business which Hwang represented.
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(TNS)  Steve Ferro may be a New Jersey educator with nearly three decades under his belt, but deep down hes still a kid at heart.It was in that spirit that preparing his school science lab for the resumption of full in-person classes turned into a fun  and COVID-friendly - group activity.I couldnt find any shields specifically-built for the tall tables in our schools lab. I Googled, went to hardware stores and nothing. So I did it myself, said Ferro, who teaches science and woodworking at Highland School in Midland Park.Ferro, a member of the schools coronavirus reopening committee, said students were taught fully remote to start with in September. Lower case counts and wider availability of vaccines prompted school leaders to kick off a mix of in-person and remote learning for the start of 2021.The school soon announced that full in-person instruction would resume at the start of March.Face masks would be required for faculty and the roughly 250 students returning  with another 50 or so opting to be taught at home. For those coming in, floor demarcations would ensure everyone traveled down hallways in a single direction. And signs would be posted to remind students and staff to wash their hands and socially distance.But that didnt solve Ferros lab desk dilemma.While regular (but much-shorter) desks could have been swapped into the science lab and then retrofitted with plexiglass shields, the 51-year-old teacher thought up his own design instead. The much more economical alternative that would preserve the feel of a true lab required white thermoplastic pipe, clear shower curtains, PVC glue and duct tape.Im a very hands-on learner myself and when I spoke to [Principal Peter] Galasso about getting the kids to help, he nodded and agreed right away, Ferro said. It was awesome to see the kids work together to make this happen.Before the full reopening, one student would be in class, while the students lab partner followed along at home on Google Classroom in order to guarantee six feet of distance. The eight custom shields make it possible for students to safely work with their partners, side-by-side.Its nice to be working with our hands again and Ive always liked to build things, said Ella Kosak, 11, who said she one day wants to become a veterinarian in honor of her late dog, Stanley.Fellow 6th grader Jacob Junta, 11, says he wants to be sworn into the Midland Park Police Department like his dad when he grows up. But in the meantime, hell take any chance he can get to show his woodworking skills.Its much better than sitting at home and being on a screen, said Junta. Were having actual conversations with real people and writing on paper instead of typing on a computer.Ferro shared that the class recently also built mantel clocks and will soon complete a functioning gum ball machine.Its always great to see teachers come up with these kinds of solutions to problems, said Galasso, who has been the principal at Highland School for seven years. Weve always encouraged creating learning opportunities, while of course being safe. Its a credit to teachers like Mr. Ferro.Ferro says that the desk shields have worked like a charm so far. The class has learned about mass, physics and weather  once making it rain inside of a bottle.He also knows also knows firsthand about the desk shields real-world implications, too.Ferros daughter, Lizzy Ferro, 17, a junior at Ramapo High School, tested positive for COVID-19 at the start of the month.While she didnt have serious symptoms, everyone at home self-quarantined for two weeks. That included Ferro, his daughter, and his wife, Melissa, who teaches at Ramapo High School.It was important to do but it was tough for me to see the kids at their tables with the desk shields up through the computer screen, said Ferro. So, I was happy to be able to return last week after the quarantine. Im truly lucky to be able to do what I do.
The taskforce seeks to increase dwindling customs revenue and curb threats to the economy and public health.

The special Customs taskforce, "Operation Halcomi," set up on August 9, 2016 and launched on August 16, 2016, has carried out two fruitful operations. Following raids in the Littoral, South West and North West Regions (Zone I), several goods, including six containers, were impounded. Communication Officer, Jean-Claude Ekoube, disclosed this at a news briefing in Douala on September 30, 2016.

In the night of September 28, 2016, several products were seized in the Youpwe neighbourhood of Douala. They included wines and other drinks that were illicitly being transported in containers initially said to be containing tiles and other products. In addition to previous onshore and offshore operations, the following were seized: vehicles, over 1,000 bottles of beer, 6,500 to 500,000 telephones and accessories, 34,500 litres of fuel and over 1,000 bottles of alcohol. Others were 1,200 plasma screens and DVD players, 1,000 milk products, vegetable oils, 45 sacks of plastic, cosmetic products, several tonnes of cement, cigarettes and tobacco, 100 ICT equipment and office material. The contraband products were from Nigeria, Dubai, USA and Europe.

Furthermore, 4,500 sacks of rice and were also impounded as they were to be exported from Cameroon to Nigeria. Seizure of the latter follows the 2015 Prime Minister's instruction restricting exports of rice from Cameroon and the importation of cement as a measure to ensure that supplies meet local demand, as well as protect local industries. While presenting the results of the first and second phases of "Operation Halcomi," Jean-Claude Ekoube noted that illicit trade has curtailed customs revenue in recent years, threatened the national economy, affected local companies and posed threats to health.

"Maggi" from Nigeria, for example, has been proved to have high salinity than locally-made one, even though its consumption is being discouraged medically. Illicit circulation of products from Nestle, Guinness, Societe Brassicole, Sosucam, and Cimencam, has so far been arrested by the operation. According to Customs regulations, the products will be auctioned after 90 days, while some will be re-assessed. "Hence, canoes, boats, ships or vehicles found transporting contraband products will also be impounded," Jean-Claude Ekoube warned. The taskforce is made up of 135 Customs and over 10 marine men who work in close collaboration with local companies to strengthen the fight against fraud and contraband.
The P4 laboratory (L) on the campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on May 27, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

WHO Adviser Calls for Full and Credible Investigation Into CCP Virus Origins

A World Health Organization (WHO) adviser said there needs to be a full and credible investigation on the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus that causes COVID-19 and whether it originated from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, in late 2019.

Atlantic Council senior fellow Jamie Metzl, who is also a WHO adviser, said the CCP appears to be pushing a narrative that the virus started as a zoonotic virus that spread to humans rather than a leak from a top-security virology lab in Wuhan.

A leaked draft of the report from the Chinese regime and WHO said it is extremely unlikely the virus escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, as reported by The Associated Press. The conclusions were panned by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, accusing the CCP of further trying to engage in a coverup.

People feel this must be a World Health Organization investigation. Its not. Its not an investigation and the World Health Organization isnt doing it, Metzl said in elaborating on the report. Its an independent committee with their Chinese government counterparts. So anything that they come out with is going to be a compromise, a consensus between this committee and the Chinese government.

Metzl said that its possible that COVID-19 began through a zoonotic jump through animal hosts, as the draft report suggests, but it also could very well be possible that it comes from an accidental lab leak.

Theres a lot of evidence that suggests  that that is a very, very real possibility, he told Fox News, that the virus comes from horseshoe bats that are more than a thousand miles away from Wuhan, but what Wuhan has is Chinas only level four virology institute, the worlds largest collection of bat coronaviruses, that was doing dangerous gain-of-function research with a spotty security record and we have this massive Chinese cover-up that came afterwards.

A health worker waits for members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the COVID-19 on a balcony at Wuhan Hilton Optics Valley hotel in Wuhan, Chinas central Hubei Province on Feb. 6, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Metzl then called for a full, credible investigation that looks into all the theories about the origin of the virus.

The AP reported that the WHO-China studys findings offer little new insight into how the virus began to spread around the globe and many questions remain unanswered, though that was as expected, and it was inconclusive on whether the outbreak started at a Wuhan seafood market. The report is based largely on a visit by a WHO team in Wuhan in January and February, which critics said was overseen and guided by CCP officials.

According to a report from The Associated Press several months ago, the CCP has controlled scientific research connected to the virus outbreak and barred researchers from talking to news outlets. And, the agency noted, state-run media outlets essentially ran disinformation campaigns about the origins of the virus.

The clampdown comes from the top, the AP article said at the time, referring to bosses in the ruling communist party.

Theres so much speculation around the origins of this virus, Jonna Mazet, a founding executive director of the UC Davis One Health Institute, said of the lack of cooperation on behalf of the CCP, noting that American scientists were not able to conduct investigations inside China. We need to step backand let scientists get the real answer without the finger-pointing.

Lending credibility to the lab theory, former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) head Dr. Robert Redfield recently said he believes the virus escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology earlier than the official timeline in September or October of 2019.

Its not unusual for respiratory pathogens that are being worked on in a laboratory to infect a laboratory worker, Redfield said in an interview with CNN last week, noting that he has been a virologist for decades and that its just his opinion.

Normally, when a pathogen goes from a zoonot to human, he added, it takes a while for it to figure out how to become more and more efficient in human-to-human transmission.

Im of the point of view that I still think the most likely etiology of this pathology in Wuhan was from a laboratoryyou know, escaped, Redfield elaborated. Other people dont believe that. Thats fine. Science will eventually figure it out.


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President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Sunday directed the immediate launch of the one-million-feddan New Delta project.

Sisi issued directives to the bodies concerned to merge the implementation phases into one stage and intensify the timetable, to promote the state's strategy in the field of establishing new agricultural and urban communities characterized by modern administrative systems, including industrial complexes based on agricultural production, and providing thousands of new job opportunities, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

The president met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Al-Sayed el-Quseir, Adviser to the President for Urban Planning Amir Sayed Ahmed, General Director of the National Service Projects Authority Mostafa Amin, and Head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority Staff Major General Ehab El-Far.

Sisi was briefed on studies conducted by the research teams of the bodies concerned on the areas of the northwestern coast at the Dabaa axis, which proved the readiness of these lands for agricultural reclamation.

The meeting also reviewed the project's infrastructure and equipment plans, including roads, services, drainage stations, electricity supply, and paths to transport irrigation water.
The giant container ship Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal on March 23, 2021. The image on the left, captured on March 21, shows routine maritime traffic in the canal with vessels visible every 2 to 3 km. The image on the right, captured on 25 March, shows the 400 m-ship blocking the canal. Ships can be seen accumulating in the Gulf of Suez. The canal connects Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Egyptian city of Suez on the Red Sea.

press release

Papendrecht  Grounded container vessel Ever Given successfully refloated in the Suez Canal by expert salvage team of Boskalis subsidiary SMIT Salvage

Boskalis announces the successful salvage operation of the grounded 20,000 TEU container vessel Ever Given in the Suez Canal. With a length of 400 meters and a width of nearly 60 meters this giant ship had been wedged in this vital shipping route since 23 March 2021 blocking all shipping traffic ever since.

Peter Berdowski, CEO Boskalis: Shortly following the grounding of the Ever Given we were requested through SMIT Salvage to provide assistance with the salvage operation. I am excited to announce that our team of experts, working in close collaboration with the Suez Canal Authority, successfully refloated the Ever Given on 29 March at 15:05 hrs local time, thereby making free passage through the Suez Canal possible again. Im extremely proud of the outstanding job done by the team on site as well as the many SMIT Salvage and Boskalis colleagues back home to complete this challenging operation under the watchful eye of the world. The time pressure to complete this operation was evident and unprecedented and the result is a true display of our unique capabilities as a dredging and marine services provider.

For the refloating of the 224,000-ton container vessel approximately 30,000 cubic meters of sand was dredged to help free the vessel and a total of eleven harbor tugs and two powerful seagoing tugs (Alp Guard and Carlo Magna) were deployed. The vessel is towed to a location outside the channel for further inspection.

NOTE

Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. is a leading global services provider operating in the dredging, maritime infrastructure and maritime services sectors. The company provides creative and innovative all-round solutions to infrastructural challenges in the maritime, coastal and delta regions of the world. With core activities such as coastal defense, riverbank protection and land reclamation Boskalis is able to provide adaptive and mitigating solutions to combat the effects of climate change, such as extreme weather conditions and rising sea levels, as well as delivering solutions for the increasing need for space in coastal and delta regions across the world. The company facilitates the development of offshore energy infrastructure, including renewable wind energy. Boskalis is furthermore active in the construction and maintenance of ports, waterways, access channels and civil infrastructure, thus helping to facilitate trade flows and regional socio-economic development. In addition, Boskalis is a global marine salvage expert and has a number of strategic partnerships in harbor towage and terminal services (Keppel Smit Towage and Smit Lamnalco). With a versatile fleet of more than 700 vessels and floating equipment and 9,600 employees, including associates, Boskalis is creating new horizons around the world.
Indian Travellers can now experience Switzerland through the eyes of Roger Federer

After years of positively representing Switzerland through his sporting excellence and friendly, down-to-earth manner, Roger Federer has now become an official brand ambassador for the destination of Switzerland. Hes entering into a long-term cooperation with the Swiss national tourism board, Switzerland Tourism (ST). The common goal: attracting guests to visit Switzerland with its energizing nature.

Roger Federer and Switzerland Tourism (ST) will together develop initiatives to promote Switzerland globally. The support is much needed at this time, emerging from the biggest tourism crisis since the Second World War. Nobody is more equipped to do so than this iconic personality wearing the Swiss Flag, officials at ST are convinced. This is a perfect match, because Switzerland and its unblemished nature have clearly contributed to Rogers unprecedented career explains STs CEO, Martin Nydegger. "I have always felt, whenever I step on the court, I am representing Switzerland. Whenever it says my name, there is a Swiss flag next to it. I have been very proud to do that for the first 22 years I have been on tour, and it will always be like that. To join forces with ST now is a logical step for me says Roger Federer in a conversation with Nydegger. Both are excited to start this long-term partnership.

Energized by Swiss nature

Communication activities will begin throughout the month of April with a focus on European cities followed by the USA and Asia Pacific, specifically India. A series of visuals and short clips will showcase Roger Federer being energized by Swiss nature. On MySwitzerland.com, guests will be able to discover Switzerland through Rogers eyes. He presents his preferred places, Swiss highlights as well as hidden gems. I have been all over the world. My favourite place has always remained Switzerland. Its the country I miss the most, when Im travelling confesses Federer

The stage is set

Switzerland Tourism and Roger Federer share countless values. Establishing this partnership is a unique opportunity and of great importance to us. Making a difference while recovering from the challenges of the past months and beyond will be a journey with numerous highlights," emphasizes Nydegger. Roger Federer is highly motivated to support his home country, and he will do it for a charitable cause. The compensation for his appearances as new ambassador for ST goes to the Roger Federer Foundation supporting disadvantaged children in Switzerland. The stage is set  Switzerland Tourism and Roger are ready to officially become partners.
Ten Chinese warplanes entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday, the 17th day of such intrusions in March alone.

Air defence identification zones are early warning systems that help countries detect incursions into their airspace.

Any aircraft entering such an area is supposed to report its route and purpose to the "host" nation, though the zones are classified as airspace and pilots are not legally bound to make such a notification.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft involved in the mission were four J-16 multirole fighters, four J-10 multirole fighters, one Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane and one KJ-500 airborne early warning and control plane, Focus reported citing the Ministry of National Defense (MND).

On Friday, 20 Chinese warplanes entered ADIZ, a day after Taipei and Washington signed an accord to strengthen maritime cooperation.

Taiwanese premier Su Tseng-change had termed the incursion by Chinese warplanes into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADZ) as "unnecessary" and "thoughtless."

has threatened that "Taiwan's independence" means war.

Wu Qian, spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defence, on January 28 "warned" the people wanting " independence" and had said that "those who play with fire will set themselves on fire, and seeking ' independence' means nothing but war".

According to an article by The Global Times, a Chinese state media, Taiwan's "mainland affairs council" has warned that any of the mainland's words and deeds that deliberately provoke Taiwan's bottom line may cause far-reaching effects that the mainland cannot bear.

Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

Taipei, on the other hand, has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing.

(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.)
Republican former President Donald Trump has launched an official website, a platform for his supporters to stay in touch and to showcase his time in office.

The 45office.com website's home page displays multiple pictures of Trump with various figures including his wife Melania, members of the military and world leaders, which were taken at multiple events during his time as president.

"The Office of Donald J. Trump is committed to preserving the magnificent legacy of the Trump Administration, while at the same time advancing the America First agenda," the message on website's home page read.

The "About" section contains a glowing 850-word synopsis of his time in office, highlighting what Trump has often cited as his greatest achievements, including energy and border security, strengthening NATO and other international alliances, and his response to the coronavirus pandemic.

It made no mention of the scandals, corruption investigations, two impeachments or the attacks on democratic institutions that framed his presidency.

It was not immediately clear when the website went live. Trump retains significant influence over the Republican Party despite his loss in the 2020 election and has hinted at a possible presidential run in 2024.

In an interview with Fox News earlier this month, Jason Miller, a spokesman for Trump's 2020 campaign, said Trump will launch his own social media platform in two to three months.

Trump was suspended from Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Also read: COVID-19 vaccine: Canada halts AstraZeneca shot for under 55 over blood clot reports

Also read: Leaders of 23 nations including France, Germany back pandemic treaty to deal with emergencies
At least three wildfires in western South Dakota have prompted the closure of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial and forced the evacuation of about 400 homes, the authorities said on Monday.

One of the fires, just west of Rapid City in Pennington County, was reported Monday morning, officials said. The cause of the fire, which started in the Schroeder Road subdivision, was under investigation, but the authorities said it was caused by humans.

About 250 firefighters were working to contain the blaze, which as of Monday night was estimated to have burned about 1,900 acres. No injuries were reported, but one home and two other structures known as pole barns were destroyed, a fire official said. There were five road closures including two areas of Highway 44 on Tuesday morning and officials were asking people to avoid those areas.

This is a very active and dangerous scene, the Pennington County Sheriffs Office posted to Facebook.
An ex-contestant on The Apprentice can sue Donald Trump for defamation after the former president called her a liar for accusing him of sexual assault, New York state's highest court rules.

The state's Court of Appeals on Tuesday cleared the way for Summer Zervos to file a defamation lawsuit against Trump.

Trump had argued before leaving the White House that Zervos could not pursue her case because a sitting president could not be sued.

In a brief order, the court found 'the issues presented have become moot'.

The order likely means Zervos' case will return to a Manhattan trial court and give her lawyers an opportunity to question Trump under oath.

New York's Court of Appeals on Tuesday cleared the way for Summer Zervos to file a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump

A lawyer for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Zervos' lawyers did not immediately respond to similar requests.

Zervos came forward during the 2016 presidential campaign with accusations that Trump subjected her to unwanted kissing and groping after she sought career advice in 2007.

She alleges the assault occurred two years after her appearance on his reality television show The Apprentice.

She claims Trump forcibly kissed her at a job interview in Manhattan's Trump Tower in early December 2007 and then aggressively groped weeks later at a professional dinner in Los Angeles.

Zervos sued Trump in January 2017 after he branded such allegations by women 'lies' and retweeted a post calling Zervos' claims a 'hoax'.

She has been seeking a retraction or an apology ever since, as well as compensatory damages and punitive damages.

Trump has denied Zervos' claims and called her case politically motivated.

Zervos claims Trump subjected her to unwanted kissing and groping after she sought career advice in 2007 - two years after her appearance (above) on Trump's reality television show The Apprentice

She claims Trump forcibly kissed her at a job interview in Manhattan's Trump Tower in early December 2007 and then aggressively groped weeks later at a professional dinner in Los Angeles

Zervos sued Trump in January 2017 after he branded such allegations by women 'lies' and retweeted a post calling Zervos' claims a 'hoax'

In court filings, Zervos had noted she is a Republican.

She also claimed she came forward with her allegations prior to Trump launching his campaign for presidency.

In court documents related to the case, Zervos says she contacted Fox News about the alleged assault in August 2015 but the outlet ignored her.

Zervos also allegedly contacted multiple lawyers about taking legal action back in 2011, including acclaimed women's rights lawyer Gloria Allred - who represented her at the time she went prior to the election but later withdrew from the case without explanation.

Zervos was one of several women who came forward to accuse Trump of sexual misconduct in the weeks leading up to the 2016 presidential election as he came under fire for bragging about grabbing women's genitals in a now-notorious Access Hollywood clip with Billy Bush.

Former Elle magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll is also suing Trump for defamation after he denied having raped her in the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in the mid-1990s.

Trump has denied claims by several women of improper sexual conduct.
UN to showcase initiatives against climate change

Communities, cities, businesses and governments that are taking the lead in tackling climate change can apply to have their game-changing initiatives recognized by the UN Climate Change secretariat.



The secretariat officially opened the call for applications for its 2014 Lighthouse Activities Monday as part of wider efforts to mobilise action and ambition as national governments work towards a new universal climate agreement in 2015.



"This year, we are looking to do things a little differently," said Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).



"We will still shine a light on small, entrepreneurial solutions that are changing communities, as well as large initiatives that are transforming cities, businesses and governments," she added.



She said the secretariat would also look to highlight initiatives with a bigger impact than ever before.



"Effectively addressing climate change requires action from all levels of society and from every sector, with efforts that are both small and large," Figueres said.



The 2014 Lighthouse Activities will be selected by an 18-member, international advisory panel as part of the secretariat's Momentum for Change initiative. Launched in 2011, Momentum for Change shines a light on the groundswell of activities under way across the globe to address climate change.



This provides a positive context for international climate negotiations, showing that action on climate change is not only possible but that it is already happening - in the hopes of inspiring others to do the same.



Winning activities will be announced in November 2014 and officially recognised and celebrated during a series of special events in December at the UN Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru.



The high visibility of the annual UN climate change negotiations creates a prominent platform on which the Lighthouse Activities are showcased and publicised, resulting in spin-off benefits that help the activities expand even further.



For example, the 2013 Lighthouse Activity winner Bernice Dapaah, whose organization builds bamboo bicycles in Ghana, was recently named a 2014 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Demand for her bamboo bicycles has spiked so dramatically she can barely keep up with orders pouring in from across the globe.



"Seeing these activities scale up and replicate is the really exciting part," said Ms. Figueres.



"It shows that climate action is increasing and picking up momentum as it goes."



Applications for the 2014 Lighthouse Activities are being accepted until May 23, 2014 atwww.momentum4change.org.



Source:IANS
The company is also pursuing emergency use authorization in the Philippines for its flagship drug candidate leronlimab

The Journal of Translational Autoimmunity has published a case study of a critically ill person with COVID-19 on ECMO successfully treated with leronlimab

CytoDyn Inc (OTCQB:CYDY) revealed Monday that the Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration in the Philippines has approved the use of its flagship drug candidate leronlimab to treat a COVID-19 patient under compassionate special permit (CSP).

As a follow-up to the Philippines FDA order number 2016-005, CytoDyn said it is shipping leronlimab to its partner Chiral Pharma Corporation, who is its importer in the Philippines.

In a statement, Chiral Pharma President Francis Gomez said: On behalf of all COVID-19 patients in the Philippines, we are pleased with this progress and we are in ongoing discussions with the Philippines FDA to obtain emergency use authorization (EUA) approval for leronlimab as a treatment in an effort to reduce COVID-19 mortality.

READ: CytoDyn says 20 patients enrolled and dosed so far in Vyrologix trial in coronavirus long-haulers

We will also seek CSP approval for leronlimab for COVID-19 long-hauler patients in the Philippines, he added.

Meanwhile, CytoDyn CEO Nader Pourhassan thanked the team for working "relentlessly to advance" the firm's drug to CSP approval in the Philippines.

Our expanded CytoDyn team is also working with several other countries to provide COVID-19 patients access to leronlimab, added Pourhassan.

Separately, CytoDyn announced on Monday that the Journal of Translational Autoimmunity had published an article titled Case study of a critically ill person with COVID-19 on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) successfully treated with leronlimab.

Pourhassan singled out Sohier Elneil from the University College London for her strong contributions to the positive study. He also thanked Jacob Lalezari from Quest Clinical Research, for his role based on his deep knowledge of leronlimab.

The discharge of this patient from intensive care after prolonged ECMO support following administration of our drug is consistent with data from our recently completed Phase 3 trial where five out of six patients on ECMO recovered and eINDs for critically ill COVID-19 patients, said the company.

CytoDyn said it hoped the study would advance awareness of the benefits of leronlimab in the broader medical community.

The Vancouver, Washington-based biotechnology company's leronlimab works by mitigating what is known as the cytokine storm, a hyperactive immune response that can cause inflammation, fatigue and, in severe cases, organ failure.

Aside from COVID-19, the FDA has granted Fast Track designation to CytoDyn for two potential indications of leronlimab for critical illnesses. The first is a combination therapy with HAART for HIV-infected patients and the second is for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
We live in a war-like society; one that supports, and is in league with, the worlds number one terrorist threat: the United States of America. Corporate media propaganda plays a key role in keeping things that way.

Ten years ago this month, the US, UK and France attacked oil-rich Libya under the fictitious cover of humanitarian intervention. The bombing was justified by Barack Obama, David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy by the supposed imminent massacre of civilians in Benghazi by forces under Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. As we have documented previously, the propaganda claims were fraudulent.

Libya, previously a wealthy state with free health care and education, was essentially destroyed. An estimated 600,000 Libyans were killed. Many more were displaced from their homes. In the barbarous conditions of the failed state, black people have been ethnically cleansed, lynched and auctioned off as slaves, illicit arms transfers and terrorism have become rife, and many Libyans have attempted to flee to better lives across the Mediterranean, thousands of them drowning en route.

As Jeremy Kuzmarov, managing editor of CovertAction Magazine and author of four books on US foreign policy, pointed out recently, the powerful Western perpetrators of this human calamity have never been brought to justice. He added:

In hindsight, it is clear that the U.S. was completing a 40-year regime change operation targeting Colonel Qaddafi for which media disinformation was pivotal. It is important today as such to revisit the 2011 war so that U.S. citizens can learn from the history and not be duped again into supporting an intervention of this kind.

The Stunning Silences Over Syria And Venezuela

But, when it came to Syria several years later, media disinformation was once again pivotal in unleashing Western firepower. As we have described in numerous media alerts, the corporate media declared with instant unanimity and certainty that Syrias President Bashar Assad was responsible for a chemical weapons attack on the Damascus suburb of Douma on 7 April, 2018. One week later, the US, UK and France attacked Syria in response to the unproven allegations. Since then, there has been a mounting deluge of evidence that the UNs Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has perpetrated a massive cover-up to preserve the Western narrative that Assad gassed civilians in Douma.

Earlier this month, five former OPCW officials joined a group of prominent signatories to urge the UN chemical weapons watchdog to address the controversy. Aaron Mate, an independent journalist with The Grayzone website, has been following developments closely since the beginning (see his in-depth article, Did Trump Bomb Syria on False Grounds?).

He noted that:

Leaks from inside the OPCW show that key scientific findings that cast doubt on claims of Syrian government guilt were censored, and that the original investigators were removed from the probe. Since the cover-up became public, the OPCW has shunned accountability and publicly attacked the two whistleblowers who challenged it from inside.

In an interview, Mate pointed out the remarkable silence from the corporate media:

the western media, across the spectrum, has buried this story  which is pretty incredible. You have extraordinary allegations of a cover-up, you have whistleblowers; and not onlydo you have allegations, you have documents  a trove of documents released by WikiLeaks.

We have observed a similar shameful silence in the UK, including BBC News; even after initial interest in the important story had been expressed by Lyse Doucet, the BBCs chief international correspondent.

But Western violence against other nations, and the justifications trotted out to defend our crimes, or simply ignoring them, has become normalised in mainstream journalism.

Consider the case of Venezuela, harbouring one of the largest oil reserves on the planet, and which, as a left-leaning democracy, has long been targeted by the US for regime change. This was seen very clearly when the late Hugo Chavez was the Venezuelan president  temporarily deposed in a failed US-supported coup in 2002, and who was often wrongly described by corporate media as a dictator  and continues today under Chavezs successor, Nicolas Maduro.

As John McEvoy observed in a piece for Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting, a recent UN rebuke of crippling US and European sanctions on Venezuela has been met with stunning silence.

McEvoy wrote:

The report laid bare how a years-long campaign of economic warfare has asphyxiated Venezuelas economy, crushing the governments ability to provide basic services both before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Alena Douhan, the UN special rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, the Venezuelan governments revenue was reported to have shrunk enormously, with the country currently living on 1% of its pre-sanctions income, impeding the ability of Venezuela to respond to the Covid-19 emergency.

Douhan urged US and European governments:

to unfreeze assets of the Venezuela Central Bank to purchase medicine, vaccines, food, medical and other equipment.

The US-led campaign to overthrow the Venezuelan government, Douhan added, violates the principle of sovereign equality of states and constitutes an intervention in domestic affairs of Venezuela that also affects its regional relations.

Almost exactly two years ago, we noted in a media alert that the US-based Center for Economic and Policy Research, a respected thinktank, had published a study showing that US sanctions imposed on Venezuela in August 2017 had since caused around 40,000 deaths. With the exception of a single piece in the Independent, there was zero coverage in the national UK press, and no BBC News coverage at all, as far as we could ascertain.

McEvoy wrote:

By omitting the devastating impact of sanctions, corporate media attribute sole responsibility for economic and humanitarian conditions to the Venezuelan government, thereby using the misery provoked by sanctions to validate the infliction of even more misery.

He continued:

Loath to abandon belief in the fundamentally benign nature of Western foreign policy, corporate scribes have typically presented the devastating effects of sanctions as a mere accusation of Nicolas Maduro.

This is a pattern of deception seen over and over again. For example, in 2002-2003, the mainstream media repeatedly attributed claims that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction to Saddam Hussein. Doing so buried the evidence-backed testimony of senior UN weapons inspectors concluding that Iraq had been fundamentally disarmed of 90-95 per cent of its weapons of mass destruction by December 1998. (Scott Ritter and William Rivers Pitt, War On Iraq, Profile Books, 2002, p.23)

McEvoy noted that the Guardians reporting of Venezuela sticks to the Washington script:

Often, they fail to mention sanctions at all. In June 2019, for instance, the Guardians Tom Phillips reported that more than 4 million Venezuelans have now fled economic and humanitarian chaos, citing would-be coup leader Juan Guaidos claim that the countrys economic collapse was caused by the corruption of this regime, without making any reference to Washingtons campaign of economic warfare. Keeping with tradition, Douhans damning report has been met with stunning silence by establishment media outlets. Neither the Guardian, New York Times, Washington Post nor BBC reported on Douhans findings.

Imagine if Russia had been responsible for imposing sanctions on another country, violating that countrys sovereignty, with tens of thousands dead and many more lives at risk in the months to come. Imagine, moreover, that Russia had been condemned in a hard-hitting UN report for engaging in economic warfare, described as a violation of international law that was causing a serious growth of malnourishment in the past 6 years with more than 2.5 million people being severely food insecure. Imagine that such a report pointed to the devastating effect of unilateral sanctions on the broad scope of human rights, especially the right to food, right to health, right to life, right to education and right to development. The headlines and in-depth coverage in the West would be incessant. The Russian ambassador in London would be given a stern dressing-down by the UK Foreign Secretary. MPs would address Parliament, condemning Putin in the strongest possible terms. There would be global demands for the UN to intervene.

The ideological discipline required to ignore such crimes under Western policy is remarkable, but it is standard in the corporate media system. Propaganda by omission, routinely carried out by BBC News and the rest of the mainstream news media, is a crucial tool enabling Washington and London to pursue their aims; whether that be regime change, exploitation of oil and other natural resources, and geopolitical domination.

Grand Wizards And Client Journalism

Occasionally, the strict enforcement of ideological purity imposed on corporate journalists is laid bare when they step out of line by the merest millimetre. Thus, for example, BBC television presenter Naga Munchetty had to issue an apology on Twitter for liking tweets that mocked Tory government minister Robert Jenrick for appearing on a BBC Breakfast interview with a Union Jack prominently displayed behind him.

She tweeted:

I liked tweets today that were offensive in nature about the use of the British flag as a backdrop in a government interview this morning. I have since removed these likes. This do [sic] not represent the views of me or the BBC. I apologise for any offence taken. Naga

This read like a statement that had been dictated from lofty levels within the BBC hierarchy. When you are a high-profile BBC figure, you are obliged to tweet out an apology for daring to question the trappings of patriotism. But when have BBC journalists ever apologised for catastrophically platforming government propaganda on Iraq, Libya, Syria, the NHS, austerity, militarism, the royal family? The list is endless.

On Twitter, tweets from the broadcaster RT are flagged with the warning, Russia state-affiliated media. Rather than apologise for broadcasting Western propaganda, it is far more likely that a senior client journalist working for the UK state-affiliated media known as BBC News will send out whitewashing tweets to minimise or deflect any challenges to the government. Take BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, a prime example of this key propaganda function. On the National Day of Reflection on 23 March, the anniversary of the start of the first UK Covid-19 lockdown, Boris Johnson had boasted during a private meeting of Tory MPs:

The reason we have the vaccine success is because of capitalism, because of greed, my friends.

There was a huge outcry on social media. Rachel Clarke, a palliative care doctor who has been outspoken in her criticism of the government during the pandemic, tweeted in response to Johnsons crassly insensitive and smug comment:

But hes wrong. Human nature is bigger & better & bursting with more grace & decency than hell ever know.

Wise and compassionate words.

By contrast, Kuenssberg went into full damage-limitation mode, tweeting:

More on PMs greed comments  one of those present says Johnson was having a crack at Chief Whip, Mark Spencer, who was gobbling a cheese + pickle sandwich while he was talking about the vaccine, it was hardly Gordon Gekko, it was banter directed at the Chief, its said

It is a fair point: probably not even Gordon Gekko would have joked about the virtue of capitalism and greed on a day when his very clear responsibility for the deaths of 149,000 people was at the forefront of many peoples minds.

Newspaper cartoonist Dave Brown depicted brilliantly what the day of reflection should have meant: Johnson reflected in the mirror as the Grim Reaper carrying a scythe with the number 149,000 engraved on it.

Kam Sandhu, head of advocacy at the independent thinktank Autonomy, reminded her Twitter followers that, in 2019, Kuenssberg had brushed off the revelation that Brexiteer MPs visiting Chequers, the prime ministers 16th century manor house, had called themselves the Grand Wizards. The BBC political editor had tweeted:

just catching up on timeline, for avoidance of doubt, couple of insiders told me using the nickname informally, no intended connection to anything else

Presumably the use of an infamous Ku Klux Klan term of white supremacy was to be considered mere banter. There are countless other examples of Kuenssberg deflecting criticism of Tories, while echoing and amplifying their propaganda. You may recall that she acted to defend the government when it belatedly went into the first lockdown one year ago. She misled the public, as Richard Horton, editor of the prestigious medical journal The Lancet noted last March:

Laura Kuenssberg says (BBC) that, The science has changed. This is not true. The science has been the same since January. What has changed is that govt advisors have at last understood what really took place in China and what is now taking place in Italy. It was there to see.

Her insidious role in endlessly propping up the government narrative on any given topic is a courtesy conspicuous by its absence when it came to the impartial BBC political editors reporting of Jeremy Corbyn and, in particular, the manufactured crisis of supposedly institutional antisemitism in the Labour party.

On 26 November 2019, just prior to the general election on 12 December, Kuenssberg tweeted about Tory-supporting chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis suggestion that Corbyn should be considered unfit for office, 23 times in 24 hours. This at a time when journalistic impartiality was obviously never more essential.

Kuenssberg is not an exception within BBC News, although given her very high-profile position, it is not always as blatant with other BBC journalists. Take BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale, for instance: another serial offender. An item that he presented on BBC News at Ten on 16 March added to the ever-rising steaming pile of impartial journalism scaremongering about Official Enemies that must be countered by the peace-loving West.

In line with a new UK government report on defence, Landale depicted China and Russia as threats that required this country to show Britain can project force overseas. As part of the strategy, the new 6.1 billion aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, will hold joint operations with allies in the Indo-Pacific later this year. But will it be enough?, intoned Landale, impartially cheerleading the UKs projection of force across the globe.

Continuing his virtually government spokesperson role, Landale added:

And the cap on Britains stockpile of nuclear warheads will be lifted because of what the report says is the evolving security environment.

The likely increase in the UKs nuclear weapons was just slipped out, almost as an after-thought. There was no mention that nuclear weapons are now prohibited under international law after the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was ratified earlier this year. The Treaty includes:

a comprehensive set of prohibitions on participating in any nuclear weapon activities. These include undertakings not to develop, test, produce, acquire, possess, stockpile, use or threaten to use nuclear weapons.

In July 2017, over 120 countries voted to adopt the Treaty. In October 2020, the 50th country ratified the Treaty which meant it became international law on 22 January, 2021. Where were the BBC News headlines?

As Double Down News observed:

Boris Johnson set to expand Nuclear Warheads by 40% No money for Nurses but money for Armageddon

But all this must have slipped Landales mind. Or perhaps there was no time to include information deemed unimportant by him or his editors. There was, however, ample room for a major item on that evenings BBC News at Ten titled, Duke leaves hospital. This covered Prince Philips return to Buckingham Palace after one month in hospital for heart treatment. And why was this a major news headline on the BBC? Because BBC News is staunchly royalist, fervently establishment and an upholder of the unjust UK class system.

All of this just goes to show that BBC News really is the worlds most refined state propaganda service. As BBC founder John Reith confided in his diary during the 1926 General Strike:

They [the government] know they can trust us not to be really impartial. (The Reith Diaries, edited by Charles Stewart, Collins, 1975; entry for 11 May, 1926)

The same holds true today.

In this era of Permanent War, potential nuclear Armageddon and climate breakdown, the enormous cost to victims of UK and Western state-corporate policy around the world is incalculable.
[March 30, 2021] Cleveland Clinic and IBM Unveil Landmark 10-Year Partnership to Accelerate Discovery in Healthcare and Life Sciences

ARMONK, N.Y. and CLEVELAND, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleveland Clinic and IBM (NYSE: IBM) have announced a planned 10-year partnership to establish the Discovery Accelerator, a joint Cleveland Clinic - IBM center with the mission of fundamentally advancing the pace of discovery in healthcare and life sciences through the use of high performance computing on the hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing technologies. The collaboration is anticipated to build a robust research and clinical infrastructure to empower big data medical research in ethical, privacy preserving ways, discoveries for patient care and novel approaches to public health threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Discovery Accelerator, the researchers plan to use advanced computational technology to generate and analyze data to help enhance research in the new Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health, in areas such as: genomics, single cell transcriptomics, population health, clinical applications, and chemical and drug discovery. As part of the collaboration, IBM plans to install its first private sector, on-premises IBM Quantum System One in the United States, to be located on Cleveland Clinic's campus in Cleveland. The company also plans to install the first of IBM's next-generation 1,000+ qubit quantum systems at a client facility, also to be located in Cleveland, in the coming years. This quantum program will be designed to actively engage with universities, government, industry, startups and other relevant organizations. It will leverage Cleveland Clinic's global enterprise to serve as the foundation of a new quantum ecosystem for life sciences, focused on advancing quantum skills and the mission of the center. "Through this innovative collaboration, we have a unique opportunity to bring the future to life," said Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic. "These new computing technologies can help revolutionize discovery in the life sciences. The Discovery Accelerator will enable our renowned teams to build a forward-looking digital infrastructure and help transform medicine, while training the workforce of the future and potentially growing our economy." "The COVID-19 pandemic has spawned one of the greatest races in the history of scientific discovery  one that demands unprecedented agility and speed," said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IBM. "At the same time, science is experiencing a change of its own  with high performance computing, hybrid cloud, data, AI, and quantum computing, being used in new ways to break through long-standing bottlenecks in scientific discovery. Our new collaboration with Cleveland Clinic will combine their world-renowned expertise in healthcare and life sciences with IBM's next-generation technologies to make scientific discovery faster, and the scope of that discovery larger than ever." "Quantum will make the impossible possible, and when the Governor and I announced the Cleveland Innovation District earlier this year, this was the kind of innovative investment I hoped it would advance," said Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Director of InnovateOhio. "A partnership between these two great institutions will put Cleveland, and Ohio, on the map for advanced medical and scientific research, providing a unique opportunity to improve treatment options for patients and solve some of our greatest healthcare challenges." The Discovery Accelerator will serve as the technology foundation for Cleveland Clinic's new Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health, announced last month as part of the Cleveland Innovation District. The center, supported by a $500 million investment from the State of Ohio, Jobs Ohio and Cleveland Clinic, brings together a research team focused on broadening understanding of viral pathogens, virus-induced cancers, genomics, immunology and immunotherapies. It will build upon Cleveland Clinic's existing programs and expertise, with newly recruited world leaders in immunology, cancer biology, immune-oncology and infectious disease research as well as technology development and education. Researchers will expand critical work on studying, preparing and protecting against emerging pathogens and virus-related diseases.



Accelerating Discovery The pace of progress in science historically has been limited by bottlenecks. Researchers are increasingly working to overcome these bottlenecks with the application of AI, quantum computing and hybrid cloud technologies. New technologies are enabling accelerated methods of discovery that include deep search, AI and quantum-enriched simulation, generative models, and cloud-based AI-driven autonomous labs. Leveraging these combined innovations will supercharge new generations of information technology, fuel important advances in science, and IBM will provide access to a variety of research and commercial technologies, education and tools to assist Cleveland Clinic in accelerating discovery in healthcare and life science, including RoboRXN, a cloud-based platform that combines AI models and robots to help scientists design and synthesize new molecules remotely; the IBM Functional Genomics Platform, a cloud-based repository and research tool, which uses novel approaches to reveal the molecular features in viral and bacterial genomes to help accelerate discovery of molecular targets required for drug design, test development and treatment; Deep Search, which helps researchers access structured and unstructured data quickly; and High-Performance Hybrid Cloud Computing technologies that can enable researchers to "burst" their workloads into the cloud and access the resources they need at scale.

IBM Quantum Flagship Program Quantum computing has the potential to have an immense impact on key healthcare challenges, such as the discovery of new molecules that can serve as the basis of new pharmaceutical breakthroughs and spur the development of new medicines and could help enhance the ability to derive deep insight from complex data that is at the heart of some of the largest challenges in healthcare. The Discovery Accelerator will leverage IBM's multi-year roadmap for advancing quantum computing, bringing its revolutionary capabilities into the hands of scientists and practitioners in healthcare and life sciences. In addition to an on-premises quantum system, Cleveland Clinic will also have access to IBM's fleet of currently more than 20 quantum systems, accessible via the cloud. IBM is targeting to unveil its first next generation 1,000+ qubit quantum system in 2023, and Cleveland Clinic is planned to be the site of the first private-sector on-premises system. Building Quantum Skills in Ohio A significant pillar of the program plans to focus on educating the workforce of the future and creating jobs to grow the economy. The 10-year collaboration plans to include education and workforce development opportunities related to quantum computing. The innovative educational curriculum will be designed for participants from high school to professional level and offer training and certification programs in data science and quantum computing, building the skilled workforce needed for cutting-edge data science research of the future. Cleveland Clinic and IBM plan to hold research symposia and workshops with joint sessions by IBM and academic researchers for academia, industry, government and the general public. 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. About IBM For more information about IBM, visit https://www.ibm.com/ Statements regarding IBM's future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice and represent goals and objectives only. Contact Alicia Real

Cleveland Clinic

216-408-7444

Realeca@ccf.org Amanda Carl

IBM Research

570-236-4032

amcarl@us.ibm.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cleveland-clinic-and-ibm-unveil-landmark-10-year-partnership-to-accelerate-discovery-in-healthcare-and-life-sciences-301258235.html SOURCE IBM

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MATRIXX Software, a global leader in 5G monetization for the communications industry, today announced it has partnered with Orange Romania to provide its digital commerce platform to YOXO, Orange's first all-digital mobile brand in the region. YOXO, built in just one year with a team of 15 people, has experienced impressive traction in the market, boasting a 90% customer recommendation rate, 3x sales growth and an NPS score triple that of the average mobile operator.

Officially launched in September 2020, YOXO was first conceived by Orange Romania as a way to reach a burgeoning, emerging customer segment comprised of young, cost-conscious digital natives who shun the idea of long-term contract commitments. With a goal to be first to market, Orange selected the MATRIXX Digital Commerce Platform to build a flexible, agile service capable of delivering real-time innovation to meet ever-shifting consumer demand.

"At Orange Romania, we were looking to do much more than keep our status as the number one telco operator in a highly competitive market. We wanted to create the kind of service offering that drives loyalty and a sense of shared community with our customers," said Anca Veluda, head of digital for Orange Romania. "The MATRIXX platform made it possible for us to build YOXO in a way that harnesses the power of innovation and agile experimentation, with a focus on delivering immediate value for our subscribers when and how they want it."

The MATRIXX Digital Commerce Platform enables Orange Romania to deliver a simple, inexpensive and easy-to-understand mobile experience. YOXO customers can manage every part of their mobile service straight from the app, including sign-up, order and activation of SIM. The app also makes it easy to change subscriptions as frequently as every month, manage payments and access customer support. YOXO is able to enhance features as needed, based on customer feedback, ensuring the mobile experience keeps pace with its dynamic target market.

"We're honored to be a part of Orange Romania's new market leadership and to continue to support YOXO as it accelerates its product cycles to meet consumer demand in real time," said Glo Gordon, MATRIXX CEO. "Our platform provides a proven model to help Orange become more agile, and build new digital services quickly and effectively, thereby enabling it to adapt to changing markets faster than the competition."

For more details about YOXO's creation and launch, read the full case study.

About MATRIXX Software

MATRIXX Software is the global leader in 5G monetization for the communications industry. Serving many of the world's largest operator groups, regional carriers, and emerging digital service providers, MATRIXX delivers a cloud native digital commerce solution that enables unmatched commercial and operational agility. Unifying IT networks, MATRIXX delivers a network-grade converged charging system (CCS), enabling efficient hyper-scaling of infrastructure to support consumer services, wholesale and enterprise marketplaces. Through its relentless commitment to product excellence and customer success, MATRIXX empowers businesses to harness network assets and business agility to succeed at web scale.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005226/en/

Contacts:

Jennifer Kyriakakis

mediainquiry@matrixx.com
AUSTIN, Minn. - After a school year unlike any other, Austin Public Schools Superintendent David Krenz is retiring. He's worked in education since 1977 across Southeastern Minnesota and Central Wisconsin, the last twelve years at his current post in Austin.

In a normal year, Superintendent Krenz may be celebrating a variety of 'lasts.' But due to the pandemic, he's experiencing a lot of 'firsts' in his final year. "It's been an interesting year and half here," he reflects.

While the year's been challenging, it's also been rewarding for Krenz. In the end, he feels the district has made collaborative decisions in the best interests of the students and community.

While Krenz reflects on his time as the superintendent, he feels privileged to have had the support of the community. "I've been in a lot of communities... and by far, Austin's been the most supportive, committed to doing what's right and what's best for our kids," he explains. "Words only go so far. Action is the key and really, Austin, they walk their talk. They step up and support their students and their schools and that's been the most rewarding."

As he prepares to wrap up the school year, his parting message to students and staff is to keep challenging themselves. "You might feel that there's a huge burden with COVID, or with getting out, or something gets in your way, keeping working at it because things will open up, the doors will open for you. Just keep on keeping on," he says.

Superintendent Krenz's position is being filled by Dr. Joey Page, the current Byron Public Schools superintendent. Krenz's best piece of advice for Page is "to just listen."

In retirement, Krenz plans to possibly move closer to family in Central Wisconsin, travel somewhere warm, and just enjoy free time.
Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication.

Twenty-five years ago, Mike Leighs Secrets and Lies stormed the film world, winning the Palme dOr at Cannes and later getting nominated for five Oscars including Best Picture. The film portrays a dysfunctional East London extended family whose lives are upturned when middle-aged Cynthia (Brenda Blethyn) meets the daughter she gave up for adoption decades before, Hortense (Marianne Jean-Baptiste). Out this week on DVD and Blu-Ray as part of the Criterion Collection, Secrets and Lies is still a master class in character acting, full of richly imagined performances not only by its two Oscar-nominated stars but also by Timothy Spall, Phyllis Logan, and Claire Rushbrook. Developed, like all of Leighs films, through months of painstaking improvisation and character creation, its a compelling, economically told story full of surprising reveals and memorable moments.

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I spoke to Mike Leigh about keeping secrets from your actors, why Blethyn looks so surprised in the films most famous scene, and his post-Oscars encounter with Harvey Weinstein. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Slate: For years, your movies were synonymous with a certain kind of working-class white Londoner. Secrets and Lies opens with Hortenses mothers funeral and a sea of Black faces. Thats a community we hadnt previously seen in a Mike Leigh movie. Were you making a deliberate statement with that choice?

Mike Leigh: Well, yes, I suppose so. That hymn that they sing at the funeral is the classic hymn that West Indian families sing at funerals in the U.K. So that was very much all about that. But I think thats a very marginal consideration because the bottom line is thats what the films about.

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Your collaborative rehearsal process gives your actors a tremendous amount of agency in the creation of their characters. What did Marianne Jean-Baptiste bring to Hortense and to your process?

Well, its what you see. The original motivation for the film was that people close to me in my own family adopted kids because they couldnt have kids. So I decided to make a film about adoption. And once I started to research it, I discovered that in the 1960s in the U.K., a lot of white girls gave away mixed-race babies. And once I got that idea on the go, I was gagging to get Marianne in it. And to answer your question, she brought to it an enormous depth and compassion and wit and imagination. In a very important scene in the film, where shes in her apartment with a friend, a Black girlfriend, played by Michele Austinthats a key scene because thats the only time you get to see more of her personality and more of her behind her reserve.

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Shes able to let her guard down, being alongside a close friend, a Black friend, as opposed to the mostly white environments that shes in in the rest of the movie.

Absolutely.

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The scene that I think sticks in most peoples memories is the cafe scene between Hortense and Cynthia, when Cynthia suddenly remembers how it was she could have had a Black daughter. You present that scene in one long two-shot so that it feels almost like a short play. Whyd you make that choice?

Well, the truth is that we did go in on close-ups when we shot it. But when we got to that scene in the cutting room, it did feel as though it could work as a single 8-minute uninterrupted piece of action. Quite a bit happens in that scene! The bottom line is you can only do that sort of thing with that quality of character actors. Like all the action in the film, we began by improvising, and then scripting it through rehearsal. And we got it very, very precise, and then they ran it and ran it and ran it so that they were really on top of it.

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That precision is a real hallmark of your method. When I was a college student, I really idolized the Mike Leigh method. I even, one summer, tried to direct my own Mike Leighstyle theater project. I spent a summer with actors creating characters, and then we would put them in scenes together, and it was extremely difficult. We ended up with this enormous mess of improvisation that just went absolutely nowhere. It was basically the exact opposite of a Mike Leigh script. When youre going through this process with your actors, do you find it exhausting, or is it exciting every time to be discovering these new things with these performers?

Well, its exciting every time because thats what its about. However, it is also exhausting. You work your balls off, really. Theres no way around that. And look, ours is not the task to analyze your production.

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Thank you.

Its about being tough about No, lets fix it, and Lets get it right, and Lets refine it and polish it. Theres very, very little improvisation on camera in my films.

A line I really loved in the film was Monica saying, You cant miss what youve never had, and Maurice asking, Cant you? Theyre talking about the child theyve never had, of course, but it made me think about how all of these characters are missing things that theyve never had. The whole film is constructed around missing people and untold stories. How do you make a film about all of these absences and vanishings and still make the story move along, still compel us to want to know whats happening next?

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Wed have a chat, and wed say, Thank God Harvey never got involved in this. Hed have fucked it up from A to zed.  Mike Leigh

Well, by the nature of how I make and construct these films, its about creating a completely three-dimensional world that actually lives over the months of preparation and through the shoot in a very three-dimensional way. So if you do that, its all there. Its all implicitly there.

The character creation is about helping the audience understand that theres all kinds of stuff well never know aboutbut that is still there in the characters.

One of the questions that people ask about the film is, Why doesnt Cynthia tell Hortense who her father is? Now, during the months of preparation, a lot of its done through improvising, but a lot of its done by just talking into existence the backstory. Because obviously you cant actually go back and improvise everything. So I was working with Brenda, and we were dealing with about the time Cynthia was about 16. Very vulnerable, very susceptible, very prone to getting drunk. And somewhere along the line, because I knew what tricks I was up to, and I was developing this character with Marianne, I suggested that at a particular party, she was pretty drunk, and she went into a bathroom with a Black guy, had a fuck, and that was it.

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The interesting thing is that not only Cynthia but Brenda Blethyn forgot that. So when we, further down the line, reached the point in question to explore through improvisation Hortense getting in touch with Cynthiathis is during the rehearsal period, quite a long time before we shot anythingwe arranged a telephone call with Marianne on a phone away somewhere. Called her up, and it was the prototype of that scene. And, very reluctantly, after a couple of calls, Cynthia, as in Brenda, agreed to meet this person.

At the beginning of these projects, on Day 1, everyone thats going to be in it gets together and just says hello, and has a drink, and thats that. And then everybody whos in it, in my films, doesnt know anything about anything that the character wouldnt know. So they never see anybody again. Now, somewhere in her head, Brenda thought the person shed heard on the phone, the actor playing her daughter, was in fact Emma Amos, who plays a different role in the film. And she was standing there in character in the real street. I was way on the other side of the road clocking it from a distance. And she suddenly gets approached by this Black woman. And Brenda, the bit of her thats Brenda, thought: This is a damn nuisance. Im in the middle of an improvisation. I dont want to talk to this woman. [With dawning realization] And how does she know my characters name?

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We reconstructed that properly in the scene outside the underground station where they meet. And then she says, Well, I cant be your mother. And then, ding, she suddenly remembers something. Now, of course, it was completely organic, because actually, in the first place, Brenda hadnt remembered it either, you see. Thats a real, organic, hidden thing, and I know, and she knew, and now you know that actually its because, apart from anything else, the embarrassing part of it for Cynthiaand incidentally for Brendais she didnt remember that shed had a fuck with a Black guy.

Secrets and Lies was an enormous success. It won the Palme dOr, it was one of the Best Picture nominees in the year that indie movies seemed to take over the Oscars. Do you have memories of that year, when you were constantly going to events with the Coens and Anthony Minghella? Was that exciting, or was it a drag?

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One would have to be a seriously bad curmudgeon to think it was a drag, really. It was great! It was a gas! First of all, we won the Palme dOr, which was fantastic. You know, you dont win the Palme dOr. And, yeah, the Oscars was a funny old experience. The English Patient walked away with all the awards, and the following year, my producer Simon Channing Williams and I rather cautiously went to see Harvey Weinstein with a possibility of him being involved with Topsy-Turvywhich, thank God he wasntand he entertained us in his dressing gown in his hotel room in the Savoy Hotel in London, and he said, I could have got you those Oscars.

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Im dying imagining the Miramax version of Topsy-Turvy. It would have been an hour and 25 minutes long.

Well, it was a very complicated shoot, and we made it on something of a shoestring. We were constantly changing the schedule. And nearly every day, Simon would come out at lunchtime, and wed have a chat, and wed say, Thank God Harvey never got involved in this. Hed have fucked it up from A to zed.

At one point, you were scheduled to shoot a film in the summer of 2020. Whats the state of that project now?

Its on hold. People are shooting stuff, and theyre shooting under heavy-duty COVID protocols and procedures. And its in the nature of what I do that, social distancing and all the rest of it, I cant make a film that way. So at the moment, its on hold, probably until next year, which will be two years late. If Im still with youI was 78 recently. But itll happen. I cant tell you anything about it, obviously.

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Let me know if you need an assistant whos got experience making a totally terrible version of a Mike Leigh project.

Thats just what I need.
The federal government plans to spend $1 billion to fast-track the creation of a guided weapons facility, establishing a new military manufacturing industry.

Australia will produce its own guided missiles under a $1 billion plan to fast-track a new weapons facility in partnership with a global arms manufacturer.

The federal government expects to spend $100 billion on missiles and other guided weapons over the next two decades, in response to a worsening strategic environment.

Australia will produce its own guided missiles under a $1 billion plan to build a new weapons facility in partnership with a global arms manufacturer. Pictured: A Royal Australian Air Force F/A18F Super Hornet equipped with GPS-guided munitions, laser-guided munitions, sidewinder heat-seeking missiles and radar-guided missiles

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Defence Melissa Price cutting the ribbon to open the Raytheon Australia's Centre for Joint Integration in Adelaide

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said creating sovereign capability was essential.

'As the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, having the ability for self-reliance, be it vaccine development or the defence of Australia, is vital to meeting our own requirements in a changing global environment,' he said.

'It's an imperative we now proceed with the creation of a sovereign guided weapons capability as a priority, accelerating this process following the idea first being explored in the force structure plan.'

Australia has launched a $1billion plan to build powerful guided missiles

The announcement mirrors a commitment made during the Eden-Monaro by-election last year.

Labor supports fast-tracking Australian-made missile guidance systems.

'Australia does need to be more resilient when it comes to our defence and this announcement is part of that,' Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday.

Companies such as Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Kongsberg are considered likely bidders for the work.

It would allow Australia to replace missiles shipped in from overseas.

The government expects the new facility could generate $40 billion in local production and export sales over the new 20 years.

The Prime Minister (right) and the Minister for Defence Melissa Price (left centre) at the opening of Raytheon Australia's Centre for Joint Integration in Adelaide
TORONTO, ON and NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 30 2021 / GlobeX Data Ltd. (OTCQB:SWISF) (CSE:SWIS) (FRA:GDT) ("GlobeX" or the "Company"), the leader in Swiss hosted secure communications and secure data management, is pleased to report that it has completed all internal testing of its SekurMessenger Swiss hosted messaging security and privacy solution, in preparation for its commercial launch in Latin America in April 2021.

As previously announced in a separate press release dated January 12 2021, GlobeX is launching SekurMessenger, its Swiss hosted encrypted instant messaging, secure voice recording transfer and secure file transfer application, with America Movi's Telcel mobile operator in Mexico. The secure messaging service has been fully integrated with Telcel's billing and provisioning platform and the commercial launch is expected to start the week of April 12 2021. The launch will start in Mexico and expand to other countries where America Movil operates through its Claro brand, such as Colombia and other Latin American countries as the business grows over the coming years.

GlobeX Data and America Movil are looking at offering a secure and private alternative to other non-secure and non-private messaging applications. The market is geared primarily for business and government users, and privacy conscious consumers. According information published on America Movi's website, Telcel is the largest mobile operator in Mexico, with over 75 million mobile subscribers. America Movil (NYSE:AMX) is the 7th largest telecom operator in the world with over 277 million mobile subscribers in over 20 countries throughout Latin America and Europe.

Recent data breaches in messaging applications and in particular in the WhatsApp application have created a certain urgency for businesses and data privacy advocates to protect their communications form cyber-attacks and identity theft via mobile and desktop devices.

SekurMessenger eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a user's phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a user's phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well, eliminating a huge loophole in security and privacy. SekurMessenger issue each user a username and a SM number. The SM number is the contact ID a user would disclose in order for other SM users to be added. As the Introduction Video demonstrates, the service comes with a self-destruct timer and other features as well, including GlobeX's proprietary VirtualVaults and HeliX technologies with all data stored in Swiss hosted encrypted servers.

Additionally, SekurMessenger now comes with a proprietary feature and technology called Chat by Invites. This feature allows a SekurMessenger user ("SM user") invite a non-SM user, or a group of non-SM users, to chat in a fully private and secure way, without the recipient ever having to register to SekurMessenger or download the app. At the end of the chat, the initiator of the conversation can remotely terminate the conversation and all traces of the conversation are deleted from all users, including the recipient. This unique feature is now fully deployed and functional on all iOS and Android devices and web platforms. The target sectors are numerous, including but not limited to real estate, legal, financial, government, energy, mining, manufacturing, trade and medical sectors.

Alain Ghiai, CEO of GlobeX Data said: "We are very happy to have completed the testing phase of the launch with Telcel and are looking forward to the launch in the next couple of weeks. We have completed our Spanish language platform for SekurMessenger, and this means that we now can deploy other languages in the coming months as the ground work for localization coding has been done. We have received notice from Tecel, and other partners, that there is a growing demand to replace WhatsApp as a business messaging solution. SekurMessenger is here to satisfy that demand, and as we are not connected, and never have been connected, to AWS, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud platforms, commonly referred to as "Big Tech", we can offer a truly independent, private and secure means of communications through secure messaging, secure voice record transfer and secure email through our proprietary technology and our secure servers based in Switzerland. We plan to expand to several countries in Central and Latin America in the coming years, as we plan to launch with other partners in the region as well. According to statista.com and other information sites, there are over 580 million people speaking Spanish in Latin America alone, and with security and privacy becoming a global concern, and the new WhatsApp rules to share all users' data with Facebook, we have seen a surge in demand and inquiries for our secure and private communications solutions."

GlobeX's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved.

About GlobeX Data Ltd.

GlobeX Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure communications and secure data management. The Company distributes a suite of secure encrypted e-mails, and secure communication tools, secure cloud-based storage, disaster recovery and document management. GlobeX Data Ltd. sells its products through its approved wholesalers and distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. GlobeX Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide.

On behalf of Management

GLOBEX DATA LTD.

Alain Ghiai

President and Chief Executive Officer

+1.416.644.8690

corporate@globexdatagroup.com

For more information, please contact GlobeX Data at corporate@globexdatagroup.com or visit us at https://globexdatagroup.com.

For more information on Sekur visit us at: https://www.sekur.com.

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. GlobeX cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond GlobeX's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in GlobeX's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, GlobeX undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

SOURCE: GlobeX Data Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/638075/GlobeX-Data-Launches-SekurMessenger-with-America-Movils-Telcel--Aims-to-Replace-WhatsApp-for-Business-Users-Throughout-Latin-America
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Photo: The Canadian Press Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Pablo Rodriguez responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on December 11, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

A parliamentary hearing on the federal governments now-dead deal with WE Charity threatened to devolve into chaos on Monday after the Liberals sent a cabinet minister to answer questions on behalf of one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus senior aides.

Members of the House of Commons ethics committee had expected to hear from Trudeaus director of policy Rick Theis after opposition parties used their majority in Parliament last week to demand he appear to answer questions on the WE deal.

Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez instead appeared via teleconference, even though he admitted that he had no direct involvement in the multimillion-dollar agreement to have WE run a federal student grant program last summer.

While the committee ultimately opted to hear what Rodriguez had to say in place of Theis, opposition members repeatedly criticized his testimony over the course of nearly three hours, and accused the Liberals of ignoring Parliaments will and trying to mount a coverup.

The Conservatives suspect the Liberals of steering the deal to WE Charity because of the organization's close links to members of Trudeau's family.

Rodriguez and Liberal committee members in turn accused the opposition of trying to score cheap political points by dragging out the committee's study on WE, suggesting there was little more to learn about how the deal came together.

The stage for a battle was set from the start of the meeting as committee chair Chris Warkentin struggled to keep order while opposition and Liberal members talked over one another, trading barbs and accusations.

Warkentin himself described Rodriguezs appearance on behalf of Theis as an unusual situation given last weeks vote in the Commons for the committee to hear from either the prime minister or several senior political staff members.

Opposition members suggested that while they would hear Rodriguezs testimony, they still intended to call the prime minister or Theis and other senior political staffers to testify at a future date.

For his part, Rodriguez accused the opposition parties of trying to use the committee hearing to intimidate and mistreat staff members who work in political offices, and said he was there as a representative for cabinet, which had ultimate responsibility.

He also suggested that he was simply following a precedent set by Stephen Harpers former Conservative government, which refused to let ministerial staff testify at committees in 2010. Harper led a minority government, as Trudeau does now.

Rodriguezs testimony largely repeated what the government has previously said about the decision to have WE administer the $543-million Canada Student Service Grant program before it was cancelled in early July.

That included the assertion that non-partisan civil servants were responsible for selecting the Toronto-based organization founded by Craig and Marc Kielburger to run the grant program.

Rodriguez played down a phone conversation that Theis had with WE on May 5, saying Trudeau's aide had told him the call lasted about 25 minutes and focused on how the charity would ensure the grant program included degrees of diversity and inclusion.

Yet Rodriguez, who said he spoke to Theis on Sunday and Monday in advance of the committee meeting, was unable to answer several questions, including more specifics of the aide's phone conversation with WE in May.

"Youre testifying on his behalf here today, but you claim not to know anything about what he did, Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said. And so it's hard to understand what you're able to share.

Rodriguez was also accused at times by opposition members of contradicting some of the thousands of pages of documents produced by the government last summer about the deal.

Rodriguez shot back by accusing Poilievre of cherry-picking from the pages, and suggested the questions being asked at the committee had already been answered during previous testimony.

I think that Mr. Poilievre is looking for information that he already has, he said. And there's nothing new here.

The committee, which has also asked to hear from Trudeaus senior adviser Ben Chin and Amitpal Singh, a senior adviser to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, is scheduled to continue its study on Wednesday.

The deal between the government and WE fell apart last year folllowing questions and concerns about the organizations close ties to members of the prime ministers family, before the student grant program was cancelled entirely.

It also led to the demise of WE Charity's Canadian operations.
Friction between the U.S. and China could give the boost it needs to become a global tech hub, as long as the South Asian nation addresses longstanding roadblocks including excessive red tape and government inefficiency.

Washingtons cold war with Beijing has resulted in strategic decoupling, promoting manufacturing supply chains to shift to new locations, according to a report released Tuesday from the Asia-based Hinrich Foundation set up by U.S. entrepreneur Merle Hinrich.  finds itself well positioned to absorb these supply chains.

A number of factors are working in Indias favor right now, according to the foundation, which cited U.S. President Joe Bidens call for China-free supply chains in certain sectors, as well as Indias membership in the Quad grouping with the U.S., Australia and Japan.

Leaders from those four nations held their first summit earlier this month, partly to address concerns about Beijings growing economic and military heft. and China engaged in violent clashes along their disputed Himalayan border in 2020, though efforts to cool tensions this year led to both armies pulling back troops in February.

Tech giants like Inc., com Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. that have relied on China for years are shifting production to India and Southeast Asia, a move that accelerated as tensions between Washington and Beijing mounted.

The pandemic is hastening the shift as companies take advantage of Indias new productivity incentive programs, enormous labor base, and rapidly growing domestic market for devices and internet services.

Everybody that I talk to in the tech sector is moving stuff out of China, anything that they consider sensitive, said Alex Capri, a Singapore-based research fellow who authored the report. India is also looking to reduce its own dependence on China, he said.

New Delhi will also have to address issues that have hampered growth of manufacturing, the report said, adding that excessive regulations, taxes and a lack of coordination between the central and state levels of government have deterred investors.

Indias path to tech hub status will depend on its ability to develop smartphone manufacturing, the report said, noting that China still has a large lead in the industry.

India could lobby Washington to persuade top chipmakers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to open certain plants in the South Asian country, the Hinrich Foundation said.

India faces a lot of skepticism it can deliver, Capri said, but more than ever people are saying if India is going to do it, theyve got to do it now.
Beloved children's cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants is under fire for two previous episodes, which have since been pulled from streaming services.

The decision comes as the rise in anti-Asian discrimination and violence linked to the coronavirus pandemic rocks the United States, which one of the two pulled episodes arguably touched upon.

It's the latest in a move toward sanitizing cultural staples that are now seen by some to be offensive: The company that looks after Dr. Seuss's books said it would stop publishing six of them that they said were racially problematic. And Hasbro said it would stop branding its line of potato toys as 'Mr. Potato Head' to make room for same-sex and single-parent variations.

When it comes to SpongeBob, in Season 12's 'Kwarantined Krab,' many of the main characters are quarantined at the Krusty Krab by the health inspector, leading the characters to try figuring out who has the illness.

In one episode (pictured above), characters are tossed into a freezer after being forced to quarantine because a health inspector discovers an illness at the Krusty Krab restaurant

In addition to hitting rather close to home during the COVID-19 pandemic, the episode - which features the 'Clam Flu,' as it's called - could contribute to negative feelings toward those who are different, it's contended, as those suspected to be sicked are tossed in a freezer.

'We have decided to not air it due to sensitivities surrounding the global, real-world pandemic,' a Nickelodeon spokesperson told CNN Business.

The other episode that has been pulled is Season 3's 'Mid-Life Crustacean,' which stopped airing on Nickelodeon back in 2018.

Mr. Krabs experiences a mid-life crisis during the episode, leading him to tag along with SpongeBob and Patrick on a night out.

Near the end of the episode, the three characters break into a woman's home (who turns out to be Mr. Krabs' mother) and steal her underwear.

'We determined some story elements were not kid-appropriate,' the spokesperson said of the episode.

According to IGN, the episodes were pulled from streaming on Paramount+ and are no longer available to be purchased on Amazon's digital marketplace.

The companion episode for 'Mid-Life Crustacean' remains available to stream on Paramount+.

Reaction on social media to the pulling of the two episodes has been mixed.

'I never thought Id see the day where cancel culture starts getting spongebob [sic] episodes taken off air,' said Edgar Martin.

'Spongebob is an old show now, society constantly changes and spongebob [sic] is still relevant. If there is something within the show that the writers think is not appropriate today I guess it is fair for them to remove it,' countered another user on Twitter.

The Ukrainian government has made it known in Paris and Washington that it is looking for U.S. or EU-built, 4++ gen fighter jets to replace its Soviet-era MiG-29s and Su-27s.

These intentions were reported by Intelligence Online, a French website that specializes in security matters, according to Defense Express.

Kyiv is hesitating between light fighters, like the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, and a heavier, multi-role fighter, such as Dassault's Rafale, Intelligence Online has reported.

French analysts at Intelligence Online reckon that  in a competition for replacement of Ukraine's aging Soviet-era MiG-29/Su-27 fighter jet fleets  Dassault Rafale and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet would be the favorites.

The potential contract for multirole fighters replacing Ukraine's Soviet-era fleet of MiG-29s and Su-27s would purportedly top the agenda for French President Emmanuel Macron's upcoming visit to Ukraine, which was originally slated for the end of March by then postponed until a later date.
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The Biden administration is staging 'a giant cover-up' on the U.S.-Mexico border to hide 'massive system failure', Senator Lindsey Graham has claimed, as a veteran Border Patrol commander said the situation was 'completely out of control'.

Graham, a senator for South Carolina, told Sean Hannity on Monday night about his trip to the border on Friday, accompanied by Texas senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, among others.

Graham told Hannity he witnessed 'a giant cover-up' of the crisis at the border, adding that he expected to see 150,000 people a month crossing illegally before long.

Scroll down for video

Lindsey Graham on Monday night told Sean Hannity what he had seen at the border on Friday

Graham and other senators were taken to observe the work of the Border Patrol on Friday

Graham told Hannity he witnessed 'a giant cover-up' of the crisis at the border. Pictured: A group of migrants arrive illegally in a raft guided by Mexican smugglers in Roma, Texas

US Border Patrol agent processes migrants after they arrived illegally from Mexico in Roma, Texas, on Monday night

A mother and her children from Ecuador walk to where the US Border Patrol is processing them in Roma, Texas, on Monday night

Senators were told they were not allowed to film the children, leading Cruz to tweet: 'How far is Joe Biden going to stop the American people from seeing inside the Donna CBP facility?'

Cruz added: 'Biden sent a political operative from DC to block our cameras and even threatened another senator to obstruct legitimate congressional oversight.'

In a clip filmed by Cruz, a woman who works at the facility tells him: 'This is not a zoo, sir, please don't treat the people as such.'

Graham, on Monday night, told Hannity he could 'understand why the Biden administration don't want the American people to know what's going on.'

He added: 'I saw massive system failure.'

Graham said that Border Patrol agents told him, before Biden was inaugurated, that the Democrat was 'going back to the old policy' and getting rid of Remain in Mexico.

Border Patrol officials say they are having to deal with an extraordinarily high 30-day average of 5,000 daily encounters with migrants.

In February 2021, US authorities reported more than 100,000 encounters on the southern border, while March is on track to report a 50 per cent increase over February, according to the Associated Press

Children traveling alone are allowed to remain in the U.S. to pursue asylum while nearly all single adults are expelled to Mexico under pandemic-era rules that deny them a chance to seek humanitarian protection.

Border Patrol officials say they are having to deal with an extraordinarily high 30-day average of 5,000 daily encounters with migrants. Pictured: A child is carried as migrants arrive in Texas on Monday night

A mother and her two children from Ecuador try and safely depart their rubber raft after they arrived illegally in Roma, Texas

A group of migrants waits to be transported by the Border Patrol in La Joya, Texas on Monday

A child waits with his mother to be processed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent on Monday

Border Patrol agents are seen processing the migrants on Monday in La Joya, Texas

More than 16,000 unaccompanied children were in government custody as of last week.

Families with children younger than seven are being allowed to remain in the U.S. to pursue asylum, according to a Border Patrol official speaking to reporters Friday.

Others in families are expelled.

Border Patrol agents are reporting an average of 5,000 daily arrivals along the crossing

Border Patrol agents have been diverted from jobs inland and redeployed to work on the border

'What did I see? I saw 200 plus women and small children being processed in front of me,' he said.

'That were going to be released into the United States within eight hours.'

Graham said he 'saw children with numbers on their wrist', and that the unaccompanied children would be sent to stay with relatives.

'Once we catch them, your tax dollars are used to reunite the family,' said Graham.

'This is not catch and release. This is catch and reunite.

'They call the family member, the number on the child's wrist and the American taxpayer pays to reunite the family who is here illegally.'

Graham said the policy 'sends the wrong signal.'

'We'll have half of Central America in the United States in a year if we don't change these policies, and the conditions in which these kids live in were terrible,' he concluded, warning that the numbers would rise to 150,000 arrivals a month.

'Send them back or they are going to keep coming.

'I have never seen so many incentives for illegal immigration as I see today.'

A mother looks to lift up her daughter onto US soil after travelling on an inflatable raft guided by Mexican smugglers

Antonio Pena from the Bethel Mission helps migrants off a raft as they arrive illegally in the US on Monday night

Joe Biden, who on Monday visited the Vietnam Veterans' memorial, has denied there is a crisis

Graham spoke after Jeffrey Self, who spent more than 30 years with Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) in Arizona and Texas, retiring in August, said that he was dismayed by the lack of planning to stem the arrivals.

He accused the Biden administration of a lack of 'operational planning to stem the flow', and of being focused instead on the 'the threat of the aesthetics of this humanitarian crisis getting out more than it has.'

Self accused Democrats whose constituencies ran along the border of failing to stand up for their voters, and said that they were also letting down migrants, by allowing them to believe they should make the crossing.

'What needs to happen is some kind of planning for an enforcement action versus planning to move bodies,' he told Fox News.

'The key to fixing this problem is our Democratic elected officials have to stand up. They need to put this inhumanity of these failed border policies above the party.

'They're toting the party's message, they're not taking the action they need to say: 'we're not gonna stand for this, this is not good for the country, this is not good for my constituency and this is not good for these people coming up from Mexico and Central America.''

Self, a retired veteran of the Border Patrol, said the situation was 'completely out of control'

Self said that he was dismayed the Biden administration was only focused on 'aesthetics'

Self, who spent three years as Chief of the Southwest Border Operations, said that officers he spoke to were telling him that the situation was 'much more inhumane' than under Barack Obama, who in 2014 put 'kids in cages'.

'We have to quit playing politics and recognize people are suffering,' said Self.

He added that he was deeply troubled by reports that 10-14 agents in the El Paso area had tested positive for COVID-19.

'That's depleting the work force, and we can't stand for this,' he said.

'There must be some change.'
A book of evidence was served on a young man charged with carrying out a daylight stabbing of another man in the centre of Cork city as shoppers passed by in the middle of the afternoon.

Stephen Casey was served with the book of evidence when he appeared at Cork District Court.

On the application of Sergeant John Kelleher, Judge Olann Kelleher sent the case forward to the sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court commencing on April 12.

Solicitor Joseph Cuddigan asked for free legal aid to be extend to a senior counsel as well as a barrister for the circuit court because of the seriousness of the charge, which he said carried a maximum penalty of up to life imprisonment on conviction.

More serious charges

Detective Garda Brian Maher initially charged the defendant with assault causing harm. However, this charge was later replaced with the more serious count of assault causing serious harm. He was also charged with possession of a knife at the relevant time.

It was reported at the time that but for the intervention of gardai the victim could have bled to death after being stabbed in the head during the attack on St. Patricks Street near the front of the Savoy.

Stephen Casey 35, with an address at an apartment at Rocksprings House, Middle Glanmire Road, Cork, is accused of assault causing serious harm to the other man, who is aged around 30, at St. Patricks Street on October 8 2020.

Victim required surgery

The victim was brought to Cork University Hospital where he underwent surgery to repair wounds to his head and his hands. It was reported that he was fortunate to have survived as he suffered a severed artery during the attack.

The alarm was raised at 3.45pm on Thursday that there had been a stabbing on St Patricks St.

Gardai launched an immediate response, dispatching members of its detective branch, its city centre policing unit, an armed support unit, and regular units to the scene.

Two gardai who had been in the area were the first to arrive and found the victim collapsed and bleeding heavily in the doorway of the Savoy centre. They administered first aid as they waited for paramedics while colleagues searched for the attacker, who fled the area.

Gardai sealed off the area around the Savoy, and two other areas of pavement on the street, for a forensic examination.
I have managed immunization programs in the hardest-to-reach areas including displacement camps. We are in uncharted territory but a lot can be learned from previous efforts

Within the last few weeks, the first delivery of COVID-19 vaccines provided by COVAX -- the mechanism set up to drive equitable access to the vaccine - arrived in low and lower-middle income countries including Kenya, the DRC, Colombia, the Ivory Coast and Nigeria, with more actively on their way to other countries every day.

The fact that we have several effective vaccines only one year into the pandemic is astounding. Yet, the scale of this crisis and the task of vaccinating nearly 8 billion people at the same time is unprecedented and demands urgent action.

Never before have we tried to vaccinate an entire global population at the same time. We aren't just talking about the need to manufacture 15 billion doses - recognizing most of the current vaccines require two doses -- but consider the syringes, the glass vials to hold the vaccines, the pallet shipments, and the refrigerators. Science has gotten us a very long way, but vaccines don't deliver themselves.

Even in the wealthiest countries with the strongest health systems we are seeing huge challenges from production and distribution to vaccine hesitancy. Now, as low-income countries begin receiving their first doses, the global community faces increased challenges. If the pressure wasn't high enough, the emergence of new and more transmissible strains of the virus is increasing urgency and putting the world at more risk.

In my more than two decades of experience in humanitarian work, including my current role as the head of the health unit for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), I have helped plan and manage routine immunization programs in the hardest-to-reach areas and executed mass vaccination campaigns to tackle infectious disease outbreaks like measles and cholera, which often plague overcrowded displacement camps. While we are now in uncharted territory, a lot can be learned from previous vaccine efforts to strengthen COVID-19 vaccine distribution in every country - including those affected by conflict.

Plan for vaccine storage and distribution: Vaccines require the financial resources to ensure doses actually reach people, regardless of where they live. For any vaccine campaign, this means hiring additional health workers and investing in local transportation to deliver vaccines to rural areas. It also means expanding cold chain equipment - like refrigeration and cold boxes - to ensure doses are properly stored and transported. Recognizing it will be difficult for low-income countries to fund distribution -especially given the economic impact of the pandemic - the COVAX Facility now estimates at least USD 2 billion is needed to deliver vaccines to just the first 20% of people living across the 92 low- and lower-middle income countries they're working with.

Invest in frontline and community health workers (CHWs): Vaccination efforts in crisis-affected contexts often rely on overstretched health workers to inoculate people both at health facilities as well as in more remote and underserved areas. CHWs - a cadre of dedicated individuals providing a critical link between communities and the public health system -- are increasingly being tapped to support these providers. When a measles outbreak struck the Hagadera refugee camp in Kenya in 2009, CHWs were trained to go house-to-house to identity cases and provide information about the disease and treatment, and to refer people to vaccination sites. As part of COVID-19 vaccine efforts, frontline health workers - including CHWs - need to be supported with adequate training, supervision, and protective supplies to safely deliver vaccines to the last mile.

Don't underestimate the importance of community engagement: During the Ebola outbreak, communities were largely kept in the dark with minimal access to information about the disease. Coupled with existing mistrust of the government and institutions, misinformation was rampant and allowed the disease to spread further. Effective and localized community engagement strategies can ensure demand meets supply. This includes mobilizing local champions - religious leaders, elders, and trusted individuals -- as key voices to dispel misinformation; hosting outreach sessions at convenient locations like churches and markets; and using local media to share health messages.

Leverage digital tools: Digital tools can support the planning, delivery, and monitoring of vaccine programs, especially for people living far from facilities. In Uganda and Somalia, mReach - a mobile platform - has been helpful to health workers monitoring and following up with children that missed one or more of their routine vaccinations. Introducing geo-coding and maps made it even easier to track and trace people when due for inoculation. Tools like this can be utilized for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, particularly for people receiving two doses.

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Coordinate across borders: With porous borders in many countries, it's important that national governments develop vaccine plans that include cross-border strategies and are inclusive of refugees, migrants, and other displaced populations - regardless of documentation. Polio campaigns in East Africa, have shown that coordinating with cross-border actors is critical for surveillance, information and resource sharing, joint planning, and tracking cases.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to ending this pandemic, but these strategies can help provide a pathway to more equitable vaccine access, including within the most hard-to-reach areas. Alongside this, the international community must continue to apply pressure on high-income countries and pharmaceutical companies to provide funding and share excess doses of the vaccines with the COVAX Facility. No one is safe until everyone is safe.

Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
JTBC will be changing the female lead character's name of "Snowdrop," which is played by BLACKPINK's Jisoo.

JTBC's "Snowdrop," an upcoming drama series scheduled to air in the second half of 2021, starring Jung Hae In and BLACKPINK's Jisoo, has been garnering a lot of controversial attention. The drama had been under fire and receiving criticism from netizens as it is being suspected of distorting historical facts based on the drama's synopsis.

"Snowdrop" took place in Seoul back in 1987. Soo Ho, who is played by Jung Hae In, is a student of a prestigious university who meets Young Cho, played by BLACKPINK's Jisoo, in a female dorm while covered in blood. Young Cho, a university student, hides Soo Ho and takes care of his wounds while being under surveillance and facing imminent danger.

JTBC "Snowdrop" Becomes Plagued With Criticisms

Criticism of the drama came to be after SBS's "Joseon Exorcist" came under fire for using Chinese props in a drama that takes place during the Joseon period. Netizens subsequently began criticizing other dramas for promoting Chinese products and distorting history.

After the circulation of the synopsis of "Snowdrop" online, many believed that the male lead is a spy infiltrating the activist movement, whereas another male character is a leader at the Agency for National Security Planning.

1987 is a year remembered in South Korea for the democratic movement that took place, which led to the establishment of South Korea's republic today. In addition, the Agency for National Security Planning was part of the authoritarian regime during that year.

Koreans have since then filed a petition to the Office of South Korean President Moon Jae In, calling for its cancellation, describing the drama as an "apologism" to the spy agency in South Korea. As of now, more than 105,000 South Koreans have signed the petition.

JTBC to Change BLACKPINK Jisoo's Character Name

Following the continuous criticisms the drama is receiving, JTBC announced on Mar. 30 that they would be changing the lead female character's name played by BLACKPINK's Jisoo. "The current controversy is a combination of a leaked unfinished synopsis and part of a character introduction. It [controversy] originated from fragmented information," said JTBC.

JTBC further clarified that the drama does not deal with the democratic movement, "There is no setting anywhere in the script wherein the male and female protagonists participate in or lead a democratic movement." They added that the drama does not take place during the democracy movement, but rather the presidential elections in 1987 and that the real-life Chun Young Cho is unrelated to the drama's character.

JTBC asks the public to refrain from sharing misleading opinions and giving false facts to dramas that have yet to premiere.

What are your thoughts on the name change?

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Robyn
NEW YORK  Burly and well over 6 feet tall, Andre Duncan takes pride in carrying the groceries for his wife, Michelle, and views himself as her personal bodyguard.

Now, she is his: Ever since she got the coronavirus vaccine in February, Michelle Duncan, who works in hospital management, has insisted she run their errands alone. When she goes shopping, Andre Duncan, who is unvaccinated, stays home.

Andre Duncan, 44, said he feels gratitude but also guilt, and that tension has altered the dynamic of their marriage. She has to take risks and chances on her own, when thats my partner, thats my honey.

As of this week, more than 145 million shots have gone into arms since the vaccine began rolling out in the United States in December. But amid supply chain snarls and inconsistent state-by-state eligibility rules, just 16% of Americans are fully vaccinated. As a result, an untold number of households now find themselves divided, with one partner, spouse, parent or adult child vaccinated and others waiting, sometimes impatiently, for their number to come up.

Now, after a year spent navigating job losses and lockdowns, sickness and fear, some families are experiencing the long-awaited arrival of vaccines with not elation or relief, but a fraught combination of confusion, jealousy or guilt.

In that moment that I got the vaccine, instead of, I should be so super-happy, I survived this nonsense, instead of all that I felt the biggest guilt of my life, said Lolo Saney, 65, an elementary schoolteacher who lives in Manhattans Greenwich Village. Her mother, who lives abroad, is still waiting.

In New York, people who hold certain jobs and have certain conditions are eligible. And while people age 30 and older were made eligible this week, it will be weeks or even months before any number of partners or spouses of nurses or teachers, or those straddling previous age thresholds, are able to secure coveted vaccine appointments.

Some of the newly vaccinated are finding that the tentative return to normalcy is at least partly on hold as they navigate uncharted new worries: how to coexist with and care for relatives, roommates and partners who are not yet vaccinated.

Although the Biden administration directed states to open up vaccine eligibility to all adults by May 1, at the current pace, the entire population might not be vaccinated until August  and that assumes all pledges of supply are met, and children eventually qualify for vaccines, according to a New York Times analysis.

Adding to the complexity is the fact that even if every adult in a home gets vaccinated, any young children will likely not be for some time; while in New York, people 16 and older will become eligible on April 6, vaccine trials for young children have only just begun.

Until then, some who were the first in their families to be vaccinated are finding that the shots come freighted with new responsibilities: shopping for groceries, going to the laundromat, visiting the sick.

Just-released data shows the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines provide strong protection against infections, easing fears that vaccinated people could pass on the virus to others. But the data is new, and the vaccinated have spent months wondering whether their newfound freedoms, like trips to the movie theater or dinner with friends, could bring the virus home to loved ones.

These are all layers that just weigh heavy on everybody, and can sometimes cause more anxiety and tension and depression, said George James, a therapist with the Council for Relationships, a Philadelphia-based mental health center that focuses on couples and families. But one possible plus of the past tumultuous year, he said, was that families may now be better equipped to navigate this new twist.

That doesnt mean that families arent in crisis or overwhelmed or at their breaking point, James said. But if I was to look at it as a whole, I think there has been more strength and resiliency and ability to say, OK, we figured this out, we can figure this next thing out.

VICTOR J. BLUE/NYT

Ashraya Gupta, 34, was vaccinated because she teaches high school science, and teachers were made eligible for the vaccine in January. She now has the pleasure of planning vacations, weekends away with friends and movie theater outings. But life for her as-yet-unvaccinated partner, Colin Kinniburgh, 30  a freelance journalist, with whom she lives in Brooklyn  is largely unchanged from the year of lockdown.

Recently, Gupta spent a weekend away with a friend, a schoolteacher who was also vaccinated. It was the first time she had seen that friend in over a year, she said  and one of the few times she and Kinniburgh have been apart since the outbreak began. The weekend was restorative, she said, for both of them.

I thought, Once I get this vaccine I might be able to do more things that will make me feel able to function, Gupta said. Which I think is ultimately good for him and good for our relationship.

For others, like Andre Duncan in Harlem, the situation has created a strain. He feels that he is failing in his duty as a husband, he said, when his wife asks him not to join her on the grocery run. She believes she is protecting me, and it is the right thing to do, and I feel like I dont want her to, he said.

He added: It takes a lot from the relationship.

Others have found themselves struggling to overcome more intense feelings of guilt.

Saney, the teacher from Greenwich Village, said some members of her immediate family do not yet qualify for the vaccine, and she longs to be face to face with them safely. But causing her greater anguish is the fact that her mother, an 89-year-old U.S. citizen, has been stuck in their home country of Iran where she was on a visit before the pandemic began, and unable to get a shot.

It is against all the codes of ethics that I was raised with that you dont do anything good for yourself until you do it for your loved ones first, Saney said, beginning to cry. All my life I put them first, and it is the first time in this older age I feel most terrible because I did it before they got it, she said.

Food delivery workers like Gustavo Ajche, 38, were made eligible for the vaccine in February. For Ajche, getting the shot before his wife, Lorena de Ajche, a nanny who was not yet eligible, became an opportunity to give the vaccine a trial run on others behalf  and to prove its safety to friends and family who are skeptical.

Im the only one vaccinated in my home, said Gustavo Ajche, who received his first vaccine shot in February. He and his wife live with some of their cousins in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, he said, and they closely watched as he developed a fever after his second shot this month: They see me as a trial.

In some cases, the imbalance in vaccine status is a choice. Jason Bass, 51, said he has declined to get vaccinated so far because he believes the accelerated emergency rollout did not allow enough time for scientists to study long-term effects. Yet his wife, Denise, a nurse, was among the first cohort to be eligible in the state; she has been vaccinated for months.

Life is different in small ways, Bass said. For example, when the couple go on Target runs, his wife goes into the store while he stays in the car, he said.

But for his wife, who saw up close the ravages of COVID-19 in the hospital where she works, there is a major change, he added, one with far-reaching effects on her unvaccinated family members: stress reduction.

She feels much better, her husband said. She now works in a clinic administering the vaccine.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
A Border Patrol agent watches for people crossing the Rio Grande illegally from Mexico into the Texas city of Roma on May 31, 2017. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Record Number of Sex Offender Encounters: CBP Agent Exposes Leaked Documents

An anonymous border patrol agent who claims to have been working in Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) for over ten years spoke out about leaked administration documents obtained by Project Veritas.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents, according to the non-profit journalist group, say that criminal aliens with sex-related offenses are attempting to re-enter the United States in record numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The anonymous insider said that the documents, labeled unclassified//law enforcement sensitive, are not supposed to be shown to the public. One of them dated March 24, 2021, has the header Border Intelligence Daily and reads Public Safety: FY 2021 Sex Offender Encounters by U.S. Border Patrol Reach Five Year High.

The leaked document reads that there have been 214 sex offender encounters, or arrests, from October 2020 to February 2021, compared to the yearly total of 154 during the previous fiscal year.

The insider said the report is accurate and even possibly underreported because sometimes criminal backgrounds go undiscovered.

I would probably say theyre underreported, the insider said. All the records of the criminal aliens and sex offenders that we arrest now, they all have been previously deported from the United States for committing these crimes in the United States.

The Epoch Times reached out to DHS for comment on the accuracy of the documents.

The insider explained how agents run checkpoint operations to catch drug and human smuggling, or trafficking, and that they encounter situations like these every day.

The insider was asked how the policies of the current administration compare to the previous one.

He said that this is his third administration, having started when Obama was president.

Its very dangerous for both us and the people we arrest to be crossing illegally, said the insider. Policies of Biden letting them stay, changing from the Remain in Mexico policy under the Trump administration. When he [Biden] removed that, it just opened the floodgates for family units and small children crossing that border illegally.

From the time Trump took over, it was a complete overhaul. Everybody got punished. Everybody got deterred, everyone got a file. Nobody got just sent back unless it was a medical emergency or they were a child.

The traffic slowed down. All the people in our custody were treated far more humane[ly] under the Trump administration than any other previous. Under Obama, it was just like, a horrible stench. Every time you worked in a detention center youd get sick.

People were packed in, threefour hundred people in a room. But under the Trump administration, there was no more than 20 in a room.

Earlier this month, a man that came into the United States illegally who had been previously incarcerated in 2017 for sexual assault against a child was arrested again by the San Diego Sector Border Patrol.

It was the 25th arrest of this type since the start of the new fiscal year, reaching the record high reported last year.

Only 25 illegal immigrant sex offenders were arrested in the San Diego Sector during the entire 2020 fiscal year. That number was reached within the first five months of fiscal year 2021, reported U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Border Patrol spotted the 34-year-old Mexican national while patrolling the Otay Mountain Wilderness, about a mile and a half north of the border. He subsequently admitted to his illegal presence in the United States.

The agents then found out that he had a criminal record from 2017, when a Nevada judge gave him four years of prison for lewd conduct with a child.

He is now facing more charges for re-entering illegally after having been deported.
Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu announced that the Romanian Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), will provide 150,000 euros in financial support for the Syrian refugees in 2021 and will honour previous multi-annual commitments.

Aurescu has had an intervention on Tuesday at the ministerial session of the 5th Conference on supporting the future of Syria and the region (Brussels V Conference), organized by the European Union and the United Nations Organization and conducted through a video-conferencing system.

The Romanian chief diplomat has assured that Romania will continue to support the improvement of the humanitarian situation in Syria, the development and resilience of the states in the region that are hosting an important number of refugees, as well as the EU and UN efforts aimed at resolving the Syrian crisis.

He made a strong call for intensified efforts to address the crisis in Syria by politically expressing support for an increased role of the EU and the international community in boosting negotiations on this dossier, and evoked Romania's humanitarian assistance actions, emphasizing the special significance of education to ensure the future of Syria and the region. Thus, he stated that our country has awarded 143 scholarships to Syrian students in the academic year 2019-2020 and expressed a commitment to continue this type of support.

At the same time, the Romanian official reconfirmed Romania's commitment to continuing to support international efforts to combat terrorism, as a member of the Global Anti-Daesh Coalition. Given the need to ensure a safe environment for the return of the refugees, eradicating terrorist groups in Syria remains a priority.
On Saturday, Jermaine Hudson went to his sisters house for what might otherwise have been a typical family gathering: smiles and laughter, takeout food on paper plates, music in the background.

But Hudsons relatives couldnt stop staring at him. A day before, he'd been released from prison after spending more than half his 42 years inside on a non-unanimous jury conviction for armed robbery.

The day before that, his accuser had come forward to Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams office to swear hed made the crime up, for a reason that still brought him shame.

While former DA Leon Cannizzaro often viewed recanting witnesses with suspicion, prosecutors under Williams dismissed Hudsons charge at record speed. The outcome could be a sign of whats to come as prosecutors comb through hundreds of split jury cases.

I thank God for sending Mr. Williams, Hudson said Monday. Hes just one of those men that God sent on a mission, and hes listening. Hes actually listening.

In the 22 years that Hudsons life has been defined by a supposed stick-up, few people were willing to hear Hudson out, he says. He's now catching up with his fiancee, hugging the daughter he barely knew when he went to prison and hoping to find work as a plumber. But all that seemed impossible not long ago.

On the night of March 1, 1999, Hudsons accuser, then 18, told his father that while riding his bike home from work, hed been robbed at gunpoint of cash and his St. Christopher medal. The father called police, who presented the accuser with a photographic line-up a month later. The accuser picked Hudson, who lived in the area.

Hudson had pleaded guilty to armed robbery before, at 16, but by 1999 he was working at a grocery store and providing for his 10-month- and 2-week-old daughters.

The day before his trial in March 2000, Hudson says, a prosecutor offered him a plea deal for a 5-year sentence. I ain't about to take no time for something I didnt do, Hudson recalls saying.

At trial, the accuser broke down crying. To Hudson, it was the sight of a man anguished about making a false accusation. Jurors saw it another way: they voted 10-2 to convict.

In other states, a split jury wouldnt have led to a conviction. But Louisiana and Oregon allowed non-unanimous convictions, until the U.S. Supreme Court last year found them to be unconstitutional.

Hudson says his body went numb at the verdict. Prosecutors invoked Hudsons prior conviction, and Judge Julian Parker sentenced him to 99 years in prison. For the next two decades, Hudsons appeals were denied.

As Hudson served his sentence, his family members died off one by one. He wondered why the accuser picked him and felt bitterness until he found Christ, he says. I knew in my heart that I had to forgive him, because there had to be a motive, Hudson says.

While the Supreme Court's 2020 decision on split verdicts for now applies only to cases with pending appeals, Williams, who took office Jan. 11, has decided to apply it to older cases like Hudsons.

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Hudsons case was one of a crop of 22 in which prosecutors moved to vacate. On that date, he agreed to plead guilty to robbery and receive a sentence of time served at a hearing set for Wednesday before Judge Nandi Campbell.

Then something happened that his attorney, Jamila Johnson of the Promise of Justice Initiative, calls one of the miracles of the universe. On Thursday, the original accuser came forward.

The man now says he made up a lie about the robbery because he didnt want to admit hed spent his money on drugs. He threw away the medal. He picked Hudson from the lineup at random, the man says.

The mans substance abuse issues have continued. Hes currently in a rehab facility in Terrebonne Parish. "For the last 20 years since this happened, I have been tortured by the lie I told," he said in an affidavit sworn to Assistant District Attorney Cormac Boyle on Thursday.

Louisiana law says recantations should be treated with utmost suspicion, in part due to the danger that a defendants acquaintances will pressure witnesses. Cannizzaro fought to uphold convictions even after witnesses recanted, and he prosecuted several of them for perjury.

However, Hudsons case was different in that he was already getting out of prison. Hudson says he was fully prepared to plead guilty, simply so he could get out. He and his lawyer say no one in his camp approached the accuser.

Williams office agreed to provide the recanting accuser with immunity and moved to put the affidavit on the court record the next day.

Emily Maw, chief of the district attorneys civil rights division, said everything the purported victim says now is entirely consistent with the case. She added that prosecutors in 1999 interviewed an alibi witness for Hudson and disbelieved her.

The DA's Office moved to dismiss Hudsons charge. Mr. Hudson, I am so sorry that this happened to you. I am so sorry, Maw said through tears.

In a statement, Maw said the accuser was not aware that Hudsons conviction had already been tossed. However, the accuser told prosecutors he felt more comfortable coming forward now that Williams has taken office, she said.

While many of the 22 split jury convictions vacated last month are slated to end in plea agreements, Maws civil rights division is reviewing others for mistakes during or before trial.

Johnson, Hudsons attorney, said her non-profit suspects there are more false convictions produced by split votes. A review by this newspaper in 2018 found that Louisianas dozens of proven wrongful convictions were no more likely to be the result of split juries than unanimous ones.

Hudson says he bears no ill will to his accuser.

I just thank God that its finally over, he said. Thank God for revealing the truth. I forgive the guy and pray that he gets his life back on track.
A pastor has criticised President Uhuru Kenyatta for closing places of worship in five counties.

Kahawa West Pefa church Bishop Peter Ambuka, on Sunday, blamed the president and other political leaders for the third wave of Covid-19.

"Mr President, you and your fellow politicians are to blame for this devastating third wave of Covid-19 infections in the country. Unfortunately, it is we the common citizens who have to suffer the consequences," he said.

During a sermon on Sunday, the bishop accused the politicians of holding "super spreader" political rallies around the country, which caused the third wave.

He lamented that the measures put in place were only meant to make citizens suffer at the expense of the political class who "continue living lavishly".

Strategy

"Dear Mr President, do you really have a strategy for fighting this pandemic or your only strategy is lockdowns and curfews?" he posed.

The pastor stressed the fact that politicians have been going around the country popularising the Building Bridges Initiative, which the president and ODM leader Raila Odinga have been a part of.

He also accused Deputy President William Ruto of going around with his 2022 presidential campaigns.

Last Friday, President Kenyatta ordered the cessation of all movement into and out of the capital Nairobi and four surrounding counties following a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases.

The other affected counties include Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru.

He suspended church gatherings in the affected counties too.

The president also ordered a revision of curfew hours for the five counties to start from 8pm and end at 4am.
First coronavirus vaccine dose cuts infection risk by 62 pct in England: UK study

Xinhua) 14:41, March 30, 2021

LONDON, March 29 (Xinhua) -- A major study of care home residents in England has found that their risk of infection with coronavirus fell by 62 percent five weeks after they received their first vaccine jab, British media reported Monday.

The study, funded by the British Department of Health and Social Care, tracked more than 10,400 care home residents in England with an average age of 86 between December 2020 and March this year, comparing the number of infections occurring in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, The Guardian newspaper reported.

The research, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, found that both vaccines Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech reduced the risk of infection by about 56 percent at 28-34 days after the first dose, and 62 percent at 35-48 days.

The study is considered important as it also looks into how the vaccines can reduce asymptomatic infections, which play a crucial role in the spread of the virus.

"It's helpful to look at people who don't have symptoms because what you want to do is reduce the total number of people who've been infected," said Dr Laura Shallcross from University College London, an author of the analysis.

Another 4,654 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,337,696, according to official figures released Monday.

The country also reported another 23 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 126,615. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.

More than 30.4 million people have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures. The British government said the country is "on course" to meet its target of offering a first dose to the top nine priority groups, including the over-50s, by April 15 and all adults by the end of July.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Russia, the United States as well as the European Union have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
BALTIMORE, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Transamerica today announced a new claims reminder service to help people with Transamerica voluntary benefits policies, including accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance. This service enhances Transamerica's employee benefits policies, which are offered by U.S. employers to their employees. ClaimsMinderSM is a straightforward way to help employees use their supplemental insurance policies, so they can access prompt payment of medical bills and avoid financial stress. ClaimsMinder prompts employees to use their policies to offset out-of-pocket costs from an illness or accident, giving more value and peace-of-mind when it is needed most.

ClaimsMinder analyzes major medical providers' data, adhering to HIPAA consumer privacy regulations. Transamerica is not a provider of major medical insurance. Transamerica provides supplemental insurance policies that can be used to offset expenses that result from accident or illness. ClaimsMinder sends an automated reminder to policyholders, alerting them that they may be eligible to file a claim covered by their Transamerica supplemental insurance policy.

ClaimsMinder is powered by Benefits Science Technologies, a leading healthcare analytics firm that works with major medical carriers in the U.S. The data used by Benefits Science Technologies is not shared with Transamerica or any other parties. Benefits Science Technologies uses quantitative methods and applied analytics to help customers improve the use of their supplemental policies and file claims more efficiently during times that can be especially challenging for families.

Employers offer voluntary benefits, such as supplemental insurance policies, to help alleviate the financial burden of life's critical events for employees and protect the family's savings. ClaimsMinder can help ensure that voluntary benefits policies are used when they are needed. The service helps improve employee satisfaction by having a more financially secure workforce that is more likely to re-enroll in these important supplemental benefits each year.

"Transamerica helps employees better protect their finances and ensure that they make the most of their employer-sponsored benefits," said Kent Callahan, CEO of Workplace Solutions for Transamerica. "It sometimes happens that employees enroll in voluntary benefits during open enrollment but do not remember to take advantage of these benefits on a timely basis. That is why we are working with Benefits Science Technologies to offer ClaimsMinder notifications, which automatically remind policyholders that they may be eligible to file a claim covered by their supplemental health Transamerica policy. ClaimsMinder is just one way that Transamerica wants to make it easier for families to take advantage of the additional protection that insurance offers and help them safeguard their wealth and their health."

ClaimsMinder is now available with Transamerica's self-administered accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance policies. Employers and their financial consultants can learn more by contacting their Transamerica representative.

About Transamerica

With a history that dates back more than 100 years, Transamerica is recognized as a leading provider of life insurance, retirement, and investment solutions, serving millions of customers throughout the United States. Recognizing the necessity of health and wellness during peak working life, Transamerica's dedicated professionals work to help people take the steps necessary to live better today so they can worry less about tomorrow. Transamerica serves nearly every customer segment, providing a broad range of quality life insurance and investment products, individual and group pension plans, as well as asset management services. In 2020, Transamerica fulfilled its promises to customers, paying more than $49 billion in insurance, retirement, and annuity claims and benefits, including return of annuity premiums paid by the customer. Transamerica's corporate headquarters is located in Baltimore, Maryland, with other major operations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Denver, Colorado. Transamerica is part of the Aegon group of companies. Based in the Netherlands, Aegon is one of the world's largest providers of life insurance, pension solutions and asset management products, operating in more than 20 markets worldwide. For the full year of 2020, Aegon managed over $1.1 trillion in revenue generating investments. For more information, please visit www.transamerica.com.

Transamerica offers supplemental health insurance but is not a major medical provider. No customer medical information is provided to Transamerica to use the ClaimsMinder service.

About Benefits Science Technologies

Benefits Science Technologies provides data analytics software/analysis to help manage the risk of self-funded health plans. Plan holders improve their connection to data, empowering optimal decisions to control costs, and improve the quality of care for plan members.

Founded in 2012, the company is recognized as a world-leading research and applied science team, applying advanced analytics and Robust Optimization to complex health insurance decisions. Led by a 30-year MIT professor and Co-Director of the Operations Research Center, the MIT-trained team combines world-class technical knowledge and practical financial experience. The company is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and Houston, Texas.

Media inquiries:

[email protected]

Erin Yang

(303) 383-5295

Julie Quinlan

(303) 383-5923

SOURCE Transamerica

Related Links

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Planning decisions have a long-term impact on the resilience of urban systemsand not just in Singapore. Credit: Colourbox

Even minor disruptions in infrastructure systems can have fatal consequences. Researchers and practitioners counter that risk by taking action on multiple levels. Four examples.

Urban systems: increase resilience

By trade, Bozidar Stojadinovic is an expert in earthquake-proof construction. Now a Professor of Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, he specializes in urban systems and how to make them more resilient to earthquakes. "Systems engineering has become increasingly important in resilience research," he says. His combination of skills made him an obvious choice to head up a research cluster in the Future Resilient Systems program in Singaporeeven though earthquakes are one of the few topics not on the agenda. Instead, the goal is to understand the resilience of high-density urban systemsof which Singapore is a good exampleand to strengthen them in preparation for future challenges. The key challenges confronting Singapore are climate change and land scarcity. Responding to this will require long-term planning and timely changes to urban infrastructure.

Together with researchers from Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), Stojadinovic is developing a comprehensive computer model of the city that can be used to simulate urban systems as well as any challenges and their effects. In addition to incorporating all the buildings and associated infrastructure systems, such as power and water, this digital representation can be used to model user interactions with the systems. The model itself is based on a computer software framework originally developed for military war games and now widely used in gaming. The software lets users run multiple simulations of a variety of systems and exchange information between them. "That's a crucial feature," says Stojadinovic. This is because of the sheer complexity of urban systems and the way that individual subsystems influence each other. "We're already pretty good at modelling and optimising individual systems, but often we don't fully understand how systems influence each other," he adds. The model that Stojadinovic and his fellow researchers are developing aims to solve that problem and encourages experts to look beyond individual infrastructure systems and to perceive urban systems as a whole.

Critical networks: manage risks

"Nobody could have predicted it" is an oft-heard response to system failure. Giovanni Sansavini, ETH Professor of Reliability and Risk Engineering, works tirelessly to disprove that notion. An engineer by training, he studies risks in complex networks such as interdependent energy networks and large supply chains.

Risks in complex systems are hard to grasp in scientific terms. That's because systems tend to grow or shrink over time and change their structure. Many of them span the entire globe, and they often have no fixed mode of operation. Power grids, for example, are subject to diverse influences, and under load they respond differently than in normal operation. To address these challenges, Sansavini and his group experiment with computer models. They identify risks using the scientific method of uncertainty quantification, which allows researchers to capture a broad spectrum of conceivable impacts, errors and failures, and to observe how the modeled network behaves. Such Monte Carlo simulations make it possible to analyze the interrelationships between numerous failures. This opens the door to the discovery of hidden or "systemic" risksthe kind that can trigger the cascading failures that are often the cause of serious problems in complex systems. One example of this was a major blackout in Italy in 2003, which was caused by automatic systems shutting down one after the other as they came under increasing load.

Sansavini's models serve not only to identify risks, but also to quantify them. Thus, the researchers can determine which combinations of failures have the worst consequences for a system and how likely they are to occur. Understanding these scenarios is the basis for providing systems with adequate protection. In the case of energy grids, that might mean making them more flexible and less reliant on individual energy sources. Or setting up early-warning systems, introducing technical improvements to address vulnerabilities, and helping the grid quickly return to normal after disruptions. "Of course, however robust we make the systems, people will still make mistakes, and unexpected things will happen," Sansavini cautions. The good news is that even these mistakes can be replicated in the virtual model. This means we can predict the system evolution and make it more resilient to disruptions in the future.

Complex systems: predict failures

Olga Fink and her team conduct research on faults in complex systems, from aircraft and gas turbines to infrastructure systems such as railways. As Professor of Intelligent Maintenance Systems, Fink develops intelligent algorithms that learn from data collected by condition-monitoring devices. These algorithms address various challenges, from detecting system faults and diagnosing different failure types to predicting when the next failure might occuror even implementing a prescriptive maintenance strategy. "Our goal is to predict the remaining useful life and then control the operation of a system to prolong its service life," says Fink. The intelligent algorithms learn from both historical and real-time operation and condition-monitoring data.

One hurdle is that machine-learning algorithms need a lot of data. "Failures are rare in safety-critical systems, so we don't really have enough data to learn from," says Fink. Fortunately, the researchers have some tricks up their sleeve: "One approach is to use data that represent the system's healthy state and train the algorithm to detect deviations." It can also be helpful to use condition-monitoring data from similar systems and adapt them to a specific system. Yet, in many cases, even these methods may not be sufficient. The researchers must then go a step further, by combining their algorithms with physical models that simulate the system they are monitoring or enriching the AI models with physical domain knowledge. This means the algorithms can work with less data and are easier to interpret by the experts who have to make decisions based on the algorithm's outputs. In one project with NASA, for example, the researchers were able to predict the remaining useful life of aircraft engines. Olga Fink is particularly proud of this achievement: while early fault detection is now a mature process, predicting the remaining useful life of a system is a lot harder. It has been, she says jokingly, the "holy grail" of her area of research.

Critical research facilities: focus on redundancy

Managing disruption is part of everyday life for Walter Iten, Head of Facility Management at ETH Zurich. His department is in charge of technical and infrastructure management for all ETH buildings and facilities. Iten says power failures are the biggest problem: "Nothing works without power!" That's why ETH relies on redundancy. Facility Management can draw power from two different substations for part of the Zentrum campus. And, in the event of a major power cut, the most important areas also have access to back-up diesel generators. For particularly sensitive research equipment, batteries are used to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.

But the jewel in the crown is the predictive maintenance strategy for all the facilities and buildings, which aims to prevent disruptions of all types from occurring in the first place. An IT maintenance tool keeps track of each system's operating hours and maintenance schedule, and triggers maintenance jobs as they become due. An increasingly important role is also played by sensors, which monitor systems to detect sudden failures. The Facility Management team can access these data remotely on a computer and intervene to a certain extent in the operation of the system. Currently, the facility-monitoring system and the maintenance tool are not connectedbut, with the latest advances in sensor technology and AI, it is only a matter of time.

Explore further Tools reveal critical infrastructure connections, help mitigate disasters
Climate change is real and more must be done to protect people displaced by it, the Vatican said Tuesday, as it presented guidelines on helping millions forced to flee their homes.

The document, "Pastoral Orientations on Climate Displaced People," is a series of policies and proposals to bishops' conferences, local churches, congregations and organisations dealing with people displaced by climate impacts.

"The Catholic Church has a motherly care for all those who have been displaced by the effects of this crisis," it read.

It is not the first time the Church has addressed the dangers and repercussions of climate change.

Pope Francis, who has made environmental protection one of the top focuses of his papacy, has often spoken out against global warming, calling it a major threat to the planet.

The document released Tuesday said it was intended as a "roadmap in pastoral planning of climate displaced people."

"We are already in a climate crisis, one that is fast accelerating," and "causing immense suffering to millions of our brothers and sisters around the world," it said.

"It is the poor and vulnerable communities around the world who are disproportionately affected by the ecological and climate crises.

"They are the innocent ones, having contributed least to causing the problem in the first place."

- 'Destructive activity' -

Millions of people have been forced to leave their homes due to the impacts of climate change, from extreme weather to environmental degradation.

According to figures from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, cited by the Vatican, natural disasters triggered 24.9 million displacements across 140 countries and territories in 2019 -- three times the number displaced by violence.

The new guidelines address ways to raise awareness of climate displaced people, encourage dialogue with governments and policy-makers, and call for welcoming displaced people into the Church.

Story continues

In a preface to the document, Pope Francis said although people being driven from their homes due to severe climate events might look inevitable, "like a process of nature," the reality was often otherwise.

"The deteriorating climate is very often the result of poor choices and destructive activity, of selfishness and neglect, that set humankind at odds with creation, our common home," he wrote.

At an online press conference, the Archbishop of Beira in Mozambique spoke remotely from his diocese, describing the destruction caused by a series of unprecedented powerful cyclones over the past two years.

Monsignor Claudio Dalla Zuanna described how 2019's Cyclone Idai destroyed 90 percent of the buildings in Beira and sparked devastating flooding, displacing hundreds of thousands of people.

Another priest, Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam, who works in the Vatican department that complied the report, called climate change "ultimately a moral problem".

"The poor and vulnerable communities whose carbon emissions are only a fraction of those of the rich world are already the early and disproportionate victims of the crisis," he said.

ams/ar/tgb
Facing a severe financial crunch, CPS Energy officials said Monday that the utility will resume  in the next three or four months  disconnecting customers who havent paid their power bills.

City-owned CPS suspended disconnections last spring when thousands of its customers lost their jobs early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

A year later, the economy is slowly recovering as more residents receive COVID-19 vaccinations  and many of CPS customers have returned to work. At the same time, the utility is grappling with about $1 billion in expenses it racked up during the winter storm in February.

CEO Paula Gold-Williams said CPS will decide when to restart disconnections based on the vaccination rate in San Antonio. Once its set a date, it will give customers a 30-day notice.

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Cheer on the Black and Silver at the April 21 home game against Houston

By late spring to early summer, we will restart the disconnect process, Gold-Williams said. As the community comes back and gets to the right balance of restarting the economy and people getting back to work, then we would correlate with restarting disconnects at that time.

Customers unpaid bills have been piling up over the last year.

As of Jan. 31, customers owed $93 million in past-due power bills. By comparison, the utility faced $38 million in outstanding bills in January 2020, before the pandemic.

In the meantime, the financial pressure on CPS is mounting.

It paid exorbitant prices for electricity and natural gas during last months deep freeze. The utility is also preparing to embark on a plan to close its aging power plants and increase its reliance on clean energy  an added expense.

On ExpressNews.com: CPS Energy's credit rating takes a hit because of $1B in storm costs

Mayor Ron Nirenberg, a CPS trustee, cautioned against restarting disconnections too quickly, while San Antonians are still reeling from the pandemic.

I dont see that the vaccination process has an immediate impact on the financial realities that so many of our residents are struggling with right now, Nirenberg said.

He called on CPS five-member board at its next meeting to examine the financial impact of power disconnections before moving ahead with a restart date.

I want to make sure that we dont finalize or communicate any firm deadlines about resuming disconnects in the meantime, Nirenberg said.

CPS officials Monday also discussed how the utility might prepare for the next winter blast. The utility came up short during last months storm.

Gold-Williams said CPS would improve its winterization standards at its power plants to make sure a bout of freezing weather wont knock plants out of operation  as it did as temperatures plunged in February.

We did do quite a bit of freeze protection, Gold-Williams said. However, again, we think were going to have to have higher standards of freeze protection based upon what we saw last month.

She also said the utility is looking at increasing the amount of natural gas it stores to be better prepared for another energy crisis.

Last month, CPS ran out of natural gas and was forced to buy the fuel on the spot market, where gas suppliers raised their prices by as much as 16,000 percent. CPS has since sued more than a dozen gas suppliers, accusing them of price-gouging.

On ExpressNews.com: CPS sues 14 more natural gas suppliers, alleging price gouging during winter storm

The utility is weighing whether to expand its gas reserves by 140 percent  from 5 billion cubic feet of storage to 12 billion.

Increasing storage space for natural gas would allow CPS to keep 10 days worth of fuel on hand, rather than the three days worth of gas the utility currently stores.

Also Monday, CPS officials said the utility has received 650 proposals from companies for its clean energy initiative, the FlexPower Bundle.

CPS asked companies for bids to build 900 megawatts of solar power, as well as 50 megawatts of battery storage and 500 megawatts of additional capacity  either from a new gas-fired plant or a cutting-edge power-generating technology.

The new power sources would allow CPS to close some of its gas-fired power plants that it built in the 1960s and 1970s. CPS officials will award contracts for the initiative in late July.

But Trustee Ed Kelley, a longstanding skeptic of investments in renewable energy, argued that the utility should not pay to build more solar or wind power until battery storage technology has progressed.

Solar and wind power are intermittent and depend on the weather, so they often cant deliver power when its needed. Better battery storage would help close the gaps.

Solar farm operators could charge a battery array during the day when the sun is highest and discharge the energy in the evening, when more people are at home using electricity.

Currently, CPS owns a small amount of battery storage capacity, and most batteries today can hold power for four hours at most. Until the technology improves, Kelley said, additional investments in solar power dont make sense.

To go out and spend ... so that you can do whats politically correct  to me  is dumb, Kelley said. What we need to do, in my opinion, is work very hard on storage.

Nirenberg noted, however, that gas- and coal-fired plants failed during the winter storm last month. CPS can add more renewable energy while also improving reliability, he said.

This shouldnt be a choice between environmental stewardship and the fiscal realities, Nirenberg said. We can have both. The notion that we cant, I think, is one weve already moved past a long time ago.

diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net
His name is synonymous with the bouncing bombs used in the daring Dam Buster air raids of 1943.

So you would think they'd know all about Sir Barnes Wallis in Buckshaw, Lancashire  the town where his invention was made.

But signwriters have managed to spell his name wrong on a street sign... for the second time in five years.

Sir Barnes Wallis's name has been spelt wrong on a sign on a street in Buckshaw, Lancashire, for the second time in five years.

Aidy Riggott, a county councillor, said: 'I just couldn't believe it  and neither could the residents. My first thoughts were, 'Oh no, not again.' Pictured: How the sign should be spelt

In the latest bungle, a missing 'e' means it reads 'Barns Wallis Way'.

It comes five years after a sign on the other side of the street declared it was 'Barnes Wallace Way', misspelling the scientist's surname.

Aidy Riggott, a county councillor, said: 'I just couldn't believe it  and neither could the residents. My first thoughts were, 'Oh no, not again'.

It comes five years after a sign on the other side of the street declared it was 'Barnes Wallace Way', misspelling the scientist's surname. Pictured: Barnes Wallis

We all understand mistakes are made occasionally, but this is twice now.'

The Buckshaw estate is on the site of the former Royal Ordnance Factory in Euxton where the bombs  used to destroy German dams in the Ruhr  were built.

The sign will be replaced.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A growing number of young people are identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and many are challenging binaries in gender and sexual identity to reflect a broader spectrum of experience beyond man or woman and gay or straight. But not everyone is participating equally in these diverse forms of expression, according to new research from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Psychology Professor Phillip Hammack's latest paper, published in the Journal of Adolescent Research, is shedding light on the social factors that can either hinder or support expression of diversity in sexual and gender identity among teens and young adults.

"I think the language is finally evolving to represent the actual diversity of experience that exists," Hammack said. "On the one hand, teens seem much more liberated and have a much more expansive vocabulary than previous generations, but you also still have these unresolved issues around things like masculinity. So that was the real shock to me."

In particular, the paper found that regional differences and pressures to conform to masculinity may have a dampening effect on diversity of expression.

Identifying regional differences

Hammack's research focused on teens between the ages of 14 and 18, who are among the younger members of Generation Z. Researchers wanted an in-depth understanding of these young people's experiences, so they performed detailed research at a small number of field sites in the San Francisco Bay Area and California's Central Valley.

These sites were selected to represent higher and lower levels of resources, rights, and visibility for sexual and gender diversity. Within these communities, researchers surveyed 314 LGBTQ+ teens and conducted extensive interviews with 28 LGBTQ+ youth informants and 24 adult LGBTQ+ leaders.

Almost a quarter of all LGBTQ+ youth surveyed expressed some form of nonbinary gender, and use of they/them pronouns was common. But there was a difference of more than 11 percentage points in the proportion of youth expressing nonbinary gender identity in the Bay Area compared to the Central Valley. Some study participants told researchers that, while they felt diverse sexuality is becoming more broadly normalized, gender diversity is still less accepted.

"It was hard to hear all of the difficulties that the participants were going through and challenges with not feeling safe being out or having access to the resources they needed," said Julianne Atwood, a coauthor on the paper who conducted field interviews with Central Valley participants. "It's tough being a queer person in a rural community, but it does get better."

Researchers found that there was less open discussion of sexual diversity in Central Valley communities compared to the Bay Area, but in this case, there was no corresponding difference in diversity of sexuality labeling. Study participants often mentioned finding information through the internet and social media, rather than their geographic communities.

"Being online is kind of like the great equalizer for LGBTQ youth, and I think that benefits them all tremendously," Hammack said.

The pressures of masculinity

Researchers also noticed that teens who were assigned female at birth seemed more comfortable with diverse forms of gender expression. Among teens in the study group who identified with a nonbinary gender label, 78.7 percent were assigned female at birth. There were also notably more transgender boys in the study than transgender girls.

During interviews, study participants consistently shared stories of how those who were assigned male at birth faced strong pressures to conform to standards of masculinity. Accounts of violence against transgender women of color were common in interviews, along with other fears that it might not be safe for those assigned male at birth to express nonconforming gender or sexual identities.

Hammack said he believes harmful "regulation of masculinity" may stem from feelings of insecurity among boys as gender hierarchies are being challenged. The paper's documentation of these trends will be an important contribution to the future of LGBTQ+ research and support, said Stephen Russell, a prominent sociologist and professor at the University of Texas at Austin who served as a scientific advisor on the project.

"I know that I'll cite this work for the way they link gender normativity and the pressures of masculinity for boys," Russell said. "There are different imperatives and possibilities for young people if they are assigned female at birth or if they're assigned male at birth, and this shows what that means for how they can understand themselves in the world."

Reaching teens across labels

Ultimately, perceptions of gender and sexuality labels can affect which types of resources and support are most accessible for teens. For example, Hammack said that cisgender gay males in the research areas were noticeably missing from LGBTQ+ support groups, which may indicate that these spaces are being perceived as "feminine."

Similarly, the study found that some identity labels are racialized in ways that may make boys of color less likely to identify with them. But targeted recruitment efforts could help LGBTQ+ support groups for teens to better reflect the true diversity of the community.

Hammack hopes his research might offer a window into that diversity to create greater acceptance and recognition across all labels.

"I've actually been trying to shift my speech away from saying LGBTQ+, with that uncomfortable plus sign, because there are so many identities that are not captured within that label," Hammack said. "I've been thinking about these issues instead as phenomena of sexual and gender diversity, and I'd like to see more researchers and educators recognizing those nuances within the community."

Explore further Parents struggle to discuss sex with LGBTQ teens

More information: Phillip L. Hammack et al. Gender and Sexual Identity in Adolescence: A Mixed-Methods Study of Labeling in Diverse Community Settings, Journal of Adolescent Research (2021). Phillip L. Hammack et al. Gender and Sexual Identity in Adolescence: A Mixed-Methods Study of Labeling in Diverse Community Settings,(2021). DOI: 10.1177/07435584211000315
Empire Wind is being developed by Equinor and BP through their 50/50 strategic partnership in the U.S. Empire Wind is planned for an area of 80,000 acres, in federal waters, an average of 33 km south of Long Island, east of the Rockaways.

Two cable systems will connect the offshore substation for Empire Wind 1 to landfall and substation in Brooklyn, N.Y. In contrast, Empire Wind 2 will link to Long Island by three parallel cables.

Christopher Guerin, CEO of Nexans, said: "We are excited to be a trusted, long-term supplier on the development of the Empire Wind projects and to participate in placing New York State on the way towards reaching 70 percent of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030. This partnership demonstrates the value of our unique end-to-end model and supports our investments in U.S. offshore wind and the new state of the art Aurora cable-laying vessel. Nexans is engaged in Electrifying the Future, and supporting all our stakeholders on the path to greener energy."

At Nexans, we are leading the charge to the new world of electrification  safer, sustainable, renewable, decarbonized and accessible to everyone. As electrification specialists, Nexans enables the offshore wind industry to electrify the future by harnessing the power of wind.

About Nexans

Nexans is a global player in energy transition. Our purpose: electrify the future. For over a century, Nexans has played a crucial role in the electrification of the planet. With around 25,000 people in 38 countries, the Group is leading the charge to the new world of electrification: safer, sustainable, renewable, decarbonized and accessible to everyone. In 2020, Nexans generated 5.7 billion euros in standard sales.

The Group designs solutions and services along the entire value chain in three main business areas: Building & Territories (including utilities and emobility), High Voltage & Projects (covering offshore wind farms, subsea interconnections, land high voltage), and Industry & Solutions (including renewables, transportation, oil and gas, automation, and others).

Corporate Social Responsibility is a guiding principle of Nexans' business activities and internal practices. As a signatory of the Global Compact since 2008, Nexans is committed to contribute to a responsible global economy and strives to promote the ten principles defined by the UN to all its stakeholders. The Group pledged to contribute to carbon neutrality by 2030 and was the first cable provider to create a Foundation supporting sustainable initiatives bringing access to energy to disadvantaged communities worldwide. Nexans' commitment to developing ethical, sustainable and high-quality cables also drives its active involvement within leading industry associations, including Europacable, the NEMA, ICF and CIGRE.

Nexans is listed on Euronext Paris, compartment A.

For more information, please visit www.nexans.com

SOURCE Nexans North America

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Russian biologists discover a transmissible cancer lineage in the Far Eastern mussels

'A transmissible cancer was first discovered in dogs in the middle of the 19th century. It is transmitted sexually from a sick dog to a healthy one, the cancer cells themselves being the infective agent. In the 1990s, a contagious cancer was discovered in the Tasmanian devil. Since the cancer was found in only two species of mammals, scientists used to think that it is quite rare in the nature. However, time has come to reconsider this view. A transmissible cancer appears to be fairly widespread among bivalve molluscs,' says Maria Skazina, a research associate at the Department of Applied Ecology at St Petersburg University and the first author of the publication in Scientific Reports.

Disseminated neoplasia (DN) is a large-scale, fatal cancer disease of bivalve molluscs, which can be compared to leukemia in vertebrates. Diseased mussels have cancer cells, which circulate in the hemolymph, a functional analogue of blood. As neoplasia develops, they infiltrate all tissues and organs, disrupting their work.

The causes of this disease were described for the first time in 2016 in an article published by a group of scientists under the leadership of by Michael Metzger in Nature. The authors showed that disseminated neoplasia was a transmissible cancer lineage. Its cells have their own genotype, different from those of the molluscan hosts. In a way, they are parasites transmitted from sick individuals to healthy ones.

'A study proposing a mechanism of the transfer of cancer cells between individuals was published last year. When the mussel is under stress, the cells of its haemolymph can leave the body, exist for some time in the environment and then invade other mussels. This process has been observed in healthy molluscs. Cancer cells, it would seem, might use this mechanism too,' says Maria Skazina. 'However, this is only a hypothesis. To test it, sophisticated experimental research is necessary'.

Mussels Mytilus are important commercial invertebrates. Two genetic lineages of transmissible cancer are known in them: BTN1 and BTN2 (BTN stands for bivalve transmissible neoplasia). Both of them originated from the Pacific mussel Mytilus trossulus, which is also found in the Far Eastern and Northern seas of Russia.

'So far, BTN1 lineage has been found in a single mussel population at the Pacific coast of North America. BTN2 is much more widespread. Before our research, it had been found in several mussel species in Europe and South America, though not in the parental species Mytilus trossulus,' says Maria Skazina.

In 2019, marine biologists from St Petersburg University, A.V. Zhirmunsky National Research Centre of Marine Biology, and the University of Helsinki joined forces to search for transmissible cancer lineages in the mussels of the Russian seas. To diagnose the disease, they developed an integrated approach, which included cytological and molecular genetic tests, and applied it to the mussels Mytilus trossulus from the Sea of Japan, in which disseminated neoplasia had been previously shown.

In the haemolymph of molluscs from the Gaydamak Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry methods revealed neoplastic cells. They are large, have polyploid nuclei and an abnormal cytoskeleton resembling the spines of a bristling hedgehog. Genotyping of the haemolymph and other tissues by nuclear and mitochondrial characteristics revealed genetic 'chimerism' of the sick mussels, that is, the presence of more than one individual genotype. Multiple alleles (different forms of the same gene that determine the development of a particular trait) were separated by molecular cloning. All diseased mussels were found to have 'additional' genotypes corresponding to BTN2. This means that the scientists from St Petersburg University and their colleagues proved, for the first time, the presence of BTN2 in Mytilus trossulus as well as the presence of transmittable cancer in mussels from the Sea of Japan and the Northwest Pacific.

At the next stage of the research, the scientists used molecular phylogenetic methods to compare the sequences of the mitochondrial BTN genes obtained by them with all the homologous sequences of the mussels themselves stored in the NCBI genetic bank. It turned out that the mitochondria of BTN2 are most similar to those of Mytilus trossulus from the Russian seas. It was probably there that 'patient zero' lived, the mussel that 'gave birth' to this transmissible cancer.

The Baltic Sea mussels were also shown to have BTN2. In 2014, Polish biologists found an unusual mitochondrial genotype in a Baltic mussel, which they interpreted as the genotype of Mytilus trossulus. It is now clear that this was not a mussel genotype, but a BTN2 genotype. It appears that the transmissible cancer that the scientists were looking for in the Far East could be found much closer to St Petersburg. Whether this disease is common among the molluscs of the Baltic Sea remains to be found out.

'This disease is so virulent for invertebrates because they do not have a developed immune system that can reliably distinguish alien cells from their own. Transmissible cancer of molluscs cannot harm humans in any way. However, the disease can be detrimental for the mussel marine culture. We do not yet know how widespread transmissible cancer is among mussels in Russia,' says Maria Skazina.

The scientists now continue to search for transmissible cancer in mussels in different seas of Russia. Preliminary evidence suggests that it is found not only in mussels in the Sea of Japan and the Baltic Sea and that its diversity is not limited to BTN2 lineage. They are also developing a method for rapid diagnosis of the disease in order to monitor it in natural and commercial populations of molluscs.

'Hopefully, our work might be of help for comparative oncology. I think that mussels, as a research model, can tell a lot about the mechanisms of the spread of cancer in different species, including humans,' notes Maria Skazina.

###

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Ndalatando  The Angolan Development Bank (BDA) has available, for this year, a credit portfolio estimated at US$250 million, to support business initiatives of primary and secondary investors of the national economy.

This was revealed Saturday in Ndalatando (capital of Cuanza Norte) by the Minister of State for Economic Coordination, Manuel Nunes Junior, when he took part in the official launch of four new BDA financial products, noting that the investments were part of the government's plan to support the boosting of national production.

As part of this initiative, he said, the Angolan Development Bank would also speed up the response time to requests for funding, which would have a maximum period of 40 days, in line with the requirements of the National Bank of Angola.

Nunes Junior said that with a view to a better response to these actions, the BDA would also expand its national coverage, with the opening of five regional offices in the provinces of Uige, Huila, Benguela, Huambo and Lunda Sul.

The broadening of the bank's coverage aims to provide a quick response to funding requests from investors, particularly in the agricultural sector, which is a lever for boosting national production and ensuring food self-sufficiency for families.

This was revealed Saturday in Ndalatando (capital of Cuanza Norte) by the Minister of State for Economic Coordination, Manuel Nunes Junior, when he took part in the official launch of four new BDA financial products, noting that the investments were part of the government's plan to support the boosting of national production.

As part of this initiative, he said, the Angolan Development Bank would also speed up the response time to requests for funding, which would have a maximum period of 40 days, in line with the requirements of the National Bank of Angola.

Nunes Junior said that with a view to a better response to these actions, the BDA would also expand its national coverage, with the opening of five regional offices in the provinces of Uige, Huila, Benguela, Huambo and Lunda Sul.

The broadening of the bank's coverage aims to provide a quick response to funding requests from investors, particularly in the agricultural sector, which is a lever for boosting national production and ensuring food self-sufficiency for families.
opinion

A progressive public policy is a principle of action chosen by a government for the achievement of specific goals that should ideally favour as much of the society as possible. Beyond the challenges of the period and Peterside's disbelief, the emerging consensus is that the PHRC rehabilitation project keys into the big-picture policy imperatives of changing the story of the nation's oil sector.

Atedo Peterside is an alumnus of the City University, London and the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science, where he majored in Economics, in his first degree. He later obtained a Master's degree in 1977, also in Economics. He is certainly no rookie.

A savvy entrepreneur, investment banker, economist and founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Anap Business Jets Limited and the Atedo N. A. Peterside Foundation, he regularly recalls some of the values he received from his stern, Ophthalmologist father, Chief Michael Clement Atowari Peterside: "My father trained me to disbelieve first and question the message anyone was giving me and only proceed if the proposal makes sense to me." Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye.

In effect, the core of this peculiar paternal philosophy is - first disbelieve any message! This perhaps immediately locates the spring from which Atedo Peterside's mistrust, disbelief and rejection of the recent Federal Executive Council-approved $1.5 billion rehabilitation project of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd. (PHRC) flows.

"FG should halt $1.5bn approval for repair of Port Harcourt refinery and subject this brazen & expensive adventure to an informed national debate. Many experts prefer that this refinery is sold "as is" by BPE to core-investors with proven capacity to repair it with their own funds," Peterside posted on his twitter handle on March 21.

Forty-eight hours ago, he also posted another query on his twitter handle: "In 2019, PH Refinery contributed zero revenue, but incurred costs of N47bn; almost N4bn a month! Instead of ending this nightmare through a #BPE core investor sale, #NNPC wants to enmesh Nigeria into a deeper financial mess by throwing $1.5bn (incl. debt) at a problem it created?"

It could be recalled that at a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, March 17, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, $1.5 billion was approved for the full rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd. (PHRC). The refinery has a combined, installed crude processing capacity of 210,000 bpsd.

As it were, the approval triggered a wave of criticisms and opposition from several analysts and important stakeholders, including Atedo Peterside who, incidentally, was on the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) between 2010 and 2015. This was not unexpected. More so, against the backdrop of the fact that the country has in the past spent billions of dollars on refinery maintenance without commensurate industry benefits, this persuades many to call for the privatisation of the country's refineries.

The projected $1.5 billion rehabilitation cost has even been wrongly compared with the cost of Shell's recent sale of its Californian refinery in the U.S. by some trenchant critics. There are currently five refineries in Nigeria. Four are owned by the Federal Government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), while the fifth is owned and operated by Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited (NDPR).

The four government-owned refineries have a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day: one in Kaduna and three in the Niger Delta region - in Warri and Port Harcourt. The Port Harcourt refinery, which is the present bone of contention, has the capacity to refine an estimated 210,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Beyond scepticism and quirky sentiments, the economics of funding the repair of a strategic national asset like a refinery for $1.5 billion is clearly grounded in reality. Unassailable logic supports the footing that a nation with such oil-producing capacity should at least possess one functional refinery that can work at optimal capacity. This is especially so, against the unflattering backdrop that over the years, the country has been exposed to saboteurs who brazenly imported dirty petrol from Europe. Having a functional refinery would indisputably be in the best interest of the country.

It is good a thing that Mallam Mele Melo Kyari, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), entered the fray to rein in disbelief, provide context, clarity and associated metrics for the decision to fully rehabilitate and re-operationalise the PHRC.

The Mele Kyari-led NNPC maintains that building a new refinery with the name-plate capacity of the Port Harcourt refinery will cost the Federal Government between $7 billion and $12 billion and take a period of four years, during which Nigeria must continue to import products.

Describing the actual cost of the revamp project as about $1.34 billion, noting that additional expenses include taxes and other duties that could go up, the NNPC boss argued that there is no basis for comparison between the Port Harcourt refinery and the one sold by Shell in America for $1.2 billion, in terms of capacity.

As he put it: "The real cost is $1.34 billion. Even then you could argue and say why you wouldn't build a new refinery. We have also seen some curious comparisons that Shell sold one of its refineries for $1.2 billion and that it's even better than our own.

"This is mundane. Even a Google search will reveal that it was built in 1915 and it's a 107,000 barrels per day refinery. It has been on shut down by the regulators since early last year. Not only that, when you buy a refinery you buy its assets and the liabilities."

He maintained that many people do not know the financial transactions that go into some negotiations, saying that it is needless to compare a combined refinery of 210,000 barrels to a much smaller and much older refinery, which has many issues with regulators. The GMD further revealed that the current huge cost of rehabilitation is because the last turn-around-maintenance on the Port Harcourt refinery was badly carried out.

The NNPC boss also drew attention to the fact that those pitching for the outright buildinging of a new refinery did not do their due diligence. "They have asked why we don't just build a new one. What does it take to build a refinery of this status today? It's anywhere between $7 billion to $12 billion to construct a refinery of this nature. This is what we call battery limit construction. That's the estimate you see in the public space," he clarified.

Many industry analysts locate the rump of critical opposition to revamping the refinery to a trust deficit in the government. This distrust also understandably feeds Petersides disbelief - a trait which his dad embedded in him as a lad.

Yes, the common question resonating is: Will the princely approved sum of $1.5 billion be applied appropriately for the purpose it was meant? But this line of reasoning and Peterside's combative position fail to factor in the crucial fact the NNPC has a new leadership that has demonstrated enormous commitment to transparency, accountability and very low tolerance for corruption. It is no longer business as usual.

Beyond the issue of a trust deficit and Peterside's disbelief is also a strong sense that very powerful, shadowy vested interests want the refinery sold and have already positioned fronts or themselves directly to buy up the national asset. Given Peterside's progressive trajectory, it may be illogical to view him as a possible front for buyers or an intending buyer. But given the sad history of local corporate intrigues, nothing could be taken off the table.

On the other hand, many point out that even if the nation's refineries are to be disposed off, as Peterside is pitching, it makes sense to revamp them before selling them. They point at the stuttering electricity sector as an example of the downside of selling off national assets that are not put in order.

Organised labour under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), as well as many other critical stakeholders, are supportive of the Federal Government's move.

According to the Trade Union Congress (TUC)'s Secretary-General, Musa Lawan, "All the government companies that have been privatised, what did we get from them? What did we get from NEPA? So we want the government to own certain properties.

"Our position is very clear, the Federal Government should repair it and make it workable so that if you want to privatise other things tomorrow, we'll at least be privatising based on what we have and not privatising based on what we are importing as the fuel."

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Being a banker of repute who should know better than most, Peterside ought to appreciate the fact that African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), being the leading financier of the refinery rehabilitation project, providing US$1 billion (67 per cent) signals practicality. This speaks to the project's viability and bankability.

Besides, in consonance with key lender requirements, the refinery, after rehabilitation, will be run on an O&M Model by an experienced and credible operator. NNPC will retain 100 per cent of the refinery ownership. On the front of the project's governance structure, external stakeholders such as the Ministry of Finance, ICRC, NEITI and labour unions (PENGASSAN and NUPENG) will be emplaced.

A progressive public policy is a principle of action chosen by a government for the achievement of specific goals that should ideally favour as much of the society as possible. Beyond the challenges of the period and Peterside's disbelief, the emerging consensus is that the PHRC rehabilitation project keys into the big-picture policy imperatives of changing the story of the nation's oil sector.

It is also worth noting that the NNPC, Algeria's Sonatrach, Angola's Sonangol and other notable NOCs in Africa stand on the brink of significant disruption - and of substantial opportunity - as a new era of structurally lower oil prices challenge business models that have long relied largely on exploration and the production of crude petroleum. To manage these challenges clearly require new thinking and boldness. This has been demonstrated by the new leadership of NNPC - especially with is emphasis on transparency, zero tolerance for corruption and innovative governance.

Clearly, sentiments not backed by impartial facts can blind even a genius to what is otherwise obvious to an ordinary man. At the NNPC, a new dispensation is on and whatever operational quirks obtained previously are being expeditiously addressed. Therefore, this is not time for disbelief or gaffes. Rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery makes sense. There is no optical illusion here - as even venerable Pa (Chief) Michael Clement Atowari Peterside will buy into this progressive project.

Olu Tayo writes from Abuja.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday that China and Burundi should strengthen unity and cooperation and make joint efforts to safeguard international equity and justice.

In a telephone conversation with Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, Xi suggested the two sides continue to firmly support each other on issues related to their core interests, uphold independence and sovereignty, and oppose foreign interference.

Xi pointed out that China and Burundi have over recent years maintained high-level development of bilateral relations, enjoyed firm political mutual trust, achieved remarkable results in various fields of cooperation, kept close coordination in international affairs, and thus become a model of South-South cooperation.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have supported and helped each other, and further deepened their friendship, Xi noted, adding that China appreciates the Burundian side's adherence to a friendly policy towards China.

Xi stressed that China is willing to work with Burundi to enhance political and inter-party communication, deepen exchanges and cooperation between their legislatures, local governments and think tanks, increase sharing of governance experience, and better synergize their development strategies, so as to realize mutually beneficial cooperation and common development at higher levels and lift China-Burundi relations to new heights.

China supports Burundi's social and economic development as well as infrastructure cooperation projects, Xi said, suggesting that the agricultural demonstration centers built by the Chinese side and the agricultural experts from China be fully employed to push for more outcomes in bilateral agricultural cooperation and help Burundi achieve food security and eradication of rural poverty.

China, Xi added, is also willing to work with Burundi to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and contribute to making a success of the next forum.

Ndayishimiye, for his part, extended warm congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and spoke highly of the great achievements made by the CPC in eliminating poverty and battling the pandemic.

The Burundian side appreciates China's support for its efforts to safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity and national independence, he said, adding that cooperation between Burundi and China has brought tangible benefits to the Burundian people and that the two countries will always be good friends and good brothers.

He said his country firmly supports China's positions on issues concerning its core interests, including Taiwan, Xinjiang and the South China Sea, as well as the adoption by China's National People's Congress of the decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The Burundi side attaches great importance to the development of its relations with China, he said, adding that his country hopes to learn from the CPC's governance experience, strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure and epidemic control, and promote the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries.

Ndayishimiye added that his country is ready to help make the next FOCAC meeting a success.
Former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin betrayed his badge by "grinding" his knee into George Floyds neck during a deadly arrest last May, a prosecutor said on Monday at a murder trial.

Chauvins lawyers responded by saying that the former officer was simply following training from his 19 years on the force, even as they acknowledged that the arrest was distressing to watch.

"The use of force is not attractive but it is a necessary component of policing," Eric Nelson, Chauvins lead lawyer, said in his opening statement, referring to the videos that show Floyd, a 46-year-old handcuffed Black man, pleading for his life.

But in his opening arguments, Jerry Blackwell, a prosecutor with the Minnesota Attorney Generals Office, told the racially diverse jury that officers who wear the Minneapolis police badge pledge never to use unnecessary force or violence."

"You will learn that on May 25, Mr. Derek Chauvin betrayed this badge when he used excessive and unreasonable force upon the body of George Floyd," said Blackwell, aiming for a rare conviction of a U.S. police officer for killing a civilian.

Blackwell displayed a still image from a bystanders cellphone video showing Chauvin with his knee on Floyds neck, saying it showed Chauvin "grinding and crushing him until the very breath  no, ladies and gentlemen  the very life was squeezed out of him."

Chauvin and three other officers were trying to arrest Floyd on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes, a misdemeanor that prosecutors said could have been handled with a summons to appear in court instead of an arrest, Reuters reported.

Chauvin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted on the most serious charge.

The Minneapolis Police Department fired all four officers the day after Floyds death, as daily protests against racial injustice erupted in cities across the country.
She's no stranger to flaunting her stunning physique.

And Zara McDermott didn't disappoint as she posed for a photoshoot in a tiny black dress, socks and heels.

The former Love Island star, 24, basked in the London sunshine as she worked the camera on Tuesday.

Stunning: Zara McDermott posed for a photoshoot in a tiny black dress and made a statement in socks and heels in London on Tuesday

Proving she was no amateur in front of the lens, she struck a series of poses in the backless LBD which featured daring cut out panels at her midriff.

Zara draped a race-car style jacket over her arms as she fixed the camera with a model pout in the snaps.

Drawing attention to her slender pins, the TV star added white Nike socks under her towering heeled sandals as she teetered next to a stone column.

Bold choice: The former Love Island star, 24, basked in the sunshine as she worked the camera wearing her statement footwear

Work it: Zara struck a series of poses in the backless LBD which featured daring cut out panels at her midriff and draped a race car style jacket over her arms

Her chestnut locks were parted in the centre and styled in a side ponytail which cascaded over her shoulder.

She tied her make-up in with the red patches on her jacket by sporting a sultry crimson lip.

Letting her bold fashion statement do all the talking, Zara kept accessories minimal and added some cat-eye sunglasses to her head.

The star, who recently quit Made In Chelsea, was snapped leaning against the column while striking a number of poses.

Model stance: Drawing attention to her slender pins, the TV star added white Nike socks under her towering heeled sandals as she teetered next to a stone column

She was also pictured taking some down time and using her mobile when she was not working her angles for the camera.

Zara often flaunts her stunning figure, and revealed last month she secretly had a boob job to make her breasts 'more symmetrical'.

She took to Instagram and shared a video about her experience, revealing she 'always planned' to talk about her surgery.

Zara said she was 'nervous' to discuss her breast augmentation, before sharing her experience with her followers.

The reality personality divulged that she was waiting for her breasts to heal and settle before she revealed her secret surgery.

All smiles: Her chestnut locks were parted in the centre and styled in a side ponytail which cascaded over her shoulder

Taking a break: She was also pictured taking some down time and using her mobile when she was not working her angles for the camera

In a Q&A on her Instagram story, she explained: 'Crazy how people wanna assume the worst. I categorically have never once said "I haven't had my boobs done" to anyone on social media since my surgery.'

Explaining her previous issues with her breasts, she said: 'I wanted to add some fullness to the upper part mainly, so yes in a way, but more so I just wanted them to be balanced and symmetrical!'

Zara admitted that the process was quite painful for her, as she rated the pain in one of her breasts a 7.5 out of 10, but said the other was only a six.

She explained at the time that she suffered from itching following the operation and now just feel 'a bit fragile' three months on.

Flaunt it! Letting her bold fashion statement do all the talking, Zara kept accessories minimal and added some cat-eye sunglasses to her head as she posed in the tiny dress

Zara shared pictures of what her scaring looks like now, revealing that one side has a larger scar because she had to have some breast tissue removed.

Last month, the reality star revealed she has quit Made In Chelsea and shed light on the decision in a new interview.

Speaking to New! magazine, she said she had a 'turbulent' time on the show due to being embroiled in drama with on-off boyfriend Sam Thompson after she admitted to cheating on him with another man during her time on 2019's X Factor: Celebrity.

'I had a really turbulent series, obviously, and I was so emotional,' she said. 'Everyone saw me cry every week. That's because of the pressure and the anxiety that comes with knowing every single person is going to watch.

Admission: Last month, Zara revealed she secretly went under the knife to have her boobs made 'fuller and more symmetrical' (pictured left after and right before)

'You're not dealing with something privately, you're dealing with a real issue so publicly.'

Insisting it was her decision to quit, Zara, added: 'Being in Made In Chelsea has given me some incredible opportunities and I will never not be grateful to the show for what it's given me. I was an Essex girl, so to be able to go on a prestigious show like that was great.'

Zara and Sam's drama spun from the revelation she cheated on him in the early part of their romance, when she took part on X Factor: Celebrity in 2019.

But she insists she has learnt from her mistakes and allowed herself to forgive her wrongdoings.

Smoulder: She tied her make-up in with the red patches on her jacket by sporting a sultry crimson lip as she fixed the camera with a pout

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue was nominated for the lawmaking National Assembly chairmanship on Tuesday after incumbent Chairperson Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan stepped down the same day.

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly chose Hue as the only nominee on Tuesday afternoon.

The Hanoi Party chief was also nominated as the chairperson of the National Election Council.

Lawmakers will elect a new National Assembly chairperson on Wednesday.

The new chair will be sworn into office the same day.

Hue was born in 1957 in Nghe An Province, located in north-central Vietnam.

He is now a member of the all-powerful Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

He took office as the Hanoi Party chief in February 2020.

He was a deputy prime minister from August 2016 to June 2020 after having served as Minister of Finance from August 2011 to May 2013.

The Vietnamese legislature on Tuesday dismissed its current Chairwoman Ngan from her post with a majority vote.

She also stepped down as the National Election Council head following the vote.

Born in 1954 in Ben Tre Province in southern Vietnam, Ngan took office as the legislature chair in March 2016.

She had been the deputy chairwoman of the lawmaking body since July 2007.

From August 2007 to July 2011, Ngan served as Minister of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs.

Vietnam will hold legislative elections at all levels on May 23.

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ECOWAS in collaboration with the European Union, Expertise France and the Government of Burkina Faso will on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, hand over equipment to the Digital Investigation Laboratory of the BCLCC of Burkina Faso.



An awareness workshop for digital hygiene will also be launched on the same day.



The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) revolution has radically changed the world through the automation of tasks.



They have become de facto essential for sustainable development, especially in the productivity of the economy.



However, they have also given rise to the emergence of new forms of criminality linked to their uses. According to several studies, cybercrime costs the global economy more than 500 billion dollars each year.



Thus, the financial damage suffered by Burkina Faso due to cybercrime activities is estimated at more than one (01) billion FCFA according to the 2020 statistics of the Central Brigade Against Cybercrime.



Despite the multiple efforts of the Burkinabe government to clean up its cyberspace through the establishment of specialized structures such as ANSSI, CIRT-BF and BCLCC as well as the development of standards such as RGS-BF and SNCS adopted in 2019, the phenomenon of cybercrime remains a real threat.



With a view to providing a response to the strong growth of cybercrime in its area and to support its member countries, the ECOWAS Commission initiated the project Organized crime: West Africa's response to cybersecurity and the fight against cybercrime (OCWAR-C).



This project aims to contribute to the strengthening of cybersecurity and the fight against cybercrime in West Africa.



Funded by the European Union, one of the initiatives of the project is the establishment or renovation of central digital investigation laboratories and the other is to conduct awareness campaigns.



To this end, Burkina Faso is the beneficiary of a batch of important specific equipment for its Digital Investigation Laboratory in order to strengthen the capacities of its specialized unit in charge of combating cybercrime and of series of sensitizations on issues of cybersecurity and cybercrime.



Expertise France, the international technical cooperation agency responsible for implementing the project works closely with the ECOWAS Commission and the various actors involved in the field (Ministries in charge of the digital economy, security, justice, agencies such as ANSSI.

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
MasterPlan measures the pipe deficiency on an entire water network Leveraging a sensor-based approach, we have been able to take our algorithm to the next level and provide analytics for pipe deficiency," stated James Perry, V.P. of Business Development North America for Utilis

Utilis, the global leader of satellite-based actionable data for water utilities, announced the launch of their latest product, MasterPlan. This comes only one week after receiving a major investment of $6M by Beringea, as part of Utilis strategy to release multiple products into infrastructure verticals in 2021. An evolution of the same technology used to find leaks underground using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors, MasterPlan provides actionable insights to utility asset management plans.

Based on five years and thousands of validated Utilis leak location points of interest, the new MasterPlan algorithm assesses the deficiency of an entire pipe system using multiple SAR images taken months apart. The trained algorithm scores pipe segments based on observed non-surfacing leaks and provides a single GIS dataset of pipes scored from one to five (level of deficiency observed) for easy input into any GIS system or asset planning model.

In times of limited budget and resources, MasterPlan gives water utilities a look beneath the ground for decisions on future repair or replacement. Utilis worked with industry leaders in asset management modeling to seamlessly integrate the dataset into their risk model calculations. The GIS format of MasterPlan allows it to be read into any GIS or GIS-based software with ease.

Leveraging a sensor-based approach, we have been able to take our algorithm to the next level and provide analytics for pipe deficiency. We are pleased to provide this product as a model input for next generation asset planning," stated James Perry, V.P. of Business Development North America for Utilis.

MasterPlan is an actual, not predictive, measurement of non-surfacing pipe leaks, making it unique in the industry of asset management modeling data sets where most are based on pipe attributes (such as age and material) or history (such as location and number of breaks). MasterPlan is available to current customers of Utiliss pipe leak detection service and new customers alike.

***

ABOUT UTILIS

Utilis provides data driven solutions for water utilities, government agencies, and the greater infrastructure industry. They use synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from satellites and turn it into large scale decision support tools. The proprietary algorithms and highly educated staff of scientists and engineers are the key to the companys mission, to advance planet Earths resource resilience through SAR analytics. Successfully commercializing their first product, leak detection in 2016, Utilis projects have resulted in saving more than 7000 million gallons of potable water and 17,000 MWH of energy per year, in support of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Headquartered in Israel, with offices in the United States and United Kingdom, Utilis currently provides innovative data solutions in multiple verticals around the globe. For more information on Utilis and to learn more about their technology visit https://utiliscorp.com/


"Given the caliber of his work and the strong professional and personal relationships Scott already has with us, Scott will integrate into our complex litigation and appellate practices seamlessly," said Shook Chair Madeleine McDonough. "We are honored and excited to have him with us."

Chesin serves clients nationally in a variety of industries and has a particular familiarity with appellate courts in New York, Florida, and Massachusetts. He has authored over 100 appellate briefs and argued two dozen appeals, including in the New York Court of Appeals, the Second Circuit, and all five of Florida's District Courts of Appeal. In addition to pure appellate work, Chesin also has considerable experience litigating complex issues at the trial level. He has served as legal-issues and appellate counsel at more than 30 jury trials, handling critical motion practice, jury instructions, and appellate preservation before and during trial. With his varied trial background, Chesin looks forward to collaborating with Shook's stable of winning lawyers who have built a reputation for trying extremely complex cases to verdict for the firm's health, science and technology clients.

"I have a deep history with Shook lawyers; I've worked with the firm for almost my entire career. I've been co-counsel with Shook on close to 50 cases and have gone to trial with them 25 times in the last 10 years. There are no better trial lawyers," said Chesin. "We serve many of the same clients. It's an opportunity to work with premier trial lawyers on very sophisticated work. It is a natural fit."

Chesin earned his law degree from Columbia University and his A.B. from Harvard College. He clerked for Judge Pierre N. Leval of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

In January, Shook announced the addition of a New York office to complement its presence in Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The firm added two science-focused partners, Tom Sheehan and Kimberly Penner, who primarily advocate in matters involving high-stakes product liability litigation in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, among other areas, followed by the addition of seasoned business litigator William Vita. This Northeast expansion follows the opening of new Shook offices in 2019 in Atlanta and Los Angeles, allowing the firm to serve its health, science and technology clients from 16 distinct markets.

About Shook, Hardy & Bacon

Founded in 1889, Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. has 16 offices in the United States and London, with attorneys and professional staff serving clients in the health, science and technology sectors in areas ranging from product liability defense and business litigation to intellectual property prosecution and litigation, environmental and toxic tort, privacy and data security and regulatory counseling.

SOURCE Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

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Some members of the states cannabis community are calling for a boycott of NETA after the parent company of the Massachusetts dispensary has fired Kim Napoli, a member of its leadership team.

Napoli was the senior director of corporate social responsibility and community affairs for Parallel, the parent company of NETA. A NETA spokesperson said Napoli is leaving her role because of a Parallel conflict of interest policy.

Kims husband has had a hemp-based clothing business in Massachusetts since 1995. Recently, this business opened a cannabis dispensary that directly competes with our nearby dispensary in Northampton, the statement said. Our company Conflicts of Interest policy does not allow Kim to continue in her current role. We would not be compliant with our own policy that all of our employees are required to follow. Kim has contributed much to our organization, and we want to thank her for all she has done.

Napolis husband, Jonathan Napoli, is listed in Northampton city records as the treasurer of The Hempest, a recreational cannabis dispensary. The Hempest received authorization to open in February from the state Cannabis Control Commission.

On Tuesday afternoon, a phone call to Napoli went unanswered.

Jonathan Napoli told The Boston Globe that his wife had disclosed to NETA that he was planning to sell cannabis at The Hempest, even though she was not involved in that project.

The Hempest at 2 Conz St. is about 0.4 of a mile, or a one-minute drive, from NETAs shop at 118 Conz St., according to a Google Maps estimate.

Part of Napolis role was in equity initiatives, including a grant program that offered funding to economic empowerment or social equity cannabis licensees for the purchase of security equipment.

Our commitment to social equity in cannabis remains steadfast. We are grateful to Kim for helping us build a foundation that supports our mission, the NETA statement continued. We are involved in local community efforts and initiatives through our NETA Cares team, and those efforts will only strengthen over time. We also have national advocacy partnerships with groups such as the Minority Cannabis Business Association and Cannaclusive that will further advance our social equity programs.

Napolis firing has happened as her young daughter, Shea, has been fighting a rare form of pediatric leukemia, according to a GoFundMe page to raise dollars to help support the family.

Grant Ellis is among members of the states cannabis community now organizing a boycott of NETA, citing Napolis firing while her daughter is in the hospital.

NETA/Parallels decision to fire Kim, while Kims 1 year-old daughter is fighting acute megakaryoblastic leukemia in the hospital with Kim by her side, is unconscionable, Ellis said Tuesday. NETA/Parallels behavior related to this firing, along with a laundry list of employee health and safety complaints dating back years, led directly to the decision to launch the NETA/Parallel boycott today. For any company to treat their employees in such a way reflects the very worst form of corporate cannabis greed.

Last year, NETA was accused of anti-union tactics, facing allegations that employees were fired or threatened over collective-bargaining efforts.

NETA denied those claims.

We support everyones right to join or not join a union, but because NETA already offers progressive wages and benefits, as well as a collaborative work environment, we dont think a union is needed, NETA said in a statement at the time. We are in the middle of a union-organizing campaign and union tactics such as filing complaints are not uncommon.

In November 2018, NETA opened its doors to customers in Northampton, one of the first two adult-use cannabis shops to open on the East Coast.

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People wearing face masks spend time at a park in the West Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong, March 29. Hong Kong's travel industry has called on government officials and its prospective travel bubble partners to strike bilateral agreements recognizing each other's approved COVID-19 vaccines in order to get the long-awaited deals off the ground. AP




Libya: Di Maio says Italy will open consulate in Benghazi 'We believed in diplomatic effort, and diplomacy won'

(ANSA) - ROME, 30 MAR - Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, speaking to TG2 Post, said Italy plans to open a consulate in Benghazi, Libya.



"Allow me to say that a year ago, at the Berlin conference, no one believed in that peace process. We believed in diplomatic effort, diplomacy won. Looking ahead to the elections in Libya in December and we are once again the protagonists. We foresee the opening of a consulate in Benghazi," Di Maio said.



"I have already visited Libya twice, and in April Prime Minister Draghi will visit. We are also creating opportunities for Italian companies. We have spoken with everyone to promote dialogue," Di Maio said. (ANSA).




Press Release

March 30, 2021 Gatchalian: Uphold teachers' welfare amid reinstatement of new restrictions Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to uphold the welfare of teachers as 'NCR Plus' has been placed under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). Aside from strictly implementing the alternative work arrangement, Gatchalian reiterated the need to assure teachers of access to COVID-19 testing and treatment should they fall ill with the coronavirus. He also pressed the need to move teachers up in the priority list for COVID-19 vaccination since they sacrifice their health and safety as frontliners for learning continuity. Last year, the DepEd said that teachers and its employees are covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for COVID-19 hospitalization and treatment. The Employees' Compensation Commission (ECC) also provides the Employees' Compensation (EC) Program with income, medical, and other health benefits in the event of work-related sickness, injury, or death. Gatchalian emphasized, however, that these programs have to be cascaded down to the last teacher and non-teaching staff to continue boosting their morale. "Sa kabila ng muling pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID-19 at ngayong nagsisimula na ang ating vaccination program, hindi natin dapat pabayaan ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng ating mga guro at kawaning nagsasakripisyo upang maipagpatuloy ang edukasyon sa gitna ng pandemya," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture. "Kailangang bigyan natin sila ng katiyakan na may matatakbuhan sila at makatatanggap sila ng suporta kung sakaling tamaan sila ng sakit," he added. When it comes to testing, Gatchalian backs the use of saliva tests, which promises lower cost and faster results. The saliva tests are currently available through the Philippine Red Cross. In moving teachers up the priority list, Gatchalian has been pushing for the inclusion of basic education teachers in the A4 priority list, which includes frontline personnel in essential sectors and uniformed personnel. Teachers are currently part of the B1 priority list together with social workers. Adopted Resolution No. 92, which Gatchalian sponsored, also called for the prioritization of teachers in the COVID-19 vaccination program. # # # Gatchalian: kapakanan ng mga guro itaguyod sa gitna ng mga bagong paghihigpit Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Department of Education (DepEd) na patuloy na pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga guro ngayong ang 'NCR Plus' ay isinailalim sa Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). Maliban sa mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng alternative work arrangement, muling idiniin ni Gatchalian na kailangan ng mga guro ang kasiguruhan pagdating sa COVID-19 testing at treatment, lalo na kung sila ay magkasakit dahil sa pandemya. Muli ring isinulong ni Gatchalian ang pagbibigay prayoridad sa mga guro pagdating sa pagpapabakuna kontra COVID-19, lalo na't isinasakripisyo nila ang kanilang kalusugan at kaligtasan bilang mga frontliners sa pagpapatuloy ng edukasyon. Noong nakaraang taon, ipinaliwanag ng DepEd na ang mga empleyado nito ay suportado ng Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) kung sila ay tamaan ng sakit o kailangang magpa-ospital. Ang Employees' Compensation Commission (ECC) naman ay may programang Employees' Compensation (EC) Program na nagbibigay ng income, medical, at iba pang benepisyong pang-kalusugan sakaling ang isang empleyado ay magkasakit, masugatan, o kaya naman ay yumao. Ayon naman kay Gatchalian, dapat tiyakin na bawat guro at non-teaching staff ay maaabot ng mga programang ito upang panatilihing mataas ang kanilang kumpyansa. "Sa kabila ng muling pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID-19 at ngayong nagsisimula na ang ating vaccination program, hindi natin dapat pabayaan ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng ating mga guro at kawaning nagsasakripisyo upang maipagpatuloy ang edukasyon sa gitna ng pandemya," ayon sa Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture. "Kailangang bigyan natin sila ng katiyakan na may matatakbuhan sila at makatatanggap sila ng suporta kung sakaling tamaan sila ng sakit," dagdag na pahayag ng senador. Pagdating naman sa testing, isinusulong ni Gatchalian ang paggamit ng mga mas murang saliva tests na kaya ring magbigay ng mas mabilis na mga resulta. Kasalukuyang isinasagawa ang mga saliva test sa pamamagitan ng Philippine Red Cross. Pagdating naman sa priority list ng gobyerno sa vaccination program, muling isinusulong ni Gatchalian na maging bahagi ang mga guro ng A4 priority list kasama ang mga frontline personnel ng mga essential sectors at mga uniformed personnel. Ang mga guro kasi ay kasalukuyang kabilang sa B1 priority list kasama ang mga social workers. Sa Adopted Resolution No. 92 ng Senado, kung saan si Gatchalian ang sponsor, ipinanawagan din ang pagbibigay prayoridad sa mga guro pagdating sa COVID-19 vaccination program. # # #

The citywide positivity rate as of Monday was 4.2%, up one percentage point from last week. During that same period, the daily average of cases went up 473, or 34%  despite average tests per day going down 3%.
Liberty Doctors has offered mass vaccination clinics since January, but the firms physicians noticed there was something different about its March 30 event at Workshop, organized specifically for food-and-beverage workers.

This is a much more colorful crowd, Dr. Estee Perlmutter said, gesturing toward people filling out pre-vaccination paperwork on the food courts sunny patio. The hair, the tattoos; they walk out of here and have a cigarette.

When Liberty Doctors gives COVID-19 vaccine shots to groups of teachers, as it has done in Aiken and Berkeley County, nobody ambles over from the patient observation area to a nearby bar for a noontime beer. But program organizer Butcher & Bee was able to fill all 432 appointment slots in part because the time was compatible with restaurant employees schedules and the setting was comfortable for people familiar with food service.

Among them were several hospitality professionals who said they wouldnt have otherwise sought out a vaccine at this point.

We werent rushing toward it, Sarah Medlin said of her initial attitude toward getting the vaccine. She and her husband, Aaron Medlin, both work at R. Kitchens locations in downtown Charleston and West Ashley. Were young, and we figured there are people who need it more than us.

Still, when the Medlins boss alerted them to the opportunity, Sarah Medlin said they jumped on it.

I know getting appointments at CVS or Walgreens is a pain, she continued. (Our boss) just sent us the link, and it took 15 minutes.

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The clinic at Workshop grew out of Michael Shemtovs desire to vaccinate his employees at Butcher & Bee, The Daily and Mellow Mushroom. He had trouble finding a health care provider to handle the shots, a vexation that Shemtovs wife, Melody Shemtov, mentioned to Perlmutter in passing.

Perlmutter arranged the event, which was ultimately opened to all hospitality workers. Liberty set up four vaccination stations in the space that typically serves as Workshops indoor dining room and turned Sushi-Wa Izakaya into an ad hoc vaccine reconstitution center.

Our goal is to vaccinate anyone whos eligible and wants to be vaccinated, Liberty Doctors CEO Lissa Lara said. Were happy to do as many of them as needed.

And based on response to the Workshop event, Lara said theres likely a need for similar food-and-beverage worker-themed events in other parts of Charleston and surrounding areas.

Sometimes it just takes the willingness of someone to facilitate it, she said. We never tell them no.

Having received his first Pfizer dose, Aaron Medlin said he couldnt wait to come back for his second shot on April 20, coincidentally a date thats long been associated with freedom in restaurant culture.

Hed like to finally stop thinking about COVID-19 and focus on cooking.
Alameda and Santa Cruz counties moved into the orange tier of Californias pandemic reopening plan Tuesday, allowing offices and movie theaters to open indoors with modifications.

But in a twist, Napa County did not advance to the second-least-restrictive category of the states four-tier, color-coded system because of rising case rates, a potentially worrying sign as the rest of the country grapples with a new surge in cases.

Before Tuesdays announcement, San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties already were in the orange tier, leaving Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Contra Costa as the only Bay Area counties still in the red, which is the second-most-restrictive tier.

Public health officials in Alameda County said they will align with the states rules for reopening without the more stringent restrictions that some counties  such as San Francisco  have adopted.

Our metrics have improved, but this pandemic is not yet in our rear-view mirror, said a statement from Dr. Nicholas Moss, Alameda County health officer. Variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 are circulating in our county, case rates are rising in other parts of the country and, while nearly a quarter of Alameda County residents aged 16 and older have been fully vaccinated, we arent at the levels required for broad community protection or immunity.

Under the new designation, offices, movie theaters and bowling alleys can partially reopen. Restaurants and hair salons can increase indoor capacity. Bars, breweries and wineries that dont typically serve food can also reopen outside.

Santa Cruz County officials also urged caution in moving forward with reopening activities.

While transmission rates locally look positive and the county remains a leader in per capita vaccinations within the state, coronavirus cases are increasing globally and the B.1.1.7 variant has recently been found within Santa Cruz County, a health department statement said, referring to the coronavirus mutation that emerged from England. Vaccinated and unvaccinated residents are advised to continue wearing masks and practicing social distancing while in public.

The news on Monday that Alameda County was anticipating the move to the orange tier was met with some hesitation by business owners in Oakland.

Kay Kim, the owner of Izza, a Japanese restaurant on Telegraph Avenue, said despite spacing out tables more than usual to allow for more than 6 feet apart, his customers still prefer to sit outside.

People still want to avoid the inside, he said.

At Kansai, another Japanese restaurant nearby, server Isaac Lee said more customers mean more business. But he said he was unsure whether the restaurant would increase its indoor capacity from 25% to 50%, as allowed.

It means more tips so better for my own personal life, Lee said. But the entire community, I personally dont think is ready yet.

Chummy Alexanian, a tattoo artist at Tattoo 13, said the shop was closed for 10 months during the pandemic. The parlor reopened briefly in October before a surge caused another shutdown in December.

Since reopening in February, Alexanian said they have limited their capacity to only two tattoo artists at a time rather than five and prohibit customers from bringing friends. That likely wont change if the county moves into the orange tier.

We were closed for nearly a year, he said. It was a pain in the ass.

Nearby at 17 Jewels Salon, hairstylist Jamie Edwards welcomed the news. Since reopening in February, Edwards has been limited to scheduling only one customer at a time. Now, she can allow more.

She said the pandemic has been devastating for business, but now, Everyone is just trying to get back on their feet again.

Laura Camp, the owner of Flying Studios, a yoga, dance and fitness center, said she is still teaching yoga outside, but her Temescal business was transformed into a childrens after-school camp early in the pandemic since restrictions limited group fitness activities.

Despite the countys orange tier status, Camp said she doesnt know what the future will hold for her indoor fitness classes, but at least she can increase the number of children participating in her daily camp  though shes not sure how many more kids she can take. She currently holds camp for 12 elementary school kids at a time.

Its been a really good silver lining, Camp said. Kids really need a lot of services right now.

Alameda County must remain in the orange tier for at least three weeks before moving into the next tier, the yellow category, which has the least restrictions of any tiers currently assigned by the state.

The key to keeping newly permitted activities open and moving Alameda County closer to the yellow tier is to continue practicing the safety measures we know work against COVID-19: wearing masks whenever we leave home, watching our distance, washing our hands frequently, and limiting mixing with people from different households, Moss said. When it is your turn, get vaccinated with the first vaccine made available to you.

Napa County had been on track to move to the orange tier this week, but its adjusted rate of new coronavirus cases fell into the red tier Monday, said Janet Upton, a spokeswoman for the county.

This is an updated version of an earlier article which misstated the status of bars in the orange tier. Bars where food is not served may only operate outside, with modifications, in the orange tier.

Sarah Ravani and Aidin Vaziri are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com, avaziri@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani, @MusicSF
In the 1950s, women were calculating U.S. space missions, and by the 1960s they were programming mainframe computers. So, it should come as no surprise that there are also many remarkable female pioneers in computer and information security.

In honor of Womens History Month, here are some of these women and their key contributions to the field.

Codebreakers and signal hoppers

Lets start with WWII female codebreakers, like former Navy lieutenant Judy Parsons, a graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology who joined the US Navy's WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She and her OP-20-G group of WAVES helped sink 95 German U-boats during WWII thanks to their codebreaking efforts.

Parsons was one of thousands of women working in different security capacities during the war from 1939-1945. They broke new ciphers used by German and Japanese forces and provided a funnel of intelligence that Allied Forces used to uncover enemy locations, sink ships, down planes, and ultimately win the war. Navy women built the computing machines needed to decrypt the Enigma cipher, after another female, Mavis Bately, deciphered a message and learned how the Nazi Abwehr Enigma machine worked.

During the same time period, another leading lady, Hedy Lamarr, in 1941 patented her invention for radio frequency 'signal hopping' to defeat enemy jamming signals, allowing Allied Forces to hide their torpedoes from the Nazi forces. Signal hopping is the concept behind secure WiFi, BlueTooth and GPS used today.

At the time of her patent, Lamarr was more widely recognized for her beauty as a big-screen movie star than her brain as an inventor. But she did find allies in Howard Hughes and John F. Kennedy, who supported her with equipment to invent and experiment in her actors trailer. Lamarr, who died in 2000, was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014.

Setting new standards

Finding allies is a big help when youre a woman in infosec, says Renee Guttmann, one of the earliest females to hold information security leadership roles, starting with GlaxoSmithKline in 1994. There, Guttmann implemented firewalls and encryption products before there was a commercial internet to connect to.

Guttmann later built Capital Ones security program for customers first online activities (retrieving statements), and then became the first-ever director of IT security for Time, Inc., in 2000, eventually running security for both Time Inc, and Time Warner where she was VP of information security and privacy. Shes also won several awards for her work in the corporate sector, including the CSO Compass Award in 2008, and a Woman of Influence Hall of Fame award from the Executive Womens Forum in 2007.

I remember a meeting with other security women in 1993, including Donna Dodson from NIST, Dr. Dorothy Denning [from Georgetown University at the time], and other smart females leading the infosec charge back then. Many of them went on to start companies and powerful careers around infosec," says Guttmann, whos now CISO at Campbell Soup Company.

"I remember debating encryption and certificate management with them in a small meeting room with ten people and wondering if these things would ever matter to anyone but us, Guttmann says.

Dodson, NIST fellow and chief of cybersecurity for the NIST IT lab, retired in 2020 from her final role there as the director for NISTs National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. She started at NIST in 1987, and NIST cites her contributions to artificial intelligence, internet of things, quantum-resistant cryptography, and privacy engineering (among others). She was awarded one of the top ten most influential people in government IT in 2011 and is recipient of the Presidential Rank Award in 2019.

Back in the early days, there were no CISOs, Dodson reiterated in her NIST retirement interview. So early female CISOs like Guttmann and Rhonda MacLean, who held leadership posts at Boeing and Bank of America in the late 1990s, came up truly creating the job on the fly.

When Guttmann started the job at Time Inc., for example, no one knew what a CISO-level manager was supposed to do. At first leading information security for a magazine company (in 2000) seemed like a pretty easy job. But then she went to the business units and started asking them questions about their business and potential risksessentially helping to frame the business-focused role of a true CISO today.

I remember wanting to learn how I could best support the mission of Time Inc. I met with the leaders of several business units to better understand the Company, she explains. One of the first groups I met with was Finance. I learned that we had millions of credit card numbers between our different magazine titles, and that we were also fulfilling subscriptions for other notable magazines. This was well before the Payment Card Industry standard even existed. But coming from Capital One, I had already built a program around card protection.

Leading the discussion

Dorothy Denning was a key thought leader in cryptography at the time Guttmann met with her in 1993. Denning, still professor emeritus at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, is a lifetime academic and author of four books and more than 200 articles, mostly around information security. In 1975, Dennings doctorate thesis paper on securing information flow between computers was well ahead of its time, as was her first book, Cryptography and Data Security, published in 1982 while she was associate professor at Purdue. Computers werent connected back then and there was no internet for commercial use. Still, her paper looked ahead to the day when people would use computers to do things like prepare their tax forms.

Dorothy Denning

The question I had was, how can I share sensitive information with this type of application, but in a way that the app could not squirrel away my sensitive information. I was looking at the flow of information going through a program so that you could stop it from leaking, she explains.

Then I kept on finding new topics to research. To me, security was always about the intellectual interest. I saw the challenging and interesting problems with security.

Becky (Rebecca) Bace was also another influential woman in Guttmanns orbit back in the 1980s and 1990s and stayed a presence until Bace's death in 2017. Because she had epilepsy, Bace was advised to simply collect social security instead of working. Instead, Bace, who was a unique combination of Alabaman and Philippino heritage, went to several engineering schools and then joined the NSA in 1984.

Due to her funding of security technologies through the NSAs incubator programs, she was nicknamed the den mother of intrusion detection. In 2016, the year before Bace's death, OReilly Publishing created the Rebecca Bace Pioneer Award to celebrate other security heroes like her.

Shortly before passing, Bace drove three hours to support Guttmann as she received an award for her accomplishments. That speaks to her level of kindness and generosity with her time. She always gave back like that, which inspires most of us. We all need role models like Becky, Guttmann says.

Investing in the next generation

After leaving the NSA, Bace went into private investments and continued funding innovative security startups. Now, other women are following in her footsteps, starting their own funding firms to support security startups.

One is Dr. Chenxi Wang, former Carnegie Mellon professor and Forrester analyst, and now founder and general partner at Rain Capital. Her portfolio includes numerous security startups.

Another female funding partner, Maria Cirino, founded 406 Ventures after pioneering one of the first female-run cyber security companies, Guardent, which she ran from 2000 until it was acquired by Verisign in 2004. Onapsis, Pwnie Express, and Threat Stack are among her portfolio companies.

The list certainly goes on. Today, there are thousands of women leading information security in a variety of roles, and receiving more acknowledgement for their participation in the industry, who have a number of support and networking groups behind them.

The key is do what you love and forge your own path, say those whove gone before. I love my work and continue to learn new things. Now at Campbell, I am making a difference in industrial OT. Thats exciting, Guttmann says.

Learn to understand and help others understand. Be curious! And dont let anyone try to stop you from achieving your goals and being a change agent in cybersecurity.
The continuation of the domestic political crisis in Armenia after the early parliamentary elections cannot be ruled out, if they are held against the backdrop of the current constitution, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian said in an interview with the Aravot.am local news website.

"I will continue to insist that, in the end, if we think that our constitution needs to be reformed, if we want political actors not to blame each other again after the elections, then we should work as close as possible to the suggestion that I made," he noted.

"Otherwise, various decisions are possible after the elections, which, unfortunately, can again result in a political crisis," the president added


OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - European markets closed higher on Tuesday as encouraging economic data from the region outweighed concerns about rising coronavirus cases and slow vaccine rollouts, and prompted investors to pick up shares.



Optimism about strong economic rebound in the U.S., easing concerns about U.S. hedge fund default and dovish comments by Bank of England's policy maker Gertjan Vlieghe on Monday contributed as well to the positive close in European markets.



Bank stocks moved higher on hopes the lenders would benefit from rising bond yields.



The pan European Stoxx 600 climbed 0.71%. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 ended 0.53% up, Germany's DAX advanced 1.29% to a new high, France's CAC 40 gained 1.21% and Switzerland's SMI ended higher by 0.29%.



Among other markets in Europe, Austria, Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden ended notably higher.



Czech Republic, Finland and Turkey posted modest gains and Denmark edged up marginally. Iceland and Poland finished with modest losses, while Norway and Russia ended flat.



In the UK market, IAG, Barclays Group, Melrose Industries, Natwest Group, HSBC Holdings, Legal & General, BAE Systems, Aviva, Lloyds Banking, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Standard Chartered, Antofagasta, Prudential, Anglo American and M&G gained 2 to 5.1%.



Fresnillo, Ocado Group, Severn Trent, British American Tobacco, Polymetal International and National Grid declined sharply. AstraZeneca ended notably lower after Canada suspended its Covid vaccine for adults aged 55 and under because of an adverse event referred to as Vaccine-Induced Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia (VIPIT).



In Germany, Thyssenkrupp, Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, Lufthansa, Covestro, BASF, MTU Aero Engines, Siemens, Allianz and HeidelbergCement gained 2 to 5%.



German IT service provider Cancom SE rallied sharply after the company posted higher fourth-quarter revenues and said it expects a significant increase in gross profit and EBITDA and a very significant increase in Group EBITA for full-year 2021.



In the French market, Unibail Rodamco, Societe Generale, BNP Paribas, Air France-KLM, LVMH, Renault, Valeo, Credit Agricole, Kering, ArcelorMittal, Thales and Saint Gobain moved up 2 to 4%, while Technip, Capgemini and Engie ended notably lower.



In economic releases, Eurozone economic confidence more-than-expected in March, survey results from the European Commission showed.



The economic sentiment index climbed to 101.0 in March from 93.4 in the previous month. The score was above economists' forecast of 96.0. This was the highest reading since February 2020.



A measure of French consumer confidence climbed to 94 from 91 in February, survey data from INSEE showed earlier today as households' expectations regarding their financial situation outlook strengthened and the saving intentions hit a record high.



Economists had expected the index reading to remain unchanged. The latest score was the highest since December's 95, but remained below the long-term average of 100.



Germany's import prices increased for the first time in nearly two years in February, data released by Destatis showed. Import prices advanced 1.4% year-on-year in February, reversing a 1.2% drop in January. This was the first increase in import prices since April 2019. Economists had forecast an annual growth of 1.1 percent for February.



Another data from Destatis showed Germany's consumer price prices rose 1.7% year-on-year in March, faster than the 1.3% rise in February. A similar higher rate was last seen in January 2020. The annual rate matched economists' expectations.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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HOUSTON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE: HHC) announced today that it will host its 2021 Virtual Investor Day on Wednesday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The company will release its 2021 first-quarter earnings on Monday, May 10, 2021, after the market closes and will hold its first-quarter conference call on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The company's earnings release will be posted to the Investors section of the company's website prior to the conference call.

2021 Virtual Investor Day

The company's 2021 Virtual Investor Day is open to the public and will feature presentations by David O'Reilly, CEO; Jay Cross, President; and Andrew Davis, SVP, Head of Investments. The live video webcast of the event and related presentation materials may be accessed on the company's website by using this link. For those unable to join the live webcast, a replay of the event and corresponding materials will be available on the company's website (www.howardhughes.com) following the event.

Shareholders may submit questions prior to the Investor Day event by going to app.saytechnologies.com/howardhughes and can email [email protected] for any support inquiries.

2021 First-Quarter Earnings Call

To participate in The Howard Hughes Corporation's first-quarter earnings conference call, please dial 1-877-883-0383 within the U.S., 1-877-885-0477 within Canada, or 1-412-902-6506 when dialing internationally. All participants should dial in at least five minutes prior to the scheduled start time, using 6915204 as the passcode. A live audio webcast will also be available on the company's website (www.howardhughes.com).

In addition to the dial-in options, institutional and retail shareholders can participate by going to https://app.saytechnologies.com/howard-hughes-2021-q1 to submit questions to Say prior to the Earnings Call. Shareholders can email [email protected] for any support inquiries.

A taped replay of the call will be available on the company's website following the event and can be accessed 24 hours a day through June 11, 2021, by dialing 1-877-344-7529 within the U.S., 1-855-669-9658 within Canada, or 1-412-317-0088 when dialing internationally, using the passcode 10150076.

About The Howard Hughes Corporation

The Howard Hughes Corporation owns, manages and develops commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate throughout the U.S. Its award-winning assets include the country's preeminent portfolio of master planned cities and communities, as well as operating properties and development opportunities including: the Seaport District in New York; Downtown Columbia, Maryland; The Woodlands, The Woodlands Hills, and Bridgeland in the Greater Houston, Texas area; Summerlin, Las Vegas; and Ward Village in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Howard Hughes Corporation's portfolio is strategically positioned to meet and accelerate development based on market demand, resulting in one of the strongest real estate platforms in the country. Dedicated to innovative place making, the company is recognized for its ongoing commitment to design excellence and to the cultural life of its communities. The Howard Hughes Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHC. For additional information visit www.howardhughes.com.

Media Contact

The Howard Hughes Corporation

Cristina Carlson, 646-822-6910

SVP, Head of Corporate Communications

[email protected]

Investor Relations

The Howard Hughes Corporation

David M. Striph, 281-929-7772

EVP, Head of Operations & Investor Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE The Howard Hughes Corporation

Related Links

http://www.howardhughes.com


Fianna Fail Senator for Louth, Erin McGreehan, has welcomed the publication of the Governments Our Rural Future - the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in decades.

The policy reflects the unprecedented change in living and working patterns during COVID-19 and the significant opportunities this presents for rural communities  from remote working and revitalising our town centres to job creation, developing a green economy and enhancing our outdoor amenities.

Senator McGreehan commented: This is a new dawn for rural Ireland.

"In many parts of our country rural Ireland has been neglected over the past number of years. Whilst the flashy world of city living and big industries, of banking, pharma, tech is generally city based, the heart of our Irish economy is in rural Ireland. Small and medium businesses, our farming community, and our agrifood industry.

It is necessary that as we look to any future plans that we look to our country as a society, a community not as an economy. If we look after our society, our community, I am in no doubt that the economy will be looked after.

This policy needs to be resourced, infrastructure, water, sewerage, broadband, walkways, transport, healthcare all need to be funded. The support for smaller schools is welcome, however rural housing needs to be permitted in order to thrive and strive.

I congratulate the Department of Rural Affairs and Community Development on this tremendous strategy and all those stakeholders who have been part of working on this ambitious and transformative plan.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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

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Musician Example has been forced to cancel his upcoming Perth concert on Sunday due to the Brisbane lockdown and Queensland border closure.

The English rapper, whose real name is Elliot Gleave, lives in the Queensland capital with his Australian model wife Erin McNaught and their two sons.

The 38-year-old won't be able to travel due to the border closures between Queensland and Western Australia.

Cancelled: Example, whose real name is Elliot Gleave, (pictured) has been forced to cancel his upcoming Perth concert on Sunday due to the Brisbane lockdown and Queensland border closure

The news was announced by promoters Bar Pop on Tuesday via email to ticket holders.

'We wish to advise that as a result of new border restrictions between Western Australia and Queensland, the Example show at Metro City this Sunday will no longer be proceeding,' they wrote.

'All ticket holders will be automatically refunded and no further action is required on your behalf.'

Local: The English rapper, whose real name is Elliot Gleave, lives in the Queensland capital with his Australian model wife Erin McNaught (right) and their two sons

Erin and rapper Example, both 36, tied the knot in 2013 as part of a private wedding ceremony near Ballina in New South Wales.

The couple share two boys - six-year-old Evander Maxwell Gleave and three-year-old Ennio Stanley Gleave.

Back in January, the musician showed off his remarkable workout transformation during lockdown on Instagram.

Shredded: Example went shirtless on Instagram back in January to show off his impressive workout transformation during lockdown

He looked worlds apart from his former self and was keen to show his followers the results of his hard work.

Standing in front of a poster of his model wife, Erin McNaught, he joked in the caption: 'Behind every strong man is a really massive poster of a fit woman.'

His followers were full of praise for his efforts and called him a 'shredded beast.'

'Didnt even see you there! Erin is so distracting.'

A man who died in a suspected stab attack in Dublins city centre yesterday was previously cleared of a knife murder.

The victim was named locally as Isaac Ike Horgan (52) who bled to death after suffering a significant knife wound to his leg.

Gardai believe he suffered at least one stab wound during an altercation at the Markievicz House apartment complex in Dublin 2.

Emergency services were alerted to the scene at around 11am yesterday and Mr Horgan was rushed to St Jamess Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The weapon believed to have been used in the incident was not recovered at the scene and Garda search teams were brought in to carry out examinations of the area.

The Irish Independent has learned that Mr Horgan was well known to gardai and was previously cleared of stabbing another man to death.

Expand Close Members of the Garda Technical Unit removing evidence at the scene of the fatal stabbing at Markievicz House in Dublin city centre where a man in his 50s died. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook

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Whatsapp Members of the Garda Technical Unit removing evidence at the scene of the fatal stabbing at Markievicz House in Dublin city centre where a man in his 50s died. Photo: Steve Humphreys

In July 2005, a jury deliberated for just over two hours at the Central Criminal Court before it found Mr Horgan, then of Fatima Mansions, not guilty of the manslaughter of Scottish national Douglas McManus.

Mr Horgan had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr McManus (36), also of Fatima Mansions, on June 17, 2002.

He had denied assaulting Mark Holmes, originally from Ranelagh, Dublin, at the same location on the same date.

During the trial, Mr Justice Paul Butler withdrew the murder charge from the jury and directed that the case proceed with a manslaughter charge.

He also directed the jury to find the accused not guilty of assaulting Mr Holmes and Mr Horgan walked free from court.

While on remand in prison awaiting trial, Mr Horgan was himself brutally stabbed in Cloverhill Prison where he was sliced from ear to ear in an attack while he queued for food in October 2003.

Senior sources say that Mr Horgan had fallen on very hard times in recent years and suffered from problems linked to alcohol abuse.

In a bizarre incident a number of years ago, he walked into a north inner city Garda station and claimed that he had worked as a child soldier for the IRA and was responsible for the murder of Lord Mountbatten in Co Sligo in 1979.

Gardai found no evidence to back up the strange claims that he was involved in the savage murders of August 27, 1979, at Mullaghmore when Lord Louis Mountbatten was killed by an IRA bomb.

Gardai at Pearse Street are investigating yesterdays suspected killing and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

Yesterday evening a large Garda presence remained at the apartment complex, which is located off Townsend Street.

Personnel attached to the Garda Technical Bureau and Divisional Scene of Crime unit also carried out forensic examinations of the scene.
JACKSON, MI -- A parked vehicle was hit multiple times with gunshots in Jackson on Sunday.

Police officers were dispatched at 12:34 a.m. Sunday, March 28, to the 400 block of W. Biddle St. after shots were fired in the area, Jackson Director of Police and Fire Services Elmer Hitt said.

A white Ford Crown Victoria was found parked on the street with damage from four apparent gunshots that hit the vehicles windows, he said.

The vehicle belonged to someone in a nearby residence and was believed to be unoccupied at the time of the incident, Hitt said. The owner was notified and did not provide additional information as to who could be responsible for the damage, he said.

The incident remains under investigation, Hitt said.

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The United States on Monday, March 29, suspended a trade deal with Myanmar until democracy is restored in the region. In a statement, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said, The United States supports the people of Burma in their efforts to restore a democratically elected government. She added, The United States strongly condemns the Burmese security forces brutal violence against civilians. The killing of peaceful protestors, students, workers, labour leaders, medics, and children has shocked the conscience of the international community.

As per Tais office, the US was immediately suspending all US engagement with Burma under the 2013 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. This does not stop trade between the two nations. However, the US is imposing economic sanctions on Myanmar.

This comes after US President Joe Biden said that his administration is working on sanctions against Myanmars junta over the surge in violence against civilians that followed immediately after the coup on February 1. President Biden, while talking to reporters in Delaware, called the violence terrible and outrageous, adding his administration is working on a plan to react to the grave situation. Saturday witnessed one of the bloodiest days since the coup as more than 100 protesters were reportedly killed in violence involving security forces.

Its terrible. Its absolutely outrageous. And based on the reporting Ive gotten, an awful lot of people have been killed totally unnecessarily, President Joe Biden said at Delaware Air National Guard Base before returning to Washington. When asked about the sanctions, the Democratic leader said, Well, were working on that now.

What is happening in Myanmar?

On Saturday, March 27, Myanmars military opened fire on protesters, killing at least 114 people, including children. The killing continued on Sunday as security forces opened fire on a group of funeral-goers, who were using the opportunity to demonstrate resistance to the junta. According to reports, the military also bombed several villages near the Thai border, killing at least three and injuring several others. The military allegedly conducted airstrikes in the southeastern Karen state, which is controlled by an armed ethnic group called KNU (Karen National Union).

Myanmar's coup

Myanmars military conducted a coup on February 1, overthrowing the government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The military arrested State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and several other members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party hours before the newly-elected parliamentarians were scheduled to take the oath of office. The military accused the government of engaging in illegal activities, including election fraud and corruption. However, experts suggest that the military orchestrated the coup because it feared that Suu Kyis government would reduce the number of seats reserved for the Army in the national parliament after winning the 2020 election with a landslide.

(Image Credits: AP)
A report by the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the National Health Service Test and Trace Service (NHST&T) reveals the criminal plundering of taxpayers by the Conservative government to enrich private pandemic profiteers.

Prime Minister Boris Johnsons government hailed the shambolic Test and Trace system as world beating after setting it up last May. Johnson justified the tens of billions handed over from the public purse to the Test and Trace system as it enabled the pandemic to be comprehended in a very granular way.

PAC chair, Labour MP Meg Hillier, said that despite the unimaginable resources thrown at this project, NHST&T cannot point to a measurable difference to the progress of the pandemic, adding, British taxpayers cannot be treated by government like an ATM machine.

The critical remarks of Hillier are self-serving. Everything that Johnson has been able to get away with since the beginning of the pandemic is thanks to the de facto government of national unity with the Labour Party, first under former leader Jeremy Corbyn and then under Sir Keir Starmer. As a result of their collusion, the death toll from COVID-19 now stands at more than 150,000.

If anything was world beating it was the corruption and theft of public money involved, the corollary of the callous indifference in ruling circles to the lives of the elderly, infirm and vulnerable.

Last week, Johnson told Tory MPs in private, The reason we have the vaccine success is because of capitalism, because of greed my friends It was giant corporations that wanted to give good returns to shareholders.

Through the operation of the NHST&T, the greed of capitalist parasites, many among his own party and their friends, was never clearer.

The amount doled out to the private sector under the NHST&T is massive, equating to around a quarter of the entire NHS annual budget. At least 37 billion was allocated to NHST&T, which is principally run by 22 private companies, including Serco, Deloitte, Boots, DHL and Amazon. In all, 17 billion worth of contracts to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were awarded to private companies, including those run by Tory party cronies.

Everything was done to make sure the private sector could make a killing. The High Court recently ruled that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) acted unlawfully by not publishing the Contract Award Notices within the legal time frame.

The government has recommended to the NHS pay review body that health-workers receive only a 1 percent rise, yet a fraction of the funding allocated for the test and trace private sector profiteers6.8 billionwould be enough to give one million health workers in England a 20 percent pay rise.

Even ardent defenders of the capitalist class within the PAC expressed alarm at the scale of government largesse to the corporations. Sir Nicholas Macpherson, permanent secretary at the Treasury until 2016, tweeted that the NHST&T system wins the prize for the most wasteful and inept public spending programme of all time.

Reliable test, trace and quarantining systems are vital in preventing COVID-19 transmission. But the UK government rejected putting such systems in place, as they embraced a criminal herd immunity policy in March of last year. The governments Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Valence, openly stated that the governments strategy was not to suppress the virus entirely and its also not desirable because you want some immunity in the population...

It was only after a growing opposition from the working class at the prospect of up to half a million deaths that the government was forced to impose a national lockdown last spring. The Tories primary concern was then how to reopen schools and the economy to restart the flow of profits.

But before it could send millions back to workplaces, it had to roll out a test and trace system. In May 2020, Conservative Party peer, Baroness Dido Harding, was appointed to run the test and trace system and given a massive wad of money, knowing that this would soon line the pockets of the corporate elite, including Tory Party cronies.

Baroness Harding of Winscombe (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

The PAC report notes that by the end of October 2020, NHST&T had signed 407 contracts worth 7 billion with 217 public and private organisations, of which 121 (or 70% of the contract value) were assigned as direct awards without competition under emergency measures.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) told PAC that in November and December, it had awarded a further 207 contracts worth 1.3 billion, of which around 30 were direct awards under emergency regulations. By the end of the year, DHSC had signed over 600 contracts for NHST&T-related services''.

Five months after launching NHST&T, there were 2,300 highly paid consultants and contractors working on it. Up to the beginning of November 2020 alone, they belonged to 73 different suppliers in NHST&T with a total consultancy cost of approximately 375 million.

The PAC noted, When we took evidence in mid-January the Department estimated that from Deloitte alone there were still around 900 contractors on the books. In early February, NHST&T said it was still employing around 2,500 consultants, at an estimated average daily rate of around 1,100, with the highest daily rate paid of 6,624. It is concerning that the DHSC is still paying such amountswhich it considers to be very competitive ratesto so many consultants.

This huge team of consultants failed to grasp the impending disaster of the second wave of COVID-19. The PAC states, In September 2020, NHST&T significantly underestimated the increase in demand for testing, when schools and universities returned. Laboratories processing community swab tests were unable to keep up with demand, leading to large backlogs, limits on the number of tests available, longer turnaround times and some people having to travel hundreds of miles to get a test.

It was reported last October that Serco and Sitel, involved in non-complex contact tracing, had managed to reach only 60 percent of contacts despite winning lucrative contracts. Serco alone was expected to rake 165 million profit out of these contracts.

Regardless of the evidence that the Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test was not effective in detecting positive cases of COVID-19, DHSC announced last December that it would roll out mass testing in early 2021. The guinea pigs were to be school children and college and university students, to keep them in classes and their parents in work. Tens of thousands of LFD kits were eventually distributed among NHS workersafter many contracted the virus in the second wavehaving no effect whatsoever on its spread.

To support the roll-out of mass testing, as well as the continued increase in testing capacity, the government allocated a further 7 billion to NHST&T in November in addition to the 3 billion already made available for mass testing for 202021, PAC wrote.

Professional bodies including the British Medical Association had already raised concerns over mass LFD testing as they result in a significant amount of false negatives compared to laboratory PCR tests. Only about three quarters of COVID-19 positive patients will get positive results from LFD tests according to published evidence. When LFD tests are self-administered accuracy falls to 40 percent.

Given growing public anger at the handing over of vast sums to the private sector while deaths reached the highest level of any European country, the PAC felt obliged to offer a few criticisms. There is still no clear evidence to judge NHST&Ts overall effectiveness, it wrote. It is unclear whether its specific contribution to reducing infection levels, as opposed to the other measures introduced to tackle the pandemic has justified its costs.

This is no more than a slap on the wrist for the government. The summary notes politely, We appreciate that NHST&T had to be set up and staffed at incredible speed, but in particular it now needs to wean itself off its persistent reliance on consultants and temporary staff.
Historic Jewish Temple is located 'stone's throw away' from Dome of The Rock: 'Temple Revealed' author

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Contrary to the prevailing view, groundbreaking new research argues that the Dome of the Rock Islamic shrine, which sits atop the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, is not the location of the historic Jewish temple.

In his debut book, The Temple Revealed: The True Location of The Jewish Temple Hidden In Plain Sight, author Christian Widener challenges the widely-held belief about where the ancient structure was once situated. He explains in great detail why the actual site is a mere stone's throw away on the Mount. And though unbeknownst to many, biblical prophecies are being fulfilled right before our eyes.

Widener told The Christian Posts "Life in the Kingdom" podcast that he became interested in the subject after reading various news reports and articles. As he heard specific claims that didn't make sense to him, it became a proverbial pebble in his shoe that he couldn't ignore. So, he decided to explore the topic more deliberately.

An engineer by training, he always wants to make two and two equal four, he said, and so if something does not add up to me, it somehow calls to me, and I keep digging.

The strongest evidence he found was when he was watching a rabbi give a tour of the East Gate in the Old City. The rabbi explained that this was the famed Messianic gate but not actually the real gate because the real gate has to be in front of the Temple, and the temple is where the Dome of the Rock is and, therefore, it could not be the real gate.

Yet Widener revisited Ezekiel 44, where the prophet records looking out at the Eastern Gate, and the LORD says that it is to remain shut, that it must not be opened and no one may enter through it because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it.

You look at a landmark like that, and you think its either not a real landmark because the rabbis record a lot of things in the Mishnah about Temple practices that are not in the Bible but are their best faithful recollections of Temple practices and things like that. And theyre very explicit that all of the gates in the Temple out to the outer sanctuary were in line, Widener said.

The Mishnah is the first major written collection of Jewish oral traditions, known as the Oral Torah. It is also the first major work of rabbinic literature.

In the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, a giant Temple model as it looked during the time of Herod and Jesus likewise shows the gates aligned together, he added.

It has to be one or the other, Widener reasoned. Either the Temple is not where the Dome of the Rock is located, or the gate in question is not the real gate. As he dug deeper, he found considerable historical attestations about this, that the Golden Gate is indeed the real one.

Thats where I kept peeling back the onion layers, and the more I looked, the more evidence I found that the Golden Gate was truly an original temple landmark and thats then what started undoing the case  the belief that the Temple site is where the Dome of the Rock now sits, he said.

The other major factor that led Widener to believe this was precisely where the Temple was located in the first place was because 2 Chronicles 3:1 reveals that Solomon started building the Temple on Mount Moriah on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.

A threshing floor has to be flat. Its a place where you lay out the grain, put the threshing sledges over it to separate the wheat from the chaff and tear off the stalks. ... Its a really common practice that you see all over Israel. And when we look at the rock in the Dome of the Rock, its not flat. Its not even close to flat, he elaborated.

As part of his investigation, he engaged Asher Kaufmans The Temple Mount: Where is the Holy of Holies?

Kaufman points out in his book that in the Dome of the Spirits  a small dome resting on a hexagonal base on the Mount that was built in the 10th century  is an area of flat bedrock that is built into the platform (what the Dome of the Rock sits on today) and it is actually level to it.

As an engineer, a lot of people could look at that and say, Yeah, so what. So the bedrock is level with the floor there,' Widener said.

But that doesnt happen by accident, he stressed.

The only way you can get bedrock level with a giant platform like that is if they actually built the platform and leveled it to the bedrock, which means that the bedrock then predates the platform because the bedrock goes all the way back to the earliest [time], back to the days of Abraham when he visited Mount Moriah before there was anything built there, because its part of the mountain, Widener explained.

In other words, the landmarks are all there, and the kicker, he said, is that theyre all in line.

Its not some randomly located piece of flat bedrock out there. Its directly in line, in front of the Golden Gate, he said, adding that it's not as though people didn't know that these landmarks existed but that they did not recognize them as belonging to the Temple.

If Widener's thesis is correct, it's a profound paradigm shift, and it is conceivable that the Temple could be rebuilt and sit in its actual location.

The question then becomes how soon that might happen given the region's political dynamics, which is known for being a tinderbox of ethnic and religious conflict. This is especially the case since the Temple Mount is arguably the most bitterly contested piece of real estate on the planet.

Organizations like the Temple Institute, the Temple Mount, the Eretz Yisrael Faithful Movement and other like-minded Jewish groups have already made considerable preparations to rebuild the temple should a window of opportunity arise, the author said.

They absolutely have all that they need. They have plans drawn. They have materials cut and prepared, very much like David did in his time before Solomon, he said.

He believes that recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East could bring about the circumstances in which the Temple might be reconstructed, particularly the Abraham Accords, the peace agreements brokered last year between Israel and the Gulf nations of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

That is such an enormous change of wind than weve seen in decades. And that is changing how at least their southern partners are looking at Israel and even the Temple Mount. There are statements coming out from Islamic scholars, Sunni scholars, that are questioning, for example, whether Jerusalem truly was the furthest mosque, because that was something that came several decades after the death of Muhammad, that became the lore, he said.

And so was that really the case? Or did that become sort of an invented association that happened after the fact? Im not making these arguments. Those are Islamic scholars that are making those arguments ... We should let the Jews do what they do, and we have Mecca and Medina, and thats our holy place.

Such a pivot in political and religious thinking is tremendous, Widener maintains, and if it continues, the Temple Mount could lessen in significance. When Jerusalems spiritual status is lowered in the Islamic mind, it does nothing but elevates Mecca and Medina. This might be seen more visibly if Saudi Arabia decides to sign on to the Abraham Accords.

Among the prophecies that he believes have been fulfilled in recent decades, in 1967, almost 20 years after the birth of the modern nation-state of Israel, the Jews recaptured the ancient city of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, in the Six-Day War. Yet, 10 days after that victory, the Jews returned the Mount to their enemies. To this day, the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, an Islamic religious trust, controls and manages the Temple Mount's affairs.

When you read Ezekiel 44:8, it literally says instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary,' Widener explained.

That definitely happened in 1967. They got control of the Temple Mount and they turned around and gave it back to the country that had just invaded them and tried to wipe them out. The holiest place on Earth for [the Jews], and I think for us, too, because its God who said that that place is important. And its important because His Word says it is.

Ezekiel 47 describes the Temple as the place of Gods throne, where He will dwell among Israel forever. That the Jews gave up that holy site to their enemies makes no sense, he reiterated, except for the fact that it was prophesied.

If youre feeling like your Bible reading is not invigorated lately ... reading the Scriptures with the recognition that the things that were prophesied are beginning to happen, it will change how you read the Bible, Widener said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-29 22:33:03|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Four secondary school students and one bike rider were crushed to death on Monday when a speeding truck wreaked havoc in Nigeria's southwestern state of Oyo, police said.

The incident occurred along the Iwo road, a busy commercial area in the city of Ibadan, capital of the southern state, said Olugbenga Fadeyi, a spokesman for the police.

Fadeyi told Xinhua that the overspeed driver of the truck had hit the students who were riding on a bike to school in the morning. The truck driver rammed into the students' bike as he avoided hitting some passing sheep.

The incident caused a riot in the area, as angry students went on the rampage, protesting their schoolmates' deaths, the police officer said.

"The police have moved to the area, to ensure that lives and prosperity were not vandalized by the angry students," he said further.

The police have launched a formal investigation into the unfortunate incident, Fadeyi added.

Deadly road accidents are frequently reported in Nigeria, often caused by overloading, bad condition of roads, and reckless driving. Enditem
A mother-of-two accused of stabbing her husband to death will be assessed by psychiatric officers while in custody.

Thi Huynh faced Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday charged with murder after Quoc Dung Bui's body was found inside her home in Sydney's west on Sunday afternoon.

Police allege the crime took place between 6am and 7am, and that Huynh, 37, instructed one of her two sons, aged 10 and 16, to call the police hours later.

She was arrested and taken to Bankstown Hospital under police guard for treatment.

Thi Huynh, 37, is accused of murdering her husband inside her home in front of their kids

Police allege the crime took place between 6am and 7am on Sunday and the mother-of-two ordered one of her kids to call police hours later

Her lawyer told the court he would not be seeking bail for the 37-year-old, instead asking for medical and psychiatric care.

He said Huynh would require additional support while she remains behind bars.

Daily Mail Australia understands the mother-of-two is a migrant with very little family or support networks in Australia.

'It's a very sad case,' a source close to the investigation said.

Huynh's late husband was subject to domestic violence orders which prohibited him from entering the home she shared with their boys.

He was due to appear in court in July, facing charges of common assault, stalking and intimidating his family.

Court documents reveal Mr Bui, 49, arrived at the home on December 19 armed with a 20cm blade and 'intended' to commit an indictable offence against another person.

On the same date, he was charged with assaulting, stalking and intimidating his wife and children in the house with 'intention of causing fear or mental harm'.

An apprehended violence order was also in place prohibiting him from coming near the family home.

Police tape is seen out the front of the Bankstown property where the husband was allegedly stabbed to death

Bankstown Local Court heard Huynh's late husband was subject to domestic violence orders which prohibited him from entering the home (pictured)

The court ordered a mental health assessment be undertaken before Ms Huynh's next court appearance on May 25.

Ms Huynh was housed downstairs in the cells as the first court hearing took place after initially indicating she would apply for bail.

After a brief meeting with Ms Huynh and a translator, her lawyer changed his tune and said his client was no longer seeking to be released.

Detectives earlier revealed the two boys were home at the time of the alleged incident.

'Unfortunately whilst I can say the two children were present, it's too early in the investigation to establish exactly what they heard or may have seen,' Detective Chief Inspector Darren Sly told reporters on Monday.

Her two sons are reportedly in the care of family.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732

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The only one of the RINOs who voted with the Democrats to impeach President Trump after he left office who is running for reelection next year, Senator Lisa Murkowski (RINO-Alaska) has drawn a top drawer conservative primary challenge. Murkowsi was previously censured by the Central Committee of the Alaska Republican Party for her impeachment vote, and the party vowed to recruit a primary challenger.

Kelly Tshibaka, who serves as Commissioner of Administration in Alaska state government and touts herself as part of "a new generation of Alaska conservatives", has announced her candidacy and taken Murkowski to task for a wide range of liberal votes in addition to her vote for impeachment.

The two other GOP Senators who are up for reelection in 2022 and defected on the impeachment vote, Burr (NC) and Toomey (PA), have announced their retirement, there is some speculation that Murkowski may join them rather than trying to take on both the grassroots and the party organization in a primary.
Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Member of Parliament for MonctonRiverviewDieppe, announced nearly $16 million to help construct 76 residential units at 369 Highlandview Road in Moncton.

Birch Meadows, a four-storey building by J.N. Lafford Realty Inc., is receiving the low-cost loan through the Government of Canada's Rental Construction Financing initiative (RCFi), a National Housing Strategy program delivered by CMHC that supports rental housing construction projects. The program encourages a stable supply of rental housing to support middle-class families facing expensive housing markets.

Conveniently located in Moncton's Lewisville area, Birch Meadows will provide new housing options close to public transit and services for families in Moncton.

Quotes

"Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Today's announcement will help create more rental units for families in Moncton. Our Government is committed to providing more rental units that meet the needs of families across the region, while creating well-paying middle-class jobs and strengthening our economy."  The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

"Current events remind us that nothing is more important than a home. Hard working middle-class families in Moncton deserve a safe and affordable place to call home where they can thrive and spend more time with their children. This investment is wonderful as it is providing housing options that are closer to jobs, services and amenities that families in Moncton need."  The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Member of Parliament, MonctonRiverviewDieppe

"With the rising cost of construction and increased demand for affordable housing it is becoming more difficult for developers to find the proper balance in creating viable multi residential projects.

But with the right strategy and partnerships like CMHC's RCFi program has helped make this development a reality."  Richard Tower, Vice-President, iQ Commercial Mortgages Strategy Inc.

Quick Facts

The Government of Canada acknowledges Birch Meadows is located on the traditional unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq Peoples. This territory is covered by the "Treaties of Peace and Friendship".

acknowledges Birch Meadows is located on the traditional unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq Peoples. This territory is covered by the "Treaties of Peace and Friendship". 38 units in the building will have annual rents that are well below 30% of the median household income in the area. The affordable rent levels for at least 27 units will be maintained for a minimum of 21 years from the date of first occupancy.

Birch Meadows will have barrier free access; at least two units will be universal design and at least two units will be adaptable, in addition to eight units that will meet or exceed the local accessibility standards

The building is designed to achieve energy-efficiency savings and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 25.4% relative to the 2015 National Energy Code of Buildings.

Construction commenced in April 2020 , and substantial completion is expected by October 2021 .

, and substantial completion is expected by . Moncton has had consistently strong demand for rental units in the past years, with average rental rates increasing, and low vacancy rates, currently at 2.8% ( Oct. 2020 ).

has had consistently strong demand for rental units in the past years, with average rental rates increasing, and low vacancy rates, currently at 2.8% ( ). The goal of the RCFi is to increase the supply of new purpose-built rental housing options for middle class households across Canada , enabling them to live in the cities and communities that they work in.

, enabling them to live in the cities and communities that they work in. Through the RCFi, the Government of Canada is encouraging the construction of more than 71,000 new rental housing units.

is encouraging the construction of more than 71,000 new rental housing units. A stable supply of rental housing is critical to ensure that more Canadians have access to housing that meet their need and that they can afford. This is a great option for middle class Canadians who are experiencing affordability pressure in many markets with high home prices and lack of rental supply.

Launched in April 2017 , the RCFi has generated significant interest in the industry, which has led to an expansion of the program. Through Budget 2019, the Government of Canada increased the total amount available in loans to $13.75 billion .

, the RCFi has generated significant interest in the industry, which has led to an expansion of the program. Through Budget 2019, the Government of increased the total amount available in loans to . Given the high demand for the program, the Government again expanded the RCFi in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement by adding an additional $12 billion over 7 years, starting in 2021-22. The program now totals $25.75 billion in low-cost loans.

over 7 years, starting in 2021-22. The program now totals in low-cost loans. Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year, $70+ billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call homethis includes more than $12 billion committed through the 2020 Fall Economic Statement.

Associated Links

As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, visit our website or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, visit our website or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

For further information: Mikaela Harrison, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, [email protected]; Audrey-Anne Coulombe, Media relations, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, [email protected]

Related Links

www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca


Watch: Demi Lovato says shes pansexual

Demi Lovato says she's "proud' to be part of the LGBTQIA+ "alphabet mafia", after revealing that she identifies as pansexual, which means she is attracted to all genders.

The 28-year-old singer/songwriter opened up about her sexuality during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

While talking about whether she wants to have children, Lovato said: At this moment I want to adopt [children] for sure, she said. I also dont know if Im going to end up with a guy, so I cant really see myself even getting pregnant.

I dont know. Im so fluid now, and a part of the reason why I am so fluid is because I was super closeted off.

Rogan clarified that she means sexually fluid" and that she's interested in both women and men. Lovato replied, "Yeah  anything really."

He asked if the correct term to use is "pansexual" and Lovato replied: "Yeah, pansexual."

Lovato went on to say she heard someone call the LGBTQIA+ community the alphabet mafia  and loved the term.

That's it! That's what I'm going with. Im part of the alphabet mafia and proud, she said.

Read more: Paris Jackson talks sexuality: Ive dated more women than men

Demi Lovato has revealed she identifies as pansexual in a new interview, pictured in March 2021. (Getty Images for OBB Media)

Lovato has previously spoken about being sexually fluid, revealing last year that she came out to her friends and family when she was 17.

I pretty much told all of my friends and my older sister when I was 17, she said. They all knew before I brought it to my parents and then to the public. Those were my three phases: Friends, parents, public.

Earlier this month the 28-year-old looked back on her journey to recognising and embracing her sexuality in an interview with Glamour.

When I started getting older, I started realising how queer I really am," she said.

This past year, I was engaged to a man and when it didnt work, I was like: This is a huge sign.

Lovato called off her engagement to Max Ehrich in September 2020 after just two months.

Story continues

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What does being pansexual mean?

The word pansexual is derived from the Greek prefix pan, meaning all.

Unsurprisingly, people sometimes mistake pansexuality with bisexuality although the two are actually subtly different.

While being bisexual means being attracted to more than one gender, being pansexual means being attracted to all gender identities, or attracted to people regardless of gender, GLAAD, an organisation supporting LGBTQ+ representation in the media, explains on their website.

Watch: 10 pansexual celebrities you need to know about

Lovato joins a growing band of celebrities publicly identifying as pansexual.

Last year, Lottie Moss, the younger sister of supermodel Kate Moss, revealed she identifies as pansexual.

The model, 22, was responded to a question about whether she would ever date a woman, during a Q&A session on her Instagram.

Moss replied: I'm pansexual so I don't really mind... any gender. It kinda changes every day as well. It depends on who I meet.

Also last year, Liberal Democrats MP, Layla Moran became the first openly pansexual member of parliament.

At the time, Moran told PinkNews about her experience of falling in love with a woman: It was really wonderful on the one hand, but also quite surprising for me in how I had identified before.

It wasn't really something I had done before or considered before, but sometimes when you meet the right person, it just kind of happens.

Read more: Emma Roberts reveals she froze her eggs after fertility struggle

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Bella Thorne has also recently discussed being pansexual.

The 23-year-old former Disney child star had previously identified as bisexual, but told Good Morning America that after finding out about pansexuality, she has had a self realisation.

Im actually pansexual and I didnt know that, she explained. Somebody explained to me really thoroughly what that is.

You like beings. You like what you like. Doesnt have to be a girl or a guy or a he or she or they or this or that. Its literally you like personality.

You just like a being.

Read more: How the word queer has been reclaimed by a generation

Back in 2019, model Tess Holliday revealed she identified as pansexual.

The 35-year-old explained in an interview with NYLON magazine that shes spent time reflecting on her sexuality and would consider a relationship with a woman, if she wasnt happily married to husband Nick - who she wed in 2015.

Janelle Monae and Miley Cyrus have also both previously said they are pansexual.

I went to the LGBTQ centre here in L.A., and I started hearing these stories, Cyrus told Variety. I saw one human in particular who didnt identify as male or female. Looking at them, they were both: beautiful and sexy and tough but vulnerable and feminine but masculine. And I related to that person more than I related to anyone in my life.

Once I understood my gender more, which was unassigned, then I understood my sexuality more, she continued. I was like, Oh  thats why I dont feel straight and I dont feel gay. Its because Im not.'

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Monae openly spoke about her sexuality, revealing that though she initially thought she identified as bisexual, she has now settled on the more inclusive pansexual.

I read about pansexuality and was like, Oh, these are things that I identify with too, she told Rolling Stone. Im open to learning more about who I am.

She didnt elaborate about what being pansexual means to her but said she hopes opening up might help anyone struggling with their own sexuality.

I want young girls, young boys, nonbinary, gay, straight, queer people who are having a hard time dealing with their sexuality, dealing with feeling ostracised or bullied for just being their unique selves, to know that I see you, she said.

Watch: Fitting into the LGBTQ+ community | Reality Check with Baga, Blu and Vinegar
Under the offtake agreement, the Australian miner will supply Yibin Tianyi with up to 200,000 tonnes per year of 6% grade spodumene concentrates (SC6) from the Manono Lithium and Tin Project in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for three years after production starts with an option...
The Osun government on Monday started the vaccination of 800 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia against the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Mr Tajudeen Lawal, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, during the flag-off exercise at the office of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in Osogbo, said the agency had received enough doses of the vaccine for the intending pilgrims.

Lawal said the exercise was in compliance with the directive of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), and the safety guidelines of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

The commissioner said the administration of Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun would continue to prioritise the welfare of the people as it had been doing since inception.

Lawal said the state had recorded many successes and received several commendations and accolades for its outstanding performance in the annual Hajj operations.

He assured the intending pilgrims of a seamless and hitch-free 2021 hajj exercise.

"As you all know, Nigeria and other countries of the world could not perform Hajj last year. We are considering combining registered intending pilgrims for the year 2020 and 2021.

"So far so good, about 800 people have registered, and hopefully, all of them would be vaccinated in line with the directive of the NAHCON.

"I am appealing to our people to take this exercise seriously and conduct themselves with topmost "Omoluabi ethos", whenever they are in the Holy land because this is what we are known for," Lawal added.

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In his remarks, Mr Bolaji Sanni, the Secretary of the State's Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, said the exercise was designed to adhere to and fulfill all necessary safety requirements as laid down by the health authorities.

Sanni said that the intending pilgrims were expected to take two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines before they leave Nigeria for Saudi Arabia.

"This vaccination exercise is in line with the directive of the NAHCON to vaccinate all the intending pilgrims as part of the necessities for this year's Hajj.

"Since the Hajj exercise for this year is expected to commence in June, we are under obligation to carry out the vaccination exercise to meet up with the deadline.

"This first phase of the vaccination exercise will end by April, while the second dose will be taken early June as the intending pilgrims are expected to depart Nigeria for Saudi Arabia by the middle of June", Sanni said.

Vanguard News Nigeria
As the number of pro-democracy protesters killed by security forces rose to 500, Myanmar activists launched a garbage strike to oppose the military coup. According to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group, around 510 civilians have been killed since Myanmars junta launched a crackdown on protesters demonstrating the countrys military coup on February 1. On Saturday alone, more than 100 people had been killed- including children - in 44 towns and cities across the country.

According to Sky News, amid the heavy clashes between the protesters and the junta, demonstrators have now stepped up the civil disobedience campaign by asking Yangon residents to leave rubbish at main road intersections. While taking to social media, a protester even informed that the garbage strike is a strike to oppose the junta. Several users even shared pictures online which showed piles of rubbish piling up on the citys road.

Pro-democracy doing garbage strike this morning in Tharketa, Yangon after JUNTA declared people who make barricade with garbage will be killed.



ABOMINABLE CRUELTY#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #Mar30Coup pic.twitter.com/YBULO8FXd2  Keren Khin (@keren_khin) March 30, 2021

Come and RPG today's resistance act! In a revolutionary society such as #myanmar everything can and will be turned into weapons of liberation. In Yangon, people use garbage to signal their continued defiance and resistance against State Admin Council #terrorist regime. pic.twitter.com/vHHgD9g4pH  maung zarni (@drzarni) March 30, 2021

Happened in Tharkayta:Cilivilans threw away their garbage wastes on the main road to repel the dictatorship and killing of over 400 unarmed civilians across Myanmar. Garbage strike !!! #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #Mar30Coup pic.twitter.com/iEZes1I1Lo  Eleanor (@Uniquenectar) March 30, 2021

Myanmar military coup

Meanwhile, the death toll in Myanmar has been steadily increasing as authorities grow more forceful with their suppression of opposition to the February 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup also reversed years of progress toward democracy after five decades of military rule. The killings of civilians have drawn international condemnation, with multiple diplomatic missions to Myanmar releasing statements and calling out the army in Burma to follow international standards of military professionalism.

According to AAPP, throughout Monday, crackdowns and shootings, however, continued across the nation and at least 14 people were shot dead. According to CNN, the AAPP said that amidst crackdowns in Kyauk Myaung, Tamwe Township, Yangon Region, people banged pots and pans in protest. At that time, the junta forces told people they will arson neighbourhoods if people continue, AAPP said. Additionally, the reported influx of people fleeing into neighbouring Thailand also marks a new phase in the deepening crisis for Myanmar.

(Image: Twitter/AP)




BMW Goes Vertical On EV's, Contracts For For Sustainable Lithium Supply From South America

From The TACH Archive To Put This Story In Context - EV's Dirty Secret: The Daily Mail Exposes Cobalt Mining - The Human Tragedy Behind Lithium Battery Production

Multi-year contract worth around 285 million euros with US company Livent(see video below)

Responsible extraction of lithium in Argentina

Participating in study of sustainable lithium extraction in South America

Wendt: "Making ourselves technologically, geographically and geopolitically less dependent on individual suppliers"





Munich.March 30, 2021; The BMW Group will be accelerating its expansion of e-mobility in the coming years. By 2030, at least half the companys global sales are expected to come from fully-electric vehicles. This will also increase the need for lithium, an important raw material for production of battery cells. For this reason, the company will source lithium from a second leading supplier, US-based Livent. The value of the multi-year contract will total around 285 million euros. Livent will supply the lithium directly to the BMW Groups battery cell manufacturers from 2022 on.

Lithium is one of the key raw materials for electromobility. By sourcing lithium from a second supplier, we are securing requirements for production of our current fifth generation of battery cells. At the same time, we are making ourselves technologically, geographically and geopolitically less dependent on individual suppliers, said Dr Andreas Wendt, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network.

The BMW Group already signed a contract for the procurement of lithium from so-called hard-rock deposits at Australian mines back in 2019. Now, the company is broadening its supplier base and additionally sourcing lithium from Argentina, where the raw material is obtained from brine from salt lakes. Livent employs an innovative method, that emphasises sustainable water use and minimises the impact on local ecosystems and communities. The company will also contribute important data to the study of sustainable lithium mining initiated by the BMW Group.

The BMW Group sources critical raw materials like lithium and cobalt directly from producers and makes them available to its battery cell suppliers. In this way, the company creates complete transparency over the origin and mining methods of the material.

Sustainable lithium extraction in Argentina

The salt lakes in the border region between Argentina, Bolivia and Chile are home to roughly half the worlds lithium reserves. In conventional lithium mining, brine from the layers below the salt lakes is pumped out of the ground and evaporated in shallow basins.

Livent obtains lithium from a brine resource in northern Argentina, using a proprietary method that is particularly sustainable. To minimise the impact on the surrounding ecosystem, most of the brine used is returned directly to the surrounding habitat and not evaporated. This largely preserves the balance between the brine layers and groundwater layers. Solvents and other chemicals do not come into contact with the environment during this process. It also takes up much less space, since evaporation basins are barely used. The company is also involved in local educational programmes and infrastructure measures.

Lithium water study in cooperation with University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Massachusetts Amherst

The BMW Group and BASF commissioned a scientific analysis of the water use of different lithium mining methods in South America from the University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Massachusetts Amherst in late 2020. The study will investigate the impact of lithium mining on local water resources and the surrounding ecosystems.

The aim is to improve the scientific understanding of the relationship between fresh water and lithium brine aquifers, to evaluate different technologies and thus provide the foundation for assessing sustainable lithium mining. The study will provide companies with a scientific basis to make more informed decisions on sustainable lithium mining in Latin America. The results of the study should be available in the first quarter of 2022.

Lithium water study investigates the impact of lithium extraction in South America on local water resources and the surrounding ecosystems.  University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Massachusetts Amherst (03/2021)

Working towards strict IRMA standard for lithium mining

The BMW Group became the first automotive manufacturer worldwide to join the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) in early 2020. IRMA is a multi-stakeholder governed initiative that has developed guidelines for responsible extraction of raw materials and defined strict requirements for meeting its environmental and social standards. The BMW Group has set itself the goal of having mining suppliers certified according to this standard in the future. On the recommendation of the BMW Group, Livent has now become a pending member of IRMA, signifying its commitment to undergo a third-party audit in IRMA. Livent is the first company with mining operations in Argentina to have made this commitment, and one of the first lithium mining companies in the world to do so.

BMW Group ups the pace of electromobility expansion

The BMW Group will already have about a dozen fully-electric models on the roads from 2023. Between now and 2025, the BMW Group will increase its sales of fully-electric models by an average of well over 50 percent per year  more than ten times the number of units sold in 2020. By the end of 2025, the company will have delivered a total of around two million fully-electric vehicles to customers.

Based on its current market forecast, the company expects at least 50 percent of its global sales to come from fully-electric vehicles in 2030. At this point, there will no longer be any segment position in the BMW Groups entire product portfolio where the company does not offer at least one fully-electric model. The company will also be capable of handling a much larger percentage of fully-electric vehicles if demand develops accordingly. In total, over the next ten years or so, the BMW Group will be releasing about ten million fully-electric vehicles onto the roads.
Lawyers for Alabama Shakes drummer Steve Johnson say he is innocent of child abuse charges, and they believe he is being accused in a matter that has already been litigated.

Steven William Johnson, 35, was arrested last Wednesday after being indicted last October on charges of willful torture, willful abuse and cruelly beating or otherwise willfully maltreating a child under the age of 18. He is currently being held in the Limestone County Jail without bond.

On Monday, Johnsons attorneys, Nick Lough and Marcus Helstowski filed a motion for a more definitive statement following Johnsons indictment. They say its unclear what led to the charges.

Mr. Johnson maintains his innocence, Helstowski said. We believe this was a matter that was fully litigated at the district court level in Limestone County and was dismissed by the prosecutor at that time. We do not believe, and have been presented no evidence, that Mr. Johnson has willfully abused or tortured any child, and he maintains his innocence.

The motion filed by his lawyers argue that Johnson has a right under the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to know the specific accusation. Lough said the nature of the charge is leading to wild public speculation.

In terms of the word torture, thats the word that people have been throwing around left and right, he said. Weve seen some of the headlines. If were talking about a spanking incident, this had absolutely nothing to do with torture. When people hear that word, their minds run wild. If were talking about a spanking incident, thats not torture.

The motion also argues the indictment does not spell out where and when the offense was to have occurred, or the manner of abuse. Because of this, he cant adequately defend himself, they argue. The lawyers also filed a discovery motion for any materials related to the investigation.

Lough said the arrest came barely two days after Johnson had his parental visitation rights restored in court. Yet the indictment was handed down in October.

No one was notified of that indictment being issued, he said. We were not notified by anybody. Had we been notified, he would have turned himself in because he maintains his innocence. If hes such a menace or a monster, why did it take months and months to track him down when all he was doing was going from church to his house? This isnt someone who was going on the run. So why did it happen the same week he has a victory in his domestic relations case. This warrant has been sitting out there since last fall.

Johnson pleaded guilty in March 2020 to violating a domestic violence protection order in Limestone County. He received a suspended sentence of a year in jail, with 24 months on probation.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Two Flint universities are planning to freeze tuition for undergraduate programs for the upcoming academic year.

University of Michigan-Flint is presenting a budget to the Board of Regents that recommends a tuition freeze, which will be considered in the budget plans at its June meeting. Kettering University made its intention to freeze tuition clear earlier this month.

For UM-Flint, this decision signifies a change in direction from last year, when the UM Board of Regents approved a 3.9 percent tuition increase for UM-Flint undergraduate students. More details from the UM-Flint decision are expected when Regents consider the budget at their June meeting.

This is not an easy time for our students and their families, and this is one way the University can spread some certainty and allow people to make their own plans, Jen Hogan, UM-Flint spokeswoman and Executive Director for Marketing and Digital Strategies, said.

This is the second consecutive year that Kettering University is freezing tuition. Last year, Kettering joined many public universities in a decision to freeze tuition despite looming COVID-19-related budgeting concerns.

Kettering employs a fixed-tuition guarantee that ensures undergraduates pay the same tuition from freshman year to graduation.

As a result of COVID-19, students and their families have faced many challenges and uncertainties, Kettering University President Robert McMahan said in a news release. An increase in tuition for the entering class should not be one of them.

Many universities justified the decision to freeze tuition as one that would encourage students to remain enrolled during a tumultuous academic year that saw in-person instruction almost entirely thrown out for safety reasons.

In a March interview, UM-Flint Chancellor Deba Dutta laid out plans to return as back to normal as the university can get during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Both Kettering and UM-Flint are back to having some in-person instruction, but most classes remain virtual at this point.

UM-Flints tuition is just over $12,000 for in-state, full-time students. Kettering University, a private institution, costs $22,190 for full-time students.

Read more on MLive:

Michigan universities and colleges bleeding revenue amid coronavirus closures

UM-Flint will be back to normal in fall while maintaining safety protocols, chancellor says

Flint Promise scholarship program to host virtual informational meeting for families

Diversity efforts at Kettering University bolstered through $1M donation for scholarship program

From migrant farm work to TV news, John Quinones to speak at Mott Community College lecture series
The PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has rejected calls for him to quit, after the First Minister Arlene Foster had called on him to resign and warned there will be consequences, after the Public Prosecution Service said it will not prosecute those reported for attendance at the funeral of former IRA prisoner Bobby Storey last June.

The five-month long investigation resulted in police speaking to 24 people, all from Sinn Fein and including senior members of the party. A file on all 24 was sent to the PPS for consideration in December.

The PPS found there was no prospect of a successful prosecution.

Read More

Reacting to the First Minister Arlene Foster tweeted: "I feel sorry for everyone who stuck by the rules.

"Devastating outcome for public confidence in policing. There will be consequences."

In a statement, she said the organisation, attendance, policing and investigation of the Storey funeral raised "fundamental questions which require deeper examination if public confidence in the institutions of justice is to be maintained".

"Everyone must be equal under the law and equally subject to the law," she added.

"Sinn Fein have acted as though they were above the law. To claim ignorance of the law is no defence when you helped legislate those very same regulations. Hundreds lined the streets dressed in white shirts and black ties and attended a political rally in Milltown Cemetery when the limit on public gatherings was 30. There was a complete lapse of leadership and a public display of arrogance by Sinn Feins elected representatives. Public health rules were undermined and irreparably damaged.

"The engagement between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the funeral organisers is a factor in no prosecution being made. This is inexplicable. That the police assisted in breaking the law is fundamental and requires further examination. If any senior officer is identified as having approved of or contributed to that decision-making process, then all those senior officers positions are untenable.

"The position of the Chief Constable is now untenable and I am calling on him to resign. Sadly, it is now clear confidence cannot be rebuilt with him in post.

"I have already spoken with the Secretary of State and with serious questions remaining for Belfast City Council, the PSNI and the Sinn Fein leadership, I intend to meet with him. For our part we will be examining all routes for a further independent examination of all the events of 30 June.

"When what was seen by everyone is not seen by the justice system the situation has become absurd. The role of the PSNI on the day has been a determining factor. This creates a crisis of confidence that goes to the highest levels of the police.

"The public interest has not been served throughout and compliance to our health regulations fundamentally undermined by SFs and the PSNIs behaviour from that day to this."

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, the Chief Constable Simon Byrne rejected calls that his position was untenable and said he "stood by" the actions of his officers in the planning of the funeral operation.

"I was employed to do a job here in terms of managed a large complex organisation. If I stand aside it actually undermines who comes after me," he said.

"We will have to look at what the next few weeks bring. I hope people take a few days to reflect on this decision. We are here to police the whole of the country, to do it well and to police impartially."

Following the reaction, Mr Byrne also added that he thought it was a "shame people have rushed to judgement so quickly" but added that he wanted to "hear the voices of the unionist community".

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd revealed there had been "three or four days" of engagement between the PSNI and organisers of the funeral.

He added that: "No promises were sought. No promises were given. No permissions were given."

Law changed 'significantly'

The PPS said the evidential test was not met in the Storey funeral and therefore the public interest case was not relevant. Confusion around the public messaging and police prior engagement with the organisers was also deemed relevant in deciding if those present had a reasonable excuse to be in attendance.

Police were found to be well aware in advance that non family members intended to be present at the funeral and received a written plan shortly before the funeral giving details of the planned path of the cortege.

The PPS said the law, as it applied to the Storey funeral, was changed "significantly" on the evening before the funeral and further amended two days later.

That PPS found those present reasonably believed due to the confusing nature of the regulations and the prior engagement with police, as well as the policing of the funeral on the day, would have awarded all those present a "reasonable excuse" defence with no prospect of prosecution.

Two people, however, will be prosecuted for attendance at the funeral of former Sinn Fein councillor Francie McNally, in Mid Ulster in April last year.

Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle ONeill again apologised for the hurt caused "to so many, including to Bobby Storeys own family who have been thrust into the headlines at a time of immense grief".

She continued: Over the past nine months, I have worked tirelessly to rebuild trust with the public and I continue to work every day to navigate us all through this unprecedented crisis.

Nine months ago I laid my dear friend Bobby Storey to rest. I accept and understand that many people, particularly those who had lost loved ones during the last year, felt that by my actions, I gave the impression that the rules did not apply to us all equally. Let me say clearly they do.

No funeral is more important than any other. No family or community is any more important than any other. All grief is devastating.

We are now beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel in relation to this dreadful pandemic. I will continue to focus on leading us to better days ahead.

Around 2,000 mourners lined the streets of west Belfast for the funeral of the senior republican, with members of Sinn Fein, including party leader May Lou McDonald and the deputy first minister walking behind the cortege.

Covid restriction at the time were that only 30 people were permitted at public gatherings including funerals.

Mark Webster, the deputy chief constable of Cumbria Police, was drafted in to provide independent oversight after it was claimed that senior members of Sinn Fein had consulted with the PSNI prior to the west Belfast funeral.

The investigation centred on alleged offences under the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.

A large funeral for former Sinn Fein councillor Francie McNally in Mid-Ulster in April 2020, and two other funerals which did not involve any public figures were also under consideration by the PPS.

While there will be prosecutions in the McNally case, there were diversionary measures recommended for two further funerals in west Belfast in April and in east Belfast in June.

A chairperson of Sinn Fein, Mr Storey (64) died in June following a lengthy battle with lung disease.

PPS Director Stephen Herron said: I acknowledge the widespread public concern that events on 30 June, 2020 appeared to involve breaches of the regulations by individuals in positions of responsibility, as the numbers attending the funeral were large and not confined to close family.

It is relevant that by the time of this funeral, the original Regulations of March 2020 had been amended on nine separate occasions through a combination of deliberate relaxation and re[1]working at pace to meet policy change

As a result, on the 30 June, the regulations had become extremely difficult to navigate and, in certain respects, inconsistent.

Furthermore, organisers of this particular funeral and police had engaged against the backdrop of evolving Regulations in an attempt to ensure that a balance was struck in the funeral arrangements between respecting the sensitivity of the occasion and minimising any risk to both public health and safety.

Prosecutions can only be brought where the available evidence provides a reasonable prospect of proving, beyond reasonable doubt, a breach of the criminal law.

"As a result of the factors considered we have concluded that the prosecution could not prove any breach of the Regulations to the required standard. Whether considered alone or in combination, the two reasons outlined - that is the lack of clarity and coherence within the regulations and the prior engagement between organisers and police - would pose an insurmountable difficulty if any of the reported individuals were prosecuted.

This is because they could all avail of a defence of reasonable excuse in terms of their actual or reasonably perceived compliance with a complex set of regulations and/or their reliance on the prior engagement with PSNI.

The law as it applied to the Storey funeral was changed significantly on the evening before the funeral and further amended two days later.

Even though prosecutions are not being brought on this occasion, they are being brought for breaches in relation to funerals at a point in time when the Regulations were clear and coherent.

As has been evident in other jurisdictions, the law relating to permissible conduct in the course of the pandemic is not always clear cut and this can be challenging when it comes to enforcement of what are essentially health regulations in a criminal justice context.

Prosecutions can only be considered in light of the regulations in force at the particular point in time of the alleged breach. It was necessary for all relevant facts and circumstances in this case to be considered carefully and independently following a thorough investigation.

Acknowledging the sensitive role funerals play in society Mr Herron added: The restrictions in place over the last 12 months have had a significant impact on the way families and friends have been able to say goodbye to their loved ones.

Many families may feel it was unfair they made sacrifices or compromises in funeral arrangements. We should not lose sight of the important role that these Regulations have played in reducing the transmission of the virus by discouraging social contact in large numbers.

Throughout the pandemic, the regulations have had clear value and all those who carefully abided by the letter and spirit of the law have played their part in protecting public health.

More than 46,000 people have been inoculated against COVID-19 in Vietnam after over 1,200 were administered the first shot of AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday.

The Southeast Asian countrys Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), tasked with coordinating the national mass inoculation, said a total of 1,276 people were immunized on Monday in Hai Duong Province, Hai Phong City, Hoa Binh Province, Bac Giang Province, Ha Giang Province, Dien Bien Province, and Ho Chi Minh City.

A combined 46,416 people have been given the first jab of AstraZeneca vaccine since Vietnam started vaccination on March 8, according to the programs statistics.

Those vaccinated were medical staff and other frontline workers.

Vietnam received the first-ever batch of 117,600 AstraZeneca shots on February 24. This is part of 30 million jabs it bought from AstraZeneca.

The UNICEF said on March 24 that the country would be provided with 811,200 doses of the same vaccine in the next three weeks.

The COVAX scheme, a facility co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF, to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines as well as ensure fair and equitable access for every country, will supply this batch for free.

This quantity is smaller than previously announced for the first shipment and based on an equitable pro-rata distribution of available doses between all participant countries," the UNICEF said in a statement.

"Based on initial information shared by the manufacturer, the aim remains to deliver a total of 4,176,000 doses to Vietnam by the end of May, pending operational and supply constraints.

Vietnam has approved two vaccines, AstraZeneca developed by the eponymous AngloSwedish company and Oxford University and Russias Sputnik V, for emergency use.

The Vietnamese government has said it already secured 60 million AstraZeneca jabs via direct purchases and the COVAX scheme.

Vietnam expects to acquire 150 million vaccine doses from various producers this year.

It reported zero coronavirus infections on Tuesday morning, when the national caseload stood at 2,594 patients, including 1,603 domestically-transmitted cases, according to the Ministry of Health.

Authorities have recorded 910 domestic cases since January 27.

They have logged 2,308 recoveries and 35 virus-related fatalities so far.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The deadline to file and pay your state and federal taxes was extended from April 15 to May 17 because of the pandemic.

Even though the state and federal government extended the deadline, you could be charged interest on your state income tax for waiting.

Sen. Arthur Orr says he plans to file a bill Tuesday morning. It would allow the Alabama Department of Revenue to waive any interest that might accrue if you don't pay your state income tax by April 15.

"I think it would help a lot, especially in a pandemic," Cody Smallwood said.

Cody and Allyson Smallwood have already filed their taxes for the year, but they believe Sen. Arthur Orr's bill would help many who haven't.

"Interest can build up pretty fast, and it can be financially crippling for a lot of people," Smallwood said.

Orr's bill would do two things. First, it would permanently tie Alabama's filing date with the federal government. That means if the IRS extends its tax filing deadline, Alabama's would automatically change, too, instead of having to track two tax filing days.

"That would be terribly confusing for Alabama taxpayers, so we need to stick and stay consistent with the federal government when it comes to tax filing dates," Orr said.

The bill would also allow the Alabama Department of Revenue to waive any interest accrued after April 15. The agency says it can waive late penalties for payments made by May 17, but it's not authorized to waive any interest that may add up. For that to happen, legislation must pass.

"If the state is good enough to extend the tax filing deadline, then we don't need to turn around and create a lot of headaches needlessly for the tax payers or the state in trying to collect the interest," Orr said. "We just need to get it legal and on the books that no interest would be charged."

Orr says he's confident the bill will pass.

"I think it will sail through, and I think it sail through before April 15," Orr said.

The Smallwood family says they hope it does.

"Being able to cancel that interest can help a lot of people not get worse in debt," Smallwood said.

Orr says the interest would be an unnecessary headache for the state and taxpayers over a few dollars and cents.

At this time, it's still unclear how much interest one could face if the bill does not pass. We reached out to the Alabama Department of Revenue to find out the exact amount, but have not heard back at this time.
Forty-eight-year-old Izzat Amon has spent half his life helping Tajik migrant laborers in Russia.

On March 25, Russian authorities detained Amon and forcibly returned him to Tajikistan, where he faces charges of fraud in connection to his work in Moscow.

In a hastily convened hearing before his deportation, a Russian court also deprived him of his Russian citizenship

Amon is not the first Tajik to be apprehended in Russia and sent back to Tajikistan. But his case differs from others.

Amon is not a member of a Tajik opposition party, although he did recently criticize Tajikistans government.

Amon's case illustrates that under authoritarian Tajik President Emomali Rahmons rule, any civic or legal activism independent of his governments control is viewed as an existential threat.

In Moscow, Amon offered the sorts of services to Tajik migrant laborers that even Tajik officials say are needed. Also known as Izzat Kholov, Amon has lived in Russia since 1996, when he obtained his Russian citizenship.

In 2000, he moved to Moscow and helped establish the Center for Tajiks of Moscow -- an organization that has helped Tajik citizens properly register with Russian authorities, as well as to find places to live and work. Amons organization has also helped Tajiks facing legal issues in Russia.

Amon has publicly chided Tajik authorities for failing to sufficiently press Russia on the issue of rights abuses against Tajik migrant laborers.

Steve Swerdlow, an attorney and associate professor of human rights at the University of Southern California, has closely followed crackdowns against the rights of Central Asians in Russia. He says Tajik migrant laborers are among the most vulnerable people in Russia.

Judging by the number of reports of Tajik nationals whove been beaten and even killed in Russia, it is difficult to dispute his conclusion.

Swerdlow says the targeting of Amon by Tajik and Russian authorities violates several binding international human rights commitments made by each country. That includes a prohibition on returning a person to a country where they are likely to face torture, as well as arbitrarily depriving an individual of their citizenship.

But Amons case also reflects the extent to which Tajikistans rights crisis has worsened during the past several years.

Known in Moscows human rights community primarily as an advocate for Tajik migrants rights, Amon is far from the typical opposition figure Dushanbe has been accustomed to targeting, Swerdlow says. His case illustrates that under authoritarian President Emomali Rahmons rule, any civic or legal activism independent of his governments control is viewed as an existential threat.

Amon has worked for more than two decades with Russian authorities to help Tajiks migrants, who number in the hundreds of thousands. He has a reputation as a person who solves problems.

His understanding of Russias system for migrant laborers cannot be easily replicated. Amons forced return to Tajikistan will leave a vacuum for many Tajiks trying to navigate Russian laws and regulations.

In fact, it may have been Amons popularity among migrants that worried authorities back in Tajikistan.

In 2019, Amon briefly contemplated forming a new political party called Changes, Reforms, And Progress. Hed planned to court voters among migrant laborers with an eye on being elected to parliament and representing their interests there.

Amon released a video in which he said Tajik migrants have been outside the governmentand have had no influence. We wanted to participate in the further political reconciliation of our country by establishing a party.

Amon also said: We who have provided 70 percent of the country's budget for 30 years [through remittances] must unite and bring about radical changes in the country.

But Amon abandoned the idea of forming a political party due to a requirement in Tajikistans election laws that says candidates must reside in the country for at least 10 years prior to elections.

Tajik authorities were displeased with Amon in 2006 when he resisted an effort by then-Tajik Ambassador to Russia Abdulmajid Dostiev to bring all Tajik migrant and diaspora organizations in Russia under one umbrella. Amon and another leader of a Tajik migrant group, Karomat Sharifov, refused to join. Sharifov was the head of the Tajik Labor Migrants organization in Russia.

Tajik authorities became concerned about Sharifovs activities in Russia after he publicly criticized Moscows policies on migrant laborers.

Sharifov also had a Russian passport. But in December 2017, a Russian court ruled hed violated a law on foreigners illegally entering Russia or remaining in the country after their entry visas expire. The court ordered Sharifovs deportation to Tajikistan.

Sharifov was not arrested in Tajikistan, but he died there at the age of 57 under suspicious circumstances in May 2020.

The circumstances of Amons forcible return to Tajikistan are equally troubling, as they have become all too familiar.

Amon confided to friends months ago that he knew Tajik authorities wanted him sent back to Tajikistan. Hed told friends that he expected charges of being involved in terrorist activities to eventually be filed against him.

RFE/RLs Tajik Service, known locally as Ozodi, reports that Amon was accused on March 4 in Moscows Tverskoi court of illegal employment in Russia. It was then that he was threatened with deportation, which the court ordered on March 16.

His wife, Sayora Taghoeva, who remains in Russia, said the family hired a lawyer in order to appeal the deportation order.

One of Amons colleagues told Ozodi that Russian police detained Amon on March 25 and took him to an unknown location. His family was never informed by Russian authorities of his detention.

Amon was back in Tajikistan by March 27.

Asia-Plus reported on March 27 that Tajikistans Interior Ministry denied that Tajik law enforcement agencies had any connection to Amons detention in Russia. But later, the Interior Ministry announced several charges of fraud against Amon in Tajikistan.

Recurring Pattern

Human rights campaigners note that those fraud allegations are similar to charges brought against Tajik rights lawyer Buzurgmehr Yorov, who has been serving a 28-year prison sentence in Tajikistan since 2015.

Russia has never been a safe haven for Tajiks who are wanted by authorities back in Tajikistan. But it is one of the easiest destinations for Tajik citizens to reach. For some Tajik migrants, Russia is the end of the line as they do not have the possibility of legally traveling to other countries.

Swerdlow says forced returns and sometimes outright kidnappings of Central Asian dissidents on Russian soil have turned the country into a graveyard for Tajik dissent.

Edward Lemon, an assistant professor at the Washington-based Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, has written extensively on transnational repression by Central Asian governments.

This kidnapping is certainly not an isolated incident, Lemon says. Despite being a small and impoverished state, the Tajik government has developed a relatively extensive network to control the opposition abroad, subjecting them to intimidation, harassment, attacks, detention, and rendition.

Lemon says that during his research on transnational repression, he has recorded 63 cases of Tajik citizens whove been targeted abroad since 1991. He says most have come since 2015, when the government cracked down on the opposition, forcing many opposition members, journalists, and academics to flee the country.

All of those cases involved Tajiks who were in Russia or Turkey.

Swerdlow says there have been similar cases in Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as further afield in Greece.

Both Lemon and Swerdlow say Amons case resembles that of Maksud Ibragimov, a Tajik businessman living in Russia who established an organization called Youth for the Revival of Tajikistan. Ibragimov was detained in Russia in November 2014, based on a warrant issued by Tajikistan.

As a Russian passport holder, he was released without being deported. Soon after his release, he was stabbed by an unknown assailant near his Moscow home.

Ibragimov was arrested again in January 2015 and brought to the local prosecutors office before he was released again without being charged.

Lemon recounts that when he left the building, he was detained by unidentified men who took him to the airport and put him in the baggage hold of a plane.

The Tajik government did not acknowledge that Ibragimov was back in Tajikistan until June 2015, when he was sentenced to 17 years in prison on a host of charges, including extremism, Lemon said.

Russian authorities have cooperated with Dushanbe more recently on the return of other Tajik dissidents. They include the opposition figures Shobuddin Badalov (2020, detained in Nizhny Novgorod); Sharofiddin Gadoev (2019, kidnapped from Moscow); and Naimjon Samiev (2018, detained in Grozny).

Among all of those cases, only Gadoev made it out of Tajikistan. His release has been attributed to intervention by the Netherlands, where hed received refugee status.

Dismal Prospects

The current situation does not bode well for Amon, as the fraud charges against him may only be the beginning. Tajik authorities are notorious for piling on charges against perceived opponents of the government in order to portray them as acting illegally and immorally.

But for now, the most urgent concern for Amons family and colleagues is that he has not been seen or heard from since arriving in Dushanbe. That has raised fears that he may be being subjected to torture.

Swerdlow and Lemon say it is going to take a lot more than wishful thinking to change this awful trajectory. At a minimum, they hope the Dushanbe embassies of the United States and European Union states will raise concerns about the cases of Amon and other political prisoners.

They say Western embassies also should monitor Amons trial and explore options for reuniting him with his family abroad.

RFE/RL's Tajik Service contributed to this report.
Illegal immigrants listen to instructions at an outdoor Border Patrol processing center under the Anzalduas International Bridge after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico near Mission, Texas, on March 23, 2021. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Trump Border Patrol Chief: 30,000 Illegal Immigrants Released Into US Since January

About 30,000 people who illegally entered the United States via Mexico have been released by federal officials into the country since January amid a surge of people being held in detention centers, according to a former Border Patrol chief.

Mark Morgan, the former acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection under former President Donald Trump, told the Washington Examiner that Border Patrol officials have been directly releasing people and were not transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Morgan told the paper that he was provided the information by agency officials. The Epoch Times has contacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees both ICE and Border Patrol, for comment.

Youre not going to find that anywhere because theyre locking down the information, Morgan said of that information. He did not provide more details.

Over the weekend, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) said that he learned of at least 2,000 illegal immigrants in southern Texas that were released by Border Patrol agents without having been given notice to appear in an ICE court.

There are some family units that have been returned to Mexico depending on the age of the kids that are with them, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) told CBS News on Sunday, adding that while some are returned, over 2,000 of them have been released into the United States without a notice to appear.

I emphasizewithout a notice to appear at an immigration court, he remarked. Theyre supposed to appear, show up, maybe in 60 days, report to an ICE office. This is unprecedented. Cuellar said that the fact that thousands are being released has placed a burden on NGOs and local communities.

As of Sunday, there are more than 5,000 people who are being held by federal officials for processing in the Rio Grande Valley, and around 64 percent are unaccompanied minors, Cuellar told Border Report.

A border patrol told The Epoch Times, Unfortunately, on any given day we may have upwards of 9,000 people in custody, which certainly puts a strain on our resources.

President Joe Biden last week said he would not apologize for rolling back successful immigration policies of his Republican predecessor that he says undermined human dignity and brushed off criticism that illegal immigrants were making the journey to the southern border because they perceived him to be a nice guy.

Republicans, including senators who went to the border over the past weekend, said it was Bidens reversal of several Trump-era asylum policies that led to the surge. They argued that because Biden moved quickly and issued executive orders, it essentially gave the green light for would-be migrants and human smugglers to act.

Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 22:58:06|Editor: huaxia

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MONROVIA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- A senior Liberian legislator on Tuesday praised China for its assistance in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in the West African country.

Deputy Speaker of the Liberian House of Representatives Jonathan Fonati Koffa, speaking to reporters in the capital Monrovia, commended China for what he described as "a leadership role" in supporting and working with the World Health Organization, as well as providing vaccines to African countries.

The senior legislator said Liberia acknowledges China's strive in strengthening relations with the African country.

He also recalled China's help to Liberia in 2014, when the Ebola virus ravaged the country, killing over 4,000 people.

"China has always been a true bilateral partner to Liberia in all areas," Koffa added.

An official from the Chinese embassy in Liberia told Xinhua on phone on Tuesday that so far the Chinese government has provided three batches of medical aid to Liberia to assist the country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chinese companies and communities in Liberia, responding to the call of the embassy, have also raised several rounds of cash and medical supply donations to local communities battling the virus. Enditem
Ontario Racing announced today (March 30) that previously scheduled Sunday cards of racing for Flamboro Downs will move to Woodbine Mohawk Park on Sunday evenings during the month of April, starting April 4. Additionally, The Raceway at Western Fair District will host the April 3, 10, 17 and 24 Saturday race cards, as well as the April 8, 15, 22 and 29 Thursday race cards, previously scheduled for Flamboro Downs on those dates (both are pending final approval).

With the Hamilton Region having entered the Grey-Lockdown category as of Sunday, March 28 at 11:59 p.m., Flamboro Downs is not permitted to host live racing.

Following discussions with all appropriate parties and pending final regulatory approval, the cards slated for Sundays at Flamboro Downs in April will now take place on the same day at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a post time of 7:00 p.m. The draw for transferred races at Woodbine Mohawk Park, to be conducted by its Race Office, will take place on Thursdays. The entry box closes at 10:30 a.m.

Also, following discussions with all appropriate parties and pending final regulatory approval, the cards slated for Thursdays and Saturdays at Flamboro Downs in April will now take place on the same days at The Raceway at Western Fair District, each with a post time of 5:50 p.m. The draw for the transferred races will take place on Mondays and Tuesdays, respectively. The entry box closes at 10:00 a.m. The process for entries and draws for the moved Flamboro race cards will remain consistent.

All horsepeople competing on Sunday Woodbine Mohawk Park race cards in Milton, Ontario, and Thursday and Saturday race cards in London, Ontario, are required to complete the racetracks COVID-19 screening test prior to arriving at the racetrack.

Full live racing schedules and race handicapping resources, including free programs, are available at the Woodbine Mohawk Park and Western Fair websites. Horseplayers can watch and wager on the live racing cards through HPIbet.

Ontario Racing would like to acknowledge all the parties involved, including the Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA), for their immediate action and support.

(Ontario Racing)
The leadership of the National Assembly yesterday evening gave an assurance that it would expedite action on supplementary budget for the procurement of security equipment and COVID-19 vaccine whenever it is presented before it by the Presidency.

It also informed that the age-long Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which is at the point of its report being harmonised by both chambers of the National Assembly would be passed latest by May, this year.

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, in the company of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, told journalists after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, about the purpose of their visit saying

"we have come to meet with Mr. President, to discuss issues of serious national concern, and one of those issues is the issue of supplementary budget.

"Both executive and legislative arms believe that we should have supplementary budget to provide for funding of the COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, as well as the security, providing more resources and platforms to our security agencies."

He emphasised that the legislative arm would not hesitate to approve the 2021 supplementary budget of the Executive arm once it is sent to the Assembly.

Lawan however, stressed that the federal lawmakers in approving the budget consisting of votes for security equipment as well as cost for purchase of COVID-19 vaccines would want to know how the funds would be expended.

According to the Senate President, "We believe that we've not had enough, we still need to approve more resources for the purchase of weapons for our armed forces, because this is the number one priority of government or any government really, to secure the people, and of course later the welfare. So we believe that we will be doing the right thing, if there is a request through supplementary appropriation bill from the Presidency or Executive arm of government, and then we approve.

"Of course, we have to have clear cut definition of how much is going for what, we're not going to just give approval like that for a general thing. We want to see how the funds will be utilised. But it is mandatory that we provide more resources for our armed forces, and they're doing well".

Lawan also explained that the Assembly would also be willing to support local manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines by eminent Nigerian scientists across the globe.

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"As for COVID-19, I believe that our country, Nigeria should have some resources for our scientists to collaborate with other scientists from across the globe, to also have our own vaccine. We have capable scientists, we should have that critical mass of scientists coming together to provide the environment that will guarantee and warrant deployment of public resources but just an individual saying he has a system or he has a vaccine candidate. No, I don't think that's the way to go.

"We should have proper and serious engagement because vaccines developed in Nigeria will need to be applied or may be subjected to international assessments. So it's not going to be a vaccine for Nigeria alone. It's supposed to be a vaccine for the entire world but of course originated from Nigeria. So we want a very solid and strong platform on which our scientists will have all the opportunities and then government provides the necessary resources. But eventually, of course, those who will manufacture these things will be private concerns".

Also speaking, House Speaker Gbajabiamila, told reporters that the PIB was at the last leg of legislation by the Assembly saying the bill should be ready for passage latest by May, 2021.

His words: "We made a commitment to the Nigerian people and that commitment is end of April. But let me just add that, you know, give or take two three weeks, because at the time the commitment was made, we didn't take into cognizance the fact of Easter break and Ramadan that is coming up as well. We are still looking at end of April. But we're not going to straightjacket ourselves into a particular date, when I say end of April, we are talking thereabout, it may be a week after or at most two weeks into May".
Have you experienced or are you actively experiencing burnout at your job? We want to hear from you. Fanatic Studio Gary Waters/Getty Images

Startups are well known for high-stress work environments and the pandemic has made it worse.

Employees across industries are suffering from burnout.

Do you have a story that you're willing to share with us? Reach out to Jennifer Eum at jeum@insider.com.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Two years into the pandemic, workers across industries have surrendered to burnout - and many for the first time.

And while the misconception around burnout is that it's only a feeling of emotional and mental exhaustion, the term goes beyond these things. Christina Maslach, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, says burnout also comes with a feeling of cynicism about work.

For many years, the startup lifestyle thrived on the overextension of one's wellbeing while building and maintaining a business on uncertainty, even before the pandemic added unhealthy amounts of stress onto daily routines.

Just a few years ago, mantras like "I'll sleep when I'm dead" were seen as badges of honor for entrepreneurs who spent all their waking hours at work, with little downtime.

Today, managing burnout has moved beyond conversation. Many companies from Microsoft to Shake Shack are finally recognizing their responsibility to help employees in need and have even started experimenting with 4-day work weeks. But we know there's still more that needs to be done.

We'd like to hear from you about your daily work routine and how you've been handling burnout during the pandemic.

How did you know when you hit burnout, and what factors contributed to you getting there? How was your health, family, or personal life affected? What, if anything, helped your situation get better?

If you're willing to share your experience, reach out to Jennifer Eum at jeum@insider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Despite 80% of organisations running up to an incredible 10 different protection and cybersecurity solutions simultaneously, more than 50% of them still report experiencing downtime from data loss last year, showing just how many in the security industry are behind in catching up to todays cyber Cold War and constantly cyber attacked reality.

Acronis. With dual headquarters in Singapore and Switzerland, a strong US presence and global sales from consumers, to businesses of all sizes, managed service providers and more, the not only company bills itself as a global leader in cyber protection but is a genuine cyber protection leader.

Evolving to offer what is arguably the industrys best and most robust anti-malware, anti-ransomware, Zoom and video conferencing protection and more in its True Image 2021, while adding zero-day protection, patching protection, backups of Microsoft 365, G-Suite and more, Acronis is a breath of fresh air and an example for the rest of the industry.

Acronis came to security from a backup and data security background, and this has given Acronis a the benefit of a different approach and a much more all-encompassing vision of cyber protection than the traditional Internet security company, of which there are many, that have added their own anti-ransomware protections, along with backup capabilities, and for some, additional benefits like a VPN, a password manager and other features and benefits.

This makes Acronis a genuine alternative to the traditional security vendors as it offers full anti-virus, anti-malware and anti-ransomware protections, while offering advanced online and offline backup and restoration capabilities, while delivering very impressive industry AV results including 100% detection of malware with zero false positives.

Now comes Acronis second annual Cyber Protection Week survey, which the company says uncovered a dangerous disconnect between the need for organisations to keep their data protected and the ineffective investments they've made trying to reach that goal.

While 2020 saw companies purchase new systems to enable and secure remote workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Acronis continued, those investments are not paying off.

Were told the global survey discovered that 80% of companies now run as many as 10 solutions simultaneously for their data protection and cybersecurity needs -- yet more than half of those organisations suffered unexpected downtime last year because of data loss."

Acronis also audaciously altered March 31's World Backup Day last year and transformed it into World Cyber Protection Week, Acronis affirmed that traditional backup was dead and simply not enougn to protect you today alone, with malware and ransomware encrypting software going after traditional backup files it can find to make recovery without paying a ransom nearly impossible - and which Acronis has several active protections against.

The findings from Acronis' annual survey, which polled 4,400 IT users and professionals in 22 countries across six continents, dispel the myth that simply adding more solutions will solve cybersecurity and data protection challenges.

Not only does investing in more solutions not deliver more protection, in many cases trying to manage protection across multiple solutions creates greater complexity and less visibility for the IT team, which increases risk.

Serguei "SB" Beloussov, Founder and CEO of Acronis said: This year's Cyber Protection Week survey clearly illustrates that more solutions do not deliver greater protection, as using separate tools to address individual types of exposure is complicated, inefficient, and costly.

"These findings confirm our belief that the smarter approach is cyber protection, which unifies data protection, cybersecurity, and endpoint management in one."

What are some more highlights from the survey?

Knowledge gap contributes to IT challenges

Complicating matters, there is a significant gap in awareness among users and IT pros of what IT and cybersecurity capabilities are available to them, which can cause them to lose valuable time, money, and security.

68% of IT users and 20% of IT professionals would not know if their data had been modified without their knowledge because their solution makes determining that kind of tampering difficult.

43% of IT users don't know if their anti-malware stops zero-day threats because their solution doesn't make that information easily available. Having easy access to such cybersecurity insights is critical to ensuring data is protected.

A shocking 10% of IT pros don't know if their organisation is subject to data privacy regulations. If those responsible for ensuring data privacy don't know they are culpable, they cannot implement strategies or evaluate the solutions needed to address the requirements. That ignorance puts the business at tremendous risk of major fines for potential compliance violations in 2021.

For anyone using multiple solutions to solve their IT and cybersecurity needs, the lack of transparency into such information only gets worse. Not only must they remember which solution provides a particular data point, they are constantly switching between consoles to find the details they need -- leading to inefficiencies and missed insights. 

Individuals' lax approach to protection

The survey also revealed a staggeringly lax approach to data protection among IT users.

83% of IT users spent more time on their devices last year, yet only half of them took extra steps to protect those devices

33% admit to not updating their devices until at least a week after being notified of a patch

90% of IT users reported performing backups, yet 73% have irretrievably lost data at least once, suggesting that they don't know how to back up or recover properly

The efforts of individuals to protect their data aren't keeping pace with threats, which is likely due to false assumptions (such as believing Microsoft 365 backs up their data) or a reliance on automatic solutions.

What are Acronis Action items for Cyber Protection Week?

The challenges of protecting and securing data, applications, and systems will continue to grow in the post-pandemic world. To ensure that data is protected, Acronis recommends five simple steps:

Create backups of important data. Keep multiple copies of your backups, with one local copy for fast recovery and one off-site in the cloud to guarantee recovery if disaster destroys your copies. Update your operating systems and applications. Outdated systems and apps lack the security fixes that stop cybercriminals from gaining access. Regular patching is required to avoid exploits. Avoid suspicious emails, links, and attachments. Most malware infections are the result of social engineering techniques that trick unsuspecting individuals into opening infected email attachments or clicking on links to websites that host malware. Install antivirus, anti-malware, and anti-ransomware software while enabling automatic updates so your system is protected against malware. Consider adopting a single cyber protection solution to have the central management and integrated protection needed to meet today's IT requirements.

You can read the report here for yourself in full - just scroll down a little on the page and youll see global stats, as well as two more reports thet give an Americas and European Deep Dive, respectively.
This comes two years after people last protested for the roads to be fixed in Maqongqo, Pietermaritzburg

Taxi owners and drivers in Maqongqo, Pietermaritzburg, brought the township to a standstill on Monday, demanding that its potholed roads be fixed. The protest started for a second day at around 3am on Tuesday.

In 2019, taxi operators and community members also protested for the D1000 and the D1026 gravel roads to be fixed.

On Monday, taxi association members blocked the road with their vehicles. Communal operators, including scholar transport, were not allowed in or out of Maqongqo. Many people were seen walking out of the area.

KwaGcina Taxi Association chairperson Mphe Ngcobo said the poor condition of the roads causes frequent damage to their vehicles.

"The community is frustrated. The conditions have worsened. Drivers have no choice but to leave passengers far from their destination. Commuters are left far from the clinics. They travel long distances while carrying groceries. We don't like that, but we are forced to avoid these roads," said Ngcobo.

Resident Zinhle Mabaso said they supported taxi association members. Mabaso relies on taxis to get to work. "Taxis can't drop us off near our homes because drivers are always complaining about the roads," said Mabaso.

Ward Councillor Nhlanhla Zondo said the department would soon close the holes on the gravel roads as a temporary solution.

"They promised that in August they will start the process of tarring these roads. Department officials have agreed that there have been delays with fixing the roads due to the pandemic. The design of the road has been completed. They need to come and address the community on the developments," said Zondo.

Meanwhile, taxi operators on Tuesday said they would continue blocking roads until MEC Peggy Nkonyeni comes to address them.

The provincial transport department had not responded to our questions about the road construction at the time of publication.
Parents and male students were left 'mortified' after their school forced them to stand in assembly and apologise to their female classmates for sexual assaults committed by males.

Brauer College in the south-western Victorian town of Warrnambool held an assembly on Wednesday where boys were told to stand up in a symbolic gesture of apology to girls and women.

The move has since sparked outrage among parents of the school who say their children were made to feel ashamed about something they had no control over and didn't understand.

Brauer College student Craig Daniels told the Today show the assembly was 'wrong' and should 'never have happened'.

'I wasn't in the assembly personally but I know people who were and it made them feel guilty for something they haven't done,' he said.

The student said there were other ways to address the issue of education around consent in schools.

'It could be better by not just slapping predator on one gender when it goes both ways,' he said.

Craig's mother, Nicole Daniels, said the school had 'completely messed it up'.

'What they've made the boys do, they've labelled and categorised them into the same category as a perpetrator and a rapist when these boys have done nothing wrong,' she said.

'Nothing at all.'

Another mother, Rebecca Croft, said she immediately called the school to complain after hearing about the bizarre assembly.

'I was just absolutely horrified about my children having to stand up and apologise for something on behalf of their gender they have no control over,' she told the morning show.

Rebecca Croft, Nicole Daniels and her son Craig lashed out at the Brauer College in Warrambool after male students were made to stand and apologise to their female peers

'My 12-year-old has no idea about rape and sexual assault and he was made to apologise and he doesn't understand why.'

Earlier, 12-year-old Levi, who had only been at the college since the start of the year said he was forced to apologise to many of his classmates whom he hadn't even met.

'They told us to stand up and turn to a girl in our class and say sorry,' Levi told A Current Affair.

'I don't think it's okay to be sexually assaulted. I felt a bit under pressure to stand up and if I didn't I felt like I was a bad person.'

Brauer College in Warrnambool, south-western Victoria has been criticised for the assembly held last Wednesday

Parents said they were 'mortified' after hearing about the assembly with some phoning the college to complain

Poll Should male students have to apologise for their gender's behaviour in school assemblies? Yes No Should male students have to apologise for their gender's behaviour in school assemblies? Yes 114 votes

No 6037 votes Now share your opinion





Another student named Vini said there were several girls in the assembly hall that began crying because they'd been revealed in front of everyone as having been victims.

'I had girls behind me crying because they'd basically been exposed to the entire school and we had to apologise for stuff we didn't actually do.'

The boys' mother said the decision from the school was making it seem like the boys would be 'perpetrators in the future'.

One parent said her son in Year 7 was left confused about why he had to stage the bizarre apology.

'He said that he was made to stand up and basically apologise... it wasn't explained properly to the male students what they were doing or why they were doing it,' the mother Danielle Shephard told 7News.

'They really should have made more of an effort to notify the parents.'

Levi (pictured), a 12-year-old student at the school who had only attended the institution from the start of 2021, said he was forced to get up in front of his new classmates and apologise

In a separate post on Facebook, Ms Shepherd shared another complaint from a parent who called the assembly 'a joke'.

'Wow just wow... this is actually disgusting Brauer College... not at all impressed that you made my son apologise for something he's never done nor considered doing,' she wrote.

A male student also criticised the assembly in a Snapchat post.

'Today at Brauer they made every guy stand up and apologise to every girl for rape, sexual assault,' the student said.

'Guys go through as much s**t as girls do.'

Brauer College Principal Jane Boyle said the apology part of the assembly was 'inappropriate' but defended the school's intentions.

A male student was also critical about having to apologise for his gender in an angry Snapchat post

'The assembly included the screening of a video message by Brisbane Boys' College Captain Mason Black about being proactive in stopping incidents of sexual assault and harassment,' she said in a statement.

A mother of a Year 7 pupil in the assembly Danielle Shephard said her son was confused why he had to apologise

'As part of this discussion boys were asked to stand as a symbolic gesture of apology for the behaviours of their gender that have hurt or offended girls and women.

'In retrospect, while well-intended, we recognise that this part of the assembly was inappropriate.'

One mother said on Facebook their son had told her the exercise was simply intended to 'raise awareness'.

'My son explained they stood not to apologise, but to stand in support and solidarity,' another parent wrote.

'You'll find all schools will be teaching consent over the next year - Brauer won't be the only one.'

Brisbane Boys' College captain Mason Black stood in front of his peers last Thursday and told them he 'feels sick' about the claims of sexual assault and that the 'narrative needs to change'

It comes after Mason Black stood in front of his peers last Thursday and told them he 'feels sick' about the claims of sexual assault and that the 'narrative needs to change'.

'It makes me feel sick and it makes me feel embarrassed that our school is featured in the testimonies of young women who are victims of sexual assault,' he said.

Brisbane Boys' College is one of several schools in Australia that has been named in testimonies from private and public school girls who say they were either sexually assaulted, harassed or raped.

Mr Black said sexual assault was an issue that hit close to home with his family: 'My own mother, at the age of 10, against her will, was sexually abused before she learned about the birds and bees'

Thousands of school girls shared their experiences after Kambala School alumni Chanel Contos, 22, launched a petition on February 18, demanding students be taught about consent

The petition kickstarted by Ms Contos demands consent be included earlier in sexuality education

Thousands of schoolgirls shared their experiences after Kambala School alumni Chanel Contos, 22, launched a petition on February 18, demanding students be taught about consent.

Mr Black said his mother had been sexually abused when she was a little girl, and later told Channel 7's Sunrise he only found out by searching her name on Google.

'My own mother, at the age of 10, against her will, was sexually abused before she learned about the birds and bees,' he said.

'Are you brave enough to ask your mum about her experiences?' He said.

'What about your sisters? Friends? You shouldn't have to ask women these questions.'
The 16th legislative assembly election of Tamil Nadu is scheduled to be held on April 6, 2021. In the upcoming assembly polls, the incumbent chief minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), and his deputy, O Panneerselvam (OPS), will have a huge pressure to establish their position as the rightful heirs to the legacy of J Jayalalitha after their defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

For their chief opponent MK Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) too, the TN assembly elections 2021 are equally important as he will have to establish his position within his family and the party as the rightful heir to the legacy of M Karunanidhi. He is also under pressure to reinvigorate DMK that has been out of power in the state for a decade.

When is the Tamil Nadu assembly Election 2021?

The sixteenth legislative assembly election of Tamil Nadu is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

Tamil Nadu Election 2021 voting timings

In the TN assembly polls, the voting is likely to start at 8 AM and end at 6 PM.

Tamil Nadu election results in 2021: Date and counting of votes timings

The date of counting votes of the Tamil Nadu legislative election is May 2. The counting of votes will begin in the early morning around 8 am on the same day. The final results will be declared by evening.

How many constituencies are there in Tamil Nadu?

The state consists of a total of 234 constituencies. The term of the previous legislative assembly will end on May 24, 2021.

Which parties are popular in Tamil Nadu?

Tamil Nadu's politics has been dominated by the state's two leading parties, DMK and AIADMK, for the last 50 years. In 2011, AIADMK under J Jayalalithaa defeated the DMK headed by M Karunanidhi. During the 2016 assembly elections, the AIADMK retained its majority with 136 seats, while the DMK increased its strength to 98 seats.However, in the Tamil Nadu assembly election 2021, both key political parties have a change in their leadership due to the death of the two key leaders, Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi, who died in 2016 and 2018, respectively.In this election, AIADMK is led by the incumbent Chief Minister of the state Palaniswami, while DMK is led by Karunanidhi's son Stalin.Apart from AIADMK and DMK, the other political parties that will be contesting the Tamil Nadu assembly elections are Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress party.

The BJP will contest as an NDA partner with the AIADMK on 25 assembly seats. The Congress has sealed the deal with DMK and will also contest on 25 assembly seats.

How many districts are there in Tamil Nadu?

Tamil Nadu has a total of 38 districts, of which Chengalpattu (November 29, 2019), Kallakurichi (November 26, 2019), Ranipet (November 28, 2019), Tenkasi (November 22, 2019), Tirupattur (November 28, 2019), and Mayiladuthurai (December 28, 2020) are newly formed.

How many MP seats are there in Tamil Nadu?

The state has as many as 39 Lok sabha seats. In the 2019 general election, the United Progressive Alliance, led by the DMK, won a landslide victory, taking 38 of the 39 seats.

Which party won polls in Tamil Nadu in 2016?

At present, AIADMK is the ruling government of the state. In the 2016 assembly election, the AIADMK swept the polls, winning 135 out of 234 seats. On May 23, 2016, Jayalalithaa was sworn in as Chief Minister for the sixth time. On September 22, 2016, she was admitted to Apollo Hospital, Chennai, due to fever and dehydration. After a prolonged illness, she died on December 5, 2016.After her death, Jayalalithaa's long-time friend VK Sasikala was selected unanimously as the General Secretary of the party on December 16, 2016. On February 5, 2017, she was selected as the leader of the legislative assembly as the chief minister. Subsequently, Panneerselvam rebelled against Sasikala, bringing in a new twist to Tamil Nadu politics. Due to a conviction in the disproportionate assets case, Sasikala was sentenced to four years imprisonment in the Bengaluru central prison. Before that, she appointed Edappadi K Palaniswami as the legislative party leader (chief minister).

Also read: Tamil Nadu election candidate promises helicopter, trip to moon, Rs 1 crore, but here's the catch

Also read: Rahul Gandhi lashes out at Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami, calls him 'corrupt', 'trapped'

Also read: West Bengal Election 2021: Voting dates, poll full schedule, timings, election results, all FAQs
Part of the Downtown Homestead redevelopment project, the 23,800 square foot multi-floor facility boasts immersive attractions and distinct spaces for adults, teens and children, including a Children's Theater, Steampunk Lounge with an 1896 Chandler and Price letterpress, VR Cube, Makerspace and 3D printer, as well as a robust multi-lingual collection of physical and digital materials, and program and study rooms.

"We are honored to partner with the City of Homestead on this phenomenal community asset. Libraries have always been the heart of communities and we are thrilled to be part of making this modern-day concept reality," said Todd Frager, LS&S Chief Executive Officer. "The innovation and creativity behind the Cybrarium will make it a model for communities looking to evolve traditional library service."

From themed areas with custom installations to virtual reality journeys and experiences to collaborative workspaces, technology intersects with literacy and learning, discovery, creativity and connection abound.

"The mission of the Cybrarium is to enrich lives, build community, and foster success by bringing people, information, and ideas together," stated Homestead Mayor Steven D. Losner. "We are proud to have created an incredibly valuable community resource and grateful to have LS&S as our partner in serving our community."

The Cybrarium is located at 80 West Mowry Drive, Homestead, Florida 33030. Residents of Miami Dade County are encouraged to apply for a free Cybrarium Card (online or in person), reserve items, and begin accessing the digital collection and other online resources. Visitors can stay up-to-date on Cybrarium happenings by visiting https://cybrarium.org/ or following the Cybrarium on Facebook.

About LS&S

Library Systems & Services (LS&S) partners with communities to provide more public library services than any system in the country. Leveraging its patron-centric model, LS&S serves more than 4 million visitors each year while providing over 5 million programs. For more than 35 years, LS&S has focused on a single mission: Helping communities flourish through enhanced public library service. With decades of deep expertise in public library strategy, best practices and innovation, LS&S powers strong libraries and strong communities.

Related Links

http://www.lsslibraries.com

https://cybrarium.org/

https://www.cityofhomestead.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Homestead-Cybrarium-109565667638419

SOURCE Library Systems & Services, LLC

Related Links

www.lssi.com


After it was stuck in limbo for months  some even declared it dead  the plan to renovate Alamo Plaza has new life with proposed changes that defuse the biggest controversies: the Cenotaph will be repaired but keep its location; the Woolworth building would be spared the wrecking ball; and Alamo Street would remain open for Fiesta parades.

Those are among key elements of the latest iteration of the $450 million plan designed to celebrate the courage displayed in the 1836 Battle of the Alamo, while providing a textured portrayal of 300 years of history.

I like the plan. I like what I see, said Sharon Skrobarcek, a member of the Alamo Citizen Advisory Committee since it was formed in 2014. Yall have done a great job.

The plan was developed fairly quickly under the guidance of Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, the newly appointed chair of the Alamo Management Committee, and Assistant City Manager Lori Houston, who has been working on the redevelopment for seven years. It was unveiled at Mondays management committee meeting and also calls for marking the location of the historic mission-fort with surface pavers and landscaping.

That latter decision would be considerably less intrusive than an earlier plan, which called for excavating a large part of the plaza to lower its elevation by up to 2 feet in places and surround it with handrails to mark the Alamos original location.

Preservationists were concerned that lowering the plaza elevation would be an irreversible change to a historic site, while Indigenous groups were concerned the excavations could disturb long-buried ancestral remains. And the 42-inch handrails had been sharply criticized as hindering pedestrian access in one of the busiest civic spaces downtown.

The updated plan showcases features of the 1836 battle, including a partial representation of the Alamos north wall; wooden palisades by the Alamo church; the forts south main gate; and a replica of the 18-pounder cannon station and Losoya House thats set for an April 16 public grand opening.

The advisory committee, composed of 26 appointed members and four technical advisers, is set to vote Wednesday on the proposed changes to the public-private Alamo Plaza makeover thats been in discussion since 2014. Viagran is one of the three tri-chairs of that committee.

The project ground to a halt last year when the Texas Historical Commission denied a permit to relocate the Cenotaph, a memorial to the Alamo defenders, a few hundred feet south of its current location in front of the Alamo chapel. In September, after the commissions decision, Councilman Roberto Trevino said it spells the end of the project.

The City Council is expected to take action on the new plan April 15. If its approved, the projects design team would work from May to October to develop a new design to present to the city Historic and Design Review Commission as early as November.

On ExpressNews.com: Lawsuit over Alamo human remains could reach U.S. Supreme Court

Construction could then begin in 2022. Wednesdays meeting of the citizen panel, set for 5:30 p.m., will be streamed live on the citys Facebookpage.

Houston said the distinctive surface pavers and landscaping beds would mark the area once enclosed by outer walls of the Mission San Antonio de Valero, which was the citys first permanent Spanish-Indgenenous mission, and later the fort known as the Alamo.

These (areas) are going to be completely open during the daytime and nighttime hours, and youre going to be able to walk through like you can in the plaza, Houston said.

Tribal concerns

The city also is working to soothe discord between the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation that has clashed with the Texas General Land Office and nonprofit Alamo Trust over interpretation of burial sites in and around the plaza.

The local Indigenous group has a pending federal lawsuit, now in the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, alleging that the trust and Land Office violated the groups constitutional rights by denying access to the Alamo church for an annual remembrance ceremony and excluding the group from deciding how to handle human remains found at the site.

Houston said Viagran asked the city staff to address Tap Pilams concerns in the plaza, based on comments raised by the advisory panel.

That was probably one of the most dominant conversations in the sessions of the citizen panel, Houston said. And so (Viagran) came back to (City Attorney) Andy Segovia and I and said You all need to resolve this. Because if we dont, were not going to be able to get the citizen advisory committee on board.

The city will initiate an archival investigation, using past archaeological reports, newspaper accounts and other documentation, to determine the locations of burials in the plaza, to inform an interpretive site plan.

A separate human remains protocol will be developed and there will be an archaeological advisory group for the plaza. The advisory panel will include Tap Pilam and other groups that have provided feedback on culturally sensitive areas in San Antonio, Houston said.

The citizen panel will work this summer to provide guidance on the interpretive plan and an inventory of events and traditions in the plaza that are important to the site, she said.

Street traffic

As for streets, the city may close part of Alamo Street, between Houston and Crockett streets, on June 1. But it intends to keep the portion of Alamo open between Commerce and Crockett, at least initially.

Davis Phillips, a plaza business owner and member of the citizen panel, said its important to keep that section of Alamo Street open on the south end of the plaza for tour buses, horse carriages and service vehicles.

Although the updated plan would allow parades to continue moving south through the plaza, there would be no grandstands in the Alamo footprint. Marching bands and musical entertainers would have to reduce their volume levels in and around the footprint area, to maintain reverence, Viagran said.

So bleachers would not be part of the footprint, and it would be a quiet zone if and when the parade ceremony goes through there, she said.

An earlier version of plan would have re-routed the parades to Bonham Street, east of the plaza, to pass between the Alamo church and the Menger Hotel.

Save Woolworth

A world-class museum and visitor center on the west side of the plaza remains part of the plan.

While the six-member Alamo Management Committee has not formally committed to incorporating the state-owned Crockett, Palace and Woolworth buildings into the museum design, Houston said the updated plan seeks to preserve those structures, and to include a civil rights exhibit in the Woolworth Building, which housed one of seven local lunch counters that peacefully desegregated in 1960.

On ExpressNews.com: New director named at Alamo

Kate Rogers, who last week began working for the Alamo Trust as the new Alamo executive director, said shes hopeful the Legislature will provide seed money for a private fundraising effort for a museum.

Although the trust had initially spoken of raising up to $200 million for a 130,000-square-foot museum, a museum design has not been publicly released.

We dont have a price tag just yet of the money thats needed, but theres also been really positive and promising conversation between (Land Commissioner George P.) Bush and the lieutenant governor about a potential appropriation from the session, which would obviously give us a good start on the fund-raising. And well be moving in earnest after that to work on the private side as well, Rogers told reporters.

Members of the citizen committee spoke in support of the changes Monday night.

Walter Serna, president of the Fiesta San Antonio Commission and an adviser on the panel, said inclusion of the customs of Fiesta, which began in the plaza with the original Battle of Flowers, an 1891 horse-carriage procession, will maintain the heritage of the site.

Im excited that yall are taking into account the rich tradition that Fiesta adds to the Alamo, including the investiture of King Antonio, Serna said.

The city also is looking at allowing veterans parades and other events that have cultural connections to the plaza, Houston said.

shuddleston@express-news.net
US Capitol police detain protesters outside of the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress on 6 January (Getty Images)

The US Justice Department has charged another member of the far-right group Proud Boys for his alleged role in the riots at the Capitol Hill building on 6 January.

Paul Rae from Largo, Florida, has been accused by prosecutors of obstructing the proceeding underway at the Capitol on 6 January and unlawfully entering the building amidst destruction of federal property.

Five people, including a police officer, were killed after supporters of Donald Trump breached the Capitol and wreaked havoc after the ex-president held a Stop the Steal rally in Washington DC. It happened as members of Congress gathered at the building to certify Joe Bidens presidential election victory.

The evidence established from video footage and his Google location allegedly showed Mr Rae made forced entry into the Capitol building through the window that was smashed by other Proud Boys members.

Mr Rae was in direct contact with the leader of the Proud Boys, Joseph Randall Biggs, and even called him from his phone when the two were inside Capitol according to the phone records, the prosecutors said.

Read more:

In fact, the surveillance footage showed Rae entered the building less than one minute after the door was initially opened and Rae entered the building with Proud Boys organiser Joseph Biggs, who had led a group of Proud Boys to the Capitol, the affidavit said.

In January, Mr Biggs was arrested and charged with obstruction of proceeding, entering restricted grounds and disorderly conduct. He was later released for home confinement.

The federal agents and FBI received the information for Mr Raes involvement through two witnesses who identified him in the video footage. His and fellow Proud Boy Nick Ochss photographs were displayed in a number of news outlets.

Mr Rae is charged with two counts  corruptly obstruct, impede or influence an official proceeding before Congress and knowingly entering restricted grounds.

So far, about 300 people have been arrested for their alleged connection with the capitol siege and over 540 suspects have been identified by the investigators.
Melissa Caddicks 74 victims, who had investments totalling $23 million stolen to support her lavish lifestyle, may be able to recoup $8 million once her assets are sold, court documents reveal.

The 38 criminal charges Ms Caddick was facing for claiming she had a financial services licence and fraud-related offences were formally withdrawn on Tuesday. Solicitor Emman Farroukh, for the corporate regulator ASIC, told a Sydney local court Ms Caddick was presumed dead but a formal decision would be made at a later date by the Coroner.

Sydney businesswoman Melissa Caddick is alleged to have been operating a Ponzi scheme.

In an affidavit filed in court, ASIC said NSW Police are preparing a brief for the Coroner, which should be finalised in mid-June. The Coroner will then decide whether to hold an inquest.

Magistrate Michael Crompton was told that on February 15 ASIC applied for arrest warrants but was unable to serve the court attendance notices on Ms Caddick due to her whereabouts being unknown. Ms Caddick, 49, disappeared from her Dover Heights home in mid-November, hours after Australian Federal Police officers had executed a search warrant on behalf of the ASIC.
China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Nepal

Xinhua) 10:33, March 30, 2021

China-donated COVID-19 vaccines are unloaded at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal on March 29, 2021. A chartered flight of the Nepal Airlines, the national flag carrier, brought back the vaccines donated by China on Monday, giving a major boost for Nepal to continue its vaccination campaign against the pandemic. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)

KATHMANDU, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Monday lauded China's contribution to the world in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic after a batch of Chinese vaccines arrived in the Himalayan country.

A chartered flight of the Nepal Airlines, the national flag carrier, brought back the vaccines donated by China on Monday, giving a major boost for Nepal to continue its vaccination campaign against the pandemic.

During the handover ceremony at Prime Minister Oli's residence in Kathmandu, Oli extended heartfelt thanks to the Chinese government on behalf of the Nepali government and in his personal capacity for donation of the COVID-19 vaccines.

He also appreciated China's anti-COVID-19 efforts as well.

"I would like to appreciate the steps taken by China and the works done by the government of China to fight against COVID-19," he said. "The policy of success that China has adopted is a lesson to other countries."

Earlier in the day, a welcome ceremony was organized at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu after the plane carrying the Chinese vaccines landed in the airport.

Nepali Health Minister Hridayas Tripathi, senior Nepali government officials as well as Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi attended the ceremony.

Minister Tripathi expressed gratitude to China for donating the vaccines, saying the Chinese doses would contribute to Nepal's fight against COVID-19.

"We are very thankful to our neighbour China. Nepal went through a prolonged lockdown (last year). It is not easy to fight against nature and its consequences. The ministry is trying its best to avoid lockdown (again). This vaccine will help the government's plan to avoid second lockdown," he said.

Chinese Ambassador Hou said, "This batch of vaccines is not only an implementation of the solemn commitment of China to make Chinese COVID vaccine a global public good, but also a vivid manifestation of our two countries' joint construction of a community with shared future."

She added that the vaccines provided by China would help Nepal overcome the COVID-19 pandemic at an early date and contribute to early resumption of normal economic and social life in Nepal.

The Chinese vaccines arrived in Nepal at a time when the Himalayan country is struggling to get enough vaccines to continue its vaccination drive. Nepal started the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 on Jan. 27 and has so far inoculated over 1.7 million people in two phases, according to Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population.

On Feb. 17, the Nepali Department of Drug Administration granted approval to the vaccine developed by China's Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co. Ltd. under Sinopharm, for the emergency use in Nepal.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
You are here: World

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron held a video-conference on Tuesday to discuss cooperation and international affairs, the Kremlin said in a statement.

The leaders paid particular attention to joining efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, including the possibility of registering, using and producing the Russian vaccine Sputnik V in European Union (EU) countries.

As for the situation in Ukraine, Putin urged Kiev to fulfill agreements on establishing direct dialogue with Donbass and settling the legal issues regarding the region's special status.

The Russian side voiced "serious concerns" over the escalation of the armed confrontation between the Donbass insurgents and the Ukrainian government forces, which was "provoked" by Kiev.

Discussing the situation in Belarus, Putin stressed the inadmissibility of external interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.

Putin reiterated Russia's readiness to restore "normal, depoliticized" interactions with the EU, if the bloc shows reciprocal interest.

According to the Kremlin, the three leaders expressed support for preserving and implementing the Iran nuclear deal and further coordinating steps in this direction.

Putin explained to Merkel and Macron the case of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

They also discussed the situations in Syria and Libya.
Volkswagen of America on Tuesday reposted on its media site a press release accidentally posted a month early on Monday announcing a new name for its US operations, Voltswagen of America, emphasising the automakers electric vehicle efforts.

Given the date, media widely assumed it was a failed April Fools joke and a spokesman for the company declined to comment to CNBC on the original release, which was dated 29 April and subsequently taken down.

A person familiar with the companys plans nonetheless confirmed the authenticity of the release to CNBC and Road and Track also confirmed authenticity through its own source.

The republished release said the name change would take effect from May and called the change a public declaration of the companys future-forward investment in e-mobility.

Starting today, new branding will roll out across all of the companys advertising, website and social media channels. In future, Voltswagen will be placed as an exterior badge on all EV models with petrol vehicles having only the VW emblem.



Exterior and interior signage will soon roll out to all Voltswagen properties and dealerships across the US, the release added.

The renamed Voltswagen of America would remain an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America and a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, with headquarters in Herndon, Virginia.

VW is launching the ID.4 SUV this month in the US. The ID.3 hatchback is not on its EV launch list so far.

Automakers have become notorious over the years for some very clever 1 April hoaxes so, if theres a loud cry of April Fool from Virginia Thursday morning (at publication vw.com had not changed), we wont be entirely surprised.
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaido Says He Tested Positive for Covid-19

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said on Saturday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus and has mild symptoms.

Guaido said on his Twitter account that he is in isolation and expressed concern about the number of infections in the country.

I want to express my solidarity with the thousands of Venezuelans suffering during the pandemic, Guaido wrote on Twitter. Today we all have a relative or acquaintance affected by COVID-19.

Dozens of countries have backed Guaido as interim president of Venezuela following Maduros re-election in 2018 in a vote Western governments called a sham.

Guaido added that he considered the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines to Venezuela urgent.

Venezuela has received 700,000 doses, of which 500,000 were donated by Chinas Sinopharm and the rest are Russias Sputnik V. Opposition leaders are separately negotiating to buy vaccines via the COVAX program using funds frozen in the United States.

Venezuelas official figures as of Saturday showed 155,663 cases of coronavirus and 1,555 deaths, though opposition critics say the actual figure is likely higher due to limited testing.

By Sarah Kinosian
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri said Cairo and Amman hope to hold a tripartite summit between Egypt, Jordan and Iraq in Baghdad as soon as possible.

Shoukri said on Monday that he discussed with his counterparts Foad Hussein of Iraq and Ayman Safady of Jordan the latest developments in the region.

At a joint press conference with Hussein and Safady, Shoukri asserted that Egypt supports Iraq to combat terrorism and maintain security and stability.

Earlier on Monday, Shoukry arrived in Baghdad to partake in a ministerial meeting of the tripartite cooperation mechanism involving Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.

Hussein said the ministerial meeting probed coordination of efforts between the three countries, particularly on the issues of agriculture and food security, as well as means to increase industrial cooperation.

Safady reaffirmed that his country backs Iraq's efforts on reconstruction and maintaining security and stability, stressing that Iraq's security and stability is necessary for the security of the region.
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Check your pet food, as one company is recalling some of its dog and cat food brands because they have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella, according to a recall notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Midwestern Pet Foods is issuing the recall of specific expiration dates of certain dog and cat food brands including: CanineX, Earthborn Holistic, Venture, Unrefined, Sportmix Wholesomes, Pro Pac, Pro Pac Ultimates, Sportstrail, Sportmix and Meridian brands produced at its Monmouth, Ill., production facility.

No human or pet illnesses have been reported to date, the FDA stated.

The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the company that revealed the finished products may contain salmonella.

The food products were distributed to retail stores nationwide and to online retailers. Dont feed the recalled products to pets or any other animals. Destroy the food so children, pets, and wildlife cant access them.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and pose a risk to humans handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the items or any surfaces exposed to these products, according to the FDA.

Pets with salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some may only have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.

If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has symptoms, contact your veterinarian.

Healthy people infected with salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. In rare instances, salmonella can result in more serious ailments, like arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs should contact their health-care provider.

A full list of recalled products may be found here.

Lot code information may be found on the back of the bags with the following format: EXP AUG/02/22/ M 1/L#

Consumers with questions can contact Midwestern Pet Foods at info@midwesternpetfoods.com or 800-474-4163.

OTHER PET FOOD RECALLS

In January, the FDA alerted pet owners and veterinary professionals about certain Sportmix pet food products manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods Inc. in its Oklahoma plant that may contain potentially fatal levels of aflatoxins. The products were linked to the deaths of more than 70 pets and the illnesses of 80 other pets

Pets experiencing aflatoxin poisoning may have symptoms such as sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes or gums due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea. In severe cases, this toxicity can be fatal. In some cases, pets may suffer liver damage but not show any symptoms.

The affected products were distributed to online retailers and stores nationwide within the United States.

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BRUSSELS  Citing what they call the biggest challenge to the global community since the 1940s, the leaders of more than two dozen countries, the European Union and the World Health Organization on Tuesday floated an international treaty to protect the world from pandemics.

In a joint article published in numerous newspapers across the globe, the leaders warn that the current coronavirus pandemic will inevitably be followed by others at some point. They outline a treaty meant to provide universal and equitable access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostics, a suggestion first made in November by Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, the body that represents the leaders of the European Union countries.

The article argues that an international understanding similar to the one that followed World War II and that led to the United Nations is needed to build cross-border cooperation before the next global health crisis upends economies and lives. The current pandemic is a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe, the leaders write.

The suggested treaty is an acknowledgment that the current system of international health institutions, symbolized by the relatively powerless W.H.O., an agency of the United Nations, is inadequate to the problem.
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SANTIAGO, Chile  Having negotiated early access to tens of millions of doses of Covid-19 vaccines, Chile has been inoculating its residents faster than any other country in the Americas and appears poised to be among the first in the world to reach herd immunity.

But experts say the countrys speedy and efficient vaccination drive  only Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Seychelles have vaccinated a larger share of their populations  gave Chileans a false sense of security and contributed to a sharp spike in new infections and deaths that is overloading the health care system.

The surge in cases, even as more than one-third of Chiles population has received at least the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, serves as a cautionary tale for other nations looking to vaccination drives to quickly put an end to the era of beleaguered economies, closed borders and social distancing. The rise in cases prompted a new set of strict lockdown measures that have restricted mobility for much of the country, affecting nearly 14 million people.
Now that King Kong is back in action in a new blockbuster, the super-hyped Godzilla vs Kong, with a mammoth budget matching the scale of the two protagonists (some $160 to $200 million), patriots should note who the real hero of the Kong saga is.

Its not the fictional monster pitted against the rapacious, prehistoric reptile. No, its the man who created Kong: aviator, explorer, and film producer Merian C. Cooper.

Cooper (1893-1973) was a bomber pilot in the First World War. He invented a unique artillery-spotting techniqueflying close to ground level to draw enemy fire. Shot down in flames behind enemy lines, he greeted the armistice in a prison hospital. The German physicians who repaired his face had done an excellent job of plastic surgery. His hands remained noticeably scarred.

In the aftermath of the Great War, a fearsome, monstrous revolutionary philosophy streamed westward out of Moscow. It was called Bolshevism. Reporting for duty, Cooper requested assignment to Herbert Hoovers American Relief Administration and was put in charge of humanitarian efforts in southern Poland.

No armistice was in effect in the former empire of the czars. The Poles, having declared their independence, were battling like David against the Bolshevik Goliath. Women, children, and the elderly manned the barricades in besieged cities. Teenage boys and pre-teens organized a Schoolboy Legion and took their places in the trenches.

This was no mere border conflict. The Bolsheviks were determined to sweep through Poland to spread their revolution from Eastern Europe to the Western democracies. A Southern gentleman, a descendant of the aristocracy of the Old South and heir to a tradition of brazen gallantry, Merian Coldwell Cooper was not made to practice neutrality when women and children were fighting for hearth and home.

He sought out the highest military authorities in Warsaw and proposed the idea of recruiting trained American pilots to assist the Poles in their hour of need, the way Tadeusz Kosciuszko and Casimir Pulaski had come to the aid of the American colonists in 1776. The Poles necessity had increased beyond the point which any reasonable offer could be refused.

Cooper went off to Paris and assembled the Kosciuszko Squadron, a group of fellow American aviators -- ten all told -- who flew for Poland in the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-20. The magnificent ten dove out of the sky in open-cockpit biplanes against a force of 16,000 Cossack horseman armed with sabers, rifles, and machine guns, and indoctrinated in the Marxist-Leninist ideology.

The Bolsheviks planned a two-pronged attack, with the Cossack cavalry linking up at Warsaw with more than 100,000 Red Army infantry. Cooper and the Kosciuszko Squadron scattered the fierce Cossacks so relentlessly they were eventually forced to retreat. That exposed the flank of the Bolshevik infantry and enabled the Poles to parry and counter the intended knockout blow. His forces in disarray, Lenin sued for peace and resigned himself to building his fanciful utopia within the boundaries of Russia.

Three American aviators perished in the campaign. Cooper himself was shot down, captured by the Bolsheviks, and imprisoned in a Soviet P.O.W. camp in Moscow. The first M.I.A. in the long campaign to contain communism, Cooper escaped six months after the conclusion of the Polish-Soviet War. Returning to Warsaw, he received a heros welcome from the Polish government and people. Thousands of Poles attended the ceremonies in Warsaw when Cooper and his fellow squadron members received Poland's highest military honor, the "Virtuti Militari, the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Coopers contribution to the miraculous Polish victory is perhaps the greatest story of American valor never told in motion pictures. After he returned to America, he mounted filmmaking expeditions to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa, made movie history with the original King Kong, and eventually became one of the leading Hollywood producers of the first half of the 20th century. As head of production at RKO in the 1930s, Cooper gave Katharine Hepburn her first big break and teamed Fred Astaire with Ginger Rogers. He promoted the three-strip Technicolor process and helped launch Selznick International in partnership with David O. Selznick, and Argosy Pictures in partnership with John Ford.

In 1942, at the height of his cinematic career, he left Hollywood and returned to active duty with the Air Force. Cooper helped plan the Doolittle raid on Japan and became chief of staff to the commander of the Flying Tigers, General Claire Chennault. He retired from the Air Force as a Brigadier General and received an honorary Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement. Despite that glittering resume, he looked back upon his work with the Kosciuszko Squadron as the greatest accomplishment of his eventful life.

The postwar films he made with John Ford and John Wayne (Fort Apache, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, Rio Grande, The Searchers) stirred the hearts of my generation and taught us what honor, courage, and determination were all about. His last motion-picture innovation, This Is Cinerama, a documentary showcasing an ultra-wide widescreen process, was released in 1952, during heightened Cold War tensions with Soviet Russia. It concluded with 24 minutes of aerial footage of the grandeur of America. I ended it in this manner for one -- and only one -- purpose, Cooper said, to arouse the innate patriotism of the people of the United States.

Today, a team of Hollywood outsiders is at last seeking to make a feature film about Coopers Kosciuszko Squadronand for the same reason.

Lets hope they succeed.

To learn more about the Merian Cooper/Kosciuszko Squadron film project, please visit the website of the Foundation to Illuminate Americas Heroes.

IMAGE: Cooper at the Latvian Border after escaping the Soviet POW camp. Public Domain.
Educating youth about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is crucial in fostering unity and reconciliation as well as bringing to an end the cycle of trans-generational trauma, officials have said.

The call was made on Sunday, March 28 during the oath conference - a new initiative that seeks to equip young people with the knowledge that helps them understand the history of the Tutsi genocide, unity and reconciliation as a way to achieve lasting peace.

The meeting, held virtually under the theme 'uniting Rwandans under one identity I am Rwandan' was organised by Peace and Love Proclaimers' (PLP), a youth-led non-profit organisation founded in 2007 with intent to foster reconciliation, advocate for children rights and fight HIV/AIDS.

"We only have Rwanda, it is our country and there is neither a replacement nor spare parts to it. So, we should protect it against anyone who would want to divide us or sink us back to where we are coming from," said Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth and Culture Edouard Bamporiki.

Bamporiki welcomed the initiative saying that such programmes showing how important it is for young people to take the lead in honoring victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and commit to ensuring Genocide never happens again.

"These days, Genocide against the Tutsi deniers are using a strong weapon that everyone holds; social media."

"Dear brothers and sisters, let us use this platform to stop everyone who wants to take us back. It is time and it is our responsibility," added the youthful minister.

Jean-Damascene Gasanabo, the Director-General of the Research and Documentation Centre at the National Commission for the fight against the Genocide (CNLG).

"The young people have got to always be mindful of the task they have to teach the history they didn't live through, that is why they have to make efforts and learn our country's history."

"We have the oath to make our country and the entire world a better place...as we remember every year, we ensure that the legacy of hatred is stopped," he said, referring to the annual commemoration of the Genocide, with its 27th edition slated for next week on April 7.

In his remarks, the Ambassador of Israel to Rwanda, Ron Adam urged Rwanda's young generation to lead the healing, unity and reconciliation processes.

Sharing Israel's experience, Adam challenged the youth to "learn and read about the Genocide against the Tutsi and to influence the government of Rwanda and the UN to change the decision-making process of the Security Council."

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Naswiru Shema, the Executive Director PLP youth decried that redirecting the energy of Rwandan youths is still at a snail's pace and a lot still needs to be done.

However, he told his fellow youth, "The only person you should compare yourself with is the person you were yesterday. If you look at young people before Genocide and now, you can clearly see that the future is promising."

Rwandans and friends of Rwanda will on Wednesday, April 7, commence weeklong activities organised to mark the 27th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The day serves to commemorate more than a million people were killed in the carefully planned massacre that lasted 100 days, from April through July 1994.
Audrey Pulvar, Paris's deputy mayor has prompted new fury by calling to ban white people from discussions of racism

Paris's deputy mayor has prompted fury by calling to ban white people from discussions of racism.

Left-wing deputy mayor Audrey Pulvar, 49, said white people should 'be asked to keep quiet and be silent spectators' during discussions around racism attended by black and ethnic minority people.

She explained: 'People who suffer discrimination for the same reasons and in the same way feel the need to meet among themselves to discuss it.'

The comments made by Pulvar, who was born in Martinique, have re-sparked concerns over the rise of American woke culture in the French state.

A collection of politicians, prominent intellectuals, and academics argued last month that France was being contaminated by American ideas on race, gender, and post-colonialism, and that they were undermining French society.

The group have seen Pulvar's comment as proof French society is being eroded by American ideals, The Times reports.

Protesters hold signs during an anti-racism protest in Paris last year

Former socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Pulvar's comments betrayed French values in an interview on Europe 1 Radio.

He said: 'This rhetoric, always justifying the victim, leads to disaster... Do you have to be Jewish to talk about antisemitism?'

The row, which has highlighted divisions in French politics, was prolonged when President Emmanuel Macron waded into the debate in a speech on the 'Fight against Separatism' in October.

Macron warned against leaving 'the intellectual debate to others' as he cautioned over the rise of 'social science theories' imported from the US.

Macron also claimed the increasing prevalence of American woke culture in France was a threat to national unity.

The French President had previously mostly remained silent on the matter, with the official government line being dismissive of race and systemic racism.

The debate has unearthed the schisms within French politics - most prominently between traditional Socialists and Greens and radicals, who have openly adopted American identity politics.

A Black Lives Matter protest in Paris in June after the death of George Floyd. Academics have criticised the protests

The row follows tension over protests against police violence last summer in France, sparked by the death in police custody of George Floyd.

The wave of protests saw activists take to the streets and students pressure institution to disinvite well-known speakers.

The mid-June protests in Paris were organised under the banner 'Justice for Adama', after Adama Traore, a 24-year-old black man who died in French police custody in 2016.

Family and friends said he died of asphyxiation, in the manner of George Floyd, the American said to have been murdered by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota,in May 2020.

Among the protesters was Assa Traore, Adama's sister, who called on people to 'denounce social, racial, and police violence'.

Ms Traore said: 'What's happening in the United States is happening in France. Our brothers are dying.'

Mr Traore had run away from a police check in Beaumont-sur-Oise, a town north of Paris, and hours later died at a nearby police station.

The vague circumstances of the incident have led to allegations of a state cover-up, and his family have been fighting for justice ever since.

Academics criticised the protests in France.

In February, social scientists Stephane Beaud and Gerard Noiriel published a book in which they claimed that race is a 'bulldozer' that destroys other subjects.

The pair said they believe race should not be studied as an academic subject in France, as the secular government does not recognise it.
Supreme Court to hear Kentucky abortion case as Republican attorney general looks to intervene

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The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal in a lawsuit surrounding whether or not Kentuckys attorney general can defend a law against dismemberment abortions that the state's Democrat Gov. refused to defend.

In an order issued Monday, the high court agreed to hear the case of Cameron v. EMW Womens Surgical Center. However, they are limiting the scope of the arguments to whether Republican Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron can intervene in the case.

I promised Kentuckians that I would defend our laws all the way to the United States Supreme Court, and thats what weve done, Cameron said in a statement Monday.



Since day one in office, weve fought to defend House Bill 454, even when the Beshear Administration refused to defend it. This law reflects the conscience of Kentucky by banning the gruesome practice of live dismemberment abortions, and its important that Kentuckians have a voice before our nations highest court. I was elected to provide that voice, and we look forward to making our case to the Supreme Court.

According to Amy Howe of Scotusblog.com, Kentucky's health secretary initially defended the law in court but declined to continue appealing the case after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit struck down the ban. Cameron then asked the Sixth Circuit for permission to intervene in the case and defend the law. However, the Sixth Circuit declined that request, which led Cameron to appeal to the nation's high court for permission to intervene.

The Susan B. Anthony List, a prominent pro-life lobbying organization, released a statement Monday expressing both support for the Supreme Court order and optimism over the outcome as it marks the first abortion-related case to be heard under the court's current 6-3 conservative majority.

It is encouraging news that the Supreme Court will hear this case, said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser in the statement.

State legislators acting on the will of the people have both the duty and the right to protect their most vulnerable citizens  born and unborn. We look forward to seeing this right upheld.

Known as House Bill 454, or the Human Rights of Unborn Children Act, Kentuckys dismemberment abortion ban was signed into law in 2018 by then-Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican.

In April 2018, soon after the law was signed, a district court temporarily blocked it from taking effect. And in May 2019, a permanent injunction was put on the legislation.

In June of last year, a three-judge Sixth Circuit panel upheld the lower court decision in a 2-1 ruling. The majority argued that the law placed an undue burden on women seeking an abortion since it required them to undergo other, purportedly less safe, procedures.

H.B. 454 conditions an individual's right to choose on her willingness to submit herself to an additional painful, risky, and invasive procedure, wrote Circuit Judge Eric Clay for the court majority.

At some point, that requirement itself becomes so onerous that it would substantially deter individuals from seeking an abortion. This is surely an undue burden.

In dissent, Circuit Judge John Bush concluded that the plaintiffs, which included the states lone abortion clinic plus two other abortion providers, lacked the standing to bring the lawsuit.

Plaintiffs' counsel was asked what EMW's physicians would do if a patient asked for fetal demise before a [dilation and evacuation abortion]. The answer of Plaintiffs' counsel made clear that the physicians would do nothing to honor this request and that her only option would be to travel out of state for the procedure, wrote Bush.

This admission and the evidence presented at trial demonstrate a potential conflict of interest that destroys Plaintiffs' standing to bring this facial constitutional challenge against H.B. 454.
Myanmars military arrested two Kachin state-based journalists and three Shan state-based journalists in two separate incidents, as violence continues to rise across the country against the military coup. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the continued arrests of media workers in Myanmar and attempt to silence the press and suppress the truth.

Ko La Raw from Kachin Waves and Ma Chan Bu, from the 74 Media, were arrested by the military while reporting in the city of Myitkyina on March 29. Witnesses said the journalists were both beaten and detained by authorities while reporting on a crackdown on anti-regime protestors.

The arrests coincide with escalating violence across the region, with reports of more than 114 people killed across Myanmar on Saturday, March 27, including several children. Police also opened fire on a funeral crowd in the city of Bago for Thae Maung Maung, a 20-year-old killed March 27. Myanmars annual Armed Forces Day on March 27 was the bloodiest single day since the coup began on February 1. As the anti-regime protests entered their seventh week, the UN released a statement condemning the violence and calling on the military to immediately stop killing the very people it has the duty to serve and protect.

Attacks on journalists have been documented throughout Myanmars coup, with four staff members from the Shan State-based ethnic news outlet Kanbawza Tai Newsdetained on March 24. Three journalists and a security guard from the media outlet were taken by forces in a raid of a sub-office of the media outlet. These were the editor-in-charge of Kanbawza Tai News, Nann Nann Tai, 28; news reporter Nann Win Yi, 21; publisher, U Tin Aung Kyaw; and security guard Ko Sai Sithu. Ko Sai Sithu was released on the evening of March 25; the other three journalists  two females and one male - remain in detention. The houses of two other Kanvawza Tai News staff members were also raided on March 24.

The editor-in-chief of Kanbawza Tai news, Ko Zay Tai, was previously targeted by forces in a failed house raid in mid-March. He said the news outlet was being targeted by the military regime, despite no warnings or lawsuits issued against them. Tai told the Irrawaddy: I believe that the raids are aimed at destroying the media.

The IFJ said: The violence and repression by the Myanmar military against journalists and human rights activists are a fundamental violation of press freedom. The military must ensure journalists are able to their job without harassment or detainment. The IFJ calls on the Myanmar military to stop all arrests of journalists now.
Alcoa and its investment partners CITIC and Marubeni Aluminium Australia have again used threats to close the Portland aluminium smelter in the state of Victoria to secure a multi-million dollar government subsidy package. The latest handout adds to an estimated $20 billion in public handouts to the corporation over the last 20 years by Labor and Liberal-National governments.

To achieve the latest cash-grab, Alcoa Australia callously held a question mark over the continued operation of the Portland smelter throughout 2020. This followed an announcement by its US-based parent company of plans to sell off around $1 billion of assets and to close down facilities around the world.

Alcoa's Portland smelter (Photo source: Aluminium Insider)

The closure of the Portland smelter, which produces 20 percent of the countrys total aluminium output, with a capacity of 358,000 tonnes per year, would have resulted in the destruction of 500 full-time jobs and around 160 casual positions, along with as many as 2,000 more jobs in downstream industries. This would decimate Portland, a city with a population of 10,000.

The latest subsidy deal was hatched in closed door meetings between the company, the Liberal-National federal government and the Victorian state Labor government. It will see a total of nearly $160 million of public money transferred to the companys coffers over the next four years. A previous $240 million government-funded subsidy package agreed on four years ago is due to expire this year.

Of the new subsidy, the state Labor government will directly provide around $80 million. The federal government has guaranteed the company will rake in at least $76.8 million in revenue over the next four years under the so-called reliability and emergency reserve trader (RERT) scheme.

The RERT, introduced in 2009, is an extraordinary arrangement designed to benefit major corporate players whereby large energy consumers are paid to power down during peak electricity use periods such as during heatwaves to prevent blackouts and price spikes.

For Alcoa, the scheme is a lucrative gift horse as its Portland smelter is the single biggest user of energy in the state of Victoria accounting for about 10 percent of the states overall demand. Having been underwritten by the government, Alcoa has struck new power supply contracts for Portland with existing suppliers AGL Energy, Alinta and Origin Energy that will come into effect on August 1.

The bailout of the Portland facility has been seized on by Prime Minster Scott Morrison to talk up his slumping economic credentials and to divert attention from the political crisis wracking his government that is being fuelled by ever-widening allegations of rape and sexual abuse involving government ministers and staff members.

This crisis has placed a question mark over the very future of Morrison himself and has already produced a hasty cabinet reshuffle resulting in two of his senior ministers being dropped from their key portfolios.

Appearing alongside workers for a photo-op outside the plant on March 19 after the Portland deal was consummated, Morrison fraudulently claimed that the multi-million dollar taxpayer funded handout to the aluminium giant was all about keeping jobs and furnished proof of his governments commitment to boosting employment in regional areas.

Whether its here in Portland or up in Gladstone or the Hunter in New South Wales, we are absolutely committed that we keep the jobs and we grow the jobs in these regions. Morrison crowed.

Such claims are belied by the entire record of the Morrison government, which has unceasingly backed the corporate and financial elites drive to carry out massive restructuring to bolster profits and shareholder values at the expense of the workforce.

This process has been stepped up over the past 12 months, as major corporations utilised the COVID-19 pandemic to impose even further workplace changes resulting in the wholesale destruction of jobs and the far-reaching dismantling of conditions.

Moreover, thousands more workers will be flung out of work with last Sundays termination of the government JobKeeper scheme that provided payments to employers as a wages subsidy to keep employees on their books.

The Australian Workers Union (AWU), which covers the majority of the Portland workforce, enthusiastically echoed Morrisons claims, with the unions Victorian state secretary Ben Davis declaring: Today is a great announcement that has been a long time coming. Hopefully this secures the future of the site and those who work there.

In truth the deal does nothing of the sort. It contains no guarantee that operations will continue past the four-year life of the agreement. Even then there is nothing to prevent the company from walking away from any commitment if it deems that to continue operations would be unviable, especially if there is a slump in aluminium prices and demand.

As in the past, the Alcoa package will undoubtedly require the AWU to collaborate with the company to deliver productivity improvements and cost savings at the plant by further slashing workers wages and conditions.

In May 2016, as the last government-funded bailout was being finalised, the union demanded workers accept a one-year agreement that froze wages, saving the company $1.5 million.

When the Portland plant was hit by a five-hour power blackout at the end of 2016, the union agreed that workers be required to use their annual leave while the plant shut down for several weeks even though the company would have been handsomely compensated under the RERT scheme.

All the talk by the AWU, the unions and the employers that concessions by workers will save jobs should be weighed against the actual record. Despite the cost-cutting demands of companies in sectors such as smelting and refining being faithfully delivered by the unions, closures and job cuts have continued year on year unabated.

To name just a few, Alcoa closed its Point Henry smelter in Geelong, Victoria in 2014 at the cost of 1,000 jobs; Rio Tinto slashed 150 jobs at the Boyne aluminium smelter at Gladstone in Queensland in 2017; BP shuttered its refinery in the city of Kwinana in 2020 destroying 590 jobs, and in February this year ExxonMobil announced the closure of its Altona refinery in Victoria eliminating 260 permanent jobs along with many more specialised contractor positions.

Workers cannot defend jobs and working conditions within the straitjacket of the unions. New organisations of struggle, including independent rank-and-file committees, must be established to begin a unified industrial and political counter-offensive by workers throughout the sector.

Such committees are posed with the need for an alternative, socialist perspective aimed at establishing workers governments that will place all resources, essential industries and utilities, along with banks, under public ownership and democratic workers control, to meet social need and not profit.
Mike Lindell is confident that Donald Trump will be reinstated as the U.S. President in August after the MyPillow CEO presents his evidence of voter fraud to the Supreme Court, a report says.

The 59-year-old MyPillow CEO and Trump supporter may be the key to the return of former President Donald Trump's rightful place in the White House. He is gearing up to present all the evidence he has gathered to support his argument that President Biden won the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election through voter fraud, to the Supreme Court.

Over the weekend, Lindell virtually dropped by the War Room podcast hosted by Steve Bannon, Trump's former chief strategist, One America News Network reported. During their conversation, the MyPillow CEO spoke about the evidence he has compiled to prove that voter fraud occurred during the 2020 U.S. Presidential Elections.

He believes that by presenting the evidence he has gathered to the Supreme Court, the court will rule to overturn the results of the election and put back former President Trump in the White House.

"What I'm talking about, Steve, is what I've been doing since January 9. All the evidence I have-everything is going to go before the Supreme Court and the election of 2020 is going bye-bye," Lindell told Bannon through a video call. "It was an attack by other countries, communism coming in. I don't know what they're going to do with that after they pull it down."

"Donald Trump will be back in office in August," Lindell confirmed. According to The Independent, the MyPillow CEO criticized Dominion Voting Systems for prohibiting an investigation into their voting machines. He claimed that as a businessman and CEO of a company, he would let people "look inside his company's pillows if it was being claimed they were stuffed with rocks."

Dominion Voting Systems has filed a defamation lawsuit against Lindell, but the MAGA supporter remains undeterred, telling the Wall Street Journal (via NPR) that he was "very, very happy" to find out about the lawsuit and that he has "all the evidence on them. Now this will get disclosed faster, all the machine fraud and the attack on our country."

To fight such attacks on the conservatives and the right wing supporters of the country, Lindell is also working on a social media site of his own, just like former President Trump.

Called "Frank Speech" and formerly known as Vocl, the new site has recently gone live as a static page with a one-paragraph discussion on what "free speech" constitutes. Frank Speech promises to be a "platform for Americans who want to defend life, liberty, and all the freedoms that have marked America as the longest running Constitutional Republic in the history of the world."

Lindell said that it will eventually be able to host a billion users who can "post videos, livestream television, distribute news and information, and find community and fellowship with like minded Americans" who want to "share in the constitutional right of freedom of speech and freedom of expression."
Women serving in Switzerland's military will no longer have to wear men's underwear under a pilot project starting next month.

Currently, all service members in the Swiss army are provided with the same standard issue military clothing, which means men's underwear for everyone, regardless of their gender.

But under the new project beginning in April, female soldiers will be allowed to wear women's underwear instead.

Defense Minister Viola Amherd, who has advocated boosting the presence of women among Switzerland's ranks, has welcomed the change.

'The clothing is designed for men, but if the army is really to become more feminine, appropriate measures are needed,' she said, announcing the test phase in April.

According to Armasuisse (The Swiss Federal Office for Defence Procurement) spokesman Kaj-Gunnar Sievert, 'the two specific functional underwear for women - short underwear (summer) and long underwear (winter) - will be tested in April.'

Women serving in Switzerland's military will no longer have to wear men's underwear under a pilot project starting next month. Pictured: Swiss army reservists wearing protective face masks arrive at Moudon military base on November 8, 2020

The standard-issue underwear - which according to Sievert has been in use since the 1980s - may only be one of a number of factors dissuading women from joining the Swiss army, which lags behind other European nations.

Just one percent of the military in Switzerland is made up of women, according to The Local. By comparison, Sweden's military is 18 percent women, France's is 15 percent, and 12 percent in Germany and Norway.

Switzerland hopes to increase the number to 10 percent by 2030.

'The old generation of uniforms was not geared enough to the specific needs of women,' said Sievert. 'Against this background, the procurement of the latest equipment is just as important for women as it is for men.'

Sievert also noted that it was important for the test to include women of a variety of heights and shapes, 'otherwise none of this makes any sense.'

Major Tamara Moser, project manager of the 'Army and Women Inclusion' programme and the first woman on the board of the Swiss Officers' Society, has been critical of the Swiss army's lack of gender diversity.

'Since 2004, the army has not taken the necessary steps to structurally and culturally include women in the army,' she said to Swiss news outlet Watson.

Women have been permitted to join the Swiss army since 2004, performing exactly the same duties as men but under conditions involving uncomfortable underwear, as well as accommodation deemed unsuitable for women, according to a federal report looking at women in Switzerland's military.

Marianne Binder, a member of the Swiss Central National Council, acknowledged that there was still more to be done, but that the change of underwear was a step in the right direction.

'In view of the many positive responses to this advance, I realised how many people wear uniforms from morning to night, not just in the army; and everyone says it's a question of appreciation,' she said.
People who have set up recurring auto-debit transactions to pay bills for phone, internet, video streaming and other online services are likely to see the payments fail from April 1 due to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) March 31 deadline to banks for putting in place a security measure called Additional Factor Authentication (AFA).





The move is set to affect only recurring debit and payments. UPI-based auto-debit transactions will not be affected.



Additional Factor Authentication requires banks to push a notification to customers five days ahead of when the payment is set to take place. The transaction will only go through after approval from the customer. Banks also need to send a one-time-password to customers for recurring payments above Rs 5,000, according to media reports.

Industry body Internet And Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has warned that millions of such transactions could fail as most big banks are yet to comply with the RBI's new mandate.

"Industry consultations suggest that most major scheduled commercial banks do not have upgraded capacities to comply. Due to this, the other participants in the ecosystem like acquirers and card networks have not been able to follow the obligations under these circulars," the IAMAI said.

There are technical challenges in implementing the new rules as a common integration between the issuing bank, the acquiring bank and online merchants is needed for authentication messages, a report in ET said citing sources close to the matter. The report said HDFC bank, ICICI Bank, SBI as well as card operators like American Express and Mastercard are notifying network partners about their inability to process automatic payments.

Transactions worth more than Rs 2,000 crore across sectors spanning payments, utility bills, video streaming, and others, are expected to be affected.

The Indian Banks' Association's had asked the central bank to push the deadline, but the request was turned down. The IAMAI has now requested Niti Aayog to weigh in on the issue of timeline extension.
President Joe Biden listens as Vice President Kamala Harris speaks about the American Rescue Plan in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

Vice President Harris Focusing on Root Causes of Migration, Not Border: White House

Vice President Kamala Harris is going to focus on what causes people to illegally cross into the United States, the White House said on Monday.

Harris is leading the effort to address the root causes of migration, not the border, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington.

There is some confusion over that, she said.

Harris was tapped last week by President Joe Biden to lead the administrations efforts in dealing with a surge in illegal immigrants. Biden called her the most qualified person to handle the task, adding that she can speak for him without checking with him.

Psaki said there are no public updates on when Harris plans to travel to Central America.

But since you gave me the opportunity, its important to understand and know that she is focused on addressing root causes in the region. And so, travel, I would expect, would be there. The border and expediting processing at the border, opening shelters, ensuring were moving kids out of Border Patrol facilitiesthat is really under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security and HHS. And they will all work together, but the vice presidents focus is on the region, root causes, and engaging with governments directly, she told a reporter.

Biden said last week that Harris would help Mexico and Central American countries in stemming the movement of so many folks, stemming the migration to our southern border.

He noted that he received a similar assignment when he was vice president from President Barack Obama.

Border Patrol agents apprehend about two dozen illegal immigrants in Penitas, Texas, on March 11. 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Back then, he said, he and others learned that people were leaving because of gang violence, cartels, and natural disasters.

And so its not like someone sits around a hand-hewn table somewhere in Guatemala and says, Ive got a great idea: Lets sell everything we have, give the money to a coyote, have him take our kids or us to the border of America, take us across, leave us in the desert. We dont speak the language. Wont that be fun? One of the ways we learned is that if you deal with the problems in [that] country, it benefits everyone. It benefits us, it benefits the people, and it grows the economies there, Biden said, adding that he is pushing Congress to send taxpayer money to those countries to help them stem migration from the source.

Harris said she looked forward to engaging in diplomacy with government, with private sector, with civil society, andand the leaders of each in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, and ensure shared prosperity in the region and collaborating with Mexican authorities.

Symone Sanders, a spokesperson for Harris, told reporters last week that the vice president is not doing the border.

The president asked the vice president to take on the diplomatic effort, with Mexico and countries in the northern triangle to address the root causes of migration, she said. There are many reasons that move these folks to make this dangerous journey.

Harris has no planned trips to the border in the near future.

The United States is facing a surge in illegal border crossings, after Biden rolled back a number of key Trump era rules such as one that kept asylum seekers waiting outside the country for their claims to be heard.

Stephen Miller, one of the previous administrations top immigration advisers, said on Twitter late Monday that the rollbacks amounted to set[ting] everything on fire, producing utter humanitarian disaster.
opinion

An effective and a well-directed planning strategy in the life of a country is pre-requisite and indispensable for the realisation of optimum economic growth development and prosperity.

In the light of this ideal perception, it is very significant that the National Development Planning Commission in the Ghanaian situation must be regarded as a great asset and a vital organisation that holds the destiny of Ghana as a country.

That the National Development Planning Commission is a non-partisan political organisation that is primarily focused on the realisation of the continual developmental aspirations of Ghana, cannot be denied or disputed by any sincere and well-informed Ghanaian cultural critic or authority.

For the purpose of this article, it will be of interest and necessary to present a concise background informational sketch in the context of development in the contemporary Ghanaian situation.

Ghana has a history of development planning that dates back almost hundred years. In 1921, the then Governor of the Gold Coast, Sir Gorden Guggisberg, unveiled a ten - year programme (1920 - 1930) that in effect aimed to transform the mono-crop economy into a diversified and resilient one.

The programme covered everything from political and industrial maps to "hydro-electric works" to harbours, railways, water supply, and "town improvements".

The next major attempts at long-term development planning in Ghana was the "ten-year plan for the Economic And Social Development Of The Gold Coast" (1950-1960), which provided an outline of what it is hoped will be achieved in all fields of development during the ten-year period, beginning April, 1, 1950.

In allusion to what economist call "perspective (or long-term) planning the document referred to the Ten-year period as merely one phase in the development of the country which has been going on steadily for many years and will continue beyond the decade with which the plan had a budget of  75.0 million.

The most comprehensive national development plan designed for the country was the Seven-Year Development Plan (1963/64 - 1969/70) at a cost of  1,016 Million.

The Plan called a public investment programme and emphasis was placed on the "the growth of the productive economy in all its aspects.

The plan was thus represented the first-ever attempt at quantifying economic growth and its relationship to improving the living standards of Ghanaians.

It is significant to know that the present National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) was established under Articles 86 and 87 of the 1992 Constitution as part of the Executive.

The National Development Planning Commission Act 1994 (Act 479) and the National Developmental Planning (system) Act 1994 (Act 480) provide the core legal frame work for the establishment of the Commission and the performance of its functions. Article 86 stipulates the composition of the Commission as follows:

The Chairman shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Council Of State.

The Minister responsible for Finance and such as ministers of state as the President may appoint.

The government statistian.

The Governor of the Bank of Ghana.

One representative from each region of Ghana appointed by the Regional Co-ordinating Councils of the regions and

Such other persons as may be appointed by the President having regard to their knowledge and experience of the relevant areas and roles pertaining to development, economic social, environment and spatial planning.

The Commission operates through a number of committees; and in accordance with the provision under Article 87 of the Constitution; the core mandate of the Commission is to advise the President on development planning policy and strategy.

The foregoing on the establishment, composition and functions of the National Development Planning Commission, provide a valuable piece of information, which every average concerned Ghanaian about the developmental aspirations of Ghana needs to know in order to get involved in the bandwagon of nation building; and contribute positively in a way to advance the developmental process of the country.

It is evident from the background sketch on the development of the country that the existence of the National Development Planning Commission is relatively recent since independence, when Ghana ceased to be a colony under British colonial rule; and began her own developmental programmes under the first Republic under the leadership of President Nkrumah.

At the present time in Ghana's political history since independence in 1957, one can safely argue that Ghana as a developing country has not really experienced much realistic and meaningful development as she should have achieved by now.

This argument can be justified by many a concerned Ghanaian cultural critic, who has the interest of the country at heart.

This is so, in the contemporary Ghanaian situation, due to several negative and militating factors that had arisen in the course of the developmental process of the country since independence.

Under President Nkrumah of the first Republic, Ghana embarked on both short-term and long-term developmental programmes that saw the country moving at a fast pace and momentum to experience economic growth, development and prosperity.

To this end, President Nkrumah and his C.P.P government did a great deal to lay a solid infrastructural foundation for the country to take off in development.

As a first step, President Nkrumah sought the financial and technical assistance from the U.S government to build the Akosombo Hydro-Electric Dan for the supply of energy to meet the country's requirements for a rapid industrial and agricultural development of the country.

This was followed by the expansion of the Takoradi harbour and the building of the Tema harbour and Township and the Tema oil Refinery.

The expansion of the Takoradi harbour was to enhance the exportation of cocoa, the main cash crop of Ghana, and the other agricultural and mineral products of the country such as coffee, timber, rubber, maize, palm oil, gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese etc to boost the growing economy of the country.

President Nkrumah went on further to establish the Aluminium Smelter at Akosombo, the Atomic Energy Commission at Kwabenya in Accra to promote scientific and industrial research. He also established the Black Star shipping line, the Ghana Airways Co-operation and other state corporations such as the Ghana National Trading Co-operation (G.N.T.C) the Ghana Publishing Corporation etc. to promote and hasten the developmental process of the country.

However, to the detriment and disadvantage of the country, this fast developmental pace and momentum was suddenly halted as a result of a military coup de tat that toppled Nkrumah's government on February 24th 1966 to oust him and his C.P.P government from power.

This change in the governance of the country which was brought about by the National Liberation Council (NLC) saw the abrogation, discontinuation and abandonment of many of the important developmental programmes for the country that were initiated by the first Republic under President Nkrumah's leadership.

Thus, the country was set back on the clock of progress with the emergence of military rule of the National Liberation Council (NLC).

After a period of three years of military rule, the country was returned to civilian rule in partisan politics; and the Progress Party (P.P) under the leadership of Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia assumed governance of the country in September 1969.

This change was however short-lived; and within a space of twenty seven months, the Progress Party government was overthrown in another military coup de tat led by Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong on January 13, 1972.

Thus, Dr. Busia's government did not see the light of the day to enable it to carry out all its developmental programmes, particularly Busia's famous rural development programme which was designed to develop the rural areas of the country to ease the continual overcrowding of the urban areas and cities by providing job avenues to the youth in the rural set up of the country.

General Kutu Acheampong as he was later called, and his Redemption Council (NRC) and the subsequent Supreme Military Council (S.M.C) did not impact much on the developmental process of the country, except the unbriddled spate of corruption; and the massive looting of the national coffers to the brink of economic chaos and collapse in the later 1970's by the members of the Supreme Military Council and its chairman, General Kutu Acheampong and their well-wishers favourites and admirers in the upsurge of widespread and entrenched corruption in the Ghanaian society during that period of time in Ghana's history as a developing country in Africa South of the Sahara.

On the fringe and verge of economic collapse, Ft. Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings out of the blue emerged on to the political scene with his Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) to overthrow the Supreme Military Council (S.M.C) under the leaders hip of General F.W.K Akuffo on June 4th 1979; who had justtaken over the governance of the country, barely a year ago firm his boss, General Kutu Acheampong in a palace coup de tat.

The country began to recover from her economic malaise and chaos, and began to rebuild in the later 1970's, 1980's, 1990's under the governance of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), the Provincial Defence Council (PNDC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under the able leadership of Ft. Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, Chairman of the AFRC and the PNDC respectively and the President of Ghana with the NDC Party governance of the country, during the 4th Republican Constitution of Ghana.

In fact, Ghana as one of the fastest African developing country at the moment, had gone through chequered experiences since attaining independence from British colonial rule.

To this end, Ghana has somehow experienced little economic growth development and prosperity; however, by critical analysis and evaluation, Ghana woefully falls short in significance as far as realistic and meaningful development of the country are concerned.

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It is indisputable that, Ghana should have experienced a much higher level of economic growth, development and prosperity than the position in which she finds herself now, if there had been a healthy sustainable and peaceful developmental atmosphere or situation.

This unfavourable political and economic experience that Ghana had experienced in the past is the result of her present unenviable developmental achievements as a country.

One can at this stage pose the pertinent question what is the ideal developmental expectation for a country like Ghana?

In my opinion, the definition and the assessment of a truly developing or developed country should not be restricted to the material or physical things only such as the construction and building of high class motorways, roads, railways, harbours, airports, scientific and research institutions, Universities, polytechnics, hospitals and the use of ICT computers and digital communication system etc; but moral and spiritual education consciousness of the people of a country is highly essential in the life of a country in her developmental aspirations.

When these two aspects of development are manifesting in a country, then I will personally describle this country as a truly or well-developing or developed country.

Because these two aspects of development must collaborate and complement each other in developmental aspirations of a country to effect an ideal development achievements and for that matter "utopia".

By virtue of its mandate and modus operandi in the developmental aspirations of Ghana as presented in the foregoing, the National Development Planning Commission must endeavour at all costs to effect the continual developmental aspirations of the country.

This will enable Ghana to move fast forward to experience optimum economic growth, development and prosperity within the present 21st century of historic time.

To this end, the National Development Planning Commission must be more prudent, more circumspect, more judicious and more nationalistic in its operation in order to ensure that, Ghana continues to benefit positively in all her developmental programmes that will be designed by successive governments of the country.

In conclusion, I state categorically that the National Development Planning Commission must not be interfered with or frustrated in any way by any ruling government of the country, so that it will be very effective in its modus operandi to influence, direct and champion the cause of all national developmental programmes of the country, such as the present on going one, which is popularly and well-described as Ghana beyond aid agenda.
Kia, the country's second-largest carmaker, revealed its first all-electric model EV6 to the public through a global unveiling held online, Tuesday. An affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, Kia plans to launch seven all-electric models by 2026. The EV6 is the first model of the planned EV-only lineup. Courtesy of Kia
Freddie Redd, a pianist and composer who released a pair of well-received albums for Blue Note Records in the early 1960s, then spent more than half a century bouncing through different cities as an ambassador of jazzs golden age, died on March 17 at a care facility in Manhattan. He was 92.

His grandson Leslie Clarke said he had died in his sleep, but did not give a cause.

Mr. Redd is best known for writing the music for The Connection (1959), an Off Broadway play by Jack Gelber that depicted the lives of heroin-addicted musicians in New York, and that two years later became a renowned film directed by Shirley Clarke. Mr. Redd appeared in both.

Largely self-taught, Mr. Redd was particularly known for his compositions and for his skill as an accompanist. Even when he was the one soloing, his left hands roving chords were often as rich as his right hands improvised lines.

The Music From The Connection, released in 1960, was Mr. Redds first album for Blue Note; it was followed in 1961 by the similarly acclaimed Shades of Redd, which featured an all-star band: the alto saxophonist Jackie McLean (who was also in The Connection), the tenor saxophonist Tina Brooks, the bassist Paul Chambers and the drummer Louis Hayes.
Peter Hanley Motors, Ballymahon are celebrating after they were accredited as the Best Motor Dealer in Longford by the All-Ireland Business Foundation.



Peter Hanley Motors is a family run business, operating for the past 32 years since its inception in 1989, and they are absolutely delighted to receive the All-Star Longford Motor Dealer 2021 Accreditation.

David Hanley, Director of Peter Hanley Motors Ltd, explained, I have been part of the business, on a full time basis, for the past 15 years now. I found The All-Star Accreditation process to be very thought provoking. When I first spoke with Kieron from the All-Ireland Business Foundation, I was made aware that this was very much an independent examination of the business and it gave me an opportunity to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of what we do in Peter Hanley Motors.



David continued, We are always looking at areas where we can develop, whilst at the same time enhancing and maintaining the traditions and values that we have stood for over the past 32 years. In the early years there were no social media platforms for Peter to promote his business, so he was reliant on word of mouth, for a family run business in the heart of the midlands to grow. Peter has always provided an exceptional service and indeed back up service to his customers & this is still very much to fore of what we strive for in 2021.

Our online presence which incorporates e-commerce website and digital showroom has been a key factor in our growth over the past number of years and we are always looking for percentage gains in this area. Our customer base has now spread nationwide and without our online presence, this simply would not be possible. The old tradition of word of mouth has now evolved into website reviews and we constantly monitor same to see if there are areas we have fallen down on.



On the All-Star Longford Motor Dealer 2021 Accreditation, David described it as a nice 'pat on the back' especially during these very testing times as we continue to operate during a global pandemic.



It is not going to change the way Peter or I carry ourselves, but it is always nice to receive a stamp of approval from an independent body for the traditions, the family involvement and the staff in all departments of our business. We are proud to align ourselves with numerous other top notch companies who have received the All-Star Accreditation.



As an independent dealership, receiving the All-Star Longford Motor Dealer 2021 Accreditation helps us to keep pace with the bigger franchise models whilst remaining in our own little bubble, operating on a tried and tested ethos, that has served us very well over the past three decades.

David concluded, Looking forward, we hope that our recent All-Star Accreditation will help us to grow from strength to strength, especially in the area of online marketing. We hope that it will serve as reassurance to customers the length and breadth of the country, that when they shop with Peter Hanley Motors, they will be dealt with in a very Professional manner from a very trustworthy dealership. The Accreditation is a reflection on every single member of our team & whilst we will acknowledge that we are not always perfect, hopefully this accolade can help us to focus as we strive to steer in that direction.



A fully qualified teacher by profession, David, remarked, As massive GAA fans, when Peter and I hear the words All-Star we immediately associate this with GAA All-Stars. Over the past number of years there have been many Longford people deserving of an All-Star title but never won favour with the All-Star selectors. We at Peter Hanley Motors are delighted to be called a 'Business All-Star'.



Kieran Ring, Deputy Chair on the Adjudication Board said in support of the All-Ireland Business Foundation announcement: The certificate verifies that Peter Hanley Motors Ltd has achieved AIBF 2021-1014 All-Star Longford Motor Dealer 2021, in recognition of the companys commitment to the business life of its community. Furthermore, we wish to recognise Peter Hanley Motors conduct in the areas of trust, commitment, performance and customer centricity. Peter Hanley Motors Ltd is hereby included in the AIBF Register of Irish Business Excellence.
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Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Meghan Markle is planning to give birth to her second child with Prince Harry in the comfort of her own mansion in America, an insider has claimed.

The Duchess of Sussex, 39, is due to welcome her second child with the Duke of Sussex, 36, in the summer, and it is thought she hopes to have a home birth at their stunning $14.7m Santa Barbara property in Montecito, California.

Speaking about Meghan's home birthing plans, a source told Page Six: 'She has a beautiful home in California, it's a beautiful setting to give birth to her baby girl.'

If born in America, Meghan and Prince Harry's baby will be entitled to US citizenship as an automatic right, and will have dual UK citizenship through her father. She will also be able to run for US presidency if born on US soil.

The Duchess of Sussex, 39, (pictured with Archie and Prince Harry) is reportedly planning a home birth for her baby

The Duchess of Sussex, 39, is due to welcome her second child with the Duke of Sussex, 36, in the summer, and it is thought she hopes to have a home birth at their stunning $14.7m Santa Barbara property in Montecito, California (pictured)

The source also said that Meghan initially planned to have a home birth for Archie, now 22 months old, but was unable to do so because her son was a week overdue.

Instead of welcoming her first child with an all-female midwife team at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, the mother was taken to London's private Portland hospital, where she gave birth to Archie on May 6, 2019.

The source explained: 'Meghan's plan was to have a home birth with Archie, but you know what they say about the best-laid plans.'

Does a child born in America get automatic US citizenship? Any child born in the US gets automatic US citizenship under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. This states: 'All persons born or naturalised in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.' The only exception applies to the 'jurisdiction' element, which means children born to diplomats and other recognised government officials from foreign countries don't get US citizenship if born on American soil. Anyone born in the US gets citizenship for their life unless they make an action to give it up such as filing an oath. If born in the US, Meghan and Prince Harry's baby will be entitled to US citizenship as an automatic right. She will also be able to run for US presidency if born on US soil. The baby will also be entitled to a British passport through Harry. Advertisement

MailOnline has contacted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's representatives for comment.

The couple revealed during their bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview earlier this month that their second child is a girl and is due to be born this summer.

Prince Harry joined his wife for the second half of the much-anticipated interview on CBS to reveal the news, excitedly telling the chat show host: 'It's a girl.'

He said his first thought was 'amazing' when he learned they were having a girl, adding: 'Just grateful. To have any child, any one or any two, would have been amazing.

'But to have a boy and then a girl, I mean what more can you ask for? Now we've got our family, we got the four of us and our two dogs.'

While the couple made no hint of what their daughter's name would be, fans are already speculating that they will call her Diana, after Harry's late mother.

Asked if they were 'done' with two children, Harry said 'done' and Meghan said: 'Two is it.'

The girl will not be entitled, at this stage, to be an HRH nor a princess title due to rules set out more than 100 years ago by George V - but this is the same as what would have happened before they stepped back from senior duties.

The baby is entitled to be a Lady, but Harry and Meghan will again opt to style their second-born a plain Miss, with the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.

Harry and Meghan first announced on Valentine's Day that they are expecting a second child, saying they were 'overjoyed' at the pregnancy.

Their news echoed Princess Diana's announcement of her own second child - Prince Harry - which was printed in newspapers on Valentine's Day in 1984.

A spokesman for the couple said at the time: 'We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.'

The married couple revealed during their bombshell Oprah interview (pictured) that their second child is a girl and is due to be born this summer

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released this picture on Valentine's Day as they announced that they are expecting a second child, saying they were 'overjoyed' at their pregnancy

The announcement came soon after Meghan suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage last year.

After the pregnancy announcement, Bookies quickly started taking odds on what the name of Archie's sibling could be, with Diana coming in first position before Alexandra, Florence, Arabella and Elizabeth.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes said at the time that the chances of Harry and Meghan naming their girl Diana were four to one.

The new Sussex baby will become eighth in line to the throne, after Prince Charles, Prince William, William's three children George, Charlotte and Louis, Prince Harry and Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.

Prince Harry retained his place in the line of succession despite his decision to quit royal life.

Prince Harry, Meghan and Archie left Britain for Canada in November 2019 before moving to America, meaning Archie has not seen any of his British relatives since he was six months old.
Canada on Monday suspended the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for adults under 55 amid concerns it could be linked to rare blood clotting. The halt was advised by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) for safety reasons.

Canada Suspends Use of AstraZeneca Vaccine for Under 55s

According to Health Canada, in a statement, the action ensued in the light of data being reported from Europe regarding extra cases of especially rare adverse events of "thrombosis (blood clots) with thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets)" transpiring after vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The country has received 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine so far, all produced by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) under the brand Covishield.

Provincial health authorities, involving such in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, paused the AstraZeneca doses after the nation's vaccine advisory committee advised the pause on administering it to younger people. This is deemed as another setback for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's inoculation effort, which is off to the second-slowest start among Group of Seven nations, reported The Print.

According to Dr. Shelley Deeks, vice chair of the NACI, "There is substantial uncertainty about the benefit of providing AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines to adults under 55 given the potential risks." She added the updated advisory arrive amid new information from Europe that suggests the risk of blood clotting is now potentially as high as one in 100,000. This is much higher than the one in one million risk perceived earlier, reported 7 News.

The vice chair also stated most of the European patients who developed a rare blood clot upon immunization with AstraZeneca were women under age 55. The fatality rate among individuals who develop clotting is as high as 40%.

68-Year-Old Kansas Woman Dies Allegedly Due To COVID-19 Vaccine

The novel coronavirus vaccines had arrived in Canada on March 3. This was part of a larger two-million-dose negotiation that had been implemented after Trudeau had requested his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for coronavirus vaccine supplies in a telephone conversation on February 9. So far, the country has utilized more than 60% of that tranche, which comes to over 300,000 shots, according to health authorities, reported Hindustan Times.

Canada is slated to receive 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca dose from the United States this week. Merely 1.8% of Canadian residents are fully inoculated, in contrast to 15.8% in the US, cited Bloomberg's Vaccine Tracker.

According to Dr. Joss Reimer of Manitoba's vaccine implementation taskforce, notwithstanding the finding that there was no increase susceptibility of blood clots overall associated with AstraZeneca in Europe, a rare but severe side-effect has been witnessed primarily in young European women. Reimer stated the rare type of blood clot typically transpires between four and 20 days following vaccination. The symptoms could mirror a heart attack or stroke.

However, Health Canada clarified until now, there have been no cases of such events (side effects such as potential blood clots) have been recorded in Canada. It is issuing "additional terms and conditions" to SII and Verity Pharmaceuticals, its Canadian partner.

Most of the vaccines disseminated so far have been the Moderna or Pfizer shots. They were approved by Canadian health authorities months prior to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Former CDC Chief Believes COVID-19 Escaped From Wuhan Lab

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FOREST CITY, Iowa  Zach Dillavou has been named the 2021 Iowa Middle Level Principal of the Year.

The Forest City Middle School principal will be honored at the August conference of the School Administrators of Iowa.

Zach Dillavou is an outstanding administrator and his actions are always about what is best for all students, says Forest City Superintendent Darwin Lehmann. He has an amazing gift with regard to his ability to connect with kids and places a high focus on character and team-building activities between students and faculty. Under his leadership, the Forest City Middle School ranks as a High Performing school (Iowa School Performance Profiles), and is just .94 points away from Iowas top Exceptional ranking.

The Forest City school district says Dillavou has led major initiatives laptop distribution to students, a focus on literacy, and standards-based learning.

It is an honor to be representing School Administrators of Iowa and specifically the students and staff of the Forest City Middle School, says Dillavou. I feel very fortunate to be able to team with such a positive, caring, dedicated team of teachers, administrators, school board members and support personnel to serve our students. I am appreciative of all the support provided to our school by the families and community members in the Forest City CSD. Most importantly, thank you to our students for working to give your best effort and do what is right each day. Our philosophy of building positive relationships, working closely together and always trying to do what is best for our students will continue to drive us moving forward.
Matt Barnes has taken approximately eight COVID tests since testing positive during the middle of last week.

PCR, rapid, you name it and they were all negative, Barnes said Tuesday morning.

Barnes and eight other members of the organization in contact with him initially began quarantining Saturday. But Barnes and everyone else were cleared to return Monday. Barnes said he will be ready for Opening Day on Thursday at Fenway Park.

His test result was either a false positive or a non-infectious positive. Barnes doesnt care how it is described  as long as he is able to pitch.

I havent really talked to them about that, he said. I can tell you when I showed up to camp, my antibodies test showed that I did not have them. I dont know. Im not a medical expert and frankly, I dont care how its labeled. The only thing that matters to me is Ive got negatives, Im back with the team and ready to go now.

Barnes was surprised when he received the initial positive result.

Being the (Red Sox) union rep, I was one of the people who helped kind of build these protocols ... or kind of help sign off on these protocols for everybody, Barnes said. So I know them very well. Before we had COVID back in 2018, 2019, I didnt go anywhere in spring training anyways let alone when we have a global pandemic. It was crazy to me. When I found out on Saturday morning, I was like, Theres no way. I just havent gone anywhere. I went to the grocery store for 30 minutes and that was it. Other than that, it was the field and my house. And I felt completely fine. So it didnt feel right but at the same time, all the necessary protocols need to be taken just in case.

Eight other members of the organization had to quarantine because they were in contact with Barnes. Four were considered close contacts and four were considered extra scrutiny contacts.

Barnes said he was beating himself up over how it affected the others.

One in specific (Garrett) Whitlock, I was like, Man this is going to be first one (Opening Day). Imagine if he missed it because I was an idiot? But I didnt do anything. So Im sitting there kind of wrestling with those two things. And I can tell you, Im super relieved. Im super happy that it was just a misunderstanding and that were good to go. Well be at full strength and well have everybody ready to go for Thursday.

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Partnering with Emsi on a new approach to job titles will help employers and professionals remove needlessly complex barriers to connecting the right talent to the right opportunities and unlock upward mobility at scale.

Employers frequently wrestle with job titles that are either hyper-specialized, repetitive, or vague, which makes it difficult to find and recruit the talent they need. But with the help of Emsi Open Titles, employers can now discover the real-world names for those roles. This cleans up job-title chaos and helps employers speak the same language as the rest of the market.

The library is a free version of the Emsi Titles API, which allows organizations to compare their internal roles with trends in the broader labor market in a matter of seconds. Until now, such a comparison has required manual research---a process that is onerous, expensive, and often too lengthy to offer relevant information in a fast-moving economy.

Emsi Open Titles will allow companies to enter a given internal job title and immediately view normalized best matches from Emsis library. Emsis job titles library distills over 20 million real world jobs titles into 75,000 standardized titles, and is updated every two weeks.

Job titles can get weird and out of control, said Andrew Crapuchettes, CEO of Emsi. I once talked to a company that had 9,000 employees and 7,000 job titles. So we created Emsi Titles because we wanted to help employers normalize their job titles, get on the same page as everybody else, and grow their organizations.

The free API includes the ability to:



Download the full library and machine readable IDs

Search and autocomplete within the library

Test job title normalization up to 50 times

Emsi Open Titles also helps employers amplify the value of traditional labor market information by mapping their internal job titles to the correct SOC and O*NET occupations.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation will support the use of Emsi Open Titles in training US employers on how to build talent pipelines. The Chamber Foundation plans to put the new tool to use as part of its workforce efforts across the country.

Better signaling about in-demand jobs starts with the job title, said Jason Tyszko, vice president, Center of Education and Workforce, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. While many companies want the ability to differentiate their positions and opportunities with creative names and descriptions, it helps to have a shared approach for how we title them so that we know which jobs are roughly comparable and which are different. We experience this firsthand when supporting our employer networks in addressing their talent needs. Having employers develop a shared language for describing their in-demand jobs is a critical step in improving how they signal their needs to prospective job applicants and the partners they source talent from.

Visier, the recognized leader in people analytics, is another early adopter of Emsi Open Titles. Many people's analytics teams struggle with messy and inconsistent job names, said Ian Cook, VP of people analytics at Visier. Comparing jobs is at the core of the most critical and high-value questions related to people. Having an easy way to standardize job names removes this core challenge and brings incredible value to the business.

The Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) is also supporting Emsi in the announcement. Brian Fitzgerald, CEO of BHEF, said: Together, BHEFs business and higher education members develop diverse, competitive, ready-to-work talent. Emsis job-title data helps our members map career pathways and increase their skills-based practices. When data is widely available and open-source, higher education can better advise students, and businesses can find and hire the right talent.

Job titles play a crucial role in the search for a new job, said Shannon Block, chief digital officer at Markle. If a job title clearly reflects the skills a person has and how they interact with their colleagues, it helps jobseekers understand what is needed for the role. This is particularly helpful when comparing roles across different sectors. Employers should ensure a job title clearly defines the role they are hiring for and is aligned with the skills-based interview questions and assessments. Emsis work to promote alignment across job titles is very promising in creating more transparency for jobseekers, and Im excited to share this work with the Rework America Alliance as we work to help low income and unemployed workers move into good jobs.

"As verified skills and credentials have become the common currency for what people know and can do, the need for a common understanding of what those skills 'buy' in terms of actual jobs available in the labor market has become more important," said Jonathan Finkelstein, CEO of Credly. "Partnering with Emsi on a new approach to job titles will help employers and professionals remove needlessly complex barriers to connecting the right talent to the right opportunities and unlock upward mobility at scale."

Emsi Open Titles is a game-changer, said Johannes Wedenig, convener of the Youth Agency Marketplace at Yoma, a digital marketplace that connects youth, employers, and social impact organizations. Emsi Open Titles will allow our user base to communicate their current and past responsibilities in a standard way, making it easier for potential employers to understand the skillsets and experience of our young people.

About Emsi

Emsi is an economic data and analytics firm. We provide labor market data and services for employers, higher ed institutions, and economic/workforce development professionals to help them promote economic prosperity in their regions. Founded in 2000, Emsi is headquartered in Moscow, Idaho, with additional offices throughout the US and in the UK.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Pennon Group plc (PNN.L), an environmental infrastructure group, Tuesday said it is on track to deliver resilient financial results for fiscal 2021, in line with management expectations. The shares were losing around 3 percent in the early morning trading in London. In its trading update for the full year ending March 31, 2021, the company said South West Water is on track to deliver strong totex and financing outperformance, anticipating a doubling of base returns on regulated equity or RORE of 3.9 percent. The company noted that there was a net increase in demand and associated revenues during the second half as increased household demand has more than offset a decline in non-household demand driven by COVID-19 related restrictions. Further, the company said South West Water's Green Recovery Initiative could see investment to 2025 increasing by 92 million pounds, about 10 percent increase to its existing 1 billion pounds investment programme. The investment would result in about 3 percent RCV increase, supporting a sustainable future and the creation of up to 500 additional jobs across the region. Pennon Water Services, its business to business water retailer, continues to win new contracts, partially offsetting reduced demand. The company said it remains in a strong financial position with expected cash and committed facilities well in excess of 3 billion pounds at March 31, 2021. Pennon said it 'believes there is significant value potential from the reinvestment of the Viridor sale proceeds in the UK water sector and continues to narrow down its review of potential growth opportunities. In the event a major value accretive investment opportunity is not available, Pennon expects to make a substantial return of capital to shareholders.' The company is scheduled to release full-year results on June 3. In London, Pennon shares were trading at 961.60 pence, down 3.2 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.
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The company believes the leases add strategically important areas with potential for the future location of re-entry programs, drilling of production wells and brine extraction activities.

( ) (FRA:9MY) has had its application approved for an additional area of 1,360 acres (5.5 square kilometres) adjacent to existing claims at the Paradox Brine Project in Utah, US.

The additional land grant has been approved by the School and Institutional Trust Land Administration (SITLA), a Utah State government authority.

Granting of the lease as Other Business Arrangements (OBA) demonstrates the State Governments support for the Paradox Brine Project.

Near Anson wells

The additional area includes 80 acres as the Little Utah State claim and is near the Long Canyon #2 well, previously re-entered and tested by Anson.

The two other claims total 1,380 acres, the Gemini claims, and are close to the Mineral Canyon Fed 1-3 well, where Anson has lodged a Plan of Operation (PoO) with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to re-enter and test for lithium, bromine, boron, iodine and other minerals.

Strategically important areas

Ansons executive chairman and CEO Bruce Richardson said: Anson has developed an excellent working relationship with the Utah State Government authority, SITLA, and its support in the development of the Paradox Project by the granting of this additional area under OBA provisions, greatly adds to the value of the project.

This lease adds strategically important areas to increase the JORC resource and as the future location of re-entry programs, drilling of production wells and brine extraction activities.

In particular, the Little Utah State area provides the company with a location on the main geological feature in the area, Roberts Rupture, which it is understood is the cause for the abnormally high pressure resulting in the brine flowing to surface under its pressure.

The company plans to continue to add area to the project as it continues to seek opportunities to increase its indicated and inferred JORC resource estimate, further growing the project and adding shareholder value.

In target areas of influence

Anson has upgraded its JORC Code (2012)-compliant mineral resource estimate for its Paradox Brine Project to accommodate the reduction in a number of unpatented placer claims at the northern end of the project and the granting of the new SITLA blocks.

The dropped claims were categorised as either an inferred resource or an exploration target.

The newly acquired SITLA blocks are within the indicated, inferred and exploration target areas of influence.

The updated inferred and indicated resource areas & the 2-kilometre area of influence of Mineral Canyon Fed 1-3 well.

Multi-revenue stream strategy

OBA provisions are one of two leasing arrangements utilised by SITLA.

An OBA is used for special consideration to bring projects into production and the majority of leases are granted through a competitive sealed bid auction process.

Anson has now included all available State Government administered lands within the area of interest of the Paradox project.

The lease to Anson includes rights to extract potash and mineral salts and enables the company to produce potassium salts as well as salts of lithium, boron, bromine, magnesium, sodium and calcium.

Anson has a multi-mineral/multi-revenue stream strategy but is primarily focused on the extraction of bromine and lithium from the Paradox brines.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on Monday said that increasing COVID-19 rates around the country gave her a recurring feeling of impending doom.

We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope. But right now Im scared, Walensky said at a White House coronavirus briefing, according to The Hill.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky: "We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope. But right now, I'm scared." pic.twitter.com/djMx4sRvHM  The Hill (@thehill) March 30, 2021

President Joe Biden later implored governors around the country to reinstate mask mandates.

New York and New Jersey, once epicenters of the virus outbreak, again have the highest rates of infection in the country.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday increased COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in New York, saying that those 30 years and above would be able to seek vaccines as of Tuesday, while those 16 and above could start on April 6.

The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside-down, and we need information like we never have before.

How many new cases were there on Staten Island today? How many deaths? How many people have been released from the hospital?

What are Bidens plans to end the pandemic? What are Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio doing to keep New Yorkers safe?

What other news is top of mind?

More importantly, when are we going to get back to normal, whatever normal is?

Its almost too much to keep up with.

So every day around 4 p.m., Mark and I take to Facebook Live to give you all the information you need. You can then look for this written wrap-up on SILive.com at the end of the day.

Well give you the numbers and all the latest news. Well answer your questions. Well follow up on your news tips.

Well share the good news too, the way that the Staten Island community is coming together in this time of crisis. Or well just share this strange and unique pandemic moment with you, as fellow Staten Islanders.

Were all in this together. Well all get through this together.
MEXICO CITY  The death at the hands of police of a woman who was a refugee from El Salvador has drawn international condemnation and potential embarrassment for Mexico, which on Monday began hosting a United Nations summit focused on gender equality.

The woman, Victoria Esperanza Salazar Arriaza, died on Saturday after being detained by the police in Tulum, a resort town on the Yucatan Peninsula. Videos shared on social media show an officer kneeling on the womans back as she cried out. Officers can later be seen dragging her limp body into the back of a police truck.

Authorities in the state of Quintana Roo confirmed on Monday that the cause of death was a fractured spine, and four officers were arrested in connection with the killing.

On Monday afternoon, the mayor of Tulum, Victor Mas Tah, said at a news conference that the citys chief of police had been removed from his post.
TOKYO, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857) has begun accepting registrations from semiconductor test professionals around the world to participate in the Virtual VOICE 2021 Developer Conference, being held June 21-23. Under the theme Converging Technologies. Creating Possibilities., the annual event welcomes the international community of users and strategic partners involved with Advantests V93000 and T2000 SoC test platforms, as well as memory testers, handlers and test cell solutions. The 2021 program features extensive opportunities for attendees to learn, including more than 70 presentations organized across eight topical tracks, a Technology Kiosk Showcase featuring the latest test solutions through live presentations and virtual booths, and a virtual Partners Expo highlighting innovative semiconductor test solutions.



In addition, a Workshop Day will be held on June 24, providing in-depth, practical learning in concurrent sessions covering V93000 EXA Scale/High Performance Computing, ACS Edge Machine Learning and 5G/mmWave technology. Interested parties may register for sessions of their choice. Learn more at https://voice.advantest.com/workshop-day/ .



Throughout the Virtual VOICE event, thought leaders will present and share their insights on semiconductor test and the state of the industry. The conference will also feature two dynamic keynote addresses. On June 22, Dr. Kate Darling, an expert in social robotics and a research specialist with MIT Media Lab , will discuss how the emotional connection between humans and life-like machines influences technology design and related policy decisions. Then on June 23, Fredi Lajvardi, vice president of STEM initiatives at the Si Se Puede Foundation , will share how he inspired a group of high-school students to become a national champion robotics team. This years program also includes a featured industry talk on critical IC markets and key trends by G. Dan Hutcheson, CEO and chairman of industry analyst firm VLSIr esearc h Inc.



More details and the event agenda are available on the Virtual VOICE 2021 website at https://voice.advantest.com/ .



Quick and easy online registration is available via https://voice.advantest.com/register/ . For information on group discounts, email mktgcomms@advantest.com .



For companies interested in sponsorship opportunities at Virtual VOICE 2021, a variety of packages are being offered. Details on 2021 sponsorships are available at https://voice.advantest.com/sponsor-opportunities/ or by emailing amy.gold@advantest.com .



As Virtual VOICE 2021 draws closer, follow #VirtualVOICE2021 and @Advantest_ATE on Twitter or visit https://voice.advantest.co m /spread-the-word/ for more ways to connect and get involved.

About the Virtual VOICE 2021 Developer Conference

Managed by a steering committee of volunteer representatives from Advantest and its customers, VOICE is the leading conference for the growing international community of users and strategic partners involved with Advantests V93000 and T2000 SoC test platforms as well as Advantest memory testers, handlers and test cell solutions. The conference offers a unique opportunity to take part in making semiconductor testing operations as efficient and cost-effective as possible. Attendees gain and share valuable test insights, build long-lasting relationships, and learn whats new about Advantest test equipment, handlers and applications.

About Advantest Corporation

Advantest (TSE: 6857) is the leading manufacturer of automatic test and measurement equipment used in the design and production of semiconductors for applications including 5G communications, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, smart medical devices and more. Its leading-edge systems and products are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor production lines in the world. The company also conducts R&D to address emerging testing challenges and applications, produces multi-vision metrology scanning electron microscopes essential to photomask manufacturing, and offers groundbreaking 3D imaging and analysis tools. Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest is a global company with facilities around the world and an international commitment to sustainable practices and social responsibility. More information is available at www.advantest.com .

ADVANTEST CORPORATION

3061 Zanker Road

San Jose, CA 95134, USA

Tish Kelly-Mick

tish.kelly-mick@advantest.com
Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette

A dog waits to be adopted from the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region in this March 2020 photo.
ALBANY  The state Court of Appeals in a decision released Tuesday ruled that the creation of a statewide special prosecutor to handle crimes against the most vulnerable was unconstitutional.

The state's top court agreed with the plaintiffs  three individuals prosecuted by the office in question  that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Legislature had carried out "an unconstitutional delegation of core prosecutorial authority away from the county district attorneys  elected constitutional officers  to an unelected appointee of the governor."

The special prosecutor's office, part of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, was created as part of the 2012 Protection of People with Special Needs Act. The prosecutor was to be appointed by the governor and empowered to investigate and prosecute crimes of abuse or neglect of vulnerable victims in facilities operated, licensed or certified by the state.

"All told, there is simply no analogy  in precedent or in statute  to (the law's) ... creation of a statewide prosecutor, appointed by the governor, with concurrent prosecutorial authority over a set of enumerated crimes," the decision states, upholding decisions by lower courts.

Here's the full Court of Appeals decision:

15-16-17opn21-Decision by cseiler8597 on Scribd

The state attorney general's office had asked the court for a saving construction that would allow the justices to read into the law certain conditions on the special prosecutors authority.

The court dismissed that idea: "We recognize that this well-intentioned legislation was aimed at protecting a particularly vulnerable class of victims," the decision states. "But we cannot rewrite a statute in order to save it."

The decision preserved the ability of the office to assist district attorneys in bringing such cases.

In a statement, the Justice Center said it "has worked together with local district attorneys on prosecutions for years and will continue to work cooperatively with their offices. We are reviewing the decision to determine how best to continue that work."

It's unclear how many cases prosecuted by the Justice Center without the participation of a district attorney might now be subject to appeal.

One of the three plaintiffs in the case who challenged the law was a former Albany teacher who was alleged to have had sex with one of her students at the La Salle School for troubled youngsters.

State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Breslin dismissed the case against Marina Viviani in 2017 because the Justice Center hadn't worked under the supervision of the Albany County district attorney's office in its prosecution.

"There is no evidence that the district attorney has retained ultimate prosecutorial authority and responsibility in this case," Breslin wrote in his decision.

Viviani was charged with rape, criminal sexual act and four misdemeanor sex crimes.

Her lawyer, Michael Pollok, had argued she was innocent of the charges, while also arguing against the constitutionality of the office.

In the Viviani case, the attorney general's office  then under the leadership of Eric Schneiderman  also raised questions about the state constitutionality of having unelected criminal prosecutors bring cases.

Of the hundreds of allegations the Justice Center gets each year, only a handful rise to the level of criminal prosecutions. Others have led to misdemeanors or firings, or both.

The decision was unanimous, although Chief Judge Janet DiFiore did not take part. The top court is currently working with one empty seat due to the recent resignation of Judge Paul Feinman for health reasons.
Onduras followed Panama's suit and temporarily banned all travelers who have recently visited South America from entering the country amid the spreading Brazilian P1 variant of COVID-19, the national risk management system said on Tuesday

MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th March, 2021) Honduras followed Panama's suit and temporarily banned all travelers who have recently visited South America from entering the country amid the spreading Brazilian P1 variant of COVID-19, the national risk management system said on Tuesday.

"Limiting entry into the country by any ways and means of transport for citizens-non-residents and/or tourists from the United Kingdom and South Africa remains temporarily active. This measure applies to people who visited South America in the last 15 days," the statement, published by the authority on Twitter, said.

All those who arrive in Honduras must present a negative PCR test or a vaccination certificate on the border.

In Panama, the ban on visitors from South America will come into force on Wednesday.
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - Gold79 Mines Ltd. (TSXV: AUU) ("Gold79" or the "Company") announces that, as a result of a review by staff of the Ontario Securities Commission, the Company is issuing the following news release retracting and clarifying previous disclosure relating to the Jefferson Canyon Project.

The Company's website, corporate presentation and a news release dated January 26, 2021 contained disclosure of an internal mineral resource estimate and related block model estimates related to the Jefferson Canyon Project that are not supported by a National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") technical report. For this reason, the Company is retracting all disclosure related to the mineral resource estimate and related block model. The Company notes that the previous disclosure should not be relied upon.

The Company has amended the content on its website and its corporate presentation to remove the disclosures noted above.

Robert Johansing, M.Sc. Econ. Geol., P. Geo., the Company's Vice President, Exploration is a qualified person ("QP") as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release.

About Gold79 Mines Ltd.

Gold79 Mines Ltd. is a TSX Venture listed company focused on building ounces in the Southwest USA. Gold79 holds 100% earn-in option to purchase agreements on three gold projects: the Jefferson Canyon Gold Project and the Tip Top Gold Project both located in Nevada, USA, and, the Gold Chain Project located in Arizona, USA. In addition, Gold79 holds two projects with minority interest being a 37.1% interest in the Greyhound Project, Nunavut, Canada under JV by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and a 20% carried interest in the Taviche Project in Oaxaca, Mexico now under option to Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.

For further information regarding this press release contact: Gary Thompson, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at (403) 870-1166 or by email at GT@gold79mines.com Gold79's website is located at www.gold79mines.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This press release may contain forward looking statements that are made as of the date hereof and are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions which involve risks and uncertainties associated with our business including, the uncertainty as to whether further exploration will result in the target(s) being delineated as a mineral resource, capital expenditures, operating costs, mineral resources, recovery rates, grades and prices, estimated goals, expansion and growth of the business and operations, plans and references to the Company's future successes with its business and the economic environment in which the business operates. All such statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, applicable Canadian securities legislation. Any statements contained herein that are statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements as a number of factors could cause actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations. Please refer to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent annual MD&A and the Company's continuous disclosure documents that can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Gold79 does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78976
Advertisement

A married couple, who have five children, tragically died after a redwood tree fell on top of their car as they were driving for a weekend getaway.

Jessica and Jake Woodruff were driving on Thursday down Route 199 toward the coast in Northern California when the 175-foot-tall tree crashed down on their 2016 Honda Accord.

Jake, 36, was driving Jessica up the coast to celebrate her 45th birthday, an annual tradition for the couple, who live in Yreka with their children.

'This was a shocking and unexpected event, and the tragedy of this accident makes it difficult to accept as real,' family friend Amanda Maffei wrote on a GoFundMe campaign to support the couple's five children.

Jessica and Jake Woodruff were driving on Thursday down Route 199 toward the coast in Northern California when the 175-foot-tall tree crashed down on their 2016 Honda Accord

Jake, 36, was driving Jessica up the coast to celebrate her 45th birthday, an annual tradition for the couple, who live in Yreka with their children, Megan, Evan, Casey, Allie, and Chelsea

The happily married couple, seen at their wedding, made an annual trip up the coast to celebrate Jessica's birthday

Their five children Megan, Evan, Casey, Allie, and Chelsea (together above) are now orphans after the horrible accident

Jake and Jessica are survived by their children (above), Megan, Evan, Casey, Allie, and Chelsea

'We are asking that anyone who can support them, please do so, as these children are facing the devastating reality of what was just ripped from their lives in a split second,' wrote Maffei.

'Those of you who know this family, know how tight-knit they are, and their lives will forever be changed,' she added.

Officials say it was a pleasant day with no wind, calling the odds of a tree falling directly on a car astronomical.

'We have trees everywhere. It's in the middle of the redwoods. It's just old growth and we have no idea why the tree fell. It was Mother Nature,' California Highway Patrol Officer Brandy Gonzalez told SFGate.

'The timing of everything was very, very unusual,' she added.

Friends and family were devastated by the death of Jessica (left) and Jake, and worried about the impact on their kids (right)

The couple's two eldest children are seen above. Officials call the accident 'very unusual'

Officials say it was a pleasant day with no wind, calling the odds of a tree falling directly on a car astronomical

The aftermath of the accident is seen. The couple were driving up the coast to celebrate Jessica's 45th birthday, an annual tradition for the couple, who live in Yreka with their children

'I've been on the department for 19 years and I've been in this area 12 to 13 years and it's very unusual. We've had trees fall down and cars make contact, but this kind of incident is very unusual,' Gonzalez said.

Jake and Jessica are survived by their children, Megan, Evan, Casey, Allie, and Chelsea.

The GoFundMe campaign for the family had raised more than $140,000 by Monday.

'There is no getting around the devastation and trauma the loss of Jessica and Jake has brought, and as we can all imagine, there is a long road ahead, especially for the children who have been left behind,' Maffei wrote on the GoFundMe page.

The fatal tree fell across Route 199 where it passes through the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Conditions at the scene were 'clear and dry' when the accident occurred just before noon

The fatal incident occurred in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, which preserves old-growth redwoods along the Smith River.

The part is located along U.S. Route 199 approximately nine miles east of Crescent City.

The park is named after 19th century explorer Jedediah Smith, the first U.S. citizen to cross the Mojave Desert to enter what is now California.

Fatal treefalls on moving vehicles are rare, but have occurred in the past. In 2014, 22-year-old California woman Kenneisha Hawkins-Dale was was traveling back from visiting her husband and brother at a state prison in Vacaville when a massive eucalyptus tree collapsed over Interstate 80, killing her instantly.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Areas of patchy fog. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
From Our News Archive - Originally Published 11/13/2017

SEE ALSO: EV's Dirty Secret: The Daily Mail Exposes Cobalt Mining - The Human Tragedy Behind Lithium Battery Production

LOS ANGELES, November 13, 2017 --

USA News Group - It seems that the increase in demand for lithium has Chinese manufacturers of electric vehicles (EVs) digging deep to secure the future supply of the metal. Apparently they are so concerned about producers' abilities to fill downline supply that Chinese EV companies are now willing to buy lithium that's yet to be mined.

Companies that could be in line to produce or simply sell the in-ground resources include QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: QMC) (OTC: QMCQF), Galaxy Resources (OTC: GALXF), Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile , Lithium X Energy Corp. (TSX-V:LIX) (OTC: LIXXF).

This new move by Chinese automakers is understandable, since all major automakers, including several major Chinese manufacturers, are planning to increase their electric vehicle (EV) quotas dramatically. That fact, combined with greater use of lithium in power grid storage, is creating a serious projected lithium supply deficit that could hit as early as 2020.

Companies with lithium production are expanding their production, while a forward looking group of junior companies are working feverishly to bring on new lithium sources.

A new lithium player that could be a winner as a result of the Chinese approach is QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: QMC) (OTC: QMCQF), which is looking to open up lithium reserves in Canada's hard-rock lithium category. The company is developing a large historical resource in Manitoba -a region with very favorable mining logistics.

Larger companies that are working to expand their lithium reserves may use selling in-ground assets as a way to bolster development. These include Galaxy Resources (OTC: GALXF), Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile , and Lithium X Energy Corp. (TSX-V: LIX.V) (OTCQX: LIXXF), all of which are in major expansion of their respective lithium resources.

CHINA'S MASSIVE HUNGER FOR LITHIUM

China is poised to become a monster consumer of lithium. And while the country holds its own significant reserves of the word's lithium resources estimated at about 7 million tons, they realize that they will need much more supply to handle all of their future needs.

China's concerns for securing future lithium reserves is highlighted in a recent agreement by Australian lithium company Pilbara Minerals.

In September, Pilbara announced its agreement with China's Great Wall Motors Company to back Pilbara's Pilgangoora Stage 2 expansion. The agreement is a true landmark for producing one of the very first off-take funding and equity investment agreements by a Chinese EV Manufacturer for lithium.

The deal gives Pilbara an upfront Australian $28 million for 75,000 tpa of stage 2 production from Pilgangoora and up to 225,000 tpa over the following 10 years via a debt or off-take pre-payment facility.

What's most important to note is that this marks a new stage where the car manufacturers are starting to realize the need to lock in their EV metals supply well in advance.

OFF-TAKE IS A SIMPLE WAY FOR CHINA TO GAIN GROUND

An off-take agreement, such as the one modelled by Pilbara working with Great Walls Motors, is one way that China, and other major consumers of lithium, could help to secure their future with supplies not yet mined or produced.

An offtake agreement is an agreement between a producer of a resource and a buyer of a resource to purchase or sell portions of the producer's future production. These are normally negotiated prior to the construction of a mine in order to secure a market for the future output of the facility.

Off-take agreements can benefit the miners greatly too, since if lenders can see the company has a purchaser of its production, it makes it easier to obtain financing to construct a facility.

If, as lithium consultant Sam Jaffe of Cairn ERA predicts, lithium-ion battery demand rises from 80 GWh this year to 750 GWh in 2026, it's likely that the off-take model may become commonplace with lithium companies. Fully realized, we are talking about a whopping 10-fold increase in demand within 10 years.

QMC QUANTUM MINERALS FITS THE MOLD

In the category of production in the ground ready to be bought, QMC Quantum Minerals presents a potentially very attractive lithium target.

QMC is a Canadian mining company focused in Manitoba's mineral region, which just ranked in as 2nd among all global mining districts in a global survey. Manitoba it seems has competitive tax regimes and efficient permitting procedures surrounding environmental regulations and land-claims.

QMC Quantum Minerals must have considered this when they located their current project. In 2016, the company acquired a known lithium property, the Cat Lake Lithium Property, formerly known as the Irgon Mine.

QMC is right in the hot spot; their Cat lake property is just 20km from the world class Tanco Mine Property, which was previously North America's largest and sole producer of spodumene (Lithium).

Their predecessor on the Cat Lake discovery drilled 25 holes into the property's Irgon Dike between 1953 and 1954. The result was a reported historical resource estimate of 1.2 million tonnes grading 1.51% Li20 over a strike length of 365 meters and to a depth of 213 meters.

In other words, the Cat Lake Property is believed to hold a very significant amount of lithium that would make sense to bring to production, by off-take or conventional means.

QMC Quantum's geological team says they have no reason to disagree with the accuracy of those historical drill results. They are already drilling and stripping away the overburden to prove up the lithium, which is also expected to extend the known strike length of this dike.

The massive demand for Li-ion batteries continues to swell as EV makers up their forecasts. The Chinese have taken the leap to move into the supply chain and secure lithium still in the ground.

According to miner Galaxy Resources, during October, 99.5% lithium carbonate China spot prices were up 1.5%, and are up 23% over the past year. At the same time, lithium cobalt oxide China spot prices were up 0.33% for the month, and 16.91% over the past year.

The Chinese EV makers have good reason to position themselves in future lithium now. Lithium prices don't appear to be abating any time soon and quick-to-turnaround lithium sources like QMC Quantum Mineral's Cat Lake Project will not remain undeveloped forever.

POTENTIAL COMPARABLES

Galaxy Resources (OTC: GALXF)

Galaxy Resources Limited is a lithium-focused resources company, with assets spanning Australia, Canada and Argentina. Galaxy is currently advancing plans to develop the Sal de Vida Lithium and Potash Brine Project ("Sal de Vida") in Argentina, which is situated in the Lithium Triangle, a region where Chile, Argentina and Bolivia meet. Sal de Vida is a proven high quality resource has excellent promise as a future low cost production facility. Galaxy also owns the Mt Cattlin Spodumene Mine near Ravensthorpe in Western Australia and the James Bay Lithium Pegmatite Project in Quebec, Canada.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A., is a producer of potassium nitrate and iodine. The Company produces specialty plant nutrients, iodine derivatives, lithium and its derivatives, potassium chloride, potassium sulfate and certain industrial chemicals. Its segments include specialty plant nutrients, industrial chemicals, iodine and derivatives, lithium and derivatives, potassium, and other products and services Lithium and its derivatives are used in batteries, greases and frits for production of ceramics. Potassium chloride is a commodity fertilizer that is produced and sold by the Company across the world.

Lithium X Energy Corp. (TSX-V: LIX.V) (OTCQX: LIXXF)

Lithium X Energy Corp. is a lithium exploration and development company with a goal of becoming a low-cost supplier for the burgeoning lithium battery industry. On July 11th, the company announced that further to its news release of June 29th, 2017, the Company has closed the definitive agreement with Aberdeen International Inc. for the purchase of Aberdeen's remaining 50% interest in Potasio y Litio de Argentina S.A., which controls 100% of the Sal de los Angeles Project. The project consists of 8,154 hectares covering 95% of Salar de Diablillos, and has an NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate of 1.037 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent in the indicated category and 1.007 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent in the inferred category.

For a more in-depth look into QMC you can view the in-depth report at USA News Group: http://usanewsgroup.com/2017/11/12/lithium_is_positioned_perfectly-2-2-2/

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Then-nominee Katherine Tai addresses the Senate Finance committee hearings to examine her nomination to be United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador, in Washington, on Feb. 25, 2021. (Bill O'Leary/Pool via Reuters)

Biden Administration Has No Immediate Plans to Lift Tariffs on China: US Trade Chief

Newly minted U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Sunday that the Biden administration isnt planning to lift tariffs on Chinese goods anytime soon, although she signaled potential openness to trade negotiations with Beijing.

In her first post-confirmation interview, Tai said any sudden moves to lift tariffs were ill-advised as they could hurt the economy unless the change is communicated in a way so that the actors in the economy can make adjustments.

Whether they are companies, traders, manufacturers or their workers, the ability to plan for changes that impact their future is essential, she said.

Tai also noted that unilaterally lifting the tariffs without any concessions from China would not be shrewd.

No negotiator walks away from leverage, right? she said, suggesting the tariffs were a thorn in the side of the Chinese regime, which has pushed for them to be lifted.

Former President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on billions of Chinese products in an effort to confront the Chinese Communist Partys unfair trade practices, including massive subsidies to Chinese companies and the regimes state-sanctioned campaign to steal U.S. intellectual property.

Besides putting tariffs on $360 billion worth of Chinese goods, Trump delisted Chinese telecommunications companies on the New York Stock Exchange and blacklisted some Chinese companiesincluding Chinas largest computer-chip makerand banned transactions with Chinese-connected apps. The Trump administration also entered into negotiations with the regime in a bid to force Beijing to overhaul its mercantilist practices.

China retaliated with tariffs on more than $110 billion in U.S. products.

Prior to leaving office, then-U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer urged the incoming Biden administration to keep tariffs on China and said that Trumps tenor on trade helped shift attitudes toward seeing China as not just a competitor, but as an adversary.

We changed the way people think about China, Lighthizer told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published on Jan. 11. We transformed the way people think about trade, and we transformed the way the models are, Lighthizer said, adding, My hope is that that will continue.

Gina Raimondo, who was recently sworn in as the U.S. Commerce Secretary, has acknowledged that Trumps tariffs have been effective, in comments that reinforced the view that the Biden administration wouldnt rush to roll back the contentious duties.

The data show that those tariffs have been effective, Raimondo told MSNBC in an interview. What President Biden has said is there will be a whole-of-government review of all of these policies and decide what it makes sense to maintain.

While the United States and China signed a 2020 deal to end the trade war, the tariffs have remained, partly as leverage to hold China to its commitments under the accord, which includes a vow to buy more U.S. agricultural goods, with China far behind on the promise.

The accord also called for meetings every six months between the U.S. Trade Representative and a Chinese counterpart. This meeting is now two months overdue and none is scheduled, according to the WSJ, which reported that Tai said she would contact Chinese vice-premier Liu He when the time is right.
Huntington, WV (25701)

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Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds light and variable..

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Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Moscow, March 30 : Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow continues work to coordinate a joint video conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

"We continue coordination with Berlin and Paris," TASS News Agency quoted Peskov as saying to reporters on Monday after German government spokesman Steffen Seibert had earlier said that there had been no video conference between Putin, Macron and Merkel on March 29.

"When there are specific results, we will inform you," he added.

Peskov stressed that the video conference was not being prepared as a Normandy Four -- Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany -- summit.

When asked why the participants did not include Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, the spokesman said: "Because the issue at hand is not a Normandy Four event. There are many others issues for discussion. This is not the Normandy Four." The Kremlin spokesman agreed that it was impossible to hold such a summit without discussing the escalating situation in east Ukraine's Donbass region.

On March 26, Kiev reported that four Ukrainian servicemen were killed during a shelling of the town of Shumy in eastern Ukraine.

At the same time, the people's militia of the Donetsk People Republic (DPR) rejected those reports.
Photo: The Canadian Press

An alliance of 25 sex worker rights groups is asking the Ontario Court of Justice to strike down several sections of the Criminal Code as unconstitutional.

The Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform says the provisions violate sex workers charter rights to security, personal autonomy, life, liberty, free expression, free association and equality.

Group co-ordinator Jenn Clamen says sex workers increasingly experience the heavy hand of law enforcement as a result of the criminal provisions.

The advocates say they have been patiently waiting on parliamentarians to uphold the rights of sex workers.

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 2013 that three prostitution prohibitions were unconstitutional because they caused harm to sex workers and contravened their rights to liberty and security.

The alliance says the Conservative government of the day missed an opportunity to make things better for sex workers and instead brought in new laws that have had negative effects.
Maputo, March 30 : Ongoing clashes in Mozambique between members of the Islamic State (IS) terror group and security forces continued for the seventh day on Tuesday after the insurgents took a strategic coastal town under siege, an official said.

"The fighting is still going on... It's an ongoing battle, very well planned and executed," Max Dyck, director of private security services firm Dyck Advisory Group (DAG), which is operating in northern Mozambique, told dpa news agency.

The attack began on March 24 when about 100 insurgents stormed the strategically important town of Palma in the volatile Cabo Delgado province.

"We have picked up so far several hundred people, and are still doing so. Many people are still in hiding. We've come under a lot of fire," Dyck added.

The UN Humanitarian Affairs Office (OCHA) said it is "deeply concerned" about the safety of civilians in Palma and the surrounding areas.

Dozens of people have reportedly been killed while thousands of others were trying to flee the zone by foot, boat and road, the UN agency said.

Many of those fleeing, including children, had nothing but the clothes on their backs and have had to walk for days to reach safety, according to the OCHA.

The IS, which claimed responsibility for the attack, says it has taken control of Palma and killed more than 55 Mozambican security forces.

French energy giant Total evacuated around 1,000 of its workers from the region where it is leading a $20 billion foreign investment project at its liquefied natural gas plant.

The population in the oil-rich Cabo Delago province has been suffering from brutal attacks for the past three years in a simmering conflict that has cost an estimated 2,500 lives to date.
Being involved in legal battles is not new anymore to Apple. Besides its case with Epic Games, the tech giant was also fighting its bid over Swatch on the "One more thing" trademark made popular by the late Steve Jobs.

However, the latest legal bid cost Apple a lot after the United Kingdom court ruled out that it cannot block the Swiss watchmaker from using the famous phrase.

Apple Fails to Defend its Stance on 'One More Thing' Trial

In a report by The Telegraph, Apple's bid to reject Swatch from using the "One More Thing" trademark was overturned by the court. For the Cupertino tech company, Swatch had used the famous slogan in "bad faith."

Moreover, the phrase has already stayed with Apple for over 20 years.

Steve Jobs was the one who made the trademark a memorable phrase. He usually utilized it when presenting new Apple products in front of the audience. In November 2020, when the company said it would release the Apple silicon Macs, the slogan was used for the virtual event.

Despite recognizing that Swatch's action could be a way to annoy Apple, judge Iain Purvis from the UK has decided to support the claims of Swatch. This meant that Apple's motive to block the watchmaker from using it did not succeed.

Furthermore, the judge added that the phrase was also used in a 1970's show involving Columbo, who had become popular among his fans with his trademark "one more thing" when he was catching criminals.

Read Also: How to Become an Apple iOS Beta Tester?

Apple vs Swatch Feud in the Past Years

According to Macrumors, the legal bid between Apple and Swatch was not the first one.

Over the past years, the two companies had formed what seems like bad blood between them. When Apple proposed an action to block the watchmaker from using the phrase in Australia, people knew it was only the beginning of the battle.

Also, Apple had submitted a complaint about the "Tick Different" phrase, another slogan that was used by Swatch during its marketing campaign. Again, the tech giant insisted that the watchmaker made use of Apple's reference for its interest and advantage.

However, the Swiss company countered Apple that the use of a slogan was only coincidental. Swatch continued that what it used during its campaign in the 1980s was the trademark "Always Different, Always New."

The court backed up Swatch two years later, stating that the trademark "Think Different" seemed not that popular in Switzerland for protection. This meant that Apple has also not submitted sufficient documents to support its claims for the case.

Previously, there were several rumors that Apple and Swatch would collaborate to create a smartwatch. At the time, the watchmaker company had already proposed an "iSwatch" trademark when it learned that Apple had also planned to invade the watch market, as other rumors said. This prompted the Swiss firm to block Apple from using "iWatch" as its trademark in the UK.

Related Article: Epic, Apple Now Conclude Line-up of Execs Who Will Testify for the Bench Trial



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Written by Joen Coronel

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Researchers at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) and the University of Graz, together with experts from France, have succeeded in imaging so-called surface phonons in three dimensions for the first time. The research success could accelerate the development of new, efficient nanotechnologies.

Whether for microscopy, data storage or sensor technology, many advanced technological applications that require specific functions rely on the structure of the electromagnetic field near the surfaces of materials. In nanosystems, so-called surface phonons, i.e. temporal distortions of the atomic lattice, contribute decisively to the physical and thermodynamic properties.



If surface phonons could be specifically manipulated, it would be possible to achieve better thermal conduction or heat transfer between two components with nanosurfaces. This could be used, for example, in detectors, sensors or in highly efficient passive cooling systems. In addition, surface phonons concentrate electromagnetic energy spectrally into the far infra-red range. This paves the way for super-resolution lenses, improved vibrational spectroscopy or other fascinating applications.

Electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of nanostructures

Despite its enormous potential, this area of solid-state physics is still poorly explored. For the development of new nanotechnologies, these fields must first be made visible on the nanometre scale. "Visualizing these local fields is the starting point for a deeper understanding of the fundamentals and for better design of nanostructures," attests Gerald Kothleitner, head of the Institute of Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis at TU Graz. "Electron microscopes powerful enough to even register the relatively low energy of phonons were only developed a few years ago. To date, however, they could only be measured inadequately, at best in two dimensions."

First 3D imaging of surface phonons

Together with the French Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (LPS) Orsay, Gerald Kothleitner, his institute colleague Georg Haberfehlner and Ulrich Hohenester from the Institute of Physics at the University of Graz have now succeeded for the first time in imaging surface phonons in three dimensions. The results have been published in the Science journal (https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6536/1364/tab-article-info). Kothleitner, corresponding author of the study: "We excited these lattice vibrations with an electron beam, measured them with special spectroscopic methods, and then reconstructed them tomographically. As a result, the infra-red light fields generated by the surface phonons of a magnesium oxide nanocube became visible in three dimensions for the first time, and the spatial distribution was discernible. In particular, this also allowed us to image the sites with high field enhancements and the resulting strong interactions of certain phonons with the environment."



The development of the methodology and the implementation of the novel tomographic reconstruction were carried out under the leadership of the University of Graz. Ulrich Hohenester draws parallels between the familiar X-ray image and the computer tomography process: "A 3D reconstruction of the object can be created from many composite 2D projections." Instead of the X-ray beam, the physicists used an electron beam, which interacts with infra-red light fields instead of bones and tissue. As on a violin or guitar," Hohenester explains, "the vibrations on the surface of the nanocube are broken down into a series of resonances. These modes are then chosen to obtain the best possible agreement with the experimental data."

Electron microscopic imaging techniques as a success factor

The first comprehensive evaluation and 3D representation of electromagnetic fields is a success that can be attributed to the close cooperation of TU Graz and the University of Graz in the framework of "NAWI Graz". A latest-generation scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) was used to measure these radiation-matter interactions at the nanometre scale. There are only a handful of such microscopes in the world that allow this and one of them is in Orsay. The concept of 3D imaging of phonons was developed by Gerald Kothleitner in collaboration with Orsay during project planning for a pan-European project called ESTEEM 3: a project in which, among other things, new electron microscopy techniques are being developed. In the field of applied electron energy loss spectroscopy and electron tomography, the researchers at TU Graz are among the world's leading working groups.
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The Trump years are over, the pandemic is winding down, and as Americans slowly return to whats left of our normal lives, many of us are carrying a lot fewer illusions about the nature of our national character. A country where Donald Trump is possible is not a country you can trust, and the same goes triple for its residents. And yet weve still got to live here. It would be nice if there were a way to reconcile the knowledge that our society is a series of interlocking scams with some kind of happiness.

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Unlike most of Americas ongoing problems, however, this one was solved 80 years ago, by screenwriter and director Preston Sturges. In an extraordinary run of seven films Sturges wrote and directed at Paramount from 1940 to 1944, he mapped out a way to be clear-eyed about the hucksters, hustlers, and horses asses that make up our great nation, while somehow loving it anyway. Taken together, these cynical comedies add up to an essential users manual for life in these United States, and the Criterion Channel is currently streaming all seven of them, plus 1948s Unfaithfully Yours, so now is the perfect time to watch them. Heres where to start.

The Lady Eve

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If youve seen one Preston Sturges movie, it is probably this undeniable masterpiece, the subject of a recent episode of Flashback. If you havent, it is the obvious place to begin. (If you dont subscribe to the Criterion Channel, and have already used up your free trial, its also the Sturges movie easiest to rent from services like Prime Video.) Barbara Stanwyck plays Jean Harrington, a con artist working the card room of an ocean liner who sets her sights on the biggest mark on the ship: Charles Poncefort Pike (Henry Fonda), the exceptionally naive heir to a brewing fortune. Naturally, Jean falls for Pike, complicating her plans to fleece him. Couple falls in love under false pretenses plots are a dime a dozen, but Sturges sprints through the obligatory plot points (deceit-to-love-to-revelation-to-rejection) in the first half of the movie. The usual payoff, in which the mark realizes over the course of a sad montage that he is still in love with the person who deceived him and races to the airport or takes her to the prom or whatever, is a non-starter in a Sturges movie, because a couple learning to be honest with each other is anathema to his vision of romance. Instead, Charles drops Jean cold when he realizes shes not who she said she was.

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That leaves Sturges with half the movie to fill, and he does so by repeating the love-under-false-pretenses plot nearly beat-for-beat. Jean tracks Charles down in Connecticut, where she reintroduces herself with an even more ridiculous fake identity: Lady Eve Sidwich, an Englishwoman visiting the United States who just happens to look exactly like Jean Harrington. Finding a satisfying ending for a romantic comedy with one plot is hard enough; Sturges has to resolve two at once, while sticking to his basic premise that no couple ever solved anything by sitting down face-to-face and being honest. No spoilers here, but the ending is perfect.

The Great McGinty

The Great McGinty, Sturges first and best take on American politics, looks on its face like a traditional film about the rise and fall of a political figure, and thats certainly how Paramount tried to sell it:

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Like most Preston Sturges movies, however, The Great McGinty is only wearing its genre trappings as a disguise. Over the course of the movie, Dan McGinty (Brian Donlevy) rises from bum to governor before crossing the wrong people and getting busted all the way back down to bartender. So far, so traditional, but its the way McGinty does it that makes this a great movie. His first entree into politics comes when hes plucked from a bread line and offered $2 to fraudulently vote for the incumbent mayor. In one of the rare moments in which McGinty shows some initiative, he realizes he can vote more than once, and visits 37 different polling places, earning $72 and impressing a political operative played by William Demarest. McGinty is impressed too, once he sees the buffet and open bar at Mayor Tillinghasts victory party, and his interest in politics never goes much further than the free food and drink it affords him.

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That doesnt slow his meteoric rise. A local mobster hires him to beat up people who owe protection money, which leads to his first political office, collecting bribes for the local political machine. When Mayor Tillinghast inevitably gets caught up in a corruption scandal, McGinty is in the right place at the right time for Tillinghasts machine to put him forward as the reform mayor while keeping the money flowingand what good is a reform mayor if he doesnt eventually run for governor? Along the way, McGinty acquires a sham marriage, a couple of kids, and a much better wardrobe, but he never loses touch with his roots, in the very specific sense that hes constantly getting drunk and getting into fistfights. When McGinty acquires a conscience, it lasts for about 15 minutes and has catastrophic consequences for everyone and everything he cares about. In a Preston Sturges movie, as in American politics, it doesnt matter who you are or what you do or who you punch, it only matters who other people want you to be. Forget that at your peril.

Christmas in July

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The Lady Eve posits that romance depends on not asking too many questions, while The Great McGinty takes the same approach to politics. It will probably not surprise you to learn that Christmas in July, Sturges look at big business, is not exactly a paean to honesty and transparency. The film, a direct ancestor of The Hudsucker Proxy, follows a dumb but sweet yokel played by Dick Powell as he convinces the executives at several companies that hes some kind of a marketing genius. Powell has the confidence to do this, because he mistakenly believes hes won a coffee companys slogan contest, despite the fact that his entry, If you dont sleep at night, it isnt the coffee, its the bunk! makes approximately no sense and depends on his characters ludicrous misconception that coffee helps people sleep at night. Once again, perception triumphs over reality, despite the fact that no one in the movie has much faith in their own perception, either. Powells boss, who has just given him a raise and a new office because he thinks Powell has won the slogan contest, puts this very succinctly:

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Im no geniusI didnt hang on to my fathers money by backing my own judgment, you know!  You see, I think your ideas are good because they sound good to me. But I know your ideas are good because you won this contest over millions of applicants.

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In a Preston Sturges movie, nothing is more important than what you think other people think, even if youre wrong. It sounds like his work would make for a pretty grim filmography, what with almost all of his characters lying almost all of the time, but heres the thing: These are wildly optimistic movies anyway. His romantic comedies end in marriage, his workplace comedies end in success, and even The Great McGinty, which ends with a fight at a dive bar somewhere in South America, has an upbeat ending, at least on its own terms. Sturges sometimes reaches a happy ending with plot twists so wild they feel like cheatingsee, e.g., The Palm Beach Storybut he never does it by making his characters come clean and straighten up. So if youve been feeling bad recently about living in a country as fundamentally crooked as the United States, you might find Preston Sturges movies to be a tonic. Trust me on this.
Jason Statham fired a gun at point-blank range at Post Malone in a new trailer released Monday for the upcoming Guy Ritchie thriller Wrath Of Man.

The action thriller was co-written and directed by Ritchie, 52, and marks his fourth directorial collaboration with lead actor Statham, 53, following Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels in 1998, Snatch in 2000 and the 2005 film Revolver.

Wrath Of Man is based on the 2004 French film Cash Truck by Nicolas Boukhrief.

Upcoming thriller: Jason Statham fired a gun at point-blank range at Post Malone in a new trailer released Monday for the upcoming Guy Ritchie thriller Wrath Of Man

The trailer opened with Statham's character being introduced as 'H' as he joined Fortico armored truck company that specializes in cash deliveries across Los Angeles.

'Do you have any idea how dangerous this job can be?,' a new co-worker asked him.

'Some idea, yeah,' H replied.

'We ain't the predators, we're the prey,' he was told.

Bad guy: One of the accomplices was portrayed by 25-year-old Post Malone, real name Austin Richard Post

H soon came across trouble as masked robbers kidnapped a fellow Fortico employee.

'Leave this to me,' H told his armored truck driver.

He tossed a bag of loot onto the ground and a gunman told him to toss it onto the truck next time.

Tense scene: The trailer showed a Fortico employee being held at gunpoint

'Sorry, pal,' H apologized as he tossed a bag and shot the gunman simultaneously.

H quickly and accurately discharged his handgun and killed several robbers while saving his co-worker.

One of the accomplices portrayed by 25-year-old Malone, real name Austin Richard Post, fled and ran into a warehouse where H hunted him down.

Taking over: 'Leave this to me,' H told his armored truck driver as he took over

H wounded Malone's villainous character who stumbled onto the ground before H pinned his gun hand with his foot and drew his weapon on him.

He then shot the robber at point-blank range.

Flashbacks then showed H meeting with Fortico after the company lost two guards and a civilian was killed in a robbery.

Running away: H wounded Malone's villainous character who stumbled onto the ground

Point-blank range: The armored car guard opened fire at point-blank range

Flashback scenes: Flashbacks then showed H meeting with Fortico after the company lost two guards and a civilian was killed in a robbery

H was then seen recovering in a hospital and being told that he was in an accident.

He asked about his son who apparently was killed as a bystander during an armored car robbery.

'I need to know who killed my son,' H told a shadowy figure.

Bad accident: H was seen recovering in a hospital and being told that he was in an accident

Dead son: He asked about his son who apparently was killed as a bystander during an armored car robbery

H was then shown going on a killing spree as he worked out a grudge.

Wrath Of Man will be in theaters on May 7.

Ritchie and Statham will team up again for the spy film Five Eyes that also will feature Aubrey Plaza, 36.
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The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has outlined five critical levers for gas development as Nigeria moves to leverage its abundant gas resources for national growth, diversification of the economy and to use gas as the fuel for economic transformation.

Director, DPR, Mr Sarki Auwalu, made this known while speaking at the Pre- Summit Conference of the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) on the principal theme: 'The Decade of Gas - Towards a Gas-Powered Economy' on Monday in Abuja.

A statement by the Head, Public Affairs of the organisation, Mr. Paul Osu, stated that Auwalu who listed the levers as availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability as well as deliverability, noted that these were critical to utilising Nigeria's proven gas reserves of 203 TCF for national development.

He said: "Whereas references have been made to the other elements in this discussion, right pricing of gas is requiring particular attention to ensure security of gas supply and security of credible gas demand.

"This is because upstream gas producers must be assured that they will receive fair and equitable returns for their investments whereas, the price must be such that the end-users are able to pay for gas off-take in a reliable and consistent manner.

"Accordingly, the most robust and sustainable pricing mechanism is that which 'let the market speak' in a way that all costs are reflective of prevailing market conditions and for which the economic dynamics of demand and supply are allowed to interplay in an open, transparent, and free market environment.

"Thus, our drive as a nation should be early attainment to the Willing Buyer; Willing Seller market status. Any transitional pricing arrangements, today, must be structured to quickly give way for market-led pricing regime and conditions"

The DPR boss commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, for their leadership in deepening gas utilisation in Nigeria.

He said the efforts had culminated in the establishment of the National Gas Expansion Programme, National Gas Transportation Network Code and the National Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme.

Auwalu said it also includes the ongoing construction of the ELPS-II, OB3 and AKK pipelines as critical backbone gas infrastructure required to improve gas deliverability and availability.

He said the government was also working towards the expeditious passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which would enhance clarity in legislative, regulatory, fiscal, and administrative frameworks in the industry.

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"This bill, when passed into law, will eliminate the uncertainties and bottlenecks associated with gas development in Nigeria and accelerate the growth of the Nigerian gas market to a fully developed and matured status.

"Specifically, on gas matters, the PIB provides for the following: promotion of dedicated gas exploration and development, gas terms, fiscal separation of gas as a commodity.

"It will also enhance the domestic gas delivery obligation, tariffing structure & methodology, open access regimes and revised gas pricing framework, to mention but a few," he added.

Auwalu said the DPR would continue to be an enabler and an opportunity provider in the oil and gas industry.

He said: "Our focus remains the effective implementation of all policies and strategic programmes of government in an efficient manner that optimises the value of our petroleum resources for all stakeholders, all in overriding national interest."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-31 06:15:24|Editor: huaxia

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Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) in Manama, Bahrain, March 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Tu Yifan)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said his six-nation Mideast tour achieved rich results, including reaching broad consensuses on enhancing cooperation and seeking political solution to hotspot issues in the region.



MANAMA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that his six-nation tour in the Middle East has achieved the expected goals of enhancing cooperation with regional countries and making China's contribution to peace in the region.

Wang made the remarks during an interview as he concluded a week-long Middle East tour that took him to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman and Bahrain.

He said that his visit achieved rich results, including reaching broad consensuses with the six countries on continuing mutual support over core interests, upholding multilateralism, elevating pragmatic cooperation, enhancing joint anti-pandemic fight, and seeking political solution to hotspot issues in the region.

BROAD CONSENSUSES REACHED

The Chinese diplomat said that during his visit, he reached broad consensuses over wide-ranging issues with the leaders of the six countries, which all welcomed China to play a bigger role in Middle East affairs.

"China and the countries agreed that the sovereign independence and national dignity of all countries should be respected, and independent and diverse ways of development should be promoted," Wang said.

They agreed to oppose interfering in other countries' internal affairs and slandering other countries under the guise of human rights, safeguard the international system with the United Nations as the core and the international order based on international law, multilateralism, and international equity and justice, Wang said.

The seven countries, he said, vowed to upgrade their practical cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative in light of China's construction of a new development paradigm.

On the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the countries pledged to continue their mutual support and reject politicization of the pandemic and vaccine, Wang said.

Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with his counterpart of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, March 28, 2021. (Xinhua)

On the basis of China's successful vaccine cooperation with the UAE, Turkey and Bahrain, China and Mideast countries will continue to explore new patterns of vaccine cooperation, including tripartite cooperation and mutual recognition of health codes, he said.

The countries agreed that inclusive dialogue should be advocated in pursuing political settlement of hotspot regional issues, and the two-state solution should be the key for seeking an early, fair and reasonable solution to the Palestinian issue, the Chinese diplomat said.

Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, illegitimate sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction should be lifted as soon as possible, and compliance to the Iranian nuclear deal, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), should be resumed in an orderly manner with synchronization and reciprocity, he said.

China and the six countries also agreed to explore the establishment of a regional dialogue platform to maintain the security and stability of the Gulf through communication and consultation, Wang added.

IMPLEMENTATION OF PEACE INITIATIVE

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Wang unveiled a five-point initiative for achieving security and stability in the Middle East, which calls for advocating mutual respect, upholding equity and justice, achieving non-proliferation, jointly fostering collective security, and accelerating development cooperation.

The initiative was well received by many of the state leaders and foreign ministers during the visit, Wang said, noting that the Palestinian Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing willingness to cooperate with China to revive the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

He elaborated on the ways to implement the peace initiative through close communication and coordination with all the related parties:

Firstly, China fully supports the international mediation over the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. When taking the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council in May, China will push for holding full deliberation of this issue, and will host a seminar for Palestinian and Israeli peace activists on a proper date.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, March 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Tu Yifan)

Secondly, China will continue its active participation in the process of resolving the Iranian nuclear issue. China has sent officials to Moscow to discuss with Russia and Iran the roadmap and timetable of reviving the nuclear deal. Also, China will keep close communication with Gulf countries over holding multilateral forums in China on the Gulf security, starting from easy topics such as safeguarding oil infrastructure and shipping-lane security.

Thirdly, China will boost vaccine cooperation with Mideast countries in a bid to help them speed up the return to normal life, promote recovery of local economies, and ensure smooth implementation of major projects with the Chinese participation.

Fourthly, China will hold in 2021 the China-Arab Reform and Development Forum and the Middle East Security Forum to enhance exchanges of experience in governance, promote dialogues between civilizations, and deepen cooperation on fighting terrorism and de-radicalization.

FUTURE ANTI-PANDEMIC COOPERATION

Facing the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Mideast countries join hands in the fight against it, which has sublimated their friendship, deepened mutual trust, and opened up new areas of cooperation, Wang said.

The Chinese government has practically fulfilled its solemn commitment to making vaccines a global public good, donating and exporting nearly 38 million doses of vaccines to 17 countries in the Middle East, Wang noted.

He said China is willing to work with the countries in the Middle East to push forward the anti-epidemic cooperation:

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan attend the virtual ceremony of the launching of a joint project between China and the UAE on Chinese vaccines filling production line in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, March 28, 2021. (Xinhua)

Firstly, China will step up vaccine cooperation with countries in the Middle East and continue to donate and export vaccines to the region to the best of its ability.

Secondly, China will promote the establishment of an international mechanism for mutual recognition of health codes to facilitate personnel exchanges.

Thirdly, China and Mideast countries will continue to build consensus on preventing the politicization of pandemic from reemerging, and make the vaccines available and affordable to all countries.

BUILDING CHINA-ARAB COMMUNITY WITH SHARED FUTURE

Facing complex changes in the international situation, the China-Arab relations have set a good example for the South-South cooperation, Wang touted.

Over the past year and more, Chinese President Xi Jinping and many Arab heads of state have held over 10 phone calls and exchanged nearly 20 letters, pointing the way for the development of the China-Arab relations, he said.

China and the Arab countries firmly support each other, jointly defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and safeguard multilateralism, equity and justice, the Chinese minister said.

Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Omani Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said in Muscat, Oman, March 29, 2021. (Photo by Khaled Orabi/Xinhua)

"And the anti-pandemic cooperation has demonstrated the China-Arab brotherly friendship of sharing weal and woe," Wang said.

To build the China-Arab community with a shared future, "we should focus on strengthening solidarity and coordination among developing countries, and promoting reform of the international system and the formulation of international rules to better reflect the voices and concerns of developing countries," he said.

China and Arab states need to align development strategies, consolidate cooperation on the whole energy industry chain, deepen cooperation on new and high technologies, upgrade financial investment and free trade arrangements, and align rules and standards more closely, Wang said.

"We need to build closer people-to-people ties, make good use of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and other mechanisms to deepen exchanges and cooperation on the youth, culture, education and tourism, and lay a solid foundation for lasting friendship," he added.

CONSENSUS ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Wang said that the views of human rights held by some Western countries don't represent those of the international community, noting that such views of the developing countries should be more listened to, respected and absorbed.

"The six (Middle East) countries I visited this time and China are all developing countries and share same or similar views on the human rights issue," Wang said.

"We agree that human rights ought to be comprehensive and balanced. The rights to live and develop are as important as the political and social rights, and fairness and justice should be respected the same as democracy and freedom," he noted.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Ankara, Turkey, on March 25, 2021. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

During the recent session of the UN Human Rights Council, many developing countries, including 21 Arab countries, voiced solidarity with China, Wang said, noting China has always objected to using human rights as an excuse to meddle in the domestic affairs of Arab countries.

"China is keen to work together with Arab and other regional countries to champion the policy of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and preserve the common interests of each other and the developing countries," he said.

SYNERGY OF DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

Wang revealed that the six countries he visited pin high hope on future practical cooperation with China.

He said China is ready to work with Mideast countries to promote cooperation mainly in three areas: further synergy of their development strategies, better integration of their resource markets, and exchange of experiences on governance.

Firstly, China and Mideast countries should better align their development strategies. All the six countries he visited, Wang said, expressed strong willingness to dovetail their development strategies with the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative to take advantage of the opportunities offered by China's drive to create a new paradigm of development.

Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif pose for photos with agreements on the China-Iran comprehensive cooperation plan in Tehran, Iran, on March 27, 2021. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)

Secondly, the two sides should step up cooperation on energy and resources as well as high tech. Wang suggested the two sides consolidate their energy cooperation along the entire industrial chain, promote trade facilitation, innovate investment models, and expand the scale of bilateral currency swaps, in addition to increasing cooperation in information technologies such as 5G, big data and artificial intelligence.

Thirdly, the two sides should hold in-depth exchange on the views of governing philosophies. In this regard, China is ready to focus more on helping Mideast countries to improve the livelihood of their peoples so to enable them to share the fruits of economic development, the Chinese diplomat said. 
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture

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Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation

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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

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Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out

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Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day

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108 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

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Iran loses right to vote in UN General Assembly

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Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

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Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

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Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

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Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

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Southern Manitoba will dodge flooding this spring, but may be up against harsh conditions of a different kind: drought.

Southern Manitoba will dodge flooding this spring, but may be up against harsh conditions of a different kind: drought.

The government of Manitoba has not yet issued a drought advisory, but officials are making preparations for such an eventuality, as the province experiences below-average precipitation and moisture since last fall.

"Southern Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan are down 20 per cent of normal precipitation of the past 40 years. Some areas in southwestern Manitoba are at a record-low precipitation level," Minister of Infrastructure Ron Schuler said Tuesday.

Schuler said both Environment and Climate Change Canada and the U.S. National Weather Service are forecasting slightly below-average rainfall over the next three months.

"So far, things look okay, but again the forecast going forward is that we're not looking at a lot of rain coming in the next few months," he said.

Statistics from the Weather Network show Winnipeg received only 52 per cent of its regular precipitation over the course of 2020.

The risk of drought in Manitoba is rising moving toward mid-century amidst human-caused climate change. The Prairie provinces regional report released in December by Natural Resources Canada states drought and wildfires represent the largest current threat to the region.

"We know that there's been a lot of change because of climate change. And watching for trends, this has been an up and down. Again, we know that a lot of things are changing. The swings seem to be wilder than they have been before," Schuler said.

The U.S. Drought Monitor is forecasting severe or extreme conditions across most of North Dakota.

A Manitoba committee has been assembled, Schuler said, to consider possible next steps, including pumping water into dugouts, if needed.

"We're making sure that we're holding water back, should we end up with a very dry summer," the minister said.

Any further updates will come from the provincial government's agriculture department.

The province will be using the low-water year to repair flood infrastructure and upgrade infrastructure where it is needed, to prepare for more-extreme flooding events. (Which also have a forecasted risk increase due to climate change.)

This includes the complete rebuild of the Rapid City dam that was washed out in June 2020.

Schuler said the Red River has already peaked at all points, and the floodway will not be used this year. The Portage diversion of the Assiniboine River will only be used to avoid ice break-up damages.

sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik
Recent incidents underscore the need for a trusted conduit between the financial services industry and third parties

RESTON, Va., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FS-ISAC, the only global cyber intelligence sharing community solely focused on financial services, announced today the findings of its latest report, which found that wittingly or otherwise, nation-states and cybercriminals are leveraging each other's tools and tactics, leading to an increase in cross-border attacks targeting financial services suppliers.

The pandemic has accelerated digitization, connectivity, and the sector's interdependence, as demonstrated by recent supply chain incidents. Increasingly, the financial sector needs a trusted conduit of real-time cyber information between institutions and third parties.

"FS-ISAC was the logical host for us to brief the financial services sector to reach a critical mass of institutions around the world all at once," said Jonathan Yaron, CEO of Accellion. "This way, we could ensure that the industry received critical and correct information via a trusted source, enabling it to act quickly to mitigate the impact of the incident."

"Organizations properly practicing defense-in-depth with multi-layered controls are still vulnerable to large-scale and even systemic issues through third-party suppliers," said J.R. Manes, Global Head of Cyber Intelligence at HSBC. "The FS-ISAC community provides its members the visibility into emerging threats that could impact customers and business, even when they are not directly exposed. Ensuring and encouraging the sharing of cyber threat intelligence is a vital part of the defense of not only the financial sector, but the whole business ecosystem that runs on top of the Internet."

FS-ISAC's report outlines today's top threats:

Convergence of nation-states and cybercriminals: Nation-state actors are leveraging the skills and tools of cybercriminals, either knowingly or not, to enhance their capabilities.

Nation-state actors are leveraging the skills and tools of cybercriminals, either knowingly or not, to enhance their capabilities. Third-party risk on an upward trend: Suppliers to financial firms will continue to be lucrative targets for threat actors, as shown by three highly visible incidents in the last two quarters.

Suppliers to financial firms will continue to be lucrative targets for threat actors, as shown by three highly visible incidents in the last two quarters. Cross-border attacks will increase: Cybercriminals test their attack in one country before hitting multiple continents and sub-verticals, as shown by a DDoS extortion campaign targeting ~100 financial institutions in months.

"Trying to outpace evolving cyber threats diverts resources from a financial firm's core business," said Steve Silberstein, FS-ISAC CEO. "As the global fincyber utility, FS-ISAC enables industry-wide cross-border sharing to pool resources, expertise, and capabilities to manage cyber risks and incident response."

More on the report's methodology here .

About FS-ISAC

The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) is the only global cyber intelligence sharing community solely focused on financial services. Serving financial institutions and in turn their customers, the organization leverages its intelligence platform, resiliency resources, and a trusted peer-to-peer network of experts to anticipate, mitigate and respond to cyber threats. Members represent over $35 trillion in assets under management in more than 70 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the organization has offices in the United Kingdom and Singapore. To learn more, visit www.fsisac.com .
ULSTER Bank has topped the list of shame for having the most complaints upheld against it by the ombudsman.

The latest hit to the banks reputation comes a week after it was fined a record 38m for denying its customers their entitlement to good value tracker mortgages.

And it is just weeks after its owner, NatWest, said it was pulling the bank out of the Republic.

Now Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Ger Deering has revealed that Ulster Bank had 19 complaints upheld against it by his office last year.

Mr Deering said 13 were partially upheld, four substantially, and two were completely upheld.

Read More

It is the second year in a row that the bank had had more complaints upheld against it by the ombudsmans office than any other financial institution here.

The bank also has a bad record when it comes to fines from the Central Bank.

Last May it was hit with a 4.6m fine for failing to have the correct checks in place to ensure it was reporting accurate mortgage arrears figures to regulators.

In 2016, it was fined 3.3m for technical breaches of anti-money-laundering and terrorist-financing regulations.

Two years before that it was hit with a then-record 3.5m fine for a serious IT systems failure in 2012.

Permanent TSB was the next institution in the list of shame for complaints upheld by the ombudsman.

It had 18 complaints upheld against it, with 13 partially upheld.

Bank of Ireland came next with 12 complaints upheld against it last year.

Others on the list are Irish Life Assurance, AIB, Allianz Insurance, Aviva and FBD.

In its Overview of Complaints for 2020, detailing the activities of the office, Mr Deering said 5,395 complaints were received last year.

Some 6,193 complaints were closed off.

More than half of the complaints received last year related to banking products, with mortgage complaints accounting for 1,389 complaints last year.

A third of complaints received related to insurance products.

In 600 of the complaints received, the complainant identified Covid-19 as an element of their complaint.

A total of 1,897 of those who complained received compensation and/or redress or a settlement.

Some 6.34m was paid out on these.

But Mr Deering said this is only part of the story as there are many consumers who do not make a complaint to his office but have benefited from the intervention or work of his office.

These are understood to relate to tracker mortgages.

This was particularly evident, in 2020, when more than 7,000 consumers received rectification or compensation on foot of a number of decisions I issued.

This was because several financial service providers applied the direction given in my decisions to other customers with similar circumstances. This is a practice I particularly welcome. It has been publicly recorded that the value of this redress to such other customers, in such circumstances, exceeded 300m, he said.

Among the pay-outs last year were an additional 15,000 to a couple after their house was destroyed by fire. The 15,000 was for additional unanticipated costs the couple incurred.

Mr Deerings office also secured agreement to pay a claim arising from a critical illness policy amounting to 85,000.
NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of MagnaChip Semiconductor Corporation ("MagnaChip" or the "Company") (NYSE: MX) in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by Wise Road Capital LTD ("Wise Road"). Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, the Company's shareholders will receive $29.00 per share in cash for each share of MagnaChip that they hold. The transaction is valued at approximately $1.4 billion.

If you own MagnaChip shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website:

https://www.weisslawllp.com/MX/

Or please contact:

Joshua Rubin, Esq.

WeissLaw LLP

1500 Broadway, 16th Floor

New York, NY 10036

(212) 682-3025

(888) 593-4771

[email protected]

WeissLaw LLP is investigating whether MagnaChip's board acted in the best interest of MagnaChip's public shareholders in agreeing to the proposed transaction, whether the $29.00 per-share merger consideration adequately compensates MagnaChip's shareholders, and whether all information regarding the process undertaken by the board and the valuation of the transaction will be fully and fairly disclosed to MagnaChip's public shareholders. Notably, at least one analyst has set a price target for the Company as high as $30 per share, $1 more than the proposed merger consideration.

WeissLaw LLP has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected]

SOURCE WeissLaw LLP

Related Links

http://weisslawllp.com


MELBOURNE, Australia, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The construction industry is getting smaller and smaller. With a higher frequency of turnover among staff, employers are worried about maintaining a younger workforce. One engineering labour-hire agency in Melbourne, AIO Contracting, says this stems from a top-down approach to hiring. With an older age group at the top, they say that hiring practices and company protocols may be outdated and inappropriate for the current market.

Labour Hire Melbourne

In order to continue to be competitive, keep innovating and get the staff they need, they need to turn to an external force to keep up with times. It's for this reason that many companies are now turning to engineering recruitment agencies in Melbourne.

One engineering labour-hire agency in Melbourne, AIO, thinks that this is the beginning of a shift in the industry. They've been personally responsible for staffing many local companies with young contractors who are fit, youthful and ready to work. Not stopping there, their service offering also offers other added benefits to the companies that they work with.

AIO provides more than just engineering recruitment in Melbourne; they also help with engineering and training needs for business within the engineering, manufacturing, construction and maintenance industries. This is very attractive to young people who are seeking on-the-job training and employment development support. AIO also comes backed by the Labour Hire Authority, which is Victoria's required licensing body for this type of work.

AIO has found that this industry has successfully attracted part-time staff over the last 50 years, supported by labour-hire. Allowing for part-time contractors opens up the doors to a whole new wealth of staffing opportunities. Part-time hours are a key requirement for some job seekers such as parents and students.

This switch to part-time indicates a change in the availability of full-time work as well as the preference of the age group. As many firms seek assistance with engineering labour-hire in Melbourne, we'll see this shift help bring new life into the construction and engineering industry.

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A Wisconsin barbershop is offering its customers something more than just a regular trim -- it's hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic.

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Gee's Clippers in Milwaukee held its first vaccine clinic Saturday, and more vaccines are planned to be administered on the next three Saturdays.

Gaulien "Gee" Smith, the shop's owner, teamed up with Hayat Pharmacy to make vaccinations available to his customers.

"Come right to Gee's Clippers, get a haircut and get a vaccine," Smith told WDJT-TV. "A lot of clients have a better relationship with their barber than they do their physician. So what better place to have a vaccine administered than a barbershop?"

Dimmy Sokhal, a pharmacist with Hayat Pharmacy, said the barbershop is an ideal location for a vaccination clinic.

"People are familiar with the area. They have a beautiful room in the back for the wellness checks and everything, so we thought it would be great to have a clinic out here," he said.

Customer Ryan Wroten said he only came to Gee's for a trim on Saturday, but he left having received his first dose of the vaccine.

"I just decided to do it today," Wroten told WTMJ-TV. "The chances of me making a doctor's appointment today was probably slim. But if it's here, if it's offered while I'm already at the barbershop, then you take advantage of it."

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Smith said he is hoping his efforts will also help build confidence in the vaccine in the community.

"I can understand why individuals feel a way about getting the vaccine for various reasons: from back in the days when vaccines came out when they used African Americans as guinea pigs and things of that nature, or even some talk about how quick the vaccine came out," he said.
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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With Memorial Day approaching, most major theme parks in the Bay Area and Southern California have either reopened from COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns or plan to before the holiday.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk have already welcomed visitors back, and Californias Great America in Santa Clara and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord will reopen in mid-May. Most Southern California theme parks have opened their gates as well.

Under guidance issued by California health officials in early March, amusement parks were allowed to open with restrictions starting April 1 in counties in the red reopening tier  the second-strictest of the states four-category system. Capacity is limited to 15% in the red tier, 25% in the orange tier and 35% in the least restrictive yellow tier.

Here are the latest details for visitors to major theme parks in the Bay Area and Southern California, including health and safety requirements:

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo

Most theme parks in California closed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and stayed shuttered for more than a year. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom last summer reopened its Marine World Experience animal park on weekends and select days, but its thrill rides remained off-limits.

Nic Coury / Special to the Chronicle

But the amusement park section of Six Flags reopened April 1. Reservations are recommended, and all guests must be California residents in accordance with state reopening guidelines. Capacity is limited, and masks are required, with other safety measures including temperature checks and physical distancing.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Take-out dining, stores, beach access and drive-in movies at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk had reopened earlier in the pandemic, and select rides, arcade midway games and miniature golf returned April 1.

Arcades are now open daily, with rides open on weekends in May and daily in June. A minimum of 20 rides are open on weekends and holidays, and a minimum of 10 rides will be open weekdays.

Reservations are highly recommended. Capacity is limited and gates are subject to closure, with reservation-holders given priority entry. Safety measures include a face-mask requirement and periodic closures for cleaning and sanitizing. Arcades, shopping, food, bowling and mini-golf are open without residency restrictions, but rides are open only to California residents.

Californias Great America, Santa Clara

The Bay Areas other big amusement park, Californias Great America, has set a reopening date of May 22, with limited capacity.

Visitors can review reopening protocols on the parks website. Individuals will be required to plan their visit in advance and provide information about their current health status. Visitors must wear a face covering and will pass through a thermal screening tent to check temperatures. At least one person from a group must download the parks mobile app for ticketing and real-time alerts. Individuals will have to scan their season pass or daily ticket to pass through the touchless turnstiles.

The park also announced that all 2020 season passes have been extended through the 2021 season. Unused tickets from 2020 will be valid through Sept. 6, 2021, officials said.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord

The water park also announced that it will reopen on May 22 to members and season pass holders. Ticket reservations will be available to the general public for Memorial Day weekend starting May 29.

The theme park will operate at an attendance cap to allow for social distancing and will use an online ticket reservation system to prevent crowding. Safety protocols include temperature checks before entry and touchless bag checks. Everyone older than 2 will be required to wear masks except on the water slides, water attractions, or in pools.

Staff will increase the sanitation of life jackets, tubes and rafts. Multiple hand-sanitizer stations will be located throughout the park.

In Southern California

Here is the reopening status of major Southern California theme parks:

 Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim reopened April 30. Only California residents may visit. Guests must first purchase a valid ticket and then make a theme park reservation for the same date in advance. Party sizes may not include more than three households. Safety measures include entrance temperature checks, mandatory face coverings and physical distancing. Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment district is open.

 Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles reopened April 16. Most rides are operating. Party sizes may not include more than three households, and park capacity is limited. Guests are required to wear masks and practice social distancing. Tickets are available only to California residents and out-of-state visitors with proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. The Universal CityWalk dining and shopping district and Universal Cinema are open.

 Legoland California in Carlsbad reopened April 15. Reservations are required for all guests. Safety measures include a mask requirement, physical distancing and cashless payments.

 Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles County reopened April 3. Only California residents may attend, and reservations are required. Safety measures include temperature checks, a mask requirement and physical distancing.

 SeaWorld San Diego has reopened indoor and outdoor animal attractions, educational animal presentations with physically distanced seating, and thrill rides. Attendance is limited to California residents and out-of-state visitors with proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. Capacity is limited and reservations are required. Party sizes may not include more than three households.

 Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park remains closed, but its website says the attraction is expected to reopen May 21 with limited capacity and reservation requirements. Ticket sales and reservations will begin April 26.

Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @jesssmflores

Lenders behind the American Dream mega mall project are in the final stages of taking a 49% stake in two other malls owned by developer Triple Five that were used as collateral for a $1.2 billion construction loan in New Jersey, the Financial Times reported, citing people involved in the deal.

The loan that was defaulted on is held largely by JP Morgan, along with Goldman, Starwood Capital, CIM Group, Soros Fund Management, Wafra and iStar. The restructuring, the Financial Times reported Friday, was expected to close as early as this week, although the process has been complicated by the number of lenders and could be delayed.

A spokesperson for American Dream declined to comment.

The cash crisis at American Dream came to light earlier this month when Kurt Hagen, senior vice president of development for Triple Five, told a joint meeting of the Bloomington, Minn. city council and its port authority that the pandemic created a very significant cash flow crisis for American Dream and that collecting on the collateral was likely to happen.

Hagen described the collateral pledge as an indirect ownership interest that does not include any assets or Mall of America property. It simply means that once we return to profitability, 49% of those profits would go to the American Dream lenders until such time as that collateral is released, Hagen said.

The developer has also filed a lawsuit against a prospective tenant for breach of contract because it failed to open two eateries. And construction companies have filed nearly $41 million in liens against Triple Five, saying they are owed for work performed at the site.

American Dream shut down last March three days before it planned to open its DreamWorks Water Park and retail. It did not reopen until October 1 and currently has eight attractions and 130 stores operating. And more openings are scheduled, including for its Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland Discovery Center, which are slated to debut May 4.

Not opening and not being able to generate any cash for six months created some very significant problems, Hagen said during the public meeting.

Triple Five also defaulted on its Mall of America mortgage during the shut down. It missed three $7 million payments on its $1.4 billion mortgage. The Canadian-based developer reached an agreement with lenders in August to avoid foreclosure on the Minnesota property and the account was brought current as of December.

The pandemic and ensuing financial problems are just the latest hiccups for the development in the Meadowlands, which has been in the works for nearly 20 years. Triple Five is the third developer to take on the project, originally known as Xanadu.

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Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com.
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Spain's health ministry announced Tuesday that it was extending the roll-out of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to the over-65s, after recent scientific reassurances about its safety.

The vaccine, restricted until now to the 55-to-65 age group, will now be made available to over-65s in priority groups such as health workers, police officers or teachers.

"In respect of the AstraZeneca vaccine, given the new scientific evidence ... the age limit is raised," said a ministry statement Tuesday evening.

Spain was among a number of European Union countries that suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine earlier this month after reports of blood clots in a very small number of people.

But they resumed its use last week after the both the World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency gave the vaccine a clean bill of health.

Several countries are nevertheless taking precautions.

Germany said Tuesday it should only be in general use for the over-60s: anyone under that age could only take it after consulting with their doctor about the risks.

Spain has already cleared other vaccines for use among the over 65s.

Spain is one of the European countries hardest hit by the coronavirus, having suffered more than 75,000 deaths.

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

 2021 AFP
This time, exactly one year ago, none of us could have imagined just how dramatically our world would change. The arrival of Covid-19 in South Africa was met with an announcement by the national government that the country would be locked down on 28 March 2020, initially for a period of 21 days. Businesses were closed, people were confined to their homes - many without any income - and alcohol and cigarette sales were banned.

Photo by Allec Gomes on Unsplash

About Heineken South Africa:

It was a dark time for South Africa. And while most of us appreciated the fact that lockdown was protecting our health, we had no idea that the challenges we were facing, as individuals and businesses, would still exist a year later.As we approach the one-year anniversary of that first day of South Africas hard lockdown, its a good time to look back at these challenges, especially the one that has had the most impact on our industry, our business and people, namely the alcohol bans.The various alcohol sales restrictions have meant that alcohol manufacturers including Heineken South Africa have lost a total of 19 weeks of sales and production over the past year. Thats almost five full months out of the last 12 that we were unable to generate an income, not to mention the massive impact of disrupted production and exports.Recent research shows that these bans cost the alcohol industry overall around 30% of its sales opportunities in 2020, worth an estimated R36.3bn. This cost the SA economy over R59bn and, perhaps most worrying of all, it placed over 200,000 jobs at risk. We were not insulated from these employment challenges, and we had to retrench some of our valued employees. This was obviously a very difficult action to take, but it was unavoidable in the circumstances.While all of this paints a bleak picture of a very difficult year for our industry, as we commemorate day one of the first lockdown on 28 March 2020, we can also celebrate the strength, resilience and pure grit of our company and its people. Yes, its been a very tough 12 months. And we have no way of knowing what further challenges await us in 2021. But were still producing winning products and, thanks to your hard work and commitment, were on track to grow once more.It is clear the virus is not going to disappear and we have to vaccinate ourselves out of this situation. But for the moment, we celebrate being able to gradually return to the workplace.
A health-care worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a UHN COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Toronto on Jan. 7, 2021. (Nathan Denette/ The Canadian Press)

Pfizer Increases Spring Vaccine Schedule, Adds Five Million Doses to June Shipments

OTTAWACanadas promised spring supply of COVID-19 vaccines grew Tuesday with millions of additional doses now expected to arrive from three different suppliers before Canada Day.

But the news was tempered by ongoing concerns about the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, and signs in much of the country that the pandemic still has a lot more misery to unleash.

Were entering the final stretch of this crisis, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a news conference in Ottawa. We just need to stay strong, a little longer. More and more vaccine doses are coming every week. So theres reason to be hopeful.

Trudeau said Pfizer and BioNTech will send another five million doses of their mRNA vaccine to Canada in June, bringing their total shipments in the spring to 17.8 million. The company is expected to ship more than one million doses a week in April and May, and more than two million every week in June.

Procurement Minister Anita Anand added that Canada now expects 4.4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by June 30, and said the first shipments of Johnson & Johnsons single-dose vaccine are set to arrive at the end of April. She doesnt know yet how many doses will be in that first shipment.

Even without J&J, and barring any unexpected interruptions in production or export of vaccines, Canada is in line to get more than 44 million doses before Canada Day.

That should mean all adults over 18 will be offered a vaccine faster, and that the wait for a second dose may not be as long as the current four months.

Canada needs about 31 million doses to offer at least one shot to every adult.

Medical experts across Canada stepped up efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy Tuesday, following the latest news that every province and territory will stop using the AstraZeneca vaccine for people under age 55, pending further analysis of the risks it might pose.

Health Canada requested more analysis from the company Monday due to more reports from Europe about blood clots developing in a small number of patients after they were vaccinated with AstraZeneca. Most of those patients were women under the age of 55.

Dr. Theresa Tam, the national chief public health officer, said she knows this is another difficult development in the seemingly never-ending twists and turns of the pandemic.

But she said the system is working the way it was intended and that people can be confident in the vaccines Canada has approved.

No blood clots linked to the vaccine have been found in Canada. About 309,000 doses have been given in Canada to date from the initial shipment of 500,000 two weeks ago. Many provinces initially reserved those doses for people in their 50s and early 60s.

Albertas medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Monday that Alberta got 58.500 AstraZeneca doses and only 900 went to people under 55.

Others, like Prince Edward Island, which were using AstraZeneca entirely on younger adults, have stopped its use entirely for the moment.

Tam warned that even as vaccinations ramp up, Canadians need to be aware that COVID-19 is spreading faster in many parts of the country, driven by variants of the virus that are not only more contagious but are making people sicker.

She said hospitalizations are up six percent in the last week and the number of patients needing critical care is up 14 percent. There are 4,600 new COVID-19 cases a day on average in Canada now, compared to 3,600 a week ago.

By Mia Rabson
Some San Diego public school parents are angered over plans for teachers to provide in-person instruction to migrant children while their kids remain stuck at home slogging through virtual Zoom sessions.

Teachers from the San Diego County Office of Education as well as other nonprofit organizations started providing educational services on Monday to some of the 500 minors who arrived from Texas and Arizona over the weekend.

The girls, whose ages range from 13 to 17, are being sheltered at the San Diego Convention Center, which has been repurposed as a temporary overflow facility, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The center is currently housing 350 teenage girls who arrived by charter flight on Saturday from a Border Patrol facility in the southern Texas town of Donna.

Geo Gillam (left), 8, works on school work with his mother Edith Carmona at their home in San Diego, California in this March 5 file photo

Some San Diego teachers are planning to volunteer to provide in-person instruction to migrant children from Central America who are being temporarily sheltered at the San Diego Convention Center (seen above on Friday)

Some 350 migrant girls between the ages of 13 and 17 were flown to San Diego after they were temporarily held at a Customs and Border Protection facility in Donna, Texas. The image above shows migrant children inside the facility on March 22

Another 150 girls were scheduled to have arrived from Tucson.

By the end of the week, the facility, which is being run by the Department of Health and Human Services, is expected to reach full capacity and house some 1,450 migrant teens.

San Diego teachers will provide the girls with instruction in English as well as the arts, according to KPBS-TV.

The migrants are expected to remain in the convention center until July, by which time the federal government is expected to have placed them with a family while their asylum cases are adjudicated in immigration courts.

We definitely want to introduce them to the arts, the visual arts and the performing arts, said Roberto Carrillo, a principal at the County Office of Education.

Well give them the opportunity to start expressing themselves through written formats, giving them a basic understanding of the English language.

According to Carrillo, about 13 teachers from the County Office of Education have volunteered to work with the migrant students.

Many of those who will be housed at the convention center are from the Northern Triangle region of Central America that encompasses Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Plans to provide in-person instruction to migrant children angered parents of San Diego school children who have been forced to remain home during the COVID-19 pandemic while classes are taught virtually.

We have 130,000 kids who haven't been allowed in a classroom for over a year in the San Diego United School District, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond told Fox News.

It's great that there's in-person learning for those unaccompanied minors from Central America, but I wish every child in San Diego Country was allowed the same opportunity for in-person teaching.

The federal government has been dealing with an influx of migrants who have been crossing the border in recent weeks. The image above shows migrant families from Central America wade through shallow waters after being delivered by smugglers on small inflatable rafts in Roma, Texas last Wednesday

One parent, Emily Diaz, told Fox News: The system is broken when San Diego teachers are teaching migrant children in person, but the 100k students of taxpaying families at San Diego Unified School District are stuck learning in Zoom school.

We agree that every child deserves an in-person education, but why are taxpaying students put last?

If this is a humanitarian issue then who is rescuing San Diego Unified students, because our leaders have failed them.

A spokesperson for the San Diego Unified School District told Fox News that teachers were given the opportunity to volunteer to provide instruction to the migrant children. It is not known if the teachers are being paid.

A spokesperson for the county Office of Education told Fox News: The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) is providing the educational program for the unaccompanied migrant children who will be staying at the San Diego Convention Center through July.

All children in California, regardless of immigration status, have a constitutional right to education.

We also have a moral obligation to ensure a bright future for our children.

The spokesperson added: The educational program will include English language development and social-emotional learning opportunities.

The teachers who are participating in the program are doing so voluntarily, and the program is following a COVID-19 screening protocol based on guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Earlier this month, the school district and teachers union reached an agreement to resume in-person instruction starting the week of April 12.

According to the terms of the deal, the district will offer a hybrid model whereby families who do not feel comfortable sending their children to school can continue with virtual classes.

Those who do wish to send their kids to school can do so for four-days-per-week of in-class learning for six hours each day, though this is subject to how much space is available given social distancing restrictions.

More than 16,000 unaccompanied children were in government custody as of Thursday, including about 5,000 in substandard Customs and Border Protection facilities.

US authorities reported encounters with more than 100,000 migrants on the southern border in February, the highest since a four-month streak in 2019.

A migrant boy (center) in Reynosa, Mexico launches a paper airplane while playing with other migrant children at a plaza near the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge point of entry into the United States after being caught trying to cross into the US and deported

Encounters have averaged about 5,000 people per day throughout March, which would be about a 50 per cent increase over February if those figures hold for the entire month.

White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said the surge was cyclical.

'They're not the result of one administration's policies or another administration's policies. Theyre the result of, for example, weather disasters in the region. Theyre the result of people fleeing poverty and violence,' Bedingfield said.

'So we saw spikes in 2014. We saw them in 2019 when the Trump administration had perhaps the cruelest imaginable policies in place, family separation to try to deter people from coming, and they still came.'

The Biden administration continued to emphasize on the Sunday talk shows that the US-Mexico border 'remains closed' and that the majority of adults are being turned away.

But White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the administration was not going to force children to go back on a treacherous journey.
BLUE SPRINGS, Miss. (WTVA) - Many team members at Mississippi Toyota received the coronavirus vaccine on Monday.

The vaccine is optional.

Toyota team members receiving COVID-19 vaccine at Blue Springs, MS plant. Source: Toyota

Toyota team members receiving COVID-19 vaccine at Blue Springs, MS plant. Source: Toyota Toyota team members receiving COVID-19 vaccine at Blue Springs, MS plant. Source: Toyota

Toyota team members receiving COVID-19 vaccine at Blue Springs, MS plant. Source: Toyota Toyota team members receiving COVID-19 vaccine at Blue Springs, MS plant. Source: Toyota Toyota team members receiving COVID-19 vaccine at Blue Springs, MS plant. Source: Toyota

Nurses with Baptist Hospital in New Albany administered the Pfizer vaccine to those who wanted the vaccine.

This means those who received the first dose will need to receive a second dose in the coming weeks.

Administration Vice President Emily Lauder said the company began providing vaccination opportunities on March 15.

"Thus far we have conducted six vaccination opportunities for our team members to get the vaccine, she said. And we will be giving them the second dose here in another couple of weeks. And then on April the 7th we will offer a second opportunity for our team members to get a first dose.

Those who received the dose waited 15 minutes in an observation room. This allowed nurses the time to monitor for any possible side effects.

"We've had good participation. So far, we've given out 310 vaccinations here on site. And like I said, we plan to do many more coming up on April 7."

Lauder said the facility has more than 1,100 vaccinations available for workers and possibly any family members as well.
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, spent an hour Tuesday morning touring the St. Helena Hospital Foundations vaccine clinic at the Napa Valley College Upper Valley Campus.

Theyve got this thing dialed in, Thompson said after meeting with Glen Newhart, president of the St. Helena Hospital Foundation.

Theres a tremendous number of volunteers here, Thompson added. As (Newhart) pointed out, some of them come here every day.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register.

Since late January the St. Helena Hospital Foundation has been vaccinating senior citizens, health care workers, teachers, first responders, farmworkers, restaurant workers, and people with pre-existing conditions that put them at greater risk from COVID-19. Between its two clinics at the campus and the hospital, the foundation will have administered more than 25,000 doses after Fridays clinic.

Thompson said Napa County and the rest of the counties in his district have done a phenomenal job.

The holdup is the vaccines, he said. If we had twice as many vaccines today, they could give twice as many shots.

He noted that vaccination rates are increasing nationwide, increasing from 2.5 million to 3 million per day.
The American Political Science Association asserts that there are Five laws of politics. These are:

Only a minority of citizens will ever vote Incumbents always have an advantage Its rare for anyone to garner over 60% of the vote Incumbents loose support during their term Parties tend to alternate in office

However, to my engineering eye, these seem more like observations than actual laws. Shouldnt any field called "political science," have laws rather like those of physics that accurately model behavior? Id like to propose an alternative set of political laws. Admittedly, theyre still imperfect  as theyre not 100% infallible. However, I believe youll find them much more predictive of American political behavior, and associated outcomes, than mere observations.

Law 1  Democrats accuse Republicans of doing that which theyve already done.

Lets examine this law against some evidence. The Democrats claimed that the Trump administrations use of cages for immigrant children was a scandal. Their evidence consisted of pictures of children in cages -- taken during the Obama/Biden administration.

The Democrats accused Donald Trump of inciting unrest at the Capitol on January 6. They even impeached him for it. Yet Democrats such as Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, Ariana Presley, and Maxine Waters spent the summer of 2020 encouraging the rioting of Antifa and BLM.

Perhaps the most notorious example of Law 1 is that of Hillary Clinton. Through multiple cutouts (Perkins Coie LLP, Fusion GPS, and Michael Steele) Hillary paid Russians to fabricate evidence that Trump was colluding with Russia. Hillary Clinton colluded with Russians, to affect the election, in order to accuse Donald Trump of colluding with Russians to affect the election.

Law 2  When its most critical, Republicans will never work as a team.

When the electorate gives the Republicans a mission to accomplish, a handful of RINOs will always find a sensitive place in the precision machinery for a monkey-wrench. As a case in point: The Republicans ran on a platform of repealing ObamaCare. The public gave them majority control of Congress to accomplish it. But then the Republicans failed to garner the votes to accomplish it -- thank you, Senator Maverick!

The electorate also gave the Republicans a mission to fund the border wall. Again, they failed to do so. They claimed they didnt have the votes to overcome a filibuster. However, they could have used reconciliation (just as the Democrats have) to bypass a filibuster. When needed most, they were again long on excuses and short on action.

When the Democrats conducted two sham impeachments, a handful of unprincipled Republicans voted for impeachment (looking at you Mitt and Liz). When Republicans needed to stick together to highlight the travesty that these impeachments were -- they didnt. By helping to legitimize these proceedings, the squishy RINOs have ensured that all future Republican presidents face impeachment.

Finally, the Republicans were not even able to hold firm against the confirmation of Rachel Levine as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services. This nominee openly supports chemical castration of gender confused children. Miss XY-Levine even sent COVID-19 patients to nursing homes  after removing her own mother (Mrs. XX-Levine) from a nursing home. This is who Joe Biden proposed to ensure the health and safety of American Citizens? Yet Senators Murkowski and Collins thought this nominee was perfectly A-Okay.

Law 3  Politicians assert that they are following the science, when their intent is to curtail personal freedoms.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous governors pointed to science as justification for the most radical restrictions of personal freedoms in our lifetime. A year of lockdowns resulted in lost employment, bankrupted businesses, restricted movement, and criminalization of assembly. We were even subjected to curfews -- since the virus obviously becomes more contagious after dark. Weve since learned that much of the data was faulty, and the medical recommendations were contradictory.

Politicians have also used the science of climate change to affect the way we live. Theyve used it to regulate the products we buy -- eliminating choices and driving up prices. You cant even buy an incandescent light bulb or a high-volume toilet anymore, because theyre a grave offense to Gaia. Theyve also used it in attempts to dictate our behavior. They want us to travel by mass transit, lower our thermostats, and reside in dense communities to reduce our carbon footprint. One question: how does all of that square with the pandemic science of social distancing?

Law 4  When the government offers to help, the best result is achieved by declining.

From time to time, the federal government will arrive in local communities with an offer of help -- usually of the financial variety. However, this help always includes strings -- which are conceived by an army of faceless bureaucrats. News flash: those bureaucrats lack any philanthropic motive.

Federal bailout of the auto industry came with protections for labor unions. COVID-19 relief includes federal dictates on how the states may levy taxes. Medical subsidies require states to commit to federal treatment guidelines.

The terms and conditions of the help are always designed to convert those helped into long-term dependents. Accepting the outstretched hand of the federal government is accepting seduction into serfdom.

Law 5  When Politicians invest taxpayer money, the investors shouldnt expect any return.

In 2018 the federal government invested almost $492B for infrastructure, education, and training, and research and development.

Infrastructure investments are those monies spent on bridges, dams, highways, and buildings. When a politician wants a highway or building named after him, its an infrastructure investment. Of course, the only thing being invested in is the ego of said politician.

Investments for education and training includes spending for preschool through postsecondary education. It also includes money for vocational training (to help journeyman Keystone pipeline fitters become ace software coders). The intent of educational investment is to improve the skills and capabilities of the American workforce. While there is no evidence that increased spending does any such thing, it has kept the teachers unions on board as the Democrat Partys most valued advocate.

Investment on research and development includes money spent on both basic and applied research. This is the money with which the government picks winners and losers in science and industry. With this money, the federal government can promote solar and wind energy, while discouraging advances in the fossil fuels industry. It ensures that financially unsound industries can limp along indefinitely, while competing industries are penalized for their successes. This is how we ended up with an ethanol industry in which 131,000 BTUs of energy are needed to produce ethanol containing 77,000 BTUs of energy. Were paying $1.70 to get $1.00 back. I think we need some better investment advice.

The Congressional Budget Office admits that it has no way to compute the benefits (returns) that have been realized from these investments. If your financial planner informed you that he had no idea whether you made or lost money with last years investment, would you give him more money this year? Investors (taxpayers) cant expect a return on their investment, because politicians dont understand what an investment is.

To summarize:

The next time a Democrat accuses a Republican of a scandal, start an investigation -- of the Democrat.

When Republicans say theyll work together if we just give them a chance -- start identifying primary challengers.

Never give up God-given liberties in the name of science -- which is never really settled.

When the government says, were here to help, ask them to help by leaving.

Finally, the next time a politician invests your money, recognize that its state-sponsored robbery -- youre not getting anything back.

Weve made a good start on the real five laws of politics.

John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Star, Idaho. He is a retired engineer with over 40 years of experience in the areas of product development, quality assurance, organizational development, and corporate strategic planning. He can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com.

Image: Pixy
As if 2021 hasnt been wild enough already. According to BBC, there are Fake Amazon workers defending the company on Twitter. Wow, this year is weird already. Votes are in the process of being counted in Alabama. The votes will decide whether Amazon workers will form a union or not.

However, anti-union aligned workers sent a series of Tweets defending the company. Twitter cracked down on these accounts pretty quickly, and Amazon has also confirmed at least one of the accounts is fake.

The accounts have only been around for a few days. In addition, many of the accounts only have a few tweets that are focused on Amazon.

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One tweet says what bothers me most about unions is theres no ability to opt-out of dues. This tweet came from a user using the handle @AmazonFCDarla. Another from the same user is sweet, short, and simply says Amazon takes great care of me.

Fake Amazon workers defending the company is as bizarre as it sounds

Here is another example of a similar tweet that says  unions are good for some companies, but I dont want to have to shell out hundreds a month just for lawyers. Unions can definitely be a good thing for workers to have, but all good things do have their caveats.

Most of these fake accounts involve the handle @AmazonFC followed by a first name. What makes this interesting is that Amazon previously used this handle for its Amazon Ambassadors. These ambassadors are employees paid to promote and defend it on Twitter.

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Clearly, because of this, it is hard to believe that Amazon is not behind some of these accounts. Amazon did clear the air around the Darla account saying that the account is not official. However, Amazon has stayed mum on several other accounts.

An Amazon spokesperson says that it appears this is a fake account that violates Twitters terms. Thankfully Twitter has suspended several of these accounts. Twitter relayed that even Amazon Ambassadors are subject to its rules on spam and platform manipulation.

These tweets definitely seem to be trying to manipulate the platform and spam people. According to Twitters rules, any parody accounts must have a disclaimer in its Twitter bio.

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Amazon seems to be in damage control mode

Hopefully, these accounts are not real employees. Amazon already has anti-trust lawsuits against it. The last thing the company needs is to lose the trust of its customers as well.

Of course, with the negative news surrounding Amazons warehouse working conditions the company has defended itself. Amazons official account has tweeted asking you dont really believe the peeing in bottles thing, do you? If that were true, nobody would work for us.

This story gets even better due to a tweet response to US Senator Elizabeth Warren. Senator warren accused the company of exploiting loopholes and tax havens.

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Amazons response says You make tax laws, we just follow them. If you dont like the laws youve created, by all means, change them. Here are the facts: Amazon has paid billions of dollars in corporate taxes over the past few years alone.

It honestly sounds like Amazon is in damage control mode, but you can swing by their official Twitter to judge for yourself.
Image via Getty/Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto

Notable TikTok user Rochelle Hager died Monday in what authorities have described as a tragic and unique accident.

According to Newsweek, the 31-year-old Maine resident, who went by @roeurboat3 on social media, was killed shortly before 10 a.m. local time while driving in Farmington, Maine. Officials say strong winds caused a roadside tree to snap just as Hager was passing in her Nissan SUV. Power lines, a utility pole, and tree branches immediately began falling, with the largest branch ultimately crushing the drivers side of Hagers SUV.

Farmington Police Chief Kenneth Charles told reporters Hager was pronounced dead at the scene.

[It was] obviously the direct result of the high winds today, Charles said during a press conference, as reported by the Press Herald. Nothing she could do to avoid it.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

Hagers fiancee, Brittanie Lynn Ritchie, confirmed the tragedy via TikTok on Monday, sharing a series of tribute videos and heartfelt messages.

We were getting married October 16  we had already gotten the venue and photographer and everything, Ritchie told Central Maine, before revealing she was speaking to Hager over the phone when the accident occurred. It happened really quick. She has a phone mounted in her vent. I just heard a crash and then there was nothing. She didnt see the tree coming. It was instant.

Hager, who also worked as an executive chef, was a popular TikTok user, having amassed more than 130,000 followers and 1.2 million likes.

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ok :)



Edited at 2021-03-30 01:21 am (UTC) ok :)

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I love this song.

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Womp womp the Earth is healing!

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Good riddance!!



Still want to know how Death on the Nile is going to deal with him.

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They pushed back the release date to next year so they're going with the "hope everyone forgets" strategy

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The solution is in the name of the film.

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NNNNNNNNN

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I think they're going to reshoot his scenes or digitally replace him in some way tbh.

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And Next Goal Wins.

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Well two of the shittest people in the cast will.....you know

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They're going to rename it Death On The Suez and digitally replace him with Queen Ever Given.

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i mean, what can they do? it had already been filmed, they may as well just release it.





funny that murder on the orient had johnny debt and now this has armie, aren't they two characters whose murders are investigated

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This having so few likes / retweets bothers me lol

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this was the era before the current crop of children started plaguing social media so people weren't mass liking/retweeting like they are now!!!

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For such an iconic tweet, I would have expected like 10x the amount tbh

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The real travesty is that it was tweeted from a Blackberry in 2012. For context the iPhone 4S was released in 2011.

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HA HA

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Good. I hope this piece of shit suffers.



I wonder who will replace him as Hollywood's go-to to play tall, rich assholes.

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the dude from euphoria?

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Hmm, Jacob Elordi is 23 so I don't think they'd be up for the same roles. It would have to be someone who can play 30-40.

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As a stan I have to suggest Golden Globe winning Alexander Skarsgard

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Pretty obvious (he's not a terrible person though so deserves better than Armie's scraps)

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Looks like others beat me to it, but yep. Alexander Skarsgard.

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Im sure hell get some Jesus-y movie director at some point to hire him in order to pwn *cancel culture*

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Praise Be

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It's ridiculous that he had all of these job to lose to begin with.

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I'm actually surprised he's getting dropped? I wonder if he wasn't at all liked behind the scenes and thats why he's getting dropped so quickly? 



Edited at 2021-03-30 01:27 am (UTC)

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Even if he was nice it's not like he's a big name actor with a huge fan base or love from Hollywood. Sure he has roles cause he's white but he's no George Clooney or Tom Hiddleston (idk why those are the white men that came to mind first but here we are).



Nobody is going to bat for him because it's not a hill worth dying on.

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True. I figured because he comes from a super rich family that go in his favor. But yeah he doesn't have a super strong following either.





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he's been in so many bombs and i don't think he's got some kind of franchise or group of famous friends to back him up.



like what famous friends does he have, timothee chalamet? that boy's befriended all of hollywood in the past 3 years and is adored by his fellow actors, he's not gonna lose that just to stay buddies with this asshole. he put distance between him and woody allen when it was convenient for him, don't think tim won't do the same with armie if it means he's still one of hollywood's golden boys

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I dont think he was particularly pleasant behind the scenes either, I remember him on a talk show once talking about how he was fired from Gossip Girl and he implied that it was because the main actress was a diva (real reason was apparently because he called Blake Lively a bitch in front of all of the cast in the scene where theyre having dinner)



Edited at 2021-03-30 01:57 am (UTC)

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It probably helped that no woman came out to vouch for him. This is rarely the case with celebrities and their Hollywood friends.

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He filmed part of the ranger movie in my area and Depp held a signing and shook hands and ate local with the rest of the crew. He had a driver drive him 2 hours away at the end of his days to a 'nice place to stay. No endearment to the locals. Not that it matters but colorado is petty af and he gets paid dust.



Weird side note but Cara Delevigne was here last month and so was Diana agron a few months ago and the locals would die for them. Hella charming.

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Double whammy of those explicit texts filled with kink/fetish fodder stuff + the allegations of being first a serial killer and now serial cheater and rapist. That's a lot of shit to fall on anyone but he does not have the shield most Big Star Bois have so it was even worse.



He was probably difficult to work with behind the scenes and studios were looking to drop his ass for a long, long time. He was not bringing the money or numbers or chemistry with ANYONE. Notice how there are co-stars coming out for him. No directors, no nothing.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/us/armie-hammer-sexual-assault-investigation.html It's because the LAPD opened an investigation on him so everyone's distancing themselves. His agents dropped him around the same time.

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I feel so bad for his dog :(

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It really annoys me that its called just sexual assault. Like, dont get me wrong, thats already horrific enough. But, he is a straight up psychopath. Why cant the media include that with the assault allegations? People need to be reminded.

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good but also he's gonna be fine anyway, isn't he from a loaded family?

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they cut him off

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Someone downthread said he was broke, too, and I was surprised as I thought he was a trust funder who worked because he wanted to?

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oh shit!! LOL

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Whatever, I bet he is rich people broke not really broke

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Thomas and at least one other man were looting during civil unrest and about 5:30 p.m. that day came on two other men in the 5900 block of West Roosevelt Road in The Island neighborhood on the West Side, the report said. Thomas and another man tried to rob the two and in response, one of the men took a metal bar and hit Thomas in the abdomen before he and his friend fled in a vehicle. The Tribune is not naming the man because he was not charged.
Ghazipur, March 30 : As the protest against the three Central farm laws continue at the borders of the national capital, with each passing day the farmers are facing problems related to electricity, water and maintaining sanitation.

This is why farmer leaders at the Ghazipur border held a meeting with the Ghaziabad District Magistrate, besides other top officials.

During this meeting, maintaining cleanliness at the protest site, the mosquito menace, electricity and water were also discussed. The district administration has assured to listen to the demands of the farmers and resolving these problems soon.

A control room would be set up by the administration at the protest site in which electricity-related items would be kept. Besides this, several employees would also be sitting at the border whose job would be to resolve the problems related to electricity at the protest site immediately.

Apart from the Ghaziabad District Magistrate, other senior officials were present in this meeting with the farmers while officials of some other departments concerned were also present.

Bharatiya Kisan Union's Uttar Pradesh state President Rajvir Singh Jadaun, who was present in the meeting, told IANS: "It has been four months since the protest, there had been no electricity problems faced till now, but it has been witnessed more frequently in the last four to five days." "Fans are not working due to electricity. Mosquitoes posed the biggest problem due to which farmers were not able to sleep during the night, the scorching heat does not deter the farmers. But fans help to ward away mosquitoes. Fogging produces a lot of smoke but the mosquitoes still do not run away." The BKU leader said,"We have briefed the officials in the meeting on all these issues and they have assured us that our problems will be resolved soon." Jadaun further said,"It has been promised by the district administration that a control room will be built near the protest site inside which some electrical goods will be available along with government employees. If the control room is started, we will be grateful to the administration."
Prep Golf: Riley Zebroski earns all-conference honors, Arrows take 7th in ESD tourney

MITCHELL  Sophomore Riley Zebroski earned all-conference honors by tying for 5th place on Wednesday in the Eastern South Dakota Conference girls golf tournament at the Lakeview Golf Course.
Local officials join the fight to keep pandemic precautions until more people get vaccinated.



Here's the best roundup so far . . . Read more:
Photo: The Canadian Press International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

The head of the 190-nation International Monetary Fund says prospects for global growth have brightened since January, helped by a $1.9 trillion U.S. rescue package. But she warns that uneven progress in fighting the pandemic could jeopardize the economic gains.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Tuesday that when the IMF releases its updated economic forecast next week, it will show the global economy growing at a faster pace than the 5.5% gain it projected at the start of the year.

In remarks hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, she said that the $1.9 trillion support package that President Joe Biden signed into law on March 11 along with rising confidence from increased vaccinations in many advanced economies were primary reasons for the forecast upgrade.

Georgieva said that governments around the globe had taken extraordinary actions over the past year including providing a combined $16 trillion in support and a massive injection of liquidity into the financial sector by the world's central banks. Without this prompt response, Georgieva said the last year's downturn would have been three times worse.

But she said economic prospects are diverging dangerously with the global economy now in a multi-speed recovery increasingly powered by two engines  the United States and China, the world's two biggest economies, while other countries fall behind.

Georgieva said the world faced extremely high uncertainty with so much depending on the path of the pandemic with new strains of the virus now holding back growth prospects, especially in Europe and Latin America.

Private economists are forecasting that the U.S. economy could grow by 6% to 7% this year, which would be the best performance since 1984. But Georgieva said strong growth in the United States could trigger a rapid rise in interest which could trigger significant capital outflows from emerging market and developing economies.

She said that emerging market and low-income countries already have limited firepower to fight the crisis and are highly exposed to the declines in tourism and other sectors hit hard by the pandemic.

She said how to best address the pandemic would be the key agenda item when the IMF and its sister organization hold their virtual spring meetings next week. Those discussions will also include a meeting of the finance ministers of the Group of 20 major industrial countries.

She said that the IMF estimates that faster progress in ending the health crisis cold add almost $9 trillion to global GDP by 2025.

Given diverging recoveries, it is prudent to keep a close eye on financial risk, including stretched asset valuations," she said. And major central banks have to carefully communicate their policy plans to prevent excess financial volatility at home and abroad.

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Volvo Cars is opting in its 40,000+ employees around the globe, in all plants and offices, into a new all-gender, paid parental leave policy as of April 1, 2021.

The 'Family Bond' policy will give all employees with at least one year's service a total of 24 weeks of leave at 80 per cent of their base pay by default. The policy applies to either parent and the leave can be taken anytime within the three first years of parenthood.

"We want to create a culture that supports equal parenting for all genders," said Hakan Samuelsson, chief executive. "When parents are supported to balance the demands of work and family, it helps to close the gender gap and allows everyone to excel in their careers. We have always been a family-oriented and human-centric company. Through the Family Bond programme, we are demonstrating and living our values, which in turn will strengthen our brand."

The global policy is more inclusive and supportive than many existing policies around the world, and includes all legally registered parents, including adoptive, foster care and surrogate parents, as well as non-birth parents in same-sex couples. Some countries do not offer any paid leave to new parents, or exclude certain groups of parents - the latter is particularly true for fathers.

Volvo Cars' global policy is inspired by national legislation in its home market of Sweden, famous around the globe for its generous parental leave arrangements, which have delivered tangible benefits for parents and children alike in recent decades. It follows a parental leave pilot scheme launched in the EMEA region in 2019, in which 46 per cent of all applicants were fathers.



"This is more than a new parental leave policy for our employees - it is the embodiment of our company culture and values," said Hanna Fager, head of corporate functions. "We want to lead change in this industry and set a new global people standard. By opting all our employees into paid parental leave we narrow the gender gap and get a more diverse workforce, boosting performance and strengthening our business."

When studying the outcome of its parental leave pilot, the company found that employees appreciated the policy for being gender neutral, inclusive and adaptable to personal needs. The studies also resulted in important insights on how to encourage even more employees to take parental leave and make parental leave for both parents the new 'norm'.



Some of the obstacles that limit the uptake of parental leave include parents' concerns around the potential impact it might have on their team, fear around long-term career opportunities, and a cultural mindset about of what is expected of fathers in the workplace and at home.



To encourage uptake, Volvo Cars has focused on communicating about its parental leave policy more effectively. By presenting the 24 weeks parental leave as a pre-selected option, the company aims to create a 'default effect' - essentially, people are highly likely to stick with pre-selected options. Ambiguous language, such as 'up to 24 weeks', is avoided as we tend to predict negative outcomes when there is uncertainty.



By using tactics like these, Volvo Cars aim to remove confusion and cultural barriers, and provide parents with certainty.



To further show its commitment to reducing the gender gap, Volvo Cars will share its participation results over time so that other companies can learn from its progress.

-------------------------------

Notes to Editors:

In any countries where local regulations offer a more generous parental leave, local regulations will take precedence.

Volvo Cars has developed a checklist on how the company plans to communicate around the policy to encourage uptake, which can be found by following this link .

Volvo Cars Media Relations, +46 031-596525, media@volvocars.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1476155/280274_Families_at_Volvo_Cars.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1476156/280276_Families_at_Volvo_Cars.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1476157/280275_Families_at_Volvo_Cars.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1312760/Volvo_Logo.jpg




In this photo provided by SpaceX, Jared Isaacman, from left to right, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Chris Sembroski pose for a photo, Monday, March 29, 2021, from the SpaceX launch tower at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (SpaceX via AP)

A billionaire's private SpaceX flight filled its two remaining seats Tuesday with a scientist-teacher and a data engineer whose college friend actually won a spot but gave him the prize.

The new passengers: Sian Proctor, a community college educator in Tempe, Arizona, and Chris Sembroski, a former Air Force missileman from Everett, Washington. They will join flight sponsor Jared Isaacman and another passenger for three days in orbit this fall.

Isaacman also revealed some details about his Inspiration4 mission, as the four gathered Tuesday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. He's head of Shift4 Payments, a credit card-processing company in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and is paying for what would be SpaceX's first private flight while raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Their SpaceX Dragon capsulecurrently parked at the International Space Station for NASAwill launch no earlier than mid-September, aiming for an altitude of 335 miles (540 kilometers). That's 75 miles (120 kilometers) higher than the International Space Station and on a level with the Hubble Space Telescope.

The capsule will be outfitted with a domed window in place of the usual space station docking mechanism for their trip.

Isaacman, 38, a pilot who will serve as spacecraft commander, still won't say how much he's paying. He's donating $100 million to St. Jude, while donors so far have contributed $13 million, primarily through the lottery that offered a chance to fly in space.

Hayley Arceneaux, 29, was named to the crew a month ago. The St. Jude physician assistant was treated there as a child for bone cancer.

That left two capsule seats open. Proctor, 51, beat out 200 businesses and nabbed the seat reserved for a customer of Isaacman's company. An independent panel of judges chose her space art website dubbed Space2inspire.

In this photo provided by SpaceX, Chris Sembroski, from left to right, Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux and Sian Proctor pose for a photo, Monday, March 29, 2021, at the SpaceX launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (SpaceX via AP)

"It was like when Harry Potter found out he was a wizard, a little bit of shock and awe," Proctor told The Associated Press last week. "It's like, 'I'm the winner?'"

Sembroski, 41, donated and entered the lottery but wasn't picked in the random drawing earlier this monthhis friend was. His friend declined to fly for personal reasons and offered the spot to Sembroski, who worked as a Space Camp counselor in college and volunteered for space advocacy groups.

"Just finding out that I'm going to space was an incredible, strange, surreal event," he said.

He's about to start a new job at Lockheed Martin and admits it will be a balancing act over the next six months, as the crew trains.

Isaacman insists they won't cut any corners as they prepare for launch.

"You don't go up on Everest, right, after just a hike in the backyard. You build your way to it," he told reporters.

Proctor, who studied geology, applied three times to NASA's astronaut corps, coming close in 2009, and took part in simulated Mars missions in Hawaii. She was born in Guam, where her late fathera "Hidden Figure" in her mindworked at NASA's tracking station for the Apollo moonshots, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's.

She plans to teach from space and create art up there, too.

"To me, everything that I've done ... has brought me to this moment."

Explore further Bone cancer survivor to join billionaire on SpaceX flight

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Kang Wook, CEO of Contents Creator of Culture (CCOC), a co-organizer for the exhibition "Street Noise" held in Seoul's Lotte World Mall, points to the vandalized work of the American graffiti artist JonOne, March 28. Yonhap





By Park Han-sol







The art of a renowned U.S. graffiti artist displayed in southern Seoul's Lotte World Mall has been found to be damaged by two viewers who claimed they mistook it for a participatory, interactive painting.







On March 28 at around 1:40 p.m., a couple in their 20s came across graffiti artist JonOne's "Untitled" displayed at the "Street Noise" exhibition, according to the police. The two grabbed brushes and paint buckets  strewn in front of the piece as part of the exhibit  to apply several blue-green colored brushstrokes on the piece. No staff was present at the time of the incident.







The event organizers, after discovering their unsanctioned addition half an hour later, caught them shopping nearby and reported their whereabouts to the police.







Asked about their motives, the two reportedly said, "It was graffiti on the wall and since there were brushes and paint at the scene, we thought we were allowed to doodle something as well."







The organizers decided that the case wasn't an act of deliberate vandalism and will continue to exhibit the artwork as it is. They are currently in the process of contacting the artist JonOne to suggest against filing a suit or making an insurance claim, adding that "if he doesn't accept their request, the patrons will need to compensate him for the damage."







Public opinions regarding the event were surprisingly divided. Some claimed that it is only natural for a third party with no relation to the exhibited piece be held fully responsible for compensation.







Meanwhile, others argued that the fault lied more with the organizers, who failed to clearly indicate that the brushes and paint buckets scattered in front of the artwork were part of the display and not to be used.







"And the added brushstrokes, which almost look like three dancing figures, seem to express the free spirits of today's younger generation, while complementing the painting well. I think it suits the theme of the exhibition 'Street Noise,'" one user wrote.





The work "Untitled" in question was created by JonOne during his visit to Korea in 2016. The artist, originally from New York and now mainly working in Paris, made a name for himself within French-American art circles for his works filled with vibrant colors and instinctive strokes that evolved beyond its street art roots. He was the recipient of France's premier award The Legion of Honor in 2015.





A group of U.N. human rights experts says it is deeply concerned about allegations regarding Chinas treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority.

The Working Group on Business and Human Rights says it has received information that connected over 150 domestic Chinese and foreign domiciled companies to serious allegations of human rights abuses against Uyghur workers.

As independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council, of which China is a State Member, we consider that an official visit to China (including the Xinjiang region) would be the ideal opportunity for such dialogue and to assess the situation for ourselves based on free and unhindered access, the group said.

Many Chinese companies as well as private firms outside China are accused of using slave labor or incorporating products made with slave labor into their supply chains. This includes numerous well-known global brands, the group said.

The group said it respectfully urges China to immediately cease any such measures that are not fully compliant with international law, norms and standards relating to human rights, including the rights of minorities.

China is accused of rights violations including arbitrary detention, forced sterilization and use of slave labor using Uyghurs. China denies the allegations and says its policies in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs are concentrated, aim to combat Islamic extremism.

Britain, Canada, the European Union and the United States have sanctioned several members of Xinjiang's political and economic power elite this week over the allegations of widespread human right abuses there.
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The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine demands from Russia to immediately cease hostilities in Donbas and to adhere to the ceasefire.

Some 308 MPs voted for the statement [Resolution No. 5312] due to the escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict.

The Verkhovna Rada "demands that the Russian Federation immediately stop hostilities and unswervingly observe the ceasefire, completely fulfill its international obligations and withdraw its army, occupation forces, and armed formations from Ukraine, which it leads, provides and finances."

The MPs called on "the parliaments of foreign states and international parliamentary organizations to condemn the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation towards Ukraine, including the latest wave of escalation in the conflict area."

The parliamentarians also call on the world community to continue and strengthen international political and economic pressure on Russia in order to end the aggression, withdraw foreign troops and weapons from the territory of Ukraine, and fully restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders.

"The current escalation in Donbas testifies to the continued impudent disregard by the Russian Federation of its obligations to resolve the conflict peacefully, including the Minsk agreements and agreements reached within the Normandy format [...] Russia's actions today are actually aimed at destroying all efforts to end the conflict and peaceful reintegration of the occupied Ukrainian territories," the MPs said in the statement.

The parliamentarians also urged international organizations and international jurisdictional institutions to take all necessary measures to investigate cases of serious violations of international law during the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine, including the crimes of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian armed formations.

The MPs also are concerned about the planned joint Belarusian-Russian Zapad-2021 (West-2021) strategic command-staff exercises in Belarus in September, the theater of which will cover, among other things, the territories bordering with Ukraine.

"These exercises pose a danger to Ukraine and are perceived by Ukraine as a threat to the escalation of the international armed conflict that continues between the Russian Federation and Ukraine," the MPs said in the statement.

According to a correspondent of Interfax-Ukraine, before the adoption of the statement, the MPs heard information from Commander-in-Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Ruslan Khomchak.
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Isla Fisher has settled into her life in Sydney, Australia after moving Down Under with her husband Sacha Baron Cohen and their children late last year.

And on Tuesday, the 45-year-old actress shared a sweet tribute to her father.

'This is my dad, Poppa Fish,' she wrote alongside a black and white throwback photo to her Instagram account.

'Poppa Fish': Hollywood actress Isla Fisher, 45, (right) has shared a sweet tribute to her father by uploading a throwback photo to her Instagram on Tuesday. Pictured together in 2011

'I love him, he's the greatest and I am so thankful to have him in my life,' she gushed.

In the photograph, her father Brian can be seen posing in front of what appears to be a framed painting of a tree.

Isla is said to be very close with her family, describing her upbringing in Perth, Australia as 'great'.

'This is my dad, Poppa Fish,' she wrote alongside a black and white throwback photo to her Instagram account

The Godmothered actress recently discussed making the move across the Pacific from Los Angeles with her family to Stellar magazine.

'I just feel so safe, I suppose the word is cosy, when I'm in Australia. It's where I grew up,' she said.

'I'm the happiest when I'm home. I miss it when I'm not here. I don't feel any pressure when I'm in Australia. I don't have to say or do or be anything. I mean, I don't even have to wear shoes,' the Godmothered star added.

Family ties: Isla is said to be very close with her family, describing her upbringing in Perth, Australia as 'great'

Isla shares three children with her comedian husband Sacha Baron Cohen, 49.

Isla and Sacha first met at a party in Sydney back in 2002. They tied the knot in Paris in 2010 after she converted to the Jewish faith.

The couple initially relocated Down Under temporarily to escape 'Trump's America' at the end of last year.
No matter how things are going for the greater U.S. economy, theres one sector that always is looking for good people: energy. Even during the global COVID-19 pandemic, as more than a million veterans filed for unemployment benefits, the energy industry was not only hiring. It was recruiting -- and it wanted more veterans.

Jeremy Foshee is one of those recruiters. He leads military recruiting for Southern Company, an Atlanta-based electric and natural gas company. Foshee was an Army chaplains assistant for his six-year enlistment. After getting a degree from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, he went to work for Southern Company, where he has been since 2006.

As long as he has been in the energy industry, workforce development has been a critical part of the industrys growth. In 2012, the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) looked to build a national strategy around career-ready veterans, Troops to Energy Jobs.

We noticed that there was a career awareness gap, Foshee tells Military.com. Unless you're a Navy nuke transitioning into commercial nuclear, you may not connect the dots to the energy industry. How do we help you understand the opportunities in the energy industry? We want that talent.

Troops to Energy Jobs is not only a training program for future careers in energy -- no matter what your military specialty was -- but is also a jobs board for those already qualified to work in these careers, a list of energy companies and openings and a place to register your availability to energy companies. Its the first step to a new career.

Troops to Energy Jobs is a program centered around the Roadmap to a Career in Energy. No matter what education and training you come into the program already knowing, this roadmap will help you get into the energy sector. Foshee says 14% of the energy industrys total hires come from transitioning service members.

Interested veterans can start by looking at the careers available and open to them, depending on availability in which state they want to work. They then apply and get to work through training apprenticeship programs in that field. For more advanced roles, the roadmap also offers formal education possibilities.

The end of the road is not a job placement program, but Troops to Energy Jobs offers something almost as good as a guaranteed job. One of the major issues facing newly separated military members is that they receive a lot of formal and informal job skills training, but usually lack the networking common among civilian workers.

In an apprenticeship environment, the veteran will get to work with people in their industry, replacing that networking component that is often critical to finding long-term, stable and fulfilling employment.

The tools provided by the roadmap help the service member step back and take inventory of their goals, their skills, what they can bring to a company, Foshee says. The companies participating share candidates and collaborate. It helps us as recruiters find the best talent and put them in the right role.

Victoria Ollo was an Army officer and a West Point graduate with a background in nuclear energy. Although she spent her Army career in intelligence, she went into nuclear energy through Troops to Energy jobs when she left the Army.

She found the website, filled out a profile and submitted her resume for review. The program helped her tweak her resume to better reflect her skills and education for the civilian job market.

I spent five years in the Army doing military intelligence, Ollo says. I gained an assortment of leadership, management and organizational skills, but the more technical military intelligence skills that I had don't translate very smoothly into the role that I'm doing now. I was able to find the database of companies and organizations out there, which eventually led me to Jeremy.

Ollo says meeting Foshee, a military veteran with energy experience and the skills of a recruiter for the industry, made all the difference.

Transitioning from the military to a civilian career is challenging, no matter what, Ollo says. Even with a background in nuclear, I was having trouble getting much traction through the traditional applying to jobs on websites. Finding a recruiter who was looking for me was the key.

Best of all, Troops to Energy Jobs apprenticeship programs are available as part of the Defense Departments SkillBridge program, which means transitioning service members can spend their last six months in the military while in the apprenticeship. As they work, they still receive their military pay and benefits as they transition to civilian life.

Any military member or veteran looking for training in an energy career should visit Troops to Energy Jobs to learn more, see what apprenticeships are available and apply online.

Military members and veterans with an existing energy background also can submit their resumes for review on the Troops to Energy Jobs site.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Las Cruces civil rights and defense attorney Margaret Strickland will be nominated today to one of the two long vacant seats on the U.S. District Court in New Mexico by President Joe Biden.

Strickland, past president of the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, began her career working for the state Public Defenders office in 2006 and went into private practice in 2011.

The judgeship in Las Cruces has been vacant for more than 30 months and the judicial seat in Albuquerque has been open for more than 18 months.

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Strickland is expected to be nominated for the seat in Las Cruces that has been open since U.S. District Judge Robert C. Brack took senior status.

Biden is expected to nominate 11 judges, including Strickland, to fill open seats around the country today.

Strickland is a partner in the law firm of McGraw & Strickland LLC in Las Cruces, and represents clients in civil rights and criminal cases.

In 2017, Strickland represented a woman and her family who claimed police used excessive force during her arrest, breaking her arm and nose. The woman and her family were awarded a $1.6 million verdict in federal court against several Las Cruces Police Department officers.

Former state District Judge Fernando Macias has known Strickland since she started practicing law in Las Cruces.

I really feel that there is a great deal of community pride in her nomination to the federal bench, Macias said. She brings a great deal of enthusiasm and commitment to her representation of her clients. She is hardworking, but has not lost her idealism.

Albuquerque attorney Randi McGinn said, Strickland is somebody who has actually represented real people and not corporations.

Strickland graduated from the University of Texas El Paso in 2003 and graduated from New York University School of Law in 2006.

She served as president of the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association from 2017 to 2019.

In the past few weeks, FBI agents have conducted background interviews of people in the legal community as part of the normal process of investigating potential nominees.

Last year, Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., withdrew their support for the nominations of First Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred J. Federici III and Albuquerque attorney Brenda Saiz, who had been nominated by President Donald Trump.

Their names had been part of a group of potential nominees submitted by Udall and Heinrich.

Udall and Heinrich withdrew their support in September pending the outcome of the November elections.

The federal court in New Mexico has long been one of the busiest in the country, and judges from other judicial districts come to the state to hear immigration cases and some civil cases to help ease the caseload on judges here.

The federal court in New Mexico was short three full-time judges until U.S. District Judge Kea W. Riggs was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and sworn in on Dec. 31, 2019.
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

Vote

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As she wears both a white blouse and military blue uniform, PhD Dinh Thi Thu Hang is always aware of a military medical soldiers responsibilities.

Dinh Thi Thu Hang (left) discusses research work with her colleague.  Photo vtc.vn

Hang works in the Department of Microbiology and Pathogens under the Military Medical Research Institute and is also a lecturer in the Medical Microbiology Faculty under the Vietnam Military Medical Academy.

She is one of the key members participating in the State-level project 'Research and manufacture of biological products RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR to detect new coronavirus strains'.

'Eat, sleep' SARS-CoV-2

Every day, the 37-year-old woman from the central province of Ha Tinh, Hang goes back and forth between the Military Medical Research Institute and the Vietnam Military Medical Academy.

This time last year, Hang and her colleagues of the Vietnam Military Medical Academy studied day and night, rushing to complete the first SARS-CoV-2 detection product in Vietnam licensed by the Ministry of Health for fast and accurate test results.

They only had a month to manufacture the kit, making it a time when the research team "ate and slept with the virus," she said.

Hang told vtc.vn that thanks to her experience in researching and manufacturing the Ebola test kit in 2013-15, she and her colleagues completed the assigned work fairly quickly.

We had to race against time so hard. We work for a large institute belonging to the military, so any research error is unacceptable. We work with the spirit of the soldier, not allowing ourselves to fail. That spirit makes us find all research paths. In the end, we were successful, Hang said.

Her colleagues call her a "three-in-one" scientist because she was both researching, teaching and a soldier.

Her work also resonated in the scientific community when she patented a useful solution for the invention of the multi-primer kit real-time RT-PCR for quick diagnosis of Ebola Zaire virus of the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam.

Modest and simple, she says her success is too small.

She has also contributed to the scientific community as the author of 29 outstanding articles, including four published in international journals and 25 articles published in reputable Vietnamese science journals.

With her contributions, Hang has received Creative Youth Awards at different levels. She was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Education and Training in 2020.

Secret of success

When the COVID-19 pandemic appeared in Vietnam, the Vietnam Military Medical Academys research team was tasked with making the test kit for SARS-CoV-2 only a week before the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. She and her colleagues had to forget their personal lives to focus on research.

During the days away from home, she worked and forgot to eat, sleep, and struggled with being away from family. As soon as the clinical trial kit was a success, the first thing she thought of was going to her hometown to visit her children and relatives.

Due to her work, Hang often has to work late. Many times she mentioned her husband who always understands and helps her with the family chores.

Women who work in science have a lot of hardships, but I'm lucky to have a family that always supports me. After stressful working days, hearing the voice of my children, a lot of anxiety and fatigue disappears. Even though my children are small, they understand my hard work and tell me to take care of my health," she said.

She also said that her research group had many very young students. Everyone considers each other like family and the previous generation guided the following generation to contribute to the society.

VNS

The father of Made-in-Vietnam SARS-CoV-2 test kit inspires others Major Dr Hoang Xuan Su has played a key role in developing Vietnams SARS-CoV-2 test kit. He is one of 14 people nominated by VietNamNet as Inspiring Characters.
A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Prices of dwellings in housing companies 2021, April

Published: 30 March 2021

Prices of old dwellings in housing companies rose by 3.4 per cent in Greater Helsinki in February

According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, prices of old dwellings in housing companies rose by 3.4 per cent in Greater Helsinki in February compared with the previous year. In the rest of the country prices fell by 0.9 per cent. Compared to January, prices went up in Greater Helsinki by 1.2 per cent and in the rest of the country by 1.5 per cent. In February, 18 per cent more transactions of old dwellings in housing companies were made through real estate agents than one year ago.

Development of prices of old dwellings in housing companies by month 20152021M02, index 2015=100

Compared with the corresponding period of the year before, prices of old dwellings in housing companies rose in Southern Finland and fell in other major regions.

Development of prices of old dwellings in housing companies by month in major regions 20152021M02, index 2015=100

According to preliminary data, prices rose from February 2020 in all large towns.

Development of prices of old dwellings in housing companies by month in large cities in 2015 to 2021M02, index 2015=100

According to the available data, the value of dwelling transactions was nearly EUR 17 billion last year (preliminary data). Altogether 46 per cent of the value was generated in Greater Helsinki. The six largest towns accounted for 62 per cent of the value. Data on 96,800 dwelling transactions made in 2020 are available to Statistics Finland. Data on the value and number of dwelling transactions are not comparable with earlier years due to data changes.

Prices per square metre of old dwellings in housing companies, February 2021 1)

Area Price, EUR/m Index 2015=100 Monthly change, % Yearly change, % Whole country 2,171 105.0 1.4 1.2 Greater Helsinki 3,849 116.0 1.2 3.4 Rest of the country (whole country - Greater Helsinki) 1,676 95.4 1.5 -0.9 Satellite municipalities 2) 1,859 97.8 2.3 2.3 Helsinki 4,403 121.4 1.7 4.0 Espoo-Kauniainen 3,578 107.9 -0.3 1.9 Vantaa 2,838 106.2 1.7 3.1 Tampere 2,777 113.5 3.7 4.0 Turku 2,344 116.8 -0.7 0.2 Oulu 1,908 105.0 7.8 3.4

1) Preliminary data2) Satellite municipalities = Hyvinkaa, Jarvenpaa, Kerava, Kirkkonummi, Nurmijarvi, Riihimaki, Sipoo, Tuusula and Vihti

The statistics on the prices of old dwellings in housing companies are based on the Tax Administration's data on dwellings (data on ownership of dwellings in housing companies). The numbers published from data on dwellings should not be used to assess the activeness of transactions in the latest periods.

When the monthly statistics on prices of old dwellings in housing companies are published for the first time, they cover approximately 60 per cent of all transactions made in the latest statistical reference month. The monthly data become revised during the following months so that the final data for the year are published in the release concerning the first quarter of the following year. Further information about data revisions can be found in separate tables.

The numbers of old dwellings in housing companies sold through real estate agents are based on the data from the price monitoring service of the Central Federation of Finnish Real Estate Agencies. As a rule, these data do not become revised retrospectively.

Data on prices of dwellings in housing companies in different areas and by house type are available at stat.fi/til/ashi/tau_en.html. The tables also contain data on the prices per square metre at the municipal and postal code levels and on the numbers of transactions. If only a few transactions are known in the area, a couple of deviating cases may significantly affect the average price for an area and the price index. Instead of individual monthly and annual changes, the development of prices should be examined over a longer time period and not only for a particular point in time.

Source: Prices of dwellings in housing companies, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Petri Kettunen 029 551 3558, Elina Vuorio 029 551 3385, asuminen.hinnat@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

Publication in pdf-format (365.6 kB)

Updated 30.3.2021

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Prices of dwellings in housing companies [e-publication].

ISSN=2323-8801. February 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 4.6.2021].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ashi/2021/02/ashi_2021_02_2021-03-30_tie_001_en.html
[March 30, 2021] White Oak Healthcare Finance Closes Financing to Support the Acquisition of ViaQuest

White Oak Healthcare Finance, LLC ("White Oak") announced today that it acted as sole lender and administrative agent on the funding of a senior credit facility for ViaQuest Holdings, Ltd. and affiliates ("ViaQuest") to support the acquisition by Council Capital, a Nashville based private equity fund. ViaQuest is a provider of services for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities ("I/DD"), hospice services, and other behavioral health services to individuals. "The market for residential and community-based care has steadily grown as individuals are directed to the lowest cost and least restrictive care settings and payors continue to direct people with I/DD away from institutions and into home and community settings," said Ross Eldridge, EVP and Chief Originations Officer at White Oak. "We very much believe in the continuum of care the company provides and are excited to partner with Council Capital given their depth of experience in the space." Founded in 1999, ViaQuest provides community-based services and support to individuals with I/DD, hospice care, behavioral and mental health services and home health services. ViaQuest delivers care tailored to patients' and their family's individual needs and circumstances. Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, ViaQuest provides services in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. "In addition to providing us with a compelling financing package, White Oak's flexibility and knowledge of I/DD and healthcare services were unique and helpful," said Eric Keen, General Partner at Council Capital. "White Oak did an exceptional job creating a facility that will provide ViaQuest flexibility to support its continued expansion." About ViaQuest Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, ViaQuest offers quality, highly-personalized, specialized and cost-effective care, solutions and services in I/DD, hospice care and behaviral and mental health. More information can be found at www.viaquestinc.com.



About White Oak Healthcare Finance White Oak Healthcare Finance, LLC, an affiliate of White Oak Global Advisors, LLC, 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. About Council Capital Council Capital is a healthcare-focused private equity firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. Council Capital invests in lower middle market healthcare-related companies where it can drive growth by applying its Council Model, which draws upon the resources and experience of its CEO Council (experienced industry executives), Strategic Healthcare Investors, and Value Creation Team. Council Capital leverages its Council Model to attract and support leading management teams and portfolio companies on the 'right side' of change in the healthcare industry - where growth will accelerate as cost pressure and quality demands increase. Council Capital targets control and minority investments with enterprise values between $10 million and $75 million. More information can be found at www.councilcapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005115/en/

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Suez Canal Reopens After Stuck Cargo Ship is Freed

By The Associated Press

SUEZ, EGYPT - Salvage teams on Monday finally freed the colossal container ship stuck for nearly a week in the Suez Canal, ending a crisis that had clogged one of the worlds most vital waterways and halted billions of dollars a day in maritime commerce.A flotilla of tugboats, helped by the tides, wrenched the bulbous bow of the skyscraper-sized Ever Given from the canals sandy bank, where it had been firmly lodged since March 23.The tugs blared their horns in jubilation as they guided the Ever Given through the water after days of futility that had captivated the world, drawing scrutiny and social media ridicule.We pulled it off! said Peter Berdowski, CEO of Boskalis, the salvage firm hired to extract the Ever Given. I am excited to announce that our team of experts, working in close collaboration with the Suez Canal Authority, successfully refloated the Ever Given  thereby making free passage through the Suez Canal possible again.Navigation in the canal resumed at 6 p.m. local time (1600 GMT, noon EDT) said Lt. Gen. Osama Rabei, head of the Suez Canal Authority, adding that the first ships that were moving carried livestock. From the city of Suez, ships stacked with containers could be seen exiting the canal into the Red Sea.At least 113 of over 420 vessels that had waited for Ever Given to be freed are expected to cross the canal by Tuesday morning, Rabei added at a news conference.Analysts expect it could take at least another 10 days to clear the backlog on either end.The Ever Given sailed to the Great Bitter Lake, a wide stretch of water halfway between the north and south ends of the canal, for inspection, said Evergreen Marine Corp., a Taiwan-based shipping company that operates the ship.Buffeted by a sandstorm, the Ever Given had crashed into a bank of a single-lane stretch of the canal about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) north of the southern entrance, near the city of Suez. That created a massive traffic jam that held up $9 billion a day in global trade and strained supply chains already burdened by the coronavirus pandemic.Rabei said an investigation would determine why the Ever Given got stuck, and he estimated daily losses to the canal of between $12 million to $15 million.The Suez Canal is not guilty of what happened. We are the ones who suffered damage. he said.At least 367 vessels, carrying everything from crude oil to cattle, had backed up to wait to traverse the canal. Dozens of others have taken the long, alternate route around the Cape of Good Hope at Africas southern tip  a 5,000-kilometer (3,100-mile) detour that costs ships hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel and other costs.The canal is a source of national pride and crucial revenue for Egypt, and President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi praised Monday's events after days of silence about the blockage.Egyptians have succeeded in ending the crisis, he wrote on Facebook, despite the massive technical complexity.In the village of Amer, which overlooks the canal, residents cheered as the vessel moved along. Many scrambled to get a closer look while others mockingly waved goodbye to the departing ship from their fields of cloverMission accomplished, villager Abdalla Ramadan said. The whole world is relieved.The U.S. Embassy in Cairo tweeted its congratulations to Egypt.The breakthrough followed days of immense effort with an elite salvage team from the Netherlands. Tugboats pushed and pulled to budge the behemoth from the shore, their work buoyed by high tide at dawn Monday that led to the vessel's partial refloating. Specialized dredgers dug out the stern and vacuumed sand and mud from beneath the bow.The operation was extremely delicate. While the Ever Given was stuck, the rising and falling tides put stress on the vessel, which is 400 meters (a quarter mile) long, raising concerns it could crack.Rabei praised the team, saying they achieved a very difficult mission in record time, without damaging the vessel or its cargo.Berdowski told Dutch radio station NPO 1 the company had always believed it would be the two powerful tugboats it sent that would free the ship. Monday's strong tide helped push the ship at the top while we pulled at the bottom and luckily it shot free, he said.We were helped enormously by the strong falling tide we had this afternoon. In effect, you have the forces of nature pushing hard with you and they pushed harder than the two sea tugs could pull, Berdowski added.The crew on the tugs was euphoric, but there also was a tense moment when the huge ship was floating free so then you have to get it under control very quickly with the tugs around it so that it doesnt push itself back into the other side of the canal, he said.Jubilant workers on a tugboat sailing with the Ever Given chanted, Mashhour, No. 1, referring to the dredger that worked around the vessel. The dredger is named for Mashhour Ahmed Mashhour, assigned to run the canal with others when it was nationalized in 1956 by President Gamal Abdel-Nasser.Once the Ever Given is inspected in Great Bitter Lake, officials will decide whether the Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned ship hauling goods from Asia to Europe would continue to its original destination of Rotterdam or head to another port for repairs.The crisis cast a spotlight on the vital trade route that carries over 10% of global trade, including 7% of the worlds oil. Over 19,000 ships ferrying Chinese-made consumer goods and millions of barrels of oil and liquified natural gas flow through the artery from the Middle East and Asia to Europe and North America.The unprecedented shutdown, which raised fears of extended delays, goods shortages and rising costs for consumers, has prompted new questions about the shipping industry, an on-demand supplier for a world under pressure from the pandemic.Weve gone to this fragile, just-in-time shipping that we saw absolutely break down in the beginning of COVID, said Capt. John Konrad, the founder and CEO of the shipping news website gcaptain.com. We used to have big, fat warehouses in all the countries where the factories pulled supplies.  Now these floating ships are the warehouse.International trade expert Jeffrey Bergstrand predicted only a minor and transitory effect" on prices of U.S. imports."Since most of the imports blocked over the last week are heading to Europe, U.S. consumers will likely see little effect on prices of U.S. imports, except to the extent that intermediate products of U.S. final goods are made in Europe, said Bergstrand, professor of finance at the University of Notre Dames Mendoza College of Business.
The National Labor Relations Board is currently deliberating on whether or not to sanction the efforts by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) to unionize 87 tool and die maintenance workers at Japanese-owned automaker Nissans manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee. The attempt to unionize a micro-unit at the factory, which employs about 4,300 workers, follows two previously failed union votes by the United Auto Workers union (UAW) at the plant since its opening in 1983.

Nissan Sign (Creative Commons)

The IAM unionization effort at Nissan Smyrna takes place as significant sections of the political establishmentfrom Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, to the Biden administration, to right-wing Republicans such as Florida Senator Marco Rubioalong with the corporate media are going all out to promote a union drive at Amazons Bessemer, Alabama, fulfillment center. Fearful of the emerging social opposition among workers and the potential for a rebellion from below, the ruling class is making aggressive and unprecedented efforts to prop up the trade unions, recognizing the role that the unions play in ensuring labor peace and containing workers struggles.

The record of previous union drives by the UAW and IAM in the South in recent decades holds important lessons for workers at both Nissan and Amazon.

In 1989, and again in 2001, workers at the Smyrna factory overwhelmingly rejected the overtures of the UAW despite significant issues inside the plant, including rising injury rates and a lack of benefits. Other attempts in the 1990s were abandoned by the union due to a lack of support. The UAW also suffered a major defeat at Nissans plant in Canton, Mississippi, in 2017.

Similar to the current tactic of the IAM to organize just a small section of workers at Smyrna, the UAW previously attempted union certification among 160 skilled trades maintenance workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, winning a vote in 2015, following its defeat in a plant-wide vote in 2014. However, VW challenged the outcome on legal grounds, stating the union must cover all workers in the plant, and the UAW dropped its defense of the case before the NLRB. It was then rebuffed by workers at the Chattanooga factory a second time in 2019, again losing a plant-wide vote.

In each case, autoworkers saw little need to bring in and pay dues to an organization which has developed increasingly intimate and corrupt relations with the Detroit Three auto companies, with the UAW overseeing an accelerating decline in autoworkers living standards, the closure of dozens of plants, and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of jobs over the last 40 years. At the same time, workers at Nissan, a so-called foreign transplant, may have been rightly disturbed by the anti-Japanese chauvinism relentlessly promoted by the UAW.

The role of the IAM has also been treacherous, most notably imposing painful concessions on workers at heavy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar in 2012 and on Boeing aircraft workers in 2013 and 2014.

The IAMs pro-corporate record has thus similarly hampered its ability to expand its presence in the South. At a major aircraft production plant in North Charleston, South Carolina, then owned by Vought, the IAM won union recognition in 2007. Workers later voted to decertify the union in 2009 after learning that IAM officials cut a sweetheart deal with Boeing, which had purchased the plant in 2008. The deal contained sweeping concessions in exchange for continuing union recognition. The IAM later attempted to access the plant again in 2017 and was soundly rejected.

Nissan is just one of a number of companies to set up manufacturing operations in the US South in order to access the regions lavish tax incentives and abundance of cheap labor. Today the $7.1 billion Smyrna facility remains the companys flagship North American operation, with over 6,000 full-time and contracted production and maintenance workers building six different models. The plant has one of the highest outputs in the US, with 640,000 vehicles produced annually. Nissans North American headquarters is located in nearby Franklin, Tennessee.

In recent years, the companys profits have steadily declined as a result of the growing slump in auto sales up till 2020, which was then exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led the automaker to increase the exploitation of workers at its factories. Last year, Nissan shuttered three of its factories in Barcelona, Spain, upending the lives of some 23,000 workers and provoking bitter strikes, which were ultimately shut down and betrayed by the unions, which sanctioned the closure of the plants.

At the Smyrna factory, workers who spoke with the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter described a regime of brutal work schedules which included forced overtime and what one worker described as last minute time, that is, workers are given set hours and then at the last minute are forced to work beyond their scheduled shift.

The last minute extra time is daily, and the mandatory overtime had become that way prior to the ongoing shortage of auto semiconductors, the worker stated. On March 19, Nissan announced that it was idling three of its North American facilities, including the Smyrna factory, due to the semiconductor shortage.

Another worker who has been at the plant for 18 years described regular demands for speedup and resulting injuries, saying, Up until recently, car systems has been working 10.5 hours a day, six days a week. Weve been doing that the whole month of March. They said it was basically due to the week that we lost [from the winter storms], and our fiscal year ends at the end of the month so we had to ramp up production and hours to try and meet their targets for the year.

Weve had a lot of people starting to get injured. Im somebody whos being seen about some issues with my elbow. Ive never really had an issue with injuries until we started working these long days. I go home every day and ice both of my elbows and my shoulder.

Discussing the number of COVID-19 cases inside the plant, the worker said, Currently, the last number I saw was maybe 16. It had gotten up to as many as 103. Im not buying those numbers, Ive never bought them. When asked if he thought the cases were actually much higher, he replied, I do. When it comes to numbers, I dont trust anything about that place.

There are undoubtedly many pressing reasons for workers at Nissan to desire to organize to defend their interests. In 2016, a 46-year-old worker was crushed while repairing machinery at the Smyrna plant. Hypocritically proclaiming concern for the well-being of its employees, Nissan contested even the paltry $29,000 citation levied by the state health and safety agency following its investigation of the death.

While workers need collective organization, the trade unions have demonstrated that they are incapable of any longer defending workers health and safety, let alone advancing their interests. From the UAW, to the IAM, to the American Federation of Teachers and their counterparts worldwide, the unions have spent decades integrating themselves into the structures of corporate management and the state, and have loyally enforced the reopening of workplaces and schools during the deadly pandemic, placing corporate profits over the lives of workers.

New organizations that are democratically controlled by workers are required. Rank-and-file safety committees, independent of the unions, have been formed by a growing number of autoworkers, teachers and Amazon workers in collaboration with the WSWS and the Socialist Equality Party over the past year. These organizations assert that workers health and interests must take precedence over any consideration of profit, and are working to expand across industries and workplaces, preparing a fight back for the rights of the working class internationally. We encourage Nissan workers interested in forming their own rank-and-file committee to contact us today.
[March 30, 2021] Klaviyo Unveils New Marketing Automation Innovations with Personalized Benchmarks Tool and Conversational SMS

Today at the company's virtual product launch event, Klaviyo, the leading customer data and marketing automation platform, unveiled two new products to support the growth and success of its customers, Personalized Benchmarks and Conversational SMS. Personalized Benchmarks is a tool that offers merchants data-driven insights on marketing efforts, comparing performance to their peers, and offers tangible recommendations for improvement. A new version of Klaviyo's conversational SMS marketing platform helps online brands to communicate with customers in fast, casual format. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005076/en/ Klaviyo platform enhancements (Graphic: Business Wire) "We continually use data to inform and evolve our technology, guiding retailers to better performance and results. Because our platform can bring in and analyze massive amounts of data from ecommerce platforms and about customer engagement, brands are able to create personalized experiences and improve the customer experience," said Andrew Bialecki, co-founder and CEO of Klaviyo. "Benchmarking how you are doing against your peers gives relevant insight into where real possibilities lie. Being able to communicate with customers on the platform they prefer helps to deepen frequency and quality of engagement." Benchmarks for Growth The Personalized Benchmarks tool is built natively into Klaviyo' platform and evaluates the performance of online businesses in comparison to other similar brands. The function was born out of customer requests asking for performance feedback. Previously solved manually via customer service representatives, Klaviyo developed technology to automate and scale these data-driven insights.



Data is aggregated from Klaviyo's more than 65,000 global customers, which span from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. A report is created keeping other brands' identities anonymous and is customized for merchants based on six key business attributes: industry, average price point, revenue, growth rate, channel, and frequency. The metrics are delivered via Klaviyo's Benchmarks dashboard and offer visibility into where individual businesses are performing strongest, and where there are opportunities for improvement. The tool also offers suggested courses of action. Merchants can better understand how they competitively fare on average order values, open rates, click-throughs and abandoned carts, which can be used to inform and prioritize future marketing efforts. "Comparing your brand to others within your cohort is essential," continued Bialecki. "A small business with less than 50 SKUs looking at data and best practices from a Fortune 500 company with thousands of SKUs is irrelevant and useless. By providing a true benchmark, online merchants can make smart decisions and deliver positive results."

Omni-Channel Customer Engagement Klaviyo empowers entrepreneurs and online businesses to deliver customer experiences that produce measurable results - without relying on platforms like Facebook (News - Alert) or Amazon. Klaviyo provides direct access to customer data in a single source and allows brands to communicate via multiple channels such as email and SMS from one intuitive platform. Klaviyo's SMS marketing product was introduced in 2020 to allow e-commerce retailers a faster, more intimate way to reach customers and initiate conversations when they are most likely to engage with the brand. Today, the addition of Conversations improves the mobile-first experience and further personalizes brand and customer exchanges over SMS. The feature allows real-time text responses within the platform, so retailers don't need to move between various software dashboards to collect information and respond. The functionality is built-in, with data and action residing together on the platform. Additional Text Messaging updates include: Privacy + Consent helps brands comply with data privacy regulations and only communicate with customers that have opted in to receive SMS.

helps brands comply with data privacy regulations and only communicate with customers that have opted in to receive SMS. Performance Measurement + Attribution alleviates the pain point of managing multiple systems across email and SMS and allows better tracking of how and where to attribute credit for the purchase to the last communication received.

alleviates the pain point of managing multiple systems across email and SMS and allows better tracking of how and where to attribute credit for the purchase to the last communication received. Data Processing + Segmentation Logic mirrors what is used for email, offering fast, precise information to build lists informed by website visit and purchase history.

mirrors what is used for email, offering fast, precise information to build lists informed by website visit and purchase history. Text Message Editor includes images, emojis and a simple toggle to easily put together compelling messages. The one-click personalization can pull up all the data in a customer profile to inform relevant real-time responses.

includes images, emojis and a simple toggle to easily put together compelling messages. The one-click personalization can pull up all the data in a customer profile to inform relevant real-time responses. Flexible Delivery includes both short and long code sending number types and automatically provisions a toll-free number for every business on the platform. Throughput is automatically adjusted to scale without delivery delays and Klaviyo works with every major and minor U.S. network.

includes both short and long code sending number types and automatically provisions a toll-free number for every business on the platform. Throughput is automatically adjusted to scale without delivery delays and Klaviyo works with every major and minor U.S. network. Mobile- Optimized Forms are more intuitive to interact with on a phone, streamlining display functions and automating cut/paste functions for one-tap subscriptions. For example, an input box collecting a phone number will display a keypad, not a full keyboard. Headquartered in Boston, Klaviyo employs more than 600 people. It has raised $358.5 million in funding to date, from lead investors Summit Partners and Accel. Klaviyo continues its rapid growth through R&D, hiring, increased sales, customer support and international expansion. ABOUT KLAVIYO Klaviyo is a world-leading marketing automation platform dedicated to accelerating revenue and customer connection for online businesses. Klaviyo makes it easy to store, access, analyze and use transactional and behavioral data to power highly targeted customer and prospect communications. The company's hybrid customer-data and marketing-platform model allows companies to grow by fostering direct relationships with customers, without giving up their valuable data to Facebook or Amazon. In 2020, Klaviyo reached coveted unicorn status with a robust Series C of $200m at $4.15B valuation. Over 65,000 innovative companies like Unilever, Custom Ink, and Huckberry sell more with Klaviyo. Learn more at www.klaviyo.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005076/en/

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Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd stepped out in Manchester on Tuesday after revealing he has an eating disorder.

The actor, 33, best known for playing David Platt, was seen heading out at Media City in Salford where the ITV soap is filmed, after slamming a vicious troll on Twitter who claimed he needed a 'good feed.'

Jack had called out the vile social media user in January who accused him of being 'far too thin'.

Out and about: Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd, 33, has stepped out in Manchester after revealing he has an eating disorder

Jack sported a casual red and white paisley printed shirt as he grabbed lunch in the Corrie filming complex, listening to music as he strolled along.

The actor had angrily responded to a nasty troll who tweeted: 'Wise up....he.looks like someone who could do with a good feed', adding that Jack is 'far too thin' and that he 'doesn't look great'.

Jack then bravely shared details of his secret eating disorder and sarcastically thanked them for 'being nice'.

He tweeted on 22 January: 'I have an eating disorder. Thank you for being nice.'

Outing; The actor was seen heading out at Media City in Salford where the ITV soap is filmed, after slamming a vicious troll on Twitter who claimed he needed a 'good feed'

Low-key: As England basked in a surprise March heatwave, Jack sported a red and white paisley printed shirt along with black jeans and trainers

Speaking out: Jack revealed he had an eating disorder as he slammed a vicious troll on Twitter

Open: He braved shared details of his eating disorder and sarcastically thanked the troll for 'being nice'

Trolls: He is best known for playing David Platt on Corrie, a role he's played since 2000 (pictured in December soap still)

Busy: Jack seemed focused on his phone as he headed out in the sunshine during a break from his busy Corrie filming schedule

Vile: The vicious troll had tweeted: 'Wise up....he.looks like someone who could do with a good feed', to which Jack replied: 'I have an eating disorder. Thank you for being nice'

To which one of Jack's followers praised the actor for raising awareness and speaking out.

They put: 'Well done on speaking out , however you shouldnt have to explain yourself. Ppl to quick to judge to fat / to thin etc x.'

While a different account added: 'Good on you for speaking out. I do too and you've inspired me to say it out loud.'

MailOnline has contacted Jack's representative for further comment.

Jack has previously spoke about problems in his life and in September he revealed that he had undergone a second hair transplant after his thinning locks put a strain on his mental health.

The soap actor underwent his first transplant in 2019, when he admitted that his hair loss had taken a toll on his health to the point that he almost quit the soap and 'considered giving up acting'.

Pictured: Jack is pictured as his character David Platt in a Coronation Street still in January

Praise: One of Jack's followers praised the actor for raising awareness and speaking out about his eating disorder

Support: While a different account added: 'Good on you for speaking out. I do too and you've inspired me to say it out loud.'

He wrote at the time: '9 months its been since my hair transplant, I decided to get one as my hair was falling out and it was affecting my mental health to the point where I considered giving up acting and not being in the public eye.'

He added: 'Thank you @drasimshahmalak @CrownClinicUK for everything.'

Jack had previously stated he was convinced to have a transplant after his hair loss became more noticeable on-screen.

He said at the time: 'I decided to have it done because my hair loss has really escalated in the last year, particularly at the front of my scalp. I remember seeing myself on screen and thinking: ''Oh my God, it is really falling out''.'

Candid: Jack has previously spoke about problems in his life and in September he revealed that he had undergone a second hair transplant after his thinning locks put a strain on his mental health (before, left, and right, after, in 2019 after his first hair transplant)

Sad: The soap actor underwent his first transplant in 2019, when he admitted that his hair loss had taken a toll on his health to the point that he almost quit the soap and 'considered giving up acting'

'One of my mates had a transplant and he looked so much better afterwards that I didn't recognise him. I was blown away by the improvement and he told me he wished he had done it earlier.'

Jack added: 'I thought if I am going to do it, I should act now so that I can get the benefits for longer.

'I want to get my hair back to what it was like before so that I can style it at the front any way that I like. It would great to be in a position to have an Elvis quiff and really have some fun with my hair.'

Smitten: The actor has been dating Hanni Treweek (pictured 2018) since 2017, following his split from fiancee Lauren Shippey after 15 years together. They share son Reuben and daughter Nyla

The actor has been dating Hanni Treweek since 2017, following his split from fiancee Lauren Shippey after 15 years together. They share son Reuben and daughter Nyla.

Jack has become a firm Coronation Street favourite since he debuted on the soap 21 years ago - winning a British Soap Award for Best Actor in 2018, though he appeared to be a teen tearaway of sorts in the early years.

Along with ruining his sister Sarah's first wedding, David was later revealed to be sending birthday cards to his mum but pretended they were from her murderous dead husband Richard Hillman.

Then and now: Jack has become a firm Coronation Street favourite since he debuted on the soap 21 years ago - winning a British Soap Award for Best Actor in 2018 (pictured in 2000 left, and 2018, right)

Emotional: In 2016 he was left devastated when his onscreen wife Kylie was stabbed and died in his arms (pictured in soap still)

He also had a brief romance with Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) the late Noughties, but it was brought to screeching halt when he learned she decided to abort his unborn baby.

After marrying Kylie Turner in 2011, he was caught up in a feud with her ex-partner Callum, and even helped his wife to cover up his murder.

Following Kylie's death by stabbing in 2016, David went through an even worse ordeal when he was raped by Josh Tucker, but eventually found happiness again when he married Shona Ramsey - though their romance has been rocky as of late.

For help call Beat on 0808 801 0677 or visit www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk.

Dark: David also suffered a horrific ordeal when he was raped by Josh Tucker in 2018, in a storyline which was praised by viewers (pictured in soap still)
Ending the 10-year conflict in Syria is the collective responsibility of the international community, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reaffirmed during a major pledging event on Tuesday co-chaired by the UN and the European Union

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Mar, 2021 ) :Ending the 10-year conflict in Syria is the collective responsibility of the international community, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reaffirmed during a major pledging event on Tuesday co-chaired by the UN and the European Union.

"After a decade of war, many Syrians have lost confidence that the international community can help them forge an agreed path out of the conflict. I am convinced that we still can, along with the Syrian parties themselves", he said in a video message to the fifth Brussels Conference.

The virtual gathering aimed to raise $4.2 billion for people inside Syria and $5.8 billion for refugees and host countries in the region.

The UN chief pressed Governments to step up their financial and humanitarian commitments to Syrians and to the nations that have provided shelter to millions fleeing the conflict.

"The war in Syria is not only Syria's war", he stressed. "Ending it, and the tremendous suffering it continues to cause, is our collective responsibility." This year, more than 13 million people inside Syria will require humanitarian assistance, which represents a 20 per cent increase over 2020, the UN chief said. Another 10.5 million Syrian refugees and host communities in the region will also need support.

"Syria's economy has been ravaged and now the impacts of COVID-19 have made things worse. Almost half of all families lost their source of income", he added. "Nine in ten Syrians are living in poverty." The Secretary-General said the UN will be "relentless" in pursuing a negotiated political settlement to the conflict, in line with Security Council Resolution 2254, which also calls for a ceasefire.

His Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, reported that although the situation on the ground has been relatively calm, with stable frontlines for over a year now, peace remains elusive.

"In a context where military tensions remain high and frequent eruptions of violence continue to occur, where hospitals and civilians are still getting hit, and where five foreign armies operate in proximity from one another, flames can ignite anew at any time", he said, speaking from Oslo.

"Progressing towards the nationwide ceasefire that Security Council resolution 2254 has called for, remains more urgent than ever." Pedersen and his team are continuing their engagement, including towards facilitating the next session of the Constitutional Committee, one of the issues outlined in the UN Resolution.

"Above all, what is required today to be able to respond to the staggering challenges facing Syria and the aspirations of its people to achieve peace is indeed international unity", he said.

"Unity in pledging the necessary financial support, of course. Unity in backing the efforts of the UN to facilitate the implementation of all aspects of resolution 2254. And unity in promoting the identification of mutual and reciprocal steps that will enable progress to that end." Throughout March, the UN has been commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Syrian war. Parallel to the pledging conference, the UN General Assembly in New York held an informal meeting looking at the humanitarian situation and human rights in the country.

Assembly President Volkan Bozkir told ambassadors the crisis has left specific groups especially vulnerable, including children, some of whom have been forced to work so that their families can survive.

"For girls, the situation is even worse as they are being forced into early marriage; and are thus likely to never return to a classroom, and to experience gender-based violence in their adult life, just as the current generation of Syrian women have", he said.

The UN and its partners continue to provide relief amid the crisis. Last year, they delivered aid to more than seven million people a month. But as Mr. Bozkir observed, this sometimes comes at great cost as 14 humanitarian workers have been killed in northwest Syria over the past 14 months.

Ending the 10-year conflict in Syria is the collective responsibility of the international community, Secretary-General Antanio Guterres reaffirmed during a major pledging event on Tuesday co-chaired by the UN and the European Union.

"After a decade of war, many Syrians have lost confidence that the international community can help them forge an agreed path out of the conflict. I am convinced that we still can, along with the Syrian parties themselves", he said in a video message to the fifth Brussels Conference.

The virtual gathering aimed to raise $4.2 billion for people inside Syria and $5.8 billion for refugees and host countries in the region.

The UN chief pressed Governments to step up their financial and humanitarian commitments to Syrians and to the nations that have provided shelter to millions fleeing the conflict.

"The war in Syria is not only Syria's war", he stressed. "Ending it, and the tremendous suffering it continues to cause, is our collective responsibility." This year, more than 13 million people inside Syria will require humanitarian assistance, which represents a 20 per cent increase over 2020, the UN chief said. Another 10.5 million Syrian refugees and host communities in the region will also need support.

"Syria's economy has been ravaged and now the impacts of COVID-19 have made things worse. Almost half of all families lost their source of income", he continued. "Nine in ten Syrians are living in poverty." The Secretary-General said the UN will be "relentless" in pursuing a negotiated political settlement to the conflict, in line with Security Council Resolution 2254, which also calls for a ceasefire.

His Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, reported that although the situation on the ground has been relatively calm, with stable frontlines for over a year now, peace remains elusive.

"In a context where military tensions remain high and frequent eruptions of violence continue to occur, where hospitals and civilians are still getting hit, and where five foreign armies operate in proximity from one another, flames can ignite anew at any time", he said, speaking from Oslo.

"Progressing towards the nationwide ceasefire that Security Council resolution 2254 has called for, remains more urgent than ever." Pedersen and his team are continuing their engagement, including towards facilitating the next session of the Constitutional Committee, one of the issues outlined in the UN Resolution.

"Above all, what is required today to be able to respond to the staggering challenges facing Syria and the aspirations of its people to achieve peace is indeed international unity", he said.

"Unity in pledging the necessary financial support, of course. Unity in backing the efforts of the UN to facilitate the implementation of all aspects of resolution 2254. And unity in promoting the identification of mutual and reciprocal steps that will enable progress to that end." Throughout March, the UN has been commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Syrian war. Parallel to the pledging conference, the UN General Assembly in New York held an informal meeting looking at the humanitarian situation and human rights in the country.

General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir told ambassadors the crisis has left specific groups especially vulnerable, including children, some of whom have been forced to work so that their families can survive.

"For girls, the situation is even worse as they are being forced into early marriage; and are thus likely to never return to a classroom, and to experience gender-based violence in their adult life, just as the current generation of Syrian women have", he said.

The UN and its partners continue to provide relief amid the crisis. Last year, they delivered aid to more than seven million people a month. But as Bozkir observed, this sometimes comes at great cost as 14 humanitarian workers have been killed in northwest Syria over the past 14 months.
Within Massachusetts classrooms, teacher salaries vary widely.

This is due to a mix of a teachers education level, experience and the districts salary levels, set in part by cost of living in the community.

Data from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shows the top districts pay teachers above $100,000, on average. The lowest pays under $50,000.

The average salary for a teacher in Massachusetts is $82,349, one of the highest state averages in the nation.

Massachusetts is consistently ranked among the top states for education. Half of Massachusetts public high schools were ranked in the top quarter of the national rankings  the highest proportion of any state - in U.S. News and World Reports 2020 list of the best high schools in the nation.

Below is a look at the lowest paying public school districts across the state during the 2018-2019 school year. Click here to see the highest paying school districts.

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50. Holyoke Public Schools

Average salary: $70,373

Total spent on salaries: $27,368,154

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 389

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49. Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District

Average salary: $70,364

Total spent on salaries: $11,448,289

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 163

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48. Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District

Average salary: $70,362

Total spent on salaries: $9,062,677

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 129

______________________________________

47. Richmond Public Schools (tie)

Average salary: $70,298

Total spent on salaries: $1,511,406

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 22

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47. West Springfield Public Schools (tie)

Average salary: $70,228

Total spent on salaries: $22,929,387

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 327

______________________________________

46. Lee Public Schools

Average salary: $70,126

Total spent on salaries: $4,915,864

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 70

______________________________________

45. Chelsea Public Schools

Average salary: $70,126

Total spent on salaries: $30,076,840

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 429

______________________________________

44. Carver Public Schools

Average salary: $70,060

Total spent on salaries: $8,799,597

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 126

______________________________________

43. Oxford Public Schools

Average salary: $69,980

Total spent on salaries: $8,607,546

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 123

______________________________________

42. Ludlow Public Schools

Average salary: $69,967

Total spent on salaries: $15,798,501

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 226

______________________________________

41. Southampton Public Schools

Average salary: $69,939

Total spent on salaries: $2,685,642

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 38

______________________________________

40. Easthampton Public Schools

Average salary: $69,804

Total spent on salaries: $8,139,118

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 117

______________________________________

39. Hadley Public Schools

Average salary: $69,745

Total spent on salaries: $3,487,233

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 50

______________________________________

38. Randolph Public Schools

Average salary: $69,527

Total spent on salaries: $17,367,824

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 250

______________________________________

37. Quaboag Regional School District

Average salary: $69,260

Total spent on salaries: $7,002,183

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 101

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36. Acushnet Public Schools

Average salary: $69,108

Total spent on salaries: $5,217,686

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 76

______________________________________

35. Mohawk Trail Regional School District

Average salary: $68,471

Total spent on salaries: $5,950,137

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 87

______________________________________

34. North Adams Public Schools

Average salary: $67,864

Total spent on salaries: $8,469,479

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 125

______________________________________

33. Pelham Public Schools

Average salary: $67,572

Total spent on salaries: $824,382

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 12

______________________________________

32. Melrose Public Schools

Average salary: $67,136

Total spent on salaries: $18,146,835

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 270

______________________________________

31. Pioneer Valley Regional School District

Average salary: $67,085

Total spent on salaries: $4,092,167

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 61

______________________________________

30. Gardner Public Schools

Average salary: $66,830

Total spent on salaries: $11,902,460

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 178

______________________________________

29. Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District

Average salary: $66,823

Total spent on salaries: $4,103,622

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 61

______________________________________

28. Athol Royalston Regional School District

Average salary: $66,816

Total spent on salaries: $7,109,204

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 106

______________________________________

27. Narragansett Regional School District

Average salary: $66,773

Total spent on salaries: $6,703,975

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 100

______________________________________

26. Smith Vocational Agricultural

Average salary: $66,311

Total spent on salaries: $3,779,717

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 57

______________________________________

25. Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District

Average salary: $65,931

Total spent on salaries: $7,509,490

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 114

______________________________________

24. Pittsfield Public Schools

Average salary: $65,703

Total spent on salaries: $32,188,013

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 490

______________________________________

23. Ware Public Schools

Average salary: $65,106

Total spent on salaries: $5,989,791

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 92

______________________________________

22. Monson Public Schools

Average salary: $64,745

Total spent on salaries: $5,302,584

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 82

______________________________________

21. Ayer Shirley School District

Average salary: $64,689

Total spent on salaries: $8,946,438

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 138

______________________________________

20. New Salem-Wendell Regional School District

Average salary: $64,261

Total spent on salaries: $848,239

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 13

______________________________________

19. Northampton Public Schools

Average salary: $63,789

Total spent on salaries: $14,767,188

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 232

______________________________________

18. Conway Public Schools

Average salary: $63,701

Total spent on salaries: $853,595

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 13

______________________________________

17. North Brookfield Public Schools

Average salary: $63,670

Total spent on salaries: $2,935,201

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 46

______________________________________

16. Leverett

Average salary: $63,415

Total spent on salaries: $1,046,340

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 17

______________________________________

15. Deerfield

Average salary: $63,373

Total spent on salaries: $2,408,174

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 38

______________________________________

14. Gateway Regional School District

Average salary: $63,317

Total spent on salaries: $5,141,335

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 81

______________________________________

13. Gosnold

Average salary: $63,291

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 1

______________________________________

12. Gill-Montague Regional School District

Average salary: $62,213

Total spent on salaries: $5,499,587

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 88

______________________________________

11. Shutesbury

Average salary: $61,243

Total spent on salaries: $1,004,379

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 16

______________________________________

10. Whately

Average salary: $60,928

Total spent on salaries: $767,695

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 13

______________________________________

9. Westhampton

Average salary: $60,698

Total spent on salaries: $892,259

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 15

______________________________________

8. Sunderland

Average salary: $60,428

Total spent on salaries: $1,389,838

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 23

______________________________________

7. Florida

Average salary: $60,036

Total spent on salaries: $588,350

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 10

______________________________________

6. Granby Public Schools

Average salary: $59,115

Total spent on salaries: $3,428,643

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 58

______________________________________

5. Hatfield Public Schools

Average salary: $57,169

Total spent on salaries: $2,343,938

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 41

______________________________________

4. Petersham

Average salary: $54,290

Total spent on salaries: $586,332

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 11

______________________________________

3. Worthington

Average salary: $53,852

Total spent on salaries: $376,966

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 7

______________________________________

2. Farmington River Regional School District

Average salary: $52,975

Total spent on salaries: $678,082

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 13

______________________________________

1. Savoy

Average salary: $41,937

Total spent on salaries: $230,652

FTE (full-time equivalent employees): 6
(Newser)  The Georgia State Patrol lieutenant who arrested a Black state lawmaker as she knocked on Gov. Brian Kemp's door in an attempt to witness him signing controversial new voting restrictions into law says he was concerned about an attack at the state capitol similar to what happened January 6 at the US Capitol. Rep. Park Cannon, a Democrat, refused his orders to stop knocking, the officer says in a 13-page incident report obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With January 6 on his mind, he feared protesters at the capitol would be "emboldened" to follow suit if he did nothing to stop Cannon, he says.

story continues below

He said the "agitated" protesters in the lobby "began to get louder as she was refusing to follow my commands," and that he tried to de-escalate the situation before ultimately handcuffing her and taking her to jail. She's been charged with two felonies, obstruction of law enforcement and preventing or disrupting General Assembly sessions or other meetings, Fox News reports. Other officers say demonstrators tried to breach Kemp's office door after Cannon's arrest, a charge witnesses flatly deny. Cannon led a march at the statehouse Monday that was attended by Martin Luther King III. (Read more Georgia stories.)
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Marilyn Reece, the lead bakery clerk at a Kroger in Batesville, Miss., started noticing more customers walking around the store without masks this month after the state mandate to wear face coverings was repealed. Kroger still requires them, but that doesnt seem to matter.

When Ms. Reece, a 56-year-old breast-cancer survivor, sees those shoppers, she prays. Please, please, dont let me have to wait on them, because in my heart, I dont want to ignore them, I dont want to refuse them, she said. But then Im thinking I dont want to get sick and die, either. Its not that people are bad, but you dont know who theyve come into contact with.

Ms. Reeces heightened anxiety is shared by retail and fast-food workers in states like Mississippi and Texas, where governments have removed mask mandates before a majority of people have been vaccinated and while troubling new variants of the coronavirus are appearing. It feels like a return to the early days of the pandemic, when businesses said customers must wear masks but there was no legal requirement and numerous shoppers simply refused. Many workers say that their stores do not enforce the requirement, and that if they do approach customers, they risk verbal or physical altercations.

Its given a great false sense of security, and its no different now than it was a year ago, said Ms. Reece, who is not yet able to receive a vaccine because of allergies. The only difference we have now is people are getting vaccinated but enough people havent gotten vaccinated that they should have lifted the mandate.
Google is once again extending the availability of longer Meet calls for free users. As things currently stand, you can take part in chats that last up to a full day until the end of June 2021. Back when the company made Meet available for free to Gmail account holders , it waived a 60-minute limit on calls. Initially, Google said it wouldnt reinstate that limit until September 30th, 2020 . It then extended that deadline to March 31st, 2021 . This latest extension moves that timeline toward the start of the summer. Then as now, the extension will help friends and families stay in touch during the pandemic.

Were continuing unlimited #GoogleMeet calls (up to 24 hours) in the free version through June 2021 for Gmail accounts  https://t.co/fqBTmoNPBW pic.twitter.com/Ax0fmbRvqr  Google Workspace (@GoogleWorkspace) March 30, 2021
Earlier this month Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple cuts off China's OFilm over using Uyghur slave labor." The report noted that after a denial, "Apple Inc. has severed ties with Chinese component supplier OFilm Group Co. over allegations its involved in a government program that transfers ethnic minorities from Xinjiang to other parts of the country for work, a person familiar with the matter says."

Yesterday, Chinese company Wingtech Technology issued an announcement that it had reached an agreement with OFILM on the acquisition of the camera business of specific customers. Wingtech Technology will complete the acquisition of the camera business of specific customers of OFILM for RMB2.42 billion (roughly US$368 million).

According to reports, the purchase price is almost 40% off the previous pricing principle of the "Acquisition Intention Agreement," that was agreed to on February 7, prior to the news going public that Apple had dropped OFilm as a camera lens/component supplier.

The company intends to purchase 100% equity of Guangzhou Delta Imaging Technology Co., Ltd. held by OFILM and equipment related to the supply of cameras to specific overseas customers owned by Jiangxi Jingrun Optical Co., Ltd. in cash.

Guangzhou Delta is the production base of the former Sony (China) Co., Ltd. in South China (Guangzhou, China). Its main business is the production and sales of miniature cameras and related components. The South China production base of Sony was acquired by OFILM in 2017 and completed the delivery. It has the industry's top camera module development and packaging technology, and has the qualifications and capabilities to supply the world's first-class smartphone brand customers. It is precisely because of the acquisition of Sonys South China production base that OFILM had entered Apples supply chain and had become its main supplier of cameras.

OFILM's camera business is also the core and the most valuable part of Apple's China industrial chain. Its scarcity and importance are self-evident, and it can be said to be the crown jewel of the entire Apple China industrial chain. It takes at least 2 years to become an Apple supplier. The acquisition of all assets of Oufeiguangs Apple business by Wingtech Technology indicates that Wingtech Technology has already obtained Apples supplier qualification and will soon become one of Apples main suppliers with the help of the new camera business.

According to Wingtech's announcement, the target asset has a professional and efficient technical R&D team and is an important supplier of camera modules for specific overseas customers.
Delaware is opening COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all residents aged 16 and older beginning Tuesday, April 6.

Video Transcript

- [INAUDIBLE] in Delaware announced today that all residents across the State 16 and older will be eligible to get the vaccine Tuesday, April 6. Anyone 16 or older can register on the State's coronavirus vaccination waiting list. That's online. Pharmacies can also begin vaccinating everyone in that group on Tuesday as well. That means all adults in Delaware will be eligible to get the shot weeks ahead of President Biden's target of mid to late April.

Female artistes should take advantage of the Covid-19 induced national lockdown to pursue the perfection of their skills.

Speaking at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe where women in leadership were being celebrated, Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry yesterday said women were inherently creative, skilful and dexterous, but sadly many had not monetised their skills and say they were part of an industry. The celebrations were being held under the theme, "Women in leadership: achieving an equal future in the cultural and creative Industries."

"l implore and challenge women across our nation of Zimbabwe to pursue the perfection of their skills and enter into formal systems of their cultural and creative industries (CCIs) by registering through the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe. Let us put a stop to gender discrimination and gender based violence and let us stand together to support and encourage each other," she said.

Minister Coventry said women faced a plethora of challenges within the cultural and creative industries among them gender discrimination through unwarranted comments and features especially in the modelling and musical genres. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Dr Thokozile Chitepo hoped the Covid-19 lockdown would give many the chance to recollect themselves, create and build a bigger product and service base.

"We encourage women to produce quality goods and services such that the industry can grow within our local and regional market," she said.

Daughter to the late national hero and music icon, Oliver Mtukudzi, Selmor, encouraged fellow female artistes to defy odds and keep working hard.

"We have been doing well as women in arts and l encourage women to continue working hard. It doesn't matter what challenge you are facing, we cry for equity."

Another musician, Rute Mbangwa, said: "Yes it's been a patriarchal society for a long time but we now have the same opportunities so as women we need to grab the opportunities and show what we have to the society. I urge all women to just seize the opportunities."
Maternal Background Info: My daughter lives far away, in a place called Texas. Shes a 20-something who works for a nonprofit, which means her full time salary qualifies her to receive COVID-19 stimulus checks. Its one of the pandemic perks to her job. Correction: Its the only pandemic perk to her job.
No casualties reported amid seven enemy attacks in Donbas JFO staff

Since Tuesday midnight, Russian mercenaries in the area of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in Donbas have violated the ceasefire seven times, the JFO headquarters said on Facebook.

"In particular, near Avdiyivka and Pisky, the Russian occupation forces fired at the positions of the Ukrainian defenders using anti-tank grenade launchers, and in the suburb of Shyrokyne - heavy machine guns," the message says.

Also, not far from the settlements of Prychepylivka and Troyitske, small arms fire was opened.

In addition, in Pavlopil area, the Russian occupation troops carried out engineer installed equipment for their positions.

There are no casualties reported among Ukrainian servicemen.
The portion of Americans who consider themselves members of a church, synagogue or mosque has dropped below 50%, according to a Gallup poll released Monday. It is the first time that has happened since Gallup first asked the question in 1937, when church membership was 73%.

In recent years, data has shown a U.S. shift away from religious institutions and toward general disaffiliation, a trend that analysts say could have major implications for politics, business and how Americans group themselves. In 2020, 47% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque. The polling firm also found that the number of people who said religion was very important to them has fallen to 48%, a new low point in the polling since 2000.

For some Americans, religious membership is seen as a relic of an older generation, said Ryan Burge, an assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University and a pastor in the American Baptist Church. Gallup's data finds that church membership is strongly correlated with age: 66% of American adults born before 1946 belong to a church, compared with 58% of baby boomers, 50% of those in Generation X and 36% of millennials.

Burge said many Christians still attend church but do not consider membership to be important, especially those who attend nondenominational churches. But no matter how researchers measure people's faith - such as attendance, giving, self-identification - Americans' attachment to institutional religion is on the decline.

Burge, who recently published a book about disaffiliating Americans called "The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going," predicts that in the next 30 years, America will not have one dominant religion.

"We have to start thinking about what the world looks like in terms of politics, policy, social service," Burge said. "How do we feed the hungry, clothe the naked when Christians are half of what it was. Who picks up the slack, especially if the government isn't going to?"

The pandemic, which forced most churches to close in March 2020, has caused a major disruption to American religious life, with most people unable to join weekly mass gatherings. However, polls have not found a significant impact on Americans' religiosity in the past year. Americans are more likely than people in other countries to say that their religious faith has become stronger during the pandemic, according to the Pew Research Center.

Tara Isabella Burton, author of "Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World," attributes the national decline in religious affiliation to two major trends among younger Americans. First, she points to broader shifts suggesting a larger distrust of institutions, including police and pharmaceutical companies. Some Americans are disillusioned by the behavior of religious leaders, including the Catholic sex abuse scandal and the strong White evangelical alignment with former president Donald Trump.

The other major trend Burton describes is how people are mixing and matching from various religious traditions to create their own. Many people who do not identify with a particular religious institution still say they believe in God or pray or do things that tend to be associated with faith.

"Why shouldn't I pray or meditate or attend a liturgy? Or perhaps I feel closer to the divine when I can do something privately rather than something that's prescribed for me," she said. "It's my own spin on it."

Younger generations that grew up with the Internet have a different kind of relationship with information, texts and hierarchy, Burton said.

"Existing trends in American religious life were exacerbated by generations that grew up in Internet culture that celebrates ownership, the idea that you can re-create a meme or narrative," she said. "You have ownership over curating your own experience."

Shadi Hamid, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said in a recent essay for The Atlantic that what was once religious belief has been replaced by political belief in many communities.

On the political right, he said in an interview, conservative Christians focused on Trump as a political savior rather than focusing on their traditional questions of morality. Christians in the Republican Party, he said, are being less defined by their faith than by a set of more narrow concerns.

And on the political left, Hamid said, people have taken up religious notions such as sin and excommunication and repurposed them for secular ends. Hamid said that because there are not clear leaders, such as priests or imams, or a transcendent source that defines belief, the standards for what is considered "woke" continues to change.

"The vacuum [of religion] can't just remain a vacuum," Hamid said. "Americans are believers in some sense, and there has to be structures of belief and belonging. The question is, what takes the place of that religious affiliation?"

- - -

The Washington Post's Scott Clement contributed to this report.
The West Australian government rejected a cattle companys application to destroy bilby habitat next to an ecologically sensitive wetland  then approved the clearing following a flurry of political donations.

Pardoo Beef Corporation, owned by Singaporean businessman Bruce Cheung, has cleared a total of 840 hectares of bilby habitat immediately adjacent to Eighty Mile Beach wetland, classified as being of international significance, south of Broome in WAs Kimberley.

The bilby is a threatened species and the area was found as likely to contain suitable habitat.

The action was to facilitate installation of seven giant pivots drawing groundwater to irrigate cattle fodder crops.

The companys application to clear 450 hectares of bilby habitat in early 2016 was initially rejected due to environmental impacts.
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Arguably, for a citizen, one of the important expressions of right to freedom is to become politically vigilant, not so much for self-interest but for the collective interest of protecting Indias democratic ethos. One could look at this as a positive aspect of freedom inasmuch as it is based on the cognitive capacity to critically evaluate the performance of the government which has a bounded duty to protect the ethos.

Political vigilance, therefore, is all about keeping the ruler in tune with the democracy that will enable citizens to lead a life without unreasonable constraints. This would mean that peoples political vigilance should be aimed at overseeing that political power is kept safe from its arbitrary use, both against an individual as well as the collective common good. The sense of citizens self-worth depends not on the voters complacency to allow a politician to take the former for granted, while the latter takes decisions even to change the loyalties. Voters in a democracy are expected to realise the cost they have to pay for cultivating a servile attitude, which suggests that the democratic existence of citizens depends on the courtesy of the politicians.
Jessica Corbin Lack View Photos

Tuolumne County, CA  A Tuolumne County resident traveled overseas to New Zealand in 2018 and asked a neighbor nearby to pick up the mail and start her car periodically.

51-year-old Jessica Corbin Lack stole over $100,000 in cash and other items over the roughly two-month period the victim was overseas.

Lack communicated with the 70-year-old woman several times during the trip. At one point she lied and claimed to have a family member in New Zealand who wanted to treat her to a spa in a town famous for thermal baths. Lack actually stole a charge card from the victims house to pay for it.

The victim returned home and found that her safe was broken into, jewelry was taken, and several other items were missing, like the charge card and cash.

Lack told the victim, and the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office, that she noticed nothing out of the ordinary taking place at the home.

During the trip, charges were also made on the stolen card at local businesses, and in Oakdale and Pleasanton. The latter is a community in which Lack visits often to help care for her mother. The sheriffs office started acquiring surveillance images where the purchases were made and Lack showed up various times. She also purchased a Land Rover in Pleasanton for $6,000 cash with money that was taken from the victims safe.

Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke reports that Lack pleaded guilty to First Degree Residential Burglary and was sentenced to 10 years in state prison.

The District Attorneys Office adds, Although the conduct resulted in great financial loss, only the charge of First-Degree Residential Burglary made Lack eligible for state prison. Recent changes in the law have made convictions for financial elder abuse and identity theft ineligible for state prison sentencing. Those crimes now only allow for incarceration in county jails through local prison sentences or grants of felony probation. Moreover, the legislature eliminated conduct-based sentencing enhancements for large amounts of theft so Lack was not subject to any possible sentencing enhancement despite the victims loss of over $100,000.
Indoor dining returned to New York the week of Valentines Day. Now, a little over a month later, COVID cases have plateaued. Photo: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

Earlier this month, a guidance counselor and a group of police officers walked into a Brooklyn sushi place. It was the first time the childhood friends had seen each other since January. That was when the 29-year-old counselor, who requested that I not use his real name for this story and whom Ill call Kevin, asked to be taken out of the group-text thread. He began to fear for his personal safety after reading about his friends trips to all-you-can-eat restaurants and rock-climbing gyms in neighboring states. But now he was fully vaccinated, and the gang was getting back together.

Kevin lives in what he describes as the rare New York neighborhood where one might actually see a Trump flag, so he wasnt worried about the social cost of being spotted dining indoors. He wasnt sure that what he was doing was safe even after getting jabbed but figured his unvaccinated friends were going to do what they wanted whether he was there or not. There was also the fact that his favorite local spots in South Brooklyn dont have the sidewalk real estate necessary to set up outdoor tables. Ultimately, he was able to rationalize having fun with the thought that he was helping his neighbors keep their jobs. As he put it, There are two sides of this story, and I dont think I fit squarely into one.

Meanwhile, media coverage of the indoor-dining question has not afforded much nuance at all, as food writers take hard stances for or against indoor dining and tabloids gleefully report on the death threats hurled at influencers for posting about their restaurant excursions. It looked like any debate about indoor dining would be short-lived, with President Biden setting a May 1 deadline for states to offer vaccines to all adults. But in New York, infection cases have stopped decreasing, and as a result, some have questioned the safety of continuing to increase indoor-dining capacity limits, even as 25 percent of New Yorkers have received at least one vaccine dose.

It all begs another question: Given that indoor dining certainly correlates with increased case counts, and that were so close to the light at the end of the tunnel, who is really eating indoors during the pandemics final, turbulent months?

Marcel  who, like others in this story also asked to use a pseudonym because of the sensitivity of the subject  spent the majority of the pandemic working in a Manhattan beer hall next to a hospital. Given the location, most of his customers this past year have been medical workers, which is to say folks who are exposed to the virus so regularly that it has become quotidian. Marcel has always been the type to shake diners hands and tousle kids hair, sometimes even forming long-term friendships with the people to whom he brings food. But safety precautions made his job feel like drudgery for the first time. How is he supposed to deploy a personal touch when touching had been taken off the menu? In lieu of his usual routine, he has started using the shots as an icebreaker: Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer. Who had what, if any?

The waiter, who is also 29, says he has noticed an almost completely even divide. The doctors and nurses who are eating indoors have all taken the shot, whereas the vast majority of his other customers refuse to get it entirely. A lot of the young people coming in have already had COVID or theyre afraid of the side effects, he explains. (Strangely, Marcel says the vaccine skeptics eating inside often request to be seated far away from anyone in scrubs.) After interacting with these two groups day in and day out, Marcel is left unsure of what to believe. Someone told me that their arm hurt so bad after getting the vaccine that they couldnt put on a jacket, he claims. I have no idea whats real and whats not, so personally, I will probably hold off on getting it for now.

But while Marcel says he feels totally safe at work, Jennifer felt so scared about the prospect of indoor dinings return that she quit her waitressing gig and left the city entirely. Though her ex-boss went so far as to hang signs in the bathroom warning customers to shut the toilet lid before flushing, she felt there was no way that being inside with guests was safe. There was also something about being allowed indoors that seemed to make customers forget about basic coronavirus precautions. They would all almost instantly want to take their masks off once they got inside, she says. People eating outside would remember, and inside they forgot  I found it was very much a thing.

Her former boss agrees that people dining indoors tend to behave worse than those who opt to sit outside, whether its a function of their higher tolerance for risk or something else. I do think theres something about the familiarity of being in the dining room and doing something the same way you did it before, she says. Outside, its a brand-new environment, at least in my restaurant. I think that, sometimes, people are just getting too comfortable, kind of like how the first thing you do when you get home is take your mask off and relax.

Jimmy, a 33-year-old finance professional, just wanted to have a relaxing dinner with his girlfriend on Valentines Day. They had originally reserved an outdoor table at their favorite little Italian spot in Murray Hill, though it ended up being a little chillier than expected. Lucky for them, indoor dining had resumed that week. Theyd already done it a handful of times earlier that winter with the mind-set that at some point, were gonna have to take that step, and they didnt want to be cold on their big date. Plus, Jimmy kind of liked being inside when things were only operating at 25 percent capacity. All that space made it feel like he was back home in the Midwest.

But now Jimmy wonders if he got a little too comfortable while eating his steak-and-lobster-tail salad; he tested positive for COVID soon after. Fighting off the virus reminded him of the time he had been caught in an earthquake and didnt know when the experience was going to end. The symptoms were bad  the most memorable was brain fog, which at one point got so bad he couldnt remember Taylor Swifts name. Now, though, hes back in action, having most recently attended an eight-person indoor birthday party at another Italian place known for its convivial environment. It was a little surprising that the place was so popping, but he figured it would all be fine. After all, he hadnt managed to infect his girlfriend when he was sick, and many of his friends already got COVID last year. Plus, when he called the last restaurant hed been at to report his positive test, it wasnt a super-panicked situation. And as for the staff at this other joint? I did have some concern, but Im sure they know theres some sort of risk theyre obviously walking into, though Im not an expert.

When Kevin caught up with his friends at the sushi place, none of them bothered to put on a mask as the server approached their table. Kevin was also disappointed to hear that none had been inoculated during the time he had been MIA. (One friend, a police officer, told Kevin he had been in a cop car with his patrol buddy, who later tested positive, but he didnt feel like getting an antibody test.) Theres a whole culture of law enforcement making COVID into a political thing, where theyre less worried about it or just not interested in even getting the vaccine, Kevin explains.

At first, he defended his friends, saying that this past year has been hard for the cops due to the nationwide protests against police brutality. But the more he thought about it, the angrier he got about his friends cavalier attitude. As someone who works in schools and is intimately aware of the psychological impact that the lockdown has had on kids, Kevin cant help but feel that his friends are a part of the problem. Its clear to him that they are never going to get vaccinated or take a break from dining indoors. No matter what their one liberal-leaning friend says, theyll argue that theyve been doing so this entire time and have been fine. Why would they expect a different outcome in the future? I dont follow that same line of logic, Kevin ultimately concludes. And to be honest, I definitely wouldnt have become friends with them if I had met them as adults.

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ISSY LES MOULINEAUX, France, BAAR-ZUG, Switzerland, MONTREAL and PARIS, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Cerba HealthCare, leading player in medical diagnosis, together with Partners Group, and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board ("PSP Investments") have entered into exclusive discussions with EQT Private Equity to enable the Company to pursue its long-term innovation services strategy and enhance services for patients and the medical community.

Cerba Healthcare, headquartered in France and firmly established in Europe and Africa through its historical routine and specialty biology expertise, also operates globally through its clinical trials business unit for the validation of new compounds and vaccines. It stands as a unique group in the diagnosis market, covering the needs for diagnostic tools and expertise for patients, physicians, hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry.

With this new partnership, Cerba HealthCare reinforces its capital structure with its existing shareholders -more than 400 long-time biologists and managers- and its long-term partner, PSP Investments, to sustain the Group's development strategy and current transformation.

Catherine Courboillet, CEO, Cerba HealthCare, states: "Over the past four years, Partners Group has shown a comprehensive understanding of our market and unwavering support in sustaining Cerba HealthCare's growth strategy. In order to continue to fulfill the Group's long-term development, we are excited to welcome a partner that shares the same vision and values, as well as a strong understanding of the importance of cutting-edge, personalized services. It is critical to keep on investing heavily in innovation, IT security and talents in order to drive further and faster our on-going transformation towards better healthcare services for patients. With EQT, we have chosen an experienced partner that will strengthen our European positioning while helping us expand into new markets."

Nicolas Brugere, Partner, Investment Advisor at EQT Partners and Head of EQT France, comments : "EQT has followed Cerba HealthCare for a long time and we are deeply impressed with the company's unique platform for medical diagnoses and superior scientific expertise. Cerba HealthCare is a purpose-driven company with a culture that is well-aligned with EQT's values and we are happy to partner with its management team and with PSP Investments. EQT Private Equity is committed to invest in and future-proof Cerba HealthCare for the long-run to best serve patients and healthcare professionals."

Kim Nguyen, Partner, Private Equity Services, Partners Group, adds: "Cerba HealthCare operates in an important sector and we are proud to have successfully contributed to the sustainable growth strategy of the Company over the last four years. In line with Partners Group's focus on positive stakeholder impact and entrepreneurial governance, Cerba HealthCare has not wavered in its commitment to responding to the COVID-19 crisis. During our holding period, the Company has transformed into a market leader, penetrating new international markets, including in Africa and Italy, further consolidating its expertise in clinical trials and securing leadership in the veterinary biology sector. We are convinced Cerba HealthCare is poised for lasting success and that, after our strong and collaborative partnership, it is the right time and opportunity for all stakeholders that the Company move into its next phase of growth."

Simon Marc, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Private Equity, PSP Investments, said: "Since our initial partnership with Cerba HealthCare in 2017, the company has gone from strength to strength, and we are excited to continue supporting Catherine and her talented management team as long term-partners. We look forward to welcoming EQT who has been one of PSP Investments core partners for many years, and who brings tremendous expertise in European healthcare. Together, we will provide the long-term strategic capital to support Cerba HealthCare in achieving its full potential through its next phase of development as a European leader in medical diagnostics."

Following the completion of the deal, which is subject to administrative notifications and regulatory approvals, EQT Private Equity and PSP Investments will work with Cerba HealthCare's management team, led by CEO Catherine Courboillet, to support the numerous growth opportunities of the business. These include the continuation of the Company's highly successful M&A strategy on a global scale, as well as the acceleration of organic growth and development in other segments.

About Cerba HealthCare

Cerba HealthCare, a leading player in medical diagnosis, aims to support the evolution of health systems towards more prevention. It draws on more than 50 years of expertise in clinical pathology to better assess the risk of diseases development, detect and diagnose diseases earlier, and optimize the effectiveness of personalized medicine.

Every day, on 5 continents, the Group's 8 500 employees sustain the transformation of medicine, driven by one deep conviction: to advance diagnosis is to advance health.

Cerba HealthCare, enlightening health.

About PSP Investments

PSP Investments is one of Canada's largest pension investment managers with approximately $169.8 billion of net assets as of March 31, 2020. It manages a diversified global portfolio of investments in public financial markets, private equity, real estate, infrastructure, natural resources and private debt. Established in 1999, PSP Investments manages net contributions to the pension funds of the federal Public Service, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Reserve Force. Headquartered in Ottawa, PSP Investments has its principal business office in Montreal and offices in New York, London and Hong Kong.

For more information, visit investpsp.com or follow PSP Investments on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Partners Group

Partners Group is a leading global private markets firm. Since 1996, the firm has invested over USD 145 billion in private equity, private real estate, private debt and private infrastructure on behalf of its clients globally. Partners Group is a committed, responsible investor and aims to create broad stakeholder impact through its active ownership and development of growing businesses, attractive real estate and essential infrastructure. With over USD 109 billion in assets under management as of 31 December 2020, Partners Group serves a broad range of institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private individuals globally. The firm employs more than 1,500 diverse professionals across 20 offices worldwide and has regional headquarters in Baar-Zug, Switzerland; Denver, USA; and Singapore. It has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2006 (symbol: PGHN).

For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

About EQT

EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with more than EUR 84 billion in raised capital and over EUR 52 billion in assets under management across 17 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America with total sales of more than EUR 27 billion and approximately 159,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com

Follow EQT on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram

SOURCE PSP Investments

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A lesser writer might have used the books symbolic weight to try to close some of the historical gaps or heal familial wounds. Instead, Garcia has the wisdom to let the books illuminate what cant be recovered, no matter what can be inherited. No one in the novel has retained either books origin story. Theyre just books, Maydelis, Jeanettes cousin who was raised in Cuba, tells her. Meanwhile, Jeanette, who has come to the island in search of a renewal she cant quite find, recognizes the books as old and rare and tries to calculate their value, but she has no clue what to make of words scrawled in the margins of one. Later, when one of the books becomes the token of a new connection, its untethered from its past, a marker of whats been lost forever and what can still be gained.

The depiction of the women in Jeanette and Carmens family is confident and layered, capturing their decencies and failings. I found myself wishing for the same depth in the sections about Ana and her mother, Gloria, Jeanettes neighbor, a Salvadoran immigrant who is detained in Texas, first without, and then with, her daughter, before the two are deported to Mexico. Placing characters in an unjust situation is a difficult task for a writer  if Ana and Gloria were anything less than flawless, their portrayal might be read as giving ammunition to people anxious to defend the U.S. immigration system. Still, at times their flawlessness reduces them to their suffering.

While Gloria awaits Anas arrival at the detention facility, she maintains some mental space by focusing on facts about birds, gathered first from a childrens book in the facility, and then from books other detained women procure for her from lawyers and other visitors. When Gloria latches onto facts like birds fly even if it kills them, it feels effective here, a way of reproducing on the page the kind of psychological distancing necessary to survive in a place where she and the other women and children are vulnerable to physical abuse and to being bullied into signing away their right to a day in court.
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the health care industry was so slow to change. But the global crisis forced the industry and companies to act swiftly.

But can an industry that still relies on fax machines while simultaneously pursuing integration of artificial intelligence maintain such a pace post pandemic?

Dr. Sachin Jain, CEO of SCAN Group and Health Plan, says it must in order to address health inequities.

"I think health care is ultimately a fundamental foundation of our participation in our society. And we don't necessarily see it as that," Jain said, noting it is more of a "big business."

Jain said the industry needs a civil rightslike movement to end the systemic racism festering in the nation's health care system  though it would be a hard-fought battle.

"It's very hard to disrupt the incumbents when you're, in fact, relying on the incumbents in the course of actually disrupting them," Jain said.

Until the pandemic, change within the sector largely relied on management buy-in, stakeholder consensus, incrementalism, and a slow ramp up, said Jain.

"Ideas that should have seen prime time two decades ago, like telehealth, ... took a global crisis to actually come into broad effect," Jain said.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 10: People walk by a vaccination site in the South Bronx on March 10, 2021 in New York City. The South Bronx, which had one of the highest Covid-19 infection rates in New York City, is also home to an estimated 60% of New York City's very low income residents. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

But health care's problems can't be fixed by technology alone, Jain said. The country needs low or even no-tech "radical common sense ideas" to help fix the eroding relationships between doctors and patients.

"What happens between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. most days? People go to the emergency room. That's not an efficient or effective way to actually receive care," Jain said.

Instead, boosting access to primary care, which can be done via telehealth, is a necessary solution, he says. But even that comes with its problems as areas which need the most support sometimes have the least reliable or affordable internet access.

"One of the things I'm worried about is that...a lot of the companies that are being invested in are a diabetes company or a men's health company or, more recently, a gay and lesbian health company. All of these are positive trends if they actually connect to the broader ecosystem, as opposed to creating new silos," Jain said.

Story continues

His advice to health investors is to search for ideas that bridge the gaps in health care and break down the silos.

"What I would love to see from the next wave of startups, and companies that are being financed, is actually a higher degree of focus on relationship-driven care," Jain said.

It's a sentiment other thought leaders have expressed, including Dr. Stephen Klasko, CEO of Jefferson Health in Pennsylvania.

"We have to hold technologists' and founders' feet to the fire, and ensure they are not just making the wealthy healthier, he recently told Yahoo Finance.

"I think people are going to look back at this time in history and we're going to be embarrassed by what we do," Jain said.

"We're going to be embarrassed by the inequities that we have. We're going to be embarrassed by the poor quality of care that's delivered to so many people in this country," he said.

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China, Oman pledge to make joint contribution to peace in Middle East

Xinhua) 14:43, March 30, 2021

Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Omani Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said in Muscat, Oman, March 29, 2021. (Photo by Khaled Orabi/Xinhua)

MUSCAT, March 29 (Xinhua) -- China and Oman pledged on Monday to step up communication and cooperation and make joint efforts to help the Middle East achieve peace and stability.

The pledge was made at a meeting between visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Omani Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said in Muscat, the capital of the sultanate.

Noting that China and Oman are both peace-loving countries boasting long histories, Wang said the ancient "Maritime Silk Road" that once linked the two peoples was the starting point for both the friendly exchanges between the two countries and the traditional friendly bond between China and the Arab world.

Lauding the China-Oman relationship as a paradigm of the equal, mutually beneficial and win-win relationship between a major country and a small one, the Chinese diplomat said that China and Oman have continuously deepened their strategic partnership through enhancing political mutual trust and firmly supporting each other on the issues related to each other's core interests.

Wang noted that, during his current visit, the two sides agreed to deepen the synergy between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Oman's "2040 Vision," and expand bilateral cooperation for the benefits of the two peoples.

Both China and Oman actively advocate democratizing international relations, upholding multilateralism, and safeguarding the international system with the United Nations as the core and the international order based on international law, Wang added.

He said the two countries agreed to make joint efforts to pass on and carry forward their traditional friendship and strive to achieve greater development of their strategic partnership in the new era.

China never seeks its own gains or sphere of influence in the Middle East, nor will it participate in geographical competition in the region, said the Chinese minister, stressing that his country stands ready to promote the South-South cooperation with the Mideast countries, defend the common interests, and achieve common development.

Wang voiced China's support for the Mideast countries, which he said should remain the masters of their own fates, to peacefully solve their hot-spot issues and problems left over from history through dialogue and consultation, adding that he's confident that the regional countries can work together to build a more peaceful, stable and prosperous Middle East as long as they can understand, tolerate and trust each other.

The Chinese diplomat also praised Oman's moderate and pragmatic foreign policy, citing the Arab country's efforts to make extensive contacts with other countries in the region and its unique role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

China will continue to be a reliable and long-term cooperation partner for Oman and other Mideast countries, Wang said.

For his part, Fahd said China plays a key role in both regional and international arenas and makes significant contribution to the peaceful development in the region and across the globe.

Noting that Oman cherishes its friendship with China, Fahd said his country is willing to vigorously expand cooperation with China and promote further development of the bilateral ties.

In view of the many conflicts and disputes in the Middle East, the regional countries should seek unity in weal and woe, said the Omani official.

He also praised China's consistent adherence to the principle of mutual trust and mutual benefit in its foreign policy, expressing the hope that China will further exert its influence and make greater contribution to the bright future of the Middle East and the world as well.

Oman is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China and make unremitting efforts to achieve regional peace and stability, said Fahd.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
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The Primero Transport Services Ltd., operator of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Lagos, has suspended operations of the Ikorodu to Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) route from Wednesday.

Mutiu Yekeen, head, corporate communications of the firm, confirmed the suspension in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

Mr Yekeen said the development was due to operational challenges being faced by the firm along the corridor.

The Primero Transport Services Ltd uses this medium to inform our commuters on Ikorodu to TBS corridor that we are shutting down operations from March 31, due to operational challenges.

ALSO READ: Lagos commuters reject proposed hike in BRT fares

We hope to resolve it in the next couple of days and resume full operations.

We call on our esteemed commuters to bear with us during this period. We sincerely crave your indulgence for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Our priority is to convey commuters safely to their destinations, provide affordable, fast and convenient services to people of Lagos 24/7 daily, Mr Yekeen said.
This weekend, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi traveled to Tehran and signed a 25-year treaty with his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif. The terms of the treaty were not disclosed. However, US news outlets noted that an earlier draft of the treaty, obtained by US officials and shown to the New York Times, entailed $400 billion in Chinese investment in Iran in exchange for exports of Iranian oil, as well as a strategic alliance.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, pose for photos after the ceremony of signing documents, in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 27, 2021. Iran and China on Saturday signed a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement addressing economic issues amid crippling U.S. sanctions on Iran, state TV reported. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Beijing is defying economic sanctions imposed by former US President Donald Trump after he unilaterally scrapped the 2015 Iranian nuclear treaty in 2018, and that incoming US President Joe Biden has yet to remove. In February, Biden suddenly bombed an Iranian-backed militia in Syria, killing at least 17 people.

Beijings decision to sign the treaty with Tehran followed a disastrous US-China summit earlier this month in Alaska. During remarks to the press before summit proceedings even began, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly lectured Wang that China must accept a rules-based international order set by Washington, or face a far more violent and unstable world. Afterwards, US Pacific Fleet commander Admiral John Aquilino threatened that a US war with China over Taiwan is much closer to us than most think.

By signing a treaty with Tehran, Beijing is signaling that it has concluded that it must make its own preparations against a Biden administration that will be aggressive and relentlessly hostile. It is no doubt confirmed in this view by continuing, groundless war propaganda from US politicians, debunked by scientists, alleging that COVID-19 was manufactured in a Chinese lab.

At the Anchorage conference, Wang replied to Blinken by contrasting Chinas commitment to international law with US imperialisms foreign policy in the Middle East. We do not believe in invading through the use of force, or to topple other regimes through various means, or to massacre the people of other countries because all of those would only cause turmoil and instability in this world. And at the end of the day, all of those would not serve the United States well.

Before traveling to Tehran, Wang hosted his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, for talks in the Chinese city of Guilin, shortly after Biden provocatively denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin as a killer who does not have a human soul.

At the signing of the treaty this weekend, Iranian and Chinese officials both made pointed criticisms of Washingtons threats. Zarif called China a friend of difficult days, adding that we thank and praise the stance of China during the oppressive sanctions.

Wang replied, Relations between our two countries have now reached a strategic level, and China is seeking to promote inclusive relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.  The signing of the road-map for strategic cooperation between the two countries shows Beijings will to promote ties to the highest possible level.

According to Chinas state-run Global Times, Wang told Iranian officials China is willing to oppose hegemony and bullying, safeguard international justice and fairness as well as uphold international norms together with people of Iran and other countries.

The treaty, first discussed between Iranian Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei and Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016, deepens economic ties with the Middle East that Beijing has sought to develop with its Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure program. Citing Iranian Ambassador to China Mohammad Keshavarz-Zadeh, the Tehran Times reported that the treaty specifies the capacities for cooperation between Iran and China, especially in areas of technology, industries, transportation and energy. Chinese firms have built mass transit systems, railways and other key infrastructure in Iran.

While Washington has not yet publicly reacted to the IranChina treaty, US officials have previously denounced it as a fundamental challenge to Washingtons interests, combining war on terror propaganda with attempts to revive Cold War anti-communism.

Amid speculation last December that the treaty would be signed, Director of the US State Department Policy Planning Staff Peter Berkowitz denounced it to Al Arabiya. He claimed it would be very bad news for the free world if the treaty were adopted: Iran sows terrorism, death and destruction throughout the region. To be empowered by the Peoples Republic of China would only intensify the threat.

The three decades since the US-led Gulf War against Iraq and the Stalinist regimes dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 have exposed such rhetoric. The elimination of the Soviet Union as the main military counterweight to the NATO imperialist powers did not lead to peace, nor was Iran the main source of death and destruction. For three decades, Washington and its European imperialist allies have laid waste to countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Syria, killing millions based on lies such as the claim that Iraq was hiding weapons of mass destruction.

Berkowitzs denunciations of Iran and China are bound up with growing concern in Washington that it could lose its globally hegemonic position due to the debacles of its wars, its fading industrial and economic weight, and now its disastrous handling of the pandemic.

Since the NATO powers launched a war for regime change in Syria in 2011, supporting first Islamist and then Kurdish nationalist militias, Iran, Russia and increasingly China have intervened to bolster Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. With the ChinaIran treaty, it is now clear that these NATO wars carry in them the seeds of a global conflict, as in the 20th century, for control of world markets and strategic advantage.

The rising industrial weight of Asia and specifically China as a workshop for transnational corporations has intensified these geopolitical conflicts. Chinas trade with the Middle East rose to $294.4 billion in 2019, having surpassed US trade with the Middle East in 2010. Beijing is Tehrans leading trade partner and plans to further develop infrastructure linking China through Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey to its key export markets in Europe under its Belt and Road Initiative.

The fate of the ChinaIran treaty is highly uncertain. Certainly, it faces powerful domestic opposition within Iran, where broad sections of the ruling class have unsuccessfully sought to develop ties with Europe in the face of US sanctions. Former President Mahmoud Amhadinejad pledged that The Iranian nation will not recognize a new, secret 25-year agreement between Iran and China, when the treaty was first announced in June.

Chinese media were at pains to deny US allegations that the treaty was aimed at Washington. The Global Times complained that the ChinaIran treaty was interpreted by some Western media from a geopolitical competition perspectiveto portray the normally deepening bilateral cooperation between China and Iran as a challenge against the US.

Beijing and Tehran are not looking for war with Washington, but US imperialism has made clear that it reserves the right to bomb or invade anyone it sees as a challenge to its hegemony. The Chinese and Iranian regimesoscillating between seeking a deal with and defying the imperialist powersultimately have no progressive solution to this growing danger of war, rooted in the bankruptcy of the world capitalist system. In the final analysis, avoiding a war requires the international mobilization of the working class.

The ChinaIran treaty underscores how the global redistribution of economic and industrial weight has undermined the existing international alliances and geopolitical alignments. The contradiction that the great Marxists of the 20th century identified as driving to world warbetween world economy and the outmoded nation-state systememerges again with enormous force. The critical question that emerges is to mobilize the working class on an international, socialist program against war.

A Gold Coast mother accused of murdering her two adult children with disabilities for insurance payouts has been committed to stand trial.

Maree Mavis Crabtree faces a string of charges including counts of murdering her daughter Erin, 18, in 2012, and son Jonathan, 26, five years later.

Both siblings had disabilities, with police alleging they died from being forced to take prescription medication.

It is alleged Crabtree claimed disability and insurance payouts relating to the siblings.

The 54-year-old is also charged with attempting to murder Jonathan six months before his death, and the torture of a woman, aged in her 20s.

Gold Coast woman Maree Mavis Crabtree (pictured) is accused of murdering her two adult children with disabilities for insurance payouts

Erin was found dead in their Maudsland home in September 2012, while Crabtree was on a cruise.

Crabtree was charged with murder six months after Jonathan died.

A woman, who cannot be named, earlier told the committal hearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court she first told police Jonathan killed himself after being given bad news the day before.

She agreed when questioned by defence barrister Angus Edwards the bad news was that Jonathan was going to have to go into a respite home.

Jonathan had been seriously injured when he drove into a tree a few years before his death in July 2017. The crash initially left him on life support and facing months of rehabilitation.

Two-and-a-half years after Jonathan died the woman wrote a Facebook post that prompted officers to visit her.

Crabtree is accused of murdering her daughter Erin (left), 18, in 2012, and son Jonathan (right), 26, five years later

She then told them Crabtree had killed Jonathan.

'I'd ... changed my mind and decided to tell what really happened,' the woman told the committal hearing.

Mr Edwards said the woman told police Crabtree gave Jonathan a drink with OxyNorm in it.

Asked if she remembered that at the time she told police he died by suicide, the woman admitted she originally lied to the police.

'But I wasn't thinking clearly back then,' she added.

'I was under a lot of stress and I couldn't think straight and probably did tell some lies, but now I am telling the truth.'

After the hearing lasting less than three weeks, Crabtree was committed to stand trial on two charges of murder, one of attempted murder and one of torture.

She is also facing a number of counts of fraud and attempted fraud.

Her trial will be held on a date yet to be decided.
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The Heart of Asia  Istanbul Process

9th Ministerial Conference

Strengthening Consensus for Peace and Development

Dushanbe Declaration

Preamble

We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and high-level representatives of the Participating Countries, joined by the high level representatives of the Supporting Countries and of the Supporting Regional and International Organizations, having met in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 30th March 2021 at the 9th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP), under co-chairmanship of H.E. Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and H.E. Mohammad Haneef Atmar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan;

We express our gratitude to H.E. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan and H.E. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for inaugurating the 9th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process;

Recalling the previous Ministerial Declarations of the HoA-IP and reaffirming our commitment to the principles, objectives, and outcomes enshrined in the Declarations for promoting peace, security, and prosperity in Afghanistan and the Heart of Asia Region;

Reaffirming that the HoA-IP is an important platform led by Afghanistan for enhancing dialogue and building trust among regional countries. The HoA-IP promotes regional political, security and economic cooperation with the goal of building peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and the entire region;

Stressing the need to advance regional cooperation and dialogue as effective and necessary means to address common challenges and to promote security, stability and socio-economic development in the Heart of Asia Region, and renewing our commitment to strengthening enhanced cooperation through various combinations of bilateral, trilateral and multilateral processes among Participating and Supporting Countries in an effective manner;

Admiring the cooperation and solidarity of the countries and organizations participating in the HoA-IP, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the assistance provided;

Peace, Political and Security Cooperation

We support the ongoing efforts for the peace process and the continuation of the negotiations between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban. While recognizing the importance and contributions of neighboring countries and regional and international partners, we call upon them to maximize their efforts for the success of the peace process; We acknowledge that long-term stability and prosperity in the region require peace and security in Afghanistan, and therefore the region as well as the international community has a shared responsibility and common interest to work together for promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region as a whole; We welcome the renewed diplomatic efforts by all countries to accelerate the peace process through a meaningful peace negotiation, including the ongoing negotiations in Doha, the Moscow Troika plus meeting, and diligent preparations for a high-level meeting in Turkey. We also support the enhanced role for the UN in the peace process, and in this regard, welcome the recent appointment of the UN Secretary Generals personal envoy to Afghanistan and the surrounding region; We recognize that a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire will enable all sides to reach an agreement on a political settlement, and in this regard, we affirm that any political settlement must protect the rights of all Afghans, including women, youth and minorities. It should also respect the strong desire of Afghans to achieve durable peace and prosperity, and must respond to their strong desire to sustain and build on the economic, social, political and development gains achieved since 2001, including respect for Afghanistans international obligations; We condemn the continuing high level of violence in Afghanistan, especially the high number of civilian causalities and deliberate targeting of civil service employees, civil society activists, human rights defenders, journalists and media workers by the Taliban and terrorist groups. While condemning in the strongest terms, all terrorist activities in all forms and manifestations as being criminal and unjustifiable; we emphasize the need for an immediate, permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, resume meaningful peace negotiations and full respect for International Humanitarian Law; We also express our concerns about the continued relations between the Taliban and international terrorist groups, including Al-Qaida as outlined in the twenty-seventh report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the United Nations Security Council (S/2021/68). While taking note of the recent announcement made by the Taliban to have ordered its members across Afghanistan not to allow foreign fighters in their ranks, we reaffirm the importance of ensuring that the territory of Afghanistan is not used as safe havens for any terrorist groups, foreign terrorist entity, including Daesh/ISIS, Al-Qaida or other regional and international terrorist groups and their affiliates, including those referenced in the previous HoA Declarations; We commend the sacrifices and achievements of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and in the fight against international terrorism, and we emphasize the importance of supporting the Afghan Government in capacity building, in particular of the ANDSF, in securing their country and in the fight against international terrorism; We remain determined to counter all forms and manifestations of terrorism and extremism by reinforcing our collective efforts. We reiterate our resolve to work together to prevent and suppress terrorist acts through increased regional and international solidarity and cooperation, in accordance with the UN Charter and obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and where applicable the international refugee law, as well as through the full implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions. In this regard, we strongly call for concerted regional and international cooperation to ensure dismantling of terrorist sanctuaries and safe havens, preventing and interdicting the movement of terrorists and terrorist groups, including foreign terrorist fighters, across the countries of the HoA Region and anywhere else, as well as disrupting all financial, tactical, logistical or any other form of support for terrorism without any distinction;

Counter Narcotics

We are concerned about the high level of illicit cultivation and production of opium in Afghanistan, the volume of drug trafficking, illicit drug trade, trafficking of precursors, the new prevalence of methamphetamine, the rising demand for illicit narcotics and the rising drug abuse in the HoA Region and beyond. This poses a threat to the socio-economic development, security and stability not only in Afghanistan, but also in the surrounding region and the world as a whole. Further eradication of opium cultivation, promotion of alternative livelihoods, law enforcement, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and public information efforts are required as part of a comprehensive and integrated strategy to address this common challenge, based on the principle of common and shared responsibility, and consistent with the international drug control Conventions; We call upon the international community to continue to assist the Government of Afghanistan in implementing its National Drug Control Strategy and National Drug Action Plan and its efforts to eliminate the cultivation and production of, trafficking in and consumption of illicit drugs, increase support for Afghan law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, agricultural and rural development for the creation of improved alternative, licit livelihoods for farmers and demand-reduction support, increase public awareness of counter-narcotics issues and build the capacity of drug control institutions, and care and treatment centers for drug users. We also stress the urgent need to respond to the serious challenges posed by the nexus between revenue from illicit narcotics and financial support for anti-government actors and terrorist entities in Afghanistan and the HoA Region. We appreciate efforts to strengthen capacity of law enforcement, border control and other relevant agencies to counter illicit drug production and trafficking in the HoA Region, including through training projects and activities under the auspices of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime;

Refugees and Returnees

We commend countries in the region and beyond for their hospitality and support in hosting millions of Afghan refugees for four decades. We acknowledge the role of regional and neighboring countries in particular Iran and Pakistan in hosting Afghan refugees for such a long time and call for creating conducive conditions in Afghanistan for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation. In respecting the well-being and human rights of the refugees, we urge the international community to continue to assist host countries in taking care of the essential needs of Afghan refugees and to provide support to the repatriation and reintegration efforts of the Government of Afghanistan and targeted assistance for their voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation and their sustainable reintegration in Afghanistan, with emphasis on youth, education and livelihoods;

Economic Cooperation

We welcome the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework II, aligned with the Afghanistan Partnership Framework as part of the new aid architecture adopted at the 2020 Afghanistan Conference in Geneva, setting out the strategic policy priorities of the Government of Afghanistan and guiding its reform activities within the three pillars of Peace-building, State-building and Market-building, in the pursuit of increased self-reliance by the end of the Transformation Decade in 2024; We appreciate the long-term partnership and commitment of the international community for supporting the Government and people of Afghanistan and stress the crucial need for continuation of such support for achieving a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan based on their renewed mutual commitments, as agreed upon at the 2020 Conference on Afghanistan; We reaffirm that regional economic cooperation and integration offers broad opportunities for socio-economic development, and can assist with exploiting and developing the long-term economic potential that exists in Afghanistan and the wider region, and we stress the need for further advancing regional economic cooperation as an effective means to achieve lasting peace, stability and economic prosperity in Afghanistan and the HoA Region; We welcome the joint efforts of Afghanistan and the region to enhance dialogue and collaboration in advancing economic development in Afghanistan and across the HoA Region, including measures to facilitate regional connectivity, trade and transit, expand consular visa cooperation, and facilitate business travel, expansion of trade, increase the foreign investments and development of infrastructure, including infrastructural connectivity, energy supply, transport and integrated border management, with a view to promoting sustainable economic growth and the creation of jobs in Afghanistan and the region; We acknowledge the historical role of Afghanistan as a land bridge in promoting regional connectivity and economic integration in the HoA Region, and we recall that such regional economic cooperation plays an important role in achieving stability and development in Afghanistan, in this regard we urge all relevant stakeholders to create a feasible and secure environment for the full implementation of these development initiatives and trade agreements. We also welcome the progress made by these initiatives and projects, and call upon all regional countries to facilitate trade and transit; We recognize the important role of Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) as a regional platform for promoting economic cooperation in Afghanistan and the region, and in this regard, we support the implementation of the priority regional projects as outlined under the Declaration of RECCA-VII. We look forward to the next RECCA Ministerial Meeting to be held in the second half of 2021 in Tashkent, the Republic of Uzbekistan; We also recognize the important role of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, ECO, CICA, CAREC and SAARC as platforms for cooperation between Afghanistan and the region;

Regional and International Organizations

We recognize the important role of regional organizations supporting different areas of cooperation under the HoA-IP and underline the need to strengthen the relations of HoA-IP with other regional organizations; We recognize the central and impartial role of the United Nations in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and express our appreciation for all efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for Afghanistan through the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA); We appreciate the continued efforts by the OIC and its Member States in support of the Afghan Peace Process and their call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. We also welcome the declarations of the Muslim countries calling for an end of violence and calling the ongoing war and bloodshed in Afghanistan religiously illegitimate;

Confidence Building Measures

We realize the importance of the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) as the key element for enhancing trust and practical political, security and economic cooperation in the HoA Region, and in this regard, we urge the Participating Countries to continue the implementation of the CBMs; We commend the Government of Pakistan for holding the first Regional Technical Group (RTG) Meeting of the Agriculture Development CBM, and call upon the lead countries of the 8 CBMs to convene the RTG Meetings in a timely manner as decided previously; We appreciate the valuable support of the international community to the HoA-IP. In this context, we look forward to continued contributions of the Supporting Countries and Organizations to realize the implementation of activities prioritized under each CBM; We endorse the Implementation Plan for the new Women Empowerment CBM and the amended Implementation Plan for Disaster Management and Environmental Protection CBM, and appreciate the work done by the co-chairs in regards; We welcome the World Bank as a new Supporting Organizations of the Process;

Conclusion

We task our Senior Officials to hold the next Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of this Process, within three months of this Conference, to implement and follow up on the decisions made in this conference; We express our sincere appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan for hosting the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the HoA-IP in Dushanbe. We welcome Afghanistan for hosting the Tenth Ministerial Conference in 2022; This Declaration was adopted in Dushanbe on 30 March 2021 by the Foreign Ministers and high-level representatives of the Participating Countries of the HoA-IP: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, People's Republic of China, Republic of India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Russian Federation, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Republic of Uzbekistan; This Declaration was welcomed by the high-level representatives of the Supporting Countries and Supporting Regional and International Organizations of the HoA-IP: Commonwealth of Australia, Canada, Kingdom of Denmark, Arab Republic of Egypt, Republic of Finland, Republic of France, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of Iraq, Republic of Italy, Japan, Republic of Poland, Kingdom of Norway, Kingdom of Spain, Kingdome of Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the United Nations (UN).

*END*
BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP)  The pandemic gave NASCAR an overdue opportunity to break from the way things had always been done in the sport.

The traditional three-day race weekend was scrapped as NASCAR scrambled to complete a season while following COVID-19 protocols. Practice was scrapped and few complained, the same for qualifying.

When the compacted one-day show helped NASCAR cruise through its schedule, a hotline opened and all ideas were welcome. A dirt race on the Cup schedule? At Bristol Motor Speedway?

Sure! Lets give it a whirl!

It sure sounded fun to put the Cup Series on a dirt track for the first time since 1970, but successfully executing such a wild idea seemed fraught with uncertainties.

The risk was worth it to Marcus Smith, the CEO of Bristol Motor Speedway parent company Speedway Motorsports. He told The Associated Press he spent nearly $2 million to transform Bristols concrete bullring into a dirt track, and even as the track began to crack, the tires struggled to hold together and the drivers complained of a blinding dust, Smith insisted everything was great.

And when the race finally finished Monday night  a day late because after all the concerns about Cup cars suitability for dirt at Bristol, torrential rains caused a postponement for flooding  everything indeed was just fine.

Sure, the red Tennessee clay turned Bristol into a dustbowl, described best when driver Corey LaJoie declared visibility was zero out of 2 with the glare. But nothing bad happened.

NASCAR staved off a rash of blown tires by adding mandatory cautions that also created extra track prep time. Bristol pulled an all-nighter after the Sunday rains to work the dirt so that it wasnt engine-overheating-inducing mud. And when the dust got really out of control, NASCAR simply changed the rules in the middle of the race and switched to single-file restarts for the first time in probably a decade.

I know some of our fans and the NASCAR industry isnt used to seeing what happened during the race with the dust buildup, said Steve ODonnell, NASCARs chief racing development officer.

Story continues

If you experience that situation, to try and go single file to alleviate some of the dust and some of the visibility issues, thats why we made that move.

Joey Logano took the checkered flag in a decent overtime finish and fans who had been buzzing about a dirt race for months seemed genuinely satisfied.

Thats a win for Smith and Speedway Motorsports, which reconfigured its oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway into a hybrid roval in 2018 for some added juice. The company just pulled off a dirt race at Bristol and for its next act will lease Circuit of the Americas in May to host NASCARs first trip to the Austin, Texas road course.

Smith went a step further Tuesday during an appearance on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s podcast, where he said he's constantly considering ideas for abandoned North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina and has more visions for Bristol.

I bet you five years from now we will be sitting here and Bristol will have two dirt races," Earnhardt told Smith on The Dale Jr. Download.

Smith's response is unheard of in NASCAR racing: In five years, we need a roof on Bristol.

Justin Marks, a former driver in his first year of NASCAR team ownership, applauded the Speedway Motorsports effort on Tuesday. It helped that his driver, Daniel Suarez, finished a season-best fourth at Bristol with no previous dirt experience. But Marks is also part of a group in Nashville who later this summer will host an IndyCar race through the downtown streets, so he understands the challenges facing track promoters.

Everybody has to measure their appetite for risk, Marks said. COVID is challenging but we are living in a world where if you are going to have a successful event property, you are going to have to take some risks. You cant do things the way youve always done them anymore and expect it to work out, because people are more fickle than theyve ever been, theyve got short attention spans and theyve got an appetite for new things like never before.

If motorsport is going to continue to be relevant and grow in popularity, that appetite for risk is going to have to increase.

Bristol announced over its public address system before the race had even finished that dirt will be back next year. But theres a lot of issues that must be addressed. The Goodyear tires must be better suited for a dirt track, perhaps the windshields should be removed from the cars, and most drivers called for the event to be moved to night  dirt races, after all, are traditionally run under the lights.

The date on the calendar for years has been problematic because of unpredictable March weather in the Tennessee mountains, and, most important, Bristol on pavement was a beloved race sacrificed for the dirt experiment. Was it a net gain? There are plenty of tracks on the NASCAR schedule that struggle to host compelling racing, and perhaps a dirt event should have gone there instead. Or even to one of the many existing dirt tracks across the country.

It was also a big ask of the race teams to head into a total unknown of a race that counts as much as the Daytona 500 and every other race on the NASCAR schedule. Perhaps the dirt experiment moving forward should be an All-Star race worth nothing but the cash prize and the team pride in preparing a proper dirt car.

NASCAR got lucky Monday in that it staged a decent show, and Smith successfully pulled off another gamble. But if dirt is here to stay, then its got to be more than an experiment out of a pandemic-impacted season.

___

More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
While New York Citys Department of Homeless Services efforts to get more homeless New Yorkers vaccinated against the coronavirus have begun to make progress, smaller shelters are coming across numerous obstacles to getting their residents vaccinated. Public health experts say vaccinating residents of congregate settings such as homeless shelters is essential to ending the COVID-19 pandemic because living in shared living spaces, where it is difficult or nearly impossible to isolate from other individuals, makes it easy for the deadly virus to spread.

Many homeless individuals tend to suffer from underlying health conditions, which makes them even more vulnerable to severe complications when it comes to the coronavirus. A Coalition for the Homeless report, published last June, indicated that New York Citys homeless population was dying at a rate that was 61% higher than the citywide rate, citing underlying health issues, a lack of testing and the inability to distance themselves from others as the reasons why. By June, 2020, 120 homeless individuals had succumbed to the virus.

Beginning in mid-January, New Yorkers living in homeless shelters have been eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. As of March 3, about 3,100 people at shelters (including some staff) were vaccinated. The city estimated that it had about 18,500 adults living in shelters at the time. Reports indicated that some shelter residents had a deep mistrust of COVID-19 vaccines, while others suggested that there was difficulty in getting homeless people to vaccination sites, especially for both doses.

The Department of Homeless Services has set up one vaccination site specifically for homeless New Yorkers and plans to add more, as well as a mobile vaccination unit that is able to bring the Johnson & Johnson vaccine  which has a much longer shelf life than the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines  to homeless individuals across the city. According to Catherine Trapani, executive director of Homeless Services United, a homeless advocacy group, the state has been making strides since implementing these services, but it is difficult to fully assess the number of homeless people who have been vaccinated thus far. What we don't know is how many clients and staff didn't go through the DHS portal and maybe signed up at a service center or Citi Field or any of the other vaccination sites available to people, including, potentially, some sites run by like local health clinics that partner with the shelters, she told City & State.

While some progress has been made at Department of Homeless Services-managed sites, its less clear how other shelters, not under the departments purview, that cater to more specialized groups such as domestic violence survivors, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, families and the citys youth, are faring when it comes to vaccinating their residents. The citys Department of Homeless Services did not respond to a request for comment.

Paul Feuerstein, executive director of Barrier Free Living  a domestic violence shelter that specifically serves disabled survivors  and member of the Family Homelessness Coalition, told City & State that he initially had trouble gauging whether or not the residents in his shelter would even be eligible for the vaccine. Barrier Free Living provides units to its residents, opposed to a congregate living space, which on the surface makes the shelter residents appear ineligible for a vaccine. However, domestic violence survivors, like those living at the shelter, are eligible. I called up the assistant commissioner in charge of shelters and said, I'm getting a mixed message here, Feuerstein recounted. On one hand, you say only congregate (shelters), which doesn't include us, on the other hand, your website, the city's website, says domestic violence (shelter) residences are eligible: residents and staff. So what's the story?

Feuerstein was given the green light by the assistant commissioner to start arranging appointments for his residents. Eventually, after making several more calls, Feurerstein managed to reach out to various locations near Barrier Free Living, in the Bronx, and managed to set up appointments for staff and residents with the aid of other organizations. The Supportive Housing Network has been phenomenal in terms of advocating to get clients and staff of supportive housing programs (vaccinated), he said.

While Feuerstein has been relatively successful in finding locations for his residents to get vaccinated, other shelters have not been as fortunate. Jeehae Fischer, executive director of the Korean American Family Service Center, which provides shelter and assistance to domestic violence survivors, told City & State that she has encountered major hurdles when it has come to vaccinating her staff and residents. Fischer said that staff and residents have had an exceptionally hard time navigating the citys vaccine appointment website and have been distracted by recent news events. Because we serve the Asian American community, there's a lot of trauma that's going on. So I think vaccination is like not on their mind  but it is on ours, she said.

Residents living at the Korean American Family Service Center also need to be better educated about the vaccines, according to Fischer. There are a lot of questions and a lot of our (domestic abuse) survivors are undocumented and uninsured, she said. So they have a lot of questions and the website will not tell you everything in one concise place, so it's not easy. I am happy that they were eligible to get the vaccination early on, but that doesn't mean that they're getting vaccinated.

While smaller shelters tend to get looked over, according to Fischer, they remain lifelines to thousands of people in the city. The reason that these shelters, run by the culturally and linguistically appropriate organization, (exist) is that the clients are comfortable coming to us ... So it's really critical, especially in New York, New York City, New York state, because there's so many immigrants living in New York, to pay attention to small shelters that are culturally and linguistically relevant to the population, Fischer said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 22:08:30|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Weekly coronavirus deaths in England and Wales have fallen below 1,000 for the first time since October, the latest figures from the British Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed Tuesday.

There were 963 deaths registered in the week ending March 19 where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, a decrease of 538 deaths compared with the previous week, according to the ONS.

This is the lowest number since the week ending Oct. 16, said the ONS.

The ONS figures also showed that deaths among people aged 80 and over have fallen by 90 percent since the second-wave peak.

Meanwhile, a major study of care home residents in England has found that their risk of infection with coronavirus fell by 62 percent five weeks after they received their first vaccine jab, The Guardian newspaper reported Monday.

The study, funded by the British Department of Health and Social Care, tracked more than 10,400 care home residents in England with an average age of 86 between December 2020 and March this year, comparing the number of infections occurring in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups.

The research, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, found that both vaccines Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech reduced the risk of infection by about 56 percent at 28-34 days after the first dose, and 62 percent at 35-48 days.

More than 30.4 million people have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures. The British government said the country is "on course" to meet its target of offering a first dose to the top nine priority groups, including the over-50s, by April 15 and all adults by the end of July.

On Feb. 22, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his roadmap exiting the lockdown, the third of its kind since the start of the pandemic. The March 8 reopening of schools was first part of the four-step plan which is expected to see all legal restrictions in England being removed by mid-June.

Stephen Powis, national medical director of National Health Service (NHS) England has warned that Britons should not "squander the gains" made against coronavirus in recent months.

Coronavirus could still "wreak more havoc and ill-health on a significant scale" amid concerns over variants, said Powis.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Russia, the United States as well as the European Union have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines. Enditem

POTTSVILLE  The planned medical marijuana dispensary in the Schuylkill Trust Co. building is scheduled to open this fall.

Michael Perlman, executive vice president of investor relations and treasury for Jushi Holdings Inc., said the company expects to open the facility on the first floor of the building at 101 N. Centre St. by the end of September.

The dispensary, which will operate under the name Beyond/Hello, will have medical marijuana as well as cartridges, flowers, concentrates, topicals, tinctures and merchandise such as bandanas, T-shirts, hoodies and face masks. He said that the company is in the construction phase of the project and getting the stores interior ready. Customers will be able to pre-order items online and pick them up in store.

Were planning to have a specific brand and feel to the store, Perlman said Monday.

Construction had been delayed, he said, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Tom Wolf ordered most construction projects halted last spring to curb the virus spread and they resumed in late spring.

City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Jushi, based in Boca Raton, Florida, received a building permit for construction of the first floor a year ago, that has since expired.

He added that the company and its engineering firm have worked with Code Officer Justin Trefsger and he anticipates they will apply for a new permit in the near future.

The permit, Palamar said, only covers construction on the buildings ground floor, with the other floors slated for a future project by Jushi.

If work is done on the first floor, I expect it will continue on the upper floors, he said.

Palamar said that as long as the company makes an effort to revitalize the vacant building, city officials will work with them.

The state Department of Health issued a medical marijuana dispensary permit for the property to Agape Total Health Care Inc. in late 2018 before Agape was acquired by Jushi in 2019. Jushi Pa LLC has been the eight-story buildings owner since March 2019, purchasing it from the Hassen Group.

Wells Fargo bank previously occupied the buildings first floor until moving out in 2017 over problems with the 97-year-old structures facade. Palamar said the building was a property of concern for the city as it was vacant for years and showing signs of neglect, which led to the bank leaving the building.

The buildings longtime previous owner, James J. Curran Jr., an attorney and president of Pottsville-based Schuylkill Land & Realty Inc., did not pay taxes on the property and received numerous citations for it.

Perlman said the company has invested to ensure the building is safe for both employees and medical marijuana patients.

Palamar said Jushi is aware of any past code problems. He added that a larger company purchasing a large building is a good sign for the city.

The trick with these properties is getting someone responsible to get involved and that seems to be the case with the Schuylkill Trust building, Palamar said.
[March 30, 2021] SteadyMD Raises $25 Million to Power Telehealth Infrastructure for Digital Health Companies and Employers in All 50 States

SteadyMD, a technology company and healthcare provider that delivers high-quality telehealth experiences in all 50 states, today announced a $25 million Series B capital raise to enhance the company's platform services that now power the telehealth infrastructure of digital health businesses and employers. Lux Capital led the round, with Partner Deena Shakir joining the SteadyMD Board of Directors and additional participation from Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary's Sound Ventures, Acrew Capital, and other healthcare investors. The new capital comes after five years of strong growth within SteadyMD's proven direct-to-consumer primary care offering and will support the recent expansion of its platform services, which enable telehealth providers across the care continuum to scale with a 50-state clinician workforce, legal and regulatory guidance, and supporting technology. Founders Guy Friedman and Yarone Goren launched SteadyMD as a direct-to-consumer telehealth company in 2016, offering individuals and families unlimited, direct access to a primary care physician uniquely matched to their health and lifestyle. Since its Series A round in early 2020, led by Pelion Venture Partners and NEXT VENTURES, SteadyMD has capitalized on the technology and clinicians behind the success of its consumer business in order to help digital health companies and employers do the same for their patients and employees across all 50 states. SteadyMD currently works with leading employers and online-first companies delivering primary care, behavioral health, digital pharmacy, medical device, at-home lab, and other telehealth services. "We launched SteadyMD to deliver the highest quality of care possible to patients nationwide, completely online," said Guy Friedman, SteadyMD Co-founder & CEO. "We've solved the puzzle of delivering that care in all 50 states, which involves numerous product, technology, legal, clinical, and operational challenges. Today, leading healthcare organizations rely on SteadyMD for the key infrastructure to launch, scale, and grow their telehealth offerings in the massiv and quickly expanding digital health market."



"Our success on the front lines now enables us to work behind the scenes for companies with like-minded missions to design quality telehealth solutions," said Yarone Goren, SteadyMD Co-founder & COO. "Between clinician management and staffing, predicting patient demand, patient-provider matching, legal and regulatory issues, and the technology infrastructure that goes into a best-in-class telehealth operation, we're helping companies deliver the highest quality healthcare where patients are - online." In addition to Lux Capital, Sound Ventures, and Acrew Capital, several prominent healthcare executives and investment leaders participated in the Series B round, including Anne Wojcicki (co-founder of 23andMe) and Draper Associates.

"I have witnessed the transformation of virtual care over the last decade - as an operator and now as an investor - and I could not be more excited about the potential of telehealth to transform how care is delivered, research is conducted, and ultimately how health equity and health justice are achieved. The industry has only begun to scratch the surface, and the pressures of the pandemic have propelled telehealth into permanence," said Deena Shakir, Partner at Lux Capital, who now joins SteadyMD's board. "Guy and Yarone are exactly the type of founders we take pride in backing - mission-driven, execution-oriented, ambitious, and gritty. We are proud to be joining them on this journey to improve human health through technology." About SteadyMD SteadyMD is a technology company and healthcare provider that delivers high-quality telehealth experiences for digital health companies, employers, consumers, and clinicians nationwide. For digital health companies, SteadyMD provides an on-demand physician workforce, legal and regulatory guidance, and customized technology to support primary care, behavioral health, digital pharmacy, medical device, at-home lab, and other telehealth operations. For consumers and employers, SteadyMD offers access to online primary care, functional medicine, and pediatric care. For the thousands of clinicians behind its platform, SteadyMD provides an opportunity to build an online practice in key areas ranging from urgent care to concierge care. Founded in 2016 by Guy Friedman and Yarone Goren, SteadyMD is based in St. Louis, MO and Westlake Village, CA (News - Alert) . The company is licensed, operating, and serving patients in all 50 U.S. states. Learn more about SteadyMD at https://www.steadymd.com. About Lux Lux Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2000 that invests in counter-conventional, early-stage emerging science and technology companies. With offices in New York City and Silicon Valley, Lux manages $2.4 billion in assets across multiple funds. For more information please visit www.luxcapital.com or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @Lux_Capital. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005641/en/

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OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of a of the key U.S. life/health subsidiaries, health maintenance organizations and New Zealand- and Europe-based insurance companies of Cigna Corporation (Cigna) (headquartered in Bloomfield, CT) [NYSE: CI]. Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of a of Medco Containment Life Insurance Company (Warrendale, PA) and Medco Containment Insurance Company of New York (Troy, NY) (collectively referred to as Medco Containment Group). Additionally, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of a of the Cigna HealthSpring Companies (HealthSpring). AM Best also has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of bbb, the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR) and the Short-Term Issue Credit Rating (Short-Term IR) of AMB-2 of Cigna. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. Furthermore, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term IRs of Cigna Holding Company (headquartered in Bloomfield, CT). The outlook of these ratings is stable. (Please see link below for a detailed listing of the companies and ratings.)

The majority of Cignas core U.S. operating entities are collectively referred to herein by AM Best as the Cigna Life & Health Group. The ratings of Cigna Life & Health Group reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The ratings of Cigna Life & Health Group also factor in the elevated, albeit declining, financial leverage of just below 40% through year-end 2020, and the very high level of goodwill at Cigna, the ultimate parent. AM Best notes that the Cigna organization has successfully executed the integration of Express Scripts following the merger, including the moderation of its total leverage. While the March 2021 debt issue has caused leverage to increase in the interim, a large portion of the funds are being used to redeem and replace existing debt. Furthermore management has repeatedly indicated that it remains committed to continued de-leveraging, which is expected to leave financial leverage around 40% again by the end of 2021. Cigna has strong earnings and dividends from the groups insurance entities, as well as solid non-regulated earnings from its Evernorth segment and from additional one-time special items, such as a portion of the proceeds from the sale of its group employee benefits business at year-end 2020. These have helped bolster holding company metrics, such as interest coverage and reduction of outstanding debt.

Cigna Life & Health Groups balance sheet strength assessment of strong is supported by its risk-adjusted capitalization, which is at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), reinforced by excellent sources of contingent liquidity with strong and stable metrics, and operating cash flows across its diverse set of businesses. Additionally, Cigna provides access to cash in the event there are any cash flow or capital needs, and Cignas insurance subsidiaries have consistently provided cash flow upstream in the form of dividends, which have been growing each of the past two-years, given favorable operating results.

Cigna Life & Health Group reported strong earnings again in 2020, supported by lower utilization in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the organization also consistently reporting strong double-digit profitability ratios. Earnings and margins have been driven by Cigna Life & Health Groups core commercial and its senior segmentMedicare-related operations. AM Best also notes that Cigna Life & Health Group operates a lower risk model, with a majority of its commercial business in self-funded/administrative services only (ASO) employer groups. It should be noted that the sale of its group insurance operations is expected to cause a decline in total aggregate premium volume. Additionally, new sales were somewhat depressed in 2020, due to the pandemic, but this was offset by better persistency with less groups shopping coverage. Cigna has generally reported premium growth in its core businesses, and growth is projected for 2021.

AM Best views Cigna Life & Health Groups business profile as favorable, driven by the combination of strong market presence in its core products in the United States. In addition, Cigna Life & Health Group continues to grow its government segment, primarily Medicare-related business, which includes Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage (MA) and MA-Part D, along with its other ancillary/supplemental businesses. Cigna has taken a measured approach to the Medicaid space, with a focus on the dual-eligible population. Finally, Express Scripts and growth of its Evernorth health services business, as well as the parents international business, provide Cigna an expanded customer base and cross-selling opportunities, with further opportunity for premium, revenue and earnings growth for the overall organization.

The ratings of Medco Containment Group reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. AM Bests views Medco as a strategic and core part of Cignas Medicare Part D offerings.

The ratings of HealthSpring reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as adequate, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. Additionally, the ratings reflect AM Bests view of the strategic position HealthSpring plays as a core part of Cignas MA offerings.

The ratings of Cigna Life Insurance Company of Europe S.A.-N.V. (CLICE) (Belgium) reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also factor in rating enhancement from Cigna. The ratings of CIGNA Europe Insurance Company S.A.-N.V. (CEIC) factors in its strategic importance to CLICE and Cigna as the groups non-life insurance carrier in Europe. With its competitive position in Europes health insurance market, CLICE is viewed as a key component to the groups strategy to access and develop local opportunities in a drive to provide further geographical diversification and to strengthen global presence.

The ratings of Cigna Life Insurance New Zealand Limited (CLINZ) (New Zealand) reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. Furthermore, the ratings of CLINZ factor in rating enhancement from the Cigna group. This reflects integration and ownership from Cigna group and AM Bests expectation that the group would provide capital support if required. CLINZ ranks among the largest life insurance companies in New Zealand, benefiting from a multichannel distribution approach. While the company accounts for a small component of the Cigna groups consolidated revenues and earnings, it is viewed as significant to the groups operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

A complete listing of Cigna Corporation and its subsidiaries FSRs, Long-Term ICRs and Long- and Short-Term IRs also is available.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Bests Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Bests Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Baking is as much science as it is art. Perhaps to find out whether the former's more important, Google Cloud AI is taking on a Great British Bake Off winner in a dessert face-off. Sara Robinson, an amateur baker and Google Cloud developer advocate, built a machine learning model that examined hundreds of baking recipes (including ones for traybakes, cookies and scones) to help her come up with a new one.

The model generated lists of ingredients and amounts that were used as the basis for step-by-step recipes. The model was able to come up with hybrid recipes and Robinson opted for one that had a machine learning-generated cake batter on top of a machine learning-generated cookie.

She experimented with the model and baking to create a desert that incorporates Maltesers, a malt chocolate candy similar to Whoppers. The result was Maltesers AI Cakes (4d6172730a)  the last bit is hexadecimal for "Mars," which owns the Maltesers brand. The company had approached Google to create an AI-driven dessert. Meanwhile, Peter Sawkins, the 2020 Great British Bake Off champion, created his own Maltesers cake to compete with the AI one as part of a promotional campaign.

Both Robinson and Sawkins used slightly unusual ingredients to balance out the sweetness of the chocolate with salt and umami. Robinson added a Marmite-infused buttercream frosting after Google Trends identified that "Is Marmite sweet or savory" was a top search related to "sweet and salty." Sawkins, on the other hand, added soy sauce to a recipe he adapted from one of his mother's creations. You can download both recipes via Mars' Bake Against The Machine website and try them at home to find out which is your favorite.

Sure, AI systems are tremendously useful for things like tracking wildlife and guiding vision-impaired people. But, to actually generate better dessert recipes than ones us mortals can come up with alone, this model will need to learn to leave out the Marmite. Yuck.
PERUGIA, MAR 30 - Italian police on Tuesday arrested an Italian man in connection with the disappearance of his 35-year-old wife in October 2009. Police said the man, Roberto Lo Giudice, was a suspect in the disappearance of Barbara Corvi, from Montecampano di Amelia near Perugia. According to the TV missing persons programme 'Chi l'ha visto?' (Who Has Seen Them?), the couple had a row the day before the woman disappeared after she confessed she had had an affair. Lo Giudice's brother Maurizio is also under investigation in the probe, judicial sources said. Prosecutors in Terni reopened the probe on the basis of a statement from an informant from the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta mafia, sources said. Tern chief prosecutor Alberto Liguori told reporters that Corvi was killed by her husband out of jealousy, linked to economic factors. He said the murder was the product of a "mafia-like mentality", but was not linked to the mafia as such. (ANSA).
Alec Hawley has been taking his daughters to visit the fairy doors in Golden Gate Park since they were toddlers  and before they could even comprehend what they were.

But as they grew older, the miniature works of wholesome architectural genius soon became a topic of fascination. Tomasina, 8, and Talulah, 9, would visit the fairy doors at least twice a week, leaving behind a handful of flowers or, sometimes, a note. Over the years, the fairy doors instilled a bit of everyday magic into their walks throughout the park, and especially when the pandemic hit.

Which made it all the more upsetting when, on a walk to the Music Concourse earlier this month, they came upon a tragic realization:

One of the fairy doors was missing.

It was completely gone, said Hawley. The hinge is still there, but it looks like it either fell off or someone unfortunately took it for themselves.

If youre not familiar with San Franciscos fairy doors, they were built by former resident Tony Powell and his son, Rio, about eight years ago. Shortly after the first one was completed in Golden Gate Park, it spawned a citywide phenomenon that encouraged families to leave hundreds of notes for the fairies that supposedly lived inside the tree hollow where the door had been constructed. The unusual public art piece was featured on "Good Morning America," and its swiftly escalating popularity encouraged Powell to build a few more fairy doors, including those in the Music Concourse and one in Glen Canyon Park that still exist today. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department receives about a dozen inquiries a year from people seeking them out, but spokesperson Tamara Aparton said they weren't aware the one in the Music Concourse had been removed.

They've been our salvation this past year, said Hawley. Our daughters are lacking the school foundation and a space to play with their friends, so going out to the park and exploring nature has been our saving grace.

Last year, the fairy doors were even immortalized in the popular local children's book by Marta Lindsey, Golden Gate Park, An A to Z Adventure  which Hawley said has become a favorite of his daughters.

Unsurprisingly, he said, They were heartbroken to see that it was gone.

So Tomasina and and Talulah decided to craft their own fairy door  with the help of Hawley, who works as a landscape architect. Using old cabinet doors and hinges they had lying around in the garage, they measured and cut out the wood, and then painted their new masterpiece in shades of neon orange and green. They outfitted the door with three small windows, and a blue flower became the doorknob.

Courtesy of Alec Hawley

Hawleys daughters were also inspired by his recent design projects  he creates new art each week for the BFF.fm radio show "Roll Over Easy"  but the girls didnt actually know what the acronym meant. So, as a finishing touch on the newly assembled door, they created their own: Best Fairies Forever.

They installed the door in the Music Concourse last weekend, adding a pop of color to the pollarded trees located in the plaza.

"With kids, it can be hard to help them learn about things in a natural way unless there's that initial curiosity or inclination for something," said Hawley. "But these fairy doors are just a wonderful opportunity for them to get out, explore and be curious. They've always provided a safe space for them to go."

On a bright, warm Monday afternoon, I decided to go visit the new door for myself. It wasnt difficult to spot  a family was already huddled around it, taking photos. Before they walked away, one of the children dropped a note next to it. As I approached, my curiosity got the better of me, and I knelt down to get a closer look at what it said.

I love fairies, it read in clumsy, childlike handwriting. I still believe you are real.
Nairobi acting Governor Ann Kananu on Monday led top City Hall officers and employees in receiving the vaccine against Covid1-9.

Among those who took the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab at City Hall were Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura, acting County Secretary Jairus Musumba, County Attorney Lydia Kwamboka, county executives, chief officers and a number of MCAs.

Other county government staff will be vaccinated at Charter Hall.

The deputy governor asked Kenyans not to fear vaccination as it is a key measure in fighting the deadly virus.

"I have decided to lead by example by getting the Covid-19 vaccine," she said, further urging the public to maintain the basic measures against the virus, such as wearing face masks, regularly washing hands and social-distancing.

Offices closed

The vaccination came a day after Ms Kananu announced the closure of all offices offering non-essential services for 30 days, starting Monday.

Some of the departments affected are Youths and Sports, Agriculture, Human Resources and ICT.

Operations in offices offering critical services will continue uninterrupted.

These services include health, disaster management and coordination (fire fighters), revenue collection, water, environment and sanitation, finance and economic planning, procurement and supply chain, security, public communications and customer service.

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"This is a carefully considered measure to help curtail the spread of the deadly Covid-19," said Ms Kananu.

Disease infested counties

According to the Health ministry, Nairobi and Mombasa counties have the highest attack rates.

Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Nakuru and Kajiado lead in the number of Covid-19 cases so far reported, with Nairobi accounting for 46 per cent (over 58,600 cases) of all the infections in Kenya.

In Nairobi, residents can be vaccinated at Mama Lucy, Pumwani, Mbagathi, Kenyatta, Mathari Hospital, Armed Forces Memorial, Moi Airbase, National Spinal Injury Referral and Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral hospitals.

Private and faith-based health facilities selected for vaccination include St Francis Community, Jamaa Mission, Coptic Nairobi, Uhai Neema, Mater and Aga Khan.
K-Pop superstars BTS have called for an end to Asian hate following the tragic Atlanta shooting, in which six Asian women were among eight people murdered.

The band have joined the #StopAsianHate and #StopAAPIHate movement following anti-Asian violence in the US, and the group's members released a joint statement on Tuesday in which they said they felt 'grief and anger' in the wake of the attacks.

Members Jin, 28, Suga, 28, J-Hope, 27, RM, 26, Jimin, 25, V, 25, and Jungkook, 23, also admitted they have previously felt 'powerless' because of racial abuse they have been subjected to in the past.

'We feel grief and anger': K-Pop superstars BTS called for a stop to Asian hate in a joint statement on Tuesday following the tragic Atlanta shooting

In their statement, they said: 'We send our deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. We feel grief and anger.

'We recall moments when we faced discrimination as Asians. We have endured expletives without reason and were mocked for the way we look.

'We were even asked why Asians spoke in English. We cannot put into words the pain of becoming the subject of hatred and violence for such a reason.

Candid: Members (R-L) Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jungkook, Jimin, V, and RM also admitted they have previously felt 'powerless' because of racial abuse in the past

Reflecting on the racial abuse they have received, they added: 'Our own experiences are inconsequential compared to the events that have occurred over the past few weeks.'

'But these experiences were enough to make us feel powerless and chip away our self-esteem.'

The Mic Drop hitmakers also made it clear that they 'condemn violence' and spent 'considerable time' deciding how to make their feelings known.

They continued: 'What is happening right now cannot be dissociated from our identity as Asians.

'It required considerable time for us to discuss this carefully and we contemplated deeply on how we should voice our message. But what our voice must convey is clear.

'We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together.'

Reflecting: Reflecting on racial abuse they have received, they added: 'Our own experiences are inconsequential compared to the events that have occurred over the past few weeks'

A gunman named Robert Aaron Long, 21, was charged earlier this month over the incident, in which controversy arose after police said Long (who is white) claimed the murder spree was brought about not by race, but 'sex addiction', with the victims targeted because they temped him.

Actress Olivia Munn, 40, was one of many notable names who questioned how the attack was being positioned as something other than a hate crime after Cherokee County sheriffs Capt. Jay Baker said in a news conference that Long had been having 'a really bad day' leading up to the mass murder.

'I am tired of people humanizing white terrorists and excusing their murderous acts,' she wrote. '"He was a sex addict." "He was having a really bad day."'

The latest: Olivia Munn (R) also recently condemned hate against Asian people following the shooting spree in Georgia in which six Asian women were among eight people murdered

She continued: 'Its meaningless to help a community thats being attacked and who feel helpless to stop it. This is a way to try to justify and rationalize what he did instead of just calling it what it is: a hate crime against Asian women.'

Munn called for authorities to 'hold [Long] to account' in context of a hate crime in their handling of the case.

'We have to hold people who think that way to account,' she said. 'You have an entire population living under threat. Asian Americans are targeted.

'You wanna talk mental health? Lets talk about how theres a mental health crisis about living in a country that attacks you just for being you. We need help. Please.'

Do something: Munn called for authorities to 'hold [Long] to account' in context of a hate crime in their handling of the case

The Love Wedding Repeat star added the hashtag #StopAsianHate and called herself a 'proud Asian American' in signing off.

Other stars who spoke out in condemnation of the attack include George Takei, Gwyneth Paltrow, Margaret Cho, Gemma Chan, Bella Hadid, Padma Lakshmi, Lucy Liu, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, Kristen Bell, Anne Hathaway, and Ava DuVernay.

Meanwhile, Megan Thee Stallion recently donated $50,000 to support the victims of the Atlanta spa shootings.

The 'WAP' hitmaker partnered with Fashion Nova and activist May Lee to donate the money to Advancing Justice Atlanta - a non-profit organisation dedicated to the rights of Asian Americans in Georgia  following the devastating shootings on March 16, which saw a gunman enter three different spas and kill eight people.

In an Instagram post announcing the donation, Megan wrote: 'I am heartbroken by the loss of eight individuals taken from their families on March 16 in a senseless, violent attack against Asian Americans.

'To honor the memory of these victims, @FashionNova and I have partnered with the journalist and Asian activist @mayleeshow on a $50,000 donation to @advancing_justice_atl who work tirelessly to protect the civil and human rights of Asian Americans in Georgia and the Southeast.
Jason Engler and his 'wife' Alana Lister got into a heated argument during Monday's episode of Married At First Sight after she disclosed a private conversation they'd had with the other couples.

But it seems all was soon forgiven between the pair as they appeared to be getting along fine while shopping in Sydney during filming in October.

Jason, 35, and Alana, 30, were spotted arriving back to their hotel after visiting the local supermarket together.

Working things out? Married At First Sight's Jason Engler (right) went grocery shopping with his 'wife' Alana Lister (left) after telling her their relationship 'won't work' during a heated argument

Alana dressed casually for the outing in grey track pants and a matching coloured crop top.

The brunette beauty completed her ensemble with a pair of white sneakers and had sunglasses resting around your neck.

She styled her long locks in curls and appeared to be wearing a neutral palette of makeup for the outing.

Meanwhile, Jason wore comfortable black shorts and a white Chicago Bulls T-shirt.

On good terms: The pair appeared to be getting along fine while shopping in Sydney during filming in October

He teamed the outfit with a pair of white sneakers, long striped socks and also wore a red hat.

Jason appeared to be in high spirits as he held a shopping bag in his hand while his 'wife' walked nearby.

Their outing comes after Jason was left reeling on Monday when Alana disclosed a private conversation they'd had with the rest of the show's couples.

Casual: Alana dressed casually for the outing in grey track pants and a matching coloured crop top

Accessories: The brunette beauty completed her ensemble with a pair of white sneakers and had sunglasses resting around your neck

She had told the other couples that Jason thought Bryce Ruthven's initial decision to 'leave' the experiment to protect his 'wife', Melissa Rawson, had been heroic.

Jason told Alana that he had told her that in confidence and he felt betrayed by her decision to divulge it to the rest of the group.

'In front of the whole group, you threw me under the bus, which was uncalled for, come out-of-the-blue,' Jason told her.

'My own wife, throwing me under the bus, I just feel like this is once again a situation where it proves that I can't trust you.'

'You don't have to agree with everything I say, but you don't have to throw me in front of the bus in front of everyone,' he continued.

Stylish: Meanwhile, Jason wore comfortable black shorts and a white Chicago Bulls T-shirt. He appeared to be in high spirits as he held a shopping bag while his 'wife' walked nearby

Heated row: Their outing comes after Jason was left reeling on Monday when Alana disclosed a private conversation they'd had with the rest of the show's couples

Jason insisted that he was trying to 'stay out of the fight', after the other couples turned on Bryce, 31, and Alana had dragged him into the conversation.

'You think Bryce is a hero, but Bryce is in the wrong. I'm sorry, Bryce is in the wrong and I'm never going to have his back,' Alana told him.

But Jason insisted their argument wasn't about Bryce, as Alana grew teary.

'Okay, this right here is why this will never work,' he told a stunned Alana, speaking about their own relationship.

He later added: 'I don't care that you're not on my side about Bryce, but it hurts that Alana's broken my trust. It won't work... I don't trust Alana.'

Private conversation: She had told the other couples that Jason thought Bryce Ruthven's initial decision to 'leave' the experiment to protect his 'wife', Melissa Rawson, had been heroic
For nearly a decade, I was a slave to what I thought would bring me freedom. Growing up in a Christian home, I was blessed beyond belief, but still saw my fair share of heartbreak and abhorrence.

At the age of 13, my life flipped from day to night. Although I knew many family members had addictions and illnesses that would be the death of them, I never once thought that I, too, would fall to similar vices.

While my Dad was diagnosed with an incurable chronic disease and my siblings relapsed and overdosed more than nine times of a black cat's good luck, I grasped for control.

At 21, reality sank in as I realized I'd been trying to make room for two idols in my life: God and authority. Between the walls of my bathroom and the oak door on the other side, I'm confident Christ could hear this battle raging. With tears in my eyes, my broken and throbbing foot pounded to the floor. I was frail; the addiction had met its match.

What Do Our Appetites Have to Do with Our Freedom?

After seven years of slavery, God freed me from an impaling obsession with what it meant to be "healthy." Over those ages, my mind had reframed the importance of food and exercise to be anything but nourishing.

In Numbers 11, God's chosen people, the Israelites, faced a similar mindset regarding being whole and satisfied.

After God had rescued His people from the brink of despair, they were troubled when disaster struck their unwavering and unstable mentality. Complaining to God of the recent hardship, our Israelites were far from praising their Creator. When we get in the middle of a storm, don't we do the same, forsaking eternal remembrance for a temporary freak-out session (Numbers 11:1-3)?

For many years, the Lord provided manna, a substance the Israelites once prayed for to nourish and satisfy their souls. After a time, however, they got tired of eating it day after day. Anyone else sick of leftovers after a week of eating them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

But instead of asking the Lord to provide new rain, or should I say fresh bread, when Israel hungered for something other than manna, they bluntly noted they'd rather go back to bondage in slavery than wait for how the Lord would provide next.

"Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said.  Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. (Numbers 11:1, 4 NLT).

The Israelites didn't start to complain about their manna until the foreign rabble which was with them began to crave the good things about Egypt.

This "foreign" or "mixed multitude" that the Hebrew concordance writes as whasapsup is a promiscuous assemblage of people. And isn't that sometimes how bad decisions rub off on us today? We see someone with admirable traits and actions but a deadly soul, and we envy what they have.

But getting a glimpse of a distorted good thing never brings pleasure but bondage.

If You Can Have Christ Don't Settle for Less

"And the people of Israel also began to complain" helps us to see this conversion of life to death, trading in the truth of the Lord's providence for a temporary "fix" of earthly diversion.

"Oh, for some meat!" they exclaimed. "We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!" (Numbers 11:4-6, NLT)

I've seen it happen far too many times in others' lives and my own. I was running back to bad habits because they were familiar rather than forsaking them for something holy.

The boy who struggles with porn keeps choosing a temporary pleasure because it feels better than waiting for God's fulfillment and design. For years, the girl who lived with anorexia and orthorexia called it healthy, and that one stings a little too close for comfort.

No matter the trade-in, if we abandon Christ for a half-truth of what once enslaved us, the outcome will always leave us hungry. Our appetite for Jesus, the trustworthy source and bread of life, will become so starved that it ceases to exist.

Where Are Your Cravings Leading You?

How easily the Israelites forgot that manna was what they prayed for (Exodus 16), replacing what was provided with what enslaved them.

In our minds, deception can easily twist the truth into lies and lies into fact. Before we know it, we run back to slavery, thinking it's freedom because it feels good.

Don't allow hardship to make you run back to slavery, understanding it as freedom.

In Numbers 11, Moses complains to God about these Israelites crying to him, and so, the Lord provides quail to replace the manna. Yet like any good thing, however, once they received it, God made sure they had enough that they never wanted to taste it again:

"Now the Lord sent a wind that brought quail from the sea and let them fall all around the camp. For miles in every direction there were quail flying about three feet above the ground. So the people went out and caught quail all that day and throughout the night and all the next day, too. No one gathered less than fifty bushels! They spread the quail all around the camp to dry. But while they were gorging themselves on the meatwhile it was still in their mouthsthe anger of the Lord blazed against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. So that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah (which means "graves of gluttony") because there they buried the people who had craved meat from Egypt. From Kibroth-hattaavah the Israelites traveled to Hazeroth, where they stayed for some time" (Numbers 11:31-35, NLT).

The question I have for you today, friends, is what food do you crave? God's, or the worlds? Heaven or Earths?

When you're satisfied with the Lord, you'll never starve of the inner hunger you're looking for to satisfy tedious cravings. When you run to Jesus above anything and everything else, He not only fulfills and nourishes but breaks chains so that you no longer have to walk around in them.

In John 6:35 of the ESV, Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

"'It shall come about on that day,' declares the Lord of hosts, 'that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves" (Jeremiah 30:8, NASB).

Like the people our Lord freed, again and again, we, too, can be happy, whole, satisfied, rescued, redeemed, and released from our cravings, knowing where to go to find eternal nourishment.

Agape, Amber

Photo Credit:  Getty Images/evgenyatamanenko

Amber Ginter is an aspiring 25-year-old writer that currently works as an English teacher in Chillicothe, Ohio, and has a passionate desire to impact the world for Jesus through her love for writing, aesthetics, health/fitness, and ministry. Hoping to become a full-time freelancer, Amber seeks to proclaim her love for Christ and the Gospel through her writing, aesthetic ministry team (Aisthitikos Joy Ministries), and volunteer roles. She is also the author of The Story I've Never Told, which is currently in the publishing process. Amber has freelanced for Daughter of Delight, Kallos, Anchored Passion, Crosswalk, No Small Life, Darling Magazine, Called Christian Writers, Southern Ohio Today News, The Rebelution, Ohio Christian University, and The Circleville Herald. Visit her website at amberginter.com.

Want more interaction with the women of iBelieve? Join our fans, writers, and editors at the iBelieve Facebook group, Together in Faith, for more videos, stories, testimonies, prayers and more. Visit here to join the community!
The head of the union representing NYPD detectives has slammed bail reform as to blame behind soaring crime rates in New York City, where shootings are up another 40 percent so far this year.

'It's the fault of the elected officials. There's a correlation between the bail reform and what's happening in our city,' said Paul DiGiacomo, president of the Detectives' Endowment Association, in an interview with Fox News on Monday.

'They're emboldening the criminal element. Shootings are up, crime is up, homicides are up, every crime imaginable is up and the people in the city are the ones that are suffering,' he continued.

NYPD statistics show that shooting incidents rose 40 percent in 2021 through March 21, compared to the same period last year. Murders were up 12 percent.

Paul DiGiacomo (right), president of the NYPD Detectives' Endowment Association, blamed rising shootings and homicides in New York on bail reform measures

Shooting incidents are up 40% in NYC so far this year. Above, surveillance video captures a killer fatally shooting a man in the head outside a Bronx bodega on March 5

Because pandemic lockdowns only took effect in the city in mid-March of 2021, the difference is to believed to be attributable to isolation measures, which briefly sent crime plunging last year.

While gun violence is soaring, some other categories of crime are down significantly so far this year. Robberies dropped 28 percent, felony assault declined 8 percent, and burglaries were down 12 percent.

However the deadliest crimes continue to rise, and New York City has witnessed a string of shocking violent attacks on subways and other public places.

Auto thefts are also up 15 percent this year. DiGiacomo places the blame for the crime increases squarely on bail reform.

Bail is money posted by criminal suspects in order to secure their release before trial, and the cash is returned to the person after they appear before the court to resolve their case.

Last January 1, New York state enacted a sweeping law that banned cash bail requirements for suspects facing a wide range of charges, including stalking, assault without serious injury, burglary, many drug offenses, and even some kinds of arson and robbery.

Cumulative shooting incident totals show NYC surpassing last year's totals by 40% so far

Murders in the city are up 12% this year from last year, NYPD data shows

Though the state scaled back the law last summer after an alarming uptick in crime, bail remains optional for a wide range of offenses, and suspects in New York City are often released quickly after arrest without posting bail.

Defenders of the reforms say that bail is unfair to those who can't afford it, and possibly even racist, but critics say the changes let dangerous criminals loose to re-offend.

'It's definitely attributed to the bail reform and the recent change in laws in the city council,' DiGiacomo said of the rising violent crime.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson responded asking him: 'Do you think the people who made these changes believed that crime would go down when they made them?'

'I think they were just riding the wave of what was popular, and they weren't doing what was in the best interest of the people of the city of New York,' DiGiacomo replied.

Police at the scene where a man was fatally shot on Rosedale Avenue near Bronx River Avenue in the Bronx, NY around 5:15 p.m. on March 5

Last week, the New York City Council made another sweeping change that was blasted by police unions, passing a bill that would make it the first major city in the nation to end qualified immunity for police officers.

Qualified immunity protects government officials, including police officers, from individual lawsuits over actions in the course of their duties, unless plaintiffs can clearly show that their constitutional rights were violated.

The New York City Council voted on Thursday to end qualified immunity for police officers which will open the door for them to face civil lawsuits once the bill is signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

'Together, the State and federal versions of qualified immunity have effectively prevented countless victims of police brutality and their families from obtaining financial damages and holding officers and the cities that employ them accountable,' the release reads.

Last summer, the city announced a range of reforms and moved to divert $1 billion from the NYPD budget after protests across the nation in the wake of George Floyd's death.
[March 30, 2021] Social currency and NFT app Yuser launches

LONDON, ON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Yuser Inc. announces the launch of their invite only media-sharing app that will include a set of state-of-the-art non-fungible token (NFT) creation and marketing tools, allowing content creators and brands the ability to sell their digital works over the third party platform OpenSea. Yuser Inc., is a Canadian technology company focused on disrupting the social media model of capitalizing on user content and data. Led by Tom Cermak and Eunika Sot, who combined forces in 2018, Yuser's focus has alays been on increasing value for creators and end-users.



For Tom and Eunika, adding smart contracts signals a return to Yuser's defi roots. "NFTs are the most highly regarded smart contract that blockchain technology today has to offer. We are proud to be able to help creators better protect their digital rights and monetize their works as we envisioned back in 2018 when we started Yuser.", says CEO Tom Cermak. Yuser is teaming up with a roster of highly regarded content creators in a variety of mediums to help curate their initial NFT sales, including the sale of a Jason R. Gray feature length indie film, artwork by Juno Award winner Sarah Legault, mixed-media artwork from James Kirkpatrick, and content from record label ADAP. A series of contests amounting to 4 ETH (roughly $10,000) will kick off the launch. Yuser empowers creators to easily create content, convert it into an NFT, and auction it through a platform like OpenSea.

The launch of NFT creation and marketing tools coincides with Yuser's much anticipated marketplace integration with Shopify, the fastest growing e-commerce platform in North America. The e-commerce partnership allows users to purchase an array of products online using their earned digital currency called Gems. Users can also use Gems in participating brick and mortar stores. Eunika Sot, COO, comments on the upcoming update release. "Whether you are a graphic artist, musician, photographer or filmmaker, you can participate over Yuser in the growing NFT market space, which has already expanded to well over a billion dollars. The world needed to catch up to the notion and importance of NFTs, and now that the word is out, we're ready to help creators shape the future of social media." The Yuser app is a social media and rewards platform that empowers users to earn digital currency. Now, creators will be able to generate NFTs of their content to sell on the OpenSea marketplace. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/social-currency-and-nft-app-yuser-launches-301258312.html SOURCE Yuser Inc.

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UPDATE 1:55 p.m.

Police say a suspect has been arrested in relation to three arson fires in Masonic buildings in Metro Vancouver.

Vancouver police say they will recommend arson charges against the 42-year-old man who was picked up in the neighbouring suburb of Burnaby.

North Vancouver RCMP say in a statement the first fire was reported just before 7 a.m. at the Lynn Valley Lodge Masonic hall.

They say a second fire, reported minutes later, severely damaged the North Vancouver Masonic Centre located four kilometres away.

A third fire, at a Masonic hall in Vancouver, was reported about 15 minutes after the first blaze and fire officials say it caused little damage.

The Society of Freemasons was founded more than 300 years ago as a trade group and continues today as a social organization operating around the world.

UPDATE: 10:50 a.m.

Fire crews have responded to separate fires at three buildings operated by the Freemason society in Metro Vancouver.

North Vancouver RCMP say in a statement a fire broke out just before 7 a.m. at the Lynn Valley Lodge Masonic hall.

A second fire was reported just minutes later four kilometres to the west at the North Vancouver Masonic Centre.

That blaze has severely damaged the low-rise structure and RCMP say they are trying to determine if the two fires are related or were deliberately set.

A third fire, at a Masonic hall in southeast Vancouver, was reported about 15 minutes after the first blaze and fire officials say it caused little damage.

Const. Tania Visintin of Vancouver police says the fire is being investigated as arson, although no one is in custody.

The Society of Freemasons was founded more than 300 years ago as a trade group and continues today as a social organization operating around the world.

 The Canadian Press

UPDATE: 9:45 a.m.

One person is in custody after a fire at a Masonic hall in East Vancouver.

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services were called around 7 a.m. to a fire at the Masonic hall at Rupert Street and East 29 Avenue this morning, according to acting Assistant Fire Chief Mike Serada. When they arrived, they found a small fire that was quickly doused with limited damage.

The Vancouver Police Department was on scene first, he adds, as a passer-by saw suspicious activity.

"Police ended up arresting someone for suspected arson," Serada says.

The fire is under investigation now.

Fires occurred at two other Masonic hall in North Vancouver this morning as well; so far police and fire services have not said if the three are linked.

Photo: Twitter/@YujiHyde

ORIGINAL: 9:35 a.m.

Arson investigators have been called in for one fire that has since been contained in North Vancouver's Lynn Valley, as crews grapple with another in Central Lonsale this morning.

Both fires appear to be at Masonic halls, according to fire crews.

The first call came in for a structure fire at the Lynn Valley Lodge, at 1371 Lynn Valley Rd., about 6:30 a.m. this morning, according to North Vancouver District Fire and Rescue Services.

The fire is currently under control, according to assistant fire chief Jeremy Duncan, and arson investigators and police have been called in.

Another fire was reported in the building that houses the Duke of Connaught Lodge No. 64 (North Vancouver Masonic Centre), at 1142 Lonsdale Ave. about 7 a.m.

North Vancouver City Fire crews are currently working to control the fire. Fire crews in Lonsdale are expected to address the media this morning with an update.
A greater sage-grouse in Wyoming. Credit: Bureau of Land Management, BLM. Public domain

Greater sage-grouse populations have declined significantly over the last six decades, with an 80% rangewide decline since 1965 and a nearly 40% decline since 2002, according to a new report by the U.S. Geological Survey. Although the overall trend clearly shows continued population declines over the entire range of the species, rates of change do vary regionally.

The report represents the most comprehensive analysis of greater sage-grouse population trends ever produced and lays out a monitoring framework to assess those trends moving forward. The study can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of greater sage-grouse conservation efforts and analyze factors that contribute to habitat loss and population changeall critical information for resource managers.

"Every day, the USGS brings diverse stakeholders the compelling science they need to make strategic, on-the-ground policy and management decisions," said David Applegate, associate director exercising the delegated authority of the USGS director. "With this framework in place, resource managers can more nimbly respond to population declines with actions such as redistributing monitoring efforts or prioritizing where management intervention may be needed."

USGS scientists and colleagues developed the framework to estimate greater sage-grouse population trends in the 11 western states where the species livesCalifornia, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The greater sage-grouse is a vulnerable species and an indicator of the overall health of the iconic sagebrush ecosystem.

The research found that in recent decades the rate of greater sage-grouse decline increased in western portions of the species' range, particularly in the Great Basin, while the declines have been less severe in eastern areas. Western Wyoming was the only region to show relatively stable sage-grouse populations recently. Taken as a whole, the greater sage-grouse population now is less than a quarter of what it was more than 50 years ago.

To complete the framework, USGS and Colorado State University researchers collaborated with the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, individual state wildlife agencies and the Bureau of Land Management. Together, they compiled information and created a rangewide database of greater sage-grouse breeding grounds. Researchers used that information to assess past and current sage-grouse population trends in different parts of the species' range.

In addition to the database and population-trend assessment, researchers also developed a "Targeted Annual Warning System" to alert biologists and managers when local greater sage-grouse populations begin to decline or have diverged from regional trends. The research identified the most at-risk breeding grounds, with the greatest risk seen at the periphery of the species' range. The report shows that there is only a 50% chance that most breeding grounds, called leks, will be productive in about 60 years from now if current conditions persist. USGS scientists will continue to analyze information to determine the factors driving changes in breeding areas and populations, including the influence of habitat loss and degradation.

"The framework we developed will help biologists and managers make timely decisions based on annual monitoring information," said Peter Coates, USGS scientist and lead author of the report. "This will allow them to address local issues before they have significant impacts on the population."

Explore further The impact of energy development on bird populations

More information: Peter S. Coates et al, Range-wide greater sage-grouse hierarchical monitoring frameworkImplications for defining population boundaries, trend estimation, and a targeted annual warning system, (2021). Peter S. Coates et al, Range-wide greater sage-grouse hierarchical monitoring frameworkImplications for defining population boundaries, trend estimation, and a targeted annual warning system,(2021). DOI: 10.3133/ofr20201154
It's a debut that's been 17 years in the making, and in a matter of weeks, it's one that will grab the attention of millions of Americans.

Billions of periodical cicadas will emerge across 15 states and Washington, D.C., with some possibly coming out as early as late-April or the first week of May, said Gene Kritsky, a periodical cicada expert and dean of Behavioral and Natural Sciences at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati.

This year's group, known as Brood X, is the largest of the 17-year-broods in both density and geographical area. And while the name may sound dramatic, the "X" is technically the Roman numeral 10 in this instance, Kritsky told USA TODAY.

Read below for some of the most common questions surrounding these large, red-eye insects.

Visual guide: When will the cicadas emerge in 2021? How long will they be around after they come out?

Brood X: Why cicadas set to emerge after 17 years have an ominous-sounding name

'Zombie cicadas': They aren't a threat to humans. But they're killing each other.

Where will the Brood X cicadas emerge?

Essentially, there are three major patches where you're likely to see the largest swarms of these cicadas, Kritsky said:

The southeast corner of Pennsylvania, almost all of Maryland, parts of Delaware and New Jersey, and a few areas in New York.

Ohio, almost the entire state of Indiana, a few areas in eastern Illinois, and northwest and eastern parts of Kentucky.

Western North Carolina, east Tennessee and a scattering around west Tennessee and the northern part of Georgia.

Overall, this large emergence will affect the District of Columbia and at least parts of these 15 states: Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

A map showing where Brood X periodical cicadas are expected to emerge in spring 2021.

When are the cicadas coming?

When soil temperatures hit 64 degrees a few inches below ground, the cicadas will start to emerge. That usually comes on the first or second day when temperatures reach the low 80s, Kritsky said.

Story continues

"It's hard to make predictions other than just (looking at) long-term climate trends," Kritsky said. But generally, those temperature markers come earlier for Southern states. So northern Georgia could see the right conditions for Brood X emergence around the first part of May, while Cincinnati could reach that point near the middle of May.

But Kritsky said Brood X areas that see an unseasonably warm April could see the cicadas earlier than past years.

Brood X is on the way: Here's how to keep cicadas out of your stuff

Cicadas + lawn maintenance: Here's how to keep up your yard care during the Brood X emergence

How loud can a swarm of cicadas get?

While doing quadrant studies under a large oak tree, Kritsky estimated thousands of cicadas in the surrounding area. Standing a few feet away, he measured the insects' sounds at 96 decibels, slightly higher than a low-flying airplane, which can hit about 80 decibels.

"These individuals will crawl out every 17 years and they know they have only one purpose, and that is to mate and reproduce," said Jerome Grant, a University of Tennessee entomologist. "So they're going to make a lot of noise to attract females to mate."

Competitive males are all about flexing their muscles. That's how they make their trademark catcalls, Grant told the Knoxville News Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network. Male cicadas have a special ribbed organ called a tymbal. When they flex their muscles, the ribs rub together and produce sound.

Do people really eat cicadas?

Yes. There's evidence dating back to the 18th century showing people would eat the swarming insects, said Kritsky, who has tried them himself once. "I don't make it a habit of eating them."

"They taste kind of like cold, canned asparagus to me," said Grant, adding that they're best when harvested right after they've molted. "Then they're still soft. You can freeze them or cook with them. They make a good stir fry, and they're good in dumplings and in stews."

In 2004, the last time Brood X was swarming parts of the country, a group called the Cicadamaniacs at the University of Maryland released a cookbook filled with recipes for the bugs, including dishes like Soft-Shelled Cicadas, Cicada Dumplings and Cicada Stir-Fry.

Save room for dessert: The cicada cookbook, "Cicada-Licious," also includes recipes for chocolate chip cookies and rhubarb pie  each containing the special ingredient.

Cicada clean-up: 5 tips for cleaning up the aftermath of Brood X

Contributing: Brittany Crocker, Knoxville News Sentinel

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cicadas are on the way as Brood X prepares to swarm 15 states, DC
ACCORDING to the Kofi Annan Foundation, more than half of the world's population is under the age of 30 with 57 per cent of the voting population being young people.

Despite that high number of young people, only six per cent of the parliamentarians are aged below 35 years globally.

Young people have the energy, creativity and idealism to deliver, sometimes, even where elderly people fail.

While young people have every opportunity and right to participate fully in the lives of their societies, they usually seem ill-prepared for the challenge to take up positions at various levels of leadership.

We, therefore, agree with United Party for National Development (UPND) Choma Central Member of Parliament (MP) Cornelius Mweetwa that the call for senior politicians in the country to pave way for their young counterparts is highly misplaced and does not hold water.

Mr Mweetwa said this on Sunday when he announced that he will not re-contest his parliamentary seat in the August 12, 2021 general elections having served for two terms.

We similarly share Mr Mweetwa 's expectation that instead of calling for affirmative action where older politicians are forced to leave the political arena, the young people should 'wrestle' power from older ones.

Of course this wrestling does not mean physically fighting but working hard for political positions and not to wait for someone to pave way for them.

Older politicians should leave the political arena satisfied and sure that the younger ones are better candidates.

Complaining alone, as the nation has witnessed in the recent past, is not a solution, but the youth should work hard to prepare themselves for any positions.

But they should do so in humility!

President Edgar Lungu has many times expressed disappointment over the failure by some youths to deliver whenever they have been tried on some influential positions before.

It is high time that the youth arose and showed what they are made of in terms of innovation, hard-work and reliability right at their current station of life.

It is, therefore, interesting to observe the high turnout of youth who have expressed interest to participate, not as mere voters but as candidates, in this year's general election.

That is quite encouraging!

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However, the youth should realise that opportunities are everywhere not just in politics because not everyone is called to be a politician, let alone a political leader.

Further, we again agree with Mr Mweetwa on the point that while promoting the idea of more young people takinng up decision-making positions Zambia still needs seasoned leader to pass on the knowledge and wisdom to the younger generation.

Ridding any governance system of the old people would be going against the African traditional wisdom.

An African folktale is told in which two societies conspired to exterminate all of their respective senior citizens and one of them followed the agreement painstakingly while the other chose to hide its oldest members.

A few years down the lane, a calamity befell the two societies which required the wisdom of the senior citizens.

The leaders of the first society which had killed all the old folks got stuck while the leaders of the other society ran to the caves where they had hidden their parents, who quickly provided the solution to the calamity.

Indeed, Zambia should always endeavour to blend leaders - the young and the old ones!
Asymptomatic carriage of SARS-CoV-2 is a potentially significant source of transmission, yet remains relatively poorly understood. The study "SARS-CoV-2 Positivity in Asymptomatic-screened Dental Patients" published in the Journal of Dental Research (JDR), investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic dental patients to inform community surveillance and improve understanding of risks in the dental setting.

Thirty-one dental care centers across Scotland invited asymptomatic screened patients over the age of five to participate. During the patient visit, trained dental teams took a combined oropharyngeal and nasal swab sample using standardized Viral Transport Medium containing test kits. Over a 13-week period, 4,032 patients were tested and of these 22 (0.5%; 95%CI 0.5%, 0.8%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

The positivity rate increased over the period, commensurate with uptick in community prevalence identified across all national testing monitoring data streams. The COVID-19 positivity rate in this patient group reflected the underlying prevalence in the community at the time.

This surveillance program had several advantages including using trained dental teams for the collection of high quality and complete data and samples. Moreover, there was no need for the clinical teams to use additional personal protective equipment as they were already wearing it to provide dental care and the patients could receive care despite periods of lockdown restriction.
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One of the nation's biggest movie theater chains reopened some venues on April 2, in time for Easter weekend, but most of its South Carolina screens are staying dark until May.

Regal Cinemas is set to bring back just one of its 16 Palmetto State multiplexes this month. The Regal Hollywood & RPX in Greenville is set to reopen April 16, according to an updated schedule posted this week on the company's website.

Another seven will reopen May 7, with the rest in South Carolina to follow over the next two weeks.

Regal warned that dates for individual sites "may shift depending on their unique circumstances."

All of the Knoxville, Tenn.-based chain's theaters are reopening with numerous COVID-19 safety measures in place, such as reduced seating capacity and face-mask mandates.

Regal had been one of the most notable holdouts in the gradual reopening of cinemas nationwide. Its 7,211 screens and 549 theaters in the U.S. first were taken out of commission about a year ago.

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The company's South Carolina movie venues include three in the Charleston region and four in the Columbia area.

Regal reopened most of those and its other theaters around the country last summer, but it shut them down again in October because of a dearth of new releases and crowd restrictions that were still in effect in key movie markets.

Rival chain AMC Theatres announced earlier this month that it was welcoming filmgoers back to 98 percent of its U.S. sites by March 19, with more to follow by the March 26. The Kansas-based company has five locations in South Carolina.

Regal is owned by Cineworld Group, which is based in London and operates another 2,500 screens in Europe. CEO Mooky Greidinger said he's optimistic that his industry will rebound from the pandemic while acknowledging that the past year has been "really disappointing.

"I was ready to bet that everything would be back in June, latest July," he told The Washington Post in a March 29 article. "If someone would have told me that it would be a year and still theaters are closed, I would think he's crazy."

Regal's schedule shows it was to reopen less than two dozen of its U.S. theaters on Good Friday, mostly in larger states such as California, Florida, New York and Texas. The move coincided with the release of the Warner Bros. film "Godzilla vs. Kong."

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore, told the Associated Press that he thinks the monster flick will be another building block in our education in where the industry is heading.

The theatrical experience will prove to be viable and resilient as it always has, he said. But its going to be a different world, no question. I think its going to be a leaner, meaner business going forward.
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Nine in ten people within Irelands autism community believe it is more difficult to find a job as an autistic person compared to a neurotypical person, according to a new report published by e-recruitment platform IrishJobs.ie and Autism charity AsIAm.

The report was launched today, March 30 ahead of World Autism Day which take place on Friday, 2 April. It also marks the commencement of a new partnership between IrishJobs.ie and AsIAm aimed at delivering improved access to employment amongst autistic talent.

Autism in the workplace

The Autism in the Workplace Report surveys both employers and members of the autistic community on their differing experiences and perceptions of autism within the Irish workplace. According to its findings, almost four in five autistic people in Ireland face barriers to getting the job they want, with 72% citing that having to mask or hide their autistic traits to fit in with colleagues as one of the main barriers to finding the right role.

The report suggests a clear lack of understanding of autism on the part of employers, making it all the more difficult for autistic employees to disclose their diagnosis. It found that three in four employers (75%) feel that their organisations staff do not know enough about autism to support an autistic colleague. 76% of organisations lack a dedicated autism-friendly workplace policy.

Other common barriers to employment cited within the research include:

Explaining your diagnosis and access needs to managers or colleagues (66%)

Navigating the job interview process (63%)

Outdated perceptions of autism among employers (63%)

Different communication styles not being recognised or accommodated (61%)

Pressure to adhere to workplace social rules or norms that you do not know about (58%)

Less than three in ten (29%) organisations currently employ, or are aware of employing, autistic individuals. Among this cohort of employers, all recognise (100%) that these autistic employees made a positive contribution to the workplace.

Other key findings amongst the employers include:

56% of employers have had challenges filling roles due to lack of suitable candidates.

85% believe an autistic person could make a positive contribution in the workplace.

75% believe their current application and interview process would be accessible to an autistic person, yet only 25% of employers have made reasonable accommodations for autistic candidates in their recruitment or interview processes.

16% of employers provide employment opportunities for autistic individuals with higher support needs.

Available Government supports

The Irish Government provides a number of supports for employers hiring autistic individuals, however the research demonstrates a clear lack of awareness and deployment of these supports.

According to the research, only 16% of employers are aware of the various Government supports or schemes available toward recruiting and retaining autistic talent and only two per cent of employers have availed of these supports. In total, 91% of employers believe there are insufficient supports and information for employers looking to recruit autistic individuals.

IrishJobs.ie/AsIAm partnership

Central to the IrishJobs.ie and AsIAm partnership will be a series of masterclasses, training programmes and toolkits designed to educate employers on how best to support autistic employees and prospective employees, and in doing so, assist employers in tapping into this often-overlooked pool of talent. These new employer resources will cover themes including recruitment and onboarding, workplace culture and attitudes to neurodiversity, self-advocacy in the workplace and career progression and personal development.

Speaking at the launch of the new partnership, Orla Moran, General Manager of IrishJobs.ie, said Diversity and inclusion have become an increasingly prominent theme among employers in recent years, and there is a genuine recognition in industry that more needs to be done in this space. However, despite recent progress, autism is all too frequently either overlooked or misunderstood when we talk about workplace diversity and inclusion. Frustratingly, at a time when more than half of employers are struggling to meet their recruitment needs, many are missing a trick by not tapping into this talent pool. Furthermore, many employers are unaware of the various Government and charitable supports available to those open to recruiting in this space.

According to Ms Moran: IrishJobs.ie is uniquely placed in its understanding of the employment and workplace landscape and the challenges and issues facing both employers and candidates. We are therefore excited to announce our new partnership with AsIAm and look forward to utilising our shared expertise to deliver meaningful progress for the autistic community across Irish workplace cultures and practices.

This journey starts with the rollout of our new series of employer masterclasses and training programmes. In short, IrishJobs.ie and AsIAm are determined to deliver a tangible growth in the number of autistic people employed across Ireland, and ultimately we see this as a win-win outcome for both employers and employees.

Commenting on the research findings Adam Harris, Chief Executive of AsIAm: This report highlights the very real barriers that exist for autistic people in securing employment. We need to address this as a matter of urgency, to understanding and engagement amongst employers so that we create an environment in which autistic people have a real opportunity of inclusivity in the workplace. Autistic people are as diverse as the society we live in and are already making contributions to communities across Ireland. We need to work together to educate companies on the huge contribution autistic people can make to the workforce and on the valuable contribution they can make to the economy. Our aim is to have a more inclusive society which is fair to autistic people and as we emerge from this pandemic we have an amazing opportunity to start afresh, to create a workforce which truly accepts autistic people - valuing our contribution, meeting our needs and working together.
An equalities activist has become the first black man to be elected head of an Oxbridge college.

Lord Simon Woolley, 59, founding director of Operation Black Vote, will be the next principal of Homerton College, Cambridge.

He is the third black person to be elected as head of an Oxbridge college.

Sonita Alleyne, 53, was elected as head of Jesus College, Cambridge in 2019 and Baroness Amos, 67, at University College, Oxford in 2020.

Lord Woolley was fostered and then adopted as a small child, growing up on a council estate in Leicester.

He left school with no A-levels and returned to formal study via an access course, later gaining a degree in Spanish and English Literature at Middlesex University and a master's in Hispanic Studies at Queen Mary University of London.

Lord Simon Woolley, 59, founding director of Operation Black Vote, will be the next principal of Homerton College, Cambridge

Formerly an Equality and Human Rights Commissioner, Lord Woolley was appointed by Theresa May in 2018 to lead the Government's Race Disparity Unit.

He said: 'I'm excited to get to know the staff and students in Homerton and the wider University of Cambridge, and I'm excited for the next part of Homerton's journey.'

Lord Woolley was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2019 and was created a life peer later that year.

He sits as a crossbencher in the House of Lords.

He added: 'What a truly great honour to be appointed the next principal of Homerton College.

Lord Woolley was fostered and then adopted as a small child, growing up on a council estate in Leicester

'Its history, from its origins in the East End of London, and its values of inclusion, dynamism and integrity, along with its vision to be a beacon of hope and academic excellence, make this a must-have role.

'It's a great privilege to follow in the footsteps of Professor Geoff Ward, and I hope I can balance the college's friendliness and warmth with ambition, as he has done so well.'

Professor Ward, congratulating Lord Woolley on his election, said: 'Throughout my time as principal, I have taken great pleasure from the Homerton community, particularly our magnificent students, and I am sure he will get a warm welcome from them too.

'One of the glories of Homerton is that it is never the same today as it was yesterday, and I wish Simon every success in leading the college to ever greater heights.'
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Areas of patchy fog. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Areas of patchy fog. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Babies can recognize combinations of words even before they have uttered their first word, a study suggests, challenging ideas of how children learn language

Babies can recognise combinations of words even before they have uttered their first word, a study suggests, challenging ideas of how children learn language.

Assessments in 11-12 month-olds show that infants at the cusp of talking are already processing multiword phrases such as 'clap your hands'.

Researchers say the study is the first to provide evidence that young children can pick up and understand multiword sequences before they can talk or begin producing such combinations themselves.

The findings suggest that babies learn individual words and more complex phrases at the same time, which challenges the perspective that they progress from single words to phrases and sentences, experts say.

It may also explain why adults who learn a new language in later life by focusing on individual words often do not achieve native-like proficiency.

Linguists at the University of Edinburgh assessed 36 infants' language learning behaviour in a series of attention tests using recorded adult speech.

They looked at how the babies responded to multiword combinations of three-word sequences used in parent-child conversations.

The researchers compared the infants' responses using a testing method called central fixation, which measures infants' looking behaviour in response to sounds.

They assessed if the babies could distinguish more frequently used three-word sequences such as 'clap your hands' from similar but less common phrases such as 'take your hands'.

On average, fixation times were longer for the frequently used phrases. This pattern was found in 23 of the 36 infants.

Researchers say this suggests babies who are still learning their first words are simultaneously learning word combinations.

This development happens months before parents hear their children's first attempts at sequences of words, experts say.

Dr Barbora Skarabela, of the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Languages Sciences, said: "Previous research has shown that young infants recognise many common words. But this is the first study that shows that infants extract and store more than just single words from everyday speech. This suggests that when children learn language, they build on linguistic units of varying sizes, including multiword sequences, and not just single words as we often assume. This may explain why adults learning a second language, who tend to rely on individual words, often fall short of reaching native-like proficiency in the way they string words together into phrases and sentences."

###

The study is published in Cognition - https:/ / authors. elsevier. com/ a/ 1cYnj2Hx2luLz (doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104612).

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem contributed to the study.
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A growing number of young people are identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and many are challenging binaries in gender and sexual identity to reflect a broader spectrum of experience beyond man or woman and gay or straight. But not everyone is participating equally in these diverse forms of expression, according to new research from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Psychology Professor Phillip Hammack's latest paper, published in the Journal of Adolescent Research, is shedding light on the social factors that can either hinder or support expression of diversity in sexual and gender identity among teens and young adults. In particular, regional differences and pressures to conform to masculinity may have a dampening effect on expression.

Hammack's research focused on teens between the ages of 14 and 18, who are among the younger members of Generation Z. Researchers wanted an in-depth understanding of these young people's experiences, so they performed detailed research at a small number of field sites in the San Francisco Bay Area and California's Central Valley.

These sites were selected to represent higher and lower levels of resources, rights, and visibility for sexual and gender diversity. Within these communities, researchers surveyed 314 LGBTQ+ teens and conducted extensive interviews with 28 LGBTQ+ youth informants and 24 adult LGBTQ+ leaders.

Almost a quarter of all LGBTQ+ youth surveyed expressed some form of nonbinary gender, and use of they/them pronouns was common. But there was a difference of more than 11 percentage points in the proportion of youth expressing nonbinary gender identity in the Bay Area compared to the Central Valley. Some study participants told researchers that, while they felt diverse sexuality is becoming more broadly normalized, gender diversity is still less accepted.

Researchers found that there was also less open discussion of sexual diversity in Central Valley communities compared to the Bay Area, but in this case, there was no corresponding difference in diversity of sexuality labeling. Study participants often mentioned finding information through the internet and social media, rather than their geographic communities.

"Being online is kind of like the great equalizer for LGBTQ youth, and I think that benefits them all tremendously," Hammack said.

Researchers also noticed that teens who were assigned female at birth seemed more comfortable with diverse forms of gender expression. Among teens in the study group who identified with a nonbinary gender label, 78.7 percent were assigned female at birth. There were also notably more transgender boys in the study than transgender girls.

During interviews, study participants consistently shared stories of how those who were assigned male at birth faced strong pressures to conform to standards of masculinity. Accounts of violence against transgender women of color were common in interviews, along with other fears that it might not be safe for those assigned male at birth to express nonconforming gender or sexual identities.

Hammack said he believes harmful "regulation of masculinity" may stem from feelings of insecurity among boys as gender hierarchies are being challenged. The paper's documentation of these trends contributes to the future of LGBTQ+ research and support.

Ultimately, perceptions of gender and sexuality labels can affect which types of resources are most accessible for teens. For example, Hammack said that cisgender gay males in the research areas were noticeably missing from LGBTQ+ support groups, which may indicate that these spaces are being perceived as "feminine."

Similarly, the study found that some identity labels are racialized in ways that may make boys of color less likely to identify with them. But targeted recruitment efforts could help LGBTQ+ support groups for teens to better reflect the true diversity of the community.

Hammack hopes his research might offer a window into that diversity to create greater acceptance and recognition across all labels.

"I've actually been trying to shift my speech away from saying LGBTQ+, with that uncomfortable plus sign, because there are so many identities that are not captured within that label," Hammack said. "I've been thinking about these issues instead as phenomena of sexual and gender diversity, and I'd like to see more researchers and educators recognizing those nuances within the community."

###




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Phantom 509 : Abelson Gros Negre at the National Penitentiary

Following the arrest on Saturday of the dismissed former police officer and former spokesperson for the PNH union, Abelson Gros Negre who was the subject of a wanted notice https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-33345-icihaiti-justice-arrest-of-two-members-of-fantome-509.html , Me Bed Ford Claude, the Government Commissioner of Port-au-Prince, ordered his imprisonment at the National Penitentiary. Abelson Gros Negre is accused, among other things : of assassination, attempted assassination, arson and destruction of public and private property.



Constitution : Words of Moise and Lambert

As part of the 34th anniversary of the 1987 Constitution (Monday March 29), President Jovenel Moise and Senator Joseph Lambert, President of the Senate declared :



"The 1987 Constitution established many gains, but has had its day. We must have the courage to adopt another which, through futuristic arrangements, will lead Haiti to a more balanced political regime that is less likely to cause instability," Jovenel Moise, President of Haiti



"Our constitution, during its 34 years, has kept our democracy. This text ratified by the Haitian people marked the break with the old regime. It carries within itself the modalities of its transformation. Any revision of this social contract requires broad agreement," Joseph Lambert President of the Senate



Brazil VISA NOTICE

The Brazil Visa Application Center (BVAC) informs the general public that the system for making new appointments remains closed until now. Information will be shared on the re-opening in due course. Thank you for your patience.



Argentina : Haiti commemorates Petion

March 29, 1818 - March 29, 2021 - The Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Argentina organized a flower offering in commemoration of the death of President Alexandre Petion, in Petion Square, in front of the Embassy.



Dr. Jean William Pape appointed to the WHO Scientific Council

Dr. Jean William Pape, member of the Scientific Unit for the Management of the Health Crisis and Executive Director of the GHESKIO Centers has been appointed to the Scientific Council of the World Health Organization (WHO). The Council is currently composed of 9 members including 2 Nobel Prize winners.



Tennis : Naomi Osaka could become world #1 again

The proud Japanese tennis player of her Haitian origin, Naomi Osaka (world number 2) qualified in the 8th finals of the Miami Tournament. If Naomi wins this tournament, she will take the lead of the WTA world rankings



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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13:59 | Arequipa (Arequipa region), Mar. 30.





Speaking from Arequipa, where he delivered complete sets of ICU equipment to two hospitals, the Head of State affirmed that the situation in Chile which has postponed its Constitutional Assembly election is different from that of Peru.





"Under no circumstances (will elections be suspended). The situation in Chile is different from that of Peru. Chile is facing a more complicated situation, and it is due to elect a Constitutional Assembly, while we will elect a President and Congress here," he explained.









Vaccination

In addition, the Peruvian leader stated that the Government is taking measures to prevent people from jumping the queue in the vaccination process, which began with forefront healthcare workers and then covered members of the Armed Forces and National Police, firefighters, as well as people over 80 years.

The country's top official said that the Government expects to vaccinate 3.5 million Peruvians by July 28 this year, but if the vaccine purchase negotiations are successful, this number could triple.





(END) FHG/RMB





The President of the Republic Francisco Sagasti on Tuesday affirmed that general elections will be held inevitably on April 11, following the protocols established by electoral authorities and the Ministry of Health (Minsa).Published: 3/30/2021
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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews for the last time as President on Jan. 20, 2021. (Pete Marovich for The New York Times)

Trump Launches New Personal Website

Former President Donald Trump launched a new website on March 29 dedicated to preserving the legacy of his administration and his post-presidency activism.

The Office of Donald J. Trump is committed to preserving the magnificent legacy of the Trump Administration, while at the same time advancing the America First agenda, the landing page of 45office.com states.

Through civic engagement and public activism, the Office of Donald J. Trump will strive to inform, educate, and inspire Americans from all walks of life as we seek to build a truly great American Future. Through this office, President Trump will remain a tireless champion for the hardworking men and women of our great countryand for their right to live in safety, dignity, prosperity, and peace.

The websites About page celebrates the former presidents legacy on key policy issues, including the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the crisis on the southern border, and securing peace deals in the Middle East.

Whether it was combating the virus, fighting foreign terrorists, creating jobs, securing Americas borders, unleashing American energy, revitalizing American patriotism, or restoring the American spirit, President Trump never wavered in defense of our values, our families, our traditions, and our freedom, the page states. President Trump knows that as long as we remain faithful to our citizens, our country, and our God, then Americas best days are yet to come.

The 45office.com website was registered on Jan. 12, a week before Trump departed the White House. Aside from a basic black-and-white logo, the page remained blank until March 29. Some of Trumps statements have been posted on donaldjtrump.com, a website that used to serve as the main portal for the Trump campaign.

The revamping of donaldjtrump.com and the launch of 45office.com mark Trumps first digital footprints after social media giants Twitter and Facebook banned him from their platforms.

The former president is now working on a social media platform of his own. Former senior Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski described the platform as an interactive communications tool that will allow Trumps followers to view, respond to, and share Trumps messages.
The Director of Communications at the Office of the President, Mr Eugene Arhin, has described as fake a list in circulating said to be deputy minister nominees which has been forwarded to Parliament by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



He called on all to disregard such lists and reports and said if such list was released he would be the first to communicate it to the country.



Facebook post



In a post on Facebook Monday [March 29, 2021], Mr Arhin said the list or report was completely fake and must be disregarded.



This list or report is completely fake. Kindly disregard. The President has not released any list of deputy ministers, neither has he submitted any such list to Parliament. If and when he does, you will see it here first, he stated.



Deputy Ministers list



For the past few weeks, supposed lists and publications of deputy minister nominees by the president had been circulating especially on social media with some of the names coming from personalities from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).











This list/report is completely FAKE, kindly disregard. The President has NOT released any list of Deputy Ministers,...

Posted by Eugene Arhin on Monday, March 29, 2021



Source: graphiconline.com









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Mercedes-Benz and Siemens will cooperate on advancing digitalization and automation in the automotive industry, supported by the State of Berlin. Mercedes-Benz AG aims to digitize its production processes. Siemens, a leading supplier in the field of automation, industrial software and smart infrastructure, will bring its expertise and technologies to the partnership to develop highly flexible, efficient and sustainable automotive production together with Mercedes-Benz.

The Mercedes-Benz Berlin-Marienfelde site in Germany will be transformed into a competence center for digitalization with a focus on the development and implementation of the digital Mercedes-Benz Cars ecosystem MO360, in addition to the redesign of production activities.





Berlin-Marienfelde site to become competence center for the digitalization of the global Mercedes-Benz production network. Focus is set on the development and implementation of MO360, the digital Mercedes-Benz production ecosystem.

In the future, e-mobility components will also be assembled in Berlin. The company wants to secure the future for the Berlin plant, which is the oldest site in the Mercedes-Benz global powertrain production network.

The Mercedes-Benz Digital Factory Campus in Berlin is the technological and digital nucleus for the whole Mercedes-Benz Cars production network. Its objective is to roll out the new developments that have been tested in Berlin at the Mercedes-Benz plants worldwide and to provide the users with the required qualifications.

With the Werner-von-Siemens Center for Industry and Science in the Siemensstadt in Berlin, there is already an excellent wealth of experience that can be incorporated into the cooperation. With the synergies of the Siemensstadt2 and the Mercedes-Benz Digital Factory Campus Berlin, plants that represent the origin of industrialization in Germany, will be transformed into two modern digital sites.

Siemens automation and software solutions lay the foundation for the digital transformation of automotive production. The physical and virtual worlds as well as operational technology and IT can be combined with them. This opens up new possibilities for gathering, understanding and using the huge amounts of data generated in engineering and production. With IoT applications, for example, production processes can be made much more flexible and energy efficient.

The State Government of Berlin welcomes and supports both the clear commitment to the production and innovation location, the transformation and the cooperation between the two companies. The State of Berlin will support the partnership, which is part of the excellent science and start-up landscape in Berlin. Against this background, the Governing Mayor of Berlin will sponsor the cooperation.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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

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Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia
Survivors of an ISIL attack on the town of Palma in Mozambique make their way to safety - but there are warnings the death toll is likely to rise.

Video Transcript

HARU MUTASA: Now safe in the port city of Pemba, people who survived the attack on Palma say they are lucky to be alive. Anxious relatives and friends have been waiting for them to arrive. Fighting between Mozambique's army and an armed group that calls itself Al-Shabaab has been going on for days in Palma.

ISMAR NORDINO: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

INTERPRETER: There are workers missing. There's no communication. There are workers have left guards, have left their company, trucks, machines. I don't know what they left there. I came just with these clothes.

HARU MUTASA: South African Adrian Nel was killed trying to escape. The father of three was traveling in a convoy which was ambushed by the armed group. His father and brother hid his body in the bush until they were able to make it to safety in Pemba.

MERYL KNOX: My son was killed unnecessarily. So-- and then a very violent and unacceptable way. He was just such a kind, loving, joyful person and certainly didn't deserve to die like that. He's got a wife and three young children who have now got to grow up without him.

- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

HARU MUTASA: On Monday ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack on Palma. Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique is where most of the major gas discoveries have been made in recent years, but it's been racked with violence.

MARTIN EWI: I don't think that Mozambique can defeat the insurgency that we are seeing in northern Mozambique, because no single government has managed to do so. Nigeria could be I don't know how many times richer than Mozambique. It has still not been able to eliminate Boko Haram. It has still not been able to eliminate the insurgency in the Niger delta region. So I think we shouldn't dream that Mozambique alone can find a solution to what is happening in Cabo Delgado.

HARU MUTASA: As evacuations continue, security forces say they are trying to secure Palma. The exact number of people killed, injured, and unaccounted for is still unknown. Humanitarian workers warn the numbers will rise as fighting continues in parts of northern Mozambique.

Haru Mutasa, Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, opening day for the Cubs and White Sox is quickly approaching, and although there will be some fans in the stands, this year will look different from years past. No matter where youre planning to cheer on your favorite team, we want to hear from you about your favorite opening-day memories. Tell us here.
An inner-Brisbane cafe, Gold Coast surf lifesaving competition and Darling Downs shopping centre are among more than a dozen new sites of concern for Queensland health authorities as efforts to contain an expanding cluster of COVID-19 cases ramp up.

Queensland Healths list of coronavirus exposure sites surpassed 80 venues after updates on Tuesday afternoon and revelations a Gold Coast man who worked as tradie and entertainer at a bachelorette party was among eight new community-transmitted cases.

The cases were reported by health authorities on Tuesday morning, with five of these infected by a nurse and her sister who attended the bachelorette party over the NSW border in Byron Bay.

Contact tracers were now attempting to follow two distinct clusters, which spread from an unvaccinated doctor and nurse working at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
The coastal city of Pescara is where youll find Filippo Barbacanes Officine Rossopuro, one of Italys go-to firms when it comes to fiddling with Mandello del Larios two-wheeled superstars. In the past, we featured a few of their juiciest exploits on these very pages, including a Griso 1200-based creature named Ipothesys and one graceful 850 T3 Today, well take a fresh look at the workshops portfolio to drool over a reworked Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans III dubbed Vitalis. Within its double-cradle frame, the stock-spec untamed brute packs a longitudinally mounted 844cc V-twin motor fed by dual DellOrto carbs with 36 mm (1.4 inches) throttle bodies.The air-cooled powerplant will generate 76 wicked ponies at approximately 7,700 revs and 55 pound-feet (75 Nm) of torque at 6,200 rpm. This force is carried to a shaft final drive via a five-speed gearbox, enabling the Guzzi to run the quarter-mile in 12.6 seconds at 106 mph (170 kph). Furthermore, the top speed is generously rated at 133 mph (214 kph).As for Rossopuros reborn titan, the Italian experts kicked things off by tweaking the machines subframe to tighten its proportions. Next, the original shock absorbers have been discarded in favor of gas-charged counterparts hailing from Ohlins beloved inventory. On the opposite end, suspension duties are taken good care of by top-shelf 45 mm (1.77 inches) Paioli forks.Furthermore, the front brakes received a pair of 320-mm (12.6-in) rotors and Brembo two-piston calipers to achieve ample stopping power. Barbacanes pros disposed of the bikes factory hoops to make room for laced aluminum alternatives that flaunt a diameter of 17 inches on both ends. Their tubeless rims are hugged tightly by Pirellis high-performance Phantom tires.You will also spot a custom swingarm holding the rear wheel in place while the stock bodywork has been replaced by an assortment of bespoke garments, such as a vintage-style front fairing, a handsome gas tank, and one neat tail section with cafe racer vibes. Vitalis  revised cockpit comes equipped with an Acewell speedometer that keeps it free of any unwanted clutter.The finishing touches consist of aluminum fenders, rear-mounted foot pegs, and a one-off top clamp gripping the fresh fork legs. Finally, an aftermarket exhaust system topped with reverse megaphone mufflers allows the V-twin engine to breathe a little more freely.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  President Rodrigo Duterte approved on Monday a supplemental amelioration program for low-income residents of Metro Manila and four nearby provinces, which were placed under enhanced community quarantine until April 4 due to rising COVID-19 cases.

"'Yung mga nadiskaril sa finances nila, 'yung mga naghirap sa pera dahil hindi makalabas, dasal lang kayo. We will give you the ayuda," said Duterte during the weekly Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases meeting.

[Translation: Those whose finances got derailed and lost their income because they cannot go out, just pray. We will give you the assistance.]

Budget Sec. Wendel Avisado said the aid that will be given by the national government will be in kind and will be coursed through local government units.

"Wala po tayong cash dito. We will leave it to the local government units dahil sila po talaga ang first line na pinupuntahan ng mga tao, na sila ang mag-allocate nito," Avisado told the President.

[Translation: We will not distribute cash. We will leave it to the local government units because they are really the first line where people go to and they should be the ones to allocate it.]

Close to 23 million low-income individuals from Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna will receive an in-kind doleout worth 1,000. The aid will be limited to a maximum of four members per family.

Avisado said the Budget Department will release around 23 billion to LGUs in the five ECQ areas for the distribution of goods. The funding came from Bureau of Treasury-certified sources as stipulated in the Bayanihan 2 law, such as debt exchange transactions, savings from interest payments, additional revenues, available cash balances, and revenues from government securities.

Avisado also assured Duterte the disbursement of funds for the in-kind assistance does not need the concurrence of Congress as the Bayanihan 2 law grants the President an authority to use any unutilized funds meant for pandemic response.

"Wala po tayong ginalaw na budget for this year dahil ito po 'yung mga sobra na hindi pa natin nagagamit," said Avisado.

[Translation: We did not get any funds from this year's national budget because the allocation came from our savings.]

The Budget secretary explained the audit of funds will be the same as the cash aid given during the first months of the lockdown last year, where LGUs will submit the list of beneficiaries and disbursement report to check how they spent the funds.

"Siguruhin nila na maibibigay nila, kung hindi mananagot po talaga sila, ang mga mayors natin. Sa kanila pong nakasalalay ang madaliang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa kanilang mga nasasakupan," said Avisado.

[Translation: The LGUs should guarantee the distribution of the allotted funds, or else the mayors will be held accountable. It is up to them to provide immediate assistance to their constituents.]

Duterte advised Avisado to require LGUs to use the same list of beneficiaries who received cash aid under the Bayanihan 1 law for the speedy distribution of the in-kind assistance.

"They (LGUs) should adopt our list in Bayanihan 1 because that would ensure that the real benefits are given to the real person," the President said.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act or Bayanihan 1 implemented in 2020, a 5,000 to 8,000 subsidy was given to each pandemic-hit low-income household.
She first rose to prominence in the nineties, starring in hits such as American Pie.

And Tara Reid, 45, looked as youthful as ever as she attended the ScotWeek red carpet launch party celebrating Scottish Culture And Excellence on Monday.

The former teen movie actress, who is of Scottish decent, showed off her lean figure on the red carpet in turquoise pants and a matching animal-print shirt.

Making an appearance: Tara Reid, 45, looked as youthful as ever as she attended the ScotWeek red carpet launch party celebrating Scottish Culture And Excellence

The annual event was held at Fairmont Miramar - Hotel & Bungalows in the Santa Monica neighborhood of Los Angeles.

She also wore brown platform shoes and had her blonde tresses styled long and straight and with a part in the middle.

At times Reid struck a number of poses in front of photographers solo, and then there were moments where she shared the spotlight with two dogs, believed to be her beloved Yorkies Beso and Bella.

The previous day, Reid took to her Instagram Story and shared video clips of her oceanside view from her hotel room at the Fairmont Miramar.

Four-legged family: The American Pie alum also posed with two dogs, believed to be her beloved Beso and Bella, at the ScotWeek event

Working with color: The former teen movie actress showed off her lean figure on the red carpet in turquoise pants and a matching animal-print shirt, along with one of her pooches

ScotWeek is a non-profit cultural educational organization started in Los Angeles in 2020 to highlight creativity, education, culture and charity.

Every April, ScotWeek will host a program of events promoting Scottish culture and excellence across multiple industries in order to facilitate and cultivate education including, film & television, music, art, fashion, design, sport, philanthropy, innovation, among others.

Some of the organization's charitable work includes an educational scholarship program, while studies include the arts, science, medicine, and business.

Scottish pride: : ScotWeek is a non-profit cultural educational organization started in Los Angeles in 2020 to highlight creativity, education, culture and charity.

Teen scream: Reid first made waves in Hollywood in the slasher film, Urban Legend (1998)

Making her mark: The New Jersey native went to greater fame with her roles in the American Pie film franchise that began in 1999

Reid is currently working on the thriller film Supersonic, which she stars opposite Michael Pare.

The New Jersey native is best known to most fans for her roles in Urban Legend (1998), Cruel Intentions (1999), as well as three of the four American Pie comedy films (1999-2012).

More recently, she has played April Wexler in all six of the Sharknado films that aired on the Syfy channel (2013-2018).

Promo mode: The previous day, the Sharknado star shared video clips of the ocean from her hotel room at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica

Mother nature's best: The actress also caught the beautiful sunset of Sunday night on camera
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Protesters have gathered for the fourth time in 10 days in Bristol for a Kill the Bill demonstration.

About a hundred people have met on College Green to rally against the Governments Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

In a tweet on Tuesday night as the demonstration began, Avon and Somerset Police said officers have engaged with a number of people who have gathered on College Green in Bristol for a planned protest.

Kill The Bill protesters in Bristol (Ben Birchall/PA)

The force, which said around a hundred people were in attendance so far, added that its aim was to facilitate a peaceful protest which complies with the legislation.

There have been three demonstrations in Bristol since March 21 against the proposed legislation, with violence erupting on each occasion.

Last Friday night 10 arrests were made, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel condemning the scenes.

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Some 300 people initially joined a protest march before the crowd swelled to more than 1,000 as tempers flared.

Avon and Somerset Police said glass bottles, bricks and eggs were thrown at officers and fireworks were launched at its mounted division, with one horse being daubed with paint.

The first protest descended into a riot when some 500 people marched on Bridewell police station and set fire to police vehicles and attacked the station.

The following Tuesday there was a further demonstration with 15 arrests made after trouble flared when police began moving protesters from College Green.

Avon and Somerset Police said its aim was to facilitate a peaceful protest which complies with the legislation (Ben Birchall/PA)

Ahead of the fourth event, police had urged organisers to engage with the force due to changes in the coronavirus regulations that now allow peaceful protests.

Superintendent Mark Runacres, Bristol area commander, said: Following changes to Covid regulations, there is now an exemption to allow peaceful protests.

We do understand the strength of opposition to the new legislation being debated in Parliament but were asking people to exercise their right to protest responsibly due to the clear health concerns.

The proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance, with those convicted liable to fines or jail terms.
The need for an entirely new tier in the supply chain reflects the automotive industry's fundamental transformation in recent decades. As technology continues to evolve and consumer demands rapidly change, the automotive industry has been facing a paradigm shift in market expectationsparticularly, where consumers expect a more immersive in-vehicle experience. However, increasing vehicle connectivity poses a major cybersecurity challenge for the industry.

GuardKnox created the Cybertech Tier to address these very issues. GuardKnox designed the tier to help the automotive industry embrace new technologies that power high-performance, secure-by-design vehicles consumers are demanding. While other cybersecurity solutions embed software into ECUs to protect systems, GuardKnox's products serve as a complete domain controller for network-level protection and effectively secure all network communication and ECUs from hacks and intrusions serving as the foundation for an immersive, personalized in-vehicle experience. GuardKnox's solutions enable data and application hosting, processing, and storing, but in a secure environment.

"GuardKnox is on track to develop even more high-performing, scalable products that thwart cyber attacks, enable an improved end-user experience, and generate additional revenue opportunities for automotive OEMs," said Vinay Venkatesan, Consultant at Frost & Sullivan. "GuardKnox's mission has been backed by major players, including NXP Semiconductors, Faurecia, and Green Hills Software, and it has gained support from many global entities including Fraser McCombs Capital, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), Plug and Play, the Livnat Family, Allied, and Kardan. GuardKnox also received investment from a group of esteemed European executives, including Dr. Paul Achleitner, Dr. Juergen Hambrecht, Dr. Kurt Lauk, Prof. Dr. Roland Berger, Michael Diekmann, and Peter Loescher, among others. We expect these partnerships and investments will help GuardKnox expand its footprint and leadership globally in the coming months."

GuardKnox's end-to-end solution developed through collaborations with numerous cloud service and security providers has enabled a variety of new services based on the secure transmission of information between service providers or operational centers and the vehicles. The solution empowers OEM vendors to secure over-the-air communication among the vehicle, the cloud, and their operation centers using the GuardKnox platform. The GuardKnox Communication Lockdown Methodology provides robust, verifiable, and efficient attack resistance capabilities, unlike competing solutions that heavily rely on IT or learning solutions that require constant connectivity, network scanning, and machine learning.

"The company's patented comprehensive hardware and software in-vehicle solutions can easily integrate with vehicle systems during the production process," noted Venkatesan. "Due to GuardKnox's high-performance and computing capabilities, secure software firmware and hardware upgrades are enabled over-the-air, thus eliminating the need for additional, expensive hardware."

"We are honored to be recognized by Frost & Sullivan for such a prestigious award; the acknowledgment only further backs our vision to empower the automotive industry with the freedom to evolve safely to meet the changing needs of drivers and their vehicles," said Moshe Shlisel, co-founder and CEO of GuardKnox. "Drivers are demanding a personalized, in-vehicle experience, which mirrors the capabilities of their smartphones. As players in the automotive industry, it's our job to deliver the "iPhone-ization" of vehicles that customers seek, enabling seamless integration of app stores, gaming, and more, but without putting them at increased risk of cyberattack."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan bestows this award upon the company that demonstrates excellence in growth and customer value. It recognizes the superiority of the product/service and the overall customer, purchase, ownership, and service experience offered, which has resulted in the recipient company seeing above-market growth and a greater share of wallet. The award lauds the growth, diversification, and sustainability strategies of the company.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify the industry's best practices.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Bianca Torres

P: 12104778418

E: [email protected]

About Guardknox Cyber Technologies Ltd.

About GuardKnox

GuardKnox is the automotive industry's first Cybertech Tier supplier empowering OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and the aftermarket to deliver the next generation of software-defined and service-oriented vehicles. GuardKnox's flexible and scalable solutions allow for added connectivity, zonal E/E architecture, hosted applications, high-speed routing (including network recovery and service discovery functionalities), vehicle personalization, and security. The company's pioneering approach to automotive innovation is inspired by technology from the aviation industry, providing GuardKnox with the experience needed to develop secure, high-performance computing solutions using a patented Services-Oriented Architecture (SOA). Founded in 2016, GuardKnox is based in Israel, with subsidiary locations in Stuttgart, Germany, and Detroit, Michigan.

GuardKnox Media Contact

Garrett Krivicich

[email protected]

+1 786 233 7684

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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The coronavirus probably spread from bats to humans via another animal, according to the long-awaited results of a joint World Health Organization-China study into the origins of Covid-19.

The authors suggest that the most productive research would be to find such an animal link, saying the hypothesis of lab leaks was extremely unlikely, according to a draft of the report, which was obtained by Bloomberg News before its due to be published Tuesday. The scientists suggested future studies take a wider geographical approach, including Southeast Asia, and investigate susceptible animal species more closely.

The findings mirror what researchers said last month, at the end of their mission to Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the first Covid cases emerged at the end of 2019, and in their subsequent public comments. Possible host species include mink, pangolins, rabbits and ferret badgers, the report said.

The hunt for the viruss origin has been shrouded in controversy since the start of the pandemic, with China criticized for delaying access to scientists and both Beijing and Washington pushing alternative theories about how Covid began. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday all hypotheses are on the table and warrant complete and further studies. The expert team will brief member states on Tuesday and will then publish the report to the public.





ALSO READ: WHO dismisses 'lab leak' theory of coronavirus origin in Wuhan, China

The Associated Press published comments from the report earlier. It was conducted by a team made up of both international and Chinese experts. The has repeatedly said the reports conclusions are independent and belong to the authors.

Pandemic prevention

While the search has become highly politicized, governments and scientists agree that deciphering the viruss creation story is key to reducing the risk of future pandemics. The research was aimed at galvanizing efforts to trace the origin of the virus that touched off the worst pandemic in more than a century, as well as its route of transmission to humans and the possible role of an intermediate animal host.

A spillover from bats via another animal is the most likely scenario in the report, followed by direct spillover. Introduction through frozen food was deemed possible, and a laboratory accident considered extremely unlikely.

Still, the report noted that the Wuhan CDC laboratory moved in early December to a location near the Huanan market, and such moves can be disruptive for the operations of any laboratory.

However, the research center didnt report any disruptions or incidents that would have been caused by the move, and it wasnt storing or testing coronaviruses or bat viruses ahead of the outbreak, the report said. The authors also said that the three laboratories working in Wuhan on coronaviruses and vaccines had high biosafety levels and there was no evidence of Covid spreading among workers there.



ALSO READ: Covid-19: After WHO's probe in Wuhan, China calls for origin tracing in US

The U.S. government has questioned whether the WHO-convened experts were given enough access to reach a reliable conclusion. Top Biden administration officials on Sunday expressed concern about the way the WHO-China report was crafted, including the possibility that the Chinese government had a hand in writing it.

The U.S. has real concerns about the methodology and the process of the report, including that the Chinese government apparently helped to write it, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on CNN.

China has been trying to deflect criticism of its handling of the pandemic amid growing scrutiny over the pathogens origins, including speculation promoted by the former Trump administration that the SARS-CoV-2 virus leaked from a Wuhan lab.

Beijing has suggested the virus may have arrived in China through refrigerated goods and has urged the to carry out investigations in other countries.

(With assistance from Ros Krasny and Tony Czuczka.)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 17:45:26|Editor: huaxia

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The murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin charged with killing African American George Floyd in late May last year officially got underway in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Monday.

The trial is expected to last several weeks.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
U.S. President Joe Biden has picked Daniel Kritenbrink, U.S. ambassador to Vietnam and former deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, to be assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, the White House announced Friday.

Kritenbrink is an American career diplomat with nearly 30 years experience, including as an Asia policy adviser to former President Barack Obama. An expert on East Asian affairs, he speaks fluent Chinese and Japanese. His appointment will take effect after Senate confirmation.

A veteran of two separate postings to Beijing, he was a political officer from 2006 to 2009 and deputy chief of mission and political minister counselor from 2011 to 2015. In November 2013, he became charge d'affaires following the resignation of then U.S. ambassador Gary Locke, holding the position until Max Baucus was made ambassador in March 2014.

Kritenbrink named himself Kang Da () in Chinese, meaning good health and career. His wife is a Japanese American.

If confirmed, Kritenbrink will succeed David Stilwell, who stepped down at the end of the Trump administration. A Korean American diplomat and U.S. ambassador to Indonesia, Sung Kim, is currently acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

Kritenbrink's nomination to the job came as no surprise and he also had been regarded as a possible candidate for the role of ambassador to China.

From 1994 to 2004, he held posts at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, the U.S. Consulate General in Sapporo, and the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait. After returning to the U.S., he became Asia policy adviser to the National Security Council and director of the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs at the State Department under Obama.





As U.S. ambassador to Vietnam and senior adviser for North Korean policy during the Trump administration, he stressed the importance to the U.S. of the South China Sea issue. In a 2016 article, he outlined the U.S. and Vietnam's adherence to international law stance, and reiterated the U.S. tough stance toward China on related issues.

Kritenbrink was deeply involved in preparations for the February 2019 Hanoi summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

According to Foreign Policy magazine, the staffing of Biden's National Security Councils Indo-Pacific Affairs team shows how much importance the administration attaches to the region.

Some current and former officials of the NSC have confirmed that there will be nearly 20 officials in the directorate once it is fully staffed, making it the largest branch of the agency, the magazine said.

Most observers of American foreign policy believe that compared with the Obama era, the foreign policy focus of the current administration will further tilt toward the Indo-Pacific region. In terms of top diplomatic appointments, the administration has included more professional bureaucrats and young experts who are proficient in Chinese and other Asian languages.

Michael Green, senior director of Asia-Pacific Affairs for the NSC during George W. Bush's administration, said that in the past the Europe Directorate was three times larger than that for Asia, but today is the opposite.

In addition to more staff, the Biden administration has also created the new NSC position called coordinator for the Indo-Pacific. It is held by foreign policy veteran, Kurt Campbell, who oversees inter-agency policy that deals with changes and challenges in the region, especially involving China. His team has three senior directors, for China, South Asia, as well as East Asia and Oceania.

Laura Rosenberger becomes senior director for China at the NSC. She was chief of staff to Secretary of State Tony Blinken and also a foreign policy advisor for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

As director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a U.S. liberal think tank, Rosenberg conducted research into the manipulation of false information on the Internet and the impact of information warfare on the "democratic system."

Under her leadership, there will be two directors responsible for China affairs, Rush Doshi and Julian Gewirtz, two relative newcomers who can communicate in Chinese and have experience on exchange or studying in China.

The Biden administration is yet to announce its nomination for U.S. ambassador to China.

Obamas first chief of staff and former mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, and former U.S. deputy secretary of state, Nicholas Burns, are major candidates, according to U.S. media. The position has been vacant since Edward Branstad's resignation in October 2020.

Contact reporter Guo Xin (xinguo@caixin.com) and editor Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com)

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Health official proud of residents turning out for vaccine shots
Royal Mail will pay a one-off dividend for the year ending in March as it confirmed its previous profit upgrade after a rise in parcel demand during the pandemic continued into the new year.

The FTSE 250 listed company said trading was in line with expectations, with adjusted operating profit set to come in at 700million, more than double last year's 325million.

On the back of the strength of trading, Royal Mail said it was 'appropriate' to pay a one-off final dividend of 10p, adding that it would unveil a new dividend policy along its annual results in May.

Dividend payouts: Royal Mail said it will pay a one-off final dividend of 10p this year

The announcement delivered yet more good news to the firm's army of investors, with shares rising 2 per cent, or 10.40p, to 520.40p towards market close on Tuesday.

That takes the stock's gains over the past year to 290 per cent, which compares to a much smaller rise of 47 per cent for the wider FTSE 250.

'Such has been the strength of the rise that Royal Mail would be a strong contender to regain its FTSE100 status at the next reshuffle,' notes Richard Hunter at Interactive Investor.

'The company is currently being cheered from the sidelines by investors, with the market consensus having done a complete U-turn over the last year, now coming in at a strong buy on prospects.'

Before the pandemic, Royal Mail's share price had been in the doldrums with its efforts to modernise under former boss Rico Back floundering against union opposition.

But an explosion of online shopping during the coronavirus lockdowns has led to massive growth in parcel deliveries, with 2020 marking the best year for the stock since Royal Mail listed on the stock market in 2013 at 330p after being sold off by the state.

The company, which faced criticism over Christmas for serious delivery delay, had a record-breaking festive period as the pandemic fuelled an internet shopping boom and demand for parcels.

Even its ailing letters business, which has been in a steady decline as fewer people send letters these days, saw a smaller-than-expected fall.

For its Amsterdam-based business, General Logistics Systems, or GSL, Royal Mail outlined plans to focus on business-to-consumers and said it was targeting a 12 per cent rise in revenues over the next five years.

It expects operating profit at the business, which operates in around 40 countries in Europe and North America, to double to 500million.

Ascending: Royal Mail shares rose 290% over the past year, which compares to a much smaller rise of 47% for the wider FTSE 250

Nicholas Hyett, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said that if the UK business could emulate its international cousin the group would be 'home and dry'.

'Instead the UK is suffering after a period of chronic underinvestment, and the capital expenditure needed to make up the shortfall looks set to eat into shareholder returns for years to come,' he said.

Hunter added: 'The astonishing reversal of fortunes at Royal Mail continues as the momentum of bumper Christmas trading has spilled over into the new year.'

But he cautioned that despite the recent strong performance challenges remain for Royal Mail.

'Competition is particularly fierce in the parcels business and it is not yet clear whether the current volumes are at a temporary peak as customers have been driven to online shopping from their homes during the pandemic.

'At the same time, the effect on business volumes after the return to some kind of normality is also difficult to gauge, while hefty ongoing investment will be required to maintain progress so far.'
KYODO NEWS - Mar 30, 2021 - 20:10 | World, All

Tensions have been rising in Myanmar between armed ethnic minority groups and the military since the latter seized power in a coup last month, sparking massive anti-coup demonstrations across the country.

Those ethnic groups have long fought the military in seeking greater local autonomy in the Buddhist-majority but multiethnic country. Now some of the groups are providing protection to the protesters or attacking military bases.

As pro-democracy forces call on these groups to join hands, the military has conducted airstrikes in an area in eastern Kayin State controlled by the Karen National Union armed ethnic minority group.

"If possible, I would want to keep my stay temporary," a 53-year-old man said in Mae Hong Son, a northwestern Thai province that borders Myanmar, after crossing a river by boat from Kayin.

On Saturday, the military began airstrikes on the area he fled, in retaliation for a KNU attack on one of its bases earlier. About 5,000 people have since fled to neighboring Thailand, according to a Thai official.

In Myanmar there are about 20 insurgent forces. Of those, 10 groups such as the KNU have forged a cease-fire deal with the government.

The 10 groups have supported a so-called civil disobedience movement through which workers have walked out of their workplaces in protest against the coup. The KNU has even provided protection to demonstrators.

The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, a group set up by pro-democracy forces that oppose military rule, has been signaling to armed ethnic minority groups for possible cooperation.

Aung San Suu Kyi led a civilian government from 2016 until she was deposed in the Feb. 1 coup, pledging to give priority to forging peace with ethnic minority groups. But she was unable to make much progress on that front, leaving many people disappointed.

This time around, the CRPH, which consists mostly of members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party and fashions itself as a provisional government, has made it clear it is ready to give ethnic minority groups greater local autonomy.

On March 17, the CRPH announced plans to write a new constitution based on federalism and remove from a list of terrorist groups and unlawful associations "all ethnic armed revolutionary organizations...which have been fighting for the establishment of a federal democratic union."

But the 10 ethnic minority groups that have forged a cease-fire deal with the government are hardly united.

Khun Okka, the 74-year-old leader of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization, which forged the deal in 2015, said the group is in conflict with the military, not the CRPH. He said his group must prepare for necessary dialogue with the military.

Related coverage:

Death toll rises to 510 as protests continue in Myanmar
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Another savior is ready to go to Armenia  this time, the leader of the Union of Armenians in Russia (the UAR), a Russian businessman of Armenian origin Ara Abramyan wants to defend interests of common Armenians. He plans to participate in the early parliamentary elections on June 20th. He told about it in a video interview published on the official website of the UAR. He also said that hes deeply guilty of not fighting for a happy future of the Armenian peoples.

Abramyans successful business which includes the UAR founded in 2000 and other little-known foundations, as well as being acquainted with powerful Russian politicians and government members has many times egged on Ara Abramyans colonization of the Armenian political space. In 2017, he planned to participate in parliamentary elections intending to fill the political niche which was taken by Gagik Tsarukyans Prosperous Armenia Party at the time. However, Abramyans election campaign soon came to an end, as he has many blank spots in his biography. As a result, he limited himself to indefinite promises in line with populist patriotism.

Nikol Pashinyans revolution was met by Abramyan, as well as by the whole Armenian Diaspora in Russia, warily. Perhaps, he would have stayed an outsider but after Pashinyans accession to power, positions of another Russian Armenian billionaire, owner of Tashir Company, Samvel Karapetyan, were undermined. Karapetyan used to play a role of an unspoken mediator between the Karabakh clan and the Diaspora in Russia. According to rumors, when Karapetyans business was driven out of Armenia, Abramyan expressed his readiness to cooperate with the revolutionary government. However, Abramyan himself never spoke openly about liking Pashinyans government.

Abramayn is not the first businessman who tries to convert his financial power into political benefits. In various periods, Russian millionaire Serzh Dzhilavyan and major businessmen Arkadi Vardanyan who made a fortune in Russia tried to do the same.

To provide politics with investments by foreign Armenian oligarchs, Armenia established the Diaspora Ministry in 2008. However, it has succeeded only in organization of touristic trips of Armenian children from abroad to Armenia. Its not enough for Abramyan and likeminded businessmen to cooperate with the Ministry to make the electorate perceive him as a voice of Russian Armenians. Imitated involvement into dealing with daily problems of the republic and seeming patriotism are aimed at legitimization of Abramyans presence in the Armenian space.

Being a classic privatizer of Armenian assets abroad, Abramyan counts on privatization of the pro-Russian electorate in Armenia, as it needs a strong financial structure. Probably, the authorities could be interested in cooperation with such a political power that Abramyan wants to represent to keep the part of the society under control. Moreover, after the defeat in the Second Karabakh War, rating of the authorities went down while pro-Russian sentiments grew in Armenia.

On the other hand, Abramyan counts on the fact that power of his financial empire could be interesting to powerful Russian political elite intending to manage the Armenian direction of foreign policy through Abramyans foundations and to have a yes-man in Armenias public space.

At the same time, it is the biggest delusion of Abramyan. First of all, Moscow has a lot of opportunities to influence Armenias policy without oligarchs of Armenian origin, for example, through the EAEU and the CSTO. Secondly, longstanding experience of participation of foreign oligarchs in parliamentary elections in Armenia shows that none of politicians-newcomers has ever gotten more than 2% of votes. Thirdly, Armenian politics has its own eccentric oligarch who is ready to deal with problems of his countrymen at the republican level  Gagik Tsarukyan.

A man was found dead early Monday morning on the stairway leading to the Morristown Train Station and an investigation is underway to determine how he died, authorities said.

Police were called to the NJ Transit station on Morris Street shortly before 12:30 a.m. and found the body of the man, who was not identified Monday night, according to a joint release from the Morris County Prosecutors Office, NJ Transit Police, Morris County Sheriffs Office and the Morristown Police Department.

An autopsy was performed by the Morris County Medical Examiners Office but the results were pending, so the cause and manner of the mans death were not released.

The Morristown train station platforms remained open for normal operations and there was no threat to the public, police said.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Morris County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200.

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.
Shade uses offensive attack to take down Shanksville in D5-A semis

sports
The United States has been a laggard, among developed nations with long coastlines, to harness the consistent energy of offshore winds to produce electricity. The United Kingdom, for example, has 40 offshore wind farms with nearly 3,000 wind turbines, whereas the United States has a single offshore wind farm near Block Island, Rhode Island, with just five turbines.

President Joe Biden plans to change that. He announced an ambitious plan to develop wind power along the East Coast. The project is part of the administrations effort to wean the country from fossil fuels to help fight climate change. But it also would be a major economic development project for East Coast ports that would stage wind farm construction and host maintenance operations.

The plan would designate a swath of ocean between Long Island and the New Jersey coast for wind farms that would generate 30 gigawatts of electricity per year and eliminate 78 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Bidens plan also would have the federal government expedite permit applications, create a $3 billion loan program for projects through the Department of Energy, and commit more than $230 million to upgrade related ports.

Although offshore projects have been controversial in some locations, they also have broad support. The state governments of Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Virginia already have commitments to buy at least 25,000 megawatts of offshore electricity by 2035, according to the American Clean Power Association.

And Orsted, a Danish wind-power developer, has agreements with U.S. unions for work on offshore projects.

The offshore wind power project creates the prospect for massive clean power generation, job creation and economic development. It should have broad governmental and public support.
GREENVILLE  A Charlotte developer has proposed a mixed-use development with hundreds of apartments and a 560-car parking deck on the site of the West End Community Center in downtown Greenville.

Directly across Markley Street from Fluor Field, the 3.1-acre site is among the most high-profile and underdeveloped blocks remaining in the city of Greenville. More than half the acreage consists of parking lots.

Roughly 2.7 acres of the development site  including the West End Community Center  belongs to Allen Temple AME Church, a historically Black congregation that has been at the center of the community's cultural and political life for decades. In May 2020, then presidential candidate Kamala Harris needed a place to host a Town Hall meeting and chose the West End Community Center. The center also hosts community programs, church fellowship meetings and recreational activities, and occasionally serves as a voting precinct.

Austin Rutherford, a planner with the city of Greenville, presented a series of renderings to members of the city's Design Review Board during an informal presentation March 30 that was open to the public. He did not elaborate, but Rutherford said planning staff had several issues with the mixed-use project. The project's applicant, SunCap Property Group out of Charlotte, did not have anyone speak at the meeting, which took place via videoconference.

Calls to SunCap Property Group and Allen Temple AME Church were not immediately returned. Centennial American also owns roughly half an acre on the site and currently uses it as event parking.

The city's Design Review Board's urban design panel will take up the matter again at their April 1 meeting.

"I would note that staff does have reservations upon their plan, and we can ... go into those comments and suggestions from staff at the Thursday meeting," Rutherford said.

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Still early in the planning stage, the proposed project features five- and six-story structures covering most of the site, with a parking deck at its center, commercial buildings along South Main and Markley streets, and residential buildings facing Vardry Street and Green Avenue. The acreage is located within the city's central business district with a "C-4" zoning designation that allows unlimited height.

One rendering suggests 250 apartments are planned ringing a central courtyard and pool, as well as 6,950 square feet of "amenities," 12,000 square feet of commercial space and 560 parking spaces.

The site plan also has a drive-through, but Rutherford said staff do not know what kind of business the developer has in mind for the site. Any drive-throughs in the city of Greenville require approval from the city's Board of Zoning Appeals, Rutherford said.

One attendee joked hopefully that a fast-food restaurant would locate there.

"We just know that it is a proposed drive through," Rutherford said. "They will be going through the board of zoning appeals concurrently or at least that is what they have informed staff."

According to property records, Allen Temple's main church property on Green Avenue dates back to 1940. The church cobbled together the 2.66 acres that developers have in mind for redevelopment across the street in a series of purchases over 40 years. The church paid a total of $202,500 for the property, records show.

It is now assessed at 11 times that value.
An Illinois prep school is facing criticism over an assignment that asked students to describe how they have benefited from white privilege and how they use it 'despite knowing the harm it does'.

Students at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, just outside Chicago, were asked the questions as part of an ethics class.

The assignment, a copy of which was obtained by Fox News, included the question: 'How do you benefit from white privilege and how have you held onto that benefit (despite knowing the harm it does)?'

Another question asked students to specify ways they have wield their privilege whether they intended to or not.

Students at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, just outside Chicago, were asked the questions as part of an ethics class

'Dig deep. No sugar coating and no focusing on the good you have done with your privilege. Remember this isn't about being self-congratulatory, it's about pulling out white supremacy,' a note on that specific question read.

A third question asked the students at the Jesuit college preparatory school to describe what had made them uncomfortable about anything they'd learned about their own white privilege.

In response to the assignment, a spokesperson for Loyola Academy said the questions, which it admitted were 'inappropriate and left some students feeling defense', were no longer being used.

'We have never - and will never -ask students to apologize for their race,' the spokesperson said.

'As with any important ethical issues, we hope to challenge our students to be critical thinkers who work to address complex problems in light of our Catholic faith.

'A structured study of racism has been part of our ethics curriculum for over 20 years, and it will continue to be an essential component of a Rambler's education.'

The assignment, a copy of which was obtained by Fox News , included the question: 'How do you benefit from white privilege and how have you held onto that benefit (despite knowing the harm it does)?'

Loyola Academy has an annual tuition of nearly $18,000 per year.

The school, which counts comedian Bill Murray and actor Chris O'Donnell as alumni, is predominately made up of white students.

White students account for 80 percent of the population, while black and Hispanic students account for 5 percent each.

Hannah Brennan, a student made to do the assignment, told Fox News that she thought the task was 'manipulative' and many felt uncomfortable.

'There are a lot of students who feel super uncomfortable doing this because they don't agree with white privilege and the ideology behind it,' she said.

'It reminds me of China with the reeducation camps. It feels like they're very much pushing their opinions as facts and teaching opinions as facts. And it's very manipulative.'

Other students described classes at the school as being 'left-leaning' and that it was 'shamed upon to be a conservative'.

Brennan claimed she and other students were recently banned from starting a chapter of the conservative Turning Point USA organization because it was allegedly deemed to be "anti-Semitic and racist'.
A man involved in a chain-reaction crash in Gloucester County last week has died of his injuries, according to police.

Richard Repetto, 80, of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, was coming to a stop at a traffic signal on eastbound Route 40 at the intersection with Porchtown Road in Franklin Township shortly after 1 p.m. on March 22 when his car was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer driven by a Millville man, police said.

The impact sent Repettos car into an SUV in front of him. The SUV was pushed into another tractor-trailer, Franklin Township Police said.

Repetto was trapped in his vehicle and had to be freed by the Franklinville Fire Company. He was flown to Cooper University Hospital, Camden, and was listed in critical condition. He died Monday morning, police confirmed.

A passenger in his car and the driver of the SUV were also hospitalized in stable condition following the crash.

No charges had been filed as of Tuesday, police said.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
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PHOENIX  As states across the U.S. West beef up their renewable energy requirements, a push to do so in Arizona has been met by fierce resistance from the Republican governor and GOP-dominated Legislature, which are looking to strip elected utility regulators of their power to set energy policy in one of the nations sunniest states.

Utilities are well on their way to meeting Arizonas 15% renewable energy mandate by 2024. Environmentalists worry that progress would stall if power companies arent forced to keep installing green technologies at a time when Arizona faces more extreme heat from climate change.

Why in the world would the Legislature want to get in the way of something that is so clearly good for our economy and benefits the climate as well as air quality, saves water? said Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Clubs Arizona chapter.

A bill to designate the Arizona Legislature as the sole authority over energy policy was on a fast track, quickly clearing the House before stalling in the Senate. Lawmakers are still in session, and it could get new life any time.

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Republican lawmakers supporting the move say its more appropriate for the 90 members of the Legislature to set energy policy than the five members of the Arizona Corporation Commission. Some have questioned the push to move away from fossil fuels, saying such mandates lead to higher utility bills.

The Legislature is the best venue for setting energy policy due to our broader representation of the people and our deliberative process is far more transparent, said Sen. Sine Kerr, a Republican who sponsored one of two bills to shift authority to lawmakers.

Regardless of who has the authority, utilities should have the flexibility to do what they do best, and that is to provide energy to all of Arizona without costly and restrictive mandates that remove certain energy sources from the mix, Kerr said.

Critics counter that the state Constitution charges the Arizona Corporation Commission with regulating utilities and its made up of elected officials who are deeply enmeshed in energy issues. Energy standards are more commonly adopted by the nations legislatures, but advocates for renewables say few states have elected regulators like Arizona.

Arizona was an early adopter of renewable energy mandates in 2006, when it set its 15% target. Its since been surpassed by most other Western states, which have enacted more aggressive standards. Neighboring California, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico  all led by Democrats  have set even stricter targets for renewables in the coming years and are aiming to eventually achieve 100% carbon-free energy.

Arizona voters handed Democrats victories for president and U.S. Senate in the 2020 election but kept Republicans in power in the Legislature and many statewide offices.

The GOP also kept an edge on the Arizona Corporation Commission, though a smaller one than before the election. Still, with Republicans in control, the commission voted 4-1 late last year to move toward formally adopting a new energy standard that would require utilities to cut their carbon emissions in half by 2032 and eliminate them entirely by 2050.

The rules also would require utilities to store energy, such as with batteries, and institute stronger energy efficiency measures like smart thermostats. A final vote on the proposed mandate could come as soon as April.

The legislative push to take over energy policy follows a recent Arizona Supreme Court decision in an unrelated case, where the justices questioned a decade-old decision from a lower court saying the Corporation Commission has absolute authority to set energy standards. Some lawmakers are eager to give it a test, believing the court is open to ruling that the Legislature can supersede the commission if it wants.

To me, much of this is about the Legislature saying they are the sole branch of government, said Autumn Johnson, government affairs manager for Western Resource Advocates.

Lawmakers have a history of expanding their power where they can. Over the past decade, the Legislature has voted to prohibit cities and counties from destroying confiscated guns, banning plastic bags or regulating Airbnb rentals. It also created a way for any lawmaker to trigger a legal review of local laws, with a threat of severe financial penalties if a local policy is found to conflict with legislative policy.

Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, has been critical of the Corporation Commissions work on renewable energy policy, saying its veering outside its proper role.

I want to see the Corporation Commission setting rates. And I want to see the state Legislature setting energy policy, Ducey said at an Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry event on Jan. 8. And I hope we can straighten that out this legislative session.

Legislation supporting that goal hit a snag in the Senate when Republican Sen. Paul Boyer expressed concerns about energy reliability if a part-time Legislature had oversight.

With all Democrats opposed and a slim GOP majority, Boyers opposition would be enough to sink the bill.

After remaining publicly agnostic, the states largest utility also came out against the proposal this month. Arizona Public Service is one of the most influential players in state politics and got into hot water for spending millions to support its favored candidates for the Corporation Commission in 2014 and 2016.

APS and Tucson Electric Power, the states other major private utility, have backed the proposed renewable energy rules and have committed to significant reductions in their carbon emissions. But environmental groups worry the commitment could wane in the future without a state mandate.
This week's episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier found Bucky and Sam teaming up to battle the villainous Flag-Smashers, the shadowy gang of rebels seeking to unite the world, which  doesn't sound so bad? But they also wear spooky Purge masks, so go get 'em, guys! It also turns out that their freaky masked leader is really a curly-haired young woman played by Erin Kellyman -- which probably came as a shock to anyone who didn't see Solo: a Star Wars Story.

Marvel

Lucasfilm

But the biggest bomb dropped by the episode was Isaiah Bradley's introduction, the Marvel character who was first featured in the 2003 comic mini-series Truth: Red, White & Black. Penned by Robert Morales and illustrated by Kyle Baker, Truth chronicles the experiences of a squad of Black World War II soldiers who are kidnapped and experimented on by the American government to perfect the Super Soldier serum that is ultimately used on Steve Rogers.

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Inspired by real-life U.S. atrocities like the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, Truth showed how Captain America, not unlike the country he represents, is built on a history of systemic oppression and calculated barbarism. At the end of the series, Bradley pilfers the prototype Captain America costume and goes on a Nazi-killing spree -- making him, technically, the first Captain America.
has resumed the use of the Covid-19 vaccine, but only for people over the age of 65, as per the guidelines issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

In a statement on Monday, the THL said that it was still investigating the possibility of side effects of the vaccine in younger adults, reports Xinhua news agency.

Use of the vaccine was suspended in on March 19 as a precautionary measure after two individuals were diagnosed with blood clotting after inoculation.

The resumption of the use of the vaccine is based on a statement by Finland's national vaccine expert group that it was safe for use for people aged 65 and older.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also conducted an investigation and said it considers the vaccine safe and effective.

"There is no increased risk of the very rare blood clotting disorder after vaccination in people over 65 years of age, whose possible association with the AstraZeneca vaccine is currently being investigated.

"Vaccinations for this age group can therefore be continued as normal," Taneli Puumalainen, chief physician at the THL, was quoted as saying in the statement.

As a precautionary measure, the AstraZeneca vaccine is not currently administered to people under 65 years of age in the other Nordic countries and in Germany.

The Finnish health authority said that use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for people under the age of 65 may continue after the Easter holiday at the earliest.

To date, more than 180,000 people in have received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

--IANS

ksk/
The company and the Australian government had initially hoped the labelling mix-up would be viewed by the Chinese as a minor problem and quickly resolved. But 11 months later its licence remained suspended and Australian government officials were getting nowhere with their Chinese counterparts in their attempts to get the ban overturned. Industry sources estimate it cost Southern Meats several million dollars in lost export earnings. The meeting with Dr Wang took place at Beijings Chang Fu Gong hotel in October 2019 even though, according to a July 2019 email from Mr Newton: We are unable to send any direct correspondence to the Chinese officials ... DFAT will not allow any interference from us. The Southern Meats abbatoir in Goulburn Credit:Nick Moir Mr Zhi, who attended the meeting, said Dr Wang came alone and dressed in plain clothes rather than the military-style uniform of Chinas customs. Dr Wang did not respond to questions from The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. His decision to hold the private meeting with an executive from a foreign company whose licence was suspended could attract the attention of Chinas anti-corruption authorities.

WeChat messages about the secret meeting in Beijing. Seven weeks after Mr Newtons meeting with Dr Wang, in early December 2019, China lifted the ban on Southern Meats licence. WeChat exchanges show that Mr Zhi was extremely confident the meeting with Dr Wang would deliver. Hopefully we will get a good result? asked another Southern Meats manager in Australia via WeChat a day after Mr Newtons meeting with Dr Wang. We will ... 4 to 6 [weeks] if not sooner, Mr Zhi replied. The messages show the lamb producer was pinning its hopes on Dr Wang being able to convince his Chinese customs colleagues to lift the licence suspension.

We agree that all of us keeping quiet for a little bit is best. Let Wang Gang work however he can, the Southern Meats manager messaged Mr Zhi on October 25, 2019. Corrective actions Southern Meats is owned by Western Australian farmers co-operative, WAMMCO, whose chief executive Coll MacRury told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald that the abattoir had turned to Mr Zhi and Mr Zhu after it became clear Australian officials in Beijing were having no influence. Eddie Zhi Southern Meats was told right throughout its suspension that Australian government officials

had little to no contact with Chinese officials and that there was nothing more that could be done by them that had not already been done, he said.

Southern Meats was proactive in its endeavour to find an intermediary person that could assist in putting forward our case for licence reinstatement. Mr MacRury said no payments or inducements had been offered to Dr Wang or any other third parties. The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald are not suggesting otherwise. Federal Liberal MP David Coleman and Chinese labour recruiter David Zhu. At the meeting Craig Newton put forward our case to the contact who agreed that Southern Meats had served a long enough suspension and that the corrective actions that had been implemented were sufficient to ensure that the issue did not happen again, he said. Mr Zhu, who is also known in Australia as Steve Chu, said Dr Wang was a friend of a friend and he had agreed to a request from Mr Zhi to set up a meeting where some very general consulting happened.

Mr Zhu said he offered no money to Dr Wang and doubted that the Chinese official had much to do with Southern Meats licence being reinstated. Mr Zhi said he had helped arrange Mr Newtons meeting with Dr Wang because he was concerned the lengthy licence suspension could lead to the loss of Australian and Chinese jobs at Southern Meats Goulburn-based abattoir in regional NSW. Spotting opportunities But Mr Zhi and Mr Zhu also had a commercial interest in helping Southern Meats. They had recently supplied the company with 15 Chinese workers and were in talks to provide more. Overseas labour is an increasingly important part of the workforce in the meat industry, and Chinese workers at other Australian meatworks have told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald that the price to secure a job varied between $15,000 to $40,000, which was paid to the labour hire companies that recruit them.

Demand among Chinese workers for jobs in Australian meatworks is high, despite the cost, because it can lead to permanent residency in Australia and a better life for their families. Loading Mr Zhu denied he had been paid by any of the Chinese workers that he placed at Southern Meats. Mr Zhi said he was simply a person who liaised between Australian meatworks and Chinese labour recruiters such as Mr Zhu because he could spot opportunities. The good relations between Mr Zhi, Mr Zhu and Southern Meats soured shortly after the licence was reinstated. Mr Zhi has accused Southern Meats and Mr Zhu of cutting him out of a labour supply deal after he helped arrange the meeting with Dr Wang.
Graphic warning: the video in this story has distressing images.

Mexico City: An autopsy of a Salvadorean woman who died in custody confirmed that police broke her neck when they knelt on her back in broad daylight on a footpath in the Mexican resort town of Tulum.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador flatly said that Victoria Esperanza Salazar was brutally treated and murdered by police.

Victoria Esperanza Salazar let out a scream on Saturday afternoon (Sunday AEDT) as a female police officer knelt on her back to cuff her hands behind her. Salazar was face down on the street and barefoot. Her feet flailed. A couple of people passed slowly by on a bicycle. There were food stands a few metres away.

Clips of video cobbled together give no sense of how much time elapsed. Then three other officers are seen standing around her motionless body still face down, talking casually. Later, three officers lift her still handcuffed body into the back of a police pick-up truck and drive away.
Imperial Valley News Center

Riding out the pandemic

Sandy Springs, Georgia - Hows a kid to cope with the self-isolating restrictions during the COVID crisis? Ben Tolliday of Sandy Springs, GA says he likes to build stuff, so he built himself a roller coaster, says the Association of Mature American Citizens.

Despite the fact that Ben is self-confident, when he finished turning his familys backyard into an amusement park, he had his concerns. As he put it, "I was absolutely terrified. But I guess because I built it, I knew how sturdy it was. So, I was pretty confident I'd be OK, but I was screaming my head off. It was crazy." His mom says shes looking forward to getting her yard back but shes also proud of her son and enjoyed her turn to take a ride on Bens contraption. Ben is heading to college in the fall and says hes thinking about a career in the roller coaster business.
MILL VALLEY, Calif., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Redwood Trust, Inc. (NYSE: RWT) a leader in expanding access to housing for homebuyers and renters, today announced that Faith A. Schwartz and Armando Falcon have been appointed to serve on its Board of Directors.

Ms. Schwartz is the President of Housing Finance Strategies, LLC, a professional services and advisory practice focusing on capital markets, rating agencies, and mortgage modernization and innovation, which she founded in 2016. Ms. Schwartz currently serves on the Board of Directors of Gateway First Bank, as well as on the boards of several other privately held mortgage industry-focused companies, including FormFree Holdings Corporation and Class Valuation, LLC. From 2013 to 2016, Ms. Schwartz served as Senior Vice President-Federal Practice of CoreLogic, Inc., a provider of property information, insight, analytics and data-enabled solutions. She is also the founder of HOPE NOW Alliance, a public-private initiative launched in 2007 to seek solutions for American families facing foreclosure during the Great Recession. Ms. Schwartz also previously served as Director of Alternative Markets and Director of National Sales at Freddie Mac between 1997 and 2003. From 2006 to 2009, Ms. Schwartz served on the Federal Reserve Board's Consumer Advisory Council and in 2010 she founded HOPE LoanPort, a technology non-profit organization that helps families reach and sustain their goal of homeownership. Ms. Schwartz holds a B.S. from Shippensburg State College and an M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Falcon is CEO of Falcon Capital Advisors LLC, a management consulting firm based in Washington, DC, that provides strategic advice and technical assistance to financial services companies, mortgage industry companies, and government agencies on matters involving process reengineering, project management, regulatory compliance, and data analytics, which he founded in 2007. He previously served as the Director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, and as the General Counsel for the Committee on Banking and Financial Services of the U.S. House of Representatives. Mr. Falcon currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Stock Transfer and Trust Company and of the Structured Finance Association. Mr. Falcon also serves as an advisor to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. Mr. Falcon holds a B.A. from St. Mary's University, an M.P.P. from Harvard University, and a J.D. from the University of Texas.

"We are pleased to welcome Faith and Armando as independent directors to the Board. They bring an extraordinary set of experiences across the public and private housing finance industry, including regulatory policy, structured finance, technology innovation and data analytics. We believe Faith and Armando's counsel and guidance will bring additional perspective and professional expertise that will be immediately valuable to Redwood. Their appointments further our ongoing efforts to diversify and refresh the Board," said Richard D. Baum, Chairman of Redwood Trust's Board of Directors.

About Redwood Trust

Redwood Trust, Inc. (NYSE: RWT) is a specialty finance company focused on several distinct areas of housing credit. Our operating platforms occupy a unique position in the housing finance value chain, providing liquidity to growing segments of the U.S. housing market not served by government programs. We deliver customized housing credit investments to a diverse mix of investors, through our best-in-class securitization platforms; whole-loan distribution activities; and our publicly traded shares. Our consolidated investment portfolio has evolved to incorporate a diverse mix of residential, business purpose and multifamily investments. Our goal is to provide attractive returns to shareholders through a stable and growing stream of earnings and dividends, capital appreciation, and a commitment to technological innovation that facilitates risk-minded scale. Since going public in 1994, we have managed our business through several cycles, built a track record of innovation, and a best-in-class reputation for service and a common-sense approach to credit investing. Redwood Trust is internally managed and structured as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for tax purposes. For more information about Redwood Trust, visit our website at www.redwoodtrust.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

CONTACT

Lisa Hartman  SVP, Head of Investor Relations

Phone: 866-269-4976

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Redwood Trust, Inc.

Related Links

www.redwoodtrust.com


South Africa has secured 30-million Johnson and Johnson (J&J) Covid-19 vaccines, the first batch of which will will be delivered in April.

Photo: Aspen Pharmacare

Global shortage

Third wave

President Cyril Ramaphosa was visiting the R30bn Aspen Pharmacare sterile manufacturing facility where millions of vaccines shots are produced at Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, when the announcement was made. As you well know, weve got a multi-supplier system of acquiring vaccines, Johnson & Johnson is one of those that were buying vaccines from and there are a number of others.He stressed that the country will not be overpaying for the vaccines acquired from J&J and other suppliers. There is a great competition around the world about acquiring vaccines and were focused more to say, weve got to acquire vaccines as quickly as possible so that we can save our peoples lives.He also shot down criticism around the slow pace of the countrys Covid-19 vaccine rollout, which he attributed to the global shortage of vaccines.This was not unique to South Africa, Ramaphosa said, citing Japan and some other European and African countries, which started their programme later than expected. You will remember that we acquired vaccines initially from India and through scientific processes they were not efficient for the variant that we have and we have to source other vaccines.The president said he hoped the visit to the pharmaceutical plant would speed up production, while he said government is still waiting for the Pfizer jabs. People tend to think weve lost time, weve lost a bit of time but we still on target in terms of our phase and were now going to speed up the whole process of getting these. So, losing doesnt mean in my book that government is failing.Aspen Pharmacare collaborated with J&J to establish the capacity required for the manufacturing of the vaccine at Eastern Cape plant. The facility packages these products into vials, ampoules and pre-filled syringes. Aspen has invested more than R3bn in the facility, which will further provide lifesaving medicines for the domestic and export markets.The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) is meeting today (30 March) to discuss the potential of a third wave being sparked by the Easter long weekend. We should be able to also discuss the matter with our provinces they will tell us how were behaving in relation to whether were observing various protocols or not.Therefore, a decision will be taken once they have received reports from all the provinces.If we find that our people are not observing the protocols and there are fears that there could be a further surge, then wed have to re-examine our position and say, do we need further restrictions, the president said.
LAS VEGAS, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ionix Technology, Inc. (OTCQB: IINX), ("Ionix ", "IINX" or "the Company"), a business aggregator in the fields of photoelectric display and smart energy, today announced its another wholly-owned subsidiaryHuixiang Energy (Suzhou) Co.,Ltd (Huixiang) has completed the legal registration in Suzhou China. Huixiang Energy is a high-tech company dedicated to the research and development of next generation advanced battery technologies, manufacture and sales of relevant battery products, including the solid state rechargeable lithium ion battery for next generation EV and energy storage systems with safety, fast charging (10 minute charge rate), wide temperature operation range (from -50 degrees to +70 degrees) and long cycle life. And Huixiang also engages in operating battery packs, battery systems and electric vehicles sharing business with its own internet sharing platform. The EV could be electric sport sedans, delivery electric cars, electric trucks, electric mini-cars and two-wheel electric vehicles, etc.

With the rapid development of take-out and express delivery services in and out of cities, the intercity low-speed electric vehicles on which it relies have encountered major bottlenecks, namely, such as the problems of flammable and explosive charging of electric vehicles, short battery life and slow charge (>3 hours charge time), which limit the development of the industry. By cooperating with battery enterprises, Huixiang Energy use the new battery technology of the advanced (including the solid state lithium ion battery) with high safety, fast charging (10 minute charge rate), long cycle life, to solve the problem of safety, endurance mileage, service life and so on for EV charging and usage issues. On this basis, the new energy battery and electric vehicle operation platform will be launched.

Mr Li Cheng, CEO of IINX, said, "On the premise of this new battery technology support, Huixiang Energy is developing its sharing platform of the electric vehicles (online EV hailing services) and its relevant batteries and battery systems. We plan to copy and promote the business in major cities throughout the country. It will bring great convenience for the people living in the cities, and also bring new breakthrough to the logistics industry and provide a strong guarantee for the development of industry. Hereby the company will become the industry leader. The operation of the new energy sharing platform project is a key link of IINX's industrial layout and development. It is expected it will bring good profit for the company in the future and become a profit growth point for IINX's sustainable development."

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, such as the inherent uncertainties associated with new business opportunities and development stage companies. Ionix Technology assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements. Although Ionix Technology believes that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Investors should refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in Ionix Technology's annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Ionix Technology, Inc.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Gabriella Blakey remembers going into the grocery store for the first time during the pandemic. Its an errand she had done countless times, but there was a new sense of trepidation with COVID-19 to think about.

Thats what she imagines some Albuquerque Public Schools students may feel Monday when they return to the classroom. All APS schools are slated to open for students who want in-person learning after the New Mexico Public Education Department pushed for schools across the state to bring students back by April 5.

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Taking that first step into a building or a place, I think is kind of the biggest challenge. Its really an emotional challenge  I really think that for our families, for our staff and for just us as a community, its just taking that first step into the building, said Blakey, the interim chief operations officer at APS.

As teachers and staff without a health accommodation began working from school Monday, Blakey was at Wilson Middle School discussing what school will look and feel like.

Is it safe?

Blakey said she thinks opening schools is safe but there are a lot of precautions in place because the pandemic is still a threat.

I think that weve done all of the factors in the schools to keep in front of the virus and to limit any sort of potential for spread of the virus, Blakey said. APS is following state Department of Health and PED guidelines to open schools.

Is there concern about reopening after APS was on spring break last week?

Blakey, pointing to the states coronavirus vaccination efforts and cautious approach during the pandemic, said she feels confident that state officials wouldnt send students back to school if there were high levels of concern.

How many APS students are coming back?

Blakey didnt have an exact count but said an informal survey done at the end of last week is indicating roughly 50% to 60% of each schools student population is expected to return.

What are some of the main changes families can expect?

Hallways are marked to keep foot traffic separated and signs are posted to remind students to wash their hands and wear masks. There will also be extra soap in the bathrooms and more hand sanitizer throughout the school. There are also subtle differences such as water bottle refill stations versus water fountains and trash cans have had lids removed to minimize touching.

How many bus routes will be running?

Blakey estimates about 90% of bus routes will be operating on April 5.

Were pretty confident that most of our students will be able to ride the bus, she said, adding that the district is short about 30 drivers.

How will classrooms be set up?

Classrooms are situated to optimize as much social distancing as space allows. In many classrooms, that will mean desks are about 3 feet apart.

In most classes, youll see students will be facing forward and there wont be somebody sitting directly next to them, Blakey said.

In some classes  such as a special education class that requires close contact  there are Plexiglas barriers on desks.

How many APS employees have been vaccinated?

Blakey said all employees have been offered at least a first dose.

Is there anything else families should know about students returning to school?

Theres a checklist on APS.edu for families to prepare for back to school, including packing a water bottle and a charged laptop or tablet.

Im very confident that the schools are prepared. Weve done a lot of work, Blakey said.
March 30 : As Akshay Kumar starrer Ram Setus filming commences today, the superstar and his co-actors Nushrratt Bharuccha and Jacqueline Fernandez have shared pictures from the special film as Akshay describes it.

While Akshay shared his first look from the film today while sharing the news with his fans that the journey of making one of his most special films started today, he also shared that he will essay the role of an archaeologist in the film.

Nushrratt Bharuccha also took to her Instagram handle today and shared a new behind-the-scene picture along with the announcement of the film going on the floors. The actress expressed her excitement and asked fans to wish her the best. Super duper excited to begin filming for #RamSetu with @akshaykumar sir, @jacquelinef143 and the entire team. Need your best wishes, the Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety actress wrote.

In the picture, Nushrratt can be seen with Akshay and Jacqueline as the three lead actors are seen discussing the script. Akshay can be seen in his look from the film, which he had revealed today. He wore a pair of glasses, and sported long salt and pepper hair. He has donned a blue loose fitted suit and wore a light blue scarf around his neck. Sharing his first look picture on social media, the actor has asked his fans to give their feedback on the look. A few fans immediately commented on his look as they loved the new avatar of Akshay. Wow.. Sir ji awesome look.. wrote one. Another wrote, As always looking amazing sir.

Jacqueline also shared the same picture and wrote, Ram Setu filming begins today!! Keep us in your prayers. While Nushrratt is seen in a white dress, Jacqueline is clad in a blue striped dress. Earlier this month, the Ram Setu team jetted off to Ayodhya for the mahurat shot.

Helmed by Abhishek Sharma, Ram Setu will be shot in Ayodhya but the major part of it will be shot in Mumbai. Akshay's character and his look has been inspired by some of our Indian and international archaeologists who have work in the same field as Akshay will be in the film. While Jacqueline and Nushrratt will play strong roles of independent women, their characters or looks have been kept under the wrap.
Makassar: An Indonesian newly wed couple with suspected militant links used pressure cooker bombs to blow themselves up outside a Roman Catholic cathedral during Palm Sunday Mass.

The attack wounded 20 people, including four church guards, and broke windows at the church and nearby buildings in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province.

The couple were married six months ago and police were investigating their house in Makassar, National Police spokesperson Argo Yuwono said.

Members of Indonesian anti-terror squad stand in front of the church hit by a bombing in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, March 28, 2021. Credit:Xinhua/Masyudi F. via Getty Images

Police identified them only by their initials, L and his wife, YSF. Neighbours of the couple identified the man as Lukman and his wife as Dewi and said they were between 23 and 26 years old.
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The exercise last Saturday was in line with a project in preparation for the COP26 to be held in Glasgow, UK.

Saturday, March 27, 2021 was an extraordinary day around the Nkolbission neighbourhood in Yaounde. Precisely at the gutters around the Meec junction, the acting Deputy British High Commissioner to Cameroon, Adrian Lee Nigel Holmes was seen underneath the bridge at that intersection picking plastic waste and other refuse, which usually block water passage during heavy rainfall. He was accompanying youths of Cameroon, especially those of the Local Youth Corner Cameroon (LOYOC) Association, in a clean-up campaign, as a grande finale in a project "Building Community Resilience to Climate Change in Cameroon." The action marked the end of a sensitisation campaign effort that had been going on in recent weeks targeting communities and other organisations in the domains of preserving the environment and climate change.

Amidst all the mess, Adrian Lee Nigel Holmes said climate change is very important and the British government is looking forward to working with the government of Cameroon ahead of the COP26 Climate Change Summit in Glasgow, UK come November this year. He underscored that the clean-up campaign is all about the grassroots and the pivotal role young people can play in sensitising their community about climate change. He explained that cleaning up such a gutter has immediate benefits as well as bringing the community together to focus on issues of the environment and climate change.

The Executive Director of LOYOC, Christian Achaleke, said the activity fell under the implementation of a project by British High Commission in Cameroon, in collaboration with LOYOC with support from the Ministry of Youths and Civic Education to raise awareness on climate change. He explained that gutters are a channel for plastics and other waste which cannot be decomposed. Coming to the Meec junction was an act of solidarity and to show that young people are taking responsible actions towards the environment. We are passing across the message that; "It is important to keep our gutters clean because it moves plastics which have contributed to climate change and some of the challenges the society is facing. The clean-up campaign is a continuation of a campaign that began two months back." Thereafter, Christian Achaleke said they will be developing media content and videos which will be used to sensitise Cameroonians on climate change. Also, information from young people will be used to produce a policy document that could be presented during the COP26.
An air conditioning repairman who was held at gunpoint last October as part of a right-wing groups voter fraud investigation has sued the group and its CEO, Houston conservative activist Steven Hotze.

David Lopez, the repairman, filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Hotze and his organization, Liberty Center for God and Country, for civil conspiracy, civil theft, and aiding and abetting Mark Aguirre, the former Houston police captain who faces a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon stemming from an Oct. 19 confrontation with Lopez.

Aguirre told police he was investigating a massive ballot harvesting operation on behalf of Hotzes group. He previously alleged that Lopez had about 750,000 fraudulent mail ballots in his truck and had been using Hispanic children to sign the ballots because the youths fingerprints would not appear in databases. Lopezs truck contained only air conditioning parts and tools, authorities said.

Hotze paid Aguirre $266,400 to investigate voter fraud allegations through his group, including more than $211,000 the day after the incident in which the former cop rammed Lopezs truck and then held him at gunpoint until a Houston police officer happened by. In December, shortly after Aguirre was arrested, Hotze called the assault charge bogus.

At the time, Hotze said he would not condone Aguirres actions if they were proven true, but he was not worried about being legally implicated as the one funding Aguirres investigative work.

Jared Woodfill, Hotzes attorney, said Tuesday that Hotze had not instructed Aguirre to take any of the actions mentioned in the lawsuit, and contended that Hotze could not be found culpable of any legal wrongdoing.

In the lawsuit, Lopez said he was driving to his first repair job of the day around 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 19 when Aguirre rammed his SUV into the back of Lopezs truck. After the two men pulled over to the side of the road, the suit says, Aguirre exited his vehicle and pointed a pistol at Lopez.

David Lopez feared for his life, believing Mark Aguirre was robbing him, the state district court filing states. With his loaded gun pointed at Mr. Lopez, Defendant Aguirre began shouting orders. Fearing that he is going to shoot me and that his life was about to end on the side of the road, David Lopez realized his only hope was to cooperate, so he laid on the ground while Mark Aguirre held a gun to him and placed his knee on David Lopezs back.

Other members of Aguirres team searched Lopezs truck and, after finding it did not contain any ballots, drove it from the scene while Aguirre continued to hold Lopez at gunpoint with his knee in his back, according to the suit. At one point, Aguirre cocked his pistol, Lopez said.

During a December court appearance, Aguirre swore he is done conducting private investigations. He currently is out on a surety bond of $30,000 and has agreed not to work for Hotzes organization as a condition of his release.

Lopez is seeking more than $1 million for bodily injury, physical pain, past and future mental anguish, exemplary damages and attorney fees, according to the suit.

Woodfill said Aguirres attorney has given a different version of events, alleging Lopez and Aguirre got into a fender bender and Lopez prompted the confrontation when he rushed at Aguirre. In any case, Woodfill said Hotze should not be held responsible for Aguirres actions.

When an allegation of voter fraud would come in, he would turn it over to investigators and they would do their work in the way they thought best, Woodfill said. So, using the plaintiff's logic, if one were to go out and hire a contractor to do whatever the project may be, and they did something that you didn't agree with, then according to the plaintiff, you're responsible for it. I don't believe that's consistent with the law.

Woodfill also said he believes the lawsuit is politically motivated, pointing to Lopezs decision to sue Hotze but not Aguirre, and to hire attorneys K. Scott Brazil and Dicky Grigg, both of whom have represented the Texas Democratic Party in voting lawsuits. Woodfill noted Lopezs lawsuit references Hotzes numerous legal challenges against Harris Countys efforts to expand voting during the 2020 election, which it is part of Hotzes long history of pursuing and alleging bizarre unfounded voter fraud allegations.

Grigg said Lopez is not suing Aguirre because he already has been indicted in the separate criminal case, and because Hotze  not Aguirre  is the one funding the operation.

He's just a puppet, and instead of going against the puppet, we're going against the puppetmaster, the one pulling the strings, Griggs said.

He added that the lawsuit was not motivated by Hotzes political claims or the legal actions he took against Democrats and voter expansion measures.

This lawsuit is not about any of the claims that Dr. Hotze's making, no matter how ridiculous or unfounded they are, Griggs said. This is against actions that people he paid $300,000 to, the actions that these people took. And the whole purpose of the lawsuit is, fine, you can say what you want, you can hold the opinions you want. But you're responsible for your actions and your conduct.

Last year, in a Hotze lawsuit that sought to prohibit voters from dropping off mail ballots in person before Election Day, Aguirre submitted an affidavit in which he alleged powerful Harris County Democrats had devised a scheme to submit as many as 700,000 fraudulent mail ballots, representing nearly one-third of the entire voter roll.

Aguirre in October hung up on a reporter seeking evidence of the allegations. He has yet to publicly present evidence of the alleged scheme.

Hotze long has held an active role in local Republican politics, donating to conservative political candidates and wielding influence through a group, Conservative Republicans of Texas, whose endorsement is typically sought by candidates in GOP primaries.

He filed numerous lawsuits last year against COVID restrictions and voting expansion measures, and was particularly active in fighting Houstons 2015 anti-discrimination measure, branded by supporters as Houstons Equal Rights Ordinance, or HERO, and by opponents as the Bathroom Ordinance.

jasper.scherer@chron.com
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HOUSTON  As Texas joined several other states on Monday in opening eligibility for coronavirus vaccines to millions of healthy adults, anticipation for the shot could be seen in the long line that snaked outside Booker T. Washington High School in Houston.

This is a good sign, said Nelson Garcia, 48, who waited more than two hours with his two young children before he was finally within reach of protection from a disease that could be deadly for people with diabetes like himself. It looks like everyone wants to get vaccinated. I want my children to see that this is a good thing and that the vaccine may finally help us get back to normal.

On Monday, Texas became the largest state to expand vaccination eligibility to anyone 16 or older, or about 22 million people. Long lines were replicated across the state and appointments were difficult to snag online. Vaccination spots at HEB.com, the website for the most popular supermarket chain in Texas, were few and far between.

The spike was expected. Virtually anyone can get a vaccine now, said Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat who represents the Houston region.
The Biden administration is working to significantly expand offshore wind energy along the US east coast, declaring that it is taking measures toward authorizing a major wind farm off the coast of New Jersey as part of a proposal to produce enough electricity to fuel over 10 million homes by 2030.

Job and Economic Opportunity

According to the White House, meeting the goal will result in more than 44,000 new jobs and 33,000 new jobs in related fields. The effort will also help stop 78 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, a crucial move towards slowing the climate crisis.

Joe Biden, according to White House environment advisor Gina McCarthy, "believes we have an immense opportunity in front of us to not only resolve the challenges of climate change but to use it as an opportunity to generate millions of good-paying, union jobs that will boost America's economic recovery."

"The size of the potential is more precise nowhere than in offshore wind.

She went on to say that the pledge will "build paths to the middle class for people from all cultures and communities."

Related Article: Biden To Overhaul Offices to Promote Environmental Justice

Environmental Preparation

The administration has announced that it plans to prepare a comprehensive environmental report for the Ocean Wind project off the coast of New Jersey, clearing the way for it to become the US's third commercial-scale offshore wind project.

The Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) said it searched for offshore wind projects in shallow waters between Long Island, New York, and New Jersey. According to a tweet, a new report showed that the city will accommodate up to 25,000 production and construction jobs by 2030.

OEM plans to sell industrial leases in late 2021 or early 2022, according to the company.

Ocean Wind will generate about 1,100 megawatts a year, enough to fuel 500,000 homes, 15 miles off the coast of southern New Jersey.

Environmental assessments for Vineyard Wind in Massachusetts and the South Fork wind farm about 35 miles east of Montauk Point in New York have been announced by the Interior Department. Vineyard Wind is projected to generate 800 megawatts, while South Fork will generate 132.

As part of his attempt to slow the climate crisis, Biden has pledged to double offshore wind capacity by 2030. The possible acceptance of the Atlantic coast schemes, which are the forerunners of at least 16 offshore wind projects along the east coast, represents a significant shift from the Trump administration's opposition to wind power on land and sea.

Related Article: US Gears Up To Reverse All Environmental Damages Caused by Previous Administration



Fixing Wind Power's Reputation

Wind power has been vilified by Donald Trump as an expensive, bird-killing energy source, and his administration has battled or rejected initiatives like Vineyard Wind. To avoid a potential denial, the Massachusetts project's developer temporarily withdrew its submission. Soon after assuming office in January, Biden gave the project a new lease on life.

"We've put off the transition to renewable energies for years, and now we're facing a climate crisis," said Deb Haaland, the interior secretary.

"We must move to a better future for all while our world faces the interlocking pressures of a global pandemic, economic collapse, social inequality, and the climate crisis."

Vineyard Wind is set to go live in 2023, with Ocean Wind coming a year later.

Related Article: Wind Energy Company To Breed California Condors, Replace Those Killed by Turbines



Economic Potentials

In the United States, offshore wind production is only in its infancy, lagging well behind Europe. A tiny windfarm is located in Rhode Island's territorial waters, and another is located off the coast of Virginia.

European companies or branches own the three main projects. Vineyard Wind is a partnership between a Danish company and a US unit of Iberdrola, a Spanish energy company. Orsted, a Danish corporation, is in charge of Ocean Wind and South Fork.

According to Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, wind entrepreneurs are on track to build tens of thousands of jobs and $100 billion in new investment by 2030, "but the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management must first open the door to new leasing."

Huge offshore wind developments have worried fishing communities from Maine to Florida, who fear that they will cut off large swaths of the ocean to their catch.

Also Read: Environmental Justice Goes Mainstream with Governmental Support

For more news update about Environmental Action, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Confronted by deepening political turmoil, with his government being destabilised by wave after wave of sexual assault or misconduct allegations, Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday desperately reshuffled his cabinet in a bid for survival.

After days of mounting media speculation predicting the changes, Morrison announced that, as flagged, Christian Porter would be dumped as attorney-general and industrial relations minister, along with Linda Reynolds as defence minister, although both would remain in cabinet.

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison (AP/Kiyoshi Ota)

Significantly, Peter Dutton, who was Morrisons right-wing rival for the leadership when they ousted Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister in 2018, will become defence minister, a post he has long coveted. An equally right-wing and anti-working class figure, Michaelia Cash, will be promoted into the twin roles of attorney-general and industrial relations minister.

In a bid to shore up his own factional position, Morrison elevated one of his closest supporters, Stuart Robert, to a new super-portfolio of employment, workforce, skills, small and family business despite a series of previous scandals that saw him forced to resign from the ministry in 2016. As an indication of the domestic agenda, Robert is notorious for defending the governments robo-debt scheme that unlawfully stripped more than $1 billion from welfare recipients.

Morrison could not afford to sack anyone from cabinet for fear that they would quit parliament and leave his Liberal-National Coalition government without a parliamentary majority. The government already lost its working majority on the floor of the House of Representatives last month when far-right Trump supporter Craig Kelly resigned from the Liberal Party.

As a measure of the crisis engulfing the government, yesterdays announcement came just four months after another cabinet reshuffle, in which Morrison had emphasised stability and consistency. Morrison yesterday again claimed that his changes would ensure stability and continuity but with a shake up and a fresh gender equality lens.

A new cabinet taskforce would focus on womens equality and safety, headed by Foreign Minister Marise Payne, whom Morrison labelled effectively the prime minister for women.

Almost exclusively, the media has presented the governments unravelling as a product of Morrisons mishandling of the sexual assault allegations made against members of the government. Porter has been accused of raping a young female friend three decades ago and Reynolds has been accused of indifference toward a staff member who was allegedly raped by a colleague inside parliament house in 2019.

As has happened many times historically, such allegations are being used, whatever the intentions of those immediately involved, for underlying political purposes. Information long held within the Liberal Party and other ruling circles has been leaked or seized upon, including by figures such as Turnbull and Peta Credlin, who was chief of staff to Turnbulls ousted predecessor Tony Abbott.

In the style of a MeToo witch hunt, unproven and untested allegations have been given headline treatment, overturning the presumption of innocence. Under the guise of a belatedly discovered concern for women who suffer sexual harassment or assault, reactionary political agendas are being pursued by elements within the ruling capitalist class and affluent sections of the upper middle class.

While certainly promoting the prospects of privileged women within the parliamentary and corporate elite, the campaign has served as a political distraction and as a thrust for a more right-wing and militarist course on both the domestic and foreign policy fronts.

Largely buried from public discussion is the impact of the governments termination this week of the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme and the JobSeeker dole payment coronavirus supplement. Millions more workers and small business people face impoverishment, and this will fuel explosive social and political discontent.

Also hidden from view are the implications of the Biden administrations rapid ratcheting up of the US conflict with China, which places the Australian population on the frontline of a potentially devastating economic and military war.

It is hardly a coincidence that the cabinet reshuffle centres on the two key portfolios of industrial relations and defence. These are crucial for intensifying the offensive against the jobs and conditions of the working class and stepping up the preparations for a US-led military confrontation with China.

The two demoted ministers, Porter and Reynolds, were both on the frontline of the governments failure to deliver the escalating demands of the corporate and strategic establishment.

Porter had presided over the almost complete collapse of the governments industrial relations bill, which ended up this month falling far short of the full restructuring of working conditions demanded by big business, despite months of backroom talks last year to strike a mutually beneficial deal with the trade union leaders. Porter had proclaimed Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) secretary Sally McManus his BFF (Best Friend Forever) after the union agreed to a wholesale ripping up of workers wages and conditions when the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, but the government proved incapable of carrying through the total assault required by the corporate boardrooms.

An editorial in the Australian Financial Review on March 22 castigated Morrison for having previously suggested that a Hawke-Keating-sized reform agenda was needed but then failing to seize on the pandemic crisis to achieve any significant incentive-sharpening micro-economic reform.

More than that, the editorial said there had been a profound political failure by the Coalition side of politics to craft the narrative and build a constituency for workplace reform, since it regained office in 2013. The Coalition had made no effort to paint what Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating had called the big picture of the supposed benefits for workers of globally competitive enterprises.

These references to the Hawke-Keating agenda and its big picture recall how their Labor governments of 1983 to 1996 worked closely with the unions to impose a sweeping assault on workers jobs, conditions and basic rights that earlier Coalition governments had been unable to implement.

Reynolds had been under fire from within the military establishment for delays and gaps in the acquisition of new weapons and for failing to sufficiently bury the exposure of the war crimes committed by Australian forces in Afghanistan.

In a column on March 25, the Australians foreign editor Greg Sheridan, who is closely connected with the US military and intelligence apparatus, insisted that the recent warning issued by a US admiral of a military conflict over Taiwan within six years would necessarily involve Australia in a war for which it was not prepared.

We have what will be the worlds 12 most powerful conventional submarines on order, Sheridan wrote scathingly. They are a good investment. But they dont start arriving until 2034. Our new frigates are also delayed

Our lack of size and lack of stockpile mean we have no war-fighting ability We should move very fast in the next few years on fast jets, missiles and unmanned submarines We need many, many, many more missiles.

Sheridan called for up to $40 billion to be spent on such weaponry over the next few years, on top of the more than $200 billion that the Coalition government has allocated over the next decade. Thats what the government should concentrate on, he pointedly concluded.

Morrison has shown he is fully committed to backing Washingtons aggression against China, but there may well be concerns in the Biden administration about his close personal and political ties to Trump, as well as his capacity to mobilise the country for war.

This week, the opposition Labor Party will hold a two-day online platform conference, making its pitch, backed by the trade unions, to satisfy the ruling elites requirements for both austerity and war preparations.

While seeking to differentiate itself from the Coalition by making an even greater focus on gender issues, Labors draft platform pledges a fiscal policy that keeps spending to a responsible level, support for a diverse and dynamic business sector and greater workplace collaboration between business and unions. It also vows to strengthen the US Alliance because of its vital importance to Australias national security requirements and the United States long-term role in underpinning broader stability in our region.

[March 30, 2021] eStruxture to Acquire Canadian Colocation Business from Aptum Technologies, Enter Toronto Market and Expand National Footprint

The company will effectively have one of the largest amounts of customer-ready data center capacity available in Canada MONTREAL, March 30, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - eStruxture, the largest Canadian-owned cloud and carrier-neutral data center provider, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all eight Canadian data centers from Aptum Technologies, a global hybrid multi-cloud managed service provider, along with all customers and employees associated with its colocation business. The addition of these strategic locations complements eStruxture's existing portfolio of six data centers in Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary, further strengthening the company's pan-Canadian platform and adding key industry verticals to its portfolio. eStruxture will provide one of the largest amounts of immediately sellable capacity in Canada for companies looking to speed up their time to market. Moreover, customers will benefit from access to two of Canada's largest carrier hotels located at 151 Front Street West in Toronto and 555 Hastings in Vancouver. This will add over two hundred new network providers to eStruxture's ecosystem including access to the Toronto Internet Exchange (TorIX) and the Vancouver Internet Exchange (VANIX). Aptum will continue as one of eStruxture's largest customers in Canada. A customer-first company, eStruxture is delivering on its promise to help its customers: Grow in the Canadian market with access to scalable facilities that can immediately accommodate large scale deployments

in the Canadian market with access to scalable facilities that can immediately accommodate large scale deployments Expand their reach globally via secure, direct connectivity to an extensive ecosystem of network and cloud service providers, and

their reach globally via secure, direct connectivity to an extensive ecosystem of network and cloud service providers, and Accelerate their digital transformation by everaging hybrid cloud solutions



Todd Coleman , President and CEO of eStruxture. "This acquisition allows us to significantly scale our platform, further expand our reach and customer base in the Vancouver and Montreal areas, and enter the Toronto market in a meaningful way. eStruxture is proud of its Canadian roots and is committed to continuing to invest in our economy, create more jobs for Canadians, and offer a data center platform that is ideal for companies that want to grow or establish their footprint in Canada ." With the addition of the new facilities (five in Toronto, two in Montreal and one in Vancouver), eStruxture will operate a total of 14 facilities across Canada, increasing its total footprint to over 600,000 square feet of combined data center space and a total IT capacity of 100 megawatts. The newly acquired data centers offer both central and edge locations, are scalable, sustainably designed, and highly connected.

Scotiabank served as financial advisor and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP acted as legal counsel to eStruxture. DH Capital served as financial advisor and Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg acted as legal counsel to Aptum. About eStruxture eStruxture is the largest Canadian-owned cloud and carrier-neutral data center provider. Our solutions are designed with the capacity, performance and flexibility to run modern, demanding enterprise applications, and the control to rapidly scale in response to unpredictable changes in business processes. Headquartered in Montreal, the company provides access to an ecosystem of over 900 customers that trust and depend on eStruxture's mission-critical infrastructure and customer-centric support, including carriers, cloud providers, media, content, financial services and enterprise customers. eStruxture offers colocation, private cloud, managed services, bandwidth, and security and support services to customers of all sizes. For more information, visit www.estruxture.com . Follow us on Twitter @estruxture and LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/estruxture/ . View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/estruxture-to-acquire-canadian-colocation-business-from-aptum-technologies-enter-toronto-market-and-expand-national-footprint-301258310.html SOURCE eStruxture Data Centers Inc.

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Announcement on Proposed Election of Supervisors



Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt, 30 March 2021 - The board of directors of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (D-Share 690D.DE, A-Share 600690.SH, H-Share 6690.HK, 'Haier Smart Home' or the 'Company') announces that:

Mr. Wang Peihua and Mr. Ming Guoqing, both are current supervisors of the Company, have retired. According to their applications, they will no longer hold any position in the Company after new supervisors are elected at the shareholder's general meeting of the Company. The Company would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to Mr. Wang Peihua and Mr. Ming Guoqing for their contributions to the Company during their tenure as the supervisors of the Company.

To ensure the normal operation of the Board of Supervisors, pursuant to the relevant requirements of the Companies Law of PRC and the Articles of Association of the Company, Mr. Liu Dalin ('Mr. Liu') and Ms. Ma Yingjie ('Ms. Ma') are nominated as supervisors, whose terms of service are in line with the Tenth Session of the Supervisory Committee. Their biographies are set out below:

Mr. Liu Dalin was born in 1980. He holds master's degree in business administration from Renmin University of China. He is a senior engineer and senior political analyst. From August 2005 to September 2010, he served as a developer of water heater development department at the Electric Heating products Head Office of Haier Group, an assistant R&D engineer, a R&D engineer and a R&D model manager of the Electric Heating Research Institute at the Electric Heating Products Head Office of Haier Group successively. From September 2010 to October 2015, he was the deputy secretary of the Youth League Committee of Haier Group. From October 2015 to October 2020, he was the deputy secretary of the Disciplinary Inspection Committee of Haier Group. From October 2020 to date, he has been serving as the executive deputy secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee of Haier Group. Mr. Liu holds 21,335 H-shares of the Company.

Ms. Ma Yingjie was born in 1969. She is an assistant political analyst. She once served as the secretary of the Youth League Committee of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd., the secretary of the trade union of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd., the contact person of the customer service comprehensive department of Qingdao Haier Dishwasher Co., Ltd. At present, she is the contact person of party-masses work of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.

As of the date of this announcement, save as disclosed in this announcement, Mr. Liu and Ms. Ma had not held any other directorships in the past three years in public companies the securities of which are listed on any securities market in Hong Kong or overseas, nor did they have any other positons in other members of the Group or other major appointment and professional qualifications. Mr. Liu and Ms. Ma do not have other relationship with any directors, supervisors, senior management, substantial shareholders or controlling shareholders of the Company. They are not in possession of any information, nor are they being involved in any activity that shall be disclosed, and there was no matter that need to be brought to the attention of the Shareholders.

Save as disclosed in this announcement, there is no information relating to the appointment of each proposed supervisor that needs to be disclosed pursuant to the Listing Rules and there is no matter that needs to be brought to the attention of the Shareholders. Each supervisor candidate has not been subject to any penalty by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) or other related departments or punishment by any stock exchanges.

Should they be appointed, the Company will enter into a supervisor service contract with each of Mr. Liu and Ms. Ma.

The Board of Supervisors agreed to present the matters regarding the election of supervisors at the annual general meeting of the Company for consideration and approval. A circular containing, among other things, the information in relation to the proposed election of supervisors together with the notice of convening the annual general meeting will be dispatched to the Shareholders of the Company in due course.



The Board of Directors

Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.

30 March 2021



Note: This Announcement has been prepared in both Chinese and English. Should there be any discrepancies or misunderstandings between the two versions, the Chinese version shall prevail.

IR contact:

Yao Sun (Sophie) - Haier Smart Home Germany

T: +49 89 380 334 235

M: +49 160 9469 3601

Email: y.sun@haier.de
BOISE, Idaho, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlas, a full-service real estate company specializing in investment brokerage, property management and institutional acquisition, has acquired Advanced Asset Management, a property management company based in Boise, Idaho. The acquisition provides residents, homebuyers and real estate investors in the Boise metro area with a full suite of investment-focused real estate services including brokerage and property management.



"Over the past decade it has been the Atlas mission to Uplift Humanity Through Real Estate, that means helping first-time home buyers, as well as educating homeowners on their ability to save for retirement and build generational wealth," explains Vincent Deorio, Vice President, Corporate Development for Atlas Real Estate. "This acquisition is the first step in bringing that mission to the Boise metro area, one of the strongest real estate markets in the country."



"Atlas will continue to provide the same exceptional level of service to residents and investors in the Treasure Valley," says Andy Gearhart, owner of Advanced Asset Management. "Our goal for Advanced Asset Management was always to provide high-touch service, so when we connected with Atlas and saw the same service model, we knew we found a winner."

Boise's pro-business economy and booming real estate market attracted Atlas to Idaho's state capital. There are no rent taxes in Boise, property taxes remain relatively low, and the job growth rate stands at 3.6%. According to Zillow, home-price appreciation recently entered the double digits in the metro, with prices growing 10.5% over the past 10 years. Currently, the median home price in Boise is $419,000. Cap rates for the top 10% of real estate investment sales in the region averaged approximately 3.6%, while rents soared 13.5% year-over-year.



Atlas gains a presence in five states and eight metros nationwide, bringing the total number of residential units under management to more than 4,200. Since its inception in 2013, Atlas has been recognized as a leader in the real estate industry. The Denver Business Journal named Atlas as a Fast 50 Honoree, Bank of America selected Atlas as one of its Colorado Companies to Watch, and ColoradoBiz Magazine honored the firm with a Best of Colorado: Property Management and Best Residential Real Estate Agency award in 2020.

About Atlas Real Estate

Atlas Real Estate is a full-service real estate company specializing in investment services, property management and institutional acquisitions. A buy/sell brokerage, Atlas is also a Zillow Offers Partner Agent. Since its inception in 2013, Denver-based Atlas Real Estate has made a commitment to Uplift Humanity Through Real Estate. With offices in eight markets nationwide, Atlas transacts over $1 billion in real estate annually and manages more than 4,200 residential units. Atlas has been recognized by leading media outlets as a one of the Best Places to Work, the Best Property Management Company and a Top Company in Real Estate. To learn more about Atlas, visit www.realatlas.com .

Lauren Spain

Flackable

[email protected]

866.225.0920 ext. 104

SOURCE Atlas Real Estate
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - China will on Wednesday see March results for the manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMIs from the National Bureau of Statistics, highlighting a busy day in Asia-Pacific economic activity. The manufacturing PMI is expected to see a score of 51.2, up from 50.6 in February, while the non-manufacturing PMI is tipped to improve from 51.4 to 52.0. Australia will release February numbers for building permits and private sector credit. In January, building permits plummeted 19.4 percent on month, while private sector credit rose 0.2 percent on month and 1.7 percent on year. Japan will provide February figures for industrial production, housing starts and construction orders. Industrial production is forecast to have fallen 1.2 percent on month after climbing 4.3 percent in January. Housing starts are tipped to fall 4.8 percent on year after slipping 3.1 percent in January - when construction orders spiked 14.1 percent on year. The Philippines will see February data for producer prices; in January, prices were down 5.3 percent on year. South Korea will release February numbers for industrial production and retail sales. Industrial production is expected to ease 0.1 percent on month and rise 2.5 percent on year after falling 1.6 percent on month and gaining 7.5 percent on year in January. Retail sales were flat on month in January and up 1.6 percent on year. Thailand will see February figures for industrial production, current account and its coincident index, as well as January numbers for retail sales. Industrial production is predicted to add 0.6 percent on year after sinking 2.8 percent in the previous month. In January, the current account deficit was $0.7 billion and the coincident had an index score of 126.5. In December, retail sales were down 0.38 percent on year. 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.
With proactive participation in global value chains, Vietnam has steadily grown into a prominent manufacturer and exporter for electronics, ranking 12th in the world and third in ASEAN as an exporter for electronics in 2019.

Various factors contribute to Vietnams successful transformation from an agricultural country into an important location for electronic manufacturing in Southeast Asia  such as proximity to China, competitive costs, adequate workforce, low wages, and tax incentives to name a few. However, as Vietnam aims higher than being a low-cost option for electronic assembly, improvement in areas such as supporting industries, productivity, and technology is vital for the country to move up the value chain.

To learn about Vietnams integration into global value chains, our Business Intelligence Assistant Manager  Rebecca An conducted a webinar on how Vietnams supply chains differ from its peers. During this webinar, Rebecca gave us an overview of Vietnams electronics sector, Vietnams role in global value chains (GVCs) with a focus on the electronics sector, as well as its strengths and challenges.

We highlight some insights below:

Can you tell us a little bit about Vietnams electronics sector and its participation in global value chains?

The electronics industry can be grouped by Harmonized System (HS) codes in three groups. These include finished products that consist of 3Cs  computer, communication and consumer electronics, subassemblies and components which includes electronics components. In 2019, the total export value reached US$2.5 trillion in 2019.

Vietnam had strong growth of around 20 percent for electronic finished products surpassing Thailand and just behind South Korea in export assemblies in 2019.

Vietnam joined global value chains (GVCs) in the late 2000s and is considered a global tier-2 supplier for 3C products. If we look at GVCs by countries, the top electronics export products in 2019 were China followed by Vietnam. The top import countries for electronics were China, the US, followed by Hong Kong.

For electronics, Vietnams top exports were to the US and China, followed by South Korea and Japan. Vietnam is dependent on imports with telephones being the largest export group. Samsung accounted for 90 percent of exports.

The 3Cs finished products group dominates the Vietnam electronic industry, with communications equipment and consumer electronics leading.

While 3Cs dominate Vietnams electronics, Vietnams role in the global electronics value chains is limited to be an integrator of components.

GVCs can be broken down further into three parts, upstream, midstream, and downstream activities. Vietnam is mainly integrated in the midstream part with lower value add. These include subassemblies, such as displays and special parts, and finished products such as consumer electronics, communications, and computers. Vietnam is also involved in upstream activities but predominantly in low-value add products such as plastic, glass, and packaging. The participation of Vietnamese companies remains low.

Further Vietnam heavily imports components and sub-assemblies, with electronic components accounting for 65 percent of imports in 2019.

What are some drivers for this?

Vietnams electronic industry and exports are driven by foreign investors. Exports increased by 90 percent between 2008 to 2019.

Vietnams foreign and local electronic companies can be grouped in four categories. The first categories include multinational corporations such as Samsung, LG, Panasonic, and Canon. The second group consists of contract manufacturers that supply to several MNCs such as Foxconn. The third group are entities that lead in software and hardware such as Intel. The final group are manufacturers that produce components that supply to global companies such as Samsung and LG. In the last group there are few local firms, but hundreds of foreign firms.

What are some challenges for Vietnam?

Vietnam still needs to do more to integrate into global GVCs and faces several challenges in logistics and infrastructure. There is a gap between raw materials and finished goods. The logistics industry is highly fragmented with more than 3000 logistic companies. These consist of small and medium enterprises providing low-value services. Goods in Vietnam have to go through many intermediaries from raw materials to delivery, increasing transaction costs. In addition, the connection between different modes of transport is weak as well.

Vietnam also lacks the production scale and human infrastructure thus making moving up the value chain challenging. In comparison to other countries like Singapore, Malaysia, China, and India, Vietnam has one of the highest logistics costs and accounts for 25 percent of GDP.

Vietnams labor force is also another challenge. While its true that Vietnam has a young and strong labor force, the size of labor is much smaller at 57.8 million compared to Chinas at 778 million and Indias at 500 million. Therefore, this hampers the mass mobilization of labor in the electronics sector. Skilled labor is also a challenge, making it harder for manufacturers to hire for complex processes. It can also be a challenge to find adequate labor that can meet the local market demand.

Vietnams localization rate at 36 percent is lower than China and India adding to a weak supporting industry with a low rate of procuring local components. The production of components is still underdeveloped. At present, Vietnam has limited capacity to manufacture high-tech components like semiconductors.

What are Vietnams strengths?

Vietnam has had increasing and steady economic growth of between 6 and 7 percent in the last decade. Its international trade and FDI inflows have been growing and Vietnam has been outpacing its regional peers in this respect. Vietnam is mostly open to investment across sectors. Despite the pandemic, Vietnam is one of the few countries to report positive GDP growth of 2.91 percent in 2020.

Secondly, Vietnam is a party to several free trade agreements (FTAs) which are push factors that can help it further integrate into GVCs. The ratification of the EU-Vietnam FTA and the upcoming UKVFTA and RCEP will help further its economy propelling its GDP growth.

Lastly, the government has launched several incentives to attract investment and encourage Vietnamese businesses to become a part of GVCs. For example, electronic components are entitled to an import tax of 0 percent, while are there additional incentives in income tax for hi-tech projects and investment in industrial zones. Additional incentives in the form of labor and technology policies are also provided by the government.

The government also supports R&D and the development of advanced IT systems as well as the manufacturing of ICT products. This will be a key theme as Vietnam gets more involved in IoT and 5G communications.
Credit: Miss Poppy Berdoy-Webster

The World Health Organization is advocating a new One Health approach to tackle parasitic blood flukes in Africa following successful UKRI-funded research.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted a change of direction in its roadmap to fight parasitic blood flukes in Africa. This gives fresh hopes that a major disease of poverty can be eliminated by 2030.

The new strategy has been informed by the findings of UKRI-funded multidisciplinary research which shows how the parasitic flukes causing schistosomiasis to transmit between animals and people in Africa.

Neglected tropical disease

Schistosomiasis is a major neglected tropical disease (NTD) of both people and animals, with over 220 million people and untold millions of livestock infected worldwide.

While over 200,000 people die from schistosomiasis each year, its major effects are disabling. In children it causes, among other things, anemia and stunting. The disease also has profound economic and wellbeing impacts for poor livestock-keeping communities.

In Africa, despite almost 20 years of mass administration of an anti-parasite medication targeting, predominantly, school-aged children, schistosomiasis remains extremely high in some regions.

UK-West Africa collaboration

The research was led by a team at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in partnership with teams from Senegal and Niger in West Africa.

It saw scientists combining parasitological, epidemiological, molecular, clinical and environmental data to determine the occurrence and distribution of the different fluke species that lead to disease.

Findings showed the widespread nature of the disease. Up to 88% of children and adults were infected with the flukes in the study areas and up to 94% of livestock. More than half of the wildlife the team sampled were also infected.

Rates were particularly high in regions undergoing land-use change.

Hybrid flukes

The team also found novel types of flukes in people that were viable hybrids between the urogenital type of human parasite with the intestinal type found in domestic livestock. These were often extremely high numbers. Convincing evidence pointed towards their origin being zoonotic spillover from livestock.

Zoonotic spillover is the term used when a pathogen such as a parasite or virus jumps species from an animal to a human.

It was a zoonotic spillover that started the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zoonotic transmission

Hybrids between different livestock flukes were also found to infect both people and livestock. Likewise, for another of the human fluke species, identical fluke types were found in people, rodents and snails in the same areas. This showed strong evidence for shared parasite transmission between animals and people.

In parts of Asia, human schistosomiasis has long been understood to have a zoonotic origin.

However, in sub-Saharan Africa the role of animals in transmitting the parasite and the implications this may have for disease control have been largely ignored.

Urogenital schistosomiasis

This was particularly so for schistosoma haematobium, the parasite behind urogenital schistosomiasis.

Urogenital schistosomiasis was assumed to be an exclusively human infection in Africa and so it was assumed that by targeting and treating people alone, the disease could be eliminated. Urogenital schistosomiasis is a painful and debilitating condition that can lead to kidney damage, bladder cancer and infertility.

One Health approach

The research results highlighted the need for all potential host species of the parasite to be included in future schistosomiasis control efforts within Africa and beyond.

They have informed the new WHO NTD 2021 to 2030 roadmap and the WHO control and elimination of schistosomiasis guidelines. These stress that an approach involving both animal health and human health experts must inform interventions to achieve disease elimination.

This approach is known as a One Health approach.

Research revealed the implications for control

Professor Joanne P. Webster of the RVC who led the research said, "This research revealed the multi-host, multi-parasite aspects of the disease and the potential implications for control. It emphasizes that a truly multidisciplinary One Health perspective must be implemented to achieve both the 2030 WHO roadmap targets of elimination as a public health problem and ultimately towards interruption of schistosomiasis transmission."

Explore further Detection of unusual hybrid schistosomes in Malawi
MIAMI (AP)  A man arrested by police early Tuesday is accused of abducting, sexually assaulting and shooting a 12-year-old boy who had snuck out of his home to walk to a friend's house in South Florida.

A passerby saw the boy wandering along a Miami street before 3 a.m. Saturday and alerted authorities. The boy later told police he had heard a loud bang and was pushed out of a car. He had been shot in the jaw and was temporarily blinded.

He had lost his sight and he was using his touch trying to find his way around to seek help, Miami-Dade detective Alvaro Zabaleta told news outlets.

Police said they arrested Aliex Santiesteban, 43, early Tuesday. He's charged with sexual battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping a child under 13 and attempted murder. Major Brian Rafky of the Miami-Dade polices Special Victims Bureau said detectives were able to track down the suspect through good old-fashioned police work and DNA evidence.

The boy is recovering at Jackson Memorial Hospital, police said.

The good Samaritan, whom television stations did not identify by his full name, was recorded on surveillance video escorting the crying boy into a food mart to get help.

He was screaming, Help, someone, help me, please. So I (brought) him to the store where they could call the police, the man told television stations.

Investigators said boy had placed pillows in his bed to trick his parents into thinking he was sleeping before leaving the house Friday night. He said he walked to a friend's house about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away.

He was on his way home when he was forced into a car, police said. The boy told investigators he tried to get out, but the car's child locks were engaged.

An arrest report said Santiesteban pulled his car onto a roadside swale in the Brownsville neighborhood near Miami and forced the child into the backseat, where he assaulted him. Police said a brief struggle ensued and Santiesteban shot the boy.

Story continues

Santiesteban denied the accusations, police said. It was not clear whether he has an attorney.

Police urged the community to call authorities if other victims or witnesses recognize Santiesteban from previous crimes.

At a Tuesday news conference, Alfredo Ramirez, the director of the Miami-Dade Police Department, thanked the man who found him and the community for stepping in to help.

As a father of a 12-year-old myself, this is extremely disturbing and hits you at the soul, Ramirez said. This child has suffered physical and emotional trauma that will take years to overcome.

After he ended his remarks, Ramirez briefly returned to the podium to lean again into the microphone.

Thats the face of evil, ladies and gentlemen. Right there, he said as he pointed to the mugshot.
Update: Added comment from Activision Blizzard spokesperson.

Activision Blizzard has quietly hired a former member of the Trump administration to be its new chief administrative officer. The news comes as the company public announced the appointment of a new CFO.

As reported by Kotaku, the Call of Duty publisher has brought in Brian Bulatao, who was previously under Secretary of State for Management at the U.S. Department of State -- where he worked directly under Secretary of State and ardent Trump ally, Mike Pompeo.

Bulatao recently came under scrutiny when the House Democrats launched a probe into Trump's firing of the State Department's independent watchdog, Inspector General Steve Linick. During that investigation, Linick testified that Bulatao "tried to bully" him on a number occasions while he looked into a possible misuse of government resources by Pompeo and probed the Trump administration's sale of arms to Saudi Arabia.

Activision Blizzard chief exec Bobby Kotick told staff about the hire in an email seen by Kotaku, and described Bulatao as a "rare talent" while highlighting his military career and only briefly touching upon his "government experience."

Brian is a rare talent, and the perfect fit for Activision Blizzard; his unparalleled combination of business, military, and government experience makes him ideally suited to accelerate our organizational transformation and deliver on great opportunities for future growth," wrote Kotick.

Bulatao has specifically been hired to oversee the Call of Duty Endowment, a non-profit foundation co-founded by Kotick that helps former service members in the United States and UK transition to civilian careers. He will also take charge of "key administrative functions" across departments including Activision Blizzard, People, IT, Workplace Information, and Physical Security.

"Brians unparalleled success in the business world and distinguished career as an Infantry Captain in the U.S. Army make him an excellent addition to our leadership team, to lead our organization toward future growth," an Activision Blizzard rep told Gamasutra. "We believe in honoring the legacy and extraordinary sacrifices of veterans, and we recognize and appreciate the expertise and rigor they bring to everything they do."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  President Rodrigo Duterte wants to speed up the vaccination of health workers so the national government can proceed in inoculating other sectors in the COVID-19 vaccine priority list.

"They must go now. They must look for a way to have the vaccine ahead of time," Duterte said during the weekly Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases meeting on Monday.

Some 1.7 million medical frontliners in private and public health facilities are at the top of the national government's vaccine priority list. Some 668,018 health workers have been vaccinated as of Monday afternoon, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

Duterte emphasized that medical professionals who are not actively engaged in COVID-19 response are not part of the priority list .

"Let's be frank. The 1.2 million doses that arrived today will just be enough for the frontliners the health workers and all those connected with the efforts in fighting COVID-19," the President said, referring to the China-made Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine doses which the government bought and arrived in the country on Monday.

Next in the vaccine priority list are senior citizens aged 60 years old and above, whom Galvez said will start to be vaccinated by April 1. Some local government units in Metro Manila have already started to inoculate their elderly residents.

Also part of the national government's vaccine priority list are persons with comorbidities, frontline personnel in essential sectors identified by the IATF, and other members of the indigent population.

Duterte suggested merging all categories so the national government can begin vaccinating the rest of the population.

The country started to inoculate healthcare workers last March 1 using the donated doses from the Chinese government and the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility.
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The bronze artwork cost the university 23,760 as part of the new development

A controversial life-size statue of Greta Thunberg has been unveiled at Winchester University despite being branded a 'vanity project' by critics.

The 24,000 bronze sculpture of the environmental activist, 18, has been placed on the Hampshire university campus to reflect its values on 'sustainability and social justice'

But many locals have questioned the decision, with some saying a tribute to Kev Collick, the local Big Issue seller, would have been more popular.

It is believed to be the first life-sized depiction of the Swedish activist since she gained international attention by starting a school climate strike in 2018.

After a year of work the statue - which cost 23,760 and was funded by the university as part of its 50million West Downs Centre development - has been unveiled.

The backlash has continued despite the official unveiling, as the Winchester University and College Union (UCU) posted a motion of censure on social media.

It called the sculpture, which was commissioned in 2019, a 'vanity project'.

The 24,000 bronze sculpture of Greta Thunberg (pictured), 18, has been placed on Winchester University's campus to reflect its values on 'sustainability and social justice'

It is believed to be the first life-sized depiction of the Swedish activist since she gained international attention by starting a school climate strike in 2018

It said the funding should have been spent on preventing redundancies and cuts at the university.

It added: 'To be clear our concerns are about the expenditure and transparency of decision making by the university, which have long been opaque, not the subject of the statue.'

The university's vice-chancellor Professor Joy Carter said no funds were diverted from student support or from staffing.

She said: 'The university's approach to art is to commission or purchase unusual and striking pieces which embody our distinctiveness and values.

'Greta is a young woman who, in spite of difficulties in her life, has become a world leading environmental activist.

'As the university for sustainability and social justice we are proud to honour this inspirational woman in this way.

'We know that many find her a controversial figure. As a university we welcome reasoned debate and critical conversations.

The university's vice-chancellor Professor Joy Carter said no funds were diverted from student support or from staffing

Winchester University came under fire for plans to erect a life-size sculpture of Ms Thunberg - with residents saying she has nothing to do with the city. Pictured, during construction

The sculpture, titled Make a Difference, was created by artist Christine Charlesworth and depicts the activist with her arms outstretched

'We hope her statue will help to inspire our community, reminding us that no matter what life throws at us we can still change the world for the better.

'That is a message we want all our students and all young people to hear.'

The sculpture, titled Make a Difference, was created by artist Christine Charlesworth and depicts the activist with her arms outstretched.

She said: 'It is hard to deny her courage and determination. As is often the case with people on the autism spectrum, social interaction is difficult for her.

'It is therefore even more remarkable that she has been able to forefront the mobilisation of young people in support of global environmental protection and to address world leaders on a face-to-face basis.'

She previously revealed the interview committee for the sculpture wanted Miss Thunberg to be sitting on the ground in a yellow coat - in reference to her attire when skipping school in favour of a solo strike to campaign for better climate policy.

The University of Winchester, which aims to be carbon neutral by 2025, declared a climate and ecological emergency in 2019 and has eliminated all unnecessary single-use plastic across its campus.

It is believed to be the first life-sized depiction of the 18-year-old Swedish activist. Miss Thunberg gained international attention after starting a school climate strike in 2018

Many locals have reacted angrily to the decision, with some saying a tribute to Kev Collick (pictured), the local Big Issue seller, would have been a more popular choice

Not everyone in the cathedral city agreed that it was a good way to spend the cash as one critic, Anne Goodchild, said a sculpture of a well known local would have more support.

She said: '[What about] Kev the guy who sells the homeless paper in the high [street]...[he's] definitely a Winchester icon.'

Kev, who is no longer homeless, is a fixture of Winchester's streets and has supported several charities alongside selling the Big Issue for years.

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.

Another local, 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

Another, Simon Dixon, said the statue was a 'total waste of money' as others questioned whose 'bright idea' it was in the first place.

Mark Robinson 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.'

In August 2019, members of Extinction Rebellion organised a 'Die in' protest in the affluent Hampshire city where they laid in the middle of the high street to protest against air quality monitoring on local roads.
Gardai are appealing to the public for any information on the whereabouts of a missing teenage girl.

Gardai are seeking the publics assistance in tracing 17-year-old Rebecca OBrien, who has been missing from the Ballinlough area of Navan in Co Meath since March 20.

She is described as being 55 (165cm) in height, of slight build with long brown hair.

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When last seen she was wearing a black jacket, green t-shirt, blue jeans and white trainers.

Anyone with information on Rebeccas whereabouts is asked to contact Navan Garda Station on, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any other Garda Station.
It is insane to build workforce housing on expensive city-owned real estate like the Adams Street property. The cheaper the land, the more units that can be built.

Here is a solution to obtaining cheaper land.

How many acres of land do we need to build housing, both dwellings, and apartments? I dont know the answer, but lets pretend we could solve our problems with 10 acres of land.

Check out our zoning map. You will note that we have an Urban Limit Line which encircles the town. The fact that it is redundant since we live in an Ag Preserve is not relevant here.

The City Council should approach all the landowners that abut the Urban Limit Line and hold a reverse auction. This is a perfect market solution.

They should say, We need 10 acres. How little will you sell us an acre of land for? One might say $500,000/acre. Another might say five acres for $100,000/ acre. Another might say $60,000/acre. It doesnt matter.

The city buys the 10 cheapest acres offered  wherever they are on the URL. The city then rezones those formerly Ag acres into AHZ Affordable Housing Zoning. Nothing but workforce housing can be built there, in perpetuity.
From April 1, 2021, the cheque books and passbooks of several bank account holders will be invalid as several banks went through a merger.

These banks are those whose mergers with other banks took effect from April 1, 2019, and April 1, 2020, and their names include Dena Bank, Vijaya Bank, Corporation Bank, Andhra Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, United Bank and Allahabad Bank.

After the merger, for obvious reasons cheque books and passbooks of only one entity can be valid.

Dena and Vijaya Bank were merged with Bank of Baroda with effect from April 1, 2019. Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India were merged with Punjab National Bank (PNB).

Syndicate Bank merged with Canara Bank, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank merged with Union Bank of India, and Allahabad Bank merged with Indian Bank.

If a customer has an account in any of these 7 banks, then quickly check for a new cheque book and IFSC code.

Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank account holders can now know their new IFSC codes online on the official website of the banks. For this, a customer will have to go to the official website www.unionbankofindia.co.in . After this, you have to click on amalgamation center here. After this, you will be able to know the updated IFSC code. You can call the bank's customer care number 1800-208-2244 or 1800-425-1515 or 1800-425-3555. Or you can get information through SMS. For this, you have to send the message to 9223008486 by typing IFSC <OLD IFSC>.

The new rules will be applicable from April 1 and due to the merger, the account number, IFSC code, MICR code, branch address will also be changed.

Biden broke law by halting border wall construction approved by Congress, GOP lawmakers say

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Republican lawmakers urged the U.S. Government Accountability Office to weigh in on the legality of President Joe Biden halting border wall construction, which they argue violates federal law and has caused an unfortunate, yet entirely avoidable scenario at the overwhelmed southern border.

Biden rolled back many Trump-era policies on his first day in office through sweeping executive orders, including a proclamation to suspend border wall construction and re-direct Congress-approved funds. The proclamation argued the border wall is not a serious policy solution and a waste of money.

Freezing funds appropriated for border wall construction is unauthorized, two congressional letters written to the Government Accountability Office claimed.

Congress already approved almost $1.4 billion in funding for the border wall in December 2020 for the fiscal year 2021 as part of President Donald Trumps $900 billion stimulus package.

More than 60 House members and four GOP senators signed a letter released Tuesday asking the GAO to investigate and give a legal opinion on Bidens decision to freeze funds approved by Congress to suspend border wall construction.

The members of Congress contend this action violated the Impoundment Control Act.

The House members wrote the letter asking to be added as co-requesters of the letter sent by 40 GOP senators on March 17.

The March 17 letter signed by senators including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. also argued that Bidens action to end border wall construction violated the Impoundment Control Act. The senators called for the GAOs legal opinion on the matter.

The letter said Bidens executive order led to compromised operational control of the southern border and a national security crisis.

They are also a blatant violation of federal law and infringe on Congress's constitutional power of the purse, the letter reads.

The senators further alleged that the Biden administrations actions have real consequences for our nation.

GAO has rightly concluded that [f]aithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those the Congress has enacted into law, the senators letter stated. Yet with this Proclamation, the President has done just that. The legal result of those actions is an impoundment of funds in violation of the ICA. The practical result is a growing crisis across our southern border. We will abide neither.

Over 452 miles of the southern border wall were constructed during the Trump administration, according to Customs and Border Protection data from January 2021.

Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn led a delegation of GOP senators to visit the southern border last week to see the unfolding crisis at the border.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., posted a video on Instagram to show overcrowded immigration facilities. One video showed a pod designed to hold 80 people that held 709 kids.

I understand why the Biden team does not want cameras in this location , Lankford said. None of this was true three months ago. Literally, when President Biden came in and announced that he was changing the policy, they showed us the stats [where] it skyrocketed in February and March for these individuals to come it, and it has created this huge crisis.

He shared that many individuals are released into the U.S. with limited processing due to the border patrol being overwhelmed with the massive surge of immigrants.

This is a massive crisis thats going to be rolling for a very long time in the United States with the amount of drugs that are going to flow through freely and the amount of criminals that are able to move , Lankford shared. This is a rolling, growing, accelerating crisis.

Lankford had previously voiced concern with Bidens plans to halt border wall construction on the Senate floor on March 16.

Now, it may be hard to be able to see in this, but miles and miles of new fencing are going in, but on the day January the 20th, construction was halted. And in this particular area, miles and miles of fencing, except for these gaps in the fence, he said.

See, those gaps were put in there to be actually gates. So if they have to take care of the fence, they can get access to both sides of it for this miles and miles and miles, and fencing is done except for the gate area. And literally, the steel for the gates are laying on the ground. Why in the world would you do construction and have it stop to say, you can build everything except close the gates?

Biden on Wednesday appointed Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the effort to address border and immigration challenges.

Theres no one better capable to organize this, Biden said.

Needless to say, the work will not be easy, but it is important work, Harris said.

Neither Biden nor Harris has visited the southern border since assuming office.

In Bidens first formal press conference since taking office on Thursday, he said he should be flattered immigrants are trying to cross the southern border because he is the nice guy.

Biden said a significant increase at the border happens every year in the winter months and claimed, nothing has changed.

There are currently over 16,000 unaccompanied migrant minors held in custody as facilities are overcrowded, according to CBS News.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement Wednesday that the U.S. is set to receive more migrants at the border than any time in the past 20 years.

In a Fox News interview, Trump said the immigration surge and border crisis under Biden is a horrible situation and no one has seen anything like it.

Last Sunday, Mayorkas argued that blame for the unfolding crisis at the southern border should be put on the Trump administration and alleged that the previous administrations disruptions in the immigration system are the reason why holding facilities are being overwhelmed with unaccompanied minors.

There was a system in place in both Republican and Democratic administrations that was torn down during the Trump administration, Mayorkas said on CNNs State of the Union.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - Daura Capital Corp. (TSXV: DUR.P) (the "Company" or "Daura"), a capital pool company under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement dated March 30, 2021 with Estrella Gold S.A.C. ("Estrella") and the shareholders of Estrella (the "Estrella Shareholders"), whereby the Daura will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Estrella. The acquisition of Estrella will constitute Daura's qualifying transaction (the "Qualifying Transaction") under the policies of the TSXV.

As previously announced, Daura has made its initial filings with the TSXV for conditional approval of the proposed Qualifying Transaction. Daura is continuing to work diligently towards the completion of the proposed Qualifying Transaction under the policies of the TSXV.

About Estrella Gold S.A,C. and the Cochabamba Project

Estrella is a closely held corporation (S.A.C.) formed under the laws of Peru, engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral resource properties. Estrella was formed in August 2018 for the purpose of engaging in the business of acquiring, exploring and developing mineral resource properties. Estrella's principal focus to date has been on the acquisition of the mining concessions and applications making up the Cochabamba Project.

The Cochabamba Project consists of a 100% undivided interest in 15 mining concessions and mining applications covering 9,927.113 Ha, and an option (the "Antonella Option") to acquire a mining concession (the "Antonella Daniela I Concession") covering an additional 900 Ha, all located in the Ancash Region of north-central Peru. The Cochabamba Project is an exploration stage project prospective for gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc. The Antonella Daniela 1 Concession forms the main area of exploration activity for the Cochabamba Project.

Pursuant to the terms of the Antonella Option, as amended, Estrella has the right to acquire 100% of the Antonella Daniela I mining concession, exercisable by payment of the following amounts:

US$15,000 on signing of the option agreement (which amount has been paid);

US$40,000 30 days after the signing date (which amount has been paid);

US$25,000 on August 15, 2020 (which amount has been paid);

US$115,000 on the December 15, 2020 (which amount has been paid);

US$170,000 on September 26, 2021; and,

US$80,000 on September 26, 2022.

The Antonella Daniela I Concession is currently the main area of exploration on the Cochabamba Project, and was most recently explored and drilled by Minera Silex Peru SRL ("Minera Silex") from 2006 to 2012.

Minera Silex drilled a total of 11 holes located within the current Antonella Daniela 1 Concession. Drilling totalled 2461 meters in 11 diamond drill holes, from which 360 meters of core yielded 314 samples. All holes intercepted veining and mineralized intervals with the best results coming from CBD11001, CBD11002, CBD11003, CBD11004, CBD11004A, CBD11004B, CBD11006, CBD11007, and CBD11008. Holes CBD11005, CBD11009 CBD11010, and CBD11011 intercepted veining and low grade mineralization.

Interpreted sections and mineralized intervals presented below for holes CBD11002 and CBD11004B are representative of the style of mineralization and grades reported by Minera Silex.





Mineralized Intervals for CDB11002



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6523/78985_dauratable1.jpg





Mineralized Intervals for CDB11004B

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6523/78985_dauratable2.jpg

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Owen D.W. Miller, the author of the Technical Report on the Cochabamba Project, and a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Financial Information

The following table represents selected financial information regarding the financial condition and results of operation for Estrella. The following is derived from Estrella's financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019 (audited) and 2018 (unaudited). The following information should be read in conjunction with Estrella's audited and unaudited financial statements for the periods presented, which financial statements will be included in the filing statement to be filed by Daura on SEDAR in connection with the Qualifying Transaction.



Nine months ended

September 30, 2020*

(unaudited)



December 31, 2019*

(audited)



December 31, 2018*

(unaudited)





















Total Revenues S/ --

S/ --

S/ --

Net Income (Loss) S/ (95,000 ) S/ (7,174 ) S/ (518 ) Total Assets S/ 844,351

S/ 326,973

S/ 35,657

Total Long-term Liabilities S/ 736,584

S/ --

S/ --



* Presented in Peruvian soles ("S/")

About the Qualifying Transaction

Daura entered into a definitive share exchange agreement dated March 30, 2021 (the "Share Exchange Agreement") with Estrella and the Estrella Shareholders, whereby Daura has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Estrella from the Estrella Shareholders in exchange for an aggregate of 3,000,000 common shares in the capital of Daura (the "Daura Shares"). Dr. Raul Ernesto Lima Osorio, a resident of Uruguay, is the owner of 95% of the outstanding shares of Estrella, with Lara Exploration Ltd., a mineral resource exploration company listed on the TSXV, owning the remaining 5% of Estrella's outstanding shares. It is expected that, upon completion of the proposed Qualifying Transaction, the Company will change its name to Daura Gold Corp. (the "Resulting Issuer"), with Estrella being a wholly owned subsidiary of the Resulting Issuer.

The Qualifying Transaction will be an arm's length transaction and approval from the shareholders of Daura is not expected to be required.

Closing of the Qualifying Transaction remains subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, including but not limited to, closing of the Concurrent Financing (see "Concurrent Financing", below), satisfactory completion by Daura of its due diligence investigations, and the receipt of all required third party consents, waivers or approvals, including the approval of the TSXV.

Daura has advanced to Estrella the sum of $25,000 as a non-refundable deposit, and loaned to Estrella $75,000, plus an additional US$115,000 (collectively, the "Loans"). The Loans are secured by the assets of Estrella and bear interest at a rate of 10% per annum. The Loans were advanced to fund exploration work by Estrella and to make option payments on the Cochabamba Project.

Upon completion of the Qualifying Transaction, the resulting entity (the "Resulting Issuer") will be engaged in the business of exploring and developing the Cochabamba Project. In addition, the Resulting Issuer may explore and develop such other properties and interests as may be subsequently acquired by the Resulting Issuer.

Proposed Directors and Officers of the Resulting Issuer

Upon completion of the Qualifying Transaction, it is currently anticipated that Daura's existing board of directors, consisting of Mark Sumner, Nicholas Lindsay, Duncan Quinn-Smith, and Christina Cepeliauskas will remain with the Resulting Issuer, with Dr. Lima, the majority shareholder of Estrella, also expected to join the Resulting Issuer's board of directors. Luis Saenz is expected to be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, with William Tsang continuing as the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Resulting Issuer.

The following provides a brief background of each person who is expected to be a director or officer of the Resulting Issuer upon completion of the Qualifying Transaction.

Luis Saenz, Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Saenz is a finance executive with nearly 30 years of experience in corporate finance, strategic consulting, and metal trading with a focus on Latin America. He was recently CEO of Compania Minera Quiruvilca (Peru) and Director of Business Development for Latin America at the engineering multinational Ausenco (Australia). Mr. Saenz is founder and former CEO of Li3 Energy and now Director of Bearing Lithium Corp., which has a stake in the Maricunga lithium project in Chile. In addition, he is a Director of Atico Mining Corporation, which operates the El Roble mine in Colombia and develops the La Plata polymetallic project in Ecuador. Throughout his career, Mr. Saenz has held senior executive positions at Standard Bank of South Africa, Merrill Lynch and Pechiney World Trade. He has a BA in Economics and International Affairs from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.

William Tsang, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

Mr. Tsang is a Chartered Professional Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia with more than 10 years of financial accounting and auditing experience in the mineral exploration and mining industry. He had worked in public practice providing professional services and advice to publicly traded companies on the NYSE, TSX-V, and OTC markets on various public reporting services, such as Qualifying Transactions for Reverse Take-Over, mergers and acquisitions, and financing transactions. Mr. Tsang was the Corporate Controller of Atico Mining Corporation for 4 years and now holds the position of Chief Financial Officer at Atico. Mr. Tsang also holds the position of Chief Financial Officer of Nova Royalty Corp.

Mark Sumner, Director

Mr. Sumner is the founder and managing director of Kiwanda Group LLC (the "Kiwanda Group"), a US-based resources venture capital business. Founded in 2007, Kiwanda Group has financed mining and exploration projects across a range of commodities and regions, with a particular focus on metals in South America. Prior to founding Kiwanda Group, Mr. Sumner was an investment specialist at Madison Avenue Financial Group, a private wealth boutique based in Portland, OR. Mr. Sumner is also on the board of BiFox Ltd., an unlisted Chilean phosphate rock development company. Mr. Sumner previously held the position of Executive Chairman for Valor Resources Ltd.

Nicholas Mark Lindsay, Director

Dr. Lindsay is an experienced mining executive with about 30 years of experience in the exploration and development of projects in Australia and South America, specifically Chile and Peru. Dr. Lindsay is a geologist by profession, specialized in applied mineralogy and geometallurgy, and has a BSC (Hons Geology) and MBA from the University of Otago, and a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand; and is an experienced Director of ASX-listed junior exploration companies. Dr. Lindsay is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists.

Duncan Quinn-Smith, Director

Mr. Quinn-Smith has law degrees from the University of Bristol (LL.B), Bristol, England, and Columbia University (LL.M), New York, USA. Mr Quinn-Smith was formerly an attorney at the offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in New York City, specializing in all aspects of private equity transactions. He founded DQ, LLC, a luxury lifestyle brand, in 2003 where he holds the position of Chief Executive Officer.

Christina Cepeliauskas, Director

Ms. Cepeliauskas is a CPA, CGA professional accountant with more than 25 years of financial accounting and treasury experience in the mineral exploration and mining industry. Ms. Cepeliauskas was the Chief Financial Officer of EMX Royalty Corp. for 12 years from September 2008 until July 2020 wherein she assumed the role of Chief Administrative Officer. Additionally, Ms. Cepeliauskas is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Pan Global Resources Inc. Ms. Cepeliauskas also holds the volunteer position of Treasurer and Board member of Fraserside Community Services Society, an organization committed to helping people overcome challenges. Ms. Cepeliauskas has been a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors since May 2015 since she completed the comprehensive Corporate Directors Program.

Raul Ernesto Lima Osorio

Dr. Lima is the majority shareholder of Estrella. Dr. Lima has over 20 years of experience in the mining and exploration business across South America. Dr. Lima has been responsible for numerous mining development and construction projects throughout Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Argentina and Peru. Dr. Lima's notable engineering and construction experience in South America includes engineering and development of the San Grigorio gold mine in Uruguay for Rea Gold Corporation (now operated by Orosur), construction and engineering of the $450 million Pirquitas open pit silver mine in Argentina for Silver Standard Resources and engineering and construction of the Tucano Gold-Iron Mining Project in Brazil for Beadell Resources Ltd. Dr. Lima was previously Chief Operating Officer for Valor Resources Limited, an ASX-listed metals company focused on the development of the Berenguela Polymetallic Project in the Puno Department of Peru.

Dr. Lima holds an engineering degree from the University of the Republic in Montevideo, Uruguay, an MBA from ORT University in Montevideo and a Doctorate in Management with a focus on mining projects from University of Phoenix. Dr. Lima is a resident of Montevideo, Uruguay and speaks fluent English, Portuguese and native Spanish.

Concurrent Financing

In conjunction with closing of the proposed Qualifying Transaction, Daura intends to complete a non-brokered private placement financing of a minimum of 12,500,000 units (each a "Unit") and a maximum of up to 15,000,000 Units at a price of $0.20 per Unit for gross proceeds of between $2,500,000 and $3,000,000. Each Unit will consist of one Daura Share and one-half of one share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"), with each whole Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional Daura Share at a price of $0.30 per share for a period of two years from the date of issuance. Net proceeds from the Concurrent Financing will be used to fund exploration of the Cochabamba Project, expenses related to the Qualifying Transaction and for general working capital purposes.

Subject to the approval of the TSXV, Daura may pay eligible finders a fee equal to 7% of the Concurrent Financing in cash, and 7% in share purchase warrants under the QT Financing.

All securities issued under the Concurrent Financing will be subject to hold periods expiring four months and one day after the date of issuance. Additional restrictions may apply under the rules of the TSXV and applicable securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of any of the securities offered in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including the United States of America. The securities being offered as part of the QT Financing have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly may not be offered or sold in the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, or pursuant to available exemptions therefrom.

Closing of the Concurrent Financing is subject to the approval of the TSXV.

Sponsorship of the Qualifying Transaction

Sponsorship of a Qualifying Transaction of a capital pool company is required by the TSXV unless waived in accordance with TSXV policies. Daura intends to apply for a waiver from the sponsorship requirements, however there is no assurance that a waiver will be granted.

Adoption of Changes in New CPC Policy

The Company intends to implement certain amendments permitted by the TSXV pursuant to amended Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies, which became effective January 1, 2021 (the "New CPC Policy"). As permitted under the New CPC Policy, the Company intends to rely on Section 7.1 and 7.2 of the New CPC Policy. Section 7.1 and 7.2 of the New CPC Policy pertain to the permitted use of proceeds, and prohibitions on certain payments, by a capital pool company. Under the provisions of Section 7.1 and 7.2 of the New Policy, capital pool companies are no longer subject to a limitation on the amount of non-qualifying transaction related expenses of the lesser of: (i) $210,000, and (ii) 30% of the gross proceeds raised by the capital pool company.

Additional Information

In accordance with the policies of the TSXV, the Daura Shares are currently halted from trading and will remain halted until further notice.

Daura and Estrella will provide further details in respect of the Qualifying Transaction, in due course once available, by way of press releases.

All information provided in this press release related to Estrella has been provided by management of Estrella and has not been independently verified by management of Daura.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Qualifying Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Qualifying Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

For further information please contact:

Daura Capital Corp.

543 Granville, Suite 501

Vancouver BC V6C 1X8

William T.P. Tsang CFO and Secretary

(604) 669-0660

btsang@seabordservices.com

Mark D. Sumner CEO and Director

mark@kiwandagroup.com

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. Daura 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 Daura's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Daura's ability to complete the proposed Qualifying Transaction; and other risks and uncertainties. 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, Daura undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Completion of the transaction is subject to conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable pursuant to TSXV requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

A halt in trading shall remain in place until after the Qualifying Transaction is completed or such time that acceptable documentation is filed with the TSX Venture Exchange.

Not for Distribution to US Newswire Services or Dissemination in the United States

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78985


CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen lost ground against its major counterparts in the European session on Tuesday, as concerns over a U.S. hedge fund default receded and investors focused on prospects for a swift recovery, led by vaccine rollout programs and fiscal stimulus.



President Joe Biden is set to outline his infrastructure spending plan on Wednesday in Pittsburgh.



The economic package worth about $3 billion will be split into two parts, with the first one focused primarily on transportation and other infrastructure.



Investors shrugged off the fallout from the collapse of Archegos Capital, helping lift banking stocks.



Data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed that Japan retail sales fell 1.5 percent on year in February - coming in at 11.628 trillion yen.



That beat forecasts for a decline of 2.8 percent following the 2.4 percent drop in the previous month.



Data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed that Japan jobless rate came in at a seasonally adjusted 2.9 percent in February.



That was unchanged from the January reading and was below forecasts for 3.0 percent.



The yen weakened to near 2-week lows of 87.65 against the loonie and 151.94 against the pound, reversing from its early highs of 87.12 and 150.96, respectively. The next likely support for the yen is seen around 89.00 against the loonie and 154.00 against the pound.



The yen depreciated to 1-week lows of 117.13 against the franc and 129.54 against the euro, after rising to 116.80 and 129.08, respectively in early deals. If the yen falls further, it may test support around 120.5 against the franc and 131.5 against the euro.



The Japanese yen slid to more than a 1-year low of 110.31 against the greenback, from a high of 109.73 seen at 5:00 pm ET. The yen is likely to challenge support around the 112.00 level.



The yen reached 1-week lows of 77.36 against the kiwi and 84.29 against the aussie in the Asian session and held steady thereafter. The yen had ended Monday's trading at 76.81 against the kiwi and 83.75 against the aussie.



Looking ahead, at 8.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's flash consumer prices for March.



Federal Housing finance agency's house price index and S&P/Case-Shiller home price index for January and consumer confidence index for March will be featured in the New York session.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Burma Myanmars Arakan Army, Allies Set to Resume Fight Against Tatmadaw Over Civilian Killings

Arakan Army (AA) soldiers at their Kachin State headquarters in April 2019. / The Irrawaddy

The Arakan Army (AA) and its two partner ethnic armed groups in the Brotherhood Alliance said they are ready to join forces with all ethnic people in fighting against the Myanmar military regime if its brutal killing of anti-coup protesters continues.

The tripartite Brotherhood Alliance, which groups the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA); Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA); and the AA, condemned the military junta on Monday after the civilian death toll from its lethal crackdown on anti-regime protesters rose to at least 510 nationwide.

Fighting for greater autonomy in Rakhine State in the countrys west, the AA has become one of the most formidable forces taking on the Myanmar military over the past two years. Fighting between the AA and the Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) intensified steadily from November 2018 to early November 2020. The conflict caused hundreds of civilian fatalities and left more than 200,000 residents displaced. The regime recently removed the AA from its list of terrorist groups after fighting between the two sides paused in November.

AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha told The Irrawaddy it is time for ethnic organizations to join hands to protect oppressed civilians from the military regime. We must do our best to protect the lives and property of the oppressed people, he said.

They urged the coup leaders to enter a dialogue to solve the crisis by political means, as people across the country have been calling for an end to military rule, the release of all civilian leaders and other detainees, and for the regime to accept the results of the 2020 general election.

The AA, TNLA and MNDAA warned the military that they would collaborate with other ethnic armed organizations and pro-democracy supporters to defend themselves from the regimes brutal crackdown if the violence continued.

Despite the militarys ongoing lethal crackdowns against anti-regime demonstrators, people across the country continue to take to the streets to oppose military rule. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military has detained a total of 2,574 people, including Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, other politicians, activists and pro-democracy supporters.

Khaing Thukha said, They are treating civilians very cruelly. Innocent civilians are being brutally shot and killed by the military every day. Arbitrary arrests and looting of peoples property are on the rise. We strongly condemn the inhumane acts of the Burmese army and police.

Prior to the coup, the Brotherhood Alliance had been negotiating individual bilateral agreements between each member and the military to cease fighting, and declared a unilateral ceasefire in support of the negotiations. After the military coup, they extended their unilateral ceasefire until March 31.

TNLA spokesperson Maj. Mai Aik Kyaw said, We condemn the crackdown. We also mourn together with the families of the fallen protesters.

He said the Brotherhood Alliance is considering ending its unilateral ceasefire.

The TNLA said the military is responsible for the violence, including the shooting and killing of civilians, adding that the group would continue to work with other alliance members to protect civilians.

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has launched offensives against military and police positions in Kachin State and northern Shan State since March 11, saying it stands with the people. The move came after two civilians were shot dead in a crackdown by security forces on anti-regime protesters in Kachin States capital, Myitkyina, on March 8.

Recently, the Karen National Union (KNU)s Brigade 5 overran military bases in Papun district, Karen State. The KNU and some other ethnic armed organizations also rejected the regimes invitation to attend Armed Forces Day last Saturday.

KNU leader Padoh Saw Mutu Say Poe said the group would meet with coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing only when Tatmadaw troops stop killing civilians and grant freedom to all detainees arrested following the coup.

You may also like these stories:

MyanmarYesterday, Today and a New Tomorrow

From Russia With Love (and More Ammunition) for Myanmar

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(Natural News) In the aftermath of the tragic shooting in Boulder, the Big Three (ABC, CBS, NBC) network evening and morning shows sinisterly depicted Republicans, conservatives and gun owners as a wall of opposition and resistance to common sense gun control measures that would save lives.

(Article by Geoffrey Dickens republished from NewsBusters.org)

In just four days (March 23 through March 26) of coverage, the networks filled their morning show and evening programs with statements favoring gun control over gun rights by a ratio of roughly 14 to 1.

Its become commonplace for the networks to quickly seize on a mass shooting to champion the Lefts longstanding anti-gun agenda. After the December 2012 killings in a Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school, NewsBusters found the networks slanted their coverage 8-to-1 in favor of the gun control agenda.

In the wake of the 2016 mass shooting in an Orlando nightclub, the spin was an equally-lopsided 8-to-1. TV coverage of the killings in Las Vegas in 2017 was slanted five-to-one against gun rights, while in the wake of the February 2018 shootings at Parkland High School the networks tilted 11-to-1 in favor of anti-gun activists.

And after the 2019 shootings in El Paso, Texas, the networks tilted an even more lopsided 17-to-1 to the Left.

MRC analysts reviewed all statements that took a position on overall gun policy by anchors, reporters, guests and soundbites, beginning with the morning of March 23 (the morning after the Boulder shooting) through the morning of March 26, and found time spent arguing in favor of more gun control (36 minutes, 11 seconds) overwhelmed time devoted to supporting gun rights (2 minutes and 31 seconds.)

On March 23, NBC Nightly News correspondent Tom Costello bemoaned Familiar heartbreak and a gut-wrenching irony, that the victims in Boulder managed to survive a global pandemic, only to die in Americas decades-long epidemic of gun violence.While hate and mental problems occur in every country, America is unique with more guns than there are people. Just as the country begins to emerge from the COVID darkness, the question many are asking tonight: is Americas new normal just the old normal once again.

On the morning (March 23) after the Boulder attack, CBS This Morning co-hosts Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil pressed Democratic congressman Joe Neguse to enact more gun control:

Co-host Gayle King to Democratic congressman Joe Neguse: 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.

Co-host Tony Dokoupil to Neguse: I remember the Newtown massacre and the feeling like, if not now, when? And yet, those efforts largely came to not, at least federally. What can you do now to make a difference this time around?

King to Neguse: Arent you frustrated by this Congressman? I look at countries around the world that look at us and say, What is wrong with you, United States of America?.We keep pointing fingers at everybody else and nothing gets done here.

The next day, King and co-host Anthony Mason actually badgered Vice President Kamala Harris to get Biden to take executive action, if legislation stalled in Congress:

Co-host Gayle King to Vice President Kamala Harris: Its clear that the Presidents intention and his frustration are very clear. But the reality is you guys just dont have the votes [to pass gun control]. So whats your move?

Vice President Kamala Harris: This is not about getting rid of the Second Amendment. Its simply about saying we need reasonable gun-safety laws. There is no reason why we have assault weapons on the streets of a civil society. They are weapons of war. They are designed to kill a lot of people quickly.

King: Yeah. We all agree.So, what will the Biden administration do? We keep hearing about executive action. What does that mean Madam Vice President?

Co-host Anthony Mason: Madam Vice President, as it stands right now, you do not have the votes. Failing that, is the President prepared to take executive action?How do you change minds in the Senate. You were in the Senate. You know.But Madam Vice President, we heard from the head of Moms Demand Action earlier in the broadcast, who said that the President has it in his power to do something right now.

Harris: And the President has said he is prepared to sign legislation.

Mason: But he can also take executive action.

CBS News was out of control in their anti-gun rights activist agenda. CBS led all networks with the most anti-gun arguments (24 minutes, 39 seconds). NBC came in second, devoting 7 minutes and 39 seconds to statements favoring more gun regulation. ABC spent 3 minutes, 53 seconds on anti-gun arguments.

A tiny portion of the discussion on the networks was dedicated to arguments in favor of gun rights. One of those moments was CBS This Morning correspondent David Begnauds March 25 interview with a survivor of the Boulder shooting attack. Begnaud relayed that supermarket worker Logan Smith told us hes a gun owner and he also said this.I would appreciate the right to actually bring my weapon, which Im licensed to carry here at work and have it on me. Because he said after what I lived through, Id like the ability to protect myself and people around me.

Read more at: NewsBusters.org and SecondAmendment.news
Acquisition of 100% of OSD's share capital 1

Acquisition subject to the approval of Implanet's shareholders at the Shareholders' Meeting of May 5, 2021

Regulatory News:

IMPLANET (Paris:ALIMP) (Euronext Growth: ALIMP, FR0013470168, eligible for PEA-PME equity savings plans), a medical technology company specializing in vertebral and knee-surgery implants, today announces that it has finalized the agreement to acquire Orthopaedic Spine Development ("OSD"), under suspensive conditions, which specializes in developing, manufacturing and marketing implants for spine surgery.

To watch the exclusive interview

with Ludovic Lastennet, CEO of Implanet,

and Nicolas Papillon, CEO and President of OSD

Click here

Acquisition project driven by value-creating synergies:

complementary ranges of implants for spine surgery,

strong, direct positioning in the French market,

commercial presence through subsidiaries in Germany and the United States,

regionally complementary indirect distribution network,

510 (k) clearance enabling US market development and CE marking for the entire product range through 2024,

solid regulatory platform and common notified body (LNE GMED),

experienced management, acknowledged on its market, that is a shareholder in the new entity,

common desire to achieve critical revenue mass, continued growth and margin improvement.

Project to create a new benchmark player in orthopedic surgery

The acquisition of OSD would allow Implanet to become a heavyweight on the spine surgery market in France and globally, and the independent leader in surgical band implants.

The new entity's strategic focus will be to:

1. Innovate

Continue innovating to enhance the JAZZ platform

Adapt JAZZ Cap to the OSD product range

Co-develop new products in line with surgeons' expectations

Offer a comprehensive, integrated and innovative platform for spine surgery

2. Certify

Continue expanding certifications and clearances (FDA, CE)

Continue demonstrating clinical value through clinical studies

Strengthen the scientific clinical committee

3. Grow:

Implement the synergies identified with OSD

Develop direct sales in Europe

Develop the strategic partnership with SeaSpine in the United States

Expand the strategic partnership with KICo in knee surgery

Sign new strategic partnerships

4. Finance:

Seek new types of financing to limit dilution

Search for a long-term partner to participate in the active build-up strategy

Terms of the acquisition

This acquisition project is based on a valuation of OSD shares of 4.275 million for the entire capital of OSD. The acquisition of 100% of the shares, subject to the usual suspensive conditions, will be carried out by way of a sale (for 62.34%) and contributions (for 37.66%) by the shareholders. The proportion of shares will be divested for a price of 2.665 million, 0.5 million of which will be paid on the date of acquisition, and the remainder in the form of a 24-month sales credit guaranteed by a pledge on the OSD shares thus acquired. The portion of the contributed shares will be remunerated by the issuance of new Implanet shares (bonds redeemable in shares), corresponding to a value of 1.610 million.

This acquisition and the financing of the new entity's activity will be funded by the bond financing line agreed with Nice Green for a maximum of 5.0 million (see press release of January 13, 2021).

The issuance of IMPLANET bonds redeemable in shares (BRS) in consideration for the portion of the shares contributed to IMPLANET will be subject to shareholders' approval at the Shareholders' Meeting scheduled for May 5, 2021.

Main terms and conditions of the IMPLANET BRS issued to the Contributors

Quantity: 3,355 BRS for a total amount of 1,610,400

Nominal value of one BRS: 480

No interest

Term: 25 months (redemption of the BRS on the first day of the 25 th month following the date of issue)

month following the date of issue) Redemption of the BRS by delivery of new IMPLANET shares, the issue price of which will be fixed on the redemption date and the number of which will represent 15% of IMPLANET's capital on a non-diluted basis on the day of redemption of the BRS (but including the shares to be issued in respect of the redemption of the BRS), without this issue price showing a discount of more than 25% compared to the closing price observed on January 13, 2021, corresponding to the day before the announcement to the market of the proposed combination between the two companies (i.e. a price of 1.144 and an issue floor price of 0.858).

The BRS will be unlisted and non-transferable, but transferable to the beneficiaries in case of death,

Usual conditions of early redemption.

About Orthopaedic Spine Development ( OSD )

Founded in 2006 and based in Avignon (southern France), OSD specializes in developing, manufacturing and marketing implants for spine surgery. The company generated revenue of 3.6 million in 2019. OSD develops and markets a comprehensive range of spine implants and distributes complementary products and bone substitutes. OSD markets its products directly in France, indirectly in the rest of the world, and was recently granted FDA 510k clearance.

About Implanet

Founded in 2007, Implanet is a medical technology company that manufactures high-quality implants for orthopedic surgery. Its activity revolves around two product ranges, the latest generation JAZZ implant, designed to improve the treatment of spinal pathologies requiring vertebral fusion surgery, and the MADISON implant designed for first-line prosthetic knee surgery. Implanet's tried-and-tested orthopedic platform is based on product traceability. Protected by four families of international patents, JAZZ and MADISON have obtained 510(k) regulatory clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, the CE mark as well as the ANVISA authorization in Brazil. Implanet employs 29 staff and recorded 2020 sales of 6.0 million. For further information, please visit www.implanet.com. Based near Bordeaux in France, Implanet established a US subsidiary in Boston in 2013. Implanet is listed on Euronext Growth market in Paris.

The Company would like to remind that the table for monitoring the equity line (OCA, OCAPI, BSA) and the number of shares outstanding, is available on its website: http://www.implanet-invest.com/suivi-des-actions-80

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Implanet and its activities. Such forward looking statements are based on assumptions that Implanet considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the anticipated events contained in such forwardlooking statements will occur. Forward- looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties including the risks set forth in the registration document of Implanet registered by the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) on April 16, 2018 under number D.18-0337, as well as in the annual financial report of December 31, 2020 available on the Company's website (www.implanet-invest.com), and to the development of economic situation, financial markets, and the markets in which Implanet operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are also subject to risks unknown to Implanet or that Implanet does not consider material at this time. The realization of all or part of these risks could lead to actual results, financial conditions, performances or achievements by Implanet that differ significantly from the results, financial conditions, performances or achievements expressed in such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or to subscribe for, or a solicitation of an order to purchase or subscribe for Implanet shares in any country.

1 under suspensive conditions

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005744/en/

Contacts:

IMPLANET

Ludovic Lastennet, CEO

David Dieumegard, CFO

Tel.: +33 (0)5 57 99 55 55

investors@Implanet.com

NewCap

Investor Relations

Mathilde Bohin

Nicolas Fossiez

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Implanet@newcap.eu

NewCap

Media Relations

Nicolas Merigeau

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Implanet@newcap.eu
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Peter Ben Embarek, a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), (Photo : REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo)

A joint WHO-China study on the origins of COVID-19 says that the virus was probably transmitted from bats to humans through another animal, and that a lab leak was "extremely unlikely" as a cause, a summary seen by Reuters said on Monday.



The WHO did not immediately reply to a query seeking comment, but said the full report by the independent experts would be published on Tuesday at 1400 GMT after member states have been briefed.



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The findings, first reported by the Associated Press, match what WHO experts have said previously about their conclusions following a Jan-Feb visit to the central Chinese city of Wuhan where the first human cases were detected in late 2019.



Three laboratories in Wuhan working with coronaviruses had "well-managed", high-quality biosafety levels, and there had been no reports of compatible respiratory illness among staff during the preceding months, the report said.



Nor had they tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in subsequent blood screening for antibodies, the report said.



"In view of the above, a laboratory origin of the pandemic was considered to be extremely unlikely," it said.



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Many questions remain unanswered about the virus that sparked the pandemic and the team proposed further research in bats and pangolins in China as well as in southeast Asia. Surveys of other wild animals - including civets, mink and ferrets - known to be infected by the virus were recommended.



Many early human cases were associated with the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, which also sold wildlife, "but a similar number of cases were associated with other markets and some were not associated with any market", the report said, adding it was not possible to draw any conclusions.



WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus acknowledged receipt of the report but declined to give details, telling a Geneva news briefing: "All hypotheses are on the table and warrant complete and further studies."



The report does not require any approval by member states.



The United States expects the WHO-led investigation to require further study of the virus, perhaps including a return visit to China, a senior U.S. official told reporters last week. He hoped it would be "based on science".



The probe was plagued by delays, concern over access and bickering between Beijing and Washington, which under former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration accused China of hiding the extent of the initial outbreak.



The WHO declared on Jan. 30, 2020, that COVID-19 constituted an international emergency, its highest level of alert.


Los Angeles, March 30 : Hollywood actor Armie Hammer is no longer a part of the Cold War thriller "The Billion Dollar Spy". The 34-year-old actor has been dropped from the Amma Asante-directorial in the wake of rape accusation by a woman.

The Los Angeles Police Department recently confirmed booking Hammer as a suspect in a sexual assault case opened by them on February 3, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Earlier this month the woman, identified as Elfie, said in a statement at a press conference: "On April 24th, 2017, Armie Hammer violently raped me for over four hours in Los Angeles, during which he repeatedly slammed my head against a wall, bruising my face. He also committed other acts of violence against me to which I did not consent. For example, he beat my feet with a crop so they would hurt with every step I took for the next week. During those four hours, I tried to get away but he wouldn't let me. I thought that he was going to kill me. He then left with no concern for my well-being," Hammer's career has been on the downslide lately, after several women including model Paige Lorenze came out and shared graphic messages sent to them by the actor, and many alleged that Hammer was abusive during what started as consensual BDSM relationships

In "The Billion Dollar Spy", Hammer was scheduled to star as Brad Reid, a new arrival of the CIA in Moscow, where he is approached by Soviet engineer Adolf Tolkachev, played by Mads Mikkelsen, The Hollywood Reporter said. The film is based on a true story.
kW

kWh

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In cities like Stockholm, Amsterdam, San Francisco, or Seoul, where there are large bodies of water that can be used, this means of clean transportation would be an all-electric hydrofoil ferry. Of course, you will say, ferries are not a novel idea. Well, this one is: Candela claims to have the worlds fastest, cleanest, and more efficient ferry.Its called the P-30 and, according to an announcement from earlier this month, it should be making its official debut in 2022, with a start date for commercial operations set for 2023. Candela is currently offering the Seven, the worlds first and only electric foiling boat, which is also the best-selling electric boat in Europe. In other words, this is a company with experience and a proven track record, proposing an idea it plans (with backing from the Swedish transport authority) to implement.The P-30 is designed with a 30-passenger capacity (hence the name), but it is scalable. Candela estimates it could build boats for a passenger load from 12 to 300 hundred on the same platform. However, for a ferry, a 30-person upper limit would do just fine.Since this is a hydrofoil vessel and an electric one at it, it can ferry passengers from Point A to Point B in utmost comfort, without noise or emissions, and with no wakes that would cause damage to nearby vessels, shorelines, or structures. The wake of the Seven is shown in the video below. At this stage, on paper, P-30 promises to set several new world records by merely existing: the fastest electric passenger ship, the longest-range electric passenger ship, and the most efficient fast ship.Power comes from two 60-(80-hp) electric pod drives, which are, in turn, powered by an onboard 180-lithium battery pack. Top speed would be 30 knots, with a cruising speed of 20 knotsand a range for this cruising speed of 60 nautical miles or three hours of continuous operation. That would make it ideal for urban transport in already-crowded cities, as it would deliver quick traveling times and have the extra benefit of not requiring new infrastructure.Today, most of our waterways are unused for mass transit, even though most highways are congested during rush-hour traffic, Gustav Hasselskog, founder and CEO of Candela, says. Opening up urban waterways for high-speed electric transport can revolutionize commuting. [] Our goal is to prove that our electric hydrofoil ferries are much cheaper, more comfortable and a lot more versatile than conventional vessels. Its not just an alternative to other ships, but a whole new take on of public transportation.That is Candelas goal: to redefine waterborne urban transport , with a focus on zero-emissions, efficiency, and comfort.Speaking of efficiency and comfort, the P-30 comes with Flight controller, a computer that analyzes the pitch and roll of the boat at a rate of 100 times a second, adjusting the foils accordingly to keep the boat above the waterline. Computer and software keep the boat artificially stable, the company says. This means smooth sailing at all times and almost zero wake . As for efficiency, Candela says the P-30s consumption is comparable to that of an electric-urban city bus.The 40-foot (12-meter) ferry will start sea trials in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2022, and will be ready for commercial operations in the next year. Candela hopes the citys aging ferry fleet will eventually be replaced with the cleaner, faster, and overall better P-30.

SANTIAGO, Chile, March 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ITAU CORPBANCA (NYSE: ITCB; SSE: ITAUCORP) today announced a new alliance with Rappi that will bring greater financial inclusion to Chile. This initiative is backed-up on the experience and support of both Itau and Rappi.



This agreement aims to revolutionize the local financial market with simple, innovative and unique digital products, allowing an increasing number of individuals to access new financial solutions in an agile and digital way.

With this initiative, Itau and Rappi seek to democratize financial services, promote greater inclusion and, at the same time, simpler and faster digitization that brings broad benefits to users.

At Itau we want to be where our clients need us and we are thrilled to offer them new, simple, useful and reachable platforms, making their day-to-day easier and walking them through their financial needs. Both Itau and Rappi are recognized digital players, and this alliance will allow us to reach an increasing number of individuals, said Gabriel Moura, Itau Corpbanca CEO.

"This alliance is a great step towards a transformation of the local financial system, through collaborative work between two companies that are experts in what they do and that have a focus on the digitization of processes and services. Innovation is part of our entrepreneurial DNA and together with Itau we will now also offer financial solutions," said Isaac Canas, CEO of Rappi Chile.

According to Itau and Rappi, they expect the new offer of digital financial products and services to be available during the third quarter of this year, through this new business model resulting from this alliance.

About Itau Corpbanca

ITAU CORPBANCA (NYSE: ITCB; SSE: ITAUCORP) is the entity resulting from the merger of Banco Itau Chile with and into Corpbanca on April 1, 2016. The current ownership structure is: 39.22% owned by Itau Unibanco, 27.16% owned by the Saieh Family and 33.29% owned by minority shareholders. Itau Unibanco is the sole controlling shareholder of the merged bank. Within this context and without limiting the above, Itau Unibanco and CorpGroup have signed a shareholders agreement relating to corporate governance, dividend policy (based on performance and capital metrics), transfer of shares, liquidity and other matters.

The bank is the fifth largest private bank in Chile and as per its mandate is the banking platform for future expansion in Latin America, specifically in Chile, Colombia and Peru. Itau Corpbanca is a commercial bank based in Chile with additional operations in Colombia and Panama. In addition, Itau Corpbanca has a branch in New York and a representative office in Lima. Focused on large and medium sized companies and individuals, Itau Corpbanca offers universal banking products. In 2012, the bank initiated a regionalization process and as of the date hereof has acquired two banks in Colombia Banco Corpbanca Colombia and Helm Bank becoming the first Chilean bank with banking subsidiaries abroad. The merger with Banco Itau Chile and the business combination of our two banks in Colombia, represent the continued success of our regionalization process.

As of December 31, 2020, according to the Chilean Financial Market Commission, Itau Corpbanca was the fifth largest private bank in Chile in terms of the overall size of its customer loan portfolio, equivalent to 9.9% market share. As the same date, according to the Colombian Superintendency of Finance, Itau Corpbanca Colombia was the eighth largest bank in Colombia in terms of total loans and nineth in terms of total deposits, as reported under local regulatory and accounting principles. As of December 31, 2020, its market share by loans reached 4.0%.

About Rappi

Rappi is a super App that fulfills the role of being the personal assistant and making life easier for its users. It was founded by Colombians Simon Borrero (CEO), Sebastian Mejia and Felipe Villamarin in Bogota in 2015.

In March 2016, it joined Y Combinator, the world's largest technology company accelerator and was the first company to reach one million orders delivered in Latin America. In the second half of 2018, Rappi was recognized as a unicorn company, valued at US$1.0 billion.

In 2019 they received an investment of up to US$1.0 billion from SoftBank Group Corp. and the SoftBank Vision Fund. This investment has been the largest of its kind for a technology company based in Latin America. Rappi has been present in Chile since June 2018, in addition to having a presence in Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

Investor Relations  Itau Corpbanca

+56 (2) 2660-1701 / IR@itau.cl / ir.itau.cl




Maputo  Mozambican health workers on Monday began receiving the second dose of the virocell vaccine, against the Covid-19 respiratory disease.

This vaccine is made in China by the company Sinopharm. The Chinese government donated 200,000 doses of the vaccine to Mozambique, which arrived in late February.

Health professonals were the top priority for the vaccine, which must be administered in two doses. Vaccination began on 8 March, and in the first phase 57,305 health workers were vaccinated, which was 88 per cent of the target set by the Health Ministry.

Just as in the first phase, the first person to receive the second dose on Monday was Health Minister Armindo Tiago, to set an example to all other health workers.

Cited by the independent television station STV, Tiago said "the second dose of the vaccine completes the immunity we want. I recommend that my other colleagues embrace this process".

He noted that dozens of health workers had refused to take the first dose - but they had now thought better of that decision.

"All of them have changed their minds", said Tiago, "but we can't attend to them now. They'll have to wait. But it's important to note that it wasn't just health professionals. There were also people from other groups who refused to be vaccinated". (The groups who should have received the first dose earlier this month include workers in mortuaries and cemeteries and people suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes).

The second dose of the vaccine should be administered 21 days after the first dose.

Next week, primary school teachers, members of the defence and security forces, journalists, and people with depressed immune systems should start receiving the first dose.
Nicolas Audier - Chairman, European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam Vietnams strict border controls are one of the reasons behind the governments world-leading handling of COVID-19. Effective quarantine measures have kept people safe and allowed domestic business to continue operating at levels not seen in most other markets. Countries around the world are now hoping that the vaccine roll-out will help to open borders and economies as more people are inoculated against the virus. This will be important for those sectors most impacted  such as tourism and aviation  as well as for other industries which depend on the free flow of goods, people, and services. The challenge now will be to ensure that whatever measures are put in place can protect health while also helping to kick-start economic growth and job creation in these hard-hit sectors. A vaccine passport  if implemented  will be a positive step but not a silver bullet. It will not solve this problem alone. Nor will tourists and business-travellers be able to return to their previous levels overnight. Success will depend on the number of vaccinations delivered in major in-bound business and tourist markets, such as the European Union. In particular, since older and more vulnerable people are being prioritised for immunisation, it could take some time for the vaccinations to reach those likelier to travel. The EU is discussing a scheme to enable citizens to move between its 27 member states. It hopes that this so-called green certificate will be implemented in time for the European summer tourist season. But, at this stage, this is still under discussion and we do not know what form the final system might take. In terms of travel outside the EU, one of the crucial considerations for all countries will be to achieve international consensus so that we can ensure reciprocal access for our citizens. Once such a passport is operational, we hope it will ease the travel of EU citizens to Vietnam so that European businesses can continue to contribute to this countrys economic growth and prosperity. Adam Sitkoff - Executive director, American Chamber of Commerce Hanoi Around 500 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have already been administered worldwide. This number rises each day and many countries are evaluating plans to reopen borders later this year. Many people say documentation that proves vaccination could create a bright future for post-pandemic travel, but others worry about fraud, privacy, and discrimination. Less burdensome entry procedures will facilitate travel for businesspeople, foreign experts, and tourists. In addition, in-bound travel is necessary to facilitate new investment, efficient operations, key infrastructure, education, and more. That is why we encourage the government to consider a gradual opening to quarantine-free arrival in Vietnam, in line with international best practices and safety. This will likely require proof of vaccine and a negative coronavirus test result. Proving you are vaccinated to travel is not a new concept, but doing so for COVID-19 would be on a far greater scale than ever before. Regardless of the challenges, Vietnamese policymakers need to think seriously about a safe and simple system of documentation that will facilitate international arrivals here. There are many issues to consider on how a vaccine passport would work, which apps would be accepted, minimising the risk of fraud, protecting privacy, and general implementation of the system. In the United States, the government has not yet issued guidance on management of vaccinated people during travel, and there are no established international standards for documenting vaccinated people. Vietnamese authorities do not have to decide everything today. They do, however, need to be looking at likely best practices so they can be ready when the time comes for action. The health and safety of people in Vietnam should remain the governments number one priority. At the same time, a more normal world is coming, and a system that demonstrates proof of vaccination plus pre-flight and arrival tests should allow for safe, quarantine-free entry in Vietnam and everywhere else. Marko Walde - Chief representative, Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam The European Commission wants to issue a certificate, the so-called digital green pass, that would allow people who have been vaccinated to travel and move more freely. The aim is to gradually enable them to move safely in the European Union and abroad for work or tourism. This means that, in theory, people will gain unrestricted access to flights, restaurants, bars, tourist attractions, and festivals. It also means quarantine protocols, like isolations for up to 14 days in a hotel, can be avoided. The plan would be rolled out later this March, and it is expected to take at least three months to set up a viable system, both technically and logistically. The pass will be free, bilingual in the language of the issuing member state and English, secure, non-discriminatory, and available in digital or paper formats, both of which will have QR codes. The digital green pass will comprise three different certificates: vaccination certificates, which state which brand of the vaccine was used, the date and place of inoculation, and the number of doses administered; negative test certificates; and medical certificates for people who have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 180 days. As the vaccination roll-out accelerates around the world, vaccine passports can enable vaccinated citizens to travel and visit public places. But before vaccine certificates or passports are introduced, a large amount of the population would need to be vaccinated and a larger group of individuals would need to have access. For Europe, the current plans seem to be that around 70 per cent of the EU population are to be vaccinated by the end of the summer. In addition to easing the entrance for foreigners and based on the current situation of the pandemic worldwide, the Vietnamese government should also consider opening more international flights especially for foreigners and supporting work visa for those who wish to stay and work in Vietnam for a long time. The Vietnamese government lately approved charter flights organised by the AHK Vietnam bringing foreign experts, investors, diplomats, and their families from Europe to Vietnam this year. Furthermore, the government should support well-organised immigration procedures to facilitate the legal entry of investors, managers, technical experts, diplomats, and their family members. Moreover, trialling digital vaccine passports would be an essential criterion which allows authorities to quickly check whether travellers have been vaccinated and with which vaccination. This would not only support the recovery of the tourism sector but also increase Vietnams attractiveness. The most important thing is how we can set up a viable system, both technically and logistically. Vietnam should also work on a verification software to ensure that the approach is seamless across all countries and in line with other systems in the world. Hirai Shinji - Chief representative, Japan External Trade Organization Ho Chi Minh City At present, because of the regulations to prevent the spread of COVID -19, businesspeople coming to Vietnam will have to go through quarantine for 14 days. Discussions are taking place on whether that period should be shortened if people present evidence of being vaccinated. While I wish that businesspeople could travel without being worried about the virus, the discussion on vaccine passports should take into account several issues. Firstly it must be determined how long a vaccine can be effective for. Since injections started only recently, we have not got enough accumulation of scientific knowledge and medical experience on how long the vaccine will prevent people from contracting COVID -19 and its variants. Secondly, it is believed that vaccinated people will never transmit the infection to other people. However, community immunity will need to be achieved. Perhaps he or she might not be infected, but that does not guarantee that other people in contact with him or her will be completely free from infection. Thirdly, currently expatriates living in Vietnam are not sure when they will be able to get the vaccine in Vietnam, or in their home countries. If businesspeople with a vaccine passport are treated favourably when they enter the country, what kind of requirements will they have to satisfy if they want to stay in Vietnam? I expect the Vietnamese government, having kept COVID-19 under control for the past year, will find practical and effective solutions.
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Eagled-eyed viewers have spotted a glaring detail in a news photo that has summed up Brisbane's snap lockdown.

Hundreds of residents fled the city after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a three day lockdown for the Greater Brisbane and surrounding areas in a desperate battle to stop a growing coronavirus outbreak from spreading further.

The announcement sparked chaotic scenes by hundreds caught off-guard as panic- buying shoppers flocked to the supermarket while others were in a frantic dash to escape the city and ensure their Easter long weekend holiday plans weren't ruined.

One photo of the long queue of gridlocked traffic heading out of Brisbane has sent social media into meltdown.

This photo of the lengthy traffic queue on the Pacific Highway heading towards the Gold Coast sums up the Brisbane lockdown announced on Monday

Eagle-eyed viewers spotted a driver (pictured) at the front of the traffic queue offering a one-fingered salute when they zoomed in on the photo

The photo shows the Pacific Highway at Logan choked with traffic heading towards the Gold Coast.

Keen viewers zoomed in closer and spotted a four-wheel driver towing a camper van pictured at the front of the queue offering a rude one-fingered salute through the front windscreen.

The glaring detail has gone viral online and sparked a divisive reaction on social media platform Reddit.

'One does not ever truly need a reason to leave Brisbane, one viewer quipped.

Others pointed out there are similar scenes in the afternoon peak hour every day.

'Keep in mind some of them are Gold Coast residents who commute daily to Brisbane for work. The rest want their Easter Weekend in case the lockdown is extended. Poor form,' one person commented.

Another added: 'There might be some people wanting to skip the lockdown, but I don't think it is as many as people think.'

The zoomed in photo sparked a divisive reaction (pictured) from viewers on Reddit

Queensland recorded eight more locally-acquired cases on Tuesday, taking the number from the two clusters to 15, sparking speculation the lockdown may be extended and expanded statewide.

Six of the latest cases are genomically linked to or close contacts of seven existing cases, while the other two under investigation.

'Now of course we want to get on top of this community transmission,' Premier Palaszczuk told reporters.

'So the steps that we took to go into this lockdown, as you can see by those numbers of community transmission today, were absolutely the right call.'

There are now more than 60 potential virus exposure sites across Greater Brisbane, the Gold Coast and central Queensland.

About 2.5 million people in Greater Brisbane were ordered into a snap three-day lockdown on Monday afternoon.

Hundreds more across Queensland and interstate who have visited Brisbane in recent weeks have also been ordered to self-isolate.
A third-grader with a more or less straight ruler, a crayon, and a map could recognize that the U.S. Executive and its press allies are barking up the wrong tree in trying to stem the refugees at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The correct interdiction-turnaround border is about a thousand miles south, between Mexico and Guatemala. The third-grader would simply draw a line from the Caribbean/Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Nobody else from the three Northern Tier Honduran/El Salvador/Guatemala countries can cross. Nobody else from South America, Asia, or Africa? Yep. They're in the northward flow through Guatemala.

One of the "fers" Obama assigned his gofer V.P. Biden was the Alliance for Progress, a $4- to 5-billion job-creation stay-at-home program in the Northern Triangle. The three N.T. countries sport seven presidents convicted (sums in the hundreds of million dollars), in jail, or under suspicion of corruption. It will take a brave or illiterate congressperson to send more green via that turnpike. All three have dismal scores under the 180-nation Corruption Perception Index.

I've been living in Guatemala since the 1960s  so long that I'm probably the dean of journalists there, an unenviable distinction. I've published a newspaper, written op-eds, and hosted a popular radio show, Good Morning Guatemala. I've spent time in the refugee camps across the border in Mexico, been offered the Chinese discount for being smuggled into the U.S., and talked with scores of deportees and wannabe former or would-be illegal northbound refugees.

It has never been like this.

Carlisle Johnson: Emisoras Unidas (ABC Radio affiliate), Canal Antigua TV, VOA (radio and TV), American Thinker, BBC4, El Periodico, Cincinnati Enquirer, Guatemala Post, Atlantic, Washington Times. Golden Circle award and numerous local recognitions.

Image via Pxhere.
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The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has clarified his statement on the recruitment of 50 million youths into the armed forces.

The former governor of Lagos in a statement by his spokesperson, Tunde Rahman, on Tuesday said it was an accidental verbal mistake when he said so at a colloquium to celebrate his 69th birthday on Monday.

He disclosed that he meant 50,000 youths recruitment into the security architecture of the country.

It was widely reported that Mr Tinubu on Monday called for massive recruitment in the military to tackle unemployment.

Recruit 50 million youths into the army, take away from their (the insurgents)recruitment source, he said.

Controversy

The statement generated controversy on social media as many Nigerians wondered how that would be a solution to the countrys crisis.

In the statement clarifying his principals position, Mr Rahman said Asiwaju Tinubu canvassed the urgent need to combine employment and national security policy by the recruitment of five million youths in all aspects of nation-building, ranging from infrastructural development to agricultural modernisation.

He believes that the more job opportunities are presented to our youth the less some of them will be tempted into illegal and dangerous activities.

As part of this overall approach, he believes that eligible youth should be recruited into the armed forces, police and other security agencies to augment the functional capacity of our security apparatus thus ensuring the better security and safety of our people.

Asiwaju seeks the expansion of security personnel by 50,000 for the armed forces, not the 50 million that was mentioned in error. It was an accidental verbal mistake of which we all commit from time to time especially when reciting a series of large numerical figures.

He did not mean 50 million, which is almost a quarter of our total population. The crucial matter is that Asiwaju rightly observed that such strong recruitment would serve the twin-purpose of helping to tackle unemployment while at the same time enhancing the security of every Nigerian.

Please forgive any confusion due to this innocent error. The most vital thing is that he set forth a wise and timely approach that would help us face two of todays stiffest challenges. It is in the spirit that we hope you view and assess his proposal for it seeks to provide a way for more youths to participate in building a greater, safer and more prosperous country.

Mr Tinubu, who is widely believed to be nursing a presidential ambition in 2023 was instrumental to the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
The United States Supreme Court was reported to have rejected the appeal of Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church against the state of Illinois in line with Governor Jay Robert Pritzker for closing down churches during the pandemic.

According to the Christian Post (CP), the Supreme Court denied the church's petition for a writ of ceritiorari through an orders list released on Monday, March 29.

The orders list showed that Case No. 200-569 entitled "Elim Romanian Church, Et. Al. V. Pritzker, Gov. Of Il," was denied of the petition and even clarified that a "Justice Barrett" had no part in its decision.

As per CP, the "Justice Barrett" the orders list was referring to is "Justice Amy Coney Barrett." This is the same Justice Amy Coney Barrett nominated by former President Donald Trump into the Supreme Court last September, that NPR Illinois reported was due for her anti-abortion rights view and stand against the Affordable Care Act.

Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church Pastor Christian Ionescu was reported in May 2020 for applauding Trump's decision to call churches "essential" and directive to governors to reopen them. Ionescu praised the said efforts after suing the state of Illinois from receiving citations for violating stay-at-home orders, NBC Chicago said.

The said citation, as per CP, was sent by the Chicago Department of Public Health to Ionescu and appealed to him through a letter signed by its Commissioner Allison Arwady to "stop holding services that defy state orders."

"I appeal to you as a leader in your community and remain hopeful that you will work with me for the health, safety, and welfare of all Chicagoans. If you continue to operate in defiance of the Executive Order, the city will pursue all available legal remedies," the letter stated.

"Any future gatherings conducted contrary to the order will be considered a failure to abate and the city will take steps necessary to abate, including Summary Abatement," it added.

The Chicago Sun Times also reported that Pritzker was similarly sued by the Illinois Republican Party for his crowd restrictions during the pandemic that "violated the right of free exercise of religion" that Judge Barrett handled together with other judges. The said case was actually denied by Barrett on September.

In prior report from Chicago Sun Times, Ionescu explained that they held services not to rebel against the state but to exercise their constitutional rights to worship despite the pandemic. The Chicago Sun Times said Ionescu continued to "welcome dozens of worshippers to a Sunday service" despite local restrictions limiting to only 10.

The church asked for a temporary restraining order so that they would not face criminal repercussions for continuing their worship services "while vowing to impose strict social distancing measures".

Elim and the Logos Baptist Church were among the six Romanian-American Congregations present in Chicago who continued worship services on a Sunday.

"We feel that we are discriminated against. We follow the same rules as other places that are also considered essential, and yet we cannot have more than 10 people in a service, which is ridiculous," Ionescu told the Chicago Sun Times in an interview last May.

The church took to social media since May 31, 2020 to call for people to stand with Ionescu in line with their lawsuit.
Detectives fatally shot a man believed to be part of a notorious gang that has been terrorising Nairobi residents.

DCI detectives on patrol in Kariobangi South spotted the gang of three at the KCC area on Saturday night.

According to the DCI, the detectives challenged the men to identify themselves before a dramatic shootout ensued.

One pretended to be fishing out his ID from his pocket. Instead, he drew out his gun and opened fire. Luckily, none of the bullets caught any of the officers.

Officers who had taken strategic positions returned fire, fatally injuring a suspect, police said.

The other two suspects escaped in the darkness, escaping an appointment with their maker by a whisper, the DCI said.

Police recovered a Glock pistol and three live bullets from the deceased suspect.

In the underworld, he operates under a cover-up name, Kibe. The suspect and his gang have been giving city residents sleepless nights, the DCI stated.

The seized firearm and bullets were forwarded to ballistic experts at the DCI headquarters for analysis, while the body was moved to a city morgue.

A manhunt is ongoing for the other two suspects.
Leading university pioneers use of graph analytics with AI, machine learning and translational bioinformatics to better predict treatment outcomes

TigerGraph, provider of the leading graph analytics platform, on March 30, 2021, announced that the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), a leading university in the areas of technical and natural sciences, is using TigerGraphs advanced graph analytics with machine learning and AI techniques to improve the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Researchers at DTU are part of a major project across Denmark and Sweden to map genetic material for everyone with childhood cancer. As part of a larger collaboration through the EU-funded iCOPE (Interregional Childhood Oncology Precision Medicine Exploration), the process starts with patient blood tests through Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) paired with RNA-seq expression data are used to find aberrant expression patterns correlated or possibly caused by enhancer mutations. The long-term goal of iCOPE is to improve diagnostics, treatment, cure rates, and the overall life situation of children with cancer.

This process generates enormous amounts of data that using TigerGraph will be linked together with various other data points about the patient's life, illness, and treatment in order to understand to a much greater extent why children get cancer, provide earlier diagnosis and far more effective treatment.

As Jesper Vang, PhD Student, Department of Health Technology, Cancer Systems Biology at DTU explains, Our current system only hosts raw data such as genotype and whole-genome sequenced data. This raw data is run through a custom pipeline that calls genetic variants and annotates the data in a MySQL DB. However, we needed something easier to work with specifically for the clinical personnel, that also allows them to look up genetic associations which is a perfect use case for graph analytics.

DTU opted for an on-premise graph database platform that would deliver the required performance and evaluated a number of options, in particular, Neo4j but concluded that only TigerGraph could scale and provide the analytical depth the project required. In our testing, Tigergraph was the only solution offering the highest performance with the ability to scale to the levels we will eventually need, explains Vang.

DTU is in the final stages of bringing the full system online and it is already being used in a specific project that combines the fields of AI, machine learning and translational bioinformatics to create models that can predict the risk of relapse and toxicity within acute lymphoblastic leukaemia treatments.

Martin Darling, VP EMEA at TigerGraph added, The work at DTU and across the wider iCOPE project is transformational and highlights how the application of clinical excellence with innovative technologies can unlock breakthrough insights within areas such as life sciences. We are delighted to have Jesper present a full case study on the project at the upcoming Graph + AI Summit this April.

TigerGraphs upcoming Graph + AI Summit, the industrys only open conference for accelerating analytics, AI, and machine learning with graph, will feature customer use case sessions and speakers from the worlds largest companies and most innovative startups and universities. Keynote speakers include Harry Powell, director of data and analytics at Jaguar Land Rover, who will share how Jaguar Land Rover used graph to accelerate supply chain planning from three weeks to 45 minutes and deliver three times the business value from data. Noel Yuhanna, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, will bring insights from Forrester clients across all industries who are driving business outcomes by combining graph-based analytics, AI, and machine learning. Danny Clark, Head of Fraud Strategy at NewDay, will explain how they identify and prevent fraudsters from joining their network faster than ever before by using graph and machine learning to check data against known and new fraud syndicates. Graph + AI Summit, the industrys only open conference for accelerating analytics and AI, will run as a virtual conference on April 21-22, 2021. To register for the event, please visit https://www.tigergraph.com/graphaisummit/.
The Ambassador of the State of Israel to Romania, David Saranga, has paid a visit to the Representation of the Romanian Patriarchate in Jerusalem on Tuesday, in solidarity with the Romanian church, the target of extremist attacks.

According to a press release of the Israeli Embassy sent to AGERPRES, the diplomat voiced his support for the place of worship and condemned, once again, the acts of vandalism of anti-Christian fanatics, the perpetrators being arrested shortly by Israeli law enforcement.

"Such hateful actions will never be tolerated, and for Israel, religious freedom is one of the most important values," Ambassador Saranga told Father Archimandrite Teofil Anastasoaie, the Romanian Patriarchate's representative to the Holy Land.

The two officials also discussed the possibility of resuming travel between the two states in the near future, with the Israeli government currently awaiting the signing of a tourism agreement with Romania.

"Israel wants to receive pilgrims and tourists again soon. In this regard, His Excellency said that government negotiations are currently underway between the two sides to find an amicable solution. I also thanked for the care shown by His Excellency towards the Romanian mission to the Holy Places and we hope that in the future things will improve, spirits will calm down and there will be a good coexistence, as it was in the past," said Father Teofil Anastasoaie, according to Basilica News Agency of the Romanian Patriarchate.
The death has occurred of Patrick (Paddy) Barrett

Gorey, Wexford / Baltinglass, Wicklow / Moone, Kildare



Patrick (Paddy) Barrett, Gorey and formerly of Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, Finsbury Park, London, and Stratford-on-Slaney, Wicklow. (Died suddenly on the 27th March, 2021 surrounded by his loving Family and the Nursing Staff of Middletown House). Pre-deceased by his sisters Sarah and Nan, brothers Jack, Jim and Robert. Sadly missed by his loving wife Mary, sons Sean and Kevin, daughter Angela, sisters Nora and Mary. Deeply regretted by his wife, sons, daughter, sisters, grandchildren Mark, Rosie, Lily, Terri, Emma, Isla, son-in-law Leo, daughters-in-law Sandra and Siobhan, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, relatives and friends.

May She Rest In Peace

Funeral arriving to the Church of the Blessed Trinity, Moone on Wednesday, 31st March, for Funeral Mass at 12 noon followed by Burial in the adjoining cemetery.(Social Distance Rules will apply in the Church and the Cemetery). For those who cannot attend the Funeral, Mass can be viewed on the following link : https://narraghmoreandmoone.ie

Family Flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to Carers Ireland (Wexford Branch). The family very much appreciate your support and co-operation during this very sad and difficult time and would be grateful if you would express your message of sympathy on the Condolence link below this notice.

he death has occurred of Brendan DUNNE

Allenview Heights, Newbridge, Kildare



DUNNE Brendan (Allenview Heights, Newbridge, Co. Kildare) - 29th March 2021. Sadly missed by his loving family.

May Brendan Rest in Peace





Funeral Arrangements Later

The death has occurred of Michael (Mick) Smullen

St. Monica's, Lullymore, Rathangan, Kildare



Michael (Mick) Smullen, St. Monica's, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare, March 28th, peacefully at Naas General Hospital. Predeceased by his Wife Mona.

He will be very sadly missed by his Children Pauline, Gerard, Michelle, Leo, Raymond & John, brothers, sisters, daughters in law, son in law, brother in law, grandchildren especially his grandson Matthew (Australia),great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbours & friends.

May He Rest In Peace

Due to Government and HSE guidelines a private family funeral will take place. Removal from his home on Tuesday evening at 6.30 to arrive at the Church of Assumption & St. Patrick, Rathangan at 7 o'clock (for family) neighbours & friends are welcome to line the Church Yard while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock (max 10 people) followed by burial in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Rathangan.

Mick's Funeral Mass can be viewed on https://www.youtube.com/c/icatholicplayer

Those wishing to leave a message may do so on the Condolence Section below.

The Family thank you for your understanding at this difficult time.

The death has occurred of James Vaughan

Campion Crescent, Melitta Road, Kildare Town, Kildare



Sadly missed by his loving parents Seamus and Mary, sister Louise and her partner Colin, aunts, uncles, relatives, neighbours and friends.

May James Rest In Peace

Due to current government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place with a maximum of 10 people to attend the church. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the condolence page below.

Removal on Wednesday morning to arrive at St. Brigid's Parish Church, Kildare Town, for Requiem Mass at 11am. Mass will be live streamed on mcnmedia.tv.

Burial afterwards in St. Conleth's Cemetery, Kildare Town.

The death has occurred of Kathleen Whelan (nee Fitzpatrick)

727 Gouleyduff, Athy, Kildare



Predeceased by her parents Daniel and Mary and brothers Paddy, Dan and Tom. Deeply regretted by her loving husband Pat, children Angela, Patrick, Martin, Joe, Oliver, Andrew and Cathy, sisters Marie and Liz, brothers Mick, Liam and John, son-in-law Pearse, daughters-in-law Joni, Helena, Maggie, Ber and Lisa, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, grandchildren Padraig, Dan, Sam, Katie, Jamie, Ciaran, Amy, Kara, Aoife, Lillie, Oliver and Fionn, nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and neighbours.

Rest in Peace

Due to government restrictions a private family Requiem Mass will take place at 2pm on Wednesday afternoon (31st March) in St. Michael's Parish Church, Athy, limited to 10 people. The Mass will be livestreamed, see www.parishofathy.ie. Burial afterwards in St. Michael's New Cemetery, Athy.

Those who would have liked to attend the funeral but cannot due to current restrictions may leave a message in the 'Condolences' section below.

The death has occurred of Peter Connolly

Ballyteague, Kilmeague, Kildare



Peacefully at Naas Hospital with his wife by his side. Sadly missed by his loving wife Delia, and all the Cleary family in Philadelphia, sisters in law Joan Byrne (Kells) and Sylvia Lynam (Carbury) and brother-in-law Jack Murphy (Dublin).

Peter will be greatly missed by his many loving nieces and nephews both at home and abroad and by a wide circle of neighbours friends and former work colleagues in the ESB.

May Peter rest in peace.

Due to current government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the condolence page below.

Removal on Tuesday morning to arrive at The Church of The Holy Trinity, Allen for Requiem Mass at 11am. Mass will be live-streamed on the Farewell friends Facebook page.

www.facebook.com/farewellfriendslivestreaming/

Burial afterwards in CrossPatrick Cemetery. House Private please.
They're here.

Tyndall Air Force Base's 325th Security Forces Squadron has received its first set of semi-autonomous "robot dogs," which it wants to use as extra security around the Florida Panhandle installation, according to a news release.

Dubbed "Quad-legged Unmanned Ground Vehicles," or Q-UGVs, the new robots, which have the ability to crouch low and creep into shallow spaces, were delivered last week, the service said. The droids were created by Ghost Robotics and Immersive Wisdom.

Read Next: This GI Bill Rule Change Could Cost Veterans Thousands of Dollars a Semester

"As a mobile sensor platform, the Q-UGVs will significantly increase situational awareness for defenders," said Mark Shackley, Tyndall Program Management Office security forces program manager, in the release. "They can patrol the remote areas of a base while defenders can continue to patrol and monitor other critical areas of an installation."

The base announced in November that it would be the first in the Defense Department to acquire the technology, giving airmen more flexibility to respond quickly to an emergency.

The robots have a variety of cameras and sensors on board, capable of providing a 360-degree picture of their environment, the release said. They can climb up rugged terrain and operate at temperatures ranging from -40 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit. Their controllable speeds allow them to move as slowly or quickly as needed, and feature a "high-step mode that alters leg mobility" and can help them get over obstacles.

The dogs resemble Boston Dynamics' now-famous four-legged yellow robot, Spot, which can run as fast as 3.5 miles per hour.

Spot was featured in a Boston Dynamics interview with "60 Minutes" on Sunday.

"People and animals can go anywhere on Earth -- using their legs," Marc Raibert, founder and chairman of the company, said during the segment. That's why Raibert avoided using wheels and tracks for his robot designs, which limit mobility.

The company has sold more than 400 Spot robots worldwide, according to the "60 Minutes" report. Each costs about $75,000, not including enhancements and accessories.

With Air Force squadrons "expanding our optics of what is possible," officials at Tyndall decided to pursue robot dogs to enhance situational awareness, Master Sgt. Krystoffer Miller, 325th SFS operations support superintendent, said in a released statement.

"One huge attraction piece of the robot dogs is that it's highly mobile and, with the amount of construction we will face over the next few years, it helps us maintain and increase our security posture," Miller said.

In 2019, then-Vice President Mike Pence announced that F-35 Joint Strike Fighters were officially coming to Tyndall -- an F-22 Raptor base -- as the service plans to fully rebuild the location to be a future "fifth-generation base."

Following Hurricane Michael in 2018, the Air Force moved Tyndall's Raptor fleet to other F-22 bases in Virginia, Hawaii and Alaska. The service in 2018 said it hopes to station three squadrons' worth of F-35s at Tyndall.

The robot dogs, which are not meant to replace real, military working dogs in any way, will be programmed with a patrol route and monitored by a Security Forces electronic security sensor system noncommissioned officer, the base said previously.

The robots could become standard-issue at Air Force bases if the 325th sees positive results with the technology, the release states.

"I can say that there is definitely a lot of interest in the capabilities of the technology," Miller said. "I'm hopeful that other units will see some of the successes at Tyndall and will continue to explore the use of non-conventional tactics."

Related Video:

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: This Air Force Unit Is Getting the Military's First Robot Dogs
Mumbai, March 30 : The Marathi film "Well Done Baby" will release digitally on April 9. A motion poster of the film was released on social media on Tuesday.

The family drama stars Pushkar Jog, Amruta Khanvilkar and Vandana Gupte, and will be premiered as a Gudi Padwa special.

"'Well Done Baby' is an endearing story which will definitely touch hearts. It is a fun entertainer that will make you laugh and at the same time make you feel emotional as it is relatable in so many ways," Amruta says.

Debutate director Priyanka Tanwar says she enjoyed shooting the film.

"It was a pleasure to be working with some of the Marathi industry's finest and creating this intriguing tale of a work-in-progress, dysfunctional family. It is an unconventional modern-day story that everyone in the family can enjoy. I am glad that viewers will be able to watch our film and will be entertained this Gudi Padwa," says Tanwar.

Pushkar Jog added: "I hope that everyone enjoys this family drama with their loved ones as much as we had (did) while creating it." "'Well Done Baby' is a simple and engaging story that is another gem in our family-first content on the service and serves to entertain them together. This new offering perfectly strengthens our vision of presenting our viewers with varied stories that transcend languages," says Vijay Subramaniam, Director and Head, Content, Amazon Prime Video (India), the OTT platform where the film will release.

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

He is set to make a dramatic exit from EastEnders this year as his storyline comes to an end.

And Davood Ghadami looked ready to take on big things as he recorded a gruelling Crossfit workout for his Instagram Story on Sunday.

The actor, 38, who has played market trader Kush Kazemi in the BBC One soap for six years, showed off his chiseled abs in the video as he lifted a huge weight.

Grrr! EastEnders' Davood Ghadami showed off his impressive muscles as he lifted weights on Instagram on Sunday... ahead of character Kush Kazemi's dramatic exit from BBC soap

Davood displayed his phenomenal fitness levels as he went shirtless for the weightlifting session, wearing a pair of navy shorts, a weightlifting belt and knee supports.

The EastEnders star picked the weights with six plates up off the floor and lifted it above his head, in an impressive display of strength.

As he raised the bar high above his head, he appeared to yell, 'Yes!' and then let the weight drop safely to the floor.

He captioned the video, tagging Crossfit Games and admitting that the workout was a challenge, writing: "That was tough'.

Sweaty: The EastEnders actor, 38, who has played market trader Kush Kazemi in the soap for six years, showed off his chiseled abs as he went shirtless for the weightlifting session

Raising the bar: The EastEnders star picked the weights with six plates up off the floor and lifted it above his head, in an impressive display of strength

Davood's EastEnders character Kush will leave Albert Square in 2021 as bosses already have a 'huge plot planned' for his departure.

A source told MailOnline: 'Kush will be written out of the soap next year as his storyline reaches a natural close'.

Speaking about the exit, a TV insider told Metro.co.uk: 'Bosses have a huge plot planned but although Davood was told in January, his departure it is not for a very long time yet in fact Kush will be on screen until well into 2021.'

An EastEnders spokesperson also told the publication: 'We can confirm Davood will be leaving EastEnders when his contract comes to an end next year.'

New chapter? Davood's EastEnders character Kush is set for a dramatic exit from Albert Square in 2021 as bosses already have a 'huge plot planned' for his departure

He has most recently struck up a romance with Whitney Dean, played by Shona McGarty, after his relationship with Kat Slater, portrayed by Jessie Wallace, ended.

The duo grew close after Whitney helped him hide out following his disastrous involvement in the Mitchells' car heist - with the fallout ultimately bring about the end of his relationship with Kat.

Whitney and Kush recently spent Valentine's Day together just as friends, but it was clear to see from then that sparks were beginning to fly for the pair.

Since then, they've enjoyed a blossoming romance, but with his exit looming, how will this play out?

Kush was previously married to Shabnam Masood, played most recently by Rakhee Thakrar.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
WAIANAE, Hawaii, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hui Huliau announced today that Mark Baines has been selected as Chief Operating Officer for the Hui Huliau family of companies. Baines replaces Terry Clark, who was recently named President of Hui Huliau.

Hui Huliau logo

Baines will provide daily leadership for seven subsidiaries and oversee plans that facilitate growth. He previously served as President of AC4S, a Hui Huliau subsidiary, and as President of Seneca Solutions. Baines also has three decades of progressive military leadership including battalion and brigade commands, four years as a White House Presidential Communications Officer, and four years as Commandant of the NATO School in South Germany. He supported military operations around the world including Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East and was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, a Bronze Star, the German Silver Cross Badge of Honor, and the Presidential Service Badge.

"Mark will play a critical role in helping us mature as an organization," Clark said. "His leadership experience as an Army Commander and his history leading native firms makes him a good fit for aligning our family of companies to deliver service worldwide to existing customers and growth into new markets."

Hui Huliau is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Native Hawaiian Organization with for-profit subsidiaries that participate in the Small Business Administration's business development program for small, minority-owned businesses. Hui Huliau companies provide aviation, construction, cyber security, facilities and base operations support, information technology, logistics, mission support, and training services to federal agencies and have offices in Waianae, Hawaii; Midwest City, Oklahoma; Tampa, Florida; and Evans, Georgia.

Since 2017, Hui Huliau has returned nearly $4 million to the Native Hawaiian community in support of its mission to provide economic and educational opportunities to Native Hawaiians and to preserve the Native Hawaiian language and culture. For more information, visit www.huihuliau.com.

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Media Contact

Jane Sharrock

Vice President, Corporate Operations

[email protected]

SOURCE Hui Huliau
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 18:13:16|Editor: huaxia

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DAR ES SALAAM, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's anti-corruption watchdog said on Tuesday it has arrested the Director General of Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), Deusdedit Kakoko, for questioning in connection with graft allegations.

The arrest of the ports authority chief followed his suspension on Sunday by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to pave way for investigations over embezzlement of public funds amounting 3.6 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 1.55 million U.S. dollars).

President Hassan suspended Kakoko shortly after she was presented with the 2019/2020 reports from the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) that indicated that 3.6 billion Tanzanian shillings were embezzled by TPA in the 2019/2020 financial year.

"It is true that we are holding the TPA Director General for questioning here at the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) headquarters," the PCCB communications manager, Doreen Kapwani, said in a phone interview with Xinhua.

On Sunday, President Hassan ordered the CAG, Charles Kichere, to investigate how the 3.6 billion Tanzanian shillings were embezzled by the ports watchdog.

"I will stand firm in ensuring prudent management of public resources. I will also stand firm in the fight against corruption," she said in her statement televised live from Chamwino State House in the capital Dodoma. Enditem
Bill on mandatory registration of pets reaches Russias State Duma

 flickr.com/ Tom Thai

12:10 30/03/2021

MOSCOW, March 30 (RAPSI)  A bill envisaging introduction of mandatory registration and statistics data monitoring with respect to pets has been submitted to the State Duma, according to the official database of the lower house of the Russian parliament.

One of the main sources, from which the population of stray animals is replenished, is pets that are lost or abandoned by their owners. In this regard, it is proposed to make an amendment establishing the requirement for mandatory registration and monitoring of animals, what will permit to return lost animals to their owners, and will also be a deterrent factor when the animals are left by their owners. It is proposed to empower the state authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation to establish the procedure for registering pets (dogs and cats), the explanatory note to the bill reads.

The respective changes are to be made to the federal law on responsible treatment of animals.

In addition, in order to discipline the keeping of pets, the document proposes to establish that a federal executive body is to be empowered to introduce uniform rules for keeping pets (dogs and cats) on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The author of the initiative is the Legislative Assembly of the Chelyabinsk Region.
Hong Kong: S1 allocations to be released

Parents of Primary 6 students participating in the 2021 Secondary School Places Allocation System will receive notifications on March 31 if their applications have been successful, the Education Bureau said today.

Parents do not need to reply to schools to say whether they accept the discretionary place offers or not.

Parents who have also successfully applied for a school place in a non-participating Direct Subsidy Scheme (NDSS) secondary school for their children should decide whether to retain the offer from the school.

If parents decide to retain the offer from an NDSS secondary school, they should disregard the notifications from the participating secondary schools.

If parents decide to decline the offer, they should notify the NDSS secondary school and retrieve the signed undertaking as well as the original copy of the Primary 6 Student Record Form on or before April 12 to retain the school place successfully applied for in the discretionary place stage.

Students who have not been offered a discretionary place are required to participate in the central allocation.

Primary 6 students will receive the Choice Form, the Notes for Parents and the Secondary School List for their school net from their primary school.

Parents may refer to the Handbook for Unrestricted School Choices distributed to primary schools or obtain the school lists via the bureau's website and the automatic telephone enquiry system's fax service on 2891 0088.

To reduce gatherings and maintain social distancing in light of the COVID-19 epidemic, the bureau advised primary schools to make flexible arrangements to support parents in making school choices.

Schools may consider providing parents with information or advice by video conferencing, phone or email, and distribute the choice-making documents to parents of cross-boundary students by post or email.

The bureau reminded parents to complete and return the Choice Form to primary schools for submission on or before May 5.

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Forefront Impact Resiliency Strategy (FFIRS), at the beginning of 2021, marked five years since strategy inception. The investment solution is designed to provide investors concerned about social impact and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues with a tool to help navigate turbulent markets. The strategy was introduced five years ago through a collaboration with a large family office seeking to target diversifying allocations to traditional stocks and bonds while aligning with its clients' sustainable investment goals.

The Forefront Impact Resiliency Strategy reinforces the belief that impact investors may not need to sacrifice compelling risk-adjusted market returns, and it enables investors to align their portfolios with their desire to support positive environmental and social change. By targeting investments pursuing positive sustainability themes consistent with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) along with aiming to achieve diversifying returns, the Resiliency Strategy attempts to align with the triple bottom-line outcomes so dear to impact investors. As of 11/30/2020, there were 59 companies in FFIRS reporting UN SDG alignment (Source: Refinitiv).

More About the Forefront Impact Resiliency Strategy

As of 12/31/2020, the strategy had approximately $178 million in assets across a number of custodial relationships. According to Nancy Gao, co-portfolio manager of this strategy, "The Strategy is constructed based on Forefront's proprietary factors and optimization techniques. The underlying investments are also examined according to their impact characteristics. Thus, the Strategy attempts simultaneously to capture long-term factor premia, their important dynamics, and support tangible ESG impact. Its dynamic allocation and rebalancing approach target lower correlation to the broad market in the long run."

Value Proposition

Support impact on a variety of environmental, social, and governance issues, including shareholder activism and social impact.

Provide a potential substitute for alternative / hedge fund exposure in a client total portfolio pursuing ESG alignment which seeks liquidity that's generally not seen in private fund (LP)-oriented alternative investments thereby targeting total portfolio impact activation with a more liquid profile.

Powered by models of dynamic exposure to multiple market factors (e.g. growth, value, momentum, etc.) expressed in ESG investments including pooled mutual funds and ETFs with the objective of improved diversification.

Impact Outcomes (as of 12/31/2020)*

Since inception1 the strategy's underlying strategies had favorable environmental, social and governance impacts. For example, relative to its equity sleeve benchmark:

Emissions. The magnitude of emissions reduced is equivalent to:

3.13 billion gallons of gas unburned



everyone in the United States completely abstaining from use of gasoline for 8 days

completely abstaining from use of gasoline for 8 days

70.4 million miles avoided by the average passenger vehicle



473 million urban trees planted

Water. The amount of water saved is the same amount as 11.6 million people's ordinary use of water for a year.

Waste. The amount of hazard wasted reduced is equivalent to the amount generated in a year for 28.3 million people.

Gender Diversity: In 43% of FFIRS's equity holdings, at least 1/5 of the executive members are female, which is 29% higher than the benchmark.

Cultural Diversity: In all of FFIRS's equity holdings, more than 10% of the executive members come from a diverse cultural background, 31% higher than the benchmark.

Gender Equality: 48% of the FFIRS's equity holdings have no pay difference between male and female employees, which is 20% higher than the benchmark.

Resolutions: Underlying funds have cumulatively conducted 2,970 corporate engagements on issues of social responsibility.

Salary Gap: Salary gap of FFIRS's equity holdings is 62% smaller than the benchmark.

Can be utilized in a number of ways:

An ESG allocation in the alternatives / hedge fund category targeting "total portfolio impact/ESG activation."

A stand-alone volatility managed, factor oriented ESG portfolio.

A broad ESG solution covering a number of Impact themes at the same time.

Forefront and Impact Investing

Forefront Analytics is led by founder Christopher Geczy, Ph.D. In addition to his work at Forefront, Dr. Geczy also serves on the faculty in the Finance Department at The Wharton School and as Academic Director of Wharton's Jacobs Levy Equity Management Center for Quantitative Financial Research and the Wharton Wealth Management Initiative.

"Our early academic research on impact investing concluded that some of the biggest investment challenges faced by mission-oriented investors were limitations on diversification provided by what was available in the marketplace," said Dr. Geczy. "We believe the Impact Resiliency Strategy addresses those challenges and helps impact investors achieve a double bottom line goal of impact and investment diversification."

Dr. Geczy and several of his academic colleagues were awarded the 2018 Investment for Impact Award from the University of California Berkeley Center for Responsible Business for their paper "Contracts with Benefits: The implementation of Impact investing," forthcoming in the Journal of Financial Economics. "We started our project to confront a common skepticism about impact investing being greenwashinga repackaging of a traditional investment opportunity without substantive changes," said the authors. https://redefiningbusiness.org/winners-2018-investment-impact-research-prize/

Dr. Geczy's paper with John B. Guerard and Mikhail Samonov, "Warning: SRI Need Not Kill Your Sharpe and Information RatiosForecasting of Earnings and Efficient SRI and ESG Portfolios," was published last year in the ESG Special Issue of The Journal of Investing.

About Forefront Analytics, LLC

Forefront Analytics, LLC, West Conshohocken, PA, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser, is a quantitative investment management firm with experience in impact/mission/ESG investment strategies. One of the firm's key beliefs is that investors may benefit from diversifying their risk beyond traditional stocks and bonds and into "factors" which drive investment performance.

Contact:

Keith Holland

[email protected]

The information provided herein is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice and it is not to be considered a recommendation to participate in any particular trading strategy, or deemed to be an offer or sale of any investment product, and it should not be relied as such. All investments are subject to risks. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.

Additional information about Forefront can be found in the Firm's Form ADV disclosure reports, the most recent versions of which can be found on the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

1 Source: Forefront Analytics, impact reports, and prospectuses from invested fund managers

*Data are summarized cumulatively since FFIRS inception based on the impact made by underlying investments during the period they were held under FFIRS. Update of the impact is subject to releases of the impact reports from underlying funds, thus there might be lags, estimates or inaccuracies.

SOURCE Forefront Analytics, LLC

Related Links

forefrontanalytics.com


Hagerstown Housing Authority closes in on end of McCleary Hill project

After objections from neighbors, the Hagerstown Housing Authority's McCleary Hill project is done its first phase. Officials held an open house.
The progressive left cannot occupy both sides of a debate although they certainly try often enough.
She recently returned to New York after enjoying a sun-kissed winter getaway earlier this year.

And Helena Christensen transformed her home into her photoshoot set as she posed up a storm for radiant images shared to Instagram on Monday.

The supermodel, 52, displayed her stunning figure in a selection of chic outfits, two of which included a black swimsuit and a red dress.

Working it: Helena Christensen transformed her home into her photoshoot set as she posed up a storm for radiant images shared to Instagram on Monday

Highlighting her toned frame, the photographer caught the eye in her textured swimwear set, which featured cut-out detailing across its bodice.

Another image saw the former Victoria's Secret Angel lay on her eclectic sofa in a flirty scarlet-toned frock.

Alongside her images, the catwalk queen wrote: 'Indecisive weather options  Online now @staerkandchristensen.

'Proceeds being split between @citymeals and @projectstreetdog who both are wonderful organizations, one feeding homebound elderly New Yorkers and the other saving sick and abandoned streetdogs. Secondhand and vintage.' (sic)

Wow-factor: The supermodel, 52, displayed her stunning figure in a selection of chic outfits, two of which included a black swimsuit and a red dress

In her element: Highlighting her toned frame, the photographer caught the eye in her textured swimwear set, which featured cut-out detailing across its bodice

Back home: She recently returned to New York after enjoying a sun-kissed winter getaway earlier this year

Helena's modelling career was launched when she won the Miss Universe Denmark title in 1986.

The bombshell went on to become one of the original 1990s supermodels alongside Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson and Claudia Schiffer.

Since her break into the fashion industry, the clothing designer also has become an accomplished photographer and was a co-founder of Nylon magazine that published from 1999 to 2017.

In 2019, the former Victoria's Secret Angel spoke to Daily Mail about some of her fitness secrets.

Self-promotion: Alongside her images, the catwalk queen wrote: 'Indecisive weather options  Online now @staerkandchristensen'

Long run: Helena's modelling career was launched when she won the Miss Universe Denmark title in 1986

Incredible: Since her break into the fashion industry, the clothing designer also has become an accomplished photographer

Toned: The brunette previously detailed how she likes to swim in 'rivers, lakes and oceans' in a bid to maintain her sensational figure

The brunette, who shares son Mingus, 21, with her former partner Norman Reedus, detailed how she likes to swim in 'rivers, lakes and oceans' in a bid to maintain her sensational figure.

She shared: 'I think it's important to shake it up and do as many different forms of workout as possible, but also to incorporate nature into them.

'Swim in the ocean, swim in rivers, swim in lakes. Hiking, trekking, chopping wood  it's the best way of working out, because it doesn't really feel like a workout. It feels like you're alive.'

Shiny Hammers Samuel Aguiar specializes in various meticulous crafts, such as furniture design, metalwork, and even motorcycle customization. It goes without saying that the sheer level of creativity at work under this Frenchmans roof is absolutely staggering. Sure enough, we totally dig his two-wheeled undertakings, and we bet you do too.For a clear demonstration of Aguiars exceptional abilities, well have a closer look at the most remarkable venture born on Shiny Hammers premises. In case you havent already guessed, its not some funky armchair or a decorative item that looks as if it belongs in a different galaxy; it is a gorgeous mechanical monstrosity adorned with a healthy dose of alloy garments.Prior to landing on his doorstep, the bike you see here was a crashed 1981 variant from Moto Guzzi s 1000SP Spada lineup. With bent forks and a damaged front wheel, Mandello del Larios beast found itself in a pathetic condition when it rolled into Samuels workshop for the very first time. Before we proceed with examining how hes managed to resurrect (and improve upon) the Spada, lets take a second to remind ourselves about the machines powertrain characteristics.Within its steel double-cradle frame, the Italian fiend houses a longitudinally mounted 90-degree V-twin colossus, with two valves per cylinder and a gargantuan displacement of 949cc. This air-cooled, four-stroke titan delivers as much as 71 hp at about 6,800 rpm and up to 62 pound-feet (84 Nm) of crushing twist at 5,200 revs.The engines force is handed over to a shaft final drive via five-speed gearbox, enabling the Guzzi to run the quarter-mile in 14.1 seconds at approximately 92 mph (148 kph). Additionally, it boasts a top speed of 137 mph (220 kph). Now that weve covered Spadas main specs and features, well dive in for a thorough analysis of Samuel Aguiars magnificent showstopper.After disposing of the stallions stock bodywork, Shiny Hammers mastermind blessed its front end with a comprehensive rebuild. The new forks are accompanied by a premium pair of air-assisted shock absorbers from Fournales on the opposite end.When a level bone line was achieved, Samuels attention turned to the creatures V-twin powerplant, which was honored with 36 mm (1.42 inches) DellOrto carburetors and alloy velocity stacks, as well as a custom stainless-steel exhaust system manufactured in-house.Spadas fresh bodywork features a ravishing selection of hand-shaped aluminum items polished to a mirror finish, such as bespoke fenders, a handsome fuel tank, and one menacing front fairing. Furthermore, the subframe was revised to accommodate a flawless tail section, along with a single-seater saddle.As for aftermarket accessories, the cockpit comes equipped with a digital Motogadget Motoscope Pro gauge that keeps it free of unwanted clutter. A set of rear-mounted foot pegs from Tarozzis inventory bring about a tougher riding stance. Additional stopping power is accomplished thanks to Brembo brake rotors, while the original hoops have been discarded to make room for Morad laced alternatives wearing Avon Roadrider AM26 rubber on both ends.We can probably all agree on one thing; Aguiars reworked Moto Guzzi 1000SP Spada guarantees to leave just about any moto-loving gearhead truly lost for words.
Maharashtra government has asked industrial gas manufacturers in the state to prioritise oxygen supply to hospitals in view of rising Covid-19 cases.

The state health department today issued an order directing manufacturers to supply 80 per cent of produced oxygen to hospitals

and nursing homes. The remainder can be supplied for non-medical uses. A similar order was issued last year too during the peak of Covid-19.

Covid-19 cases are increasing rapidly in the state and that is putting a pressure on health infrastructure. While additional capacity is being created and more beds are being added, the state administration is worried that infrastructure could soon get overwhelmed. Hospitals are facing challenges in securing oxygen supplies and the government order could reduce delays in procurement.

ICU beds and oxygenated beds in hospitals are getting filled up fast. People with symptoms are not getting tested in time and even those contracting the virus are not taking all precautions. As a result, hospitals are getting patients in serious conditions, Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said today.

Maharashtra accounts for over 60 per cent of all new Covid-19 cases in the country. Eight of the ten worst affected districts in the country are in Maharashtra with Pune topping the list. On Sunday the state recorded over 31,000 fresh cases and 102 Covid-19 related deaths.
A recent editorial published in The Times-Tribune comparing the violent military overthrow of a democratically elected government in Myanmar and the objection to the certification of electors in the U.S. House of Representatives, which has happened now four times in the last 20 years, is simply ridiculous (Perry, others trap selves, March 23).

In Myanmar, dangerous and extreme military leaders seized power in a coup, killing at least 230 protesters over the last two months. Aung San Suu Kyi, the duly elected Myanmar prime minister, has been detained. Security forces occupy hospitals, which, as a result, are boycotted by medical personnel and avoided by people. Myanmars situation has become a global humanitarian crisis.

To compare this to contesting the clear and highly irregular actions taken during the election by Pennsylvanias secretary of state is upside down and inside out, but thats what the people seem to get out of the so-called news these days. As people should be aware, Democratic members vociferously objected to the certification of electors following the last three presidential elections when a Republican won, which was their right. I contested the procedures of the 2020 election, which were performed and undertaken by an unelected state official who had no authority to make such changes. I objected to the lack of constitutional authority of the secretary of state to make such new, unwarranted rules.

My intent was to support and defend the U.S. Constitution, as is my oath.

Democrats objection of the electors from Ohio in 2005 could have actually affected the outcome of that election. The objection that I brought forth was simply not to approve of the highly irregular and alleged unlawful actions taken by Pennsylvanias secretary of state. There was 0% chance that the results of the 2020 election would have been affected or overturned, because of the rules in place in the Constitution dealing with such objections. I unequivocally condemn any unlawful behavior, destruction and violence that took place at the Capitol.
Prep Golf: Riley Zebroski earns all-conference honors, Arrows take 7th in ESD tourney

MITCHELL  Sophomore Riley Zebroski earned all-conference honors by tying for 5th place on Wednesday in the Eastern South Dakota Conference girls golf tournament at the Lakeview Golf Course.
There are indications that the growing demand for gas in the global market is providing an opportunity for Nigeria to expand its export base as the country boasts of 600 trillion cubic feet of gas reserve.

According to the IEA Gas Market Report, Q1-2021, global gas demand is expected to recover its 2019 level although demand fell by an estimated 2.5% or 100 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2020 - its largest drop on record.

Available data indicate that the global gas market is estimated at approximately 82 million tonnes, equating near $32 billion.

In order to take advantage of this opportunity, the federal government is currently intensifying partnerships with private investors to escalate the exploitation of the country's 600 trillion cubic feet of gas reserve.

As compared to traditional fuels, gas does not emit nitrogen and sulfur oxides when being combusted, and there are many raw materials, including renewable ones, which could be used for the gas manufacturing process.

Nigeria's abundant gas deposits provide an edge to prospective investors as experts say that only two steps from gas translate into methanol, another product extracted from gas.

In a deliberate move to exploit the country's huge gas potential, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja launched "The Decade of Gas in Nigeria" with a pledge that the federal government would fully utilise the enormous gas resources in the country to uplift the economy and drive industrialisation.

President Buhari, in a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina said given the country's potential of about 600 trillion cubic feet of gas, the commodity had the enormous potential to diversify Nigeria's economy.

"The rising global demand for cleaner energy sources has offered Nigeria an opportunity to exploit gas resources for the good of the country. We intend to seize this opportunity," the president said at the virtual Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) 2021 Pre-Summit Conference and official launch of the Decade of Gas.

According to him, his administration has prioritised gas development and recorded remarkable progress.

He said, "It is well known that Nigeria is a gas nation with a little oil, but the country has focused on oil over the years.

"That is the paradox that this administration decided to confront when we declared the year 2020 as 'The Year of Gas' in Nigeria.

"It was a bold statement to demonstrate the resolve of this administration that gas development and utilisation should be a national priority to stimulate economic growth, further improve Nigeria's energy mix, drive investments, and provide the much needed jobs for our citizens in the country."

He stated that before the declaration of Year 2020 as The Year of Gas, his administration had shown commitment to the development of Nigeria's vast gas resources and strengthening of the gas value chain by reviewing and gazetting policies and regulations to enhance operations in the sector as encapsulated in the National Gas Policy of 2017.

"Our major objective for the gas sector is to transform Nigeria into an industrialised nation with gas playing a major role and we demonstrated this through enhanced accelerated gas revolution," he said.

Enumerating what his administration has done to energise the sector, the president said the development of gas infrastructure had commenced along with the domestic utilisation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG), as well as the process of commercialising gas flares, development of industrial and transport gas markets, and increasing gas to power.

"We also kick-started other policies and projects like the National Gas Expansion Programme, Autogas Policy and the construction of the 614km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline.

"After a thorough review of these laudable achievements and successes in the gas space, we acknowledge that Nigeria still has more work to do in the gas space.

"This has led the federal government to begin a more proactive push towards gas development. This initiative will ensure further optimal exploitation and utilisation of the country's vast gas resources," he said.

The president commended the collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited to actualise the dream of transforming Nigeria with its massive gas resources.

He described the NLNG as the federal government's arrowhead in the reduction of gas flaring in Nigeria.

According to the president, the NLNG, which contributes about one percent to GDP, has generated $114 billion in revenues over the years, $9 billion in taxes and $18 billion in dividends to the federal government and $15 billion in Feed Gas Purchase.

The president, who said these achievements were accomplished with 100 percent Nigerian management and 95 percent Nigerian workforce, applauded NLNG for winning the award for outstanding business strategy in 2020, for going ahead with Train 7 during the global pandemic.

"The Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC are in various regards setting the pace. I would like to charge all other relevant MDAs on the need to partner with the international oil companies, the indigenous oil companies and financial institutions to actualise the dream of fully utilising our gas resources to uplift our economy," he said.In addition to the move, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has outlined five critical levers for gas development as Nigeria moves to leverage its abundant gas resources for national growth, diversification of the economy and to use gas as the fuel for economic transformation.

Engr. Sarki Auwalu, director of DPR, said the levers - availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability and deliverability - were critical to utilising Nigeria's proven gas reserves for national development.

He said: "Whereas references have been made to the other elements in this discussion, right pricing of gas is requiring particular attention to ensure the security of gas supply and security of credible gas demand. This is because upstream gas producers must be assured that they will receive fair and equitable returns for their investments, whereas the price must be such that the end-users are able to pay for gas offtake in a reliable and consistent manner."

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Lending his voice to the initiative, NLNG managing director, Engr. Tony Attah, said the large deposit of gas resources in Nigeria would amount to nothing if gas is not developed and utilised urgently to meet the nation's energy needs.

Attah stated that it was necessary to act now on gas through deliberate policies such as the Decade of Gas, adding that the country must not continue to be gas-rich and energy-poor where its gas processing and LNG capacity do not match the volume of its gas reserves.

He, however, emphasised that the time for Nigeria to become a top gas nation is now when gas is playing a pivotal role in bridging traditional energy sources and renewables.

Similarly, Gabriel Ogbechie, managing director of Rain Oil Limited, argues that proper channeling of flared gas could impact Nigeria's gross domestic product, GDP, by up to $1 billion per year. It also has the potential to create over one million jobs, 600,000 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, per year and generate 2.5 gigawatts.

Ogbechie, therefore, stated the need for petroleum marketers to deepen investment in the nation's gas sector such as the switching 50 per cent to LPG or cooking gas from kerosene.
Some Nigerians have demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari transmits power properly to his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo before embarking on h...





Some Nigerians have demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari transmits power properly to his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo before embarking on his London medical trip on Tuesday.

Buhari will depart Nigeria today for a routine medical checkups in London, the United Kingdom, according to the Presidency.

However, nothing was said about the President transmitting power to his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as the constitution requires.

Buhari will spend a minimum of two weeks in the United Kingdom, carrying out what his aides described as routine medical checkup.

And the statement released by Femi Adesina only said that Buhari will meet the service chiefs shortly before flying out. No mention was made of the Vice President.

Some Nigerians on social media expressed concerns over this decision, wondering if the President does not trust his VP or is afraid that Osinbajo may do better in two weeks.

Others feel he should hand over to the Vice President, go to London and stay there forever.

@NosaAguebor, Just to confirm  did he transit an instrument identifying who will act for him in his absence or he is going to be working remotely during the period?

@Duruken, What will he be telling the security chiefs like; I take Allah beg una, please dont let what happened to me in 1984 happen to me again.

@Eric75883834, Why meeting with security chiefs? Instead transferring power to the vice President. He has started what he did last time, refusing to transfer power to the Vice President until senate refused him.

@von_Bismark, Hes not even useful here. He can stay until he wants to come and visit us. No one cares. He should kuku go with all these bandits.'

@i am_davidoluwole, Did he relinquish power to his Vice? Cos two weeks is enough time for the country to burn down due to the insecurity. Meeting with the Security chief isnt just the goal, give power to the Vice so he can take decisions on your behalf when things are out of control.

@Boxypiper, President Buhari should inform NASS officially and hand over power to Mr V.P while hes away.
FLINT TOWNSHIP, MI -- A 28-year-old man was shot and killed outside of a Flint Township apartment complex Monday night, police said.

Officers with the Flint Township Police Department were dispatched around 9:10 p.m. Monday, March 29 to the 1700 building of Sunridge Apartments for a shooting incident.

Officers located the male victim lying near the building. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to a Flint Township Police Department news release.

Investigators are seeking information from witnesses or those who may have further details to assist in identifying anyone involved in the shooting, The incident remains under investigation.

The Flint Township Police Department was assisted at the scene by Michigan State Police, City of Flint Police Department, Genesee County Sheriffs Office and the Michigan State Police Bridgeport Crime Lab.

Witnesses or those with information regarding this incident are asked to contact detectives Minto Beckwith at the Flint Township Police Department at 810-600-3250 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-JAIL (5245).

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WASHINGTON - Shutting down the Line 5 pipeline would create a "dangerous precedent" that would forever imperil future cross-border infrastructure projects between Canada and the United States, says Alberta's energy minister.

This June 2020 photo, shot from a television screen provided by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy shows damage to anchor support EP-17-1 on the east leg of the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline within the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - AP, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

WASHINGTON - Shutting down the Line 5 pipeline would create a "dangerous precedent" that would forever imperil future cross-border infrastructure projects between Canada and the United States, says Alberta's energy minister.

Sonya Savage joined counterparts from Saskatchewan and Ontario in warning a House of Commons committee Tuesday about the knock-on effects that could result if the cross-border pipeline is shut down.

"What is possibly most concerning to Alberta, as it should be for everyone here, is the dangerous precedent that a shutdown of a safely operating pipeline would have and would pose for future infrastructure projects," Savage testified.

"We are good neighbours and strong business partners. Our integrated energy sector and critical trading relationships are important for jobs and economies on both sides of the border, and any actions to shut down Line 5 would threaten that relationship."

Line 5, which runs through Michigan from the Wisconsin city of Superior to Sarnia, Ont., crosses the Great Lakes beneath the environmentally sensitive Straits of Mackinac, which link Lake Michigan to Lake Huron.

For weeks, experts have been telling the committee that the pipeline is a vital source of energy not only for Ontario and Quebec, but a host of northern U.S. states as well, including Michigan itself, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Enbridge wants to build a tunnel underneath the straits to house an upgraded version of the dual pipeline  a project Michigan has already approved  but needs the existing line to continue to operate in the meantime.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has revoked the 1953 easement that allowed the pipeline to operate without incident for more than 65 years, accusing Enbridge of violating the terms of the agreement. She wants the line shut down by mid-May.

Enbridge is fighting that decision in court in Michigan  and Savage, Saskatchewan Energy Minister Bronwyn Eyre and Associate Ontario Energy Minister Bill Walker want Ottawa to weigh in on that fight.

"This could include filing an amicus brief in court expressing the government's support for keeping the pipeline in operation," Walker told the committee.

One senior federal government official, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal matters, said filing such a brief is currently under discussion, but a final decision has not been made.

Witnesses also urged the federal government to exercise its rights under the 1977 Transit Pipeline Agreement, a Canada-U.S. treaty that provides for the uninterrupted flow of energy between the two countries.

The Enbridge main line, and by extension Line 5, carry as much as 70 per cent of the crude oil produced in Saskatchewan to market, Eyre said.

Line 5 is a "welded-steel manifestation, a tangible symbol, of a traditionally strong relationship, a friendship, between the United States and Canada  one we must not jeopardize," she said.

"Pipelines produce no CO2  they are a mere mode of transport, and yet they have become a symbol of the fight (over climate change)."

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley, whose city is a major refining hub in Ontario and the final juncture for Line 5, could barely contain his frustration with Whitmer, whom he said has been unresponsive to repeated entreaties.

"I've written more letters to the governor than St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians," he said, noting that Canada's consul general in Detroit and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have had the same experience.

"I can't fathom what is going on in the governor's mansion in Lansing ... does the governor not understand the damage (she's doing) to the ongoing relationship?"

In a letter to Whitmer earlier this year, Enbridge accused Michigan of refusing to acknowledge that the state's own experts say there are no clear alternatives to the pipeline.

The state "fails to acknowledge that Line 5 enables the safe transport of fuel essential to heat homes and provides energy to Michigan, neighbouring U.S. states and Canada's two largest provinces," Enbridge executive vice-president Vern Yu wrote.

"It also fails to account for the significant adverse social and economic impacts that will result from closure."

Scott Archer, a union leader in Sarnia, delivered a stark inventory of what those impacts might be if Line 5 is closed.

Archer warned of immediate gasoline shortages, "massive" fuel cost increases, and 800 more oil-laden rail cars and 2,000 tanker trucks per day on railways and highways throughout both central Canada and the U.S. Midwest  to say nothing of widespread job losses in a variety of industries, many of them only tangentially related to the energy sector.

"In short, shutting down Line 5 would effectively kill my hometown, and displace its families  and many more cities and towns like it in Canada and the U.S.," he said.

"This is not an exaggeration  it's cold, hard fact."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2021.
The pandemic has exposed the bare living conditions of India's urban poor, bringing back low-income housing on the policy agenda. But a study of low-income housing in Ahmedabad and Chennai finds that such low-income housing projects are often situated on the periphery of urban areas, creating alienation rather than a sense of belonging among the poor.

The study by Karen Coelho of the Madras Institute of Development Studies and others is based on a 2018 survey of 200 households across four settlements: SKV Nagar and Umang Lambha in Ahmedabad, and Gudapakkam and Perumbakkam in Chennai. The last two decades in these cities have seen many slums cleared for projects like flyover construction and road widening. This increased the need for low-income housing to resettle displaced people, which ended up getting built on the outskirts, where land is typically cheaper. In Ahmedabad, 70% of all public housing since 2010 has been built on the citys periphery.

Far from the city centre, and with poor connectivity, affordable housing projects end up making residents feel separated from the city. Moreover, because of safety issues and limited scope for leisure activities and recreation in these settlements, residents dont get to engage with each other to create a sense of community and belonging. There are few parks or theatres in such areas.

Poor connectivity leads to a longer and tougher commute to the city. People have to make multiple connections and use multiple modes of transport to get to work. The difficulties of commuting limit economic opportunities. In Ahmedabads settlements for instance, many women switched to home-based work such as tailoring after resettlement. Women also expressed fears about moving around on their own. Families gradually limit their movement outside, hesitate to develop ties with others, and end up withdrawing from the life of the settlement.

The authors fear these resettlements will repeat the failures of housing projects in the West and create ghettos on the edges of our cities. To prevent such ghettoes, the focus of urban policies should not just be on creating new housing but new neighbourhoods that are integrated with the rest of the city.

Also read: Outsiders in the periphery: studies of the peripheralisation of low income housing in Ahmedabad and Chennai, India"

Snap Fact features new and interesting reads from the world of research

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Some of Britain's most prestigious public schools are among those to be hit with thousands of harrowing allegations of sexual assault and harassment that have sparked a rape culture scandal.

Stories revealed on campaigning website Everyone's Invited include a girl who was allegedly attacked in a tent at a party, and other shocking accounts of revenge porn, harassment and rape.

There are now more than 10,000 complaints on the website naming top public schools including Eton College, Hampton and Charterhouse, with both girls and boys among the alleged victims.

But the claims has now widened, with the number of state schools subject of harrowing allegations increasing by a third.

Soma Sara, 22, the founder of Everyone's Invited, where people can share their stories of sexual assault

Soma Sara, 22, started the page with Meadow Walker, the daughter of late actor Paul Walker, after they bonded on Instagram when she spoke about surviving abuse after watching BBC drama I May Destroy You last June.

The campaigner lives in France but was educated at an exclusive private Catholic school in Hampstead before boarding at Wycombe Abbey School in Buckinghamshire then completing an English master's degree at University College London last year.

Her site allows users to submit claims anonymously, with many of the accounts naming the specific school.

Here are just some of the harrowing survivors' testimonies from a small number of schools out of hundreds. Those mentioned have been contacted for comment.

Pupils stage a protest against rape culture at Highgate School in London

'I was raped at a party, but my friends were just angry I got everyone kicked out'

Moorside High School: Co-ed secondary school in Stoke-on-Trent.

'When I was 15 I was at party with my friends. I got really drunk and got pulled into a bathroom with two 18-year-old boys one left while the other one raped me.

'I was left prompt outside the bathroom door crying and screaming ''he's raped me'' because of this the party got broken up and everyone got kicked out. All my friends hated me and told me it was my fault.

'The next day all my friends message me telling me how much of slag I was how I'd ruined everyone's night.

'One friend told me I could of ruined that boys like by making accusations.'

Moorside High School is a co-ed secondary school in Stoke-on-Trent that has been named on Everyone's Invited

'He shared my nude photos with friends and it totally humiliated me'

Hampton School: Independent boy's school in south-west London founded in 1557.

'In year 9 a boy at Hampton school kept asking me for nudes and at the time I trusted him and liked him.

'I thought everything was fine until I heard from people that he had an app on his phone to screenshot Snapchat photos without the person knowing. I heard he did this to me and shared the photos with his friends and this completely humiliated me.

'He then tried to make me send again I said no and told him I knew he had photos but he denied having them on his camera roll.

'All his friends knew and I was so embarrassed I told no one. Scary to think someone you trust can do that to you. Years later he admitted to it but laughed it off.'

It is not known which school the girl attended.

A girl claimed on Everyone's Invited that she had been repeatedly hectored for nudes by a boy at Hampton (pictured)

'I woke up to a girl attempting to touch me - some people don't realise consent is for boys too'

Parmiters School: Co-ed state comprehensive with academy status in Watford that dates back to 1681.

'It was at a party, I was asleep and I woke up and a girl was attempting to touch me. I was drunk. I have no consent.

'Some people don't realise that consent goes both ways.'

'He said he wanted to rape me and knew where I lived'

George Abbot School: Co-ed secondary school and sixth form with academy status in Guildford.

'I was 16 with very little experience with men. A boy in school started saying hi to me in the library, I thought nothing of it and carried on with my studies.

'On the evening that we finished our last GCSE the boy sent me about 25 Snapchat videos explaining in detail how he would f*** me and rape me and that he knew where I lived and he would come to my house.

'He was drunk and his friends filmed him talking about my body and laughing about what he would do to me and sent me those videos too.

'I remember I felt paralysed and couldn't leave the house for days afterwards.'

One of the testimonies accuses a pupil at George Abbot School (pictured) of boasting about how he would 'rape' a girl in online videos

'I was assaulted in a tent at a friend's party'

Eton College: World famous independent boarding school in Berkshire charging 48,501 per year.

'We were all sleeping in tents at my mate's party.

'And I fell asleep around 2. I woke up to a boys fingers inside me and him on top of me.

'I pretended to stay asleep until I figured out what to do.'

It is not known which school the girl attended.'

A spokesman said: 'Eton insists that all our pupils treat others with kindness, decency and respect. Specific allegations are always taken extremely seriously and we work closely with the relevant external authorities when necessary.

'We run workshops about healthy relationships and educate our pupils about consent. A number of further initiatives are in advanced planning. However, we must never be complacent and are always seeking to learn.'

Eton said today: 'Specific allegations are always taken extremely seriously and we work closely with the relevant external authorities when necessary'

'At an after party with other boys from Charterhouse I woke up to find one of my good friends naked on top of me'

Charterhouse: Historic boarding and day school in Godalming, Surrey, with fees of 40,695 each year.

'I was at an after party with all of my friends. I was very drunk and blacked out. I woke up to one of my good guy friends naked on top of me and they had taken my pants and trousers off.

'They were trying to have sex with me and when I woke up I was in the most pain I've ever been in. When they saw I had woken up they started shouting at me for bleeding onto the bed.

'They made me feel so uncomfortable and embarrassed me about the situation. I walked home at four in the morning very confused but feeling really guilty and ashamed with myself as they had embarrassed me. I was in a relationship with a friend of theirs and they manipulated the situation so I wouldn't really tell anyone.'

This testimony was from a boy.

'He forced himself on me, I felt like I couldn't breathe'

Cranbrook School: Co-ed state funded boarding and day grammar school in Kent.

'I was under the age of consent and he was two years over it. I was at a party and it was one of my first times drinking heavily and when he started to kiss me I was so excited - until he pushed my head down to his penis and held it there and it felt like I couldn't breathe.

'Until he took me to his car where I blacked out to the memory of him forcing himself inside me. I woke up unconscious in a corridor of the party having lost my shoes, my pants and my bra, having a hazy recollection of what had happened.

'When I went into school the next day I was labelled a slut for having had sex so young and so publicly, while a photo of my lost bra and shoes circulated around school. Surely people would have realised that if I was so drunk to have lost my shoes and underwear, I couldn't have had the capacity to give consent?

'If you recognise this story, please don't contact me about it - I just wanted people to see it from my point of view, and maybe feel confident to share stories about their own experiences of Cranbrook, where I felt that rape culture was really normalised.'

A spokesman said the school was 'deeply concerned' about the allegations.

Cranbrook School is a co-ed state funded boarding and day grammar school in Kent

'A boy assaulted me, then his girlfriend called me a slut'

Cardinal Newman College: Co-ed Catholic sixth form college in Preston.

'During my time at six form, my best friends boyfriend got me drunk to the point of unconsciousness, took me to bed, asked her to leave the room and then assaulted me. He was completely sober.

'I still to this day thank god it wasn't worse. That she came into the room and stopped it before it went further. That makes me so angry that I'm grateful.

'After this happened her boyfriend told her that I had missed him. She believed him even though she'd seen what was happening. She told me I was a slut and never spoke to me again.'

'His defence was he's gay and didn't enjoy it'

Lincoln Minster School: Co-ed day and boarding school charging 14,460 per year that traces its roots back to 1265.

'I was on a school trip when I was 14, a boy in front on the bus leant back and stroked my legs, sticking his fingers in the rips in my jeans, ''accidentally'' touching my crotch and breasts.

'We told a teacher she said she'd talk to him, his defence was that he's gay and didn't enjoy it.

'I haven't worn those jeans since.'



Lincoln Minster School is a co-ed day and boarding school charging 14,460 per year that traces its roots back to 1265

'He pointed at me and said ''you're too frigid for this, you're too frigid for that'''

Fortismere School: Mixed secondary school and sixth form in Muswell Hill, Greater London.

'I was barely 14 and was at the guy I liked's house. I had only ever kissed boys before, and only known this boy for about 3 weeks. We were sat in his living room with a drinking games book, just reading the different games.

'He started going through the stripping/sex ones and pointing them saying ''you're too frigid for this, you're too frigid for that''.

'At the time I didn't even know what sexual harassment was, so I just was embarrassed and didn't want him to think I was frigid. I sat there near tears and never mentioned it again.

'After 6 months of him making manipulative jokes and hints about sex or what other couples were doing compared to us, I lost my virginity to him on my 15th birthday week. I regret it so much, and still blame myself.'

Fortismere School is a mixed secondary school and sixth form in Muswell Hill, Greater London

'I was sexually assaulted by my best friend'

Lord Williams School: Co-educational secondary school with academy status in Thame, Oxfordshire.

'I was sexually assaulted by my best friend (male) and my nudes were leaked around school.

'I later found out that there was a large group of guys that had a group chat where they would share girls nudes that they had received.'

'My ex tried to rape me three times'

Winchester College: Famous 600-year-old independent school charging 31,350 a year.

'My ex from Winchester kept nudes of me on an album and still has them I believe a year later yeah sad plus he tried to rape me three times.

'Thankfully I got out of this unstable relationship.

'I think guys should realise that this is a place for them to speak up to and girls need to understand that they get hurt too even if less .'

A woman writing anonymously on the website said her ex from Winchester (pictured) tried to rape her three times

Kingston Grammar School: Independent school dating back to the 13th century that charges 6,840 per term.

'I was in maybe year 9 quite insecure and got drunk with my friends for the first time.

'I was happy having a good time when we decided to travel and this boy decided to travel with us.

'He molested my chest in public my legs and was sticking his tongue down my throat.

'He was completely sober whereas I was not and he knew this as he kept on making repeated jokes.

'I asked him to stop and he would continue ignoring me saying we were having a good time. Nobody did anything to stop it.'

'The boy begged and begged... it was coercive behaviour'

Godolphin and Latymer: An independent girls' school in London - the account did not say which school the boy attended.

'We were going to have sex for the first time, I was a virgin. Something felt off and I decided I didn't want to.

'He begged and begged and then asked me if I would ''at least'' give him a b******.

'I didn't feel like that either but I did it because I didn't want to upset him - it was coercive behaviour but it didn't match up with what I'd been told about how sexual harassment looked so I didn't think much more about it.'

A former pupil at Godolphin and Latymer shared her story on the site but did not say which school the boy attended

'I was repeatedly groped at a party'

Fettes College: Co-ed school in Edinburgh charging 29,925 per year.

'I was 15, it was at a party. I was being repeatedly groped in the mosh pit but couldn't figure out who it was as every time I turned around it was different people.

'It just kept happening over and over again, I didn't know when the groping would stop.

'I went to different locations of the party area with other people but it just kept happening. I then discovered it was these three guys who were all my good friends.

'Still they'd come hug me around my waist and I pushed one of them away, but they still continued to target me that night.'

A pupil at Fettes College said she was 'repeatedly' groped in the mosh pit at a party

'A boy slapped me on the a*** as he and his friends laughed about it'

St Paul's: Independent school in Barnes, south-west London, charging 12,997 per term for boarders.

'I went to a St. Paul's party and I was alone while my friends went to the bathroom.

'A group of boys approached me and one slapped my a*** and they all laughed about it.

'I didn't tell my friends because I was too embarrassed but I feel completely fearful to this day.'

A former schoolgirl claimed she was slapped on the bottom by a St Paul's boy as his friends laughed

'I never spoke to anyone because my ex was really popular'

A second account referring to a boy from St Paul's.

'My ex-boyfriend and I were at a party when I was about 15. He got really drunk and started exposing everything about our sex life in front of all of his toxic rugby friends. I was so humiliated that I started crying in another room on my own.

'After this, one of his friends came into the room and started coming onto me, using things that had been exposed about my private sex life as an excuse to get with me.

'He was saying things like ''well he (my ex) said you like doing this, so you should with me, I know you want to''.

'This went on for about 30 minutes, with him eventually coercing me into doing things I really didn't want to do. However, because I was so terrified and vulnerable I couldn't stand up for myself.

'I have never spoken about it to anyone because my ex was really popular and the ''alpha male'', therefore had I said anything about his best friend, he and everyone else would never believe me.'

The school said: 'This is clearly a difficult and complex issue which has deeply affected our school community. The school completely condemns the actions described on the Everyones Invited site... we are taking them extremely seriously.'

'A HABS boy pushed himself onto me without consent'

Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School: Hertfordshire public school charging 7,000 a term.

"When I was 13, I was taken into a room by a HABS boy and he started touching me aggressively and physically pushed himself onto me with no consent. I didnt really know what was happening.

'Years later, I was on a coach journey with him and when I was asleep he started trying to touch me.

'I was disgusted. Then, last year a girl spoke out about being raped by him in uni."

The girl attended North London Collegiate School.

'I said no but he went ahead anyway'

Malvern College: Independent co-ed day and boarding school in Worcestershire.

'While I was at boarding school I got a boyfriend one day I really wasn't feeling ok and he asked if we could do something and after I had said no he proceeded to do things anyway.

'It wasn't anything we hadn't done before but my head space was really out of it then and I don't even think he realized what he did.'

'It's not just private school boys'

Walworth Academy: Co-ed secondary school and sixth form in London.

'So many of these stories are concerning private school boys, but it's not just them. I was 16 he was 18, I have never felt comfortable enough to call it ''rape'' but I was sexually assaulted.

'I have always felt it was my fault for inviting him round or not making myself clearer when I said no. Every time I walk into my bedroom I can see myself pinned down by him, unable to move, my bed is a constant reminder of that day.

'Recently he tried to message me again, to ''chat to me'', as he is still completely unaware of how wrong what he did was.

'I didn't go to the police because he was over 18 and I had a sense of guilt of potentially sending him to prison, I regret that everyday.

'If I have to think about what he did to me most days, he should be locked away being forced to think about it everyday.'

The girl went to West London Girls School.

Walworth Academy is a co-ed secondary school and sixth form in London

'I felt coerced and manipulated into doing things with him'

Abingdon Boys School: Independent day and boarding school that charges 42,105 a year for boarders.

'Too many of my friends (including myself) have been sexually assaulted, harassed or objectified by Abingdon boys.

'I dated a boy in the year above me from there when I was 16 and felt manipulated and coerced into doing a majority of things with him.

'He pressured me into having sex in the back of his car in a public car park which, after a lot of fighting back, I was able to argue my way out of. His response was that I was being ''frigid''.

'As someone with a younger family member at the school I can already see his attitude towards girls his own age changing and that's something really scary to watch.

'During my time at school I knew a lot of boys there who would encourage that sort of behaviour towards women and it's made worse by the ''lad culture'' and arrogant attitudes a majority seem to be supportive of.

'Change needs to come from within and it needs to be spearheaded by those in charge.'

'Boys shared videos of girls at the college having sex without their knowledge they were being recorded'

St Dominic's Sixth Form College: Roman Catholic sixth form college in Harrow on the Hill, north-west London.

'A bunch of boys had a group chat where they would post videos of them having sex with girls within the college, the girls were unaware they were even being recorded.'

'I was groped by an older boy in a boys' boarding house'

King's School Canterbury: Mixed boarding and day school founded in 597 - making it perhaps the world's oldest extant school.

'I was groped in a boys boarding house by another boy 2 years older, for some time I laughed it off until it was revealed later that there were other victims of his.

'School did not deal with him appropriately to say the least, I'm not surprised if there were more victims that did not speak about their encounters.'

'He tilted the screen of the video chat to show he was masturbating'

Hayes School: Mixed secondary school with academy status in Bromley, Greater London.

'I was chatting on social media with a male friend from school. I was 13 and he was 16. While we were messaging he suggested turning video on.

'I didn't think anything of this, as it was normal among my friends to chat whilst on video, and we were literally chatting about nothing...

'Within a couple of minutes, and with absolutely no prompt, he tilted the screen down to show me he was masturbating. I completely panicked at 13 years of age, shut my laptop and never spoke to him again.

'I thought about telling my teachers, but when none of my friends believed me, I realised it was simply my word against his and that there was no point dredging it all up through the school.

'After all, I could just spent the next three years avoiding him in the corridors until he left school for uni.'

Hayes School is a mixed secondary with academy status in Bromley, Greater London

'A friend started touching me inappropriately on top of my clothes'

The Totteridge Academy: A mixed secondary school in Barnet, North London.

'I was at the park with my friends on the last day of school. We were all having a great time messing around in the playground.

'We were under a small hut when one of my friends started touching me inappropriately on top of my clothes. I was in shock and felt like I couldn't move.

'He was about to move his hand under my clothes when I got the courage to move.

'I got home to messages with him saying he'll kill himself because I didn't want to be with him and it left me apologising to him thinking he was the victim.'
Martha Kalifatidis certainly likes the finer things in life.

And on Tuesday, the Married At First Sight star showed her fans what she carries inside her purse every day.

In a series of Instagram Stories, the 32-year-old showcased the whopping AUD $800 haul of items she likes to have on hand.

Woah! Martha Kalifatidis (pictured) certainly likes the finer things in life. And on Tuesday, the Married At First Sight star showed her fans what she carries inside her purse every day

First she showed off her purse - a black, leather 2018 Louis Vuitton model valued at AUD $3770.

Martha then pulled out her favourite hand cream - an AUD $87 brightening and smoothing formula from Chanel.

Next was the 'best brush' she has tried, Air Brush from Charlotte Tilbury, valued at AUD $52.

Nice: First she showed off her purse - a black, leather 2018 Louis Vuitton model valued at AUD $3770

Fancy: Martha then pulled out her favourite hand cream - an AUD $87 brightening and smoothing formula from Chanel

Nice: Next was the 'best brush' she has tried, Air Brush from Charlotte Tilbury, valued at AUD $52

Fantastic: She then pulled out her Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip, which costs $33, saying she was 'obsessed' with it at the moment. Next up was the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish powder, which she said she 'can't live without' and is priced at AUD $70

Lippy: She also showed fans her Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm, valued at AUD $27, saying she had gone through several tubes and likes it because it is 'fat' and easy to use

Martha also carries a selection of supplements from JS Health Vitamins, including the Hair and Energy Formula valued at AUD $75 a bottle, the Detox Formula valued at $45 a bottle and Omega 3 fish oil capsules, which cost AUD $40 a bottle.

She then pulled out her Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip, which costs AUD $33, saying she was 'obsessed' with it at the moment.

Next up was the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish powder, which she said she 'can't live without' and is priced at AUD $70.

Touch up: Her NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer was next, with Martha saying she uses the AUD $46 product to touch up around her lips through the day

Mouthing off: Martha said she loves the Mecca Cosmetica Tinted Lip De-Luscious with SPF 25, which costs AUD $32

Double trouble: She also had two lipsticks, again from British brand Charlotte Tilbury - her Hyaluronic Happikiss lippies are valued at AUD $49 each

She also showed fans her Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm, valued at AUD $27, saying she had gone through several tubes and likes it because it is 'fat' and easy to use.

Her NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer was next, with Martha saying she uses the AUD $46 product to touch up around her lips through the day.

Martha said she loves the Mecca Cosmetica Tinted Lip De-Luscious with SPF 25, which costs AUD $32.

Pricey: Even her comb was pricey, with Martha opting for a Mason Pearson Rake Comb valued at AUD $48

Priceless: Martha also carries a selection of supplements from JS Health Vitamins, including the Hair and Energy Formula valued at AUD $75 a bottle, the Detox Formula valued at AUD $45 a bottle and Omega 3 fish oil capsules, which cost AUD $40 a bottle

Snacks: Martha's bag also contained Lotus Biscoff cookies for a snack on the go

She also had two lipsticks, again from British brand Charlotte Tilbury - her Hyaluronic Happikiss lippies are valued at AUD $49 each.

A Mac lipstick in the shade Brox was next, valued at AUD $30, as well as a KKW Beauty lip liner from Kim Kardashian's range, priced at AUD $16.

Even her comb was pricey, with Martha opting for a Mason Pearson Rake Comb valued at AUD $48.

Martha's bag also contained a Sharpie pen, Lotus Biscoff cookies, chewing gum, and a vape pen, valued at around AUD $150.
The Middlesex County Prosecutors Office wont be filing criminal charges against a Carteret dog owner whose pit bulls attacked and killed a young boy, according to a letter written by the prosecutor.

Aziz Ahmed, 3, was killed earlier this month when two unregistered dogs broke into his backyard and attacked him and his mother as his older brother was present.

In the letter, Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said investigators did not uncover intentional, knowing, or reckless criminal conduct. The letter is dated March 23 and was sent to supporters of the Ahmed family who contacted her office.

In this case, based upon the information known at this time, it would appear as if no law has been violated. Thus, despite the well-intended demands for justice, no charges will presently be filed. Again, this decision is based upon the facts and evidence known to law enforcement at this time, she wrote.

Oma Morgan, a co-worker of Azizs father Tanveer, told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday that the news was devastating.

At a vigil on Sunday, Morgan and attendees called for lawmakers to pass a law in Azizs memory that would allow for the criminal prosecution of owners whose dogs cause fatal injury.

If there is no law, we will fight to make a law... Its unfair, Morgan said. They hold people accountable for jaywalking or letting a dog poop on your front lawn... that doesnt cost someone their life.

In a statement to NJ Advance Media, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, who represent the 19th district, which includes Carteret, said they plan to review existing laws in New Jersey regarding dog attacks.

Our sincerest, deepest sympathies go out to the family for the loss of their child in this unspeakable tragedy. No family should have to endure such pain. We will thoroughly review existing legislation and work with the sponsors on the best possible course of action, the statement says.

Carteret spokesman Jon Solanis previously said the only past incident with the dogs reported to police was Oct. 23, when the dogs were loose in the neighborhood.

However, Ciccone, in her letter, said the dogs showed no aggressive tendencies and were returned to the owners without incident.

In New Jersey, there is no criminal charge specific to a dog attack. If authorities believe charges are warranted, they have to fit the circumstances into existing laws against recklessly causing death or injury.

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.
Canada has imposed sanctions on two Russian individuals and four companies which are involved in the construction of the Crimean Bridge, the Canadian Foreign Ministry said.

"The Honorable Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced new sanctions against 2 individuals and 4 entities [...] in response to Russia's illegal occupation and annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Canada has sanctioned the First Crimean Insurance Company, Crimea Railway, Lenpromtransproyekt, the Berkakit-Tommot-Yakutsk Railway Line's Construction Directorate, Grand Service Express CEO Alexander Ganov, and StroyGazMontazh Deputy CEO for Infrastructure Projects Leonid Ryzhenkin.

These sanctions impose asset freezes and prohibitions on dealings in Canada.

Earlier, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the European Union imposed sanctions on these four companies, Ganov, and Ryzhenkin.
Education Chief Administrative Secretary Sarah Ruto addressing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education candidates at St.Peters Mumias Boys High School in Kakamega County on March 29.

School children could once again be forced to stay home longer following the indefinite Covid-19 containment measures President Kenyatta announced on Friday unless the current infection rate and spread of the disease are urgently brought under control.

The revised calendar that was released at the end of last year had scheduled schools to reopen on May 10.

However, the reopening might be delayed if the Covid-19 risk posed by the third wave remains high. The President did not indicate when the raft of stringent measures will be lifted.

"This wave is expected to peak in the next 30 days with more than 2,500 to 3,000 cases reported daily. Based on experience, this peak will flatten only by mid-May, which is about 60 days from now," the President said.

Schools had just closed when the President issued new orders that indefinitely restrict movement from and into Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado and Nakuru counties.

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education candidates are still in school going on with their exams. The ban on movement will be a challenge for teachers and learners who have to traverse some counties if the ban is not lifted before then.

Suspended physical learning

The President also suspended physical learning in all institutions "until otherwise notified". The only exceptions were candidates sitting their examinations and those in medical training institutions.

Yesterday, Basic Education PS Julius Jwan told the Nation that the ministry will analyse the Covid-19 situation in the country at the end of April to determine whether schools will open as scheduled or not.

Dr Jwan said they would consult Health ministry and the country's leadership towards the end of April. "Fortunately, we've a long window of time to make things better. It will be good if teachers, whom we have prioritised, get vaccinated," he said .

Vaccination of teachers is a priority since it has been observed that "the effect of the disease on young learners is extremely low," Dr Jwan said.

Teachers Service Commission has placed a list of 622 centres on its website where teachers can access the vaccine.

On Saturday, the University of Nairobi announced that all learning will take place online. It gave students up to Sunday to vacate the halls of residence. Students in the College of Health Services, however, remained to proceed with learning.

Curiously, the communication to students advised international students "to take advantage of the available international flights to go home," an indication the closure might take long.

The online platform

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology yesterday issued a circular suspending physical learning and transitioning to the online platform, but did not ask students to vacate the campus.

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"You are further advised to avoid conducting or participating in any physical meeting or gatherings. Ensure that you wear your face mask at all times while in the university campus," the circular reads.

Egerton University also suspended physical learning and switched to virtual learning to complete the semester and the continuous assessment tests.

"All students are advised to keep checking the University website regularly for updates and observe precautionary measures as per the Ministry of Health regulations during this period," a circular by the registrar (Academic) reads.

Last year, the pandemic exposed the higher institutions of learning lack of preparedness, especially the public ones, to offer learning virtually. Many of them lacked the infrastructure, while many lecturers lacked the needed technical skills for remote teaching.

Some students don't also have digital devices and cannot afford data bundles for online learning.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-29 22:36:49|Editor: huaxia

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Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Health and Social Development Alymkadyr Beishenaliev receives a shot of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, March 29, 2021. The first stage of a COVID-19 vaccination campaign using Chinese vaccines kicked off in Kyrgyzstan on Monday. Minister of Health and Social Development of the country Alymkadyr Beishenaliev and his deputies were the first who received the vaccination. (Photo by Roman/Xinhua)

BISHKEK, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The first stage of a COVID-19 vaccination campaign using Chinese vaccines kicked off in Kyrgyzstan on Monday.

Minister of Health and Social Development of the country Alymkadyr Beishenaliev and his deputies were the first who received the vaccination.

Director of the Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis of Kyrgyzstan Gulbara Ishenapisova told a briefing that the vaccination needs two jabs and is free of charge.

"Doctors of intensive care units, infectious diseases hospitals, ambulances working in the red zone, as well as teachers, border guards, customs officers, law enforcement and security officials will be vaccinated at the first stage," she added.

Nine vaccination centers have been deployed in Bishkek, Osh cities and Chui Oblast.

A batch of China's vaccines were delivered to Kyrgyzstan earlier this month. Prime Minister Ulukbek Maripov thanked the Chinese government for helping his country, stressing that China, having overcome its own difficulties with the virus, became one of the first countries to provide Kyrgyzstan with COVID-19 vaccines.

Maripov said that the vaccines from China have received wide recognition in the international community, and will greatly help the country in its pandemic fight. Enditem
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HMM container ship / Courtesy of Hyundai Merchant Marine



By Kim Hyun-bin



The Ever Given container ship has been dislodged, after blocking the Suez Canal for almost a week. But Korean shipping companies say that it will take some time for the canal to resume normal operations, as hundreds of global container ships are on standby for passage.



Global container shipping companies have been rerouting their ships towards the Cape of Good Hope since last week. South Korea's largest shipping company, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), decided to reroute four vessels while one ship is on standby near the Suez Canal.



Although the situation was resolved earlier than expected, there are hundreds of ships waiting near the canal, and experts believe it will take days to normalize operations there.







Published on 2021/03/29 | Source

Actors Song Seung-heon and Lee Ha-na have been cast for OCN's "Voice 4".

"Voice 4" is a thriller about the fierce records of 112 Reporting Center members who guard the golden time of a crime scene.

"Voice 4" features a killer who commits brutal crime with his superb ability to hear. It will portray the cooperation of a fundamentalist detective who does not allow compromise with a voice profiler who is cornered by a criminal with the same abilities as herself.

Song Seung-heon plays Derek Jo, the head of the LAPD gang exclusive and a cooperative detective on the Golden Time team. He is a principled detective who saves lives at the scene of death.

Lee Ha-na has played voice profiler Kang Kwon-joo in the previous season. After the death of her second partner, Do Kang-woo, she suffered from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), but she endured pain until the end and consolidated her position as leader.

"Voice 4" will be aired for the first time in June.
Austria will provide Ukraine with EUR 1.5 million for the implementation of humanitarian projects in Donbas, Ukraine's Ambassador to Austria Oleksandr Scherba said.

"I thank the Austrian government for providing EUR 1.5 million for the implementation of humanitarian projects in Donbas. The East of Ukraine knows and appreciates the activities of the Austrian humanitarian organizations Caritas, Global2000 and others, whose assistance has been received by the population of the regions affected by Russian aggression for a long time. The new financial aid package will reduce the suffering of the people. This is a great thing. Thank you!" wrote Scherba on his Facebook page on Tuesday.

In addition, the diplomat pointed out that introducing this package, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg spoke of Ukraine as "the biggest hot spot of the European continent, which must not be forgotten," and not as "Europe's biggest problem."
PARIS (Reuters) - France will not let hospitals to be in a situation where they have to choose which patients to treat, amid a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, Health Minister Olivier Veran told parliament on Tuesday.

"We will not let doctors be in a situation where they have to choose among patients," Veran said.

Veran said the next 24-48 hours would be key in assessing the impact of measures taken 10 days ago to limit the spread of highly contagious variants and that the government was ready to take additional measures if necessary.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Geert de Clercq; Editing by Alison Williams)
Marilyn Reece, the lead bakery clerk at a Kroger in Batesville, Miss., started noticing more customers walking around the store without masks this month after the state mandate to wear face coverings was repealed. Kroger still requires them, but that doesnt seem to matter.

When Ms. Reece, a 56-year-old breast-cancer survivor, sees those shoppers, she prays. Please, please, dont let me have to wait on them, because in my heart, I dont want to ignore them, I dont want to refuse them, she said. But then Im thinking I dont want to get sick and die, either. Its not that people are bad, but you dont know who theyve come into contact with.

Ms. Reeces heightened anxiety is shared by retail and fast-food workers in states like Mississippi and Texas, where governments have removed mask mandates before a majority of people have been vaccinated and while troubling new variants of the coronavirus are appearing. It feels like a return to the early days of the pandemic, when businesses said customers must wear masks but there was no legal requirement and numerous shoppers simply refused. Many workers say that their stores do not enforce the requirement, and that if they do approach customers, they risk verbal or physical altercations.

Its given a great false sense of security, and its no different now than it was a year ago, said Ms. Reece, who is not yet able to receive a vaccine because of allergies. The only difference we have now is people are getting vaccinated but enough people havent gotten vaccinated that they should have lifted the mandate.
Noida: Seven people, including a software engineer, committed suicide within 24 hours in Noida. The cases were unrelated and the police have started investigation into each of them.

In most of the cases, the cause is being described as depression according to the police.

Among the dead was software engineer Tabrez Khan, aged 45 years, who lived in Ajnara Heritage Society, located in the Sector-39 police station area. He hanged himself from the fan of his house. He worked in a Gurugram-based company. He had recently prepared a project for his company, which was rejected and due to this, he was under a lot of stress.

In a separate case, a 20-year-old girl named Parthavi Chandra, who lived in Aldico Invitation Society, Sector-119 hanged herself from the fan on Monday night. She died in the hospital during treatment.

In a third case, a 40-year-old woman, Geeta Devi, who lived in Wajidpur village also committed suicide on Monday night.

In the fourth incident, Bhima (28), living in Loharli village of Thana Dadri area, committed suicide.

In yet another case, Dharmendra Mishra (40), living in Baraula village of Thana Sector-49 area, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the fan due to mental stress.

The sixth case involved the suicide of Prakash Haldar (30), who lived in the police station Sector-20 area.

In the seventh case, a man named Satpal, who lived in Sector 49, killed himself allegedly due to mental stress.

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Editors Note: This story and its headline have been updated to replace incorrect data provided by the Coast Guard regarding the number of first vaccine doses administered. The story has also been updated to correct the number of Coast Guard personnel who died from COVID-19.

More than two-thirds of the Coast Guard''s total workforce, including active-duty, Reserve and civilian personnel, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and roughly 35% are fully vaccinated, service officials said Monday.

The smallest of the armed services, with 58,197 service members and civilian workers, the Coast Guard has been closely tracking its COVID-19 cases and shots, according to Lt. Cmdr. Brittany Panetta, a service spokeswoman.

As of Monday, the service had administered 30,192 first doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, and 20,095 personnel had been fully vaccinated.

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"The Coast Guard COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan is implementing a phased, standardized, and coordinated strategy for prioritizing, distributing, and administering this vaccine to protect our people, maintain readiness, and support the national COVID-19 response," Panetta said in an email to Military.com on Monday.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Coast Guard has logged 2,832 cases of COVID-19 among its active-duty and Reserve members, or 6.1% of the uniformed force. That is significantly lower than the 9.2% overall infection rate for the general U.S. population.

Earlier this month, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz attributed the service's success in addressing the coronavirus threat to its "agile and adaptive" force and families.

He noted that some units swiftly rolled out surveillance testing or switched to online training while facilities adapted to provide services to members and families in a pandemic environment.

Cutter crews also adhered to strict quarantine conditions to ensure they remained operational, Schultz said. On the Coast Guard National Security Cutter Stone, some crewmembers isolated themselves for two weeks on seven different occasions.

"To keep crews healthy and COVID free, cutters deployed without port calls or shoreside liberty. Our deployed forces had to be incredibly resilient and creative to get the job done, to maintain morale, and to stay safe," Schultz said March 11.

While no uniformed Coast Guard members have succumbed to the illness, three civilian employees have died, according to the service.

As of Monday, the Defense Department had recorded 265,825 cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, including military personnel, dependents, civilian employees and contractors; 325 have died, including 24 uniformed service members.

According to the Pentagon, 9.1% of the Army's active and reserve forces have tested positive for COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, or 61,414 members; 9.5% of the Marine Corps has had COVID-19, or 20,600 members; 8.8% of the Navy has tested positive, or 35,814 sailors; and 29,401 airmen, or 7.2% of active-duty and Reserve Air Force members, have tested positive.

As of Friday, more than 600,000 active-duty, Guard or Reserve DoD service members had received at least one vaccination, roughly 30% of the uniformed force, Defense Health Agency Director Lt. Gen. Ronald Place said.

The vaccine is not mandatory for military personnel. DoD officials said Friday they are working hard to educate service members and families on the vaccine and expect that everyone will have an opportunity to be vaccinated by July 1.

"We do fully expect to be open to all ... of our DoD-eligible populations on or before the first of May. And at current uptake rates for those who ... want to get it, we think by the middle of July or so, again, assuming the vaccine supply continues as it is, and assuming nothing else takes away from our ... vaccinators," Place said.

Panetta said the service will continue to offer and administer doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as it receives them.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Lawmakers Want to Give Coast Guard Full Voting Rights on the Joint Chiefs of Staff
North Korea called South Koreas president a parrot raised by America" Tuesday, resuming its trademark derisive rhetoric against its rivals amid renewed animosities on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued the latest verbal salvo after South Korean President Moon Jae-in criticized the Norths ballistic missile launches last week. She said Moons illogical and brazen-faced" comments echoed the US stance.

We can hardly repress astonishment at his shamelessness," Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by the North's state media. He cannot feel sorry for being praised as a parrot raised by America."

The United States, South Korea and the United Nations all condemned the North's missile launches, the first of their kind in a year, as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

On Saturday, Ri Pyong Chol, a top deputy to Kim Jong Un, called President Joe Bidens criticism of the Norths missile tests a provocation and encroachment on the Norths right to self-defense. Ri said it was gangster-like logic" for Washington to criticize the Norths launches while the US freely tested intercontinental ballistic missiles.

North Korea has a history of using colorfully harsh insults against rivals.

Before entering now-stalled nuclear talks with the United States in 2018, Kim Jong Un called then President Donald Trump the mentally deranged US dotard" after Trump called him a little rocket man."

In 2019, North Korea called Biden, then a presidential hopeful, a rabid dog" and a fool of low IQ" when it criticized his comments about its leadership.

Some experts say North Koreas recent missile launches and tough language are meant to increase pressure on the Biden administration as its shaping its policy on North Korea. They say North Korea eventually wants the United States to relax sanctions on the North while accepting it as a nuclear weapons state.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Retired Admiral James Stavridis spent 37 years in the military serving in NATO and as head of the US Southern Command. He has spent his career dealing with the worlds great naval powers. VOAs Jela de Franceschi spoke with him about the current state of affairs between Beijing and Washington.]
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Kocharian as well as two retired generals are prosecuted under Article 300.1 of the Armenian Criminal Code dealing with overthrow of the constitutional order. The accusation rejected by them as politically motivated stems from the 2008 post-election unrest in Yerevan that left ten people dead.

The current Criminal Code was enacted in 2009. The previous code, which was in force during the dramatic events of March 2008, had no clauses relating to overthrow of the constitutional order and contained instead references to usurpation of state power.

Kocharians legal team appealed to the Constitutional Court in 2019, saying that Article 300.1 cannot be used retroactively against the ex-president. A judge who initially presided over Kocharians high-profile trial also asked the high court to pass judgment on the legality of the accusation.

In a March 26 ruling, the court backed the defense lawyers arguments. It said that the prosecutors recourse to Article 300.1 runs counter to the Armenian constitution.

The Office of the Prosecutor-General has still not reacted to the ruling.

Anna Danibekian, the current presiding judge, said on Tuesday that she has received a letter from a prosecutor asking her to adjourn the trial until April 6. Danibekian said he informed her that the prosecution needs time to submit an extensive petition in connection with the Constitutional Courts decision.

The judge went on to announce that the trial will resume on April 2. Kocharians lawyers criticized the decision, saying that she should have put an end to the coup trial instead.

In effect, our client is still prosecuted under a Criminal Code article that does not exist anymore  You must have stopped his prosecution by now, one of them, Hayk Alumian, told Danibekian.

Do you realize just how seriously you are breaking the law? Alumian charged.

Kocharian, who ruled Armenia from 1998-2008, also stands accused of bribe-taking. He strongly denies that accusation as well.

The 66-year-old ex-president has been at loggerheads with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians government ever since it took office in May 2018. He was first arrested in July 2018. He was twice freed and twice rearrested before Armenias Court of Appeals released him on bail in June 2020.

Kocharian announced his return to active politics shortly after the first arrest. He declared in January that he and his political allies will participate in snap parliamentary elections expected later this year. He said they will be Pashinians main challengers.
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ZURICH, March 30 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmakers Roche and Novartis each won European approval for drugs on Tuesday in a sign that the rival Basel-based companies are increasingly competing for the same patients.

Roche's Evrysdi, already approved in the United States, gained backing from the European Commission for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), where Novartis's $2.1 million per patient gene therapy Zolgensma has become the treatment of choice for infants diagnosed with the genetic, muscle-wasting disease.

Separately, Novartis's Kesimpta, also with U.S. approval, won European regulators' blessing in multiple sclerosis, where Novartis hopes to lure patients away from Roche's $4 billion seller Ocrevus. The two drugs work similarly, though Novartis's Kesimpta is a shot, while Ocrevus is an infusion.

That the companies' drugs overlap is no coincidence: Roche for several years has been expanding beyond the cancer treatments that were for years its mainstay, while Novartis under Chief Executive Vas Narasimhan has sold off over-the-counter medicines to focus on specialty prescription treatments that command higher prices.

Both Evrysdi and Kesimpta are forecast as blockbuster treatments, to reap more than $1 billion annually.

Evrysdi was approved for treating SMA in patients two months of age and older, with a clinical diagnosis of SMA Type 1, Type 2 or Type 3 or with one to four SMN2 copies, Roche said.

Evrysdi and Novartis's Zolgensma are already taking away sales from Biogen's rival treatment Spinraza, whose U.S. sales in the final quarter of 2020 fell by more than a third. (Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; Editing by Michael Shields and Louise Heavens)
LONDON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A global leader in online multi-asset trading services, currency data and analytics, OANDA Global Corporation has completed its acquisition of leading Polish broker, Dom Maklerski TMS Brokers SA (TMS). The purchase was approved by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority earlier this week.

Gavin Bambury, Chief Executive Officer of OANDA, said, "The TMS acquisition marks the start of an exciting new era of growth for OANDA, creating scale in the Polish market while allowing us to further extend our footprint throughout the Baltics and Eastern Europe. In addition, the purchase will also enable us to strengthen our end-to-end offering, benefiting clients all over the world. We're very much looking forward to welcoming the TMS team to OANDA."

"Backed by a world-class brand and a legacy of integrity, OANDA has long combined a passion for innovation with ground-breaking technology in order to deliver an exemplary online trading experience for clients all over the world. As such, we're delighted to be joining the OANDA family at such an exciting time in the firm's 25-year history," said TMS CEO, Marcin Niewiadomski.

The oldest multi-asset broker in Poland, TMS enables clients to invest in the global financial markets, providing access to thousands of products including currencies, indices, commodities, equities, cryptocurrencies and exchange-traded funds from the world's major exchanges. In addition, the firm provides clients with access to experienced advisors, reliable education and innovative trading tools, earning several key awards over the years.

Meanwhile, OANDA combines cutting-edge trading technology and institutional-grade execution across a wide range of asset classes, enabling clients to trade global market indices, commodities, treasuries, precious metals and currencies on one of the fastest trading platforms in the market. The firm remains committed to helping clients become successful self-directed traders, providing an award-winning education program, up-to-the-minute market commentary and a host of advanced charting applications and trading tools.

"I am convinced that TMS, with its strong position in Poland and a deep product and service offering, will fit perfectly well in the global technology-driven OANDA Group and wish the management of OANDA and TMS all the best in their common growth journey," said Artur Haze, Managing Partner of ForeVest Capital.

The TMS acquisition represents OANDA's second investment in Poland in the last year. In early 2020, the firm established a shared services centre in Krakow that currently employs almost 100 people.

Bambury continued, "Part of an ambitious growth plan, the TMS deal is just the first in a number of strategic acquisitions we're looking to complete as we continue to strengthen our reputation as one of the world's most trusted retail trading firms 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. TMS Brokers is wholly-owned by OANDA Global Corporation. For more information, please visit www.tms.pl.

About ForeVest



ForeVest has invested over USD1.2 billion in investments in CEE and manages over USD 200 million in other assets in emerging markets. The team has completed more than 20 transactions and will continue to seek to partner with entrepreneurs and management teams, specialising in control investments in promising mid-market companies. ForeVest has offices in Warsaw, Bucharest and New York.



SOURCE OANDA

Related Links

http://www.oanda.com/


Bir Lahlou  President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Brahim Ghali, expressed his sincere condolences to his Egyptian counterpart, Mr. Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, over the victims of a train collision in the Egyptian governorate of Sohag.

"We have received in the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, with great sadness and sorrow, the news of the painful and terrible collision of two trains that took place in Sohag Governorate," said the President of the Republic.

"On this painful occasion, I offer on my behalf and on behalf of the Government and people of the Sahrawi Government and people my sincere condolences to you, to all the families of the victims and to the Arab Republic of Egypt," he added.
WASHINGTON  Children from 6 months up to 12 years old could soon start getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Phoenix as part of a trial of the drugs effectiveness on young people.

Drug-maker Moderna announced this week that Phoenix will be one of the cities where it will test smaller doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, which has currently only been approved for adult use, on preteens. The company has already started trials of the vaccine on teenagers.

While children have proven to be less susceptible to the disease, health experts say its important to have the option of a vaccine for younger kids as schools reopen and to improve the odds of herd immunity for the overall population.

The reason we want to make sure that all of these kids get vaccinated is so we can truly achieve herd immunity. We dont want to have little pockets of people who might be infectious and not be protected, said Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, director of the American Public Health Association.

The preteen trials were announced Tuesday by Moderna, one of three pharmaceutical companies with vaccines approved for emergency use in adults in the U.S., along with Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson. Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two doses, while the newer Johnson & Johnson vaccine has a one-dose protocol.

The announcement came the same day that the Arizona Department of Health Services announced that just over 1 million Arizonans have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Overall, the state has administered about 2.6 million doses to a little more than 1.6 million people.

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statement that more than 53 million doses of his companys version of the vaccine have been administered in the U.S., but this pediatric study will help us assess the potential safety and immunogenicity of our COVID-19 vaccine candidate in this important younger age population. The statement said the new trials would take place in the U.S. and Canada.

Dr. Steven Plimpton, the lead investigator for the Phoenix trial, said Tuesday that his office has already gotten hundreds of calls from parents interested in getting their children into the trial. He said parents interested in the trial in Phoenix can go the KidCOVE site for more information or can call 602-368-1928 or 866-913-5454.

One University of Arizona expert said it will likely take a little while to get the trials in motion.

I would say sometime in the next several weeks, as they get recruitment on board and they have a critical mass to start with and they have all of the aspects of the trial set up in terms of location, staffing, and everything that they need in place, said Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health and prevention at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

Moderna said that children in the first phase of the trial will receive doses of 25, 50 or 100 micrograms of the vaccine  an adult dose is 100  depending on their age. Results from that phase will be used to determine dosages in a second phase when come subjects will get a placebo.

Ultimately, Moderna expects to include 6,750 children in the latest trials.

The adult dose for the Moderna is 100 micrograms, but they are starting with 25 micrograms and then basically watching folks and kids to see how they react, Marvasti said. If that looks good and there are no major issues, then they will have a group of kids in the study with 50 micrograms and then if that looks okay they will have another group that has 100 micrograms.

He added that Modernas trust that the vaccine is safe enough to begin trials on kids could have the added benefit of helping to quell vaccine hesitancy among others.

Hopefully, depending on the results, it will help give people more confidence to get the vaccine, especially if it proves to be as safe and effective in children as it has been in adults, Marvasti said.

The announcement of the preteen trials also comes as the state has ordered schools to begin to resume in-person schooling, after a year in which most students have attended class virtually.

Benjamin said that with schools reopening, in Arizona and across the U.S., a vaccine for youth would make a definite difference in controlling the virus, as it would prevent kids from spreading it to each other and then bringing it home with them. Vaccination would also expedite kids ability to return to normal

Getting kids vaccinated, I think, will certainly improve their quality of life and their ability to effectively interact with their friends, he said.

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
As always, the intention is noble. When the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP), inviting bids for the creation of a National Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS) last year, it held that its main purposes were to find missing children, spot criminals by collating data from other existing databases, and identify unclaimed corpses.

But heres the problemthe faces of children change over time, criminals tend to hide their facial features when they are about to commit a crime, and bodies decompose.

This can be surmounted, says the NCRB. The system will provide matches by predicting facial modifications such as plastic surgery, aged image, bearded faces, make-up, expression, hair-style, glasses, scar marks and tattoos.

Which begs the questionjust how accurate will these predictions be, given how many of us share similar features, from hooked noses to large ears.

And just how intrusive is it? With a budget of over Rs. 300 crore to create a national database of photographs, and multiple drafts of the proposalwhich first said it would automatically collect information from the millions of CCTV cameras installed across the country, and then reworded it to state that the data sources would be scenes of crime images or videos (also known as CCTV cameras installed across the country)no one really knows.

Citing crime, particularly against women, as the reason, police departments are multiplying the number of CCTV cameras they operate. The Delhi Police announced it would set up 300,000 more in addition to the 250,000 currently under its control. One of the sources for the AFRS will be police department databases.

We are already being monitored without our consent. Globally, retailers use their in-store cameras to read the expressions of customers and gain an insight into their reactions to products. Well, one can evade that by shopping onlineexcept that we are being monitored there too, and one often gets an alert that the browser is using the mobile phone camera. And soon, we may not even know we are being watched, because cameras dont have to look like cameras anymorethey could look like earphones.

With the global facial recognition market set to expand to a $9.6 million dollar business by 2022, there is no shortage of players. And with governments outsourcing data collection and enlisting retailers who already operate their own surveillance, its a free-for-all.

Two years ago, Amazon decided to outsource the use of its facial recognition software, Rekognition, to the police, sparking nationwide fury in the USonly for Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon Web Services, to defend regulation by the police.

When a computer decided all black men looked alike in January 2020, leading to the first acknowledged case of wrongful arrest through facial recognition in the US, several Silicon Valley giants, including Amazon, Microsoft and IBM backtracked. But then these giants are small players in the facial recognition software industry, whose actual leaders are non-household-names like Vigilance Solutions, Rank One Computing and NEC.

In India, state and central governments have boasted of their efficiency in tracking protesters by using driving licence and voter identity databases. Thousands of arrests were made for rioting, seemingly ignoring the fact that we have a constitutional right to peaceful assembly and cannot be considered criminals without legal evidence of having committed a crime.

While hearing the Justice K S Puttaswamy (Retd) case in 2017, the Supreme Court held that Article 21 of Indian Constitution which ensures right to life and personal liberty, and that privacy is a fundamental right even in public places. The Information Technology Act, 2000, terms biometric data sensitive personal data and sets out rules for the collection, disclosure and sharing of such information.

And yet, we have the Telangana police patting itself on the back for its use of surveillance to increase the conviction rate for criminal violations, and even said it was able to track people suspected of COVID-19 infection through Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) used facial recognition to match admit card photos with the students logging in, purportedly to avoid cheatingbut without any additional consent from the examinees or their parents, despite most of the former being minors.

We are being monitored without our consent, and often without our knowledge. But there is little recourse to law, because there are no legal safeguards in place about the use of facial recognition software.

The Internet Freedom Forum (IFF) sent a notice to the NCRB, demanding how they could introduce a system that violated the Supreme Court verdict. In response, the NCRB sent a vague note, citing the Cabinet Note of 2009, which envisage(s) six specialised solutionsignoring the fact that a Cabinet note has no legal standing, let alone enough weight to overrule a Supreme Court verdict.

Our facial features are scanned through a plethora of devices, with and without consent, from transport department databases to social networks to random police checks.

A few days ago, my car was stopped by the Election Commission of Tamil Nadu for a surprise checkthe car and I were photographed without consent, and one of the personnel made to open the door without wearing a face mask. It was, thankfully, locked. The police wanted my phone number as wellall this despite having searched my car and found nothing worth suspecting. I asked to see the identity proofs of the police personnel before I allowed them to search the car, and they seemed surprisedand offended. But with police uniforms available at any costume store, what would stop criminals from posing as law enforcement authorities and collecting data, which a skilled hack could turn into a precious resource?

The IFF has raised questions about the consequences of false positive and false negative matches. With draconian laws in place that allow detention before being produced in court, personal vendetta could turn into a rights violation.

There is enough precedent in other countries.

China deploys AI for a controversial Social Credit System, and allegedly using facial recognition to track Uighur Muslims and pro-democracy protesters. Four years ago, Israeli firm Faception claimed its software could identify inclination to acts of terrorism and other deviant behaviour by reading faces.

How long before our own Big Brother adopts these methods?

More Columns by Nandini Krishnan:

Of celibates, temples, and kisses

Covid 19: The paranoia is important

Hathras: The power of silence

How could we not lose Kashmir?

SPB: A personal loss



Nandini is the author of Invisible Men: Inside India's Transmasculine Networks (2018) and Hitched: The Modern Woman and Arranged Marriage (2013). She tweets @k_nandini. Her website is: www.nandinikrishnan.com
City

 Karina R. Corter, 27, 7884 Eades Road, Wolcott, was charged March 26 with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a mislabeled dangerous drug.

 Sabrina E. Edwards, 50, 19 Galen St., Clyde, was picked up on a bench warrant March 28.

 Jeremy D. Gregory, 34, 75 Columbus St., Auburn, was charged March 29 with misapplication of property.

 Ashley L. Snow, 36, 7 Barber St., Auburn, was picked up on a bench warrant March 28.

 Carlos E. Villalba, 44, 52 West St., Apt. B, Auburn, was charged March 28 with criminal obstruction of breathing.

County

 Dylan A. Hulslander, 23, 11333 Route 90, Locke, was picked up on a bench warrant March 27.

 Paul B. Genovese, 36, 612 Levitt St., Rome, was charged March 28 with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

 Chloe N. Glen, 30, PO Box 15403, Syracuse, was charged March 29 with resisting arrest, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration and second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana.
Despite continued robust agency mergers and acquisitions activity, the number of independent insurance agencies has remained stable at 36,000, a number slightly below the last tally of 36,500 in 2018.

Thats according to the 2020 Agency Universe Study from Future One, a collaboration of the Big I (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America) and major independent agency companies.

Bob Rusbuldt, Big I president and CEO, said the survey reveals good news for the independent agency system, including the continued adaption of digital innovations by agents. Business conditions continued to improve in 2019, the survey shows, although at a slower rate than 2018.

Due to the pandemic, the study was halted in its traditional fielding time in March and re-started in September.

Independent Agents Seek Digital, Product Support From Carriers to Battle Direct Writers Agents, Brokers and the Future of Insurance Distribution Nationwides Transition to Independent Agency Insurance Company Complete Insurance Agency M&A Deals Surged 20% in Year of Pandemic: OPTIS

The study also reveals areas agencies should focus on to better prepare for the future. Women and people of color continue to be underrepresented as agency principals, and the Big I is committed to continuing its outreach efforts to address this issue so agencies can serve all insurance consumers better, said Rusbuldt.

Madelyn Flannagan, Big I vice president of agent development, education and research, said that while overall their agencies have fared well during the last year, agents do have concerns.

In particular, as agencies express concern over emerging purchase channels threatening their consumer segment, the study revealed how crucial adaptation to social media and digital marketing strategies are key to agency success, she said.

(According to another recent study, the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Independent Agent Performance and Satisfaction Study, agents said that digital support could improve their satisfaction. Specific digital tools cited by agents focus on sales and product training and identification of cross-sell opportunities. Though these digital offerings are associated with high levels of agent satisfaction, they are used by fewer than 60% of agents.

Also, a survey last year of 700 agencies and brokerages by Applied Systems found that little more than half (51%) of independent insurance agencies and brokerages say they have some sort of digital strategy in place, with larger firms more likely than smaller to have one. While 51% said they have some sort of digital strategy, the average digital technology adoption score is 44%- nearly the same as in 2019. Agencies have moved into digital more in personal than commercial and they have continued to increase their use of mobile apps, according to the survey results.)

Selected findings from the 2020 Agency Universe Study include:

Business conditions remain favorable but growth slows. Business conditions continue to improve. The majority of agencies (70%) report increases in total revenue between 2018 and 2019, with an average increase of 20%. However, this is slightly lower than in 2018 when 76% reported an increase, with average increases of 25%. Agencies are slightly more likely to report increases in personal lines revenue (67%) than commercial lines (63%).

Emerging purchase channels remain a concern. The impact of emerging purchase channels remains a concern, with 35% of agencies believing personal lines direct purchase through the insurance company will have a significant impact on their agency over the next two yearsand 27% believing the same issue will emerge with non-insurance website purchases. Approximately 1 in 4 express similar concerns about small commercial direct purchase or purchase through emerging online providers.

Inclusion continues to be a challenge. Women and people of color continue to be underrepresented in the independent agency universe. Forty-two percent of agency principals are women. Nearly 9 in 10 of agency principals are white. Larger agencies are especially likely to have male principal or senior managers. However, newer agencies are more likely to have at least one African American principal (12% versus 5% of established agencies).

Principal aging remains consistent. The aging of the independent agency universe is consistent with 2018 findings as the average age of agency principals is 55 years old, with 17% age 66 or older. Agencies may be starting to consider perpetuation planning. Nine in 10 have a perpetuation plan (on par with 2018), though it often centers around children and family. Four in 10 anticipate some ownership change in the next five years.

Social media and digital marketing strategies are key. All the top marketing strategies cited in 2020 are digital: social media and digital marketing (58%), creating and maintaining the agency website (49%), portal technology on the agency site (30%), search engine optimization (30%), and e-marketing activities (20%).

The study looks at statistics about independent agencies operating in the U.S., including their numbers, revenue base and sources, number of employees, ownership, mix of business, diversification of products, technology uses, non-insurance income sources and marketing methods.

The study also includes survey questions related to COVID-19s impact on the independent agency channel, the results for which have been released separately.

Source: Big I

Topics Agencies Trends
Jason Evans, PhD, executive director of the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience (IWER) at Stetson University, is the lead author of the Monroe County Watershed Management Plan. The watershed management plan provides Monroe County with a very comprehensive inventory of its vulnerabilities for current and future flood risks associated with storm surge and sea-level rise.

For nearly three years, the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience (IWER) at Stetson University assisted Monroe County in the Florida Keys with its watershed management plan.

Jason Evans, PhD, executive director of IWER, is the lead author of the Monroe County Watershed Management Plan. His efforts paid off for more than 14,000 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders in unincorporated Monroe County, who received a Community Rating System (CRS) Class 3 rating and 35% premium discount on their flood insurance, which begins on April 1, 2022.

The watershed management plan provides Monroe County with a very comprehensive inventory of its vulnerabilities for current and future flood risks associated with storm surge and sea-level rise, said Evans.

Watershed management plans, especially for coastal areas, are typically quite difficult to develop, added Evans, who is also an associate professor of environmental science and studies at Stetson University. Monroe County could not have achieved a CRS Class 3 rating without this project.

The more than $300,000 project was funded by a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Management Program; South Atlantic Sea Grant programs in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and Monroe County, including the community of Islamorada, Village of Islands.

This partnerships funded project was established to increase information sharing and the reach and value of collaborative resilience programming in southeastern coastal communities, said Charles Sidman, PhD, associate director for research at Florida Sea Grant. Monroe Countys achievement for improving its Community Rating System classification and yielding significant flood insurance savings for homeowners is one example of how a participating community has benefited from a regional partnership.

A watershed or land area channels rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, rivers and streams, and eventually drains to other bodies of water like bays, reservoirs and the ocean.

Watershed management plans provide cities and counties with information and a strategy for achieving water resource goals.

During the watershed management plan project, Evans worked closely with Monroe Countys staff, a consulting team, Florida Sea Grant personnel and numerous Environmental Science and Studies Department students at Stetson to inventory a wide variety of current and future floodplain risks within the county. This included impact models of sea-level rise, storm surge and changing habitats undergoing different climate-change scenarios as well as categorizing risks to critical infrastructure, roads and private property.

The impact models were created by using geographic information systems (GIS) technology. Clearview Geographics CEO and President and Stetson alumnus Alex Zelenski, who has a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and geography, assisted Evans and played a pivotal role in the GIS model development and map-making process. He also is credited as a second author of the Monroe County Watershed Management Plan.

Infrastructure components of stormwater drainage systems were also evaluated, which included catch basins, manholes, injection wells and trench drains. These essential elements will help protect developed areas of unincorporated Monroe County and the watershed from flooding, but require careful long-term assessment and maintenance.

The watershed management plan and other flood mitigation measures taken by Monroe County government officials should reduce flooding to residential property, said Evans. This project helped raise awareness and assisted policymakers with the implementation of forward-thinking regulations and programs that went above and beyond the minimum regulatory requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program.

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.


President Muhammadu Buhari has met with the senate president, Ahmed Lawal and speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, over the supplementary budget that will cover the cost of purchasing new equipment to fight insecurity .

Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, Lawan said they met with the president over supplementary budget that will cover for the COVID-19 vaccination.

He said, "You know, it's one government where the executive and legislature are working together and we have come to meet with Mr. President, to discuss issues of serious national concern. And one of those issues is the issue of the supplementary budget. Both executive and legislative arms believe that we should have supplementary budget to provide for funding of the COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, as well as the security, providing more resources and platforms to our security agencies.

"And today, I'm sure in Nigeria, there are no more grave issues than COVID-19 and the security situation in the country. And I want to take this opportunity to say that the security situation is gradually improving. And I'm sure that when we will give more resources to our security agencies, we will see an even faster recovery of our situation."
ADDIS ABABA- Ethiopian Embassy in Doha, Qatar hosted yesterday a virtual Ethiopian Business Workshop that aims to attract Qatari businesses in Ethiopia's untapped investment potential whilst due emphasis is given to agri-business and agro-processing sectors, the Embassy's press communique disclosed.

The Embassy stated that the workshop is a good opportunity to both the government and private sector of Qatar to enhance their involvement in Ethiopia's wider investment alternatives. "Particularly, the huge investment potential in agri-business and agro-processing will serve the interests of both nations."

The Embassy further noted that the exhibition also highlighted the Ethio- Qatar economic ties, the major business opportunities in Ethiopia and the incentive packages to foreign investors.

Accordingly, the Ethiopian government offers incentives in different segments, bids, income tax exemption up to 10 years, corporate income tax exemption with additional two to four years exemption depending on sector of engagement.

Also, the government of Ethiopia provides 30 percent deduction for three consecutive years in the underdeveloped states, additional of two years tax exemption of 60 percent for exportation within and outside the industrial parks.

Ethiopia is one of the top 10 leading investment destinations in Africa and it has a huge and attractive investment potential in agriculture, service, trade, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors among many others.

By the same token, Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in the world with 70 percent of productive population and educated and trained workforce. With a prosperous and dynamic Ethiopian market, the country is promoting trade and investment to attract FDI to boost exports and generate employment.

Meanwhile, the diplomatic mission invited Qatari companies to invest in Ethiopia, to import Ethiopian products, to visit various tourist attractions, to enjoy the magnificent weather and natural beauties and cultural diversities of Ethiopia.

It was stated that the Embassy is partnered with a Doha-based consulting firm, KON Group to host this year's second edition of the workshop.
As the industry pivots away from targeting based on IDs and personal data, brands need to find new ways to drive key business outcomes through personalized and high-performing digital advertising. Indeed recent research* has revealed that 78% of senior marketers are concerned or very concerned by the loss of cookies, whilst 61% feel the same about the disappearance of IDFAs. When questioned about what concerned them the most, 37% cited that it was a combination of factors including, the ability to effectively plan intelligent campaign strategies, run targeted and personalized campaigns at scale and effectively measure campaign performance.

Blis is tackling this challenge head on by leveraging its prowess in the location-based advertising space. It will now combine location data with hundreds of aggregated and anonymized behavioral and lifestyle signals, building a more complete picture of a brand's customers, to reach them at scale in a privacy-first way.

Blis' new suite of privacy-first products

Launching in key global markets, Audience Explorer is a visual, interactive tool that enables brands to discover what makes their customers' unique, build richer media plans and deliver better outcomes. Audience Explorer is powered by precise and directly-observed location behaviors from Blis' huge global opted-in panel. Armed with this deep customer understanding, Blis will then use it's new Dynamic Audience Targeting to reach personalized audiences at scale, using a variety of rich, anonymized signals, from lifestyle characteristics and affinities through to shopping and spending habits  all without reliance on personal data. These new offerings will enable the world's largest brands and media agencies to continue to deliver key campaign outcomes through personalized and scalable targeting, despite the reduction of IDFAs and the death of the cookie.

Greg Isbister, CEO, Blis comments "Our industry is at a major inflection point, with significant changes impacting every single part of digital advertising as we know it today.

"We have been investing heavily in technology to address the requirements of advertisers to reach consumers at scale while not having to rely on personal identifiers, such as third party cookies or mobile device identifiers. This new technology will fundamentally change the way our clients plan, buy and target personalized audiences at scale to deliver against their key outcomes."

Blis client, Sophie Strong, Head of Display and Social, Wavemaker adds "We always want to work with partners like Blis who help us proactively navigate key industry topics. Blis' new privacy-first targeting methodology provides a truly innovative solution to a pressing challenge."

*Blis client survey, with 109 respondents, conducted in February 2021.

Note: Audience Explorer and Dynamic Audience Targeting are launching in the US, UK and Australia. They will launch in Italy, Singapore and the Netherlands in the coming months.

About Blis

Blis is the leading privacy-first, location-powered programmatic advertising partner. We deliver accurate targeting at scale without reliance on personal data, helping the world's largest brands and media agencies drive key business outcomes through personalized and high-performing digital advertising.

Blis uses real-world and online data, as well as behavior and lifestyle indicators, to profile and understand audiences better than anyone else. Using a huge opted-in global planning and measurement panel and taking an aggregated and anonymous approach to audience targeting, Blis reaches precise audiences at scale without reliance on personal data.

Established in the UK in 2004, Blis now operates in more than 40 offices across five continents. Working with the world's largest and most customer-driven companies across all verticals including Unilever, Samsung, McDonald's, HSBC, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot, as well as every major media agency, Blis reaches over a billion mobile devices a year.

To learn more, visit blis.com .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1476364/Blis_Audience_Explorer_USA.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1229979/Blis_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Blis
Tunis/Tunisia  On the 45th anniversary of Land Day, Tunisia once again called on the international community to shoulder their role in protecting the rights of the Palestinian people against the repressive policies of the Israeli entity.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tunisia stresses the need to end the Israeli settlement plan, denouncing the policy of the "fait accompli" led by Israel and its violation of international resolutions.

Tunisia reaffirms its steadfast position for the Palestinian cause and its unwavering support for the Palestinians in their struggle to end long decades of injustice and regain their legitimate right to freedom and a decent life.

The commemoration of the 45th anniversary of Land Day is an opportunity to immortalise the struggle of the valiant Palestinian people, their resistance and bravery in defending their unalienable rights, the statement said.

The Palestinian people observe the Land Day on March 30 each year, to reaffirm their commitment to their identity and their territories and to denounce the ongoing Israeli appropriation of the Palestinian lands.

Protest actions are staged in commemoration of the death of six Palestinians martyred during the 1976 protests.
In a statement, Khan "called upon the new US administration to play its role in ending plight of the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK)".

He demanded the US to compel India to "cease and reverse illicit transfer of the Indian Hindu population".

"The least the the US can do is to ask India to cease and reverse illicit transfer of the Indian Hindu population to the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and stop killing unarmed Kashmiris in the occupied territory," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

"Washington has to revise its brief on Kashmir. It thinks that 900,000 Indian military and para-military troops are fighting terrorists in Kashmir. But this is a false premise constructed by India to delude the world."

Khan said that US' intervention should be focused on ending the repression and restoration of "civil liberties and fundamental freedoms in IOJK".

"Being A promoter of the right to self-determination throughout the last century, the US should not stand in the way of Kashmiris' freedom of choice for their political identity as envisaged and mandated by the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions."

He also criticized the UN for its "disappointing" performance on the Kashmir dispute.

"The UN's role on Kashmir is disappointing and the UN Secretary General knows it. But his hands are tied. He cannot do much about the issue because the UN Security Council is not moving at all."

The President highlighted that Pakistan's and the PoK's political parties need to first put their complete focus on Kashmir, in order to attract world attention on the conflict.

"Before the world refocuses its attention on Kashmir, the people and political parties of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir will have to do so. The world needs to first witness how intense we Kashmiris and Pakistan are. Their attention will be directly proportionate to our passion and endeavours.

"The besieged and unarmed people of IOJK are giving blood for liberty every day. Under and unrelenting reign of terror by Indian occupation forces, they have not capitulated. As free citizens, we should do better than that," he added.
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New images of Guatemala's volcanoes capture their otherworldly nature.

'It felt like I was on the moon,' Josh Edelson told DailyMail.com.

A photographer based in San Francisco, he has taken pictures of wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods. Edelson explained: 'One of the things I'm passionate about is photographing natural disasters.'

Volcanoes are 'something I've been wanting to photograph for a long time.'

And he isn't the only one. Despite COVID-19, tourists continue to trickle into the Central American country. 'It's much less than it usually is but they're still coming to see these volcanoes,' he said.

Before the pandemic, tours that took people to Guatemala's volcanoes were thriving. Some include walking right up to lava flows near active volcanoes. As is now customary, many of those images and videos are posted on Instagram and Facebook. 'I can't help but wonder if people are putting themselves in danger for gathering likes and comments on social media platforms,' Edelson said.

From October 2011 to November 2017, more than 250 people around the world have died while taking a selfie, according to a Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care study, which was published in late 2018 and reported by CNN.

In March, Edelson documented his trip to three of Guatemala's volcanoes: Fuego and Pacaya, which are active, and Acatenango, which is dormant. Currently, Pacaya continues to have 'high levels' of activity after erupting for over 50 days, according to Physorg.com.

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Before the pandemic ground travel and tourism to a halt, many visited Guatemala for one of its main draws: volcanoes. However, despite COVID-19 and the ever-present danger of being near an active volcano, tourists are trickling back into the Central American country. In March, Josh Edelson, a photographer who is based in San Francisco, went to Guatemala to document three of its volcanoes: Fuego and Pacaya, which are active, and Acatenango, which is dormant. Above, Canadian tourists Annie-Sophie DuPont, left, and Jean Philippe Morin, right, hold hands while looking back towards Pacaya after returning from a hike up to the lava flows

Edelson has photographed wildfires in his home state of California as well as tornadoes, earthquakes and floods. He told DailyMail.com: 'One of the things I'm passionate about is photographing natural disasters.' Volcanoes are 'something I've been wanting to photograph for a long time.' Above, Fuego, one of Guatemala's most active volcano that reaches 12,346 feet. It is said to erupt anywhere from five to nine times per hour

Above in the foreground, Acatenango, a dormant volcano that is 13,041 feet high. It is believed that its first eruption happened in 1924 and its last was in 1972, according to a tour website. People come to Acatenango because it is near Fuego, which is seen in background with a plume of ash. Edelson and another photographer, Diego Rizzo, stayed at Acatenango's base camp. He described the top of the volcano as a 'gigantic bowl' that is about 300 yards wide

For many villages around volcanoes, tourism, which has decreased because of the pandemic, is an important part of their economy. Seen above is Luis, who is one of the local guides Edelson hired to help get his equipment and sundries necessary to photograph and camp up the volcano. The photographer noted that he used a net to carry around 60 to 70 pounds of gear. He told DailyMail.com: 'They are carrying 50 percent of their body weight... It's really impressive'

Before he traveled to Guatemala, Edelson said was running three miles a day for a couple of weeks in preparation. However, he said the hike to the top of Acatenango was brutal. The climb and altitude made he stop every seven to ten minutes. The local guides and porters, Adolpho, Luis and his brother David, train to make the hike while carrying heavy loads. On their days off, Luis and David summit a volcano at least once a week and run a 70-kilometer trail, many of which are comprised of loose volcanic gravel. Luis told the photographer that they barely make a few hundred dollars a month. Above, fiery lava flows down Fuego and a tent in the foreground

Rizzo, the local photographer, was able to make a deal with the owners of a private coffee plantation to use their road for $250 to cut down on their hiking time, Edelson explained. While camping at night, the temperature dipped to the low 20s. 'It made it very difficult to stay warm,' he said, adding that one night he slept with a meal of beef stroganoff he had heated up to keep the cold at bay. He said he had altitude sickness and hypothermia. Above, Rizzo watches as Fuego erupts

Edelson talked to tourists while photographing and met Vasek and David from the Czech Republic. He took the above picture of them before they went to see the lava flows at Pacaya. Due the towering ash plumes, 'they couldn't see and they couldn't breathe' while they were walking, Edelson said. Scared, they decided to turn back

'Brutal' is the word Edelson used to describe the climb and conditions. Fuego is 12,346 feet while nearby Acatenango is 13,045 feet. Tourists come to Acatenango, which is dormant, to stay at its base camp and gaze upon Fuego, which has been active since at least Spanish era in the nation in the 1520s. Fuego erupts anywhere from five to up to nine times per hour, according to a tour website.

Edelson connected with a local photographer, Diego Rizzo, as well as hired guides to help carry equipment. They stayed at Acatenango and it can take over five hours to get to the volcano's base camp. 'It is a formidable hike,' he said.

Through Rizzo, they were able to cut down on that hike by paying $250 to use a road on a private coffee planation, Edelson explained. Still, getting to the top of Acatenango was grueling. Moreover, the temperature dips to the low 20s at night.

'It made it very difficult to stay warm,' he said, adding that one night he slept with a meal of beef stroganoff he had heated up to keep the cold at bay. Edelson said he had altitude sickness and hypothermia.

In addition to the low temperatures, the wind whipped at anywhere from 30 to 50 miles per hour. The foggy night was punctuated with lightning as well. But when the sun came out in the morning, he said, the temperature jumped to 80. 'I went from shivering in my tent to sweating.'

While photographing, Edelson spoke with the tourists who made the trek to the volcanoes. One tour of around ten, which included children, walked to where lava was flowing near Pacaya, which is 8,373 feet. 'It's an actively erupting volcano,' he said.

Many people go to them 'without local guides or knowledge of how to stay safe from the elements or the volcano,' Edelson wrote to DailyMail.com.

'Daring tourists often hike up the actual erupting Fuego Volcano and camp inside the eruption area where falling rocks and sometimes lava can land. It's incredibly dangerous, but in Guatemala, there are no protections preventing people from walking right into a death trap.'

Two tourists from the Czech Republic, Vasek and David, tried to walk up to the lava flows at Pacaya, but 'they couldn't see and they couldn't breathe,' due to the amount of ash spouting out the volcano, Edelson explained. Scared, they turned back.

The weather and clouds made taking photographs difficult. Despite this, Edelson told DailyMail.com that this first time photographing the country's volcanoes has made him eager to return.

'It is definitely challenging but that is why I want to go back.'

In addition to the low temperatures, the wind whipped at anywhere from 30 to 50 miles per hour. The foggy night was punctuated with lightning as well. But when the sun came out in the morning, Edelson said, the temperature jumped to 80. 'I went from shivering in my tent to sweating.' Above, Fuego, one of Guatemala's most active volcanoes that has been erupting since at least Spanish era in the country in the 1520s

Many people go to them 'without local guides or knowledge of how to stay safe from the elements or the volcano,' Edelson wrote to DailyMail.com. 'Daring tourists often hike up the actual erupting Fuego Volcano and camp inside the eruption area where falling rocks and sometimes lava can land. It's incredibly dangerous, but in Guatemala, there are no protections preventing people from walking right into a death trap.' Above, Vasek and David, tourists from the Czech Republic, after they attempted but failed to reach the lava flows at Pacaya

In June 2018, Fuego exploded forcefully and killed at least 200 people, according to reports. Many are still considered missing. The volcano is not far from the country's capital, Guatemala City. 'Volcanoes spew hot, dangerous gases, ash, lava, and rock that are powerfully destructive... The most common cause of death from a volcano is suffocation,' according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website. Above, a dog and two people at the left as ash rises from Fuego on the right. Edelson told DailyMail.com: 'It ended up making this monstrous ash ring. It felt like I was on the moon'

'The volcano wasn't doing much at that moment,' Edelson said of Pacaya, seen above with the photographers' tents in the foreground. He noted the lightning over the tents. 'It's just kind of a testament to the wild environment out there'

Edelson told DailyMail.com that he is aware of the dangers, which is why he didn't go to the lava flows. As is now customary, many images and videos tourists take of the volcanoes are posted on Instagram and Facebook. 'I can't help but wonder if people are putting themselves in danger for gathering likes and comments on social media platforms,' Edelson said. Above, headlamps from tourists camping on Fuego can be seen at the bottom of the frame. The volcano's eruption is seen through the clouds

From October 2011 to November 2017, more than 250 people around the world have died while taking a selfie, according to a Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care study, which was published in late 2018 and reported by CNN. Above, Fuego with ash pouring out
Thousands of villagers flee across Thailand borders after the Myanmar Military carried out three airstrikes overnight on Sunday lasting till Monday, as per a report issued by the Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian relief agency that delivers medical and other necessary assistance to villagers.

Thailand authorities started to prepare on Monday after anticipating a possible influx of more ethnic Karen villagers fleeing into Thailand after the airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar military. the strikes possibly injured one person but no apparent fatalities were reported, a member of the Free Burma Rangers reported. FBR is a humanitarian relief agency that delivers medical and other assistance to villagers.

Earlier on Sunday, nearly 3000 people crossed the river bordering and dividing the two countries into Thailands Mae Hong Son province following the two-day airstrikes. A video that was shot on that day demonstrates a group of villagers including children resting in a forest clearing inside the Myanmar region, after having fled from their homes. the people could be seen carrying their possessions in baskets and bundles.

In the previous days attacks, carried out on Sunday, Myanmar military aircraft dropped bombs on a Karen guerrilla position in an area surrounding Salween river in Karen states Mutraw district, stated workers of two humanitarian relief agencies. two guerrillas were killed and many more injured in that attack and two Myanmar military planes bombed the Deh Bu Noh village twice in Mutraw district, where the attack killed two villagers.

Also Read: India battles Covid second wave: Maharashtra CM imposes night curfew amid surge; over 68k cases recorded in last 24 hrs

The attacks are anticipated to be a retaliation for the Karen National Liberation Army, which is fighting for greater autonomy for the Karen people by capturing and attacking a government military outpost on Saturday morning. as per reports by the Thoolei News, which is an online site that disseminates information from the KNU, 8 government soldiers including a lietunant were captured in the attack and around 10 were killed. Among those, a deputy battalion commander and one Karen Guerellia had been killed.

Also Read: WB Assembly Elections 2021: Mamata to hold massive 5-Day Camp In Nandigram; BJP and TMC throw allegations and counter-accusations
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) in collaboration with partners recently engaged election officials and law enforcement officers on access to information in elections.

The training is part of GPU's project with Africa Information Centre (AFIC) on Access to Information and Elections in Africa.

The project aims to improve Transparency and Accountability in Election Processes in Africa. This project is jointly implemented in The Gambia, Zambia and Uganda, and funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

Recently, The Gambia Press Union also engaged Civil Society Organizations and journalists on a two-day training on Access to Information, which is also part of the project.

GPU president Sheriff Bojang Jnr described the national Independent Electoral Commission and the security forces as key stakeholders in the electoral cycle.

"This is a very critical year in The Gambia because this is an election year and citizens in their quest to make informed choices would have to benefit from transparency and accountability throughout the process", he said.

The GPU president said the significance of the Electoral Commission cannot be less strong because it is the electoral body that conducts elections all the way.

"People need to scrutinize, people need to have the confidence and trust in the fact that only eligible Gambians have registered to vote and that the elections are free from rigging, fear and all forms of fraud", he also said.

However, he said, the role of the security is of paramount importance adding that, in dealing with issues of transparency and accountability, there is always the security forces between those who inform the journalists and the citizenry.

"We feel, it is important that we train security forces and members of the armed forces on the significance of accountability and transparency in relation to access to information," it further said.

John Charles Njie, Chairman of the Civil Society Coalition on Access to Information, said it was important that Gambians work together to enhance access to information. He said this will allow all stakeholders to play an effective role in the development of the country.

"The collaboration between civil society and the Gambia government, which resulted in a draft access to information law currently before lawmakers, is something we should be proud of," Njie said.

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In her remarks on behalf of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Commissioner Sireh Jabang, said the assurance of impartiality during an election year is essential to the attainment of the participants' confidence and commitment to the electoral process.

"The institutions responsible for the administration and security of an election must fulfill their mandate, and they must remain impartial. Therefore, this training on access to information and elections is timely," she said.

Chairman of the IEC, Alieu Momarr Njai, said "the IEC's mandate centres around policies that promote freedom, fairness and transparency."

"In this regard, transparency calls for the dissemination of timely and accurate information to all stakeholders in the electoral process," he said.

Mr. Njai also hailed the media as playing a very positive role in the success of previous elections, especially in the area of information dissemination. "Whatever is done in the election process is greatly influenced by the quantity and quality of electoral information that voters have been given access to," he said.
Mumbai, March 30 : After nearly a month's efforts, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) managed to track and seize a white Mitsubishi Outlander, said to be owned by arrested Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze, officials said here on Tuesday.

The SUV is registered in Vaze's name and was abandoned near a building compound in Kamothe suburb of Navi Mumbai in Thane district and was tracked after some locals complained about it.

With this, the NIA has seized a mini-fleet of 7 high-end cars including the first one, a SUV Scorpio with 20 gelatin sticks and a threat note, which was dumped near Antilia, the home of industrialist Mukesh Ambani on February 25.

The other cars include two black Mercedes Benz, a LandCruiser Prado, an Innova which had followed the Scorpio early that morning, and subsequently, a Volvo bearing a Maharashtra registration number but found in the Union Territory of Daman & Diu.

From the two Mercedes Benz, the NIA had recovered a stash of Rs 5 lakh, cash and a currency counting machine, clothes, blood stains, etc and all the cars have undergone detailed forensic tests.

Some of the cars were used by Vaze or his associates for various purposes, one to ferry Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran, another was seen outside a five-star hotel from which Vaze had alleged transported two dark coloured bags with a mystery woman trailing him, as seen in a CCTV footage.
Haute Horlogerie, mechanical engineering, goldsmithing, sculpture and engraving: GENUS brings these crafts and talents together to create a fascinating equilibrium between technical constraints and aesthetic requisites.

GNS Dragon  Genus

The result is unprecedented. A graceful, powerful, expressive dragon crafted from 18K gold, like the main components of the movement, revealing not only a full range of horological artistry, but also unlocking vast creative possibilities.



GENUS DRAGON opens a new chapter in the unfolding story of GENUS with the embodiment of the formidable symbolism that surrounds the myth, across worlds, ages and cultures.

Hic sunt dracones

Here be dragons. On ancient maps these words indicated uncharted regions where unknown and unimaginable dangers lurked, where monsters were thought to exist. Sea dragons in the Middle Ages became flying dragons in more modern times, as popularized by recent film iconography. From the Gate of Ishtar in Babylon to the bow of Viking drakkar boats, from Chinese mythology to Germanic epic poems, the dragon is omnipresent in Eurasian cultures.

Mythical, powerful, projecting fear and awe as a menacing creature blowing fire and flame but also symbolizing fierce protection, wisdom and eternity  the dragon is an avatar of entwined creative and destructive power. It is also a guardian symbol. Since time immemorial, no other being truly captures the imagination like the dragon. In order to pay tribute to the dragon and its symbolic power, GENUS decided to go beyond a simple representation, painted or passive, and made it an active presence in its watchmaking creation, thereby honoring the dragons role as the ultimate guardian of the ultimate treasure. Here, the genera, i.e., the mobile elements GENUS invented for its tens-of-minutes display, become the dragon's body. Eleven sculpted, decorated, hand-engraved rose gold segments follow the celestial trajectory of the analemma, the singular signature of GENUS.

1  An inspired aesthetic

Of the extensive dragon iconography across the ages, GENUS has retained one graphic interpretation of the creature that reaches far beyond the imaginary realms of Chinese mythology: This dragon is long and lithe, winglessthough endowed with flight, and characterized by a bearded mouth overhung with whisker-like tendrils.

The choice of expression

Vast is the spectrum of visualization for the symbolism surrounding the dragon. Here, GENUS struck a balance between strength and wisdom  an expression of benevolence but scrutinizing, poised and conscious of its power, yet unthreatening.



A creature of the earth in ancient oriental civilizations, of fire in European lore, the Asian dragon is linked to the element water. The way in which the genera fluidly trace the passage of time makes a natural connection with the mythical creature. Hence, the self-evident decision to bring this flowing transition to life in a horological context with GENUS DRAGON.

Animal realism

Conscious of the artistic and engineering challenges, GENUS enhanced the dragons being by making its backbone stand out, like a wave in motion, to accentuate proportions and reliefs, with a lithe, long and narrow body, a delicate yet commanding head, legs and paws that convey sinewy strength. A unique kinetic sculpture that GENUS calls onto the stage, and inaugurates with an elegantly shaped sapphire crystal that becomes an observation dome for this work of art. For it is not only a matter of seeing, but of being able to observe a dragon in its environment, watch it move, and enjoy its complex choreography.

2 - The magic of age-old artisanship

Of all the execution techniques available to the watchmaking world, GENUS opted for the most demanding, the most meaningful and the most precious. The dragons body is a fluid sculpture of 18K rose gold, composed of eleven segments  the genera  that move freely, one behind the other, and form the whole creature.

GNS Dragon  Genus

Raising the artistic and artisanal dimension, the 18K rose gold elements are sculpted and delicately engraved by hand. This culture of the exceptional is reflected in the attention to detail given to every aspect of the dragon. The body, scales, paws, claws, the head with its mischievous little horns, the beard, tongue and expressive eyes  they all shine with the high level of finish associated with Haute Horlogerie. There is not a single element which has not been crafted with the most meticulous care.

The complexity of the myth

Initially, Sebastien Billieres believed this new endeavor would, at the most, require 3-4 months of technical development. In the end, modelling this mythical and minute creature took more than a year of seemingly insurmountable design and engineering challenges.



Indeed, this is not a static sculpture, carved as one piece. This dragon is in constant motion, the result of an articulation between the calibre and the free-moving segments on one hand, and between the segments themselves on the other. Moreover, there is nothing simple about the trajectory it follows. It is neither linear nor circular, and it crosses over itself. At its core, the GENUS watchmaking concept is based on a movement along an analemma, or figure eight, the sign of infinity.



The return trips, as it were, around the foci, the rotations to the right and left, tracing the curves and diagonals  the behavior of each segment of the dragons body has been studied along this path, where the speed of progression fluctuates depending on the position along the trajectory. Each one of the eleven segments  of a particular shape, height and weight  is unique. This in turn enhances the impression of unencumbered movement and realistically evokes a serpent-like undulation that is best observed along the dragon's spine.

A quintessential interaction

The magic is in the mix of crafts and artisanship: watchmaker and jeweler-engraver, both masters of their art, came together to create the most realistic texture for the inside of the mouth and the tongue, down to the smallest detail. To achieve this, the delicate head was sculpted from 6 separate blocks of gold. The gold thread tendrils that seem to float in the wind reveal the artist who inhabits the watchmaker. Absolute and uncompromising attention to detail pervaded each stage of the creation of this kinetic sculpture, where each element acquired a precise volume and dimension to allow the dragon to glide and cross over from one orbit to the other.

Sebastien Billieres  Genus

The dragon, a miniature expression of the mechanical art as is brought to life in antique automatons, is the fruit of a unique collaboration  a meeting of minds  between engineer, watchmaker, goldsmith, sculptor and engraver. Together they found a balance between mechanical constraints and aesthetic requisites. Thus, a whole range of artisans techniques were applied at multiple levels, from engraving to gold soldering to beading, to name only three.



The movement had to be assembled, disassembled, and reassembled three times to achieve the dragons natural, and fascinating, litheness and expressiveness. Consequently, just as many reworkings of the surfaces and textures were required.



Such a spectacular show of artisanship and engineering demanded a worthy stage. Whilst the case and movement of GENUS DRAGON are in white gold, the specifications of the sapphire crystal have been adapted to the requirements of this timepiece. Raised slightly higher and being more curved, it has become a display dome for the dragon in all its magnificence. A showcase for the spectator's gaze, elegantly proportioned for the wrist. The overall impression of space, volume, and lightness in every sense of the word is in keeping with the other GENUS models, as the transparency of the view supersedes any concerns of height or thickness.

3 - Calibre Transfiguration

At the heart of GENUS DRAGON, there is the brain of the GNS1. Here, however, the tens-of-minutes are not indicated by a genus, but by the dragons head. The magical appearance of the dragon between crystal and movement is based on the same technical fundamentals as previous GENUS creations. Here, Calibre 160W-1.2 is the bedrock of GENUS' watchmaking approach. By taking on the form of the dragon, the genera  the free moving elements that transition from one orbit to the other on the tens-of-minutes display  demonstrate the flexibility and versatility of this singular interpretation of horological principles.



The architecture of Calibre 160W-1.2 reveals the nature, the driving force of GENUS.



The principles of freedom, flexibility and openness to further evolution that are at the core of GENUS stem from a dichotomy. Indeed, there are two parts, or modules, to the watch. The first, which can be described as the foundation, groups the essential functions, including a single barrel. It ensures a 50-hour power reserve, which is considerable in view of the complexity of the calibre and the masses in movement. The second module, overlaying the first, manages the display complication of hours, tens-of-minutes and precise minutes.

A heart of white gold

Entirely designed, developed and assembled in the Geneva workshop, GENUS DRAGON is the first and only watch in the world in which an articulated dragon expresses the passage of time. Here, the system indicating the tens of-minutes takes the form of the mythical dragon creature and reveals the imaginative versatility of this unique calibre.

GNS Dragon  Genus



The plate and bridges are made of 18K gold sourced from an environmentally and socially responsible supply chain certified by the RJC (Responsible Jewellery Council). All the components of Calibre 160W-1.2 have been designed and hand-crafted by the watchmaker in the finest Haute Horlogerie tradition. All 390 components show a degree and quality of hand-finishing achieved only with the most meticulous care, with the mirror-polished anchor bridge, the micro-blasted plate and bridges in particular bringing out mesmerizing contrasts. The shapes of the beveled and polished edges, too, multiply the ways in which light plays to the calibres intrinsic beauty.

The flight of the dragon

Behind the singular GENUS movement and display complication resides the fruit of over ten years gestation and three years of development. The two main features that distinguish GNS are the subject of patent applications: the rotating and peripheral display of the hour indices; and the passage from one orbit of the analemma to the other. The trajectory of the dragons body segments around the foci was a major issue. They must be kept in place, yet at the same time be free to progress from one wheel to the other. Squaring this circle was rendered even more perplexing by the fact that the matter concerns each segment.

The dragon segments are much heavier than the genera of the other GENUS watches. For one thing, they are made of 18K rose gold, a material much heavier than brass or steel. A dragon for keeping time would therefore pose a major constraint on the movement, both in terms of energy consumption and friction.



As for the required energy, it is amply supplied by the movements configuration, which delivers on its commitment to reliability, precision, and power to absorb the additional loads.

4. Digital Passport

To provide owners the guarantee of their timepieces authenticity and traceability throughout its lifetime, GENUS has joined forces with the Arianee Project, an independent consortium with the mission to establish a global standard for the digital certification of valuables. Based on Blockchain technology, the decentralized and open source protocol offers a set of new services for the watch owner that are directly accessible from the Certificate of Authenticity delivered with each GENUS watch.

Digital Passport  Genus

The specifics of each GENUS DRAGON, including the transactions in which it is involved, e.g., sale and/or transmission to a new owner, service book, proof of ownership/theft declaration are recorded and protected. The Arianee protocol allows GENUS not only to emancipate itself from paper-based authentication (which can be counterfeited), but, most importantly, guarantees the traceability of the timepiece throughout its lifetime, even in the event of a change of ownership.



If customers who are accustomed to conceptual fine watches should wonder as to the reliability of their movement, the history of GENUS and of its founders offers the best reassurance. Our longstanding experience as restorers, manufacturers and mentors has anchored the imperative of producing watches that work and will work for a long time deep in GENUS' watchmaking culture.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Fifteen Mexican soldiers were detained for hours by angry villagers at a remote stretch of Mexico's southern border with Guatemala after a soldier shot dead a Guatemalan migrant, Mexico's defense ministry said on Tuesday.

Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval said a soldier on Monday afternoon had opened fire on a car that fled in reverse to avoid a military checkpoint in the Motozintla municipality of the state of Chiapas, near the Guatemalan border.

The shots killed a man described by the Chiapas Attorney General's office as a 30-year-old migrant from Guatemala. Guatemala's Foreign Ministry identified him as Elvin Mazariegos.

Shortly after the shooting, about 300 people from the local border area, including Guatemalans, arrived at the checkpoint armed with sticks and stones and shouting insults, Sandoval said, speaking at a regular government news conference.

"Obviously, they demanded justice," Sandoval said.

At about 3 p.m. the group detained 15 soldiers, three vehicles and 17 guns, saying they would take them to Guatemala. About three hours later, amid dialogue with government officials, the group let nine soldiers go, Sandoval said.

They released the remaining soldiers, cars and weapons around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, he added.

Sandoval said the group, which was still on Mexican soil, reached a deal with officials for "economic reparation" over the killing, which occurred two days after the death of a Salvadoran woman while in police custody in the Mexican city of Tulum.

Sandoval did not say how much was paid. The protesters also demanded the soldier responsible face justice.

Describing the soldier's actions as "erroneous," Sandoval said the man had not faced any kind of aggression and had been taken into custody for questioning.

The Chiapas Attorney General's Office said Mazariegos suffered gunshot wounds to the neck and chest, and that it had opened an investigation into the killing.

Mexico's foreign ministry offered condolences and said there would be a deal for reparations.

(Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon and Raul Cortes in Mexico City and Sofia Menchu in Guatemala City; Additional reporting by Drazen Jorgic)
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3 1 of 3 Quinnipiac University Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Contributed photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3





HAMDEN  An assistant U.S. attorney and a Quinnipiac University official recently were honored by the universitys Black Law Students Association, according to a release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ndidi Moses received the associations Thurgood Marshall Award March 25, the release said. The award, gven in honor of the first African American to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, recognizes a commitment to civil rights.
 Flash

The foreign ministers of four Asian countries will visit China from March 31 to April 2, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a press briefing Tuesday.

Hua announced the upcoming visits of Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin.

The ministers are visiting China at the invitation of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, she said.

Noting that Southeast Asian countries are China's friendly neighbors and important cooperative partners in constructing the Belt and Road, Hua said that China attaches great importance to developing relations with Southeast Asian countries and always regards them as a priority in its diplomacy with neighboring countries.

Hua said that, since the outbreak of COVID-19 last year, China and Southeast Asian countries have maintained close high-level communication in a flexible manner, and the two sides have continuously made positive progress in anti-epidemic and development cooperation.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Hua said, adding that the visit of the four countries' foreign ministers once again demonstrates the deep friendship between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors.

Hua said she expected the upcoming visit would strengthen communication between China and ASEAN countries on the current regional and international situation, further implement important high-level consensus, enhance strategic mutual trust, deepen anti-epidemic and development cooperation, and promote the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road.

"We hope to promote China-ASEAN ties and further elevate the bilateral relations between China and relevant countries, so as to better safeguard regional peace, stability and development," Hua said.
A Florida cinephile broke a Guinness World Record by seeing Avengers: Endgame in movie theaters nearly 200 times.

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Romiro Alanis of Riverview said he was inspired to seek the Guinness World Record for most cinema productions attended of the same film after the former record-holder, NemRaps, saw Avengers: Infinity War, the previous film in the franchise, 103 times.

Alanis nearly doubled the record by going to see Endgame 191 times in 90 days.

"Movies teach us deep messages about life, culture and society," Alanis told Guinness.

He said superhero films in particular teach audiences about "helping people and those in need, which I'm very passionate about."

"We might not have superpowers but with acts of kindness we can change someone's life," he said.

He said it took some doing to see the film so many times in the 90 days, ending on July 29, 2019.

"The most difficult part about this attempt was giving up my social life with my family, the gym and managing my work hours and screening times at the theaters," he said.

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Alanis said it took time for Guinness to process his application and go over his submitted evidence, which included photos and ticket stubs. He finally received word this month that he was an official record-holder.

"It would be an honor to be there with many other famous title holders, but most importantly it would make all sacrifices, love and effort I gave to be paid off bringing a big smile on my face," he said.
The new solution is based on Payconiq International's state-of-the-art payment platform and will optimize payment flows for a seamless user experience (UX) and smoother merchant integration. The cooperation will enable iDEAL to adopt and launch Payconiq's innovative services for example by connecting payments with digital loyalty programs.

In addition, Payconiq International will handle iDEAL payment traffic in the Netherlands, providing an application programming interface (API) that will enable merchants, banks and other service providers to connect to the new iDEAL platform via a common access point.

With this partnership, Currence iDEAL and Payconiq International will shape the future of online and mobile payments in the Netherlands.

Frictionless payments for iDEAL merchants and consumers

Issuers, acquirers, payment service providers, merchants and consumers alike will benefit from the new iDEAL 2.0 technical infrastructure, which will enable them to enjoy a faster and easier connection to iDEAL. With a new UX design and new features for value-added services by Payconiq International, Currence iDEAL aims to improve the purchase conversion ratio.

"The partnership between Currence iDEAL and Payconiq International will allow consumers to check out and pay with iDEAL even more conveniently. The customer's preferred bank will automatically be selected, and all the necessary data authorised by the customer, will automatically be forwarded to a web shop, guaranteeing a smooth transaction," explained Daniel van Delft, Currence CEO.

Reliable and efficient technology

Payconiq International - a trusted multi-country payment and processing platform in the Benelux - is ready to move towards its next-level development. The company aims to become a leading technology provider in Europe, and the partnership with iDEAL is a significant contribution towards that goal.

Payconiq offers a high degree of reliability with its new infrastructure for iDEAL 2.0. Powered by features developed by Payconiq International, Currence iDEAL and affiliated payment service providers can develop new value-added services, such as a fast check-out service.

"We are delighted to partner with Currence iDEAL as their technology provider. iDEAL is the most popular online and mobile payment method in the Netherlands and we are happy to contribute to an even faster, easier and smarter iDEAL payment experience for merchants and consumers by implementing our innovative services. We have further improved our scalable payment platform to process significant volumes efficiently and reliably. We look forward to continue our international partner expansion," said Guido Vermeent, Payconiq International CEO.

The upgrade of iDEAL 2.0 is expected to go live at the start of 2022 and all involved parties in the value chain will benefit from a number of competitive advantages. Payconiq International is expected to handle well over a billion iDEAL payments per year on the long term.

Together, Currence iDEAL and Payconiq International will safeguard, grow and improve the highly competitive iDEAL payment flows for Dutch merchants and consumers.

About Currence

Currence is the owner of the Dutch collective payment and digital identity products iDEAL, iDIN, eMandates and Acceptgiro. Currence aims to facilitate competition and increase transparency in collective payment systems in the Netherlands, while maintaining high standards of quality, efficiency and security for its products. Currence is an autonomous organisation with governance that ensures its independence. Currence was founded in 2005 with endorsement from eight Dutch banks. This was prompted in part by the recommendations of the Wellink Commission in 2002 to promote greater transparency and competition in payments. The founding of Currence created a new market model in Dutch payments, in which product ownership and regulation are separated from transaction processing.

For more information visit www.Currence.nl and www.iDEAL.nl

About Payconiq

Payconiq International is a Luxembourg-based mobile payment and payment processing company active in Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium  through Bancontact Payconiq Company. Payconiq International works closely with major retail banks, payment service providers, payment schemes and merchants, providing them with a strong payment initiation and processing platform. Payconiq International is the first European payment company to offer multi-country payment solutions that allows consumers to pay invoices, online, in-store and other individuals using a smartphone.

For more information visit www.payconiq.com

For more information contact:

Payconiq International Currence Andreea Munteanu Berend Jan Beugel Senior Communications Officer Press Officer [email protected] [email protected] 00352.661.251.908

https://payconiq.lu www.iDEAL.nl

SOURCE Payconiq
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
In December, Kazakhstan will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union. On March 26, the countrys U.S. embassy Twitter account boasted about Kazakhstans achievements since then.

On the list:

- GDP increased 16-fold since 1991

- Over $330 billion in FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) since 1991

- 51st in UN Human Development Index, the highest among CIS nations

And one that has raised eyebrows:

- Multiparty democratic system and open civil society

That claim is misleading given the Kazakhstans checkered history of elections.

In fact, it had the same leader for most of its existence as an independent country.

Nursultan Nazarbayev served as Kazakhstans president from 1991 to 2019 before stepping down at the age of 78 to take a new role as chairman of the countrys Security Council.

During Nazarbayevs tenure, his rule was extended by various methods, including changes to Kazakhstans constitution that extended presidential terms and changes in election rules that did away with a 50-percent turnout requirement.

In 2005, when Nazarbayev won his third term, international election observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) criticized the governments conduct during the elections.

Foreign observers labeled Nazarbayevs rule a dictatorship and accused his government of human rights violations. In a 2020 report, the New York-based human rights group Freedom House noted that Kazakhstan had seen improvement in the areas of democracy and civil society but still deemed the country a consolidated authoritarian regime.

Freedom House cited some positive developments Kazakhstan, particularly in the field of civil society, after Nazarbayev stepped down as president.

The 2019 transfer of power was followed by a wave of political activism not seen in the country since the early 2000s, the Freedom House report stated. Although the overall environment of suppression of the opposition, independent media, and civil society continued during the year, the early presidential elections on June 9 were accompanied by unprecedented public debate, countrywide street protests, and a record number of citizen election observers, who actively used social media to report widespread irregularities.

Nonetheless, OSCE election monitors criticized the presidential snap election held after Nazarbayev resigned, saying voters had no genuine choice.

The winner of that election, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was made acting president when Nazarbayev stepped aside and enjoyed a strong endorsement from his predecessor.

Tokayev has spoken of the need for political reform and responsiveness to public demands, and, to that end, he set up a National Council for Public Trust. The results of his efforts remain to be seen.

Civil rights such as freedom of assembly are curtailed in Kazakhstan. The worst incident involving the suppression of these rights occurred during Nazarbayevs tenure, on December 16, 2011, when police opened fire on a crowd of striking oil workers in the town of Zhanaozen. Officially, the toll was put at 16 people killed and 100 injured, but locals have claimed it was higher.

Freedom House noted that authorities have adopted new methods of suppressing dissent, including hi-tech surveillance and paying agitators to assault protesters and journalists.

The claim that Kazakhstans political system is multiparty is also highly questionable. Although parties other than Nazarbayevs ruling Nur Otan party do exist, most typically support the reigning government, while strict eligibility criteria make it difficult to register new, independent political parties.

Five pro-government parties ran In Kazakhstans last parliamentary election, held on January 10 this year, while the countrys only independent opposition party did not field any candidates. The OSCEs report on the election concluded that it lacked genuine competition. The report complimented some reforms, such as easing restrictions on public protests and the requirements for registering opposition parties.

But it also stated: Constitutionally guaranteed fundamental freedoms remain significantly restricted by law, and the space for civil society and alternative voices to flourish is constricted.

Januarys opposition-free election also saw a crackdown on protesters, with dozens arrested. The arrestees were later released without charges.
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Monrovia  Just hours before the Liberia Maritime Authority moves to its new headquarters in Congotown, lawyers representing the landlords of its current offices on the Tubman Boulevard, is accusing the LMA of breaching the terms of the agreement by not informing them ahead of its departure from the building.

LMA Commissioner Lenn Eugene Nagbe confirmed to FrontPageAfrica Monday that the Lessors were indeed trying to breach the lease agreement.

On the Cusp of Completion

Said the Commissioner: "I can confirm that we have received several letters from the lawyer representing LiMA current landlord, basically saying that we should renew the lease for another five years. That's a totally far-fetched proposition that we clearly are not going to even give consideration. The Liberia Maritime Authority has met all its legal/financial obligations under the lease and we are absolutely not indebted to the Landlord. On April 1, 2021 we will officially turn over the property to the owners through their lawyer.

Mr. Nagbe said the LiMA's new headquarters, is now at cusp of completion.

"So, we are focusing our efforts and resources to ensure it is ready so that President Weah can dedicate by the end of April based on his availability and then we can start full operations there. It will be a total waste of public resources for me to sign a renewal of the lease for even one day let alone 5 more years when such could used to complete the New HQ. So beginning April 1, 2021, some staff will begin working at the New HQ in Congo Town while others will work from our Sub Offices at the FreePort of Monrovia and other out stations. Maritime has been paying rent since 1948, its about time we stop. We have no fuss with the owners, the lease is over. Goodbye to them."

Lessors Notified, LiMA Says

The LMA on two occasions, April 1, 2020 and January 28, 2021 informed the Lessors, Mrs. Evangeline C. Railey Norman and Maria Massaquoi that it would not be renewing the lease agreement for another five years as it is on the verge of moving to its newly constructed headquarters.

In one of those communication, dated, April 1, 2020 the LMA wrote:

Dear Mrs. Railey-Norman,

We present warm compliments and write to have you informed in consonance with the terms of our April 1, 2016 Lease Agreement, that the Liberia Maritime Authority has embarked on the construction of its corporate headquarters and will be relocating at the expiration of the current lease. Consequently, the Authority wishes to inform you that it does not intend to renew the lease on the demised property at the end of the current leasehold.

On March 24, 2021, Cllr. Joyce Reeves-Woods wrote the LMA claiming that her clients were not informed or given notice by the LMA.

Lessors Seeking One-Year Payment

Cllr. Reeves-Woods wrote:

I represent the legal interest of Mrs. Evangeline C. Railey-Norman, and Mrs. Maria Massaquoi Anderson who have forwarded a copy of the Lease agreement entered by and between your entity and Mrs. Evangeline Railey Norman for their three-storey building lying and situated on Tubman Boulevard, adjacent the John F. Kennedy Center, in the city of Monrovia .

I would like to inform you that up to the writing of this letter, neither I nor my clients have received any notice from your entity referencing the Notice that you will be vacating the building by the 31st of March AD 2021.

I would like to inform you again that the Agreement provides for an option period of the five years and since up to today's date, I nor my client have not received any written notice. A perusal of Clause One of the Agreement of Lease states, that the lease expires on the 31st day of March 2021 with an optional period of five years with no more than 33 percent increase in the annual rent during the optional period.

I wish to inform you that since neither me nor my client have received any notice of your leaving the building, I therefore wish to inform you that we will be taking advantage of the Clause One especially as it relates to the optional period and ask that you kindly make payment for the first year rent in keeping with the agreement.

Responding to the Lessors lawyers, the LMA wrote:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 24, 2021, which was addressed to Hon. Lenn Eugene Nagbe, Commissioner, Liberia Maritime Authority. On behalf of the authority, we wish to inform you that the authority has, in fact, written your client, Mrs. Evangelin3 C. Railey-Norman(Lessor), on two occasions(April 1, 2020 and January 28, 2021) informing her, inter alia, that the Authority did not intend to renew its lease for the building located on Tubman Boulevard, adjacent JFK Medical Center.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Liberia Legal Affairs Transport By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

As you are aware, the term of the Authority's lease Agreement with you client for the demised property expires on March 31, 2021 and as previously communicated to your client, we wish to once again inform your client through your good office that the Authority will not exercise its option to renew the lease agreement for the demised property to the lessors or their representatives.

Consequently, we invite you to attend an official turnover of the demised property on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at the precise hour of 12:00 noon at which time we will conduct an inspection of the property and surrender possession of same to you in your capacity as Legal Representative of the Lessor.

The authority also wishes to seize this opportunity to express to the Lessors through you, their legal representative, its gratitude for the cordiality and cooperation it received during the tenure of the lease.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rejected Australian of the Year Grace Tames criticism that his ministerial reshuffle, including the promotion of Liberal senator Amanda Stoker to assistant minister for women, is a distraction posing as a solution.

Ms Tame said improving the representation of women in the ministry wouldnt address the abuses of power. She also accused Senator Stoker of endorsing columnist Bettina Arndts fake rape crisis tour aimed at falsifying instances of sexual abuse on school and university campuses across Australia and failing to support victims of sexual assault.

Queensland Senator Amanda Stoker. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Morrison said he respected Ms Tames contribution but didnt share her views, while Senator Stoker acknowledged Ms Tame was passionate but appeared unaware of her former career as a prosecutor and barrister working for justice for women and children who were victims of sexual crime and harassment.

In an Instagram post, Ms Tame said Senator Stoker had also supported an Australia Day honour for Ms Arndt, a woman who gave a platform to the convicted paedophile who abused me.
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Mysterious living monuments

Giant trees in tropical forests, witnesses to centuries of civilization, may be trapped in a dangerous feedback loop according to a new report in Nature Plants from researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama and the University of Birmingham, U.K. The biggest trees store half of the carbon in mature tropical forests, but they could be at risk of death as a result of climate change--releasing massive amounts of carbon back into the atmosphere.

Evan Gora, STRI Tupper postdoctoral fellow, studies the role of lightning in tropical forests. Adriane Esquivel-Muelbert, lecturer at the University of Birmingham, studies the effects of climate change in the Amazon. The two teamed up to find out what kills big tropical trees. But as they sleuthed through hundreds of papers, they discovered that nearly nothing is known about the biggest trees and how they die because they are extremely rare in field surveys.

"Big trees are hard to measure," said Esquivel-Muelbert. "They are the pain in a field campaign because we always have to go back with a ladder to climb up to find a place to measure the circumference above the buttresses. It takes a long time. Studies focusing on the reasons trees die don't have enough information for the biggest trees and often end up excluding them from their analysis."

"Because we generally lack the data necessary to tell us what kills trees that are above approximately 50 centimeters in diameter, that leaves out half of the forest biomass in most forests," Gora said.

Only about 1% of trees in mature tropical forests make it to this size. Others wait their turn in the shade below.

The other thing that makes tropical forests so special--high biodiversity--also makes it difficult to study big trees: There are so many different species, and many of them are extremely rare.

"Because only 1-2% of big trees in a forest die every year, researchers need to sample hundreds of individuals of a given species to understand why they are dying," Gora said. "That may involve looking for trees across a huge area."

Imagine a study of blood pressure in people who have lived to be 103. One would have to locate and test seniors from cities and towns around the world: a time-consuming, logistically complex and expensive proposition.

A large body of evidence shows that trees are dying faster in tropical forests than ever before. This is affecting the ability of forests to function and in particular, to capture and store carbon dioxide.

"We know the deaths of largest and oldest trees are more consequential than the death of smaller trees," Gora said. "Big trees may be at particular risk because the factors that kill them appear to be increasing more rapidly than the factors that seem to be important for smaller-tree mortality."

In large parts of the tropics, climate change is resulting in more severe storms and more frequent and intense droughts. Because big trees tower above the rest, they may be more likely to be hit by lightning, or damaged by wind. Because they have to pull ground water higher than other trees, they are most likely to be affected by drought.

Hoping to better understand what is happening to big trees, Gora and Esquivel-Muelbert identified three glaring knowledge gaps. First, almost nothing is known about disease, insects and other biological causes of death in big trees. Second, because big trees are often left out of analyses, the relationship between cause of death and size is not clear. And, finally, almost all of the detailed studies of big tropical trees are from a few locations like Manaus in Brazil and Barro Colorado Island in Panama.

To understand how big trees die, there is a trade-off between putting effort into measuring large numbers of trees and measuring them often enough to identify the cause of death. Gora and Esquivel-Muelbert agree that a combination of drone technology and satellite views of the forest will help to find out how these big trees die, but this approach will only work if it is combined with intense, standardized, on-the-ground observations, such as those used by the Smithsonian's international ForestGEO network of study sites.

Esquivel-Muelbert hopes that the impetus for this research will come from a shared appreciation for these mysterious living monuments:

"I think they are fascinating to everyone," she said. "When you see one of those giants in the forest, they are so big. My colleague and Amazonian researcher, Carolina Levis, says that they are the monuments we have in the Amazon where we don't have big pyramids or old buildings....That is the feeling, that they have been through so much. They are fascinating, not just in the scientific sense but also in another way. It moves you somehow."

###

Funding for this study was from STRI, the U.S. National Science Foundation and the TreeMort project as part of the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, headquartered in Panama City, Panama, is a unit of the Smithsonian Institution. The institute furthers the understanding of tropical biodiversity and its importance to human welfare, trains students to conduct research in the tropics and promotes conservation by increasing public awareness of the beauty and importance of tropical ecosystems. Promo video.

Gora, E.M. and Esquivel-Muelbert, A. 2021. Implications of size-dependent tree mortality for tropical forest carbon dynamics. Nature Plants. doi: 10.1038/s41477-021-00879-0

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Analysts expressed their excitement at the possibility that the project hosts Norilsk-style mineralization similar to that of Norilsk Nickel, one of the worlds largest nickel and platinum producers

A recently updated resource estimate saw platinum and palladium contained in the adjacent Current Lake and Escape Lake deposits more than double to 1.8 million ounces

Echelon Capital Markets has initiated coverage on (CVE:AIR) ( ) with a 'Speculative Buy' rating and a C$0.80 price target.

Ontarios Clean Air Metals is advancing the high-grade Thunder Bay North project, a growing polymetallic resource with high-grade platinum, palladium, copper and nickel showings around 50 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

In a research note published Monday, the firms analysts called Thunder Bay North a potential game-changer thanks to its high-grade massive sulphide deposit.

Echelon analysts expressed their excitement at the possibility that the project hosts Norilsk-style mineralization similar to that of Norilsk Nickel, one of the worlds largest nickel and platinum producers.

Thunder Bay North hosts an Indicated resource of 16.2 million tonnes at an average grade of 3.5 grams per tonne (g/t) palladium equivalent containing 1.8 million ounces palladium equivalent and a total Inferred resource of 9.9 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.1 g/t palladium equivalent containing 663,660 ounces.

A recently updated resource estimate at the project saw platinum and palladium contained in the adjacent Current Lake and Escape Lake deposits more than double to 1.8 million ounces, from 732,000 ounces under a historic resource estimate, Echelon noted.

Clean Air is planning to drill 45,000 metres at Thunder Bay North this year.

The Escape Lake deposit remains open and will be subject to extensive systematic drilling in 2021, Echelon analysts wrote.

Drilling will also aim to upgrade Inferred resources in the Beaver Lake Zone in the adjacent Current Lake deposit area and test geophysical anomalies identified in the Feeder Zone area underlain by the Escape Lake Fault at the southern base of the Current Lake intrusion. The target here is the source of Norilsk-style narrow, high-grade massive sulphide lenses further up. in the Current Lake conduit.

Assay results promising

Earlier this month, Clean Air Metals revealed new assay results from just north of the Escape Lake zone, which included a massive sulphide horizon grading 8 g/t palladium, 6.4 g/t platinum, 4.8% copper, 2.5% nickel, and 0.2% cobalt over 0.5 metres from 337 to 337.5 metres downhole.

Echelon also cited Thunder Bay Norths green potential thanks to its metal mix, which can be used in things like catalytic converters for gas-powered cars and electric vehicles. Clean Air is also envisioning and underground operation at Thunder Bay North, which Echelon noted would have a lower environmental footprint.

Clean Air is led by CEO Abraham Drost, most recently CEO at Carlisle Goldfields until its $28.5 million sale to Alamos Gold, and executive chairman Jim Gallagher, former North American Palladium CEO.

Importantly, we note that both officers have been recent buyers of AIR shares, thereby further aligning them with the interests of shareholders, Echelon analysts wrote.

Shares of Clean Air Metals were trading in Toronto at C$0.37 on Tuesday afternoon.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
A divorced MP is under mounting pressure to resign after he was accused of sending a sex worker lewd texts during parliamentary business and allegedly offered to pay her $1,000 for a romp in his office.

The ABC on Tuesday revealed that it had obtained 'hundreds' of text and social media messages between NSW National Party MP Michael Johnsen and the unnamed woman.

Mr Johnsen seen in state Parliament on his mobile phone

Johnsen has strongly denied claims he sexually assaulted that same woman during an alleged paid meet up at a Blue Mountains lookout in September 2019. NSW Police are investigating the claims.

The Upper Hunter MP was removed from the National Party and Coalition party rooms last week after Labor MP Trish Doyle revealed the alleged incident under parliamentary privilege.

Ms Doyle didn't name the MP involved but Johnsen later outed himself as the man accused in order to issue a firm denial and announce he was taking leave and moving to the crossbench.

But explosive texts published by the national broadcaster today have Johnsen's career hanging by a thread.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro called on the ousted parliamentary secretary to immediately resign from Parliament over what he called allegedly 'disgusting behaviour'.

The messages allegedly feature Johnsen commenting upon how physically aroused he was about the sex worker while in Parliament, him fantasising about her during Question Time and sending her an obscene video.

Text messages allegedly sent by Michael Johnsen to the sex worker that were published by the ABC on Tuesday show him allegedly telling her he was physically aroused sitting in the chamber, after receiving a topless image of the woman

Separate texts allegedly show Johnsen suggesting that the pair have sex in his State Parliament office, the national broadcaster reported

Separate messages allegedly show Johnsen suggesting the pair have sex in his State Parliament office after he sat through a three hour Budget estimates hearing.

'My PH office could be fun  come to the Jubilee Room and wait for me there,' Mr Johnsen allegedly said in a September 9, 2019, exchange. The encounter reportedly never happened.

The ABC reported that the woman sent him a topless image of herself on September 24.

'Hmmm ... not fair. I'm sitting in the chamber with a h**d on now! Xxx',' he reportedly replied.

Two days later, on September 26, Johnsen allegedly texted: 'I'm in QT (Question Time) and f*** I'm horny and want you so bad - need you.

'I want you and can't wait to f*** you over and over again.'

Parliamentary video allegedly shows Mr Johnsen on his mobile phone at the time, the ABC investigation said.

That same afternoon, Mr Johnsen allegedly sent her a video of a man masturbating in a toilet while holding a picture of her.

A bombshell ABC report has alleged that Nationals MP Michael Johnsen sent a series of lewd messages to a sex worker from the floor of New South Wales state parliament. He last week denied an allegation he sexually assaulted a sex worker in the Blue Mountains in September 2019

A separate text message allegedly featured a video where a man was seen allegedly masturbating in a toilet

When asked about the report on Radio 2GB, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: 'If that is correct I am absolutely disgusted.

'For many women in public life when you know the challenges that exist - when colleagues or former colleagues do that type of thing- it is just beyond disgusting.'

Her deputy Mr Barilaro went one step further, saying he contacted Johnsen - who has already been suspended from the National Party - and told him to resign from state Parliament.

'Following reports this morning I contacted Mr Johnsen to express the view that his position as a Member of Parliament is untenable,' he said.

'This is disgusting behaviour and will never be acceptable, nor should it be, and I'm calling for Mr Johnsen to resign from Parliament immediately.'

The allegations against Mr Johnsen are the latest in a string of accusations engulfing the Liberal Party, particularly in Federal Parliament, since former Linda Reynolds staffer Brittany Higgins said she was raped in a senior government minister's office in March last year.

Johnsen issued a statement last Wednesday vehemently denying the rape claim against him and adding that he had both voluntarily spoken to NSW Police and would cooperate with their continuing investigation into the rape claim.

Gladys Berejiklian says she's disgusted by a report that a coalition colleague offered a woman money to have sex with him at NSW Parliament

'I am devastated by these allegations.

'I am confident any investigation will conclude that I am an innocent party.

'Without admission, I have chosen to step aside from my Parliamentary Secretary role, and will not sit in the Nationals Party Room nor the Joint Party Room.

'I will be taking leave effective immediately for a short duration.

'As the matter is with the NSW Police I will make no further public comment.'

Johnsen has not publicly commented on the publication of the text messages.

Blue Mountains MP Ms Doyle last week rocked State Parliament by claiming a male government MP had allegedly raped a sex worker at a secluded bush lookout, after paying her $200 for oral sex.

Ms Doyle recalled how the woman had responded to an advertisement on the website Locanto seeking a specific sex service, and the couple met at Yellow Rock Lookout.

Trish Doyle (pictured in parliament last Wednesday afternoon) rocked NSW Parliament by claiming a male government MP allegedly raped a sex worker at a secluded bush lookout after paying her $200 for oral sex

Johnsen allegedly suggested the pair have sex in his parliamentary office. Above, NSW State Parliament on Macquarie St

'She had been clear with her client from the outset about what she was willing to do with him, and what she was unwilling to do,' Ms Doyle said.

'She tells me she made herself clear that she was not willing to have penetrative sex with him, however towards the end the man moved around behind her and assaulted her in a way she had not consented to.

'In her emails to me she said that once the assault began she just wanted it to finish.

'It was an assault, and it was against her explicit instructions, she did not consent, it was rape.'

Ms Doyle told Parliament the woman is 'hurt and angry this powerful man felt entitled to assault her'.

'She remains fearful that this powerful man will seek reprisals against her for reporting this rape,' she added.

Johnsen's marriage of 30 years ended shortly following his election to State Parliament in 2015.

His ex-wife told a local newspaper that she blamed 'politics, the culture that surrounds it and the lifestyle it entails' as the reason it ended.
Dat Xanh Services meet with investors before listing shares on HSX, expected in May 2021

This is one of the most critical activities in the information disclosure roadmap to all investors and the public for the initial public offering (IPO) of Dat Xanh Real Estate Services JSC (Dat Xanh Services  DXS).

At the event, the representative of DXS's Board of Directors stated that the enterprise offers more than 71.66 million shares, equivalent to 20 per cent of the capital after the issuance. The existing shareholders offered to sell more than 35.8 million shares and issued a maximum capital increase of 35.8 million shares to new shareholders. The announced IPO price of DXS is VND32,000 ($1.39) per share. Investors can start to buy shares through distributed securities companies from March 31 to April 20. DXS shares are expected to be listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX) and have the first session right in May 2021.

Many financial and securities experts have appraised that the IPO of DXS is the greatest public offering of 2021 in real estate services. Especially in the context of trading volumes and index peaking on the stock market over the last four years, DXS has attracted even more attention from investors.

Investors were keen to hear about Dat Xanh Services' performance

DXS possesses the largest brokerage system and market share in Vietnam with very impressive business results, with the revenue and profit growth rates in the last four years are consistently over 44 per cent each year. Besides, the current brokerage segment is expected to rebound in growth after the COVID-19 situation is brought control, one of the highlights gaining the market's attention.

By the end of 2020, DXS has a capital of VND3.225 trillion ($140.2 million), a subsidiary owned by Dat Xanh Group (DXG), which holds 84.2 per cent of the capital. In case the offering is successful, DXS' charter capital is estimated to increase to about VND3.583 trbillion ($155.8 million). This capital will be used for developing technology platforms to complete the One-stop Platform strategy; implement marketing, promotion, and user development programmes in the resale market, real estate financial services, and property management services.

According to some experts, DXS' valuation is attractive based on the industry average price per earning (P/E) ratio of real estate service companies ranging from 10.0x to 13.0x, equivalent to DXS valuation of VND41,000-54,000 ($1.78-2.35) per share, much higher than the announced offering price. Therefore, DXS' IPO is considered a very remarkable investment opportunity in 2021.

A comprehensive real estate service ecosystem

Also, at the event, DXS' Board of Directors shared a breakthrough business plan in 2021 with the expectation of nearly VND7.6 trillion ($330.43 million) in revenue and VND1.483 trillion ($64.5 million) in after-tax profit, and the parent company's shareholders (up respectively 134 and 69 per cent compared to 2020). The company aims to build a comprehensive real estate service ecosystem to meet all needs in the housing sector, including transfer and lease.

Answering questions on what basis to set the revenue level is much higher than that of other companies in the same industry. The Board of Directors of Dat Xanh Services stated that the company now has the advantage of a nationwide distribution system, serving diversified investors, sufficient sources of products, and pioneering technology applications to save expenses. The feature of comprehensive brokerage service sharing benefits and the prospect of price increase with investors has brought the DXS system's distinct advantage compared to other companies in the same industry.

Nguyen Truong Son, general director of Dat Xanh Services directly answered questions of investors attending the event

Regarding the upcoming development orientation, the Board of Directors of Dat Xanh Services also shared the goal of becoming a pioneer in providing closed products and services in the real estate service ecosystem. The four key objectives are investing in perfecting and strengthening real estate technology platform; investing in developing resale real estate brokerage; investing in developing other real estate services such as building management, rental management, financial services through M&A, and capital contribution to subsidiaries.

DXS has been operating since 2003 as the real estate brokerage department of Dat Xanh Group, which currently holds DXG's real estate services. DXS is the largest real estate service company in the country, holding about 30 per cent of the market.

Since 2007, DXS has built a database of more than 7.5 million clients with an annual sales volume of more than 30,000 products. DXS now owns a nationwide distribution network with the largest sales force, including 132 exchanges and about 7,000 sales executives.

Therefore, in 2018-2020, DXS achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.5 per cent of revenue. In 2020, DXS will invade real estate financial services, including mortgage brokerage, insurance brokerage, and property management. In 2020 alone, DXS had VND3.249 trillion ($141.26 million) in revenue.
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Esther Wawire, 23, delivered her daughter at Kenya's Punwani Hospital two weeks ago, but was unable to breastfeed due to complications arising from the delivery. "I had high blood pressure, so my baby was born earlier than expected, weighing 800 grams," she said. "My pressure didn't go down immediately, and I was bleeding excessively, so I was transferred to another hospital for admission and my baby was taken to the nursery."

When Esther recovered 10 days later, she said she found her baby being fed breast milk, donated by other mothers at the hospital.

"It sounded very strange to me and I even called my mother to complain about it. But the nurse explained that the milk was safe and was very ok for my baby," she said, adding that she had never heard of anything like it before.

Esther's baby is among the over 500 babies at the hospital who have benefitted from the breast milk bank at the hospital over the last one year.

At the breast milk Bank, Millicent Maina, 25, is waiting her turn to express breast milk, not for her own baby, but for other new babies at the hospital.

"When my baby was born a month ago, she developed breathing problems. She had to be admitted for treatment. During this time the baby wasn't taking much milk," said Millicent.

"The nurse asked me if I could donate my milk for the other babies who didn't have. I didn't fully accept at first until she explained that it was safe and was meant for the babies who were sick."

One of the mothers at the hospital who was also a donor at the hospital she said convinced her even more, why she should donate breast milk.

She donates her milk twice every day.

"I breast feed my baby first then donate the rest. It is enough," she said adding that she will donate her milk until her baby is discharged.

"The doctor said the baby is likely to be discharged in two weeks' time once the baby stabilises. So, I will donate to help other babies until my last day here."

Pumwani Hospital has Kenya's first and only Breastmilk Bank. It was set up in 2019 to help preterm babies whose mothers had died or were not present, full-term babies who are sickly and those whose mothers are unable to breastfeed, due to lack of breast milk.

The hospital sees the largest number of deliveries in Kenya, an average of 70 babies everyday according to Kezia Njau, a nurse and counsellor at the hospital. "During the peak months (April to October) the hospitals delivers over 100 babies in a day while the rest of the months it varies from 50 -80 babies. The majority of these mothers are teenagers," she added.

The Kenyan Ministry of Health set up the Milk Bank Unit in Partnership with the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) in order to reduce the number of newborn deaths in the country and at the hospital.

Kenya is the first East African country to develop a breast milk bank. The only other countries in Africa that has similar interventions for mothers who are not able to breastfeed their babies, are South Africa, Mozambique, and Cape Verde.

Breast milk is good for maintaining a steady and fast growth of the newborn child and it helps sick babies recover faster as it contains antibodies, white blood cells, stem cells and protective enzymes that fight infections and help faster healing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for newborn babies for six months, but if it is not available WHO recommends donor milk. The breast milk boosts the baby's immunity with antibodies, and it is more tolerable by the baby and thus prevents them from gastrointestinal conditions.

Catherine Mumo, 26, delivered her daughter who weighed one kilogram prematurely at Pumwani Hospital.

"My baby was too small for me to be discharged. I was told that I will be discharged after she gets to 1.8 kilograms," Mumo said. "The baby doesn't take much milk and because I have a lot of milk that make my breasts painful when they are full, I was asked to donate for other babies."

At first, she said she was hesitant because she had never imagined or heard of such an idea. But after the nurse explained that the milk would save another baby if she donated, she agreed.

"I express at least 150 millilitres two to three times a day," she said proudly with a smile on her face. The milk bank unit is part of the hospital's lactation unit operated and run by a counsellor, nurse, and a nutritionist. It has two expression units. According to Njau, these two units are sufficient to meet the hospital's current needs for donating mothers and will be expanded if need be.

"We identify donor mothers during the maternity ward rounds when we educate mothers on how to breastfeed their babies. Only mothers who produce excess milk are encouraged to donate their milk," said Beatrice Marube, Head of Nutrition at Pumwani hospital, adding that donating milk to the milk bank is voluntary.

Marube explained that once the mothers agree to donate their milk, they are referred to the lactation centre where the hospital counsellor takes them through the process and requirements of donating milk.

"At this point a mother would know if she really wants to donate or develops cold feet and turns it down," noted Maribe, adding that because it is a new thing to most mothers, it is important for them to understand that it is a voluntary service to assist other mothers' babies.

Njau said once a mother agrees to donate her milk she is screened for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, C, and syphilis. If she tests negative to all of these, she then fills a questionnaire that provides information about whether the mother has pre-existing conditions like Tuberculosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, or is on any medication.

"Once it is clear that the mother is healthy, she signs a consent form that indicates that she is voluntarily donating her breast milk and that the information she has provided is correct," said Njau, adding that the mother is then given a registration number that is used instead of her real name.

At the expression unit, the mother is shown how to express her milk by the hospital nutritionist.

"The date of donating the milk, the mother's registration number and time of donating the milk is registered in a book," Njau said, adding that the milk is then packed in a 120-millilitre sterile bottle ready for processing. "From the expressed milk, a sample is taken for testing to ensure that the milk has no microorganisms that can contaminate it."

Once the milk is confirmed good for use, it is pasteurized at 63 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes then it is cooled suddenly at 4 degrees centigrade. The process kills any harmful bacteria and viruses in the milk. This process is automated.

As soon as the process is over, a sample of the milk is again taken to the laboratory for testing before it is stored in the ready to use freezer at 20 degrees centigrade.

Dr. Mary Waiyego, a neonatologist at the Pumwani Maternity Hospital and Head of the Milk Bank Unit, said the donated milk is given mostly to preterm babies. She said priority is given to babies born at the hospital who have lost their mothers, preterm babies that are not stable, very sick babies and those whose mothers struggle to produce milk.

"The donor mothers have to be healthy and must have delivered at the hospital before being allowed to donate her milk. She must be producing a lot of milk that is enough for her baby and for donating," said Dr Waiyego. "As soon as the donating mother is discharged from the hospital, she stops being a donor. Also, as soon as the benefiting child is discharged, he or she stops taking the donated milk."

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Marube said one of the challenges with the solution is that the hospital currently relies on the donor milk from mothers only admitted at the hospital because there is no established system for collecting and transporting breast milk from mothers outside the hospital.

"Breast milk is very fragile and so it needs a lot of care and attention from the point of expressing it to the storage. At the moment the hospital does not have a mechanism of collecting and transporting milk from mothers outside the hospital," she said.

Dr Waiyego said when they are able to establish a way to transport the milk, they will be able to let mothers outside the hospital donate their breastmilk. The hospital is the biggest maternity hospital in the country.

Dr Waiyego said the human milk bank is a new concept in Kenya, and there are many misconceptions and concerns about donating milk, including concerns about the hygiene of the milk as some people think it can spread diseases to the babies. Also, the solution is still limited to only mothers and babies born at the hospital and so very few mothers can donate milk and few babies benefit from the milk.

Still it has proven to be an innovative way to care for those most vulnerable babies who may not have survived without this intervention. "The milk is only dispensed on the basis of need," Njau said, adding, "What these mothers are doing to donate their milk to other babies is an extraordinary thing. It has saved many lives of babies and has given a good health to them."

Countries like Nigeria which have endemic child malnutrition problems have an opportunity to leverage on the continent's sharing culture and set up breast milk banks. This could help reduce the proliferation of breast milk substitutes and reduce malnutrition in country. Lessons being learnt by Kenya to combat contamination of donated breast milk ampoules, as well as increase donor-culture and reception could help countries considering breast milk banks set up an effective roadmap for action.
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Flagship Joyce Lake project is advancing rapidly to capture the strong market

CEO Sandy Chim has a track record of raising capital in Australia, the UK, Hong Kong, and Canada

Century has two key strategic partners  Baowu Steel Group and Minmetals

What Century Global Commodities does:

Century Global Commodities Corporation ( ) (OTCMKTS:CEUMF) owns some of the largest iron ore resources in Canada, totaling some 20 billion tonnes in multiple deposits across five projects 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.

The companys flagship Joyce Lake is a simple quarry operation with a bankable feasibility study already 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 (NPV) of over $5 billion, calculated using iron ore prices that are well below trading prices seen today.

Century is led by founder CEO and Chairman Sandy Chim, a mining industry veteran, who has an extensive track record of raising capital in Australia, the 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. The two Chinese state-owned companies together hold close to a 30% shareholding in Century.

How is it doing:

On February 10, Century reported a total comprehensive income of $1.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2020, compared with a loss of $3.6 million for the same period a year earlier. The company chalked up the $1.9 million sum to operating net income from subsidiary Century Food, which operates in the Hong Kong food segment, as well as two accretive corporate transactions.

The resource exploration company with iron ore projects in Canada has the wind in its sails as 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. Century is set to enjoy the upside of a potential iron ore super-cycle through rapidly advancing its Joyce Lake DSO Iron Ore Project to production to maximize return.

Joyce already has a completed feasibility study and a prepared environmental impact study. 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, Chim said in a recent interview with Proactive.

Additionally, if warranted, Chim said the company can also take advantage of the iron ore futures market, which enables contracts of up to four 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 it intends to take full advantage of that capability to maximize exposure to the iron ore price upcycle.

To seize the opportunity presented by a strong recovery in the global iron ore market, Century plans to spin-out Joyce. The Joyce feasibility study demonstrates that at a projected price of US$142.50/t, the post-tax NPV, over a 5-7 year mine life, is greater than C$500 million.

The Joyce Lake spin-out will be consistent with accretive raising additional capital to fund an optimization of the study and to advance Joyce to a production decision, the company said in a statement.

Joyces iron ore is high-grade at about 62% Fe and it does not require any beneficiation. The project requires simple 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 standard 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, said Chim.

Inflection points:

Spin-out of the Joyce Lake DSO and any capital raises to fund the project

Updating and optimizing the Joyce feasibility study and environmental studies

Maximizing the upside of a potential iron ore super-cycle through quick production

What the boss says:

In a recent interview with Proactive, Century Global Commodities CEO and Chairman Sandy Chim said: 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.

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, he added.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2021 / Kingman Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:KGS)(FSE:47A1) ("Kingman" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that core hole MH-05 was drilled at a -60 degree angle for a length of 449.5 feet (137.0 m). It intersected the first vein on the east side of the rhyolite dike from 391.6 to 395.0 feet (119.4 to 120.4 m). The second vein, on the west side of the rhyolite was not intersected because the drill hole broke into some of the old mine workings that were apparently not shown on the historic mine maps. The drillers were not able to continue the hole through to the other side of the mine workings.

"MH-05 was the last of the planned 5-hole program. All 5 holes intersected the two veins (or in two cases mine workings) where they were reported to exist in the historic literature about the Rosebud mine. These holes confirm the locations and vein types as being the same as reported. It is anticipated that the pending assay results will show similar grades to those previously stated in the reports," commented Brad Peek, M.Sc., CPG, Qualified Person for the Mohave Project.

Figure 1 -Diabase with disseminated sulfides and strong iron oxidation and alteration from MH-05.

Figure 2 - Diorite and Diabase showing strong oxidation along intrusive contacts and local hydrothermal veins and fractures from MH-05.

Figure 3 - Strip log of MH-05



The upper part of the hole, from surface to a depth of 391.6 feet, was nearly all quartz diorite gneiss with a few thin zones of pegmatite and diabase intrusives. The hole then passed through the 3-foot (1-meter) vein, which was a partially annealed diabase breccia containing quartz, calcite and partly oxidized sulfides. In one section of the vein, it was estimated that there was 5-10% arsenopyrite. The remainder of the hole passed through altered rhyolite with iron oxide stringers.

"We are exceptionally pleased with the Phase I Drill Program. With a 100 percent success rate on each hole, we have gained great confidence in this project and the reliability of the historical information. All in all, the results are suggestive of an immense amount of hydrothermal activity in the area and many indicators suggest a much larger system exists. Despite the challenges of a world-wide pandemic and the resulting economic instability, our team has remained undeterred; working hard to complete several programs over the last year, all of which have collectively brought us to this point. We could not be more proud of the position that Kingman is now in." commented Sandy MacDougall, Chairman and Director.

Samples will be sent to Skyline Assayers & Laboratories of Tucson, Arizona on a rush basis for gold and silver analyses.

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Brad Peek., M.Sc., CPG, who is a Qualified Person with respect to Kingman's Mohave Project as defined under National Instrument 43-101.

About Kingman

Kingman Minerals Ltd. is currently engaged in the business of precious metal mineral exploration for the purpose of acquiring and advancing non grass roots mineral properties located in mining friendly jurisdictions of North America.

The Mohave Project (the "Project") is located in the Music Mountains in Mohave County, Arizona and is comprised of 71 lode claims which are inclusive of the past producing Rosebud Mine (the "Rosebud"). High grade gold and silver veins were discovered in the area in the 1880's and were mined mainly in the late 20's and 30's. Underground development on the Rosebud property included a 400-foot shaft and approximately 2,500 feet of drifts, raises and crosscuts.



For further information please contact:

Sandy MacDougall, Chairman & Director

(604) 685-7720

smacdougall@kingmanminerals.com

www.kingmanminerals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding, among other things, the completion transactions completed in the Agreement. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, regulatory approval processes. Although Kingman believes that the assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, including that all necessary regulatory approvals will be obtained in a timely manner, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Kingman 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 applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Kingman Minerals Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/638028/Kingman-Completes-Hole-MH-05-at-Depth-of-4495-FT-137-M-Intersects-1st-Vein-and-Discovers-More-Unmapped-Historic-Workings
Delhi High Court stays single judge order against Future Group in Amazon plea

The Delhi High has stayed the single judge order directing attachment of properties belonging to Future Group companies and its former promoter Kishore Biyani on a case filed by online retailer Amazon seeking enforcement of a Singapore arbitrators Emergency Award against the Future Groups sae of retail business to Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Retail.

A division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh stayed the single Judge order directing attachment of Future-Biyani properties and imposing 20 lakh costs.

The judgement given by Justice JR Midha, of the Delhi High Court, on 18 March 2021 said that Future Retail, Future Coupons, Kishore Biyani and others violated the Emergency Award, and also questioned why should they not be detained in prison.

The court directed Future Group to approach authorities to recall all approvals granted to Future Retail-Reliance deal. It also directed attachement of Kishore Biyanis and Future Groups assets to be attached as also slap Rs20 lakh penalty on the company, which is to be deposittd in the PM Relief Fund.

"We hereby stay the single judge order dated March 18, 2021 till next date of hearing."

The division bench stayed the order on a request made by counsel for Future, Senior Advocate Harish Salve.

The court had earlier also granted stay on an ad-interim order passe.d by the single judge, which was not stayed by the Supreme Court in appeal, Salve pointed out.

"There's a finding of breach. This has gone much beyond .. we were under the impression that the Single Judge would get reasons (for prima facie order...Supreme court in SLP has directed that all these (NCLT) hearings can go on... this Court's order has not been stayed. Single Judge's order has to be stayed."

Senior advocate Iqbal Chagla, for Future, also argued in favour of grant of a stay on the single judge order in view of the Supreme Court's hearing on 27 April.

Senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam for Amazon, on the other hand, submitted that it was only right that the single judge's matter be brought to the attention of the Supreme Court for further directions.

"Since matter is presently before Surpreme Court... the matter is now listed on April 27. We will not do anything which is inconsistent with the Supreme Court order..Whatever order has been passed, it is implied that it is subject to Supreme Court order.", he argued.

Senior advocate Rajiv Nayar vehemently objected to the maintainability of the appeals.

After hearing the parties, the court decided to stay the single judge order.

The matter would be heard next on 30 April.
[March 30, 2021] BrightInsight Announces $101M in Series C Funding led by General Catalyst

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrightInsight, Inc., provider of the leading global regulated digital health platform for biopharma and medtech, today announced a Series C financing of $101M led by world-renowned venture capital firm General Catalyst. This funding will enable BrightInsight to accelerate its hypergrowth as it continues to expand its team, further differentiate its proven platform technology and support its customers digital health product launches globally. The Series C included strong participation from existing investors including Insight Partners, a leading global venture capital and private equity firm investing in high-growth technology and software ScaleUp companies, New Leaf Venture Partners, a leading healthcare technology venture capital firm, and Eclipse Ventures, which invests in the digital transformation of essential industries, bringing the total raised to $166M.

BrightInsight continues to cement its position as the leading global regulated digital health platform for biopharma and medtech. Over the last year alone, BrightInsight and its biopharma clients launched three digital health products across various therapeutic areas. These include a high-risk Class C Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) algorithm, a rare disease patient support app, and as announced earlier this month with AstraZeneca, a regulated chronic disease management platform that includes a patient app and provider portal that integrates patient and provider user data into the clinical workflow. BrightInsight helps break down the silos that exist in todays fractured healthcare system. The platform ensures that data is compliant, accessible and actionable across the healthcare ecosystemenabling its customers to drive better outcomes, develop more personalized therapies, improve provider-patient engagement, and improve speed-to-market of life enhancing and life-saving therapies. This latest round of financing enables BrightInsight to further invest in productizing the platform with robust, turnkey software modules that reduce customization for its customers. BrightInsight also plans to continue to grow its team across all departments, invest in customer success and expand the global availability of its platform across the Americas, China and other Asian markets. This financing led by General Catalyst not only validates the market need for a global digital health platform for biopharma and medech, but it also reinforces the tremendous progress we have made in the past year, said Kal Patel, MD, CEO & Co-Founder, BrightInsight. Our Series C round will enable BrightInsight to continue our hypergrowth, and to support the development and launch of game-changing digital health solutions for our customers.



We believe BrightInsight can redefine biopharma and medtechs approach to regulated digital health by providing the underlying platform technology to build and scale their programs, said Hemant Taneja, Managing Director, General Catalyst. Kal and the leadership team are addressing a pressing need and delivering a real benefit: allowing their customers to bring transformative digital health solutions to market more quickly and seamlessly. Taneja, who led the Series C deal, will be a close advisor to BrightInsight and will bring invaluable experience to the team as it scales. General Catalyst was an early investor in both fin-tech SaaS platform Stripe and digital health giant Livongo (co-founded by Taneja) which recently had the largest digital health exit in history at $18.5 Billion.

Dan Goldsmith, CEO, Tendo Systems, former CEO, Instructure, and former Chief Strategy Officer, Veeva, who had been serving as an advisor to BrightInsight, will join the BrightInsight Board of Directors. BrightInsight is also bringing on an additional advisor to its recently established BrightInsight Advisory Council. Dr. Jeffrey Leiden, Executive Chairman of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, will join the Advisory Council to provide strategic and operational counsel to support and accelerate the companys continued growth in order to meet the increased demand for its regulated platform. ABOUT BRIGHTINSIGHT, INC. BrightInsight provides the leading global regulated digital health platform for biopharma and medtech. When speed matters, we help leading companies accelerate time to market for regulated digital health offerings including apps, algorithms, medical devices, combination products, or Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) across therapeutic areas. BrightInsight replaces the need for lengthy and complicated build from scratch implementations and instead offers a pre-built and proven platform developed under a Quality Management System to support global security, privacy, and regulatory requirements. When you build your digital health products on the BrightInsight Platform, you are future-proofing your highest-value offerings from a compliance standpoint and unlocking scaling opportunities that simply arent available without our agile approach. For more information, visit BrightInsights website, Blog, Twitter and LinkedIn pages. ABOUT GENERAL CATALYST General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in powerful, positive change that endures  for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our people, and society. We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time. With offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York City, and Boston, the firm has helped support the growth of businesses such as: Airbnb, Datto, Deliveroo, Guild, Gusto, Hubspot, Illumio, Livongo, Oscar, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker. For more: https://www.generalcatalyst.com/ Media & Press

Jamie Burgess

VP, Marketing, BrightInsight

1.669.268.2838

jamie.burgess@brightinsight.com Helen Shik

BrightInsight PR Firm

Shik Communications LLC

1.617.510.4373

Shik.helen10@gmail.com Copyright  2021 BrightInsight, Inc. BrightInsight and the BrightInsight logo are trademarks of BrightInsight, Inc. Other trademarks are the trademarks of their owners. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/53fa2f5f-c165-4909-bc85-1817ffae1907



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Seoul, March 30 : South Korean boy band BTS issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the recent surge in anti-Asian violence, and shared their experiences of the racism they have faced.

"We send our deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. We feel grief and anger," the band said in the statement.

The statement highlighted moments when they "faced discrimination as Asians", including "enduring expletives without reason and were mocked for the way we look" and being "asked why Asians spoke in English".

They said that the band's "own experiences are inconsequential" compared to recent events but that the racism was "enough to make us feel powerless and chip away our self-esteem".

"What is happening right now cannot be dissociated from our identity as Asians. It required considerable time for us to discuss this carefully and we contemplated deeply on how we should voice our message," they added.

The band concluded saying: "We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
JENISON, MI -- Ottawa County parks is planning to give trail goers a view from the treetops.

Later this year, the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission aims to start construction on a 40-foot-tall tree house at its Grand Ravines Park that will give people an overlook of the descending ravine. Grand Ravines is a 202-acre county park with a half-mile of frontage on the Grand River.

The addition to the park at 9920 42nd Ave. in Georgetown Township is thanks to a significant gift from an anonymous foundation to the Ottawa County Parks Foundation.

The Tree House design came from sketches sitting in the drawer of our Coordinator of Park Planning and Development, Curt TerHaar, that he first worked on in 2013, said Ottawa County Parks Commission President Kelly Rice.

We are so appreciative of our donor and our Parks Foundation for allowing us to take a fanciful paper sketch from dream to reality. Through this generosity, future generations will have a unique and magical experience in the ravines.

When finished, park goers will walk a winding 100-foot-long boardwalk among the trees to eventually reach the tree house, which will stand 40 feet above the ravine edge where it begins to steeply descend to the creek below.

The tree house itself will be enclosed and have multiple overlooks that provide a treetop perspective of the descending ravine, parks officials said.

A conceptual sketch of the new additions the tree house overlook project will bring to Grand Ravines Park. (Courtesy | Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission)

Additionally, the project will bring expanded parking and other amenities to the Grand Ravines Overlook parking area, which is located along the parks north entrance drive. The area is also connected to the Idema Explorers Trail route.

Project design is expected to begin this spring, and officials hope to start construction later this year.

The tree house will be dedicated to Bea Aldrink-Idema in recognition of her love for nature, education, and having fun, parks officials said.

The north Grand Ravines property was acquired in 2011. Since then, a number of improvements have been made to the property, including the suspension bridge and nature overlook, thanks to donations, grants and park millage funding. A dog park is located on the southside of the park.

Related: Newly formed foundation launches first project - suspension bridge at Grand Ravines Park

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President Moon Jae-in tapped Vice Finance Minister An Il-whan as his new senior secretary for economic affairs, Cheong Wa Dae announced Tuesday.





An Il-whan, President Moon Jae-in's new senior secretary for economic affairs / Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae
The first episode of the series launched with the highest ever ratings in its history.

But Line of Duty saw a substantial drop in viewing figures between its first and second episodes, with some 700,000 people turning off.

While the BBC show, about an anti-corruption police unit, is still the most watched drama of the year, it dropped from 9.6million viewers to 8.9million on Sunday night.

The eagerly awaited sixth series, which reunites stars Vicky McClure, Adrian Dunbar and Martin Compston, has had mixed reviews so far.

Line of Duty saw a substantial drop in viewing figures between its first and second episodes, with some 700,000 people turning off

While many have praised it as a return to form, others have criticised its overly complicated police jargon and twisting plots.

The drop in viewing figures between episodes one and two could be a case of more people planning to tune in on catch-up after the excitement of watching the first episode in real-time.

The BBC revealed that the first episode has now been watched by 13.8 million people, including those who have caught up on iPlayer, in the week after it was first broadcast on BBC1.

The launch episode of series six was watched by two million more viewers than the first episode of series five, which had 7.8million.

The new series, starring Kelly MacDonald, already has viewers scratching their heads over the alleged mishandling of a murder investigation with many clues, potential red herrings and references to past series thrown into the mix.

Consolidated figures from audience research organisation Barb showed a total of 13.1 million viewers watched the programme, which returned to television screens earlier this month.

The eagerly awaited sixth series, which reunites stars Vicky McClure, Adrian Dunbar and Martin Compston, has had mixed reviews so far

It was the most watched episode of drama since the finale of Bodyguard, also created by Jed Mercurio, in September 2018, which had an audience of 14.3 million.

The finale of series five of Line Of Duty drew 12.1 million viewers in 2018.

The show returned on March 21, with anti-corruption unit AC-12 investigating a new case regarding the senior officer in an unsolved murder case.

The episode drew complaints to the BBC over how a character with Down's syndrome was referred to, the corporation later said.

The first episode saw Terry Boyle, a character with Down's syndrome, played by Tommy Jessop, arrested for the murder of journalist Gail Vella.

The character was referred to as an "oddball" by Superintendent Ted Hastings (played by Dunbar) which drew complaints from viewers.

The BBC said Supt Hastings' remark was not a reference to his disability, but rather to a theory he had been stalking the journalist.
Signs, floral bouquets and tributes stand along side a police cruiser parked in front of the Boulder, Colo., Police Department in honor of fallen officer Eric Talley, who was one of 10 victims in a mass shooting at a King Soopers grocery store, before a news conference about the ongoing investigation outside police headquarters in Boulder, Colo., on March 26, 2021. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo)

Archbishop: Slain Officer Gave Life, Showed Best of Police

DENVERA Colorado police officer shot and killed after rushing into a supermarket where a gunman opened fire sacrificed his life and showed what is best about police, Denvers archbishop said Monday during a funeral Mass for Officer Eric Talley.

Jesus has told us, greater love than this no man has than to lay down his life and Eric lived that, Archbishop Samuel Aquila said during the traditional Latin Mass, the style beloved by Talley, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver.

Aquila offered his prayers and condolences for Talleys family, which include his wife and seven children. He also said he would pray for the protection of police, who are too often taken for granted.

For too often, you are are taken for granted and yet in situations like this, you are the ones who protect human life, Aquila said.

Talleys casket, draped in black and flanked by six unbleached beeswax candles to signify that he has gone to God in his natural state, stood near the altar as the Rev. Dan Nolan led celebration of the Mass in Latin, which included interludes of ethereal singing by a choir as well as chanting. Talleys family, at their request, was not shown on a livestream of the service and no family or friends spoke during the service that followed the style that pre-dated reforms made by the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.

According to police, officers arrived at the store one minute and 40 seconds after being alerted to the shooting on March 22. They said Talley led an initial team of officers inside within 30 seconds of arriving and the suspect, later identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, shot at the officers, killing Talley. Nine other people, including customers and workers, were also killed.

No other individuals were shot or killed after these brave officers engaged the suspect, police said in a tweet last week.

Alissa, who was wounded in the leg during an exchange of shots with police, has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder for firing at another officer. Prosecutors expect to file more charges as the investigation continues.

Mourners walk around a King Soopers grocery store, where 10 victims died in a mass shooting, in Boulder, Colo., on March 24, 2021. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

One of Alissas public defenders, Kathryn Herold, told a judge during his first court appearance that they needed to assess Alissas mental illness but did not provide details about his condition.

A law enforcement official briefed last week on the shooting said Alissas family told investigators they believed Alissa was suffering some type of mental illness, including delusions. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The funerals sermon by the Rev. James Jackson focused on how Jesus, whose suffering and death is marked by Christians during Holy Week this week, was watching during the suffering and death seen in Boulder a week ago, a tragedy that Christians believe is part of the worlds sin that he atoned for. He also called for action from public officials.

And who knows but that some politicians will show some common sense and move to increase funding for the police. Perhaps even more sense will be shown by efforts to restore Christian culture to our country. Writing more and more laws will not be sufficient, he said.

Talley, who grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, took an untraditional route to becoming a police officer. He held a masters degree in computer communications but left his office job to join the department in 2010 at the age of 40 because he wanted to serve his community, his father Homer Shay Talley, 74, told AP last week.

A memorial service was also planned for Talley on Tuesday at a large non-denominational church, Flatirons Community Church, in Lafayette. The service is open to the general public but attendance is also restricted because of the pandemic. Organizers are encouraging people to watch a livestream of the service on television news stations.

By Colleen Slevin
An Indian mobile training team has completed capacity building and training of 50 Malagasy Special Forces officers. The Malagasy special forces consisted of both the navy and army forces of Madagascar. A five-member Indian team had reached Madagascar earlier this month onboard the Indian Navy ship INS Jalashwa, carrying humanitarian aid for the island nation.

The training lasted for 14 days from March 14-28. The training, which took place in the port city of Antsiranana, focused on bringing reforms to the Malagasy forces to build their capacity to protect the countrys resources. Madagascars Defence Minister Major General Leon Jean Richard Rakotonirina thanked the Indian government for sending a team of experts to train Madagascars special forces.

It is unprecedented in the history of our nation that land and marine forces did joint training. The focus of this training is to reform Malagasy forces and to build their capacity to protect the island and its natural resources and biodiversity, said Rakotonirina.

'Reflects growing defence ties'

General Richard Rakotonirina thanked his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh and Indias ambassador to Madagascar Abhay Kumar. The Indian embassy in Madagascar and Comoros shared a post on Twitter upon completion of the training, saying It reflects growing defence ties between the two Indian Ocean neighbours". The training was conducted under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'SAGAR' or Security and Growth for All in the Region.

A 5 member @indiannavy mobile training team completed imparting 2 weeks training to 50 Malagasy Special Forces in port city Antsiranana. It reflects growing defence ties between the two #IndianOcean neighbours #India & #Madagascar under PM @narendramodis vision of #SAGAR  pic.twitter.com/NacWCcUwfH  India in Madagascar & Comoros (@IndembTana) March 30, 2021

India is a major player in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where it provides special assistance to strategically important countries, including Madagascar and Maldives. Earlier in February, Madagascars defence minister visited India for Aero India 2021, where he also met with Rajnath Singh. During the expo, Singh announced New Delhis plan to increase investment in defence manufacturing by more than $10 billion in the next four years. India is looking to equip IOR countries with hi-tech defence technologies and Madagascar has some role to play.

(Image Credit: @IndembTana/Twitter)
Despite the entire financial year 2020-21 being overshadowed by the pandemic, Indian corporates raised an all-time high amount of Rs 1.88 lakh crore through public equity markets.

1.75 lakh crore in 2017-18. This was more than double of the Rs 91,670 crore that was raised in 2019-20, according to Pranav Haldea, Managing Director, PRIME Database Group, India's premier database on the capital markets. The previous highest amount raised in a financial year was1.75 lakh crore in 2017-18.

According to Haldea, contrary to the despondency due to the pandemic, 30 main-board IPOs came to the market collectively raising Rs 31,268 crore. This was an increase of 54 per cent from the Rs 20,350 crore raised through 13 IPOs in 2019-20.

The largest IPO in 2020-21 was from Gland Pharma for Rs 6,480 crore. The average deal size was Rs 1,042 crore.

The overall response from the public to the mainboard IPOs of the year, according to primedatabase.com, was very good. 18 IPOs received a mega response of more than 10 times while 4 IPOs were oversubscribed by more than 3 times and the balance 8 IPOs were oversubscribed between 1 to 3 times.

As far as retail investors are concerned, the year witnessed tremendous response from them. The highest number of applications was received by Indigo Paints (25.88 lakh) followed by Mtar Technologies (25.87 lakh) and Mazagon Dock (23.56 lakh).

According to Haldea, response to IPOs was further buoyed by strong listing performance of IPOs of the year. Of the 28 IPOs which got listed, 19 gave a return of over 10 per cent (based on closing price on listing date). Burger King gave a stupendous return of 131 per cent followed by Happiest Minds Technologies (123 per cent) and Indigo Paints (109 per cent). Moreover, 18 of the 28 IPOs (listed thus far) are trading above the issue price (closing price of 26th March, 2021).

The IPO pipeline continues to remain strong with 18 companies holding SEBI approval proposing to raise nearly Rs 18,000 crore and another 14 companies are awaiting SEBI approval to raise nearly Rs 23,000 crore.

30,114 crore$ raised in 2020-21. Of this, the Government's divestment accounted for Rs 19,927 crore or 66 per cent of the overall amount). The largest OFS was that of Tata Communications (Rs 5,386 crore) followed by Hindustan Aeronautics (Rs 4,961 crore) and IRCTC (Rs 4,408 crore). OFS accounted for 11 per cent of the total year's public equity markets amount. Offers for Sale through Stock Exchanges (OFS), which is for dilution of promoters' holdings, saw an increase, from Rs 17,326 crore raised in 2019-20 to30,114 crore$ raised in 2020-21. Of this, the Government's divestment accounted for Rs 19,927 crore or 66 per cent of the overall amount). The largest OFS was that of Tata Communications (Rs 5,386 crore) followed by Hindustan Aeronautics (Rs 4,961 crore) and IRCTC (Rs 4,408 crore). OFS accounted for 11 per cent of the total year's public equity markets amount.

FPOs made a comeback after several years. This was primarily on account of the mega Yes Bank FPO which raised Rs 15,000 crore. Overall, 2 companies mobilized Rs 15,029 crore through FPOs.

31 companies mobilized Rs 78,731 crore through QIPs, highest ever in a financial year. This was 54 per cent higher than Rs 51,216 crore raised in the previous year. The largest QIP of 2020-21 was from ICICI Bank raising Rs 15,000 crore, accounting for 19 per cent of the total QIP amount. QIPs were dominated by banks, NBFCs and real estate companies with them accounting for 84 per cent (Rs 66,141 crore) of the overall amount.
The City of London financial district can be seen as people walk along the south side of the River Thames, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in London, Britain, on March 19, 2021. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

City of London Expects Most Workers to Return After Pandemic

LONDONThe City of London financial centre, which has resembled a ghost town since the coronavirus swept the world last year, is likely to see most workers return to their offices after the pandemic, the Citys political leader said on Tuesday.

Catherine McGuinness, policy chair at the City of London Corporation, told BBC radio she was confident that trade would return for the cafes, pubs, restaurants, and other businesses that rely on the usually teeming crowds of office workers.

But there would probably be changes to the way people work as a result of the pandemic.

What people are telling us is that they are expecting their central office base to remain at the core of their business with people coming in three or four days, working different hours, so we are expecting the bulk of the return, McGuinness said.

What it will mean in terms of the overall footfall, we are not yet quite clear.

London dominates the worlds $6.6 trillion-a-day foreign exchange market. It is the biggest centre for international banking and the second-largest fintech hub in the world after the United States.

McGuinness said developers were revving up plans for new buildings in the City, home to the giants of world finance.

Were already seeing in our planning applications a real surge of interest in getting office space in the City. I think (we have seen) so far this year 80 percent of all the applications we saw last year, she said.

So, continued interest and continued commitment to that office space, but a different way of using it.

A survey published last week by accountants KPMG showed most major global companies no longer planned to reduce their use of office space after the pandemic, though few expect business to return to normal this year.

New York-based Goldman Sachs Group Incs CEO earlier this month told thousands of employees who have been mostly working from home since the start of the pandemic that he hopes to have them working in offices again by this summer.

But Britains Nationwide Building Society and Santander UK have scaled back on their office space.

Nationwide told all its 13,000 office-based staff to work from anywhere in the country and said last week it will not renew the leases on three of its offices in its hometown of Swindon in the southwest of England.

Santander UK plans to close four offices in Bootle, Newcastle, London Portman House, and Manchester Deansgate and move its headquarters from London to Milton Keynes.

By William Schomberg
Vilnius, Lithuania, 2021-03-30 10:49 CEST -- Notice is hereby given that "Terseta" UAB, legal entity code 303556959, with a registered office at Jogailos str. 4, Vilnius (hereinafter - Company) completed the procedure to increase the authorized capital of the Company and registered the new wording of the Company's Articles of Association on the 26th of March, 2021. The following actions were completed: 1. The authorized capital of the Company was increased from 2'500 (two thousand five hundred euros) EUR till 1'002'500 (one million two thousand five hundred euros) EUR by issuing 1'000'000 (one million) ordinary registered shares of the Company, with a nominal value of 1 (one euro) EUR each (hereinafter - New Shares) 2. After the issuance of the New Shares, the authorized capital of the Company was divided into 1'002'500 (one million two thousand five hundred) ordinary registered shares, with a nominal value of 1 (one euro) EUR each. 3. All the New Shares issued by the Company were acquired by the sole shareholder of the Company - closed-end real estate investment fund for informed investors "Lords LB Baltic Fund IV" (hereinafter - Shareholder), by signing a Subscription Agreement for the New Shares. New Shares were paid for in the following order: Part of the bonds, according to the 7th of December, 2020 Bond subscription agreement No. OBL-TER-20201207 were redeemed. 978'023 (nine hundred seventy eight thousand twenty three units) units of bonds of 1 (EUR) were redeemed, together with accrued interest 21'977 (twenty one thousand nine hundred seventy seven euros) EUR - a total of 1'000'000 (one million euros). 4. After signing of the Subscription Agreement for the New Shares, the new wording of the Company's Articles of Association was approved and registered, replacing clause 3.1 of the Articles of Association which were in force previously, according to the following wording: "3.1 The authorized capital of the Company equals 1 002 500 (one million two thousand five hundred) euros. The authorized capital is divided into 1 002 500 (one million two thousand five hundred) ordinary registered shares of the nominal value of 1 EUR (one euro) each." Rytis Zaloga Direktorius Email: rytis.zaloga@lordslb.lt Tel. +370 650 32044
Sally Brooks (pictured) was bludgeoned to death by her ex-husband Robert Arthur Meade

A man jailed for the murder of his ex-wife has lost his second bid to appeal his conviction.

Robert Arthur Meade was in 2013 convicted of bludgeoning to death his ex-wife Sally Brooks in her Donvale home, in Melbourne, and sentenced to at least 19 years behind bars.

The attack happened a week before she was to move to Britain with her three children in 2011.

Meade had sought to appeal this conviction based on what he argued was fresh and compelling evidence from a fellow prisoner, who has since died.

This man swore an affidavit in which he claimed to have seen Meade in the Strathbogie Ranges, far from Donvale, at the time the prosecution alleged that Ms Brooks was attacked.

However, Meade's appeal was on Monday dismissed at Victoria's Court of Appeal as Justices Maree Kennedy, David Beach and Simon Whelan said the evidence was not reliable.

Robert Arthur Meade was in 2013 convicted of bludgeoning to death his ex-wife Sally Brooks in her Donvale home, in Melbourne, and sentenced to at least 19 years behind bars

'We consider the evidence to be unreliable in that it is neither credible nor a trustworthy basis for fact-finding,' they said.

The appeal judges also dismissed an application for bail made by Meade, based on his appeal.

Meade's first bid to appeal his conviction was dismissed in 2015.

He was sentenced in 2013 to a total of 23 years in prison.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 31, 2021 - 04:48 | All, Japan

A volcano on a southwestern Japan island erupted late Tuesday, sending large rocks nearly 1 kilometer from the crater, prompting the weather agency to raise its alert level.

The eruption occurred at the crater of Mt. Otake on Suwanose Island of Kagoshima Prefecture at 10:05 p.m. There were no immediate reports of injuries, according to local authorities.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said early Wednesday that it has raised the volcanic activity alert level by one notch to 3 on a scale of 5, meaning that people should not approach the crater.

Following the eruption on Tuesday night, the volcano erupted again at 2:57 a.m. Wednesday, with large rocks projected nearly 1 km from the crater as before.

The agency warned of the potential for big rocks to be hurled into the air within about a 2-km radius of the crater.

Late last year amid intensifying volcanic activity, the agency raised its alert level to 3 on Dec. 28. It was lowered to level 2 on Jan. 14 in the absence of any major changes in volcanic activity data.
Read the latest updates on the anti-Asian attack in Midtown Manhattan.

A man kicked a 65-year-old woman to the ground in broad daylight on a Midtown Manhattan sidewalk on Monday, stomped on her several times and made anti-Asian remarks in what the police called another targeted hate crime.

The police said the attack happened around 11:40 a.m. outside an apartment building at 360 W. 43rd St., where a surveillance video showed an unidentified man kick the woman in the torso after the two approached each other on the sidewalk. Staff members at the building who witnessed the attack and did not intervene have been suspended, the buildings management company said.

The attacker, whom the police departments hate crimes task force asked for the publics help in identifying, stomped on the womans upper body and head at least three times after she fell to the ground.

The victim was hospitalized at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan with what the police described as serious injuries. Further information about her condition was not immediately available.
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) has provided partial scholarship to 34 journalists, including 18 females, to be trained at different levels of journalism education (from foundation to advanced diploma) at the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJAC).

The scholarship was launched at the academy's group last Thursday.

David Belgrove OBE, British High Commissioner to the Republic of The Gambia said the more professional, objective and open the media is, the stronger its impact on stable economic growth and positive international engagement.

He added that people need the media to ensure free and open debate, promote discussion and the exchange of ideas, including technological and economic ideas as well as political ones.

He added that the media is needed to root out corruption, hold governments to account, inform and engage people around the world on issues that matter most to them in their day-to-day lives.

The media he further said provides investigation and examination to ensure power is checked and decision-makers are held accountable.

He added that freedom of the media can help support a country's socio-economic development.

Therese Gomez, Program Officer at GPU explained that last year, the GPU signed a 1.3 million dalasi project with the British High Commissioner to promote media freedom and freedom of expression by amplifying the sensitisation activities of the CSO coalition on Access to Information.

She added that in addition, in a bid to strengthen the capacity of Gambian journalists, the support covers tuition costs for some MAJAC students.

She observed that many journalists struggled in 2020 with work and studies as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. For that reason she said they spent 227, 000 dalasis on the scholarship of students.

Sang Mendy, Managing Director MAJaC expressed delight with the assistance, saying at some point they withheld students' results, delayed their recruitment to the next level and asked some out of their classrooms because they owed the school.

This he added was in a bid to keep the institution's standards. He further said that they have not had classes for seven months due to covid-19 but had to continue paying their staff, and had to resort to some measures to recover outstanding balances.
FLINT, MI  Congressman Dan Kildee visited a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Monday at Bishop Airport and encouraged the public to keep up the fight against the virus as cases are on the rise in Genesee County.

Kildee, D-Flint Township, who represents the 5th Congressional District in mid-Michigan, was impressed with the COVID-19 vaccination clinic run by health officials from the Genesee County Health Department.

This is really an impressive operation to be able to get about 1,200 people through here in a day, Kildee said.

The drive-thru clinic in the economy parking lot across from the airport off Bristol Road had features that resembled a celebration with music blaring and vaccine goers like Lonette Jackson, who was outwardly gleeful to get a first dose on her birthday.

Theyre playing great music, said Jackson over the song Fire by the Ohio Players. It gives you a sense of comfort, but Im glad to see so many people are out getting their shots to stay safe.

Jackson turned 52 on Monday.

It (the COVID-19 vaccine) means life for me and it means that I can be around my family safely and know that Im not giving them any type of disease and Im happy about that, Jackson said.

The grandmother, a Flint native, had her grandchildren in mind when getting the vaccine, she added.

Today is a glorious day, Jackson said. Its my birthday and Im protecting myself.

As of Tuesday, March 30, 154,034 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Genesee County. There have been 99,963 first doses of vaccine and 54,071 second doses, according to data from the Genesee County Health Department.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been 24,818 cases of COVID-19 in Genesee County.

We had a few fairly big case days leading into the weekend, so we had over 200 cases reported leading into the weekend and were still entering cases being reported by physician offices, Kayleigh Blaney, deputy health officer for the Genesee County Health Department, said.

The seven-day average for cases stood at 159 on Tuesday, more than 40 cases higher per day than the previous weeks figure of 116.

Blaney said the spike is synonymous with what other health departments are seeing across the state. She added the majority of the cases reported from the weekend were in the 0-18 age group.

Kids are out and about and theyre doing a lot of different things, Blaney said when asked why more cases are attributed to that certain age group. Theyre doing a lot of different activities and theyre probably just the most active group right now.

The deputy health officer emphasized the importance of following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines such as social distancing, wearing a mask and washing hands.

The states seven-date average of new cases has doubled since March 15, and is at its highest point in 2021. The positivity rate on Friday, March 27 was 10.6% on coronavirus diagnostic test results.

Part of the problem is that people do feel like OK, the vaccine is available, its getting warmer out, theres light at the end of the tunnel, we can kind of relax, Kildee said. We gotta push back against that. If we can just bear down and get through the next couple of months, people continue to wear their mask and maintain the kind of social distancing the CDC is suggesting, were going to be able to get around the corner with this with the smallest amount of lost lives that we can possibly have.

The American Rescue Plan, supported by Kildee and signed into law by President Joe Biden, provides over $20 billion to establish a national COVID-19 vaccination program to improve and expand vaccine distribution, including:

$7.5 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prepare, promote, distribute, monitor, and track COVID-19.

$7.5 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish mass vaccination sites.

$5.2 billion to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to support advanced research, development, manufacturing, production and purchase of vaccines, therapeutics, and ancillary medical products for COVID-19.

We just cant let up, Kildee stressed. We got to get through it.

Read more on MLive:

Hamilton Community Health Network in Flint to give free COVID-19 vaccines to anyone who needs it

Flints share of COVID-19 relief bill tops $99M, Genesee County to get $78M

Key differences separate anti-vaxxers from Michiganders hesitant to get COVID-19 vaccine

Monday, March 29, coronavirus data by Michigan county: Macomb, Genesee among 13 counties now above 15% positivity rate
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ALBANY  Under a policy pushed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, the administration of a popular program that allows Medicaid recipients to receive at-home health care for loved ones was interrupted for more than 100,000 New Yorkers.

Now, Democrats in the Legislature are pushing for a delay in that policys implementation through negotiations over the state budget.

The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is a state-run program paid for through federal Medicaid funds. It allows people to pay for at-home health care service through a middleman known as a Financial Intermediary (FI), rather than sending the person in need of care to a dedicated facility. The FI handles the payment and logistics of the arrangement.

CDPAP also allows people in the program to choose the person who will be providing care. For instance, Patience Gabbidon, 19, lives in the Capital Region and is paid $12.50 an hour to care for her grandmother, who has diabetes and chronic issues with her eyesight. Gabbidon said she cleans her grandmothers house, runs errands for her, checks her blood sugar and makes sure she takes her medication on time.

Shes getting older now and its getting harder for her to move or get outside, and she gets tired  so I help her around the house," Gabbidon said.

In a February budget hearing before the Legislature, a staffer from the state Health Department said 139,000 New Yorkers use the program.

Patients who might have refused home health care because they dont want some stranger in their home are much more willing to use the consumer-directed program, said Richard Gottfried, chair of the Assembly Health Committee. The state health department has tried through a variety of efforts to dramatically cut down on the program.

Cuomo asked for and was given authority as part of the 2019 budget negotiation to exercise tighter state oversight of FIs. His administrations argument is that this ensures rules are followed, waste is reduced, and the program is better monitored overall.

What the health department hates about the consumer-directed program is precisely that it is very popular, Gottfried said, adding that Cuomo would like to cut costs and exert more control over CDPAP.

DOH now requires FIs to reapply for the program, which led to a culling of their number from more than 450 to 68, according to Jonah Bruno, an agency spokesman  a reduction of more than 80 percent. Without an FI, people could lose service. Bruno said the FIs that have now been vetted by the health department will be able to ensure consumer choice and access in each county across the state.

In the February hearing, Assemblywoman Pam Hunter said that in Onondaga County  with a population higher than 350,000  there was not a single FI awarded. She said while there had been a measure of waste and abuse among the FIs, it makes no sense to have zero in the whole county.

So many of the organizations, the not-for-profits that have provided this crucial service to many of our most vulnerable ... were not rewarded, Hunter said.

Other lawmakers expressed concerns that the process for deciding who could remain as FIs was opaque and too restrictive. Under a standalone bill pushed by Gottfried, the full 450 previously approved FIs would be able to continue through 2022, while those that applied to DOH and were denied would be reconsidered.

This delay was also included in the state Senates proposal for the budget, staking out that chambers negotiating position. A letter sent last week, signed by 59 Democrats in the Assembly, called for the delays to be supported by that chamber as well.

The governors people have been resisting what were trying to do," Gottfried said. "Without going into details partly, because they change practically by the hour, there is some openness on the governors side to reexamining, to doing something like what legislators have been advocating."

The ostensible deadline for the state to pass a budget is Wednesday.
Spring break has long been a respite for young people looking to blow off steam. This year, maybe more so. Whether summer will be too remains an open question--and one business owners are antsy to close.

Even though 60 percent of U.S colleges canceled spring break this year out of pandemic precaution, travel spiked. Between March 11 and March 28, the Transportation Security Administration screened more than 24 million travelers at U.S. airports, marking a streak of 18 consecutive days of more than one million daily travelers--a level not seen since before the pandemic.

The uptick is expected to continue into the summer months. Travel company Expedia surveyed 11,000 consumers around the world this winter and found that April to September will be the most popular travel time this year and 46 percent of respondents plan to travel once the Covid-19 vaccine is widely available.

But a boost in summer travelers may not mean a return to business as usual for every beach hot spot, as the scene from popular spring break destinations shows. While some states continue to practice caution regarding business capacity restrictions--even as vaccinations have picked up--higher foot traffic in other less restrictive states comes with its own list of challenges.

Overheating

Bars and restaurants in popular vacation spots in Florida, which jettisoned business capacity limits and facemask requirements on March 2, are reporting a deluge. "They're spending like there's no tomorrow," says Angelo Elia of younger travelers. Elia, an entrepreneur and chef in South Florida, owns multiple restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Aventura, and Delray Beach. At each location, Elia says the past few months have brought in more revenue than all of last year.

While thrilled at the prospect of earning money, Joey Giannuzzi says staffing has been a big challenge. The co-owner of Farmer's Table, an outdoor restaurant with locations in Boca Raton and North Palm Beach in Florida, has 20,000 square feet of alfresco dining space and hasn't had issues with capacity and social distancing, but finding people to work has never been harder. The business went from "zero to 100 in the past three to five weeks," he says. "It's unbelievable. I've never seen the staffing market this tight, and I don't know what to attribute it to, but it's crazy," he says.

Giannuzzi says he recently started hiring from larger cities like New York and San Francisco that have stricter restrictions, and he's offering to relocate new hires' families.

The restaurateur is also finding that requiring patrons to don facemasks amid relaxed statewide mandates--which happen to go against CDC protocols, which urge continued caution and facemask wearing--has landed him in the center of controversy.

There are two groups of people when it comes to masks. Some are happy and compliant about his restaurant's facemask requirements, and then some don't want to wear masks and typically are vocal at the hostess stand. He says he'll get emails from some patrons who think precautions aren't enough, and others who think they're too restricting.

His advice for operating amid the tension? "People recognize quality, high standards, and integrity. Do everything that you can to keep consistent with standards," he says. Lean on other small-business owners in your community for support to get through the next few months, and look to the future for encouragement. He does this when considering the wedding bookings and large reservations that are coming through for his space for this summer and fall. "It's coming back. It's so encouraging," he says.

Slow Going

Meanwhile in California, spring break has been far tamer. Unlike in Florida, California's restrictions have continued. Every county in California is assigned to a colored tier based on its positivity rate, adjusted case rate, and health equity metric, ranging from "purple"--most non-essential indoor businesses are closed--to "yellow"--most indoor businesses are open with rules around social distancing and facemasks. On March 14th, many counties moved to a "red" status that allowed businesses to reopen to 25 percent capacity. Amid continued business capacity restrictions, business owners are reporting more subdued results.

At this point in the year, Todd Brown, the owner of Bub's @ the Beach, a popular spring break bar and restaurant in San Diego's Pacific Beach neighborhood, would normally be placing daily inventory orders for the start of its busiest season. While Bub's has been a staple in the community since Brown founded it 21 years ago, he says business--with the exception of last year around this time--has never been this slow.

What's more, the constant gyrations on capacity restraints have been singularly difficult, says Brown. Each time California has ordered businesses to close, Bub's has had to liquidate its stock. "That's been financially devastating," he says. Earlier this year, Brown took out a paycheck protection loan for his business.
Early in the rollout of the novel coronavirus vaccine, hair salon co-owner Jacqueline Richardson was hesitant to receive the shot.

At age 35, Richardson wasn't going to be first in line anyway, but, as time passed and she said she watched her parents and even her husband receive the vaccine without problems, Richardson found herself more comfortable with the idea and began checking regularly for an opportunity to get a left-over shot.

On Monday, the first day that vaccinations in Louisiana were open to anyone 16 and older, Richardson was able to get in line for the first of two Moderna shots at the CareSouth health clinic on Florida Street in Baton Rouge.

"Being part owner of a hair salon and coming into contact with so many people daily, you know, at this point, it's just the right thing to do," Richardson said shortly after receiving her shot early Monday afternoon. "And I feel really good about doing it."

CareSouth's clinic is one of 608 pharmacies, Walmarts, health clinics and other locations across Louisiana receiving doses of the COVID-19 vaccine this week. Completed vaccinations statewide passed 720,000 people on Monday and a new phase of vaccinations with widespread eligibility has begun.

Under the latest state figures Monday, which tallied statistics just before the new eligibility phase started, 15.5% of the state's population was fully vaccinated, up more than a percentage point from Thursday.

East Baton Rouge Parish, which had been tracking with the statewide figure, pulled ahead slightly on Monday to nearly 16% of the parish's more than 440,000 people.

West Feliciana and St. Helena parishes continued to have the greatest and smallest shares of their respective residents fully vaccinated in the Baton Rouge area, though both parishes saw increases, as did the rest of the region.

New cases statewide remain near all-time lows since the pandemic began in Louisiana a year ago in March.

But, in Louisiana and in several of the larger parishes in the Baton Rouge area, including East Baton Rouge, new cases remain in an essentially flat or slowly declining trajectory as have hospitalizations and deaths, the latest data show.

+4 COVID vaccines will be available to all Louisianans 16 and older next week All Louisianans older than 16 will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine starting next week, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Wednesday, making th

Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden's chief medical advisor and director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has warned the mix of rising vaccinations with flat case levels and the spread of new variants hold the risk for another wave of cases.

He and President Biden have warned against easing up on mask and other restrictions too quickly.

CareSouth's Florida Street clinic is located amid a collection of additional CareSouth and other medical facilities, including Baton Rouge General's Mid-City campus, but even there, the percentage of the local population that has been vaccinated lags the parish-wide figure by more than 4 percentage points.

The area is largely African-American, census data show, and other areas nearby in Mid-City or near downtown Baton Rouge show an even lower share of the population is vaccinated, at half or less than half the parishwide percentage of nearly 16%, state data show.

Dr. Gregory Garner, chief medical officer of CareSouth, a federally qualified health center with a handful of locations in the Baton Rouge area, said he has seen a shift in the willingness among older residents to receive the vaccine, but that shift in attitude largely hasn't penetrated younger demographic groups.

"If you're with the 50-and-older age group, the hesitancy has gone down after seeing more people get the shot and not having any adverse reactions. That 40-and-under group? It's the same," Garner said.

He said about 75% of the 2,000 people who have been vaccinated at the clinic so far  which generally handles about 40 people per day  are Black. With the increased supply in vaccines, waiting lists have also eased considerably, he said.

Garner said convincing younger adults to receive the shot will need to involve changing the narrative so that they understand their getting vaccinations protects them and their aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents from getting sick or even dying.

"So just taking care of each other is probably the biggest message you can get to the younger population," Garner said.

Richardson said her and her business partner's Happy Hair Salon and Boutique has nearly 10 stylists and see 8 to 15 people per day.

Though she and her employees have been wearing masks and taking other measures, Richardson said, she and her partner have gotten their first shots, in part, to encourage their employees to do so also.

She said seeing her own friends and family take the vaccine and not have problems helped give her the confidence to do so herself and hopes her own example can do the same for her employees.

"In my mind, after people have gotten it and people have been OK, I think that makes it easier, you know? It's nothing like seeing it for yourself or knowing someone personal that's connected to you that makes you feel like, 'OK, you know, this is OK,'" she said.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Areas of patchy fog. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
The question I keep asking myself

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Over the past few months leading up to Easter, I have been asking myself the question, How do you tell a story that has been told for over two thousand years?" In my 30+ years of being a pastor, I have had the opportunity of sharing the Easter message countless times. But as I look to this Easter, I keep asking myself the same question.

The story of Jesus resurrection  the Easter story  is without question the most profound story that has ever been told, and it doesnt need special effects or impressive storytelling skills to make it good. This is the moment that Jesus changed human history. This story is good on its own terms.

Still, because the story of Jesus resurrection has been told for thousands of years  and because the reality of someone being raised from the dead and taking ultimate victory over death is so challenging for us to wrap our finite minds around  it can sometimes be easy for Christians to gloss over the Easter message. The story of Easter can almost feel inaccessible or distant, like a nice tale that people tell their kids at bedtime. Nice. Quaint,even. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day can slip out of our mouths effortlessly, without the reality of this statement really captivating our hearts.

This is why I keep asking myself the question, How do you tell a story that has been told for over two thousand years? Not because this story needs any more fluff or impressive details, and not because it needs a cool new set design or stage effects. We dont need a better story; we as Christians need to be better listeners. Though Jesus was raised from the dead over two thousand years ago, we need to use our imaginations to understand what it was actually like that day. We need to let the weight of this story sink into our hearts so that we can understand the flourishing and abundant resurrection life that we are called to as believers.

So this year, I wanted to tell the Easter story in a way that would help activate peoples imaginations  myself included.

I wanted to film the Easter message inside of a tomb.

Okay, so it wasnt an actual tomb, but it was a cave that would have been somewhat similar to the tomb that Jesus was buried in.

To make this happen, I traveled with a small film crew to a desert location about two hours outside of San Diego. When we arrived at what I assumed was our final destination, we hopped out of our passenger cars and climbed into a large RV that would carry the film equipment, the crew, and myself to the actual film location. We bumped and rolled our way over dust covered roads, with 35 mile per hour winds blowing an occasional tumbleweed in our path. Eventually, after what seemed like a days journey (but was really only 45 minutes), we arrived at our final stop: the Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves.

In order to get inside of the particular cave we were filming in, we had to inch our way through a tight, small crevice in the rocks, using our hands to feel our way through the darkness. Headlamps provided some visibility, but it was DARK. Finally, we reached the inside of the cave. It was still difficult to see, but a shaft in the ceiling allowed some light to cascade through. Before the video team set up the fluorescent lights to brighten up the space, I took a moment to sit in the darkness.

Most of us havent spent much time in a physical tomb, of course. The dark tombs that we occupy are made of mud and stone. But as I sat in the darkness, I thought about the spiritually dark tombs that so many people find themselves in. I reflected on the darkness I have been rescued from in my own life. Then, as I began to shift my attention to the resurrection, I did my best to imagine just what it would have felt like for Jesus to walk out of the tomb. And I imagined myself following him.

The resurrection isnt just a story. It is a miracle that actually occurred. Jesus humbled himself through the incarnation by entering into time and space and taking on the form of a human being. He was born in a manger. He ate. He slept. He worked. He walked dusty roads. He got tired sometimes. He had emotions. He performed miracles. He lived a perfect life. And then he took the weight of our sins and died on the cross on our behalf. And on the third day, he actually rose from the dead and actually left the tomb.

We are called to be like Jesus and to do what he did, so the truth of the resurrection must have powerful implications for our lives right now. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live like Jesus lived and to walk how he walked. We are called to daily die to our sin, to leave it behind in the tomb, and to participate in his resurrection life. We are invited to step out of the darkness and into the light.

I hope you will join me this Easter and take time to reflect on the profound reality of the Easter message as it pertains to you today. Ask yourself that same question I have been asking, and personalize it: How does a story that has been told for over two thousand years, impact me? If you need help imagining what it would have looked like for Jesus to come out of the tomb, I invite you to watch our Easter services. (link: http://sdrock.com/easter)
Brussels, March 30 : European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned of the "domino effect" of the health crisis brought about by the raging Covid-19 pandemic.

"We risk that the Covid crisis sets off a number of other crises, especially in developing countries," she said while addressing a high-level meeting on international debt architecture and liquidity on Monday.

Von der Leyen named those crises as a debt one, an education crisis and a crisis of rising inequalities both between countries and within countries.

She called for investment and action at the global level to avert the crises, asking countries to focus on two parallel strands of work -- fighting the pandemic and pursuing a green economic recovery, with the Sustainable Development Goals at its core.

In his virtual speech at the meeting, US Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for better debt relief and new creative financing for poorer nations.

"Developing countries need access to additional liquidity to respond to the pandemic, and to invest in recovery," he said.
The devastating failure to stop the online fraud scourge is today laid bare.

A Money Mail investigation reveals how - despite years of worrying warnings - internet fraud has now hit record levels, driven by a surge in investment scams targeted at savers searching the web for better deals.

Sophisticated 'impersonation' frauds have also doubled in the pandemic, as scammers run rings around police and the financial watchdog.

Scam scourge: Internet fraud has now hit record levels, driven by a surge in investment scams targeted at savers searching the web for better deals

It can be revealed that:

Investment scams have surged 164 per cent in just two years  with losses hitting at least 135 million in 2020.

Yet watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is taking months to act on tips over online scams.

The Government is facing mounting pressure to make internet firms liable for scam adverts and websites.

Last year, tech giant Google blocked or removed 123 million financial service adverts worldwide that violated policies.

Experts say simple banking security measures could slash fraud rates.

Campaigners fear victims are not being told about their chance to secure a refund from their bank.

Justice is rarely done - with police prosecuting just 1.5 per cent of fraud reports last year.

Fresh figures reveal the fraud epidemic has reached new heights with victims tricked into transferring a record 479 million last year.

But experts fear the real cost is far higher as many victims are too embarrassed to report it.

There was also a 94 per cent rise in frauds whereby scammers pose as trusted organisations such as the Royal Mail or the NHS.

These impersonation scams cost victims nearly 97 million last year.

It's a free-for-all

Campaigners have expressed outrage that online giants such as Google and Microsoft continue to take money from scammers to host adverts designed to defraud.

In a damning report published by the Work and Pensions committee this week, MPs called on the Government to legislate to stop scammers running riot online.

Committee chairman Stephen Timms MP said 'a woeful lack of online regulation' had helped scammers reach more people than ever before.

He said: 'The result is an online free-for-all, where scammers can advertise with impunity while the tech giants line their pockets from the proceeds of their crimes.

'There must be parity across the media to ensure all adverts are regulated and the Government should use its Online Safety Bill to act.'

Mr Timms tells Money Mail: 'We cannot allow this to carry on. Too many people are suffering and the damage to our financial services industry is enormous.'

Money experts also argue scammers could be stopped by holding online firms to account.

Tom Selby, senior analyst at investment firm AJ Bell, says legislation would be 'a huge step in the right direction in the fight against fraudsters, allowing authorities to get a grip on the scam-ridden world that increasingly resembles the Wild West'.

Pensioner lost 20k at Christmas Bond scam: Marlene Goldstein (pictured with husband Danny) In December, Marlene Goldstein, 83, came across a one-year bond from Aberdeen Standard Investments paying 1.89 per cent. She filled out an application and transferred two payments of 10,000 to an intermediary account at Bank of Scotland. But Marlene says after making the transfer she 'had a feeling that something was not right.' She tried to withdraw her cash, but never received it. It was then she knew she had been scammed, just before Christmas. She reported the fraud to Nationwide, but was not refunded as she had not indicated that the transfer was an investment, and so was not shown a scam warning. Following intervention from Money Mail, Nationwide agreed to reimburse Marlene in full. A spokesman says: 'As no error was made by the Society we initially held her liable for the loss. But, following a review of the case using additional information provided to the Daily Mail, we now have the rationale for why she made this decision.'

Warnings missed

Money Mail has been shown evidence that the FCA was warned about a specific online investment scam months before savers were defrauded.

Consumer campaigner Mark Taber estimates he has found and flagged more than 750 online investment scams to the watchdog since the start of 2020.

But he says the FCA can take weeks or even months to list the firm on its warning list. One website he flagged to the FCA did not appear on the watchdog's warning list until four months later. In that time, one Money Mail reader lost 9,000 to the scam.

Some 1,184 potential investment scam firms were added to the FCA's warning list last year - up from 573 in 2019. There are now 6,594 names on the register.

Criminal gangs are using legit-looking clone sites to steal 'big money' from investors, warns expert 'The profit margins far outweigh those for other crimes and there is less risk when compared to drug dealing or people trafficking.' warns financial crime expert Phil Rolfe, boss of P2 Consulting. He calls on the Government, tech firms, crime agencies and the finance industry to come together and figure out a solution. Rolfe also offers five important tips to investors on how to avoid ending up on fraudulent copycat websites and find the ones run by legitimate, brand name finance companies. Read more here.

Investors should check the FCA list to see if the firm is running a possible scam at fca.org.uk/scamsmart/warning-list.

But research from Nationwide building society found 22 per cent of would-be investors do not know how to check.

Research from consumer group Which? found that many firms on the list had advertised on either Google or Microsoft's Bing, having paid to appear at the top of search results for terms such as 'best bonds' and 'best fixed-rate bonds'.

The group said adverts remained online for weeks after the FCA issued warnings to avoid them.

It can cost less than 100 to advertise with Google. It has been reported that collapsed investment firm London Capital & Finance paid Google more than 20 million to promote high-risk mini bonds.

Many of the scams online come in the form of fake comparison sites, or 'lead generators' that promise to find savers the best rates around - only to pass their details on to fraudsters.

Alain Desmier, who runs advertising intelligence firm Contact State, says a 'silver bullet' would be for the FCA to make it a requirement for financial promotion services to be authorised.

He says: 'Overnight you would have a parting of waves of those who can legitimately do that and those who cannot. If you criminalise the buying of unauthorised leads of would see the oxygen sucked out of it.'

The Work and Pensions committee's report also said the watchdog needed to raise its game.

It read: 'We have heard numerous criticisms that the FCA is not effective in stopping scams, punishing scammers or retrieving scam proceeds. There is a compelling case for a much more ambitious approach.'

Many of the scams online come in the form of fake comparison sites, or 'lead generators' that promise to find savers the best rates around - only to pass their details on to fraudsters

Refunds refused

Central to the misery caused by the fraud epidemic is the battle to retrieve any stolen money.

Most major banks are signed up to a voluntary code that dictates that all victims who have taken care to avoid a scam should get their money back.

But experts fear many victims are not being told about this option, or their right to ask the Financial Ombudsman Service to intervene.

Fewer than half of customers would tell their bank if they were victim of a scam, a survey by building society Nationwide found. Just 55 per cent would tell the police.

Mr Taber says he has spoken to victims who reported the crime to national helpline Action Fraud, but were not told to ask their bank for their money back. He says: 'They are definitely not being signposted.'

An agreement between banks to fund a pot of money to reimburse fraud victims is due to run out at the end of June. The Payments Service Regulator (PSR) is consulting on what should happen next.

Campaigners say banks should all be refunding fraud victims until they have in place better security checks. They say fraudsters are opening accounts with faked documents far too easily and banks should be doing more to stop suspicious transfers.

After delays, the industry only last year introduced 'confirmation of payee' - a security check that means a transfer will only be processed if the person sending the money has the correct name of the bank account receiving the funds.

Yet while most major banks now have the check in place, some - including Metro and Tesco Bank - still do not.

Mr Taber adds: 'Until you start stopping it at the gateway, the criminals aren't going to stop doing it.'

But victims are facing a lottery when they try to claim a refund from their bank. TSB has not signed up to the code, but pledged to refund all defrauded customers.

One unidentified bank signed up to the code, refunded just 1 per cent of fraud victims.

Campaigners are also calling on banks to publish fraud reimbursement rates.

Experts want to see the PSR force banks to repay all victims.

Jenny Ross, money editor at consumer group Which?, says: 'We hear regularly from devastated scam victims - many of them vulnerable bank customers - who have lost life-changing sums of money.

In some cases, their bank has failed to give adequate fraud warnings or to properly assess the vulnerability of the victim  and yet they still refuse to reimburse them.

'Now is the time to take decisive action by replacing the current voluntary reimbursement code with a mandatory scheme.'

Swindled out of 10k in bond scam Former historian Ann Merrills's 86-year-old relative was tricked to invest in a bond paying 4 per cent over three years Ann Merrills became concerned when a relative invested 10,000 with Credit Suisse. The 86-year-old had been wrapped up in a con with a scam website posing as MoneySuperMarket. He was tricked to invest in a bond paying 4 per cent over three years in January. A broker posing as John Tiner, a member of the board of directors at Credit Suisse, reassured him he could withdraw his money any time within a 14-day cooling off period. He was sent official looking paperwork, too. Ann, a former historian, reported it to HSBC, which refused a refund as it provided an 'effective warning' and didn't think he was vulnerable. Ann, 72, says: 'A man his age didn't have fraud on his radar. This destroyed his confidence.' MoneySuperMarket says it is aware of fraudsters trying to use its brand to trick consumers while a Credit Suisse spokesman says it now carries fraud warnings on its website.

Blame culture

Fraud victims are suffering added trauma with the fight to get their money back, and the slim chance that their scammer will ever see justice.

Lisa Mills, senior fraud manager at charity Victim Support, says she has dealt with thousands of victims of sophisticated fraud over the past five years, but can't recall a single prosecution.

She also says scam victims are not given enough advice on how to lobby their bank for a refund.

She says: '[They] still feel they are at a loss. They don't know who to turn to. No one is telling victims how to proceed.'

The support worker says the banks' approach was placing the blame on innocent victims.

She says: 'No one wakes up in the morning thinking they are going to be throw good money away. It is re-victimisation unfortunately.

The financial losses are devastating but it's someone telling you that you are to blame. We take the opposite view, they have been conned or coerced.'

Pauline Smith, director at Action Fraud, also told MPs that in one year its call handlers had had 222 suicidal victims on the phone.

In its report, the work and pensions committee, recommended the Department for Work and Pensions offered all scam victims support for 'financial harm and psychological distress'.

Cons can't lose

Scammers are stealing hundreds of millions of pounds, but are rarely caught or prosecuted.

Graeme Biggar, director general at the National Economic Crime Centre, has said that less than 1 per cent of the nation's police is dedicated to fighting fraud  despite it being a third of all crime.

Victims have to report a fraud to helpline Action Fraud which can ask police to investigate.

Over the past 11 months, Action Fraud received 396,835 reports of fraud and cyber crime, and only passed 32,032 on to police.

Police figures show that there were only 5,101 prosecutions for more than 325,000 frauds last year.

The work and pensions committee inquiry into pension scams heard 40,000 savers had lost more than 10 billion to fraud since in 2015. Yet there had been just 25 convictions.

An FCA spokesman says: 'Tackling scams is a priority for the FCA and we have dedicated considerable resources to it over the past few years in both prevention and pursuit.

We will continue to work with any and all bodies involved in fighting fraud and scams to prevent further harm to consumers.'

An Action Fraud spokesman says: 'Fraud is an incredibly complex crime and something policing can't combat in isolation.'

The National Economic Crime Centre says the fight against fraud needs more resources. A spokesman says: 'As a country, we must all do more to combat the evolving threat of fraud.' '

Google says it has been working closely with the FCA over the past year, and has strengthened its verification tests for businesses.

A spokesman says it removed 123 million financial services ads last year, and adds: 'When ads do not comply with our policies, we take action to remove them.'

A Microsoft spokesman says advertisers must comply with local laws and regulations.

Additional reporting: Amelia Murray
A week ago, just one day after a gunman killed 10 people at a supermarket in Colorado and one week after another gunman killed eight people at a series of massage parlors in Georgia, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade convened a segment about the folly of gun control. His guest, Sen. John Kennedy, said that America is a big country, were free, and one of the prices we pay for that freedom is that youre always going to have some people who abuse it. The Louisiana Republican went on to say that freedom is risk, and that we do not need more gun control. We need more idiot control. Kilmeade nodded silently.

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America is a big country, we're free, and one of the prices we pay for that freedom is that you're always going to have some people who abuse it: @SenJohnKennedy hits back on the lefts proposal for new bans on assault weapons. pic.twitter.com/Tx1eVLRQlg  Brian Kilmeade (@kilmeade) March 24, 2021

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A few minutes later, having dispensed with guns, Kilmeade moved on to idiots, which Fox News has long found to be a much more fertile topic. Kilmeade was guest-hosting Fox News Primetime, the networks new early-evening program. Alongside guest Brit Hume, Kilmeade blasted teachers unions for standing in the way of school reopenings. He grinned broadly as guest Glenn Greenwald mocked the institutional motto that the Washington Post adopted during the Trump years: Democracy Dies in Darkness. And he welcomed University of Tennessee law professor Glenn Instapundit Reynolds for a rousing segment on the most imminent danger facing America today: cancel culture.

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They bully people and they threaten them and they go after them and people just want them all to go away, so they give in, Reynolds observed of the supposedly woke. We cant let a minority of bullies take over our culture and terrorize the public. How does the public seize power back from these woke bullies, Kilmeade asked? Well, you have to take it back. Thats how you get power back everywhere, through all time, said Reynolds.

This was a form of idiot control that Kilmeade could get behind. The Fox & Friends co-host is currently vying to become the permanent anchor of Fox News Primetime, an amorphous, news-adjacent program that might be the most revealing window into the choices Fox faces as it seeks to define itself in the Biden era. Kilmeades strategy in his live-on-air auditions is the exact same strategy that Fox will deploy in the months and years to come: waging the culture wars while validating and encouraging the worst-faith arguments from the least credible actors in American politics. Opposing cancel culture, Kilmeade said, is a matter of saving the country, as though he hadnt been discussing two mass murders less than an hour before.

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Oh, absolutely, Reynolds agreed.

Cancel culture is one of Fox News favorite topics these days, just as political correctness was in days past. If you have watched Fox News at all over the past year, then you are well aware of the networks thesis that cancel culture is allegedly scarier and more dangerous than COVID, mass shootings, and Godzilla combinedand certainly a more preferable discussion topic than broadly popular Democratic initiatives like the latest economic relief bill. Day after day, week after week, in countless indistinguishably shrill segments, the network has warned viewers that American democracy is directly imperiled by the recent phenomenon of some prominent people being held accountable by their fans, peers, critics, colleagues, or employers for saying or doing things that those stakeholders deem insensitive or inappropriate. These episodes exist on a spectrum, with some more immediately understandable than others, and the whole thing is certainly worthy of debate. But Fox News is less interested in debating these incidents than in jamming them all into an ongoing narrative of woke tyrannyand making that narrative the No. 1 story in America.

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Fox News has perfected the creation and monetization of moral panics as a means of reinforcing conservative tribal identity. Whats new here, more or less, is the networks timing. The 7 p.m. slot on Fox News has historically been reserved for programming from the networks news side. For decades, led by a handful of broadly respectable hosts, this time block offered Fox viewers the sort of interviews, reportage, and commentary that, though conservative-leaning, was meant to compete with other news programs on broadcast and cable stations across America. Since January, though, Fox News has been working to bring 7 p.m. more directly in line with the rest of its opinionated evening programmingand to find a permanent host who cares less about the news than about owning the libs.

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For the past two months, a rotating cast of guest hosts has taken over the not-quite-prime-time slot previously occupied by The Story With Martha MacCallum, which has moved to afternoons. These hosts have spent a week at a time regurgitating the same sorts of stories seen elsewhere on the network, with each trying to bring some personal flair to set them apart from the competition. The contenders range from old Fox News favorites to relatively new faces, former business reporters to former Real World participants, braying British-accented Canadians to honey-toned South Carolinians.

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None of the options is great. Kilmeade, said by some to have an inside track on the job, has been on the network for decades and has said approximately three thoughtful things in that time. Fox Business Network host Maria Bartiromo has pro-Trump bona fidesin a recent stint on Fox News Primetime, Bartiromo scored a live interview with Trump, and also cried on air while reminiscing about his corporate tax cutsbut is also a named defendant in Smartmatics $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox News over its feckless amplification of the former presidents stolen-election lies. Though Trey Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor who served in Congress for eight years, has the experience to shine light on the inner workings of the legislature and the judiciary, in his stints thus far he has instead preferred to offer rambling, cornpone monologues on broad topics like who do we trust in our everyday lives (God) and what would you want people to say about you at your funeral (that he was a good prosecutor). Well-traveled conservative pundit Mark Steyn marked his weeklong tryout in February by comparing the post-presidency impeachment of Donald Trump to the posthumous beheading of Oliver Cromwell in 1661, which is pretty much all you need to know about him. Katie Pavlich, Lawrence Jones, and Rachel Campos-Duffy, all familiar faces on Fox News, have also taken turns in the anchor chair, and left little impression on this exhausted viewer.

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Kilmeade was the third contender to be invited back for a second turn in the hosts chair. (Gowdy was the first repeat host, Bartiromo was second to return, and Campos-Duffy, up this week, is fourth.) As a Fox News fixtureKilmeade has co-hosted Fox & Friends since 1998he is well aware of what plays well on the network these days. (In short, tendentious right-wing framings of complicated cultural phenomena.) He is surely also aware of why the 7 p.m. slot has opened up, and what Fox News executives will expect from that slot once the permanent host is chosen. Fox is in need of an orthodox Trumpist lead-in to its marquee prime-time opinion programming, a show that will lure and retain the substantial percentage of conservative media consumers who believe the truth is exactly what the elitists in the lamestream media say it isnt. After almost a full quarter-century, the network has finally decided to cleanse its prime-time lineup of anything resembling actual news.

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When Fox News debuted back in 1996, it was competing not just with CNN, but with the broadcast network newscasts that still defined television journalism for most of the country. As such, the network devoted early evenings to relatively straightforward news programming, which were a bit more overtly conservative than what youd see on CBS or NBC, but were still broadly similar to the way TV news had always looked. For years, the 7 p.m. slot was filled by Shepard Smith and Fox Report. When Smith was bumped to afternoons back in 2013, his slot was filled by On the Record, hosted first by Greta Van Susteren and then by Brit Hume. After the 2016 presidential election, Tucker Carlsons opinion show appeared at 7 p.m. for two months before moving later into the evenings.

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Martha MacCallum took over 7 p.m. from Carlson and had held the slot ever since the early days of the Trump administration. Objectively, her show wasnt great; relative to the rest of the networks prime-time programming, it was a beacon of sanity. The Story had a distinctly pro-Trump outlook, yes, but it was still rooted in real-world events and occurrences, and was not exclusively composed of the weird theories and vendettas that shape the other shows in Foxs evening lineup.

In the immediate aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, though, a very strange thing happened: Fox News began to face serious competition from the right. Throughout 2020, then-President Trump had taken potshots at Fox News from his late, lamented Twitter account, blasting the network for being insufficiently obsequious to him. These simmering tensions boiled over on election night, when Fox made the shocking, and ultimately accurate, decision to call the state of Arizona for Joe Biden, days before any other cable network felt comfortable making the same call. Foxs projection complicated the Trump camps plans to prematurely declare victory on election night, and it is no exaggeration to say that if Fox hadnt called Arizona for Biden when it did, the transition period could have been even more chaotic than it turned out to be. Thanks for saving democracy, Fox News!

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In response to Foxs Arizona call, a sizable contingent of Always Trump viewers chose to defect to Newsmax TV and One America News Network, two smaller and battier cable networks that had never harbored any pretensions of being mistaken for actual journalism. Newsmax and OANN, unburdened by substantial newsgathering operations that might have offered reporting that would complicate the conspiratorial narratives that sprang up on the far-right in the postelection haze, were happy to indulge the Trump campaigns most risible theories and fantasies about the not-actually-disputed election results. As the stolen-election saga dragged on, many Fox defectors stuck with these new networks.

Newsmax, in particular, saw great gains in its own 7 p.m. slot, currently occupied by Greg Kelly Reports, whose hosta former New York City morning news guy and vocal Trump partisanwas more than happy to platform cranks like Sidney Powell and proclaim the election results to be indeterminate. Kelly offered stupid, intellectually dishonest punditry at 7 p.m. while, in the same time slot, Fox was still offering something vaguely resembling the news, and this put Fox at a competitive disadvantage. Before the election, according to CNN, Greg Kelly Reports logged a lackluster 100,000 viewers per night. By mid-November, Kellys program had become the first Newsmax TV program ever to draw more than a million viewers at a time; on at least one occasion, Greg Kelly Reports even beat The Story With Martha MacCallum head-to-head in the all-important 25-to-54-year-old viewer demographic. All of a sudden, Fox executives realized that their decadeslong primacy among right-wing cable viewers was in jeopardy.

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Newsmaxs ratings have fallen back to earth since Bidens inaugurationcable news ratings are down across the board compared with this time last yearwhile Fox News has regained its status as the top-rated cable news network. And lately, according to Adweek, its consistently ranked as the most-watched cable network, period.

In part, Foxs revived fortunes have at least something to do with the networks moves to win back viewers unwilling to tolerate even one moderately sane hour of evening programming. (Fox does still air the newsy, relatively straightforward Special Report With Bret Baier at 6 p.m., a liminal time slot that bridges afternoons and evenings on the network.) The notion of a nightly 7 p.m. news show on Fox is a vestigial remnant of an era when the mediasphere was smaller and perhaps less choleric, and people still watched cable news to learn about what was going on in the world. When Fox News moved The Story into the 3 p.m. slot back in January and opened the 7 p.m. slot up for its current carousel of collaborators, it was a tacit confirmation of something sentient observers have known for years: that the American right-wing news consumer no longer has much interest in turning to television for actual, legitimate information.

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And so demagoguery now reigns at 7 p.m. on Fox since mid-January, and so it will in the 11 p.m. hour as of April 5, as Shannon Breams Fox News @ Night gives way to a new Greg Gutfeld vehicle called, simply, Gutfeld!, which sounds like the title of a misbegotten Broadway musical thats canceled after four performances. (Breams show is moving back an hour to midnight.) The rotating Fox News Primetime hosts have cycled through a selection of the networks recent greatest hits. Theyve played up the current border crisis as a purported harbinger of American carnage to come, courtesy of Sleepy Joe Biden. Theyre destroying our country. People are coming in by the hundreds of thousands, Trump told Maria Bartiromo in mid-March. It is a crisis like weve rarely had, and certainly weve never had on the border. But its going to get much worse.

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WATCH: Donald Trump tells Maria Bartiromo, "My policies were working better than they've ever seen on the southern border... but they [Biden administration] are destroying our country." pic.twitter.com/s4PqB7ybDC  The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 16, 2021

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Theyve discussed the alleged atrocities being perpetrated by antifa and Black Lives Matter protesters in Democratic-run cities across the country, especially in contrast to what they deem to have been the comparatively peaceful incursion at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. (The Capitol is already rebuilt and restored, the money goes in, the cleaning crews come in, and they come out, said Kilmeade during his mid-January hosting stint. And as horrific as Jan. 6 is, its almost back to normal. Minneapolis is not back to normal, Kenosha is not back to normal, Seattle has never been normal.) Theyve gamely attempted to portray Joe Biden as a sleazy crook and radical liberal who will stop at nothing less than the de facto destruction of freedom in America. Were going to find out what liberal policies impact is on everyday American lives. And its not going to be pretty, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson told Bartiromo during her first turn in the chair. We wont have border security. Were seeing murder rates increase dramatically in Democrat-controlled cities. This is going to continue. Its not going to be good, Maria. Its not going to be good.

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But most of all, theyve cried foul about cancel culture, a term which means whatever Fox News wants it to mean at any given moment. Cancel culture has become the networks great theme in the early Biden administration as it attempts to reel back in its prodigal viewers by providing wall-to-wall coverage of a suite of largely illusory and unfalsifiable threats to the conservative version of the American way of life. The network seeks to deflect viewers attention from any good things that are happening in the countryor even any actual bad things that, for whatever reason, do not push right-wingers buttonsby focusing intently on the turmeric teadrinking, tweet-shaming enemy that is allegedly at the gate.

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In early March, for instance, during his second stint in the Fox News Primetime hosting chair, Trey Gowdy welcomed a fellow former U.S. representative, Tulsi Gabbard, who informed Gowdy that you see the final expression of cancel culture in Islamist terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaida, and suggested that cultivating a personal relationship with God is one of the best ways for everyday people to stand up to this cancel culture, this fearmongering, this bullying. Gabbards moralistic assertions get at the crux of why this cancel culture stuff is the GOPs strategy for counteracting the Biden presidency, as opposed to literally anything else actually about Joe Biden.

Trey Gowdy & Tulsi Gabbard compares cancel culture tactics to ISIS https://t.co/dBwD8dGZI8 via @YouTube  The Troll (@TheCityTroll) March 10, 2021

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For decades now, far-right political operators and media personalities have worked to cohere conservative electoral support by convincing values voters that godless, elitist leftists want to destroy their way of life, thus fulfilling Saul Alinskys final wishes. Many on the right are legitimately terrified that an online army of critical race theorists are plotting together to repeal their First Amendment right to tell ethnic jokes in the workplace, replace their Gadsden flags with antifa banners, and force their children to memorize selections from The Vagina Monologues.

This strategy is very stupid but also very effective, and it is certainly more effective than trying to win Republican voters on the merits of the partys actual policy platform, which mostly exists to benefit plutocrats who only care about culture warriorhood insofar as it keeps the rubes hot, bothered, and pliable. It also makes for addictive television, which is why Fox News will never, ever stop prosecuting the culture warsand why, in the Newsmax and OANN era, the network knows that it needs to be at the vanguard of the fight.

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Hence the networks ongoing fixation on cancel culture; hence the present and future of Fox News Primetime. Preceding Glenn Reynolds on Fox News Primetime last Tuesday was Ian Prior, exdeputy director of public affairs for the Department of Justice and a resident of Loudoun County, Virginia, who claimed that he had been targeted for cancellation by fellow parents for his opposition to the supposed teaching of critical race theory in county schools. So you didnt want your kid to grow up apologizing for being male or white? asked Kilmeade, and Prior chuckled. The segment went on, with Prior explaining that mockery was a powerful tool to use against the woke left, verifying that hes not saying that slavery didnt exist, and trying very hard to plug his new newsletter: Its ironic that the very people tried to cancel somebody that writes a newsletterthat comes out at 4 p.m. every dayon cancel culture!

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Ian Prior is fighting back on cancel culture after he says he was targeted for speaking out against critical race theory. pic.twitter.com/DzWrBkIWc2  Brian Kilmeade (@kilmeade) March 24, 2021

Ian, this is not over, right? asked Kilmeade. Prior verified that it is not, in fact, over. It never will be.
Thank you for reading!

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London:

Amid a spurt in terror attack, a new report by a think tank said that the UK is the biggest consumer of online Islamist extremism terror content in Europe.

The Policy Exchange study titled 'The New Netwar' found that Britain also ranks fifth in terms of world audience for extremist content after Turkey, the US, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, respectively.

After an in-depth analysis of clicks into such material, Britain emerged as the fifth most frequent location from which extremists content was being accessed online. The country also registered the largest number of clicks of such information in Europe.

"The evidence suggests that we are not winning the war against online extremism and we need to consider options for change," said Martyn Frampton, the lead author of the report.

"If the internet companies won?t do what their customers want and take more responsibility for removing this content, then government must take action through additional regulation and legislation," he said.

Contrary to previous claims, the report by the London-based center-right think tank revealed that Islamic State (IS) online output is not falling, but has remained consistent over the past three years.

Extremists are now increasingly relying on "swarmcast" technology, an interconnected network that constantly reconfigures itself and is highly resilient to disruption. "An average week will see over 100 new core articles, videos and newspapers produced by IS and disseminated across an avast ecosystem of platforms, file-sharing services, websites and social media," the report says.

"IS have adapted to shifts in technology and now useTelegram as their core communication platform for talking to sympathizers, even as platforms like Twitter, YouTube and Facebook remain vital for missionary activity," it warns.

The report comes days after the UK Home Office said that 379 arrests have been made for terror-related offenses in the country, a record 68 per cent increase in the last 12 months up to June this year. General David Petraeus, a former director of the intelligence agency CIA who wrote the foreword of the report, said the current situation was "clearly unacceptable".

He said: "The fight against IS, Al Qaeda, and the other elements of the global jihadist movement has become the defining struggle of the early 21st century.

"That struggle has increasingly been contested not just on the ground, but in a new domain of warfare, cyberspace...It is clear that our counter-extremism efforts and other initiatives to combat extremism online have, until now, been

inadequate". The report suggests new laws to criminalize the"aggravated possession and/or persistent consumption" of extremist ideology, but not to criminalize someone who"stumbles across" jihadist content.

Under Section 58 of the UK's Terrorism Act 2000, it is currently an offense to possess information that could assist a would-be terrorist, but not material which glorifies terrorism.

A survey of 2,001 adults in the UK by the Policy Exchange found that 74 percent of people supported new laws to criminalise the "persistent consumption" of extremist material online.

The think tank has called for the UK government proposed Commission for Countering Extremism to be empowered to oversee the removal of extremist content, and for the possible creation of an independent online regulator that could financially penalize companies that fail to remove extremist content.

Following the report, a Google spokesperson said:"Violent extremism is a complex problem and addressing it is an acritical challenge for us all. We are committed to being part of the solution and we are doing more every day to tackle these issues.

"We are making significant progress through machine learning technology, partnerships with experts and collaboration with other companies through the Global Internet Forum and we know there is more to be done."

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
President Joe Biden's White House is courting the progressive wing of the Democratic Party in a move that has infuriate moderates, who say they feel they are being taken for granted and are worried about primary challenges from the left.

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain has met twice in two weeks with leading House liberals as Biden shores up his legislative agenda with his attention turning to a $3 trillion infrastructure package. Biden will need moderate votes to get his measure passed on Capitol Hill.

In his role, both as the top political official at the White House and his close relationship with Biden, Klain has an outsized influence on the administration's agenda.

His sitdowns with the left - while he has yet to meet with moderates even as other White House officials have done so - has ruffled feathers on Capitol Hill.

'People were definitely sore that they invited over some of the lefties,' one moderate Democratic lawmaker told Politico's Playbook. The working assumption of the White House, this person added, is 'that we'll all just line up.'

President Joe Biden's White House is courting the progressive wing of the party meeting with liberal lawmakers like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and sparking outrage among the moderate wing of the party

President Joe Biden has seen his influential White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain sit down with progressives as the administration prepares to drop a massive infrastructure package

Compounding moderates' worries is the upcoming 2022 midterm election and their fear they could face primary challenges from the left.

'People were shocked that Ron Klain was going to see certain [progressive] members but not members of the committees that they need to get their agenda passed,' a House Democrat said. The lawmaker noted that liberals are 'challenging all of us' in primaries.

Two weeks ago, Klain had a sit down with the leadership of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

'Progressives are a big part of our party and making sure their voices are heard here at the White House is a big part of my job,' Klain told The Daily Beast last month.

Klain regularly speaks with liberal powerhouses Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren by phone.

He also met with some of the biggest names in the left-wing of the party in the House: Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman and other progressive lawmakers.

Bowman defeated long time moderate Representative Elliot Engle in the 2020 primary for the New York congressional seat.

Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Bowman during the primary in a move that infuriated moderates. Lawmakers have a tradition of supporting incumbents and many saw Ocasio-Cortez move as a threat to their own political well being.

Bowman joined 'The Squad' of progressive lawmakers in the House upon his election.

The group discussed the filibuster, minimum wage and other issues, Axios reported, citing people familiar with the meeting.

But Biden will need both wings of the party if he wants his massive infrastructure package passed by Congress.

It's the next item on the president's agenda. He'll unveil the specifics on Wednesday during a visit to Pittsburgh.

Biden is set to announce up to $3trillion in tax increases targeting the rich and middle class with his new and expensive propoal.

The hikes could hit Americans earning more than $400,000 a year, businesses, married couples and estates.

It is part of his bid to fund the revenue needed for his bold proposal to pay for new roads, bridges, green technology and 'human infrastructure' - which includes subsidies for Americans to pay for health insurance and measures to cut child poverty.

The increases could total $3 trillion, the Washington Post reported, with the cost of the infrastructure package running as high as $4 trillion. The rest of the money needed could be made up by borrowing.

One substantial hike that Biden campaigned on is raising the corporate tax rate to 28 per cent, from 21 per cent. Trump signed legislation dropping the rate to its present level from 35 per cent.

Biden has pledged that families earning more than $400,000 would not have their taxes raised, and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said this would apply to individual filers as well.

Progressive Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bownam of New York was one of the liberal lawmakers who got a White House meeting; he beat a moderate Democrat in the 2020 primary, which sparked fears of challenges from the left

The hikes are part of his bid to fund the revenue needed for his bold proposal to pay for new roads, bridges, green technology and 'human infrastructure' - which includes subsidies for Americans to pay for health insurance and measures to cut child poverty.

Another potential pay-for would get at the 'stepped up' basis for investments that go into estates. Under current law, long-held investments that get transferred at the time of death are only taxed when sold, and the new basis for taxation is set at the higher level at the time of death  potentially shielding millions worth of gains.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg touted a potential mileage tax last week to fund road improvements, only to say it wasn't being considered for the infrastructure package.

The White House also rejected those ideas.

A gas tax is politically risky and would weigh more heavily on lower-income Americans, who often travel longer distances for work.

House Democratic moderates, meanwhile, are making a play to raise the $10,000 cap on deductions for State and Local Taxes imposed by the Trump tax legislation. This would add costs to tax and infrastructure legislation.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) has already threatened not to go along with any tax legislation that doesn't take care of the issue, which hits homeowners in states like his with high property values. Given Speaker Nancy Pelosi's tiny majority, Gottheimer and his allies have leverage.

'No SALT, no dice,' he told Axios this week.
Maputo  The demobilisation of the militia of Mozambique's main opposition party, Renamo, has now been completed in the central province of Manica, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by Mirko Manzoni, the personal representative to Mozambique of United Nations General Secretary, Antonio Guterres, and chairperson of the contact group facilitating the dialogue between Renamo and the government.

He said that a further 817 former Renamo fighters, including 11 women, had been disarmed and demobilised "and have taken the first steps in economic and social reintegration". This was the result of work in three Renamo Manica bases, in the districts of Tambara, Barue and Mossurize, implementing the programme known as DDR (Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration).

Attempts had been made to persuade members of the dissident "Renamo Military Junta" to join the DDR. 43 of the Junta's members had joined the DDR in Manica, said Manzoni, the best known of whom was Andre Matsangaissa Junior, the nephew of the first Renamo commander, Andre Matade Matsangaissa.

"We are continuing to encourage all the remaining members of the Military Junta to choose dialogue to resolve their differences, and to remind them that the DDR process remains open to them", he said. "It is the most viable option to ensure their peaceful return to civilian life".

The end of DDR activities in Manica is "a significant landmark" in implementing the peace agreement signed in August 2019 between President Filipe Nyusi and Renamo leader, Ossufo Momade, added Manzoni.

To date, he said, more than half of the Renamo military bases have been closed, and 2,307 former Renamo fighters have been demobilised - which is 44 per cent of the total claimed by Renamo.

Manzoni was confident that the country "will remain on the right path to achieve a permanent peace and genuine reconciliation".
New Delhi:

Telangana Textiles and Handlooms Minister KT Rama Rao on Monday hit out against women taking to the streets in protest, against free sarees that were being distributed by the state government for the Bathukamma festival.

The free distribution of over one crore sarees for women below the poverty line for the upcoming traditional Bathukamma festival began on Monday across Telangana.

The Telangana government had said about 1.04 crore women will be given saris free of cost. The scheme costs Rs 222 crore. However, the saree distribution found itself in a row after women made bonfires of them at several places, claiming that they were of inferior quality.

Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao told reporters here that the government targeted to distribute about 1.04 crore sarees at over 8,000 centres in the state.

About 25 lakh sarees were distributed on the first day, he said. Hitting out at opposition parties, he alleged that Congress leaders were behind the incident of burning the distributed sarees at places like Chalgal in Jagitial district.

It is an utterly low level politics to burn the sarees, he said. "On the occasion of Bathukamma festival, all the poor women above the age of 18 will get sarees as a gift irrespective of caste, community or religion," Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had earlier said.

District Collectors of 31 districts in the state are overseeing the sarees distribution programme, Commissioner Textiles Shailaja Rama Iyer, told reporters.

She said power-loom weavers of Sircilla in the state have woven over 50 lakh sarees measuring up to 3.75 crore metres while remaining sarees have been procured from Surat after following open competitive tender process.

"There are over 500 designs of sarees which are being distributed. Polyester sarees distribution has been taken up? we got feedback that cotton sarees should also be distributed and we are open to the feedback," she said.

Reacting to queries that some women complained and protested in few places over alleged poor quality of sarees, Iyer and Principal Secretary of the Industries Jayesh Ranjan said there is no compromise with regard to quality of sarees.

"We stand by the quality of the sarees. As per specifications the sarees have been produced and there is no problem at all," they claimed.

Iyer maintained that there is no quality issue with regard to sarees being distributed. "Sarees are inspected and also tested and there is no such quality issue. If there is any specific problem on one or two sarees we have permitted replacement. If there is any specific issue on quality we will take up the matter."

"Factories were also inspected. There are no quality issues in the saris and I want to indicate that very clearly. We stand firm by the quality of the saris that we have produced," Iyer said.

"If there is any specific quality issue with regard to specifications it can brought our notice," added Iyer. She said sari specifications of Surat are slightly different when compared to Sircilla.

On allegations that saris priced at Rs 50 were distributed, both Ranjan and Iyer dismissed the allegations and said each Sircilla sari is priced at Rs 224 while the Surat sari costs Rs 200.

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Jaipur, March 30 : In an exercise of the powers conferred by Article 161 of the Constitution and Section 432(1) of CrPC, the Government of Rajasthan announced premature release of about 1350 prisoners on Tuesday on the occasion of Rajasthan Diwas which falls on March 30 each year.

These prisoners mainly include those who have completed 14 years of actual imprisonment and earned a minimum of 2.5 years of remission and are already on permanent parole. The decision has been made by the Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on recommendations made by Director General, Prisons Rajeev Dasot.

"This announcement is a historic one which will go a long way towards the correctional and rehabilitative approach being adopted by the CM Ashok Gehlot," Dasot said.

The Rajasthan Government has been persistently working for the welfare of all citizens of the state. In the direction, rehabilitation of the convicted persons is also crucial.

Once convicted, many repent their criminal past and are willing to make a new beginning.

"The Rajasthan Government has taken several initiatives to support those willing to acquire new livelihood skills and return home as an improved person. The tate Government's decision to premature release the 1350 inmates will relieve them from bonds on parole and help them return to a normal life," he added.
[March 30, 2021] Zoomin raises $52M to meet rapidly rising demand for its knowledge orchestration solutions

NEW YORK and TEL AVIV, Israel, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoomin Software , a leading provider of knowledge orchestration solutions, today announced that it has raised a $52M Series C round led by General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm, with participation from returning investors Bessemer Venture Partners, Salesforce Ventures and Viola Growth. The new investment follows the company's last funding announcement only four months ago and comes as Zoomin is experiencing a surge in demand, with a growing number of enterprises recognizing the strategic value of product content. Every enterprise creates massive amounts of product content  such as user guides, knowledge articles and community discussions  that help customers use products to their greatest potential. Zoomin is setting a new standard for product experiences by transforming this trove of content into intuitive self-service experiences for customers. Its platform continuously ingests evolving product information from all sources and delivers the most relevant, personalized product answers to each user, wherever they need it. This includes documentation sites, customer service portals, support communities, product applications and more. Zoomin has been on a strong growth trajectory as a result of highly accelerated demand for its product content solutions. In 2020, the company more than doubled the number of new customers compared to 2019 and saw a surge in usage and adoption, with an over 300% increase in the volume of product content served through its platform. This reflects heightened demand for intuitive product content solutions as broader customer experience trends shift. Customers increasingly desire to self-serve answers rather than rely on enterprise support teams, with customer adoption of digital support channels nearly doubling in 2020 and 60% of businesses expected to implement self-service portals within the next 12-18 months to cater to this demand. By empowering end-users to independently find information, Zoomin served over 55 million product answers worldwide last year alone. For man Zoomin enterprise customers, this improved user experience led to product content accounting for up to 70% of their overall web traffic. Data-driven insights yielded from these content interactions are able to drive important enterprise KPIs such as decreased support costs, increased customer retention and improved customer satisfaction.



"This investment attests to the skyrocketing demand among companies across industries  spanning hardware and software, financial services, healthcare and even fast-food  to provide a seamless, intuitive product content experience to their customers," said Gal Oron, co-founder and CEO of Zoomin. "We look forward to further powering our go-to-market machine and to radically enhancing what is essentially the front-line of every company." Zoomin will use the new funds to further fuel its go-to-market strategy and to expand its product offering and analytics to a wider range of enterprise organizations, in order to meet the growing demand. Additionally, the new funding will enable Zoomin to increase market share in EMEA and expand into the APAC region.

"We are excited to be supporting Zoomin in this important step of their growth story through an investment that marks our third-ever partnership in the burgeoning Israeli tech market. At General Atlantic, we pride ourselves on identifying category builders and growth-oriented disruptors, and view Zoomin as a natural fit given those priorities," said Alex Crisses, Managing Director, Global Head of New Investment Sourcing and Co-Head of Emerging Growth at General Atlantic. "Having helped build the increasingly important field of knowledge orchestration from the ground up, Zoomin is providing much-needed value to large enterprises," continued Gary Reiner, a current General Atlantic Operating Partner and previous GE Chief Information Officer. "We look forward to partnering with and supporting Zoomin as they continue to innovate the way that customers experience crucial enterprise product content." About Zoomin Zoomin Software is a leading knowledge orchestration platform, empowering enterprise customers to independently use products to their greatest potential. Zoomin continuously ingests evolving product information from all siloed sources and delivers the most relevant, personalized product answers to each user, wherever they need it, within an intuitive, self-service experience. This radically improved product content experience deepens product usage, prevents frustration-driven churn and reduces burden on support. Using machine learning-powered analytics, Zoomin provides actionable insights that guide decision-making across the enterprise. Zoomin is backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, General Atlantic, Salesforce Ventures and Viola Growth, was named a 2020 Gartner Cool Vendor and is an official partner of Salesforce and ServiceNow. Founded by Gal Oron, Joe Gelb and Hannan Saltzman, Zoomin is headquartered in NYC, with offices in Tel Aviv and London. For more information visit www.zoominsoftware.com . About General Atlantic General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm providing capital and strategic support for growth companies. Established in 1980, General Atlantic combines a collaborative global approach, sector specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon, and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great entrepreneurs and management teams to build market-leading businesses worldwide. General Atlantic has more than 175 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Greenwich, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Munich, Palo Alto, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit the website: www.generalatlantic.com . Zoomin Press Contact

Allison Grey

Headline Media

allison@headline.media

+1.323.283.8176 General Atlantic Press Contacts

Mary Armstrong & Emily Japlon

General Atlantic

media@generalatlantic.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zoomin-raises-52m-to-meet-rapidly-rising-demand-for-its-knowledge-orchestration-solutions-301258246.html SOURCE Zoomin Software

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An Amish buggy makes its way down the road in the town of Nickel Mines, Pa., in a file photo. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

Amish, Mennonite Communities in Pennsylvania May Have Reached Herd Immunity: Medical Center

Amish and Mennonite communities in a Pennsylvania county may have reached immunity for the CCP virus, according to a local health official.

Allen Hoover, an administrator at the Parochial Medical Center in the heart of the Amish community in Lancaster Countys New Holland Borough, said he believes as many as 9 in 10 households in the local Amish and Mennonite communities have had at least one family member contract the CCP virus, which causes COVID-19.

He said he believes this is an indicator that COVID-19 herd immunity has been achieved within the communities.

So, you would think if COVID was as contagious as they say, it would go through like a tsunami; and it did, Hoover said, reported The Associated Press.

At the peak of the outbreak, nearly 15 percent of the Parochial Medical Centers daily patients were those who had tested positive for COVID-19, Hoover said.

Cases then dropped throughout the summer, with a slight uptick in the fall, he said. Now, the medical center hasnt seen a visitor with COVID-19 symptoms in approximately six weeks, Hoover noted.

The Plain community in Lancaster County, where both approximately 40,525 Amish and 5,700 Mennonites live, represents a significant portion of the countys population. Combined, it represents nearly 8 percent of the countys 545,000 residents, according to estimates from Elizabethtown Colleges Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. The Parochial Medical Center has 33,000 active patients.

Herd immunity occurs when a large enough portion of the population acquires immunity from an infectious diseaseeither naturally from prior infection or temporarily through vaccinationthat it no longer spreads widely.

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) in October 2020 quietly changed the concept of herd immunity to only include acquired immunity from vaccination, two months later, it added naturally acquired immunity from a previous infection back into its definition of herd immunity, and stressed that the health organization supports achieving herd immunity through vaccination.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the Amish and Mennonite communities in Lancaster county canceled church services as per stay-at-home orders. But by April 2020, services had resumed, where they shared communion cups and greeted each other with holy kisses.

It was bad here in the spring; one patient right after another, said Pam Cooper, a physicians assistant at the medical center.

Some public health officials and epidemiologists have voiced concern, however, that a misplaced perception of herd immunity in a population that makes up 8 percent of Lancaster County may compromise the effort to turn the tide on the pandemic.

Herd immunity is only true at a given point in time, said Eric Lofgren, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Washington State University. Its not a switch that once it gets thrown, youre good. Itll wear off.

You can have a long period where you think everything is OK but you have this whole population thats susceptible, said David Lo, professor of biomedical sciences and senior associate dean of research at the University of CaliforniaRiverside.

All it takes is one person whos contagious to give you this sudden outbreak.

Hoover agreed with the epidemiologists. He added that while some in the Plain community may no longer feel a need to follow the COVID-19 public health directives due to their perception that COVID-19 cases have reduced, he still believes people need to pay attention to preventing any spread of the virus.

We should be careful that were not the cause of it spreading, Hoover said.

Since the start of the pandemic, Lancaster County has recorded 974 COVID-19 deaths and 47,430 confirmed cases as of March 29 from those who have agreed to testing. Of the close to 1,000 deaths, only 42 were of individuals under 60 years of age. Close to 50 percent of CCP virus victims died in nursing homes, 44 percent at a hospital, and around 6 percent at home.

Experts still dont know what percentage of the population needs to be immune to achieve herd immunity. However, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top medical adviser to President Joe Biden, has estimated that at least 70 percent of Americans need COVID-19 vaccines before herd immunity will be reached.

Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), told The Hill last week that achieving herd immunity will depend on whether people who are hesitant to receive the vaccine for COVID-19 can be convinced by trustworthy voices to get the vaccine.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, and soon after IT leaders rushed to mitigate the impact on their businesses, marshaling teams to work remotely.

CIOs boosted infrastructure capacity, shipped laptops to residences, and migrated applications small and large to software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications and cloud software. Eighty-two percent of CIOs surveyed say they have implemented new technologies and IT strategies during the pandemic, according to IDGs 2021 State of the CIO survey.

Beyond implementing new technologies at scale, CIOs embraced the mental-health hurdles associated with managing remote teams whose work-life balance has been disrupted.

RSM International Paul Herring, global chief innovation officer, RSM International

Like most organizations, the pandemic took us by surprise, says Paul Herring, global chief innovation officer of accounting firm RSM International. We had to adjust quickly.
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The number of COVID-19 cases



in the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has gone up to 70, civic officials said on Tuesday.

On Sunday, the premier had said 45 of its students, faculty and staff members tested positive for the viral infection over the last two weeks.

"There are 70 positive cases in the IIMA now," Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's deputy health officer Mehul Acharya told PTI.

These people were found positive in the RT-PCR tests conducted by the institute on its campus, he said.

"They have formed a quarantine centre and all COVID-19 patients are kept in the separate facility. Their doctors and our teams are regularly monitoring the health of those who are found positive," Acharya said.

As per the COVID-19 dashboard of the IIMA, out of the 70 people who have tested positive, 59 are in quarantine.

It further says that 43 students, one faculty and 15 staff members are in quarantine.

The COVID-19 cases started rising in the IIMA from the second week of March when a student tested positive on the campus after a gap of nearly a month.

Within ten days, ten more people tested positive, and the number went up to 46 by last week, it said.

Over the last couple of days, the number reached 70.

In the last 210 days, the institute conducted 3,917 tests, both the rapid antigen and RT-PCR, for the detection of

Most of the people who have tested positive at the IIMA are asymptomatic, a senior official said.

Visits to the campus are restricted and those coming to stay with the students or faculty from outside are required to submit a self-declaration form and stay quarantined for a stipulated time, officials said.

Ahmedabad city is also seeing a huge surge in cases. It reported 602 new infections on Monday, as per the state government's health bulletin.

(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 skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
NEW HAVEN  When the state expands vaccine eligibility to all residents 16 and older Thursday, teenagers might find themselves waiting.

In a memo released by the state Department of Public Health to vaccine providers Monday, officials said there would be no allotments of first doses for student vaccination clinics in the first weeks of April.

However, there are plans for student clinics in some Connecticut school districts by April 19. The state outlined in its memo that Alliance School Districts can conduct on-site school clinics between April 19 and May 7 as part of an effort to increase vaccination rates in underserved communities.

Alliance Districts are school districts with the highest levels of poverty and other barriers to educational attainment.

Were in the early planning stages for the rollout of clinics and vaccine allocation for high school and university students, said State Department of Education spokesman Peter Yazbak. Connecticut is conducting direct outreach to district superintendents, in coordination with local departments of health, to discuss hosting additional high school clinics later this spring.

According to the DPH memo, there is a goal to offer first doses of the vaccine in Alliance District school clinics. The department said it expects the supply of vaccines will exceed demand by early May.

Despite the assistance offered by student clinics, the state said in its memo that eligible students will be able to schedule vaccine appointments elsewhere in the community.

New Haven Health Director Maritza Bond did not share any information about school clinic planning Tuesday.

The New Haven Health Department will follow all vaccine prioritizations as outlined by the State and Governor [Ned] Lamont, she said. A plan and messaging will be forthcoming on how we exactly will implement these new prioritizations.

In the East Shore District Health Department, which covers East Haven, Branford and North Branford, health officials have only received the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, neither of which is authorized for use on people under age 18.

Rita Foster, public health nurse supervisor for ESDHD, said if the district were to receive the proper inventory of Pfizer doses, anyone under 18 will be required to have a parent or guardian present to give consent.

Thats how we do our flu shots, she said.

Like the ESDHD, the city of Middletown only has access to the Moderna vaccine, which means health officials cant inoculate 16- or 17-year-olds, as only the Pfizer doses are approved for youth, according to Acting Health Director Kevin Elak. Those 18 and older will be eligible for shots beginning Thursday, he said.

The drive-through Community Health Center clinic on Vine Street, near Wesleyan University, has the Pfizer vaccine, Elak said.

Cases are slightly on the rise, he said. We are seeing a little uptick in Middletown and the rest of Connecticut. There are a few of those who are kids.

Elak encouraged parents who are thinking of getting their youth(s) vaccinated to do so, especially considering COVID-19 variants, which spread a little bit easier.

During his second to last report to local officials, the city was in the orange level, with 13 per 100,000 positive cases. That has since increased to 22, putting Middletown in the red risk level, Elak said.

In speaking with the CDC recently, Elak learned even President Biden said we have to be vigilant a little bit longer. Were almost in the end zone, but we cant spike the ball yet.

Cassandra Day contributed to this story. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
I guess she's gonna smell like prison now

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Oh dang I came here to make the same comment 

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Fucking scumbag. I loathe people like this so fucking much. How DARE you take advantage of the elderly? I'd love to have 2 minutes alone with her tbh to show her what it's like to feel utterly helpless and worried that my future is gone. Piece of complete gutter trash.



...no, i found 50 bucks in the gutter once.



Piece of complete lower intestinal trash.

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I don't understand how people this shameless then decide it's a good idea to be on television. Like the arrogance to not only be an awful person but then to brag about it on tv.

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sociopaths? psychopaths? soulless? idek, i couldn't possibly imagine being able to do this to a single person, much less hundreds of thousands.

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Did you really find money in a gutter??

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More like TRASHah

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a RHOSLC housewife got arrested for fraud and it is not Mary?

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Nah. Stealing in the name of The Lord is completely legal and non-taxable.

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Betcha that Marys stuff is better covered. Her hubby is nobodys fool.

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I was listening to a podcast today (or yesterday) and someone referenced a person from RHOSLC and said I just found out she made her money by and I wonder if this is the same person. I wish I could remember what podcast, what person, and what method of earning. My head hurts. Anyway.





* It was Anna Hossnieh on Ethnically Ambiguous



Edited at 2021-03-30 07:56 pm (UTC)

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at the reunion she was questioned about what she does for a living and why she needs a million assistants- she just pulled a bunch of words out of her ass-



I need a lot of help, you know? They all do different things, Jen explained. I run a lot of different companies and businesses, and a lot of them have different roles in the companies.



My background is in direct response marketing for about 20 years, so our company does advertising. We have a platform that helps people acquire customers, so when youre shopping online or on the Internet, and something pops, we have the algorithm behind why youre getting served that ad, she said.

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is direct response marketing a MLM?

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I don't know if it's true, but I saw someone tweet that the cast was leaving on a trip today- I'm praying to a god I don't believe in that they were, cameras were there for the arrest, and they we'll get to see the footage.

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I saw someone mention that Andy said they were like knee deep in snow in Utah while filming, and now I'm just cackling at the idea of cameramen rushing through 2 feet of snow trying to get a shot.

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Her hairdresser posted a video of Jen getting her hair done yesterday with getting ready before the trip (or something like that). Jen reposted it this morning. About an hour ago Jens stories got deleted.



Edited at 2021-03-30 10:08 pm (UTC)

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Holy shit!



I thought sis was living beyond her means, she was using other peoples. Shabomination!

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I thought this too. I remember thinking she was living way above what she could afford and I wasn't sure how she was funding it. I guess we know now!

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Wow. Lock her up.

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Telemarketing is bad enough, and scamming old people on top of that? So gross. Hope she has to pay them back.

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Senior citizens? 

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Is she the one who married her grandfather or something?

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But one of them did right? Or am I thinking of a different show lol

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no, that's mary

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that's mary. she is also a scam artist (with her bullshit church), but she hasn't been charged

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Nnnnnnn what???

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wow



i remember when she briefly mentioned this company in either an episode or the reunion



was coach arrested too?

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No he is not named in the indictment

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so crazy

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damn, old folks?! inexcusable.



i smell a divorce announcement once her case is done and shes tossed in the clinker

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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) has released a new edition of its KAER toolkit, which is intended to support primary care teams in implementing a comprehensive approach to initiating conversations about brain health, detecting and diagnosing dementia, and providing individuals with community-based supports. It includes practical approaches, educational resources, and validated clinical tools that teams can integrate into their clinical workflow.

The GSA KAER Toolkit for Primary Care Teams is focused on a model first introduced in a 2015 report from the GSA Workgroup on Cognitive Impairment Detection and Earlier Diagnosis. The acronym is derived from a four-step process:

Kickstart the brain health conversation

the brain health conversation Assess for cognitive impairment

for cognitive impairment Evaluate for dementia

for dementia Refer for community resources

"Alzheimer's disease and related dementias have been a longstanding priority area for GSA members," said GSA Director of Strategic Alliances, Judit Illes, BCL/LLB, MS, CPHQ, who led the development of the new edition. "With the pending approval of a disease-modifying therapy, there is a renewed sense of urgency around improving early detection and diagnosis. However, it typically takes many years to translate new clinical tools and guidance into practice. We hope that the KAER toolkit will help to accelerate change."

Among the enhancements from the toolkit's original 2017 edition are a shorter, more accessible digital format; an improved format with navigation tabs for each step; key section takeaways for ease of use; a new section on ways care team members can be reimbursed for implementing steps in the toolkit; an expanded section on brain health and risk factors for dementia; and updated table of cognitive assessment tools; and an expanded section on referral to community resources and randomized controlled trials.

The content of the toolkit and selection of tools was developed for primary care teams. GSA recognizes that health care professionals outside the primary care setting also play a valuable role in detecting cognitive impairment. Medical educators and medical students may also find its contents useful.

"To assist healthcare professionals to provide the highest quality patient-centered care, it is recommended that professionals evaluate people age 65 and older for thinking and memory problems," said Patricia Heyn, PhD, FGSA, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus who served as a reviewer of the toolkit.

"The KAER toolkit is guided by the current evidence and it supports that documenting mild cognitive impairment in a person's medical record can be instrumental in alerting healthcare professionals and medical staff about the patient's cognitive status, so that the best care is provided to the patient," Heyn added. "Early diagnosis can help identify forms of cognitive impairment that may even be reversible, including those caused by sleep problems, depression, alcohol consumption, or medications. It can also help with new treatments and behavioral approaches that can improve a person's daily living and quality of life such as correcting hearing loss and avoiding social isolation."

GSA's work on the KAER model and toolkit has attracted the attention of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has awarded a two-year Special Interest Project to review, refine, test, and evaluate components of the KAER toolkit in primary care. The award recipient is Annette Fitzpatrick, PhD, a research professor of family medicine at University of Washington (UW) and an affiliate investigator of the UW Health Promotion Research Center (a CDC Prevention Research Center). Fitzpatrick and her team will use the results from this project to provide suggestions for the practical application of the KAER toolkit and initiate steps for integrating tools into a broader reach of primary care practices within the multi-state UW Medicine network.

For the next phase of GSA's efforts, a Sponsors Circle has been established to ensure that the KAER workstreams are sustainable so that program goals can be successfully achieved over a multi-year period.

"GSA looks forward to working with the initial supporters for 2021 -- Eli Lilly, which also helped support the 2017 edition of the toolkit, and Avanir Pharmaceuticals -- to raise awareness about best practices in dementia care and disseminate new KAER-related tools," Illes said.

###

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society -- and its 5,500+ members -- is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public. GSA's structure also includes a policy institute, the National Academy on an Aging Society.
Two defendants in 2016 Karelia lake tragedy case acquitted again

 The Petrozavodsk City Court in Karelia

11:17 30/03/2021

MOSCOW, March 30 (RAPSI) - The Petrozavodsk City Court in Karelia on Tuesday again acquitted ex-chief of the Republics division of the Russian consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor Anatoly Kovalenko and his ex-deputy Lyudmila Kotovich in a case over childrens death in Syamozero lake in 2016, RAPSI was told in the courts press service.

The acquitted persons have a right to rehabilitation, the court held.

In June 2020, the Supreme Court of Russias Republic of Karelia overturned acquittal of Kovalenko and Kotovich and ordered retrial. The sentence against other defendants was upheld at the appeal hearing.

In March 2020, ex-director of Syamozero Park Hotel camp Elena Reshetova was sentenced to 9.5 years behind bars as part of the case. Reshetovas deputy Vadim Vinogradov received the same prison term. Both of them were found guilty of rendering of services in violation of safety protocol which accidentally lead two or more people to death.

The camps instructor Valery Krupodershikov was convicted of failure to give assistance to persons in mortal danger and received an 8-month jail term. However, he was released under the statute of limitations.

The court also granted compensation claims against the defendants and collected 21.1 million rubles (about $330,000) from Reshetova, 18 million rubles ($280,000) from Vinogradov and 1.15 million rubles ($18,000) from Krupodershikov in favor of victims.

Three other defendants, Kovalenko, Kotovich and instructor Pavel Ilyin were acquitted.

According to investigators, on June 18, 2016, 47 children and instructors of the childrens camp Park-Hotel Syamozero were sailing on a raft and two canoes over the lake Syamozero in Karelia despite the fact that management of the camp were informed about dangerous weather conditions.

Children were accompanied by 4 adults who did not take gathering storm into account. Storm made sailing extremely dangerous: a raft with children and two adults washed up near one of the islands while both canoes were capsized, leaving passengers in the open waters. Only some managed to swim across to the shore. 14 children drowned. Other children survived and were evacuated.

In April 2017, ambulance paramedic Irina Shcherbakova, who had refused to notify rescue services about children drowning in Syamozero, received a 3-year prison term. The sentence was suspended until Shcherbakovas daughter reaches the age of 14.
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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the commencement of the process for the appointment of new permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.

This is contained in a circular by Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Folashade Yemi-Esan, and issued to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.

She said the new permanent secretaries will fill vacancies of retired and those retiring in 2021 from Ekiti, Enugu, Katsina, Lagos and Nasarawa States.

She explained that only officers in the mainstream Federal Civil Service, who had attained the position of substantive Director on Grade Level 17 on or before January 1, 2019, are qualified.

In addition, she noted that those who had updated their records on the IPPIS verification portal and were from the affected states, were also qualified for the positions.

Those who are not retiring from service earlier than Dec. 31, 2022 are eligible to participate. Officers undergoing disciplinary proceedings are excluded from the exercise, the HOCSF stated.

Mrs Yemi-Esan said permanent secretaries were requested to forward a list of eligible directors on GL 17 in their ministries, their confidential and personnel files and 20 copies of their Curriculum Vitae.

Brief on each of the directors should be produced in Microsoft word, which should be submitted in both 20 hard copies and soft copies, via email to ohcsfemd@gov.ng and also in a flash drive; with evidence of State of Origin, not acquired by marriage in the case of female directors.

The required documents are expected to reach the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, on or before 4.00pm on Friday, April 30.

Selection process will require a written examination, ICT proficiency test, Microsoft word, Excel and PowerPoint and interactive session with a broad-based panel of experts and practitioners, she said.

(NAN)
Artists get lonely, too.

Creating can be a solitary process in the best of times, but a year of COVID-19S enforced quarantines has left some local artists longing for the collegial interaction and camaraderie they enjoyed at Columbias once-plentiful art openings, events and exhibitions.

Ron Hagell and Flavia Lovatelli decided they had do something about that.

The resulting exhibition, Its Been a While, opens this week at Tapps Outpost in Five Points.

The idea was sparked in a conversation between mixed-media creators Lovatelli and Hagell, who had neighboring studios in Tapps former location on Main Street, and Charleston-based multimedia artist Kristi Ryba, whom they both knew from previous years participating in Lake Citys annual ArtFields competition.

All expressed longing for what would have normally been a busy spring, with opportunities to participate in community-wide events such as ArtFields, Columbias Open Studios tour, and the popular First Thursday art crawls along Columbias Main Street.

First Thursdays were like an Open Studios tour once a month, Hagell recalled, reminiscing about how they afford participating artists the opportunity for socialization among their peers as well as the art-viewing (and hopefully art-buying) public. We realized that it's been such a long time since we have been able to have an opening night like the old Tapp's First Thursday openings, and it's been a long while since much at all has happened in the art community. But also, we thought that many of us have been making things for a year that have not been seen by many.

Hagell is a photographer, painter and filmmaker who taught screen writing at Columbia University, the Rhode Island School of Design, and several colleges in Germany and England. He and Lovatelli, whose work has been seen in recent art crawls in the Cottontown neighborhood, took the lead curatorially, each developing a short list of colleagues whose work they admired, and whom they then approached about participating in a group exhibition.

Tapps Executive Director Caitlin Bright quickly came on board, providing the space, plus technical assistance and expertise for what all hoped would be the first big group show of 2021, at a time when regulations were finally being relaxed, people were being vaccinated, health fears were less drastic, and the public, they felt, might be ready to venture out for something special.

In a sense the pandemic reset the rules, Bright said. Theres nothing holding us back from rescripting the process.

To that end, the executive director sees her continuing role at Tapps as providing leadership in the form of support, guidance and facilitation for creative projects that are brought to her, rather than following a programming model that dictates whose works gets seen and whose doesnt. She observed that makers create their own networks, leading to events, such as Its Been a While, that come together organically.

Bright said that emphasis now in programming is not to presume to judge the quality of someones work, but rather to assess whether the participants are committed to their goal.

Ive always pledged allegiance to the power of art in society, Bright said, expressing a desire to create and foster not just transactional but transformational relationships in the community. When you have a hub or convening space to bounce ideas off of each other, it creates a transformational experience.

It percolates, Hagell added.

Taking its name from a chance observation by Lovatelli, Its Been a While includes works from Susan Lenz, Michael Krajewski, Gerard Erley, Janet Swigler, Keith Tolen, Bonnie Goldberg, Stephen Chesley, Heidi Darr Hope, Kirkland Smith, Sharon Collings Licata, Molly Harrell, Tabitha Ott, Diko Pekdemir, Olga Yukhno, plus Ryba, Hale and Lovatelli.

Hagell observed that many of his colleagues have created work that either directly or indirectly addresses the events of the past year. Stephen Chesleys realistic landscape Cloud Portrait, Hagell said, could be interpreted as depicting metaphorical clouds of despair finally drifting away, while Gerard Erleys Pandemic Cardinals makes a more overt statement. In Rybas The Fall of Tyranny, medieval historical figures are re-imagined as members of the Trump administration.

Safety protocols such as mandatory mask usage, social distancing and a limited capacity will still be in effect, according to Bright. Opening day hours on April 3 are from 1 to 8 p.m., an effort to keep too many people from trying to crowd in at any one time, and Bright has the option to open the spaces back doors onto a large, undeveloped, open air space behind Tapps to handle any overflow.

Bright said she hopes for a day of conversation, answers, questions and connections.

Its about catching up after over a year. Its a visual story of 17 people, she said, adding that she anticipates a lot of sharing, commiserating, sympathy and empathy.

Theres going to be joy and heartbreak, when you havent seen someone in a year. The art will drive that narrative.

Its Been a While

April 3-May 1 (1-8 p.m. opening day reception). outpostartspace.org.
MUMBAI, India, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Perennials and Sutherland, LLC, leader in the international design industry and the preeminent provider of luxury furniture, performance textiles and accessories, has announced the opening of a showroom in Mumbai, India. Located in the posh neighborhood of Colaba, the newest Perennials showroom will offer a curation of Perennials Fabrics and Rugs, as well as select Sutherland Furniture. The opening comes after the brand's successful Perennials India expansion, a three-building rug facility in Gujarat that houses hundreds of artisans and looms  the manufacturing HQ of Perennials Rugs.

Since the inception of Perennials India in 2018, the local team has seen an uptick of sales inquiries within the Indian market. The exciting design community in Mumbai proved irresistible for the first Perennials India showroom. The 1,600 square foot space will house a limited selection of fabrics and rugs, as well as a handful of Sutherland Furniture designs.

Amol Biniwale, Managing Director, Perennials India, spearheads the on-site operations and India business development. "'I believe that Perennials is the answer to the collective aspiration of the elite interior design community and the affluent class of India, which is long awaiting the luxury with performance to decor their homes," says Biniwale.

The Mumbai showroom will cater to architects and interior designers with trade pricing.

Ann Sutherland, CEO of Perennials and Sutherland, LLC says, "The beautiful Indian traditions of rug making involve wool and cotton yarns, so the local design community is very excited for artisan rugs made with our 100% solution-dyed acrylic yarns. We are thrilled to educate Indian designers on luxury performance underfoot."

Perennials Fabrics and Rugs are available to interior designers and architects through fine showrooms and studios worldwide.

About Perennials and Sutherland, LLC

The Perennials and Sutherland, LLC companies are icons and acknowledged leaders in the international design industry. Chairman of the Board David Sutherland and CEO Ann Sutherland share an ingenious talent for creating the finest interior and exterior collections of luxury furniture, fabrics, rugs and accessories. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company is comprised of Sutherland Furniture, Perennials Luxury Performance Fabrics and David Sutherland Showrooms.

Sutherland Furniture is a world leader in luxury outdoor furniture for modern lifestyles. The company has created the preeminent furniture brand through partnerships with the world's leading designers. View the full collections at sutherlandfurniture.com.

David Sutherland Showrooms are full-service, multi-line showrooms which serve the professional design market across the world. David Sutherland Showrooms and Sutherland Perennials Studios are located in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dania, London, San Francisco, Atlanta, Laguna Niguel, Seattle, Scottsdale, Santa Fe, Denver, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Paris, Munich, and Mexico City. For more information, visit davidsutherlandshowroom.com.

Perennials Fabrics is recognized by interior designers and high-end retail customers as the leader in luxury performance fabrics. Perennials Fabrics and Perennials Luxury Performance Rugs combine the look and feel of high-quality, natural materials with the superior performance properties of their genuine 100% solution-dyed acrylic fiber technology. View the full collections at perennialsfabrics.com.

SOURCE Perennials and Sutherland, LLC
[March 30, 2021] Survey: CFOs seen transitioning from crisis management to growth

According to a recent survey by Grant Thornton (News - Alert) LLP, most chief financial officers (CFOs) are focused on growth and turning the lessons from the pandemic into a road map for the future. The survey reveals that many CFOs plan to cut travel and real estate expenses in the coming year and beyond. Of the 250 respondents surveyed in February 2021, 31% plan to minimize real estate and facilities expenses over the next year, while 32% plan to permanently decrease their company's real estate footprint. Further, 45% expect a decrease in travel expenses over the next year, while 41% plan to decrease travel expenses permanently. The survey, which is the first installment in Grant Thornton's new quarterly CFO survey series, shows that finance leaders found unexpected upsides over the past year: More than 60% of CFOs pointed to improved flexible and remote work environments at their companies - and more than 40% reported improved collaboration. Similarly, 40% noted improved business processes and an ability to better focus on strategy. These findings came as something of a surprise in a year when businesses have severely curtailed face-to-face interactions. "A year ago, CFOs were scrambling just to survive, but sometimes a crisis can accelerate positive change," said Chris Schenkenberg, Regional Tax Business Lines national managing partner at Grant Thornton. "It's clear that, especially among private companies, finance leaders haven't settled for going back to the past. They've asked what's possible, not just what's wrong, and found new ways to push their organizations forward." DE&I and ESG rank as top priorities Racial unrest across the country turned the spotlight on DE&I (diversity, equity and inclusion) - while ESG (environmental, social and governance) concerns continue to be a top focus for businesses. More than 75% of respondents reported DE&I and ESG as being "priorities" or being "important" within their organizations, with more than half planning to increase investment in these areas. When asked how they plan to track DE&I investment, 50% of senior finance executives said they would use employee engagement tools, while 48% indicated recruitment practices. Just over half (56%) of CFOs said they plan to use software solutions to track ESG investment. "Consumers and employees alike are demanding increased action and more transparency on DE&I and ESG issues," said Enzo Santilli, Transformation Advisory Business Line leader at Grant Thornton. "It's vital for businesses to invest in these areas, and that means learning how best to measure returns on them." Investment in technology and cybersecurity as remote work takes hold According to the survey, the pandemic has also pushed senior finance executives to reprioritize technology investment: Fifty-three percent of respondents are prioritizing long-term foundational technology infrastructure investment over technology that addresses immediate business needs (47%). When Grant Thornton asked aout the dramatic expansion of remote work arrangements over the past year, 61% of companies indicated that they expect to increase investment in cyber risk and cybersecurity in the next year to safeguard against breaches attributed to remote work. This investment was followed closely by digital transformation at 60%. When asked to name the three biggest challenges facing their companies, 46% indicated cybersecurity risks, 46% chose technology upgrades and 30% said remote workforce issues.



"Striking a balance between solving immediate needs and longer-term technology investment that can transform a company is a critical challenge," said Santilli. "Finding an iterative approach that delivers immediate solutions while still driving transformative change is the elusive North Star for most companies." Tax concerns with new administration

When asked about the Biden administration, CFOs appeared to be keeping something of an open mind to policy changes. They were even largely receptive to potential increases in environmental, labor and financial regulations: Almost half (44%) said the new administration's plans for environmental regulations would positively impact their businesses. Forty percent were favorable toward the Biden administration's labor regulations, and 39% thought financial regulations would impact their businesses positively. When asked about Biden's trade and supply chain policies, 46% of senior finance executives felt they would help their organizations. Taxes were the one issue on which CFOs skewed toward negativity. Thirty-nine percent of respondents said the Biden administration's tax plans will negatively impact their businesses, while 34% said the new administration's tax policy will be a net positive. Among companies over $1 billion in revenue, 55% expected tax changes to have a negative impact, while only 29% of companies with revenues between $101 and $500 million felt the same. CFOs were also concerned about policy matters: Almost 70% of respondents felt that the lack of policy consistency in Washington will at least somewhat negatively affect their ability to plan future investments. That sentiment was especially pronounced among manufacturing and technology and telecommunications companies, with 83% of respondents in both groups expressing that concern. "Stability and predictability matter," added Schenkenberg. "Most businesses are open to reasonable regulation if they can count on a steady hand on the tiller." SPACs driving interest in IPOs Also of note, Grant Thornton's survey found that a majority (84%) of private company respondents indicated that SPACs (special purpose acquisition companies) have increased their interest in going public. When asked whether a SPAC or a traditional IPO (initial public offering) would be their choice, respondents were almost equally split, with 49% choosing a SPAC and 51% choosing an IPO. "SPACs offer an exciting option for companies considering going public," said Sean Denham, leader of Grant Thornton's Global Services industry. "But CFOs have reasonable concerns about potential regulatory attention, valuations and the possibility of a bubble." When polled about the potential pros and cons of SPACs, more than 70% of CFOs said they believe SPACs improve access to capital for start-ups, and 67% said they can help get an IPO to market sooner. However, 69% expect increased SPAC regulation from the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2021, while 55% believe SPACs leave new public companies overvalued. On top of that, 55% think SPACs could create a market bubble. Denham sums it all up this way: "For CFOs, 2021 could be a transformational year - one where the finance function transitions from crisis management to growth. Whether it be investment in technology, social change or looking to take a company public, the old ways of doing things will no longer work. Finance executives must apply the lessons learned throughout the pandemic and create a new path forward." For additional findings from Grant Thornton's 2021 Q1 CFO Survey, visit: www.grantthornton.com/2021q1cfosurvey. About Grant Thornton LLP

Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world's leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. Grant Thornton, which has revenues of $1.92 billion and operates more than 50 offices, works with a broad range of dynamic publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations. "Grant Thornton" refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another's acts or omissions. Please see grantthornton.com for further details. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005720/en/

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India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is in Dushanbe to attend the ninth Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process conference. Presenting Indias views on the troubled Afghan peace process at a crucial meet on Afghanistan hosted by Tajikistan, S Jaishankar outlined what Afghanistan needs in order to attain 'durable peace'.

It is to be noted that EAM S Jaishankar met Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday and had a discussion on the Afghan peace process before uttering out India's views at the 9th Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference. S Jaishankar arrived in the Tajikistan capital of Dushanbe at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin.

S Jaishankar on his Twitter handle shared a picture of his meeting with the Afghanistan President. During the meeting, S Jaishankar personally shared India's perspective on the peace process.

Honour to call on President @ashrafghani before the commencement of @HeartofAsia_IP Conference. Shared our perspectives on the peace process. pic.twitter.com/6s8HuTwkJO  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 29, 2021

Now, S Jaishankar has shared India's perspective in three points. The External Affairs Minister of India also outlined what actually war-torn nation like Afghanistan needs in order to attain a durable pace. He highlighted to attain a durable peace in Afghanistan it is necessary for the regions around it also remain peaceful. In order to maintain the Afghan peace process' success 'it is necessary to ensure that the negotiating parties continue to engage in good faith, with a serious commitment towards reaching a political solution.'

1. For a durable peace in Afghanistan, what we need is a genuine double peace, that is, peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan. It requires harmonizing the interests of all, both within and around that country.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 30, 2021

2. If the peace process is to be successful, then it is necessary to ensure that the negotiating parties continue to engage in good faith, with a serious commitment towards reaching a political solution.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 30, 2021

3. Today, we are striving for a more inclusive Afghanistan that can overcome decades of conflict. But that will happen only if we stay true to principles that Heart of Asia has long embodied. Collective success may not be easy but the alternative is only collective failure.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 30, 2021

The previous week, Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar visited India and held-back-to-back talks with S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval. The Afghan Foreign Minister during his meeting with Jaishankar on 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. On the other hand, with his meeting with NSA Doval, both discussed the peace plan of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for the success of Afghanistan peace negotiations.

The Afghan peace process consists of proposals and negotiations in order to end the ongoing war in Afghanistan. Although time-to-time efforts have taken place since the war began in 2001, negotiations and the peace movement intensified in 2018 amid talks between the Taliban, which is the main insurgent group fighting against the Afghan government, and American troops. Besides the United States, regional powers such as India, China, and Russia, as well as NATO play a part in facilitating the peace process.

Meanwhile, the Taliban warned the United States on March 26 against defying a May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan.

(Image Credits: PTI/@DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
Chandigarh, March 30 : As Covid-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in Punjab, with the UK strain emerging the most prevalent, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered extension of curbs till April 10, while directing the Health Department to increase the number of vaccination sites to target priority categories on an urgent basis.

Reviewing the Covid situation with the Chief Secretary and other top officials, he said all restrictions that were in place till March 31 will now remain in force till April 10, after which they would be again reviewed.

The Chief Minister also ordered the launch of a vaccination drive in the prisons, in the wake of 40 women in Patiala's Nabha Open Jail testing positive.

Expressing grave concern over the situation, he asked Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan to issue necessary directions for carrying out testing and vaccination in busy market areas, and other crowded places.

All Deputy Commissioners and Civil Surgeons were asked to identify places, such as police lines, colleges and universities, big industrial units, bus stands, and railway stations, etc, where mobile Covid vaccination centres can be set up to ramp up vaccination.

All eligible government employees, and other categories which he had requested for inclusion in vaccine coverage such as judges and teachers should be facilitated in getting vaccination to the extent of being eligible on account of being over 45 years of age, the Chief Minister said.

He directed pooling of resources available in districts with high number of cases for effective management of the pandemic and vaccination uptake.

Notably, the latest data shows the UK strain of the virus to be the most prevalent in the state.

While 326 of the 401 Covid positive samples sent initially to the NCDC for genome sequencing were found positive for the UK variant, so did 85 of the 95 samples sent to the IGIB.

The Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, shared the updated status of the pandemic and the status of vaccination of the eligible categories of beneficiaries.

The meeting was informed that the positive cases and deaths were rising rapidly in some of the districts, with projections showing steep rise in the number of cases and a peak around April 6.

The number would be decreasing by mid or late May, as per the estimates, which suggest that Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Hoshiarpur, and Kapurthala are expected to contribute more cases and positivity is likely to be high in the younger population of 40 years of age or less.

DGP Dinkar Gupta apprised that since the last meeting when the decision to fine protocol offenders along with RT-PCR testing was taken, 90,360 persons had been challaned and tested for Covid. He requested a special vaccination drive in police lines.

The Chief Minister also directed that strict monitoring of home isolation patients should be done, and they should be transferred to the appropriate level of healthcare facilities, if needed.

All districts have also been asked to strengthen their teams so that the data entry of Covid sampling and transportation of samples to the designated lab takes minimum time, and the result is made available within 24 hours.

On the vaccination front, the Chief Minister directed that any photo identity card shall be sufficient to approve the vaccination of eligible beneficiaries.

All districts have been ordered to increase the number of vaccination centres by including all health facilities up to the sub-centre level, dispensaries, ayurvedic and homoeopathic healthcare facilities and private empanelled hospitals.

While 45 plus age group shall be slated for vaccination from April 1, all districts shall ensure that all facilities get started at vaccination centres as early as possible and latest by March 31 with a view to understand the infrastructural bottlenecks, if any, so that there is smooth increase in the number of vaccination centres and the beneficiaries get hassle-free vaccination experience.

K.K. Talwar, Advisor Health to the state government, suggested that routine non-Covid treatment in some of the selected private hospitals may be deferred by two-four weeks, and more ambulance be made available to the district hospitals where there are no medical colleges.

The Chief Minister was also assured that the Health Department is ready to increase RT-PCR testing to 35,000 tests per day.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Japanese retailer AEON has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bac Ninh Province People's Committee for building a $190-million shopping mall in 2022.

AEON mall in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo coutersy of AEON.

Vice chairman of Bac Ninh Peoples Committee, Vuong Quoc Tuan, said the province would provide support for the key project to get underway as soon as possible.

General director of AEON Mall Vietnam, Nakagawa Tetsuyuki, said the Bac Ninh Provinces traditional products and farm produce would be sold at the outlet and possibly be exported to Japan. Around 3,000 jobs would be created, he added.

In February AEON had signed an MoU with Thua Thien-Hue to do market research for opening an AEON mall in the central province. It is likely to cost $160 million.

AEON has six malls in HCMC, Hanoi and Hai Phong and the southern province of Binh Duong.

It plans to have 20 across the country by 2025 with the total investment of $2 billion.
Thirty-seven people including suspected assailants who attacked villages in Musanze District in October 2019, killing over a dozen people, Monday appeared before the Military High Court for the substantive trial.

Among charges they face include creating an irregular armed group, terrorism, murder, conspiring with a foreign government to overthrow an elected government, among other charges.

The group is part of RUD-Urunana and P5, both militia outfits that jointly operate from the Democratic Republic of Congo aiming to destabilise Rwanda and overthrow its elected leadership.

All the suspects were present in court, except one 'Sergeant' Emmanuel Ngirinshuti, who is still at large.

In a brief hearing that was presided over by Lt Col Bernard Rugamba Hategekimana, court decided to adjourn the hearing following an objection by one of the accused who said he was not able to follow the preliminary proceedings at the lower court when it was decided to remand them.

The accused claimed he was sick during the preliminary trial at the Military Tribunal, said he was nursing injuries on his leg.

Following this objection, Hategekimana ruled to adjourn the hearing to May 4, to allow for more time to deal with this and any other arising procedural issues.

He added that ample time was also necessary to allow for the mandatory 30 days for the accused at large (Ngirinshuti) to answer to court summons and only after this period has elapsed can he be tried in absentia.

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According to military prosecution, some of the defendants were captured during the attack in Musanze while others were captured by MONUSCO and FARDC in DR Congo during subsequent military operations against armed groups operating in the country.

Congolese authorities later sent them to Rwanda.

About Musanze attacks

The attack was launched on different villages in Musanze District during the night of October 5 2019 where eight people were immediately confirmed dead.

The death toll later increased to 14 while at least 18 people were left injured in the attack by RUD-Urunana, a group that is linked to P5 militia, which was formed by Rwandan dissident Kayumba Nyamwasa.

Following the attack, many of the assailants were captured in a subsequent offensive by Rwanda Defence Force, while few of them fled into Uganda, where they were reportedly received on the Ugandan side by the country's military.

Besides killing or injuring residents, the assailants looted their property, including shops that were ransacked and merchandise including foodstuff taken.
HOUSTON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Callon Petroleum Company (NYSE: CPE) ("Callon" or the "Company") today announced the adoption of new environmental, social and governance ("ESG") initiatives, including an updated executive compensation program to better align with investor priorities and new commitments to quantitative greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions reduction targets.

2021 Compensation Program Highlights

A refreshed executive compensation program aligned with sustained delivery of free cash flow, returns, reduced leverage, and ESG performance

Reductions in overall compensation opportunities led by a 17.5% reduction in target long-term incentive ("LTI") value for the CEO, which lowered his total target compensation by 12.5%, and a 12.5% reduction in annual compensation for directors

New annual bonus framework that prioritizes financial performance and ESG initiatives, eliminates traditional operational and growth metrics, and caps payouts at target in the event of negative total shareholder return ("TSR")

New LTI program that maintains a 60% weighting on performance-based LTI with performance units tied to free cash flow and return on capital employed ("ROCE") performance over a three-year period

New GHG Emissions Targets

Adoption of medium-term quantitative environmental goals to be achieved by 2025 including: (1) a 40%-50% reduction in GHG emissions intensity vs. pro forma 2019 results, (2) the reduction of flared gas to less than 2% of gas produced, and (3) the elimination of all routine field gas flaring

Progress on the stated initiatives will be factored into the annual incentive compensation program for 2021

"The board of directors and leadership team at Callon have been focused on implementing changes to the business, both functionally and strategically, that support a sustainable, returns-driven entity that creates shareholder value. As part of our focus on strong governance, we have thoughtfully developed a new executive compensation program that aligns management incentives with investor priorities for our industry and for Callon. Our corporate goals of meaningful free cash flow generation, absolute debt reduction and returns on capital are reflected in the compensation criteria and provide a direct link between pay and financial performance that will contribute to improving investor returns," said Richard Flury, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Joe Gatto, President and CEO added: "Callon is also committed to sustainable and responsible development of our resources by mitigating the risks of climate change. To build on the momentum we created in 2020, we have adopted meaningful goals to further reduce flaring and greenhouse gas emissions by 2025."

Executive Compensation Framework Tied to Sustained Financial & ESG Performance

Following a comprehensive review of its compensation structure, in the first quarter of 2021 the Company adopted a leading-edge compensation program to incentivize sustainable results aligned with investor priorities. The 2021 program includes reductions to target pay levels for executives and directors:

The target LTI value for the CEO was reduced by 17.5%, which lowered his total target compensation by 12.5%

The target LTI value for the other executive officers was reduced by an average of more than 10%

Annual compensation for directors was reduced by 12.5%

Within the refreshed program, the 2021 annual incentive compensation framework has been redesigned to:

Focus on pay-for-performance by maintaining 80% weighting on quantitative metrics

Prioritize financial performance by increasing the weighting for financial metrics to 65% in aggregate, including leverage, cash return on capital invested, total corporate cash margin, and relative total shareholder return ("TSR") comparison to a broader energy index ("XOP")

Demonstrate our ESG value proposition by introducing a quantitative ESG category (weighted 15%) focused on flaring, safety and spills, plus a qualitative assessment tied to sustained progress towards the greenhouse gas reduction targets described below; and

Align payouts with the shareholder experience by including a relative TSR metric and capping bonus payouts at target if absolute TSR is negative for the year.

The long-term incentive program includes restricted stock units (40% weighting) and new cash performance units ("CPUs") (60% weighting) that are aligned with the Company's focus on achieving sustainable free cash flow and returns that are competitive both within and outside the energy industry. The value of the CPUs at vesting will be determined by the Company's annual adjusted free cash flow performance relative to goals established by the Compensation Committee and average annual ROCE over the three-year performance period.

Additional details regarding the Company's updated executive compensation program are available in our preliminary proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on March 22, 2021.

Environmental Performance & Commitments

The Company is actively working to reduce its carbon footprint and address the risks of climate change. During 2020, we advanced several initiatives to improve environmental performance by expanding access to gas gathering capacity, improving compressor reliability, and connecting facilities to electric power substations. Callon also confirms our established practice to have no routine flaring on new well completions. As a result of these efforts, we made significant progress in environmental performance in 2020 relative to pro forma 2019 results by:

Reducing flared gas volumes by 40% and

Reducing GHG emissions intensity by over 20%

The Company remains committed to continued GHG emissions reductions and has adopted the following medium-term quantitative objectives to be achieved by 2025:

Reduce GHG emissions intensity by 40-50% relative to pro forma 2019 results

Reduce flared gas to less than 2% of gas produced

Eliminate any remaining routine flaring

As noted above, the Compensation Committee has incorporated progress towards these medium-term environmental objectives into the Company's 2021 annual incentive compensation framework.

The Company will provide additional detail on these and other environmental achievements and initiatives in its 2020 sustainability report, which it expects to issue by mid-year 2021.

About Callon Petroleum Company

Callon Petroleum is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of high-quality assets in the leading oil plays of South and West Texas.

This news release is posted on the Company's website at www.callon.com and will be archived there for subsequent review under the "News" link on the top of the homepage.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include all statements regarding environmental performance, greenhouse gas emissions and flaring goals and initiatives, and the implementation of the Company's business plans and strategy, as well as statements including the words "believe," "expect," "plans", "may", "will", "should", "could" and words of similar meaning. These statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and performance based on management's experience and anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. No assurances can be given, however, that these events will occur or that these projections will be achieved, and actual results could differ materially from those projected as a result of certain factors. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Some of the factors which could affect our future results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include oil and gas industry conditions; changes in the supply of and demand for oil and natural gas; our ability to drill and complete wells; operational, regulatory and environment risks; the cost and availability of equipment and labor; access to pipelines and other facilities; our ability to finance our activities; and other risks more fully discussed in our filings with the SEC, including our most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, available on our website or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Contact:

Mark Brewer

Director of Investor Relations

Callon Petroleum Company

[email protected]

1-281-589-5200

SOURCE Callon Petroleum Company

Related Links

https://www.callon.com


Facing a growing number of COVID-19 cases and fatalities, Turkey will continue to impose partial restrictions to stem the virus spread, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

The nationwide curfew from 9.00 pm to 5.00 am will continue, Erdogan said after a three-hour-plus Cabinet meeting at the presidential complex.

As a public health measure, he added, all restaurants and cafes in the country will operate at maximum 50% capacity.

Cities facing very high risk for coronavirus will have full weekend lockdowns, he said, adding that out of 81 provinces in Turkey, 58  or 80% of the population  are classified as very high risk for the virus.

On the country's successful vaccination campaign, Erdogan pointed to a drop in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in older people after over 10 million coronavirus jabs have been administered.

More than 8.5 million people have received their first doses, while over 6.6 million have completed a two-dose course. The categorization of provinces as facing low, medium, high, or very high risk is based on infection rates and Turkeys vaccination campaign, which began on Jan. 14, Anadolu Agency reported.

The color-coded risk map of Turkeys 81 provinces will be redone every week according to the risk situation, and the normalization practice will be updated every two weeks, the Turkish leader added.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

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Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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

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President Emmanuel Macron believes he has become such an expert on Covid that 'he is no longer following the advice of scientists,' according to colleagues.

The 43-year-old faced damaging leaks in today's Le Monde, one of France's bestselling newspapers, which painted him as self-important and obstinate amid a surging third wave.

It comes as his right-wing rival Marine Le Pen, who is closing the gap in the polls, launched a scathing attack on Macron and the EU's 'dogma of ultra-liberalism.'

Le Monde reported that Macron has been contradicting his scientists since last spring when he first decided to reject their advice and reopen schools.

Since then, Macron has spent so much time opposing his health advisers' calls for tougher lockdown measures that his colleagues state privately: 'The president has become an epidemiologist.'

Emmanuel Macron is facing damaging leaks in the French press today amid a surging third wave and anger at his handling of the pandemic

Right-wing leader Marine Le Pen launched a scathing attack on Macron and the EU today

He regularly challenges his Health Secretary, Olivier Veran, who is a medical doctor, and the 'scientists around the defence council table.'

'He looks at all the studies as soon as they are published,' said one colleague. 'So much so that sometimes the President can bring up one that the experts in front of him have not even read.'

Macron is a particularly close follower the Twitter account of Guillaume Rozier, founder of the CovidTracker site, which monitors the epidemic, Le Monde reports.

'The president has acquired real expertise in health matters,' said Jean-Michel Blanquer, France's Education Minister.

And Richard Ferrand, head of Macron's LREM party (The Republic On The Move) said: 'He looks for what's new every day so as not to miss a thing. One day, he will be able to run for the immunology aggregation [France's highest public examination in the subject].'

Le Pen today stuck the boot into Macron amid the damaging leaks with a presidential run just 12 months away.

'The European Union has failed totally,' especially when compared to Britain that is no longer part of the bloc, Le Pen told the Anglo-American Press Association of Paris.

She said France should have followed the example of Hungary and the Czech Republic which secured additional doses beyond the pro-rata distribution of vaccines contracted for the bloc by the EU which has struggled to secure supplies despite contracts with pharma firms.

'They still tell us that as 27 countries we are stronger, but that is false - the solution must come at the national level, for this issue as in many others,' she said.

'And the EU needs to realise this - the EU is now seven weeks behind schedule for its vaccination drive,' she said. 'It's catastrophic, and each week lost comes at a huge cost.'

Credit insurer Euler Hermes estimated this week that the EU's delay will cost the bloc some 123 billion euros (105 billion) this year.

In France, Macron is hoping to avoid imposing a third national lockdown or school closures in Paris and other high-risk areas, while vowing to pick up the pace of inoculations.

Opinion polls show that Le Pen is once again the front-runner to move with Macron into the second and final round of next year's presidential vote, her third run for the post.

'This health crisis has in reality revealed all the flaws of the dogma defended by Emmanuel Macron: I'm thinking of his dogma of ultraliberalism,' Le Pen said.

'Lots of French people will have understood that we have a choice, and that there is a new economic model to imagine,' in particular with stricter national oversight of industrial strategy and sovereignty, she said.

Before he came to power in 2017, Macron once famously announced that he would be a Jupiter-style president, in the style of the Roman King of the Gods.

This led to claims that the former merchant banker who did not belong to a conventional political party was displaying extremely arrogance, and was not much interested in the advice of others.

Now, despite his confident approach to the Covid-19 pandemic, cases have spiralled to more than 40,000 new ones a day, and intensive care wards are overflowing.

This led to a Macron critic telling Le Monde: 'It is very naive to claim that the president has epidemiological expertise because he reads everything in this area.'

Earlier this month, Macron refused to apologise for his country's disastrous Coronavirus strategy, saying: 'I can tell you that I have no mea culpa to offer, no remorse, no acknowledgement of failure.'

A limited lockdown was imposed in 19 departments two weeks ago, including the greater Paris region, where some patients are being evacuated out of the capital city because of a lack of beds.

France is well behind countries such as Britain in its vaccine roll out, especially after a series of U-turns by Macron over the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab.

He at first said it was not suitable for those over 65, before announcing that it should not be given to those under 55.

Many suggested that the notoriously anti-Brexit politician was opposed to Oxford-AstraZeneca jab because of its links with the UK.

Despite such criticism, Macron said: 'I can tell you that I have no mea culpa to offer, no remorse, no acknowledgement of failure.'

French government spokesman Gabriel Attal said: 'Yes, the president is interested in anything related to the virus.

'But that does not mean that he is a substitute for epidemiologists. On the contrary, he wants to draw as much as possible from their analysis, before making a decision.'
NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG) (the Company), Manhattans largest office landlord, today announced that the Company is rescheduling its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting). The Annual Meeting, originally scheduled to be held on Thursday, May 27, 2021, will now be held on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. The board of directors established the close of business on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Annual Meeting, which will begin at 12:00 p.m., Eastern time, and take place solely by means of remote communication in a virtual meeting format. The Annual Meeting will be available at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SLG2021. Stockholders will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.

Further information regarding the Annual Meeting will be set forth in the proxy statement and other proxy materials for the Annual Meeting.

About SL Green Realty Corp.

SL Green Realty Corp., Manhattan's largest office landlord, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust, or REIT, that is focused primarily on acquiring, managing and maximizing value of Manhattan commercial properties. As of December 31, 2020, SL Green held interests in 88 buildings totaling 38.2 million square feet. This included ownership interests in 28.6 million square feet of Manhattan buildings and 8.7 million square feet securing debt and preferred equity investments.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions thereof. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially, and we caution you not to place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of the words may, will, should, expect, anticipate, estimate, believe, intend, project, continue, or the negative of these words, or other similar words or terms.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us. Factors and risks to our business that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties related to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and the duration and impact it will have on our business and the industry as a whole and the other risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except to the extent required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

SLG  GEN

Matt DiLibertoChief Financial Officer212.594.2700

Source: SL Green Realty Corp
[March 29, 2021] Annual Cyber Protection Week survey reveals post-pandemic paradox: more solutions do not bring better protection

SINGAPORE, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection with international headquarters in Singapore, today released the findings of its second annual Cyber Protection Week survey, which uncovered a dangerous disconnect between the need for organizations to keep their data protected and the ineffective investments they've made trying to reach that goal. While 2020 saw companies purchase new systems to enable and secure remote workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, those investments are not paying off. The global survey discovered that 80% of companies now run as many as 10 solutions simultaneously for their data protection and cybersecurity needs -- yet more than half of those organizations suffered unexpected downtime last year because of data loss. The findings from Acronis' annual survey, which polled 4,400 IT users and professionals in 22 countries across six continents, dispel the myth that simply adding more solutions will solve cybersecurity and data protection challenges. Not only does investing in more solutions not deliver more protection, in many cases trying to manage protection across multiple solutions creates greater complexity and less visibility for the IT team, which increases risk. "This year's Cyber Protection Week survey clearly illustrates that more solutions do not deliver greater protection, as using separate tools to address individual types of exposure is complicated, inefficient, and costly," said Serguei "SB" Beloussov, Founder and CEO of Acronis. "These findings confirm our belief that the smarter approach is cyber protection, which unifies data protection, cybersecurity, and endpoint management in one."



Knowledge gap contributes to IT challenges Complicating matters, there is a significant gap in awareness among users and IT pros of what IT and cybersecurity capabilities are available to them, which can cause them to lose valuable time, money, and security.

68% of IT users and 20% of IT professionals would not know if their data had been modified without their knowledge because their solution makes determining that kind of tampering difficult.

43% of IT users don't know if their anti-malware stops zero-day threats because their solution doesn't make that information easily available. Having easy access to such cybersecurity insights is critical to ensuring data is protected.

A shocking 10% of IT pros don't know if their organization is subject to data privacy regulations. If those responsible for ensuring data privacy don't know they are culpable, they cannot implement strategies or evaluate the solutions needed to address the requirements. That ignorance puts the business at tremendous risk of major fines for potential compliance violations in 2021. For anyone using multiple solutions to solve their IT and cybersecurity needs, the lack of transparency into such information only gets worse. Not only must they remember which solution provides a particular data point, they are constantly switching between consoles to find the details they need -- leading to inefficiencies and missed insights. Individuals' lax approach to protection The survey also revealed a staggeringly lax approach to data protection among IT users. 83% of IT users spent more time on their devices last year, yet only half of them took extra steps to protect those devices

33% admit to not updating their devices until at least a week after being notified of a patch

90% of IT users reported performing backups, yet 73% have irretrievably lost data at least once, suggesting that they don't know how to back up or recover properly The efforts of individuals to protect their data aren't keeping pace with threats, which is likely due to false assumptions (such as believing Microsoft 365 backs up their data) or a reliance on automatic solutions. Action items for Cyber Protection Week The challenges of protecting and securing data, applications, and systems will continue to grow in the post-pandemic world. To ensure that data is protected, Acronis recommends five simple steps: Create backups of important data . Keep multiple copies of your backups, with one local copy for fast recovery and one off-site in the cloud to guarantee recovery if disaster destroys your copies.

. Keep multiple copies of your backups, with one local copy for fast recovery and one off-site in the cloud to guarantee recovery if disaster destroys your copies. Update your operating systems and applications . Outdated systems and apps lack the security fixes that stop cybercriminals from gaining access. Regular patching is required to avoid exploits.

. Outdated systems and apps lack the security fixes that stop cybercriminals from gaining access. Regular patching is required to avoid exploits. Avoid suspicious emails, links, and attachments . Most malware infections are the result of social engineering techniques that trick unsuspecting individuals into opening infected email attachments or clicking on links to websites that host malware.

. Most malware infections are the result of social engineering techniques that trick unsuspecting individuals into opening infected email attachments or clicking on links to websites that host malware. Install antivirus, anti-malware, and anti-ransomware software while enabling automatic updates so your system is protected against malware.

while enabling automatic updates so your system is protected against malware. Consider adopting a single cyber protection solution to have the central management and integrated protection needed to meet today's IT requirements. About Acronis Acronis unifies data protection and cybersecurity to deliver integrated, automated cyber protection that solves the safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security (SAPAS) challenges of the modern digital world. With flexible deployment models that fit the demands of service providers and IT professionals, Acronis provides superior cyber protection for data, applications, and systems with innovative next-generation antivirus, backup, disaster recovery, and endpoint protection management solutions. With award-winning AI-based antimalware and blockchain-based data authentication technologies, Acronis protects any environment -- from cloud to hybrid to on-premises -- at a low and predictable cost. SOURCE Acronis

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Manitoba's finance minister has taken the rare step of unveiling the projected size of the coming year's deficit, more than a week before budget day.

Manitoba's finance minister has taken the rare step of unveiling the projected size of the coming year's deficit, more than a week before budget day.

Scott Fielding said Tuesday he expects the province's deficit for the coming year to reach nearly $1.6 billion. That compares with an estimated $2-billion shortfall for the current fiscal year, which ends March 31.

Fielding said he expects COVID-19 pandemic relief programs to make up "the bulk" of next year's deficit.

"There will be additional supports and relief that we're going to identify in the budget that's coming up next Wednesday," he told reporters in a conference call.

"We're going to do what it takes to protect Manitobans. That's our No. 1 priority."

Fielding also said the government is withdrawing $215 million from its Fiscal Stabilization Account (rainy-day fund) to cover the costs of the Manitoba Bridge Grant program. Created in November, the program provides up to $15,000 in direct support to businesses impacted by public health restrictions.

To date, the program has paid out more than $205 million to more than 14,000 businesses, not-for-profit organizations and charities.

Fielding said the withdrawal from the fund, a device used by the government to manage cash flow, will prevent the province from having to borrow the money on capital markets. The fund will be left with $585 million after the transaction occurs.

The PC government recently set a goal of eliminating the province's largest-ever deficit within eight years. If it were to achieve its target for the coming year, it would be on pace to get the job done in only five years.

Fielding said he is confident lowering the deficit from about $2 billion to $1.597 billion  the precise figure he used  is attainable.

"I think that's very reasonable. I think that's very doable," he said.

The minister said Manitobans will have to wait until budget day April 7 for more details on how the government will achieve its deficit target.

It's unclear why Fielding decided to reveal the projected 2021-22 deficit now. He hinted there will be further budget-related announcements in the coming week.

Last year, the Opposition NDP used procedural tactics in the legislature to delay the delivery of the budget.

NDP finance critic Mark Wasyliw said the Pallister government has continually underspent on services needed by Manitoba families, and Fielding's budget deficit projection Tuesday signals more of the same.

"Manitobans want (balanced budgets) when times are good, but in a crisis they just want a government they can rely on to help them," Wasyliw said in a statement.

Chuck Davidson, president and chief executive officer of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, said the lower projected deficit is a "hopeful sign" 2021 won't be as challenging as 2020.

"Most businesses arent looking for government supports. They just want the ability to open, and once they are open the hope is that they will be able to manage over the course of the next year," he said.

Certain sectors, such as tourism and hospitality, will need continued government support, but there shouldn't be the need for broad-based programs in the year ahead, Davidson said.

Targeted support could also take the form of assistance for businesses to transition to e-commerce, he said.

Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour, said the budget deficit projection in itself doesn't yield a lot of information about the government's intentions.

Revenue and spending projections  something Manitobans won't know about until next week  are needed to provide some context, he said, voicing concern about what's in store in next week's budget.

The Progressive Conservative government has "been obsessed with cuts and wage freezes for public-sector workers from Day 1," he said.

"Everyone in the world knows that right now is the time when governments need to invest in the economy, give businesses some supports, and make sure that those who are working are making a fair living wage and get a fair deal."

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Is it 'too late' for America to be spared God's judgment? John MacArthur gives warning

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California megachurch Pastor John MacArthur spoke about the possibility that the United States is already under judgment for its acceptance of progressive sexual ethics, among other things, during his Palm Sunday sermon.

MacArthur preached a sermon at Grace Community Church of Sun Valley titled Chosen in Him, mainly focused on Mark 12 and the passage commonly known as the Parable of the Vineyard Owner.

The parable speaks of a vineyard owner who allowed tenants to oversee his vineyard, only to have them take control of it and kill everyone the owner sent to collect on what they grew.

What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Havent you read this passage of Scripture: The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes? concluded the parable, as rendered by the New International Version.

MacArthur said in his sermon that the parable was one of judgment, saying that with this parable, Jesus pledges the destruction of Jerusalem and the nation.

Vengeance will come and it must come and it did, said MacArthur, referring to the sacking of Jerusalem by the Roman Empire in AD 70, or about 40 years after Jesus was crucified.

The temple was never rebuilt, the priesthood was never recovered. No sacrifices, no ceremonies, no Sadducees, no Pharisees, no priests, no chief priests to this day. The whole system ended.

Throughout the sermon, MacArthur spoke about the times in the Bible when different figures, including the Prophet Isaiah of the Old Testament and the Apostle Paul of the New Testament, spoke about it being too late for some to be saved.

Go tell them, preached MacArthur, paraphrasing Gods call to Isaiah in Isaiah Chapter 6, its too late. You wouldnt listen, you wouldnt see, you wouldnt believe, and now you cant.

Tell them it is too late. Judgment is already in motion.

Near the end of his sermon, MacArthur addressed how he believed the passages about the parable and the notion of being too late to be saved applied to the modern church.

One lesson he felt was important was that it can be for a generation of people too late. Too late for eighth century [BC] Israel, too late for first century [AD] Israel, but it can be too late for every nation.

How do you know when a nation passes the point where salvation is possible for a people? asked MacArthur, who answered by citing Romans 1.

When you see a nation deep in sexual sin, pervasively affirming of homosexuality, and the insanity of a reprobate mind, where they make laws to criminalize righteousness and to legalize gross evil, you know that nations under judgment, said MacArthur.

MacArthur went on to state that our message to this nation is that its too late for the nation, were under judgment, but added that its not too late for the elect.

Whats our message to this nation? Youre under judgment; its too late. Judgment has been unleashed. You can hear, but not understand. You can see, but not perceive, he said.

But God has His people. So we warn, because we dont know who those people are and we also offer the grace of the Gospel. Thats our calling.

MacArthurs recent sermon echoed past comments by the controversial pastor and prolific author. For example, in 2011 at the Resolved Conference in Palm Springs, California, MacArthur said that the United States was a nation in crisis in divine judgment.

I look at America  people say, 'What is wrong with this country?' That is whats wrong with this country. Right there. They have rejected the Word, the law of the Lord, the Holy One Himself, said MacArthur at the time.

As somebody said a few years ago, if God doesnt destroy America pretty soon, Hes going to have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.
Three men who allegedly plotted to kidnap Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer will face charges of gang membership, felony firearm possession and providing material support for terrorist acts, but not making terrorist threats. According to a report from the Detroit News, the reason 12th District Court Judge Michael Klaeren dismissed that last charge stems from the way the group interacted with each other. Rather than coordinating out in the open on platforms like Facebook, Joseph Morrison, Pete Musico and Paul Bellar  along with four other men with ties to the Michigan militia group Wolverine Watchmen  used private, encrypted chats to communicate.

Under Michigan law, a person is guilty of making a terrorist threat if they "threaten to commit an act of terrorism and communicates the threat to any other person." By their nature, however, private chats are largely inscrutable to anyone who isn't part of it, which makes proving that specific threats were made and shared difficult.

"There has to be some form of intent here to incite mayhem," Klaeren said, before noting that using an encrypted communications service was not unlike "thinking the thought to yourself."

Klaeren's assertion sounds naturally off-base at first  after all, the act of "thinking the thought to yourself" implies an audience of one, while group chats are inherently methods of sharing thoughts with others. His argument seems especially chilling when one considers the precedent it may set. If a terrorist plot is organized and threats are issued solely within the confines of an encrypted conversation, does that mean the threat itself never existed? Courts continue to grapple with the rise of highly secure messaging, but on the whole, it's hard to say. From an evidence-gathering perspective, however, these secure chats may represent a dead end for this particular investigation.

Late last year, FBI Special Agent Richard Trask testified in federal court that the bureau's investigation into the plot was stymied not just because the group used the secure messaging apps Threema and Wire, but because at least part of their conversation data was stored on servers overseas. Trask's investigation was largely focused on six other conspirators  not the ones currently facing trial in Klaeren's jurisdiction  but he noted in a related affidavit that the information the FBI did gather on the group's motives and plans almost exclusively came from confidential informants who met with suspects and gathered information in-person and on phone calls and video chats.
NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueVoyant, a cybersecurity services company, is being acknowledged by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, in its 2021 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide provides a conclusive list of the most distinguished partner programs from leading technology companies that provide products and services through the IT Channel. The 5-Star rating is awarded to an exclusive group of companies that offer solution providers the best of the best, going above and beyond in their partner programs.

Given the importance of IT vendor channel programs, each year CRN develops its Partner Program Guide to provide the channel community with a detailed look at the partner programs offered by IT manufacturers, software developers, service companies, and distributors. Vendors are scored based on investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication.

CRN has recognized BlueVoyant's Partner Program due to its effectiveness in enabling partners to proactively defend business ecosystems of all sizes against today's threats through the delivery of purpose-built cybersecurity services. Led by experienced Global Head of Partnerships and Alliances, Steve DeSantis, BlueVoyant's Partner Program recognizes, rewards, and supports collaboration to help accelerate results and support its partner's business through sales, marketing, and technical support. Underscoring the growth of its Partner Program, BlueVoyant recently expanded its Microsoft Partnership Alliance to drive co-selling, referrals and increase its global initiative for signing new Microsoft focused partners.

"BlueVoyant is focused on developing strategic partnerships with the channel and the IT community to achieve its growth plans. We continue to refine our global channel program and develop strategic partnerships to meetand surpasscustomer expectations and requirements that strengthen the foundation for maturity and scale," said DeSantis. "Receiving a 5-Star Rating in the CRN 2021 Partner Program Guide illustrates the dedication of BlueVoyant's channel team in protecting business' and their vendor ecosystems' most prized assets from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats."

"As innovation continues to fuel the speed and intricacy of technology, solution providers need partners that can keep up and support their developing business." said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "CRN's 2021 Partner Program Guide gives insight into the strengths of each organization's program to recognize those that continually support and push positive change inside the IT channel."

The 2021 Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April 2021 issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/PPG.

About BlueVoyant

BlueVoyant is an expert-driven cybersecurity services company whose mission is to proactively defend organizations of all sizes against today's constant, sophisticated attackers, and advanced threats.

Led by CEO, Jim Rosenthal, BlueVoyant's highly skilled team includes former government cyber officials with extensive frontline experience in responding to advanced cyber threats on behalf of the National Security Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Unit 8200 and GCHQ, together with private sector experts. BlueVoyant services utilize large real-time datasets with industry leading analytics and technologies.

Founded in 2017 by Fortune 500 executives, including Executive Chairman, Tom Glocer, and former Government cyber officials, BlueVoyant is headquartered in New York City and has offices in Maryland, Tel Aviv, San Francisco, Manila, Toronto, London, Budapest, and Latin America.

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 nearly 40 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.

The Channel Company Contact:Jennifer HoganThe Channel Companyjhogan@thechannelcompany.com

BlueVoyant Contacts:Jim PopleC8 Consulting for BlueVoyant (EMEA)+44 7955 030191jim@c8consulting.co.uk

Danielle OstrovskyC8 Consulting (Americas)+1 410-302-9459danielle@c8consulting.co.uk

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bluevoyant-honored-with-5-star-rating-in-the-2021-crn-partner-program-guide-301258803.html

SOURCE BlueVoyant
[March 30, 2021]

Andria Lightfoot Joins SimpleNexus as Vice President of Professional Services

LEHI, Utah, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading homeownership platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced the hire of mortgage industry veteran, Andria Lightfoot, PMP, CSM, as vice president of professional services. In this role, Lightfoot will be responsible for ensuring SimpleNexus' professional service teams deliver industry-leading consultative and implementation services.

Most recently Lightfoot served as chief operations officer at George Mason Mortgage, LLC, where she led mortgage operations, provided strategy for enterprise software solutions and implemented innovative change management initiatives. During her six-year tenure at George Mason, Lightfoot reduced turn-times by three business days, increased application pull-through by 12% and reduced TRID tolerance cures by 150%.

Previously, Lightfoot led technology strategy at Prosperity Home Mortgage and J.G. Wentworth Home Lending. She has also served as senior business analyst at renowned mortgage technology consulting firm Teraverde.

"Andria is a proven mortgage technology leader with a demonstrated ability to improve processes," said SimpleNexus President Cathleen Schreiner Gates. "Her experience leading transformational operational initiatives at mortgage lending organizations will be of great value to SimpleNexus customers."







"Improving customer experience and streamlining processes has long been a passion of mine," said Lightfoot. "I am thrilled to join an organization that's at the forefront of changing mortgage technology for the better."

Lightfoot serves on the Mortgage Bankers Association CIO Committee. She is a frequent speaker at mortgage industry events and has been quoted in numerous publications including Forbes.

To view open positions at SimpleNexus, visit https://simplenexus.com/sn/careers/. Contact hr@simplenexus.com to submit a resume.

About SimpleNexus, LLC:

SimpleNexus is a homeownership platform transforming the mortgage experience and connecting borrowers, loan officers, real estate agents and settlement service providers throughout the homebuying process. The platforms' native mobile toolset enables lenders to originate, process and close home loans from anywhere with increased efficiency and convenience. Loan officers can manage their loan pipelines, order credit, run pricing, send pre-approvals, sign disclosures and execute eClosings - all on the go. SimpleNexus provides borrowers with a single sign-on experience from home search to the application, document upload, eClose and beyond for a more streamlined homeownership journey.

Twitter: @SimpleNexus #digitalmortgage #mortgageindustry #mortgagelending #peoplemovers

This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/andria-lightfoot-joins-simplenexus-as-vice-president-of-professional-services-301258052.html

SOURCE SimpleNexus
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The Nigerian government has declared Friday April 2, and Monday, April 5, 2021, public holidays to mark this years Easter Celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made this announcement through the ministrys spokesperson, Mohammed Manga, on Tuesday.

Mr Aregbesola said Christians should emulate the attributes of forbearance, forgiveness, kindness, humility, love, peace and patience, which were demonstrated by Jesus Christ.

He called on them to use the occasion of this years Easter Celebration to pray for the peace, unity, and progress of our country.

Mr Aregbesola assured that the Federal Government will leave no stone unturned in dealing decisively with the spate of kidnapping, armed banditry and other crimes and criminality being perpetrated by enemies of the country in parts of Nigeria.

Security is everybodys business. I, therefore, encourage all Nigerians and foreigners resident in Nigeria, to display a high level of patriotism at this critical time in the history of our country, to support the efforts of all security agencies in ensuring peace and security of lives and property of the citizenry, he said.

While wishing Christians both at home and abroad a happy and peaceful Easter Celebration, Mr Aregbesola called on Nigerians to join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari to make life more meaningful for all.
On Saturday, the Mexican Health Ministry published a report acknowledging that the COVID-19 death toll is at least 60 percent higher than the official count of 201,623 deaths. The country has confirmed 2.23 million cases, which are also vastly under-reported.

The ministry found that between December 20, 2019, and February 13, 2021, Mexico recorded a total of 417,002 excess deathsi.e., above those expected based on the weekly averages from 2015 to 2019. Employing word searches of death certificates where possible that mention words such as COVID-19, SARS-Cov-2, Coronavirus, among others and an algorithmic extrapolation, the report estimates that 294,287 of these excess deaths are associated to COVID-19.

In this April 29, 2020 file photo, Aurora Azamar reacts after learning that her mother died, believed from complications related to the coronavirus, outside a public hospital in the Iztapalapa neighborhood of Mexico City. As Mexico approaches 200,000 in officially test-confirmed deaths from COVID-19, the real death toll is probably higher due to the countrys extremely low rate of testing. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

Since February 13, the government has confirmed 28,419 more deaths, raising the total to 322,706. This places Mexico as the country with the second highest death toll in the world after the United States.

While the figure is higher than the 312,206 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Brazil, hospitals and morgues in the country have been overwhelmed for weeks and countless COVID-19 deaths, particularly in slums and remote areas, are also going unrecorded.

Mexican engineer Alejandro Cano found that if Mexico had maintained the same per capita excess mortality as Brazilwhose population is 60 percent greaterabout 232,000 people would still be alive in Mexico.

Hundreds of thousands of lives have been sacrificed to defend the massive fortunes and profits of the financial and corporate oligarchies throughout the world. This has held equally true under both the administration of Brazils fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro and the purportedly left nationalist government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) in Mexico.

The acknowledgement of a massive undercount stands as a confession by the ruling class to criminal premeditation in what the British Medical Journal aptly defined as social murder. While refusing to ramp up testing levels, the Mexican ruling elite has used phony official figures to justify premature reopenings.

Malaquias Lopez, a member of the coronavirus task force at the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), said to daily Reforma on Sunday: We dont know what the real undercount is because all reports are impossible to interpret.  We could even add to those cases the 182,301 records confirmed by the epidemiological monitoring system [but untested], whose inclusion in the excess toll is not indicatedwe could be talking of a figure closer to 500,000 deaths. The number is brutal.

Dr. Laurie Anne Ximenez-Fyvie, professor at UNAM, agreed that the new report still underestimates the real toll and warned on Twitter: Now, we fear a third surge around the corner. If what is happening in Brazil and other parts of the world is an indicator for what awaitsand there is no reason to believe otherwisewe have difficult weeks and months ahead.

Facing a potentially deadlier surge, Mexico has a negligible level of protection from the COVID-19 vaccines. It has administrated 6,724,789 doses, meaning that less than 3 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated.

By comparison, 143 million doses have been administered in the United States, where the Democratic President Joe Biden has continued the America First maxim of his fascistic predecessor Donald Trump. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has described such hoarding of vaccines as a moral outrage, as health care workers and the elderly in poor countries are left to get sick, spread the virus and die.

Ghebreyesus explained that vaccine hoarding is economically and epidemiologically self-defeating, given the need to tackle the pandemic globally and prevent the surge of variants resistant to the vaccines.

A new variant, which is also present across the United States, Europe, and Africa, has already spread like wildfire in Mexico. The country reported that 87 percent of its cases studied in February corresponded to a B.1.1.222 variant of the virus first detected in the country in October.

After refusing to share its vaccines with Mexico, the Biden administration agreed to send 2.7 million doses of its stockpile of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has yet to receive approval in the US. In exchange, the Lopez Obrador administration agreed to increase its deployment of National Guard and Army troops on its border with Guatemala to block Central American refugees and migrants seeking to reach the United States.

The Lopez Obrador administration has refused to make any serious effort to contain the pandemic. A brief order to shut down nonessential activities between April and May was only enforced by workers themselves, who carried out a wave of wildcat strikes that resulted in thousands of layoffs at the largely foreign-owned factories on the border with the United States.

After the Trump administration reopened US factories, AMLO agreed to declare all manufacturing essential, while allowing corporations and the trade unions to cover up outbreaks in the plants.

As a result, Mexican exportswhich consist mostly of manufacturing products sent to the United States were higher between September and December of 2020 than the previous year, and they are expected to jump 9 percent for all of 2021.

The unenforced lockdown was replaced by a semaphore system of alert levels, but the Lopez Obrador administration was exposed for reporting false data to prevent or postpone shutdowns of production.

Even where restrictions were put in place, they were not accompanied by any program of economic aid. This compelled small business owners and informal workers to expose themselves and others to infections to avoid going hungry.

Public schools have remained closed, but 56 percent of students have had no access to online classes. The government has refused to invest in providing computers and Internet access to students.

The lack of assistance is being driven, on the one hand, by the interest of the ruling class in cutting back social spending in order to service the debt to financial vultures. On the other hand, the threat of having no income or assistance at all has been used to force workers to risk their lives at unsafe workplaces.

As a result, countless of the poorest families lost loved ones, as well as their sources of income. The Health Ministry has reported that the average age of COVID-19 victims is 55, roughly 20 years younger than in the US.

According to a recent London School of Economics study for Mexico Citywhich has been the epicenter of the pandemic in the countrythe neighborhoods, or colonias , with the highest cases per capita were Alvaro Obregon and Milpa Alta, two of the poorest. The poorer colonias had five times higher prevalence of coronavirus.

At the same time, the government agency Coneval reports that in 2020, Mexico saw 9.8 million people fall below the poverty line, bringing the total of number of Mexicans officially defined as poor to 70.9 million people, or 56.7 percent of the population.

As early as last April, the WSWS noted that the alternatives present themselves as the capitalist system and death, or socialism and life. Hundreds of thousands more will die in Mexico and internationally unless workers break free from all pro-capitalist and nationalist parties and trade unions and fight for a scientifically guided response to contain and eradicate the pandemic.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
[March 30, 2021] Marketers can reach the 'holy grail' of proven payers in similar apps with Bango Audiences

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bango (AIM: BGO), the global platform for data-driven commerce, announces the launch of the updated Bango Marketplace, giving app publishers and performance agencies a powerful way to target user acquisition campaigns based on purchase behavior that is not available anywhere else.

Targeting proven payers is the holy grail for app marketers. Bango Marketplace gives app marketers access to custom Audiences of proven payers that focus their Facebook campaigns directly on the people most likely to buy. Reach high spending payers in similar apps Bango Audiences are based on the emerging science of purchase behavior targeting. Using these techniques, App marketers can individually tailor audiences to reach the most desirable segment of payers based on category, spending behavior and similar titles. Where Facebook enables targeting based on interests like health and fitness apps, Bango Audiences enable targeting based on payers in specific meditation apps. App marketers can provide a list of titles to use in building an audience of payers, these tailored audiences are made available only to the individual users. Target a broader range of app categories and geographies



With the Bango Marketplace updates, app marketers can now select from a broader range of app categories with the addition of Audiences focused at payers in health and fitness, social casino, interactive game apps and many more. The comprehensive set of standard Bango Audience app categories is continually being expanded along with more geographies. New Bango Audiences have been added that reach more payers in tier 1 geographies including USA, Japan and Europe. These are available to all users on Bango.ai. App marketers want to reach people who will become paying customers  purchase behavior targeting enables marketers to focus their marketing solely towards those audiences. When you know who buys, your targeting becomes much more valuable, commented Brett Orlanski, SVP Marketplace. The powerful combination of purchase behavior, app category and campaign region now available at bango.ai, laser focuses campaigns to best fit the individual app strategy and return the highest payer conversion. Dont forget that 5% of users generate over 80% of app revenues, with Bango Audiences you get straight to these elusive payers.

Bango Audiences are trusted by an increasing number of app publishers and performance agencies in their UA campaigns to acquire a higher conversion of install to payer, including Nexon, Tec-Do, Zitga and Smule. About Bango App developers, stores and payment providers cross the threshold into the Bango ecosystem to converge, grow and thrive. By bringing businesses together and powering e-commerce with unique data-driven insights, Bango delivers new business opportunities and new dimensions of growth for customers around the world. Being inside the Bango circle means global merchants including Amazon, Google and Microsoft can work together with payment partners from Africa to the Americas, accelerating the performance of everyone on the inside. Bango. Think inside the circle. For more information, visit www.bango.com Media contact:

Anil Malhotra, CMO

anil@bango.com

Tel: +44 7710 480 377



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A total of 22 new flights under regional connectivity scheme were started in the last three days, said the Ministry on Tuesday.

Under the scheme, financial incentives from the Centre, state governments and airport operators are extended to selected airlines to encourage operations from unserved and underserved airports, and keep airfares affordable.

"Till date, 57 unserved and underserved airports, including five heliports and two water aerodromes, with 347 routes have been made operational under across the length and breadth of India," the ministry's statement noted.

On Sunday, 18 new flights were operationalised under the on routes such as Gorakhpur-Lucknow, Kurnool-Bangalore, Kurnool-Vishakhapatnam, Kurnool-Chennai, Agra-Bangalore, Agra-Bhopal, Prayagraj-Bhubaneswar and Prayagraj-Bhopal route, the statement noted.

(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.)
ADDIS ABABA-- Close to 79 percent of the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been accomplished and the dam would conduct preliminary energy generating trial this year, according to GERD project management.

In connection with 10th anniversary of the commencement of the GERD , the GERD project Manager Kifle Horo said the Dam, which is 1,780 meters high and expected to generate 15,695 GWh annually, would start pre-operational energy generation pilot this year.

Kifle noted that over 91 percent of the civil works, 54 percent of hydro-steel structure and 53 percent of the electro-mechanical progresses have been completed.

"The dam is expected to reverse the long standing problem of low access to basic services due to shortage of energy supply the country has been encountering," he said.

Kifle added that the dam can also serve for fishery, tourism, sediment trap, reduce evaporation, regulates fluctuation of water volume, energy uplift, and creating economic integration among African countries.

"Besides, the dam has environmental relevance by reducing the carbon emission by replacing thermal power plants.

The filling mechanism can be adjusted to seasonality and delay of filling during depending on hydrological condition of the year. "

Preliminary energy generation trial and second dam filling are the two decisive momentous to be completed in 2021, it was learnt.

Engineer Sileshi Bekele (Ph.D), stressed that Ethiopia tributes about 77 billion cubic meter of water to the Nile river annually being Tekeze and Abay rivers the major contributors.

Sileshi added that Ethiopia as a landlocked country should make use of its domestic rivers to well exploit the water trade potential with a view to getting rid of rain-fed agriculture.

Prof. Yakob Arsano, on his part, stressed that Ethiopia resides the right to rule over its natural resource so long as it is in line with the international law.

The GERD is a developmental project to quench Ethiopia's piled up electricity supply thirst and should not be perceived as a cause for conflict, he noted.
Leaders arrests, anti-COVID measures and internal divisions have weakened the anti-government youth movement. Calls for changes to the monarchy have frightened older generations. For Thai political scientist, the stifling status quo is bound to persist.

Bangkok (AsiaNews)  Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters defied police bans and took to the streets yesterday to oppose the government, calling for the release of a hundred activists arrested the previous day for violating health measures against the coronavirus.

After reaching a crescendo a few months ago with rallies attracting tens of thousands of people, the pro-democracy movement is losing steam.

For almost a year, young Thais have been calling for the resignation of coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha, the adoption of a democratic constitution, and the reform of the monarchy.

To stop the wave of protests, the authorities have been enforcing the lese majeste law, and jailed nine anti-government leaders.

In Thailand, attacking the king is something unprecedented. Traditionally, he is seen as a sacred figure, and insults against the monarch are punished with imprisonment of up to 15 years.

The protest movement is still on the move but in thin numbers, said Prof Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University.

The authorities have regained control of the situation, repressing the most vigorous anti-establishment movement the country has seen in decades, the scholar told AsiaNews.

Prayuth is the prime target of the protests. A former Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, he came to power in 2014 in a coup, and has led a civilian government since last year.

His critics accuse him of imposing a tailored-made constitution in 2017 and rigging the elections that formally ended military rule.

According to Thitinan, it is difficult to determine whether the upheavals of the last year are the first round of a long fight, or if everything is over.

The protest movement, he notes, began to weaken in December, with the arrival of the second wave of COVID-19. The police have used the pandemic to multiply arrests.

Internal divisions and the inability to go beyond young people and involve older Thais has played into the prime ministers hands.

Prayuth has played the waiting game, letting the movement lose its propulsive force.

For Thitinan, attacks on the monarchy, growing calls by some protesters for some communist utopia and violence committed by leaderless groups have restored the governments legitimacy.

Had it kept to a narrower political agenda, the youth protest could have been more successful.

The older generation is aware of the need for reforms against public corruption, economic stagnation, and educational shortcomings.

In the near future, the stifling status quo will continue in Thailand, Thitinan says, as the attention of the international community will be more focused on what is happening in neighbouring Myanmar.

Pro-democracy activists pin their hope on those youth groups, such as the Milk Tea Alliance, which are trying to keep alive online a network of protest and action with the involvement of Thai, Myanmar and Hong Kong activists.
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - Governor Doug Ducey applauded Thursdays unanimous decision by the Arizona State Fair Board to temporarily relocate the State Fair to a new, larger and safer location for 2021. The Arizona State Fair is an annual event that draws more than one million guests, and todays decision will allow the fair to proceed later this year.

Last fall, the State Fair was canceled due to COVID-19, prompting an offer from the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) to host the 2021 fair on the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority (WHPDA). The area is larger than the size of the State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, allowing for appropriate social distancing and other public health mitigation measures.



The Arizona State Fair is a beloved annual tradition for countless Arizona families, said Governor Ducey. This gracious offer by the Gila River Indian Community and todays decision by the Arizona State Fair Board ensures that another year wont pass without a State Fair.



Since last year, the State Fair has been a vital location for mass testing and vaccine distribution. This temporary relocation allows the fair grounds to continue to be available for public health needs in an underserved area of our community. It also guarantees that Arizonans will be able to enjoy the fair this year.



This is an exciting opportunity for us, said Wanell Costello, Executive Director of Arizona Exposition and State Fair. The Arizona State Fair is a rich tradition that Arizonans and visitors enjoy every year, and we are working hard to make sure it happens successfully this year.



GRIC Governor Stephen Roe Lewis echoed those statements.



The Gila River Indian Community, along with the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority, is proud to be a partner in the time-honored celebration of the State Fair, he said. Safety has been our number one priority during the pandemic and we are prepared to carry on this legacy for all of Arizona in the most supportive way possible. WHPDA is more than capable to deliver a memorable State Fair experience and we welcome Arizonans to come and enjoy themselves in our Community.



The GRICs letter to the State Fair Board stated that WHPDA has the space and the know how to host and deliver a meaningful, safe and appropriately scaled outdoor event. It would be their honor to work with State and outside medical professionals to develop a plan to safely host the Arizona State Fair.



While the GRIC offered to host a March fair, that timeline proved too ambitious. The State is currently working to finalize 2021 dates, likely later this year. However, by making this decision early, it allowed the State to move forward with fair planning and not risk the event being canceled again due to uncertainty.



As always, the fair will include agricultural, cultural and performing arts components. Additionally, given the location on native lands, a special focus will be placed on Indian Country and the states rich Native American heritage.



While we are hopeful that vaccine distribution will mean a return to normality, this temporary location gives us the ability to plan and ensure the fair goes on no matter what, said Jonathan Lines, Chairman of the State Fair Board. By working with the Gila River Indian Community on this option, weve been able to give early certainty to vendors we needed to secure to make this event a success, while also ensuring this event is safe for all Arizonans. We are thankful to GRIC and the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority for offering this opportunity.



Updates will be provided on the planning and finalized dates.


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Angela Smith, an educator and writer from Atlanta, Georgia, with a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters in early childhood education, has completed her new book Learning My ABCs with Mattie: a vivid book containing lessons on ABC that can aid in a childs language development and comprehension.

Angela writes, Learning My ABCs with Mattie is a book to help parents understand how important their childs education is. This book will guide the parents to help them with the importance of learning their ABCs. By doing so, children will develop word pronunciation, spelling, and writing. Once the child learns their alphabet and the beginning sound of each letter, they can begin forming words. This book will help parents know how to gain knowledge on the proper way to see if children are comprehending what was read to them. Reading is fundamental to young learners academic success. This is a tool that is necessary for young learners to use in order to build up basic skills in math (twenty-six letters in the alphabet), matching (words to alphabet), language (developing small words), and phonological awareness (uppercase and lowercase letters), among others.

Children will be capable of learning how to read and understand what they are reading and also to ask questions as well. When children gain knowledge of the alphabet, it piques their curiosity to learn and explore. By reading, it builds social and communication skills, which help them to understand the plot of the story and discussing what is happening and also to spark something in them to ask question and fantasize as if they were the characters. Mattie is asking the children to sing the ABC with her and motivating them as well. The book is dedicated to all young learners on how to develop their knowledge of the alphabet and to have fun exploring.

Published by Page Publishing, Angela Smiths masterpiece will surely help parents and educators in teaching their young the essence of words to improve their communication skills in the future.

Readers who wish to experience this charming work can purchase Learning My ABCs with Mattie 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.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives of those honored for their outstanding work in China's campaign to fight organized and gang-related crimes in Beijing, capital of China, March 29, 2021. Wang Huning and Zhao Leji, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, were present at the event. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met with representatives of those honored for their outstanding work in China's campaign to fight organized and gang-related crimes.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, expressed congratulations to the representatives, who were attending a gathering in Beijing to celebrate the victory of the campaign.

Wang Huning and Zhao Leji, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, were present at the event.

In 2018, China initiated a three-year campaign to crack down on organized and gang-related crimes. Significant results have been achieved, with more than 3,600 crime groups busted over the past three years.

Speaking at the event, Guo Shengkun, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, said the fight against such illegal activities should be advanced on a regular basis, calling for greater efforts to implement the Peaceful China initiative. Enditem

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[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]

Regular automatic payments from your bank account are likely to experience some disruption from April 1, 2021 due to a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rule on recurring transactions. This might affect automatic payments for mobile, utility or other bills, as well as subscription charges for OTT platforms, rental services, etc. The new rule calls for an additional layer of authentication for recurring transactions via credit cards, debit cards, UPI, and other prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) including digital wallets.

The central bank had issued a notification, dated August 21, 2019, to inform all scheduled commercial banks, non-bank prepaid payment instrument issuers, card payment networks and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) about the same.

ALSO READ: HDFC Bank faces glitches again; says 'looking' into issue

What does the new RBI rule say

In its notification, RBI said it "has been receiving requests from industry stakeholders to allow processing of e-mandate on cards for recurring transactions with AFA during e-mandate registration and first transaction, and simple / automatic subsequent successive transactions." To balance users' safety and convenience, the central bank said it has agreed to this proposal.

As per the RBI notification, automatic transactions will have to go through Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA) for the first transaction, as well as subsequent successive transactions, subject to certain conditions. It means such recurring transactions will have to be manually authenticated via a one-time password (OTP), at least when they are being set up.

Transaction limit under the new rule

Originally, the RBI had allowed transactions up to Rs 2,000 to be exempted from e-mandate based recurring transactions without AFA. However, in a notification on December 4, 2020, this limit was extended to Rs 5,000. Recurring transactions above this limit will have to undergo additional authentication.

ALSO READ: RBI's digital currency to be like cash, won't need intermediate settlements

When does the new rule come into effect

In its December notification, the RBI directed for implementation of the new rule from April 1, 2021. "Processing of recurring transactions (domestic or cross-border) using cards / PPIs / UPI under arrangements / practices not compliant with the aforesaid instructions shall not be continued beyond March 31, 2021," the central bank had said.

How does it work

Banks and payment platforms will have to send a notification to the customer 24 hours before the first automatic payment is debited. The mode of communication will have to be selected at the time of registering the e-mandate for recurring transactions. The notification will ask for customer's consent to complete the payment. Subsequent payments may be completed without this step.

Will there be any effect on automatic transactions

Banks and payments platforms are yet to clarify if they are ready to implement this new rule. Banks might decline automatic payments, which means customers will have to manually pay their bills. Enterprises that extensively use automatic payments will also be affected. Meanwhile, third-party payment processors have refused to share customers' data with banks citing contractual agreements, which could complicate matters further.

Till these issues are resolved, customers might face problems with recurring transactions from their accounts.

ALSO READ: SC verdict on loan moratorium: Bank NPAs to rise Rs 1.3 lakh crore
When Genevieve Hansen encountered police officers arresting George Floyd last May, she quickly realized that something was wrong. Ms. Hansen, who was off duty from her job as a Minneapolis firefighter and emergency medical technician, noticed that Mr. Floyd was handcuffed, seemed disoriented and that his face was smushed into the ground, she testified in court on Tuesday.

Ms. Hansen was the last witness called by prosecutors on the second day of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in Mr. Floyds death. She recalled pleading with the police to let her help Mr. Floyd, whom Mr. Chauvin had pinned to the ground with his knee, but being rebuffed by a police officer who was telling a crowd of bystanders to back away.

There was a man being killed, Ms. Hansen testified. I would have been able to provide medical attention to the best of my abilities, and this human was denied that right.

Her testimony became more heated when she was questioned by Eric J. Nelson, the lawyer for Mr. Chauvin, who asked her if she would be distracted if people heckled her while she was fighting a fire and noted that emergency medical workers do not routinely approach scenes where the police are working until the officers tell them it is safe.
About Junshi Biosciences Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R & D pipeline comprising 28 innovative drug candidates and 2 biosimilars, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Junshi Biosciences was the first Chinese pharmaceutical company that obtained marketing approval for anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in China. Its first-in-human anti-BTLA antibody for solid tumors was the first in the world to be approved for clinical trials by the FDA and NMPA and its anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody was the first in China to be approved for clinical trials by the NMPA. In early 2020, Junshi Biosciences joined forces with the Institute of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Science and Eli Lilly to co-develop JS016.

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.
A symbol of racialized hatred: Noose on tree at DC church investigated as possible hate crime

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An unknown party hung a noose on a tree on the property of a Washington, D.C. church, and local police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.

The noose was discovered last Friday at St. Marks Episcopal Church, a congregation founded in the 19th century based in Southeast D.C., near Capitol Hill.

Michele Morgan of St. Marks sent an email to church members explaining that they found the noose hung from one of the trees in the courtyard on Friday morning.

After contacting police about the noose, church leadership prayed around the tree, reconsecrating the space and blessing the tree and the sacred space of our church.

That symbol of hatred has no place in our churchyard, in our city, or our country. I know that this symbol causes fear in people ... hearts, wrote Morgan.

Describing the noose as a symbol of racialized hatred, Morgan also noted that the surrounding community reached out to the congregation in overwhelming ways.

We have received phone calls from allies in the work of racial justice: WIN, Everyone Home DC, Newtown Action Alliance, and other Episcopal churches, she continued.

Past parishioners from all over the country have checked in, asking if they can do something. I received a call from a woman who is willing to stop by and check on the church and another who is ready to come and walk people to their cars.

The noose was first spotted by a vocal ensemble group known as The Thirteen, which had been practicing a rendition of Johann Sebastian Bachs Saint John Passion.

The Thirteens production included an African American playing the role of Jesus. The production will focus on issues of systemic racism, the groups artistic director, Matthew Robertson, told WTOP.

And so its unclear whether the church, for their strong progressive stance, was the target, or whether this production was the target. But regardless, we at The Thirteen condemn racism in all its forms, Robertson said.

D.C. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen took to Twitter to denounce the noose display, calling on followers to declare that hate has no home here.

A noose was found today at St Marks Episcopal Church on the Hill. A despicable symbol & act of hate. [Metropolitan Police Department] has been on scene & is working with church leadership, Allen tweeted.

Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Hugh Carew told CNN that the department is investigating the incident as a hate crime.

"These types of offenses are taken seriously and are entirely unacceptable," Carew said.
Protecting power

No amount of cabinet reshuffle can hide the fact that Scott Morrison values power over the rights of women. Why else does a misogynist like Andrew Laming, even under police investigation, still have his job? Is it because the PM needs him to avoid a minority government situation? Scott Morrison, your motives are obvious and women arent that stupid.

Debra Shill, Nicholson

Read the script

Letters criticising Liberal and National Party women MPs for replying from the same party script miss the point. It is our party-based system of government that is at fault. If we had a real democracy, politicians would represent their constituents and not just the mindless ideology of a party that exists only to gain and keep power.

Phil Bodel, Ocean Grove

Leadership gambit

To adopt a metaphor from chess, Labor needs to counter the governments tactical move of installing more women into leadership roles by installing someone who can win the next election. That person is Tanya Plibersek. Its time.

Monty Arnhold, Port Melbourne

Business model

Its refreshing and affirming to read the business section. There I read about corruption being called out and punished, incompetent leaders and executives sacked and replaced, women leaders appointed and taking action in the global community. In contrast, the front section of the paper tells me about inept, evasive, cunning politicians again telling us about what could happen if and when. In the business section we read articles written by successful and resourceful women and see empowered shareholder communities take action against sexual harassment and climate change. If journalists can tell us about morality, shame and consequence in our business community, why cant they report the same accountability in our courts and political offices? Why are politicians able to prevaricate and take sick leave?

Suzanne Miles, Frankston South

Alcohol and violence

Yes, alcohol should be prohibited in our Parliament building (PM open to limits on alcohol at Parliament, The Age, 29/3) but it would be wrong to suggest that banning alcohol will necessarily prevent violence and abuse towards women in any setting, including our Parliament. Men who use alcohol to excess and then disrespect and abuse women have two problems: their inability to control their alcohol consumption and their ability to use power and control over women. The two are not necessarily connected but in our Parliament both should not be tolerated.

Geoff Selby, Moorooduc

Why wait?

I commend Health Minister Martin Foley and the Victorian government for the building of the new Footscray Hospital. Minister Foley notes: With a strong focus on sustainability, the design will enable the future electrification of the hospital to support Victorias transition to a net zero carbon economy by 2050. However, the hospital is being built with a gas supply. With such clear goals for electrification, why not build this infrastructure to be run on electricity from the outset? What are we waiting for? Others are doing it, the new hospital built in Canberra being one example. As a doctor who will work in this hospital, I do not want this building to contribute to harm at a time when we have the technology to do it better. I have many colleagues who are equally concerned. Our job is to care for patients and to reduce adverse health outcomes. Burning fossil gas in a new hospital is directly antagonistic to the ethos of our purpose.

Dr Georgina Imberger, consultant anaesthetist

End of JobKeeper

Five economists suggest that there are better ways to provide stimulus than to continue JobKeeper (Better way to provide stimulus: Experts back end of JobKeeper, The Age, 30/3). They, along with the federal Treasurer, suggest targeting assistance, which the government failed to do when they devised the plan that allowed many companies to retain JobKeeper benefits instead of repaying the government. Why should we have confidence the government will do better next time? The five economists may have a better understanding of what it means not to have a liveable income if they were to visit a Centrelink office and speak to those in the waiting queue, or visit an emergency relief centre and discuss with those seeking food parcels or vouchers.

Bruce MacKenzie, South Kingsville

Real people

The end of JobKeeper reaffirms the view that the federal government looks at statistics as an overview only and believes that everywhere in Australia is the same and that peoples situations across Australia are all the same. Do they even recognise that numbers equate to real people? 150,000 people to become suddenly unemployed is treated almost flippantly. That is 150,000 households who will drop below the poverty line, will struggle to pay the mortgage and be seeking help from charities. The last time that this government realised that real people were involved was when a human graph was made by long queues outside Centrelink offices.

Greg Tuck, Warragul

Economic education

Donald Trump thought the stock exchange was the economy. In Australia we think the housing market is the economy. We need another poorly educated Paul Keating to pull some levers.

Gary Sayer, Warrnambool

Having a laugh

While recognising that humour is a personal taste, I beg to differ with your correspondent on their comparison of modern comedy with Hey Hey Its Saturday (Letters, 30/3). Comedy writer Rebecca Shaw should be justifiably proud to be associated with shows of the calibre of Hard Quiz and The Weekly, the two favourite and must-see shows in my household  both are incisive, witty and very funny. Daryl Somers, unlike his fellow cast members, was distinctly unfunny and Hey Hey was more in the vein of Funniest Home Videos. For anyone who wants a real laugh, watch the first episode of Fisk. Its hilarious.

Peter Knight, St Arnaud



Turn a new leaf

Congratulations Minister Karen Andrews on your appointment to the Ministry for Home Affairs. Im hoping that with your appointment you will bring a sense of fairness, compassion and humanity into the ministry. I believe Australians want to stop dehumanising refugees. Unless we are of Aboriginal or Islander descent, we are highly likely to be descendants of some sort of refugee. Our ancestors were convicts or refugees from wars or communism or poverty, or simply looking for better circumstances. Isnt it time that Priya, Nades and their two daughters were taken off Christmas Island and returned to Biloela? They were settled in Biloela and were productive and valued by their community. I sense that more and more Australians feel uncomfortable with the way refugees/asylum seekers are treated in our name. Please minister, lead the way.

Helen Trueman, Blackburn Get what you pay for

Your correspondent (Letters, 30/3) thinks $2299 was too much for 3 hours work by an anaesthetist. ld be happy to do it for $300 all up. Of course, I havent been to medical school. But Id say if he felt no pain and came round OK, $2299 was a bargain.

Caroline Miley, Heidelberg Training rewarded

Perhaps your correspondent should reconsider his opinion on the anaesthetists fee he paid. This highly trained specialist who treated him probably studied hard for 12 years of high school, five or six years of medical school, worked double shifts as a young doctor, then completed 10 years of specialist training. She kept her patient pain-free for 3 hours during his operation, no easy job. For this he begrudges her fee. Maybe a piece of stick and a bottle of scotch would suffice for his next life-saving surgery?

Angus McLeod, Cremorne School sell-offs

The selling off school sites (Sale of the century: Dozens of former school sites earmarked for market, The Age, 24/3) by the Andrews Labor government repeats the mistakes of the Cain-Kirner governments of the 1980s and 90s that rationalised government schooling across the state. The government abolished and closed more than 120secondary technical schools across Victoria.

Country schools, primary and secondary were also closed and former rural schools that had been reused by state schools for school camps were sold off. When Kirner was voted out, the incoming Kennett government finished selling the unsold rationalised schools sites. This under-recognised history reveals that Labor governments are not automatic friends of quality state-provided education.

Sunshine Technical School opened in 1913 and became a secondary college in 1990 after the closure of four other secondary schools in the district. The site is now prime real estate slated for future liquidation. Government sales of state schools are not just short-sighted but fail to recognise these schools and sites as important community resources. They are instead viewed narrowly as assets to be sold to the highest bidding developer.

Dr John Pardy, president, Sunshine and District Historical Society AND ANOTHER THING...

Canberra

Will limiting access to alcohol in Federal Parliament pass the pub test?

Bill Pell, Emerald Its no wonder Fiona Patten changed the name of her party, the LNP has stolen her thunder.

Francis Bainbridge, Fitzroy North Scott Morrisons plea to women (The Age, 30/3) is that they vote for him so he can continue advancing the cause of, and providing a smokescreen for, middle-aged white blokes.

Helen Moss, Croydon Christine Holgate must be delighted Andrew Laming has been allowed to keep his job.

Jill Rosenberg, Caulfield South Mr Morrison, the standard you walk past is the standard you accept. Andrew Laming would be out of a job in any real-world business.

John Fowler, Inverloch

Sexual harassment has been around just a bit longer than Facebook.

Claire Cooper, Maldon COVID-19

Scott Morrison promised 4 million vaccinations by the end of March. The 31st is going to be a very busy day.

Richard Hughes, Woodend Lockdowns and border closures continue while the vaccination rollout progresses at a canter.

Ken Machin, Grovedale Your correspondent (Letters, 30/3), seems outraged at the sight of people behaving normally and not wearing (useless) masks on public transport. Would they prefer us to hide under the doona indefinitely?

Lesley Black, Frankston Furthermore

Your correspondents anaesthetist (Letters, 30/3) charged him more than $656 an hour! That rate would certainly keep you awake at night  and during the day.

Geoff Allen, Mount Eliza
A dark cloud hovers over a herd of bison at sunset in Wind Cave National Park, in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota, in a file photo. (David McNew/Getty Images)

400 Homes Evacuated, 1,900 Acres Burned in South Dakota Wildfires

More than 400 South Dakota homes have been evacuated following three separate wildfires that erupted in the Black Hills region on Monday and have so far burned hundreds of acres and destroyed at least one home, authorities said.

The Pennington County Sheriffs Office said that an initial fire started near Schroeder Road in the Nemo area, about 15 miles northwest of Rapid City. The still moving fires have so far destroyed several outbuildings and at least one home, the sheriffs office said, noting that residents evacuated from Westberry Trails and Schroeder Road have since been allowed to return home.

Rob Powell, incident commander for the Schroeder Fire, said that by 8:30 p.m., more than 1,900 acres had been burned, and that the Schroeder Fire is still moving.

The fire is zero percent contained, officials said.

According to the National Weather Service, as of Monday evening, at least 20 regions had been placed in the extreme grassland fire danger category, including Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, and Faulkton.

No injuries have been reported so far, but South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who traveled to Rapid City to oversee the response, has said that there have been losses and that is tragic.

The Republican governor said the Schroeder Road fire started on private property, but the cause is still under investigation by officials.

The sheriffs department warned earlier that it was a very active and dangerous scene. About 250 firefighters were battling the blaze on a windy afternoon when gusts ranged from around 50 mph to 72 mph, the Rapid City Journal reported.

Law enforcement requests that citizens stay out of the area and use alternate routes, a news release from the sheriffs office posted on Facebook said.

Two additional blazes were burning southwest of Rapid City, near Keystone, with one covering an estimated 75 acres (30.35 hectares) and the other 20 acres (8.09 hectares), causing road closures and the temporary closure of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, police said.

South Dakota transportation officials shut down a 42-mile stretch of Interstate 90 from Kadoka to Murdo for three hours due to grass fires.

Noem said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds for tackling the Schroeder blaze.

Noem told reporters at a press briefing Monday that the priority needs to be to keep people safe and getting these fires put out.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 11:31:51|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Australia is a "long way short" of its coronavirus vaccine target, a health expert has warned.

Stephen Duckett, a health economist from think tank the Grattan Institute, said that health authorities must learn from the failings of the initial phases of the vaccine rollout to achieve the government's goals.

The government initially promised that four million Australians would receive vaccines by the end of March and that the entire population would be vaccinated by the end of October.

As of Monday 541,761 vaccines had been administered.

"We set a target of four million, we've got 600,000 or so. That is a long way short of the target," said Duckett, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Tuesday.

"What are we going to do differently into the future? My hope is also that we are going to do things very differently in April and May from what we did in March."

In the first week of phase 1B of the rollout, under which six million Australians are eligible for jabs, about 259,000 people were vaccinated.

Despite the slow start to the program Health Minister Greg Hunt on Monday insisted it was on track.

"The latest guidance I have is we remain on track for all the first doses before the end of October," he told reporters.

About 1,000 general practitioners (GPs) have begun administering vaccines and Duckett said there were logistical challenges.

"GPs don't know how many vaccines they're going to get, they've booked patients, then they have to unbook patients," he said.

As of Monday afternoon, there had been 29,278 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and the numbers of locally and overseas acquired cases in the last 24 hours were four and 14 respectively, according to the latest figures updated on Monday evening by the Department of Health. Enditem
The Dawn of a New Age of Tyranny Is Upon Us

Commentary

If youre bewildered by the breakneck pace of change since the inauguration of Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. on Jan. 20, youre not alone.

Average Americans have been puzzled and, in many cases, chagrined by the flurry of executive orders, ukases, policy prescriptions, social proscriptions, vengeful rollbacks, and other government meddling in the lives of our citizens. Conservatives, meanwhile, understand that all this activity has one overarching purpose: to punish the bad Orange Man and the country that voted for him. And make sure he never happens again.

To that end, the string of top-down bossiness has been designed to look, and be, punitive. Every major Donald Trump initiative or accomplishment must be negated and anathematized. His supporters who unwisely marched on the Capitol on Jan. 6what did they hope to accomplish?shouldnt just be deplored but hunted down by the FBI for sedition; theres even a tip line for junior Stasis-in-training to rat out their friends and neighbors.

Woke hall monitors must screech like Donald Sutherland at the end of the 1978 version Invasion of the Body Snatchers whenever they see a constitutionally free and unmasked citizen daring to appear in public without a slave muzzle.

Meanwhile, white supremacy (which is just a leftist term for Western civilization) and rampant bigotry (disagreement over political processes and objectives) must be hunted down and eradicated, civil rights suspended, and core provisions of the Bill of Rights overthrown, including all or parts of the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and 10th amendments. Its a mad scramble for a Year Zero to rival those of the French and Bolshevik revolutionsthe dawn of a new age of tyranny masquerading as compassion.

Never Again

Why the rush? At first blush, the Democrats ought to be content with their famous victory. They control the White House (whether in the person of Joe Biden or a Committee of Public Safety), have a slim but comfortable margin in the House, and can employ Vice President Kamala Harris as a tie-breaker in the Senate should one of collaborationist Republicans (Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney) somehow manage to resist the temptation to cross the aisle and vote with their good friends in the party of slavery, segregation, secularism, and, well, actual sedition.

Youd think that theyd relax, take a deep breath, and use the next two years to plot how theyre going to ballot-cure and -harvest their way to a more secure victory in 2022. Because the democracy-destroying bill known as H.R. 1amusingly called the For the People Act of 2021is just the beginning.

After all, the fix can never be in quite enough when you need a sure thing.

The Democrats havent quickly forgotten the grand takeaway lesson of 2016: that never again must the specter of populism, in the form of what used to be called Jacksonian democracyraise its misshapen head again. To that end, theyre hurrying to ram through their socialist objectives, demoralize and demonize their political opponents, and arrange the electoral system so that theyll never lose again.

Instead, rule by experts, academics, and bureaucrats must now be institutionalized. Their model is the ferociously anti-constitutional reign of the racist southern Democrat/egghead Woodrow Wilson from 191321, during which racial segregation was reinstated in the federal workforce, the United States launched itself into the bloodiest foreign war in history up to that time, American citizens and foreigners alike were thrown in jail on the slightest pretext, free speech was curtailed, and the media was bent to conform to the White Houses wishes via Wilsons Orwellian Committee on Public Information, headed by a journalist named George Creel and established in 1917, the year America went to war.

Propaganda

The Creel Committees first task was selling the war to the American people, especially the young men who suddenly found themselves drafted into a nearly nonexistent Army and sent to France as cannon fodder. This was tricky, since Wilson had run on a peace platform in 1916he kept us out of war and America First were his slogansagainst Charles Evans Hughes. Sworn in as president in March 1917, Wilson promptly thrust the United States into the Great War a few weeks later. But with the help of Sigmund Freuds nephew Edward Bernays, the Austrian-born father of public relations, they managed it.

The committee was nothing short of a ministry of information, a full-on propaganda agency that covered everything from newspapers, newsreels, advertising; there was even a government newspaper called the Official Bulletin, which pushed Democrats talking points, thus becoming a role model for todays New York Times and Washington Post. Then, as now, a Democratic administration saw the press as one of its most potent armaments against freedom of speech and thought, and weaponized it accordingly.

Consider the recent press conference in which a confused and often rambling Biden, 78, read answers off cue cards to questions from media apparatchiks that had been selected in advance by his handlers. He was provided with a picture book of the White House stenographers camouflaged as correspondents sitting before him, and instructed on whom to call in order to present a simulacrum of a briefing. Unsurprisingly, most of the questioners were young women, and most of the questions had more to do with statements of feelings than an attempt to elicit actual information.

What a contrast to previous administrations! In the televised heyday of John F. Kennedy, the enjoyment JFK took in the give-and-take with the gentlemen of the press was palpable; Kennedy prized his command of facts and enjoyed matching wits with the media. During the Trump administration, the reporters were seething with hostility, rude beyond any earlier measure, unabashed in their loathing.

But the Biden snoozefest, about as spontaneous as the Baltimore Catechism, was simply elder abuse, an attempt to convince a senescent puppet that, at least for an hour, he really was president of the United States. Then, he was off the stage, into the wings, and off to bed.

Biden, however, wasnt the real object of the charade, nor is he the brains behind the frantic pace of change, hope, and even rescue being promulgated in his name. No, the object of the pantomime is  you.

If youas the media insists you mustbelieve that Biden is in charge, the country is getting back to normal, and that all will be well if we just adjust our understanding of the Constitution a little here and a little there, then youre either a fool or a glutton for punishment.

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.
Syracuse, NY  A rapidly growing company building suburban senior living facilities across Central New York is being sued over accusations that it illegally upcharges tenants with breathing issues, arthritis and other common disabilities.

Clover Group, of Williamsville, has built and manages several local complexes aimed at middle-class senior living: Camillus Pointe, on Milton Avenue; Buckley Square, in Salina and Morgan Square, in Clay; as well as facilities in New Hartford and Binghamton.

Rents are $1,000 or so a month. But the company adds charges for amenities that the elderly disabled often require: a reserved parking space (up to one-time $350 fee) or in-building amenities like being near an elevator or having grab handles (a $25 to $35-a-month upcharge), according to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday.

Those types of services should not cost the disabled elderly more, under longstanding reasonable accommodations law, the lawsuit states.

Nickel and diming residents because of their disability needs is egregious in any situation, said Sally Santangelo, executive director of CNY Fair Housing, which filed the lawsuit along with housing advocates in two other states.

While a parking space may seem like a small issue, it has kept residents from attending church, going shopping or visiting friends and family, Santangelo said. Some feel a prisoner inside their own homes, she said.

CNY Fair Housing began investigating Clover Group about three years ago over complaints from elderly residents at Camillus Pointe, Santangelo said. The non-profit then reached out to its partners in multiple states to investigate similar issues at Clover Group properties in Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well.

The housing groups brought their concerns to Clover Group, which did nothing to change its practices, Santangelo said.

Thats when CNY Fair Housing and its sister groups in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo and Cincinnati joined in legal action. Their lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Upstates federal court, which includes Syracuse.

The legal question surrounds what reasonable accommodations a facility must make to avoid discriminating against someone with a disability. Federal rules, for example, state that a reserved parking space is a mandatory reasonable accommodation for someone with a disability, Santangelo said.

Clover Group, which could not immediately be reached for comment, has been on a building boom in the past several years, according to its website, with multiple new properties being developed each year. The Central New York facilities have all opened in the past five years or so, Santangelo said.

The lawsuit seeks a court order for Clover Group to stop charging more for reasonable accommodations, money to repay tenants for the higher rents and punitive damages (punishment) against Clover Group, as well as attorneys fees.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.
Richwood, TX (77531)

Today

A steady, heavy rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 69F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

A steady, heavy rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 69F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.
Ruth Bass is an award-winning journalist. Her website is ruthbass.com . The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Berkshire Eagle.
Jukka Leinonen to head Telenor Group's Nordic Cluster

Jukka Leinonen, the CEO of Telenors Finnish company DNA, has been appointed head of Telenor Groups Nordic Cluster from autumn 2021. He continues as executive vice president and a member of Telenor Groups executive management, reporting to Sigve Brekke, president and CEO of Taelenor Group.?

Leinonen, who currently holds the role as head of the Telenor Groups Nordic Cluster part-time, will continue in his roles as chair of Telenor Sweden, Telenor Denmark, and Telenor Connexion, the Telenor Group stated in a release.

The search for a new CEO of DNA starts immediately. Once the new CEO of DNA commences, Leinonen will take on the position as chair of DNA, the release added.

Jukka Leinonen has been successfully heading our Nordic Cluster since 2019, developing the co-operation of its business units, enabling synergies, driving growth, and creating value for our customers across the region. It is now time to accelerate the Nordic co-operation further and explore the untapped potential. I am very pleased that Jukka now will lead this work full-time, said Sigve Brekke, president and CEO of Telenor Group.

Leinonen joined DNA as senior vice president, Corporate Business in 2010 and was appointed CEO of DNA in 2013. Since 2019, he has additionally headed Telenor Groups Nordic Cluster as executive vice president of Telenor Group. He has previously held various senior management positions in corporate business sales, marketing, and product management at TeliaSonera.
Another councillor who was injured in an attack carried out by (LeT) terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore town, died in a hospital on Tuesday, taking the total toll from the carnage to three.

The victim was identified as Shams-ud-din Pir, according to the police.

With this the number of persons killed in Monday's attack has gone up to three

Councillor Riyaz Ahmad and a security guard were killed when two LeT militants attacked the them while they were at a meeting in Sopore.

Police has identified the assailants as a local and a Pakistani.

Meanwhile, Vijay Kumar, IGP (Kashmir zone) has ordered suspension of three security guards who were present at the time of the attack, for lack of proper response.

--IANS

sq/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.)
A Japanese man who started work as a hospital chaplain in Minnesota in 2020 said his appeal for paper cranes to decorate the hospital for COVID-19 patients resulted in more than 16,000 origami birds arriving.

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Pastor Kazuhiro Sekino, who started work at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis in July 2020, said his appeal for paper cranes stemmed from his initial encounter with a coronavirus patient at the facility.

"I was super scared," Sekino recalled to KARE-TV. "Of course it was recommendation I wear gown, gloves and goggles and hard face masks. My language was limited because of the hard face mask and time was limited. So that's why I got an idea that I can make a paper crane as a Japanese chaplain and hand him as a symbol of healing and hope."

Sekino said origami cranes are a symbol of healing in Japanese culture.

"In Japan, making a paper crane, especially collecting 1,000 paper cranes tied together -- it is an intense prayer for healing and seeking peace," he said.

Sekino posted a video to his YouTube account asking his followers to send him paper cranes for the hospital.

"I thought I'd get maybe 200," he told Mpls St. Paul magazine.

The chaplain said he was shocked by the number of cranes he received.

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"Some schools and communities started making together, with so many people, and its amount is 16,000," he said. "Which I never expected."

Most of the cranes are now on display at the hospital, hanging from the ceiling in the main lobby.

"The hospital is not a super fun place to visit," Sekino said. "They're looking down because there are so many emotional distress to visit the hospital. But once they step into the hospital, first thing they see is this paper crane, so they can look up -- something they didn't expect."
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US Ambassador to Rwanda, Peter Vrooman, is a Rotarian and joined those who distributed the donations in Rwamagana District on Sunday.

A total of 1,500 vulnerable children aged between 7 and 12 in the Eastern Province have been given mattresses, bedsheets and school materials by Rotary Club Kigali Virunga.

The donation was made on Sunday, March 28.

The event was also attended by the Ambassador of the United States to Rwanda, Peter Vrooman, who is also a Rotarian.

The materials were donated by Sleeping Children Around the World, a Canadian organisation, and distributed in partnership with Rotary Club Kigali Virunga.

The kits provided include mattress, blankets, bedsheets, basin, school uniforms, notebooks, shoes, bags, facemasks and underwear.

"When my daughter told me about it, she was happy and she asked me to come here to collect the kits. The materials we received are important to my daughters' studies and wellbeing. I usually buy school uniforms once every three years, it was just not easy. We thank the donors," declared Salaama Bigenimana, a mother.

She added that when one offers a helping hand to someone they boost their confidence.

"The items will improve our hygiene," Christine Mukagasana, from Karutimbo Village, Cyanya Cell, Kigabiro Sector.

Rwamagana District Mayor Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi said the donation will contribute to the improved performance of the children in school.

Jennifer Ingabire, former president of Rotary Club Kigali Virunga, explained that while she was president of Rotary Club, a Canadian organisation named Sleeping Children Around the World asked them to work with them as overseas volunteering partner in the distribution of the materials to children.

Rotary Club is an international organisation founded in 1905 with purpose to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service

Among notable achievements of the organisation in Rwanda are Kigali Public Library and shelters for cancer patients established at Rwanda Military Hospital in Kigali.

There are five Rotary clubs in Rwanda, with each club having between 20-30 members on average.
NORWICH  A local man will spend more than four years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking ring that operated out of southeastern Connecticut, prosecutors said.

Bryon McClellan, 33, was sentenced Monday by Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

McClellan pleaded guilty on Oct. 5, 2020, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine while on pretrial release.

The charges against McClellan stemmed from an investigation by various law enforcement agencies into the distribution of narcotics and illegal possession of guns in the southeastern corner of the state.

Investigators said Royshawn Boy Roy Allgood received narcotics from another member of the trafficking ring, then sold the drugs to users and other street-level distributors. McClellan got distribution amounts of cocaine from Allgood and sold the drugs to his own customers, authorities said.

A grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment on March 5, 2019, charging McClellan, Allgood and 22 others with various offenses for their roles in the drug trafficking ring. A superseding indictment charged two other defendants.

McClellan was taken into custody on March 7, 2019.

While he was released on bond, authorities said the Connecticut State Police stopped McClellans vehicle and arrested him after he was found in possession of about 33 grams of cocaine on July 8, 2019. He has been detained since July 11, 2019.

Allgood pleaded guilty to a related charged. On Jan. 3, 2020, he was sentenced to 71 months in prison.
Mar. 30, 2021 -- JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (TSE 4552; Chairman and President: Shin Ashida; "JCR") announced today that European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted orphan drug designation to JR-171, an investigational drug for the treatment of mucoplysaccharidosis type I (MPS I, or Hurler, Hurler-Scheie and Scheie syndrome). JR-171 is a blood-brain-barrier (BBB)-penetrating form recombinant a-L-iduronidase that was developed using JCR's proprietary J-Brain Cargo BBB technology.

JR-171 received the orphan drug designation from the US Food Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2021. Currently JR-171 is undergoing a global Phase 1/2 clinical trial and the first patient in Japan was dosed in October, 2020 and in Brazil in March, 2021. The trial is also scheduled for enrolling patients in the US. The summary of this study is registered on clinicaltrials.gov.

JCR, as a specialty pharma in the rare disease arena, will continue to proactively engage in research and development of transformative treatment options for patients with rare diseases. Therefore, following JR-171, JCR plans to harness its J-Brain Cargo technology platform and progress its robust pipeline of innovative enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) products for additional lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs).

This designation is expected to have a minor impact on JCR's consolidated financial results for the year ending on March 31, 2021.

Orphan designation (EMA)

The EMA implements orphan designation for promoting new drug development for rare diseases in which the prevalence of the condition in the EU must not be more than 5 in 10,000. Designated drugs are granted market exclusivity for ten years in the EU, as well as scientific guidance.

About MPS I (Hurler, Hurler-Scheie, Scheie syndrome)

MPS I is an autosomal recessive LSD caused by a deficiency of a-L-iduronidase, an enzyme that breaks down glycosaminoglycans (mucopolysaccharides) in the body. The number of patients with MPS I worldwide is estimated to be approximately 3,600 (according to JCR research). MPS I gives rise to a wide range of somatic and neurological symptoms. A major limitation to current ERT is that it does not address central nervous system (CNS) symptoms because of the enzyme's inability cross the BBB.

About J-Brain Cargo Technology

JCR's first-in-class proprietary technology, J-Brain Cargo, enables the development of therapies that cross the BBB and penetrate the CNS. The CNS complications of LSDs are often severe, resulting in developmental delays, an impact on cognition and, above all, poor prognosis, which affect patients' independence as well as the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. With J-Brain Cargo, JCR seeks to address the unresolved clinical challenges of LSDs by delivering the enzyme to both the body and the brain.

About JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.

JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (TSE 4552) is a global specialty pharmaceuticals company that is redefining expectations and expanding possibilities for people with rare and genetic diseases worldwide. We continue to build upon our 45-year legacy in Japan while expanding our global footprint into the US, Europe, and Latin America. We improve patients' lives by applying our scientific expertise and unique technologies to research, develop, and deliver next-generation therapies. Our approved products in Japan include therapies for the treatment of growth disorder, Fabry disease, acute graft-versus host disease, and renal anemia. Our investigational products in development worldwide are aimed at treating rare diseases including MPS I (Hurler, Hurler-Scheie and Scheie syndrome), MPS II (Hunter syndrome), Pompe disease, and more. JCR strives to expand the possibilities for patients while accelerating medical advancement at a global level. Our core values reliability, confidence, and persistence benefit all our stakeholders, including employees, partners, and patients. Together we soar. For more information, please visit https://www.jcrpharm.co.jp/en/site/en/.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as "believe," "estimate," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "will," "would," "target" and similar references to future periods. All forward-looking statements regarding our plans, outlook, strategy and future business, financial performance and financial condition are based on judgments derived from the information available to us at this time. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to be materially different from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, a deterioration of economic conditions, a change in the legal or governmental system, a delay in launching a new product, impact on competitors' pricing and product strategies, a decline in marketing capabilities relating to our products, manufacturing difficulties or delays, an infringement of our intellectual property rights, an adverse court decision in a significant lawsuit and regulatory actions.

This document involves information on pharmaceutical products (including those under development). However, it is not intended for advertising or providing medical advice. Furthermore, it is intended to provide information on our company and businesses and not to solicit investment in securities we issue.

Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly or to update the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, even if new information becomes available in the future.

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David Cameron and billionaire financier Lex Greensill went on a desert camping trip with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman - months after the Saudi leader was accused of ordering Jamal Khashoggi's assassination, it has been claimed

The lobbying trip to Saudi Arabia in early 2020 for now collapsed Greensill Capital took place following global condemnation of Bin Salman for Khashoggi's murder, according to the Financial Times.

A UN report had months before found 'credible links' between the Crown Prince and the murder in 2018- and the US has since formally announced that Bin Salman approved the killing.

It will add to questions over the former Prime Minister's lobbying for the Australian financier - which has already sparked calls for a public inquiry after Greensill collapsed last month when insurers refused to underwrite its loans and Credit Suisse froze the firm's $10bn in funds.

More than 50,000 people could lose their jobs as a result of the Greensill collapse, which has also forced steel giant Liberty Steel to ask for a taxpayer-funded 170m bailout.

Mr Cameron is alleged to have been expecting to make $60m through share options from his advisory position at Greensill - had the company been floated - and questions are now growing over whether he improperly used his knowledge and contacts as Prime Minister to secure the role.

Jamal Khashoggi: The Saudi Arabian journalist assassinated and dismembered on Crown Prince's orders' Khashoggi (pictured) was killed inside Saudi Arabia's Istanbul consulate in 2018 Jamal Khashoggi was a prominent Saudi Arabian journalist and dissident who was assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. The US declassified a CIA report early this year that concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman approved the murder of Khashoggi, who was critical of the kingdom. The 59-year-old Washington Post journalist was living in Turkey and visited the Saudi embassy in Istanbul for a visa appointment on October 2. There, a 15 -strong Saudi government death squad was waiting for him. An audio recording of Khashoggi's murder was made by the Turkish secret services. It showed how he was choked to death while struggling with the assassins. He was then dismembered, and authorities believe his remains were then dissolved in acid. Advertisement

Cameron was Prime Minister when Greensill was pitching his financial products across government, and Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood introduced the pair.

And it has since emerged that Lex Greensill was given a desk in the Cabinet Office and assisted in pitching his business across 11 government departments.

Years later, the company was given accreditation to lend money under the Government's Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS).

Cameron also faced criticism for his unsuccessfully lobbying of Government officials - including Chancellor Rishi Sunak - to increase Greensill's role in the Government-backed loan scheme.

This week he was cleared by a lobbying watchdog over his work for the company.

The watchdog looked at whether he should have registered his lobbying work for Greensill - which took place years after he had stepped down as PM.

But they cleared him of any wrongdoing as he was officially an employee of the company and therefore he did not need to make a declaration.

While PM, Cameron ordered Conservative peers to vote down a Labour amendment to new lobbying laws, which would have added extra transparency.

Had the amendment passed, the work he later completed for Greensill would have needed to be registered.

Labour now is calling for the standards watchdog to look into government links to Greensill.

And the Committee on Standards in Public Life, an independent advisory body that advises Number 10 on ethical standards, has privately indicated it would consider Labour's submissions, according to the Financial Times.

Today Labour's Shadow Chancellor, Anneliese Dodds, called for a through investigation.

She said: 'Rishi Sunak is the guardian of public money. We need to know that he's being careful with it.

'That's why we've called for a full, transparent and thorough investigation into the decision to accredit Greensill to the CLBILS scheme. We need answers.'

Labour's Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rachel Reeves echoed the calls, demanding 'urgent answers from Cameron and from the Government'.

However business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng today defended Mr Cameron over his links to Greensill Capital.

Mr Kwarteng told Sky News that former Prime Minister did 'absolutely nothing wrong' in his work with the fiance firm.

Defending Cameron, Kwarteng today told Sky News said: 'As far as I know David Cameron did absolutely nothing wrong.

'He was a public servant for a long time, he has now gone into public life and was working for Greensill Capital.

'People have looked into his role. People have looked into the fact that he may or may not have contacted officials in the Treasury.

'As far as I know everything was above board. He has been largely exonerated and I think we should just move on.'

MailOnline has contacted Greensill Capital, the Saudi Embassy and the office of David Cameron for comment. Administrators for Greensill declined to comment.

David Cameron (pictured left) and billionaire banker Lex Greensill (pictured right) went on a desert camping trip with Saudi's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman as part of a business charm offensive, it has been claimed

The Crown Prince (pictured) is ruler of the middle eastern nation with a reported personal wealth of more than 3billion

The camping trip reportedly took place around January or February last year - before Covid restrictions were put in place in the UK. Pictured: Saudi's Crown Prince meets with Japan's Prime Minister in Riyadh in January last year

The camping trip and flights allegedly took place in the months after a forensic UN report found 'credible links' between the Crown Prince and murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi

What was Greensill Capital and what did it do? Greensill Capital was an Anglo-Australian finance company set up by billionaire banker Lex Greensill in 2011. The company focused on supply chain funding and made its money by acting as a middle-man in large business transactions - taking a cut during the process. It paid suppliers up-front on behalf of purchasing companies, and then recouped the money from the customer at a later date plus its fee. In essence, if a company wanted to buy raw product to make another product, it could go to Greensill to secure the funding. In theory, the purchasing company could guarantee a profit because it knew it could make the raw product into a more expensive product, But the company might not have the 'capital' to afford its raw materials up front, and they would go to a supply company such as Greensill to front the cash - taking a cut in the process when the debt was repaid. Mr Greensill added an extra layer to this, by allowing investors to buy the invoices as short-term assets which could be sold and traded. This process - which isn't usually practices in supply chain funding - pulled in money from investors and helped to pay back suppliers. This process was done through Swiss lender Credit Suisse and asset management firm GAM. It was a move which helped rocketed Greensill up the financial ladder. But, ultimately, the system runs on debt. And as the company rapidly expanded, so did the debt piles. However the company looked a solid bet, with Japanese funding giant SoftBank investing 800million. Warning flags began to appear in 2019 however. An audit in 2019 found Greensill Bank was overly exposed to companies owned by Sanjeev Gupta, owner of British steel producer Liberty Steel. Then, in a decisive blow, insurance company Tokio Marine, which provided cover for around 4.6billion of Greensill's capital, said it would no longer extend two policies that were underwriting Greensill's clients, the buyers in the supply chain and protecting investors. Spooked by the move, Credit Suisse then froze 10billion of funds it had invested in Greensill. Greensill Capital filed for insolvency earlier this month and has been taken over by administrators - who say they have a potential buyer to take over the company's assets. Around 500 jobs are at risk at Greensill, while 50,000 could be at risk due to the knock on impact of the company's collapse. This includes Liberty Steel - which had Greensill as one of its key backers. The steel firm employs 3,000 staff across 12 UK sites, which include Rotherham, Motherwell and Newport. The company requested 170million in financial support from the UK Government this month, but the request was rejected. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng today said that ministers could step in to protect plants and jobs - but said the money would not be used to help out owners the Gupta Family Group. Advertisement

Reports Cameron and Mr Greensill took a trip to Saudi Arabia last year today emerged in the Financial Times.

During the Saudi trip Mr Greensill and the Saudi Crown Prince are said to have 'bonded under the night sky' over their law degrees.

The Crown Prince, sometimes refered to as MBS, is the de facto ruler of the middle eastern nation.

He has a reported personal wealth of more than 3billion and a family worth estimated to be around 1.5trillion.

The camping trip allegedly took place around January or February last year - before Covid restrictions were put in place in the UK.

It also took place in the months after a forensic UN report found 'credible links' between the Crown Prince and murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Flight records for four private planes belonging to the banker's finance business also show a series of trips to Saudi Arabia were made early last year, according to the Financial Times.

The paper says Cameron, on occasion, used the corporate jets to travel around the world on business.

It also claims to have seen a photograph of the former PM on one of the four jet - which it says were decked out in plush furniture.

The paper reports that several trips were made from Newquay airport - a short drive from Cameron's holiday home in Cornwall.

The Saudi Arabia claims come amid a lobbying scandal engulfing Mr Cameron about his relationship with Mr Greensill - whose Greensill Capital business filed for insolvency earlier this month.

It is claimed the businessman, through his relationship with Mr Cameron, was given extraordinary access to No10 and struck a controversial NHS deal reportedly rejected by civil servants which profited banks.

Mr Greensill was allegedly granted a security pass and a team of civil servants during the former Conservative leader's time in Downing Street so he could promote a financial product he specialised in across Whitehall.

The banker hired the former prime minister as an adviser at his financial services company Greensill Capital in 2018, with share options worth tens of millions of pounds.

Mr Cameron told friends he was in line to make $60million from the listing of Greensill, it was previously claimed.

The finance company, which went bust earlier this month, was previously valued at $7billion and a friend of Mr Cameron told The Times he had been 'candid' about the potential windfall resulting from his shareholdings in the firm.

However the company was never floated on the stock market.

The company's collapse means that Mr Cameron's share options have been left worthless.

It also threatens 500 jobs at Greensill, and up to 50,000 jobs as a knock on of companies which were backed by the finance firm.

Administrators say they are in discussions with an 'interest party' to buy the company's assets.

It was previously reported that the former prime minister directly lobbied Chancellor Rishi Sunak through texts to help Mr Greensill's stricken finance firm Greensill Capital through the Treasury's coronavirus loan scheme.

An investigation by the Sunday Times has now alleged that Mr Greensill, a married father-of-two who lives in Cheshire, 'seduced' the British establishment and embedded himself into the heart of government.

The businessman, the son of Australian sugar cane farmers, left school during a harvest so bad it dried up his parents' cash flow.

He studied law by correspondence, receiving cassette tapes in the post because he could not afford university.

Australian financier Lex Greensill was allegedly granted a security pass and team of civil servants during Mr Cameron's time in Downing Street so he could promote a financial product he specialised in across Whitehall. Pictured receiving his CBE at Buckingham Palace in 2017

The Greensill saga: How Australian banker 'gained access to No10 and Whitehall' May 2010 - David Cameron becomes prime minister. Jeremy Heywood is appointed No10's top civil servant. July 2011 - Heywood starts pushing for Lex Greensill to become an adviser on 'supply chain finance' - a method of speeding up payments between a company and its suppliers using the finance of a third party (ie. bank). The Government has claimed his position as adviser was unpaid. November 2011 - Greensill creates his own finance firm, Greensill Capital. January 2012 - Greensill tours Whitehall, pitching his proposals to 11 departments or agencies including the Department of Health. He is given a team of officials, security pass and a desk in the Cabinet Office. Summer 2012 - Greensill's proposal to pay NHS-affiliated pharmacies using private finance make their way to David Cameron, who signs it off. An official alleges the report was edited and that the first draft did not support Greensill's idea. Greenshill has reportedly denied that he had any part to play in this if found to be true. October 2012 - Cameron announces the scheme, first run by Greensill's ex-employer, Citibank. Six years later it is taken on by Greensill Capital. December 2013 - Greensill is appointed as a Crown Representative, an official adviser from the private sector to the government. August 2016 - Greensill is bailed out by trader Sanjeev Gupta, who temporarily takes a stake in the finance firm. June 2017 - Greensill is awarded a CBE for 'services to the economy'. November 2018 - Cameron joins Greensill as an adviser, acquiring share options worth tens of millions. May 2019 - Japan's Softbank pumps 580million into Greensill. March 2021 - Greensill collapses, exposing years of complex finance deals and threatening 50,000 jobs. Advertisement

David Cameron (left) and Jeremy Heywood (right) allegedly gave Mr Greensill unprecedented access to No10 and 11 Whitehall departments and agencies

Ministers could bail out Liberty Steel jobs and plant, says business secretary Ministers could bail out Liberty Steel jobs and plants, according to the business secretary. Kwasi Kwarteng described Liberty Steel, which employs more than 3,000 people across 12 UK plants, as a 'really important national asset'. But he said while ministers could bail out the steel business, the money would not be used to support the Gupta Family Group - whose empire run Liberty Steel. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme today, Mr Kwarteng said: 'We are custodians of taxpayers' money, and there were concerns over the very opaque structure of the GFG Group and we feel that if we gave the money, there is no guarantee that that money would stay in the UK and protect British jobs. It's a multinational enterprise.' He added that 'all options are on the table', when asked about the possibility of the government taking Liberty Steel into public ownership. He added: 'Only two weeks ago my department published an industrial decarbonisation strategy. We want to see clean steel  of the kind Liberty Steel makes.' Advertisement

The financier arrived in Britain aged 24, and joined American banking giant Morgan Stanley in 2005 as the bank was expanding into supply chain finance - a tool to help businesses left vulnerable by late payments.

David Cameron 'told friends he would make $60million from Greensill stock market flotation' amid lobbying furore over collapsed lender By Jack Maidment for MailOnline David Cameron told friends he was in line to make $60million from the listing of Greensill, it was claimed today, amid a growing row over the former PM's involvement with the financial firm. The finance company, which went bust earlier this month, was previously valued at $7billion and a friend of Mr Cameron told The Times he had been 'candid' about the potential windfall resulting from his shareholdings in the firm. But the company's collapse means that Mr Cameron's share options have been left worthless. The Times said sources close to Mr Cameron yesterday denied the claim that he had told friends about the potential value of his share options. It comes amid calls for an inquiry into Mr Cameron's involvement with the firm after allegations surfaced that Lex Greensill was given privileged access to Whitehall departments. It also emerged today that the firm is being investigated by French authorities over an 18million euro (15million) loan to a smelting plant. Bloomberg reported that they will examine claims the payment was made to Liberty Aluminium Poitou in December last year before being recalled after a two-month waiting period, and not paid out again. He founded Greensill Capital, the firm that went on to employ Mr Cameron but later collapsed, causing uncertainty for thousands of jobs at Liberty Steel, having been its main financial backer. Labour and Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, have called for a full inquiry into the 'scandal'. The allegations surfaced after the former Conservative leader faced scrutiny for reportedly trying to persuade government figures to grant emergency loans to Greensill Capital, where he was an adviser. The Sunday Times report alleged the Australian financier was given access to the departments while Mr Cameron was in Number 10 so he could promote a financial product he specialised in. The Pharmacy Early Payment Scheme, announced in 2012, saw banks swiftly reimburse pharmacists for providing NHS prescriptions, for a fee, before recovering the money from the government. Greensill Capital went on to provide funds for the scheme. Mr Greensill could not be reached for comment, but the newspaper said he was understood to deny making large returns from a pharmacy deal. Sir Alistair said: 'There clearly should be a full inquiry because it sounds like a genuine scandal in which the public purse was put at risk without proper political authority.' Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden defended his long-term ally, saying Mr Cameron is a 'man of utmost integrity and I've no doubt at all he would have behaved properly'. A Government spokesman said: 'Lex Greensill acted as a supply chain finance adviser from 2012 to 2015 and as a crown representative for three years from 2013. His appointment was approved in the normal manner and he was not paid for either role.' Advertisement

Under the scheme, a bank wedges itself between and company or small business and its suppliers and pays immediately for a fee. It was this model that he would later pitch to officials across Whitehall.

While at Morgan Stanley, Mr Greensill met Jeremy Heywood, Mr Cameron's later chief of the civil service who was on a break from Whitehall at the time. The Cabinet Secretary died of cancer aged 56 in 2018.

The paper reported that Mr Cameron and Mr Heywood gave Mr Greensill unprecedented access to No10 and 11 Whitehall departments and agencies.

Citing leaked documents and minutes, it said Mr Cameron, who resigned as prime minister in 2016 after his Remain campaign lost the EU referendum, signed off on a multi-billion-pound loans scheme in 2012 for NHS-linked pharmacies.

Under Mr Greensill's plan to get small businesses paid on time, a bank would quickly reimbursing pharmacies for the cost of providing prescription drugs instead of making them wait weeks for the NHS to repay them.

Praised at a Downing Street reception by Mr Cameron as an 'innovative scheme', its beneficiaries were Mr Greensill's former bosses at Wall Street giant Citibank and, eventually, his own financial services company.

Civil servants and officials told the Sunday Times that Mr Greensill's ascent rested on Mr Heywood, Mr Cameron's then Cabinet Secretary who had 'discovered' the Australian tycoon while working in the private sector.

Mr Heywood is said to have brought the banker on board in 2011 and tasked him with spending six months exploring whether supply chain financing could help the Government to pay suppliers more quickly.

Mr Greensill was reportedly given a security pass and four civil servants who were told to explore his ideas, write a report and submit it to ministers. He was later given a desk in the economic and domestic affairs secretariat of the Cabinet Office.

In January 2012, the banker apparently began a whistle-stop tour of Whitehall, pitching his proposals to 11 departments or agencies including the Department of Health, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Transport.

His undisclosed meetings also included pitches to finance Britain's fleet of Typhoon fighter jets and Voyager refuelling planes and to fund the upgrade of the country's biggest motorways, including the M62, M4 and M5.

Over the summer, Mr Greensill's proposal to pay NHS-affiliated pharmacies using private finance made their way to Mr Cameron, who signed it off.

However, a leading official alleged that the report was handed directly to Mr Cameron, bypassing Francis Maude, the Minister for the Cabinet Office Paymaster General, entirely - and had been edited.

They told the paper that the main author's name had been removed and replaced with Mr Greensill's, and that the initial draft did not support the banker's proposal.

Officials are understood to have instead warned that supply chain finance was not the most effective way of helping thousands of small businesses which supply prescription drugs secure reimbursement by the NHS.

The report is said to have suggested that there were were 'better and simpler routes' to pay suppliers, some of which were already in place in Whitehall.

It is understood that Mr Heywood was copied in via email. Mr Greensill is understood to deny any involvement in changing the report.

No10 awarded the contract to Citibank, Mr Greensill's former employer which he had left before entering Whitehall, which ran the scheme for six years.

In 2018, Greensill Capital won the contract, and provided 1.2billion in loans to pharmacies, taking a fee for every loan, from July 2018 until last month.

Mr Greensill was made a crown representative, one of a selected cadre of businesspeople advising the Government. In 2017, he was made a Commander of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

The Australian financier then hired Mr Cameron as an adviser in 2018, giving him share options which could be worth tens of millions of pounds.

The revelation comes as Mr Cameron faces pressure over his efforts last year to lobby Mr Sunak and Government officials to help Mr Greensill's stricken finance firm Greensill Capital through the Treasury's coronavirus loan scheme.

Mr Cameron was last week cleared of breaking lobbying rules by Harry Rich, the registrar of consultant lobbyists, who ruled that Mr Cameron's role with Greensill's firm was not that of a lobbyist and therefore no rules had been broken.

However, questions over his activities with Greensill Capital persist.

Mr Greensill's business model was to provide quick loans to companies that did not want to wait until they received payment from their customers.

Two years ago, the company said it had provided financing worth more than 100billion to ten million customers in 175 countries.

But Greensill Capital sunk into administration this month when it emerged that many of its loans were unlikely to ever be repaid.

One casualty of its spectacular collapse has been one of its clients, Liberty Steel, which employs 3,000 across Britain.

This weekend it was seeking an emergency 170million Government bailout to stay afloat.

The banker hired Mr Cameron as an adviser at Greensill Capital in 2018, with share options worth tens of millions of pounds and whose collapse now threatens 50,000 jobs

Sir Alastair Graham, the former chairman of the committee for standards in public life, called for a full inquiry because 'it sounds like a genuine scandal in which the public purse was put at risk without proper political authority'.

Mr Greensill and Mr Cameron declined to comment to the Sunday Times.

Suzanne Heywood, Mr Heywood's wife, told the paper that the civil service chief 'took no personal benefit of any sort from Lex's company'.

The Government said Mr Greensill 'acted as a supply chain finance adviser from 2012 to 2015 and as a crown representative for three years from 2013. His appointment was approved in the normal manner and he was not paid for either role'.
Worker's Injury at Seed Production Company Leads to Seven Violations

Red River Commodities Inc. signed a settlement agreement with OSHA due to an employees extensive injuries.

A severe, life-altering injury led a North Dakota seed production company to change its safety procedures in 2020.

OSHA signed a settlement agreement with Red River Commodities Inc. due to an employee suffering multiple lacerations as well as a partial amputation of his leg when it got caught in a grain bin auger last August, according to a press release.

OSHAs investigation determined the employee slipped into the auger while clearing sunflower seeds from a grain bin. The agency cited the company with seven willful violations: one repeat violation, four serious and two other violations of the industrys confined space, machine safety and electrical safety regulations. Inspectors found that the company did not sufficiently train workers to recognize hazards and take proper safety measures.

This tragedy was preventable. Red River Commodities now understands the value of OSHAs safety requirements and the importance of effective employee training and adherence to safety procedures, said OSHA Area Director Scott Overson in Bismarck, North Dakota. Red River officials are now working with OSHA to abate the safety hazards at the Fargo work site and ensure compliance at its facilities nationwide.

Between 2014 and 2019, OSHA found similar violations in seven out of nine previous inspections. The company paid the penalties, however now, changes were finally made due to the 2020 incident to prevent future injuries. Red River Commodities Inc. produces confectionary sunflower and seeds from other specialty crops such as flax, millet and pumpkin at facilities in North Dakota, Kansas and Texas.The Fargo facility stores, mixes and packages grain products for birdseed.

To raise awareness of the grain-handling industrys workplace hazards, OSHA is joining with industry leaders and safety professionals nationwide for the 2021 national Stand-Up 4 Grain Safety Week, from March 29 to April 2, 2021.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) -Westminster Resources Ltd. (TSXV: WMR) (FSE: 08W3) ("WMR" or "Westminster" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that that it has arranged for a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of 12,500,000 units of securities of the Company ("Units") at a purchase price of $0.20 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,500,000. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half Common Share purchase Warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.30 at any time up to 24-months following issuance.

Latin Resources Ltd. has subscribed for 2,700,000 Units ($540,000) in the Private Placement. Latin Resources is an insider of the Company and, as such, their participation in the Private Placement is a related-party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 (which incorporates by reference MI 61-101. All securities to be issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance of the Units. The closing of the Private Placement is conditional upon the receipt of the conditional approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, including conditional approval for the listing of the Common Shares to be comprised in the Units and the Warrant Shares. The primary use of proceeds from this financing will be to further develop its copper project portfolio in Latin America and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has retained the services of Rayleigh Capital Ltd. ("Rayleigh Capital"), which will provide investor relations and communications services to the Company, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. Rayleigh Capital focuses on global investor relations for junior and small cap companies specializing at exposing companies to a wide audience of investment professionals.

Under a consulting services agreement between the Company and Rayleigh Capital (the "Agreement"), Rayleigh Capital has been retained for an initial term of one-year, subject to either party terminating the Agreement by providing 30-days written notice to the other party. Under the Agreement, the Company will pay $3,000 per month (plus GST) to Rayleigh Capital during the initial three-months of the Agreement. In addition, the Company will issue 100,000 stock options to Rayleigh Capital with each option having an exercise price of $0.25, vesting as to one-quarter of the options every three-months and expiring two-years from the date of issuance. The grant of the options is subject to the terms of the Company's Stock Option Plan and the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company and Rayleigh Capital act at arm's length, and Rayleigh Capital has no present interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities. The fee to be paid by the Company to Rayleigh Capital under the Agreement is for services only.

The Company has also issued 200,000 options to directors and officers of the company at an exercise price of $0.25, in accordance with the terms of the stock option plan of the Company

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

"Jason Cubitt"

Jason Cubitt

President and Chief Executive Officer

Westminster Resources Ltd.

Telephone: 604 681 3170

info@westminsterresources.com

westminsterresources.com

or

Carrie Howes

Investor Relations

Telephone: +1 416 837 0075

carrie@westminsterresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. 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 save as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78918
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 20:08:44|Editor: huaxia

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DAR ES SALAAM, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Tuesday appointed Minister for Finance and Planning Philip Mpango as the country's Vice-President.

The appointment of Mpango as Vice-President was unanimously approved by the parliament sitting in the capital Dodoma.

Speaker of the National Assembly Job Ndugai announced that Mpango got 363 votes from all the Members of Parliament who were present in the House chamber.

Speaking shortly before parliament endorsed him, Mpango said the best way to honor the late President Magufuli was to oversee what he had stood for, including sound management of the country's resources and implementation of flagship projects.

"I am from a poor family and my task ahead will be fighting for the rights of poor people in this country," said Mpango.

He said another task ahead will be to ensure that Tanzania moved from the lower-middle-income status it attained in 2020 to the higher-middle income class within a short period of time.

"This is possible if Tanzanians decide to do so," said Mpango to thunderous applause from the over 300 lawmakers in the House chamber.

Mpango was appointed Minister for Finance and Planning in 2016. He was born on July 14, 1957. Enditem
Japan share market finished session mixed after moving narrowly around the previous day's closing level on Tuesday, 30 March 2021, as buying on better than expected retail sales data, hopes government stimulus and the rollout of coronavirus vaccines were offset by selloff of companies shares after securing year-end dividend payouts.

At closing bell, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average advanced 48.18 points, or 0.16%, to 29,432.70. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell 15.48 points, or 078%, to 1,977.86.

Total 26 sub-indexes of the 33 sector sub-indexes on the Tokyo exchange traded lower, with Insurance, Electric Power & Gas, Pulp & Paper, Wholesale Trade, Warehousing & Harbor Transportation Services, and Land Transportation issues being notable losers, while Marine Transportation, Air Transportation, and Rubber Products issues were notable gainers.

Investors were encouraged by US President Joe Biden's announcement of additional measures to boost vaccination efforts, stoking hopes for a swift return of economic activities. They also welcomed news that a giant ship was being removed from the Suez Canal after blocking the key gateway for almost a week.

Shares faced selling on the ex-dividend date near the end of the current fiscal year as they started trading without the value of their next dividend payment.

Shares of Nomura continued to see losses as they declined 0.66% on Tuesday. The firm's stock tumbled more than 16% on Monday after the Nomura of Japan and Switzerland's Credit Suisse warned of a significant loss at one of its U.

S. subsidiaries, resulting from transactions with a client stateside that liquidated billions in stocks last week.

ECONOMIC NEWS:- Japan Retail Sales Down 1.5% On Year In February- Japan total value of retail sales was down 1.5% on year in February, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said on Tuesday, coming in at 11.628 trillion yen, following the 2.4% drop in the previous month. On a monthly basis, retail sales jumped 1.4% after dropping 1.7% in January.

Japan Unemployment Rate Unchanged At 2.9% In February- Japan unemployment rate came in at a seasonally adjusted 2.9% in February, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Tuesday, unchanged from the January reading. The job-to-applicant ratio was 1.09. The participation rate was 61.9% in February.

CURRENCY NEWS: The Japanese yen traded at 110.15 per dollar, still relatively weaker than levels below 109 against the greenback seen last week.

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Former Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide has supported a call by some New Patriotic Party (NPP) activists that some members of the party who have reached their old age should go on retirement.



The party activists noted that, in President Nana Akufo-Addo's administration from 2017 to 2020, many of his "classmates" from the erstwhile Kufour regime found their names into the President's administration as Ministers of State, Board Chairmen, Chief Executive Officers among other positions.



They have appealed to the President to change his appointment criteria.



President Nana Akufo-Addo, in his second term, is yet to appoint Deputy Ministers, Board Chairpersons and members, Chief Executive Officers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.



But before the names come out, the activists are making a call for certain persons in the party to exit for the youth to occupy their positions.



They specifically mentioned the likes of Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Ekumfi, Maxwell Kofi Jumah aka Kofi Ghana, Kwamena Bartels and Dr. Kofi Koduah Sarpong.



The activists are calling on the President to do away with the elderly and appoint the youth in the NPP to positions.



Taking to social media to vent their frustration, one Tete Nokobi wrote on Facebook: "What legacy does the old man want to leave in the party? That he cared less about growth opportunities for the youth? If up to now someone like Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Prof. Ameyaw Akumfi, Kwamena Bartels, Alan Kyeremanten, Kan Dapaa, Kofi Ghana, KK Sarpong et al cannot boast of replacements for their roles then that's a failure for the party".



Another activist named Matin Sadick Jnr. registered his displeasure saying ''they shouldn't just give way, they should resign from ever accepting appointments and get a seat at the party's council of elders auditorium and help shape the party for better!''



Making his submissions on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', the former Minister believed the oldies have lived the time and must pave way for the youth.



He stressed that the old people in the party must take the back seat and guide the youth with their experience.



"I think it is even in the interest of some of these our elderly Statesmen that, when the applause is loudest, they should abstain themselves and then they go behind the background advising and guiding us so that we can enjoy and benefit from their wealth of wisdom for a longer time other than to stress them," he said.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Over 600,000 Nigerians have received their first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

As of Tuesday evening, 638,291 eligible Nigerians have been vaccinated in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to the agency.

Only Kogi State is yet to commence COVID-19 vaccination.

Kogi was not supplied with the COVID-19 vaccines because their cold store is still under repairs following vandalisation during the EndSARS protest, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, said at a briefing.

But the agency in a tweet on Monday said Mr Shuaib met with Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to resolve issues around vaccine storage and provision of security at the Cold Store.

Vaccination update

Lagos, the epicentre of the disease in Nigeria, has vaccinated 122, 714 people, the data shows. This makes it the highest in the country.

Ogun has vaccinated 50,052 people, closely followed Kaduna with 43,601, Katsina- 36,075, Bauchi- 33,157 and Kwara- 28,681.

The states with the lowest number of vaccinated people are Abia-225 and Taraba  878.

Vaccination campaign

Having received 3.94 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines in early March, Nigeria commenced vaccination beginning with healthcare workers.

The country recently received another 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from telecom giant, MTN, as part of the latters contribution to Africa.

The country is also expected to receive more doses of vaccines over the next few months.

The Nigerian government had announced its plan to vaccinate 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 will be vaccinated.

Although there has been controversy over the safety of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine which prompted some countries to suspend its use, Nigeria has chosen to continue the rollout of the vaccines, saying it is safe for use.

The World Health Organisation and European Medicines Agency (EMA) have also declared the vaccine safe.

No Nigerian has declared any serious side effect from taking the vaccine, Mr Shuaib said.

Nigeria is having a steady run of low COVID-19 infection figures as the country on Monday recorded its lowest daily infection figure in five months with 48 new cases.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 162,641. A total of 2,049 deaths have also been recorded, according to an update published by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

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Sanna Darboe, a veteran farmer who doubles as the acting president of The Gambia National Farmer Platform has called on the Agriculture minister Hon. Amie Fabureh to monitor the affairs and leadership of the National Farmers Platform and ensure that the platform holds congress.

He said there are certain scrupulous individuals trying to overthrow him as the acting president to take the mantle of leadership of the platform without going through the right procedure of the constitution. He made these remarks in a recent interview with our reporter at Banjulinding.

It could recalled that the president of the platform Alagie Bass Mboge recently passed and since then, there has been no replacement leaving position vacant.

According to Darboe, there is battle among members as to who should take the mantle of leadership of the platform.

Darboe said he is not interested in being the platform's president but will do everything possible to ensure the right channel is followed to have a new president for the platform in the interest of the Gambian farmers.

He said the platform is legally registered with the AG Chambers and is out to represent farmers across the country. He said they therefore would not accept certain self-interest individuals to divide the platform.

He also said that at a point certain individuals called for a private meeting over the mantle of leadership.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - Microdose Psychedelic Insights ("Microdose"), the leader in B2B psychedelic intelligence, in partnership with The Conscious Fund, the most active VC fund in the psychedelic space, is pleased to present the next edition of Psychedelic Capital.

PsyCap is taking place on March 31 at 1:30pm EST and will feature engaging presentations from Entheon Biomedical Corp. (CSE: ENBI) (OTC Pink: ENTBF) (FSE: 1XU1), Mind Cure Health Inc (CSE: MCUR), NanoPsy, ATMA Journey Centres, Ethical IP and Financial Instruments panels are moderated by Zuber Lawler.

Details and schedule of the March PsyCap are as follows:

1:30 pm EST: Introduction

1:45 pm EST: Entheon Biomedical Corp. (CSE: ENBI) (OTC Pink: ENTBF) (FSE: 1XU1)

"We are elated to be participating in the next installment of Microdose's Psychedelic Capital, which to date has presented great opportunities for investors and institutions to gain critical insights into the emerging psychedelic medicine and therapy industries. Presently, the Entheon team is focused on advancing a DMT-assisted therapy designed to target and treat addiction disorders. In addition, we are working with genetics and emerging technology to develop a safer and optimized psychedelic therapy and preparatory pathway for patients. We look forward to presenting at the event, and engaging with our current investor base and those who are new to the Entheon story." - Timothy Ko

02:15 pm EST - Financial Instruments Panel sponsored by Zuber Lawler

Featuring: Peter Goldstein, Robert Mandel

2:45 pm EST: NanoPsy

Featuring: Bojan Krasic, Max Arella

03:15 pm EST - Ethical IP Panel sponsored by Zuber Lawler

Featuring: Graham Pechenik, Rick Doblin, Jayashree Mitra

While psychedelics have shown remarkable potential in theresearch arena, there's still some distance between their current position andtheir ultimate reintegration into modern, mainstream society. Successfullydeveloping new drugs takes time and is incredibly expensive. In fact, it iscurrently estimated to cost upwards of $1 billion dollars to successfully movea new drug all the way through the development pipeline and become accessibleto the world at large. Considering the fact that 9/10 drugs fail tosuccessfully complete that journey, it becomes evident rather quickly thatintellectual protection and patenting are necessary to secure investorconfidence in the current paradigm for developing pharmaceutical drugs.

"Microdose is a true pioneer in the emerging global psychedelics industry. My colleagues and I at Zuber Lawler are excited to continue growing our friendship with our friends at Microdose and helping facilitate their mission to educate the planet about the benefits of legal psychedelics products." -Tom Zuber, Managing Partner, Zuber Lawler

03:45 pm EST - ATMA Journey Centres

Featuring: David Harder

04:15 pm EST - Mind Cure Health Inc. (CSE:MCUR)

Featuring: Kelsey Ramsden

"We're focused on equipping individuals with science-backed mental health support. We're a life science company, and we're a digital therapeutics company. Delivering psychedelic therapies through more profound data synthesis is a multi-faceted strength we are developing with iSTRYM. I look forward to diving into why this matters to the market, and the role of our psychedelic therapies around the globe!" - Kelsey Ramsden, President & CEO, Mind Cure Health Inc.

Date:

March 31st 2021 at 1:30pm Eastern

Get your free ticket here:

https://microdose.buzz/?coupon-code=newsfile

Concept:

Presentations are 30 minutes in length, with 10 minutes always allocated to a one-on-one Q&A session with the audience. Psychedelic Capital features the top companies, latest IPOs, newest opportunities and deepest insights into the emerging psychedelic space. Live networking with all the attendees is available prior and during the event.

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

To request media accreditation, or to arrange interviews with key personnel please contact:

Kristina Spionjak

kristina@microdose.buzz

About Microdose Psychedelic Insights

Microdose Psychedelic Insights aims to unlock the potential of psychedelics through Industry events, market intelligence, original, evidence-based content, strategy and community. We enable and empower society at large to make better, more mindful decisions about psychedelics and its intersection with healthcare, medicine and personal growth. We work with the industry's most influential stakeholders, some of the world's best-known brands and an unrivalled network of scientists, researchers, analysts, innovators, investors and advisors.

About PsyCap

This online event programming is dedicated to providing investment grade information for the nascent psychedelic sector and presents a curated group of CEOs, financial experts, thought leaders and investment luminaries from around the globe. Presentations are 30 minutes in length, with 10 minutes always allocated to a one-on-one Q&A session with the audience. Psychedelic Capital features the top companies, latest IPOs, newest opportunities and deepest insights into the emerging psychedelic space.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78833


A World Health Organization (WHO) report has found that the new coronavirus likely started in bats before being passed on to humans through another animal.

The report is based on a study carried out jointly between the WHO and China. The Associated Press says it received a copy of the report from a WHO-member country. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that he had received the report. He said it would be officially presented Tuesday.

The report is being closely watched by health officials across the world who are seeking answers about the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. The study could help scientists prevent future outbreaks.

The report is largely based on a visit last month by a WHO team of international experts to the Chinese city of Wuhan. The earliest known cases of the coronavirus were identified in Wuhan.

AP says the report listed the four most likely sources of the coronavirus. Transmission of the virus from bats to humans through another animal was very likely, it said. The researchers said a direct spread from bats to humans was also possible.

The study found that virus spread to humans from food shipments was possible, but not likely. And the report said the possibility that the coronavirus originated from a leak at a laboratory was extremely unlikely.

The researchers proposed further study into all of the possibilities except for the lab leak theory.

Officials from former U.S. President Donald Trumps administration had suggested -- without offering evidence -- that the virus may have escaped from a government research laboratory in Wuhan. But most health experts have said it is unlikely the new coronavirus came from a lab or was engineered by humans.

Bats are known to carry coronaviruses and scientists have found the closest relative of the new coronavirus in bats in China. However, the WHO report says the evolutionary distance between these bat viruses and (the coronavirus) is estimated to be several decades, suggesting a missing link.

For example, the study says highly similar viruses have been found in pangolins, another kind of mammal found in Africa and Asia.

Repeated delays in the reports release raised questions about whether the Chinese side was trying to influence the findings. Chinas government is concerned the research could draw attention to how it dealt with the virus and possibly open it up to international criticism or legal action. Chinese officials have suggested the virus could have originated in another country.

An AP investigation earlier this year found that China was strongly controlling all coronavirus-related research and banned researchers from speaking to the media.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke about the report during an appearance Sunday on CNN television. Weve got real concerns about the methodology and the process that went into that report, he said.

China rejected that criticism on Monday. A foreign ministry spokesperson said: The U.S. has been speaking out on the report. By doing this, isnt the U.S. trying to exert political pressure on the members of the WHO expert group?

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

origin  n. the cause of something or where something begins or comes from

source  v. where something comes from

transmit  v. to cause a virus, disease, etc. to be given to others

relative  v. considered in relation to something else

evolution  n. a gradual process of change and development

decade  n. a period of ten years

mammal  n. a kind of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin

exert  adj. to use something such as authority, power or influence, in order to make something happen
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  Leftist groups slammed the arrest of two activist leaders in separate raids in Central Luzon on Tuesday, calling them illegal and a result of red-tagging.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said the police stormed the office of its regional chapter in Mexico, Pampanga to serve an arrest warrant for Joseph Canlas, the group's national vice chairperson, at around 8:30 a.m.

In the same morning, the group BAYAN-Gitnang Luzon said the police arrested its chairman, Pol Viuya, at his residence in Bamban, Tarlac.

The Philippine National Police confirmed the arrests in a press release, saying they were based on search warrants issued by local courts on Monday.

It said the 59-year-old Canlas was arrested in Mabalacat, Pampanga during the implementation of a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Ma. Angelica Paras-Quiambao of the Regional Trial Court in Angeles City, Pampanga, for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

The PNP said Canlas also had a standing warrant of arrest for malicious mischief, issued by Presiding Judge Theodorick Ayungco of the Municipal Trial Court in Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija in December 2020.

It said another search operation resulted in the arrest of Viuya, 58, and paralegal May Arcilla, 49. It cited a search warrant from Presiding Judge Jeovannie Ordono of the Regional Trial Court in Capas, Tarlac. It was not clear if the names of both Viuya and Arcilla were on the warrant.

The PNP said several firearms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

Both operations were done in an orderly manner in the presence of barangay officials and court representatives, the statement said.

KMP and BAYAN said the police and military have accused both Canlas and Viuya of being recruiters of the New Peoples Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which the government considers a terrorist organization.

The human rights group Karapatan, meanwhile, said the police arrested Arcilla just as she was questioning the validity of the search warrant on Viuya.

The groups said the arrests were part of the crackdown on activists and that the firearms supposedly confiscated from them were planted.

The activist groups are calling for the release of their members, saying Canlas has been a long-time peasant leader, Viuya a labor leader, and Arcilla a human rights defender.

The PNP made no mention of their affiliations, saying the arrests were part of the "aggressive drive to recover and to seize loose firearms through continuous police operations and implementation of Search Warrants against illegal gun owners."

The KMP noted that the arrests came just weeks after the Bloody Sunday operations in the Southern Tagalog region early this month. Nine activists were killed while six were arrested in what the police called legitimate search operations.
[March 30, 2021] Saviynt Appoints Anne Ceruti as Head of People and Adds Three Industry Veterans to Its Board of Advisors

Saviynt, a leading provider of intelligent identity and access governance solutions, today announced that Anne Ceruti has joined the company as Head of People. As senior vice president, she will be a member of the executive leadership team. In her role, Ceruti will be responsible for ushering Saviynt's global Human Resources Department into its next stage of growth. "We are thrilled to have Anne join us to help support our corporate vision, drive HR strategy and delivery, and enrich our company culture," said Amit Saha, CEO, Saviynt. "Over the past year, we have grown tremendously as a company. The addition of Anne and the three new board advisors to our leadership team will help us further accelerate the growth of our company and solidify Saviynt's position as the leading enterprise identity cloud platform." Ceruti is an accomplished executive who has worked with Fortune 500 and global organizations throughout her career. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Corporate Human Resources at Avery Dennison as the HR business partner to the c-suite. Prior to that, Ceruti was Vice President of Human Resources at the Walt Disney (News - Alert) Company, where she was responsible for leading talent acquisition, employee communication, talent planning and executive development. In each of her leadership roles, Ceruti has focused on making the HR function a key competitive differentiator - something she plans to emulate in her new position with Saviynt. "I am thrilled to be part of the Saviynt team," said Ceruti. "As the company focuses on creating the tools to enable business transformation at large enterprises, we will elevate the employee experience and drive best-in-class HR solutions to support the explosive market demand for Saviynt's identity solutions." In addition to Ceruti joining the tea, Saviynt also announced the appointment of three new Advisors to its Board; Ram Ramachandran, Chief Technology Officer, Clarabridge (News - Alert) ; Jeff Margolies, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Strategic Partnerships, FireEye, Inc.; and Eric Brown, Chief Financial Officer, Informatica.



With the additions of Ramachandran, Margolies, and Brown to Saviynt's Board of Advisors, the company will benefit from their collective decades of industry experience to guide it in its next phase of growth. Saviynt recently announced that 2020 was the most successful year in the company's history. In 2020, Saviynt saw 46% growth in annual revenue (ARR), a 50% increase in newly acquired customers, and a 40% increase in global employee headcount. Saviynt also ranked in the top 1,000 (#941 in the U.S., #86 in CA (News - Alert) ) of Inc. Magazine's 2020 list of the 5,000 fastest-growing U.S. companies - jumping 597 positions from 2019 - and was recently named a finalist for the Microsoft Security 20/20 Customer Impact Award. For more information, visit www.saviynt.com.

About Saviynt Saviynt's cloud-architected identity and access governance platform helps modern enterprises scale cloud initiatives and solve the toughest security and compliance challenges in record time. The company brings together identity governance (IGA), granular application access, cloud security, and privileged access to secure the entire business ecosystem and provide a frictionless user experience. The world's largest brands trust Saviynt to accelerate business transformation, empower distributed workforces, and meet continuous compliance, including BP, Western Digital (News - Alert) , MassMutual, and Koch Industries. For more information, please visit saviynt.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005348/en/

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The main stock indices trimmed gains in early afternoon trade. The Nifty held above 14,700 mark. The undertone of the market was positive amid strong cues from other Asian stock markets.

At 12:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, surged 756.19 points or 1.54% at 49,764.69. The Nifty 50 index advanced 227.60 points or 1.57% at 14,734.90.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.65% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.60%.

The market breadth was positive. On the BSE, 1,511 shares rose and 1,243 shares fell. A total of 174 shares were unchanged.

Derivatives:

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, fell 1.56% to 20.3275. The Nifty March futures were trading at 14,809.30, at a premium of 74.40 points as compared with the spot at 14,734.90.

The Nifty option chain for 29 April 2021 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 20.4 lakh contracts at the 15,000 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 32.8 lakh contracts was seen at 14,000 strike price.

New Listing:

Shares of Nazara Technologies hit a lower circuit of 20% at Rs 1576.80 at 12:30 IST on the BSE. The stock was still trading at a premium of 43.22% over the initial public offer (IPO) price of Rs 1101. The stock was listed at Rs 1971, a premium of 79.02% to the IPO price. The stock hit a high of Rs 2026.90 in initial trades. On the BSE, 6.16 lakh shares were traded on the counter so far.

The IPO of Nazara Technologies received bids for 51.25 crore shares as against 29.20 lakh shares on offer, according to the stock exchange data. The issue was subscribed 175.46 times. The issue opened for bidding on 17 March 2021 and closed on 19 March 2021. The price band for the IPO was set at Rs 1100-1101 per share.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Pharma index rose 1.83% to 12,100.85. The index added 2.40% in two sessions.

Torrent Pharma (up 3.38%), Cipla (up 2.86%), Cadila Healthcare (up 2.40%), Divi's Laboratories (up 2.39%) and Aurobindo Pharma (up 2.36%) advanced.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Biocon gained 1.90% after the company announced a partnership between Biocon Pharma, its wholly owned subsidiary and Libbs Farmaceutica, a leading pharmaceuticals company in Brazil. As part of the out-licensing deal with Libbs, Biocon Pharma will be responsible for drug development and manufacturing, while Libbs will leverage its deep expertise and reach in Brazil to import, distribute and market, subject to approvals from the Brazilian health regulatory agency, ANVISA. This partnership, which marks the entry of Biocon's generic formulations into Latin America, builds upon a successful association with Libbs, which began in 2017 to launch biosimilar Trastuzumab in Brazil.

Vascon Engineers rose 1.07% after the company said it has received letter of acceptance for two projects amounting to Rs 515.63 crore from Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department for establishment of new medical colleges.

Politics:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address election rally in Puducherry today, 30 March 2021 to seek support for the NDA in the union territory.

All eyes will be on outcome of state assembly elections. Polls are to be held for 294 seats in West Bengal, 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, 140 seats in Kerala, 126 seats in Assam and 30 seats in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The eight-phase election in West Bengal which began from March 27 will continue till April 29. Elections in Kerala will be held in a single phase on April 6. Puducherry will vote in a single phase on April 6. Elections in Tamil Nadu will be held in a single phase on April 6. Assam will vote in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6. The counting of votes for all states will be held on May 2 and the results will be declared the same day.

Coronavirus Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 12,76,43,380 with 27,92,044 deaths. India reported 5,40,720 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 1,62,114 deaths while 1,13,93,021 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

India saw 68,020 new coronavirus cases in a span of 24 hours on Monday, the highest single-day rise so far this year, taking the country's COVID-19 tally to above 1.20 crore, according to Union Health Ministry data. Registering a steady increase for the 19th day in a row, the active cases have increased to 5,21,808, which comprise 4.33% of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 94.32%, the data stated.

Maharashtra on Monday added 31,643 fresh infections, but the lower tally was attributed to reduced testing because of Holi. The state has recorded close to six lakh cases this month and registered over 2,100 deaths. State officials said that for now, local trains will continue to run but fresh restrictions will be introduced to reduce overcrowding at restaurants, malls, public places, private offices and pubs.

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Plenty of Tesla owners (and people who hope to own Teslas one day) love their electric cars. But do they love them enough to pay for the car twice? CNBC points out a trend where multiple recent buyers who paid for their cars with direct debit payments say their bank accounts were charged twice. Thats annoying when it happens with a movie ticket or a pair of shoes, but can be backbreaking if its a $53,000 SUV.

To make matters worse, while Teslas zero-contact deliveries and remote service stations can make it convenient to get a car, its apparently not so easy to contact someone who can work out a way to reverse the charges. These customers are still waiting to get the situation worked out, but at least one of them says he still loves Tesla , so that Model Y must be an amazing vehicle.

 Richard Lawler

The federal government will support developers by fast-tracking permits.

Getty

The White House has announced it would designate the New York Bight, an area of shallow water off the coast of Long Island, as a new priority zone for offshore wind projects. The plan also lays out a target of building 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind projects nationwide by 2030. To help reach that goal, alongside speeding up the permit process, the Biden administration is investing $230 million towards any ports that would support those projects. It will also put up $3 billion in funding through the Innovative Energy Loan Guarantee Program . Continue reading.

This close to April 1st, we cant be sure about anything.

On Monday, the automaker prematurely published an incomplete press release to its website that it planned to share on April 29th. VW quickly took down the announcement, but not before CNBC managed to get a good look at it. A rebranding will reportedly see Volkswagen EVs feature a badge that bears the new Voltswagen branding and a lighter-blue VW logo. Any gas-powered cars the company sells moving forward will feature only the classic VW emblem in the automaker's signature dark blue. Continue reading.

Why shouldnt you play Mario anywhere you want?

Engadget

We took the 2021 F-150 Platinum trim level to the middle of a field to see just what we could accomplish with the pickups new built-in Power Pro generator . Relaxing in the comfortable, luxurious cab with our laptop was a breeze, and we also ventured outside to see just how many things we could plug in and use in an area more commonly associated with cows and sheep than gamers and cooks. Continue reading.

A Stadia update is coming later this week.

Cyberpunk 2077s 1.2 patch is now available to download on PC and consoles and includes various performance improvements that should make the biggest difference on lower-end PCs and previous generation consoles. Oh, and youll now be able to buy all-important cat food at stores across Night City. Continue reading.

In a possibly misguided bid to beat a GBBO champion.

Google

Google Cloud AI is taking on a Great British Bake Off winner in a dessert face-off. Sara Robinson, an amateur baker and Google Cloud developer advocate, built a machine learning model that examined hundreds of baking recipes (including ones for traybakes, cookies and scones) to help her come up with a new one.

The result included a Marmite-infused buttercream frosting, after Google Trends identified that "Is Marmite sweet or savory" was a top search related to "sweet and salty." Peter Sawkins, the 2020 Great British Bake Off champion, created his own Maltesers cake, using soy sauce. I am sure hope they taste better than they sound. Continue reading.

Augmented reality headsets could lead to hands-free 'Pokemon Go' and much more.

Niantic

Niantic Labs CEO John Hanke has been talking up the potential of augmented reality via high-tech glasses since at least 2017, and his company is getting closer to making that a reality. Hanke has tweeted an intriguing teaser image that looks like a close view of AR glasses, complete with lenses and a small speaker. The company that brought us Pokemon Go is keeping busy. Alongside its AR push, theres also a Pikmin game in development. Continue reading.

And a new camera sensor from Samsung.

Engadget

Xiaomi is now back with a beefed up model of its latest flagship phone. The new Mi 11 Ultra is the first smartphone to use Samsung's more powerful ISOCELL GN2 sensor for its main camera, and to get the most out of it, the device packs a small screen next to the rear cameras for higher-quality selfies. The 1.1-inch AMOLED screen (126 x 294) serves as a mirror for taking better selfies and doubles as a notification screen or an always-on display.

There are flagship features elsewhere, including a 6.81-inch screen with 120Hz refresh rate. In addition to the Snapdragon 888 processor, there's up to 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage, along with a denser 5,000mAh silicon oxide anode battery and 67W fast charging  both wired and wireless. The phone is coming to China and Europe, with prices starting from 1,199, which works out at roughly $1,400. Continue reading.

Bidding starts at $118,000.

Leica

A one-off Leica M camera designed by Sir Jony Ive, in collaboration with his friend (and fellow designer) Marc Newson, fetched $1.8 million at auction in 2013. Now, a rare prototype of the device is going under the hammer in June. Bidding for the camera starts at 100,000 ($118,000), and it's estimated to command between 200,000 and 250,000 ($235,000 to $295,000). Practically a bargain compared to the final product. Continue reading.

But wait, theres more...

Disney+ will start shooting 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' in April

Boston Dynamic's new 'Stretch' robot is designed for boxes, not backflips

Kia officially debuts its EV6 AWD electric crossover

T-Mobile is the first US carrier to make Google Messages its default SMS app

T-Mobile is killing its own TV streaming service in favor of YouTube TV

OtterBox's new accessories are aimed at kids and their iPads

What's on TV this week: 'Godzilla vs. Kong'

Asics Metaspeed shoes are optimized for different types of marathon runners

Apple's repair store verification program is rolling out worldwide

Sony will close the PS3, PS Vita and PSP digital stores this summer

Engadget Deals: Apple's 512GB Mac Mini M1 falls to $800 at Amazon

SolarWinds hack reportedly accessed emails for key DHS officials

Researchers from Newcastle University, UK, working with colleagues at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Thailand and the Institute of Urban Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, analysed samples of water and sediment taken from aquaculture ponds and nearby canals at five locations in central Thailand's coastal region.

The research, which was part-funded by an institutional links grant awarded by the Newton Fund via the British Council, and which has been published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, found that the highest prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes was in water from the Hua Krabue canal, originating in Bangkok. Faecal pollution markers were also high in these samples.

In comparison, they found a low number of AMR genes in all of the water and sediment samples collected from the aquaculture ponds.

Aquaculture is the fastest growing animal food production sector globally, and over 91% of global aquaculture is now produced in Asia. The worldwide increase in demand for farmed fish, shrimp and other shellfish has led to the widespread use of antibiotics in aquaculture, and there have been concerns that this is driving environmental AMR, threatening global food production systems.

In recent years, the Thai government has introduced measures aimed at tackling AMR in aquaculture including reducing the amount of antibiotics used in the industry and routinely monitoring antibiotic residues in aquaculture produce.

Dr David Werner, from Newcastle University, said: "We found no evidence that aquaculture is driving environmental AMR. In fact, the data suggests that small-scale aquaculture farmers are complying with Thai government One Health policies to reduce antimicrobial use in aquaculture.

"Wide and regular monitoring of environmental antibiotic resistance with high-throughput diagnostic tools can identify pollution hot-spots and sources to pinpoint the most effective countermeasures. This study provides a further line of evidence for the importance of safely managed sanitation for combatting antibiotic resistance. Currently only around half of total domestic wastewater in Thailand is treated, and our findings have identified an urgent need to improve urban sanitation in the country's coastal aquaculture region, for the protection of global food production systems."

The global spread of AMR is one of the greatest health threats to human, animal and environmental health. Without effective sanitation and adequate treatment of wastewater, bacteria can evolve quickly, increasing resistance to antibiotic medicines.

This has led to fears that so-called superbugs - bacteria that are resistant to all antibiotics - will compromise our ability to combat many new biological infections.

Reducing the spread of AMR is a World Health Organization (WHO) top five priority, and guidance published by the WHO in 2020 provides a framework for countries to create their own national action plans that suit their own particular regional setting. The guidance included contributions from Professor David Graham, also from Newcastle University, and reflects growing evidence, including research by Professor Graham, which suggests that the spread of AMR will not be solved by prudent antibiotic use alone and that environmental factors may be of equal or greater importance.

Professor Graham, who was also part of the team involved with this aquaculture study, said: "The only way we are going to win the fight against antibiotic resistance is to understand and act on all of the pathways that accelerate its spread. Although the types and drivers of resistance are diverse and vary by region and country, there are common roots to its spread - excess antibiotic use, pollution, poor water quality, and poor sanitation.

"This new work is crucial because it exemplifies how inadequate sanitation can affect the food supply, and may be among the strongest drivers of AMR spread."

The work in Thailand is just one example of how experts from Newcastle University are working with scientists from countries including China, Malaysia, India, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Nepal to track down the sources of waterborne hazards in rivers and their associated food production systems. By working together to carry out comprehensive water quality assessments, they are helping to address the global health challenges of safe water, safe food, and controlling AMR and infectious disease.

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This research was mainly funded by an Institutional Links grant between Newcastle University and King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), awarded by the Newton Fund via the British Council, and by the Office of Higher Education Commission (OHEC), Thailand. Additional support was provided by UK Research and Innovation.
In an interview with the Democratic Socialists of America magazine Democratic Left published on March 21, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attacked socialist critics of the Biden administration as privileged and bad faith actors, while praising the Democratic Party for totally reinvent[ing] themselves in a far more progressive direction. She specifically denounced class essentialists, restating the anti-communist trope that genuine socialists de-prioritize human rights.

Ocasio-Cortezs defense of the right wing of the Democratic Party against socialist opposition reveals her role in preempting the development of a movement of the working class independent of the two-party system. She is the latest iteration of a strategy, developed by the Democratic Party over 200 years of political experience, to present a left face in order to trap social opposition, prop up the capitalist order and carry out ruthless attacks on the working class in the US and internationally. Fundamental lessons must be drawn from this experience.

The historical role of the Democratic Party

The origins of Ocasio-Cortez and her attacks against the socialist left must be understood in the political and historical context of the historical role of the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party has a vast experience in diverting social opposition by trapping social discontent within its reach, where it is crushed. It has at its disposal billions of dollars, mass media channels and thousands of people whose singular responsibility is to stop social opposition from breaking out of its control.

This has been its political role since its inception in 1828, when Andrew Jackson trapped the embryonic anti-capitalism of workingmen in the northern cities behind a reactionary alliance with the southern slave-owning class. The emergence of the working class in the post-Civil War period inaugurated decades of violent class struggle, which the Democratic Party attempted to control through subsuming strains of populist, agrarian politics, culminating in the elevation of the demagogue William Jennings Bryan as repeated Democratic presidential candidate at the turn of the 20th century. Despite the insurrectionary character of the class struggle, the Democratic Party fought to prevent these struggles from developing to a point of a political break and the formation of an independent political party in the European model of labor or social democratic parties. This, alongside the extraordinary wealth of American capitalism, explains why there has never been a labor party in the United States.

This reached a new stage in the period following the Great Depression, when a wave of semi-insurrectionary strikes and social struggles broke out under the leadership of socialists. The administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, aware of the example of the Russian Revolution of 1917, introduced New Deal social reforms to prevent the workers movement from developing in opposition to the capitalist system. This was critical for preparing American imperialisms entry into World War II, opening up a period of imperialist domination worldwide. John F. Kennedys New Frontier and Lyndon Johnsons Great Society portrayed the Democratic Party as left in order to temper social discontent at home and facilitate a massive expansion of imperialist plunder abroad.

The financial crisis of 2008-09 produced a new wave of social radicalization, leading the Democratic Party to present Barack Obama as the candidate of hope and change, a former community organizer whose race supposedly made him a natural ally of the oppressed.

As opposition to the right-wing character of Obamas presidency grew, Bernie Sanders then emerged from 30 years on the Democratic congressional backbench as a socialist candidate in the party primary who promised political revolution. In 2016, he became a lightning rod for social discontent, winning over 10 million votes, mostly from workers and youth. His sudden rise to popularity shocked the Democratic Party and served as a warning that the population was moving rapidly to the left and was attracted to socialism. Sanders, who had criticized Hillary Clinton as the stooge of Wall Street, endorsed her campaign, leading to the disillusionment of many of his supporters.

It was in the aftermath of the 2016 primary elections that the Democratic Socialists of America rose to prominence. There were repeated articles in the corporate media promoting the organization, leading to a substantial growth in its membership. The DSA and other left groupings within the Democratic Party began to recruit candidates for the 2018 election cycle. It was in this context that Ocasio-Cortez was selected as a candidate for Democratic office.

The creation of Ocasio-Cortezs story

Ocasio-Cortez was one of the candidates who were selected by these Democratic Party organizations in advance of the 2018 mid-term election cycle. Brand New Congress and Justice Democrats received hundreds of submissions of prospective candidates from across the country to run in primary elections against incumbent Democrats. Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged that she underwent six months of vetting before being chosen as a candidate.

Brand New Congress and Justice Democrats selected Ocasio-Cortez because her story fit the mold they were looking for. She is a Latina, born to a working-class family of Puerto Rican immigrants in the Bronx. Her father died in 2008 when Ocasio-Cortez was in only her second year of college, and her mother almost lost the family home to foreclosure. She had worked as a bartender for several months after college. She also lived in a district with an incumbent, Joe Crowley, who epitomized the marriage between corporations and the political establishment and had next to no support in the heavily working-class district.

But Ocasio-Cortez had no history of substantial involvement in any social struggles. There is no record that she was particularly interested in radical politics, let alone socialism, before being selected as a primary candidate.

On the contrary, in college Ocasio-Cortez served as an intern in the foreign affairs office of Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy, who was the sponsor of the right-wing No Child Left Behind policy, an anti-public education campaign initiated by the George W. Bush administration. Kennedy openly identified himself with the most right-wing education policies throughout his later years in the Senate.

The National Hispanic Institute, where Ocasio-Cortez also worked, later described her role as a contributor to the groups magazine, a leader of educational training sessions and a consultant to NHI founder and President Ernesto Nieto. When she was younger, she also mentored young people.

She was also an aspiring entrepreneur. The Times of Israel reported in December 2020 that after graduating from college, Ocasio-Cortez worked for Gage Strategies, a corporation run by two Israeli capitalists, Joe Raby and Cheni Yerushalmi, who the Times explains are associated more with the world of venture capital and startups than with the working class.

A Boston University alumni page describes her as an educational strategist at GAGEis, Inc. who appears to have been an aspiring corporate leader. Her primary interests lie in entrepreneurship and developing innovative, healthy, enterprising communities for generations to come, the BU page reads.

Ocasio-Cortez on CSPAN in August 2017, listed as Brook Avenue Press Founder and GAGE Strategies Educational Strategist (screenshot originally taken by Times of Israel)

The Times of Israel indicates that the two Israeli venture capitalists may have played a role in her professional advancement: It was under the aegis of these men that Ocasio-Cortez prepared curricula teaching entrepreneurial and self-presentation skills to ambitious young college students and graduates in the Bronx. These skills, which she helped teach to others, may have been instrumental in her own political rise.

One of the Israeli venture capitalists, Joe Raby, oversaw admission to the Sunshine Bronx business incubator, which also provided Ocasio-Cortez space for a company she founded called Brook Avenue Press. This was a publishing company for childrens books, though it is not clear whether the business ever published a book. While working in the Sunshine Bronx business incubator, Ocasio-Cortez was photographed in 2012 with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., both prominent Democrats.

Ocasio-Cortez at entrepreneurs event featuring Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and business figures (credit: Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. official website)

Ocasio-Cortez was quoted in a press release celebrating the business incubator saying:

Plenty of entrepreneurs have started their businesses on a shoestring and any break they receive means more flexibility for further growth. A tax break could mean part-time work for someone else or keeping a business doors open long enough to turn a profit. Young entrepreneurs are playing a special role in developing promising, creative enterprises for our future and a small break can open up their resources for hiring, creating a new product, or reinvesting in the local economy.

This milquetoast record posed a challenge to the creation of an image of Ocasio-Cortez as the champion of working people and icon of socialism. Therefore, the Democratic Party conjured up that meaningless labelcommunity organizerto present her as somehow connected to social struggles. This ploy was last used by the Democratic Party to provide Barack Obama, the drone warrior and deporter-in-chief with a mysterious background and connections to intelligence agencies, with street bona fides.

In the March 21 interview with Democratic Left, Ocasio-Cortez explained how she joined the DSA:

What initially drew me to DSA was the fact that they showed up everywhere that I showed up. I started my work as a community organizer before I even knew about the existence of DSA, and I was busy doing work in my community, working with children, working with families, advocating for educational equity.

This sheds light on the milieu in which the DSA operates. Since Ocasio-Cortez spent her post-college years in the orbit of the Democratic Party and corporate startup world, it is no wonder the DSA showed up everywhere I showed up.

The DSA, like Ocasio-Cortez, has no connection to the struggles of the working class, let alone socialism. Since the founding of its predecessor, the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC), in 1972 and the DSA in 1982, the organization has existed as a continuous presence within the Democratic Party. For fifty years, its operatives have attended Democratic National Conventions, worked as staff for Democratic Party politicians and trade unions, and fought for a realignment within the party.

Over this time period, the Democratic Party has turned further to the right, abandoning any pretense at social reform. All the while, the DSA has served as a left shield for the Democrats rightward maneuvers, assuring the population that the Democratic Party can be reformed as it launches imperialist wars across the world and eviscerates social programs and corporate regulations.

The DSA provides Ocasio-Cortez her socialist credentials

The DSAs role in facilitating the rise of Ocasio-Cortez testifies to its function within the Democratic Party. In the absence of any association with social struggles, it was the DSA which provided the young Democrat and aspiring entrepreneur with a socialist imprimatur. This was necessary not only for Ocasio-Cortezs story, it also allowed the Democratic Party to de-fang the word socialism, translate it into a byword for Democratic Party pressure politics, and orient workers and young people away from genuine socialism based in the working class.

Ocasio-Cortez acknowledges in the interview with Democratic Left that she joined around the time when DSA was picketing one of the major camera companies in New York City, trying to call attention to the warehouse workers. This is apparently a reference to DSA pickets of B&H Photo Video stores in Brooklyn that, according to DSA announcements, took place beginning in April 2017.

DSA launches boycott: Screenshot of July 15, 2017 article on DSA Labor website authored by DSA National Director Maria Svart acknowledging DSA pickets of B&H began in late March or early April (cutoff in original article) (screenshot)

The timing is significant because, if these dates are correct, it indicates that Ocasio-Cortez joined the DSA only after she was selected by the Democratic Party PAC Brand New Congress as a candidate for Congress. On her personal Facebook page, she announced she was nominated by Brand New Congress to run for Congress on April 1, 2017, which by her account was before she began attending DSA meetings.

April 1, 2017 Facebook post announcing Ocasio-Cortz's nomination for congress by Brand New Congress, featuring training session by Nomiki Konst (screenshot)

Press reports of the DSAs decision to endorse Ocasio-Cortezs campaign indicate the move was critical to providing her campaign with a ready-made political infrastructure required to run a congressional campaign. New York magazine wrote, While [Ocasio-Cortez] wasnt incubated in DSA, she started appearing at meetings and joined the organization, securing its endorsement and grassroots manpower.

Gotham Gazette described this process in greater detail, explaining what took place after Ocasio-Cortez received the approval of the New York City DSAs Electoral Working Group:

Once shed received the approval of the Electoral Working Group, different organizational branches, and, ultimately, the citywide group, Ocasio-Cortez gained access to NYC-DSAs veritable army of canvassers. NYC-DSA members knocked on thousands of doors throughout District 14 in support of Ocasio-Cortez, collected voter data, and assisted with funding.

Vetting and training a Democratic politician

An important example of the type of Democratic Party operative who works within the DSA to recruit, vet and train prospects for political leadership is Ocasio-Cortez adviser Nomiki Konst. Konst is a self-described DSA member who lived in New York City at the time of Ocasio-Cortezs candidacy.

In late March 2017, right before she announced her selection as a Brand New Congress candidate, Ocasio-Cortez attended a conference of the New York Progressive Action Network, a group within the Democratic Party in New York. This event featured speeches by Democratic Party candidates for office, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, and Nomiki Konst, a member of the 2016 Democratic National Convention platform committee.

March 26, 2017 Facebook post announcing attendance at Democratic Party event featuring Nomiki Konst and AFT President Randi Weingarten (screenshot)

Konst was also present in early April when Ocasio-Cortez was flown to Frankfort, Kentucky to participate in a Democratic Party leadership training session to prepare her for her Democratic primary campaign. Ocasio-Cortez posted that, in addition to Konst, an unnamed Democratic congressperson also participated.

Konsts presence at Ocasio-Cortezs political genesis is significant since Konst has high-level ties to the national security apparatus. She was a millennial thought leader with the Truman National Security Project, which calls for developing tough new national security leaders. Its website declares it is building the next generation in national security by working to recruit young leaders and develop them as politicians.

Konsts role is an example of the types of high-level state operatives the Democratic Party and DSA employ in such leadership development projects. Ocasio-Cortez herself acknowledged that she was vetted for six months before receiving the Brand New Congress nomination. The intelligence agencies are careful to ensure that nobody acquires a position of government power who is not completely reliable on questions of imperialist foreign policy and statecraft.

According to independent journalist Dan Cohen, the Truman National Security Project is a Democratic party-aligned, pro-war think tank that helped groom noted revolutionary leaders like Pete Buttigieg and Michele Flournoy. Cohen also reported that Konst was deployed to Libya during the brutal US-led military intervention:

Self-described leftist Nomiki Konst spent time training the Islamist opposition in Libya after the NATO intervention that deposed Moammar Gaddafi and saw him murdered in the streets by jihadist proxies after NATO drones attacked his motorcade. Konst traveled to Libya thanks to the National Democratic Institute, one of the subsidiaries of the very same CIA cutout, the National Endowment for Democracy, that funds Bellingcat.

Nomiki Konst October 9, 2017 Facebook post detailing 2013 trip to Libya in midst of NATO-led imperialist war (screenshot)

In a 2019 profile of Konst, Politico noted that her life remains occluded by indecision. Politico reported that a Truman Center spokesperson said Konst was the West Coast Managing Director of Partnerships for the Truman National Security Project, noting that her bio has since been deleted. Konst told Politico, It literally means nothing  these organizations are nothing. They just basically go around the country and try to get young people involved and come to their conferences.

The Truman National Security Project (screenshot)

Politico also reported Konsts work in Libya, though it noted that after Politico asked her for details on this particular claim, she had yet to provide any.

It appears that Ocasio-Cortez and Konst stayed in contact. Shortly after Ocasio-Cortez won the Democratic primary in June 2018, Konst posted a video of Ocasio-Cortezs victory speech from the floor of the campaigns victory party. Konst has been a consistent promoter of Ocasio-Cortezs tenure in Congress.

Nomiki Konst June 23, 2018 post from floor of Ocasio-Cortez's primary victory party in New York (screenshot)

Lessons must be drawn

Ocasio-Cortez presently turns her fire on left-wing opponents of the Biden administration, denouncing them as bad faith actors on behalf of the Democratic Party. The forum for her attacks is the pages of the DSAs official magazine. For the last two years, she has been allowed to build up her left credentials, growing her social media influence and facilitating her ability to communicate with masses of people, especially socialist-minded youth. But her political supervisors are now ordering her to crack down on her own supporters, who have responded with bitter disappointment and anger.

It is likely that Ocasio-Cortez will tack left again, and it is inevitable that new Democratic politicians will emerge from the sidelines to present themselves as the next left alternative. It is also inevitable that some will even abstain from using the label Democrat because the term is so tainted.

Socialists must fortify themselves against the next traps by drawing the lessons from the last one:

A genuine socialist movement will not be born out of the Democratic Party. All pragmatic arguments for using the Democratic ballot line, for appealing to the better angels of reactionary Democratic politicians, and for an inside-out strategypartly inside the Democratic Party and partly pressuring it from withoutclash with the historical role played by this party in the defense of the capitalist system.

The Democratic Party is an imperialist party representing the financial oligarchy. It is accountable to the military, the intelligence agencies, the banks and the corporations. At times it presents itself in progressive terms, but only to better block the growth of a genuine socialist movement. It is irreconcilably hostile to the interests of the working class, full stop, and that will never change.

This experience shows that a serious approach to politics requires a serious approach to learning the lessons of history. The working class requires its own party, basing itself on the whole historical experience of the struggle for socialism. That party is the International Committee of the Fourth International and the Socialist Equality Party in the United States.
Singapore: Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has joined with 45 former country leaders and foreign ministers from around the world in calling on the United Nations to intervene to stop the bloodbath in Myanmar, saying we dont have any other card left to play.

As the death toll in the two months since the Myanmar military seized power climbed beyond 500, Rudd told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on Tuesday the UN needed to step in urgently to protect the Burmese people from further slaughter at the hands of the junta.

The worst bloodshed since the coup coincided with Armed Forces Day, when troops paraded in the Myanmar capital, Naypyitaw. Credit:AP

As a member of the Global Leadership Foundation he has endorsed a letter from its chairman, former South Africa president FW de Klerk, to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres imploring him to convene an emergency session of the UN Security Council about Myanmar.

The letter also calls on the security council to invoke its Responsibility to Protect principle, agreed in 2005 to safeguard populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity in their own country, and act as a coalition to bring the killing in Myanmar to an end.
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New Delhi, March 30 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday appealed to the voters in Nandigram to keep their cool and vote for her party Trinamool Congress.

Banerjee is contesting from Nandigram against BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, her close aide turned adversary. Nandigram will go to the polls in the second phase on April 1.

Appealing to the voters during her 'padyatra' at Sona Chura in Nandigram, Banerjee said, "Cast your votes peacefully during the elections. Keep in mind, 'cool cool Trinamool, thanda thanda cool cool, vote pabe joda phool'." Banerjee also alleged that police forces from the BJP-ruled states have been brought into West Bengal to 'terrorise' the voters in the Nandigram Assembly constituency.

There were reports that Banerjee was greeted with 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans by BJP supporters when she crossed the venue of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's roadshow in Nandigram on Tuesday. Banerjee was proceeding to the venue of her own 'padyatra' when the saffron party supporters raised Jai Shri Ram slogans.

Shah on Tuesday participated in roadshows in Nandigram seeking votes for Adhikari.

Nandigram became one of the most high-profile constituencies in West Bengal after Banerjee announced to contest from there. She has been camping in Nandigram since Sunday.

Tuesday was the last day of campaigning in Nandigram where polling will be held on April 1 in the second phase along with 29 other constituencies.

GUANGZHOU, China, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As a window to showcase the country's high-quality development and achievements of Guangzhou's reform and opening-up, the 7th Guangzhou Annual Investment Conference kicks off on March 30. It offers a vital platform for China and the outside world to deepen cooperation and boost investment, said the local officials.

The conference consists of one general assembly, six overseas branch venues, and fourteen special events. For the first time, it sets up six overseas branch venues in five countries -- Germany, Israel, the United States, New Zealand and Singapore.

Themed under "Spurring New Vitality", this year's event invites members from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, overseas agencies, business associations and international leaders to discuss issues such as the construction of a new development paradigm with domestic and international circulation reinforcing each other.

Hong Qian, Chief of Guangzhou Municipal Commerce Bureau, said that the conference has become an important investment cooperation platform in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Hong pointed out that Guangzhou is a metropolis with the most competitive overall operating costs for enterprises.

The city has a click-to-start entrepreneurial environment, response-upon-demand business environment, abundant production factors and strong overall market potential.

In 2020, Huawei, Baidu, and Deloitte set up their legal entities in the city of Guangzhou, and AstraZeneca's South China headquarters is also expected to be established here.

"Recognized by world-class companies also means that Guangzhou will join hands with the world's top companies to promote the development of key industries such as the digital economy, biomedicine and high-end services to a new level," he said.

"In the future, Guangzhou will strive to build a new generation of communication technology, smart and new energy vehicles, biomedicine and health products, smart equipment, robots and other emerging pillar industries," he added.

According to Guangzhou Municipal Commerce Bureau, the city used 49.372 billion yuan ($7.67 billion) of foreign capital in 2020, an increase of 7.5 percent year-on-year. The number of contracted projects reached 931, a year-on-year increase of some 54 percent. There were a total of 1,096 registered projects, a year-on-year increase of about 163 percent.

In 2020, foreign-funded enterprises in Guangzhou contributed to more than 50 percent of the city's total industrial output value. By the end of 2020, a total of 309 Fortune Global 500 companies had invested in Guangzhou, contributing to a total of 1,166 projects.

Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce show that in January 2021, Guangzhou's actual use of foreign capital was $517 million, a year-on-year increase of 4.9 percent.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), Guangzhou's actual use of foreign capital exceeded $32.83 billion, maintaining a growth rate of more than 5 percent for five consecutive years.

SOURCE Guangzhou Municipal Commerce Bureau

New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that resolving Jammu and Kashmir dispute is crucial for peace and stability in South Asia.

Khan said this in a reply to PM Narendra Modi's letter to him last week extending greetings on Pakistan Day.

Modi had said that India desires cordial relations with Pakistan but an atmosphere of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, is "imperative" for it.

In his letter, Khan wrote that saying creation of an "enabling environment" is imperative for a constructive and result-oriented dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues between Pakistan and India.

"We are convinced that durable peace and stability in South Asia is contingent upon resolving all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan in particular the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," Khan wrote in the letter dated March 29.

Khan wrote that the people of Pakistan desire peaceful, cooperative relations with all neighbours, including India.

He also expressed best wishes for the people of India in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier, the militaries of both countries announced agreed to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors.

Weeks later, both PM Khan and Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa made peace overtures towards New Delhi saying it was time for the two neighbours to "bury the past and move forward".

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.

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By Joyce Lee

SEOUL (Reuters) - Electronics said on Tuesday that production at its U.S. chip plant at Austin, Texas had returned to near-normal levels as of last week after more than a month of disruption that exacerbated a global chip capacity crunch.

and other chipmakers with production facilities in the area had seen shutdowns due to severe weather on Feb. 16.

declined to comment on when production would be fully back to normal.

The disruption will have a definite impact on the global chip contract manufacturing industry that is already battling a severe capacity crunch, research provider TrendForce has said.

Qualcomm 5G radio frequency chips and Samsung display and image sensor chips account for about 65% of the monthly production at the Samsung plant, TrendForce added.

Other chips include power management integrated circuits (PMICs) and a small amount of chips that control electrical parts, Seoul-based analysts said.

The disruption is expected to hurt production of smartphones globally over the April to June period by about 5% and may lower this year's penetration rate of 5G smartphones, TrendForce estimated.

"This was a problem because it exacerbated a worldwide foundry capacity shortage. But at least it won't get worse as production resumes," said Park Sung-soon, analyst at Cape Investment & Securities.

"Smartphone makers have chip stockpiles, but because vendors' inventories of smartphone sets are currently low, smartphone production may see some impact from the plant's shutdown in the second half of this year."

Analysts have estimated losses from the disruption at the plant at around 300-400 billion won ($265 million-353 million), which they expected Samsung to mostly reflect in its January-March quarter earnings, to be announced in April.

Earlier this month, NXP Semiconductors NV said it expected an impact of about $100 million of revenue from its Texas production shutdown.

German chipmaker Infineon said it expected a quarterly hit to revenues in the high double-digit million euro range from its Texas plant outage.

(Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Kim Coghill, Himani Sarkar 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.)
They announced the birth of their first child - a boy called Hunter William - over the weekend.

And former Biggest Loser host Fiona Falkiner and her fiancee Hayley Willis have survived their first few days at home.

Model Fiona, 38, was seen tenderly cradling her tiny newborn as they arrived at their Sydney property on Tuesday.

Model mother! Fiona Falkiner tenderly cradled her tiny newborn son Hunter and her fiancee Hayley Willis doted on her wife-to-be as they arrived to their home in Sydney on Tuesday

The new mother held little Hunter's head close to her chest as Hayley retrieved their belonging from the car.

The blonde beauty was glowing makeup free and dressed in comfortable leggings and a T-shirt.

The couple's baby was wrapped in a white swaddle.

On Saturday, Fiona uploaded two sweet pictures of Hunter to her Instagram.

Tender: The new mother held little Hunter's head close to her chest

Glowing: Model Fiona, 38, was glowing makeup free and dressed in comfortable leggings and a T-shirt

'Things got pretty wild at the milk bar tonight. Hunter when I called last drinks at 3am,' she captioned the first post.

In the picture, Hunter nuzzled up to Fiona for a feed while wearing a hospital band and pyjamas.

In a second post, the mother-of-one absolutely glowed as she took a selfie with the infant resting in the crook of her neck.

'We survived our first night at home,' she wrote.

Doting fiancee: Hayley retrieved their belongings from the car

'We survived our first night at home': On Saturday, Fiona uploaded two sweet pictures of Hunter to her Instagram

'Things got pretty wild at the milk bar tonight. Hunter when I called last drinks at 3am,' she captioned the first post

She was wide-eyed and thrilled about having her little boy home, as being a mother was always a dream of hers.

Fiona and Hayley welcomed Hunter into the world on Monday, March 22 - and announced his arrival via a sweet Instagram post.

So sweet! Fiona and Hayley (centre) welcomed Hunter into the world on Monday, March 22 - and announced his arrival via a sweet Instagram post

How cute is this! Fiona wrote: 'For two years you were a dream. Over nine months we watched you grow. In a second you stole our hearts, and showed us a love we did not know'

'For two years you were a dream. Over nine months we watched you grow. In a second you stole our hearts, and showed us a love we did not know,' Fiona wrote.

'Introducing Hunter William Falkiner Born 22.3.2021. 3.3kgs of baby gold. Mummy Fee and bub are doing fantastic.

'A huge thank you to our incredible OB Ellie all the wonderful midwives of SAN Maternity who helped us navigate these first few days of motherhood'.
New Delhi, March 30 : French naval ships Tonnerre, an amphibious assault ship, and Surcouf, a Frigate Class ship, stopped at Kochi on Tuesday on its way to the South China Sea to underscore freedom of navigation in international waterways.

The ships are going to South China Sea as part of Mission Jeanne D'arc 2021 and will reach Japan after transiting the South China Sea twice.

Jeanne D'arc 2021 is an annual long duration and joint deployment, which aims to provide officer cadets with "at sea" operational training before joining their units as officers.

The mission has three main objectives -- train the future generations of French Navy officers, deploy operational capabilities in areas of strategic interest and interoperability and regional cooperation.

Earlier in February this year, a French nuclear-propelled attack submarine and warship patrolled the South China Sea. French Defence Minister Florence Parly had said then, "This extraordinary patrol has just completed a passage in the South China Sea. A striking proof of the capacity of our French Navy to deploy far away and for a long time together with our Australian, American and Japanese strategic partners." China lays claim to nearly all of the South China Sea while other countries also claim parts of the region.

At Kochi, the French naval ships arrived on Tuesday and were received by senior naval authorities in the background of fanfare by the naval band, the Indian Navy said.

The French delegation included Emmanuel Lenain, French Ambassador to India in New Delhi, Rear Admiral Jacques Fayard, French Joint Forces Commander in the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN) and Lise Talbot Barre, Consul General of France in Puducherry.

The French delegation and the commanding officers of the French naval ships called on flag officer commanding-in-chief, Southern Naval Command, AK Chawla. The ships will be departing Kochi on April 1.

"Interactions between India and France have evolved into a strong partnership especially in the domain of maritime security. The regular conduct of bilateral exercises, goodwill visits by ships and high level delegation visits involving both the navies are indicative of growth in mutual cooperation and jointmanship," the Indian Navy said in a statement.
A new Government plan reflecting changes in living and working patterns during Covid-19 will maximise the recovery for all parts of our country including Louth, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator John McGahon said the plan, called Our Rural Future, is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in decades.

Senator McGahon said: Our Rural Future sets out a blueprint for the development of rural Ireland over the next five years and is supported by 150 commitments across Government, which will address the challenges facing communities and deliver new opportunities for people living in rural areas.

The policy complements, and will support, the delivery of other Government strategies and initiatives such as Project Ireland 2040, the Climate Action Plan, the forthcoming National Economic Recovery Plan, the National Broadband Plan, the National Remote Working Strategy and the Town Centre First Initiative.

For decades, we have seen global trends where young people leave their local communities in Louth to live and work in larger cities.

"As we emerge from COVID-19 we will never have a better opportunity to reverse that long-standing trend.

The move to remote working, underpinned by the rollout of the National Broadband Plan, has the potential to transform rural Ireland like never before.

It will allow people to work from their own local communities in Louth , revitalise our town centres, reduce commuting times, lower transport emissions and most importantly - improve the quality of life of our people.

Our Rural Future will also support the recovery of our Tourism and Hospitality sector, create jobs in the Green Economy and the Agri-food sector and make it easier to establish and grow a business in Rural Ireland.

We will also assist rural businesses to diversify into new sectors and markets by taking advantage of high-speed broadband and new technologies.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys said: Our Rural Future represents a new milestone in the approach to rural development for Ireland.

As we recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have a unique opportunity to reimagine rural Ireland and harness the talent, skills and creativity running through our rural communities.

An Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar said: The Governments ambition is to have more people working in all parts of Ireland, with access to quality employment and good careers.

Remote working presents an opportunity for people to live and work in rural Ireland, no matter where their employer is based.
Mama Sarah Obama's family has ruled out Covid-19 as the cause of her death on Monday morning.

The family issued the clarification following speculation about what she died of at a time when the country is fighting a third wave of more severe Covid-19 infections.

The speculation came after two men dressed in hazmat suits and three medical officers wheeled the body into a ward at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu County at about 7am.

They then disinfected the whole of Ward 7, spraying every corner and object in the small room where the body was kept.

It was not until 10 am that family and friends were allowed to view it.

Dr George Rae, the hospital's chief executive officer, said Mama Sarah was referred from Sagam Hospital and taken to the intensive care unit.

"Mama Sarah died of a chest infection. We tried our best to manage her condition. She had already started improving when she died at 4.45am," said Dr Rae.

"She was strong but her age was a compromising factor. Even a simple flu would have led to her death."

Tests conducted

Sheikh Musa Ismail of the Kisumu Muslim Association, who spoke on behalf of the family, added that medics from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) carried out Covid-19 tests on Sunday evening.

"They came out negative so we can comfortably rule out that she succumbed to the virus," said Sheikh Musa.

The cleric said Mama Sarah will be buried in Kogelo, Siaya County, before midday on Tuesday.

"According to Islam, the body should be buried on the same day, but we have allowed the family to bury her on Tuesday to allow other close family members from far-flung areas to attend the burial," said Sheikh Musa.

Present at the hospital were Mama Sarah's only surviving sister, Mwanahawa Abdallah, her son Said Obama, and her grandson, Malik Obama.

Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o and his wife, Dorothy, were also there to view the body, which was later transported to Kogelo.
As Zimbabwe scales up its national vaccination programme against Covid-19, the arrival of the first consignment of the Covaxin vaccine from India will complement efforts to promote sustainable access to effective vaccines.

President Mnangagwa was yesterday at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to accept the first batch of 35 000 doses of India's first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine, the first tranche of the 75 000 doses of Covaxin donated by the Indian Government.

The President said the gift from the Indian Government was a welcome and timely intervention at a time the country was fighting the pandemic.

"This generous gift is welcome as a timely gesture of friendship, support and solidarity in the midst of these unprecedented times of the Covid-19 pandemic. As you are aware, my Government has put in place measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Key among the strategies is the rollout of the vaccination programme to target 60 percent of our population towards the achievement of herd immunity," he said.

Zimbabwe last week launched the second phase of the vaccination programme to include teachers, security services, judiciary, the clergy, elderly and people with chronic illnesses over and above the initial target group of frontline workers.

President Mnangagwa said Phase Three of the exercise would be rolled out later to include the rest of the eligible population.

Zimbabwe and India shared cordial relations dating back to the liberation struggle, said the President, which had deepened in the health sector to include exchanges in specialised medical equipment and the supply of pharmaceuticals from India.

"To this end, Zimbabwe remains committed to the implementation of a memorandum of understanding on traditional and complementary medicines that was signed between our two countries recently. We also look forward to strengthening the existing cooperation for the mutual benefit of our economies," he said.

He urged Indian investors to take advantage of the numerous opportunities presented by the National Development Strategy 1.

Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Vijay Khanduja said the donation was testimony to the strong relations India shared with Zimbabwe.

So far almost 60 million doses of the Covaxin vaccine had been injected in 75 countries across the world.

"Millions have received the vaccine in India alone and that should put to rest any doubts and scepticism about the vaccine. The vaccine has proved to be 81 percent effective in the clinical trials we have done so far and

it has proven to be effective even against the mutant strains," he said.

He said India had stood in solidarity with the Government of Zimbabwe during the pandemic by donating medicines worth US$1 million as well as a consignment of rice last year.

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"Our philosophy regards the entire world as one family. In this spirit, we wish and pray for the health, happiness and peace for everybody. We hope that the vaccines will provide the much needed relief to the pandemic," said Mr Khanduja.

Minister of Health and Child Care Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said Covid-19 continued to pose a threat across the world amid reports of the emergence of a third wave.

"Zimbabwe is among the first group of countries which embarked on a deliberate vaccination programme in Africa. Plans are underway to procure more Covaxin vaccines until herd immunity is achieved," he said.

He encouraged Zimbabweans across the political divide to be vaccinated as Government moved to ensure that the Covid-19 vaccines were distributed to every part of the country, including outlying areas.

Covaxin, like the Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines already in use in Zimbabwe, is an inactive vaccine using killed Covid viruses along with a trace of a chemical to stimulate the immune reaction. These contrast with the live vaccines that use engineered RNA.

The dead vaccines are regarded as the safest as no living matter or poison is injected, and having the complete virus coat, although without the virus, means that the immune reaction is far more likely to be able to deal with variants.
A Tennessee resolution that would designate the Holy Bible as the state governments official state book cleared the House Monday night as the sponsor and another member who opposed the measure  both preachers  squared off quoting from the book to make their arguments for and against.

House Joint Resolution 150 passed 55-28. It now goes to the Senate, where Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R- Oak Ridge, the Senate speaker, has previously voiced concerns about the measure which House sponsor Jerry Sexton, R- Bean Station, has introduced in two previous legislatures.

Its the third time that Sexton, a part-time minister, has brought the measure, introducing it the first two times as a bill. In 2016, then-Gov. Bill Haslam, a Republican, vetoed the measure, citing a 2015 state attorney generals opinion stating the bill violated the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution as well as Article I, Section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution. Haslam said his personal view was the bill trivializes the Bible, which he considered a sacred text.

Sextons effort to override Haslams veto fizzled. He introduced another bill in the following General Assembly but didnt push it. This year, Sexton introduced it as House Joint Resolution 150.

He noted in a floor speech that the Bible outsells every other book and notes Tennessee has been a center of Bible publishing. The resolution cites the Bibles great historical and cultural significance in the state of Tennessee as a record of the history of Tennessee families that predates some modern vital statistical records.

The resolution says the secretary of state is directed to list the Holy Bible as the official state book in the Tennessee Blue Book.

Its a book thats been very important to me my whole life, said Sexton, also a businessman. Im glad that Ive had the opportunity to stand in the pulpit and open its pages and preach what I call the Gospel. And Im sure many of you do.

Rep. Johnny Shaw, D- Bolivar, a minister and businessman, said he had been trying to find some scripture that would allow us to take Gods word, to bring it down to the level of a state. And I just cant find it.

Quoting Jesus, Shaw said, If you continue in my word, then ye are my disciple in deed. He said he sees all the authority gives to us is to be able to represent in character, in personality, in speech and in love, he gives us the authority to represent him that way. But he does not give us the authority to say that my word should be here or it should be there. Its only in us, wherever we are.

Sexton countered, Ill answer that question if youll tell me where separation of [church and] state is in any of our founding documents in the United States government and in any of our founding fathers that have used that to fund this nation and our constitution. Ill be glad to answer that when you show me where that is in our founding documents.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution begins, " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. Thomas Jefferson, one of the founders of the nation, said in an 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association that the clause was intended to build a wall of separation between the church and state.

After Shaw later said what Sexton was asking would embarrass us, Sexton replied, I dont want you to be embarrassed, adding he wanted to uphold the standards of God or his son, my beloved Savior.

The resolution now goes to the Senate. Republican Gov. Bill Lee has yet to weigh in on the legislation.

Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow on Twitter @AndySher1.

___

(c)2021 the Chattanooga Times/Free Press (Chattanooga, Tenn.)

Visit the Chattanooga Times/Free Press (Chattanooga, Tenn.) at www.timesfreepress.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Amazon is seen at the company logistics center in Lauwin-Planque, northern France

By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Amazon.com's social media team bared its teeth this week to go after two big critics in Congress: Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Amazon first struck out Wednesday with tweets by Dave Clark, chief executive of Amazon's worldwide consumer business, who criticized Sanders for pushing for a $15 minimum wage and supporting Amazon workers in Alabama who are considering unionizing.

On Friday, the day that Sanders met with Amazon workers in Alabama, Amazon News tweeted that Sanders' home state of Vermont's minimum wage was $11.75. "Sanders would rather talk in Alabama than act in Vermont," the company tweeted.

In his meeting, Sanders urged Amazon workers to vote for the union: "When you stand up and fight, you are taking on here not only one of the most powerful corporations in this country you are taking on the wealthiest individuals in the world. And you're doing it in an anti-union state."

The company also went after Warren, who pledged on Twitter that she would "fight your union-busting. And fight to break up Big Tech so youre not powerful enough to heckle senators with snotty tweets."

She had initially called for Amazon to be broken up, along with other Big Tech giants, in 2019 when she was running for president.

Amazon called her tweet "extraordinary and revealing."

"One of the most powerful politicians in the United States just said she's going to break up an American company so that they can't criticize her anymore," Amazon tweeted.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Neither Sanders' nor Warren's offices immediately replied to a request for comment.

It may not be just Amazon losing patience with pressure from Washington.

At a congressional hearing on Thursday, Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey apparently got frustrated with lawmakers pressing for yes or no answers to questions. During the hearing, Dorsey tweeted "?" with a poll asking Twitter users to vote "yes" or "no."

Story continues

Democratic Representative Kathleen Rice asked: "Mr. Dorsey, what is winning, yes or no, on your Twitter account poll?"

Dorsey told her that "yes" was winning, to which she replied: "Your multitasking skills are quite impressive."

(Reporting by Diane Bartz; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday plans to take congressional lawmakers and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky on a tour of the mass vaccination site at the Hynes Convention Center.

Baker plans to deliver his COVID-19 updates around 1 p.m. after the tour with Walensky, Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Robert Fenton, Sen. Ed Markey, Congressman Stephen Lynch and several state and local officials.

Hynes is not only one of the states large-scale vaccination sites, but also the site of the Community Vaccination Center program under a partnership with FEMA. The agency sent 6,000 doses this week and 10 federal workers to help with vaccination efforts.

In a news conference Monday, Walensky warned of another COVID-19 surge as governors roll back COVID-19 restrictions. She expressed a sense of impending doom as the number of new COVID-19 cases rose.

We have so much to look forward to. So much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope, Walensky said. But right now Im scared.

Texas lifted its mask mandate, though Austin continues to require the use of face coverings. Michigan, Mississippi and Louisiana loosened restrictions for bars, restaurants and other businesses, the Associated Press reported.

Massachusetts continues to enforce a mask mandate and has not given bars the green light to reopen unless they serve food. But the Baker administration recently moved into Phase 4 of its reopening plan, allowing Fenway Park to open to thousands of people as long as it doesnt surpass 12% of capacity.

State education officials are also pushing for elementary schools to return to teaching in-person five days a week, causing friction with teachers unions who argue that educators and school staff should be vaccinated first. The state has designated four teacher-only vaccination days on weekends. Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said the state would set aside roughly 25,000 doses for the population of roughly 400,000 workers.

Related Content:
Ramping up at a rapid pace now that more people are booking trips and dining out, Charleston's hospitality industry is facing a familiar problem.

It's in dire need of workers.

After shedding more jobs than any other sector during the pandemic, the region's hotels and restaurants have, in recent weeks, been scrambling to fill positions to keep up with demand.

To address the hiring crunch, tourism marketing group Explore Charleston and the Lowcountry Hospitality Association have put together a hospitality-only job fair for April 7, and they've added an incentive to sweeten the pot.

If You Go When: Wednesday, April 7, 2021 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Where: Outside in front of the box office at the North Charleston Convention Center, 5000 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston More information: chshospitalityworks.com.

The first 100 applicants to be hired will be eligible for a bonus of up to $500.

Participating employers will get the funds for those payments from Explore Charleston and dole out the money in two installments: $250 in the first paycheck and the other half after three months.

About 40 employers plan to be on hand to meet with job candidates at the event, which will be held outdoors at the North Charleston Coliseum. They range from new downtown hotels, such as Emeline, to the longstanding Francis Marion and food and beverage outlets like Home Team BBQ and Callie's Hot Little Biscuit. Hospitality groups like Florence-based Raines, which has properties in Summerville, Mount Pleasant and West Ashley, also plan to attend.

Explore Charleston will likely be gearing up for more hiring events soon after the employment fair, said CEO Helen Hill.

"Everything our research told us has come true," said Hill, referring to the "pent-up demand" for travel that was expected to fuel spring and summer bookings. "It's playing out the way we thought it would play out, but it still requires us to have enough staff to meet demand in key areas."

Employers at the hiring event will consider candidates for all types of roles, but the real need right now is for frontline staff such as servers, bartenders, carriage drivers and housekeepers, Hill said.

That was true before the pandemic. And seasonal staffing fluctuations are normal, but without the big spring events and festivals that usually signal kickoff and surge points for tourism, it was difficult to predict when and how much demand would be coming back.

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"What's made this particularly difficult is that it's not following the typical patterns that we're used to," said Michelle Woodhull, who oversees hotels and a restaurant, Circa 1886, as president of Charming Inns. "It's surging so quickly."

It's also been "operationally difficult" to make schedules to meet demand, Woodhull said, since people are "making more last-minute decisions about travel than they ever have in the past."

Workers in tourism-dependent jobs at hotels and restaurants were laid off in huge numbers last spring. At the sector's low point in April, only a third of the people in those jobs were still working. The rest had been laid off or furloughed.

Of the people who lost their hospitality jobs last year, those that have not been hired back may have accepted jobs in other sectors, such as retail or manufacturing.

"I think that a lot of what we're dealing with as an industry right now is the fact that we did have to shut down and we did have to lay off so many people, and now it's going to be very difficult to find that pool of people to bring back because they moved on to other positions," said Woodhull, who also is president of the Lowcountry Hospitality Association.

On the demand side, Woodhull said she "doesn't see things slowing down" from here on out now that COVID-19 vaccinations are being administered and temperatures are warming.

March hotel numbers have shown the industry gaining momentum again.

For the week that ended March 20, occupancy in the state was 63 percent. In Charleston, it was higher, at 68 percent, up from a 29 percent rate from the same week in 2020, when the area saw some of the most acute business downturns during the early weeks of the health crisis.

While in many ways needing to hire people is a "great problem to have" after a year of layoffs and low occupancy, Hill of Explore Charleston said the sector's ability to staff up this season could affect it long-term.

"The most important thing we offer as a community is great service," Hill said.

And delivering that service to guests, she said, just isn't possible without enough workers.
Top 4 WordPress Donations Plugins For Nonprofit Organizations (2021 Guide) (Photo : Pixabay)

If your nonprofit is on the lookout for a WordPress donation plugin, this guide is meant specifically for you. We have compiled a list of four of the best plugins that you need to have on your nonprofit website.



Why Must Nonprofits have a Donation Plugin on their Website?

Collecting donations online is a great way to raise funds for nonprofit organizations. WordPress allows you to have donation plugins through which you can collect donations and even help gather recurring donations. You can collect donations using various online payment methods, credit card processors through these plugins.



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While there may be many plugins all over the internet, not all of them are user-friendly and you will often find that they lack customization options. Integrating a donation plugin into your WordPress website is one of the easiest ways to collect donations.



Here are some features of a good WordPress plugin.



Works both on mobile and desktop



Customizable to fit the design language of your website



Sends receipts and allows your donors to donate on a recurring basis



Supports your preferred payment gateway



Costs the least to use



Here is a list of WordPress plugins that we recommend:



One of the best WordPress plugins for donations is Donorbox Donation Plugin. It comes free and can be easily set up in a matter of minutes. You can brand the contact form exactly as you desire, and can change the logo, colour scheme, as well as styling. Donorbox accepts multiple currencies sent through PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Stripe. The checkout process is straightforward and simple for users. The form can also be set to auto-detect the language of the users, and automatically get translated to one of six languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Portuguese).



The plugin offers several automated actions, such as repeated monthly donations, a receipt email that needs to be set up just once, and automatically transferring funds to the linked account. It can be easily integrated with popular tools such as Salesforce NPSP 3, MailChimp & Zapier



The best part about the Donorbox WordPress plugin is that it can be installed free of charge. A small platform fee of 1.5% is levied for the month's donations and is the lowest fee in the fundraising market.



2. WPForms

WPForms happens to be the most beginner-friendly tool for WordPress. There is an inbuilt template that helps you create an online donation form. Its drag and drop interface makes it easy for anyone to work on it. It is perfect for smaller charities and nonprofits that do not want a giveaway platform. A simple donation form that is customized to the needs of the organization works better. It should work well enough to accept one-time donations as well as recurring ones.



WPForms can also be integrated with PayPal and Stripe so that you can collect these donations via credit card on your website. The best part about WPForms is that it is not just a donation plugin. You can also build all kinds of forms such as contact forms, polls, survey forms, email sign-up forms, and volunteering forms. WPForms also works well with email marketing services and customer relationship management platforms.



But perhaps the best part about WPForms is that a majority of its services are free, only the payment add-ons cost around 100 $ a year, which is an exclusive price for nonprofits. Once you get the bundle, you will get access to over 150 types of forms



3. Easy PayPal Donation

Easy PayPal Donation allows you to add a PayPal donate button on your website for free! Visitors can send donations via PayPal with the simple click of a button. They can also make payments via credit cards using the same link. Easy PayPal Donation is very simple in operation. It comes with seven design templates for the buttons and you can even upload a custom template to match your website's theme. The plugin allows you to easily connect PayPal with your website and collect donations effortlessly. It also has an option that allows visitors to opt for recurring donations.



If you are simply looking for a one-push button style solution, Easy PayPal Donation is the one for you. It is completely free, but for setting up recurring donations you will need to purchase the pro version, which comes for nearly 60 $ a year. It is one of the best plugins for collecting donations, although it lacks features that other plugins have, it gets the job done.



4. GiveWP

GiveWP is designed specifically to help you collect donations and raise funds for your nonprofit. GiveWP is designed to make it very easy to create custom donation forms inside WordPress itself and set-up both one-time, and recurring donations. You can also easily integrate all sorts of payment gateways to accept credit cards. The plugin also allows you to fine-tune every aspect of the process. You can add donation tributes, campaign-level donation incentives, and goals, tax deductibles receipts, currency options, and multi-level donations. The sheer array of options makes it incredibly friendly for donors and encourages them to contribute more.



You also get a donor management suite, where you get a full-featured reporting tool to manage all donations. You can track both online and offline donations. It can also be integrated with email marketing services that allow you to seamlessly connect with your donors. If your nonprofit has an online store with WooCommerce, GiveWP allows you to add a donation upsell in the checkout area. You will also receive a Google Analytics integration with a tracking system dedicated to your eCommerce store.



Final Notes

As seen above, several plugins offer a host of features and highlights that make them excellent tools for accepting online donations. However, Donorbox's WordPress plugin stands out with its incredibly easy to use features, quick setup, and low fees. The customization features are second to none, and allow you to make your own forms that are in line with your brand.



Once you integrate the donation plugin to your website, you'll see your online donations go up drastically!


While the Myanmar military shot down more than hundreds of civilians on March 27, the junta chief Min Aung Hlaing reportedly threw a lavish dinner party on the same day. Images posted on social media showed the coup leaders dressed in a bow tie and a white, medal-laden jacket walking a red carpet, greeting attendees and sitting down to a meal to mark Armed Forces Day. The Advocacy group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), on the other hand, reported the soldiers on Saturday killed 114 people - including children - in 44 towns and cities across the country.

Min Aung Hlaing's army committed a heinous massacre today and Min Aung Hlaing was enjoying dinner. How rude is he? #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #Mar27Coup pic.twitter.com/TUflnQZ3kP  MYANMAR Spring Revolution #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar (@ShweYoe111) March 27, 2021

It is worth mentioning that the death toll in Myanmar has been steadily increasing as authorities grow more forceful with their suppression of opposition to the February 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup also reversed years of progress toward democracy after five decades of military rule. The killings of civilians have drawn international condemnation, with multiple diplomatic missions to Myanmar releasing statements and calling out the army in Burma to follow international standards of military professionalism.

US suspends diplomatic trade engagement

US President Joe Biden also joined a chorus of international condemnation on Sunday and said that the situation in Myanmar was terrible. He described the actions of the military as absolutely outrageous and imposed sanction on several of the generals, including Min Aung Hlaing and two military-owned conglomerates. Moreover, on Monday, the Biden administration also announced the suspension of all diplomatic trade engagement with Myanmar.

According to AAPP, throughout Monday, crackdowns and shootings, however, continued across the nation and at least 14 people were shot dead. The association also reported that at least 510 people have been killed since the coup last month. According to CNN, the AAPP said that amidst crackdowns in Kyauk Myaung, Tamwe Township, Yangon Region, people banged pots and pans in protest. At that time, the junta forces told people they will arson neighbourhoods if people continue, AAPP said.

(Image: AP/Twitter)


A Palestinian man prepares to unload the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on March 29, 2021. China on Monday handed over a batch of donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to Palestine to support its nationwide fight against the pandemic. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, March 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday handed over a batch of donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to Palestine to support its nationwide fight against the pandemic.

This is "(China's) latest move to implement both the important consensus reached between the two heads of state and the solemn commitment by Chinese President Xi Jinping to provide COVID-19 vaccines as a global public good," said Guo Wei, head of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, during the handover ceremony.

China has been helping Palestine in its anti-coronavirus fight since the outbreak of the disease in the country in March last year. China has donated several batches of medical supplies to Palestine in 2020, and a Chinese team of medical experts was sent to Palestine last June to support its fight against the pandemic.

On March 21, Palestine launched a mass COVID-19 inoculation campaign in a bid to curb the fast spread of the virus across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The rapid arrival of the Chinese vaccines to help along the Palestinian inoculation campaign demonstrates the sincere friendship of the Chinese people toward the Palestinians, writing a new chapter of their joint fight against the pandemic, Guo said.

"This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Palestine. In this special year, China is ready to work with Palestine to meet challenges, build a community with a shared future for mankind and inject new content into the friendly Sino-Palestinian relationship," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila thanked the Chinese government and people for contributing to Palestine's vaccination campaign, noting the batch from China is the largest single donation of COVID-19 vaccines Palestine has received so far.

"Palestine highly appreciates China's commitment to provide coronavirus vaccines as a global public good and its selfless assistance to Palestine and other developing countries with a responsible attitude and concrete measures," she said.

Palestine already approved China's Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use, according to the Health Ministry.

On Monday, Palestine recorded 1,786 new COVID-19 cases, 18 deaths and 1,181 recoveries in the past 24 hours. A total of 266,720 infections have been registered in Palestine so far. Enditem

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[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Education Department Waives $1.3 Billion in Disabled Student Loans Reinstated During Pandemic

The Department of Education announced on Monday it will recancel more than 41,000 student loans issued during the pandemic to disabled individuals who didnt submit the required paperwork to track their income.

Borrowers with total and permanent disabilities should focus on their well-being, not put their health on the line to submit earnings information during the COVID-19 emergency, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement. Waiving these requirements will ensure no borrower who is totally and permanently disabled risks having to repay their loans simply because they could not submit paperwork.

The Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge program relieves loans for students who have been totally and permanently disabled for five or more years, or will be for five or more years, in a way that negatively impacts their earnings from employment. The program was first offered in July 2013.

Borrowers who have their loans canceled are subject to a three-year monitoring period. During this time, they must provide their earnings information to the department. If their earnings exceed a certain threshold and they dont meet other criteria to waive the loan, their loan will be reinstated.

More than 41,000 borrowers who had $1.3 billion in loans reinstated will have their loans waived again as well as any loan payments made during the pandemic refunded, the department said.

The Education Department pointed out that 98 percent of reinstated disability discharges occurred because borrowers did not submit the requested documentation, not because their earnings were too high, according to a 2016 report (pdf) by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Another 190,000 borrowers who remain in their monitoring period will have their income monitoring requirements waived for the rest of the COVID-19 emergency period.

The change is retroactive to March 13, 2020, when the COVID-19 national emergency started.

Todays announcement is part of the Biden-Harris administrations continued efforts to ensure student loan borrowers receive support and protection during the COVID-19 emergency, the statement continued. This includes pausing interest, payments, and collection activity on the vast majority of federal student loans through at least Sept. 30, 2021.

The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Boston, said the Education Departments move was not good enough.

Todays announcement is not cause for celebration but rather for outrage that the department revoked these borrowers discharges in the first place, Persis Yu, NCLC Student Loan Borrower Assistance project director, said in a statement. We urge the department to take bold steps towards systemic reform. At a minimum, the Department should provide automatic relief to the 400,000 borrowers known to qualify for a disability discharge.

Less than two weeks ago, the department declared it would be canceling $1 billion in student loans for borrowers claiming they didnt receive the kind of college education they were promised.

GQ Pan contributed to this report.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, which helped boost the energy and income of impoverished southern Appalachia as part of Franklin Roosevelts New Deal during the Great Depression, is being called upon again to be a leader in President Bidens new deal to fight the threat of global climate change.

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a leading environmental group in the Tennessee Valley, is urging TVA to lead the utility industry by converting entirely to carbon-free electricity generation within the next decade.

We believe that the Tennessee Valley Authority, because it is a federal corporation that was built with renewable power from the Tennessee River in the 1930s, is the right utility to lead by example again in getting to a zero-carbon profile ahead of the industry, said Stephen Smith, executive director for the Knoxville-based Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. " TVA needs to again be a leader and set the goal of being first and fastest to get to zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Smith said TVA was a leader in the first half of the 20th century in harnessing the power of the Tennessee River to electrify the Tennessee Valley and lift the region out of poverty with everything from fertilizer research to flood control and recreational development. The federal utility is ideally suited to again lead by example in the early 21st century by moving away from fossil fuels to produce electricity, Smith said.

The Biden White House is rolling out its plans this week for infrastructure spending plans that could cost nearly $3 trillion to improve transportation, transmission and communications and improve electric recharging facilities and renewable energy technologies. The sweeping package is designed to boost the economy, make America more efficient and lessen global warming caused by growing carbon emissions from power plants, cars and other burning of fossil fuels.

On Monday, the Biden administration said it was taking initial steps toward approving a huge wind farm off the New Jersey coast as part of an effort to generate electricity for more than 10 million homes nationwide by 2030. White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy said the project could mean jobs for more than 44,000 workers and avoid 78 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

President Joe Biden believes we have an enormous opportunity in front of us to not only address the threats of climate change, but use it as a chance to create millions of good-paying, union jobs that will fuel Americas economic recovery, she said.

In the Tennessee Valley, environmental groups want TVA to take advantage of infrastructure investments in Americas grid to bring more wind and solar power into the Tennessee Valley from places like the Great Plains, which Smith called the Saudi Arabia of wind power. In 2017, TVA rejected an offer to import up to 3,500 megawatts of wind power from Texas and Oklahoma along a $2.5 billion transmission line proposed by Clean Line Energy in Houston.

Despite turning down such renewable power, TVA has cut its carbon emissions by more than 60% since 2005 by shutting down more than half of the 59 coal-fired power plants it once operated, including the Widows Creek and Colbert plants in Alabama, the John Sevier and Allen coal plants in Tennessee and the Paradise Fossil plant in Kentucky. TVA plans to shut down its Bull Run Fossil Plant near Oak Ridge within the next year.

To replace the lost coal generation, TVA has boosted its nuclear power output, which now supplies 42% of its electricity, and added more natural gas-fired plants to its power portfolio along with scattered solar farms across the Tennessee Valley.

Maggie Shober, director of utility reform at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said gas-fired plants produce about half as much carbon emissions as coal plants but are not a long-term answer to the challenges of climate change. Shober and other environmentalists want TVA to restore the programs it once offered to spur more energy conservation in the Valley and to turn to more renewable energy sources like wind and solar to power the Valley.

We think there are cost-effective ways that ensure the reliability of TVAs power supply that dont rely upon burning fossil fuels,she said.

As solar and wind continue to grow, their costs are getting cheaper, Shober said.

Smith said all energy options should be on the table, including consideration of new technologies like small modular reactors which TVA is pursuing to possibly build on the Clinch River in Oak Ridge. Smith said new nuclear plants have not proven to be cost effective or able to be built in a reasonable time period of time in the past two decades, but TVA contends that small modular reactors could be built for less cost due to the modular design and smaller size.

TVA CEO Jeff Lyash told a Senate committee last week that he thinks more nuclear power will be needed to achieve zero-carbon emissions in the utility industry and he insists that the existing fleet of nuclear plants could operate safely for up to 100 years, providing relatively low-cost power over the long run.

Lyash said TVA and the local power companies in its 7-state region are planning to add about 1,000 megawatts a year of new solar generation and most of TVAs coal plants are likely to be phased out over the next decade or two. While Lyash has spoken about possibly achieving a 70% or even 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, TVA has not set any formal goals for additional carbon cuts.

Smith said the Biden administration as part of its infrastructure program and the presidents appointments to the 9-member TVA board should use TVA as a national model and push the utility toward zero-carbon emissions as soon as possible.

TVA needs to quit looking in the rearview mirror at where it has already gone and look to its future by setting an ambitious goal that would give the agency an important role for the future, Smith said.

Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6340.

___

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Visit the Chattanooga Times/Free Press (Chattanooga, Tenn.) at www.timesfreepress.com

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Authorities at the Liberia Institute for Statistic, Geo-information Services (LISGIS) said they are set to conduct another census this year.

In 2020, the Liberian legislature reached an agreement for the process to be carried out this year.

The process of conducting a census should have taken place in 2018, but the process has since delayed.

The 2008 antiquated data has been used for a little over 12 years now by the government of Libiria to direct their agenda for the last periods.

Appearing recently on Liberia Broadcasting System LBS, the National Census Coordinator at LISGIS, Andrews Tellewoyan III said in keeping with the mandate from the Liberian Legislature, they at LISGIS have begun putting into place implementation plans which will see the process conducted this year.

Tellewoyan said that they have completed the vetting of statisticians who will be shortly be placed in various communities to commence the national geographic mapping of homes in various communities of the country; a process he said will put them in the position to know how many persons are living in poverty or in slum communities.

After the national geographic survey which is also a part of the census process, they will conduct what he called piloting of the census.

According to him, the piloting process will provide them with test tools they are expected to use during the numeration or counting of the citizens; a process he said after which they will go ahead with the numeration of the populace.

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"We are mixing geographic renditions with statistics. Every house in Liberia will be geo-coded to help us know where places and homes are. This will help us locate where rivers, to know where streets and other places in Liberia can be located" he added.

He went on to explain that the process will take not more than ten months.

Additionally, he said the expected process of numeration of Liberians will recruit about 10 thousand persons to do the counting of the people with the census boss at LISGIS indicating that they were in the process of deploying their workers in the field, but due to COVILD-19 they had to break.

LISGIS have communicated with the Ministry of Health and they have been certificated to conduct the process of census though they have been advised to follow all health protocols during the processes.

Commenting on the effect of the delay in the conduct of the process, he said the gap in the conduct of counting of Liberian has made the country not to make informed decisions as it relates to the development and other national decisions. "The gap has created challenges over the years" he said.

Although, Mr. Tellewoyan said they are set to have the process conducted this year he however said one request he made during the live program on State Radio is that they want to postpone the actual counting of people.

When he was asked what time will be best for the numeration of citizens of Liberia he said, "Early next year- March 2022 or February 2022?"
China to build major TCM center for epidemic prevention, treatment

Xinhua) 10:31, March 30, 2021

BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- China plans to build a major center at the national level focusing on the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in epidemic prevention and treatment, sources with the top economic planner said Monday.

Sun Zhicheng, a senior official with the social development department of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a press conference that the center will be tasked with building the talent pool, formulating technical protocols for epidemic prevention and treatment, conducting TCM therapy research and stockpiling relevant medical supplies, among other functions.

The center is expected to ramp up the country's capacity of rapid response, prevention, control and treatment in the face of new or emerging infectious diseases and other major public health events by using TCM, Sun said.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has made a pitch for Labor to deliver a sound, considered, honest government, saying the party is ready to replace the Coalition after eight years in the political wilderness.

Addressing the faithful at the ALPs virtual national conference on Tuesday night, Mr Albanese said a government he led would back the aspirations of all Australian families for a better life as the country clawed its way out of a coronavirus-induced economic downturn.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said Labor had heard the women of Australia loudly and clearly. Credit:Janie Barrett

Preparing his party to head to the polls any time within the next 15 months, the Labor leader said he would lead a government that faced up to reality, listened to Australians and had genuine empathy for peoples concerns.

Nodding to the Morrison governments string of scandals over sexual assault allegations and treatment of women, Mr Albanese said Labor had heard the women of Australia loudly and clearly.
Public concern about coronavirus has fallen sharply in the past month in a sign that the nation's mood towards the disease is changing as the vaccination drive continues.

A new survey conducted by Ipsos MORI revealed 49 per cent of people view Covid-19 as one of the biggest issues facing the UK.

But that number is down 23 per cent on what was recorded in February - the first significant drop in levels of concern about the disease since June 2020.

The polling firm said the figures suggested the 'public may feel the end of the pandemic is in sight'.

However, despite the fall in concern levels, coronavirus still ranks as the biggest issue facing the UK, above other things like Brexit, education and housing.

A patient is vaccinated as he attends the Riverside Stadium Vaccination Centre on March 22, 2021 in Middlesbrough, England

February's edition of the Ipsos MORI Issues Index revealed that 72 per cent of people named the coronavirus as a big issue for the country.

That number fell to 49 per cent in March while one third (34 per cent) said they viewed the pandemic as the single biggest issue for the UK, down from 57 per cent last month.

The numbers also showed there is an age split on how the disease is viewed with older and younger Britons now less concerned than those in the middle age brackets.

Ipsos MORI said: 'The proportion mentioning the pandemic as an issue stands at 44 per cent among 18-34s, 59 per cent among 35-54 year olds, and 43 per cent among the over 55s. By contrast, in February these figures were 70 per cent, 76 per cent and 72 per cent respectively.

'Those aged 65 and over are among the least likely to mention the pandemic as a big issue; 39 per cent do so, meaning it is their joint-top concern alongside the economy (also 39 per cent).'

Away from coronavirus, the poll showed that concern about Brexit has also fallen with one quarter now mentioning it as a worry (26 per cent), down from 33 per cent in February, 35 per cent in January, and 60 per cent in December.

However, there have been some increases in the proportion of the public who are worried about other issues like the NHS, education and housing.

The survey showed there has been an eight per cent increase in mentions of the NHS as a big concern, with 24 per cent of respondents mentioning the issue.

Mike Clemence, associate research director at Ipsos MORI, said: 'This month's issues index suggests the public may feel the end of the pandemic is in sight. While half still see Covid-19 as a big issue for the country, this is significantly lower than last month, when three quarters felt the same way.

'Concern is notably lower among older age groups, which may suggest the vaccination campaign is having an impact on public perceptions  although worries are also lower among the youngest Britons who will not yet have been vaccinated.

'Yet as concern about Covid falls we also see other worries begin to rise. We have recorded significant increases this month in worries about the NHS, poverty, education and housing.'
ALD Automotive has announced that it has signed a leasing partnership agreement with Mazda in Belgium and Luxembourg.

ALD Automotive will provide operational leasing services for Mazdas entire range of leasing products in both countries.

Mazda selected ALD Automotive for its innovative offering and market leading expertise as a global distribution partner. The partnership will enable local Mazda dealers to respond to the evolving demands for mobility solutions by providing the Belgian and Luxembourg market with attractive operational leasing solutions for corporates, small to medium sized companies and private individuals through its proprietary dealership network.

We have chosen ALD Automotive for their market leadership in Belgium and Luxemburg and have a combined goal of reinforcing our B2B activities and introducing a Private Lease offer for our complete line-up, confirms Frederic Spaenjers, Fleet Manager Mazda Motor Belux.

This new agreement reinforces the existing successful partnership between the two companies as ALD Automotive also provides full service leasing services for Mazda through its dealership networks in the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. As a pioneer in the partnership approach for full service leasing, ALD Automotive now has over 200 agreements in place with 10 car manufacturers in 31 countries and over 25 banking partners in 17 countries.



We are pleased to be supporting Mazda in the diversification of its mobility offering for its customers, confirms Adrian Porter, Head of Partnerships at ALD, and look forward to continuing to help them grow their business in the coming years as a valuable partner.
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Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Organisers of a planned Easter commemoration in Derry next week have cancelled the event.

The Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee had encouraged people to attend the commemoration in Creggan on Easter Monday.

However, there had been appeals for the event not to go ahead because of the current Covid restrictions.

In a statement today, the organisers of the event, the Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee, said that 'having entered comradely talks with Saoradh' they have decided to 'alter our planned Easter Monday commemoration to a dignified wreath laying ceremony'.

The statement continued: "It is clear that there are those who are endeavouring to turn the worldwide pandemic into a political stick to deflect the attention and scrutiny that is at present focused on British Crown Forces after their attack on the Creggan community on the 18th of March.

"We as Republicans cannot allow this to happen. Our wreath laying ceremony will be fitting and dignified.

"We look forward to the day when once again we all can come together to hold a full commemoration."

This image was taken with the FORS2 instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope in late 2019, when comet 2I/Borisov passed near the Sun.Since the comet was travelling at breakneck speed, around 175 000 kilometres per hour, the background stars appeared as streaks of light as the telescope followed the comet's trajectory. The colours in these streaks give the image some disco flair and are the result of combining observations in different wavelength bands, highlighted by the various colours in this composite image. Credit: ESO/O. Hainaut

New observations with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT) indicate that the rogue comet 2I/Borisov, which is only the second and most recently detected interstellar visitor to our Solar System, is one of the most pristine ever observed. Astronomers suspect that the comet most likely never passed close to a star, making it an undisturbed relic of the cloud of gas and dust it formed from.

2I/Borisov was discovered by amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov in August 2019 and was confirmed to have come from beyond the Solar System a few weeks later. "2I/Borisov could represent the first truly pristine comet ever observed," says Stefano Bagnulo of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, Northern Ireland, UK, who led the new study published today in Nature Communications. The team believes that the comet had never passed close to any star before it flew by the Sun in 2019.

Bagnulo and his colleagues used the FORS2 instrument on ESO's VLT, located in northern Chile, to study 2I/Borisov in detail using a technique called polarimetry. Since this technique is regularly used to study comets and other small bodies of our Solar System, this allowed the team to compare the interstellar visitor with our local comets.

The team found that 2I/Borisov has polarimetric properties distinct from those of Solar System comets, with the exception of Hale-Bopp. Comet Hale-Bopp received much public interest in the late 1990s as a result of being easily visible to the naked eye, and also because it was one of the most pristine comets astronomers had ever seen. Prior to its most recent passage, Hale-Bopp is thought to have passed by our Sun only once and had therefore barely been affected by solar wind and radiation. This means it was pristine, having a composition very similar to that of the cloud of gas and dust itand the rest of the Solar Systemformed from some 4.5 billion years ago.

By analysing the polarisation together with the colour of the comet to gather clues on its composition, the team concluded that 2I/Borisov is in fact even more pristine than Hale-Bopp. This means it carries untarnished signatures of the cloud of gas and dust it formed from.

"The fact that the two comets are remarkably similar suggests that the environment in which 2I/Borisov originated is not so different in composition from the environment in the early Solar System," says Alberto Cellino, a co-author of the study, from the Astrophysical Observatory of Torino, National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Italy.

Olivier Hainaut, an astronomer at ESO in Germany who studies comets and other near-Earth objects but was not involved in this new study, agrees. "The main resultthat 2I/Borisov is not like any other comet except Hale-Boppis very strong," he says, adding that "it is very plausible they formed in very similar conditions."

"The arrival of 2I/Borisov from interstellar space represented the first opportunity to study the composition of a comet from another planetary system and check if the material that comes from this comet is somehow different from our native variety," explains Ludmilla Kolokolova, of the University of Maryland in the US, who was involved in the Nature Communications research.

Bagnulo hopes astronomers will have another, even better, opportunity to study a rogue comet in detail before the end of the decade. "ESA is planning to launch Comet Interceptor in 2029, which will have the capability of reaching another visiting interstellar object, if one on a suitable trajectory is discovered," he says, referring to an upcoming mission by the European Space Agency.

An origin story hidden in the dust

Even without a space mission, astronomers can use Earth's many telescopes to gain insight into the different properties of rogue comets like 2I/Borisov. "Imagine how lucky we were that a comet from a system light-years away simply took a trip to our doorstep by chance," says Bin Yang, an astronomer at ESO in Chile, who also took advantage of 2I/Borisov's passage through our Solar System to study this mysterious comet. Her team's results are published in Nature Astronomy.

Yang and her team used data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in which ESO is a partner, as well as from ESO's VLT, to study 2I/Borisov's dust grains to gather clues about the comet's birth and conditions in its home system.

They discovered that 2I/Borisov's comaan envelope of dust surrounding the main body of the cometcontains compact pebbles, grains about one millimetre in size or larger. In addition, they found that the relative amounts of carbon monoxide and water in the comet changed drastically as it neared the Sun. The team, which also includes Olivier Hainaut, says this indicates that the comet is made up of materials that formed in different places in its planetary system.

The observations by Yang and her team suggest that matter in 2I/Borisov's planetary home was mixed from near its star to further out, perhaps because of the existence of giant planets, whose strong gravity stirs material in the system. Astronomers believe that a similar process occurred early in the life of our Solar System.

While 2I/Borisov was the first rogue comet to pass by the Sun, it was not the first interstellar visitor. The first interstellar object to have been observed passing by our Solar System was 'Oumuamua, another object studied with ESO's VLT back in 2017. Originally classified as a comet, 'Oumuamua was later reclassified as an asteroid as it lacked a coma.

Explore further ALMA reveals unusual composition of interstellar comet 2I/Borisov
People clash with police during a gathering at a memorial site in Clapham Common Bandstand, following the alleged kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, in London, on March 13, 2021. (Hannah McKay/Reuters)

London Police Acted Appropriately at Sarah Everard Vigil: Watchdog

London police acted appropriately at a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard earlier this month, an independent watchdog said on Tuesday.

The Metropolitan police drew public criticisms after officers clashed with and tackled to the ground protesters gathered at a memorial for the murdered woman at Clapham Common, London, on March 13, defying the governments CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus restrictions.

But Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), an independent watchdog, said the Met acted appropriately at the vigil.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr led the inspection into how @metpoliceuk handled the vigil in memory of Sarah Everard on Clapham Common.

Read our report here: https://t.co/g25dntxg02 #SarahEverardVigil pic.twitter.com/TxPn1yUeBV  HMICFRS (@HMICFRS) March 30, 2021

Officers are our fellow citizens, invested by the community to keep the community safe, said Sir Thomas Winsor, Her Majestys Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

They rely upon and are entitled to receive public support when they act lawfully, sensitively, and proportionately; in this case, in the face of severe provocation and in very difficult circumstances, they did just that.

Matt Parr, Her Majestys Inspector of Constabulary, who led the inspection team, criticised the lack of respect shown by those who issued unwarranted condemnations of the police action.

Condemnation of the Mets actions within mere hours of the vigilincluding from people in positions of responsibilitywas unwarranted, showed a lack of respect for public servants facing a complex situation, and undermined public confidence in policing based on very limited evidence.

After reviewing a huge body of evidencerather than a snapshot on social mediawe found that there are some things the Met could have done better, but we saw nothing to suggest police officers acted in anything but a measured and proportionate way in challenging circumstances.

Sarah Everard, wearing the coat she wore on the night she went missing. (Met Police)

Everard, 33, disappeared on March 3 near Clapham Common, London, while walking home at around 9 p.m. Her body was found a week later in a woodland outside of London. A Met police officer, 48-year-old Wayne Couzens, was charged with the kidnap and murder of Everard.

At the March 13 vigil, a large number of people gathered in defiance of COVID-19 rules and police warning. Clashes broke out when police officers tried to disperse the crowds. Video footage showed scuffles and some women forced to the ground.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the scenes were unacceptable and the police action neither appropriate nor proportionate.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said some of the footage was upsetting, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said he was deeply concerned by it.

Lily Zhou contributed to this report.
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WOODINVILLE  Portions of Creekside Park at 17623 130th Ave. N.E. in Woodinville sold for $4.5 million, according to King County records.

The seller was original developer Shanley Properties, which had retained two of the commercial condominium units.





. . .
A California woman was sentenced to 15 months and 13 days in federal prison for threatening to blow up a Washington, D.C.-based Catholic school that planned to publish same-sex wedding announcements.

Authorities say Sonia Tabizada, a 36-year-old from San Jacinto, had sent multiple messages to Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School threatening to blow up the institution and kill people.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, at issue was the schools decision to publish announcements of any alumni who were going to marry someone of the same-sex.

The free exercise of religion is one of our nations most sacred constitutional rights," said Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D'Antuono of the FBI Washington Field Office in a statement.

Source:The Christian Post

Elon Musk wants to create the city of Starbase at SpaceXs Starship production and launch facility in South Texas.

The place is currently called Boca Chica.

Word of the plan came via Musks Twitter feed on March 2: Creating the city of Starbase, Texas, then From thence to Mars, and hence the stars. He added that the city will encompass an area much larger than Boca Chica.

The unincorporated coastal area, near the Mexico-U.S. border about 25 miles east of Brownsville, sits amid sand dunes and marshland. Its adjacent to a state park and a 10,680-acre tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The last land battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Palmito Ranch, occurred nearby.

Only a few holdouts remain in Boca Chica Village, a community of 30 homes built in the 1960s. SpaceX has bought out most who lived there. In October, VICE News published an email from David Finlay, SpaceXs senior director of finance, offering the remaining residents three times the appraised value of their homes  roughly $150,000.

The offer will expire on October 2, 2020, Finlay wrote. Please be advised that should this offer expire, SpaceX may need to pursue alternative approaches to ensuring that launch operations within the State-designated South Texas Spaceport at Boca Chica Beach can be conducted within all necessary public safety requirements.

At least two of the holdouts declined the offer, according to the report. Maybe incorporating and launching eminent-domain proceedings are SpaceXs alternative approach to booting those still living there.

Musks blunt tweets are the best sources for Starship news. The announcement came two days before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened a public comment period on SpaceXs proposed expansion plans at Boca Chica.

On ExpressNews.com: SpaceX Starship chasers converge in South Texas

The Starbase news set SpaceX fans a flutter and energized critics who dont want the name Boca Chica to fade into the history books. But the chatter largely faded on March 3 with Starship SN10s precarious landing and Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly, or RUD, Musks euphemism for rocket explosions.

Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. offered a nonstatement: If SpaceX and Elon Musk would like to pursue down this path (of incorporating Starbase), they must abide by all state incorporation statutes. Cameron County will process any appropriate petitions in conformity with the applicable law.

So all we know is the space mogul wants to incorporate a city and the county will enforce the laws. Talk about a disappointing soft launch.

Neither SpaceX or Cameron County have said anything more on the matter. But its worth pausing a beat and nerding out on the potential place name Starbase  Musks latest salvo in his colonization of Texas.

Throughout history, naming or renaming places is often an act of conquest or colonization. New names frequently veil native histories and reframe narratives in favor of the conquerors.

On ExpressNews.com: SpaceX to convert offshore oil platforms into spaceports

Naming a place is an emotional and politically charged topic that deserves input from locals and historians.

Yet its also a branding exercise, and thats something Musk and his teams excel at. Their naming regime ranges from cool and aspirational to strange and funny  Tesla, Boring Company (maker of tunnels and flamethrowers), Falcon, Dragon, Raptor, Starship, and his ships Of Course I Still Love you, Just Read the Instructions, GO Ms. Tree and GO Ms. Chief, to name a few.

But naming things is different than renaming places.

Consider how the U.S. military is grappling with installations named after Confederate generals. And many Air Force, Army and Marine Corps bases are given the names of military people  mainly white men  from decades or centuries ago. Are there any military posts or bases honoring women or nonwhite people?

The Space Force took the easy way out, changing its base names from Air Force Bases to Space Force Bases. For instance, Patrick Air Force Base became Patrick Space Force Base. While the Space Force missed an opportunity for a complete rebranding, it held onto some heritage.

On ExpressNews.com: Accelerator: NASA's Perseverance lands, San Antonio hypersonics lab rises

Personally, I like the Navy and Coast Guards approach. They name facilities after their geographic location. That makes sense, especially for seafaring services. It must have something to do with a connection to their home port  a safe harbor after a long journey.

So lets run with that.

You want to wake up in the morning and think the future is going to be great  and thats what being a spacefaring civilization is all about, Musk said. Its about believing in the future and thinking that the future will be better than the past.

Like maritime travelers, a spacefaring civilization needs a home port. So maybe Starbase should be Starport or Spaceport? There are already spaceports around the country, like Spaceport America outside Truth or Consequences, N.M., but no starports or starbases as place names.

Starbase sounds cool, but it carries military baggage. Maybe SpaceX wants Starbase because its the home of Starship and the company has a star motif going with Starhopper and Starlink. Maybe there are plans to name subsequent Starship sites something different. Well have to keep checking Musks Twitter feed.

The debate highlights that its time we decide what well call the places thatll lob us into space.

On ExpressNews.com: Spacecraft with San Antonio roots gets life extended

Think about how airport is the gold standard for the places where airplanes land and takeoff. Every citys plane place is called airport. Theres no San Antonio International Airstrip or Airbase. Its not Dallas-Fort Worth International Airpatch. In fact, airbase and airfield most often reference military installations.

Spaceport follows the concept of airports, so why confuse things with Starbase? Starbase is a spaceport, so is it the Spaceport at Starbase, Texas or Starbase at Texas Spaceport? Both of those sound like some kind of exclusive resort.

Oh, and about resorts. In August, SpaceX posted a job ad for a Resort Development Manager to oversee the development of SpaceXs first resort from inception to completion to transform Boca Chica into a 21st century Spaceport. The position is no longer listed, but SpaceX is still seeking baristas, cooks and porters for the private restaurant under construction.

Also, will there be more than one Starbase in Texas, the U.S., on Earth, the Moon, Mars, throughout the Galaxy and beyond?

If we become the spacefaring civilization that commercial space companies predict, then therell be many Starports, Spaceports and Starbases, and well need to keep track of them.

Who wants boring names like Starbase 1, 2 or 3. Star Wars wouldnt have been the same if Tattooine, Alderaan and Hoth had been dubbed Planets A, B and C.

Since were talking interplanetary travel, we should anchor space or starport names to their location  like airports. How about Starport Boca Chica or Boca Chica Starport? Thats no more difficult to say than any international airport.

Or maybe just incorporate Boca Chica? After all, NASA didnt rename Cape Canaveral or Houston, and now those names are synonymous with space exploration.

Same goes for Boca Chica.

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
Brussels, March 30 : The Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council will visit Turkey on April 6, a spokesperson for the European Union (EU) announced.

Taking to Twitter on Monday, the spokesman Barend Leyts said that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Charles Michel will hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on April 6, reports Xinhua news agency.

The meeting comes after EU leaders discussed the bloc's relations with Turkey.

Following that meeting, Michel had said the EU was in touch with Turkish authorities to organise the meeting.

The EU leaders on March 25 agreed to relaunch cooperation with Turkey in a "phased, proportionate and reversible" manner in the fields of trade and migration.

They decided to launch high-level dialogues with Turkey on issues of mutual concern, such as public health, climate, counter-terrorism as well as regional issues.

"The European Union is ready to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate, and reversible manner to enhance cooperation in a number of areas of common interest and take further decisions at the European Council meeting in June," stated the conclusions from the summit.

During their visit, the top EU officials are expected to discuss a number of issues between the sides, including renewed efforts to strengthen EU-Turkey relations as well as the customs union Turkey had with the bloc.

Since last year, Turkey had been at odds with EU member states Greece and Cyprus over maritime boundaries and natural gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.
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Barack Obama's step-grandmother Sarah was laid to rest in Kenya on Tuesday, a day after her death at age 99.

Photos have been released showing relatives and members of the Muslim community carrying Sarah Hussein Obama's body before her internment ceremony at the family's home in Nyangoma-Kogelo village in Siaya county, western Kenya.

She was laid to rest next to her husband, Hussain Onyango, around midday local time under Islamic rites.

Malik Obama, the former president's half-brother, spoke at his grandmother's brief funeral, which was attended by a large group of relatives, friends and top government officials.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Raychelle Omamo paid tribute to Sarah Obama on behalf of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who honored the deceased as a philanthropist.

Pallbearers carry the body of Sarah Obama, step-grandmother of President Barack Obama, at her burial in her home village of Kogelo, in western Kenya Tuesday

Obama, then still a US senator, is pictured with his grandmother at his late father's house in Kogelo village, western Kenya, in 2006

The former president tweeted: 'My family and I are mourning the loss of our beloved grandmother, Sarah Ogwel Onyango Obama, affectionately known to many as Mama Sarah but known to us as Dani or Granny. 'We will miss her dearly, but well celebrate with gratitude her long and remarkable life'

'We celebrate her life as a woman of substance who was outstanding. She made her home the most welcoming place to everyone who visited,' Uhuru said in a statement read by Omamo, as The Star reported.

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o asked the government to declare Sarah Obama's home a heritage site.

'This will be the best way to recognize and honor her immense contribution to the well-being of humanity,' he said.

On Monday, former President Obama tweeted: 'My family and I are mourning the loss of our beloved grandmother, Sarah Ogwel Onyango Obama, affectionately known to many as Mama Sarah but known to us as Dani or Granny.

'We will miss her dearly, but well celebrate with gratitude her long and remarkable life.'

Mourners pray over Sarah Obama's body at her burial in Kogelo on Tuesday

Members of the Muslim community prepare Sandia, clothes used to cover the dead before burial, during the funeral of Sarah Obama

Sarah Obama died On Monday in a small village on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya

Malik Obama, a half-brother of President Obama, speaks at his grandmother's funeral

Mourners in traditional clothing are pictured during Sarah Obama's burial ceremony Tuesday

Members of the community bury the body of Barack Obama's step-grandmother before noon

Sarah Obama passed away around 4am local time on Monday while being treated at a hospital in Kisumu, Kenya's third-largest city following an undisclosed illness, her daughter Marsat Onyango said.

Family spokesman Sheik Musa Ismail confirmed her death was not COVID related.

She was the second wife of President Obama's grandfather and helped raise his father, Barack Obama, Sr. The family is part of Kenya's Luo ethnic group.

President Obama often showed affection toward his step grandmother and referred to her as 'Granny' in his memoir, 'Dreams from My Father.'

He described meeting her during his 1988 trip to his father's homeland and their initial awkwardness as they struggled to communicate which developed into a warm bond.

She attended his first inauguration as president in 2009. Later, Obama spoke about his grandmother again in his September 2014 speech to the U.N. General Assembly.

For decades, Mama Sarah, as she was known, promoted education for girls and orphans in her rural Kogelo village. She raised many in her home.

The Mama Sara Obama Foundation helped provide food and education to children who lost their parents - providing school supplies, uniforms, basic medical needs, and school fees.

Her daughter Onyango said Monday: 'She died this morning. We are devastated.'

'Mama was sick with normal diseases she did not die of COVID-19,' a family spokesman Sheik Musa Ismail said, adding that she had tested negative for the disease. He said she had been ill for a week before being taken to the hospital.

President Barack Obama, center, with his half sister Auma Obama, left, and his step-grandmother Sarah Obama, center-right, walk in Kogelo, western Kenya in 2018. Sarah Obama, the matriarch of Barack Obama's Kenyan family has died, relatives and officials confirmed Monday but did not disclose the cause of death. She was at least 99 years old

'The passing away of Mama Sarah is a big blow to our nation. Weve lost a strong, virtuous woman, a matriarch who held together the Obama family and was an icon of family values,' President Uhuru Kenyatta said.

She will be remembered for her work to promote education to empower orphans, Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyongo said while offering his condolences to the people of Kogelo village for losing a matriarch.

'She was a philanthropist who mobilized funds to pay school fees for the orphans,' he said.

In this 2006 photo, then U.S. Senator Barack Obama meets his step-grandmother Sarah Obama at his father's house in Kogelo village, western Kenya

Sarah Obama, step-grandmother of President Barack Obama, pictured in 2012, has died, relatives and officials confirmed Monday. She was at least 99 years old

Already a national celebrity after the former Illinois senator Barack Obama visited Kenya in 2006, Sarah's modest homestead became a tourist attraction with Obama's November 2008 election triumph.

Born in 1922 in a village on the shores of Lake Victoria, Sarah was the third wife of Hussein Onyango Obama, President Obama's grandfather, a herbalist and a village elder who fought for the British in Burma, now called Myanmar.

Onyango Obama, who died in 1975, is said to be the first man to swap goatskin clothing for trousers in his village. He returned from the war in Burma with a gramophone and a picture of a white woman he claimed to have married.

On his trip back to Kenya as US president, he met with her among other family members in Nairobi.

After leaving office, he traveled to her home in the village of Kogelo in 2018, joking he had been unable to do so in 2015 as his jet was too big to land in Kisumu.

Sarah Obama, step-grandmother of then U.S. President Barack Obama, holds a photograph of them together, as she speaks to the media in the living room of her house in 2008

In a 2014 interview with AP, Sarah said that even as an adult, letters would arrive but she couldnt read them. She said she didnt want her children to be illiterate, so she saw that all her familys children went to school.

She recalled pedaling the presidents father six miles to school on the back of her bicycle every day from the familys home village of Kogelo to the bigger town of Ngiya to make sure he got the education that she never had.

'I love education,' Sarah Obama said, because children 'learn they can be self-sufficient,' especially girls who too often had no opportunity to go to school.

'If a woman gets an education she will not only educate her family but educate the entire village,' she said.

In recognition of her work to support education, she was honored by the United Nations in 2014, receiving the inaugural Womens Entrepreneurship Day Education Pioneer Award.

Sarah Obama, was the second wife of President Obamas grandfather and helped raise his father, Barack Obama, Sr. The former president is pictured as a child with his father

Obama is linked to his Kenyan family via his father Barack senior, a pipe-smoking economist who Obama has admitted he 'never truly' knew.

He met Barack Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, in Hawaii. But he walked out when Obama was just two and died in a car crash in Nairobi in 1982, aged 46.

Obama senior had worked in the government of Jomo Kenyatta, who led Kenya at independence from Britain until his death 14 years later in 1978.

The two men did not get on well, with Kenyatta - the father of Kenya's current president Uhuru Kenyatta - sacking Obama senior, and blackballing him for further government jobs, an ostracization that would help fuel alcoholism.
Airlines are calling for rapid Covid tests to be used as standard for international travellers to 'reopen' the industry.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) union has published research claiming that using rapid tests could work as well as a 10-day quarantine policy.

And it said the cost and time required to use proper lab-based PCR tests to test travellers would keep the holiday industry on its knees.

A family of four could face a testing bill of 1,600 to use privately-bought tests, the IATA said, and it warned passenger numbers could fall by two thirds because of this.

Rapid swab tests, however, were significantly cheaper and faster to use and could help stem airlines' losses by half, it suggested.

The IATA did not call for a total overhaul of the current policy of a 10-day quarantine with three tests, but wants the rapid swabs to be accepted as standard by officials.

But rapid tests, currently used in schools, care homes and offices around the UK, have been controversial because studies have shown they don't work as well as the PCR swabs.

Generally speaking the quick tests are less sensitive, meaning it is more common for them to fail to detect when someone is infected with Covid, compared to lab tests.

The IATA, which represents 290 major airlines including British Airways, TUI, Virgin Atlantic and Condor, commissioned the research from consulting firms Oxera and Edge Health.

The IATA, which represents 290 major airlines including British Airways, TUI, Virgin Atlantic and Condor, is calling for rapid tests to be made standard for international travellers this summer, instead of lab tests (Pictured: Condor planes on a runway in Dusseldorf, Germany)

Oxera's Michele Granatstein said: 'The choice of a rapid test would be a real boost to the global travel and international business community, and our research shows it can be as effective as other testing regimes and as effective as a ten-day quarantine.'

The report claimed sticking to PCR testing could slash demand for holidays by 65 per cent because of the huge cost involved, potentially costing more than 300 per person per trip just to follow the UK's rules.

Allowing rapid tests to be used might reduce the losses to 30 per cent and allow more people to afford to travel, the IATA said.

CEO at the union, Alexandre de Juniac, added: 'We are already seeing rapid testing becoming commonplace in non-travel settings such as schools and workplaces.

'Extending its use to travel is a logical step. Science backs this up.

In real world conditions, antigen testing is as effective as PCR testing in reducing the risk of cross-border transmission.

LANCET STUDY SUGGESTS RAPID TESTING COULD CATCH 86% OF CASES IN TRAVELLERS A study published in British medical journal The Lancet suggested that using rapid Covid tests on the day that someone travelled could spot 86 per cent of coronavirus cases. The research was done by Stanford and the University of California, San Francisco, and based on a made-up scenario with 100,000 travellers. Using estimates of how well tests work, the study estimated that testing someone with a PCR swab before they travelled would identify 88 per cent of people who could have travelled with an active Covid infection. Doing the same thing with a rapid test on the day of departure would spot 86 per cent of infected people, it found. The accuracy of the rapid test meant that the number of days people might be infectious but undetected fell by 32 per cent. By comparison, the more accurate  but more expensive and difficult  PCR test cut the number of infectious days by 36 per cent. Dr Nathan Lo said: 'Getting tested before you travel and often after you travel, can really reduce the risk of COVID with air travel,' Skift reported. But Dr Waleed Javaid, a professor of medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, added: 'But is it ok to travel if there is a 10 per cent chance of having an infectious person on the plane?' Advertisement

'Meanwhile the cost and bureaucracy of PCR tests adds huge burdens to families and businesses looking to travel. These are important considerations in preparing for a successful re-start.'

It is currently illegal to travel abroad for a holiday but people with reasons approved by the Government are allowed to fly.

They must follow specific rules when returning to Britain, however, and quarantine for 10 days and get tested twice after arriving in England, as well as once before.

During the quarantine, people are not allowed to leave the place they are staying, meet anyone else there or see visitors who didn't travel with them.

People must test negative for Covid before they board the plane and then again on the second and then eight days of the quarantine.

Currently, all these tests must be PCR tests in which the nose and throat swab is posted to a laboratory to be examined with high quality machinery. It can take two or more days for a result to be returned, and the tests can cost over 100 a time.

The IATA is now calling for the Government to allow the use of rapid tests, which are cheaper and faster  taking around 15 minutes and costing 10-20.

The research produced by Oxera and Edge Health looked at past scientific studies of how well different rapid tests work.

Looking at the number of 'infectious days' a test could cover, the report said that PCR tests were more accurate but only by a small margin.

An infectious day was described as a day on which a traveller would have the virus if they were infected. It usually lasts in the body for up to two weeks in people who get symptoms. 100 per cent coverage would suggest a test wouldn't miss any cases if it worked properly.

The report said that a PCR test on arrival would cover 72 per cent of infectious days, because it was so sensitive that it would pick up the virus across most parts of someone's infectious period, except a couple of days at the very start and end.

For a rapid test  referred to as an antigen test  this dropped to 63 per cent.

But the report said: 'The differences in performance between PCR and antigen tests narrow further with the introduction of a post-arrival quarantine period.

'A PCR test three days after arrival screens 79 per cent of infectious days compared to 75 per cent for antigen, and PCR and antigen tests both screen 74 per cent of infectious days five days after arrival.

'Importantly, an antigen test administered on departure screens 62 per cent of infectious days, a comparable proportion to a ten-day quarantine requirement (the current requirement in the UK) when quarantine compliance is taken into account.'

The report is published on the IATA's website.
She's the founder and creative director of the swimwear label Tropic of C.

Yet Candice Swanepoel appeared to forgo a bathing suit all together in a racy photo shared with her 15.1 million Instagram followers on Monday.

The South African model, 32, flaunted her pert derriere and highlighted her tanned skin while lying on her front at the beach.

Moonbathing: Candice Swanepoel, 32, stunned in a nude photo highlighting her pert backside as she enjoyed Sunday's supermoon in Tulum, Mexico

Candice had her arms outstretched and turned her head to face the camera while crossing her legs.

'~Full moon in libra ~,' she caption the steamy snap.

Candice didn't specify which tropical beach she was visiting, but posts from her friends revealed she was soaking up the sun in Tulum, Mexico.

The picture was snapped on Sunday, which marked the first supermoon of 2021, meaning the moon was slightly closer to Earth than usual, making it appear somewhat larger.

Fit physiques: Later on Monday, she shared a photo of herself with photographer Eduardo Bravin and Brazilian model Lais Riberio

Another photo she posted to Instagram later on Monday showed Candice now somewhat clothed in a brilliant orange string bikini.

She posed with finger guns while highlighting her high-cut bottoms and her washboard abs.

The Victoria's Secret model helped block out the sun with blue reflective wraparound shades and a white bucket hat with an upturned brim.

She had her arm wrapped around photographer Eduardo Bravin, who wore a purple swim suit, and the Brazilian model Lais Ribeiro, who wore a matching orange two-piece suit while she turned around to highlight her backside.

'Working with my besties,' Candice captioned the photo. She also tagged her swimsuit line Tropic of C, suggesting they were doing a photoshoot for the brand.

Enjoying the sights: Although one would normally expect to see the moon at night, Sunday's supermoon was at its largest in the late afternoon, so Candice posted more photos taken while the sun was still out to her Insta Stories

Napping: She relaxed on the sand between her friends in another photo that she captioned, 'Moon children'

Although one would normally expect to see the moon at night, Sunday's supermoon was at its largest in the late afternoon, so Candice posted more photos taken while the sun was still out to her Insta Stories.

She posed off in the distance with her hands raised toward the sky in one photo, while she relaxed on the sand between her friends in another photo that she captioned, 'Moon children.'

Candice first launched Tropic Of C in January of 2018 with the aim to create swimwear made from environmentally sustainable materials.

Sustainable: Candice first launched Tropic Of C in January of 2018 with the aim to create swimwear made from environmentally sustainable materials

The company's products are mainly constructed with a regenerated nylon fiber made from various recycled materials.

Rather than using a screen printing process, Swanepoel's brand digitally prints its textiles, which reduces water and electricity consumption.

The blonde beauty, who lives part of the year in Brazil, also ensured that Tropic Of C's packaging was made with biodegradable materials.

In addition to focusing on her line's physical aspects, the runway regular is often featured in her brand's promotional photos, and she regularly shares them on her own Instagram account.
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Lara Trump, former President Donald Trump's senior adviser to his reelection campaign and daughter-in-law, has joined the Fox News family as a contributor. She has not precluded running for the Senate.

Lara Trump Joins Fox News as Paid Contributor

She remarked she is excited to be joining the Fox News Family during a guesting on "Fox & Friends" on Monday. According to Trump, she quite feels like she has been an unofficial member of the team for a long while. "You guys know-it was kind of a joke-over the past five years, I would come there so often that the security guards were like, 'Maybe we should just give you a key,'" reported The Epoch Times.

However, Trump's move would not affect her decision in a bid for a Senate position in 2022. Trump, who is married to the former president's son Eric, stated the network has agreed to work with her in the event she does choose to pursue the North Carolina vacancy left by retiring Republican Senator Richard Burr. She added she has yet to make a decision.

The former producer has made past appearances on the right-leaning TV network. Trump, who describes herself as an "NC girl in NYC #MAGA" in her Twitter bio, took to Twitter to announce her new work, reported Yahoo News.

Trump told host Steve Doocy Fox has been "very generous" with her. They said if the Senate run is something Trump ultimately decides to do, they are going to work with her on that front and ensure that all the guidelines are adhered to, executing everything properly.

Trump to Launch Own Social Media Platform in 3-4 Months

She is not the first figure from the previous administration to join the network in recent months. Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was declared as a contributor in March. Also, previous press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined the network following her stint in the Trump administration. She left in January as she mounted a campaign in a bid to become the next Arkansas governor.

Trump married Eric Trump in 2014. She gave birth to two children in 2017 and 2019.

Trump expressed gratitude towards the Fox team for allowing her to have the aforementioned possibility in the future while she has not yet officially made a decision. She hopes to seal a decision soon.

A number of people within the former president's circle have been rumored to be mulling over running for political office. The former president's daughter Ivanka Trump considered but ultimately decided against running in opposition to Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio. Donald Trump Jr. also passed on an opportunity in a bid for the Senate in Wyoming last election cycle, reported News Break.

Trump confirmed earlier this March she was mulling over a Senate bid when she guested on Sean Hannity's show. The Republican primary in the North Carolina election could be competitive. However, Trump would reportedly have an edge courtesy of her last name and her high public profile.

She grew up in the Tar Heel state. She also named her daughter Carolina after the state.

Bernie Sanders: Not a Fan of Donald Trump's Twitter Ban

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Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 77F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 63F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
A new industry fundraising initiative is being launched today in order to help independent booksellers and comic shops recover from the financial effects of Covid-19 pandemic.

The Survive to Thrive grant program, created by Ingram Content Group chairman John Ingram, hopes to raise a total of $2 million by the end of May to support indie bookstores. The program will be administered by the Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation. Initial donations include a $500,000 contribution from Ingram Charities and Ingram Content Group and significant gifts from Bookshop.org and four of the Big Five publishers.

John Ingram told PW that, while Ingram Content Group had a good 2020, he was more than aware that many in the book business were not nearly so fortunate. The pandemic has been incredibly hard for certain businesses, Ingram said, noting that, in talking to different industry players, it became clear to him that many independent bookstores in particular"the gem of many communities, as Ingram called themcould use an economic boost.

Ingram explained that the objective of the grants is to help booksellers that had been doing well before the pandemic struck, but which suffered significant losses as a result of months-long lockdown policies implemented nationwide last March, get back onto firm footing. We want to provide a bridge to help stores recover, Ingram said.

Bookshop.org, which launched last January and saw strong sales in 2020, has contributed $250,000 to the initiative. Andy Hunter, the company's founder and CEO, agreed with Ingram that bookstores should not be forced to worry about staying in business due to one bad season, or even a global pandemic. In addition to the $750,000 in contributions from Ingram and Bookshop.org, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, and Penguin Random House have collectively contributed another $250,000.

Binc executive director Pam French said that the plan is to give $10,000 grants to as many as 200 stores. The $10,000 amount, she explained, was chosen after discussions with booksellers, who said that the figure was enough of make a significant difference to bookstores looking firm up post-pandemic. The total number of grants offered by the program will depend on the results of fundraising efforts.

French said that the grants will be reviewed by a jury of at least three independent reviewers, and applications will be judged based on a set of criteria that Binc is finalizing. (Some of those criteria will include, for instance, ownership structure of the business, whether the majority of a store's income comes from the sale of books or comic books, and an applicant's "vision and plan to ensure your store thrives in 2021 and beyond.") French promised that applicants will be granted complete confidentiality; jurors will not know the names of the stores whose applications they will review.

Binc is putting the experience it gained from overseeing the ABA and James Pattersonbacked #SaveIndieBookstores campaign this spring to work on the Survive to Thrive campaign, which represents a significant scale-up, French said. The goal, she added, is for the campaign to start accepting applications by mid-April, with grants distributed by early June.

Bincs mission to support the independent booksellers through difficult times is more important than ever, and we are grateful to Ingram for spearheading this major fundraising initiative, Hachette Book Group CEO Michael Pietsch said in a statement. Hachette is a longtime supporter of Binc and the independent booksellers who are so essential to books, authors, and reading, and were proud to be part of Bincs Survive to Thrive initiative in this urgent moment.

Josh Marwell, HarperCollins president of sales, added: One of the lessons of the pandemic will be the role that books and authors played in helping the public get through very difficult times and the aid and comfort local bookstores provided to their communities in bringing authors and readers together. There are thousands of examples of how the nations independent booksellers quickly rallied, developed new ways of doing business and were beacons of hope for better times. Now is a critical time for independent booksellers and we are so proud to support Bincs Survive to Thrive Initiative.

"The independent bookstores of America are critical to our bookselling environment, and now more than ever we all need to rely on each other," Don Weisberg, CEO of Macmillan Publishers, said. "Macmillan is proud to partner with Binc and play our part in this worthy campaign."

Jaci Updike, president of sales at Penguin Random House U.S., called it a privilege for Penguin Random House, with our contribution, to acknowledge and to join in advancing the indispensable contributions of Binc to the independent bookstore and comic shop community. She added: In this time when the availability of wide-ranging information and ideas is more necessary than ever to the future of society, Bincs support of our authors and their books, by their heroic sustaining of a healthy small-business bookselling ecosystem, is cheering and inspiring.

Ingram Content Group will continue to support the ongoing fundraising efforts through a variety of different initiatives, including the use of the company's social media assets. At the moment, John Ingram is thrilled with the initial support. I am grateful to the companies that have already stepped up, he said. It speaks well of them, and of the companies they represent.
New Delhi, March 30 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that the number of normal and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds for Covid patients have been increased in city hospitals, amid reports that some private hospitals were facing a shortage of ICU beds in view of the rising cases.

In a tweet, he said that in view of the Covid situation developing in the city, the number of normal and ICU beds reserved for Covid patients "is being increased in a few hospitals" and this will "improve bed availability".

Kejriwal said that his government was keeping a close watch on the situation and would take all steps necessary. Assuring people that "there is nothing to worry", he, however, asked to take all precautions.

Earlier on Tuesday, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain told media persons that his department will review the surge of Covid-19 cases and the availability of ICU beds, especially for Covid patients.

He, however, contended that these reports of the bed shortage came from just one or two private hospitals and that the situation will be corrected.

As Delhi witnesses another surge in coronavirus infections, several private hospitals and one government hospital in the city were facing a shortage of ICU beds with ventilators, according to the Delhi government's Corona' application.

On Tuesday, the national capital recorded 992 new cases, according to the health bulletin, as against 1,904 cases the previous day. However, the tests conducted in the last 24 hours in Delhi were low in comparison to previous days when around 90,000 samples were being tested in a day.

According to the bulletin, four more people died, taking the toll to 11,016. There were 1,591 recoveries on Tuesday, taking the cumulative number to 642,166, it said.

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Every day, Rani Khan gives lessons at the first transgender-only Islamic religious school in Pakistan. Wearing a long cloth covering over her hair, she teaches from the Muslim holy book, the Quran.

Khan, who is 34 years old, used money she had been saving for years to set up the school.

The Islamic school, or madrasa, is important for the LGBTQ community in the majority Muslim country of Pakistan.

There is no official rule banning transgender people from religious schools or from mosques. But in Pakistan, transgender people face discrimination and rejection.

Most families do not accept transgender people. They throw them out of their homes. Transgender people turn to wrongdoing, Khan told Reuters news agency.

At the school, other transgender people have their heads similarly covered. They sit behind Khan, moving side to side, as they read parts of the Muslim holy book aloud.

Khan explains that, earlier in her life, she had turned to wrongdoing.

At one time, I was also one of them, she said.

Trying not to cry, Khan remembered how she was rejected by her family at 13 years of age. Because of it, she was forced into a life of begging for money.

At age 17, she joined a transgender group, dancing at marriage ceremonies and other events. But she quit the group to connect with her religion. One night, she had a dream about a deceased transgender friend and dancer. In the dream, the friend begged her to do something for the community.

Khan took the dream as a sign and began studying the Quran at home. She also attended religious schools. Then, in October 2020, she opened the two-room madrasa.

Im teaching the Quran to please God, to make my life here and in the afterlife, Khan said. She explained how the madrasa offered a place for transgender people to pray, learn about Islam and make up for past actions.

She said the school has not received financial aid from the government. But some officials have promised to help students find jobs.

The school has received some individual donations. Khan is also teaching her students how to make clothing. She hopes the school can raise money by selling clothes.

In 2018, Pakistans parliament officially recognized the third gender. The change gives transgender individuals the ability to vote and choose their gender on official documents.

Still, transgender people are considered outsiders in the country. They often have no means of survival except begging, dancing and prostitution.

The madrasa could help transgender people move closer to acceptance in Pakistani society, said Hamza Shafqaat. He is a lead government official in Islamabad, the capital city.

Shafqaat told Reuters he is hopeful that if you copy this school model in other cities, things will improve.

A religious school for transgender Muslims has also opened in Dhaka, the capital of nearby Bangladesh. And last year a Christian transgender group started its own church in Pakistans busy southern city of Karachi.

Pakistans 2017 census recorded about 10,000 transgender people. But transgender rights groups say the number could now be well over 300,000 in the country of 220 million people.

It gives my heart peace when I read the Quran, said Simran Khan, a student at Rani Khans school. Simran also really wants to learn life skills.

It is much better than a life full of insults, the 19-year-old added.

Im Alice Bryant.



Reuters news agency reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

Quiz - Transgender Islamic School in Pakistan Breaks Barriers Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

transgender adj. of or relating to people who feel that their true nature does not match their sex at birth

LGBTQ acronym. lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer

mosque n. a building that is used for Muslim religious services



beg v. to ask people for money or food

deceased adj. no longer living; dead

prostitution n. the work of having sex for money

census n. the official counting of people in a country or area
The leaders of the state Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday grilled the secretary for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development about salaries in his agency.

Sens. Bodi White, R-Central, chairman of the panel, and Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, vice-chair, raised the issue as part of the committee's review of Gov. John Bel Edwards' proposed $36 billion operating budget for the financial year that begins July 1.

Administrative costs have long been a focal point of DOTD critics amid the agency's $14.8 billion backlog of road and bridge needs.

DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson, under questioning by White, said the average salary at DOTD is about $52,000 per year.

White noted that planned spending for salaries starting July 1  $239 million  would be $17 million more than the agency spent on pay for the financial year that ended June 30, 2020. DOTD has about 4,200 employees.

The governor's recommended budget totals $656 million, which would be a 3% hike over current spending.

Cloud later focused on the number of engineers at DOTD and their salaries.

Wilson said the agency has about 400 engineers and they are paid between $80,000 and $130,000 per year. "That same engineer can go out and make 20% more in the private sector," Wilson said.

He said DOTD typically has 10-15 vacancies in the ranks of engineers, in part because of competition with salaries in the private sector.

Cloud questioned whether a $17 million hike in salaries over three years is sustainable in the state budget.

However, other DOTD officials questioned whether the increase will total $17 million because they said the agency does not typically spend the total amount recommended, including for salaries.

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Wilson is paid about $191,000 per year.

White also said DOTD typically overpromises and under delivers.

Wilson disputed that characterization.

"Our needs are probably the better place to show what we are not able to do," he said, a reference to the $14.8 billion backlog. "That to me is a more compelling figure."

DOTD chief skeptical for any gas tax hike in 2021 Louisiana's transportation chief Monday stopped just short of dismissing chances for a gas tax hike in 2021 that is being pushed by industry groups.

Motorists pay 38.4 cents per gallon in Louisiana, including 20 cents in state charges. The overall U.S. average is 55.23 cents per gallon, according to figures compiled by the Senate.

State Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, last week said he was dropping plans to push a bill that would boost the gas tax by 10 cents per gallon initially  about $300 million per year  and 22 cents per gallon eventually, $660 million annually.

McFarland noted that roads and bridges could benefit from the $3.2 billion for state services Louisiana is getting from the $1.9 trillion federal stimulus bill.

Wilson helped lead a push in 2017 that would have increased the gas tax by 17 cents per gallon  $510 million annually  but it died in the Legislature.

+3 Interstate 10 expansion clears hurdle; College Drive exit revamp to start before summer The state has cleared a key hurdle for the widening of Interstate 10 between La. 415 and the I-10/12 split, Louisiana transportation chief Sha

He said DOTD has done "pretty darn good given the limited resources" in the past five years.
It's lonely on the high seas, and even lonelier if your vessel is stuck in the Suez Canal.

Last week the container ship Ever Given became wedged in the busy trade route connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea after heavy winds caused it to veer into the eastern bank. So Danielle Baskin, the SF-based artist behind the Dial Up voice call app and that viral Blue Check House prank, decided to do those seafaring singles a solid by creating a (fake) dating app called Forever Given.

First, you select your profession from a drop-down list which ranges from crude oil captain to deckhand, then you choose what type of nautical professional you're looking to meet (shoot for the stars with a container ship official or just settle for an ordinary seaman).

"If youre looking for love, want to start dating, or just keep it casual, you need to be on Forever Given," the website's text reads. "There's tons  literally millions of tons  of cargo ships and tankers stuck at sea for at least the next 72 hours with people of all backgrounds and experiences looking to make memories, connections, and everything in between."

You can also enter the name of your vessel, 1,400 of which Baskin has logged in a spreadsheet. For trade geeks, the site features an interactive widget that shows the names, positions and ports of origins for the real vessels that are actually currently in the canal. Visitors to the site can leave (fake) testimonials about their Forever Given success stories, which will be published on the site in a few days.

At the bottom of the site, Baskin reveals that it is indeed a joke, but also muses that it's probably pretty isolating traveling on a cargo ship and suggests that maybe the different crews should hang out.
Boris Johnson during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London - UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

The Government does not use the term BAME because it fails to include people from white minority and mixed ethnic backgrounds, Downing Street has said.

Number 10 on Monday appeared to give its backing to calls for the term, an acronym for black, Asian and minority ethnic, to be dropped by public bodies as it fails to account for certain groups.

It comes after The Telegraph revealed that the racial disparities commission set up by Boris Johnson last year had recommended scrapping the label because it had become unhelpful and redundant.

The body, set up by Mr Johnson last July in the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter protests, is concerned that the catch-all term fails to differentiate between the experiences of Britains numerous ethnic groups.

Another is that companies increasing the number of BAME staff they hire then feel there is no need to tackle other systemic racial problems.

It is one of the key proposals the commission is due to recommend in its report, which will be received by the Prime Minister this week.

Asked about the report, the Prime Ministers spokesperson told reporters: The Government doesn't routinely use the term BAME because they're not well understood in user research and because they include some groups and not others, for example the UK's ethnic minorities include white minorities and people with a mixed ethnic background.

Similarly, we do not use people of colour as it doesn't include white minorities. Our aim is to look and tackle inequalities and disparities wherever they are seen, that's what we are doing through the levelling-up agenda.

His comments were echoed by Nigel Huddlestone, a culture minister, who told LBC that the Government had to be sensitive to treat people as individuals and sometimes categorisations can be challenging or indeed offensive even if they're not intended to be so.

According to the Government's own list of ethnic groups, people under the category of white include English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British, as well as Irish, Gypsy or Irish Traveller and any other white background.

Story continues

Those in the category of mixed ethnic groups include White and Black Caribbean, White and Black African, White and Asian and any other mixed multiple ethnic background.

A total of 18 ethnic groups are recommended for use by the Government, which are grouped into five different umbrella categories.

David Lammy, the shadow justice secretary, also appeared to give Labours backing to the proposal, arguing that there were vast differences across and within ethnic minority groups here in the UK.

Describing the term as a jargon phrase, he told Sky News: I think there is a call to move away from it. The question is: what do you replace it with? We will have to wait and see what the Government comes forward with, with this new commission.

A commission that many people felt wasnt needed frankly, but theyve had a long time to look at it. Lets see what they are saying it should be replaced with.

The commission was created after the scale of racism in Western societies became a point of intense discussion after the death of George Floyd, an African-American, in the USA after he was pinned to the ground with the knee of a white police officer on his neck.

The commission reviewed the causes of disparity in four areas deemed a priority  education, employment, police and criminal justice and health.

It is becoming increasingly clear that part of the global left's master plan to institute absolute control over the world's population is to mandate its still experimental vaccines for all of us even though COVID is a very treatable disease from which nearly 98.5% of those afflicted recover. Given that fact, there are many millions of people who will not willingly submit to any medically intrusive procedure without doing their own research.

Those who are resisting turning their bodies over to an insufficiently tested group of vaccines that are not only experimental, but the very first of their kind, mRNA messenger vaccines, are not going to get the jab just because the government says they must. Those of us old enough to remember some of the most egregious "scientific" experiments on people (Tuskeegee, LSD, e.g.) are not going to be guinea pigs for the global reset crowd, especially since the man who fancies himself a deity, Bill Gates, is involved. The vaccine programs with which he has been involved spread polio across Africa. Not rich enough, Gates stands to become vastly more wealthy because he stands to profit from the sales of nearly each of the vaccines now available. His empire must be dismantled.

The too often dire consequences of these largely untested vaccines have already killed nearly four thousand people and injured 162,610 others, and those are not the most recent numbers. Alex Berenson has been studying the numbers for over a year and believes that the vaccine deaths are much greater in number. His Twitter account is chock full of up-to-date information. For example, Berenson writes that the COVID vaccines are 500x more lethal than any seasonal flu shot. There is a blog, the COVID Blog, that is devoted entirely to information about unfortunate outcomes and various treatments. Watch this video in which Dr. Sherri Tenpenny explains how these vaccines interfere with our bodies' own immune system.

Given the fact that COVID is treatable but for extreme co-morbidities such as obesity, lung disease, and diabetes, the government's drive to force us all to be vaccinated is not only mysterious, but downright insidious. What the hell is driving the Biden administration's plan to require all citizens to obtain "vaccine passports" to be allowed to attend large events, perhaps even to engage in commerce? Why on Earth is Florida's Governor DeSantis the only governor or member of Congress or the media to cry foul at the mere hint that free people be forced to yield to a medical intrusion they oppose? Should not every member of Congress who has taken the oath to uphold the Constitution be outraged at the mere suggestion of forced vaccination? But they are all sitting on their hands  all except Ron DeSantis.

Clearly, mask tyranny is morphing into vaccine tyranny. Ron Paul wrote about this a week ago in his column "Want a Job? Get a Shot." There is a series streaming on Amazon right now, Utopia, that has, as part of its plot line, a vaccine that, unknown to those who want it to protect them from disease, actually was designed to prevent reproduction for three generations! That would be Bill Gates's dream come true.

America's Frontline Doctors is an organization that has been fighting to inform the public since the beginning of the COVID scare, but, predictably, they are censored at nearly every turn. One of them, Dr. Pam Shervanick, wrote the other day about how her rooster Earl is "more of an expert than Dr. Fauci." Gary Barnett began his column "Lies, Damned Lies, Statistics and Murder: The Real Nature of Government" with a quote by H.L. Menken:

People do not expect to find chastity in a whorehouse. Why, then, do they expect to find honesty and humanity in government, a congeries of institutions whose modus operandi consists of lying, cheating, stealing, and if need be, murdering those who resist?

Why indeed? Read the whole thing.

The American people, along with the world population, has been slowly and calculatingly hypnotized over the past year. The severity of COVID was hugely exaggerated. The lockdowns and mask mandates were never necessary. Those most vulnerable, the elderly and those with the known co-morbidities, should have been quarantined, should have been given hydroxychloroquine and/or ivermectin, and life for the rest of the population should have gone on unimpeded as it did with SARS2 and every other flu season that typically kills many thousands of vulnerable persons.

But the globalists like Gates had a different plan in mind, one that had been marinating for many years. How does a cabal of global elites get a world population to surrender to their grand master plan? With fear. They are only slightly more imaginative than Stalin, Hitler, and Mao because they have digital media to exploit, and exploit they do.

President Trump did a miraculous thing in bringing vaccines to the fore. He likely had no idea that the powers that be at the WHO and the CDC, Fauci the patent man, that the WHO that is run entirely by the CCP, and Peter Daszak, the chief of disinformation, had been trying to bring an mRNA vaccine to market for nearly twenty years.

Fauci authorized the gain-of-function research that likely created this particular version of COVID at the lab in Wuhan. Was it released on purpose as a bioweapon, or did it escape accidently? That is anyone's guess. Trump, in the mistaken belief that Fauci was a well-meaning expert and not the despicable little creep he actually is, kept him on too long. Same with Dr. Birx, the scarf lady. Both of them now blame Trump for doing everything they advised him to do but for the travel ban that Fauci passionately opposed and Trump stood firm.

Like far too many of those in power, they are pompous and petty little bullies. Trump, if he were in office, would never stand for a vaccine mandate. He has too much love of the liberty and individual freedoms the Founders guaranteed.

If the Biden administration, in cahoots with corporations, tries to implement a mandated vaccine passport, there will be hell to pay for Americans, however subdued by the fear of a minimally lethal flu, will not accept forced vaccination imposed upon them as if living in Hitler's Germany or Mao's China. Sure, the scaredy-cats among us who have so willingly offered up their bodies for an experiment to the government's delight, but they too will at some point wake up to what is happening.

On Sunday last, Mark Levin read this quote at the beginning of his Life, Liberty & Levin program:

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would estrange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.

All Americans would be wise to consider Tom Paine's words, which George Washington read to his troops at the lowest moment in the Revolutionary War. The left, the fast and furious pace at which the Biden administration is destroying this country  open borders, illegal migrants valued over citizens, ending the energy independence Trump brought about, abrogating the Middle East peace. Biden is undoing it all and at the same time fear-mongering COVID, mandating masks and vaccines. There is something very, very wrong with this picture. If the Republicans in Congress fail to fight forced vaccines, then we are lost.

Graphic credit: Pixabay.
MTN has announced that it has secured a contract with National Treasury to provide mobile communications services to government.

All entities of the state will be able to use the contract, known as RT15-2021, for mobile communication services.

The scale of the governments requirements has allowed MTN to develop industry-leading systems and innovative pricing and products that will not only add value to the state but will also significantly improve on existing mobile telecommunications service delivery, MTN stated.

MTN said that the contract will assist with cost containment, and allow a high degree of control on spending by the individual entities.

MTN South Africa CEO Godfrey Motsa said that the operator was both humbled and honoured by the faith National Treasury had shown in MTN with this critical partnership over a five-year term.

A huge team at MTN spent months analysing the states requirements and then developing the very best solutions to not only meet those expectations, but to exceed them, Motsa said.

We were delighted with the very positive reaction from the RT15-2021 bid committee to our service offerings and we are so proud that a company that is South African to its very core, will be delivering to our entities of state.

MTN stated that independent tests in recent years had consistently shown the operator to unequivocally hold the Best Network in South Africa title.

It added the reach and quality of its network had been an important contributor to the awarding of the contract, but said more can be achieved for the people of South Africa.

MTN South Africa Chief Enterprise Officer Wanda Matandela said the scale and scope of RT15 made it both critical and fascinating.

In addition to mobile devices, accessories and value-added services, there are vital operations that must be maintained, such as air operations, the needs of the special task force, sea, rail, satellite and other critical functions, Matandela stated.

MTNs contract with government will run until the end of March 2026.

Previous contract

National Treasury initially put out a tender for the contract in October 2020.

Requirements for bidders included that a mobile communications service provider be able to offer government employees uncapped data with no fair usage policy, at a cost of no more than R500 per user.

In addition, the providers network must have a minimum of 80% population coverage at the start of the contract.

The contract will succeed a previous agreement government had negotiated with Vodacom which will expire at the end of March 2021.

Under this agreement, which started in September 2016, Vodacom was governments exclusive mobile services provider.

Now read: OPPO and MTN partner to bring new smartphones to South Africa
Vietnam has set a goal of building and maintaining a national water resource monitoring system and another system to forecast flooding, drought, saltwater intrusion and rising sea water level by 2030.

Phu Ninh clean water plant in Bac Ninh. (Photo: VNA)



It was set in the master plan on basic investigation on water resources till 2030 with a vision to 2050, which has recently been approved by the Government.



As part of the planning, Vietnam will also put into operation a system to monitor and coordinate the operation of all reservoirs in 11 river basins, and another monitoring the exploitation and use of water and discharge of wastewater into water resources.



By 2030, Vietnam will strive to complete investigation and assessment of underground water resources; seek and discover underground water sources; zone off and announce areas where exploitation of underground water is restricted nationwide; review the pollution, degradation and depletion and salinisation of water resources; and forecast the impacts of climate change on water resource.



The planning also comprises the building of mechanisms to manage and allocate capital to basic investigations on water resources, and the research and application of selected modern technical tools for investigations. It will also propose mechanisms to encourage individuals and organisations to provide public services in the field under public-private partnership model.

VNA

Time to ensure security of water sources, safety of dams and lakes: experts Vietnam has recorded outstanding socio-economic development and has been lauded for it by the international community, but along with progress, the country is facing challenges with water management and security, an official has said.
David Cameron was facing fresh questions about his closeness to a controversial businessman last night as it emerged the Australian financier once had his own Downing Street business card.

Lex Greensill was described as a senior adviser in the Prime Ministers Office on the card, which was obtained by Labour.

He had a No 10 email address during his three years as a financial adviser to the Cameron government, between 2012 and 2015, and a landline telephone number at Downing Street.

David Cameron (left) is facing further questions about his relationship with controversial Australian businessman Lex Greensill (right) after it emerged he had a No 10 email and landline during his time as a 'senior adviser' to Mr Cameron's government between 2012 and 2015

Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said: This raises further serious questions about the special access Lex Greensill was granted to the heart of government. The public have a right to know what happened here.

In 2016, two years after Mr Cameron quit as prime minister, the roles were reversed as he was appointed as a senior adviser to Mr Greensills company Greensill Capital.

It came amid claims that Mr Cameron and Mr Greensill went on a desert camping trip with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia  who is accused of approving the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi  early last year.

The desert trip by Mr Greensill and also allegedly by his senior adviser Mr Cameron are believed to have been part of a bid to win a lucrative contract with state-run oil firm Saudi Aramco, the worlds most profitable company, The Financial Times reported.

Pictured: Labour party has been handed what it claims to be a business card for Lex Greensill showing he had a No 10 email address and landline while advising the Prime Minister's Office

It comes after the Daily Mail told how Mr Cameron had previously given the headline speech at a Saudi summit known as Davos in the Desert in October 2019.

Mr Cameron went on to lobby ministers, civil servants and the Bank of England in a failed bid to get Greensill Capital access to the biggest taxpayer-funded Covid loan fund.

His stake in the company could have been worth tens of millions of pounds, but the specialist lender collapsed into administration this month, putting thousands of British steel jobs at risk.

Labour is pressing Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to probe the access Mr Greensill and Mr Cameron had to the top levels of Government and Whitehall.

Leader Sir Keir Starmer said: Whats happening with Greensill gets murkier by the day.

However, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News yesterday: As far as I know, David Cameron did absolutely nothing wrong. Mr Camerons spokesman has declined repeated requests to comment.

It came as Mr Kwarteng said the Government could bail out Liberty Steel jobs and plants  but not owner Sanjeev Guptas firm, GFG, which employs 5,000 people in Britain. About 3,000 of these work at Liberty.

GFG has been battling to stay afloat since Greensill Capital went into administration.

Mr Kwarteng said all options were on the table to save jobs and 11 Liberty factories. They could include nationalising the struggling steel maker.
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OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- The Ocean Springs Fire Departments newest member cant climb a ladder, can only chew on a hose, not hold one, and sometimes urinates on the floor.

Meet Axe -- a 7-week-old, champagne-colored Labrador Retriever, purchased little more than a week ago from a breeder in Louisiana.

Ocean Springs Fire Chief Derek McCoy said he was approached by some of the firefighters about getting a dog for the department shortly after McCoy took over as chief in 2019. At the time, however, McCoy saw more pressing issues to be addressed than getting a dog.

But about two months ago, I was scrolling Facebook and came across an article on the Charlotte Fire Department and their dog and it piqued my interest, McCoy said. I read the article and I guess the Facebook algorithm kicked in, because next thing you know articles about dogs kept popping up.

McCoy said he began researching the idea and read some studies, including one by UCLA which discussed in detail the benefits dogs can have on first responders themselves and the communities they serve.

I brought it up with our firefighters and was talked about it at length, McCoy said. One of the main things we discussed was that this isnt like buying a new tool and hanging in on a truck. This is a commitment. This is something they would have to care for -- feed it, water it, take it out.

To measure his firefighters level of commitment, McCoy asked for donations to the firefighters association fund to help pay for a puppy and to buy supplies. The response was overwhelming.

The firemen were just immediately excited and on board, McCoy said. Ive never seen a group of guys and ladies that excited in a long time about something. Its been a really good deal. The City has been very supportive, as well. They were as excited as anybody for us to get him.

Unlike police K9 dogs which go home each day with their handler, Axe will spend his life at the main Ocean Springs Fire Station at the public safety complex on U.S. 90. Every firefighter is involved in his care.

As bad as my kids want me to bring him home, he stays here, McCoy said. That was part of the deal. We wrote up some guidelines on feeding him, taking him out, all of that so everyone would be on the same page every day and hed have a routine to get used to.

McCoys kids arent the only ones clamoring to see Axe.

Weve had a lot of requests from the public to come by and see him, McCoy said. Once he gets a little older, well be able to take him out.

Because Axe is a puppy and will grow up in the station, hell become accustomed to the sights, sounds and commotion of the station. McCoy emphasized they acquired Axe primarily for the benefit of the firefighters, but once hes old enough, Axe will become an asset when the OSFD makes public appearances.

Thats one of the goals, to get him certified as a therapy dog, he said. Its not a service dog certification, but a certification that says hes passed a series of tests to indicate hes good with children, the elderly. But thats something we want to do  take him to schools when we go, nursing homes, different events. Thats our plan.

It doesnt hurt, McCoy acknowledged, having the City-owned dog park just a few hundred feet away, although he said theyve been advised to keep Axe at the station until hes had all of his shots. He was scheduled for his first veterinary visit on Tuesday.
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CGTN to release its last documentary on fighting terrorism in Xinjiang

CGTN) 13:16, March 30, 2021

On April 2, CGTN will present a special documentary on fighting terrorism in Xinjiang.

With unprecedented transparency, "The War in the Shadows" is a 60-minute film revealing the reasons behind Xinjiang's terrorism from inside of the region.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Liang Jun)
Patna, March 30 : Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav said that massive corruption and loot is taking place in several departments of Bihar government and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is directly responsible for it.

Referring to a CAG report, Tejashwi said that different departments of Bihar government have not submitted utility certificates, to analyse the expenses in various sectors, from last 8-10 years. "There are 56 per cent posts in education and 70 per cent posts in non education sectors are vacant. Only 50 per cent fund is being spent by the departments while the remaining is going into the pockets of corrupt officials and public representatives of the ruling parties," he added.

"The CM claims that all works of the Bihar government are executed in a transparent manner. If it is true then why different departments have not submitted the utility certificates to the government from last 8-10 years. What is the reason for the delay?" Tejashwi said.

"The CAG has found a huge difference between expected and actual budget of different departments. CM Nitish Kumar should read the CAG reports of last 10 years," he said.

"It seems that Nitish Kumar has lost moral values. Being a Chief Minister is allowing the leaders of the ruling parties to loot the money of the taxpayers," he added.
Civics Bill Would Devote $6 Billion to Woke Education, Critics Say

News Analysis

A radical piece of legislation that sponsors say will supercharge civics education by devoting $6 billion to the lefts pet projects will, according to critic Stanley Kurtz, actually supercharge the culture war by injecting it into the heart of federal education policy.

The Biden administration is firmly behind this effort to further entrench what critics say is an ahistorical, politically slanted interpretation of American history and civics into the nations classrooms, where, in many cases, the writings of communist scholar Howard Zinn, along with dubious revisionist material provided by the 1619 Project and the Southern Poverty Law Center, are taught as objective truth.

Mary Grabar, resident fellow at the Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization and the author most recently of Debunking the 1619 Project, sees the measure as a frightening culmination of what Ive been observing for the last two decades.

Now the power-hungry educrats have the federal government on their side.

In Executive Order 13985, President Joe Bidens first executive order, he rescinded President Donald Trumps Executive Order 13950, which banned the Marxist-invented critical race theory in federal training, and Trumps Executive Order 13958, which created the 1776 Commission that sought to move U.S. education away from a radical curriculum that unduly emphasized race-related injustices of the past.

The 1776 Commissions final report described critical race theory as a variation of critical theory applied to the American context that stresses racial divisions and sees society in terms of minority racial groups oppressed by the white majority.

Equally significant to its intellectual content is the role Critical Race Theory plays in promoting fundamental social transformation, it states, to impart an oppressor-victim narrative upon generations of Americans. This work of cultural revolution has been going on for decades, and its first political reverberations can be seen in 1960s America.

Federal Grants

The proposed Civics Secures Democracy Act, introduced in Congress on March 11, involves handing out $1 billion per year in federal grants over six years for K12 curriculum development, teacher training, and research on the teaching of history and civics. Some of the money will go toward encouraging and supporting student political activism.

The education bureaucrats who will be in charge of disbursing the money are overwhelmingly left-wingers, and the recipients are likely to be of the same ideological stripe, conservative critics say.

The legislation, known in a previous iteration as the proposed Educating for Democracy Act, was introduced in the House as HR 1814 by Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), and Tom Cole (R-Okla.). The Senate version of the bill was introduced by Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas).

DeLauros congressional website describes the measure as a bipartisan bill that creates grants for states and districts to support and expand access to American history and civics to meet the needs of todays students and our constitutional democracy.

The bill would provide resources to nonprofit organizations that have developed, or are developing, programs in civic education that incorporate practices that are proven to be effective in engaging students, and to assist in making such curricula and programs more widely available to schools and students, particularly in rural and inner-city urban areas that have traditionally been underserved by civic learning programs, according to its text.

The events of recent weeks have illustrated how fragile the democratic process is. We need to help train young people to appreciate how our democracy works, said Blumenauer, referring to the security breach during the congressional certification of the presidential election at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and its aftermath.

This effort has never been more important, and our legislation is an opportunity for the federal government to place money behind efforts to supercharge civics education.

DeLauro, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, added: Over the last several decades, civics education in American schools has seen a significant decline.

The divide in this country continues to grow as we neglect civics education and fail to build a nation adequately informed of our democratic principles, norms, and institutions. Now, more than ever, it is important that we work together, across the aisle to invest in our young leadersto secure our democracy for future generations. This legislation does just that.

Critics Respond

Critics disagree.

The money disbursed under the legislation 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, according to Kurtz, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

Action civics refers to K12 and college students being required to protest and lobby for political causes for course credit.

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 at National Review.

Civic engagement is, one, a subsidy for people who are radical activists, who teach this, and two, a way to groom a new generation to be nothing but these radical activists, said David Randall, research director for the National Association of Scholars (NAS).

The group recently started a new project called The Civics Alliance that aspires to unite Americans in an effort to promote authentic civics education that teaches the nations founding principles and documents, key events of American history, the structure of our self-governing federal republic, and the spirit of liberty and tolerance, as The Epoch Times previously reported.

Underwritten by federal grants, the left-wing activists want to promote activities outside the classroom, usually with a nonprofit organization, and what this does is it gets rids of actual education in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Randall told The Epoch Times in an interview.

This civics education is part of a broader ideological assault on the American republic, he said.

They want to substitute collective action overwhelmingly for radical progressive causes  habituating students to being organized and learning how to organize. Its vocational training for left-wing activism.

The legislation is generally meant to be a tool of radical activism, Randall said.

There are a number of people who support it without realizing what it involves, and a number of people who are trying to make it be better than what itd become, but they are, unfortunately, I think, far too weak as a portion of the coalition and cannot practically prevent it from becoming a tool of radical activism, he said.

Its not until you look in the footnotes that you see it includes action civics.

A bill putatively open to progressive and conservative civics, will, because they have action civics as one of the bureaucratic prerequisites to apply for a grant, be overwhelmingly steered to radical civics organizations.

Conservative organizations that decide to support the Civics Secures Democracy Act because they think they might actually receive federal money will be terribly disappointed. The way the bureaucratic hoops are being set up means conservative and even moderate groups will likely be shut out of the grants process, Randall said.

Pete Hutchison, president of Landmark Legal Foundation, told The Epoch Times that the legislation, rife with action civics as it is, is a bad idea.

These Alinskyite proposals seek to normalize in children radical leftist political activism disguised as public service. Patterned after the environmental movements co-opting of children in the 1970s, we face both the bogus critical race theory and phony civic action programs that are fundamental challenges to our very way of life.
WYNCOTE, Pa., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ShanPaulo (https://shanpaulo.com/) officially announced the launch of a new website to feature its handcrafted purses and handbags after a recent increase in sales. Offering vibrant colors and lushly rich designs crafted from reclaimed wood, each ShanPaulo handbag is a fully functional, unique work of sustainable art designed to last for many years. The co-founders of ShanPaulo believe that giving back to the environment is more than just a popular sentiment: it is a firm dedication. As a Green Business Bureau certified seller, ShanPaulo donates fully 1% of its revenue to support One Tree Planted and Global Green. The ShanPaulo collection is available for purchase online.

Product

ShanPaulo co-founder Shannon DeOliveira spoke about the emotional genesis of her dynamic, woman-centered company:

"As a domestic violence survivor myself, part of our overarching mission has always involved the empowerment and betterment of women. Years ago, before I had established my career, I was in a very toxic relationship. I felt dependent on a man, though I was working two jobs and in school. Despite all the red flags and warning signs, I stayed, and eventually that relationship turned completely violent  with full physical abuse. I ended up in the emergency room after he attacked both my car and my face, busting my lip and breaking my nose. Thankfully though, that was the end. I was completely done after that and vowed I would never let another man treat me that way again. And as strange as it may sound, that incident made me feel more confident, deserving, and independent. This is one of the many reasons why our brand works to help women feel their best  to exude the confidence that all women have deep inside and deserve. I strongly believe that every woman should feel beautiful, confident, empowered, and independent, because they can accomplish anything they want in their lives. That's one of the most important messages our brand seeks to communicate: The world is in your hands  believe it!"

ShanPaulo co-founder Paulo DeOliveira spoke to the company's overall environmental mission:

"I was born and raised in Brazil, and there are so many wonderful villages and small towns there that make beautiful, handcrafted products  often to support lower income families. Many of these products use reclaimed and repurposed materials out of necessity, but the end results are stunning. It ultimately inspired us to do the same: create amazing products that are sustainable, while also educating others on the importance of this work. Responsible waste management, using segregated and efficiently handled materials, not only helps the environment, it helps us all  by pushing back environmental devastation and allowing the earth time to rebuild and heal itself. The sourcing of materials used in the construction of our purses and handbags also lifts up lower income families."

ShanPaulo continues to expand on its commitment to helping woman and is currently working on non-profit partnerships that help fight the violence and exploitation of women. For the latest information on ShanPaulo's non-profit work, or for handbag styling and fashion tips, follow ShanPaulo on social media: Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram.

About ShanPaulo

A woman-owned business, ShanPaulo is a luxury maker of one-of-a-kind, handcrafted handbags and purses that embody the values and style of those who use them. Unique, original, gorgeous, and fully designed to give back to the environment, ShanPaulo handbags purposely align with a higher goal. By fostering relationships with global sustainability non-profits, ShanPaulo allows customers to indulge in their high-fashion pursuits, while still giving back to the earth in a big way. Learn more at: www.ShanPaulo.com.

Media Contact:

Shannon DeOliveira, Co-Founder/COO

+1 (215) 970-4453

[email protected]

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Barrett Bookstore, and the Darien Community Association are welcoming Walter Isaacson, a bestselling author, for a conversation with Wendy Kopp, the CEO, and cofounder of Teach Teach For All, to discuss Isaacons new book titled: The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race, April 7, at 7 p.m. on Crowdcast.

Bestselling author Walter Isaacson has established himself as the biographer of creativity, innovation, and genius.

The genius at the center of his newest book, The Code Breaker, is American biochemist Jennifer Doudna, who is considered one of the prime inventors of CRISPR, a system that can edit DNA. Doudnas story begins when she was a sixth-grader in Hilo, Hawaii, and she came home from school one afternoon to find a book on her bed.

It was The Double Helix, James Watsons account of how he and Francis Crick had discovered the structure of DNA, the spiral-staircase molecule that carries the genetic instruction code for all forms of life. Doudna put the book aside, thinking it was a detective tale. When she read it, she discovered that she was right, in a way. As she sped through the pages, she became enthralled by the race to put together clues, both in competition and cooperation with other scientists, that culminated in the 1953 discovery of the building block of life. Even though her high school counselor told her girls didnt become scientists, she decided she would.

Driven by a passion to understand how nature works and to turn discoveries into inventions, Doudna would help to make what James Watson told her was the most important biological advance since his co-discovery of the structure of DNA. She and her collaborators turned their curiosity into an invention that would transform the human race: an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA. Known as CRISPR, it opened a brave new world of medical miracles and moral questions. This is a virtual, ticketed event. Ticket includes a copy of the book.

Visit https:// dariendca.org/book-talks-and-signings to register, and to receive the link to the virtual ticketed conversation event. A ticket includes a copy of the book.
She was just two years old. And her death this weekend after days fighting for her life puts a harrowingly human face on the migrant crisis in the Canary Islands.

She was just two years old and she was from Mali. And her death this weekend after days fighting for her life puts a harrowingly human face on the migrant crisis in the Canary Islands.

She was brought to Arguineguin port on Gran Canaria island last Tuesday after Spain's Salvamento Maritimo coastguard rescued a boat carrying 52 people, among them her mother and older sister, who had spent days at sea surviving on seawater.

All but dead, two Red Cross medics worked furiously to revive the toddler on the harbour floor, their desperate rescue efforts ultimately successful in a series of poignant images that made headlines in Spain and beyond.

Still in critical condition suffering from severe hypothermia, she spent five days in intensive care at one of the island's hospitals, but died on Sunday.

She was the 19th person known to have died this year while attempting the treacherous sea voyage from the coast of Africa, a route which is attracting soaring numbers of migrants.

Angel Victor Torres, the Canaries' regional head, said her death gave a harrowing glimpse into the plight of those willing to risk life and limb for a better life.

Last year, 23,023 migrants reached the Canary Islands /  AFP/File

The toddler "is the face of the humanitarian tragedy of immigration," he wrote on Twitter of the girl whose name is unclear.

"She sought a better life, she was two. Rest in peace."

Thanking all those who "fought to the end to save her life", Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the child's death was "a wake-up call for everyone".

"There are no words to describe so much heartache," he tweeted.

- 'Someone's daughter' -

Juan Miguel Vela, one of the two medics who helped resuscitate the toddler at the port, said many of those on board the boat were "in a really bad way".

The Atlantic route is notoriously dangerous due to extremely strong currents, with vessels typically overcrowded and in very poor condition, with 1,851 people dying en route in 2020 /  AFP/File

"It was a traumatic situation because if she hadn't responded at that moment, we would have had to leave her and help the others," he told El Dia local newspaper last week.

"It's insane you have to reach such an extreme situation to appreciate a reality that we are seeing every single day."

At its closest, the African coast lies some 100 kilometres (60 miles) away by sea.

But those on board told rescuers they had come from Dakhla, a port in Western Sahara some 450 kilometres to the south, and had been at sea for four or five days, local media reported.

The Atlantic route is notoriously dangerous due to extremely strong currents, with vessels typically overcrowded and in very poor condition.

At least 1,851 people died en route in 2020, according to Caminando Fronteras, which monitors migrant flows.

"Although it's the route with the highest mortality rate, it is becoming increasingly busy: people are taking the risk because of the increased patrols along the Mediterranean routes," the NGO says.

Many are braving the dangerous crossing in search of a better life.

The toddler was "someone's daughter, someone who surely hoped to give her a safe, meaningful life", said Judith Sunderland, acting deputy director for Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch.

"How many senseless deaths could we avoid with humane policies?" she added.

- Pandemic spurring 'flight effect' -

Rights groups believe the situation is worsening as a direct result of the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic.

"If at first the pandemic slowed migratory flows, it has ultimately spurred the flight effect," says Spain's APDHA rights association in a report released Monday.

Canary Islands /  AFP

"Workers in tourism, fishing or other casual jobs have been left without resources and are choosing to cross the Atlantic themselves or helping others cross with their boats."

The influx has echoes of the so-called "canoe crisis" of 2006 when 30,000 migrants reached the archipelago.

Last year, 23,023 migrants reached the archipelago, a figure eight times higher than in 2019, causing chaos at Arguineguin port where thousands were forced to sleep in appalling conditions deplored by rights groups, politicians and legal officials.

But this year, the numbers are twice as high, with 2,580 migrants reaching the islands between January 1 and March 15, up from 1,219 in 2019, official figures show.

To address the crisis, Spain began building encampments to house 7,000 people and also stepped up diplomatic efforts in various African nations to curb the arrivals at source while reviving repatriation efforts in efforts denounced by the APDHA.

"Trying to stop (migrant arrivals) through repression, increased military patrols and criminalisation, as the EU and this government has repeatedly tried to do, is an objective which is doomed to failure," the NGO said.
In a cotton-producing village in Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, large-scale machines operate at full capacity to seize the harvest season on September 28, 2020. The total cotton plantation area in Xinjiang reached 24.19 million mu (1.6 million hectares) and around 16.90 million mu were harvested by machines in 2020, accounting for 70 percent of the plantation area. Photo: VCG

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Sunday that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in an interview that the UN is holding "serious negotiations" with China about granting UN human rights high commissioners access to Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region "without restrictions or limitations."

It is hoped that the visit "without restrictions or limitations," mentioned by Guterres, is a normal international visit rather than a visit for the so-called freedom of investigation with the presumption of guilt required by the US and Europe. For the moment, a sharp confrontation on Xinjiang-related issues has been taking shape.

We understand the political difficulties that the UN is being confronted with when intervening in the case. But it is the expectation of the international community that the UN can withstand Western pressure and abide by the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations.

China has always welcomed foreign diplomats and journalists to Xinjiang to carry out relevant reports. Xinjiang has also received many of them. The interaction has improved the outside world's understanding of the real situation in the autonomous region. But some Western countries have formed a severe prejudice toward Xinjiang affairs. They tend to imperiously turn related visits into investigations on the alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang and demand China give the green light to their attempts to infringe on China's sovereignty, which will likely jeopardize Xinjiang's stability. This is something China will never accept.

For example, when the EU planned to send a delegation to Xinjiang, it requested to meet separatist Ilham Tohti, who is serving his prison term. The request shows EU's lack of basic respect for China's sovereignty and was surely rejected by the Chinese side. Some Chinese laughed at the EU's attempt and asked, do they think they still live 120 years ago?

When foreign visitors come to Xinjiang, they can visit various places, walk through villages and alleys, come into contacts with people working on production lines and places of consumption. They will witness both the daily and religious life of Xinjiang people. What is Xinjiang like? Could the answer be possibly concealed in such a wide range of observations? Xinjiang is not a giant film studio and it is impossible to rehearse 25 million people there to perform in front of a few foreigners. The US and European elites should not humiliate the judgment of a normal visiting group.

But we cannot let anyone deeply hostile toward Xinjiang set foot on the land. We no longer believe they have basic political and moral ethics to objectively describe Xinjiang. They have portrayed poverty alleviation efforts as a way of "forced labor." Is it still worth talking to them? The only thing we can do is to confront them until we defeat them.

Today, Xinjiang is neither a hell nor a paradise. It is a place which has just gotten rid of severe terrorism and extremism, and is heading toward peace and prosperity. There are not only achievements, but also some practical problems there. But the general trend is heading for a much better future. People of all ethnic groups are benefitting from the great changes taking place in Xinjiang. This is clear. Anyone who comes to visit without bias will have such cognition.

The big lie that cotton in Xinjiang is produced through "forced labor" does not stand up to the on-site inspections. As up to 75 percent of Xinjiang's cotton is harvested by machine, Xinjiang is quickly becoming one of the most advanced cotton-producing regions in the world. So where is the room for "forced labor?" Does the US smear Xinjiang because its own prosperity was achieved by slave labor and because there are still many forced laborers in the US today?

The accusations the US and Europe have made against Xinjiang can be argued as imaginations and fabrications based on what they themselves have actually done. The difference between socialist China and those countries is like the difference between a gentleman and a villain. Making comparison with those countries is an insult to China.

Anyone who visits Xinjiang will receive unrestricted treatment under international norms, and they will certainly be able to see the real Xinjiang with their own eyes. It is a disgrace for modern Western public opinion to demonize China and fabricate Xinjiang as a place filled with persecution and falsehood. It is hoped that the UN, for its part, will not be influenced by pressure from the West, will hold fast to the common morality of humanity and contribute to providing the world the truth, and clear Xinjiang's name.
My 2-year-old isnt going to wear a mask for 10 hours on a flight, and I dont know if I want to expose him for a 16-hour trip with layovers, Ms. Ayala said. Ill feel more confident when vaccination reaches more people worldwide, or at least in the destinations we want to go.

Nearly one in three adults in the United States have now received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. But a full pediatric Covid-19 vaccine currently isnt expected until the end of 2021 at the earliest, and while they wait, parents are struggling to figure out how they, too, can travel safely this summer, and even where their children are welcome as rules on quarantine and testing continue to shift.

This is the elephant in the room right now, said Cate Caruso, an adviser for Virtuoso, a network of luxury travel agencies, who also owns her own travel planning company, True Places Travel. The potential that a child could become infected with Covid-19 while abroad and not be allowed on a return flight, she said, is a major deterrent for parents. Anywhere you go outside of the U.S. right now, youve got to think about how youre going to get back in, she said. Its leaving behind a whole bunch of people who are ready to go.

In Ms. Ayalas case, a compromise has been struck: If and when Spain  which is currently closed to American travelers  opens its borders, Mr. Cesar will travel to Spain with their daughter, Charlise, while Ms. Ayala will remain in Florida with Oscar. She goes to school and is very good with wearing her mask, cleaning her hands and keeping distance, Ms. Ayala said of her daughter. So I think she can be safe. But its just not possible with a baby.

But she doesnt plan to stay home all summer. Whether or not her husband and daughter make it to Spain, Ms. Ayala is planning a family road trip at some point this summer, likely within Florida.
Australian of the Year Grace Tame has slammed Prime Minister Scott Morrison for appointing a female minister she claims endorsed a 'fake rape crisis tour'.

Senator for Queensland Amanda Stoker, who is considered a rising star in the Liberal Party, was selected as the Assistant Women's Minister this week in the cabinet reshuffle.

Speaking to journalist Kerry O'Brien at a Griffith University event about sexual assault and power relations, Ms Tame blasted the decision, pointing to Ms Stoker's past campaign against changes to consent laws.

'The new Assistant Minister for Women is someone who previously endorsed a "fake rape tour" aimed at falsifying instances of sexual abuse on school and university campuses across Australia,' Ms Tame said on Tuesday.

Australian of the Year Grace Tame has slammed the Prime Minister's decision to appoint Senator Amanda Stoker as the new Assistant Women's Minister during an event on Tuesday night (pictured)

'It goes without saying that this came at an immeasurable cost to already traumatised student survivors.'

Ms Tame also hit out at the Prime Minister, accusing him of 'dismissing her' when she spoke to him at an event in January about the need for a permanent taskforce to tackle sexual abuse.

'He dismissively insisted that such infrastructure already existed and functioned well,' Ms Tame said.

'Two months later, in an attempt to repair his political standing following explosive allegations of sexual assault, discrimination, and misconduct in parliament, he has rearranged his cabinet and created a Taskforce on Women's Equality, Safety, Economic security, Health, and Wellbeing.'

Ms Tame also highlighted how the assistant minister has supported a controversial commentator who expressed sympathy for her abuser in an interview.

In 2017, commentator Bettina Arndt published an interview with the man convicted of raping Ms Tame, suggesting she may have behaved provocatively.

Ms Arndt last year received an Australia Day award for her contribution to gender equity, which was roundly criticised by survivor advocates.

The Senator for Queensland (pictured) supported a 'fake rape crisis tour' which campaigned against changes to consent laws

However, Senator Stoker publicly backed the award.

'The new Assistant Minister also supported last year's Australia Day Honour of a woman [Arndt] who gave a platform to the convicted paedophile who abused me,' Ms Tame said.

'A woman who laughed with the paedophile while they discussed and defended crimes against children.'

Ms Tame said in appointing the senator to the new role, the prime minister was either ignorant of the issues, or understood them and was making calculated moves to perpetuate them.

'If the latter is true, then what we're seeing is further abuse of power, masterfully disguised as progress,' she posted on social media.

'The very same psychological manipulation at the heart of these recently exposed evils.'

However, Ms Stoker said her previous career as a prosecutor and barrister working for justice for women and children who are victims of sexual crimes made her an ideal candidate for the position.

'Ms Tames comments are passionate but not informed and they do not correspond with my longer history of work in this area, of which Ms Tame must be unaware,' Ms Stoker said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.

Ms Tame said the prime minister was either ignorant of the issues, or understood them and was making calculated moves to perpetuate them by appointing Ms Stoker to the new role

'I hope that she and I can work together to advance our many shared goals. I invite Ms Tame to reach out to my office for a meeting, I will endeavour to make contact with Ms Tame to do the same.'

Ms Stoker also denied taking part in the university tour with Ms Arndt.

'I did not attend Ms Arndts campus tour. I raised it in Senate estimates to highlight the universities inconsistent approaches to free speech and deplatforming,' she said.

'Ive argued for the importance of due process in sexual assault cases in the interests of both victims and people accused.'

'I pointed out the hypocrisy of demanding Ms Arndt be stripped of her Australia Day honour while remaining silent about another recipient, Mr Carlton, who advocated for the strangling of my parliamentary colleague, Ms Flint.'

The prime minister's appointment of Senator Stoker has also drawn criticism for several other reasons.

Senator Stoker has accused women from her own side of politics of 'playing the gender card' when they have raised bullying allegations.

Ms Tame (pictured with Kerry O'Brien) also hit out at the Prime Minister for dismissing her calls to launch a permanent taskforce to combat sexual assault, only to do it two months later amid a parliament house scandal

She strongly opposes abortion as well as transgender rights, arguing 'gender isn't something you choose'.

Another woman promoted in Scott Morrison's cabinet reshuffle has also come under fire.

Karen Andrews, who was elevated to home affairs minister after calling for change over the treatment of women in parliament, has been accused of bullying.

She denies the allegations.

The Australian reports the claims have been made by a female senior adviser, who is on stress leave after complaining about the culture in the minister's office.

The woman made an initial written complaint in August and another in March when Ms Andrews was still industry, science and technology minister.

'The manner in which I have been treated is disrespectful, humiliating and demeaning,' the woman wrote.

'This bullying conduct has occurred over the last six to eight months and appears designed to force my departure from my employment.

'However, given I have not done anything wrong, I do not believe I should be forced to leave my job and put myself in a very difficult financial position.'

During the recent turmoil in federal parliament surrounding the treatment of women, Ms Andrews was one of the most prominent ministers to demand change.

Tuesday night's comments were not the first time Ms Tame has criticised the Prime Minister in recent months.

The sexual assault survivor slammed Mr Morrison during her National Press Club address after he said he had discussed allegations former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins had been raped by a male colleague with his wife Jenny.

The nation's leader said he was inspired to tackle parliament's sexual assault crisis after his wife said: 'What would you want to happen if it were our girls?'

Ms Tame responded that you didn't need to be a parent to have the capacity to empathise with sexual assault victims.

She also criticised Mr Morrison's comments in 2019 - when he said he wanted women to have the confidence 'that if they tell their stories they'll be believed'.

When asked by a reporter if she believed his words rang true based on how he has handled the parliamentary scandal, Ms Tame responded: 'Clearly not'.
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The 'sophisticated criminal attack' against the clothing retailer FatFace which put employees' bank details and National Insurance numbers and the personal details of customers at risk was caused by a staff member clicking on a dodgy email, it has been reported.

The chain was forced to pay out a 1.45million ransom to hackers after it was hit by a malware attack in mid-January which locked it out of its systems and harvested 200GB of data, Computer Weekly reported.

Hackers initially asked for $8million, around 5.8million, worth of bitcoin, the website said, but the price was talked down after the 200-store chain argued its sales had slumped by as much as 75 per cent due to the coronavirus pandemic shutting its shops.

Ransomware is a type of malware used to deny companies and individuals access to their systems until a ransom is paid or a task carried out in return for stolen data

The report did not say when the ransom was paid, but the software attack took place on 17 January, the same day FatFace told customers and past and present employees last week it had 'identified some suspicious activity within its IT systems'.

But Computer Weekly said FatFace's network had been compromised a week earlier, when hackers 'entered its network via a phishing attack.'

Ransomware, a type of malware which locks companies and individuals out of their systems until a fee is paid or a quid pro quo carried out, is frequently deployed through phishing emails, according to the National Cyber Security Centre.

'These emails encourage users to open a malicious file or click on a malicious link that hosts the malware.'

Such emails and text messages have been common throughout the coronavirus pandemic with the general public frequently targeted, although these more often seek to harvest personal and financial details which can be used to steal money or commit identity theft.

The NSCS warned only last week that there had been increased number of ransomware attacks against colleges, schools and universities since late February. The same trend occurred last August and September when schools reopened after the country's first lockdown.

In those instances, the NCSC said ransomware had led to the loss of coursework and school financial records. However, the January attack on FatFace appeared to be all about data harvesting.

Ransomware is often delivered through phishing emails which invite recipients to click on a link or download a file

In an email sent out last Tuesday and reported by This is Money, FatFace chief executive Liz Evans told customers and employees their data had been put at risk after an 'unauthorised third party had gained access to certain systems'.

It was initially reported personal details including names and physical and email addresses were put at risk by the attack, but we later learned employees' bank details and National Insurance numbers were accessed in the hack.

FatFace had previously refused to disclose this information publicly, telling This is Money in a statement only that 'some employment related information' had been accessed by third parties.

FatFace - which has more than 200 stores nationwide - told customers and staff about their data and the attack in an email last Tuesday

Recipients of the email notifying them about the ransomware attack, sent more than two months after it took place, were also told to keep the information 'strictly private and confidential'.

The retailer told This is Money it had been 'undertaking a thorough investigation into events with the assistance of numerous third-party experts' and 'wanted to get as much clarity on events and the data concerned before providing those involved with details of what has happened'.

The Information Commissioner's Office, the police and the NCSC have all been notified of the attack, it added.

FatFace confirmed to This is Money that it had been 'unfortunately subject to a ransomware attack which caused significant damage to our infrastructure.'

It didn't deny the ransom pay out.

A spokesperson said: 'This was a sophisticated attack by an attacker who has successfully targeted a significant number of different organisations.

'Thanks to a monumental effort from the FatFace team, alongside external security and legal experts, FatFace was able to quickly contain the incident, restore business operations and then undertake the process of reviewing and categorising the data involved  a significant task which has taken considerable time.

'Our teams have worked tirelessly to minimise disruption to our highly valued customers and fellow employees, and we would like to thank them for their support during this challenging period.

'We have taken various steps to protect our systems from any future reoccurrence.

'Details of the attack and steps taken are part of a criminal investigation so at this stage we are unable to comment any further.

'We recognise that ransomware attacks are an issue which more and more organisations are having to grapple with in the current threat landscape.'
oXya relies on high-availability HPE Superdome Flex servers to support large in-memory processing for mission critical use cases, for its hosting services

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) today announced that oXya, a Hitachi Group company and France's leading SAP-certified provider of cloud services, has selected HPE Superdome Flex servers to power its new cloud architecture. The collaboration with a leading service provider, like oXya, demonstrates how HPE's partner ecosystem plays an important role in meeting HPE's commitment to offer end customers a comprehensive set of best-of-breed, as-a-service solutions wherever they need.

Premier HPE partner, oXya, chose HPE Superdome Flex servers for its unique, modular architecture that is scalable and flexible to quickly adapt to different mission critical needs. HPE Superdome Flex servers are also perfectly suited to power in-memory processing for larger databases, such as SAP HANA cloud applications that are used in a range of industries, including healthcare, financial services, manufacturing and retail. According to Gartner, the SAP HANA market is set to continue to see rapid growth during the next five to 10 years, with HPE leading the way as the leading SAP HANA infrastructure provider1, with the majority being installed with HPE Superdome Flex servers.

An independent provider with over 350 enterprise customers and hundreds of thousands of SAP users globally, oXya helps enterprises increase the efficiency and flexibility of their mission-critical IT systems, running customers' SAP systems and additional systems on a variety of private and public clouds. oXya requires high performance, reliability and strong flexibility, to provide SAP HANA cloud offerings to its customers, whether in shared private or dedicated cloud modes.

In light of accelerating enterprise cloud and related mission-critical business application adoption, oXya turned to HPE to update its IT estate with the integration of 42 HPE Superdome Flex servers. The new HPE-powered solution enables oXya to accelerate SAP HANA deployment, whilst also supporting critical applications and heavy workloads.

"We've built our reputation delivering best-in-class SAP HANA cloud services," said Frederic de Belloy, President from oXya "With trusted, innovative technology from HPE, we continue to have the leading infrastructure, expertise, and scale to best meet our customer needs."

oXya can offer its customers even higher service standards through the HPE Superdome Flex Servers' superior reliability, availability, serviceability, and end-to-end security to the cloud.

"HPE is strongly committed to providing end customers the as-a-service solutions they need," saidAlain Melon, France Managing Director at HPE. "Whether through our own HPE GreenLake services suite or through a market-leading partner, HPE is bringing the right cloud offerings to customers with the right levels of expertise wherever the customer needs."

Major customers, such as France's leading passenger transport and freight logistics company SNCF, rely on oXya's SAP HANA solutions powered by the HPE Superdome Flex platform. In 2019, SNCF carried 15 million passengers daily in France and around the world, making 8.1bn in revenue. oXya and its SAP HANA offering support all of SNCF's billing from a single ticket order on its online booking platform, to the company's accounting, invoicing and financial flows with its subsidiaries and partners, such as travel agents, wholesalers, tour operators and airlines.

"Our goal, as we continue to take a growth in passenger orders and work closely with multiple stakeholders, is to improve the efficiency, safety and security of our infrastructure," says Nicolas Robbe, back-office Director for Traveler Sales from SNCF. "By taking advantage of oXya's SAP HANA cloud solutions on HPE technology, we have built a solid foundation to scale, as we expand to deliver more cost-effective travel."

About Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud platform as-a-service company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. Built on decades of reimagining the future and innovating to advance the way people live and work, HPE delivers unique, open and intelligent technology solutions, with a consistent experience across all clouds and edges, to help customers develop new business models, engage in new ways, and increase operational performance. For more information, visit: www.hpe.com.

About oXya

oXya, a Hitachi Group Company, is a global leader in technical services, managed services, and cloud solutions for SAP clients. oXya designs, migrates and runs mission-critical SAP infrastructure and support operations for hundreds of global enterprises and midsize organizations. Whether customers' SAP and IT systems run on a private, public, or hybrid cloud, oXya experts manage their SAP systems and orchestrate the different clouds and their capabilities to deliver the best SLA/price ratio for the customer. oXya customers enjoy a unique support model, which includes all-inclusive pricing. Along with the commitment and expertise of oXya's consultants, these features lead to an astounding 99% of oXya customers being fully satisfied with oXya services. For more information, visit www.oxya.com.

1 Sourced from Gartner's 'How to Select Your Optimal SAP HANA Systems Vendor' with Fig 1. 2019 SAP HANA Total Systems graph on pg6, June 2019

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005075/en/

Contacts:

Benjamin Lesueur

benjamin.lesueur@hpe.com

0750153442



Isabelle Peillon

ipeillon@oxya.com

0610993563
Like millions of American children, Brody Cotton has not seen the inside of a classroom in more than a year.

As the COVID-19 pandemic left him navigating 7th grade from his couch in Carlsbad, California, Brodys grades dropped from As and Bs to a D and two Fs last semester.

One of the Fs was in a design and modeling elective that would have entailed hands-on 3D printing projects in the classroom but became popsicle stick models at home.

I never had to deal with any kind of educational issue with him before, said his mother Christine Cullinan, 42, a single parent juggling her sons schooling with a full-time job at an electronics company.

Brodys peers also are struggling. The number of Fs received by students in Carlsbad, a small, affluent, mostly white city 30 miles north of San Diego, increased by more than three times during the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year compared to the same period in 2019-2020, according to school district data.

Grades and test performance appear to have declined markedly around the country after school buildings closed - especially among students of color, according to Reuters review of an assortment of early data from multi-state assessments, local media reports, state education departments and 12 individual districts.

Under the guidance of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many districts plan to bring students back to campus full-time next fall, if not sooner. But huge hurdles remain for educators and parents in getting students up to speed.

Escalating numbers of students are failing classes, according to data from some of the nations largest school districts, including Clark County School District in Nevada, which includes Las Vegas, Chicago Public Schools and Broward County Public Schools in Florida, which includes Fort Lauderdale.

Clark County started bringing students back to classrooms this month, while Chicago started in January and Broward has offered in-person learning since October.

In Clark County, the nations fifth largest district, 13% of all grades were Fs in the first semester of the 2020-21 school year compared to 6% the year before.

In Broward County, with 260,000 students, 12% of grades in the second marking period this fall were Fs, up from 6% last school year.

The results of limited statewide standardized testing, which has often been delayed during the pandemic, also are grim.

In North Carolina, more than half of the states high school students who took statewide end-of-course exams in math and biology this fall received a not proficient, according to results presented by the states education board.

Lilliana, who is attending virtual school for remote learning, celebrates the end of the morning session as she gets ready to take a lunch break with her mother Lorraine, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., February 24, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Math scores lagged the most, with 66.4% of students scoring not proficient on the Math 1 exam, typically taken in 9th grade, compared to 48.2% last school year, state data showed.

A December analysis by consulting firm McKinsey & Company of i-Ready test results, which assess math and reading skills for elementary school students in 25 states, estimated that white students were one to three months behind where their learning would have been in math, absent the pandemic. The gap was three to five months for students of color.

Jonathan Plucker, a professor at Johns Hopkins School of Education, said he thinks it will take at least two years to make up for the learning lag.

If we dont find ways to help them start to catch up, these gaps are going to get bigger, he said.

What's in a grade?

Grades can be subjective and dont always reflect comprehension. An F can simply mean a child did not show up to class. But bad marks have caused alarm lately in homes and school districts - in part because they can shake student confidence, delay graduation and limit college prospects.

In Chicago, Temple Payne, 48, quit her job as a school principal in December after watching her daughter Tristyn fall from straight As to a D in her 7th grade math class.

This is devastating to her, Payne said. Now she has an I cant attitude.

In the Chicago district, 14.3% of the more than 172,000 elementary and middle school students received Ds or Fs in math in the second quarter of this school year, a jump of 4.6 percentage points from last school year.

Minority and lower-income families can be harder-pressed to provide a home environment conducive to learning, with a designated work space, consistent internet access and sustained adult oversight.

Less advantaged families also have been disproportionately struck by COVID-19, posing challenges for kids in addition to their studies.

In the Jefferson County Public Schools district in Kentucky, where some in-person learning resumed this month for the first time since March 2020, about 63% of the 96,000 students are on a free or reduced-price lunch program.

The number of failing grades, or unsatisfactories, as the district labels them, more than doubled in the first half of this school year compared to the first half of last.

Lilliana Anderson, 8, was one of Jefferson Countys students on the subsidized lunch program. She was struggling to read and write before the pandemic hit, her mother said.

Last fall, Lorraine Anderson, a 42-year-old former childcare instructor in Louisville, saw her daughters struggles worsen as the first-grader lacked basic computer skills and tuned out of virtual class.

Lilliana, who is attending virtual school for remote learning, struggles to do her reading exercises amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., February 24, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Lorraine opted to teach Lilliana herself this semester, creating a GoFundMe page to raise money for school supplies.

I want to send her back in person, but I want her to be on the level that shes supposed to be on, Anderson said.

I dont want them to open up schools and then throw her back into the second grade.

Emilie Blanton, a high school English teacher in Jefferson County, told Reuters that some of her students have logged into class from McDonalds, the only place they could get broadband access. Some are working two jobs to help their parents.

In Connecticut and some California districts, at least, absenteeism has surged - and disproportionately among students who were hardest hit by the pandemic, according to a February report from Attendance Works, an organization that researches absenteeism.

Our worst fear is that a chunk of those kids have not done any learning and schooling in the last year, said Betheny Gross, associate director at the Center on Reinventing Public Education, a non-partisan research organization.

And the losses for them are going to be really, really steep and the kind that we have not consistently been able to bridge.

'A generational hurdle'

With schools reopening, educators, experts and government officials are casting about for solutions.

The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package signed by President Joe Biden this month provides more than $122 billion to K-12 schools, and funds will be distributed to help the neediest areas. Districts must dedicate 20% of the school funding to mitigating pandemic learning loss.

Legislators in seven states are considering bills that would give parents the option to decide if their child repeats a grade, usually a districts decision.

This is really a bill of last resort, said Florida state Senator Lori Berman, who introduced such a bill after seeing F grades nearly triple in the first grading period in the fall of 2020 versus 2019 in her district.

She said she favors intensive help for kids so they dont have to repeat grades.

In North Carolina, lawmakers are considering legislation that would require school districts to provide at least 150 hours of in-person summer instruction for struggling students.

We will not allow for this pandemic to be a generational hurdle that impacts students long term, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt said in a statement.

Blanton, the Jefferson County, Kentucky teacher, said her priority in the fall will be to meet her students wherever they are on the learning curve.

Im not just going to take a look at these kids and be like, well, this is what I teach every year, hope you guys can catch up, she said.
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Xi calls for China-Burundi joint efforts to safeguard international justice

Xinhua) 08:28, March 30, 2021

BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday that China and Burundi should strengthen unity and cooperation and make joint efforts to safeguard international equity and justice.

In a telephone conversation with Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, Xi suggested the two sides continue to firmly support each other on issues related to their core interests, uphold independence and sovereignty, and oppose foreign interference.

Xi pointed out that China and Burundi have over recent years maintained high-level development of bilateral relations, enjoyed firm political mutual trust, achieved remarkable results in various fields of cooperation, kept close coordination in international affairs, and thus become a model of South-South cooperation.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have supported and helped each other, and further deepened their friendship, Xi noted, adding that China appreciates the Burundian side's adherence to a friendly policy towards China.

Xi stressed that China is willing to work with Burundi to enhance political and inter-party communication, deepen exchanges and cooperation between their legislatures, local governments and think tanks, increase sharing of governance experience, and better synergize their development strategies, so as to realize mutually beneficial cooperation and common development at higher levels and lift China-Burundi relations to new heights.

China supports Burundi's social and economic development as well as infrastructure cooperation projects, Xi said, suggesting that the agricultural demonstration centers built by the Chinese side and the agricultural experts from China be fully employed to push for more outcomes in bilateral agricultural cooperation and help Burundi achieve food security and eradication of rural poverty.

China, Xi added, is also willing to work with Burundi to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and contribute to making a success of the next forum.

Ndayishimiye, for his part, extended warm congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and spoke highly of the great achievements made by the CPC in eliminating poverty and battling the pandemic.

The Burundian side appreciates China's support for its efforts to safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity and national independence, he said, adding that cooperation between Burundi and China has brought tangible benefits to the Burundian people and that the two countries will always be good friends and good brothers.

He said his country firmly supports China's positions on issues concerning its core interests, including Taiwan, Xinjiang and the South China Sea, as well as the adoption by China's National People's Congress of the decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The Burundi side attaches great importance to the development of its relations with China, he said, adding that his country hopes to learn from the CPC's governance experience, strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure and epidemic control, and promote the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries.

Ndayishimiye added that his country is ready to help make the next FOCAC meeting a success.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Highlights Google Maps will guide you indoors with AR directions on the airports, transit stations and malls.

It will also start showing eco-friendly routes to avoid fuel consumption based on factors like traffic congestion.

Google Maps in India will soon start showing air quality info while navigating.

Google Maps is undoubtedly among the most widely used Google suite of apps, and the company has announced a bunch of new features to bring improvements. The company says it is on track to add over 100 AI-powered improvements to Google Maps to offer more accurate and up-to-date info while on the go.

Many people may have faced issues while catching a train or a flight while inside the station or airport, and that's probably because there's no help on your phone that can help you navigate. Well, that's about to change with the first major Google Maps update called Live View. One of the major upgrades coming to Google Maps is to navigate indoors with Live View, which uses AR to guide users at places like an airport, transit station or even malls. The best part about this feature is it will help users find the nearest elevator or stairs to change the gate or get to the check-in counter. The phone screen will show arrows to help users indoors.

Google says that the Indoor Live View feature is now live on Android and iOS in a number of malls in Chicago, Long Island, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle. It will start rolling out in the coming months in select airports, malls, and transit stations in Tokyo and Zurich, with more cities on the way.

Another major update is the info about weather and air quality that will now be shown on the Google Maps app in select countries, including India. Google says that the Maps will show data sourced from partners like The Weather Company, AirNow.gov and the Central Pollution Board. It will start rolling out on Android and iOS in the coming months. The company says that the weather info will be rolled out globally, while the air quality info will launch in Australia, India, and the US, with more countries to be added soon.

Next up is the new eco-friendly route options that will focus on lower fuel consumption which will be based on factors like road incline and traffic congestion. "Soon, Google Maps will default to the route with the lowest carbon footprint when it has approximately the same ETA as the fastest route. In cases where the eco-friendly route could significantly increase your ETA, we'll let you compare the relative CO2 impact between routes so you can choose. Always want the fastest route? That's OK too  simply adjust your preferences in Settings," Dane Glasgow, VP of Product, Google Maps, explained in a blog post on Tuesday.

The Eco-friendly routes feature will launch in the US first and be available to Android and iOS users later this year.

Another interesting addition is the grocery pickup option which is a well-thought feature around the pandemic time. Google will start showing pickup options for select groceries, including Instacart and Albertsons Cos. stores in the US on the mobile search page. This is likely to be expanded to Maps.
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A group of hoons have descended onto a busy highway doing burnouts across six lanes of traffic with passengers hanging out of windows.

The vehicles skidded dangerously down the Gateway bridge in the eastern suburbs of Brisbane and engulfed the highway in white smoke on Saturday, March 27.

A silver car continued to roar down the road as other vehicles watched on and cheered while thick exhaust fumes filled the air.

A group of hoons drove down the Gateway bridge in eastern suburbs of Brisbane and engulfed the highway in white smoke on Saturday, March 27

TikTok creator @hootr7 said they steered clear of the authorities while filming their wild night.

'Thanks to the Gold Coast skid meets, we barely had trouble with cops and no Polair', they said.

A Queensland police spokesman said investigators were aware of the video and believe it is linked to reports about a white Subaru that drove dangerously through North Brisbane.

Police arrested a motorist for driving over the legal alcohol limit and another for failing to wear a seatbelt.

Investigations are ongoing as police appeal for dashcam footage related to the incident.

The footage has received mixed reactions from viewers.

'Yeah the boys,' one person commented.

'What idiots,' another said.
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"This fresh N10.1 trillion scandal is beside the earlier N15 trillion, reportedly stolen by APC leaders from various government agencies..."

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of stealing N10.1 from the national treasury despite its acclaimed shortage of funds to finance the 2021 budget.

While President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has often pointed to fall in oil price as the reason for Nigeria's rising debt profile, the PDP said the administration is encouraging corruption.

Without naming a source or evidence, the PDP, in a statement issued on Monday, said N9.6 trillion ($20 billion) and another N500 billion belonging to the Treasury Single Account (TSA), have been "allegedly diverted to APC interests".

"This fresh N10.1 trillion scandal is beside the earlier N15 trillion, reportedly stolen by APC leaders from various government agencies, including the stealing of N9.3 trillion as detailed in the leaked NNPC memo, bringing the sum looted in these cases to N25.1 trillion," the party spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan recalled.

Mr Ologbondiyan said the volume of corruption cases filed against officials of the current administration was a clear indication that Nigeria had been seized by "ferocious economic brigands in very high places",

The statement said, "under the APC, our nation has become one of the most corrupt countries in the world, having dropped 13 places since 2015 and plunging to a putrid 149th place on the corruption perception index as released by Transparency International (TI).

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"Only recently, Nigerians were shocked by revelations that trillions of naira meant for purchase of arms to defend our nation could not be traced.

"The PDP invites Nigerians to note that the Buhari Presidency and the APC has not been able to account for the N15 trillion earlier reportedly looted from various agencies of government, including the stolen N9.3 trillion NNPC fund, the N1.1 trillion worth of crude stolen with 18 unregistered ships as well as various oil subsidy sleaze.

"This is in addition to the N3 trillion reportedly stolen from various agencies including the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in which a very top APC government official was indicted, as well as the Social Investment Programme, where the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, exposed that N500 billion was siphoned."

The opposition party called on Nigerians to question the government to account for the missing funds "to encourage infrastructural development".

PREMIUM TIMES could not reach the APC interim Secretary, John Akpanudoedehe, for comments, as calls to his mobile phone were not answered.
President Joe Biden's Administration reportedly included pro-life activists in the list of "Domestic Violent Extremists" found in the March 1, 2021 report entitled "Domestic Violent Extremism Poses Heightened Threat In 2021" by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Life News said the report called pro-life people as "violent". While the Christian Post said it classified both pro-abortion and pro-life activists under the list of domestic violent extremist groups.

According to the report's Executive Summary, the Department of National Intelligence assessed what domestic violent extremists are and classified them accordingly. Domestic violent extremists (DVEs) are accordingly "motivated by a range of ideologies and galvanized by recent political and societal events in the United States pose an elevated threat to the Homeland in 2021."

It cited as examples the incident in the U.S. Capitol last January 6 "conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic," and "conspiracy theories" that promote violence.

"For the purposes of this assessment, the IC defines a DVE as an individual based and operating primarily in the United States without direction or inspiration from a foreign terrorist group or other foreign power and who seeks to further political or social goals wholly or in part through unlawful acts of force or violence," the report said.

"This assessment does not evaluate the actions of individuals engaged solely in activities protected by the First Amendment or other rights secured by the Constitution of the United States," it clarified.

As to categories, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence identified five main classifications of DVEs. These are "racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists," "anti-government/anti-authority violent extremists," "animal rights/environmental violent extremists," abortion-related violent extremists," and "all other domestic terrorism threats."

The report sub-classified "anti-government/anti-authority violent extremists" as "militia violent extremists," "anarchist violent extremists," and "sovereign citizen violent extremists."

The report defined "abortion-related violent extremists" as "DVEs with ideological agendas in support of pro-life or pro-choice beliefs."

Life News said the report was released as a warning that the current year could be one of American violent extremism. The media outlet cited a similar incident during former President Barack Obama's administration where pro-lifers were described as "domestic terrorists" through a Department of Homeland Security report released in 2012.

"Pro-life advocates are peaceful, and pro-life organizations condemn violence and other illegal activities just as they condemn the legal violence of abortion against unborn babies. Often, pro-lifers are targets of harassment, threats and violence," Life News stressed.

Life News revealed that in 2019 and 2020 alone, there have been 200 incidents of violence against pro-life groups and cited one as the bomb threat on the Minnesota 40 Days For Life event.

The Christian Post pointed out that pro-life activists are "generally" peaceful but did not deny instances where violence was "committed against abortion providers, advocates, and clinics." The Christian Post cited several instances on the matter such as the case of Robert Dear in 2015 where he opened fired on a Colorado Planned Parenthood branch that injured several people and left three people dead.
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Men who contract Covid-19 treble their risk of developing erectile dysfunction, according to new research.

Doctors at the University of Rome asked 100 men, with an average age of 33, to report recent problems with sexual function.

Nine per cent of those who had not had Covid said they'd had difficulties.

But among those who had been infected the figure was 28 per cent, according to a report in the journal Andrology.

Researchers said the virus is known to cause inflammation in the endothelium  the inner lining of blood vessels throughout the body.

Arteries supplying the genitals are small and narrow, so any inflammation is likely to disrupt blood flow and impede a man's sexual response.

This is the latest piece of research to find that, in many ways, men fare worse with a Covid infection than women  they are more prone to serious symptoms and 1.7 times more likely to die of the virus.

Some experts have suggested differences in levels of the sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone may partly explain this.

Men who contract Covid-19 treble their risk of developing erectile dysfunction, according to research by the University of Rome

On average, women in the UK live 3.7 years longer than men, even in non-Covid times  and oestrogen is thought to be key, improving women's immune function and helping to protect the cardiovascular system.

High testosterone levels may increase some risks to the cardiovascular system, which is put under huge pressure by coronavirus.

Controversial new book claims plastic pollution is shrinking manhoods Could a toxic soup of chemicals in everyday life be destroying men's ability to father children? That is the latest claim from a U.S. expert, Dr Shanna Swan, who made headlines in 2017 with research that suggested human sperm counts are plummeting. Dr Swan, a professor of environmental medicine and public health at the Icahn School of Medicine, New York, made her original claim in the journal Human Reproduction Update. Her analysis of previous research evidence concluded that men's reproductive problems are increasing by at least 1 per cent a year in Western countries. These problems include declining sperm counts, falling testosterone levels and increasing rates of testicular cancer. Now, in a new book entitled Count Down, Dr Swan blames this crisis on male babies being harmed in the womb by their mothers' exposure to hormone-altering chemicals in food and many consumer items. These chemicals include phthalates (used to make plastics more flexible and found in hundreds of products including toys, detergents, food packaging, personal-care products and electronic devices), bisphenol A (in plastic food containers) and flame retardants (used in furnishings, carpets and cars). Dr Swan says these chemicals began to be produced in increasing quantities from 1950, after which male fertility began to drop. 'Sperm counts have declined by 50 per cent in just 40 years,' she says. 'It's difficult to deny how alarming this is.' Advertisement

But new research offers another insight: not about how our sex hormones may help us fight Covid, but how the virus may interfere with their production, causing knock-on effects.

'One of the devious ways the virus gets into the body is by its spike protein binding to a receptor found at quite high concentrations not only in the lungs but in the reproductive organs,' explains Dr Channa Jayasena, a consultant in reproductive endocrinology and andrology at Hammersmith Hospital in London.

'When Covid-19 binds to these receptors, they can no longer perform their normal function.'

These ACE2 receptors are found throughout the body, most widely in the lungs and cardiovascular system as well as at high levels in the testes.

While the evidence is thin, Dr Jayasena suggests Covid-19 may leave men with lowered testosterone levels and could affect women's menstrual cycles and menopause, too.

All this has a potential impact on both fertility and general health, as sex hormones are involved in processes throughout the body, from muscle growth to immune function.

A review of 24 studies on male fertility and Covid-19, published last year in the World Journal of Men's Health, noted that patients who had suffered a moderate Covid infection had significantly lower sperm concentration, often for months after recovery, compared with those whose infection had been only mild.

But what came first, the low sperm count or the infection?

Shortly afterwards, another study, published in the journal The Aging Male, showed that not only might men with lower testosterone levels be at higher risk of getting Covid-19, but that the virus could indeed lower men's testosterone levels.

Mike Kirby, a former professor of general practice in Hertfordshire and editor of The Aging Male, suggests this means doctors should be ready to check testosterone levels in male Covid patients and, if necessary, provide testosterone replacement.

He says that without it, those men are at higher risk of cardiovascular problems, type 2 diabetes, muscular weakness and depression, and loss of sexual desire, function and fertility.

While this may be true, it is not yet clear whether coronavirus is affecting sex-hormone levels more than any other viral infection might, says Dr Jayasena, adding that in any case, any lowering of those hormones may well be temporary.

'If you had severe flu, then it might take at least another several weeks for your testes to start working properly,' he says.

'A man's sperm count can drop to zero during flu and it can take three months to recover fully. So I think it's reasonable to suggest a similarly severe illness such as Covid would do at least that.'
A Southern California woman who disappeared from her almost three months ago amid purported marriage troubles was to see a divorce lawyer on the day she disappeared.

Maya Millete, 39, a mom-of-three, was last seen at her home in Chula Vista near San Diego on the afternoon of January 7.

Maya's husband of 21 years, Larry, reported her missing three days later. Detectives noticed that Maya's car was still parked outside the property at the time.

But Maricris Drouaillet, Maya's sister has revealed that she had booked an appointment with a lawyer with the intention of starting divorce proceedings.

Maya 'May' Millete, 39, was last seen at her Chula Vista residence by family on the afternoon of January 7 and had made an appointment with a divorce lawyer that week. She never made it

Maya's sister, Maricris Drouaillets, revealed that Maya had made an appointment to see a divorce lawyer

She also revealed that Maya had asked her for $10,000 the week she vanished.

'The date, the scheduled date to meet with the divorce lawyer, that was done Thursday afternoon,' Maricris said to Fox 5.

'According to the divorce lawyer, she wanted to have the birthday celebration first, her daughter's birthday celebration was on Sunday, so she wanted to wait.'

The appointment had been made for the following Tuesday but Maya never made it.

Maricris and her husband, Richard, Maya's brother-in-law have both been at every search for Maya since the alarm was raised, while her husband, Larry, has not.

Maya Millete is pictured with her husband, Larry. The couple were reportedly having marriage problems prior to the mom-of-three's disappearance

It had been previously reported that Larry has retained a lawyer and is no longer cooperating with police in their investigation.

In February, the Drouaillets told DailyMail.com that the couple had been having marriage problems prior to her disappearance.

'For a year or two, it has been kind of rocky relationship,' Maricris said of her sister's marriage with Larry. 'They even tried marriage counseling.'

'When we do have a get together they would be there arguing... and then another time, they would be close again. Like oh ok, they worked it out. So it had been like that for the last year.'

Posters of the missing mother-of-three have been posted around the area

Posters have been stuck up on nearby hiking trails close to the Chula Vista home she lived

Maya would often play the guitar

Richard added: 'They argued a lot and it was a little bit uncomfortable. It was weird because Larry was acting different. He wasn't acting like Larry. He was acting different... They were done. The relationship was done. You could just tell.'

Chula Vista police searched Maya and Larry's home around two months ago but no new information has been released.

'It doesn't add up. They have camera surveillance from all the neighbors,' Richard Drouaillet said. 'They said they have over 100 hours to review, and three months later, you're still looking at those 100 hours  reviewing those videos. Something's got to give.'

The family now appear to be growing frustrated over the perceived lack of answers 11 weeks after Maya went missing.

Maricris and Richard even consulted the help on an investigator with the Cold Case Foundation who specialize in tracking down missing people and solving murders.

Potential evidence was said to have been submitted to Chula Vista police but department turned down the outside help.

'There are thousands of unsolved cases out there, and I don't know why those thousands are unsolved,' Richard Little of the Cold Case Foundation said. 'But this one does not need to be unsolved. This one can be solved.'

Last month, volunteers searched hiking trails in Spring Valley around 12 miles from Maya's home

Dozens of volunteers joined in, canvassing a swampy riverbed in the hopes of coming up with clues

Last month, volunteers searched swampy trails hoping to find clues as to the whereabouts of Maya.

A volunteer search of local hiking trails in Spring Valley - around 12 miles from Maya's home also took place which saw dozens of volunteers join in. The group canvassed a swampy riverbed in the hopes of coming up with clues.

'We want to do some more intensive searching in the embankments and not just on the trails themselves. We want to go down, potentially, where there could be a body missing or hiding,' Lauren Ireland told Fox 5.

Maya and Larry are pictured with their three children

Maricris told DailyMail.com that she does not harbor ill feelings towards Larry and his family.

'I don't want to cut ties with them,' she stated. 'I don't want to burn bridges. They are still family.'

She previously told NBC7 that she 'can't imagine' Larry harming her sister.

Maricris told the news network that she hopes her brother-in-law joins in the search for Maya.

'Show that you do care for my sister. Show that you do love her. That's all I'm asking.'

Detectives have said there are currently no persons of interest in the investigation.

Maya is described as being 5'2' and 105lbs with brown hair. She has tattoos of musical notes on her clavicle and a tattoo of a hummingbird on her back.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Chula Vista Police Department at 619-691-5151 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-847.
NORTHWOOD, Minn.  A Minnesota duo is pleading not guilty to multiple crimes stemming from a North Iowa incident.

Calvin James Lloyd Myhre, 30 of Glenville, MN, and Theresa Book, 35 of Glenville, MN, were arrested on February 27. The Worth County Sheriffs Office says it tried to pull the two over in the 4700 block of Wheelerwood Avenue but their vehicle went into the ditch and Myhre and Book ran from the scene.

Deputies say they caught Book right away but Myhre escaped. A search found footprints going through fields to a home in the 600 block of Silver Lake Road, where the residents said they were surprised to find Myhre in their home. A 911 call then came in about an intruder in a shed in the 4900 block of Wheelerwood Avenue. Deputies arrested Myhre at the scene.

Investigators say methamphetamine was found near the vehicle abandoned by Myhre and Book.

Myhre has pleaded not guilty to possession of meth-3rd offense and two counts of third-degree burglary. His trial is set for April 28. Book has pleaded not guilty to possession of meth-3rd offense. Her trial is scheduled to begin on June 9.
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The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday fixed April 16 for judgment in the suit seeking the challenging the extension of the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu

The judge, Ahmed Mohammed, fixed the date after parties to the case adopted their written addresses.

The plaintiffs lawyer, Ugochukwu Ezekiel, and the counsel for Mr Adamu, Alex Izinyon, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, informed the court on Tuesday that they were ready for the hearing of the suit having successfully served the 4th defendant with their processes.

Adopting his addresses, the plaintiffs lawyer, Mr Ezekiel, said We rely on all the affidavits and exhibits attached and urge the court to grant the reliefs and answer the questions in favour of the plaintiff.

Similarly, Mr Izinyon urged the court to uphold the preliminary objection of his client in response to the plaintiffs written address and dismiss the suit.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Adamu, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), through their lawyers, argued that the IGP could remain in office till either 2023 or 2024.

A lawyer, Maxwell Okpara, filed the suit following the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the tenure of Mr Adamu as Inspector-General of Police by three months after his retirement on February 1.

Mr Okparas contention was that by virtue of Section 215 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 7 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, Mr Adamu could not continue to function as the IGP, having retired as a serving member of the force.

Mr Opara sought among others in his suit, an order directing Mr Adamu to stop functioning as the IGP.

He asked the court to hold that the failure of Mr Buhari and the Nigeria Police Council (NPC) to name a new IGP on February 1 when Mr Adamu retired from police force amounted to abdication of duty.

He therefore urged the court to compel President Buhari and the NPC to immediately appoint a new IGP.

The plaintiffs sued the President, Mr Adamu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the NPC as the defendants.

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The vote by nearly 6,000 Amazon workers on the unionization campaign at the Bessemer, Alabama warehouse concluded on Monday. The results of the vote, which will determine whether the Retail, Warehouse and Department Store Union (RWDSU) is certified as the collective bargaining agent at the warehouse, are expected to be released by the National Labor Relations Board later this week.

Banner on Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama (Credit: WSWS Media)

A World Socialist Web Site reporting team spoke to Amazon workers at the warehouse Monday, along with other workers and residents at a nearby shopping area about the vote and broader issues facing workers.

This is going to be a close vote, a young woman worker who has been at the Bessemer warehouse for a year said. About half of my co-workers are voting for the union and the other half are voting against it. She said she had not voted yet and might not because of what she had learned from doing research on the unions. I didnt like what the unions in Detroit did, forcing autoworkers to have different wages scales, depending on seniority. That would not be good here. Getting in the RWDSU is going to be good for the unions but I dont think it will be great for the workers.

The job is very draining. I work 36 hours straight and I sleep for most of my first day off. I feel bad because a lot of the workers here are older.

Speaking about the public campaign to back the union by President Biden and other politicians, including Republican Senator Marco Rubio, she said, With all these high-profile people backing the union like Danny Glover and Bernie Sanders you have to wonder who it will benefit.

Voting tent outside Bessemer warehouse (credit: WSWS Media)

I voted for the union, another young worker said. There has to be a fight. Fifteen dollars an hour is not enough, especially for the work we do. He said that he had not spoken to a lot of other workers and was not sure how they would vote.

Several workers who spoke to WSWS reporters said they had not voted and were not enthusiastic that things would change, regardless of the outcome of the vote. They said the union campaign did not emerge out of any upswell of enthusiastic support from below. The first I heard about the union was when we got called into meetings with the managers to discuss it. I got several calls from the union too, but I dont think they are going to make any change.

A forklift driver at the Amazon facility for a year said she was not confident that unionizing the warehouse would change things. I have children and grandchildren, so this is not the only job I have. Most of the people at Amazon work one or two other jobs. Standing for 12 hours a day is hard, especially for the older ones. If you are a picker, you have to keep up or they let you go.

When told about the death of Poushawn Brown, a COVID-19 tester at a Washington, D.C. area Amazon facility, she said, How could they say she didnt get it from Amazon? The whole plant here got COVID-19, including me.

RWDSU campaigner (credit: WSWS Media)

The reporting team passed out copies of the International Amazon Workers Voice newsletter featuring the statement, The class issues behind the unionization drive at Amazon. The statement explained that the campaign to bring the RWDSU in at Amazon arises not from a rank-and-file rebellion of the working class, but from strategic calculations of the American ruling class.

With social anger over the deaths of more than half a million people reaching a breaking point, the Biden administration, the Democrats and sections of the Republicans are aggressively pushing the unions, the statement explained, because the unions are key instruments of class rule, defenders not of workers, but of the capitalist system. They work, not to organize workers against management, but to organize management against the workers.

Whatever the outcome of the vote, the statement concluded, Amazon workers in Bessemer and other facilities will still be confronted with the need to build new organizations of struggle, independent of the corporatist unions, to fight for their needs. Where the unions promote corporatism and class collaboration, workers need an anti-capitalist perspective. Where the unions promote national chauvinism, working class internationalism is needed. Where the union proceeds from what management is willing to part with, workers must proceed from what they urgently require, the statement explained.

It concluded by urging Bessemer workers to join the growing network of rank-and-file committees built by workers at the Baltimore Amazon facility, among educators in Alabama and other states and autoworkers.

When reporters explained to the Amazon forklift driver that the IAWV was against both the company and the union, and that workers needed their own rank-and-file committees to fight for the rights of workers, her face lit up and she said, Thats what we need.

The reporting team also spoke to residents of Bessemer, an impoverished suburb of Birmingham, which was once a major center of the steel, coal and iron ore industry. By the mid-1980s, unemployed workers constituted one-third of the citys workforce. After decades of deindustrialization, aided and abetted by the United Steelworkers, the United Mine Workers and other unions, more than 27 percent of the citys population was living below the poverty line before the pandemic hit and it ranked first in the United States for violent crimes for cities with 25,000 or more residents.

A young woman who had worked at Amazon for a month said, They get you with the $15 an hour wage and you dont realize what the conditions are going to be. The pay ought to be higher for what they want you do. When I was there, workers were passing out on the stairs because they were so tired, they were literally falling asleep on their feet. We would start at 6:15 pm and come home at 5:30 am. My mental health suffered because I stood in the same place for 12 hours, packing. When I told management, they moved me, but they sent me right back after two hours.

They will write you up for something without even notifying you. Then when you request a day off, they tell you sorry, youve already been written up. After a month, I said screw it because my mental health was deteriorating.

A health care worker whose grandson works at Amazon said she supported the union drive. My husband is a postal worker and the union helped him. When asked about the RWDSU not even issuing demands for the workers who make low wages, she acknowledged that the unions did not fight like they did many decades ago.

A worker at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Alabama said, The conditions at my plant are even worse than Amazon. A co-worker went to medical because he wasnt feeling well. They sent him home. He collapsed in the parking lot and died. They only found him because of the GPS on his phone. The company wouldnt say it was COVID-19. Two months before that, another man was sick and they sent him home. He died in his car and they didnt find him until 3:30 the next morning.

Aaron

Aaron, a truck driver, commented on the billions that Amazon owner Jeff Bezos had made during the pandemic, while more than 20,000 Amazon workers were infected. What are they going to do with all that money, take it with them when they die? They make so much money, but they wont take care of their workers. COVID-19 shows just how much these big owners care about us.

Whether its Trump or Biden, they are all on the same team, and its a lose-lose situation for the workers. We have to stand up and fight. There were big protests over the death of George Floyd, and it was young people of all races.

They say, Black Lives Matter, Aaron said, But all lives matter. There are plenty of poor white people in Alabama. This isnt about race. If it werent for the working people, the truck drivers, the Amazon workers, the teachers, the nurses, the rich wouldnt have anything. Instead of some people making billions and others having nothing, everybody should be living the same way.
[March 30, 2021] Humana Healthy Horizons Partners with GoNoodle to Boost Physical and Mental Health for 2.4 Million Kids

Humana Healthy Horizons, the Medicaid business of leading health and well-being company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), announced a partnership with GoNoodle, an interactive mindfulness and physical activity platform, to help more than two million K-6th grade kids, their parents and teachers. The partnership will impact families across seven states along with thousands of participating schools and teachers. Those states include Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas and Georgia. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005359/en/ GoNoodle lets teachers interact with students while leveraging a library of movement and mindfulness videos. Parents and families can download a free mobile app to access a variety of programming to help kids find focus, get active and turn screen time into active time. Humana and GoNoodle will engage users with custom, downloadable activities that align with Humana's goal of improving the health of the communities it serves. "Humana is proud to partner with GoNoodle as an advocate for teachers and schools in support of families and children through education, fun and interactive healthy-lifestyle content that meets them where they are, at home or on the go," said John Barger, Humana's Medicaid President. "GoNoodle's expansive digital resources further Humana's commitment to addressing whole person health with the people and communities that need it most." Whole person health and wellness has always been a focus of both Humana and GoNoodle - and the circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have brought it to the forefront for more educators and parents. As the world has been focused on critical physical health needs, educators and parents have also been struggling to keep the kids in their lives moving and active during heavily-sedentary, online learning. "Now more than ever, educators and parents are searching for tools to help keep their kids engaged, active, ad focused in the classroom and at home," said KC Estenson, CEO of GoNoodle. "Our partnership with Humana aligns with our mission to bring good energy and helpful, digital resources to kids and the adults who love them."



About Humana Healthy Horizons In 2020, Humana launched its new Medicaid brand, Humana Healthy Horizons. With this new brand, we are committed to continue demonstrating our strong ability to manage complex populations and create solutions that lead to a better quality of life for our members. Nationally, we serve Medicaid enrollees through Medicaid Managed Care (MMC), Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) programs, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Financial Alignment Initiative Dual Demonstrations, MA, D-SNPs, and PDPs.

Humana has served Medicaid populations continuously for more than two decades and currently manages Medicaid benefits for nearly 800,000 members nationally. We have developed expertise providing care management, care planning, and specialized clinical management for the complex needs of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); Medicaid Expansion; aged, blind, or disabled (ABD); and dual eligible populations within a social supports-based framework. Through these years of experience, we have also developed significant expertise in integrating physical health, behavioral health, pharmacy, and social services and supports for a whole-person centered approach to improve the health and well-being of our members and the communities we serve. Humana Healthy Horizons is a Medicaid Product offered by affiliates of Humana Inc. About Humana Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is committed to helping our millions of medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large. To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities, resources and tools - such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness solutions - combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective. More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at www.humana.com, including copies of: Annual reports to stockholders

Securities and Exchange Commission filings

Most recent investor conference presentations

Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls

Calendar of events

Corporate Governance information About GoNoodle GoNoodle is a media and technology company with a suite of active engagement products for kids and the adults who love them. Created by social-emotional learning experts, GoNoodle is dedicated to empowering next-generation humans and helping the grown-ups who love them positively charge every day with Good Energy. Used in millions of homes and four-out-of-five U.S. public elementary schools, GoNoodle's interACTIVE content that can energize, focus, calm, or cheer up. To turn screen time into active time, convert any space to play space, and make every time the best time - there's a GoNoodle for that - visit http://www.gonoodle.com to get started. Headquartered everywhere kids are. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005359/en/

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ATHENS -- Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou met here on Monday with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe.

Noting that Greece and China are both ancient civilizations, Sakellaropoulou said the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries continues to develop. She thanked China for its strong support in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greece attaches importance to China's position in international affairs, and appreciates China's achievements in economic and social development and its great progress in human rights, said the Greek president.

Greece is willing to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, Sakellaropoulou said.

It is hoped that the European Union and China will maintain close communication and jointly promote sustainable development of the world, she said.

During the meeting, Wei introduced China's recently-concluded "two sessions," its fight against COVID-19, achievements in economic and social development, and the actual situation in Xinjiang.

He said that China and Greece enjoy a long friendship and have achieved remarkable results in jointly building the Belt and Road.

China will work with the CEE countries to promote more stable, substantial and far-reaching cooperation in various fields, said the Chinese minister.

The Chinese army is willing to strengthen strategic communication with the Greek army, carry out extensive personnel training, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and advance bilateral military ties to a higher level, said Wei.

He emphasized that China always upholds the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, unswervingly pursues a defensive national defense policy, and strives to work with other countries to build an international security architecture featuring fairness, justice, joint contribution and shared benefits.

Wei also held talks with the Greek Minister for National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos on Monday, exchanging in-depth views on relations between the two countries and the two armies, and on international and regional situations.
MASON CITY, Iowa  A not guilty plea has been entered over gunfire at an occupied vehicle.

Parker Duea Holland-Dunn, 20 of Mason City, is charged with second-degree criminal mischief and assault with and displaying a dangerous weapon.

The Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office says Holland-Dunn shot two of the vehicles tires and its front fender, then smashed a windshield and side mirror. This allegedly happened on January 24 in the 17000 block of 310th St.

Holland-Dunns trial is set to begin on June 8.


Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The World Health Organization chief called Tuesday for investigators looking into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic to delve deeper into a theory about a possible lab leak incident.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed a long-delayed report from an international mission tasked with probing how the virus that causes COVID-19 first jumped to humans, saying it "advances our understanding in important ways".

But in a briefing to member states, he stressed it also "raises further questions that will need to be addressed by further studies".

The report, compiled by WHO-appointed international experts and their Chinese counterparts, did not draw any firm conclusions, but did rank a range of hypotheses according to how likely they thought they were.

The report, seen by AFP ahead of its Tuesday publication, had judged a lab-leak hypothesis "extremely unlikely", saying the virus behind COVID-19 had most probably jumped from bats to humans via an intermediary animal.

But Tedros urged them to look deeper into the lab theory.

"Although the team has concluded that a laboratory leak is the least likely hypothesis, this requires further investigation, potentially with additional missions involving specialist experts, which I am ready to deploy," he said.

The WHO chief also voiced concern that the international expert team had "expressed the difficulties they encountered in accessing raw data" while in China.

"I expect future collaborative studies to include more timely and comprehensive data sharing," he said.

 2021 AFP
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It has been around a year since smart travel cards were first introduced in the Kathmandu valley. The use of this electronic card started from 10 buses of Sajha Yatayat on the Lagankhel-Naya Buspark route after a long test.

Sajha Yatayat had aimed to expand the use for collecting fares on all its buses. However, the result after a year is rather upsetting today: the use of the cards has now become nominal.

Even before Sajha, this technology was adapted on city buses operated by Global Metro City Bus Company in Bharatpur, Chitwan, and other 800 buses in Pokhara metropolitan city. But, the use of rechargeable travel card and e-ticketing in both places has already come to a halt now.

These examples show efforts to introduce e-payment systems have repeatedly failed in Nepals public transport. But, why?

Major issues

Most transport companies share similar experiences with smart travel cards. According to them, during the start of the e-payment service, passengers buy smart travel cards albeit in small numbers. However, due to the problems of recharging the card and recurring technical problems while making payments, most of them again switch to traditional cash payments.

Bhushan Tuladhar, a board member at Sajha Yatayat says, For numerous reasons, things didnt work as we had thought. However, this is the way to go in the future, but various challenges have hampered its implementation.

According to Badri Adhikari, the chairman of the Global Metro City Bus Company, passengers of Chitwan accepted this system initially as more than two thousand cards were distributed then. However, there was a problem with the payment system. Consequently, passengers were forced to pay in cash as the network did not work while using cards for payment.

Adhikari further adds, Even the IT companies that brought this technology were not accountable for solving this problem.

Similarly, in Pokhara, although e-payment started after the Pokhara metropolitan city itself made a separate law to implement e-ticketing, transport entrepreneurs did not show any interest in it, citing reasons such as the short battery life of the ticketing machines and other technical issues. The merger of Om Development Bank, a banking and card partner, with the NMB Bank, also added more challenges to the adaption of this system.

The travel card used in Pokhara

Also, many passengers did not show interest in this as the travel card can be used only on a few buses. Further, those who did not use regular public transportation did not want to buy expensive travel cards. As there is no provision of refund, some passengers even feared that the amount in their travel card would go to waste.

Adhikari also views smart cards not being made mandatory by the government as also one of the reasons for the failure. On top of that, the transport entrepreneurs have complained that banks have not made easy arrangements to withdraw the money deposited in the bank account from the fares.

Therefore, the transporters also insisted on collecting cash from passengers.

Besides, because the number of people carrying the card was very few, the conductors had to collect fares in both systems making the job more tiresome.

Entrepreneurs claim that some drivers and conductors, who had the habit of pocketing some of the daily fares for themselves, have not even encouraged the passengers to use the cards.

So, what can be the possible solution?

Ashish Gajurel, a public transport expert, questions, How can the system be successful if a passenger who gets off the Sajha Yatayat bus at Ratnapark by paying the fare from the smart card has to take another bus to Budhanilakantha and pay cash again?

He suggests that until and unless all the public transport vehicles get into the same system, it will not be a success.

Meanwhile, Tuladhar opines it is difficult to promote electronic payment in public transport unless an integrated system is launched with the cooperation of transport service providers, banks and financial institutions, information technology (IT) companies, and the government.

He further stresses, The government should invest in developing integrated and firm strategies and the same infrastructures for the electronic payment system. This will allow passengers to pay with the same card whenever they board a bus.

After the use of the smart travel cards was stopped, Sajha Yatayat is in a state of indecisiveness on how to proceed further, he says.

Tuladhar understands that the technology of scanning QR codes, which has been started in some of the buses and tempos, will be quite burdensome for passengers as it requires an internet connection to make the payment.

The smart card introduced by Sajha Yatayat

Benefits of e-payment

Public transports experts suggest if e-payment can be promoted, the passengers should not have to pay more than the fixed fares, hence they will not be deceived. For example, at present, the fare for a bus ride of up to four km in Kathmandu is Rs 14, but public transport charges Rs 15. Once the new system is there, one rupee is saved for each travel. Expert Gajurel also says the conductors will stop taking more money from the passengers on the pretext of not having change.

Similarly, there will be proper statistics of passenger flow on each route, passenger movement rate based on the time period, the trend of use of public transport, and so on. This way, it will be easier to decide whether to increase or cut off the number of buses, decide routes and make various policy decisions, according to Tuladhar.

Gajurel says that for the establishment of a cashless society, e-payments on public transport should be made mandatory.

Passengers dont have to worry about congestion, meanwhile, they will also save time, he adds, It also frees the owners from the risk of (income) leakage.
If you're partial to the odd glass of wine in the week, a new study will come as music to your ears.

Researchers have revealed that drinking alcohol in moderation cuts the risk of needing eye cataract surgery by almost a quarter.

The study found that drinking wine was the most effective, with five or more glasses a week slashing the need for eye cataract surgery by 23 per cent.

While the reason for the link remains unclear, the experts suggest that polyphenol antioxidants - which are especially abundant in red wine - may have a protective role.

The study found that drinking wine was the most effective, with five or more glasses a week slashing the need for eye cataract surgery by 23 per cent (stock image)

What are cataracts? Cataracts occur when the lens - a small transparent disc inside the eye that helps to focus light - becomes cloudy. The patches gradually become bigger over time, according to the NHS, and can lead to blurry vision and, in some cases, blindness. Cataracts affect around half of over-65 in the UK. Some 24 million adults aged over 40 in the US suffer, according to figures. In children they are much less common, with around one in 3,000 being born with them or developing them in childhood. Advertisement

The study, carried out by Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and University College London's Institute of Ophthalmology, found that drinkers who consumed up to 14 units per week  the maximum recommended by the NHS  were less likely to have the operation to remove cloudy patches from the lens of the eye.

The most significant reduction in risk was linked to drinking wine rather than beer or spirits, with people who drank wine five or more times per week up to 23% less likely than non-drinkers to undergo cataract surgery.

However, people who drank a lot of beer, cider or spirits had no significantly reduced risk.

'Our findings suggest a lower risk of undergoing cataract surgery with low to moderate alcohol consumption,' the researchers said.

Fourteen units of alcohol per week is the equivalent of about six pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of low-strength wine.

A 750ml bottle of red, white or rose wine (alcohol by volume 13.5%) contains 10 units.

The research is the largest of its kind to date and examined data from more than 490,000 people in the UK Biobank and EPIC-Norfolk cohort studies.

A team of experts compared how much people said they drank with patient records of cataract surgery, adjusting for factors that could influence the result, such as age, weight and gender.

Cataracts occur when the lens - a small transparent disc inside the eye that helps to focus light - becomes cloudy

Writing in the journal Ophthalmology, they concluded: 'Our findings suggest a lower risk of undergoing cataract surgery with low to moderate alcohol consumption. The association was particularly apparent with wine consumption.'

The experts noted, however, that drinking large amounts of alcohol is linked to a range of serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

An estimated 30% of over-65s are thought to have cataracts that affect their vision in one or both eyes.

Cataract surgery involves replacing the lens with a clear plastic one.

Dr Anthony P Khawaja, who led the research, said: 'We observed a dose-response with our findings  in other words, there was evidence for reducing chance of requiring future cataract surgery with progressively higher alcohol intake, but only up to moderate levels within current guidelines.

'This does support a direct role of alcohol in the development of cataracts, but further studies are needed to investigate this.'

Dr Sharon Chua, who also worked on the study, said: 'The fact that our findings were particularly evident in wine drinkers may suggest a protective role of polyphenol antioxidants, which are especially abundant in red wine.'
The Scranton School Board seeks more information on the work needed at George Bancroft Elementary School before a potential vote next month to close the building permanently.

But regardless of when the board receives a feasibility study, the district must become more efficient by reducing its footprint, the chief recovery officer said.

You dont have enough money to waste on lack of efficiency, Candis Finan, Ed.D., told directors during nearly four hours of meetings Monday night.

Closing Bancroft is not about the money necessary to fix the building  the total amount unknown at this point. Buildings are at 60% to 70% total capacity, and the district does not need to operate 18 buildings, Finan said.

That means youre wasting operational money, because youre leaving 30% to 40% of your buildings empty, she said.

The board is scheduled to vote April 12 on permanently closing the Albright Avenue school. The students, who started at Isaac Tripp Elementary this week due to ventilation issues at Bancroft, would stay at Tripp under the districts plan.

If we dont reduce the footprint, if we dont follow the recovery plan, we will not be able to sustain the district, Director Ro Hume said. The sensible decisions we have to make are not easy decisions.

Directors authorized a feasibility study of district buildings in December, but it was never the intent to have information about Bancroft ready by the vote in April, Finan said.

The recovery plan calls for the district to consolidate and reconfigure schools. Schools initially mentioned in the report include John Adams, Charles Sumner and McNichols Plaza elementary schools, but after touring the schools, Finan said she learned Bancroft had greater issues. The entire Bancroft population can also move to a different school together, which also made it a viable option for closure, she said.

Finan said she will approach the engineers about a timeline for greater information on Bancrofts needs, along with other elementary schools in the city. The superintendent must notify the state by July 1 if Bancroft will close for the fall, but that does not leave enough time for planning purposes, such as staffing, officials said.

Directors also expressed interest in selling the Administration Building on North Washington Avenue, calling it a more valuable and desirable building than Bancroft.

I think that should have been for sale yesterday, Director Sean McAndrew said.

Finan told directors the district could pursue selling the building.

Charter costs

The return of cyber charter school students to the district could lessen the need for future tax increases, officials said.

Directors learned more about five-year projections for the district, which financial consultants PFM presented to the Financial Recovery Advisory Committee last week. Those projections show that with a yearly 4.6% property tax increase, the district would have a $12 million fund balance in five years.

In the last year, cyber charter school enrollment increased by 302 students, to a total of 757 students. In the last five years, charter school tuition has more than doubled, with the district projected to pay $10.4 million in 2021.

The district may use a portion of its federal COVID-19 relief funds to start an elementary school cyber program. Superintendent Melissa McTiernan said the start of in-person instruction should also encourage some students to return, and the district will also reach out to students in coming months.

Transportation contract

Directors unanimously approved a contract extension with Red Top Transportation, which mainly provides transportation to special education students. The original 2015 contract now runs through June 2022, and pricing will remain the same as the 2018-2019 school year. The district expects to spend $271,000.00 for the remainder of this school year.

As the district has worked to reduce transportation costs, the extension will give the district time to provide more specific specifications for when the district puts the service to bid, Business Manager Patrick Laffey said.

Both the Red Top and the DeNaples Transportation contracts will be put to bid in advance of their expiration date next year.
More than 40 per cent of 365 Queensland doctors who dealt with COVID patients had not received their first round of COVID-19 vaccinations by March 23, an Australian Medical Association survey showed.

The survey of doctors in Queensland public health system was completed between March 16-23.

The Queensland government has defended its vaccination program after confirming a doctor working in a COVID-19 ward at Princess Alexandra Hospital had not been inoculated.

On March 13 it was revealed a nurse working with COVID-positive patients at Princess Alexandra Hospital, now the centre of one of two emerging COVID clusters, had not received her first COVID vaccination.

After the AMAQ survey became public on Tuesday, Queenslands Chief Medical Officer Jeanette Young made it mandatory that only nurses and doctors who received their first vaccination jab could work with COVID-19 patients.
Working with fruit flies, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have identified a new molecular pathway that helps steer moving cells in specific directions. The set of interconnected proteins and enzymes in the pathway act as steering and rudder components that drive cells toward an "intended" rather than random destination, they say.

In a report on the work, published March 2 in Cell Reports, these same molecular pathways, say the scientists, may drive cancer cells to metastasize or travel to distant areas of the body and may also be important for understanding how cells assemble and migrate in an embryo to form organs and other structures.

The team of scientists was led by Deborah Andrew, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and associate director for faculty development for the Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Andrew and her colleagues began this research while studying a gene called Tre1 and its role in the development of salivary glands in fruit flies. The tools to study the effects of turning the gene on and off weren't ideal, she says. So, two of the team members, Caitlin Hanlon, Ph.D., of Quinnipiac University and JiHoon Kim, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins, generated fruit flies that lack the protein-coding portion of the Tre1 gene. The pair also put a fluorescent tag on the Tre1 protein to learn where it localized during key steps in development.

In experiments with fruit fly embryos carrying an intact Tre1 gene, cells that produce future generations of the organism, called germ cells, migrate correctly to the sex organ, known as the gonad.

"Without the Tre1 gene, however, most of the germ cells failed to meet up with other nongerm cells, or somatic cells, of the gonad," says Andrew. "Correct navigation of germ cells is important to ensure that future generations of the organism will happen."

This is not the first time that scientists noted Tre1's importance in germ cell navigation. Two research teams from Indiana University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had previously made the link. However, says Andrew, questions remained about what happens inside germ cells to get cells to the right place once Tre1 activates.

It was already known that the Tre1 gene encodes a protein that spans the cell membrane multiple times and pokes out onto the cell's surface. It's a member of a large family of proteins called G protein-coupled receptors, which enable cells to communicate and respond to signals from other cells and light and odor cues. Nearly 35% of FDA approved medicines target G protein-coupled receptors, says Andrew.

To more precisely track the molecular events downstream of Tre1, Kim, a research associate and postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, used tissue cultures of fruit fly cells to find the location of fluorescently tagged molecules that are potentially triggered by the activated Tre1 protein. In the tissue cultures and germ cells of living flies, Kim uncovered the downstream genetic pathway.

He found that Tre1 functions as the cell's helmsman, controlling steering of the cell. Tre1 activates the cell's steering and rudder components by spurring on a cascade of proteins and enzymes, including a phospho-inositol kinase, PI(4,5)P2, dPIP5K, dWIP and WASp.

At the end of the molecular cascade, a chain of actin proteins forms in a protrusion at the cell's leading edge to exert mechanical forces for movement.

The scientists also searched for the upstream signal that activates Tre1. They used a genetically engineered protein made by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco to track the location of a signaling protein called Hedgehog, which has previously been linked to germ cell migration, although its role in this process has been disputed.

In germ cells, Hedgehog signaling increases the membrane levels of a protein called Smoothened, which is found in the cells' leading edge protrusion where Tre1 is also found.

The scientists plan to continue studying the pathways surrounding Tre1 and connections between the proteins and enzymes involved in the pathway.

"A deeper understanding of how moving cells navigate and spread has the potential to provide more targets for interrupting the spread of cancer cells," says Andrew.

###

Funding for the research was provided by the National Institutes of Health (RO1DE013899, R35GM118177 and F31DE022233).

In addition to Andrew, Hanlon and Kim, other scientists who contributed to the research include Sunaina Vohra and Peter Devreotes of Johns Hopkins.
Houston-based retail power company Entrust Energy filed for bankruptcy this week, joining a growing number of power companies seeking Chapter 11 protection in the wake of February's power crisis that drove the cost of wholesale power to $9,000 per megawatt hour.

In a Chapter 11 petition filed Tuesday, Entrust said it has assets of $100 million to $500 million and liabilities of $50 million to $100 million. Among claims against the company is one worth $1.6 million by JPMorgan Chase over a Paycheck Protection Program loan and a $270 million bill from ERCOT, the state's grid manager, which Entrust disputes.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas ousted Entrust from the Texas wholesale power market in March after the company failed to make payments on power purchases during the crisis. Entrust, which provides electricity for more than 170,000 customers across eight states, according to it website, also this month unloaded 40,000 residential and 10,000 business customers to Houston-based Rhythm.

Entrust did not respond Tuesday to requests for comment.

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Entrust joins a growing list of power companies that have gone bankrupt in the wake of the February power crisis. California retail power company Griddy filed for Chapter 11 this month after it failed to pay $29 million for power it purchased. Houston-based Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, which served more than 1.5 million Texans, filed for bankruptcy protection this month after accumulating $2.1 billion in bills. And Just Energy Group recently filed for court protection in Canada and bankruptcy protection in the United States.

ERCOT estimates that it is owed $3.1 billion for wholesale power. If it cant collect, the shortfall would be shared among generators, retail electricity providers and other market participants and potentially passed to retail customers.

The fallout and financial impact of the winter storm and the catastrophic failure of the states power grid are still being sorted out as retail providers, electricity cooperatives, municipal utilities, and other power buyers head to bankruptcy court and file lawsuits. Among the issues is whether ERCOT kept emergency pricing in place too long and overcharged the market by billions of dollars.
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi recently held talks with the visiting Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, during which he expressed grave concerns over Chinas Coast Guard Law again, reported Kyodo News.

Since the Chinese Coast Guard Law came into effect on February 1, the response from the US and Japan has been not only intense but also unusual. Japan has expressed its grave concerns over the law for nearly ten times on bilateral or multilateral occasions. But all the caw and clamor cannot hide the two countries real intention of deliberately misleading the public opinions and international community.

Washington and Tokyos criticisms of Chinas Coast Guard Law focus on the unclear demarcation of sea areas within the jurisdiction, permission for the coast guard to use weapons and to take enforcement measures against foreign ships, and the quasi-military nature of the coast guard. But these criticisms are nothing but overreaction or even double standards both from the perspective of the international law, the similar laws in Japan and US, and the maritime enforcement practices.

The demarcation of mandated sea areas has nothing to do with the purpose of the Coast Guard Law. Similar laws in Japan and many other countries dont define the specific law enforcement scopes either, and the coast guard laws of Vietnam and the Philippines only generalize the concept as mandated sea areas. The US Coast Guards scope of enforcement powers at sea is even more general, including the high seas or the sea areas and airspace above where the US has a jurisdiction according to its law. The Chinese Supreme Peoples Court issued a piece of judicial interpretation in August 2016 which specified the scope of sea areas under Chinese jurisdiction, which the Japanese Ministry of Defense has recently mentioned on its official website, indicating it knows the actual situation very well.

It is an international practice to use weapons during maritime law enforcement when deemed necessary. According to the Law Concerning the Execution of Duties of Police Officials, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) can use arms like regular police officers. The Japanese Coast Guard Law revised in 2001 also stipulates that when a ship refuses to stop and accept inspection and tries to resist and escape, the Coast Guard officers shall exercise conditional use of weapons if they dont think there are other means to stop the ship from continuing its operation.

Some foreign media have intentionally misinterpreted or distorted Chinas Coast Guard Law by claiming that it authorizes law enforcers to use weapons against foreign military ships and government ships without warning. Article 47 and Article 48 of the law prescribe the situations where arms can be used, such as illegal transport of weapons and ammunition, attacking law enforcement ships or craft, among others. Article 49 also provides that direct use of arms is limited to the situation when there is no time for warning or warning may lead to more serious consequences, which is reasonable from a practical point of view and consists with the Regulations on Use of Police Implements and Arms by the Peoples Police.

Regarding enforcement measures, Article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea states, If any warship does not comply with the laws and regulations of the coastal State the coastal State may require it to leave the territorial sea immediately. Article 18 of Japans Coast Guard Law states, when the Coast Guard officers decide that crimes may be in progress on the sea, structures are being damaged, or there are other emergency states, they can order the ship to stop, change course, or sail to a designated location. The American Coast Guard Law simply authorizes armed law enforcement against any ship.

It is also a common international practice to incorporate maritime law enforcement into the military system and entrust it to carry out military missions in wartime. In countries like the UK, France, and Italy, it is the military thats responsible for law enforcement on the sea. The US Coast Guard is called the fifth service after the army, navy, air force, and marine corps, which is usually under the lead of the Department of Homeland Security but operates as part of the navy in wartime, and its predecessor, the Revenue Cutter Service, participated in WWI and WWII directly. Although Japanese law stipulates that the Japan Coast Guard is part of the police force, it also allows the agency to be controlled by the defense minister during defensive and security operations based on the prime ministers authorization.

Besides, America and Japans maritime law enforcement practices have been widely questioned. In January 1990, the US Coast Guard shot at a Panamanian merchant ship leased by Cuba for one hour and 45 minutes in Mexicos exclusive economic zone, on the grounds of possible drug dealing and refusal to accept Americas inspection. However, no drug was found onboard the ship when it entered the Mexican port for inspection. The shooting by US Coast Guard triggered a heated debate at the UN Security Council and was suspected of violating international law.

Japan claims to use weapons with caution and restraint, and one of the necessary conditions set in its Coast Guard Law where weapons can be used against foreign ships is that the ship sails in Japanese territorial sea or inland waters beyond the innocent passage, except for military vessels and government ships for non-commercial purposes. However, the law enforcement practices of the Japan Coast Guard are also fraught with problems and doubts. On December 22, 2001, the agency caused a suspicious ship to sink with the use of arms in the Chinese exclusive economic zone, which caused the death of at least 15 crew members onboard. It was the gravest vicious event of the use of a weapon in the East China Sea for several decades and was extremely rare even in the global history of maritime law enforcement.

All these show that Washington and Tokyos bashing of Chinas Coast Guard Law finds no basis in international law and contradicts their own laws and enforcement practices. They accuse the implementation of the Chinese law of aggravating tension in the East China Sea. Still, the fact is that since 2020, Japan, regardless of Chinas warnings, has constantly indulged its right-wingers in operating in waters around Chinas Diaoyu Dao on the pretext of fishing, which is the major cause of regional tension.

(The authors, Hu Jiping and Xu Yongzhi, are respectively Vice President of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations and an associate researcher at its Institute of Northeast Asian Studies.)

Editor's note: This article is originally published on huanqiu.com, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
The inaugural Uyinene Mrwetyana Commemorative Lecture was held on Monday, 29 March, to celebrate the legacy of the University of Cape Town (UCT) student whose life was cut brutally short in 2019.

The inaugural lecture took place as a live broadcast from Kingswood College, Mrwetyana's high school in Makhanda, in partnership with the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation. It took place less than a month before what would have been her 21st birthday on 20 April 2021, and future lectures will continue to take place close to this date.

UCT alumnus and Human Sciences Research Council chief research specialist Dr Alude Mahali delivered the keynote address, joining the live broadcast virtually from Johannesburg. Dr Mahali obtained her PhD from UCT, co-authored Studying While Black: Race, education and emancipation in South African universities with UCT adjunct Associate Professor Sharlene Swartz and serves on the advisory board of the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation.

"Uyinene was a fighter and she fought up until she drew her last breath."

The foundation was established in 2019 to celebrate Uyi-Uyi (as she was fondly known, among other nicknames), with the overarching aims of empowering young people and standing against violence.

"Uyinene was a fighter and she fought up until she drew her last breath. Her fight will continue through this foundation and her legacy will be one of activism, of change, of empathy, of hope, of honesty, of compassion and justice," said Mahali.

Lifelong vision

In her address, Mahali explained how the foundation would fight gender-based violence in three focus areas, thereby fulfilling Mrwetyana's lifelong vision of fighting all forms of injustice against women.

The first focus area is the prevention of gender-based violence, which the foundation hopes to action through awareness campaigns, educating and training communities, and advocacy. The second focus area is offering holistic support services, which include psychosocial support to survivors, safe havens for displaced women and children, and continuing to partner with existing organisations that support survivors. The third area is a holistic youth development programme.

Thus far, the foundation has undertaken numerous activities, including writing an open letter to national government; entering into a partnership with MultiChoice (#AriseAndSpeakOut); making donations to women's shelters; hosting seminars, including one on men's violence against women; continuing a partnership with Distell (#BodyofEvidence); and hosting a cohort of youth volunteers.

Speak up, stand up

Speaking to the young people watching at Kingswood College and those tuned in online, Mahali urged them to learn from Mrwteyana's life and legacy.

"Our wish for young people is that you take the best parts of Uyinene and you remain defiant and you challenge bigotry and you speak up for those who struggle to speak for [themselves]."

"Speak up even when your voice shakes, even when your voice trembles, even when it's difficult," she said.

Mahali added that Mrwetyana had used social media to share her views on social ills and social justice and to further her activism, and she urged young people to use these platforms to listen, learn and have meaningful interactions.

"Speak up even when your voice shakes, even when your voice trembles, even when it's difficult."

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Education Women By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

"Take opportunities to make meaningful interactions with and to learn from people who have differences, who have conflicting views to yours and what you believe in [and] what you value."

"Commit to having honest, thoughtful and significant conversations about difficult things, about controversial things, about race, about gender and about other social boundaries that separate us. Learn to talk about difference and to not lead with fear or discrimination," said Mahali.

Finally, she called on everyone to do their part in building a better South Africa.

"There is a lot of work to be done and the work is not for me to do alone. It's not for Uyinene to have done alone. It's not for us as the foundation to do alone. It's not for schools to do alone.

"The work belongs to all of us as citizens of South Africa."
New Delhi:

The Centre's plans to grant citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees in Arunachal Pradesh are facing resistance from the local indigenous residents, who are averse to any infringement on the constitutional protection bestowed on them.



The state chief minister Pema Khandu on Monday reiterated concerns of locals in a letter to Union Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh.



As mentioned by me in our meeting recently, I reiterate that the people of my state are not ready to accept any infringement on the constitutional protection bestowed on the tribals of Arunachal Pradesh and want to ensure that the ethnic composition and the special rights enjoyed by the tribes of my state are safeguarded at all cost, Khandu said.



The MHA had last week cleared the decks for citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees of East Pakistan origin on the basis of a Supreme Court directive.

Read | Kiren Rijiju : Chakma and Hajong communities cannot be granted ST status in Aunachal Pradesh



Khandu, who wrote to Singh a day ahead of a statewide bandh called by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU), also described the matter as one of deep emotional concern.



He solicited the ministers support in protecting tribal rights and securing the sanctity of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Arunachal Pradesh.



Khandu also pointed out that Arunachal Pradesh had a unique history and was governed by a special Act namely the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, which provides for an Inner Line Permit.

Section 2 of this Regulation prohibits all citizens of India or any class of such citizens from going beyond the Inner Line without a pass issued under the hand and seal of the CEO of such district or an officer authorised for such function, he said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian received today Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The legislative package on making changes and amendments to the Judicial Code Constitutional Law, which was adopted recently by the Parliament and submitted for the Presidents signing, was discussed during the meeting.

The minister presented clarifications to the President over the aforementioned legislative amendments.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Demonstrating that sustainable propulsion technology has a clear route to market, the Cranfield Aerospace Solutions-led consortium's technology programme will accelerate the journey to zero-emissions, passenger-carrying service.

Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) the UK SME leading the Project Fresson consortium announces it will exploit recent advances in hydrogen fuel cell technology to develop a commercially viable, retrofit powertrain solution for the nine-passenger Britten-Norman Islander aircraft.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210329005667/en/

Project Frisson to deliver world's first green passenger aircraft service (Graphic: Business Wire)

Following a rigorous assessment of hydrogen technology innovators, CAeS is delighted to welcome Ricardo UK Ltd and Innovatus Technologies Ltd to the Fresson consortium. Ricardo UK Ltd brings expertise in fuel cell system development and Innovatus Technologies Ltd brings their innovative Scottish Hydrogen Fuel Tank (SHyFT) technology.

Steve Dyke, Managing Director Ricardo Automotive and Industrial EMEA Division said: "We are proud to join the Cranfield Aerospace Solutions consortium to play our part in helping to reduce the carbon footprint for commercial air passengers. We are already working on hydrogen and fuel cell technology, providing clean efficient solutions which reduce carbon and noxious emissions across a wide range of sectors. Our work for the Fresson consortium will enable us to consolidate and grow our hydrogen fuel cell and propulsion capability, so that Ricardo can achieve its ambition of becoming a world-leader in hydrogen and fuel cell services and solutions and help accelerate net zero transportation."

Innovatus Technologies Ltd leads the field in next generation ultralightweight hydrogen tank design exploiting patented cellular core composite techniques. This is critical to the successful integration and exploitation of hydrogen fuel cell power systems in applications across aerospace, automotive, industrial, and marine sectors.

Ruan Swart, Chief Executive Officer Innovatus Technologies Ltd said: ""We are proud in being selected to join the Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, 'Project Fresson', consortium. Our unique and innovative SHyFT solution is game-changing in bringing zero carbon fuel cell energy to commercial reality in the transport sector. Project Fresson showcases important Scottish innovation and next generation hydrogen tank manufacturing in the UK."

Project Fresson will deliver an emissions-free (zero CO2), hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered flying demonstrator by September 2022. Having completed a comprehensive evaluation of technologies and configurations for sustainable aircraft propulsion, the Fresson team concluded that hydrogen fuel cell technology is the optimum solution to meet environmental, regulatory and operational requirements for this size of aircraft, enabling zero carbon emissions and reducing operating costs. This has presented the Fresson consortium, which includes Britten-Norman and Cranfield University, with an opportunity to deliver an enhanced technology programme that surpasses the original demonstrator concept.

Paul Hutton, Chief Executive Officer, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions said: "This is incredibly important for the Project Fresson Team but also for everyone else around the world interested in zero emissions flight. This project can deliver the world's first truly "green" passenger carrying airline services. The whole team is proud of what Project Fresson has achieved so far and excited about what is to come. I am very thankful for the support of the ATI and our investors for making this ground-breaking work a reality."

Jenny Kavanagh, Chief Strategy Officer, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions added: "Covid-19 has caused the biggest crisis in aviation's history. It's important that, as the sector builds back better, it does so with sustainability at its heart. Project Fresson is more than just a technology demonstrator; it has one focus above all others: real operational and commercial viability."

Project Fresson is supported by the ATI Programme, a joint Government and industry investment to maintain and grow the UK's competitive position in civil aerospace design and manufacture. The programme, delivered through a partnership between the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Department for Business, Energy Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Innovate UK, addresses technology, capability and supply chain challenges.

As a result of these changes, there is now no longer a need for the Rolls-Royce element of the aircraft programme. It is therefore Rolls-Royce's intention to withdraw from Project Fresson and the consortium is going through the necessary steps for this to happen. We thank Rolls-Royce for its contribution to Project Fresson and wish its team well. Rolls-Royce will continue to actively research the use of hydrogen in aviation and this decision in no way reflects its overall view of hydrogen as a potential technology.

Ends

Notes to editors

To follow the progress of Project Fresson, visit the microsite: www.projectfresson.uk or follow on Twitter @projectfresson.

Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) is an aerospace market leader in rapid prototyping of new aerospace concepts, modifications to existing aerospace platforms and integration of cutting-edge technologies to meet the most challenging issues facing the industry today. CAeS is the wholly owned commercial arm of Cranfield University. Visit: www.cranfieldaerospace.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210329005667/en/

Contacts:

Media contacts

For Cranfield Aerospace Solutions:

Telephone: +44 (0) 1234 754046

Email: enquiries@cranfieldaerospace.com



For Ricardo

Kathryn Bellamy

Communications Manager

Ricardo Automotive Industrial EMEA Division, and Performance Products Division

Email: kathryn.bellamy@ricardo.com

Telephone: +44(0)7921 941824
People with a normal BMI who carry extra weight around their middle are at a greater risk of death compared to those who carry their weight elsewhere, a new study has found.

Currently, the body mass index (BMI) is the most commonly used system by medical professionals to gauge whether or not a person is healthy, overweight or obese.

But now, scientists say that your waist-to-hip ratio is actually a far more accurate indicator of how healthy you are.

A score that calculates your body fat ratio based on your weight in relation to your height, BMI considers a healthy level to measure anywhere between 18.5 and 24.9.

Anything under 18.5 is considered underweight while scores between 25 and 29.9 are overweight, and anything above 30 falls into the obese category.

But, the problem with this is that BMI doesnt account for where your body fat is stored, nor does it take lean muscle mass into account.

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On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests  but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty

In comparison, waist-to-hip ratio is calculated by dividing the circumference of your waist by that of your hips.

After measuring more than 42,000 participants over the course of 10 years, the joint study from Loughborough University and the University of Sydney in Australia, found that those who had a normal BMI but carried their weight around the middle had a 22 per cent increased risk of death.

It showed that women with a ratio of 0.85 or more and men with a ratio of 0.9 or more indicated high levels of visceral fat, which is linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke.

Recommended This is why gaining weight is so much easier than losing it

Our research does back up the findings of previous smaller scale studies which show normal weight people with central obesity are at increased risk for all-cause mortality, Professor Mark Hamer said in a statement.

It is yet further evidence that even if you are within a healthy BMI range but you carry weight around your stomach your health is still at risk.

The message here is that if you do have central obesity, no matter what your BMI, you should take steps to reduce this fat.

This article was amended on 30 March 2021 to change incorrect references to hip-to-waist ratio to the correct waist-to-hip.
Brad Pitt stepped out in Brussels on Monday as he was spotted leaving the Royal Museums Of Fine Arts in Belgium.

It appears that the actor, 57, has jetted to the city to support his sculptor friend Thomas Houseago, who has an exhibition starting at the venue from April.

It was previously reported that Brad had been creating art with the British artist, 49, in 2017 to channel his heartbreak over his split from Angelina.

Stepping out: Brad Pitt stepped out in Brussels on Monday as he was spotted leaving the Royal Museums Of Fine Arts in Belgium

Brad's outing comes amid claims that he is 'heartbroken' after it was reported that his ex Angelina, 45, is 'prepared to provide proof of domestic violence' in their contentious divorce and custody battle.

The actor kept a low profile as he left the museum wearing a protective white face mask amid the coronavirus crisis and black sunglasses.

Brad wore a loose-fitting navy shirt and matching trousers which he layered with a cropped jacket.

The Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood star finished his look with white trainers and a gold chunky necklace.

Close: It appears that the actor, 57, has jetted to the city to support his sculptor friend Thomas Houseago, who has an exhibition starting at the venue from April

It is likely that Brad has jetted to Brussels to support his best friend, British artist Thomas Houseago, whose exhibition - Vision Paintings - will be available to view at the Royal Museums Of Fine Arts from 22 April until 1 August.

In 2017, it was reported that the actor had been creating art with the British sculptor to channel his heartbreak over his divorce from Angelina.

Brad was said to have locked himself away in a Los Angeles art studio in March 2017 to create a sculpture under the direction of his friend Thomas.

At the time, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that he had been spending up to 15 hours a day in the studio working until the early hours of the morning and listening to playlists of sad songs.

A source said at the time: 'Brad is joined by Thomas and his team of assistants but once darkness falls everybody else leaves and he stays behind, making the art space his own.

Friendship: In 2017, it was reported that the actor had been creating art with the British sculptor to channel his heartbreak over his divorce from Angelina (pictured in 2019)

Art therapy: Brad, far right, was said to have locked himself away in a LA art studio in March 2017 to create a sculpture under the direction of his friend Thomas, far left, (pictured 2017)

'He spends all night working on his art and listening to emotional songs. Everybody knows it's related to what's going on with him personally, but nobody says anything. He's a quiet guy, and very humble. He's learning at a fast pace.

'Art is a way for him to concentrate on one thing, taking his mind off everything else. He'd rather do that and be constructive than go out partying.'

Earlier this month it was reported that Brad is saddened over the leak that Angelina is now 'prepared to provide proof' of domestic abuse in the couple's contentious custody battle.

An alleged altercation between son Maddox, 19, and Brad in 2016 was said to have been the final straw for Angelina, who filed paperwork indicating that both she and her children are willing to offer testimony and 'proof and authority' in support of her allegations, according to documents obtained by The Blast.

Now Pitt is 'heartbroken that Angelina has gone that route. There's a lot of emotion left after their marriage,' a source close to the actor told Page Six.

'Saddened': Earlier this month it was reported that Brad is saddened over the leak that Angelina is now 'prepared to provide proof' of domestic abuse in the couple's contentious custody battle (pictured in 2009)

The source added: 'He has taken responsibility for his actions and owned up to his past issues, he's stopped drinking.'

'The marriage was very passionate and toxic at times and  like all couples  they had fights, but also shared many good times together. He has talked about his drink and drug problems during the time they were together,' they continued.

The Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood star has never been arrested or charged for any offense during the couple's marriage, nor have any police reports been made.

Soon after the ex couple filed for divorce in 2016, it was revealed that Brad was being investigated by the FBI and social services in LA amid reports he got 'verbally abusive and physical with his children' on a private jet, yet he was cleared.

'Brad and his camp has never attacked Angelina. But his camp feels this leak was calculated to sway opinion ahead of the conclusion of their trial,' the source said.

Claims: An alleged altercation between son Maddox, 19, pictured in 2019, and Brad in 2016 was said to have been the final straw for Angelina, who filed paperwork indicating that both she and her children are willing to offer 'proof and authority' in support of her allegations

'Brad feels like he's being more and more isolated from his children, and he's devastated about it.'

The ex couple share kids, Maddox, 19, Zahara, 16, Pax, 17, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12, and are hashing out custody and financial arrangements in the trial, which will see their youngest children provide testimony if they give permission.

Sources tell the publication that the kids have been interviewed by court-appointed therapists.

It was reported that Maddox has 'already given testimony as [an] adult in the ongoing custody dispute and it wasn't very flattering towards Brad'.

'He doesn't use Pitt as his last name on documents that aren't legal and instead uses Jolie,' the source told US Weekly.

'Heartbroken': Now Pitt is 'heartbroken that Angelina has gone that route. There's a lot of emotion left after their marriage,' a source close to the actor told Page Six

'Maddox wants to legally change his last name to Jolie, which Angelina has said she doesn't support.'

A source told MailOnline: 'She has made similar allegations in the past which were investigated by the authorities and not substantiated.'

The source added: 'This is the latest sad and desperate attempt to advance a false narrative at any cost.

'These have been the same attacks repeated for the past 4  years and anyone who is perceived to be standing in the way can expect to have their credibility challenged.'

MailOnline contacted representatives of the former couple for comment at the time.

In October, the bitter divorce battle hit yet another bump in the road after the actress parted ways with one of her high-priced attorneys.

Family: The ex couple share kids, Maddox, 19, Zahara, 16, Pax, 17, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12, and are hashing out custody and financial arrangements in the trial, which will see their youngest children provide testimony if they give permission (pictured in 2019)

Priya Sopori, an LA-based former federal prosecutor who has been working with Jolie's lead lawyer, Samantha DeJean, is out after filing a 'Notice of Withdrawal of Attorney of Record' with LA Superior Court, DailyMail.com learnt at the time.

Sopori is a partner with California law firm Greenberg Glusker LLP. It is not known whether Jolie - who is fighting Pitt's efforts to win 50/50 custody of their children - fired Sopori or if the attorney made the decision to quit.

But the change in her high profile team at this late stage signals Jolie's resolve to get what she wants has only hardened.

A source close to Jolie told DailyMail.com: 'Angelina has fought tooth and nail to get what she wants in this divorce, when it comes to her kids she won't back down...'

It's not the first time the Girl, Interrupted star has parted company with a lawyer she's hired during the long-running five year divorce saga.

In 2018, superstar LA divorce attorney Laura Wasser - whose client list reads like a Who's Who of Hollywood - stopped working for Jolie when the actress's legal fight with Pitt reportedly became too 'venomous and nasty.'

Wasser - who has represented Johnny Depp, Kim Kardashian, Ryan Reynolds, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Ashton Kutcher and many other stars - has earned a reputation as a lawyer who tries to take the sting out of break-ups by promoting compromise between warring couples and shared custody of children.

So it was thought at the time that Jolie's hard-nosed attitude toward Pitt was not a good fit with Wasser's more gentle, conciliatory approach.

After Wasser, Jolie hired San Francisco-based DeJean who is now the only lawyer representing her in the long-running custody dispute with Pitt.

The former couple are dragging security experts from two continents, an entourage of personal assistants and bodyguards, a former Jolie co-star and an army of child psychologists and doctors to give evidence in an upcoming custody trial that's expected to be held in private.

Lists of witnesses filed in a Los Angeles court and seen by DailyMail.com reveal 21 people who will be testifying in the movie stars' legal fight over their children.

One witness will be domestic violence expert Alyce LaViolette, who controversially clashed with a prosecutor in a 2013 murder trial by describing killer Jodi Arias as the victim of abuse.

Happier times: The source added: 'He has taken responsibility for his actions and owned up to his past issues, he's stopped drinking.' (pictured in 2011)

Brad has also listed his ex-wife's personal assistant Michael Ofstedahl and Jolie's friend and Girl, Interrupted costar Jillian Armenante as witnesses  a sign that Pitt is willing to pull out all the stops to win joint custody.

Pitt and Jolie famously fell in love on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, while Pitt was still married to Jennifer Aniston. The couple married in France in 2014 after 10 years of dating, but split two years later in September 2016.

In the period that followed their initial separation in 2016, the pair duked it out over custody and financial arrangements, with Brad arguing he'd provided more than adequate funding but Angie demanding a greater share of his $300m fortune.

A big factor in the former couple's battle is Jolie's desire to move the children abroad. Pitt, is vehemently opposed to her moving them to a foreign country.

In 2019, Angelina admitted: 'I would love to live abroad and will do so as soon as my children are 18. Right now, I'm having to base where their father chooses to live.'

In June 2019, Brad  who admitted being an alcoholic at the time of their split but is now recovered  secured a legal breakthrough when a judge ruled he would be permitted more time with the children. He is believed to see them every few days.

The kids are shuttled back and forth in blacked-out SUVs and limousines between their parents' LA homes, which are around a mile from one another in the affluent suburb also inhabited by stars including Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes and Zac Efron.

In early April last year, the superstars came to an agreement that will see the children attend a more traditional schooling program in LA, marking an end to their homeschooling regime. Jolie said she stands by her choice to leave Pitt.

'It was the right decision,' the actress told Vogue in June 2020.

'I continue to focus on their (the kids') healing. Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds.'

The custody trial was due to start late last year but it was delayed after Angelina asked for the private judge to be replaced, claiming that he 'failed to disclose' that he was working other cases with one of Brad's lawyers.
Russia is increasing forces near the state border of Ukraine in the north, east and south, Colonel-General, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ruslan Khomchak said.

"As of March 30, 2021, some 28 battalion tactical groups of the enemy are held along the state border of Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, namely in Briansk, Voronezh, Rostov and on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea. But recently from different regions. Russia, under the guise of control exercises for the winter period of combat readiness exercises and general preparation for the future joint strategic exercises Zapad-2021 (West 2021), the Russian armed forces are gradually increasing troops near the state border of Ukraine in the north, east and south," Khomchak said, speaking at an extraordinary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday.

According to him, we are talking about Briansk, Voronezh regions and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

In general, an additional concentration of up to 25 battalion tactical groups is expected, which, together with the existing deployed forces and assets near the state border of Ukraine, creates threats to the military security of the state," Khomchak said.

He said that since 2014, during the occupation of the Crimean peninsula, Russia has been increasing the joint-force formation of troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which currently amounts to about 32,700 servicemen.

In particular, the commander-in-chief said, in the middle of March 2021, at the Opuk training ground, combat training activities were worked out on the landing of air and sea landing by two battalion tactical groups with the support of an artillery tactical group from the seventh Airborne Assault Division.

"After the end of the exercises, these units were left in the area of the training ground. In addition, there was an increase in grouping due to the movement of five more battalion tactical groups," Khomchak said.

He said that in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, a grouping of Russian-occupation forces of the enemy, the first and second army corps, consisting of 14 combat brigades, regiments and support units numbering about 28,000 people, which operate with the support of Russian regular troops in command positions of which are regular officers of the armed forces of Russia. In addition, Khomchak said, to train specialists for intelligence special units in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, there is an apparatus of military advisers and instructors of the Russian armed forces with a total number of more than 2,000 people.

"Up to 12 battalion tactical groups are additionally held on the territory of Rostov region with a readiness period of one or two days, which provides the minimum necessary set of measures for an immediate response to possible military actions on the part of Ukraine," he said.

In addition, Khomchak said that since the beginning of 2021, about 19,000 tonnes of fuel, some 335 tonnes of ammunition, 35 vehicles, three tanks, multiple launch rocket systems and special equipment have been moved to the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Wheat off the combine this harvest has hit around 180-182/t, with barley at 168-170/t as global demand for grain continues to hold firm

FORWARD prices for grain are running 20-25/t ahead of last year as strong Chinese buying continues to underpin global cereal markets.

Wheat off the combine this harvest has hit around 180-182/t, with barley at 168-170/t as global demand for grain continues to hold firm.

With no carry-over of wheat or barley forecast ahead of this autumns harvest, the market for dried grain has also improved. Up to 260-265/t is reported to have been paid for dried wheat out of the store over the last few days.

The buoyant world trade for grain has been reflected in stronger forward price announcements from Irish buyers recently.

The latest forward harvest prices from Glanbia has green wheat at 168/t and green barley at 156/t, but industry sources point out that co-operative loyalty bonuses will add a further 10-12/t to these prices.

Forward prices for beans are also stronger. Dairygold is on 240/t for beans, which is 20-30/t ahead of 2020 levels.

The latest FOB Criel for malting barley, which is used by Boortmalt to set the malting barley harvest price, has hit 213/t.

The improvement in global grain prices is being driven primarily by a surge in Chinese activity. Grain imports by the Asian giant have been forecast by the UN to double this year as the countrys sow herd recovers from the devastating impact of African Swine Flu (ASF).

Close to half of Chinas 30m-strong sow herd was culled during 2019-2020 due to the ASF outbreak. However, numbers are now recovering.

The increased level of buying by China has helped to underpin European wheat and barley prices, and put 30/t on forward prices for maize. Futures prices for the maize harvest are currently at 205-210/t, compared to 175-178/t last year.

IFAs Alan Browne said the lift in forward grain prices was a welcome boost for Irish tillage farmers.

The feed sector needs to prioritise the use of native grain, to reduce its over-dependence on imported GM maize from non-EU countries such as Brazil, Mr Browne said.

The Irish Grain Growers (IGG) group encouraged farmers to take advantage of the jump in futures prices by forward selling a percentage of their output.

However, IGG argued that forward prices do not fully reflect current global market trends.

It said forward price levels do not take account of the higher transport costs associated with Covid-19, or the trade disruption due to Brexit.

IGG claimed the carbon benefits of locally-produced grain have to be factored into the forward price.
Denton, TX (76205)

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Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Umar Danladi, has been caught on camera physically assaulting a security guard at Banex Plaza in Wuse, Abuja.

In a five-minute video that has gone viral online, Mr Danlandi was seen slapping and kicking the yet-to-be-identified security guard, while police officers suspected to be attached to him were trying to restrain him

from attacking the guard.

The crowd around the scene was heard shouting Go away, go away, oga go inside your car, respect yourself.

A plastic bottle was seen hauled at his vehicle while the policemen were struggling to calm Mr Danlandi.

The voice from the person filming the scene was heard saying You are not the most powerful person here, they will beat you here.

The voice also said in the video clip that the mirror of Mr Danladis black sport utility vehicle SUV was smashed.

The CCT chairman was eventually pulled back into his vehicle by the policemen.

But as the vehicle was leaving the premises, the gate was shut.

The vehicle, which had others in its front, was trying to find its way out of the premises when the video ended.

CCT chairman didnt assault guard

When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES, the head of CCTs media relation, Ibraheem Al-Hassan, said Mr Danladi did not assault the guard, but was the one assaulted during the altercation that ensued over parking space on the premises of the shopping plaza.

The Chairman did not assault the guard. The crowd assaulted the chairman, Mr Al-Hassan said.

He also said the policemen seen in the video clip were not Mr Danladis security details but the policemen in the neighbourhood who came to rescue him.

The chairman only went to the plaza with his driver. And if not for the intervention of the policemen from the neighbourhood and also from Maitama Police Station, he could have been lynched, he added.

From parking lot altercation to assault

PREMIUM TIMES findings showed that the pandemonium started with an altercation between Mr Danladi and the guard over a parking space on the Banex premise on Monday.

Mr Danladi was said to have arrived the premises at about noon on Monday for a phone repair.

On getting to the premises, his driver parked at an open parking lot, but the guard who sighted them from a distance insisted that they could not park there.

The CCT chairman insisted that he would not pull out of the parking lot.

The verbal exchange between them which drew a crowd to the scene later reportedly degenerated into a physical attack from the CCT chairman.

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Mr Danladis recent act comes barely two years after a Nigerian senator, Elisha Abbo, a young Nigerian senator was also caught on camera assaulting a citizen.

Human rights activist, Hassan Soweto, said Mr Danladi should be prosecuted in line with the law if found guilty of the act.

There is a video showing the tribunal chairman assaulting another Nigerian, but I am saying this carefully because there has not been any independent verification done towards the findings of what really happened before the act.

Although, if it becomes the truth that the Code of Conduct Tribunal chairman was actually engaging in an assault of another Nigerian, it is condemnable in the eyes of all Nigerians and the world. It is a clear abuse of his office, something I think he should be prosecuted for in the line with the laws of the nation.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal was set up by Section 20 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP C15, Volume 2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to deal with complaints of corruption by public servants for the breaches of its provisions.

Since its establishment January 1, 1991, trials and conviction of public servants suspected to have committed offences that qualify as acts of official corruption have been few.
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3 1 of 3 Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Susan Walsh / Associated Press Show More Show Less 3 of 3





NEW HAVEN  The Rev. Boise Kimber, speaking on behalf of the Greater New Haven Clergy Association, said Monday it was inappropriate for him and other officials not to have been invited to Vice President Kamala Harris recent appearance at the Boys & Girls Club of New Haven, describing it as an insult to the Black community in the city and beyond.

Kimber said at a press conference that clergy, along with other Black residents of the city, had organized on behalf of Harris and President Joe Biden during the campaign, but their efforts had not been appropriately recognized.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30) The government will double the daily COVID-19 testing in the country, Testing czar Vince Dizon said on Tuesday, in the wake of an exponential surge in infection.

Speaking to CNN Philippines, Dizon said experts and the COVID-19 task force recommended 90,000 daily tests from the current 45,000 in the coming weeks.

Weve been hitting above 45,000 tests on average, and we even hit a high of 58,000 tests per day, Dizon told The Source. But despite that tremendous number of tests per day, we still need to test more.

He said the government plans to use antigen tests  certified by the World Health Organization and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine  which provide faster results than the RT-PCR (real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction), considered the gold standard.

Dizon noted the need to quickly detect COVID-19 cases for immediate isolation.

Right now, time is of the essence, he said Its not just about the number of tests that we do. Its also about the time by which the tests come out.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire shared the sentiment, saying the test would be appropriate for areas hit by an outbreak like Metro Manila.

We believe this can fast-track testing also, Vergeire said in a separate interview with CNN Philippines New Day.

Where will it be deployed?

Dizon said the antigen tests procured by the government will be rolled out in areas with high risk of COVID-19 transmission, including hospitals and densely populated communities.

In particular, he said the government is aiming to cover 30,000 people in the NCR Plus bubble, namely Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and Bulacan, for the antigen tests. This is in addition to the current 25,000 to 30,000 average RT-PCR testing capacity in the greater Manila area.

LIST: One-week ECQ in Greater Manila area explained

Dizon said the local government units will be asked to help in the free antigen testing.

The Philippines has been recording all-time high numbers in new COVID-19 cases, with the DOH reporting a record 10,016 new infections on Monday.
Press Release

March 30, 2021 Transcript of Interview with Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon ANC's Headstart with Karen Davila Q: We are back to ECQ. Some said we are back to square one. I wanna get first your thoughts on that. SFMD: We are doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. We keep on repeating the same thing over and over again. We keep on doing prolonged lockdowns and hope that it will have a different result. It will not have a different result unless we couple it with critical reforms and observance of basic rules which have already been shown effective in other countries. What are these? Testing, tracking, treating and teaching or 4Ts. We are failing in the four areas. There is no extensive testing. Compared to other countries, we are conducting 17 tests out of every case. In Vietnam, they are testing 4,200 out of every COVID-19 case. In Laos, it is over 2,000. In China, it's 1,853. This is critical so we can go to the next step: tracking. When we see people affected, we can track. Again, we fail here. There is no tracking system in place. That was also what the Healthcare Professional Alliance said, there is simply no tracking. Then, treatment. The vaccines are insufficient. Then, the fourth T is teaching. The people's behavior will be influenced by the credibility of the policies and the announcements. Here, we have announcements that change on a regular basis. The credibility of those who are making announcements and the examples set also matter. When you have "mananita"...when people see this, you lose your credibility when you say social distance. Q: Experts said the Philippines should be testing at least 130,000 Filipinos a day. Yet, after a year, according to USec. Vergeire, we have only reached 50,000 a day. Some have criticized that testing in the Philippines has become a business...In other countries, testing is for free. What can we do? SFMD: That's what I said. From the World Bank findings, we are conducting 17 tests for every COVID-19 case. In Vietnam it is 4,275 tests. You can imagine the disparity. The disparity is also further confirmed by what you said that we needed 130,000 a day and we are only testing 50,000. Maybe Vice President Robredo saw this gap and came up with her own limited way of helping and has this "Swab Cab", a mobile testing center. You said that testing has become a business. Business will come in where they see an opportunity. Because the government is not addressing this vital need of testing, the private sector comes in. Q: For us to be able to conduct more testing, what do you suggest? SFMD: I am no scientist. There must be a deliberate plan and effort to do mass testing. I do not see any. They're saying we are conducting 50,000, that is grossly insufficient. You will see the gross inadequacy and because we are grossly inadequate, we cannot track. If we cannot track, we cannot vaccinate, not only because we do now know who is infected but because there is no vaccine. Q: The people have been asking, is the government to blame? Malacanang has said that we have now more contagious variants. SFMD: On the other end of the scale, why is Vietnam able to control it? Why is Taiwan able to control it? That is because from the very start, they are able to do the correct process. The original sin is when we did not close our borders to Chinese tourists. While Taiwan, in January or February 2020, they closed the flights right away and Vietnam did the same. But we did not do so, because, as what Sec. Duque said, it might displease China. I am sorry to say this but pleasing China resulted in 13,000 deaths, pleasing China resulted in 700,000 cases in our jurisdiction. Q: On allowing private sector to procure vaccines SFMD: That's in the law - a tripartite agreement. That is there because of the strong SFMD: We have ordered late because of wrong advice to the President. He was advised that we cannot make an advanced payment because the law prohibited it. The fact is, in emergency purchase, the law allowed the President to advance the purchase. The failure to advance the purchase price resulted in us being last in the queue. Now the private sector will be allowed to import freely, as I said, this is a good policy. We still hope it can be effective because of the tightness of the supply. Q: Is it coming too late in the day considering that the Senate has been calling for this for the last few weeks? You have business groups that have been calling for this. It could have been done much earlier? SFMD: Not only that. Remember Sec. Duque that companies engaged in beer, tobacco, milk products, they were prohibited. Can you imagine that? Q: What is it? Is it arrogance? Is it control? Is it impotence? SFMD: I think you mentioned everything. All of that could possibly describe it. All of these incidents indicate the lack of planning. As we said, unfortunately, we follow in the IATF's command and control. Maybe we need more scientists and the science-based decisions to influence the kind of thinking in the IATF. Q: So, it is the kind of thinking of the command and control. SFMD: Yes. Q: On the "ayuda" SFMD: I welcome that. We need every assistance to help our suffering people. We have over 4.5 unemployment rate. With our own eyes, we see the poor jeepney drivers on the street begging. It is really hurting. Nakakaiyak po. We hope that it can be implemented better. But I have a little concern with the instruction that it could be given in-kind, because the logistics cost will reduce the net assistance to the beneficiaries. Q: Kapag in-cash, Sec. Roque said some mayors are saying ginagamit sa iba like sugal. SFMD: If it is in-kind, ibebenta rin nila iyon, if that is your premise. On the other hand, when you say in-kind, you have to have a logistics cost of at least 10%. The P1,000 ayuda is needed by our hungry countrymen and unemployed countrymen but the instruction that it could be in-kind has its own disadvantages. Number one is the logistic cost. Number two, at the local level, my goodness, I don't know what the commissions are. I can assure you a week from now, you will hear allegations of corruption in the purchase of this ayuda in-kind. Q: Your suggestion is to give it in cash? SFMD: Yes, give it in cash, it is simpler. Q: Where we are right now. You have Bayanihan 2 that is extended by the end of June 2021. You have the 2021 budget. But the World Bank also said that the Philippines is underspending. It said that the Phl will grow much slower than its neighbors. Do we need another stimulus package? You have a Bayanihan 3 pending at the lower house. SFMD: Before I answer that, where do we get the funds? The WorldBank said we will be behind our neighbors in terms of the quickness of our recovery. They predicted that while Vietnam will have something like 8% GDP, we will only have 5.5%. What is this due to? This is due to erroneous handling of this pandemic that we are experiencing now. In other words, because of the errors we committee - we have not learned to handle it properly - we are suffering from this longer recovery period, including this prolonged lockdown. Your question is, should we borrow some more? Yes, we should borrow some more. We should not be afraid of borrowing, because people are hungry, people are unemployed; our critical industries need assistance. So, we need to borrow. We have been advocating that there should be higher borrowing. We should not be too concerned about higher debt to GDP ratio. We believe that we should borrow more provided that it is spent properly. Q: Health experts are already saying that we should extend the lockdown. Can we afford that? What will happen? SFMD: The prolonged lockdowns, without highlighting and emphasizing the 4Ts, we can have another lockdown. You can extend the lockdown, you will still have the same results at the end of this lockdown, if we do not follow the 4Ts. Q: On the proposal to replace IATF SFMD: Maybe we should reorganize the IATF so the kind of thinking that we have today will be replaced by a clear path toward a science-based program, instead of a command-and-control kind of program. We should have science-based programs so that the responses can be based on accepted scientific based programs. Q: On red-tagging bill SFMD: What we see today is the chilling effect of being red-tagged because of the unfortunate killings that could happen when one is red-tagged. In my own city, there is this lawyer, Atty. Guillen, who was attacked after being red-tagged. A number of members of the media have been tagged as communists. This has a chilling effect on our freedom and on our people. This is the context that prompted us to file this bill. Talking about lawyers, for the past five years 61 lawyers have been killed. In a number of instances, even judges are red-tagged. Q: The strongest feature of the bill is that any state actor, such as law enforcement agent, paramilitary, or military personnel who labels, vilifies, brands, names, accuses, harasses, persecutes, stereotypes, or caricatures individuals, groups, or organizations as state enemies, left-leaning, subversives, communists, or terrorists as part of a counter-insurgency or anti-terrorism strategy or program shall be imprisoned for 10 years and shall suffer the accessory penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification to hold public office. Now, the supporters of anti-terror law are saying, what about those who openly call, let's say, violence and overthrow of the government? SFMD: In that case, the state agents should file cases against them, because that is sedition... But do not do what you are doing today. Q: What you are saying is, when you have evidence, file a case. Don't red-tag. SFMD: Yes. Q: Because you know how it can go, Senator Drilon is supporting communists... SFMD: Well, I expected that. Trolls are earning their fees. I filed this bill in order to generate a debate and let's see which is the proper thing to do. The Committee on Justice will call a hearing and Congress will decide what to do. Q: Why did you include a permanent disqualification from holding public office? SFMD: First, that is usually an accessory penalty as outlined in the Revised Penal Code. Number two, the policy reason behind the perpetual disqualification is that it means that a public official found guilty of red-tagging, if this becomes a law, is not worthy to be a public official. Q: There is a question that came in here. Going back to Covid-19, do you believe this will be an election issue? SFMD: It will certainly be an election issue because a lot of people lost their jobs due to mishandling of the pandemic and a lot of people died because of the mishandling. It will be an election issue. Q: I am also curious, there have been some talks recently that the Liberal Party will support Mayor Isko Moreno in 2022. Have you heard of that? SFMD: I am the vice chairman of the Liberal Party. I have heard of this. That the Liberal Party has taken an official position, no. We haven't even met to discuss this. Maybe we should in order to discuss this. Right now, there is no question Vice President Leni Robredo, to us, is the most qualified to be the next president. She is our chairman. We will support her but the matter of running is a personal decision and up to this point Vice President Leni Robredo has not decided to cast her hat in the national political race. That is where it is today. Those statements are really political in nature. Q: Anything you'd like to add? SFMD: We just have to be consistent to our countrymen. Marami na po ang naghihirap sa atin. Tiisin natin. Let us observe health protocols so that we can save our lives and our loved ones from getting infected with this deadly disease. This is my contribution because I am in the opposition. Whether the administration will listen to me or not, that is a completely separate matter. We ourselves can help by observing strict protocols. I hope that we do not commit the same errors that we have committed in the past year. Doing the same thing over and over again in the hope that it would produce a different result, it will not, Mr. DOH and Mr. IATF.
Burma Fifteen More Killed as Myanmar Regime Continues Bloodbath

An anti-regime protester in Yangon. / The Irrawaddy

Myanmar saw at least 15 more people die at the hands of the militarys juntas forces during random shootings and attacks on anti-regime protests in the country Monday night and Tuesday.

However, that number is expected to rise because several people were reported to have been seriously wounded by security forces gunfire. Some of those wounded have been detained.

As of Tuesday, the protest-related death toll has reached 475.

On Tuesday, Yangons South Dagon Township was the scene of at least four deaths due to random shooting and brutal assaults on residents. The deadly crackdown on anti-regime protesters began Monday morning and continued to after midnight. In addition to those killed, several people were injured.

The area has been under martial law since the middle of the month, and it has been a flashpoint for fatal confrontations between the protesters and security forces for days.

Since the imposition of martial law, Internet access has been cut off in the township and people there are facing difficulties simply going or coming because military troops are deployed everywhere in the township.

Anti-regime protesters told The Irrawaddy that security forces also used hand grenades and some explosive ammunition in a crackdown on roadblocks and protests on Monday.

A nurse who is providing medical cover for the injured people in the township told The Irrawaddy that a resident was beaten to death with rifle butts by security forces after the man refused to help remove roadblocks erected by the anti-regime protesters in the 71 Ward in South Dagon Township on Tuesday.

In addition, two residents were reportedly shot dead by security forces during the removal of roadblocks at 107 Ward of the township on Tuesday. Earlier that day, residents found a burnt body which is believed to have been set on fire with the roadblocks in the township.

Five other protesters have also been shot dead by the military juntas forces during crackdowns in Kachin State capital Myitkyina, Northern Shan States Muse and Tanintharyi Regions Kawthaung.

A 17-year-old boy named Kyaw Min Htet, who was shot and dragged by soldiers and police on March 27 in Thanithryi Regions capital Dawei, was also pronounced dead on Tuesday.

Closed-Circuit TV footage shows the boy being dragged away after he and two friends riding a motorbike were targeted by gunfire from police and soldiers in two vehicles.

The military, however, contends that the boy died due to a severe brain injury due to a fall from the motorbike.

On Monday, two civilians including a 15 year-old boy named Yarzar Htwe were also shot dead by the security forces at Ayeyarwady Regions capital Pathein.

Meanwhile, Ko Wai Lin Oo, 22 , Ko Zaw Hein Htun, 32, and one other man were fatally shot by security forces during an assault on anti-region protests in Mandalay Regions Myingyan Township on Monday.

During the shooting, a man named Ko Soe Lwin, who is over 30 years old, was seriously wounded in the arm and has been detained. Two people who tried to rescue him were also arrested by security forces, a local resident of Myingyan Township told The Irrawaddy.

Amid the deadly crackdowns by the military juntas forces, tens of thousands of people across the country have taken to the street daily to show their defiance of the military regime.

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A Zimbabwean, Esther Vongai Zimudzi, has sued Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) and the countrys Attorney General for charging Value Added Tax (VAT) on rice, which is exempt from tax payment.

In a statement posted on the website of the Journalism Students Network of Zimbabwe, Zimudzi, who is represented by Obey Shava, argues that rice is exempt from taxation in terms of Statutory Instrument 9/2016 as read with Statutory Instrument 26A/2017.

She argues that the tax payment has resulted in price increases of rice of up to 25%, a situation that has forced retailers and wholesalers to pass on the cost to consumers.

Zimudzi claims that such price increases are negatively affecting retailers, wholesalers and consumers, who can no longer afford to buy the commodity.

She further claims that this violates the right to freedom of trade as enshrined under Section 64 of the Constitution as retailers have been selling the commodity on the basis that it is exempt from VAT payment, only for them to be retrospectively penalized.

Zimudzi is seeking a court order to declare as unconstitutional the respondents demand for VAT payment on rice supposed to be paid retrospectively by retailers and wholesalers, who imported the commodity more than three years ago.

Ncube, ZIMRA and the Attorney General have not yet responded to the lawsuit.

According to the state-controlled Herald newspaper, rice was exempted from paying VAT in 2017 by the then Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa, but suppliers and packers of 25 kilograms of the commodity or less received requests for VAT payment, dating back to 2017.

In a letter dated September 22, 2020, written by Finance Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga and addressed to Delloitte and Touche, Treasury refused to stop attempts by the state to retrospectively collect VAT from retailers and wholesalers from 2017, arguing that there were some new policy changes.

Guvamatanga is quoted by the newspaper as saying,  The reclassification of rice and packages of 25kg or less had a public policy objective. More specifically the measure was aimed at supporting the local packaging industry through promoting repackaging of cheaper bulk rice into smaller units. Furthermore, legislation to give effect to the measure was promulgated timely and tax payers had an opportunity to seek clarity or raise concerns over any omissions with Treasury.

In view of the above, your request for a retrospective exemption of rice in packages of 25kg or less is therefore rejected. Your clients should thus approach Zimra for a payment plan.
The city of Chattanooga is once again looking for a new city treasurer.

Maura Sullivan, chief operating officer, said Brittany Johnson had decided to return to her home area in Georgia.

Ms. Sullivan said the longtime resident of Ball Ground, Ga., had gotten a job offer back home.

She was named to the city post last October.

The city early last year hired a Wyoming woman to be city treasurer. At the time there were 60 applicants.

However, there was publicity about the fact she had been named in three federal lawsuits, including one by a former police chief in her town of Guernsey. The City Council eventually voted to rescind the offer.

Kate Johnson later sued the city. She said she spent $21,000 moving to Chattanooga and then back to her previous home.

She said the city hired attorney Sam Elliott to look into Ms. Farmer's background and he concluded that "there should be little concern about her ability to proceed with her duties."

Ms. Sullivan said Tanikia Jackson will again step into the interim role.

Several council members questioned why the post is not given permanently to Ms. Jackson.
Now that Scott Morrison has got woke on the treatment of women after so much seeing and hearing, he has diagnosed that social media is a big part of the problem. It is so big that he is going to do something about it, he says. Exactly what, he cannot say just yet, but he knows it requires action. Possibly some new rules that will have to be followed by big tech.

On the Prime Ministers telling, social media is a form of social acid, one of the key degraders of respect in our country. In truth, the problem is not social media itself but some of the people who use it. Specifically, it is what those people post on social media platforms that is the cause of the trouble. They abuse or humiliate or threaten or just sort of stalk other users and anybody or anything else that displeases them.

The Prime Minister says social media is one of the key degraders of respect in our country. Credit:istock

Morrison knows about the misuse of social media because one of his backbenchers, Andrew Laming, is on leave right now so that he can undergo counselling after his online trolling of two women in his electorate was revealed.

On the weekend, Laming decided to leave parliament at the next election following a further revelation that he had taken a picture of a woman bending over at her workplace. Reportedly, underwear was visible and Laming had not asked permission before taking the photo.
Up and down the popular 1.25-mile path, vendors are cautiously optimistic that after months of being cooped up by winter weather and the pandemic, people will be eager to get out on the Riverwalk. All of the primary vendors will return this season, according to Michelle Woods, the citys project manager for the Riverwalk.
Argus Cyber Security Suite of Solutions integrated with Microsoft's Azure IoT platform to provide in-vehicle and off-board monitoring, analysis, and mitigation of cyber attacks from the cloud

TEL AVIV, Israel, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Argus Cyber Security, a global leader in automotive cyber security, has collaborated with Microsoft Azure IoT and joined the Microsoft partner network to provide vehicle manufacturers the ability to monitor, detect, and mitigate attacks in the cloud.

Argus cyber security suite, integrated with Azure IoT for automotive applications, includes Argus Fleet Protection, an Automotive Security Operation Center (ASOC) solution, in-vehicle insights from Argus Connected ECU Protection, and update capabilities with Argus Software Updates Over-the-Air (OTA). This end-to-end cloud solution is among the first to provide vehicle manufacturers full visibility into the cyber health of their fleet with on-board and off-board monitoring.

This collaboration in automotive provides vehicle manufacturers easier access to security-related in-vehicle information as well as comprehensive coverage of security events. Argus Connected ECU Protection, deployed on connected ECUs such as telematics, infotainment centers, and ADAS units, detects operating system anomalies and suspicious activity in the vehicle according to customer-defined threat models. Threat models can be based on UNECE R 155 (WP.29), the MITRE Attack framework, or any other chosen model. Alerts from the vehicle are sent to Argus Fleet Protection where they are fused with insights from other sources in dedicated automotive threat hunting and investigation modules. By integrating end-to-end automotive cyber security with Microsoft Azure IoT, vehicle manufacturers can leverage data across a wide range of sources to build a more accurate, all-encompassing cyber intelligence picture.

Moreover, with Argus Delta OTA update technologies, vehicle manufacturers are able to implement security updates OTA to immediately reduce exposure to cyber risks, while reducing vehicle downtimes and deployment costs.

"We are very excited about joining the world's leading companies running on Microsoft Azure. It represents a huge leap forward for vehicle manufacturers seeking to reduce their exposure to cyber risk and comply with existing standards and regulations, such as UNR 155 (WP.29)," said Miki Hakak, VP Marketing and Business Development, Argus Cyber Security. "By partnering with a global leader like Microsoft, we are making it easier for vehicle manufacturers to cost-effectively introduce cyber security into their vehicles without impacting production cycles or project risk."

"Cybersecurity is an essential ingredient in the move toward connected and autonomous vehicles," said Avijit Sinha, general manager for Azure Mobility, Microsoft. "Argus has comprehensive and modular solutions to ensure security across a vehicle's complex compute capabilities and networks, whether it's preventing attacks on safety-critical functions or the theft of personal data. Argus' collaboration with Microsoft Azure IoT provides a path for automakers looking to execute on their goal of secure connected and autonomous vehicles."

ABOUT ARGUS CYBER SECURITY

Argus, a global leader in automotive cyber security, provides in-vehicle solutions, professional services, and an automotive security operation center (ASOC) to protect connected cars and commercial vehicles against cyber-attacks. Customers include car manufacturers, their suppliers, and fleet managers.

Currently in production, Argus products and services help prevent, detect, and respond to cyber attacks targeting in-vehicle components, networks, and post-production fleets. Argus professional services help our customers comply with existing guidelines and regulations, such as UNECE R 155 (WP. 29) through a suite of tailored consulting services that help integrate cyber security practices and processes into the entire product lifecycle. Argus' innovative methods and solutions are based on decades of cyber security and automotive research and have culminated in over 70 granted and pending patents.

Founded in 2013, Argus is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, with offices in Michigan, Stuttgart, Tokyo, Shanghai and Korea. Argus is an independent subsidiary of Elektrobit, a leading provider of automotive software products and services. Visit Argus Cyber Security at https://www.argus-sec.com.

@ArgusSec | LinkedIn

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/803463/Argus_Cyber_Security_Logo.jpg

Contact:

Monique Lance

Monique.lance@argus-sec.com

+972 - 54 - 7782549
(Natural News) As the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to sweep through Brazil, younger Brazilians are dying from it at higher, more alarming rates.

Brazil is currently going through its worst period of the coronavirus pandemic. Every day, its caseloads and deaths regularly set new records for the country. (Related: Brazil relives the worst of the pandemic as coronavirus cases and deaths surge anew.)

According to government data, for the month of March at least 2,030 Brazilians between the ages of 30 and 39 have died due to the coronavirus. This is more than double the number of Brazilians in their 30s who died from COVID-19 in January. More people in their 20s and 40s are also dying from the coronavirus.

Before, the risk factor to dying from COVID-19 was being older, having some co-morbidity, said Dr. Domingo Alves, a professor of medicine at the University of Sao Paulo and a member of the national COVID-19 monitoring group. Now, the risk is being Brazilian.

We have otherwise healthy patients that are between 30 and 50-years-old and that is the profile for the majority of patients, said Dr. Pedro Archer, who works at an intensive care unit at a public hospital in Rio De Janeiro. That is the big differentiator in this latest wave.

The number of serious infections is much higher than in the first wave, said Dr. Luan Matos de Menezes in Jan. 2021. De Menezes works at an intensive care unit in a public hospital in the city of Manaus, deep in the Amazon rainforest. You can tell their conditions are much more critical.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, last year people aged 30 to 59 represented around 20 percent of COVID-19 deaths. But in the first three months of 2021, that number jumped to 27 percent. At the same time, the share of the death toll for those aged 60 and over also fell by seven percent during the same time period.

Death for a person in their 30s is very, very painful, said Dr. Maria Dolores da Silva, an intensive care specialist in Sao Paulo. They have their whole lives ahead of them and COVID takes it.

Health officials also estimated that around 60 percent of younger patients with COVID-19 required beds in intensive care units. According to Graccho Alvim, head of the Private Hospital Association of Rio de Janeiro, the average stay in intensive care units for COVID-19 patients has doubled from 15 to 28 days.

Thats because were receiving a lot of young patients, and they resist the disease better than the elderly, said Alvim.

Fiocruz, a health research nonprofit, said that the current crisis is the worst healthcare and hospital collapse in the entire history of Brazil. In what many health officials are calling a troubling sign, on Mar. 18, for the first time in Sao Paulos history, a 22-year-old COVID-19 patient died with waiting in line for a free bed at an intensive care unit.

Disregard for health recommendations and coronavirus variants responsible for spike in cases among younger Brazilians

Health experts have accused young people of failing to follow social distancing protocols and the recommendation to always wear face masks. According to them, the elderly are more likely to abide by health guidelines than the young.

Last year, I think the fear of an unknown disease had such an impact on people that they listened to experts recommendations, said Dr. Jaques Sztajnbok, head of the intensive care unit of the Emilio Ribas Hospital in central Sao Paulo.

But they arent anymore. Young people have lost their fear.

These experts are also pointing to the fact that more people are going out to bars and other large gatherings to party and socialize. This began around the new year and continued during the Carnival holidays. They have also pointed out that Brazils lockdown is not very restrictive, with subways and buses still packed and streets in cities still crowded.

Other scientists are blaming this current crisis on the rise of coronavirus variants, including P.1, a strain first detected in Brazil.

Recent data shows that over half of all cases in six Brazilian states were from variants of concern. This includes P.1, as well as variants first identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Its possible that these new variants are more lethal, but we dont have scientific data to confirm that, said Dr. Jesem Orellana, an epidemiologist working for Fiocruz. But what we do know is that the P.1 variant is more transmissible and that plays a big part in this second wave.

Learn more about the state of the coronavirus pandemic in countries like Brazil by reading the latest articles at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

Bloomberg.com

Edition.CNN.com

MedicalXPress.com
Posted Monday, March 29, 2021 9:18 am

It was March 23, 2020, that Gov. Jay Inslee first issued his Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. For one year, Washington's governor has single-handedly ruled the citizens of the state under emergency powers and proclamations.

For an entire year, the governor has dictated which businesses can remain open and which must be closed. Gov. Inslee has told us who is essential in the workplace and who is not. He has decided if, when and where people can attend church, a wedding or a funeral. He prevented family members from visiting their elderly parents in assisted care. Until recently, he prevented children from returning to school, creating a system which has impacted young people's mental health and led to many students in Washington failing their online classes.

He has issued his edicts from inside a locked Capitol building, later fenced and protected by the National Guard.

Because the Legislature had already adjourned the 2020 session on March 12 last year, legislators were not in session as the governor issued extensions every 30 days of his emergency orders.

It makes sense to allow the governor the ability to quickly respond to an emergency for a limited time, such as an earthquake, or when Mount St. Helens erupted, or when wildfires consumed entire Eastern Washington communities. However, nearly a year of power to set state policies without the involvement of the people's representatives is not the way our government is supposed to work. Our Constitution is very clear about this.

At the end of March last year, I was the first legislator to suggest the governor call a special session to allow elected lawmakers to address the needs of our citizens and businesses across the state suffering from the pandemic. My Republican colleagues later joined me in that request. Under our state Constitution, only the governor or two-thirds of the Legislature can call a special session.

The governor not only dismissed our special session requests, he ignored more than 30 letters from legislative Republicans, advocating for the rights of Washingtonians.

I am among several Republicans who authored legislation to rein in the governor's powers and return government back to the people. House Bill 1381 would limit the governor's emergency powers to 14 days after a state of emergency proclamation, unless extended by the Legislature from a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate. If the Legislature is not in session, a special session could be called to extend the state of emergency proclamation.

Unfortunately, majority Democrats in the Legislature seem to have no interest in these measures. They have refused to advance any bills to limit the governor's powers, including mine.

Let's also be clear  I don't dispute the need for the governor to act during an emergency to save lives. What I dispute is the ability of the governor to single-handedly decide how this should be accomplished for an entire year or more, without listening to the people of our state and the lawmakers they elect to represent them.

Less than a month remains of the 2021 session. I am concerned that if no action is taken, we will be back as we were last year, with the governor ruling the state as a single entity. This is not right!

I've written a letter to members of the Legislature to join me in requesting the Senate and House majority and minority leaders prioritize action by the Legislature, before we adjourn, to end the governor's COVID-19 emergency powers. We have three branches of government with equal, but separate powers. We don't have a king. Our government was created to prevent one branch from single-handedly deciding what's best for the state. We cannot let this session end and allow our governor to continue his one-man rule.

Last year, in Wisconsin when Gov. Tony Evers issued stay-at-home orders, Republicans sued the governor, challenging his orders, and won. I recommended this step last year. If this session ends without reining in Gov. Inslee's powers, we must take action and do the same.

There clearly is no emergency at hand. As legislators, it's our duty to restore the balance of powers before the Legislature adjourns April 25. We need to act NOW and put our state government back into the hands of the people where it belongs!



Rep. Vicki Kraft, R-Vancouver, is serving her third term representing the 17th District, which includes East Vancouver and Central Clark County.
The delegation of Uzbekistan led by Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov will attend the meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council on April 1-2 in Moscow.

At the meeting the Foreign Ministers will exchange views on international issues and cooperation between CIS countries.

Foreign Ministers will also review progress of implementation of joint cooperation programs and drafts of documents that will be considered at CIS Summit, AKIpress reported.
Focus on the Family founder and psychologist James Dobson is unhappy with the first press conference of President Joe Biden. Held on March 25, 65 days since he was inaugurated, the press conference was the venue for the president to address topics on the border crisis, the Senate filibuster, the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, and North Korea's nuclear activities.

President Biden, who is just about two months into his four-year presidency, almost immediately expressed his desire for a reelection in 2024, saying it was his "expectation" to serve a second term. But not many people are happy about this, including Focus on the Family's James Dobson.

Focus on the Family is a fundamentalist Christian organization founded in 1977 that promotes social conservative views on public policy. Founder James Dobson recently took to his organization's website to talk about Biden's first press conference, which he severely criticized for the president's falsehoods.

"'Press conference' is an inadequate description of what took place, which was nearly an hour of misrepresentations and outright lies," Dobson wrote, as per the Christian Post. "[Biden] claimed responsibility for the continued success of President Trump's 'Operation Warp Speed,' blamed the Trump administration for problems that he, himself, created at the border, and totally distorted the truth about legislation the Democrat party is seeking to ram through Congress."

Former President Trump's Operation Warp Speed was the U.S. government's partnership with private facilities to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines that was officially announced in May 2020.

Dobson accused Biden of taking all of the credit, when in fact "almost 1.5 million vaccine shots" had been administered under the Trump administration, so it wouldn't really make sense for Biden to proclaim that he hopes to administer 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in his first 100 days in office.

Dobson argued that what Biden could claim credit for is the border crisis, which began when he rescinded Trump-imposed immigration policies. The Focus on the Family founder argued, "Biden incredibly claimed the problems at the border were created by the Trump administration" and that the Democratic president is "not acting in the best interest of America." He believes that rescinding Trumps' immigration laws have caused a "humanitarian and a national security crisis all within his first two months in office."

According to CNBC, just last week there was a record high of 5,200 children in custody and hundreds who were being held more than the three-day legal limit. Transition officials of the Biden administration continued to blame the Trump administration for not increasing shelter space in time, even in December when Biden's transition officials alerted the Trump administration about it, the report said.

Per CNBC, the Trump administration refused to do anything about it because the immigration laws were in place. When Biden rescinded such laws, flocks of immigrants increased, causing a demand for more shelter space, a problem that President Biden clearly made for himself. His transition officials, however, still insisted that it was the Trump administration's fault, saying it was "incredibly frustrating" for them to wait around for them to take action.

Dobson warned that "freedom-loving Americans" should be "rightfully be outraged" over Biden's seemingly repeated habits of putting blame on the Trump administration for the problems that are being encountered under the Biden administration.
Jeffrey Epstein's pal, Ghislaine Maxwell, is now facing two more charges after U.S. prosecutors expanded their criminal case against her on Monday.

The new Manhattan federal court indictment charges Ghislaine Maxwell with sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking of a minor that involves a new accuser, according to The Guardian.

Ghislaine Maxwell was originally charged with helping Jeffrey Epstein recruit, groom, and abuse minor girls by enticing them to travel. Little the victims know that they will be subjected to illegal sex acts, Forbes reported.

With the new charges, the British socialite now faces eight total counts based on four minor victims' accusations, Crime Online reported.

RELATED ARTICLE: Fact Check: Is Jeffrey Epstein Alive? Convicted Sex Offender Allegedly Spotted in New Mexico

Jeffrey Epstein Accomplice

The new indictment referred to the new accuser in the case as "minor victim-4." The accuser expanded Maxwell's participation in Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse and activity by seven years, or from 1994 to 2004, rather than from 1994 to 1997.

In the initial indictment filed against Maxwell, only three teenage girl accusers were noted by the court to be recruited for a sexual act between 1994-1997.

The new accuser alleged that she met Maxwell at Jeffrey Epstein's Florida home around 2001. She was 14 years old at that time.

Maxwell allegedly groomed her "to engage in sexual acts with Epstein through multiple means." The activity was pursued even though the victim informed Maxwell that she was below 18 years old.

The victim was also contracted to give nude massages to Jeffrey Epstein in his residence in Florida. He also "engaged in multiple sex acts" with her, and Maxwell was allegedly there.

The indictment furthered that Maxwell asked "minor victim-4" about her life and family. Inappropriate behavior was also shown to the minor such as discussing sexual topics in front of her.

The court documents further noted that the victim and Maxwell received monetary payments from Jeffrey Epstein, and they were paid in cash. Gifts coming from Epstein were also given to the victim. One of them is lingerie that is sent to the victim's residence in New York.

Jeffrey Epstein and His Misconducts

Federal prosecutors charged Jeffrey Epstein with one count of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in July 2019. He was denied bail ahead of his trial.

According to a Town & Country report, Epstein did not plead guilty on both charges filed against him.

Law enforcement confirmed on August 10, 2019 that Epstein did take his own life at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan.

Unfortunately, because Epstein is already dead, the cases filed against him were all dropped. But questions regarding the crimes can be answered through the cases filed against Maxwell.

Maxwell is awaiting a trial that is scheduled to take place in July. It is set to happen in Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Lawyers holding Maxwell's case have yet to issue a statement regarding the new indictment.

READ MORE: Jeffrey Epstein Victim Starts Foundation for Survivors of Sexual Abuse

WATCH: Testimony From Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's Alleged Accomplice, Unsealed - From NBC News
New Delhi, March 30 : The Savitribai Phule pathshala, a school opened by social activist Nirdesh Singh at the Ghazipur border protest site, has transformed the lives of kids who used to pick up garbage earlier. The school has become so popular that the local residents are now coming to it to get their wards admitted there.

Almost 150 students are studying in the school, which was opened on January 22, 2021.

The students have also been given school bags and uniforms by the teachers. The school has brought a behavioural change in the students. The kids studying in the school come here in uniform and after the school they take it off before going to pick garbage.

They have also started saying 'thank you' and 'sorry'. They have even started following cleanliness routine and are doing revision of the things taught by the teachers. A lot of students have learnt the tables from 1-10 while many have learnt writing also.

Singh told IANS: "Everyday we are getting 2-4 admissions. We are providing free education to the kids and since the change is visible in most of them, more parents are now encouraged to get their wards admitted to the school." However, there aren't enough seats in the school to accommodate all the students.

When asked where will these students study after the protest gets over, Singh said: "We have activated a team of teachers in the local schools and given them the information about these kids. We will get these students admitted to the local schools under a special scheme."
Hirohisa Soma, deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy to South Korea, enters the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul, Tuesday, as the ministry summoned him to lodge a protest against Japan's approval of school textbooks renewing its territorial claims to Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo. Yonhap



South Korea on Tuesday slammed Japan for approving school textbooks renewing territorial claims to the country's easternmost islets of Dokdo, as tensions flared anew in relations between the two countries already frayed badly over history and territorial rows.



A textbook screening committee under Japan's education ministry approved 296 textbooks for first-year high school students, including 30 kinds for social studies subjects, such as history and geography. The books will be used from next year.



All of the 30 textbooks contain details about the rocky outcroppings, a contrast to the previous state review five years ago when some of the approved social studies texts did not carry the claims.



"We strongly protest that the Japanese government passed the screening of textbooks that have not stated the facts as they are in accordance with its own historical perspective, and we urge that a correction be made immediately," ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam said in a commentary.



"In particular, we cannot help but deplore and strongly condemn the approval of the textbooks carrying ungrounded claims to Dokdo, which is clearly our indigenous territory historically, geographically and by international law," Choi said.



The South Korean government also urges Japan to "accurately recognize" the issues related to the victims of wartime sexual enslavement by the Japanese military, a violation of basic rights and abuse of women's rights during war, while engaging in history education based on the spirit of responsibility, apology and self-reflection as expressed by itself," Choi added.



The foreign ministry called in a senior Japanese Embassy official to lodge a protest.



Lee Sang-ryol, director-general for Asian and Pacific affairs, expressed regrets to Hirohisa Soma, deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.



The revised texts are considered to have reinforced Japan's claims to Dokdo that the islets are its indigenous territory and illegally occupied by South Korea.



In March 2018, the Japanese government revised teaching guidelines to instruct high schools to educate students about its claims to Dokdo in social studies classes.



Textbook publishers are required to reflect the government's teaching guidelines in the content to get state approval for publication.



Japan's renewed claims to the rocky outcroppings came as bilateral relations remain badly frayed over the protracted row stemming from colonial-era history issues of forced labor and sexual slavery, and Tokyo's export curbs on Seoul.



Dokdo has long been a recurring source of tensions between the two neighbors, as Tokyo continues to lay claim to the islets in its policy papers, public statements and school textbooks.



South Korea has been in effective control of Dokdo, with a small police detachment, since its liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. (Yonhap)


Zsuzsanna Hargitai has been appointed new Managing Director, Central Asia for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In this role she will oversee the Banks operations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, a vast and diverse region where the EBRD has invested US$ 16.5 billion (13.7 billion) through almost 890 projects to date.

In her new role, Ms Hargitai, who is currently EBRD Regional Director for the Western Balkans and Head of Serbia, will be based primarily in Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan, and is expected to assume her new position on 17 May 2021. She will also work from the Banks Resident Office in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

Ms Hargitai said: I am very excited about this opportunity to further strengthen and intensify the EBRDs activities in this strategically important part of the world. Central Asia holds so much promise and its role is only bound to grow in the coming years. From private sector support to the greening of the local economies, from closing the infrastructure gap, including digitalisation, to promoting economic inclusion, the EBRD has significant contributions to make to successfully tackling the challenges ahead.

A Hungarian national, Zsuzsanna Hargitai has been managing the EBRDs activities in a number of countries such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Hungary and Croatia. She also held senior managerial positions at the Banks Headquarters in London, before becoming Regional Director for the Western Balkans in 2018, where she oversaw new record levels of investment.

As EBRD Managing Director for Central Asia, Ms Hargitai is succeeding Andre Kuusvek, who was appointed President of the Nordic Investment Bank earlier this year.
The European Union could open up a Pandoras box if it decides to restrict exports of coronavirus vaccines, a political analyst told CNBC last week, James Crabtree, an associate professor in practice at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said in an interview to Consumer News and Business Channe (CNBC). Vaccination drives in the 27-member bloc have been hindered by production issues. Anglo-Swedish firm AstraZeneca earlier this year cut its first-quarter target from 90 million doses to 30 million doses.

The shot, developed in partnership with the University of Oxford, is favored for the vaccine rollout in the European Union.

Officials have already imposed strict rules for exports. The EU will check if the receiving country has the virus under better control than Europe and whether it has limitations on vaccines or raw materials before allowing the shots to be shipped.

Some EU nations, however, have concerns about the new rules and want supply chains to remain open. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is really struggling because other rich countries are doing much better on vaccinations compared to the EU, said James Crabtree, an associate professor in practice at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Theres enormous political pressure  to begin to experiment with a kind of vaccine nationalism, Crabtree told CNBC. This is, of course, very dangerous because the EU is normally one of the most responsible international actors, he said.

He also warned that other countries may follow the EUs lead in prioritizing vaccines for domestic populations. If it begins to try and restrict the flow of vaccines out of EU factories, then it opens up a Pandoras box in which countries like India may then begin to do the same, said Crabtree.

That could be very damaging given that new Covid variants are likely to keep emerging, he added. For its part, the EUs trade chief, Valdis Dombrovskis, said it is highly unfair to accuse the EU of vaccine nationalism, given that it is one of the largest vaccine exporters. Data shows that the EU has exported 77 million doses of the shots to 33 countries since December, while 88 million have been delivered to EU countries.

The bloc has also complained that London is not showing the same level of reciprocity in the distribution of vaccines. Heather Conley of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) noted that the U.K. and EU said they are working toward a reciprocally beneficial relationship. Still, leaders in Europe are nervous about their political futures with some countries going to the polls in the coming year or so, said Conley, who is director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at CSIS. Political testiness of leaders and this hysteria about political futures will make the EU take steps that may work ultimately against their long-term interest of getting those vaccines into arms very quickly, she told CNBCs Squawk Box Asia on Friday. I think the international harm that that would do to global vaccine production would be greater than the increased number of vaccines in the EU, she said.

Experts have long warned that vaccine nationalism could be bad for public health and the economy. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in January said the coronavirus will continue to mutate and thrive if the distribution of vaccines remains inequitable. Vaccine nationalism hurts us all and is self-defeating, Tedros said. But on the flip side, vaccinating equitably saves lives, stabilizes health systems and would lead to a truly global economic recovery that stimulates job creation.
A judge here sentenced a former Bexar County Sheriffs Office deputy to three years in prison on charges that he exposed himself to a 15-year-old in December 2019.

Andres Ibarra, 27, entered a plea of no contest Tuesday to indecency with a child by exposure. State District Judge Michael Mery issued the sentence, the Bexar County District Attorneys Office said in a statement.

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According to reports, the 15-year-old girl told authorities Ibarra followed her and offered a ride, and continued to pursue her when she refused, eventually exposing himself to her.

The victim recorded the encounter, which helped convict Ibarra, the DAs office said.

District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales called it incredibly disappointing that someone who served as a member of law enforcement would commit this type of crime, especially to a child, the release said.

Court records indicate Ibarra no longer worked for the Sheriffs Office when the December 2019 incident occurred. The Sheriffs Office investigated the crime.

On ExpressNews.com: Former BCSO deputy arrested on indecency charges

Authorities said during the investigation and throughout the process, Ibarra consistently referred to his actions as an inconvenience to the victim.

This was more than an inconvenience. This was a brazen disregard for the safety, well-being and autonomy of a child, said Assistant District Attorney J. Hunter Morris of the DAs Public Integrity and Cyber Crime Division. I commend the childs courage for speaking up and bringing this to the attention of law enforcement.

Once Ibarra is released from prison, he will have to register as a sex offender.

ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863
An MIT team has created polymers that replicate the structure of mucins, the molecules that give mucus its unique antimicrobial properties

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- More than just a sign of illness, mucus is a critical part of our body's defenses against disease. Every day, our bodies produce more than a liter of the slippery substance, covering a surface area of more than 400 square meters to trap and disarm microbial invaders.

Mucus is made from mucins -- proteins that are decorated with sugar molecules. Many scientists are trying to create synthetic versions of mucins in hopes of replicating their beneficial traits. In a new study, researchers from MIT have now generated synthetic mucins with a polymer backbone that more accurately mimic the structure and function of naturally occurring mucins. The team also showed that these synthetic mucins could effectively neutralize the bacterial toxin that causes cholera.

The findings could help give researchers a better idea of which features of mucins contribute to different functions, especially their antimicrobial functions, says Laura Kiessling, the Novartis Professor of Chemistry at MIT. Replicating those functions in synthetic mucins could eventually lead to new ways to treat or prevent infectious disease, and such materials may be less likely to lead to the kind of resistance that occurs with antibiotics, she says.

"We would really like to understand what features of mucins are important for their activities, and mimic those features so that you could block virulence pathways in microbes," says Kiessling, who is the senior author of the new study.

Kiessling's lab worked on this project with Katharina Ribbeck, the Mark Hyman, Jr. Career Development Professor of Biological Engineering, and Richard Schrock, the F.G. Keyes Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, who are also authors of the paper. The lead authors of the paper, which appears today in ACS Central Science, are former MIT graduate student Austin Kruger and MIT postdoc Spencer Brucks.

Inspired by mucus

Kiessling and Ribbeck joined forces to try to create mucus-inspired materials in 2018, with funding from a Professor Amar G. Bose Research Grant. The primary building blocks of mucus are mucins -- long, bottlebrush-like proteins with many sugar molecules called glycans attached. Ribbeck has discovered that these mucins disrupt many key functions of infectious bacteria, including their ability to secrete toxins, communicate with each other, and attach to cellular surfaces.

Those features have led many scientists to try to generate artificial versions that could help prevent or treat bacterial infection. However, mucins are so large that it has been difficult to replicate their structure accurately. Each mucin polymer has a long backbone consisting of thousands of amino acids, and many different glycans can be attached to these backbones.

In the new study, the researchers decided to focus on the backbone of the polymer. To try to replicate its structure, they used a reaction called ring-opening metathesis polymerization. During this type of reaction, a carbon-containing ring is opened up to form a linear molecule containing a carbon-carbon double bond. These molecules can then be joined together to form long polymers.

In 2005, Schrock shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work developing catalysts that can drive this type of reaction. Later, he developed a catalyst that could yield specifically the "cis" configuration of the products. Each carbon atom in the double bond usually has one other chemical group attached to it, and in the cis configuration, both of these groups are on the same side of the double bond. In the "trans" configuration, the groups are on opposite sides.

To create their polymers, the researchers used Schrock's catalyst, which is based on tungsten, to form cis versions of mucin mimetic polymers. They compared these polymers to those produced by a different, ruthenium-based catalyst, which creates trans versions. They found that the cis versions were much more similar to natural mucins -- that is, they formed very elongated, water-soluble polymers. In contrast, the trans polymers formed globules that clumped together instead of stretching out.

Mimicking mucins

The researchers then tested the synthetic mucins' ability to mimic the functions of natural mucins. When exposed to the toxin produced by Vibrio cholerae, the elongated cis polymers were much better able to capture the toxin than the trans polymers, the researchers found. In fact, the synthetic cis mucin mimics were even more effective than naturally occurring mucins.

The researchers also found that their elongated polymers were much more soluble in water than the trans polymers, which could make them useful for applications such as eye drops or skin moisturizers.

Now that they can create synthetic mucins that effectively mimic the real thing, the researchers plan to study how mucins' functions change when different glycans are attached to the backbones. By altering the composition of the glycans, they hope to develop synthetic mucins that can dampen virulence pathways of a variety of microbes.

"We're thinking about ways to even better mimic mucins, but this study is an important step in understanding what's relevant," Kiessling says.

###

In addition to the Bose grant, the research was funded by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Jorge Blanco's artist impression of Llukalkan aliocranianus. Credit: Jorge Blanco and Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology

Research published today in the peer-reviewed Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology describes a newly discovered species of dinosaurnamed the 'one who causes fear', or Llukalkan aliocranianus.

Around 80 million years ago as tyrannosaurs ruled the Northern Hemisphere, this lookalike was one of 10 currently known species of abelisaurids flourishing in the southern continents.

A fearsome killer, Llukalkan was "likely among the top predators" throughout Patagonia, now in Argentina, during the Late Cretaceous due to its formidable size (up to five meters long), extremely powerful bite, very sharp teeth, huge claws in their feet and their keen sense of smell.

It had a strange short skull with rough bones, so in life its head had bulges and prominences like some current reptiles such as the Gila monster or some iguanas. Its hearing was also different to other abelisaurids. The make-up of its skull suggests this was better than most of the other abelisaurids and similar to that of modern-day crocodiles.

Its full name comes from the native Mapuche for 'one who causes fear'Llukalkan, and the Latin for 'different skull' - aliocranianus.

It lived in the same small area and period of time as another species of furileusaurian (stiff-backed lizard) abelisauridViavenator exxonijust a few million years before the end of the age of dinosaurs.

Skull of Llukalkan aliocranianus. Credit: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology

Fossil remains of Llukalkan and Viavenator were found just 700m apart in the Bajo de la Carpa Formation, near the same famous fossil site at La Invernada, in Argentina.

"This is a particularly important discovery because it suggests that the diversity and abundance of abelisaurids were remarkable, not only across Patagonia, but also in more local areas during the dinosaurs' twilight period", says lead author Dr. Federico Gianechini, a paleontologist at the National University of San Luis, Argentina.

Abelisauridae were a striking family of theropod dinosaurs averaging five to nine meters long that prowled mainly in Patagonia and other areas of the ancient southern subcontinent Gondwanarecognised today as Africa, India, Antarctica, Australia, and South America. To date, almost 10 species of this fearsome predator have been unearthed across Patagonia. While abelisaurids resembled T-Rex in general appearance with tiny stubby arms, they had unusually short, deep skulls which often bore crests, bumps, and horns, and were unique.

Moving upright on their hind limbs with huge claws that they may have used to stab their prey, Llukalkan had extremely powerful bites and very sharp teeth with which to tear down their prey while moving fast thanks to their powerful hind legs.

The fossilised remains of Llukalkan include a superbly preserved and uncrushed braincase. This new species is similar in many respects to Viavenator, except that it is smaller, the holes in the skull through which the veins pass are larger and more widely separated from the supraoccipital crest (one of the bones that forms the braincase), among other differences. But the new dinosaur's most distinctive feature is a small posterior air-filled sinus in the middle ear zone that has not been seen in any other abelisaurid found so far.

Site of discovery of Llukalkan aliocranianus. Credit: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology

It means that Llukalkan likely heard differently to other abelisauridsmost probably better and similar to that of a modern day crocodile explains co-author Dr. Ariel Mendez from the Patagonian Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Argentina.

"This finding implies a different hearing adaptation from other abelisaurids, and likely a keener sense of hearing", says Dr. Mendez.

However it may have lived, the fossil evidence of Llukalkan's adaptations suggests that abelisaurids were flourishing right before the dinosaurs went extinct.

"These dinosaurs were still trying out new evolutionary pathways and rapidly diversifying right before they died out completely," adds Mendez.

Despite their significant finding there is still a lot to discover. "This discovery also suggests that there are likely more abelisaurid out there that we just haven't found yet, so we will be looking for other new species and a better understanding of the relationship among furilesaurs," says Gianechini.

Explore further Argentine researchers find distant Tyrannosaurus relative

Germany on Tuesday announced it plans to extend COVID-related border controls along its frontier with the Czech Republic by a further 14 days, but ending those with the Austrian region of Tyrol.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said Tuesday the number of coronavirus cases was still too high on the Czech side of the border.

Seehofer said the Tyrol region had "improved considerably," so would not be extending the restrictions after they expired.

People wanting to enter Germany from the Czech Republic are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test and go into quarantine for 14 days.

Seehofer said border police will also start doing spot checks along the frontiers with Denmark, France and Poland, particularly after Easter.

The announcement comes as rules came into force making testing mandatory for all air travelers to Germany, regardless of whether they come from a risk area, or an area with virus mutants.

(Image Credit: AP)

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)

It now looks like Canada-U.S. relations are going to hit a major pothole in the diplomatic road. Unless a resolution of the Line 5 pipeline dispute can be found quickly, it could easily become the first real test of the Biden-Trudeau partnership.

Opinion

It now looks like Canada-U.S. relations are going to hit a major pothole in the diplomatic road. Unless a resolution of the Line 5 pipeline dispute can be found quickly, it could easily become the first real test of the Biden-Trudeau "partnership."

Indeed, the governor of Michigan, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, has made it known that she will shut the oil pipeline down  pointing to environmental risks involving an easement through the Straits of Mackinac  in May. While the pipelines owner, Calgary-based Enbridge Inc., is challenging that order in U.S. federal court, its unclear whether that legal move will ensure that Line 5 continues to operate.

Furthermore, it does look like the governor is prepared to dig her heels in on this one. Whitmer issued a statement stating plainly, "Enbridge has routinely refused to take action to protect our Great Lakes and the millions of Americans who depend on them for clean drinking water and good jobs."

Though Canadas ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, has spoken to Gov. Whitmer about the dispute, there has been some suggestion that she is not willing to engage purposefully on the file with Canadian officials. Nevertheless, Ottawas consul-general in Detroit, former NDP MP Joe Comartin, told the Globe and Mail in an interview that this "has got very serious ramifications" for central Canada.

In addition, he emphasized that the U.S. Department of Transports Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration gave Line 5s submerged pipeline crossing a "clean bill of health" in 2020.

It is worth highlighting that Line 5 carries Alberta crude through the state of Michigan and then on to Ontario and Quebec for refining purposes. (The line supplies all of the jet fuel to Pearson International Airport in Toronto and half of the same fuel used at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.) Moreover, thousands of jobs in Ontario, especially workers in Sarnias refining and petrochemical sector, are in jeopardy if the easement granted in 1953 is abruptly revoked by Whitmer.

Speaking before the special House of Commons Committee on the Economic Relationship between Canada and the United States, Natural Resources Minister Seamus ORegan remarked, "We take threats to our energy security very seriously. The federal government is watching like a hawk We are watching it on an almost minute-by-minute basis, and we will be absolutely prepared to intervene at exactly the precise moment."

And in a pointed message to the state of Michigan, ORegan didnt mince his words: "We are fighting for Line 5 on every front and we are confident on that fight and we are preparing to invoke whatever measures we need to in order to make sure that Line 5 remains operational." Thankfully, the Trudeau Liberals have a friend in newly-confirmed U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who was born in Vancouver and is a former governor of Michigan.

In fact, Canada does have several factors working in its favour. For example, Gov. Whitmer was co-chair of Joe Bidens 2020 presidential campaign and was even in the top tier of candidates to be his vice-presidential running mate, so she would be receptive to any White House interventions on Canadas behalf.

Secondly, there is a keen desire on the part of the Biden administration to enhance and deepen bilateral relations with Canada in the wake of the disastrous Trump interregnum. It would make sense for Washington to want to smooth things over with Ottawa by making the Line 5 irritant go away (and thus soften the blow somewhat from the decision to terminate the cross-border permit for the Keystone XL pipeline project).

Thirdly, officials in Ottawa can make a strong case for how Michigan itself (including the closing of an oil refinery in the state) would be harmed economically from any Line 5 shutdown. There would also be a major disruption in Michigans propane supplies, of which Line 5 provides more than 50 per cent of its needs statewide, and corresponding job losses in the Great Lakes State.

Lastly, the Trudeau government has the option of invoking the 1977 Transit Pipelines Treaty (one which then-senator Joe Biden himself voted in favour to ratify) to seek direct negotiations with the U.S. government to resolve the matter (and seek binding arbitration, if necessary). Canada can easily point to the provisions of the treaty intended to "ensure the uninterrupted transmission by pipeline" and the fact that no public authority (including state governments) can institute measures "which would have the effect of impeding, diverting, redirecting or interfering with in any way the transmission of hydrocarbon in transit."

So there is no need for Ottawa to panic here. Theres a pretty good chance that this is going to go Canadas way. If anything, the resolution of this dispute will tell us whether the normal rules of the Canada-U.S. diplomatic culture have been fully restored under President Biden.

Peter McKenna is professor of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown.


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Contest-winning crew members named for Inspiration4 spaceflight



March 30, 2021  A former Space Camp counselor and an "analog astronaut" whose father tracked Apollo science experiments deployed on the moon have won seats on board the first all-civilian spaceflight, joining a billionaire and a physician assistant who survived cancer as a child.



Chris Sembroski and Sian Proctor were revealed on Tuesday (March 30) as the winners of a sweepstakes and a competition, respectively, that were held to fill the final two seats on the Inspiration4 mission. The two will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule and orbit high above Earth together with Jared Isaacman, who is commanding and underwriting the cost of the mission, and Hayley Arceneaux, who was selected as an ambassador for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.



Slated to lift off as soon as mid-September, the Inspiration4 crew members will circle the planet for three days at an altitude about 80 miles (130 km) higher than the International Space Station. In the process, the four will set several records, both as individuals and together, including flying on the first space mission without a professional astronaut on board.



As first announced in February, Isaacman organized the Inspiration4 mission to not just fulfill his dream of flying in space, but "to send a message that inspiration can create a world of infinite possibilities up in the stars, but most importantly here on Earth."



The sweepstakes won by Sembroski had the goal of raising up to $200 million for St. Jude's efforts to save pediatric cancer patients worldwide. The contest brought in more than 72,000 donations, totaling $13 million, in addition to the $100 million pledged by Isaacman.





Meet the first all-civilian space crew. Click to enlarge video in a new window. (Inspiration4) Generosity and Prosperity



Sembroski was among those who donated to St. Jude's, but it was a friend whose name was picked and who passed the winning ticket onto him for the "Generosity" seat on the Inspiration4 mission.



"Although I've been fortunate to have spent years in the aerospace industry, I never imagined having the opportunity to reach the stars, especially through something as simple as supporting St. Jude," Sembroski said in a statement released on Tuesday by Inspiration4. "I am honored to occupy the Generosity seat and look forward to using this platform to encourage everyone to be generous to others in whatever ways they are able."



A data engineer for Lockheed Martin, Sembroski, 41, has had a lifelong interest in astronomy and space exploration. He took part in grassroots space advocacy marches before helping to maintain Minuteman III missiles while serving in the U.S. Air Force and earning his bachelor's degree in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida.



As a former Space Camp counselor who led students through simulated space missions, Sembroski will be the 10th alum of the Huntsville, Alabama program to fly into space for real.



Proctor was chosen as the winner of the Shift4Shop competition, which asked entrants to set up an e-commerce site using the online payment processing service founded by Isaacman and record a video sharing their "inspirational entrepreneurial story" and why their business "should be elevated to the stars." Proctor's "Space2Inspire" shop offered postcards and prints of her AfronautSpace art, which she uses to encourage conversations about women of color in the space industry.



A geoscientist and science communication specialist, Proctor, 51, has participated in four analog space missions, including a NASA-funded four-month "Mars mission" at the at the Hawai'i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) Habitat. She has a bachelor's degree in environmental science, a master's degree in geology and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction for science education.



The author of the "Meals for Mars Cookbook," Proctor came close to launching to space with NASA as a finalist in the agency's 2009 astronaut candidate selection.



As the "Prosperity" crew member aboard Inspiration4, Proctor will become the first person to be born in Guam to fly in space. Her late father, Edward Proctor, was assigned to the Guam tracking station to support the first seven Apollo astronaut missions, charged with overseeing the data being received from the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP).



"I have always believed that I was preparing for something special, and that moment has arrived with Inspiration4." said Proctor. "This opportunity is proof that hard work and perseverance can pay off in unimaginable ways."



Hope and Leadership



With their selection, Sembroski and Proctor complete the Inspiration4 crew, which also includes seats for "Hope" and "Leadership."



Furthering the mission's goal of supporting St. Jude's, Arceneaux is flying as an ambassador for the hospital. Diagnosed at age 10 with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, her family turned to St. Jude's for her treatment, including the insertion of metal rods to replace bones in her left leg. Now doing well, Arceneaux works at St. Jude's, helping children with leukemia and lymphoma.



"This seat represents the hope that St. Jude gave me  and continues to give families from around the world," said Arceneaux. "It's incredible to be a part of this mission that is not only raising crucial funds for the lifesaving work of St. Jude but also introducing new supporters to the mission and showing cancer survivors that anything is possible."



In addition to being the first person with a prosthesis to fly in space, Arceneaux is set to become the youngest American to enter orbit at age 29. (The youngest person worldwide was also only the second person to fly into space: cosmonaut Gherman Titov at age 25.)



As the mission's benefactor, Jared Issacman, 38, is the Inspiration4 commander, filling the mission's "Leadership" role.



An accomplished pilot, Isaacman is rated to fly commercial and military aircraft and holds several world records including two Speed-Around-The-World flights in 2008 and 2009. He has flown in over 100 airshows as part of the Black Diamond Jet Team and co-founded what would become the world's largest private air force, Draken International, to train pilots for the U.S. Armed Forces.



"While a historic journey awaits us in space, I hope this mission reinforces how far inspiration can take us," Isaacman said.



Inspiration4 crew members (from left to right) Chris Sembroski, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Jared Isaacman pose in front of their SpaceX launch pad, Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, March 29, 2021. (SpaceX)







A former Space Camp counselor who now works in the aerospace industry, Chris Sembroski will serve as a mission specialist on the Inspiration4 all-civilian spaceflight, helping to manage science experiments and communications with mission control. (SpaceX)







An "analog astronaut" and daughter of an Apollo tracking engineer, Dr. Sian Proctor will serve as pilot on the Inspiration4 mission, backing up commander Jared Isaacman throughout the three-day spaceflight. (SpaceX)







Chris Sembroski (at left) and Sian Proctor won their seats on board the Inspiration4 mission, joining the first all-civilian crew. (SpaceX)







Mission patch representing the first all-civilian crew. (Inspiration4)





Inspiration4 mission crew members (from left) Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Chris Sembroski pose at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, March 29, 2021. (SpaceX)



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The Niger State government has suspended boarding schools in the rural areas of the state to avert further abduction of students by bandits.

The states Commissioner of Education, Hannatu Salihu, said this in a statement she issued on Tuesday.

Mrs Salihu said the decision was reached at a management meeting with directors of the ministry, zonal directors of Quality Assurance, and heads of agencies.

All public day secondary schools are to reopen today, March 29, 2021, all boarding secondary schools in urban areas are to reopen on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

Public day secondary schools in areas of high risk that would run in clusters with selected safe schools in nearby communities would reopen on a later date to be announced after adequate arrangements are concluded, she said.

Students from other communities in the boarding schools that would operate as day schools would be moved to other boarding/day secondary schools in their localities.

The commissioner stated that all principals have been provided with specific details in respect of the arrangements as they are expected to work in collaboration with their zonal directors to ensure compliance in light of the demands of current security realities.

To this end, Hajiya Hannatu directed that every school must form a formidable security team, consisting of school officials, security personnel, PTA, SBMC and Vigilante with active community participation to allow for a strong security presence in and around the schools she declared.

She added that principals are expected to ensure strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols by guaranteeing the compulsory wearing of face masks, sanitizing of hands and maintaining social distancing among others.

She said the government had closed the schools for two weeks to enable it conduct a risk assessment, after which it decided to improve security in the schools.

The reopening arrangement comes six weeks after scores of students and staff were abducted by gunmen in Government Science College in Kagara, Rafi local government area of the state.

The state governor declared the closure of all boarding schools in Rafi and three other neighbouring local government areas the following day.

The students and the staff kidnapped were later released after ten days in captivity.
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A Democrat assembly member from California is backtracking the proposed AB 655, which aims to discriminate against and prohibit conservatives and people of faith from serving in law enforcement.

A proposed bill in California reported last week would discriminate against law enforcement who have religious or conservative views. AB 655 or the California Law Enforcement Accountability Reform Act (CLEAR Act) was initially written to weed out police officers who have used "hate speech" or have been part of any "hate group."

Proposed by California Democrat Assemblymember Ash Kalra, AB 655 initially defined participating in a "hate group" as "advocating or supporting the denial of constitutional rights of, the genocide of, or violence towards, any group of persons based upon race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability." Now, Kalra is backtracking on the language used in the bill.

Now, the bill that could bar police from serving has been revised to remove the language that refers to "supporting the denial of constitutional rights of...any group of persons based upon race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability."

The Federalist reported that by this standard, organizations like the California Family Council, Pacific Justice Institute, and Sacramento Peace Officers Association all agreed that the proposed legislation would classify a large part of the American population as "hateful" for disagreeing with the Left, especially on topics such as abortion, gender ideology, and marriage.

University of California's David Levine, a constitutional law professor, explained that the CLEAR Act's definition of a "hate group" was "so broad that it would encompass all sorts of groups that nobody would say would actually constitute some sort of a problematic hate group." Anyone who felt offended by any group would label such an organization as a "hate group" and can abuse the law to punish those who have differing views.

While the proposed CLEAR Act was created to target police gangs, Pacific Justice Institute Senior Staff Attorney Matthew McReynolds argued that it also "launches an inexplicable, unwarranted, and unprecedented attack on peaceable, conscientious officers who happen to hold conservative political and religious views," making it a highly discriminating bill that can be used to oppress others.

McReynolds condemned the proposed AB 655, saying it was a blatant, "undisguised and appalling attempt on the freedom of association and freedom to choose minority viewpoints." In a conversation with NBC New's KCRA, Kalra defended AB 655 saying, "You have a constitutional right to have racist and bigoted views. You don't have a constitutional right to be a police officer."

Now that the proposed bill is garnering overwhelming negative reactions from several organizations, the California Democrat assemblymember is backtracking, saying that the language pertaining to the denial of constitutional rights has been removed because every American has the First Amendment right to be part of any group that differs in opinions.

The proposed bill that could bar police from serving depending on their conservative views comes at the heels of the Jan, 6 Capitol Hill attack, in which Kalra believes there was an "apparent cooperation, participation, and support of some law enforcement." He hopes that AB 655 can help prevent this in the future.

[March 30, 2021] Deloitte Canada acquires Groundswell Group Inc. to enhance AI and cloud transformation capabilities in Western Canada and nationally

TORONTO, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - Deloitte Canada is acquiring a leading AI and data integration firm, Groundswell Group Inc. ("Groundswell") to increase its ability to serve clients from Western Canada across major growth areas of artificial intelligence and cloud transformation. Deloitte's second acquisition of 2021, Groundswell will enhance the firm's critical digital transformation capabilitiesincluding machine learning, intelligent automation and cloud data engineeringwhich have accelerated due to COVID-19. "This is a very exciting time for AI and cloud transformation, and pairing up with Groundswell is yet another way of showing our commitment to helping Canada transform as a country by serving this fast-growing space and our mid-market and large clients," said Anthony Viel, CEO, Deloitte Canada. "Not only does this move secure Deloitte's position as the number one artificial intelligence consultancy in Canada, but it's an especially big win for how we serve our Western Canada and national clients with end-to-end services to help them transform at scale and thrive." Founded in Calgary in 2001, Groundswell is the largest AI and data management firm in Western Canada. Groundswell brings to the table its strong end-to-end capabilities across AI, cloud data transformation, intelligent automation, business intelligence, data visualization, big data, and predictive analytics. "It's no secret that today's business leaders are increasingly looking to capitalize on the value of data, and Groundswell is a big step forward in how we deliver insightful analytics to our clients," said Sebastien Blais, managing partner, Consulting at Deloitte Canada. "Through Groundswell's end-to-end capabilities, strong relationships, and rock-solid reputation, we further bolster our ability to help guide our large and mid-market clients along every step of their AI powered digital transformation journeys." Recognized as a leader in AI and data in the Western market, Groundswell's team of 133 employees will join Deloitte's Consulting practice in Canada, as part of Omnia AI. Also joining the firm as new partners, are former president at Groundswell, Darren Sartison, frmer chief operations officer, Morgan Arndt, and former vice president, BC operations, Adrian Hull.



"This is a bright and exciting next chapter for our team. Joining forces with Deloitte feels a little like we're finally putting the puzzle pieces together," said Darren Sartison, previously president at Groundswell, joining Deloitte as a partner. "Our customers' opportunities grow as the intersection of business and technology continues to merge. By combining Groundswell's technical depth and capabilities with Deloitte's comprehensive AI and Data offerings, from strategy to implementation to operations, we're truly stronger together." Retaining its strong partnerships with industry leading vendors, Groundswell will continue to serve the needs of key Western clients, and nationally with employees joining Deloitte in Calgary, Vancouver, and Edmonton.

Deloitte Canada's Corporate Development Office (CDO) actively pursues and responds to merger, acquisition, and alliance opportunities that bolster our capabilities to serve clients. On February 26, 2021, Deloitte Canada also acquired digital consulting firm, The Working Group Inc., to aid its mid-market and large clients in digital and cloud transformation, and further enhance Deloitte's global digital strategy. Each acquisition demonstrates the firm's commitment to serving private, medium and large Canadian clients and helping them respond to complex business issues and/or evolving service needs and opportunities. About Deloitte

Deloitte provides audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Deloitte serves four out of five Fortune Global 500 companies through a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries and territories bringing world-class capabilities, insights, and service to address clients' most complex business challenges. Deloitte LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms. Our global Purpose is making an impact that matters. At Deloitte Canada, that translates into building a better future by accelerating and expanding access to knowledge. We believe we can achieve this Purpose by living our shared values to lead the way, serve with integrity, take care of each other, foster inclusion, and collaborate for measurable impact. To learn more about Deloitte's approximately 330,000 professionals, over 11,000 of whom are part of the Canadian firm, please connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter , Instagram , or Facebook. SOURCE Deloitte & Touche

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New York health officials are worried that some coronavirus variants will reinfect people who have had COVID-19 before.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Dr Dave Chokshi, the city's health commissioner, said that reinfection appears to be rare.

However, he noted that the coronavirus variants that were first identified in South Africa and Brazil have been show in lab studies to have a greater ability elude antibodies that the body generates after infection.

'[They] do appear to be able to evade our immune response more so that some of the other variants of the virus,' Chokshi said.

'So that is something we are following closely and there appears to be evidence that those people who get those variants are more at risk of reinfection.'

Both he and Mayor Bill de Blasio reiterated that the best way to protect yourself from reinfection is to get vaccinated.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

During a press conference on Tuesday, health officials say they are closely watching on the South African and Brazilian variants despite just two cases identified of the South African variant (left) and one case of the Brazilian variant (right)

Mayor Bill de Blasio reiterated during the press conference that the best way to protect yourself from reinfection is to get vaccinated

South Africa's variant was first announced by the health department in the Eastern Cape province of the county on December 18.

It has 21 mutations, including one it shares with the variant first identified in the UK in a location on its genome known as N501Y.

This variant first caught international attention when four travelers arriving to Tokyo from Manaus, Brazil, tested positive on January 2.

The variant has the same spike protein mutation as the highly transmissible versions found in the UK and South Africa  named N501Y  which makes the spike better able to bind to receptors inside the body.

However, very few cases of either variant have been identified in either New York City or the state.

Just two cases of the South African variant and one of the Brazilian variant have been confirmed in the city, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

In New York State, there have been five confirmed case of the South African variant and two confirmed cases of the Brazilian variant, according to The Journal News.

Currently, the variant that is the most prevalent in the Big Apple is the homegrown New York City variant, B.1.526.

The New York variant was first detected in samples collected in mid-November in Washington Heights, neighborhood in Upper Manhattan.

It is thought to have had a chance to develop in a person who had advanced AIDS.

The most prevalent variant in New York City is the homegrown variant known as B.1.526, with at least 1,800 cases identified, an increase of 18% from 1,476 the previous week

The spread of the homegrown variant may be why COVID-19 cases in the city continue to remain stubbornly with a rolling average of 3,900 for the last month

Two versions of the variant are circulating, but both are being called B.1.526 variant for now.

One carries the E484K mutation - found in the Brazilian and South African variants - and which scientists believe reduces the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

The other has the S477N mutation, which may act like a guide for the virus to infect human cells, optimizing the binding process and possibly increasing case rates.

As of March 23, 1,800 cases have been identified according to the New York City DOHMH.

That's an increase of 18 percent from 1,476 the previous week. It may why cases in the city continue to remain stubbornly with a rolling average of 3,900 for the last month.

During the last complete week of genome sequencing, 32.5 percent of all samples sent to the state's Pandemic Response Lab came back positive for the variant.

But Chokshi said there is no evidence that people who previously were infected with the virus can become infected with the New York variant.

'Based on our own observation here in New York City, including the variant that was first identified here in the city, we're not seeing likelihood of reinfection from that particular variant or the likelihood of reinfection growing over time,' he said.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 50 MBA in Marketing Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 180 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 180 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 MBA in Marketing Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-mba-in-marketing-degree-programs/

2021 MBA in Marketing Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

American University

Arizona State University

Babson College

Brandman University

Brenau University

Central Michigan University

City University of Seattle

Colorado State University

Columbia Southern University

Columbia University

Cornell University

Dallas Baptist University

Dominican University

Drexel University

Duke University

East Carolina University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide

Fort Hays State University

Grand Canyon University

Harvard University

Indiana University

Lehigh University

Liberty University

Loyola Marymount University

Messiah College

National University

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Pepperdine University

Regis University

Rivier University

Rutgers University, Camden

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Stevens Institute of Technology

Syracuse University

University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

University of Michigan

University of Minnesota

University of Nebraska, Lincoln

University of North Dakota

University of Pennsylvania

University of Rochester

University of South Dakota

University of Washington

Villanova University

Walden University

Webster University

Wichita State University

Wright State 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/.
A still from body camera video shows the white 2018 Tesla pulled over by a Flagler County Sheriffs deputy. The two teenage girls in the vehicle told deputies they were traveling from Charleston to visit the father of one of the teens. Flagler County Sheriffs Office/Provided
VMS deposits are normally high-grade, occur in clusters, have a longer Life of Mine and the funding required is what a small-cap company can handle.

Ltd ( ) is all about de-risking a high-grade copper mining project. The Antler project is a VMS (Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide) and that explains the nature of the deposit.

What I like about VMS is that it is normally high-grade, occurs in clusters, has a longer LOM (Life of Mine) and the funding required is what a small-cap company can handle.

In Coffee with Episode 79, we talk to Mike Haynes, the managing director and CEO of New World Resources Ltd ( ) about the Antler Project.

Mike Haynes has been working in the US since 2005 and you can tell that he has an in-depth understanding of how the business works in that part of the world.

Over the years, I have been exposed to a few US projects and I have been very impressed with their technical merits. In nearly all these cases, the development potential has been good. The issue at that time was the availability of capital.

The tenure of these projects has been something I found significantly different to what is present here in Australian projects or in many other places. I think in terms of project development, this can make a lot of difference to the ultimate success of a project.

It is not often that one finds an intercept of 23 metres of ore with a grade of 6.7% copper equivalent. It is even rarer to find that left in the ground waiting to be discovered.

Mike Haynes shares with us the story of how Antler was acquired and how this will add significant value to the company. The high-grade nature of the project will shield the project from future price volatility. These are all the facets of what I like about this project.

The fact is that ongoing drilling is finding better grades and bigger intersections as they go deeper. Hence, the path forward for the Antler project is all about a de-risking process towards mining.

PODCAST:

About Mike Haynes

Managing director and CEO

Mike Haynes has more than 25 years of experience in the international resources industry. He graduated from the University of Western Australia with an honours degree in geology and geophysics and has explored a wide variety of ore deposit styles throughout Australia and extensively in South East and Central Asia, Africa, Europe, South and North America.

Haynes has held technical positions with both BHP Minerals and Billiton plc. He has worked extensively on project generation and acquisition throughout his career.

During the past 13 years, he has been intimately involved in the incorporation and initial public offerings of numerous resources companies, and in the ongoing financing and management of those and other companies.

About

New World Resources Ltd is an Australian company focused on the exploration and development of mineral resources projects in North America. It is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the code NWC.

On January 14, 2020, announced that it had executed an agreement that provides it with the right to acquire a 100% interest in the high-grade Antler Copper Deposit in Arizona, USA.

Location and infrastructure

The Antler Copper Project is in a sparsely populated region of north-western Arizona (see Figure 1).

Access to the project area is excellent; with direct access to the historical mine site by way of 20km of unsealed road that extends east from the town of Yucca (population approximately 6,000) which is on US interstate 40. A rail line passes through Yucca as well as Kingman (population 30,000), some 30km to the north.

The close proximity of good roads and utilities will be advantageous when exploring and developing the project; affording opportunities to minimise operating costs and lower pre-production capital requirements.

The Antler deposit lies within two patented (private) mining claims that cover 40 acres. The deposit is surrounded by an additional seven unpatented (BLM) mining claims that cover a further 340 acres.

Figure 1. Location of Antler Copper Project in Arizona, USA.

Geology and mineralisation

The Antler deposit lies within a NE-trending belt of Precambrian gneissic and schistose rocks thought to have originally been volcanic in origin. The deposit comprises a stratabound, pyrrhotite-rich, copper-zinc volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) body.

Numerous other VMS deposits, in similarly aged rocks, are present in northern Arizona. These include the United Verde deposit  where 33Mt of ore was mined between 1883 and 1975 at a grade of 4.8% copper and the UVX Deposit  where 3.9Mt of ore was mined between 1915 and 1992 at a grade of 10.2% (see Figure 1).

Mineralisation at the Antler deposit outcrops over more than 750m of strike at surface. The host sequence strikes in a north-easterly direction and dips to the northwest. A complex array of tight folds has been mapped, and two north-westerly trending faults have been mapped to offset and truncate the Antler Deposit (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. Mapped geology at the Antler Copper Project in Arizona, USA, including all previous surface drilling.

Historical production

The Antler deposit was discovered in the late 1800s. Intermittent production from the deposit between 1916 and 1970 totalled approximately 70,000 tonnes of ore at a grade of around 2.9% Cu, 6.9% Zn, 1.1% Pb, 31 g/t Ag and 0.3 g/t Au. Ore was extracted over approximately 200m of strike from an inclined shaft, to a depth of around 150m (see Figures 3-5). The average thickness of ore was reported to be around 4 metres. Additional underground workings were developed to a depth of 200m  but no production was recorded from the deeper levels.

Remnant mineralisation

Previous mining operations deliberately targeted the highest-grade mineralisation; with stoping undertaken only where such mineralisation was thickest. Accordingly, considerable mineralisation remains, unmined, at very shallow levels immediately adjacent to historical stopes.

Between 1970 and 1975, following completion of the most recent episode of mining, a total of 19 holes were drilled from the surface and underground with the objectives being to:

Increase confidence in the known mineralisation immediately below the mined levels (predominantly below the 7 Level which was developed 150m below below surface) in advance of anticipated resumption of mining; and

Explore for additional mineralisation.

Considerable high-grade mineralisation was delineated with closely spaced drilling over an area about 150m wide by 200m down-dip, immediately below the historical stopes (see Figures 3-5). Significant intersections (in unmined mineralisation) include:

9.66m @ 3.57% Cu, 6.63% Zn, 0.82% Pb, 34.4 g/t Ag and 0.34 g/t Au (U30);

7.62m @ 2.80% Cu, 7.29% Zn, 1.61% Pb, 43.4 g/t Ag and 0.54 g/t Au (DDH12);

5.18m @ 2.90% Cu, 12.58% Zn, 2.08% Pb, 63.1 g/t Ag and 0.42 g/t Au (U16);

7.62m @ 2.47% Cu, 3.52% Zn, 2.81% Pb, 64.5 g/t Ag and 0.46 g/t Au (B-3); and

6.40m @ 1.51% Cu, 10.69% Zn, 1.95% Pb, 52.1 g/t Ag and 0.29 g/t Au (U18).

Other, widely-spaced, drilling intersected additional high-grade mineralisation both (i) at depth, considerably below historical workings; and (ii) along strike from the historical workings (see Figures 3-5).

Figure 3. Long section through the Antler deposit showing previous drilling and select significant intersections in surface drilling.

Figure 4. Detailed long section through the Antler deposit showing previous drilling and select significant intersections in underground drilling immediately around the historical workings.

Figure 5. Cross-section through the Antler deposit showing previous drilling and select significant intersections in drilling.

The deepest hole drilled at the project to date (B-6) intersected high-grade mineralisation more than 400m down-dip of the lowest level of the historically mined workings (see Figures 3 and 5). Results included:

9.14m @ 1.53% Cu, 0.95% Zn, 1.10% Pb and 60.2 g/t Ag; and

1.22m @ 4.00% Cu, 7.10% Zn, 0.86% Pb and 35.9 g/t Ag

Other, very widely-spaced holes along strike from the historical workings intersected high-grade mineralisation (see Figure 3), with results including:

1.65m @ 4.20% Cu, 4.13% Zn, 1.25% Pb and 66.9 g/t Ag (B-4)

1.19m @ 3.99% Cu, 9.15% Zn, 0.77% Pb, 27.0 g/t Ag and 0.17 g/t Au (DDH4); and

2.13m @ 1.66% Cu, 3.57% Zn, 0.10% Pb and 1.22 g/t Ag (B-1)

The detailed drilling, immediately below the 7 Level, indicates there is substantial high-grade mineralisation that may be rapidly extracted if mining operations resume. And the results from the deeper and more widely-spaced drilling, where high-grades were returned in all but several holes, indicates there is considerable potential to delineate additional, mineable, high-grade mineralisation at the project with further infill drilling.

Historical resource

In 1975, a consultant to Standard Metals Corporation (the owner of the project at the time), prepared a preliminary feasibility study into the development of the Antler deposit. A mineral resource estimate was reported, which comprised:

Mineral resource estimate.

Forward work plans

The company commenced an initial 2,500m drilling program at the Antler Project in mid-March 2020.

The companys immediate objective is to delineate robust JORC-code compliant indicated resources that can be used in mining studies to evaluate the potential to bring the Antler deposit back into production in the near-term.

So, the priorities for the companys maiden drilling program are to:

Undertake an appropriate amount of confirmatory drilling within a panel of high-confidence, high-grade mineralisation immediately below the previous stopes that have previously been drilled and sampled from underground (see Figures 3 and 4). Initial production (if mining operations resume) is expected to be derived from this area.

Undertake infill drilling between the more widely spaced and deeper historical holes that indicate there is a thicker, high-grade plunging shoot down-dip of the previous stopes (see Figure 3)

Undertake initial shallow drilling adjacent to historical stopes to test the thickness and grade of unmined mineralisation in these areas; and

To conduct initial step-out drilling outside the plunging shoot to test for thicker high-grade zones of mineralisation.

In parallel with initial drilling activities, representative drill core samples will be collected for metallurgical test-work and geotechnical data will be acquired for initial mine design work. This information will facilitate commencement of studies into the resumption of mining and help optimise equipment sizing.

Given the very high-grades and shallow nature of the mineralisation, the company intends to initially evaluate the potential to develop a low-capex, high-grade mining operation at the project, which could conceivably be brought into production quickly.

Please let 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 and Rooster Talks visit: www.samso.com.au

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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 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 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.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-31 00:06:50|Editor: huaxia

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MACAO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR and the Office of the Commissioner of Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Macao SAR on Tuesday said they firmly support the adoption by the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, of the amended Annexes I and II to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR.

The amendments were passed at the closing meeting of the 27th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee on Tuesday.

The Annexes I and II to the HKSAR Basic Law, which concern the method for the selection of the HKSAR Chief Executive and the method for the formation of the HKSAR Legislative Council and its voting procedures, respectively, are a key component of the HKSAR political system, the Macao SAR government said in a statement.

The Macao SAR government said the NPC move will help safeguard the national sovereignty, security and development interests and ensure Hong Kong's long term prosperity and stability, noting that it is a significant step taken in fully implementing the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" as well as an action by the central authorities in exercising constitutional powers and duties.

Voicing its firm support for the NPC move, the liaison office of the central government in the Macao SAR said in a statement that it marks the latest effort by the NPC after formulating the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR in the implementation of "one country, two systems", which will help maintain the constitutional order of HKSAR as stipulated in the Constitution and the Basic Law.

A spokesperson of the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Macao SAR noted that ensuring Hong Kong is administered by patriots will help remove the risks of external forces and their political agents meddling in Hong Kong affairs.

Patriots administering Hong Kong is the common aspiration of all Chinese people including compatriots in the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, the spokesperson said, stressing that any scheme to interfere in Hong Kong affairs and exert pressure on China is doomed to fail. Enditem
Effective Tuesday, March 30, movements to and from Bugesera, Nyanza, and Gisagara districts will resume after a two-week ban in a bid to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The directive is among new Covid-19 guidelines issued by the Prime Minister's Office on Monday, March 29.

Travel restrictions were imposed on the three districts after, according to the Ministry of Health, there was more prevalence of Covid-19 noticed in the area compared to other districts in the country.

Meanwhile, as per the new directives, the curfew will still remain from 9 p.m to 4 a.m.

However, movements are prohibited between 7 p.m and 4 a.m in Ruhango, Nyanza, Huye, Gisagara, Nyaruguru, and Nyamagabe districts, Southern Province.

Other changes include reducing the number of passengers in public buses, whereby, effective Tuesday, public buses will not be allowed to exceed 50 per cent capacity. Until Monday, the maximum number of commuters was 75 per cent of the vehicle's capacity.

Though physical meetings will remain allowed, Covid-19 testing will continue to be required for gatherings that exceed 20 people. Also, participants should not go beyond 30 per cent of the capacity of the venue where they are meeting.

As it has been, arriving and departing passengers at Kigali International Airport must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure and should comply with health guidelines in place.

"The public is reminded to remain vigilant in complying with preventive measures in order to control a Covid-19 resurgence," the Office of the Premier said in a statement.

All new measures are expected to be reviewed after two weeks.

Rwanda has so far confirmed 21,419 Covid-19 cases. Of these, 19,785 have already recovered. A total of 301 people have succumbed to the virus.

It is now more than three weeks since the country rolled out the vaccination exercise, and 348,926 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 already.
The inspectors findings maintain that police officers at the vigil did their best to peacefully disperse the crowd, remained calm and professional when subjected to abuse, and did not act in a heavy-handed manner.

But they did note that there was a disconnect between officers and commanders about the changing nature of the event, citing insufficient communication.

The inspectorate said its conclusions had come after a review of hundreds of pieces of evidence, including body-camera footage from officers at the vigil and other video of the event, and interviews with the police, vigil organizers and politicians.

It added that public confidence in the Metropolitan Police suffered as a result of the vigil, and noted the effect of the images of the officers arresting women.

A more conciliatory response after the event might have served the Mets interests better, investigators said. One line in the report was particularly critical of the chorus of those condemning the Metropolitan Police, and calling for the resignation of the commissioner, within hours of the arrests, which it called unwarranted.

It said that while a certain degree of uninformed commentary, particularly on social media, is inevitable, in this case some of the leading voices were those in positions of some responsibility, appearing to take aim at politicians, some of whom had called for the leader of the Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick, to step down.

Ms. Dick had at the time called it fiendishly difficult policing and said she would not have wanted to see a vigil in memory of Ms. Everard end with such scenes. She said she welcomed the review as she said that confidence in Londons police force was still far too low.
Educators and community advocates are concerned the provincial government's education reforms will reinforce systemic racism in the public school system and further marginalize visible minority voices.

Educators and community advocates are concerned the provincial government's education reforms will reinforce systemic racism in the public school system and further marginalize visible minority voices.

The Education Modernization Act (Bill 64) states a board of appointees that will make policy decisions instead of elected trustees will represent "the diversity of the people of Manitoba and the varied talents, perspectives and ideas of people with different backgrounds and experiences."

There are no specifics that address regional, cultural, gender or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) perspectives.

Kathleen Vyrauen, co-chairperson of the Newcomer Education Coalition, said shes unconvinced of the vague language in the legislation.

"At the end of the day, if theyre going to be making decisions for those students, they have to reflect those students. If they dont do that, youre going to have so many students fall through the cracks," said Vyrauen.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Kathleen Vyrauen, co-chairperson of the Newcomer Education Coalition said shes unconvinced of the vague language in the legislation.

Calling representation vital to make marginalized communities feel safe and supported as active members in the school system, Vyrauen said Manitoba should look to Nova Scotia: when the Eastern province dismantled boards in favour of a centralized set-up that mirrors Manitobas plans back in 2018, it reserved seats for underrepresented communities at the table.

Nova Scotia's 15-member advisory council must include elected representatives from the Mikmaq, African-Nova Scotian and Acadian communities.

The remaining positions, one of which is for a representative with experience in inclusive education, are to be selected, after considering everything from regional, cultural and gender representation to the "equitable representation" of community interests in appointments.

In Manitoba, reforms prioritize parents: a parent elected from each of the 15 new regional entities, as well as a francophone trustee, will make up an advisory council that has the ministers ear. Decision-making power will be concentrated in a board of no more than 11 appointees, including at least two parents from the advisory council.

"Since weve just come through this Black Lives Matter movement, its so important to recognize that we are in an age of racial reckoning like no other," said Rebecca Chartrand, an long-time Indigenous education consultant and mother in Winnipeg, who recently took over the role of vice-president of programs and student success at Indspire.

Chartrand said shes concerned a top-down system will focus on managing rather than leading by philosophies on best practices in education, including championing diversity, inclusion and equity.

Since weve just come through this Black Lives Matter movement, its so important to recognize that we are in an age of racial reckoning like no other.  Rebecca Chartrand, vice-president of programs and student success at Indspire

"Unless affordances are made my concern is that theres always a huge amount of patronage in appointments," she added.

Winnipeg educators took to social media over the weekend to criticize how the reforms preference families outside of the Perimeter rather than inside Winnipeg, which is home to the majority of visible minority residents. An infographic created by teacher Elisabeth Braul, which charts the discrepancies and calls the provinces plan "a racist policy and 'accountability structure' designed to silence BIPOC voices,'" made the rounds on Twitter.

"To me, its pretty clear that when you ask for 14 representatives outside Winnipeg, you are looking for a particular kind of parent white parents and in particular, religious parents," said Braul, an educator and mother in Winnipeg.

Census data from 2016 show 89 per cent of the visible minority population in Manitoba  a figure that excludes Indigenous people  lives in Winnipeg. Sixty-three per cent of the entire BIPOC population in the province lives in the capital.

In defence of the reforms, Education Minister Cliff Cullen cited Bill 64s language around "diversity" and listed a number of advisory entities that will be set up to include a range of perspectives. The advisory tables will include: a student council, curriculum review panel, an Indigenous inclusion directorate council, a task force on poverty and education, and an inclusive education council.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Education Minister Cliff Cullen.

"Manitoba is proposing to modernize our education system to ensure the diversity of our school communities are reflected at all levels  within schools and within the administrative structures that will support the 15 regions," he said in a prepared statement, which suggested the current system does a "poor job" of reflecting diversity while a high number of trustees run unchallenged in elections.

Only five of 54 trustees elected to Winnipegs six boards in 2018 identified as either Indigenous or as a visible minority.

The Newcomer Education Coalition, Winnipeg Indigenous Executive Circle and Community Education Development Association have been lobbying boards to make representation a priority in recent months.

Following the release of their education equity reports, both Winnipeg and Seven Oaks trustees elected people of colour to lead their boards.

Greg McFarlane, who became the first Black trustee to chair a school board earlier this school year, said Seven Oaks is concerned its uniqueness as a progressive division that has long prioritized Indigenous education wont be factored into decision-making after the reforms.

"That to me is the most frightening aspect of the whole thing. If this government is bent on control Theyre going to hire directors, people that are of the same mind," McFarlane said.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
It's now clear just who will hop aboard SpaceX's first all-civilian flight. NBC News' Today show has revealed the two remaining crew members for Inspiration4, and they're clearly up to the task. Chris Sembroski (shown at far left) is a 41-year-old Air Force veteran and Lockheed Martin employee. Dr. Sian Proctor (second from left), meanwhile, is a 51-year-old entrepreneur, educator and experienced pilot.

Sembrosi was picked out of 72,000 people contributing to a fundraising drive for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, while judges chose Proctor from 200 entrants in a Shift4Shop competition.

They join mission leader Jared Isaacman, the Shift4 CEO who's paying for the trip, as well as 29-year-old cancer survivor and St. Jude physician assistant Hayley Arceneaux. She'll set records as both the youngest American to go to space as well as the first person with a prosthesis to make the journey.

Inspiration4 doesn't have a firm launch date. Isaacman told Today it could blast off "before the end of September." It's also unclear just what the crew will do once it's in orbit, although it will involve blood samples and plant seeds. You can safely assume that many eyes will be on this mission, though. While it's something of a publicity grab for Shift4 (if as part of a fundraising effort for St. Jude), it represents a huge step toward a future where civilians regularly travel to space, whether for work or tourism.
Almost three years after Eduardo Balaquit went missing, and almost a week after Winnipeg police charged a man with his homicide, there's only one thing his son would like to say to the suspect.

Almost three years after Eduardo Balaquit went missing, and almost a week after Winnipeg police charged a man with his homicide, there's only one thing his son would like to say to the suspect.

"Help us out," said Edward Balaquit. "Tell me where he is. We just want my dad back."

Edward said the family, which participated in ultimately fruitless searches in the Winnipeg and Arborg areas for his 59-year-old father, thought an arrest would bring some type of closure, but it hasn't.

Balaquit's body hasn't been found.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Edward Balaquit poses for a portrait on the six-month anniversary of his father's disappearance in Winnipeg on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.

"It was releasing to know they found the person, but at the same time, my family didn't find out where my dad is," Edward said Monday.

"We've found out until we find my dad, it is hard to find closure."

Eduardo Balaquit, a Filipino immigrant, went to work the evening of June 4, 2018, and didn't return home. The next day, police found Balaquit's vehicle abandoned in a parking lot near the Keewatin Street building where he was to be doing regular janitorial work.

The vehicle's window was smashed, but personal belongings, including a cellphone, were still inside.

Kyle Alexander James Pietz, 35, who had worked at Westcon Equipment & Rentals Ltd. at 380 Keewatin St. but who was no longer an employee when Balaquit disappeared, was charged last week with manslaughter.

Eduardo Balaquit's body has not been found.

Pietz, who lived in Winnipeg when Balaquit disappeared had since moved to Saskatoon. He was arrested in the Saskatchewan city by Winnipeg and Saskatoon police officers.

When the arrest was announced, Winnipeg Police Service Det.-Sgt. Wade McDonald said: "Eduardo was a hardworking man. He worked several jobs in the city. He worked at this business for a number of years. He had just gone to work and never returned home."

Police have not disclosed a motive in the slaying.

For the family, Edward said, hearing the suspect used to work at the place his father was employed as a cleaner didn't make it any easier.

"We have more questions than anything," he said Monday. "We don't know this person.

"My dad was the nighttime janitor there. He was contracted to clean there. This is more confusing than anything," Edward said.

"How often do you speak to your night janitor?"

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Volunteers searched for Eduardo Balaquit in a field just outside the perimeter highway in Winnipeg shortly after his disappearance.

Edward said police investigators gave the family a heads-up a suspect had been arrested, but few other details. He said police didn't say whether they had questioned the suspect about the potential location of his dad's body.

"They want to protect the integrity of the case," he said. "They can't talk about it. I can only assume they asked."

Edward said family members would even be willing to go out and search again, if they only knew where to go.

"Unfortunately, we don't know where to look," he said.

"Our main goal is to find my dad. It is like Day 1 all over again  it is still a waiting game for us. But I'm sure someone will find him someday."

 with files from Dean Pritchard

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 22:49:10|Editor: huaxia

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-- The amended annexes were passed at China's top legislature with a unanimous vote.

-- "A democratic electoral system suiting Hong Kong's legal status and reality has taken shape as a result of the amendments," top legislator says.

-- The overall design of the system is centered around restructuring and empowering the Election Committee.

-- Staunch support has been expressed by Hong Kong residents.

BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Tuesday adopted a package of legislative changes to improve Hong Kong's electoral system.

The amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) were passed at a session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee with a unanimous vote from all 167 committee members in attendance.

The two annexes respectively concern the method for the selection of the HKSAR chief executive and the method for the formation of the HKSAR Legislative Council (LegCo) and its voting procedures.

People display China's national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in support of implementing the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" at Tamar Park in Hong Kong, south China, March 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

President Xi Jinping has signed presidential orders to promulgate the amended annexes, which will go into effect on Wednesday.

"A democratic electoral system suiting Hong Kong's legal status and reality has taken shape as a result of the amendments," said Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee when presiding over the session's closing meeting.

Li said the two amended annexes fully demonstrate the resolution and common will of the Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests as well as the constitutional order of the HKSAR.

HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Tuesday in a statement that by improving the electoral system and implementing "patriots administering Hong Kong," the excessive politicization in society and the internal rift that has torn Hong Kong apart can be effectively mitigated, thereby enhancing the governance capability of the HKSAR.

"I and the HKSAR Government will spare no effort in taking forward the necessary amendments to the local electoral legislation in accordance with the amended Annex I and Annex II," said Lam.

EMPOWERING THE ELECTION COMMITTEE

The overall design of the system was centered around the reformation and greater empowerment of the Election Committee of the HKSAR.

Committee membership has been expanded from 1,200 to 1,500. The number of sectors has been increased from four to five. The number of subsectors has also been increased from 38 to 40, and some subsectors have been adjusted and improved based on the actual situation.

Photo taken on March 12, 2021 shows the exterior of the headquarters of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Apart from its original function of nominating and electing the chief executive, the committee will have two more key functions: electing a relatively large proportion of LegCo members and participating in the nominations of all LegCo candidates.

"With the enlargement, increased number of sectors, adjusted subsectors and renewed functions, the Election Committee will have a broader base and be more representative of society, leading to more balanced participation from people from all walks of life," said Zhang Yong, deputy head of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee.

BROADER REPRESENTATION

The amendments also expand LegCo membership from 70 to 90. Among the members, 40 shall be returned by the Election Committee, 30 by functional constituencies and 20 by geographical constituencies through direct elections.

"The consideration behind this institutional design is that LegCo members returned by the Election Committee would represent the overall interests of Hong Kong society, those returned by functional constituencies would represent the interests of various sectors, and those returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections would represent the interests of their constituencies," said Deng Zhonghua, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.

According to the amendments, the seats of District Council members are canceled in both the Election Committee and the LegCo.

A senior resident signs his signature in support of improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and implementing the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" in Hong Kong, south China, March 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

In recent years, District Councils have seriously deviated from their functions and nature prescribed by the Basic Law, which stipulates that District Councils are "district organizations which are not organs of political power" and may "be consulted by the government of the Region on district administration and other affairs," explained Deng.

Funded by the government, District Councils should concentrate on promoting the well-being of grassroots communities, provide valuable and constructive suggestions to the HKSAR government, and work as a bridge connecting the government with ordinary people, Deng added.

VETTING COMMITTEE

According to the new annexes, a candidate eligibility review mechanism shall be established to review and confirm the eligibility of candidates for the Election Committee, the office of chief executive, and the LegCo.

This is to ensure candidates meet not only the general eligibility requirements, but also the legal requirements and conditions of upholding the Basic Law and swearing allegiance to the HKSAR, so as to fully implement the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong," said Deng.

STAUNCH SUPPORT

Plugging loopholes and defects in the HKSAR's current electoral system and improving methods for the selection of the HKSAR chief executive and the formation of the LegCo in a systematic manner are the common aspirations of the Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, said the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council in a statement.

The office called on all sectors of Hong Kong to support the work of the HKSAR government and LegCo, so as to create an optimal environment for various elections to be held on schedule.

Tam Yiu-chung (4th L), one of the conveners, hands over a petition signed by over 2.38 million people in support of improving Hong Kong's electoral system to Luo Huining (4th R), director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in Hong Kong, south China, March 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Staunch support for the improvement of Hong Kong's electoral system has been expressed by local residents.

A public petition launched in support of the legislative move received over 2.38 million signatures in Hong Kong.

According to a survey by local think-tank Bauhinia Institute, nearly 70 percent of the 1,366 Hong Kong residents interviewed at random support the effort to improve the electoral system, and 66.8 percent agree on the composition of the Election Committee as it can better reflect the overall interests of Hong Kong society.

It is quite obvious that Hong Kong residents hope for a stable society and "patriots administering Hong Kong," said LegCo member Chan Han-pan.

(Video reporters: Wan Houde, Leung Ka-chun; Video editor: Chen Sihong) 
Suozzi: Long Islanders Can Track their $1,400 with Get My Payment Tool on IRS.gov

Local News, Business & Finance, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: March 30 2021

Get My Payment tool from IRS.gov can be used to check the status of your payment.

With 82 percent of New York adults set to receive Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,400 per person through the American Rescue Plan and money beginning to be directly deposited into bank accounts, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) is highlighting a new Get My Payment tool from IRS.gov where new Yorkers can check the status of their payments.

Getting money in peoples pockets will stimulate our economy and help families who are in dire need of help, said Suozzi.

In most cases, these payments are automatic and no action is necessary to receive them.
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- The rapid industrialization across many regions will serve as a vital growth-boosting factor for the adhesives & sealants market for manufacturing industry during the forecast period

- The adhesives & sealants market for manufacturing industry expects to expand at a CAGR of ~8 percent between 2020 and 2030

ALBANY, N.Y., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Adhesives and sealants have made a space for themselves as effective materials across the manufacturing industry. The growing number of industries and the increasing application of adhesives & sealants across various applications will serve as a growth contributor during the assessment period of 2020-2030. The properties of adhesives and sealants make them a perfect match across many end-users. Thus, these factors will serve as growth contributors for the adhesives & sealants market for manufacturing industry during the tenure of 2020-2030.

Specially designed adhesives and sealants are available for the manufacturing industry. These adhesives have properties that are ideal for the type of materials used in the manufacturing industry. Thus, these aspects help in increasing the growth rate. The growing influence of adhesives & sealants across appliance manufacturing, automotive assembling, conformal coatings, wire tracking, aerospace manufacturing, electronics and electrical, and others will bring profitable growth prospects between 2020 and 2030.

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The TMR team has conducted extensive research on all the aspects related to the growth of the adhesives & sealants market for manufacturing industry. The research wing of the TMR team has studied every factor associated with the adhesives & sealants market for manufacturing industry. Current trends, ongoing developments, regional insights, and competitive prospects are some of the important points covered in this report. The report also has details about the impact of COVID-19 on the adhesives & sealants market for manufacturing industry.

The TMR team has anticipated the adhesives & sealants market for manufacturing industry to record a CAGR of ~8 percent during the assessment period of 2020-2030. The global adhesives & sealants market for manufacturing industry is prognosticated to surpass a valuation of US$ 33.3 bn by the end of the forecast period, that is, 2030.

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Industrialization has increased considerably across the world. The growing influence of industrialization across many countries will offer good growth opportunities for the adhesives & sealants market for manufacturing industry. Furthermore, research and development activities will help in boosting the revenues of the players, eventually increasing the growth rate.

Adhesives & Sealants Market for Manufacturing Industry: From the Analysts' Desk

The TMR analysts shed light on the promising growth factors linked to the adhesives & sealants market for manufacturing industry. Some of the important growth factors are the utilization of novel bio-based materials, expanding demand from end-users, and ongoing research and development activities. The analysts further point out mergers and acquisitions and product innovation as key points for gaining a competitive edge.

View Detailed Table of Contents at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/1431

Key Findings of the Report

Flourishing Automotive Industry to Bring Tremendous Growth Opportunities

The automotive industry is observing good growth traction. Many people are inclined toward using private vehicles instead of public transport to avoid COVID-19 transmission. This aspect has led to an increase in the sales of passenger vehicles. The use of adhesives & sealants as a substitute for nuts and bolts for increasing the light-weight quotient will prove to be a profitable growth generator.

Adhesives Made from Bio-Based Materials to Fuel Market Growth

The heightening inclination of many organizations and industries toward using eco-friendly products in production is urging the manufacturers in the adhesives & sealants market for manufacturing industry to produce bio-based adhesives. The increasing demand for bio-based adhesives will propel the growth of the adhesives & sealants market for manufacturing industry to a great extent.

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(TNS)  For the second time in more than two years, the Moscow Board of Adjustment denied Monday night  on a 3-2 vote  an application to construct an 80-foot tall wireless communications facility proposed at Church of the Nazarene because the board felt the tower would not be in harmony with the primarily residential neighborhood."I just don't think it fits," board member Marshall Comstock said. The tower, which would have resembled a church tower, would have been able to accommodate three carriers within a fully enclosed 800 square-foot area on the church's property, which is located at 1400 E. Seventh St.Moscow Planner Aimee Hennrich said AT&T would have been one of the carriers and T-Mobile and Dish Network were possibilities.According to the Board of Adjustment's packet, the tower would have filled a significant gap in AT&T's high band 4G LTE coverage experienced by its customers in eastern Moscow as well as add network capacity to offload AT&T's existing facilities west of Main Street. The facility would have provided coverage to residential areas not able to be served by existing facilities due to the topography of the area."This will provide substantial additional coverage and capacity," said Kim Allen, of Wireless Policy Group LLC (Issaquah, Wash.), which submitted the application on behalf of Parallel Infrastructure Tower Development LLC (Charlotte, N.C.). Hennrich said the tower would have been about 18 feet taller than the top of the cross on the Church of the Nazarene. The church is located in the Neighborhood Business Zoning District where antenna towers are a conditionally permitted use.Comstock said noise from the diesel generators, which would have run in the event of a power outage and once a week for one hour for maintenance, was a concern.Board member Steve Bush agreed."To me that seems excessive to ask people to put up with that on a weekly basis," Bush said.Comstock said cell towers are better suited for commercial and industrial zones instead of residential areas. The Vista water tank, Carol Ryrie Brink Park, the East Eighth Street water tank and a commercial property 0.35 miles south of the church were alternative tower sites proposed by the applicant.Five members of the public spoke during the public hearing Monday night. Four of them opposed the application for the permit and one appeared to have mixed feelings. The reasons included the application was almost the same as the previous one in 2018, the tower would be an "eyesore" and it is not needed. "The claim that this is necessary is something that I would disagree with," said Gary Saunders, who lives in the neighborhood.The Board of Adjustment denied Pro Land LLC's conditional use permit in 2018, claiming it would not have fit well in the neighborhood. Just like Monday's application, the application in 2018 asked to construct an 80-foot tall wireless telecommunications facility on the church's property. The main difference is the facility design in that application was a stealth-style monopine tower intended to resemble a tree.A law firm filed an appeal on behalf of the applicant and the Moscow City Council reviewed the appeal and sustained the board's decision to deny the application in early 2019."Last time it was way off the mark I thought, and this time it's closer," board member Mark Monson said.
The childrens case depends on HML having the required beneficial entitlements to the tenements when they were first acquired and we say that those are covenant questions that could be answered so as to dispose of the need to then go on and deal with the alleged proprietary claim that the children may have, he told Justice Rene Le Miere. Where the parties are in issue in the proceedings is as to whose benefits were the tenements, as the Hope Downs and East Angeles tenements, applied for and granted back in the late 80s? And if the answer is as my client, Ms [Julie] Taylors client and Mr [Nicholas] Dillons client contends not beneficial to HML, then it follows that the children lose and they are no longer necessary parties to the proceedings. Ms Taylor is the senior counsel representing Wright Prospecting, while Mr Dillon represents DFD Rhodes. Mr Bova was not surrendering to Wright or Rhodes claims, which will still be argued across the 60 days tentatively set down as starting around May in 2022, but suggested that the children were not fully aware of the agreements in place over the tenements.

And he went on to argue that the 300-paragraph submission by Mr Hancock and Ms Rinehart read more like a counterclaim that was concerned with events after the late 80s, which would be resolved in their separate Federal Court arbitration with their mother. The counterclaim includes allegations in regard to Roy Hill and suggests the application to acquire the Roy Hill tenements in the name of HPPL rather than HML were part of a scheme of fraudulent design, he told Justice Le Miere. Roy Hill has recently become Australias single-largest iron ore mine and last year turned a profit; 70 per cent of which went to Hancock Prospecting. Mr Bova claimed the siblings were not going to be truthful since they would go over their allegations against Mrs Rinehart as part of their whole counter defence brought before the courts, including the confidential family arbitration.

He said they made very serious allegations, including claiming there was a decision to revalue the assets while Mrs Rinehart headed up the family trust, with further allegations of conflicts of interest and contention over the debt reconstruction after Langs death and attempt to bring in the shareholding claim, which effectively reduced the childrens share in HPPL. These are all matters that will have to be addressed by way of an expert in accounting evidence, he said, adding that was only if the children were successful at the strikeout application hearing. So factually this trial as it currently stands is going to go into all of these historical matters, none of which are proposed to be engaged with by WPPL, as they say thats all very nice but irrelevant to my claim. Mr Bova said the discovery task currently looked to be monumental and could push back the trial a further three years. We are seeking to deal with them in a proper and efficient way, he told the court.

Loading However, Bianca Rineharts lawyer, Christine Ernst, argued her clients submission simply raised the question and background about why their requests for documentary evidence from Mrs Rinehart had not been provided, as ordered by the courts. Ms Ernst said it wasnt a new request. In this situation we have no discovery in, at all, and so in that sense were really seeking compliance with the order, she said. Ms Ernst also argued that the strikeout application had come late in proceedings, saying many of the issues could have been raised much earlier.
ATLANTA, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As another severe storm is expected Wednesday, Georgia Power encourages customers to monitor local weather conditions and keep safety first as inclement weather moves across the state. The threat of severe weather, including heavy thunderstorms, damaging winds, hail and possible tornadoes, makes it the third severe weather event expected to impact Georgia in just three weeks.

The company encourages customers to use this time to prepare and reminds customers to remain safe with the following storm tips:

Before a Storm: Stay aware and check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. Check your emergency kit, unplug major appliances and charge cell phones in case you lose power.

Stay aware and check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. Check your emergency kit, unplug major appliances and charge cell phones in case you lose power. During a Storm: Take safe shelter inside a sturdy building away from windows and doors. Avoid contact with conductors of electricity - appliances, metal objects and water.

Take safe shelter inside a sturdy building away from windows and doors. Avoid contact with conductors of electricity - appliances, metal objects and water. After a Storm: Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire, including telephone or TV wires that touch a power line. Never pull tree limbs off of power lines yourself or enter areas with debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in wreckage.

While March, April and May are typically the most active months for severe thunderstorms with lightning, hail and tornadoes, severe weather can happen at any time. Customers can become storm ready by taking the following preparedness actions:

Get Outage Information  Subscribe to the free Georgia Power Outage Alert service to receive personalized notifications and connect with Georgia Power on Facebook and Twitter for helpful information every day, and restoration updates during severe weather.

Subscribe to the free Georgia Power Outage Alert service to receive personalized notifications and connect with Georgia Power on Facebook and Twitter for helpful information every day, and restoration updates during severe weather. Build an Emergency Kit  A well-built kit should contain enough supplies to get you and your family through three days without electricity or running water.

A well-built kit should contain enough supplies to get you and your family through three days without electricity or running water. Downed Tree Safety  Downed trees are usually the cause of an outage after a storm. Never attempt to pull tree limbs off wires yourself. Customers should call 911 or Georgia Power immediately if they see a fallen or low-hanging power line.

 Downed trees are usually the cause of an outage after a storm. Never attempt to pull tree limbs off wires yourself. Customers should call 911 or Georgia Power immediately if they see a fallen or low-hanging power line. Generator Safety  Never use generators in an enclosed space. They produce dangerous carbon monoxide that can't be seen or smelled.

Never use generators in an enclosed space. They produce dangerous carbon monoxide that can't be seen or smelled. Storing Food and Medicine in an Outage  During an outage, it's important to know how to safely store your food and medicine. When an outage occurs, move anything that can be frozen into the freezer. A well-stocked freezer can hold its temperature for 24 to 48 hours.

Infrastructure Investment  Reliability and Resiliency

The company continuously invests in infrastructure to increase the day-to-day reliability of its systems and shorten outage and repair time. The company's use of Smart Grid technology and increased automation in recent years mean an increased ability to more quickly isolate outages that do occur to smaller numbers of customers and reroute power remotely for improved reliability.

In addition, Georgia Power's operational plans, systems, infrastructure and generating plants are all designed to enhance the resiliency of the network to best withstand major occurrences, such as severe weather events, including tornadoes, hurricanes and extreme heat or cold. Resiliency investments include upgrading transmission and distribution infrastructure across the power grid, including making power lines more durable.

About Georgia Power

Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the Company's promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the Company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the Company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

SOURCE Georgia Power

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The stories of the birth of Port Arthur and the Kansas City Southern railroad are closely intertwined, but  now that KCS is on the verge of being acquired  some keepers of the citys history are wondering what the next chapter will bring.

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and KCS announced a proposal Monday for CP to acquire the Midwestern company in a $29 billion merger, creating the first continuous 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 directly through the KCS line that runs from Kansas City, Missouri, through Beaumont and west to the border.

The idea of a massive rail network connecting north and south through Southeast Texas holds potential change for the area, but Tom Neal, director of the Museum of the Gulf Coast, also finds it uncanny considering the plans of the railroads forefather.

Arthur Stilwell, the namesake of Port Arthur, founded the predecessor of KCS  the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad  with a plan to create a bridge between manufacturers and commodity producers in the north and south in hopes of making a more efficient national economy.

In marketing posters for the line Stilwell used to encourage investors and support, a man on a watchtower was depicted shining a light for America to follow through Kansas and the middle of the country into the Gulf of Mexico.

At the end of that original line, Stilwell created Port Arthur as both the perfect seaport location for his railroad to connect to and as a summer paradise.

Neal said the proposed KCS merger strangely echoes the same kind of dynamics that led Stilwell to search for new options for the nations shippers

They were dreaming about this at the turn of the 20th century, and now here we are seeing where its gone all those years later, Neal said.

Neal said it was that same dream that helped create Port Arthur and laid the way for the region to become an economic powerhouse during the coming oil rush.

The citys existence in itself is a product of Stilwells temperament and his intense belief in the spiritual word.

As expressed in Stilwells own words in his biography, the tycoons prayers for guidance while building the railroad were answered in the form of spirits he called Brownies, according to a 1948 Enterprise article.

I was warned by my nightly advisors not to make Galveston the terminal of the Kansas City Southern Railroad, because that city was destined to be destroyed by a tidal wave, Stilwell wrote in his autobiography.

Five years after Stilwell established the city of Port Arthur, Galveston was flattened by the catastrophic 1900 hurricane, which killed about 8,000 people.

Even after wildcatters and oil derricks became a distant memory around Southeast Texas, the KCS helped shape the identity of the area as a shipping and military logistics hub.

Father Sinclair Oubre, executive director of Port Arthurs International Seafarers Center, said the connection to railroads may be more muted now, but the areas transportation infrastructure is even more important now than in Stilwells day.

Most people probably think their gas comes from a pump or their cars are somehow flown here, Oubre said. Most things we rely on get to us by ship and rail, and something like an integrated train system would mean a significant impact for Port Arthur.

Plenty of memorabilia remains to remind of KCS legacy, including artifacts at the Seafarers Center and Museum of the Gulf Coast, and the history maintained by the company itself.

Representatives from the company told the Enterprise that there were plans to maintain both the history of KCS and its relations with communities connected to it in the event of an acquisition.

Kansas City Southern has a long tradition of civic involvement and charitable giving in the communities through which it operates which Im sure will continue in the future, C. Doniele Carlson, a spokesperson with KCS, wrote in an email. Likewise, Canadian Pacific has a similar tradition and their corporate culture also respects and engages with local communities.

Whatever becomes of KCS after the merger, the new entity is still expected to be the smallest Class I railroad by revenue, even with its expanded logistical options and rail capacity, and could operate about 20,000 miles of rail with close to 20,000 employees.

KCS is currently still 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.

As for the implications of its legacy, there are some signs that it might be harder to preserve than artifacts or train cars.

Oubre believes the passing of KCS into history would largely be missed by most in southern Jefferson County, due in part to the chain of events that came after Stilwell completed his envisioned port town.

After both natural and legal disasters left Stilwells projects in dire financial shape, his railroad was eventually granted to John Warne Gates, a financier, after a lawsuit over an unpaid $40 printing bill, a little over $1,200 today.

Two years later, the Lucas Gusher was struck in Beaumont and the region boomed under the ensuing oil rush.

More developers, speculators and companies rushed into the Golden Triangle, turning small villages and lumber towns into growing cities, but some had more direction than others.

Where Beaumont and Orange had figures like William Casper Tyrrell and William Henry Stark, respectively, to support and encourage investment in their cities as communities for future generations, Oubre said Stilwells absence left Port Arthur to absentee leadership.

After the takeover of KCS, Texaco moved to White Plains, New York, and Gulf Oil headed to Pittsburgh, (Pennsylvania), Oubre said. The city fathers became stepfathers, far away.

He said the conditions that made Port Arthur a working town where folks came to make money before they moved somewhere else persisted, reinforced by later decades of red-lining practices and the repeal of company policies that encouraged executives to live in the community where their plants and refineries were located.

The roundabout question is, how many people will notice? Oubre said. There are people now that drive downtown and dont see the massive ships parked at the end of Main Street. How will they notice whether a train is missing that yellow, red and black color scheme?

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
STORY LINK Pound Japanese Yen (GBP/JPY) Exchange Rate Steady as Japan Lags Behind in Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout

GBP/JPY Exchange Rate Rangebound as Japanese Markets Await Latest Industrial Production Data

Pound (GBP) Steady as UK Covid-19 Death Count Passes 150,000

GBP/JPY Exchange Rate Outlook: UK GDP Data in Focus

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The Pound Japanese Yen (GBP/JPY) exchange rate held steady today after Japan backpedalled on letting people chose which Covid-19 vaccine to take. The pairing is currently fluctuating around 151.38.Japan is lagging behind many large economies in rolling out Covid-19 vaccines, with the nation struggling to procure vaccines from foreign manufactures.Jiji Kyodo, an analyst for Bloomberg, commented on the situation:Japan is still limiting COVID-19 vaccines to health care workers, with more than 780,000 first vaccine doses administered in Japan as of Monday  a number that accounts for less than 1% of its more than 125 million residents.The countrys vaccination plan has been scrutinized for its slow pace compared to other developed countries and its Asian neighbors, especially as Tokyo prepares to host the Olympics in July with no timeline on when most people will be inoculated.In Japanese economic data, this evening will see the publication of the Industrial Production figure for February.Any improvement in the outlook for Japans economy would bolster the JPY/GBP exchange rate.The Pound Japanese Yen exchange rate held steady today after it was announced that the UK Covid-19 death count had passed 150,000, according to the ONS.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also urged to public to remain cautious despite the recent easing of lockdown restrictions, which now means that groups of up to 6 can meet outdoors.Mr Johnson warned about new variants of Covid-19 which could jeopardise the effectiveness of vaccinations.Mr Johnson said:What we dont know is exactly how strong our fortifications now are, how robust our defences are against anothe wave.He also added:Im hopeful; I dont see anything in the data right now that would cause us to deviate from the roadmap.Japanese Yen (JPY) investors will be awaiting tomorrows release of Japans Tankan Large Manufacturing Index for the first quarter.Any improvement would boost the JPY/GBP exchange rate.Tomorrow will also see the release of Japans Construction Orders for February.Again, if this points to an improvement in Japans economy, then we could see the JPY rise.Pound (GBP) investors will be monitoring tomorrows release of the UK GDP data for the final quarter of 2020.The Pound Japanese Yen (GBP/JPY) exchange rate could head higher this week, however, if the outlook for the UK economy

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.

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ST. LOUIS, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Energizer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ENR) today announced the appointment of Don Mulligan as an independent director, effective April 1, 2021.

Mr. Mulligan previously served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of General Mills, Inc. and brings over 30 years of leadership experience at well-known CPG companies. Mr. Mulligan serves on the boards of Herbalife Nutrition and Tennant Co., where he also serves as Audit Committee Chair.

Patrick Moore, Independent Chairman of the Board, said, "We are pleased to welcome Don to the Board and look forward to benefitting from his deep financial expertise and leadership experience in the consumer product goods industry. Don has a proven track record helping to guide organizations through periods of significant growth and change. His broad industry knowledge and demonstrated strengths in areas including business analytics as well as global expansion complement the Board's existing composition and will help guide Energizer as it executes its strategy to drive top-line momentum, operational excellence and enhanced margins."

Mr. Mulligan's appointment coincides with the departure of Alan Hoskins, the Company's former CEO, who has decided to retire from the Board, effective April 1, 2021. Commenting on his retirement, Mr. Hoskins stated, "The planned CEO and Board transition has progressed seamlessly, and I believe now is an appropriate time for me to step away from the Board to pursue my personal interests."

Mr. Moore continued, "I speak for the full Board in thanking Alan for his decades of dedication to Energizer as well as his support through the leadership transition. Alan's contributions to Energizer and the Board have been invaluable and we wish him nothing but the best in his well-deserved retirement."

Mr. Mulligan will serve as a member of the Audit Committee and the Finance and Oversight Committee. Following the changes announced today, the Board will comprise 11 directors, 10 of whom are independent.

About Energizer Holdings, Inc.

Energizer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ENR), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of primary batteries, portable lights, and auto care appearance, performance, refrigerant, and fragrance products. Our portfolio of globally recognized brands include Energizer, Armor All, Eveready, Rayovac, STP, Varta, A/C Pro, Refresh Your Car! , California Scents, Driven, Bahama & Co. , LEXOL, Eagle One, Nu Finish, Scratch Doctor, and Tuff Stuff. As a global branded consumer products company, Energizer's mission is to lead the charge to deliver value to our customers and consumers better than anyone else.

SOURCE Energizer Holdings, Inc.

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She welcomed her first child, Maven, 14 months ago.

And Rachel Riley looked every inch the stylish mother in a bright padded jacket as she carried her mini me home from filming Countdown.

The TV star and mathematician, 35, appeared to be in great spirits as she headed home from filming the Channel 4 show in Salford on Tuesday.

Mini me: Rachel Riley looked every inch the stylish mother in a bright padded jacket as she carried her daughter Maven home from filming Countdown in Salford on Tuesday

She kept cosy in the fuchsia coat which she teamed with some blue skinny jeans and a striped top for a casual look.

In line with her laid back look, she opted for a pair of black trainers as she pushed her daughter's scooter.

The mother-of-one styled her golden locks in loose waves as she added a light touch of make-up to her features.

Doting: The TV star and mathematician, 35, appeared to be in great spirits kept cosy in the fuchsia coat as her mini me matched in a pink cardigan

Little Maven matched her mother's ensemble as she looked adorable in a pink cardigan and blue jeans, while sporting a little patterned hat.

Earlier this month, Rachel spoke about her hopes of having another baby with her husband Pasha Kovalev, 41.

In an interview with Hello Magazine, she talked about her desires to add to the family, parenting in lockdown and how their daughter Maven 'loves dancing'.

Rachel said: 'I think we'd like another one... Some of my friends had twins by accident and a few of them have got three little ones and everyone seemed to have them straight after. No one regrets it though, do they?'

The TV star also spoke about raising their daughter Maven throughout lockdown and expressed her sadness that she hasn't been able to go to any baby clubs.

Rachel explained: 'She's very happy, she loves dancing. She's done her first couple of tantrums last week, which at 14 months I'm like ok...it's kind of funny.'

The television presenter added Maven is sleeping well through the nights, but has missed out on interacting with other children.

Good spirits: The mother-of-one styled her golden locks in loose waves and cut a casual figure as she pushed her daughter's scooter

She said: 'Maven was three months old when we went into lockdown, so she's not socialised with other children, she's not used to going out to a cafe and sitting and behaving herself or anything so it's going to be a bit of a challenge, but parenting is a challenge isn't it and kids are adaptable, hopefully!'

Rachel recently shared her hopes of Maven being bilingual as husband Pasha talks to her 'solely in Russian'.

Rachel said on Good Morning Britain: 'Pasha is speaking to her solely in Russian and I'm speaking to her in English so we're hoping she'll be bilingual.'
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CHICAGO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Metamaterial Market by Material Type (Electromagnetic, Terahertz, Photonic, Tunable, FSS, and others), Application (Communication Antenna, Windscreen, Solar Panel, sensors, Display, and Medical Imaging), Vertical and Geography - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Metamaterial Market was valued at USD 305 million in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 1,457 million by 2026. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 36.7% during the forecast period.

Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=139795737

The variety in design functionalities, anti-laser coating application, and developments in radar and LiDAR for autonomous vehicles. The use of metamaterials in solar power systems, metamaterial-based radar for drones, and advancements in 5G are the key factors driving the growth of metamaterial market.

Communication antenna and radar (beam Steering) to account for the largest share of the metamaterial market

The communication antenna and radar (beam Steering) segment is estimated to account for the largest size of the metamaterial market in 2021. Increasing demand for communication antennas for applications such as satellite communication, Wi-Fi routers, radar communication, and 5G communications is the major factor fueling the growth of the metamaterial market for communication antenna and radar application. Antennas that use metamaterials to increase or enhance the performance of their systems are called metamaterial communication antennas. As metamaterials can have a negative magnetic permeability, these materials allow antennas to have properties such as electrically small size, high directivity, tunable operational efficiency along with increased radiated power, and improved bandwidth efficiency performance.

Aerospace & Defense vertical accounted for the largest share of the metamaterial market in 2020

The Aerospace & Defense segment is estimated to account for the largest size of the metamaterial market in 2021 in terms of value. The defense vertical primarily requires customized solutions for communication. In the aerospace & defense vertical, the majorly adopted metamaterial-based devices are antennas, protective layers, windscreens, EMC shielding, and cloaking devices. Antennas based on metamaterials can be used for secure communications in the defense vertical as these can be tuned to different frequencies. The growth of the metamaterial market for aerospace and defense vertical is owing to the growing bandwidth requirement and need for secure communication.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Metamaterial Market"

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North America to account for the largest share of the metamaterial market by 2026

North America is expected to hold the largest share of the metamaterial market in 2020, owing to increasing demand from the aerospace and defense vertical. Government agencies such as DOD, DARPA, and NASA are extensively funding research universities and industry players for the development of metamaterial-based antennas. The demand for metamaterials has significantly increased in recent years, primarily from the aerospace & defense, automotive, consumer electronics, medical, and energy & power verticals. US government agencies (DOD, DARPA, US Navy) and private entities (Bill Gates Foundation (US), Lux Capital (US), Kresge Foundation (US)) are funding research institutes, laboratories, and various companies for enhancing the metamaterial technology or for developing efficient and cost-effective electronic devices and applications.

A few of the key players in the metamaterial market are Kymeta Corporation (US), Metamaterial Technologies Inc. (Canada), Metamagnetics (US), Jem Engineering (US), Teraview (UK), Echodyne Inc. (US), Multiwave (Europe), Nanohmics Inc. (US), Metashield LLC (US), and Mediwise (UK).

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Nanomechanical Testing Market by Offering (Hardware, Services), Application (Material Development, Life Sciences, Industrial Manufacturing, and Semiconductor Manufacturing), Instrument Type (SEM, TEM, & Dual-Beam), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023

Radar Sensor Market by Type (Imaging, and Non-Imaging), Technology, Component, Band (HF, VHF, and UHF; L, S, C, and X; Ku, K, Ka, V, and W), Range (Short-range, Mid-range, Long-range), Application, Vertical, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023

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The Liberian Senate has concurred with the House of Representatives for the printing of new family of Liberian bank notes, totaling over L$48 Billion in three years (2021-2023). The denomination of the new bank notes are to be in L$20, L$50, L$100 and L$500. Also to be printed are L$10 and L$5 in coins.

The Senate committee on banking and currency as lead, followed by the committees on Public Account, Ways, Means and Finance and the Judiciary Human Rights Claims and Petition met with committees from the House of Representatives and had a joint hearing with officials of the Central Bank of Liberia and the Minister of Finance and Development Planning to justify request for complete replacement of the existing Liberian bank notes.

The joint committee for the second time met with authorities of the CBL, the MFDP and expert witnesses including, the President of the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment or LBDI, Mr. James Davies, who heads the Liberian Bankers Association; the Chairman of the Liberian Business Association and the Dean of the Economic Department of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Liberia.

In the hearings, the panel discussed the proposal in its entirety, including justification for printing, volume of money, economic implications, cost, sources of funding, internal control measures and other procedures.

The committee reports that all of the expert witnesses that appeared confirmed the need to print new family of Liberian bank notes, noting that their input and recommendation influenced its works. The committee added that there was sufficent justifications to print new money, noting that 89.36 percent of Liberian money stock is outside of the banking system and also that there are two distinct families of bank notes currently in circulation including a high quantity of mutilated bank notes - factors that have resulted to serious liquidity problem in the country.

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Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Liberia says it can only provide US$21 million towards printing cost, and that for the printing to take effect, the Government of Liberia should source a deficit of US$24 million plus US$5 million for logistics.

On February 2, 2021, trhe CBL submitted a formal request to the Liberian Senate, seeking replacement of all Liberian dollars currently in circulation. The Bankers' Bank also proposed a currency reform in compliance with Section 23 of the Act creating the Central Bank if Liberia.

The House of Representatives recently passed a bill seeking for replacement of the current banknotes to a brand new family of banknote.

On Tuesday, February 18, the House of Representatives voted following a report from its Committee on Banking and Currency, and a resolution. Over 60 Representatives signed the resolution in agreement to authorize the printing of the new family banknotes.

According to the resolution, the printing of L$48.733 billion new banknotes, as requested by the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), will replace the current family of banknotes including the L$8 billion-plus mutilated Liberian dollars in the market.
DONGGUAN, China, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --A Featuring 10 exhibition halls for more than 1,500 brands in an area of 770,000 sqm, the 45th International Famous Furniture Fair (Dongguan) ("Dongguan 3F" or "3F"), has closed the doors to its latest exhibition, held from March 15-19 at the Guangdong Modern International Exhibition Center in Dongguan, setting a new record of 192,551 visitors in total. Many exhibitors participating in the event this year, such as Ashley, Treca, Magniflex, DeRUCCI, COOMO and Lacquer Craft, have displayed a complete home furnishing collection in their spaces. While some exhibitors have brought not only a new solution but also new concepts of home furnishing to the visitors. Chen Sheng, the VP of SCIHOME, a professional sofas manufacturer in China, said the company's exhibition highlight this year is to provide one-stop solutions by combining different product portfolios flexibly. The company set up four production lines in 2020 for its customized and integrated home furnishing business, and planned to add four more in 2021 as it has seen the potential of the market. Huang Haitao, the Marketing Director of Rongfeng International Home Furnishing said the company has presented the idea of new integrated home furnishing by displaying its exhibition space like an art exhibition for its brand CITYNEST. In addition to welcoming a diverse and enthusiastic crowd of participants during the five-day event, Dongguan 3F also held several forums and activities to focus on design, including a ceremony for its Golden Wing Award. The Award was created to celebrate the milestones and achievements in China's furniture industry, championing the power of design as the engine driving the industry's development. Eight major awards and twenty sub-item awards were announced at the ceremony held on March 16. This year's Golden Wing Award went to Shanghai Expocasa's Horizon, which also won gold for Excellent Product Design in the Cabinet category. Dongguan 3F is held to link the upstream and downstream supply chain to showcase wide-ranging brands and products from across the industry. As the Chinese home furnishing industry's definitive event, it is also the most important platform for furniture sourcing opportunities in the country. The next exhibition will be held in Dongguan from August 18-21, 2021. For more information, please visit: http://jul.gde3f.com/A Media Contact International Department

+86-0769-85989921

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Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Areas of patchy fog. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Khamla Vorasane and Chan Graham understand all too well what its like to feel like the other.

As the daughters of immigrants from Laos, they were some of the only Asian people in their Texas town. Khamla remembers other students mocking her lunches  lovingly packed by her mother  and saying the food smelled bad. A college classmate asked if her eyes were slanted because her ancestors worked in fields, squinting at the sun.

Chan remembers going to ESL classes when she arrived in America, where teachers taught them how to paint fingernails instead of focusing on English lessons.

The sisters, now co-owners of BouNom Bakery in Avon, watched the news in horror on March 16, after a gunman killed eight people at three Atlanta-area massage parlors, including six Asian women. Feeling a deep need to do something, they quickly planned a fundraiser on March 28, donating 100 percent of their Sunday sales to three organizations working toward ending violence and discrimination against members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

We felt it was so important to raise awareness of whats going on in the Asian community, Vorasane said. Sometimes you can be in a bubble, in Avon and Simsbury, because you dont see that. You dont see the increased Asian hate crimes that you do in New York or San Francisco. And we just wanted to kind of highlight and raise awareness about whats going on the rest of the country.

On the day of the fundraiser, customers streamed into the French-inspired bakery for croissants, cakes, muffins, scones, breads and other pastries hand-crafted by Graham. The event brought in $3,700 for the sisters chosen organizations: Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the UConn Foundations Fund for Asian American Studies.

A customer wanted to get the total to $4,000, Vorasane said, and opted to donate $150 each to the UConn Foundation Fund and the AALD fund.

The sisters have been watching anti-Asian sentiments and violent incidents escalate over the past year during the pandemic, Vorasane said, particularly with political rhetoric and vitriol blaming China for COVID-19.

President Donald Trump was criticized in 2020 for his use of racist and offensive terms like kung flu to describe the virus, along with China virus and China plague.

You are seen as the cause of this virus, she said. When you have a [former] President perpetuate the idea that the virus came from China, and its the kung flu virus... everyone has been hurt by this COVID shutdown. People have lost their jobs. If your ex-President says it long enough, and people are repeating it...you see this perpetual increase in violence toward Asian-Americans. Theyre being blamed for the COVID shutdown.

In Avon, Vorasane said, the fundraiser opened up good conversations with their customers. Some werent fully aware of the discrimination that Asian-Americans often face, she said, and were grateful to learn about it. Other customers of Asian heritage shared their experiences with racial stereotypes and microaggressions: a woman whose Filipina mother was mistaken for a live-in housekeeper; another who was told her aptitude for math and science was because of her ethnicity.

For Vorasane, the uncomfortable racial comments didnt end after college. Before opening the bakery with her sister in February 2020, she was an insurance executive, and said she would often be in meetings where people would comment on her accent-free English.

In their mind, they were giving me a compliment, she said. But by saying that, you constantly see me as other or foreigner. She said she never felt comfortable speaking up, particularly as a woman in a male-dominated setting.

She talks of casual racism leading to active racism and in some cases, violence, referencing to the Atlanta shootings. As she and her sister watched coverage of the slayings, she noted that a police spokesperson said the gunmans motive may have been tied to sex addiction rather than a racial motivation.

The explanation didnt soothe her, she said, because of stereotypes that often portray Asian women working at massage parlors as sex workers.

When he said that, people automatically assume that those parlors were sexually involved, there was prostitution, nefarious things were going on, she said. Thats what I mean by casual racism.

Other restaurant owners in Connecticut have spoken out about the troubling increase in discrimination and violence against the AAPI community. In a March 22 Instagram post, owners of Junzi Kitchen, a small restaurant group specializing in Northern Chinese cuisine with locations in New Haven and New York City, urged customers to love our people like you love our food.

When we first built Junzi, we dreamed of a place where we could share what we loved most about Chinese food: a place where everyone can feel welcomed and supported, they wrote. We believe that the best place for understanding someones culture is over a meal.

In an impassioned Instagram post Sunday, Matt Storch, owner of Match Restaurant in South Norwalk and Match Burger Lobster in Westport, shared a photo of his family. His wife and his twin sons are Asian.

Casually speaking with my wife the other day I asked her current comfort level, he wrote. She is nervous and wouldnt travel to the city like shes done thousands of times over, especially at night. I dont blame her, to tell you the truth I would be nervous as well. I just cant believe it. I am so disgusted that my fellow Americans continue to hurt one another for just being visually different. Im disgusted that ignorant blame is placed on an entire race of people.

Vorasane said she and Graham intend to keep talking about the issues, and may host more fundraisers or events to keep the dialogue open.

Were just getting started, to be honest, she said. Were looking at other things we can do to raise awareness. One fundraiser is good, but keeping the conversation going is important.

leeanne.griffin@hearstmediact.com
Assumptions: Grades reported represent contained metal as assayed. The calculation of equivalent gold grade assumes the spot prices for gold, silver and copper as quoted at Kitco.com on December 10, 2020. Future press releases will utilize these same metal prices for all gold-equivalent value calculations.

George Bee, President and CEO of U.S. Gold Corp. stated, "We are presently on track to complete the CK Gold Project Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) by mid-year. By design, we have gone well beyond what would normally be necessary for a PFS so that we can move on to evaluate the project at the Feasibility Study (FS) level by the end of the year, having gathered any supplemental data necessary from the project site during the 2020 summer field season. Project environmental baseline monitoring continues, having started last September with the objective of being in a position to submit a permit application to the State of Wyoming once a development decision has been made post FS evaluation. While a development decision is contingent on many factors, we are encouraged by what we have seen."

Comments on overall progress:

All results for metallurgical core holes have been received, representative composites have been made, and metallurgical testing is ongoing and well advanced. Preliminary results to date suggest higher gold and copper recoveries from high-grade oxide mineralization than in the previous Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).

RC drilling to the southeast of the known deposit has extended the footprint of mineralization; mineralization remains open along strike to the southeast and at depth.

Mineralization remains open down-plunge to the northwest, where previously released hole CK20-01c ended in mineralization better than 2 g/t Au.

Final results for the remaining eight drill holes are expected by end of March.

A better understanding and application of geologic constraints (structural, lithologic and alteration) to the resource estimation suggests a potentially better overall grade relative to the MDA model and the conversion of material to measured and indicated categories from inferred.

Geologic Observations:

The 2020 drilling program included televiewer surveys of geotechnical core holes and surface mapping by our geotechnical consultants, Piteau Associates USA Ltd. Data generated from this work allowed the development of a fault model for the CK Gold deposit which did not previously exist. The importance of these faults is in forming hard boundaries to gold-copper mineralization, as well as lithologic-alteration boundaries. Of perhaps the greatest importance is the verification of the position of the Copper King fault on the east side of the deposit, forming a clear, hard boundary to gold-copper mineralization. Whether this fault is post-mineral or syn-mineral and grade controlling is yet to be determined, requiring drilling under post-mineral White River Formation to the southeast of the known mineralization. The 2017 work by Mine Development Associates (MDA) did not have the information now available, and as a consequence grade was estimated across the Copper King fault. The updated block model for the upcoming PFS should be much better constrained geologically and more reliable.

QA/QC Procedure

U.S. Gold Corp. employs a rigorous QA/QC protocol on all aspects of sampling and analytical procedure. Drill core is checked, logged, marked for sampling, and sawn in half. One-half of each drill core is maintained for future reference and the other half of each drill core is sent to Bureau Veritas, an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory in Reno, Nevada to complete all sample preparation and assaying. Samples are analyzed employing fire assaying with atomic absorption finish for gold, and four-acid ICP-MS analysis for silver and copper. For QA/QC purposes, certified standards, blank samples and sample duplicates are inserted into the sample stream. U.S. Gold Corp. also periodically submits sample pulps to another independent laboratory for check analysis.

COVID-19 Policy

U.S. Gold Corp. recognizes the heightened health risks associated with the current pandemic. At this stage of the CK Gold Project development, focusing largely on the gathering of information from the field, our personnel, contractors and consultants do not need to come into close contact with others apart from work within individual pods such as the drill crew and core logging personnel. Much of our work is conducted outdoors and physically separated. Meetings are conducted from remote locations using available video conferencing software. When it is necessary for individuals to meet or visit facilities, health guidelines are followed to avoid and minimize the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus. We take the health and safety of all those associated with our activities very seriously. If necessary, we will suspend activities and observe quarantine regimens until any health uncertainty passes.

Note on Qualified Person

This statement has been reviewed by Kevin Francis, P Geo, SME Registered Member, Principal of Mineral Resource Management LLC, who has inspected the data furnished in this announcement and has knowledge of the activities outlined in the CK Gold Project update. Acting within the scope of his expertise, Mr. Francis, as a Qualified Person, has reviewed the information provided and finds it to be accurate and reflecting facts.

About U.S. Gold Corp.

U.S. Gold Corp. is a publicly traded, U.S. focused gold exploration and development company. U.S. Gold Corp. has a portfolio of exploration properties. Copper King, now the CK Gold Project, is located in Southeast Wyoming and has a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) technical report, which was completed by Mine Development Associates available on the US. Gold Corp. website. Keystone and Maggie Creek are exploration properties on the Cortez and Carlin Trends in Nevada. The Challis Gold Project is located in Idaho. For more information about U.S. Gold Corp., please visit www.usgoldcorp.gold

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "forecast," "estimated," and "intend," among others. These forward-looking statements are based on U.S. Gold Corp.'s current expectations, and actual results could differ materially from such statements. 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, risks arising from: the prevailing market conditions for metal prices and mining industry cost inputs, environmental and regulatory risks, risks faced by junior companies generally engaged in exploration activities, whether U.S. Gold Corp. will be able to raise sufficient capital to implement future exploration programs, COVID-19 uncertainties, and other factors described in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which can be reviewed at www.sec.gov. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions about future events. While management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory, and other risks, contingencies, and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. The Company makes no representation or warranty that the information contained herein is complete and accurate and we have no duty to correct or update any information contained herein.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral Resources

We may use certain terms on this press release, which are defined in Canadian Institute of Metallurgy guidelines, the guidelines widely followed to comply with Canadian National Instrument 43101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43101"). We advise U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). However, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Note that a preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature, and it includes Inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied that would enable them to be classified as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary assessment will be realized.

For additional information, please contact:

U.S. Gold Corp. Investor Relations:

+1 800 557 4550

ir@usgoldcorp.gold

www.usgoldcorp.gold

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1475704/CK_Gold_Deposit_with_2020_drilling.jpg

SOURCE U.S. Gold Corp.
From engaging in a number of candidate forums for village trustee and scouring policy positions on various voter guides and candidate websites, I feel that all six candidates are qualified to serve on the board of trustees. Yet, in the year 2021, I believe Anthony, Chibuike, and Juanta are most qualified to lead our village on issues that are in front of us... issues like affordable and inclusionary housing, policing reform, small business economic recovery, a public health crisis, and environmental sustainability. We know through data and by listening to lived experiences that are shared with us, that our neighbors, friends and business owners of color are most impacted by these challenges. Our community regretfully chose not to elect any Black candidates to the board in the past two election cycles when there were multiple qualified candidates. Now, Im inspired to witness this moment of genuine enthusiasm for the Represent Oak Park candidates  we know and believe Black Leadership Matters! Lets align our actions with our words by voting on (or before) April 6th for Anthony Clark, Chibuike Enyia, and Juanta Griffin, to join with other elected officials at the board table in guiding us toward solutions that truly reflect our values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
(TNS)  Boston is giving away free MBTA passes to 1,000 city workers in five neighborhoods hard-hit by the coronavirus as part of a pilot program that aims to cut costs and create equity as the Hub emerges from the pandemic."It's very important in terms of recovery," acting Mayor Kim Janey said after unveiling the program during an MBTA rally on Monday morning. "We have to lift up workers and make sure that they have access to reliable transportation. That is essential to an economic recovery that is equitable."The city will dole out CharlieCards preloaded with $60 and two-month Bluebikes passes to the first 1,000 workers who sign up, Janey said. Nubian Square, Mission Hill, East Boston, and Fields Corner workers and those employed in Three Squares  which includes Jackson, Hyde and Canary Squares in Jamaica Plain  are eligible. City officials said they are working to expand the program to workers in other main streets districts, according to a press release. People can sign up online through the city's website or by texting "free ride" to 866-396-0122."By doing this, we hope to ensure that there will be more equity as we, not get back to normal, but get to a more equitable Boston," said Janey, a Roxbury resident and regular T rider. Each of the five targeted main streets districts are served by a Bluebikes station, bus route and subway line. The program seeks to evaluate whether cutting cost barriers for public transit could help reduce traffic in small business districts, a press release said.This pilot program will be phased over the next two months, according to the press release on the city's website.Some participants will be randomly selected and will get a Charlie Card with the full $60 preloaded right away, others will see the amount split up. Bluebike pass-holders will be able to take as many trips as they like during the two-month period covered by the pass. The trips must be completed within 45 minutes to avoid usage fees."This transit pilot and other new approaches will play a key role in Boston's recovery, reopening, and renewal," Janey said.
Alanza Soto, an eight-generation clairvoyant, has completed, in collaboration with C.M. Tolan, the new book Southern Comfort: a riveting story of the intertwining lives of intriguing characters whose paths cross at an old steam train. Set during the Great Depression, the journey begins with a mysterious man who awaits a train from snowy New York to sunny Los Angeles.

Alanza writes, This is the story of the events and people that encircled an old steam train. During the Great Depression, banks were foreclosing on peoples houses, leading to the creation of bank robbers like John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, and Pretty Boy Floyd. The Kodak camera also came into more use by the common man and woman. It was a cold day in New York City as snow covered the ground while a handsome man with azure blue eyes waited for the train to Los Angeles.

Published by Page Publishing, author Alanza Sotos tale, in collaboration with C.M. Tolan, is a story of love, murder, magic, and intrigue that blends together fiction and truth with a glimpse into the metaphysical realm.

The exciting, original tale, full of mystery and drama, features a love story that spans across life and death.

Readers who wish to experience this thrilling work can purchase Southern Comfort 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.


Everyone 16 and older in California is now eligible to get the coronavirus vaccine. However, the states vaccine supply is down and it has paused the use of Johnson & Johnsons one-shot vaccine just as it is seeing a surge in demand from millions of newly eligible people.

Here are the major ways to sign up for an appointment, and tools that track appointment availability and can alert you to openings as soon as the come up.

State sign-ups

Use the MyTurn.ca.gov website to search for an appointment.

County sign-ups

Heres a list of vaccination sites and health providers that are administering vaccines in each Bay Area county.

Drugstores, pharmacies

The criteria to sign up for a vaccine at CVS, RiteAid, Walgreens and Safeway reflect the states current eligibility requirements. The companies say they will change their systems to incorporate newly eligible groups when the state changes its own system on April 1 and April 15.

Vaccine information, case counts and the latest news More vaccine and reopening news in our daily Coronavirus Updates newsletter. SIGN UP

Walgreens: Eligible individuals can schedule an appointment here, or call 1-800-Walgreens or 1-800-925-4733 to find participating locations.

RiteAid: Start with the vaccine scheduler to determine vaccine eligibility and schedule an appointment.

CVS: Visit the online scheduler or the CVS app to book an appointment.

Safeway: Start here by searching for a nearby store, confirm eligibility and schedule an appointment.

Costco: More Costco warehouses across California are offering coronavirus vaccines, including nearly two dozen stores in the Bay Area. Eligibility can vary and is limited in some stores to residents of the local county. For more information and to book an appointment, visit Costcos vaccination webpage.

Online tools

Bay Area Vaccine Bot: Follow this Twitter account that alerts you when there are available appointments in the Bay Area.

Telegram app: Join the BayAreaVaccineNotification channel on the Telegram app to receive alerts when there is an available vaccination slot at most public and private vaccination sites, except Kaiser. Read more about this app and how to use it here.

CovaxSF Twitter Bot: Two Foster City high school students have developed a bot on Twitter that tracks when appointments become available at mass vaccination sites in San Francisco, Santa Clara, Contra Costa and Alameda counties. To use it, follow the Twitter account and turn on notifications. You will then get notified when and where shots are available, how many appointments are open and what type of vaccine is on offer.

Find My Vax Santa Clara: The website findmyvaxsc.com tracks vaccine appointments from Santa Clara County sites, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and more. It was created as a branch off of the parent site Find My Vax LA. There is also a Twitter bot, @findmyvaxsc, that notifies of upcoming appointments.

Got an iPhone? Ask Siri or search for nearby vaccination sites in the Apple Maps app. You can ask Siri or type into the Search bar: Where can I get a COVID vaccination? You will have to call the provider or check their website for vaccine availability.

Facebook: Follow the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information Center page to find nearby vaccine sites. The company on March 15 launched a tool that shows users when and where to get vaccinated. Also, if you need help booking an appointment or have questions about the process, you can join the Facebook group Bay Area Vaccine Hunters, where users share tips.

VaccineHunter.org: This site aggregates local groups, like the Bay area vaccine hunters on Facebook, who are sharing information about unused or soon-to-expire vaccines.

Vaccine Fairy: Request booking assistance by filling out this form or by calling (855) 800-2665. The form is also available in Spanish.

Dr. B: Sign up for this text message notification system that alerts you when extra doses of the vaccine become available at a vaccination site

VaccineFinder: This site helps you find pharmacies, clinics and other vaccination sites that are within 10 to 50 miles of your ZIP code. The Boston Childrens Hospital operates the site in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

VaccinateCA: Enter your ZIP code or the county you live in to find available vaccines.

Vaccine Spotter: Enter your ZIP code to find an available appointment at a pharmacy.

Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores
Today, Adam Driver is one of the most sought-after actors among directors in Hollywood. But his first attempt at making it as an actor in Los Angeles, California was met with embarrassment and heavy disappointment. Lucky for him, he didnt give up.

Adam Driver | Robin Marchant/Getty Images

Adam Driver has been interested in acting since he was a teenager

Driver first became interested in acting when he was a young teenager. One of his first roles was Pontius Pilates water boy in a play at church. A little later, he was cast in Oklahoma! He had one line  Check his heart! When Driver got to high school, his theatre teachers felt he had something special. So they encouraged him to audition for Juilliard. He did. But he didnt make the cut.

I didnt get in, I think, because I wanted to please, he told The New Yorker in 2019. I had no opinion about what I was saying.

Adam Drivers first attempt at Hollywood

After being rejected by Juilliard, Driver decided to drive to Hollywood to try and forge another way into the world of acting. If theatre wasnt going to work out, maybe the movies would.

He shoved everything he owned into his 1990 Lincoln Town Car and said goodbye to his girlfriend.

It was a whole event, he told the publication. Like, I dont know when well see each other again. Our love will find a way. And then: Bon voyage, small town! Hollywood, here I come!

RELATED: Adam Driver Once Recalled a Star Wars Fan Awkwardly Asking For a Photo With Their Kid While a Car Crash Was Happening

But he ran into trouble almost immediately. Drivers car broke down outside of Amarillo, Texas. He spent nearly all the money he had fixing it. When he finally did get to LA, he stayed in a hostel for two nights and found a reale-state agent to help him find an apartment, which, looking back, he regards as a total f*cking scam.

After some thought, Driver decided to use the $200 he had left to his name as gas money to drive back home to Mishawaka, Indiana. He had been gone a week total.

It was all just embarrassing, he said. I felt like a f*cking loser.

Juilliard take two

After Drivers first attempt at becoming a professional actor, he joined the Marine Corps. During one particularly dangerous training exercise, he vowed to give acting another try when he got out. Due to a sternum injury, he was honorably discharged.

When Driver arrived back home, he decided to audition for Juilliard again. He performed a monologue from Richard III. Happy Birthday was his song choice.

RELATED: Adam Driver: Lena Dunham Is Glad She Didnt Give the Star Wars Actor the Role That Will Haunt Him Until His Death

This very interesting young man walked in the roombig, tall, lanky, with hair partially flopping over his face, Richard Feldman, a Juilliard teacher, told the publication of Drivers audition.

Driver was at work at a Target distribution warehouse when he got the call that hed made it into the program.

I ran up and down the truck area, jumping around, he said. I was f*cking elated.

And just like that, his life changed.
Ted Diadiuns feverish defense of the death penalty (Death penalty opponents misdirect their compassion, March 7) seems to suggest that too much concern for the perpetrator has withheld justice for the victim.

As a member of the Ohio House Judiciary Committee when it was considering the reinstatement of the penalty in Ohio (after a prior law was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court), I believe the opposite to be true. Rather, it is the zealotry of prosecutors and elected officials in applying the penalty that makes it impossible for it to be imposed in a fair and consistent manner. Virginia recently became the 23rd state to abolish the penalty, with the Virginia governor explaining that it could not be imposed fairly -- that is, equally to anyone, no matter who they are. Ohio should do the same.

Art Brooks,

Cleveland Heights

Art Brooks represented the Ohio House 14th District in Columbus from 1975-1978.
NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Elanco Animal Health Incorporated ("Elanco" or the "Company") (NYSE: ELAN). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Elanco and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On March 2, 2021, Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and USA Today published a report linking the Company's popular Seresto flea collar to the deaths of nearly 1,700 pets, as well as tens of thousands of other incidents of harm to pets and humans.

On this news, Elanco's stock price fell $2.78 per share, or 8.26%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $30.87 per share on March 3, 2021.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

www.pomerantzlaw.com


Rating Action: Moody's affirms Nielsen's Ba3 CFR, Ba1 sr. sec. debt ratings and B2 sr. unsec. notes ratings; outlook revised to positiveGlobal Credit Research - 29 Mar 2021Approximately $7.7 billion of existing rated debt impactedNew York, March 29, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") has affirmed Nielsen Holdings plc ("Nielsen" or the "company") Ba3 Corporate Family Rating (CFR), Ba3-PD Probability of Default Rating (PDR), Ba1 ratings on the senior secured bank credit facilities at Nielsen Finance LLC ("Nielsen Finance") and Nielsen Holding and Finance B.V., a Dutch borrower, and B2 ratings on the senior unsecured notes at Nielsen Finance and The Nielsen Company (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l. Concurrent with this rating action, Moody's withdrew the rating on the $150 million outstanding 5.5% senior notes due 2021, which have been fully repaid. The outlook was revised to positive from negative.Following is a summary of today's rating actions:Affirmations:Issuer: Nielsen Holdings plc..Corporate Family Rating, Affirmed at Ba3..Probability of Default Rating, Affirmed at Ba3-PDIssuer: Nielsen Finance LLC (Co-Borrowers: TNC (US) Holdings Inc. and Nielsen Holding and Finance B.V.)..$ 850 Million Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility due 2023, Affirmed at Ba1 (LGD2)Issuer: Nielsen Finance LLC..$1,125 Million ($745 Million outstanding) Senior Secured Term Loan A due 2023, Affirmed at Ba1 (LGD2)..$2,303 Million ($1,603 Million outstanding) Senior Secured Term Loan B-4 due 2023, Affirmed at Ba1 (LGD2)..E 545 Million ($242 Million USD equivalent outstanding) Senior Secured Euro Term Loan B-2 due 2023, Affirmed at Ba1 (LGD2)..$ 550 Million ($430 Million outstanding) Senior Secured Term Loan B-5 due 2025, Affirmed at Ba1 (LGD2)Issuer: Nielsen Holding and Finance B.V...E 660 Million ($630 Million USD equivalent outstanding) Senior Secured Euro Term Loan B-3 due 2025, Affirmed at Ba1 (LGD2)Issuer: Nielsen Finance LLC (Co-Borrower: Nielsen Finance Co.)..$2,300 Million ($825 Million outstanding) 5.000% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022, Affirmed at B2 (LGD5)..$1,000 Million 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2028, Affirmed at B2 (LGD5)..$ 750 Million 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2030, Affirmed at B2 (LGD5)Issuer: The Nielsen Company (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l...$500 Million 5.000% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025, Affirmed at B2 (LGD5)Withdrawals:Issuer: The Nielsen Company (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l...$625 Million ($150 Million outstanding) 5.500% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021, Withdrawn, Previously Rated B2 (LGD5)Speculative Grade Liquidity Actions:Issuer: Nielsen Holdings plcSpeculative Grade Liquidity, Remains SGL-2Outlook Actions:Issuer: Nielsen Holdings plc.....Outlook, Changed to Positive from NegativeIssuer: Nielsen Finance LLC.....Outlook, Changed to Positive from NegativeIssuer: The Nielsen Company (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l......Outlook, Changed to Positive from NegativeIssuer: Nielsen Holding and Finance B.V......Outlook, Changed to Positive from NegativeRATINGS RATIONALEThe affirmation of the Ba3 CFR reflects Moody's expectation that Nielsen's constant currency organic revenue growth will land in the low-to-mid-single digit percentage band, total debt to EBITDA leverage will decline to the 4x area and free cash flow (FCF) to debt will improve to the mid-to-high single digit percentage range (both metrics are Moody's adjusted, excluding one-time spin-related cash costs) by the end of this year, consistent with the medians for Ba3-rated issuers. Strengthening debt protection measures are attributable to the recent sale of the Global Connect ("Connect") business, which was characterized by challenged organic revenue growth, narrower operating margins and weaker cash flow generation compared to the residual Global Media ("Media") business. Connect was sold to private equity firm, Advent International, for $2.7 billion in cash (less deductions based on closing cash levels, debt, debt-like items and working capital) as disclosed in the company's Form 8k filing dated 11 March 2021 [1]. The improvement in credit metrics is also facilitated by Nielsen's planned repayment of $2.28 billion of debt with the Connect sale proceeds [1]. Specifically, the company has repaid approximately $1.3 billion of the senior secured term loan facilities and redeemed the $150 million outstanding 5.5% senior unsecured notes, both of which occurred in March. The company plans to redeem the $825 million outstanding 5.0% senior unsecured notes by early April. Upon extinguishment of the notes, Moody's will withdraw the rating.The revision of the outlook to positive from negative is forward-looking and reflects Moody's view that Nielsen will prioritize deleveraging via a combination of debt reduction with free cash flow generation and EBITDA growth in the mid-single digit percentage range leading to leverage approaching 3.7x (Moody's adjusted) and adjusted EBITDA margins rising to the 42%-44% area by 2022. It also embeds improved corporate governance given management's commitment to de-lever to a target leverage of 3x-3.5x on an as-reported basis by 2023 (equivalent to around 3x-3.5x Moody's adjusted) and an expectation that annual dividends will remain low in the $85 million to $90 million range to support higher FCF generation for voluntary debt repayment. The outlook revision reflects Moody's forecast for a global economic recovery following the economic recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Moody's projects global GDP will expand 5.3% in 2021 (4.7% in the US) and 4.5% in 2022 (5.0% in the US).Following the Connect sale and exit of smaller non-core businesses, Moody's believes Nielsen's Media business will be more effective at focusing its resources and investments on new growth-oriented scalable solutions in its core measurement and data analytics space, leading to further improvement in debt protection measures. This includes single audience measurement across multiple platforms (i.e., streaming and broadcast), extending into overseas markets and verticals outside the traditional consumer packaged goods (CPG) client base in the audience outcomes segment and reorienting its metadata and analytics services to target high growth ad-supported and non-ad supported content streaming platforms. Further, Nielsen's management team has introduced incentives in the company's culture to focus innovation and strategic direction to be more aligned with industry secular growth trends.Nielsen's Ba3 CFR reflects the company's leading international positions within its core Media business segments, comprising audience measurement (73% of revenue), audience outcomes (20%) and Gracenote content services (7%); relatively high entry barriers with high client switching costs; long-standing customer relationships of which roughly 80% of client revenue is contracted at the start of each year; and high pro forma adjusted EBITDA margins in the 42% range. The company's ratings are the foremost metrics used to determine the value of programming and advertising in US television and streaming advertising markets and the industry's benchmark on which advertising is bought and sold. Nielsen's market position is solidified by its importance as an independent third party measurement standard, or currency, which is accepted by advertisers and media companies. The rating also considers Nielsen's investments in new product offerings to adapt to shifts in advertising spend and consumer viewing habits beyond traditional platforms.The Ba3 rating also embeds a more narrowly focused business after the Connect sale, with reduced revenue that is concentrated in the US (roughly 83% of revenue) offset by mid-single digit organic revenue growth prospects, higher margins and improved FCF generation. A further challenge includes the moderately high pro forma financial leverage of 4.5x (Moody's adjusted) at 31 December 2020 subsequent to the Connect spin, albeit expected to decline by year end 2021. While cyclical and secular spending pressures exist, Nielsen's sizable contractual revenue provides some cushion against reduced client spend in short-cycle products and verticals that have been more impacted by the recession and lingering effects of the pandemic (e.g., CPG, automotive, non-grocery retail and sporting events), and are likely to experience a lag as the global economy rebounds.The rating also recognizes that Nielsen generates revenue chiefly from publishing clients that provide ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) streaming and other ad-supported media (i.e., traditional cable, broadcast TV and radio) against a backdrop of strong industry growth in the non-ad supported streaming sub-segment (includes subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) and premium video-on-demand (PVOD) platforms), which currently accounts for the lion's share of streaming distribution. Moody's is constructive on Nielsen's ability to increase penetration into non-ad supported streaming platforms by increasing SVOD/PVOD demand for new product offerings from Nielsen's cross-media viewing and audience measurement services and Gracenote's content services (i.e., metadata for streaming, content analytics, ID and workflow tools).Over the next 12-15 months, Moody's expects Nielsen to maintain good liquidity (SGL-2 Speculative Grade Liquidity) supported by positive free cash flow generation in the range of 4% of total debt (Moody's adjusted) or 7% excluding one-time spin-related cash costs, solid cash levels (cash balances totaled $610 million at 31 December 2020 or $578 million pro forma for the Connect spin-off) and access to an undrawn $850 million revolving credit facility (RCF) maturing in 2023.The coronavirus outbreak, the government measures put in place to contain it, and the weak global economic outlook continue to disrupt economies and credit markets across sectors and regions. Moody's analysis has considered the effect on the performance of corporate assets arising from the current weakness in US and European economic activity and gradual recovery over the coming months. Although an economic recovery is underway, it is tenuous and its continuation will be closely tied to containment of the virus. As a result, the degree of uncertainty around Moody's forecasts is unusually high. Moody's regard the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under our ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety.From a governance standpoint, Moody's view favorably the separation of the weaker performing Connect business, modest dividend and establishment of a public leverage target because this will facilitate debt reduction and efficient capital allocation strategies that are better aligned with Nielsen's growth objectives. Moody's believes this reflects a healthier corporate governance profile since it will lead to a more manageable debt capital structure and improved cash flow generation for deleveraging and strategic investing to develop new services and integrated offerings that are relevant to clients' expanding measurement and analytics requirements.FACTORS THAT WOULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGSA ratings upgrade could occur if Nielsen demonstrates further client penetration into non-ad supported SVOD/PVOD content streaming services, constant currency organic revenue growth in the mid-single digit percentage range and increasing adjusted EBITDA margins approaching the 42%-44% area. Additionally, upward rating pressure could occur if Moody's expects that total debt to EBITDA will decline below 3.75x (Moody's adjusted) and free cash flow to debt (Moody's adjusted) will improve to the 5% to 6% range.Ratings could be downgraded if EBITDA margins contracted or debt levels increased resulting in total debt to EBITDA above 4.5x (Moody's adjusted) on a sustained basis and free cash flow generation weakened to below 3% of adjusted debt due to deterioration in operating performance. A deterioration in liquidity could also result in ratings pressure.With headquarters in Oxford, England and New York, NY, and operations in 60 countries, Nielsen Holdings plc is a global measurement and data analytics company providing audience measurement, audience outcomes and content metadata solutions. Revenue totaled approximately $6.3 billion for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2020. Pro forma for the Connect business spin-off, revenue totaled roughly $3.4 billion in fiscal 2020.The principal methodology used in these ratings was Business and Consumer Service Industry published in October 2016 and available at https://www.moodys.com/viewresearchdoc.aspx?docid=PBC_1037985. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.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 outcome 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.The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the UK and is endorsed by Moody's Investors Service Limited, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5FA under the law applicable to credit rating agencies in the UK. Further information on the UK endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.REFERENCES/CITATIONS[1] Nielsen's Form 8-K filing dated 11 March 2021 (from EDGAR)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. Gregory A. Fraser, CFA Vice President - Senior Analyst Corporate Finance Group Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Stephen Sohn Associate Managing Director Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653  2021 Moodys Corporation, Moodys Investors Service, Inc., Moodys Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, MOODYS). All rights reserved.CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS AFFILIATES ARE THEIR CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES, AND MATERIALS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY MOODYS (COLLECTIVELY, PUBLICATIONS) MAY INCLUDE SUCH CURRENT OPINIONS. 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Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
Our relationship began as a mutually desperate grasping for the love we had both lost, and its dissolution only deepened that tragedy, he writes. It made the obvious clear: What was gone was gone permanently. There was no putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.

While his father was vice president, Biden spent a month in a Washington apartment bingeing on vodka.

Biden had his first glass of champagne when he was 8. In his 20s, he started drinking heavily after work (I could always drink five times more than anyone else). He went to rehab and relapsed after seven years  not long after his father joined the Obama ticket, effectively ending his sons lucrative lobbying career. Biden went back to rehab again, then relapsed in 2016 after Beau died.

The pattern continued, leading to 12- to 16-hour benders, withdrawal symptoms and a 20-pound weight loss: I didnt eat anything much beyond what was available at the liquor store: Doritos, pork rinds, ramen noodles. Eventually my stomach couldnt even handle the noodles.

Biden used a kitchen knife to remove the plastic nub that regulates the flow of vodka from its jug, allowing him to guzzle faster. He writes, I learned to twist and contort my body in such a way as to lessen the weight of the bottle, to make it more manageable.

His father, who was then vice president, arrived at his home and said, I know youre not fine, Hunter. You need help. Hunter Biden recalls: He never let me forget that all was not lost. He never abandoned me, never shunned me, never judged me, no matter how bad things got  and believe me, from there they would get much, much worse.
Mumbai, March 30 : In yet another technical glitch, some customers of HDFC Bank on Tuesday faced issues while accessing the bank's netbanking services and the mobile app.

In a tweet, HDFC Bank Cares said that the bank is looking into the issue.

"Some customers are facing intermittent issues accessing our NetBanking/MobileBanking App. We are looking into it on priority for resolution. We apologise for the inconvenience and request you to try again after sometime. Thank you," it said.

The glitch resulted in complaints by customers on social media.

It comes over four months after the major outage in the bank's internet banking and payment system on November 21, 2020 due to a power failure in the primary data centre.

Against the backdrop of incident, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in December asked HDFC Bank to temporarily stop all launches of the digital business generating activities and sourcing of new credit card customers.

Last month, the RBI appointed an external professional IT firm to carry out a special audit of the entire IT infrastructure of HDFC Bank following the outage.
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Eight new local cases of COVID-19 have been added to Brisbanes growing outbreak, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed.

Of those, five were guests at a bachelorette party in Byron Bay and were infected by a nurse and her sister who tested positive on Monday.

Ms Palaszczuk said on Tuesday she believed there were two distinct coronavirus clusters, which spread from an unvaccinated doctor and nurse working at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Ten cases have been linked to the PA doctor cluster and eight cases to the nurse cluster since the start of the month.
Perths booming housing market has led to a rise in the number of properties going under the hammer, with some auctions being attended by more than 100 interested viewers.

Caporn Young sales executive Michael Mort said the demand had resulted in a 100 per cent clearance rate at his agency and houses being sold well above the reserve price.

A recent auction in Mount Hawthorn saw a property being sold for well above its reserve price. Credit:Caporn Young

Because of the pent-up demand, it just makes sense to bring certain properties to auction and well continue to do that while were having this successful run, he said.

If a bidder is prepared  so theyre either cash or pre-approved  they dont mind the competitive bidding because its very transparent.
Visa (NYSE: V) today announced a major industry first in bridging the worlds of digital and traditional fiat currencies: the use of USD Coin (USDC), a stablecoin backed by the US dollar, to settle a transaction with Visa over Ethereumone of the most actively used open-source blockchains.1 Visais piloting the capability with Crypto.com, a Visa partner and one of the worlds largest crypto platforms, and plans to offer the USDC settlement capability to additional partners later this year.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210329005171/en/

Visa Becomes First Major Payments Network to Settle Transactions in USD Coin (USDC) (Graphic: Business Wire)

Support for digital currencies as a new type of settlement currency marks an important step forward for Visas network of networks strategy, which is designed to enhance all forms of money movement, whether on the Visa network, or beyond. By harnessing its global presence, partnership approach, and trusted brand, Visa is focused on adding differentiated value to the ecosystem and making cryptocurrencies more secure, useful, and applicable for payments.

Visa has spent the last year establishing a pathway for digital currency settlement within Visas existing treasury infrastructure, a platform that moves billions of dollars each day across thousands of institutions in more than 200 markets and 160 currencies. Working with Anchorage, the first federally chartered digital asset bank and an exclusive Visa digital currency settlement partner, Visa has launched a pilot that allows Crypto.com to send USDC to Visa to settle a portion of its obligations for the Crypto.com Visa card program.

Visas standard settlement process requires partners to settle in a traditional fiat currency, which can add cost and complexity for businesses built with digital currencies. The ability to settle in USDC can ultimately help Crypto.com and other crypto native companies evaluate fundamentally new business models without the need for traditional fiat in their treasury and settlement workflows. Visas treasury upgrades and integration with Anchorage also strengthen Visas ability to directly support new central bank digital currency (CBDC) as they emerge in the future.

Crypto-native fintechs want partners who understand their business and the complexities of digital currency form factors, said Jack Forestell, executive vice president and chief product officer, Visa. The announcement today marks a major milestone in our ability to address the needs of fintechs managing their business in a stablecoin or cryptocurrency, and its really an extension of what we do every day, securely facilitating payments in all different currencies all across the world.

Kris Marszalek, Co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com said: Weve seen record-breaking growth in our business and the broader crypto ecosystem over the last year. To continue accelerating the worlds transition to cryptocurrency, we need partners who understand the opportunity and the tools that will help us get to market faster and more efficiently. Having been a Visa partner for several years, were excited to deepen that relationship through our global agreement and to pioneer an exciting world-first in stablecoin payments.

Anchorages platform has been purposefully built for institutions like Visa to build new products in crypto. Weve been with Visa every step of the way since 2019 and are extremely pleased to see these first stablecoin payment rails come to life through Anchorage APIs, said Diogo Monica, Co-Founder and President of Anchorage.

David Puth, CEO of Centre, which oversees the licensing of USDC, said: "Visa is leading the market with its innovative approach to payments in many forms. We are very impressed with their efforts. Having USDC on the Visa network is an outstanding next step in our mission to connect the world using stablecoins built on Centre standards, starting with USDC."

To learn more about todays news and the settlement process at Visa, visit the Visa blog.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is the worlds leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The companys relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device, for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit About Visa, visa.com/blog and @VisaNews.

1 Settlement refers to the daily exchange of funds between Visas issuing and acquiring partners over VisaNet to exchange value for cleared and settled transactionsit does not refer to the movement of funds from individual consumer accounts.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210329005171/en/
Commentary From Russia With Love (and More Ammunition) for Myanmar

Myanmar military coup leader Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing greets Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin and delegation members during the Armed Forces Day reception in Naypyitaw on Saturday. / Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing website

Defying calls to isolate the Myanmar junta internationally, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin was in conspicuous attendance at the Myanmar militarys celebration of Armed Forces Day on March 27, prompting Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, coup maker and self-appointed national leader, to express profound gratitude for Russias vote of confidence. He went on to impart that the Russian government and responsible persons from the Russian armed forces are acknowledged and inscribed for their substantial support to the Tatmadaw [Myanmars military] in a friendly manner, though we are far apart.

In his speech, the senior general also declared that the military seeks to join hands with the entire nation to safeguard democracy and promised to hold elections. Even as he read the words, his juntas forces were in the process of killing more than 100 unarmed protesters throughout the country, ensuring that the day would be remembered not just as Armed Forces Day, but as the bloodiest so far in the ongoing crackdown on resistance to the military regime.

Foreign diplomats based in Yangon have portrayed the situation in Myanmar as one of a besieged people defending themselves, and where possible fighting back, against an occupying force. Meanwhile in Naypyitaw, the image being projected was one of fraternal solidarity among military men, with Moscows delegation, and its endorsement of the regime, met with smiles all around and the pinning on Fomin of a medal by Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in a meeting room filled with uniformed figures. Apart from Fomin, the Russian delegation included Pavel Gusev, an adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin and chair of the Presidential Council for Civil Society; along with the head of the Moscow Buddhist Society; senior Russian military officers and civilian officials; and members of the Russian media.

Russias substantial support to the regime, and the friendly manner in which it has been extended, has been noted and will be remembered. In contrast, the chiefs of defense of Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK and the US released a joint statement condemning the Myanmar military for its use of violence against its own citizens across the country.

As Chiefs of Defense, we condemn the use of lethal force against unarmed people by the Myanmar Armed Forces and associated security services, the statement reads. A professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protectingnot harmingthe people it serves.

Defense attaches in neighboring countries including Vietnam, Laos, China, India and Thailand sent observers to attend the Armed Forces Day parade. (Their attendance brought back memories of 1988, when Thailand was the one to break Myanmars isolation after General Saw Maung staged a bloody coup on Sept. 18. On Dec. 14, almost three months after the coup, then Thai army chief General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh paid a high-level visit. He addressed Gen. Saw Maung as akogyibig brother in Burmeseduring a dinner reception in Yangon. Gen. Saw Maung reciprocated by declaring Thailand a true friend of Myanmar. In return, Bangkok received lucrative logging contracts, fishing rights and sweet deals in the hotel business. Chavalit also agreed to repatriate student activists who had fled to Thailand after the crackdown.)

In the current context, with Myanmar sliding further into chaos each dayand the discussion even turning to long-term fears of civil war or the possibility that the country will become a failed stateFomins visit has ominous implications

Globally, wherever there is conflict, Russia is sure to rear its head. With Myanmar having suddenly emerged as a hotspot, its hardly surprising it has attracted the attention of the Kremlin leadership.

A Western diplomat who served in Myanmar from 2012 to 2016 commented, Russia doesnt care [about Myanmars stability or its people] as long as it can continue to sell weapons.

For his part, Fomin said during his visit that Russia in fact sought to strengthen military ties with Myanmar. Russias Defense Ministry said in a statement published by Interfax, a Russian newswire, that the parties positively assessed their rapidly developing mutually beneficial relations in the military sphere and reaffirmed their intention to make the most of the existing potential in order to deepen military and military-technical co-operation in the spirit of strategic partnership, according to The Financial Times.

One Western diplomat said: I am afraid he [Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing] and his crew are viewing the situation like [Syrian leader Bashar al-] Assadopen to destroying the country to protect themselves at this point. In way over their heads and only know one way to go; to protect their egos and themselves.

This inevitably raises concerns that rival powers including China, India, Japan and the US will be drawn into the crisis in Myanmar.

Faced with growing international pressure and Western sanctions, the junta needs legitimacy and backing from powerful countries such as Russia and China.

Beijing cannot have failed to take notice of the very public embrace by Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaingwho has in the past expressed veiled reservations about Chinas dealings with Myanmarof deeper military-to-military ties with Russia.

Valued client

Myanmar is a long-time buyer of Russian arms, and participated in a joint drill with the country last year. Russian naval ships have made several port calls to Myanmar.

Since the early 2000s, Myanmar has bought 30 Russian-made MiG-29 jet fighters, 12 Yak-130 jet trainers, 10 Mi-24 and Mi-35P helicopters, and eight Pechora-2M anti-aircraft missile systems. It has also signed a contract to purchase six Su-30 warplanes. Maintenance of the Russian-made equipment is carried out at a joint service center in Myanmar.

Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and India have purchased Su-30s, and Myanmar is expected to take delivery of its first batch of the multirole combat aircraft soon.

According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute data for 2019, Myanmar spent an estimated US$807 million on Russian arms imports over the previous decade, making it the second-largest Southeast Asian buyer of Russian weapons after Vietnam.

From 2001 to 2016, Russia accounted for the largest share of Myanmars military hardware spending, with the total value of its acquisitions from the country ($1.45 billion) outpacing those from China ($1.42 billion) during the period, records show.

Additionally, Myanmar annually sends officers to Russian military academies for training. So far thousands of military students have graduated from prestigious universities in Russia and some have received postgraduate and doctoral degrees. (Myanmars military also sends officers to India, China, Japan and Israel.)

Myanmar also sends more citizens and military cadets to study under scholarship programs in Russia than any other Southeast Asian country except for Vietnam.

Vyacheslav Tseluyko, an expert on the Russian military, once commented that Myanmar was a potential springboard into Southeast Asian and neighboring arms markets those of including Laos, Indonesia and even Bangladesh. Therefore, Myanmar is a strategic market entry point for Russia.

Eve-of-coup visit

Before Fomins visit, and 10 days before the Feb. 1 coup, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing received Russian Defense Minister General Sergey Shoigu in Naypyitaw on Jan. 21.

The commander-in-chief thanked Russias long-serving defense minister for the visit. Just like a loyal friend, Russia has always supported Myanmar in difficult moments, especially in the last four years, he was quoted as saying by Russian media.

In Naypyitaw, security was unusually tight during the visit. The Russian delegation arrived in two planes and occupied the opulent five-star Kempinski Hotel. During the visit, Myanmar and Russia agreed that Russia will supply Myanmar with Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile systems, Orlan-10E surveillance drones, and radar equipment.

Military sources said military leaders in Myanmar made a special effort to receive Shoigu with full honors.

We view todays talks as an opportunity to further our cooperation, especially in the military field, Shoigu said as he met with Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

During their meeting he said Moscow was ready to further deepen relations between the defense departments of the two countries and to develop cooperation in the military-technical sphere.

The visit cemented Shoigus already close relationship with Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, who has visited Russia six times. Several diplomats and observers have since concluded that Russia had advance knowledge of the coup and endorsed it.

Political ambitions

Speaking to Russian media during his visit to Moscow in June last year, five months ahead of Novembers general election, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing hinted at his desire to enter politics, though he gave no indication that a coup would be his route to achieving that goal.

The senior general was there to attend the 75th annual Russian Victory Day, which commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 at the end of World War II.

In an interview with Russian media outlet Arguments and Facts, when asked about his role in the upcoming general elections, he said his first priority, as in previous general elections, was to help ensure that a free and fair vote was held. Once the election result was known, he said, he would continue to work based on the wishes of the political parties, other groups and the public, according to a Burmese-language transcript of the interview posted on his website.

The military chief said he had 40 years of experience in political, military and administrative affairs. He said that during this period he had served the nation and the people, adding that he would continue to serve in whatever role was needed.

I believe that those experiences will be valuable in serving the nation and the public, he said.

Russias embrace

Russia and Myanmar established ties in 1948, and three years later opened embassies in each others countries. Along with China, Russia voted to block a UN Security Council resolution criticizing Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis in 2017. After the coup last month, Moscow joined China in backing the junta at the Security Council. As it has in the past, Russia will likely veto any UN attempt to impose an arms embargo in the future.

Myanmar is not a close neighbor of Russia; Moscows interest in Myanmar is selling military hardware, and possibly countering Western influence, rather than any pressing geostrategic imperative. With its fondness for expending resources in distant conflict zones, it will always need hard cash.

But if Myanmar becomes a failed state, it is China, India, Thailand and other neighboring countries that will suffer, not Russia. Indeed, whether Russias support for Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and his junta is enough to keep it in power remains to be seen. But where is ChinaMyanmars supposed allyin all of this?

On Feb. 17, Chen Hai, the Chinese ambassador to Myanmar, said the current situation in the country is absolutely not what China wants to see, amid growing anger toward Beijing among Myanmar people due to its perceived support for the military regime.

On March 8, China issued a three-point statement: First, it said it hoped all parties in Myanmar would keep calm and exercise restraint, address their differences through dialogue and consultation within the constitutional and legal framework, and continue to advance the democratic transition. The immediate priority is to prevent further bloodshed and conflict, and ease and cool down the situation as soon as possible, he said at a press conference on the sidelines of Chinas annual legislative session. Since then, however, Myanmar has only seen more bloodshed.

Second, he said, China supports ASEAN in upholding the principles of non-interference in internal affairs and making decisions through consensus, mediating in the ASEAN way and seeking common ground. On the basis of respecting Myanmars sovereignty and the will of its people, China stands ready to engage and communicate with all relevant parties, and play a constructive role in easing the tensions in Myanmar, Wang said.

Nevertheless, feeble ASEAN has no leverage or authority to solve Myanmars crisis. In fact, China is the one major country that could send a loud and clear message to Naypyitaw.

Making his third point, Wang said that as China and Myanmar have a shared future, China would not waver in its commitment to advancing China-Myanmar relations, and would not deviate from the course of promoting friendship and cooperation, no matter how the situation evolves.

Over the years, we have maintained friendly exchanges with various political parties in Myanmar, including the National League for Democracy, Wang said.

This is not the unambiguous message the generals hoped to hear.

By extracting Russias endorsement, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has not only sent a chilling message both to Myanmars citizens and the international community, but also furthered his aim of playing the major powers off each other in order to gain the maximum benefit for his regime.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmars Striking Civil Servants Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

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World Bank Forecasts 10 Percent Slump in Myanmars Growth
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Thirty-year-old Azharuddin from Meerut in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is good with his hands. He created an electric cart from junk and he is now receiving online orders from abroad. Apart from this, the 31-year-old has also made an electric bicycle that can cover a distance of 100 km on a single charge.

Aas Mohammad Kaif, TwoCircles.net

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Uttar Pradesh: His father laboured all his life and his mother never went to school, yet the twenty-year-old Azharuddin from Muradnagar near Meerut in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh battled all odds and went on to become a mechanical engineer. His is a story of fighting poverty with talent and hard work and emerging victorious.

Azharuddin studied at a government school and today he is a second-year M.Tech. student at Subharti University, Meerut. The university management does not take fees from him. Instead, they provide all the facilities.

Azharuddin is good with his hands. He has created an electric cart from junk and is now receiving online orders from abroad. The twenty-year-old has also made an electric bicycle that can cover a distance of 100 kilometer on a single charge.

In addition to the electric cart, Azharuddin has also made a solar cart, which does not need to be charged. His feat is remarkable as he has accomplished it all by himself.

Presently, the boy from Muradnagar is working to get his e-cart verified by the government.

The e-cart is basically solar powered, but it can also be charged. It will benefit the environment immensely. It is cheaper and more robust. It can be used as an auto. Currently, its demand is coming from societies of large size, where these non-polluting carts are of great importance. Apart from this, they have great importance in places like Zoos, Taj Mahal etc. Till now such carts were running on battery. We have a cheaper alternative to solar and electricity, Azharuddin told TwoCircles.net.

Azharuddins accomplishments have not been in vain. He has received an offer of 6 solar carts from a society in Hyderabad.

For his first electric cart, it cost him INR 1.5 lakh. He has improved its cost of making and his e-cart now has space for more people to sit. An e-cart made by him has been sent to Dubai.

Azhar says that if the government cooperates with him, they can build something that can contribute to pollution reduction in the country and improve the environment.

Azharuddin says that he has made his electric bicycle in the same manner. It can charge up to 100 kilometres at a time, while the companys cycle runs 30-40 kilometre. It can run-up to the speed of 25-30 kilometre per hour and is pollution-free. He has started getting orders for his e-cycle.

He says his e-cart was used at the Taj Mahal in Agra for six months. I had built a one-seater helicopter in 11th grade, which was greatly appreciated at the exhibition in Ghaziabad, he said.

His e-cart is now being used in Haryanas Hisar Cantt. and Engineering College. His e-carts are also today used at his college Subharti Meerut.

Azharuddins father Amirudin Kassar told TwoCircles.net that Azhar has brought him only joy and pride.

People in the village know me because of my son. I respect him more, he says.

Talking enthusiastically about his e-cart, Azharuddin explains that in the event of solar energy being interrupted, its work will be done by charging and this cart will keep running. Two batteries of 12 volts and five batteries of 140-ampere lead-acid have been used in the solar panel. This is the biggest feature of this e-cart that it operates from both solar and electricity as well and is cheap, he says.

At Subharti University, Azharuddins work is discussed with excitement.

A staffer at the University Sanjay Kumar points out that Azhars talent is natural. The natural talent inside him is going to take him to places. He has earned a name for himself through his work. His difficult time has passed. We wish him a bright future, he said.

The story of Azharuddin exemplifies that passion and hard work pays, no matter how humble your beginnings.
Coming to the rescue of same-sex couple, the Madras High Court has ordered counselling to their parents who opposed their relationship.

The court ordered that the counselling should be given by a specialist who has experience in working with the LGBTQI individuals, according to a report by TNN.

"I am also trying to break my own preconceived notions"

While reading the judgement, Justice N Anand Venkatesh asserted that such measures have become vital since the court is moving into uncharted waters.

Representational Image

To be open, I am also trying to break my own preconceived notions about this issue and I am in the process of evolving and sincerely attempting to understand the feelings of the couple and their parents. Thereafter, I will write a detailed order on this issue," he said.

The court made the observations on a plea moved by a same sex couple.

The petitioners are a same sex couple over 20 who were a residents of Madurai and fled to Chennai in the first week of March after their parents opposed their relationship.

Representational Image

They were given a safe shelter by an LGBT activist in the city but later one of the girls' parents lodged a complaint of kidnap with the Madurai police.

Based on the complaint, police started harassing the activists and the couple prompting them to approach the high court. The court admitted the plea considering the urgency of the matter.
[March 30, 2021] Statewide Coalition Calls for $8 Billion in Immediate Funding to Help Close Digital Divide

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A cross-sector coalition urges Governor Gavin Newsom to connect Californians with a one-time, $8 billion investment in high speed 100 Mbps broadband infrastructure and programs. The broad-based group representing education, health, local government and economic policy organizations believe bold investment in broadband infrastructure and support services is critical to improving health, equity, education and the economy statewide now and for years to come. The coalition includes California Association of School Business Officials, the California Hospital Association, California Forward Action Fund, California School Boards Association, California State Association of Counties, Rural County Representatives of California, Small School Districts' Association and the Urban Counties of California. A recent report commissioned by the CPUC found the cost of building future-proof fiber connections to every unserved building and house in the state would be $6.8 billion. Included in the budget ask is $2.2 billion to construct a statewide middle-mile network with open access fiber and $4.6 billion to provide 100/10 Mbps fiber optics to buildings and houses currently without it. Either of these piecesknown as the middle mile or the last milewould be insufficient if implemented alone. Together, they can transform the educational, economic, and quality-of-life landscape statewide by providing unconnected properties access to reliable broadband. The investment also includes $1.2 billion for broadband adoption programs including devices, digital skills training, service subsidies, and language access ncessary for Californians to be able to use the broadband service available in schools, homes and businesses.



The funding request complements, rather than competes with, several important bills currently pending in the Legislature. AB 14 and SB 4 would make important reforms to the CPUC's broadband infrastructure subsidy program and authorize a $1 billion revenue bond. Additionally, AB 34 would place a broadband bond on the November 2022 ballot. With 8.4 million California residents without broadband subscriptions and a disproportionate rate of underserved rural, tribal and communities of color, this one-time investment represents a serious effort to make substantial progress on closing the digital divide, setting the stage for California to once again be a leader in digital access.

QUOTES FROM COALITION PARTNERS:

"The time is now to lay a foundation that removes the barriers that have systematically denied access to connectivity to our most vulnerable students and families," said Tatia Davenport, CEO of the California Association of School Business Officials. "This request is our opportunity to implement a strategic vision that will have a significant, meaningful and long-lasting benefit to our 6.1 million students and California communities." "Access to reliable internet is as essential to modern life as electricity or indoor plumbing," said CSAC First Vice President and Siskiyou County Supervisor Ed Valenzuela. "Statewide investment in broadband is long overdue and will ensure equitable access to public health, public safety, education, entrepreneurship and economic opportunities regardless of geography or population." "By investing in broadband, we are investing in our communities, our economy and the future of our state," said Micah Weinberg, Director, California Forward Action Fund. "We can no longer afford inaction and the California Forward Action Fund is proud to join this broad coalition in requesting a one-time investment that is a critical start to building the infrastructure needed to serve all Californians." "Our children shouldered the heavy burden of staying home and adjusting their way of learning completely in order to keep us safe," said Urban Counties of California Board Chair and Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg. "They missed out on so many childhood milestones  first day of school, first year, graduations and friendships. It is our imperative to honor this great sacrifice. Investing in the support structures they need for this new way of learning is not only the right thing to do but also the smart one; it's an investment in our future." "The push to bridge California's digital divide is a push for greater equity in every corner of the state," said Carmela Coyle, President and CEO of the California Hospital Association. "This is especially important for health care, as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into stark relief longstanding health disparities that can no longer be ignored. As we build for the future of health care, one that will increasingly rely on new technologies like telehealth, it's vital that all communities have equitable access to these new methods of care." "The lack of equitable investment in reliable high-speed internet isn't strictly a rural issue," RCRC Chair Stacy Corless states. "Too many communities throughout the state continue to suffer the consequences of a system that has prioritized profit over fair access to this essential service. We, as a state, must invest in robust and ubiquitous broadband for all Californians." Contact: Sara Bachez, Chief Governmental Relations Officer, CASBO

sbachez@casbo.org

(323) 702-6829 Jania Palacios, Director of Communications, CA FWD

jania@cafwd.org

(520) 404-7643 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statewide-coalition-calls-for-8-billion-in-immediate-funding-to-help-close-digital-divide-301258654.html SOURCE CA FWD Action Fund

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Beacon Hospital CEO Michael Cullen told the Junior Principal at St Gerards school in Bray that the vaccination of teachers at short notice had HSE permission, according to a new letter from the Chairman of board at St Gerards, John Behan.

In the letter sent to teachers and parents seen by Independent.ie, Mr Behan said the Principal of the Junior School was assured on the call to Mr Cullen that the use of vaccines in this manner, which would otherwise go to waste, was appropriate and had HSE permission.

Mr Behan said that no person acting on behalf of the school sought early access to vaccines, and that unsolicited contact from Beacon CEO Michael Cullen resulted in the teachers being vaccinated.

The HSE told Independent.ie this evening that the vaccinations were administered contrary to our very clear guidelines and we certainly did not approve them.

Mr Behan said that St Gerards were initially offered five vaccines at short notice but this number then grew to 15 and then 20 after further doses had been identified as surplus.

Read More

The Principal of the Junior School, who received this contact, was assured on this call - and subsequently - that the use of vaccines in this manner, which would otherwise go to waste, was appropriate and had HSE permission. The need for urgency was emphasised, Mr Behan said in his letter this afternoon.

Over the following 45 minutes, a further text and phone call were received from the Hospital to explain that first an additional five and, then (at 5pm) a further 10 doses had been identified bringing the number of doses which would go to waste, if not used within the next hour, to 20, Mr Behan said.

Mr Behan said that while the administration of vaccines is a matter of great sensitivity, the board are satisfied that the individuals in the school who dealt with this matter and those who received the vaccines did so in good faith, having had a number of assurances that using the vaccines in this manner in order to avoid waste had HSE permission.

The fact that the board of the Beacon hospital has now confirmed that the decision to offer the vaccines was not in line with the sequencing guidelines in place from the HSE is deeply concerning, Mr Behan said.

The board of the Beacon Hospital have said an independent review will be conducted following the administration of 20 vaccines to the teachers.

HSE Chief Paul Reid said on Sunday that he immediately flagged the vaccinations as a clear breach of the vaccination programmes sequencing document, once the Beacon informed the HSE of the matter on Thursday evening.

The Beacon Hospital said it had no further comment on the matter and that all matters pertaining to vaccinations at the hospital will be dealt with as part of the independent review commissioned by its board.

The board apologised for the schools involvement in the incident and said it would work to rebuild trust and will ensure that no incident like this can happen again.
Of all the issues facing our country, one of the most important issues is the vote to eliminate the filibuster rule. Do you have confidence that Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia will make the right decision when casting his vote?

Let's look at recent history of the filibuster. From 1975 until 2013, the Senate required a three-fifths majority vote to end a filibuster, or 60 votes. One way the filibuster could not be used was in blocking Executive and Judicial Branch nominees. In 2013, thenDemocrat majority leader Harry Reid invoked the nuclear option. This option, voted in by a 52-to-48 vote along party lines, changed the rules so that all Executive Branch Cabinet appointments and judicial nominations below the Supreme Court could proceed with a simple majority of 51 votes. But they left the filibuster rule intact for Supreme Court nominations and for new laws.

Harry Reid was warned of the consequences of his actions when the Senate Republicans got back the majority. And lo and behold, it came back to haunt the Democrats when the Republicans came back into power in 2015. In 2017, thenRepublican majority leader Mitch McConnell changed the approval vote for Supreme Court nominations to a simple majority of 51 votes, and Neil Gorsuch was approved. McConnell was also able to get Trump's judicial nominees approved. The tit for tat was now on between the parties.

So now the Democrats are back in power, and the only thing left for the filibuster rule is legislation. The Democrats are fit to be tied. They want to eliminate the filibuster rule altogether. With a 50-50 split in the Senate and the Democrat vice president to break ties, the Democrats are in a dangerous position to railroad all votes/legislation through the Senate so they can run the country forever.

What does this mean to you? Well, emotion trumps reason. Democrats govern based on emotion, not facts. It means passing legislation allowing amnesty for illegal aliens, the Green New Deal, reparations, changing gun rights in the Second Amendment, increasing taxes, stacking the Supreme Court, granting statehood to D.C. and Puerto Rico, federalizing voting standards, etc. With 50 votes plus the V.P., Democrats win and can approve any legislation they please. And the minority party, as well as you, cannot do a damn thing about it.

That is why they want to change the Second Amendment  not to protect people from being killed, but to disarm you so that you have no power against the government. We would still be under British rule if George Washington and company had had no guns.

This is not your grandfather's Democrat Party. This is the Democrat Party from hell. They want our country to be a one-party system. This is far-left elite liberals who want to change our country from a republic to a communist dictatorship  a republic as in representatives of the people, as opposed to dictatorship, where the government tells you what to do.

Stacking the Supreme Court will mean that the Democrats will have all three branches of government. Federalizing voting standards means that you lose your most precious right: the right to vote. Once that happens, you are toast.

Once laws are passed, overturning the laws is very difficult, especially when the legislation allows the ruling party total control. These actions will change our country forever, hence changing your life forever. Is that what you want?

So now we come to Senator Joe Manchin, who is a critical vote on eliminating the filibuster rule. He has prided himself on being bipartisan and working with Republicans, and it appears he does. He says he voted with Trump 61% of the time. However, if the truth be known, he does that on the minor issues that nobody cares about.

But when it comes to the major issues like voting for the Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, repeal or replace parts of the Affordable Care Act, Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, and the $1.9T spending bill, he is nowhere to be found. Oh, he will say, yes, but I voted for Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch. But we all know that these votes were foregone conclusions. So his party leaders were fine with letting him vote with Trump to look good to the people of West Virginia.

He gets all this attention because everybody looks at his vote to see if a critical bill will pass the Senate. He just draws it out to get attention and see what he can get out of it.

And now we really see how he operates. Joe Biden has nominated Mrs. Manchen to co-chair the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development partnership with 13 states designed to boost investment in the Appalachian region. I believe that that is what you call quid pro quo. And isn't that what Joe Biden did with Ukraine? Can you really trust Senator Joe Manchin?

If Senator Manchin votes to eliminate the filibuster rule, he will make Benedict Arnold look like Bozo the Clown. Senator Manchin: Be a patriot, not a traitor. Stand up for America, and do the right thing. Vote against eliminating the filibuster rule. Our country depends on it.

Image: Third Way Think Tank via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
[March 30, 2021] Agoda: Asian governments should prepare for flexible quarantine options to complement the vaccine roll-out

SINGAPORE, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Confidence in the vaccine rollouts, discussions around COVID-19 passports and alternative state quarantine announcements have triggered an increase in international travel searches, according to digital travel platform Agoda.com. Agoda's search data highlights green shoots of recovery and a growing optimism by travelers across Asia that international travel will start to return, with Australia, South Korea, Japan and Indonesia witnessing an increase in the number of international destinations in their top 30 searches in March 2021 compared to December 2020. Travelers from these markets are joining China, Taiwan and Singapore in their optimism for the resumption of international travel. Only Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand continued to see zero international destinations in their top 30 searches in both December 2020 and March 2021. However, interestingly, Thailand and the Philippines both feature strongly as destinations, with Bangkok securing a spot in six out of 11 origin markets' top 30 search lists.







Market Number of international destinations in top 30 search (March 2021) Number of international destinations in top 30 search (December 2020) China 10 (Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Bangkok, Dubai, Singapore, Tokyo, Edinburgh, London, Cebu, Boracay Island) 10 (Bangkok, Macau SAR, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, Phuket, Tokyo, Maldives, London, Taipei, Pattaya) Singapore * (top 10 destinations searched) 9 (Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila, Boracay Island, Pattaya, Hong Kong, Phuket, Bali, Penang) 9 (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Dubai, Penang, Pattaya, Manila, Hong Kong, Khao Yai) Taiwan 8 (Tokyo, Hong Kong, Kyoto, Jeju Island, Osaka, Bangkok, Seoul, Sapporo) 8 (Tokyo, Kyoto, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Osaka, Maldives, Singapore, Bali) Australia 4 (Bali, Pattaya, Bangkok, Manila) 1 (Bali) South Korea 4 (Bangkok, Las Vegas, Tokyo, Bali) 1 (Bangkok) Japan 3 (Bangkok, Manila, Pattaya) 1 (Bangkok) Indonesia 1 (Genting Highlands, MY) 0 Malaysia, The Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand 0 0

Alongside these growing searches, Agoda's data shows booking patterns start to normalise and return to pre-COVID trends, as behaviour indicators such as lead times and prices, which both reduced heavily in the spring and summer of 2020, dip less sharply. "There are definitely reasons for the travel industry in Asia to start to feel more optimistic, and vaccines will be critical to full recovery, but initiatives like government subsidy programmes, such as TTogether in Thailand or GoTo Japan have been successful in harnessing the demand for travel and supporting domestic accommodation providers. Agoda's search data shows that travelers are looking to resume international travel, buoyed by the implementation of the vaccine roll-out, but there is more to do," explains John Brown, CEO Agoda. "The vaccine rollout in Asia is commencing, but the pace across the region will vary, with some markets such as Singapore being fully vaccinated this year and others like Japan, Thailand and Vietnam looking more likely in 2022, so these heavily tourism-dependent economies need to consider how to accelerate the return to normality. Governments will need to innovate how they approach re-opening of their borders, balancing the very real need for the safety of their own citizens, and visitors alike, with the economic reality. For the foreseeable future, quarantine remains a stumbling block to international travel, so the provision of alternative state quarantine, as launched in Thailand and Hong Kong, might prove to be a sensible solution in line with a vaccine programme. Corporate technology partners able to move fast, will be able to provide governments with support to manage the complex variables that markets face." Alternative quarantine solutions (ASQ) With travelers raring to go, now more than ever, public-private collaboration is integral as the world works towards the sustainable recovery of the travel and tourism industry, an essential pillar in Asia Pacific making up 10% of APAC's GDP in 2019. International travel will take on a new reality with integrated measures to facilitate safe and responsible international travel, ranging from rapid testing, health certificates, COVID-19 vaccine passports and more. Quarantine stays is another key measure with the likes of the Thailand and Hong Kong governments exploring ways for travelers to embrace quarantine stays, working closely with private companies to assist with technology solutions. As the first market to implement ASQ, Thailand's Ministry of Public Health and Department of Health Service Support partnered with Agoda to leverage the travel platform's tech solutions enabling returning Thai nationals and residents to choose their preferred accommodation direct on the travel platform. With Thailand announcing the reopening of borders to international tourists this July, Agoda's ASQ platform will offer travelers flexibility in terms of types of accommodation choice and other variables such as duration of stay. "We are seeing rays of hope as markets announce the re-opening of borders through initiatives like the Taiwan-Palau or potential Australia-Singapore travel bubbles. With more markets exploring travel corridors, Alternative State Quarantine accommodation provides a solution to help resume international travel by enabling travelers to choose a quarantine property that best suits their needs. We are working closely with local governments and our accommodation partners to identify tech-enabled solutions to spur on and support the revival of local tourism economies," concludes John Brown, CEO of Agoda. Visit www.agoda.com/press for top searched destinations of key markets. Editor's Notes Top destination data is based on Agoda' search data on 1 December  10 December 2020 , 1 March  10 March 2021 with check in dates 1 Mar  31 Dec 2021 . About Agoda From its beginnings as an e-commerce start-up based in Singapore in 2005, digital travel platform Agoda has grown to offer a global network of over 2 million properties in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, offering travelers easy access to a wide choice of luxury and budget hotels, apartments, homes and villas, to suit all budgets and travel occasions. In 2019, Agoda added a flight product and packages to help make travel even easier. Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is part of Booking Holdings (Nasdaq: BKNG) and employs more than 4,000 staff in 28 countries. Agoda.com and the Agoda mobile app are available in 39 languages. www.agoda.com SOURCE Agoda

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New Delhi:

18 disqualified AIADMK MLAs have knocked on the door of Madras High Court to challenge their disqualification.



The MLAs from Dhinakaran-Sasikala camp, who were expelled from the party under anti-defection and disqualification rules, were on Tuesday allowed by the court to file individual writ petitions and get the cases listed for hearing on Wednesday.



The permission was granted after Senior Counsel PR Raman, representing the disqualified MLAs, made a request to the judge for taking up the cases on Wednesday itself in view of the urgency involved in the issue.



The MLAs who have been disqualified include Thangatamilselvan, R Murugan, Mariappan Kennedy, K Kathirkamu, C Jayanthi Padmanabhan, P Palaniappan, V Senthil Balaji, S Muthiah, P Vetrivel, NG Parthiban, M Kothandapani, TA Elumalai, M Rengasamy, R Thangadurai, R Balasubramani, SG Subramanian, R Sundarraj and K Uma Maheswari.

Read | DMK leader Stalin on disqualified AIADMK MLAs: 'Speaker has done deliberately to reduce majority of Assembly'



Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Tuesday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, a day after 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs loyal to sidelined leader TTV Dhinakaran were disqualified under the anti-defection law.



During the 20-minute meeting, the governor is believed to have apprised the home minister about the current political developments in the southern state, officials said. The disqualified MLAs had on Monday told the governor that they had no confidence in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami, and accused him of being corrupt.



Incidentally, a writ petition filed by DMK Working President M.K. Stalin last week is also coming up for hearing before Mr. Justice Duraiswamy on Wednesday. In that case, Stalin had urged the court to order a floor test forthwith.



Passing an interim order in that case last week, the court had restrained the Governor and Speaker from holding the floor test till Wednesday without obtaining necessary orders from the court on that day.



The order was passed after Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal apprehended that the "minority government" would try to convert itself in to an "artificial majority" by disqualifying the rebel MLAs and then holding a floor test.

Read | AIADMK row: Setback for Dhinakaran, TN Assembly Speaker disqualifies 18 rebel MLAs

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The British Embassy in Madrid has issued a statement to clarify the position of UK nationals in Spain as the 90-day post-Brexit deadline is just a day away on March 31.

The embassy team reminds that "from 1 January, UK nationals have been able to spend 90 days out of every 180 within the Schengen area for tourism or other specific purposes, such as business meetings, without needing a visa. Any stays beyond the 90 days will be dependent on Spains visa and immigration rules and any UK nationals who would like to discuss extending their stay should contact their local 'extranjeria' office or call 060.

The advice cntinues, "All foreign nationals intending to stay in Spain for longer than three months have always been obliged to register for residency  whatever their nationality. Therefore if you arrived in Spain before 1 January you must take steps to become resident if you consider your home to be here. Otherwise, you should be arranging to return to the UK. If you are trying to become resident and are in the process of registering or appealing against your application having been rejected, the 90-day rule does not apply to you."

Ambassador Hugh Elliott said: Im aware that many second home owners are concerned about overstaying as we reach 31 March. The Spanish Government has been clear that it will take a pragmatic approach to anyone who is stuck in Spain due to circumstances beyond their control, so I dont want people to be overly worried on that count. However, if people do not intend to become resident here in Spain and see the UK as their base, we do expect them to take steps to return to the UK as soon as they can.

A Spanish Ministry of Inclusion spokesperson said: The Spanish Government is working to provide maximum legal certainty for British citizens resident in Spain. Throughout the negotiations, the issue of citizens rights has been, and remains, one of the main priorities. Spain is the country of residence of the largest community of UK nationals in the EU.

The Spanish Government has no plans to deport British citizens who have made Spain their home and, for this reason, Spain has been one of the first EU countries to establish a documentation procedure under the Withdrawal Agreement, which consists of a declaratory system to apply for the new residence permit (TIE). We remind British citizens that, although there is no time limit, it is important to make this application as soon as possible as, among other things, it will facilitate the administrative processing and the crossing of the external borders of the European Union.
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Hundreds of furious protesters have descended on a new Chinese consulate during its official opening in a quiet Adelaide suburb.

The massive 5600sqm compound was built in Joslin, just minutes away from the city's CBD, with some likening the three-metre high walls and CCTV cameras to a 'fortress'.

Among the large crowd at the protest were members of South Australia's Uighur community, along with Taiwanese, Tibetans, Nepalese and Vietnamese nationals.

Premier Steven Marshall addressed the crowd inside the consulate for the official opening while the roar of protesters echoed throughout the leafy street.

Police cars filled the street and two protesters were arrested for assault and public order offences.

Hundreds of furious protesters have arrived at the controversial opening of a Chinese consulate in a quiet Adelaide suburb

Senator Rex Patrick told the mass of protesters the consulate didn't 'belong in Joslin and in fact, it doesn't belong in Adelaide', The Advertiser reported.

'It's inconsistent with our national security needs and it's, of course, a strong contrast to the leafy suburb that is Joslin,' Mr Patrick said.

'It simply doesn't belong here. We have a situation where the Chinese government has been engaging in a whole range of activities that are inconsistent with our values.'

Many at the protest were disappointed Premier Marshall had been on the other side of the wall inside the consulate.

He had earlier defended himself and said South Australia still had strong ties with China that he was trying to maintain.

A Tibetan protester, Nawang Thubten Tenzin said the scenes on Tuesday were a reminder of China's takeover of Tibet.

'It's an invasion again - for we have been invaded in our country,' he said, the ABC reported.

Among the large crowd at the protest were members of South Australia's Uighur community, along with Taiwanese, Tibetans, Nepalese and Vietnamese residents

Police cars filled the streets as two protesters were arrested on Tuesday

'We are very concerned - there is no need for this gigantic building.'

Also seen in the crowd were Australian farmers that had been affected by China's strict trade sanctions.

There are around 1,000 members in Adelaide's Uighur community - making it the largest in Australia.

The group is represented by the East Turkistan Australian Association with President Nurmuhammad Majid condemning the consulate's construction.

'We love this country, it has given us freedom from tyranny, so why do we let the country that has tortured us set up a home in the middle of Australia's defence capital?' Mr Majid told The Australian.

Protesters are seen outside the new Chinese consulate building in Adelaide on Tuesday

Residents who have lived in the area for generations were also enraged by the new addition to their neighbourhood.

'Just look at the damned thing  it's a fortress,' former resident Heather Adams told the publication.

'We have sold our soul as a nation to a communist regime that is trying to destroy South Aussie businesses and has no regard for human rights.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Chinese Consulate in Joslin for comment on the matter.
San Diego County has so far spent more than $4 million to settle a dozen lawsuits brought after a sheriffs deputy admitted to on-duty misconduct with 16 women, a newspaper reported Sunday.

The Union-Tribune cited documents that show lawyers for the county continue to litigate eight other lawsuits connected to former Deputy Richard Fischer.

In addition to the millions of dollars San Diego County is paying to close out civil cases, the county is paying for Fischers legal defense.

Private attorney Joseph Kutyla has been paid more than $570,000 over the last three years to defend Fischer and the Sheriffs Department that employed him.

Fischer pleaded guilty in 2019 to assault and battery by an officer and false imprisonment. He was released from jail after serving about five months of a 44-month sentence.

Before striking a plea deal, Fischer had faced 20 charges, including an allegation that he forced one woman to perform a sex act. As part of the deal, prosecutors dismissed that criminal complaint  including the alleged sexual assault  and filed a new one that had seven charges, but named all 16 women as victims.

The women said Fischer groped, hugged or tried to kiss them after they encountered him on the job.

County officials said they had no choice but to outsource the legal work.

Because conflict of interest rules prevent County Counsel from representing both the county and Deputy Fischer, the county has retained independent counsel to advise and defend Deputy Fischer, spokesman Michael Workman said in an email to the newspaper.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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[March 30, 2021] Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia Returns to Gibson Dunn

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce that Eugene Scalia will return as a partner to the firm's Washington, D.C. office after serving as the 28th U.S. Secretary of Labor. Scalia will again co-chair Gibson Dunn's Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice Group and will also serve as a Senior Member of the firm's Labor and Employment Practice Group and Financial Institutions Practice Group. He will continue representing clients in a broad range of regulatory, appellate, and labor and employment matters. A Senior Fellow of the Administrative Conference of the United States, Scalia will remain involved with select issues he addressed as Labor Secretary, including the promotion of apprenticeships, and serving as a supervising partner in Gibson Dunn's pro bono representation of veterans. "We are delighted that Gene has returned to Gibson Dunn," said Ken Doran, Chairman and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. "Gene is one of our nation's leading administrative law litigators and employment lawyers. He is the only person who has served both as the Secretary of Labor and as Solicitor, the Department's chief legal officer. This experience affords him unmatched and invaluable insights." "Gene is one of the few lawyers in the country who can claim success in challenging important federal regulations in private practice and crafting them from the ground up in government," said Helgi Walker, Co-Chair of the firm's Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice Group. "Gene is a brilliant litigator and a wonderful colleague and friend. We could not be more excited to welcome him back to the firm." "I'm very pleased to be returning to Gibson Dunn, where I began my law practice more than 30 years ago," said Scalia. "Due in part to Ken Doran's exceptional leadership of the firm, there is no better platform for representing clients in high-stakes regulatory litigation and in the most challenging employment matters. I look forward to supporting Managing Partner Elect Barbara Becker as the firm enters an important new chapter in its history." About Eugene Scalia



Scalia will focus on advising clients across the country on a broad range of regulatory, appellate, and labor and employment matters. He served as U.S. Secretary of Labor from September 2019 to January 2021. As Labor Secretary, he engaged at the highest level with national employment policy and matters affecting the financial services industry and international trade. Among other responsibilities, he oversaw important rulemakings regarding pension regulation, independent contractors, and "joint employment," and played a key role in implementation of the new U.S. Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). He oversaw the Labor Department's coronavirus response with respect to occupational safety and health, new federal paid leave requirements, and unemployment insurance. He also served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. A member of the Cabinet, he interacted regularly with senior Administration officials, governors, members of Congress, and senior business and union leaders. Scalia previously served from 2002 to 2003 as Solicitor of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Department's principal legal officer with responsibility for all Labor Department litigation and legal advice on rulemakings and administrative law. He is the only person to have held both positions as the U.S. Secretary of Labor and as the U.S. Solicitor of Labor. From 1992 to 1993, he served as a Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the United States. He practiced at Gibson Dunn for 27 years, starting at the firm's Los Angeles office in 1990 and joining the Washington, D.C. office in 1993.

Scalia is a Senior Fellow of the Administrative Conference of the United States, a federal agency that makes recommendations to Congress and the Executive Branch on ways to improve the administrative process. He is a thought leader frequently recognized for his contributions on federal regulatory policy, labor and employment law, and other subjects. Of the numerous accolades Scalia has received, Law360 has recognized him as an "Employment MVP," "Appellate MVP" and "Securities MVP," and The National Law Journal recognized him as a "Visionary" for his litigation against financial regulatory agencies. Scalia graduated cum laude from the University of Chicago Law School in 1990, where he was editor-in-chief of The University of Chicago Law Review. He graduated "with distinction" from the University of Virginia in 1985. He and his wife Trish have seven children. About Gibson Dunn Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is a leading international law firm. Consistently ranking among the world's top law firms in industry surveys and major publications, Gibson Dunn is distinctively positioned in today's global marketplace with more than 1,400 lawyers and 20 offices, including Beijing, Brussels, Century City, Dallas, Denver, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Orange (News - Alert) County, Palo Alto, Paris, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Singapore, and Washington, D.C. For more information on Gibson Dunn, please visit our website. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005945/en/

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Angels Camp. CA  The California Office of Emergency Services has awarded a grant to a joint powers authority made up of local entities in Calaveras County.

The combined $590,000 will go to the City of Angels Camp, Utica Water and Power Authority and the Union Public Utility District. It will notably help purchase generators to offset the impacts of power outages.

Angels Camp will install generators at the citys fleet vehicle fueling station, the water treatment plant and at the Sierra Hope Food Bank.

Utica will purchase a backup generator for the water flow control gate valve at the Murphys Afterbay, one to backup spillway gate controls at Hunters Reservoir in Avery, and buy a trailer-mounted generator that all JPA members can use. New and upgraded emergency communications equipment will also be purchased.

Union Public Utilities District will purchase three backup generators as well, including one for its administration/system controls building, the second for its maintenance shop/chlorine dose station on Sheep Ranch Road and a third for its remote chlorine dose station on Redhill Road.
It was the latest controversy for the local teachers union, which has faced public scrutiny during the pandemic over its positions regarding the reopening of schools, including demands for testing,...
New Zealands public healthcare system is in a severe crisis. Despite the ever-present danger posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns government has refused to address the dire lack of staffing and capacity in the countrys hospitals.

The priority of the ruling Labour Party-Greens coalition has been to protect the wealthy from the consequences of the economic crisis at the expense of essential services, including healthcare. The Reserve Bank is printing tens of billions of dollars to buy bonds from the commercial banks, and the government has spent billions more to subsidise and bail out big businesses.

Ambulance vehicles of St John New Zealand at their Pitt Street, Auckland base (Wikimedia Commons)

New Zealand has so far not experienced mass deaths from the pandemic. However, repeated small outbreaks have highlighted failures at under-resourced quarantine facilities for people returning from overseas. The governments response to an outbreak in February in South Auckland was highly negligent. It lifted an initial lockdown after just three days, allowing the virus to spread, before imposing another week-long lockdown.

Vaccinations for COVID-19 have barely begun. As of March 24, just 500 people had received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and 41,500 were partially vaccinated, out of five million people. The government says it will take all year to vaccinate everyone.

In a severe outbreak, hospitals would be overwhelmed. Already, they are under immense strain due to decades of austerity from National and Labour Party governments alike.

TVNZ reported on March 25 that in January and February several emergency departments (EDs) were full to capacity. Dr John Bonning, president of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, said the crisis would get worse as winter approaches. He predicted there will be patients stuck in ambulances because there is no physical space in the emergency department.

Stuff reported that one woman recently waited 10 hours to be seen in Christchurch Hospitals ED in excruciating pain after injuring her knee. The number of patients going through the ED each week has soared to 2,264, compared to 1,977 for the same period last year.

A senior nurse in Christchurch told the World Socialist Web Site a lot of staff turnover is placing pressure on nurses. To deal with staffing shortages, management is continually shifting workers between different hospital wards, which is really quite damaging to our numbers and the cohesion of the staff. We are missing the experienced person who knows our ward, and we get somebody who doesnt know the ward, which actually increases our workload.

Dunedin Hospital last week announced a code black, meaning every bed in the building was occupied. On March 24, RNZ reported that there were 18 patients in the Emergency Department waiting for a bed, but only three beds were available on the wards.

At Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland, an ED worker told Stuff that on one day there were 55 people waiting for beds. There were patients who had been waiting for two days Its at such a dangerous level the patients arent getting the care they need through a lack of government funding. The Counties Manukau District Health Board, which includes Middlemore, revealed this month that it has 150 unfilled vacancies for nurses.

NZ Medical Association chair Dr Kate Baddock told RNZ the lack of general practice doctors in the community was forcing patients to wait up to four weeks to see a doctor. Many had no choice but to resort to EDs.

Meanwhile, thousands of foreign healthcare workers are being kept out by the governments border restrictions, which are among the harshest in the world. Stuff reported on March 17 that since the border closed a year ago, Immigration New Zealand had approved only 65 percent of entry applications from healthcare workers4,501 out of 6,880 applicants. More than 40 percent of New Zealands doctors and 27 percent of nurses are overseas-trained.

A worker at Taranaki Base Hospital questioned the governments claim that overall staffing is increasing. He told the WSWS many trained nurses had left the profession or migrated to other countries like Australia, UK, Arab nations, due to the poor wages here. He said hospitals had digital screens showing the current patient versus nurses ratio. It is indicated with colour codes Most of the time it shows orange or red which means a severe shortage.

On March 26, Health Minister Andrew Little admitted to TVNZ that the countrys District Health Boards (DHBs) have a combined deficit of around $1 billion, but denied that this was a result of underfunding. Little blamed hospitals for significant overspending, and called for better management, i.e. more cuts.

The Ardern governments austerity agenda is backed by the trade union bureaucracy. In 2018, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) imposed a sellout agreement, while echoing the governments lies that there was no money to properly fund hospitals. The union had to overcome widespread opposition from 30,000 nurses and healthcare assistants, who held an historic nationwide strike against the deal. The agreement limited wage increases to 3 percent, and ignored members demands for safe staffing levels.

The NZNO is currently negotiating a new deal. An indicative offer from DHB representatives in late February was so abysmally lowa flat pay increase of $1,200 for staff earning less than $100,000that the union did not put it to a membership vote. The proposal was really a pay cut, given the large increases in housing and other living costs.

The Taranaki hospital worker told the WSWS the offer was insulting but he did not expect the next one to be much better, given NZNOs record of collaborating with the government. He also denounced the huge remuneration paid to the unions top officials.

The offer is similar to the 1 percent offered to National Health Service workers in Britain, which has sparked mass anger and a petition demanding a 15 percent pay increase.

The crisis facing healthcare workers and patients underscores the urgent need for new organisationsrank-and-file committees independent of the union and controlled by hospital workers themselvesto organise a fightback against austerity by linking up with other workers in New Zealand and internationally. The unions are not workers organisations: they are controlled by a privileged upper-middle class layer, which defends the interests of capitalism.

Above all, the pandemic demonstrates that workers must fight for the socialist reorganisation of society. The tens of billions of dollars funnelled to the rich must be expropriated and redirected to essential services, including a well-funded healthcare system, freely accessible to all, with a vast increase in staffing and high salaries for all healthcare workers.
In departmental categories, Haslam's Supply Chain Management MBA dropped slightly, to No. 7 overall and No. 5 among publics, but marked its sixth consecutive year in the top 10.

In U.S. News' peer assessment portion of its ranking, which rates how schools perceive one another, Haslam rose from 3.1 last year to 3.3 this year (with "5" as the highest possible score). This assessment, which accounts for 25 percent of the ranking, indicates peer institutions recognize Haslam as a school that is rising in stature.

Stephen L. Mangum, dean and Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair of the Haslam College of Business, said the increase in Haslam's peer assessment is a welcome development.

"It's always good to be acknowledged by one's peers," Mangum said. "Deans and MBA program directors from across the country see Haslam as a school whose alumni generously give back to make possible increased numbers of graduate student scholarships and whose staff and faculty strive to provide the best educational experience possible, which in turn creates a supportive environment for students to grow and prosper."

Bruce Behn, associate dean for graduate and executive education and Deloitte Professor in Accounting, said Haslam's continuing rise in these MBA rankings reflects the quality of students the program attracts and the importance of the real-world preparation they receive.

"While we are proud that our MBA students enter the business world ready to make an immediate impact, we are not resting on our laurels," Behn said. "We work constantly to improve Haslam's overall educational experience, and we look forward seeing those efforts continue to benefit our stakeholders in the future."

The U.S. News graduate business rankings are based on surveys sent to all 486 accredited MBA programs. The publication received 364 responses, and of those, 143 business schools provided sufficient data to calculate a weighted ranking. In addition to peer assessments, the rankings consider such factors as recruiter reviews, job placement, graduates' starting salaries, mean GMAT and GRE scores and more.

About the Haslam MBA

The Haslam MBA is a 16-month, residential, full-time MBA program targeted to high-potential professionals who want to acquire a full range of technical skills in a hands-on, applied learning environment. The program offers concentrations in business analytics, consulting, entrepreneurship and innovation, finance and supply chain management. MBA/MS Business Analytics, MBA/MS Engineering, JD/MBA and MBA/MS Agricultural Economics dual degree programs also are available. Learn more at the Haslam full-time MBA program page.

SOURCE University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Haslam College of Business

Through the partnership, enterprises will achieve a greater return on multichannel personalisation and marketing campaigns with cutting-edge AI

SINGAPORE, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ADA, a leading data and artificial intelligence (AI) company, and Insider, one of the world's leading Growth Management Platforms have forged a strategic partnership. Together, they will provide seamless multi-channel personalisation, data-driven strategy, and end-to-end digital, analytics, and marketing solutions.

ADA and Insider Announce Strategic Partnership to Help Enterprises Drive Data-Led Growth Marketing Initiatives

Unifying ADA's newly formed MarTech-as-a-Service offering and Insider's AI-powered Growth Management Platform (GMP) the partnership will empower enterprises to scale up and predict customer behaviour in real time. Marketers can also seamlessly personalise and streamline campaigns to acquire, activate, and retain customers.

Chris Wiseman, Head of Marketing Technology, ADA, said: "We're really excited to be working with Insider. We believe this partnership will help our clients realise more value by allowing us to offer an end-to-end solution that covers the full marketing and sales funnel. We have big goals to continue to expand our business in Asia; so, ADA and Insider's strong MarTech proposition will help us achieve our ambitious targets."

Patrick Steinbrenner, Managing Director  APAC, Insider, said: "Having the right recommendation algorithms powered by AI will help enterprises deliver precise individualised cross-channel recommendations and uncover their full revenue potential. ADA's digital and data maturity models' expertise combined with Insider's platform capabilities will take marketing to the next level. We've enjoyed collaborating with the team at ADA to bring more value to our end customers."

Learn more about the partnership here: http://ada-asia.com/ada-x-insider/

About ADA

ADA is a data and artificial intelligence company that designs and executes integrated digital, analytics, and marketing solutions. Operating across nine markets in South and Southeast Asia, ADA partners with leading brands to drive their digital and data maturity, and achieve their business goals. We are anchored on the following main services:

Story continues

Providing business insights, data enrichment, and advanced analytics

Understanding the consumer mindset and designing data-driven creative marketing strategies

Executing end-to-end digital marketing solutions for growth hacking, funnel optimisation, and goal optimisation

ADA complements its unique digital expertise with deep proprietary data of 375 Million consumers.

About Insider

Leveraging real-time predictive segmentation powered by artificial intelligence, Insider's Growth Management Platform (GMP) empowers marketers to deliver personalized journeys across the web, mobile web, mobile apps, messaging platforms, and ad channels. Built on a unified data layer, the GMP is easy to implement and simple to use, eliminating complex integrations and dependency on IT teams.

Insider is featured in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Multichannel Marketing Hubs 2020 and has been the #1 leader on G2's Mobile Marketing Software and Personalization Grids with a 4.6/5 rating based on 100% user reviews, 17 quarters in a row.

SOURCE ADA
NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. --- Drivers who pass through the 5/8/12 interchange in New Hartford will see quite the change come Tuesday. The New York State DOT will begin their replacement project on the Route 8 bridge. It was supposed to begin on Monday, but windy weather prevented them from doing so.

The project will bring drivers on a number of detours to get around the construction. New Hartford Village Mayor Donald Ryan said one of the most affected roads will be Genesee St. He said that will be one of the only ways into the village.

"It's going to be a difficult challenge and people are going to have to do some planning before this project gets going as to their alternative routes," said Ryan.

The DOT said on an average day over 10,000 cars use the exit ramps in the area of the Route 8 bridge a day. One of the busiest is the Campion road exit, especially during rush hour traffic.

As many cars will be using Genesee St. as their detour, business owners like Chuck Sadallah said the extra traffic is a good thing.

"Increased traffic is not a bad thing especially for people like ourselves," said Sadallah.

DOT Spokesperson Jim Piccola said the project is expected to be finished before the end of this year.

"If all goes well we'd like to see the bridge be open by the end of this year. Depending on the weather can play in but we will have the job complete by the end of next spring or early summer," said Piccola.

Piccola said drivers who use that roadway should plan ahead and take it slow as road work begins.
Egg and embryo freezing has increased significantly during the pandemic. And the type of people who seek fertility preservation is changing, too.

Theres a misconception that egg freezing is pursued primarily by career-driven women, but data shows that the women who pursue egg freezing just havent found a partner to parent with, said Dr. Rashmi Kudesia, a fertility specialist at CCRM Fertility Houston. They want to preserve their options, regardless of whats going on in their lives.

In 2020, there was a near 45 percent increase in egg freezes from the previous year at CCRM.

While more Houstonians are starting families in their 30s, many of those parents desire big families; a 2018 Gallup poll found that 41 percent of U.S. adults consider families of three or more children as ideal.

So those third or fourth pregnancies are coming in a persons late 30s or early 40s, Kudesia said, and those family planning decisions may have spurred more egg freezing cycles in the last two years.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston, Harris County receive 'F' for premature births, infant mortality

Whether its couples spending more time together at home, or singles reveling in their solitude, the past year has made people reconsider their priorities when it comes to family, said Dr. Randall Dunn, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at Aspire Fertility in Houston.

Jacqueline Westman lost her fashion industry job at the beginning of the pandemic but has worked as a contract worker and political activist since in Texas and Georgia.

Westman always planned to pursue fertility preservation, but for years, it has been on the back burner of her busy life, she said. But being home after losing her job, dealing with the mental and emotional effects of a pandemic and an end to a 13-year relationship, put her future plans into perspective.

Plus, for the first time in years, Westman had time to sit still. And thats what her body would require for the egg freezing process.

She decided that January 2021 would be the start of her fertility journey, even if it was only a series of questions for a doctor, so she booked an appointment.

Its not necessarily an insurance policy, but I figured it was an investment for my future, Westman said. Its something I can feel empowered by and something I can control. Its liberating to me to have the ability to decide what is next for me.

Westman was riding in the front seat on a work road trip to Houston from Dallas when she had to ask her colleague to pull over to the side of the highway. It was 7:37 p.m., the exact time she was born, and the luckiest minute of the day, she figures, for her daily ritual  administering a shot that will aid her ovaries in producing healthy egg follicles

Are you OK? her co-worker asked.

Yeah, Im OK, she replied, pulling out a syringe and injecting herself just below her belly button.

The side of a Texas highway was not the ideal place for the shot; but the precise timing is key for her maturing eggs to grow before her extraction date.

THE PROCESS

When a patient first comes in, Kudesia walks them through a science lesson. The number of eggs a person has is determined at birth; it never grows, and as time passes, that number drops.

On RenewHouston.com: 14 years later, has the HPV vaccine made a difference in Texas?

A fertility specialist prescribes a synthetic version of a hormone to make one egg in the hopes it will make the body grow as many eggs as possible. The number of stimulated eggs could be five or 50, depending on age, health and genetics.

The injectable medication must be self-administered for eight to 10 days, and the process can be emotional.

No one understands how it feels to mix these medicines together and become a chemist; ensuring youre watching videos correctly and get into the right mental state when youre about to inject yourself, Westman said. That is something no one can help you with. Its all mind over matter and handling your emotions within.

The specialist watches closely in twice-weekly doctors visits over a two-week period to see how the ovaries respond.

On the last day, Kudesia looks at the size of the egg sacs and follicles. The eggs may be mature enough to be extracted, so she gives a different medication to trigger ovulation and schedules the hourlong egg retrieval procedure.

Once the eggs are extracted, they can stay frozen indefinitely, Kudesia said. The viability of the eggs and their ability to turn into a healthy pregnancy will remain unchanged while theyre frozen.

The idea is, were preserving fertility of someone at the age they came in to freeze their eggs, Kudesia said. All eggs are retrieved but only the mature ones are frozen. No part of the process changes menopause or affects a persons ability for spontaneous pregnancy.

Egg and embryo freezing are not cheap. Depending on where you live in the U.S., the egg freezing process can cost more than $10,000, Dunn said.

For uninsured patients, the medications alone can cost roughly $4,000, he added. However, a growing number of employers now offer fertility preservation benefits that help pay for the process.

Everything is relative. Its not as expensive as a car, and youre planning fertility preservation, Dunn said. Youre trying to give yourself a chance to do something in five years to make a family with those eggs.

THE UPTICK

For Deepica Mutyala, age and lifestyle were the major reasons she decided to freeze her eggs in January. When she turned 30 last year, she realized she was nowhere near starting a family.

Mutyala grew up in Sugar Land and moved to Los Angeles to start her business, Live Tinted, which celebrates multicultural diversity in the beauty industry. She decided to move back to Sugar Land during the pandemic to be closer to her family, which made her think about her future as a mother.

On HoustonChronicle.com: COVID-19 vaccine trials didn't include pregnant women. So what should they do?

Her decision to freeze her eggs came with more emotion than she expected.

Honestly, its a difficult taboo to freeze your eggs. Im South Asian, and culturally, were trained that youre supposed to have kids as soon as possible, Mutyala said. I didnt think it would be emotional for me  it was a task that I needed to get done. But it was more than that.

Dunn has recognized doctors are changing their approach to these conversations with patients, as well. In the past, male OBGYNs may have hesitated to bring up fertility preservation because it can be a sensitive topic. But younger women doctors going into gynecology in greater numbers is causing a shift, he said.

In his experience, patient age plays the biggest factor in fertility preservation. Turning 35 can be a wake-up call for many people, he said. Most of his consultations are for women in their early to late 30s.

Further, Dunn believes there is a direct correlation between the pandemic and the increase in egg freezing here in Houston.

THE TRIGGER POINT

Westman is close to her extraction date, a time she called her trigger point. She has more than 30 follicles, and nine are larger than 15 millimeters.

At 20 millimeters, the follicles will be ready for extraction.

On RenewHouston.com: What it's like to date during a pandemic

And she just told her mother about a week ago, who was happy and supportive.

Despite having support from friends and family, Westman called the egg freezing process a challenging journey that made her feel more isolated than any pandemic ever could.

Being 33, where Im at, others are buying houses or investing in stocks and creating their own families, Westman said. Theres so much in my career and future that Im exploring. For me, Im still growing and learning a lot about myself, and that true happiness comes from within.

julie.garcia@chron.com

twitter.com/reporterjulie

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Gaborone  Limited resources have not only meant that Botswana's frontline workers have to do more with less, but have also made it difficult for them to cope with the surging number of new COVID-19 cases.

Assistance from the private sector and other stakeholders meant to fight the scourge are as such welcome, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti has said when receiving a donation of items needed to fight COVID-19 from the Pakistan Association of Botswana in Gaborone recently.

Dr Dikoloti said now was the time when Botswana urgently needed assistance to fight the pandemic, calling on the private sector to partner with government to fight the pandemic.

The items included; three oxygen machines that can supply two patients at the a time, three wheelchairs, three walking rings, 10 walking canes, 10 blankets, three infrared thermometers, six oxymeters, 30 boxes of face masks each containing 50 masks.

"We warmly welcome and appreciate your support during these trying times.

At a time when the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down, the government needs all the assistance it can get to fight this enemy."

Dr Dikoloti also said it had been a year since Botswana registered its first cases of COVID-19, and the country had lost 500 lives to the scourge, lamenting that 500 deaths were a lot of lives lost considering the country's small population.

"Bagaetsho, these are not just numbers.

Behind these numbers are fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters and professionals who could be contributing towards building the economy of Botswana."

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As March 26 marked the start of vaccine rollout, he said the ministry, in partnership with community leaders, were working round the clock to allay public fears on the safety of the vaccine.

Dr Dikoloti pointed out that vaccination did not mean that people could abandon COVID-19 health protocols such as mandatory use of face masks and social distancing, saying protocols were still valid so to reduce new infections.

Mr Ishtiaq ur Rehamn Raja, chairperson of The Pakistan Association of Botswana, said the organisation, which had been in existence in Botswana for almost 20 years, had assisted on social work, education, health and villages development committees.

For the health sector, the association has assisted in medical campaigns, eyes screening, donating reading glasses, while in education they assisted children and the elderly through a feeding programme and donated walking sticks.

Mr Raja urges Non-Governmental Organisations to emulate the Pakistan Association to help build a healthy Botswana.

Giving a vote of thanks, Councillor Oduetse Tautona of Kgale View ward said the Pakistan Association was one among the few foreign associations which truly supported and maintained its obligation to assist Botswana.

<i>Source : BOPA</i>
was on the move again late on Monday in Egypt's Suez Canal after tugs refloated a giant container ship which had been blocking the channel for almost a week, causing a huge build-up of vessels around the waterway.

With the 400-metre-long (430-yard) Ever Given dislodged, 113 ships were expected to transit the canal in both directions by early Tuesday morning, Suez Canal Authority (SCA) chairman Osama Rabie told reporters.

He said a backlog of 422 ships could be cleared in 3 -1/2 days.

The Ever Given had become jammed diagonally across a southern section of the canal, the shortest route between Europe and Asia, in high winds early on March 23.

Evergreen Line, which is leasing the Ever Given, said the ship would be inspected for seaworthiness in the Great Bitter Lake, which separates two sections of the canal.

"The ship was ready for limited navigation after an initial inspection and not a single container was damaged, but a second investigation will be more precise and if it was affected it will show," Rabie said.

At dawn on Monday, rescue workers from the SCA working with a team from Dutch firm Smit Salvage partially refloated the ship and straightened it in the canal. After several hours it shifted briefly back across the canal before being manoeuvred free by tugs as the tide changed, a canal source said.

"The time pressure to complete this operation was evident and unprecedented," said Peter Berdowski, CEO of Smit Salvage owner Boskalis, after the Ever Given was refloated.

The company said approximately 30,000 cubic metres of sand had been dredged to refloat the 224,000-tonne container ship and a total of 11 tugs and two powerful sea tugs were used to pull the ship free.

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), the technical managers of the container ship, said there were no reports of pollution or cargo damage.

QUEUE

Vessels waiting to transit the canal include dozens of container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, Nile TV reported.

Rabie said that within four days, traffic would return to normal. "We'll work day and night to end the backlog."

Vessels similar in size to the Ever Given, which is one of the world's largest container ships, could pass through the canal safely, he added, and the SCA would not change its policy on admitting such ships.

group Maersk said the knock-on disruptions to global shipping could take weeks or months to unravel.

Owners and charterers of delayed ships face at least $24 million in expenses they will be unable to recoup as their insurance policies do not cover them and cargo owners could also face uninsured losses, industry sources said.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who had not publicly commented on the blockage, said had ended the crisis and assured resumption of trade through the canal.

Oil prices fell 1 percent after the ship was refloated while shares of Taiwan-listed Evergreen Marine Corp rose.

About 15% of world shipping traffic transits the Suez Canal, which is an important source of foreign currency revenue for The stoppage was costing the canal up to $15 million a day.

Shipping rates for oil product tankers nearly doubled after the ship became stranded, and the blockage has disrupted global supply chains, threatening costly delays for companies already dealing with COVID-19 restrictions.

Maersk was among shippers rerouting cargoes around the Cape of Good Hope, adding up to two weeks to journeys and extra fuel costs.

(Reporting by Yusri Mohamed, Nadine Awadalla and Aidan Lewis; Additional reporting by Omar Fahmy, Momen Saeed Atallah and Mahmoud Mourad in Cairo, Florence Tan in Singapore, Anthony Deutsch and Bart Meijer in Amsterdam and Akshay Lodaya; Writing by Lincoln Feast, Kirsten Donovan and Catherine Evans; Editing by Richard Pullin, Timothy Heritage, William Maclean, Catherine Evans and Gareth Jones)
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 29, 2021 / Makara Mining Corp. (CSE:MAKA) (FSE:MK0) (OTC:MAKAF) ("Makara" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an exploration update on its Rude Creek gold project in Yukon, Canada ("Rude Creek") and its other Canadian and U.S. projects.

Highlights:

The complete assay results from the 2,000-meter RC (reverse circulation) drill program at Rude Creek have now been received and tabulated

Overall, drill results have identified the presence of a new gold system, with controls on mineralization which appear to be north-south oriented and steeply dipping to the east

with controls on mineralization which appear to be north-south oriented and steeply dipping to the east Further drilling aimed at finding the postulated higher-grade and thicker centre of the system is clearly warranted, along with an expanded soil geochemistry program over this large property

is clearly warranted, along with an expanded soil geochemistry program over this large property Best new intercepts include: 16.8 m of 0.37 g/t Au, 9.7 g/t Ag (incl. 4.6 m of 0.84 g/t Au, 24.5 g/t Ag and incl. 1.5 m of 1.77 g/t Au, 40.1 g/t Ag ) in ROYRC20-21 4.6 m of 0.30 g/t Au, 4.5 g/t Ag (incl. 1.5m of 0.46 g/t Au, 1.2 g/t Ag) in ROYRC20-20 4.6 m of 0.23 g/t Au and 7.8 g/t Ag (incl. 1.5 m of 0.58 g/t Au and 11.7 g/t Ag ); and 6.1 m of 0.25 g/t Au, 3.4 g/t Ag (incl. 1.5 m of 0.87 g/t Au, 3.3 g/t Ag); and 3.1 m of 0.37 g/t Au, 1.6 g/t Ag (incl. 1.5 m of 0.51 g/t Au, 1.2 g/t Ag) in ROYRC20-15 True widths for all 2020 drilling are currently unknown

Above intercepts are in addition to those released on February 10, 2021, which included: 80.8 m of 0.17 g/t Au and 3.3 g/t Ag (incl. 13.7 m of 0.59 g/t Au and 14.1 g/t Ag , incl. 1.5 m of 3.15 g/t Au and 76.4 g/t Ag ) in ROYRC20-18 4.6 m of 0.74 g/t Au (incl. 1.5 m of 2.13 g/t Au ) in ROYRC20-14 3.1 m of 0.35 g/t Au (incl. 1.5m of 0.59 g/t Au ) in ROYRC20-13

Gold mineralization was intersected over an area of 200 m by 250 m, within a portion of the "Northeast" soil anomaly, currently known to measure at least 1,000 m by 1,600 m

"This is the first systematic drill campaign ever completed at Rude Creek. Makara is encouraged that this preliminary drilling has provided a robust 'proof of concept' and that a gold system is indeed present on the property," stated Grant Hendrickson, CEO. "We look forward to providing a more detailed analysis of the 2020 work in due course, along with plans for the 2021 field season."

Bart Jaworski, co-founder and director of 0890763 B.C. Ltd. (vendor) stated: "After more than ten years working on what was until recently a purely grassroots prospect, it is great to see an exciting gold system starting to emerge from the latest round of drilling. We thank Makara for their strong contribution to the project over the last year and look forward to the upcoming field season."

Rude Creek Drill Program, Yukon (Canada)

The Rude Creek project is well located in the Dawson Range of the Yukon, 15 km east of the Casino Cu-Au porphyry deposit (Western Copper) and immediately west of the Mount Cockfield porphyry copper gold prospect. Newmont's Coffee Creek gold deposit is 50 km to the WNW. The 2020 drilling program was undertaken to evaluate one of the better gold-in-soil anomalies (the "Northeast Anomaly") at Rude Creek and to expand upon the encouraging results from hole ROYRC19-09 (9.2 m of 1.42 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag) drilled in 2019. The Northeast Anomaly occurs within an excellent structural setting.

Shallow RC drilling in 2020 was conducted from five separate drill pad locations (see Exhibit 1). Pad 1 is the northern most pad, the other pads are in sequence approximately 50-75 metres south of the previous pad. Pad 5 is approximately 250 metres south of Pad 1. Several holes at various azimuths and inclinations were drilled from each pad (to test for conjugate vein orientations; see Exhibit 1 and 4). Seventeen holes (12 to 28) were drilled on the Target in 2020 and three holes (9 to 11) were drilled at the Northeast Anomaly in 2019.

Exhibit 1. Plan Map of 2020 Drilling at Portion of the Northeast Anomaly, Rude Creek Project, Yukon

Note: For further details on 'Previous Results', please refer to the Company's news release dated February 10, 2021.

The RC drilling technique collects a 1.52-metre down hole rock chip sample, resulting in a spatial resolution of 1.52 metres per assay sample. Note that all of the 2019/2020 RC drill holes have been completely sampled, in increments of 1.52 metres. The gold content of the assay results was determined by fire assay. This news release comments only on the gold content of sample intervals above 0.1 g/t with a minimum width of 1.52 metre.

The detailed multi-element assaying of all the Rude Creek RC rock chips indicates that the gold mineralization at the Northeast Anomaly is hosted within several polymetallic vein occurrences. Geochemically anomalous amounts of silver, lead, copper, arsenic, bismuth and tungsten tend to accompany gold mineralization. Some of the stronger gold intervals occur with elevated silver grades (up to 76 g/t Ag) of economic interest, thus gold-equivalent grades are being routinely calculated. More work on all the important metal associations is ongoing.

The Company will be able to provide more complete mapping, modelling and detailed conclusions on the assay information, geology, mineralogy, structural controls on mineralization and deposit types in approximately two to three months once hyperspectral imaging, detailed drill hole geology, structural reports and other imaging data sets are integrated in the interpretation.

The information to date, however, suggests the main structural control of gold mineralization appears to be predominantly north-south oriented with a steep dip to the east. The Company's latest drill hole assay results are shown in Exhibit 2.

Exhibit 2. Summary of New Assay Results from 2020 Drilling, Rude Creek Gold Project, Yukon

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq (g/t) m x AuEq ROYRC20-12 14.63 16.15 1.52 0.145 0.6 0.153 0.23 " and 95.40 96.93 1.52 0.193 1.6 0.214 0.33 ROYRC20-15 7.62 12.19 4.57 0.225 7.8 0.329 1.50 " incl. 10.67 12.19 1.52 0.582 11.7 0.738 1.12 " and 19.81 21.34 1.53 0.122 9.3 0.246 0.38 " and 54.86 60.96 6.10 0.252 3.4 0.297 1.81 " incl. 56.39 57.91 1.52 0.784 3.3 0.828 1.26 " and 91.44 92.96 1.52 0.111 0.3 0.115 0.17 " and 100.58 103.63 3.05 0.365 1.6 0.386 1.18 ROYRC20-17 45.72 51.82 6.10 0.122 2.2 0.151 0.92 " and 54.86 56.39 1.53 0.112 0.5 0.119 0.18 " and 73.15 74.68 1.53 0.171 0.4 0.176 0.27 " and 99.06 100.58 1.52 0.216 0.7 0.225 0.34 ROYRC20-19 0.00 3.96 3.96 0.124 2.4 0.156 0.62 " and 38.40 39.93 1.53 0.144 0.2 0.147 0.22 " and 49.07 50.60 1.53 0.152 0.6 0.160 0.24 ROYRC20-20 0.61 5.18 4.57 0.303 4.5 0.363 1.66 " incl. 3.66 5.18 1.52 0.460 1.2 0.476 0.72 ROYRC20-21 0.00 16.76 16.76 0.366 9.7 0.495 8.29 " incl. 6.10 10.67 4.57 0.843 24.5 1.170 5.35 " incl. 9.14 10.67 1.53 1.774 40.1 2.309 3.53 " and 91.44 100.58 9.14 0.114 1.8 0.138 1.26 ROYRC20-22 - - - - - - - ROYRC20-23 28.35 29.87 1.52 0.123 0.1 0.124 0.19 " and 39.01 40.54 1.52 0.141 0.0 0.141 0.21 " and 45.11 46.63 1.52 0.174 0.1 0.175 0.27 " and 115.21 116.74 1.52 0.113 0.2 0.116 0.18 ROYRC20-26 71.63 73.15 1.52 0.101 1.4 0.120 0.18 " and 105.16 109.73 4.57 0.154 1.3 0.172 0.78 " and 135.64 137.16 1.52 0.106 0.5 0.113 0.17

Notes: Azimuth and inclinations are provided in Exhibit 4; intervals summarized above are down-hole intervals; true widths are currently unknown; and "AuEq" or gold-equivalent grades combine gold grade with silver grade divided by a factor of 75 (based on gold price of US$1800/oz and silver price of US$24.00/oz).

For reference and continuity, assay results from the Company's previous news release (dated February 10, 2021) are repeated in Exhibit 3.

Exhibit 3. Summary of Previous Assay Results from 2020 Drilling, Rude Creek Gold Project, Yukon

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq (g/t) m x AuEq ROYRC20-13 36.88 39.93 3.05 0.354 0.9 0.366 1.12 " incl. 36.88 38.40 1.52 0.594 0.9 0.606 0.92 " and 82.60 90.22 7.62 0.100 4.7 0.163 1.24 " incl. 88.70 90.22 1.52 0.149 19.1 0.404 0.61 ROYRC20-14 54.86 56.38 1.52 0.435 52.2 1.131 1.72 " and 73.15 74.67 1.52 0.169 1.0 0.182 0.28 " and 106.68 111.25 4.57 0.741 0.6 0.749 3.42 " incl. 109.73 111.25 1.52 2.132 1.0 2.145 3.26 ROYRC20-16 16.76 19.81 3.05 0.195 7.8 0.299 0.91 " and 39.62 60.96 21.34 0.127 0.9 0.139 2.97 " incl. 57.91 60.96 3.05 0.571 3.4 0.616 1.88 " incl. 57.91 59.43 1.52 0.996 6.0 1.076 1.64 ROYRC20-18 0.00 80.77 80.77 0.167 3.3 0.211 17.04 " incl. 0.00 13.72 13.72 0.586 14.1 0.774 10.62 " incl. 6.71 13.72 7.01 1.005 24.2 1.328 9.31 " incl. 10.67 12.19 1.52 3.151 76.4 4.170 6.34 " and 27.43 30.48 3.05 0.124 0.5 0.131 0.40 " and 48.77 80.77 32.00 0.131 1.7 0.154 4.92 " incl. 77.72 80.77 3.05 0.611 7.0 0.704 2.15 " incl. 77.72 79.24 1.52 1.086 7.8 1.190 1.81 ROYRC20-24 21.34 22.86 1.52 0.121 - 0.121 0.18 " and 59.44 60.96 1.52 0.161 1.7 0.184 0.28 " and 67.06 68.58 1.52 0.173 2.4 0.205 0.31 " and 82.30 83.82 1.52 0.106 0.3 0.110 0.17 ROYRC20-25 - - - - - - - ROYRC20-27 70.10 91.44 21.34 0.100 1.5 0.120 2.56 " incl. 70.10 80.77 10.67 0.133 2.6 0.168 1.79 " incl. 70.10 71.62 1.52 0.132 12.4 0.297 0.45 " and 73.15 76.20 3.05 0.189 2.2 0.218 0.67 ROYRC20-28 21.34 22.86 1.52 0.111 2.4 0.143 0.22 " and 85.34 99.06 13.72 0.164 0.9 0.177 2.42 " incl. 94.49 97.54 3.05 0.353 2.3 0.384 1.17

Notes: Azimuth and inclinations are provided in Exhibit 4; intervals summarized above are down-hole intervals; true widths are currently unknown; and "AuEq" or gold-equivalent grades combine gold grade with silver grade divided by a factor of 75 (based on gold price of US$1800/oz and silver price of US$24.00/oz).

Exhibit 4. Drill Hole Location Information from 2020 Drilling at Rude Creek, Yukon

Hole ID PAD No Order Drilled Easting Northing Elev. (m) Az Dip Length (m) Length (ft) ROYRC20-12 Pad 1 2 625613 6953243 1535 81 -45 101.50 333 ROYRC20-13 Pad 1 1 625613 6953243 1535 81 -70 99.36 326 ROYRC20-14 Pad 2 5 625622 6953190 1533 65 -45 124.97 410 ROYRC20-15 Pad 2 6 625622 6953190 1533 245 -60 112.78 370 ROYRC20-16 Pad 2 4 625622 6953190 1533 335 -50 100.58 330 ROYRC20-17 Pad 2 3 625622 6953190 1533 155 -50 100.58 330 ROYRC20-18 Pad 3 8 625638 6953123 1523 65 -50 149.35 490 ROYRC20-19 Pad 3 9 625638 6953123 1523 245 -65 154.23 506 ROYRC20-20 Pad 3 7 625638 6953123 1523 335 -50 100.58 330 ROYRC20-21 Pad 3 10 625638 6953123 1523 155 -50 100.58 330 ROYRC20-22 Pad 4 11 625635 6953080 1518 65 -50 150.88 495 ROYRC20-23 Pad 4 12 625635 6953080 1518 245 -50 124.36 408 ROYRC20-24 Pad 4 14 625635 6953080 1518 335 -50 100.58 330 ROYRC20-25 Pad 4 13 625635 6953080 1518 155 -50 100.58 330 ROYRC20-26 Pad 5 15 625696 6953021 1495 65 -50 150.88 495 ROYRC20-27 Pad 5 16 625696 6953021 1495 245 -50 124.97 410 ROYRC20-28 Pad 5 17 625696 6953021 1495 335 -50 100.58 330 Total 1997.34 6,553

Field Program Plans for 2021 at Rude Creek

Makara's contiguous Idaho project and Win project, to the north and south of the Rude Creek project, respectively, will also receive significant exploration programs during the summer of 2021, in conjunction with the Company's extensive plans for Rude Creek. Fieldwork plans are expected to be released in two to three months. In addition, the Company plans to further evaluate its recently staked Placer rights to the upper levels of Rude Creek this summer. The shallow Rude Creek gold and silver mineralization, described in detail above, strikes across the upper levels of Rude Creek.

Nevada Gold Project, Davis Mine and Paradise Valley

Makara is pleased to announce that the first phase drilling program (5000 ft, 1500 m) on the Nevada Gold project, eight miles SE of Gabbs, is planned to be underway by April 15, 2021, weather permitting. The property is located within the central part of the Walker Lane geological trend, a structural zone of NW trending strike slip faults along the western margin of the Great Basin. The drill rig is now stored nearby while the process of securing all the required drill and environmental permits from the state of Nevada nears completion. Makara's Nevada project is a joint venture with Almadex Minerals Ltd., which has significant experience with Nevada gold and silver exploration. The initial drilling will concentrate on the Davis Mine area where reported historic drilling (cannot be verified) by a previous operator (36 years ago) returned significant low sulphidation epithermal intercepts. One of these intercepts was reported to have returned 40 ft (12.2 m) of 0.118 oz/t gold (6.2 g/t gold) and 0.62 oz/t silver (21 g/t silver), although it cannot be verified. The strike and dip of the Davis vein system along with the true widths will be verified and expanded on through this first phase drill program. In addition, other higher sulphidation shallow epithermal targets (to the south of Davis) on the contiguous Paradise Valley claims will be drilled in this initial drill program. These targets were determined by induced polarization and resistivity surveys in conjunction with the high-resolution spectra imaging results received from the recent World View Two satellite system survey over Paradise valley and the Davis mine area.

The first phase drilling program is expected to provide the information required for an expanded drill program later in the year.

Kenora Gold Project

Makara has started to receive reports on the field surface program conducted last fall at its Kenora Gold Project, located in Ontario. The airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey was received this past week and the Company looks forward to receiving the updated 43-101 report shortly. The updated report will include sections on relogging and assaying of old drill core, new mapping and prospecting results from the eastern claims and the southern portion of the claims, extensive rock Geochem analysis of the different lithologies, recent ground magnetics and VLF-EM surveys. Once this information is received and evaluated, the Company will reconsider the decision made last fall to delay the drilling program.

Qualified Person

Grant Hendrickson, P.Geo., the Company's Chief Executive Officer, is the 'Qualified Person' under National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

QA / QC / sampling techniques (Rude Creek Gold Project)

Sample preparation and analytical procedures included an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis and fire-assay atomic-absorption (AAS) testing. Analytical results of the results herein were submitted directly by Bureau Veritas to the JV. Control samples were routinely submitted.

About the Company

Makara Mining Corp. (CSE: MAKA; FSE: MK0; OTC: MAKAF) is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of gold properties. The Company is based in Vancouver, B.C. and holds options over the Rude Creek Property and Idaho Creek Property located in the Yukon, the Kenora Gold Property located in Northwestern Ontario and the Davis and Paradise Valley claims located in Nevada. Additional information about the Company is available at www.makaramining.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Grant Hendrickson

Director and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 604-372-3707

Email: grant@makaramining.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, and statements respecting the expected timing for the remaining assay results from the Company's RC drilling program, exploration work at the Idaho and Win Claims, first phase drilling program at the Nevada project and 43-101 report update on the Kenora project are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

SOURCE: Makara Mining Corp

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/637805/Makara-Intersects-168m-of-037-gt-Au-and-10-gt-Ag-Including-15m-of-177-gt-Au-and-40-gt-Ag-at-Rude-Creek-Yukon-First-Phase-Drill-Program-on-Nevada-Project-Expected-to-Start-Within-Four-Weeks
BOSTON and TEL AVIV, Israel, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aulos Bioscience, a biotechnology company developing highly differentiated interleukin-2 (IL-2)-binding monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics against solid tumors, announced today the appointment of Mace Rothenberg, M.D., to the company's board of directors. With more than three decades of experience in medical oncology, academic research, and biopharmaceutical industry leadership, Dr. Rothenberg will contribute substantial strategic expertise in oncology drug development as Aulos designs and conducts clinical trials of its lead pipeline candidate, AU-007, in the coming months.

"We are delighted to welcome Mace to the Aulos board. He will bring deep insight and experience to our clinical development programs, along with the thoughtfulness, wisdom, and focus on patients that have been the hallmarks of his amazing career," said Michael Ehlers, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder and executive chair of Aulos and venture partner and chief scientific officer at ATP, the life sciences venture capital firm that created Aulos in partnership with Biolojic Design, the Tel Aviv-based computational antibody design company that designed the Aulos lead asset.

Dr. Rothenberg most recently served as chief medical officer of Pfizer. In that role, he led the creation of the company's combined Worldwide Medical & Safety organization, a trusted source of medical information and disease characterization and an innovator in quantitative, patient-centered, benefit-risk assessments. Prior to his appointment as CMO, Dr. Rothenberg led Pfizer's oncology clinical drug development efforts. Over a 10-year period, his organization developed and obtained regulatory approvals for 11 new cancer medicines, including IBRANCE (palbociclib), the first CDK 4/6 inhibitor for patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer, and XALKORI (crizotinib), the first targeted medicine developed for patients with ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer. Before joining Pfizer, Dr. Rothenberg served on the faculties of Vanderbilt University Medical Center from 1998 to 2006 and the University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio from 1991 to 1998.

"We have long known about the antitumor potential of IL-2, but so far, activity sufficient for regulatory approval has only been observed in two diseases, melanoma and kidney cancer. By leveraging insights into the various ways in which IL-2 interacts with different kinds of immune cells, Aulos is developing a monoclonal antibody that has the potential to focus the effects of IL-2 on tumor-fighting T-cells and, in doing so, increase the depth of clinical responses and breadth of clinical activity that can be achieved with this cytokine. I am excited by the opportunity to collaborate with the talented team at Aulos and provide oversight and guidance as they work to bring AU-007 to patients," said Dr. Rothenberg.

"The addition of Mace to our board is a testament to the promise of the unique approach to IL-2 engineered by the team at Biolojic and being developed by Aulos, and a great step forward as we build a world-class team here at Aulos," said Aron Knickerbocker, president and CEO of Aulos Bioscience.

About Aulos Bioscience

Aulos Bioscience, an ATP company, is dedicated to revolutionizing patient care in cancer with highly differentiated immuno-oncology therapeutics. Aulos is initially developing unique IL-2 targeting antibodies that it believes have the potential to become best-in-class treatments for solid tumors. For more information, visit aulosbio.com.

Contact: [email protected]

Media inquiries: [email protected]

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Related Links

http://www.aulosbio.com



SOURCE Aulos Bioscience, Inc.
We're more likely to cheat when we're part of a large group, a new study reveals  likely because we think that other people are cheating too.

North American researchers examined whether competition pool size had any effect on people's propensity to cheat on a word task to win prize money.

A larger number of competitors led participants to cheat more in the performance task to earn their undeserved reward, they found.

When people expect that others will cheat, they may be more motivated to convince themselves that doing so is acceptable, to avoid missing out on a share of a prize.

Bigger groups 'heighten perceptions that cheating is an acceptable social norm', the experts say.

New research published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes set out to examine whether competition pool size had any effect on peoples propensity to cheat on a task to win a prize (stock image)

WHY DO WE CHEAT? In competitive situations, the size of the competition field can vary widely, from a small number of individuals (e.g., making an offer on a house) to hundreds of individuals (e.g., college admissions). Notably, the desire to succeed in competitive contexts can sometimes drive people to cheat. News stories, such as the recent college-admissions scandal involving wealthy parents who offered bribes to get their offspring into prestigious universities, and magazine articles, such as a recent piece describing how students feel pressure to cheat because they expect numerous peers to cheat, suggest cheating is common. 'Given how frequently we encounter competitors throughout life, the current research seeks to understand whether having knowledge of the number of competitors can affect our propensity to behave unethically,' the researchers say. Source: Chui et al Advertisement

'In many aspects of our professional and personal lives, we are put into competitive situations  those where the presence of others affects our own outcomes,' say the three study authors, each from HEC Montreal, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and Harvard Business School.

'From winning a prestigious award and getting into an elite university, to securing an interview for a desired job and gaining a coveted promotion, success often depends on the number of people vying for the same reward.

'Having a larger number of competitors increases expectations of the absolute number of cheaters in the competition group, which heightens perceptions that cheating is an acceptable social norm, which leads to more cheating.'

The study authors mention recent high-profile examples of cheating, such as the recent college-admissions scandal involving wealthy parents who offered bribes to get their offspring into prestigious universities, recently dramatised by Netflix.

British-Ghanaian philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah also recently authored a piece for the New York Times Magazine entitled, 'If my classmates are going to cheat on an online exam, why can't I?' where he addresses students' concerns.

Students feel pressure to cheat because they expect numerous peers to cheat, suggesting that 'cheating is common in competition pools and needs to be better understood' the study authors point out.

The team performed four experiments, totalling 834 participants  three of which used word unscrambling tasks.

In one of these three tasks, 327 US participants were randomly put into pools with 10 or 100 competitors.

They were asked to unscramble, within two minutes, eight word jumbles  for example, ETRNCA, which can be unscrambled to form the words 'nectar' or 'trance'.

They were told they'd receive a bonus of $1 if their reported total number of solved word jumbles was within the top 20 per cent of their group.

But unbeknownst to the participants, the third, fifth, and seventh word jumbles were unsolvable.

Results showed that participants in the larger pool self-claimed that they had 'solved' both a higher number of unsolvable word jumbles and a higher number of total word jumbles.

Participants in the larger pool also expected a higher absolute number of cheaters in their group (even if the ratio of expected cheaters was similar across both pools).

This in turn made them feel that cheating was more acceptable than those in the smaller pool.

In another one of the experiments, 26.5 per cent of the small competition pool (made up of just five people) and 58.8 per cent of the large competition pool (25 people) reported solving an unsolvable word jumble.

In this case, participants had three minutes to unscramble 10 words, and could win up to $10 for completing the task  although one word was unsolvable.

Proportion of cheating behavior for one of the conditions. There was a greater percentage of people who reported being able to solve an unsolvable task in the larger group

In one experiment, participants were only told that they would be completing a word unscrambling performance task.

However, after reading the instructions, instead of completing the task, participants responded to a questionnaire that gauged their attitude to cheating.

The questionnaire assessed their perceptions of the number of people in their group whom they thought would cheat, whether cheating was acceptable by people in the group and whether cheating would be undetected.

Individuals in the larger competition expected a larger absolute number of cheaters in their group than individuals in the smaller competition group.

This was even though, percentage-wise, individuals in the large competition group expected a lower percentage of cheaters (36.95 per cent) than did individuals in the small competition group (45.55 per cent).

'Our research suggests that being in larger, versus smaller, competition pools can trigger expectations of a higher absolute number of cheaters,' said the study's lead author, Celia Chui at HEC Montreal.

'[This] in turn, increases the perception of cheating as acceptable, ultimately leading to more cheating.'

The study has been published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.
THE Namibian poultry industry's growth and development are being thwarted by high feed prices and imports from international poultry giants.

This was revealed last week by the chairman of the Poultry Producers Association (PPA), Rene Werner, in the Namibian Agricultural Union's weekly briefs.

Werner said despite the number of producers increasing, the sector's growth is being hampered by the cost of feed in the country.

He pointed out that the volume of imports into the country from major international companies is creating stiff competition for the budding local industry.

Local poultry trade statistics from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) for the past two years indicate the country has imported poultry and poultry products worth N$2,0 billion from around the world.

Out of this, N$1,2 billion was imported in 2019 and N$ 839,7 million in 2020.

Werner said despite last year's challenges, producers survived.

He said 15 emerging producers have joined the association in the last year, showing signs of a growing industry.

He said primary production is the key to value-chain growth, highlighting that 2020 had a normal start for the Namibian egg and broiler industry, but that Covid-19 turned matters around.

"Due to the 'panic purchases' of the public within the first two weeks of Covid-19 restrictions, the demand was initially very high. After that, a 'new normal' was introduced," Werner said.

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Another challenge brought about by the virus pandemic is the restricted tourism industry, which has caused the demand for eggs to fall, he said.

As a result, prices had to be adjusted downwards to push surplus eggs into the informal market.

However, due to the supply crisis in the beef industry, the small sector was there to pick up the pace and provide in the country's demand for protein.

"Due to high red meat prices, the need for cheaper protein increased towards the end of the year, with a simultaneous increase in demand," Werner said.

The sale of chicken went well due to the limited availability and high prices of beef, mutton, and venison, he said.

He said a brainstorming session would be held to share ideas and information on improving growth and sustainability in the poultry industry.

Werner said the agricultural environment will always have its trials, but producers will continue to adapt and innovate to respond to the ever-changing environment.

The PPA extended its appreciation to big industry players who sponsored the producers' meeting and information-sharing session.

This includes Agribank, Feedmaster, and Afrivet.

Email: [email protected]

Low wages and high housing costs were a drag on South Carolina's economy even before the pandemic caused massive job losses, and now it's worse, according to a new state report.

In 2019, when unemployment was still very low and the coronavirus had not yet arrived, nearly a quarter of South Carolina renters were spending more than half their incomes on rent, according to the 2021 South Carolina Housing Needs Assessment.

The average wage in 40 of the state's 46 counties was too low to afford a two-bedroom apartment, and more than 151,000 evictions were filed.

"Even before the pandemic occurred, people were living on the edge," said Chris Winston, spokesman for the state Housing Finance and Development Authority, which also goes by SC Housing.

Homes sales at the end of 2020 At the end of 2020, the homes being sold in South Carolina were considerably more expensive than at the end of 2019. Here's how the number of pending home sales changed in December 2020 compared with December 2019, at different price points, according to the South Carolina Housing Needs Assessment: $100,000 or less: Down 33 percent.

$100,001 to $150,000: down 25.7 percent.

$150,001 to $200,000: down 6.7 percent.

$200,001 to $300,000: up 13.6 percent.

$300,001 and above: up 34.5 percent.

How much worse did it get in 2020, when unemployment soared? That's a question mostly left to the imagination in the just-released report from SC Housing, due to a lack of fresh data, but there are some hints.

While the report lacks information on 2020 rents, it points out a sharp year-over-year decline in affordable homes for sale  making it harder for renters to become owners.

The number of sales pending in December for homes costing $100,000 or less plunged by 33 percent statewide compared with December 2019, the report said, citing SC Association of Realtors data.

Pending sales for homes under $200,000 dropped across every price band, while sales of more expensive homes increased.

Together, there were 8,109 fewer home sales pending at $200,000 or less across the state in December than there were the prior December.

What this shows is that there is very little inventory, overall," said Bryan Grady, chief research officer for SC Housing. If theres not an effort to have more housing, and a wider variety of housing, youre going to continue to keep seeing this."

Similar points were made in a March 24 online conference hosted by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

John Hunt, CEO of MarketNsight, said during that conference that a large problem is the lack of construction of middle-income housing such as duplexes, triplexes and smaller single-family homes.

"All the cool stuff we used to build in this country ... we just skip over it," he said.

SC Housing's annual report is meant as a tool for state and local policy makers.

Grady said decisions that drive or limit the construction of housing are mostly made at the local level  towns, cities and counties that create zoning rules and issue permits.

"The solution, ultimately, has to be at the local level," he said.

Both the problem, and the solution, are seen through different lenses at the local level. Some towns and cities have been working to create more affordable housing, while others have worked to limit housing construction.

Both approaches are responses to the rapid population growth and development seen in South Carolina's metropolitan areas, which has increased the price of housing while also increasing complaints about traffic and quality of life.

Every time people are sitting in traffic on the highway, its because people cant afford to live close to where they work," Grady said.

SC Housing manages a number of initiatives aimed at helping people buy homes, or stay in the homes they have bought; they help with down payments and loans, for example.

The authority also managed a $25 million fund called SC Stay, to help people get caught up on overdue rent and mortgage payments. When applications opened for that program late last year, all the money was gone in six days.
Brendan Fevola has revealed his stepdaughter Mia rejected an offer to appear on Channel Seven's SAS Australia.

The former AFL star-turned-radio host, 40, revealed during an interview with SAS Chief Instructor Ant Middleton on Tuesday that Mia, 21, had turned down the role.

He explained on Fox FM Melbourne's Fifi, Fev & Nick show: 'My daughter was asked to go on this year, but she said no.'

'My daughter was asked to go on this year, but she said no': Brendan Fevola (left) has revealed his stepdaughter Mia (right) rejected an offer to appear on Channel Seven's SAS Australia

'She's physically not strong enough, and she knows that. But she's trying to build up, to get that physicality to be able to do stuff like that,' he added.

Brendan joked that he'd encouraged Mia to sign up for the program anyway just for the money, then throw in the towel on the first episode.

'I said, "Just take the cash and get voted off first, who cares! Just hand your number in." That was my dad advice,' he said, as former British soldier Ant laughed.

Not ready: 'She's physically not strong enough, and she knows that. But she's trying to build up, to get that physicality to be able to do stuff like that,' Brendan said. Pictured: Mia Fevola

Later in the chat, Ant said: 'If you come on there and don't show the characteristics and attributes that we're looking for, which is physical and mental resilience.

'This isn't a "let's see how far you get," I'm going to get rid of you straight away.'

SAS Australia sees celebrities attempt a physically and mentally demanding, two-week military-style selection course.

Earlier this month, Brendan furiously defended Mia after she was subjected to misogynistic abuse on social media.

He said it hurt him deeply to read what trolls were saying about his daughter, who had just gone public with her relationship with rising AFL star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

Protective: Earlier this month, Brendan furiously defended Mia after she was subjected to misogynistic abuse on social media following her decision to go public with her relationship with rising AFL star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan

Lovebirds: Mia is pictured with Jamarra, the Western Bulldogs No.1 draft pick

'As a father, that hurts. That hurts me that they think that of Mia,' he said on his radio show. 'She can date whoever she wants, she can go out with whoever she wants, whenever she wants.'

Brendan later pointed out the trolls' sexist double standards, saying: 'Blokes can do whatever they want. They can date girls and no one judges them. It's a lad thing.'

He added: 'As soon as she goes out and does something like that and posts a picture, you get idiots behind a keyboard - mostly men - hammering her.'

'When we were 21, we were doing whatever we wanted. He's a great kid, she's a great girl, she's smart, she's got her own business, she studies, she's got a degree, she can do what she wants.

'It just pisses me off that people can write that and say vile things online about any girl, not just Mia.'

Family: Mia is the eldest child of Brendan's longtime partner, Alex (left). Brendan adopted Mia as his own daughter when he married Alex in 2005, and they have remained close even during times when the couple were separated

Mia is the eldest child of Brendan's longtime partner, Alex.

He adopted Mia as his own daughter when 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, 13, Lulu, nine, and Tobi, two.
Three-dimensional representation of the number of people avoiding shark bites from 2020 to 2066 for incrementingproportions of people wearing electronic deterrents for Australia combined. Shown is the median (darker surface) and theupper and lower 95% confidence limits (lighter surfaces). Credit: Professor Corey Bradshaw, Flinders University.

With shark bites increasing in countries like Australiascientists say the use of personal electronic deterrents is an effective way to prevent future deaths and injuries which could save the lives of up to 1063 Australians along the coastline over the next 50 years.

The research, published in scientific journal Royal Society Open Science, shows that while shark bites are rare events, strategies to reduce shark-bite risk are also valuable because they can severely affect victims and their support groupswith one third of victims experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.

The researchers analyzed per-capita shark bites around Australia from 1900 to 2020 and developed models to estimate the preventative impact of electronic deterrents if they were worn by water users, to predict how many shark bites could be avoided.

With the incidence of bites increasing worldwide, researchers used the Australian Shark Attack File curated by Taronga Conservation Society Australia to develop the models of incidents, and then projected these shark bites to 2066 when the population is expected to rise to 49 million.

There were 985 incidents reported in the Australian Shark Attack File from 1900 to 2020 from 20 different species.

Lead author Professor Corey Bradshaw of Flinders University says efforts to reduce the risk of shark bites, even if they are extremely rare, are valuable with electronic deterrents capable of reducing the likelihood of a bite by about 60%, potentially saving hundreds of lives over the next 50 years.

Number of fewer bites year predicted for Australia combined (AUS), New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD) andWestern Australia (WA) for incrementing proportions of people wearing electronic deterrents from 2020 to 2066. Credit: Professor Corey Bradshaw, Flinders University

"Avoiding death, injury, and trauma from shark bites over the next half-century would be a realistic outcome if people use these personal electronic deterrents whenever they're in the water, and as long as the technology is operating at capacity."

"Given that governments are applying multiple approaches to mitigate shark bites such as drones, SMART drumlines, and acoustic monitoring, our simulations suggest electronic deterrents could make a valuable contribution to overall mitigation, and so help allay community fears."

"This is especially so when you consider the additional costs associated with the loss of recreational, commercial, and tourism revenue in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars following clusters of shark-bite events. "

"For example, the New South Wales Government recently invested AU$16 million to mitigate shark bites in part due to lost revenue from businesses benefitting from water users and tourism."

Despite the low probability of being bitten by a shark, the rising number of people spending time in waters frequented by sharks increase shark-bite risk to an extent.

Spatial distribution of shark-bite incidents in the Australian Shark Attack File. Red icons show incidents resulting in ahuman fatality. Credit: Professor Corey Bradshaw, Flinders University

The researchers point out this approach relies on many assumptions, the biggest factors being stability in the abundance of sharks, shark behavior, shark distribution (potentially influenced by climate), and human use of the ocean.

Shark scientist and co-author Associate Professor Charlie Huveneers, who leads the Southern Shark Ecology Group at Flinders University, says the electronic deterrent devices can be beneficial, as long as people understand their effectiveness and how much they actually reduce the risk of attacks.

"Although several studies have demonstrated that electronic deterrents can reduce the probability of shark bites, device efficacy varies among manufacturers and even between products of the same manufacturer."

"When testing these products scientifically, we need a large number of interactions to (i.e., using robust statistics) assess efficacy confidently. As a result, we often need to use bait or berley to attract sharks, which likely motivate sharks to bite more than in situations when sharks encounter a swimmer or surfer."

"Therefore, the ability of electric deterrents to reduce shark bite risk might be greater than the 60% decrease we observed in our studies, further increasing the number of lives saved."

Explore further Australian researchers test shark-bite resistant wetsuit

More information: Predicting potential future reduction in shark bites on people, Royal Society Open Science, royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.201197 Journal information: Royal Society Open Science Predicting potential future reduction in shark bites on people,
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 15:40:06|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on June 12, 2020 shows the night view of Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council on Tuesday pledged to firmly support China's top legislature in adopting the amended annexes to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Plugging loopholes and defects in the HKSAR's current electoral system and improving methods for the selection of the HKSAR Chief Executive and the formation of the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the HKSAR in a systematic manner are the common aspirations of the Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, said the office in a statement.

Stressing that it is a basic political principle that political power should be controlled by patriots, the office said that as a special administrative region of China, Hong Kong's political power organ and bodies of administration must always be firmly in the hands of those who love the motherland and Hong Kong.

Only in this way can Hong Kong completely eliminate the risk of a "color revolution" instigated by external forces and their political agents, and avoid the dangers of endless disputes and growing radical forces, thus safeguarding political stability and security, and focusing on economic development.

The office pointed out that developing Hong Kong's democratic system step by step is a provision in the Basic Law and a consistent position of the central government.

Hong Kong's democratic system will never copy the political models of other countries or regions, but must conform to the "one country, two systems" policy, proceed from Hong Kong's actual situation, ensure the balanced participation of all social sectors, and strive to improve the governing efficacy of the HKSAR, thus benefitting its whole society.

The office said the HKSAR government will revise relevant local laws in line with the NPC's decision and the newly adopted amendments to improve the electoral system, and will organize and regulate electoral activities in accordance with the law.

The office called on all sectors of Hong Kong to support the work of the HKSAR government and LegCo, so as to create an optimal environment for various elections to be held on schedule.

The formulation and implementation of the national security law in the HKSAR and the improvement of the HKSAR electoral system serve the same ultimate goal, which is ensuring the implementation of the "one country, two systems" policy remains on the right path, noted the office.

Through efforts, the practice of the "one country, two systems" policy in the HKSAR will surely gain new vigor and vitality. 
The lions share of the health systems woes have been blamed on mental health, but housing advocacy groups and researchers say if the government dug a little deeper they would find the real culprit is its long-time foe: social housing.

The hospital crisis hit a crescendo last week as both Sir Charles Gairdner and Royal Perth hospitals declared code yellow alerts at the same time, causing emergency departments to turn people away to deal with only the most serious of cases. The code yellows prompted dire warnings from the Australian Medical Association WA that people could die unnecessarily unless the state started hiring more staff and opening new beds.

A lack of social housing has been blamed as one of the causes of bed block in the WA health system.

In a press conference last week, Health Minister Roger Cook refused to call the issue a crisis but conceded the system was under pressure from National Disability Insurance Scheme delays; a lack of GPs; and a huge increase in mental health in-patients staying in hospital longer, with more complex problems.

These claims are backed by evidence  the average stay at Graylands Hospital went up from about 30 days in October to 131 in January  but social housing advocacy groups such as Shelter WA say many of these patients are unable to leave hospital because they dont have appropriate accommodation to be discharged to.
A second look at sunlight

A year ago scientists everywhere were scrambling to get their minds around the SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus that caused the pandemic from which we are only now beginning to emerge. The world clung to every new development, every bit of science that could provide clues to managing life in the presence of this mysterious killer.

Many science-backed COVID-19 management concepts remain unchanged to this day: handwashing with soap and warm water disrupts the virus' lipid membrane. Social distancing can attenuate the virus's spread, ideally keeping it out of a host until it degrades. Other notions, such as droplet contact being the primary mode of transmission, were modified when emerging evidence showed that under certain conditions, the virus could remain suspended in air for extended periods of time.

In a letter(link is external) in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, a team of researchers from UC Santa Barbara, Oregon State University, University of Manchester and ETH Zurich examines another of SARS-CoV-2's well known characteristics -- its vulnerability to sunlight. Their conclusion? It might take more than UV-B rays to explain sunlight inactivation of SARS-CoV-2.

The idea that an additional mechanism might be in play came when the team compared data from a July 2020 study(link is external) that reported rapid sunlight inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in a lab setting, with a theory(link is external) of coronavirus inactivation by solar radiation that was published just a month earlier.

"The theory assumes that inactivation works by having UV-B hit the RNA of the virus, damaging it," said UC Santa Barbara mechanical engineering professor and lead author Paolo Luzzatto-Fegiz(link is external). Judging from the discrepancies between the experimental results and the predictions of the theoretical model, however, the research team felt that RNA inactivation by UV-B "might not be the whole story."

According to the letter, the experiments demonstrated virus inactivation times of about 10-20 minutes -- much faster than predicted by the theory.

"The theory predicts that inactivation should happen an order of magnitude slower," Luzzatto-Fegiz said. In the experiments, viruses in simulated saliva and exposed to UV-B lamps were inactivated more than eight times faster than would have been predicted by the theory, while those cultured in a complete growth medium before exposure to UV-B were inactivated more than three times faster than expected. To make the math of the theory fit the data, according to the letter, SARS-CoV-2 would have to exceed the highest UV-B sensitivity of any currently known virus.

Or, Luzzato-Fegiz and colleagues reasoned, there could be another mechanism at play aside from RNA inactivation by UV-B rays. For instance, UV-A, another, less energetic component of sunlight might be playing a more active role than previously thought.

"People think of UV-A as not having much of an effect, but it might be interacting with some of the molecules in the medium," he said. Those reactive intermediate molecules in turn could be interacting with the virus, hastening inactivation. It's a concept familiar to those who work in wastewater treatment and other environmental science fields.

"So, scientists don't yet know what's going on," Luzzatto-Fegiz said; "Our analysis points to the need for additional experiments to separately test the effects of specific light wavelengths and medium composition."

Results of such experiments might provide clues into new ways of managing the virus with widely available and accessible UV-A and UV-B radiation. While UV-C radiation is proved effective against SARS-CoV-2, this wavelength does not reach the earth's surface and must be manufactured. Although UV-C is presently used in air filtration and in other settings, its short wavelengths and high energy also makes UV-C the most damaging form of UV radiation, limiting its practical application and raising other safety concerns.

"UV-C is great for hospitals," said co-author Julie McMurry. "But in other environments -- for instance kitchens or subways -- UV-C would interact with the particulates to produce harmful ozone." While no single intervention will eliminate risk, this research would provide one further tool to reduce exposure, thus slowing transmission and improving health outcomes.

Co-author and UCSB mechanical engineering professor Yangying Zhu(link is external) added that UV-A turning out to be capable of inactivating the virus could be very advantageous: there are now widely available inexpensive LED bulbs that are many times stronger than natural sunlight, which could accelerate inactivation times. UV-A could potentially be used far more broadly to augment air filtration systems at relatively low risk for human health, especially in high-risk settings such as hospitals and public transportation, but the specifics of each setting warrant consideration, said co-author Fernando Temprano-Coleto.

###

Research in this paper was conducted also by Francois J. Peaudecerf at ETH Zurich and Julien Landel at University of Manchester.

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Quito, March 30 : Ecuador adopted new restrictions on mobility and the sale of alcohol in an effort to further curb Covid-19 spread during the upcoming holidays, President Lenin Moreno announced.

In his announcement on Monday, Moreno said the new restrictions were approved a day earlier by the Emergency Operations Committee (COE), which manages the health crisis at the national level, for the upcoming Easter holiday (April 2, 3 and 4) and International Workers' Day on May 1, reports Xinhua news agency.

Restrictions were placed on light vehicles on national roads according to the last odd or even number of their licence plates from 12 p.m. to midnight.

The sales and consumption of alcohol was also prohibited on those holidays starting at 6 p.m.

He added that local authorities were asked to close beaches on April 2, 3 and 4, and suspend large events.

The National COE President Juan Zapata said in a statement that the data delivered on the accumulated incidence rate, hospital capacity and number of deaths, "are very concerning".

He pointed out that in the provinces of Pichincha, Guayas and Manabi, the hardest hit by the pandemic in the country, there are dozens of patients on waiting lists for intensive care unit beds.

Zapata also noted that as of this month, there has been a 25 per cent increase in the number of deaths in the country compared to the same month last year.

Ecuador, which is slowly advancing its vaccination plan, has so far reported 325,124 Covid-19 cases and 11,880 deaths.
Lucknow, March 30 : The Nishad Party will be sending truckloads of signed letters from members of the community to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), in support of its demand for the Scheduled Castes status.

The two-month signature campaign launched by the Nishad Party in February is about to end this month. In Uttar Pradesh, the Nishad community has been demanding inclusion in the SC category under four generic castes -- Majhwar, Gond, Shilpkar and Turaha.

"We have started collecting details from every district about the number of signatures and signed letters that the party has received. We are getting the numbers counted for every district," said party's Uttar Pradesh-in-charge Shravan Nishad.

"We will send truckloads of signed letters and papers in support of our demands to the PMO. The party will send the signed letters to PMO to highlight its long pending demand at the national level. The party's move is driven by its ambition to be more visible ahead of the state assembly elections and also be in a better position to bargain," he added.

The signature campaign, the first major initiative by the party to find a toe-hold in the national political scene.

Its booth-level workers have been working overtime to collect maximum signatures in support of its demand. The drive has continued without a break since it was launched in the start of February.

Uttar Pradesh has 153 sub-castes of Nishads, some of which are in the OBC list, some in the list of denotified tribes and others in the SC list. Nishads want a common status for all, which is of an SC.

The state had in April 2019 issued a 'majhwar' certificate to Nishads in few districts, but the court later put a stay on it.

The state government has not pleaded to the court in favour of Nishad community till now, which brings the community back to the point from where they started their political fight.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Edgewater Wireless Systems Inc. (YFI: TSX.V) (OTCQB: KPIFF), the industry leader in Wi-Fi Spectrum Slicing technology for residential and commercial markets, is pleased to announce that the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement announced on March 12, 2021 (the Offering) has closed. In the first tranche closing the Company issued 6,316,405 units (each a Unit) for total proceeds of $726,387. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one warrant of the Company (each a Warrant). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.23 for twenty-four (24) months following the closing of the Offering.

It is anticipated that the second tranche of the Offering, for aggregate proceeds of approximately $75,000, will close on April 1, 2021.

The Company also anticipates closing its additional offering of units (the Secondary Units) at a price of $0.13 per Secondary Unit (the Secondary Offering) on April 1, 2021. Due to exceptional demand, the Secondary Offering has been increased from the 10,153,847 Secondary Units announced in the Companys news release dated March 18, 2021 [9,230,770 Secondary Units plus a 10% (923,077 unit) over-allotment option] to up to 11,000,000 Secondary Units for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,430,000. Each Secondary Unit is comprised of one common share and one warrant of the Company (each a Secondary Warrant). Each Secondary Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.23 for twenty-four (24) months following the closing of the Secondary Offering.

Demand for our recently announced private placements has exceeded supply, said Andrew Skafel, President and CEO of Edgewater Wireless. Management and Directors will participate in this second offering, in addition to the first.

Finders fees of 7% of the gross proceeds of the Offering and Secondary Offering may be payable in cash. In addition, finders may receive share purchase warrants (the Finders Warrants) entitling them to purchase that number of common shares of the Company which is equal to 7% of the total number of Units and Secondary Units purchased by subscribers introduced to the Company by such finders, exercisable for two years from the closing of the Offering or Secondary Offering, as applicable, at a price of $0.23 per common share, all in accordance with the policies of the TSXV.

In connection with the closing of the first tranche of the Offering, the Company will pay cash finders fees in the aggregate of $33,563 as follows: $23,905 to Haywood Securities Inc. / $2,012 to Leede Jones Gable Inc. / $644 to Canaccord Genuity Corp. / $7,002 to Granger Cumberford. In addition, the Company will issue 291,854 Finders Warrants as follows: 207,869 to Haywood Securities Inc. / 17,500 to Leede Jones Gable Inc. / 5,600 to Canaccord Genuity Corp. / 60,885 to Granger Cumberford.

The common shares issued in connection with the first tranche of the Offering and any common shares purchased on the exercise of the attached Warrants will be subject to a four-month hold period expiring July 31, 2021. The common shares issued in connection with the second tranche of the Offering and the common shares issued in connection with the Secondary Offering, and any common shares purchased on the exercise of the attached Warrants or Secondary Warrants, as applicable, will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing of the Secondary Offering.

The Offering and Secondary Offering are subject to TSXV acceptance. It is intended that the proceeds of $2,230,000 from the Offering and the Secondary Offering will be used for: Operating Expenses, including sales, marketing and business development ($446,000); Engineering and Product Development ($1,226,500) and Working Capital ($557,500). The Company may reallocate the proceeds from the Offering as may be required depending upon the development of the Companys business.

In connection with the Offering and the Secondary Offering, the Company will issue Units and Secondary Units to directors, officers and insiders of the Company. As a result, the Offering and Secondary Offering will constitute a related party transaction pursuant to TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (MI 61-101). The Company has determined that exemptions from the various requirements of TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and MI 61-101 are available for the issuance of the Units and Secondary Units to related parties. The Company is relying on Section 5.5(c) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the formal valuation requirement on the basis that the transaction is a distribution of securities for cash, and on Section 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the minority shareholder approval requirement, as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves related parties, will not be more than $2,500,000.

About Edgewater Wireless

We make Wi-Fi. Better.

Edgewater Wireless (www.edgewaterwireless.com) is the industry leader in innovative Spectrum Slicing technology for residential and commercial markets. We develop advanced Wi-Fi silicon solutions, Access Points, and IP licensing designed to meet the high-density and high quality-of-service needs of service providers and their customers. With 24+ patents, Edgewaters Multi-Channel, Single Radio (MCSR) technology revolutionizes Wi-Fi, delivering next-generation Wi-Fi today.

For more information, visit www.edgewaterwireless.com or www.aera.io.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. Although Edgewater Wireless believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward looking statements and information because Edgewater Wireless can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. By its nature, such forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause Edgewater Wireless actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. These risks and uncertainties, include, but are not limited to access to capital markets, market forces, competition from new and existing companies and regulatory conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this news release or otherwise, and to not use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. Edgewater Wireless undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, 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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330006048/en/

Edgewater Wireless Contact: Andrew Skafel, President and CEO

E: andrews@edgewaterwireless.com

T: +1 613-271-3710

W: www.edgewaterwireless.com

Source: Edgewater Wireless Systems Inc.
SCRAM Systems has launched Pattern of Life (POL) mapping with SCRAM GPS location monitoring. Tweet this

"We knew we had to figure out a way to help our partners in community corrections make the process of decarcerationand tracking this influx of clients with SCRAM GPS in real timeeasier," said Lou Sugo, SCRAM Systems VP of Sales and Marketing. "That's why we developed Pattern of Life mapping."

SCRAM Systems created the client stop pattern report, allowing officers to quickly analyze days' or weeks' worth of data points quickly by consolidating clusters and identifying locations that a client visited. POL puts each GPS point into one of ten mapping categories (home, education, work, travel, services, social, shopping, worship, recreation, and other), summarizing where clients spend their time.

Categories help officers review stops and potential diversions from a client's typical travel pattern. And mapping views give officers access to a variety of mapping options such as daily, weekly, or monthly viewing, helping consolidate client travel behavior over time. This critical information can even help officers identify areas that multiple clients are congregating frequentlyintel that can then be analyzed to determine if that location may warrant additional investigation.

"We found this was a tool that not only helped us establish accurate client daily activities, but really reduced the time we spent reviewing data," said Sam Banks with Pioneer Human Services, a SCRAM GPS service provider in Seattle.

SCRAM GPS provides superior location monitoring for sex and violent offenders and domestic violence caseloads. Additionally, GPS location monitoring is an effective alternative to incarceration for community corrections, helping officers more effectively supervise clients while enhancing community safety. Pattern of Life mapping is now available for all SCRAM GPS customers.

About SCRAM Systems

SCRAM Systems is a leading provider of electronic monitoring and software solutions for the criminal justice industry. The company's flagship SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM CAM) technology, launched in 2003 and revolutionized the way courts, agencies and treatment providers monitor and manage alcohol-involved offenders. In 2013 the company launched the industry's most comprehensive suite of electronic monitoring technologies, which includes SCRAM Remote Breath, SCRAM GPS and SCRAM House Arrest. The company has since launched software solutions including SCRAM Nexus to support the adoption and deployment of Evidence-Based Practices, a mobile client engagement tool called SCRAM TouchPoint, and the first license-based software platform, SCRAM 24/7 to support probation and sobriety programs. SCRAM Systems employs 280 people worldwide and is a privately held company with headquarters in Littleton, Colorado.

SOURCE SCRAM Systems

Related Links

https://www.scramsystems.com/


[March 30, 2021] OurFamilyWizard Strengthens Executive Team With New Chief Marketing Officer

MINNEAPOLIS, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OurFamilyWizard, the leading co-parenting platform, announced that Bridgette Haymaker has joined the company as its first Chief Marketing Officer. Haymaker will join the OurFamilyWizard executive team and report to Nick VanWagner, CEO. The key addition comes as OurFamilyWizard strives to support more families impacted by separation or divorce. "I couldn't be more excited to add Bridgette to our leadership team. Her proven track record of driving growth at SaaS companies, delivering outsized value for customers, and developing high-performing and inspired teams will bring immense value. I'm confident the addition of Bridgette will accelerate progress toward our mission of helping families living separately thrive," said VanWagner. Haymaker launched her career at Intuit, where she led Growth for QuickBooks Online and gained valuable experience in product management, new user acquisition, and customer marketing. She went on to use that strong foundation, along with her clear passion for leading and developing high-performing teams, to help other software companies scale successfully. Most recently, Haymaker was Head of Product at Total Expert, a Minneapolis-based, high-growth SaaS company with a leading marketing and sales platform designed for financial organizations.



"I'm thrilled to be joining a values-driven organization with such an important mission. This past year has been extremely challenging for families, especially those with kids. Virtual schooling, balancing work with childcare, unemployment  all of this has only added to the stresses of co-parenting. I see my role as making sure that any parents or family law professionals that can benefit from OurFamilyWizard know about it, can easily access it, and find success using it," remarked Haymaker.

The company, which received a growth investment from Spectrum Equity last summer, has been steadily building up its executive team and go-to-market muscle over the last year. The addition of Bridgette Haymaker as Chief Marketing Officer rounds out the leadership team as the company looks to scale its business significantly in 2021 and beyond. About OurFamilyWizard

OurFamilyWizard helps families living separately thrive. Its products provide both families and the family law professionals who serve them with the tools necessary for more seamless and successful co-parenting. Over one million parents and professionals have leveraged OurFamilyWizard to share calendars, messages, journals, files, expenses, and important information such as health and school records. The platform has been recommended by courts in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. Press Contact

Sara Klemp

sklemp@ourfamilywizard.com

612-294-0431 Related Images bridgette-haymaker.jpg

Bridgette Haymaker

Bridgette Haymaker joins OurFamilyWizard as its first Chief Marketing Officer. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ourfamilywizard-strengthens-executive-team-with-new-chief-marketing-officer-301257711.html SOURCE OurFamilyWizard

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One death as hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to fall in South Dakota
We've seen tremendous growth this past year and are thrilled to be able to expand our headquarters in Davie, Florida, said Michael Richmond, Co-Founder and President.

Green Scientific Labs, a leading cannabis and hemp testing laboratory, announced today it is in the process of opening a full service lab in Phoenix, Arizona. The new laboratory will operate out of an 10,500 square foot facility strategically located in the heart of Phoenix near major highways and the international airport.

Paul Crage, Co-Founder and CEO, stated, We are excited to enter the Arizona testing market after voters passed legalizing recreational marijuana in November 2020. We believe the state will continue to see strong cannabis sales growth with many more cultivation sites being added. This lab marks the first of several planned new labs in 2021 for Green Scientific.

Green Scientific continues to expand its Davie, Florida headquarters by adding 5,000 square feet of space. The additional space allows Green Scientific to add more back up instruments and personnel to continue to provide quality testing with fast turnaround times.

We have seen tremendous growth this past year and are thrilled to be able to expand our headquarters in Davie, Florida. Our goal is to continue to provide the most accurate results while maintaining the fast turn around times that have made Green Scientific Labs the preferred lab partner within the global hemp and Florida marijuana markets, said Michael Richmond, Co-Founder and President.

About Green Scientific Labs

Green Scientific Labs is a leading hemp and marijuana testing laboratory based in Davie, Florida. GSL tests cannabis and cannabis derived products to ensure product quality and consumer safety. Founded in 2018, GSL is ISO 17025:2017 certified and holds a Certified Marijuana Testing Laboratory (CMTL) license from the Florida Department of Health Office of Medical Marijuana Use.

Green Scientific Labs offers full-service cannabis testing out of our 14,000 SF state of the art facility to nationwide hemp clients and to Florida licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTC).

GSL currently tests for cannabinoid content (potency), terpene content, water activity, moisture content, and pesticides, residual solvents, heavy metals, filth and foreign material, and microbiological contaminants. Utilizing our vast experience in complex testing, we have developed proprietary testing methodologies which has created enhanced detection ability, improved accuracy, and fast turnaround.
Drinking too much water at night leads to constant break in sleep cycles as they have to get up when the bladder is full.  Representational image/DC

HYDERABAD: With the daytime temperatures being three degrees above normal and hot winds blowing from Rayalaseema, even nights are no longer cool in Telangana state leading to sleeplessness. Many citizens are complaining of sleepless nights as it is so hot that they are not able to sleep. Those who are using air-coolers are complaining that it is not serving the purpose. Those using air-conditioners find that it is taking at least two hours for the room to become cool.

This is because sunshine lasts longer and there is no weather activity in terms of cloud cover, which has heated up central India, Telangana state and Rayalaseema districts, pointed out Mahesh Palawat from Skymet. Hot winds are blowing throughout the day and despite night temperatures being normal of 22 Celsius the effect is not felt as there is heat escape from cement structures.

This escape leads to restlessness, thirst, dehydration and toilet breaks at night, which disturb the sleep cycle. Research indicates that in urban areas people are sleeping only for six hours due to the excessive use of gadgets. In summers the heat further aggravates the sleep cycle.

ENT and sleep specialist Dr P.N.V. Prasad said, There are two types of problems in summers as people are not able to cope with increasing temperatures during the daytime hence they try to catch up on their sleep during the day. This in turn makes sleeping at night difficult. As many go to bed after 11 pm half of the sleep time is gone. The ideal time to sleep is from 9 pm onwards."

Drinking too much water at night leads to constant break in sleep cycles as they have to get up when the bladder is full.

Women, who are suffering from thyroid, diabetes, hypertension and other co-morbid conditions, cannot tolerate air-conditioners, which further compromises their sleep patterns.

These lead to irritation, lack of concentration and urge the individual to take rest and relax as the actual sleep time is compromised.

Experts urge that following the sleep time table of going to bed early, listening to music, reading a book and relaxing before retiring for the day will induce good sleep.
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WASHINGTON - The head of the 190-nation International Monetary Fund says prospects for global growth have brightened since January, helped by a $1.9 trillion U.S. rescue package. But she warns that uneven progress in fighting the pandemic could jeopardize the economic gains.

FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2020 file photo, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva attends the Paris Peace Forum at The Elysee Palace in Paris. Georgieva said Tuesday, March 30, 2021, that when the IMF releases its updated economic forecast next week, it will show the global economy growing at a faster pace than the 5.5% gain it projected at the start of the year. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

WASHINGTON - The head of the 190-nation International Monetary Fund says prospects for global growth have brightened since January, helped by a $1.9 trillion U.S. rescue package. But she warns that uneven progress in fighting the pandemic could jeopardize the economic gains.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Tuesday that when the IMF releases its updated economic forecast next week, it will show the global economy growing at a faster pace than the 5.5% gain it projected at the start of the year.

In remarks hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, she said that the $1.9 trillion support package that President Joe Biden signed into law on March 11 along with rising confidence from increased vaccinations in many advanced economies were primary reasons for the forecast upgrade.

Georgieva said that governments around the globe had taken extraordinary actions over the past year including providing a combined $16 trillion in support and a massive injection of liquidity into the financial sector by the world's central banks. Without this prompt response, Georgieva said the last year's downturn would have been three times worse.

But she said economic prospects are diverging dangerously with the global economy now in a multi-speed recovery increasingly powered by two engines  the United States and China, the world's two biggest economies, while other countries fall behind.

Georgieva said the world faced extremely high uncertainty with so much depending on the path of the pandemic with new strains of the virus now holding back growth prospects, especially in Europe and Latin America.

Private economists are forecasting that the U.S. economy could grow by 6% to 7% this year, which would be the best performance since 1984. But Georgieva said strong growth in the United States could trigger a rapid rise in interest which could trigger significant capital outflows from emerging market and developing economies.

She said that emerging market and low-income countries already have limited firepower to fight the crisis and are highly exposed to the declines in tourism and other sectors hit hard by the pandemic.

She said how to best address the pandemic would be the key agenda item when the IMF and its sister organization hold their virtual spring meetings next week. Those discussions will also include a meeting of the finance ministers of the Group of 20 major industrial countries.

She said that the IMF estimates that faster progress in ending the health crisis cold add almost $9 trillion to global GDP by 2025.

Given diverging recoveries, it is prudent to keep a close eye on financial risk, including stretched asset valuations," she said. And major central banks have to carefully communicate their policy plans to prevent excess financial volatility at home and abroad.
AMSTERDAM, N.Y.  AeroMed Technologies in Amsterdam gave Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, R-22, an inside look at the technology they developed to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and other airborne diseases.

The companys Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) technology is used in air filtration systems at schools, colleges, hospitals and health care facilities.

AeroMed gave a presentation during Tenneys visit Monday, explaining how this infection control technology can be used as a solution for local facilities to reopen safely.

Todays presentation from AeroMed Technologies was very impressive and really proved that this is an effective solution to the immediate and future challenges we face with airborne diseases, including COVID-19. It is great to see such innovation right here in our community, said Tenney. Reducing the transmission of airborne diseases like COVID-19 is going to help us reopen our economy safely. Its time to get children back in the classroom and Americans back to work, and I appreciate any solutions that will help us solve this problem.

Utica College and Mohawk Valley Community College both use UVGI technology in their air filtration systems. Tenney plans to share information about AeroMeds technology with other businesses through her work on the House Small Business Committee.
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South Africa: Mozambique attack: 43 South Africans accounted for, one dead

The South African High Commission in Maputo on Monday said it has accounted for the 43 South Africans affected by the recent attacks in northern Mozambique.

Meanwhile, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Minister, Naledi Pandor, has expressed her deepest condolences to the family of a South African man, Adrian Nel, who lost his life in the attack.

According to DIRCO, the accounted citizens were in the area known as Afungi.

These include the two men who fled into the bush during the attacks on the Amarula Hotel convoy on 26 March and a young South African who hid away and was found by search and rescue helicopters.

Some of these nationals are already back home whilst others have been moved to safe areas within Mozambique, said the department.

Northern Mozambique has been affected by a bloody violence since 2017. The conflict intensified on Friday after a group of suspected terrorists stormed into the town of Palma, targeting shops, banks and a military barracks, according to media reports. The incident has left dozens dead while about 60 people are believed to be still missing.

The High Commission said it remains seized with a track-and-trace process to determine whether there are any more South Africans who may have been affected.

The services provided by the High Commission include assisting South African citizens with emergency medical evacuation, obtaining emergency travel documentation and securing international flight transfers.

Pandor has since commended staff at the High Commission for their prompt efforts at reaching out to fellow South Africans in distress.

I urge our Mission and the officials including the Ambassador to continue to do all they can to provide assistance to our citizens and any to citizen of Mozambique who may be in need of help.

She said South Africa will continue to lend a helping hand to the southern African nation.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A $252 million grants fund handled by the Berejiklian government was deliberately devised to accommodate pork-barrelling, punish councils who objected to forced amalgamations, and win seats ahead of the 2019 state election, an inquiry has found.

Findings of a NSW upper house inquiry described the governments administration of the tied grants round of the Stronger Communities Fund as a clear abuse of the grants process in which 95 per cent of funds went to councils in Coalition-held or marginal seats, including a $90 million payment to Hornsby Shire Council.

An inquiry found NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was one of the ultimate approvers of funds dispersed under a $252 million pork-barrelling scheme. Credit:James Brickwood

Greens MLC David Shoebridge, who chaired the committee overseeing the inquiry, described the fund as an alarming example of the lack of transparency and accountability in the state governments grant programs.

The fund was originally established to assist councils created from the NSW governments failed council amalgamations, but morphed into a brazen pork-barrel scheme, he said in a report published on the committees website on Tuesday.
A midlands man is taking the reins of the Irish operation Ballymore Properties which is one of the biggest construction companies in Ireland, Europe and Britain.

The international property development company has announced the appointment of Patrick Phelan as Managing Director and Linda Mulryan-Condron as Deputy Managing Director of Ballymore in Ireland.

The company says Mr Phelan from Abbeyleix is a real estate professional with broad experience in the UK, Ireland and the US, acquired over a 25-year career. Prior to joining Ballymore as Director of Corporate Finance, Patrick was a Director with CBRE. Previous employers include the NTMA, JPMorgan Chase, Bear Stearns and PwC.

Mr Phelan is the son of Pat and Sadie Phelan from Abbeyleix. Pat is an ex-butcher and current farmer while Sadie is a retired nurse. They are still living on the farm in Laois. They had four children including Patrick.

Mr Phelan attended primary school in Abbeyleix before attending Cistercian College Roscrea for his secondary education.

Welcoming the announcement, Patrick Phelan, said:

Ballymore has a deserved reputation as a leading developer, delivering both high-quality affordable homes and iconic urban developments.

"Linda and I look forward to building on the success of our Irish team, strengthening our existing partnerships with customers, investors and our funders. We have immediate opportunities to deliver contemporary city living, alongside retail and office space in historic locations such as St. James Gate, Connolly Station and promising new acquisitions on the waterfront in Bray.

"We continue to invest in the most desirable and sought-after suburban locations such as Malahide, Naas, Leixlip, Newbridge and many others. We welcome the opportunity to grow further and build new relationships with those who share our vision, he said.

Sean Mulryan, Chairman and Group CEO of Ballymore, announced the appointments.

We have invested significantly in our Irish landbank over recent years, having acquired a number of large sites for residential and mixed-use projects. In this newly created role, Patrick will manage the execution of Ballymores growing Irish development portfolio whilst enhancing the existing Ballymore team and skillset in Dublin, he said.

With suburban residential developments in Naas, Newbridge and Bray, Ballymore says it is also continuing its plans for the Connolly Quarter, a mixed-use development of offices, a hotel and apartments, and partnering with Diageo to create a visionary neighbourhood for living, entrepreneurship, creativity and commerce at the Guinness brewery at St Jamess Gate.

Ballymore describes itself as an Irish family-run property developer with an award-winning portfolio of some of Europes largest and most transformative urban development projects. A privately-owned company, Ballymore was established by Chairman and Group Chief Executive Sean Mulryan and his wife Bernardine in Ballymore Eustace in 1982.

Ballymore says it has significant land holdings across the UK, Ireland and Europe with around 10,000 homes currently under construction across the UK and Ireland.

I have been struggling with a bug that has sapped my energy and shortened my day yesterday. These notes are accordingly abbreviated.

On Sunday I complained that the Star Tribune sought to bypass the issues in the case in the interest of framing it as a (racial) passion play. The Star Tribune is of course not alone in this regard, but is it really needed or illuminating at this point?

The Sunday page-one story I cited was written by reporters Reid Forgrave and Maya Rao. On Monday, however, the Star Tribune published reporter Chao Xiongs examination of the cause of death issue in George Floyds cause of death at heart of arguments in Chauvin trial.

When I saw Chao yesterday morning I congratulated Chao on the story. He told me he had a hard time finding people who would talk to him for it. Given my comments on Sunday, I want to note it for the record.

All fifteen jurors selected showed up to sit on the case yesterday morning. Judge Cahill dismissed the fifteenth juror selected before swearing the fourteen in. The fifteenth was the third alternate.

In my rundown on the jury on Sunday, I assumed that the first twelve jurors serve as the regulars who will deliberate on the verdict if they make it to the end and that jurors thirteen and fourteen are alternates. I assume that to be true even though no such announcement has been made.

Jerry Blackwell is one of the attorneys contributing his services to the prosecution without charge. He made the opening statement on behalf of the State yesterday. I have embedded it below. [UPDATE: I have removed it. YouTube has made it inaccessible by embed. It can be viewed by clicking here.]

Although I was surprised by his detached tone, I thought Blackwell did an excellent job. I was not surprised by his use of the famous bystander video that everyone has seen.

An opening statement is not argument. It is to be limited to a summary of the evidence that will be introduced in the case. It should provide a roadmap to the case the attorney will present to the jury.

The underlying message of Blackwells opening is that the State has a ton of evidence they will introduce to prove up the charges against Derek Chauvin. Among the witnesses who will testify against Chauvin are the Minneapolis Chief of Police and other Minneapolis police officers.

The theme of his opening was a relentless: 9:29. Nine minutes and 29 seconds is the length of time Chauvin had his knee on George Floyds neck.

Blackwell buried the issue of Floyds drug intoxication at the time of the incident until somewhere near the end of his remarks. According to Blackwell, Floyds years of drug abuse had rendered him tolerant of the levels found in his system following his death.

Blackwell anticipated and undercut the testimony of Hennepin County Medical Examiner Andrew Baker. He will call a raft of experts to deal with it, including a doctor who trained Dr. Baker as medical examiner.

Blackwells opening went on for around 55 minutes. Although there was thematic repetition, the themes were effective and the substance was powerful.

Defense counsel Eric Nelson immediately followed Blackwell. I have embedded the video below.

When Nelson rose to speak I wanted to hear what his case was  what he would prove on behalf of Chauvin. Nelson began, however, by invoking reasonable doubt. This is a confession of weakness. I cannot imagine a weaker point with which to lead off.

Nelson did nothing to set the video in the larger context afforded by the body cam videos. He did nothing to exploit the holes in Blackwells opening. Maybe they arent holes.

Nelson discussed the evidence of Floyds drug intoxication and consumption at the time of the incident. The prosecution contends that Chauvin asphyxiated Floyd. Nelson referred to the paucity of physical evidence on autopsy supporting asphyxiation. The State wasnt satisfied with Bakers work, he said, so they contracted other physicians for this case.

Nelson finished in about 23 minutes. All in all, I thought it was a perfunctory performance.

Following the opening statements the State called three witnesses. The first was dispatcher Jena Scurry. The direct examination by Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank was a plodding bore, but she was a good witness for the State. Watching the scene unfold at 38th and Chicago on a video monitor in her office, she thought something wasnt right. She called the cops  MPR sergeant David Fleeker (Im not sure how his name is spelled) on the cops.

Next up was bystander Alisha Oyler, who was working on May 25 at the Speedway Station across the street from Cup Foods. Although she took several videos, she professed not to remember much about the events. Are you kidding me? She was a terrible witness except insofar as she gave the State the opportunity to replay the famous bystander video by juxtaposing it with Oylers.

At this point I headed off for an urgent care visit. I watched the testimony of martial arts expert Donald Williams II on my cell phone. Williams was a bystander on the scene at the time of the incident. He can be heard on the video. I didnt realize that martial arts experience made him an expert on cause of death, but he opined on the blood choke he observed Chauvin working on Floyd. He watched it kill him like a fish.

Williamss testimony beyond his observations at the time are objectionable in my opinion, [UPDATE: but Judge Cahill disagrees. See his order on defendants motions in limine paragraph 22. I regret this oversight in my original comments here. Consistent with his ruling, Judge Cahill struck Williamss assertion that Chauvins choke killed Floyd, but the jury heard it.]

This guy is a devastating witness for the State. Williams continues this morning.

NOTE: In the interest of clarity I have retitled my previous 12 installments to reflect their focus on jury selection. I am starting the numerical sequence over with this installment to reflect the first day of the trial proper.
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The novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 probably spread to people through an animal, and probably started spreading among humans no more than a month or two before it was noticed in December of 2019, according a new 120-page report from the World Health Organization.

But the search for the origin of the virus is ongoing.

"As far as WHO is concerned, all hypotheses remain on the table," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement Tuesday. "This report is a very important beginning, but it is not the end. We have not yet found the source of the virus, and we must continue to follow the science and leave no stone unturned as we do."

The report, released Tuesday, lists four commonly discussed scenarios for the virus' introduction to humans, including two it says are unlikely.

It says a scenario where the virus spread via an intermediate animal host, possibly a wild animal captured and then raised on a farm, is "very likely." But the investigation has not found what other animal was infected by a bat -- considered the most likely original source of the virus -- and then may have transmitted it to a human. "The possible intermediate host of SARS-CoV-2 remains elusive," the report reads.

Next likely is direct transmission from one of the animals known to carry a similar coronavirus, such as a bat or a pangolin.

The report says introduction through cold food products is considered a "possible pathway" and introduction through a laboratory incident was considered to be "an extremely unlikely pathway."

The governments of the United States Australia, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom jointly expressed concern about the World Health Organization (WHO) study into the origins of Covid-19 in China and called for independent and fully transparent evaluations with access to all relevant data in the future.

"We join in expressing shared concerns regarding the recent WHO-convened study in China, while at the same time reinforcing the importance of working together toward the development and use of a swift, effective, transparent, science-based, and independent process for international evaluations of such outbreaks of unknown origin in the future," Tuesday's joint statement said.

WHO scientists say they didn't do 'forensic examination' of lab leak theory

The WHO report was written by a joint international team made up of 17 Chinese experts plus 17 experts from other countries, WHO, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) participated as an observer.

The original mission of WHO scientists was to study the animal origin of the novel coronavirus, which is why the new report does not provide the same depth of detail examining a lab leak theory, Peter Ben Embarek, a member of the WHO investigation team, said during a news briefing on Tuesday.

"The team was put together to do studies into the zoonotic origin of this virus," Ben Embarek said, adding that this is the first time the scientists have been able to openly discuss the lab leak possibility.

"Now we have a process to discuss it -- we have put it in our report," Ben Embarek said. "Since this was not the key or main focus of the studies, it did not receive the same depth of attention and work as the other hypotheses."

Still, the theory continues to draw attention. Former US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield previously told CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta in the documentary, "COVID WAR: The Pandemic Doctors Speak Out," that his personal opinion was the virus was released from a lab in China, not necessarily intentionally.

Dominic Dwyer, another member of the WHO investigation team, said Tuesday investigators did have the opportunity to discuss a number of issues with the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

For example, investigators asked what about the lab's biosecurity protocols in terms of handling material and the protocols for looking after the staff that work in the facility. Investigators all discussed with them about some of the testing they did on blood that is normally routinely collected from people who work in high-level security laboratories.

Dwyer said the lab had done antibody testing for evidence of the novel coronavirus and found those to be negative. They also had the opportunity to talk to the scientists in the laboratory about the type of work they were doing.

Dwyer also said the most closely related bat coronavirus to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, has not been isolated in a laboratory.

With that information, he said "I think we were satisfied that there was no obvious evidence of a problem, and that people had done the appropriate lookback to see how the laboratory had been functioning during that time."

However, he noted, "A true forensic examination of a laboratory, like one might do, other types of forensic examinations, is a much more complex process, and that's not what we're there to do. So I think that's important to remember."

'I expect future collaborative studies'

Ben Embarek said during the briefing that "frankly speaking" a lab leak theory was the first reaction many people had at the start of the coronavirus pandemic -- but no firm evidence to support that theory has been found.

"Of course it's possible and therefore it's also part of the conclusions in the report that it's not impossible," Ben Embarek said "But we haven't seen -- or been able to hear or see or look at -- anything that would warrant different conclusions from our side."

Tedros said in prepared remarks that to understand the earliest cases, "scientists would benefit from full access to data including biological samples from at least September 2019.

"In my discussions with the team, they expressed the difficulties they encountered in accessing raw data. I expect future collaborative studies to include more timely and comprehensive data sharing," Tedros added.

Privacy laws in China kept the WHO team from accessing as much data as possible on the origins of Covid-19 in Wuhan, Ben Embarek said on Tuesday.

"Where we did not have full access to all the raw data we wanted, that has been put as a recommendation for future studies," Ben Embarek said. "So the idea is that because we didn't have time or because certain authorization needed to be given before we could get access to that data -- all that will be and could be done in the second phase of the studies."

Ben Embarek was unsure if or when WHO scientists will return to Wuhan for further study.

"That will depend how we organize the Phase 2 studies, how we plan them," he said. "Some of them can be done quickly and with little resources -- others will demand more time."
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, in sub-Saharan Africa, between 40 percent and 50 percent of produce go to waste before reaching the end customer, largely due to a lack of viable cold chain solutions.

Various innovations have however been created to help solve this problem and reduce losses which eats into farmers' earnings while compromising food security.

Many of the technologies deployed to help store food and keep them in good condition before they reach the market are imported, meaning that they are not tailor-made to meet local challenges.

This is the gap that tech company, Sheffield Africa is seeking to fill through its innovative cold room solutions.

The firm uses Polyurethane Foam (PUF) panels in assembling cold rooms' insulation properties. This innovation, the firm says, helps in cutting energy costs for firms and farmers.

The firm, which has been focusing on food and beverage industry, has now ventured into agriculture to provide solutions to companies that harvest, store and transport perishable farm produce.

Cold storage

"We noticed a gap in cold storage that cuts across several industries in Kenya and in Africa. Since our vision is to create entire solutions for the hospitality, health, and agriculture sectors, we decided to venture into manufacturing and assembly of cold storage to ensure readily available and tailor-made solutions," says Suresh Kanotra, the managing director.

Sheffield says it seeks to create energy-saving, hygienic, long-lasting, and cost-effective solutions with minimal environmental impact.

Because the firm's storage technology are solar-powered, they are suited for rural areas that are yet to be connected to electricity. And in areas covered power grid, the firm says the storage facilities will still be preferred as they are cheaper and efficient.

Their cold storage, Mr Kanotra says, is tailored to "ideal capacity, available space, products to store in, and industry's specific technical requirements".

The cold storage system includes solar-powered cold rooms, display cold-rooms, fruits and vegetable storage, fruit ripening chambers, potato storage, onion storage, meat cold storage, fish cold storage, and mortuary storage.

Reduces power consumption

Recently, Sheffield completed a 60X12X7metres (720sqm) cold chain facility for Kapa Oil Refineries Limited for bulk storage of margarine. It is split into two 30X12X7 (360sqm) temperature-controlled cold-room with a multistage racking where products can be stored at four levels.

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It has a RACK refrigeration system with inverter technology that reduces power consumption of the whole plant by between 20 percent and 25 percent, and fully automatic sectional doors with a remote control system. This is their biggest project yet, says Mr Kanotra.

Other Sheffield clients include Wondernut EPZ International, Sarit Centre Production and Banqueting, Nairobi Hospital, KFC, Artcaffe and Simbisa Kenya.

Sheffield says their two cold room facilities -- a solar-powered one and the other, a low-cost (room air conditioner powered) one targeting the agribusiness industry -- are first in the market in terms of new innovation. Standalone solar power, he notes, "is one of the best solutions for operating small cold storage in rural areas where there is a certain limit of power load".

These solar-powered cold rooms have unique features such as low maintenance, electric power or a digital generator (DG) backup, portable and easy to shift at any open countryside areas.

"Our cold rooms are well insulated, highly efficient, and precisely designed to cater to a wide temperature range of +25C to -40C," adds Mr Kanotra, adding that the firm is also focusing on the medical industry.
When the body of Nanette Krentel, a Covington-area fire chiefs wife, was found burned in the home they shared in Lacombe, the questions began immediately.

From family members wanting answers to the community-at-large, the death of a woman in a secluded home during an afternoon house fire set off alarms in peoples minds. Krentel's body was so badly burned and she had been shot in the head.

As the months dragged on and investigators failed to figure out who was responsible for Krentels death, her family started their own investigation of sorts, searching for clues, leads, anything that could help bring them closure.

+3 Nanette Krentel's slaying leaves family with questions, doubts about the investigation Nanette Krentel was living in what she thought was a fortress: a home in rural Lacombe on 100 wooded acres, guarded by nine surveillance came

Krentels death was the subject of an Emmy-winning investigative series by Moore and photojournalist Derek Waldrip that explored how she died and what went wrong with the investigation into her death.

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

VAULT Studios, owned by WWL-TVs parent company, took interest in the case after interest in the story grew.

VAULTs true crime genre seemed a perfect fit for the story, and producers reached out to see if Moore would want to lead WWL-TVs first foray into true crime podcasts. After spending months doing investigative reporting on the case, she jumped at the chance to lend her voice, experience and case knowledge to the project. Sara Pagones, a reporter for The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate who has also written extensively about the unsolved case, is featured in the podcast.

Krentels story will mark the second season of VAULTs hit podcast Bardstown, a story out of Kentucky about five murders that are still unsolved.

The first two episodes launch Wednesday. Six more episodes will roll out on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher on a weekly basis until May 12.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea called South Koreas president a parrot raised by America Tuesday, resuming its trademark derisive rhetoric against its rivals amid renewed animosities on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued the latest verbal salvo after South Korean President Moon Jae-in criticized the Norths missile launches last week. She said Moons illogical and brazen-faced comments echoed the U.S. stance.

We can hardly repress astonishment at his shamelessness, Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by the Norths state media. He cannot feel sorry for being praised as a parrot raised by America.

Seoul's Unification Ministry expressed strong regret over her statement, saying that the two Koreas must observe the rules of minimum etiquette in any circumstance.

Kim Yo Jong once enjoyed an image of a peace messenger in South Korea after she visited Seoul and conveyed Moon her brothers invitation to visit Pyongyang in early 2018. But since ties turned strained again later, she's taken the lead in anti-Seoul rhetoric.

The United States, South Korea and others condemned North Korea over its firings of two ballistic missile launches into the sea, the first such weapons tests in a year. North Korea has argued it has sovereign rights to perform such weapons tests to cope with U.S. military threats. But U.N. Security Council resolutions ban ballistic missile and nuclear tests by North Korea which they say pose a threat to international peace.

On Saturday, Ri Pyong Chol, a top deputy to Kim Jong Un, called President Joe Bidens criticism of the Norths missile tests a provocation and encroachment on the Norths right to self-defense. Ri said it was gangster-like logic for Washington to criticize the Norths launches while the U.S. freely tested intercontinental ballistic missiles.

North Korea has a history of using colorfully harsh insults against rivals.

Story continues

Before entering now-stalled nuclear talks with the United States in 2018, Kim Jong Un called then President Donald Trump the mentally deranged U.S. dotard after Trump called him a little rocket man.

In 2019, North Korea called Biden, then a presidential hopeful, a rabid dog and a fool of low IQ when it criticized his comments about its leadership.

Some experts say North Koreas recent missile launches and tough language are meant to increase pressure on the Biden administration as its shaping its policy on North Korea. They say North Korea eventually wants the United States to relax sanctions on the North while accepting it as a nuclear weapons state.
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Eight months ago a 36-year-old budding impresario bought a theater and resettled in our region, in effect making a bet on the imminent return and long term viability of the local performing arts scene.

Kyle West, formerly of Dallas, purchased the Fort Salem Theater from Jay Kerr, the owner since 2006, for $235,000. The parties came to terms just three days after Wests first tour of the property. The deal closed at the end of July.

I knew what I was signing up for, to some extent, moving here and purchasing during the pandemic, says West. Its been life-changing and overwhelming at times. But when its time to open the doors, it will have been worth it.

The 6,642-square-foot building is a former church in the heart of the Washington County village of Salem. The facility has been used as a theater since the early 1970s and features a main stage with seating for about 200 and a smaller cabaret space. West is the fourth owner since its conversion into a theater.

West grew up in Cape Cod and started performing as a child. Hes directed or choreographed dozens of musicals and held various positions in both the commercial and the nonprofit sides of the business, including managing the concessions at several Broadway houses. In Dallas, he supervised promotion and social media for a national marketing firm whose clients included prominent theaters and touring shows. He has also been a senior editor for the theater news website BroadwayWorld.com.

Im a lifelong theater nerd, he says. I love the whole process of putting a show together. Its not just being onstage that gives me a thrill. I design productions and events in my head.

Its still too early for West to even hint at what specific shows might be in the offing. But he envisions a year-round season, an emphasis on musicals, and casts drawn from the community. Therell be a heavier schedule in warm weather months and familiar musicals, things not seen locally in a little while. I get excited about anything that requires an audience and two stages opens up lots of opportunities, he says.

West is in the midst of establishing a nonprofit organization called Salem Stage that will do business as Fort Salem Theater. Hes assembled a seven-member board consisting of theater professionals from throughout the country. The secretary/treasurer is Wests husband, Jared West.

The couple met more than a decade ago when they were ensemble members in an Arizona production of Tommy. They were married five years ago. In Dallas, Jared worked for American Airlines in leadership development and he continues in that field. A few months after closing on the theater, the Wests purchased a home in Hoosick Falls.

Despite the limitations resulting from the pandemic, Kyle West has done some initial networking, making acquaintances at Salem Art Works, Hubbard Hall in Cambridge and the Wood Theater in Glens Falls. He refuses to view any of them as competition and says, Everybody is excited to see life return in the building.

Hes also been in periodic touch with his predecessor Jay Kerr regarding particulars on the theater and the stage tools that were included in the sale. Under Kerrs stewardship the building received an extensive restoration and renovation. The changes included a new proscenium arch and stage, converting a dressing room into a cabaret space, and replacing the church pews with rows of traditional seats that were once in use at Broadways Helen Hayes Theater.

Jays been extremely helpful with questions and technical challenges, says West, who by this point has had ample time to access things. Theres nothing that I need immediately and cant work without. Once were doing a full light, sound and technical, well find the bugs.

West also credits Kerr with sharing his mailing list and making some introductions in town. Yet he emphasizes that the profile of the venue will change. He was a writer interested in smaller works and cabaret. That wont be our bread and butter, says West.

Given the necessity of social distancing, West acknowledges that he wont be putting a musical with a cast of 30 onstage anytime soon. As our business plan has shifted over the past year, the shows in my head keep changing, he says.

While living with the uncertainty thats familiar to all arts professionals these days, West is encouraged by the slice of community hes encountered so far.

Im not used to small town life and have always loved being in busy environments. I didnt realize how kind, outgoing and inviting people can be, he says. Im looking forward to opening doors and being able to tell stories again.

Joseph Dalton is a freelance writer based in Troy.
WORCESTER, Mass., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Across two decades and two powerful strikes by St. Vincent Hospital nurses, two main themes have remained constant: Nurses and their community have stood up for safer patient care, and for-profit corporation Tenet Healthcare has wasted millions of dollars putting its drive for greater profits above patient safety.

Two generations of St. Vincent nurses will mark the 21st anniversary of the start of the 2000 strike against Tenet on March 31 with an event on the nurses' strike line featuring nurses who were on strike 21 years ago and their daughters or sons who are now involved in the current strike, which will reach its 24th day on Wednesday.

21st Anniversary of SVH Strike Event

Date: Wednesday, March 31

Time: 2 p.m.

Details: The event will highlight a number of nurses and daughters/sons, all of whom are nurses at St. Vincent linked by a passion for patient and community advocacy, forged in one generation of nurses and now carried on into the next. It will also feature a visit by Congressman Jim McGovern, a strong supporter of the current strike, and one of the leaders who helped settle the first strike in 2000.

"While we are disheartened that Tenet has chosen once again to waste millions of dollars to force a strike at our hospital, we are awe-inspired by our new generation of SVH nurses who have once again taken the courageous step to stand up for the safety of our patients at all costs. The baton of advocacy has been passed and the future of our profession looks bright," said Marlena Pellegrino, RN, longtime nurse at St. Vincent Hospital who participated in the 2000 strike and is now a leader of this one. "

On Wednesday, nurses who participated in that strike and who are involved in this one, will be joined by a newer generation of nurses, who are now making a similar fight, with this one focused directly on the need for safer staffing levels to address a longstanding patient safety crisis at the hospital driven by Tenet's corporate leadership in Dallas, which has implemented a plan to cut and furlough staff, and to reap billions in federal stimulus money to boost their profit margin even during a pandemic, netting a profit last year of $414 million.

The 800 SVH nurses, who are represented by the MNA voted overwhelmingly on Feb. 10 to authorize the strike, and began an open-ended strike beginning at 6 a.m. on March 8. The decision to strike followed a concerted effort over the last two years by the nurses to convince Tenet to improve the patient care conditions at the facility, poor conditions that have only been exacerbated by the pandemic. Adding insult to injury, the same day nurses voted to authorize the strike, Tenet announced annual profits of more than $400 million.

In the last year alone, nurses have filed more than 600 official "unsafe staffing" reports (more than 110 such reports have been filed since Jan. 1, 2021) in which nurses informed management in real time that patient care conditions jeopardized the safety of their patients. The nurses also report their patients in Worcester have experienced an increase in patient falls, an increase in patients suffering from preventable bed sores, potentially dangerous delays in patients receiving needed medications and other treatments  all due to lack of appropriate staffing, excessive patient assignments, and cuts to valuable support staff.

2000 SVH Strike Info

On March 31, 2000, more than 500 nurses at St. Vincent Hospital conducted a 49-day strike to win their first contract with Tenet Healthcare, with the main issue being the nurses' effort to oppose Tenet's plan to use mandatory overtime, i.e., forcing nurses against their will to work double shifts as alternative to providing appropriate nurse staffing to ensure safe patient care.

For a more detailed review of the current staffing crisis, efforts by nurses to convince Tenet to address the crisis, as well as proposals nurses are seeking to improve patient care, click here to view a previous press release on the matter.

MassNurses.org  Facebook.com/MassNurses  Twitter.com/MassNurses

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association

Related Links

http://www.massnurses.org


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Alabama is again ranked last nationwide for its COVID-19 vaccine rollout, according to the CDC.

The state has administered the fewest doses per 100,000 residents of any state in the nation. Alabama is followed closely by Mississippi, which has given 35.6 first or second doses for every 100 residents, compared to 34.6 in Alabama.

Assistant State Health Officer Karen Landers said Alabama fell behind early on but is steadily gaining ground with vaccinations.

We had a limited amount of providers, a limited amount of product. Our trajectory has gone up steadily, she said, adding that at times data reporting from Alabama to the CDC is slow and may not reflect up-to-date vaccinations.

Alabama was ranked last by the CDC several weeks after the rollout began.

UABs Dr. William Curry, a professor of medicine, said he believes Alabamas vaccine rollout lagged early on due to low vaccine supply from the federal government and difficulty navigating the different temperature and equipment requirements for each vaccine.

We were tied to limited supply of vaccine and limited capacity to get flexible with Pfizer, he said of the vaccine that requires refrigeration in extremely cold temperatures.

The second thing has to do with the distribution being patchy around the state and a lot of people not being able to navigate the system to figure out where to go. Alabama was slower than some other states in setting up a central call center and website to coordinate vaccination appointments.

Distribution responsibilities were delegated to the county level despite some county health departments lacking staff due to budget cuts over recent years.

And vaccine hesitancy has played a role. At UAB, Currys team surveyed about 4,000 Alabamians about their willingness to get a shot early this year. About a third were ready to get vaccinated, a third were unsure, and a third said they didnt want a vaccine. But he said thats changing.

It appears not to be quite as bad as it looked a few months ago, he said of hesitancy, but its still very real.

Governor Kay Ivey responded to the last place ranking by encouraging Alabamians to get a vaccine as soon as they are able.

Alabama has made significant progress in the fight against COVID-19. Our number of confirmed cases and hospitalizations continues to drop, and Governor Ivey remains optimistic that soon, COVID-19 will be in our rearview mirrors, spokesperson Gina Maiola said in a statement on Tuesday.

Dr. Landers said the states vaccine rollout is succeeding in other important areas, such as reaching the most vulnerable Alabamians.

In multiple Black Belt counties, 25 percent of residents or more have had a vaccine and those areas are seeing some of the highest rates in the state.

Other parameters indicate Alabama is working very hard, said Landers.

Federally funded health clinics like Cahaba Medical Care have received a separate supply of vaccine from the federal government, enabling them to set up vaccine clinics in Black Belt counties.

But some other rural counties are seeing vaccine rates among the slowest in the nation. And according to the state department of health, there still is not enough supply for everyone who would like to be vaccinated.

Dr. Curry has helped organize a network of local churches and volunteers in rural parts of the state to distribute vaccines. He waited months to receive vaccine from the state health department.

His first shipment was a little over 1,000 shots, and he just received a second batch, close to 6,000.

I think we are beginning to see more movement and theres a lot of interest with local groups, volunteers, and churches, he said, noting that his initiative has recruited about 100 volunteers to assist with vaccinations at rural sites.

The connections need to be made to get that done.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - If you're looking for assistance paying rent Olmsted County says help is on the way.

With many renters struggling to pay their bills during the pandemic housing director Dave Dunn says there's another option to help cover the costs in the works.

Dunn says Minnesota's rental assistance program will be providing $500 million to the state under the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance program.

It's called RentHelpMN and it will provide direct rental assistance to help individuals and families as well as assistance to landlords and property owners to pay their bills.

Dunn explained, "There are resources available to help people throughout the state who are behind on their rent we ask they be patient and not give up trying as we go through the first few days, there will be a capacity issue on the state's side, there's only so many things that can be processed during a day."

There's currently no timeline for when those seeking assistance will start receiving funds but Olmsted County says it will hopefully be soon.

Those interested can submit an application on line or send in a paper form. If you'd like more information you can register for a virtual session by clicking here.
[March 30, 2021] Solar Meets Cloud: Exactus, a Leader in Power Efficiency, Leverages itopia, a Leader in Cloud Computing Efficiency

Leading professional services firm Exactus Energy has harnessed itopia's Cloud Automation Stack to enable its remote engineers around the world to power their own devices with cloud-based GPUs. The Canadian firm, which specializes in solar engineering, needed a way to deliver graphics-intensive, power-demanding CAD applications to its engineers with low latency while they work from anywhere amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The company had initially tried equipping their distributed workforce with a legacy VDI solution, but it was cost-prohibitive, too restrictive to customization, and exhibiting performance issues. By switching to itopia, Exactus Energy employees can now access mission-critical CAD and productivity applications hosted on Google (News - Alert) Cloud's high-speed network, all while saving on computing costs. "itopia definitely has improved our business," said Dylan Khudr, Systems Architect and EIT at Exactus Energy. "While the tool we were previously using was an effective 'Band-Aid' solution when the pandemic first struck, it did tend to get a bit costly when you start scaling. It didn't offer itopia's flexibility of being able to say 'Hey, this user is not online at this time, so somebody else can use these computing resources.' " Using itopia enables Exactus Energy to scale its usage of computing resources from Google Cloud as needed, as opposed to paying an excessively high rate for resources that often went unused. With itopia, Exactus Enegy employees can access corporate apps and data from their own personal devices (in line with a common policy typically known as "bring your own device," or "BYOD"). This allows Exactus Energy to reduce spending on hardware and avoid the logistical issue of buying, provisioning, and shipping devices to globally distributed workers.



"It's great to see companies like Exactus Energy take the initiative to implement a secure BYOD policy and gain the control to customize their Windows workloads with scalable resources on Google Cloud," said Jon Lieberman, CEO at itopia. Now that Exactus Energy has implemented itopia, the business has scaled its distributed workforce with ease. The ability to manage this workforce from itopia's centralized, browser-based console has made a significant improvement to IT admin operations.

"Supporting remote, distributed teams is more important than ever. We're proud to work alongside itopia to support Exactus Energy as they modernize their VDI and provide high-performance computing experiences to their employees," said Manvinder Singh, Director, Partnerships at Google Cloud. Exactus Energy continues to facilitate efficient engineering solutions for the solar industry, no longer encumbered by the inability to scale resources efficiently and manage its growing team. As the pandemic draws to a hopeful conclusion, itopia provides businesses the versatility to enable employees to work from home, the office, and anywhere in-between. About itopia itopia is a comprehensive cloud orchestration and automation solution for Google Cloud Platform, simplifying IT management for desktops, apps, compute, storage, networking, and security. Enterprises use the itopia platform to facilitate increased productivity and efficiently manage distributed teams of employees. Current customers include some of the leading companies in healthcare, education, Call Center/BPO, telco, and manufacturing. About Exactus Energy Exactus Energy is a professional services firm specializing in solar engineering. The company was founded in Toronto, Canada by Matthew Jaglowitz and Eddie Obeliunas, engineers wanting to harness the power of drone technology to provide accurate engineering solutions safely, and with rapid turnaround times. What started as a small grass-roots company has now grown to an experienced team of engineers, technicians, and client service professionals who specialize in solar. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005158/en/

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Sickle-cell anemia, a chronic blood disorder that affects one in 365 African Americans, can be treated with bone marrow transplantation. Cancers and other diseases also can be treated with bone marrow transplants.

But there arent enough donors.
At the height of his fame, Ernest Hemingway seemed to loom over the world like a Colossus, to borrow a phrase from Shakespeares Julius Caesar. He was critically admired, and the best-selling author of The Sun Also Rises, For Whom the Bell Tolls and A Farewell to Arms. His public image was larger than life, a swirl of travel, multiple marriages, big-game hunting, deep-sea fishing, bullfight-savoring, and similarly rip-snorting adventures.

In short, some of the qualities that made Hemingway one of the most lionized writers in 20th-century America are the same ones that today may look like a compendium of tough-guy, macho stereotypes.

To its credit, Hemingway, a three-part, six-hour documentary film from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, is neither a simplistic takedown of the myth of Hemingway or a parade in his honor. Burns -- that all-star of public television documentaries -- and Novick previously collaborated on such superb films as The Vietnam War, The War and Prohibition. As with their earlier works, Burns, Novick and their team have created a biography that is nuanced and perceptive.

Using interviews with writers from a variety of cultural backgrounds, and Jeff Daniels giving voice to Hemingway, the film gives its subject his due. For example, the film helps blow the dust off short stories such as Big Two-Hearted River, The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber and The Snows of Kilimanjaro, with concise analysis of what they reveal about Hemingway as a person, and as an artist.

Perhaps because of his early days as a journalist, Hemingways prose was lean, and its lack of flowery language felt propulsive and utterly modern. As someone says of Hemingways writing in the 1920s, the authors approach was like a camera zooming in, making readers feel like they were experiencing what the characters were going through.

But over the course of the film, which covers a time frame starting in 1899 and ending in 1961, Burns and Novick also explore Hemingways complex psychology, his fears, neuroses, blind spots and cruelties (using racial slurs and abusing women, for example) and the injuries and mental illness that led to him ending his life, at age 61, at his home in Ketchum, Idaho in 1961.

Ernest Hemingway, the subject of an upcoming documentary series from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, is shown at his home in Cuba in this photo. (Photo: A.E. Hotchner/Courtesy PBS)

Though its six hours long, Hemingway moves along at a brisk clip, helped by the extraordinary life its subject lived. From World War I through the Cuban revolution, Hemingway had a talent for being in the midst of history.

Born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1899, Hemingways childhood was marked by his parents unhappy marriage, his fathers increasing depression, and his mothers influence, which included dressing young Ernest and his sister as twins, sometimes outfitting them both as boys, other times as girls.

Hemingway retained an interest in fluid gender roles, the film says, notably during his fourth and final marriage, to Mary Welsh, who cut her hair short and sometimes pretended to be a boy to please her husband.

Because of the restless nature that kept him moving, at least before ill health, a series of brain injuries and alcoholism began to catch up with him, Hemingway covers fascinating ground. During World War I, Hemingway served as an ambulance driver in Italy, and was wounded. During his time in the hospital, the young Hemingway fell in love with a nurse, a relationship that became the inspiration for his novel, A Farewell to Arms.

After meeting and marrying his first wife, Hadley Richardson (the first, but not the last, Hemingway spouse whose money helped support the couple in comfortable fashion), Hemingway lived in Paris, working as a foreign correspondent for a Toronto newspaper.

In the early 1920s, Paris was home to a lively community of artists and innovators, including Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, James Joyce, and other members of what Stein called the Lost Generation, who gathered at Steins salons, and at Shakespeare and Company, Sylvia Beachs bookstore and lending library.

By the 1930s, Hemingway had moved on to his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer, and the couple lived in Key West, Florida. Hemingway had fathered one son with Hadley, and he and Pauline had two more sons, though in the film, its said that Pauline thought the children were less important than catering to her husband.

During time spent covering the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s, Hemingway met journalist Martha Gellhorn, who became his third wife. The independent-minded Gellhorn was covering the international unrest that escalated to World War II, and, as the film says, Hemingway felt she pressured him to leave his home in Cuba to come to Europe and write about the end of the war. While in Europe, in what was his pattern, Hemingway met another journalist, Mary Welsh, who became his fourth wife and widow.

Inevitably, Hemingway becomes a sadder story as its subjects career and health begins to decline, though his late work, The Old Man and the Sea, helped revive his reputation, winning a Pulitzer Prize, an honor followed by an even greater accolade, a Nobel Prize in Literature, awarded in 1954.

Even when Hemingways life turns dark, the film is always engrossing, thanks in part to the fine voice work by Daniels, along with Meryl Streep, Keri Russell and Patricia Clarkson and Mary-Louise Parker, as the authors wives.

In a way, Hemingway was ahead of his time in his eagerness to burnish his own mystique. But that image may have contributed to his struggles, as his body and mind couldnt keep up with the exaggerated manliness Hemingway sought to personify.

As Edna OBrien, the Irish writer whose insights are among the most entertaining aspects of Hemingway, says early on, the writer loved an audience. But, OBrien says, he destroyed himself by attempts to live up to the myth he created. As OBrien says, Hemingway, lost the best part of himself by trying to impress that audience.

Hemingway airs from 8-10 p.m. Monday, April 5; 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, April 6; and 8-10 p.m. Wednesday, April 7 on PBS.

More of our coverage:

Doc Severinsen, Oregon native and longtime Tonight Show bandleader, is profiled in a PBS special

HBOs The Last Cruise tells the story of an Oregon couple and others stranded after COVID outbreak on a cruise ship

Subscribe to our free weekly What to Watch newsletter. Email:



-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist
Apple has confirmed what we all expected: WWDC 2021 will be an all-online event once again  a tacit acknowledgement of the success of the format last year.

Another virtual WWDC

WWDC 2021 will run between June 7-11, be free to developers, and will build on the record-breaking participation and learnings from last years online conference, the company said in a statement.

The event is open to Apples global community of 28 million developers. The show will feature the annual keynote and State of the Union announcements, online sessions, and 1:1 labs for technical guidance. Intriguingly, Apple also promises: New ways for developers to interact with Apple engineers and designers to learn about the latest frameworks and technologies.

What Apple said

We love bringing our developers together each year at WWDC to learn about our latest technologies and to connect them with Apple engineers, said Susan Prescott, Apples vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations and Enterprise and Education Marketing. We are working to make WWDC21 our biggest and best yet, and are excited to offer Apple developers new tools to support them as they create apps that change the way we live, work, and play.

The company plans to share more information pertaining to the giant developer event later, via the Apple Developer app, on the Apple Developer website, and by email.

Why the event must be online

It was inevitable, really. COVID-19 continues to blight lives and one year later we know more about the threat it represents. Not only does the disease mutate, but vaccination rollout is neither complete, nor fully international.

This is true to such an extent that it makes no sense to combine an international collection of Apples most important supporters, partners, and followers in a public space. I think well see the potential damage of such mixing at MWC 2021, which still appears likely to take place.

The decision also matches Apples outlook. The company does not expect to mandate a return to work until June at the earliest.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has stressed how pleased he's been with what his employees have achieved. The company has also pushed hard to play its part in the struggle against the pandemic  it has invested way too much cash and energy in this to undermine that good work with a premature attempt at returning to normal.

The company certainly wont want to squeeze thousands of its most important personnel, staff, and partners into long-distance flights, exposing all parties to risk.

These considerations will have formed part of the companys thinking on the matter. The fact that it achieved such a successful event in 2020 shows that it is possible to yield a good outcome from a bad situation. It may, however, prove interesting to find out just what Apple has developed in terms of new virtual experiences for collaboration during the event.

Swift Student Challenge

Apple is once again giving students who code a chance to take part in the Swift Student Challenge. This years challenge has an interactive edge. It is to create an interactive scene in Swift Playground that can be experienced inside three minutes. Students have until April 18 to submit their work and winners will receive exclusive WWDC21 outerwear and a pin set.

Supporting the region

With thousands of visitors every year, WWDC usually brings a lot of money to local businesses in San Jose and beyond. In a gesture of solidarity, Apple is contributing $1 million to SJ Aspires, an education and equity initiative from the City of San Jose. The scheme aims to enable youth from underserved neighbourhoods to access a college education.

Probables, possibles, and potentials

There are probable, possible, and potential announcements likely at WWDC.

Primarily, Apple will discuss its platforms and software, which will be evidenced in first glances st new iterations of its operating systems. Those are the probables.

Apples big hint of possible  new interactive tools  suggests much more exploration around platforms and solutions for collaboration in virtual space. Thats not an especially new focus for the AR-invested company, but does show how much more relevant to daily lives such technology is becoming.

Apple will almost certainly want to discuss the Apple Silicon Mac transition, which makes some form of Mac announcement possible.

All of these possibles also open the door to potential news, almost certainly around AR development  though all recent speculation suggests introduction of v.1 Apple AR glasses wont take place until 2022.

Perhaps Apple has some other surprises up its sleeve?

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
Tuesday, 30 March 2021 11:33:47 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

Italian plantmaker Danieli has announced that Uzbekistan-based Tashkent Metallurgical Plant, supplied by Danieli, has started operations.

Tashkent Metallurgical Plant will annually produce 500,000 mt of cold rolled galvanized and color-coated flat products for the production of building materials and steel structures, household appliances, electrical and packaging for food product needs of enterprises in the country. Previously, this need was met mainly through imports.

In the future, the products in question also will meet the new needs of the domestic automobile and agricultural machinery industries. In the first stage of the enterprises activity, about $400 million will be saved due to the production of import-substituting products.

This is one of the most modern industrial facilities not only in our republic, but also in the countries of Central Asia, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, president of Uzbekistan, said.

Tashkent Metallurgical Plant is a green production complex complying with the strictest emission laws and energy efficiency levels.
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'Welcome to the USA'

The words are etched on a cement boat ramp that leads from the Rio Grande, and it's the spot where hundreds of illegal immigrants per week take their first steps onto American soil.

The crossing point is on private property where an abandoned house sits on a quiet rural street that runs parallel to the Rio Grande, about 5 miles out of town from Del Rio, Texas, 150 miles southwest of San Antonio.

Law enforcement has nicknamed it 'Border Lawn.'

'It's the easiest illegal border crossing along the Rio Grande,' Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.

'In the past few months we've had a dramatic increase in illegal border crossings at this point,' said Martinez, 64, who has been Sheriff of this border county for the past 13 years. 'Two months ago we had maybe 20 illegals crossing here a week and now we have anywhere from 60-75 illegals a day.'

Del Rio has a population of 36,000 people. It's counterpart across the Rio Grande, Ciudad Acuna, has a population of 216,000

Martinez says depending on the time of day, the water at this point of the Rio Grande is only a few feet deep in places - making it easy to wade through the water from Mexico to the United States in a matter of minutes.

The border crisis in full swing in the small border town of Del Rio, Texas. The town sits right on the Rio Grande River and at certain times of day the water level is low enough to wade over from Mexico making it the easiest illegal border crossing point in America

The crossing point is on private property where an abandoned house sits on a quiet rural street that runs parallel to the Rio Grande, about 5 miles out of town from Del Rio, Texas, 150 miles southwest of San Antonio. Del Rio has a population of 36,000 people. It's counterpart across the Rio Grande, Ciudad Acuna, has a population of 216,000

Mexican coyotes are seen daily leading groups of mainly Venezuelan family units and Cuban asylum seekers across the gently flowing waterway onto an empty property on the US side which law enforcement has nicknamed the 'Border Lawn'

'Welcome to the USA' is etched on a cement boat ramp that leads from the Rio Grande where hundreds of illegal immigrants a week take their first steps on American soil

The key time for the illegal crossing is from 10am-3pm when the water is at its lowest point, said the Sheriff. 'In the past we used to get Haitian and Central American's but now most of the people who cross at this point are Cubans and Venezuelans'

Entire families crossed the river with moms and dad's carrying their young children on their shoulders, while holding bags or small suitcases with their belongings

Local law enforcement is swamped by the numbers which are up to 100 per day in just this small isolated spot

Last Thursday, the Border Patrol reported 6,000 people were encountered at the southwest border, an all-time high. Sheriff Martinez believes that the numbers are only going to increase

A shot of the Rio Grande shows the small isolated spot where the river reaches a low point, making it easy for migrants to cross

Ten miles north of this point is the dam on Amistad (Friendship) Reservoir which borders the US/Mexico. In the early mornings the river is at a low point, only a few feet deep in some places, but by mid-afternoon the flood gates of the dam open up and the water rises by as much as 10 to 15 feet.

The key time for the illegal crossing is from 10am-3pm when the water is at its lowest point, said the Sheriff. 'In the past we used to get Haitian and Central American's but now most of the people who cross at this point are Cubans and Venezuelans.'

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez says, 'It's the easiest illegal border crossing along the Rio Grande'

Standing 6' 3 tall, Sheriff Martinez is an imposing figure, wearing Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots with a circa 1932 Colt. 45 pistol strapped to his side. He says the Biden administration is to blame for the increase of illegal crossings.

Martinez, a democrat, says there was poor planning on the part of the current administration.

'They just wiped out the old policy under the Trump administration and when they took over, the Biden administration didn't have a plan to put their new policy in place.

'These people who are coming across are telling us the Biden administration was going to be more lax than the previous one, and that's why they are crossing. That's why they are coming and it's only going to get worse.'

Sheriff Martinez said this smuggling route is no longer a local secret. 'The word is getting out that this particular area is a good, safe place to cross for immigrants who want to surrender and claim political asylum.'

There are a few types of people who cross the border at this place, said the Sheriff, 'the ones that want to get into the US so they can work and live illegally and then the other ones are seeking political asylum.

'The ones that want political asylum wait around for law enforcement after they step onto American soil and wait for the Border Patrol. They usually cross during the day and come as a family with luggage, cell phones, often wearing nice clothing. They bring a change of clothing with them to change into after they get out of the water. They don't run or try to escape.'

Martinez says almost all of the Cuban and Venezuelans that are detained at this illegal crossing point are going to eventually ask for political asylum.

Last weekend, a DailyMail.com reporter and photographer documented several immigrant families crossing the Rio Grande at 'border lawn.' There were a few Cubans, but Venezuelans were the predominate country of people who crossed at this point.

Entire families crossed the river with moms and dads carrying their young children on their shoulders, while holding bags or small suitcases with their belongings.

The guides never set foot on US soil, they accompany the immigrant's right up to the water's edge and as soon as their cargo in on the bank they go back to the Mexican side

Throughout the weekend a steady stream of families would make the less than five minute trek across the river accompanied by local guides every few hours, it's a routine scenario for local sheriff deputies and the Border Patrol

A women dressed in all white clothing called someone to tell them she had made it, with tears in her eyes she said, 'I can't believe I'm here.' She had her ankle checked by paramedic after twisting it on a rock while crossing the river

A woman sustained an injury during her journey across the river and was tended to by paramedics

Another older gentleman passed out for a few minutes, he suffered from hypertension, but was okay after he took his prescription pills. He later said he was also overcome with exhaustion and stress

Another individual overcome with exhaustion and emotion a young man, Jose Lovera, 26, a former engineering student in Caracas, Venezuela broke down in tears and dropped to his knees and thanks God. Crying he said 'there is no future there, you can't live there, there is no quality of there. Now I can go out and work and not worry about being killed'

On Friday a Venezuelan family-of-three were crossing the border with the help of a local 'guide'. A father not used to the strong current in the knee water, slipped and fell and dropped his two-year old daughter into the river. The 'guide' went back and picked up the young girl and carried her the rest of the way taking her to the edge of the river onto U.S. soil.

'The guides from Mexico know who our deputies are and actually tell them the number of people they are bringing over to the U.S.,' continued the Martinez.

The guides never set foot on U.S. soil, they accompany the immigrant's right up to the water's edge and as soon as their cargo in on the bank they go back to the Mexican side.

On Saturday, one group of 11 Venezuelans with three minor children made the crossing. The 'guide' - acting more like a baggage porter - brought their bags to the cement boat ramp, Val Verde County Sheriff Deputies then helped the children and adults up onto American soil.

A little girl wearing peach colored leggings, wet from the river, was the first of the group to arrive in America, her mother is behind her. The mother, sobbing, picked up her young girl cradling her in her arms, while the baby girl told her mother in Spanish, 'don't cry mommy, and don't cry.'

Another individual overcome with exhaustion and emotion - a young man, Jose Lovera, 26, - a former engineering student in Caracas, Venezuela broke down in tears and dropped to his knees and thanked God. Crying, he said 'there is no future there, you can't live there, there is no quality of there. Now I can go out and work and not worry about being killed.

'The United States is the best. I can't believe I've arrived here. I want to thank God for allowing me to get here and America for helping me out.'

'I want to work in this country, I'll need some help at first but then I promise you I'll work hard and become a productive member of society.'

Several of the group had contact numbers of relatives and sponsors throughout the United States and are hoping to be released to them with a court date in hand

'The guides from Mexico know who our deputies are and actually tell them the number of people they are bringing over to the US,' continued the Martinez

Women and children are seen relieved and tearful as they realize they have made it. Some sustained minor injury along the way or collapse exhausted

Many items of wet discarded clothing, shoes, masks and ID documents litter the area

DailyMail.com found several ID's, plane ticket with only the outbound flight used, bus tickets, scattered in the 'border lawn' area

Lovera said he's been planning his escape from Venezuela for 18 months. The trip costs him about $1,000. He bought a roundtrip ticket from Caracas to Mexico City then took an overnight bus from Mexico City to Ciudad Acuna. He said he didn't pay the cartel but added that in Mexico City he was told that the easiest place to cross the border was in Del Rio. He said they paid their 'guide' a $20 tip to help them navigate the river to the U.S. side.

When asked if he feared anything about coming to the United States, he looked over his shoulder toward Mexico and said, 'I fear getting sent back to Venezuela, if any of us get sent back the government will kill us.'

Several in the group had contact numbers of relatives and sponsors throughout the United States and are hoping to be released to them with a court date in hand.

One mother told her scared young child, 'don't worry, we are safe now, we are free, we are in America.'

Another older gentleman passed out for a few minutes. He suffered from hypertension, but was okay after he took his prescription pills. He later said he was also overcome with exhaustion and stress.

Marco Fernandez, 53, a former small business owner in Caracas before the government took it from him, said he walked for 16 days to get from Mexico City to the Rio Grande. 'It's dangerous in Venezuela the government is dangerous,' he said.

Fernandez said he had been in the United States 20 years ago after he was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has a friend in Salt Lake City, Utah who he wants to go live with. With tears in his eyes his said life in Venezuela is worse than you can imagine and he lived in fear of dying every day.

Sheriff Martinez said that there are days where 75% of his resources are being used at this particular illegal border crossing. 'Our resources are being used to help out with illegal immigration, but I need my deputies to be there in order to keep our citizens safe and to help out our federal partners'

Sheriff Martinez says he wants the 31 other 'border sheriff's' in Arizona and Texas to be at the table with Washington politicians to discuss policies and strategies on immigration

At one point over the weekend sheriff's deputies had to wait with 25 immigrants for over an hour before border patrol could pick them up because they were busy on other calls

A US Border Patrol agent who didn't want to be identified said, they are now a glorified Uber service. They are busy non-stop 24/7, there isn't enough of us for all of the people coming through these past couple of months. 'We are working overtime and there still isn't enough time in the day'

One mother told her scared young child, 'don't worry, we are safe now, we are free, we are in America'

Sheriff Martinez said that there are days where 75% of his resources are being used at this particular illegal border crossing. 'Our resources are being used to help out with illegal immigration, but I need my deputies to be there in order to keep our citizens safe and to help out our federal partners'

Another women dressed in all white clothing called someone to tell them she had made it, with tears in her eyes she said, 'I can't believe I'm here.' She had her ankle checked by paramedics after twisting it on a rock while crossing the river.

Among the group were students, a journalist, small business owners and an engineer, all who said they wanted a better life and were frightened of their government.

Throughout the weekend a steady stream of families would make the less than five minute trek across the river accompanied by local guides every few hours. It's a routine scenario for local sheriff deputies and the Border Patrol.

A U.S. Border Patrol agent who didn't want to be identified said they are now a glorified Uber service. They are busy non-stop and said there aren't enough of them for all of the people coming through these past couple of months. 'We are working overtime and there still isn't enough time in the day.'

At one point over the weekend sheriff's deputies had to wait with 25 immigrants for over an hour before border patrol could pick them up because they were busy on other calls.

Sheriff Martinez said that there are days where 75% of his resources are being used at this particular illegal border crossing. 'Our resources are being used to help out with illegal immigration, but I need my deputies to be there in order to keep our citizens safe and to help out our federal partners.'

Ten miles north of this point is the dam on Amistad (Friendship) Reservoir which borders the US/Mexico. In the early mornings the river is at a low point, only a few feet deep in some places, but by mid-afternoon the flood gates of the dam open up and the water rises by as much as 10 to 15 feet

Even though the Biden administration has so far refused to use the word 'crisis' when it comes to describing the border situation, Sheriff Martinez has no problem saying, 'this is a crisis'

Among the group to cross were students, a journalist, small business owners and an engineer, all said they wanted a better life and were frightened of their government

Last Thursday, the Border Patrol reported 6,000 people were encountered at the southwest border, an all-time high. Sheriff Martinez believes that the numbers are only going to increase.

But Sheriff Martinez says that not everyone who comes through this illegal border crossing is trying to get political asylum. 'We've found ID's, bus tickets, plane tickets, and other forms of identification the immigrants leave behind. I think they want to come over to the US and generate a new ID for themselves. If those people had good intentions in order to stay in the United States they would keep their ID's and information not get rid of them.'

DailyMail.com found several ID's, plane ticket with only the outbound flight used, bus tickets, scattered in the 'border lawn' area.

Martinez is disappointed with the politicians in Washington, DC. 'It's madness what's going here. I'd like to invite all of them down here, President Biden and VP Harris. They are 2,000 miles away making decisions that are effecting us. It's just a dog and pony show when these senators and congressmen show up and everyone brings all their toys out for an hour or two. They take pictures and put on a show. It'd like to see some action instead of lip service.'

Sheriff Martinez says he wants the 31 other 'border sheriff's' in Arizona and Texas to be at the table with Washington politicians to discuss policies and strategies on immigration.

'We are in trouble when it comes to immigration. I don't think it's going to get any better anytime soon.'

Even though the Biden administration has so far refused to use the word 'crisis' when it comes to describing the border situation, Sheriff Martinez has no problem saying, 'this is a crisis.'
Thugs in their numbers on Monday attacked the Chairman of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, Suleiman Chukwuba as he resumed office after three months of being suspended by the legislative councils.

The Chairman, who arrived at his office on Monday, was attacked with stones and sticks by thugs suspected to have been sponsored by the Vice-chairman, Isiaku Bawa.

The thugs took over the secretariat, throwing stones and using sticks to attack the supporters of the chairman.

It would be recalled that the chairman was suspended by the legislative council chamber of the local government area over an allegation of financial misappropriation on the 29th of December 2020.

The state's House of Assembly, after delving into the issue, declared that the chairman return to office as the suspension by the legislative council of Shiroro was not in order.

A High Court also cancelled the suspension and ordered the chairman to return to the office while they suspended the vice-chairman.

Findings showed that the Vice-Chairman had arrived earlier in the office to order every staff out of the secretariat, saying that he wanted to lock up the office but when there was no response by the staff, he went to mobilize thugs to stop the resumption of the chairman.

The car conveying the chairman was attacked when it entered the secretariat.

The thugs used sticks and broke the windscreen of the car in an attempt to use sticks on the chairman.

Chukwuba was saved by his supporters, who shielded him into his office, protecting him from the attack by the thugs.

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Vigilante contained situation

Men of the vigilantes also mobilized to prevent the situation from escalating but that did not stop the thugs from attacking people in the secretariat, throwing stones and hitting the people with sticks.

Speaking to newsmen in his office after he was saved, the chairman said that he had forgiven everyone that had a hand in his suspension, urging them to join hands together to combat the many challenges bedevilling the council.

He said that his reinstatement in office by the court and the state's House of Assembly was an indication that he was innocent of all the allegations levelled against him by the legislative arm of the council.

Chukwuba said that he is ready to continue from where he stopped, stressing that he will work at ensuring that insecurity in the local government area was brought to an end.

"My coming back as chairman is to make sure that the challenges and problems faced by Shiroro local government area are resolved," he said.
The band said that although the discrimination they endured is inconsequential compared to events that have occurred over the past few weeks, they felt the need to speak out. Whats happening right now cannot be disassociated from our identity as Asians, the band said.
?NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Highlights



Euro Manganese has closed the first tranche of its recent private placement for gross proceeds of AUD$25 million (approx. CAD$24.2 million). The second tranche to close in early May 2021.



The Company has received an initial investment from EIT InnoEnergy of 62,500 (approx. CAD$92,850), the first of three installments with an aggregate value of 250,000.



The Company's eligibility timeline for approx. CAD$27 million in investment incentives in the form of tax credits that were granted by the Czech Republic's Ministry of Industry and Trade has been extended to 2025.



The Company has granted stock options to purchase 2,350,000 shares at CAD$0.61per share.



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euro Manganese Inc. (TSX-V / ASX: EMN) (the "Company" or "EMN") is pleased to announce the closing of the first tranche of the AUD$30 million (approximately CAD$29 million) private placement (the "Offering"), the first of three investments by EIT InnoEnergy, an extension to its eligibility timeline on Czech investment incentives, and a grant of stock options.

Closing of First Tranche of Offering

The Company has closed the first tranche of the Offering, announced on March 22, 2021, which consisted of the sale and issuance of 41,666,666 CHESS Depositary Interests ("CDIs", with each CDI representing one common share (each a "Share")) at a price of AUD$0.60 per CDI for gross proceeds of AUD$25 million (approximately CAD$24.2 million).

The second tranche of the Offering, consisting of 8,333,334 CDIs at the same issue price is expected to close in May 2021, subject to and following approval by the Company's shareholders as required by Listing Rule 7.1 of the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX").

Net proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company to advance its Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic (the "Project"). Specifically, proceeds will be used for completing the installation and commissioning of the Company's high-purity manganese demonstration plant (the "Demonstration Plant"), initial year of operating costs of the Demonstration Plant, completing the Project's permitting and feasibility study, for certain scheduled land acquisition payments and for general corporate purposes.

Canaccord Genuity (Australia) Limited ("Canaccord Genuity") is acting as lead manager and bookrunner to the Offering, with Bacchus Capital Advisers Limited ("Bacchus") acting as financial adviser to the Company. In connection with the closing of the first tranche of the Offering, the Company paid Canaccord Genuity and Bacchus cash fees in the aggregate amount of AUD$1.25 million (approximately CAD$1.21 million), representing 5% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the first tranche of the Offering.

The securities issued under the first tranche of the Offering have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. Persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration. This press release is not an offer or a solicitation of an offer of securities for sale in the United States, nor will there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.



First EIT InnoEnergy Investment

Pursuant to the terms of the Project Support Agreement entered into by the Company and EIT InnoEnergy, and announced on February 22, 2021, the Company has received the first of three investments from EIT InnoEnergy, such instalments having an aggregate value of 250,000. The funds will be used to support ongoing work on the Project's definitive feasibility study and the commissioning of the Demonstration Plant, which is intended to produce large-scale samples of high-purity manganese for supply chain qualification by prospective customers, including European electric vehicle makers and battery manufacturers.

EIT InnoEnergy is a Knowledge and Innovation Community supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. EIT leads the industrial stream of the European Battery Alliance, an initiative launched by The European Commission in October 2017 with the objective to build a strong and competitive battery industry in Europe. The support of EIT is intended to help accelerate the Project's successful integration into Europe's electric vehicle (EV) battery value chain.

The first investment made by EIT of 62,500 (approximately CAD$92,850) was advanced to the Company on March 24, 2021. Accordingly, the Company will issue 147,380 Shares to EIT at the price of CAD$0.63 per Share being the 10-day volume weighted average stock price on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") prior to receipt of the first investment. The issuance of such Shares is not expected to occur until early January 2022. The issuance of such Shares remains subject to the approval of the TSXV. In accordance with Canadian securities laws and policies of the TSXV, Shares issued pursuant to EIT will be subject to a four month and one day statutory hold period.

Investment Incentive Eligibility Timeline Extension

The Company is also pleased to report that its eligibility timeline for certain investment incentives in the Czech Republic has been extended by two years. As originally announced on March 30, 2020, the Company received approval from the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade for investment incentives on the Project in the form of corporate income tax credits. The credits are to be applied toward Czech corporate income taxes payable on future earnings generated by the Project. Based on eligible Czech-based assets acquired of approximately CZK 2.4 billion (approx. CAN$136 million), such tax credits would amount to approximately CZK 470.3 million (approx. CAD$27 million) over and above normal tax depreciation on such assets.

Pursuant to amendments to the Czech Investment Incentives Act resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Czech Government offered extensions to previously granted investment incentives, and the Company applied for and received approval to prolong the deadline for fulfilling the general conditions of the investment incentives by two years, to March 25, 2025.

Stock Option Grants

The Company has granted stock options (the "Options") to certain officers, employees and consultants to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,350,000 Shares. The Options are exercisable for a term of ten years at an exercise price of CAD$0.61 per Share. The Options will vest one-third on the date of grant, and one-third on each of the first and second anniversaries of the date of grant, except for the Options granted to officers which vest in full five years from the date of grant, and 350,000 Options granted to a consultant which vest one-third on the date of grant and one-third on each of the four and eight-month anniversaries of the date of grant.

About Euro Manganese Inc.

Euro Manganese Inc. is a battery materials company whose principal focus is advancing the development of the Chvaletice Manganese Project, in which it holds a 100% interest. The proposed Project entails re-processing a significant manganese deposit hosted in mine tailings from a decommissioned mine, strategically located in the Czech Republic. The Company's goal is to become a leading, competitive and environmentally superior primary producer of ultra-high-purity Manganese Products in the heart of Europe, serving both the lithium-ion battery industry, as well as other high-technology applications.

Authorized for release by the CEO of Euro Manganese Inc.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), or the ASX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contact: Marco A. Romero Fausto Taddei President & CEO Vice President Corp. Development & Corp. Secretary +604-681-1010 ext. 101 +604-681-1010 ext. 105 Media inquiries: Ron Shewchuk Director of Communications (604) 781-2199

E-mail: info@mn25.caWebsite:www.mn25.ca

Company address:

1500 - 1040 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6E 4H8

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or the Project to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Such forward-looking information or statements relate to future events or future performance about the Company and its business and operations, which include, among other things, statements regarding the anticipated closing date the second tranche of the Offering, receipt of shareholder and exchange approvals for the Offering, the use of proceeds of the Offering and the funds advanced by EIT, receipt of additional funding from EIT and TSXV approval for the issuance of Shares to EIT, statements with respect to the continued development of the Project, the completion and timing of the definitive feasibility study, the timing of the delivery and operation of the Demonstration Plant, and the ability of the Company to generate and apply the investment tax credits toward taxes payable in the Czech Republic.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risks Notice" and elsewhere in the Company's MD&A for the year ended September 30, 2020 and its most recent Annual Information Form.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), or the ASX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
National Iced Tea Day is coming up! We'll publish the results of this poll in the Thursday, June 10 edition of The Kerrville Daily Times.

You voted:
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin betrayed his badge when he knelt on George Floyds neck for more than nine minutes during his arrest last May, a jury heard on Monday on the opening day of the closely watched murder trial.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Jerry W Blackwell said: Derek Chauvin betrayed his badge when he used excessive and unreasonable force upon the body of George Floyd. He put his knees upon his neck and back, grinding and crunching him until the very breath, no ladies and gentlemen the very life, was squeezed out of him.

The central questions during day one of the trial, and likely in the weeks to come, was not whether an encounter took place between the two men on 25 May, or whether Mr Chauvin knelt on Mr Floyds neck. As was clear during the days proceedings, the incident was filmed from numerous sources: police body cameras, bystanders with cell phones, security footage, police surveillance video.

Instead, after months of protests worldwide that raised questions about racism and policing, the trial seems likely to centre on two narrow lines of inquiry: whether the force Mr Chauvin used was reasonable given the circumstances, and whether it caused Mr Floyds death.

Derek Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do over his 19-year career, defence attorney Eric Nelson argued. The use of force is not attractive, but it is a necessary part of policing.

Read more:

The first, and perhaps the most consequential, witness called on Monday was Jena Scurry, a 911 dispatcher in Minneapolis who watched the arrest unfold in real time on a city camera feed. She described a patrol car rocking back and forth as a group of four officers struggled to put Mr Floyd all the way inside, before moving him back outside onto the ground, where Mr Chauvin knelt on his neck.

Then, as prosecutors put it, she called the police on the police once she became concerned as the encounter continued.

My instincts were telling me something is wrong, something is not right. I dont know what, but something was not right, she said. It was an extended period of time.

At first, she thought her screen was frozen as officers held Mr Floyd on the ground, but once she realised it wasnt a glitch, she phoned a sergeant about what was taking place.

Call me a snitch if you want to, she can be heard saying on a recording of the call, before describing to the supervising officer how all of them sat on this man.

Other observers called to testify were also uneasy with what they saw that day.

Donald Wynn Williams was walking to nearby Cup Foods when he encountered the unfolding arrest.

He [Mr Floyd] vocalised it that, I cant breathe. I need to get up. Im sorry, and his eyes slowly rolled to the back of his head, Mr Williams said.

 Derek Chauvin trial witness says he heard George Floyd pleading for his life

As an experienced wrestler and mixed-martial arts fighter, Mr Williams told jurors he warned officer Chauvin he was performing a blood choke on Mr Floyd that was putting his life at risk.

We looked each other dead in our eyes, he said. When I said it, he acknowledged it.

Another witness, Alisha Mariee Oyler, who worked at a gas station across the street, told the court she began recording a series of seven cell phone videos because she saw police messing with Mr Floyd.

Theyre always messing with people, she said. Its wrong and its not right.

The trial was briefly paused as judge Peter A Cahill warned Mr Williams, the wrestler, not to speculate too much on the cause of Mr Floyds death, which will be the second main theme of the trial. Both sides put forth vastly different interpretations of the medical evidence in their opening arguments.

Mr Blackwell, prosecuting, argued that the video evidence showed Mr Floyd having an anoxic seizure and agonal breathing, telltale signs the breath was being forced out of him, rather than having a drug overdose, as the defence has suggested.

People who are having opioid overdoses, Mr Blackwell argued, are not screaming for their lives, theyre not calling for their mothers, theyre not saying Please, please, I cant breathe, thats not what opioid overdose looks like.

But Mr Chauvins team has previously noted drug use and cardiac problems, as well as evidence from the crime scene last May pointing to further intoxication, which they said suggested his death was not a result of Mr Chauvins knee on his neck.

The evidence will show that Mr Floyd died of a cardiac arrhythmia that occurred as a result of hypertension, his coronary disease, the ingestion of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and the adrenaline flowing through his body  all of which acted to further compromise an already comprised heart, Mr Nelson said.

 911 dispatcher says instincts told her something was wrong during George Floyd arrest

Ahead of the trial, Mr Floyds family promised that whatever the result of the case, the questions it raised went beyond just George Floyd.

They cant sweep this under the rug. George Floyd. Philando Castile. They were all killed by officers sworn to protect us, Philonise Floyd, his brother, said. If we cant get justice for a Black man here in America, we will get justice everywhere else in America. This is a starting point. This is not a finishing point.

The trial comes as the city of Minneapolis considers broader issues around policing like a new union contract, or replacing the Minneapolis police department altogether with a new safety agency. Meanwhile, Congress is mulling broader changes to policing, such as ending special legal protections for officers and setting national standards.
Patna, March 30 : Nine children have been killed in Bihar in two separate incidents of fire on Tuesday.

Six children, aged between 3 to 8 years, charred to death in Kabaya village in Araria district in the afternoon while three were killed after a massive fire broke out in Athania village in Bhagalpur district.

The children who lost their lives in Araria have been identified as Asraf (5), Gulnaz (5), Dilawar (6), Barkas (4) Ali Hasan (5) and Kushnisar (8).

"The fire broke out after children were secretly cooking maize inside the straw house. The intensity of the fire was such that not a single child managed to escape," investigating officer of Palasi police station said.

The family members of victims and neighbours rushed to the place and tried to douse the flame but failed.

In another incident, three children lost their lives in a massive fire which broke out in the house of Lal Muni Mandal, one of the residents of Athania village. Mandal and his wife also sustained serious burns while they tried to save their kids.

The deceased have been identified as Priya Kumari (4), Aashish Kumar (3) and Naina Kumari (1).

Sources said the fire broke out following a short circuit.

"We have admitted Mandal and his wife in Pirpaiti referral hospital and they are out of danger," said the investigation officer of Pirpaiti police station.
Fed-up locals living in one of the UK's prettiest villages are fuming after council chiefs installed dozens of red-and-white 'Mario Kart'-style barrels to prevent traffic jams.

The large wooden tubs which have been filled with soil appeared overnight in the popular coastal village of Craster, in Northumberland.

Town hall chiefs say they are intended to slow traffic down and guide holidaymakers into the car park to prevent them clogging up the narrow streets by the harbour.

Bizarrely, the 305 villagers are being encouraged to 'adopt a barrel' which they can use to plant flowers to make them look more attractive.

But furious locals say the 3ft-wide barrels make the village - once voted the UK's prettiest place to live - resemble a 'Mario Kart race track'.

Fed-up locals living in one of the UK's prettiest villages are fuming after council chiefs installed dozens of red-and-white 'Mario Kart'-style barrels to prevent traffic jams

Villagers have compared the scheme to that seen in popular Nintendo game Mario Kart

The large wooden tubs which have been filled with soil appeared overnight in the popular coastal village of Craster, in Northumberland

The small seaside village was once voted as the prettiest place to live anywhere in the UK

Resident Bill Yates, 40, stormed: 'I couldn't believe it when I drove home and saw these things dotting the road side.

'At first I thought they were traffic bollards for workmen but then I realised they were actually flower pots.

'They council say they will plant bulbs in them but at the moment they're just full of soil. The village looks like something out of Mario Kart.'

Fellow resident Angie Morris, 55, said: 'The council have made the village a laughing stock.

'We're a very quiet village, famous around the world for our kippers. These flower pots are just daft and ruin the look of the place.'

Writing on Facebook, Nick Lyons remarked: 'Watch out for a banana skin when you hit that corner!'

Stephen Thompson added: 'Luigi isn't impressed with this new course on Mario Kart.'

Meanwhile Richard Hunter wrote: 'Thought I was looking at a go cart track. Lewis Hamilton will like it.'

Town hall chiefs say they are intended to slow traffic down and guide holidaymakers into the car park to prevent them clogging up the narrow streets by the harbour

Bizarrely, the 305 villagers are being encouraged to 'adopt a barrel' which they can use to plant flowers to make them look more attractive

But furious locals say the 3ft-wide barrels make the village - once voted the UK's prettiest place to live - resemble a 'Mario Kart race track'

Northumberland County Council installed the large pots at the entrance of the village as part of a package of traffic measures

The parish council has appealed for locals to 'adopt a barrel' by watering and maintaining it in the form of a scaled down 'in bloom' contest

Northumberland County Council installed the large pots at the entrance of the village as part of a package of traffic measures.

Councillor Wendy Pattison, local county councillor, told a meeting of Craster Parish Council: 'I think they will look much nicer once there is something in them.

'If this doesn't work the tubs can be shoved in the back of a van and the road markings can easily be changed.

'I know a lot of people are really hating it but let's give it six months to be reviewed and see where we go from there. Let's give it a shot. It's only for 12 months.'

The parish council has appealed for locals to 'adopt a barrel' by watering and maintaining it in the form of a scaled down 'in bloom' contest.

Council chairperson Martin Smith said: 'They're not the most aesthetic as things stand so they really need some plants in.'
Land Securities Group PLC - London-based commercial property developer - Non-Executive Director Stacey Rauch to step down from the board with effect on June 24, after nine years on the board since 2012.

"We have valued the depth of analytical thought that Stacey has brought to the Board together with considerable expertise of retail trends. Stacey has been a great champion of diversity throughout the business," says Chair Cressida Hogg.

Current stock price: 693.30 pence

Year-to-date change: up 2.9%

By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
The juvenile critters were wrapped individually in plastic, and ten of them had died by the time the suitcase was opened

An Ecuadorian policeman has been arrested after airport officials in the Galapagos Islands discovered 185 baby giant tortoises stuffed in a suitcase to be trafficked, prosecutors said Monday.

The reptiles, no more than three months old, were found in luggage destined for Guayaquil in mainland Ecuador during a routine inspection on Baltra island Sunday, authorities said.

The juvenile critters had been wrapped in plastic, and ten of them had died by the time the suitcase was opened.

Another five have died since, possibly due to stress, the environment ministry reported Monday.

The policeman will be charged with crimes against wildlife and risks a three-year prison sentence, the prosecutor's office in Ecuador tweeted.

The Galapagos Islands, some 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) off the coast of Ecuador, are a protected wildlife area and home to unique species of flora and fauna.

The Galapagos are where Charles Darwin's observation of birds and tortoises on different islands gave rise to his theory of natural selection.

The reptilesthe largest living tortoises in the worldare the volcanic islands' star attraction, but are listed as endangered.

The environment ministry said the surviving tortoises were taken to a breeding center on the neighboring Santa Cruz island.

"The veterinary evaluation found that they are not in good health," it added.

According to the Galapagos Conservation Trust, the giant tortoise arrived in Galapagos from mainland South America some two to three million years ago, diversifying into 14 species on different islands.

After the death of Lonesome George, the last Pinta island tortoise in 2012, 12 species are thought to remain today, scattered over 10 islands, the trust website says.

About 1.5- to 1.8 meters long, the slow-breeding creatures can live to over 100 years.

On Twitter, Environment Minister Marcelo Mata on Sunday blasted "these crimes against Ecuadorans' wild fauna and natural heritage."

Explore further Galapagos island gets 36 endangered giant tortoises

 2021 AFP
[March 30, 2021] JEMTEC Second Fiscal Quarter & Financial Update

JEMTEC INC.

TSX-V: JTC VANCOUVER, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - JEMTEC Inc. (TSXV: JTC) (the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its Second Quarter performance for the period ended January 31, 2021 and the Companies improving financial situation, with no debt, strong liquidity and net worth. Q2 Revenues

Revenues have increased by 9% during the quarter ended January 31, 2021 compared to the quarter ended January 31, 2020 primarily due to increased revenues from CSC. The Company earned revenues on its agreements with the Provinces of Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia as well as the CSC and SOLGEN. The Company also earned revenues from private bail clients by presenting the release plans for court cases. Q2 Expenses

During the quarter ended January 31, 2021, expenses decreased by 1% compared to the quarter ended January 31, 2020 primarily due to the fluctuations in depreciation, equipment rent and installation, monitoring and activation fees, office, professional fees, repairs and maintenance and travel. Q2 Income Tax

For the quarter ended January 31, 2021, the Company recognized a provision for income tax expene of $45,000 (January 31, 2020 - $45,000). The current income tax expense was related to income tax in Canada.



Q2 Net Income

For the quarter ended January 31, 2021, the Company recorded a 57% increase in net income of $149,396 compared to a net income of $94,871 during the quarter ended January 31, 2020. This increase in net income is associated with the increase in monitoring and activation revenue and decrease in depreciation expense. Q2 Liquidity

At January 31, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $2,214,370 and working capital of $1,536,037. All cash and cash equivalents are on deposit with a Schedule I bank in Canada in current or interest accruing accounts.

Eric Caton, President and CEO said, "We are very pleased with the Q 2 results and we see a profitable and stable path ahead with the Company well positioned to grow its core business and increase market share." Jemtec has provided a full spectrum of monitoring technologies and services to provincial and federal correctional and border services across Canada since 1987 and in doing so has built a reputation for offering the best technological solutions and support for use in this demanding environment. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS



This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. 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 Jemtec Inc.

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[March 29, 2021] Sogou Named Winner in 2021 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards

BEIJING, March 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sogou Inc. (NYSE:SOGO) ("Sogou" or the "Company"), an innovator in search and a leader in China's internet industry, today announced it has been named a winner of Business Intelligence Group's 2021 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards. The Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards sets out to recognize organizations, products and people who bring artificial intelligence to life and apply it to solve practical problems. Past winners include tech giants and Fortune 500 such as IBM and Johnson Controls. Unlike other industry award programs, the programs are judged by business executives of profound experience and knowledge. Sogou has long been at the forefront of AI development and has made significant breakthroughs in voice and image technologies, machine translation and Q&A, which have been successfully consolidated into its products and services. Sogou Search is the first search engine in China to apply knowledge graphs to help users find better answers to their queries. In addition, Sogou successfully launched the world's first AI News Anchor. From facial expressions, language habits, to logical thinking capability based on knowledge graph system, Sogou AI News Anchor creates life-like resemblances of human beings. With its latest upgrades, Sogou AI News Anchor can be applied to live reports and interviews combining mixed reality technology, rendering the life-like anchor in multiple scenarios including nws studios and outdoor venues.



As a firm believer and global leader in artificial intelligence, Sogou believes that technologies can contribute to the world's efforts in combating global challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sogou launched a series of smart applications to provide authoritative and credible information to users. The innovative features in search, information flow, and healthcare allow users to easily and timely check if they have been on the same public transport as confirmed coronavirus patients, understand epidemic outspread in local communities and acquire first-hand medical supplies purchase information. This award win represents a momentous 2020 for Sogou. Sogou was previously named as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, and IDG's Global AI Industry Top Brand of the Year.

About Sogou Sogou Inc. (NYSE: SOGO) is an innovator in search and a leader in China's internet industry. With a mission to make it easy to communicate and get information, Sogou has grown to become the second-largest search engine by mobile queries and the fourth largest internet company by MAU in China. Sogou has a wide range of innovative products and services, including the Sogou Input Method, which is the largest Chinese language input software for both mobile and PC. Sogou is also at the forefront of AI development and has made significant breakthroughs in voice and image technologies, machine translation, and Q&A, which have been successfully integrated into our products and services. For investor enquiries, please contact: Jessie Zheng

Sogou Investor Relations

Tel: +86 10 5689 8068

Email: ir@sogou-inc.com For media enquiries, please contact: Serena Liu

Sogou Public Relations

Tel: +86 10 5689 9999 (61958)

Email: press@sogou-inc.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sogou-named-winner-in-2021-artificial-intelligence-excellence-awards-301258007.html SOURCE Sogou Inc.

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The Department of Homeland Security says there could be twice as many migrants crossing the southern border this year, as smugglers continue to guide families across the Rio Grande and thousands make the journey north from Honduras and Guatemala.

The White House has also said Kamala Harris will be using 'diplomacy' with South and Central American countries to try and find the 'root cause' of the crisis that has seen a surge in migrant children being taken into Border Patrol custody.

DHS figures suggest crossings could double from 400,000 last year to up to 800,000 by the end of 2021 - even after Biden said last Thursday that the situation was 'normal' and 'happens every year'.

The conditions at the border are spiraling into a public relations nightmare for the administration.

New images released every day show children on rafts crossing the Rio Grande, Republicans have shared photos of kids sleeping on the floor of overcrowded shelters wrapped in silver foil blankets, and the government numbers predict more migrants are coming.

Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn is also demanding to know why the Biden administration is spending $86.9million to house 1,200 migrant families in hotel rooms.

A new 'caravan' of migrants was also spotted in Honduras preparing to cross into Guatemala to start making their way north towards the United States.

White House officials said Vice President Harris will play a 'diplomatic role' in the crisis and focus on addressing the 'root causes' behind the migrant surge in her role in charge of trying to fix the mounting problems.

Press secretary Jen Psaki issued what she called a 'clarification' on Harris' role on Monday, saying there was 'confusion' on what the vice president was tasked to do.

'The Vice President of the United States will be helping lead that effort - specifically, the root causes, not the border. There is some confusion over that,' she said at her press briefing.

ROMA, TEXAS: A 'coyote' people smuggler guides an inflatable boat carrying migrants from Central America arriving illegally from Mexico to the US to seek asylum, on the Rio Grande river at the border city of Roma

ROMA, TEXAS: Migrants from Central America, who arrived illegally from Mexico to the US to seek asylum, disembark from an inflatable boat after crossing the Rio Grande river before turning themselves over to border patrol agents

And Symone Sanders, a spokesperson for Harris, told reporters last week that 'the vice president is not doing the border' but 'dealing with the root causes of migration.'

She added that President Biden tasked Harris 'with taking on those diplomatic efforts.'

Harris has not announced a trip to the border and has not given a public press interview about her new role.

Her office said she has been briefed 'extensively' on the northern triangle and Latin America situation and will soon speak with leaders in that region.

But she will not attend a bipartisan briefing on the border that the administration is hosting Wednesday for House lawmakers. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will led the virtual briefing, CNN reported, and the vice president will not be a part of it.

White House officials are downplaying Kamala Harris' first major public charge of the administration as PR crisis on the border grows for President Joe Biden White House

The clarification on her role comes after President Joe Biden announced Harris would lead the administration's effort with Mexico and the northern triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to stem the 'serious spike' in immigration.

'I've asked her, the VP today because she's most qualified person to do it to lead our efforts with Mexico and the northern triangle and the countries that need help in stemming the movement of so many folks stemming migration to our southern border,' he said in his announcement last week.

'She's leading the effort. The best thing to do is put someone when he or she speaks, they don't have to wonder about is that where the president is. She speaks for me,' he said of his vice president. 'She knows what she's doing.'

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland expects approximately 500,000 to 800,000 migrants to arrive as part of a family group during the 2021 fiscal year that ends in September, according to a data analysis by The Washington Post.

That could be double over fiscal year 2020 when 458,088 people were encountered on southern border, according to US Customs and Border Patrol data.

Additionally, internal administration leaked to Axios show unaccompanied minor apprehensions are expected to surge as high as 26,000 in September.

This month, approximately 16,000 minors crossed the border, which was a record high.

There were 5,767 children in Customs and Border Protection custody on Sunday, up from 5,495 children on Thursday, according to CBP data. In June 2019, when Donald Trump was president, the highest number of unaccompanied minors in custody was around 2,600, according to CBP data.

Additionally, there are 11,886 children in the custody of Health and Human Services.

Combining the HHS and CBP figures, the Biden administration has more than 17,500 children in custody.

To compare, in May 2019 when Trump was president and his border crisis was at its height, 11,475 unaccompanied kids were arrested by border patrol agents.

In June 2014, during the peak surge of children at the border, 10,620 unaccompanied children were arrested by US Border Patrol.

Republican Senator Blackburn, in a letter obtained by Fox News to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and ICE acting Director Tae Johnson, is questioning the decision to award a $86.9million contract to Endeavors for hotel rooms for migrants.

Blackburn said that in 2018, Endeavors brought in 'over $38 million in contributions and grants,' and noted that 'IRS filings show that nearly $22 million or almost half of those contributions went to salaries.'

'As the current contract stands, the cost to taxpayers for housing 1,200 migrant families for six months is about $71,000 per person,' Blackburn wrote. 'For a family of four, that amounts to a shocking $284,000  enough to buy a small house.'

Migrants from Central America - the Department of Homeland expects approximately 500,000 to 800,000 migrants to arrive as part of a family group during the 2021 fiscal year

A little girl from Ecuador steps off a raft after crossing the Rio Grande river

Republican lawmakers have been criticizing the Biden administration on its border policies - Senator Ted Cruz led a tour last week and released photos of his visit to a crowded migrant shelter in Donna, Texas

Compounding the pressure on the Biden administration is Republican lawmakers, who have been visiting the border to slam the White House for the crisis. They blame Biden's roll back of Donald Trump's stricter policies for the surge, which they are trying to turn into a hot-button political issue ahead of the 2022 midterm election.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas led 18 fellow GOP senators on a border trip last week. He posted multiple photos and videos of the group joining border agents on a midnight patrol of the Rio Grande River. He also posted photos of children being held in crowded conditions - many sleeping on the floor - in one of the CBP shelters in Donna, Texas.

'Democrats like to pretend their open-borders policies are somehow humane,' Cruz told 'Fox News Sunday.'

'There's nothing humane about what Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are doing at the border. They're subjecting kids to horrific abuse, they're endangering their lives in a pandemic by keeping them locked up in cages right on top of each other,' he said. 'This is a humanitarian, health and national security crisis.'

SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS: Migrants begin walking in a caravan towards the border with Guatemala on their way north

SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS: The movement of migrants from the south towards Mexico is a concern for the administration

SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS: Families are seen heading towards the Guatemalan border with little belongings for the journey


Recent research discovers that in 2018 fine particulate pollution created by the burning of fossil fuels was accountable for one in five premature deaths globally - more than previously imagined.

Aaron Bernstein, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health explained that the individuals largely at danger are those "who cannot afford it."

Aaron, interim director of Harvard Chan School's C-CHANGE (Center for Health, Climate, and the Global Environment) examined the research on March 19, 2021.

Deaths Connected to Pollution

The research, which was executed by scientists from Leicester in the United Kingdom and Harvard University, and the Universities of Birmingham discovered that, globally, 8 million early deaths with 350,000 in the U.S. alone, were connected to pollution from fossil fuel combustion.

Fine particulate pollution has been connected with health challenges including dementia, asthma, heart attacks, and lung cancer, as well as increase death rates from Coronavirus. Aaron, who was not involved in the research, called its evaluations "just stunning."

He explained that the teams most affected by fine particulate pollution are those that were already exposed - individuals with asthma, low-income populations, people of color, chronic medical conditions and pregnant women. Aaron explained that walking away from dependency on fossil fuels would not only profit health greatly, but would also strengthen the economy with fresh jobs.

Also Read: California's Diesel Emission Policy Worked as Proven by the Decrease in Air Pollution

Contributing Factors

In 2012 they estimated that fine particles were a contributing factor in 99,000 deaths in the United Kingdom, more than twice the estimation released in 2016 of 40,000 deaths a year from all sources of outdoor air pollution by the Royal College of Physicians. Pollution from vehicles, power plants, and other sources responsible that year for one in five of all deaths, more thorough examination discloses.

In 2018 air pollution created by the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and coal accounted for 8.7 million deaths worldwide, a massive one in five of all individuals who lost their lives that year, recent study has discovered.

Usage of Fossil Fuels

Nations with vastly prodigious usage of fossil fuels to power vehicles, factories, and homes are experiencing the most elevated death tolls, with the research uncovering that one in ten deaths in both the Europe and US were induced resulting pollution, along with almost a third of deaths in eastern Asia, which involved China. Death ratios in Africa and South America were considerably lower.

The massive death toll is greater than previous calculations and amazed even the researching scientists. "They were originally very reluctant when we collected the findings because they are amazing, but we are finding more and more about the influence of this pollution," explained University College London's geographer Eloise Marais and a research co-author.

Death Toll

In 2018 the 8.7 million deaths signify a "major contributor to the worldwide pressure of disease and mortality", claims the research, which is the outcome of the alliance between researchers at the University College London, University of Leicester, Harvard University, and the University of Birmingham.

The death toll surpasses the collective total of individuals who died worldwide annually from those who died of malaria and smoking tobacco.

Related Article: Decline in Earth's Oxygen Caused by Fossil Fuels, Experts Suggest

For more news, updates about pollution and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- First American Home Warranty Reviews, Home warranty experts has published a detailed release on the best home warranty companies in 2021

Home-Warranty-Experts.com has released the list of best Home warranty companies. Home Warranty experts has done a careful research for this and then only given honest as well as unbiased reviews. According to the research of Home Warranty experts.com, First American Home warranty has emerged as the best home warranty company. Clients can check this release in order to get unbiased view about first American home warranty company. Put your mind at ease and safeguard against unexpected costs. Find a company to protect your house.

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First American Home Warranty has emerged as one of the best home warranty company after a thorough examination by Home warranty experts.com. Not only has the analysis helped the people in getting a better overview, but it has also enabled people to act smarty and choose the right one. It provides quality services and one can contact them in case of any damage or break down in the home. Also, users can get the services at reasonable prices. Not only this it also offers various other benefits that are discussed in detail in this article.

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First American Home Warranty provides an exclusive yearly service contract according to which users can get repair and or replacement of appliances and devices that are damaged or broken at affordable prices. It enables the users to enquire about all the things through the first American home warranty phone number as they are readily available for their clients. For them, their customers are always right, and they ensure that no stone is left unturned in letting their users down. They help their customers to be ready to live a life full of love and happiness without having any worries about their new home.

A person has to think about the home that he/she wants to live. Not only is a home a basic necessity, but it also provides a safe place for a person to live a life full of dignity. Even though almost everyone lives in a beautiful home, but it is only the wise people amongst that crowd that make the smart move of getting it insured under the best schemes. The task can sound challenging at first, but the results are rewarding, and therefore, one has to think about the rewards that it offers for a person.

Since its establishment, First American Home Warranty has been furnishing promising solutions to more than 8.6 million homeowners. 8.6 Million people is a big deal, and that is what the company has been effortlessly doing since its inception, that is, providing the most exceptional services to all of its customers under its first American home warranty coverage. One can get all kinds of services such as air conditioning, plumbing systems, heating system services, electrical system services, water heater related services, and many more without going out of budget.

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To make the best use of the home warranty users are advised to follow these simple steps:

In case anything breaks down in the user's home then check for First American Home Warranty coverage and if there are any coverage limitations or not. After going through the coverage plan, users need to directly contact First American. Also, there is no need to contact any service provider, just report the problem to the team of First American either online or through a phone call.

It is also important to get the system regularly serviced and is well maintained. This is because a dirty or poorly maintained system will require more energy for working. This will not only decrease the efficiency of the system but will also lead to an increase in the electricity bills. Thus, it is important to get the routine maintenance for the user's system.

Users can visit the official website of First American Home Warranty in order to get a detailed understanding of them and their services. It is one of the most popular home warranty providers for more than 35 years and the credit goes to their trained and skilled team. It has a professional team that does a thorough research of the user's house and provides the best solution possible. They also provide users with friendly advice and suggestions so that appliances and devices can have a longer working life and provide better results.

Another thing that First American Home Warranty has come up with is the presence and updating of new blogs to enlighten the customer with all the relevant knowledge that the customer requires for making the right decision. Not only a customer go and read the blogs regarding all of the information, but they can also make an informed decision regarding what they should for making sure that everything is up to the mark and that what decision that they are going to take would be the best one so far for their home, themselves, and their family. This is what a great company aspires to be, a great educator and communicator.

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Some of the important reasons why Home warranty experts.com has selected First American Home Warranty as the best home warranty provider 2021 is because: It provides 24 and 7 support services, breakdown of the appliances and equipment can occur anytime and thus, in case of any emergency one can easily contact First American Home Warranty through phone or placing a service request online. One can also get unlimited service calls.

Not only this, First American Home Warranty allows users to pay through any payment option that suits them the best. Users are free to choose any payment option they want. It can help home buyers to save their money in case of any damage caused to the appliance. Whether the user is a home buyer or a home seller, this home warranty is quite beneficial for both.

In the case of home buyers, users can get budget security from expensive restorations on covered home systems and appliances and provides an easy solution when included items break down. However, in the case of any home seller, it provides home warranty coverage during the listing period. It can also help to lower the post-sale liability. This is because if an included item breaks down, the new homeowners can reach First American for service.

Even though there might be a lot of things that a user might consider before getting in touch with someone regarding the policy, but when it comes to First American Home warranty, there are just benefits that have to be measured. This is because it is amongst the best business plans that covers any damage under the contract. Yes, it is as good as it sounds. Not only does it make work a bit easier, but it also enables the customers to get what they deserve. Customer satisfaction is everything, and therefore, the people working at the company ensure that their customers are satisfied with what is being provided to them so that they can live happily and at peace.

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Unlike the other companies, the First American Home Warranty is a company that genuinely cares for its customers. This is the reason why they have come up with a different range of plans and pricing options so that every user can easily afford their services. A company as big as this that has been functioning since 35 years has the x-factor that makes it better than the rest of the companies. With so much going on about the services and offers, a customer needs to explore all of it so that it can provide itself with the best service and the best plan that suits his/her needs.

Users can check the official site of First American Home Warranty in order to get a detailed view of the company. Also, users can sign up for the form to get a detailed view of the services provided by the First American Home warranty.

First American Home warranty provides a special CRES Home Warranty. This type of warranty is available for only CRES members. This includes a First American CRES platinum 13 month home warranty plan which has the CREST E and I seller's protection plan ($50000 in coverage to ensure sellers do not need to take any kind of tension).

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In order to get CRES coverage users just need to sign in to their First American account and then choose the CRES coverage when ordering home warranty coverage for all the listings. This E&O insurance can protect users with extra security when anything goes wrong after the home closes. This CRES plan provides a range of different benefits as discussed below:

Some of the biggest benefits range from providing coverage for 14 SEER or higher rated compatibility as this is what every company needs as assurance to replace the equipment and it fulfills the new 14 SEER regulation and new equipment by remaining consistent with existing equipment. Now a user would definitely consider this as a huge benefit because it has been carefully thought about. Moreover, the other different benefits include keeping a no cap on HVAC refrigerant replacement as it includes the full amount of refrigerant needed to repair the user's air conditioner. Since everyone knows that air conditioners fall prey to becoming bad very easily, something as good as this comes out as a savior. The last and another beautiful benefit of this is that which relates to water heater efficiency as the water heaters replaced under this home warranty plan affiliate themselves with the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) efficiency standards.

Apart from these benefits, the CRES home warranty plan also provides an additional benefit. This is Seller's Protection Plan - Sellers get an E&O coverage of up to $50000 so that they are secured from the inappropriate buyer after the close of the house.

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The First American Home Warranty login procedure is quite easy. Users just need to enter basic information to create an account and sign up for the First American. And then one can easily sign in to get avail a service online. The sign up or account creation process will not take more than 5 minutes and is very simple to understand. If the user wants, then he or she can also choose the CRES home warranty plan in order to get extra benefits.

However, if users are not comfortable in contacting online or need to contact them in case of an emergency then they can choose the phone call option. The First American Home Warranty phone number is 800.992.3400. Users can also check their official website to get more clearance. Also, the services are available 24 hours a day and users have the freedom to contact the team whenever they want.

One of the biggest things that a user wants is easy usability. When the usability is easy, then the customers want to get in touch with the company more often and would scroll through the website without having any issues that can cause any hindrance in the process faced by the people. With some easy steps, the customers can simply contact the service provider and discuss the essential things over an appointment on a mutually convenient time so that the user does not have to go through the various dilemmas of the services. All the services provided to the customer will take into account all the things that the user wants so that nothing is left behind.

Just like any other thing, the basic steps that a user needs to follow for getting a quote from the First American Home warranty company people is to fill a form. One does not have to worry about anything as the form just needs some basic information regarding the person so that the company can get back and get in touch with the person at a time which is very convenient for the person. Since customer's privacy is the first and foremost priority of the company, the customer can place his/her trust on the company that is First American Home Warranty. The best thing about this process is that the customer does not even have to pay a dime for getting a quote as it stands out to be free.

Try First American Home Warranty And Get A full month of Free Service.

For the individuals working at the company, it becomes very essential that the needs and wants of all the customers are met. They believe that every customer has a voice, and therefore, the First American Home Warranty makes sure to satisfy each of its customers through its wide range of exceptional plans that are well suited for everyone. Just like any other company, the two plans that remain consistent with the company are basic and premium. Not only are both of them affordable, but they are both very convenient as the customer can keep everything in their mind and make an informed decision about it's plans.

The basic plan includes some of the essential items of the household such as microwave, dishwasher, air conditioning system, and many more while the premier plan includes other major systems and devices such as refrigerator, plumbing, and electrical system.

Cost is a very essential thing that a customer needs to keep in mind. Not only does the cost of a particular thing influence the buying decisions of a person, but it also makes sure that the person does not have to spend somewhere where the person is not ready to spend. All of these things have to be kept in by the person, and therefore, the professionals working here have taken costs seriously and want the customers to spend an amount that they can easily spend on this.

When this factor is compared to the basic plan provided by the company for its customers then it keeps in mind the additional Add-ons that they can choose based on their requirements and preferences. The costs of the Add-ons keep changing as per the priority of the people, but yes, everything is kept at a price which is affordable by the person. This way the people can have the best of both worlds, that is, they can enjoy the benefits at a price that is affordable for them. This is what makes it a great company as it keeps into consideration all the factors required.

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First American Home Warranty provides services in most of the states (34 states) including AK, WA, MT, ID, WY, SD, IA, OR, NV, CO, NE, MO, KY, WV, VA, MD, PA, OH, IN, MI, CA, UT, NM KS, AR, TN, NC, SC, DC, AZ, OK, MS, GA, TX, and FL. However, it does not provide services in 16 states that are Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

First American Home Warranty Reviews - First American Home Warranty has maintained absolute transparency in its review system and allows users to judge their services and products based on the real and honest reviews by other customers. It also provides videos of the customers so that users are able to get a better understanding and assurance. In case users are still not convinced then they can check the reviews of First American Home Warranty.

Most of the reviews for First American Home Warranty that are available on different websites are positive. People have appreciated the service provided by the company. Also, most of the reviews have mentioned that the technical team sent by First American is not only skilled but is also quite friendly and supportive.

With the amount of population rising, there are a lot of factors that need to be kept in mind by the customers. But this is one of the best decisions that they can make at a good amount of time as this is something that will ensure that the customers only get what is best for them so that they can have a secure life without having to worry much about anything at all. All customers want that, but there are only a few who are pretty serious about it, and therefore, this comes as a savior for all the customers who wanted something to secure their homes.

Best Home Warranty Company For 2021: Click Here To Get A Free Quote

Also, to make the proving easier and convenient, First American Home Warranty has divided its devices into two parts and users can choose any of them based on their needs and preferences. The team of First American is available for the full day and one can contact them any time they feel comfortable. Also, the team is quite skilled and professional and provides the clients with the best solution possible.

About Home-Warranty-Experts.com

Home warranty experts has done a detailed study in order to provide their users and clients with the best home warranty company. For this, it has considered all the important aspects related to First American and then has gone through all the reviews and feedback from the customers. Home warranty experts.com is a secure and credible site and understands that users want an affordable yet good solution and thus, after going through various other home warranty providers, it has selected First American Home warranty as the best home warranty company.

SOURCE Home Warranty Experts


A trial of a white former police officer charged with murdering a Black man last year started Monday in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

During opening statements, government lawyers showed the video of former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee on George Floyds neck during an arrest.

They told the jurors to remember 9 minutes and 29 seconds. That was the time that Chauvin had his knee on Floyds neck. In the video, Floyd repeatedly called out for help. He said he could not breathe and that he was going to die.

The video of the May 25 arrest last year led to months of huge demonstrations in America and elsewhere against police abuse of people of color. Chauvin is charged with several counts of murder. He has pled not guilty to all.

Jerry Blackwell is the government lawyer leading the case against Chauvin. He told the court that the officer used excessive and unreasonable force in the arrest. He was defenseless, Blackwell said of Floyd. He wasnt resistant.

But defense lawyer Eric Nelson told the court that Chauvin was simply doing his job as a police officer. Derek Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do in his 19-year career to restrain Floyd after he had resisted arrest.

Nelson said medical evidence will show that there were no signs that Floyd died because he could not breathe. The lawyer said the man died from other health issues, including high blood pressure and drug use.

Biden watching closely

At the White House Monday, Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that President Joe Biden will be watching the trial closely.

Before the trial started, Floyd family lawyer Benjamin Crump and other supporters knelt in honor of Floyd outside the courthouse. Crump said, America, this is the moment to show the rest of the world...there is liberty and justice for all.

Court records show the jury in the case includes six white women, two white men, three Black men, one Black woman and two multiracial women.

The city of Minneapolis agreed recently to pay Floyds family $27 million in damages to settle their claims of abuse in the case.

Im Caty Weaver.

The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Caty Weaver adapted the reports for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

_________________________________________________

Words in This Story

excessive  adj. too much; too many

plead  v. to say in court that you are either guilty or not guilty of a crime : to make a plea

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New Delhi: We all know that Jai Shri Ram's slogan has become the most talked-about catchphrase for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the West Bengal Assembly election. This has also become a unifying factor for Hindu votes and to tease Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the ongoing poll campaign. Since it has become a household name, you can hear it every nook and corner across the state.

Another slogan associated with Lord Ram is also doing the round in the ongoing Bengal poll but is not so popular. You will not be able to see this slogan written anywhere, nor will you find anyone raising it, but this is no less important than Jai Shri Ram.

You will be surprised to know that this has been coined by the Left parties and also raised by the Left workers. Now, you will be curious to know as to why the Left workers find an association in it.

The ground reality of West Bengal is that under Mamata Banerjee's 10-year alleged misrule, workers of the Left parties have been at the receiving end. In the 2018 state Panchayat elections, the Left cadres bore the brunt along with BJP workers.

Although the BJP-led government at the Centre and all its top leaders including Amit Shah stood behind their party workers, the Left leaders left their workers at the mercy of God. These Left workers are understood to have played a crucial role in the victory of 18 seats of the BJP during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal.

In the last Lok Sabha elections, not only the Left workers but also the Congressmen extended their support to the BJP to defeat the TMC candidates. As both the Congress and the Left fought separately in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, their cadres understood well that both the parties could not compete with TMC, hence, they sided with the BJP.

In the 2021 assembly elections, however, the Congress and the Left parties are contesting together, but the attitude of the alliance leadership has disappointed the workers.

West Bengal's first phase of polling is already over, but the top leaders of Congress including, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi have not visited the state for poll campaign nor of the Left parties. This apathy of the top leadership of both parties has led to the creation of a new poll slogan -"2021 mein Ram ....2026 mein Vaam" (Ram in 2021 and Left in 2026) in Bengal. This has come reportedly from disgruntled Left activists.

The reflection of this sentiment was witnessed in the first phase of polling held in Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, or in the Midnipur region where the Left party workers voted according to this slogan. In the coming phase too, a similar mood is expected to affect the voting pattern.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, because of these disgruntled voters, the BJP's vote bank reached 40 per cent. The saffron party now needs an increase of merely 2 to 3 per cent of votes in the 2021 assembly elections to give a crushing blow to the ruling TMC. If the BJP manages to do so, it would attain the requisite numbers to form the government.

Among other factors favouring the BJP is the arrest of TMC leader Chakradhar Mahato by the Central agency, NIA. This reason is learnt to have tilted the Left activists towards the BJP because Mahato is accused of murdering one CPM leader in 2009.

The ground reality gives an impression that the Left (Vaam) and 'Ram' have come together to oust the TMC from power in the 2021 assembly elections.

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PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Both Domino's Pizza and Movida Bar & Grill have provided the vaccination team at the Belair Community Center with a delicious lunch in the last two weeks. Additionally, the Belair Community Center has made the facility available for the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

The Vaccination Management Team (VMT) and the vaccination team at the Belair Community Center would like to publicly express their gratitude for this kind gesture and support!

The Belair Community Center as a vaccination location has been a great addition to the vaccination campaign, as it provides the opportunity to significantly scale up the administering of vaccines. To reach herd immunity (70% of the population vaccinated), the possibility of scaling up is very important in fighting this virus.

The Belair Community Center is very well equipped, with plenty of parking space; a shaded area where persons can stand out of the sun; its a central location across the road from the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC); and is very spacious inside the building. The VMT is therefore incredibly grateful, that this location was offered, to be utilized as a vaccination administering location.

Dominos is always there to help however we can in a time of need and crisis. We are honored to show appreciation for those helping with recovery. In this case, it is those helping with prevention by facilitating the vaccination process. Pizza seems so inconsequential compared to their daily efforts. I am happy to be there for the vaccination team with great pizzas for them to enjoy. We encourage everyone to do their part by registering for the vaccination. Its going to be our best and safest way out of this mess, said John Caputo, from the St. Maarten Dominos franchise.

Anish Chugani, of Movida Bar & Grill, said: ''With this promotion, we would like to boost the morale of the front-line workers as a kind gesture. It is not an easy job, being in a very serious and high-pressured environment, so we thought we can bring some smiles in the middle of the day.'' Movida was the first new restaurant opened Post COVID-19 in October 2020, and has a variety of dishes, and is operated by Avantika Thai Kitchen & Lounge & Astra Steak & Seafood in Simpson Bay.

Almost 11.500 persons have currently registered for the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the VMT encourages everyone who hasn't registered to do so, as it is essential to prevent another outbreak like we're currently seeing on the sister islands of Curacao and Bonaire.

Curacao reported a record number of 2234 active cases on Saturday and has gone back into lockdown due to the more contagious UK variant, which has also been found on Sint Maarten.

Members of the community are reminded to register for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Registration can be done via the online registration form which is available in English, Spanish, and Creole, and can be found via this link: https://forms.sintmaartengov.org/form.aspx?v=OGtn05kNmb

Both Cole Bay and Dutch Quarter Community Helpdesks are currently equipped to provide information and can assist with registration on the spot. They are open from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Monday to Friday. You must bring a form of identification when you visit the helpdesk.

Lastly, the paper-based COVID Vaccine Registration Form can be picked up at several locations, including CPS at the Vineyard Office Park Building, the Division of Labor Affairs at the Simpson Bay Public Service Center in Simpson Bay, doctors offices, the Government Administration Building, and select pharmacies.

Organizations who wish to inform their staff about the Covid-19 vaccine and vaccination program via an information session can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you have a friend, parent, neighbor, or relative that may need assistance with registration, transportation, or emotional support, please do your part. If you need help with the registration process, your appointment, or wish for more information about the vaccination campaign, you can also call CPS at 914 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sint Maarten protected together.
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Seen is a screen capture of Kumho Petrochemical's largest shareholder Park Chul-whan's website used for making shareholder proposals to the company.



Advice from NPS, ISS had little impact this year



By Park Jae-hyuk



One of the most notable features during the annual proxy season over the past month was that more websites were used to submit shareholder proposals to large businesses and to win support from other minority shareholders.



This strategy was used here previously by Elliott Management, when the U.S. hedge fund opened a website named "Accelerate Hyundai Motor Group" in 2019 to pressure the carmaker. KCGI, a domestic private equity firm (PEF) that joined hands with former Korean Air Vice President Cho Hyun-ah to engage in a dispute with her younger brother, Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae, has also communicated with the group's employees, customers and investors over the past few years through its website named "Value Hanjin."



Outside of Value Hanjin, similar websites for shareholder activism were rarely seen in Korea until last year.



Based on the recent Commercial Act revision that constrains companies' largest shareholders, however, more activist shareholders have been releasing their statements online and asking minority shareholders to visit their websites.



HYK Partners opened a website named after itself last December for the sole purpose of making shareholder proposals against Hanjin Transportation's management and owner family. Through the website, the second-largest shareholder of the logistics firm provided its official statements, related news articles, contact information and webpages for minority shareholders to see.



Other websites that opened shortly before general shareholders' meetings came up with slogans that can better catch the eyes of the press and investors.



Kumho Petrochemical's largest shareholder Park Chul-whan, who is in a dispute with his uncle, Chairman Park Chan-koo, named his website, "Go Beyond, Kumho Petrochemical." Whitebox Advisors, a U.S. hedge fund that opposed LG Group's spin-off, opened a website named "A Better LG." Hankook & Company Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sik, who is in conflict with his younger brother, CEO Cho Hyun-bum, operated a website named "Better Hankook & Company."





Seen is a screen capture of Whitebox Advisors' website used to protest LG's plan to spin off its affiliates.
Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal as Marianne and Connell in 'Normal People'

ITS won over a massive audience of fans in Ireland and the UK and Normal People was again in the spotlight tonight.

The TV adaptation of Sally Rooneys novel has won the Screen Ireland Drama Award at tonights Royal Television Society (RTS) Ireland Television Awards.

Accepting the award tonight on behalf of Element Pictures, producer Emma Norton described what a total joy it was to work with so many extraordinarily talented people, including Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal as our perfect Marianne and Connell.

Other winners at the 2021 awards, broadcast on Virgin Media One, included Dara O Briain, who received the BAI Outstanding Contribution Award, ShinAwiL Ltd for Dancing With The Stars, and Tyrone Productions for David Brophys Unsung Heroes, all broadcast on RTE.

RTS committee chairperson Niall Cogley said there was so much top-level Irish talent on display.

There seems to be an abundance of world-class television talent in this country and we are very grateful to all those who participated with entries, on juries, as sponsors, as patrons and as part of the team who pulled this event together, he said.

Congratulations to all those who were nominated and who were selected as winners.

But in such an extraordinarily difficult year for all those who work in the creative industries, we would like to pay a special tribute to the resilience and talent of all those who work in the television industry, on all sides of the camera. We salute your excellence.

The RTS awards are among the international gold standard awards for the TV industry and represent an important showcase for the Irish talent.

The awards were the initiative of the Republic of Ireland Centre of Royal Television Society, which has been operating since 1996.

RTS Ireland organises a range of other events and awards every year including the awards ceremony for student productions in the categories of Drama, Short Form, Comedy, Animation, Factual and Craft Skills.
The accident occurred when a lorry rammed into a motorcycle conveying five persons.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Monday confirmed the death of four persons in an accident on Iwo road in Ibadan, with one other person injured.

Uche Chukwurah, the FRSC sector commander in Oyo State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the accident occurred when a lorry rammed into a motorcycle conveying five persons.

"The accident involved a lorry and a motorcycle, the lorry was speeding but lost control and rammed into the motorcycle that was carrying five persons - four males and one female.

"The driver of the lorry is now at large. The four males died, while the only female sustained injury," the sector commander said.

Mrs Chukwurah said the corpses had been deposited at the Adeoyo Hospital morgue, while the injured was taken to Fatimoh Hospital, Idito, for treatment.

NAN gathered that among the dead were students of Idito High School, prompting some students of the school to go on a rampage burning no fewer than three vehicles.

However, Olugbenga Fadeyi, spokesperson of the police command in the state, said that adequate personnel had been moved to the area to restore law and order. (NAN)
The death toll in Myanmar's military crackdown has passed 500 - prompting rebel groups to threaten they will shoot back at the junta if the bloodshed does not come to a stop, raising fears of a civil war.

Daily rallies since the military seized power on February 1 have been met with tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds in a bloody crackdown by the generals.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said it had confirmed a total of 510 civilian deaths but warned the true toll was probably significantly higher.

Three of the country's armed insurgent groups - the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army (AA) - have warned they will fight alongside protesters if the violence is not reined in.

Pall-bearers are followed by a long line of mourners at a funeral in Monywa in honour of a protester who was shot dead by security forces during Myanmar's military crackdown

A wounded person fleeing the violence in Myanmar is treated on a stretcher in the Thai border village of Mae Sam Laep on Tuesday

World powers have ramped up their condemnation of the campaign against protesters, who are demanding the restoration of the elected government and the release of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The US suspended a trade pact with Myanmar and UN chief Antonio Guterres called for a united front to pressure the junta after more than 100 deaths in one weekend.

Adding to that campaign, the trio of ethnic rebel groups issued a joint statement on Tuesday threatening to weigh in with more violence.

'If they do not stop, and continue to kill the people, we will cooperate with the protesters and fight back,' the statement said.

Debbie Stothard at the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) warned that the situation could degenerate towards civil war if such groups take up arms.

Two dozen ethnic minority rebellions have flared in Myanmar since independence in 1948, fighting over autonomy, ethnic identity, drugs and natural resources.

The military has sought to cut deals with some armed groups and earlier this month took the AA off the list of terrorist organisations.

But over the weekend it launched airstrikes in eastern Karen state - the first such strikes in 20 years - targeting the Fifth Brigade of the Karen National Union (KNU) after the group seized a military base.

Demonstrations continued today with protesters marching through Mandalay to resist the military coup nearly two months after the elected government was deposed

An estimated 3,000 people have fled through the jungle to seek safety across the border in Thailand, according to local groups.

Hsa Moo, a Karen human rights activist, said Thai authorities had pushed the refugees back and accused them of blocking UN refugee officials from the area.

Thai foreign ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat insists the reports of a pushback are inaccurate.

'The Thai authorities will continue to look after those on the Thai side while assessing the evolving situation and the needs on the ground,' he said.

Thai police said they had intercepted 10 parcels containing 112 grenades and 6,000 rounds of ammunition in northern Chiang Rai province that had been destined for Myanmar's notorious border town Tachileik.

UN secretary-general Guterres urged the Myanmar authorities to undertake a 'serious democratic transition'.

Mourners make the three-finger salute of the pro-democracy movement during the funeral of a civilian who was killed in Yangon

'It is absolutely unacceptable to see violence against people at such high levels, so many people killed,' Guterres told a news conference.

'We need more unity... (and) more commitment from the international community to put pressure in order to make sure that the situation is reversed,' he said.

The Biden administration announced on Monday that the 2013 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, which laid out ways to boost business but was not a fully-fledged deal, would remain suspended until democracy is restored.

The UN Security Council will meet on Wednesday to discuss the situation, diplomatic sources said, after Britain called for emergency talks.

France condemned the violence as 'blind and deadly' and China added its voice to a chorus of international concern on Monday, calling for restraint from all sides.

The Kremlin said it was 'very concerned' by growing civilian casualties, despite acknowledging it was building ties with the military authorities.

The US, Britain and the EU have all imposed sanctions in response to the coup and crackdown, but so far the pressure has not persuaded the generals to ease off.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A woman found unconscious in her car near Interstate 25 south of Montgomery last week has died and the man charged with hurting her will have his charges updated to murder, according to a police department spokesman.

Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department, said Marie Krueger, 40, died on March 27. He said she had injuries consistent with strangulation when she was found two days earlier.

Her ex-boyfriend, 26-year-old Adrian Baltazar-Fierro, had been arrested the day after she was found. He was initially charged with aggravated battery against a household member causing great bodily harm.

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His attorney did not immediately respond to calls for comment Monday evening.

According to a complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, shortly after noon on March 25, Kruegers co-workers called police to say they had found her unconscious in her car and her boyfriend  also a co-worker  had been involved. Kruegers brother told police the two had just broken up.

The co-worker said Krueger had called him earlier that morning and said she needed help. Then, the co-worker said, when they got to work she said Baltazar-Fierro was on drugs or having some sort of mental issue. Around 10 a.m. Krueger told him she was still working on a plan to get Baltazar-Fierro help.

Then, around 12:15 p.m. Krueger texted to say Baltazar-Fierro would not let her go.

The co-worker and another colleague went out to look for her.

(The co-worker) called Maries cell phone and Adrian answered the phone, an investigator wrote in the complaint. (The co-worker) asked Adrian if he could speak to Marie and Adrian laughed at him and said he could not do that.'

Baltazar-Fierro agreed to meet the men at a gas station and on the way there they spotted Kruegers car parked in a dirt lot off the side of the highway. The trio headed back to the lot and on the way there Baltazar-Fierro handed over Kruegers cell phone and keys, according to the complaint.

When they arrived at her car, the co-workers told police, they saw Krueger slumped over in the drivers seat. They said they called 911 and tried to do CPR as Baltazar-Fierro took off. He returned to the scene after police arrived and was taken into custody.

Baltazar-Fierro declined to be interviewed by police. He was booked into jail and prosecutors have asked that he remain in custody until trial. A hearing will be held on that issue Tuesday.
SPRINGFIELD  In an emotional address this week, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, admitted to a recurring feeling of impending doom as Massachusetts and other states witness a spike in COVID-19 cases as they ease pandemic restrictions

She urged Americans to hold on a little longer to wearing masks and other steps to curb the spread of the virus that has already killed 550,000 Americans.

Dr. Andrew W. Artenstein, an infectious disease specialist who serves as Baystate Healths chief physician executive and chief academic officer, said he shares Walenskys concerns over a prolonged upswing in cases and urged the public to continue with preventative measures.

Hospitalization rates for COVID-19 have been increasing in recent days at Baystate Health as have the percentage of its cases testing positive.

I keep a close watch on the last 14 months on our curve, Artenstein said. We are watching and waiting to see if there is a third wave. We have experienced two waves in Western Mass. and we were just on the down swing of the second wave which was prolonged.

He added, It lasted almost two to three months, the whole wave, and now we have seen this tick up that has gone on for the better part of 10 days and we are just keeping a close eye on things.

Artenstein has been interviewed numerous times locally and nationally about the pandemics waves, plateaus and declines as he headed Baystate Healths command center for COVID-19 when cases of coronavirus began to be tracked in the commonwealth early last year.

We have about 70 in the hospital this morning, said Artenstein of patients being treated for COVID-19 at Baystates four campuses. Nine out of the 70  some 13 percent  are in the ICU. Compared to where we were in January or last spring, that is a lower percentage of people in critical care.

He said that compared to earlier months of the pandemic Baystate Health is seeing somewhat less severely ill patients, but still severely ill enough to be hospitalized.

New cases of the virus are up 19 percent in the country over the last 14 days. They are up 36 percent in Massachusetts where hospitalized cases over the last 14 days are also up 15 percent.

Hampden County  which is eighth in population among the states 14 counties  is among the top five in terms of the number of new cases in the last seven days  36 per 100,000 people. The county has reported a 45 percent increase in cases per day compared to the average two weeks ago.

Our positive test rate on a seven-day rolling average is about 4 percent, Artenstein said. This is closer to where it was in early February. It was in the 3s and below 3s for the later part of February and most of March until recently. This has been ticking up slightly and this goes along with the cases and hospitalizations.

He called the current positive test rate a reasonable proxy for what is happening across the state in terms of community transmission as Baystate Health tests all who come  not only sick people.

These are people who are getting tested before procedures, Artenstein said. So, there are some asymptomatics in there and symptomatics in there. It is a reasonable proxy for what is going on in the community. It is pretty close to the Massachusetts rates as well.

Artenstein said a number of factors are driving these numbers even as vaccination has been underway in the country for about three months.

There is still a substantial amount of the population everywhere who has neither been infected with the virus over the last year nor vaccinated, Artenstein said. There is still that pool of susceptibles, meaning they are still susceptible to this infection.

Artenstein said that this is roughly 40 to 50 percent of us.

If you add the people who have been infected, which is about 10 percent, or 30 million, and the people who have probably been infected, which is estimated at another 30 percent, and add the people who have been fully vaccinated, which is only about 15 percent, there are still a lot of people who have yet to encounter this virus or its immunity so they are susceptible, Artenstein said.

He noted many of those who are susceptible are younger people who will be eligible in Massachusetts for immunization next month

The vaccine rollout has been a little slow, Artenstein said. It has accelerated in the last few weeks and that is good news. I think April is going to be a great month as we will have more supply and if vaccination accelerates, we could actually outpace this.

Baystate Health has vaccinated over 9,000 of its employees with the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech and has not seen any infection in those who are fully vaccinated, Artenstein said.

Our experience, and I think we mirror that elsewhere, is that fully vaccinated people are largely protected and have done pretty well done through all this, he said. We have seen a couple infected after one dose but not once you are fully vaccinated.

He called fabulous news a CDC study released Monday that showed both two-dose COVID-19 vaccines - Modernas and Pfizers - authorized for use in the United States to be highly effective in real world conditions in preventing infections as they were shown to be in clinical trials.

This is fabulous news as sometimes vaccines do not preform so well in real life because there are a lot of other factors that go on in real life, Artenstein said.

He said he was optimistic that if the United States could continue the big push to vaccinate two-and-a-half million people-a-day over the 30 or 60 days, especially if we can get it up to 3 million plus, we will be in a much better situation in terms of protective effect.

I concur fully with Dr. Walensky and all our other national authorities who are saying lets hold tight a little longer, Artenstein said. This is the approach we have taken at Baystate all along. Lets be as safe as possible. Lets try to stem the tide and wait it out a little bit longer.

He added, Help each other. It costs nothing.

Wear a mask in public, practice distancing, Artenstein said. Do all the things that prevent transmission of infection or largely prevent it just to be on the safe side until we can all be comfortable.

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Three men were charged in a double shooting in Burlington County, authorities said Monday.

Todd McKinney, 19, of Trenton, Damier Smith, 20, of Pemberton Township, and Marlon Sutton, 22, of Camden, each face attempted murder, conspiracy, aggravated assault and weapons-related charges in the attack last month in the Sunbury Village-section of Pemberton Township, Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Pemberton Township Police Chief David King said in a joint statement.

Authorities arrested Smith last week in North Carolina, where he was being held ahead of extradition, the prosecutors office said. Sutton was jailed in Burlington County while McKinney was already in custody in Camden for an unrelated case, authorities said.

The charges stemmed from a shooting Feb. 10 around 10 p.m. in the 100 block of Kinsley Road, prosecutors said. Police rushed to reports of gunfire in the area and found two men wounded, they said.

One man was shot in the head and leg as he stood on the porch of his home, according to authorities. Police officers rushed him to a local hospital. The wounded man was transferred to another facility, where he remains hospitalized in unspecified condition.

The second man was an unintended target of the gunfire who was at a nearby home and hit by a bullet that pierced the residence, hitting him in the arm, authorities said. He was treated and released from an area hospital.

The investigation revealed that McKinney, Smith and Sutton were all armed and fired toward the first victim from across the street where he was standing outside, the prosecutors statement said. They continued to run through adjacent properties as they fled the area.

Authorities did not comment on a possible motive for the shooting.

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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
(A) Differences in connection, (B) communication and (C) reconfiguration patterns between a generic mesh protocol (red) and SOS (blue). (D)(G) Results of simulations with 500 phones, sending and receiving 1 message per phone every 15 min for the generic mesh and SOS protocols. (D) Formation and evolution of the mesh (top) and SOS topology (bottom). The ad hoc mesh network runs just longer than a day. SOS runs for the entire duration of 72 h. (E) Development of Battery charge (Energy) and Betweenness Centrality for a selection of three typical phones (red: low initial battery charge; blue: average initial battery charge; green: high initial battery charge) Left: mesh network; right: SOS. In the mesh network, every phone has the same Betweenness Centrality. In SOS, the Betweenness Centrality fluctuates, with green starting as a central hub; a role which is later taken over by blue and then red, as the relative battery charge changes. This ensures that all phones can equally participate in communication for an extended time period. (F) Development of battery charge inequality (Gini coefficient52) over 72 h for the mesh network (red) and for SOS (blue). (G) Phone participation over 72 h for the mesh network (red) and for SOS (blue). Credit: Scientific Reports (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86635-y

Even a low phone battery can mean the difference between life and death during disasters. With the help of TU Delft researcher Indushree Banerjee, the opportunity to communicate and be rescued is no longer dependent on owning an expensive phone with a long-life battery. She has designed a novel energy-efficient and reliable emergency communication system using smartphones, that maximizes the number of people who are able to communicate during a longer period of time. Banerjee's research is published in Scientific Reports on 30 March.

Digital divide and a value-based system

The first 72 hours after a disaster are especially crucial for survival, when (inter)national rescue parties are not yet on the scene. Reliable communication is of essence for self-organized rescue. During disasters, however, blackouts most often prevent citizens from charging their phones; only those with battery charge at the point in time can communicate. This is an unwanted situation and instigated Banerjee to develop a value-based emergency communication system based on participatory fairness: the Self-Organisation for Survival (SOS) emergency communication system.

How it works

Banerjee: "A phone loses battery charge when connecting to another phone or when sending, receiving, or relaying a message. SOS is designed in such a way that phones choose to connect only with one other phone, the one with the highest battery charge in their transmission range. As people move around, their phones switch connection when appropriate. By limiting the number of contacts and switching connections, the phone battery will last a lot longer and prevent any single phone from being unnecessarily overused."

Credit: Delft University of Technology

This is in contrast with the generic mesh topology that underlies current emergency communication solutions. These solutions form so many connections that they do not last the crucial 72-hours. In the SOS system, the phones with lower battery charge are being spared, such that participatory fairness and a longer network lifetime is achieved.

"SOS enables collective sharing of energy resources when most needed, providing the basis for a truly socio-technical participatory system," say Frances Brazier, professor of Engineering Systems Foundations and Martijn Warnier, professor of Complex Systems Design, both at TU Delft who supervised Banerjee together with Dirk Helbing. Helbing, Professor of Computational Social Science at ETH Zurich and affiliate professor at TU Delft, says: "The SOS system truly is a big step forward in achieving participatory resilience of disaster-struck communities."

Robust and reliable

What makes the system robust and reliable is its capacity to automatically reorganize when connections fail, when people move around or when a phone leaves the network. Without any user involvement the SOS communication network automatically and dynamically assigns high-battery phones as hubs and adapts the topology to changing population density and battery charges. Comparative agent-based modeling demonstrates that, compared to a conventional mesh communication network, the SOS network design results in fair participation of all phones and a longer network lifetime. This helps make communities resilient, limiting the impact of a disaster and to save human lives.

Next step

So far this concept has been tested in computer models. The next step is to develop the actual app so that the SOS emergency communication system can be tested in real life. Banerjee together with other researchers is now seeking cooperation with international humanitarian aid agencies to get this started.

Explore further Research to help mobile phones act smarter and last longer

More information: Indushree Banerjee et al. Introducing participatory fairness in emergency communication can support self-organization for survival, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports Indushree Banerjee et al. Introducing participatory fairness in emergency communication can support self-organization for survival,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86635-y
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Well, heres yet another nameplate for good measure, dubbed the Taigo. VW says that it is based on the successful Nivus model from Brazil, but based on seems to be a bit of a loose term. It looks more like a rebadged Nivus to us, and at the same time, not that different from a T-Cross, T-Roc, or the 2022 Taos , which recently went into production in Mexico for North American markets.What, so there are a few inches between them, and that makes them fundamentally different? Were not buying it. Although, customers in Europe might, which is what its all about. We should also mention that VW's tiny crossovers feature internal combustion engines only, while some rivals already offer plug-in hybrids and even EVs for these entry-level segments.Compared to the Nivus , the Taigo does appear to feature different light graphics at the rear, where we also spot a chunky bumper with a quad-pipe setup. The illustrations do have "R" badges on them, but well just go ahead and be skeptical about any potential quad-pipe budget crossover becoming a reality any time soon.VW doesnt say much about the Taigo, though. Usually, the Wolfsburg people like to tell us where all these new names come from, but our guess is as good as yours.What we do know is that this new crossover will feature economical TSI engines (gasoline), standard LED headlights, a fully digital cockpit , and a variety of driver assistance systems.The VW Taigo will break cover this summer before arriving in European showrooms at the end of this year.
LONDON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick, one of the world's leading global communications and marketing solutions firms, today announced Michael Frohlich will join as chief executive officer, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). For more than two decades, Frohlich has held leadership roles at agencies across public relations, advertising and digital marketing. He joins Weber Shandwick from Ogilvy UK, where he was CEO and oversaw the restructuring of several disparate business units into a consolidated marketing network. Previously he was CEO of Ogilvy's public relations divisions in both EMEA and the UK.

In his role at Weber Shandwick, Frohlich will drive growth and oversee the development of communications and marketing solutions for clients across the EMEA region, integrating the sector and service expertise of Weber Shandwick with the offerings of the firm's EMEA-based specialist agencies: That Lot, Flipside and Prime Weber Shandwick.

Frohlich will report to Weber Shandwick Chief Growth Officer Susan Howe, who has leadership responsibility for all the firm's regions. In addition, reporting to Gail Heimann, president and chief executive officer, Weber Shandwick, Frohlich will lead "The Global Transformation Program," an industry-first initiative designed to champion and export boundary-pushing innovation from EMEA around the world and ignite client-centric solutions on a global scale.

"Michael makes change happen," Heimann said. "He is a brave thinker, consummate strategist and the kind of leader who pushes for the best and brings the best out in everyone around him. He is a stellar addition to our team."

Howe added, "Michael's track record of fostering, collaborating and championing the kinds of integrated offers that clients need today is unparalleled. His deep communications expertise combined with his experience running cross-discipline businesses will bring incredible value to our already strong leadership team and operations across EMEA."

Frohlich's career has spanned more than two decades, having held senior management roles at both boutique and large network agencies including Ogilvy, Bell Pottinger, Resonate Communications, VCCP and Shine Communications. He brings a broad range of expertise across marketing and communications, including brand strategy, advertising, PR, social/digital content, media, design and production. Frohlich is also a celebrated client leader, most recently serving as the senior lead of WPP's integrated British Airways team. Frohlich's leadership has garnered several industry accolades, including Campaign magazine's 2020 Head of Agency (Integrated Marketing). He was one of three top UK leaders to receive the Daily Telegraph Awards' "Most Promising Young UK Business Leader" title, and was named to the PRWeek UK Power Book for five consecutive years.

"Weber Shandwick has made bold moves  across digital, innovation, analytics and organizational transformation  to transform the agency into the kind of deeply valued business partner that can solve problems plaguing not just chief communications officers, but CEOs and CMOs, as well. I can't wait to be a part of this incredible agency and work with the leadership team to help further bolster its evolution as we lean into the future together," Frohlich said.

Weber Shandwick EMEA is one of the most celebrated agencies in the region with over 700 award wins in 16 years across 16 markets, including 27 Cannes Lions. The region's achievements have contributed to several of Weber Shandwick's global honors, such as PRovoke Global Agency of the Decade (2020).

About Weber Shandwick

Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications network that delivers next-generation solutions to brands, businesses and organizations in major markets around the world. Led by world-class strategic and creative thinkers and activators, we have won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry. Weber Shandwick was named to Ad Age's Agency A-List in 2020 and Best Places to Work in 2019. Weber Shandwick was also honored as PRovoke's Global Agency of the Decade in 2020 and PRWeek's Global Agency of the Year in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The firm earned 25 Lions at the 2019 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Data-led, with earned ideas at the core, the agency deploys leading and emerging technologies to inform strategy, develop critical insights and heighten impact across sectors and specialty areas, including brand and B2B marketing, healthcare marketing, change management, employee engagement, corporate reputation, crisis management, data and analytics, technology, public affairs, social impact and financial communications. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com

Contact: Jill Tannenbaum

Company: Weber Shandwick

Phone: 212-546-7815

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Thousands of healthcare workers in Queensland remain unvaccinated despite 40,000 coronavirus jabs stockpiled in the state.

Queensland's vaccine rollout has been slammed following the state's latest Covid outbreak in Greater Brisbane after it was revealed a doctor and nurse who contracted the virus had not yet been immunised.

The criticism comes as data obtained by The Courier-Mail revealed 106,970 doses of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines have been delivered to Queensland.

But the state has only administered 60 per cent of the doses - a total of 65,129 vaccines as of Tuesday. There are 41,841 vaccines still on the shelf.

Thousands of healthcare workers in Queensland remain unvaccinated despite 40,000 coronavirus jabs stockpiled in the state. Pictured: Registered Nurse Zoe Park (left) is administered the first Pfizer coronavirus vaccination in Queensland by clinical nurse consultant Kellie Kenway at the Gold Coast University Hospital on February 22

Data has also shown that Australia has woefully failed to meet its four million vaccine target for the end of March.

Almost 600,000 jabs have been administered across the country since the beginning of the rollout - but the nation is falling 3.4million vaccinations short of Prime Minister Scott Morrison's goal.

A revised target of 4million vaccines by April is also appearing out of reach.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said while 597,523 vaccinations had now been delivered, including almost 56,000 on Monday, there was still a high risk of outbreaks and serious illness.

'At the moment we are at as high a risk as we've been since the beginning of the pandemic,' Prof Kelly said.

'We know as we mostly open and there are very few restrictions on our movement ... outbreaks can spread quickly, and so that's why that very strong public health response is absolutely crucial at the moment.

More than 41,000 frontline healthcare and hotel quarantine workers had received their first vaccine dose, representing 89 per cent of the workforce, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Tuesday

'The more vaccine that gets out there, the more people that are protected, that will decrease the outbreaks in the spread over the coming months.'

NSW has administered about 50 per cent of its Covid vaccines, while Victoria has only delivered about 44 per cent.

Western Australia has succeeded with 62 per cent, South Australia has completed 35 per cent, Tasmania has given 59 per cent, the ACT has provided 57 per cent and the Northern Territory has done 53 per cent.

Queensland will now mandate Covid vaccinations for healthcare workers with direct contact with virus patients.

Two separate clusters have been linked to a doctor and nurse at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, but Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the mandate could not have happened sooner because of the number of staff needed to respond to a rapid escalation in caseload.

'We didn't have enough vaccine, we had to roll the vaccine out,' she said on Tuesday.

'It's just so unfortunate that this outbreak has occurred when it did. Another month and all of these staff would absolutely have been protected.'

Data has also shown that Australia has woefully failed to meet its four million vaccine target for the end of March

The number of Covid cases in the state's hospitals has increased from five to 78 in about five weeks, most of which were acquired overseas.

The state opposition supports the mandate but said it should have happened sooner, criticising the vaccine rollout as sluggish.

'As a nurse the last thing that I would be doing is putting my staff at risk and we need to make sure that they're all vaccinated. It's a sensible decision, it should have happened earlier,' shadow health minister Ros Bates said.

'It stands to reason that maybe if these staff had been vaccinated (or) not been treating COVID-positive cases, then we might not be in a lockdown.'

More than 41,000 frontline healthcare and hotel quarantine workers had received their first vaccine dose, representing 89 per cent of the workforce, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Tuesday.

'We expect that to be completed over the next 48 hours,' she said.
Blog

This is the first half of a two-part interview conducted by Nolan Quinn, a research associate for the Council on Foreign Relations' Africa Program, and reviewed by Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow John Campbell. The interview was held on March 19, 2021--the day after Tanzania President John Magufuli's death was announced. The second half will be posted in the coming days. Mr. Lissu has confirmed as accurate the quotes attributed to him in this post. READ: part two

"Well, we are not trying to overthrow the government, are we? No? Right, so let's do it on the record." -- Tundu Lissu

Tundu Lissu, a Tanzanian opposition leader, does not aim to overthrow the government, but he nonetheless has big goals for his home country. Following the death of Tanzania's authoritarian President John Magufuli, an avowed COVID-19 skeptic who likely died of the disease, Lissu plans to return to Tanzania to fight for democratic progress in a country that has experienced rapid democratic backsliding in the last five years.

"President Magufuli's passing gives us an opportunity to return to the status quo ante. And I won't stand for anything less."

Lissu, a member of the opposition Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (the Party for Democracy and Progress, CHADEMA), has spent his political career, which includes a ten-year stint in parliament, fighting for a more accountable polity in sub-Saharan Africa's fourth most populous country. And it nearly cost him his life. In September 2017, he was shot sixteen times in what is widely seen as an assassination attempt orchestrated by the Magufuli government.

But Lissu survived. And three years and more than twenty operations later, he returned to Tanzania from Belgium last year, where he had been seeking medical care, to contest the presidential election held in October. After attracting huge crowds as he toured the country to campaign, he was defeated in a contest marred by intimidation and fraud, handing Magufuli another five years in office and forcing Lissu back into exile. But following the president's untimely demise, Lissu is plotting his return.

Asked whether his plans upon returning to Tanzania are more in line with activism or a re-entry into politics, his response was simple:

"Is there a difference?"

Removing the Velvet Glove

In a previous interview with the Africa Report, Lissu said that while it was "very easy to point an accusing finger at Magufuli," the former president also had "not changed a single provision of the constitution, and those powers were created by Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere," Tanzania's revered first president. Hence, talk of a return to the status quo ante seemed, at first, insufficient.

"Tanzania has always been authoritarian and violent," Lissu explained. "There is continuity from the colonial to the post-colonial government. Both have lacked accountability and did not care about rights."

"But what Magufuli did is he removed the velvet glove from the iron fist that has always been the Tanzanian state. He turned the security services above and beyond just the opposition."

And, by using the organs of the state to take aim at civil society, musicians, and private citizens, Lissu thinks, counterintuitively, that Magufuli created an opening for more lasting--and positive--political change.

"Magufuli squandered his political capital with his ruthlessness. The Magufuli project was over. And then, even before he died, COVID had finished him politically."

And now, after five years of the president's "reign of terror," Lissu sees a growing consensus that "the only way to prevent another Magufuli is a new constitutional and political order."

Reforming the Constitution

"Tanzania has needed a new constitutional order for a long time," according to Lissu, "and the introduction of multi-party democracy in 1992 made calls for reform louder, but not many people took reformers seriously."

This was due, in part, to the perception among many Tanzanians and donors that despite the dominance of the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (the Party of the Revolution, CCM)--the party has, in one form or another, been in power since independence in 1961--Tanzania had continued to democratize under Magufuli's predecessors, President Benjamin Mkapa (1995-2005) and President Jakaya Kikwete (2005-2015).

After Magufuli, however, "the case for a new constitution is unanswerable."

Lissu believes that even Kikwete, who he accuses of torpedoing the constitutional reform process in 2014, along with the faction within CCM that aligns closely to him would now support a new constitution.

Asked what needed to be changed, Lissu answered that, first and foremost, a new Tanzanian constitution should do away with "the imperial presidency put into place by Julius Kambarage Nyerere."

The "presidentialism" enshrined in the constitution should be abolished, Lissu said, as "giving enormous power to one person is dangerous in unstable societies," as Magufuli so brutally demonstrated.

"Do we need a president that has the power to appoint officials all the way down to the district level?" Lissu asked rhetorically. He argued that Tanzania needs to "devolve and decentralize" power closer to where it is exercised, thus helping build "accountability from the bottom."

Asked what a better system of government would look like in Tanzania, Lissu said that Tanzania should opt for a parliamentary democracy in which "parliament is the true center of power and the head of state is answerable every day to parliament."

"The 1961 constitution gave us parliamentary democracy," Lissu continued, "but it lacked a bill of rights." Since the bill of rights was incorporated into the constitution in 1984, Lissu argues that "a parliamentary democracy now would be on a different plane than 1961."

Lissu cares little about whether the head of state will retain the title of president. More important, he says, is function.

"In South Africa, they have a president, but he can still face a vote of no confidence just like the prime minister in London. Impeachment is impossible politically. We saw that even in the United States with Donald Trump. Impeachment is not a sufficient check on the power of the president."

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Beyond abolishing the imperial presidency, Lissu also sees need for a revisiting of the relationship between Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous archipelago that merged with the mainland--then known as Tanganyika--in 1964.

"I feel more strongly about the question of Zanzibar than even many Zanzibari nationalists," Lissu suggested. "The 1964 Zanzibar Revolution was a coup funded, armed, and supported by mainland Tanganyika to overthrow the legitimate government of Zanzibar. The only way to maintain the Union since then has been through violence," illustrated most recently when at least nine people were shot dead by police in Zanzibar in the run-up to the October elections.

Lissu, objecting to CCM's use of force to control Zanzibar, said he supports Zanzibari calls for independence.

"Since 1984," when changes to the Zanzibar Constitution further extended CCM's influence over the islands' politics, "there have been calls for a looser union which have not diminished." Lissu pointed out that many mainland Tanzanians dismiss these calls outright, on the view that accepting a looser union is merely a halfway point to independence--and he agrees. But "it is up to Zanzibaris to decide whether they want to remain in the union and, if so, under what arrangement."

This publication is part of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy. Blog posts represent the views of CFR fellows and staff and not those of CFR, which takes no institutional positions.
Botswanas information technology and communication (ICT) sector may be about to receive a boost, after news that the countrys government has decided to direct more projects towards locally owned ICT businesses.

According to IT Web Africa, the government of Botswana is putting together a number of initiatives to support the country's ICT industry, not least in order to help keep ICT companies afloat after the difficulties of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Home-grown ICT has not been a big success story in Botswana of late. The telecommunications sector in particular is growing at a slower pace than projected, with only nine entrants during the 2020/21 period.

Thus, the official government line is that more ICT projects will be given to citizen-owned companies and that ICT budgets allocated for the current fiscal year should be utilised expeditiously to stimulate opportunities for contractors.

This focus on local ICT is not a new concern. Minister of transport and communications Thulagano Segokgo was quoted at a recent virtual cyber security symposium saying that it is imperative for Botswana to build a local cyber security culture that promotes the use of ICT.

Theres no doubting the importance of ICT in an increasingly networked world. This, government suggests, underlines the need to transform Botswanas local economy into a knowledge-based digital economy.
-Applaud investment in Liberia

The United States Ambassador to Liberia, the Head of the European Union Delegation in Liberia, and the French Ambassador here have visited ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) to learn about the existing operations, discuss the Company's plans for the future and review its readiness to recommence construction.

According to a press release, U.S. Ambassador Michael A. McCarthy, E.U. Ambassador Laurent Delahousse, and French Ambassador Michael Roux toured the AML mine, rail and port operations and visited the Vocational Training Center (VTC) in Yekepa recently. The guests also held a meeting with AML's senior management headed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Scott Lowe.

Briefing the Ambassadors, CEO Lowe said it was a great honor to have them visit AML and reaffirmed the company's strong commitment to Liberia.

CEO sets out the vision for the future

Welcoming the delegation, the AML CEO, said the company has exciting expansion plans for the future in Liberia that will benefit all stakeholders. He said AML is strategically aligned to and supporting the Government's Pro-poor Agenda and working closely with Government representatives.

CEO Lowe told the diplomats AML is planning to make a bold step into the future with the resumption of its expansion project known as Phase II at an additional cost of approximately $800m, taking AML's total investment in Liberia to over $2.5Bn. The AML expansion will triple production from 5mtpa of direct shipment ore (DSO) to 15mtpa of high-value concentrate product with plans for further growth in the future.

Mr Lowe added that the project represents major economic and social benefits for the government and people of Liberia in jobs, revenue, and social development.

The current model of operations will be transformed with the introduction of expanded mining, state-of-the-art processing technology, and upgrades to rail and port infrastructure. Importantly, the project will also involve developing the skills of Liberians and expanding the life of the mine for up to thirty years.

Lowe said: "ArcelorMittal Liberia has been in Liberia since 2006, and we are in this for the long haul. We intend to be a part of Liberia's long term future, delivering growth for the benefit of the country, community, employees, and shareholders."

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U.S. Ambassador McCarthy described the ArcelorMittal Liberia investment as a "hope for the future of Liberia" and encouraged the company and staff to continue the good work.

He said the AML VTC is exactly what Liberia needs, noting that the company has put the future in the people's hands, and they [the youth] need to take it from there.

The French Ambassador Michael Roux shared similar views about the impact of AML's business and also highlighted the role of TVET in Liberia's economic development.

Head of E.U. Delegation in Liberia Ambassador Delahousse spoke of the importance of Public-Private partnership, and hoped that other companies in Liberia or from abroad will come, invest, create jobs and give a future to all young Liberians.

The recent visit of the three diplomats followed earlier high-level visits by other members of the diplomatic corps and most recently, H.E. President George M. Weah to the AML Concession, something CEO Scott Lowe said is an indication of the strong partnership between AML, the government, the international community and people of Liberia.

About ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel and mining company, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking facilities in 17 countries. In 2020, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $53.3 billion and crude steel production of 71.5 million metric tonnes, while iron ore production reached 58.0 million metric tonnes. Press Release
A driver pulls a handgun at Antifa members after they smashed his truck lights, in Salem, Ore., on March 28, 2021. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Man Who Displayed Gun at Antifa Protest Was a Victim, Police Say

A man who displayed a handgun in Oregon on Sunday was a victim of the extremists who had gathered outside the state Capitol, law enforcement clarified in a new statement.

Heavily armed members of the far-left, anarcho-communist Antifa network traveled to Salem and accosted drivers who were flying pro-Trump and pro-law enforcement flags. Video footage and photographs showed them pepper spraying a drivers face and lobbing a rock directly at another.

At one point, a driver exited his vehicle and displayed a firearm.

That driver was briefly detained but not charged, Oregon State Police said in a statement on Monday.

The person in the photo was the victim of extensive damage to his vehicle. When he stopped to assess the damage, he was assaulted with pepper spray. After being assaulted with pepper spray, the person pulled a handgun from his waistband to defend himself. He did not point the weapon at anyone and dropped it when ordered to do so by law enforcement, police said.

The man, who has a valid concealed handgun license, was detained and interviewed before being released.

Reports of crimes will be forwarded to the Marion County District Attorneys Office for review.

A driver pulls a handgun at Antifa members after they smashed his truck lights, in Salem, Ore., on March 28, 2021. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Law enforcement officers detain a man who pulled a handgun on a crowd after they broke his truck lights, in Salem, Ore., on March 28, 2021. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Authorities initially reported three arrests. Oregon State Police said a fourth man was also arrested. William Lloyd Isham, 34, was arrested on the charge of interfering with a police officer.

According to Antifa expert Andy Ngo, two of those arrested are regularly seen at far-left gatherings in the Pacific Northwest. A third man, Anthony Martinez, has written for the Teen Vogue publication in the past. The article identified him as a youth leader at Latinos Unidos Siempre.

The skirmishes took place outside the state Capitol. Antifa members gathered in response to a planned event dubbed the Freedom Rally.

Approximately 100 individuals wearing garb favored by Antifa, including black clothing and ballistic vests, arrived on the Capitol mall grounds just before noon, according to the Salem Police Department.

Members of the group were carrying firearms, bats, skateboards, umbrellas, shields, and gas masks, police said, describing them as heavily armed.

Shortly after they arrived, police began receiving reports that the mob was targeting vehicles driving by, with victims reporting their cars and trucks were damaged by balloons that were filled with paint, rocks, and other hard objects. One vehicle was significantly damaged when someone hurled a tree limb through the front window into the vehicles passenger seat.

Officers closed the street where the chaos was unfolding but the crowd dispersed to nearby streets to continue committing crimes.

The planned Freedom Rally did not take place because of the closure. The vehicles flying U.S. flags, pro-Trump flags, and other flags appeared to be part of the rally.

Members of the crowd assaulting the vehicles flew Antifa flags and Antifa groups had promoted the gathering, dubbing it Fascist Free 503.

Antifa stands for antifascist. Members of the network regularly resort to violence.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE: MTH), a leading U.S. homebuilder, plans to release the Company's first quarter 2021 results on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 after the market closes. Management will host a conference call to discuss the results at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) on Thursday, April 29, 2021. The call will be webcast with an accompanying slideshow, both available on the "Investor Relations" page of the Company's website at https://investors.meritagehomes.com.

A live webcast of the conference call will be available online at https://investors.meritagehomes.com. Telephone participants will be able to join by dialing in to 1-877-407-6951 US toll free or 1-412-902-0046 on the day of the call.

A replay of the call will be available via webcast beginning at approximately 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time (3:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on April 29, 2021 and extending through May 13, 2021, at https://investors.meritagehomes.com.

About Meritage

Meritage Homes is the sixth-largest public homebuilder in the United States, based on homes closed in 2020. The Company offers a variety of homes that are designed with a focus on first-time and first move-up buyers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Meritage Homes has delivered over 135,000 homes in its 36-year history, and has a reputation for its distinctive style, quality construction, and award-winning customer experience. The Company is the industry leader in energy-efficient homebuilding and a seven-time recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence Award since 2013 for innovation and industry leadership in energy efficient homebuilding.

For more information, visit www.meritagehomes.com.

Contact: Emily Tadano, VP Investor Relations (480) 515-8979 investors@meritagehomes.com

Source: Meritage Homes Corporation
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 92 per cent of women workers in India are in informal sector, devoid of any platform for grievance reddressal. There are no support mechanism for migrant women workers, especially absence creches and childcare facility. Labour laws have been abandoned by many states. Overall precarity in the labour market resulting from the intersectionality of class, caste, religion, language, etc., imposed over each other need to be addressed.



Registration of women as migrant workers is a must so that they get access to schemes and programmes, etc. Implementation of Equal Remuneration Act 1976 and skill upgradation are important. Big data for working class is required. every flagship programme of government minimum 30 per cent of quota should be for women in the workforce. Invisibility of women in migration discourse is an important concern.

Dr Priya Deshingkar, Professor of Migration and Development, School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, UK, said, though the Draft Policy is not available for public, it is the time to intervene to influence how the policy gets shaped up. The draft demonstrates political will and clearly states the governments intent to recognise the economic contribution of labour migrants and support them. It highlights the importance of collective action to improve bargaining power of workers.



Speaking on the labour codes, Dr Patel said that there are gross violations of human rights in the work place and the whole course of reproductive discourse is not even mentioned in any of the code. Dedicated helpline for migrant workers which can address all issues of migrants, including wage theft, social protection, etc. It is also important to ensure the reproductive rights of women too.Registration of women as migrant workers is a must so that they get access to schemes and programmes, etc. Implementation of Equal Remuneration Act 1976 and skill upgradation are important. Big data for working class is required. every flagship programme of government minimum 30 per cent of quota should be for women in the workforce. Invisibility of women in migration discourse is an important concern.Dr Priya Deshingkar, Professor of Migration and Development, School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, UK, said, though the Draft Policy is not available for public, it is the time to intervene to influence how the policy gets shaped up. The draft demonstrates political will and clearly states the governments intent to recognise the economic contribution of labour migrants and support them. It highlights the importance of collective action to improve bargaining power of workers.Further, it has several radical steps such as a unifying a national policy, migration management bodies in sending and receiving states, establishing a unit within the ministry of labour and employment to foster convergence among different line departments.

Migrants require a lot of information regarding where they should go, remittances, possibilities of employment, cheap accommodation

Dr Deshingkar said, the remit of the policy is broad, seeking to bring even the most marginalised groups such as street vendors, sex workers, etc. under its umbrella. However, a more explicit mention of important, but less visible categories of work such as domestic work and home-based work, which are particularly important for women, is needed. Home-based work means the kind of work done by migrant workers in some type of home-setting, informal establishment, may be part of manufacturing chain. These workers tend to be invisible.

She added, it is too easy for them to fall through the gaps as they are not adequately covered by protective law. For example, India has still not ratified the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers. She further said, we really need a more innovative approach to improve the effectiveness and coverage of existing laws and this can be achieved through consultation with stakeholders who are closer to migrants and work with them directly to pinpoint precise processes of exclusion.

Dr Deshingkar said that it is important to understand the political economy of migrant labour recruitment, placement and employment in key industries, and why there is a vested interest in keeping migrant workers away from the purview of law. The draft policy begins by stating that migrant policy should be recognised, but it is not reflected in the section of tribal migration. Further, cases of extreme exploitation are used as justification to stop all tribal migration, which are against the broader experience.

There is a need to differentiate between instances of extreme exploitation and find ways of mitigating that rather than policing migration and viewing in in negative terms. With regard to the setting up of database of migrant workers, the requirement of identity proof and enrolling through a formal process with paper work and all is likely to run into the problem of exclusion. The draft policy is a major step in the right direction, but the gaps need to be addressed.

Dr Yogesh Kumar, Executive Director, Samarthan-Centre for Development Support, Bhopal, said, as equal citizens, the rights, entitlements and dignity of migrant workers have to be protected. The invisible constituency, which is so productive in work has to be considered as equal participants in the economy. Local governments were the only government closer to the people closer to the people during the lockdown.

Local leadership emerged through the crisis, by proving a host of critical services, right from ration, medical facilities, and quarantine facilities. Hence, it is important to recognize the role of local governments. The three tier structure provided by the Constitution under the 73rd and 74th amendments  rural, block and district panchayat levels -- provides a comprehensive legal framework for the migrants in the destination and source.

Similarly, in the case of the urban areas, municipalities, corporations and nagar panchayats provide another legal entity as local government. Hence, these connections have to be seen when we discuss migrants in source and destination states. These two local governments have to talk to each other to see how migrants are protected.

Dr Kumar said there should be National Rural Migrants Inventory (NARMI) by Gram Panchayats at source and by the Municipalities at destination. Comprehensive migrant-centric district planning by the working together of Gram Panchayats and urban local bodies is required to enhance employment opportunities. District centres have poor infrastructure and it would be difficult to convert them into migrant inventory level. It has to be much simpler where the incentives have to be there for the migrants to register, whether they are migrating alone or with families.

He further said, one nation and one ration is only possible when we have a database at the panchayat and municipal level of all migrants who are moving from place to place. The real-time data of migrants is required only when large number of seasonal migrants exist. The registration should not be coerced. It should be incentive based. There should be a national flagship programme for establishing migrant resource centres (MRCs).

Migrants require a lot of information and support regarding where they should go, safe migration, remittances, possibilities of employment, cheap accommodation in destination, etc. Skill development and certification of existing skills from the perspective of migrants are required. There also is the need for demystifying the definition of skill. Migrants dignity and wage employment possibility need to be looked at the migration policy.

The Policy Dialogue was moderated by Dr Frazer Mascarenhas, Former Principal of St. Xaviers College, Mumbai, and Former Member, Working Group for Undergraduate Education of the National Knowledge Commission, and the Steering Committee for Higher and Technical Education of the 12th Plan of the Planning Commission, Government of India. Participants from across the world representing policy research and academic institutions, government, civil society organisations, students, etc. attended the programme.

---

*Manager, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Strategic Knowledge Management- CDO, Jesuit Conference of India/South Asia

He further added, if the migration policy is about special favours for migrants, then it creates a certain degree of resentment among the people who are locals. The thrust of the policies should ensure that there should be no discrimination against the migrants. There are also concerns on the lack of awareness among migrants about the various schemes and social protection that are available for them.Dr Vibhuti Patel, former professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and SNDT Womens University, Mumbai said, the question of intersectionality is important while we discuss migration. Wherever women go, they work. Recognition and representation of women is critical in migrant discourse. Dr Patel raised the concern of sexual harassment of women migrant workers.

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According to a media report, the scam-ridden Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund (FTMF) has placed its hands on its holster in a preemptive move to avoid punishment for its actions in India. It has indirectly threated the Indian government that if the market regulator dares to levy unfairly large penalties  either by fine or disgorgement, Franklin Templeton may pull out of India. Franklin Templetons threat is just too laughable at multiple levels:

Insignificant Role: As usual, data clarifies everything. Franklin Templeton has an insignificant role to play in the Indian mutual fund industry, as data for the past 15 years makes clear. In December 2006, Franklin Templeton was the fifth largest fund house in India, with a 10.8% share of assets under management and figured in the list of top-10 fund houses. State Bank of India (SBI) was seventh with a 7.1% share. There was no Kotak, HDFC or Axis in the list. Franklin Templetons assets under management (AUMs) at Rs21,576 crore were 50% more than Rs14,123 crore of SBI.

Some 15 years later, Franklin Templeton is barely hanging on in the top-10 list. Its share among the top-10 has dwindled to just 3.9%. Its AUM has grown around four times during this period. SBI, which was two-third Franklin Templetons size in 2006, now has an AUM of Rs4 lakh crore, which is just under five times that of Franklin Templeton!

HDFC, which was nowhere in the top-10, now has more than four times Franklin Templetons assets. Axis, Kotak Mahindra and IDFC have come out of nowhere and pushed Franklin Templeton down the top-10 list. The fact is, Franklin Templeton is slowly becoming an also-ran in the Indian mutual fund industry. It is not critical to India in any sense.

Foreign Card: Franklin Templeton (FT) claims that it is one of the few foreign asset managers not to cease operations in India. Somebody should throw these five facts at FT.

One, foreign asset managers add absolutely no value to India. It is not that FTs equity schemes have been among the best-performing funds year after year. Its debt schemes have been managed with mala fide intentions and had disastrous consequences for its investors.

Two, other foreign asset managers quit India because they (wrongly) thought that their business model was unviable after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) squeezed out obscene commissions that mutual funds were dishing out from investors money to distributors and agents. FT stayed on for business reasons, not as favour to India.

Three, who says we need US financial services in India at all? We should stay miles away from the toxic business models of US financial services firms, where customer-interest comes last, as we have learnt from the global financial crash of 2008.

Four, asset managers do not bring in capital; they take out capital in the form of hefty dividends paid out by their extremely profitable asset management companies; it is a low-capital business and besides, India is rolling in foreign exchange today.

Five, each year, FT makes a multiple of the meager Rs230-odd crore it has brought into India so far. India has nothing to lose if FT goes away. It is FTs loss.

Ready Buyers: I dont know how Franklin Templetons friends and buddies at the Association of Mutual Funds of India (AMFI) are reacting to Franklin Templetons quit India threat, but I would be surprised if they are not secretly hoping that Franklin Templeton, indeed, decides to take a walk. A quick takeover of its assets will put to rest, Franklin Templetons very American but ludicrous argument that its pullout will lead to job losses.

In the early-1990s Jack Welch said India, Mexico and China are the three biggest opportunities. For 30 years, foreign businessmen have been desperate to enter India and make money out of the vast middle-class population. And now, FT, which has no edge in technology or processes, and brings no special value that 20 other asset managers cannot add, is threatening to pull out of India. I am completely flummoxed by FTs attempt to blackmail India when it just does not have a single bargaining chip!

FT deserves exemplary punishment. Acting as a 'lender' to a defaulter group like ADAG, Essel and Future, instead of acting safely on behalf of investors; buying illiquid and junk bonds and putting them in short-term debt schemes; pulling out over Rs2,000 crore through entities related to top management just three months before winding up is nothing but insider trading and, together, show criminal mishandling of investors funds and breach of fiduciary duty. It is time to call Franklin Templetons bluff.
Tuesday, March 30, 2021

On February 23, my blog addressed the subject of quitting while youre ahead and other similar strategies that do absolutely nothing to the expected return of a game. I received a number of comments to that blog, including the one Im going to share with you today:

I stop when Ive won a decent jackpot, usually a four-of-a-kind that kicks out $200 or more. Im good with winning a $200 hand. $200 will buy a nice evening out with my wife, so really, we both win.

This is so far against my philosophy of gambling successfully that it seems possible that Im just being trolled. But maybe not. Ill address it assuming the poster was honestly presenting his view.

The poster didnt mention what game he was playing. If he was playing quarters, a $200 win is 800 coins  and a fairly rare event. If he was playing dollars in a game like Double Double Bonus, every four of a kind pays out at least $200. Im going to speculate that he was playing dollar DDB, five coins at a time.

Presumably he means that he quits when he is $200 ahead. It is easy in DDB to be behind $400 before you hit your first $250 quad. Im guessing that this is not what he meant. Hes still behind $150, and its hard to see how spending an additional $200 on a night out with his wife makes it a winning night  at least financially.

So, lets assume hes behind $200 and hits a $400 jackpot, putting him $200 ahead. Okay. His rule says to quit and go on a date with his wife. This sounds like it might be a successful marriage, but clearly not successful gambling.

This strategy says that however much he wins (except, perhaps, for the occasional royal), he spends it right away. When he loses, (which happens very often in this game, no matter which pay schedule hes talking about), presumably he just grins and bears it. This makes video poker a game where hes financially a significant loser. Few net wins, and plenty of (often large) losses.

This might make sense for somebody who has more money than he knows what to do with and gambles strictly for pleasure. Its an expensive hobby, to be sure, but if he enjoys it and can afford it, whos to say hes wrong?

My entire gambling philosophy is that gambling is a source of wealth. Not income. Wealth. That means that when I win, I set that money aside to guard against the inevitable losses that I know are coming. I dont know when. But Ive been at the gambling game long enough to know that another losing streak isnt too far away. I have a gambling fund, of sorts. When I lose, the fund decreases. When I win, it grows.

Since I only play games where I have an edge, over time the gambling fund tends to grow. If it doubles, Ill withdraw some of it and invest somewhere. It might take a few weeks, or several years, to double, but it usually does. Sometimes, though, the fund gets down close to zero and I need to add more. Thats the nature of gambling, especially in a heaven-or-hell game like DDB.

Lets say I have $30,000 in this fund. That might be an appropriate size for a dollar DDB player. It would be overly large for a quarter player. It would be woefully short for a $10 player. Each person has to decide how much should be in this fund.

The individual dollars in it are not time-stamped. That is, the money I earned last week is no more or less important than the money I earned four months ago. If I lose $1,000 and the fund goes down to $29,000, I dont know when that money was originally earned. Accountants talk about first-in-first-out or last-in-first-out in order to keep track of the dates of various assets. Thats important for tax purposes, but not for what Im doing, so I dont worry about that. I dont care. I care about how much is in the fund.

For me, how much Im up or down since I got out of bed this morning is a largely irrelevant figure. I write it down in my daily log;  partly for tax purposes; partly to evaluate whether Im playing a winning game; partly to keep track if I need to add to or subtract money from my gambling fund.

When I spend money on food, housing, dates with my wife, my car, or whatever, the money doesnt come from the gambling fund. When I receive income from wherever I get it, it doesnt go into the gambling fund. Its in my living expenses fund. Its totally separate, unless I make a distinct transfer one way or the other from the two funds. Or my third fund, which is invested in the stock market and elsewhere.

The idea of taking my wife to an extra dinner because I won $200 today is very alien to me. As would be making her starve if I lost today. Winning and losing at casinos is just a part of my life. I lose more often than I win (although my wins are bigger than my losses, on average.) Keeping Bonnie fed and entertained is a different part of my life. An important part. And it goes on whether Im ahead or behind since I got out of bed today.

I earlier made a distinction between wealth and income. Income is a flow of money. The opposite of expense. Wealth is however much money you have. Its the sum of all the income and expenses youve experienced since day one. Whether youve gotten this wealth from employment, investment, a divorce settlement, the sale of an asset, theft, or any other way, its however much you have. In my case, my wealth is divided among gambling fund, living fund, investment fund, and a mad-money fund. Transfers are made in and out of each fund as necessary. As described in this article, gambling wins and losses add or subtract from the gambling fund.

Its perfectly okay with me that you dont look at gambling and money the same way I do. I hope the way you look at it works for you.
As consumers, it has become a simple, unchangeable fact of life that, when it comes to getting on board with the latest tech, we represent a captive audience to the worlds tech giants. The desirability of, and necessity for, their latest gadgets means that we will all feel committed to the rising costs, and there is little else we can do to avoid them.

To anyone who has kept on top of the legal trials and tribulations the tech industry continues to run into each and every year, it will come as no real surprise that Qualcomm has found itself in hot water this month. The US giant is no stranger to litigation, fines and poor public image  and this latest case, brought against them by Which?, is no exception.

Read more about their latest bout of legal hot water below.

A Sign of Mounting Competition in the Tech World

No industry is, or ever has been, exempt from the growing pressure laid on by competition between rival businesses. It is not a phenomenon that belongs solely to the world of consumer tech and electronics, but something that has come to define business in general, and throughout history.

Still, we live in an age that is defined by an increasing reliance on technology  and one that is spilling over into every area of our lives.

Just last year, we saw the war raging on between Microsoft and Sony as the release date for their respective new consoles, the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, drew ever closer  and the competition has endured ever since then. In a similar vein, we continue to lay witness to the heady competition between game developers. For instance, the GGPoker welcome bonus is more than a mere incentive for new players; it is the most effective way of ensuring that their superiority over competitors is demonstrated as quickly and effectively as possible.

Away from the gaming world, and in the realm of consumer electronics, longstanding rivals Apple and Samsung continue to hint at the friction between them. In December of last year, for instance, an old marketing campaign from Samsung  for which the primary focus was mocking Apple  resurfaced, reminding us once again of the spirited competition that exists between them.

The same can be said for every area of the tech world. In some cases, it translates to the consumer as spirited fun, more than anything else; in others, however, it can have a significant impact from which the only person to suffer is the consumer. It is, of course, the latter reason that has led to consumer rights group Which? filing a formal complaint against US manufacturer Qualcomm.

Why Was Qualcomm Sued?

In a nutshell, Qualcomm produces chips that are implanted within a wide range of smartphones  including those from Samsung and Apple. According to Which?, however, Qualcomm was clearly abusing its dominance within the mobile chip market, when it allegedly overcharged the mobile phone giants for parts. As a result, these costs were passed directly onto British consumers, meaning that they are now entitled to compensation from the US chip maker.

How Much Are UK Smartphone Owners Owed?

According to most reports, UK smartphone owners who purchased affective phones after 2015 could be owed around 17  which, although not a groundbreaking sum, certainly signals a step forward within the UK for the consumer electronics market.

Thus far, Qualcomm have denied all the claims laid against them by Which?  a fact which means that UK consumers will have to wait a little while longer to find out if they are entitled to a payout.
In this April 9, 2020, file photo, commuters wearing face masks walk through a subway station in Beijing. Speculation is running rampant about how many years of pension income may be lost after the Chinese government announced plans to gradually increase the nation's mandatory retirement age. AP




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Naftogaz group and Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG) have signed a memorandum of understanding. The partners will jointly consider the possibility of putting together experience and resources to implement a number of projects, primarily in Western Ukraine.

"Naftogaz and PGNiG will primarily focus on exploring opportunities for joint exploration of greenfield areas in Western Ukraine, bordering Poland. In particular, the partners shall allow for cooperation in Berestyanska area, where Naftogaz signed a production sharing agreement with the government at the end of 2020," the group said in a press release.

Naftogaz said that as part of its strategy approved in 2020, Naftogaz started implementing strategic projects to increase the resource base within the Black Sea shelf, Yuzivska area, the Carpathian region and new areas for which PSAs were concluded.

"By attracting international partners, we intensify the rate of progress of unlocking Ukraines resource potential. PGNiG is a public company with high standards that has discovered and is successfully developing a number of fields in Europe. In particular, PGNiG has proven track-record of discoveries and efficient gas production in Poland, in the region bordering Ukrainian Carpathians. At the same time, it has already successfully accomplished projects on expanding its gas producing business to other countries, including strong position in Norway. I am confident that we will be able to achieve mutually beneficial synergy," Chief Operating Officer of the Naftogaz Group Otto Waterlander said.

"Ukraine, which has one of the largest gas reserves in Europe, offers a very attractive growth potential for upstream companies like PGNiG. We are particularly interested in gas production development in Western Ukraine. This region borders with our operations area in Poland, and our data confirms its potential. Naftogaz has been working there for many years and has considerable experience and valuable geological data," Vice President of the Management Board of PGNiG SA, Chief Operating Officer Robert Perkowski said.
Karene District, Northern Province, Saturday 27 March 2021 - His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has toured major towns in the Karene District as part of his inclusive approach to governance and shared his government's district-specific achievements for citizens in that part of the country, 156km from the capital, Freetown.

In Sanda Tendaren, Regent Chief Alhaji Bundu said they were happy with the visit of President Bio, noting that it demonstrated strong leadership that had sought to bring governance and development discussions and decisions closer to the people.

"We consider this visit as a source of pride. Your Excellency sir, we appreciate the Free Quality Education and Free Health Care in this part of the country. This time we have seen an increase in the number of school-going children. We, therefore, take this opportunity to ask for more development so that Sanda Tendaren will catch up with other areas in the country in terms of development," he requested.

In Batkanu, Paramount Chief Bai Yankay Kargbo said after 1975 President Julius Maada Bio was the only sitting President to have visited them and further confessed to the fact that that decision demonstrated bravery, for which they would forever be grateful.

"Mr. President, we are pleased with your development agenda. Prior to now, our road network was very deplorable, but your government has graded our main road. This shows that your government is very inclusive. We, the people of this part of the district, are kindly asking you to replace the ferry that links Batkanu and other parts of the district," the Paramount Chief said.

In his response, President Bio congratulated the people of Karene District for their courage, resilience and zeal, saying that the district was the least developed in the country. He observed that the people did not deserve the deplorable state of the road network they had, citing the lack of other social facilities that would integrate the whole district.

The President assured them that his government would continue to look after the well-being of its citizens, adding that that was why he had allocated 22% of the country's annual budget to education. He said nobody should be left behind in the country's efforts to harness the many opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

He further assured that his government would do major road construction in the district and to replace two broken ferries out of the five in the district.

"Since 2019, six mini-grids have been in operation under the Rural Renewable Energy Project, serving approximately 900 to 1500 households directly, and providing electricity to the Community Health Centres and complement villages in the following places: Kamasondo; Batkanu; Sendugu; Kathantha; Kathantha Yimboi; Fitonia.

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"We will work on the Kabatha Junction - Gbinti - Batkanu - Mateboi - Foreloko (86.00 km) road. My Government also recognises that previous Governments have not sufficiently invested in roads and bridges in this district. I think we should transform the following from hand-pulled ferries to reinforced concrete bridges:1. Yebele Ferry 2. Kabba Ferry 3. Bantoro Ferry, 4. Tomparie Ferry.

"Done in other parts of the country but specifically for the case of Kamakwie, I decided to travel to Karene and hand-deliver a symbolic cheque of 25 billion Leones to SDF grantees (TVET institutions and organizations in the North.) Karene will also benefit from a brand new TVET centre soon," he concluded.

For More Enquiries: State House Media and Communications Unit
Moscow, March 30 : Russian Ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, who has returned to Moscow for consultations after he was recalled earlier this month, said he hopes to be back in Washington soon.

Speaking to TASS News Agency on Monday, Antonov said "I hope to be back soon", as he replied to a corresponding question.

Also on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a briefing that Antonov had not yet reported about the situation in Washington ties to President Vladimir Putin.

The Ambassador returned to Moscow on March 22 after he was recalled following US President Joe Biden remarks on March 17 that Russia will "pay a price" for its alleged interference in the 2020 American election.

A US intelligence report released the previous day directly accused Putin of ordering a wide-ranging influence operation to interfere in the election, intending to hurt Biden's campaign.

In the ABC News interview, Biden also agreed with the interviewer's claim that Putin was "a killer".

Responding directly to Biden's remarks, Putin said on March 18: "I would say to him: I wish you good health. I say that without irony or joking.

"I would like to offer President Biden (the opportunity) to continue our discussion, but on condition that we'll do so what is called live, online. Without anything pre-recorded, in an open and direct discussion.

"It seems to me, it would be interesting both for the Russian people and for the US people, as well as for many other countries."
Biden also announced that he would seek to elevate Ketanji Brown Jackson, who is currently a district-court judge, to the influential U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She too has worked as a public defender, and has served as a Supreme Court clerk and later a corporate litigator.

In a statement released this morning, the White House emphasized the speed of its nominations, pointing out that no administration had named as many judicial nominees so early in its first term. President Biden has had a career-long commitment to the strength of the federal judiciary, and that is reflected in the historically fast pace at which he has moved to fill vacancies on the federal bench, the statement said.

But confirming the nominees will not necessarily be a painless task, as Democrats control only 50 seats in the Senate. Its pretty much the barest majority for them to get any nominations through, Gramlich said. Two years from now, if Republicans take back the Senate, it would become much more difficult for Biden.

For now, the Democrats have one big advantage  courtesy of former Senator Harry Reid. As the Democratic majority leader for part of Obamas presidency, Reid disallowed the filibuster on judicial appointments (while keeping it for votes on legislation), making it easier for the president to get his appointees confirmed.

When Trump became president, McConnell  who had little appetite for passing major legislation, but was keenly focused on the federal bench  took full advantage of his former foes maneuver. Now, with Biden and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York in the cockpit, Democrats are aiming to take back as much ground as they can.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 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 retained the services of several investor relations, media and marketing firms ("IR Parties") to provide services for the Company. The IR Parties are arms-length to the Company.

London, England-based Proactive Investors is providing global market awareness and editorial services for a one-year period for a fee of C$31,500. The contract may be renewed for an additional year. Proactive is one of the fastest growing financial media portals in the world, providing breaking news, commentary and analysis on hundreds of listed companies and pre-IPO businesses across the globe, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Aktiencheck.de AG of Westerburg, Germany is providing European market awareness and media advisory services for a fee of 50,000 for an unspecified period of time.

Messina Consulting of Bremen, Germany will provide European market awareness, media buying and public relations services over a six-week period beginning in April 2021, for a fee of 25,000 per week. The service period may be extended by agreement of the parties.

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 near trillion dollar 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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78957
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'Coyote' people smugglers gesture as they stand on the Mexico side of the Rio Grande river near the US the border city of Roma on March 28, 2021. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

Absolutely Vile: Mexican Drug Cartel Members Threatened GOP Senators Near Texas Border

Apparent Mexican drug cartel members threatened Republican senators from across the Rio Grande in Texas when they visited the border as Border Patrol officials grapple with a surge in illegal immigrants and human smuggling, according to one of the senators.

We went right there at midnight [on Friday] to the Rio Grande River, and we were really taunted by Mexican cartel members, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mt.) told Breitbart. They didnt know it was Republican senators who were staying thereliterally on the waters edge in the brushbut they knew it was probably Border Patrol. They could hear the English voices.

A Border Patrol agent who could translate Spanish to English told the senators that the cartel members made vile and threatening statements to them.

It was obscene, because they know they can have their way. Theyre not afraid. They know they can make thousands of dollars per person thats crossing right now. Thats whats going on, right now, they said.

When asked about what the cartel members said, Daines said, I cant repeat it on the air.

Our Border Patrol guys were saying that they were telling us to stick certainit related to anatomy and other things. Let me just say that. It was absolutely vile, and it was horrible, and, You cant stop us, and so forth. They had these great big flashlights they shot back at us, he said. This is whats at stake. Its lawlessness. They dont care.

The senator was joined by about a dozen other Republican lawmakers at the border over the past weekend. In statements and videos posted online, the senators said President Joe Bidens move to rescind several Trump-era immigration rules triggered the surge in human smuggling, child smuggling, and people crossing the border illegally, which has then put extensive pressure on Border Patrol agents to find facilities to house unaccompanied children and others for processing.

Last week, Biden and White House officials decried Trumps policies as inhumane and described the surge in illegal immigration as routine ahead of the summer months.

But Daines described inhumane conditions when he went to a facility in Donna, Texas, used to house illegal immigrants.

The facility, he said, is like a massive tent city they created for this flood of illegals  By the way, when the illegals come across now, they put signs up and arrows on the ground that direct illegals where to go. Theyre not running away from the Border Patrol. They want to be apprehended because of Joe Bidens policies.

Daines called on Biden to preserve some of the previous administrations immigration rules, namely the Remain in Mexico policy.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sought to down rumors he was planning an exit after a Republican power play in his home state of Kentucky that ensures he will be succeeded by a Republican if he leaves before his term ends.

'I don't think we're going to have a vacancy. I'm not going anywhere,' McConnell said Tuesday.

He spoke after the GOP-controlled legislature voted Monday to override the veto of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear after he tried to kill legislation that would require him to fill any temporary vacancy in a Senate seat with a member of the party holding the seat.

'I'm not going anywhere': Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said he has no plans to retire, despite backing a state legislative effort that will ensure his temporary successor is a Republican should he leave office early or otherwise vacate his seat

McConnell, 79, was reelected in November, and has served in the Senate since 1985.

After denouncing President Trump for having 'provoked' the January 6th Capitol riot, McConnell has reemerged as the most powerful force countering the Biden agenda in the Senate.

He has threatened 'scorched earth' tactics should Democrats use their narrow majority to force through changes to the legislative filibuster.

'I just got elected to a six-year term. And I'm still the leader of my party in the Senate,' he told reporters in Kentucky.

Former President Donald Trump (R) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) had a powerful partnership when Trump was in office, but split after the Jan. 6 riot following Trump's effort to overturn the election

McConnell said Trump 'provoked' the Capitol riot. He was instrumental in confirming Trump's Supreme Court nominees and moving his agenda while Trump was in office

McConnell spoke to reporters in Kentucky Tuesday

The bill in question requires the governor to select people to temporarily fill any vacancy from the executive committee of the state party controlling the seat  essentially giving McConnell the power to name at least his temporary successor in advance.

Amid the appearance McConnell was pulling the strings, Republican bill sponsor Robert Stivers said this month that McConnell "is not sick" and isn't leaving, the Hill reported.

McConnell statements come after Trump blasted him in a written statement in February that highlighted the schism within the party.

'Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again,' Trump said in a statement issued by his PAC.

McConnell, whose Senate leadership office is steps from where MAGA rioters ran wild, had said Trump was 'practically and morally responsible' for the riot. McConnell also defended House GOP Conference chair Rep. Liz Cheney, who to impeach Trump, although his maneuverings helped ensure Trump's historic second impeachment took place after he had left office.

Since Trump left office, top House Republican leaders have made the trip to Mar-a-Lago, and Trump has repeatedly asserted himself as a force in the party.
Singapore-listed Logistics Trust (MLT) has bought logistics firm KSH Infra from a unit of Real Estate Investing (MSREI). KSH Infra owns warehousing properties in Pune.

The transaction marks MLT's entry into the Indian logistics market.

The two warehousing and industrial logistics parks in Pune have a total area of about one million square feet and have been leased to blue chip multinationals.

MSREI bought a majority stake in KSH Infra for around Rs 350 crore in 2019.

Last year , Singaporean real estate asset manager Investments bought part of 1.2 million sq ft warehouse in Chakan near Pune for $50 million, reports said .

Avendus Capital was financial advisor to the affiliate of MSREI and other shareholders of KSH Infra on the transaction.

Banking on growth in e-commerce and unified tax norms, many global firms are betting big on warehousing space .

In December last year, Singapore 's GIC and ESR set up $750 million JV to set up warehousing projects in the country. ESR recently announced its plan to develop a 38 acres industrial & logistics park in Chakan near Pune.

Vineet Sekhsaria, Executive Director, Real Estate Investing India said, The Avendus team provided extremely valuable guidance, and their depth of knowledge in this asset class is commendable.

Prateek Jhawar, Director and Head, Infrastructure & Real Assets Investment Banking at Avendus Capital said, The acquisition by MLT solemnizes one of the first few direct investments by a global Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in India, and underscores Avenduss market leadership position in the warehousing & "
The vice president laughed. As sometimes can happen, controversy followed.

Air Force Two had just touched down in Florida, and reporters on the tarmac hustled over to pose their questions. Would she visit the southern border to monitor the migrant surge first-hand? Not today, Kamala Harris replied. Then she let out the laugh, the kind of chuckle that sometimes happens when the vice president is pushed on an uncomfortable topic.

Of course, that wasnt all. Harris said much more.

She said that she had been to the border before and Im sure I will again. She reiterated that now is not the time for migrants to come to the U.S. She said, just as the White House has for weeks, that while the new administration will enforce the law, they would address the root cause of the influx.

The longer answer did not play on a cable news loop. The laugh did.

It was evidence, Republican were quick to insist, that the vice president was not taking the situation seriously. It was more likely the result of misunderstanding: President Biden had deputized Harris to lead diplomatic relations with countries that are the source of the surge, not to deal with the crisis at the border.

The episode illustrates just how fraught the issue has become. Polling shows that the public just wants the problem to be addressed.

According to a new survey of more than 2,000 registered voters by RealClear Opinion Research, 70% of Americans want the new administration to deal with the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. It is among their top concerns, second only to getting the pandemic under control.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki clarified Monday that the vice president will be helping lead that effort, specifically the root causes  not the border, theres some confusion over that. There is also risk. While Harris has been tasked with handling the main drivers of the surge, the immediate situation at the border could influence her own White House ambitions someday and the midterm elections next year.

Americans are still feeling out their new vice president. According to the RealClear poll, 48% reported a favorable opinion of Harris versus 44%, unfavorable. Biden is not waiting for the public to more definitively make up their minds. Harris already has five other major things shes handling, by the presidents own count, but the president announced last week that on top of all of that he has deputized her to lead negotiations with Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, from which the migrants are fleeing.

Its not her full responsibility, Biden explained to reporters, but when she speaks, she speaks for me.

Stemming the surge is a mammoth task with no easy answers despite an impatient public eager for a solution. Still, she is qualified to do the job, Chuck Rocha said of the decision to tap Harris. He helmed Latino outreach for Sen. Bernie Sanders in both of that candidates presidential bids, and Rocha credits Harris for being a staunch advocate of the progressive wing of the immigration movement.

The political operative warned, however, that expectations should be tempered: It has been an issue that we have been trying to fix for generations, one that I dont think any one person can totally solve.

Biden knows this better than most because when he had the job Harris holds now, he undertook a not-so-different mission amid an earlier surge of migrants, many of them unaccompanied children. On a tour of Central and South American nations in 2014, he offered U.S. help to root out corruption, provide economic opportunity, and ensure safety in the North Triangle nations.

We have to deal with the root causes, Vice President Biden told reporters gathered for a press conference in the residence of the U.S. ambassador to Guatemala, echoing the exact phrase he now uses seven years later.

Biden put his foreign policy experience toward the top of his resume while on the campaign trail. Now President Biden has given Vice President Harris the opportunity to build hers, Frank Sharry, the executive director of Americas Voice and a longtime veteran of immigration fights in Washington, told RCP. This is essentially a foreign policy challenge for her, he said and it seems to me that her appointment signifies that this administration is serious about following through on its regional plan.

The political risk is significant. I worry about her getting blamed or being put in a position where it's gonna be difficult to get everything or get this problem fixed in a short term or long term, Rocha noted. With her being a natural fit for a run for president herself, at some point, it puts her in an untenable position of a fight that has been going on through multiple presidencies.

Republicans are ready to pin the situation on the vice president. The majority of the American people, unlike Kamala Harris, know the border crisis is not a laughing matter, Sen. Ted Cruz told RCP.

The fact Kamala Harris has not visited the border, the Texas senator added, just days after leading a Republican delegation to an area along the Rio Grande, is evidence that neither Joe Biden nor Harris wants to accept responsibility for the crisis their open border polices created.

Attacks such as Cruzs stem from a deliberate mischaracterization, a senior White House official told RCP: The border is not the task the president has given her. The task that is at hand for the vice president is looking at the why, and how can we incentivize people to stay in their country; what other economic opportunities can we create in those countries so that people want to stay.

The current surge has created a headache for an administration that would much rather focus on its response to the coronavirus pandemic. The situation now threatens to overshadow other parts of the Biden agenda, though he campaigned on a promise to reverse his predecessors immigration policies, which he and Harris characterized as cruel and inhumane.

Biden moved quickly to remove Trumps fingerprints from U.S. immigration policy beginning on day one, suspending construction of the border wall, proposing a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, and ordering a 100-day moratorium on deportations. Republicans argue that those changes and the new presidents rhetoric have fueled the current spike.

Meanwhile, the administration scrambles to get a hold of the immediate situation, including finding resources to house the nearly 10,000 unaccompanied children currently in federal care. According to administration documents leaked to Axios, the crisis  or challenge, as officials prefer to call it -- is likely to get worse before it gets better: an anticipated increase from 16,000 children crossing unaccompanied this month to 26,000 a month by September.

Back on the tarmac in Florida, Harris seemed confident that the administration could get a grip on the current challenge while also making long-term changes.

"While we are clear that people should not come to the border now, we also understand that we will enforce the law," the vice president said, and that we also, because we can chew gum and walk at the same time, must address the root causes that cause people to make the trek.
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A violent clash between security operatives and hoodlums in some communities in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigerias South-south, has reportedly led to the death of several people, including some police officers.

One newspaper said an assistant superintendent of police was attacked and killed in his country home in the area on Monday by hoodlums. His house was also set ablaze, the newspaper reported.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Amiengheme Andrew, told PREMIUM TIMES, Tuesday afternoon, that he could not speak on the development, as he was about to attend a security meeting, apparently over the crisis in Essien Udim.

He referred PREMIUM TIMES reporter to the police spokesperson in the state, Odiko MacDon.

Mr MacDon, a superintendent of police, did not, however, respond to calls and a text message seeking his comment, as of the time of filing this report.

Essien Udim Local Government Area, which shares a boundary with the neighbouring Abia State, has been notorious for cult-related violence and killings.

About four weeks ago, some gunmen attacked a police station in the area and set fire on parts of the station and some old vehicles which were parked as exhibits in the stations premises.

The attack was the second on police officers and police facilities in the area in less than one week.

The Akwa Ibom State Government, on March 26, banned the use of motorcycles and tricycles from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. in Essien Udim and two other nearby local government areas, in order to check criminal activities.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A billionaires private SpaceX flight filled its two remaining seats Tuesday with a scientist-teacher and a data engineer whose college friend actually won a spot but gave him the prize.

In this photo provided by SpaceX, Chris Sembroski, from left to right, Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux and Sian Proctor pose for a photo, Monday, March 29, 2021, at the SpaceX launch pad at NASAs Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (SpaceX via AP)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A billionaires private SpaceX flight filled its two remaining seats Tuesday with a scientist-teacher and a data engineer whose college friend actually won a spot but gave him the prize.

The new passengers: Sian Proctor, a community college educator in Tempe, Arizona, and Chris Sembroski, a former Air Force missileman from Everett, Washington. They will join flight sponsor Jared Isaacman and another passenger for three days in orbit this fall.

Isaacman also revealed some details about his Inspiration4 mission, as the four gathered Tuesday at NASAs Kennedy Space Center. He's head of Shift4 Payments, a credit card-processing company in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and is paying for what would be SpaceX's first private flight while raising money for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Their SpaceX Dragon capsule  currently parked at the International Space Station for NASA  will launch no earlier than mid-September, aiming for an altitude of 335 miles (540 kilometres). Thats 75 miles (120 kilometres) higher than the International Space Station and on a level with the Hubble Space Telescope.

The capsule will be outfitted with a domed window in place of the usual space station docking mechanism for their trip.

Isaacman, 38, a pilot who will serve as spacecraft commander, still wont say how much hes paying. He's donating $100 million to St. Jude, while donors so far have contributed $13 million, primarily through the lottery that offered a chance to fly in space.

Hayley Arceneaux, 29, was named to the crew a month ago. The St. Jude physician assistant was treated there as a child for bone cancer.

That left two capsule seats open. Proctor, 51, beat out 200 businesses and nabbed the seat reserved for a customer of Isaacman's company. An independent panel of judges chose her space art website dubbed Space2inspire.

"It was like when Harry Potter found out he was a wizard, a little bit of shock and awe," Proctor told The Associated Press last week. "Its like, Im the winner?"

Sembroski, 41, donated and entered the lottery but wasnt picked in the random drawing earlier this month  his friend was. His friend declined to fly for personal reasons and offered the spot to Sembroski, who worked as a Space Camp counsellor in college and volunteered for space advocacy groups.

"Just finding out that Im going to space was an incredible, strange, surreal event," he said.

He's about to start a new job at Lockheed Martin and admits it will be a balancing act over the next six months, as the crew trains.

Isaacman insists they won't cut any corners as they prepare for launch.

"You don't go up on Everest, right, after just a hike in the backyard. You build your way to it," he told reporters.

Proctor, who studied geology, applied three times to NASAs astronaut corps, coming close in 2009, and took part in simulated Mars missions in Hawaii. She was born in Guam, where her late father  a "Hidden Figure" in her mind  worked at NASAs tracking station for the Apollo moonshots, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrins.

She plans to teach from space and create art up there, too.

"To me, everything that Ive done ... has brought me to this moment."

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Leaders gather for lunch to encourage support of local businesses, (left to right) Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, Cheyenne Councilman Mark D. Rinne, Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce CEO Dale Steenbergen, and Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins.
The Democratic majority in the state Senate on Tuesday ratified last weeks action in the House, extending Gov. Ned Lamonts emergency powers to May 20.

Democrats who have a 24-12 edge, easily rejected a Republican attempt to limit the governors emergency powers, then granted the extension, 24-10 with two absent. Lamonts powers are currently scheduled to end April 20, following extensions in September and January.

A few minutes later, after a brief 15-minute debate and 34-0 vote, the Senate sent legislation to the governor that would make it easier for restaurants to resume outdoor dining through March of next year.

Lamont is expected to sign both bills into law.

Democratic leaders, noting that the state Supreme Court on Monday unanimously approved Gov. Ned Lamonts use of his civil preparedness and public health emergency powers, said the governor needs them for at least a couple more months. Since March, 2020, Lamont has issue more than 90 orders with hundreds of provisions.

Connecticut has gone through a lot over the last year, as our nation has and we on both sides of the aisle have worked to keep our state safe, said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff of Norwalk. I believe that through the work the governor has done, in consultation with legislative leaders, Connecticut has been a model for states across the nation on how we have responded to the COVID pandemic.

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, agreed. We do not have this pandemic in our rear view mirror, he said during the 80-minute debate. It is still staring us in the face. Looney noted that cases of COVID continue to increase even as more state residents get their second dose of vaccines.

The Republican amendment, which failed 23-10, would have limited Lamont to seven-day emergency powers, requiring legislative approval to extend or terminate them. Democrats argued that they General Assembly isnt nimble enough to require those kinds of constraints on the executive.

I dont think there is a person serving in this chamber who believes that this is about an abuse of power, said Sen. Craig Miner, R-Litchfield, speaking in favor of the GOP amendment. Our constituents have questions. They have expressed concerns. There has been a significant loss of life in this state. It has been a year where we have all struggled as a state to exist, to stay healthy, to prosper.

He gave examples of people who were told to close their businesses last year and were not allowed to return until lawmakers interceded on their behalf with state officials.

Every one of us has a story, Miner said. People were dying at a rate of 100 a day, but that doesnt diminish our role in the process, in my opinion.

Sen. Kevin Witkos, R-Canton, said that unlike many pieces of legislation, the extension proposal was not subject to a public hearing. It never went through the process. Never went through committees, Witkos complained while submitting the amendment for debate. We now, as a legislative body, have taken the responsibility of extending the governors powers.

It reinserts this body into the process of advising or participating in the process, Miner said in support of the proposal. As we work our way out of this process, it should be more deliberative.

I believe there was a time when we needed one person to make emergency decisions and that has happened, said Sen. Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, in support of the Republican proposal. There were some things that we could have been doing better as we approach the tail end of this pandemic.

Looney then argued that such a seven-day limit would create more problems than it could solve.

It could leave the state in limbo over whether the governor could be overturned by the legislature, Looney said, noting that businesses could be confused over whether to obey an executive order until the General Assembly could meet to ratify or reject an emergency declaration. And if the governor were to veto a legislative decision, it could further prolong uncertainty, he said.

Lamont, in a statement after the Senate action, thanked lawmakers.

This step is critical to ensuring our vaccine and testing programs remain nimble and accessible to all of our residents, and we can continue to provide needed support for everyone in Connecticut as we work to get back to normal as quickly as possible, Lamont said in a statement. I take these powers seriously, and will continue to consult with legislative leadership and use this authority in a judicious fashion.

The extension of eased regulations for outdoor dining would essentially allow restaurants that went to unusual methods last year to serve diners on nearby sidewalks, parking lots and even state highways, would be allowed to continue, while new applicants would be encouraged with streamlined approval processes.

Permits for outdoor service would not need time-consuming site surveys or traffic studies. Applications would have to be responded to within 10 days, while potential rejections would have to accept appeals within a week. In addition, cities and towns that want to make permanent changes to outdoor dining and retail activity would be allowed to act quickly.

It would not prohibit local municipalities from issuing fines and cease-and-desist notices to local restaurant owners, said Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, ranking member of the Planning and Development Committee of the General Assembly.

Plain and simple, the restaurant sector has been slammed, said state Sen. Joan Hartley, D-Waterbury, stressing that about 600 restaurants have closed in the last year. It has been a real struggle, she said. Many of them are the smallest of businesses. Last years executive order from Lamont succeeded in bringing vibrancy to many downtowns throughout the state even as the pandemic raged, she said.

This legislation couldnt be more timely, Hartley said. It gives certainty to these businesses. Its about certainty. Its about supporting a sector thats a very important part of the Connecticut economy.

Our industry is grateful that the state Senate has acted on this bill quickly and in a bipartisan manner, sending a message that Connecticut can rally around our states many local restaurants, the vast majority of which are small businesses, said Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, in a statement after the vote.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
New Jersey stands to reap more than $2 billion from the American Rescue Act to help transit systems across the state ranging from NJ Transit to town buses that shuttle senior citizens and disabled persons, under grants announced Monday.

The money, part of $30.5 billion in federal COVID-19 aid, was announced by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The FTA posted apportionment tables that specify how much funding is available to states and urban areas based on statutory formulas established by Congress, FTA officials said.

Northern New Jersey, along with New York City and Connecticut, will share $8.4 billion total allocation for urban areas over one million or more people. The Philadelphia urban region, which includes parts of South Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, will receive $914.1 million from the stimulus act.

NJ Transit is expected to receive an estimated $2 billion in funding that will help the agency recover from coronavirus ridership losses, congressional officials said. It also could help it cover projected funding gaps in fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

Earlier this month, NJ Transit delivered proposed budgets to the state with no fare increases until 2023, thanks to federal aid and NJ Turnpike subsidies.

More than $6 billion of that $8.4 billion would go to help the cash strapped New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

An additional $77 million was allocated to the $1.8 billion project to replace the 110-year-old Portal Bridge that carries the busy Northeast Corridor rail line over the Hackensack River.

The funding is intended to cover revenue losses from fares after ridership dropped when travel restrictions took effect during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. While transit agencies cut back service levels, some buses and rail service needed to be restored or enhanced to transport essential workers to hospitals, medical centers, supermarkets and warehouses during the pandemic.

The FTA announcement doesnt mean the checks are in the mail, federal officials said. There is a process to determine how much agencies receive and whether some receive any aid.

The breakdown still has to be decided by state governors and groups responsible for the distribution of federal transportation funding to agencies.

First the states of NJ/NY/Connecticut must agree on the split (of the $8.4 billion). This means all three governors, said Larry Penner, former FTA Director, Office of Operations and Program Management Region 2 Office. Once the split between the states is agreed upon, the local Metropolitan Planning Organizations must agree on splits.

That means the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority would vote on the splits between NJ Transit and Port Authority, he said. Two MPOs that represent the Delaware Valley region and South Jersey would decide on funding for those regions.

Formula funding under the American Rescue Plan Act will be made available this week, and eligible recipients can begin developing and submitting their grant applications to the department immediately, FTA officials said.

Port Authority officials are anticipating it could receive between $400 and $500 million for its airports, including financial relief for airport concessionaires.

The Port Authority received $450 million under the CARES Act, which netted the authority $218 million after half was shared with airlines. The bistate airports also received $122 million, $15 million of which will be shared with airport businesses that were also affected by airport travel downturns.

Unknown is whether aid will be received to cover revenue losses from the Port Authoritys PATH rail system, which was left out of past federal aid packages. A sister agency, the Delaware River Port Authority, received $55.7 million in CARES and CRRSSA federal aid that covered revenue losses on the PATCO rail system between Philadelphia and Camden County.

The state also is in line for an additional $130.55 million in transit funding for smaller urban areas, for interstate bus service and transit systems that serve senior citizens and disabled persons, according to FTA documents.

That broke down to $60.6 million for Atlantic City, $45.9 million for Trenton, $21.6 million for the Allentown  western New Jersey region and $1.22 million divided between four smaller urban areas in Vineland, Hightstown, Villas and the East Stroudsburg region, according to the FTA.

Rural transit systems in the state would receive $1.014 million from two different funds. The state also will receive $598,773 in federal intercity bus formula funds.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
Enhancing the futures of Australians

The childrens cochlear implant journeys were supported by NextSense, formerly the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC). Professor Birman is the non-profit organisations Medical Director and has performed almost 2,000 cochlear implant surgeries on patients of all ages  including babies as young as three months and adults well into their 90s.

While transformative for children, cochlear implants can be life changing at every age, says Professor Birman.

Working adults, in particular, can benefit enormously. Theyre a section of the population that arent aware of their options, she says.

She recalls a smart, high-achieving professional woman who received a cochlear implant just before the COVID-19 lockdowns. She hadnt been able to use a phone for about 20 years because of her hearing loss, and she managed by using emails and texting.

The implant enabled the woman to manage the sudden changes to Zoom and other on-screen meeting platforms. She told us she could not have kept doing her job during 2020 without her cochlear implants. She would have retired, says Professor Birman.

Sadly, she would not have been alone. Theres lots of data showing higher unemployment in people with hearing loss, and also that people retire early, because its often just too hard, says Professor Birman. Too many dont realise they dont have to suffer in silence, that theres a good alternative.

Its known that hearing loss can lead to social isolation, anxiety and depression, as well as being an independent risk factor for dementia.

When one of Professor Birmans patients, who had received cochlear implants in his eighties, passed away in his nineties, his family called to let her know hed spent his last days surrounded by family and friends. He was chatting with everyone, talking to the grandchildren about their day. Without the cochlear implant he wouldnt have had that connection, that happiness with his family.

Unfortunately, she says, we have so many patients in that elderly population who have often been a candidate for over 10 years before they come forward.

Cochlear implants can be life changing. Credit: Supplied.

Everyone should have the power to reach their potential

Better awareness is a key goal of NextSense, which unites the 160-year-old RIDBC and its group of services and brands under one name with its numerous nationwide allied health, clinical, education, research and therapeutic services supporting people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or with low vision.

In March of this year, the WHOs World Report on Hearing revealed the sobering prediction that by 2050 over 700 million people worldwide  one in every ten people  will have disabling hearing loss, but that many of the causes are preventable with interventions such as cochlear implants.

We know that about only one in 10 people who would benefit from a cochlear implant have received one, says Prof Birman.

Our mission is to reach more Australians with hearing and vision loss and to help them redefine whats possible. This drives our comprehensive suite of care that we offer across all life stages.

Its a holistic, proactive approach.

To learn more about NextSense, visit www.nextsense.org.au
What Was the Last Supper and Why Do We Remember it Now?

Christians all over the world celebrate some form of this event, and its come to be known as the Last Supper. Christ instituted it 2000 years ago. Does the Last Supper have meaning for us today?

As a kid, Communion scared me. Not because of the symbolism or the story of the cross of Jesus, but since my mother gave me the church yell-whisper at around five years old. The first time I held a tiny cup of grape juice and knelt near the altar with a little cracker in the other hand, she threatened me with the penalty of death if I spilled a drop on the white church carpet.

I didnt, thankfully, but that is my earliest memory of Communion.

When I was 15 years old and a new believer after fully committing my heart to God, my pastor brought in a Messianic Jew to host a Passover Seder at our church around Easter. The Jewish rabbi explained and showed the symbolism of Christ within the Seder. From that day, I never looked at Communion or the Lords Supper as some liturgical ritual. It was real, relational, and powerful.

Jesus sat down with his disciples, the men closest to him through three years of hard and world-changing ministry. It was the night before his death on the cross, and in the midst of celebrating the Jewish celebration of Passover, the Son of God shared deep truth and comfort to prepare them for what was to come.

Amazingly, Jesus redefined Passover for those that follow Him, made it completely new, explaining it as symbolic of the New Covenant. With that revolutionary revelation, he instructed them to continue participating in the dinner to remind each other of those new truths, a tradition infused with complex and powerful meaning. Christians all over the world celebrate some form of this event, and its come to be known as the Last Supper.

Christ instituted it 2000 years ago. Does the Last Supper have meaning for us today?

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What Was the Last Supper and What Happened that Night?

To understand the radical nature of what Jesus said that night, we must begin thousands of years before Jesus, to Moses. Whether weve read the first five books in the Old Testament or seen The Ten Commandments (or both), most know the story in Exodus of how God delivered the nation of Israel from the bondage in Egypt.

The people of Israel moved to Egypt during a famine while Joseph was the Governor of Egypt. They stayed after the famine ended, and over time, economic and racial tensions grew between the people of Israel and Egypt. A later Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites as a solution.

The cry of the Israelites reached God, and He raised up the Israelite Moses to deliver them. Through Moses, God sent several plagues to break the oppressive Egyptian rulers, ultimately killing the firstborn of every household without the blood of a lamb over the doorway. The angel of Death would pass over a house with the blood.

Thousands of Egyptians died that night.

That did it. Egypt ran the Israelites out of the country. As a reminder of His deliverance, God instituted the Passover celebration, a feast used as a way to teach the Israelite history and the establishment of the Old Covenant.

In the time of Jesus, the Jews and Israel were once again under oppression, this time with Rome, and Jesus took his disciples to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, as a good Jew would. They enjoyed a room that had been prepared for others but unused and now given to Jesus and his guests (Luke 22:7-14).

Passover is a celebration. There is a ton of foodlamb is the central dish along with unleavened breadas well as dancing, singing, and drinking wine.

While they ate the dinner together already full of history and meaning, Jesus started teaching. There are different moments when the meal stops, and everyone drinks a cup of wine together. At these pauses, the host of the meal teaches about the history, including the plagues and the death of the firstborn.

Jesus, however, did something different. He used those moments to teach about Himself, His death, and the institution of the New Covenant.

He picked up the cup of redemption, passed it around, and said, This is my blood, shed for you. He tore a piece of unleavened bread and said, This is my body, broken for you.

Then he told them, Do this in remembrance of Me (Mark 14:22-25).

In other words, when you celebrate Passover, from here on out, its not about Moses and the deliverance from Egypt anymore, at least not alone. Its not about the Old Covenant. The blood in the cup isnt symbolic of the blood of the lamb spread over the door that keeps us from the angel of Death. The unleavened bread isnt symbolic of the bread made for travelers, made in a hurry to escape Egypt.

The Passover no longer means the kickoff of the Old Covenant.

Something new has happened. The blood is now the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. The bread is now the body broken by whips and nailed to the cross. Jesus is the lamb that died for us, to deliver us from the eternal oppression of sin.

The Passover is now symbolic of the New Covenant.

This would have been radical, almost heretical, to the Jews of Jesus day. The Passover was never connected with the Messiah, who Jesus claimed to be. Christ focused more on the promises and prophecies of David, not Moses, at least to the Jews of that day.

In essence, Jesus taught that the Passover was not simply remembering an historical event. The Passover also prophetically declared the ultimate solution and deliverance through Jesus Christ.

It wasnt outside the scope of the Old Testament writings to teach this. Moses prophesied a prophet like me, (Deuteronomy 18:15) one that would bring a covenant after the earthly king system failed. Jeremiah and Ezekiel prophesied a New Covenant that was different than the old one (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:24-28).

The revelation that Jesus combined these elements from the Old Testament in Himselfan eternal King in the line of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16), an eternal Kingdom described by Daniel (Daniel 2), another prophet like Moses to bring a second covenant, and a New Covenant, along with the Son of Man that would die (Isaiah 53:7)would have blown their minds.

What Jesus does at the Lords Supper, in conjunction with all His teaching, was to declare Himself the fulfillment of EVERY promise of the Old Testament.

Yet Jesus also takes it a step further. In a verse the King James version misinterpreted, He says that He was going to prepare a room in His Fathers house for them, and He would return to bring them there (John 14:3) (The King James translated it mansions.).

In that culture, when a man would get engaged to a woman, he would go to his fathers house and build on an extra room for them to live together. When that room was finished, he went back to the woman and brought her to this new, prepared room to live as husband and wife in the fathers house. This was the picture in their minds when He says He goes to prepare a place and will return.

The Son of God. A King. A Kingdom. A Covenant Bringer. A Sacrifice. A Savior.

And a Husband. In a Family.

He injects romance into the event, a promise of the future fulfillment of joy and restoration and intimacy.

What Does the Bible Say about the Last Supper?

The account of the Last Supper was so central to the first disciples, that there is a narrative within all four Gospels (Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 13).

Passover was only meant to be done once a year, but the ideas of eating together as an expression of the Christian community happened often with the first disciples (Acts 2:42).

Jesus was the host of the Passover feast the night before His death. During the redemptive conversation with Peter after the Resurrection, Jesus tells Peter to feed my sheep (John 21:15-17). Three times. While that is also symbolic, the apostles actually passed out bread, literally fed the followers of Jesus, which got so time-consuming that they had the people choose leaders to take over that part of the ministry (Acts 6:2-6).

The Church in Acts ate together constantly, every day. Paul broke bread with believers before teaching all night (Acts 20:7).

Outside of the Gospels and Acts, the most discussion we have on the Last Supper (Lord Supper/Communion) comes from Paul in 1 Corinthians 10 and 11. He describes a meal where the local church gathers and shares together, not simply some crackers and juice, and warns them to treat one another with hospitality and love in the midst of remembering the body and blood of Jesus. Again, this appears to be a regular, even weekly, event instead of once a year and incorporated a whole meal.

Both letters to the church in Corinth are corrective, so we must take that into account, but it still gives us great insight into the perspective of the early church.

Some were getting drunk on the wine and others filled their bellies while a few went hungry at the Lords Supper. That isnt an expression of the equality of the Kingdom of God and the love of a family. Selfishness shouldnt exist there, and Pauls warning is that people who dont treat the sacred meal seriously could get sick and die (1 Corinthians 11:30).

How Do Christians Observe the Last Supper?

Over time, the meal celebration became more ritualistic, and most Christians today call it Communion. As a holdover from the Catholic and Orthodox liturgical traditions, a large percentage of Christians have a cracker and wine or grape juice in a solemn affair to remember the death and sacrifice of Jesus.

How often the ritual of Communion is observed varies from one denomination to another. Some groups require participants to be card-carrying members of that church. It is more common today to open Communion for everyone. Some churches observe Communion once a year (like Passover) while others have it more often, every week in some cases.

Generally, Catholics still believe in something called Transubstantiation, which means that when a priest blesses the wafer and wine, they literally become the body and blood of Jesus. Protestants and evangelicals believe the juice and cracker are simply symbols.

That describes the majority of modern Christians. There are believers who celebrate it in different ways, however, including cultural contexts. People in the house church or small church community movements celebrate it as a meal together. Messianic Jews follow the traditional Passover structure and teach Jesus in the midst of that.

Despite how seriously people may feel about their particular tradition, it is the meaning that should inspire us with the revelation that the Son of God came to Earth to give His life to save us from our sin and give us eternal life through an intimate relationship with Himself and His Father through the Holy Spirit. That is an eternal truth, not limited by time, so even though the dinner happened 2000 years ago, the impact and power of the meaning hasnt diminished one iota. We are called to constantly walk within that eternal reality. The tradition or ritual are only teachable moments as a community of the substance we have continually in Christ.

If youve never participated in a traditional Jewish Passover hosted by either a Messianic Jew or a person who has been taught those connections, I highly recommend it. There is no legalistic obligation to do it, but the depth and richness of the celebration is amazing and inspiring. I highly recommend it!

Photo credit: GettyImages/Mizina

Britt Mooney (with his amazing wife, Becca) has lived as a missionary in Korea, traveled for missions to several countries, and now lives in Suwanee GA as a church planter that works bi-vocationally with Phoenix Roasters, a missional coffee company. He has a podcast about the Kingdom of God called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a published author with Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight.

This article is part of our larger Holy Week and Easter resource library centered around the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through his son Jesus Christ!

What is the Holy Week?

What Is Palm Sunday?

What is Maundy Thursday?

What Is Good Friday?

What Is Easter?

Easter Prayers

At Easter, the Son of God took on the worlds sin and defeated the devil, death, and grave. How is it, then, that historys most glorious moment is surrounded by fearful fishermen, despised tax collectors, marginalized women, feeble politicians, and traitorous friends?

In The Characters of Easter, youll become acquainted with the unlikely collection of ordinary people who witnessed the miracle of Christs death and resurrection. This FREE podcast provides a fresh approach to the Lenten season and can be used as a devotional or study for both individuals and groups.




ST. PAUL, Minn.  Governor Tim Walz says the State Veterans Home project in Preston will receive federal funding in 2021.

The Governor says the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently released the State Home Construction Grants Fiscal Year 2021 Conditional Approvals for State Veterans Homes in Preston, Bemidji, and Montevideo.

As a veteran myself, I recognize the obligation we have as a state and a country to deliver on the benefits our veterans have earned, says Governor Walz. We are pleased to be able to expand our State Veterans Homes into three new communities to serve our elderly veterans living in all corners on the state.

The three projects are now slated to get more than $80 million in federal VA funds. Thats in addition to the $33 million approved by the Minnesota Legislature in 2018.

We appreciate the Minnesota Legislatures past support of our Veterans and these projects, says Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke. The approval of federal funds will allow us to now move forward with construction. The planning and design process is nearly complete and now with this exciting news, those final touches can be made.

The new State Veterans Home in Preston will include 54 residential units. The Governors Office says construction could start by early fall 2021 and be completed in 18 months.

Republican Congressman Jim Hagedorn says the Preston project will get nearly $21 million and issued the following statement:

Since taking office on day one, securing the necessary funds to build a State Veterans Home in Preston has been among my top priorities. This new facility will be critical to helping elderly veterans and their families in southeastern Minnesota obtain the day-to-day care they deserve. Im grateful to all my colleagues at the federal and state levels who worked to secure this funding. Id like to extend a special thank you to Governor Walz for his efforts while he was in Congress, State Senator Jeremy Miller, State Representative Greg Davids, the Minnesota VA, as well as the Fillmore County and Preston city officials and community of veterans for going above and beyond to push for, stress the importance of and ultimately secure this long overdue project.

These homes will serve those who served us, and Id like to thank Congressman Hagedorn and our federal delegation for securing this needed funding, Governor Walz, Senator Miller, Fillmore County commissioners and city officials for their tireless efforts in support of this project, and most importantly, our veterans, added State Representative Greg Davids, R-Preston.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
A direct flight from Vietnam to the US has been in discussion for a long time  the realisation would support trade relations for both countries

Vietnam Airlines last week said that the plan to resume regular direct flights to the US to serve large repatriation needs of the Vietnamese community there, with a vision to operate commercial flights from 2022 onwards, has been submitted to the Board of Directors.

Dinh Viet Thang, director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) told VIR, Vietnam Airlines meets most of the requirements of the US authorities. There is only one requirement from the Transportation Security Administration. Normally, it takes about six months to complete this procedure, but we are working to shorten it to 3-4 months.

The plan will include two phases, with the first stage starting immediately after Vietnam Airlines completes all legal procedures for flight permits from the US authorities, until it fully serves all Vietnamese who want to be repatriated.

Milestones of the Vietnam-US direct flight journey In 2003, Vietnam and the United States signed an agreement on aviation cooperation, allowing airlines from both countries to open direct flights with a frequency of one flight per day. In 2010, the Civl Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) reviewed and reassessed the agreement, concluding that there were no restrictions or obstacles on passengers, flight frequency, and others areas to apply for permission to open flights connecting the two countries. In February 2019, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted a Category 1 rating (CAT 1) to Vietnam. The status is based on an August 2018 FAA assessment of the safety oversight provided by the CAAV, and is a technical prerequisite for Vietnamese airlines to fly to the US. The assessment and preparation process to achieve FAA Category 1 began back in 2010. In September 2019, the US Department of Transportation issued permission for the transportation of people and packages from Vietnam to the US through Vietnam Airlines. Accordingly, the airline is allowed to transport people, property, and mail between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam, via the intermediate points of Taipei, Osaka, and Nagoya, and then the US co-terminal points of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, and Dallas, and beyond to Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto in Canada. Additionally, Vietnam Airlines is also permitted to transport people, property, and mail from points outside the country via Vietnam and intermediate points to 25 co-terminal US points and beyond, on a code-share basis only with an authorised US or third-country carrier. In 2020, Vietnam Airlines carried out a total of 12 repatriation direct flights as permitted by American aviation authorities.

Le Hong Ha, general director of Vietnam Airlines, said the airline plans to open regular commercial flights to and from the US, first serving the repatriation needs of Vietnamese people, and travel between both nations for diplomats, civil servants, experts, and businesspeople, as well as students and foreign relatives.

Vietnam Airlines makes the move in the context that the global aviation market is projected to recover to the performances of 2019 by 2023 at the earliest. Moreover, a surplus of wide-body aircraft will continue at Vietnam Airlines and globally by then.

Ha said that this is the appropriate time to continue using the wide-bodied Boeing Dreamliner. The airline expects this move will help increase revenue and minimise financial damage amid serious impacts of the pandemic. Vietnam Airlines incurred a loss of over VND11.1 trillion ($483 million) in 2020 after COVID-19 practically grounded all its international flights.

Between May and August last year, Vietnam Airlines carried out a total of 12 repatriation flights as permitted by American aviation authorities to bring Vietnamese citizens home. While the number of those who wish to return home continues to rise, the national carrier has already used up the flight quota allowed by US authorities since August 2020. The airline now sees the plan, as well as the ongoing market assessment and preparation, as necessary factors to enter the second phase to realise its dream of long-awaited direct flights to the US.

Vietnam Airlines has been weathering technical and commercial challenges over the last 10 years. The carriers plan entered the next stage as the US Federal Aviation Administration issued a Category 1 rating to the CAAV under its International Aviation Safety Assessment programme in 2019, confirming the necessary safety standards to operate flights to the US. The Hanoi-based airline also got the green light to operate direct flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to several American destinations in September 2019.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Minister of Transport, told VIR, The ministry welcomes the direct flights to the US and is willing to support Vietnam Airlines in completing all necessary procedures. He added, At present, Vietnams flights to the US have to transit in a third country. Therefore, a direct route would have significant meaning, facilitating air travelling between the countries and tightening transport cooperation.

In 2020, bilateral trade between both nations hit over $90 billion. The US is Vietnams second-largest trading partner, only behind China, and is Southeast Asias biggest export market. Industry insiders forecast that the figures would continue to increase in the months to come, led by the growing demand for air travelling. According to Airbus forecast for 2019, the market capacity of the Ho Chi Minh City-Los Angeles route could reach 136,000 arrivals and could climb by 18-20 per cent from the time direct flights become operational.
(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 30 - Italian police on Tuesday arrested three people on charges of faking the kidnapping of a businessman from the northern town of Brescia who was then however sold on to an Al Qaeda linked group who kept him in Syria from 2016 until his liberation in 2019.

The businessman, Alessandro Sandrini, allegedly agreed with the three on the bogus kidnapping to get the ranson money but after he was taken to Turkey he was sold to the terrorist group, police said.

The gang of three is accused of kidnapping for terror purposes while Sandrini has been charged with simulating a crime and fraud.

Those arrested are two Albanians, Fredi Frrokaj and Olsi Mitraj, and an Italian, Alberto Zannini.

Sandrini and another Brescian businessman who is not under investigation, Sergio Zanotti, were handed over to the Turkestan Islamic Party, police said.

The three alleged kidnappers acted with other, unknown individuals in Italy, Turkey and Syria, police said.

The gang also approached a third, unnamed businessman and proposed a fake kidnapping to him too, police said. (ANSA).


VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2021 / FIORE GOLD LTD. (TSXV:F)(OTCQB:FIOGF) ("Fiore" or the "Company") is pleased to report additional results from the resource expansion and exploration drilling program at its Gold Rock project in Nevada (Figure 1). These latest results from Gold Rock and the surrounding exploration areas show:

several holes with wide, higher-grade gold intercepts have defined mineralization extending at least 400 m beyond the northern end of the currently defined Gold Rock mineralization, and;

a new discovery of oxide gold mineralization at Jasperoid Creek approximately 1.4 km north of the current Gold Rock Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") pits.

These outstanding drill results show mineralization remains open particularly to the north, supporting our belief that Gold Rock will continue to grow beyond the scope of the project outlined in the most recent PEA.

Highlights from the seventeen holes reported here include:

30.5 m of 0.79 g/t gold in hole GR20-091 from the planned South Pit area

18.3 m of 0.96 g/t gold in hole GR20-102 from the Jasperoid Creek target

42.7 m of 1.17 g/t gold in hole GR20-110 north of the planned North Pit

18.3 m of 0.99 g/t gold in hole GR21-001 north of the planned North Pit

45.7 m of 2.01 g/t gold in hole GR21-002 north of the planned North Pit

The northern extension of mineralization at Gold Rock can be seen in section 1 (long-section, Figure 2) and section 2 (cross-section, Figure 3), where holes GR20-110, GR21-001, GR21-002 and GR21-003 each intersected mineralized and silicified Joanna limestone well beyond the northern margins of the currently proposed open pit. The intercept in GR21-002 is particularly significant with 45.7 m of 2.01 g/t gold, one of the highest-grade assays encountered to date on the project.

Section 3 (Figure 4) shows results from three holes at the Jasperoid Creek target, located approximately 1.4 km north of the PEA north pit. This is an area with very little previous drilling but with highly anomalous gold values in surface samples. The prospective Joanna limestone and Pilot shale horizons outcrop at surface in the area, suggesting mineralization may be relatively shallow. Hole GR20-102 intercepted 18.3 m of 0.96 g/t gold, confirming that this target merits significant follow-up drilling.

Tim Warman, Fiore's CEO stated, "The holes to the north of the North Pit shell include some of the highest-grade intercepts we've seen at Gold Rock and highlight a very promising area that we'll return to with further drilling. To date we've completed all the planned HQ core holes and about 75% of the planned RC holes that were aimed at expanding the Gold Rock resource ahead of the Feasibility Study. We currently have gold assays in hand for all of the RC holes completed to date and are incorporating these results in an interim, in-house resource estimate that will help measure our progress and identify areas for further drilling with the remaining 25% of the planned RC holes. Results for most of the 20 HQ core holes, representing 4,667 m of drilling, are still pending although the first two holes are included in this release. We're also pleased with the results from the Jasperoid Creek target approximately 1.4 kilometres north of Gold Rock. This is an area that has seen minimal drilling, and which highlights the prospectivity of the entire Gold Rock belt, a zone of gold and pathfinder element anomalies that extends for over 15 km north and south of Gold Rock."

Work on the FS is progressing well although assay turnaround times for drill samples have been significantly longer than normal due to the impacts of COVID-19 at the assay laboratories. These delays have impacted the original schedule for the RC drilling program and in turn the overall Feasibility Study, which is now expected to be completed in the latter part of calendar Q1 of 2022. The delay in completing the FS is not expected to impact our proposed timeline for putting Gold Rock into production by early 2024.

Complete results for the fifteen RC and two HQ core holes referenced in this press release are shown in the table below.

Hole

From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Grade

(g/t Au) GR20-091 187.5 201.2 13.7 0.34 and 208.79 239.27 30.48 0.79 includes 214.88 222.50 7.62 1.29 GR20-096 no significant results GR20-101 96.0 125.0 29.0 0.27 GR20-102 185.9 190.5 4.6 0.79 and 199.6 204.2 4.6 0.23 and 263.7 268.2 4.6 0.47 and 275.8 294.1 18.3 0.96 includes 277.4 283.5 6.1 1.95 GR20-103 93.0 99.1 6.1 0.90 includes 94.5 97.5 3.0 1.32 GR20-104 137.2 155.4 18.3 0.92 includes 137.2 141.7 4.6 1.38 GR20-105 No Significant Results GR20-106 No Significant Results GR20-107 Hole lost and re-drilled GR20-108 182.9 199.6 16.8 0.36 GR20-109 No Significant Results GR20-110 227.1 269.7 42.7 1.17 includes 228.6 256.0 27.4 1.59 GR21-001 240.8 259.1 18.3 0.99 includes 243.8 254.5 10.7 1.22 GR21-002 248.4 294.1 45.7 2.01 includes 249.9 281.9 32.0 2.65 and 304.8 307.8 3.0 0.26 GR21-003 275.8 281.9 6.1 0.31 and 292.6 307.8 15.2 0.51 GC20-001 146.9 154.5 7.6 0.62 GC20-002 44.2 47.2 3.0 0.60 and 96.6 102.7 6.1 0.29 and 108.8 116.4 7.6 0.24 and 150.4 172.8 22.4 0.30

Assay highlights are calculated with a cutoff of 0.006 opt (0.20 g/t) Au. Highlighted intervals contain less than 10 feet (3 m) of material below cutoff grade. GR-series are RC holes, GC-series are HQ core holes.

With this release, results for all the reverse circulation ("RC") holes from the most recent round of drilling are now in hand. A total of 113 RC holes representing 78,955 feet (24,065 m) of drilling were completed in 2020 and early 2021. As well, the first two of 20 HQ core holes are included in this release. Total planned footage for the drilling program to support the FS will be approximately 198,000 ft (60,000 m), with approximately 115,000 ft (35,000 m) focused on resource expansion to add Measured and Indicated resources for inclusion in the FS.

The reverse circulation (RC) drilling was performed by Boart Longyear of Salt Lake City, Utah and Alford Drilling from Elko, Nevada. All holes were drilled at angles of -50 to -90 degrees at azimuths designed to intersect targeted structures as nearly as possible to perpendicular. Consequently, all intercepts reported here are believed to be approximately true width. Drill sampling was supervised by Fiore Gold geologists, with samples transported directly to ALS Minerals Lab in Reno, Nevada where samples were prepared, and pulps generated. Fire assays were determined on a 30-gram charge with an AAS finish. An additional cyanide leach assay was also completed. Selected holes were also analyzed for a 48-element geochemical suite by ICP-MS. Fiore Gold conducts a significant QA/QC program which includes the insertion of assay standards, blanks, and duplicates in the sample stream to ensure the assay lab results are within specified performance levels. Down hole deviation surveys are provided by International Directional Services, utilizing a surface recording gyroscope, and by trained drill crews operating a north seeking gyroscope supplied by REFLEX.

Gold Rock Project and PEA Highlights

The federally permitted Gold Rock gold project ("Gold Rock", or the "Project") is located approximately 8 miles southeast of the Pan Mine in White Pine County, Nevada. The recently released Gold Rock Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") provides an updated mineral resource estimate and a base case assessment of developing the Project as a satellite open pit operation that will share significant infrastructure and management with the adjacent Pan Mine. The PEA also identifies a considerable number of opportunities to enhance the project economics as Gold Rock advances to the Feasibility stage by drilling to increase the mineral resource, further metallurgical testing aimed at optimizing recoveries, and geotechnical drilling aimed at reducing the stripping ratio. Further updates will be provided as we progress work in these areas. The PEA was prepared in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). A Technical Report with the details of the PEA is available on SEDAR under the Company's profile.

Gold Rock Mineral Resource Estimate

The Company's updated Gold Rock Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE"; effective date of March 31, 2020) was completed by APEX and forms the basis for the PEA. A summary of the MRE is highlighted in the table below.

Pit-Constrained Mineral Resource Summary

Resource Classification Cut-off opt/gpt Tons/Tonnes Gold opt/gpt Gold Ounces Total Indicated 0.003/0.09 20.9/19.0 0.019/0.66 403,000 Total Inferred 0.003/0.09 3.0 /2.7 0.025/0.87 84,300

Key Assumptions, Parameters, and Methods related to the Mineral Resource Estimates:

Mineral Resources were prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Definition Standards (2014). Mineral Resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Troy ounces per short ton ("opt") / grams per tonne ("gpt") This estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. Open pit Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.003 opt/0.09 gpt gold that is based on a gold price of US$1,500/oz. A revenue price of US$1,400 is used for the base case economic model. The Mineral Resources are constrained by a pit shell with appropriate mining costs, processing costs, metal recoveries, and pit slope angles. Rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content. Contained gold ounces are in troy ounces.

Technical Report & Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information relating to Fiore Gold's properties contained in this news release was approved by Paul Noland (AIPG CPG-11293), Fiore Gold's VP Exploration and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101. References to the Gold Rock project PEA are taken from the "Technical Report on the Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Gold Rock Project, White Pine County, Nevada, USA" (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report, which is dated April 30, 2020 with an effective date of March 31, 2020, was prepared in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is available under Fiore's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.fioregold.com. The report is authored by Michael B. Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., Gregory B, Sparks, B.Sc., P.Eng., Sam J. Shoemaker, Jr., B.S., SME Registered Member, Warren E. Black, M.Sc., P.Geo., and Steven J. Nicholls, BA.Sc., MAIG.

Virtual AGM and Webcast Presentation

The Company will hold a Virtual Annual General Meeting on April 8, 2021. Please refer the Company's Management Information Circular in respect of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders available under the Company's profile on SEDAR and available at https://fioregold.com/agm/ for additional information regarding the meeting. To streamline the virtual meeting process, the Company encourages shareholders to vote in advance of the meeting using the Voting Instruction Form or the Form of Proxy mailed to them with the meeting materials. Shareholders wishing to attend the AGM may call the number below, and instructions will be provided as to how shareholders entitled to vote at the AGM may participate. All shareholders may still attend the meeting, while having voted previously by proxy. Following the formal meeting, the Company will present a webcast presentation regarding the Company and its mineral properties. A link to the webcast is provided below.

Virtual AGM Details:

Date: April 8, 2021

Time: 11:00 am EST

Participant Access: 877-407-2991 (toll free number)

Webcast: https://78449.themediaframe.com/dataconf/productusers/fgd/mediaframe/43545/indexl.html

Corporate Strategy

Our corporate strategy is to grow Fiore into a 150,000 ounce per year gold producer. To achieve this, we intend to:

grow gold production at the Pan Mine while also growing the reserve and resource base;

advance exploration and development of the nearby Gold Rock project; and

acquire additional production or near-production assets to complement our existing operations.

On behalf of FIORE GOLD LTD.

"Tim Warman"

Chief Executive Officer

Contact Us:

info@fioregold.com

1 (416) 639-1426 Ext. 1

www.fioregold.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 any future mining operations at Gold Rock, projections and expectations based on recent drill results noted in this release, plans for a Gold Rock Feasibility Study, timing of a Gold Rock Feasibility Study, timeline for putting Gold Rock into production, prospectivity of the Gold Rock belt, future drilling at Gold Rock, enhancing the Gold Rock project economics at feasibility stage, including by drilling to increase the mineral resource, further metallurgical testing aimed at optimizing recoveries, and geotechnical drilling aimed at reducing the stripping ratio, future updates regarding progress of feasibility work, anticipated results, the Company's future gold production, corporate strategy, goal to become a 150,000 ounce producer, goal to acquire additional production or near production assets, and other statements, estimates or expectations. Often, but not always, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "targets", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "scheduled", "estimates", "aims", "will", "believes", "projects" and similar expressions (including negative variations) which by their nature refer to future events. By their very nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Fiore Gold's control. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, as well as a number of assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company concerning, among other things, anticipated geological formations, potential mineralization, future plans for exploration and/or development, potential future production, ability to obtain permits for future operations, drilling exposure, and exploration budgets and timing of expenditures, all of which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Fiore Gold to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward looking statements include, but not limited to, risks related to the Pan Mine performance, risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including government restrictions impacting the Company's operations, risks the pandemic poses to its work-force, impacts the virus may have on ability to obtain services and materials from its suppliers and contractors; risks related to the company's limited operating history; risks related to general economic conditions, actual results of current or future exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; increases in market prices of mining consumables; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results, test results and the estimation of gold resources and reserves; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the possibility that capital and operating costs may be higher than currently estimated; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work programs; availability of financing; 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; the possibility that required permits may not be obtained, renewed or amended in a timely manner or at all; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and other factors identified in Fiore Gold's filings with Canadian securities authorities under its profile at www.sedar.com respecting the risks affecting Fiore and its business. Although Fiore 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. Fiore disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the 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.

SOURCE: Fiore Gold Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/638109/CORRECTION-Fiore-Gold-Drills-457-Metres-of-201-gt-Gold-and-427-Metres-of-117-gt-Gold-Continues-to-Expand-Mineralization-at-Its-Gold-Rock-Project-Nevada
New student body president elected for 2021-22

Jenna Cusack is elected as the student body president for the 2021-22 academic year. UNCSA Student Government Association (SGA) hosted the election last week, which was open to undergraduate, graduate and high school students.

A rising fourth-year student in the School of Filmmaking, Cusack is a native of Washington. She currently is serving as the SGA student body vice president. In 2019-20, she served as an SGA executive and as an SGA associate in 2018-19. Her pronouns are she, her and hers. She said she looks forward to helping amplify the voices of students and communicating their needs to administration, faculty and staff.

Current Student Body President Nic Brown, a third-year student in the School of Drama, has faithfully represented the student voice at UNCSA. His term will conclude at the university commencement ceremony on May 22, 2021.

Contact: Steve Gallagher

March 29, 2021

Submit an announcement
Shares in Dignity tumbled after it accused its largest investor of trying to take it over on the sly.

The UK's only listed funeral firm urged shareholders to vote against a proposal by its biggest backer, Phoenix Asset Management Partners, to oust executive chairman Clive Whiley and replace him with one of its own bosses.

Phoenix owns 29.99 per cent of Dignity's shares  just below the 30 per cent level beyond which an investor is required to make a takeover offer for a company.

Dignity urged shareholders to vote against a proposal by Phoenix Asset Management Partners, to oust executive chairman Clive Whiley and replace him with one of its own bosses

Dignity claims Phoenix mulled taking it over last spring, after its share price nose-dived during the Covid market turmoil.

It lashed out at a 'wholly unnecessary' attempt to 'exert executive control over the board' without having to table a bid.

All the independent directors would also feel compelled to leave the board, it added, which would give Phoenix even more influence if it installs its founder and chief investment officer Gary Channon. The unrest comes after a tricky year for the company.

Stock Watch - Mediazest Touchscreen maker Mediazest secured 250,000 of new business and has deals worth a similar amount in the works. The group makes interactive screens and moving wall displays used for clients including Ted Baker and the Post Office. It did not name the firms, but said it was a mix of new and existing customers. Shares in Mediazest, which could benefit from the need for stores to keep social distancing measures in place, rose 20 per cent, or 0.02p, to 0.11p.

Although Britain's annual death toll soared to its highest level for more than a century last year because of the pandemic, it swung to a 20million loss after tight restrictions were put on funerals.

It was also hit by findings from a Competition and Markets Authority investigation, which concluded Dignity charged much more for funerals than smaller undertakers. Phoenix's effort will be put to the test in a ballot on April 22.

The unrest spooked some shareholders, as stock closed 6.2 per cent lower, by 41p, to 621p.

Engineering group Renishaw climbed for the second day in a row following reports that two firms  Danaher Corp and Swedish rival Hexagon  are mulling takeover bids.

The FTSE 100-listed group put itself up for sale this month. Founders David McMurty and John Deer are in line for a windfall worth more than 2billion from the deal. Renishaw closed 2.1 per cent higher, up 130p, to 6380p.

The wider market was also upbeat on the sunniest March day since 1968. The FTSE 100 rose 0.5 per cent, or 35.95 points, to 6772.12, while the FTSE 250 was up 0.7 per cent up, or 138.90 points, to 21,574.44.

Gold prices were under pressure as hopes that the global economy will improve gained steam, even though many countries are battling a third Covid wave.

Its price fell 1.6 per cent to $1,685 - dragging down shares in big miners Fresnillo (down 4.1 per cent, or 36.2p, to 857.4p and the largest faller on the Footsie) and Centamin, which fell 3.2 per cent, or 3.35p, to 102.05p.

Pennon slid despite pledging to hand back a 'substantial' amount of back to investors if it doesn't manage to find another company to buy.

The water provider, whose stock fell 2.5 per cent, or 24.6p, to 968.4p, said in first-half results that it is on track to have 3billion in the bank by the end of the financial year.

Student accommodation provider Unite edged up 0.7 per cent, or 7p, to 1078p, after it sold eight properties for 133million.

It will sell sites with 2,284 beds in cities including Exeter, Manchester and Coventry to Aventicum Real Estate.

It is trying to raise as much as 300million through sales after it was squeezed by universities switching teaching to online and remote learning during Covid.

Beleaguered travel group Carnival advanced despite pushing back the restart date for its P&O cruises in Australia.

Operations will be paused until the end of July, scrapping trips that were meant to start in mid-June, and it is cancelling all voyages to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands for the rest of the year.

It rose 4 per cent, up 62p, to 1622p.
A Brisbane woman who allegedly coughed saliva on a police officer has been charged with offences including serious assault.

A 38-year-old Kalinga woman was charged after police attended an incident at Upper Roma Street in Brisbanes CBD about 6pm on Monday.

The callout was an hour after greater Brisbane was forced into a three-day lockdown, with residents mandated to wear masks due to growing COVID-19 community transmission.

A Queensland Police spokesman said the woman was unco-operative and turned and coughed, causing spit to hit an officers face.

The officer was a 33-year-old senior constable.
Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), one of government's investment arms, diverted development funds to operations, according to the Auditor General.

Details contained in the Auditor General's report for the period ended June 2020 found that UDC diverted a total of Shs9.4b, which represented 20 per cent of the investment budget, to operations thus occasioning failure in fulfilling UDC's core mandate of undertaking sustainable investment for social and economic transformation.

In his report, Auditor General John Muwanga, said: "Because of this [diversion], there was no progress in the implementation of projects such as Luweero Fruit Factory, Zombo Tea Factory and Moroto Cement Factory despite providing a combined funding of Shs6.4b."

The Auditor General also found that out of the Shs60.6b, which had been provided including balance brought forward from the prior year, only Shs48.1b was spent, which represented an absorption level of 79 per cent.

When contacted about the Auditor General's queries, Mr Ham Mugenyi, the UDC chairman, declined to comment, saying his tenure had expired six months ago.

"I cannot make any comment because our [board] term ended last year and there is no sign of a renewal. I can only channel you to the executive director who is the accounting officer," he said. Efforts to get a comment from Mr Patrick Birungi, the UDC executive director were futile as his know telephone contacts went unanswered by press time.

Other queries

The Auditor General also noted that UDC had not taken over government interests in projects, among them Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort and Amber House. It was also noted that procurements worth Shs307m were undertaken using direct procurement contrary to the law.
HENDERSON, Nev., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Honor Society Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3), has established a career focused "Pursue Your Passion" scholarship. This scholarship program seeks to award a scholarship to high achieving students who desire to create a professional impact in their chosen field of interest. In an essay format, applicants explain why they've chosen their field of interest, how they desire to create an impact, and any personal beliefs that will help them achieve their professional passion. This scholarship program is made possible in part with the generosity of the Cochener Family, who also recently donated a generous sum to the Honor Society Foundation.

Honor Society Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3), has established a career focused "Pursue Your Passion" scholarship.

Honor Society Foundation funds and administers higher-education scholarships and educational programming for HonorSociety.org members and high achievers in many different academic and leadership areas. The mission is to help members reach higher educational goals by offering scholarships to make the college and university experience accessible to students who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to pursue their passion--and now, a new scholarship with this goal in mind has been formed: The John Young "Pursue your Passion" Scholarship.

They explained that the name was chosen to honor someone near and dear to this cause, "I've decided to name the scholarship after my namesake (and great uncle) John Young. He was a fighter pilot at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack; after the War he went to MIT, earned a degree in aerospace engineering, and joined the Von Braun team at Redstone Arsenal building Saturn V rockets for the Apollo program. He was always my inspiration to pursue my professional dreams."

This is yet another step in the direction that the executive director, Mike Mordian, has long envisioned for Honor Society Foundation. "Our scholarship programs make a difference in people's lives and in our communities, and we are elated to find that there are other people out there who find this mission equally important," Moradian commented, "We will continue to focus on ensuring that our members and scholarship recipients flourish academically and professionally."

With spring graduation just around the corner, and more young minds ready to share their talents with the world, the Honor Society Foundation and the Cochener Family felt compelled to assist these students in pursuing their dreams, and are enthusiastic to see what the future holds for these high achievers. While the Foundation recently raised a donor fund of over $100,000, with a generous donation attributed to the Cochenor family, any amount helps to fund the dreams of the leaders of tomorrow. To learn more about how you can help us in this cause, please visit the Honor Society Foundation website at www.honorsocietyfoundation.org

About Honor Society Foundation: The Honor Society Foundation, non-profit 501(c)(3), seeks to achieve three goals; 1) provide scholarships to high achievers to pursue their dreams, 2) create values-driven educational content, and 3) preserve the distinguished history of honor societies. Find out more at honorsociety.org , honorsocietyfoundation.org and on Twitter @HonorSocietyOrg .

For more information, contact:

Organization: Honor Society Foundation

Phone: (866) 313-6311

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Honor Society Foundation

Related Links

http://www.honorsocietyfoundation.org


A man waves an Egyptian flag as ship Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, is seen after it was fully floated in Suez Canal

The Ever Given was refloated in the Suez Canal yesterday

The Ever Given was refloated in the Suez Canal yesterday

The giant cargo carrier Ever Given which blocked the Suez Canal was finally on the move yesterday, nearly a week after it wedged sideways, threatening the worlds global economy.

Shes free, an official involved in the salvage operation said.

Footage from Egyptian state television showed that both ends of the boat had been freed from the sandy banks, and the ship was being pulled through the canal by tugboats.

Egyptians have succeeded today in ending the crisis of the stranded ship in the Suez Canal, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi said in a statement.

He portrayed the efforts as a patriotic victory that assured the world Egypt could be trusted with overseeing the 13pc of all global trade that passes through the crucial waterway.

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A fleet of tugboats worked through the night to take advantage of a full moon that led to the highest tide all month, helping to lift the boat.

By yesterday morning, the Ever Given had been 80pc refloated, the Suez Canal Authority said in a statement.

On Sunday, the boat was just 13 feet from the canals bank.

In all certainty work will be complete very soon, said Lt Gen Osama Rabie, the chief of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), who commended workers for achieving this heroic feat and performing their patriotic duty impeccably.

The Ever Given, he added in the statement, would sail to the Bitter Lakes section, roughly midpoint on the canal, for a technical inspection.

Heavy winds swung the boat back into its previous position blocking the canal yesterday afternoon, though it did not become grounded again, according to Reuters.

Billions of dollars in trade have been lost each day from the grounding of the ship, which at 400m is as long as the Empire State Building is tall.

As of yesterday morning, 369 vessels were trapped in a massive maritime traffic jam in the canal, according to shipping specialists Leth Agencies.

The turnaround came after a series of delays, over several days, that were due to technical and weather challenges preventing the extraction of the mammoth vessel from the sand and mud of the canal.

A flotilla of tugboats pulled at the ship as dredgers dug up more than 27,000 cubic feet of sand around the vessel to a depth of about 60 feet.

But the promise of favourable tides to help in refloating the ship fell through on several occasions.

By Sunday, two larger tugs registered in the Netherlands and Italy had arrived to assist in the operations.

In the midst of these efforts, President Sissi also ordered preparations for another option: unloading as many of the towering ships 18,000 containers as needed to make it refloat again.

That could have taken days, even weeks, because it would require bringing in large cranes and specialised helicopters, according to analysts.

With no clear indication of when the canal will reopen, shipping companies have been directing vessels around the southern tip of Africa, adding a week or two to their journeys and driving up fuel costs. But at least one operator seems to be feeling optimistic about the recent progress.

The car carrier Morning Calm, which had previously detoured away from the canal, made another U-turn yesterday and began heading back towards Egypt, according to Bloomberg.

Over the weekend, Syria announced that it had begun rationing diesel and gasoline because of the blockage. There have also been port and transit delays in many parts of the world while the oil trade has been disrupted, according to an analysis by Lloyds List, a shipping journal.

Evergreen Line, which is leasing the Ever Given, confirmed the ship had been successfully refloated and said it would be repositioned and inspected for seaworthiness.

The 369 vessels waiting to transit the canal include dozens of container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels.

The SCA said earlier it would be able to accelerate convoys through the canal once the Ever Given was freed.

We will not waste one second, Lt Gen Rabie told Egyptian state television.

He said it could take between two-and-a-half and three days to clear the backlog, and a canal source said more than 100 ships would be able to enter the channel daily.

Shipping group Maersk said the knock-on disruptions to global shipping could take weeks or even months to unravel.

President Sisi, who had not publicly commented on the blockage, said Egypt had ended the crisis and assured resumption of trade through the canal.

Oil prices were about 1pc lower at $63.95 a barrel.

Shares of Taiwan-listed Evergreen Marine Corp  the vessels lessor  rose 1.75pc.

About 15pc of world shipping traffic transits the Suez Canal, which is an important source of foreign currency revenue for Egypt.

The stoppage is said to have cost the canal operators between 12m and 12.75m per day.

Shipping rates for oil product tankers nearly doubled after the ship became stranded, and the blockage has disrupted global supply chains, threatening costly delays for companies already dealing with Covid-19 restrictions.

Maersk was among shippers rerouting cargoes around the southern tip of Africa, adding up to two weeks to journeys and extra fuel costs.

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 Washington Post
MANISTEE COUNTY  Pieces of a 20-bill package of criminal justice reform legislation, signed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in January, have already started taking shape this month with others yet to take effect later this year.

But what does the reform aim to do and how does it change the way that entities like police, prosecutors and public defenders do their jobs?

Jared Henry, chief public defender for Manistee and Benzie counties, said it is difficult to explain the impacts that the changes will have on the criminal justice system.

Particularly, the nuances of the legislation and how those nuances are to be applied are still being explored, Henry said. But the general takeaway is that it aims to expand alternatives to incarceration and reserve jail for those who truly risk public safety.

He said the package of bills seek to do so in a list of ways like reclassifying some traffic offenses as civil infractions instead of misdemeanors, limit jail sanctions and remove mandatory jail minimums for certain offenses.

Defense attorneys are tasked with protecting an individuals liberty to the (fullest) extent provided by law. From a public defenders standpoint, many of these bills can be seen as extra tools in the defenses toolbox so to speak, Henry said.

He noted that some may see the reforms as restricting the courts discretions. But he said his office sees parts of the legislation as increasing discretion of the court in some cases.

For example, if a person was convicted of taking or killing a deer without a license back in 2019, the court would be required to sentence that defendant to a mandatory minimum of five days in jail, he said. Through these amendments, (these) legislative enactments, the five-day mandatory minimum is being removed.

He said this also applies to certain cases like truancy that also had a mandatory jail minimum. But, Henry added that the court will still be able to maintain the option to sentence the person to jail if deemed necessary or appropriate.

In his office, Henry said he represents many people who are charged with operating on a suspended license.

Many of those had their license suspended for failure to pay a fine on a civil infraction, he said. And they didnt pay that because they were impoverished. They just dont have the money.

He said some of the legislation pieces aim to curb what he called the overuse of suspended licenses as a punishment for traffic offenses not related to dangerous driving and also not suspending a license due to poverty.

According to the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail Pretrial Incarceration overview of the legislative package, it will reserve license suspensions for unsafe drivers.

Many people have no choice but to drive to maintain their livelihoods, and thousands land in jail for driving on a suspended license, reads the overview in part. These new laws eliminate most license suspensions except those related to unsafe driving, such as operating while intoxicated, reckless driving, causing injury or death with a motor vehicle, or using a motor vehicle in commission of a serious offense.

While some aspects of the package go into effect this fall, some have already taken effect. Henry noted he had a felony case for possession of a controlled substance case this week where he was able to take advantage of the changes to make that probationary only with no jail time and conditions of probation were tailored to that particular defendant.

He added that the court still had the ability to make the case for jail time if appropriate.

Jason Haag, Manistee County prosecuting attorney, said that a change his office will be seeing is more summonses as opposed to warrants in general.

Generally, if its not an assaultive crime, a domestic violence crime, were going to be sending up a summons up to (85th) District Court rather than a warrant, he said adding that it means more of a notice to appear, rather than a warrant for the persons arrest.

He said there are exceptions to that new change and allowances for discretion as well, but that in some cases where there used to be mandatory minimum jail sentences  they no longer require jail time.

Those may be more likely to seek alternatives such as fines, community service, probation, electronic monitoring and other routes instead.

The way that the statutes are written, it seems like the goal is to have less people incarcerated. You can see nationwide that trend. I think theres been a trend for a while to have less people incarcerated, Haag said. Well continue to do our best to ensure the safety of the public while operating within the framework of these laws These are the laws and the rules that were operating under now.  Laws change and we adjust.

Haag said the legislation is a series of large changes to laws and how people enter the court system in the beginning.

This is probably the most sweeping reform that Ive seen in my 20 years of doing this, Haag said. It certainly is something that were all going to have to adjust to.

Josh Glass, Manistee City Police chief, said the impact to officers is that they have to learn the new rules, particularly with arrests.

Glass summarized that one of the changes is with who is taken to jail and who receives a ticket.

Basically (one of the laws) says if someone commits a crime and the offense is a misdemeanor, the penalty for that is less than a year in jail, you should write them an appearance ticket unless its one of the exceptions, he said.

Glass added that the changes add some challenges for the department since they have to make the officers educated on the laws, procedural changes and exceptions.

The bigger task is making sure that our officers have a working understanding of the exceptions, Glass said. Something in law enforcement is that laws are constantly changing.  This profession is constantly changing so we find ourselves in a position (where) we constantly need to keep up with the changing laws, policies, procedures.

Brian Gutowski, Manistee County sheriff, also said that the biggest aspect is making sure the deputies are educated on the new legislation.

We have provided them with training to prepare them for the changes. As with any legislation, there will be things that come up that the courts will have to rule on for clarification, Gutowski said in an email. Right now, we are working with our prosecutor and our law enforcement partners to ensure that we are all on the same page.

Gutowski said the most prominent change regarding arrests from this legislation is that it requires an appearance citation instead of a physical arrest for misdemeanors or ordinance violations not exceeding one year in jail.

He said the appearance citations must not be issued for assaultive crimes.

This can be crimes like domestic violence, assault and battery, aggravated assault and child abuse.

There are also exceptions built into the statute that allow law enforcement to arrest for crimes punishable by less than one year in jail if: The person fails to follow officers reasonable instructions; Will not offer satisfactory evidence of identification, or there is a likelihood the offense could continue or resume or that a person or property would be endangered, and several others, Gutowski said.

Gutowski said the impacts of the reforms are still hard to tell just yet, but We will be looking at things like how this impacts our jail population moving forward.
Myanmar military fires at funeral after killing 114 in the bloodiest day since coup At least 460 people killed by military since Feb. 1, rights group reports

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Myanmar army on Sunday opened fire at people gathered for the funeral of one of the at least 114 people who were killed by its troops the previous day for protesting against last months military coup.

The juntas violent crackdown came days after the United States imposed its most significant sanctions to date.

The funeral for a 20-year-old student named Thae Maung Maung  shot on Saturday  took place in Bago, near the southeast Asian countrys commercial capital of Yangon, Reuters reported, quoting witnesses. No casualties were reported immediately after the firing.

While we are singing the revolution song for him, security forces just arrived and shot at us. People, including us, run away as they opened fire, a witness was quoted as saying.

On Friday, the junta had threatened on state-run media that it would shoot protesters in the head or back. And on Saturday, troops killed at least 114 people, including a 13-year-old girl, in more than 40 cities across the country, Myanmar Now reported.

The news agency noted that it was the bloodiest day since the Feb. 1 coup of Myanmars civilian government and the day junta leaders celebrated the 76th Armed Forces Day in the nations capital, Naypyidaw.

The news agency reported that numerous people were also injured on Saturday, including a 1-year-old baby shot in the eye with a rubber bullet in the Thamine area of Yangons Mayangone township.

On Monday, five more protesters  three in Yangon  were killed as thousands took to the streets in towns across the country to protest what they see as being a return to military rule.

The Burma Human Rights Network stated that after the killings on March 27, over 460 civilians had been killed since Feb. 1. Among the dead are women and children. The organization also stated that the armed forces recently used fighter jets to bomb ethnic Karen villages in response to Ethnic Armed Organizations standing with the protests.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least 20 children have been killed in anti-coup protests since Feb. 1.

Last Thursday, the U.S. imposed sanctions and restricted American dealings with two giant holding companies connected to the Myanmar military. In a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Burmese military has taken increasingly disturbing actions aimed at their own citizens. The United Kingdom announced similar actions.

Alice Wairimu Nderitu, United Nations special adviser on the prevention of genocide; and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet have asked the Myanmar army to immediately stop killing the very people it has the duty to serve and protect.

In a joint statement, the two strongly condemned the Myanmar militarys widespread, lethal, increasingly systematic attacks against peaceful protesters, as well as other serious violations of human rights since it seized power on 1 February 2021.

Myanmars military has also attacked ethnic minorities, including Christians, in the various conflict zones across the countrys borders with Thailand and China in recent years.

Christians make up just over 7% of the majority-Buddhist nation. Formerly known as Burma, the country is ranked No. 18 on Open Doors USAs 2021 World Watch List of 50 countries where its most difficult to be a Christian.

Rights groups have warned that the militarys consolidation of power will only make things worse for religious minorities and have urged the international community to take action against the abuses being perpetrated by the military regime.

The military is notorious for its relations with the ultranationalist ultra-Buddhist group the Ma Ba Tha, International Christian Concern's Southeast Asia Regional Manager Gina Goh said. The military together with Ma Ba Tha has targeted the Muslims in the country, but they also go after Christians. Once they get a hold of the power, they might resort to things they were doing before they passed the power to the civilian government. They kill. They rape minority Christians.

The military in Myanmar controls 25% of seats in Parliament, according to the country's Constitution. Most Military leaders are nationalists who support Buddhism.

Goh called the coup a "power play."

The military is almost like a gang, she said. They can use their power to intimidate people.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has cautioned those calling for the break-up of Nigeria to have a rethink, saying that now is an opportunity to increase the number of new tribe of men and women of all faith and ethnicities committed to a country run on high values of integrity, hard work, justice and love of country.

Osinbajo stated this Monday in a virtual speech delivered at the 12th colloquium to celebrate the 69th birthday of former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Kano.

The event themed: 'Our Common Bond, Our Common Wealth: The Imperative of National Cohesion for Growth and Prosperity', was chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, who also attended virtually alongside the vice-president from Aso Villa in Abuja.

Osinbajo explained that the new tribe of people should consist of professionals, businessmen, politicians, religious leaders and all others who believe that the new Nigeria is possible "and already we have built and are building the blocks for this new Nigeria".

He warned that if Nigeria does break, visas may be needed to travel to places like Kano.

According to him, "For the purveyors of breaking up into small components, into small countries, perhaps they should be reminded that we would not have been able to accept Governor Ganduje's offer to come to Kano at a short notice since we would all have needed visas to come to Kano.

"We are here today to engage at another of those crucial points in our national journey. At a time when a combination of challenges worsened by the fallouts of a global pandemic has created a storm of socio-economic problems. The default mode of some at times like this is to stoke tendencies viewpoints and opinions that threaten the federation and our unity.

"Our theme focuses on peace building and national cohesion. We intend to interrogate from a national and regional perspective innovative strategies for sustaining peace and prosperity in a heterogenous society. A tribe of men and women who are prepared to make the sacrifices and self constraints that are crucial to building a strong society; who are prepared to stick together, fight for equity, and justice side by side."

The vice-president said the initial plan was to hold a completely virtual event but Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State offered to host a physical event which would run alongside the virtual one.

He said: "By this gesture, Governor Ganduje has helped us to tell two stories; this is the first time that the colloquium is being hosted outside Lagos and Abuja, the capital city. And it is befitting that Kano should be that place, this city of radical and progressive ideas and ideologies, a city whose leading political lights have been left of centre, which is the dominant tendency within our great part, the All Progressives Congress (APC)."

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Osinbajo emphasised that the 'birthday boy' is not afraid of having his ideas scrutinized, criticized by even subordinates, through which he is able to lead a vast array of persons of strong, deeply held convictions, and a variety of ideologies.

According to him, Tinubu's leadership style is such that he is completely comfortable engaging across ethnic, religious, and partisan divides.

"It is his belief that national development is only possible where we, the leaders are constantly interrogating ideas, perspectives and opinions which are what led some of us who worked with him through the years, to formalise our constant debates so that on his birthday we open up discussions on some issues or issues of national importance," the VP further said.
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The latest pandemic trouble brewing across the U.S., with cases rising particularly in the Northeast states, is raising concerns of another surge  impending doom, as CDC director Rochelle Walensky called it Monday.

However, the West Coast so far appears to be staying behind the curve. Californias seven-day average of new daily cases has been hovering around 7 per 100,000 people or lower in the past week, with a case rate of 6 per 100,000 or lower in the Bay Area.

According to COVID Act Nows color-coded risk tracker, the states in the red very high risk level are in the Northeast, including New York, Michigan, New Jersey and Connecticut, and parts of the Midwest. Most of the rest of the country is at the orange high risk tier, while parts of the West Coast, Southwest and Southeast are in the yellow medium risk level.

COVID Act Now, a nonprofit organization that gathers coronavirus data, determines overall COVID-19 risk level based on three metrics: daily new cases, infection rate and positive test rate. Green is the lowest of four levels, indicating low risk  no U.S. states are currently in that category, or in the fifth, severe category. That dark red level reflects only daily new case rates, and was added to reflect the unprecedented case counts from the surge of winter 2020.

The New York Times coronavirus tracker, which is one of the data providers for COVID Act Now, shows the latest daily new cases per 100,000 for the hardest hit areas:

 New York: 52

 Michigan: 51

 New Jersey: 50

 Connecticut: 35

 Rhode Island: 32

 Massachusetts: 31

 Pennsylvania: 30

 Delaware: 29

 New Hampshire: 27

 Vermont: 27

 Minnesota: 26

California is near the bottom of the rankings, tied with Hawaii and Arizona at 7 cases per 100,000. Only Arkansas is lower, with a case rate of 6.

In a recent interview with CBS News, top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said the emerging coronavirus variants, including one first detected in the U.K. that is 50% more infectious than the original strain, are partially to blame for a rise in cases. He also attributed the worsening rates in many states to their relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions amid spring break.

New York was the countrys first pandemic epicenter. The state successfully reduced its case curve to low levels throughout the summer before, like most of the rest of the country, it experienced a record-level winter surge. Cases began declining in February, but in the past week have been trending upward again. Despite the spike, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has continued to reopen businesses and ease capacity restrictions, particularly for indoor businesses.

Michigans rise in cases is occurring mostly among younger people, with those in their 20s accounting for the greatest share of new COVID-19 cases since St. Patricks Day. Cases have also increased significantly among youths under 20, which experts say may be due to activities outside but related to school and sports, such as athletes and their families gathering for meals. Cases have slowed dramatically in individuals 70 and older, many of whom are vaccinated.

Connecticut opened business capacity to 100% on March 19, and Gov. Ned Lamont said recently that he would not pull back on reopening. He said the rise in cases could be tied to a higher rate of COVID-19 testing than most other states. Like Michigan, Connecticut officials say cases are trending younger, and more people are eschewing coronavirus safety measures.

Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com
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[March 30, 2021] Nexcharge all set to light up Delhi with India's first Grid-connected Li-ion battery-based Community Energy Storage System (CESS)

- Exide Leclanche Energy Pvt. Ltd. brand is an exclusive JV in India between Exide Industries Limited and Leclanche, Switzerland - The 0.52 Megawatt hour grid-connected system, set up in collaboration with Tata Power DDL will provide the path for wider adoption of grid-scale energy storage technology across India NEW DELHI, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Exide Leclanche's Nexcharge in collaboration with Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL) today inaugurated India's first Grid Connected Li-ion battery-based Community Energy Storage System at Rani Bagh, Delhi. The 0.52 MWh Battery energy storage system at TPDDL's Rani Bagh substation will provide peak shaving, var compensation, and deviation settlement mechanism based on frequency response at substation level with power backup to preferential consumers in case of a grid outage. Exide Leclanche Energy Pvt. Ltd. brand is an exclusive joint venture in India between Exide Industries Limited, the country's largest-selling battery company, and Leclanche SA, the Swiss large-format lithium-ion cell conglomerate executed the project; utilizing a Global Project Team approach wherein teams from US, Europe, and India collaborated towards the project. The 0.52-Megawatt hour grid-connected system owned by Exide Industries Limited and Leclanche SA will provide the path for wider adoption of grid-scale energy storage technology across India. Speaking about the initiative, Stefan Louis, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Technology Officer, Exide Leclanche Energy Pvt. Ltd. said, "Battery-based energy storage (BESS) provides the agility to better integrate intermittent solar and wind energy resources into India's electric grid and ensure high-quality power for consumers. A Community Energy Storage System like this will ensure consumers get to experience better levels of stability, reliability, quality, and control. Both customers and distributors will benefit from this service. We are very happy to partner with Tata Power DDL to set up this new 0.52 MWh grid-connected system, which will pave a new path for wider adoption of grid-scale energy storage technology across India. It's another step towards all Indians accessing smart sources of energy." The storage facility was inaugurated by Shri Satyendar Kumar Jain, Hon. Minister of Power, PWD, Health & FW, Industries and Gurudwara Elections, Govt. of NCT of Delhi in the presence of Stefan Louis, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Technology Officer -Nexcharge and Ganesh Srinivasan - Chief Executive Officer - Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited. Commenting on the launch, Mr. Ganesh Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer - Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited said, "We are proud to associate with Nexcharge for setting up country's first Grid Connected Community Energy Storage Systems (CESS) at the community level. This will further strengthen our network and ensure reliable and quality power supply to our consumers at all times. Instead of building a humungous infrastructure of transformers and electric equipment, CESS can be used to meet peak demand while storing surplus power. I believe wider adoption of such 'CESS' will help in balancing the load curve of discoms and make them future-ready." Talking about the multi-MNC joint venture to create Nexcharge, Gautam Chatterjee, Chief Executive Officer, Exide Industries Limited said, "We have long endeavored to develop alternate state-f-the-art technologies such as lithium-ion batteries and energy storage solutions as an important step in tackling the impact of climate change on the environment. Leclanche SA has proven to be an apt partner in this cause bringing superior technology, modules, and battery management systems, as well as immediate access to engineering resources to build market-ready products and solutions."



Anil Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer - Leclanche SA further added, "It is a huge honor that Leclanche has been chosen by Exide Industries, India's largest battery manufacturer, to partner them in their quest to help India achieve its zero-emissions goals and reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels. We look forward to delivering the best that Leclanche SA has to offer: superior cell technologies, IP, and knowhow that combines high-quality German engineering and Swiss precision with deep experience in the design and implementation of battery storage solutions." Battery storage systems are emerging as a potential solution for integrating solar and wind renewables in power systems across the globe. In light of the ongoing climate change crisis, renewable and sustainable sources of energy are the need of the hour, especially when India's commitment to the contribution has been touted at 175 GW by 2022.

About Nexcharge Nexcharge, an Exide Leclanche Energy Pvt. Ltd. brand began its operations in 2018, as a Joint Venture (JV) between India's largest lead-acid storage battery manufacturers, Exide Industries Limited, and one of the leading Lithium-ion (Li-on) battery manufacturers based in Switzerland, Leclanche SA (Leclanche). Nexcharge envisions to fast-track the world's transformation towards sustainable energy solutions and aims to become the leading supplier of E-transport solutions that will power the electrification of transport in the form of efficient and reliable energy storage solutions. Nexcharge also aims to cater to the diverse segments of Industry & Utility markets with state-of-the-art products and end-to-end solutions made available through Li-ion batteries of different chemistry viz. NMC, LFP, LTO, etc. In order to fulfill its mission, Nexcharge has built the India's largest factory equipped with fully automated assembly lines of Li-ion battery packs, modules (Pouch/ Prismatic/ Cylindrical), and cell testing labs at Prantij, Sabarkantha, Gujarat. Nexcharge is also supported by a state-of-the-art, in-house R&D facility in Bangalore. A well-resourced team of engineers works to design battery packs as per the customer's requirements and offers high-quality products at competitive prices. About Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL)

Tata Power Delhi Distribution is a leading power distribution company that distributes electricity to a populace of over seven million in North Delhi. The company has transformed the power distribution scene in the capital city with a record reduction in AT&C Losses and advanced technology adoption across verticals. It is a Public-Private Partnership, Joint Venture Company, between Tata Power, India's largest integrated power company, and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi.

For more information, please visit: www.tatapower-ddl.com About Exide Industries Limited Exide Industries Ltd is the country's largest manufacturer of lead acid storage batteries and power storage solutions provider. With seven international standard factories spread across the nation for producing batteries, the company offers one of the widest ranges of batteries for every conceivable application in automotive as well as industrial segments. To complete the entire value chain, the company has two captive lead smelting units and two UPS manufacturing facilities. Exide also has manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka and does business globally through its subsidiaries and international affiliates. Exide's products are sold globally, particularly in developed markets like Australia, Japan and Western Europe, under its own brand names. Exide's strong brand pull, established in India for about a hundred years, is supplemented by its nationwide dealer network and a very strong R&D center. With the help of its collaborators  Shin Kobe and Furukawa of Japan and East Penn of the US - Exide has consistently remained at the cutting-edge of international battery technology and introduced various pioneering products and power storage solutions in the Indian and global markets. Exide's vast product range, that includes everything from the smallest UPS batteries to the giant submarine batteries, find applications in automotive, two-wheelers, inverters, UPS, power, telecom and railways, among others. Exide is also present in the non-conventional energy business where it designs and integrates solar and wind power solutions for use in remote areas of the country.

Exide's customer list includes some of the top most international names in industries as diverse as automotive, earth moving equipment, telecom and UPS manufacturers.

With an annual total income of Rs 9920 crore (as on 31st March 2020), the company is the largest among the branded lead acid storage battery businesses in India. The company has been consistently profitable and paying dividend every single year since its inception. For more information visit www.exideindustries.com About Leclanche Headquartered in Switzerland, Leclanche SA is a leading provider of high-quality energy storage solutions designed to accelerate our progress towards a clean energy future. Leclanche's history and heritage are rooted in over 100 years of battery and energy storage innovation and the Company is a trusted provider of energy storage solutions globally. This coupled with the Company's culture of German engineering and Swiss precision and quality, continues to make Leclanche the partner of choice for both disruptors, established companies, and governments who are pioneering positive changes in how energy is produced, distributed and consumed around the world. The energy transition is being driven primarily by changes in the management of our electricity networks and the electrification of transport, and these two end markets form the backbone of our strategy and business model. Leclanche is at the heart of the convergence of the electrification of transport and the changes in the distribution network. Leclanche is the only listed pure-play energy storage company in the world, organized along with three business units: stationary storage solutions, e-Transport solutions, and specialty battery systems. Leclanche is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX: LECN).

SIX Swiss Exchange: ticker symbol LECN | ISIN CH 011 030 311 9

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Hagerstown Housing Authority closes in on end of McCleary Hill project

After objections from neighbors, the Hagerstown Housing Authority's McCleary Hill project is done its first phase. Officials held an open house.
Angrezi Medium Makers Pen A Special Note Celebrating Irrfans Double Win At Filmfare Awards 2021

2020 was a pretty difficult year for all of us. The pandemic took over the world, our country went under a lockdown and the Hindi film industry lost quite a few gems including Irrfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor and Sushant Singh Rajput. Well, to honor Irrfan for his spectacular performance and passion for acting, the late actor was honored with the Best Actor award for his last film Angrezi Medium, along with the posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award at the 66th Vimal Elaichi Filmfare Awards.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maddock Films (@maddockfilms)

To celebrate his win, makers of Angrezi Medium looked back at Irrfans incredible journey. They shared a special post in his memory which read: Celebrating this win and remembering the last, from one milestone to another, you took the world by storm with your limitless talent. We are so honoured to be a part of your cinematic journey. But specially a big thank you for so much more, for celebrating life and laughing through it all. We got to be part of this ride and are so happy to celebrate your victories. Thank you for #HindiMedium , for #AngreziMedium & thank you for everything in between!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Babil (@babil.i.k)

Irrfans son Babil Khan stepped in to receive the award for his father. His mother Sutapa Sikdar styled him and he arrived at the star-studded event dressed up in the late actors clothes. Sharing a story behind the outfit, Babil wrote: People always say that you cannot fit into your father shoes but at least I can fit into his clothes.
The last American Idol contestant from Upstate New York has been sent home. Laila Mach, 16, from New Paltz, did not make the Top 24 on Monday nights Showstopper/Final Judgement episode.

Mach had an incredible run on Idol that culminated in her performance of Alicia Keys If I Aint Got You. Mach cried after she got the ax, but its a fiercely competitive field, and her prior performances wowed judges over and over again.

Mach began her journey this season performing Gabby Barretts I Hope. She progressed to Hollywood week, where she drew praise from Katy Perry for her duet performance, while her partner, Liahona Olayan, was lambasted for not giving it her all.

Mach told ABC7 that her newfound fame has brought mixed reactions from her high school classmates in Upstate New York.

Half of them are extra rude to me now, because theyre all, shes a wanna-be pop star, I guess thats just how high schoolers are, Mach told the TV station. And there are other people that hated me and bullied me all throughout middle school and ... are now trying to be my best friend.

But Mach also said the experience has taught her a lot about confidence.

I was always worried about how the other people were going to hear me and I was worried about pleasing the audience, she said. I think whats more important is to please yourself and have you be proud because if you are proud of your own performance, it doesnt matter what anyone says to you.

Mach made it further in the competition than Brianna Collichio, from Spencerport, N.Y. Collichio impressed judges during auditions with her performance of Alessia Caras Scars to Your Beautiful, and her lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis. She was sent home during Hollywood Week.

American Idol airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on ABC. It can be streamed live fuboTV and Hulu + Live TV, or seen the next day on Hulu.
Attorney General Nessel Files Amicus Brief in Support of Protecting Victims' Privacy

Attorney General Nessel Files Amicus Brief in Support of Protecting Victims' Privacy

Kelly Rossman-McKinney 517-512-9342 Attorney General

March 30, 2021

LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed an amicus brief in People of the State of Michigan v. Ricky Dale Jack, in support of the People's emergency application before the Michigan Supreme Court to protect the personal information of victims and witnesses in prosecutions.

On March 11, 2021, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued a decision that holds that a prosecutor must provide the addresses of victims and witnesses when turning over discovery under the Michigan Court Rules. The Court of Appeals ruled that if the prosecution seeks to shield that information, it must obtain a protective order.

"Protecting the victims of crimes is part of our duty as law enforcement. Victims and witnesses deserve the assurance that the system will protect their privacy to ensure they do not become targets of retribution," said Nessel. "Removing that protection as standard prosecutorial practice jeopardizes law enforcement's ability to work with victims to bring criminals to justice."

The Crime Victims' Rights Act of 2004 established, among other things, that a victim has the right to be reasonably protected from the accused. The law also established that a victim has a right to be treated with respect for his or her dignity and privacy. The issue of protecting from disclosure the personal information of victims of crime - as well as witnesses more generally - is a matter of critical importance for the law enforcement community.

Victims of crime are often reluctant to come forward and identify their assailants. Often, they fear reprisals from the perpetrator, and one way to reassure victims that they need not be afraid of retaliation is by shielding their contact and identifying information from disclosure. The same is true of witnesses who may be subject to reprisals and intimidation, which Michigan law prohibits.

The Attorney General's Office filed its amicus brief in support of the Ingham County Prosecutor's emergency application as presented under the Michigan Court Rules on March 25.
Ukraine and Turkey have significant prospects in infrastructure, industry and trade sectors, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said at a meeting with representatives of Turkish business in Ukraine.

"Turkey is an extremely important trade and economic partner for Ukraine. We highly appreciate the investment contribution of Turkish companies to the Ukrainian economy," said Shmyhal, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Government portal.

The prime minister noted that the annual volume of bilateral trade between the states amounts to almost $5 billion: "Ukraine and Turkey have agreed to at least double this amount. The presidents of our states have said they want to move to the next level of relations and cooperation through renewed agreements on mutual trade."

Shmyhal noted that in order to implement an effective mechanism for attracting investment, Ukraine has restarted the work of the government office UkraineInvest and set up Public-Private Partnership Support Agency.

"We are consolidating our efforts and plan to introduce a single platform to support foreign investors in Ukraine. We hope that all these steps will contribute to further development of our relations," he said.

For their part, representatives of Turkish business noted that a promising area of bilateral cooperation is the development of a public-private partnership format that will allow Ukraine to improve the infrastructure and economy. The participants of the meeting thanked for the dialogue and stressed that the Ukrainian authorities are systematically approaching the improvement of the investment climate in the country.
(Philadelphia, PA) - The human heart works under high demand, constantly pumping oxygen-rich blood through the body. When faced with disease, however, fulfilling this demand can become increasingly difficult and harmful. In the case of chronic high blood pressure - a leading cardiovascular disease in the United States - the heart continuously overexerts, resulting in maladaptive growth and, ultimately, severe dysfunction of the heart muscle itself.

Maladaptive growth of the heart, known as cardiac hypertrophy, is brought about in part by activation of G protein-coupled kinase 5 (GRK5), a signaling molecule found within heart cells that previously has been linked to worsened cardiac function in heart failure. Researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) now show for the first time in animals that keeping GRK5 out of the heart cell nucleus, the compartment that houses the cell's genes, can block this abnormal growth process.

The new findings, published online March 30 in the journal Science Signaling, open exciting avenues for the development of GRK5-based therapies to prevent heart failure, a disease in which the heart is no longer able to pump blood through the body. Heart failure typically develops after years of the heart compensating for the effects of high blood pressure.

"GRK5 acts as a pathological gene regulator in the heart, with its activity specifically in the heart cell nucleus being a major factor driving cardiac hypertrophy in heart failure," explained Walter J. Koch, PhD, W.W. Smith Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology, Director of the Center for Translational Medicine at LKSOM, and senior investigator on the new study.

GRK5 normally hangs out in the cell membrane. But in the heart, in response to hypertrophic stress, it translocates to the nucleus, binds to certain factors that regulate genes, and thereby triggers the production of proteins involved in tissue growth.

To assess the possibility of preventing this GRK5-driven abnormal growth of heart tissue, Dr. Koch's team developed a novel peptide molecule that encodes a portion of the GRK5 molecule involved in nuclear translocation. The peptide, named GRK5nt, inhibited GRK5 entry into the nucleus, blocking its growth-signaling capabilities.

Dr. Ryan C. Coleman, a former graduate student in the Koch laboratory and first author on the report, carried out initial experiments with peptide in heart cells cultured in vitro. These experiments showed that the peptide's expression attenuates the activation of genes involved in maladaptive stress responses. In vitro studies further confirmed that GRK5nt works by binding to and occupying a portion of the GRK5 molecule known as the calmodulin (CaM) domain, which GRK5 otherwise depends on to gain entry into the nucleus.

The researchers next tested the effects of nuclear targeting in a mouse model in which animals were engineered to express GRK5nt in the heart. Some animals further underwent surgical aortic constriction, a procedure that mimics pressure overload in the human heart. Relative to animals with normal GRK5, those expressing GRK5nt exhibited reduced maladaptive effects, including reduced hypertrophy, in response to pressure overload.

"The reduction in pathological signaling provides new insights into the possibility of designing therapies to specifically target the pathological nuclear signaling of GRK5, while preserving normal GRK5 function in other tissues," Dr. Coleman said.

"The findings are very exciting, since they show that by keeping GRK5 out of the nucleus, we can stop abnormal growth and progression of heart failure," Dr. Koch added.

Now with proof-of-principle that nuclear targeting can eliminate the pathological effects of GRK5, Dr. Koch and colleagues plan next to test their strategy in an animal model of heart failure. In preparation for therapeutic testing, they also plan to explore mechanisms for targeted delivery of the peptide to the heart.

###

Other researchers who contributed to the study include Akito Eguchi, Melissa Lieu, Rajika Roy, Jessica Ibetti, Anna Maria Lucchese, Amanda M. Peluzzo, Kenneth Gresham, and J. Kurt Chuprun, Center for Translational Medicine, LKSOM; and Eric W. Barr, Department of Physiology, LKSOM.

The research was funded in part by National Institutes of Health grants P01 HL091799 and P01 HL075443.

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.
Shanghai No 1 in 2020 foreign trade volume

Chinadaily.com.cn) 15:42, March 30, 2021

Aerial photo taken on March 18, 2020 shows the container dock of Yangshan Port in Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's financial hub Shanghai has taken the top spot in total foreign trade volume last year, followed by Shenzhen and Beijing, according to a report released by Chinese financial news outlet Yicai.

China's foreign trade grew by 1.9 percent year-on-year to 32.16 trillion yuan ($5 trillion) in 2020, hitting a record high, according to the General Administration of Customs. Its exports rose 4 percent year-on-year to 17.93 trillion yuan and imports went down 0.7 percent to 14.22 trillion yuan.

Last year, the foreign trade volume of a total of 16 Chinese cities surpassed 500 billion yuan, with 9 cities topping 700 billion yuan and five exceeding 1 trillion yuan, Yicai said.

Shanghai's foreign trade increased 2.3 percent year-on-year last year, with the volume of imports and exports totaling 3.48 trillion yuan. The city's imports rose 3.8 percent to 2.11 trillion yuan, while exports were flat at 1.37 trillion yuan.

Shenzhen's foreign trade grew by 2.4 percent year-on-year to 3.05 trillion yuan last year, surpassing the 3 trillion yuan mark for the first time. Exports rose by 1.5 percent to 1.7 trillion yuan and imports grew by 3.6 percent to 1.35 trillion yuan.

The total foreign trade volume for Beijing and Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, surpassed the 2 trillion yuan mark for both cities, at 2.32 trillion yuan and 2.22 trillion yuan respectively.

In terms of the growth rate in foreign trade, Chengdu, capital of China's Sichuan province, took the lead in the top 10 cities. Last year, the city saw a foreign trade volume worth 715.42 billion yuan, registering a 22.4-percent growth year-on-year. Of the total volume, exports reached 410.68 billion yuan, up 23.7 percent, and imports hit around 304.74 billion yuan, up 20.7 percent.

The robust growth in exports was related to products and industrial structure, He Fengkai, deputy director of the economic operation bureau of the Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, told Yicai. Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, electronic products experienced rising demand as working from home became a trend.

In terms of geographical distribution, except for Chengdu, the other cities ranked in the top 10 all come from eastern coastal areas, with three in the Yangtze River Delta, three in the Pearl River Delta, and two from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

The foreign trade dependence rate - a ratio of foreign trade volume to the city's gross domestic output - is a significant indicator reflecting how closely a regional economy is connected with the global economy.

Last year, five cities among the top 20 -- Dongguan, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Xiamen and Jinhua -- all saw their figures exceed 100 percent. Dongguan, a city dubbed the "world's factory" in South China's Guangdong province, took the top spot in the country with a foreign trade dependence rate of 137.9 percent.

(Web editor: Wen Ying, Liang Jun)
The most common response, however, was confusion or a lack of clarity about which services were available  the lasting effects of a yearslong hostile environment policy that aimed to force those without legal status to leave the country by blocking their access to jobs, bank accounts and free medical care.

Its all very well to say, Anyone can get a vaccine, said Phil Murwill, the head of services at Doctors of the World U.K. But for years there was a deliberate policy of creating a hostile environment for undocumented immigrants that has put people off from accessing any kind of care. And were seeing that play out now.

Outside estimates put the number of undocumented immigrants in Britain somewhere between 800,000 and 1.2 million, or just under 2 percent of the population. The British government has not estimated the size of this population since 2005, when it was said to be 430,000. It is a significant group that includes many at-risk workers, and one that epidemiologists say the vaccination campaign, which has so far given nearly half the population at least one dose, must reach if Britain hopes to safely exit the pandemic.

This month, Ghie Ghie and Weng, two undocumented domestic workers from the Philippines, walked arm in arm to the Science Museum in London, one of the more than 1,500 vaccination sites across the country. Like other undocumented people interviewed for this article, the women asked to be identified only by their first names for fear of arrest. Ghie Ghie had gotten her first shot of the vaccine the previous weekend and was hoping Weng could get hers.

LIMERICK-bound travellers may face a Dublin detour if they need to quarantine upon arrival, after it emerged no local hotel will be used for isolation.

Only one hotel in the State is currently being used for this purpose, the Department of Health has said, the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Dublin Airport.

Others will follow if required, but its likely they will all be Dublin-based. 

Should passengers use any entry points into the country  including Shannon Airport  they will be met by Defence Forces personnel and transferred by road to the capital.

The Tifco hotels group, which has been awarded the contract for the quarantine hotels, operate two Travelodge branches in Limerick. But, the Leader understands these are not being used for arriving passengers at this time.

Staying in mandatory quarantine is necessary if you arrive in Ireland from one of 33 so-called high-risk countries  or land without having received a negative Covid-19 test result carried out no more than 72 hours before getting here.

A one night stay costs 150, with the full 12-days priced at 1,875.

Passenger numbers fell 80% last year from Shannon since the onset of Covid-19, with no commercial flights operating currently. Private and cargo jets use the base, however, with some aircraft maintenance also on site.

South Court Hotel manager Dermot Kelly, the chair of the Shannon Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) said:

At the moment, there are no commercial flights through Shannon at all, so we are seeing very little activity in that regard. We would have had people coming in via Dublin Airport and using our hotel to comply with the quarantine regulations on a self-managed basis. But these numbers would have been very ad-hoc.

IHF national president Elaina Fitzgerald Kane  of the Adare Woodlands House Hotel  said: Hotels want to support government in whatever way we can. Providing quarantine facilities is one aspect of the many ways weve been doing this since the beginning of the pandemic.

Tifco referred queries from the Leader to the Department of Health.
NX Horizon Solar Tracker Selected for Wind Engineering and Design on Spanish Terrain and Superior Performance

MADRID, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nextracker, a Flex company, announced that is has been selected by Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente (SOLARIA) to supply 125 megawatts of its world-leading solar tracker technology, NX Horizon for numerous project sites in Spain. Solaria will utilize Nextracker's smart solar tracker technology, NX Horizon, to maximize performance and minimize operational costs. The announcement comes as Spain continues to accelerate the decarbonization of its energy production under the auspices of the National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), which puts the country on a trajectory towards a zero-carbon economy by 2050.

"We are honored to be selected by Solaria, the top IPP and Developer in Spain, to work with the company's diverse solar portfolio," said Marco Garcia, Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager for Nextracker Europe. "By choosing our leading NX Horizon technology, Solaria has selected the most reliable tracker on the market, which combines best-in-class hardware, software and wind design, engineering, and analysis, allowing our customers to maximize their plant reliability while minimizing operational costs."

Built with field-proven quality, performance, and reliability, NX Horizon is the single-axis solar tracker of choice on nearly 50 gigawatts of projects around the world. In addition to superior technology and sterling reputation, Solaria ultimately selected the company because of its proven wind design , engineering and testing expertise. Nextracker is the leader in dynamic wind analysis and safety stowing, delivering major benefits in uptime and long-term durability to regions with persistent wind forces such as Spain'scierzo wind phenomena.

Serving its Spanish and European customers with local support, Nextracker has regional corporate offices in Madrid and Sevilla, with a full range of commercial, engineering, and technical staff engaged on projects throughout Europe and with European partners globally. The company has a fleet of approximately 500 megawatts of smart solar PV systems either under construction or in operation on the Iberian Peninsula to date.

Engineered for resilience, NX Horizon is a future-proof tracker that can easily incorporate the most promising innovations for utility scale applications as solar power plants scale. These technologies include Nextracker's TrueCapture software platform, which has been validated by leading global independent engineers and proven on over 80 projects and 12 gigawatts globally, NX Navigator control and monitoring software and bifacial PV module technology.

For more information about Nextracker's ground-breaking R&D investments in wind design and engineering, download this free technical white paper, here.

About Nextracker

Nextracker, a Flex company, is a leader in the renewable energy transition, providing critical yield enhancing PV system technology, expertise and strategic services to capture the full value and maximize the efficiency of solar plants. Delivering the most comprehensive portfolio of intelligent solar tracker and control software solutions for solar power plants, Nextracker is transforming PV plant performance with smart technology, data monitoring and analysis services. For more information, please visit www.Nextracker.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn .

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'A transmissible cancer was first discovered in dogs in the middle of the 19th century. It is transmitted sexually from a sick dog to a healthy one, the cancer cells themselves being the infective agent. In the 1990s, a contagious cancer was discovered in the Tasmanian devil. Since the cancer was found in only two species of mammals, scientists used to think that it is quite rare in the nature. However, time has come to reconsider this view. A transmissible cancer appears to be fairly widespread among bivalve molluscs,' says Maria Skazina, a research associate at the Department of Applied Ecology at St Petersburg University and the first author of the publication in Scientific Reports.

Disseminated neoplasia (DN) is a large-scale, fatal cancer disease of bivalve molluscs, which can be compared to leukemia in vertebrates. Diseased mussels have cancer cells, which circulate in the hemolymph, a functional analogue of blood. As neoplasia develops, they infiltrate all tissues and organs, disrupting their work.

The causes of this disease were described for the first time in 2016 in an article published by a group of scientists under the leadership of by Michael Metzger in Nature. The authors showed that disseminated neoplasia was a transmissible cancer lineage. Its cells have their own genotype, different from those of the molluscan hosts. In a way, they are parasites transmitted from sick individuals to healthy ones.

'A study proposing a mechanism of the transfer of cancer cells between individuals was published last year. When the mussel is under stress, the cells of its haemolymph can leave the body, exist for some time in the environment and then invade other mussels. This process has been observed in healthy molluscs. Cancer cells, it would seem, might use this mechanism too,' says Maria Skazina. 'However, this is only a hypothesis. To test it, sophisticated experimental research is necessary'.

Mussels Mytilus are important commercial invertebrates. Two genetic lineages of transmissible cancer are known in them: BTN1 and BTN2 (BTN stands for bivalve transmissible neoplasia). Both of them originated from the Pacific mussel Mytilus trossulus, which is also found in the Far Eastern and Northern seas of Russia.

'So far, BTN1 lineage has been found in a single mussel population at the Pacific coast of North America. BTN2 is much more widespread. Before our research, it had been found in several mussel species in Europe and South America, though not in the parental species Mytilus trossulus,' says Maria Skazina.

In 2019, marine biologists from St Petersburg University, A.V. Zhirmunsky National Research Centre of Marine Biology, and the University of Helsinki joined forces to search for transmissible cancer lineages in the mussels of the Russian seas. To diagnose the disease, they developed an integrated approach, which included cytological and molecular genetic tests, and applied it to the mussels Mytilus trossulus from the Sea of Japan, in which disseminated neoplasia had been previously shown.

In the haemolymph of molluscs from the Gaydamak Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry methods revealed neoplastic cells. They are large, have polyploid nuclei and an abnormal cytoskeleton resembling the spines of a bristling hedgehog. Genotyping of the haemolymph and other tissues by nuclear and mitochondrial characteristics revealed genetic 'chimerism' of the sick mussels, that is, the presence of more than one individual genotype. Multiple alleles (different forms of the same gene that determine the development of a particular trait) were separated by molecular cloning. All diseased mussels were found to have 'additional' genotypes corresponding to BTN2. This means that the scientists from St Petersburg University and their colleagues proved, for the first time, the presence of BTN2 in Mytilus trossulus as well as the presence of transmittable cancer in mussels from the Sea of Japan and the Northwest Pacific.

At the next stage of the research, the scientists used molecular phylogenetic methods to compare the sequences of the mitochondrial BTN genes obtained by them with all the homologous sequences of the mussels themselves stored in the NCBI genetic bank. It turned out that the mitochondria of BTN2 are most similar to those of Mytilus trossulus from the Russian seas. It was probably there that 'patient zero' lived, the mussel that 'gave birth' to this transmissible cancer.

The Baltic Sea mussels were also shown to have BTN2. In 2014, Polish biologists found an unusual mitochondrial genotype in a Baltic mussel, which they interpreted as the genotype of Mytilus trossulus. It is now clear that this was not a mussel genotype, but a BTN2 genotype. It appears that the transmissible cancer that the scientists were looking for in the Far East could be found much closer to St Petersburg. Whether this disease is common among the molluscs of the Baltic Sea remains to be found out.

'This disease is so virulent for invertebrates because they do not have a developed immune system that can reliably distinguish alien cells from their own. Transmissible cancer of molluscs cannot harm humans in any way. However, the disease can be detrimental for the mussel marine culture. We do not yet know how widespread transmissible cancer is among mussels in Russia,' says Maria Skazina.

The scientists now continue to search for transmissible cancer in mussels in different seas of Russia. Preliminary evidence suggests that it is found not only in mussels in the Sea of Japan and the Baltic Sea and that its diversity is not limited to BTN2 lineage. They are also developing a method for rapid diagnosis of the disease in order to monitor it in natural and commercial populations of molluscs.

'Hopefully, our work might be of help for comparative oncology. I think that mussels, as a research model, can tell a lot about the mechanisms of the spread of cancer in different species, including humans,' notes Maria Skazina.

###
Tennessee Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Constitutional Carry of Handguns Without a Permit

The Tennessee legislature passed a measure that would allow residents to both open and concealed carry handguns without a permit, which some have dubbed as constitutional carry.

The bill will now move to Republican Gov. Bill Lees desk, where he is expected to sign it into law. The bill is backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA) but is opposed by some state law enforcement groups.

This bill is not the end of the journey, Tennessee House Majority Leader William Lamberth, a Republican, said on Monday evening, according to The Tennessean. This is a massive step forward for freedom, Lamberth said.

Other than Tennessee, 18 other states have approved some form of permitless carry.

I think permitless carry is bad for Memphis. I dont see how it is such a great thing for the state of Tennessee when the state of Tennessee leads the nation in violence, one of the top three in violence, especially violence against children, Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings told Fox13 in opposing the bill.

Weve seen what happened with extending [carrying guns] the house to the car, because we saw an explosion of guns being stolen from cars, he stated.

The law, which will go into effect on July 1, allows for adults aged 21 and older to carry handguns openly or in a concealed manner without a permit. It does not apply to long guns, the Tennessean noted. The bill also applies to those in the military who are aged 18 to 20.

The measure also would increase penalties for certain gun crimes, including theft of a firearm, which will be increased from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Last week, the White House confirmed President Joe Biden is going to issue executive orders on gun control following two mass shootings in Atlanta and Colorado.

I dont need to wait another minutelet alone an hourto take common-sense steps that will save the lives in the future, and I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act, Biden said last week.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Ateca Holding, a diversified group of companies operating in multiple sectors, has announced the groups first hotel Ateca Hotel Suites in Tashkent, set to open in May 2021.



Michel Noblet, the Executive Chairman of Ateca Holding and a renowned French hospitality expert from Dubai, made the announcement during a special presentation on the recovery of the hospitality sector in Uzbekistan following the Covid-19 at the Hotel Business Forum.



Noblets vast experience spans across five continents including Europe with some of the worlds leading brands such as the Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts where he enjoyed three glorious decades being a founding member and regional managing director.



Organised by the Hoteliers Association of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, the high profile summit opened with a keynote speech by Aziz A Abdukhakimov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Chairman of the State Committee for Tourism Development. Addressing the conference, attended by top tourism experts and hoteliers from the country, was also Alessandra Priante, Director of the UNWTO Regional Department.



Tourism is known for its ability to overcome crises and downturns and Uzbekistan is a country full of potential and unique opportunities. Aziz A. Abdukhakimovs dynamic leadership serves as a great inspiration for all of us to generate fresh ideas and solutions to our common challenges. We are proud to announce our first hotel Ateca Hotel Suites set to open in May 2021 in the heart of Tashkent, said Noblet.



For Ateca Hotels CRS we have signed a strategic agreement with Sabre Hospitality Solutions GmbH, the worlds leading travel technology provider, to power our global distribution with SynXis Cenral Reservations. In addition, we have just opened Ateca Hotel Academy Hub in collaboration with The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), to provide world-class hotel training programs in Uzbekistan. We are the first and only one to offer these prestigious courses by AHLEI in the Republic.

With a solid national collaboration, Uzbekistan can double the revenue of domestic market while creating new opportunities across the country. To overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic, Dubai is a great learning example.



The emirate has done a fantastic job of developing domestic tourism that jumped nearly 107 per cent in 2020 and continues to grow while maintaining stringent health and safety protocols. People going on staycation have realized the great benefits of travelling domestically when it comes to saving transportation costs which leaves a bigger budget to spend on what matters more: the hotel, dining & shopping, he added.



With a population of nearly 34 million people, Uzbekistan has great potential to grow domestic tourism. The pandemic has shown the significant role the domestic market can play in driving the recovery of the tourism and hospitality industry.



Hotels need to reimagine the customer experience and re-engage with guests to build and maintain their trust. Safety protocols at hotels will have to be extended beyond fire safety and other standards to be hygienically safe. Offering Covid 19 PCR testing service to guests , free of charge can be a plus to attract guests. Be open to repurposing spaces and creating new revenue streams with segments like Work-ation, he noted. - TradeArabia News Service


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Public health officials in Manitoba will no longer give doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to people under 55 years of age due to potential side-effects discovered in Europe.

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Public health officials in Manitoba will no longer give doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to people under 55 years of age due to potential side-effects discovered in Europe.

"Despite the findings that there were no increase in blood clots overall related to AstraZeneca in Europe, a rare but very serious side-effect has been seen primarily in young women in Europe," said Dr. Joss Reimer of Manitobas vaccine implementation team during Mondays media conference.

She said that the symptoms, which affect about one in 100,000 to 200,000 people, mirror the effects of a heart attack or stroke.

Anyone who has or has not been vaccinated should seek immediate medical attention if they experience these symptoms.

"This is a pause while we wait for more information to better understand what we are seeing in Europe," said Reimer. "This is an important and evidence-based change Manitoba is putting in place today. We have to respond to what we know when we know it in this vaccination campaign."

A change to these plans could be made as early as Wednesday, when Reimer and vaccine co-lead Johanu Botha typically give their weekly vaccination progress update.

Reimer noted that none of these cases or symptoms have been discovered in Manitoba or Canada as a whole in the 10 days since they were first noticed.

More than 14,000 doses of AstraZenecas vaccine have been administered so far in Canada.

On Monday afternoon, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization updated its guidelines to recommend against the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in younger people.

Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia joined Manitoba in the switch in policy.

People under 55 who have scheduled appointments to receive a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will have their appointments cancelled for the time being.

With doses for people who have already received a first dose, the province does not yet know when they will be administered as the current plan is to extend the period between first and second doses for all vaccines.

Also on Monday, chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said from now on, the province will be announcing all cases discovered to be variants of concern in the screening process since the process has improved.

"Manitoba had been screening for variants since the beginning of this pandemic," said Roussin. "At that point, screening was done on samples that had been selected due to concerning traits that had been part of an outbreak or recent travel and some random assortment of samples.

Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Monday that from now on, the province will be announcing all cases discovered to be variants of concern in the screening process since the process has improved. (Winnipeg Free Press)

"Earlier this year, we introduced a screening process to look at a few of the variants of concern ... For our screening process for the B.1.1.7 and the B.1.135 (variants), our screening process is quite precise. One hundred per cent of our (variant of concern) V.O.C.-screened positive samples are being confirmed by sequencing."

Because of this level of accuracy, Roussin said that not every sample identified by screening needs to be sequenced anymore. For instance, a person testing positive with a household contact that was found to have a variant case doesnt need to have their sample screened.

According to the doctor, this method of reporting is being done by other provinces such as Ontario.

This new way of reporting meant a huge increase in the number of reported variant cases.

A total of 136 new screen and sequenced cases of variants of concern were announced Monday, including five from the Interlake-Eastern health region, 14 from Southern Health-Sante Sud and 117 from the Winnipeg health region.

The total of confirmed variants of concern cases is 129, representing 116 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant and 14 cases of the B.1.351 variant.

Combined with the yet to be identified variants, Manitobas number of reported variant cases has more than doubled to 259.

Roussin said that on one day last week, up to one-third of reported cases had screened positive for the B.1.1.7 variant. This, he said, is showing that this variant is becoming the dominant strain of the virus.

Given the circumstances, he once again recommended on Monday that Manitobans not travel for spring break or Easter.

The Sun asked Reimer about recent complaints readers have sent in about not being able to book appointments before mid-April despite the provinces website and vaccine bulletins saying appointments are available.

She said the goal is to book appointments a maximum of four weeks ahead of time because the reliability of vaccination deliveries gets worse the further you look into the future.

"If people are hearing there arent appointments, its likely weve filled up to four weeks," Reimer said. "How we organize our supply for each supersite is initially on a per-capita basis. Its then up to Manitobans regarding how many people who are eligible actually call and book those appointments. Our initial estimates were to provide Prairie Mountain with the same proportion of doses that would meet eligible people in that region.

"At the beginning of the vaccine campaign, Prairie Mountain actually had a lower uptake, so we were filling up in Winnipeg while having lots of appointments open at (the Keystone Centre). In the last couple of weeks, weve seen a reverse of that where people in Prairie Mountain are signing up and showing a lot of eagerness to get immunized."

With severe weather forecasted to hit much of the province on Monday evening and again today, Reimer said that anyone unable to make vaccination appointments booked online or over the phone can call the call centre to reschedule.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @colinslark
ALBANY  Care to go for a walk?

Lets start at West Capitol Park, which should be a lovely spot in the early spring, given the architectural wonders that surround it. But, oh shucks, the park is a rats maze of ugly barricades blocking access to its paths and charms.

Lets go instead to the east Capitol steps, which should provide a grand view of State Street and downtown Albany. But whats this? More barricades, and chain-link fencing, too?

"No Trespassing," command some of the red signs attached to the fencing. "Danger. Do Not Enter," say others. "Staircase closed due to structural instability."

Well, OK. Maybe we should just head over to Empire State Plaza.

To get there, well need to cross State Street. Be careful not to trip on one of the many potholes, but theres little need to fret about traffic. The street has been closed since January, with unlovely concrete barriers placed on either end of the block.

But whats this blocking access to the plaza? More barricades?!

Theyre easy enough to evade, but, hmm  the plaza itself also is riddled with fences and gates that put vast sections of the supposed promenade off-limits. They block access to most of the grand staircase at the New York State Museum. They even block access to the exit stairways leading to Madison Avenue. How do we get out of here?!

Since this has already been a depressing walk, I wont ask you to stroll with me over to the Executive Mansion. But if you did, youd discover that the public sidewalk in front of the Eagle Street house remains blocked and closed, as it was for at least much of last year.

Taking it all in, you might assume a barricade mogul had donated a handsome sum to Andrew Cuomos re-election fund. You might think "Noli Entrare  Latin for "Keep Out"  had been chosen as the states new motto.

What in the name of Nelson Rockefeller is going on?

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Well, a spokesman for the states Office of General Services said the barricades in West Capitol Park are to keep people off the grass. Joseph Brill also said the plaza is generally closed to the public in the winter, except for the skating rink.

"Polished marble and other stone surfaces on the ground and on steps can quickly become slipping hazards during the winter," Brill said in an email. "Keeping the plaza closed saves taxpayer dollars, as we are not using the time and resources necessary to clear snow and melt ice on most of this massive complex."

Im all for saving taxpayer money, but its absurd that one of Albanys grandest public spaces is supposedly closed  plenty of people walk there anyway  for the long upstate winter and into the spring. If it is so impractical to keep the plaza open, thats one more reason it never should have been built.

Meanwhile, the sea of barricades to keep people off the grass is not only extreme but ineffective. In fact, I was all but forced to trample on the grass when a gate unexpectedly blocked a walkway.

State police declined to say much about the closing of State Street and the Mansion sidewalk, allowing only that the closures are in place due to security concerns that they declined to specify. State Street was closed right after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

And what does Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan say? Both the street and the sidewalk, after all, are city property.

Spokesman Dave Galin said the state asked that the roadway be closed temporarily because of unspecified "threats" and said the city was recently told that "some of those threats continue to exist." The city understands the sidewalk closure, Galin added, to be about protecting the wall alongside the mansion from graffiti.

I call baloney on that one, especially since the mansion is already well-guarded. Can any Albany homeowner victimized by graffiti suddenly declare the public sidewalk closed?

The real reason for the sidewalk shutdown, we can presume, is to prevent protests there, which is likely why repairing the steps at the east of the Capitol never seems to be a priority, year after year. This governor, we know, does not appreciate dissent.

Really, it's easy to see the inhospitable, barricaded Capitol as a metaphor for a paranoid, arrogant administration that views the citizenry suspiciously and is so willing to hide even the most essential public data.

No, we wont tell you how many nursing home residents died of COVID-19. And stay off the sidewalk!

One last thing: Galin said the city is planning to relocate food trucks to the newly closed State Street and will consider whether the roadway would be suitable as a permanently closed pedestrian plaza.

Thats not a bad idea. Doing so might make State Street and the Capitol more appealing.

But there's an obvious downside. The state would need more barricades.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill


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Company is primed for strategic innovation building on over two decades of experience in digital communications and performance marketing

NEW YORK and LONDON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Investis Digital , a leading global digital communications company, announced today that it has been acquired by Investcorp, a leading global provider and manager of alternative investment products. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Through its proprietary approach known as Connected Content, Investis Digital unites compelling communications, intelligent digital experiences, and performance marketing to help its clients build deeper connections with audiences and drive business performance. This investment marks a new chapter in Investis Digital's history, allowing the company to bring its wealth of experience, sector-based knowledge, and innovated technologies to more brands across the world.

The investment by Investcorp represents a full realization for the UK's leading growth focused private equity firm ECI Partners (ECI) for a return of 2.6x. The partnership has supported Investis Digital's international strategy, and today Investis Digital has offices in six countries and nine global offices, including New York, London, Phoenix, Helsinki and Vadodara, India with more than 500 employees worldwide.

Richard Chapman, Partner at ECI Partners, comments, "It has been a pleasure to work alongside Don and the team, helping to develop Investis Digital's global proposition. We believe Investis Digital is now a global business well-positioned to continue along its impressive growth trajectory and make the most of the opportunities that increased adoption of digital communications can offer. We would like to thank the team for such a successful partnership, and we wish them all the best for the future."

During the partnership with ECI, the company acquired Zog Digital, Vertical Measures and Microserve which bolstered its digital capabilities, especially in the US. Over the last three years, the company has trebled its EBITDA and with the additional capital, intends to accelerate product innovation, enhance client service and delivery, and expand market presence.

"We are so grateful to ECI for their partnership and for helping us power our digital communications strategy with our Connected Content approach and for investing in our proprietary enterprise grade technology platforms over the past six years," said Global CEO Don Scales. "As we look to our longer-term vision for the future, we are excited and optimistic for the support and breadth of experience Investcorp will bring in the next phase of our evolution and the enhancements to the services we will be able to offer our clients."

"We are delighted to be partnering with Investis Digital as the company moves into its next growth phase. Leveraging on a unique blend of expertise and technology, Investis Digital has established itself as the partner of choice for corporates seeking to enhance their digital footprint. Fragmented regional markets, increasing demand from corporates for full-service digital communications providers, and the overall rise in awareness of the importance of digital channels makes Investis Digital well-positioned for growth through M&A, product diversification and a focus on cross-selling. We look forward to partnering with the exceptional management team to support the business in realizing its growth ambitions," said Jose Pfeifer, Managing Director of Investcorp's European Private Equity group.

Since its inception, Investcorp has made approximately 200 private equity investments in the US, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa region and Asia, across a range of sectors.

Raymond James served as exclusive financial adviser and Osborne Clarke as legal adviser to ECI Partners and Investis Digital.

About Investis Digital

Investis Digital has been at the forefront of digital communications for two decades. Over time we've gained deep sector knowledge, invested in leading technologies, and built lasting and trusted relationships with more than 1600 global companies, including Ascential, Anglo American, Rolls-Royce, Fruit of the Loom and Vodafone.

Through a proprietary approach we call Connected Content, we unite compelling communications, intelligent digital experiences and performance marketing to help companies build deeper connections with audiences and drive business performance.

We tell brand stories through strategic and engaging content that meets your audiences at the right time, in the right place, with the right message.

We build and run intelligent websites and digital experiences that are rapidly deployed and strategically measured, underpinned by our secure, world-leading Connect.ID technology and 24/7 service.

We find the audiences that matter most through powerful performance marketing solutions that optimize and amplify your brand across all touchpoints.

This unique blend of expertise, technology and "always on" service allow clients to trust that their digital footprint and brand reputation is secure and protected 24/7 by our dedicated team of 500 digital experts across 9 global offices. To learn more on how Investis Digital has been powering digital communications since 2000, please visit: www.InvestisDigital.com

About ECI

ECI is a leading private equity investor, investing in growth businesses valued up to 250m. It has over 40 years of experience, collaborating with management teams to build successful global businesses. With an unrivalled track record of over 110 realisations, ECI invests as either a majority or a minority investor, ECI is currently investing its eleventh buyout fund and manages approximately 1.7 billion on behalf of our institutional investors. ECI's previous investments in the services sector include Bionic, Imagesound, Moneypenny, and Citation.

About Investcorp

Investcorp is a global investment manager, specializing in alternative investments across private equity, real estate, credit, absolute return strategies, GP stakes and infrastructure. Since our inception in 1982, we have focused on generating attractive returns for our clients while creating long-term value in our investee companies and for our shareholders as a prudent and responsible investor.

We invest a meaningful portion of our own capital in products we offer to our clients, ensuring that our interests are aligned with our stakeholders. We take pride in partnering with our clients to deliver tailored solutions for their needs, utilizing a disciplined investment process, employing world-class talent and combining the resources of a global institution with an innovative, entrepreneurial approach.

Investcorp today has a presence in 12 countries across the US, Europe, GCC and Asia, including India, China and Singapore. As of December 31, 2020, Investcorp Group had US $35 billion in total AUM, including assets managed by third party managers, and employed approximately 450 employees from 43 nationalities globally across its offices.

For further information, visit www.investcorp.com and follow us @Investcorp on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

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Doc Severinsen may be best known for the 30 years he spent as the trumpet-playing, outlandishly dressed bandleader and joking sidekick to host Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. But Severinsen is still with us, living in Nashville, and still devoted to music, as a new American Masters documentary explains.

Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story profiles the now 93-year-old musician, who was born in Arlington, Oregon, in 1927. Though his first name is Carl, Severinsen acquired his enduring Doc nickname because his father was a dentist.

From an early age, Severinsen loved playing the trumpet. His musical ability and passion eventually led to work as a studio musician for NBC, a job playing trumpet in the early 1960s under Skitch Henderson, who was then the Tonight Show bandleader, and finally the job as bandleader for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

During his 30 years on The Tonight Show, Severinsen became a staple of late-night TV. In addition to his musicianship, Severinsen was known for sporting garish outfits, joined in comedy bits with Carson and announcer Ed McMahon, belted out made-up tunes during recurring Stump the Band segments, and filled in when McMahon was off.

When Carson retired from hosting in 1992, Severinsen left The Tonight Show. But he continued to play music, and tour. In a recent interview with The New York Times Dave Itzkoff, which coincides with the American Masters documentary, Severinsen talks about his obsession with the trumpet, past issues with alcoholism, his friendship with Carson (an extremely bright man) and more.

The documentary includes interviews with Severinsen, and others, including Questlove, the current Tonight Show bandleader, and trumpet star -- and fellow Oregon native -- Chris Botti.

The American Masters documentary, Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story, premieres nationally on PBS on Friday, April 2. It will be broadcast locally on OPB from noon to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 4.

Subscribe to our free weekly What to Watch newsletter. Email:



-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist
HAMILTON COUNTY, Iowa - The names of two people killed in a boating accident Sunday morning at Little Wall Lake have been released.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said the two people killed were Yaakov Ben-David, 20, of Washington, D.C., and Derek Nanni, 19, of Normal, Illinois.

Both people were students at Iowa State.

The names of the three people who were rescued have not been released.
Kelly Thomas Jackson, 20, throwing a Molotov cocktail at a vehicle during a violent protest in downtown Seattle, Washington, on May 30, 2020. (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle)

Washington Man Sentenced to Prison for Hurling Molotov Cocktails at Police During Floyd Protest

A Washington man on Monday was sentenced to more than three years in prison for tossing Molotov cocktails at police during a summer protest that turned violent in downtown Seattle.

Kelly Thomas Jackson, a 21-year-old man from Edmonds, was arrested in September and pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawfully possessing destructive devices on Jan. 6, according to a statement by the Department of Justice.

He was handed a prison sentence of 40 months and three years of supervised release on Monday in the Seattle District Court for his activities during the May 30, 2020 protest, Acting Attorney Tessa Gorman announced.

Jackson was seen in various videos wearing distinctive clothing and carrying a glass container filled with flammable material and a wick. He was identified by authorities following an anonymous tip and a photo to law enforcement officers.

Law enforcement obtained videos  show Jackson traveling into Seattle with at least one of the glass bottles with a wick, records filed in the case state. Other videos show Jackson throwing one Molotov cocktail into a police vehicle, then hiding himself in the crowd and jumping up and down with excitement after his crime.

In another video obtained by authorities, Jackson was seen throwing another Molotov cocktail at the windshield of a police vehicle. The second device bounced off the police vehicle and exploded in flames outside a Nordstrom store.

Jackson learned how to construct the Molotov cocktails by using information online, records show.

Kelly Thomas Jackson, 20, at a violent protest in downtown Seattle, Washington, on May 30, 2020. (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle)

Unlike the vast majority of demonstrators who came to downtown Seattle to protest peacefully against systemic racism, this defendant came armed with Molotov cocktailsintent on dangerous destruction, Gorman said.

The danger to others is captured in pictures from the scene: flames from the burning cars and burning gasoline spread across the sidewalk, pollutant-filled smoke billowing into the crowd. This isnt free speechit is criminal conduct deserving of a federal prison sentence.

Jacksons case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Seattle, Edmonds, and Mountlake Terrace police departments.

Seattle Special Agent Jonathan T. McPherson said the suspect had planned the criminal acts before going to the protest and had no intent to peacefully protest.

We respect everyones right to free speech, but free speech does not come in the form of a Molotov cocktail, McPherson said. His premeditated actions and complete disregard for the safety of those around him warrant this sentence.

From NTD News
SEOUL, South Korea, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

- Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) -

The Korean market for nutritional supplements is flourishing. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), market volume grew by an average of 12.8% per year from 2015 to 2019, reaching approximately $3.2 billion in 2019.[1]

In addition to domestic producers, suppliers from abroad also supply the growing market. The most important supplier country in 2019, accounting for 60.3% of South Korean imports, was the United States, followed by Canada with 8.9% and Germany with 5.1%. Imports from Germany increased more than sixfold between 2017 and 2019.[2]

A key growth driver is PM-International AG. The direct sales company from Germany develops and distributes premium products for health, fitness and beauty under the FitLine brand. After entering the Korean market in 2018, FitLine products accounted for 3.2%[3] of total nutritional supplements imports already in the first full fiscal year, 2019. With a turnover growth of 159% compared to the previous year, PM-International was again able to significantly strengthen this position in 2020.

This is mainly due to the PM-International's longstanding expertise in doing business in the Asia-Pacific region. Already in 2003, PM-International entered the Malaysian market and is today represented with own subsidiaries in 10 countries in this region. In 2015, the company opened its Headquarters Asia-Pacific in Singapore.

Alex Oh, General Manager of PM-International Korea: "More and more Koreans are focusing on their wellbeing. With 27 years of experience with products 'Made in Germany' by highest GMP standards, as well as regular and independent quality controls by German TUV SUD ELAB, PM-International meets the needs of local consumers. Our goal is to become market leader in Korea."

For its scientific expertise and innovation power, PM-International was ranked 19 times as a top innovator among the German TOP 100. The company holds a unique research collaboration with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST).

With an annual turnover of $17.6 million[4], Korea ranks third in the list of countries with the highest turnover in direct sales.[5] Wellness (47%), as well as cosmetics and personal care products (24%), make up two thirds of the market share.[6]

More information: www.pm-international.com

1. MDFS 2020: https://bit.ly/396XFh6.

2. GTAI 2021: https://www.gtai.de/gtaide/trade/branchen/branchenbericht/suedkorea/nahrungsergaenzungsmittel-in-suedkorea-immer-gefragter-624806.

3. Ibid.

4. WFDSA 2020: https://wfdsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Sales-Seller-2020-Report-Final.pdf.

5. WFDSA 2020: https://wfdsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Fact-Sheet-page-1-2019.pdf.

6. WFDSA 2020: https://wfdsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Product-2020-Report-Final.pdf.

Press contact:

Luke Kim

PM-International Korea

luke.kim@pm-international.kr

+82 2 833 2688

PM-International Korea LLC

Suite 602, 8-Uisadang-daero

Yeoungdeungpo gu, Seoul

Republic of Korea
press release

The project will focus on how targeted skills training through the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college system in South Africa can be aligned with future job opportunities in the renewable energy sector, more specifically the Green Hydrogen economy, to improve job absorption rates. Several workshops, evidence-based research papers, a pilot training assessment of TVET college students, and policy dialogues with government, industry and civil partners are planned.

The project responds to climate change mitigation priorities of key South African government institutions, such as the Department of Science and Innovation, to support the roll-out of the Green Hydrogen Society Roadmap and the South Africa Renewable Energy Masterplan. South Africa is well positioned to pursue green hydrogen technology due to its vast reserves of platinum group metals (PGM) resources.

The South Africa-UK PACT funded project also aims to support the work of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, the South African National Energy Development Institute and the Energy & Water Sector Education Training Authority.
Sixteen Companies Selected in ZENiTH Program

ZENITH, personalized export diversification and advisory program of the Group Export

ZENITH, personalized export diversification and advisory program of the Group Export

SAINTE-JULIE, Quebec, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Group Export Agri-Food and its partners, National Bank, FCC and Fonds de solidarite FTQ, are pleased to announce the selection of 16 Quebec exporting companies as part of ZENITH, its new personalized export diversification and advisory program.



Made possible through the financial participation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and MAPAQ, as part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, this program is a new field approach to internationalization tailored to the participating companies.

As a turnkey solution based on a precise analysis approach combined with a proven methodology, the Zenith program is divided into four phases and aims to validate the potential of a company in a given market, while supporting it in the adjustment of its business development strategy. This innovative program allows for the international development of exporting companies, despite the pandemic which reduces the possibilities for meetings and further development abroad.

As the first participants in the cohorts of the ZENITH program, 16 Quebec agri-food companies will be supported in their process by Altios International. Some companies will participate in more than one cohort, bringing to 19 the number of market development projects that will take place.

ZENITH selection committee joins together 5 experts, Christian Ostiguy, Associate Vice-President, Agri-food at National Bank, Louis Turcotte, Senior Director, Corporate and Commercial Financing at FCC, Benoit Tetrault, Manager, Investment at the Fonds de solidarite FTQ, Isabelle Combe, managing director Canada at Altios and Martin Lavoie, president and CEO of Group Export, who carried out an exhaustive analysis of the applications received. Their experience and in-depth knowledge of the industry enabled them to analyze applications based on potential benefits for companies in the various targeted markets.

Story continues

Three Promising Markets Targeted by Companies

For the first year of the program, three particularly promising markets have been identified: the United States, France and China. The selected companies will therefore form the first three cohorts that will be supported under the program. The companies chosen by the selection committee offer products that have the potential to attract buyers from their respective market of interest.

Regarding the United States cohort, ZENITH will take on the American market with companies that offer products that stand out for this market and that will undoubtedly know how to take advantage of free trade between the two countries. Several innovative products or processes attracted the attention of the selection committee and the companies demonstrated a capacity for adaptation that convinced the committee of their potential in this most natural market for Quebec exporters.

In the France cohort, companies aspire to take advantage of the cultural proximity between Quebec and France to tackle the French market. Their differentiated products, which respond to trends and whose popularity continues to grow, will enable them to obtain several openings in this market. Moreover, the attraction of Quebecs long tradition will not fail to charm our French cousins in a completely natural alliance, reinforced by CETA, which eliminates tariffs on several food products.

Finally, the companies selected for the China cohort offer products with high potential for attracting Chinese buyers who demonstrate a strong interest in added value Quebec foods. The selection committee greatly appreciated the openness shown by companies to adapt their products to suit Chinese consumers tastes and market realities when necessary.

Thanks to the ZENITH program, these companies will have the opportunity to be supported by experts in their analysis of the market and their potential in it. Together, they will develop their strategy and its concrete implementation. With the reputation for quality that precedes them and the differentiation of their products, they have all the assets to impress these important pools of consumers.

About Group Export Agri-Food

With over 500 members, Group Export is the largest association of agri-food exporters in Canada. Created in 1990, the Association has, over the years, developed several services and initiated hundreds of activities to facilitate market access outside Quebec and internationally for agri-food exporters in Quebec. A privileged link between exporters and markets, an essential bridge between the public sector and industry, the Association works daily to increase the presence of Quebec products around the world.

Source and informations :

Claudia Charuest

Communication Director

Group Export Agri-Food

450 649-6266, ext 217 | claudiacharuest@groupexport.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee860298-f399-4547-a81e-33d738521664




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The iconic 25-year-old brewery in Munster, Indiana, has undertaken aggressive growth in recent years, including the launch in 2019 of an entirely new brewery just to can its beer. Long available primarily in the Midwest, Three Floyds has expanded distribution in recent years to a total of 18 states, including New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Pennsylvania.
As the COVID cases go up, the government has decided to increase the interval between the first and second doses of Covishield to up to eight weeks in its ongoing vaccination drive against the coronavirus pandemic.

Indians are being administered Covishield, Serum Institute of Indias version of AZD1222, the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and University of Oxford and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin.

"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 last week.

PTI

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.

Enhanced protection in eight weeks

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote to states that based on the scientific evidence, it appears that protection is enhanced if the second dose of Covishield is administered between 6-8 weeks, but not later than stipulated period of 8 weeks.

AFP

Covishield and Covaxin have been used in the vaccination drive that rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers to start with and then frontline workers.

Earlier, the gap between two doses of vaccines was four weeks.

In the wake of rising cases in the country, the government has opened vaccination programme for everyone above 45, April 1 onwards.
Workers at San Franciscos renowned Tartine Bakery have successfully unionized.

The news comes more than a year after employees first voted on the issue. Last March, days before the Bay Area began sheltering in place, the election resulted in 89 pro-union votes and 84 anti-union votes among San Francisco workers at Tartine Bakery, Tartine Manufactory and Tartine in the Inner Sunset. Workers needed a majority to join the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which also works with employees at Anchor Brewing Co. as well as employees currently organizing at Dandelion Chocolate.

But the union and Tartine challenged 24 of the votes, bringing the final outcome to the National Labor Relations Board. At the time, the union and Tartine ownership both said the process could take months, and the pandemic made it drag on longer.

In October, a local board decided 10 of the challenged votes should be counted and 14 should be thrown out, according to ILWU organizer Agustin Ramirez. Tartine appealed the decision, Ramirez said, but the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C., rejected the appeal this month. On Tuesday, the board opened the 10 sealed votes: four were in favor of joining the union and six were against, bringing the final tally to 93-90 in favor.

Tartine didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Next, ILWU will work with employees to form the bargaining committee for a new contract.

We have always said once we win we will survey the workers and determine what it is in fact theyre going to fight for, Ramirez said. Its slightly trickier than expected now, though, because of the pandemic. We have not lost contact but many workers are no longer in the area; others had to survive and find other jobs.

Tartine Berkeley, which was located inside the Graduate Hotel, also held an election last year to unionize, with a final vote of 18-0 in favor of joining ILWU. But shortly after the pandemic began, the Graduate Hotel shut down the bakery.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Ramirez said one of his first tasks will be talking to Tartine about San Franciscos right to re-employment ordinance that was passed last year and requires businesses to offer jobs to former employees ahead of new applicants. Tartine Berkeleys former workers deserve a shot, too, he said.

In the months leading up to the union election last year, Tartine workers said they wanted better pay and a voice at a company they feared was growing too corporate, with new locations in Los Angeles and South Korea.

The campaign drew wide community support, with workers accusing Tartine of union-busting. Tartines owners said the bakery was not profitable despite its outward success and feared a union would force the company to shutter.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
Protestors raise their fists as a fire burns after clashes with law enforcement near the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct on June 8, 2020. The protests were triggered by the police custody death of George Floyd. (David Ryder/Getty Images)

As the Beacon of Democracy Flickers, Darkness Arrives

Survivors of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) gathered in Canberra in February for the inaugural Victims of the Communist Regime of China conference. Below is an abridged version of a speech delivered by Chinese democracy activist Dr. Chin Jin.

I must admit that I am not a victim of this regime, I am only a maverick who is an opponent of this regime.

I am not going to review the countless crimes of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since its establishment. What I have always been concerned about is how to change Chinas political status quo. It affects all of us, one way or another. And if it doesnt yet, it soon will.

Let me focus on the historical facts and project into the future.

The world must realize that the CCP is extremely vicious. Our struggle with the CCP is a battle between man and beast. It is a battle between mortals on the one side (ours), and Satan and demons on the other. I do not use these images lightly. The stakes are high and the evil forces are real. In this game, we have no chance of winning if we are to continue as we have done to date.

The reality is that policies in the United States over the past few decades have helped the CCP reign supreme in China, with the regimes power ever more unchecked. Its grown into a behemoth. Its citizens are now completely under its control, physically and mentally. Their every action is monitored, their privacy gone. Their individual worth is constantly and intimately assessed by social credit monitoringa form of psychological torture.

The United States failed to foresee the CCPs evil growth. U.S. liberals had delusions that, via free trade and by welcoming researchers and students, China under communist rule would grow into a liberal democracy. The great irony is that, instead, the United States itself may turn into a Chinese Communist-controlled state.

The liberal West ignorantly helped the CCP to strengthen its state apparatus to suppress its own people and any political resistance. With the help of the United States and Western democracies, the CCP is now using modern science and technology to govern and control the Chinese people through force, lies, and deception. Its facial recognition technology came from the West.

The original facilitators of the CCPs rise were American socialist-inclined, pro-communist figures, such as George Marshall, the four Johns (John Davis, John Vincent, John Service, John Fairbankthe so-called China Hands), and Owen Lattimore.

These deluded types who with their high IQs and mastery of the Chinese language thought they understood the complexities of China, and laid down the doomed China policies of the United States.

The opportunities the China Hands and their cohort created all helped the CCP extend its power across mainland China.

The CCP ended up dominating China and ruled harshly for over seven decades.

Every aspect of its rule was harsh to its people, from its one-child policy and forced abortions to its suppression of dissidents, organising of informants to spy on its citizens, and its denial of opportunity for those outside of the party.

To its more recent horrors, such as gunning down pro-democracy students in Tiananmen Square, its crackdown on House Christians, detention and organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghurs, these are all breathtakingly ghastly features of a regime drunk on unchecked power.

The CCP has been able to rule China with unbridled power, thanks initially to the support of the Harry Truman administration. Now, we face the danger that a massively strengthened CCP could stay in power if there are successive administrations that are soft on the far-left regime.

The only conclusion one can draw from an analysis of history is that if the occupant of the White House is a Democrat, the CCP will not fall. Whether it is for reasons of weakness in the Democrat leadership, or a shared socialist outlook, the result is the same.

The biggest problem is that in the whole world, few in the West understand the nature of the CCP, China, and the true face and intentions behind the CCPs mask of hiding behind the Chinese people.

I have long waited for the appearance of a figure akin to Ronald Reagan.

In the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the world witnessed President Donald Trump, who is more businessman than politician, with no clear political boundaries. But for all his human faults, he has the great attribute of being the first U.S. president to start reigning in the CCP.

He acknowledged and responded to the facts.

Significant intellectual property was being stolen from America, there were CCP spiesboth commercial and militaryin the country. Manufacturing and associated jobs were collapsing in America as a result of the CCP subsuming much of the market.

Trumps offensive against the CCPfrom protective tariffs to raising public awareness of the danger posed by the regimecould well have shaken it.

The cumulative effect of Trumps measures offered China and its people the opportunity to be liberated from the CCPs rule.

Hoping for the Chinese people to change the formidable CCP regime is unrealistic. The level of monitoring and suppression that takes place inside China makes it unlikely to be achieved.

Only external forces can feasibly have a fatal and destructive effect on the regime.

Once the emergence of political opportunities to change China became visible, CCP leaders will be aware of their impending demise. But they will not wait for their doom. Instead, they will fight for the survival of the regime.

Even with the outbreak of COVID-19 and international outrage over millions of deaths, the CCP has still managed to successfully defend itself and survive.

If people fail to have the courage to uphold justice and conscience today, tomorrow, this evil will attack the whole world more brazenly.

I believe the CCP will further encroach on Australia and the West by repeating its successes in the United States.

In Australia, the CCP has commandeered strategic assets such as the Port of Darwin, and its state-owned entities have substantial interests in the Ports of Newcastle and Melbourne too.

It has taken over a number of our essential services, including water, gas, electricity grids, universities, and some of our key food supply sources. Fortunately, our 5G telecommunications are untouched.

The regime has also detained a number of Australians, including businessperson Matthew Ng, newsreader Cheng Lei, and employees of Crown Casino.

It even had the gall to be indignant with Australia for instigating the most reasonable and sensible of requestsan independent investigation into the origin of the global pandemic.

I would like to take this opportunity to convey to Prime Minister Scott Morrison my serious concerns about the future of Australia.

I am concerned about whether Australia can withstand retaliation from the Red Dragon of Beijing, especially with the United States role as the worlds beacon of democracy and freedom facing challenges.

I am worried whether Australia has the fortitude, wisdom, and strength to prevent the same tragedy that befell the United States democratic system.

What is to stop Beijing from manipulating and carrying out a similar strategy in Australia?

I sincerely wish the Morrison government remains vigilant and takes precautions, and does not end up hoodwinked by Beijings plots and stratagems.

Australia must not replicateeither through apathy, negligence, or compromisethe pitfalls from the recent U.S. election process that led people to question democratic institutions. The Australian people should be fully awake to the possibility of this detrimental political evolution, as the CCP surely is.

Preparedness averts perils. If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail. We must resist the combination of misguided liberalism and red communism.

Sadly, there are those who will side with Beijing. Some are hesitant with their loyalties and are easily swayed with changing political winds. Others are dogged collaborators with the CCP.

Chinas leaders must demonstrate a genuine interest in world peace, human flourishing, truth-telling, and a respect for other countries sovereignty before the Middle Kingdom can once again be fit to be a world power.

In the meantime, Australia must show strength. If Australia sets itself on a true path and refuses to bow to Beijings coercion, then those vacillators will stand firmly by Australias interests.

If Australia shows weakness, however, and simply kowtows to the CCP, Beijing apologists will undermine us from within.

Preventing Australia from being engulfed by this icy red tide is the key to this countrys happiness.

I finish by urging that we, as a society, must decouple from China.

We do not have the luxury anymore of thinking that the CCPs tentacles we see extending elsewhere, will not try to choke us too.

We must eradicate the CCPs propaganda outfits in our educational institutions.

We must stop any acquisition or ownership where such rights are not reciprocated and where it is not in our national interest.

We must claw back some of our manufacturing.

We must diversify our marketsto source goods from elsewhere and reduce our dependency on that one country.

We must take back our ports.

We must take back ownership of our essential services.

We must secure our internet.

We must ensure our intelligence agencies are across all risks to our national sovereigntywhether cyber, public health, foreign ownership, strategic encroachment through Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, or any others avenues.

It is high time now to act, to save our country. We can do it, and we must do it.

Australia-based Dr. Chin Jin is the global chair of the Federation for a Democratic China. The group advocates for the democratization of China through opposition to the Communist Party and support for human rights. It was founded following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Chin himself experienced first hand the tragedies of the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The first trial in one of the largest U.S. mass torts ever kicked off Monday with 3M defending itself against claims that its Combat Arms earplugs were knowingly defective, harming the hearing of tens of thousands of soldiers.

3M became a giant in the military earplug market when it bought Aearo Technologies in 2008. The Maplewood, Minnesota-based company maintains that Combat Arms plugs were designed properly and worked as they should.

The size of the earplug litigation  nearly 230,000 claims are pending before a federal court in Pensacola, Florida  dwarfs most mass torts. The case is being closely watched in legal circles.

Anytime you get a case with this many people involved, people turn their heads, said Alexandra Lahav, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law. Its an incredibly large number of complaints.

If the verdicts go badly for 3M, damages could tally in the hundreds of millions of dollars, if not more, based on the outcome of other large mass tort cases in recent years.

Judge M. Casey Rodgers of U.S. District Court for northern Florida will hear three consolidated claims in the first bellwether trial. Its expected to last through April. A bellwether trial is set for May and a third in June.

The plaintiffs in the first trial are Army veterans who claim hearing loss and tinnitus due to allegedly defective Combat Arms CAEv2 earplugs.

The CAEv2 plugs are the second version of Combat Arms, which were developed by Aearo and sold to the government from 1999 to 2015 when 3M abruptly discontinued the product.

The lawsuits are roped together in a multidistrict litigation or MDL case, which is used in the federal court system for complex product liability matters with many separate claims. MDL cases commonly feature bellwether trials, which set a tone for resolving all claims.

The parties will use these cases as a way of gauging their arguments and the strength of their positions, said Henry Blair, a professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul. The bellwether is a way to gauge a settlement.

Lahav said that the more variance in bellwether trial outcomes, the more difficult for lawyers to forge a settlement. You might see 10 to 15 trials before they are ready to settle. But ultimately, they always settle around the bellwether.

As of March 15, there were 229,397 separate actions within the 3M earplug case, according to the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. That makes it the largest MDL ever, according to Bloomberg Law.

The second largest involved 192,100 claims in an asbestos MDL. But actual asbestos product liability claims total around 750,000, including suits in state courts that werent consolidated into an MDL, Lahav said.

In its 2020 annual report, 3M said it was defending 3,130 Combat Arms suits, including 14 putative class actions, that together involved 12,400 claims. The gap between those numbers and federal MDL data appears to be claims that have yet to served on 3M or completely vetted by the court.

The vast majority of claimants that are being reported have not actually filed lawsuits and are solely part of an administrative docket, 3M said in a statement.

The earplug claims against 3M were lodged after the company settled a whistleblower suit in 2018.

That suit was brought by rival earplug maker Moldex-Metric on the U.S. governments behalf, after an inquiry by the Army Criminal Investigations Command. The suit claimed Aearo knew about dangerous design defects in 2000.

In a 2018 report, the Army concluded that had the government known about tests Aearo had done in 2000 it may not have purchased Combat Arms earplugs. In the whistleblower settlement, 3M paid a $9.1 million penalty, but denied all claims and did not admit liability.

At the heart of the MDL case is the U.S. Armys request in 1999 to Aearo to shorten the plugs so they would fit in a standard-issue military carrying case. The company did so, but plaintiffs claim Aearos fix caused bigger problems.

Tests in 2000 at Aearos Indianapolis laboratory indicated that the shorter earplug didnt always fit properly  and thus wasnt always effective  unless it was inserted in a particular way, according to internal Aearo documents filed in court.

3M claims it told the military about the fitting issues, and that the military was responsible for informing soldiers about the earplugs proper fit.

Plaintiffs claim the earplugs leaked noise, damaging soldiers hearing. 3M said in a statement that the product was not defectively or negligently designed and did not cause injuries.

In July, Rodgers nixed a key legal strategy that 3M had planned to use: the government contractor defense. It shields contractors from tort liability for defects in products designed and developed for the federal government.

3M has claimed that the Combat Arms CAEv2 was designed in close collaboration with the military.

But Rodgers ruled that the Army never issued a request for a design proposal for the earplug; and there was no contract between the Army and Aearo when a military representative told the company that the plugs needed to be shortened.

3M plans on calling three retired Army medical staffers to testify at the trial, two audiologists and a doctor whos an ear specialist.

All three can testify about deficiencies in the Armys hearing program that they observed or experienced. But Rodgers ruled that none of them can make any blanket conclusions about the program.
ADDIS ABABA- The recent wildfires in the national parks and forests are human caused fires, so disclosed the Wildlife Development and Conservation Authority.

The Authority's Protectorate Director Desta Bedaso told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the recent fires broke out in the North Mountains National Park, Awash National Park, Bale Mountains Park and other dense forests are man-made.

The Research Team at Hala Dege Asebot Candidate Park has confirmed that the fires in area were caused by a piece of burning coals and Cigarette butts. The team indicated that efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice have been challenging as they clandestinely committed the crime.

The Director also said the prolongation of the dry season and the favorable weather conditions witnessed earlier had caused the fire to rife and incurs more damage. The second fire in the Halay Dege Asebot Park, especially in the area known as As bot Monastery, was under control.

The fires were controlled everywhere except that of the Arsi Mountains since the park mountainous and has forest reserves coupled with manpower decline to control activities.

He stated that efforts are being exerted with the support of UNESCO; professional training has been provided on how to prevent fires and control them in the event of a fire in National Parks. Lack of training has exacerbated the situation.

"Ethiopia has not created the capacity to control wildfires. We were able to control the situation when a fire broke out in the North Mountains a year ago with the support of other countries," he indicated.

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He stated that the Authority has attempted to establish Fire Protection Brigade in Semen and Bale Mountains drawing lessons from the previous similar incidents.

In addition to man-made problems that have caused parks set on fire, global climate change has played a negative role in inflaming wildfires across the globe. In this regard, the grass is seriously damaged when fire breaks out in the park and wild animals directly affected due to lack of adequate food. For example, Salah among the wild animals are seriously exposed to vehicle collision while escaping from fire.

Amhara Region Environment, Forest and Wildlife Protection and Development Authority Director General Belayeneh Ayele (Ph.D.) on his part said that the fire that happened at Bird's Cave in Ankber area, North Shewa zone of the region and lasted for five days.

"Due to the mountainous and ragged of the area, local residents could hardly control the fire. Following this, the region requested the Federal government to contain the situation.

As a result, the Federal Environment Forest Protection and Development Commission sent the Researcher group to the area. Now the researcher group supports the community and work hand in glove with the people to reduce the disaster and protect the reserved forest."

He further noted that even small towns are potentially exposed to fire unless strong measures are taken in this regard.
(Newser)  President Biden on Tuesday announced his intent to nominate a "trailblazing slate" of judicial nominees, a field that includes Black, Muslim American, and Asian American Pacific Islander candidates for federal courts and for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, per the AP. The White House said the 11 nominees are attorneys who've excelled in the legal field, including as jurists, public defenders, prosecutors, and public servants, as well as in the private sector and in the military. "This trailblazing slate of nominees draws from the very best and brightest minds of the American legal profession," Biden said in a statement. "Each is deeply qualified and prepared to deliver justice faithfully under our Constitution and impartially to the American peopleand together they represent the broad diversity of background, experience, and perspective that makes our nation strong."

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The White House said Biden's judicial choices reflect his deeply held belief that the federal courts should reflect the "full diversity of the American people" in background and professional experience. Former President Trump leaned heavily on white men to fill judicial vacancies. Biden's group includes three Black women tapped for circuit court vacancies, as well as candidates who, if confirmed, would be the first Muslim American federal judge in US history, the first AAPI woman to ever serve on the US District Court for the District of Columbia, and the first woman of color to ever serve as a federal judge for the District of Maryland. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Black woman whom former President Obama considered for the Supreme Court, is nominated to the appeals court in Washington to fill the vacancy created when Merrick Garland became attorney general. (Much more on the nominees here.)
Napier, March 30 : New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 28 runs amid confusion surrounding the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target for the visitors in a rain-interrupted 2nd T20I at McLean Park on Tuesday.

Glenn Phillips, who was declared man of the match, was on 58 off 31 balls while Daryl Mitchell on 34 off 16 when the umpires led the players back due to rains.

The New Zealand innings eventually had to be stopped at 17.5 overs when they were already on 173/5 and Bangladesh were initially under the impression that their corrected target was 148 off 16 overs. Eventually, play had to be stopped for five minutes as the target was corrected to 170, which was again an incorrect target and it was revised to 171.

Upping the ante on the New Zealand bowlers after the play resumed, Soumya Sarkar hit five fours and three sixes on his way to 51 off 27 balls.

However, Phillips and Ish Sodhi pulled things back for New Zealand and Bangladesh succumbed to the pressure. Sarkar soon holed out to long-on off Tim Southee and as the asking rate increased, other Bangladesh batsmen also got out trying big shots.

Phillips was the star of the show during the New Zealand innings, smashing five fours and two sixes in a 62-run partnership with Mitchell that came off just 27 balls.

Brief scores: New Zealand 173/5 in 17.5 overs (Glenn Phillips 58 not out, Daryl Mitchell 34 not out; Mahedi Hasan 2/45) beat Bangladesh 142/7 in 16 overs (Soumya Sarkar 51; Tim Southee 2/21, Hamish Bennett 2/31) by 28 runs (DLS method)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 16:15:17|Editor: huaxia

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HAVANA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Granma, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, highlighted on Monday Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks in a reply letter to Cuban leaders.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, extended gratitude to Cuban leaders for their congratulations on China's complete victory in poverty alleviation in the letter to Raul Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Granma reported.

"Xi said that China will, as always, support Cuba in keeping to the path of socialism and push bilateral relations to higher levels," Granma quoted the letter as saying.

Castro and Diaz-Canel wrote to Xi earlier, extending warm congratulations, on behalf of the Communist Party of Cuba, the Cuban government and people, on China's complete victory in poverty alleviation.

The newspaper also reviewed China's remarkable achievements in eradicating absolute poverty, which has met the poverty eradication target set in the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule.

Guided by their leaders, China and Cuba have enjoyed a traditional friendship of good friends, good comrades and good brothers, and their friendly cooperation has undergone all-round development.

In September, Xi said he highly values the unique friendship between China and Cuba and stands ready to help make the two countries good friends, good comrades and good brothers forever.

Xi made the remarks in congratulatory messages exchanged with Castro and Diaz-Canel to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In his message to Castro, Xi noted that bilateral ties have over the past 60 years withstood the vicissitudes of the international situation and grown ever stronger.

Political mutual trust between China and Cuba has been continuously deepened and bilateral practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results, Xi said, adding that the two countries have stood together and joined hands to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which has raised their traditional friendship to a higher level.

In his congratulatory message to Diaz-Canel, Xi said that since the two countries established diplomatic ties 60 years ago, China and Cuba have forged a profound friendship with mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual support.

In recent years, China-Cuba friendly cooperation has been deepening in an all-round way, including active collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative, which has brought concrete benefits to the people of both countries, Xi noted.

In February 2020, Xi talked over phone with Diaz-Canel to compare notes on the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic and how to further promote bilateral ties.

Xi noted that after the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, Castro and Diaz-Canel immediately extended their sympathies to him, and the Cuban president also paid a special visit to the Chinese embassy in Cuba to express support for China.

That, said the Chinese president, has fully demonstrated the profound traditional friendship between China and Cuba.

Diaz-Canel, for his part, said Cuba highly appreciates and firmly supports China's efforts to combat the COVID-19 epidemic and thanks China for providing help and care for Cuban nationals in China.

In November 2018, Xi held talks with Diaz-Canel in Beijing, calling on the two countries to cherish their traditional friendship and write a new chapter in China-Cuba friendly cooperation. Enditem
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Two students died after an Iowa State University crew club boat capsized with five students aboard during practice Sunday morning, according to the university.

The body of one student was recovered from Little Wall Lake on Monday morning by a dive team and the other body was recovered Sunday, a news release from the university said.

Three of the students who were rescued from the water have been treated and released from Mary Greeley Medical Center, the university release said.

Emergency communication received a call about the capsized boat around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Hamilton County Sheriff Doug Timmons told CNN affiliate KCCI during a press conference.

Timmons said several residents who live near the lake sprang into action, saving some of the boaters.

"We had some heroes in the people who live in the houses here," the sheriff said. "There's some people who took some risks they didn't have to take and saved some lives."

While there were high winds at the time of the call, Timmons said, the investigation into what caused the boat to capsize is still ongoing.

The air temperature was just above freezing at 9 a.m., Sunday at Webster City Municipal Airport, about 16 miles northwest of the lake, said CNN meteorologist Monica Garrett.

Winds were strong all morning with sustained winds above 20 mph and wind gusts up to 30 mph. These winds made it feel like 25 degrees Fahrenheit, Garrett said.

Both the university and the sheriff's office said they are not releasing the names of the students involved at this time.

"The Iowa State community is heartbroken to learn of this tragic accident at Little Wall Lake," Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen said in the release. "At this time, we are focused on providing support to club members, their families and friends. We ask that everyone keep them in their thoughts during this very difficult time."
Drew Barrymore has announced the launch of her very own quarterly magazine, Drew.

The actress, 46, revealed her eponymous publication will be launching this June as she took to Instagram to share a slew of images of herself, old and new.

'We are launching a MAGAZINE!!!' Drew announced Tuesday. 'I've dreamed of this day since I was a little girl, lining my walls with tears from my favorite magazines to make wallpaper.

Making headlines! Drew Barrymore has announced the launch of her very own quarterly magazine, Drew

'Our pilot issue of DREW, a special interest publication and collaboration with our partners at Bauer Media Group will hit newsstands in June!!

'I can't wait for you to see and enjoy what we have created for you. From beauty and food to human interest and travel (and a crossword puzzle yay!!!), every glossy page will include the people, places and things I love most ... truly the best from me to you.'

The post contained several images of the E.T. actress as a young girl, posing inside her bedroom decorated with magazine clippings.

She also shared a more recent snap of herself, pouring over paperwork with various magazines scattered on the floor.

Throwback: The post contained several images of the E.T. actress as a young girl, posing inside her bedroom decorated with magazine clippings

Drew has already been working on the publication for around two years, and will serve as the magazine's editor-in-chief, according to WWD.

The lifestyle publication will focus on a variety of uplifting topics, including feel-good stories, inspirational people, travel, food, cooking, beauty and lifestyle.

'I call our show optimism TV. This is an optimism magazine,' Drew told WWD.

Making a magazine has been a lifelong dream for Drew.

'I've dreamed of this day since I was a little girl': Barrymore posed with her weights beside her wall full of images

'I've lined my walls with magazine tear sheets since I was like 10 years old,' she told WWD of her desire to start a magazine.

'I have a picture of myself in my bedroom and it's like floor to ceiling and wall to wall. I've always loved magazines because of the paper and the experience. Magazines are such a huge part of my life and they're such a huge part of my inspiration for everything I do.'

Despite the magazine being named after her, it has not yet been decided if Drew will appear on every cover.

She means business! Barrymore has been working on the publication for around two years, and will serve as it's editor-in-chief

'We certainly think [Drew] is our best cover, but were going into it more with a kind of listening to the audience,' the president of Bauer Media, Steven Kotok, told WWD.

'The reader will always decide. Clearly she should be on the first cover and well figure it out from there. When you overconceive it, thats the only way to screw it up.'

The lifestyle magazine is a collaboration between Drew and Bauer Media Group and will be available exclusively at Walmart starting June 14 for $9.99.

The magazine marks Drew's latest venture outside of acting.

Drew's talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show, was recently given the green light for a second season after enjoying a noticeable ratings bump at the start of the year, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

A detective who admitted gross misconduct after failing to properly investigate claims a schoolgirl was raped by multiple men in Rotherham in 2007 has avoided the sack.

Dc Ian Hampshire made the admission at the start of a two-day police misconduct hearing in Sheffield today, but was allowed to keep his job after the panel said he should not be held personally accountable for the 'systemic failings' of South Yorkshire Police.

He will be given a written warning rather than be dismissed after it was heard his conduct in relation to the girl was part of a much wider failure by the force to deal with child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the town at the time.

The 2014 Jay Report shocked the nation when it detailed how at least 1,400 children were raped, trafficked and abused by gangs of men of mainly Pakistani heritage between 1997 and 2013.

The report criticised the lack of action by police and social workers and provoked a wave of resignations and further inquiries.

Campaigners have demanded that officers who ignored the sexual abuse of underage girls by grooming gangs be named and shamed, after a leaked report failed to identify a key investigator in the scandal.

The police watchdog also upheld a complaint last year that a chief inspector admitted to the father of a victim that abuse was ignored due to fears of increasing 'racial tensions'.

Panel chairman Simon Mallett said today: 'It would be wrong for this panel, and it would be wrong for this officer, to make him personally accountable for the systemic failings of the force.'

Dc Hampshire, who has 23 years' service with the force, is understood to be the first officer to face a disciplinary hearing following the CSE scandal in Rotherham.

A detective who admitted gross misconduct over the Rotherham scandal investigation has kept his job after a disciplinary panel said he should not be held personally accountable for South Yorkshire Police's 'systemic failings'

Child grooming gang review finds offenders come from 'diverse backgrounds' A Home Office review into the blight of child grooming gangs has found offenders come from a diverse background - but poor data collection failed victims as it did not include characteristics including ethnicity. Home Secretary Priti Patel laid bare her disappointment into the investigation, which was sparked by Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford child abuse networks, themselves made up of men of mainly Pakistani origin. The review was published following criticism that victims had been failed due to political correctness and fear of accusations of racism. But Ms Patel said it had not been able to go far enough in her foreword to the findings. Advertisement

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched Operation Linden into police conduct in relation to the scandal - the organisation's second biggest inquiry after the investigation into the Hillsborough disaster - but this report has not yet been published.

The hearing heard that the girl, who was about 16 at the time, made a series of complaints of rape to other officers during a police interview in May 2007.

But the allegations against Dc Hampshire related to further claims she made after he took over her case.

These included a claim that she was raped by a number of men on the night before she was due to be interviewed by Dc Hampshire and another detective about other alleged incidents.

She disclosed that she was plied with drink and taken to different addresses before waking up with man in a Rotherham park.

The hearing heard that Dc Hampshire made 'good, positive first steps' by taking the girl for a forensic examination and driving her around to see if she remembered where the recent attacks happened.

But he admitted that he later failed to progress the investigation and keep the teenager updated with what was happening.

Ed Pleeth, putting the case against the officer at the hearing, said the detective failed to take 'basic steps that should have been immediately obvious to any police officer'.

Jason Pitter QC, for Dc Hampshire, argued that his client's admitted failings in relation to the girl had 'to be considered in the context of systemic failings within South Yorkshire Police at the relevant time'.

In 2014, the Jay Report shocked the nation when it detailed how at least 1,400 children were raped, trafficked and abused by gangs of men of mainly Pakistani heritage in the town between 1997 and 2013. The report criticised the lack of action by police and social workers and provoked a wave of resignations and further inquiries

He said Dc Hampshire was a trainee detective in 2007 and was operating in an atmosphere of high workloads and poor supervision.

Mr Pitter said his client has an exemplary record from the last 14 years, including being commended for another high-profile and complex investigation which involved dealing with child victims.

The barrister said there was a mindset in the force at the time which regarded complainants like the girl as having inappropriate relationships with boyfriends who showered them with gifts, which he said was 'a failing culture in relation to offences of this nature'.

Mr Mallett said the panel concluded that the girl's complaints 'were not treated with the seriousness they should have been'.

He said the failings of South Yorkshire Police in relation to CSE in Rotherham at the time were 'a matter of public record'.

He added that the panel accepted Dc Hampshire was working in a unit with 'poor culture', creaking workloads and with very limited supervision for junior officers.

He said this 'affected the conduct of all the officers in the unit' and that the detective was 'one officer in a unit that seriously failed to protect the most vulnerable', which was a matter of 'enormous public concern'.

The chairman said Dc Hampshire's leaders and supervisors 'bore considerably more responsibility' for these overall failings than he did.

He also accepted glowing references submitted on behalf of the officer, which referred to him as hard-working, diligent, professional, reliable and with a 'close affinity with victims'.

A restriction preventing the reporting of the hearing was lifted today.

Dc Ian Hampshire admitted failing to properly investigate allegations made by a teenage girl that she had been raped by multiple men in the town in 2007, at the start of a two-day police misconduct hearing in Sheffield

South Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Lauren Poultney said: 'Dc Hampshire's actions in 2007 fell significantly short of what the public should be able to expect from a police officer.

'Since the findings of the Jay Report, which led to this investigation, the force has taken huge strides in understanding and investigating CSE to ensure victims of a sexual offences can have confidence that, when they feel able to raise the alarm, South Yorkshire Police officers are ready to respond.

'In recent years, we have delivered extensive training to all of our officers, partner agencies and businesses where there may be opportunities to spot CSE and intervene.

'We have restructured our teams to reflect demand and to ensure specialist officers are well placed to address any emerging issues.

'We have also worked with partner agencies to ensure appropriate reporting mechanisms are in place and anyone reporting a sexual offence is supported with compassion and professionalism.'

In December, a Home Office review into the blight of child grooming gangs found offenders come from a diverse background - but poor data collection failed victims as it did not include characteristics including ethnicity.

Home Secretary Priti Patel laid bare her disappointment into the investigation, which was sparked by Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford child abuse networks, themselves made up of men of mainly Pakistani origin.

The review was published following criticism that victims had been failed due to political correctness and fear of accusations of racism.

But Ms Patel said it had not been able to go far enough in her foreword to the findings.

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.
ADDIS ABABA- The governments of Ethiopia and the United States and other development partners unveiled yesterday a 2.38 billion USD investment to the next five-year phase of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP).

Accordingly, Finance Minister Ahmed Shide and Agriculture Minister Oumer Hussein as well as heads of USAID, World Bank, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, World Food Program, UNICEF, Irish Aid, and the Netherlands launched the program.

During the occasion, Oumar said that the program will benefit 8.3 million citizens over the next five years and helps to eradicate extreme poverty.

"The program will have a significant impact on improving the living conditions of citizens by ensuring food security. Beneficiaries of the program in the rural areas will actively engage in rehabilitating more than two million hectares of land," he stated.

As to the minister, the fifth phase of the safety net program includes low-income communities in 408 rural woredas (districts) throughout the country. It is estimated that 51 percent of the beneficiaries are women.

About the finance, 65 percent of the 2.38 billion USD will be covered by development partners and the Ethiopian government will contribute 25 percent whilst the balance is covered by new partners.

Due to the program, more than 550,000 households will have access to credit or grants that they may spent to changing livelihoods through engaged in business activities both on the farm and off the farm, it was stated.
In the last Sunday's elections, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was elected member of the Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Council) chamber of the new bicameral parliament of Milli Gengesh (National Council).

This was reported by Gulmyrad Myradov, Chairman of the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums in Turkmenistan, at a government meeting via video link.

He noted that according to the protocol on the results of voting submitted by election commissions, 48 people were elected to the Khalk Maslakhaty chamber, 8 from each region of Turkmenistan and the city of Ashgabat.

On behalf of the Central Election Commission and all election commissions of the country, Myradov congratulated President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on his election to the Khalk Maslakhaty of Milli Gengesh.

Following the report, the head of state expressed gratitude to everyone who participated in the elections and congratulated the elected members of the Khalk Maslakhaty.

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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

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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

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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

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DUBLIN, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global building integrated photovoltaics market by revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 16% during the period 2021-2026.

The global market has observed a rapid growth in Europe, North America, and parts of APAC in recent years. With the improvement in infrastructure, lux residential complexes, commercial office spaces, airports, and hospitals, the demand for sustainable energy products, including BIPV, is growing.

The market has historically been concentrated in the US and Europe and accounted for the highest installations; however, emerging economies are currently contributing toward the BIPV demand significantly. The application of BIPV products in the residential sector is expected to increase with the growth in awareness and increase in disposable incomes in developing regions. Along with the rising demand for new installations, the market in developed regions is witnessing an increased demand from retrofit projects.

The Europe BIPV market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 14% during the forecast period. As solar energy is the cheapest source of electricity in Nordics, the momentum for PV is growing in the region. The growth of BIPV has been steady and optimistic in countries such as Norway, Sweden despite the absence of special subsidies and wide policies.

The BIPV system as a building envelope material is economically feasible in Norway that is driving the adoption. Homeowners in the Netherlands have shown keen interest in PV modules. Europe is one of the largest markets in terms of installed PV capacities and annual installations across the world. Institutions and industries in Europe are increasingly adopting eco-friendly or green technology to reduce carbon footprints from buildings.

Buildings have become exceedingly complex with the incorporation of smart technology. While the beneficial economic factors that are capable to drive the demand for BIPV installation in Europe, there are certain policies and regulations that could hamper the demand for BIPV installation. Reduction in incentives and subsidies and decrease or removal of feed-in-tariff rates can adversely affect market growth in the region.



Insights by Vendors



The global building integrated photovoltaics market is observing a flurry of activities, with new entrants queuing up to entry it. However, high initial capital investments hamper the entry of new players as development and commercialization of high-efficiency BIPV modules technology remain a capital-intensive affair.

As the building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) market grows with the growing adoption of solar energy in residential and commercial buildings, it is expected that vendors invest in enhancing their product portfolio during the forecast period.

The incorporation of recyclability in manufacturing processes can enhance the significance of vendors in terms of sustainability and eco-friendliness. With solar energy witnessing traction, the potential for reducing energy costs is significantly high.

Key Questions Answered



1. How is smart home automation growth affecting the BIPV market growth?

2. What are the major sustainable practices followed by building integrated photovoltaics manufacturers?

3. What is the market size and growth rate of the BIPV market during the period 2021-2026?

4. Which segment is likely to emerge as the largest revenue-generator during the forecast period?

5. Which regions are expected to dominate the BIPV market shares during the forecast period?

6. What are the market restraints impacting the building integrated photovoltaics market growth?

Key Topics Covered:

1 Research Methodology



2 Research Objectives



3 Research Process



4 Scope & Coverage

4.1 Market Definition

4.2 Base Year

4.3 Scope Of The Study



5 Report Assumptions & Caveats

5.1 Key Caveats

5.2 Currency Conversion

5.3 Market Derivation



6 Market at a Glance



7 Introduction

7.1 Overview

7.2 COVID-19 Impact



8 Market Opportunities & Trends

8.1 Growth Of Zero-Energy Buildings (Zebs)

8.2 Development Of Next-Gen Bipv Products

8.3 Rising Smart Home Penetration



9 Market Growth Enablers

9.1 Preference For Non-Conventional Energy Sources

9.2 Utilization In Sustainable Renovation Techniques



10 Market Restraints

10.1 High Initial Investment

10.2 Technical Barriers Affecting Scalability

10.3 Lack Of Awareness And Competition From Conventional Sources



11 Market Landscape

11.1 Market Overview

11.2 Market Size & Forecast

11.3 Five Forces Analysis



12 Technology

12.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

12.2 Market Overview

12.3 Crystalline Silicon

12.4 Thin-Film

12.5 Others



13 Application

13.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

13.2 Market Overview

13.3 Roof

13.4 Facade And Window



14 End-User

14.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

14.2 Market Overview

14.3 Commercial

14.4 Residential

14.5 Others

Competitive Landscape

Prominent Vendors

First Solar

Yingli Solar

Solar Frontier K.K

Hanwha Solar

Hanergy Holding Group

Other Prominent Vendors

Solarcentury

Sharp Corporation

REC Solar Holdings AS

Panasonic

Wuxi Suntech Power Co.

Canadian Solar

KYOCERA Corporation

Onyx Solar Group

SunPower

Jinko Solar

Tesla

Heliatek

BIPVco

Visaka Industries

NanoPV Solar

Tractile

ISSOL

ertex Solar

Nippon Sheet Glass

BISOL

ViaSolis

Topsun Energy

Polysolar

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mz2egg

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


AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2021 / Movability and Fetii are teaming up to offer Texans a commuting solution in a post-COVID world.

The duo are offering commuters and employers unique solutions through a shared vision of improving efficiency and alleviating traffic congestion. Focusing on decreased traffic congestion, individuals can save time, money and gas, and employers can see their company's profitability and workflow increase.

"Movability is excited to welcome Fetii to our family as it will take the public and private sectors, along with many different modes, to get our community where they need to go," said Movability Executive Director Lisa Kay Pfannenstiel.

Movability, Central Texas' first and only transportation management association, works in conjunction with employers and individuals to improve the area using commuter options that save money and time. Movability works with many well-known names, including Google, Facebook, Samsung, Whole Foods, Silicon Labs, Dell, St. Edward's University, etc.

Matthew Iommi, Fetii co-founder and co-chief executive officer, said, "Right now in the U.S., over 75% of commuters choose to drive to work alone in their car. This translates into nearly 115 million vehicles transporting exactly one person each, a statistic increasing as the workforce continues to grow. As cities deal with a growing population, rising emissions and increasing congestion, one thing is certain, the future of transportation is shared mobility."

Austin ranks as the nation's 18th worst in traffic congestion. To improve the traffic situation, Movability will use Fetii's network of 15 passenger transit vans and their group-centric AI platform for a solution.

While businesses have previously attempted different commuting options, most were unsustainable. An in-house shuttle service operation leads to high overhead costs due to vehicle purchases and depreciation, insurance, gas, driver payroll and manager payroll. Traditional commuting services charge exorbitantly high fees that make it nearly impossible for businesses to afford multiple commuting vehicles.

The group rideshare company offers a unique solution to the transportation dilemma of both employers and employees. Fetii's dual revenue system - Fetii Business and Fetii Group - will charge businesses nearly 80% less than current commuting transit providers that offer employee shuttle services. It's a revolutionary step forward in the transportation industry that gives businesses the ability to afford a fleet of employee commuting vehicles.

Justin Rath, Fetii co-founder and co-CEO, said, "During the times of the day when businesses aren't utilizing Fetii for their employee transportation, our transit vehicles are not sitting in a parking lot in the evening/nights. Instead, they are generating revenue by transporting groups using the Fetii platform."

In this post-COVID world, employers take precautions when bringing employees back to the office. Besides rigorous cleanings and safety precautions, Fetii utilizes a QR vehicle check-in process that gives businesses the ability to contract trace to prevent any virus outbreaks among employees. The group rideshare company helped to ensure a successful reopening of the Texas A&M University System in the Fall 2020 semester.

A&M System Chief Information Officer Mark Stone said, "The Texas A&M University System signed a system-wide agreement with Fetii to allow all 11 institutions and the other nine members of the system to utilize Fetii for their reopening processes. We could not be more pleased."

COVID-19 changed how people worked, and now Movability and Fetii are changing how employees get to and from their jobs. It may have been inevitable that a partnership between the TMA and rideshare company would happen as they share the same vision for a better world.

About Fetii

"Fetii has created an AI group-centric platform and a network of 15 passenger vehicles that can service groups on-demand as well as provide a cost-effective commuting solution to businesses and their employees. With Fetii's technology and transit network, Fetii can remove up to 14 vehicles with each trip, bringing a genuine and effective solution to cities," said Matthew Iommi, Fetii co-founder and co-CEO.

About Movability

"Movability is Central Texas' sole transportation management association (TMA). Movability aims to promote and connect employers and individuals in Central Texas with TDM strategies and planning, ultimately reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicles and trips commuters and travelers make in the region.

Kate Harrington, Movability Membership Outreach & Engagement manager, said, "We hope to achieve this on a grander scale eventually. We want to provide TMA services for large, mixed-use developments and dense hubs in Central Texas while also working with service providers to connect employers and commuters directly."

To learn more about Movability and its mission, visit their website: https://movabilitytx.org/.

CONTACT:

Justin Rath

Fetii

info@fetii.com

www.fetii.com

(949) 639-9182 SOURCE: Fetii

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/638021/Movability-Partners-With-Fetii-To-Offer-Post-COVID-Commuting-Solutions
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Cuba began vaccinating tens of thousands of health care workers with a second COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, even though it has yet to complete clinical trials.

Last week, Cuba started vaccinating 150,000 health care workers with its Soberana 2 vaccine that is still in the third phase of clinical trials.

And on Monday, the island nation started giving its Abdala vaccine to 124,000 health care workersAbdala is likewise still in phase 3 of COVID vaccine trials.

Cuba is also working on two other vaccinesMambisa and Soberana 1that are respectively still in phase 1 and phase 2.

"The controlled intervention study with the Abdala vaccine was approved by the Cuban regulatory agency on Saturday 27 March and today, Monday, we began vaccinating," Rolando Perez, the director of science and innovation at state pharmaceutical company BioCubaFarma, said on state television.

Cubans aged between 19 and 80 "with a high risk" of being infected are participating in the intervention study while another 48,000 volunteers are taking part in the parallel phase 3 clinical study for Abdala.

A third intervention study, also using Soberana 2, aims to vaccinate 1.7 million inhabitants of the capital Havana, including athletes that have qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games that begin in July.

The two Soberana 2 initiatives are due to be completed by May.

Unlike regular clinical tests, intervention studies do not use a placebo group.

Cuba's government plans to begin its formal vaccination program in June, at which time it hopes to have the first authorized vaccine developed and produced in Latin America.

Perez said BioCubaFarma is planning on conducting clinical trials on children as young as five from April.

Cuba has been forced to develop its own vaccines since the 1980s due to difficulties imposed by US sanctions that began in 1962.

Eight of the 11 vaccines in its immunization program are produced locally.

The country of 11.2 million has been relatively unscathed by the coronavirus pandemic, recording 73,000 cases and just 417 deaths.

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

 2021 AFP
HONG KONG, March 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Renrui Human Resources Technology Holdings Limited ("Renrui HR" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") (Stock Code: 6919.HK), today announced its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2020 (the "year").

Summary of Key Financial Performances for the Full Year

Total revenue of the Group Amounted to approximately RMB2,830.1 million , representing a year-on-year ("yoy") growth of approximately RMB542.5 million or 23.7%

, representing a year-on-year ("yoy") growth of approximately or 23.7% During the year, the Group was entitled to social insurance premium exemption amounted to approximately RMB197.1 million . In line with the rationale of going through difficult times with the Group's clients, part of the flexible staffing service fees payable by our clients was waived. Without this adjustment, revenue for 2020 would have increased by approximately 32.3% yoy

. In line with the rationale of going through difficult times with the Group's clients, part of the flexible staffing service fees payable by our clients was waived. Without this adjustment, revenue for 2020 would have increased by approximately 32.3% yoy Operating profit amounted to approximately RMB198.5 million , a yoy increase of approximately RMB80.3 million or 67.9%

, a yoy increase of approximately or 67.9% Adjusted net profit* was approximately RMB183.2 million , representing a yoy increase of approximately RMB48.9 million or 36.5%

, representing a yoy increase of approximately or 36.5% Adjusted net profit margin* increased from 5.9% in 2019 to 6.5%

Recommends the payment of a final dividend of HK$0.42 (2019: nil) for the year ended 31 December 2020

* Adjusted net profit (non-HKFRS) is defined as the net profit/(loss) for the year excluding non-operational fair value losses on hybrid financial instruments, listing expenses and share-based payment expenses under the Post-IPO Share Option Scheme, where applicable.

** Adjusted net profit margin (non-HKFRS) is calculated as adjusted net (loss) / profit as a percentage of revenue for the same year.

Revenue Breakdown by Business Segments

During the year, the Group's revenue was mainly generated from flexible staffing, professional recruitment, BPO, and other HR solutions, accounting for 91.0%, 2.5%, 5.3% and 1.2% of total revenue, respectively

Revenue from flexible staffing was approximately RMB2,576.4 million , up by 19.8% compared to 2019. The number of flexible staffing employee increased by approximately 42.4% from 25,118 as at 31 December 2019 to 35,762 as at 31 December 2020

, up by 19.8% compared to 2019. The number of flexible staffing employee increased by approximately 42.4% from 25,118 as at to 35,762 as at Revenue from professional recruitment was approximately RMB69.3 million , an increase of 9.1% from approximately RMB63.5 million as at 31 December 2019 . Of which, revenue from recruitment was approximately RMB67.9 million , an increase of 17.9% from approximately RMB57.6 million as at 31 December 2019

, an increase of 9.1% from approximately as at . Of which, revenue from recruitment was approximately , an increase of 17.9% from approximately as at BPO business showed significant development during the year. Revenue from the segment was approximately RMB150.6 million , an increase of approximately 190.7% from approximately RMB51.8 million as at 31 December 2019

Business Highlights for the Year 2020

Market Leader: The Group ranked the first among all flexible staffing services providers in the PRC not only in terms of the number of flexible staffing employees hired as at 31 December 2020 , with a market share of approximately 2.3%, but also in terms of annual flexible staffing revenue, with a market share of 3.1%

The Group ranked the first among all flexible staffing services providers in the PRC not only in terms of the number of flexible staffing employees hired as at , with a market share of approximately 2.3%, but also in terms of annual flexible staffing revenue, with a market share of 3.1% Number of Flexible Staffing Employees Recorded Significant Increase: Increased by 42.4% from 25,118 as at 31 December 2019 to 35,762 as at 31 December 2020

Increased by 42.4% from 25,118 as at to 35,762 as at Dedicated to the New Economy Industry for co-development: Revenue generated from clients in new economy industries for the year ended 31 December 2020 accounted for approximately 88.9% of overall revenue. Further, approximately 50.4% of our total revenue was contributed by the unicorn companies

Revenue generated from clients in new economy industries for the year ended accounted for approximately 88.9% of overall revenue. Further, approximately 50.4% of our total revenue was contributed by the unicorn companies Integrated human resources ecosystem and platform: In 2020, the conversion rate from offer to on-boarding was approximately 54.9% in 2020, representing a slight increase from approximately 54.6% in 2019. The number of registered candidates on the Xiang Recruitment Platform was approximately 2,590,000, and the number of new registered individual users in 2020 amounted to approximately 680,000

Mr. Zhang Jianguo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Renrui Human Resources Technology Holdings Limited, stated, "The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought many challenges to the market. However, benefitted from the effective pandemic prevention policies by the Chinese government, as well as a series of finacial and currency stimulation policies, the economy in Mainland China rapidly recovered. It is therefore expected that the demand for human resources from corporations will continuously increase. The IMF expects that the actual growth rate of China's GDP in 2021 will be about 8.1%, and the annual growth rate of China's flexible staffing market is expected to be 20.6% in 2021. Given the rapid growth of China's flexible staffing industry and the Chinese government's emphasis on employment stability, the Group is confident of the rapid business development in 2021. Looking forward, we will continue to diversify and expand our customer base to increase revenue. In addition, we will continue expand the geographic support network for domestic and overseas customer service, while continue to enhance the integrated human resource ecosystem and platform, striving to create a professional career ecosystem."

Mr. Kenneth Ke, Chief Investment Officer of Renrui Human Resource Technology Holdings Limited, added, "The recurring income model of Renrui HR has achieved notable results, which increase the accuracy of financial forecast. Consider that China's flexible staffing market remains large and untapped, the Group will leverage its market leading position and technological first-mover advantage to serve unicorn companies in developing their businesses. Last year, the Group invested in Tianjin Binhai Xunteng Group Co., Ltd. Through comprehensive integration of industry and education, we have established the human resource academia supply chain for Renrui HR. In the next three years, we will speed up the rollout and build-up of a professional career ecological chain through investment and acquisitions. Looking forward, the Group is confident in its business prospects, competitive advantages and growth potential."

- Ends -

About Renrui Human Resources Technology Holdings Limited

Renrui HR Group is a fast-growing pioneer in HR solutions In China. The company services a large number of industry leaders in new economy and other sectors as their strategic partner. Renrui HR Group provides the largest scale of Flexible Staffing services and other complementary HR services including Professional Recruitment, BPO services, and Corporate Training. The company has reinvented traditional human resources services with comprehensive digital and cutting-edge technology, to effectively solve large-scale talent recruitment and management problems in the market. Currently Renrui HR Group operates more than 49 branch offices across China and provides one-stop HR services to clients in over 300 cities, enabling a strong national linkage and cross-region talent transfer. In addition, the company has nearly 900 employees and over 34,000 contract employees.

Company website: http://www.renruihr.com/

This press release is issued by DLK Advisory Limited on behalf of Renrui Human Resources Technology Holdings Limited.

For enquiries, please contact,

Renrui HR

Chief Investment Officer

Kenneth Ke ([email protected])

DLK Advisory

Michelle Shi ([email protected])

Rachel Chung ([email protected])

Alvin Tam ([email protected])

Ivy Cheung ([email protected])

Phone: +852 2857 7101

Fax: +852 2857 7103

SOURCE Renrui Human Resources Technology Holdings Limited
A Commonwealth Bank of Australia logo adorns the wall of a branch in Sydney, Australia, May 8, 2017. (David Gray/File Photo/Reuters)

Australian Bank Tells Distressed Property Investors to Sell

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) is encouraging distressed property investors to take advantage of the surging house prices and sell their properties.

Listing investment properties on the market is one of several options the bank is suggesting for customers who are unable to repay their home loans, according to The Australian.

If youre an investor, and youve got an investment property thats causing you challenges, its been an opportunity to take advantage of the market and sell it, CBA group executive for retail banking services Angus Sullivan told The Australian.

CBA will be keeping a close eye on any signs of financial distress from mortgage customers with the end of both JobKeeper and the home loan deferral scheme this month.

Customers in the most hard-hit sectors, such as tourism and travel, will be at the centre of the banks attention, Sullivan said.

For customers in a position of more challenging hardship, weve got other, more bespoke, solutions in place for them, such as a period of ongoing extension or a freeze on repayments for a period of time, Sullivan said. Then theres a slightly larger chunk of people whove all voluntarily chosen to exit their home. And then, obviously, theres a very small number of deferrals still being worked through.

The bank said 85 percent of home loan customers who were on deferrals are now back to their original payment plans.

Only 1.6 percent of CBA customers are still on home loan deferrals, while the others are making reduced repayments, on other payment plans, or electing to sell their properties.

The latest data from the Australian Banking Association (ABA) shows as of Feb. 28, the total outstanding repayments for home loan deferrals fell to 5 percent, relative to all deferred loans.

Right at the height of COVID, when things were at their absolute worst, only 10 percent of Australian mortgage holders deferred the payments on those mortgages, ABA CEO Anna Bligh told 2GB on March 3. 90 percent of those people are now back paying in full.

Bligh told ABC radio that with both JobKeeper and the home loan deferral scheme ending within days of each other, casualties were going to be inevitable.

I do think there will be some people who will have to face the very hard and painful decision of doing the right thing by selling when they still have equity and money that they can take out and keep their head above water, Bligh said.

January data figures from The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) indicated that most loan deferrals were from the state of Victoria, which endured longer periods of hard lockdowns.

Victoria remains the state with the highest proportion of loans subject to deferral, at 2 per cent compared with the rest of the country at 1 per cent, though this difference is narrowing, the APRA reported.

CBA will not yet be repossessing houses from distressed owner-occupiers, as the freeze on forced home sales is in place until September.
Canada pauses AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine use for those under 55, wants new risk analysis

A senior receives the vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as Quebec begins vaccinations for seniors over 85 years old in a clinic in Laval, Quebec, Canada (Photo : REUTERS/Christinne Muschi/File Photo)

Canadian health officials said on Monday they would stop offering AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to people under age 55 and require a new analysis of the shot's benefits and risks based on age and gender.



The moves follow reports from Europe of rare but serious blood clots, bleeding and in some cases death after vaccination, mainly in young women. No such cases have been reported in Canada, with about 307,000 AstraZeneca doses administered.



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"We are pausing the use of AstraZeneca vaccine to adults under 55 years of age pending further risk benefit analysis," Canada's deputy chief public health officer Howard Njoo said at a media briefing.



Njoo later noted that Canada was taking this "prudent" approach because alternative vaccines are available. Most of Canada's supply so far has come from Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc.



The National Advisory Council of Immunization (NACI), an independent expert panel, said the rate that the clotting complication happens at is not yet clear. So far, 40% of people who have developed it have died, but that may fall as more cases are identified and treated early, it said.



"From what is known at this time, there is substantial uncertainty about the benefit of providing AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to adults under 55 years of age," the council in a written recommendation.



Older people face a greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, and the complication seems to be more rare in that age group, NACI said, so they can be offered the vaccine "with informed consent."



Health Canada said in a statement it would add new terms and conditions to the vaccine's authorizations, including "a requirement that the manufacturers conduct a detailed assessment of the benefits and risks of the vaccine by age and sex in the Canadian context."



Health Canada said it had been in talks with AstraZeneca, and once it has the requested information, it "will determine if additional regulatory actions are necessary."



It was not immediately clear how long the assessment might take.



The pause affects both versions of the vaccine approved in Canada: One granted to AstraZeneca Canada, and a second for the Serum Institute of India (SII) - which is manufacturing its own version of the vaccine under license - and its Canadian partner Verity Pharmaceuticals.



Many European countries briefly stopped using the Anglo-Swedish firm's vaccine while investigating the blood clot incidents earlier this month. Canada continued to administer doses, arguing that the benefits of vaccination outweighed potential risks.



Nearly all countries have since resumed use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. But France broke with guidance from the European medical regulator and said on March 19 it should only be given to people aged 55 or older. France said the decision was based on evidence that the clotting affected younger people.



Canada is expecting another 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine this week from the United States, which has not yet authorized its use. Canada has ordered more than 20 million doses from AstraZeneca and SII.


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.
Do social media and big tech companies have too much power when it comes to blocking political candidates from using their platforms? According to a bill backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the answer to that question is "yes," a position that has prompted no small amount of debate among state lawmakers.The bill, titled House Bill 7013, looks to take action against social media platforms for unlawful practices related to censoring or de-platforming , statewide candidates, specifically impacting big tech companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter, Apple and Amazon from removing candidates from their platforms.If passed, the bill would impose a daily $100,000 fine on social media platforms for de-platforming statewide candidates and a daily $10,000 fine for all other Florida candidates.The bill also attempts to provide equal access for news organizations and political candidates to reach users free from manipulation by algorithms and give users the power to opt out of algorithms.Over the years, these platforms have changed from neutral platforms that provide Americans with the freedom to speak to enforcers of preferred narratives, Gov. DeSantis said during a news conference House Speaker Chris Sprowls, a supporter of the legislation, also spoke out about the bill during the news conference, saying how it would let Florida take back the virtual public square as a place where information and ideas can flow freely.However, not all House members agree.Were going to pass something that we have very strong reason to think is unconstitutional, Rep. Joe Geller, D-Aventura, said during a House Appropriations Committee hearing. Ultimately, were probably going to lose, and the people who are going to pay are really not us sitting at these tables; its going to be the taxpayers.The main concern if the bill is passed is that it could infringe on companies right to free speech by regulating the content they publish, possibly violating the First Amendment.However, the bills primary sponsor, Commerce Committee Chair Blaise Ingoglia, says that the bill would do more good than harm.Big Tech has a death grip on public discourse, and the Florida House is calling for transparency and accountability once and for all, Ingoglia said in a release . Whatever we see and what we engage with on social media is whatever the big tech giant deems we should be fed. Our proposal will give users the power to understand how they are being manipulated.The bill, which the House Appropriations Committee cleared by a 19-8 vote, is now being reviewed by the House Judiciary Committee.
HOUSTON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The East Texas operating subsidiary of Midcoast Energy, LLC ("Midcoast"), an affiliate of ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC ("ArcLight"), has put its CJ Express Expansion Project ("CJ Express") into service and executed a firm transportation agreement and natural gas purchase and sales agreement with Golden Pass LNG Terminal, LLC.

CJ Express added compression and pipeline facilities at multiple locations on Midcoast's existing East Texas pipeline system. In addition to increasing Midcoast's Clarity pipeline transmission capacity to Gulf Coast demand centers to approximately 1 Bcfd, the completed expansion will increase gathering capabilities in the high-growth Shelby Trough area of the Haynesville Shale. CJ Express was anchored by long-term transportation agreements with two creditworthy shippers.

The new commercial agreements with Golden Pass LNG will become effective after completion of an extension of the Midcoast Clarity pipeline in the Beaumont area to a new interconnect with Golden Pass Pipeline, LLC. The construction of new facilities and effective date of long-term commitments will align with Golden Pass LNG's feedgas needs.

About Midcoast Energy, LLC

Midcoast Energy is a full-service natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) midstream business headquartered in Houston, Texas. Midcoast Energy has gathering and processing platforms operating in the Anadarko and East Texas supply basins of North America, an ownership interest in Texas Express Pipeline, and engages in the transporting and marketing of natural gas and natural gas liquids through its Logistics and Marketing segment. More information about Midcoast Energy can be found at www.midcoastenergy.com .

About ArcLight Capital Partners

ArcLight is one of the leading energy infrastructure firms. Founded in 2001, the firm helped pioneer an assetbased approach to investing in the energy sector. ArcLight has invested approximately $23 billion in 111 transactions since inception. Based in Boston, the firm's investment team employs a hands-on value creation strategy that utilizes its in-house technical, operational, and commercial specialists, as well as the firm's ~1,500person asset management affiliate. More information about ArcLight, and a complete list of ArcLight's portfolio companies, can be found at www.arclight.com .

About Golden Pass LNG Terminal, LLC

GPLNG, which is owned by affiliates of Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil, is a $10 billion project to add liquefaction and export capabilities to an existing liquefied natural gas import terminal near Sabine Pass, Texas. Estimated send out capacity will be around 16 million tons of LNG per year and the project will utilize existing tanks, berths and pipeline infrastructure and add new facilities for natural gas pretreatment and liquefaction. SOURCE Midcoast Energy, LLC

SOURCE ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC

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arclightcapital.com


DUBAI (Reuters) - has been pushing foreign firms to invest in the kingdom and set up regional headquarters in

The government has told foreign that, from 2024, they can only secure state contracts if they have local offices. It has also launched economic and social reforms under its Vision 2030 plan to attract investment.

State news agency SPA said in February that 24 firm had signed agreements to set up regional offices in

Reuters sought to contact on the list, as well as other firms. A selection of their responses and related details about setting up offices in are below:

BECHTEL

The U.S. construction firm Bechtel said it had established as its regional headquarters to cover the six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), namely Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

CSG

The U.S. technology firm said it was shifting its regional office to Riyadh from Dubai but would not shut its Dubai office.

ROBERT BOSCH

German auto supplier Robert said it had signed a memorandum of understanding to explore potential business in The company has an office in the kingdom and a presence elsewhere in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, a spokeswoman said.

OYO

Indian hotel startup Oyo said it would set up its regional headquarters in the Riyadh special economic zone, the King Abdullah Financial District, with several executives relocating there.

FRANKLIN TEMPLETON

Investment firm Franklin Templeton said it would monitor regulations to evaluate its approach and remained committed to doing business in the Middle East. Its website says it has offices in the UAE and Turkey.

DELOITTE

A spokeswoman said: " has been operating in Saudi Arabia since 1950 and we are honoured to be a strategic partner for the city on its journey to achieve its ambition under Vision 2030."

PwC

cited a statement by the firm's Saudi Arabia country leader Riyadh Al-Najjar, who said the company would support the kingdom's transformation from PwC's regional consulting headquarters in Riyadh.

BOEING

Ahmed Jazzar, president of Saudi Arabia, said: "We have over 2,200 people employed by various entities and joint ventures in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia is a Saudi Arabian company with Saudi leadership and majority Saudi employee base. We are committed to the success of Vision 2030."

CHEVRON

Saudi Arabian (SAC) has plans for a new headquarters in Khafji City in eastern Saudi Arabia, the U.S. energy company said, adding that it "looks forward to continuing its mutually beneficial partnership with the kingdom."

GOOGLE

U.S. technology giant is considering setting up an office in Saudi Arabia to expand its Cloud services, a source familiar with the matter said. A spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the plan.

A subsidiary of state oil firm Saudi Aramco recently teamed up with Google Cloud to offer cloud services.

STANDARD CHARTERED

London-listed bank said it had operated in Saudi Arabia since 2010 via its capital markets operations and was granted a full banking licence in 2019. The bank said its Middle East chief executive was based in Riyadh, which "enables us to further unlock exciting opportunities in the kingdom."

FORD

A spokeswoman for U.S. automaker said the company had established an office in Riyadh a decade ago and had two long-standing distributor partners. "We will continue to follow the announcements published by the Saudi government to better understand the new regulations before commenting further," she said.

GREENBRIER

U.S. rail firm Greenbrier is setting up a Riyadh headquarters to target Saudi market, Arab News reported. The company could not immediately be reached for comment.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski has drawn a 2022 Republican opponent whos signed on key Trumpworld figures to help guide her campaign.

Kelly Tshibaka, the state commissioner of administration, announced Monday that she would step down from her state job and challenge Murkowski, a vocal critic of Donald Trump whom the former president has vowed to oppose in next years midterm elections.

Tshibaka has tapped National Public Affairs, a consulting firm made up of Trumps top 2020 campaign advisers, to help oversee her effort. Former Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, deputy campaign manager Justin Clark and battleground states director Nick Trainer, who relaunched the firm after the presidential election, will serve as Tshibakas senior advisers.

The candidate has also signed on Tim Murtaugh, who was communications director on Trumps reelection effort, to serve as a senior communications adviser. Mary Ann Pruitt, an Alaska-based political consultant who was a senior figure on Murkowskis successful 2016 reelection campaign, has abandoned the senator and is working for Tshibaka.

The involvement underscores Trumpworlds antipathy toward Murkowski, who was one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict the former president for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Trump has said he will work to defeat Murkowski, telling POLITICO earlier this month: I do not know where other people will be next year, but I know where I will be  in Alaska campaigning against a disloyal and very bad senator.

Trump called out Murkowski during his February appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference, and his political team earlier in the year commissioned a poll showing the Alaska senator vulnerable in her home state.

Trump himself did not recruit Tshibaka, though people in his orbit have been on the hunt for a credible Murkowski opponent on the senator's right flank, a person familiar with the matter said. The former president has yet to endorse a specific candidate in the race.

Story continues

Other major Trump allies appear to be rallying around Tshibaka. Former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale tweeted that he "just donated to @KellyForAlaska. I think more conservatives should as well!" Corey Lewandowski, another former Trump campaign manager, tweeted out a news story about Tshibaka's announcement.

Trump and Murkowski have sparred extensively. The senator voted against the confirmation of Brett Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court, and she opposed the former presidents decision to name a replacement to succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg right before the election. Murkowski said earlier this year she didnt support Trumps reelection in November, though she declined to disclose whom she voted for.

Alaskas state Republican Party censured the 63-year-old Murkowski earlier this month, a rebuke similar to the ones other Republican impeachment backers received back home.

But unseating Murkowski, who first assumed office in 2002 and is the daughter of Frank Murkowski, the former senator and governor, wont be easy. Alaska has implemented a new ranked-choice voting system, with the top four finishers of an all-party August primary advancing to the general election.

As a result, Murkowski wont face the pressure of a Republican primary such as the one she had in 2010, when she lost renomination to a conservative candidate, Joe Miller. Murkowski ultimately waged a successful write-in bid that year and won reelection.
New Delhi, March 30 : Elli AvrRam says she wants to be a versatile actress who is able to portray just about any role.

The Swedish-Greek origin actress was lauded for her her role in "Malang" last year, and is currently seen with superstar Aamir Khan in the song number "Har Funn Maula" that the two actors shot for the upcoming film "Koi Jaane Na".

On what would she like to be referred to as -- a dancer or an actor -- Elli told IANS: "I'm an actress. An actor for me is not only supposed to know how to deliver dialogues. An actor should have many skills, only then is he/she a great actor. In my case it's only a plus point that I'm great in dancing. Tomorrow I might show my other talents, for example I'm a previous figure skater, or I train mix martial arts, now that does not take away from the fact that I'm an actress." She added: "I want to be a versatile actress who will be able to portray any role, which means whatever skills is required for that role, I will learn it and perform it as an actress. This is the reason why I wanted to become an actress." "Har Funn Maula" is a fusion of Broadway and Jazz, and is meant to be a highlight in the film, which is scheduled to release on April 2.

Aamir features in the song for the film directed by his friend Amin Hajee, best known for his role of Baagha the mute drummer in "Lagaan". "Koi Jaane Na" stars Amyra Dastur and Kunal Kapoor.
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Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: Nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Brown Jackson is considered by some to be next in line for a Supreme Court nod

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has served on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia since 2013. Prior to joining the federal bench, Judge Jackson served as a Vice Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission beginning in 2010.

Judge Jackson began her legal career as a law clerk for Judge Patti Saris on the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts from 1996 to 1997 and then for Judge Bruce Selya on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 1997 to 1998. She was an associate at Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin LLP from 1998 to 1999. She clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1999 to 2000. Judge Jackson was an associate at Goodwin Proctor LLP in Boston, Massachusetts from 2000 to 2002 and an associate at Feinberg Rozen, LLP (formerly The Feinberg Group, LLP) in Washington, D.C. from 2002 to 2003.

From 2003 to 2005, Judge Jackson served as an Assistant Special Counsel for the United States Sentencing Commission, and from 2005 to 2007, Judge Jackson served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Washington, D.C. From 2007 to 2010, Judge Jackson was of counsel at Morrison & Foerster LLP where her practice focused on criminal and civil appellate litigation in both state and federal courts, as well as cases in the Supreme Court.

Judge Jackson received her J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1996. She received an A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard College in 1992.

Tiffany Cunningham: Nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Tiffany P. Cunningham has been a partner at Perkins Coie LLP in Chicago, Illinois since 2014. She has been nominated for the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Tiffany P. Cunningham has been a partner at Perkins Coie LLP in Chicago, Illinois since 2014. She is a member of the Patent Litigation practice and serves on the 17-member Executive Committee of the firm. Ms. Cunningham serves as trial and appellate counsel for large multinational companies, as well as small enterprises, and individuals in complex patent and trade secret disputes.

Ms. Cunningham is a registered patent attorney before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. From 2002 to 2014, she worked in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP as an associate until she was elevated to partner in 2007. Ms. Cunningham began her legal career as a law clerk to Judge Timothy B. Dyk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from 2001 to 2002. Ms. Cunningham received her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2001 and her S.B. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1998.

Candace Jackson-Akiwumi: Nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Candace Jackson-Akiwumi is a partner at Zuckerman Spaeder, LLP in Washington, D.C., where she focuses on complex civil litigation, white collar criminal defense

Candace Jackson-Akiwumi is a partner at Zuckerman Spaeder, LLP in Washington, D.C., where she focuses on complex civil litigation, white collar criminal defense, and investigations. From 2010 to 2020, Ms. Jackson-Akiwumi worked as a staff attorney at the Federal Defender Program in the Northern District of Illinois. Ms. Jackson-Akiwumi represented more than 400 indigent clients accused of federal crimes at every stage of the process, from investigation to trial, sentencing, and appeal.

Ms. Jackson-Akiwumi began her legal career as a law clerk to Judge David H. Coar on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 2005 to 2006, and then for Judge Roger Gregory on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 2006 to 2007. Ms. Jackson-Akiwumi was a litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Chicago, Illinois from 2007 to 2010.

Ms. Jackson-Akiwumi received her A.B., with honors, from Princeton University in 2000, and her J.D. from Yale Law School in 2005.

Judge Deborah Boardman: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland

Deborah Boardman is a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, a position she was appointed to in 2019.

From 2008 to 2019, Judge Boardman served at the Federal Public Defenders Office for the District of Maryland, including four years as the First Assistant Federal Public Defender. From 2001 to 2008, Judge Boardman worked as an associate at Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells) in Washington, D.C., where she was selected to serve as the senior associate in the firms pro bono department. Judge Boardman began her career as a law clerk for Judge James C. Cacheris of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2000 to 2001.

Judge Boardman, who was born and raised in Maryland, received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2000. After graduating with her B.A., summa cum laude from Villanova University in 1996, Judge Boardman was a Fulbright Scholar in Amman, Jordan.

Judge Lydia Griggsby: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland

Judge Lydia Griggsby is Biden's nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland

Judge Lydia Griggsby has served as a Judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims since 2014. Prior to her appointment, Judge Griggsby was Chief Counsel for Privacy and Information Policy and Privacy Counsel for Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, from 2005 to 2014. Prior to that, she was a counsel on the Senate Select Committee on Ethics from 2004 to 2005.

Judge Griggsby served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, practicing in the Civil Division, for the U.S. Attorneys Office in the District of Columbia from 1998 to 2004. She was a trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1995 to 1998. Judge Griggsby began her legal career as an associate with DLA Piper in Baltimore, Maryland from 1993 to 1995.

Judge Griggsby received her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1993 and her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1990. She was born in Baltimore and lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Julien Neals: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

Julien Neals is County Counsel and Acting County Administrator for Bergen County, New Jersey. He became county counsel in January 2015 and has served as Acting County Administrator since June 2016. Mr. Neals served in various positions in the Newark, New Jersey city government between 2006 and 2014, including as Business Administrator from 2010 to 2014, Corporation Counsel from 2008 to 2010, and Chief Judge of the Municipal Court from 2006 to 2008. He was a partner at the Secaucus, New Jersey, law firm of Chasan Leyner & Lamparello from 1992 to 2006 and from 2014 to 2015. Mr. Neals began his legal career as a clerk for Judge Seymour Margulies on the New Jersey Superior Court.

A native of Newark, Mr. Neals received his J.D. from Emory University School of Law in 1991 and his B.A. from Morehouse College in 1986.

Judge Florence Y. Pan: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Judge Florence Pan (pictured right with her husband Max Stier) would be the first Asian-American judge to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Judge Florence Y. Pan has served as an Associate Judge on the Superior Court for the District of Columbia since 2009. Prior to joining the court, from 1999 to 2009, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, where she also served as Deputy Chief of the Appellate Division from 2007 to 2009. From 1998 to 1999, she worked at the United States Department of Treasury, first as a Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Financial Markets in 1998 and then as a Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary for Domestic Finance in 1999.

Judge Pan worked for the U.S. Department of Justice from 1995 to 1998, during which time she was a Bristow Fellow in the Office of the Solicitor General from 1995 to 1996 and an attorney in the Appellate Section of the Criminal Division from 1996 to 1998. From 1994 to 1995, she served as a law clerk for Judge Ralph K. Winter, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Judge Pan began her legal career as a law clerk for Judge Michael B. Mukasey of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from 1993 to 1994. She received her J.D. with distinction from Stanford Law School in 1993 and her B.A. and B.S., summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania in 1988.

Judge Zahid N. Quraishi: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

Zahid Quraishi is a United States Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, a position he was appointed to in 2019.He would be the first Muslim district judge if appointed

Zahid Quraishi is a United States Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, a position he was appointed to in 2019.

Prior to his appointment, Judge Quraishi was a partner at Riker Danzig where he chaired the firms White Collar Criminal Defense and Investigations Group and served as his firms first Chief Diversity Officer. Before joining Riker Danzig, Judge Quraishi served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Jersey from 2008 to 2013. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorneys office, Judge Quraishi served as an assistant chief counsel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He also served as a military prosecutor and achieved the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Generals Corps, deploying to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and 2006. Earlier in his career, Judge Quraishi worked in private practice and clerked for Judge Edwin H. Stern, of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, from 2000 to 2001.

Judge Quraishi received his J.D. in 2000 from Rutgers Law School  Newark and his B.A. in 1997 from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Regina Rodriguez: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Colorado

Regina Rodriguez has been a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP in Denver, Colorado since 2019. She is the Co-Chair of the Trial Practice and handles cases involving complex litigation and government investigations. From 2016 to 2019, she was a partner in the Denver, Colorado office of Hogan Lovells US LLP. From 2002 to 2016, Ms. Rodriguez worked in the Denver office of Faegre & Benson LLP (now Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP) as a special counsel until she was elevated to partner in 2005.

She served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado from 1995 to 2002, during which time she served as the Deputy Chief of the Civil Division from 1998 to 1999 and as Chief of the Civil Division from 1999 to 2002. In addition, from 1997 to 1998, Ms. Rodriguez served a four-month detail as Deputy Senior Counsel for Alternative Dispute Resolution in the U.S. Department of Justice. She began her legal career as an associate in the Denver law firm of Cooper & Kelly, P.C. (now defunct) from 1988 to 1995. Ms. Rodriguez received her J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1988 and her B.S., with honors, from the University of Iowa in 1985.

Margaret Strickland: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico

Margaret Strickland has been a named partner at McGraw & Strickland LLC in Las Cruces, New Mexico since 2011. She represents clients in both civil rights cases and criminal cases in both state and federal courts in New Mexico. She has represented clients in more than 70 criminal jury trials, and she has also argued before the New Mexico Supreme Court and the New Mexico Court of Appeals. From 2017 to 2019, she served as President of the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Ms. Strickland started her career at the Law Offices of the Public Defender for the State of New Mexico from 2006 to 2011. She received her J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2006 and her B.A. from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2003.

Judge Rupa Ranga Puttagunta: Nominee for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia

Judge Rupa Ranga Puttagunta currently serves as an Administrative Judge for the D.C. Rental Housing Commission.

Prior to joining the Commission in 2019, Judge Puttagunta was a solo practitioner from 2013 to 2019, representing indigent criminal defendants in trial and on appeal. Before opening her own practice, Judge Puttagunta practiced family and appellate law at Delaney McKinney, LLP from 2012 to 2013.

While working on domestic relations matters in private practice, Judge Puttagunta also provided hundreds of hours of pro bono legal services by volunteering at D.C. Superior Courts Family Court Self-Help Center and Attorney Negotiator Program and representing victims of domestic violence in D.C. Superior Court. Judge Puttagunta began her legal career as a law clerk for Judge William M. Jackson of the D.C. Superior Court from 2008 to 2010, as well as the Senior Judges of the D.C. Court of Appeals from 2010 to 2011. Judge Puttagunta received her J.D. from Ohio State Moritz College of Law in 2007 and her B.A. from Vassar College in 2002.

(source: White House)
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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.

 Amendment II to the Constitution

The Second Amendment is one of the shortest in length, but for some reason, the first 13 words are often omitted. Militia is a word that seems to apply to fringe groups of oddly dressed ruffians such as those who broke into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, and the phrase well regulated doesnt seem to describe those people.

After the Boston Tea Party, Britain required permits to export firearms and powder to the Colonies  and then issued no permits. It was one of the main causes of the Revolutionary War. The defiance of the colonists, who were accustomed to assemble as militias to defend their communities, was reflected in this amendment, ratified 15 years after the Declaration of Independence.

But as for militias themselves, words change. Every state has a militia, and each is generally accepted to be well-regulated. We now call them the National Guard, rather than the state militias. And, thanks to the Second Amendment, every U.S. citizen is eligible to apply for membership, subject to the requirements thereof.

I dont contend that being in the Guard is the only way one can keep and bear arms, but it does seem to restrict any other way. The right of the people to keep and bear arms outside of the Guard should also be well-regulated.

We have limits on the types of arms we can legally own and use as private citizens. Tactical automatic weapons are a definite no-no, as are nerve gas and flame-throwers. We had a ban on so-called assault rifles, but it was cancelled. It made it clear that defining whats legal and whats not is very difficult.

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There are many in this country who claim the Second Amendment is all but universal. They make a show of carrying weapons, especially big scary ones, everywhere they go. Every single time there is some sort of uproar in our country, guns and ammo fly from stores as the call is once again given that they are coming for our guns. Every damned time. There must be mountains of firearms and outdated ammunition out there somewhere.

Just as there are requirements to join the National Guard, there should be requirements for owning weapons of any kind. Defining legal arms is one facet of regulation; another is training to use the weapon safely. Any such requirement meets immediate opposition, but I think its clear that making such requirements is legal, and even mandated by the amendment.

Perhaps each state National Guard should regulate citizen firearm ownership. It would be far better than leaving it to the painted guy in the cow horns parading around the Capitol.

Its clear the Second Amendment creates a right for individual citizens, but it is a states right at heart  the right of a state to protect itself against aggression, as well as to regulate that protection.
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For years I have pointed to media bias on the right and on the left, calling for equal weights and measures. And, as a Trump voter, I was also a Trump critic, recognizing the danger of blind loyalty to any leader or party. I have even said that I preferred Hannity and Colmes to just Hannity, since it is important to have our views openly challenged.

It is in that spirit that I write this article, not as a blind supporter of the right but rather as someone calling for righteous and fair-minded reporting. Thats why I ask the question: is there no introspection among left-leaning journalists?

For four years, news outlets like CNN warned of us Donald Trumps alleged declining mental faculties. We were told that a collapse was imminent. That psychologists had diagnosed him from a distance. That his presidency was about to implode.

Yet these same outlets have hardly uttered a word about Joe Bidens apparent declining mental faculties, covering for him instead. (Yes, I use notes for my job all the time, and Im a lawyer. Why shouldnt Biden use notes?)

Is there no shame in being so obviously biased? Is there no recognition of the obvious lack of integrity?

Or think of President Bidens stumbling and falling as he climbed the stairs to Air Force One. What would the left-leaning media be saying if it was Trump who ended up falling on the stairs after two previous stumbles? How loudly would they be sounding the alarm? Something is terribly wrong with President Trump! (Actually, we know the answer to this, as leftwing news outlets endlessly replayed Trump having to steady himself while walking down a ramp after speaking at West Point.)

To repeat: Im not denying that there is bias on the right and that each side has it own blind spots. As a conservative myself, I am constantly calling out my own camp. But I am challenging the idea that the major, left-leaning outlets are making an honest attempt to report the news.

Im sure some individual journalists are, but the loudest and most prominent voices certainly give no indication that they are making an honest attempt to be unbiased. (Lets try this question: Has CNN done a fair and honest job of reporting the scandals surrounding Gov. Andrew Cuomo, brother of CNNs Chris Cuomo?)

I ask again: is there no sense of shame?

What was one of the greatest moral objections to the Trump presidency raised by the left? It was that Trump put children in cages. In fact, a Google search for children in cages and Trump yielded 200,000 results, while kids in cages and Trump yielded 682,000 results. This charge of blatant child abuse was one of the greatest indictments on the man and his morality.

I even heard it from old, liberal friends who questioned how such a man could get my vote. He puts kids in cages!

As stated on the Indy100 website, Of the many scandalous things that Trump has done in his presidency, the separation of children from the parents at his controversial detention facilities at the US/Mexico border was probably the worst.

Trump defenders argued that: 1) this was the continuation of an Obama policy (so said President Obamas ICE chief); 2) the number of children separated from their parents (while it was being determined that these really were their parents) was highly exaggerated; and 3) almost all of the detained children were subsequently united with their parents.

In response, critics of Trump argued that the crisis was the direct result of his zero tolerance policy, and so, no valid comparison could be made between Obama and Trump.

But lets not even debate that issue. Lets give the benefit of the doubt and assume that these reporters and journalists were genuinely mortified over what happened to these children. Lets believe that their concern was deep and real and was not exaggerated by their animus towards Trump. That the images of these kids separated from their parents haunted them at night. We must call Donald Trump out for this heinous policy! It is our sacred, journalistic duty.

Where, pray tell, is that outrage today? Where is the concern, the grief, the anguish? Where is that prophetic burden to expose what is happening to a new wave of children on our borders right now? Where is the sense of righteousness that openly calls the Biden administration to account? Where is the refusal to go along with the virtual media blackout? Where is the indignation when told, Well be transparent when were good and ready to be?

America today is deeply divided, dangerously so. And at the root of some of these divisions is often the biased reporting of the media. Is it too much to ask for media leaders to make a determination to pursue truth? Is it too much to ask for introspection and self-criticism? Is it too much to ask reporters and journalists to look in the mirror? Our nation would be a lot healthier as a result.

To those on the left, then, who often claimed moral superiority over Trump and his supporters, how about taking the high ground and reporting truth. Is this really too much to ask?
Hundreds of people vacationing in northwest Florida for spring break have been arrested, according to a report from the Northwest Florida Daily News.

The arrests have ranged from underage drinking to loud parties, according to Walton County Sheriff Maj. Audi Rowell.

There have been more than 104 underage drinking arrests just in Walton County since early March. Nearby Okaloosa County has seen 361 spring break-related arrests in about the same time period. Most of those have been for underage drinking.

Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office officials say they're expecting this spring break's total to be higher than normal. They typically see an average of 400 arrests per year.

Most of the Walton County arrests have happened near the beach on the east side of County Road 393. Okaloosa County deputies have responded to a similarly high number of calls between Okaloosa Island and Destin.

Read the full Northwest Florida Daily News report here.
A WINDHOEK woman, who was accused of murdering a teenage boy in a stabbing incident in November 2018, has been found not guilty after a trial in the Windhoek Regional Court.

Magistrate Leopold Hangalo acquitted Maria Boois (45) on a charge of murder on Friday, after finding that the state failed to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The magistrate also said he decided that Boois had to be given the benefit of the doubt, and as a result had to be acquitted.

Boois was accused of murdering 18-year-old Rivaldo Rooy by stabbing him in the chest at her home in the Goreangab area of Windhoek on 2 November 2018.

She denied guilt during her trial, and claimed that Rooy died of a self-inflicted injury which he sustained when she pushed him away from herself and he fell against the wall of a shack at her house after he had threatened her with a knife.

Boois also told the court that Rooy had reacted angrily when she admonished him earlier that day about assaulting her children.

The fatal incident took place after Rooy had arrived at Boois' house in the afternoon. She said when she told him to leave her yard, he took out a knife, which he had in his right hand when she grabbed his hand and pushed him away from herself.

After he had fallen against the wall of a shack in the yard, he ran towards the gate of her fence and then fell to the ground, Boois said.

Hangalo noted that there were no eyewitnesses to the incident.

One of the prosecution's witnesses told the court she saw Boois with a knife in her hands, and that she recognised it as a knife from Boois' kitchen, when she saw Rooy bleeding from his chest before he collapsed.

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However, a police officer who was called to the scene at Boois' home testified that he found a knife under Rooy's body when he was turned over by ambulance personnel.

The state's evidence about the knife, which Boois was claimed to have had after the stabbing, was "inconsistent, contradictory and poor", the magistrate commented in his judgement.

Hangalo also noted that the defence argued that alleged admissions which Boois made to a police officer at the scene, where she was claimed to have said she had stabbed Rooy, had not been proven to have been made freely and voluntarily, and that her constitutional rights had not been explained to her before she was questioned at the scene.

Boois was in police custody for a month before she was released on bail of N$3 000.

Defence lawyer Karel Gaeb represented her during her trial. Public prosecutor Menencia Hinda represented the state.
A couple living off-grid on a remote Scottish Highland farming estate have revealed how they bathe their six-month-old son in a stream and are concerned he'll grow up 'feral'.

In Ben Fogle's New Lives in the Wild, airing tonight at 9pm on Channel 5, viewers meet Julien Legrand, 29, from France, and Iona Scobie, 34, who look after a farming estate of 10 acres.

The land was gifted to them by Iona's grandfather after he purchased it in the 1980s, and involves the couple herding livestock, stalking deer and looking after the vast farm, while raising their infant son Leon.

The baby accompanies them on all their tasks - including herding the sheep and cows on horseback - and Julien and Iona often have to change his nappies on the nearest rock while they're working.

While Iona was raised on the farm and wants her son to grow in a wild environment like she did, Julien, who grew up in a French city, said he was worried Leon would be different from other children and end up being 'feral'.

Scroll down for video

Julien Legrand, left, 29, and Iona Scobie, right, 34, live in the Scottish Highland where they look after a farming estate of 10 acres near Ullapool while raising their six-months-old son Leon, pictured

Ben Fogle travels to meet Julien and Iona and gets introduced to their wild lifestyle. He also goes diving with Julien, pictured

When Ben travels to the estate in the north of Scotland, he is amazed at the amount of work Julien and Iona have to take on around the farm, while at the same time taking care of their son.

Julien and Iona live in a cottage on the farm, which is powered through an old water turbine from the 1960s. They chop wood for heating and cook all their meals on the fire.

Leon, an energetic six-months-old, is always with his parents, whether they are herding sheep or maintaining the reservoir bringing water to the turbine.

Iona, who is the daughter of the previous laird, was raised with her sister in a traditional farming family, where the girls learned to ride horses at an age where most children only learn to walk.

The couple met in 2012 when Julien moved from France to Scotland to work on the estate, which was then owned by Iona's parents (pictured with Leon)

'It's proper wild parenting this, from my perspective at least, you might not see it as different,' Ben tells the couple.

'I don't, but Julien does catch me and say that's not normal,' Iona says, laughing.

'I had a much safer sort of environment when I was young. So sometimes, we do clash a bit,' Julien says, before admitting there are some things Iona does with Leon that concern him.

'I worry when she goes on a horse, but I worry if he's anywhere near a horse, you know,' he tells Ben. 'For Iona it's totally natural but for me it is not.

Iona, who was raised in a similar fashion, says Leon has had no problem being changed in the wild and cleaned in cold water.

'He never had a problem with it either, in the summer when he was born, we'd put him in the cold water and he was fine with it,' she says.

While Iona was raised on the farm and learned to ride a horse when most children learn to walk, Julien had a more conventional upbringing in Northern France. Pictured with Ben, Leon and one of their dogs

'When he's a little bit older he may start feeling different from the other kids, not having TV and a nice cosy house and being away from his friends and the shops and school,' Julien says.

'I'm a bit worried about it. You know it, because that's the way you did,' he tells Iona, 'but I'm a bit worried that he's going to be a bit of a different child from the others,' he adds.

Iona eventually agrees she was 'a bit feral looking', and jokes she is 'definitely' still feral today and that Leon will be too.

Julien, a native Frenchman, was just 20 when he left his home country, and was raised very differently, in the north of France. He came to work on Iona's family farm in 2012, and the pair quickly started dating.

Julien admits he 'worries' that Leon will feel different from other children when he gets older, because of his parents' wild lifestyle

'I was tired of people and the politics and the concrete around me so I just wanted a simple life and raise my own sheep and grow my own food,' he tells Ben. 'I just wanted to go somewhere where I could work on a farm: quiet, remote like a wild place, but staying in Europe.

Nine years on, the father-of-one says he has no regrets: 'This is what I'm made for,' he tells Ben.

Iona's family have now moved away, and she is the sole laird of the land, with Julien's support as well as volunteers who help on the farm during the summer to earn their keep while staying at a cottage near the main house.

'I'm completely confused by this whole thing,' Ben says. 'It's a young couple in a huge, huge area of wilderness. There are lots of livestock, a lot of land to manage and they're off grid, that's a massive amount of work,' he adds.

While Julien and Iona agree they were privileged to have inherited the land from the family, they insist they're not 'wealthy' by any means and work hard to maintain the land.

'My grandpa bought it when price of land was very down in the 80s. We're very lucky, there's no way we could get it now,' Iona tells Ben. 'We're very lucky to be here. I totally understand that people think we're privileged,' Julien says.

The father-of-one admits he's be 'gutted' if Leon decided to go to Paris when he is older, but says he would accept it

But he adds that life on the estate can be hard when things go south, and says: 'Some days, when you're stuck driving deer in the snow, you think "some people couldn't do what we do".'

The mother explains she sees herself as a 'steward' rather than a laird, looking after the estate so that it can be passed on to future generations.

During his stay with the family-of-three, Ben works around the estate to earn his keep, starting by herding sheep with Iona on horseback.

He is impressed by the innate skills the 34-year-old demonstrates around the livestock as well as the fact she spends the whole day out there, moving the animals around the estate until nightfall.

The fearless mother says she doesn't use a flashlight to return home at night, because she is guided by her 'white' dogs.

The couple also have to keep on top of all aspects of the estate, including making sure no debris blocks the reservoir feeding into the turbine that powers their whole estate.

Ben helps them unclog the reservoir filter, where leafs and gravel deposit throughout the year. Iona admits the couple had three power outages in three months due to the debris that accumulates in the reservoir.

Ben is impressed by the 'hardworking' couple who look after the estate by themselves while raising Leon

'This is a real hardworking couple. They got a huge area of land but with that huge area of land comes a massive volume of work,' Ben says. 'Whether it is looking after the dam or the hydroelectric turbine that they have or driving the cattle for hours to move it from place to place.

'Every so often I hear Julien's accent and I'm reminded this is a Frenchman that has landed in a wild part of Scotland,' the presenter adds.

While Iona was raised on the farm and has honed the skills she needs to run the estate, Julien says he's had to 'improvise' and think creatively in order to look after the land.

The next day, Ben accompanies Julien on a deer stalk. Julien explained the couple have to kill about 100 deer per season - over a period of three months - in order to respect the official quota, and that if the couple don't manage to kill a big enough number, they can 'get in trouble' and are fined.

Julien admits to Ben he used to be against stalking, but the couple have to abide by the pressure of the quota.

The Frenchman is also in charge of processing the deer he and Iona kill, so that they can sell the meat. A whole deer can earn the couple 50, but they say they hardly do it for the money.

At the end of Ben's stay, the trio go to the lake, and Julien and Ben dive into the cold water to find some scallops. As they dine by the water, Ben asks the couple what would happen if Leon decided he wanted to go to France.

Julien says he would be 'gutted,' but would understand, while the pair admit the ideal would be to stay put on the estate with Leon following into their footsteps.

Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 5.
One death as hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to fall in South Dakota
The comprehensive exercises in the Arctic showed the ability of the Russian fleet to operate in the harsh conditions of the North; such expeditions should continue, said Vladimir Putin to Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Nikolai Yevmenov after the admiral presented his report on the Umka-2021 comprehensive Arctic expedition.

These combat training, research and practical measures have demonstrated the Russian Navys abilities and preparedness to operate in the harsh northern latitudes, said Vladimir Putin after listening to the report via videoconference.

He noted that the submarine, military transport aircraft and fighter aircraft crews, as well as Arctic motorized rifle units have shown improvements in combat training in the harsh Arctic environment. Our domestic weapons high combat capability and reliability in extreme weather conditions have been confirmed, Vladimir Putin emphasized.

The president noted that this Arctic expedition was unprecedented in both Soviet history and the modern history of the Russian Federation. He also conveyed words of gratitude to the personnel who participated in the expedition and the exercises, for their courage, dedication and professionalism.

The integrated Arctic expeditions, studies and exploration of the Far North in order to ensure Russias military security must be continued, the president said.

According to Yevmenov, Umka-2021 has been held by the Chief Command of the Navy since March 20. A package of operational, training, research and practical undertakings of different designations is being carried out under an integrated plan in the polar regions for the first time. The plan provides for 43 objectives on Alexandra Land, part of the Franz Josef Land archipelago, and the adjacent ice-covered waters. The average temperature there now is 25C to 30C; the ice thickness is up to 1.5 meters, with winds up to 32 meters per second.

As Nikolai Yevmenov reported, the Umka-2021 expedition in the Arctic included practice torpedo firing from a nuclear submarine under the ice. After the training torpedo stopped beneath the ice, it was located with technical equipment and retrieved to the surface, he said.
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A vial of some of the first AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses that Canada secured through a deal with the Serum Institute of India at a facility in Milton, Ont., Canada, on March 3, 2021. (Carlos Osorio - POOL/The Canadian Press)

Provinces Pause AstraZeneca Shots for Those Under 55, B.C. Tightens Restrictions

Canadian provinces suspended use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in people under age 55 on Monday, acting on an advisory committees concerns about a possible link between the shot and rare blood clots.

Meanwhile, British Columbia imposed new public-health measures for the next three weeks to slow the rapid spread of the virus, as it announced 2,518 new cases over the past three days.

Dr. Shelley Deeks, the vice-chair of Canadas National Advisory Committee on Immunization, said the committee updated its recommendations amid new data from Europe that suggests the risk of blood clots is now potentially up to one in 100,000much higher than the one in one million risk believed before.

Health Canada demanded Monday that AstraZeneca do a detailed study on the risks and benefits of its COVID-19 vaccine across multiple age groups, and Deeks said the advisory committee recommended the shot be suspended for younger groups pending the outcome of that review.

NACI has determined that there is substantial uncertainty about the benefit of providing AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to adults under 55 years of age, given the potential risks associated with it, Deeks said.

As a precautionary measure, while Health Canada carries out an updated benefit-risk analysis based on emerging data, NACI recommends that the vaccine not be used in adults under the age of 55 years.

She said most of the patients in Europe who developed a rare blood clot after vaccination with AstraZeneca were women under the age of 55, and the fatality rate among those who developed clots is as high as 40 percent.

The blood clot condition is known as Vaccine-Induced Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia. Deeks said it is treatable, and the fatality rate could go down now that it has been identified and symptoms are communicated.

Health Canada said it has not received any reports of the blood clots in Canada, and the departments chief medical adviser, Dr. Supriya Sharma, said she believes the vaccines benefits outweigh the risks.

The department changed its label on the vaccine last week to warn about the rare risk of blood clots. Sharma said Health Canada hasnt changed its decision to authorize AstraZeneca.

The company said in a statement that its vaccine is safe and effective and has been approved by European regulators and Health Canada.

The extensive body of data from two large clinical data sets and real-world evidence demonstrate its effectiveness, reaffirming the role the vaccine can play during this public health crisis, the statement read.

The federal government is expecting around 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the United States on Tuesday, which will arrive by truck and represent the first to come from south of the border.

Provincial governments decide on their own how to use a vaccine, but Dr. Howard Njoo, Canadas deputy chief medical officer of health, said all provinces and territories had agreed to suspend the use of the vaccine for those under 55, pending the results of further study.

Several provinces announced throughout the day that they will limit the use of the vaccine.

Quebecs Health Department said it was pausing the use of the vaccine for those under 55 as a precautionary measure, saying it is impossible to rule out the possibility of a link to blood clots.

The (European Medicines Agency) still considers this product to be safe and effective, but the possibility of a link between the vaccine and clotting issues  cannot be completely ruled out at this time, the province said in a statement.

The medical lead of Manitobas vaccine task force said it is seeking more information around some adverse symptoms in younger people noticed in the United Kingdom.

Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador also said they were suspending use of the shot for younger age groups while awaiting new data.

Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I.s chief medical officer of health, said the risk of developing a serious problem after being immunized is very, very low.

She said people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine should look for symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, sudden onset of severe or persistent headache or blurred vision and skin bruising elsewhere than the site of vaccination, developing four to 20 days after vaccination.

Albertas chief medical health officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said about 900 people under 55 have received AstraZeneca shots in the province. And with a 16-week gap between first and second doses, she said theres time to gather more evidence around blood clots before a decision is made on what do about the second shots.

In B.C., provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said those who have received the vaccine should watch for symptoms of a blood clot, and there are tests and treatment in such instances.

Premier John Horgan added that rising case numbers in his province are unacceptably high.

We cannot blow it now, said Horgan. We need to redouble our efforts.

The tightened restrictions include no indoor dining or adult group activity at fitness centres for the next three weeks. The Whistler Blackcomb ski resort is also being closed as cases spread in that community.

AstraZeneca has previously been dogged with questions over its preliminary trial data in the United States and confusion over whether it is safe for seniors.

Its vaccine was approved in Canada for all people over 18 on Feb. 26, but NACI then said there werent enough seniors included in clinical trials to be confident about how the vaccine would perform on people over the age of 65.

Two weeks later, NACI retracted that advice, citing new real-world evidence from the United Kingdom that showed the vaccine was very effective when used on seniors.

Canada received 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca, made at the Serum Institute of India, but its not clear how many have been administered to date. Many provinces prioritized their use for people aged 60 to 64, but some focused on younger groups.

By Morgan Lowrie and Mia Rabson
BRIDGEPORT  Dozens of cars poured into Connecticuts Beardsley Zoo Monday morning, to stand in line for a chance to receive one of the 200 doses of COVID-19 vaccine being doled out at a new mobile vaccine unit, which is the first of its kind in the country and was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

But even as many applauded the new unit  which will travel to 17 locations throughout the state over 60 days in an attempt to provide a vaccine to everyone who needs one  some said there are still kinks in the system. That includes Marie Green, of Bridgeport, who said she was told she could just show up on Monday and get the vaccine.

Once she arrived, she was told that people who had pre-registered were being prioritized. Green said shortly after noon that she had already been waiting about two hours and still wasnt sure she would get the shot.

Im hoping I get it, Green said. I took time off work to come here.

Growing pains and difficulties such as these arent unusual with a ground-breaking program like this one, said Dr. Funmi Falade, medical director of critical care services at St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport. No system is perfect, she said. When youre launching very complex interventions, there will also be situations where you cant satisfy the whole.

Falade said the idea is that those who werent able to get a shot on Monday would be registered to get vaccinated at another time.

Criticisms and hiccups aside, Falade and others praised the mobile unit as a crucial next step in getting vaccines to more people, particularly those in vulnerable communities such as Bridgeport. The unit is expected to handle at least 250 people per day, providing them with the one-dose Johnson & Johnson.

The mobile unit will be at the zoo Monday and Tuesday, then move on to other locations in the city, including the health department on East Main Street, Park City Magnet School, the P.T. Barnum apartment complex and Webster Bank Arena. The unit will next move to New Haven.

During a Monday press conference to unveil the program, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim said the idea of the unit is to reach out to those who might not otherwise be able to get to a vaccination clinic. They really are in need, he said. They really need to be reached out to.

Those who spoke at Mondays event included Gov. Ned Lamont, U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Bridgeport City Council President Aidee Nieves.

Nieves said the mobile unit is a crucial step in addressing some of the economic, and racial and ethnic, inequities that have been a major part of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I think it speaks to (the idea) that access and health care go hand in hand, she said. This has been another tool in Bridgeports tool box for getting people vaccinated.

Staffing for the unit will be provided by UConn Health (the branch of the University of Connecticut that oversees clinical care), as well as Derby-based Griffin Health, Hartford HealthCare (which includes St. Vincents), and Trinity Health of New England. The sites will also be supported by the Connecticut National Guard, members of whom were at the zoo Monday helping direct traffic.

Lamont praised the work of Hayes, Blumenthal and the rest of Connecticuts legislative delegation in helping to bring the mobile unit to Connecticut. Were doing everything we can to make it easier and easier for people to get vaccinated, he said.

For information about the mobile unit, or to make an appointment for one of the Bridgeport sites, visit HartfordHealthCare.org/vaccine or call Hartford HealthCares dedicated Bridgeport Resident Community Care Center at 860-827-7400.
This article was first published on NerdWallet.com.

Last fall, when planning a move from North Carolina to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for a new job that would start in January, Andreza Conti Patara and her husband, Marcelo Patara, decided to buy a house.

But the couple wanted to avoid air travel due to COVID-19, and buyers were snapping up homes in Stillwater soon after they came on the market, leaving no time to drive out to see new listings.

So they researched neighborhoods online, hired a real estate agent, and bought a four-bedroom, two-story house sight unseen.

"I heard so many people say, 'You are crazy. How are you going to do that?'" Conti Patara recalls.

Making an offer without seeing a house in person isn't the ideal way to purchase a home, but it can be done, and today's technology, including 3D video tours and video-calling apps, makes it easier.

Almost two-thirds (63%) of home buyers in 2020 made at least one offer on a property without visiting it first, according to a survey of 1,900 home buyers commissioned by Redfin, a real estate brokerage. Roughly 10% of tour requests with Redfin agents were for video tours in January this year, up from less than 1% at the beginning of 2020.

"Sight unseen" covers a spectrum. Some buyers make an offer without seeing the house in person, but then attend the home inspection before the sale closes. Others don't set foot in the house until the final walk-through or even after the closing.

Previous homebuying experience isn't required for buying a house sight unseen, but it can make navigating the process less intimidating. Having some personal connections in the area where you're house hunting can help, too.

Here's how to make it work.

Take extra care in choosing a real estate agent

"You need to have a good fit with that broker who's going to be your boots on the ground," says Jackson Bladgen, a Sotheby's International Realty agent in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

To find the right agent:

Get referrals

Ask someone local for recommendations. Conti Patara asked her future colleagues at Oklahoma State University, and they pointed her to Century 21 real estate agent Jennifer Misener. The couple toured homes virtually with Misener and asked about schools for their two boys, 9 and 7.

"We were on the phone all the time," Conti Patara says. "She knew what we were looking for."

Check their experience

As a sight-unseen buyer, you'll be at a disadvantage when making offers, especially in a tight market, says Christopher Arienti, owner of Re/Max Executive Realty in Franklin, Massachusetts. Sellers and their listing agents may worry that a buyer who hasn't seen the home in person will be more likely to back out of the sale than one who has toured the property.

A successful agent with deep experience in the local area will have earned the trust of other brokers, and that will go a long way toward getting listing agents to take your offer seriously, says Mino McLean, an agent with Island Sotheby's International Realty on Maui.

Interview agents

Good rapport with an agent is essential, especially when doing business long-distance. How responsive is the agent? Does the agent's communication style mesh with yours? Is this someone who will focus on the elements of a home that matter most to you?

"There has to be a high level of trust," Misener says. "You should have no concerns with the agent you're working with."

Understand that technology can't do it all

Do internet research about the area, use Google Earth and Google Maps to view neighborhoods, and take advantage of virtual video tours to see homes. Then, use a phone app to have a video call with your agent at the house. The agent can take you on a visual and audio tour, zooming in on details, opening cupboards and closets, showing views out windows and narrating throughout the house and around the property.

"But no matter how good the technology you have is, it's hard to get the full feeling for a home until you're in it," Arienti says.

So you'll have to probe deeply to make up for not being there. Here are some of the things that deserve special attention.

Dimensions and size

"You might have what appears to be roomy space through the camera lens but doesn't look so roomy in person," Bladgen says. To help buyers get a sense of space, he paces off the room with them on video calls.

Mark Trenka, a Century 21 agent in Denver, suggests getting a copy of a floor plan and asking lots of questions.

How high are the ceilings? Will my table fit in the kitchen? How far is the primary bedroom from the living room?

Lighting

Trenka takes video at various times of day to show homes in different lighting. When does the sun hit the back deck? Is the kitchen sunlit in the morning or evening?

While living in California, Julie and Mike Hawthorne made an offer on a Denver-area home sight unseen in 2019, and then attended the inspection. They had met Trenka and looked at neighborhoods in person on a couple of previous trips, but family circumstances prevented them from traveling when a suitable home came on the market. The numerous videos Trenka shot and his meticulous explanations helped them feel comfortable.

"He went there I don't know how many times and filmed the house day and night," Julie Hawthorne says. "I walked in (at the inspection) and it was exactly like he said it was and how he made it feel. It just felt like home."

Sounds and smells

Laura and Jim Murray of Bend, Oregon, had long wanted to buy a vacation home in Hawaii, but COVID-19 restrictions prevented them from traveling when a dream property became available on Maui in May 2020.

Photos captured the lush landscape and the interiors and exteriors of the three buildings on the property  an updated one-bedroom home, a one-bedroom cottage and a small studio  but couldn't tell the whole story.

Their agent, Sam Utley of Island Sotheby's International Realty, described the floral scents and recorded sound outside from traffic on a nearby avenue.

"The hardest thing to convey was the road noise," Laura Murray says. But the descriptions and recordings gave them a good sense of it.

Get more 'boots on the ground'

Don't rely solely on your real estate agent. Get others involved.

Friends and family

If you have friends or family in the area, ask them to tour the house with the agent, says Laurin LaLima, a Century 21 agent in Morganville, New Jersey. When a Florida client wanted to buy a home in New Jersey in 2020, but couldn't travel because of the pandemic, the buyer's sister went on the video tours with LaLima and attended the inspection. LaLima could give information, but the sister knew the buyer's tastes. The client saw the home on the final walk-through before closing and said it was even better than expected.

Murray says having relatives on Maui made buying a home sight unseen much less daunting than it would have been otherwise.

"They were able to troop on over there, and they sent us photos," she says. Plus, her husband, Jim, is originally from Maui and they were familiar with the area from previous visits.

The sale closed in June 2020, and she didn't see the property in person until July. She loved it. "I had a hard time falling asleep that night because I was so excited," she says.

The home inspector

A home inspection is important. When making offers in today's tight housing market, some buyers are waiving the right to back out or negotiate repairs after the home inspection. That's risky with any home purchase. Even if you take that risk, consider getting a home inspection to understand the property's condition and what will be required to fix any problems.

As the buyer, you'll choose the inspector and pay for the inspection. Ask for referrals and look for one with experience and excellent communication skills. If you can't attend the inspection in person, do a video call with the inspector during the examination.

Conti Patara and her husband attended the home inspection virtually and negotiated with the seller to do repairs. The family walked onto the property and met their real estate agent, Misener, in person for the first time one hour before signing the closing papers in January.

"Everything was all ready, and it was exactly how she had described," Conti Patara says.

Barbara Marquand writes for NerdWallet. Email: bmarquand@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @barbaramarquand.

The article Take Some of the Mystery Out of Buying a House Sight Unseen originally appeared on NerdWallet.
Chinese authorities seize church property days after raiding house church

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Communist authorities in China removed all the belongings of a house church in Chinas Chongqing municipality without showing any legal documents, days after raiding the building during a worship service, according to reports.

More than 30 officials, including local police, state security and local district administration, came with trucks and took away all the property, including chairs and books, at Mt. Olive Church in Chongqing on Wednesday, the U.S.-based advocacy organization International Christian Concern reports.

The Texas-based non-governmental organization China Aid reported the same group of officials, led by the Yuzhong District Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau, raided the church during its worship service last Sunday. The authorities sent the members home and sealed the church without showing any papers to prove official authorization.

Pastor Zhu Dong and several leaders were said to have been brought to the police station.

In January 2018, Mt. Olive Reformed School, founded by the church, was also raided, sealed and charged with being an illegal venue for proselytization.

China Aid suspects that the recent crackdown against house churches, which targets especially reformed churches, could be a gift to the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.

The Chinese government also continued its campaign against Christianity during the countrys coronavirus outbreak by destroying crosses and demolishing a church while people were on lockdown.

On February 28, authorities raided the Chongqing Living Fountain Church during one of its Sunday services and arrested two Christians, one of whom preached that day. According to China Aid, officers confiscated a computer belonging to the church and told those attending the service not to come on the church grounds again because the church is not registered and "theres the potential risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus."

In January, police officers, education bureau officials, national security officers and urban management officers raided a house where homeschooled children of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu were playing together, the church said in a Facebook post.

The police are now raiding the home. There are a large number of police officers outside and inside of brother Liang Huali and Sister Shu Qiongs home, and they are currently removing brother Liangs personal belongings. Please pray! the church wrote.

Open Doors USA, which monitors persecution in over 60 countries, estimates that there are about 97 million Christians in China, a large percentage of whom worship in what China considers to be "illegal" and unregistered underground home churches.

China ranks as the 17th-worst country in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians, according to Open Doors USAs 2021 World Watch List.

A November 2020 report from the Pew Research Center showed that restrictions on religion in China had risen to a record level. Researchers found that China continued to have the highest score on the Government Restrictions Index out of all 198 countries and territories in the study.

In addition to Early Rain Covenant Church, the Chinese Communist Party has forced several well-known churches to shut down, including Rongguili Church in Guangzhou and Xunsiding Church in Xiamen.

The U.S. State Department has labeled China as a country of particular concern for continuing to engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

The Chinese Communist Party has also cracked down on other minority groups over the years, including Uighur Muslims in Western China, Falun Gong practitioners and Tibetan Buddhists.

In 2019, a nongovernmental organization told the United Nations Human Rights Council that the Chinese government engages in forced organ harvesting on a "significant scale" as it has taken organs from hundreds of thousands of prisoners of conscience, including Falun Gong and Uighur Muslims.

Earlier this year, the U.S. State Department declared the Chinese government's treatment and mass detainment of Uighur and other ethnic groups in Western China to be "genocide."



Last week, the U.S. government and its allies at the European Union and the United Kingdom issued sanctions against top Chinese officials in response to human rights abuses in China's western Xinjiang province.
Female University of Rhode Island professor under fire for criticizing trans movement

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A University of Rhode Island professor is under fire for what has been deemed as "anti-transgender perspectives" for stating, among other things, that people cannot be born in the wrong body.

In an essay published in 4W last month, a "publication for cancelled women, brave feminists, and heterodox thinkers," Donna Hughes, a pioneer in the academic study of human trafficking and a professor of women's studies, wrote of the fantasy worlds that exist on both sides of the political aisle in the United States.

While many on the left are quick to accuse those on the right of falling for conspiracy theories, Hughes stressed in her piece titled, "Fantasy Worlds on the Political Right and Left: QAnon and Trans-Sex Beliefs," that "fake news and harmful politicized beliefs leading to real harm are not solely a right-wing phenomenon."

"The American political left is increasingly diving headfirst into their own world of lies and fantasy and, unlike in the imaginary world of QAnon, real children are becoming actual victims.

"The trans-sex fantasy, the belief that a person can change his or her sex, either from male to female or from female to male, is spreading largely unquestioned among the political left."

In an email to The Christian Post on Sunday, Hughes said that the gender identity movement is authoritarian and that the ferocious backlash to any criticism of it is part of the strategy to shut down all discussion of the subject. She also noted that she has received statements of support from trans-identifying people who are happy living as transgender but acknowledge they cannot change their sex.

"A tremendous amount of rage is generated toward those with 'privilege,' a very slippery, non-exact concept, so it can be applied to anyone. The same with accusations of racism," Hughes said.

There is a tremendous amount of money behind the transgender movement. They use their money to influence large institutions, such as medical centers, pharmacies, schools, and human rights groups. People refer to this as institutional capture. It is a corrupt process of becoming large donors to institutions, usually with a lot of money, come to dictate thinking.



In response to her essay, the University of Rhode Island released a statement saying that it "does not support statements and publications by Professor Donna Hughes that espouse anti-transgender perspectives and recognize that such discourse can cause pain and discomfort for many transgender individuals."

The statement was not part of a press release or in an email to students but was posted on the university's website, and noted the school is committed to transgender rights and the need to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence aimed at transgender individuals and the LGBTQIA+ community.

While acknowledging Hughes' "general right to 'academic freedom'" the statement argued that such freedom and free speech rights under the First Amendment "are not boundless, however, and should be exercised responsibly with due regard for the faculty members other obligations, including their obligations to the universitys students and the university community.

When asked by CP why university administrations seem hesitant to defend the free speech rights of their staff who criticize this movement, she replied that universities no longer teach about principles of democracy, except for specialized classes.

Administrators are frightened by the bullies. They rush to accommodate any complaints. They fear if they do not appear to be progressive enough, they will come under attack. On Twitter, some of the activists said they would take me down, and if the Gender and Womens Studies Department didnt support them, theyd go after the department, too, she said.

Many people don't know about the experimental nature of the medicalization of gender, she added, which she also detailed in her 4W essay.

The average member of the public likely thinks that men become transgender by starting to wear female clothing and makeup, while women cut their hair short and wear masculine clothes. Few know about the puberty-blocking drugs and the cross-sex hormones that effectively sterilize teens. They dont know the changes they cause, particularly to girls, are not reversible. They dont know about the girls getting double mastectomies, Hughes told CP.

The cosmetic gender surgeries that are done on women are disguised with euphemisms, she added, and the ways gender has become medicalized are forms of sterilization, but no one talks about that.

Its part of the fantasy that sex changes magically happen," Hughes added.

The ideology that accompanies the contemporary phenomenon of a self-declared "gender identity" is an attack against women's hard-won sex-based rights, Hughes wrote last month, and the "biological category of sex, particularly womens sex, is being smashed."

President Joe Biden's Jan. 20 executive order enshrining gender identity into federal administrative law, she said, "flies in the face of rationality and truth."

Speaking to the "hormonal and surgical horrors" young people are being encouraged to pursue to "de-sex" them, and the pharmaceutical companies, medical facilities and physicians who profit off these procedures, Hughes likened these to the eugenics movement where certain groups of people were deemed unfit to reproduce and then forcibly sterilized.

Hughes told the Boston Globe that she has the right to speak on issues of public concern as a private citizen.

"Its sad that we have reached a point in society where difficult issues cannot be freely and openly discussed without resort to personal attacks and calls for censorship, she said.
































Inc. magazine today revealed that DG2 Worldwide Group (DG2) is No. 50 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 segmentits independent small businesses.



Our growth has been exceptional as much has changed in the world of marketing agency financial stewardship and oversight, with more dollars at risk due to supplier overcharges and transparency issues. DG2 advertising and marketing audit services and technology tools provide brands with real-time control, governance frameworks, transparency and value covering its marketing investments, said Michael Lay, DG2 Founder and CEO.



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 areasLos Angeles, the Bay Area, and San Diegobrought 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 starting March 16, 2021.



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.



DG2 is the only advertising and marketing industry audit service provider using emerging technologies to modernize the contract compliance field covering the $1.4 trillion marketing communications industry, while we provide a proprietary, real-time and continuous monitoring reporting system with dashboards showing how every marketing dollar is invested. We have taken what has long been an archaic pen-and-paper process and modernized it for todays digital world.

CONTACT: Michael Lay

DG2 Worldwide Group (DG2)

310 809 0899

mlay@dg2ww.com

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regionals



Methodology

The 2021 Inc. 5000 Regional 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.
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Website intex-site.com uses latest and advanced technologies like: Boostrap and Asp.Net. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 338438 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS. The main html page has a size of 316411 bytes (309.00 kb uncompressed) and 316951 bytes (309.52 kb compressed).

This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-03-30, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.
Firefighters are battling a large blaze at a condominium complex in Nassau Bay, according to a Facebook post from the city.

No injuries have been reported, though the flames have damaged about 35 percent of the building. The fourth floor has collapsed, the city said.
SOME of Limericks bigger stores have started to sell items which many consider to be non-essential, with Retail Excellence Ireland saying the lines have become blurred.

At the start of the first Covid-19 lockdown over a year ago, shops and service outlets considered as being non-essential to the functioning of a society during lockdown were closed.

It saw high streets empty, as clothes stores and toy shops shut overnight.

But during the first period of restrictions, many supermarkets retained so-called middle aisle items, which included clothing, and other items also common at independent retailers.

However, when the second lockdown took effect in October, and following lobbying from a number of pressure groups, we witnessed huge parts of supermarkets sealed off to the public, with binbags obscuring non-essential items from view.

As we enter the end of the third month of the latest lockdown  which came in on Christmas Eve  a number of larger shops have begun to sell what were initially considered to be non-essential  the likes of school shoes, socks and underwear.

Duncan Graham, the chief executive of Retail Excellence said many outlets are now deciding for themselves what is considered essential, and what is not.

Clearly, there is a lot of evidence which groups like ourselves are forwarding to government that some stores are deciding themselves what is classed as essential and non-essential. Thats not fair on independent retailers, for example a clothes shop which has its shutters down and are not in a position to open because their product is classed as non-essential, he explained.

He said an argument can be made that, more than three months into the third national lockdown, an argument can be made for items which should now be considered essential.

He said: As time goes on, and we are now into the end of the third month of a very difficult lockdown, what is classified as essential and non-essential, these lines become blurred. As you go into three months off, whose to tell that buying a new pair of socks, or childrens footwear, shoes or clothing, whose to tell a parent its non-essential?

Mr Graham thinks now, smaller stores should be allowed to open click-and-collect.

The only way around it is to start the gradual re-opening of retail. One of the easiest ways to do this is the reintroduction of click and collect where people can phone up and have something put behind and go to the outside of that store and pick it up. They are not crossing the threshold, they are not going into that store, he concluded.
On Monday, we learned that the San Diego Board of Education is sending teachers to the San Diego Convention Center to give in-person education to the illegal alien kids there. The most obviously wrong thing about that is that our kids are not getting in-person education. But I don't want to comment about the obvious. I want to talk about the insane rant from a Sacramento teacher who hates Americans, especially white Americans. Unless we do something, it's these insane teachers who will ultimately end up indoctrinating the new students who will be pouring into American schools.

The first part of this post involves a news item out of San Diego County from famously independent local station KUSI:

Teachers will be sent to the San Diego Convention Center to provide in-person learning for the migrants being sheltered there.



But, many schools across San Diego have yet to resume in-person classes. https://t.co/arQL4NcGRz  KUSI News (@KUSINews) March 29, 2021

(There's more information, including the news of the kids' COVID infections, at Twitchy.)

In other words, the government is very anxious to start getting these American residents up to speed. Our Democrat-run government knows that if you get 'em while they're young, they're yours forever. Or, as Lenin said, "give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted."

That's why it's important to know who will be teaching our children. Over the past year, we've learned a lot about many American teachers, especially the unionized ones in big, Democrat-run cities: they're lazy, greedy, and cowardly. Oh, and one more thing: they hate America, and they hate white people. (And if you're a teacher reading American Thinker, I hope you understand that I'm quite obviously not talking about you. You're one of the good guys or gals, and we need more of you.)

That leads me to the other story I saw on Monday. A teacher at a high school in Sacramento, displeased with pressure to go back to teaching students full time, went before his local school board and let loose with an angry diatribe against the parents who dare to demand that he do the job he's paid to do. He was so proud of what he said that he re-posted it to Facebook. A group called Reopen California Schools found and published his rant:

A @officialSCUSD teacher in Sacramento publicly calling parents white supremacists and bullies that speak in favor of in-person learning. I thought we were done with this.@officialSCUSD, please make sure the parents in your district get an apology. cc: @ScusdP https://t.co/eSFUBWvz8o pic.twitter.com/wVL9sJ6Y6e  Reopen California Schools (@ReopenCASchools) March 29, 2021

This angry, hate-filled, entitled, anti-American, anti-white man is representative of the people who'll be teaching all the illegal alien kids who'll be remaining here whether we like it or not. If you want to push back against America's slide into being an anti-white, socialist country, start thinking about volunteering to work with these illegal alien kids to turn them into good citizens. Otherwise, guys like this are going to turn them into a huge new generation of America-haters.

Image: Teacher by NeONBRAND on Unsplash.

The teacher's diatribe

It's Sunday morning, which means I went off on parents in my home district. Here's what I said:

"I come to you as a grateful parent. I'm grateful that I kept my children home. And I'm especially grateful for what I heard from parents last week. Until then, the only way I could measure the level of white supremacy in my neighborhood was the Next Door app. The people clamoring for a district to break its legally-negotiated MOU with teachers who are going to be teaching their own children, who treat the teachers' efforts as though they've not been exhausting and ever-present, while also going through a pandemic themselves, made it much easier.

I come to you as a parent in full support of the teachers staying home in distance learning because it remains the safest and most humane practice. I'm as disappointed as I am unsurprised that last week, we all had to hear all the cynical, pearl-clutching, faux-urgency, ableist, structurally white-supremacist, hysteria, even as teachers were moving forward with an MOU that already put them in harm's way and was asking too much of a beleaguered group of professionals.

This is not a country club. Our teachers are not the wait staff whom you callously and inhumanely disdain because they failed to anticipate that you wanted lime instead of lemon with your water when you walked in the door. This is a public service, aimed at educating your children so they grow up to be better than our generation. You set that back by quite a bit. And they're watching. Our children are watching as you make ablistic attacks on Board Member Pizzotti out of one side of your mouth, and pretend to care about children with special needs with the other.

And there's no need to deny it. If you didn't tacitly support such shameful behavior, you would've used your time to say so last week. Only one positive comment came through last week. One.

You've attempted to bully a school board into making the schools less safe for the teachers and children. And you nearly succeeded, making complicit two of its members  who are still meeting virtually, but deciding that others must meet in person. You've attempted to bully a school board into acting in bad faith with the teachers of your children.

There is one more thing I'm grateful for: I'm grateful that there are so many more parents who value the teachers than you verbal and entitled few.

This is who you are. Our children are watching, and you showed them, and your teachers, that you value neither. During a pandemic. God help us all if there's another one, because you sure as hell won't."

I'm pretty g-------- done being polite and thinking there's an acceptable middle ground on some topics. This is one of them.
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto made courtesy calls to Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday.

The visit came a day after Japan and Indonesia agreed to strengthen the alliance between their nations as part of efforts to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

"I hope the agreement on defense equipment we will sign later today will strengthen the foundation of our cooperation for regional security," said Suga.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
By Kumiko Kanetomo, KYODO NEWS - Mar 30, 2021 - 12:00 | Feature, All, Japan, World

A "Sake Dialogue" featuring long-established Japanese breweries and those emerging in the United States recently brought about discussions on cross-border information-sharing, cooperation and innovation to spread the word of Japan's most famous alcoholic export.

The nearly 90-minute talk, whose participants included three sake brewers on each side of the Pacific, was organized by the Sake Brewers Association of North America in Washington, and the Embassy of Japan in the United States, in late February.

On the Japanese side, the Miyagi, Fukushima and Nagano prefecture breweries -- all in existence for hundreds of years -- participated in the webinar conducted in English, while brewers from New York, Tennessee, and California, spoke passionately about the challenges involved in the sake-brewing process and the ingenuity required for further product development.

The panel also discussed the obvious challenges ahead after the U.S. market -- for many years the largest overseas export destination for Japanese sake -- was severely damaged by the coronavirus outbreak.

Weston Konishi, 50, president of the sake brewers association, told Kyodo News he expects "Japanese sake to become more popular in the U.S." and explained that the conference was part of a series, which also aims to educate Japanese brewers on regulations in the North American market, and the prospects for growth in the industry.

In 2020, due to shrinking demand for food services and leisure during the pandemic, the value of sake exports from Japan dropped by 25 percent from the previous year to 5 billion yen ($45 million), falling for the first time below exports to Hong Kong and China, economies that rebounded relatively quickly from the virus-induced downturn.

Before that, the United States had been the largest importer of Japanese sake since 1988.

The future of Japanese sake exports hinges largely on the resurgence of the U.S. market where consumers are very open to trying new things, said Euka Isawa, 27, the person in charge of overseas business development for the centuries-old, family-owned Katsuyama Supreme Sake Co. in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

"Compared to European or Asian countries, I feel that American consumers are more receptive to different cultures," Isawa said during the conference. "In Europe, some countries are really conservative, so even if you introduce sake that people can enjoy with meals, they still believe wine is king."

While studying abroad seven years ago, Isawa started visiting restaurants in New York for sales meetings and realized, "Since U.S. restaurants have a good understanding of sake, if they feel it is good quality, a small brewery can become a (well-established) brand." Because of her unwavering commitment, Katsuyama sakes have built a solid overseas following.

Isawa said the brewery was severely damaged by the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan. A high school student at the time, she recalled the words of her principal, who instructed his students "to grow into capable people who can contribute to the local community."

Taking those words to heart, Isawa set out on a mission to promote the family's sake around the world.

Kosuke Kuji, the 48-year-old president of Nambu Bijin and a sake export pioneer for the brewery in Ninohe, Iwate Prefecture, said the surge in the number of local U.S. sake producers is indicative of the industry's youth movement.

Craft beer in the United States has been booming, and microbreweries have sprung up around the country since the 2010s. Riding this momentum, sake breweries have also emerged both in big cities and rural areas in recent years.

"Young and passionate American brewers continue to evolve," Kuji said, adding that he would not be surprised if the day comes when an American sake producer wins the world's top award, supplanting a Japanese brand due to the quickly-evolving U.S. sake market.

Brooklyn Kura co-founder Brian Polen, 39, who opened his brewery with a counter bar in Brooklyn, New York, in 2018, was one of the three U.S. representatives participating in the event.

For Polen, a former financial analyst, the attention Japanese breweries pay to craftsmanship and quality made him question why the drink was not more alluring to producers in the United States.

"It's very simple...It really is an exceptional beverage. It's one that we believe isn't as well represented around the world as it could and should be," he said in the webinar, adding, "It's a question that requires a lot of time, energy and investment" to overcome a multitude of complexities to create the different sake variants.

But the point is to keep it simple and accessible for consumers. "It is substitutable for your fine wine or craft beer, and you don't need special glassware, ceremony, or Japanese food to enjoy it," he said.

As for what the future holds for cooperation in challenges and innovations to improve the sake brewing process across the Pacific, the six agreed that further "sake dialogue" conferences would go a long way toward achieving that goal.

"Almost 80 percent of our distribution was to restaurants. In New York City, effectively all of the restaurants were shut down (during the pandemic), so it's been challenging. But I think that our work is much longer term," said Polen.

"There's a light at the end of the tunnel, and if we can continue to work together like this, everybody is going to come out a winner -- as long as you have cash on your balance sheet."
Despite the repeated calls by international agencies for the fair and equitable distribution of these lifesaving treatments, the COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine nationalism is threatening a complete breakdown in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, AstraZeneca has become the focal point of what is undoubtedly an already deeply rooted vaccine war spurred by the conflicting interests of the major imperialist powers, as well as their lesser rivals and client states.

Earlier this year, there was an open brawl among the European powers over AstraZenecas inability to meet delivery schedules to both Britain and the European Union. Last week European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU would use emergency powers to ensure it received promised vaccines. Britain is partly reliant on supplies from Europe and thus may not be able to deliver a second dose to those who have received it.

A vial of AstraZeneca vaccine is pictured in a pharmacy in Boulogne Billancourt, outside Paris, Monday, March 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

The supply issue in Europe was exacerbated by apparently unwarranted claims of health problems among those receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. Then the company ran afoul of US regulators when it published interim results of a US trial that showed 79 percent efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19 infections. While the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) said the vaccine maker had provided outdated information, refiled results showed 76 percent efficacy, essentially no different, and a higher efficacy among the elderly.

Dr. Anthony Fauci described the companys action as an unforced error, adding that this is 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. Stephan Evans, professor of pharmaco-epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told the Guardian, I think some of the difficulties were that the trials were being set up by [AstraZeneca] to answer public health questions, whereas clearly Pfizer/BioNTech and Modernas trials in the US were set up to get FDA approval.

The in-fighting, hostility, and derisory comments made by European government leaders directed against AstraZeneca, which contributed to popular concerns raised over its efficacy and safety, demonstrate the reactionary role of rival capitalist nation-states in the face of the pandemic There is no globally coordinated response to the pandemic, to the point that such tensions undermine distribution and utilization of what health officials regard as an efficacious and effective vaccine.

What the scientists say about AstraZeneca

A statement of support published on February 26 by the World Health Organization regarding AstraZenecas vaccine explains, Efficacy shown in clinical trials in participants who received the full series of vaccine (2 doses) irrespective of the interval between the doses was 63.1%, based on a median follow-up of 80 days, but tended to be higher when this interval was longer. The data reviewed at this time support the conclusion that the known and potential benefits of ChAdOx1-S/nCoV-19 [recombinant] vaccine outweigh the known and potential risks.

The assessment was based on a study published in The Lancet on February 19, 2021, on the immunogenicity and efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccinea pooled analysis of four randomized trials. Though it is unusual to pool these studies, it provides the context for an assessment of the vaccine. The vaccines primary dosing regimen is considered to consist of two standard doses given at an interval of 4 to 12 weeks, with the spacing of 12 weeks seeming to be optimal.

According to the study, The primary outcome was virologically confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 disease, defined as a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)-positive swab combined with at least one qualifying symptom (fever equal to or greater than 37.8 degrees Celsius, cough, shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste). The primary analysis was of cases occurring more than 14 days after the second dose.

When comparing vaccines, it is critical to take note of the primary outcome that is being measured. This makes the reported results in a particular study challenging to compare with other trials. When the mainstream media implies one vaccine is superior to another, simply by comparing their reported efficacy numbers, this is misleading. A genuinely scientific objective measure of superiority would require a head-to-head trial between vaccine candidates to confirm such assertions. Efficacy endpoints mainly indicate the vaccine is a viable candidate for broader use.

For instance, in the case of the Moderna vaccine trial, which cited an efficacy of 94 percent, Moderna made the diagnosis of COVID-19 in a participant if they had at least two symptoms with a fever considered equal to or greater than 38 degrees Celsius. The Moderna trial also allowed one symptom with confirmatory nasal swabs or saliva samples for viral confirmation. Participants were encouraged to self-report symptoms, a process that could bias these trials.

AstraZenecas overall efficacy was found to be 63.1 percent in the initial trial. Further evaluation, however, found that the vaccines efficacy after a single standard dose improved over time. By day 90, the efficacy had risen to 76 percent without evidence of waning of protection. A two-dose regimen with a 12-week interval raised the efficacy to 81.3 percent, suggesting that the 12-week gap is optimal. This has become the new accepted dosing regimen.

More importantly, both in the Moderna and AstraZeneca trials, no severe COVID-19 cases or hospitalizations were reported 14 days after those participants had completed their vaccine regimen. This means both prevented serious disease from developing in the participants, the most critical aspect of these treatments. These findings were recently confirmed in the trial conducted in the Americas where efficacy was found to be 76 percent and no severe disease or hospitalizations occurred. These studies also indicated that the efficacy was higher for older participants.

Efficacy and effectiveness

There are two critical and distinct concepts in vaccine terminology: efficacy and effectiveness. According to the Gavi vaccine alliance, Efficacy is the degree to which a vaccine prevents disease, and possibly also the transmission, under ideal and controlled circumstances.  Effectiveness meanwhile refers to how well it performs in the real world.

Vaccines may differ in efficacy by a considerable degree in a controlled trial, while being roughly equal in effectiveness once deployed in daily life. This appears to be the case with the AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, any of which should be taken as soon as available. The same considerations seem to apply, by the way, to the Russian and Chinese vaccines.

The author of a recent Scottish trial looked at the effectiveness of a single dose of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines in preventing hospital admissions. As they noted, There is an urgent need to study the real-world effects of these vaccines. They conducted a prospective study using their Early Pandemic Evaluation and Enhanced Surveillance of COVID-19 database linking vaccinations to hospitalization among 5.4 million people, or 99 percent of the population. Their primary endpoint was hospital admission within 28 days of a positive PCR test for COVID-19.

Between December 8, 2020, and February 15, 2021, more than 1.1 million people (35 percent) had received at least one jab of a vaccine. Rapid uptake (production of antibodies to COVID-19) was seen among those 80 years or older. This group also had higher uptake from the AstraZeneca vaccine. Those under 65 had higher uptake from the Pfizer vaccine.

Vaccine effectiveness with just a single dose increased over time, peaking at day 28 to 34 post-vaccination for both vaccines. While the Pfizer vaccine was associated with an 85 percent reduction in hospital admissions for COVID-19, there was a 94 percent reduction in admissions for those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Statistically, both vaccines were equally effective. The EMA has reviewed the data and has noted that both vaccines offer similar protection. Still, prospective phase four trials remain a critical factor in appraising these vaccines on a global scale.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at WHO, commenting on recent modeling studies on the AstraZeneca vaccine, said, There was data from the clinical trials which suggested that the longer the interval, at least up to 12 weeks, the better the immune response and the better the efficacy of the vaccine. So, there is also modeling done to show if you have a limited number of vaccine doses, and you want to protect the population, particularly the high-risk groups, the older groups, and so on, countries like the UK have taken the approach of vaccinating more people with available vaccines and giving the second dose at a time around 12 weeks. The SAGE group that advises the WHO recommended a gap of eight to 12 weeks between the first and second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. And this was based on an analysis of the data, both from the immunogenicity data and efficacy data. And we are getting more data from the actual rollout of the vaccines in countries which have opted to use this delayed approach showing that the first dose is providing significant protection against hospitalization and disease. So, it seems like a good strategy to protect more people more quickly. But a second dose must be given.

Vaccines and variants

An additional and perhaps critically important issue is how well the six major vaccines perform against variants of COVID-19 that have emerged because of the herd immunity policy adopted by the major imperialist powers, which has allowed the virus ample time and space to mutate into different versions, threatening to adapt in ways that would undermine the effectiveness of the vaccines.

There is some hopeful evidence emerging that people with prior infections or vaccinations may develop a robust cellular immunity to the new variants. A recent study released in preprint form from La Jolla, California, on March 1, found that T-cell responses from patients vaccinated with the mRNA vaccines or previously infected with the wild-type variants continued to have a robust response against the CAL.20C, B.1.1.7, P.1, and B.1.351 variants.

The authors wrote, The data provide some positive news in light of justified concern over the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concerns on efforts to control and eliminate the present pandemic. While it is not anticipated that circulatory memory T cells would be effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections, it is plausible that they can reduce COVID-19 severity.

However, current developments with the continuing surge in Brazil with the P.1 variant should be a dire warning of the catastrophic dangers of the half-hearted measures and rhetorical responses by many governments to the pandemic.

Brazil is in the throes of a catastrophic surge that has brought the entire countrys health system into a state of collapse, and daily death tolls are exceeding 3,000. Recent evidence has emerged that suggests that the P.1 variants transmissibility is far higher than the B.1.1.7 at 2 to 2.5 times higher than the wild type. It is now also known to cause reinfection in 25 to 63 percent of people with prior infections with the coronavirus. The spillover into countries like Chile and Uruguay pose tremendous global health risks.

Studies show that the variants like those from South Africa and Brazil can evade the protective immunity elicited by previous infections. It has also raised concerns that the current vaccines may not be as effective. Data on the effectiveness of the current vaccines against these variants are lacking, and sorely needed.

These more transmissible variants have evolved under positive selection pressures that coincided with the winter surges. It appears that the Receptor Binding Domain of the spike protein is designed to allow for evolutionary convergence of different SARS-CoV-2 viruses mutating along similar adaptive lines, conferring a survival advantage over previous lineages. With these new strains of the SARS-CoV-2 becoming dominant across several regions across the globe, lifting restrictions while the vaccination campaigns are underway is a recipe for disaster.

Vaccines and the poor countries

A major concern, both from the standpoint of epidemiology and of social justice, is the inability of billions of people in the poor countries to gain access to or even to afford purchase of the life-saving vaccines that have been developed so rapidly in the United States, Europe, Russia and China. The conflict over the AstraZeneca vaccine has disrupted efforts to distribute the vaccines throughout Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Speaking of the international COVAX facility, created to provide no-cost coronavirus vaccines to the poorest countries, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization said March 26, COVAX is ready to deliver, but we cant deliver vaccines we dont have. As you know, bilateral deals, export bans, vaccine nationalism, and vaccine diplomacy have caused distortions in the market, with gross inequities in supply and demand. Increased demand for vaccines has led to delays in securing tens of millions of doses that COVAX was counting on.

Aggravating matters most recently, Indian officials announced they had suspended exports of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, potentially for several weeks, to redirect them to their own population, as coronavirus cases were rising explosively. The Serum Institute was providing the lions share of the vaccine to the COVAX facility and the rest of the world. This will only further exacerbate the limited supplies that exist and lead to more entrenched trade restrictions and bottlenecking of critical materials. To place the AstraZeneca vaccine in this critical context it should be noted that it has been given conditional marketing or emergency-use authorization in more than 70 countries, according to the Guardian, which are eagerly waiting their turn.

Whether the country is industrialized or underdeveloped, vaccines alone are not sufficient to fight the pandemic. The central question is the prevention and rolling back of the infection, both to save lives and to prevent COVID-19 from mutating any further and developing new and more terrible features.

Dr. Katherine OBrien, Director of Immunizations, Vaccines, and Biologics at the World Health Organization, noted at a March 26 press conference, As everybody knows, the evidence on the vaccines is really clear about the prevention of disease, certainly the prevention of severe disease and death for these vaccines. But the part of the evidence that is still rolling in is the degree to which they also protect against getting infected. Clearly, to get disease you have to get infected, but just because you get infected doesnt mean you get disease. But it does mean you can transmit to somebody else  as vaccines are rolling out, there are many people in the community who are not vaccinated and not protected against disease.

She added, Continuation of the measures to avoid transmission even if you are not symptomatic is so incredibly important as we are rolling out vaccines and that increase in immunity in the population is continuing. We also have the variants of concern (VOC) and we dont have information that is firm and clear about the degree to which each of these vaccines against each VOC may have some reduction or change in the ability they have to protect against infection or disease  this is the time when we should do everything possible to keep transmission low because it is that low transmission that will also impede and avoid the emergence of other variants.

Conclusion

The ruling class sees vaccines as a mechanism to check the explosive social situation that exists. The working class should accept all the vaccines because they are life-saving. But they should understand that it isnt being done because the ruling class cares an iota for them.

Precisely in this regard, such myopic strategies are exacerbating the populations reluctance to accept these vaccines, while creating dangerous conditions such as school reopening and relaxing mitigation efforts, which are selecting for newer, more virulent mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Even though just one year has passed, the coronavirus still has significant energy to wreak havoc on communities worldwide.

At the World Health Organizations virtual COVID-19 press conference on March 1, 2021, Director-General Ghebreyesus said, It is regrettable that some countries continue to prioritize younger and healthier adults in their own populations ahead of health workers and older people elsewhere. Countries are not in a race with each other. This is a common race against the virus. We are not asking countries to put their own people at risk. We are asking all countries to be part of a global effort to suppress the virus everywhere.  We urge all governments and individuals to remember that vaccines alone will not keep you safe.

The contrast between the director-generals comments and the current strategy of vaccine nationalism is stark. An international plan for vaccine deployment should prioritize frontline health workers and the elderly and most vulnerable in all countries.

Evidence is emerging that the vaccines appear to limit onward transmission and prove effective in preventing severe disease and hospitalization. The first and most crucial phase in an international response to the COVID-19 pandemic is minimizing death and suffering to the greatest extent possible.

The implication behind this is simple; the intellectual property held by these giant pharmaceutical companies must be made publicly available to all nations. In turn, every country that can manufacture the vaccine or produce the necessary ingredients for their production, including supplemental materials such as syringes, vials, etc., must work in concert to mass-produce and deliver these life-saving treatments where they are required.

Simultaneously, all regions must initiate a mass vaccination program while working closely with their public health officials and health systems to ensure these measures are carried out safely and efficiently. This means that the virus must be suppressed to the greatest extent possible while a rational, systematic approach to vaccine delivery and administration is established. Such an initiative can only come from the working class and its seizure of power on the basis of an international socialist program.
Monday March 29, 2021

Job Title: Outreach Coordinator City Utica, NY

Full time for a local workforce development agency. Duties: Initiate and maintain contacts with a variety of businesses and job training agencies to promote a project supporting women in non-traditional occupations. Requirements: Bachelor's degree and some experience with academic advising or student development.

Pay: Not specified. Benefits. Job Order # NY1360691

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Monday March 29, 2021

Job Title: Construction Craft Laborers City Whitesboro, NY

Full time positions with a local labor union. Duties: Apprentice, Journeyman and Foreman positions are available in general construction, bridge construction, road work, mason tending and more. Requirements: High School Diploma or the equivalent. Pay is based on experience and job type.

Pay: $15.47-$32.15/hour. Benefits Job Order # NY1364332

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Tuesday March 30, 2021

Job Title: Housekeeper City Utica, NY

Part time, 20 hours per week for 2 local motels. Duties: Clean motel rooms and common areas. Change and re-stock linens. Requirements: Must be reliable and able to perform all required tasks. Some cleaning experience preferred.

Pay: Not specified. Job Order # NY1360427

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Tuesday March 30, 2021

Job Title: Support Services Engineer City Rome, NY

Full time for an IT consulting firm. Duties: Provide day-to-day support to clients including helpdesk support, maintenance of servers, storage, backup systems and network security devices. Requirements: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and a minimum of 1-year experience in IT.

Pay: Not specified. Benefits. Job Order # NY1364404

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Wednesday March 31, 2021

Job Title: Marketing and Communications Specialist City Herkimer, NY

Full time for a local industrial development agency. Duties: Update and maintain the agencys social media presence, pitch news releases, design flyers, graphics, and other marketing materials. Requirements: Must have either completed or be working toward a college degree, preferably in a related field. Previous internship or related experience in marketing or communications is a plus.

Pay: Not specified. Benefits. Job Order # NY1364267

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Wednesday March 31, 2021

Job Title: Residence Counselors City Chittenango and Sylvan Beach, NY

Full time, all shifts for an agency serving individuals with disabilities. Duties: Attend to individuals personal care needs creating an environment that maintains and promotes independence. Requirements: High School Diploma or the equivalent and 1 year of related experience preferred.

Pay: Not specified. Benefits. Job Order # NY1364296

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Thursday April 1, 2021

Job Title: Telecommunications Installers City Poland, NY

Full time for a local construction company. Duties: Prepare cell tower sites for back-up generator installs. Positions are available for laborers, foremen, and equipment operators. Requirements: One-year of work experience and the ability to travel frequently. Willing to train the right person, but experience in electrical, communications, or site work would be helpful.

Pay: Competitive pay. Job Order # NY1363871

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Thursday April 1, 2021

Job Title: Accounting Manager City Utica, NY

Full time for a charitable organization. Duties: Supervise workers doing budgeting, cash receipts, accounts payable & receivable and payroll. Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Accounting or a related field and a minimum of five years related experience. At least three years supervisory experience is required.

Pay: $33,000-$38,000 per year. Benefits. Job Order # NY1364138

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Friday April 2, 2021

Job Title: Mortgage Processor I City Rome, NY

Full time for a local credit union. Duties: Processes a variety of mortgage applications including Conventional Purchases and Refinances, Home Equity and Construction Loans. Requirements: High School Diploma or the equivalent. Associates degree preferred. Experience with residential mortgage regulations and processing required.

Pay: Not specified. Benefits. Job Order # DE9396411

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Friday April 2, 2021

Job Title: Refuse and Recyclable Collector City Utica, NY

Full-time, for a solid waste disposal company. Duties: Operate equipment to front load dumpsters and rear-load residential pick-ups onto trucks. Requirements: High School diploma or the equivalent and 1 years experience. Should be able to lift and carry at least 50 pounds.

Pay: $12.50/hour for first 30 days, then $21.27/ hour. Job Order # NY1364228

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For more information, contact your local Working Solutions office, or visit working-solutions.org.

Herkimer County: 315-867-1400 | Madison County: 315-363-2400 | Oneida County-Utica: 315-793-2229 | Oneida County-Rome: 315-356-0662
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on March 25 had announced that his country would reopen its embassy in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, next Monday. He had conveyed in Paris that, "From Monday, our embassy in Tripoli will be reopened and our ambassador will be able to return to your country,"

Now, France has reopened its embassy in Libya after seven years, with the diplomatic representation tweeting "back to work". Monday's reopening comes a week after President Emmanuel Macron announced the plan, reports DPA news agency.

In 2014, France had moved its diplomatic mission to Tunisia. The year before, its embassy in Libya's capital Tripoli had been attacked. The country wants to signal its support for the newly elected transitional government in Libya.

The leadership under Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Mohammed Dbeibeh was sworn in a fortnight ago. It replaces the internationally recognized government based in Tripoli and the rival government based in the east of the country, and is to lead Libya to nationwide elections on December 24.

Libya has been in turmoil since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011. The oil-rich country has become a proxy battleground for rival forces and foreign powers.

The new transitional government has ignited hopes of a gradual end to the conflict. The foreign ministers of France, Germany and Italy recently backed the new leadership with a visit to Libya.

AstraZeneca vaccine: Finland resumes use of vaccine only for people age 65

Palestine urges Israel to permit Palestinians in East Jerusalem in election participation

Ireland: Number of overseas passengers decrease by 76 pc this year
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Rachel Bilson is opening up about a trip down memory lane that didn't exactly go as planned.

While appearing on a recent episode of Dax Shepard and Monica Padman's Armchair Expert podcast, the 39-year-old actress recalled a time when Rami Malek asked her to delete an old photo of the two from high school she had posted on Instagram.

Back in 2019, Bilson shared a throwback snap of herself and Malek, also 39, as teenagers in New York City.

"Hey @ramimalek where'd you get that gold chain?" she captioned the post at the time, poking fun of the star and his past '90s fashion look.

Bilson also added the hashtags "#tbt" "#oscarworthy" and "#dontforgetthelittlepeople" to her post as well.

RELATED: Rachel Bilson Shares Ultimate Throwback Photo with Rami Malek: 'Don't Forget the Little People'

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images; Dominique Charriau/WireImage

Noting during her conversation that she and Malek both attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, Bilson explained that the pair had a past friendship.

"Rami was a good friend of mine. "We were [in] the same crew," she said during the podcast. "We did The Crucible together senior year, we were the leads in it together  all these things. We kind of kept in contact a little bit."

So when Malek began to gain recognition during the 2019 awards season for his role as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, Bilson thought it would be fun to share the throwback photo on social media.

"So obviously, he gets super famous and he's always been extremely talented, a really amazing actor, even in high school," she explained. "I had posted a throwback of us from our senior trip to New York, Broadway. We're super nerdy, [it was] just the dorkiest picture of the both of us. But I throw it up, 'cause it's funny and I think it's so important to be able to make fun of yourself."

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But after sharing the photo, Bilson said that Malek reached out to her directly in regards to the snap she shared.

"I don't usually check my DMs on my Instagram and maybe a week goes by and I actually look and I have a message from Rami," the Hart of Dixie star said. "But it wasn't like, 'Hey! How are you?!' It was straight to, 'I would really appreciate if you take that down. I'm a really private person.'"

RELATED VIDEO: 'Bohemian Rhapsody's Rami Malek On Playing the Role Of Freddie Mercury: There Was No Hesitation At All'

The response, Bilson said, caught her off guard and caused her to panic.

"I was like, 'Oh, s---! OK.' I get really hot and start sweating," she said. "I'm all nervous, like, 'Oh god! What did I do?' He was a good friend, it's a funny picture, you know? I don't take myself that seriously."

"I'm friends with his stylist and she was like, 'Well it's not a great picture of him,'" Bilson continued, before she shared another interaction she had with The O.C. creator about the photo. "It was right before the Oscars and I remember Josh Schwartz being like, 'You did him dirty. He's about to be nominated.'"

"I was like, I guess I should've found something more flattering," the actress added. "But I removed it and I even wrote to him a really nice message: 'I'm so sorry. Go get the Oscar! You're doing amazing.' And I never hear anything back, which is fine. But I was super bummed because he was always so nice and we were good friends."

A rep for Malek did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

An employee swiped more than $218,000 from from an Illinois hospital cafeteria, officials say.

Todd Jagow, a former cafeteria supervisor at Elmhurst Hospital, was charged Monday with theft in a scheme that lasted nearly two years, according to the DuPage County States Attorneys Office.

Jagow, 43, entered fake mobile money identifier refunds in the same amount of cash he stole to balance the registers, officials say. A mobile money identifier is a seven-digit number that banks issue to complete transactions through a cell phone, according to The Economic Times.

Jagow is accused of stealing $218,630 from February 2018 to January 2020 and used the money for personal expenses, officials say.

It is alleged that Mr. Jagow treated the coffers at Elmhurst Hospital as his own personal piggy bank, skimming money as he needed, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release. His alleged scheme came to an end however, when authorities at the hospital grew suspicious of his actions and contacted the Elmhurst Police Department.

Elmhurst is a Chicago suburb.

Baby in runaway shopping cart saved by Schnucks employee in Alton parking lot
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone conversation with National Security Advisor to the President of the United States Jacob Sullivan on March 29.

Andriy Yermak thanked the United States for a clear and consistent policy in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the press service of the Head of State informs.

"We appreciate the recent strong statements by President Joe Biden and your administration regarding Crimea. Reaffirming the US policy of not recognizing the attempted annexation of Crimea, condemning the illegal occupation of the peninsula and supporting our Crimean Platform initiative is very important for us, said the Head of the President's Office.

In addition, Andriy Yermak told the interlocutor about the security situation on the contact line in Donbas. He noted that in recent weeks there has been a dangerous trend towards increasing the number of ceasefire violations and the number of deceased.

"Last Friday, March 26, we lost four of our soldiers in one day," he said.

The Head of the President's Office added that the United States could play a more active role in promoting peace talks to end the war in Donbas.

Andriy Yermak also thanked the United States for providing important security assistance that strengthens Ukraine's defense capabilities. In particular, it is about supporting the reform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, strengthening the Naval Forces of Ukraine.

The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine also noted that with the support of the United States, Ukraine had already received the status of NATO's Enhanced Opportunities Partner (EOP) and expected to receive a Membership Action Plan (MAP).

He noted that Ukraine remained an outpost of the democratic world in Eastern Europe and pays a high price for it, including losing the lives of its best citizens.

The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine also told Jacob Sullivan about the reforms carried out by Volodymyr Zelensky. The goal of the President of Ukraine is to build a modern democratic state based on the rule of law, free from corruption and the influence of oligarchs.

Andriy Yermak also said that on the initiative of Volodymyr Zelensky, the Center for Countering Disinformation was established, the head of which will soon be presented to the public.

National Security Advisor to the President of the United States stressed the importance of cooperation in combating disinformation. "We have something to learn from you in the fight against disinformation. We hope for the possibility of further cooperation in this area," he said.

Jacob Sullivan also noted Ukraine's reform efforts. He stressed that the United States will help Ukraine achieve its political, economic and security goals.

He also assured of readiness to continue assisting Ukraine in gaining full NATO membership.

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US House passes bills to empower undocumented immigrants

The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed two key bills that would open citizenship rights to millions of undocumented immigrants, including migrant farmworkers and children of parents who have entered the US through legal channels like the H-1B visa programme.

The House passed the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 by 228-197 votes, thereby providing much-needed relief to these migrants who have nowhere else to go.

The House also voted to pass HR 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernisation Act, bipartisan legislation from Democratic Rep Zoe Lofgren of California and Newhouse.

The bill would permit farm workers, and their spouses and children, to earn legal status through continued employment in the agricultural sector, and would make changes to the H-2A agricultural guest worker programme.

President Joe Biden welcomed the Dreamer bill, describing it as a critical first step in reforming the country's immigration system. It will provide much-needed relief to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders and Dreamers, young people who came here as children and know no other country, he said.

"I support this bill, and commend the House of Representatives for passing this important legislation," Biden said in a statement.

There are nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US, including over 500,000 from India, according to a policy document issued by the Biden campaign in November last. Most of these undocumented immigrants have entered the US as children with parents.

Among others, the bill also provide relief for legal dreamers," the foreign-born children of many nonimmigrant workers, including those on H-1B, who lose their legal status once they reach 21 years of age, which would allow many other promising young people to pursue their version of the American Dream."

The H-1B visa, the most sought after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries such as India and China.

The bill now moves to the Senate, which needs to pass the legislation before it can be signed into law by Biden.

My administration looks forward to working together with Congress to do the right thing for Dreamers and TPS holders who contribute so much to our country, and to building a 21st century immigration system that is grounded in dignity, safety, and fairness... to create a path to citizenship for the undocumented population in the United States," Biden said.

The American Dream and Promise Act establishes a path to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status for DACA recipients and for certain individuals who either held or were eligible for TPS or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).

The majority of these individuals have been in the United States for much of their lives, often with work authorisation and temporary protections against deportation.

Five years after attaining full LPR status, individuals are then eligible to apply for citizenship, a path that is supported by nearly 75 per cent of the American public...," Indian American Congressman Ami Bera said.

This legislation is protecting Dreamers and TPS and DED recipients, honours the truth that immigrants are the constant reinvigoration of our country, when they come here with their hopes and dreams and aspirations, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

These parents bring their children, their hopes and dreams and aspirations for a better future for their children. That courage, that determination, those aspirations are American traits, and they all make America more American with all of that. Indeed, they are true and legitimate heirs, these Dreamers are, of our Founders," Pelosi said.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the original sponsor of the Dream Act, said that the a legislative solution is long overdue for Dreamers who have devoted their lives to our country, undocumented migrant farmworkers doing backbreaking agricultural work during this pandemic to keep food on our tables.

If the Senate is able to join the House in passing these bipartisan bills, we would be able to enact the most significant immigration legislation in more than 30 years. I hope we seize this moment," he said.

According to FWD.US, undocumented immigrants make up 5.2 million essential workers, of which nearly one million are Dreamers part of the 2019 American Dream and Promise Act who entered the US as children.

The American Dream and Promise Act also provides relief for "legal dreamers," the foreign-born children of many nonimmigrant workers, including those on H-1B, who unfortunately lose their legal status when they turn 21.

The Farm Workforce Modernisation Act will allow unauthorised farmworkers to earn legal status in the US and update temporary agricultural worker programs to meet our economy's needs. Most notably, it will provide H-2A eligibility to employers who have year-round labour needs, which is critical for dairy and livestock, it said.

According to New American Economy, more than 500,000 DACA-eligible immigrants are essential workers, including 62,000 in the healthcare industry alone.
President Joe Biden's senior coronavirus adviser Andy Slavitt knocked governors for ignoring the president's plea to reinstate mask mandates as Alabama's announced she was going ahead and letting the state's expire.

'I think the governors know better. I think the governors know they're not helping the cause,' Slavitt said on CNN Tuesday. 'To me, a mask seems like a very small price to pay to protect people's lives, to save people's lives.'

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey stood firm in her decision to allow the mask mandate to go away on April 9, with a spokesperson telling the Associated Press Monday that 'we are moving towards personal responsibility and common sense, not endless government mandates.'

Senior coronavirus adviser Andy Slavitt knocked governors for ignoring the president's plea to reinstate mask mandates as Alabama's announced she was going ahead and letting the state's expire

President Joe Biden (left) begged governors on Monday to reinstate their mask mandates. Shortly thereafter a spokesperson for Alabama's Gov. Kay Ivey (right) said the state's mask mandate would still expire in early April

Earlier Monday in a brief speech, Biden had begged state officials to keep mask mandates in place and roll them back in states where they had already been lifted.

'I'm reiterating my call for every governor, mayor and local leader to reinstate the mask mandate,' Biden said. 'Please, this is not politics.'

Six states that had mask mandates - Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Texas and Wyoming - have already lifted them.

Then there are states like Florida and Georgia, run by Republican governors, that don't have statewide mandates.

Florida's mask-less spring break crowds have made national news.

Biden's ask came after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky got emotional during a Monday briefing as she spoke about how COVID numbers were creeping back up.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki pushed back on the assertion that governors were 'ignoring' the White House. So far, no governor has backtracked on mask mandates, despite the rise in COVID-19 cases

'I am going to pause here, I'm going to lose the script and I am going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom,' Walensky said. 'We have so much reason for hope, but right now I'm scared.'

On Tuesday, the U.S. recorded nearly 70,000 new COVID cases - the highest number in a month.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked Tuesday if governors were 'going their own way and ignoring you call.'

There's been no indication that any governors are planning to tighten restrictions again.

'I don't think we see it that way,' Psaki answered. 'But I would say that one of the way we can impact people across the country is by acknowledging this is hard.'

'We have been at war with this virus for a long time, and to reiterate - as the president did yesterday, as Dr. Walensky did yesterday - that we continue to be at war with the virus,' the press secretary added.
Shares of (ATL) hit a new high of Rs 924.40 as they rallied 6 per cent on the BSE in intra-day trade on Tuesday on the acquisition of Warora-Kurnool Transmission Limited (WKTL) from Limited. The company said the acquisition is done at an enterprise valuation of Rs 3,370 crore. The stock of Adani Group electric utilities company surpassed its previous high of Rs 890 touched on March 24, 2021.

As per the agreement, WKTL will develop, operate, and maintain transmission lines aggregating to around 1,750 ckt km. The two significant 765 kV inter-state transmission lines link Warora to Warangal and Chilakaluripeta to Kurnool via Hyderabad, with a new 765/400 kV sub-station at Warangal, which shall be built & operated as a part of the agreement.

The project was awarded through a competitive bidding process on a build, own, operate, maintain basis and has a concession life of 35 years. The agreement has been signed post consent by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) for substitution of the original awardee in the contract by ATL, for 100 per cent of equity holding in WKTL, the company said in a regulatory filing.

The regulatory approval for substitution of the original awardee in the contract by ATL has already been received from CERC. The lender's consent and other necessary regulatory approvals shall be obtained before the closure of the transaction. The acquisition is expected to be completed in one month subject to all necessary regulatory approvals and other consents, it said.

The acquisition of WKTL will bolster ATLs pan-India presence, consolidating further its position as the largest private sector transmission company in India. This strategic West to South 765 KV interconnector with Substation in Southern India, completes ATL presence in all regions of the country.

This asset will not only increase ATLs size and scale but will also take ATL closer to its target of setting up 20,000 ckt km of transmission lines by 2022. The acquisition is a further demonstration of ATLs drive towards differentiated capability through inorganic growth, successful integration and making such assets value accretive, for long term sustainable value creation for its stakeholders.

In the past three months, the stock of has zoomed 113 per cent as against a 5 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. At 09:30 am, it was trading 3.5 per cent higher at Rs 899 as compared to a 1.1 per cent gain in the S&P BSE Sensex.
(Natural News) Thanks to fake president Joe Biden encouraging illegal aliens to surge Americas southern border, there are more migrants in Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) custody than what existing detention facilities can accommodate, which has sparked a serious crisis.

An anonymous source told Project Veritas that Bidens border cages are packed with children who as you can see in the photos below are wrapped in foil blankets like burritos. Conditions are so horrific for children living in these cages that the source felt compelled to come forward.

These photos were taken within the last few days, the source told Project Veritas. There are eight pods with eight cells each in the facility. At any given moment there are an average of 3,000 people in custody here.

They [illegal immigrants] 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.

Because of Bidens open borders policies, CBP last month launched the construction of a 185,000 square foot facility in Donna, Tex., that just recently opened. It was specifically designed to accommodate the hundreds, and oftentimes thousands, of illegal immigrants that are caught at the border daily.

The below video tells more of the story and shows what things are really like at China Joes compassionate and loving detention centers for illegal children:

Biden regime refuses to tell Americans the truth about the children living in Bidens border cages

Up until now, the CBP facility in Donna has been under strict lock and key. Prior to Project Veritas receiving these exclusive photos, nobody knew what the prison-like tent compound was truly like inside, nor was it known how the children living in it were being treated.

They wont even allow the non-profit lawyers who conduct the actual oversight of these immigration detention centers to go inside, a Project Veritas reporter revealed. Nobody has seen photos inside of this place until now.

Shocking images showing people wrapped up in what looks like metal foil, laying on the ground, their faces covered  why wont the administration be honest about this? Why wont they show you these images?

While reporting on the issue from right outside the facility, Project Veritas was ordered to leave by a security guard who stated that it was private property. Since airspace is not private, Project Veritas then took a small plane up in the air to check things out from the sky.

To many, the place looks like a concentration camp. Had it been constructed during President Donald Trumps first term, the fake news media would have been all over it, condemning the president for separating children from their parents and keeping them in cages.

Now that Biden is at the helm, there has hardly been so much as a peep from the media about the crisis. One reporter during a recent press conference did ask White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki about it, but she responded by dodging the question and talking about something else.

Child sex slaves waiting to be purchased by Americans, wrote one Populist.press commenter, speculating as to the true nature of this strange and creepy facility.

This should not even come as a shock to the window lickers that voted for him, wrote another about the handful of real-life Americans who actually voted for Biden, as opposed to the election rigging that technically installed him.

More related news about the consequences of Chairman Xidens open borders policies can be found at InvasionUSA.news.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

Populist.press
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who along with his wife took the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday, said cases of individuals reporting coronavirus infection post vaccination are extremely rare" and the disease among them would be very mild and not progress to an advanced stage".

Vardhan and his wife Nutan Goel were administered the second dose of the vaccine at the Delhi Heart and Lung Institute. They had taken the first dose of the indigenously developed Covaxin by Bharat Biotech, on March 2.

We are yet to feel the slightest discomfort since our first dose of the vaccine, the minister said as he appealed to every eligible person to get vaccinated, especially in light of the governments recent decision to extend the inoculation programme to all those above 45 years of age.

Vardhan talked about the provisions for AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunisation) monitoring incorporated in the protocol and the abysmally low proportion of beneficiaries reporting AEFI, the health ministry said in a statement.

Read | India extends shelf life of AstraZeneca vaccine

"All vaccines are absolutely safe, immunogenic and effective," he underlined.

The health minister also addressed concerns about individuals reporting coronavirus infection post-vaccination.

These cases are extremely rare. Antibodies take two weeks to be fully developed after the second dose of the vaccine which provides a window for the infection. This takes us to our earlier appeal of strict adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) regardless of the vaccination exercise," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

Vardhan noted that Covid-19 infection among those vaccinated would be very mild and not progress to an advanced stage.

Calling the various vaccine-related rumours being circulated on social media a nuisance to society, he strongly made the case to trust Science over WhatsApp forward messages, the statement stated.

Also Read | Health Minister Vardhan takes second dose of Covid-19 vaccine

On the second wave of Covid-19 cases being reported across the country, the minister said, This situation is a grim reflection of the callous attitude of people in following the Covid Appropriate Behaviour. Following these norms along with participation in the vaccination programme are the key pillars of our Jan Andolan against the pandemic.

He, however, said the essentials in controlling the disease trajectory like the Test, Track and Treat strategy are now well-known along with the clinical procedures to treat patients of severe Covid.

The Union minister also spoke about the highest level of engagement in monitoring the Covid-19 situation in the country, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modis interactions with chief ministers of various states, and frequent video-conferencing (VCs) by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan with his colleagues in states/UTs.

He noted that the country's Covid fatality rate stands at just 1.34 per cent, while the recovery rate is the highest in the world, the statement said.

Also Read | When will children get the Covid-19 vaccine?

He also mentioned that for 46 districts reporting coronavirus cases, around 400 districts are now free of the disease (187 districts with no fresh cases in seven days, 84 districts in 14 days, 20 districts in 21 days and 139 districts in 28 days), it stated.

The minister also informed that India has sent over 6 crore vaccine doses to 84 nations across the globe, while seven more vaccines are in the pipeline undergoing clinical trials.

He stressed that the principle of none of us are safe until everybody is safe is at the heart of the Vaccine Maitri programme and is applicable in vaccinating one's near and dear ones.

He added that 7 lakh trained vaccinators, seamless registration in Co-WIN portal for over 10 lakh vaccination sessions, government and private facilities administering the vaccines, are some of the steps taken to make the vaccination drive a success.
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Mumbai, March 30 : Veteran star Anil Kapoor sent across some homecooked food for actress Fatima Actress Fatima, who is down with Covid and under quarantine. The actress is naturally thrilled.

Fatima thanked Anil on Instagram stories as she uploaded picture of the delectable spread. Tagging Kapoor, she wrote: "@anilskapoor You are the best!!! Thank you for sending this amazing ghar ka khaana" Under the photo of all the food boxes from Kapoor, she wrote: "Yuummmmm".

The actress had wrapped shoot in Rajasthan for an untitled film where she co-stars with Anil Kapoor, and had shared some post-wrap photos. Kapoor was also seen celebrating her birthday on the sets of their film in Rajasthan earlier.

Fatima, who was last seen in "Ludo" and "Suraj Pe Mangal Bhaari" will next be seen in, "Aruvi" and "Ajeeb Dastaans" along with the untitled Anil Kapoor production film.
[March 30, 2021] WebBank Announces Alicia Perry Named SVP-Technology Enablement

WebBank today announced the appointment of Alicia Perry as the Senior Vice President-Technology Enablement. Ms. Perry joined WebBank in January 2020, bringing more than 20 years of program and project management experience in the Financial Services and FinTech industries. Before joining WebBank, Ms. Perry was Senior Director of Delivery and Operations for Financial Services and Healthcare at Interactive Communications ( InComm (News - Alert) ). Prior to InComm, Ms. Perry was Director of Prepaid Operations Enablement at American Express. In her new role, Ms. Perry will be responsible for architecting and maintaining the Bank's hardware, software and network infrastructure. She will be responsible for ensuring the Bank's IT infrastructure and processes meet regulatory and best practice security standards. In addition, Ms. Perry will oversee help desk support for Bank employees and technology governance. Ms. Perry received her Masters of International Management from American Graduate School of International Management (Thnderbird) and Master of Business Administration from the University of Utah.



"Ms. Perry adds extensive experience in payments and technology to WebBank's executive management team," said WebBank Chief Technology Officer, Spencer Pratt. "She has a track record of creating next-generation digital payments platforms and implementing payment products to expand demographic and geographic reach. Going forward, Ms. Perry will help WebBank and its Partners to be at the forefront of the digital transformation of the banking sector." About WebBank

WebBank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Steel Partners Holdings LP, is a Utah chartered Industrial Bank headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. As "The Bank Behind the Brand", WebBank is a national issuer of and capital provider to consumer and small business credit products through Strategic Partner (Brand) platforms, which includes retailers, manufacturers, finance companies, and financial technology (FinTech) companies. The Bank is a leading player in the digital lending space, driving innovation in financial products through Strategic Partner platforms. WebBank engages in a full range of banking activities including consumer and commercial loan products, revolving lines of credit, credit cards, private-label card issuance, auto-refinancing and more. The Bank is also a capital provider to Brand platforms, credit funds, and other lenders with a targeted focus on specialty finance assets. The Bank is also a leading provider of commercial insurance premium finance products through its wholly owned subsidiary National Partners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005671/en/

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Canada on Monday suspended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for people under age 55 following concerns it might be linked to rare blood clots. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization had recommended the pause for safety reasons and the Canadian provinces, which administer health in the country, announced the suspension Monday.

"There is substantial uncertainty about the benefit of providing AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines to adults under 55 given the potential risks," said Dr. Shelley Deeks, vice chair of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. Deeks said the updated recommendations come amid new data from Europe that suggests the risk of blood clots is now potentially as high as one in 100,000, much higher than the one in one million risk believed before.

She said most of the patients in Europe who developed a rare blood clot after vaccination with AstraZeneca were women under age 55, and the fatality rate among those who develop clots is as high as 40%.

Also read: J&J CEO pay irks investors upset with lawsuits' fallout

Dr. Joss Reimer of Manitoba's Vaccine Implementation Task Force said despite the finding that there was no increase risk of blood clots overall related to AstraZeneca in Europe, a rare but very serious side effect has been seen primarily in young women in Europe. "While we still believe the benefits for all ages outweigh the risks I'm not comfortable with probably. I want to see more data coming out of Europe so I know exactly what this risk benefit analysis is," Reimer said.

The AstraZeneca shot, which has been authorized in more than 70 countries, is a pillar of a UN-backed project known as COVAX that aims to get COVID-19 vaccines to poorer countries. It has also become a key tool in European countries' efforts to boost their sluggish vaccine rollouts. That makes doubts about the shots especially worrying.

"This vaccine has had all the ups and downs. It looks like a roller coaster," said Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, the chair of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, when asked if the latest news will lead to further vaccine hesitancy. Health Canada said it has not received any reports of blood clots in Canada, and the department's chief medical adviser, Dr. Supriya Sharma, said she still believes the vaccine's benefits outweigh the risks.

Last week, the department changed its label on the vaccine to warn about the rare risk of blood clots. Only those 60 and above have received AstraZeneca in Ontario, Canada's most populous province.

Also read: Supplied more COVID-19 vaccines globally than immunising own people: India tells UN

"We have no concerns with those who have received it so far," said Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer. Mark Mendelson, a 63-year-old Toronto man who has had heart surgery, said that he has no regrets about getting his first AstraZeneca dose two weeks ago and that he will get the second.

"Get what you can," Mendelson said. "I had no ill effects at all from the AstraZeneca. I am in a better position than those who don't have any vaccine at all. If you are betting person you would take those odds any day of the week. I'm quite prepared to roll the dice."

Several European countries that had suspended using the vaccine over concerns it could cause blood clots have resumed administering it after the EU's drug regulator said the vaccine was safe.

The vaccine is used widely in Britain, across the European continent and in other countries, but its rollout was troubled by inconsistent study reports about its effectiveness, and then more recently the scare about clots that had some countries temporarily pausing inoculations. Canada is expected to receive 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca from the US on Wednesday.

"The messaging has been brutal overall. I am fearful it is toast. It shouldn't be," said Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and the medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Sinai-University Health Network.

Morris thinks those who are at a high risk for a bad COVID-19 outcome and over the age of 55 should get AstraZeneca if the other vaccines are not available to them, especially during a third wave of coronavirus infections.

Also read: COVID-19 vaccine: Pfizer, Moderna jabs 90% effective after both doses, says US study

Canadian regulators approved the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Canada has placed bigger bets on Pfizer and Moderna, ordering up to 76 million doses of Pfizer and up to 44 million of Moderna, compared with up to 20 million of AstraZeneca. It's not known when Canada will receive its first shipment of Johnson & Johnson.

Canada received its first shipment of AstraZeneca this month - 500,000 doses from India. Of the 194,500 doses that Ontario received, about 10,000 remain. They expire April 2. Canada has lagged on vaccinating its population because it lacks the ability to manufacture the vaccine and has had to rely on the global supply chain for the lifesaving shots, like many other countries.

With no domestic supply, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government bet on seven different vaccines manufactured elsewhere and secured advance purchase agreements - enough to get 10 doses for each of Canada's 38 million people. While acquiring them has proven difficult, deliveries have ramped up this month. Canada expects to have more than 36.5 million doses by July and officials hope to get at least one dose into all adults who want one by the end of June.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization earlier recommended a four-month delay between doses after data from the U.K. and Quebec showed a good level of protection offered by the first shot. The U.K. has instituted a similar delay.
Prep Golf: Riley Zebroski earns all-conference honors, Arrows take 7th in ESD tourney

MITCHELL  Sophomore Riley Zebroski earned all-conference honors by tying for 5th place on Wednesday in the Eastern South Dakota Conference girls golf tournament at the Lakeview Golf Course.
After the Second Karabakh War ended, the question arose of the OSCE Minsk Groups role. For many years, the organization had been unsuccessfully engaged in the settlement of the conflict at the diplomatic level. Vestnik Kavkaza invites you to read an article by the former US Co-Chair of the OSCE MG, Richard Hoagland, published by The International Conflict Resolution Center.

The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.

The war returned to Baku after 30 years seven Armenian-occupied territories and part of Nagorno-Karabakh itself. The answer about the future of the Minsk Group depends on which side you ask. Yerevan is clear that it sees the continuation of the Minsk Group as essential for determining the final status of Nagorno-Karabkah. Baku is equally firm in the other direction, asserting that Nagorno-Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan and always will be. This is the conundrum that the Minsk Group has faced almost from its beginning  radically opposed positions that fundamentally do not budge.

The Minsk Group itself is composed of the following nation-state members of the OSCE: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Turkey, as well, on a rotating basis, the Minsk Group troika: France, Russia, and the United States. The current co-chair representatives are Ambassador Stephane Visconti of France, Ambassador Igor Popov of Russia, and Andrew Schofer of the United States. On a day-to-day basis, they are led by the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the superb and deeply knowledgeable Polish diplomat, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, who has been in that position since 1996.

Having recently retired after 30 years in the State Department, I was asked to return to service as the interim U.S. Co-Chair for the Minsk Group from January through September 2017 because the previous U.S. Co-Chair had unexpectedly retired to accept a job in the private sector. Although I had never served as a U.S. diplomat in Armenia or Azerbaijan, the South Caucasus was not terra incognita to me. I had been the Office Director for the Caucasus and Central Asia in the State Department and in that position had travelled fairly frequently to the South Caucasus countries. And then, after several ambassadorships in Central Asia, I was subsequently the Principle Deputy Secretary of State for South and Central Asia. In general, I had spent a good chunk of my diplomatic career at various postings in the former Soviet Union which gave me at least a general understanding of the post-Soviet conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

To be honest, when I was offered the position of interim U.S. Co-Chair, I hesitated a bit at first. Why? Because within the State Department that position was not seen as particularly career enhancing. To be frank, it was usually occupied by a diplomat in a parking position, i.e., waiting for a promised full-scale ambassadorship to become available, or was filled by a soon-to-retire diplomat who needed a bit more time to fulfill the requirements for retirement. Nevertheless, I was intrigued by the opportunity to learn, on the ground, about an international issue to which I had paid scant attention in the past and to have the opportunity to travel into Nagorno-Karabkah itself, which is very rare for any American citizen. And so I said, Sign me up!

On every trip to the region, usually about every six weeks (in the pre-Covid world), Ambassador Kazprzyk and we three Minsk Group Co-Chairs would meet with the most senior officials of both Armenia and Azerbaijan in their capitals and usually travel by road from Armenia though the occupied territories into Nagorno-Karabakh itself to meet with the officials in Stepanakerk, the capital of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh. From time to time, we travelled to Moscow, Brussels, and other capitals to brief the interested governments on our work and on the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

We stayed in five-star hotels where we were usually assigned suites on the executive floor that gave us access to a private dining room and full bar at no additional expense. We always sought out the best restaurants in the cities where we found ourselves. We lived well while we showed the OSCE flag and reminded Baku and Yerevan that the Minsk Group exists. But to be blunt, very, very little ever got accomplished.

Over the years, the OSCE had formulated the Madrid Principles, a roadmap for the final resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that would end in self-determination by the residents of Nagorno-Karabkah itself. During the period that I served as the U.S. Co-Chair, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov revealed his own plan to resolve the conflict, rather similar to the existing Madrid Principles, that immediately became known informally as the Lavrov Plan, even though we were cautioned to call it simply a plan on the table.

When the so-called Lavrov Plan was released, I asked my excellent colleague, the Russian Co-Chair Ambassador Popov, if the Kremlin would really agree to implement it, should Yerevan and Baku buckle and accept it. His candid reply? Of course not. More than anything else, this made clear to me that Nagorno-Karabakh is not just a bilateral problem between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In reality, its a trilateral issue with Russia playing a key, perhaps even decisive, role.

Nagorno-Karabkah is one of the so-called prolonged conflicts, sometimes called frozen conflicts, of the post-Soviet space, the others being Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia, Transnistria in Modova, and the regional mess in eastern Ukraine. Although each of these conflicts has its own historic origin and is complex in its own unique way, the unifying factor is that Russia is by far the best placed to bring a conclusion to these conflicts  should it choose to do so.

Moscow chooses not to do so for various reasons unique to each conflict, but the over-arching reason is that a resolution would enable each country to feel free enough to look for other partners and multi-lateral alliances. In the case of Georgia this would be NATO and the European Union. But Moscow is bound and determined to keep this from happening in order to preserve its self-described special sphere of influence.

What I learned in multiple trips to Yerevan and Baku with my Co-Chair colleagues was that each side was adamantly frozen into its position and would barely deign to consider even the slightest interim compromise, even as a good-faith confidence-building measure. I personally came to believe that only a war would finally settle the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh, although I never stated this view publicly. And yet we co-chairs kept at it.

It should be remembered that during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabkah war, each of the Minsk Group co-chair capitals made a stab at negotiating a cease-fire, but each of these so-called cease-fires lasted mere hours. Only when it looked as if Azerbaijan might actually reconquer its entire territory did Moscow step in and arrange the current situation. Armenia had lost the seven territories it had occupied for nearly 30 years as a buffer zone around, and access route into, Nagorno-Karabakh and had even lost a southern chunk of Nagorno-Karabakh itself, including the lovely mountain city of Shusha.

Moscow was eminently better placed than any leading power or multilateral organization to bring Nagorno-Karabakh to a full and final conclusion. Instead, it stopped the war but  significantly  now maintains peacekeeping troops in Azerbaijan, marking the first time since the independence of the former Soviet Socialist Republics that Moscow now has troops, in various capacities, in all three countries of the South Caucasus  Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia  thus further solidifying Russias special sphere of influence.

Is there, therefore, any role remaining for the OSCE Minsk Group? As noted at the beginning of this essay, Armenia says absolutely, whereas Baku says certainly not. And so the status quo of the Minsk Group is likely to continue bumping along in relative obscurity. However, with some creative thinking, the OSCE, and the Minsk Group itself, could redefine that role.

For example, it could add enabling reconstruction to its approved mandate. In fact, both Baku and Yerevan have already recognized that the opportunity now exists for repairing and further building the infrastructure of the immediate region, including the construction of new roads and other modes of transportation and connectivity within and reaching beyond the region. For example, the Minsk Group could organize and coordinate funding by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as by the capitals of the OSCE member states themselves, to devise a master plan and to help pay for enhanced development in the former Nagorno-Karabakh war zone itself and, more broadly, in the South Caucasus region. Obviously, this would not be easy, if for no other reason than the regions difficult neighbours, Iran and Turkey, would want to have their say in such an effort. But if the Minsk Group doesnt redefine its mission, then it will continue, most, unfortunately, as an intriguing backwater of international diplomacy.
Although the spotted lanternfly threatens many plant products, particularly apples, grapes, hops, walnuts and hardwood trees, it's been seen on at least 103 kinds of plants and trees.

The spotted lanternfly has come to the United States, and that's bad news. This invasive insect native to China, Bangladesh and Vietnam can damage trees, crops and wood decks, threaten the economy, and be an all-around nuisance.

Sightings

The spotted lanternfly was first seen in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in September 2014. Since then, it's appeared in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia. Scientists believe that it came to America on goods that were imported from Asia.

Pennsylvania's Quarantine

One of several states to have a quarantine on the SLF (spotted lanternfly) is Pennsylvania. At least 26 of its counties are under that directive. The state requires agricultural and non-agricultural businesses that transport products that can be infested by the insect to have a permit.

Among the items under stricter state control are construction, landscaping and remodeling materials; logs, stumps and tree parts; grapevines; nursery stock; crates, pallets and packaging materials; RVs and mobile homes; tractors and mowers; grills, deck boards; and vehicles not stored indoors. In addition to a watchful eye over items, Pennsylvania does not allow the movement of the SLF in any of its life stages: egg mass, nymph or adult.

Plant Species the Spotted Lanternfly Damages

Although the spotted lanternfly threatens many plant products, particularly apples, grapes, hops, walnuts and hardwood trees, it's been seen on at least 103 kinds of plants and trees. Add to the list rose, plum, river birch, willow, sumac, pine, silver maple, red maple and tree-of-heaven, an invasive plant.

How the SLF Harms Trees and Plants

The SLF damages in several ways. By sucking the sap from branches and stems, it weakens the host. In feeding, it leaves behind honeydew, which is a sticky substance that invites other insects. Honeydew also promotes the growth of sooty mold on plants and trees.

Identification of the Pest

Adult spotted lanternflies (July to December) are about 1-inch long and 1/2-inch wide. An early nymph (widely seen from late April to July) is about 1/8-inch long, and it is black with white spots. A late nymph (prominent from July to September) is about 1/2-inch long, and it is black and red with white spots.

With wings wide open in its adult stage, the insect's forewings are gray with black spots, and its hind wings are gray with black spots. When someone or something disturbs it, the SLF shows its beautiful bright red underwings.

When wings are closed, the insect is mostly gray with black spots. Newly laid egg masses look as if they are covered with a white substance. On more mature egg masses, the substance may turn gray-brown. Very mature egg masses appear as rows of 30 to 50 seed-like structures in vertical columns.

Objects On Which the SLF Is Found

The spotted lanternfly can't fly far, but it infests by landing on objects. That's why residents are urged to examine their vehicles and keep car and truck windows closed when parked. It's also suggested that people inspect trees, rocks, cement blocks, decks, and other hard surfaces for egg masses. Do the same for landscaping materials, lawnmowers and outdoor equipment that's being moved from one place to another.

Controlling Egg Masses

Managing the pest includes scraping and destroying its eggs and killing the more mature insects. When residents find egg masses that have been laid on trees, rocks and blocks of cement in the months from September to June, they should scrape them off. Pour hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol into a freezer bag and scrape the pest into the bag with a plastic card or a putty knife. Dispose of the sealed bag. Residents can also smash egg masses.

Managing the Dissemination of Adult Lanternflies

Also look underneath cars and in wheel wells. Adult insects are ever-present in the months from July through late December. In searching for them examine trees and plants, especially at dusk and at night when the insects are more likely to be on trunks and stems. As with egg masses, one method of removing mature SLFs is by smashing them.

Other methods of control include removing plants and trees that the SLF feeds on, using tree traps to catch newly hatched nymphs and treating trees and plants with EPA-approved insecticides. On its website, the Penn State Extension evaluates some insecticides for both their effectiveness and toxicity to birds, fish and bees.

The spotted lanternfly poses threats to crops, agricultural jobs and commercial and residential trees and plants. It can also disrupt the comfortable lifestyles of residents. Vigilance and moving to prevent the spread of this invasive insect are necessary immediately.

The content of this tip sheet has been provided by Elmer Kingkiner of Kingkiner Tree Service located in Lafayette Hill, PA https://www.kingkinertreeservice.com/
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 21:11:36|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's state-owned oil company, the National Petroleum Corporation (NAMCOR) has taken over the national oil storage facility, jointly built by Chinese and Namibian firms.

The construction of the multi-billion-dollar facility commenced in January 2015, and was done by a joint venture between China Harbour Engineering Company, the Roads Contractor Company and Babyface Civils. It consists of tanker jetty product pipelines and a terminal consisting of seven tanks with a capacity of 75 million liters.

At an official handover ceremony held on Monday, NAMCOR board chairperson, Jennifer Comalie, thanked the Namibian government for strategically investing in such a facility and showing confidence in NAMCOR and its leadership to operate and manage the facility.

"This facility was designed and constructed as a strategic storage facility with the primary aim of increasing Namibia's security of fuel supply from the previous 7 to 10 days to 30 to 45 days in situations where the country will be unable to import petroleum products from the international market," Comalie said.

Speaking at the same event, NAMCOR managing director, Immanuel Mulunga said the facility will not only be used for NAMCOR's own trading purposes but also to host other international oil marketing companies such as Vitol, Gunvor, Vivo and Total to ensure that it is utilized optimally and that Namibia becomes a strategic gateway through which neighboring African countries are supplied.

The first shipment of commissioning stock arrived on Dec. 1, 2020, which heralded the facility's testing and commissioning. Enditem
Biden's press secretary Jen Psaki has stood by the decision by San Diego school officials to provide in-person teaching to migrant teenagers before children return to the classroom.

Parents are angry over plans for teachers providing in-person instruction to migrant children while their kids have been stuck at home slogging through virtual Zoom sessions.

Teachers from the San Diego County Office of Education as well as other nonprofit organizations started providing educational services on Monday to some of the 500 minors who arrived from Texas and Arizona over the weekend - a week before full in-person learning begins.

But the Biden administration appeared to defend the move during Psaki's briefing on Tuesday and said 'context is important'

As I understand it, San Diego public schools are opening in early April,' she said. 'Students will be back in the classroom - part time - and certainly you know our objective from the White House - five days a week for the majority of schools across the country.'

'I believe they're also on spring break right now. I am not sure if it's volunteer, or paid, you'd have to ask a local school district, while the kids are on spring break, which, I think, the context is pretty important.'

She also suggested that the teachers are in their right to volunteer because they are on Spring Break.

Biden's press secretary Jen Psaki has stood by the decision from San Diego school officials to provide in-person teaching to migrant teenagers before children return to the classroom

Some 350 migrant girls between the ages of 13 and 17 were flown to San Diego after they were temporarily held at a Customs and Border Protection facility in Donna, Texas. The image above shows migrant children inside the facility on March 22

The girls, whose ages range from 13 to 17, are being sheltered at the San Diego Convention Center, which has been repurposed as a temporary overflow facility, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The center is currently housing 350 teenage girls who arrived by charter flight on Saturday from a Border Patrol facility in the southern Texas town of Donna.

Another 150 girls were scheduled to have arrived from Tucson.

By the end of the week, the facility, which is being run by the Department of Health and Human Services, is expected to reach full capacity and house some 1,450 migrant teens.

San Diego teachers will provide the girls with instruction in English as well as the arts, according to KPBS-TV.

The migrants are expected to remain in the convention center until July, by which time the federal government is expected to have placed them with a family while their asylum cases are adjudicated in immigration courts.

'We definitely want to introduce them to the arts, the visual arts and the performing arts,' said Roberto Carrillo, a principal at the County Office of Education.

'We'll give them the opportunity to start expressing themselves through written formats, giving them a basic understanding of the English language.'

According to Carrillo, about 13 teachers from the County Office of Education have volunteered to work with the migrant students.

Many of those who will be housed at the convention center are from the Northern Triangle region of Central America that encompasses Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Plans to provide in-person instruction to migrant children angered parents of San Diego school children who have been forced to remain home during the COVID-19 pandemic while classes are taught virtually.

'We have 130,000 kids who haven't been allowed in a classroom for over a year in the San Diego United School District,' San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond told Fox News.

'It's great that there's in-person learning for those unaccompanied minors from Central America, but I wish every child in San Diego Country was allowed the same opportunity for in-person teaching.'

Geo Gillam (left), 8, works on school work with his mother Edith Carmona at their home in San Diego, California in this March 5 file photo

Some San Diego teachers are planning to volunteer to provide in-person instruction to migrant children from Central America who are being temporarily sheltered at the San Diego Convention Center (seen above on Friday)

The federal government has been dealing with an influx of migrants who have been crossing the border in recent weeks. The image above shows migrant families from Central America wade through shallow waters after being delivered by smugglers on small inflatable rafts in Roma, Texas last Wednesday

One parent, Emily Diaz, told Fox News: 'The system is broken when San Diego teachers are teaching migrant children in person, but the 100k students of taxpaying families at San Diego Unified School District are stuck learning in Zoom school.'

'We agree that every child deserves an in-person education, but why are taxpaying students put last?

'If this is a humanitarian issue then who is rescuing San Diego Unified students, because our leaders have failed them.'

A spokesperson for the San Diego Unified School District told Fox News that teachers were given the opportunity to volunteer to provide instruction to the migrant children. It is not known if the teachers are being paid.

A spokesperson for the county Office of Education told Fox News: 'The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) is providing the educational program for the unaccompanied migrant children who will be staying at the San Diego Convention Center through July.

'All children in California, regardless of immigration status, have a constitutional right to education.

'We also have a moral obligation to ensure a bright future for our children.'

The spokesperson added: 'The educational program will include English language development and social-emotional learning opportunities.

'The teachers who are participating in the program are doing so voluntarily, and the program is following a COVID-19 screening protocol based on guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.'

Earlier this month, the school district and teachers' union reached an agreement to resume in-person instruction starting the week of April 12.

According to the terms of the deal, the district will offer a hybrid model whereby families who do not feel comfortable sending their children to school can continue with virtual classes.

Those who do wish to send their kids to school can do so for four-days-per-week of in-class learning for six hours each day, though this is subject to how much space is available given social distancing restrictions.

More than 16,000 unaccompanied children were in government custody as of Thursday, including about 5,000 in substandard Customs and Border Protection facilities.

US authorities reported encounters with more than 100,000 migrants on the southern border in February, the highest since a four-month streak in 2019.

A migrant boy (center) in Reynosa, Mexico launches a paper airplane while playing with other migrant children at a plaza near the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge point of entry into the United States after being caught trying to cross into the US and deported

Encounters have averaged about 5,000 people per day throughout March, which would be about a 50 per cent increase over February if those figures hold for the entire month.

White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said the surge was cyclical.

'They're not the result of one administration's policies or another administration's policies. They're the result of, for example, weather disasters in the region. They're the result of people fleeing poverty and violence,' Bedingfield said.

'So we saw spikes in 2014. We saw them in 2019 when the Trump administration had perhaps the cruelest imaginable policies in place, family separation to try to deter people from coming, and they still came.'

The Biden administration continued to emphasize on the Sunday talk shows that the US-Mexico border 'remains closed' and that the majority of adults are being turned away.

But White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the administration was not going to force children to go back on a treacherous journey.
A computer science teacher carried out a 'bizzare' armed raid in a bungled attempt to pay for the sexual services of a high class call girl.

Adam Morrison claimed he just had a liaison with the escort at his 300,000 apartment but she wanted more money after he ordered drugs from the dark web for their encounter.

So he broke into the flat next door barefoot and armed with a chisel while wearing a face mask.

He was caught after the 'traumatised' female occupant spotted him loitering in the hallway.

Despite being armed, Morrison, from Didsbury, South Manchester, a 'bucking and kicking' Morrison was overpowered by the woman's boyfriend who found his pockets were stuffed with his victim's underwear.

The 'highly intelligent' 27-year-old, who has a first class university degree and whose mother is a social worker, later told police he had been looking for cash and 'forgot' taking the bra and pants.

At Manchester Crown Court Morrison admitted aggravated burglary and was jailed for six years. He was also handed a restraining order and told not to contact his female neighbour.

Adam Morrison, 27, broke into his neighbour's flat in Didsbury, South Manchester, armed with a chisel saying he was desperate for cash to pay for the services of a call girl

The incident occurred on July 18 last year after Morrison allegedly booked the call girl to the come to the flat he shared with his accountant brother, who away at the time.

It was not made clear in court whether there was any truth to his claims, or whether the call girl remained in the flat while he carried out his raid.

Victims Grace Coyne and Sam Wright who had been living at their third floor flat next door for 18 months, who both work together in recruitment, had gone to bed at 11pm.

Miss Coyne was awoken by the noise and saw a dark figure standing in the hallway.

Richard Orme, prosecuting, said: 'Miss Coyne ran back into the bedroom and screamed to her boyfriend that there was someone in the flat.

'Sam Wright immediately jumped out of bed and ran into the hallway and ran up to the intruder and punched him on the head causing the defendant to fall to the floor.'

Mr Wright saw that the defendant was carrying a weapon and began to wrestle it from his hands, which left him with a cut to his arm and wrist.

Describing the two minute struggle, Mr Orme added: 'Mr Wright described the defendant as "bucking and kicking and trying to wriggle out". In the meantime, Grace Coyne called the police.

'After Mr Wright got the better of the defendant and was restraining him on the floor awaiting the arrival of the police, the defendant initially claimed that he had been paid to burgle the flat, then he changed his account saying that he had been forced to do it.'

They realised Morrison could not have come from far as he was bare foot, and when police arrived they found a red bra belonging to Miss Coyne and some of her underwear stuffed into his trouser pockets.

Miss Coyne confirmed to the court these had been in her underwear drawer in the spare bedroom.

Victims Grace Coyne and Sam Wright fought off Morrison, with Mr Wright sustaining a cut to his wrist and his arm from the chisel the raider was carrying as a weapon

Morrison, who had climbed in through an open kitchen window looking on to the roof terrace, told police that he was desperate for cash after having just had sex with an escort who was demanding more money.

The attack by her neighbour, who Miss Coyne had never seen before, left her feeling 'personally targeted' and struggling to sleep in her own home.

In a statement Miss Coyne told police: 'I was traumatised by the thought that the defendant had broken into my home with a weapon, seemingly intent on rummaging through my underwear drawer before stealing various selected items. I have now got rid of the items.

'I have not stayed in the flat alone since this incident and even when I am in the flat with my partner, I still feel nervous constantly checking the windows and doors.

'The thought that I may have shared the communal lift with him or passed him on the stairs fills me with dread and the thought that he may one day be allowed to return to the flat makes me fearful.

'I used to be a sound sleeper but now wake up four to five times a night to turn on the lights to check that there is no one there. I am now scared to use the bathroom at night, choosing instead to wait until the morning despite needing to go.

'I no longer open any of the windows or the patio door regardless of whether it is too hot inside the flat.

'I felt personally targeted and lives in fear of the defendant ever returning to be her neighbour, stating that if he were ever allowed, we would be forced to the sell the flat.'

Judge Alan Conrad QC sentenced Morrison to six years in prison and handed him a restraining order against Miss Coyne at Manchester Crown Court (pictured, stock image)

In mitigation Morrison's lawyer Nicola Gatto said he was 'horrified' by what he has done.

She said: 'This was an isolated incident and a bizarre offence, particularly for a man with his background.

'He is one of four siblings who work as a nurse, policeman and an accountant respectively. His mother is a social worker who deals with vulnerable children.

'He has a first class degree in computer science and had been teaching the subject before this offence.

'It was his intention to leave his post and teach in Vietnam before this offence took place. He is remorseful and feels shame.

'He is horrified by what he has done and his empathy towards the victim and her partner is clear.'

Morrison was banned from contacting Miss Coyne indefinitely under the terms of a restraining order.

Sentencing Judge Alan Conrad QC told him: 'This was a terrifying experience for your victims and had a considerable impact on them, in particular Miss Coyne.

'Mr Wright behaved extremely bravely in what must have been a terrifying situation for him.

'I accept you did not intend to cause sexual or physical harm but there was a sexual aspect to your offending because you stole a woman's underwear.

'You have shown remorse and it is clear you are a highly intelligent young man with great potential which has been lost as a result of this offence.'
President Biden on Monday pleaded with governors, mayors and local leaders to maintain or reinstate mask mandates in order to help America reach the end of the coronavirus pandemic.

Why it matters: Biden's comments came hours after CDC Director Rochelle Walensky warned of her sense of "impending doom" of a potential fourth wave of COVID-19 cases.

The big picture: While vaccines are rolling out across the country, masking and social distancing is still highly encouraged by public health experts to help protect the nation from another wave. But many state and local lawmakers are lifting COVID-19 restrictions, including mask orders.

Even in states where governors lift masking orders, local authorities can still mandate masks, as can business owners.

The Centers for Disease Control has determined that fully vaccinated people can gather indoors in small groups without masks and still be safe.

What he's saying: "This is not politics. Reinstate the mandate if you let it down, and businesses should require masks as well," Biden said in an address about a new expansion in COVID vaccine sites.

"The failure to take this virus seriously [is] precisely what got us into this mess in the first place," he added.

Go deeper: Biden says 90% of Americans will have access to vaccine site within 5 miles by April 19
OTTAWA, ON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The Government of Canada has put in place emergency border measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and its variants into Canada. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are reminding travellers and returning Canadian residents about what to expect at the border.

Travellers should be aware of the following mandatory requirements to help with smooth processing at the Canadian border. Planning ahead can help travellers avoid potential complications, delays at the border, and fines. A number of Canadians may have already received a COVID-19 vaccination. At this time, having a vaccination does not exempt anyone from having to comply with current testing, quarantine, and other requirements.

Travellers must:

Use ArriveCAN to provide COVID-19-related information. Before boarding a flight to Canada or arriving at a land border crossing, travellers must electronically submit the following information using the ArriveCAN mobile app or by signing in online at Canada.ca/ArriveCAN.





Before boarding a flight to or arriving at a land border crossing, travellers must electronically submit the following information using the ArriveCAN mobile app or by signing in online at Canada.ca/ArriveCAN. travel and contact information;







quarantine plan (unless exempt); and,







COVID-19 symptom self-assessment.





Travellers flying to Canada must also submit their reference code for a confirmed three-night reservation at a government-authorized hotel.





must also submit their reference code for a confirmed three-night reservation at a government-authorized hotel. Get tested before travelling to Canada . Unless exempt, all travellers five years of age or older entering Canada by air or land need to show proof of a:





Unless exempt, all travellers five years of age or older entering by air or land need to show proof of a: negative COVID-19 molecular test (not an antigen test) result taken within 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border crossing; or







positive COVID-19 molecular test taken between 14 and 90 days before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border crossing .





Airlines may refuse boarding to travellers that are unable to provide a valid molecular test result. Antigen tests are not accepted. For travellers arriving at a land border crossing, their COVID-19 molecular test must have been performed in the U.S.





accepted. For travellers arriving at a land border crossing, their COVID-19 molecular test must have been performed in the U.S. Get tested when arriving in Canada .





If flying, travellers will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival to Canada , before leaving the airport. They will also be provided with a COVID-19 specimen collection kit to use for their test on day 10 of their mandatory quarantine. Travellers are encouraged to register for their arrival test in advance to save time at the airport. They must also register their Day 10 kit on their first day in Canada .





, before leaving the airport. They will also be provided with a COVID-19 specimen collection kit to use for their test on day 10 of their mandatory quarantine. Travellers are encouraged to register for their arrival test in advance to save time at the airport. They must also register their Day 10 kit on their first day in .

If driving, travellers will be provided two COVID-19 specimen collection kits upon entry to Canada : one to use on the day they arrive in Canada , and another to use on day 10 of their mandatory quarantine. Some land border crossings offer on-site services to help guide travellers through the specimen collection process. Travellers should create an account for their test kits through the Switch Health portal before arriving at a land border crossing. This will help save time as they move through the specimen collection process on-arrival.





: one to use on the day they arrive in , and another to use on day 10 of their mandatory quarantine. Some land border crossings offer on-site services to help guide travellers through the specimen collection process. Travellers should create an account for their test kits through the Switch Health portal before arriving at a land border crossing. This will help save time as they move through the specimen collection process on-arrival. Complete their day 10 test and quarantine.





Travellers flying into Canada must proceed to their pre-booked hotel to await results of their arrival test. If negative, they can go directly to their place of quarantine to complete the rest of their 14-day quarantine. If positive, they will be relocated to a designated quarantine facility or other suitable place of isolation.





must proceed to their pre-booked hotel to await results of their arrival test. If negative, they can go directly to their place of quarantine to complete the rest of their 14-day quarantine. If positive, they will be relocated to a designated quarantine facility or other suitable place of isolation.

Travellers driving into Canada must go directly to their place of quarantine to complete their 14-day quarantine.





must go directly to their place of quarantine to complete their 14-day quarantine.

All travellers will be required to contact Switch Health to schedule a telehealth appointment for their day 10 test. A health care professional will guide travellers through the specimen collection process, which includes taking a nasal swab, packaging it for testing, and arranging for it to be picked up and couriered to a laboratory.







If a traveller receives a negative test result, they may only leave their place of quarantine once they have completed their full 14-day quarantine period. If a traveller receives a positive test result, they must quarantine for an additional 14-day period from the day the sample was collected.

On the day after entering Canada, all travellers must use ArriveCAN or call the 1-833-641-0343 toll-free number to confirm that they have arrived at a government-authorized hotel or the address they provided for their place of quarantine or isolation. Travellers must also complete a daily COVID-19 symptom self-assessment during their 14-day quarantine period.

Note that the province or territory of the traveller's final destination may have additional restrictions.

Quick Facts

Due to enhanced screening measures at the border, travellers may experience longer delays.





As of February 12, 2021 , if you drive back to Canada with your US-plated vehicle, you have 30 days to either export it or permanently import it.





, if you drive back to with your US-plated vehicle, you have 30 days to either export it or permanently import it. All Customs Act rules still apply. Returning Canadian residents must declare all goods they acquired while outside Canada , including purchases and gifts that they have with them or that are being shipped to them. They must also declare any restricted or prohibited goods in their possession (including food, plant, and animal products) and repairs or alterations they made to their vehicle while out of the country. Please have receipts ready.





rules still apply. Returning Canadian residents must declare all goods they acquired while outside , including purchases and gifts that they have with them or that are being shipped to them. They must also declare any restricted or prohibited goods in their possession (including food, plant, and animal products) and repairs or alterations they made to their vehicle while out of the country. Please have receipts ready. Travellers are informed upon entry of the compliance monitoring and verification activities, which include emails, calls from an agent, interactive automated calls, as well as in-person visits to verify compliance with the federal emergency order. Travellers are also informed upon entry of the possible consequences of non-compliance, and the enforcement actions and penalties they could face.





The Contraventions Act provides police (including Royal Canadian Mounted Police [RCMP], provincial and local police), PHAC Quarantine Officers and Screening Officers, and other enforcement officers with additional tools to enforce the Quarantine Act . The fines associated with contravention tickets range from $825 - $3,000 for each instance of non-compliance.

provides police (including Royal Canadian Mounted Police [RCMP], provincial and local police), PHAC Quarantine Officers and Screening Officers, and other enforcement officers with additional tools to enforce the . The fines associated with contravention tickets range from - for each instance of non-compliance. For example:



Travellers who refuse to take a COVID-19 molecular test at the airport upon arrival could receive a fine of $3,000 .





.



An individual who leaves their place of quarantine prior to the end of the 14 th day of quarantine could be fined $3,000 for each day that they are found to be in non-compliance.





day of quarantine could be fined for each day that they are found to be in non-compliance. Individuals who contravene the mandatory isolation or mandatory quarantine requirements, including the instructions of a Quarantine Officer, may be subject to a range of enforcement measures under the Quarantine Act. Maximum penalties include a fine of up to $750,000 and/or imprisonment for six months.

Associated Links

SOURCE Canada Border Services Agency

Related Links

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/


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Former president Peter Mutharika and former Secretary to the President and Cabinet Lloyd Muhara have filed an application for a review of assessment of costs which High Court ordered them to pay K69.5 million for decisions they argue were made in their official capacities.

Mwayi Banda, a lawyer from Tembenu, Masumbu & Company legal firm representing Mutharika, said his client is seeking a review of the costs, saying they want it to be lower.

"We have applied for the review of the assessment of the costs," said Banda.

"We also intend to apply for the stay of execution of the order of the costs," he added.

Muhara's lawyer has applied for a stay of execution of the costs and Banda said Mutharika will be joining the application.

"Since there is already an application by Muhara's lawyer, we intend to join since it is the same case," Banda said.

Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal Justice Charles Mkandawire, ordered Mutharika and Muhara - when he was hearing as High Court judge - to pay costs incurred in the case where they were found guilty of forcing Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda and Justice of Appeal Edward Twea to proceed on leave in May this year pending retirement next year.

Mutharika and Muhara --who are also lawyers--were faulted for interfering with the independence of the Judiciary after they had asked Nyirenda and Twea to go on leave pending retirement.

The court said the two had no powers to send the judges on leave as issues of leave were an internal administrative matter of the Judiciary.

The two were ordered to pay costs for the case as a way of ensuring that public officials carry out reasonable decisions.
Bella Hadid kept her model figure very bundled ahead of a photoshoot despite warmer NYC temperatures.

The 24-year-old covergirl strolled to a Michael Kors campaign shoot in a brown puffer jacket, crossing her arms by her chest for added warmth.

She has been open about her battle with 'a few' chronic autoimmune diseases including Lyme over the past few years, often getting IV treatments on the go.

Set days: Bella Hadid, 24, kept her model figure very bundled despite warmer NYC temperatures while walking to set for a Michael Kors campaign shoot

The Dutch & Palestinian stunner opted for a cozy looking sherpa lined jacket that came down past her knees.

Underneath she sported brown patterned pants and black boots with neon orange soles for a bit of edge.

She kept her brown hair tied back in a bun and covered her famous face with a black face mask and funky silver framed sunglasses.

Last week Hadid kicked off the Kors shoot alongside fellow model Cindy Bruna as they took over the streets of NYC. She has been the latest to be tapped as the designer's muse.

Designer duds: The Dutch & Palestinian stunner opted for a cozy looking sherpa lined jacket made by Michael Kors that came down past her knees

The busy model also teased a new Mugler campaign on Monday, continuing to be one of the most in-demand names in fashion.

Despite her crazy schedule she shared an inside look at her Lyme disease battle last month, having to find time for treatments on the go.

She posted a photo with an IV in her arm while getting her hair done, writing: 'Living with a few chronic auto immune disease = always finding time for my IVs.'

Hadid was diagnosed with lyme disease in 2012, and her mom Yolanda Hadid and brother Anwar also battle it.

Campaign shoot: Last week Hadid kicked off the Kors shoot alongside fellow model Cindy Bruna as they took over the streets of NYC and she also shared photos from an at-home shoot for the same designer; pictured March 23

Versace: Hadid is one of the most in-demand names in fashion, working with brands like Versace, Marc Jacobs and Mugler; pictured March 13

Struggle: 'The hardest part of this journey is to be judged by the way you look instead of the way you feel,' she said about her lyme disease to People in 2016, adding that some days she 'can't get out of bed'; pictured February 25

Sister Gigi  who recently became a first time mom with partner Zayn Malik  struggles with Hashimoto's disease.

Bella had previously opened up about what it's like to live and work with the disease to People. 'The hardest part of this journey is to be judged by the way you look instead of the way you feel,' she said in 2016, adding that some days she 'can't get out of bed.'

Hadid had found herself a striking penthouse to rest her pretty head, but recently listed the Soho loft for $6.5M.

The industrial space with a private roof deck had been her bachelorette haven after she split from The Weeknd in 2019, but she is now kissing the place goodbye.
HB 673 is named Gail's Law after Gail Gardner, an Orlando woman who is survivor of a vicious sexual assault in 1988 by an armed man who broke into her home and raped her at knifepoint. Despite courageously consenting to an invasive forensic exam, where a sexual assault evidence kit was collected, Gail had to wait nearly 30 years before her kit was tested. In November of last year, Orlando police finally identified Gail's attacker as a man who was already in prison for another sexual assault. That man is accused of assaulting 15 other women in Florida, yet evidence that could have led to his conviction sat on a shelf for 33 years.

In response to Gail's Law passing out of its second House committee, Representative Slosberg, the Co-Chair of the Florida Women's Legislative Caucus, said, "I want to thank my colleagues on the Justice Appropriations Subcommittee for their support of this landmark legislation. There is no reason why we should be able to track a pizza more efficiently than we can track evidence in a sexual assault case. Gail's Law will bring more accountability to the investigation of sexual assaults and eliminate the potential for evidence to go untested and for perpetrators to escape justice. I look forward to working on this bill at its next stop in the House Judiciary Committee."

CONTACT:

Jack Anderson

Office of Representative Emily Slosberg

(850) 717-5091

[email protected]

SOURCE Representative Emily Slosberg, Florida House of Representatives, District 91
[March 30, 2021] Anthem Foundation, LISC Indianapolis Launch Community-Driven Initiative to Help Build a More Equitable Food System

Anthem Foundation and LISC Indianapolis are launching a major effort to improve nutritious food access and help build a more equitable food system. The initiative is a commitment to increase sustainable access to nutritious food by empowering and investing in a community-driven plan. Anthem Foundation has committed $2.45 million over a three-year period to LISC Indianapolis to create and coordinate this approach to a systemic issue. Beginning this year, the initiative will implement evidence-based strategies with the goal of increasing equitable food access and food security efforts in one Indianapolis community. "Food insecurity is present in every neighborhood across our country, including in our headquarters city of Indianapolis. Building on our community-driven legacy, and vision to enable a system of health, not just healthcare, we are excited to launch this effort in collaboration with a leading local advocate, that will help us re-think our food system from the ground up," said Shantanu Agrawal, M.D., Chief Health Officer, Anthem, Inc. "Ridding the country of this pressing issue will require bold ideas and community collaboration." Food security is the most commonly reported unmet social need in the United States - with nearly 40% of households reporting moderate to high levels of food insecurity. Its impact is felt in every community across the country; however, the crisis is far worse in certain communities, with significant disparity experienced just miles apart. Anthem's Close to Home food insecurity tool, which maps publicly available food insecurity data in every zip code in America, helps put the scale of this crisis into context, and tracks the drivers of disparity. For instance, in central Indiana alone, Marion County experiences childhood food insecurity at nine percent higher rates than neighboring Hamilton County. This disparity, fueled by access to nutritious food and underpinned by race, ethnic, and economic differences, leads to significant disparities in health outcomes - and underlines why a broad and systemic approach to solving food access and security is required. In recent years, Anthem has been deeply focused on addressing food security and the inconsistent and insufficient access to nutritious food, along with other critical factors that influence the whole health of individuals, families and communities. By addressing these critical social drivers of health, which include access to transportation, housing, technology, and environental factors, Anthem is focused on the often unmet elements which can make the difference in health and prosperity.



"We are grateful for Anthem Foundation's commitment to addressing food access in Indianapolis neighborhoods by investing in this comprehensive and collaborative initiative," said Jessica Guilfoy, Vice President of Field Excellence for LISC. "More than ever before, we need solutions that not only directly impact food insecurity and improve healthy food access, but also support economic mobility, racial equity, and community resiliency." How the Initiative will Work

Through collaboration with partners, including Indianapolis' new Division of Community Nutrition and Policy, LISC Indianapolis will facilitate neighborhood selection through an open and inclusive process. Each community will determine which food projects will be supported, launched or expanded. Examples include but are not limited to community kitchens, infrastructure support for farmers, grocery projects, mobile markets and more. Emphasis will be placed on ensuring all projects improve food access and economic mobility for the neighborhood, are community-led, and help build racial equity. The streamlined RFP process for neighborhood selection will open on April 8. LISC is collaborating with Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center to facilitate a virtual community training to assist neighborhoods in developing a collaborative proposal in response to the RFP. This training will take place on April 1. Once the neighborhood is selected for investment, a community-based planning and implementation process will begin that convenes residents, community leaders, subject matter experts and civic organizations to develop a vision of equitable food access, coupled with strategies for physical developments, programmatic partnerships and investment to achieve that vision. Moving forward, Anthem Foundation will continue to work with other philanthropic and business partners in Indianapolis to develop the fund to support additional neighborhoods. For more information visit: www.lisc.org/indianapolis/what-we-do/livability/equitable-food-access-initiative The Anthem Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc. and through charitable contributions and programs, the Foundation promotes the organization's commitment to improving lives and communities. Through strategic partnerships and programs, the Foundation addresses the social drivers that will help create a healthier generation of Americans in communities that Anthem, Inc. and its affiliated health plans serve. The Foundation focuses its funding on critical initiatives that make up its Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets: maternal health, diabetes prevention, cancer prevention, heart health and healthy, active lifestyles, behavioral health efforts and programs that benefit people with disabilities. The Foundation also coordinates the company's year-round Dollars for Dollars program which provides a 100 percent match of associates' donations, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis is the local office of a national organization that helps resident-led, community-based development organizations transform distressed communities and neighborhoods into healthy ones - good places to live, do business, work, and raise families. By providing capital, technical expertise, training, and information, LISC supports the development of local leadership and the creation of affordable housing; commercial, industrial, and community facilities; businesses; and jobs. In short, we help neighbors build communities. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005721/en/

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Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.

A third man with Oregon ties has been arrested on criminal charges in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, court records show.

A grand jury indicted Richard Harris, 40, and federal law enforcement took him into custody March 18 in Florida, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

Jail records showed Monday that he is being held at Broward County Jail without bail in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. It wasnt immediately known if he has a lawyer.

FBI agents from Miami arrested Harris. On Friday, a federal judge ordered Harris detained until trial because he is considered a potential flight risk and danger to the community, court records show. His case is being transferred to Washington, D.C.

Federal prosecutors charged Harris with five counts related to the Capitol riots, including assaulting, resisting or impeding officers; obstruction of an official proceeding; and entering and remaining in a restricted building.

Harris is the third person with ties to Oregon charged in the insurrection. OPB reported that Harris appears to be the same man seen in video images pushing a journalist at a Dec. 21 rally in Salem when a small crowd tried to break into the Oregon Capitol. Harris hasnt been charged in the Salem confrontation.

In court documents related to the D.C. riot, federal prosecutors provided images from videos and social media they say depict Harris participating in the attack. One video shows a man who appears to be Harris talking on a landline phone inside the U.S. Capitol. He is accused of making threatening remarks into the phone about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then-Vice President Mike Pence, documents said.

A man who appears to be Harris is also captured in another video published by the New Yorker. In that video, he can be heard shouting at several U.S. Capitol police officers inside the building, documents said.

Last week, the FBI announced it had arrested Oregon brothers Jonathanpeter and Matthew Klein. They face charges including conspiracy to prevent Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election results for Joe Biden. The brothers have not yet entered pleas to the federal charges.

Jonathanpeter Kleins defense lawyer Michelle Sweet on Friday unsuccessfully urged for her client to be released pending trial, saying he could continue to work at an eastern Oregon ranch, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Nanci Klein, the brothers mother, wrote a letter to the court saying that they could stay at her home. Both were ordered held in a Portland jail until at least their next court hearing scheduled for April 1.

-- The Associated Press
Hong Kong: Review body composition outlined

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Candidate Eligibility Review Committee comprises several principal officials and its decisions pursuant to the opinion of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security will not be subject to legal proceedings.

According to the amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has to establish the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee which shall be responsible for assessing and validating the eligibility of candidates in the Election Committee, Chief Executive and Legislative Council elections.

If the review committee has questions about a candidates qualifications on the basis of national security, it will pass it to Police's National Security Department for assessment.

Pursuant to a Police assessment, the Committee for Safeguarding National Security will decide whether a candidate complies with the legal requirements and conditions for upholding the Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR, and issue an opinion to the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee in respect of a candidate who fails to meet such legal requirements and conditions.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam explained at a press conference this afternoon that the role of Police was for fact-finding only.

They are only conducting reviews, they are doing the fact-finding and then presenting the facts to the committee that I chair, that is the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong SAR.

The decision of whether a candidate based on the findings could fulfil or meet the statutory requirements of swearing allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR and upholding the Basic Law is not one for Hong Kong Police Force, it is one for this committee. And by the way, the English translation of this committee is the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee.

And it is only right because you need resources, you need to build up that expertise on how to find the facts. It is not something that you and I can do. So Police have been given this responsibility under the National Security Law. So it is only right that they will discharge this duty as required under the National Security Law.

Addressing conflict of interest concerns, Mrs Lam noted that the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee comprises several principal officials, not a single individual.

Although I said that if they are disqualifying candidates on the basis of national security, then they could not disclose why - that are the details - and the decision is not subject to judicial review, it is all in the public domain for people to see whether a particular person has been disqualified.

So I do not think that the mere fact that the Chief Executive, (being) the Chairman of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong SAR, will be able to single-handedly decide who is eligible, who is not eligible.

The public has all to judge whether a decision has been made rightly or wrongly, because for somebody to compete or contest in a Chief Executive election, it could not be somebody who is totally unknown.

I am sure that society will be able to judge how could this candidate be disqualified, there must be an expression of opinion if that sort of thing happened just because of an incumbent Chief Executive trying to interfere with the decision of the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee.

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Cytomegalovirus facts

 20,000 to 40,000 infants are born with cytomegalovirus every year, and at least 20% (8,000) have or develop permanent disabilities.

 In the U.S., almost one in three children are infected with the virus by age 5. More than half of adults have been infected by age 40. Once in someone's body the virus remains there, and it can reactivate. People can also be reinfected with different strains of it.

 About 400 children die from cytomegalovirus every year.

 Though most adults with cytomegalovirus are unaware they've been infected, symptoms can include fever, sore throat, fatigue and swollen glands. The virus can occasionally cause mononucleosis or hepatitis as well.

 Cytomegalovirus can be transmitted in body fluids, including direct contact with saliva or urine from babies and young children; sexual contact; breastfeeding; and organ transplants and blood transfusions.

 Sources: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, The New York Times ("CMV Is a Greater Threat to Infants Than Zika, but Far Less Often Discussed," Oct. 24, 2016)
DUBLIN, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Network Operator Capex to Hit $520B in 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Telecom network operator (TNO, or telco) revenues are on track for a significant decline in 2020, with the industry hit by COVID-19 even as webscale operators (WNOs) experienced yet another growth surge as much of the world was forced to work and study from home. For 2020, telco, webscale, and carrier-neutral revenues are likely to reach $1.75 trillion (T), $1.63T, and $71 billion (B), amounting to YoY growth of -3.7%, +12.2%, and 5.0%, respectively. Telcos will recover and webscale will slow down, but this range of growth rates will persist for several years. By 2025, the webscale sector will dominate with revenues of approximately $2.51 trillion, followed by $1.88 trillion for the telco sector and $108 billion for carrier-neutral operators (CNNOs).

Network operator capex will grow to $520B by 2025

In 2019, telco, webscale and carrier-neutral capex totaled $420 billion, a total which is set to grow to $520 billion by 2025. The composition will change starkly though: telcos will account for 53% of industry capex by 2025, from 9% in 2019; webscale operators will grow from 25% to 39% in the same timeframe; and, carrier-neutral providers will add 8% of total capex in 2025 from their 2019 level of 6%.

By 2025, the webscale sector will employ more than the telecom industry

As telcos deploy automation more widely and cast off parts of their network to the carrier-neutral sector, their employee base should decline from 5.1 million in 2019 to 4.5 million in 2025. The cost of the average telco employee will rise significantly in the same timeframe, as they will require many of the same software and IT skills currently prevalent in the webscale workforce. For their part, webscale operators have already grown from 1.3 million staff in 2011 to 2.8 million in 2019, but continued rapid growth in the sector (especially its ecommerce arms) will spur further growth in employment to reach roughly 4.8 million by 2025. The carrier-neutral sector's headcount will grow far more modestly, rising from 90 million in 2019 to about 119 million in 2025. Managing physical assets like towers tends to involve a far lighter human touch than managing network equipment and software.

This report presents the publisher's first annual forecast of network operator capex. The scope includes telecommunications, webscale and carrier-neutral network operators. The forecast presents revenue, capex and employee figures for each market, both historical and projected, and discusses the likely evolution of the three sectors through 2025. In the discussion of the individual sectors, some additional data series are projected and analyzed; for example, network operations opex in the telco sector.

The forecast report presents a baseline, most likely case of industry growth, taking into account the significant upheaval in communication markets experienced during 2020. Based on their analysis, the publisher projects that total network operator capex will grow from $420 billion in 2020 to $520 billion in 2025, driven by substantial gains in the webscale and (much less so) carrier-neutral segments. The primary audience for the report is technology vendors, with telcos and webscale/cloud operators a secondary audience.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Key Findings and Recommendations

2. Summary

3. Telco Market Forecast

4. Webscale Market Forecast

5. Carrier-neutral Market Forecast

6. Appendix 1: Forecast results

Companies Mentioned





Affirmed

Alcatel-Lucent

Alibaba

Alphabet

Altiostar

AMD

Ampere

Apple

Arm Semiconductor

AT&T

AWS

Azure

Baidu

BCE

BSNL

BT

Cellnex

China Tower

ChinData

Chorus

CK Hutch

Crown Castle

DataBank

Digital Colony Partners

Digital Realty

eir

Equinix

Ericsson

Facebook

FiberHome

Fujitsu

GCP

GDS Data Centers

GTT Communications

HPE

Huawei

I Squared Capital

IBM

InSite Wireless

Intel

Interxion

INWIT

Jio Platforms

KT

Level 3

Lumen Technologies

Metaswitch

Microsoft

MTNL

NBN Australia

NEC

Nokia

NVIDIA

Oracle

Orange

Packet

Parallel Wireless

Phoenix Tower

Radisys

Rakuten

Reliance Industries

Rogers Communications

Samsung Electronics

SAP

SBA Communications

SingTel

Softbank

Tech Mahindra

Telecom Italia

Telefonica

Telxius

Tencent

Terremark

Time Warner

TSMC

Twitter

Vantage Ventures

Verizon

Vodafone

Yahoo!

Yandex

Zayo

Zoom

ZTE

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/p9xw6f

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th March, 2021) The conditions on the moon are too harsh to be safe for humans, so the new moon base should be designed after the International Space Station, but built on the ground, a lead space systems engineer at Russian state space corporation Roscosmos said on Tuesday.

"In order to resolve all these issues [ensure safe working conditions for the crew], we will have to practically build an ISS that will lie on the regolith in the chosen zone, depending on what we want to research," Viktor Khartov, the deputy chief of the Central Research Institute for Machine Building at Roscosmos, stated during the annual Korolev Academic Space Conference at the Bauman University in Moscow.

According to the scientist, the moon base would require a robotic landing site, a living module and a cargo lander with materials and equipment. A new generation heavy rover should also be designed to allow astronauts to move cargo around the moon.

A powerful energy source would be crucial for operating a cargo vehicle and for surviving the lunar night, which lasts for 14 days and is accompanied by a drop in temperature to -170 degrees Celsius (-274 degrees Fahrenheit), Khartov explained.

"On-planet nuclear power source with wireless energy transmission looks promising," the scientist said, noting that Russia already has some relevant Soviet research.

Earlier in March, Russia has reaffirmed its moon exploration ambitions by signing the memorandum on cooperation with China's National Space Administration on creation of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).

The ILRS has been conceived as a scientific experiment base on the lunar surface and orbit aimed at carrying out multi-disciplinary and multi-objective scientific research activities, including lunar exploration and observation.

On Tuesday, Russian scientists also announced plans to send a capsule with Earth microorganisms to the moon and leave it for several years to assess the effect of lunar conditions on biological objects.
LOS ANGELES, CA and NEWPORT BEACH, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2021 / Quincy Jones' Qwest TV , has partnered with Learn & Earn, an app that allows K-12 students to learn, earn, and invest real money. Students complete bite-size courses on hundreds of subjects like entrepreneurship, work readiness, financial literacy, and music. Learn & Earn helps young people develop skills and build knowledge outside of the classroom - while earning money for completing courses from sponsors or parents.

"I've been on the planet for eight decades and have been lucky enough to have witnessed first-hand a large part of the development of jazz, from the '40s and '50s when it gained worldwide popularity to how it grew to influence all manner of musical styles like soul, funk, R&B, and hip-hop. The values of jazz are universal: It's about sharing, freedom, experimenting, love, and life."

"At its roots, jazz was an improvised, artistic expression of emotions born from an environment of oppression and slavery. It is central to our cultural fabric, and we need to understand and respect its importance in that regard so we can keep building on that great cultural legacy!" - Quincy Jones, Co-Founder, Qwest TV

According to the World Economic Forum, during the global pandemic, 1.2 billion children worldwide have been affected by school building closures. Learn & Earn, developed in collaboration with Junior Achievement USA, aims to reach as many of these students as possible, in particular those from low-income households, who make up more than 50 percent of Learn & Earn users. Students with savings accounts for higher education, like the investment account offered by the app, are four times more likely to graduate from college.

"Quincy Jones has had a remarkable impact on our world; it's a great honor to help spread his creative and cultural light to young people across America." explained Walter Cruttenden, founder of successful micro-investing platform, Acorns, and Chairman of Blast, the developer of Learn & Earn. "Helping students learn the origins of jazz, blues, and gospel music, and how it influences all types of music genres around the world."

Learn & Earn allows K-12 students in the United States to select bite-size courses and earn money upon completion of each course. Students then invest that money in their UTMA/UGMA-approved investment account with Robo-Bumpers to keep their portfolio diversified and growing over time. They have a "Core" portfolio of the world's largest diversified ETFs, and they can also select up to ten separate large cap stocks, or ETFs, from a curated "Explore" portfolio. This allows them to invest in fractional shares of companies like Apple, Spotify, Tesla, and Netflix. Sponsored courses are funded by for-profit and non-profit entities. Students will be able to use the funds they've earned for college tuition, a certificate program, technical school, or to start a business.

"Education has always been a central pillar of Qwest TV. We believe that jazz can teach us the way to build a better future because it contains human history and represents the process of expression that has the power to emancipate and elevate each one of us. This partnership with Learn & Earn will help kids connect to their cultural heritage, and that is what Qwest TV is all about, whether through partnerships like this or our education scheme, offering 1000+ concerts, documentaries and rare archive material to students all over the world." - Reza Ackbaraly, Qwest TV CEO and Co-founder

Learn & Earn receives support and advice from enterprises like Franklin Templeton Investments and Roth Capital Partners. Advisors include: Dr. Richard Thaler, Nobel Prize-winning economist; Dr. William Elliott III, Founder and Director of the Center on Assets, Education and Inclusion at the University of Michigan; Shlomo Benartzi, Professor Emeritus, UCLA Anderson School of Management; and Jon Fee, Head of Global Marketing for Saleforce.org.

The app can be found on the App Store or Google Play.

About Qwest TV

Qwest TV (qwest.tv) is a celebration of unique talents, traditions, and rhythms. With more than 1,300+ music-related experiences on offer, the video streaming service strives to be the world's home for jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, blues, electronic, classical, and music from all over the world... Qwest TV is where great music meets. Co-founded and curated by Quincy Jones, the platform preserves the richness of history, while reflecting the present-day beauty and reality of culturally and racially diverse people.

About Junior Achievement USA (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 3 million students per year in 105 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.

About Learn & Earn

Created by the team behind Blast, Learn & Earn is the app that pays kids to learn. Covering real-world topics not taught in school, the bite-size courses reward students with funds from sponsors and parents. These funds are then invested for the students, opening up a whole world of savings and investments for them. Working with pre-eminent partners and sponsors, Learn & Earn combines the best of FinTech and EdTech to redefine remote learning with courses that cover topics, such as financial literacy, potential careers, and life skills. The app's ultimate mission is simple: Teach kids how to become successful adults. Visit www.learnandearn.com for more information. Disclosures.

Investment advisory services are provided by Ant Money Advisors, LLC ("AMA"), an SEC-registered investment advisor. AMA's terms and policies can be found at www.antmoneyadvisors.com or through www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. AMA facilitates trading through DriveWealth, LLC, an SEC-registered broker-dealer and member FINRA and SIPC. Check the background of this firm on FINRA's BrokerCheck.

Press Contact

William Topaz

topaz@learnandearn.com

SOURCE: Learn and Earn

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/638037/Quincy-Jones-and-Qwest-TV-Partner-with-Learn-Earn-to-Deliver-Courses-on-the-History-of-Jazz-for-Millions-of-High-School-Students


[March 30, 2021] Y Soft Celebrates The Demise Of Analog Fax

BRNO, Czech Republic and DALLAS, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Y Soft Corporation, the leading enterprise workflow solutions provider, announced YSoft SAFEQ Digital Fax, an optional extension for YSoft SAFEQ that solves traditional fax issues by reducing costs, increasing uptime, and providing a better digital experience. YSoft SAFEQ Digital Fax is offered with YSoft SAFEQ software suites and is embedded into a multifunction printer (MFP), making it ideal for simple fax workflows for small to medium-sized businesses. Traditionally, faxing has meant installing a dedicated analog phone line for a fax machine or an MFP equipped with an expensive fax kit. By creating an extension for YSoft SAFEQ with a digital fax service, Y Soft can support a business' faxing needs at a very low cost. YSoft SAFEQ Digital Fax has NO usage charges for up to 1,000 pages per MFP, per year with a one-time activation and installation charge. This Y Soft solution offers a compelling ROI for customers  a typical small office, with five MFPs could see up to a $12,000 USD savings using YSoft Digital Fax by eliminating fax kits and analog phone lines. "No one wakes up in the morning thinking about fax. Most organizations don't realize how much they spend or how complicated their existing fax processes are until it's on paperin front of them," said Jim Wieser, Product Marketing Director at Y Soft. "By offering SAFEQ Digital Fax as an extension to YSoft SAFEQ, Y Soft is delivering a simple, secure, and cost-effective solution for our partners and customers."



Mick Heys, Vice President, Future of WorkSpace & Imaging at IDC said "Fax is still a widely used technology with vendors reporting high volumes but, in many instances, companies only send or receive a few faxes per month. This is the market that Y Soft is targeting with the SAFEQ Digital Fax service which represents a novel approach for a format that was introduced in the sixties." With SAFEQ Digital Fax service, traditional analog lines or VoIP telephony are no longer necessary, nor are embedded MFP fax kits. Fax reliability and tracking are increased while costs and fax-related help desk tickets are significantly reduced. The cloud-based digital experience improves productivity through fax statuses and incoming faxes by email.

YSoft SAFEQ Digital Fax is available as an extension to the YSoft SAFEQ Enterprise Suite or the YSoft SAFEQ Print Management Suite. Customers can contact a Y Soft regional sales manager, their certified Y Soft partner, or visit our website at www.ysoft.com/safeqdigitalfax for more details. About Y Soft

Y Soft develops intelligent Digital Transformation office solutions for enterprise, SMB, and Education that empower employees to be more productive and creative. Our YSoft SAFEQ workflow solutions platform in the CLOUD (native) and on-premises enable businesses to manage, optimize, and secure their print and digital workflows. Our YSoft OMNI Series, consisting of YSoft OMNI Bridge and YSoft OMNI Apps, instantly and cost-effectively connects in-market printers to the Cloud and Universal Print. Our YSoft BE3D 3D print solution is focused on the Education sector, where they provide exceptional ease of use and safety benefits while utilizing YSoft SAFEQ software for seamless 3D print management. Y Soft was founded in Brno, Czech Republic, and is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary. With offices in Europe, North and Latin America, the Middle East/Africa, and the Asia Pacific region, we presently support 42% of the Global Fortune 500 companies. For more information, please http://www.ysoft.com. Y Soft, YSoft SAFEQ, YSoft OMNI Series, YSoft OMNI Bridge, YSoft OMNI Apps and YSoft OMNI UP365 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Y Soft Corporation a.s. in the European Union and other countries. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/y-soft-celebrates-the-demise-of-analog-fax-301258216.html SOURCE Y Soft

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked the leadership to address global challenges such as the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.

"Cooperation between the UN and the is indeed critical for our common work. The commitment and contribution of the are essential to resolve the many serious global challenges we face -- starting with the Covid-19 pandemic," Guterres told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a virtual meeting on Monday.

To end the pandemic everywhere, there is a need for a global vaccination plan, and the US can play a very important role in this, Xinhua news agency quoted the UN chief as saying.

"I have proposed that the G20 should establish an emergency task force to develop and coordinate such a plan. But there is no way that this can work without an effective American leadership."

Guterres also asked the US to play a leading role in global climate action.

"We are working closely together to build a global coalition for net-zero emissions by mid-century, which has been a top priority for us in the UN for 2021, and to mobilise an immediate quantum leap in adaptation, and in finance to support developing countries.

"Adaptation cannot be the forgotten part of climate action and we very much count on US leadership in this regard."

He also noted that both the UN and the US recognise the importance of investing in a sustainable, inclusive recovery from the pandemic toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Guterres stressed the need for a surge in diplomacy for peace as conflict and violence cause enormous global suffering, threatening famine in at least six countries.

"We will work to reach lasting agreements in Afghanistan and Yemen, to consolidate our efforts in Libya, to achieve tangible progress through the political dialogue in Syria that has not yet happened, and to restart the Middle East peace process.

"We need a new movement for peace, from war zones to people's homes, where women and girls are facing an epidemic of gender-based violence," he said.

The UN chief also called for efforts to end systemic racism, discrimination and persecution, and to protect the rights of women, the marginalised, and minorities of all kinds.

Blinken, in his opening remarks, said the UN is the anchor of the multilateral system, which is vitally important to the US.

"We need to find ways to cooperate, to coordinate, to tackle problems together. And, of course, the United Nations is where countries come together to work on common challenges. So we have a profound stake in its success, in engaging in the UN," he said.

After the opening remarks, Blinken and Guterres spoke behind closed doors.

--IANS

ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW ORLEANS, March 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") are investigating the proposed sale of CoreLogic, Inc. (NYSE: CLGX) to funds managed by Stone Point Capital and Insight Partners. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, shareholders of CoreLogic will receive only $80.00 in cash for each share of CoreLogic that they own. KSF is seeking to determine whether this consideration and the process that led to it are adequate, or whether the consideration undervalues the Company.

If you believe that this transaction undervalues the Company and/or if you would like to discuss your legal rights regarding the proposed sale, you may, without obligation or cost to you, e-mail or call KSF Managing Partner Lewis S. Kahn ([email protected]) toll free at any time at 855-768-1857, or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-clgx/ to learn more.

To learn more about KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General, visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200

New Orleans, LA 70163

SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Related Links

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During his contentious testimony with Congress members, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed the platform's plans to create an Instagram for kids.

Florida GOP Congressman Gus Bilirakis asked the Facebook head Thursday about the potential new app for children younger than 13 being launched.

"I find that very concerning, targeting this particular age bracket, 13 and under, given the free services, how exactly will you be making money? Bilirakis said. "Or, are you trying to monetize our children, too, and get them addicted early?"

Zuckerberg said that Facebook is "early in our thinking" in how an app for kids would work.

"There is clearly a large number of people under the age of 13 who would want to use a service like Instagram," Zuckerberg said. He added that Instagram's current policy doesn't allow kids under 13 to use the platform. Instagram has more than 1 billion users.

Zuckerberg's comments to members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee come exactly a week after the world's largest social media network said it's exploring the possibility of building a version of its popular video- and photo-sharing app for children younger than 13.

Facebook already has Messenger Kids, a popular texting app for children ages 6-12.

On Thursday, Bilirakis then asked what's the benefit of launching an Instagram for kids. Zuckerberg responded without hesitation.

"I think helping people stay connected with friends and learn about different content online is broadly positive," Zuckerberg said. "There were clearly issues that need to be thought through and worked out, including how parents can control the experience of kids, especially kids under the age of 13.

"And we haven't worked through all of that yet," Zuckerberg continued. "I think something like this could be quite helpful for a lot of people."

Zuckerberg was also grilled by Congresswoman Kathy Castor, a Democrat from Florida. "Are you saying there are no kids on Instagram under the age of 13 right now?"

When Zuckerberg reiterated Instagram's no kids under 13 policy, Castor responded: "Of course, every parent knows there are kids under the age of 13 on Instagram, and the problem is that you know it."

Zuckerberg also acknowledged that some underage users lie about their age to access Instagram. It would have been "ridiculous" if he didn't, said Titania Jordan, a chief parenting officer for Bark, an Atlanta-based parental control phone monitoring app, who thinks an Instagram for kids is not in Facebook's best interests.

Jordan also said she believes that Facebook knows how many kids are using their platforms intended for adults. "The fact that they can estimate how many children are under the age of 13 and do not share that information is very disheartening," she said.

Jim Steyer, CEO of the nonprofit Common Sense Media, said in a statement that Thursday's hearing "clearly reinforced" a need for Congress to bring forth strong consumer protection laws that hold social media companies accountable for any toxic content appearing on its platforms.

"Parents shouldn't have to see their kids subjected to cyberbullying at record levels or increasingly exposed to extremist content and conspiracy theories just for going online," Steyer said.

Throughout the virtual hearing, several lawmakers from both political parties brought up many of the ills on social media affecting kids, including self-harm, teen suicides, and negative content.

During her opening statement, GOP Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington told Zuckerberg that "your platforms are my biggest fear as a parent. What will it take for your business models to stop harming children?"

Zuckerberg was then bizarrely asked if he lets his two young daughters, ages 3 and 5, use social media platforms such as YouTube.

With his supervision, he answered.

Explore further Instagram for kids? Facebook explores creating a platform for users under 13

(c)2021 U.S. Today

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
'The Coldest Case is very cool

It's a prequel to The Black Book, which is my favorite of my books. And they did a great job with sound design and original music. ... It has some similarities to the way they used to do radio a long time back, only the production values are much better than they were back then. And it has a great cast: Aaron Paul plays Billy Harney, who, in addition to being a detective, does stand-up comedy in Chicago at a cop bar.

Writing an audio story is different than writing a book

You have to pace it out. For each episode, you want to end it with a little bit of a bang. And you have to keep using the [characters'] names so people can keep track of who's who, which makes it a little awkward, but it's doable. I like doing new things.

He thinks we'll love his next Audible Originals story too

In the fall we have a great one, The Guilty, with John Lithgow and Peter Gallagher. It's about a murder that takes place at the premiere of big Broadway play, on stage. The story goes back and forth between the police interrogating everybody in the audience and cast members.

Don't ask how many projects he's working on now

They're all around my office here The last time I counted there were around 30. Some of them are screenplaysseveral books and some kids books. I think one young adult book, three or four younger kids books. And then the novels . And an autobiography.

What inspired an autobiography?

COVID. I was trapped in my house, and at some point, I just started scribbling and I said, Yeah, this might even work."

People might be surprised to learn that ...

I'm not impressed with myself at all. I'm really down to earth  My father grew up in the Newburgh, New York, poorhouse, called the pogey. And his mother was sort of the equivalent of a charwoman there  she cleaned the bathrooms and the kitchen.

Does he have a title for the autobiography?

I do. But I'm not telling.
Data withheld from WHO, says Tedros

Data withheld from WHO, says Tedros

Data was withheld from World Health Organization investigators who travelled to China to research the origins of the coronavirus epidemic, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday.



The United States, the European Union and other Western countries immediately called for China to give "full access" to independent experts to all data about the original outbreak in late 2019.



In its final report, written jointly with Chinese scientists, a WHO-led team that spent four weeks in and around Wuhan in January and February said the virus had probably been transmitted from bats to humans through another animal, and that a lab leak was "extremely unlikely" as a cause.



One of the teams investigators has already said China refused to give raw data on early Covid-19 cases to the WHO-led team, potentially complicating efforts to understand how the global pandemic began.



"In my discussions with the team, they expressed the difficulties they encountered in accessing raw data," Tedros said. "I expect future collaborative studies to include more timely and comprehensive data sharing."



The inability of the WHO mission to conclude yet where or how the virus began spreading in people means that tensions will continue over how the pandemic started - and whether China has helped efforts to find out or, as the United States has alleged, hindered them.



"The international expert study on the source of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was significantly delayed and lacked access to complete, original data and samples," Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Korea, Slovenia, Britain, the United States and the European Union said in a joint statement.



Although the team concluded that a leak from a Wuhan laboratory was the least likely hypothesis for the virus that causes Covid-19, Tedros said the issue required further investigation, potentially with more missions to China.



"I do not believe that this assessment was extensive enough," he told member states in remarks released by the WHO. "Further data and studies will be needed to reach more robust conclusions."



The WHO team's leader, Peter Ben Embarek, told a press briefing it was "perfectly possible" the virus had been circulating in November or October 2019 around Wuhan, and so potentially spreading abroad earlier than documented so far.



"We got access to quite a lot of data in many different areas, but of course there were areas where we had difficulties getting down to the raw data and there are many good reasons for that," he said, citing privacy laws and other restrictions.



Second phase studies were required, Ben Embarek added.



He said the team had felt political pressure, including from outside China, but that he had never been pressed to remove anything from its final report.



Dominic Dwyer, an Australian expert on the mission, said he was satisfied there was "no obvious evidence" of a problem at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.



The European Union called the study "an important first step" but renewed criticisms that the origin study had begun too late, that experts had been kept out of China for too long, and that access to data and early samples had fallen short.



In a statement, Walter Stevens, EU ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, called for further study with "timely access to relevant locations and to all relevant human, animal and environmental data available". (Reuters)
For the first time in recent memory, Colorado is no longer home to one of the top five largest craft breweries in America.

The new rankings for the top craft breweries by sales volume in 2020  issued Tuesday by the Boulder-based Brewers Association  only include three Colorado beer makers:

6. CANarchy (Oskar Blues), Longmont

17. Odell Brewing, Fort Collins

47. Left Hand Brewing, Longmont

Why it matters: It's a major ego blow. Colorado considers itself "the state of craft beer." But its stature on the list of top craft breweries continues to fade.

Moreover, craft brewers are losing clout and economic impact (it's a $3 billion industry here) as international companies swallow up their major players.

Between the lines: In recent years, two of the largest craft brewers sold to high bidders to cover the cost of expansions and grow even bigger. The sales meant they no longer qualified as small, independent craft brewers, per the association's definition.

For years, New Belgium ranked in the top five for craft brewers  a point of pride here in Colorado. But in 2019, Kirin purchased the state's iconic brewery, so it no longer appears on the list.

The same year, Spanish beer maker Mahou San Miguel took a majority share of Avery Brewing.

Now Colorado is best represented on the association's ranking of the top 50 breweries that includes the international companies that own multiple brands:

1. Anheuser-Busch (Breckenridge), Fort Collins/Littleton

2. MolsonCoors (Coors/Blue Moon/Colorado Native), Golden

11. New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins

12. Founders/Mahou (Avery), Boulder

15. CANarchy (Oskar Blues), Longmont

26. Odell Brewing, Fort Collins

To add insult to injury, an online popularity contest run by USA Today just listed the best beer cities and ranked Denver sixth and Fort Collins eighth.

Of the top 10, I've done beer tours in all but two of them, and Colorado's cities deserve a much higher ranking compared to the others.

For more stories like this, sign up for the Axios Denver newsletter, designed to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news unfolding in their own backyard.
A TEACHER from Limbandungila Combined School at Eenhana allegedly choked a colleague before stabbing her multiple times with a knife in the neck and face.

According to Ohangwena police spokesperson sergeant Andrew Nghiyolwa, the suspect, Faustina Mwetufa (27), appeared in the Eenhana Magistrate's Court yesterday on a charge of attempted murder and reckless or negligent driving.

In a police report released on Sunday, Ohangwena regional crime investigations coordinator deputy commissioner Zacharia Amakali said Mwetufa allegedly attacked Hilma Iindongo (25) at Ondaanda village on Friday afternoon after money was reportedly stolen from the principal's office that day.

Iindongo, an entrepreneurship teacher, has been hospitalised after sustaining severe injuries to the face and neck. According to a police report, Mwetufa, an English and Oshikwanyama teacher, allegedly attempted to kill Iindongo because she had witnessed her stealing money from the school office.

However, the principal, James Yanbwa, claimed the money was stolen via his phone and not directly from his office. Yanbwa accused Mwetufa of transferring N$6 200 from his phone to herself between 20 October last year and 19 March 2021.

"She did a lot of transactions on my account and I have opened a case of theft against her at Eenhana Police Station," the principal claimed.

He added that last year, he had made a banking transaction on his phone in Mwetufa's presence after she had asked for money.

"I told her that I only had money for my project. I did not know she took my PIN. From there, when she was broke she would ask for my phone to make calls only for me to realise on Friday that she was stealing money from my account," says the principal.

On Friday, the principal allegedly asked Iindongo to check his phone for his transaction history and bank statement as he did not have the technical know-how to do it himself.

"We found that Mwetufa was stealing money from my account. I called a management meeting and she [Mwetufa] confessed that she had stolen the money and she pleaded with me not to report her to the police as she would pay back the money," he said.

After the meeting, Mwetufa allegedly asked the victim to accompany her for lunch at Eenhana.

According to a teacher at the school, Iindongo and Mwetufa are good friends and often had lunch together.

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On their way to Eenhana, Mwetufa allegedly told Iindongo that she wanted to go and pick up her cousin and she then drove into a thick forest where she abruptly stopped the car, and locked the doors and windows.

She allegedly jumped on Iindongo's lap and told her that she loves her, but she was going to kill her.

Mwetufa was allegedly holding a kitchen knife and told Iindongo she was going to kill her and then commit suicide.

"She then choked her and stabbed her with a knife until Iindongo lost consciousness. Mwetufa then reportedly put Iindongo in the back seat and drove back to the tarred road. She then allegedly started speeding before the car left the road into a thorn three," a source at the school said.

"Iindongo regained consciousness when Mwetufa was trying to cause an accident," the source said.

According to the police report released on Sunday, when Iindongo gained consciousness, she managed to get out of the vehicle and sought assistance from a passer-by who took her to the Eenhana Greenside Hospital.

Iindongo, who was later transfered to the Ondangwa Private Hospital, was unable to talk when The Namibian contacted her yesterday. She is said to be in a stable condition.

Mwetufa is set to make her next court appearance on 6 April. She has not been charged over the theft case.
The unique masterpiece you see here is the work of a Czech enterprise named Gas & Oil Motorcycles. Ever since the companys foundation back in 2014, these folks have amassed an impressive collection of bespoke ventures. Take, for instance, a reworked 1976 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans I they dubbed  Royal .Within its duplex cradle frame, Mandello del Larios stock two-wheeled warrior packs a longitudinally mounted 90-degree V-twin powerplant. The air-cooled mill prides itself with two valves per cylinder head and a healthy displacement of no less than 844cc. The Italian fiend supplies up to 71 wild stallions at approximately 6,700 rpm and 58 pound-feet (79 Nm) of torque at 6,000 rpm.This unholy force travels to a shaft final drive through a five-speed gearbox, leading to a generous top speed of 126 mph (203 kph). Now, lets proceed with a quick analysis of how G&Os moto surgeons managed to breathe new life into this timeless classic.By honoring its V-twin leviathan with a comprehensive rebuild, the team increased the engines capacity to a whopping 1,000cc. As soon as the work on the powertrain was complete, the crew wasted no time incorporating a pair of minute turn signals into the bikes revised subframe unit. At the opposite end, these tasty items are appropriately complemented by M-blaze bar-end blinkers from Motogadgets inventory.In terms of bodywork, the stock fuel tank has been retained, but the same cant be said about Le Mans  tail, which was discarded in favor of a custom aluminum alternative. At the front, you will spot an aftermarket fiberglass fairing keeping things looking seriously rad. The cockpit comes equipped with a CNC-machined alloy top clamp and clip-on handlebars wearing Biltwell grips, as well as a premium selection of Motogadget goodies, including new switches and a digital Motoscope Pro gauge.To wrap it all up, the workshop installed Tarozzi rear-mounted foot pegs and Koni shocks, while the original exhaust system was removed to make room for a state-of-the-art Supertrapp module. Finally, the wheels received grippy Battlax tires from Bridgestones catalog.
[March 30, 2021] Ferguson Partners with VODA.ai to Support Decision-Making Through Artificial Intelligence

BOSTON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- VODA.ai is honored to be selected by Ferguson as their exclusive provider of artificial intelligence software. This partnership adds to Ferguson Waterworks' best-in-class solutions and quality products. VODA.ai's daVinci ML machine learning engine supports the Ferguson commitment to expert decision-making through a wide range of products and services for customers to improve their operations, construction, and maintenance projects. Ferguson selects VODA.ai and machine learning to help utilities choose which pipes to replace. The VODA.ai and Ferguson partnership takes the guess work out of prioritizing infrastructure projects. Whereas many utilities choose which water pipes to replace based on material, pipe age, or failure history, the VODA.ai daVinci ML engine provides more accurate predictive data regarding pipe life expectancy. "The Ferguson - partnership combines world class products and services with VODA.ai's powerful machine learning to prioritize every pipe segment by risk using both likelihood and consequences of failure," said Nick Lanza, Director of Municipal Sales for Ferguson. The daVinci ML technology identifies pipe segments that are more likely to fail in the future, provides tools to help a utility calculate and understand the consequence of failure and the associated business risk. Then, the technology provides the remaining useful life for every pipe in a givennetwork. With these insights, utilities can prioritize mains for rehab or replacement and target areas for leak monitoring or condition assessment.



Utilities can use reports powered by daVinci ML to understand how much capital investment is needed over the long term and where to target these resources to reduce service disruptions and failure rates. This makes it easy for utilities to plan their operating and engineering programs by tailoring their course of action and focusing their resources on the highest risk assets. "Each utility has different combinations of pipe materials, ages, sizes, soil, weather, proximity to roads, railroads and bridges, rainfall, contractor skills, and even seismic activity. Machine learning doesn't 'care' but instead simply looks for patterns that led to prior failures and assigns probabilities of future health based on those patterns," said Lanza.

"The team at Ferguson is a great partner for us. Their industry leadership will help VODA.ai with greater market access and delivery of additional benefits to utilities. By creating this partnership, we will work with their talented team to support smarter decision making and continue to serve the water industry," said George Demosthenous, CEO at VODA.ai. About Ferguson

Ferguson ( www.ferguson.com ) is the largest wholesale distributor of residential and commercial plumbing supplies and pipe, valves and fittings in the U.S. The company is also a major distributor of HVAC equipment, fire protection systems, waterworks and industrial products and services. Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Newport News, Va., Ferguson has sales of $18.9 billion and approximately 26,000 associates in 1,400 locations. Ferguson and its subsidiaries serve customers in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean. Ferguson is part of Ferguson plc ( www.fergusonplc.com ), which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:FERG) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE:FERG) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies. About VODA.ai: VODA.ai uses artificial intelligence to virtually assess the condition of water mains and help water utilities make smart decisions based on science. VODA.ai is a Software as a Service company serving utilities worldwide. It is headquartered in Boston Massachusetts. VODA.ai's patent-pending machine learning and deep learning technology discovers patterns from previous pipe failures and enables science-based decision making. For more information, send an inquiry at email@voda.ai. Source: VODA.ai View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ferguson-partners-with-vodaai-to-support-decision-making-through-artificial-intelligence-301258684.html SOURCE VODA.ai

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The proposed closure of a Kingspan site in Co Antrim has put 23 jobs at risk as the company plans to consolidate its polystyrene production in the Republic of Ireland.

Staff at the Springvale Road plant in Ballyclare, which specialises in expanded polystyrene (EPS) production, are currently engaged in a consultation process with the building materials company regarding their future.

Following a review of its operations due to declining sales, Kingspan intends to consolidate its EPS production at a facility in Askeaton in Co Limerick.

A spokesperson for the company said: "The proposed closure puts 23 staff members at risk of redundancy, following a consultation period. Kingspan will work with staff to explore the option to transfer to roles at other Kingspan facilities where suitable."

Regional officer for the trade union Unite, Kevin McAdam, said the move will leave the workforce unemployed in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Consultations between Unite and management have reached the end without any movement from the company," he stated.

"It would now appear that closure in the coming few months is imminent. We have tried to persuade the company to continue with the Co Antrim plant but it appears they are keener to concentrate their business in their plant in Co Limerick."
Racecourse gossip held that prominent horse owner Damion Flower could not possibly fund the lavish lifestyle he lived purely on winnings - and the trackside rumours were right.

Flower had been on police radar for years before he was arrested and charged over a drug ring which smuggled cocaine with a street value of more than $68million into the country.

The 48-year-old's links to criminal networks dating back decades were well known and the secret drug baron was effectively hiding in plain sight.

Flower had grown up surfing at Bronte and associated with members of the Bra Boys gang from nearby Maroubra after finishing his studies at Waverley College in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Thoroughbred owner Damion Flower has pleaded guilty to importing cocaine. His unexplained wealth led to rumours around the nation's race tracks but until Monday he had denied being a drug dealer. Flower is pictured with wife Camilla

Flower owned horses with high-profile Sydneysiders including businessman John Singleton (right), broadcaster Alan Jones and rugby league great Phil Gould (left), none of whom knew anything about his other business. Flower is pictured next to businesswoman Katie Page

When Flower was finally arrested at his home in Sydney's Moorebank in May 2019 police found more than $1million cash.They have also seized properties, prize money, cars and a boat

A car crash in 1989 put an end to any chance of a surfing career and a decade later he began work as a baggage handler at Sydney Airport.

Police believe in the four years that Flower worked part-time at the airport he made contacts with criminal groups including one headed by cocaine king Michael Hurley, according to The Telegraph.

It was also there he first met fellow baggage handler John Mafiti and 19 years later the pair would be arrested over the cocaine ring which could see them both spending the rest of their lives in jail.

Hurley and former first grade rugby league player Les Mara, Bondi surfer Shane Hatfield and others had been arrested in 2005 and jailed over an earlier importation operation which used corrupt baggage handlers.

Mara was sentenced to a minimum 13 years for his role, Hatfield got 14 and Hurley died of cancer while in custody in 2007 while awaiting trial.

Before Hurley and his mates were arrested Flower had already bought shares in his first successful horse, the stallion Clangalang, which won the Australian Derby in 2003.

Flower had grown up surfing at Bronte and associated with members of the Bra Boys gang from nearby Maroubra after finishing his studies at Waverley College in Sydney's eastern suburbs. He is pictured at the barrier draw for the 2005 Golden Slipper

The following year he purchased a yearling he named Snitzel which won seven of its 15 starts and went on to become a hugely successful sire.

He sold Snitzel but retained a 2.5 per cent share which continued to be extremely lucrative with the horse commanding $220,000 a service.

Flower spent a fortune on yearlings bought at the Inglis and Magic Millions sales where he rubbed shoulders with racing's elite power brokers.

He owned thoroughbreds with high-profile Sydneysiders including businessman John Singleton, broadcaster Alan Jones and rugby league great Phil Gould, none of whom knew anything about his other business.

With former Ansett flight attendant wife Camilla by his side, he turned Platinum Park near Hawskesbury Racecourse into one of the most prestigious stables in the country.

Police believe in the four years that Flower worked part-time as a baggage handler he made contacts with criminal groups included one headed by cocaine king Michael Hurley (left). Hurley and Les Mara (right) smuggled drugs into Sydney Airport using baggage handlers

There is no suggestion Mrs Flower knew of her husband's drug dealing and she has not faced any charges.

Flower paid $2.4million for a barrier slot for four instalments of The Everest when the new event was announced in 2017 as the richest race on turf in the world.

While Flower's stable expanded his purchases seemed not to make much of a dent in his pocket. His real estate portfolio grew to include homes in Sydney's Moorebank, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

When police finally swooped on his ill-gotten gains they seized those properties, as well as prize money, cars and a speed boat.

Flower had become one of Sydney's best-known figures on the racing scene but law enforcement agencies were aware of where the money was really coming from.

With wife Camilla by his side, Flower turned Platinum Park near Hawskesbury Racecourse into one of the most prestigious stables in the country. There is no suggestion Mrs Flower (above) knew of her husband's drug dealing and she has not faced any charges

In March 2019 police got a tip off about Flower having collected a duffel bag containing 19kg of cocaine flown to Sydney on QF64 from South Africa in February 2017, The Telegraph has reported.

An investigation revealed Flower had been in contact with John Mafiti, who had by then been a baggage handler for 17 years, 33 times on the day of that importation.

The joint operation by Australian Federal Police, NSW detectives and Australian Border Force used CCTV and telephone records to also put Flower at the airport.

State and federal police used phone taps and listening devices to record Flower's conversations and he was put under intense physical surveillance.

When Flower was finally arrested at the Moorebank house in May 2019 police found more than $1million cash, the New South Wales District Court has heard.

In 2004 Flower purchased a yearling he named Snitzel which won seven of its 15 starts and went on to become a hugely successful sire. He sold Snitzel but retained a 2.5 per cent share which continued to be extremely lucrative with the horse commanding $220,000 a service

It is not known when Flower first began using his airport contacts to bring cocaine in from South Africa but he pleaded guilty on Monday to importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug between June 2016 and May 2019.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Mafiti last year admitted helping Flower import 228kg of cocaine during the same period. Police found more than $4.4million in cash in two Kennards self-storage units leased by Mafiti and $1.7million in his home.

Flower, who initially pleaded not guilty, had been due to face trial in February but struck a plea deal with prosecutors through barrister James Tevallion and solicitor Ben Archbold.

He is due to be sentenced along with Mafiti in September and has been hit was a $7.5million unexplained wealth order.

Flower, who has already spent almost two years in custody, faces a maximum sentence of life behind bars.
More than 900 people from a nearby village were evacuated after a massive fire broke out early Monday at the Pertamina Balongan Refinery in Indonesia's West Java province, officials said.

About 20 people were injured, including refinery workers and several villagers who suffered burns while passing through the area, the local disaster mitigation agency said.

Nicke Widyawati, chief executive officer of state-owned oil and gas corporation Pertamina, said firefighters were still battling the blaze and attempting to cool down the area to prevent it from spreading.

The cause of the fire was still being investigated, he said at a news conference. Pertamina officials said there was lightning and heavy rain at the time the fire broke out.

Satellite images from Planet Labs Inc. analyzed by The Associated Press showed a massive plume of black smoke rising from the refinery over the nearby village. The fire appeared localized at a set of four tanks in the middle of the refinery.

The Balongan plant has a refining capacity of about 125,000 barrels of crude oil a day. It supplies fuel to Jakarta, Banten and some regions of West Java.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said 912 residents were staying at three evacuation centers.

Also read: Traffic in Suez Canal resumes as stranded massive ship set free




Pakistan's president said Monday he tested positive for coronavirus, hours after the government imposed a partial lockdown in high-risk areas in the country amid a sharp spike in new cases.







Arif Alvi said on Twitter he tested positive for COVID-19 despite having his first dose of vaccine on March 15. He was due for a second dose in a week. ''Please continue to be careful,'' he urged people.







The development came nine days after Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife tested positive for coronavirus. Khan also tested positive days after receiving his first dose of vaccine.







Imran Ismail, provincial governor in southern Sindh province, said the country's defense minister, Pervez Khattak, had also tested positive for coronavirus.







Pakistan is using the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine that was donated by Beijing last month to vaccinate health care workers and people above age 60.







Khan and his wife have quarantined themselves at a sprawling home in Islamabad and authorities have said Khan will soon return to working at his office.







Pakistan is in the midst of a third wave of coronavirus, which authorities say is worse than last year's outbreak when Pakistan had to impose a nationwide lockdown. Pakistan so far has avoided a nationwide lockdown but it imposed a partial lowdown in several cities to contain the spread of the virus.







On Monday, Pakistan reported 41 additional deaths and more than 4,500 new cases in the past 24 hours. Pakistan has reported more than 659,000 cases total, including 14,256 deaths, since last year. (AP)


 New Turbo offering provides more performance and refinement to score win

RICHMOND HILL, ON, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) today announced the winner of the Canadian Car of the Year for 2021, choosing the Mazda3 for the second year in a row. The 2021 Mazda3 is available with the new Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine producing best-in-class torque, and won over the judges with top marks in throttle response, engine refinement, and vehicle dynamics. With this win, the Mazda3 achieved multiple firsts in AJAC award history; the Mazda3 is the only nameplate ever to win Canadian Car of the Year two years in a row, and the only nameplate to have won the overall award three times.

AJAC President Stephanie Wallcraft holds the Canadian Car of the Year award next to the 2021 Mazda3 Turbo. (CNW Group/Mazda Canada Inc.)

"This is a historic win for Mazda and we are honoured to be the first to reach these milestones with AJAC," said David Klan, President & CEO, Mazda Canada. "The Mazda3 has always been a core model in our lineup that reflects our philosophy and brand strengths, and this award once again shows that our dedication to designing and crafting the very finest is paying dividends."

The fourth generation Mazda3 was redesigned for 2019 and introduced a new level of refinement and craftsmanship within the compact car segment, quickly winning over fans and media. The Mazda3 won AJAC's overall Canadian Car of the Year award in 2020, the first year it was eligible. The 2021 Mazda3 is available as a sedan or hatchback (Mazda3 Sport) and is available with the choice of 2.0L or 2.5L Skyactiv-G naturally aspirated engines, or a 2.5 Turbo engine and 6-speed Skyactiv manual (on select models) or automatic transmissions. MSRP for the entry-level Mazda3 GX starts at $20,500[1]. GS and GT models are available with Mazda's predictive i-Activ AWD system, starting at $26,500[1].

With the recent introduction of the 2021 Mazda3 Turbo, Mazda has added another layer of appeal for a nameplate that offers multiple body styles, engine and transmission options to suit all drivers, and rich feature content at every trim level.

Story continues

At the top end of the range, the Mazda3 GT Turbo elevates its status above the everyday options in the segment, and offers a new alternative for fans seeking a premium driving experience. With its combination of responsive torque on demand at any speed, i-Activ AWD providing additional confidence in any driving situation, and advanced technology, the Mazda3 Turbo delivers a refined, yet exhilarating drive and AJAC journalists would seem to agree.

"AJAC members continue to view the fourth-generation Mazda3 as worthy of recognition by presenting it with our association's highest honour for a second year in a row," said AJAC President Stephanie Wallcraft. "It's fitting to see history being made with this record-breaking achievement in the Canadian Car of the Year awards as AJAC celebrates its milestone 40th anniversary in 2021."

Within the 2021 Mid-size Car category, AJAC journalists scored the Mazda3 best in a number of areas: Styling/Appearance, Quality, Driver Position & Ergonomics, Noise/Vibration/Harshness (NVH), Performance, Vehicle Dynamics, and Safety. It also received the highest score for Subjective Value across all entries in the segment.

With this win, all four generations of the Mazda3 have been recognized by AJAC, previously winning the overall title of Canadian Car of the Year in 2004 and 2020, and taking category wins in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2020.

About the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC)

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) is an association of professional journalists, writers, photographers, and corporate members whose focus is the automobile and the Canadian automotive industry. Collectively, our primary objectives are to promote, encourage, support, and facilitate professionalism in Canadian automotive journalism and to ensure factual and ethical reporting about the automobile and automotive issues to Canadian consumers. This is achieved through the work of our members and AJAC's annual vehicle testing and evaluation events, the Canadian Car of the Year and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards (CCOTY and CUVOTY), Innovation Awards, and EcoRun.

About Mazda Canada Inc.

Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mazda Canada has a nationwide network of 163 dealerships. For additional information visit Mazda Canada's media website at www.media.mazda.ca.

[1] MSRP does not include $1,850 for freight and PDE, taxes, title or additional fees. Dealers set actual sale prices.

SOURCE Mazda Canada Inc.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2021/30/c2745.html
GODFREY  On April 6, voters will have choose between incumbent Bethany Bohn and challenger Kevin Botterbush for Godfrey village clerk.

Bohn became village clerk in 2019. Botterbush is president of the Hayner District Public Library board. Both have extensive real estate backgrounds.

Bohn was Godfrey deputy assessor 2012 to 2016 and then deputy clerk 2016 to 2018 before becoming village clerk. She is also a Realtor with Landmark Realty-Godfrey and the mother of three.

She received her associates degree in Science from Lewis and Clark Community College and went on to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to study Ethics. After moving to Virginia Beach in 1994, she continued her studies at Old Dominion University and became a wife and mother in 1997.

After several years she moved back to Illinois where she began working as a real estate sales agent.

I have received over five years of municipal clerk training and received my Registered Municipal Clerk Certification and my Certified Municipal Clerk Certification, she said. Further, I received my Illinois Certified Assessment Officer certification and I have been a Licensed Real Estate Broker for 20 years.

Bohn said the role of village clerk requires knowledge, experience and expertise.

It is a full time job that demands time, effort, hard work, positive attitude and continuing education, she said. It is important to me to use those things to develop new ideas, ways to improve, expand, and maintain services the residents have come to expect.

Bohn said the village clerk is the local election authority, the Freedom of Information Act/Open Meetings Act OMA officer and is responsible for filing all documents with the county and state. The clerk also performs oaths for newly elected or appointed officers and memorializes the actions of the mayor and village trustees.

The clerk wears many hats and I am constantly striving to improve my knowledge and understanding of the duties and responsibilities, she said.

Botterbush, a lifelong resident of Godfrey, is a former trustee for the Hayner District Public Library. He also is a real estate broker and the coordinator and instructor of the Real Estate Program at Lewis and Clark Community College. He attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and St. Louis University.

I have been practicing real estate as a managing broker for over 33 years, he said. As the coordinator, I have experience in budgeting, policy writing and adhering to state regulations. As a trustee of the Hayner Public Library District for over 30 years, I have the knowledge and experience of supervising and helping to lead a unit of local government.

Botterbush said he wants to create a relationship between the Godfrey village clerks office and the Madison County Clerks Office to bring more resources and ease of access to Godfrey residents.

Having to drive all the way to Edwardsville, find parking, and then navigate to and through the Administration Building for a single form is a hassle that can be avoided, he said. It would be much easier to have it available at the Godfrey Town Hall, where it is a short walk in or an easy delivery to your car.

He said he also wants to make such information available on the Godfrey village website.

While I would love nothing more than to be able to talk to each and every one of you, I understand that some things are easier done in the comfort of your own home, he said.

Botterbush said he also wants to run the office in a fiscally responsible way and create an atmosphere of friendliness.

The village clerks office is a conduit for information between local government and the people of Godfrey, and I will keep you well informed, he said.
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. President of the National Assembly of Artsakh Artur Tovmasyan visited the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh and met with FM David Babayan, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the National Assembly of Artsakh.

Foreign policy priorities of the country were discussed. Artur Tovmasyan referred to the meeting with Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Ayvazian. Today number one problem for the security of Artsakh is that the recent so-called activation of Azerbaijanis cannot remain unresponded. I am speaking about the incidents of attacking Armenian cars with stones, Artur Tovmasyan said.

The sides discussed issues related to raising this and other issues at international arenas. The President of the National Assembly of Armenia emphasized the importance of finding a settlement to Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict in the sidelines of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. He also talked about the necessity to deepen relations with different countries, particularly Russia.
The US Air Force is believed to be preparing to test a hypersonic missile for the first time at the Naval Air Station Point Mugu outside of Los Angeles.

The debut flight of the the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (or ARRW), expected on Tuesday or Wednesday, is being hailed as a major step forward as the Pentagon seeks to maintain its technological advantage against adversaries China and Russia.

The mission will be conducted by a B-52H bomber which carries the AGM-183A missile high into the air and launches it at more than five times the speed of sound.

A no-fly zone has been imposed near the Point Mugu Sea Test Range, southwest of Los Angeles, for Tuesday and Wednesday, where sensitive missile tests are often carried out.

The ARRW will be used to destroy 'high-value, time-sensitive targets', Mike White, the Pentagon's top hypersonics director, told Airforce Magazine.

This B52 aircraft conducted a captive-carry flight test of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon in August (file photo)

Lockheed Martin released this photo of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), showing hypersonic glide warhead, which it was contracted to build for the US Air Force (file photo)

Staff Sgt. Jacob Puente, of the 912th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, secures the ARRW as it is loaded under the wing of a B-52 (file photo)

US Air Force to Lockheed Martin: Give us supersonic US Air Force crew secure the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon to the wing of a B-52H Stratofortress at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in August In 2018, Lockheed Martin were awarded an $480 million contract to develop a hypersonic missile that could be launched from the air. Hypersonic is measured as five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5. Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) reach that speed when they re-enter the atmosphere from space. But because they travel along a predictable path, they lack the element of surprise. In June 2019, the Air Force conducted a captive carry flight test - where the payload does not separate from the carrier aircraft - aboard a B52. When the Pentagon's budget for hypersonic missiles was increased by 23 per cent in February 2020, the Air Force moved ahead with acquiring the AGM-183A. The ARRW has a reported speed of 15,345 miles per hour, meaning it could travel around the circumference of the earth in one hour and 37 minutes. The US Air Force Magazine describes the ARRW as a 'boost-glide type of hypersonic missile'. 'The booster accelerates the payload to hypersonic speed, at which point the clamshell front end opens and releases the hypersonic glide vehicle, which flies the rest of the way to the target with no further propulsion, maneuvering along the way.' In 2019, the United States spent $732 billion on national defense, more than the next 10 countries combined. Advertisement

Speculation has been mounting since the Air Force's Armament Directorate announced on March 5 that a test would occur within 30 days.

There were further signs a a test was imminent after the arrival of the US Army's missile range instrumentation ship USAV Worthy at the San Diego Naval Base, The Drive reported.

Planespotters also noticed a NASA aircraft used to track missile data, the WB-57F, had also landed at Naval Air Station Point Mugu.

Airpsace restrictions were imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration on an area of the Pacific Ocean near the Point Mugu Sea Test Range, southwest of Los Angeles, for March 30 and April 1, The Drive said.

The area around California test site has multiple naval and air bases where missile tests are often conducted.

The US military's latest technological breakthrough travels can reportedly travel at up to 20 times the speed of sound, and its sophisticated on-board maneuverability will make it almost impossible to shoot down, military experts say.

Speaking with Air Force Magazine in February, the Pentagon's top hypersonic developer White said the new ARRW is meant to be survivable when being fired against 'heavily defended targets'.

He said the ARRW is a 'rapid prototyping project that will leverage cutting-edge technologies to deliver a conventional hypersonic weapons capability to the warfighter in the early 2020s'.

The ARRW will be the first hypersonic weapon in the American military arsenal.

According to Live Science, the ARRW is supposed to move at about 20 times the speed of sound through the atmosphere.

It is designed to be so fast so as to make it impossible for anti-missile systems to shoot it down.

Compared to the Cruise missiles, which have a top speed of about 800kms per hour, the ARRW is nearly eight times faster.

According to Science Magazine, Russia, China and the United States have been locked in a race to be the first to build hypersonic weapons for decades.

'It's a race to the Moon sort of thing,' Iain Boyd, an aerospace engineer at the University of Colorado, told Science Magazine.

'National pride is at stake.'

According to state media, China has been conducting tests of its own Xingkong-2 'Waverider' hypersonic cruise missile.

After a trial in 2018, the Communist Party's Global Times said the Waverider would enable the new weapon to 'break through any current generation anti-missile defense system.'

Meanwhile, Russia has also been busy testing its new surface-to-air hypersonic missile.

The Kremlin's Admiral Gorshkov frigate has carried out at least four test launches of the new 6,100mph Zircon missile, which is expected to go into service next year and which defence chiefs boasted had 'hit the bullseye' in testing.

In March, a British spyplane detected evidence of further testing in the Arctic.

The first Zircon test launch of the missile from the Gorshkov was staged in early October and seen as a 68th birthday present for Putin.

More test launches followed in November and December.

It is claimed that Vladimir Putin sees the Mach 8 Zircon as his missile of choice to target US cities in the event of a nuclear conflict.

Tensions between Russia and the US were inflamed after US President Joe Biden called Putin a 'killer' during an interview with ABC News.

In response, Russia withdrew its ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, and demanded an apology.

Putin countered the US president's 'killer' accusation, saying that 'it takes one to know one'.

'We always see in another person our own qualities and think that he is the same as us,' Putin noted.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki later said Biden has no regrets on his comment.

Asked if Biden regrets calling Putin a 'killer,' she responded: 'No, the president gave a direct answer to a direct question'

Diplomatic relations with China have also been testy.

The two countries' top diplomats exchanged angry words at the first high-level talks in Alaska in March.
The sector



is in need of urgent reform and modernisation and the government has initiated reforms that would free the small from the pressure of middlemen, Prime Minister said on Tuesday.

In his poll campaign here, he invoked Tamil classic 'Thirukkural' and said one common theme in it was respect for

The world must follow the as farming is the base and farmers are the linchpin of the world for they support all others who cannot till the land, he said quoting the Kural.

"The sector is in need of urgent reform and modernisation." The NDA government's priority is the welfare of small farmer, he said.

The government has initiated reforms that would free the small farmers from the pressure of middlemen, he asserted. Measures such as soil health card, Kisan credit card, e-NAM schemes are aimed at empowering farmers.

In his party's manifesto for the April 6 Assembly polls, an annual assistance of Rs 6,000 for fishermen and farmers have been promised, he said.

The sector is facing water shortage problems and to address it, the NDA government has begun many efforts towards water conservation guided by the mantra of 'per drop more crop.'



Farmers were being helped to transform their cultivation methods and "old irrigation structures are being repaired and new ones are also being built."The Central government has launched the 'Jal Jeevan Mission,' the aim of which is to provide water to all households.

Since the mission began almost 16 lakh rural households in have got access to tap water connection. "From the farm land to your homes every possible effort will be made to ensure adequate water."



Urging the people to study the BJP manifesto, he said, "Together, we will serve you all and fulfill your dreams. We guarantee a better future for your children.

(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 disturbing video shows one man punching another in the head and choking him until he appears to lose consciousness. No one could be seen helping or intervening.

Video Transcript

- Governor Cuomo says that he has now directed a state police hate crimes task force to assist the NYPD investigation into this violent attack on an Asian man on the subway. We warn you, the video is disturbing. You see a man repeatedly punching the victim in the head and then choking him until he apparently loses consciousness.

No one on that subway train intervened to help. Police retweeted this video today and are asking for any information on when this happened and the people involved. The video was originally posted by an account that says the beating took place on Manhattan-bound J Train near the Kosciuszko Street Station in Bushwick.


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks rose on Tuesday to extend gains from the previous session as investors looked past concerns over a U.S. hedge fund default and rising yields to focus on recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.



Dovish comments by Bank of England's policy maker Gertjan Vlieghe the previous day also offered some support.



The pan European Stoxx 600 rose half a percent to 429.58 after closing 0.2 percent higher on Monday. The German DAX and France's CAC 40 index climbed around 0.6 percent, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 0.4 percent.



Banks Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas and Barclays climbed 2-3 percent on expectations they would benefit from rising bond yields.



Swiss lender Credit Suisse rose half a percent after falling nearly 14 percent in the previous session on news it is facing 'highly significant and material' losses.



Miners Anglo American, Antofagasta, BHP, Rio Tinto and Glencore were up 1-3 percent on hopes for a swifter economic recovery from the pandemic.



British postal service company Royal Mail jumped 2.6 percent after announcing a one-off dividend payment.



Imperial Brands declined 1.5 percent. The tobacco company stated that it remains on track to deliver full year results in line with the company's guidance with low-mid single digit organic adjusted operating profit growth at constant currency.



AstraZeneca fell over 1 percent after Canada suspended its Covid vaccine for adults aged 55 and under because of an adverse event referred to as Vaccine-Induced Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia (VIPIT).



Spanish mobile phone mast operator Cellnex Telecom lost 1.7 percent after launching a 7 billion euro ($8.23 billion) capital raise.



German IT service provider Cancom SE rallied 2.6 percent. After posting higher fourth-quarter revenues, the company said it expects a significant increase in gross profit and EBITDA and a very significant increase in Group EBITA for full-year 2021.



Uniper SE lost 2.7 percent. The energy company said that its chief executive officer Andreas Schierenbeck and chief financial officer Sascha Bibert will leave the company immediately.



In economic releases, Eurozone economic confidence more-than-expected in March, survey results from the European Commission showed.



The economic sentiment index climbed to 101.0 in March from 93.4 in the previous month. The score was above economists' forecast of 96.0. This was the highest reading since February 2020.



A measure of French consumer confidence climbed to 94 from 91 in February, survey data from INSEE showed earlier today as households' expectations regarding their financial situation outlook strengthened and the saving intentions hit a record high.



Economists had expected the index reading to remain unchanged. The latest score was the highest since December's 95, but remained below the long-term average of 100.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Max Verstappen had to relinquish his lead to Lewis Hamilton after overtaking the Briton off-track. With all the previous Track Limits violations, Helmut Marko is having a hard time swallowing that.

Max Verstappen had to attack Hamilton at the Bahrain Grand Prix after losing his lead with Red Bull Racing's strategy. That attack succeeded, but Verstappen had to give the spot back afetr he overtook on the outside of the track, violating the Track Limits.

Marko bitter about loss

''If you see how many times Lewis went off track in turn four, and then Max goes off once. Then with his dirty tyres he couldn't attack, except on the last lap. To beat Mercedes you have to be perfect,'' the Red Bull chief said to Kronen Zeitung.

Surprisingly, the competitors were also surprised by guidelines from the FIA. ''We need to be more consistent in the future. The statements must be clear, and not a work of Shakespeare that you can interpret in different ways'', said Toto Wolff. Race director, Michael Masi, was unaware of any wrongdoing. He is still convinced that everyone knew what the guidelines were.
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Spokesman for the Bucharest Gendarmerie General Directorate Alexandru Iacob said on Monday evening that there were no moments that would have required a forceful intervention during the protest rally held in Bucharest to vent dissatisfaction with COVID-19 measures imposed by the authorities, according to AGERPRES.

"There were no moments that required a forceful intervention, nor was I any second closer to trigger such an intervention. The equipment on my colleagues is for their protection, because those bottles that flew there can be bottles or other objects that can injure the gendarmes. And then we have to protect our colleagues," Alexandru Iacob told Digi 24 private broadcaster.

Dozens of people protested in Piata Victoriei even after the entry into force of a 22:00hrs curfew.

Protesters threw firecrackers and bottles at law enforcement, shouting slogans such as: "Jos Guvernul!" (Down with the Government!); "Libertate!" (Freedom!); and "Jos masca!" (Discard the mask!)

They were also carrying the Romanian flag and using vuvuzelas. Most did not wear masks.
There's an acute shortage of medical oxygen in hospitals across the country due to a surge in infections occasioned by the third wave of Covid-19.

Despite the dire situation, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe Monday lamented that some people were 'hoarding' 20,000 oxygen cylinders in private facilities, homes and institutions when they are desperately needed in public hospitals to save lives.

"The major arsenal in the fight against Covid-19 during hospitalisation is oxygen but at the moment we are slowly coming to a point where supplies are being threatened," said Mr Kagwe after meeting oxygen manufacturers and suppliers at Afya House in Nairobi.

The CS ordered the immediate release of the cylinders to aid in the battle against the pandemic as the number of patients in need of critical care keep rising daily. Besides people holding onto cylinders, oxygen plants and concentrators are in a state of disrepair, he added.

Oxygen needs have more than doubled in the country within a year of the pandemic yet public health facilities are only at 16 per cent capacity.

On Monday, there were 137 patients at the Intensive Care Unit, with 36 on ventilator support and 91 on supplemental oxygen. Another 90 were reported to be separately on oxygen, 12 in the High Dependency Unit and 78 in the general wards.

The ministry announced 902 new cases with a positivity rate of 26.6 per cent, the highest so far. Some 1,270 patients were admitted in various hospitals, 18 deaths were registered, bringing to 2,135 the total number of deaths in the country.

Oxygen needs shoot

Gas cylinders are expensive and in short supply, with one costing up to Sh40, 000, making it hard for the industry players to replace them in time to supply to the market.

The oxygen needs shot from 410 tonnes (total production and requirements) last year to 560 tonnes in January.

"We are now heading for a demand of 880 tonnes. The situation is such that the industry is stretched; if we go further than that, some other steps will have to be taken," said Mr Kagwe. "It is an offence to hoard the cylinders when we have asked for them under the Public Health Act. Please return these cylinders. There are a lot of facilities with idle cylinders when people are dying because of lack of oxygen," he added.

While supply has been a challenge, many hospitals do not have piped oxygen, leading to individual cylinders being used per patient, which reduces efficiency.

"One cylinder can be used by a number of patients if the oxygen has been piped to the bed side. We are therefore asking our facilities fast-track the piping of oxygen to bed outlets so that we can be able to use some of those cylinders in the industry and refill others," said Mr Kagwe.

Some of the 75 oxygen plants in the country are in a state of disrepair while around 20,000 concentrators need to be serviced for hospital use and home-based care.

Mr Kagwe said the ministry is working with the Treasury to increase oxygen cylinder supply by reducing some taxes. Through the Poisons and Pharmacy Board (PPB), the ministry will fast-track the certification of oxygen suppliers to increase capacity.

The ministry is also mulling a lease policy rather than purchase of the plants. "We are looking at the possibilities of leasing oxygen plants because of challenges emanating from maintenance of the plants," said Mr Kagwe.

Through the World Bank, the ministry is setting up six new plants in various regions. Last August, when the country was recording more cases, the ministry pumped Sh1.2 billion towards the purchase of piped oxygen from the Sh5 billion it had received from the bank to fight the pandemic. The money had been allocated for the renovation of isolation centres.

Phased purchases

Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache said the purchase of oxygen was going to be done in phases, with the first round focusing on 10 high risk counties, including Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu, Mombasa, Nakuru, Migori, Uasin Gishu, Kilifi and Busia.

"We are now focusing on saving lives by allocating more money on oxygen because that is where we are being hit a lot. Kenyans have started experiencing a more severe form of Covid-19 and more people are being admitted in ICUs across the country," Ms Mochache said at the time.

The Nation sought clarification on the status of the project but several calls made to the PS's office went unanswered. But a source at the Council of Governors said no money was released for such a project.

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"I don't know whether the money was to be released to the said counties or the national government was to pipe the hospitals, as it is, we have not received any money and no project of such kind has kicked off in any of the counties," said an official who sought anonymity.

At the same time, biomedical engineers have decried the low supply of oxygen in hospitals.

"Engineers have resorted to pushing heavy cylinders to various wards and isolation centers to save lives, a situation that puts not only their lives in danger but also patients and relatives," said Engineer Millicent Alooh, Secretary-General Association of Medical Engineering of Kenya in a different forum.

She said the government should regulate the pricing of oxygen and if possible waive duty on equipment.

"It is important that all hospitals be equipped with oxygen gauges, flow meters, humidifier bottles and oxygen cylinder trolleys to be able to safely use the portable oxygen," said Ms Alooh.

Additional reporting by Hellen Shikanda
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Indian authorities have blocked bank accounts of in the country for alleged tax evasion and the company has asked a court to quash the directive which it fears will hit its operations hard, two sources with direct knowledge told Reuters.

in January cut its India workforce after New Delhi decided to retain a ban on its popular video app TikTok, first prohibited last year following a border clash between India and has repeatedly criticized India's move and said it suspected it was against WTO rules.

still has around 1,300 employees in India, most of whom service its overseas operations, including work on activities such as content moderation.

In mid-March, two of ByteDance India's bank accounts in Citibank and HSBC were ordered blocked by authorities for alleged evasion of certain taxes in online advertising dealings between the ByteDance unit in India and its parent entity in Singapore, Pte Ltd, the two sources said.

Other than the two accounts, the authorities also directed Citibank and HSBC to not allow ByteDance India to withdraw funds from any other bank accounts linked to its tax identification number, the first source said.

In a court filing which is due to be heard soon at a High Court in the financial capital Mumbai - ByteDance India has argued that while it had only about $10 million in its accounts, the blocking decision was an abuse of the legal process and will make it hard for it to pay salaries and taxes, the source added.

Both the sources declined to be identified as the details of the bank freeze or company's court challenge were not public.

ByteDance India, as well as HSBC, Citibank and India's finance ministry, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The app ban - part of dozens of other Chinese apps which were banned last year - in what India said was in interests of security and sovereignty. The move was widely seen as India's broader pushback against Chinese businesses after clashes at a disputed Himalayan border site left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

The directive to freeze ByteDance India's bank accounts came after tax authorities last year inspected documents at the company's office, scrutinized documents and questioned some executives in relation to the advertising and other transactions with its parent entity, the first source said.

In its court document, which the source was privy to, ByteDance India has argued that its entire business had come to a standstill because of the bank freeze and that such an action violates its rights "to carry free trade and business".

"The company was already struggling with the India ban. This can hit employee salaries, vendor payments," the second source said.

had come under scrutiny around the world. During former U.S. president Donald Trump's administration, which alleged that the app posed security concerns as personal data of U.S. users could be obtained by China's government, an allegation the company denied.

U.S. President Joe Biden's new administration has paused a government lawsuit that could have resulted in a de facto ban on TikTok's use in the United States.

(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.)
Although the Biden administration directed states to open up vaccine eligibility to all adults by May 1, at the current pace, the entire population might not be vaccinated until August  and that assumes all pledges of supply are met, and children eventually qualify for vaccines, according to a New York Times analysis.

Adding to the complexity is the fact that even if every adult in a home gets vaccinated, any young children will likely not be for some time; while in New York, people 16 and older will become eligible on April 6, vaccine trials for young children have only just begun.

Until then, some who were the first in their families to be vaccinated are finding that the shots come freighted with new responsibilities: shopping for groceries, going to the laundromat, visiting the sick.

Just-released data shows the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines provide strong protection against infections, easing fears that vaccinated people could pass on the virus to others. But the data is new, and the vaccinated have spent months wondering whether their newfound freedoms, like trips to the movie theater or dinner with friends, could bring the virus home to loved ones.

These are all layers that just weigh heavy on everybody, and can sometimes cause more anxiety and tension and depression, said George James, a therapist with the Council for Relationships, a Philadelphia-based mental health center that focuses on couples and families. But one possible plus of the past tumultuous year, he said, was that families may now be better equipped to navigate this new twist.

That doesnt mean that families arent in crisis or overwhelmed or at their breaking point, Dr. James said. But if I was to look at it as a whole, I think there has been more strength and resiliency and ability to say, OK, we figured this out, we can figure this next thing out.

Ashraya Gupta, 34, was vaccinated because she teaches high school science, and teachers were made eligible for the vaccine in January. She now has the pleasure of planning vacations, weekends away with friends and movie theater outings. But life for her as-yet-unvaccinated partner, Colin Kinniburgh, 30  a freelance journalist, with whom she lives in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn  is largely unchanged from the year of lockdown.
An app that puts critical user information in the hands of healthcare professionals to ensure they harness the power of STIMULAN and genex in their surgical procedures

KEELE, United Kingdom, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Biocomposites, an international medical device company that engineers, manufactures and markets world leading products for use in infection management in bone and soft tissue, today announces the launch of Biocomposites Companion, one of the first of a new generation of user apps, designed to help surgeons and their support staff make the most of its products, STIMULAN and genex at the point of use in a surgical procedure.

The current coronavirus pandemic has affected many aspects of clinical practice highlighting the need for hospitals, surgeons and their sales representatives to adapt. Biocomposites Companion app ensures all STIMULAN and genex users have access to important information on demand as they develop and execute their patient specific infection management strategies.

Michael Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Biocomposites, said: "The number of surgeons we serve at Biocomposites is growing rapidly around the world, and the impact of COVID-19 on clinical practice has made it difficult for our sales representatives to be present in the operating room, and provide guidance to the surgeon during a procedure. To alleviate these pressures and maintain our unrivalled levels of support, the Biocomposites Companion app puts product preparation information, setting times and tips directly into the hands of the operating room staff. We are passionate about driving improved outcomes for surgeons and patients alike and the launch of the app is another step forward in that endeavour."

Paige Bailey, Operating Room Manager, St. Mary's Hospital, Camrose, Alberta, Canada said: "The Companion app helps us to provide safe and high-quality patient care. It enables any staff member to find valuable Biocomposites information quickly - pre-op or intra-op - and provide just-in-time teaching, OR efficiency and excellent patient centered outcomes."

Mr Abhijit Bhosale, Consultant Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeon, Barnsley Hospital, Barnsley, UK added: "I think the Companion app is really easy to use and has all the info I need. It is a great help before my surgeries to refresh my memory about the products. What I like most are the preparation videos, antibiotic setting times and the top tips - which are always important."

Biocomposites Companion can be downloaded for free from theApp Store and Play Store

About Biocomposites

Biocomposites is an international medical device company that engineers, manufactures and markets world leading products for use in infection management in bone and soft tissue. Based in Keele, UK, it has global operations across Europe, USA, Canada, China and India. Biocomposites is a world leader in the development of innovative calcium compounds for surgical use. Its products target a broad spectrum of infection risks across a variety of specialities, including musculoskeletal infection, orthopaedics, trauma, spine, foot and ankle and podiatry. Biocomposites products are now used in over 100,000 procedures per annum and sold in more than 40 countries around the world. Please visit biocomposites.com to learn more.
New Delhi, March 30: Germanys willingness to go ahead with Russias Sputnik V vaccine comes as a major step forward in the worlds war against the deadly coronavirus that jumped species to inflict death and suffering on humankind. At a time when there is an acute shortage of vaccines, geopolitics cannot be used to deny vast populations a proven vaccine needed to save lives and livelihoods.

As many as five Indian pharmaceutical firms including Dr Reddy's Labs have also signed agreements with Russia to roll out Sputnik V, which will go a long way in bridging the current deficit in vaccines worldwide and speeding up the inoculation drive against the relentless surge in Covid-19 cases. India as the largest vaccine maker in the world has already supplied 76 countries with shots of the two vaccines that it is currently producing-- AstraZeneca-Oxford and Bharat Bitoech's homegrown Covaxin. The tie-up with Russia will help to step up this effort and meet the huge demand.

The German government said on Friday that it would be open to using the Russian-made Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine once it had been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel herself directly referred to Sputnik jabs and said Germany "should use any vaccine that has been approved" by the EMA.

A spokesman for Germany's health ministry echoed the same sentiment on Friday, saying that "all vaccines are welcome if they have been approved by the EMA".

The EMA this month launched a rolling review of Sputnik V, in a key step required for its approval as the first non-Western coronavirus vaccine to be used across the 27-nation bloc.

"This is a good vaccine that will probably also be approved in the EU at some point. The Russian researchers are very experienced with vaccines. Sputnik V is cleverly built," Thomas Mertens, head of Germany's vaccine commission Stiko, told the Rheinische Post on Tuesday.

However, Sputnik has faced criticism in Western countries, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Drian has accused both Russia and China on Friday of using their vaccines to gain influence abroad.

"In terms of how it is managed, it (the Sputnik V vaccine) is more a means of propaganda and aggressive diplomacy than a means of solidarity and health aid," Le Drian told France Info radio.

Moscow hit back with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying : "We absolutely disagree with the fact that Russia and China are using the coronavirus pandemic and vaccines as tools of influence." Russia registered Sputnik V in August, ahead of large-scale clinical trials, which had raised concerns among many experts over the fast-track process.

However, later reviews have shown the vaccine to be both safe and effective in preventing Covid-19. Over 3.5 million people in Russia have already received both doses of the Sputnik V vaccine.

Leading British medical journal The Lancet announced on Tuesday that the Sputnik jab was 91.6 per cent effective against symptomatic Covid-19 cases, which laid to rest much of the international scepticism.

The green signal from Germany also comes at a time when Europe has fallen behind in its inoculation drive and there is a major controversy raging on the issue with EU blaming Britain for the shortfall in supplies of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine. The 27-nation bloc has accused Britain of cornering most of the shots in what is being termed as "vaccine nationalism." The EU has also recently temporarily suspended the use of the vaccine saying that it was not safe and resumed only after the EMA gave the go-ahead for the shots. The move was also attributed to political reasons in the wake of the strained ties between the EU and Britain.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The company also ended fiscal 2020 with $16.5 million in working capital as of November 30

Namaste said sales through its CannMarts distribution channels made an important contribution to its record results

( ) ( ) (FRA:M5BQ) reported 4Q net revenue climbed 85% year-over-year to a record C$7.2 million, which the company attributed primarily to an increase in cannabis product sales.

Namaste noted it ended fiscal 2020 with $16.5 million in working capital as of November 30, after closing a $23 million bought deal offering before the years end.

We are pleased with the progress made by the team to achieve the highest recorded quarterly revenue for the company to date, Namaste Technologies CEO Meni Morim said in a statement.

We achieved significant year-over-year growth of revenue as cannabis sales through CannMarts distribution channels made an important contribution to the revenue stream, Morim added.

The company is in a strong financial position today, made possible from the considerable work undertaken in 2020 to lay the foundation for long term growth as Namaste continues its evolution to be the worlds foremost personalized wellness marketplace.

Namaste also saw its net loss for the quarter narrow to $6.4 million from $29.7 million a year earlier.

For fiscal 2020, the companys net revenue increased 54% to $25.1 million, while its net loss for the year improved to $26.4 million from $63.2 million during 2019.

Namaste also outlined some highlights for 2020, including:

Launching CannMart.com into the US while offering Americans hemp-derived CBD and smoking accessories;

Announcing the addition of leading licensed producers to the CannMart.com platform: Auxly Cannabis Group, Hexo Corp and The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings (TGOD);

Receiving a standard processing licence from Health Canada for CannMart Labs Inc, its state-of-the-art BHO extraction facility; and

Announcing expansion to broaden its total addressable market and to evolve into a pre-eminent wellness company, connecting consumers to their wellness needs of tomorrow.

Namaste Technologies is a cannabis-focused, e-commerce technology company with a goal of becoming the one-stop-shop for everything a cannabis user needs.

The Toronto-based company, which has been described as the Amazon of cannabis, operates the largest global cannabis e-commerce platform with over 30 websites in more than 20 countries under a variety of brands.

In addition to its product offerings of vaporizers, glassware, accessories, and CBD products, the company's CannMart Inc, is a key part of its operations that sells online medical and recreational cannabis.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
Chennai, March 30 : India and Mumbai Indians pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has returned from his wedding break and joined the Mumbai Indians camp.

The 27-year-old pace bowler is undergoing quarantine since he wasn't part of the Indian team in the recent two white-ball series against England and therefore didn't qualify for the bubble-to-bubble transfer that exempts players from quarantine.

On Tuesday, the right-arm pace bowler, who picked 27 wickets in 15 games to end as the second highest wicket-taker in IPL 2020, posted a video of himself doing workout in his hotel room.

"Quarantining and getting those reps [emoticon: hundred points]," the bowler wrote on his twitter handle while posting his 26-second video that shows him lifting weights as well as dumb-bells.

Bumrah played a key role in Mumbai Indians' fifth title win last season and then travelled with the Indian team to Australia.

He took 11 wickets in the first three Tests there, missing the last match in Brisbane. Prior to that, he had played all the three matches in the ODI series in Australia, picking four wickets.

On England's tour of India, Bumrah took four wickets in the first Test. He was rested for the second Test which was played on a rank turner. In the third Test, played with the pink ball, he didn't get to bowl much and did not take a wicket.

Bumrah then missed the fourth and final Test as well as the two white-ball series.

Latest updates on IPL 2021

The Telegraph

Lord Ashcroft's son's partner is getting special treatment and should have been charged with murder, her alleged victims sister has claimed. Jasmine Hartin has been accused of shooting a police officer after she was found near the body of Superintendent Henry Jemmott in San Pedro on the eastern coast of Belize on Friday, police said. But Ms Hartin, who has two children with Andrew Ashcroft, whose father was deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, has said the incident was an accident. The
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka.

Friday, March 26

11:57 p.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Lincoln Township.

9:32 p.m.  Deputies responded to a Homer Township residence after a 69-year-old woman made possible suicidal statements to her therapist. Deputies spoke with the woman, who disclosed that she was feeling suicidal. The woman was transported to the ER for a voluntary mental health evaluation.

9:14 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Geneva Township residence regarding a 38-year-old woman who noticing that deceased deer parts were being dumped on her property. The woman believed a neighbor was dumping the animal parts on her property in retaliation for her dogs running at large onto neighboring properties. The complainant did not wish for deputies to make contact with any of her neighbors, due to fears it would escalate the situation. She installed cameras around the residence and requested a report to document the incident.

8:37 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a car-deer crash that occurred on an Ingersoll Township roadway.

1:21 p.m.  A 44-year-old Homer Township man reported an unknown suspect opened a savings account in his name. The man is not out any money and has taken steps to freeze his credit.

5:48 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Warren Township residence regarding a suspicious black pickup truck which drove into the complainant's driveway and parked with the headlights turned off. Deputies located the vehicle parked in the complainant's driveway, and found it was occupied by a 32-year-old male subject who was asleep behind the wheel. The subject was arrested on a criminal bench warrant out of Wayne County. The subject's driver's license was also revoked.

(Photo : Screenshot From Pexels Official Website) Mafia Fugitive Caught After Making an Italian Cooking Channel on YouTube: Hiding in the Caribbean

Authorities have finally been able to track down and ultimately arrest a former member of the Italian mob, the 53-year-old Marc Feren Claude Biart, somewhere in the Dominican Republic. The arrest was made thanks to the help of YouTube as the mobster uploaded cooking videos showing his unmistakable tattoos.

Mafia fugitive in hiding

Biart was known to be part of the Cacciola clan of the Ndrangheta, which is a Mafia-like organized crime syndicate that is centered outside of Italy's official Calabria region. The group was reported to be the most powerful group ahead of the Cosa Nostra from Sicily and Camorra from Campania.

According to the story by Gizmodo, Biart was able to elude capture back in 2014 when his arrest was ordered over an alleged cocaine trafficking operation that he was tied to in the Netherlands. The former mafia was able to make it to the Dominican Republic and lay low. The Calabria News reported that police said that Biart as well as his spouse were actually considered as foreigners by some of the other Italian expats located in the region.

Tattoos identified in YouTube cooking channel

Biart himself was technically a "ghost" only known as Marc. The duo's joining YouTube channel was initially dedicated to their mutual love of authentic Italian cooking and was far from being kept a secret. Authorities even noted that Biart made sure to leave out his face from the YouTube videos but his tattoos were still spotted. A video clip of him showed only his back and his face is hard to find online. The video can be seen on You News on YouTube.

Other mobsters have already gone down which include mobsters like Francesco Pelle who was found in Portugal on Monday. Pelle was able to live 14 years on the run and was even caught in the feud between both the Nirta-Strangio and Pelle-Romeo gangs. Back in 2007, the gangs culminated in the mass killing of six different men located outside an Italian restaurant that was located in Duisberg, a western German city.

Read Also: Amazon Drivers Forced to Use Biometric Monitoring or Else Lose Their Jobs: Cameras to Monitor Fatigue and Unsafe Driving

Social media for tracking criminals

It was also reported that the authorities accused Pelle of a particular failed assassination plot directly against the rival boss known as Giovanni Nirta which resulted on Maria Strangio, Nirta's spouse, killed while four others were injured. It isn't really the first time that criminals were caught via social media.

In the UK, an auto theft gang was busted back in 2019 for posting certain photos of stolen cars on social media. In 2013, a Mexican drug lord was actually arrested partly due to his tweets showing photos of firearms, a tiger that was kept as a pet, and even his personal private jet. The recent arrest of Marc, however, shows how keen the authorities were able to identify his tattoo with those that they already have on record. Despite being a small detail, the effectiveness of the tattoo identification ultimately led to his arrest.

Related Article: Woman Allegedly Manipulated Daughter's Rivals' Faces with 'Deepfake' AI to Kick Them Off Cheerleading Squad

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Urian Buenconsejo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Blockstream Mining facilities in Georgia, USA By expanding investor participation in Bitcoin's proof-of-work, the BMN also strengthens Bitcoin's security and censorship resistance. It's a win-win.

Leading Bitcoin infrastructure firm Blockstream announced today the issuance of an all-new Liquid security token, the Blockstream Mining Note (BMN), on STOKR. As an EU-compliant security token, the BMN offers investors an alternative investment opportunity to gain exposure to Bitcoin mining.

Each BMN token entitles investors to hashrate produced by Bitcoin miners at Blockstream's colocation facilities around the globe. Through live performance reporting and tight on-site security, Blockstream is the only mining colocation provider that can meet the largest financial institutions' requirements worldwide.

"The BMN leverages our extensive experience in the Bitcoin mining space and offers investors up-front, fixed rates with improved tradability," explained Dr. Adam Back, CEO at Blockstream. "By expanding investor participation in Bitcoin's proof-of-work, the BMN also strengthens Bitcoin's security and censorship resistance. It's a win-win."

The BMN allows investors to mitigate risk beyond the scope of a traditional investment in physical mining infrastructure by more easily adjusting their exposure to Bitcoin mining by packaging mining in a tradable token (subject to market liquidity).

STOKR, the EUs pioneering digital investment marketplace for alternative assets, will host the BMN security token offering, issuing the tokens in successive fungible tranches. The first tranche is confirmed to go on sale on April 7th, 2021, for a sum of at least 12.5 million with a 36-month term. The offering is open to non-US qualified investors with a minimum investment of 200,000, or the equivalent in Bitcoin (BTC), Liquid Bitcoin (L-BTC), or Tether (USDt). BMN mining operations are estimated to begin by the end of 2021Q2. Subsequent tranches will be issued from mid 2021Q3 on a monthly basis for the following 12 months.

"Blockstream is a leader in Bitcoin protocol and infrastructure development and has been a driving force in the Bitcoin mining ecosystem, said Arnab Naskar, co-founder of STOKR. At STOKR, were proud to empower investors in various countries to actively support Blockstreams efforts and take part in its Bitcoin mining activities."

To gain access to the BMN security token offering and for regular updates, eligible investors can register at https://stokr.io/blockstream-mining.

About Blockstream

Blockstream is the global leader in Bitcoin and blockchain infrastructure. Blockstreams sidechain technology (Liquid Network) enables faster Bitcoin settlements while empowering financial institutions to tokenize assets. Blockstream Mining provides enterprise-class mining facilities for the colocation of Bitcoin mining operations. The Cryptocurrency Data Feed, developed in partnership with Intercontinental Exchange, delivers best-in-class real-time and historical exchange data. Blockstream Green is the worlds most advanced consumer Bitcoin wallet. Blockstream was founded in 2014, with offices and team members distributed around the world.

About STOKR

STOKR is the EUs pioneering digital investment marketplace for alternative assets, where smart investors connect with and fund innovative businesses. STOKR liberates the access to high-profile investment opportunities from the inner circle of traditional venture capital. Through EU-compliant security token offerings (STOs), STOKR empowers professional and retail investors alike to directly engage with young and growing ventures in a simplified and risk-reduced environment, without the need for middlemen such as custodians or brokers. Operating out of Luxembourg, STOKR fosters a community of educated investors who participate in the future success of a diverse range of ventures through profit- or revenue-sharing rights.

A proposed international treaty on pandemics could be advanced at the World Health Organization (WHO) annual ministerial meeting in May, chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Speaking to reporters on March 30, the director-general reckoned that the possible pact could help bridge the gaps brought to light by the coronavirus pandemic and facilitate the implementation of international health regulations. Additionally, it could also provide a framework for cooperation in pandemic prevention and response.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Ghebreyesus has repeatedly called for solidarity and international cooperation. Not only has he called for unanimous action on vaccine distribution but also on measures to curb the spread of respiratory infection. Just last week, the top scientist had urged rich countries to donate 10 million vaccine doses to facilitate equitable distribution of doses.

"The treaty, which could be taken forward by the World Health Assembly, would be based on the WHO constitution including the principles of health for all and no discrimination," Tedros, adding that it was for WHO member states to determine the content and whether it was ratified.

World leaders call for international treaty

Ghebreyesuss statement comes as several world leaders called for an international treaty on pandemic preparedness and response stressing that nobody is safe until everybody is safe. The plea has also got the backing of the media across borders. Initially, the idea of such a treaty was proposed by EU leader Charles Michel last November, however, on March 30, it was echoed by leaders of 24 nations. The countries which formally backed an international treaty included Fiji, Portugal, Romania, Britain, Rwanda, Kenya, France, Germany, Greece, Korea, Chile, Costa Rica, Albania, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the Netherlands, Tunisia, Senegal, Spain, Norway, Serbia, Indonesia, Ukraine. Both US and China were absent from the appeal.

We are convinced that it is our responsibility, as leaders of nations and international institutions, to ensure that the world learns the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors wrote in a commentary that was published in the Daily Telegraph, Le Monde, El Pais and other publications across the world.

Image Credits: AP/UNSPLASH
Stung by the loss of two senior officials to Covid-19, the Nakuru County government will close some of its offices for 30 days as part of efforts to combat the virus.

Governor Lee Kinyanjui's announcement of the move came amid an alarming surge of new infections and deaths.

"In a bid to mitigate, monitor and prevent [more] Covid-19 infections and the severity of the third wave, the county government of Nakuru will close its non-core offices for 30 days effective March 29," said Mr Kinyanjui.

He added that the decision was reached after the county lost two senior officials to the disease.

The first was his Deputy Director of Political Affairs, Wilfred Chebochok, who died on March 16 while the second was Public Health chief officer Samuel King'ori, who died from Covid-19 complications at the Aga Khan Hospital's Intensive Care Unit. The two have since been laid to rest.

The governor said the county will only offer essential services including healthcare, water, disaster management and general cleaning. The revenue collection, finance and procurement offices will also remain open.

However, Mr Kinyanjui directed staff in these offices to restrict visits and said procurement services will be handled virtually.

"The well-being of our workers is key, therefore all necessary measures will be instituted to protect them and their families. Staff members in the affected offices will work from home, in strict compliance with Covid-19 protocols," added the county boss.

Residents' reactions

The closure of the offices elicited mixed reactions from locals, some saying it will disrupt services and hinder development.

"It is punitive and will derail county projects and hamper provision of services to residents. The county should introduce containment measures to combat Covid-19," said Mr Jesse Karanja, chairman of People's Power Watch group.

George Muiru lauded the move, saying it will help protect county employees from the virus.

"It is a necessary to contain the virus, as long as the country continues offering essential services."

Increased cases

Nakuru County Health executive, Dr Gichuki Kariuki, has sounded the alarm following the rapid increase of Covid-19 infections and deaths in the region.

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Dr Gichuki urged those with symptoms or who have been in close contact with patients to immediately contact the county surveillance team for action.

"I urge all residents to take personal responsibility and continue observing Ministry of Health guidelines. The only way we can tame the spread of the third wave of the virus is through adherence to containment measures put in place by the government, "he said.

The Covid-19 cases in Nakuru have been rising steadily with the number of patients in need of critical care jumping from 14 to 104 in one week.

The county has recorded 6,458 positive cases, including 158 deaths, since the outbreak of the disease in the country last March.

At least 20 people have succumbed to Covid-19 in the past one week in Nakuru, which reported 41 new infections in the past 24 hours.

Some 2,719 health care workers, 433 security officers and 442 teachers, and 1,143 other members of the public have been vaccinated against the disease.
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The Irish National Teachers Organisation has expressed their concerns about potential changes to the Governments National Vaccination Programme.

The INTO has responded to reports that the vaccination programme is to be changed to an age-based system, once those aged 70 years and older, the vulnerable and people with underlying conditions are immunised.

This proposed change which is being recommended by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee would mean that teachers and workers in essential jobs who cant avoid exposure to Covid-19 will not be vaccinated as priority groups.

The INTO released the following statement today in relation to the proposed change: Such a change would abandon carefully considered priority groups who are working on the frontline. There has been zero consultation or notification of this drastic change which is certain to affect our members confidence about safety at work.

It is essential that teachers and all key workers should continue to be prioritised once vulnerable people and the elderly are vaccinated."

"INTO will be seeking an emergency meeting with the Department of Education to protest strongly against any downgrading of our profession on the vaccination list.

INTO General Secretary John Boyle said the move undermines the efforts of our education staff:

For months now we have heard the government say, time after time, that education is the top priority for the government. How then can teachers be treated with such blatant disregard as frontline education workers? This move undermines the efforts of our education staff to keep our primary and special schools open safely.

This is unacceptable and the Government must prioritise the safety of teachers and all key workers once the vulnerable and elderly are first protected by vaccination, he said.
The details of more than 100,000 citizens was stolen. Photo: Shutterstock

Digital government agency Service NSW ignored the risks that led to a serious cyber security attack and the theft of over 100,000 individuals personal information, a parliamentary committee has concluded as a formal investigation into the breach excoriated the agencys slow and inadequate response.

A months-long investigation concluded that the shocking incident was enabled by practices and systems within Service NSW that did not accord with best practice cyber security measures, committee chair the Hon Tara Moriarty MLC noted as the findings were handed down.

Compounding this incident, Service NSW was aware of the risks that led to the attack some 12 months earlier but had not acted sufficiently to address them.

State cyber security agency Cyber Security NSW admitted in January that the NSW Governments maturity is low when it comes to cyber security, arguing that a slew of security-related activities were helping to adapt to the evolving cyber security threat landscape and focus on building the right foundations now.

Noting that increasingly digital government services meant the amount of data being stored, accessed and shared online is at an all-time high, Moriarty said, the state government needs to be doing more in the cyber security space to protect citizens and their personal information.

Proactive, robust and resilient cyber security measures are critical now more than ever.... Failing to get cyber security right not only puts citizens at risk, but it undermines trust in government and negatively impacts the states economy and business community.

The breach of Service NSW systems last April saw 47 staff email accounts hacked, allowing cybercriminals to access five million internal documents.

Despite the creation of a hypercare team last September to speed the governments management of the breach, as of February, at least 20,000 people were still unware their personal data had been compromised.

Calling for a holistic approach to cyber security practices across NSW, the committees recommendations include strengthening the NSW Government Cyber Security policy, enhancing the role and mandate of Cyber Security NSW, and improving cyber security education for public officials and cyber security professionals.

The committee also recommended changes including mandating the currently-voluntary notification of data breaches, improvements to sovereign cyber security capability and clearer requirements for government cyber security standards.

Such standards are already in the works, with a Standards Australia taskforce last year partnering with AustCyber and the NSW Government to develop consistent cyber security standards for Australian industries.

A rising tide lifts all boats

The damning findings come amidst growing scrutiny on government cyber security, particularly in the wake of an apparent clumsy attack on Parliamentary email systems over the weekend and reports that Services Australia  the federal government body modelled on Service NSW  referred 20 security incidents to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) during 2019 alone.

Despite these compromises, last week the Australian Electoral Commissioner said the agency would not welcome an audit of its incredibly robust systems.

Yet new research, conducted by Tech Research Asia for security firm Sophos, suggests that the systemic deficiencies identified in the Service NSW review reflect a broader immaturity in cyber security.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given that just 18 per cent of respondents classified themselves as having an optimised cyber security maturity level, some 52 per cent of Australian organisations reported suffering a data breach last year  up from 36 per cent in 2019.

Some 69 per cent of companies rating their loss of data as serious or very serious  yet despite this surging cyber security threat, respondents said their biggest problem was executives perception that cyber security is easy, and that the threats facing organisations are exaggerated.

Given that 68 per cent of respondents said their data breaches had taken longer than a week to resolve, this disturbing perception needs to be tackled head on, Sophos global solutions engineer Aaron Bugal said, calling it confounding that such complacency could continue despite the growing list of high-profile cyber-criminal attacks this year.

If that wasnt enough, the more recent zero-day vulnerabilities in widely deployed email platforms demonstrates the desperate need for unification when it comes to cyber resilience, he said.

Everybody needs to play a part  and to play a part, we all need to understand the risk.
- Blis' new privacy-first product suite will enable clients to deliver key business outcomes

- By combining rich location insight with other real-world and online data, Blis will deliver new way of targeting that changes the way it plans and buys media

LONDON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Blis , the pioneer of privacy-first location-powered advertising, announces the launch of its new product suite, which will enable the world's largest brands and agencies to target their customers at scale in the post-cookie world and still achieve key outcomes.

As the industry pivots away from targeting based on IDs and personal data, brands need to find new ways to drive key business outcomes through personalised and high-performing digital advertising. Indeed recent research* has revealed that 78% of senior marketers are concerned or very concerned by the loss of cookies, whilst 61% feel the same about the disappearance of IDFAs. When questioned about what concerned them the most, 37% cited that it was a combination of factors including, the ability to effectively plan intelligent campaign strategies, run targeted and personalised campaigns at scale and effectively measure campaign performance.

Blis is tackling this challenge head on by leveraging its prowess in the location-based advertising space. It will now combine location data with hundreds of aggregated and anonymised behavioural and lifestyle signals, building a more complete picture of a brand's customers, to reach them at scale in a privacy-first way.

Blis' new suite of privacy-first products

Launching in key global markets, Audience Explorer is a visual, interactive tool that enables brands to discover what makes their customers' unique, build richer media plans and deliver better outcomes. Audience Explorer is powered by precise and directly-observed location behaviours from Blis' huge global opted-in panel. Armed with this deep customer understanding, Blis will then use it's new Dynamic Audience Targeting to reach personalised audiences at scale, using a variety of rich, anonymised signals, from lifestyle characteristics and affinities through to shopping and spending habits - all without reliance on personal data. These new offerings will enable the world's largest brands and media agencies to continue to deliver key campaign outcomes through personalised and scalable targeting, despite the reduction of IDFAs and the death of the cookie.

Greg Isbister, CEO, Blis comments "Our industry is at a major inflection point, with significant changes impacting every single part of digital advertising as we know it today.

"We have been investing heavily in technology to address the requirements of advertisers to reach consumers at scale while not having to rely on personal identifiers, such as third party cookies or mobile device identifiers. This new technology will fundamentally change the way our clients plan, buy and target personalised audiences at scale to deliver against their key outcomes."

Blis client,Sophie Strong, Head of Display and Social, Wavemaker adds "We always want to work with partners like Blis who help us proactively navigate key industry topics. Blis' new privacy-first targeting methodology provides a truly innovative solution to a pressing challenge."

*Blis client survey, with 109 respondents, conducted in February 2021.

Note: Audience Explorer and Dynamic Audience Targeting are launching in the US, UK and Australia. They will launch in Italy, Singapore and the Netherlands in the coming months.

About Blis

Blis is the leading privacy-first, location-powered programmatic advertising partner. We deliver accurate targeting at scale without reliance on personal data, helping the world's largest brands and media agencies drive key business outcomes through personalised and high-performing digital advertising.

Blis uses real-world and online data, as well as behaviour and lifestyle indicators, to profile and understand audiences better than anyone else. Using a huge opted-in global planning and measurement panel and taking an aggregated and anonymous approach to audience targeting, Blis reaches precise audiences at scale without reliance on personal data.

Established in the UK in 2004, Blis now operates in more than 40 offices across five continents. Working with the world's largest and most customer-driven companies across all verticals including Unilever, Samsung, McDonald's, HSBC, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot, as well as every major media agency, Blis reaches over a billion mobile devices a year.

To learn more, visit blis.com .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1476351/Blis_Audience_Explorer_UK.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1229979/Blis_Logo.jpg
Elon Musk on Tuesday pledged to donate $30 million to the region in South Texas where his company is launching Starship prototypes.

On Twitter, he said $20 million will go to Cameron County schools and $10 million will go to revitalize downtown Brownsville.

"Please consider moving to Starbase or greater Brownsville/South Padre area in Texas & encourage friends to do so!," Musk, who founded SpaceX, said on Twitter. "SpaceXs hiring needs for engineers, technicians, builders & essential support personnel of all kinds are growing rapidly."

Related: Elon Musk seeks to create the city of Starbase in South Texas

SpaceX is developing and testing prototypes of its Starship spacecraft in Boca Chica, which is located outside of Brownsville in an unincorporated area of Cameron County.

Brownsville Mayor Trey Mendez said he was excited to hear about the proposed donation. The city has been investing in its historic downtown, and the donation pledged by Musk would help accelerate this work.

"We look forward to a discussion about how this could help our community prosper as we take a front seat to the next chapter of space exploration and innovation," Mendez said in a statement.

Boca Chica Village is a small community near the SpaceX launch site. SpaceX has purchased many of the properties, and former residents have moved elsewhere. There is disruption for those living there as SpaceX must evacuate residents when testing its Starship spacecraft, which the company hopes to one day pair with its Super Heavy rocket and launch people from South Texas to Mars.

Musk would like to incorporate Boca Chica Village into the city of Starbase.

To create a city, the area must have at least 201 inhabitants, Kellen Zale, associate professor at the University of Houston Law Center, previously told the Chronicle. Musk said Tuesday that he expects Starbase to grow by several thousand people over the next year or two.

The pledge to donate $30 million -- and plea for people to move to South Texas -- came after Starship SN11, standing for Serial No. 11, was destroyed during testing. It's the fourth high-altitude Starship test to explode and scatter debris across South Texas.
New Delhi: The death toll in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore terrorist attack has risen to three after another councillor succumbed to his injuries. Councillor Shamas Ud din Peer died at a Srinagar hospital.

On Monday (March 29, 2021), police personnel Shafat Nazir Khan and councillor Reyaz Ahmad had lost their lives in the terror incident. The wreath-laying ceremony of Shafqat and Riyaz was held at DPL Sopore, where CRPF DIG also paid his tributes.

Wreath Laying Ceremony of Martyred Police Personnel & Muncipal Councilor held at DPL Sopore, SPO Shafqat Nazir Khan & Muncipal Councilor Reyaz Ahmad Peer got martyred today in a militant attack at Sopore. Besides DIG CRPF NKR SP Sopore, CO 177, 179 CRPF also paid their tributes. pic.twitter.com/472oLM9BTw  Sopore Police (@SoporePolice) March 29, 2021

IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar-IPS had visited PD Sopore and inspected the scene of terror crime, following which, he chaired a security review meeting with Commander 5-Sector RR, DIG CRPF and SSP Sopore.

Police's preliminary investigation revealed that terrorists had fired indiscriminately upon the Municipal Councillors near Lone Building opposite SDH Sopore.

The preliminary investigation also indicates that a local terrorist Mudasir Pandit of proscribed terror outfit LeT along with a foreign terrorist are involved in the said attack.

"IGP Kashmir also took serious note of the poor and inappropriate retaliation by the PSOs of protected persons present on spot and directed SSP Sopore to put four PSOs under suspension," Police's statement said.

Meanwhile, cordon and search operation at various locations is going on to nab the assailants.


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Twenty-five world leaders have thrown their weight behind a proposal from European Council President Charles Michel to draw up a new international treaty on pandemic preparedness in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

Leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha signed an opinion piece along with Michel and World Health Organisation Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone, the piece, published on Tuesday in newspapers worldwide, read.

The article made the case for a new agreement anchored in the WHOs constitution that would improve global preparedness for pandemics and the ability to respond.

A treaty would provide a framework for international cooperation to immediately exchange information at the start of possible pandemics, and channel global resources for research into possible treatments and vaccines, Mr Michel said at a virtual press conference with Tedros on Tuesday.

The time to act is now. We must not allow the memories of this crisis to fade and go back to business as usual.

Mr Michel first put forward the idea in November, but has now won public support from heads of state or government from Indonesia, Kenya, Costa Rica, Tunisia and South Korea, among others.

However, notable omissions from the articles signatories include the U.S. and China.

Initial reaction among the 194 WHO member countries were positive, according to Mr Tedros, who said he hoped all would help take forward the debate on the initiative ahead of Mays World Health Assembly.

It was too soon to say whether the treaty could cover contentious issues such as intellectual property on vaccines or more equitable sharing of shots, he said.

(NAN)
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro talks to Minister of Foreign Affairs Ernesto Araujo during the Brazil Investment Forum in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Oct. 10, 2019. (Amanda Perobelli/Reuters)

Brazils Bolsonaro Shuffles Cabinet

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro made six Cabinet changes on Monday in the biggest ministerial reshuffle since he took office.

Three ministers left the government, including Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo, a China hawk whose departure followed mounting criticism from lawmakers of his failure to guarantee additional COVID-19 vaccine supplies from Beijing and Washington.

There had been no advance word of Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silvas exit or rumors of discontent.

During this time, I preserved the Armed Forces as institutions of state, Azevedo e Silva wrote in a ministry statement. I leave in the certainty of a mission accomplished.

In his place, Bolsonaro appointed his current chief of staff, Walter Souza Braga Netto, one of several former army generals who had moved into the governments inner orbit.

Another former general, Luiz Eduardo Ramos, will take over as chief of staff, leaving his Cabinet-level post handling legislative priorities to Flavia Arruda, a first-term lawmaker with ties to Bolsonaros new allies in Congress.

Outgoing Solicitor General Jose Levi Mello, whose signature was notably absent from a government request that the Supreme Court block state stay-at-home measures in the pandemic, said in a letter he would resign.

Bolsonaro will replace him with current Justice Minister Andre Mendonca, whose role goes to Anderson Gustavo Torres, a federal police officer currently in charge of public security for the Federal District, which includes the capital, Brasilia.

Carlos Alberto Franco Franca, a diplomat close to Bolsonaro, was named as the new foreign minister, according to a statement from the presidential press office outlining the changes.

Last week, Bolsonaro replaced Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello, an active-duty general who had overseen most of the coronavirus response. He was widely blamed for a patchy vaccine program that has given a first dose to fewer than 10 percent of adults.

New Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga told lawmakers on Monday he was hopeful of procuring U.S. vaccine supplies, and would be meeting with the U.S. ambassador in an effort to secure earlier delivery of 20 million doses.
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The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday inaugurated a Special Visitation Panel to look into issues relating to appointments and other issues in the Lagos State University (LASU).

The panel was raised following the controversy trailing the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor for the state-owned university.

The panel comprising former vice chancellors, seasoned administrators, technocrats and top public servants is headed by the Pro-Chancellor of the Ekiti State University and former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Bamitale Omole.

Other members of the Special Visitation Panel are; former Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Joseph Ajienka; a renowned University don, Ayo Olukotun; former Registrar of University of Ibadan, Olujimi Olukoya, former Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN) and a Level-17 Officer in the Office of the Special Adviser, Education, Funmilola Olajide, who will serve as the Secretary of the Visitation Panel.

Governor Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday also inaugurated 11 members of the Board of Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), chaired by a human rights activist and lawyer, Funmilola Falana, and 21 members Lagos State Market Advisory Council chaired by the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo.

Inauguration

Speaking at the inauguration of the Special Visitation Panel to LASU, Governor Sanwo-Olu urged members of the panel to discharge their responsibilities with fairness, firmness and forthrightness.

He said: I want to thank you because we know that you are donating your time and intellect for the State Government to be able to put a lasting solution to the current situation that we found ourselves in the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor for Lagos State University (LASU).

As enshrined in the laws setting up LASU, the procedures for the appointment of a Vice Chancellor are clearly stated there and as the Visitor, my responsibility is to ensure that fairness, firmness and forthrightness are emboldened in that process and become a process that is flawless.

We have been hit by barrage of complaints and unimaginable issues coming out from it. And by the power that has being reposed in me as the Visitor, I need to step in to ensure that we put LASU on the proper footing again and ensure that it takes its rightful place in the comity of universities.

This assignment will be time driven. There is an advert that has gone out and which the general public are meant to respond to. Timeline has been stipulated and for the panel to thereafter review whatever has been brought forward to them and be able to make decision and recommendation to me so that we can resolve the current impasse and we can appoint a substantive Vice Chancellor into our university.

Meanwhile, speaking during the inauguration of the Board of LASCOPA and Lagos State Market Advisory Council, Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that with Lagos State fast becoming the business hub of Africa, the inauguration of the two boards comes at an auspicious time when all hands must be on deck to maximise the gains of a rapidly growing economy in the state.

He tasked members of the Board of LASCOPA to urgently educate Lagosians on their rights as consumers, what constitutes a violation of those rights and the steps they need for the Board to seek redress on their behalf.
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Weve said before there are a lot of concurrent interests in any move to legalize recreational cannabis. After a year of unparalleled economic hardship in New Mexico, and years of debate and working groups, pot continues to bogart the legislative agenda, clouding the minds of the governor and some lawmakers who just finished a 60-day legislative session that minimized public input and frayed nerves.

Kudos to lawmakers decision to take cannabis off the table at the last minute of the regular session, clearing the way for passage of key bipartisan bills on topics such as redistricting and transparency that otherwise would have died when the clock struck noon March 20.

But cannabis did not stay off the table for long. Even though the most recent pot bills call for recreational cannabis sales to start March 2022 at the earliest, today lawmakers will regroup in special session. The Roundhouse remains barricaded and closed to the public, and a very limited number of folks can testify via Zoom. Its like a radio contest  you may be our lucky 50th caller and get heard!

The pie-in-the-sky revenue forecasts have been downsized by tens of millions. The 21-page bill by Rep. Javier Martinez was ground up with amendments, absent public-safety safeguards and so larded up with social justice provisions it couldnt be rolled across the finish line. To be successful, lawmakers need to streamline a bill focused on public safety and save the social justice concerns for 2022. Martinezs bill didnt kick in until next spring/summer, after all.

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If New Mexico is going down this road  and with more surrounding states legalizing pot it is likely the lauded revenue stream is simply shifted local dollars  it is imperative:

 Employers can maintain drug-free workplaces and abide by federal prohibitions if they work with the feds, who consider marijuana an illegal narcotic.

 Businesses have strict guidelines on advertising and marketing, especially regarding minors. Look at lessons learned from tobacco and alcohol, especially with our horrifying drug overdose rate and DWI fatality record.

 Property owners can restrict use.

 Law enforcement and prosecutors have tools and training to deal with drugged driving.

 Local communities can limit the number and location of retail outlets and user areas.

 Taxes are kept as low as possible to keep prices competitive and discourage the black market.

 Revenue is not all earmarked for pet projects  the goal is to make money for the state, right?

Once again, most revisions and compromises are happening in secret, behind closed doors and it lacks the transparency New Mexicans want and deserve, Senate Republican Leader Greg Baca, R-Belen, said Monday. Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, who sponsored a pot bill, added if we eventually see a cannabis bill, I want the public to know that it was not brokered in good faith with input from all stakeholders.

The Legislature has been debating recreational marijuana for a decade. The governor has had a cannabis working group since 2019. Yet today its a crisis requiring the nations first-ever special legislative session to legalize adult use of pot. It is also the third special session in less than year, at an average cost of $50,000 per day, with little to no public input.

Again, there is no emergency, no real public debate, but here we are. So heres to allowing pragmatism and caution to rule the day. If we have to have recreational cannabis, let it be via a clean, bipartisan bill that focuses on public safety.

editorials

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Realtors, the state's largest professional trade association, has launched a comprehensive education and advocacy effort centered on the urgent need to allocate the maximum amount of funding available in the State and Local Government Housing Trust Funds for affordable housing projects.

The effort is a result of recent legislative proposals that would permanently reduce the amount of funding available for affordable housing by more than 66%. House Bill 5401, and its Senate companion, SPB 2512, would divert two-thirds of the funding available in the housing trust funds for use in environmental infrastructure projects, leaving only a third available for the state's considerable affordable housing needs.

"Nearly 30 years ago, Realtors worked with members of the Legislature to place a new tax on our industry that would help create a dedicated funding source for Florida's growing affordable housing needs," says Cheryl Lambert, 2021 president of Florida Realtors and broker-owner with Only Way Realty Citrus in Inverness. "We did this because we saw the escalating problem and we wanted to be part of the solution. The issue has only intensified as our population has grown, and diverting hundreds of millions of dollars away from these critical programs will make the situation worse."

Monies for the housing trust funds come from a portion of the documentary stamp taxes charged on every real estate transaction. In 1992, Realtors advocated for this tax  10 cents per $100 of value  with the expectation that all funds collected went to housing programs. However, for more than a decade, the Legislature has diverted all or a large portion of those funds each year to other budget priorities.

"Hard-working Floridians like teachers, firefighters, nurses and other essential workers consistently rely on these funds to secure stable housing and achieve the American dream of homeownership," says Lambert. "Permanently reducing the amount of funds available to help them, especially given the turbulent times we find ourselves in, only hurts those who have been helping us the most during this unprecedented pandemic."

As part of the newly launched effort, Florida Realtors will reach out to members to educate them on the importance of Florida's affordable housing trust funds and ask for their help in urging lawmakers to vote NO on HB 5401 and SPB 2512.

For more information on the campaign, visit https://affordablehousingfl.org .

Florida Realtors serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to about 200,000 members in 51 boards/associations. Florida Realtors Media Center website is available at http://floridarealtors.org/newsroom .

SOURCE Florida Realtors

Related Links

floridarealtors.org


Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
Dallas,, TX , 03/30/2021 / Broden Mickelsen  Federal Criminal Defense /

Tax crimes are a type of white collar crime, and the penalties for failing to pay your taxes can be quite severe. Besides fines and other financial penalties, you could spend time in prison if you are convicted.

Dallas Criminal Defense & Appellate Lawyers

Its also possible you will never again be able to obtain a job in an industry where you manage or handle money, as employers are likely to see the tax fraud conviction on your record and decline to hire you. This is why its so important to work with a tax fraud defense lawyer who will vigorously defend you against tax fraud or tax evasion charges.

Tax Crimes and Intent





First, its important to understand the difference between making an honest mistake on your taxes and taking deliberate steps to avoid paying the taxes you owe.

The tax code can be complicated, and people can make missteps without intending to break the law. When they purposely fail to pay taxes, however, they can face prison time, fines, and other penalties.

Many people are unaware that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a criminal investigation division that investigates suspected cases of tax fraud and tax evasion, as well as forgery, falsification of records, and people who deliberately underreport their income.

Keep in mind, however, that just because the IRS sends a letter stating there is a problem with your tax return or other documentation doesnt mean youre being investigated for a crime. At the same time, however, you should never ignore any kind of communication from the IRS.

Tax Fraud vs. Tax Evasion

While it can be scary to receive correspondence from the IRS, not all notifications are related to a criminal investigation. However, people who take deliberate steps to avoid paying taxes can face serious penalties. Both tax fraud and tax evasion are federal crimes that can result in prison sentences and other negative consequences.

Tax Fraud

Tax fraud is something of a collective term that describes a number of tax laws that fall under the Internal Revenue Code. When someone commits tax fraud, this means they intentionally engaged in fraud against the government by deliberately not paying their taxes.

To prove someone committed tax fraud, the government must be able to show that the taxpayer did not pay their tax and that the failure to pay was intentional. This isnt always easy to prove, as the tax code can be complex, which means people can often make innocent mistakes when it comes to their taxes.

Tax Evasion

Tax evasion is a type of tax fraud that involves a taxpayer taking deliberate and intentional steps to underreport or misrepresent their income in an effort to pay less tax than they owe.

There are a number of ways an individual can misrepresent or underreport. For example, a business owner might inflate the cost of a piece of equipment in their business tax return or provide false invoices or receipts as part of their return.

A person can also engage in tax evasion when they list fake dependents on their return to reduce their taxable income. Other forms of tax evasion include using a false social security number, falsifying receipts, altering checks, or refusing to cooperate with tax officials.

As you might expect, tax evasion comes with more serious penalties than tax fraud. Along with fines, someone convicted of tax evasion could face up to five years in prison. They might also be required to reimburse the government for the cost of the prosecution in their case.

If You Make a Mistake on Your Tax Return

Making a mistake on your taxes is not the same thing as engaging in tax fraud or tax evasion. If you have been charged with tax fraud or tax evasion but you had no intention of committing fraud, its important to discuss your defense options with a qualified Texas criminal defense lawyer.

Even the IRS knows that math can be difficult. If you run a business, filing a corporate return can be overwhelming. Perhaps unsurprising, many businesses and individuals have to file an amended return after they or the IRS catch a mistake. In these cases, as long as there was no intent to defraud the government or evade paying taxes, math errors and oversights arent going to result in criminal charges.

Get Help from a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Courts take allegations of tax fraud and tax evasion seriously. If youre facing tax fraud or tax evasion charges, or any other kind of white collar offense, you owe it to yourself and your future to discuss your case with an experienced tax crimes defense lawyer as soon as possible. A conviction could mean the loss of your reputation, livelihood, and freedom, so dont delay talking about a Texas white collar crime defense lawyer.

About Broden & Mickelsen

Expertise in Federal Fraud Cases by Broden & Mickelsen Dallas White Collar Defense Lawyers

Clint Broden and Mick Mickelsen are experienced federal criminal defense attorneys based in Dallas Texas, who have 60 years of combined experience defending cases in federal court. Indeed, despite the fact that the conviction rate in Federal court is approximately 90-95%, the two partners have won approximately a third of their Federal cases at trial. Broden & Mickelsen have represented defendants charged with virtually every kind of Federal case.

Sources:

2600 State St, Dallas, TX 75204

Media contact: [email protected]

Source: Story.KISSPR.com

Release ID: 17555

Content Disclaimer: The information does not constitute advice or an offer to buy. Any purchase made from the above press release is made at your own risk. Consult an expert advisor/health professional before any such purchase. Any purchase made from this link is subject to the final terms and conditions of the websites selling as mentioned in the above as source. The content publisher and its downstream distribution partners do not take any responsibility directly or indirectly. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the company this news is about.

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The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
Digital Print Example The possibilities are now wide open for companies that need to custom-print their packaging in smaller quantitieswhether its a seasonal coffee flavor, a regional food item, or a private label product sold exclusively through one retailer.

Fres-co System USA, Inc., a leader in flexible packaging, announced it has expanded its packaging printing services with the addition of digital printing capabilities. Digital printing complements Fres-cos traditional flexographic and rotogravure printing services, broadening the options available to customers in the coffee, food, pet food, and chemical industries.

Traditional printing methods require fees for plates or cylinders and typically require high minimum order quantities. That requirement poses challenges for companies that prefer custom-printed packaginga major differentiator at the point of purchasebut only need smaller quantities for each product SKU. By accommodating lower quantities than traditional methods, Fres-cos digital printing service makes custom printing a feasible option for a wider range of packaging applications.

With digital printing, the possibilities are wide open for companies that need to custom-print their packaging in smaller quantitieswhether its a seasonal coffee flavor, a regional food item, a private label product sold exclusively through one retailer, or other situations that require a lower quantity than traditional printing allows, says Kevin McRae, Fres-co director of sales. As a leader in the flexible packaging market, Fres-co is excited to expand our comprehensive line of packaging services with this important addition.

Fres-cos digital printing can be done on a faster timeline than traditional printing, enabling companies to respond quickly to new market opportunities or launch seasonal or limited-time products with less lead time. With no printing plates or cylinders to change, digital printing allows for more flexibility of the packages artwork, meaning companies can test new designs or colors, change logos or other branding elements as needed, or even personalize every single package.

Digital printing is available for a variety of Fres-co packaging for coffee, food, pet food, and chemicalsincluding pre-made side gusseted bags like the CORNERSEAL and back fin seal bags, pre-made pouches such as stand-up and flat pouches, and rollstock. Essential features such as Fres-cos industry leading degassing valve, as well as tin ties or press-to-seal reclose options, can be added to any digitally printed packaging, which will be available in various material structures based on product protection needs.

For details about Fres-cos new digital printing capabilities or its full line of flexible packaging solutions, visit online at http://www.fresco.com/custom-digital-printing/ or contact the company at 215-721-4600 or contact@fresco.com.

About Fres-co System USA, Inc.

Fres-co System USA is a one-stop flexible packaging shop, supplying machines, materials, service, technology and innovation. Founded in 1978, Fres-co provides single-source flexible packaging system solutions to the Coffee, Dry Food, Liquid Food and Beverage, Industrial, and Pet Food industries. Fres-co innovations have been adopted by Fortune 500 companies, as well as famous specialty brands in America. The company has two facilities in the United States. To learn more, visit https://www.fresco.com/.
Get the facts on the African homeland of Guinea-Bissau and learn about a country unlike any other.

Here are 28 interesting facts about Guinea-Bissau.

Selling a drink of rum made from cashews in Guinea-Bissau.





Facts of a Homeland Named Guinea-Bissau.

Guinea-Bissau is located on the western coast of Africa.

The Arquipelago Dos Bijagos of Guinea-Bissau consists of 18 main islands, 88 islands and islets in total.

Around 55 percent is covered in forests.

Declared independence in 1973 from Portugal.

Republic of Guinea-Bissau former name before independence was Portuguese Guinea.

The country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa.

There are nine administrative regions, Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, and Tombali

Pluba Guinea-Bissau



Chief languages are Crioulo, which is the lingua franca or language of business and education, and Portuguese, which is the official language.

Political instability describes Guinea-Bissau over the past fifty years escorting in successive governments leading to poor implementation of public policies. Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC.

The US Embassy suspended operations June 1998 and the US Ambassador to Senegal is recognized as Guinea-Bissau representative.

Guinea-Bissau is one of the worlds poorest countries.

It is the 137th largest county in the world.

Life expectancy at birth is 63 years.

Approximately 20 percent of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau.

Woman in Contadine, Guinea Bissau





Main ethnic groups are Fulani 28.5 percent, Balanta 22.5 percent, Mandinga 14.7 percent, Papel 9.1 percent, and Manjaco 8.3 percent.

Main economic activity is agriculture generating more than 50 percent of the Gross Domestic product, GDP.

Cashew nuts are the main export product followed by gold, fish, lumber, and aluminum ores. Cashew nuts accounted for 24 percent of the GDP.

Sea fishing creates the second largest source of foreign currency and employment in Guinea-Bissau but has limited means of monitoring and controlling fishing boats and combating illegal activities.

Three top export partners are India 50 percent, Belgium 28 percent, and Cote d'Ivoire 8 percent.

Three top import partners are Portugal 31 percent, Senegal 20 percent, and China 10 percent followed by Netherlands 7 percent and Pakistan 7 percent importing mainly refined petroleum, rice, and wheat products.

Guinea-Bissau has uncontrolled exploitation of timber forest resources, especially during periods of political and institutional instability.

Bike riding in Guinea-Bissau near the town of Gabu Koundara.





Guinea-Bissau is a low-income and food-deficit country, ranking 178 out of 189 countries in the 2019 Human Development Index.

Approximately 60 percent of the population is under the age of 25.

School enrolment rate is 62.4 percent for basic education and 20.4 per cent for secondary education due to the country lacking educational infrastructure, school funding and materials, and qualified teachers.

The literacy rate among 15-24 years of age is 51 percent for women and 70 percent for men.

Around 60 percent of households have no drinking water supply in their homes.

Thirteen percent of the population has access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation facilities.

In Guinea-Bissau, about 38 percent of the population has access to health services.
OROFINO - The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health is awarding $30,000 in grants to launch a telehealth pilot program at two libraries in Orofino and Weippe. Both libraries will be able to offer telehealth visits, increasing access to healthcare in rural Idaho.

The Idaho Commission for Libraries and libraries in Orofino and Weippe will use grant funding to purchase necessary technology and equipment required for telehealth appointments to take place at these public facilities. Telehealth allows healthcare providers and patients to meet virtually for many essential medical services.

Telehealth medicine isnt an option for many Idahoans because the necessary technology and internet access isnt available in the homes, especially in rural areas, said Kendra Witt-Doyle, Executive Director, Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health. Offering telehealth services in libraries is one way we can increase access to healthcare in rural Idaho. This makes healthcare more convenient. Instead of driving an hour or more to see a doctor, people can go to the local library for the care they need.

Telehealth services have become a viable alternative to in-person healthcare, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when many doctors offices were closed for in-person consultations and services. Many healthcare providers continue to offer telehealth services for the convenience of patients. Telehealth also makes it easier for Idahoans who live in remote areas to access specialists who are based in urban areas.

Idaho library staff are seeing increased demand for telehealth options and are ready to be part of the solution to increase the health and well-being of Idahoans, Idaho State Librarian Stephanie Bailey-White said. They are a natural partner in exploring options for rural residents, and this pilot program will help pave the way for others who want to do more in this area. Libraries are welcoming community institutions with faster internet connections and video conferencing capabilities that many Idahoans dont have at home. It makes sense to tap into those resources to deliver better services.

The telehealth services are expected to begin in the coming months.
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The Government respects the right of citizens to protest, but has and will continue to have "zero tolerance" for the "hooligan, extremist, fascist" demonstrations of some of the protesters, according to AGERPRES.

"There are two very important plans for the discussion. On the one hand, the right of citizens to protest, and it is a right that we respect, it is a natural right. I myself and many in the current government have protested in recent years against what the Liviu Dragnea government meant and all those abuses of democracy that we protested at that time. So, on this level of the right to protest, there is nothing to say," Dan Barna told Digi 24 on Tuesday when asked about the protests held on Monday evening in several cities in the country against the restrictions imposed by the authorities for the management of the COVID 19 pandemic.

However, the deputy prime minister stressed that there is a second plan of discussion on the protests, that of "hooligan, extremist, fascist demonstrations", against which the Government will show "zero tolerance".

"The second plan, however, at least as serious, is the one related to the fact that, last night, we officially have an extremist party in Romania's Parliament, which assumed these protests and that part of those who demonstrated, who considers it legitimate to threaten Maia Morgenstern, to go to the mayor of Timisoara at home and to shout fascist, outrageous and unacceptable repertoire. Or those who went to Brasov hospital, shouting at doctors and ambulances: "Assassins". Those people are hooligans, those people are from the extremist area, from the fascist area, and the fact that we could have any tolerance for them is excluded. So, the message is very clear, the right to protest for some measures, with which some citizens do not agree, is a natural right, I repeat, but these hooligan manifestations, the manifestations in the fascist register are unacceptable and I expect - and this will be the position of the Government - zero tolerance for these manifestations which, simply, throw us many years back from what is a democracy, in which the rights and respect of the other mean a lot," said Barna.

Barna added, in the context, that people must not ignore these manifestations and show that sanitary protection measures are necessary.

The deputy prime minister stated that the Government will make the effort to communicate "even more clearly" on the measures adopted in the context of the pandemic, when asked if the authorities could do more on this topic.
CHICAGO, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this India data center market report.

The India data center market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 12% during the period 20202026.

Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

1. The Indian data center market to cross USD 8 billion worth of investments by 2026, driven by the rise in digitalization initiatives, third party data center service demand, and proposed data localization law.

2. COVID-19 has been a catalyst for growth in demand for third-party data centers services in India, with several recent announcements concentrated towards hyperscale projects across the country.

3. The market is witnessing several new entrants such as Adani Group (AdaniConneX), Colt DCS, Bridge Data Centres, Equinix (GPX Global Systems), and Mantra Data Centers, which are developing hyperscale data center facilities to be operational in 2021 and 2022.

4. Majority of data center investment in 2020 in the country was contributed by Maharashtra, with an investment share of around 70%, followed by Tamil Nadu.

5. States such as Maharashtra, Telengana, and Uttar Pradesh are offering specific incentives for data center development, such as land at subsidized rates, waiver on stamp duty and electricity duty, and subsidy on electricity costs. Furthermore, in November 2020, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) drafted a data center policy in India, which will have a significant impact on the market growth.

6. The governments of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh have signed multiple MoUs with various data center operators/developers to build hyperscale data center campuses.

Key Offerings:

Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20202026

Market Dynamics  Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by IT infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, mechanical infrastructure, cooling systems, general construction, tier standards, and geography

Competitive Landscape  12 IT infrastructure providers, 18 support infrastructure providers, 7 construction contractors, 10 data center investors, and 6 new entrants.

Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/data-center-market-in-india-2025

India Data Center Market  Segmentation

The procurement of lithium-ion UPS solutions is likely to be high among colocation providers. Modular operators are likely to promote less than 500 kW lithium-ion UPS systems. The adoption of single-rack prefabricated solutions will include single-phase lithium-ion systems with a power capacity of less than 10 kVA.

The use of air-based cooling dominates the Indian data center market share with over 90% shares. The scarcity of water in the major metropolitan cities is expected to pose challenges for the growth of the market's water-based cooling technique. The construction of facilities with a power capacity of over 10 MW is expected to contribute to the growth of cooling solutions in the market. Most facilities in India have a flexible design that allows the use of up to 52U rack sizes.

have a flexible design that allows the use of up to 52U rack sizes. The data center market in India has a strong presence of construction contractors and sub-contractors. Sterling and Wilson and L&T Construction are among the leading contractors in the market. These providers can perform installation and commissioning services. Thus, the increasing construction of new facilities is likely to influence multiple global construction contractors to enter the market.

India Data Center Market by IT Infrastructure

Servers

Storage

Network

India Data Center Market by Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Transfer Switches and Switchgears

PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructures

India Data Center Market by Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

CRAC & CRAH Units



Chiller Units



Cooling Towers, Dry Coolers, & Condensers



Other Cooling Units

Racks

Others Mechanical Infrastructure

India Data Center Market by General Construction

Core and Shell Development

Installation and Commissioning Services

Engineering and Building Designs

Physical Security

DCIM/BMS

India Data Center Market by Tier Standards

Tier I & II

Tier III

Tier IV

India Data Center Market  Dynamics

The demand for data centers has increased due to the COVID-19 impact because of the increased access to internet-related services aided by the nation-wide lockdown imposed by the Government of India. Organizations across sectors such as IT services, BFSI, hospitals, and education have initiated remote working for their employees. During COVID-19, government agencies also adopted cloud-based services where the confidential state data is stored securely. Moreover, the dependence of the education sector on online platforms has increased, where projects, marks cards, documents, and other confidential files are shared using the portal or email of the institution. The need for video-conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Webex, and Google Meet has thus experienced a steep rise. Most enterprises across the country are conducting meetings, interviews, and other daily tasks using online platforms.

Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth:

5G Deployment Enhances the Edge Data Center Investments

Procurement of Renewable Energy in Data Centers

Rise in Investments from Colocation Providers

Cloud Adoption Increases Data Center Investments

India Data Center Market  Geography

In terms of investment, Mumbai dominates the data center market in Maharashtra. The city attracts more data center investors due to the presence of submarine cable landing stations. A majority of the investment is made by colocation and telecommunication service providers. In 2020, Maharashtra witnessed data center investments of about $990 million. Mumbai attracted investments from colocation providers such as Bridge Data Centres, Colt DCS, CtrlS, NTT Global Data Centers (Netmagic), and Yotta Infrastructure (Hiranandani Group). Pune witnessed investments from colocation data center operators, government organizations, and enterprise data center operators such as Microsoft, State Bank of India, and Web Werks. In terms of colocation, the state attracted investments of around $740 million. Cloud service provider Microsoft is opening its Pune cloud regions, which is expected to be operational by Q2 2021.

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India Data Center Market by Geography

India

Maharashtra



Tamil Nadu



Other States

Key Data Center Critical (IT) Infrastructure Providers

Arista Networks

Atos

Broadcom

Cisco Systems

Dell Technologies

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

Huawei Technologies

IBM

Juniper Networks

Lenovo

NEC Corporation

NetApp

Key Data Center Support Infrastructure Providers

ABB

Blue Box (Swegon)

Caterpillar

Climaveneta Climate Technologies (Mitsubishi Electric)

Cummins

Delta Electronics

Eaton

KOEL (Kirloskar Group)

Legrand

NetRack Enclosures

Panduit

Rolls-Royce Power Systems

Reillo Elettronica (Riello UPS)

Rittal

Schneider Electric

Siemens

STULZ

Vertiv Group

Key Data Center General Construction Contractors

AECOM

DSCO Group

Larsen & Toubro (L&T)

Prasa

Sterling and Wilson (Shapoorji Pallonji Group)

Turner & Townsend

Vastunidhi

Key Data Center Investors

Airtel India (Nxtra Data)

CtrlS

NTT Global Data Centers (Netmagic)

Pi Data Centers

RackBank

Reliance Jio Infocomm

ST Telemedia Global Data Centres India

Sify Technologies

Web Werks

Yotta Infrastructure (Hiranandani Group)

New Entrants

Adani Group

Bridge Data Centres

Colt Data Centre Services (Colt DCS)

Equinix (GPX Global Systems)

Mantra Data Centers

Princeton Digital Group (PDG)

Explore our data center knowledge base profile to know more about the industry.

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MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Honduras said on Monday it would temporary restrict arrivals from South America, citing fears about the so-called Brazilian variant of the coronavirus entering its territory.

Honduras' national risk management system SINAGER said in a statement that it would curb the entry into Honduras of citizens who had stayed in South America in the last 15 days.

The measure was announced after authorities from neighboring Panama reported a case of the Brazilian variant, which is considered more infectious.

(Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
She was seen cozying up to a new man on Instagram earlier this week.

But Sofia Richie, 22, was flying solo while running around town during a quick trip to Santa Barbara on Monday.

The model daughter of Lionel Richie went for casual elegance rocking a gold and green Christian Dior sweater with ripped jeans and New Balance sneakers.

Flying solo: Sofia Richie looked chic in Christian Dior while running errands around Santa Barbara after posting a flirty selfie with a yet-to-be-ID'd fellow on Instagram Friday

Sofia's silky golden brown locks were parted in the center and twisted into a bun while most of her face was hidden behind a mask and rectangular sunglasses with a 90s-chic vibe. A delicate diamond-peppered necklace added a bit a polish to her ensemble.

It looked like the young star had her hands full, seen juggling her keys and a white DeMellier bag while walking through a parking lot.

Sofia's outing comes days after she shared a very friendly selfie with a tall male pal, causing fans to think she was finally over ex Scott Disick.

Casual chic: The model daughter of Lionel Richie went for casual elegance rocking a gold and green Christian Dior sweater with ripped jeans and New Balance sneakers

No details: On Friday the beauty posted a selfie with a new friend, causing some fans to think she had a new man in her life. Others claimed the tall man in the photo was Elliot Grainge, who Richie was seen holding hands with last week

Though no one was tagged, fans believed the dark-haired fellow was Elliot Grainge, who the star was seen holding hands with back on March 24th in LA, according to Hollywood Life.

Grainge is music royalty like Richie, the son of Universal Music Group chairman/CEO Sir Lucian Grainge and himself, the founder-CEO of the 10k Projects record label.

Richie split from dad-of-three Disick, 37, in August 2020 after three years together.

The breakup happened, he claimed on last week's episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, because his much younger girlfriend had given him an ultimatum about their future.

Disick said Richie had asked him to choose between her and his relationship with Kourtney and the kids.

He has now moved on to date Amelia Hamlin, the 19-year-old daughter of actor Harry Hamlin and reality star Lisa Rinna.
Laois Partnership says it has the experience and expertise to be central to developing a Local Master Plan for Laois and help the Government to implement other aspects of the blueprint for rural Ireland published this week.

As one of Irelands 49 local development companies (LDCs), Laois Partnership has welcomed the ambition of the Rural Development Strategy called Our Rural Future and its potential for Laois.

Commenting on the launch of Our Rural Future, Peter ONeill, Chairman of Laois Partnership Company, said the local development company which already helps business and communities is well placed to help.

Local development companies such as ours have been pillars of Rural Development for over 30 years. Covid-19 and the rollout of the National Broadband Plan provides an opportunity for a reimagining of the potential of Rural areas.

"The Strategy identifies the creation of Local Master Plans to meet the long term needs of Rural areas. Local Development Companies, with our track record in Rural Development and strategic planning, will be central to this process," he said.

Catherine Cowap, A/CEO of Laois Partnership Company, said the LEADER Programme has been identified as a key measure in this plan.

"As the providers of LEADER across the Country we welcome the continued commitment to this critical programme and call on the Government to fully support LEADER through maximising EU funding and Exchequer co-funding in the years ahead.

"LEADER can provide the required development capacity and finance needed to deliver measures identified in the strategy.

"Furthermore, LDCs have been at the forefront of the emerging Smart Village concept which will be a major element of the next round of EU programming and an important element of any successful Rural Development approach.

The role of local development companies is interwoven throughout the strategy. As providers of employment support measures such as the Rural Social Scheme, Tus and Community Employment and the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, as well as Outdoor Recreational and Walks measures, our LDCs will be vital partners in ensuring that the ambition of this plan is realised. We look forward to working positively with Government in this endeavour," she said.

Laois Partnership Company says it is a member of the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) which has acknowledged the publication of the Governments Rural Development Strategy  Our Rural Future.
The Federal Government has rejected plans by the Senate to upgrade some medical facilities to tertiary health institutions in Adamawa State.

The Senate is proposing three bills to give legal backing to the upgrade of the health institutions.

The bills are the National Dermatology Hospital, Garkida Adamawa, Establishment Bill 2021; Teaching Hospital for the Modibbo Adama University, Yola and Federal Medical Centres Establishment Bill. They were sponsored by the Senator representing Adamawa Central, Aisha Dahiru Ahmed Binani.

The Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, in his presentation at the opening of a two-day event on the bills on Monday, said the sponsors should have sought and obtained presidential approval before coming up with the proposed legislations.

He said there were already 22 teaching hospitals and that others were still coming on stream.

He noted that the 1995 Act establishing teaching hospitals states in Section 1 (3) empowers only the president to give approval for their establishment.

"What we're saying is that proposing a bill to amend the teaching hospitals Act to include the name of a non-existent hospital is like 'putting the cart before the horse."

The minister also kicked against the establishment of a national hospital for dermatology, saying "as much as it's important to pay attention to the issue of dermatology, we also know that establishing a hospital for dermatology condition will affect patients' opportunities to be co-managed by other specialties."

The chairman of the committee, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, however, said the National Assembly has powers to make laws for the establishment of federal health institutions.
(Natural News) The Wisconsin judge charged last week for possession of child pornography has been barred from unsupervised contact with most children while his case is pending  except for the two children living in his own home with him and his husband.

(Article by Calvin Freiburger republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

Brett Blomme, a 38-year-old Milwaukee Childrens Court judge, has been charged with seven counts of child porn possession for allegedly uploading 27 videos and pictures of the sexual abuse of children to the internet.

The news shocked many due to Blommes job presiding over cases involving children, followed by the revelation that Blomme was president of the Milwaukee-based LGBT group Cream City Foundation (CCF), which has been a financial sponsor of Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) events in which cross-dressers read to children at public libraries, often with sexually suggestive undertones as well as messages reinforcing the notions that gender is fluid and subjective.

The Wisconsin State Journal reported that Blomme faces up to 25 years of combined prison and extended supervision, and, while currently out of jail on bond, has been ordered not to use social media or file-sharing capabilities on the internet and not to have any unsupervised contact with minor children other than his own.

That last detail caught the attention of childrens rights advocates Katy Faust and Stacy Manning, who asked at The Federalist, Were these children placed with these two men because of the mistaken belief that these adults had a right to adopt, or because it truly was in the best interest of these children?

Given these new revelations, wed be willing to wager that this placement was influenced by a bureaucratic desire to appear tolerant and inclusive rather than prioritizing a home that would satisfy these childrens natural longing for both paternal and maternal love, Faust and Manning argued.

Blomme was an active donor to various Wisconsin Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and state Sen. LaTonya Johnson, all of whom now say they will give the amounts they received to charity, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Conservative commentator Dan ODonnell noted that Blomme has been worked for, been photographed with, and received endorsements from various state Democrats over the years, including Barrett, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, Milwaukee Common Council President Cavalier Johnson, and Milwaukee Alderwoman and former State Assemblywoman JoCasta Zamarripa.

Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com and IdentityPolitics.news.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 23:21:58|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- At least nine Ugandan drivers have been killed in deadly road ambushes in neighboring South Sudan, a top Ugandan government official said here Tuesday.

Kania Mario Obiga, minister of state for internal affairs told Parliament that the nine drivers were shot dead by unknown gunmen between Friday and Sunday along the Yei-Juba Highway.

"The (exact) number is not yet clear because some of the people who were injured could have died," said Obiga.

"This matter is known to the ministry of foreign affairs because all these people died in South Sudan. They are taking up the matter. Our embassy in South Sudan is handling it," he said.

The minister said authorities in Kampala and their counterparts in Juba are working to resolve the deadly attacks and killings.

"These people were killed by unknown gunmen. There are armed military groups operating in those areas who are apparently opposition forces to the government in South Sudan and they are in control of that area," said Obiga.

"Therefore the responsibility for that matter lies with the South Sudanese government. The ministry of foreign affairs is taking up the matter," he said.

The latest attacks come barely two weeks after a group of armed South Sudanese herdsmen killed eight fishermen at Odujo landing site in Kajo-Keji County, along River Nile shared by the two neighboring countries. Enditem
ALBANY  The state Senate and Assembly Tuesday night gave their endorsements to a bill to legalize recreational use of marijuana for adults, with wide margins in each chamber that hewed closely, but not precisely, to party lines.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has said he will sign the bill, at which point possession of marijuana under three ounces will immediately become fully legalized in New York for adults over the age of 21. Retail sales should start in about 18 months, political leaders have estimated, after the government system is set up to oversee the budding industry.

The bill's passage follows years of effort from activists and elected lawmakers to rally support and forge a deal with enough votes to pass both chambers. Cuomo opposed legalization as recently as 2017, saying he felt marijuana is a "gateway drug," but he has pushed legalization each of the last three sessions, since the Democrats took back the Senate. Legalization efforts each of those years have been stymied each year by disagreements over how the revenue would be split.

The bill was brought to the floor in each chamber Tuesday afternoon. It passed the Senate just after 7 p.m, with three Democrats joined the Republicans to vote 'no,' 40 to 23. The Assembly later voted 100-49 to pass the bill. Six Democrats, among them Angelo Santabarbara of Rotterdam, joined the 43 Republicans in opposition.

During debate, Republicans quizzed the bill's sponsors, Sen. Liz Krueger and Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, for hours, asking critical questions about provisions for people convicted of crimes could get licenses to sell marijuana it the future, about liability for serving marijuana to people below 21, about police enforcement of impaired driving laws and other topics.

"I'm not going out and telling everyone to use marijuana, just the opposite, Krueger said near the end of debate, adding that New Yorkers should think hard before using marijuana and should seek out information to make that choice. But we are wasting lives, we are wasting generations of lives, we are wasting law enforcement budgets, we are wasting court budgets... let them go out and deal with real criminals and real crime."

The historic legislation is expected to raise $350 million annually in revenue. For those who apply for licenses, priority will be given to women and people of color. Records will be expunged for marijuana-related offences, and money will be reinvested in communities that have been most harmed by the decades-long war on drugs.

Under the legislation, marijuana would be subject to a total sales tax of 13 percent, combining a state tax of 9 percent and local tax of 4 percent. Of the 9 percent state sales tax, 40 percent would go to education, 20 percent would go to anti-addiction efforts and 40 percent would go to communities of color most harmed by the the war on drugs.

Sen. Jabari Brisport, a Brooklyn Democrat, said thaat when he was 19, he was walking in lower Manhattan with a friend when that friend was grabbed by a plainclothes police officer. The officer said that Brisport's friend matched the description of a drug dealer in the area. Brisport demanded that the officer show a badge or read his friend his rights, and Brisport said the officer pulled out his gun and pointed it at him.

"How many would-be future state senators have been casualties of the war on drugs?" Brisport said. "How many teachers? How many doctors?"

Krueger earlier in the debate said her own experience with marijuana was at age 19 at a production of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show."

Nobody tried to put a gun to my head, and nobody tried to put me in jail because I was this nice white girl," she said.

Cities, towns and villages can opt out of allowing marijuana retailers in their communities. To create an incentive to allow it, the proposal would direct 75 percent of the local sales taxes to the municipalities that host the stores, while just 25 percent would go to counties. County leaders  including Albany County Executive Dan McCoy on Tuesday  have said they feel this is unfair as counties will bear the brunt of the costs of marijuana legalization, such as public health services or policing of impaired drivers.

In the medical marijuana program authorized in 2014, counties were able to opt-out. Several large ones did  including Suffolk and Nassau on Long Island  which motivated legislators this time around to not allow counties to opt-out of retail marijuana, according to a source familiar with discussions. Instead, under the current bill, it would now be up to cities to opt-out.

Republicans and the Democrats who joined them opposed the measure over concerns that legalization would lead to increased traffic deaths, could exacerbate addiction problems, could expose children or unwilling people to second-hand smoke and could serve as a gateway into harder drugs, among other reasons.

"I firmly believe that we are setting up communities to fail. We talk all the time about unintended negative consequences about the misguided policies that come out of this great chamber," said Sen. Frederick Akshar, a Republican from Endwell and former law enforcement officer. "We all know what the negative consequences of this legislation will be, but some choose to simply ignore it.

The issue critics of the legislation seemed most fixated on was the challenges of policing impaired driving. Sen. Anna Kaplan, the lone Democrat who spoke on the floor against the bill, said that was the issue she was concerned about. No effective tests exist to test whether someone is stoned in the moment, and the GOP emphasized repeatedly that just 343 of 55,000 police officers across the state are trained as drug recognition experts.

"We are about to take a huge step backwards," Sen. George Borrello, a Silver Creek Republican, said, noting that the state has tried for 30 years to decrease impaired driving. "This bill, as it stands, is going to cost the lives of hundreds if not thousands of New Yorkers."

Assemblyman Santabarbara said the bill "doesnt do nearly enough to protect families and has the potential to harm our communities."

Cuomo, however, said after the vote, "For too long the prohibition of cannabis disproportionately targeted communities of color with harsh prison sentences and after years of hard work, this landmark legislation provides justice for long-marginalized communities, embraces a new industry that will grow the economy, and establishes substantial safety guards for the public."

The legalization law is a racial and criminal justice imperative, said Attorney General Letitia James, who called the vote a critical step toward a fairer and more just system.
Local News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: March 30 2021

The projects at LISVH will include the construction of a tele-medicine suite.

Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) announced the Long Island State Veterans Home (LISVH) in Stony Brook, New York, will receive a total of $17,080,090 in federal funding appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act supported by Congressman Zeldin. The projects at LISVH will include the construction of a tele-medicine suite and on-site PPE storage facility, the expansion of medical gas storage capacity and the facilitys morgue and the addition of a negative pressure room to each nursing unit.

Following Congressman Zeldins urging, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adopted changes to the grant application and disbursement process to maximize LISVHs use of these funds. These changes included:

Extending and expanding normal grant filing deadlines to allow a rolling application process; Allowing grants to cover COVID-19 prevention and mitigation costs already expended by State Veterans Homes prior to making their application; and Allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs to defer or waive the state matching grant requirements normally required to award a State Home Construction Grant.

Like so many of our local nursing homes, the Long Island State Veterans Home was hit hard by the outbreak of coronavirus, said Congressman Zeldin. As LISVH works to support so many of our nations heroes, its critical they have the resources they need to help our local veterans live out their golden years safely.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-29 22:36:49|Editor: huaxia

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Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Health and Social Development Alymkadyr Beishenaliev receives a shot of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, March 29, 2021. The first stage of a COVID-19 vaccination campaign using Chinese vaccines kicked off in Kyrgyzstan on Monday. Minister of Health and Social Development of the country Alymkadyr Beishenaliev and his deputies were the first who received the vaccination. (Photo by Roman/Xinhua)

BISHKEK, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The first stage of a COVID-19 vaccination campaign using Chinese vaccines kicked off in Kyrgyzstan on Monday.

Minister of Health and Social Development of the country Alymkadyr Beishenaliev and his deputies were the first who received the vaccination.

Director of the Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis of Kyrgyzstan Gulbara Ishenapisova told a briefing that the vaccination needs two jabs and is free of charge.

"Doctors of intensive care units, infectious diseases hospitals, ambulances working in the red zone, as well as teachers, border guards, customs officers, law enforcement and security officials will be vaccinated at the first stage," she added.

Nine vaccination centers have been deployed in Bishkek, Osh cities and Chui Oblast.

A batch of China's vaccines were delivered to Kyrgyzstan earlier this month. Prime Minister Ulukbek Maripov thanked the Chinese government for helping his country, stressing that China, having overcome its own difficulties with the virus, became one of the first countries to provide Kyrgyzstan with COVID-19 vaccines.

Maripov said that the vaccines from China have received wide recognition in the international community, and will greatly help the country in its pandemic fight. Enditem
On whom to blame if the SPAC boom busts:

Some banks. Theres a lot of low-quality banks that are just looking for the fees, he said. Perhaps more troubling, he added, are weaker companies looking for SPAC deals. There is a set of companies floating around that are not good companies that are looking to get SPACed and get their money out, Mr. Hartz said.

On who gets hurt when SPACs go wrong:

Retail investors: In a natural market, low-quality companies should naturally run out of cash, Mr. Hartz said. In this case, they get a big balance sheet there in the public market, have a liquid currency and can front-run retail investors.

On how to fix SPACs:

Lower the promote, Mr. Hartz said, referring to the free stake that SPAC sponsors get, a setup that allows heady returns even if a target companys stock plunges. Critics say that structure draws sponsors looking for a quick buck.

Make sponsors hold their stakes for longer. Then youre not just leaving investors holding the bag, he said. Youre going to be part of that, too.

Urge more caution around financial projections. SPACs help younger businesses get access to otherwise limited public capital, he noted. But some companies are putting out unrealistic numbers: Thats where it gets dangerous, because these companies will, say, project $2 billion of revenue in 2026  and may not even ever produce one dollar of revenue.

A case against transparency?

Demand for more visibility into corporations and governments has grown in recent years. Yet when it comes to the Supreme Court, some are resisting efforts to allow more sunlight into the institution, as demonstrated in the debate over a bipartisan bill that aims to televise the courts proceedings.

No Supreme Court hearing has ever been filmed, though Congress has been trying to get cameras in federal courts since 1937. Most state courts allow cameras, and some federal circuit courts permit video with limits. But Chief Justice John Roberts and the five other veterans on the bench have said they fear that the presence of cameras would transform oral arguments into showy performances. (The courts three most recent appointees have said they would consider it.)

Seeing arguments in monumental cases shouldnt be a privilege of the few, said Senator Dick Durbin, the Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee, who is sponsoring the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act. Adding cameras opens our democracy and gives millions of Americans a window into the room where decisions are made that have lasting effects for generations, he told DealBook.

Then again, the court has adapted during the pandemic, allowing live audio feeds of arguments. Justices may clamp down on the publics access to the court when the pandemic lifts, but the tech precedent may make that more difficult.
Editor's note: In May 2021, Microsoft revealed that it will not launch Windows 10X in 2021, and it may never be released as a discrete product. Instead, some technologies developed for Windows 10X will likely make their way into Windows 10. This story, published six weeks before the May announcement, shows where Microsoft was intending to take Windows 10X before abruptly pulling the plug.

Theres a good chance youve heard about Windows 10X, the new version of Windows thats about to be released. And if you have, theres a reasonable chance youre confused about what exactly it is.

Youre not alone. Microsoft has released confusing, sometimes clashing information about the new operating system. Were here to help. Read on for everything you need to know about the upcoming Windows 10 variant.

[ Further reading: Windows 10 cheat sheet ]

What is Windows 10X? Is it the successor to Windows 10?

Windows 10X resembles Windows 10 in some ways but has been built entirely on code from a universal Windows codebase called Windows Core OS. (Windows 10 also uses code from Windows Core OS but adds unique code of its own.)

Windows 10X wont replace Windows 10, and it eliminates many Windows 10 features including File Explorer, although it will have a greatly simplified version of that file manager. Its interface is simpler and more stripped down than Windows 10, and it will run only on hardware designed for it, not on hardware that currently runs Windows 10.

Whats the point? Why a new version of Windows 10?

The reasons Microsoft gives for developing Windows 10X keep shifting. When Microsoft first announced Windows 10X in 2019, the company said it would run only on dual-screen and foldable PCs, and the operating system would be designed specifically to make the most of that unique hardware. (Instead of the screen + hardware keyboard combination found in most laptops, dual-screen PCs have two screens connected with a hinge, while foldable PCs have a screen that folds in the middle, essentially creating two screens out of one.)

The announcement said that the first Windows 10X devices, including Microsofts own dual-screen Surface Neo, would be available in the fall of 2020.

But then, several months into the pandemic in May 2020, the company did an about-face, announcing that Windows 10X will debut on cloud-focused single-screen devices. Because of that cloud focus, Windows 10X has been designed to work on more lightweight, less expensive hardware than Windows 10.

If youre thinking that a cloud-focused operating system designed to work on inexpensive hardware sounds suspiciously like Googles Chrome OS, youre right. Most industry watchers believe that Windows 10X is Microsofts answer to Chrome OS and will be targeted at schools, where Chromebooks are extremely popular, and also at remote workers in enterprises.

As for Windows 10X on dual-screen and foldable PCs, Microsoft is being noncommittal. Its May 2020 announcement said only, We will continue to look for the right moment, in conjunction with our OEM partners, to bring dual-screen devices to market. The company hasnt said anything more about such devices since then. In other words, dont expect them any time soon.

Will I be able to update a Windows 10 PC to Windows 10X?

No. And as things stand right now you wont be able to buy a standalone version of Windows 10X to install on a device. If you want the operating system, youll have to buy a Windows 10X device with it pre-installed.

Tell me about the interface. Is it recognizable as Windows 10?

Yes and no. Think of it as the child of Windows 10X, sharing some of its DNA but different in a number of ways. It has a simplified Start menu that lets you run Windows 10 apps and web apps by clicking their icons. But there are no live tiles. The basic interface will look much like Chrome OSs  icons on a screen.

Mark Hachman / IDG A leaked build of Windows 10X shows the OS default view: search on the top, apps in the middle, documents below. (Click image to enlarge it.)

The taskbar is simplified as well, with centered, pinned icons for web apps and Windows 10 apps. There are no notification icons at the far right as there is with full-blown Windows 10, and no right-clicking for customization. Basically, what you see is what you get. Theres also no true file manager, just an extremely limited file browser built for OneDrive. (See PCWorlds walk-through of an early build of Windows 10X for more details and screenshots.)

Initially, Windows 10X was expected to have a new feature called the Wonder Bar that was reminiscent of Apples Touch Bar but wider and designed for dual-screen devices. When a device was positioned as a laptop, the Wonder Bar would appear across the top of the lower screen, above either the software keyboard or a magnetic hardware keyboard placed on the lower screen, and it could show anything from additional keyboard commands to videos and graphics. Now that Windows 10X is being positioned for single-screen devices, the Wonder Bar has been removed from recent builds of the OS.

Oh, and Cortana haters will be pleased to know that Cortana is nowhere to be found in Windows 10X.

One other key difference between Windows 10X and Windows 10: In 10X you wont need to wrestle with how to handle Windows updates. Updates will happen automatically, behind the scenes, in as little as two minutes or less.

What kind of software will Windows 10X run? Will I be able to run Office apps and other Win32 apps on it?

Microsoft originally said that Windows 10X would run Win32 desktop apps like Word, Excel, and other Office apps, but only inside special containers that isolate the apps from the core OS. More recently, however, Microsoft watchers have reported that there will be no Win32 support at all when Windows 10X first ships, though its likely to be added back in later. It remains to be seen how the Win32 containers will impact performance or whether all Win32 apps will be able to run this way.

Windows 10X will run Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps  lightweight apps that you download from the Microsoft Store  right out of the gate. Its not clear yet whether it will be able to run all of those or only a subset. Interestingly, even UWP apps run inside containers in Windows 10X, but a different type of container. These Native containers tap native Windows 10X features, take less of a hit on system resources, and deliver greater security and privacy controls than containers for Win32 apps.

(For more details about containers on Windows 10X, see Containers on the desktop? You bet  on Windows 10X.)

In addition to running UWP apps, Windows 10X will run web apps. Given how few useful UWP apps are available, its likely that youll mainly run web apps on it, in the same way that Chrome OS runs web apps. Keep in mind that Microsoft 365 and Office 365 subscriptions include useful web app versions, so even if you cant run the Office desktop apps, youll be able to still use Microsoft 365 / Office 365 via web apps.

A streamlined version of Windows 10 that only runs UWP and web apps  havent we been here before?

Yes we have, with Windows 10 S, also called Windows 10 in S mode. Released in 2017, Windows 10 S isnt a separate operating system from Windows 10 but what Microsoft calls a mode of Windows 10, a locked-down version that supports only UWP and web apps and prevents browsers other than Microsoft Edge from running on it. Able to be used on less expensive hardware than Windows 10, its meant for schools and businesses with users who dont need full-blown desktop apps  the same group Microsoft is now targeting with Windows 10X.

There are a few key differences between the two, however. Since its simply a mode of Windows 10 rather than a separate OS, Windows 10 S more closely resembles Windows 10 than Windows 10X does. And unlike Windows 10X devices, a device thats running Windows 10 S can be switched to full-blown Windows 10 (though it cant be switched back again).

Windows 10Xs app container model also sets the two apart. It will allow a broader range of apps to run on Windows 10X devices than Windows 10 S does, while preserving security. And theres still the potential for Windows 10X to take advantage of dual-screen devices in the future.

When will Windows 10X devices become available?

Microsoft isnt saying. After the company pivoted to targeting traditional single-screen laptops last year, industry watchers expected the first Windows 10X devices would become available sometime this spring, first for the education and enterprise markets rather than being sold directly to consumers.

But the latest reports say they probably wont be released until sometime in the second half of the year. Expectations are that the devices will sell for $600 or under. Consumer-based devices arent expected until 2022.

Of course, all this may change. Well keep updating this story as news emerges, so check back here for the latest.
Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga addresses participants during the Turkana Tourism and Cultural Festivals at Ekalees Centre in Turkana County on August 16, 2019.

Al-Shabaab terrorists had in 2012 plotted to harm President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Nation has established.

One of the terrorists frequently visited Nyeri to identify the President's routine between June and October 2012, according to Kenya's submissions to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in February on the Indian Ocean boundary case with Somalia.

Militia from Al Hijra, a local network of al-Shabaab, also spied on Mr Odinga. The documents detail al-Shabaab terrorist attacks and plots foiled by Kenyan authorities. One of the annexes in support of the application requesting the court to authorise Kenya to file new documentation and evidence is headlined 'Plots against the State: President, Prime Minister and Parliament.'

"Al-Shabaab aspirations to violently overthrow the Kenya state predate the Kenya Defence Forces official incursion into Somalia in 2011," reads the report of the Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea pursuant to a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution in 2013.

Extracts from the report, which was filed with the UNSC in October 2014, cite an audio from Somalia by Al Hijra's 'Amir' Ahmad Iman in December 2010 that exposes the plot against the Kenyan leaders.

Al Hijra/al-Shabaab members

Amir warned the Kenyan government against its covert intervention under "Operation Linda Mpaka," according to a restricted Directorate of Military Intelligence document detailing KDF's mission in Somalia obtained by the Monitoring Group in 2011.

In the audio, Amir says "strap the bombs on me and let me blow myself up in the Parliament building of Kenya, let not anyone survive. Even Kibaki... ."

In the report, the Monitoring Group says it had received uncorroborated claims that in 2012, Al Hijra/al-Shabaab members conspiring with 'Makaburi' may have instigated plots against Kenya's former President and Prime Minister. Abubakar Shariff Ahmed alias Makaburi had been cited in previous UNSC reports as vowing allegiance to al-Shabaab and pledging to continue his recruitment drives in Kenya on behalf of the Somali militia.

From December 2012 to March 1, 2013, the group closely monitored the movements of a number of Al Hijra fighters retreating from Kenya to regroup in Tanzania and close to the Ugandan border. One such fighter was Rashid, who had assumed the Tanzanian name of Jacob Mtunzi Rwakatale.

The group cites information received from a credible confidential source that had direct access to Rashid, who was responsible for the welfare and logistics of the militants fleeing Kenya in Tanzania. On January 24, 2013, during a field mission to Tanzania, the group was briefed on a discussion in which Rashid casually referred to his operations.

Read: Trail of ruined lives as Aboud Rogo disciples unleash terror across region

"According to Rashid's account, at an unspecified date but probably in the Monitoring Group's estimate between June 2012 and no later than October 27, 2012, he had been instructed by a senior Al Hijra/al-Shabaab member named Titus Nabiswa 'Mwalim Khalid' to travel to Nyeri for the purpose of carrying out "surveillance" on the then President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki," the report states.

Operational planner

Citing interviews on January 24, 2013 with sources with direct responsibility for logistics for Al Hijra in Tanga, Tanzania, the report described Mwalim Khalid as "an explosives expert and operational planner". Mwalim Khalid had dispatched dozens of Al Hijra fighters from Somalia to carry out attacks in Kenya. Al Hijra had transformed from the Muslim Youth Centre (MYC), which recruited its followers from Majengo, Nairobi, and the port city of Mombasa. The group was formed by Ahmed Iman Ali, a preacher in Nairobi who had fled to Somalia in 2009. At the Coast, the group was led by Sheikh Aboud Rogo Mohammed.

Rogo was killed in a drive-by shooting in Mombasa in August 2012. Mwalim Khalid would also be killed a couple of months later.

On the plot against the President, Rashid reportedly camped in Nyeri where the Head of State had engagements. At times, President Kibaki would host delegations at Sagana State Lodge.

The group reported during a meeting on January 24, 2013 in Tanga that Rashid had claimed "the former Prime Minister had at times travelled in Nairobi without his security detail".

On September 5, 2012, Makaburi was detained for allegedly inciting young Muslims, mainly from his Mtwapa madrassa and Masjid Musa, to violent demonstrations following the killing of his associate, Rogo.

The Monitoring Group also cited credible information suggesting that, following Rogo's death, Makaburi contacted senior al-Shabaab leaders in Somalia for assistance in carrying out reprisal attacks in Kenya. Mwalim Khalid had in June 2012 dispatched a group of Somalia-based Al-Hijra fighters to Kenya as part of al-Shabaab's operations to destabilise the country.

The plot against Parliament had emerged earlier in December 2011 during the interrogation by the Kenyan security services of the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Jermaine John Grant. Grant had claimed al-Shabaab was planning to attack a number of targets in Kenya, including Parliament buildings. Information about the plot on Parliament buildings was corroborated during a meeting in Tanga on January 23, 2013 in which Rashid alluded to being aware of it.

On October 28, 2012, while travelling from Nairobi to Mombasa, most probably to coordinate further attacks in Mombasa, Mwalim Khalid was intercepted at Mariakani, less than an hour from Mombasa.

Photographic evidence obtained by the Monitoring Group indicated that Mwalim Khalid was in possession of a small arms cache. Following his interception, Mwalim Khalid led security services to an associate, Omar Faraj, hiding in Mombasa. Reports at the time indicated both Mwalim Khalid and Omar Faraj were killed by the security services in a shootout.

Information received by the Monitoring Group suggests that, after the killing of Mwalim Khalid and his failed plot on Parliament buildings, Al Hijra was forced to rethink its operations, particularly in Mombasa.

During a discussion at a safe house in Mwanza, Tanzania, Al Hijra fighter, Athman Ahmed Mwarabu, acknowledged: "We had planned everything. We were ready even before that. When Titus ('Mwalim Khalid') was got (killed), it ruined our plans. But we didn't lose our morale. We started planning afresh."

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Almost a month later in November 2012, Kenyan security services again disrupted a plot involving Al Hijra members, including Khubeib Rogo, who had recently returned from Somalia, and Swaleh Abdulmajid, who in 2010 was arrested for attempting to travel to Somalia to join Al-Shabaab with UK national Michael Olumide Adebolajo.

The Monitoring Group revealed it had indirect access to Khubeib Aboud Rogo while on remand in Shimo la Tewa prison in November 2012. Some of Khubeib Rogo's audio information has been archived with the United Nations.

"This testimony, albeit obtained under interrogation, is corroborated by another Al Hijra fighter returning from Somalia who was arrested on September 6 2012, and who confirmed that 'Mohammed Seif' had been dispatched by Al-Shabaab as a suicide bomber," the Monitoring Group reported citing interviews with a law enforcement official on November 24 2012.

A year later, Al Shabaab struck Nairobi with a brazen attack on the Westgate shopping mall.

Kenya submitted to the ICJ elaborate intelligence demonstrating how the attack was planned, as well as subsequent terrorist attacks, to support its case it has borne the brunt of terrorism fuelled by Somalia's instability.
In a veiled attack, Prime Minister on Tuesday dubbed former union telecom minister A Raja, as an 'outdated 2G missile' of the and and slammed him for insulting the mother of Chief Minister K Palaniswami and targeting women.

Without naming Raja, Modi in his election rally here said and have launched their 'outdated 2G missile' and this missile has one clear target, the women of

"A few days back, this missile was launched by UPA with a clear order to attack the nari shakti of "



Today and have insulted the respected mother of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami, he alleged.

"God forbid, if they come to power, they will insult many other women of Tamil Nadu."



Days ago, in his campaign, Raja allegedly spoke in an offensive manner over the birth of Palaniswami and the ruling AIADMK lodged a police complaint and a case has been registered against him.

Asking Congress and DMK leadership to control their party leaders, the PM said the people of Tamil Nadu are noting everything and they would never tolerate insult to the women of the state.
A suspected sex offender remains on the run six days after he was mistakenly released while awaiting trial.

William Fernandez, 24, who was being held on remand at HMP Wormwood Scrubs in west London, was released in error last Wednesday.

Police are continuing to appeal for help in locating him, and have released new images of him on the run.

In the pictures, Fernandez, 24, can be seen smiling as he walks through Oxford Circus tube station on the night he was freed.

Fernandez, 24, was awaiting trial for sexual assault by touching, indecent exposure and possession of a class B drug after he was arrested and charged last April.

William Fernandez, 24, was caught smiling on Oxford Circus tube station's CCTV last Wednesday, just hours after the suspected sex offender was released from prison by mistake

Fernandez had been spotted at East Acton station. He was being held on remand at HMP Wormwood Scrubs ahead of a trial, where he faced charges of sexual assault by touching, indecent exposure and possession of a class B drug

Fernandez also goes by the name Agustin Fernando Jimenez Eiberte

Police were told by staff at Wormwood Scrubs jail in west London that Fernandez had been released in error on the evening of Wednesday March 24.

Officers conducted searches in the local area that night.

But it is believed that soon after his release, Fernandez travelled by tube from East Acton station.

He was spotted on CCTV walking along Wealdstone High Street, heading north, at 9.24pm that night.

However, there have been no confirmed sightings of him since.

Police warned that anyone who sees Fernandez not to approach him, but instead to dial 999 immediately.

Detectives are conducting an 'extensive' operation to locate Fernandez, including CCTV analysis and house to house enquiries at several locations.

New images of him at Oxford Circus tube station at 8.38pm on the night he was freed have now been released by the Met.

Officers believe Fernandez is most likely to be in the west London area, but he has been known to travel extensively on public transport and to spend time at transport hubs.

Police have urged anyone who sees Fernandez not to approach him, but instead contact police immediately. Officers believe he is most likely still in the west London area

He was pictured at Oxford Circus tube station at around 8.40pm last Wednesday. Just under an hour later, he was spotted in Wealdstone

Detective Chief Inspector Lucy O'Connor, who is leading the search, said: 'I would urge anyone who knows of Fernandez's whereabouts to contact us immediately.

'Any information, no matter how small, may be able to assist our investigation.'

Fernandez is described as white, of medium build, with thinning hair and a dark beard. He has a distinctive cross tattoo on the left hand side of his neck.

When last seen at the prison, he was wearing a black tracksuit and black hat.

He is also known to use the name Agustin Fernando Jimenez Eiberte.
Widely dubbed "the financier of the genocide," Rwandan Felicien Kabuga has carried with him since the 1994 genocide a heavy reputation for ordering machetes used to kill Tutsis. This central charge, however, has disappeared from the new indictment issued against him. Kigali has reacted with silence. We explain why.

Kabuga, now detained in The Hague after his arrest nearly a year ago in France, imported shipments of machetes in the months leading up to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. This fact is verifiable and is not disputed by the accused. But what were these machetes used for? To cut grass in the fields or to kill Tutsis? Did the rich businessman import them as part of a plan to destroy the Tutsi ethnic group? In any case, this is the thesis that has long prevailed since Kabuga's indictment by the former International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in 1997, and which will probably remain entrenched in public belief.

It has, however, been gradually qualified over the years by successive prosecutors in this case. And now the accusation has been abandoned in the indictment newly amended by Belgian magistrate Serge Brammertz, prosecutor of the UN Mechanism that carries out the residual functions of the ICTR.

Machetes distributed in Gisenyi

In an indictment dated August 22, 1998, Cameroonian Bernard Muna, then deputy prosecutor of the ICTR, stated: "As from 1992, Felicien Kabuga, through his company, ETS Kabuga, made massive purchases of machetes, hoes and other agricultural implements knowing that they would be used as weapons during the massacres." The people who did this were Kabuga and seven other personalities from the National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND), the party of former president Juvenal Habyarimana. Four of them were tried and convicted by the ICTR. Former MRND secretary general Joseph Nzirorera died during the trial, former defence minister Augustin Bizimana died on the run, and former education minister Andre Rwamakuba was acquitted.

On October 1, 2004, Gambian ICTR prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow made a slight change in the charges against the businessman, who became the subject of a separate indictment. "Felicien Kabuga ordered the employees of his company Kabuga ETS to import a record number of machetes into Rwanda in 1993. In April 1994 he ordered and instigated members of the Interahamwe, over whom he had effective control, to transport machetes and other weapons to Gisenyi and to distribute the machetes and other weapons to the Interahamwe in Gisenyi. The Interahamwe used machetes in Gisenyi between 7 April and 17 July 1994 to exterminate the ethnic Tutsi population, and by ordering and instigating the importation and distribution of machetes to the Interahamwe, Kabuga aided and abetted the killing carried out by these Interahamwe."

In his April 2011 amended text, Jallow no longer drew such a clear conclusion about Kabuga's original intent. He simply wrote: "In April 1994, Felicien Kabuga instructed and prompted members of the Interahamwe which he controlled to transport machetes and other weapons to Gisenyi and to distribute them to the Interahamwe in Gisenyi on 3 and 7 April 1994. The said Interahamwe used these weapons and machetes in Gisenyi between 7 April and 17 July 1994 to exterminate and kill persons identified as Tutsis in Commune Rouge and other locations in Gisenyi Prefecture."

Accusation dropped definitively

After more than 20 years on the run, Kabuga, whom the Rwandan public said was protected by the spirits of his ancestors, was arrested on May 16, 2020, in Paris. Immediately, the prosecutor of the Mechanism set out to update the case. "All the evidence that was used to have the arrest warrant confirmed and the indictment confirmed is very old. So we have to go back to the witnesses of the time, to see who is still available," Brammertz explained to Justice Info in September 2020. He said he had strengthened his team in Rwanda by transferring five of his staff and hiring five other "new prosecutors and investigators". Among them is Frenchwoman Aurelia Devos, a former magistrate at the Paris war crimes unit, where she acquired knowledge of the Rwandan case.

This work resulted in a new amended indictment, filed by Brammertz on January 15 and confirmed by the judges on February 24. The charge of importing machetes for genocidal purposes was definitively dropped, and only the transport and distribution of machetes in certain areas of the capital Kigali and in the prefectures of Gisenyi and Kibuye were maintained.

Similar machete orders by another company

Why was this point in the original indictment dropped when it had previously been considered a matter of public record? Brammertz's office did not wish to answer our questions. But American Stephen Rapp, former head of prosecutions at the ICTR, gave an explanation to Justice Info: "We had evidence of the massive order of machetes by Kabuga's company from China Machinery and of their delivery to Rwanda through Mombasa in 1993. The challenge always was in showing that these machetes were distributed to the killers and used in the genocide. There were similarly massive purchases by an unrelated company at the same time, and there was a large need for these 'tools' in the agriculture of Rwanda and Zaire".

This is also what French sociologist Andre Guichaoua, an expert witness for the prosecutor in numerous cases at the ICTR, said in an article published on October 1, 2020. "Very quickly, the ICTR's research came up against the absence of tangible evidence," he wrote. "The archives from the ministries, including military expenditures, did not make it possible to establish the links (of Kabuga's imports) with the genocide. The 'machete thesis' was very uncertain. It was almost impossible to establish the direct and personal responsibility of the accused and to prove that the machetes were imported with the intention to kill."

Kigali refuses to comment

Unanimity is the law in Kigali. When questioned by Justice Info's correspondent in Kigali, Raissa Mucyo, advisor to the Rwandan Minister of Justice, refused to comment on "an ongoing case". The prosecutor's office and the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide also said they were awaiting the outcome of the trial. Jean-Damascene Karinda, legal advisor for Ibuka (the main genocide survivors' organization), agreed, saying "the prosecutor has the responsibility to bring to court the facts for which he hopes to find evidence at the time of the trial. So we have no problem with this indictment, given that Kabuga remains accused of genocide and crimes against humanity".

Indeed, Kabuga still faces serious charges of conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, persecution for political reasons, extermination and murder. As in the previous indictments, the prosecutor asserts that Kabuga is responsible for the content of incendiary broadcasts on Radio-Television des mille collines (RTLM), that he provided moral, logistical, material and financial support to the Interahamwe militia in the capital Kigali and in the prefectures of Gisenyi and Kibuye.

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He is accused of having put vehicles at the disposal of the Interahamwe to facilitate their movements during their murderous operations, of having distributed machetes and other weapons to them, of having given them money and food, of having congratulated the most zealous in the massacres and reprimanded the less active.

A "quick and efficient" strategy?

The new indictment, while narrow in scope, does not dwell on presenting the accused like previous indictments, but is full of details of Kabuga's alleged crimes, suggesting that a large number of witnesses will be called to the stand. Abandoning earlier assertions that Kabuga exercised power, authority, and influence over all the military, the Interahamwe, other militias, armed civilians, and administrative authorities, prosecutor Brammertz is more specific than his predecessors about "the responsibility of the accused in RTLM and his multi-faceted support for the Interahamwe youth," Guichaoua points out.

"Given the profile and age of the accused, this strategy is intended to be quick and efficient," he says. "It establishes the charges on the basis of crimes documented by direct witnesses, crimes whose gravity and scope justify an exemplary sentence. Twenty-five years after the events and given the multiplicity of the crimes identified, no defence lawyer will be able to find contrary evidence for the alleged facts on the ground amongst a population closely supervised by the authorities."

Speed has so far been relative. The opening of the trial is not expected before the last quarter of 2021, while in the meantime the health of the accused is deteriorating, according to his lawyer.

Second amended indictment of Felicien Kabuga (MICT) [pdf]
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Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

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Atif Ayub, 25, from Ward End, Birmingham led officers on a six-minute pursuit through the city as he raced at more than 80mph

This is the dramatic moment police ram a speeding car into a tree after the fleeing motorist tried to go the wrong way into on-coming traffic.

Atif Ayub, 25, from Ward End, Birmingham led officers on a six-minute pursuit through the city as he raced at more than 80mph.

An officer deliberately hit the side of Ayub's Seat Leon as he took a turn that would have seen him heading into on-coming traffic.

Ayub had sped away from a patrol unit in Saltley before police intercepted him at around 3.45pm on January 17.

He raced away and jumped several red lights before police 'stung' his car and he was brought to a stop.

Ayub was arrested at the scene on suspicion of dangerous driving.

Police said he admitted the charge, plus driving without a licence or insurance, and on Monday at Birmingham Crown Court he was jailed for 12 months.

An officer throws a stinger across the road as Ayub swerves to try to avoid its barbs

An officer deliberately hit the side of Ayub's Seat Leon as he took a turn that would have seen him heading into on-coming traffic

The force said he has also been disqualified from driving for four and a half years and must pass an extended re-test if he wants to get his licence back.

Sergeant Lee Froggatt from CMPG said: 'Officers have used their specialist training and tactics to bring a reckless driver to a safe stop and prevent other road users being harmed.

'When Ayub headed the wrong way into Lawley Middleway the risk level increased.

He nearly collides with cars as he shoots through several red lights during the chase. This was when the police decided to stop him

The police car makes contact with Ayub's Seat Leon and his glass window shatters as the vehicle hits a tree

'But the officers quickly spotted the road was clear and took Ayub's Leon out before he could pose a danger to anyone else.

'This is an excellent example of an appropriate and proportionate use of tactical contact to bring a pursuit of a dangerous driver to an end.'

Police said the controlled tactical manoeuvre enables them to bring reckless drivers to a stop if they pose a danger to other road users or pedestrians.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Assisted living communities can improve the quality of life for residents with dementia by approaching them as individuals and attempting to include all residents in activities, according to a study led by a Georgia State University gerontology researcher.

The typical "activity programming" at many assisted living residences can leave people with dementia on the sidelines, according to the study, "Meaningful Engagement Among Assisted Living Residents With Dementia: Successful Approaches," published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology.

The study found that the keys to improving quality of life for residents with dementia are getting to know them as individuals, meeting people "where they are," being in the moment with people and viewing all interactions with residents as opportunities to connect.

The study, based on interviews and observational visits conducted in 2019, offers initial findings as part of a five-year project being funded by the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health.

"COVID-19 highlights the importance of meaningful engagement for everyone, especially for persons living with dementia," said Candace Kemp, a professor at Georgia State University's Gerontology Institute and principle investigator of the study. "Doing things that are enjoyable and being engaged to the extent possible and desirable are significant for quality of life and quality of care."

Researchers conducted interviews and observations involving 33 assisted living residents with varying types of dementia and levels of functional ability. They represent a diversity of gender, age, race and ethnicity and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The researchers found that actively "listening and observing verbal and non-verbal cues were keys to connecting and meeting residents on their own terms." The researchers urged caregivers to try to include all residents in activities and not to assume that people with dementia can't benefit from activities simply because they may not be able to respond in the same way as other residents.

The research has implications in the COVID-19 era, which has limited visits by family and friends at many assisted living facilities and restricted group activities and gathering for meals. A greater focus on meaningful engagement with residents "holds promise for offsetting the negative effects of social distancing for residents and for reducing care partner strain," the researchers wrote.

Co-authors include researchers from Georgia State's Gerontology Institute and Emory University.

The ongoing project, "Meaningful Engagement and Quality of Life among Assisted Living Residents with Dementia," includes researchers from Georgia State and Emory University working with residents and their care partners in assisted-living communities and personal-care homes in and around Atlanta.

Explore further Residential care community characteristics vary by dementia prevalence

More information: Candace L. Kemp et al. Meaningful Engagement Among Assisted Living Residents With Dementia: Successful Approaches, Journal of Applied Gerontology (2021). Candace L. Kemp et al. Meaningful Engagement Among Assisted Living Residents With Dementia: Successful Approaches,(2021). DOI: 10.1177/0733464821996866
NEW YORK, NY (March 30, 2021)--Early in the pandemic, neurologists expressed concern that COVID-19 patients with dementia may be at higher risk for complications and mortality.

But those fears have not been realized, according to a new study of patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in New York City. The study, led by James Noble, MD, MS, associate professor of neurology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, and Amro Harb, a Vagelos medical student, was published this month in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

Though the study found a greater proportion of patients with dementia had died, "other factors, including age and comorbidities, were really the driving factors and not dementia itself," Noble says.

One unmistakable difference among patients, however, was the greater incidence of delirium in those with dementia.

"Early in the pandemic, we received many calls from caregivers about the sudden development of confusion and delirium in our dementia patients, even in those with only mild COVID symptoms," Noble says. "Delirium and confusion are common in elderly patients with other types of infections, including pneumonia, influenza, and urinary tract infections, and we realized delirium might be an unrecognized symptom of COVID-19 in this population."

That observation was reflected in the data from the hospitalized patients, where delirium was found in more than 36% of patients with dementia versus less than 12% of patients without dementia.

The dementia patients with COVID-19 were also less likely to report subjective symptoms such as shortness of breath, muscle aches, chills, nausea, or headaches compared with patients without dementia.

"It's hard to say if all of these are true differences," Noble says. "We know that, in general, people with dementia may be less likely to report some of the symptoms that we have come to recognize as typical COVID-19 symptoms because of poor awareness or they just don't remember to report these things."

Regardless of the reason behind the differences, Noble says the study suggests we may need to look beyond conventional symptoms associated with COVID-19 in this population and consider confusion and delirium as possible common signs of infection.

"The CDC has recognized new confusion is a 'warning sign' of COVID-19, and this study suggests this symptom was especially common in people with dementia hospitalized with COVID-19," Noble says. "This is important for caregivers and health care providers of homebound Alzheimer's patients who have not been vaccinated yet."

###

More Information

James Noble, MD, MS, also has an appointment at the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center in the Department of Neurology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

The paper, titled "Clinical Features and Outcomes of Patients with Dementia Compared to an Aging Cohort Hospitalized During the Initial New York City COVID Wave," was published online in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease on March 13, 2021.

Other authors (all from Columbia) are RuiJun Chen, Herbert Chase, and Karthik Nataranjan.

The study was supported by an NIH training grant (T-35AG044303). The authors report no financial or other conflicts of interest.

Columbia University Irving Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, preclinical, and clinical research; medical and health sciences education; and patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, public health professionals, dentists, and nurses at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. Columbia University Irving Medical Center is home to the largest medical research enterprise in New York City and State and one of the largest faculty medical practices in the Northeast. For more information, visit cuimc.columbia.edu or columbiadoctors.org.
Health official proud of residents turning out for vaccine shots
North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski (R) meets with the visiting Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe (L) in Skopje on March 30, 2021. (Photo by Li Xiaowei)|



SKOPJE, Mar.30 -- President Stevo Pendarovski and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev of the Republic of North Macedonia met respectively with the visiting Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe in Skopje on March 30.

Pendarovski said during the meeting that North Macedonia and China share mutual trust and enjoy friendly bilateral relations, North Macedonia firmly supports the one-China policy and has full confidence in joining efforts to build the Belt and Road Initiative with China.

Pendarovski added that North Macedonia appreciates China's great achievements in the fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic and thanks China for its anti-pandemic assistance to North Macedonia.

He looks forward the two countries will carry out more frequent and in-depth exchanges and cooperation after the recovery of the world from the pandemic.

Zaev said that since independence, North Macedonia has received great support and assistance from China, for which it is deeply grateful. The two countries enjoy huge potential for cooperation, Northern Macedonia hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in the fields of economy, trade, investment, infrastructure, defense and security and push forward the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.

During the meetings, Wei briefed the North Macedonian side of China's pandemic prevention and control situation, economic and social development and China-US relations, and expounded Chinas principled positions on Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

He said that China appreciates North Macedonia's firm adherence to the one-China policy and hopes that North Macedonia will continue to provide support to China on issues concerning China's core interests.

China is ready to work with North Macedonia to make full use of the Belt and Road Initiative and the "17+1 Cooperation" Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countriesto deepen practical cooperation and achieve mutual benefit and common development, Wei added.

He stressed that the Chinese military attaches great importance to developing relations with the North Macedonian military, and is committed to deepening exchanges and cooperation to promote in-depth and solid military-to-military relations between the two countries.

Wei held talks with his North Macedonian counterpart Radmila Sekerinska on the same day, the two sides had in-depth exchange of views on bilateral and military-to-military relations as well as international and regional security situation.
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THE government is planning to consult on the poverty-ridden Kombat settlement in the Otjozondjupa region.

Following a visit to the town, settlers complained that the government has deserted them, saying there has been no basic service delivery since the mine and town were separated in 2013.

Currently, Canadian company Trigon Metals is temporarily fulfilling the role of town council by supplying the settlement with water and collecting garbage.

Minister of urban and rural development Erastus Uutoni yesterday said they would first have to engage the regional council of Otjozondjupa to determine how and when an office can be established to administer the settlement.

"I can't say the government did not look into the matter previously, because things of this nature normally go through certain processes - hence the way forward by engaging the council," he said.

Mining operations were halted in January 2008 when low copper prices and a power outage that resulted in underground flooding led to the shutting down of mining operations.

After the flooding, many of the former workers moved away, which turned Kombat, once known as a prosperous home to copper mining, into a ghost town.

Grestina Ubukhaes, a Kombat resident, says the former mine workers have not had any source of income since the mine closed.

"I've been here for more than 20 years, and I worked at the mine when it was open. Life has been very hard since it closed. There has been no work, and we are suffering," she says.

Ubukhaes says community members have been surviving by planting corn and other vegetables to feed themselves, and some families are receiving help from the government.

Litota Mukano, another resident, says most of the residents have failed Grades 10 and 12, which leaves them with limited options.

"We are struggling, so we are trying to grow our own food," she says.

PARLIAMENT CONCERNS

Recently, parliamentarian Kazeongere Tjeundo called the government out for turning a blind eye to the people of Kombat.

Tjeundo said residents have been subjected to humiliation and exploitation for about 20 years, while the government is pretending not to notice because of the influence of businessman Knowledge Katti, who acquired the town in 2015.

Meanwhile, Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi in the National Assembly alleged that Kombat's management has not paid the settlement's NamPower bill, which amounts to millions.

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This was confirmed by the power supplier. The government is set to respond to the concerns raised in the National Assembly this week, while Uutoni could not be reached for comment.

KOMBAT BURDEN ON MINE

Trigon's president, Jed Richardson, last week said the mine could be reopening by the end of this year.

However, the burden the town has become for the company is delaying the process.

Richardson mentioned errors made previously by electricity suppliers among others, and the responsibility of Kombat village as factors slowing down the process.

"We have all the equipment we need; we have raised equity to finance the mine in September last year . . . one piece that is left is the permitting and the political situation around Kombat," he said.

Since the divorce between the mine and the town, no council or municipality has been established, but most houses are owned by Katti, Richardson said.

"It needs to be a formalised town. Right now, we are doing garbage collection, and the water the residents are receiving is from Trigon. We are happy to be good neighbours, but we need to have a proper system in place," he said.

MELVILLE, N.Y., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) is bringing compassionate care and excellence in anesthesia services to more patients in Virginia served by Bon Secours. On April 17, 2021, NAPA will launch new growth in its relationship with the health system's Tri-Cities area hospitals by providing anesthesia at Bon Secours Southside Medical Center in Petersburg and Bon Secours Southern Virginia Medical Center in Emporia. NAPA anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) already provide anesthesia and perioperative care at Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond and Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville. NAPA is the largest single-specialty anesthesia and perioperative management company in the U.S., with more than 5,000 clinicians providing anesthesia at hundreds of hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers from coast to coast.

Southside Medical Center is an innovative, community-focused, 300-bed facility located on a 50-acre campus where nearly 400 physicians represent more than 40 specialties, and over 1,400 healthcare professionals serve the communities of Petersburg, Hopewell, Colonial Heights, Fort Lee, and Chester, and the counties of Prince George, Dinwiddie, Sussex, Surry, and Southern Chesterfield. Among its many recognitions, Southside Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for Hip and Knee Joint Replacement. The hospital is also an Accredited Cancer Center with Gold Commendation and Outstanding Achievement Award, an Accredited Comprehensive Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Center, and an Accredited Chest Pain Center with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Southern Virginia Medical Center serves the greater Emporia community with an 80-bed inpatient facility plus outpatient, emergency, medical, and surgical services. The hospital has also earned The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval.

John Emery, President, Bon Secours Southside Medical Center and Southern Virginia Medical Center, said: "We are pleased to be a part of this partnership. NAPA has a strong focus on clinical best practices, quality, and safety, and is an anesthesia partner that shares the Bon Secours values of respecting human dignity, integrity, compassion, stewardship, and service."

Clavio Ascari, MD, Vice President of Clinical Services for NAPA's Virginia Region, said, "This is a tremendous opportunity to expand our partnership with a leading health system in Virginia, and we look forward to providing an enhanced level of service and quality to Bon Secours."

Ascari is joined on NAPA's Virginia Region leadership team by Trent Walter, CRNA, MBA, Vice President of Business Operations, and Heather Kartchner, CRNA, Advanced Practice Anesthesia Director. The company's regional infrastructure across 20 states provides local clinical and business leaders who offer market-specific support to its anesthesia clinicians and hospital partners, and help to create collaborative, high-performing perioperative environments that increase patient, surgeon, and clinician satisfaction. NAPA's Regional Quality Committees also work on the local level while sharing and standardizing clinical best practices across the organization's national network, to ensure the highest standard of patient care.

About North American Partners in Anesthesia

As a clinician-led organization, North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) is redefining healthcare, delivering unsurpassed excellence to its partners and patients every day. Since its founding by physicians in 1986, NAPA has grown to become the nation's largest single-specialty anesthesia and perioperative management company. Our 5,000+ clinicians serve more than 3 million patients annually at 500+ healthcare facilities in 20 states. For more information, please visit NAPAanesthesia.com.

About Bon Secours  Richmond

Bon Secours  Richmond is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health , one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry's quality, compassionate care is provided by more than 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. Bon Secours  Richmond provides compassionate medical care through a network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, ambulatory care sites, and continuing care facilities. As one of Richmond's largest employers, the not-for-profit health system employs more than 9,000 people, including nearly 420 providers as part of the Bon Secours Medical Group. Bon Secours  Richmond includes St. Mary's Hospital, Memorial Regional Medical Center, Richmond Community Hospital, St. Francis Medical Center, Rappahannock General Hospital, Southside Medical Center, Southern Virginia Medical Center, Westchester Emergency Center, Short Pump Emergency Center, and Southside Emergency Care Center. Consistent with its commitment to serve each patient with dignity, Bon Secours Mercy Health provides nearly $2 million per day in community benefit. The mission of Bon Secours is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bringing good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying, and underserved. For more information visit BonSecours.com .

SOURCE NAPA Management Services Corporation

Related Links

https://napaanesthesia.com/


Foreign ETFs leading the way, illustration photo

Last week, Fubon FTSE Vietnam exchange-traded fund (ETF), the first ETF from Taiwan specialising in investing in Vietnams stock market, mobilised around VND8.1 trillion ($352 million) at its initial public offering.

According to newswire Mirrormedia, Taiwanese investors were rushing to purchase all Fubon FTSE Vietnam ETF certificates right after its launch. The ETF tracks the FTSE Vietnam 30 Index as reference, focusing on the 30 most liquid large-cap stocks on Vietnams stock market, including Hoa Phat Group, Vietcombank, Masan Group, Sabeco, Vietjet, Vingroup, and others.

The shares of Vingroup held the largest proportion of 10.44 per cent in March 24, followed by Hoa Phat Group (10.03 per cent), Vinhomes (9.97 per cent), and Vinamilk (9.9 per cent). The ETF will also periodically rebalance its portfolios twice a year, in March and September, to best suit its risk tolerance.

According to the Taiwanese fund, Vietnams young and dynamic population, along with preferential economic policies supported from the local government, will help the country outperform its regional peers.

At the moment, Vietnam seems to be cast in the same mould as Taiwan back in the 1980s. Now they could make a profit through Vietnams economic reforms and huge potential via Fubon Vietnam ETF, said Yang Yining, chief investment officer of the fund.

Taiwan 2.0

The sectors that account for the largest proportion in the FTSE Vietnam 30 Index basket are real estate, consumer finance, and other financial products, which are forecast to have earning-per-share (EPS) growth of 16, 20, and 21 per cent, respectively, in 2021, which shows that the stocks in the Fubon Fund FTSE Vietnam ETF have long-term growth potential with competitive advantages.

Besides this, a per capita income surpassing $2,000 is also supporting a thriving stock market, as seen in the case of South Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan. Vietnams per capita GDP officially exceeded $2,000 in 2014, reaching $2,715 in 2019, and $2,881 last year.

With the long-term optimism of the Vietnamese stock market, Fubon FTSE Vietnam ETF is believed to pour cash into this lucrative emerging economy. The fund is not the first subsidiary of the Fubon Financial Holdings network in Vietnam, given that other siblings, such as Taipei Fubon Bank Vietnam and Fubon Insurance Vietnam have been operating in the country for a long time.

In September 2020, CTBC Investments, another prominent asset management firm in Taiwan, also launched the CTBC Vietnam Equity Fund to cash in on the promising equity market. Set to bridge the gap between Taiwanese investors and the Vietnamese financial landscape, CTBC Vietnam Equity Funds size was initially committed at around $160 million. The total assets of the fund reached more than $278 million as of January 29.

The FTSE Vietnam ETF, which is managed by Deutsche Asset Management with a size of around $400 million, also tracks the FTSE index as a reference.

The number of ETFs in Vietnam, both foreign and locally-run, has increased significantly over the past decade. FTSE Vietnam ETF and VanEck Vectors Vietnam ETF were the first two foreign funds to invest in the Vietnamese stock market, established in 2008 and 2009, respectively, with initial assets of $5.1 million and $14 million. The total assets of the FTSE Vietnam and VanEck Vectors Vietnam ETFs reached nearly $273 million and $457 million in 2020, respectively.

Domestic ETFs rising

Last August, SSIAM VN30 ETF, the third fund from SSI Asset Management Co., Ltd. (SSIAM) under Saigon Securities Incorporation (SSI), was listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX).

SSIAM is managing ETFs since 2014, with currently two ETFs in its portfolio listed on the HSX. With the great financial resources from the funds authorised participants, especially from SSI, SSIAM will create advantages in liquidity for fund certificates, ensuring primary buying and selling for investors with as least differences in prices as possible.

ETFs are expanding all across Asia, not just in Vietnam. Index funds are playing a larger role in markets, similar to North America and Europe, where they have dominated for many years, said Nguyen Minh Hanh, portfolio manager of the ETF funds of SSIAM.

Meanwhile, there is also a slew of domestic ETFs emerging as alternative and effective investment channels. The first domestic one established in 2014 was VFMVN30 with an initial asset value of $9 million. By the end of 2020, this increased 35.7 times to $322 million. Currently, there are seven locally-run ETFs, with total assets of approximately $480 million, cited VNDIRECT Securities.

In 2020 alone, there were five domestic ETFs officially introduced to the market, accounting for 70 per cent of the total number of domestic funds. New ETFs are not only based on traditional indexes such as the VN30 or VN100, but also help local and foreign investors to explore more diversified options. For instance, the VFMVN Diamond Fund tracks a portfolio of shares that reach their foreign ownership limit (FOL), such as FPT and Mobile World.

This is a new investment method for foreign investors to indirectly invest in Vietnamese stocks that have reached the FOL. Launched in May 2020 with a net worth of only $4.5 million, VFMVN Diamonds value now increased by nearly 50 times to $224 million, becoming the second-largest domestic ETF in the market, after the ETF VFMVN30.

Experts at Asian Frontier Capital (AFC) noted that despite outstanding macroeconomic data and a positive consensus about Vietnams economic outlook, foreign investors are still not back in the stock market and continue to have very minimal investment exposure to Vietnam.

Foreign institutional investors use the fact that Vietnam is not part of any large ETF benchmark as an excuse for why they are not part of such an attractive market, while domestic investors and a small group of foreign funds are enjoying the ride. It remains to be seen when foreigners will return, an AFC statement said.
Last Monday, the Supreme Court said that a Hillary Clinton testimony is not needed in a case. She is accused of sending top-secret documents through private email.

She was accused of this while secretary of state during the Obama administration. Sending top-secret documents is not allowed, especially from any US government official.

Hillary Clinton testimony blocked

The Supreme Court on Monday denied a request to compel Hillary Clinton to testify in court. The former Democratic presidential candidate was suggested to testify in a case involving a private email account. She used it to send classified documents when she was the Secretary of State reported the Epoch Times.

Judicial Watch has filed a petition with Supreme Court, and it was dismissed. They did not offer a reason for their decision why the appeal was thrown out. The denial was one of about 100 issued by the court.

A decision confirmed a lower court's ruling stating Clinton is not required to appear. It allows her to ignore testimony about the use of a private email server.

The three-judge panel decided to make a testimony unnecessary. They ruled Clinton, and her former aide, Cheryl Mills, need not to testify. Clinton already responded to Judicial Watch's questions about the case in a different court case.

Judge Robert Wilkins, an Obama pick, wrote in the court's decision that Clinton cleared everything already. Mentioned in written responses that the private server was used for convenience. The appeals court overturned a ruling for Hillary Clinton Testimony from Reagan nominee U.s. District Judge Royce Lamberth.

Who Is Kash Patel? Would the New Defense Secretary be Loyal to the Administration?

According to Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton, he was saying that Clinton was guilty. She enjoyed special protection from both the courts and law enforcement. Judicial Watch expressed disappointment on the reversed decision last Monday.

He added that it was a double standard applied for Clinton. It was a lost chance for equal justice to be used.

Through Judicial Watch's vigilance, Americans may not have known about Hillary Clinton's emails and related pay-for-play scandals. In contrast, they were advocating for more accountability in the courts. Biden's State and Justice Departments will try to shield her and cover up their misconduct.

It was a complaint filed by the watchdog disclosing the existence of the private email server. The server was not revealed until an independent investigation.

Under the Obama administration, Clinton served as Secretary of State. She broke government regulations by transmitting classified information via an unprotected private email server. On July 5, 2016, the former FBI director, James Comey, decided that she's not guilty.

Clinton and her aides were extremely careless in their treatment of really important private information. Comey said agents found no direct proof of any crime. Secretary Clinton or her aides never wanted to breach laws.

FBI officials repeated that Clinton should not be charged. The Department of Justice complied with the request.

The attorney general, Loretta Lynch, said that she talked to Comey and the company. They are the ones who investigated the email scandal of the Secretary of State. But the blocking of a Hillary Clinton testimony stops learning what happened.

John Durham's Russia Probe Will Take Longer, According to AG Barr

Declassifying Crossfire Hurricane Documents, Trump Orders Their Release Before Leaving Office

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Image via Getty/Jeff Kravitz

Armie Hammer has been dropped from another film, Billion Dollar Spy, as a result of swirling controversies regarding a sexual assault investigation and graphic private messages hes alleged to have sent over social media, according to Variety.

In the Cold War drama hes now no longer apart of, Hammer was set to star opposite Mads Mikkelsen. The film was the last one on Hammers future schedule that had yet to sever ties with him. All unreleased projects that hes slated to appear on-screen for had wrapped production prior to the allegations against him being made public.

Since the beginning of 2021 he has stepped away from his future roles in Shotgun Wedding, the upcoming Starz series Gaslit, and the Paramount+ series The Offer. His talent agency, WME, also dropped him last month. And hes being investigated by the LAPD due to allegations aired by a former partner who says he raped her in 2017.

Through his attorney hes denied that allegation, and called the claim outrageous. Hes maintained that all interactions with past sexual partners have been consensual.

He also released a statement when he stepped down from his Shotgun Wedding role back in January, with him saying that the spreading claims made against him on social media are bullshit.

Im not responding to these bullshit claims but in light of the vicious and spurious online attacks against me, I cannot in good conscience now leave my children for four months to shoot a film in the Dominican Republic. Lionsgate is supporting me in this and Im grateful to them for that, he said back in January.

Hammer was cast in Billion Dollar Spy towards the end of 2020. He was to play Brad Reid, a new arrival to the CIAs Moscow station who develops a friendship with a Soviet engineer (Mads Mikkelsen) who hands over spy secrets.

The film was yet to start production. Its not clear at the moment who will take Hammers place.

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President Jair Bolsonaro will replace all three commanders of Brazil's armed forces, his government said Tuesday, the latest upheaval in Brasilia as the far-right leader braces against mounting criticism over an explosion of Covid-19 deaths.

The exit of the army, navy and air force chiefs came a day after Bolsonaro overhauled his cabinet, replacing the foreign, defense and justice ministers as well as his chief of staff, attorney general and government secretary.

Last week, he also installed his fourth health minister of the pandemic.

The turmoil comes as the government struggles to control a deadly surge of Covid-19 in Brazil, which has already killed more than 317,000 people in the country -- pushing many hospitals to the brink of collapse -- with a record of 3,780 deaths in the last 24 hours alone.

Bolsonaro, who comes up for re-election in October 2022, faces sliding popularity and growing pressure over his handling of the pandemic, including from key allies in Congress and the business world.

His attacks on lockdowns, face masks and vaccines have become fodder for critics, with Brazil ranking only behind the United States in terms of number of cases and fatalities.

The defense ministry did not give a reason for the departure of Army General Edson Pujol, Navy Admiral Ilques Barbosa and Air Force Lieutenant-Brigadier Antonio Carlos Bermudes.

Some Brazilian media reported the trio had resigned in protest at Bolsonaro's surprise decision to replace defense minister Fernando Azevedo.

"For the first time in history, the commanders of all three branches of the armed forces presented their joint resignation in disagreement with the president," said newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.

- 'Uncomfortable' -

Azevedo himself resigned because he was "uncomfortable with Bolsonaro's use of the military for political ends," journalist Merval Pereira wrote in newspaper Globo.

There were signs the armed forces commanders were uncomfortable, too, particularly Pujol.

Story continues

He said last November the military "doesn't want to get involved in politics."

The army chief had also called fighting Covid-19 "our generation's most important mission" and once shunned Bolsonaro's outstretched hand at an official ceremony, offering a socially distanced elbow bump instead.

Bolsonaro, a former army captain, frequently boasts of having the military's backing, and has packed his government with officers.

He is openly nostalgic for Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship, despite its rights violations, including the kidnapping and torture of dissidents.

The armed forces have since carefully rebuilt an apolitical image of national service.

But Bolsonaro's hardline base has put that to the test with calls to reinstall military rule with him at the top -- talk the president is accused of fanning.

Bolsonaro's new defense minister, General Walter Braga Netto, said Tuesday the military dictatorship which took power on March 31, 1964, was something to be "celebrated."

"The Armed Forces assumed the responsibility of pacifying the country, taking on the burden of reorganizing it and guaranteeing the democratic freedoms that we enjoy today," he said.

There was no official word on the reasons for Azevedo's exit, but he said in a parting statement he was proud to have "preserved the armed forces as an institution of the state."

Vice President Hamilton Mourao, an army general, said there was "zero" risk of an anti-democratic intervention by the military against Congress or the courts.

"You can put whomever you like (as commanders), there will never be an institutional rupture. The armed forces will be on the side of legality, always," he said.

The military overhaul is part of the reform launched Monday by Bolsonaro, who last week appointed Marcelo Queiroga, a cardiologist, as the fourth health minister in a year.

Communications minister Fabio Faria told CNN Brazil that this is a "new moment" for the government and that Bolsonaro "resolved to move some pieces of the board," as "all governments" do mid-term.

The president looks to be facing a tough election battle in 2022, particularly after a Supreme Court justice earlier this month overturned former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's corruption convictions, clearing the way for the leftist to mount a potential run against Bolsonaro.

Polls place the popular but controversial Lula, who was president from 2003-2010, neck and neck with Bolsonaro, at a time when the coalition that brought the president to power in January 2019 is badly frayed.

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Former Deputy Fire Chief Mike Polidoro has died after his yearslong battle with Lou Gehrig's Disease, according to a post on the the Pittsfield Fire Department's Facebook page.
Indian American director and the BMW Dorothy Arzner Directors Award honoree Mira Nair speaks onstage at the Women In Film 2017 Crystal + Lucy Awards presented by Max Mara and BMW at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 13, 2017 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
On March 9, an article was published by the NBC affiliate in south Florida featuring an interview with the superintendents of the Miami-Dade County and Broward County school districts, who spoke in glowing terms about their forced return of children and teachers to brick-and-mortar classrooms last autumn. Using the language of the Biden administration about a new normalcy, they declared that if the nations fourth and sixth largest school districts can reopen schools safely, then every district can.

It has now become clear, just three weeks later, that Florida is again becoming a major hot spot for COVID-19 infections, particularly among young people. The mainstream media, led by the New York Times, is referring to Florida as a bellwether for the nation, because it is the state that is furthest along in lifting COVID-19 restrictions.

Last week, Florida averaged nearly 5,000 new COVID-19 cases each day, which was an increase of eight percent from its average two weeks earlier. This latest increase is largely attributable to the masses of spring break crowds that were openly invited by the state.

The median age of COVID-19 cases has dropped since March 1 from 39 to 35, likely as a result of the spring break season, and this has been accompanied by a lower number of COVID-19 related deaths over the past two weeks. However, it is well established that deaths lag behind new infections, so one can expect to see an increase in deaths in the state in April and May.

Florida is also the state with the largest number of B.1.1.7 variant cases, originally discovered in the UK, which have been documented as being more contagious and more lethal than the wild type of the virus. Florida has about one-fifteenth of the countrys population but a fifth of the B.1.1.7 cases and a third of the P.1 variant cases, first discovered in Brazil.

The overall response to the pandemic in Florida has been spearheaded by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, a Trump acolyte, who from the beginning rejected even the limited and inadequate restrictions made by other states. In the reopening of schools, DeSantis has had the full support of the Florida Department of Education and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, who announced last July that all school districts would be required to reopen all brick and mortar schools at least five days per week for all students starting in August. As a result, approximately 80 percent of students in Florida are now attending schools in-person either full- or part-time.

The results of school reopenings in Florida have been a disaster, with 90,841 officially reported cases of COVID-19 in K-12 schools. Nearly 70,000 of these were students. There have been 11 pediatric deaths in the state since the beginning of the pandemic, and 42 active educators have died from COVID-19 since the reopening order was given last July.

New daily cases of COVID-19 increased after schools reopened last autumn

Miami-Dade County and Broward County delayed their reopenings until October, because they have the highest number of residents in the state, and Miami was declared an epicenter for COVID-19 during the initial outbreak of the virus in March 2020. After the daily number of cases had decreased in August and September from their summer peaks, another large spike in daily new cases occurred in the winter months following the return to classrooms that has still not subsided to below pre-reopening levels.

The latest increase in daily new cases has no doubt resulted from the spring break crowds which dominate Florida every March and have been encouraged this season by the governor and the state. However, the corporate media outlets have sought to downplay the effect that school reopenings have had on the spread of the virus in the state over the past several months by utilizing data that is carefully curated by the state.

The Wall Street Journal published an article on March 17, stating, data shows Florida started in-person learning without turning schools into super-spreaders. The data they refer to shows that student and staff infection rates are lower than general community rates. However, Florida does not report COVID-19 outbreaks by setting, so one cannot conclusively say that the community rates are not significantly impacted by infections obtained through K-12 schools. In states that do report outbreaks by setting, like Michigan, schools have been shown to be the number one source of COVID-19 outbreaks.

Five of the ten largest school districts in the United States reopened last autumn in Florida

Another element of the data that obscures the real presence of COVID-19 in the population is the lack of testing. Among the approximately 20.6 million residents, only about 3.1 million individuals (roughly 15 percent) have ever been tested. Florida also does not report the age groups of those people being testedthey only show ages of cases, deaths and emergency room visits. Given that children are more likely to be asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 than other age groups, the number of children tested is likely disproportionately lower than the number of people tested overall, which would result in a superficially lower rate of infection among this group.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has used this cherrypicked data to falsely claim that most students in Florida are not contracting the virus in schools. They point to the fact that between August and December 2020, only 25,094 school-related COVID-19 cases were reported among students, a mere 0.89 percent of the 2.8 million students registered in Florida. In reality, what is lacking in this data is cases reported, not positive cases in general.

The misrepresentation of data by state officials today shows why the courageous whistleblower Rebekah Jones was fired last May after she refused to manipulate data to support DeSantis escalating back-to-work and back-to-school campaigns. Last December, the state attacked Jones family and arrested her for presenting data that they would rather keep hidden. She continues to criticize the state on Twitter, recently describing the reckless reopening of schools in Florida as an example of what NOT to do.

The Florida Education Association (FEA), the statewide union affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the AFL-CIO, has glommed onto these spurious conclusions to assist the state with herding students and staff back into classrooms. FEA President Andrew Spar recently stated that school reopenings ended up being safer than many feared. The FEA response to school reopenings last summer was to file a lawsuit against DeSantis and the state, which served as a fig leaf to head off serious opposition among educators and parents to the homicidal return to schools.

School districts are using the intentional misinterpretation of data to press for more widespread summer school programs this year, adopting names such as Elementary summer experience and Smart Start Camp. Sylvia Diaz, chief academic officer for the Miami-Dade schools, recently stated, We are concerned about the negative connotations of the [summer school] name and want to draw people in. With all that kids have been through, this is an opportunity to get the academic recovery started and an opportunity for kids to come back to school to socialize and see their friends.

School superintendents claim that they will maintain safety guidelines set by the CDC, which recently reduced its recommendation for social distancing in schools from six feet to three feet, but parents and teachers say that in practice none of these guidelines have been followed.

When the WSWS asked Broward County parents and educators what they thought about the reduced CDC guidelines, their responses were: I think the students have never been 6 ft apart and Mine are about two feet apart, and more keep being added. This is unsurprising given that the superintendents and the CDC are essentially leaving the mobilization of these important safety measures up to the students themselves.

On March 19, Miami-Dade County Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho admitted in an interview that they were in fact following a one-meter World Health Organization (WHO) standard for social distancing even before the CDC reduced its guidelines. Both Carvalho and Broward Superintendent Robert Runcie have praised the reduction in guidelines, including the removal of barriers like plastic shields at desks. Carvalho bluntly stated, Finally, the nation under its CDC guidelines has come closer to where Miami-Dade schools has already been.

Meanwhile, the percentage of the Florida population that has been vaccinated mirrors the percentage that has been tested for COVID-19: about 15 percent. Florida has only recently lowered the age requirement for vaccines to those over the age of 40 and plans to allow 18 year olds to be vaccinated starting April 5. The rollout has largely been made through commercial pharmacies, such as CVS, Publix, and Winn-Dixie, which are using the crisis to boost their public image and sales.

The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee calls on all Florida educators and parents to oppose the homicidal and unscientific policies of the State of Florida and fight to close all schools and nonessential workplaces while the population is safely vaccinated in order to save lives.

The FEA has shown that it has no interest in fighting for a safe educational environment and is totally subservient to the state. Florida residents need to take this fight into their own hands and form a statewide committee to link up with other educators and parents across the country to prepare for a broader struggle to protect the lives of educators, parents, students and their communities on the basis of a scientific approach to the pandemic. We urge all those who agree with this fighting perspective to sign up today to join and help build a Florida Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee !
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)  An Alabama garage owner has been arrested on charges of entering the U.S. Capitol during the riot by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Court records show 60-year-old Russell Dean Alford of Hokes Bluff was freed on $5,500 bond after an initial court appearance on Monday.

He was charged with entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct an unlawfully demonstrating inside the Capitol.

Records show Alford was arrested after showing FBI agents photos and video he took while inside the building.

A public defender who was appointed to represent Alford declined comment.
British energy major Cairn has confirmed that it has received a notice that the Indian government has petitioned the Dutch Court of Appeal to set aside the December 21, 2020, arbitration award. India had challenged the arbitration tribunal verdict, which was ruled in favour of Cairn, in a court in The Hague last week.

The company said it has full confidence on its position. "As previously advised, Cairn will continue to take all steps necessary to protect the interests of its shareholders," Cairn said in a statement.

Cairn Energy has also reportedly decided to file lawsuits in the US and other countries to seize overseas assets of the Indian government companies as part of the $1.2 billion award by the international arbitration tribunal. These are primarily non-diplomatic assets, owned by the Indian government.

Also read: Cairn Energy to file lawsuits in US, other nations to seize Indian govt assets

The company is aiming for Indian government assets in the US, UK, Canada, France, Singapore, the Netherlands and three other countries. Cairn has already moved courts in these countries to get the December 21 international arbitration tribunal award registered and recognised. This is the first step before it can seek seizure of the Indian government assets such as bank accounts, payments to state-owned entities, aeroplanes and ships in those jurisdictions, if New Delhi does not return Rs 10,247 crore tax demand raised using retrospective legislation.

Notably, the international arbitration tribunal in the Netherlands on December 23, 2020, had overturned India's demand for Rs 10,247 crore in taxes, while ordering the government to return $1.2 billion in value of shares it had sold, dividends seized and tax refunds withheld to recover the tax demand. The tribunal ruled unanimously that India had "breached its obligations" to Cairn under the UK-India Bilateral Investment Treaty and that compensation was due.

Cairn's claim was brought under the terms of the UK-India Bilateral Investment Treaty, the legal seat of the tribunal was the Netherlands and the proceedings were under the registry of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The tribunal termed the retrospective tax amendment introduced by the Indian government as "grossly unfair" and in breach of the "fair and equitable treatment" standard of the treaty.

ALSO READ: India challenges $1.4-bn Cairn arbitration award

After losing a Supreme Court case against levying tax on capital gains made in the 2007 sale by Hutchison of its India business to Vodafone for USD 11.2 billion, the government had in 2012 enacted legislation that gave it powers to tax such deals retrospectively. Thereafter the tax department said Vodafone should have withheld tax on the deal and issued a notice seeking Rs 11,218 crore, later augmented by Rs 7,900 crore in penalties.

In January 2014, the department assessed that Cairn too made an alleged capital gain on reorganising its India business prior to an IPO in 2006-07 and sought Rs 10,247 crore in taxes. But unlike Vodafone where no enforcement action was taken, it seized and sold Cairn's residual stake in the India unit, confiscated dividends due from such holding, and stopped tax refund due to it.

ALSO READ: Cairn identifies Indian assets to seize if it is denied $1.7 billion arbitration award

ALSO READ: Cairn tax row: US, UK, 3 other courts recognise $1.4 billion arbitration award

ALSO READ: Cairn wants India to honour its word and pay $1.4 bn; shareholders to seek enforcement
After the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan in November 2020, the latter immediately set to work on the decontamination, reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration of liberated Karabakh, which had suffered enormous destruction over the course of the Armenian occupation over the last 30 years, an executive director of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Vusal Gasimli writes for Daily Sabah.

The large-scale resettlement of citizens to the newly-liberated territories through sustainable settlement while reintegrating economic activity, is one of Azerbaijan's five national priorities outlined in the country's "2030 Strategy," which has been based on the United Nations' Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Azerbaijan is determined to mobilize all resources and stakeholders to revitalize Karabakh, to transform ghost settlements into smart cities and smart villages, with a particular focus on the needs of the most vulnerable groups  the 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.

The first areas of focus

The foundation of the first smart village has already been laid in the Zangilan region. It is centered on five components: housing, manufacturing, social services, "smart agriculture" and alternative energy. Moreover, according to 2020 U.N. data, Azerbaijans population is projected to increase by as much as 600,000 by 2030. The visionary urban planning based on large economic and social projects will move war-torn Karabakh forward. Azerbaijans goal to hasten the transition to a circular economy in Karabakh addresses several of the "Sustainable Development Goals," such as sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production and climate action. As rehabilitation in a post-conflict environment is complex, time-consuming and capital-intensive, Baku has started the official process with the building of good governance.

The coordination headquarters, which synchronizes the work of major government agencies and was instructed to compile a development strategy for Karabakh, was set up by Azerbaijan's president to address socio-economic, humanitarian, organizational and other urgent issues in the liberated territories. In addition, Azerbaijan has established the "Special Representatives Institution of the President" in Shusha, a cradle of Azerbaijani culture. The other newly-established unit, the Karabakh Revival Fund, will provide financial support for restoration and reconstruction in the Azerbaijani territories. A newly created institution, the Demining Agency of Azerbaijan, has begun work despite having no maps of the mined areas, as the Armenian side has failed to provide them.

The resources on the agenda

Oil-rich Azerbaijan is committed to developing green energy in Karabakh. A quarter of Azerbaijan's domestic water resources, which amounts to about 2.56 billion cubic meters (bcm) of water a year, originates in Karabakh. The main rivers of the region, the Tartar, Bazarchay (Bargushadchay), Hakari and other, smaller rivers, have great potential for hydropower. Karabakh's solar energy potential is estimated at 3,000-4,000 megawatts and its wind energy potential at 300-500 megawatts. The Khudafarin and Maiden Tower hydroelectric power stations, built jointly with Iran, will generate 280 MW energy, whereas the planned hydroelectric power plants in the Kalbajar-Lachin area will provide 120 MW of energy, allowing the region to rely on green sources, as these fully meet the region's primary energy needs.

In addition, The thermal water resources of 3093 m3/day in the Kalbajar region and 412 m3/day in Shusha have great potential for the development of green energy. The key point here is not just to generate energy from green sources, but also to use the most efficient and smartest systems in the transmission, distribution and consumption of energy. The governments emphasis on increased environmental protection in Karabakh, declared a green area by Azerbaijan, is the country's most compelling response to the challenges of global climate change.

Forestation efforts

The total forest area was reduced to 174,000 hectares as the result of mass deforestation during the occupation, although total forest reserves accounted for 228,000 hectares before the occupation. Azerbaijan has already launched a reforestation effort in Karabakh forested areas, and the associated action plan includes the Basitchay and Garagol state reserves, as well as the Lachin, Gubadli, Arazboyu and Dashalti state nature preserves. Forests, major components of the environment, will provide an invaluable contribution to the countrys efforts to reduce climate change, desertification, deterioration of biodiversity and disruption of the balance of gases in the atmosphere, while also contributing to the socio-economic development of Karabakh. Attracting public and non-public investment in the reconstruction of Karabakh sets a base for sustainable economic growth.

In 2021, a public investment of $1.3 billion (TL 10.61 billion) in Karabakh will raise the potential non-oil gross domestic product (GDP). The results will be clear: new fixed assets  roads, electricity, gas and other infrastructure facilities will foster growth in the economy, as well as potential growth in the future. The public investment in Karabakh will be the catalyst that sets a base for non-public investments. The flow of investments from Turkey, Italy, Britain, Pakistan and Israel in the reconstruction of Karabakh are already underway. Karabakh has outstanding development potential in mining, metallurgy, the creative industries, the food industry, knitwear, tourism, agriculture and green energy.

Historically Shusha has represented music and culture, which has enabled it to create and transmit trends in creative industries throughout the Caucasus. This is why Shusha was declared one of Azerbaijan's cultural capital, with the city expected to act as the cultural capital of the Turkish world in 2022 and of the Islamic world in the near future.

The Standard&Poor (S&P) recently affirmed Azerbaijan's long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings as BB + / B, raising the outlook from negative to stable. The agency justified this decision because of a decrease in security risks in the financial sector and a lower balance of payments risk following the liberation of Karabakh and the signing of a cease-fire agreement. Given the multifaceted nature of Karabakhs reconstruction, we can look to financial support from various institutions based on the experience of other nations.

For instance, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) focuses on economic growth and poverty reduction programs in post-conflict countries, whereas the World Bank addresses infrastructure projects and the rehabilitation of education and health facilities. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) provides financial support to transport, the banking sector and small business. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) could serve as a major source of funding for the return of IDPs to home towns, the resolution of health problems in post-conflict areas and anti-poverty programs.

Benefits for entire region

Furthermore, the resolution of the Karabakh conflict paves the way for the revival of regional economic and trade relations and the revitalization of transport and communication ties. The increased economic activity in the region, along with that of the countries of the South Caucasus, serves the interests of all stakeholders interested in the development of the North-South and East-West corridors. In particular, the European Silk Road, Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Turkeys Middle Corridor project and Azerbaijan's transport and logistics capabilities will serve to complement each other in the Nakchivan corridor, according to a recently inked agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Nakchivan corridor will end the isolation of the Nakchivan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijans landlocked exclave, and will, at the same time, embolden Eurasian connectivity.

Azerbaijan is transforming Karabakh into a platform for development, peace and security based on the untapped potential of the region. Initiating one of the best models of tolerance and multiculturalism in the world, Azerbaijan has also announced plans to rebuild the Christian and Muslim heritage of Karabakh, following the devastation of the recent war and the neglect that the region had experienced under occupation.

GREENWICH  She was family to us. That is how one family remembered Carolyn Tarpey, as the community celebrated the life of the Greenwich nanny who died Saturday night after battling esophageal cancer and COVID-19 concurrently.

She was 53. Tarpey died at Yale New Haven Hospital, where she had been in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator for almost a month.

Tarpey is survived by her 14-year-old son, Henry, a student at Eagle Hill School in Greenwich, who had an unbreakable bond with his mother, friends said Monday.

Carolyn has basically been a second mom for me, and I wholeheartedly believe that I wouldnt be the person I am without her, said David Beeson, whom Tarpey took care of for 13 years as his nanny. Her kindness, generosity, and compassion are imprinted on me forever.

Friends described Tarpey as kind, generous, compassionate, strong, loyal and devoted to caring for her son. The community had rallied around the single mother in recent weeks by raising money for her medical expenses and for Henrys future.

Last August, Tarpey began having difficulty swallowing and keeping food down. After several doctor visits and procedures, she was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. She was prescribed chemotherapy and radiation treatments just after New Years Day.

She made it almost halfway into the eight-week cycle of treatments but had to stop when she contracted COVID-19, and then pneumonia.

After five weeks at Greenwich Hospital, Tarpey was moved to the COVID-19 intensive care unit. Shortly after, she was transferred to the intensive care unit at Yale New Haven Hospital, said Joan Andrews, Tarpeys friend and employer of nearly 30 years.

Carolyn was my everything, Andrews said Monday. She never took a vacation in the seven years she was our nanny. She worked with extraordinary energy, love, enthusiasm and knowledge. She did it for us.

Tarpey went above and beyond, organizing holiday parties and researching the best schools, summer camps and after-school programs for the children, Andrews said.

She was our Mary Poppins, Andrews said of Tarpey. She was family to us. I could travel and sleep well all those years, knowing my boys were safe, happy and protected.

Four women who had known Tarpey for years met at Bruce Park earlier this month to share her story and rally support through a GoFundMe page created for Tarpey while she was battling COVID-19 and cancer.

The page will remain active as a memorial to Tarpey and in support of her son, Henry, and his future.

By Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe page had raised about $149,000 of the $250,000 goal, with support from more than 800 donors.

During her hospitalization, Tarpey expressed concern for her son, Henry.

Right now, he is staying very strong, Andrews said. I hear hes doing well. The families watching him know him well. He has a lot of love and support from them.

Becoming a nanny and a mother was a longtime dream for Tarpey, Andrews said.

In 2007, several people, including Andrews and Amanda Vigale, a friend for 25 years, accompanied Tarpey to adopt Henry in Kazakhstan. Vigale as well as Lea Leavitt-Arpell and Stephanie Karp, other friends of Tarpey, were so inspired that they adopted their own children from Kazakhstan.

Words alone cannot express the sadness I feel, said Vigale. We have shared in such life-changing events in each others lives.

I will continue that for her son Henry, Vigale said. He will know all these wonderful memories that he and his mom shared and will always know how loved he was by her and will continue to be loved by all her friends and family.

Carolyns mother, Ellen Tarpey, and her sister, Kimberly Saetta, said theyre thankful for the community members for their support.

Carolyn was a very special person and a wonderful mother to her son, Saetta said. She will be in our hearts forever.

Funeral services will likely be held after Easter.

To donate to the GoFundMe campaign, visit www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-carolyn-and-henry-tarpey?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unknown&utm_campaign=comms_34wd+support-for-carolyn-and-henry-tarpey

tatiana.flowers@thehour.com @TATIANADFLOWERS
Maputo  The Mozambican health authorities on Sunday announced a further two deaths from the Covid-19 respiratory disease, 186 new cases, and 108 full recoveries.

According to a Ministry of Health press release, the latest victims were a 63 year old Mozambican woman and an 87 year old Mozambican man. Their deaths were declared on Saturday and Sunday. Both died in Maputo city. This brings the total Covid-19 death toll in Mozambique to 764.

Since the start of the pandemic, 476,561 people have been tested for the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, 1,619 of them in the previous 24 hours. Of the samples tested, 670 were from Maputo city, 283 from Nampula, 129 from Niassa, 109 from Maputo province, 100 from Sofala, 94 from Inhambane, 88 from Tete, 77 from Gaza, 52 from Zambezia, 12 from Cabo Delgado and five from Manica.

1,433 of these tests gave negative results and 186 people tested positive for the coronavirus. This brought the total number of people diagnosed in Mozambique with Covid-19 to 67,197.

The Sunday positivity rate (the proportion of those tested found to be carrying the virus) was 11.5 per cent. This compares with 5.4 per cent on Saturday (the lowest rate so far this year), 7.9 per cent on Friday, 7.1 per cent on Thursday, 10.1 per cent on Wednesday, and 11.2 per cent on Tuesday.

Of the new cases reported on Sunday, 184 were Mozambicans and two were foreigners (but the Ministry release did not give their nationality). 109 were men or boys and 77 were women or girls. 15 were children under the age of 15, and 12 were over 65 years old. In four cases, no age information was available.

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54 of the new cases (29 per cent) were from Nampula, and 50 (26.8 per cent) were from Maputo city. There were also 26 cases from Zambezia, 19 from Niassa, 16 from Sofala, 12 from Maputo province, four from Gaza, four from Inhambane and one from Tete. There were no positive cases among those tested in Cabo Delgado or in Manica.

In the same 24 hour period, nine Covid-19 patients were discharged from hospital (four in Maputo, four in Sofala and one in Zambezia), but eight new patients were admitted (four in Maputo, three in Sofala and one in Zambezia).

As of Sunday, 105 people were under medical care in the Covid-19 wards (down from 108 on Saturday). 63 of these patients (60 per cent) were in Maputo. There were also 15 patients in Zambezia, 10 in Nampula, five each in Matola, Inhambane and Sofala, one in Gaza and one in Tete. There were no patients hospitalised in the Covid-19 wards in Niassa, Cabo Delgado or Manica.

The Ministry release also reported that a further 108 people have been declared as fully recovered from Covid-19 (30 in Gaza, 25 in Inhambane, 17 in Nampula and 14 in Zambezia). This brings the total number of recoveries to 55,275, or 82.3 per cent of all those diagnosed in Mozambique with Covid-19.

The number of Covid-19 active cases on Sunday was 11,154 (up from 11.078 on Saturday). The geographical breakdown of these cases was as follows: Maputo city, 8,761 (78.5 per cent of the total); Maputo province, 1,278; Sofala, 277; Nampula, 194; Inhambane, 193; Niassa, 176; Cabo Delgado, 98; Manica, 73; Tete, 41; Gaza, 37; and Zambezia, 26.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 10:45:42|Editor: huaxia

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Nigerien Prime Minister Brigi Rafini (L) receives a shot of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Niamey, Niger, March 29, 2021. Brigi Rafini declared Monday the launch of the country's vaccination campaign with China-donated COVID-19 vaccines at the Niamey General Referral Hospital. (Xinhua)

NIAMEY, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Nigerien Prime Minister Brigi Rafini declared Monday the launch of the country's vaccination campaign with China-donated COVID-19 vaccines at the Niamey General Referral Hospital.

Rafini, after receiving his first dose of the Chinese vaccines, called on "all Nigeriens and even non-Nigeriens residing in Niger to be vaccinated because it is extremely important for the health of our populations."

"I know what it (the disease) does and also the danger it represents for the lives of humans," he said.

Health workers, the elderly with underlying health conditions, refugees and migrants are among the priority groups to be vaccinated, said Niger's acting Health Minister Ahmed Boto.

On March 21, a batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Niamey.

Niger has reported 5,001 COVID-19 cases, including 186 deaths and 4,590 recoveries. Enditem
(Newser)  Doctors in Canada may be dealing with an entirely new brain disease that's specific to one part of their country. A cluster of 43 cases is under investigation in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, reports the Guardian. Symptoms are similar to well-known "prion diseases" such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob, but tests have ruled out CJD and variants such as mad cow disease, per Medscape. The first case surfaced in 2015, and numbers have since escalated to 11 in 2019 and 24 in 2020. Diagnosis can be tricky because initial symptoms such as insomnia, muscle spasms, and increased anxiety can be explained by a host of ailments. But over the course of 18 to 36 months, symptoms grow more serious. Patients suffer brain atrophy, muscle wasting, hallucinations, and more. Researchers say five of the cases have proved fatal, per the CBC.

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"We have not seen over the last 20-plus years a cluster of diagnosis-resistant neurological disease like this one," says Michael Coulthart, who's leading the government's investigation, per the Guardian. The cases are centered around the city of Moncton and an area known as the Acadian Peninsula. For now, researchers' best guess is that some kind of environmental factor is to blame. "Everything that we have analyzed so far suggests this is an environmental exposure of some kind that is acquired through food, water, air, professional activities, or leisure activities," says Alier Marrero of the Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton, per Medscape. The cluster came to light earlier this month when a memo asking doctors to watch for symptoms was leaked to the media. (A hunter is believed to have contracted CJD after eating a squirrel.)
A schematic of high-speed 4D-CT imaging system & resulting 3D image of rubber failure in progress. Credit: Tohoku University

Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd (SRI) and Tohoku University teamed up to increase the speed of 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography (4D-CT) a thousand-fold, making it possible to observe rubber failure in tires in real-time.

This breakthrough will accelerate the development of new tire materials to provide super wear resistance, greater environmental friendliness, and longer service life. It will also aid significantly in the advancement of smart tires.

SRI initially developed 4D-CT as part of the ADVANCED 4D NANO DESIGN, a new materials development technology unveiled in 2015 that enables highly accurate analysis and simulation of the rubber's internal structure from the micro to nanoscale. This analysis ultimately leads to enhanced rubber wear performance in terms of fuel efficiency, wet grip, and wear resistance.

Since the birth of ADVANCED 4D NANO DESIGN, SRI has undertaken new materials development using the technology available at the SPring-8 synchrotron radiation research facility. However, the existing 4D-CT technique still took several seconds to capture a single 3D image.

Wataru Yashiro, associate professor at Tohoku University, had previously developed a new method to produce higher quality CT images within milliseconds. The technology, which used intense synchrotron radiation, made the breakthrough feasible. It became possible to observe rubber failure as it occurs at varying speeds, allowing a better approximation of a tire's rubber wear.

A schematic of high-speed 4D-CT imaging system & resulting 3D image of rubber failure in progress. Credit: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.

"As a result of this research, we have increased the speed of imaging by approximately a thousand-fold, meaning that a 3D image can now be captured in around 1/100 of a second," said Yashiro.

Looking ahead, SRI hopes to use this technology in conjunction with machine learning and other advanced data processing techniques to analyze the enormous amounts of data that this imaging technique will generate. On the collaborative side, SRI and Tohoku University will continue to serve as participants in the Japan Science and Technological Agency's Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology Program (CREST).

Explore further Tires turned into graphene that makes stronger concrete

More information: Ryo Mashita et al. High-speed rotating device for X-ray tomography with 10 ms temporal resolution, Journal of Synchrotron Radiation (2020). Ryo Mashita et al. High-speed rotating device for X-ray tomography with 10 ms temporal resolution,(2020). DOI: 10.1107/S1600577520014666
A task force of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners is asking the board of directors of the Casualty Actuarial Society to reverse a decision rescinding a statement of principles of the profession, Carrier Management recently reported.

The CAS action would seem to have limited impact, confined to a single group of industry professionals, but regulators and consumer groups see broader implications that could force states to rewrite regulations or insurance laws.

Last year, the CAS board voted to rescind three documents that set forth some of the foundational ideas underlying three key actuarial activitiesratemaking, reserving and valuing insurerswithout seeking input from members.

The rescindment of the ratemaking SOP provides the impression that the principles are no longer viewed as valid by the actuarial profession. CASTF letter to CAS Board

Representatives of the NAICs Casualty Actuarial and Statistical Task Force and the Consumer Federation of America have raised questions about the behind-the-scenes withdrawal of all three documentsStatement of Principles regarding Property and Casualty Insurance Ratemaking (May 1988), Statement of Principles regarding Property and Casualty Valuations (September 1989) and Statement of Principles regarding Property and Casualty Unpaid Claims Estimates (November 2014). But its the rescission of the ratemaking document that has gotten the most attention.

CFAs Director of Insurance J. Robert Hunter, himself a CAS member, charges that the surreptitious board action opens a back door for actuaries using tools like price optimization to label the final rates determined by such methods as actuarially sound.

While regulatory actuaries arent quite on the same page as the CFA, on March 10 the CASTF unanimously voted to send a letter to the CAS board urging reversal of the rescindment. We submit that the Statement of Principles regarding Property and Casualty Insurance Ratemaking is too important of a document and too widely cited and relied upon to be rescinded at this time, the task force members wrote in the draft, stressing that the value they found in the withdrawn ratemaking SOP relates to its simplicity, focus and accessibility to the regulatory community.

Separately, on March 1, the CAS had opened a formal two-week comment period to invite more feedback from CAS members and other stakeholders, setting a comment deadline of March 15.

What do the principles say?

In addition to defining terms like incurred losses, commissions, underwriting profit and other costs involved in setting cost-based rates (Section I), the rescinded ratemaking document discussed considerations related to identifying exposure units and relevant data, as well as concepts like homogeneous groupings for ratemaking accuracy, credibility, loss development and trend factors (Section III). But the core of the ratemaking Statement of Principles (SOP), from which the document takes its title, is Section IIa section clearly titled Principles.

Principle 1 said that a rate estimates expected future costs.

Principle 2 said that ratemaking provides for all costs associated with the transfer of risk.

Principle 3 said that while ratemaking provides for the costs of an individual risk transfer, it is appropriate for actuaries to consider aggregate experience of similar risks if an individual risk is not a credible basis for cost estimation.

Listed in Section II were four principles, the first three of which are encompassed by Principle 4:

A rate is reasonable and not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory if it is an actuarially sound estimate of the expect value of all future costs associated with individual risk transfer.

Why were they rescinded?

When the CAS communicated its decision to rescind the SOPs via a media statement on its website and in a weekly emailed newsletter to members a few days before Christmas, the statement explained that there are other duplicative documents that address similar tenets and the redundancies prompted the CAS boards action. In particular, the CAS noted that there is overlap between information in the SOPs and a later set of guidelines developed by a group known as the Actuarial Standards Board, whose express purpose is to develop standards of appropriate actuarial practices. These Actuarial Standards of Practice serve to assure the public that actuaries are professionally accountable, the ASB website explains.

The ASBs ASOPs describe the procedures an actuary should follow when performing actuarial services and identify what the actuary should disclose when communicating the results of those services. Importantly, the ASOPs also provide a basis for disciplining actuaries when they dont adhere to the standards.

In its December statement, the CAS noted that more than 50 ASOPs have been adopted in the past 30 years. Given duplication of information in some SOPs and ASOPs, the CAS Board determined that the Statements were no longer necessary and that rescinding them will eliminate any confusion that may have existed between actuarial principles and actuarial standards.

Indeed, there is an ASOP that addresses terms like exposure base and credibility and trends that are also discussed in the ratemaking SOP, and another ASOP addresses homogeneity. Still another even discusses actuarial judgment.

CFAs Director Hunter isnt totally buying into the explanation. He points out that the ASOPs do not contain the principles themselves. In addition, there is no discussion of linking final rates to cost-based indications in the ASOPs, he said.

Hunter specifically notes language that the ASB used in communicating the 2017 release of one of its ratemaking ASOPs to casualty actuaries, describing why that last piece is missing. The 2017 statement said that ASB was aware that significant differences of opinion within the profession regarding certain aspects of ratemaking, including pricing, price optimization methodologies and rate filing requirements, that would need to be reconciled before a comprehensive standard of practice on ratemaking could be developed. Recognizing this, the ASB chose to focus solely on the development or review of future cost estimates for prospective property/casualty risk transfer and risk retention, leaving the development of an ASOP addressing final rate filings for a later date, one that could address various issues within rate regulatory discussions today (for example, price optimization, unfair discrimination and the Principles contained in the current CAS Statement of Principles).

Is Price Optimization Acceptable?

Debates surrounding the concept of price optimization were a hot topic about five years ago. Price optimization essentially considers consumer shopping activitythe maximum amount that a consumer might be willing to pay and the likelihood that a consumer will switch carriers for a better pricerather than calculating rates based on projected costs, such as claims, overhead and profit. Hunter was one of the more vocal opponents of the practice because he believes the practice discriminates poor people and people of color, who tend to shop around less frequently than wealthier consumers, due to potentially fewer market options.

The hole in actuarial standards is a thumb in the eye of CASTF, which specifically opposed CASs prior attempt to change the language in the ratemaking principles to allow price optimization. Robert Hunter, CFA

Providing a summary of the activities of the actuarial bodies on the rescission and adoption of various SOPs and ASOPs, and a mini-history of the price optimization debate to CASTF and to Carrier Management, Hunter wrote, The hole in actuarial standards left by the rescission of the ratemaking SOP is a thumb in the eye of CASTF, which specifically opposed CASs prior attempt to change the language in the ratemaking principles to allow price optimization.

An actuary could make a rate filing today, fully complying with current ASOPs and, in the end, pick a rate out of thin air or rates adjusted by a price optimization or other algorithms, untethered from any cost-based indication. Nothing would prevent that actuary from declaring to a state regulator that he or she met actuarial standards.

And the problem is growing more serious because disclosure of the uses of new algorithms in rate filings is often obscure or even completely missing, he contends.

Members of CASTF, in the letter they are sending to the CAS board, offer a different take. We recognize that there are opportunities to modernize the SOP for recent developments in ratemaking such as price optimization, artificial intelligence and predictive models. These developments can be addressed with amendments to the SOP rather than a wholesale rescindment of the document, the letter states.

Earlier in the letter, the regulatory actuaries write: The rescindment of the ratemaking SOP provides the impression that the principles are no longer viewed as valid by the actuarial profession. We find this especially troubling in an environment in which characteristics used by insurers in pricing are being challenged, quite publicly, for their perceived lack of a relationship to risk.

Bias and AI, Predictive Models After voting to send a letter to the CAS urging the reinstatement of rescinded principles on ratemaking this week, members of the CASTF also discussed work that is being done by the NAIC to help states complete technical reviews of predictive models now being used in carrier rate filings when states dont have the resources to deal with those. NAIC predictive model reviews comment on the model documentation and may flag statistical errors or questionable support but stop short of imposing regulatory authority or recommending acceptance or rejection of the reviewed models by state regulators, according to information shared during a CASTF meeting Tuesday. A public Webex link to Tuesdays CASTF proceedings is available on the NAIC website. Separately, insurance commissioners have recently expressed the view that technology and artificial intelligence be used to remove human bias from pricing models. AI will bring better targeted, more relevant and better priced products to market, along with easier ways to uncover and eliminate discriminatory practices, Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew Mais wrote in an exclusive article for Carrier Management. Jonathan Godfread, North Dakotas commissioner, told an audience at the InsurTech NY Spring Conference 2021 this week, The biggest benefit that I see coming is the ability to truly remove some of that inherent human bias, during a session titled Regulatory Trends for AI and Algorithm Bias. Both regulators are members of the NAICs Innovation and Technology Task Force (which Godfread chairs) and the NAICs Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Working Group. Last year, the NAIC adopted its own set of principlesGuiding Principles on Artificial Intelligenceoutlining the need for fairness, accountability and transparency in technical models.

Addressing the issue of overlap between the SOPs and ASOPs, the CASTF letter suggests that the SOPs were more useful for regulators and non-actuaries. [P]arties that are not closely affiliated with the CAS are challenged to search, read through and comprehend multiple ASOPs, which are often issue-specific. Much of the utility of the Ratemaking SOP was in its simplicity and focus; it applied to all aspects of actuarial ratemakinga true principles statementand provided value even if duplicative of certain parts of different ASOPs.

The letter goes on to offer the example of someone testifying before a legislative committee or explaining a concept to a consumer, suggesting that referring to multiple ASOPs risks the audiences attention and comprehension as opposed to a singular SOP document that is credible, concise and understandable to a layperson.

Identifying himself as a layperson during a public meeting of the task force Tuesday, a law professor said that the word transparency was missing from the back-and-forth between the CAS board and CASTF members. The principles it seems can play a significant role [here]. Overall regulators, insurers and government entities are all being asked for much more transparency. The growing sophistication of risk models makes transparency even more difficult, and this seems to be a minor step back in terms of transparency because the principles allowed people who are not actuaries to have a better understanding of what the rules are.

A carrier actuary offered a quick correction. These arent rules. These are guidelines in the absence of rules, he said, referring to the withdrawn principles.

They are not even guidance, according to the statement issued by the CAS announcing the rescission in December.

While the Statements of Principles were intended to articulate common actuarial tenets and serve as foundations for the development of the Actuarial Standards of Practice, the Statements included several instances of standards-type concepts and language that could be perceived as practice guidance, which was never their intent, the statement said. In rescinding the Statements, the board also noted that the tenets of the Statements were not intended to be enforceable in actuarial discipline cases in the way that actuarial standards are referenced in the Code of Professional Conduct.

The withdrawn SOP also notes the flexibility that actuaries have in ratemaking beyond the stated principles. Since it is desirable to encourage experimentation and innovation in ratemaking, the actuary need not be completely bound byprecedents, the SOP said, requiring, however, that material assumptions are disclosed. Elsewhere the rescinded SOP refers to considerations such as marketing goals and competition to the extent they affect estimate future costs of risk transfer.

What happens next?

During the CASTF meeting Tuesday, CAS President Jessica Leong welcomed the feedback letter from the regulatory task force. I do want to say we take the concerns youre expressing very seriously. We take the professionalism of our members very seriously as well, she said. Given a lot of the feedback that we have received to date, we are opening a more formal comment period that will last until March 15, she said, noting that the board will consider all feedback provided during the comment period.

But its possible that the CAS board will decide not to reinstate the principles.

A representative of the CAS speaking at a February virtual CASTF meeting said that every U.S. state has not excessive, not inadequate and not unfairly discriminatory language in their regulatory statutes, but only three have direct reference to the statement of principles in laws or regulations.

Hunter recommended that if the rescinded principles are not reinstated, then the NAIC should create a bulletin for the states to delete references to sound actuarial principles in rate regulations and laws. During the February conference, task force actuaries also discussed the prospect of developing their own principles or adopting the rescinded principles themselves. Hunter suggested a Model Law to codify the principles in question. But none of the alternatives was discussed at Tuesdays meeting.
The victim regained his freedom on Sunday evening, the police said.

A traveller kidnapped, on Friday, at Osu town, along the Ife-Ilesha expressway in Osun State has regained his freedom.

The spokesperson of police in the state, Yemisi Opalola, said in a statement on Monday, that the victim was released without ransom paid on Sunday evening.

It was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/451863-again-gunmen-kidnap-travellers-in-osun.html">earlier reported</a> that kidnappers intercepted travellers' vehicle on Friday and kidnapped three people.

The police, however, said that only one person was kidnapped and the fellow is identified as Usman, a brother to Seriki Hausa of Iyere town, Haruna Tanko.

Mr Tanko had earlier said that the kidnappers demanded N50 million ransom to free his brother.

However,, Ms Opalola who announced the release of the victim said no ransom was paid.

She said "unrelenting efforts and collaboration from other security outfits to rid the state of criminal activities since the incident of the kidnap was reported led to the release of the victim at about 10:00 p.m. on Sunday."

"The <a target="_blank" href="http://npf.gov.ng">Commissioner of Police</a> wishes to set the record straight that, it was only one person that was kidnapped against the bad 'drop' that three persons were kidnapped."
TLC's Counting On star Jedidiah Duggar, 22, is engaged  and is celebrating with a very generous gift from his parents in the form of a $365,000 house.

Jed  who until recently slept in a twin bed in a shared bedroom in an apartment with his twin brother Jeremiah  will soon be upgrading his digs after parents Jim Bob and Michelle reportedly gifted him a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom house in Springdale, Arkansas.

The 2,180-square-foot home, which sits on 5.78 acres of land, has enough room for a pair of newlyweds to start a family  as will no doubt be the case when he and his fiancee Katey Nakatsu, 22, tie the knot.

Down the aisle: TLC's Counting On star Jedidiah Duggar, 22, is engaged to Katey Nakatsu, 22  and they're reportedly set to tie the knot this Saturday, April 3

Home sweet home! Jed's parents have reportedly gifted them this one-story house, which they purchased on March 30, 2020 for $365,000

According to an engagement video shared on Katey's family's website, Jed popped the question to Katey on Valentine's Day this year.

Surprisingly, the family has kept the news a secret, and has yet to make an official announcement on TLC's website or any of their public social media pages.

However, photos shared by sleuthing fans, including blogger Katie Joy, show the young couple smiling and posing while newly-engaged Katey shows off her diamond ring.

Meanwhile, an engagement video uploaded to the Nakatsu family website on March 18 shows Jed bringing Katey into a freezing cold church decorated with votive candles and flower petals.

Jed gets down on one knee and proposes to a smiling Katey, who nods her head, pulls her hand out of her winter coat for the ring, and half-embraces him in a chaste side-hug.

The Duggars, as many fans know, follow very strict rules governing male-female interactions. In addition to saving their first kiss for their wedding day, Duggars generally refrain from physical contact any more intimate than a short side-hug before marriage. Some engaged couples agree to hold hands.

The pair's engagement video also shows them sharing a second side-hug before enjoying dinner for two in an outdoor plastic bubble and s'mores over a fire, which they feed to each other.

Hush hush! Jed popped the question on Valentine's Day, though the Duggar family has kept the news a secret

Biblical: A video of the engagement (pictured: a post-engagement side hug) includes betrothal vows that the pair made to one another

In a voiceover, Jed and Katey also recite vows they made to each other upon their betrothal.

'In the presence of God and our family and friends, I pledge to take you as my future wife,' Jed says.

'Until that time [that we marry], I pledge to ... stay in the sight of others when we are together. I pledge to keep my way pure, and honor you with my eyes, my mind, and my heart.

'I will protect you by having no intimate physical contact until that day when God allows, I will come receive you as my wife,' he concludes.

Katey, meanwhile, vows: 'Jedediah Duggar, I receive your pledge to marry, and when the Lord calls, I will be your wife.

'Just as the church is set apart for Christ, I am now set apart for you. I pledge myself to you, forsaking all others. And just as the Lord calls His bride to the church to make herself ready, I pledge to make myself ready for the day that God shall bring us together as one,' she says.

'Until that day, I promise to redeem the time well by preparing for the high calling of a noble wife, and, if it be the Lord's will, a godly mother someday. I pledge to you, Jed, to guard and strengthen my testimony of Christ, and to be above reproach in my thoughts, words, and actions.'

Big gift! Jim Bob and Michelle reportedly gave Jed the Arkansas home, which is just 4.5 miles away from their own house

Bros: Jed shared a bedroom with all of his brothers growing up, but he and his twin brother, Jeremiah, got their own place together in 2019

Twin bed Jed: The pair slept in a twin beds in a shared bedroom in an apartment they rent together

Screengrabs reportedly from a wedding website indicate that the couple is already set to tie the knot this Saturday, April 3  just over a month after Jed's younger brother Justin, 18, got married to his 20-year-old wife Claire in a large indoor wedding in Texas.

But though Jed and Katey have yet to officially tie the knot, The Sun reports that they have already received a pretty massive wedding gift.

The new one-story house, which is just 4.5 miles away from Jim Bob and Michelle, has a two-car garage, central cooling, and a covered patio.

Built in 1975, relator.com currently estimates the price at $294,900, though The Sun says that Jim Bob and Michelle bought the property on March 30, 2020 for $365,000.

In the past, Jim Bob has allowed his adult children to move into properties that he owns. Late last year, he reportedly sold a mobile home that he'd bought for $35,500 to his son Justin, 18  charging the teen just $1.

Jim Bob has bought and sold quite a few properties over the years, and now it seems that Jed is also taking up real estate as a way to provide for his family.

The Sun reported yesterday that licensed real estate agent Jed launched a real estate company, Ambassador Properties, LLC, in November.

So far, he has already bought .33 acres if residential land for $7,000, where he may build a home to sell.

Feeling low? Jed's engagement and his large new house should be balm for the 22-year-old, who mounted a failed campaign for political office last year

Lost: He ran for a seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives, in the 89th district, later saying he was 'disappointed' he 'came up short'

Jed's engagement and his large new house should be balm for the 22-year-old, who mounted a failed campaign for political office last year.

Though he won the Republican nomination, he lost in the general election to Democratic incumbent Megan Godfrey (pictured)

In November of 2019, Jed announced that he was running for a seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives  20 years after his father Jim Bob Duggar served two terms in the same government body.

Jed ran as a Republican to represent Arkansas' 89th district, which includes Springdale, where he previously lived with his parents siblings.

Though he won the Republican nomination, he lost in the general election to Democratic incumbent Megan Godfrey.

Godfrey, 37, is a married mother of two with a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Arkansas. She previously worked as a teacher, and now serves on a subcommittee on higher education.

'While I am disappointed that we came up short, I am grateful for the opportunity to listen and learn from so many amazing people that make Northwest Arkansas one of the best places to live in the USA,' he said at the time of his loss.

Upon announcing his candidacy, Jed unveiled a conservative platform, promising to 'fight for sound economic policies, push for more tax relief for all Arkansans, and advocate for conservative values.'

'I am a Christian and I will stand up for religious liberty, I am pro-life and I will be an advocate for the unborn, and I will always defend our Second Amendment,' he said.

Campaigning: Jed espoused conservative values on his website

Anti-abortion: He described himself as '100% pro-life' and says he will 'protect the lives of the unborn'

Pro-gun: The NRA member said he wanted to protect 'our God-given constitutional rights'

'I have grown up in the Springdale area all my life and as a local small-business owner, I understand the important issues facing the residents and businesses of District 89,' he said in a campaign video.

On his website, Jed touted his qualifications, highlighting his role as the owner of Champion Motorcars in Springdale.

He also listed Christian mission trips he has taken taken and detailed his participation at church.

His political experience includes working as a campaign manager for Senator Bob Ballinger's 2018 State Senate bid, as well as serving as a legislative assistant at the Arkansas State Capitol during the 2017 legislation session.

Jed, who is the 10th of 19 children, promised that he is 'pro-business, pro-family, and is committed to putting Springdales conservative values first.'

His website also laid out his stances on several issues, which all fall in line with religious conservatism.

'I am a Christian and pro-life conservative who values the fact that life begins at conception,' he said, promising to champion the 'un-born.'

Religion: Jed, an evangelical Christian, seemed to be in favor of businesses refusing to make cakes for LGBTQ weddings, and refusing to cover birth control in healthcare plans

While Jed and his family don't even partake in alcoholic beverages, he feels strongly about preventing opioid addiction with faith-based programs

All about the money: His website said that he would work to lower taxes in Arkansas

Accountability? He also wanted to create jobs by pushing back on 'burdensome regulations that hurt out small businesses'

'I believe every human life is created in Gods image, and we must stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves.'

On guns, the NRA member said: 'I will defend our right to keep and bear arms and I will take a stand against liberal judges who trample on our God-given constitutional rights.'

He promised to work to lower taxes and 'fight to keep government out of the way and push back on burdensome regulations that hurt our small businesses.'

Jed, who was raised in an evangelical household, also wrote a lengthy passage about religious liberty.

'People of faith understand that worship is not only confined to the four walls of church, it must be lived out in our daily life. Business owners and employees should never be forced to choose between violating their religious conscience and breaking the law,' he said.

Finally, he lamented the opioid crisis and shared his intention to fix it with the help of religious programs.

'We must combat this issue head on by promoting educational initiatives and working with non-profit and faith-based programs that encourage prevention, recovery and rehabilitation.'

Flashback: Jed's dad Jim Bob Duggar previously held a seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1998 to 2002 (pictured in May 2002)

On the circuit: He and his wife Michelle have been outspoken in supporting Republican candidates and Republican-backed bills

Rubbing shoulders: Jim Bob and his oldest son, sex pest Josh, are pictured with Mike Huckabee, who spoke out in support of the family after Josh's sex scandals

Molestation's just a mistake! Huckabee has called them his 'friends,' saying of Josh: 'Good people make mistakes and do regrettable and even disgusting things'

Jed's bid for office was an attempt to follow in the footsteps of his father Jim Bob, 54, who served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002, representing District 6.

He was vice chair of the House Corrections and Criminal Law Subcommittee during that time, and also ran on a conservative values platform.

In 2002, he decided to leave the House and ran in the Republican primary election for a seat in the United States Senate, but lost in the primary to incumbent Senator Tim Hutchinson, with a vote of 71,576 to 20,546

In 2006, he also lost a race for the Arkansas State Senate and has not returned to politics in an official capacity, though he has supported numerous political campaigns.

Jim Bob's oldest son, Josh, 32, was the next to go into politics, though his career was short-lived, getting derailed by a series of sex scandals.

He worked as a part-time political consultant in 2007, and in 2008 worked on the Republican presidential primary campaign of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

He also campaigned for presidential candidate Rick Santorum in 2012, telling a crowd: 'Our family is like the epitome of conservative values. People connect to us in that way.'

Finally, he took a job as executive director of FRC Action, a conservative political action and lobbying group where he engaged in 'taking the message of faith, family and freedom all across America.'

But Josh left his job in 2015 after InTouch revealed that he had molested five little girls  including four of his younger sisters  when he was a teenager. Soon after, Josh was discovered to have an account on the adultery website Ashley Madison, and he admitted to being unfaithful to his wife and watching pornography.

Dreams dashed: Josh aspired to have a career in politics in his 20s (pictured with his wife Anna and former Senator Rick Santorum)

Josh (pictured with Jeb Bush in 2015) took a job as executive director of FRC Action, a conservative political action and lobbying group where he engaged in 'taking the message of faith, family and freedom all across America'

Whoops: He came out against abortion and in favor of other conservative values before admitting to cheating on his wife in 2015

'I have been the biggest hypocrite ever,' he said in a public statement at the time. 'While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife.'

He added: 'The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country while hiding my own personal failings.

Second-oldest son John David, 29, is also an elected official, serving as a Constable. He ran as a Republican.

Otherwise, the family's political activism has come down to voting and supporting conservative candidates.

In 2015, matriarch Michelle, 52, came under public scrutiny for recording a transphobic robocall in opposition to an anti-discrimination bill in Arkansas.

'Hello, this is Michelle Duggar,' she said in the recording. 'Im calling to inform you of some shocking news that would affect the safety of Northwest Arkansas women and children.

'The Fayetteville City Council is voting on an ordinance this Tuesday night that would allow men  yes, I said men  to use womens and girls restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sleeping areas and other areas that are designated for females only.

'I dont believe the citizens of Fayetteville would want males with past child predator convictions that claim they are female to have a legal right to enter private areas that are reserved for women and girls.

'I doubt that Fayetteville parents would stand for a law that would endanger their daughters or allow them to be traumatized by a man joining them in their private space.

'Parents, who do you want undressing next to your daughter at the public swimming pools private changing area?'

She and Jim Bob also had all of their kids record a campaign video endorsing Rick Santorum in 2012.
New Delhi/Alappuzha, March 30 : The Congress is ushering in a generational change in Kerala by fielding more new and young faces in the Assembly elections in the southern state scheduled to be held on April 6.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived in Kerala on a two-day campaign trail on Tuesday, and took out a roadshow in support of Aritha Babu (26), one of the youngest candidates in the state who is contesting on a United Democratic Front ticket from Kayamkulam.

"Congress has more than 50 young and energetic candidates, many of whom are from the working class with humble backgrounds. Our youngest candidate Aritha Babu comes from a humble background and she has worked very hard to reach where she is today," Priyanka said.

Not only Aritha Babu, who was just 21 when she had contested from the Alappuzha district panchayat in Krishnapuram in 2015, there is also K.M. Abhijith, 26, who is the Congress candidate from the Kozhikode North Assembly constituency.

Abhijith has been the state president of Kerala Students' Union, the student wing of the Congress, since 2017.

"The Congress has candidates who are poets and some of them have worked extensively among the cashew farmers and other factory workers in the state, while the Left is indulging in politics of fear and favouritism," Priyanka said.

Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala said, "Rahul Gandhi was keen on fielding young faces and at least 55 per cent of our candidates are fresh and young."
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)  The Federal Emergency Management Agency is offering to pay a portion of funeral costs for COVID-19 victims.

Starting April 1, the government agency will give up to $9,000 per person with a maximum of $35,000 per application. That's because the applicant can apply for multiple people who've died.

FEMA's policy states COVID-related death must have happened after January 20, 2020, in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

They must have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.

Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello hopes this program can bring closure to the victim's families.

"I think maybe the recognition and the acknowledgment that COVID was a contributing factor," said Costello. "So, I don't know if that acknowledgment is helpful in the healing process, but I hope so."

Costello feels it's an important step for families.

"I really think this is just a great opportunity for folks to get some reimbursement for the funeral expenses that they may have not been prepared for," she added.

According to a release from FEMA, an 800-number for applicants will be available in the coming weeks.

The release also says potential applicants should start gathering the following documentation:

An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States. The death certificate must indicate the death may have been caused by or was likely the result of COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are considered sufficient attribution

Funeral expense documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicants name, the deceased individuals name, the amount of funeral expenses, and dates the funeral expenses were incurred.

Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. Funeral assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, federal/state/local/tribal/territorial government programs or agencies, or other sources.

For more information, click here.
A strike appears imminent at the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation after the labour commissioner last week issued a certificate of non-resolution to the ongoing dispute pitting a union representing NBC workers and the national broadcaster's management.

NBC employees are now expected to vote early this week on whether to embark on strike action or not. The Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) branch organizer for the central regions, Alpha Murangi, yesterday confirmed the developments, saying what was left is for the union to officially brief the affected workers on the outcome of Friday's meeting.

"Initially, NBC offered to pay a once-off payment valued at N$7 605 000 for employees in the bargaining unit, which would mean that low paid workers, such as cleaners, will get a once off amount between N$15 000 and N$25 000. However, on Friday, they had backtracked on the agreement," Murangi said.

"As it stands, NBC has nothing on the table, so what is left is for us to brief the employees so that they decide whether they will go on strike or not." Efforts to get a comment from NBC executives proved futile at the weekend. NBC employees earlier this year staged a countrywide lunch protest demanding 8% salary increment, among other benefits.

NBC director general Stanley Similo earlier this year described the salary increment demand by his employees as "insensitive" considering the difficult times of the Covid-19 pandemic. Similo stated that the demands are unrealistic given the disruption caused by the virulent Covid-19, including loss of income for many Namibians.

"During these difficult economic times whereby some Namibians have become unemployed, we cannot continue to be tone-deaf and insensitive and insist on salary increases, while the main shareholder, the government has not given increases for the past four years to its own employees," Similo was quoted as saying.
A giant container ship, that has been blocking the Suez Canal since Tuesday, was freed and successfully started refloating, said Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Osama Rabie Monday.

The course of the ship has been adjusted by 80 percent, with the rear pulled away from the shore by about 102 meters, Rabie explained.

Efforts should resume at 11.30 a.m. to further correct the position of the vessel to stand in middle of the waterway, he made it clear.

Navigation through the canal would be open to traffic once the ship is completely refloated and moved to the waiting area, Rabie assured.

The mega vessel, "Ever Given", will then be technically examined, he said.

Ever Given is one of the largest container ships in the world. It is a 220,000-ton mega ship nearly a quarter-mile long with a 20,000 container capacity.

The ship completely blocked the canal which is home to as much as 12% of the world's seaborne trade, and caused a traffic jam with hundreds of ships waiting to enter the Suez.
Oman Air, the national carrier of Oman, will resume flights to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on April 1, operating four flights per week.

This follows resumption of flights to Dammam on March 28, operating 4 flights per week, the airline said.

Oman Air will maintain its comprehensive safety programme throughout all elements of the travel journey to ensure that guests fly confidently. Masks are required when guests are on board the aircraft and in Oman's airports. Distancing is maintained while guests board and exit the aircraft, which are carefully cleaned after each flight and at the end of every day. Cabin crew all wear a full set of personal protective equipment, meal service has been modified to further ensure safety, and a number of other measures have been implemented to ensure that the airline's guests and crew are safe at all times.

Guests who are planning to travel to Muscat should visit the Civil Aviation Authority website, caa.gov.om, to ensure they are prepared to comply with requirements to enter the Sultanate, it said.

Guests travelling to Saudi Arabia should ensure they are aware of official requirements to enter or transit through the country, the airline said.

Guests departing from Oman should also ensure that they are aware of all pre-departure requirements and requirements during their flights, which are provided at omanair.com, it said.  TradeArabia News Service
California sea lion Moonunit was one of 258 sea lions examined in necropsy, or animal autopsy, for cancer at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA, in a newly released study published in Animals as part of the Special Issue Oncogenic Viruses in Animals. The findings support that genital herpesvirus, specifically otarine herpesvirus-1 (OtHV1), plays an integral role in sea lion urogenital carcinoma and suggests there is an underlying trigger or event that causes the virus to induce cancer in some infected sea lions and not others. Credit:  The Marine Mammal Center

After more than three decades of research, scientists have proven that the cancer affecting up to one in four adult California sea lions necrospied at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA, is caused by a sexually transmitted herpesvirus. The cancer, known as sea lion urogenital carcinoma, has clear parallels to cervical cancer in humans and provides a helpful model for human cancer study.

Scientists have long suspected this cancer was associated with a virus, but this is the first study to prove this theory. The study, which was published in Animals, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal, concluded that genital herpesvirus is a driving factor in the development of sea lion urogenital carcinoma. The research also suggests there is an underlying trigger or event that causes the virus to induce cancer in some infected sea lions and not others. Wild California sea lions have among the highest prevalence of a single type of cancer in any mammal, including humans.

A second recently published paper (Sea lions are dying from a mysterious cancer. - Los Angeles Times, latimes.com) led by the same team showed that pollutants such as PCBs and DDT play a significant role as co-factors in the development of this cancer. This is particularly relevant to Southern California where there is a large DDT dumpsite in the Southern California bight which is also where the majority of the sea lion population gather each year to give birth and raise their pups (How the waters off Catalina became a DDT dumping groundLos Angeles Times, latimes.com).

"The confirmation that this is a virally induced cancer combined with the knowledge that contaminants play a significant role in the cancer's development means that we can use these sea lions as a naturally occurring disease model to better understand how cancer develops and spreads in all species, including humans," says Dr. Alissa Deming, the lead author of the study who completed this work during her Ph.D. studies at University of Florida in Gainesville, FL., while she was a Research Fellow at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA. (Dr. Deming is now Director of Clinical Medicine at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, CA.)

The Marine Mammal Center is the world's largest marine mammal hospital and has been on the forefront of researching and understanding cancer in California sea lions and its connection to both ocean and human health. Since cancer in sea lions was first discovered in 1979, researchers have found that between 18-23 percent of adult sea lions admitted to the Center's hospital have died of the fatal disease. In 2010, the Center brought together an array of international researchers to form the Sea Lion Cancer Consortium to further investigate this disease, many of whom helped co-author the paper.

"This research is critical as these sea lions may hold the key to understanding virally induced cancers as well as how cancer metastasizes, or spreads through the body," says Dr. Padraig Duignan, Director of Pathology at The Marine Mammal Center and a co-author on the study. "This knowledge is an important link that could help scientists better understand various cancers in people."Most cancers are caused by an accumulation of several factors, making it challenging to study cancer in traditional laboratory models. However, wild sea lions experience multiple layers of stressors including infectious agents, exposure to pollutants, nutrition, and environmental influences, all of which are much more representative of how cancer develops in the "real world."

According to Duignan, "the cancer begins in the sea lion's genital tract and aggressively spreads throughout the sea lion's body, resulting in death, often from kidney failure." Because of the advanced state of cancer by the time these patients strand on beaches and are rescued by rehabilitation centers, euthanasia is the only humane option. "This cancer is devastating to see in California sea lions. They come to the hospital in end-stage disease," says Dr. Deming.

The paper was the result of an international, cross-discipline effort, combining multiple techniques from a variety of specialists to unlock the mysteries of this disease. The research relied on novel techniques using RNAscope Technology and Base Scope, tools that allow researchers to pinpoint high viral gene expression within tumor tissue but not in surrounding healthy tissue.

"Our study was the first time that this revolutionary technique has been used on a marine mammal species," says Dr. Kathleen Colegrove, Clinical Professor of the Zoological Pathology Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a key researcher on the study. "This proved that the virus was integral to cancer development and was not just being detected in the reproductive tracts or tissue as a bystander."

Explore further Significant cancer rates in California sea lions have major human health implications

More information: Alissa C. Deming et al, Unlocking the Role of a Genital Herpesvirus, Otarine Herpesvirus 1, in California Sea Lion Cervical Cancer, Animals (2021). Alissa C. Deming et al, Unlocking the Role of a Genital Herpesvirus, Otarine Herpesvirus 1, in California Sea Lion Cervical Cancer,(2021). DOI: 10.3390/ani11020491

Provided by The Marine Mammal Center
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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

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Lebanese Armenian man taken prisoner by Azerbaijan is hospitalized

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Are we getting under the burden? Then lets get under to the end

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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

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Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

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Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

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Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

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Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

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Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia
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PHOENIX  The Arizona House voted Monday to give businesses, nursing homes and others a broad shield from lawsuits related to COVID-19.

Republicans approved the measure in a 31-29 party-line vote, saying businesses struggled during the pandemic and shouldnt have to worry about the potential for frivolous lawsuits.

The measure is fiercely opposed by consumer advocates and lawyers, who say it will reward bad actors who flouted health guidance and endangered their workers or the public. They say theres been no deluge of COVID-19 lawsuits.

The measure goes back to the Senate, which has already approved it but must sign off on changes made in the House before it goes to Gov. Doug Ducey.

Business and medical interest groups have pushed hard for a liability shield since the start of the pandemic. The Arizona bill is one of dozens introduced across the country and in Congress.

Trial lawyers are getting upset about this because they cant take things to litigation, said Rep. David Cook, a Republican from Globe who voted for the measure.

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During committee hearings on the bill, trial lawyers warned that the bill is so broad it would protect businesses from any lawsuit that they can claim is related to the pandemic, even if the link is distant.

Several Democratic lawmakers said the bill should have required businesses to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If youre not keeping your workplace in compliance with CDC guidelines, you shouldnt get the benefits, the immunity from liability that this bill Is proposing, said Rep. Randy Friese, a Tucson Democrat and a trauma surgeon.

The bill would raise the bar for winning a pandemic-related lawsuits against businesses, health care providers, nursing homes, nonprofits, governments, churches and schools. Instead of proving negligence by a preponderance of the evidence, plaintiffs would have to prove gross negligence or willful misconduct by clear and convincing evidence. That means plaintiffs would have to both show more egregious conduct and meet a higher standard of proof.
TORONTO, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mega Uranium Ltd. (TSX: MGA) announces the results of its annual shareholder meeting held earlier today. Each of the nominees listed below was elected as a director by a show of hands of the majority of shareholders. The results of the shares voted in person or by proxy in respect of the election of each director are:

Nominee Shares Voted For Shares Withheld Albert Contardi 32,432,958 (79%) 8,651,002 (21%) Larry Goldberg 36,080,426 (88%) 5,003,534 (12%) Arni Johannson 39,337,602 (96%) 1,746,358 (4%) Douglas Reeson 38,028,261 (93%) 3,055,699 (7%) Stewart Taylor 39,357,647 (96%) 1,726,313 (4%)

At the meeting, shareholders also appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the companys auditors, to hold office until the next annual meeting.

Complete voting results of the meeting are available under the companys profile on sedar.com.

ABOUT MEGA URANIUM LTD.Mega Uranium Ltd. is a Toronto-based mineral resources company with a focus on uranium properties in Australia and Canada and a portfolio of equity investments in uranium-focused companies. Further information on Mega can be found on the companys website at www.megauranium.com.

For further information please contact:

Mega Uranium Ltd.Richard PatricioChief Executive Officer and PresidentT: (416) 643-7630info@megauranium.comwww.megauranium.com

Source: Mega Uranium Ltd.
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Health official proud of residents turning out for vaccine shots
(Natural News) Health Canada has issued a warning about blue and gray disposable face masks, which contain an asbestos-like substance associated with early pulmonary toxicity.

The SNN200642 masks, which are made in China and sold and distributed by a Quebec-based company called Metallifer, had been part of Canadas public school reopening plan. Students were told that they needed to wear them in the classroom to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

Health Canada, however, discovered during a preliminary risk assessment that the masks contain microscopic graphene particles that, when inhaled, could cause severe lung damage.

Graphene is a strong, very thin material that is used in fabrication, but it can be harmful to lungs when inhaled and can cause long-term health problems, reported CBC News.

For a while now, some daycare educators had expressed suspicion about the masks, which were causing children to feel as though they were swallowing cat hair while wearing them. We now know that instead of cat hair, children were inhaling the equivalent of asbestos all day long.

If you have this type of mask in stock, we ask that you stop distributing them and keep them in a safe place now, the provincial government wrote in a directive, which was sent to the education, families, and higher education ministries of Canada.

Face masks are neither safe nor effective

As it turns out, the SNN200642 masks that were being used all across Canada in school classrooms had never been tested for safety or effectiveness. Patrick Baillargeon, who heads up purchasing for Quebecs laboratory supplies, says that because of this, the masks never should have been used.

The risks associated with inhaling graphene particles is unacceptable, he added, and Canadians  and everyone else, for that matter  should immediately stop using the masks.

We therefore ask all our customers to check if they have any in their possession, Baillargeon wrote in a notice, further revealing that at the time of their acquisition and distribution, the blue and gray disposable face masks were not in compliance with government regulations.

Schools and other facilities adopted them due to fears surrounding the Chinese virus, but this rushed, reactionary response is now causing other problems in the form of lung damage.

We are now verifying whether any of these particular masks remain in our schools and centres, reads a letter sent by the Lester B. Pearson school board to the parents of all exposed children.

Any unused masks will be returned to our storage depot while we await further directives from the government.

Back in December, the Quebec government had distributed these toxic masks to more than 15,000 daycare centers throughout the province. None of the masks met safety standards and were later ordered to no longer be used.

Another similar style of disposable mask, known as MC9501, was likewise pulled from distribution throughout Canada after it was determined to be unsafe. As many as 31.1 million toxic masks from this line were distributed before the government realized that they are unfit for use.

Shouldnt all this stuff be tested BEFORE it even leaves the factory? asked one CBC News commenter, expressing outrage over the governments act now, think later approach to Wuhan flu mitigation.

Others called for heads to roll over the fiasco, as well as an immediate end to all face mask use as the coverings are both useless and harmful no matter what materials were used in their production.

To force a child to wear a toxic face mask is child abuse, one wrote. I hope lawsuits will follow.

More coverage of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

CBC.ca

NaturalNews.com
Amanda Burke covers Pittsfield City Hall for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise. Find her on Twitter at @amandaburkec.
The expulsion of the Cuban Karla Perez Gonzalez has turned attention once again to what is a recurrent human rights violation committed by the Cuban State, and, as such, one we will always have to talk about: the expulsion of Higher Education students, in retaliation for any form of political dissent.

Karla, it should be noted, before being an exile, was ousted her Journalism studies at the Universidad de Villa Clara for belonging to the Somos Mas movement.

Moreover, the case of Jose Carlos Santos Belaunzaran, disqualified from his medical studies in 2020 over a political argument with the director of a company in the Mariel Special Development Zone, reveals that in Cuba it is not even necessary to declare oneself a member of an opposition movement to be barred. It is enough for you to think "differently from the Revolution," as Jose Carlos was informed when they expelled him. Endorsing a multiparty system and the Varela Project suffices to get you expelled, as happened to Nestor Perez Gonzalez in 2009, then a second-year law student.

Even animal rights supporter Javier Larrea who was a member of the Union of Young Communists was tossed out for sharing politically incorrect points of view, like Karla Perez, and for being ahead of the country's leadership in his defense of animal rights. In his case he was barred for three years, but this penalty has yet to be applied. Rather, it hangs over his head like a Sword of Damocles.

These are just a few stories demonstrating that Cuba's universities "are for revolutionaries" - a slogan that current President Miguel Diaz-Canel, when he was Minister of Higher Education, in 2009, said would be patented.

Hence, it is more serious to disagree with the "revolutionary process" than to commit a forced-entry burglary, for example.

The behaviors that led to the expulsion of Karla, Juan Carlos, Nestor and other Cuban students are classified as "Very Serious" offenses in the Disciplinary Regulations for Cuban University Students, approved via Resolution No. 240/07.

According to this document, indiscipline is categorized into Very Serious, Serious and Less Serious offenses. The first section includes "maintaining an attitude or committing an act manifestly contrary to our revolutionary process." This offense is considered as severe, for example, as "committing educational fraud" or "acquiring, by any means, the ... contents of the different forms of evaluation in force, before they are administered".

At a lower level are those considered "Serious" violations, which include, for example: "committing, at or outside the study center, an act that may constitute forced-entry burglary."

In this regard, considered "Less Serious," for example, is "committing petty theft at or outside the study center."

A "very serious" offense is punishable by expulsion from Higher Education, indefinite suspension, or suspension from three to five years. For "Serious" infractions the punishment can be suspension for up to three years of Higher Education, or the loss of scholarship rights for one to two years.

The strongest sanction for a "Less Serious" offense, such as "petty theft", is suspension for one or two years from Higher Education, although one may get off with a public reprimand, or have to apologize to the person affected.

In other words, even if you are honest, if you protest, you will be expelled. In contrast, if your behavior does not question the "revolutionary process," the fact that you are a thief is not considered very serious.

He who pays makes the rules?

According to the logic that education in Cuba is free, and that it is only thanks to the generosity of the State that Cubans can study for university degrees that in other countries would leave them in debt for life, it has a right to dictate these kinds of rules for universities. If you pay, you have the right to set the rules.

But with what money does the State pay for Cubans' education? With that of the Cubans themselves. In Cuba, Education is public, not free. The current Constitution even recognizes this in its Article 31: "remuneration for work is complemented by the equitable and free provisioning of universal social services and other benefits."

We know that these supposedly universal social services are Health and Education. But if one can be expelled from college for dissenting, Education is not only not free, it is not universal either.

Fidel Castro did not implement Public Education in Cuba. Rather, what he did was eliminate private education, with the argument that only wealthy students had access to it. But the fact that there is only State education in the country does not mean that all citizens enjoy this right. What it guarantees is that, if you are expelled from the university for your political ideas, you will have no other options to continue studying in your own country, despite the fact that the State upholds the right to Education as one of the greatest achievements of the Revolution.

Finally, if you are fortunate enough to land a scholarship abroad, you will have to leave Cuba to continue your studies. And, if after completing them you return to the country where you were born, where the State violates your right to education, it may banish you.
(Newser)  The trial of Derek Chauvin got underway Monday, and after opening arguments in which prosecutors went big against the former Minnesota cop charged in George Floyd's death, testimony started. Jena Scurry, the Minneapolis 911 dispatcher who called a Minneapolis Police Department sergeant with concerns as she watched a live surveillance camera feed of Floyd's arrest last May, testified that she had a "gut instinct ... something was not right" as Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck. As the moments ticked on and on and Chauvin did not let up, she asked if the screen was frozen and was told it was not, Axios reports. Other witnesses included:

Donald Williams: The mixed martial artist, 33, is one of the bystanders who can be heard on video of the Floyd arrest begging Chauvin to get off his neck. He testified that he recognized what Chauvin was doing from his MMA training, ABC 10 reports: "Air choke is more like choking someone, they still have air to breathe," he said. "Then you also have a choke where it's a blood choke, where it specifically attacks the side of the neck and it specifically cuts off the circulation." That's what Chauvin was doing, he said, adding that the only time the officer looked at him as he pleaded with him to stop and let Floyd breathe was when he said "it was a blood choke."

story continues below

Alisha Oyler: She was working at the Speedway located at the intersection where Floyd died when she saw what was going on. She provided seven videos she'd taken to police after the fact. "I always see the police, they're always messing with people," she said when asked why she recorded the incident. "And it's wrong and it's not right." The videos were shown to the jury.

Williams' testimony was paused and the jury was dismissed after a technical glitch in which the video feed being broadcast to family members became unavailable. He will resume testifying at 9:30am local time Tuesday. (Read more Derek Chauvin stories.)
(Natural News) A current affairs host at the Hong Kong bureau of The Epoch Times was recently threatened by police in mainland China who sent her the message: stop broadcasting programs, or face arrest under the new national security law.

(Article by Rita Li republished from TheEpochTimes.com)

Rachel Wong, host of the Hong Kong bureau of the Chinese-language Epoch Times Cantonese-language talk shows Shi Shans Outlook and Whats Wrong, said she believed she was targeted by the Chinese regime for exposing its crime of forced organ harvesting in a recent program.

Wong, who hosts daily shows on YouTube covering topics related to the Chinese regime, reported evidence of forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China on a program on March 12. Four days later, a family friend based in mainland China was contacted by local authorities.

In an exclusive interview with The Epoch Times affiliate NTDTV, Wong said she received a message from a relative on March 16, telling her a family friend was called in for questioning by public security officers in her hometown in mainland China.

The police threatened the friend to tell Wong not to do [Epoch Times] programs anymore under the current political climate.

They also said, if the National Security Law is used against them [media staff] and targets them in the future, if her parents dont have a daughter, it would be very sad, right? according to Wong.

Last year, the Chinese Communist Party imposed a draconian national security law on Hong Kong, which punishes what Beijing deems as secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Since taking effect last July, the CCP has used the law used to drastically curtail freedoms in the city, arresting and charging dozens of pro-democracy figures for alleged violations of the legislation.

Many fear the national security law will further restrict press freedom in the city. With much of Hong Kongs media adopting pro-Beijing stances, The Epoch Times is one of the few local media outlets that covers the CCPs abuses in China, Hong Kong and abroad.

Wong suspects the recent harassment is the result of a program she hosted two weeks ago, exposing the CCPs practice of killing imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners for their organs.

It is the most in-depth episode exposing the CCP[s crimes] since I have begun working in the media, she said.

During the program, Wong played two audio recordings, including a recording of testimony from a police officer who was on duty at the scene of an organ harvesting operation in Liaoning Province.

The other is of former Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai, admitting that former CCP leader Jiang Zemin had issued commands to kill Falun Gong adherents and sell their organs for profit.

The latter oral evidence was recorded from a phone call to Hotel Atlantic Kempinski Hamburg, where Bo stayed during a visit to Hamburg, Germany, accompanying then-Premier Wen Jiabao in September 2006.

Transcripts were published online by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, a U.S.-based advocacy group, in 2016.

In 2019, an independent peoples tribunal found, after a yearlong investigation, that the CCP was harvesting the organs of prisoners of consciencemainly Falun Gong practitionerson a significant scale. Practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice, have been brutally persecuted by the Chinese regime for more than two decades. Millions of adherents have been imprisoned, and hundreds of thousands have been tortured, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center.

This is the third time Wong has received a threatening message from Chinese public security officials.

However, the host stressed that she would not be cowed.

[The CCP] fears the most when it comes to its scandals, such as genocide, mass extermination, and live organ harvesting, Wong said. If you hide it away, or if you shut the voice down or take a step back, its actually more dangerous.

Wong had a message for the CCP: Any threat or any action they make to me in the future, I will make it public. I do live shows every day, and I can say it every day.

Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com and CommunistChina.news.
The Telegraph

Summer holidays abroad have been thrown into doubt after Portugal was axed from the green list because of a new Covid variant. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, suggested it could be mid-August before Europe caught up with Britain's levels of vaccination to enable travel restrictions to be lifted, raising fears of a second lost summer. Travel bosses reacted with fury to the axing of Portugal just two weeks after it was added to the quarantine-free green list, claiming ministers wanted to

"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
A 2020 Republican congressional candidate who accused her consultants of extracting huge sums while she bombed at the polls is now leaning on them to finance her new political venture.

Why it matters: Maryland's Kim Klacik raised millions last year but lost her race by more than 40 points. It was a cautionary tale for donors lured by polished fundraising appeals into backing dead-end candidates. But her renewed work with one of those vendors shows how lucrative such fundraising practices can be.

Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.

What's new: Klacik is a Baltimore-area Republican whose longshot 2020 bid and viral TV commercial attracted widespread attention on the right. She's now working with the GOP digital marketing firm Olympic Media to raise money for her new PAC, Red Renaissance.

A fundraising email for the group sent this month declared Klacik "rattled Baltimores corrupt Democrat political machine to their core  and now, Im taking the fight nationwide."

The email was sent to a list associated with BizPac Review, a media property Olympic acquired last year.

Klacik also has "joined with" BizPac to promote the website in paid social media advertisements.

Between the lines: Just weeks ago, Klacik was publicly hammering Olympic for ostensibly fleecing her congressional campaign.

The campaign raised about $8.3 million yet paid $3.7 million to Olympic to promote and fundraise for her candidacy.

I actually lost sleep over this, Klacik told the Washington Post of those payments. These companies  its a racket. Unfortunately, this is why we ask people to send us checks directly to our P.O. Box.

Olympic CEO Ryan Coyne defended his firm's work, saying it "raised and netted millions of dollars for the Klacik campaign  helping turn her into a household name, generating many millions of dollars in earned media."

The $3.7 million his firm received wasn't just pocketed by Olympic  much of it went towards costs associated advertising on Klacik's behalf.

She later attempted to walk back her comments to the Post, saying the real culprits are platforms like Facebook and YouTube, and the fees they charge campaigns to advertise.

Klacik did not respond to requests from Axios for comment about Red Renaissance's work with Olympic.

Story continues

Her 2020 campaign manager, who is listed as Red Renaissance's treasurer, also did not respond to inquiries.

The big picture: Firms such as Olympic buy ads and rent email and text message lists their clients can use to hit up grassroots donors.

The fundraising sums can be hugebut so too are the costs of mounting the campaigns. That can mean donors' money is nearly as likely to go towards additional fundraising expenses as actual campaigning.

Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
The Baker administration agreed to pay McKinsey & Co. nearly $1.6 million to study the future of work in Massachusetts, according to a copy of the contract with the global firm that has come under fire in recent days by legislators and Attorney General Maura Healey.

The governors office awarded the contract Tuesday, but until Friday had not released the details of its agreement with the global consulting firm.

McKinsey agreed to produce the report sought by Baker to help plan for a post-pandemic economic recovery within the next seven weeks. In return, Massachusetts will pay the firm $1,596,500, according to the fixed-price contract.

While its unclear how many other firms bid on the project, McKinsey highlighted its experience working in the state and with the Baker administration as a reason its bid stood out.

The company said it has worked with agencies on over 30 projects over the past five years giving us insight into the broader political, regulatory, labor relations, infrastructure, and public relations environment in Massachusetts.

Our experience working with the Governors office and Commonwealth leaders allows us to be hypothesis driven and fast-moving towards strategies underpinned by deep analytics and insights from across the economic landscape, the bid document stated.

McKinsey Director of Client Services for Massachusetts Nav Singh will be the senior partner responsible for the future of work project, while Gayatri Shenai, a partner in New York, will be the day-to-day point of contact.

Healey on Thursday called it outrageous that Baker would give McKinsey, which has been paid more than $17 million by the state since last summer, more business after the firm agreed to a $573 million settlement with her office and other states over its role in helping Purdue Pharma turbocharge opioid sales.

Sen. Jo Comerford also raised her concerns regarding McKinsey with Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders on Tuesday during an oversight hearing on the states vaccination effort. McKinsey has been closely involved with the states COVID-19 response, and Sudders said she would consider the lawmakers objection.

Healeys office has debarred at least 65 firms since 2015 for violating certain state laws, including labor laws, effectively prohibiting them from doing business with the state for a set period of time.

McKinsey was accused by Healeys office of violating the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act before reaching a settlement, but has not been debarred and her office could not immediately say whether it was ever considered.

Administration officials also note that state contracting laws prohibit refusing to do business with qualified and high-scoring bidders for state contracts, though it was unclear if other firms bid on the future of work contract.
Long-ignored truck safety provisions are likely to be part of any infrastructure bill emerging from the U.S. House this year, according to a member of the committee that will draft the legislation.

Rep. Tom Malinowski told NJ Advance Media that the House Transportation Committee plans to include the same provisions passed last year in a five-year, $1.5 trillion federal transportation bill. The current measure, which authorizes existing federal highway and transit programs, expires Sept. 30.

However, that truck safety provision went nowhere. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, then controlled by Republicans, advanced its own $287 billion bill in 2019, which never reached the floor, and didnt take up the House Democratic proposal.

With a new Congress, both committees need to start all over again.

This years legislation will encompass President Joe Bidens trillion-dollar infrastructure proposal, which he plans to announce in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

There are proven safety measures that we know will save lives and I hope our infrastructure bill this year establishes them as a standard that the trucking industry must meet, said Malinowski, D-7th Dist.

NJ Advance Media reported in January that deaths in crashes involving large trucks  those weighing more than 10,000 pounds  rose to 5,005 in 2019, a 36% increase from 2010, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics. During the same period, the number of people killed in truck crashes in New Jersey grew 50%, from 52 in 2010 to 78 in 2019.

At the same, recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board designed to reduce truck crashes have been ignored by federal safety regulators and members of Congress in the wake of industry opposition.

The frustrating part of this is we have the solutions, we have the vaccines to cure this, but we have an agency that is ignoring these measures to the peril of the public, veteran safety advocate Jackie Gillan said. It doesnt make sense, when we have such a large number of truck crash deaths each year, we are ignoring these solutions.

The House-passed bill that was not enacted included several of those proposals.

It gave the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration six months to study the risks associated with untreated sleep apnea and 12 months to begin drafting a rule to address the issue for drivers of commercial vehicles. The U.S. Department of Transportation under President Donald Trump scrapped a proposed rule requiring railroads and trucking companies to test employees for sleep apnea if symptoms were observed.

The measure also gave the federal transportation safety agencies one year to set standards for automatic braking systems and require them to be turned on when a truck was being driven, and told the agencies to set new standards for rear underguards and study whether side underguards should be required on trucks to prevent vehicles from being wedged underneath.

These were very significant truck safety improvements, said Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, an alliance of consumer, health, law enforcement and insurance industry groups.

It is an outstanding starting point for this Congress to start to address the over 5,000 people killed in truck crashes every year. There is so much proven technology. We just need the political leadership to bring this over the finish line.

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A separate bill introduced earlier this month by lawmakers of both houses of Congress and of both parties would require new trucks have guards in order to prevent cars from being stuck underneath.

The measure would require underride guards on the sides and front of all trucks, including single-unit vehicles and tractor-trailers, have those guards added to the list of key truck components now inspected annually, and require the U.S. Department of Transportation to periodically review the standards to see if updates are needed.

Another safety issue  the lack of enough parking for truck drivers once when they reach limits on how long they can drive  was the subject of a bipartisan bill introduced Monday in the House by Reps. Mike Bost, R-Ill., and Angie Craig, D-Minn. The measure would use federal transportation funds to build more truck parking.

Weve seen the need for more trucks and drivers increase significantly, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when trucking helped to keep our economy going, Bost said. However, the number of truck parking spaces hasnt kept pace.

Industry officials applauded the proposal.

The severe shortage of safe parking presents truckers with an untenable dilemma: either keep driving when they are fatigued and possibly in violation of their federal hours-of-service requirement  or park in unsafe, sometimes illegal locations, such as a roadside shoulder, said Chris Spear, president and chief executive of the American Trucking Associations.

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @JDSalant.

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[March 30, 2021] Junshi Biosciences Announces Full Year 2020 Financial Results And Provides Corporate Updates

SHANGHAI, China, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180), a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies, announced financial results for the full year 2020 and provided corporate updates.

Full Year 2020 Financial Highlights Total revenues increased 106% to RMB1,595 million for the full year ended December 31, 2020. Sales of toripalimab reached RMB1,003 million with gross profit margin of 89%. Additional revenues included out-licensing revenue of RMB405 million and research collaboration service revenue of RMB 88 mil.

The research and development ( R&D ) expenses were RMB1,778 million for the full year ended December 31, 2020, representing an increase of 88% from the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily due to continued increasing investment in in-house projects and more R&D collaboration and license-in activities. The R&D fields of the Company have expanded from monoclonal antibodies to more drug types, including small molecule drugs, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), bifunctional fusion proteins and cell therapies, as well as the exploration of next-generation innovative therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases.

) expenses were RMB1,778 million for the full year ended December 31, 2020, representing an increase of 88% from the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily due to continued increasing investment in in-house projects and more R&D collaboration and license-in activities. The R&D fields of the Company have expanded from monoclonal antibodies to more drug types, including small molecule drugs, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), bifunctional fusion proteins and cell therapies, as well as the exploration of next-generation innovative therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Net cash from financing activities was RMB4,414 million for the full year ended December 31, 2020, which was mainly attributable to the successful new issuance of A shares on the STAR Market of the Shanghai Stock Exchange (the STAR Market) with RMB4,497 million through the initial public offering on 15 July 2020.

Total comprehensive expense was RMB1,688 million for the full year ended December 31, 220, representing an increase of 128% compared to the year 2019, which was mainly attributable to the revenue from sales of toripalimab, revenue from out-licensing and service income but offset by the increasing R&D expenses, administrative expenses and selling and distribution expenses.

Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2020 were RMB3,385 million compared to RMB1,214 million as of December 31, 2019. The increase mainly came from funds raised from the listing of the Companys A shares on the STAR Market on 15 July 2020.

Business Highlights During the full year ended December 31, 2020, we have achieved significant progress with respect to our product commercialization, clinical trials, pipeline expansion and construction of production bases, including: Toripalimab was successfully included in the new catalogue of the National Reimbursement Drug List upon negotiations, which will further enhance the domestic affordability and accessibility of the drug.

The supplemental new drug application (NDA) for toripalimab received a second conditional approval for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma after failure of at least two lines of prior systemic therapy.

Toripalimab has been granted 1 breakthrough therapy designation, 1 fast track designation and 3 orphan-drug designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) for the treatment of mucosal melanoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma, and has been included in the Drug List of the Procedure for Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the National Medical Products Administration (the NMPA). The supplemental NDA of toripalimab for the second-line treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinoma received priority review from the NMPA in July 2020. With accelerated clinical trials domestically and abroad, more than 30 clinical studies covering more than 15 indications in respect of toripalimab have been conducted globally, including in China and the United States. In September 2020, the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (the IDMC) determined that toripalimab in combination with standard chemotherapy as the treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma met its pre-specified primary endpoint at the interim analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, international multi-center, Phase III clinical study. In February 2021, the supplemental NDA of toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced, recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma was accepted by the NMPA. In December 2020, the IDMC determined that toripalimab in combination with standard chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer met its pre-specified primary endpoint at the interim analysis of a randomized, double-blind, multi-center, phase III clinical study.

As of the date of this announcement, we have 30 drug candidates, including 28 innovative drugs and 2 biosimilars, covering 5 major therapeutic areas including malignant tumors, autoimmune diseases, chronic metabolic diseases, neurological diseases and infectious diseases. TAB004/JS004 (recombinant humanized anti-BTLA monoclonal antibody injection) was approved for clinical trials in China by the NMPA in January 2020, and the dosing of the first patient was completed in the Phase I clinical trial in April 2020. In addition, it has completed the dose-escalation stage in Phase I in the U.S. and entered the dose-expansion stage. JS005 (recombinant humanized anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibody for injection) completed the dosing of the first subject in the Phase I clinical trial which was conducted in China in May 2020. At present, the Phase I clinical study has been completed and the Phase II clinical trial is underway. JS108 (recombinant humanized anti-Trop2 monoclonal antibody -Tub196 conjugate) was approved for clinical trials in China by the NMPA in July 2020 and completed the dosing of the first patient in November 2020. TAB006/JS006 (specific anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody injection) obtained the clinical trial approval from the NMPA and the FDA in November 2020 and February 2021, respectively.

Entered the field of anti-infection treatment and worked together to fight the pandemic. At the beginning of the outbreak, we quickly launched a neutralizing antibody R&D project (generic name: etesevimab; project code: JS016) with the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) for the treatment and prevention of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in order to combat the pandemic. In May 2020, the Company and Eli Lilly and Company entered into an agreement to collaborate on the research, development and commercialization of potential preventive and therapeutic antibody therapies for COVID-19, and Lilly was granted an exclusive license to conduct research, develop and commercialize JS016 outside Greater China. The international authoritative journal, Nature, published the results of etesevimab pre-clinical research, which reported for the first time that the neutralizing antibody of SARS-CoV-2 can significantly inhibit COVID-19 infection in the test on non-human primate rhesus monkeys, showing the dual effect of treatment and prevention with a value for conversion into clinical practices. As of the date of this announcement, we have completed a Phase I study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of etesevimab among healthy Chinese subjects, and initiated international multi-center Phase Ib/II trials among COVID-19 patients. The FDA granted Lilly, our partner, the Emergency Use Authorization for investigational etesevimab 1,400 mg and bamlanivimab 700 mg together, for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients who were at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States recommended the use of etesevimab and bamlanivimab together for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 outpatients with a higher risk of clinical progression in its recently updated COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued a positive scientific opinion, for etesevimab administered together with bamlanivimab.

Broadened the layout of product pipeline through co-development/license-in and other means. Apart from developing drug candidates on our own technology platforms, we also actively collaborated with outstanding domestic and overseas biotechnology companies to further expand our product pipeline and broaden the layout of drug combination therapies. We entered into a research collaboration and license agreement with Revitope Oncology, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Revitope Limited. The parties will collaborate in the R&D of the next-generation of T-cell engaging cancer immunotherapies that utilize Revitopes Precision GATETM Technology Platform together with the Companys antibody technology platforms. By forming a company jointly with IMPACT Therapeutics, Inc., we collaborated in the development of senaparib, a PARP inhibitor, and own 50% of its interests within mainland China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Regions (Hong Kong) and the Macau Special Administrative Regions (Macau). Both parties will collaborate in conducting clinical trials, manufacturing, and commercializing preparations for various indications of senaparib within the above-mentioned collaboration territory. We entered into a shareholders collaboration agreement with Beijing Eirene Biotech Co., Ltd. for the formation of a joint venture company mainly engaged in the R&D, clinical application and market development of the CD39 drug. The CD39 product has a unique and innovative design concept to achieve high efficacy and reduce potential systemic adverse effects by selectively targeting the immune suppressive cells with high CD39 expression in the tumor microenvironment. The joint venture company will be owned 50% by the Company and 50% by Beijing Eirene upon its formation. We entered into a collaboration agreement with Wigen Biomedicine Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Wigen Biomedicine) for the world-wide joint development, production and commercialization of four of Wigen Biomedicines anti-tumor small molecule drug candidates (XPO1 inhibitor, Aurora-A inhibitor, EGFR-exon20 inhibitor and fourth-generation EGFR inhibitor).







All these collaborations will broaden and strengthen our product layout in the oncology field to cover more tumor types, in the hopes of providing more treatment options for tumor patients in China and abroad in the future.

In order to optimize the capital structure, focus more on the development of the principal business, improve operating efficiency, increase our investment in research and development, and better serve technological innovation, we made every effort to prepare for the listing of the Companys A shares on the STAR Market which were successfully listed on the STAR Market on 15 July 2020.

About Junshi Biosciences

Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R & D pipeline comprising 28 innovative drug candidates and 2 biosimilars, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Junshi Biosciences was the first Chinese pharmaceutical company that obtained marketing approval for anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in China. Its first-in-human anti-BTLA antibody for solid tumors was the first in the world to be approved for clinical trials by the FDA and NMPA and its anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody was the first in China to be approved for clinical trials by the NMPA. In early 2020, Junshi Biosciences joined forces with the Institute of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Science and Eli Lilly to co-develop JS016 (etesevimab), Chinas first neutralizing fully human monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2. JS016 administered with bamlanivimab has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by US FDA in Feb 2021 for the treatment of recently diagnosed, mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients who are at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization. The JS016 program is a part of our continuous innovation for disease control and prevention of the global pandemic. Junshi Biosciences has over 2,000 employees in the United States (San Francisco and Maryland) and China (Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing and Guangzhou). For more information, please visit: http://junshipharma.com. Contact Information

IR Team:

Junshi Biosciences

info@junshipharma.com

+ 86 021-2250 0300

Solebury Trout

Bob Ai

bai@soleburytrout.com

+ 1 646-389-6658 PR Team:

Junshi Biosciences

Zhi Li

zhi_li@junshipharma.com

+ 86 021-6105 8800



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[March 30, 2021] SAFFRON TECH SET TO GROW SAFFRON OFF-SEASON WITH ARRIVAL OF GROWING BULBS FROM CHILE

The future of saffron growing reaches a new milestone as Saffron Tech becomes the first company able to import Chiles specialty saffron bulbs to Israel. TEL AVIV, ISRAEL, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saffron Tech , a subsidiary of Seedo Corp. (OTC: SEDO), continues to focus attention on new equipment investments with the addition of saffron bulbs imported from Chile. The specialty bulbs enable Saffron Tech to continue its research and development plans for growing saffron indoors year-round. Prompted by the companys legislation efforts, Israel recently permitted the import of bulbs from Chile. This purchase advances Saffron Techs POC process, getting the company closer to producing a reliable source of saffron for mass operations. Weve accelerated our plans to revolutionize the saffron industry with the arrival of the saffron bulbs frm Chile, says David Freidenberg, CEO of Seedo Corp. We have an eye on the future and this shipment is another move forward in developing the proprietary technology and protocols needed to grow saffron in indoor vertical farming.



Saffron Tech seeks to disrupt the billion-dollar saffron market with its innovative indoor vertical growing technology that offers an alternative to traditional farming methods. The traditional way of growing saffron is labor intensive, manual, and costly. The production operations are complex with low yield and the plant itself is very sensitive to environmental conditions. The company recently entered an agreement with ARO Volcani Center, Israels largest and most prestigious agricultural research center. As a research powerhouse, the Volcani Center is responsible for developing Israels agricultural innovations and IP.

About Seedo

Seedo Corp. (OTC: SEDO), is an agritech company that focuses on the research, development and commercialization of agriculture products. Seedos technology is aimed at transforming the way agriculture is done by offering a responsible and sustainable way to grow crops in a world confronted by environmental challenges and dwindling earth reserves, diminishing water resources and unstable weather conditions. Saffron Tech is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seedo Corp. Media Relations Contact: David Freidenberg, Chief Executive Officer,

info@saffron.ag

(800) 608-6432



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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has again earned deserving praise, respect and admiration of the world following the successful staging of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) over the weekend.

The Cabinet extended its congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, during its weekly meeting, held remotely, and chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, yesterday.

It noted the tremendous efforts of the Kingdoms national workforce in organising the F1 races, a clear reflection of the countrys global reputation as a successful hub for major international sporting events.

Successfully staging the desert racing spectacle was a triumph for Bahrain under the shadow of coronavirus (COVID-19), the Cabinet pointed out.

It also highlighted the telephone call received by HM the King from the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on the subject of the latters announcement of the Green Saudi and Green Middle East initiatives, meeting the economic and social challenges of regional and international environmental issues.
NAMIBIA's largest labour union has accused the Social Security Commission (SSC) of paying N$3,3 million for office space, without occupying the properties.

These allegations are contained in a letter by Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) secretary general Peter Nevonga, sent to the minister of labour, industrial relations and employment creation, Utoni Nujoma.

The SSC, a national workers' welfare state agency, is renting the involved office space from the Namibia Press Agency (Nampa) and TransNamib in Windhoek.

Nevonga in the letter said the SSC has so far paid N$3,3 million to Nampa for renting office space between October 2019 and February 2021.

He asked the minister to investigate the squandered funds and to take action against the culprits.

"An investigation must be made into the wasted funds, and action be taken against the individuals involved in terms of dereliction of duties, gross negligence and gross mismanagement," Nevonga said.

His letter, dated 26 February 2021, was copied to minister of public enterprises Leon Jooste and minister of finance Iipumbu Shiimi.

"We request your urgent investigation and intervention in the following matter: It appears ever since the lease agreement came into effect, the building was unoccupied, despite the exorbitant amount paid to date," he said.

The building, which was Nampa's headquarters, is situated on Eugene Marais Street across the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.

Nevonga said the SSC is further paying rent for another empty building, this time at TransNamib, to which it relocated 64 of its staff members.

"Further to the aforementioned, on 1 February 2021, SSC staff were instructed to move from the TransNamib building to the Nampa building, which was found not to meet health and safety regulations by the City of Windhoek," Nevonga said.

He said this resulted in around 64 employees having to stay at home for two weeks in February.

Nevonga said the two state-owned institutions entered into a lease agreement on 11 October 2019 for a monthly rental fee of N$193 500.

Nevonga said: "It must be noted that rental monies to TransNamib are currently still being paid concurrently with that of the Nampa building, resulting in double expenses for the same purposes and for two empty buildings."

For the TransNamib building, Nevonga says, the SSC paid N$126 000 in February.

The SSC has to date occupied the property for a year and five months, which brings the amount to N$3,3 million.

Nujoma last week said he would institute an investigation.

"I have received the request. I have instructed colleagues so that we institute an investigation into the matter. We are going to get to the bottom of it and will inform the public on the findings of the investigation," he said.

'NOT DELIBERATE'

The SSC's chief executive officer, Milka Mungunda, last week told The Namibian the delay to occupy the office space on time was affected by Covid-19 and the procurement process.

"When we moved into the Nampa building, it was just a normal open space. Then we needed to partition it ourselves. To carry out partitions, we had to do drawings of the desired offices," she said.

Mungunda said they approached a number of companies who sent them quotations, and ended up receiving a quotation from a company they did not approach.

The company offered to do the job cheaper than the rest of the companies, she said.

The SSC suspected insider trading and had to cancel the tender and readvertise it, Mungunda said.

"After that, we managed to get a company that did it for us, but there were again issues of how they partitioned the offices. It was not done according to the drawings," she said.

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According to her, the process of getting new bids to comply with Covid-19 regulations caused delays.

Mungunda said the SSC also had to submit the drawing plans to the City of Windhoek for approval, which took time.

"They had to sign off the plans and so on . . . The public will think we are wasting money, but this was not done deliberately. It has been a difficult ride, and so much was going on, but everything is completely done now and the staff is set to move into the building soon," she said.

The SSC's board of directors last week announced Mungunda's reappointment for another five years.

TransNamib's chief executive officer, Johny Smith, earlier this month confirmed the premature termination of the SSC rental contract."Yes, I am aware of such a matter. They gave us notice last month that they are moving out, going to another state-owned enterprise. It was so sudden that we will charge them for such a breach," he said.
(WKTV)  Monday is National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

The day marks the anniversary of the departure of the last U.S. combat troops from Vietnam. March 29th was also the day Vietnam War POWs were returned to freedom.

Tom Buono, the president of the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, says its important to never forget what our troops went through and sacrificed for their country.

It's like a welcome home day. Every year we reflect back 50 years ago when we did come home and we weren't recognized. Today it's a lot better, it's a lot easier and again we want to remember our 58,000 plus who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Congress passed the Vietnam War Recognition Act in 2017, formalizing March 29th as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
Posted Monday, March 29, 2021 10:13 am

Southwest Washingtons U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler further defended her vote against the most recent COVID-19 stimulus package during a telephone town hall event this week, telling constituents that Democrats made no effort to garner bipartisan support on the $1.9 trillion bill.

I know that President Biden talked a lot about wanting to be bipartisan, but Im going to be honest  I think it was a failing on his part not to work harder to get bipartisan members of the Senate and House, she said Thursday, March 25. ...they did not want to respond to any criticism we had.

Earlier this month, after the passage of the bill  which granted $1,400 stimulus checks to many and boosted programs such as unemployment  Herrera Beutler aligned herself with other Republicans in characterizing the bill as a bloated Democratic wishlist.

Despite not supporting the package, the Battle Ground Republican pointed to its impacts  billions of dollars now coming to Washington state  as a reason why new taxes shouldnt be progressing in Olympia.

I think our local economies and our families right now are struggling economically. But Washington state coffers are not, she said, noting the states tax revenue forecast which recently showed a windfall recovery.

I cannot state strongly enough that having an agenda to raise taxes really sharply conflicts with the reality that small businesses and families have been losing money hand over fist and have been having a hard time making ends meet.

Herrera Beutler referenced her personal request made to Gov. Jay Inslee that new taxes be taken off the table. She specifically cited the capital gains tax, which has moved through the state Legislature much to the ire of Republicans. While supporters say the tax would target a minority of wealthy Washingtonians and address the states regressive tax code, Republicans have framed it as an income tax, illegal under state law.

Herrera Beutler also warned against any new gas taxes from the state or federal government, saying shes concerned that a $3 trillion infrastructure package expected to be unveiled by the Biden administration could rely on the outmoded funding strategy.

I dont believe the best way to pay for an infrastructure bill is by creating a gas tax. I think its a diminishing resource with cars being more fuel efficient, with people choosing electric cars, she said. But also because people in Washington state have been hit with some of the highest gas taxes in the nation.

In Washington, motorists currently pay $.49 on the gallon, compared to the federal rate of $.18.

Once revealed, the infrastructure package should be bipartisan, Herrera Beutler said. Theres no ifs ands or buts about it.

In a poll conducted during the town hall event, participants ranked economic recovery and immigration as their top priorities. And when asked about the latter, Herrera Beutler began with her support for a robust seasonal worker program, citing migrant workers who grow shellfish or pick fruit throughout her district.

I also believe we need to have control of our borders. Its not a crazy concept to say we will decide who comes in and who goes out. Every major country in the world does this. Every single one, she said.

The sixth-term representative also highlighted the partisanship around immigration, saying shes only gotten a chance to vote on an immigration bill two or three times in all her years in Congress due to contention around the issue.

To address the issues at the southern border, she told constituents that Democrats and Republicans will need to quit demonizing the other side.

Make no mistake. If anyone tells you theyre going to be able to do this and its only a partisan bill, its not going to stick.
HOLYOKE  An Idaho veterans home administrator and a long-term care executive from Longmeadow are the finalists for the top post at the Holyoke Soldiers Home, trustees have confirmed.

Rick Holloway, administrator for the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise, Idaho, and Robert Engell, administrator for the Overlook Masonic Health Care Center in Charlton, emerged as the candidates after a nationwide search.

An 11-member search committee including the seven Soldiers Home trustees will interview the candidates during a public meeting starting Tuesday at 5 p.m. The committee will formally vote on their top choice on April 1.

The winner will replace former Holyoke Soldiers Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh, suspended on this day last year amid a COVID-19 outbreak at the state-run facility. At least 77 of the homes veterans died after testing positive for the virus last year. Walsh ultimately resigned and is facing criminal neglect charges linked to the outbreak, along with former medical director Dr. David Clinton. Both have denied claims of any wrongdoing.

The tragedy brought an unwelcome spotlight on the home, triggered the firings and resignations of its top staff and the states secretary of veterans services. It also prompted statewide calls for reform, including plans for a new, $400 million state-of-the-art facility on Cherry Street.

News reports show the Boise veterans home also struggled to keep the virus out of the facility but experienced only small outbreaks among patients and staff.

A new story will be posted with details from tonights interviews.

Related content:
The hospital at the centre of an outbreak in Brisbane has been placed into lockdown for the second time in a month, as authorities scramble to stamp out two clusters.

Queensland Health on Tuesday evening confirmed the state's second biggest hospital, the Princess Alexandra, has been placed into lockdown as a precaution.

'In light of the recent cases of COVID-19 that have been linked to ward 5D at Princess Alexandra (PA) Hospital, a decision has been made for PA Hospital to go into lockdown today,' a spokesperson said.

'This additional lockdown will enable PA Hospital to put in place processes to manage impacts associated with these linked cases.'

Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane was put into lock down on Tuesday night as the city's Covid cluster surges to 15 cases

The lockdown will be in place until at least Thursday evening, but Professor Kelly says the outbreak is escalating

About 2.5 million people in Greater Brisbane were ordered into a snap three-day lockdown on Monday afternoon

The hospital will also continue to test all staff that have worked in the COVID-19 ward since March 19.

The nearby Mater Mothers' Hospital has also sent home staff - including midwives and doctors - after a recent visitor tested positive to the virus, according to the ABC.

The person visited the private maternity section as well as a nearby coffee shop popular with staff.

Another eight locally transmitted virus vases were announced on Tuesday, as the premier confirmed two distinct clusters were spreading in Queensland.

Both clusters are genomically linked to two Princess Alexandra Hospital staff who tested positive.

The first cluster is genomically linked to a PA Hospital doctor who tested positive on March 12, which sent the hospital into lockdown for a number of days.

The cases linked to the doctor include two men in northern Brisbane, the brother of one of the men, and two colleagues of the other.

Genomic testing is underway to confirm another two cases are linked to that cluster.

The second cluster is linked to a PA Hospital nurse and her sister.

A close contact, and another five people who went to a hen's party with the pair in Byron Bay, tested positive in Brisbane and the Gold Coast overnight.

The confirmation that two clusters are at work has triggered concern the Greater Brisbane lockdown may be expanded and extended.

'The steps that we took to go into this lockdown, as you can see by those numbers of community transmission today, were absolutely the right call,' Ms Palaszczuk told reporters.

'We just have to take this day by day.'

More cases are expected, she said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says six new cases are genomically linked to or close contacts of seven existing infections, while the other two are under investigation

There are now more than 60 potential virus exposure sites across Greater Brisbane, the Gold Coast and central Queensland

'The big question will be whether or not we see unlinked community transmission.'

There are now more than 60 potential virus exposure sites across Greater Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Gladstone, Hervey Bay and Gin Gin.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has left open the door to expand the lockdown to other regions.

'The message here is that people should be on alert, no matter where they are in Queensland,' Dr Young said.

About 2.5 million people in Greater Brisbane were ordered into a snap three-day lockdown on Monday afternoon.

Hundreds more people around the state who have visited Brisbane since March 20 are also under orders to stay at home and self-isolate.

The 15 locally acquired cases from recent weeks are related to two clusters, both of which came from the Princess Alexandra Hospital

Greater Brisbane has been declared a COVID-19 hotspot for the purpose of Commonwealth support.

Queensland has also mandated that healthcare workers must have received their first vaccine dose to be able to treat COVID-19 patients.

The state opposition supports the move but said it should have happened sooner, criticising the vaccine rollout as sluggish.

'It stands to reason that maybe if these staff had been vaccinated (or) not been treating COVID-positive cases, then we might not be in a lockdown,' shadow health minister Ros Bates said.

More than 41,000 frontline workers have received their first jab already, but only about 7000 are fully vaccinated.
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Ruth Langsford has opened up about being sexually harrassed as a school girl. (Getty Images)

Ruth Langsford has revealed she was sexually assaulted on a crowded train as a school girl.

The Loose Women presenter - who grew up in Singapore, Libya, London and Cornwall, and also attended boarding school as her father was a British army officer - has revealed she experienced several incidents of sexual harassment between the ages of 11 and 16 which she never reported.

Langsford, 61, wrote in her column in Best magazine: "I was flashed at more than once, followed a few times and a man once put his hand up my skirt on a crowded train.

Read more: Eamonn Holmes determined to win battle with chronic pain and insomnia

"These incidents all happened to me between the ages of about 11 and 16. I now ask myself why I didn't shout, scream, kick up a fuss, report them to an official - all the things I would urge any girl or woman to do today."

Ruth Langsford co-hosted 'This Morning' with husband Eaomnn Holmes (ITV)

The TV presenter said she felt moved by the murder of Sarah Everard to highlight that women have endured sexual harassment by men for many years.

She said: "In my case, my earliest recollections all centred around travelling to and from school in London.

"The Tube was my mode of transport and in the Seventies, it also seemed that perverts and predators were drawn to the same routes I took like wasps to jam.

"I was young and nobody talked about these things then, so I didn't know what to do... so I did nothing. Just kept my wits about me and hoped it wouldn't happen again."

Langsford added: "Sarah Everard's death marks a line in the sand. No more writing off stalking, exposing and sexual harassment as simply weird or odd behaviour... something that women grit their teeth and bear.

"It's time to serve notice on bad men (not all men). Enough is enough  this ends here."

Langsford - who has been married to This Morning co-presenter Eamonn Holmes since 2010, added that her husband "respects, champions and defends women".

Read more: Ruth Langsford says Eamonn Holmes 'makes her feel sexy at 60'

Story continues

Everard, a former Durham University student went missing on 3 March while walking home after visiting a friend in south London, and her body was found in woodland near Ashford in Kent a week later. A police officer was arrested on suspicion of her murder.

Ruth Langsford was reacting to the death of Sarah Everard whose body was found after she walked home alone. (PA)

Her death sparked an outpouring from women on social media speaking out about fearing of being attacked while out walking alone.

A subsequent vigil held in her memory ended in police violence.

Watch: Ruth Langsford on working with husband Eamonn Holmes
WINNIPEG, MB, March 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Medicure Inc. ("Medicure" or the "Company") (TSXV: MPH) (OTC: MCUJF), announced today that it will be participating in Renmark Financial Communications Inc.'s live Virtual Non-Deal Roadshow Series to discuss its latest investor presentation on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 1:00 PM EST (12:00 PM CST, 11:00 AM MST). Medicure welcomes stakeholders, investors, and other individual followers to register and attend this live event.

The presentation will feature Dr. Albert Friesen, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board. Topics to be covered will include the latest investor presentation followed by a live Q&A. Investors interested in participating in this event will need to register using the link below. As a reminder, registration for the live event may be limited but access to the replay after the event will be on the Company's website (www.medicure.com).

REGISTER HERE:

https://www.renmarkfinancial.com/events/renmark-virtual-non-deal-roadshow-tsx-v-mph/2021-03-30-170000

To ensure smooth connectivity, please access this link using the latest version of Google Chrome.

About Medicure Inc.

Medicure is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for the U.S. cardiovascular market. The present focus of the Company is the marketing and distribution of AGGRASTAT (tirofiban hydrochloride) injection and ZYPITAMAG (pitavastatin) tablets in the United States, where they are sold through the Company's U.S. subsidiary, Medicure Pharma Inc. Medicure also operates Marley Drug, Inc. ("Marley"), a pharmacy located in North Carolina that offers an Extended Supply mail order drug program serving all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Marley is committed to improving the health status of its patients and the communities they serve while reducing overall health care costs for employers and other health care consumers. For more information visit www.marleydrug.com. To learn more about The Extended Supply Generic Drug Program call 800.286.6781 or email [email protected]. For more information on Medicure please visit www.medicure.com. For additional information about AGGRASTAT, refer to the full Prescribing Information. For additional information about ZYPITAMAG, refer to the full Prescribing Information.

About Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Founded in 1999, Renmark Financial Communications Inc. is North America's leading retail investor relations firm. Employing a strategic and comprehensive mix of exposure tactics; Renmark hosts Virtual Non-Deal Roadshows as well as in-person corporate presentations and maintains daily communications with thousands of brokers and money managers across Canada and the United States. Renmark empowers its publicly-traded clientele to maximize their visibility within the financial community and strengthen their investor audience.

SOURCE Medicure Inc.

Related Links

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Can Canadian couples aspiring to become millionaires someday realize the dream? The road to wealth is open, but it requires a concerted effort and financial discipline from each individual. A Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) could be one investment vehicle, because money growth is generally tax-free.

Lets put forward the assumption that the partners are both 25 years old. If the goal is to have $1 million by age 40, each person should have $181,250 in funds invested in an asset that offers a 7% total return. The capital should compound to $1,000,148.93 in 15 years.

Explore the possibilities

The investment amount required to reach $1 million in 15 years is a bit daunting. However, couples can explore other possibilities that would bring them closer to the target. I would assume further that the individual partners have opened a TFSA.

Each individual qualified for the TFSA when they turned 18 years old. Since TFSA contributions accumulate, the available contribution room in 2021 is $50,000 per person. The next step is to pick suitable investments for the TFSA. One spouse can invest in Enbridge (TSX:ENB)(NYSE:ENB), while the other can invest in True North Commercial (TSX:TNT.UN).

The energy stock and real estate investment trust (REIT) pay an average dividend yield of 7.8%. An investment of $100,000 will double in 9.23 years. The capital will swell to $308,518.64 in 15 years. My point here is that its all about time and money for aspiring millionaires. If youre still short of the goal, you can be flexible and extend the time frame longer.

Always a core holding

Enbridge is a no-brainer buy, as its a core holding in any stock portfolio. The $94.33 billion energy infrastructure company is a Dividend Aristocrat. Besides transporting, collecting, processing, and storing oil and gas, Enbridge is Canadas largest natural gas distributor.

The company operates high-quality liquids and natural gas infrastructure assets. It owns more than 216,000 kilometres of natural gas and active crude pipelines. The extensive network stretches across North America and the Gulf of Mexico.

Story continues

While the energy sector is volatile, the majority of Enbridges revenues are hardly affected by volume and price. The robust and stable cash flows come from long-term service contracts. The charges for the services are mainly regulated.

Passive-income machine

True North isnt the largest REIT in Canada, with its $608.73 million market capitalization. The tenant base reflects the resiliency and enduring leasing business. This REIT has 48 commercial properties only, yet occupancy and lessee retention rates are consistently high.

Of the total real estate portfolio, Canadas federal government is the anchor tenant in 13 commercial buildings. Provincial governments are also tenants in five rental properties. REITs are ideal alternatives to direct real estate ownership. Investors act as mock landlords minus the headaches of genuine lessors.

True North is one of TSXs passive-income machines today with its ultra-high 8.43% dividend. Couples get value for money from the less than $10 share price (only $7.05). You have a pure dividend play that could help start the journey to $1 million.

Time is a crucial resource

Young couples most significant advantage is time. Investments could double or even quadruple over time due to the power of compounding. If a couple can start saving and investing early, the team could be millionaires sooner rather than later.

The post Canadian Couples: Heres How to Make $1 Million by Age 40 appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

More reading

Fool contributor Christopher Liew has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Enbridge.

The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2021
Kenya Railways has announced changes in the timing of some of its Nairobi Commuter Services trains which are scheduled to take effect from Monday evening.

The affected routes include Embakasi, Syokimau, Ruiru, Kikuyu and Athi River.

According to Kenya Railways, two trains will be departing Nairobi Central Station at 5pm and 5:30 pm destined for Embakasi while Syokimau-bound trains will leave at 4:30pm and 5:20pm.

The train bound for Ruiru is scheduled to depart at 4:30pm, Kikuyu (4:35pm) and Athi River (4:50pm).

"To enable our passengers comply with the directives put in place by the government of Kenya to contain the spread of Covid-19, we have adjusted the following timings on the evening schedule effective today march 29, 2021 till further notice," said Kenya Railways.

The changes come in the wake of new directives issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta last week to help combat the rising numbers of Covid-19 infections across the country.

Nairobi is one of the counties put on the spotlight by the government and is leading in daily confirmed Covid-19 infection rates.

Some of the measures put in place include cessation of movement into and out of the city, alongside Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos and Nakuru counties.

President Kenyatta also increased curfew hours to now begin at 8pm and end at 4am daily.

Catch the commuter train home this evening at the below times.. pic.twitter.com/gZo2Av6RK5

- Kenya Railways (@KenyaRailways_) March 29, 2021
Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the lawsuit against Advanced Home Health, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

The Sacramento employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a complaint alleging that Advanced Home Health, Inc. violated various California labor laws. The lawsuit against Advanced Home Health, Inc., Case No. 34-2021-00295374, is currently pending in the Sacramento County Superior Court of the State of California. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here.

According to the lawsuit filed, Advanced Home Health, Inc. allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse employees for required business expenses, and (f) failed to provide wages when due, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in Labor Code Sections  201, 202, 203, 226, 226.7, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802 and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct.

Cal. Lab. Code  2808 expressly states that "an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties..." During employment, PLAINTIFF and other CALIFORNIA CLASS Members were allegedly required to use their personal cellular phones and personal vehicles for DEFENDANT's alleged benefit. As a result, they allegedly incurred unreimbursed business expenses.

For more information about the lawsuit against Advanced Home Health, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today.

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On Tuesday, March 30, the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is conducting searches of persons involved in the activities of the Ukrainian Choice public organization, a law enforcement source told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to the press service of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on the website, 20 searches were carried out at the management and representatives of the Ukrainian Choice organizatio. Corresponding measures are carried out with the aim of documenting the illegal activities of these persons.

Investigative actions took place in more than ten regions of the country, the seized evidence base was added to the case file.

"In the course of the pretrial investigation, their assistance to the illegal referendum and elections in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and in the city of Sevastopol in March 2014 is being checked," the SBU said.

The pretrial investigation continues. Investigative actions are carried out under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

In turn, the press service of the Opposition Platform - For Life party said on its website that on March 30, representatives of the SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) conducted 12 searches of members of the party and activists of the Ukrainian Choice public movement in Kyiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Kherson, Khmelnytsky, Kirovograd, Zakarpattia regions and Kyiv.

The party said that investigative actions were unlawful and such that "they are of a custom-made nature."

As reported, on March 25, the SBU conducted searches in the offices of the All-Ukrainian public movement "Ukrainian Choice - the Right of the People," whose leader is Viktor Medvedchuk, the law enforcement source told Interfax-Ukraine.

"There is reason to believe that the leadership of Ukrainian Choice, which is located in Kyiv, continues to coordinate the activities of its members in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, despite attempts to publicly distance themselves from the illegal actions of their colleagues on the peninsula," the agency's source said.
Governor Bill Lee re-introduced the Mental Health Trust Fund in a renewed proposal to assist K-12 families who are facing significant mental health issues in the wake of COVID-19. This proposal allocates $250 million in available funds to create strong mental health services for school-aged students through a systemwide, evidence-based approach.

The mental health of all Tennessee students is essential to their safety, education and success beyond the classroom, said Governor Lee. While my administration proposed these critical mental health supports last year, we now have the available funding and a greater need than ever before to ensure our students have access to mental health resources. I thank the members of the General Assembly for their partnership in this important effort.



We know the earlier we can intervene, the better outcomes are for children and families, said TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams, LCSW. The services that will be funded by this investment will allow us to increase the services available from community mental health providers and schools, preventing children from entering mental health crisis situations and ending up in an emergency room.



Services supported by the Mental Health Trust Fund would include:



Direct clinical services in schools

Mental health awareness and promotion

Suicide prevention and postvention strategies

Trauma-informed programs and practices

Violence and bullying prevention

Project Basic , which includes mental health supports

There is a significant need for strong K-12 mental health supports:

Nationally, one in five children has a mental health diagnosis in any given year

Over 60% of children who receive mental health services do so through their school

Youth mental health has worsened in the last decade: From 2014 to 2019, the prevalence of Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in Tennessee youth ages 12-17 increased from 9.1%

The approximate prevalence of any mental illness in the past year among Tennessee youth is about 300,000

In January 2021, Tennessee ranked 28th in overall mental health and 34th overall in youth mental health

School closures during COVID-19 limited students access to mental health services and caused a pause in critical mental health reporting

Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports

The Lee administration has taken strong action to address mental health:

 Behavioral Health Safety Net for Children: Essential mental health supports for uninsured children age 3-17 beginning September 2020

 School Based Behavioral Health Liaison (SBBHL) Expansion: Expanded proven program to all 95 counties

 TN Suicide Prevention Network: Expanded regional directors to increase coverage and boosted training in suicide prevention

 Youth and Young adult Mental Health Awareness and Promotion: Funding granted to three separate programs that reached more than 11,000 individuals
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces it is advising Opus 2, a portfolio company of Five Arrows Principal Investments (FAPI), on its pending acquisition by Astorg Partners (Astorg). Opus 2 is a leading provider of integrated software and services for the global legal disputes market. The transaction is being led by Thierry Monjauze, Julien Oussadon and Mathew Tsui of the Harris Williams Technology Group and John Levy of the firms London office.

Under Opus 2 Founder Graham Smith-Bernals leadership and with FAPIs support and partnership, Opus 2 has solidified its position as a trusted partner to its clients in the legal community across the globe, said Thierry Monjauze, a managing director at Harris Williams. It was a pleasure advising Opus 2 and the shareholders on this transaction, representing our third legal software transaction in the past nine months and our 10th technology transaction announced in 2021. We look forward to watching the companys next chapter as they continue to expand in the U.K. and internationally across litigation, arbitration and other legal practice areas.

Opus 2 has been at the forefront of technological innovation across the legal sector and we continue to see phenomenal interest in the space. With a clearly differentiated software and services offering, combined with a leading market position and management team, Opus 2 has an exciting path ahead of them for their next stage of growth, added Julien Oussadon, a managing director at Harris Williams.

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in London, Opus 2 is a leading provider of integrated software and services used in legal disputes around the world. Opus 2s cloud-based collaboration software is designed for case preparation and multi-party hearings enabling all stakeholders to work on a single platform. Opus 2 provides associated technology-enabled services including court reporting and real-time transcription, as well as virtual hearing services. The business has a blue-chip, global client base, including all of the top 50 U.K. law firms and 88% of the AmLaw 50 firms in the U.S. Opus 2 is the U.K. market leader and has started expanding rapidly at an international level in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region; North America; and Asia Pacific.

FAPI is the European private equity arm of Rothschild & Cos Merchant Banking business. Merchant Banking manages over 15 billion globally which includes approximately 3.8 billion dedicated to corporate private equity, as well as a series of funds dedicated to senior and junior credits, primary and secondary fund investing, and co-investments, with offices in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles and Luxembourg. FAPI is focused on investing in middle market companies with highly defensible market positions; strong management teams; business models with high visibility of organic unit volume growth and strong free cash flow conversion; and multiple operational levers that can be used to unlock latent value. Sectors are limited to data and software, technology-enabled business services and healthcare.

Astorg is a leading independent private equity firm with over 10 billion of assets under management. The company works with entrepreneurs and management teams to acquire market-leading global companies headquartered in Europe or the U.S., providing them with the strategic guidance, governance and capital they need to achieve their growth goals. Astorg enjoys a distinct entrepreneurial culture, a long-term shareholder perspective, and a lean decision-making body. Astorg has valuable industry expertise in healthcare, software, business-to-business professional services and technology-based industrial companies. Astorg has offices in London; Paris; New York; Frankfurt, Germany; Milan; and Luxembourg.

Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across industry groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC).

The Harris Williams Technology Group advises leading private and public companies, founders, and private equity, growth equity and venture capital firms on mergers and acquisitions and capital-raising transactions worldwide. The Technology Group has deep domain expertise in software and technology-enabled services and dedicated focus areas across a variety of vertical software applications and end markets. For more information on the Technology Group and its recent transactions, visit the Technology Groups section of the Harris Williams website.

Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 8th Floor, 20 Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4AB, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is Bockenheimer Landstrasse 33-35, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: hwgermany@harriswilliams.com). Geschaftsfuhrer/Directors: Jeffery H. Perkins, Paul Poggi. (VAT No. DE321666994). Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams & Co. Ltd and Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005754/en/

For media inquiries:

Julia Moore

media@harriswilliams.com

Source: Harris Williams LLC
THE European Union's ambassador to Namibia, Sinikka Antila, says the EU's new Gender Action Plan (GAP III) aims to accelerate progress on empowering women and girls, and to safeguard gains made in gender equality.

The plan also aims to reaffirm gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as a core priority of all external EU programmes.

Antila recently spoke at an interactive workshop on gender mainstreaming held by the Namibia Institute of Democracy (NID) in Windhoek.

The event involved members of Namibia's parliament, civil society organisation representatives, women in the private sector, and activists.

Antila said the EU will remain at the forefront of advancing human rights around the world by supporting partner countries and civil society with financial and technical assistance, and strengthening platforms for dialogue.

"I would like to ask you not to throw the baby boy out with bathwater", and remember the important role boys and men play in achieving gender equality," she said.

Under the 2020 European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights country-based support scheme for Namibia the EU has contributed N$4,3 million towards curbing gender-based violence (GBV) and empowering children in Namibia's informal settlements.

N$8 million was contributed towards strengthening the roles of Namibian civil society organisations and women in democracy, and N$5 million towards outreach programmes on GBV and the Childcare and Protection Act.

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In addition, another N$8 million was allocated towards enhancing the participation of civil society organisations in the education sector, Antila said.

She said gender mainstreaming ensures that policymaking and legislative as well as developmental work is of higher quality, and effectively meets the needs of all citizens.

Immaculate Mogotsi, Sister Namibia's board chairperson and senior researcher at the University of Namibia's Multidisciplinary Research Centre, at the event said gender mainstreaming is the integration of the gender perspective into every stage of the policy process to promote equality between women and men for the benefit of both.

For the last four years, the NID has been hosting women's breakfasts to celebrate International Women's Day, with gender equality as a carefully selected theme.

This year it was held under the theme 'Gender mainstreaming: A strategy to achieve gender equality', and the event was designed as an interactive workshop, Mogotsi said. The concept of gender mainstreaming was first introduced at the 1985 Nairobi World Conference on Women.

It draws on lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic, and focuses on bouncing back better from the crisis by addressing structural inequalities.

It also addresses new challenges and opportunities in line with the EU's priorities, such as advancing the rights of the LGBTQI+ community, safeguarding women and children, and ending discrimination.
The Victorian government has rejected a proposal for a gas import terminal at Crib Point in Western Port and an associated pipeline to Pakenham.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the proposal from power company AGL and pipeline business APA would have unacceptable effects on the environment in Western Port, which is listed as a Ramsar wetland of international significance.

Schematic of AGL Energys proposed LNG import terminal at Crib Point in Victorias Western Port. Credit:AGL Energy

The $250 million proposal had generated substantial local opposition, with an environment effects statement (EES) process garnering more than 6000 submissions.

That process led to an independent inquiry and advisory committee (IAC) report that was submitted to Mr Wynne in February.
Texas joined five other states on Monday in rolling out COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to anyone over the age of 16, "regardless of health conditions," per the New York Times.

Why it matters: Texas is the biggest state to expand this eligibility for coronavirus inoculations. Some 22 million Texans can now get vaccinated against the virus, and health officials told the NYT people were lining up for a dose Monday.

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For the record: Louisiana, Oklahoma, Ohio, Kansas and North Dakota also expanded eligibility to everyone aged 16 and older on Monday.

New York is due to begin its rollout for anyone over the age of 16 on April 6.

Go deeper: Biden: 90% of Americans will have access to vaccine site within 5 miles

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The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) Group has launched its own Data Literacy Academy, which will ensure that their staff have the necessary skills in an industry that is rapidly transforming to meet the needs of the digital economy.

NBBs CEO, Jean Christophe launched the Academy saying: The Data Literacy Academy is a core element of the Groups journey towards digital transformation, the Academy aims to build sustainable skills that our employees can use to make more effective, evidence based, data driven decisions that will translate into improving organisational performance and building a pipe-line of data-literate leadership teams for the future.

More than 700 employees from across all disciplines and at all levels of the Group were considered for inclusion in the Academy. BisB CEO Hassan Jarrar, said: Being part of the Group Data Literacy Academy will become an aspirational goal for our people as they begin to see the very tangible benefits of being able to engage in data driven discussions that support decisions across the Bank, demonstrating effective analytical thinking and the value of these skills to the ongoing digital transformation processes that are simultaneously challenging, disrupting and providing exciting opportunities across the financial services industry.

The selection of the final 80 employees to join the first cohort to attend the Data Literacy Academy has been completed, and as you would expect this was managed via a digital assessment process that identified the specific level within the Academy that is right for each employee. The Data Literacy Academy opens to the first NBB Group employees in May with the launch of the Fundamentals Module and continues in July with the more advanced Data Literacy Module.

Leading the Data Literacy Academy, Dana Buheji, Group Chief Human Resources & Sustainability Officer at NBB, said: The launch of the Academy takes us a step further along our journey of digitalisation and creating a more efficient and skilled workforce. One of the goals within the Group is to support our aspirations to be always considered as an Employer of Choice in the industry, and we strive to do this is by continuously investing in our people, developing and equipping them with the necessary tools and experiences to adapt to the rapidly changing digital workplace.

She added: NBB Group is excited to launch this initiative and provide our employees with opportunities to develop the skills that we believe will have a significant impact on employee and organisational performance. The Academy will give our people the opportunity to learn from specialised training programmes that cover both the fundamentals of data literacy and also offer more advanced learning that will build confidence amongst our employees in their ability to offer analysis and insights, allowing them to become more effective data storytellers and for some to eventually gain an accreditation in data literacy. -- Tradearabia News Service
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New Delhi, March 30 : President Ram Nath Kovind underwent cardiac bypass surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Tuesday morning, a statement from the President House confirmed.

"He is stable and is being closely monitored by a team of senior doctors," the statement read.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Twitter, "I congratulate the team of Doctors for successful operation. Spoke to Director AIIMS to enquire about Rashtrapatiji's health. Praying for his well-being and speedy recovery." Kovind was shifted to AIIMS on March 27 where post investigations doctors had advised him to undergo a planned bypass procedure, the Rashtrapati Bhavan had stated earlier.

He was rushed to the Indian Army's Research and Referral Hospital on March 26 after he complained of chest discomfort.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on Monday morning gave a two-hour ultimatum to the Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu, to appear before the House to a answer a question filed by a member of the House.



He warned that failure of Mr Agyeman Manu to appear before the House would cause him to face the necessary consequences.



He explained that the questions were filed, processed and they were sent to the ministers before going back to the Business Committee prior to being programmed for ministers to appear on specific days to answer questions.



So, the Minister responsible for Health is aware the question has been scheduled for today. The reason he has given for his inability to present himself before the House to answer the question is completely disrespectful of Parliament, he stated.



At the commencement of business Monday in Parliament, Mr Bagbin said And I am not going to take that. I direct that the minister appears before Parliament within two hours to answer the questions. Failing to do so, the necessary consequences will be applied. Ministers must take parliamentary business seriously.



The time is 11.40 a.m. within two hours the minister should appear to answer this question, he stated.



Why the warning?



Mr Manu was expected to appear before the House to respond to a question by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Sefwi Akontombra, Mr Alex Tetteh Djornobuah, who wants to ask the minister the type of health facility programmed to be constructed in Sefwi Akontombra, when it will be completed and handed over.



But with the absence of Mr Agyeman Manu, who is also the NPP MP for Dormaa Central, to respond to the question, the Majority Chief Whip, Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, rose to tell the House that the minister called him Sunday to tell him that he had a national assignment outside Accra.



He said the minister therefore requested that the House rescheduled his appearance Tuesday.



Strong reaction



But the Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, expressed strong reservation at the excuse preferred by the minister.



He told the House that the question for Mr Agyeman Manu to answer was not filled Sunday but last week and therefore prayed the Speaker not to entertain excuses by ministers, who considered attending to other assignment outside Parliament more important.



This is the time around budget when all of the ministers need to be in Accra and need to be in Parliament."



Mr Speaker, if we relax and allow these things to fester, then all of us will be held responsible for making this House to continuously to be seen to be weak."



Were in a new era



He, therefore, urged his colleague Majority Whip to send the right signal to the ministers on their side that the business of the House was equally important.



Ample time is always given ministers of state and they must prioritise the business of the House.



Mr Speaker, if the minister is not there obviously, we cannot force somebody who is not in the Chamber to answer a question but we will be very grateful if you send the right message to all the ministers that this Parliament is not like the seventh Parliament where they do things and just get away."



They must wake up to the reality that we are in a new era; we are not going to be allowing ministers to be disregarding this House with the excuse that they have other things that are equally pressing, he stated.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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(Natural News) As the world awaited a decision by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as to the fate of the AstraZeneca and University of Oxford vaccine injection for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19), a doctor in Norway had already determined it to be unsafe.

Pal Andre Holme, a chief physician and professor, told Norwegian newspapers just hours before the EMA released its decision that AstraZenecas Chinese virus jab is, in fact, causing deadly blood clots in some recipients. He explained that certain antibodies created by the vaccine are responsible.

Our theory that this is a powerful immune response which most likely was caused by the vaccine has been found, Holme is quoted as saying to the VG newspaper.

In collaboration with experts in the field from the University Hospital of North Norway HF, we have found specific antibodies against blood platelets that can cause these reactions, and which we know from other fields of medicine, but then with medical drugs as the cause of the reaction.

The announcement comes after dozens of people died in Norway after receiving their AstraZeneca injection. All across Europe, in fact, people are developing deadly blood clots from the vaccine that are killing them.

According to Holme, there is no other possible explanation for the blood clots and deaths. The only common factor in all of the cases is the vaccine, despite Big Pharmas insistence that it is innocent.

We have the reason, Holme added. Nothing but the vaccine can explain why these individuals had this immune response.

There is nothing in the patient history of these individuals that can give such a powerful immune response. I am confident that the antibodies that we have found are the cause, and I see no other explanation than it being the vaccine which triggers it, he added.

Even young people are dying from AstraZeneca shot

Holme went on to explain that it is not just elderly senior citizens who are dying from the vaccine. Young people, he says, are becoming very sick, and in some cases dying.

Were talking about relatively young people that have become very sick here, and died, that probably wouldnt have gotten such a serious case of Covid, Holme added about the fact that testing positive for the Chinese virus typically means nothing for anyone who is not a senior citizen with preexisting conditions.

As to be expected, the Norwegian Medicines Agency refused to comment on these conclusions from Oslo University Hospital, claiming that it has to look at the results first.

Thus far, more than two dozen cases of deadly blood clots from the AstraZeneca vaccines have been reported. And there is still no evidence to suggest that these vaccines are procuring any benefits whatsoever beyond a naive belief among recipients that they might be working.

The mainstream media, meanwhile, is ignoring Holmes research while continuing to push the false narrative that Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines are safe and effective. It remains to be seen whether or not Holmes politically incorrect findings will be allowed to stay on Twitter and other social media networks.

Intelligent people do not allow an experimental biological agent to be injected into their body to combat a so-called virus that has a 99.7% survival rate without any treatment, wrote one commenter at Zero Hedge.

Another reiterated a famous comment by stand-up comedian George Carlin who once said:

Think of how stupid the average person is and realize half of them are stupider than that.

More of the latest news about injuries and deaths resulting from vaccination for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) can be found at ChemicalViolence.com

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
CYPRESS, Texas, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Team Properties announces a new, improved home selling process with updated COVID-19 protocols, making selling a house in Houston easier than ever before. The traditional way of selling involves a realtor, open houses and dozens of strangers walking through someone's home. With Team Properties, every Houston homeowner can eliminate unnecessary contact with people by selling their house with zero open house showings.

Team Properties is a home buying company in Houston known for three things: their fair offers, transparency, and willingness to serve others first. This company understands that no one will want to accept an offer that does not make sense for them - whether it be too low or may not give enough time to find a new place to live.

Plus, each homeowner is selling directly to Team Properties, so Team Properties and its associates are the only people walking through the subject property -- not dozens of people who may or may not be able to buy the house.

That's why Team Properties does everything it can to provide homeowners with the best possible offer. Team Properties values homeowners' time and health, which is why all the necessary health regulations are being made by Team Properties to fight COVID-19.

With years of experience in the industry, Team Properties does everything in-house, which keeps their costs as low as possible; those savings are transferred over to Houston homeowners so they can get a fair offer for their house.

Team Properties was founded in 2018 because Alysen Schollmeyer, the CEO, believed there was a void in the Houston market for an experienced, honest, and reliable real estate investment team. Today, Team Properties is a trusted home buying company in Houston with almost 40 years of combined experience working with thousands of customers and homes.

Selling a home to Team Properties is simple, starting with a short call to answer a few basic questions about the home. A representative will then visit the home in person or virtually and confirm the condition, making an offer almost immediately. Should the offer be accepted, homeowners can choose a closing date that's most convenient for them. Also, it's important to mention that Team Properties is taking all the COVID-19 health regulations to avoid infecting others.

Homeowners can avoid paying thousands of dollars on realtor fees, repairs, renovations, and closing costs. Team Properties takes care of it all and does not have any fees for their services.

Those in need of atrusted home buying company in Houston are invited to contact the experts at Team Properties by visiting its official website or calling (281) 829-8921.

Contact Name:

Chris Hopper

Email: [email protected]

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Team Properties Houston

SOURCE Team Properties
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 30.03.2021 - Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis met with the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Gilbert Houngbo, on Tuesday 30 March 2021. Both sides reaffirmed their joint commitment to further reducing rural poverty and hunger worldwide.

Mr Cassis, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and Mr Houngbo discussed possibilities for strengthening the relationship between Switzerland and IFAD, both are committed to sustainable agriculture in low and middle-income countries. They also addressed IFAD's role in further reducing hunger and malnutrition worldwide. IFAD contributes to building more inclusive, productive and resilient rural economies. As a specialized financial institution, it encourages entrepreneurship among farmers and implements progressive forms of development investment. During the meeting, Mr Cassis reiterated Switzerlands and IFAD's common efforts in strengthening support to public-private partnerships in this area.



IFAD is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was created in 1977 in response to the food crisis in the 1970s. It is the smallest international financial institution and the only one tasked exclusively with assisting rural populations such as women smallholders, fishing communities, landless households and indigenous people. IFAD aims to improve their food security and nutrition in order to build resilience against related risks. The Fund is aiming to double its impact in this area by 2030.

The Federal Council will decide this summer on Switzerland's contribution to IFAD for the 202224 period (IFAD12). As a founding member of the Fund, Switzerland supports IFAD in its implementation of innovative methods and mechanisms that improve access to financial services in low and middle income countries. It also backs IFAD's engagement in the UN Food Systems Summit 2021 and the promotion of agroecology. The transformation towards sustainable food systems requires concrete results and the adoption of new paradigms. IFAD is one of the 16 priority multilateral organizations for Swiss international cooperation. Switzerland's contribution to IFAD is in line with Swiss development policy priorities and its international cooperation strategy 202124.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

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




Missouri Tourism Guide 2021

Are you ready to get out of town this summer? This year's summer tourism guide has ideas for day trips and short getaways across Missouri. Read the stories.

Read the ebook
The University of Cape Town (UCT) Council has approved the Responsible and Sustainable Investment Policy, which sets out the approach to be taken by the university regarding the stewardship of its financial endowments. The University Panel for Responsible Investment (UPRI), which formulated the policy, is now ready to engage the UCT community on a number of questions. A formal launch is being planned for 22 April when the new policy will be presented to the university community.

The UPRI was established in 2017 as a formal committee of UCT. It is an internal committee that is representative of the university community but with invited members who are external to the institution. It is primarily an advisory body to Council.

It sets policy and advises the university on responsible investment matters related to UCT's endowment funds. It also has the responsibility of engaging various UCT stakeholders on matters relating to responsible investment.

The UPRI came about in response to questions about whether UCT's endowments were being invested responsibly. The financial endowments of the university include its financial assets, which encompass the UCT Foundation, the UCT Account and UCT cash portfolio, as well as the Allan Gray donation, the Isaac Greenberg Trust Fund and the Shari'ah portfolio.

"UCT is committed to sustainability, including how we choose to invest our endowment fund. As such, UCT is committed to responsible investment. I congratulate the UPRI for developing UCT's policy for responsible investment and thank Council for their support of this policy. We will work together to ensure that the endowment funds are invested in responsible, sustainable portfolios," said Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng.

Professor Tom Moultrie added: "Since UCT's endowment [was] established in order to support UCT in perpetuity, it must invest in sustainability."

Moultrie, who is professor of demography and the director of UCT's Centre for Actuarial Research (CARe), was appointed as the chairperson of the UPRI by the vice-chancellor in January 2019. As the chairperson, he is an ex-officio member of the Joint University / UCT Foundation Investment Committee (JIC), which reports to Council and the trustees of the UCT Foundation.

Investment in a fossil-fuel-free world

The climate change crisis has pushed responsible investment to the forefront, especially as it relates to investments in fossil fuels. However, human rights concerns, in general, have also contributed to the debate. While there has been a broad upsurge in engagements on responsible investment over the past 10 to 15 years, some of the roots of the debate can be traced to the disinvestment campaigns focused on ending apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s.

The policy was written with the vision, mission and values of the university in mind. It is therefore closely aligned with the university's strategic Vision 2030, with its focus on sustainability, on producing research that answers the complex problems of today and tomorrow, and thought leadership on social justice.

"UCT is the first higher education institution in sub-Saharan Africa - and probably the Global South - to walk the path of responsible investment."

Moultrie said that the UPRI is now ready to engage with the UCT community on a number of questions. A virtual launch event, which will include speakers from other institutions who will reflect on their respective journeys to responsible investment, will be held on 22 April at 18:30. Full details will be communicated to the university community in the coming days.

"It's worth celebrating," said Moultrie, "that UCT is the first higher education institution in sub-Saharan Africa - and probably the Global South - to walk the path of responsible investment."

Call for engagement

He added: "In advance of the launch, the UPRI will issue a call for engagement on the issue of investment in fossil fuels. There are extreme views in the debate but there is a series of responses which, along a continuum, must be taken on board in order to ensure a just transition to a fossil-fuel-free world. This will be the first major issue that will be tackled by the UPRI. In a few months' time, the UPRI hopes to make a recommendation on UCT's response to investment as it relates to climate change."

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A website for the UPRI has been launched - it will be one of the platforms that will be used to engage members of the university community on responsible investment.

"This is not a once-off campaign," Moultrie said. Other issues, such as investment in alcohol and tobacco, will also be addressed.

The UPRI has adopted an expansive view of responsible investment, addressing not only the impacts on the economic value of the investment but also the impacts that environmental, social, and corporate governance factors have on the environment and society.

Overarching this is a commitment to the global development agenda set out through the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, and the university's articulation of a vision of contributing to the creation of a fair and just society in which the university seeks to redefine and co-create a sustainable global future.
DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2021 / nDivision Inc. (OTCQB:NDVN), a leader in providing cloud-based IT management services using proprietary intelligent automation to replace human labor, announced today it has met SOC2 Type II compliance requirements for the 6th consecutive year in its continued strive for excellence in controls, processes and security.

SOC, or "system and organization controls" are a series of standards designed to help measure how well a service organization conducts and regulates its information or external information it may access. The purpose of SOC standards is to provide confidence for organizations that when they engage third-party vendors, their sensitive information will not be at risk.

nDivision is audited yearly by an independent firm who determines that the Company has the appropriate SOC safeguards and procedures in place. SOC 2 certification extends the requirements to cover standard operating procedures for organizational oversight, vendor management, risk management, and regulatory oversight. The SOC 2 type II framework assesses the Company's capabilities to ensure the highest quality security, processing integrity, availability, privacy, and confidentiality of the information that nDivision's systems and staff may access and maintain.

"The continued certification is a testament to nDivision's dedication to documenting and following procedures to ensure proper controls, security and access to customer environments," said Alan Hixon, Chairman and CEO of nDivision.

"nDivision's SOC 2 Type II certification proves that our system and processes are designed to keep our clients' sensitive data secure." Hixon added. "Regardless of whether we are working with on-premises infrastructure or within the cloud, security, performance, and reliability is essential. Our customers can rest assured that we always keep security and service availability top of mind."

About nDivision Inc.

nDivision Inc. provides Autonomic Managed Services and End User Help Desk services to private and public entities, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 global enterprises. The Company leverages proprietary intelligent automation technologies to replace expensive human resources. Automation resolves IT issues faster and more accurately than human engineers, driving previously unattainable service levels. The Company manages public clouds, private clouds, and networks across 34 countries and 6 continents, 24-hours a day, 365 days per year. On average, nDivision resolves 83% of all infrastructure incidents using Intelligent Automation with no human involvement, resulting in a 40% to 60% reduction in the cost of IT operations. Customers rate 96% of incidents that nDivision's technical support staff resolve as either "satisfied" or "very satisfied". More information can be found at www.ndivision.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws, which statements may include information regarding the plans, intentions, expectations, future financial performance, or future operating performance of nDivision Inc. ("nDivision" or the "Company"). Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations, estimates, or projections of the Company's management as of the date of this press release. Although nDivision's management believes these expectations, estimates, or projections to be reasonable as of the date of this presentation, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant business risks, economic and competitive uncertainties, or other contingencies, which could cause the Company's actual results or performance to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause nDivision's actual results or performance to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include those set forth in the "Risk Factors" sections in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for viewing on the SEC's EDGAR website. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by law, nDivision specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Investor Relations:

Brad Wiggins

214-272-2148

bwiggins@ndivision.com

SOURCE: nDivision Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/638226/nDivision-Attains-SOC2-Type-II-Certification-for-6th-Consecutive-Year
The Biden administration has been refreshingly, and somewhat surprisingly, direct and blunt about Russia and China.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken hasnt pulled any punches about the adversarial nature of the U.S. relationship with both authoritarian regimes.

Recently, President Joe Biden was asked whether he still regarded Russian strongman Vladimir Putin as a killer, a description he used during the campaign. I do, was the reply.

Russia and China are used to tough talk by American politicians during a campaign. But after taking office, diplomacyspeak usually takes over, anodyne rhetoric designed not to ruffle feathers or aggravate conflict.

China, Russia really do see us as a threat

Donald Trump, with his foreign policy of randomly tossed rhetorical lightning bolts, was an exception. But Biden, as conventional a politician as America could produce as president, was expected to revert to the diplomacyspeak norm.

So the blunt talk coming from the Biden administration has been a jolt to both Russia and China. Chinas top foreign policy official, in the first high-level meeting between the two countries since Biden assumed office, responded by publicly lecturing Blinken about the shortcomings and evils of American democracy and how it wasnt a model for the rest of the world.

The risk of war: Biden administration needs to get real on North Korea

Ive always found ironic how little realism there was in the so-called realism school of foreign policy, to which Biden and his team are adherents.

But, in terms of the nature of Russia and China, under Putin and Xi Jinping, the Biden administration seems clear-eyed enough. They see the U.S. system of democratic capitalism as a threat to the legitimacy of their autocracies. They want to see us weakened, divided, less influential and less well regarded around the world.

And they will undertake to bring those things about  although, of late, we seem to be doing plenty of that to ourselves.

Story continues

Biden thinks we need rebuilt alliances

Its when you get to the question of what to do about it that the Biden administration loses its realism and gets misty-eyed about international relations.

As made clear in the administrations Interim National Security Strategic Guidance document, the approach will be to rebuild alliances with other democracies as a counterforce to Russia and China. With European democracies regarding Russia, acting through NATO and in coordination with the European Union and Britain.

What a dumb move: Maybe public confidence in the military would go up if its leaders shut up

Regarding China, a two-tiered approach. On Chinas increasingly aggressive regional hegemonic thrusts, working primarily through whats become known as the quad: Australia, India and Japan, in addition to the United States. South Korea would be added if its differences with Japan could be overcome.

On economic matters regarding China, an even larger coalition is envisioned involving other Asian countries, democratic and otherwise, and European democracies.

What can we expect from other countries?

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second from right, joined by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, right, speaks while facing Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi, second from left, and China's State Councilor Wang Yi, left, at the opening session of US-China talks at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday, March 18, 2021.

Whats less clear is what the Biden administration wants these refurbished alliances to do. And even less clear than that is what it would be realistic to expect them to do.

The United States has imposed aggressive sanctions regimens against Russia, Iran, North Korea and Venezuela. None of them has changed the behavior of the targeted regimes.

The EU, Canada and Britain recently joined the U.S. in imposing sanctions against Chinese figures for the oppression of the Uyghurs. A very safe bet is that these wont alter Chinese behavior a bit.

Except for small democracies on Russias border that were formerly part of the Soviet Union, European countries no longer fear Russian tanks rolling across their borders.

Chinas neighbors do regard it as a threat. This is in part over territorial disputes. But even more to their freedom of action in international and economic relations. They dont want to be absorbed into Chinas orbit.

Biden should plan on limited support

But China is the largest trading partner for most of them. They have a tightrope to walk and wont want to unequivocally join a U.S. alliance designed to confront or contain China.

The European democracies dont regard China as a security threat. And the EU recently reached an investment agreement in principle with China, designed to increase the flow of capital in both directions.

Europes main objective is increased access to Chinas domestic market for its companies. It isnt going to have much interest in being part of, or being perceived as being part of, a U.S. alliance to bring China to heel.

The Biden administration needs to be spending some time thinking about what the U.S. should do vis-a-vis Russia and China with limited support and cooperation from other countries. Because, if were being fully realistic, thats where were going to end up.

Robert Robb is an editorial columnist at the Arizona Republic, where this column originally appeared. Follow him on Twitter: @RJRobb

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Biden is right about China and Russia but wrong on what to do next
Sudan has taken another step toward religious freedom.

This time, it is a confirmation.

On Sunday, the joint military-civilian Sovereign Council signed a peace agreement with the rebel Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), based in the Nuba Mountains, where there is a significant Christian population.

Freedom of belief and religious practices and worship shall be guaranteed to all Sudanese people, stated the Declaration of Principles, by separating the identities of culture, religion, ethnicity, and religion from the state.

Prior to the revolution which overthrew 30-year dictator Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, Sudan was governed by sharia law. It also imposed an Arab identity on its multiethnic population, contributing to longstanding conflict in Darfur.

The regions Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), led by Abdel Wahed el-Nur, is now the last remaining rebel holdout.

Three other armed groups signed a peace deal last September. In February, these were integrated into an expanded Sovereign Council and afforded places in the still to be formed parliament.

Abdelaziz al-Hilu, leader of the SPLM-N, refused to join without a religious freedom guarantee. But he did commit himself to peace, and won a promise from the civilian prime minister, Abdullah Hamdok, that Sudans constitution would separate religion and state.

The three rebel factions, however, signed their agreements with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sovereign Council.

This is an excellent step forward for comprehensive peace in the country, said Ezekiel Kondo, Anglican archbishop of Sudan. And of religious freedom, having the general [Burhan] sign is confirmation.

Kondo previously told CT that Sudan merits only a 5 out of 10 score on religious freedom. He called on the SLAs el-Nur to join peace negotiations.

Sudans population of 45 million is roughly 91 percent Muslim and 6 percent Christian. Open Doors ranks Sudan at No. 13 among the 50 nations where it is hardest to be a Christian.

Things are improving, however. Last year, Sudan ranked No. 7 on the Open Doors watch list. And in December, the US State Department removed Sudan from its Special Watch List of governments that have engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom.

Earlier that year, Sudan dropped the death penalty for apostasy. It then agreed to normalize relations with Israela controversial move among many Muslims, but favored by Christians.

Musa Kalu, academic dean at Nile Theological College in Khartoum, agreed with Kondos assessment. The pact with Burhan confirms Hamdoks initiative.

The situation of the church in Sudan is actually getting better than before, he said. It will be better still after this agreement.

But not all Sudanese are certain.

It sounds very good, said Noha Kassa, a deacon at Bahri Evangelical Church in Khartoum. But as always, we want to see implementation, not just words on paper.

She signaled only half confidence that the religious freedom pledge would hold. Sudan has been unstable since the revolution, the economy is poor, and old regime Islamists are still numerous.

There could be a counter-revolution.

But setting this possibility aside, Kassa is optimistic. Since her COVID-19 evacuation to Sudan from seminary studies in Lebanon, she has experienced a Sudan that is now accepting of all its components.

Christians appear on talk shows.

Christmas is celebrated in the streets.

And Muslims are coming to church, free to inquireand take pictures.

The current transitional Sovereign Council is scheduled to cede power in 2022. Kassa is uncertain about the path of democratic change, but as long as the vote is free and fair, she is strongly optimistic that religious freedom will hold.

The youth drove the revolution, and they want a free Sudan.

Changes are slow, but I see them, she said. It is just a matter of time.

[ This article is also available in  and . ]
THE chief executive officer (CEO) of the Namibia Press Agency (Nampa), Linus Chata, says the government-owned news agency is not a problematic state enterprise, and has been operating in a transparent, accountable and compliant manner.

Chata, in a statement issued on Friday, also denied allegations that Nampa has spent about N$40 million in state funds to construct oversized headquarters in Windhoek.

The CEO made these remarks in response to an article published by The Namibian on the government's plan to merge the agency with the New Era Publication Corporation (NEPC).

Tonateni Shidhudhu, Ministry of Finance spokesperson, last week said the decision to merge the two organisations was taken to cut out the possible duplication of government activities, and to avoid unnecessary spending.

Budget documents presented in the National Assembly by minister of finance Iipumbu Shiimi earlier this month showed that the two state-controlled news entities received a combined subsidy of about N$80 million from the national budget over the past three years.

This includes N$49 million allocated to Nampa, and N$30 million to New Era.

The budget document further shows Nampa has been allocated a subsidy of N$14 million this year.

Chata said the agency's head office building in Windhoek was funded through a loan from a commercial bank, and not through a government subsidy.

He also clarified concerns over the agency's organisational structure and the money it spends on salaries and general operations.

Without providing the exact figures, Chata said Nampa's wage bill is well below the alleged N$30 million, which includes other operational expenses.

"The government has never bailed out Nampa since inception. The agency, which is a non-commercial public service provider, has in fact been operating from a position of chronic underfunding. As a matter of fact, the agency can sustain its operations annually with a mere N$25 million," Chata said.

He said Nampa has consistently produced clean financial statements annually since its inception.

An anti-mask protest in a busy supermarket has been branded a 'slap in the face' to NHS staff after dozens of people flouted Covid restrictions and descended on a Tesco store in Essex.

The protestors ignored social distancing and rules surrounding face coverings.

Customers are required by law to wear masks inside all shops, unless they are exempt for medical reasons.

Footage of the group was filmed at the Tesco store in Princes Road, Chelmsford, on Saturday after the protest was advertised on social media.

An image posted on Twitter invited participants to 'join us for a spot of maskless shopping' describing it as: 'A perfect way to peacefully protest while buying your weekly groceries'.

Dozens of protestors visited the Tesco store in Chelmsford, Essex, on Saturday to demonstrate against the use of masks. Footage of the event posted on social media shows people ignoring social distancing and rules surrounding face coverings

Posted by Samantha Strick on Saturday, March 27, 2021

At least 34 people were understood to be involved in the organised demonstration.

Police were called out to the incident and spoke to the mask-less customers, with many claiming they were exempt from wearing face coverings.

A joint investigation has now been launched by city chiefs, police and Tesco to 'review how this happened'.

The protest comes just two months after officials were forced to open a temporary mortuary in the city where more than 12,000 people have tested positive for Covid.

Clips show a red headed woman shouting 'come on warriors' in the Tesco car park as the group walk out of the store clutching baguettes, shopping bags and bottles of wine.

One video also features a bizarre song playing in the background with lyrics about 'indoctrination camps', ' vaccine scam', 'technocratic sham' and 'depopulation plan'.

Officials have blasted the group for endangering locals just as the nation can again see family and friends.

Posted by Samantha Strick on Saturday, March 27, 2021

The event was advertised on social media with an image posted on Twitter inviting participants to 'join us for a spot of maskless shopping' and describing it as: 'A perfect way to peacefully protest while buying your weekly groceries'

The mask-less protest was branded a 'slap in the face' to hardworking NHS staff on social media

NHS Million, a grassroots campaign run by NHS staff to highlight gratitude of the health service, said: 'This is a slap in the face to all NHS staff who have worked themselves into the ground and risked their own lives to keep people save.

'Organising a maskless shopping trip is not big, not clever but it is illegal.'

A spokesman for Chelmsford City Council said: 'Chelmsford City Council is extremely disappointed to see that a small number of people chose to shop without masks in a city centre supermarket on Saturday.

'Although lockdown restrictions eased slightly this week, it is extremely important that we all continue to stick to the rules in order to keep moving forward and avoid more people becoming ill or dying from Covid-19.

'This action risked the health of many others: both those who were in the shop at the time and others with whom those people have come into contact since.

'The incident was dealt with at the time by police and we are working with them and with the supermarket to review how this happened.

'Chelmsford has patiently borne restrictions over the past year and residents do not deserve to be let down now by a small, selfish group.'

Police were called out to the protest, which took place at Tesco's store in Princes Road, Chelmsford, on Saturday (pictured, stock image)

Tesco says its staff will encourage customers to comply with the law, but will not put themselves at risk if challenged.

A spokesman added: 'Since the start of the pandemic, we have focused on ensuring everyone can get the food they need in a safe environment.

'To protect our customers and colleagues, we won't let anyone into our stores who is not wearing a face covering, unless they are exempt in line with Government guidance.

'We are also asking our customers to shop alone, unless they're a carer or with children.

'To support our colleagues, we will have additional security in stores to help manage this.'

A spokesperson for Essex Police told Mail Online: 'We were called to Tesco in Princes Road, Chelmsford, just after 12.30pm on Saturday 27 March, following a report of a large group of around 20-30 people entering the store together and not wearing masks.

'When asked by staff to wear masks, they refused.

'They left the store several minutes later and, when our officers arrived on scene, the group were in the car park.

'We engaged with them and encouraged them to leave the area.

'Enforcement is a last resort for our officers, but one man was issued with a fixed penalty notice and a ticket for driving whilst using a mobile phone.

'No further concerns were raised and the group left the area.

'We would encourage anyone who has information about covid breaches to continue to report them to us and we will respond to keep people safe.

'Wed like to thank the majority of Essex residents, who have been working hard to keep themselves and others safe throughout the pandemic.'

Leaders of 23 countries and the on Tuesday backed an idea to create an international treaty that would help deal with future health emergencies like the pandemic by tightening rules on sharing information.

The idea of such a treaty, also aimed at ensuring universal and equitable access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for pandemics, was floated by the chairman of European Union leaders, Charles Michel, at a summit of the Group of 20 major economic powers last November.

According to The Guardian, in a joint article published in newspapers across the world, leaders including the UK prime minister, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, warn that a future global pandemic is an inevitability and that Covid has served as a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has endorsed the proposal, but formal negotiations have not begun, diplomats say. Tedros told a news conference that a treaty would tackle gaps exposed by the pandemic. A draft resolution on negotiations could be presented to the WHOs 194 member states at their annual ministerial meeting in May, he said.

On Tuesday, the treaty proposal got the formal backing of the leaders of Fiji, Portugal, Romania, Britain, Rwanda, Kenya, France, Germany, Greece, Korea, Chile, Costa Rica, Albania, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the Netherlands, Tunisia, Senegal, Spain, Norway, Serbia, Indonesia, Ukraine and the WHO itself.
A South Plainfield man arrested by state troopers as he tried to set a police car ablaze during a riot in downtown Trenton last year admitted his actions Tuesday in pleading guilty to a related crime, federal authorities announced.

Justin Spry, 22, pleaded guilty to interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, in federal court in Trenton. He faces up to five years in prison when hes sentenced in August, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey announced.

Spry was originally charged with two federal crimes accusing him trying to damage or destroy the police vehicle during a May 31, 2020 riot that followed a protest over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The protest was peaceful, and several Trenton officers kneeled in solidarity with protestors. Later, though, rioters descended on downtown Trenton, damaged about 60 stores and attacked two police cars officers reluctantly abandoned in the middle of East State Street.

Spry was one of four young men charged with committing violent acts that night, and the only one arrested at the scene.

Authorities have said Kadeem Dockery, 29, took off his t-shirt and handed it to other rioters, who tried to stuff it in the police cars gas tank - presumably to light it. One of those men was Spry, authorities said. Video obtained by NJ Advance Media shows that act and Sprys arrest.

Federal charges are pending against Dockery, as well as state charges for allegedly tossing an explosive device at the arresting troopers.

Another man, Kilian Melecio, who also tried to light a police car on fire - using Dockerys t-shirt - pleaded guilty in January to the same charge as Spry. Melecio, 20, of Mansfield, Burlington County, is scheduled to be sentenced in May.

Federal charges are pending against Earlja J. Dudley, of Trenton, who also allegedly tried to light one of the police cars on fire.

When police finally cleared the block of rioters, two police cars were badly damaged, one by fire.

Firefighters extinguish a vehicle set ablaze during a night of violent protests in Trenton, on May 31, 2020.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com.
Ranchi, March 30 : Four Maoist guerrillas were arrested on Tuesday along with Rs 4.48 lakh levy collected by them in Jharkhand's Latehar district.

According to the police, there was information regarding the presence of Maoist guerrillas belonging to the Chotu Kharwar group near the Udaipur Chowk.

Based on the tip-off, the police conducted raids and arrested three Maoists who have been identified as Upendra Yadav alias Bhupesh Yadav, Niranjan Yadav and Yogendra Yadav. The police recovered Rs 3.48 lakh in cash, a motorcycle, six mobile phones, seven ATM cards and seven bank passbooks from their possession.

A fourth Maoist belonging to the Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), who has been identified as Abhinandan Singh, was arrested from the Batatkhurd locality in Latehar district. The police seized Rs 1 lakh and a mobile phone from his possession.
A businessman has effectively failed in his efforts to prevent a receiver from selling a high-end 1.5m home in Dublin for which he claimed he had an existing contract to buy for a nominal 10.

The High Court said that Kevin Thompson had secured what appeared to be entirely improper securities on foot of the sale of the site on which the house was ultimately built at the exclusive Cluain Aedin development in Sutton.

Mr Thompson and his associate, Brian Wallace, owned a company called Tourview that since 1992 owned the prime site on which the development was later built.

In 2015, the pair agreed to sell their shareholdings in Tourview to Copia Capital for 2.7m. One of Copias investors pulled out, the High Court heard, leaving it with a shortfall in the amount of money it had to pay Mr Thompson and Mr Wallace.

Mr Thompson agreed to a late payment of 200,000 from Copia. He also obtained a number of assurances from the firm, including a 10pc shareholding in Copia held in trust and that Mr Thompson would receive money from Copia from development finance drawn down in respect of two sites, including one in Sutton.

The High Court said that three of the assurances, where Mr Thompson would receive money from development finance secured by Copia, appear entirely improper inasmuch as they involve the procuring of finance to be used for the development of sites at Sutton and at Ashford, but the diversion of enough of these monies to pay the debt to Mr Thompson.

The three securities involved siphoning off construction finance so that Mr Thompson would be paid money due to him for his shares in Tourview, it noted.

As part of his deferred consideration scheme, Mr Thompson also secured an option agreement that required Copia to pay him four instalments, each of 50,000. If any payment was missed, the house on the Sutton site was to be put up for sale for market value, with Mr Thompson entitled to recoup money owed to him, plus interest.

However, the court heard there were already charges over that property, of which Mr Thompson was aware.

In 2016, Irish Residential Loan Investments (IRLI) refinanced Tourviews debt. IRLI was informed by a firm of solicitors that prepared Mr Thompsons securities that the relevant property was free from encumberances.

Mr Thompson later executed his contract with Tourview, after still not receiving money that was due to him.

But the receiver of the property insisted in court that an equitable mortgage was held by IRLI over the property in Sutton.

This security ranks ahead of any entitlement claimed by Mr Thompson, said Justice Brian OMoore.

The Cluain Aedin scheme was eventually constructed by Weslin New Homes and was launched in 2019, with some of its handful of houses put on the market for 1.55m.
Geneva  The international community should work together towards a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response to build a more robust global health architecture that will protect future generations, world leaders said in a commentary published today in several newspapers around the world.

There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone, the leaders say in their article. The question is not if, but when. Together, we must be better prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics in a highly coordinated fashion. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe.

The main goal of a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response would be to foster a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to strengthen national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics. This is an opportunity for the world to come together as a global community for peaceful cooperation that extends beyond this crisis.

According to the article, the treaty would be rooted in the constitution of the World Health Organization, drawing in other relevant organizations key to this endeavour, in support of the principle of health for all. Existing global health instruments, especially the International Health Regulations, would underpin such a treaty, ensuring a firm and tested foundation on which we can build and improve.

The commentary has been signed by J. V. Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji; Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand; Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal; Mario Draghi, Prime Minister of Italy; Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania; Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda; Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya; Emmanuel Macron, President of France; Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany; Charles Michel, President of the European Council; Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece; Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea; Sebastian Pinera, President of Chile; Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President of Costa Rica; Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania; Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa; Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago; Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Kais Saied, President of Tunisia; Macky Sall, President of Senegal; Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain; Erna Solberg, Prime Miniser of Norway; Aleksandar Vucic, President of Serbia; Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia; Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine; Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) reported a build in crude oil inventories of 3.910 million barrels for the week ending March 26.

Analysts had predicted a much smaller inventory build of 107,000 barrels for the week.

In the previous week, the API reported a build in oil inventories of 2.927 million barrels after analysts had predicted a build of 272,000 barrels.

Oil prices were trading down on the day prior to the data release, with WTI trading down $0.96 at 2:45 p.m. EDT at $60.60, while Brent crude traded down $0.78 at $64.20 per barrel.

Prices were again volatile this week, with the prospect of oil shipment delays through the previously logjammed Suez Canal and OPEC+s JTC meeting on Tuesday, which saw its members agree to revise down its oil demand estimates for this year on the prompting of member Saudi Arabia, who indicated that the figure OPEC+ was using seemed too high. OPEC+ has not released the official oil demand figure.

U.S. oil production rose to 11.0 million bpd during the week ending March 19, according to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration.

The API reported a draw in gasoline inventories of 6.012 million barrels for the week ending March 26on top of the previous week's 3.728-million-barrel barrel draw. Analysts had expected a 730,000-barrel build for the week.

Distillate stocks saw an increase in inventories this week of 2.595 million barrels for the week, after last week's 246,000-barrel increase.

Cushing inventory figures rose by 904,000 barrels.

Post data release, at 4:34 p.m. EDT, the WTI benchmark was trading at $60.46, while Brent crude was trading at $64.02.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The ongoing impasse between the teachers and the government on risk allowances is too complex, Brian Banda, President Lazarus Chakwera's spokesperson has said.

Answering a question from a Nyasa Times journalist, during a State House virtual press briefing, on what the president is doing to resolve the matter considering that the biggest losers in these squabbles are the school-going children, the presidential Press Secretary said:

"President Chakwera believes in contact and dialogue. However, the issue between teachers and government is too complex and deeper."

Banda explained that president Chakwera always believes in contact and dialogue whenever there is a need to address issues of the national interest.

"President Chakwera is a listening president and he believes solving problems in an amicable way with both parties satisfied hence his continuous meeting with Tonse alliance partners and other stakeholders including TUM leadership," said Banda.

Speaking earlier, State House Communications director, Sean Kampondeni, who is also the president's executive assistant emphasised on Chakwera's commitment on contact and dialogue.

Said Kampondeni: "The President is always in contact and dialogue with stakeholders because he believes in it as one way of serving the people well."

Dishing out updates on president Chakwera's engagements in the week, Kampondeni revealed that President Chakwera is scheduled to meet one of his Tonse alliance partners, former president, Joyce Banda of PP, Minister of agriculture, Lobin Lowe; Minister of Civic Education and National Unity, Timothy Mtambo and the former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Obasanjo among other diginitaries.

"As a servant leader, President Chakwera listens to what people want and is open to diverse ideas that could help in nation-building and national development," said Kampondeni.

The State House communications boss further informed the nation that the president will hold a meeting with Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) board ahead of the institution's graduation, which President Chakwera is expected to preside over.
Federal health authorities have told states to stop hoarding COVID-19 vaccine doses after two separate clusters were linked back to unvaccinated healthcare workers from a Brisbane hospital.

Health authorities have linked 18 cases to the outbreaks, which were unknowingly spread by a nurse and doctor from the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said she did not blame the hospital for putting unvaccinated health workers into COVID-19 wards against her advice. Credit:Getty

From Wednesday, Queensland health workers must have received at least one vaccine dose before treating COVID-positive patients after the latest outbreaks, which triggered Brisbanes three-day lockdown.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said inoculation of staff in COVID-19 wards was not mandatory from the beginning of the rollout because there were not enough vaccine doses available.
The Armenian Ministry of Health said it will use the 24,000 doses of the vaccine to inoculate medical workers, care home personnel, persons aged 65 and older as well as younger people suffering from chronic diseases.

The ministry reportedly purchased last month 15,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. They too are supposed to be made available to high risk groups of the countrys population.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Health Minister Anahit Avanesian said the Armenian government is now trying to buy more vaccine shots when they spoke on Monday at a meeting of an interagency commission dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. A government statement on the meeting shed no light on the scale of further vaccine acquisitions planned by the authorities.

A deputy director of Armenias National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gayane Sahakian, said in December that the government has commissioned 600,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine from the COVAX Facility. But Sahakian and other officials indicated afterwards that the government is planning to finance a much more limited vaccination campaign.

Avanesian hinted in February that Armenians not included in high risk categories will have to pay for their vaccine shots. She said private medical centers will be authorized to carry out such vaccination.

COVAX delivered the first batch of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University to Armenia as the country of about 3 million grappled with what health officials describe as a third wave of coronavirus infections.

The daily number of such cases recorded by Armenian health authorities has surged over the past month after falling significantly since November. The resurgence of the disease has forced the authorities to set up hundreds of new hospital beds for COVID-19 patients.

The Ministry of Health reported on Monday morning 424 new infections and 12 single-day deaths caused by COVID-19. According to it, the total number of active coronavirus cases stood at 14,287, up from 6,772 reported on March 11.

Speaking at the meeting of the government commission, Avanesian warned that the epidemiological situation will worsen further unless the authorities resume a strict enforcement of their sanitary rules designed to curb the spread of the disease.

The rules include mandatory mask-wearing in all public areas. Few Armenians now wear masks not only on the street but also in shops. Cafes and restaurants across the country have remained open since last May.
Michigan has administered more than 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine since mid-December when the first shots became available in the U.S.

The state administered more than 495,000 doses last week, marking the second consecutive week of at least that many shots going into arms. Thats about 70,750 doses per day, up from 52,936 per day three weeks earlier.

As of Sunday, March 28, approximately 32.5% of the states residents 16 years and older had received their first dose of vaccine, and 19.2% had completed their recommended doses (two for Moderna and Pfizer, one for Johnson & Johnson), according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Our rollout continues to pick up steam and we will not rest until we reach our goal of equitably vaccinating 70% of Michiganders ages 16 and up. Michigan continues to make significant strides  administering four million vaccines in less than four months  as we work to ensure every Michigander has access to the vaccine, said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a prepared statement.

In line with President (Joe) Bidens goals, all Michiganders 16 and up will be eligible to receive the vaccine starting April 5. We will emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever and celebrate Independence Day together with friends and family. We will become the state that beat this damn virus.

Michigan has surpassed its goal of 50,000 shots per day 34 times. Eligibility has expanded over time, and will expand again Monday as the governor noted.

The most vaccinated age groups thus far are the 65-74 year olds, of which 66% have gotten their first dose and 47% are fully vaccinated, and the 75 and older group, of which 66% have gotten their first dose and 50% are fully vaccinated.

About 39% of residents 50-64 have gotten their first dose, compared to 22% of residents in their 40s, 19% of residents in their 30s, 12% of residents in their 20s and 4% of residents 16-19 years old.

Due to incomplete data, the state still doesnt have an accurate breakdown of vaccinations by race and ethnicity. Thirty percent of doses have gone to residents with unknown race data, compared to 54% of doses going to white residents, 5% going to black residents, and less than 2% each going to Asian/Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and American Indians/Alaska Natives.

In total, the state received 559,960 doses of vaccine last week, up from the previous high of 494,540, which came during the first week of March. It had been receiving less than 300,000 doses per week until the last week in February.

Michigan got its largest shipment of Johnson & Johnson vaccine during the first week of March when it got 90,600 doses. In the four weeks to follow, the state has gotten a combined 34,800 of the single-dose vaccine.

The state has, however, received an increase in Pfizers vaccine in recent weeks. After receiving 166,140 doses the first week of March, Michigan got 310,050 the week ending March 20 and 336,960 the week ending March 27.

Local health departments have administered the most shots to date, followed closely by hospitals. Pharmacies have administered the third-most doses of vaccine, though theyve given more shots out than hospitals since early February.

We continue to meet or exceed our goals as more and more Michiganders become eligible to get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, said. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist in a prepared statement. With every vaccine administered, we get one step closer to eliminating this deadly virus once and for all.

Im asking every Michigander to make a plan to get the vaccine when it is your turn. We can all be part of the solution that saves lives and helps us get back to normal. Soon we will be able to see and hug our friends, families, and loved ones, but for now we must continue taking smart precautions like wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing our hands.

The uptick in vaccinations comes as Michigan is in the midst of another surge in new cases, due in part to the spread of more contagious coronavirus variants.

Read more on MLive:

Who and where Michigans coronavirus surge is hitting hardest

Michigans active coronavirus outbreaks are up 14% in March 29 report

12K people getting COVID-19 vaccine at DeVos Place clinic for busiest day yet

Key differences separate anti-vaxxers from Michiganders hesitant to get COVID-19 vaccine
Highlights Heritage Minister of Canada noted that the government is consulting with France and Australia.

Facebook stripped the pages of domestic and foreign news outlets for Australians in February following public outrage.

Similar propositions have been stated for India where a large number of people are Facebook users.

Facebook has hinted that it could block news content in Canada following reports stating the tech giants will be required to share their revenue with news publishers. Last month, Facebook blocked news content in Australia for five days in response to proposed legislation requiring digital giants to pay media outlets for linking to their work. Facebook Canada's head of policy, Kevin Chan, on Monday said that any law that forces Facebook to pay publishers each time their news content is shared on its platform fundamentally breaks the premise of how a free and open internet works."It is never something we would ever want to do unless we really have no choice," Chan said in a parliamentary committee hearing.

"News is not free and has never been. Our position is clear: publishers must be adequately compensated for their work and we will support them as they deliver essential information for the benefit of our democracy and the health and well-being of our communities," Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault said in a statement to The Canadian Press.

He noted that the government is consulting with France and Australia over the market imbalance between news media organizations and those who benefit from their work. Last month, Canadian Heritage minister Steven Guilbeault, in charge of crafting similar legislation to be unveiled in coming months, condemned Facebook's action and said it would not deter Ottawa.

"Canada is at the forefront of this battle. We are really among the first group of countries around the world that are doing this," he told reporters. Facebook stripped the pages of domestic and foreign news outlets for Australians in February. It blocked users of its platform from sharing any news content saying it had been left with no choice ahead of the new content laws, Reuters had reported. The move, which also erased several state government and emergency department accounts, as well as nonprofit charity sites, caused widespread outrage following which Facebook restored the pages after five days.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison noted that he had received support from world leaders after the social media giant blacked out all media. Similar propositions have been stated for India where a large number of people are Facebook users. Earlier this month, Rajya Sabha member Sushil Modi from the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) proposed that the country should institute a law that ensures Google Facebook share their revenues with publishers and media houses for displaying their content.



"The government must make Google, Facebook and YouTube pay to print and news channels for the news content they are using freely," the former deputy chief minister of Bihar said during Zero Hour. "I would urge the government of India that the way they have notified Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code to regulate social media and OTT platforms, they should enact a law on the pattern of Australian Code so that we can compel Google to share its revenue with traditional media," he added.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI), Otunba Niyi Adebayo, officially flagged off the Federal Government's N50billion Export Expansion Facility Programme (EEFP) and launched the first on-line Grant Management Portal (GMP) for non-oil exports at Export House, Abuja.

He was joined by the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, who is also the Chairman, National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Committee for Export Promotion.

Also at the ground-breaking event was the Minister of State for MITI, Mrs. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, Chairman Senate Committee on Commerce, Chairman, House Committee on Commerce, Chairman, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Governing Board, Senator Ibrahim Musa, Vice Chairman Steering Committee of the Export Expansion Facility Programme, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo and their host, the Executive Director /CEO, NEPC Mr Olusegun Awolowo.

READ ALSOOPEC+ to reconvene to navigate crude market volatility

The EEFP which is part of the Federal Government's N2.3 trillion fund of the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan, NESP, focuses on cushioning the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-oil export businesses thereby safeguarding jobs and creating new jobs.

In his keynote address, Adebayo stated: "The Ultimate aim of the Export Expansion Facility Programme as an intervention following the devastating economic effects of COVID -19 to exporters and MSMEs in Nigeria will be to save jobs, create jobs, support resilience in shoring up foreign exchange, diversification, modernization of Nigeria's economy and acceleration of economic growth and economic support".

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Awolowo who also doubles as Secretary of the Steering Committee, in his welcome address stated: "As we launch the EDF, we will apply the use of technology through the Grant Management Portal which 'Goes live' today so that we will be equalising opportunities to achieve inclusive economic growth through non-oil exports.

The Export Development Fund is a pre-shipment incentive stipulated in the NEPC Act, which due to lack of funds was never activated. We were however overjoyed by the provision of the Export Expansion Facility which provided the opportunity for us to finally activate the Fund for our teeming SME exporting companies, who over the years have been unable to access the active Export Expansion Grant, which is a post-shipment incentive. We are confident that through this Facility, we will save jobs and create jobs."

The first on-line Grant Management Portal for non-oil exports in Nigeria is supported by the EEFP and all applications for the Export Development Fund (EDF) will be processed through the System.

Vanguard News Nigeria
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Australian Dollar Outlook:

Both AUD/JPY and AUD/USD have seen their multi-month uptrend slow in recent weeks, but that doesnt mean that there isnt more fuel left in the tank for gains. A bull flag in AUD JPY rates and a bullish falling wedge in AUD/ USD rates suggest that more upside is possible soon.

The forex economic calendar for the coming week is devoid of significant Australian economic data, putting the onus on American and Chinese data to guide the major AUD-crosses.

According to the IG Client Sentiment Index , both AUD/JPY and AUD/USD rates have a mixed bias in the near-term.

Australian Dollar Holding its Own

The Australian Dollar typically follows risk trends, and with global equity markets trading choppily in recent weeks around volatility in global bond yields, the antipodean currency has been able to make much progress with respect to its multi-month uptrend. And while both major AUD-crosses, AUD/JPY and AUD/USD, have seen their gains slow, that doesnt mean that there isnt more fuel left in the tank for further gains. Indeed, with a bull flag forming AUD/JPY rates and a bullish falling wedge forming in AUD/USD rates, the major AUD-crosses may soon turn higher.

AUD/USD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (March 2020 to March 2021) (CHART 1)

AUD/USDs uptrend from the March and November 2020 lows remains impaired, with the mid-March attempt higher failing to recapture the key trendline. But hope springs eternal: it may be the case that a bullish falling wedge is taking shape on the daily timeframe, with support drawn from the early-January high and early-March low, and resistance drawn from the late-February high and mid-March high.

If this is the correct interpretation of price action, a breach of resistance coinciding with AUD/USD trading above its daily 21-EMA would be a necessary precursor before any confidence in the bullish falling wedge is validated. For what its worth, AUD/USD may continue to underperform AUD/JPY in an environment that remains appealing (from a technical perspective) for the US Dollar.

IG Client Sentiment Index: AUD/USD RATE Forecast (March 29, 2021) (Chart 2)

AUD/USD: Retail trader data shows 54.98% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.22 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 8.29% higher than yesterday and 11.15% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 16.37% higher than yesterday and 2.74% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests AUD/USD prices may continue to fall.

Positioning is less net-long than yesterday but more net-long from last week. The combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a further mixed AUD/USD trading bias.

AUD/JPY RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (March 2020 to March 2021) (CHART 3)

In the prior AUD/JPY forecast update on March 18, it was noted that AUD/JPY rates are working on a daily bearish hammer, not quite a bearish key reversal just yet. Still above its daily EMA envelope, its too early to say that this is the top. The March 17 proved to be the high for the month of March, although by-and-large the pair remains in the confines of the February 25 high/February 26 low range.

With AUD/JPY still maintaining its uptrend from the March and November 2020 lows (unlike its AUD/USD brethren), the pair appears to be in the midst of a sideways consolidation, which in context of the preceding move, looks like a bull flag. More gains may be coming soon; a lost of the February 26 low at 81.98 would invalidate the nascent bullish perspective.

IG Client Sentiment Index: AUD/JPY Rate Forecast (March 29, 2021) (Chart 4)

AUD/JPY: Retail trader data shows 38.84% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.57 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 16.05% higher than yesterday and 3.09% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 7.64% higher than yesterday and 0.34% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests AUD/JPY prices may continue to rise.

Positioning is less net-short than yesterday but more net-short from last week. The combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a further mixed AUD/JPY trading bias.

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Currency Strategist
Shade uses offensive attack to take down Shanksville in D5-A semis

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Firefighters opened a large safe deep in a basement at a California university, which contained documents dating to the school's founding in 1851.

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Christopher Callahan, president of the University of the Pacific, California's oldest chartered university, said officials became curious they found a 5-foot-high safe was found at the Stockton school's Burns Tower.

"We were cleaning up and down in the basement," Callahan told KOVR-TV. "I went down there and I see this safe, a very old safe in the corner, so what's this about?"

The school contacted Stockton's Fire Station 4 for help breaking into the safe, which officials said was believed to have been sealed for about 50 years.

The crew said members were concerned about damaging the unknown contents, so they refrained from using cutting torches and instead pried the safe open with a hydraulic rescue tool -- commonly known as the jaws of life.

Callahan said the safe contained documents detailing the origins of the school, including hand-written journals from 1851, the year the university was chartered.

"The University of the Pacific is the first university ever chartered by the state of California, and these are the original documents," Callahan said.

The documents found inside the safe also included a 1962 diploma printed on animal skin.

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Callahan said in a Facebook post that the documents had been "thought to be long lost." He said they will be preserved and may eventually go on public display.

"This is like a gold mine, we are just so excited," Callahan said.
Singapore: Terrified of bombs dropping from the sky, the villagers from Ei Tu Hta on the border of Thailand did not want to cross back into Myanmar but had no choice.

As they were getting on the boats to cross to the other side they received a message that the jet fighters were on their way again, Naw Wah Khu Shee, the director of Karen Peace Support Network, a civilian group in Myanmars southeastern borderlands, told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

People on the banks of the Salween river crossed into Thailand but were turned back. Credit: EI TU HTA COMMUNITY LEADERS / AFP

They feel scared, they feel frightened. We dont know if there will be another attack or not so since they have no other choice theyve started digging bunkers.

As the atrocities mount in the Myanmar militarys murderous crackdown against the pro-democracy movement, with more than 500 people now killed in the chaos of the past two months, the nation is threatening to descend into civil war.
Norvado Launches Calix EDGE Suites, Achieves an Astounding 99 Percent Uptake of Their Premium Wi-Fi Service Among New Subscribers While Virtually Eliminating Truck Rolls

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced that Norvado, a broadband service provider (BSP) serving northern Wisconsin, is transforming its 70-year-old business with the complete Calix (News - Alert) Revenue EDGE solution to differentiate their brand with premium services for a connected lifestyle. Through a winning combination of segmenting subscribers with Calix Marketing Cloud (CMC), exciting subscribers with services in EDGE Suites, and embracing marketing best practices with EDGE Enablement, Norvado has achieved an incredible 99 percent adoption rate of its branded Apex (News - Alert) Managed WIFI service among new subscribers, while increasing margins exponentially. Further, with the robust remote-management capabilities of Calix Support Cloud ( CSC (News - Alert) ), Norvado has virtually eliminated truck rolls to Apex Managed WIFI subscribers, dramatically increasing operational efficiency.

Working with Calix since late 2019, Norvado has implemented the comprehensive Revenue EDGE solution to power its Apex Managed WIFI service. Norvado shifted from a product-focused approach to an innovative, services-based strategy by leveraging:

Calix Marketing Cloud (CMC) : The rich customer data generated by CMC helps Norvado understand usage patterns to personalize offers; for instance, suggesting upgrades to subscribers that repeatedly hit their upload and download capacities.

: The rich customer data generated by CMC helps Norvado understand usage patterns to personalize offers; for instance, suggesting upgrades to subscribers that repeatedly hit their upload and download capacities. EDGE Suites : Norvado's wildly popular Apex Managed WIFI service bundles are based on the subscriber-facing services: Experience IQ  (for parental controls) and Protect IQ  for advanced security). These pre-integrated services are managed through its branded version of the Command IQ  mobile app and delivered via the powerful GigaSpire  BLAST systems.

: Norvado's wildly popular Apex Managed WIFI service bundles are based on the subscriber-facing services: Experience  (for parental controls) and Protect  for advanced security). These pre-integrated services are managed through its branded version of the Command mobile app and delivered via the powerful GigaSpire BLAST systems. Calix Support Cloud (CSC): Real-time insights have enabled Norvado to deliver a differentiated subscriber experience. Calix Support Cloud, which provides real-time intelligence to prevent issues, improve call times, and reduce escalations, has allowed Norvado to fully eliminate truck rolls for Apex Managed WIFI subscribers.

Real-time insights have enabled Norvado to deliver a differentiated subscriber experience. Calix Support Cloud, which provides real-time intelligence to prevent issues, improve call times, and reduce escalations, has allowed Norvado to fully eliminate truck rolls for Apex Managed WIFI subscribers. Calix EDGE Enablement: Easy-to-customize marketing activation resources from Calix have helped Norvado quickly create and launch new campaigns. Results from the initial campaigns exceeded expectations; Norvado was able to get to market in just 30 days-in the first four months, they made more than 700 new sales, with their Apex Managed WIFI service accounting for 66 percent.







Norvado has placed its branded CommandIQ mobile app at the center of the Apex Managed WIFI experience, giving subscribers an intuitive, powerful, and easy-to-use tool to control their home system, right in the palm of their hand. In its premium packages or as add-ons to its basic plan, Norvado employs the original two EDGE Suites to offer value-added apps for enhanced network security capabilities (through ProtectIQ) and parental controls (through ExperienceIQ). Norvado will soon excite subscribers even more, building on its smart home offerings with the latest addition to EDGE Suites: Arlo wireless connected cameras, floodlights, and video doorbells. Beyond helping subscribers control their home systems, the Apex Managed WIFI app gives Norvado a critical conduit to directly communicate timely information via mobile notifications on new offers, service outages, community news, and corporate updates, building loyalty and increasing satisfaction among subscribers. The success of the app is clear: nearly 80 percent of Apex Managed WIFI subscribers have adopted the app-an astounding level of uptake-while 38 percent already have purchased the value-added apps.

"Norvado is a shining example of a service provider that is successfully taking on the consumer giants and big box stores to win the hearts and minds of subscribers," said Matt Collins, chief marketing officer at Calix. "In today's increasingly connected and complex world, subscribers are seeking a simple, streamlined solution. The approach Norvado has taken proves there's a clear path to success for broadband service providers. Embracing marketing best practices and innovative services creates revenue gains, loyal subscribers, and expanded value for the business. We are proud to be collaborating with Norvado to deliver the experiences that excite their subscribers, and position Norvado for continued growth."

Learn more about the Revenue EDGE solution and recently revamped CommandIQ mobile application, and view our webinar "New Year and New Approach: What are the Best 'Next' Practices?" on demand.

About Calix

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) - Calix cloud and software platforms enable service providers of all types and sizes to innovate and transform. Our customers utilize the real-time data and insights from Calix platforms to simplify their businesses and deliver experiences that excite their subscribers. The resulting growth in subscriber acquisition, loyalty and revenue creates more value for their businesses and communities. This is the Calix mission; to enable communications service providers of all sizes to simplify, excite and grow.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based upon management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix's business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix's results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC (News - Alert) and available at www.sec.gov.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005329/en/
KABUL, Afghanistan  Three health workers, all women, working for the governments polio vaccine campaign were shot dead in Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, local officials said, only weeks after three women working in television were killed in the same city.

The women, all in their 20s, were going about their jobs in the bustling town near the border with Pakistan when they were gunned down in two separate attacks.

Semin, 24, and Basira, 20, who like many Afghans both went by only one name, were shot and killed by two gunmen as they entered a house in Jalalabad to vaccinate the children who lived there, the governors office said.

The two were going door to door in the city, a practice the Taliban have banned in the past in areas under their control.
Since its creation back in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts has provided grants worth a total of about $5 billion. A new federal program to support arts venues called Save Our Stages will give out $15 billion.Its great that the federal government has finally recognized the economic power of arts in this country, says Michael Seman, an arts management professor at Colorado State University.Venues can apply for the grants, which will be distributed by the Small Business Administration, beginning next week. The program was created as part of the $908 billion stimulus package passed by Congress in December.Few sectors of the economy have been hit as hard during the pandemic as the arts. In a normal year, arts and culture represent about $900 billion worth of economic activity  more than airlines, which have received roughly five times as much federal aid over the past year.The arts economy is far more dispersed than airlines  or just about any other sector, for that matter.Cities of all sizes normally rely on arts events to attract people who spend money on parking, restaurants and other amenities. Pre-pandemic, the average patron spent more than $30 on top of any admission price when attending a cultural event, according to Americans for the Arts, an advocacy and research group. Rural areas have their companies, also, with many profiting from hosting festivals Culture vultures can name favorite jazz clubs or theater companies that have shut down over the past year. An Americans for the Arts survey of nonprofits found that 11 percent are not confident of their own survival, while 66 percent expect severe financial losses. Collectively, theyve lost roughly $15 billion in expected revenue.Despite the scary numbers, however, arts organizations have been able to fare better than most people would have predicted at this point last year, especially had they known they would mostly be shuttered for a full year. Theyve cut back on staff, put productions on hold and moved many offerings online.There was this big sense of doom and dread and apocalypse that was happening last spring, says Douglas Noonan, a public policy professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis who studies cultural economics. If we take stock now, were in a much better position than expected.Arts presenters, like other small businesses, have been able to take advantage of refundable Paycheck Protection Program loans and other largesse from the federal government. It hasnt always been a smooth process and there are still lots of unanswered questions about applying for Save Our Stages grants.Ive seen some shocking numbers about arts organizations, particularly minority-led, that have not received anything and dont expect to receive anything, Noonan says. If we look forward and they werent getting bailout money, theyd fold or get jobs at Amazon.But theres a renewed sense of optimism among presenters, says Deb Clapp, executive director of the League of Chicago Theaters. PPP loans have been lifesavers for many companies, she says, and people are now getting their application materials in order for Save Our Stages money. Beyond that, the acceleration in vaccinations has producers hopeful about possibly reopening. (According to theater company surveys, the overlap between theatergoers and adults willing to be vaccinated is near-total.)Some companies are ready to go with productions that were put on hold a year ago, Clapp says, while others are already announcing their fall seasons. A lot of companies are still holding back, however, not wanting to announce dates until theyre sure they can open. The general wisdom is we wont sell subscriptions until were sure well do the shows, Clapp says. Its very difficult to keep asking people to buy tickets and then asking them to donate the value back.Presenters know theyll face a changed landscape. Allowable seating capacity will vary by jurisdiction. Some share of patrons will remain cautious and not want to sit inside among hundreds of strangers.Perhaps the biggest change will be the move online. Live performances were among the last fields to be disrupted by the Internet, resisting change and experimentation for years. This past year, resistance has been futile. Everything has moved online  not just live shows, but pottery sales and just about every other cultural pursuit you can imagine.That means the theater company in Smalltown, USA, now has to compete with presenters located in New York or London. That may be a continuing issue. If youre watching a virtual performance, it doesnt really matter whether the company is located down the street or across an ocean.Companies will desperately try to dial back the clock to 2019, but some pandemic-induced habits will remain. Those will account for a growing share of the arts marketplace, Noonan predicts.There will still be people watching theater online and even more in 2023 and 2024 than in 2022, he says. Thats going to be the dominant story for the next decade.But online theatrical productions, while attracting new audiences to sometimes tiny regional companies, have not been big moneymakers. For those in the business of making theater, Clapp says, the first priority will always be the live experience.Theres certainly reason to believe that many arts patrons, having been performance-deprived for a full year now, will not just be ready but hungry to return. Venues that have opened with limited seating have found theres more demand than they can accommodate.The floodgates are going to be open, says Seman, the Colorado State professor. Once we figure out how we can open up efficiently and safely and have live events, were going to see the roaring 2020s.
We felt it important that, to represent the culture and values of Emergency Reporting, making this podcast available to all in the fire service at no cost was essential as a way for Emergency Reporting to help pay it forward.

Emergency Reporting, the leading provider of Fire & EMS records management software headquartered in Bellingham, Wash., announces the launch of its podcast, Fired Up and Plugged in, now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. The new podcast is intended for current and emerging leaders in fire and emergency services.

The podcasts producer, Tom Louis, Enterprise Training Manager & Subject Matter Expert at Emergency Reporting, says the episodes will offer insight to help fire and EMS personnel effectively lead their departments in the 21st century. In the first of the six episodes now available for download on podcast-hosting sites, podcast host Randy Bruegman (a retired fire chief whose career in local government spanned 40 years) and Emergency Reporting CEO David Nokes discuss organizational intelligence, strategic planning, and visionary principles applicable to any fire or EMS organization. In subsequent episodes, Chief Bruegman and his guests discuss topics like creating a world-class community risk reduction program and measuring a fire departments performance from the customers perspective.

Louis explained the inspiration behind starting a podcast: The impetus for a podcast came from David Nokes and Chief Randy Bruegman as they discussed ways Chief B could contribute content as a member of ERs Customer Advisory Board, he said. Chief B was instrumental (vital, actually) in the success of our first virtual summit, ADAPT 2020. His exceptional reputation in the worldwide fire service is now helping us secure top speakers for our podcast.

The initial plan was to release one episode quarterly, but Louis says the energy, collaboration, technology, and commitment of the ER team is enabling them to do at least two per month. The episodes run about 20-30 minutes long and are free to download.

We felt it important that, to represent the culture and values of Emergency Reporting, making this podcast available to all in the fire service at no cost was essential as a way for Emergency Reporting to help pay it forward, Chief Bruegman said.

Louis said that launching Fired Up and Plugged In is Emergency Reportings way of giving back to the fire and EMS community in a fun yet meaningful way. The podcast adheres to our company pillar of Relationships, he explained. Even though data drives the fire service, its people in the drivers seatthe podcast is a way for people to learn from and connect with each other.

Subscribe and listen to available episodes of Fired Up and Plugged In for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

About Host Randy Bruegman

Fire Chief Randy R. Bruegman began his career as a volunteer firefighter in Nebraska. He was hired as a firefighter in Ft. Collins, Colorado, where he served in a variety of positions including engineer, inspector, lieutenant, captain, and battalion chief. He has served as the fire chief for the City of Campbell, California; the Village of Hoffman Estates, Illinois; Clackamas County Fire District No. 1 (Oregon); City of Fresno, Ca. and the City of Anaheim, Ca. retiring in December of 2018 after serving over 40 years in local government.

He is a noted author and lecturer on such topics as leadership and managing change in the fire service and a contributing author of fire service literature including Fire Attack: The Strategy and Tactics of Initial Company Response; Making a Difference: The Fire Officer Role; Surviving Haz-Mat, Haz-Mat for First Responders; The Volunteer Firefighter, A Breed Apart and The Chief Fire Officers Desk Reference. He has authored five books: Exceeding Customer Expectations, The Chief Officer: A Symbol is a Promise, Fire Administration I, Fire Administration II, and the Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Administration.

He served as President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs in 2002-2003 and served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Center for Public Safety Excellence from 2004-2017. He served as a principal member on the NFPA 1710 Technical Committee, a standard on the organization and deployment of resources in career fire departments for several years. Chief Bruegman is a Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers, an Internationally Designated Chief Fire Officer, and a certified Fire Chief through the California State Fire Marshalls office. He has an associates degree in fire science, a bachelors degree in business, and a masters degree in management.

About Producer Tom Louis

Tom Louis currently serves as the Enterprise Training Manager for Emergency Reporting (ER). He retired as a battalion chief from the Green Valley Fire District in Arizona in 2013 after serving for 22 years. As a trainer from 2011-2018, he has helped ER customers throughout the United States and around the world.

He graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Fire Service Management. Tom is an avid reader of both non-fiction books and technothriller novels, loves classic and modern Mopar muscle cars, and has a soft spot for retired racing greyhounds.

About Emergency Reporting

At Emergency Reporting (ER), our mission is to empower first responders worldwide with fast and easy-to-use technology that provides the data needed to keep themselves and their communities safe. Our Records Management and Reporting Software acts as the centralized ecosystem that powers an agencys entire operation, from training and events, to incident reporting and compliance, to real-time analytics and performance feedback through data. As the pioneer in cloud-based Fire and EMS software, ER has always been the smarter way forward for the Fire Service while also managing to be the most user-friendly solution available. Since 2003, Emergency Reporting has proudly supported over 750,000 first responders through this mission worldwide  including DoD/military installations and large entities such as NASA, nuclear power plants, and hospitals. For more information, visit http://emergencyreporting.com.

Contact:

David Nokes

360.920.6482

david.nokes@emergencyreporting.com
"I want to work in a big office and give my service to the people when I finish school," says 62-year-old grade 8 pupil, Maureen Ngoma.

Ms Ngoma who is a pupil at Lusaka's Senga Lumbwe Basic School under adult literacy said she aspired to join the Zambia Army or contest for Lusaka Central Parliamentary seat once she completed her education.

The mother of nine said in an interview that she admired independent women working in big offices because she would have been like them if only she had pursued her education instead of getting married at 17

years, 45 years ago now.

Read more
MATRIXX Software, a global leader in 5G monetization for the communications industry, today announced it has partnered with Orange Romania to provide its digital commerce platform to YOXO, Oranges first all-digital mobile brand in the region. YOXO, built in just one year with a team of 15 people, has experienced impressive traction in the market, boasting a 90% customer recommendation rate, 3x sales growth and an NPS score triple that of the average mobile operator.

Officially launched in September 2020, YOXO was first conceived by Orange Romania as a way to reach a burgeoning, emerging customer segment comprised of young, cost-conscious digital natives who shun the idea of long-term contract commitments. With a goal to be first to market, Orange selected the MATRIXX Digital Commerce Platform to build a flexible, agile service capable of delivering real-time innovation to meet ever-shifting consumer demand.

At Orange Romania, we were looking to do much more than keep our status as the number one telco operator in a highly competitive market. We wanted to create the kind of service offering that drives loyalty and a sense of shared community with our customers, said Anca Veluda, head of digital for Orange Romania. The MATRIXX platform made it possible for us to build YOXO in a way that harnesses the power of innovation and agile experimentation, with a focus on delivering immediate value for our subscribers when and how they want it.

The MATRIXX Digital Commerce Platform enables Orange Romania to deliver a simple, inexpensive and easy-to-understand mobile experience. YOXO customers can manage every part of their mobile service straight from the app, including sign-up, order and activation of SIM. The app also makes it easy to change subscriptions as frequently as every month, manage payments and access customer support. YOXO is able to enhance features as needed, based on customer feedback, ensuring the mobile experience keeps pace with its dynamic target market.

Were honored to be a part of Orange Romanias new market leadership and to continue to support YOXO as it accelerates its product cycles to meet consumer demand in real time, said Glo Gordon, MATRIXX CEO. Our platform provides a proven model to help Orange become more agile, and build new digital services quickly and effectively, thereby enabling it to adapt to changing markets faster than the competition.

For more details about YOXOs creation and launch, read the full case study.

About MATRIXX Software

MATRIXX Software is the global leader in 5G monetization for the communications industry. Serving many of the worlds largest operator groups, regional carriers, and emerging digital service providers, MATRIXX delivers a cloud native digital commerce solution that enables unmatched commercial and operational agility. Unifying IT & networks, MATRIXX delivers a network-grade converged charging system (CCS), enabling efficient hyper-scaling of infrastructure to support consumer services, wholesale and enterprise marketplaces. Through its relentless commitment to product excellence and customer success, MATRIXX empowers businesses to harness network assets and business agility to succeed at web scale.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005226/en/

Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 23:17:20|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday urged for a binding legal agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) built on the Nile River.

"No one can take one drop of water from Egypt," the president said in televised comments during his visit to the Maritime Training and Simulation Center of the Suez Canal Authority in Ismailia.

"We are not threatening anyone. We always have sought a rational and patient dialogue," he added, stressing that Egypt's demands "abide by the international laws with regard to the issues of waters that cross borders."

Ethiopia started building the GERD in 2011, while Egypt is concerned it might affect its 55.5-billion-cubic-meter annual share of the Nile water. Sudan has recently been raising similar concerns over the 4-billion-U.S.-dollar dam.

Over the past few years, tripartite talks on the rules of filling and operating the giant hydropower dam, whose total capacity is 74 billion cubic meters, have been fruitless. Enditem
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

New Mexicans experiencing COVID-19 related financial hardship can apply, starting Monday, for three months of rent and utility assistance under the Emergency Rental Assistance Program being administered by the state Department of Finance and Administration.

The pool of $170 million from the federal government is separate from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, said DFA spokesman Henry Valdez.

However, to qualify, people must demonstrate that the pandemic caused them to experience such things as job loss, furlough, closure of a place of employment, or reduction in self-employment compensation, he said.

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Additional months of rent and utility assistance could be available, depending if there is money from the allotment left over after the initial disbursement, Valdez said.

We know many New Mexicans require a variety of aid as a result of the pandemic, and as we acquire more funds, we will get the money out the door as quickly and efficiently as possible, said DFA Secretary Debbie Romero.

Pueblo and tribal governments in New Mexico have each received separate allocations that they will administer through their own application and disbursement process, as will Dona Ana and Bernalillo counties.

Dona Ana County will distribute about $9.3 million. Applicants can go to DonaAnaCounty.org/rent-utiltiy-assistance.

Bernalillo County will distribute about $5 million. Applicants can go to Bernco.gov/rent.

The city of Albuquerque has a separate allocation of about $24 million, but they are partnering with the state in administering the program, Valdez said.

Residents from Albuquerque as well as counties in which applications are being processed through the DFA can go to renthelpNM.org.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller called the rental and utility assistance funds an important extension of the safety net for pandemic-affected residents.

By teaming up with the state and local partners, we can streamline the application process and quickly get money to those in our community who need it to stay housed, Keller said.

Identifying New Mexicans in need of rental and utility assistance will take a collaborative effort, so in addition to our efforts, we hope to collaborate with nonprofits and other entities for community outreach, said Donnie Quintana, the DFAs Local Government Division director.

The assistance will be paid directly to the landlord and/or utility provider, depending on the applicants financial assistance request.

Landlords and utility providers are encouraged to download a W-9 taxpayer identification form and submit it to DFA via ERAVendor.Relations@state.nm.us.
Van Lee was appointed by President Barack Obama to the board of trustees for The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and to the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. He is co-author of the book Megacommunities: How Leaders of Government, Business and Non-Profits Can Tackle Today's Global Challenges Together.

Born in the late 1950s in Houston, Van Lee was raised in the segregated South as a little Black boy, who happened to be gay, and didn't dwell on the negative aspects of being different. He used his "differentness" to thrive. He had a dream to be somebody -- and through his drive, and support from his family and his community, he was able to make those dreams come true. Van Lee fulfilled a childhood dream from watching "Star Trek" to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees in science. After a brief stint working for Exxon in Houston, he went back to school to complete his MBA from Harvard Business School. He then joined Booz Allen Hamilton.

While working at Booz Allen, Van Lee discovered a desire to find his journey to purpose and do everything he could to support the arts and other aspects of the communities he loved and believed in. Among other awards recognizing his commitment to service, he received New York University's C. Walter Nichols Award for outstanding community service, the Abyssinian Development Corporation Renaissance Award for his longtime and faithful commitment to the Harlem community, and the Percy E. Sutton Civic Leadership Award from the Apollo Theater Foundation, and he was recognized as one of New York's finest philanthropists.

Van Lee serves as chairman of the board for Washington Performing Arts and for the National CARES Mentoring Movement. He is a trustee for the Studio Museum in Harlem and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council. He is vice chair of the board for The Washington Ballet.

Van Lee received the 2008 National Black Engineer of the Year Award. Consulting Magazine named him as one of the top 25 consultants in the world in 2008, and he was identified as one of the 2009 Washington Minority Business Leaders by Washington Business Journal. Van Lee has co-authored a number of articles on the topic of strategy implementation. These articles have appeared in publications such as the Journal of Business Strategy and Business Horizons. He appeared on "ABC World News This Morning" and on CNBC and co-led the Clinton Foundation's Urban Enterprise Initiative, which focused on driving enhanced competitiveness of small businesses in Harlem. He is a founding member of the Clinton Global Initiative.

Van Lee is committed to helping the parents, teachers, mentors and advocates who serve our nation's youth.
It's been almost two years since Nadia Bartel announced her devastating split from husband Jimmy.

But rather than letting the divorce get her down, the former WAG has embarked upon the path of sweet revenge - by embracing a sexy new image.

The 35-year-old has been courting attention by adopting a new 'party girl' fashion aesthetic reminiscent of her formative days on the Melbourne social circuit.

Looking hot is the BEST revenge: How Nadia Bartel, 35, (pictured) sexed up her image after being blindsided by her split with Jimmy

She debuted her sexy new look in September 2019, just one month after announcing her split from Jimmy, as she attended the Brownlow red carpet in a dazzling ice-blue J'Aton Couture gown.

The frock, which was was labelled by the media as Nadia's 'revenge dress', was encrusted with intricate beading and featured a racy thigh split that showed off her pins to perfection.

The glittering soiree was her first official red carpet since splitting from the retired Geelong star, and also her first time covering the event for Channel Seven.

Split: Nadia and Jimmy (pictured in happier times) announced their separation in August 2019, but are believed to have split two months prior

Debuting her sexy new style! Nadia had worn a dazzling pale blue J'Aton Couture frock to the AFL's night of nights in September 2019, just one month after announcing her split from Jimmy Debuting her sexy new style! Nadia had worn a dazzling pale blue J'Aton Couture frock to the AFL's night of nights in September 2019, just one month after announcing her split from Jimmy

New year, new me! She kicked off 2021 with a bang on January 1st by uploading several photos of herself posing in a see-through pink sequin crop top and skirt (left). Nadia previously eschewed raunchy outfits, instead opting for a more conservative approach. Pictured right: Prior to her split from Jimmy

After spending most of 2020 in lockdown, Nadia resurfaced with an even sexier new style this year, posting a flurry of racy Instagram selfies and attending events in skin-baring attire.

She kicked off 2021 with a bang on January 1st by uploading several photos of herself posing in a see-through pink sequin crop top and skirt

Nadia's sheer outfit gave fans a generous glimpse of toned torso, as well as a peek at her prodigious cleavage.

Plunging into a new style: A month later, the mother-of-two sent pulses racing by modelling a plunging green sweater by Dion Lee in another racy Instagram selfie (left). Pictured right: Nadia sporting a rocker-inspired look prior to her split from Jimmy

Nadia completed her look with heavy makeup, and allowed her bleach-blonde hair to fall in neatly tousled curls.

A month later, the mother-of-two sent pulses racing by modelling a plunging green Dion Lee sweater in another racy Instagram selfie.

Nadia, who previously eschewed showing off her cleavage on social media during her marriage to Jimmy, proudly displayed her chest in the skimpy number.

Busting out! Nadia's ample assets made another appearance in early March when she attended her friend's birthday party at Melbourne's Hotel Esplanade (left). Pictured right with Jimmy prior to their split

White hot! Sporting a dark spray tan, the influencer sizzled in a plunging white corset dress that showed off her curves to perfection (left). Pictured right: Nadia sporting a low-key look prior to her split from Jimmy

Nadia's ample assets made another appearance in early March when she attended her friend's birthday party at Melbourne's Hotel Esplanade.

Sporting a dark spray tan, the influencer sizzled in a plunging white corset dress, again by Dion Lee, that showed off her curves to perfection.

Nadia's eye-catching ensemble also featured semi-sheer, panelled waist detailing that showed off her flat stomach.

Hell for leather! Days later, she modelled yet another sexy outfit on Instagram, this time teaming a brown leather jacket with a skimpy white boob-tube and high-waisted trouser

My, how you've changed! Nadia previously embraced a more understated, conservative look during her marriage to Jimmy. Pictured: Jimmy and Nadia in happier times

Days later, she modelled yet another sexy outfit on Instagram, this time teaming a brown leather jacket with a skimpy white boob-tube and high-waisted trousers.

Posing for a selfie inside her home, Nadia gave the camera a 'come hither' look as she channelled her inner bikie goddess.

Nadia's sexy new look also made headlines over the weekend after she attended the belated Spray Aus Christmas party in a very skimpy outfit, yet again by her go-to designer, Dion Lee.

Daring to bare! Nadia's sexy new look also made headlines over the weekend after she attended the belated Spray Aus Christmas party in a very skimpy crochet top

Posing up a storm on Instagram, Nadia oozed sex appeal in a crochet top, which plunged down to her naval, showing a glimpse of her toned physique underneath.

She completed her look with a pair of white trousers and stiletto heels.

Nadia married retired Geelong Cats star Jimmy Bartel in 2014.

Over: Nadia was married to retired Geelong Cats star Jimmy Bartel from 2014 to 2019. Pictured: Nadia and Jimmy Bartel on September 22, 2014, in Melbourne

The couple announced their separation in August 2019, but are believed to have split two months prior.

They share custody of two children, sons Aston, four, and Henley, one.

Jimmy quickly moved on with Melbourne socialite Lauren Mand, but rumours have recently began swirling that the couple have called it quits.


Rachael and Peter Hill

Citywide Kitchens may be a new name, but the company principals are far from new to the area or the job of designing and installing bespoke kitchens and household cabinetry.

Peter and Rachael Hill have decades of experience in kitchen cabinetry in the Mahurangi district, as well as the wider Auckland area, and are about to open a showroom and factory in Morrison Drive.

And even after all this time, we still love what we do, Rachael says.

We can put our hands to anything, we love a challenge, and we know how to listen and deliver what customers want, so they get their dream kitchen at a price that they can comfortably afford.

Both Peter and Rachael grew up in Mangawhai  the oldest existing house in Mangawhai, The Tara, was built by Peters great grandfather Edward Hill. Although they both attended Rodney College, they didnt meet until they were working in Auckland. At the time, Peter was pursuing a furniture making and machinery apprenticeship, while Rachael was following her passion for food preparation and interior design.

They moved to Mahurangi in the late 1990s when Peter started working for Franich Joinery and Rachael was the bakery manager at Warkworth New World. In 2002 they opened their own kitchen design business.

The business was very successful, but after 10 years we were at capacity and realised the business needed a big investment to take it to the next stage. We decided to sell instead, took a trip to Europe and then moved to Mackay in north Queensland.

But the Aussie lifestyle wasnt for them and they moved back to NZ and have, for many years now, worked together in kitchen design and installation from their home in Whangateau, trading as Citywide Installations.

Everything we do is custom built, but not at a custom price, Peter says. We design and renovate kitchens and other cabinetry that is individual, that utilises the space and suits the home owners needs. We use only the best products and materials available, ranging from lacquer, veneers and Melteca to solid timbers and everything in between.

We are currently operating in our temporary premises in Gumfield Drive, but on May 1 we will open our new showroom, offices and factory in Morrison Drive (in premises formerly occupied by McMahon Builders) to showcase our work.
Maputo  The international terrorist network calling itself "Islamic State" has claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack against the town of Palma in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.

A statement in Arabic, carried on the AMAQ news agency website, claimed that the terrorists killed 55 people, including both members of the defence and security forces and civilians,

The statement is illustrated by a photograph of a crowd of people surrounding a man dressed in black believed to be a leader of the group. But the photo, supposedly from Palma is demonstrably fake.

The independent newssheet "Carta de Mocambique", noticed that, at the back of the photo can clearly be seen a road sign indicating that the crowd is at the entrance to Mocimboa da Praia, a town occupied by Islamic State in August last year. Using a photo that was taken in an entirely different place is a sign that the terrorists were unable to send their media any usable photos of Palma.

The Islamic State claims that it is in control of Palma, but during the days following the Wednesday raid it was never able to drive the Mozambican forces out of the town. On Sunday night, the Mozambican armed forces (FADM) announced that they are in control of the greater part of the town, and are flushing out remaining pockets of terrorist resistance.

Journalists finally reached Palma on Monday. A helicopter carrying Mozambican television crews overflew Palma, and what they saw was a ghost town. Smoke was still rising from some installations attacked by the islamists, and ambushed vehicles lay in the roads where they had been abandoned.

Nobody could be seen on the streets. The entire population appeared to have fled. Some people made their way to the Afungi Peninsula, where a consortium headed by the French oil and gas company Total is building gas liquefaction plants. From there they were taken, by air or by sea, to the provincial capital, Pemba. Others trekked northwards towards the Rovuma river and the Tanzanian border, where they were able to make cell phone contact with their relatives in Pemba.

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Other survivors walked for 100 kilometres to the town of Nangade, where, according to a report in Tuesday's issue of the independent newssheet "Mediafax", they said the raiders had singled out state employees for attack.

Speaking in Swahili, the terrorists said they wanted to seize public officials because they believed they could use them as bargaining chips to oblige the Government to implement sharia law. Apparently they believed that these officials were the obstacle to implementing Islamic religious norms in Cabo Delgado.

These survivors thought the terrorists had attacked the Amarula Hotel because they knew that many government staff had sought refuge there. "They also wanted the Palma district administrator", said one of these survivors.

Among those who made their escape to Nangade, reported "Mediafax", were 14 children who had become separated from their parents. They were accompanied by other survivors, but did not know what had happened to their parents.

The historic mansion at 20 Route 9h in Claverack, NY was originally built in 1869 as residence of the former Claverack College and Hudson River Institute president.

The mansion house at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

After closing in 1902, the property has since been a summer home for disabled children from New York City, a boys boarding school, and was the Allegro Open Community School from around 1968 to 1987 which was run by the family who lived there.

In 1987 the Hudson Valley home was bought by a Russian painter named Mihail Chemiakin who lived in the auditorium and used it as his working studio for many years.

The mansion house at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

After purchasing the property, a fire began when workers were removing paint off the front of the mansion. The fire spread and greatly damaged the roof and the interior. Since then, Chemiakin put a new roof on and fixed the interior to a livable state where he spent time working on his art.

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

The home is filled with his artwork, but as Chemiakin now lives in France, the property has sat unused for about 10 years, realtor Alan Weaver said. With no kitchen, or dining room, or bedrooms to speak of, the main building is over 7,300 square feet of raw space with many of its walls just exposed brick.

Its looking for its next chapter in life, Weaver said.

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

The property has four other buildings on site which were previously used as caretaker homes and guest houses. The almost 12-acre property is park-like with a pond and Chemiakins sculptures decorating the grounds.

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

It is located on a well-traveled road, just 10 minutes outside Hudson, NY, a town full of art galleries and antique shops. The Catskill Mountains are less than an hours drive on the other side of the Hudson River.

The property is zoned residential at the moment, so although other non-profits and businesses have looked at it, it would need to be rezoned for anything other than a single-family home.

Details

Address: 20 Route 9h, Claverack, NY 12513

Price: $1,500,000

Size: 7370 square feet

Acreage: 11.9 acres

Built: 1869

Bedrooms: 0

Bathrooms: 0

Total taxes: $2,650

School district: Hudson City School District

Agent information

Alan Weaver

Alan Weaver Real Estate

Phone: 518-653-9858

Email: aweaverhere@gmail.com

See the full listing

More photos below

The mansion house at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

The mansion house at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

The mansion house at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

The mansion house at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

Live in your very own art park at 20 Route 9H, Claverack, NY, 12523 in the Hudson Valley.Alan Weaver | Provided photo

MORE UPSTATE NEW YORK HOMES

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Must see Upstate NY home: Live off the grid near Otsego Lake with Catskill Mountain views

Must-see Home in Upstate NY: Former Yankees manager Billy Martins lakeside retreat
AVENTURA, Fla., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WM Partners, a certified diverse-owned private equity firm focused on investing in lower-middle market companies and driving value creation in the health and wellness sector, today announced the promotions of Eli Minski to Vice President and Jonathan Tarich to Senior Associate. These long-term team members have continued to grow both professionally and personally and are valuable members of the growing WM Partners team.

"We are extremely happy and lucky to have both Eli and Jonathan as key members of our deal team," said Ernesto Carrizosa, Executive Managing Director at WM Partners. "As we execute our growth plans and promote from within, we are certain that their contributions will continue to have an invaluable impact on our investments selection, portfolio build up, and subsequent value creation for our Funds and all of our LPs."

Eli Minski

Eli joined WM Partners in 2015 as one of the first employees of the firm. He is a key leading member of the deal team identifying, evaluating, and executing investment opportunities. Prior to joining WM Partners, Eli worked as cash manager and treasury analyst at Nutranext, LLC. Before his time at Nutranext, Eli worked as a financial analyst at Bayview Center for Mental Health, a non-profit community mental health center serving the South Florida community. He received an MBA from Babson College and a BSM in Finance from Tulane University.

Jonathan Tarich

Jonathan joined WM Partners in 2016 shortly after the formation of the firm's first fund. He is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and executing investment opportunities, as well as monitoring and supporting existing portfolio companies. He graduated Cum Laude with a BS in Biology from the University of Florida.

About WM Partners

WM Partners is a middle-market private equity firm specializing in buyout investments in the health and wellness sector. WM Partners seeks to acquire small and medium size businesses with attractive growth prospects and generate sustainable, long-term value through its operational expertise in the health and wellness sector, and strategic business approach working in collaboration with experienced management teams. WM Partners is certified as a diverse-owned firm by the National Association of Investment Companies. WM Partners is based in Aventura, FL. More information about WM Partners is available at www.wmplp.com.

For media inquiries about this press release, please contact:

WM Partners, LP

Vanessa Gabela

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE WM Partners

Related Links

http://wmplp.com


Perus military said Tuesday that the second-in-command of the Shining Path guerrilla movement had died in January following a military strike on a rebel camp.

Jorge Quispe Palomino, known as Comrade Raul, died on January 27 as a result of a chronic kidney disease that was aggravated by an armed forces attack on a rebel camp in October, the militarys joint command said in a statement.

His death was the result of injuries sustained from helicopter fire over a terrorist camp, it added.

This information was hidden from his own troops to avoid demoralization and other negative effects within the terrorist organization, said the statement.

Quispe Palomino was one of the most wanted people in Peru and the brother of the Shining Path leader Victor Quispe Palomino, known as Comrade Jose.

Most of the Shining Paths top leaders have been detained but Comrade Jose remains at large with the remnants of the militant group which are active in the major coca-growing area of Peru, collaborating with drug-traffickers.

Perus government had placed a bounty of two million soles ($550,000) on Comrade Rauls head.

The Shining Path, an offshoot of various communist political parties, launched its popular war in May 1980 and was known for its brutality.

Two decades of conflicts with armed forces left 69,000 people either dead or missing, according to the countrys truth and reconciliation commission.

Although the group was never fully defeated, it is now believed to consist of just 350 members, including 80 armed militants commanded by the Quispe Palomino brothers.

Peru is one of the worlds largest producers of cocaine and its major ingredient, the coca leaf.
She's a reality star, model and founder and owner of her wildly successful company Kylie Cosmetics.

But on Monday Kylie Jenner could have looked just like any other driver on the go when she was seen pumping gas into her car in Calabasas so she could continue on with her busy day.

Only Jenner was far from the typical driver making a pitstop at a gas station, when you consider she drove up in an orange Lamborghini Urus and stepped out of the driver's side in a midriff-baring ensemble.

On the go: Kylie Jenner, 23, stopped to pump gas at a station in the Calabasas neighborhood of Los Angeles on Monday

With spring in the air, Jenner was decked out in an all-white outfit -- consisting of pants, styled with a few vertical lines of frayed cloth, and a tube top with hanging strands of strings.

The ensemble helped showcase her toned midriff and ample assets.

She rounded out the all-white theme with open-toed heels and her raven tresses styled long and flowing to her waistline.

Lady in white: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star stepped out of the driver's side of her Lamborghini in a midriff-baring ensemble

Spring white: The ensemble included pants, styled with a few vertical lines of frayed cloth, and a tube top with hanging strands of strings

Safety first: Jenner made sure to wear a mask amid COVID-19, which is still a health crisis

With COVID-19 still very much a health crisis, the youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner siblings made sure to wear a black protective mask over her mouth and nose as admirers took notice of her during her brief stop.

During her pitstop, Jenner also bought a drink and a snack, and then made the short walk back to her posh car, which caught the attention of some other customers who recognized her and said hello.

After showing some fan friendly etiquette, she got back into her Lambo, which typically cost more than $200,000, and drove off.

Uber celebrity: Some people did a double-take when they pulled into the gas station and saw one of the famous Kardashian-Jenner ladies

Lady in white: Jenner rounded out ensemble with a pair of white open-toe heels

While out an about in the afternoon, Jenner took some time out to share selfies that were snapped in the front seat of her Lamborghini Urus.

'no filter. happy monday' she wrote in the caption.

The mother of three-year-old daughter Stormi enjoyed the summer-like temperatures across Los Angeles over the weekend by hiking with friends and lounging poolside in skimpy black bikini.

Posh toys: The cost of a Lamborghini Urus is typically over $200,000, although personal perks would make it much more pricier

On the move: After showing some fan friendly etiquette, Jenner got back into her Lambo, which typically cost more than $200,000, and drove off
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SHANGHAI, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AffaMed Therapeutics ("AffaMed"), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to addressing critical unmet patient need in ophthalmic, neurological and psychiatric disorders, today announced the completion of over US$170 million in Series B financing. The oversubscribed financing was led by Lake Bleu Capital, with participation by new investors including Partners Investment, Superstring Capital, Orion Science Capital, and Fountainhead Partners, and with continuing support of its founding investor CBC Group. Proceeds from the financing will be used to advance clinical development of AffaMed's robust pipeline of innovative therapeutic candidates, progress business development and partnering activities, and support preparations for future commercialization.

Since its inception in 2019, AffaMed has built an exceptional global platform to develop therapeutics and solutions to serve patients in Greater China and worldwide. AffaMed has assembled world-class capabilities in clinical development, regulatory affairs and business development under the leadership of its CEO, Dr. Dayao Zhao, a seasoned industry veteran who has previously served as Head of China R&D for Pfizer; as Head of China R&D at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson; and as Genzyme's head of Japan and Asia Pacific R&D.

Dr. Zhao commented: "AffaMed has established a strong portfolio of therapeutic candidates in ophthalmology and neuroscience and has made significant progress in developing its pipeline over the past year. With the support of this outstanding syndicate of investors who share our vision, we are well-positioned to transform AffaMed into a leading biopharmaceutical company in our chosen therapeutic areas while advancing our pipeline and pursuing new strategic partnerships."

Dr. Bin Li, Founding Partner, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Lake Bleu Capital said: "AffaMed is a promising biopharmaceutical company with an unparalleled pipeline targeting neurological, psychiatric and ophthalmic disorders. We believe in AffaMed's world-class management team, clear China and global business development plan, and impressive execution capabilities. Lake Bleu Capital is delighted to partner with the AffaMed team to support their globalization strategy and help unlock new treatment paradigms that will ultimately make a tangible difference to patients globally."

Wei Fu, CEO of CBC Group, commented: "AffaMed has built a robust clinical-stage portfolio with significant market potential, and has articulated a clear and transformative strategy for developing new therapies. Investing in the human talent behind biopharmaceutical companies like AffaMed is at the core of CBC Group's value creation strategy. We look forward to continuing to support AffaMed's strong leadership team as it accelerates growth to the next level."

AffaMed Appoints Dr. Ji Li as President and Board Member

In addition to today's financing news, AffaMed has announced the appointment of Dr. Ji Li as President and member of its Board of Directors. A highly accomplished senior pharmaceutical executive with extensive business development and R&D experience, Dr. Li has previously served as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Business Development at BeiGene; as Vice President of Business Development and Licensing at Merck Research Laboratories, a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc.; and as Executive Director of External R&D at Amgen. Dr. Li holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and a B.S. in Pharmacology from Shanghai Medical University.

Dr. Li commented: "I am pleased to join AffaMed at this pivotal time in the company's development. The management team deeply appreciates the trust shown in AffaMed by our existing and new investors, and we are confident we will successfully advance AffaMed's strategic plan to strengthen and broaden our portfolio towards serving the unmet medical needs of millions of patients in Greater China and the rest of the world."

About AffaMed Therapeutics

AffaMed Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products that address critical unmet medical needs in ophthalmic, neurological and psychological disorders for patients in Greater China and around the world. The leadership team of AffaMed Therapeutics has gained deep industry expertise and an extensive track record in high-quality clinical development, regulatory affairs, CMC, business development and commercial operations at leading multi-national pharmaceutical companies in China and globally. AffaMed Therapeutics was founded and funded by the CBC Group in 2019.

About Lake Bleu Capital

Based in Hong Kong and Shanghai, Lake Bleu Capital (www.lakebleu-cap.com) is a multi-billion investment platform focused on healthcare space. Lake Bleu Capital's USD public equity fund is one of the largest healthcare specialist funds in Asia. Thanks to its outstanding performance since inception, the fund has been awarded as the sole winner of the "5 Year Award: Over 500m category" by AsiaHedge in 2020 and the "Best Asia ex-Japan Fund" by industry authorities multiple times in recent years. Lake Bleu Capital is also active in mid-to late-stage private equity investment in China's healthcare sector. It has successfully invested in over 40 high quality private companies and provided the invested companies with strategic value- add services while growing with the companies in the long run.

About CBC Group

CBC Group (formerly C-Bridge Capital) is one of the largest and most active healthcare-dedicated investment firms in Asia focused on platform-building and buyout opportunities across three core areas within the healthcare sector: pharmaceutical & biotech, medtech and healthcare services. CBC's operationally intensive approach empowers healthcare sector champions to make transformative changes to enable sustainable long-term growth, fulfill unmet medical needs and continuously improve the standard of living and quality of care in China and the rest of Asia. Founded in 2014, CBC has a strong team of investment, healthcare and portfolio management professionals based across Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, and New York.

SOURCE AffaMed Therapeutics
A fugitive Italian mobster has been arrested in Portugal at a clinic where he was reportedly being treated for Covid-19.

Francesco Pelle was convicted in his homeland of ordering the revenge killing of a rival mafioso's wife.

Italian interior minister Luciana Lamorgese described him as one of Italy's most dangerous fugitives in a statement on Monday.

She gave no further details except to say that Italian paramilitary police and anti-Mafia prosecutors had been on his trail.

Pelle, 43, was a noted figure in one of the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta's most notorious organised crime clans.

His arrest comes just over a week after another 'Ndrangheta member was arrested in the Dominican Republic after his distinctive tattoos were spotted in a YouTube cooking video.

A fugitive Italian mobster has been arrested in Portugal at a clinic where he was reportedly being treated for Covid-19. Francesco Pelle (pictured) was convicted in his homeland of ordering the revenge killing of a rival mafioso's wife [File photo]

Italian daily Corriere della Serra reported that Pelle was arrested in a Lisbon hospital where he was being treated for Covid-19. The hospital was subsequently identified as the Sao Jose Hospital (pictured) [File photo]

Italian daily Corriere della Serra reported that Pelle was arrested in a Lisbon hospital where he was being treated for Covid-19.

The hospital was subsequently identified as the Sao Jose Hospital.

Corriere della Serra said Pelle had vanished from Milan in 2019, just before Italy's top criminal court upheld his conviction for ordering the murder of Maria Strangio at her home in Calabria on Christmas Day 2006.

The murder was part of a long history of bloodshed between the Pelle-Vottari clan and the rival Nirta-Strangio gang in the 'Ndrangheta stronghold town of San Luca.

Pelle had been shot in the back and wounded in the feud a few days earlier and the killing of Ms Strangio was believed to have been ordered in retaliation.

In revenge for her murder, six suspected members or associated of the Pelle-Vottari clan were gunned down outside an Italian restaurant in Duisberg, Germany, in 2007.

Pelle vanished from Milan in 2019, just before Italy's top criminal court upheld his conviction for ordering the murder of Maria Strangio at her home in Calabria on Christmas Day 2006. In revenge for her murder, six suspected members or associated of the Pelle-Vottari clan were gunned down outside an Italian restaurant in Duisberg, Germany, in 2007. Pictured: The crime scene in Duisberg, Germany in 2007 [File photo]

The sensational attack made plain to authorities in Europe what Italian investigators had been saying for years: that the 'Ndrangheta, awash in cocaine money, had extended its reach throughout much of the continent as it gobbled up businesses to help launder billions in drug profits. Pictured: Bodies are loaded into a hearse following an attack outside an Italian restaurant in Duisberg, Germany in 2007 [File photo]

The sensational attack made plain to authorities in Europe what Italian investigators had been saying for years: that the 'Ndrangheta, awash in cocaine money, had extended its reach throughout much of the continent as it gobbled up businesses to help launder billions in drug profits.

Interior minister Lamorgese praised international police cooperation behind Monday's arrest.

International police cooperation also helped secure the arrest of Marc Feren Claude Biart in the Dominican Republic on March 29.

The 53-year-old had been on the run since 2014, when Italian prosecutors ordered his arrest for trafficking cocaine in the Netherlands on behalf of the Cacciola clan of the 'Ndrangheta.

Mafia fugitive was caught in the Caribbean after appearing on YouTube cooking videos where he showed off his distinctive tattoos. Pictured (left) during his arrest

Police said Biart had been living a quiet life in Boca Chica, with the local Italian expat community considering him a 'foreigner'.

Detectives spotted him on a YouTube channel where he showed off his Italian cooking skills with his wife.

The videos never showed his face, but the tattoos on his body gave him away, police said.

He was returned to Milan on Monday after being seized as part of Operation Mauser to crack down on the gang's global drug trafficking ring.

Detectives from Interpol helped scour social media sites for any trace of Biart before they found him on YouTube.

Biart, 53, led a quiet life in Boca Chica, in the Dominican Republic, with the local Italian expat community considering him a 'foreigner'

Biart was returned to Milan on Monday after being seized as part of Operation Mauser to crack down on the gang's global drug trafficking ring

Detectives from Interpol helped scour social media sites for any trace of Biart before they found him on YouTube

Directors of seven tea factories in Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties have warned of anarchy in the sector and loss of assets if the forced takeover of factories continues.

They claimed that the elections of factory directors have been infiltrated by people pursuing personal interests.

The directors warned that if transition from the current leadership to those who are being elected is not properly handled, it could lead to loss of assets and collapse of some factories.

In a recent Executive Order, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered that tea factories hold elections within 60 days, kicking up the current storm in the sector.

The order came following the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA's) attempts to frustrate reforms, which are meant to benefit tea growers.

So far, several factories in Murang'a County have elected new directors.

Illegal elections

However, KTDA has dismissed the elections as illegal and moved to court to challenge the move.

Speaking at a press conference at Imenti tea factory, 45 directors of Kionyo, Imenti, Githongo, Miciimikuru, Kinoro, Kiegoi and Weru (in Tharaka Nithi) asked President Kenyatta to convene a stakeholders' conference, where contentious issues would be discussed.

The directors said they were not opposed to the elections but asked the government to follow the law.

"As elected leaders, we will defend our farmers so that this sector does not collapse. We are committed to ensure that tea does not go in the same route as the collapsed coffee, sugar and pyrethrum sectors," said Mr Paul Ringera, regional KTDA director who spoke on behalf of the team.

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"We appeal to the President to listen to what farmers are saying and convene a national conference where all these issues will be discussed. We suspect there are people who want to ruin this sector. When factories collapse, these are the same people who will buy them and not farmers," said Mr Ringera.

"Fat cats"

They also claimed that some of the individuals participating in the elections are not bona fide farmers.

"Some of them are not in the factory registers and have not been delivering tea leaves in the factories they purport to be members," said Mr Bernard Kiruja, chairman of Kionyo tea factory.

"Also, the voting stations are not approved and the exercise is being held in market places yet we know that our stations are the green leaf collection centres," he added.

Last week, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya hit out at the directors over claims that the ministry was organising the elections, saying the government was just facilitating farmers to comply with the law.

Mr Munya warned that the government would not sit back and watch as "fat cats" at the agency lined their pockets with farmers' proceeds, impoverishing tea growers.

The CS accused the KTDA management of continuing to pay lawyers who are battling out various cases against his ministry and implementation of the Tea Act, 2020 using farmers' money.
Irina Schneid watched happily as her 5-year-old daughter, Sasha, went up and down the rows of the Summit Free Public Library. Sasha picked out more than 10 books, and listened intently as her mother read them aloud.

Other kids fluttered around the librarys childrens section on Monday, the first day its been open this year amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It felt, parents said, like a bit of a return to normalcy.

Such a happy day, said Helen Barbara as she checked out books for her daughter. A mood lifter.

The library was open to the public July through November of 2020, but has been closed since then due to spiking COVID-19 numbers this winter. Curbside service has been provided since July, but patrons Monday said they were thrilled at the chance to get back in the stacks, browsing as they please.

To be in the building and choose as the feeling strikes youcant do that online, said Brian Hogarth, who applauded the staff when he was the second patron to enter the building.

Serena Gabara looks for a book on Greek mythology with her mother Helen Gabara. The Summit Free Public Library opened its doors today to allow a limited number of patrons to come inside and use parts of the library, in Summit, N.J. March, 29, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

There are COVID-19 restrictions and safety requirements in place. There is a limit of 20 patrons inside at a time. Masks are required, and contactless checkout is available through the cloudlibrary app. Three computers are available for use one hour at a time, and an appointment is required. Reading tables are for single use only. Plus, curbside pick-up and drop-off is still available, if patrons would prefer it.

Still, library staff says its a step in the right direction.

Weve been hoping to reopen for a long time, said Susan Permahos, Summit library director. The governor raised capacity numbers, so we are giving it a try.

We truly enjoy letting the people in to use the library, she said.

Library hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.

Sasha Schneid listens as her mother Irina Schneid reads a book to her. The Summit Free Public Library opened its doors today to allow a limited number of patrons to come inside and use parts of the library, in Summit, N.J. March, 29, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Brian Hogarth browses recent books. The Summit Free Public Library opened its doors today to allow a limited number of patrons to come inside and use parts of the library, in Summit, N.J. March, 29, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Summit Free Public Library opened its doors today to allow a limited number of patrons to come inside and use parts of the library, in Summit, N.J. March, 29, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Irina Schneid reads a book to her daughter Sasha Schneid. The Summit Free Public Library opened its doors today to allow a limited number of patrons to come inside and use parts of the library, in Summit, N.J. March, 29, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Browsing for books. The Summit Free Public Library opened its doors today to allow a limited number of patrons to come inside and use parts of the library, in Summit, N.J. March, 29, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Computer spaces are restricted as are use times.The Summit Free Public Library opened its doors today to allow a limited number of patrons to come inside and use parts of the library, in Summit, N.J. March, 29, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Books are pulled to go display. The Summit Free Public Library opened its doors today to allow a limited number of patrons to come inside and use parts of the library, in Summit, N.J. March, 29, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Brian Hogarth browses recent books. The Summit Free Public Library opened its doors today to allow a limited number of patrons to come inside and use parts of the library, in Summit, N.J. March, 29, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Summit Free Public Library opened its doors today to allow a limited number of patrons to come inside and use parts of the library, in Summit, N.J. March, 29, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Summit Free Public Library opened its doors today to allow a limited number of patrons to come inside and use parts of the library, in Summit, N.J. March, 29, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Main reading area at the Summit Free Public Library opened its doors today to allow a limited number of patrons to come inside and use parts of the library, in Summit, N.J. March, 29, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Ed Murray may be reached at emurray@njadvancemedia.com.
Workers walk by the perimeter fence of what is officially known as a vocational skills education center in Dabancheng in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, on Sept. 4, 2018. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

US Religious Freedom Chief: China Sanctions Wont Silence Her Panel

The Chinese regimes sanctions against the chair and vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) wont end criticism of Beijings oppression of millions of Uyghur Muslims, the commissions top official says.

The Chinese governments baseless sanctions on U.S. and foreign government officials who advocate for human rights and religious freedom in China are an attempt to silence growing international criticism and scrutiny of its genocidal policies against Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin said in a March 29 statement. Xinjiang is a region in northwest China.

This tactic will not work. USCIRF will not be silenced. We will not stop speaking out against the Chinese governments ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity, added Manchin, who is the wife of Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

Manchin was referring to sanctions announced by the Chinese regime last week against her and USCIRF Vice Chairman Tony Perkins, as well as other U.S. and Canadian officials.

The sanctions bar the designated individuals from traveling to the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau, and make it illegal for Chinese firms to have any kind of relations with them or the entities they represent.

The Chinese Communist Party governments baseless sanctions are tactics of intimidation revealing the communist regime is trying to save face in the international community, which has denounced their brutal and repressive policies toward their own people, Perkins said in the statement.

We call on the international community, especially U.S. allies who share the same fundamental universal values and principles of freedom of religion or belief and the rule of law, to redouble their efforts and unite in standing up to Communist China.

Perkins also called for the United States and its allies to impose additional coordinated sanctions against officials in the Chinese regime for specific actions against the estimated 11 million Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims mostly living in Xinjiang.

Describing Chinas forced labor camps and other repressive actions against the Muslim minorities as a genocidal campaign, Perkins also called on the international community to either move or boycott the 2022 Winter Olympic Games that are scheduled for Beijing.

The targeting of Manchin and Perkins by Beijing followed a March 10 USCIRF hearing that focused on U.S. companies profiting from or otherwise making use of forced labor by Uyghurs.

It is a practical impossibility for a U.S. corporation to source from the Uyghur region without using forced labor, which means that every corporation that has chosen to stay in the Uyghur region is complicit in the crime of forced labor, Scott Nova, executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), told the USCIRF hearing.

The Uyghur region produces an estimated 20 percent of the worlds cotton production, according to witnesses during the hearing, as well as nearly half of the polysilicon used in solar panels. The region also produces vast quantities of tomatoes and tomato-based products, much of which are bought and imported to the United States by domestic firms.

From Target to Walmart, from lululemon to Uniqlo, from Amazon to Zara, the supply chain of virtually every branded retailer that sells cotton garments runs through the Uyghur region, Nova said.

Under President Donald Trump, the USCIRF warned in June 2020 that Chinas forced sterilization of Uyghurs amounted to evidence of systematic genocide.

Perkins and Manchin swapped titles after Jan. 20, when former Vice President Joe Biden was inaugurated as Trumps successor in the White House.

The religious freedom panel also issued a March 23 statement in support of sanctions by the United States and other countries against Chinese officials Wang Junzheng, secretary of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), and Chen Mingguo, director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau (XPSB), under the Global Magnitsky Act for committing egregious religious freedom violations against Uyghurs and other Muslims residing in the region.

Congressional correspondent Mark Tapscott may be reached at mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
Reinvigorating villages and towns must be a clear goal, not an explosion of one-off houses

The benefits of living in the countryside came to the fore for many people over the past 12 months.

Escaping to the country felt like more of a health decision than one driven by economic factors and the Government has been quick to hop on the bandwagon with the announcement of another rural strategy, aiming to lure workers from cities to rural Ireland.

A noble endeavour, but as with anything, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and, if successful, an influx of city people to rural Ireland will bring challenges that have to be planned for.

It is likely to reinforce an already unprecedented surge in interest in rural property, with auctioneers for months now reporting huge demand for a limited supply of houses. However, unlike in the city, the countryside offers the opportunity of building your dream home, but rural planning is set to become a hot topic in the months ahead. For decades, assisting voters in the planning process has been the bread and butter task of rural politicians. But now policymakers face tough questions: Who should be allowed to build in the countryside, and where and what should they be allowed to build? Expand Close Reinvigorating villages and towns must be a clear goal, not an explosion of one-off houses / Facebook

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Whatsapp Reinvigorating villages and towns must be a clear goal, not an explosion of one-off houses These are calls no rural TD or councillor would want to make. If this new Government plan is to be a success, genuinely reinvigorating our villages and towns must be its clear goal, not an explosion of one-off houses blighting the countryside and offering no positive social benefits. Covid has forced us all to reduce our social interactions, be it through the bank or supermarket, and the move by marts to online-only sales has contributed to more and more elderly farmers feeling isolated. The mart was one of the few places left for farmers to meet. An additional 500,000 people in rural Ireland by 2040 will put huge pressure on rural societies and infrastructure. Its also an incredible opportunity to revive many dying communities, it must be handled correctly with a vision for how rural Ireland will look in the coming years. Vibrant rural towns and villages need physical footfall into bricks-and-mortar businesses. Rural Ireland cant become a faceless or impersonal landscape where access to high-speed broadband actually kills off a vibrant rural society trapped by its own success. Theres no question but high-speed broadband is vital for everyone to have access to, but for the future of rural Ireland we can have a permissive one-off housing policy or plans to boost town and villages, but we cant have both.
[March 30, 2021] Ethic Closes $29M Series B Round to Power Personalization for Wealth Advisors

Ethic Inc. ("Ethic"), the tech-driven asset management platform that powers personalization for advisors, today announced that it has closed $29 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Oak HC/FT, with participation from existing investors including Fidelity Investments, Nyca Partners, Sound Ventures, ThirdStream Partners, Urban Innovation Fund and Kapor Capital. This new capital will support Ethic's continued rapid growth, in addition to further investment in the company's technology platform. The funding follows a strong period of growth for Ethic, which saw the company increase the number of assets on its platform by over 10x since its prior round of funding in 2019. This also comes at a time when global events have boosted investors' consideration for how their portfolios affect sustainability issues such as racial justice, climate change, worker treatment, democracy, and health and wellness. "We're grateful to have backers who share our belief that we all have a role to play in fostering a more sustainable and equitable future, and that the capital markets can be leveraged as a force for good," said Doug Scott, co-founder and CEO of Ethic. "This is particularly true when considering the developments of the last year, which only reaffirm our mission of helping accelerate the transition to sustainable investing." Ethic's Series B raise also comes on the heels of a year in which direct indexing, which is core to its offering, has continued to gain significant momentum in the asset and wealth management community. Following a wave of recent industry consolidation, the company has emerged as one of the largest independent providers of sustainable direct indexing strategies for wealth advisors, with more than $760 million in assets. "It's increasingly clear that the future of asset management is personalized, and Ethic is leading the charge," said Oak HC/FT partner and former global head of investment management technology at Goldman Sachs, Dan Petrozzo. "Ethic's unique direct indexing approach ensures the company is primed to meet a burgeoning demand from wealth advisors, as well as the broader investor community. We're delighted to be partnered with this mission-driven team that is helping driv a major revolution in asset and wealth management."



Founded in 2015, Ethic empowers advisors to personalize a given benchmark to correspond with a client's investment, values, and tax management preferences, while seeking to minimize tracking error to the underlying benchmark. Advisors can also differentiate themselves and forge deeper relationships with their clients using Ethic's technology platform to deliver transparent impact reporting, and leveraging its breadth of educational tools surrounding various sustainability issues. Since announcing its $13 million Series A raise in 2019, Ethic has entered into a strategic agreement with Fidelity Investments and has partnered with several of the largest advisory firms in the country. This past year, the company has been the recipient of a number of industry accolades, including InvestmentNews' Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Awards, while its co-founders have been named among Business Insider's Rising Stars of Wall Street.

For more information about Ethic, please visit here. About Ethic Ethic is a tech-driven asset management platform that powers personalization for advisors. The company enables advisors to personalize a given benchmark to correspond with a client's investment, values, and tax management preferences, while seeking to minimize tracking error to the underlying benchmark. The Ethic offering is available to advisors custodying with Fidelity, Charles Schwab / TD Ameritrade, or Pershing. The company is backed by investors including Oak HC/FT, Nyca Partners, Fidelity Investments, and ThirdStream Partners. Ethic is an SEC (News - Alert) Registered Investment Adviser based in New York City. Learn more at ethicinvesting.com. About Oak HC/FT Founded in 2014, Oak HC/FT is the premier venture growth-equity fund investing in Healthcare Information & Services ("HC") and Financial Services Technology ("FT"). With $3.3 billion in assets under management, we are focused on driving transformation in these industries by providing entrepreneurs and companies with strategic counsel, board-level participation, business plan execution and access to our extensive network of industry leaders. Oak HC/FT is headquartered in Greenwich, CT, with offices in Boston and San Francisco. Follow Oak HC/FT on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Medium. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005441/en/

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Shade uses offensive attack to take down Shanksville in D5-A semis

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The domestic bourses, Sensex and Nifty, are expected 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 Nazara Technologies, Adani Transmission, IndusInd Bank, M&M, India Grid Trust, Manappuram Finance, PSU banks will be in focus in Tuesday's trading session.

Also Read: Share Market LIVE Updates: Sensex, Nifty to open higher; Nazara Technologies listing eyed

Stocks to watch today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus.

Nazara Technologies: Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed Nazara Technologies share will make a market debut today. The company has raised Rs 583 crore IPO that ran from March 17 to March 19.

Biocon Ltd: The pharma major has announced that its unit Biocon Pharma has entered into a partnership with Libbs Farmaceutica to launch generic drugs in Brazil.

PSU banks: As many as eight public sector banks (PSBs) will be merged, effect from April 1, 2021. These include Vijaya Bank, Corporation Bank, Andhra Bank, Syndicate Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, United Bank of India, Allahabad Bank and Dena Bank.

Adani Transmission Ltd: The company has inked a definitive agreements with Essel InfraProjects for the acquisition of Warora-Kurnool Transmission Limited (WKTL) for Rs 3,370 crore. The regulatory approval for substitution of original awardee in the contract by Adani Transmission Ltd (ATL) has already been received from Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.

IndusInd Bank: Moody's has affirmed long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings of IndusInd Bank at Ba1 and revised the outlook to stable from negative. The global rating agency has also affirmed its baseline credit assessment (BCA) and adjusted BCA at ba2.

Mahindra & Mahindra: The board of directors of Mahindra & Mahindra has given nod for the consolidation of Mahindra Electric Mobility in the company, as per media report. Besides, Anish Shah, currently the Deputy Managing Director and Group Chief Financial Officer, would take over as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 2, 2021.

India Grid Trust: The infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) on Saturday said it has completed the acquisition of an 830 circuit km power transmission project in the Northeast, for Rs 4,625 crore from Sterlite Power.

Manappuram Finance: The gold loan company is mulling to hive off and taking its microfinance arm Asirwad Microfinance public within a year, as per report.
This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
By Elizabeth Kamurungi

Even with vaccination underway, Ugandans have been warned of the possibility of the country being hit by another wave of the Covid-19 pandemic due to complacency.

In her address last week to mark one year since the pandemic hit the country, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister for Health, said: We must not abandon scientifically proven prevention and control measures like consistently and correctly wearing masks while in public, social distancing of at least two metres and washing hands with soap and alcohol based sanitisers.

Since the partial lifting of the lockdown, many Ugandans have abandoned standard operating procedures including wearing facemasks and social distancing.

Read more: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/government-issues-fresh-warning-after-kenya-s-new-covid-wave3341412
With more pressure to perform, lots of us assume that working longer hours makes sense. Photo: Getty

Many of us work more than we would like to, particularly when taking into account overtime and late night emails that can easily add up. But employees in some industries face working hours that leave little time for anything else, including sleep.

For decades, investment banking and other finance jobs have had a reputation for brutal, extreme working hours. In a leaked presentation last week, junior bankers at Goldman Sachs (GS) said they are still facing inhumane conditions at the investment bank, including 100-hour work weeks and abuse from colleagues that is seriously affecting their health.

Many people still believe that working longer hours is essential in order to get more done and succeed. In recent years, however, attention has been drawn to the problem of poor mental health at work and burnout - a state of chronic stress experienced by a growing number of workers in different industries.

How many hours we should work a week depends on the job at hand. But is there a magic number we should be aiming for to find a balance between being productive and staying healthy?

Our culture of overwork can be attributed to three key factors. Firstly, we tend to celebrate being busy as a status symbol and a sign that our services are in demand.

Secondly, advances in technology mean we are always connected to work, even when we arent physically there. And this combination of smartphones and the threat of losing our jobs in the current economic climate has made it difficult not to put in extra hours.

Watch: How To Answer Difficult Interview Questions

READ MORE: Why its normal to miss your morning commute

With more pressure to perform, lots of us assume that working longer hours makes sense.

However, research suggests this isnt the case. Other studies show people who work less are more likely to get a raise or bonus than those who overwork.

A report from the US-based campaign Project: Time Off discovered that those working longer hours were less likely than their peers to have received a bonus in the last three years. And of course, overwork increases our chances of burnout, poor health and more sick days, too.

Story continues

The argument for overworking is usually that we have too much to do. However, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests a shorter working day - and therefore working fewer hours a week - makes us more productive.

In 2014, Stanford University economics professor John Pencavel found that productivity per hour declines sharply when a person works more than 50 hours a week. After 55 hours, productivity falls so much that putting in more hours would actually be pointless.

In addition, Pencavel found that those who work up to 70 hours a week are only getting the same amount of work done as those who put in 55 hours.

Although we might sit at our desks for eight hours or more, we are unlikely to be working for this amount of time. In fact, research has shown that the average time we spend working is two hours and 53 minutes each day. So being in the office for longer doesnt actually mean we are making good use of our time.

Watch: What to ask in a job interview

Back in 2015, the Swedish government launched a two-year experiment to explore what would happen if people only worked six hours a day, but were paid for eight. The study took place at the Svartedalens retirement home in Gothenburg, Sweden  and the results were promising.

The nurses working six hours a day were 64% more productive than the control group and took half as much sick time over the course of the year than their eight-hour peers. This gave them more energy when they were at work, which helped them engage more with the residents of the home and provide better care.

Some have also suggested we would benefit from a shift to a four-day week instead of the usual five, at least in some industries. In 2018, the New Zealand financial services company Perpetual Guardian switched its 240 staff from a five-day to a four-day week and maintained their pay. A study of the trial found productivity increased in the four days they worked  so there was no fall in the total amount of work done.

The New Zealand study also found employees felt less stressed on a four-day working week, as well as more committed and engaged. Overall, staff reported a 7% drop in stress levels, compared to a year earlier when they were working five days a week.

I think we've built a society full of dated ideals as to what work should look like, says career expert Matthew Warzel, president of MJW Careers. When Ford Motors popularised the 40-hour workweek, it was at a time when we didn't have computers, easily accessible information sharing, and relationships were cultivated a lot differently.

Times have changed and I think companies should try to work within the boundaries of what normal is, but alter it to maximise their employee's well-being, he says. Patience is key if we decide to shorten working hours or reduce the days of the week down to four. I think if the work gets done, emphasis on hours should be minimised.

Plus, there's more emphasis, and for good reason, now on work-life balance and mental health, it can create even more disruption to the old 40-hour number.
German leaders will discuss the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, after several states said they would stop giving the shot to people under the age of 60 following further reports of a rare brain blood disorder.



Health Minister Jens Spahn will talk with his regional counterparts at 1800 CET (1600 GMT), a ministry spokesman said.



The meeting follows further reports by Germany's vaccine regulator, the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), of cases of blood clots known as cerebral sinus vein thrombosis (CSVT).



Germany's vaccine committee, known as STIKO, will recommend using the Anglo-Swedish shot only in people over 60, the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper reported citing a draft decision by STIKO.



PEI said it had registered 31 cases of CSVT, which resulted in nine deaths, out of some 2.7 million people who have received the vaccine. With the exception of two cases, all reports involved women aged between 20 and 63.



It did not comment on the possible consequences and only said it was actively working with the European Medicines Agency (EMA). EU regulators plan to issue an updated recommendation on the shot next week.



Several German states, including Berlin and Brandenburg, as well as the city of Munich, said they would stop giving the shot to people under 60.



State hospital groups Charite and Vivantes suspended vaccinations in female staff aged under 55, citing further cases of CSVT.



"Although no complications have occurred at the Charite after vaccinations with AstraZeneca, the Charite wants to take precautionary action here and wait for final assessments," a spokeswoman said.



Because use of the vaccine in was initially limited to those under 65, the shot has been administered among younger women, particularly medical staff and teachers.



Many European countries briefly stopped using the Anglo-Swedish firm's vaccine earlier this month while investigating rare cases of blood clots.



Both the EMA and the World Health Organization said this month the benefits of AstraZeneca's vaccine outweighed the risks.

An EMA review covering 20 million people who took the shot in Britain and the European Economic Area found seven cases of blood clots in multiple blood vessels and 18 cases of CVST.



AstraZeneca says its vaccine is safe and effective, citing extensive trial data. Millions of doses have been safely administered around the world.



Nearly all countries have since resumed use of the vaccine.



But France broke with guidance from the EMA and said on March 19 it should only be given to people aged 55 or older. France said the decision was based on evidence that the clotting affected younger people.



Canadian Health Officials said on Monday they would stop offering AstraZeneca's shot to people under 55 and require a new analysis of the shot's benefits and risks based on age and gender.



Some 19,000 people work at the Charite hospitals and 17,000 at Vivantes, which operates clinics as well as care homes.



Tagesspiegel, which first reported the decision, said that around two thirds of staff at Charite have been vaccinated so far, and 70% of those workers have received one shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine.



Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder criticised the "back and forth" around the vaccine, saying all recommendations showed that the danger of severe illness from the outweighed any side-effects linked to the shot.



"At some point we have to be able to administer it freely and say, 'he who wants it and he who dares should be able to get it'," he said.


Universal Studios Hollywood to reopen April 16 FILE PHOTO: A general view of "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" attraction during a special preview opening at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Comcast's Corp's Universal Studios Hollywood theme park in California will reopen to a limited number of visitors on April 16, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

Most rides will be operating at that time, though some will stay closed to comply with the state's coronavirus restrictions, the statement said. Tickets will go on sale April 8 and, under state guidelines, will only be available to California residents.

Theme parks in the state, including Walt Disney Co's Disneyland, have been closed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Disneyland is scheduled to open its gates on April 30.

Guests at both parks will be required to wear masks, undergo temperature checks at entrances and follow other safety measures.

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine, Editing by Franklin Paul and Alistair Bell)
1392 - Roman-voivode (rd 1391- rd 1394) grants Ionas the Brave "for his faithful service" the villages of Ciorsaceuti, Vladimirauti and Bucurauti on the Siret River (Zvoristea, the County of Suceava). It is the oldest known documentary mention in Moldova, which attests to the ruler's grant of a land. In this document, the ruler is called: "The great and only ruler, with the mercy of God, Ruler, I, Roman-voivode, who rules the country of Moldova, from the mountain to the sea".

1633 - Birth of Moldovan chronicler Miron Costin, the most reputed personality of the Romanian literature of Moldova's 17th century (d. December 1691)

1821 - Meeting between Tudor Vladimirescu, leader of the revolution in Wallachia, and Alexander Ypsilantis, head of the Filiki Eteria secret organisation. Despite serious disagreements, the two reach an accord

1830 - Drafting works of the Organic Regulations come to an end. They are true constitutional acts for Moldova and Wallachia.

1837 - Birth of physician Alexandru A. Sutu, corresponding member of the Romanian Academy (d. 22 September 1919)

1878 - Mihail Kogalniceanu, through a notification conveyed to the Romanian diplomatic agents, makes public the Romanian Government's protest against the Treaty of San Stefano that "ended without the participation of the Romanian diplomacy by disposing of us and without us and against us; we the government and the nation have declared it null and void of any value for Romania."

1885 - Promulgation of the Law for the organization of the State Mint, the Stamps Factory and the General Warehouse of Stamps.

1889 - Romania's Telegraphic Agency commences activity: first telegram release is aired

1913 - Birth of agronomist Marcu Botzan, member of the Romanian Academy (d. 8 March 2011)

1923 - Birth of Viorel Cosma, musicologist, musical critic, lexicographer (d. 15 August 2017)

1928 - Death of Ion Gorun (Alexandru I. Hodos), prose writer, poet and translator (b. 30 December 1863)

1929 - Birth of soprano Magda Ianculescu (d. 16 March 1995)

1945 - Death of Victor Ion Popa, writer, playwright, theatre director, publicist, author of 'Take, Ianke and Cadir' comedy (b. 29 July 1895)

1946 - Birth of physician Florian Popa, rector of University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Carol Davila' of Bucharest (2004-2012)

1946 - State Opera of Timisoara is founded

1960 - First automated meteorological station in Romania is put into function

1973 - Death of mathematician Mendel Haimovici, member of the Romanian Academy (b. 30 November 1906)

1991 - Death of chemical engineer Emilian Bratu, member of the Romanian Academy (b. 8 August 1904)

1993 - Death of Edgar Papu, essayist, arts and culture historian (b. 13 September 1908)

1995 - Death of chemist Petru George Spacu, member of the Romanian Academy (b. 6 June 1906)

1998 - Joint reunion of ministers with the EU member states and associate that has occasioned the official launching of the global accession process of the 11 candidate countries to the EU, among which Romania that is submitting the EU "The national accession programme of Romania to the European Union"

2003 - Death of actress Vasilica Tastaman (b. 6 October 1933)

2004 - Death of actor Aurel Giurumia (b. 14 March 1931)

2005 - The European Parliament's Committee for External Affairs gives the "green light" for Romania's and Bulgaria's accession to the EU starting with 1 January 2007

2014 - A Romanian soldier killed, five injured by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Romanian troops were on a patrol mission alongside Afghan security forces on the A1 highway (Kabul-Kandahar), approximately 10 km southwest of the Mescall advanced military base.

2016 - President Klaus Iohannis pays a visit to the USA, where he attends the Summit on the Nuclear Security in Washington, holds talks with president Barack Obama, with the Vice President Joe Biden and with the Secretary of State John Kerry, visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum (30 March - 2 April)

2017 - Prime-minister Sorin Grindeanu welcomes at the Victoria Palace, Charles, Prince of Wales, on an official visit to Romania.AGERPRES
[March 30, 2021] CryptoStar Corp. Renegotiates Definitive Agreement with Hong Kong Based Company and Announces Purchase of Additional Mining Hashrate

TSXV: CSTR TORONTO, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - CryptoStar Corp. (TSXV: CSTR) ("CryptoStar" or the "Company"), a cryptocurrency mining and data centre operator, is pleased to announce that, further to the execution of a definitive agreement announced on March 8, 2021, the Company and a Hong Kong based company (the "Vendor") have renegotiated an equipment purchase agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") effective March 7, 2021 to acquire a combination of GPU and ASIC miners in exchange for 5,927,151 units ("Units") of the Company at a deemed value of CAD$1,422,516.24 (the "Transaction"). The Company will issue an additional 355,629 Units (the "Finder's Fee") to Chen Peifeng in connection with Transaction. As compared to the terms announced on March 8, 2021, the renegotiation represents a 25.5% reduction in the deemed value of the Definitive Agreement and a 25.5% reduction in the number of Units to be exchanged. Each Unit consists of one common share of CryptoStar (a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant of CryptoStar (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at a price of CAD $0.36 per Common Share for a period of 18 months from the date of issue. The Transaction, including payment of the Finder's Fee, is subject to TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") approval. Highlights of the Transaction: The Vendor will deliver GPU and ASIC miners capable of an approximate total Hashrate of 25,950 MH/s and 5,510 TH/s respectively.

It is anticipated that the GPU and ASIC miners will be delivered to CryptoStar's data centres in Alberta, Canada within 14 days.

within 14 days. The deployment of 25,950 MH/s and 5,510 TH/s of Hashrate using the latest generation GPU and ASIC miners is expected to contribute USD$138,908.35 per month in self-mining revenue for CryptoStar. CryptoStar plans to continue to further expand its self-mining inventory of mining hardware.

(Source: https://whattomine.com/ Mining metrics are calculated based on and ETH - USD exchange rate of 1 ETH = $1,836.01 and a BTC - USD exchange rate of 1 BTC = $58,973.49 updated at 2021-03-30 11:07:01 UTC ). CryptoStar is also pleased to announce that the Company has purchased additional ining Hashrate from additional suppliers (the "Purchases").



Highlights of the Purchases: The additional suppliers will deliver GPU and ASIC miners capable of an approximate total Hashrate of 24,000 MH/s and 11,950 TH/s respectively.

It is anticipated that the GPU miners will be delivered to CryptoStar's data centres in Alberta within 21 days and the ASIC miners are scheduled for delivery by the end of May 2021 .

within 21 days and the ASIC miners are scheduled for delivery by the end of . The deployment of 24,000 MH/s and 11,950 TH/s of additional mining Hashrate using the latest generation GPU and ASIC miners is expected to contribute an additional USD$205,021.72 per month in self-mining revenue for CryptoStar. CryptoStar plans to continue to further expand its self-mining inventory of mining hardware.

(Source: https://whattomine.com/ Mining metrics are calculated based on and ETH - USD exchange rate of 1 ETH = $1,836.01 and a BTC - USD exchange rate of 1 BTC = $58,973.49 updated at 2021-03-30 11:07:01 UTC ). The combined total deployment of 49,950 MH/s and 17,460 TH/s of self-mining Hashrate using the latest generation GPU and ASIC miners is expected to contribute USD$343,930.07 per month in self-mining revenue for CryptoStar.

(Source: https://whattomine.com/ Mining metrics are calculated based on and ETH - USD exchange rate of 1 ETH = $1,836.01 and a BTC - USD exchange rate of 1 BTC = $58,973.49 updated at 2021-03-30 11:07:01 UTC).

David Jellins, President and Chief Executive Officer of CryptoStar states, "We are delighted to be adding self-mining Hashrate using this highly sought-after GPU and ASIC mining equipment. We are looking forward to taking delivery of the additional GPU and ASIC miners from our Vendor and from our additional suppliers. We are also looking forward to self-mining on a larger scale as we continue to add further self-mining Hashrate throughout the remainder of 2021 and beyond. The Company has transitioned from a self-mining, Bitcoin only, company to a self-miner of both Bitcoin and Ethereum and CryptoStar is now able to host in Alberta, Canada for cryptocurrency mining customers from around the globe at amongst the lowest power rates available in North America." About CryptoStar Corp.: CryptoStar has cryptocurrency mining operations with data centres located in the U.S.A. and Canada. CryptoStar is currently dedicated to becoming one of the lowest cost hosting and cryptocurrency producers in North America and a major supplier of GPU and ASIC miners worldwide. 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 press release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as, "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "intends", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include those relating to the Transaction and the Purchases including completion of the Transaction and approval of the TSXV thereof, the payment of the Finder's Fee, the time to deliver the GPU and ASIC miners, the expected revenue generating capabilities of the GPU and ASIC miners, and CryptoStar's plans to continue to further expand its self-mining inventory of mining hardware and self-mine on a larger scale. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from that expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements in this press release, and, accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements and they are not guarantees of future results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual future results or anticipated events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward looking statements. Except as required by law, CryptoStar undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE CryptoStar Corp.

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Two friends who founded an accessories empire are locked in a court battle over accusations company funds were used to fund lavish birthday celebrations and the purchasing of luxury items including jewellery.

Alyce Tran and Tania Liu created The Daily Edited in 2014 after meeting three years earlier while working at a Perth law firm, building it into a $25million fashion powerhouse with stores in Sydney and New York in addition to their online offering.

But Ms Liu launched legal action against her business partner in the NSW Supreme Court in December 2019, claiming Ms Tran spent thousands of dollars of the business's money on herself in breach of her duties as a company director.

Ms Tran said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia she is 'strenuously defending' the claims made against her and has 'filed a cross claim that raises a number of substantial issues against Ms Liu'.

Ms Liu requested the court's permission to take action against Ms Tran on behalf of The Daily Edited as required because the pair are the only directors and have an equal stake in the company.

Alyce Tran and Tania Liu (pictured together) founded The Daily Edited in 2014. But five years later Ms Liu launched legal action in the NSW Supreme Court over claims Ms Tran used company money for her own benefit in breach of her duties as a director

Ms Liu claimed in an affidavit provided to the court that Ms Tran (pictured) took company money to spend on luxury items, birthday celebrations and to fix a leaking roof. Ms Tran is 'strenuously defending' the claims made against her

In September last year Justice Ashley Black granted leave to bring the action after finding there were 'serious questions to be tried'.

Ms Liu agreed to reduce the number of transactions in dispute to 809 from 3,644 after imposing a minimum value of $500 and provided an undertaking to pay the legal costs of The Daily Edited if the court action was unsuccessful.

In her affidavit lodged with the court as part of proceedings, Ms Liu claimed Ms Tran spent more than $27,000 of company money for her 34th birthday celebrations, including on travel, alcohol, catering and event planning, Business News reported.

Ms Liu also claimed in her affidavit Ms Tran took $30,000 of the company's money to pay for a leaking roof at her home and she failed to repay the amount despite attempts being made to negotiate a repayment plan.

Ms Liu detailed in her affidavit how she was of the belief that even if expensive luxury products were initially purchased for marketing purposes, those items should still be in the company's possession or have been sold to recoup money.

The 'expensive luxury items' included 'designer clothes, handbags, jewellery, rugs and high-end makeup'.

Ms Liu claimed in her affidavit that none of the items 'are at the company's premises and there is no record of the company having received the proceeds of their sale'.

'I believe it is wrong and contrary to the director's duty to the company to simply throw away, or give away, or keep for oneself, expensive luxury items like those the company has spent somewhere in the vicinity of $200,000 to purchase,' she claimed.

Ms Tran (pictured left and right) founded The Daily Edited with Ms Liu after the pair worked together at a law firm in Perth and built the business into a $25million fashion powerhouse

Ms Liu alleged in her affidavit expenses Ms Tran had claimed were used for the marketing and event expenses of her other business.

Ms Tran allegedly tried to conceal the expenses, Ms Liu claimed in her affidavit.

In his judgement, Justice Black said an investigation by a court-appointed expert into 454 transactions in dispute found 338 were not 'proper expenses'.

'The expert had in turn observed that, within some categories, a significant number of the relevant expenses were not "proper expenses", in the particular sense,' Justice Black said in his judgement.

'It appears that Ms Tran had acknowledged that a number of expenses were of a personal character, and offered to reimburse those amounts to TDE, although it is not clear whether that reimbursement has since occurred.

'I recognise that the fact that a transaction is not documented, or not adequately documented, does not necessarily indicate that it is not for a proper corporate purpose, although it may involve a potential contravention of the obligations to maintain true and fair accounts, under Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act.'

Ms Tran (pictured) said she was 'very excited about our upcoming product offerings, new stores and content for our valued customers'

The case returns to court in May. Ms Liu has since filed a statement of claim, while Ms Tran has filed a defence and cross claim.

'I am strenuously defending the claims against me and have also filed a cross claim that raises a number of substantial issues against Ms Liu. I don't intend to pursue those issues through the media,' Ms Tran said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.

'However, as Tania has stated, we are continuing to work together for TDE. I remain focussed as I have since the inception of the business on its growth, innovation, longevity and having a great environment for our team members across Australia and the US.

'I am very excited about our upcoming product offerings, new stores and content for our valued customers and about the future prospects of the business.'

Ms Liu said in a statement provided to Business News that 'the litigation between TDE and myself with Alyce has been challenging' but she was 'working with Alyce and our team to make sure that TDE continues to grow in Australia and internationally'.

Daily Mail Australia contacted The Daily Edited for comment.
THIS is the haul of 'airsoft' weapons and ammunition seized from a man following a garda operation on Sunday night.

Gardai in Offaly rushed to a location in Edenderry after receiving reports that a man dressed in camouflaged attire was carrying a loaded gun in the area.

They arrested the suspect at around 10pm on Sunday for possession of a firearm after he was found acting suspiciously while carrying a holstered air pistol.

He was brought to Tullamore Garda station where he was detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.

Read More

A search of a property was carried out resulting in the seizure of a number of suspected firearms.

All weapons will be sent to the Ballistics Unit for examination.

The male has since been released without charge and a file is in the process of being prepared for the DPP.
HOUSTON - (March 30, 2021) - Whether parents prefer a conformance-oriented or independence-oriented supplemental education program for their children depends on political ideology, according to a study of more than 8,500 American parents by a research team from Rice University and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

"Conservative parents have a higher need for structure, which drives their preference for conformance-oriented programs," said study co-author Vikas Mittal, a professor of marketing at Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business. "Many parents are surprised to learn that their political identity can affect the educational choices they make for their children."

Supplemental education programs include private tutoring, test preparation support and educational books and materials as well as online educational support services. The global market for private tutoring services is forecasted to reach $260.7 billion by 2024, and the U.S. market for tutoring is reported to be more than $8.9 billion a year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 100,000 businesses in the private education services industry. Supplemental education program brands are among the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur magazine's 2020 rankings, and they include popular providers such as Kumon (ranked No. 12), Mathnasium (No. 29) and Huntington Learning Center (No. 39).

For over five decades, education psychologists have utilized two pedagogical orientations --conformance orientation and independence orientation. A conformance orientation is more standardized and guided, emphasizing lecture-based content delivery, knowledge and memorization, frequent use of homework assignments, standardized examinations with relative evaluation and classroom attendance discipline and rules. In contrast, an independence orientation features discussion-based seminars and student-led presentations, an emphasis on ideas rather than facts, use of multimodal interaction instead of books, and highly variable and unstructured class routines. The two approaches do not differ in terms of topics covered in the curriculum or the specific qualities to be imparted to students.

The research team asked parents about their preferences for different programs framed as conformance- or independence-oriented. In five studies of more than 8,500 parents, conservative parents preferred education programs that were framed as conformance-oriented, while liberal parents preferred independence-oriented education programs. This differential preference emerged for different measures of parents' political identity: their party affiliation, self-reported political leaning and whether they watch Fox or CNN/MSNBC for news.

"By understanding the underlying motivations behind parents' preferences, educational programs' appeal to parents can be substantially enhanced," Mittal said. "Supplemental tutoring will be a major expenditure and investment for parents grappling with their child's academic performance in the post-pandemic era. Informal conversations show parents gearing up to supplement school-based education with tutoring. Despite this, very little research exists about the factors that affect parents' preference for and utilization of supplemental education."

Mittal cautioned that these results do not speak to ultimate student performance. "This study only speaks to parents' preferences but does not study ultimate student achievement," he said.

###

The paper, "Political Identity and Preference for Supplemental Educational Programs," which is forthcoming in the Journal of Marketing Research, was co-authored by professor Jihye Jung of UTSA. It can be downloaded at https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1177/ 00222437211004252 .

To schedule an interview with Mittal or to request a copy of the study, contact Jeff Falk, director of national media relations at Rice, at jfalk@rice.edu or 713-348-6775.

Related materials:

Mittal bio: https:/ / business. rice. edu/ person/ vikas-mittal

Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business: http://business. rice. edu

Follow the Jones School on Twitter @Rice_Biz.

Follow Rice News and Media Relations on Twitter @RiceUNews.
A health worker waits for members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the COVID-19 on a balcony at Wuhan Hilton Optics Valley hotel in Wuhan, China's central Hubei Province on Feb. 6, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

WHO Report Blames Animals Instead of Wuhan Lab Leak for CCP Virus Outbreak, Questions Unanswered

A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus that causes COVID-19 likely spread to people via an animal, but WHOs chief said the mission to study the origins of the virus did not adequately analyze other theories.

As far as WHO is concerned, all hypotheses remain on the table, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement on Tuesday after the report was released. This report is a very important beginning, but it is not the end. We have not yet found the source of the virus, and we must continue to follow the science and leave no stone unturned as we do.

According to the findings from the WHO team, a scenario where an animal host such as a wild animal that was captured and raised on a farm very likely spread the virus to humans. However, that animal has not yet been determined.

The possible intermediate host of SARS-CoV-2 remains elusive, the report stated, referring to another name for the virus.

The reports conclusion was largely based on the WHOs investigative efforts in January and February of this year. Critics noted that the Chinese communist regime had a significant role in their investigation and accused them of again engaging in a cover-up.

Tedros also stated Tuesday that scientists would benefit from full access to data including biological samples from at least September 2019 and that in my discussions with the team, they expressed the difficulties they encountered in accessing raw data. I expect future collaborative studies to include more timely and comprehensive data sharing.

Atlantic Council senior fellow Jamie Metzl, a WHO adviser and former staffer for President Joe Biden, told CBS News that the investigation in China is akin to allowing the Soviet Union to probe the cause of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Soviet officials were blamed for covering up the 1986 nuclear disaster and not informing the rest of the world.

It was agreed first that China would have veto power over who even got to be on the mission, he told CBS. WHO agreed to that. On top of that, the WHO agreed that in most instances, China would do the primary investigation and then just share its findings with these international experts. So these international experts werent allowed to do their own primary investigation.

The Trump administration last year moved to terminate the United States relationship with the WHO over its mishandling of the virus and its alleged pro-China bias. The Biden administration has since reversed the decision.

The P4 laboratory (L) on the campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei province on May 27, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Metzl suggested that it was the CCP that carried out the investigation and showed its findings to the WHO committee.

Imagine if we had asked the Soviet Union to do a co-investigation of Chernobylit doesnt really make sense, Metzl said.

During WHOs investigation in China, Jonna Mazet, a founding executive director of the UC Davis One Health Institute, said there has been a lack of CCP cooperation, noting that American scientists were not able to conduct investigations inside China. We need to step backand let scientists get the real answer without the finger-pointing, she said, according to The Associated Press in a report earlier this year.

The WHOs findings, meanwhile, came days after former U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Dr. Robert Redfield told CNN that he believes the CCP virus escaped from a top-security laboratory in Wuhan, Hubei Province, in September or October 2019. Redfield said that such situationswhere a virus leaks from a labare more common than people realize.

I still think the most likely etiology of this pathogen in Wuhan was from a laboratoryyou know, escaped. Other people dont believe that. Thats fine, Redfield said last week. Science will eventually figure it out. Its not unusual for respiratory pathogens that are being worked on in a laboratory to infect a laboratory worker.

Early on in the pandemic, the CCP was accused of trying to silence scientists and doctors while knowing in December 2019 the virus appeared in Wuhan. They sat on the information for around six weeks. Anyone who tried to warn of the danger was accused of spreading so-called rumors and undermining public safety, while employing censorship to prevent media coverage and deleting mentions of it on social media.
New Delhi, March 30 : A joint special forces exercise by India and the United States, Vajra Prahar 2021, was conducted at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh in Himachal Pradesh.

During the eleventh edition of Vajra Prahar 2021, both the countries' forces shared the best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics.

The joint exercise by the special forces of both the countries is conducted alternatively between India and the US.

"They share best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics as also to improve interoperability between the special forces of both nations," the Indian Army said.

Bilateral military exercises and defence exchanges are an important facet of deepening bilateral defence cooperation between friendly countries.

During such events, the armies of participating nations jointly train, plan and execute a series of operations for neutralisation of threats of varied nature with a common aim of countering threats of international terrorism through mutual training and jointness.

In February this year, soldiers from Indian and the US armies participated in a land exercise -- Yudh Abhyas -- at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.

Yudh Abhyas provided excellent opportunities for professional and cultural exchanges that strengthen India-US partnership through shared learning and training.

This exercise involved approximately 250 US soldiers and 250 Indian army personnel. The 11th Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, and 2nd battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment of 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team carried out the exercise.

The annual training exercise enhanced combined interoperability capabilities through training and cultural exchange, which foster enduring partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region though common defence objectives.
Beijing on Tuesday unveiled comprehensive plans to ensure that anyone standing for election to Hong Kong's legislature is a staunch supporter of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with all candidates to be vetted by the national security police before being allowed to stand.



The new system will force election hopefuls to run a multi-layered gauntlet of pro-CCP committees before they can appear on any ballot paper. However, the decisions of all of those committees will hinge on approval by the national security branch of the Hong Kong Police Force, according to details published by the National People's Congress (NPC) standing committee.



"The Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) shall, on the basis of the review by the department for safeguarding national security of the Police Force of the HKSAR, make findings as to whether a candidate for member of the Legislative Council meets the legal requirements and conditions [to stand for election]," the NPC standing committee said via an annex to Hong Kong's Basic Law that takes legal effect on March 31.



Should a candidate fail to meet the requirements of loyalty to the CCP, the national security police will "issue an opinion" to the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee.



There will be no right of appeal, according to the annex.



"No legal proceedings may be instituted in respect of a decision made by the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee of the HKSAR on the eligibility of a candidate for member of the Legislative Council pursuant to the opinion of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR," it said.



Elections to the Legislative Council (LegCo), which were previously scheduled for September 2020 and then postponed by a year, have now been pushed back to December 2021.



While 20 seats in a newly expanded 90-seat LegCo will still be returned by geographical constituencies and popular ballot, voters may only choose from among candidates pre-approved by the multi-layered vetting process, ensuring that pro-democracy politicians and rights campaigners are unlikely to make the cut.



The remaining seats will be appointed, or returned by trade, industry, and special interest groups. As with the geographical seats, all candidates must be pre-approved by national security police.



The authorities are also required to take action against anyone seeking to "undermine" the electoral system.



Earlier this year, police charged 47 pro-democracy activists and opposition politicians with subversion under a draconian national security law after they organized and took part in a democratic primary to select the best candidates with a view to winning at least 30 seats out of 60 in LegCo and blocking government legislation.



The U.K. said the new rules were in breach of its bilateral treaty with China on the 1997 handover of Hong Kong, which promised moves towards full universal suffrage, and for the city to retain its traditional freedoms of speech, association, and political participation, as well as judicial independence.



"Today China enacted changes to Hong Kongs electoral system which are a clear breach of the Joint Declaration  undermining the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and breaking Beijings international obligations," foreign secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.

Voters won't count



Ma Ngok, associate professor of politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the new rules will ensure that public opinion matters very little to politicians in future, as candidates won't represent the views of voters, but that of the government and the CCP.



"It makes no difference what mechanism they use; the role of public opinion in policy-making will be drastically reduced," he said.



"The government can pretty much control 40 [of these seats], and the proportion of seats returned by the business community will also be reduced ... as we move from 70 to 90 seats," he said.



Hong Kong current affairs commentator Willy Lam agreed.



"Politics also reflects the economic structure of Hong Kong, which has become increasingly dominated by mainland Chinese companies," Lam said, adding that China will no longer need to woo Hong Kong businesses that had their roots in the colonial era, as it once did.



"The election process [lobbying for support] for the chief executive will also become less important," he said.

Reduced political influence



Ivan Choy, senior politics lecturer at CUHK, said the aim of the new rules is to concentrate power in the hands of committees, as well as reducing the political influence of Hong Kong property tycoons.



"This will reduce their dependence on the industrial and commercial sectors and on the big property developers," Choy said. "It's not just about diluting the democrats."



"These committees ... are highly manipulable by Beijing, so Beijing won't need to bother forging alliances with trade and industry," he said. "It can do whatever it wants."



Some members of Hong Kong's cabinet, the Executive Council (ExCo), said the new system was an improvement on the last, which saw a landslide victory for pro-democracy candidates in District Council elections in November 2019, following months of mass popular protest against plans to allow extradition to mainland China, that broadened into demands for fully democratic elections and greater official accountability.



"The ExCo Non-official Members hope that with the improved electoral system, society will be able to move away from the excessive politicisation and the internal rift[s] that have plagued Hong Kong in recent years," they said in a statement.



Reported by Lu Xi and Chung Yut Yiu for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The Public Prosecution Service have said it will not prosecute those reported for attendance at the funeral of former IRA prisoner Bobby Storey last June.

Around 2,000 mourners lined the streets of west Belfast for the funeral of the senior republican, with members of Sinn Fein, including party leader May Lou McDonald and the deputy first minister walking behind the cortege.

Covid restriction at the time were that only 30 people were permitted at public gatherings including funerals.

A chairperson of Sinn Fein and former IRA man, Mr Storey (64) died in June following a lengthy battle with lung disease.

The PPS said in the circumstances it was "appropriate" for its reasoning to be made public.

Below is the PPS's explanation:

PPS approach to decision-making

The PPS has taken decisions in these cases by independently and impartially applying the Test for Prosecution. This is the same approach to decision-making that is applied in all cases. It involves two stages:

(i) Consideration of whether the available evidence provides a reasonable prospect of conviction (the Evidential Test for Prosecution); and

2

(ii) Consideration of whether prosecution is in the public interest (the Public Interest Test for Prosecution). It is only if the Evidential Test is met that the prosecutor proceeds to consider and apply the Public Interest Test.

5. In this case the prosecution team were assisted in their application of the Test for Prosecution by detailed written advice from independent and highly experienced Senior Counsel.

The 2020 Regulations

6. The purpose of the 2020 Regulations is to identify permissible behaviour and criminalise impermissible conduct (such as leaving home contrary to Regulation 5 or participating in a gathering contrary to Regulation 6) subject to a defence of reasonable excuse. In the context of this case the key provisions in force on the day of the funeral may be summarised as follows:

(i) Regulation 5(2)(g) permitted an individual to attend a funeral but (generally speaking) only if the deceased was a close family member or member of the persons household.

(ii) Regulation 5(2)(ga) permitted an individual to visit a burial ground to pay respects to a member of the persons household, family member or friend.

(iii) Regulation 5(2)(n) permitted an individual to attend a religious service.

(iv) Regulation 6 prohibited gatherings in a public place (indoors or outdoors) of more than 30 persons, but provided for a number of exceptions where no numerical restriction would apply, one of which (Regulation 6(c)) related to funerals.

(v) Regulation 6A permitted outdoor gatherings for any purpose so long as the number of individuals involved did not exceed 30, but without restriction on the relationship, if any, between the persons gathering together.

7. Regulation 8 made it an offence for a person to contravene a requirement in Regulation 6 or 6A without reasonable excuse, or to contravene a requirement in Regulation 5.

Regulation 5 itself permitted an individual to leave ones home if there was a reasonable excuse. Accordingly, while the structure of the individual regulations is different, a defence of reasonable excuse is available in relation to alleged breaches of both

Regulation 5 and Regulation 6.

8. The Regulations were first introduced on 28 March 2020. By the time of the funeral on 30 June 2020 there had been nine sets of amending Regulations. There was a tenth set two days later, on 2 July 2020. The content of the Regulations was clearly very fluid in and around the date of the funeral as the eighth and ninth set of amending Regulations were introduced on 25 and 29 June 2020 respectively. Indeed, different aspects of the eighth set took effect on four different dates between 25 June 2020 and 5 July 2020.

3

9. The key features, for present purposes, of the changes introduced by these amendments

were that:

(i) From 28 June 2020 at 11.00pm, religious services, without numerical restriction, were once again permitted.

(ii) From 29 June 2020 at 11.00pm, the number of persons who could gather indoors in a public place was increased from 2 to 30; and the number that could gather outdoors was increased from 10 to 30. There remained no restriction on the number of people who could attend a funeral.

(iii) From 11.30pm on 2 July 2020, the provision (Regulation 5(2)(g)) that defined the categories of person who could attend a deceaseds funeral was repealed.

Paragraph 5.9 of the relevant Explanatory Memorandum stated: For reasons of consistency and clarity, the reference in regulation 5 to who might attend a funeral should be removed now that the numbers of people permitted to gather outside have been increased From that time visitor attractions, cafes, bars and restaurants were also permitted to re-open.

The Funeral

10. The main funeral event comprised five stages:

a. A cortege from Owenvarragh Park to St Agnes Chapel;

b. A funeral service (a religious service in the form of a Mass) at St Agnes Chapel;

c. A cortege from St Agnes Chapel to Milltown Cemetery;

d. A funeral ceremony at Milltown Cemetery; and

e. A cremation ceremony at Roselawn Crematorium.

11. The majority of the 24 individuals reported for a decision had participated in some way in one or more of these five stages of the funeral. In some cases the evidence was unclear as to whether individuals had, for example, been part of the main cortege from Owenvarragh Park to St Agnes Chapel, or whether they had followed behind the cortege. In a small number of cases the individual who was reported had fulfilled a stewarding role at the funeral.

12. A number of the suspects stated in interview that their understanding had been that the amendments on 29 June 2020 permitted up to thirty persons, not members of the same household, to participate in an outdoor gathering. In addition, the point was made that their understanding of the purpose of the recent amendments was to remove the restriction on non-family members attending funerals and to allow friends to attend.

One suspect claimed that the intention of the Executive was to increase social interactions and support networks and narrow the complexities for people gathering for different reasons in the period before the funeral.

13. It was also stated that the public policy on managing coronavirus in the form of guidance and regulations had evolved on a continuing basis. This had frequently led to the drafter of the Regulations playing catch-up with the policy intention. One suspect stated that there was a high level of public confusion in relation to the Regulations in force with another describing them as very dynamic and often ambiguous.

14. During interview after caution many of the suspects also expressed their concern at the number of people who lined the cortege route and stated that it was not their intention to be part of a large gathering. Many were also aware of the earlier engagement by Sinn Fein with police to ensure effective policing of the funeral. A number noted the presence of police on the day and the absence of any indication that their actions were not compliant with the Regulations.

15. All the suspects expressed their regret at the ensuing controversy or that their attendance may have contributed to the undermining of the public health message relating to the COVID-19 pandemic at that time.

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Engagement with police in the lead up to the funeral

16. In the week leading up to the funeral there were a series of engagements between Sinn Fein and senior police. The evidence indicated that:

(i) Police were aware, no later than 23 June 2020, that the senior Sinn Fein official who engaged with police in relation to the arrangements for the funeral intended to attend himself.

(ii) By 24 June 2020 police were aware that Sinn Fein were preparing a management plan for the funeral and police intended to complement the plan in terms of public safety and traffic management. It was intended that there would be a no surprises approach.

(iii) By 25 June 2020 police understood that the maximum occupancy within the church would be 30 persons (strictly limited to family only), but that this was subject to change with any amendments to the 2020 Regulations.

(iv) By 26 June 2020 it was understood that the funeral would be a high profile event that would be attended by a range of senior republican figures and would attract significant media interest. The PSNI Gold Strategy made reference to the functions of police and the need to facilitate the funeral arrangements  in a dignified manner which takes into account the wishes of the family, is sensitive to his community and which does not significantly compromise public health in the current pandemic situation.

(v) Also on 26 June 2020 police requested a meeting with the lead Sinn Fein organiser in order to ensure a good mutual understanding of the plan from both perspectives and how we [PSNI] can support and ensure consistent messaging. By that date police were aware also that Sinn Fein intended to put in place a comprehensive stewarding plan that would promote social distancing and the free flow of traffic; but were concerned about public safety and requested police assistance in conducting searches on the grounds that all of the senior Sinn Fein leadership would be attending the funeral. The request for searches was agreed.

(vi) On 26 June 2020 police decided that it was not proportionate to intervene following reports of approximately 400 persons being visible in the area of the Storey home. This was following a discussion with the lead Sinn Fein organiser in which police were advised that stewards were in place to encourage social distancing.

(vii) Police received a copy of the Sinn Fein plan for the funeral on 28 June 2020. The plan referred to various aspects of the funeral arrangements including that: a. The cortege from Mr Storeys home to St Agnes Church would be limited to 30 invited guests and that this would be strictly enforced by stewards who would follow the cortege at a distance of 10 metres to prevent other mourners joining the cortege;

b. The service at St Agnes Church would be tightly controlled in accordance with a guest list (although the plan did not indicate how many guests were on the list, nor did it state whether the guests would be confined to family members).

However, the evidence was that the Silver Commander understood, in advance of the church service, that it would be attended by a mix of family and Sinn Fein members.

c. The cortege to Milltown Cemetery would also be limited to 30 invited guests, with stewards in place to enforce the limit on numbers, control traffic, and prevent mourners joining the cortege; and that, at Milltown Cemetery, the graveside would be restricted to immediate family only. Press and other guests would be placed in a reserved area, and other mourners would be encouraged by stewards to obey social distancing. The plan indicated the positions for up to 94 persons in proximity to the Republican plot.

(viii) On 29 June 2020 there was a partnership meeting at which the areas where police searches should be focused were agreed. At that meeting it was noted that the stewarding company would have resources available to provide a presence and visibility from immediately after the search at Milltown Cemetery was concluded up until the time of the event, thus providing maximum reassurance for the attendees.

(ix) The relevant PSNI Operational Order provided that enforcement of any breaches of the 2020 Regulations would be at the direction of the Silver Commander; and that retrospective prosecutions and/or arrests would be considered depending upon the nature and seriousness of the offences.

17. Police assisted with arrangements on the day by, amongst other things, conducting searches and assisting with traffic management.

18. A further feature of the evidence was that senior police were unsighted on the details of the changes to the Regulations that were anticipated in the days leading up to the funeral. The evidence indicated that police understood the relaxation of the Regulations on the evening of 29 June 2020 to impact upon the service at St Agnes Chapel by permitting people to attend church services so long as social distancing was maintained.

It further indicated that attempts were being made on the morning of the funeral to ascertain and understand the changes that had been implemented the previous evening. These efforts were not successful.

19. There was no evidence that anyone sought, or that police provided, any assurances in relation to potential prosecutions for breaches of the 2020 Regulations.

Decision

20. Having carefully considered the available evidence and the advice received from Senior Counsel, it was concluded that there was no reasonable prospect of conviction in respect of any of the reported individuals and that therefore the Evidential Test for Prosecution was not met. In those circumstances the Public Interest Test for Prosecution did not fall to be applied.

21. Whilst it was anticipated that, in the event of prosecution, an abuse of process application would be made, it was considered that this would be unlikely to succeed. A ourt can grant a stay of criminal proceedings if it considers that there has been an unequivocal representation by those with the conduct of the investigation (or prosecution) that the defendant will not be prosecuted and the defendant has acted on the representation to his detriment. The application in this case would have been based upon an allegation that police facilitated the funeral taking place in the manner that it did and that, in those circumstances, it would now be unfair for criminal proceedings to be commenced. However, it was considered that there was no evidence that PSNI had provided an unequivocal representation that no prosecution for breaches of the regulations would follow Mr Storeys funeral. It was further considered that any issues in relation to the policing of the funeral could have been addressed by the court when considering the application of the defence of reasonable excuse (see below).

22. It was considered, however, that, having regard to all of the relevant facts and circumstances, each of the reported individuals would be able to avail of the defence of reasonable excuse. Those facts and circumstances included the following:

(i) The participation of the reported individuals in the funeral corteges was permitted by Regulation 6A (see stages a and c at paragraph 10 above). The fact that large crowds gathered to watch did not make participation unreasonable in circumstances where efforts had been made to limit those formally participating to 30 persons. Put another way, it was considered that a court was likely to find it reasonable for those within the cortege to continue to participate as planned, even if the observers were considered to be part of the same gathering such that the limit of 30 persons had been breached.

(ii) There was no evidence of any potential breaches of the Regulations at Roselawn Cemetery (see stage e at paragraph 10 above).

(iii) In relation to the attendance at St Agnes Church and Milltown Cemetery (see stages b and d at paragraph 10 above), the application of the Regulations was far from straightforward. There had been a series of amendments, as described above, in the days and hours leading up to the funeral. The Regulations were not consolidated until 23 July 2020 and, given the large number of amendments, it was difficult to ascertain the specific provisions in force at the relevant time. Even with a clear understanding of the actual provisions in force, their interpretation and application presented a number of difficulties. All of these circumstances made it extremely challenging for police to understand the line between conduct that was permitted by the terms of the Regulations and that which was prohibited. That was a difficulty faced also by those who attended.

For example:

a. Whilst Regulation 5(2)(g) restricted attendance at funerals (generally speaking) to close family members of the deceased or members of the deceaseds household (and had been in force since the Regulations were introduced), Regulation 6 had, from 28 June 2020, extended public gatherings to a maximum of 30 persons. Regulation 6(c) disapplied any numerical restriction insofar as attendance at funerals was concerned. There was therefore clearly a significant tension between Regulation 5(2)(g) and Regulation 6(c) which was resolved 2 days after the funeral when the former provision was repealed.

As noted above, the Explanatory Note to that amendment stated that the repeal of Regulation 5(2)(g) had been designed to achieve clarity and consistency.

b. In relation to attendance at the service at St Agnes Church, Regulation 5(2)(n) permitted attendance at a religious service in general terms, i.e. without restricting the category or number of persons who could attend. There were finely balanced legal arguments as to whether Regulation 5(2)(n) or 5(2)(g) was the governing provision in relation to the funeral mass.

c. In relation to attendance at Milltown Cemetery, Regulation 5(2)(ga) permitted a person to leave their home in order to visit a burial ground to pay respects to a member of the persons household, family member or friend. Again, there was a tension between this provision and Regulation 5(2)(g) and finely balanced legal arguments as to whether the latter provided a defence for all those in attendance.





(iv) Significant efforts were made by the organisers to ensure that, so far as was possible, social distancing was maintained and the events took place in a way that minimised the risk of transmission of the virus. The measures that were put in place were followed in the main part by the 24 suspects that were reported for a decision.

(v) It was considered that, in circumstances where the evidence indicated that those attending considered themselves to be acting in compliance with the Regulations, and the Regulations were, in the respects outlined above, lacking in clarity and coherence, the suspects would likely be able to establish a defence of reasonable excuse.

(vi) A further but related basis for a viable reasonable excuse defence arose from the engagement with police in the lead up to the event as outlined at paragraphs 16 - 19 above. That engagement was such that police had a good understanding in advance of the plan for the funeral and there was general compliance with the plan on the day. Whilst police reminded the organisers in general terms of the need to comply with the Regulations, there was no evidence that police suggested that any aspect of the arrangements that were communicated to them may have resulted in a breach. As explained above, there was a lack of clarity as to the actual restrictions that would apply on 30 June 2020. Having regard to the nature and extent of the engagement between the organisers and the police in the lead up to the event, there was a strong argument that those who participated in accordance with the plan would have been able to avail of the reasonable excuse defence.

(vii) In the context of that prior engagement, the approach of police on the day was capable of reinforcing the perception amongst those who attended the funeral that their conduct fell within the specific terms of the Regulations, or that they otherwise had a reasonable excuse to participate in the manner and circumstances in which they did. Police who were on the ground and came into contact with participants did not seek to engage with any of those attending to explain potential breaches, or encourage persons to alter their behaviour. In other words, police did not work through what has become known as the policy of the 4 Es (Engage, Explain, Encourage and Enforce).

(viii) Those who were involved in the stewarding of the event were attempting to manage the attendance of large numbers of the general public in such a way as to minimise the risk of any transmission of the virus. The stewarding arrangements were shared with police in advance. In all the circumstances it was considered that those who fulfilled a stewarding role at any of the stages of the funeral would also be able to avail of a reasonable excuse defence.

(ix) There was evidence that one of the reported individuals who was stewarding on the day attended for a short period of time an indoor gathering with approximately 30-40 other stewards on the morning of the funeral. Whilst the decision in that case was finely balanced, it was concluded that a criminal court would have been unlikely to find that the reasonable excuse that the individual had for leaving his home (i.e. stewarding at the funeral) ceased for the short period of time that he moved indoors and was in the company of the group.

Conclusion

23. A decision whether the Evidential Test for Prosecution is met is an exercise of informed judgment as to how a particular case would be likely to fare in the context of a criminal trial. This exercise of judgment involves an assessment of the strength, by the end of the trial, of the evidence against the defendant and of the likely defences.

24. In this case the judgment was made independently and impartially by a team of senior prosecutors assisted by Senior Counsel. The conclusion reached was that, whether considered alone or in combination, the two excuses referred to above in relation to: (i) the lack of clarity and coherence within the Regulations; and (ii) the prior engagement with the organisers and the policing approach on the day, would pose an insurmountable difficulty if any of the reported individuals were prosecuted. In these circumstances the Test for Prosecution was not met.

Public concern

PPS Director Stephen Herron said: I acknowledge the widespread public concern that events on 30 June, 2020 appeared to involve breaches of the regulations by individuals in positions of responsibility, as the numbers attending the funeral were large and not confined to close family.

It is relevant that by the time of this funeral, the original Regulations of March 2020 had been amended on nine separate occasions through a combination of deliberate relaxation and re[1]working at pace to meet policy change

As a result, on the 30 June, the regulations had become extremely difficult to navigate and, in certain respects, inconsistent.

Furthermore, organisers of this particular funeral and police had engaged against the backdrop of evolving Regulations in an attempt to ensure that a balance was struck in the funeral arrangements between respecting the sensitivity of the occasion and minimising any risk to both public health and safety.

Prosecutions can only be brought where the available evidence provides a reasonable prospect of proving, beyond reasonable doubt, a breach of the criminal law.

"As a result of the factors considered we have concluded that the prosecution could not prove any breach of the Regulations to the required standard. Whether considered alone or in combination, the two reasons outlined - that is the lack of clarity and coherence within the regulations and the prior engagement between organisers and police - would pose an insurmountable difficulty if any of the reported individuals were prosecuted.

This is because they could all avail of a defence of reasonable excuse in terms of their actual or reasonably perceived compliance with a complex set of regulations and/or their reliance on the prior engagement with PSNI.

The law as it applied to the Storey funeral was changed significantly on the evening before the funeral and further amended two days later.

Even though prosecutions are not being brought on this occasion, they are being brought for breaches in relation to funerals at a point in time when the Regulations were clear and coherent.

As has been evident in other jurisdictions, the law relating to permissible conduct in the course of the pandemic is not always clear cut and this can be challenging when it comes to enforcement of what are essentially health regulations in a criminal justice context.

Prosecutions can only be considered in light of the regulations in force at the particular point in time of the alleged breach. It was necessary for all relevant facts and circumstances in this case to be considered carefully and independently following a thorough investigation.

Acknowledging the sensitive role funerals play in society Mr Herron added: The restrictions in place over the last 12 months have had a significant impact on the way families and friends have been able to say goodbye to their loved ones.

Many families may feel it was unfair they made sacrifices or compromises in funeral arrangements. We should not lose sight of the important role that these Regulations have played in reducing the transmission of the virus by discouraging social contact in large numbers.

Throughout the pandemic, the regulations have had clear value and all those who carefully abided by the letter and spirit of the law have played their part in protecting public health.
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Senior Sinn Fein figures are to learn whether they will face action over alleged breaches of Covid-19 regulations at the funeral of senior republican and former leading IRA figure Bobby Storey (Liam McBurney/PA)

Senior Sinn Fein figures are expected to learn later whether they will face action over alleged breaches of Covid-19 regulations at the funeral of a senior republican.

Party vice president and Stormont deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill was among those interviewed by police over the scenes at Bobby Storeys funeral in west Belfast in June last year.

The Public Prosecution Service has been considering police evidence files on 24 individuals, including several senior members of the party.

The PPS is expected to inform those individuals of its decisions later on Tuesday.

Expand Close Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald (left) and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill at a memorial event for Bobby Storey at Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald (left) and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill at a memorial event for Bobby Storey at Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

Breaches of Covid-19 regulations are summary offences which are punishable by fines.

The funeral of the high-profile republican and former IRA leader was one of the most controversial events to occur during the coronavirus pandemic in Northern Ireland.

More than 1,000 people lined the streets for Mr Storeys funeral procession at a time when strict limits on such events were in place.

The attendance of Sinn Fein leaders at the funeral and a subsequent memorial event at nearby Milltown Cemetery sparked a major political row at Stormont, with the republican party accused of disregarding rules they set for the rest of society.

Ms ONeill, party president Mary Lou McDonald, former president Gerry Adams, Stormont Finance Minister Conor Murphy, TD Pearse Doherty, Policing Board members Gerry Kelly and Linda Dillon, and MLA Martina Anderson were among senior republicans who attended.

It is understood the police files under consideration by the PPS did not feature individuals resident in the Irish Republic.

Expand Close Bobby Storey (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Mr Storey was not buried at Milltown but was instead cremated at Roselawn Cemetery on the other side of Belfast in a separate event which generated its own controversy.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland commissioned Mark Webster, Deputy Chief Constable of Cumbria Police, to oversee its investigation into the events around the funeral.

Commanders sought external direction as those who attended the funeral included Sinn Fein members of the Policing Board, which is the polices oversight body.

The PPS is also expected to make public decisions over alleged breaches of regulations at three other funerals, including that of former Sinn Fein councillor Francie McNally in Co Tyrone in April 2020.
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.
Health authorities said AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in India for supply to poor countries have been held up, prompting COVAX to shift its distribution plans to ensure all participating countries receive shipments in the first half of the year. India temporarily halted shipments in order to inoculate more of its own people.

Jeong Eun-kyeong, the chief of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said Monday the delay "reflects difficulties in international vaccine supplies."

A shipment due Wednesday of AstraZeneca vaccines that the government was promised through the WHO's COVAX Facility has been delayed for three weeks. The shipment volume has also been slashed from 690,000 doses to 432,000 due to a global shortage.

Jeong said COVAX would be able to distribute the remainder of the promised vaccines by May.

Instead, the government hopes to import enough Pfizer vaccines for 3 million people in April to June. Jeong said the government is still negotiating the import of Janssen, Moderna and Novavax vaccines that are supposed to be coming in during the second quarter.

The government has apparently asked the U.S. to send as much Janssen, Moderna and Novavax as it can in the second quarter in return for Korea sending more minimal-waste syringes.

Each AstraZeneca vial is supposed to contain 10 doses, but that can be stretched to 11 to 12 doses using a minimal-waste or "low dead space" (LDS) syringe. Each vial of Pfizer vaccine is supposed to contain six doses, but that can be stretched to seven.

Meanwhile, the daily tally of new infections stood at 447 on Tuesday morning.
Six restaurants and one fitness center in New Jersey have filed a lawsuit against six insurance companies for breach of contract, saying financial losses incurred during the coronavirus pandemic were not covered by insurance but should have been.

The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court of Bergen County, states the businesses entered into all-risks contracts of insurance and paid their substantial annual premiums and should have been covered for losses associated with COVID-19.

But the insurance companies reneged on promises to to protect the plaintiffs from losses and catastrophes, including the interruption or closure of their business operations, the suit states.

The plaintiffs have made claims for coverage relating to business income losses caused by a covered interruption of their business operations and all of these claims have been denied by the insurers, the suit states.

All of the businesses claim to have sustained serious revenue losses when Gov. Phil Murphy signed executive orders that required the closing of the restaurants and fitness centers, the suit states.

The businesses say the insurance companies told them coverage for their losses is unavailable because none of their properties suffered physical damage, the lawsuit states.

On the contrary, the executive orders and directives issued by the state of New Jersey (recognize) that the coronavirus contaminates objects and surfaces within buildings and that this contamination in part is the reason the shutdown has been ordered, the lawsuit states.

The businesses named as plaintiffs are: Brookside Banquets of Bloomfield; Biagios Ristorante of Paramus; Fiesta Banquets of Wood-Ridge; Redds of Carlstadt; Redds Biergarten of Newark; Redds Biergarten of New Brunswick; and The Gym Lakewood.

The insurance companies listed as defendants are Selective Insurance Company, Western World Insurance Group, Liberty Mutual, American Automobile Insurance Company, Axis Insurance and Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Companies.

Richard Angevine, spokesman for Liberty Mutual, said the company does not publicly discuss matters in litigation. The other insurance companies did not immediately respond Tuesday morning to requests for comment.

The lawsuit is one of several filed in state and federal court against insurance companies by New Jersey businesses claiming they suffered big losses during the shutdown but cant collect on their insurance policies.

One of the biggest claims was made earlier this month by RWJBarnabas Health, which says they are owed $2.5 billion in claims from Zurich American Insurance Company.

Recently, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Toms River car dealer Downs Ford, which claimed Zurich owed for businesses losses during the pandemic. In his ruling, the judge stated Zurich clearly had a virus exclusion written into the dealers policy.

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.
New Delhi, March 30: Increasing evidence is emerging to show that China is cleverly using the climate change issue to push its own geopolitical interests rather than being guided by the objective of global good.

Experts are of the view that Beijing's huge thrust on electric vehicles is not so much about tackling climate change but a strategy to enhance China's automobile industry which lags far behind the western countries, Japan and South Korea in the current internal combustion engine dominated scenario.

While Beijing has been making tall claims of fighting climate change the harsh ground reality is that China alone is responsible for generating 53 per cent of the world's total coal-fired power in 2020 which is a nine percentage points jump from 2015, a global study released on Monday shows.

Although China added a record 71.7 gigawatts (GW) of wind power and 48.2 GW of solar energy last year, it was the only G20 nation to see a significant jump in coal-fired generation, according to Ember, a London-based energy and climate research group.

The country has promised to reduce its dependence on coal in a bid to bring emissions of climate-warming greenhouse gas to a peak before 2030 and become "carbon neutral" by 2060 but is merrily going ahead with coal New coal-fired power installations in China reached 38.4 GW in 2020, more than three times the amount built by the rest of the world.

Although China has reduced the share of coal in total energy consumption from around 70 per cent a decade ago to 56.8 per cent last year, but absolute generation volumes still rose 19 per cent over the 2016-2020 period, Ember estimates show.

In its 2021-2025 five-year plan, China vowed to "rationally" control the scale and pace of development in the construction of coal-fired power, but that appears to be in large part of a global image building exercise.

Energy expert Daniel Yergin told Nikkei Asia magazine in an interview that China's decision to aim for net zero emissions by 2060 was not purely about tackling pollution or climate change, but rather a more strategic calculation to advance its global presence.

He said these decisions were linked to a strategy to enhance its electric vehicle industry and an intention to reduce oil imports.

Daniel Yergin is the vice chairman of IHS Markit. In his latest book, "The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations," he writes about how the energy transition is influencing energy geopolitics.

With tensions between the U.S. and China rise over numerous global issues, he stressed that China's concerns were climate change, urban pollution and rapidly rising oil imports, as well as challenging Japan, the U.S, South Korea and western Europe in the global automobile market.

He said China would not be able to catch up with the Europeans, Japanese or Americans on manufacturing cars with internal combustion engines, but that China was ahead in EV technology, production and consumption -- almost half the world's EVs are in China. The Chinese push for EVs was due to climate change and the desire to be competitive in the global economy, he said.

Some auto companies in Japan are betting on fuel cell vehicles as an alternative, but Yergin said: "the policy decisions in China, the world's largest auto market, as well as those in the US and Europe, are forcing the decision to go electric." Global automakers are now directing their new investment towards EVs, and government regulations and financial penalties on emissions are leaving the industry with little choice.

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently gave a speech reminding the world that China is a huge growth market, and that countries should not make the mistake of shutting themselves out of it.

If US-China relations deteriorate, that would put countries like Japan in a difficult position, because of its strategic relationship with the US "This is a big geopolitical problem, and this is a 2021 problem," Yergin told Nikkei.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/
Paul Bellar (L), Joseph Morrison (C), and Pete Musico (R), who are accused of being involved in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over her CCP virus restrictions. (Jackson County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Judge Orders 3 to Trial in Plot to Kidnap Michigan Governor

Threat of terrorism charges against 2 defendants dismissed

A Michigan judge on Monday ordered three men to stand trial in a plot to kidnap Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over her coronavirus restrictions.

Jackson County District Court Judge Michael Klaeren ruled there was enough evidence and bound over Paul Bellar, Joe Morrison and Pete Musico to circuit court to stand trial.

The defendants are joined at the hip here, Klaeren said before announcing his ruling. The prosecution did a good job in establishing who knew what and when.

Arguments were heard Monday by Klaeren following three earlier days of testimony.

The three men are accused of aiding six others who are charged in federal court with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer. Five more people are also charged in state courts.

The FBI in October said it broke up a plot to kidnap Whitmer over her coronavirus restrictions.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during a drive-in campaign rally with Democratic presidential-elect Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama at Belle Isle in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 31, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Klareen said there was enough evidence for trial on charges of providing material support for terrorist acts, gang membership and using a firearm during a felony. Klaeren dismissed a charge of threat of terrorism against Musico and Morrison. Bellar didnt face that charge.

The threat of terrorism, providing material support for terrorist acts and gang membership charges each are 20-year felonies. Felony firearm charges carry two-year maximum prison sentences.

Each lives in Michigan. Morrison, 26, and Musico, 42, are from Munith. Bellar, 21, is from Milford.

We must send a clear message that those who seek to do violence against our institutions of democracy and our elected representatives are not patriots, they are criminals, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a release. My office is pleased to see this case move forward and to have the opportunity to hold these men accountable for their actions.

According to a court affidavit, Musico and Morrison are founding members of the Wolverine Watchmen, which authorities described as an anti-government, anti-law enforcement militia group.

The Watchmen have met periodically for firearms and tactical training in remote areas to prepare for the boogaloo, a term referencing a violent uprising against the government or impending politically motivated civil war, state police Det. Sgt. Michael Fink wrote in an affidavit.

Klaeren said Monday that Bellar, Musico and Morrison individually and collectively wanted to precipitate the violence associated with boogaloo.

Pretty much from day one, its pretty clear the numbers of the Wolverine Watchmen believed in the boogaloo, believed in civil war, believed it was coming, the judge said.

Bellars attorney, Andrew Kirkpatrick, argued during Mondays hearing that protests last year in cities around the United States against police brutality may have prompted Bellar to participate in training for a potential civil war.

He got into this because 2020 has been like no other, Kirkpatrick said. People were concerned. They were concerned about what may happen in their hometown. There was training.

About a dozen of the men facing federal and state charges were among armed demonstrators who entered the Michigan Senate gallery on April 30 following a larger protest outside the Capitol against Whitmers stay-at-home order.

By Corey Williams
PRESCOTT, Ariz., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CP Technologies today announced it has teamed with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. to design and manufacture the Portable Aircraft Control Station (PACS) for the US Air Force. The PACS is a rugged, compact system, capable of performing all direct connect aircraft pre- and post-flight operations and engine functions. It will replace the standard Ruggedized Aircraft Maintenance Test Station (RAMTS) with a self-contained rugged portable system for downrange deployment. The system consists of 3 x 24-inch multi-touch displays with an Intel XEON processors allowing powerful processing functionality with enhanced human interface capability. The system provides a compact and cost-effective solution for today's Air Force.

"Our expertise in designing, fabricating and integrating highly versatile expeditionary workstations makes us an attractive industry partner to serve the military, industrial and commercial markets," said Mark Kempf, vice president CP Technologies & CP Systems at CP Technologies. "The long-term support we offer for our products via revision control, componentry road mapping, configuration management, and our standard 5-year warranty also provides us with a unique competitive advantage."

About CP Tech Expeditionary Work Stations

CP Technologies' expeditionary workstations provide a platform for versatile, high speed processing capabilities in a mobile military-grade system. Offered in assembled transit case and portable "briefcase" form factors, these workstations are the ideal solution for a mobile and versatile ground station application while out in harsh, real-world environments. The workstations built by CP Technologies can be custom tailored to meet the specific needs of the operators with optional additions such as capacitive touchscreens, specialized input ports, switches, routers, data links, or other integrated 3rd-party equipment for a fully mobile all-in-one solution.

About CP Technologies

CP Technologies designs, fabricates and integrates standard and customized high-performance computing platforms and LCD monitors for military, industry, and commercial applications. Using COTS components, CP Technologies provides solutions for customers who need reliable systems that will operate in a variety of harsh conditions and who require revision control and hardware consistency for multi-year programs. CP Technologies is an ITAR Registered and ISO 9001:2015 Certified business that has been operating in Southern California for over twenty years. For more information, please visit https://cp-techusa.com.

CP Technologies is also proud to announce the opening of the new CP North America Headquarters in Prescott, Arizona. The new facility will be home to the CP North America family of brands including CP Technologies, CP Systems, and CP Aeronautics. The all-new headquarters building is part of the ongoing growth of the CP brand and reflects the much-needed expansion in our capabilities as a manufacturer to meet the needs of our customers. Look forward to even more exciting news from us in the future and be sure to stand by for information on our new factory's Grand Opening Event!

SOURCE CP Technologies
After months of waiting, fans of Netflix's "Lucifer" finally know when the second half of season five will be.

"Lucifer," who is based on the Vertigo/DC Comics character of the same name, announced its season 5B release date on Twitter, saying, "We know that more episodes are what you truly desire. Season 5B arrives on Netflix May 28th."

The tweet comes with a meme of the Devil, played by Tom Ellis, representing the show's fandom hugging Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German) as the highly-awaited release date.

Luci-fans have been waiting for this type of news since August 2020.

We know that more episodes are what you truly desire. Season 5B arrives on Netflix May 28th. pic.twitter.com/TXP2WFZwNh  Lucifer (@LuciferNetflix) March 29, 2021

'Lucifer' Season 5B Spoilers

Details of the upcoming second half of "Lucifer" have been kept shut, but co-showrunner Joe Henderson shared some plot points.

He previously revealed that "Lucifer" season 5B would talk more about the devilish detective's relationship with his father and "daddy issues", leading the two to confront each other.

In an interview with CBR last month, Henderson shared, "So much of Lucifer's relationship with God is about this distance."

"What was interesting is casting someone who had that inherent warmth, plays against the type you'd expect but also leans into sort of the fatherly energy that he gives. It opens up Lucifer in ways he has chosen to close off previously as the 'wayward son.'"

Henderson also revealed to Digital Spy that it will be their most emotional season.

Another thing fans can expect from the hit Netflix series is the musical episode of "Lucifer" season 5B.

In an interview with Collider, Tom Ellis revealed that Ildy Modrovich, the other co-showrunner, wanted to do a musical episode for a long time.

He explained that since it was also their almost season, it was vital they needed to do it. There will still be a "Lucifer" season 6 as per Comic Book.

But Ellis reportedly wanted to do it with meaning and not just for a random episode.

He said, "But I've also been of the mind that there needs to be a reason that people are singing as opposed to it's just a gimmicky episode."

"And the beauty of it was that we found the perfect reason for it, and not only made it service the episode, in terms of where the music comes from."

'Lucifer' Season 5A Recap

The first half of "Lucifer" season five debuted on Netflix in Aug. 2020, and fans weren't happy how it ended in an iconic cliffhanger.

The last time fans saw Lucifer, he came face to face with his angelic brothers Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside), Michael, and their dad, God, played by Dennis Haysbert.

Their father arrived to stop the fight that exploded over Lucifer and Amenadiel's horror that Michael had hurt or will hurt his mortal son, Charlie.

There are also some unanswered questions surrounding Charlie, like what's his mortality or immortality, what kind of "darkness" is Ella (Aimee Garcia) carrying around her, and if Linda's (Rachael Harris) new storyline with her daughter will be punching viewers in the feels once more?

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
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ANN ARBOR, MI  University of Michigan Regent and Michigan Republican Party chairman Ron Weiser said he has temporarily suspended his social media and email accounts after multiple recent threats of violence.

I would like to underscore that we should all do better to treat each other with respect, myself included, and I plan no further action, except my pledge to be part of a respectful political dialogue going forward, Weiser said in a text message to MLive/The Ann Arbor News on Tuesday, March 30.

The FBI is investigating the threats, Weiser said.

Weisers UM email is no longer listed in the universitys database or on the regents website, and UM spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said Weiser prefers that people contact him through his office and he has his phone number and mailing address listed on his regent bio website.

The mailing address and phone number listed are the same phone number and address for McKinley Associates Inc., a real estate company Weiser founded in 1968. Weiser decided to stop using his UM email address a month or two ago, Fitzgerald said.

Weiser has received backlash after comments he made during an event for the North Oakland Republican Club on March 26, when he called Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson the three witches and said the GOP needs to make sure they are ready for the burning at the stake.

Weiser also referenced the concept of assassination when asked what could be done about Republican U.S. Reps. Peter Meijer and Fred Upton, who voted in favor of impeaching former Republican President Donald Trump.

Weisers comments were captured in a video shared on social media.

Since those comments, many people have called for Weiser to resign, including 21 deans at the university, some UM regents and leaders of the Congregations of Catholic Sisters in Michigan. Other officials spoke against his comments, including UM President Mark Schlissel, Board of Regents Chairwoman Denise Illitch and Provost Susan Collins, but did not call on him to resign.

In a tweet on March 26, Weiser said he would not be resigning. He apologized in a March 27 statement for the flippant analogy about three women who are elected officials and for the off-hand comments about two other leaders.

Michigan GOP chairman apologizes for assassination comments, calling top Democratic women three witches

This is not the first time there have been calls for Weisers resignation. After the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, UM community members started a petition asking Weiser to resign. The petition, which has more than 6,000 signatures, was updated after his March 26 comments to reaffirm the demand that Weiser resign.

If Weiser does not resign, removing him from office would entail a recall election. Since regents are statewide elected officials, the petition must have signatures from 25% of Michigan voters in the 2020 general election, according to the Secretary of State.

Weiser was elected to the board of regents in 2016 and his term runs through 2025.

READ MORE:

Another group asks University of Michigan, GOP chair to resign after witches, assassination comments

Some University of Michigan regents call on Weiser to resign following three witches, assassination comments

Several University of Michigan deans condemn comments made by GOP chairman
Prime Minister on Tuesday lambasted the opposition parties in Kerala, saying that the leaders of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and Left Democratic Front (LDF) behave like junior-level goons.

Addressing a rally ahead of state assembly elections here in Palakkad, the Prime Minister said: "Left parties have been in power here many times. But their leaders still behave like junior-level goons. Under them, political rivals are killed, hacked, and beaten."

The government in Kerala will put an end to this violence, he promised.

Prime Minister Modi further said that UDF and LDF are ashamed of the culture of the land and they abuse traditions and ethos.

"In a democracy, we can have political differences. But, violence is not acceptable."

He asked people to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a government that guarantees peace and prosperity in the state.

Elections in Kerala are slated to be held on April 6. The counting of votes will be held 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.)
Germany announces tougher land border checks After vehicles have crossed into the country

(ANSA) - BERLIN, MAR 30 - Germany will step up random controls along its land borders to check that travellers arriving in the country are carrying a negative Covid test, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said Tuesday. "Regardless where you're arriving from, from Poland, France, or Denmark, everyone should expect to be checked," Seehofer told reporters. The random checks would occur on German territory after vehicles have crossed into the country. Along the Czech frontier, hit hard by more contagious virus strains, police will continue to carry out systematic checks, he added. (ANSA).





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Autohost Logo Contactless check-in makes it easier for fraudsters to mask their identities and slip by traditional guest-screening processes that aren't equipped to detect malicious activity.

Autohost, a leader in trust and safety, today launched the Autohost Threat Intelligence platform to help hotels and short-term rental property managers and operators guard against a growing number of risks, including deceptive bookings, identity theft and credit card fraud.

The hospitality industry faces significant challenges, from fraudulent reservations and chargebacks to criminal activity like identity theft, squatting, sex trafficking and even money laundering, said Roy Firestein, co-founder and CEO of Autohost. As more COVID-19 travel restrictions lift, we expect an influx of travellers to return to hotels and short-term rental properties. Contactless check-in makes it easier for fraudsters to mask their identities and slip by traditional guest-screening processes that aren't equipped to detect malicious activity.

The Autohost Threat Intelligence platform is open source, cloud-based and able to integrate with property management systems (PMS), and other platforms that operators leverage, to provide additional security context for guest vetting. The free platform aggregates critical reputation data from global threat feeds into a searchable, API-driven database. It helps proactively identify and flag the creation of fake accounts, identity theft, and other fraud-related risks that can lead to revenue loss from chargebacks, damages and criminal activity.

The platform has logged more than half a million IP addresses and collected over 2 million security events this year. Source data is gathered from over 200 sources including publicly available industry, government, and commercial threat intelligence feeds, blacklists, antivirus vendor source reports, and Autohost's own proprietary intelligence and threat lists.

The Autohost Threat Intelligence platform:



Assists in mitigating identity theft, bogus loyalty program or gift card claims and other fraud-related risk by flagging activity associated with suspicious guest IPs

Blocks users attempting to circumvent geographic restrictions

Protects operators from ghost account creation originating from networks associated with criminal activity

Integrates with existing platforms like Mews, Oracle Opera, Streamline, MyVR and others

Allows up to 5,000 searches per month for free

Our ability to vet guests and flag potential concerns is critical to our operations and in keeping our promise to real estate partners, said Alex Herrity, Chief Product Officer at Mint House. Autohost has become one of our most trusted partners, and the Autohost Threat Intelligence platform is an invaluable part of our technology stack.

Since inception, Autohost has been focused on helping our operators protect their business by proactively vetting their guests using a cybersecurity-based approach, said Firestein. While the Autohost Threat Intelligence platform is designed to help the hospitality industry mitigate risks, the data it produces can support businesses in other industries as they actively defend against threats and embrace risk-based decision making.

"Autohost encompasses a powerful suite of tools that every hospitality provider dreams of, said Bryce Collins, District Manager at SoBeNY. Safety and security are the top priorities in our company and utilizing the Autohost platform helps us maintain this to the highest degree."

The platform is available now. For more information, or to test a suspicious IP address for free, visit: https://threats.autohost.ai/.

About Autohost

Autohost is an automated guest-screening platform for fast-growing hospitality companies and short-term rental property operators. Using machine learning and behavioral checks, we create a scalable process to review guests and keep properties safe. Autohost automates ID verifications, background and credit checks, security deposits and more, helping operators reduce insurance premiums, improve guest experience and acquire more units without growing headcount. For more information visit http://www.autohost.ai and follow us on LinkedIn.

PR Contact:

Flare Creative Group Inc. (for Autohost)

Mandy Bachus

mandy@flarecreativegroup.com

226.883.0060
[March 30, 2021] Tintri Unveils its 2020 Partner of the Year Award Winners

CHATSWORTH, Calif. , March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tintri, the leading provider of Intelligent Infrastructure for enterprises, today announced the winners of its 2020 Partner of the Year Award, honoring standout organizations in its Tintri Partner Program. These awards celebrate top-performing partners worldwide, recognizing their ability to leverage Tintri's intelligent storage solutions and deliver outstanding results for customers during an exceptionally tumultuous year. Nominated by Tintri leaders around the globe, these elite partners have set themselves apart and were chosen based on their strategic technology expertise and their ability to drive channel business growth and success for customers  including excellent business results, predictable profitability and sustained user satisfaction. The robust Tintri Partner Program is designed to foster a network of business partners that can deliver a comprehensive enterprise solution set, and high-quality services and support to help customers get maximum value from their Tintri Intelligent Infrastructure solutions. "This year's Partner of the Year award winners are comprised of organizations that have exemplified an unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding levels of customer success, while setting the bar for Tintri solution expertise and driving impressive growth despite the challenges presented in 2020," said Amy Medeiros, senior vice president, Corporate Marketing and Inside Sales, Tintri. "Tintri is honored to stand alongside our partners, who are indispensable to our business. Together we have a joint commitment to continue providing the best service and experience for our existing and future customer base. Congratulations to all of our top partners. We look forward to many more successes together." Tintri continues to attract the best of the best o its Tintri Partner Program and strives to provide partners with a broad set of innovative tools to grow their relationships with current customers and expand into new markets. Since the launch of its Partner Portal in 2020 new partner registration has increased 550% and approximately 80% of new partners have gained new customers, underscoring Tintri's promise to generate success for both its partners and customers.



Tintriis being acknowledged by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, in the 2021 Partner Program Guide  with a 5-Star rating. This annual guide provides a conclusive list of the most distinguished partner programs from leading technology companies that provide products and services through the IT Channel. The 5-Star rating is awarded to an exclusive group of companies that offer solution providers the best of the best, going above and beyond in their partner programs. "As innovation continues to fuel the speed and intricacy of technology, solution providers need partners that can keep up and support their developing business," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "CRN's 2021 Partner Program Guide gives insight into the strengths of each organization's program to recognize those that continually support and push positive change inside the IT channel."

2020 Tintri Partner of the Year Award winners include: North America National Partner of the Year: CDW

Central Region Partner of the Year: AHEAD

East Region Partner of the Year: StarNet Solutions, Inc.

West Region Partner of the Year: Sanity Solutions, Inc.

Federal Partner of the Year: Flywheel Data

Distributor of the Year: Climb Channel Solutions Europe Germany Partner of the Year: Mightycare Solutions GmbH

UK Partner of the Year: Trustmarque APJ Japan Partner of the Year: NOX Co., LTD Congratulations to the 2020 Tintri Partner of the Year Award winners. For more information about the Tintri Partner Program, visit https://tintri.com/partners/. About Tintri Based in Silicon Valley, Tintri is a wholly owned subsidiary of DataDirect Networks (DDN), the data-at-scale powerhouse and world's largest privately held storage company. Tintri delivers unique outcomes in Enterprise data centers. Tintri's AI-enabled intelligent infrastructure learns your environment to drive automation. Analytical insights help you simplify and accelerate your operations and empower data-driven business insights. Thousands of Tintri customers have saved millions of management hours using Tintri. Choose differently, the choice is yours. Learn more about the Tintri portfolio of solutions at https://www.tintri.com/products. Contact: Walt & Company, on behalf of Tintri

Sharon Sumrit

408.369.7200 x2981

tintri@walt.com 2021 All rights reserved. Tintri is a registered trademark owned by DataDirect Networks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tintri-unveils-its-2020-partner-of-the-year-award-winners-301258409.html SOURCE Tintri by DDN

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President Biden on Tuesday announced plans to nominate 11 judges to the federal courts, including D.C. District Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace former D.C. Circuit Court Judge Merrick Garland, who is now U.S. attorney general.

Why it matters: The nominees include three Black women and, if confirmed, could result in the first Muslim federal judge in the country's history, the first AAPI woman to serve on the D.C. District Court, and the first woman of color as a federal judge in Maryland, according to the White House.

The selections "reflect the presidents deeply held conviction that the federal bench should reflect the full diversity of the American people," the White House wrote in a news release.

Between the lines: The nomination of Jackson will likely spur discussion about a potential nomination for the Supreme Court.

Biden has said he will nominate the country's first Black female justice, and the D.C. Circuit Court to which Jackson is nominated is often viewed as a stepping stone for the highest court.

Jackson was once a clerk for Justice Stephen Breyer, the oldest justice on the Supreme Court.

Other nominees:

Zahid N. Quraishi, a magistrate judge and nominee for the New Jersey District Court, would be the first Muslim American to serve on the federal bench.

a magistrate judge and nominee for the New Jersey District Court, would be the first Muslim American to serve on the federal bench. Tiffany Cunningham, a patent litigator in Chicago, was nominated to the Federal Circuit Appeals Court. She would be the first Black woman to serve on that court.

a patent litigator in Chicago, was nominated to the Federal Circuit Appeals Court. She would be the first Black woman to serve on that court. Florence Y. Pan , a D.C. Superior Court judge, is nominated to replace Jackson on the D.C. District Court. She would be the first Asian American woman on the court.

, a D.C. Superior Court judge, is nominated to replace Jackson on the D.C. District Court. She would be the first Asian American woman on the court. Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, who has served as a federal public defender for the last decade, is a nominee for the Seventh Circuit Appeals Court. She would be the only Black woman on that court's bench.

Other nominations include:

Magistrate Judge Deborah Boardman and Federal Claims Court Judge Lydia Griggsby for the Maryland District Court.

and Federal Claims Court Judge for the Maryland District Court. Julien Neals , a county counsel and acting county administrator in New Jersey, to serve on New Jersey's District Court.

, a county counsel and acting county administrator in New Jersey, to serve on New Jersey's District Court. Civil rights and criminal lawyer Margaret Strickland for the New Mexico District Court.

for the New Mexico District Court. Former federal prosecutor Regina Rodriguez for the Colorado District Court.

What he's saying: This trailblazing slate of nominees draws from the very best and brightest minds of the American legal profession," Biden said in a statement.

"Each is deeply qualified and prepared to deliver justice faithfully under our Constitution and impartially to the American people  and together they represent the broad diversity of background, experience, and perspective that makes our nation strong."

The White House noted in its news release that "none of the last four administrations had nominated more than two candidates by this point in their presidency."

Editor's note: This story was corrected to reflect that Florence Y. Pan is a judge on the D.C. Superior Court, not the Federal Claims Court.
South Africans looking to get their hands on an Apple iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max will have a tough time buying one of these smartphones from a mobile network operator.

This issue was brought to the attention of MyBroadband by a Cell C business contract customer who had been struggling to upgrade his device to an iPhone 12 Pro Max since 26 January.

Its been two months now and Cell C still jumps around the subject of doing an upgrade. I have never experienced something this bizarre in my life, the customer said.

I have spoken to quite a few other Cell C business clients and they are having serious problems as well.

The customer complained that he had logged a request for an upgrade via multiple channels  a physical visit to a Cell C store, phone calls to the support centre, online chat, and email  all without success.

For a week I tried calling. I get transferred to the business upgrade department and normally no one answers, he said.

When someone answers and I enquire about an upgrade, the line cuts or they say they will transfer me and the line gets dropped.

The next week he tried sending numerous emails to the upgrade department, which typically resulted in no response.

He also sent chat messages on Cell Cs website for which he repeatedly got the someone will assist you shortly message.

At one point he received an email from an agent who said that Cell C did not have stock of the iPhone 12 Pro Max due to the Chinese New Year.

He continued to follow up with this agent to find out when stock would be available again.

The person who assisted me doesnt reply to my emails. Managed to phone him a few times. Same excuse: Only a couple of days and there will be stock. Almost two months now and still no iPhone 12 Pro Max.

The customer claimed he received conflicting responses which appeared to indicate that Cell C was dancing around the subject of upgrades.

Cell C responds

Cell C blamed the upgrade delay on global shortages which had limited the supply of iPhones.

The models affected are all iPhone 12 Pro and Pro max models, Cell C said.

We have been negotiating with our supplier to provide stock, with the request to provide the stock in smaller quantities and at more regular intervals.

Cell C added it had addressed the matter with the affected customer.

He is looking for the iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB and is willing to wait for stock availability to upgrade, Cell C said.

Other mobile operators also impacted

Vodacom, Telkom, and MTN have also told MyBroadband they were experiencing iPhone stock shortages.

There has been global supply constraints on certain variants of the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max models since launch, a Vodacom spokesperson said.

He added that supply was improving and that Vodacom was receiving a fairly consistent supply at regular intervals.

As a result we are distributing to our stores and customers immediately, they said.

Vodacom added that it received its stock from Apple directly.

MTN executive for corporate affairs Jacqui OSullivan said the iPhone Pro Max had sold out sooner than expected on the operators online channels.

Unfortunately due to stock constraints we have not yet been able to replenish our stock of these devices, OSullivan said.

She added the global increase in demand for both the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max was to blame for a shortage of in-country supply of these devices over the past few months.

We continue to engage with Apple on a weekly basis to secure future supply and greater volumes of the device in line with our customer demand, OSullivan said.

The supply of inventory was dependent on Apple lead-times and availability, which could vary depending on global demand and supply constraints.

Upon receipt of supplied inventory, distribution to our channel is done within 24 to 48 hours for sale to MTN customers.

Telkom said it was also experiencing stock shortages on the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, and there was no confirmation when it would receive more of these devices.

Now read: iPhone 12 set to break sales record
In a little more than a month, 50,000 more Americans have died of COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University.

On Feb. 22, the university reported that the United State eclipsed more than 500,000 deaths linked to the virus. On Tuesday morning, data from the university showed the US now has more than 550,000 deaths.

The death toll is by far the highest in the world. Brazil is second with nearly 315,000 deaths. Mexico has endured the third-highest number of deaths with 201,000.

The latest death numbers associated with COVID come at a time when health officials are concerned about a third-surge. New COVID cases dropped at the end of January and February after a surge linked to Thanksgiving and the December holiday season. Numbers have started to rise again, though, even with vaccine rollout.

According to Johns Hopkins University, cases plateaued in the middle of March and now mirror the nationwide numbers experienced during the summer surge last July.

New cases in Massachusetts have ticked up over the last three weeks.

Last week, the state reported three straight days of more than 2,000 new cases before Sundays 1,877, just as the nation sees an average of about 60,000 new cases per day versus closer to 50,000 earlier this month, according to The New York Times.

As of Monday, the states seven-day average rate of positive tests stands at 2.37%, an increase over Sundays 2.28%. Last month, the state reported lows of 1.8%.

Throughout the pandemic, at least 594,242 Massachusetts residents have tested positive for the virus and 16,790 have died.

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Volvo Cars on Tuesday said it will give its 40,000 employees worldwide, including those at the automaker's South Carolina campus, a total of 24 weeks of paid leave so parents can spend more time with their young children.

The "Family Bond" program, which takes effect April 1 and applies to either parent, pays 80 percent of a worker's base pay and is available to all employees with at least one year of service.

Employees, both hourly and salaried, can also opt to take 19 weeks of leave at 100 percent of their base pay.

The leave must be taken within 36 months of birth, fostering or adoption, and employees will be allowed to return to their same or substantially similar position.

"We want to create a culture that supports equal parenting for all genders," Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson said in a statement. "When parents are supported to balance the demands of work and family, it helps to close the gender gap and allows everyone to excel in their careers. We have always been a family-oriented and human-centric company. Through the Family Bond program, we are demonstrating and living our values, which in turn will strengthen our brand."

The program is one of the most generous parental leave policies in the nation, exceeding highly touted programs such as those offered by Amazon, Microsoft and Google. It also tops the 16 weeks of fully compensated leave Ford Motor Co. offers birth mothers  a groundbreaking perk for the U.S. automotive industry when introduced in 2018.

Only about 16 percent of private-sector employees work at companies that offer paid leave for both parents, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, and many of those companies give mothers more time off than fathers. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act lets parents take up to 12 weeks off to be with their child, but it does not mandate that companies pay them during that time.

A survey by gender equality group Promundo shows fathers are especially reluctant to take such leave because of a perceived lack of support from their employers.

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Volvo said its policy "is more inclusive and supportive than many existing policies around the world." It includes all legally registered parents, including adoptive, permanent foster care and surrogate parents, as well as non-birth parents in same-sex couples.

"This is more than a new parental leave policy for our employees  it is the embodiment of our company culture and values," said Hanna Fager, the automaker's head of corporate functions. "We want to lead change in this industry and set a new global people standard. By opting all our employees into paid parental leave we narrow the gender gap and get a more diverse workforce, boosting performance and strengthening our business."

Samuelsson told CNBC the program will cost several million dollars, but if "it gives us better, diverse management and a stronger brand, it will definitely be worth it."

He told the cable television network the policy will help Volvo attract talented workers as the automaker aims to convert all new vehicles to electric power by 2030.

Volvo employees are automatically enrolled in the program's 24-week option and can choose the 19-week option. Previously, the automaker offered up to six weeks of paid leave for new parents. Volvo said it will share the program's participation results over time so that other companies can learn from its progress.

Volvo's $1.1 billion campus off Interstate 26 near Ridgeville opened in 2018, employing about 1,500 people. The plant builds the S60 sedan and will add a redesigned XC90 sport-utility vehicle to the production mix in early 2023 as hiring expands. Volvo is headquartered in Sweden and owned by China's Geely Holding Group.
Law enforcement provided law and order for the participants in the protests over COVID-19 restrictions that took place on Monday in 70 towns and cities, having issued 650 fines in excess of 400,000 to organisers and participants alike for several violations of applicable law, according to AGERPRES.

According to a press statement released by the Gendarmerie on Tuesday, the fines were issued mainly for failure to inform about demonstrations taking place during the curfew, when regulations provide for traffic restrictions and allow travel outside home for strictly regulated reasons, as well as for failure to follow health protection measures against COVID-19.

In 38 of the 70 towns and cities where the public demonstrations took place, the maximum number of participants provided by law - 100 people - was exceeded.

In Bucharest, following the intervention for the restoration of public peace, 188 people were taken to police stations, where investigations were carried out into the commission of outrage, public disturbance, destruction, arson, aggravated theft, failure to comply with weapons and ammunition regulation, and criminal possession of a knife. At the same time, instances were reported of aggression against police officers by the use of fire crackers, street furniture items, bottles, pieces of asphalt and stones that left 12 gendarmes injured and six utility vehicles damaged, according to the press statement.

Similar instances were also recorded during the protests in Drobeta-Turnu Severin and Galati, where demonstrators became aggressive toward the riot police, as well as in Braila, where demonstrators, who will be held criminally liable, tried to knock down a road sign.
Yangon: Myanmar`s security forces have killed at least 510 civilians in nearly two months of efforts to stop protests against a Feb. 1 coup, an advocacy group said, as thousands of people took to the streets again despite the growing toll.

Another 14 civilians were killed on Monday, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said on Monday, as it also updated figures for previous days. The total killed on Saturday, the bloodiest day so far, had risen to 141, figures showed.

The White House condemned the killings of civilians as an "abhorrent" use of lethal force and renewed a call for the restoration of democracy, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Myanmar`s generals to stop the killings and repression of demonstrations.

Monday`s dead included at least eight in the South Dagon suburb of Myanmar`s main city, Yangon, the AAPP said.

Security forces there fired a much heavier-caliber weapon than usual to clear a barricade of sandbags, witnesses said and a video clip showed. It was not immediately clear what type, although a community group posted a picture of a soldier with a grenade launcher.

State television said security forces used "riot weapons" to disperse a crowd of "violent terrorist people" who were destroying a pavement and one man was wounded.

Police and a junta spokesman did not answer calls seeking comment. Two people were also killed in shooting in the central town of Myingyan, student leader Moe Myint Hein was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Despite the violence, crowds turned out in towns across the country, according to media and social media posts. One of the main groups behind the protests, the General Strike Committee of Nationalities, called in an open letter on Facebook for ethnic minority forces to help those standing up to the "unfair oppression" of the military.

"It is necessary for the ethnic armed organisations to collectively protect the people," the group said.

`HEARTLESS ACT`

Insurgents from different ethnic groups have battled the central government for decades for greater autonomy. Though many groups have agreed to ceasefires, fighting has flared in recent days between the army and forces in both the east and north.

Heavy clashes erupted on the weekend near the Thai border between the army and fighters from Myanmar`s oldest ethnic minority force, the Karen National Union (KNU).

About 3,000 villagers fled to Thailand when military jets bombed a KNU area after a KNU force overran an army outpost and killed 10 people, an activist group and media said.

Thai authorities denied accounts by activist groups that more than 2,000 refugees had been forced back, but a local official said it was government policy for the army to block them at the border and deny access to outside aid groups.

"Thailands heartless and illegal act must stop now," Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher on Thailand for Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said he wanted Myanmar`s latest problems to remain there, while dismissing accusations Thailand backed the junta.

"We don`t want to have an exodus, evacuation into our territory but we will observe human rights," Prayuth told reporters in Bangkok.

In Myanmar`s north, fighting erupted on Sunday in the jade-mining area of Hpakant when Kachin Independence Army (KIA) fighters attacked a police station, Kachinwaves media reported.

GRIP ON POWER

Both the KNU and KIA have expressed support for the anti-coup movement and called on the army stop the violence against civilian protesters.

Myanmar`s military has for decades justified its grip on power by saying it is the only institution capable of preserving national unity. It seized power saying that November elections won by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi`s party were fraudulent, an assertion dismissed by the election commission.

Suu Kyi remains in detention at an undisclosed location and many other figures in her party are also in custody.

When asked for his message to Myanmar`s generals, Guterres told reporters, "Stop the killings, stop the repression of the demonstrations, release the political prisoners, and return power to those that have legitimate right to exercise it."

U.N. Special Rapporteur for Myanmar Tom Andrews said the army was carrying out "mass murder". U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the United States was suspending all trade engagement with Myanmar until the return of a democratically elected government.

But foreign criticism and Western sanctions have failed to sway the generals.

China and India have declined to condemn the coup and Russia has maintained its close ties with a visit by a Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin and a pledge to beef up military ties.

The Kremlin said Russia`s long and constructive ties with Myanmar did not signify its approval of "tragic events" there.

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Patna: After the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) declared class 12th results last week, the sources are certain that the Board 10th Results 2021 will be announced soon after the Holi holidays.

Over 16.84 lakh students, which includes 837803 girls and 846663 boys, who appeared in this years Bihar Board 10th examinations are eagerly waiting for the board to announce the results.

These candidates will be able to check their results on Bihar boards official websites- bsebonline.in, biharboardonline.com, and biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in. Students are also advised to keep a check on the BSEB official site and social media accounts for more updates.

The sources suggest that the matric results are likely to be announced in the first week of April. The Bihar Board class 10th examinations were held from February 17 to 24 across 1525 exam centres in over 38 different districts of Bihar.

ALSO READ: Bihar Board Class 10th Result 2021: Know how to check BSEB score card on mobile

Past trends of Bihar Board class 10th results:

In 2020 the Bihar Board 10th Result was announced on May 26.

In 2019 the Bihar Board 10th Result was announced on April 6.

In 2018 the Bihar Board 10th Result was announced on June 26.

Candidates can keep checking Zee News for latest updates on Bihar Board 10th Result 2021 date and other details.
HOLYOKE  As the trustees home in on a new superintendent, supporters of the Holyoke Soldiers Home and its veterans are planning to hold a candlelight vigil on the grounds Tuesday to mark one year since a COVID-19 outbreak roiled the facility.

A selection committee led by the Board of Trustees will hold public interviews Tuesday evening with two finalists for the top job vacated after former Superintendent Bennett Walsh was placed on leave and later resigned in connection with the outbreak.

At nearly the same time Tuesday, family members, union officials, employees and supporters of the home will hold a vigil on the grounds to memorialize at least 77 veterans who died after testing positive for the virus. Most of the deaths were recorded between March and June last year.

The selection committee has whittled down candidates for the superintendents job to two, according to trustees. Their names have not yet been made public. The trustees will vote April 1 on a single name to forward to Gov. Charlie Bakers desk.

In addition to the homes seven trustees, the search committee includes Eric Segundo, director of veterans services for Ludlow and a member of the Holyoke Soldiers Home Coalition, a grassroots community group advocating for the home; Pam Quirk, a now-retired, longtime nurse manager at the Soldiers Home; Mary Moscato, an elder care executive; and state Secretary of Veterans Services Cheryl Lussier Poppe, who is the former superintendent of the Soldiers Home in Chelsea.

The salary range for the job is $120,000 to $160,000.

Walsh was suspended by Bakers administration on March 30, 2020, as the death toll and infection rate began to rise. State officials have complained Walsh was not forthcoming enough about the severity of the outbreak, while Walsh has countered that his pleas for help from the National Guard were ignored for three critical days.

An independent report authored by Boston attorney Mark Pearlstein concluded that while Walsh did ask his superiors in the state Department of Veterans Services for help, his pitch wasnt effective enough.

The request for National Guard medical resources was untethered to any description of the rapidly deteriorating situation, Pearlstein testified at a recent legislative hearing.

The homes current roster of trustees includes Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, the chairman, Lt. Col. Mark A. Bigda and Brig. Gen Sean T. Collins, all of whom have been appointed since July. The other members are Kevin Jourdain, Cindy Lacoste, Isaac Mass and Carmen Ostrander.
Catcher Tony Wolters opted out of his minor league deal with the Pirates, the team announced. Wolters contract contained an out clause that allowed him to become a free agent if he wasnt added to the active roster.

Wolters was signed in February to a contract that would have paid him $1.4MM in guaranteed money if he had made the team, but Pittsburgh decided to go with Michael Perez as the backup behind Jacob Stallings. It isnt yet known if another contract with the team is possible, considering that another veteran in Todd Frazier just re-signed with the Pirates after similarly opting out of his minors deal earlier this week.

The Rockies non-tendered Wolters in December rather than pay the catcher a projected arbitration salary in the $1.9MM-$2.2MM range. Wolters has spent his entire five-year big league career in Colorado, hitting only .238/.323/.319 over 1232 plate appearances but earning quite a bit of playing time (391 games) due to his excellent defense. This track record of solid glovework could get Wolters some looks from teams who dissatisfied with their catching options as Opening Day looms.
3 1 of 3 John Locher /Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Screenshot Show More Show Less 3 of 3





Texans want vaccines  and they're crashing the site that could help get them scheduled for one. I hopped over to the site as soon as the Texas Department of Health and Human Services launched their new vaccine scheduler tool today.

Turns out I wasn't alone.



However, within minutes I got a message that made me nervous. It read, "We are currently experiencing a high volume of traffic. You have been placed in a queue and will be admitted shortly." The message also warned users not to close your browser.



Luckily, the wait wasn't too long and I was able to get in.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-29 22:28:15|Editor: huaxia

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Bernadette Deka-Zulu, executive director of the Policy Monitoring and Research Center in Zambia speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Lusaka, Zambia, March 26, 2021. China's people-centric development approach has led the Asian country to become the world's second largest economy and provides a model for others to emulate, an expert has said. (Photo by Martin Mbangweta/Xinhua)

LUSAKA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- China's people-centric development approach has led the Asian country to become the world's second largest economy and provides a model for others to emulate, an expert has said.

Bernadette Deka-Zulu, executive director of the Policy Monitoring and Research Center in Zambia, said it was not a surprise that China has managed to lift hundreds of millions of its rural population out of poverty due to a development approach that puts people first.

"(Since) China has recorded a victory over poverty eradication for its people, we can point out to the governance system that promotes efficiency in a way of running business. And this is government business," she told Xinhua.

The central leadership's efforts to reach every corner of the vast country have accelerated the country's development, according to the expert.

Putting people at the center of development has also encouraged patriotism among citizens, a move that has allowed the country to make strides in poverty eradication.

She noted the important role of the Communist Party of China in combating corruption and its impact on China's development agenda, adding that the extension of the fight against corruption to all provinces has also ensured that development efforts reached intended targets.

On China's opening up policy, she said signing multilateral and bilateral agreements as well as cementing friendships with other nations has enabled China to contribute immensely to global poverty eradication.

Its opening up, she said, has benefitted the infrastructure development and industrialization of other countries, with Chinese companies encouraged to invest overseas.

She noted that other countries should emulate China by ensuring strict implementation of global programs such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

"China has had to take serious steps in implementing international goals and if we are to see meaningful development, we need to emulate this," she said. Enditem
Washington: The Morrison government has joined 13 other countries, including the Biden administration in the US, to express their shared concerns about the World Health Organisations report into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

The draft report, released on Wednesday (AEDT), found the virus most likely spread to humans through animal transmission, rather than a laboratory leak, and that COVID-19 probably began spreading only a month or so before it was noticed in December of 2019.

The Morrison government led the push for an international investigation into the origins of the pandemic. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has acknowledged that his investigators were not able to access all the data they wanted during their trip to Wuhan, China.

The mission of the WHO is critical to advancing global health and health security, the governments of Australia, the US, United Kingdom, Japan, Israel, Canada and several other nations said in a statement after the draft reports release.
Acts of corruption and the general loss of integrity that are seen at the public offices, private institutions, and society in general in Uganda will require an overhaul of the mindset of individuals and leaders to bring about sanity in the country, Retired Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese Dr Edward Muhima has said.

"Uganda is a sick country. I have been around to see for myself what has been happening since the early days of independence. The current situation is very worrying. Corruption, theft, and lack of integrity are the order of the day. We are going through a tough time," Dr Muhima told parents, staff of Ndejje SS during a dedication service on Palm Sunday.

"The general loss of moral fiber in Uganda has not been brought by animals like the monkeys and baboons but human beings. Nobody can come out and pin the wild animals for the sickening environment that defines our public and private institutions. If Uganda is to be changed, then the responsibility is with us all and not a single individual. If Uganda is going to be healed from the current ugly situation, then the responsibility is for you and me. You should not point fingers but work out how you can be renewed spiritually to overcome the challenges. For leaders, it's not enough to look religious outwardly but be a Christian and learn to humble yourself, repent of the evil and ask God to enable you to live a changed life. It would be a different case if I was not talking from an informed view and experience on an elderly person who has had a chance to see the changes," Dr Muhima, who is still an active evangelist, advised.

However, the State Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Fr Simon Lokodo, in a brief interview with this reporter said that while he believes that every citizen has the duty and responsibility to live a morally upright life, free of corruption among other evil vices, the country is not totally broken down.

"It is true that our society is characterised with corrupt tendencies not limited to public institutions but spread through different areas. I do not want to believe that the country is entirely sick and totally broken down. I also support the idea that Ugandans need to discard all corrupt tendencies and learn to build on the moral fiber that is degenerating. Indeed God wants us to come clean and live according to his ways," Fr Lokodo said.
A US envoy warned that the (IS) terror group still remains a significant security threat in Syria, and beyond, including Europe and North America.

In a statement on Monday, John Godfrey, the acting special envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, said that since the defeat of the group's "fraudulent territorial caliphate" in 2019, it has intensified its focus on the activities of its branches and networks, reports dpa news agency.

This was demonstrated by an attack in Mozambique during the weekend in which more than 55 security forces were killed, the envoy said.

"Attacks such as these are clear indicators that IS continues to actively seek to spread its malign activity to new fronts.

"Ensuring the enduring global defeat of IS will entail effectively countering IS branches and networks outside of and Syria, and we as a coalition recognisee that," he was further quoted as saying in the statement

Several Foreign Ministers from countries in the anti-IS coalition will hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday co-hosted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Sophie Wilmes, Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign affairs.

Tuesday's meeting will largely focus on the coalition's continuing efforts in and Syria, Godfrey added.

In addition, the meeting would discuss the growing threat of the terror group outside of Iraq and Syria, particularly in Africa, and the ways in which the coalition can contribute to collective efforts to ensure its enduring defeat around the world.

--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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One person identified as Muhsin Abdallah was feared killed yesterday when the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command dispersed protesting members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria at Maitama, Abuja.

FCT police command was however silent over the incident even as the sect alleged that the deceased was killed by stray bullets fired by the police operatives while many others sustained injuries.

The protesters were demanding the release of their detained leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife when they clashed with policemen from the FCT.

The IMN spokesman, Mr. Ibrahim Musa, alleged that "the police fired on the Shi'ites procession killing Muhsin Abdallah and injuring scores of others".

However, FCT Police Command said its men dispersed the IMN procession after the protesters went on a rampage destroying public property and attacking police officers, including citizens.

The command spokesperson, Mariam Yusuf, said the operatives "successfully restored calm at Maitama after professionally dispersing a violent protest by some members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria".

Yusuf in a statement noted that "Unfortunately, the members of the disbanded sect went on a rampage destroying public property and attacking innocent citizens including police officers with stones and other dangerous objects

"In view of the above, the Command wishes to state that it will not condone any form of attack on its personnel, equipment, or other public property. The Command implores residents to remain calm and law-abiding while reaffirming of its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property within the FCT."

The police presented pictures of injured police officers and a damaged patrol van.
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Panaji, March 30 : Speaker of the Goa legislative Assembly Rajesh Patnekar on Tuesday cut short the proceedings of the ongoing Budget session and said that the session would be reconvened in July, shortly after the State Election Commission announced polls to five municipal bodies and enforced the model code of conduct (MCC).

The decision followed a meeting of the state Assembly's business advisory committee, in which opposition MLAs said that the assembly could not discuss the announcements made in Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's Budget speech in wake of the model code of conduct, which is now in force.

"Considering their (Opposition) request, we have prorogued the Assembly," Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the legislative Assembly.

"During the election process and especially when the election code of conduct is in force, it is important that the government in power should not make any announcements, declare any schemes and give any assurances which may directly or indirectly influence the minds of the people and have an impact on elections," four senior Opposition MLAs including Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, NCP MLA Churchill Alemao, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party MLA Sudin Dhavalikar and Goa Forward Party's Vijai Sardesai had said in their letter to the Speaker.

The session which began earlier this month was scheduled to be held over a period of 14 days.

Reacting to the development, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat tweeted: "Der Se Aaye Durust Aaye. "Better Late Than Never". Finally @BJP4Goa Government under @goacm A@DrPramodPSawant accepts recommendations of the Opposition made vide letter to the Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly on 17th March 2021 & adjourns the ongoing Session till July 2021." Municipal polls to five municipal councils -- Mapusa, Mormugao, Margao and Sanguem and Quepem -- are scheduled to be held on April 23.
POMPANO BEACH, Fla., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Anago Cleaning Systems today announced it has retained the #2 spot in Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 50 Franchises Under $50K. This highly competitive list recognizes the top 50 companies that continue to evolve and maintain relevance with the latest trends, while reporting the greatest franchise unit growth in North America.

Anago Cleaning Systems is a pioneer of the master franchise system, which allows successful mid-career professionals to operate their own exclusive regional franchises, while allowing small businesses to invest in their success. Both levels simply focus on running their business while Anago Cleaning Systems provides assistance, guidance, and critical tools to grow. "What we've seen at Anago is that not only has commercial cleaning franchising recovered-it's actually growing," added Povlitz.

"Anago Cleaning Systems continues to be proud of the recognition by Entrepreneur Magazine for the quality and dynamic growth of our company," said Adam Povlitz, CEO & President of Anago Cleaning Systems. "Our world-class franchise model is easily accessible to many hardworking entrepreneurs who want to have more control of their financial future. The Anago brand offers this opportunity and is supported by innovative technology and a passion for serving communities across the nation."

Entrepreneur's Top 50 Franchises Under $50K ranking is based on data submitted for Entrepreneur's Franchise 500. Most recently, Anago ranked # 33 in Entrepreneur Magazine's yearly Franchise 500 ranking and ranked 14th fastest growing franchise. Anago Cleaning Systems' position on the ranking demonstrates the brand's rising popularity with entrepreneurs and customers.

"Commercial cleaning is reported to be among a very small group of industries that are considered recession and pandemic-resistant franchises for risk adverse entrepreneurs," added Povlitz. "What we've experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic and other global events such as the 2008 financial meltdown is that many people turn to franchises that offer essential services despite times of a strained economy."

The COVID-19 pandemic caused global and socio-economic damage, and in the beginning, the commercial cleaning industry was no exception. Businesses with commercial cleaning contracts were required to close their doors for a time. Commercial cleaning, which was considered an expendable budgetary line item before COVID-19, was suddenly boosted to the top of the charts. Nearly every brick-and-mortar business was expected to ensure a clean, disinfected, and sanitized facility. To rise to the COVID-19 challenge, Anago quickly pivoted and launched a brand-new specialized cleaning service, Protection+ Disinfection, which was developed with recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control, Environmental Protection Agency, and Health Canada. This new program was welcomed by franchise owners and customers and made the difference in the survival of many local businesses.

"What we've seen at Anago is that not only has commercial cleaning franchising recoveredit's actually growing," added Povlitz. "One growth indicator is the number of inquiries for our franchise opportunities we've received since the pandemic began. Our data shows an almost 200 percent increase in interested franchise candidates after a short dip in the early months of the pandemic. At the same time, franchise openings increased by nearly 20 percent, with subspecialty services such as disinfection programs also increasing nearly 200 percent. These specialty services, which are now being included in COVID-19-inspired contracts, have doubled category sales in a brief time."

Anago Cleaning Systems is a pioneer of the master franchise system, which allows successful mid-career professionals to operate their own exclusive regional franchises, while allowing small businesses to invest in their success. Both levels simply focus on running their business while Anago Cleaning Systems provides assistance, guidance, and critical tools to grow.

About Anago Cleaning Systems

Anago Cleaning Systems is an international commercial cleaning franchise brand. Utilizing the Master Franchise System, Anago supports over 45 Master Franchisees and over 1,700 Unit Franchisees. Founded in 1989, Anago has set the worldwide standard in business support and structure for local and regional companies to provide unparalleled cleaning services to businesses of all kinds. Anago was ranked #33 overall by Entrepreneur magazine in its latest Franchise 500 ranking. For further information, visit its website at AnagoMasters.com.

Press Contact: Perry Athanason/TopFireMedia/[email protected]/917-319-2126

SOURCE Anago Cleaning Systems

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30 March 2021

Accor, the leading hospitality group, today announces the technological integration of its first fully digital hotel. Accor's philosophy and ambition is to offer a full suite of digital technologies to make guests feel welcome, while improving the guest and employee experience. At Accor we are using our best asset, our people, to reinvent how we approach customer service and we're using the latest technology to enable this.

Ibis Styles London Gloucester Road is the first Accor hotel in Northern Europe to provide a fully digital experience with contactless solutions at each step of the guests' stay. The hotel will provide an experience that is quick, safe and easy, with contactless solutions that rethink the guest journey from arrival to departure. The digital eco-system will include features such as online and mobile check in, in hotel payment, the 'Accor Key' - a digital key solution, digital F&B services and guest relations via Whatsapp throughout the stay.

The innovative adaptation of the experience at the London hotel is the first step in an ambitious roll-out plan which will impact at least 50% of hotels across all brand segments in Europe in the next five years.

Check-in will be made easier for the guest with a full tailor-made contactless online check-in experience. Any guest, including those with indirect bookings, can choose to self check-in from their smartphone, tablet or laptop. Accor has also extended its existing Fast Check-Out (FCO) functionality to all guests, allowing them to check-out via their smartphone and a PDF invoice will be sent to their email.

ibis Styles London Gloucester Road will have digital keys where guests can open their room door via smartphone making access quick, safe and easy. Each guest will be provided with an 'Accor Key' that will allow room access, entry to meeting rooms and floor access from lifts. The hotel led the UK in a global pilot scheme for this technology. Accor has announced the global roll-out of "Accor Key" and an objective to equip 20,000 doors in 2021 and all new hotel openings from this summer. This development shows the group's ambition to innovate and invest in high-quality technological solutions to deliver the very best and most convenient experience for its guests.
Fatal police violence is often depicted as a series of singular incidents, each event a moment in which life ends for one person and life is forever changed for their loved ones. But it can have broader and longer-lasting implications for the communities where it happens.

Police violence is rarely approached as a public health issue that causes immense loss for the communities afflicted. The impact is more disparate in Black neighborhoods. Black men and women are 2.5 and 1.4 times, respectively, as likely as average to die at the hands of the police. In places plagued by police violence, life expectancy and mental health suffer. And a recent study in California finds that police violence could be playing a role in another type of health inequity.

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Researchers found that the risk for late preterm birth increases when police violence happens in the neighborhood where the pregnant person lives. The association is stronger for moderate preterm delivery among Black people when a Black person is killed by police in their neighborhood. (These findings are not to be confused with an unrelated study from 2019 that made headlines linking infant health to police violence and was retracted after the author reexamined the data.)

Lead researcher Dana Goin, a postdoctoral scholar in reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, spoke with Slate about the studys findings, the role of environment on physical well-being, and how police violence could influence health inequities going into the next generation.

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Slate: Lets start with a quick overview of the study.

Dana Goin: We compared two different sources of data on fatal police violence to study the relationship between this type of death and the risk of preterm birth in the neighborhoods nearby. In order to study this, we compared the women and birthing people who lived in a neighborhood where someone was killed by the police to people who also lived in that neighborhood, but who were pregnant at different times and werent exposed to fatal police violence during their pregnancy. We observed some increases in the risk of late preterm birth, which is delivery between 34 to 36 weeks among all the women in our study. And there were even greater increases in the risk of moderate preterm birth, which is delivery between 32 and 33 weeks, among Black women when a Black person was killed by the police.

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What did you find the most interesting about the results?

We hypothesized that the associations would be stronger for Black women, but I dont think we anticipated that it would be so much stronger. There are even stronger associations for mothers who are pregnant with female babies. This was particularly interesting because theres a lot of public health literature that shows that male babies in utero are much more sensitive to stress. So this suggests, to me, that there might be some miscarriage happening that were not capturing because we were only able to use the birth records in this study. So were limited to live births or fetal deaths that happened after 20 weeks. If there is early fetal loss thats happening, that could explain why were seeing these really strong associations in the female births. Thats something that was really interesting to me that Im hoping to explore and study.

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Im really interested in what these results say about our society and the role that our environments play in physical health and mental well-being.

The results of this study suggest that the deaths from fatal police violence are not only more common in Black and brown communities, but that they can affect the health of mothers and babies during pregnancy. And the stronger links that we observed among Black women when the victim was also Black really suggests that this type of fatal police violence can influence health inequities going into the next generation. This is another instance of how features of the social environment and of the communities in which we live can affect our health. There are many other studies that have documented that, but this is one specific instance of one type of social determinant of health.

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How do these results strengthen the connection between racism and physical well-being?

Our study is specifically on preterm birth, and I think more studies will need to be done to understand what we call the mechanism effect, what is actually physiologically happening between the experience of these incidents and a womans risk for preterm birth. But we do know that severe stress during pregnancy is linked to a lot of adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth. And other work has shown that different forms of both interpersonal and structural racism influences a lot of adverse health outcomes.

What would you say the study reveals about the impact that police violence has on maternal health? And how would you like to see the results of this study inform the public health narrative going forward?

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Were building on the work of a lot of community organizers and activists who have been telling us these things. But this is, I believe, the first study in the peer-reviewed literature that has established that link. The goal of this study is to bring it into the realm of science.

Public health, as a discipline, has acknowledged the ways that the systemic oppression and marginalization of certain communitiesthe Black community in particularis really driving the stark health disparities that we see in the U.S. Understanding the history of oppression is really critical to understanding why we observe these patterns in health inequities, which indicate that a lot of work has to be done if were going to try to address these issues.

We cant ignore history.
The morphine worked and the next day, Ms Cusworth was admitted to a bed in a shared ward and then later discharged. She spent a week at home on bedrest, before returning on March 18 for her scheduled caesarean. The hospital had called to push her appointment back 24 hours but Ms Cusworth managed to retain her original date after explaining her situation. At the hospital she waited for more than two hours before being told she would likely be sent home, as beds were at capacity and there were four other women scheduled ahead of her. However, Ms Cusworths contractions intensified, she was assessed by a doctor and her caesarean was performed. We ended up getting lucky that I had those tightenings and it got us through, but Im sure that would have meant other people got sent home. I know if I hadnt had those tightenings, I would have been the one sent home because we were last on the list of caesareans for that day. There has been a record number of babies born. Credit:Craig Sillitoe Ms Cusworth said she was told by a midwife that KEMH was trying not to send the same people home twice.

They were accepting that a lot of people were being sent home once, but they were prioritising people that had already been sent home once so they werent sent home again, she said. When I was there I spoke to another woman who had been transferred from Joondalup and she was only 32 weeks and she was waiting in the day surgery unit with me for a caesarean. The first thing she said to me was we have to wait but we might get sent home again today, so I dont think it was unique to my situation. It is one example of what WAtoday understands to be a major strain on resources at KEMH, which is WAs largest maternity hospital and the referral centre for complex pregnancies and high-risk births from across the state. One senior medical professional, who did not want to be named, confirmed there were issues at KEMH and said management had created an environment where doctors felt unable to speak out about safety and quality concerns. On Monday, Andrew Miller, president of the WA branch of the Australian Medical Association, told Radio 6PR the number of pregnant women on the waitlist for inductions at KEMH had meaningfully increased, resulting in some women waiting days to receive urgent care.

Dr Miller also discussed the culture at the hospital and said midwives and specialist doctors had raised concerns. He said staff were being put under significant stress as they decided which patients were the highest priority. We really need to fix this by getting the appropriate staff in there  King Edward is our flagship hospital where, when everything else fails King Edward is where you end up  they are the safety net for the whole state, Dr Miller told 6PR. Mr Miller said the issues were similar to those in other Perth hospitals that had come about because of years and years of inattention in a system that is too small for the population and demand that we have. The 104 year-old KEMH will be closed in coming years and replaced by a new womens and babies hospital within the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre. We have this promise over the horizon of a new hospital in five or seven years but we really have to pay some close attention to whats happening now because these are urgent deliveries and they are not happening when they should be, Dr Miller said.

In a statement, the North Metropolitan Health Service said the care and safety of patients was its number one priority and all women requiring urgent intervention or care were seen straight away. Ms Cusworths child Robbie was born healthy on the Thursday afternoon. By Saturday morning, Ms Cusworth said there were discussions about the pair being discharged, which she said was faster than after her previous two caesareans. After explaining that she was not ready, Ms Cusworth was allowed to stay another night. Loading In order for women to have good birth experiences there need to be more beds available, Ms Cusworth said. There are already so many things that can impact a birth experience and cause lasting damage for women, that we shouldnt risk something we could resolve with resources and funding, particularly in a hospital that takes women dealing with pre-term labour, with sick and premature babies, multiple births, and women travelling from the regions.

This a hospital that is dealing with the most vulnerable women at the most vulnerable time in their lives and the care is outstanding, but without the resources they cant provide that care because they cant admit people. The North Metropolitan Health Service spokeswoman said more women were choosing to have their babies at KEMH or in the public health system. It was assumed, but not confirmed, that COVID-19 had contributed to the increased number of pregnancies, as well as a large number of the population cancelling their private health insurance, the spokeswoman said. Loading In recent weeks and months, KEMH has seen a record number of births and activity, the spokeswoman said.

Each day our teams work hard to prioritise the workload by making the best use of our system-wide obstetric network to ensure every woman is cared for safely and appropriately. Where clinically appropriate, it may mean that some women are transferred to less busy maternity units within the metropolitan area. KEMH teams deliver more than 6000 babies a year. Between January 1 and March 29, 618 caesarean sections were undertaken at KEMH. This was 30 more than during the same period last year. All caesarean sections are completed on their scheduled date, the spokeswoman said. Only in exceptional circumstances will a caesarean be scheduled for the following day i.e. when more urgent emergency surgery is required at short notice.
(Newser)  It pays well to be a lifeguard in Los Angeles County. According to Forbes, seven lifeguards made more than $300,000 in 2019, which was the most recent year for which data was available, while 82 lifeguards made more than $200,000. Thirty-one lifeguards made more than $50,000 in overtime pay, while three collected more than $100,000, per Forbes. Lifeguard Capt. Daniel Douglas pulled in the most in overtime pay with $131,493, plus $140,706 in base pay, $21,760 in "other pay," and $74,709 in benefits. That $368,668 in total compensation was enough for second best overall. Only Fernando Boiteux, the county's acting lifeguard division chief, earned more. He pulled in $391,971 in total compensation, with a $205,619 salary, $60,452 in perks, and benefits worth $125,900.

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Both lifeguards earned more than New York's two highest-earning police officers in 2018, who brought in $323,562 and $317,795, reports the New York Post. This follows lifeguard shortages across the country. As KXTV reported, California had trouble recruiting lifeguards in 2019 despite offering starting wages at $14.52, or 29% above the national average. The data showed just two of the 20 highest-earning lifeguards were women, per Forbes. Virginia Rupe, a captain, earned $281,230, while section chief Christine Linkletter earned $279,980. A third of Los Angeles County's 1,001 lifeguards are pool lifeguards, but they earn significantly less than beach lifeguards, who require more training. The highest-earning pool lifeguard made only $46,997 in 2019. (Read more lifeguard stories.)
Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts for the full episode.

Residents of Houston and elected officials have been trying to stop the largest urban highway project of their lifetimes. In 2017, the Texas Department of Transportation announced plans for the North Houston Highway Improvement Project, which would expand Interstate 45and displace more than 1,000 homes, hundreds of businesses, five houses of worship, and two schools in neighborhoods like Houstons Independence Heights. Its essentially a battle between the state government and Harris County: The former says the expansion is needed because traffic will go up 40 percent by 2040, while the latter says traffic has been falling on I-45 since 2008, and mass displacement will only inflict more damage, among other points of dispute. This conflict has delayed construction of the project for four years nowand this month, Pete Buttigiegs U.S. Department of Transportation stepped in, asking Texas DOT to pause the project as it investigates civil rights concerns. On Wednesdays episode of What Next, I spoke with Oni Blair, who runs a transportation advocacy group called Link Houston, about what the fate of I-45 will tell us about 21st century infrastructure. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Henry Grabar: Presumably, the new highway will be better for the people who drive on it. Who are those people?

Oni Blair: Beyond the highway, youre moving toward the suburbs, which are generally whiter and higher-income, to a certain extent. Compare that with the communities that live along the highway, which are 67 percent minority communities, majority Black and Latino, majority low-income. There are tens of thousands of people living there. To accommodate the I-45 expansion, which will stretch several lanes depending on where you are in it, there will be the destruction of homes, most of them in affordable ranges. More than 300 businesses will be wiped out. Earlier estimates calculated that at least 24,000 jobs would be affected. If you think of 1,000 affordable housing units, thats several thousand people who will have to move because of this project.

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Another major complaint about the I-45 expansion is that it will make nearby neighborhoods flood. For people who arent familiar with Houston flooding problem, whats the connection between a big highway project like this and flooding?

After Hurricane Harvey, people became familiar with the term impervious infrastructure, meaning concrete. The more concrete we add, especially by widening highways, the more work we have to do to adapt and create a level of drainage that we need. For some of the neighborhoods that are affected by this highway, their major concern is the flooding, because they were already devastated by Ike in 2008 and are still recovering from Harvey. Other communities, especially east of the highways, are concerned about being trapped. Some areas are food deserts or are otherwise isolated, which means that a rain event can become catastrophic and perhaps even deadly.

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Expanding freeways for the purpose of addressing congestion does not work.  Oni Blair

Add all of that onto the air quality aspect. [The Texas DOT says] that because cars will be moving faster and will eventually be more efficient, there are no air quality impacts that really need to be studied. We know that cant be true, and people are not going to replace their cars immediately with more efficient vehicles. So youre seeing that the impact on Black and brown communities is far different from the impact that will benefit downtown. Thats where people see the inequity in the project. It is very clear that this highway corridor needs to be improved. But at what risk, and to what extent, and who benefits, is where the challenge is.

Houston is also the home of I-10, the Katy Freeway, which was one of the widest freeways in the country. It is also used in planning schools as an example of induced demand, because while the highway was widened to accommodate more traffic and reduce congestion, the reality is that within three years we were already at the same point of congestion, and at the same time it took to travel from point A to point B as we had before the construction. Now, it is slower. Expanding freeways for the purpose of addressing congestion does not work.

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The traffic doesnt get better, because as the highway gets bigger, more people drive on it.

Exactly. Youre incentivized to live farther out. Youre incentivized to get out on the highway, because in the beginning you do have more room. But that is quickly taken away because not only do you believe that, but your neighbor believes that. It draws you in and fools you into thinking its going to work, and it doesnt.

Tell me about your outlook before the Biden administration came into power. Youve gotten this letter from the U.S. DOT and the Federal Highway Administration basically saying, lets put a pause on this project. Did that surprise you?

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It did surprise me because those sort of pauses from the federal government, we dont see them here in Texas. When the Federal Highway Administration said it was pausing and investigating Title XI civil rights claimsthats a big deal. It shows that its not business as usual. If nothing else comes of this, it shows that people are watching to make sure we are following the laws and the regulations as they are stated here in the region. Additionally, that same week in mid-March, the Harris County Attorney filed a lawsuit against the Texas DOT, largely on the basis of all of the concerns and disparities that the current project will have. Its a broad-reaching lawsuit. so we will see what will come of that.

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What does it mean for the federal government to ask that a highway expansion be evaluated on civil rights grounds? And what do you think that says about the Biden administrations priorities going forward? It is announcing an infrastructure plan this week.

Theyre announcing an infrastructure plan. Theyve already released new grants that were targeting projects that advance racial equity and climate justice. Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been on record, in print and in his words, talking about the impact of highways and their disproportionate impact on Black and brown communities. It is a different day, I hope, but we still need to wait and see what actually happens on the ground.

The civil rights claims that the Federal Highway Administration is investigating right now follow a very particular, very narrow processso only those few claims that were explicitly provided under that procedure will be investigated. Those are different than the thousands of public comments that people submitted as part of the general process. Those are where the bulk of the concerns and recommendations for what community residents want to happen actually exist. And those are not being investigated right now.

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If this highway were built betternot expanded, but maybe repaved and reallocated a little bitwhat would that suggest about the future of the way people get around in Houston? To you, is a better project here a steppingstone to a future in Houston where people drive less, take transit more, spend more time in their own neighborhoods?

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A better project would say, first of all, that we value people and their communities and neighborhoods, and thats where we need to be investing. And then it would also say that we want a region that supports transportation options for peoplenot creating one option and then telling them they have a choice. Those choices dont exist. As we get to a new age for our environment, for people of different ages, both young and older, who dont or cant drive, for people who dont want to drive, for people who cant afford to drive, for people who have disabilitiesthe car is not the only option that they have. For some of them, its not an option at all. Recognizing that and putting value in all people, and not just a particular group and giving them the power, is really important in how we think about our communities.

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PITTSBURGH, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PNC Bank, N.A. is pleased to announce it is the first bank to offer two products that meet the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)'s Bank On national certification.

Both the Foundation Checking and PNC SmartAccess Prepaid Visa Card accounts meet the Bank On National Account Standards developed to ensure expanded access to safe and appropriate financial products and services to the almost 36 million people in the United States who are outside of the mainstream financial system. Bank On's 2021-2022 Standards require low cost, no overdraft, and full-functioning features.

"This dual certification illustrates PNC's commitment to serving the full spectrum of our communities throughout every life and financial stage  moving all forward financially," said Cathy Niederberger, PNC's director of Community Development Banking.

"We are committed to providing banking services for customers who may not have had access to traditional checking or savings accounts in the past," said Bonnie Wikert, head of PNC's Retail Segments and Deposits. "Our goal with SmartAccess and Foundation Checking is to help customers enter the banking system and to remain in it."

A hallmark of the Foundation Checking account is a money management course that is now available on mobile devices as part of the on-boarding experience. The account also offers low-balance alerts, and no overdraft or non-sufficient funds fees. A nominal $5 monthly service charge is waived for customers aged 62 or older.

Similarly, SmartAccess includes a mobile app, low-balance alerts, no overdraft fees and no fees for cashier's checks.

"The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund is delighted to confer its national Bank On account certification upon PNC's Foundation Checking account, making PNC the first financial institution in the country to offer two nationally certified products," said Jonathan Mintz, president and chief executive officer of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. "Particularly during this pandemic, a safe, affordable, and truly useful mainstream banking product in which to deposit stimulus payments and from which to remotely pay bills is more important than ever. We applaud PNC's decision literally to double down on their commitment to offering Bank On certified accounts."

PNC is committed to moving all forward financially and boosting the quality of life in low- and moderate-income communities. PNC has consistently earned an outstanding Community Reinvestment Act rating since those examinations began more than 40 years ago.

While the SmartAccess card and Foundation Checking are available within most PNC markets, interested individuals should check with their local branch or servicing center for more information.

PNC Bank, N.A., is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

CONTACT:

Marcey Zwiebel

(412) 762-4550

[email protected]

SOURCE PNC Bank

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President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said on Monday that Egyptians have succeeded in solving the problem of the grounded ship at the Suez Canal despite the tremendous technical complications of the process.

Posting on his social media page, Sisi extended thanks to every Egyptian who worked with all honesty and dedication to contribute technically and practically to solving the crisis.

He wrote "Egyptians succeeded today in ending the crisis of the stuck ship at the Suez Canal despite all technical complications surrounding the issue. The situation is now back to normal with Egyptian hands, and we send a message of assurance to the whole world about the course of their commodities and needs which pass through such vital navigation line. I thank every honest Egyptian who contributed technically or practically in ending such problem".

The president also noted that Egyptians have proved that they are capable of shouldering their responsibilities, adding that the Suez Canal, which had been dug by the Egyptians' grandparents and had been defended by their sons' souls, will always underline Egyptians' will to make a decision.
Darien was founded in the 1800s as an exclusive community for wealthy people. In the early 1900s elected leaders reaffirmed this concept and declared that Darien will be home to single-family residences and not a home to businesses. Although in 2021, we have become a more inclusive community since then, we still have work to do. We live in a deeply segregated state. Today, its time to desegregate Connecticut by SB 1024, a bill that would enact zoning reform.

The facts are clear  while Connecticut is one of the wealthiest states in the nation, we are also one of the most segregated, and maintain one of the highest achievement and wealth gaps in the country. Restrictive zoning policies directly contribute to this institutionalized segregation and disparity. In many of towns that are high opportunity their zoning regulations often require two-acre minimum zoning, unnecessary numbers of parking spaces and prohibit apartment-style homes. Requirements like these contribute to the injustice and disparity in Connecticut. Recognizing that 73 percent of Black people and 73 percent of the Latino population live in areas of low opportunity compared with 26 percent of white people and 36 percent of Asian people, this cant be random.

Change is never easy, but its time. In 2021, we continue to let old fears get in the way of building a better Connecticut by perpetuating myths and using fear tactics blurring the real issue of affordability and addressing the disparity that exists in our towns and state.

Municipal leaders have a significant part to play in creating change. When I was first selectwoman of Darien, we prioritized the construction of new, affordable homes in our community; the adoption of an Affordable Housing Plan which is being revised; and adopted Dariens Inclusionary Zoning regulation. Although we made some local progress, I did not fully appreciate the injustices caused by zoning laws, demonstrating our efforts were not enough to create necessary change. The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities realizes that these injustices can only be fixed through joint action between state and local governments, which is why SB 1024 forges a new collaborative relationship between both groups.

As the Connecticut commissioner of housing, I saw firsthand how bad zoning policies contribute to institutional racism. If you dont have a safe, affordable home its harder to find a job, go to school and provide for your families future. Thats why, during my time as commissioner, we contributed to the construction of 22,000 affordable homes across Connecticut, and championed a number of zoning reforms including state-wide Inclusionary Zoning, revising 8-2 the Zoning Enabling Act and others.

I remain active in the housing and zoning arena as a co-founder of Darien Talks Housing< which is a monthly fact-based thoughtful discussion on housing and zoning issues including 2021 proposed legislation. Law Professor Sara Bronin, Rep. Cristen McCarthy-Vahey (D-Fairfield), Majority Leader Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford) and Sen. Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) have been featured presenters along with certified planners and thought leaders in the state and region. Weve received tremendous support for the series as well as for the proposed reforms. Not a week has gone by without someone contacting me for help in finding an affordable home not only in Darien, but also in Fairfield County.

As we continue to learn more about housing and zoning in Darien, one statistic is worth noting: 29 percent of Darien households are cost burdened by housing. Thats 2,200 families out of 7,400 pay upward of 30 percent of their income on housing costs. Said another way, 2,200 families who are having a hard time making ends meet and making hard choices. SB 1024 is good for the budgets of Darien families.

When legislators declare that zoning reform will destroy our towns, remember that Darien has already taken many actions proposed in SB 1024. For example, we have capped costly parking mandates for our businesses and now its time to do the same for housing. We have built cluster homes in single family neighborhoods, and we train our Planning and Development Commissioners. While some components of SB 1024 will impact our town, others will extend Dariens positive zoning innovations to other parts of the state.

With all of the technical terms and legal standards surrounding this issue its important to remember the people whose lives will be made better by adopting this bill. So, when we talk about density, unit count, parking, TOD and ADUs we are really talking about: children having a stable home to come back to after school, a working mom being able to afford to both feed her family healthy food and the roof over her familys head, senior citizens being able to stay in the communities they helped build. We need to pass SB 1024 for Dariens families and the families of Connecticut.

Darien resident Evonne Klein is the former director of the state Department of Housing and a former Darien first selectwoman.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Irrigated agriculture is the planet's largest consumer of freshwater and ultimately produces more than 40% of food worldwide. Yet the exact amounts of water actually being used in irrigation remains largely unknown.

Answering that question would provide insight into the global water balancethe flow of water in and out of systems on Earth. It will be particularly relevant as the effects of climate change on that process become more pronounced in the future.

To fill this gap, CU Boulder researchers gave computer models of land surface different amounts of information on soil moisture and then evaluated how well irrigation can be predicted from them. Being able to do this on a large scale would be a useful step toward understanding how sensitive irrigation and evapotranspiration are to climate change.

The work, recently detailed in Scientific Data, was led at CU Boulder by Assistant Professor Ben Livneh, with funding and support from NASA.

Livneh is part of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science (CIRES). He said the project uses satellites to offer a view of the global water balance that wasn't available before.

"When precipitation falls on land, the largest place it goes is back into is the atmosphere, but we don't have the technology to measure that change at large scales," he said. "Here we are using this satellite like a giant scale that weighs the land. Basically, when land loses mass, we can tell that a lot of water is going into the atmosphere."

Recent Ph.D. graduate Ronnie Abolafia-Rosenzweig was the lead author of the paper with Livneh. He has since started working at the National Center for Atmospheric Research to improve the physics of operational hydrologic models.

"Understanding how much water humans use to irrigate is essential because irrigation alters Earth's water and energy budgets and is depleting water reservoirs across the globe," he said. "I am now collaborating with scientists from Michigan State University and the Sharif University of Technology in Iran to apply our methodology to predicted irrigation water use in agricultural regions surrounding Urmia Lake, which has lost 80% of its original water extent in the last two decades due to climate change (prolonged drought) and irrigation water use."

Livneh said the next phase of this research would likely center on these changes in larger basins such as the Mississippi or Colorado rivers, with a focus on the role of humans with agriculture development.

Explore further Climatic effect of irrigation over the Yellow River basin

More information: Ronnie Abolafia-Rosenzweig et al. A continental-scale soil evaporation dataset derived from Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite drying rates, Scientific Data (2020). Ronnie Abolafia-Rosenzweig et al. A continental-scale soil evaporation dataset derived from Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite drying rates,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41597-020-00748-z
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A proposed class-action lawsuit from a Seattle firm has added to the swarm of antitrust scrutiny gathering around Amazon.

The suit, filed Thursday in federal court in New York on behalf of Chicago-area bookseller Bookends and Beginnings, alleges Amazon colluded to fix prices on print books.

Amazon's restrictive contracts with major publishers has made it impossible for book retailers to try to beat Amazon on price, Seattle law firm Hagens Berman alleges in the suit. The contracts, with publishers Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schusterknown as the "Big Five"prohibit the publishers from selling books to other retailers for less than the price they offer Amazon, provisions Hagens Berman has said are "anticompetitive." Attorneys are proposing the class include all booksellers that bought books from the Big Five after March 2017.

Amazon did not respond to questions about allegations in the suit.

The owner of Bookends & Beginnings, Nina Barrett, said in a statement that Amazon's growth has threatened her business.

"I've watched Amazon grow into the juggernaut it's become," she said. "I've experienced firsthand the devastation to publishing, bookselling, and to local brick-and-mortar shopping that's resulted."

Hagens Berman has a lengthy history of filing class-action suits alleging price-fixing. In 2011, the firm sued Apple, contending the tech giant was propping up e-book prices to the detriment of consumers. It launched another case against Amazon earlier this year leveling similar price-fixing allegations about the company's e-book division.

Days before that suit was filed, authorities in Connecticut said they had also launched a probe into whether Amazon's deals to acquire e-books from publishers violate antitrust laws.

Amazon is facing ongoing antitrust investigations by attorneys general in California, New York and Washington. Founder Jeff Bezos was grilled by the House antitrust subcommittee last year about Amazon's allegedly unfair practices against third-party vendors using its platform.

Nearly 90% of online sales of print books route through Amazon, according to a report last year from the House antitrust subcommittee. The company is also responsible for 50% of all sales of print books, the report said.

2021 The Seattle Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

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Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

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Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

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Armenia Parliament Council holding session

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Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries

Armenia citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation

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SINGAPORE, March 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Relativity today announced that its secure, end-to-end SaaS platform RelativityOne, is now hosted in Singapore. KPMG in Singapore was the first Big Four firm to offer RelativityOne in Asia and is the first Relativity partner to offer RelativityOne in Singapore, demonstrating its commitment to expand cloud capabilities in the region.

Relativity customers and partners in Singapore can now innovate faster with a flexible and extensible cloud platform that provides an intuitive user experience backed by the power of automation and integrated artificial intelligence. RelativityOne also allows users to streamline their technology stack to help manage large volumes of complex, unstructured data and reduce risk with proactive threat prevention, automated security processes and leading compliance certifications.

Asia is increasingly becoming a definitive new frontier for technology adoption. The acceleration of digital transformation across Southeast Asia and shift to remote work structures has increased the demand for technology and cloud adoption. According to a recent survey, Singapore is the most prolific adopter of cloud computing in Southeast Asia, with nearly nine in 10 IT decision-makers saying their companies are already using cloud-based solutions.

"The e-discovery and compliance market in Asia is rapidly developing, and Singapore is a major hub for innovation," said Georgia Foster, Managing Director, APAC at Relativity. "This new offering reinforces Relativity's commitment to expanding globally and will allow our APAC customer base to better serve their clients and meet the needs brought on by the increase of cloud adoption in the region, in particular in the investigations, arbitration, litigation and compliance monitoring spaces."

Through the deployment of RelativityOne, KPMG in Singapore enables member firms across Asia to tap into the platform, supporting enhanced end-to-end technology solutions involving e-discovery and internal investigations for clients. The adoption of RelativityOne allows KPMG in Singapore to accelerate the processing and hosting of data into RelativityOne seamlessly and securely.

"Litigation has evolved over the past two decades, from discovering documents in files, incorporating emails into discovery, and now, managing collaborative data on the cloud. In today's digital-centric world, data requirements are far more complex and there is a need for added scalability. With RelativityOne now being hosted through the Singapore data centre, our forensic investigation capabilities are bolstered to deliver new efficiencies in processing and managing multi-jurisdictional e-discovery matters for customers," said Eddie Toh, Partner, Head of Forensic Technology, Asia Pacific, at KPMG in Singapore. "Our longstanding relationship with Relativity globally mooted the collaboration and we are excited to transform and transcend to the cloud with Relativity in Singapore, who are clearly the pioneers in using cloud for e-discovery."

The deployment of RelativityOne will enable KPMG in Singapore to reassess clients' large volume of data by taking control and reducing the data to a manageable size using customised workflows to ensure relevant data is identified and disclosed quickly and accurately. Additionally, RelativityOne has rigorous security processes to provide 24/7 cloud security to protect clients' data while it is being worked on, which is becoming increasingly important due to the rise of cyberattacks and data breaches.

Globally, KPMG has built a strong relationship with Relativity and has adopted RelativityOne in other regions to solve data challenges and improve review accuracy and efficiency for clients. Through RelativityOne's global scalability, KPMG in Singapore is able to leverage member firms across Asia, to provide the ability to move faster and better deliver solutions to clients.

"We are so grateful for our longstanding partnership with KPMG, and it's been exciting to work together as cloud adoption continues to become increasingly important in Asia. I'm confident that the extensibility of RelativityOne's cloud-based offering coupled with KPMG's unparalleled expertise, will help drive even greater efficiency, and value for their clients globally," said Foster.

RelativityOne is currently available across 11 global geographies with two more to be added in 2021.

About Relativity

Relativity makes software to help users organise data, discover the truth and act on it. Its SaaS platform RelativityOne manages large volumes of data and quickly identifies key issues during litigation and internal investigations. The AI-powered communication surveillance platform, Relativity Trace proactively detects regulatory misconduct like insider trading, collusion and other non-compliant behaviour. Relativity has more than 300,000 annual users in 49 countries serving thousands of organisations globally primarily in legal, financial services and government sectors. Please contact Relativity at [email protected] or visit http://www.relativity.com for more information.

About KPMG

KPMG in Singapore is part of a global network of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 146 countries and territories and in FY20 had close to 227,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.

For more information, visit kpmg.com.sg.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/kpmg-singapore

Media Contacts

Olivia Mulvey

Relativity

[email protected]

Asha Raghu

KPMG in Singapore

[email protected]

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Just when you finally learned to pronounce pasticciotto and sfogliatelle, it is time to embrace manteconcha and kransekake.

Learning the proper pronunciation for these treats is a sign of respect from those who enjoy them, to show that the culture is acknowledged and appreciated. For those doing the baking, the treats produced are as much a symbol of respect for their personal heritage, using traditional methods to create a flavor of home and history. For area bakers in the Capital Region, the pandemic halted travel and visits to faraway families. Baking was a way to self-soothe and keep memories of home alive.

Kelly Briceno, a Westchester native with Mexican and Colombian heritage, used baking to relax from her job in IT. Briceno came to the Capital Region to attend the University at Albany and the pandemic pushed her to make the sweet breads, called pan dulces, from the bakeries she grew up visiting during every California trip to see her grandmother. She started making conchas  large round pan dulces  in April and started taking orders in September from her home-based business, Panaderia Albany. ("Panaderia" is the Spanish term for "bakery.")

A concha, Spanish for "seashell," gets its name from the shell design carved into the bread. Briceno makes hers starting with an enriched dough of flour, eggs, sugar and yeast and then covers them with a paste of sugar, vegetable shortening, cornstarch and food coloring. When the conchas bake, this paste separates where it is cut to reveal the patterns  made with molds and stamps  and expose the bread underneath. The dough is not typically flavored in traditional panaderias, but Briceno has experimented with adding cinnamon.

Conchas are usually eaten for breakfast or dessert, and Briceno remembers dipping hers into hot chocolate while her grandmother did the same in coffee. Briceno would travel to California as a child to visit her grandmother, but the pandemic halted that. It is a nostalgic pastime for me, especially because I dont have any family up here and havent seen them in a very long time. She recalled the intense, sweet smell that would waft over her as she opened the door to the panaderia near her grandmothers home, and since conchas were difficult to find locally, she was pushed to make them herself. Now, that smell fills her Albany home each week as she works to fill weekend orders for local customers, most ordering traditional conchas but also placing orders for manteconchas (a smaller version of a conchas), bolilos (savory sandwich rolls), el payaso (another version of pan dulce) and chocolate, caramel or lechera sweet dips to accompany the conchas.

I know a lot of people want to get our culture out there. But in Albany there are mostly Italian bakeries and if you want something to remind you of home, you have to make it yourself. There are people here from California and Arizona, and they know what a panaderia is. They are very nice people and always ask what Im making, Briceno said.

Across the river, in Troy, Isabel Burlingham is reaching deep to feel her Scandinavian roots by way of baking. Burlingham said her ancestry is scattered across Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, but most of her baking is influenced by the Swedish and Norweigan practices of her grandmother (or Mormor, as Burlingham called her), who moved to America from Europe as a young woman. She fostered for me a love of small bites, Burlingham said, noting that the Swedish desserts she makes, usually flavored with cardamom and almond, are dainty, petite and less sweet than American desserts. She moved to Troy in 2015 for her job as a chemist after living in Princeton, N.J., and Portland, Maine. I was struggling to find where I belonged, she said, but it turned out that where she was most comfortable was in the kitchen, making the desserts of her childhood. She started selling at Troy Waterfront Farmers Market just before the pandemic and has since left her chemist job and operates Parchment Baking Company full-time.

When she first started Parchment, Burlingham connected with the Hart-Cluett Museum in Troy to research Scandinavian heritage in the Capital Region, finding at one time there was a large Danish population in in Rensselaer County with many descendants participating in a cultural group called the Scandinavian Forum. For these people, Burlingham's creations are familiar, but for others the treats are a completely new experience, from the pronunciation of the names to the flavor profiles. She makes kardemummabullar, which is akin to a cinnamon roll that uses cardamom in place of cinnamon, and pearl sugar instead of icing. Kramsekaker is a large meringue-baked cookie tower that uses ground almonds, but Parchment makes a smaller croquette-sized kramsekaker for better-portioned snacking.

People enjoy the novelty of Scandinavian pastry, Burlingham said, even though she finds most customers have a hard time enunciating the various diphthongs prevalent in Scandinavian language. I think the trend in (regional) bakeries comes from people tapping into their heritage. They are trying to reproduce and preserve the food they learned how to cook with their mothers and grandmothers, she said. The cardamom and almond used in the pastries have the legend of being brought to Scandinavia by the Vikings, though Burlingham said there is no proof of that. Instead, because cardamom pods and whole almonds had long shelf lives and traveled well they were able to withstand the long passage to northern Europe without becoming rancid. Sugar first came to Sweden (and the rest of the region) in 1324, 300 years after first appearing in England, and a sugar tax that still exists in the country is the reason behind the scant usage in baking today.

Instagram has become the platform of choice for these bakers, finding it easier to connect with customers and people with similar heritages through highly targeted hashtags. While Parchment Baking Company has transitioned to farmers markets and local co-ops to sell its products and Panaderia Albany has a website for ordering, other bakeries, like Ppang Bakery, promote and sell exclusively on Instagram for local pick-up.

Ppang is the Korean term for bread, and founder Sookyung Lee, a first generation Korean American who now lives in Niskayuna and is a graduate of Schenectady County Community Colleges culinary arts program, said that launching on Instagram gave her a quick way to find an audience. She started an Instagram page earlier this year, posting photos of Korean and Asian baked goods and pastries she specializes in, and quickly gained a following. It showed there are people who are interested in this, she said, and it helped her launch Ppang in March.

Her business Instagram account posts infographics to explain the origins and process of its products to educate customers, especially famed Japanese milk bread, which has gained a cult following for its creamy, tender flavors and texture. There is a lot of work that goes into making milk bread. I want people to really appreciate it, Lee said. Occasionally, she was able to purchase milk bread from Forts Ferry Farm, in Latham, and there was an Asian bakery in the region 15 years ago that quickly folded, Lee said, but now seemed like the right time to reintroduce Asian baked goods to this market.

Try them out Parchment Baking Company www.parchmentbaking.com

On Instagram: @parchmentbakingcompany

Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, Schenectady Greenmarket, Delmar Farmers Market (Tuesday market), Honest Weight Food Co-op, Electric City Food Co-op, online Panaderia Albany www.panaderiaalbany.com

On Instagram: @panaderia_albany

Online ordering for weekend pick-up in Albany or delivery to Albany or Troy Ppang Bakery On Instagram: @ppang518

Order via Instagram by Friday for pick-up at Schenectady Trading Company on Saturday; will be a vendor at Schenectady Greenmarket on Sundays this summer See More Collapse

There is an increase in Asian population and an increased interest in Asian pastry, Lee said, which helped bring customers to her business. She has witnessed restaurants of all specialties embracing Asian flavors, especially Korean, as well, from Korean chicken wings during the Superbowl to Korean barbecue flavors on regular menus. There is a growing appreciation for those flavors, Lee said, and it led to her customer based being a good mix of Asian immigrants, people with familiarity with Asian culture or people just interested in exploring new flavors.

The classic Italian pastry shops that dot every corner of the Capital Region are far more prevalent than other regionally focused bakeries, like Hong Kong Bakery and Bistro on Wolf Road in Albany or Rositos Bakery, focused on Puerto Rican products, on James Street in Amsterdam. But at some point, Italian cookies and sweets were unique and foreign to those already in the Capital Region. Over generations they were embraced by people of all cultures, filling our Christmas cookie tins and offering sweet reward after weekend errands. There is no reason the same couldnt happen for this emerging crop of Scandinavian, Mexican or Korean baked goods, if only we allow ourselves the chance to try them.

Deanna Fox is a food and agriculture journalist. www.foxonfood.com, @DeannaNFox
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The global on-highway vehicle lighting market size is expected to reach USD 42.03 billion by 2025, according to a study conducted by Grand View Research, Inc., exhibiting a 5.4% CAGR during the forecast period. Government regulations for improved visibility and increasing penetration of energy-efficient light sources have bolstered the market growth. Increasing adoption of LED lamps and growing emphasis on technological innovations are estimated drive the market further. Automobile manufacturers are increasingly adoption energy-efficient and more advanced lighting technologies, such as LASER and Light-Emitting Diode (LED).

LED lamps are more energy-efficient, durable, and have the higher operational life span (over 50,000 hours) than other sources, such as incandescent, xenon, and halogen bulbs. Thus, longer lifespan and low energy consumption would drive the demand for LED lights in the coming years. Companies such as Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Stanley Electric, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., and Magneti Marelli S.p.A provide LED lights in different shapes for a number of automotive applications.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the dominant regional market over the forecast period owing to the rapidly growing automotive sector. Moreover, stringent regulations by local governments regarding the use of energy-efficient lighting sources are also likely to open up new growth opportunities for the companiesi. For instance, in 2017 the Indian government has mandated the use of Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) and Automatic Headlamp On (AHO) for two-wheelers, which in turn shall accelerate the Asia Pacific on-highway vehicle lighting market growth.

Browse Details of Report @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/on-highway-vehicle-lighting-market

On-Highway Vehicle Lighting Market Report Highlights

 LED is expected to emerge as the dominant product type segment due to declining prices of LED lights as a result of extensive R&D to introduce advanced products

 The headlight segment is expected to be the leading application segment owing to the increasing use of light sources across front headlamps, DRLs, side lamps, and fog lamps

 Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest and fastest-growing region over the forecast period. This growth is mainly due to expanding automotive sector in the emerging economies such as China and India

 Prominent industry participants include Koito Manufacturing, Ltd., Valeo S.A., Koninklijke Philips N.V., and Magneti Marelli S.p.A.

On-Highway Vehicle Lighting Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global on-highway vehicle lighting market on the basis of product type, application, vehicle type and region:

On-Highway Vehicle Lighting Product Type (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

 Halogen

 High Intensity Discharge (HID)

 LED

 Incandescent

 LASER

On-Highway Vehicle Lighting Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

 Headlights

 Other External Lights

 Interior Lights
OMAHA, Neb., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater Omaha Chamber today announced results of the region's pandemic-response ("Thrive 2020") initiatives, as well as research outcomes from the Metro's Greater Omaha 2040 "remix" efforts.

In May 2020, as the pandemic accelerated across the United States, Greater Omaha leaders formed the Thrive 2020 task force, a coalition of experts charged with addressing economic growth, small business, diversity and equity, talent, entrepreneurship and public policy in the pandemic environment. The team published "We Rise," a guide to economic recovery, in July 2020.

David G. Brown, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber, said the region, which was recently named one of 11 secondary markets "positioned to thrive" by CBRE, is experiencing a robust recovery thanks, in part, to the Thrive 2020 and Greater Omaha 2040 teams' efforts.

"No question, forming a task force and forging a path through multiple crises moved the region forward in a positive way," Brown said.

Of the top 55 metros, unemployment in Omaha / Council Bluffs is currently the lowest in the nation, according to the Dec. 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics' Local Area Unemployment Statistics data. Additionally, Zippia named Omaha the "Best City in Nebraska to Get a Job in 2021."

Contributing to the economic upturn, were Thrive 2020 efforts that included:

accelerating funding for Omaha startups,

startups, launching a financial literacy initiative,

building a supplier-diversity committee,

expanding diversity, equity and inclusion resources for businesses

creating a "candidate academy" for candidates of color

Greater Omaha 2040, a cooperative initiative led by the Greater Omaha Chamber, United Way of the Midlands, Latino Center of the Midlands and Urban League of Nebraska, also completed pandemic-related analyses, reporting research from nearly 90 CEOs revealed the region's focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) remains paramount to "future Omaha;" and, "quality of life" should remain an area of emphasis for attracting and retaining talent.

Media Kit

Thrive 2020 Brief

Greater Omaha 2040 Remix Brief

About Greater Omaha

Greater Omaha is a No. 1 ranked up-and-coming-tech hotspot, a "top 10 best place to live on a $60,000 salary" and was named America's No. 2 Best Small City by Resonance Consultancy. Greater Omaha is home to more than 30 communities and nearly 1 million people.

CONTACT:

Dr. Jill Bruckner

Greater Omaha Chamber

402-978-7920

[email protected]

SOURCE Greater Omaha Chamber

Related Links

http://www.omahachamber.org


A woman has died and two teenage boys have been rushed to hospital following a house fire on Tuesday evening.

Emergency services were called to a home at Evaline Street at Campsie, in Sydney's south-west, just before 5pm.

Fire and Rescue NSW attended the scene and extinguished the blaze.

'Firefighters found smoke and flames coming from the single-level home soon after arrival at the property,' a representative from Fire and Rescue NSW said.

Flames were discovered from the single-level home soon after firefighters arrived at the property

Fire and Rescue NSW attended the scene and extinguished the blaze, with paramedics quickly on the scene

'Rescue tools were used to force entry to the front door and side window of the property. Firefighters later removed three people.'

Despite the valiant efforts of emergency services, a woman, 80, was declared dead at the scene.

Two teenage boys  aged 16 and 14  were treated by paramedics for burns and smoke inhalation.

One was airlifted to Westmead Hospital with the other taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.

Officers from the Campsie Police Area Command have since commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the blaze.

Inquiries are continuing and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Two teenagers aged 16 and 14 were treated by paramedics for burns and smoke inhalation before being rushed to hospital

The fire was at Campsie, in Sydney's south-west, just before 5pm on Tuesday evening
Nicola Sturgeon today confirms plans to allow Scottish hairdressers to reopen from Monday.

The move will allow Scots to get their locks trimmed from April 5, a week before barbers and salons in England reopen on April 12 - as long as they have an appointment booked.

However it remains to be seen how many hairdressers will open their doors on Monday, which is Easter Monday and traditionally a bank holiday. Hairdressers in Wales have already been open a fortnight.

In a press conference today she also gave the go-ahead to retail shops to restart click and collect from the same date - but warned shoppers to stagger their journeys to avoid crowds.

Homeware shops and garden centres can welcome back customers in person.

The First Minister added: 'We don't want big crowds at these stores, so although they open from Monday, think about whether you really need to visit on Monday or if you're able to wait until later in the week.'

The moves to kick-start the economy will come at the same time as an increase in students in college returning to in-person teaching for practical subjects, and outdoor sports can restart for youths aged 12-17.

In a press conference today Ms Sturgeone gave the go-ahead of retail shops to restart click and collect from the same date - but warned shoppers to stagger their journeys to avoid crowds

The move will allow Scots to get their locks trimmed from April 5, a week before barbers and salons in England reopen on April 12. Pictured: Salon manager Gemma Inglis works on the hair of Shireen Inglis at The Lunatic Fringe in Glasgow in July last year

Planned easing of coronavirus restrictions is to go ahead despite cases "plateauing" rather than continuing to decline, the First Minister said.

The latest coronavirus figures show 12 deaths and 411 positive tests were recorded in the past 24 hours.

It brings the death toll under this measure - of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days - to 7,596.

Scotland will follow England and lift its 'stay at home' order on Friday and replace it with a request for people to 'stay local', Ms Sturgeon also confirmed. A similar measure came into force in England on Monday this week.

The change was announced earlier this month and confirmed during the coronavirus briefing on Tuesday.

The First Minister said: 'The stay at home rule is being replaced for the next three weeks at least with a requirement to stay local.

'That means the current travel restrictions, which prevent non-essential travel outside your own local authority area, will remain in place for another three weeks.

'I fully understand how frustrating that is for everybody - I share that frustration - like many of you, my family live in a different local authority to the one I live in, and so like anyone with loved ones in a different part of the country, I desperately want to see them in person.'

The First Minister said she will give further updates in April but that Scotland is on course to ease restrictions further, with cafes, restaurants, shops and gyms due to open from April 26 and more people allowed to meet up outdoors.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Ever since governments at the 2015 Paris climate summit set 1.5C as the desired limit for global warming, scientists and journalists alike have regularly asked whether it is achievable. The question arose again recently when the UN published a report of national emission-cutting pledges for the next decade. It will be posed regularly before the publication of the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report in Julya synthesis of the most recent information scientists can offer on climate changeand the UN climate summit in November.

Science is already clear that the 1.5C target can be met. But science cannot say whether it will be met. The outcome depends on two things we cannot know with precision: how sensitive the climate system is to rising greenhouse gas concentrations, and how quickly the world will cut emissions.

Humanity has little sway over climate sensitivity. But on the second issuewhat we do about emissionshumanity clearly holds the lever of influence.

The recent UN report showed that governments are not pushing that lever on short-term emissions hard enough. Only 40% of countries have so far set a new emission-cutting target for 2030, as they are due to under the Paris Agreement. Collectively, they are pledging to bring emissions down by 1% below 2010 levels rather than the 45% proposed by the IPCC as being compatible with meeting the 1.5C limit.

Yet, since autumn 2020, China, the EU, the US, Japan and South Korea have all pledged to reach net zero emissions around mid-century. If they follow through, that would halve the gap to the 1.5C targetand that's without factoring in the wider effect on global markets, investment and prices that will inevitably follow.

So the future is not set, and much will depend on decisions made in these next few crucial years.

While scientists might be tempted to spend much of 2021 arguing whether the Paris Agreement's limit is feasible, having this as a live debate could itself lower our chances of delivering the target.

Consensus and empowerment

The chances of stopping warming at 1.5C increase the faster the global community cuts greenhouse gas emissions to zero. And how fast we do that depends on the interrelated actions of a huge mix of peoplegovernment ministers most importantly, but also business chiefs, investors, banks, religious leaders, activists and citizens. The last few years have seen efforts accelerate across those constituencies, from the establishment of financial mechanisms by the UN to the Fridays for Future movement.

Across these initiatives, one inescapable fact is how central the 1.5C target now is. The open letter that Fridays for Future sent to political leaders in 2020 referred to the 1.5C limit five times, and not at all to the other Paris Agreement goal of keeping global warming "well below 2C". When deciding their net zero emissions targets, the governments of the UK and New Zealand both explicitly referred to the 1.5C limit as the global "guardrail" and set their national decarbonisation trajectories accordingly. The UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, exhorts governments and businesses to meet this goal specifically rather than "well below 2C."

So to claim that 1.5C is out of reach would be to undercut all of those initiatives and many othersto tell them all, from minister to investor to youth activist, that they are doomed to fail.

Social science tells us a lot about the effects of different types of messaging on climate action, including on two issues that are significant here: consensus and empowerment.

From climate change to vaccination, a consensus message from scientists increases public faith and willingness to act. We're seeing how mixed messaging damages trust right now with the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. Would climate contrarians have put so much effort into undermining the perception of consensus among climate scientists were not the perception of consensus important to decarbonisation?

The world stands a better chance of tackling climate change if people feel they have a chance of succeeding. Academic research backs up this common sense. A major study in 2020 showed how the "we cannot do it" argument works to delay action, noting that such statements "can result in a paralyzing state of shock and resignation", which is a deterrent to active engagement in solutions. Research also shows that public disengagement is the inevitable result of a perceived sense of conflict among scientists. This may be the intent of people wishing to delay climate action, but it's presumably not an outcome that scientists who support decarbonisation seek.

The IPCC is perhaps the biggest consensus-forming initiative in the whole of science. Its 2018 Special Report found 1.5C achievable and, judging from private conversations, this year's report is unlikely to close the door.

So will our species succeed in limiting global warming to 1.5C and so stave off some of the more crippling effects of climate change? No one can possibly know. Can we succeed? As former US president Barack Obama once said: "Yes, we can." And knowing that we can makes it more likely that we will.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Alton estate management at Maskeliya, in Sri Lankas central plantation district, has suspended 38 workers, alleging they were involved in a physical attack on the estates superintendent. The employees were informed about the harsh punitive measure after returning to work on Wednesday, after a 47-day strike.

Plantation workers from Mocha estate at Up-Cot in Maskeliya picketing demanding 1,000 rupees daily wage in October 2018 (Photo: WSWS media)

Alton workers immediately opposed the companys provocative actions and stopped work, demanding their victimised colleagues be immediately reinstated. They were persuaded by Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) leader Jeevan Thondaman to resume work on Friday, after he issued an empty promise to look into the suspensions. Thondaman is the minister of estate infrastructure in President Rajapakses government.

Managements escalation of its anti-democratic attacks highlights the necessity for workers, students and youth to support the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) campaign to defend the Alton estate workers. The SEP is demanding the unconditional reinstatement of all suspended workers and the withdrawal of the bogus charges, which are the product of a company-police conspiracy, aided and abetted by the CWC and other estate unions.

On February 18, eight workers were arrested on allegations of assaulting the estate superintendent Subash Narayanan, followed on March 1 by the arrest of two youth over the same claims. All were remanded in Kandy prison by a Hatton magistrate. The CWC later surrendered 12 more workers to the police. All those arrested were released on March 10, but on harsh bail conditions.

Abbotsleigh estate workers marching to Hatton town during pay campaign for 1,000 rupees daily wage in December 2018 (Photo: WSWS media)

The company has prepared a list of 18 other workers, claiming they were also involved in the alleged assault. Four of those named have been asked to visit the Maskeliya police station today, for the second time, to give statements on the incident.

The police and estate management drew up the entire list of arrested and suspended workers, with the help of the CWC. Two other estate unions, the National Union of Workers and the Up-country Peoples Front, which are active at Alton estate, have silently endorsed the CWCs involvement in this anti-democratic attack.

The estate unions have also agreed with the companys decision to suspend those workers facing court, until their cases are heard. Management has declared that the other 18 workers will be served with interdiction letters.

The next hearing in the case against the 22 workers is to on April 28. They are to be tried on charges of unlawful assembly and causing grievous hurt to the estate manager. If convicted they could be imprisoned for up to six months and seven years respectively, for these charges.

Workers have denied being involved in any violence against the estate superintendent. Their only crime is to fight for higher wages, better working conditions and in opposition to the provocative actions by estate management.

Some 500 Alton estate workers initially walked out on February 2, to demand higher pay, and then joined the February 5 one-day national strike, called by the Ceylon Workers Congress over long outstanding calls for a 1,000-rupee daily wage.

Abbotsleigh estate workers picketing at the gate of the factory during pay campaign for 1,000 rupees daily wage in December 2018 (Photo: WSWS media)

The CWC called the one-day walkout to deflect the growing anger of estate workers over plantation companies refusals to increase their pay.

Determined to secure a wage rise, the Alton estate workers resolved to remain on strike after the national walkout. Following a series of provocations initiated by the estate manager, they decided on February 17 to hold a demonstration outside his residence. Management then used the protest to claim that workers had assaulted the supervisor.

The ongoing witch-hunt against the estate workers is supported by all the regional plantation companies, which operate large tea and rubber estates in Sri Lanka. With the backing of successive governments, these companies have consistently refused to increase the poverty-level daily wage of estate workers, which is currently just 700 rupees ($US3.59).

Plantation companies are seeking to cut labour costs through so-called income sharing schemes. Under this system, a worker is allocated a certain number of tea bushes or rubber trees, which they and their family cultivate. The harvest is sold to the company, which deducts the cost of its supply of manure, chemicals and equipment, and its profit. The remaining income is paid to the worker.

While the unions fully support this program, estate workers have opposed it, because it reduces them to share-croppers and allows the company to eliminate workers pensions and other limited hard-won gains.

Now facing tougher economic conditions, worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, the plantation companies are determined to drive up productivity and cut costs. The ongoing persecution, including suspensions and possible jailing, of Alton estate workers makes clear that big business, with the blessing of the government and the trade unions, is prepared to do anything to achieve its aims.

Earlier this month, responding to bogus allegations by the planters of workers violence, the governments National Security Council discussed so-called security issues in the plantations.

The Rajapakse government, however, confronts not just the mounting anger of estate workers, but a rising tide of working-class demands over wages, jobs and working conditions. Last week saw strikes and protests by teachers as well as health, power, water board, railway and garment workers.

We urge workers, youth and all those concerned about the increasing government and employer attacks on basic democratic rights, to defend the Alton Estate workers. Please send statements of support to this address wswscmb@sltnet.lk.

We publish below some of the comments we received last week.

An Esquel garment factory worker from Ja-Ela denounced the anti-democratic attack on the Alton workers. She said Esquel garment employees have been demanding the company pay a New Year bonus. The company has refused, telling workers that it cannot provide a bonus payment because of the pandemic.

We have to campaign against the witch-hunt of these workers, because this is part of an attack by employers against all of us, she said. The harsh charges against the arrested workers must be dropped.

Referring to the low wages paid to garment industry workers, she added, Estate workers also receive a poverty wage and I think their pay should be increased to at least 1,000 rupees. We must also campaign for their pay to be increased.

P. Chathuranga, a teacher from Mathugama, said: The government and the companies, which wont grant the workers wage demand, are trying to intimidate and suppress them. I oppose this joint witch-hunt by employers, the state and the trade unions.

We teachers have similar experiences. Capitalist governments have not resolved the wage issues facing teachers for decades, and have gravely suppressed teachers attempts to fight this. I think the entire working class should join in the struggle to stop the repression of the estate workers.

W. S. Murali, a construction worker from northern Jaffna, said: All the leaders of the plantation unions have been ministers and worked for the government, so it is no surprise that they support the arrests of the Alton estate workers. I urge all workers and youth to fight for the release of the plantation workers. He referred to Colombos 30-year communalist war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the bloody military repression of Tamils, and the ongoing incarceration of young people.

A newspaper cartoonist sent the following statement:

I vehemently oppose this repression. This is an intensification of the repression carried out by companies and the police for a long time. All the information available shows that this is a frame-up against workers.

What I understood is that the companies, police and the government are jointly involved in this witch-hunt. It is a serious thing that the planters are demanding weapons to use against the workers.

He said that workers in every country were beginning to resist the escalating attacks of the capitalist class, and pointed out that freedom of expression was also under attack in Sri Lanka and other countries. As the enemies of workers have united in attacking workers, we need to prepare a united struggle from our side against this assault.
JSC Ukrzaliznytsia intends to achieve revision of unprofitable contracts for long-term car rental, acting chairman of board of Ukrzaliznytsia Ivan Yuryk said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

He responded positively to the question of whether the company plans to seek a revision of contracts concluded under ex-head Volodymyr Zhmak, such as long-term car rental.

"Yes, we plan. Based on the results of negotiations with our main clients, we must come to a solution to this issue," Yuryk said.

Earlier, Ukrzaliznytsia offered the market a service of long-term car rental at a fixed price, while under some agreements the rental rate was set significantly lower than the market rate - at UAH 480/day.

"We receive money on a "take-or-pay" basis. So even when our cars are idle, we receive compensation for such a downtime. Therefore, having leased over our cars for UAH 480 for three years, we guaranteed the company a stable income. And if we sit and wait, when these 480 become 900, then we will return to the line of cars standing unclaimed under the fence," former head of Ukrzaliznytsia Volodymyr Zhmak commented on this initiative in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, on the recommendation of the supervisory board of Ukrzaliznytsia, on March 17 dismissed chairman of the board Zhmak and reappointed Ivan Yuryk to the post of acting chairman of the board (incumbent member of the board).
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During his three-day visit to Tajikistan, External Affairs Minister will attend the ninth Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) on Afghanistan in Dushanbe on Tuesday.

Jaishankar will attend the conference at the joint invitation of his counterparts from Afghanistan and He is expected to meet leaders of other participating countries on the sidelines, according to a March 26 statement from the external affairs ministry.

The conference, being hosted in Tajikistan, is focused on strengthening a regional and international consensus for Afghan peace.

However, the highly-anticipated meeting between Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers has not been scheduled so far. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who departed for participation in the conference Monday, had told Dawn that "no meeting has been finalised or requested".

The development comes in the backdrop of understanding the resumption of the 2003 ceasefire between Pakistan and India, reached at the end of February and the meeting held on Indus water sharing after a gap of two years.

On Monday, Jaishankar met Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and held a discussion on the Afghan peace process.

"Honour to call on President @ashrafghani before the commencement of @HeartofAsia_IP Conference. Shared our perspectives on the peace process," Jaishankar tweeted.

According to the MEA, the minister had earlier visited Dushanbe in June 2019 to attend the fifth Summit of Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. The ongoing visit is in continuation of the frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries that will further strengthen the close strategic partnership between and

Last week, Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar visited and held-back-to-back talks with Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval.

In New Delhi, during the meeting of the Afghan Foreign Minister with Jaishankar on 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.

During the meeting with NSA, both discussed the peace plan of the Afghanistan government for the success of Afghanistan peace negotiations.

Recently, it was reported that the US is reviewing the Doha agreement with the Taliban while also keeping all options on the table when it comes to the May 1st deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The Doha agreement was signed in February 2020 between the Taliban and United States with an aim to end the 18-year old conflict in Afghanistan.

The agreement calls for a full US withdrawal from Afghanistan if the terror group upholds counterterrorism commitments such as denying safe haven to al Qaeda.

Meanwhile, the Taliban warned the United States on Friday against defying a May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, promising a "reaction" though failing to specify exactly what it would be.

(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 new book providing a fresh look at the lives of interesting women in the Bible is out today. This book, "The Women Of The Bible Speak," is now available for order - just before Women's Month ends.

"The Women Of The Bible Speak" features 16 women from the Old and New Testament. All are presented in pairs to bring about a deeper look at their commonalities and what readers - Christian or not - can learn from them. The new book also lets readers get a glimpse at eight more women who had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ - and what that means for everyone today.

Author Shannon Bream, host of "Fox News @ Night with Shannon Bream," spoke with Christianity Daily and expressed her enthusiasm and hopes that the book will be an encouragement to everyone who reads it, whether women or men.

Bream indicated that the book will feature some characters that are readily familiar to most Christians and people who've been exposed to Bible stories. It will also feature some stories that might not be familiar to many, but are nonetheless interesting and carry great lessons with them.

"Fox actually came to me with the idea because they have a new book label, Fox News Books, and so they approached me about this and I was super excited right away because to me, there are so many beautiful stories that are lesser known, some people have never heard of," she said.

The author also noted how the women in these stories possessed qualities that most people can relate to - making learning from them even more exciting.

"They're all flawed like we all are in real life, but they also showed great faith and great courage, and so it was a lot of fun for me putting this together," Bream said. "And I hope it will be encouraging to other people because it was very encouraging to me in the process."

Guiding hand of God

Bream spoke at length as to how some of the most broken women can play a great part in God's plan. She spoke of Queen Esther who faced a lot of twists and turns, but with the guiding hand of God setting things in place, was able to save the Jewish people from a plot meant to kill them. Today, Jews celebrate this historical account in what is known as "Purim."

"I think about Queen Esther, there's so much in her story, so many twists and turns that are like a blockbuster book or movie on its own because there's so many things that happened - from her being orphaned as a child, and then being raised by her uncle Mordecai who at times told her to hide who she was and where she came from," she narrated. "And she ends up in this position as the Queen of Persia through so many twists and turns."

"But she was placed in that moment - and the verse says "for such a time as this" - and she went there bravely and had courage to save her entire people, the entire Jewish nation," she continued. "So I love seeing her courage, and just God's guiding hand through her life to take her to a place that nobody would've ever expected of her as an orphaned child decades before she became Queen."

The author believes that Esther's story is very timely and should encourage people to believe and trust in God who has a "plan for us."

"It's not a surprise when anything happens in our life, good or bad, I think He knows - when we get a difficult phone call, a difficult diagnosis, when we lose our jobs, or all things that people have been through in the last year; He's also there in our victories, in our good moments and He saw those coming as well, so I think He's faithful through all of those things," she said.

A unique approach

While most books presenting different Bible characters present them individually, "The Women Of The Bible Speak" presents the Bible's women in pairs.

Bream explained that some of these women were naturally paired together because they were related or had a relationship, like sisters Mary and Martha or Rachel and Leah. The other characters, she said, were paired because of a common factor.

"I talked about Queen Esther but we paired her with - and I fought for us to include Rahab who was a prostitute," she said. "And people would say, 'a queen and a prostitute, why would you put them together?' I think both were in the right place at the right time, and then when they were called on to have the courage to step up and save the Jewish people, they did it." "So I thought it was great to pair them and to see the commonalities," she continued.

She added that the book isn't just about the women of the Bible - it also includes the key men in their lives, such as their "fathers and husbands." This clearly indicates that the book was also written for men everywhere.

"So I hope it'll open up a whole new world to people who don't realize there's so many powerful, dynamic, interesting women in the Bible. It is good, I think, for men and women, for anybody who's interested," Bream said.

Jesus and the Women

It also features a special chapter about Jesus Christ and some women He had a relationship with, such as the Samaritan woman by the well and the women caught in the act of adultery, and clearly portrays how His treatment of them shows the love of God for all, including those hated and cast out by society.

"We talk about the people that He went to who were outcasts of society or people who were not viewed as desirable," she said, adding "We see with these women, He went to them where they were and He had compassion for whatever their circumstances were."

Bream further explained that the book was written in such a way as to make it easy for those who don't read the Bible to see the beautiful and redemptive stories laid out in its pages.

"So I hope that people who maybe are intimidated by the Bible, or not people of faith and maybe wouldn't pick that up will say, 'alright, these stories sound interesting, and what can I learn from them?'" she said.

Keep and grow the faith

In closing, the "The Women Of The Bible Speak" author said she hopes that by reading the book, people will find encouragement in the fact that God hears and is able to redeem people from whatever circumstance they're in - and all of the women featured in the book's pages prove just that.

"What I found in writing the book is that these problems are timeless and universal - family trouble, sibling rivalry, widowhood, infertility, betrayal, a sense of longing for something, and wondering if God hears you - I think that those are things that were true centuries ago, they're true now, and so God is in that. He is, there's purpose in the waiting and He always has a plan, and when we get off track and we think we have our own plans, we learn through this book that He's even able to redeem that.

So, the truth is I think He still sees us and hears us and the problems of yesterday are the problems of today, so I hope in that people will find encouragement here, see how people held on to their faith or grew in their faith to get through these trials, and just be encouraged and inspired by the bravery and the faithfulness of these women."

"The Women Of The Bible Speak" is now available for purchase from Fox News Books.

REEDSPORT, Ore. -- Disturbing new details were released into an officer-involved shooting in Reedsport earlier this month, depicting a violent end to a man officials described as a "cold-blooded killer."

Rick Wesenberg, district attorney for Douglas County, announced on Tuesday that a grand jury ruled the death of David Ruozi Jr., 30, by four officers justified.

David Ruozi Jr. David Ruozi Jr.

"Ruozi had to be stopped," Wesenberg said.

RELATED: AUTHORITIES IDENTIFY MURDER SUSPECT KILLED IN REEDSPORT STANDOFF

Ruozi was a suspect in the murder of Richard Marshall, 70, a caretaker at the Food For Lane County Youth Farm in Springfield. Wesenberg said Marshall had been shot in the face with a .45-caliber pistol.

Days after Marshall's death, Springfield detectives were contacted by a man from Ohio, who said Ruozi had given him details of the murder. Police then asked the FBI to "ping" Ruozi's phone, Wesenberg said, which led detectives to the Reedsport area.

On March 9, Ruozi and another man were seen leaving a house in the Reedsport area driving in a white Acura sedan, Wesenberg said. Authorities conducted a traffic stop at a gas station at 1575 Highway Ave.

Wesenberg said the driver was immediately detained, but Ruozi refused to get out, starting a five-hour standoff.

During phone negotiations, Ruozi was extremely angry, Wesenberg said, telling officers he was going to "Valhalla." Ruozi told police he would not surrender and would never go back to prison.

Ruozi told officers he was armed with what he called "a little suicide pistol," and there would be a shootout resulting in his death, Wesenberg said.

At some point, according to Wesenberg, Ruozi confessed to Marsall's murder, revealing details that only the killer would know.

Ruozi also claimed to have a split personality, and that the person who killed Marshall was an alter ego named Damian.

Wesenberg said that Ruozi demanded a pencil and paper to write his last will and testament. Ruozi also texted to police a picture of his handgun.

Ruozi also made several phone calls to his family, Wesenberg said.

Around four hours into the standoff, Ruozi announced he would smoke meth, Wesenberg said, and he was seen smoking a pipe. Soon after, he stopped talking to negotiators.

The Douglas County Tactical Response Team (TRT) took up positions around the Acura, and an armored vehicle was moved up to block the Acura, Wesenberg said.

After tear gas was fired unsuccessfully at the Acura, bouncing off the roof of the car, Ruozi grabbed the pistol and came out of the Acura, Wesenberg said.

The TRT fired six rounds with five bullets striking and killing Ruozi.

Sgt. Nick Hanson, Det. Rico Lang, Deputy Mike Siemens, and Deputy Jason Forte were identified as the officers who shot Ruozi.

<"Ruozi was a cold-blooded killer," Wesenberg said. "His only purpose was to yet again murder another person."
Nestor Dominique Kengne, an educationist, fine arts practitioner and collector of extinct items, seeks to connect secondary students to their history.

Today's generation, especially students, is versed with the history of their nation and other foreign lands. Most often, however, there is nothing concrete to connect them to such history lessons. Moreover, modernity has over the years tended to have negative effects on society, especially on the youth. As result, life's values that were held in high esteem in the past have either been ignored or being forgotten completely. And certain old items that facilitate understanding of the present to help prepare for the future are totally neglected by youth.

It is against this backdrop that Nestor Dominique Kengne, a fine artist, collector of antique items from refuse dumps and National Pedagogic Inspector in charge of Arts and Cultural Education in the Ministry of Secondary Education, has decided to do something about the situation. Thus, the advent of the "Introductory project for the collection of antique/or extinct objects and the creation of mini galleries in some Cameroonian colleges." "This is why I have been collecting old items considered by many as not only useless, but also dirty and encumbering," Kengne explains.

He hopes that these antiquities will help the young to better understand their history and culture. Also through these objects, learners could become more interested in reading about the past in order to know more about the people who used them. "The idea of this project began when I started collecting items from refuse dumps to produce paintings and fine arts items," Kengne recalls. He has already held several exhibitions during which young students were briefed on the era during which the collected antique items were in vogue.

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The idea was then nurtured when he was appointed National Pedagogic Inspector in charge of Arts and Cultural Education in the Ministry of Secondary Education in January 2013. He thus saw in the new role a great opportunity to introduce the innovation into our educational system. For a start, the project is run by art clubs in some selected colleges. So far, Nestor Dominique Kengne has collected old planting tools, ancient bush lamps, old groundnut or "egusi" hand-driven grinding machines, old telephones, extinct vehicle makes, etc.

Apart from using the collections to teach students history, they are also exhibited; while some are recycled to produce fine arts items, he explains. So far, Nestor Dominique Kengne has not received any official financial support for his initiative. In fact, he urgently needs funding because some of the heavy antiquities he collects require money to be moved to sites where they are exhibited.

A court in Vietnam on March 30 sentenced a Facebook user to ten years in prison after finding him guilty of spreading anti-state propaganda on social media. In a news release, Vietnams Ministry of Public Security said that at a one-day trial in Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, 55-year-old Vu Tien Chi was convicted of making, storing, spreading information, materials, items for the purpose of opposing the state. The ministry added Chi was accused of sharing 338 articles and 181 videos on his social media to distort and defame the peoples administration, infringe the interests of the Community Party of Vietnam and the state.

Chi has been charged under Article 117 of the Penal Code of 2015. According to a local Vietnamese media outlet, earlier, police had also said that Chi shared the anti-state content across several Facebook accounts. Back in 2018, the 55-year-old had investigated foreign press reports and websites that carry content that criticised the policies and directives of the Part and the State of Vietnam, distorts history and defamed former President Ho Chi Minh and the leaders of the country. Later, Chi even regularly wrote complaints against police officers and local authorities with false content and images.

Chis behaviour is dangerous

Chi was arrested by the police on June 23, 2020, with numerous objects such as telephones, computers and electronic devices for the live transmission of the documents and videos against the Party and the State. After realising that Chis behaviour is dangerous to society, the provincial Peoples Court sentenced the 55-year-old to ten years in prison and additional three-year probation in the locality after the expiration of his jail time.

It is worth noting that despite sweeping economic reforms and increasing openness to social change, Vietnams ruling Communist Party retains tight media censorship and tolerates little criticism. The party has even intensified a crackdown on dissent, with a record number of political prisoners, longer jail terms and increased harassment of activists in recent years. Previously, three other people were also on trial in the central province of Khanh Hoa over similar charges, state media reported.

(Image: Pixabay/AP)


Amaravati, March 30 : Coronavirus infections in Andhra Pradesh breached nine lakh mark on Tuesday to reach a tally of 9,00,805 cases while its active case tally reached 6,614.

After less than 50 cases a day not very long ago, the southern state has transitioned to logging more than 900 cases each single day.

On Tuesday, the state reported 993 more cases, even as 480 more patients recovered from the virus to increase the total number of recoveries to over 8.86 lakh.

Guntur district reported the highest number of cases at 198, followed by Chittoor (179), Krishna (176), Visakhapatnam (169), Anantapur (49) and Srikakulam (45).

Among other places, Kurnool (37), Nellore (35), Prakasam (30), East Godavari (29), Kadapa (18), Vizianagaram (16) and West Godavari (12).

East Godavari's tally has crossed 1.25 lakh, the highest among all Andhra districts, while the state's positive rate fell to 5.9 per cent, which is still higher than the national average of 4.9 per cent.

Meanwhile, three more persons succumbed to the virus in the past 24 hours, raising the state's toll to 7,213.

With 30,851 more tests, the total number of tests conducted in Andhra Pradesh crossed the 1.5 crore-mark.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  The Department of Health is proposing to extend the declaration of enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan for one more week.

Extension for another week was recommended but nothing is final and IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) works in a whole of government approach, the DOH said Tuesday in a statement.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said separately that the IATF will discuss the possible one-week ECQ extension before April 4, which is the supposed end date of the stringent quarantine status.

We start to assess before April 4, Vergeire told CNN Philippines New Day.

The ECQ in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan has been in effect since Monday. Vergeire noted they are not ruling out the possibility of extending the ECQ declaration because a week of strict lockdown is really not enough to see a significant drop in COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions.

One week is really not enough. Usually, the ideal for us would be about two weeks. We have to understand that even after one week of this strict lockdown, we really cannot see any change in the numbers, or any change in the healthcare utilization [rate] because that is just a short time, she pointed out.

Our doors are not closed [to] this extension of ECQ if we see that the hospitals cannot still manage the number of cases, she reiterated.

Aside from fresh mobility restrictions, the government is strengthening the countrys capacity to test, quarantine, contact trace, and isolate patients, Vergeire said.

LIST: One-week ECQ in Greater Manila area explained

In the past few weeks, the country has been breaking its records in terms of new COVID-19 cases. On Monday, the Philippines recorded 10,016 more COVID-19 cases  its highest single-day tally yet. The newly confirmed infections pushed the total count to 731,894, of which 115,495 are active cases.

READ: PH logs over 10,000 more COVID-19 cases in a new all-time high spike
Nairobi  The Teacher's Service Commission (TSC) will facilitate the issuance of curfew exemption passes to all examiners assessing candidates for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and the Kenya Certificate for Secondary Educations.

TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia on Monday said all KCPE and KCSE examiners will be given special passes to access marking centers in Nairobi at a time when the government has imposed restrictions on movement into and out five counties including Nairobi and reviewed curfew hours.

The TSC boss, through a statement, added that the education sector has already issued special travel letters to all monitors countrywide who will move freely to ensure the examinations run within the specified Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) guidelines.

"I wish to inform you that since the President allowed the KCSE examinations to continue, we have, as a sector, issued special travel letters to all our monitors countrywide so that they can be allowed to move freely to all parts of the country to ensure the examinations run within the specified KNEC guidelines," she said

"All teachers who will be travelling to Nairobi for the marking exercise are free to do so. We thank Government for allowing us to continue with this exercise uninterrupted," Macharia added.

In the wake of increased COVID-19 infections country, Macharia urged teachers especially those above aged above 50 to accept the AstraZeneca jab currently being administered countrywide to security personnel, health workers and the elderly.

"Although the number of teachers seeking the vaccination is rising, we can do better. Currently, our 92, 850 teachers aged 50years and above in public schools, 16,500 in private and international schools should particularly take up the jab," the CEO appealed.

She said the education sector will continue collaborating with the Ministry of Health to ensure that, gradually, all teachers receive the jab at all the 622 COVID-19 vaccination centres already set aside for teachers.

"We shall continue collaborating with the MOH to ensure that, gradually, all teachers receive the jab," the TSC boss said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 16:35:06|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Shortly after the Swiss-based Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) launched its so-called Xinjiang cotton boycott, the group's Shanghai representative office confirmed last weekend it has never found a single case related to "forced labor" in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Though the BCI claims to be "not-for-profit" and "the largest cotton sustainability programme," a close look at its behavior would find that it is anything but professional, independent and transparent.

Firstly, the BCI has proven itself a part of the western smear campaign against China. When some institutions in the United States and Australia fabricated inaccurate reports on Xinjiang last year, the BCI, without any field investigation, immediately suspended its assurance activities in Xinjiang and wrongfully cited concerns about so-called increasing risks of forced labor in Xinjiang.

In fact, the baseless accusation intentionally ignores the fact that cotton production in Xinjiang has already achieved a high degree of mechanization.

After its team in China refuted findings of any incident related to forced labor in Xinjiang, one would expect that since its own branch had a first-hand on-site investigation, the BCI headquarters should have responded promptly by correcting its previous wrongdoings. Instead, the BCI headquarters chose to remain silent and indifferent.

Secondly, though the BCI bills itself as a non-profit, independent organization, one of its major funding partners is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which bluntly admits that its work "advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity."

For decades, the USAID has repeatedly been accused of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. Its nature as a tool to maintain American hegemony overseas is self-evident. With such a financial backer, it is hard not to question BCI's independence.

What is more, Marc Lewkowitz, the current chairperson of the BCI Council, is also the president and CEO of Supima, the promotional and marketing organization for American Pima cotton growers. Since Pima cotton and Xinjiang cotton are competitors, one cannot help raise concerns of any conflict of interest.

Lastly, the BCI has serious problems with transparency. Xinhua correspondents were recently refused an interview at BCI's headquarters in Geneva. To the reporters' surprise, its headquarters has just a few rented offices on the first floor of an office building and a few researchers.

In the past year, the BCI repeatedly issued false statements on the issue related to cotton production in Xinjiang without presenting any reliable evidence except botched-up reports by anti-China organizations in the West. It appears the BCI in this regard doesn't have a mind of its own.

The BCI may profess to preach decent labor and high environmental standards, but its own operations are not decent and of low standards. By selling a contemptible lie to the world, the BCI is risking its own credibility. Enditem
Former Line Of Duty actress Maya Sondhi has revealed some behind-the-scenes secrets from her time on the show before she was killed off last series.

The actress, 38, spoke to Closer magazine about her time on the show as the sixth series of the hit BBC show kicked off again last week.

She revealed that Vicky McClure, 37, is the 'class clown' among the cast members and she is always pranking her 'mate' Martin Compston, 36.

What a joker! Maya Sondhi revealed that Vicky McClure, 37, is the 'class clown' among the cast members and she is always pranking her 'mate' Martin Compston, 36

Explaining that she doesn't believe Vicky would leave her beloved Nottingham for LA, Maya said: 'She loves Nottingham so much and the folk of Nottingham love her.

'She has a tram named after her, and she loves the bakery Greggs. Shes the shows clown and is always playing pranks, especially on Martin.'

She said that while the cast and crew love 'team drinks' they will never sacrifice an intense day of filming for a night in the pub.

Undercover: Maya explained that one of these social occasions was the first time she heard Martin's real voice, because he refuses to drop his fake accent during filming

Maya explained that one of these social occasions was the first time she heard Martin's real voice, because he refuses to drop his fake accent during filming.

She said: 'Martin stays in his characters voice when filming. On the first social occasion we had, he went back to his strong Scottish accent and I thought he was putting it on as a joke until I was told it was his real accent.'

Maya - who played WPC Maneet Bindra on the show - had her throat slit after trying to infiltrate an organised gang during the opening episode of series five.

Grisly end: The actress, 38, spoke to Closer magazine about her time on the show as the sixth series of the hit BBC show kicked off again last week

She revealed revealed she believes she was given the storyline after 'drunkenly begging' creator Jed Mercurio for something dramatic.

It comes after Vicky revealed he hasn't revealed H's identity to her closest friends and family.

Vicky, who plays DI Kate Fleming in the 'daunting' BBC hit series, believes 'people want to enjoy the escapism' surrounding the elusive villain, after her fiance Jonny Owen declined watching spoilers about series six ahead of its official release.

Your secret is safe! It comes after Vicky revealed he hasn't revealed H's identity to her closest friends and family

In a new interview, the screen star also discussed life away from her work duties as she confessed to bingeing It's A Sin and The Crown during the coronavirus pandemic.

On remaining tight-lipped about the much-talked-about character, the thespian told Stylist: 'I've never been offered anything to reveal H's identity. And they'd be idiotic to try.

'Even my friends and family don't want to know [spoilers]. I was watching the first episode [of series six] the other day on my laptop [before it came out on the BBC]. And Jonny [her fiance] came in. He just went, ''I don't want to know.''

The This Is England star also revealed she offered advice to newcomer Kelly Macdonald - who plays DCI Joanne Davidson - about keeping up with the show's jargon.

'It's fascinating': The TV star also discussed life away from her work duties as she confessed to bingeing The Crown (Emma Corrin pictured as Princess Diana) during the pandemic

She said: 'It is daunting, and I did say that to Kelly... We all slip up, everybody has little brain farts. That's completely normal. We're all knackered and filming through a pandemic is quite tricky. But we got through it.'

Elsewhere in the discussion, Vicky touched on helping co-star Martin maintain his London accent for the series as she said the Scotsman only slips back to his native voice when he has a 'few beers or is speaking to his family'.

The TV star went on to talk about finding time for herself during the global crisis, sharing: 'I recently watched The Crown I enjoyed it and with everything going on now [with the royal family] it's even more fascinating.'

'We all slip up': The This Is England star also revealed she offered advice to newcomer Kelly - who plays DCI Joanne Davidson - about keeping up with the show's jargon

'It only tapers off if we go for a few beers': Elsewhere in the discussion, Vicky touched on helping Scotsman Martin (pictured) maintain his London accent for the series

Earlier this month, Vicky quipped she and Welsh producer Jonny, 49, could end up getting married at Gretna Green - the Scottish village which is famous for runaway weddings - after their nuptials were put on hold due to lockdown.

The BAFTA winner got engaged to the filmmaker in December 2017, but has admitted she still hasn't even booked a venue for the big day.

Speaking on the Graham Norton Show about putting off her wedding plans, the TV star said: 'We didn't get married, but we haven't even booked it.

'I'd marry him tomorrow, but we've never got around to cementing the plan. We will probably end up at Gretna Green!'
Thats the part we cant figure out. By the remarks of one school superintendent to columnist Denise Crosby at the Aurora Beacon-News, it seems school administrators dont like this other model outshining their own schools. They dont want to give their resources (your tax dollars) to teachers and students outside the traditional school environment. They didnt intend for the STEM school to become a sort-of charter school, as if top-performing public charter schools that attract and keep residents and property tax dollars in the districts they serve are a bad thing.
JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has today revealed he will invest 145million in 18 new pubs and upgrading existing ones, creating 2,000 new jobs - but warned it is all dependent on there being no more lockdowns.

Boss Tim Martin has said the ambitious plans will start within weeks of its pubs reopening fully on May 17 but is also based on Boris Johnson not chopping and changing rules for hospitality businesses.

A total of 18 new pubs will open - 15 in the UK and three in Ireland - and 'significant extensions and upgrades' will be made to scores of current pubs.

The new pubs will be in Kings Norton Birmingham, Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire, Shawlands Glasgow, Edinburgh, Felixstowe in Suffolk, Heswall on Merseyside, Sheffield, Leeds, Bishopston Bristol, Hamilton, Diss in Norfolk, Bourne in Lincolnshire, Grays in Essex, Crystal Palace in London and Ely in Cambridgeshire.

The three new Irish pubs will be in Dublin, Limerick and Galway.

But Mr Martin, who is also opposed to vaccine passports, says the UK expansion and improvements to existing pubs is dependent on the Government opening up society and never returning to lockdown.

He said: 'The investment is conditional on the UK opening back up again on a long-term basis, with no further lockdowns or the constant changing of rules.

Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin (right) has said the ambitious plans for 15 new UK pubs are dependent on Boris Johnson not chopping and changing rules

A total of 18 new pubs will open - 15 in the UK (pictured) and three in Ireland

He went on: 'Our immediate investment will provide work for architects, contractors and builders as well as result in 2,000 new jobs for staff in our pubs.

Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin says vaccine passports would be 'the last straw' for struggling pubs and force bar staff into 'civil liberties war' with punters Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has said vaccine passports would be 'the last straw' for struggling pubs and force bar staff into a 'bitter civil liberties war' with customers. Tory backbenchers, publicans and some scientists have raised concerns over the possible introduction of coronavirus health certificates as England's lockdown is eased. Ministers are studying their potential use, which could see access to venues granted only if customers have been jabbed, received negative tests, or developed antibodies through past infection. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden yesterday said that vaccine passports will not be introduced on a 'permanent basis' but they could be a beneficial tool to restart safely in the short-term. However, writing in the Daily Telegraph today, Mr Martin said 'there is no justification for a passport system'. The chairman of the pub chain said: 'For many pubs, hanging on for dear life and devastated by G-force changes of direction, a complex and controversial passport scheme would be the last straw. 'It would inevitably put pub staff in the frontline of a bitter civil liberties war, with some customers unwilling to be vaccinated or unable to have a jab for medical reasons.' Advertisement

'We are geared up to start on the first projects within a few months.

'We are also committed to our long-term investment and job creation programme over the next decade'.

Once all 75 projects in the pipeline are completed, Wetherspoon said it anticipates investing 750 million to open 15 new pubs and enlarging 50 existing pubs each year for 10 years, creating 20,000 new jobs.

Under the current roadmap, the next easing of restrictions happens on April 12, when non-essential shops, hairdressers and gyms are allowed to reopen and pubs and restaurants can open outdoors.

It is not until May 17, that pubs and restaurants can open to customers inside with social distancing restrictions. Hotels are also shut until then.

However, the PM last night raised renewed fears that a third wave of the virus in Europe could make its way to the UK.

He said said that despite rolling out the vaccine to more than 30 million people we dont know how robust our defences are against another wave.

He added: We have seen what is happening with our European friends. Historically, at least there has been a time lag and then we have had a wave ourselves.

Thats why I stress the importance of everybody maintaining the discipline people have shown for so long.

Senior business figures last night urged the PM to move faster on easing a lockdown estimated to be costing the country more than 500 million a day in lost output.

Itsu founder Julian Metcalfe said: All the Government can do is promise the country theyll stick to the data and the facts, and the facts say there is a lot to celebrate with the vaccine and the numbers, which are absolutely plummeting.

Every week makes an enormous difference to us and everybody on the high street. Rob Pitcher, chief executive of Revolution Bars, which has 70 venues, said: With the data being so positive there is a real need for the timetable to be re-examined. Everything should be brought forward so that were getting economy moving at the earliest, and safest, opportunity. Yesterdays Covid data revealed that no coronavirus deaths were reported across the whole of southern England on Sunday, for the first time in over six months.

Busy lunchtime trade outside the JD Weatherspoon pub the Bear in Maidenhead will return next month

Under the current roadmap, the next easing of restrictions happens on April 12, pubs and restaurants can open outdoors. It is not until May 17, that pubs and restaurants can open to customers inside with social distancing restrictions. Hotels are also shut until then

Four of the nine NHS England regions - London, the South East, South West, and East of England - recorded no deaths from the virus.

The milestone provides yet more clear evidence of the phenomenal success of the UKs world-beating vaccination programme.

Just 38% of Britain's restaurants and pubs have outdoor space needed to reopen on April 12 More than half of Britain's pubs and restaurants will be forced to remain closed when lockdown restrictions ease because they do not have outdoor space. Under the next relaxation of coronavirus rules, a swathe of freedoms will be restored on April 12 under the current timetable. This includes a long-awaited reopening for pubs and restaurants in England, which will be able to serve customers in alfresco seating areas. But despite being given the green light to open, hospitality venues across the country will still be locked after April 12 because just 41,100, or 38.2 per cent, have outdoor space, according to overall data. Only 33.1 per cent of operators in London have space they can use outside and only 22.9 per cent of venues in Scotland - which will see sites reopen from April 26 - have outdoor areas. Breaking the data further down, by region and type of venue, shows stark differences in each region's proliferation of open-spaced venues. The South West of Britain leads the ranks in terms of pubs that have outdoor space, with 91.7% falling into that category, followed by the South & South East on 74.8%. Scotland was the region with the lowest percentage, with less than half - 44.9% - of pubs able to host customers outside. Advertisement

With all of the most vulnerable now immunised, the number of over-65s testing positive for Covid-19 has fallen below 200 a day.

And cases among over-80s are averaging just 78 a day, after topping 3,000 a day in early January.

In London alone, previously the centre of the epidemic, there had been more than 200 deaths a day in mid-January.

But on Sunday the capital recorded zero deaths, for only the second time this year.

Cases and hospitalisations have also plunged to their lowest levels since September, and doctors yesterday spoke of the wonderful feeling as pressure on the NHS lifts.

There are just 4,560 Covid patients in hospital, down from 39,249 at the peak in mid-January.

It means hospital wards which were converted into intensive care beds can now go back to being used for routine care.

However Sir Patrick Vallance, chief scientific adviser, said caution was necessary as vaccines were not 100 per cent protective.

He added: If the rates were much higher then obviously the amount of hospitalisation would be higher, which reinforces the point that the thing that we need to do is try and keep rates down and be sensible, as we unlock. Professor Chris Whitty added that there was a high likelihood cases would rise as lockdown restrictions were steadily lifted.

He said a wall of vaccinations would help protect the UK, but added: It is not a complete wall, it is a kind of leaky wall. Therefore, there will always be some people who either have chosen not to be vaccinated, or where the vaccine has had much less effect.

Ministers are considering allowing workplaces to introduce vaccine passports to allow the reopening of offices after the pandemic has passed.

Employers would be able to compel staff to prove they had been vaccinated or had a negative test before entering the building.

Experts say it could help to end more than a year of remote working for millions of employees. Companies which use such schemes could be able to pack more staff into the office.

Yesterday afternoon, MPs held an online meeting with Michael Gove, the minister in charge of a review into vaccine passports, to put their views to him.

The discussions come as business leaders urged the Government to provide clarity on whether workers will be allowed back into offices this summer.

Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: 'Companies are concerned about the employment law consequences of these decisions around return to work, the concerns around potential for liability but, most of all, concerns about doing what is right for their people.'

Some bosses are urging the Government to allow them to use vaccine passports to facilitate a return to normal working practice in offices, The Financial Times reported.

A recent survey by the Chartered Management Institute found that more than half of managers wanted to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for staff returning to work.

Boris Johnson had said last week that landlords could introduce the passports in pubs to allow social distancing rules to be relaxed.
China gradually improves elderly care service system

08:56, March 30, 2021 By Zhu Jiaqi. Shen Zhilin, Hao Yingcan ( People's Daily

A senior woman talks with her family on a video call under the guidance of a care giver in an elderly care center in Julu County, Xingtai, north Chinas Hebei Province, Feb. 10, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/Hu Liangchuan)

Remarkable progress has been made by China to improve its elderly care services in recent years, as the country ramps up efforts to renovate rural nursing homes, establish community nursing centers and offer government-subsidized elderly care services.

Ping'an village is a village inhabited by people of Zhuang ethnic group in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. A nursing home sits at the center of the village.

At the northeast corner of the nursing home's first floor, a group of seniors were playing Chinese chess, while in the center of it, aged women were having casual talks around burning firewood. By a wall of the nursing home there were two computers and some newspapers.

The nursing home was used to be a senior recreation center years ago. Since 2013, Guangxi has vigorously started construction of rural nursing homes, and subsidized each of them with 60,000 yuan ($9,140). With the money, Ping'an village upgraded the former senior recreation center, setting up a canteen, a kitchen and four lounges with beds. Besides, it also purchased health examination machines, computers and televisions.

Rheumatism is a problem that bothers many seniors in the humid village deep in the mountain. It causes mobility problems. Fortunately, the nursing home is a mini therapy center for the seniors.

I had a pain in my feet, and I felt better after receiving acupuncture from Liao," said an 83-year-old woman. Liao is a doctor who has been working in Ping'an village for 20 years. Every week he offers therapy services for the seniors. Besides, the township health center also offers physical examinations for them each year.

On a sunny day, 91-year-old man Liu Yangsheng was bathing in the sun on a wheelchair pushed by a care worker. Liu lives in Jindi community, Shazitang neighborhood, Changsha, central China's Hunan Province. Troubled by mobility problems, it's not easy for the man who lives alone to go out.

Liu is not the only one in similar situations," said Zhou Pingliang, director of the resident committee of Jindi community. According to him, over half of the residents in the community are retired workers and their relatives.

The biggest wish of the seniors is to have sufficient elderly care services," Zhou told People's Daily. Five years ago, over 200 residents expressed one shared wish - to establish a community elderly care center.

Soliciting suggestions and learning from the experiences of other cities, Shazitang neighborhood finally decided to establish an elderly care center based on relevant policies of Changsha. The center was built by the government, and the services are offered by social organizations.

In 2017, the center officially started operation, offering recreational activities, dining, day care, short-term care and long-term care services for seniors. Liu was among the earliest to move into it.

My life is more convenient since I started living here," Liu said. There are staff members taking care of the seniors, who help the latter measure blood sugar and blood lipids, and take medicines. The center is also in in-depth cooperation with hospitals in case emergencies happen.

Besides, the center is also trying its best to meet the recreational demands of the seniors. It has a reading room and a chess room where seniors can read books and play Chinese chess. A government-subsidized canteen is offering meals for seniors every day, and each meal costs only four to seven yuan.

We have to go to the hospital," said Zheng Gang, director of a smart nursing home in Beishan community, Mudanjiang, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, over a video call to senior Chu Fuchun, who had been suffering a severe cough. In 10 minutes, Zheng arrived at Chu's home, and sent the latter to hospital.

The smart nursing home has eight service divisions that offer 12 kinds of free services for over 100 seniors in 30 communities, including caring, housekeeping, dining and procurement.

These services are paid by the government, so the work is handed to the capable," said Sun Yunhua, head of the civil affairs bureau of Mudanjiang.

Since 2016, the city has launched an elderly care mode for its 600,000 senior citizens that features both home- and community-based services. The city also encourages mutual assistance between neighbors and volunteer services. It is estimated that by the end of this year, over 80 percent of the city's neighborhoods and communities will have their own senior care centers, and the figure will be increased to 100 percent by the end of 2022.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Paducah Man Appears in Court on Drug, Gun Charges

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A Paducah man facing drug and other charges appeared in court Tuesday morning.The McCracken District Court Clerk said 28-year-old Denzel Powell appeared for an arraignment. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 13 at 1 pm.Powell was arrested on March 4 after a traffic stop. Authorities were reportedly aware that he was driving on a suspended license. A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered marijuana, cocaine, suspected hydrocodone pills, and a rifle.Powell faces charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, second-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and driving with a suspended or revoked driver's license.
Amazon.in announces Smartphone and TV Upgrade Days bringing together a host of deals and offers on a range of the latest smartphones, accessories and TVs. Customers can enjoy up to 40% off on their favourite smartphones, televisions, and smartphone accessories. The latest Redmi Note 10 series, Redmi TVs (50, 55 and 65 inch TVs), Vivo X60 series, Samsung M12, OPPO F19 Pro+, Samsung M02, Samsung M02s, Mi 10i, smart TV series from Amazon Basics, 58 inch TV from Hisense, will be available with exciting bank offers. The sale will be live until midnight.

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Customers can look forward to great offers on bestselling smartphones including iPhone 12 Mini, OnePlus 8T, Samsung Galaxy M51, Samsung Galaxy M31s, Redmi Note 9 Pro Max and Redmi Note 9 during these upgrade days. During upgrade days for TVs, customers can avail great offers on bestselling televisions such as Mi 32, Mi 43, One Plus 32,43 Samsung Wondertainment Series 32, LG 43 4k, 55 4K, Sony 65 4k and TCL 40 and many more.

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The products above 12% GST will also be eligible for tax exemptions under the LTA head for employees, and hence, will allow taxpayers to benefit from the offer just before the financial year-end.

Customers can enjoy a 10% instant discount up to INR 1,000 on the purchase of mobiles, televisions and mobile accessories using SBI Bank credit cards or EMI payments through SBI Bank credit cards. They can also avail exciting exchange offers up to INR 8,000 allowing great benefits on upgrading by exchanging the old phone. Additionally, they can avail convenient No-Cost EMI for up to 24 months on select phones and can also purchase mobile insurance plans at a FLAT discount of 15% until today. Prime Members can avail Advantage No Cost EMI on HDFC bank debit and credit cards which offers even higher EMI tenures and lower payments per month starting INR 1,333 per month.

Here are some of the latest smartphones, TVs and smartphone accessories on Amazon.in with offers and deals from sellers.

OnePlus offers on Smartphones & TVs: The Upgrade days will see fantastic discounts and EMI options on OnePlus models. OnePlus Nord is now available for purchase starting INR 29,999. OnePlus TVs ranging from 32 to 55 will be available from an attractive starting price of INR 14,999 onwards. OnePlus smartphones and televisions will become more affordable with exciting bank offers and will also see up to 12 Months No-Cost EMI.

Xiaomi Smartphones & TVs: Xiaomi has launched multiple powerful phones recently  Redmi Note 10 series, Redmi 9 Power and Mi 10i. Xiaomi smartphones will be available with additional bank offers to make the deals even sweeter these Upgrade Days. The newly launched Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi Note 10 will be available on flash sales at 12 noon with exciting offers. Xiaomi has multiple bestselling Televisions from 32 to 55 starting from an attractive price of INR 14,999 onwards these Upgrade Days. Xiaomi smartphones and televisions will also see up to 12 months No-cost EMI.

Samsung Smartphones and TVs: Along with 3 new launches  Samsung M12, Samsung M02 and Samsung M02s, customers can also enjoy irresistible offers on the entire Samsung M series range, including up to 25% off on top-rated smartphones, and up to 6 months No Cost EMI these Upgrade Days. The newly launched Samsung Galaxy M12 will have a flat INR 1,000 discount with a bank offer. Indias first 7000mAh smartphone Samsung Galaxy M51 will be available with discounts up to INR 6,000. The entire range of Samsung televisions including the Wondertainment series and Serif Series will be available starting INR 16490. Customers will also be able to avail additional discounts with bank offers and up to 24 months No Cost EMI to make the smartphones and televisions purchase more affordable this Upgrade Days.

Apple iPhones: Customers will see a price drop on iPhone 12 Mini, which packs the powerful A14 Bionic chip, the fastest chip in a smartphone. It will be available at an effective price of INR 61,100 with bank offers.

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Vivo smartphones: Up to 30% off on Vivo smartphones with an additional up to INR 5,000 off with bank offers and an additional up to INR 2,000 off with exchange. The newly launched Vivo X60 series will also be available for pre-order.

OPPO Smartphones: Up to 35% off on OPPO smartphones with up to 12 months No cost EMI.

Also, great offers on popular brands like Tecno, iTel, Coolpad, Honor and Lava smartphones.

LG Televisions: LG Ultra HD Smart TVs 43 4K and 55 4K will be available at a price of INR 33,999 and INR 48,999, respectively. The purchase will be more affordable with additional INR 1,500 discounts and up to 18 Months No- Cost EMI.

Sony Televisions: The Sony Bravia range will be available starting INR 32,990. The bestselling Sony 65 X7400H will be available at an attractive price of INR 99,999. Customers can also avail additional bank discounts and up to 18 Months No-Cost EMI on their purchase of Sony televisions.

TCL Televisions: TCL Android TVs will be available at a discount up to 50% in 40 and have exciting offers on the range.

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Customers can get mobile accessories and headsets starting INR 69 and INR 199, respectively. Powerbanks will be available price starting 399.
In 1937, the sculptor Augusta Savage was commissioned to create a sculpture that would appear at the 1939 New York Worlds Fair in Queens, N.Y. Savage was one of only four women, and the only Black artist, to receive a commission for the fair. In her studio in Harlem, she created Lift Every Voice and Sing, a 16-foot sculpture cast in plaster and inspired by the song of the same name  often called the Black national anthem  written by her friend, James Weldon Johnson, who had died in 1938.

The sculpture was renamed The Harp by Worlds Fair organizers and exhibited alongside work by renowned artists from around the world, including Willem de Kooning and Salvador Dali. Press reports detail how well the piece was received by visitors, and its been speculated that it was among the most photographed sculptures at the Fair.

But when the Worlds Fair ended, Savage could not afford to cast The Harp in bronze, or even pay for the plaster version to be shipped or stored, so her monumental work, like many temporary works on display at the Fair, was destroyed.

The story of the commission and destruction of The Harp and its eventual fate is a microcosm of the challenges Savage faced  and the ones Black artists dealt with at the time and are still dealing with today. Savage was an important artist held back not by talent but by financial limitations and sociocultural barriers. Most of Savages work has been lost or destroyed but today, a century after she arrived in New York City at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, her work, and her plight, still resonate.
New Delhi, March 30 : The newly set up Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) held its first general body meeting on Tuesday, focusing on the preparations for the 2021-22 academic year, among other agendas.

The separate education board for Delhi came into existence from March 19, following its registration under the Society Registration Act, 1860. The Delhi Cabinet had approved the proposal to set up DBSE on March 6.

The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, who is also the Chairman of DBSE, chaired the first meeting of the governing body and said that the state education board will be crucial for ensuring high quality education for all school children in the national capital.

In an official statement, the Delhi government said, "The agenda of the first meeting included appraisal regarding the registration of the Delhi Board of School Education under the Society Registration Act, 1860, the constitution of the DBSE and its functioning from the academic session 2021-2022, and the appraisal of the members and nominated members of the general body of the board." A senior official in Delhi government's education department told IANS, "Before the CBSE was unified, there were around eight wings under it, which included Delhi Board of Senior Secondary Education (DBSSE) and others. But later all of them were included under the CBSE umbrella. Hence, DBSE is the first state education board for Delhi. There has been no separate state education board in Delhi so far." Another official said that a proposal to set up a separate state education board was placed before the Cabinet during the regime of former Chief Minister late Sheila Dikshit, but it was not cleared then.

The board's governance and coordination will be overseen by a governing body under the chairpersonship of Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio. Members of the governing body will include education officials, experts from the field of higher education, principals of government and private schools, teachers and parents as well as educationists from other spheres.

After chairing the meeting, Sisodia said, "Delhi government's work in the education sector in the last six years has changed the perception of government schools in India. This board will introduce next generation reforms in education and changes in the evaluation process, which will now be a 360-degree process, where we will holistically assess the knowledge, attitude and skills of a student." The AAP-led Delhi government had on March 9 presented the annual budget for 2021-22, allocating a separate amount of Rs 62 crore for this purpose.

"The purpose of the DBSE is three-fold. First, it will move away from the practice of rote learning and move towards giving a holistic picture of each learner. Second, it will emphasise on continuous formative assessments. And third, we want to encourage a growth mindset among the students, which would be strengthened by making it part of regular assessment," Sisodia said.

He further stated that the board will also empower the teachers to achieve their full potential by giving timely feedback on specific actions they take to help every child in the classroom. With a more personalised and continuous form of assessment, the teachers will receive actionable inputs on how they can help the learners overcome the difficulties they may be facing in the classroom. It will further employ effective modern technology available to ensure a personalised learning experience for the students.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said during the post-budget press conference on March 9 that in the beginning, around 20-25 Delhi government schools will be affiliated to DBSE from the 2021-22 academic session and the process will continue. He had also said that private schools will be welcomed under the board.

There are currently around 1,000 government schools and about 1,700 private schools in Delhi, and most of them are affiliated to the CBSE. Kejriwal had announced that all the schools in the national capital will not be brought under the new education board at one go.
A program to beautify Scranton neighborhoods and foster neighborliness and community stewardship will continue in the Electric City and expand into Carbondale this year.

Now in its third year, nonprofit NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania's Beautiful Blocks program provides matching grants up to $1,000 to each member of groups of five or more residents living in close proximity for exterior home and property improvements. Participants completed 183 projects in various Scranton neighborhoods in the program's first two years.

Residents comprising about 25 block groups invested almost $332,569 of their own money in those projects, which ranged from painting and landscaping to sidewalk replacement and home repairs. NeighborWorks  which received financial support for the program from the city, University of Scranton, Johnson College and other partners  provided nearly $156,400 in grant funding over the program's first two cycles.

Beyond the aesthetic benefits, NeighborWorks Community Development Specialist Gerard Hetman told Scranton City Council last month that the projects promote community leadership and cooperation.

"They get talking, they get working and become more neighborly," Hetman said of block group members.

The nonprofit received more than 200 individual applications from Scranton residents interested in participating in the program this year, NeighborWorks Revitalization Manager Todd Pousley said, noting the Scranton application window is now closed.

But on the heels of two successful cycles, NeighborWorks is expanding the program into Carbondale on a pilot basis and hopes for similar success. With a $12,000 grant from Lackawanna County and contributions from several local businesses, officials plan to match funding for 15 to 20 improvement projects across about three Pioneer City blocks this year.

"I think from the very beginning as we were developing the Beautiful Blocks program for Scranton, we recognized that there was a need and an opportunity to bring a similar program to other communities in Northeast Pennsylvania," Pousley said. "Now as we're going into our third year and we've proved the concept, we've seen there's an interest and seen some great results ... the time was right to take it to another community."

NeighborWorks expects to open the Carbondale application process in April, though potential participants are welcome to contact the nonprofit to express interest or seek information by calling 570-558-2490.

Scranton resident Kara Dale, who participated in the program in 2020 and applied as a block captain of an expanded group of neighbors this year, used her Beautiful Blocks grant to defray the cost of replacing damaged gutters on her home in the 100 block of Park Drive. The gutter replacement prompted additional repairs and improvements  a ripple effect officials have seen elsewhere as well.

"After my gutters, I continued to work on the outside of my house throughout the whole summer because it just started looking really good," Dale said, describing planting and numerous painting projects she completed last year.

In the process, Dale also made new friends, some of whom recently moved into the neighborhood she grew up in and still calls home.

"We have a younger group of people, young couples, moving in now, and it's an opportunity for them ... to do some of the beautification on the outside, which keeps our neighborhood from looking run-down and keeps it the nice neighborhood that it's always been," she said of Beautiful Blocks. "It's just a way to get that done."
China expects Oman to play unique role in regional, global affairs: FM

Xinhua) 14:47, March 30, 2021

MUSCAT, March 29 (Xinhua) -- China expects Oman to play a unique and constructive role in regional and international affairs, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Monday.

The Chinese diplomat made the remarks during his meeting with Omani Minister of the Royal Office Sultan bin Mohammed al-Numani.

Wang conveyed the cordial greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, saying China always pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, advocates equality between big and small countries, which is similar to Oman's long-time peaceful foreign policy.

Calling Oman as a reliable strategic partner, Wang said China is willing to consolidate the traditional friendship, deepen cooperation in various fields, and seek greater development of the China-Oman strategic partnership in the new era.

China firmly supports Oman in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and stability, pursuing a development path in line with its own national conditions, and playing a unique and constructive role in regional and international affairs, the Chinese diplomat vowed.

Wang voiced appreciation of Oman's firm support on the issues concerning China's core interests, adding that China is ready to boost bilateral cooperation in the fields including trade, investment, 5G, and information technology, in a bid to assist Oman with its strategy to achieve the goal of economic diversification.

He thanked Oman for providing convenience for the replenishment of the Chinese naval escort fleet, while calling on the two countries to enhance exchanges and cooperation, and make joint efforts to combat terrorism in all forms.

For his part, Sultan asked Wang to convey Sultan Haitham's sincere greetings and good wishes to President Xi, noting that Oman cherishes its traditional friendship with China and looks forward to deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest in Oman, which hopes to boost cooperation with China in the fields such as information technology and carry out tripartite cooperation in the region, he said.

The Omani official reiterated that his country has always adhered to the principle of neutrality and non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, and will strengthen communication and coordination with China to jointly combat terrorism and promote regional peace, stability and development.

Oman will continue to provide convenience for the replenishment of the Chinese naval escort fleet, he pledged.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Myanmar nationals in Ireland have spoken out against the recent military violence in their home country, calling on the international community to help.

Aung San Pyo was a physics student in Myanmar who took part in an uprising in the city of Rangoon - now Yangon - in 1988.

At that time, the military brutally cracked down on our student demonstration, and also thousands, estimated three to five thousand civilians were massacred, he told RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland.

One of my friends was shot dead from behind, and then, see we were together when they started shooting, and then we were running everywhere and he was shot dead. And then the military dumped his body in the train.

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The past is now repeating itself, as the military in Myanmar has recently begun cracking down hard on civilians and protesters since their coup of the government.

Pyo became a refugee and came to Ireland in 1997, only being able to return to Myanmar in 2010. He said that the country had made some progress under Aung San Suu Kyi and her national league for democracy party.

They got nice street lights, they got indoor water, the roads are good. So people are quite happy, he said. No one but Kyi won a landslide majority, and the military hardly won anything.

However, since the military coup, he said that things have gotten quite violent, adding that: They killed a pregnant woman, and then they killed men, and then they killed a child. You know like, the seven year old girl in Mandalay, she was shot you know just because she was running to her father.

According to the rights group Save the Children, more than 20 children are among the dozens of people who have been killed. More than 100 people have been killed by the military in the last week, with the death toll more than 500 since the February coup.

This is not what an army is supposed to do, Pyo said. An army is supposed to protect

their own people you know? Not to kill them.

Nu Wei is also a Myanmar national living in Ireland, and she said that a lot of people are heartbroken and helpless.

I cant imagine how people in Myanmar are feeling, because the situation has changed in a way that even if you dont go out to protect, or even if you dont do anything else, they will be shooting you, they will be raiding your house, she said.

Losing your home is something that breaks us. And with that, we are scared, we are really scared. Being realistic, these kinds of violence will not go away any time soon. To be honest, we are foreseeing that it might be worse, in the coming weeks.

If it came to civil war in some areas, it will get uglier, there will be more dead.

Pyo echoed similar sentiments to Wei, fearing that civil war may be on the horizon.

People just want to fight against the military with whatever they can, he said. They want an armed struggle.

So what is going to happen is that more people are going to get killed, but Im afraid if the international community doesn't do anything, Myanmar is going to descend into civil war.
Hemlock Semiconductor Operations (HSC), the countrys largest manufacturer of hyper-pure polysilicon used in solar panels and semiconductors, has named Raquel Ledesma as its diversity and community liaison.

Ledesma, 34, has worked in leadership and education for over a decade. In her new role, she will partner with local organizations to build stronger relations between HSC and communities in the Great Lakes Bay Region. She also will look for opportunities for more HSC employees to volunteer and give back to the community, supporting the companys vision to be a family-friendly, community-oriented high-tech employer whose employees and products have a positive effect on the world.

A former member of the Saginaw Valley State University Alumni Board of Directors, Ledesma chairs the universitys Latino Alumni Chapter and works with the alumni office as an advocate for diversity opportunities. In her new role, Ledesma will lead development of HSCs strategy and goals to further a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture at HSC.

My grandparents were Mexican-American migrant workers and worked the land in this area. Because of this upbringing, I have always been proud to be Latina and not afraid to hold back who I am with others, she said. I am excited to be part of HSCs strategic goal to create a diverse and inclusive organization that is committed to hiring those with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We want to celebrate each employees unique differences and make sure everyone is included and treated with equity.

A resident of Saginaw Township where she lives with her partner Federico Perez and 10-year-old son, Ledesma came to HSC from Central Michigan University (CMU), where she coordinated College Day, provided support to first-generation and Pell Grant-eligible students and was a fixed-term faculty member. She heads the PTO at her sons school and likes to take walks with her son and the family dog.

The life experiences and depth of knowledge that Raquel brings makes her the perfect person to lead our efforts to ensure HSC is a welcoming place to work for all people, said Mark Bassett, company chairman and CEO. We know she will work to strengthen our relationships with our community partners and to continue to make HSC not only one of the largest employers in the Great Lakes Bay Region, but also one of the most involved with our neighbors and local communities.

Before CMU, Ledesma was associate director of support services and held other roles with Youth for Understanding USA, a U.S.-based organization that promotes international youth exchanges. Working with programs in 60 different countries, Ledesma gained the ability to work with many populations and to solve problems. She also has been a program development director with Boys & Girls Club of Saginaw and is passionate about bettering the community and empowering others. She wants HSC employees to feel that were a family.

Ledesma holds an associate degree in advanced youth services from Delta College and two degrees from Saginaw Valley State University: A bachelors degree in Spanish language and literature, sociology and political science, and a masters degree in administrative science. Shes working toward a doctor of education degree at CMU, exploring the sense of belonging in micro-environments.

Ive always been in school, always learning, she said. Diversity, equity and inclusion has always been near and dear to my heart. I know this work is important and I want to be part of the change in our company and community. Employees at HSC are ready to have the conversations, roll up their sleeves and make it a great place for all to work.
Eastern Airlines selects TPConnects as its Technology Provider for NDC based distribution

WAYNE, Pa., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eastern Airlines, historically known as one of the "Big Four" carriers in the United States, announced that it has achieved the New Distribution Capability (NDC) Level 4 Certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The certification enables a dynamic and cost-effective distribution model for Eastern Airlines as it further improves the airline's communication capabilities with its travel partners using rich content.

Eastern Airlines' NDC Level 4 Certification was facilitated through its partnership with TPConnects, an IATA NDC Dual Level 4 Certified IT Provider and Aggregator. Additionally, as its travel technology partner, TPConnects revamped Eastern Airlines' recently launched Internet Booking Engine (IBE) goeasternair.com. Along with the IBE, the airline's Travel Agency booking portal is also powered by TPConnects NDC Offer and Order Management Solution. It enables the airlines to control various interfaces through a single Middleware and provide Offers to customers in real-time.

Steve Harfst, President & CEO, Eastern Airlines, said, "IATA's NDC Level 4 Certification is a pivotal investment that assists Eastern's mission in providing underserved markets with direct, nonstop flights at the best value. We can now ensure that our passengers have direct access to relevant content across both direct and indirect distribution channels that are unique to their wants and expectations. The NDC standard allows Eastern to efficiently create, deliver, and control inventory that is both reliable and secure for the passenger. Our travel partners can now benefit from access to our full range of product offerings, merchandising, and servicing capabilities and the end-to-end order lifecycle from booking to completion. We look forward to our continued partnership with TPConnects, a proven technology expert in the field, as we transform the way we go to market and deliver enhanced customer experiences as part of the Eastern Promise.

Rajendran Vellapalath, CEO, TPConnects, said, "Our latest partnership with the American carrier Eastern Airlines is a milestone with many firsts, much to the credit of the collaboration and the expertise it brought to the table. It is indeed a testimony to our follow-the-sun approach where teams across time zones collaborated successfully to simultaneously deliver multiple NDC-enabled products for the airline. This is especially significant for TPConnects as we expanded our product portfolio with the delivery of the Internet Booking Engine within TPConnects Airline Solutions. Given the scope of the partnership, we are committed and well-positioned as the partner-of-choice to support Eastern Airlines with a gamut of industry-leading services and innovative travel technology solutions."

About Eastern Airlines

Eastern Airlines was originally founded in 1926. By 1930, Eastern grew to become one of the "Big Four" domestic airlines, where it would remain for the next several decades. As a carrier with a legacy of pioneering new routes, Eastern Airlines has returned to the skies for its next adventure as the first scheduled carrier to be certified in the United States since 2007. Eastern's mission is to bring back the sense of awe and wonder to air travel by providing underserved markets across the globe with nonstop-only flights at the best value. For more information, please visit www.goeasternair.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT

[email protected]

About TPConnects

For more information, visit www.tpconnects.com

Media Contact [email protected]

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Eastern Airlines achieves IATA's Level 4 NDC certification. TPConnects as Technology Partner

Eastern Airlines achieves IATA's Level 4 NDC certification. TPConnects as Technology Partner

SOURCE TPConnects
The Vice President of The Gambia, Dr. Isatou Touray, has given assurance to the media that due process of the law will be followed in the Sanyang incident that resulted in the death of one Gibril Ceesay.

"This is not going to be left like that. The deceased is going to be dealt with and all other vandalisms and destruction that have been done will also go along the law," she said.

VP Touray made the remarks shortly after a courtesy call meeting between the Senegalese's Fisheries Minster and Gambia's Fisheries Minster on Friday morning at her office in Banjul.

The visit was prompted by the recent incident that happened at Sanyang village. It is also meant for the two ministries to look for ways in the development of both countries' fisheries sector.

Madam Touray said due process of the law must hold, while urging people not to take the law into their own hands.

"In democracy the rule of law is very critical and important. The Gambia is emerging from a dictatorship where the law was taken in the hands of one person and causing atrocities," she said.

Touray said their government cannot afford to do that, saying when a state is democratic, the rule of law must hold and that is what is going to happen in this case. She also said some people took the occasion to loot and destroy some of the possession of Gambians and attempted to attack the Senegalese.

Madam Touray said it was the responsibility of the security forces to protect those Senegalese because they are innocent people who are living in The Gambia.

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"Crime is a crime. It could be a Gambian; it could be a non-Gambian or any nationality or gender. When this happens, we must allow the rule of law but should not allow us to go start thinking attack," she said.

Touray implored on Gambians, especially the youth, to understand that The Gambia has changed and it is changing for good.

"We want a better Gambia for everyone. We must not allow people attacking randomly or using opportunity where there is crisis to take the opportunity to destroy property or attack individuals who are very innocent," she advised.

VP Touray said her government is trying everythin possible to allow democracy to strive. Thus, she advised people not to abuse the law by taking it into their own hands.

She reiterated that people should allow the law to take it due course so that there will a peaceful Gambia, in order to have a country where there will be accountability, transparency, and also the application of the law rather than acting aggressively and destroying properties and engaging into un-acceptable behavior.

"Crime is crime and nobody is going to condone the crime and we are going to follow the due process," she said.
Dr. Ali Ahmed, the president and CEO of Affinity Health, which oversees COVID clinical trials at the hospital, requested 10 vaccinations for 10 individuals he identified as eligible under city guidelines, one of whom was terminally ill, the spokeswoman said, adding that Ahmed is not an employee of the hospital. On January 29th, the 10 vaccinations were provided to Dr. Ali Ahmed and then administered to these individuals.
Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, has met with agriculture and agro-processing stakeholders to assess progress on the drafting and consultations of the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan.

During a meeting attended by representatives of agriculture unions, Agribusiness, labour unions, and civil society, among others, Didiza noted that since the first meeting on the Master Plan on 26 June 2020, the stakeholder consultations have examined various agriculture and agro-processing sub-sectors, and how these can be expanded to contribute to economic growth, inclusiveness, and job creation.

"These efforts are part of the broader Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan the President announced late last year. The process is rigorous and evidence-based, led by the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), Bureau for Food and Agriculture Policy (BFAP) and Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED)," Didiza said.

She said the engagement on Monday was fruitful as it identified areas that require further negotiations among partners and action plans for implementation "as we approach the completion of the Master Plan".

"We hope that social partners will continue supporting this important initiative and remain committed to implementing the Master Plan when we have completed drafting it," Didiza said.

The Minister also commended the partners for this milestone and said she looked forward to the social partners' next engagement.
Paxton, IL (60957)

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I have 4b hair that remained virgin hair, mostly styled in box braids and cornrows with extensions, until I was 13, when I got my first relaxer. My scalp has known chemical burns, hot comb burns, curling iron burns, flat iron burns and the unrelenting throbbing that comes with hours of tight root-wrenching braiding. I got my big chop at 21 and have been natural  years of T.W.A.s and twist-outs and wash n gos  ever since.

Do you get what Im saying, or am I speaking another language?

Ive written about my hair before, and every time I do Im well aware of the vocabulary, which Im sure is unfamiliar to many non-Black readers. Though its not just a matter of terms or phrases: Black women often encounter unprovoked opinions and wrong assumptions from employers, strangers  even family and friends  about what their hairstyle says about their professionalism, their social status or their relationship to Blackness.

The personal, cultural and political implications of Black hair are at the root of the well-meaning but less than inspired The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls. (And yes, pun definitely intended.)

Written by Keli Goff and produced by and filmed at Baltimore Center Stage, Crowns, Kinks and Curls is a series of vignettes, each one featuring a Black woman recounting how her hair affected her school life, relationships or career. The piece channels the spirit of Ntozake Shanges For Colored Girls, though the writing, albeit earnest, is far less poetic.
8 Nigerian Christians abducted from church bus: 'Best we can do is pray'

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At least eight Christians were abducted by gunmen last Friday while traveling on a bus to a church program in the Kaduna state of northwest Nigeria. The church calls for prayer.

The victims, members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, were traveling to prepare for the churchs Lets Go a Fishing Easter program in Kafanchan when gunman removed them from their bus and took them away in a vehicle, a church spokesperson told The Punch.

A user reportedly posted a picture on Facebook of the victims empty church bus and said all passengers were kidnapped along Kachia Road. The church bus has an inscription that reads, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Region 30, Trinity Sanctuary, Kaduna.

Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, RCCG head of media and public relations, confirmed the kidnapping. According to the Nigerian news outlet, the pastor said the ministry is working with security agencies to secure the abductees' return.

We feel completely disturbed by the development and as a church, the best we can do is to pray that God will intervene and these brethren will return home to their loved ones, Olubiyi told The Punch Sunday. As a church, we are praying now and asking God to take charge of the situation.

The police have launched a search for the kidnapped Christians, and the abductors have demanded a ransom payment from the church, Vanguard daily newspaper reported. It is not immediately clear who abducted the church members.

During a leadership retreat on Sunday, the National Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigerias Youth Wing Belusochukwu Enwer challenged the government to act against this anti-human behavior." He said self-defense would be inevitable if the situation remains the same in Nigeria, according to a Sunday report by Vanguard.

Our heart bleeds that a bus-load of Christians from RCCG from Kaduna Province going for a prayer work to Kafanchan was abducted on their way, Enwer was quoted as saying. The incident of kidnapping is a case too many and has left bitter tastes in our mouths.

He said divine intervention is the only way to end what is happening in Nigeria.

A spokesperson for the church told Channels TV that the kidnappers demanded a ransom equivalent to over $130,000.

Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, told The Punch that the church bus had been recovered.

This abduction came a little more than two weeks after another Nigerian kidnapping on March 11 resulted in around 39 missing students. The students were abducted by gunmen from a school, also in the Kaduna state of northwest Nigeria.

Nigeria, Africas most populous country, is known for widespread mass abductions and violence. Kidnapping for ransom payments has become common.

Boko Haram terrorists abducted Nigerian pastor Bulus Yikura on Christmas Eve and demanded a ransom payment before a deadline.

The terrorist group released videos of the pastor pleading with the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian government to rescue him before he was killed.

Yikuras ransom payment was received just hours before his execution, and he was freed on March 3.

Nearly 300 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped from their boarding school on February 26 and returned days later, which marked the third mass kidnapping in recent months in Nigeria.

These school kidnappings follow the abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, which gained international attention and sparked the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Over 112 of the schoolgirls from Chibok remain missing.

Due to widespread mass kidnappings, attending school is often a risk for children in Nigeria. Around 10.5 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 do not attend school because of this threat as well as escalating violence in the northeast and Middle Belt, according to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.

Nigeria is ranked as the country third most affected by terrorism in the world, according to the Global Terrorism Index. From 2001 to 2019, there were over 22,000 terrorist deaths.

Nigeria is the leading country for the number of Christians murdered for their faith each year, Open Doors USA has reported. The country is home to over 95 million Christians.

Nigeria ranks No. 9 on Open Doors World Watch List for Christian persecution worldwide due to an extreme level of Islamic oppression.

Islamic extremist groups such as Boko Haram, Fulani militant herdsmen and Islamic State West Africa Province often execute the violent attacks and thousands have been killed in recent years.

Nigeria was the first democratic nation to be added to the United States State Department's "country of particular concern" list in 2020 for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom.
Residents of San Antonios Southwest Side welcomed the new Texas Vista Medical Center on Tuesday.

But the 327-bed acute care facility at 7400 Barlite is well known; it has been providing health care to this historically underserved area for more than four decades as Southwest General Hospital.

Southwest General administrators announced a multimillion-dollar investment in upgrades at the hospital and its new name at a ceremony that emphasized the hospitals continuing commitment to the area.

The hospital is owned by Dallas-based Steward Health Care, the largest physician-led private hospital operator in the nation with 38 facilities spread across nine states.

Steward has been renovating the hospital over the last 14 months, including $1.5 million in telemetry services improvements, $1.2 million in operating room upgrades and $400,000 on its Level III neonatal intensive care unit.

We need to not be burdened by our past, but look toward our future, said Jonathan Turton, president of Texas Vista Medical Center and former CEO of Baptist Medical Center. Were going to make a difference here on the South Side of San Antonio at a hospital owned by physicians, not Wall Street or hedge funds.

Turton, who was hired in January 2020, led the hospital through its toughest challenge yet: COVID-19.

Residents who live on this part of the city are disproportionately affected by the virus. Because of its location, the former Southwest General was a key transfer destination for rural community hospitals in South Texas.

On ExpressNews.com: Before COVID, Southwest ISD community leaned on school-based clinic to keep healthy

At the peak of the pandemic, Turton said, the hospital was treating 90 COVID patients. Over the course of the crisis, 130 of his employees contracted the coronavirus.

District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia noted the pandemic has exacerbated health issues that have long affected her constituents and her own family: COVID-19 killed seven family members on her fathers side.

She presented a resolution from the City Council at Tuesdays renaming ceremony, which coincided with National Doctors Day, and recognized how the front-line workers have worked diligently and with passion to save people throughout the pandemic at great personal risk.

They kept showing up for us in our darkest moments, she said.

Dr. Sanjay Shetty, Stewards president, said the renaming felt like a rebirth because the hospital is investing in efforts to lessen the gap in health disparities by working closer with other organizations that serve the community.

We knew it was the crown jewel of the South Side, it just needed a little polishing, Shetty said.

On ExpressNews.com: Vascular surgeon plans to open South Side's first accredited outpatient surgery center

The hospital is forging partnerships with community organizations, including the San Antonio Food Bank and medical practice WellMed, through a new program called Healthy Horizons.

As part of the initiative, Southside ISD identified 13 grandparents raising their grandchildren and brought them to the hospital Tuesday for their COVID-19 vaccine.

Texas Vista Medical Center, which serves as a teaching hospital, is starting a new residency program this summer training 15 internal medicine physicians from the University of Incarnate Words School of Osteopathic Medicine, which is located at Brooks City Base.

Turton says the hospital also plans to hire eight additional doctors.

laura.garcia@express-news.net
President George M. Weah has told citizens of citizens of Grand Cape Mount County that his government has one message for them and that is the development of their county

He made the statement on Saturday, March 27, 2021 in Robertsport, the provincial capital city of Cape Mount County.

"Our message is development. We are not here for play. I have always been honest with you. And I will be honest with. We are here to let you know that we are developing our country. Anything that is missing here and you do not have, let us know. But do not tell me things you have."

He frowned on government officials from the county, who he said, were not informing their citizens of the level of developments the CDC led government is undertaking.

In addition, he expressed disappointment over the under development in the Cape Mount County capital.

"Look here, they get men and women from Robert Sports. If I give you the list of people from here, you will know. They are very resourceful. If Robertsport look like this, you will not blame the president or anyone, but your officials," he said.

He added; "Because all of them have the capacities and capabilities to work on the improvement of your county. You need to have meeting with your lawmakers and tell them so that we can move forward."

According to him, he was disappointed when he arrived in Robertsport. "When I entered Robertsport, the famous Robertsport, that I heard about when I was young, I could not believe it."

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He said, there have been several citizens who have served in government from Cape Mount over decades. "There have been people from here in government, from time to time. There were men in government. To see Roberts port like this, with all the great leaders you have, you need to rethink. Everything is not about me, the lawmakers also have some more to do for you elected them to seek your interest not only their own adding

"Work with your lawmakers, sit on the round table and discuss issues that will help move the County forward", he admonished the citizens of the Grand Cape Mount County.

President George Weah noted that if lawmakers from Cape Mount County were to decide on projects annually, they would be able to develop the county now.

"Before we do anything, we have to go to Legislators to seek their approval. So, for Legislators to stand here and say these things, you need to be serious. They are the main people that can make things to work," he said in reference to the approving power by lawmakers.

"There is an ongoing county development fund. We have to go to the drawing board. If all the officials in parliament decide that every year, they will do one thing, before that nine years over, this county will be developed. Do you want to tell me that no official can put solar panel light here in Robertsport?" he asked provocatively.
Batavia, NY (14020)

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Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 78F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

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Mainly clear early, then a few clouds later on. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.
US News 2022 MBA Rankings: The Shock and Awe Edition [ #permalink

The US News 2022 MBA Rankings

The US News 2022 Business School Rankings have been released. I am shocked

(For clarity, US News publishes 2022 rankings in 2021 using the 2020 graduating class data)

Analysis of Shocking and Surprising :

No change within the Top 20 : the 2022 Top 20 is the 2021 Top 20 but slightly re-arranged. Not a single new program broke in or out. It is virtually unchanged. Four programs moved up and down (more on that below) but that's it. I am shocked. I expected to see change. I mean, I have not left my house or gotten a proper haircut in 12 months while Bitcoin is up 800% and you are trying to tell me that the top 20 has not changed? Maybe I expected too much but looks like the 2022 rankings are just like the rest of us - wearing last year's clothes and badly needing a haircut rather than a mythical substance. Is that a good thing? Am I the only one who expected more volatility?





: the 2022 Top 20 is the 2021 Top 20 but slightly re-arranged. Not a single new program broke in or out. It is virtually unchanged. Four programs moved up and down (more on that below) but that's it. I am shocked. I expected to see change. I mean, I have not left my house or gotten a proper haircut in 12 months while Bitcoin is up 800% and you are trying to tell me that the top 20 has not changed? Maybe I expected too much but looks like the 2022 rankings are just like the rest of us - wearing last year's clothes and badly needing a haircut rather than a mythical substance. Is that a good thing? Am I the only one who expected more volatility? The pandemic impact on the 2022 rankings has been very minimal ... I think the pandemic impact on the business schools has been huge on both the graduating class and the 2022 class. I doubt anyone can argue otherwise but it is really not reflected in the Rankings... How is that possible? One could argue that the reason the rankings have remained consistent is that the overall applicant trends held up for all business schools and they all have been impacted equally (a stretch of an argument and I could go with it) but here is the issue: 2 schools chose not to report their numbers: MIT Sloan and Wharton (these two programs are heavily favored by International students and I can see how they may have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic but that's beyond the point). The point is that these 2 MBA programs were ranked using the 2019 data which is an odd approach and opens a whole separate door to discuss but that is also beyond the point). What matters is that these 2 programs have sustained their positions in 2022 rankings using the 2021 data. In other words, they fared no worse and no better this year than they did last year, ultimately indicating that the pandemic impact was either not felt or heavily buffered by the overworked admissions teams who were busy around the clock building classes and career services working hard on recruiting. Is it schools being able to buffer these impacts or are rankings unable to capture and reflect the effects of something like a Pandemic?





... I think the pandemic impact on the business schools has been huge on both the graduating class and the 2022 class. I doubt anyone can argue otherwise but it is really not reflected in the Rankings... How is that possible? One could argue that the reason the rankings have remained consistent is that the overall applicant trends held up for all business schools and they all have been impacted equally (a stretch of an argument and I could go with it) but here is the issue: 2 schools chose not to report their numbers: MIT Sloan and Wharton (these two programs are heavily favored by International students and I can see how they may have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic but that's beyond the point). The point is that these 2 MBA programs were ranked using the 2019 data which is an odd approach and opens a whole separate door to discuss but that is also beyond the point). What matters is that these 2 programs have sustained their positions in 2022 rankings using the 2021 data. In other words, they fared no worse and no better this year than they did last year, ultimately indicating that the pandemic impact was either not felt or heavily buffered by the overworked admissions teams who were busy around the clock building classes and career services working hard on recruiting. Is it schools being able to buffer these impacts or are rankings unable to capture and reflect the effects of something like a Pandemic? Kellogg's Experiment Did not pay off . I was very curious about this. You may remember that last spring when it was clear that travel would be disrupted and enrollment was in danger, Kellogg made several changes to their R3 admissions : they have reconsidered all of the applicants they dinged, they have also dropped GMAT score requirements, and extended the deadlines (many other schools have extended their R3 deadlines by the way)





. I was very curious about this. You may remember that last spring when it was clear that travel would be disrupted and enrollment was in danger, : they have reconsidered all of the applicants they dinged, they have also dropped GMAT score requirements, and extended the deadlines (many other schools have extended their R3 deadlines by the way) Deferrals were a Hugely Popular option . Thanks to Regenerate who helped track down the class data - here is a shocking piece of information. Tepper was of only 2 schools who have made their defferals open to both domestic and intenational applicants (the second one being HBS). Here are the results: Tepper's class size went down 45%! Almost half the class chose to defer. That gives you an idea about the number of people who are stuck in other business school programs who were unable to have his luxury. HBS class went down by 35% - wow!





. Thanks to who helped track down the class data - here is a shocking piece of information. Tepper was of only 2 schools who have made their defferals open to both domestic and intenational applicants (the second one being HBS). Here are the results: Tepper's class size went down 45%! Almost half the class chose to defer. That gives you an idea about the number of people who are stuck in other business school programs who were unable to have his luxury. HBS class went down by 35% - wow! Average Salary and Bonus went up at every school! Here is something shocking, to me at least, as many companies have asked their employees to take salary cuts or cut their hours, the incoming MBA class reported increase in salaries. Not a single program dropped in YoY metrics. Average increase was 4%





Here is something shocking, to me at least, as many companies have asked their employees to take salary cuts or cut their hours, the incoming MBA class reported increase in salaries. Not a single program dropped in YoY metrics. Average increase was 4% Schools that offered deferrals reaped benefits Tepper's acceptance rate went down by 35% and HBS's by 20% while others mostly see their acceptance rate rise (Acceptance rate has an inverse relationship, the lower the acceptance rate, the more exclusive and popular the program is). For comparison, Stanford's Acceptance rate jumped 29% from 6.9% to 8.9%. You can see Tepper has moved up 3 spots in the rankings and HBS moved up 1. I predicted 2





Tepper's acceptance rate went down by 35% and HBS's by 20% while others mostly see their acceptance rate rise (Acceptance rate has an inverse relationship, the lower the acceptance rate, the more exclusive and popular the program is). For comparison, Stanford's Acceptance rate jumped 29% from 6.9% to 8.9%. You can see Tepper has moved up 3 spots in the rankings and HBS moved up 1. I predicted 2 Some schools did really well too - surprisingly UNC managed to grow its class size by 27% while maintaining its ranking position - that is quite a feat and really amazing they have been able to pull it off. On average, class size has declined in the Top 20. Darden also grew its class size though it lost some of the ranking karma. Their average GMAT score also declined by 10 points, one of the largest declines of Top 20. (The average decline in Top 20 was 3 points)





while maintaining its ranking position - that is quite a feat and really amazing they have been able to pull it off. On average, class size has declined in the Top 20. Darden also grew its class size though it lost some of the ranking karma. Their average GMAT score also declined by 10 points, one of the largest declines of Top 20. (The average decline in Top 20 was 3 points) Top 20 employed at graduation numbers were only 3.5% down YoY . This was a very small decrease for such a historic year. I actually want to go deeper into the data and will do it tomorrow, esp in the compensation as there are ways to skew some of these numbers.





. This was a very small decrease for such a historic year. I actually want to go deeper into the data and will do it tomorrow, esp in the compensation as there are ways to skew some of these numbers. The most surpising ranking is Anderson and Marshall. Anderson really struggled with their employment numbers in 2020. They dropped 16% YoY in terms of graduates employed at graduation and 13% down for graduates 3 months out. This is surprising since the Anderson's career center has won an award a few years ago and perhaps it is more of a local indicator, though Marshall reports only a 5% drop YoY.

2022 US News Rankings

2022 Rank School Last Year's Rank Change YoY 1 Stanford University (CA) 1 - 2 University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) 1 +1 3 University of Chicago (Booth) (IL) 3 - 4 Northwestern University (Kellogg) (IL) 3 +1 5 Harvard University (MA) 6 -1 5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) 5 - 7 Columbia University (NY) 8 -1 7 University of California--Berkeley (Haas) 7 - 9 Yale University (CT) 9 - 10 Dartmouth College (Tuck) (NH) 12 -2 10 New York University (Stern) 10 - 12 Duke University (Fuqua) (NC) 12 - 13 University of Michigan--Ann Arbor (Ross) 12 +1 13 University of Virginia (Darden) 11 +2 15 Cornell University (Johnson) (NY) 15 - 16 Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) (PA) 19 -3 16 University of Southern California (Marshall) 17 -1 18 University of California--Los Angeles (Anderson) 16 +2 18 University of Texas--Austin (McCombs) 18 - 20 University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) 20 - 21 Georgetown University (McDonough) (DC) 25 -4 22 University of Washington (Foster) 20 +2 23 Indiana University (Kelley) 22 +1 23 Vanderbilt University (Owen) (TN) 23 - 25 Rice University (Jones) (TX) 25 - 26 Emory University (Goizueta) (GA) 22 +4 26 University of Florida (Warrington) 28 -2 28 Georgia Institute of Technology (Scheller) 27 +1 28 University of Minnesota--Twin Cities (Carlson) 28 - 30 Arizona State University (W.P. Carey) 35 -5 31 Brigham Young University (Marriott) (UT) 30 +1 31 University of Texas--Dallas 33 -2 33 Ohio State University (Fisher) 37 -4 33 Pennsylvania State University--University Park (Smeal) 41 -8 33 University of Rochester (Simon) (NY) 35 -2 36 University of Notre Dame (Mendoza) (IN) 30 +6 36 Washington University in St. Louis (Olin) 30 +6 38 Texas A&M University--College Station (Mays) 44 -6 39 Michigan State University (Broad) 40 -1 39 University of Georgia (Terry) 33 +6 39 University of Tennessee--Knoxville (Haslam) 46 -7

negative

Positive

Complete US News 2022 MBA Rankings Data 2022 Rank School Acceptance

Rate Average

GMAT 10% - 90%

GMAT Range Salary +

Bonus Employed at

graduation% After 3

months Tuition Total

Enrollment

1 Stanford University (CA) 8.9% 733 - $176083 62.6% 85.3% $74706 844 2 University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) 23.1% 722 - $172016 81% 93.5% $80432 N/A 3 University of Chicago (Booth) (IL) 27.6% 724 600 - 780 $172683 84.3% 91.4% $73440 1229 4 Northwestern University (Kellogg) (IL) 27.9% 727 640 - 770 $173057 80.6% 92.5% $74871 1378 5 Harvard University (MA) 9.2% 727 620 - 790 $171785 70.9% 82.5% $73440 1538 5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) 14.6% 720 680 - 760 $160291 79.3% 93.5% $77168 N/A 7 Columbia University (NY) 13.6% 732 690 - 760 $171436 73.3% 85.7% $77376 1310 7 University of California--Berkeley (Haas) 23.3% 727 690 - 760 $162409 71.7% 87.3% $68444 627 9 Yale University (CT) 29.7% 720 680 - 760 $162856 75.4% 85.9% $72350 692 10 Dartmouth College (Tuck) (NH) 34.8% 720 690 - 750 $173882 81.1% 92.3% $77520 569 10 New York University (Stern) 29% 723 690 - 760 $175148 79.1% 88.8% $76780 668 12 Duke University (Fuqua) (NC) 24.9% 702 660 - 740 $167134 84.8% 91.3% $70000 798 13 University of Michigan--Ann Arbor (Ross) 37% 711 660 - 750 $164040 79.5% 88.4% $71048 758 13 University of Virginia (Darden) 35.1% 703 660 - 750 $169190 83.9% 91.1% $68754 733 15 Cornell University (Johnson) (NY) 39.6% 691 640 - 740 $172254 84.6% 90.3% $71940 571 16 Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) (PA) 27.7% 680 630 - 730 $165540 80.9% 86.8% $70000 340 16 University of Southern California (Marshall) 24.3% 707 680 - 740 $156581 74.9% 91% $61500 435 18 University of California--Los Angeles (Anderson) 34.4% 707 660 - 740 $154511 63.7% 78.3% $65049 694 18 University of Texas--Austin (McCombs) 36.9% 704 670 - 740 $154211 77.2% 85.6% $56572 491 20 University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) 52.5% 694 650 - 740 $151873 74.4% 85.4% $63174 593 21 Georgetown University (McDonough) (DC) 56.9% 691 $155540 73% 89.8% $57850 509 22 University of Washington (Foster) 41.3% 692 $151683 80.8% 94.2% $52452 227 23 Indiana University (Kelley) 42.7% 652 $142424 75.8% 85.7% $51454 225 23 Vanderbilt University (Owen) (TN) 46.3% 676 $148911 74.5% 90.4% $60750 329 25 Rice University (Jones) (TX) 39.5% 690 $148422 75.7% 88.8% $60940 281 26 Emory University (Goizueta) (GA) 46.1% 675 $151922 76.5% 89.9% $67100 286 26 University of Florida (Warrington) 26.6% 686 $129227 76.6% 90.6% $30130 90 28 Georgia Institute of Technology (Scheller) 37.3% 666 $141847 76.7% 90.4% $40752 157 28 University of Minnesota--Twin Cities (Carlson) 53.8% 659 $135503 76.9% 87.9% $51456 139 30 Arizona State University (W.P. Carey) 22.2% 671 $124600 63.2% 86.8% $48400 131 31 Brigham Young University (Marriott) (UT) 42.9% 668 $125522 71.9% 89.3% $N/A 256 31 University of Texas--Dallas 40.9% 681 $111168 63.3% 90% $29166 105 33 Ohio State University (Fisher) 40% 666 $132022 70.7% 84.1% $53708 134 33 Pennsylvania State University--University Park (Smeal) 20.1% 642 $133919 76.5% 86.3% $43296 107 33 University of Rochester (Simon) (NY) 24.5% 670 $143349 74.1% 90.6% $48000 232 36 University of Notre Dame (Mendoza) (IN) 49% 651 $131104 62.9% 78.1% $58030 275 36 Washington University in St. Louis (Olin) 47% 687 $132261 61.1% 72.6% $64250 197 38 Texas A&M University--College Station (Mays) 42.3% 621 $131541 77.6% 89.8% $$87,323** 143 39 Michigan State University (Broad) 47% 649 $128615 72.3% 81.5% $52458 143 39 University of Georgia (Terry) 37.4% 672 $126438 72.2% 80.6% $32606 112 39 University of Tennessee--Knoxville (Haslam) 43.7% 668 $103788 79.3% 89.7% $29656 99



What do you think? Did you expect more volatility? How does it compare to your expectations?

I have made a number of predictions over the weekend about the rankings speculating that we will see messy data, we will see some changes, that we will see some movement and rotation of programs, we will see fewer programs ranked as ties but instead we received something completely different(For the year over year changes,changes indicate climbing up the rankings whilechanges indicate decrease in rankings)[1] School refused to fill out the U.S. News statistical survey; 2019 admissions and 2019 graduating class salary and employment data are published.P.S. I am very thankful to the US News Team for giving GMAT Club an early preview of the US News MBA Rankings data._________________
(Newser)  A billionaires private SpaceX flight filled its two remaining seats Tuesday with a scientist-teacher and a data engineer whose college friend actually won a spot but gave him the prize, per the AP. The new passengers: Sian Proctor, 51, a community college educator in Tempe, Arizona, and Chris Sembroski, 41, a former Air Force missileman from Everett, Washington. They will join flight sponsor Jared Isaacman, 38, and another passenger, Haley Arceneaux, 29, for three days in orbit this fall. Isaacman also revealed some details about his Inspiration4 mission, as the four gathered Tuesday at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He's head of Shift4 Payments, a credit card-processing company in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and he is paying for what would be SpaceX's first private flight while raising money for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

story continues below

In fact, this would be the first all-civilian crew to orbit Earth, notes the New York Times. Their SpaceX Dragon capsule will launch no earlier than mid-September, aiming for an altitude of 335 miles. Thats 75 miles higher than the International Space Station and on a level with the Hubble Space Telescope. Isaacman, a pilot who will serve as spacecraft commander, wont say how much hes paying. He's donating $100 million to St. Jude, while donors so far have contributed $13 million, primarily through the lottery that offered a chance to fly in space. Arceneaux is a St. Jude physician assistant who was treated there as a child for bone cancer. Sembroski donated and entered the lottery but wasnt picked in the random drawing earlier this monthhis friend was. His friend declined to fly for personal reasons and offered the spot to Sembroski.

(Read more SpaceX stories.)
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Intel has added to its already-substantial $1 billion investment into manufacturing in Vietnam, photo Le Toan

In January, Intel Corporation announced a further $475 million in Intel Products Vietnam (IPV). This new investment comes in addition to Intels $1 billion investment to build a state-of-the-art chip assembly and test manufacturing facility in Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP), that was first announced in 2006. This takes Intels total investment in its Vietnam facility to $1.5 billion.

As of the end of 2020, Intel Products Vietnam has shipped more than two billion units to customers worldwide. Were very proud of this milestone, which shows both how important IPV is to helping Intel meet the needs of its customers all around the world, and why we continue to invest in our facilities and team here in Vietnam, said Kim Huat Ooi, vice president of manufacturing and operations and general manager of IPV.

Last year, despite the impact of the pandemic, IPV posted a record export turnover of $13.1 billion, accounting for 70 per cent of SHTPs export value. The additional investment of $475 million helped enhance manufacturing of Intels 5G products, Intel Core processors with Intel Hybrid Technology and 10th Gen Intel Core processors.

The implementation of new technologies aims to serve the production, assembly, and testing of Intel products, thereby expanding the portfolio of our made-in-Vietnam products, Ooi said.

With a total capital of $1.5 billion, IPV is the largest assembly and test manufacturing facility in the Intel assembly and test network. It has more than 2,700 employees and serves customers around the world. IPV is one of 10 manufacturing sites that Intel has globally and remains the largest US high-tech investment in Vietnam.

According to a VIR source, Intel is likely to announce another investment this year within the framework of its activities to celebrate its 15th anniversary in Vietnam.

Commenting on the expansion of US investors, Mary Tarnowka, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce Vietnam (AmCham) said at a recent investment conference in Ho Chi Minh City that Vietnam is one of the only countries in the world that experienced positive growth in 2020, and where American companies like Intel and First Solar could operate continuously. AmCham members are immensely grateful and support through contributions of medical equipment, and fully-equipped ambulances.

Now, we would like to ensure equitable access to vaccines for foreigners in Vietnam, while expediting travel procedures for foreign residents to travel and return with streamlined testing, renewal of visas, and residence cards; as well as facilitating entry of foreign investors, technical experts, and as vaccinations roll out, Tarnowka said.

We strongly recommend Vietnam to provide and facilitate a streamlined process, with shortened quarantine period for short-term business travellers to consider investment opportunities, conclude deals, and sign contracts.

The prospects of US investments in Vietnam seem bright thanks to Vietnam Airlines latest plans to open a direct flight from Vietnam to the US this year, which will facilitate more American investors to grab new opportunities in the post-pandemic era.

According to the AmCham representative, US technology companies and startups are eager to invest in Vietnam, as well as partner with domestic companies, to drive the next generation of economic growth, including fintech, AI, and other technologies.

These companies are well-positioned to help build clean energy and smart city infrastructure facilities needed for sustainable growth, as well as expanding supply chains in Vietnam.

As of February, the US is Vietnams 11th-largest investor with the total investment capital of $9.53 billion across 1,083 projects, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Major US corporations such as Apple, Intel, Universal Alloy Corporation, Ford, and Key Tronic EMS have already ramped up production lines in Vietnam.
BRIDGEPORT  Former Police Chief Armando Perez, facing up to two years in prison for cheating on the police chief exam and lying to the FBI about it, appealed for leniency Tuesday.

The defendant, Armando A.J. Perez, is a 65-year-old, former police officer of 37 years, who faithfully served the Bridgeport community his entire adult life, before losing nearly everything over the last seven months  his career, his reputation and most of his lifes savings  on account of his willingness to cheat during the chief of police selection process, and then lie about it to federal investigators, states the memorandum filed in U.S. District Court by his lawyer. It is a cautionary tale that will be retold long after this case is over. What was supposed to be the crowning achievement of a public servants career has instead been his undoing.

In October, Perez and the citys former personnel director, David Dunn, 73, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making a false statement. Both men resigned their positions following their arrests in September.

Perez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari Dooley on April 12; Dunn is set for sentencing the following day.

In Perezs sentencing memorandum, his lawyer, Robert Frost, urges the judge to impose a period of probation or house arrest instead of prison time. It states that a prison term could put Perezs life at risk.

A.J.s age and hypertension make him susceptible to serious complications from COVID-19. Although he may be fully vaccinated soon, sending him into a prison environment would increase the likelihood of exposure to the disease or one of its variants. His vaccination would help protect him from infection, but it cannot ensure his safety, it states.

The memorandum also claims that Perez led the effort to address restitution to the city resulting in an agreement in which he and Dunn will pay a total of $299,407 at the time of sentencing.

To accomplish this, A.J. and his wife liquidated most of their lifes savings, leaving only a small portion (along with his pension and his wifes modest salary) to pay their mortgage and repay over $125,000 in school loans for their children, the memorandum states.

The memorandum includes letters of support from Perezs wife, his relatives and friends in the community. There is no letter of support from Mayor Joe Ganim.

Perezs lawyer declined to comment; city representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There is no dispute about what happened when it comes to A.J.s involvement. He cheated during the process, and then lied about it afterward, the memorandum states.

Federal prosecutors said Dunn assisted Perez by providing him with the test questions in advance and two unnamed police officers helped Perez write his application and test responses.

Ganim had to pick a police chief from the top three qualified candidates, one of whom was Perez. He ultimately awarded the five-year contract to Perez.

He relied on assistance from two fellow officers to prepare his cover letter and resume, and these same officers helped him complete the questionnaire and the essay questions. A.J. did not issue an order to these officers that they do this for him  in fact, he thought they did so willingly  but he did not disclose that he received this help, states the sentencing memorandum.

It continued that to ensure that Perez made it into the top three, Dunn modified the search criteria to benefit Perez including eliminating any requirement that the candidate have a college degree, sharing with Perez a list of possible test questions in advance of both the telephone oral examination and the final panel interview and allegedly telephoning a member of the five-member panel to tell him that the mayor wanted Perez to be in the top three.

He (Perez) allowed his personal ambition and self-serving rationalization  such as the well-worn sentiment about how things are done in Bridgeport  to cloud his better judgment, the memorandum states.

When confronted by the FBI in February 2019, the memorandum states that Perez lied that he had received advance information about the chiefs test. When he was re-interviewed in May 2020, this time with his attorney, the memorandum states that Perez made false statements, including denials of facts that were supported by secret recordings provided to law enforcement allegedly by one of the police officers who had helped Perez during the examination process.

Why did he lie? To avoid the consequences of his wrongful conduct and to prevent the world from knowing that the process had been corrupted and that he did not get the Chief of Police position all on his own. He was desperate for those facts not to come out, the memorandum states.

Mr. Perez is a humbled man. He has been shamed and vilified both locally and nationally, confronting multiple lawsuits that threaten the financial security of his family, including one brought by the Connecticut Attorney General to reduce and/or revoke his municipal pension  a particularly harsh consequence given that said pension was earned and vested in its entirety prior to the instant offenses, the memorandum states.
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(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 30 - Carabinieri police put a number of people under house arrest and Sicilian Health Chief Ruggero Razza has been placed under investigation over allegations the COVID-19 figures the region sent to the national authorities were altered, sources said on Tuesday.

The people put under house arrest worked for the DASOE unit of the Sicilian health department, the sources said.

They allegedly changed the number of new COVID cases and the number of tests done in data sent to the Higher Health Institute (ISS) as part of a "heinous political design" to stop Sicily being classed as a high-risk red zone and put into lockdown.

Investigators suspect that Razza was "partially involved in the criminal activities of the DASOE" unit, the sources said.

They said telephones belonging to Razza had been seized.

The investigation stemmed the discovery of falsified data from one laboratory.

According to a wiretap, on one occasion Razza told an official to "spread out a little" some coronavirus-related deaths that had emerged from three days earlier.

Sicilian Governor Nello Musumeci stood by Razza and said he was surprised by the case, given that Sicily had asked to be declared a red zone even when its COVID data would have allowed it to remain an orange zone.

"I have faith in Ruggero Razza... I am convinced that the truth will come out soon," Musumeci told La7 television.

"What prize would we have won, when we were the first to ask for more restrictive measures? "I personally asked the national government for two weeks of red zone, along with Razza, when the whole of Italy was doing everything possible to stay an orange zone.

"That is why I am relaxed". (ANSA).


Immune cells from vaccines or past Covid infection should protect people from the Brazilian and South African variants of coronavirus, a small study has claimed.

Researchers tested whether immunity developed against the original Wuhan version of the virus would work on newer strains and saw that it did in lab tests.

Although virus-fighting antibodies did not work as well, they found white blood cells were still able to recognise the virus and launch attacks against it.

The study focused on cells called T-cells, which circulate in the blood and trigger an immune reaction when they find the virus they are trained to spot.

The scientists, from the US and Singapore, said 'virtually all' T-cells 'should recognise these newly described variants'.

Experts have been worried that the Brazilian and South African variants of the virus, which are both now being found in the UK, US and worldwide, might escape the immune system and make vaccines less effective.

They have both mutated in a way that means they look different to the body and antibodies are less able to recognise them or destroy them.

This study adds to growing evidence that jabs will still work and people will still be protected. At least 55 per cent of people in the UK now have some level of immunity to the virus from either a vaccine or from surviving Covid.

This study adds to growing evidence that immunity from past infection with Covid or from a vaccine will still protect people against getting sick from new variants (Pictured: A woman is vaccinated in Cayenne, French Guiana, South America)

The study was done by researchers at the US National Institutes of Health, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and a firm called Immunoscape in Singapore.

It focused on T-cells, which are a part of the immune system that control the immune system and keep watch for invading viruses or bacteria.

T-cells are always in the blood on the lookout for the specific bug they are trained to spot and attack  in this case the coronavirus that causes Covid.

MORE THAN HALF OF BRITS HAVE COVID ANTIBODIES Almost 55 per cent of people in England now have Covid antibodies, suggesting at least half of the population now has some immunity against the disease. A major Office for National Statistics (ONS) testing survey today revealed 54.7 per cent of people in England had the virus-fighting proteins in the week ending March 14, up from 50.8 per cent the week prior. The figure is likely to be even higher now because millions more have been vaccinated since the blood tests were conducted a fortnight ago, and it takes about two weeks for immunity to kick in. It highlights the success of the country's mammoth vaccine roll-out, which has seen 30.5million Brits given their first dose and 3.7m fully vaccinated. The ONS report  based on random blood tests of around 30,000 adults  revealed the amount of people with detectable antibody levels across the rest of Britain on March 14 stood at 50.5 per cent in Wales, 49.3 per cent in Northern Ireland and 42.6 per cent in Scotland. As well as through jabs, antibodies are made in response to previous infection. Their presence in blood generally means someone has some at least some protection against the disease and won't fall ill. But they are not the only part of the immune system. Advertisement

When the T-cells find the virus they are able to destroy other cells that have been infected with it and also signal to the immune system to send out more toxic substances such as antibodies to help it beat or stop the infection.

Many studies of Covid vaccines so far have focused on antibodies because they are the immune system's frontline defence, and scientists have found they work less well when up against virus variants that they haven't been specifically prepared for.

This is because they are super-specific and only recognise certain parts of a virus. If they change too much, the antibodies struggle to attach to them.

T-cells, however, are generally less specific and able to recognise and latch onto different parts of a virus, making them better at detecting different strains.

In this study blood samples from 30 people who had recovered from Covid were mixed with different Covid strains and scientists saw immune reactions in all of them.

Although the reactions might not be strong enough to totally stop the coronavirus because antibody responses were weaker, they would likely prevent severe illness or death.

The researchers wrote: 'These data highlight the potential significant role of a ... T-cell response in limiting viral escape, and partly mediate protection from disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 variants.

'It is important that vaccines used for widespread campaigns generate strong multivalent T-cell responses in addition to [neutralising antibody] and other humoral responses in order to optimize efficacy against the current SARS-CoV-2 and emerging strains.

'It will be important to continue to monitor the breadth, magnitude, and durability of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 T-cell responses in recovered and vaccinated individuals as part of any assessment to determine if booster vaccinations are needed.'

They said a weakness of the study was that it was so small, only involving 30 people, and that they were all in North America so not globally diverse.

The study was published in the journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases.
[March 30, 2021] RtBrick Offers a Consolidated BNG for Remote Locations

RtBrick today announces that its IP routing software supports an expanded range of networking silicon and is able to provide a new Consolidated BNG (Broadband Network Gateway (News - Alert) ). The Consolidated BNG can run all of its software functions on a single compact switch, suitable for deployment in more remote locations. Up until now, RtBrick's pioneering Open BNG software has been deployed in a SEBA (SDN Enabled Broadband Access) architecture that uses a spine and leaf topology. This is hugely scalable and has enabled a radical new approach to building broadband networks, such as that recently announced by Deutsche Telekom. Now, RtBrick has added support for the Broadcom (News - Alert) QAX chipset, which is used in smaller form-factor and hardened bare-metalswitches, which are widely available from a choice of hardware vendors. They include switches such as EdgeCore's AS7316-26XB, a 300Gbps throughput platform that is only 300mm deep. QAX-based switches can now operate as a Consolidated BNG, collapsing both leaf and spine functions onto a single compact platform. They can also be deployed in hardened environments such as a street cabinet or cell-site.



"Spine and leaf architectures offer massive scale, but it's important to be able to scale down as well as up," said Hannes Gredler, founder and chief technology officer at RtBrick. "Deploying a Consolidated BNG offers telcos all the benefits of cloud-native networks, but in more remote and smaller scale parts of their network." To learn more about RtBrick's pioneering approach to networking and the hardware compatibility options for its open routing software, visit rtbrick.com.

About RtBrick RtBrick has pioneered carrier routing software that runs on off-the-shelf hardware. It has applied the same approach to networks that the huge 'cloud-natives' have used to build and operate their web-scale IT services. RtBrick is a privately held company, with staff located in India, Europe and the USA. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005179/en/

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(TNS) - Kimberly Alderfer remembers the first time she entered a coronavirus patient's room last spring, the fear she had that she too would end up hooked to a ventilator and struggling to breathe, just for being there. The patient was her age, after all.But as days went by and spring turned into summer, Alderfer's fear transformed into exhaustion after months on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The toll of caring for the sickest patients of the crisis, of being unable to connect with them through layers of protective gear, and of watching so many of them die, was only just beginning to show.And by fall, as the deadly third wave of the pandemic arrived, the 28-year-old critical care nurse became angry that she would have to go through all of it again."You try to protect yourself by not forming as much of an emotional connection because it's very likely that they will not do well," said Alderfer, a cardiac ICU nurse at UCHealth's University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora. "So I was angry. I just knew that I hadn't processed this thing yet and I wasn't emotionally in a strong place to go through all of it again."Health care workers were hailed as heroes with nightly howling when the worst pandemic in a century arrived in Colorado. But a year later, several Denver-care health care workers who spoke to The Denver Post said they feel forgotten and let down by the government and public's response.Health care professionals have spent a year enduring trauma  and it's still not over. They've faced an unprecedented amount of death through their jobs as more than 6,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the state.They've cycled through a variety of emotions: fear, uncertainty, grief, exhaustion and anger. They've felt isolated as their jobs marked them as potential spreaders of the newly arrived virus  a concern that they, too, struggled with as they feared making their loved ones sick. They found hope in the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, but still some wonder how they can remain in their chosen profession after this past year.Overall, more people are experiencing heightened anxiety, depression, insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder during the pandemic. But mental health professionals worry that the worst is yet to come, especially for health care workers who have experienced even higher levels of stress and bore witness to the most tragic moments of the pandemic."There's some concern... that the more significant mental health needs are going to kind of appear and emerge over time," said Steve Fisher, director of outpatient expansion and special projects at the Mental Health Center of Denver, adding, "It may sneak up on them in a way that they don't realize."Health care workers also are at risk of experiencing compassion fatigue and moral injury because of their jobs. The latter occurs as their values are violated by decisions on the job that conflict with their beliefs, such as when nurses and doctors have to decide who get life-saving treatment when there is a scarcity of ventilators and other resources."You're overwhelmed by the nature of your job basically, which is exposure to so much trauma that now you are starting to experience it yourself and It's overwhelming you," Fisher said.Treating patients with COVID-19 is particularly challenging because medical employees have found that the coronavirus can affect the body in different ways. It can also be physically taxing as staff often turn patients on to their stomachs so they can breathe easier. And when a patient has severe enough symptoms that they are in the intensive care unit, it's possible that could stay there for weeks with little improvement."It's exhausting to come in and put 12, 13 hours into somebody and come back the next day and they're worse or better or nothing," said Justin Racine, a critical care nurse at Denver Health. "It seems like nothing you're doing is helping."Health care workers have faced an unprecedented amount of death in their jobs as thousands of people have died in the state from the coronavirus, and some also have lost loved ones. So far, 6,191 people have died from COVID-19 in Colorado and 547,630 people have died across the United States."That's just not comprehensible that it's gotten this far," said Dr. Amy Olson, associate professor of medicine at National Jewish Health in Denver.She has lost patients to the coronavirus that she treated for years before the pandemic. One such patient, who Olson had treated for at least 10 years, had an underlying lung disease but was stable before contracting the virus. The patient became sick after moving Texas, where hospitals ran out of resources during a surge in COVID-19 cases."We didn't have enough beds at that time to transfer her down," Olson said, adding, "It's really tough. Again, it's not just people I just met. These are people that I have known for a really long time."Then, a month ago, Olson lost a close family friend who died from dementia and pneumonia. She was unable to go to his out-of-state funeral because of the pandemic and instead had to watch the service virtually."That was kind of icing on the cake," Olson said. "It's so disheartening not to be there."During the fall surge in cases, hospital employees said the number of patients they cared for continued to increase as more of their coworkers became sick with the coronavirus. And even when hospitalizations from the virus decline, it can be difficult as people with other conditions come in sicker after putting off care."You're kind of getting hit harder by someone who is just as sick in another manner," Racine, 28, said. "And then, the second time around there's no 'thank you' signs. No hero signs."He described the mental exhaustion that occurs each time he enters a COVID-19 patient's room, saying he took out a life insurance policy last spring when the pandemic began and discussed with his wife the possibility of her living elsewhere as she was pregnant. She gave birth to their daughter early, and he said he doesn't know if it was the result of stress from the situation."I do my best to not take it home with me, but there's days when that just doesn't happen," he said. "There's opportunities at work for some counseling and stuff like that, but it's difficult with the night schedule to coordinate that."Alderfer, who is a charge nurse, remembers losing five patients in her 24-bed intensive-care unit in a single day during the spring surge. But, she said, she is one of the fortunate ones as UCHealth brought family members into the ward to say goodbye to dying relatives."I was in the place a lot less often where I was the only person in the room with a dying stranger, " she said.Racine described a different scene, saying that when people are still positive for the coronavirus they are unable to visit with loved ones in the hospital.."It becomes difficult to set up and arrange for some type of video chat,' he said. "Then try to tell them that their loved one is not doing well through a computer screen is a tough ask."Late last year, Olson began having trouble sleeping and started feeling anxious. She couldn't fall asleep until 4 a.m. and would wake by 6 a.m. to get her kids ready for school at home before going into work. She struggled to focus."I wasn't caring as much as I should and I was like, 'This isn't me,' " Olson said.She thought it would get better after she took time off during the holidays, but when she returned to work she was still struggling with burnout and grief.Mental health is still heavily stigmatized in the health care industry, and it is difficult for physicians to say they need to take time off of work, Olson said.But, she said, that is what she had to do. Under the Family and Medical Leave Act, Olson has taken weeks off and altered her work schedule. For example, during February, she worked from home reading studies and did not directly treated patients. (Even when she's on leave, Olson still fields phone calls from her coworkers updating her about patients, such as when they pass away.)"Overall, yes, it has helped me," Olson said, adding, "There are still days that are going to be rough and I'm learning how to get through those days."Health care workers are facing a huge amount of grief and loss, but the longevity of the pandemic means people are having a harder time finding healthy coping mechanisms, said Fisher, with the Mental Health Center of Denver."The way that they were able to manage is not sufficient in many cases and now they have to figure out how can they manage this new stress and create a lifestyle of wellbeing," he said.In December, the emotion Alderfer had stored away for nine months "leaked out" after losing someone she knew to COVID-19. She took a week off and spent the first couple days in bed, crying and journaling. Eventually, she returned cooking and walking her dog."I felt like I had coping mechanisms again," Alderfer said. "For the first time in nine months, I wasn't just shoving all of this emotion down in a box to deal with later. And since then, I've been trying to deal with stuff in real-time"Her anger last spring made her uncomfortable; it was unlike her. She's heard from other nurses who have felt the sameAlderfer doesn't feel that way anymore. It's been replaced by apathy and exhaustion.Now, before she goes to work each day, she stops in her car and tries to summon a positive attitude."I'm definitely been feeling burned out," Alderfer said. "It's hard to even consider staying in the nursing profession after everything that we've gone through."___(c)2021 The Denver PostVisit The Denver Post at www.denverpost.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A team of researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has developed a new early warning system for vehicles that uses artificial intelligence to learn from thousands of real traffic situations. A study of the system was carried out in cooperation with the BMW Group. The results show that, if used in today's self-driving vehicles, it can warn seven seconds in advance against potentially critical situations that the cars cannot handle alone - with over 85% accuracy.

To make self-driving cars safe in the future, development efforts often rely on sophisticated models aimed at giving cars the ability to analyze the behavior of all traffic participants. But what happens if the models are not yet capable of handling some complex or unforeseen situations?

A team working with Prof. Eckehard Steinbach, who holds the Chair of Media Technology and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MSRM) at TUM, is taking a new approach. Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), their system can learn from past situations where self-driving test vehicles were pushed to their limits in real-world road traffic. Those are situations where a human driver takes over - either because the car signals the need for intervention or because the driver decides to intervene for safety reasons.

Pattern recognition through RNN

The technology uses sensors and cameras to capture surrounding conditions and records status data for the vehicle such as the steering wheel angle, road conditions, weather, visibility and speed. The AI system, based on a recurrent neural network (RNN), learns to recognize patterns with the data. If the system spots a pattern in a new driving situation that the control system was unable to handle in the past, the driver will be warned in advance of a possible critical situation.

"To make vehicles more autonomous, many existing methods study what the cars now understand about traffic and then try to improve the models used by them. The big advantage of our technology: we completely ignore what the car thinks. Instead we limit ourselves to the data based on what actually happens and look for patterns," says Steinbach. "In this way, the AI discovers potentially critical situations that models may not be capable of recognizing, or have yet to discover. Our system therefore offers a safety function that knows when and where the cars have weaknesses."

Warnings up to seven seconds in advance

The team of researchers tested the technology with the BMW Group and its autonomous development vehicles on public roads and analyzed around 2500 situations where the driver had to intervene. The study showed that the AI is already capable of predicting potentially critical situations with better than 85 percent accuracy - up to seven seconds before they occur.

Collecting data with no extra effort

For the technology to function, large quantities of data are needed. After all, the AI can only recognize and predict experiences at the limits of the system if the situations were seen before. With the large number of development vehicles on the road, the data was practically generated by itself, says Christopher Kuhn, one of the authors of the study: "Every time a potentially critical situation comes up on a test drive, we end up with a new training example." The central storage of the data makes it possible for every vehicle to learn from all of the data recorded across the entire fleet.

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WASHINGTON  The Biden administration announced Monday it will prioritize an area off the coast of New York for offshore wind projects and fund new port investments - steps that are expected to boost the jobs in the state, including in the Capital Region, and help the state meet its aggressive clean energy goals.

The administration set a goal to develop 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, which the administration said would be enough to power 10 million homes and cut 78 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.

"The announcement today by President Biden's administration of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030 represents a historic day for the United States and a tremendous leap forward in tackling global climate change by building back better with clean energy and spurring a thriving green economy, clear priorities for New York," Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said.

By designating 800,000 acres in the New York Bight  a shallow water area off the coast of Long Island and New Jersey  as a priority region for wind turbines, the Interior Department is allowing projects in those waters to advance, setting up possible lease sales for one or more projects in late 2021 or early 2022. The administration also announced that it would fund $230 million in grants to strengthen and modernize ports that will support offshore wind infrastructure, make loans available to back the industry and fund more wind energy research and development in consortium with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. One of the awards will go to Cornell University to study protected species in wind farm areas.

It's also expected to permit wind projects more expeditiously than the previous administration.

These steps could help the country quickly add more offshore wind farms, particularly along the New York and New England coastline. Only two offshore wind facilities are now built in U.S. waters.

"This is a very big [step] and one in fact that we have been waiting for in New York for several years," said Doreen Harris, acting president and chief executive officer of NYSERDA. "It's really a very exciting step... ultimately it will lead to areas in which offshore wind can be developed to serve New Yorkers."

Although it's expensive, New York needs to procure more wind energy to help it meet its climate objectives  like virtually eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 which are some of the most aggressive in the world.

The state has contracts with offshore wind developers for projects that will come online in the next several years and provide about half the wind energy that New York is seeking to procure.

New York Bight area is essential to opening up more projects from which New York can procure wind energy to meet its goal of 9000 megawatts by 2035, enough to serve about 6 million New York households and provide 30 percent of the state's energy needs, Harris said.

Eight companies have already indicated their interest in developing wind farms in the New York Bight and the federal government could offer multiple leases as soon as later this year. Then the state would set up contacts with these companies to buy their energy.

These wind projects will mainly supply power to Long Island, New York City and New Jersey, unless further investments in transmission are made by the federal government or private companies to carry the electricity to other states, Harris said.

But both the wind expansion in the New York Bight and federal investment in ports could benefit the Capital Region.

Earlier this year, the state announced that an expanded Port of Albany will house the nations first facility to build wind turbine towers. The plant should employ 300 people, once its up and running. The towers will be shipped in sections down the Hudson River by barge, eventually to be put in place off Long Island. The Port of Albany did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

Additionally, the nearby Port of Coeymans will do concrete foundation work for turbines. A Glens Falls company, WRI Energy, provides weather forecasts for wind turbine builders.

Harris said NYSERDA will prioritize procuring wind energy from projects that support the New York economy and source from manufacturers in the state.

The Biden administrations announcement is another indication that the federal government views offshore wind as a key energy generation source and that New York is very much at the center of plans to build out this burgeoning new sector in the next decade, said Mark Eagan, president and CEO at the Center for Economic Growth, an Albany non-profit focusing on business development.

The Center is putting on a virtual summit meeting about offshore wind on April 13. They have also been pushing to spur wind power projects for the past three years.

The Biden administration said the new wind projects will help the nation meet climate goals and reduce global warming, create thousands of jobs and strengthen supply chains. The Monday announcement comes before Biden is expected to announce a multi-trillion plan for infrastructure investment, including renewable energy technology, on Wednesday.

"President Biden believes we have an enormous opportunity in front of us to not only address the threats of climate change, but use it as a chance to create millions of good-paying, union jobs that will fuel Americas economic recovery, rebuild the middle class, and make sure we bounce back from the crises we face," said National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy Monday. "Nowhere is the scale of that opportunity clearer than for offshore wind."

Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO, an umbrella of union groups, called Biden's plans a "pro-worker" approach to climate change.

The United States is back in the climate game and ready to use all the tools in our toolbelt to reduce our emissions and create a healthier future for people and wildlife, alike, said Collin OMara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.
Anti-bird flu laser technology developed in the Netherlands is being used to keep poultry ranging areas free from wild birds.

Dutch company Bird Control Group has been developing an automated bird deterrent system which uses lasers to spook wild birds, particularly waterfowl.

The lasers keep them away from free range hens and minimises the risk of them spreading avian influenza (AI).

This winter has seen the first major AI outbreak in the UK since 2016/17 and resulted in a housing order being enforced by Defra from 14 December.

It is hoped that the automated device has the potential to limit the need for future housing orders and could work in a similar way to netting ranges.

A recent study by researchers at Wageningen University has revealed a 99.7% reduction in wild birds on the range when the technology is in use.

Armin Elbers, an epidemiologist and research leader at Wageningen said: We believe that the application of these lasers offers a viable alternative for AI prevention, particularly between the October to March period.

The research

The researchers undertook their study during the winter of 2019/20 on a free range farm in the Netherlands.

They deployed the bird deterrent system on a 6 metre high pole, covering a range area of 1.5ha and then installed 8 wide angle video cameras to record wild bird visits.

Dr Elbers said that before the installation of the laser deterrent, the farm was particularly vulnerable to waterfowl.

Ducks regularly came to visit the range during the daylight hours, and they would look for food and swim in puddles of water," he said.

"When swimming in those puddles they may defecate, and then during the day chickens would drink that same water, as we saw on the video recordings.

"In the cold winter period, the AI virus can survive in such water for a considerable length of time.

The project lasted for two months, recording the number of wild bird visits for one month without the laser technology and one month with the system in place.

It is hoped that the automated device has the potential to limit the need for future housing orders

The results showed that there was a 99.7% reduction in the number of duck visits when the lasers were in use, and a reduction of 98.2% of all wild birds species overall.

In the UK

Daniel Hoeberichts runs the free range business Orchard Eggs, in East Sussex, with his wife Karen.

The couple are both originally from the Netherlands, and after the AI outbreak of 2016/17 installed the Bird Control Groups automated lasers on their farm.

Daniel said: We really struggled during the 2016/17 housing order and so we started taking an interest in any potential alternatives to prevent the spread of AI.

"A lot of work was going on back in the Netherlands, as they were particularly hard hit during that outbreak, and I came across the laser system.

We applied to Defra for permission to use this technology in a trial which they allowed us to do, he added.

The results were really quite extraordinary as we saw a reduction of more than 90% - it was primarily crows and pigeons that affected us, and we did not see any of them.

"The results were also long lasting as the birds kept away from the range for several months after we finished using the system.

Daniel also explained that the lasers are most effective on flocks of birds because only one bird needs to be spooked for them all to be scared off.

The laser system keep wild birds away from free range hens

This helps to keep small birds in the hedgerows unaffected and the layers are not bothered by it either, after a week or so they begin chasing the laser around like a cat does.

There is no need for a licence to use the device and it is fully programmed to only shine within the boundaries of the range which means there is no risk that it will impact footpaths, neighbours, or aircraft.

Daniel believes this technology will play a big role in preventing infections: This does have a place on free range farms every winter," he said.

"However, this year we applied to Defra for a derogation to use this device on our range instead of housing our birds and they refused, saying that the risk was too high.

"Until Defra permit this as an alternative during a housing order it will not be used to its full effect.
UN chief calls for bold measures to tackle debt crisis

Xinhua) 15:11, March 30, 2021

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses a high-level event on debt and liquidity at the UN headquarters in New York, March 29, 2021. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for urgent, bold measures to address an emerging debt crisis caused largely by COVID-19. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for urgent, bold measures to address an emerging debt crisis caused largely by COVID-19.

"We are on the verge of a debt crisis. Today's meeting, convened with our partners, the prime ministers of Canada and Jamaica, is a call for urgent action," he told a high-level event on debt and liquidity.

Six countries have already defaulted. One-third of emerging market economies are at high risk of fiscal crisis. And the situation is even worse for least-developed and low-income countries. They face a painfully slow recovery that will put the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement completely out of reach, he warned.

Developing countries need access to additional liquidity to respond to the pandemic and to invest in recovery. The international community must urgently provide the necessary support to all developing countries in need, said Guterres.

From the start of the pandemic, the United Nations has advocated for a three-phase approach to debt: a moratorium on debt payments, targeted debt relief, reforms to the international debt architecture, he noted.

He welcomed the steps that have been taken, including fresh financing by international financial institutions, the Debt Service Suspension Initiative of the Group of 20, and the Common Framework for Debt Treatments, but said they are far from enough.

"I am, therefore, calling for much bolder and more ambitious measures.

"We strongly believe that the Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended into 2022, and made also available to highly indebted, vulnerable middle-income countries that request it.

"The Common Framework for Debt Treatments is facing difficulties. Countries are reluctant to use it because they are concerned that it will have a negative impact on their credit rating. We need joint efforts to address this.

"Additional, targeted debt relief to vulnerable countries, including middle-income ones, will ultimately be needed. A new debt mechanism could provide a menu of options including debt swaps, buy-backs and cancellations," he said.

This is also the moment to tackle long-standing weaknesses in the international debt architecture, from lack of agreed principles, to restructurings that provide too little relief, too late, he added.

"Ultimately, we need a shift in mindsets towards responsible borrowing and lending, accepted by debtor and creditor countries, investors, market participants, credit rating agencies and international organizations. We need a time-bound, open dialogue to build trust and transparency in a systemic, inclusive way. Together, with collective resolve, we can help all countries invest in response, recovery, and a more sustainable and resilient future," said Guterres.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
The body of a climber has been found on New Zealand's Mount Aspiring more than 40 years after he went missing, according to a report.

The remains were found by a search and rescue team from the South Island town of Wanaka.

Police have not commented but New Zealand news outlet Stuff reported that the remains are believed to be those of Australian Terry Jordan.

Mr Jordan, 30, went missing while climbing the mountain with companion Marc Weinstein in December 1978.

Mr Weinstein, an American studying in New Zealand, was found dead soon afterwards at the base of the mountain's south-west ridge.

Two backpacks were also found nearby.

It was thought that Mr Jordan, who was from Canberra in Australia, had either fallen down a crevice or been buried in an avalanche, as there was avalanche debris in the area.

Mr Jordan, a former geologist, was employed as a librarian at Australian National University, while Mr Weinstein had just completed the first year of a geology course at the university.

Mount Aspiring - also known as Tititea - is one of New Zealand's highest peaks, at 3,033m (9,950ft).
While President Joe Biden moves to expand the use of renewable energy nationwide, the Texas Legislature is doing the opposite, adding fees on solar and wind electricity production in the state in hopes of boosting fossil fuels.

Among the reforms of the states electric grid following last months deadly winter storms, Republicans in the Texas Senate have included new fees aimed at solar and wind companies that Democrats warn would damage the states standing as a national leader on renewable energy production, particularly wind power.

State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, said while wind and solar have expanded in Texas, those are unreliable sources of energy because they cannot be called up at a moments notice during an emergency like the freeze in February.

To correct that, Schwertner said his bill will give the states grid monitor authority to create fees for solar and wind. As it stands now, he said billions of dollars in federal subsidies to wind and solar companies have tilted the market too much to benefit those sources of energy, and he aims to re-balance it.

TEXAS GRID REFORMS The Texas Senate on Monday passed a major set of reforms for the state's electrical system. The legislation next goes to the Texas House for consideration. If both chambers pass identical bills, it can go to Gov. Greg Abbott for his approval. Here are some key elements of that bill. Weatherization: Would require power companies and energy producers to weatherize facilities, including transmission lines, at their own expense to assure they can stand up to extreme freezing temperatures. Wind and Solar fees: Would direct the state's grid manager to charge solar and wind producers for not being reliable enough to help more during winter storms. Rolling outage drills: Would require a test run of how rolling outage operations work. During winter storms, attempts to turn off power temporarily turned into days-long outages because of mistakes and technical glitches. Prohibit wholesale electric index plans: Would end wholesale electric plans that resulted in some homeowners getting hit with astronomical electric bills Emergency price maximums: During electricity emergencies, would allow maximum pricing for electricity to last only 12 hours rather that going on for days. Emergency alert system: Would create an alert system to notify Texans when power outages are anticipated. See More Collapse

Yet fossil fuels also receive government subsidies of roughly $20 billion a year, according to some estimates.

Democrats in the Senate say raising fees on green energy would be a step in the wrong direction for a state that has done well in developing wind and solar. Over the last decade, renewable energy has surged past coal and nuclear power to become the states second-leading source of electrical power, after natural gas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

This section could actually be detrimental to renewables, said State Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

The fees are included in a bill that is the most wide-ranging response yet to pass the Texas Senate dealing with the power outages from the winter storms.

Beside the fees on solar and wind producers, the legislation would create an alert system to warn Texans about impending power outages, and would require all electricity providers to weatherize their facilities and transmission lines  a major source of the midstorm power outages. It would also prohibit the wholesale electric index plans that resulted in astronomical bills for some consumers.

SB 3 comprehensively addresses the root issues that led to the major failures that occurred in the Valentine's Day winter storms, Schwertner said.

As the Senate debated the legislation, Menendez said hes bothered by some who have tried to scapegoat solar and wind generators for the power failures when nuclear, natural gas and coal were all interrupted during the storm, resulting in the rolling blackouts that left millions of Texans without power.

Conservative groups in Texas have long complained about the federal subsidies for wind and solar power that Biden is considering expanding.

Those groups, like the Texas Public Policy Foundation, have argued the billions in federal spending has distorted the free market to the detriment of fossil fuels. While theyd prefer those subsidies be undone, that is unlikely with Democrats in control of Congress and the White House.

The Advanced Power Alliance, an industry trade association created to promote the development of wind and solar, calls the proposed fees in Texas unnecessary, discriminatory policy that will increase costs on residential, commercial, and industrial electricity consumers.

The arguments back and forth come as Biden has promised a historic commitment to expanding clean energy production.

Paying for lack of reliability

Biden is headed to Pittsburgh on Wednesday to lay out a sweeping infrastructure plan with an expected price tag of at least $3 trillion  and green energy is likely to be a major focus of the package, with new incentives for wind, solar and more expected to be included.

On Monday the White House rolled out a slew of new federal projects aimed at juicing offshore wind energy production  including in the Gulf of Mexico  that set a goal of building 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power in the United States by 2030. That followed an executive order Biden signed on his first days in office that called for the creation of a new clean energy economy.

This offshore wind goal is proof of our commitment to using American ingenuity and might to invest in our nation, advance our own energy security, and combat the climate crisis, said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.

Bidens infrastructure proposal is expected to be Democrats biggest push for green energy since the Obama-era stimulus, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which included some $90 billion for wind, solar and other clean energy initiatives.

White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain on Monday was tweeting findings from a 2020 National Bureau of Economic Research study that found the Obama-era clean energy spending created nearly 1 million jobs between 2013 and 2017.

Texas Republicans emphasize that when the sun goes down or the wind isnt blowing, those sources of power cant be relied upon, as the winter storms showed.

State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, said the proposed fees on renewables recognize the lack of reliability, which is what we saw during this event.

However, its not just renewables that receive government subsidies.

The U.S. government is also providing tax subsidies to the fossil fuel industry as a means of encouraging domestic energy production. They include direct subsidies to corporations as well as other tax benefits to the fossil fuel industry, according to the bipartisan Environmental and Energy Study Institute in Washington, D.C.

Conservative estimates put U.S. direct subsidies to the fossil fuel industry at roughly $20 billion per year.

Senate Bill 3 passed the Senate on a 31-0 vote on Monday and now heads to the Texas House. Both chambers must pass identical versions of the legislation in order for it to get to Gov. Greg Abbott for his approval before it can become law.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican from Montgomery County, made the bill a priority.

The work is just beginning, Patrick said, promising more changes to correct problems that caused the states power grid failures. But this is a great first step.

Benjamin Wermund contributed reporting from Washington.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
The start of Easter week in Spain has been marked in weather terms by a strong haze of suspended dust from the Sahara, which is responsible for the dense clouds shrouding the Costa del Sol this Tuesday (30 March).

Aemet's state weather centre director, Jose Maria Sanchez-Laulhe, warns that Wednesday will be the worst day, when it is expected that the more than 200 microgrammes of particles per cubic metre may be exceeded at points in the province.

The meteorologist predicts that this phenomenon will not last long and it will tend to subside on Thursday, when it will stay below 50 microgrammes per cubic metre, thanks to the change in the wind, from the current east to west.

If there is rain, which is expected is some areas, it will carry the sand particles and fall in the form of diluted mud. This will be most likely in Estepona and Marbella.

The density of airborne dust in the environment is dangerous for people with respiratory problems but doctors say that the mandatory wearing of facemasks outdoors should alleviate the problem.

The cloud of dust blankets Malaga as seen from the Plaza de la Merced this Tuesday. / SALVADOR SALAS

Jose Daniel Alcazar, a chest expert at the Quironsalud Hospital in Malaga, told SUR, "Airborne dust is very irritating, especially in people with chronically inflamed airways."

However, he added, "The measures that are being taken for Covid, especially the wearing of masks and people not wanting to leave the house, have meant that there are hardly any cases in the emergency department."
A 31-year-old man accused of smuggling drugs into a prison in Dublin has been granted bail.

Glen Hogan of Thomas Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin was charged with conveying cannabis, cocaine and benzodiazopines into Wheatfield Prison on the evening of March 26.

He was also accused of knife possession and trespassing at a car park at the prison on the same date.

He appeared at Dublin District Court.

Judge Dermot Simms was told Mr Hogan made no reply when charged.

Bail terms were set and legal aid was granted.

He was ordered to stay away from Cloverhill and Wheatfield prisons in west Dublin, to reside at his current address, and be contactable by phone.

Judge Simms was told there was a possibility of further charges.

Mr Hogan was ordered to appear again in April.

One of Northern Ireland's most notorious paedophiles has been convicted of raping a teenage boy after being transferred from prison in England to stand trial in Belfast.

William Adams, known as Billy, was convicted last week of the rape and attempted rape of the boy between 1982 and 1983.

He was acquitted of a third charge of serious sexual assault.

A serial abuser, Adams has been jailed for child sex offences here, in the Republic and in England.

He had been serving 15 years after being convicted by a court in Liverpool in 2005 of the repeated rape of a 12-year-old girl.

The case caused shockwaves when it later emerged Co Fermanagh priest Fr Jeremiah McGrath had helped facilitate the abuse.

The cleric was later jailed for five years for financing and assisting in the grooming of the vulnerable schoolgirl.

Originally from Ballymena, Adams lived in the Republic for a number of years, committing offences there, before moving to England where he befriended the family of his young victim, who were unaware of his past.

From a family of sex offenders, his father was an infamous paedophile who was convicted of crimes that horrified the public.

John Adams, from Dunvale in Ballymena, was sentenced to four life sentences in July 2003 - one of the longest sentences ever handed out for sex crimes in the Republic - for the grooming and rape of three girls aged between six and 10 in Co Louth.

The depraved pervert forced the girls to take Polaroid pictures as he abused them at his flat, raping them two or three times a week.

The offences took place between 1991 and 1993.

During an unsuccessful appeal, senior judge Mr Justice Kearns said it was one of the worst cases to have come before the courts in the Republic.

John Adams had a previous conviction for child abduction in Northern Ireland.

In February 1997 he was arrested by RUC officers who found numerous abuse photos hidden in his room.

These featured him assaulting young girls and were concealed behind picture frames throughout his Ballymena home.

The 79-year-old died in 2019 while serving his sentence at Dublin's Arbour Hill Prison, having never shown any remorse for his crimes.

A second son, David Adams, was convicted in 2009 of raping a 13-year-old girl at a flat in Bangor when he was 38.

Having pleaded not guilty to the offence, putting his young victim through a lengthy and distressing trial, it took a jury of 10 women and two men less than an hour to return three unanimous guilty verdicts.

Billy Adams was found guilty in Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday of last week.

He had been transferred from England to Maghaberry in November 2019 and questioned by specialist PSNI officers about historic sex offences against a boy.

He had moved to Liverpool in late 2004, shortly after serving six years in jail for raping an eight-year-old girl in Dublin. Adams reoffended within weeks of signing the sex offender's register in England.

During his time there he was also in a relationship with McGrath, and was known to stay overnight in the parochial house in Roslea.

Following his arrest in England the PSNI searched the parochial house and seized computer equipment.

McGrath later admitted to being in a sexual relationship with the violent offender, and bankrolling him to the tune of around 3,000 a month to groom the little girl and pay the rent on flats where the rapes were carried out.

Adams had put a knife to the girl's throat and told her he would kill her if she told anyone about the abuse.

The shamed priest, who owned a lucrative shares portfolio, was independently wealthy and used this to pay for the paedophile's lavish lifestyle, giving him access to his unsuspecting victim, who he showered with gifts and holidays.

Adams told his victim's family, who were devout Catholics, the priest was his uncle in a bid to gain their trust.

When they became suspicious McGrath lied to the girl's family, telling them they shouldn't believe the press or the police.

This was despite the priest having visited him in prison in Dublin while he served a 12-year sentence for raping an eight-year-old girl.

After being found guilty last week Adams was remanded back into custody to be sentenced at a later date.
Boko Haram blows up another installation about 72 hours after power was restored in the Borno State capital.

Barely 72 hours after electric power was restored in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, Boko Haram insurgents on Saturday blew up another transmission tower in the city.

Sources said the insurgents planted explosives on each leg of the tower, which they detonated at about 6 a.m.

On Wednesday, jubilant residents of Maiduguri were seen in a video that trended on social media as they celebrated the return of electricity after nearly two months of blackout.

It took officials of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) that long to repair the transmission tower brought down by the insurgents at a location about 50km from Maiduguri.

While reconnecting the installation, three TCN officials were severely injured by a landmine planted by the insurgents. Another official was said to have lost his life after falling off a tower.

Saturday attack

The Saturday morning attack did not come as a surprise as residents had expressed fears of the insurgents plunging the city into darkness again as soon as the lights were restored.

A security agent said the tower that was attacked was not far from the one brought down in January.

"It is a major setback for Maiduguri because the tower that was brought down has affected other poles," he said.

"They planted bombs on each leg of the tower which caused it to go down, and they had also fired at some of the high tension wires that caused the lines to cut into bits," he added.

It took officials of the TCN and the Borno government nearly two months to temporarily fix the first tower.

With the latest attack, residents of Maiduguri would suffer from the attendant harsh economic impact the resumed blackout would cause.

The TCN and the Borno state government were yet to speak on the development at the time of filing this report.
Continuing his talk with VietNamNet, Dr. Nguyen Duc Kien, Head of Economic Advisory Group to the Prime Minister, said that the "new normal" is to open for businesses and workforce as the people have been in harsh conditions.

What do you think about the new normal and how to apply it?

The whole world has been talking about a new normal but we all view it differently. So does Vietnam. The view of Hanoi about a new normal is different from that of Hai Duong. So I believe.

Checkpoints in Hai Duong city during lockdown.

In my opinion, the new normal is to open for business and work for people as the people have been suffering and we now understand Covid-19 better.

The pandemic policies of 2020 have been successful but will incur shortcomings in the long run. It is a high time for us to adjust to a new situation as the new administration has been set up. We must change the way to fight against the pandemic or we will lose another year of economic development.

What are the recommendations from the advisory group and you?

It is not easy to harmonize the pandemic battle with economic development. This is more difficult for an absolutist style of thinking - all or nothing.

By now, we should consider it as other infectious disease epidemics. We should, of course, be fully aware of its infection rate but not too scared of it. We must stay alert while remaining calm in order to attain a proper solution.

Governments over the world have been adjusting their policies. It is estimated that due to the fast vaccine rollout, herd immunity will be reached by the end of the second quarter and economies will re-open in the third quarter. So, do we have such an opening plan? Are we ready to re-open?

The Economic Advisory Group has recommended that the Prime Minister implement a vaccination visa policy. If the government decides soon, it is possible to launch the vaccination visa in May for the 2021 tourism season. By doing so, tourism is expected to reach 80% of recovery by the end of 2021.

Tourism and hospitality in particular have created million jobs. Once tourism recovers, workers income will rise, pushing up new demand which further promotes production stability. The economy remains stagnant if we do not unlock domestic demand and attract demands from abroad.

At the moment, localities have requested to distribute vaccines directly to their people. Do you support them?

It is ideal if the government is capable of vaccine importation and distribution for the whole population. However, it is impossible. In my viewpoint, the governments imported vaccine should be prioritized for the frontline pandemic workforce. Localities and enterprises should purchase vaccines for their people and employees at a favorable price.

The steering committee should not decide the distribution to each locality. Hence, it is possible for fast vaccine rollout and we are able to re-open by June. In any battle, to cross rivers, we have to make the most of any possibility for soldiers without waiting for pick-up boats.

Proper mechanism with a tight budget

Dr. Nguyen Duc Kien, Head of the Economic Advisory Group to the Prime Minister, has suggested a vaccine visa policy.

Can you describe the economic picture in the coming time?

According to various international organizations, the world economy is forecasted to recover by 2023, but not 2022. Some industries will take longer time to be back on track.

Our economic growth target of 6-6.5% for this year is hard to achieve if we continue to apply the same way to combat the pandemic as in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh.

We have been discussing the necessity of a Covid-19 relief bill. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance have submitted their assessments on severely affected industries. Their reports are foundations for deciding which industries are in need of support.

Surely tourism and hospitality have suffered most. However, it is not easy for us to provide financial assistance to them. Thats why we recommend a vaccination visa policy for travelers. We contradict our vaccine import policy if tourists are required to stay in government managed isolation despite being jabbed.

It is necessary for us to identify industries in difficulty to provide appropriate assistance. We support them by creating favorable mechanisms. It is of my expectation that the relief package is submitted at the next gathering of the National Assembly. Otherwise, businesses will face ever more difficulties ahead.

What do you think about the enterprises viewpoints in recent meetings?

The majority of enterprises are certain that they can overcome this hard time if the government does not put more obstacles on their business. The governments policies should be clarified. For instance, in order for them to develop an airport under the PPP scheme, the government has to accomplish all tasks under their responsibility, namely investment procedures, site clearance, and design. The corporation is in charge of financing the runways and terminals.

Vietnam Airlines also submitted a consolidation and development proposal. Will its state authority approve the proposal as soon as possible? Unless it is approved soon, the opportunity is missed.

Ho Chi Minh City real estate enterprises have complained about the legal process. Will the state authority review and ease the process for them? Its the state responsibility.

The enterprises are aware of the difficulties of the government. However, they also require the government to be more flexible and active in decision-making. An unusual situation calls for exceptional policies to obtain maximum efficiency and benefits for businesses and people.

Tu Giang
IRVINE, Calif., March 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced the appointment of Yasutake Tsuchida to Senior Director of Design, effective immediately. In this role Tsuchida will oversee design operations, including next-generation vehicle planning and brand strategy development.

Tsuchida joins the MNAO team with more than 22 years of experience at Mazda's headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan. He most recently served as the Chief Designer of the latest generation of Mazda3, which launched in November 2018 and went on to win the 2020 World Car Design of the Year award. Tsuchida was also the Chief Designer of the Kai Concept, and in the late 2000's Tsuchida worked in the Design Studio at MNAO, where he led design on the Furai concept car. Tsuchida began his career at Mazda specializing on exterior design and in the late 1990's and in the early 2000's was lead designer for Mazda3, CX-7 and the Ryuga concept car.

Tsuchida's approach to design focuses on timeless beauty, and in his designs he aspires to evoke strong human emotion to give them energy and enthusiasm. His favorite Mazda is the RX-7 and is an avid surfer.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through approximately 620 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

Follow MNAO's social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yasutake-tsuchida-appointed-as-senior-director-of-design-301256491.html

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-31 03:59:25|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations expects thousands of people are fleeing continued sporadic fighting in northern Mozambique, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

The people are making their way from Palma "by foot, boat and road to reach safer destinations, including to Pemba some 400 km south along the coast," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a release. The flow of displaced began following the outbreak of attacks on March 24.

The United Nations and partners are following with deep concern developments in Palma in Cabo Delgado province after the attacks by non-state armed groups and clashes in the region, it said.

Humanitarian colleagues report displaced people, including children, arrive in dire conditions, traumatized, injured and in need of urgent medical care. Many saw their family members killed and had to hide in the bushes for days, without food or water, to evade the armed men who attacked their communities, OCHA said.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said more than 3,360 people displaced from Palma had arrived in Nangade, Mueda, Montepuez and Pemba districts as of Monday. The UN agency anticipates the numbers will continue to increase over the coming days.

The United Nations and its humanitarian partners are rapidly mobilizing personnel and resources to support arrival points.

The World Food Programme provides emergency food assistance. The IOM offers medical and other supplies, basic shelter, household items, hygiene products, water buckets and water purifying tablets to prevent disease.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the UN Children's Fund support vulnerable people's identification and referral at the arrival points. The UNHCR and partners have housed all unaccompanied children and single mothers with temporary host families in Pemba.

However, OCHA said that as the violence escalates, more resources are needed to aid people fleeing violence. The humanitarian appeal for the Cabo Delgado crisis is just 1 percent funded. Enditem
HIGHLAND  The Metro East Humane Society (MEHS) plans to open its renovated facility in Highland on April 24.

Tours will be offered and pets will be available for adoption 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 24 at 510 W. Monro St., Highland. Masks will be required to attend.

On Monday MEHS publicly launched its capital campaign to raise $175,000 to fully renovate its Highland facility and expand the medical suite at its Edwardsville facility. MEHS has raised $54,725 and is now looking to the community for help in reaching its goal.

Were incredibly proud of all weve accomplished in our 34-year history, but we know theres so much more to be done, said MEHS Executive Director Anne Schmidt. After a full year of delays due to COVID-19, were ready to open the doors to our MEHS Highland facility and help more animals in the St. Louis Metro East.

June Blaine and John Duft of Highland kickstarted the campaign with their $25,000 donation.

John and I have adopted several of our beloved dogs from the Highland shelter, said Blaine. We hope our gift to MEHS will help both the animals and community of Highland. We encourage others to join us in supporting the MEHS campaign.

Purina also donated $10,000 to the campaign to help MEHS expands its pawprint throughout the Metro-East region.

The Metro East Humane Society is a longstanding partner that shares in our belief that people and pets are better together, said Kim Beardslee, Director of Community Affairs at Purina. We know that this campaign will enable MEHS to expand their services and find more loving homes for pets in need.

For more about the capital campaign visit: www.mehs.org/capital-campaign or contact Amanda Kernan, MEHS Development Manager, at 618-792-8137.

MEHS provides adoption, foster, low-cost veterinary services, humane education and trap-neuter-return services to a five-county area in southwestern Illinois. So far this year, MEHS has placed 193 dogs and cats in new homes.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the city of Clevelands effort to throw out a class-action lawsuit filed against Cleveland Public Power over more than $188 million in customer fees.

The courts justices declined to hear the citys appeal of a lower courts ruling that reinstated the lawsuit filed in 2015 on behalf of the public utilitys consumers.

The ruling ends the citys last chance to get the lawsuit tossed out of court before the trial and sends it back to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

Attorneys from the Merriman Legal law firm representing the plaintiffs, including lead plaintiffs and CPP customers Clint Yoby, Tremont Scoops ice cream shop and Tymex Plastics, called Tuesdays decision another victory for consumers and said they look forward to preparing for trial or negotiating a settlement.

A city spokeswoman said late Tuesday that the law department was disappointed in the ruling.

The lawsuit, filed in December 2015, centers on CPPs collection of an environmental and ecological adjustment fee from its customers. Cleveland City Council established the fee as part of a 1970s ordinance in response to environmental concerns at the term, including the burning of the Cuyahoga River and the creation of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The law allowed the city to charge customers for the purchase of special apparatus and equipment required to meet federal, state and local environmental regulations.

Cleveland Public Power began collecting the fee in the 1980s after it no longer produced energy and began buying energy from other sources and supplying it to its customers, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit contends that the citys public utilities commissioner at the time, Ivan Anderson, began imposing the up-charge arbitrarily to boost the utilitys revenue and undercut its competitor, rather than using it to cover the costs of buying environmental equipment. The utility also did not disclose to its customers that they were paying the fee by including it as part of the standard energy adjustment charge, which allows utility companies to cover month-to-month cost fluctuations in energy costs, the suit said.

Between 1984 and 2013, the utility received $188 million in revenues from the adjustments, according to the appellate opinion.

The practice came to light after the city hired Paul Bender as public utilities director in 2013 to turn around a water department plagued by mismanagement. Bender discovered the billing practice and banned it until he announced his resignation in 2015 to pursue development work in Botswana. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer broke the story shortly after Bender left his post.

The suit asks the city to reimburse its nearly 80,000 customers for the charges they paid.

The citys lawyers sought to dismiss the lawsuit by arguing that the original 1970s ordinance allowed it to collect the fee and use it on other things, including to avoid having to raise rates on customers over the years.

Common Pleas Court Judge Janet Burnside, who retired at the end of her term in January 2019, sided with the city in one of her final days on the bench and ruled that the fee collection did not violate the contract. Burnside dismissed the lawsuit.

Attorneys for the customer class appealed to the 8th District Court of Appeals, where a three-judge panel unanimously reversed Burnsides dismissal. The judges found the city was using the ordinance in an overly broad manner that City Council would not have intended when passing it to justify charging the fee.

The city asked the entire 8th District bench to revisit the decision, and the judges in November rejected the request by a 10-1 vote.

On Tuesday, the Ohio Supreme Court declined jurisdiction to hear the citys appeal of the 8th Districts decision. Justice Jennifer Brunner was the lone justice to vote to hear the city out.

Judge Deborah Turner, who took over Burnsides docket in 2019 after being elected to fill her seat on the bench, will preside over the case.

Read more stories

Appeals court says suit over $188 million in Cleveland Public Power charges can move forward

Law firm files class action lawsuit against Cleveland Public Power, seeking millions in damages

Cleveland Public Power illegally billed customers more than $128 million, former director alleges
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A special session that could end with New Mexico joining a wave of other states in taxing and regulating cannabis got off to a brisk start Tuesday at the Roundhouse, with lawmakers advancing freshly drafted bills to legalize marijuana for adult users and wipe certain pot-related convictions off offenders records.

The unusual special session  called by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham just 10 days after lawmakers wrapped up a 60-day legislative session  will continue Wednesday with both the House and Senate poised to vote on the cannabis-related measures.

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The Democratic governor called the special session in an attempt to get a marijuana legalization bill across the finish line after a previous bill stalled on the Senate floor in the final hours of the recently completed session.

But the cannabis redo also represents a political risk of sorts, because the cost of recent special sessions has averaged about $50,000 a day.

Given that backdrop, four Democratic lawmakers unveiled a revised cannabis legalization bill Tuesday that is similar to the legislation that previously fell short but with one big difference  the removal of expungement provisions that had triggered opposition, especially among Republican lawmakers. The expungement section was instead placed in a separate bill.

Meanwhile, the new cannabis proposal, House Bill 2, cleared the first of its two assigned committees Tuesday.

It would allow New Mexicans ages 21 and older to buy and possess outside the home up to 2 ounces of cannabis or 800 milligrams of edible cannabis, starting no later than April 2022.

Rep. Javier Martinez, an Albuquerque Democrat and co-sponsor, said the proposal would create a tightly regulated cannabis industry in New Mexico.

No legislation of this magnitude will ever be perfect, he said, but its pretty darn close to it.

The legislation passed the House Taxation and Revenue Committee 8-4 on Tuesday afternoon, a few hours after it was introduced in the House.

It was under debate before the House Judiciary Committee late Tuesday and, if passed there, would head to the full chamber for consideration.

House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, said he expected final House action on the proposal Wednesday morning, with passage sending it to the Senate.

Cannabis legalization proposals have passed the full House at least twice since 2019, only to die in the Senate, including earlier this month.

Expungement

While the retooled cannabis legalization proposal advanced in the House, the stand-alone expungement bill to wipe certain cannabis-related convictions off New Mexicans criminal records drew scrutiny in the Senate.

The Senate Judiciary Committee spent several hours Tuesday debating the legislation, Senate Bill 2, which would order the expungement of criminal records for marijuana-related offenses that would fall under the proposed cannabis legalization law.

These are offenses that would no longer be crimes, Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, said during Tuesdays hearing.

She and other bill supporters also said drug-related convictions currently hamper many New Mexicans from landing jobs and paying their bills.

However, the bill would also authorize the release of New Mexicans jailed for cannabis-related offenses, and several senators expressed concern about the logistics of reviewing thousands of court files to determine eligibility.

In addition, Attorney General Hector Balderas, whose office would be in charge of reviewing criminal records under the expungement proposal, suggested lawmakers should appropriate money to pay for such an effort.

Our office strongly supports criminal justice reform that corrects the inequities of excessive incarceration, but I am highly concerned that the Legislature provide the necessary funding for staffing and oversight, and that an unfunded mandate will harm deserving New Mexicans, Balderas said in a statement.

At least some references to the AGs Office were removed from the bill by the Senate committee late Tuesday, before it was approved and sent to the Senate floor.

Criticism

The special session has faced political crosswinds, even before getting underway.

Some GOP legislative leaders have criticized the governor for holding the special session during the week leading up to Easter and not publicly disclosing the contents of the revised bill before the session began.

In addition, Sen. Jacob Candelaria, D-Albuquerque, tweeted this week that he would oppose the cannabis legalization bill because it would set up a protectionist marketplace by imposing plant count limits.

He also expressed concern the social justice provisions were no longer included in the measure.

In response, a Lujan Grisham spokeswoman said Tuesday that Candelaria was entitled to his own vote, but not his own facts about the legislation and raised the question of a conflict of interest.

Its hard sometimes to tell where the senator ends and the attorney for the states largest medical cannabis company begins, Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett said, referring to Candelarias past legal work representing Ultra Health LLC.

While New Mexico lawmakers debate the issue, other states are moving ahead with legalization measures. New York and Virginia are on the verge of becoming the 16th and 17th states to legalize recreational marijuana, respectively.

New Mexico already has a medical cannabis program with more than 100,000 enrolled members. And Lujan Grisham signed into law a 2019 decriminalization bill that made possession of up to a half-ounce of marijuana a civil offense punishable by a $50 fine.

Public support

Recent polls have shown broad public support across all regions of New Mexico for legalizing recreational cannabis, with backers saying such a law would generate revenue for the state, create jobs and free up law enforcement to focus on other issues.

But the legalization push has also drawn opposition, and representatives of Catholic bishops and health organizations testified Tuesday against the revised legalization bill.

Linda Siegle, a lobbyist for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, questioned the wisdom of allowing on-site consumption, a move she said would weaken hard-fought air quality protections for workers and consumers.

Secondhand smoke of any type is dangerous, she said.

Opponents also said the legalization proposal would worsen New Mexicos struggle with driving under the influence and conflict with federal law.
Fewer than 50% of Americans have formal church membership for first time in 80 years: Gallup

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While America remains a highly religious nation with seven in 10 claiming affiliation with some kind of organized religion, for the first time in nearly 80 years, fewer than half of them now say they have formal membership in a specific house of worship, according to a new Gallup analysis.

In 1937, says Gallup, when they first measured formal membership in houses of worship, some 70% of Americans had formal church membership and that measure remained steady for the next 60 years until it began a steady decline in 1998. In 2020, formal membership in houses of worship stood at 49%.

The Washington, D.C.-based analytics and advisory company was able to highlight several factors for the decline through responses from more than 6,000 U.S. adults each time across three-year aggregates from 1998 to 2000, 2008 to 2010, and 2018 to 2020 when formal membership in houses of worship first dipped below 50%.

One of the biggest factors Gallup found strongly correlates with church membership is age. Some 66% of traditionalists  U.S. adults born before 1946  have formal membership in a church, compared with 58% of Baby Boomers, 50% of those in Generation X and 36% of millennials. Current but limited data on members of Gen Zers who've already reached adulthood suggest their church membership rate is similar to millennials.

The analysis also pointed to the growing number of Americans who express no religious preference. In the last 20 years, the share of Americans who do not identify with any religion has grown from 8% in 1998 to 2000 to 21% in the last three years. Only 4% of people from this group said they held formal membership in a church, synagogue or mosque. Between 1998 and 2000 that figure was 10%.

While it is possible that part of the decline seen in 2020 was temporary and related to the coronavirus pandemic, continued decline in future decades seems inevitable, given the much lower levels of religiosity and church membership among younger versus older generations of adults, wrote Gallup Senior Editor Jeffrey M. Jones.

Churches are only as strong as their membership and are dependent on their members for financial support and service to keep operating. Because it is unlikely that people who do not have a religious preference will become church members, the challenge for church leaders is to encourage those who do affiliate with a specific faith to become formal, and active, church members, he added.

Among religious groups, Catholics suffered the steepest decline over the periods measured dropping from 76% to 58%. Protestants fell 9% from 73% to 64%.

The data also showed that declining church membership in the last two decades was greater among Eastern residents and Democrats.

Political conservatives, Republicans, married adults and college graduates experienced lower declines and tended to have higher rates of church membership, along with Southern residents and non-Hispanic black adults, Gallup said.

In his analysis of data from the General Social Survey of five-year windows in which individuals were born spanning from 1965 to 1984 and published by the Barna Group in 2019, Ryan Burge, an assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University and pastor of First Baptist Church of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, showed that younger generations raised in the church werent typically returning to church when compared with members of the Baby boomer generation born between 1945 and 1964.

For anyone concerned with church growth, Burge says, this should sound an alarm.

Many pastors are standing at the pulpit on Sunday morning and seeing fewer and fewer of their former youth group members returning to the pews when they move into their late-20s and early-30s. No church should assume that this crucial part of the population is going to return to active membership as their parents once did, he explained.

The data is speaking a clear message: the assumptions that undergirded church growth from two decades ago no longer apply. If churches are sitting back and just waiting for all their young people to flood back in as they move into their 30s, they are likely in for a rude awakening. Inaction now could be creating a church that does not have a strong future, he added.
Ranchi:

A superb all-round performance by Puneri Paltan saw them register a comfortable 37-25 victory over Haryana Steelers in the fifth Pro-Kabaddi League (PKL) here on Tuesday.

Sandeep Narwal (nine points), Rajesh Mondal (seven points) were the main contributors but it was a real team effort which led Pune to victory.

The Puneri Paltan raiders chipped in with 15 points whereas the defence contributed 17 points. For Haryana, Surjeet Singh was the sole performer as he ended up with 9 raid points.

Puneri Paltan are now third in Zone A with 42 points from 11 matches. Haryana Steelers remain second with 49 points after 16 matches.

Puneri Paltan led 2-0 in the first minute after scoring a raid and tackle point. Wazir Singh made a successful raid in the second minute to open Haryana Steelers account.

Both teams were neck and neck after five minutes with score level at 4-4. Rajesh Mondal made a successful raid in the 9th minute to give Puneri Paltan 7-4 lead. Haryana Steelers fought back to make it 7-7 in the 10th minute.

ALSO READ | Pro-Kabaddi League 2017: Telugu Titans and Bengaluru Bulls match ends in dramatic 26-26 tie

In the 17th minute, Deepak Hooda made a successful raid to give Puneri Paltan 10-9 lead, which they extended to 16-10 after inflicting an all out in the 18th minute.

Haryana Steelers scored two points in a minute at the start of the second half to trail 12-17. Puneri Paltan were looking in control of the match as they led 20-13 after 25 minutes.

Surjeet Singh scored with a two-point raid as Haryana Steelers trailed 17-22 after 30 minutes. Rajesh Mondal restored Puneri Paltans seven-point advantage with a two-point raid in the next minute.

Puneri Paltan then inflicted an all out in the 35th minute to lead 33-20.

Haryana were looking hapless and completely out of sorts as they couldnt match Paltans intensity.

Surjeet Singh scored with three successful raids to help Haryana reduce the deficit to 24-35 in the 38th minute. But Puneri Paltan were the better defensive unit on the night as won the match 37-25.

ALSO READ | Pro-Kabaddi League 2017: Patna Pirates inflict massive 46-30 defeat to Telugu Titans
Highlights A security researcher claimed that the data of 3.5 million Mobiwik users were put up for sale on dark web.

The researcher claimed that the sensitive information of 3.5 million users that was put on the dark web for sale includes KYC details, addresses, phone numbers and others.

Several users had reportedly spotted their personal details on the dark web link that is being circulated on the internet.

Payment app Mobiwik came under the scanner on Monday after a security researcher claimed that the data of 3.5 million users were put up for sale on the dark web. The researcher claimed that the sensitive information of 3.5 million users that was put on the dark web for sale includes KYC details, addresses, phone numbers, Aadhar card data and other details of the users. Several users had reportedly spotted their personal details on the dark web link that is being circulated on the internet.

Update: Mobikwik CEO Bipin Preet Singh has issued a statement on the alleged data breach involving Mobikwik. He said, "Some users have reported that their data is visible on the dark web. While we are investigating this. it is entirely possible that any user could have uploaded his information on multiple platforms. Hence. it is incorrect to suggest that the data available on the dark web has been accessed from MobiKwik or any identified source."

"When this matter was first reported last month, the company undertook a thorough investigation with the help of external security experts and did not find any evidence of a breach. The company is closely working with requisite authorities and is confident that security protocols to store sensitive data are robust and have not been breached. Considering the seriousness of the allegations. and by way of abundant caution, it will get a third party to conduct a forensic data security audit. For our users. ve reiterate that all your MobiKwik accounts and balances are completely safe. All financially sensitive data is stored in encrypted form in our databases. No misuse of your wallet balance, credit card, or debit card is possible without the one-time-password (OTP) that only comes to your mobile number. We strongly recommend that you do not try to open any dark web anonymous links as they could jeopardize your own cyber safety. We are committed to a safe and secure Digital India.

However, the company's claims do not match with the claims made by users who have spotted their personal details on the dark web.

The data breach was first spotted by security researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia in February. "11 Crore Indian Cardholder's Cards Data Including personal details & KYC soft copy(PAN, Aadhar etc) allegedly leaked from a company's Server in India. 6 TB KYC Data and 350GB compressed mysql dump," he had said.

The screenshots of the Mobiwik breach were posted on Twitter by another security researcher who goes by the name Elliot Alderson. He called it the "largest KYC data leak in the history".

As per a TechNadu report, the email ids, phone numbers, passwords apps installed, phone manufacturer, IP address, GPS locations, and other details of users were leaked. The report further reveals that the alleged seller has set up a dark web portal "where one can search by phone number or email ID and get the specific results out of a total of 8.2 TB of data."

The company had denied Rajshekhar's claims back in February but on Monday, a link from the dark web was reportedly spotted online. Users had claimed seeing their personal details on the dark web.

Several users also posted screenshots of the Mobiwik users' data that was up for sale on the dark web. As per reports, the data was being sold for 1.5 bitcoin or about $86,000. However, Mobiwik has outrightly denied the claims made by Rajaharia.

A company spokesperson said, "Some media-crazed so-called security researchers have repeatedly attempted to present concocted files wasting precious time of our organization as well as members of the media. We thoroughly investigated and did not find any security lapses. Our user and company data is completely safe and secure."
2021-03-30

Maeci

Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Small Group Co-Hosted by The Kingdom of Belgium and The United States of America





At the invitation of Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmes and U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, the Foreign Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS Small Group met virtually today to reaffirm our shared determination to continue the fight against Daesh/ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and to create conditions for an enduring defeat of the terrorist group, which remains the Coalitions sole purpose, through a comprehensive, multifaceted effort. The Ministers emphasized the protection of civilians and affirmed that international law, including international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, particularly children, and international human rights law, as well as relevant UN Security Council resolutions, must be upheld under all circumstances. In this regard the Ministers emphasized the need to stop and prevent violence, and grave violations of childrens rights, and to durably improve the protection of children affected by the armed conflict, as well as to ensure womens human rights. The Ministers, recalling their statement of June 4, 2020, committed to strengthen cooperation across all Coalition lines of effort to ensure that Daesh/ISIS and its affiliates are unable to reconstitute any territorial enclave or continue to threaten our homelands, people, and interests. Together they remain firmly united in their outrage at Daesh/ISISs atrocities and in their determination to eliminate this global threat.

The Ministers acknowledged that while Daesh/ISIS no longer controls territory and nearly eight million people have been freed from its control in Iraq and Syria, the threat remains. The Ministers expressed their condolences and reiterated their support to Iraqi authorities following the increased Daesh/ISIS activity in Iraq and Syria in recent months, including the double suicide attacks in Baghdad on January 21, and called for continued and coordinated action. This includes allocating adequate military and civilian resources to sustain Coalition and legitimate partner forces efforts against Daesh/ISIS in Iraq and Syria, including stabilization support to liberated areas, to safeguard Iraq and Syrias stability and our collective security interests. The Ministers noted the new 2021 Pledge Drive for Stabilization, reiterating the importance of collective stabilization efforts to the long-term defeat of Daesh/ISIS and the elimination of the conditions conducive to its rise.

The Ministers reiterated their unwavering commitment to continue close cooperation with and support to the Government of Iraq. Appropriate measures to enhance the operational efficiency and coordination of our collective efforts to maintain necessary pressure on Daesh/ISIS remain essential. The Coalition operates in Iraq at the request of the Government of Iraq, in full respect of Iraqs sovereignty and aiming at strengthening its security. Ministers recalled that attacks against Coalition forces and Iraqi partners, such as those that occurred in Erbil, Baghdad, and Al Asad, are unacceptable and compromise our collective efforts at the expense of the people of Iraq. They welcomed the decision of the February 18 NATO Defence Ministerial Meeting regarding the incremental expansion of NATOs non-combat advisory and training mission in Iraq, with the full consent of the Government of Iraq and complementing the Coalitions efforts. While the COVID-19 global crisis has had an impact on the Coalitions activities and operations, the Ministers welcomed the continued work with partner forces that mitigated the fallout of the pandemic while providing continued support to further dismantle Daesh/ISIS. The enhanced sharing of terrorist-related criminal information by Iraqi authorities, via INTERPOL channels, supported this progress within the Coalitions law enforcement line of effort.

In Syria, the Coalition stands with the Syrian people in support of a lasting political settlement in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. The Coalition must continue to be vigilant against the threat of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, to build on the success it has achieved and continue to act together against any threats to this outcome to avoid security vacuums that Daesh/ISIS may exploit. The Ministers took note of the resumption in Daesh/ISIS activities in areas where the Coalition is not active and its ability to rebuild its networks and capabilities to target security forces and civilians.

The Ministers also welcomed the Coalition meeting held on November 10, 2020 on Daesh/ISIS threats in West Africa, noting with concern the serious and growing threat Daesh/ISIS affiliates pose across West Africa and the Sahel, as well as the emerging threat in other parts of the continent, particularly in East Africa. The Coalition reaffirmed its willingness to further explore how it can contribute to collective efforts to cope with the threat posed by Daesh/ISIS in these regions, and that such efforts be upon the request and prior consent of countries concerned, and be in close coordination with African partners and existing initiatives such as the International Coalition for the Sahel, and in full respect of international law. The Ministers noted that collecting, preserving and sharing battlefield evidence via bilateral and/or INTERPOL multilateral channels, and the need for comprehensive border security, were identified as potential areas for Global Coalition engagement in the region.

The Ministers, recognizing the challenge posed by foreign terrorist fighters who are in custody as well as family members who remain in Iraq and Syria, committed to pursue existing effective accountability mechanisms in close coordination with the countries of origin, including accountability for fighters who have used sexual violence as an instrument of terror. They remained committed to promoting efforts to ensure that accused terrorists, including those of foreign nationality, are treated appropriately and tried consistent with international law obligations, including applicable fair trial guarantees, and they urged the custodians of the detained Daesh/ISIS terrorist fighters to treat them humanely at all times, in accordance with international law. The Ministers further recognized that the situation for Daesh/ISIS detainees and their family members in northeast Syria is of grave concern and stressed the importance of finding a comprehensive approach to this serious challenge.

The Coalition reaffirmed its belief that a comprehensive and collective effort remains necessary to achieve a full and enduring defeat of Daesh/ISIS worldwide. The Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS has proven that it is a cohesive, adaptable and successful vehicle that will continue to sustain this important endeavor through stabilization, political, military, communications, counter finance, and law enforcement lines of effort. The Ministers also reaffirmed their intent to hold the next ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition in Italy as soon as circumstances permit.
Dodoma  President Samia Suluhu Hassan has nominated Finance minister Dr Phillip Mpango, 63, as the new Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The name has been presented to parliament for approval, under the constitution the new Vice president has to be approved by at least 50 per cent of the Members of Parliament.

Upon approval by parliament, he will fill the VP position which was left vacant after Ms Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in as President following the death of Dr John Pombe Magufuli.

Until today's nomination, he was the Minister for Finance and Planning of the United Republic of Tanzania, and has been in office since November 2015.

Dr. Mpango previously held positions as the Acting Commissioner General of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), the Executive Secretary in the President's Office (Planning Commission), the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, the Personal Assistant to the President (Economic Affairs).
Even the concert hall at Mills College is different.

Looming at the back of the stage is a huge, bright mural of a forest opening onto a deep blue lake. The ceiling is painted in geometric patterns and vivid colors. Frescos of Gregorian chant scores flank the stage.

We are not in sedate, monochromatic Carnegie Hall. No, Littlefield Concert Hall at Mills, in Oakland, Calif., is a vibrant, even eccentric place, where it is clear from the surroundings that music outside the mainstream is not simply tolerated, but celebrated.

There was a real atmosphere of comfort and support for whatever it is that you wanted to do, the composer David Rosenboom, who led the music program at Mills in the 1980s, said in an interview.

Now that program and the electronics-focused Center for Contemporary Music, together among the most distinguished havens for experimental work in America over the past century, are facing possible closure. On March 17 the college, founded in 1852, announced that ongoing financial problems, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, would mean the end of its history as a degree-granting institution made up of an undergraduate womens college and several coeducational graduate programs.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 77F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 63F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Nairobi  Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha ordered the expulsion of National Youth Service (NYS) personnel from examination centres in Machakos on Monday insisting on the deployment of armed police officers to provide security.

The servicemen and women were on standby to provide security in the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

They had been ferried to Machakos to compliment police officers in offering security during the examinations.

The CS was surprised to find the NYS personnel waiting to receive examinations when he arrived at a Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) examinations container in Machakos Town.

He officiated the opening of the container located at the Machakos Subcounty Education Office at exactly 6.00am.

Magoha said no NYS service man or woman should be involved in monitoring the examinations.

He insisted that each examinations centre must be secured by at least two armed police officers.

"I have found reasonable improvement, but we must still re-emphasize the issue of security and integrity for our examinations. So, we have agreed with the county police commander that even in Machakos despite all the other duties that the officers are doing, we must have two armed police officers in each examination centre," Magoha said.

He addressed the press outside the Machakos Subcounty Education Office shortly after opening the container.

Magoha added: "We are not crazy to insist on this. As I speak to you, there are centres in Northern part of this country where the second paper sometimes is tampered with. And this emphasises the need to have at least two police officers to ensure that one of the policeman is constantly with the examinations. Since I have been assured that police officers are there, we must have a minimum of at least two police officers per centre."

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He said the ministry firmly in control of the examinations.

"In order to continue to reaffirm this control, then we must be extra vigilant. We are also aware that people are also trying to peddle fake papers. We are also aware that there are still attempts to get people to sit the examinations," Magoha said.

He said the integrity of the second paper was going to be the ministry's focus.

"Let me warn those people who want to destroy our children especially in refugee camps where they think that they have access to do whatever they want that we shall tame them. In the event that you succeed to do something that is not reasonable, our teachers who mark those papers will find out and condemn these children for no good reason, " Magoha said.

He told examinations monitors to actively monitor the examinations.

"I want to challenge all the monitors that they are not flower girls, they are supposed to be actively monitoring, assuming that everybody is not trusted so that we continue ensuring integrity of the examinations."

" Nobody should have access to the examination halls including the centre managers unless there's very good reason," he added.
Former Head of Business Development at Cynapsus Therapeutics Broadens Pond Executive Leadership Team as Company Builds Foundation for Growth

MARKHAM, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2021 / Pond Technologies Holdings Inc. ("Pond") (TSX.V:POND)(OTCQB:PNDHF)(FSE:400), an ESG company addressing global sustainability challenges of wellness and climate change is pleased to announce the appointment of Nigel deGruyther, former head of Business Development, Cynapsus Therapeutics, as Vice President of Pond Biotech. In his new role at Pond, Mr. deGruyther will report directly to Grant Smith, Pond CEO.

At Cynapsus, Nigel headed the business development team, where he was instrumental in leading the strategic corporate activities that resulted in the 2016 acquisition of Cynapsus by Sunovion, (the US subsidiary of Sumitomo Dianippon Pharma) for CAD$841 Million.

Prior to joining Cynapsus, Nigel spent several years as a sell-side analyst covering a range of companies developing products in medical devices, diagnostics, and drugs. He has also worked on the buy-side in venture capital at MDS Capital Corp., which was Canada's leading life science venture capital investor at the time.

After obtaining an undergraduate degree in pharmacy, Nigel went on to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces as a pharmacy officer in the Special Service Force, and Central Medical Equipment Depot as well as deploying to Saudi Arabia with 1 Canadian Field Hospital during the Gulf War. Nigel left the military to pursue his MBA at the University of Western Ontario.

Grant Smith, Pond CEO, commented "We are very excited to welcome Nigel deGruyther to the Pond team, as the Vice President of our newly created Biotech division. Having recently completed a successful private placement and with encouraging interest for our disruptive technology, Nigel joins us at an important juncture within the company's lifecycle. We believe that Nigel's extensive diagnostic, pharma and financial network will be instrumental in guiding the future growth of Pond's Biotech division"

Nigel deGruyther commented, "After examining the opportunity at Pond, I was impressed at the potential for algae and Pond's proprietary growing system to be the next evolutionary production step in the biopharmaceutical industry. I am looking forward to proving out this technology and bringing new life-altering medications to the market."

About Pond Technologies Holdings Inc.:

Located in Markham, Ontario, Pond Technology is a technology leader in controlled environment cultivation of micro-algae. In over ten years of R&D, Pond has developed a robust disruptive technology platform based on artificial intelligence, proprietary LED-lights and patented CO2-Management. The use of concentrated CO2 from industrial waste streams enables Pond to boost productivity of micro-algae well beyond the capacity of outdoor algae growers and allows industrial emitters to abate and ultimately recycle CO2. Pond is currently selling micro-algae derived antioxidant Astaxanthin under its Regenurex brand. As micro-algae are becoming increasingly important in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, nutraceuticals, human nutrition, aqua farming, bioplastics and biofuels, Pond has begun to license its technology to third parties for ongoing license fees and royalties. Pond recently added a Biotech division focused on the growth of unique strains of micro-algae to be used as a reproductive medium for the expression of human anti-bodies and proteins.

For more information, please visit https://www.pondtech.com/.

Neither 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 news release.

For further information contact: Grant Smith, Chief Executive Officer, at g.smith@pondtech.com, 416-287-3835 ext. 201; or Chris Cory at c.cory@pondtech.com, 416-287-3835 ext. 215

SOURCE: Pond Technologies Holdings Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/638116/Pond-Technologies-Announces-Nigel-deGruyther-BSc-MBA-Joins-Pond-as-Vice-President-of-Pond-Biotech
Six people in a family, including a two-month-old baby, were killed while another was injured after a fire broke out at a house in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City early on Tuesday morning.

The deadly blaze occurred at the home of 54-year-old Tam in Cat Lai Ward at around 1:00 am, according to preliminary information

Eyewitnesses said they did everything they could to put out the flames in vain.

As firefighting police officers arrived and extinguished the conflagration, six people inside the house had already died, while Tam survived as he had slept on the outside of the house.

Tam, however, suffered second-degree burns and were rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.

The deceased were later identified as Bui Thi Loan, 52, Luc Kien Anh, 27, Luc Tuyen Trinh, 25, Bui Thuy An, 24, Luc Kien Nghi, seven, and a two-month-old baby.

Police officers investigate a house fire that killed six people in a family in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, March 30, 2021. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

They were Tams wife, son, daughter, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.

Five motorbikes and all property inside the house were also burned down.

As of 6:00 am the same morning, the location had been sealed off for police officers to carry out their investigation.

The family is categorized as a poor household, Nguyen Duc Hien, chairman of the Cat Lai Ward Peoples Committee, said, adding that local authorities are discussing the most suitable support for the victims.

Police officers investigate a house fire that killed six people in a family in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, March 30, 2021. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

Vo Thi Biec, the mother of Bui Thi Loan  one of the six deceased victims. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

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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
Sometime in April, the Ingenuity helicopter will take to the Martian air, making it, in NASAs words, the first attempt at powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet. Or, to put it in more mundane terms, Mars will have become another airport. Of course, many crafts have already landed on Marsthe most recent carrying the rover Perseverance, with the Ingenuity copter nested inside.

That landing spot was named by the NASA team Octavia E. Butler Landing. (Official site christenings throughout the solar system must be bestowed by the International Astronomical Union.) At first blush, this seems like a deserved homage to Butler as a visionary artist (for her contributions to the genre of speculative fiction) and as a pathbreaking figure (as the first sci-fi author to receive a MacArthur Fellowship). The name conjoins the daring mission of the Perseverance rover with the legacy of a luminous writer of intellectually daring novels. It also meaningfully honors a Black woman, on behalf of NASA.

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However, in the context of Butlers work this appellation becomes deeply complicated. Few writers have been as acutely aware of the moral quandaries of human domination and planetary colonization (see Dawn), and of how colonies function as palimpsests of slavery and other cross-generational patterns of violence (consider Kindred). To call the landing site Octavia E. Butler Landing is somewhat paradoxical; it might as well have been named Be Careful What You Wish For.

Evoking Butler only highlights the ongoing, fraught conversations around Mars and colonization. Elon Musk has been adamant about the need to get to Mars. The SpaceX webpage titled Mars & Beyond quotes Musks broad ambitions directly: I cant think of anything more exciting than going out there and being among the stars. This aspirational claim may sound innocent enough, but it assumes we have a right to be there in the first placeindeed, to colonize it, as evinced by an early name for his planned spaceship, the Mars Colonial Transporter. Musk argues that in order for humans to survive, its necessary for the species to become spacefaring and multiplanetary. But colonizing is no innocent practice: Humans have been reckoning with the fraught consequences of colonization on our planet for some time now.

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Musk is perhaps the most egregious example of the extraterrestrial colonizing mindset and is an easy target for criticism: another rich white boy who assumes he can conquer the universe, while turning away from systemic problems on Earth. As Andrew Russell and Lee Vinsel bluntly stated in an article at Aeon: At this point in human history, the colonisation of Mars is a distraction from the severe problems facing human societies. And its notable that Musk does not shy away from his plans for Mars being described as colonization. Even when Musk isnt saying the word directly, the concept lurks and cannot be disconnected from its brutal legacies.

Colonialism can be cloaked as a natural impulse to explore.

But even space exploration framed as science instead of colonization risks reproducing troubling patterns. Consider the official view of NASA: Even if Mars is devoid of past or present life, however, theres still much excitement on the horizon. We ourselves might become the life on Mars should humans choose to travel there one day. Meanwhile, we still have a lot to learn about this amazing planet and its extreme environments. Bowie allusion aside, NASA seems to consider Mars exploration to be both enticing and almost a matter of disinterest (should humans choose to travel there). Rover landings on Mars manage to straddle this curious divide, allowing exploration without human presence, while laying the groundwork for future journeys that may indeed involve human settlements. And in the meantime, science-driven exploration is not as neutral as it seems. Marina Koren described the Perseverance mission at the Atlantic as reminiscent of an older way of doing science [where] naturalists and other explorers traveled, welcome or not, to faraway places to gather trunkfuls of specimens for closer study. Even though there are no humans yet on Mars, a pattern of entitlement via science is being established.

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If science is the quest to understand nature, then it requires that Mars become naturalized. In other words, Mars has to become more Earth-like, in order to rationalize our study (and potential inhabitance of) the planet. In this way, the desert photographs beamed back from Perseverance are hardly simple recordings of what Mars looks like. Rather, they show a nonhuman nature that we already understand, in a way. As William Cronon explained nearly 30 years ago, such seemingly natural landscapes are always doing cultural work: [W]e too easily imagine that what we behold is Nature when in fact we see the reflection of our own unexamined longings and desires. Concomitant with these assumptions are fantasies of hidden resource reserves, or perhaps even property that can be declared private, owned, and kept from others. When we imagine Mars as inhabitable, such fantasies are simmering in the unconscious of exploration. The desolate horizons and rocky terrains, cropped and crafted into artfully enhanced digital images, all but overdetermine the point: Mars is simply there for the taking, and its full of possibility. Yet if Mars is a hypostatized version of earthly nature, separate from humans, it is also something weve projected ourselves ontoand are already laying waste to.

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Colonialism can be cloaked as a natural impulse to explore. As science writer Ramin Skibba put it, even in an article critically interrogating such missions, Humans love to explore. Its in our blood. This may sound like common sense, but it in fact rationalizes elaborate projects that are always also geopolitical choices. With each landing site, discarded parachute, cast off heat shields and other debris on the surface, with all the innumerable images shared on Instagram and seemingly indifferent recordings of the alien wind tweeted, with every drone flown (or lost) and each bit of dust gathered for later examination, humans are continuing the fraught practice of acting as if we can and should go wherever we want, take whatever we please, send back postcards  and leave behind our trash.

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Edward Abbey, writing in Desert Solitaire upon finding himself in the middle ground and foreground of the picture of Arches national monument in 1956, declared himself sole inhabitant, usufructuary, observer and custodian. From this vantage point, Abbey wrote in defense of the natureif complicatedly so, still aware of his own interloping status. Abbeys ruminations were always by default colonialist, based on and protected by governmental power previously exerted over the land. And at the expense of Indigenous populations.

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Today, we can see traces of Abbey in the Twitter voice and Instagram lens of the rover, nicknamed Percy. (Not to be confused with another Percy, who once warned of the hubris involved when such lone and level sands stretch far away.) Percys tweets and pics share seemingly neutral perspectives, as if the rover just happened to find itself in the Jezero Crater on Mars. These social media feeds are participating in the colonizing of Mars in a more subtle way than leaving behind detritus or inhabiting other peoples lands. Arguably mere communications and publicity efforts, Percys online persona nevertheless perpetuates the idea that rolling over it, studying it, snapping pics, collecting  its just what we do, without questioning why were doing it. Following Percy on Mars makes whatever comes next more palatable.

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As Mars becomes normalized as a destination for our technology and trash, and as we come to expect social media missives from the Red Planet, its status is shifting in our minds. The planet is not merely revealing itself to humans but being colonized: by our stuff and our accepted ways of seeing and communicating. These may seem like negligible imprints on a relatively barren planet. Theres no denying the technical brilliance, innovation, and determination that go into missions like Percys. But we also should acknowledge the philosophical underpinnings, the implications of which are all too often glossed over. This is how colonizing Mars begins. And even if it seems like no lives are at stake, no violence being committed there now, we should pause to seriously consider what we take with us, when we continue colonizing places.

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When I mentioned what I thought was the odd naming of the landing site to my colleague Scott Heath, who teaches a course on Octavia Butler, he reminded me of the moments in the novel Parable of the Sower that reference Mars explicitly. The main character, Lauren Olamina, admires a female astronaut who made it all the way to Mars only to die tragically there. Butlers Olamina is an emergent prophet, a visionary herself who believes that space exploration and colonization are among the few things left over from the last century that can help us more than they hurt us. (So its not just Elon Musk who champions this vexed notion.)

In Butlers novel, its 2024 and the world is a post-apocalyptic horrorscape, with environmental disasters rapidly intensifying and extremist groups committing terrible acts of violence with impunity. Olamina sees Mars as heaven in a way  but too nearby, too close within reach of the people whove made such a hell of life here on Earth. She wants to go way beyond Mars, beyond anything weve experienced on Earth. She will go on to found a new religion called Earthseed, which advocates a radically dynamic idea of existence: for beings not to dwell on the past or dominate the present, but to adapt toward a future to come. The story makes its indictment of so-called human progress clear: The 21st century of the novel is a terrifying dystopia hung up on old power structuresin many ways that readers are now calling prophetic.

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NASAs space exploration today, while uncannily aligning with the timeline of Parable of the Sower, is decidedly not the vision of the would-be spacefaring Lauren Olamina. Indeed, as Rebecca Onion wrote here last fall, You dont have to believe in space colonization, I dont think, to believe in the idea of Earthseed.

Parable of the Sower is obviously just a noveland Lauren Olamina is not Octavia Butler. But as long as NASA is channeling the author as honorary, we ought to take her work seriously. What narratives are we committing to, as we carry out the slow march of colonizing Mars? Is Butlers 2024 version of Mars exploration, with a ravaged Earth left behind, the version that we hope to actually emulate?

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When Sen. Ted Cruz fled Texas during the polar vortex that left millions without power and water, it quickly became a scandal: How could a publicly elected official so brazenly abandon his people in a time of need? In a bizarre coincidence, the social media capture of Cruz in the Houston airport occurred on the same day that Percy arrived on Mars. An ill-timed vacation to Mexico and a long-awaited landing on the Red Planet became entangled, as if to expose the truth of both. Cruz the insensitive colonialist tourist, a self-serving politician out of an Octavia Butler novel; Percy a scientific wonder as much as another inane internet delight, entertaining people as the world burns.

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One early Twitter post from Percy relayed a wind recording on Mars, with Bill Nyes optimistic commentary, Its out of this world! Nyes enthusiasm is infectious, and his sentiment genuine. But when science gets conflated with spectacle and peddled for likes and follows on social media, we need to consider if were ushering in the next phase of colonization. When colonizing gets repackaged as the latest cool thing, something fun to take part in from afarespecially if you have enough privilegewe should be alert to the histories of violence that come with it. I thought of this again when the code dare mighty things was deciphered in the pattern of the now jettisoned parachute. Another social media flurry, one more piece of space garbage, and a further indication that what was happening is nothing less than the colonizing of the Red Planeton a spot named after a Black writer who well understood the haunting, unresolved problems of colonialism back here on Earth.

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Octavia Butler may have been particularly adept at speculating about possible futures of space colonization, and some of her characters might even endorse such journeys, to achieve varying ends. But to harness these visions as destiny or justification would be to make a hubristic mistake right out of one of her fictions, too. Space colonization will bring the thorny problems of Earth colonization along for the ridewe probably just wont see these problems, until its too late.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.

For more on the Red Planet, listen to Mission: Interplanetarys discussion of whether the first mission to Mars should have an all-women crew.
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Netflix is moving into Stamford this April to film murder thriller "The Good Nurse," featuring Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain.

It's not the only time Hollywood has taken over the Nutmeg State. Take a look at some of the movies filmed and set in the Connecticut state through the years.
Supreme Court Asked to Reject $40 Million Verdict Against TransUnion

A $40 million class-action verdict against a national credit reporting company for falsely reporting that plaintiffs names appeared on a government list of individuals prohibited from conducting business in the United States should be thrown out, the Supreme Court heard March 30.

The case is TransUnion LLC v. Ramirez, court file 20-297. Sixty minutes were allotted for the telephonic oral arguments, but they ran 90 minutes.

Business-related and conservative groups hope the Supreme Court scales back federal laws such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which allows consumers to recover damages without demonstrating they suffered actual harm. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Business, National Association of Manufacturers, American Tort Reform Association, Washington Legal Foundation, eBay Inc., Facebook Inc., Google LLC, The Home Depot Inc., and UnitedHealth Group all filed friend-of-the-court briefs supporting TransUnion.

Lead plaintiff Sergio L. Ramirez is the representative for a class-action lawsuit against the credit reporting firm TransUnion. He alleged the company deliberately violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by reporting that his name appeared in the database operated by the Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

According to the government, OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries and regimes, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and other threats to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States.

Its database contains the names of individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries. It also lists individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific.

Ramirez claimed the inaccurate report hindered his effort to secure credit, caused him embarrassment in front of family, and forced him to cancel a vacation. He discovered his OFAC listing when he tried to purchase a car at a Nissan dealership in California.

Court documents state he filed a class-action lawsuit that included 8,184 other class members whom TransUnion sent a letter similar in form to the March 1, 2011, letter TransUnion sent to [Ramirez] regarding the OFAC database.

TransUnion countered that the class action was improper because there was no proof that anyone other than Ramirez had suffered injuries. Most of the class members OFAC listings were never disclosed to third parties.

But a U.S. district court jury awarded more than $60 million in damages to the class members. TransUnion appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which affirmed the judgment but reduced the damages to $40 million.

TransUnion appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing in its petition that the jurys verdict reflected a perfect storm of standing, class certification, and punitive damages problems, combining to give rise to a multi-million dollar damages award in a case with no proven injury to anyone beyond the named plaintiff.

In oral arguments before the Supreme Court, TransUnion lawyer Paul D. Clement urged the justices to decertify the class because there was no proof that class members actually suffered harm.

The class certified here suffers from two fatal defects: the absence of class member standing and typicality. Each and every member of this class stands to collect thousands of dollars in damages, but the first inkling that many of them will have that they were injured will be receiving a check in the mail.

But the Biden administration asked the court to rule for the class members.

Nicole F. Reaves, attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, said the class members have legal standing.

By placing OFAC alerts on all class members consumer reports, [TransUnion] recreated a real risk of harm that they would be denied credit, employment opportunities, or other benefits because they were wrongly labeled as potential matches to a terrorist list.

That is precisely the type of harm that Congress sought to prevent.

Congress also gave consumers rights to receive certain disclosures and summaries of their rights, and under this courts informational standing cases, all class members have standing to bring claims for violations of those rights.

Samuel Issacharoff, attorney for Ramirez, said TransUnion was liable for misconduct.

The heart of this case is the concrete harm established at trial. Being labeled a potential OFAC match is not a misreported ZIP code. It is the scarlet letter of our time. It banishes individuals from the marketplace. It is thus staggering that since 2002, petitioner [i.e. TransUnion] could not identify a single correct OFAC match despite issuing thousands of OFAC alerts a year.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned whether the lawsuit should include the approximately 6,300 people whose OFAC listings never went to a third party.

Under existing legal precedent, I hadnt thought risk of harm would get you  standing for damages claims, he said. As one judge analogized it: If inaccurate information falls into a database, does it make a sound?
Islamabad, March 30 : Following Pakistan's exclusion from a virtual summit hosted by the US on climate change slated to take place next month, the countrys civil society activists, working in the field of environmental protection, have expressed their concerns over the decision.

The virtual summit on climate change, to be held on April 22 and 23 called by US President Joe Biden, will see the participation of at least 40 heads of state and governments, including India, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

As per details from the White House, "the virtual summit would be addressed by leaders of Russia, China, Argentina, Australia, France, Indonesia, Germany, Israel, Canada, Japan, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Denmark, Colombia, Congo, Chile, Jamaica and other countries".

The exclusion of Pakistan has prompted response from many, who took to social media to express their surprise.

Pakistan is the fifth-most vulnerable country and is among the nations badly affected by climate change.

Senior journalist Kamran Yousaf maintained that Pakistan's expulsion from the summit can be related to the recent statement of the former US envoy, who stated that the country lost agreat deal of importance in the minds of the American leadership.

"What the current US leadership think about Pakistan, an eye opener statement by former US Ambassador to Islamabad and must serve as a wake up call," he said.

Another senior journalist and South Asian affairs expert Michael Kugelman said that Pakistan's expulsion from the summit came at a time especially when the prime agenda of the current leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, is to take actions to mitigate the affects of climate change.

"Many in Pakistan are unhappy Imran Khan isn't on list of invitees. It appears the main criteria for being invited are (1) close partner of the US or (2) a major polluter or (3) highly vulnerable to climate change or (4) some combo of 1,2,3. Pakistan certainly qualifies for (3)," Kugelman tweeted.

Pakistan is one of the top-10 most vulnerable nation in world due to many natural disasters, densely populated coastal spaces, water shortages.

It is also the world's fifth most populous country.

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson, said: "Pakistan, despite being among the top 10 countries affected by Climate Change, is one of the lowest emitters, with less than 1 per cent of the global emissions." The spokesperson added that the countries responsible for at least 80 per cent global emissions and GDP, have been invited to the summit.

However, the public at large and the civil society is not ready to agree to the response from the government and has its eyebrows raised over the Biden administration's decision.
press release

It is of paramount importance that the population adapts to the coronavirus and undertakes maximum precautionary measures with the upcoming partial lifting of the lockdown on 31 March 2021. Each and every one must act responsibly by correctly wearing a facemask, respecting social distancing, regularly washing hands, and making frequent use of hand sanitizers.

The Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal, reiterated this appeal to the population, this evening, at the daily press briefing of the National Communication Committee on COVID-19, at the Treasury Building in Port Louis. Dr Catherine Gaud was also present.

He highlighted that as at date, the positive cases have been identified as follows: 276 cases through the contact tracing exercise and COVID testing centres; 38 in quarantine centres; and 13 through random testing. To date, a total of 53 patients discharged and the number of active local cases stands at 274.

Two new clusters identified

Minister Jagutpal underscored that two new clusters have been identified. One from the Souillac Hospital, with 54 positive COVID-19 cases comprising medical staff, patients and some of their relatives; and another at Glen Park, which is already in the Red Zone.

With regards to the Glen Park cluster, he pointed out, one positive case was detected on 26 March 2021 at the testing centre at Victoria Hospital in Candos. The contact tracing exercise revealed that the positive patient attended funerals at Glen Park on 15 March 2021, which resulted in 20 persons from the funerals being positive to COVID-19, he added.

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Dr Jagutpal also appealed to all medical staff across the country to be inoculated with the vaccine, and as from tomorrow, every staff in all medical facilities will have the opportunity to receive same. Moreover, he stated, PCR tests will be carried out on all staff on a 10-day interval so as to ensure that they are not COVID-19 positive. According to him, some 384 PCR tests have been carried out today, revealing six positive cases.

Death of two dialysis patients

Furthermore, Minister Jagutpal announced that two deaths were registered today and both persons were dialysis patients of the Souillac Hospital. One person was in quarantine and the other was admitted at the Souillac Hospital, for dialysis.

Speaking about the two dialysis patients who passed away, Dr Gaud pointed out that one of them already had vascular and cardiac pathologies, with severe damages to his arteries. The second patient, she stated, was not tested positive to COVID-19 until one day prior to his passing away. The patient had a heart attack and an autopsy is being carried out so as to determine the exact cause of his death.

Health Minister Jagutpal and Dr Gaud both expressed their deepest sympathies to the afflicted families.

It is to be noted that five patients currently present COVID-19 symptoms. Two have been intubated and are still in a severe situation. One other patient was hospitalised in a private clinic and following a positive PCR test due to respiratory problems, she was transferred to the New ENT Hospital. One other positive patient aged 75 was brought to the New ENT Hospital from a quarantine centre after 15 days.
The International Criminal Court on Tuesday upheld the war crimes conviction and 30-year sentence imposed on a Congolese warlord dubbed the Terminator.

Rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda had appealed after he was found guilty by the ICC in 2019 of a reign of terror in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the early 2000s.

Judges dismissed all of Ntagandas arguments against both the conviction and the sentence, the longest ever handed down by the Hague-based tribunal.

Presiding Judge Howard Morrison said the ICCs appeals chamber confirms by a majority the conviction decision and rejects the defence and prosecution appeals.

He added that the chamber confirms the trial chambers sentencing judgement.

The judgment was now final, the ICC said in a statement.

The Rwandan-born 47-year-old was convicted of five counts of crimes against humanity and 13 counts of war crimes, including murder, sexual slavery, rape and using child soldiers.

Ntaganda was the first person to be convicted of sexual slavery by the court. Many of the other charges related to massacres of villagers in the mineral rich Ituri region of DR Congo.

The court earlier this month awarded Ntagandas victims $30 million (25 million euros) in reparations, provided he was convicted on appeal.

Prosecutors portrayed him as the ruthless leader of ethnic Tutsi revolts amid the civil wars that wracked the DRC after the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in neighbouring Rwanda.

The original conviction said Ntaganda was a key leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots rebel group and its military wing, the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC).

 At peace 

The FPLC operated in Ituri province on the eastern border of DR Congo in 2002 and 2003.

The group killed at least 800 people as it fought rival militias for control of valuable minerals. Tens of thousands have been killed in the region since violence erupted in 1999.

Judges found that in one attack in a banana field that was directed by Ntaganda, soldiers used sticks, knives and machetes to kill at least 49 captives, including children and babies.

Defence lawyers said the ICCs original decision to convict him contains many errors of law and fact and had failed to take into account that Ntaganda had been traumatised by his experiences in the Rwandan genocide.

Ntagandas lawyers said when they announced his intention to appeal that he was at peace with himself.

Formerly a Congolese army general, Ntaganda became a founding member of the M23 rebel group, which was eventually defeated by Congolese government forces in 2013.

Later that year he became the first-ever suspect to surrender to the ICC, when he walked into the US embassy in the Rwandan capital Kigali.

Ntaganda  known for his pencil moustache and a penchant for fine dining  said during his trial that he was soldier not a criminal.

He insisted that the Terminator nickname, referring to the films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a relentless killer robot, did not apply to him.
 Close How did a ship get stuck in the Suez Canal?

An investigation into how the Ever Given ship became stuck in the Suez Canal started on Tuesday hours after traffic on one of the world's busiest and most important trade routes resumed overnight.

Experts boarded the giant vessel to assess it for damage and to begin a probe into how it got wedged into in the canal's bank for almost a week, disrupting billions of dollars worth of trade.

Some thirty-seven vessels that were stranded in the waterway while authorities dealt with the Ever Given managed to pass through overnight on Monday and around 70 more were expected to clear the strait by the end of Tuesday.

Authorities said they hoped to clear a backlog of more than 300 ships waiting to enter the canal in a matter of days, but shipping experts warned the impact the disruption has had on global supply chains could take months to resolve.
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Facebook also took issue with provisions in the Bill which would require it to identify the source of funding for political advertisements (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Facebook has been accused of being disingenuous in its submission on a new Bill which seeks to regulate online political advertising.

The social media giant urged Irish lawmakers to hold off on the Electoral Reform Bill until the forthcoming Digital Services Act is introduced at EU level.

It argues that if inconsistent regulatory regimes are introduced, the company could be forced to choose between violating Irish law or violating EU law.

Online platforms could find themselves under two inconsistent regulatory regimes and placed in the undesirable and avoidable situation where they would have to choose between violating Irish law or violating EU law Dualta O Broin, Facebook

The Bill proposes to set up a statutory, independent Electoral Commission for Ireland, which would require social media companies to regulate online political advertising in the run-up to elections.

Facebook head of public policy in Ireland, Dualta O Broin, said: As an overarching point it is Facebooks belief that online political advertising rules and standards should be harmonised across the EU, to the greatest extent possible.

We are concerned that enacting these provisions at this time will lead to a lack of alignment between the requirements which exist, during the electoral periods in Ireland and the year-round, EU-wide rules for political advertising, which the European Commission intends to introduce in the European Democracy Action Plan, and the Digital Services Act.

We understand that the Commission intends to publish a legislative proposal for political advertising in the next six months.

There is a very real possibility that online platforms could find themselves under two inconsistent regulatory regimes and placed in the undesirable and avoidable situation where they would have to choose between violating Irish law or violating EU law.

Mr O Broin raised his concerns at the Oireachtas Committee on Local Government on Monday.

But the claims that Facebook would have to choose between violating Irish law and European law were dismissed as disingenuous by Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin.

He said: I think its important just for Committee members, to be very clear, the Digital Services Act does not deal with elections.

Expand Close Eoin O Broin (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Elections are the exclusive preserve of member states and therefore, the Digital Services Act, if I understand it right, is to provide the kind of the basic set of rules that should operate around digital transparency and accountability across the EU.

But every member state, because each electoral process is different, is absolutely within its rights if it wants to set a different or higher or specific set of requirements during elections.

So rather than as your statement, I think this disingenuously suggests, that people have to choose between violating Irish law or violating EU law, because I would hope Facebook never chooses to violate any law.

What youd actually be doing is youd be complying with both sets of laws.

The general Digital Services Act as it applies in ordinary times. And then in any individual member state, any specific additional requirements that the legislators in that jurisdiction feel are necessary to protect the integrity of their state. 

Mr Dualta O Broin said that while the Digital Services Bill does not propose to regulate transparency and political advertising, the European Democracy Action Plan would do so on an EU-wide basis.

He added: It would seem to us, given that that instrument is just on the horizon, to at least wait to see what its scope is going to be, before bringing in these detailed provisions at this time.

Facebook also took issue with provisions in the Bill which would require it to identify the source of funding for political advertisements, saying this should be a job for the regulator.
Credit: AUT University

Researchers from AUT BioDesign Lab have developed a prosthetic fin to rehabilitate injured sea turtles. Healthy oceans need sea turtles, but they are unfortunately frequently injured by human factors such as boats and fishing nets, with all seven species now endangered. A damaged fin limits swimming range and survival and prevents female turtles from returning to land to lay eggs. A successful prosthetic fin, attached to the turtle's humerus by stem implant, would play an important role in the protection of endangered and threatened keystone species.

The project involved the development of four-dimensional turtle fin kinematics and optimisation of the fin geometry to bio mimic the movement of a real fin. It was developed by Ph.D. student Nick van der Geest during his mechanical engineering degree under the supervision of Dr. Lorenzo Garcia. Nick and Dr. Garcia first created mathematical models of the three main swimming kinematics of the turtle. Using the models of general swimming, power stroke, and vigorous swimming, Nick then created a series of prototypes, to validate the models and determine the best design.

"I had to determine whether or not a simple geometry would work to make the manufacturing process simpler," says Nick. "My models showed nature's original design works best, around two to three times more efficiently than the other shapes we tested."

The design moved from a rectangular shape to an air foil shape before arriving at the optimized design. The final design is composed of a molded polyurethane rubber fin, cast over a 3D-printed skeletal system made from titanium alloy, which is implanted into a turtle's humerus bone via a stem implant procedure, similar to a hip implant on a human. Each design was tested on the "Turtle fin Dyno" Nick designed with the help of MAG Assembly LTD and PSP Limited. Nick says this was a very important part of the process to ensure the initial estimates were good before moving to the next stage.

A robotic turtle was designed and built to validate the design by comparing simulation data to that of the robots swimming. The robotic turtle 'roboturtle' was 3D-printed from CAD models created by Nick, based on real sea turtle geometries.

The roboturtle's head and front flippers were colored red to make its swimming performance easier to capture.

Roboturtle's swimming mode was then tested against the theoretical models, using motion sensor cameras in AUT Millenium's olympic-sized pool with the assistance of High-Performance Sport New Zealand and GoldMine.

The design has been approved for clinical trials and four stems have been sent to the Canary Islands, Spain to be inserted into living turtles.

Because the turtle must match the size of the prosthetic for it to function correctly, it is currently being trialed in one turtle, Vivo, at the CRFS Center for the Recovery of Wild Fauna, Tenerife, Canary Island. The Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital in Australia has also approached AUT to develop a further collaboration, in addition to the New Zealand Center for Conservation Medicine (NZCCM), based in the Auckland Zoo. NZCCM already being has collaborating with Dr. Garcia to design surgical tools and veterinary equipment. While Nick would like more sea turtles to be part of the trial, Nick must wait for injured animals that are the right size for the implants he has made, thanks to the support of Zenith Tecnica who manufactured the 3D-printed components.

"Normally you'd receive the injured turtle, measure it and make an implant to fit," Nick says. "It's really important that the implant matches perfectly."

Nick says the ideal next steps, once trials are completed, is for wildlife rescue centers and veterinarians around the world to be able to print new prosthetic fins to fit the turtles recovered. The proliferation of 3D printers will continue to put the prosthetic flipper within reach of veterinarians. The researchers are currently working on publishing their results in scientific journals to reveal their finding, and to open-source the designs so the information and processes fully available. Nick's design has been well received and widely popular but as testing progresses, he will continue to refine it.

Explore further Endangered leatherback turtles hatch in Ecuador

Provided by AUT University
The man alleged to have been the gunman who "executed" David Douglas five years ago was "crucially and significantly" involved in the planning of the murder and was "up to his neck in the enterprise", the judges of the Special Criminal Court have been told.

Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, stressed that the actions of 31-year-old Lee Canavan could not be "divorced" from the actions of Freddie Thompson, Gareth Brophy and Nathan Foley, who have all been jailed in connection with the murder of Dublin man Mr Douglas.

Mr Canavan, with an address at Edenbrook, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Douglas (55), who was shot six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016.

The accused also denies a second charge of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift vehicle at Strand Road, Sandymount, on July 4, 2016, the property of Teresa Devoy.

Mr Canavan is the fourth person to appear before the courts charged in connection to the murder.

The State is alleging that Mr Canavan was "the person who literally pulled the trigger" after entering Mr Douglas' shop shortly after 4pm on the day of the shooting.

Closing the prosecution case today, Sean Gillane SC said Mr Douglas was executed by a firearm in the middle of the day in his business premises on a busy street.

He said the Dubliner had been undoubtedly murdered but the central question was who had carried it out.

However, the barrister said the non-jury court must be satisfied that there was a plan to carry out the murder in attempting to answer that question.

Mr Gillane noted that there was "overwhelming evidence" in the case and the only rational conclusion to be drawn was that Mr Douglas' murder had been "meticulously planned".

The sourcing of four vehicles had provided logistical support to the individuals carrying out the killing and the use of a semi-automatic pistol with its serial number removed was "brazenly" left at the scene, next to the deceased's head, he said.

Mr Gillane said the court must address the essential elements of the plan, its participants and how they had each contributed to the incident.

Counsel reminded the three judges that a stolen Mercedes car, "the ultimate murder vehicle", had no innocent purpose and transported the "ultimate trigger puller" to and from the scene of the killing.

The occupants of the Mercedes had transferred to a stolen silver Suzuki Swift, "the ultimate getaway car", within minutes after the killing, he said.

Furthermore, counsel said a silver Ford Fiesta had a manifest role in "ferrying people" to and from "the plan" and a blue Mitsubishi Mirage had rammed the Suzuki before its attempted burning.

Mr Gillane added: "Vehicles do not commit murder, people do and while the court is concerned in reaching the appropriate verdict in relation to Mr Canavan, his actions cannot be divorced from the actions of Freddie Thompson, Gareth Brophy and Nathan Foley".

In the same way that a dancer and the dance cannot be separated, the lawyer said, each of the other men's actions "fed into" the case against the accused. It was not a novel proposition that people commit crimes together, he added.

In 2018, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson (41) was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Mr Douglas.

In 2019, Nathan Foley (22) of Maryland, Dublin 8, was jailed for six years after he pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence.

Gareth Brophy (26) was jailed in February 2020 for ten years by the Special Criminal Court for his role as getaway driver.

Regarding Mr Canavan, counsel said his actions on the day were "intimately connected" to the commission of this offence and he had contributed to the crucial end result, namely the killing of Mr Douglas.

Furthermore, the movement of the vehicles that day proved beyond any doubt that they were "instruments of murder" and inextricably lead to the conclusion that the occupants of the cars were participants of the plan and had been acting in concert on the day, he indicated.

Mr Gillane said circumstantial evidence was important in the case and it would be an affront to common sense to treat the pieces of evidence as "pure coincidence" or in "pure isolation".

The plan was organised as a wheel with the killing at its centre and a number of spokes weaved inwards and outwards, he said, beginning with the crucial starting point of the Fiesta and Suzuki travelling in convoy on the morning of July 1.

This was the first major building block in the plan to murder Mr Douglas and from that point on the clock "was ticking for him", he said.

A man wearing a red top, grey bottoms and holding an umbrella can be seen emerging from the driver's side of the Mercedes on Merton Avenue and being picked up by the driver of the Fiesta around 10.41am, he said.

It is the prosecution's case that the same man, Mr Canavan, can be seen approaching a shop on Donore Avenue and walking back in the direction of the Fiesta, he said.

In addition, the barrister said that the Suzuki was "coincidentally" driven by a person in a red top that morning.

Mr Gillane stressed that Mr Canavan was crucially and significantly involved in the position of the murder car, execution car and getaway car by 10.41am that morning and before the afternoon was reached he was "up to his neck in this enterprise".

By 3.55pm that day, the wheel was turning with all spokes leading in and out of the central purpose of the plan, which was to murder Mr Douglas, he said.

Mr Gillane said a level of criticism was made against eyewitness Shane Egan by the defence, when he gave a second statement to gardai clarifying that he had not actually seen the shooter's hair as his hood was up.

There was simply no mystery to this, said Mr Gillane, and Mr Egan had admitted to gardai that he might have been in error in his first statement when he told gardai that the shooter had dark hair.

Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC said the prosecution case was that his client was "literally the man who pulled the trigger" and this carried a very real risk as it was "referable to the colour red".

"We hear so frequently of the red top that we come to automatically connect that to the individual as though there is no alternative prospect," said Mr Bowman, adding that the court was being invited to determine that any time it sees a flash of red then it can only be Mr Canavan.

"The prosecution case is that red equals Lee Canavan because on the prosecution case Lee Canavan is wearing red," he argued, adding that the height of the State's case was entirely dependent on the red top.

Pointing to the evidence given by Gda McAvinue and Det Sgt Whitelaw, Mr Bowman said there was a marked reluctance on their part to acknowledge the presence of what was most apparent in the CCTV footage, the man's "distinctive ginger hair".

Garda Patrick McAvinue and Detective Sergeant Adrian Whitelaw gave recognition evidence in the trial last week identifying the accused in CCTV footage taken on the day of the killing.

The lawyer indicated that there was no note taken by gardai of what eyewitness Mr Egan had told them at the scene on July 1. Mr Egan had later acknowledged to gardai that he had a concern with his own identification of the shooter, said counsel.

He argued that a swab taken from the pistol grip of the gun contained identifiable DNA attributable to another man, who was later arrested for Mr Douglas' murder.

The lawyer concluded by saying that it was not news to anyone of his client's association with Thompson, Brophy and Foley and the fact he had been involved with vehicles in the past in circumstances where he had no entitlement to be in those cars.

"If the court accepts that Mr Canavan was driving cars he was not entitled to drive, this communicates nothing in the context of murder," he added.

Evidence was previously given that the accused had been associated with 22 vehicles and could not establish ownership, tax or insurance of these cars when he was stopped by gardai.

Mr Justice Michael MacGrath presiding, alongside Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge Dermot Dempsey, remanded Mr Canavan in custody until May 20, when the court will deliver judgment on the case.


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ELMIRA, MI  A man allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted a Michigan woman before she escaped using a letter opener, prompting him to flee on foot. Days later, the suspect remains at large, WPBN/WGTU reports.

The suspect allegedly kidnapped a woman in Lansing on Friday, March 26, the TV station reports. He then sexually assaulted her and drove to the Elmira area in Northern Michigan. During Friday afternoon, she used a letter opener to escape the vehicle, and he fled on foot, according to Michigan State Police.

She had a letter opener and she said she used it, said MSP Lt. Derrick Carroll.

An initial search of the area by K9 units was unsuccessful. Police are following leads in Northern Michigan and the Lansing area, police said. Its unclear whether the suspect has ties to Northern Michigan. The victim doesnt know the suspect.

He could be anywhere, Carroll said nearly 72 hours after the suspect fled.

READ MORE:

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Couple who hosted underage drinking prior to teens fatal crash sentenced to 15 days in jail

Teen without pants, attacking passing cars, was on LSD, police say

Michigan parents charged with felonies in shooting of 3-year-old son

Mother charged in non-fatal shooting of 13-year-old son
The crew is complete: A billionaire, health care worker, aerospace employee and NASA astronaut finalist will circle the globe later this year on a SpaceX Crew Dragon.

The mission, called Inspiration4, is being funded by tech billionaire Jared Isaacman. He previously announced that Hayley Arceneaux, who works at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, would be on the flight. On Tuesday, he named Christopher Sembroski of Everett, Wash., and Sian Proctor of Tempe, Ariz., as the final crew members.

More on this trip into space: SpaceX, tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman invite the public to apply for ride into space

And to give these civilian crew members a better view during their three-day journey in microgravity, SpaceX said it will add a new glass window to its Crew Dragon capsule. The mission is set to launch Sept. 15.

Sembroski, a 41-year-old aerospace worker at Lockheed Martin and U.S. Air Force veteran, won his seat through a sweepstakes competition to raise money for St. Jude. This sweepstakes received nearly 72,000 entries.

Although Ive been fortunate to have spent years in the aerospace industry, I never imagined having the opportunity to reach the stars, especially through something as simple as supporting St. Jude, Sembroski said in the news release.

Proctor, who was a finalist for NASA's 2009 astronaut class, is a 51-year-old entrepreneur, educator, trained pilot and active voice in the space exploration community. Proctor received her seat through an independently judged online business competition conducted by Isaacman's Shift4Shop ecommerce platform. This competition attracted about 200 entries.

This opportunity is proof that hard work and perseverance can pay off in unimaginable ways, Proctor said in the news release. I have always believed that I was preparing for something special, and that moment has arrived with Inspiration4.

Isaacman, 38, founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, will be their commander. The Inspiration4 mission will launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The crew will ride in the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that launched NASA's Crew-1 mission and is currently attached to the International Space Station. They will spend about three days orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 540 kilometers (about 335 miles).
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Ten people, including a Boulder police officer, were killed in a shooting at the King Soopers supermarket in Boulder on March 22. One of the victims was Denny Stong.

I knew Denny. I was planning to attend an event with him at the beginning of May. He was 20, and his life was tragically cut short. His death is a catastrophic loss for his family, his friends and his community.

This young man was also looking to obtain a concealed-carry permit from the state of Colorado. Unfortunately, Denny was too young: Colorado requires people to be 21 years of age to be issued a concealed handgun carry permit.

I blame the gunman for Dennys death. But I also blame the government and Kroger Company for leaving him defenseless.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



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

Denny and I recently connected through our mutual love of history. Our joint fascination with the American Civil War led us to working toward historical preservation in Colorado and the Southwest together, and we had plans to make a presentation to the public at a museum event in May.

An ardent supporter of the Second Amendment, one of his last public Facebook posts was his birthday fundraiser for the National Foundation for Gun Rights, an advocacy group that works to expand pro-gun precedents and defend gun owners.

Americans want to be able to defend themselves. In fact, first-time gun ownership is on the rise. Coupled with a study from the Cato Institute with the conclusion that crime rates decrease when concealed carry laws are enacted, Americans have proven they can defend themselves responsibly.

Policies and discrimination stand in their way. Our laws and Kroger Co. employment regulations disarmed Denny.

The 21-year age requirement not only serves no purpose, but also it has been costly, as with the case of Denny. Plenty of military men and women train with firearms every day, and many of those personnel are under 21. The Defense Manpower Data Center, responsible for Department of Defense data management, reports that over 19% of active-duty military personnel are between 18 and 21 years old. Why is 21 an appropriate cutoff-age for concealed-carry permits if you can own a firearm at 18?

King Soopers is a Colorado subsidiary of the Kroger supermarket chain. It operates more than 150 stores in Wyoming and Colorado, while Kroger is based in Cincinnati.

Kroger has recently changed its gun policies and sales practices. In 2019, Kroger asked shoppers to leave their firearms at home. The change in policy came a day after grocery rival Walmart made a similar change. The previous policy had been to defer to state or local gun regulations.

Even if Denny could not apply for a concealed-carry permit because of his age, he could not have exercised his right to open-carry a firearm in Colorado because of his employers strict anti-gun policies.

Around the country, there are many reports of concealed-carry permit-holders stopping crimes, including mass murderers.

On Jan. 17, 2019, Jay Brown, an IHOP employee in Huntsville, Alabama, stopped a gunman, potentially saving many lives. Another restaurant patron was proud he took action, Its amazing that he was able to think so quickly on his feet in that situation, because I think I probably just wouldve panicked, Sierra Seay said. What if Denny could have been a Jay Brown?

Concealed-carry permit-holders can stop crime and save lives. Denny Stong was wrongfully deprived of his right to carry a concealed handgun by the government for no logical reason, and it probably cost him his life. I mourn his loss.

Government failed Denny Stong and robbed America of a hero. If Denny had been allowed to carry a concealed firearm, lives could have been saved. The outcome of Mondays shooting should have been radically different.

The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Police have exposed a warehouse in Hanoi for storing thousands of imitations of high-end brands such as Dior, Chanel, and Gucci.

The suspected warehouse, which spreads over 100 square meters at 30/56/139 Thach Cau Street in Long Bien District, was raided by market surveillance and police officers on Monday.

During their search, local authorities detected over 3,000 pairs of counterfeit shoes in the warehouse, with luxury brand names, such as Dior, Chanel, Gucci, Burberry, Adidas, LV, Zara, and Hermes, attached to them.

It took officials over four hours to sort out all knock-offs housed in the facility.

According to Nguyen Sy Binh, leader of the market surveillance unit, the force had kept tabs on the operation of the warehouse for weeks before the raid.

The facility mostly sold their products online, using Facebook livestreams or e-commerce platforms, he added.

Knock-off shoes are found in a warehouse in Long Bien District, Hanoi in this photo supplied by the market surveillance department of Hanoi.

To evade the scrutiny of functional authorities, the owner left the warehouse closed for most of the time and just opened it briefly when cargo shipping was needed.

The proprietor was later revealed to be Bui Thi Giang, 33, who hailed from the north-central province of Thanh Hoa and failed to present any valid proof of origin for the haul.

She also admitted to having acquired the products from an unspecified source on social media.

Market surveillance officials have seized all contraband in the inventory, and are working with representatives from the brands to confirm the extent of the violations.

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Employers of seasonal agricultural workers were called by the government yesterday, to help keep the nation safe and restrict the spread of Covid-19 by registering for free workplace testing.

The move follows the introduction of a new bespoke testing regime for international arrivals , which extended the supply of free Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests to employers of seasonal agricultural workers in the edible horticulture sector.

Under the regime international arrivals who are in the country for longer than two days will be required to take a test before the end of day two and to take a further test every three days  typically on days five and eight. Those who receive a positive test result will be required to take a further PCR test for variant surveillance.

Seasonal agricultural workers will be able to access these tests through several routes, including home tests and community testing sites. They should remain on the farm for the 10 days after they arrive, except where necessary to access testing.

Employers of seasonal agricultural workers who register for workplace testing can now access free tests to help meet this testing requirement, which will protect growers from having to take on the greater costs of regular PCR testing, which could save an estimated 10m for growers across the country.

Farming Minister Victoria Prentis has written to employers of seasonal workers today, encouraging them to take up this offer and register to deliver regular testing of their workers. With around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus not having symptoms, workplace testing will help to identify individuals who may be carrying the virus without knowing it, and allow employers to take the necessary action to stop the virus spreading amongst their workforce.

Writing to growers across the country today, Farming Minister Victoria Prentis said:

I am immensely grateful for the resilience our growers have shown throughout the last year, meeting the challenges of the pandemic and going above and beyond to help keep the nation fed.

Now, as we look towards resuming a more normal way of life, we must stay vigilant and do what we can to ensure we continue to operate as safely as possible.

Regular testing protects businesses, helps keep workers safe and is vital to our continuing recovery. I urge our farmers and growers to work with us to protect their workforces, their businesses and our food supply.

The tests can be carried out at a designated workplace site or for businesses of over 10 people, they can be dispensed for staff to take at home. If results are positive results, staff must take swift action to isolate and undertake a confirmatory Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.

In addition, those overseas looking to work within the edible horticulture sector will be able to undertake the mandatory two week quarantine period on the farm, meaning they can carry out certain tasks under Covid-safe conditions during that time. This has already proved to be vitally important for the sector, with government taking action to ensure that pickers were able to get straight to work gathering last years harvest.

Employers must register for the programme by the 12 April to receive a supply of free test kits until the end of June.
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The global Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) market is anticipated to reach USD 14.74 billion by 2026 According to a new study published by Polaris Market Research.

Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) is a synthetic rubber produced by the co-polymerization of butadiene and styrene. Global Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) market demand is largely driven by the manufacturing of tire and related products. Automotive industry is the largest application segment for this synthetic rubber. Rapid growth in the manufacturing of crossover utility vehicles (CUV), SUVs, and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have led to higher consumption of SBR in the manufacturing sector.

Get sample copy of this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/styrene-butadiene-rubber-sbr-market

Many other applications have also driven the demand for SBR substantially. Footwear, consumer products, industrial hoses, conveyor belts, automotive applications excluding tires, and extruded rubber goods are other applications that consume synthetic butadiene rubber for the end-product manufacturing.

Growing global population coupled with the increase in disposable incomes of consumers has led to growth of many end-use industries that have high consumption of SBR. Strong economic performance, consumer preference for modern & sustainable products such as electric vehicles, falling value of old diesel cars, and steady growth of many middle-income countries across the world are some of the vital growth forces for the end-use rubber industries.

SBR is of two types, emulsion SBR (ESBR) and Solution SBR (SSBR). Though ESBR accounted for the largest market share, but SSBR has witnessed momentum in the recent past. This is on account of the rising demand for low rolling-resistance tires to decrease carbon dioxide emissions and reduce fuel consumption. Moreover, SSBR has efficiently adapted to the growing stringent specifications of the high-performance tires.

Browse for full research summary: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/styrene-butadiene-rubber-sbr-market

The most significant growth regions with large consumption of SBR include Northeast Asia, mainly Taiwan and Indian subcontinent. The largest capacity additions in the period of 2012-17 were witnessed in Southeast Asia (Singapore and Thailand), South Korea, China, and Central Europe. Though China witnessed decline in the Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) growth in past five years, but continues to be the largest consumer.

ESBR witnessed decline in most of the Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) markets, including the United States, South Korea, Western Europe, Central Europe, and Japan, losing the market to SSBR. The global consumption of SSBR has witnessed a substantial increase in the past five years with faster capacity additions globally. The mature markets such as Japan, Canada, and Europe are anticipated to witness limited growth rate.

The global styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market comprises of large number of market players. Some of the key SBR players include Sinopec, LANXESS, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Kumho Petrochemical, Sibur, JSR Corporation, Trinseo, Eastman Chemical Corporation, Asahi Kasei Chemical Corporation, and Ashland Inc.

SBR Market Size and Forecast by Regions, 2018-2026

North America U.S. Canada

Europe Germany UK France

Asia Pacific China India Japan

Latin America Brazil Mexico

Middle East & Africa

Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/styrene-butadiene-rubber-sbr-market/request-for-discount-pricing

About Polaris Market Research

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities.

Contact us-

Polaris Market Research

Phone: 1-646-568-9980

Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com

Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com
The Government has suggested changing the name of the Ministry of Construction to the Ministry of Construction, Urban and Housing Development, said PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a recent conference to promote the 13th Party Congress Resolution.

Introducing the 10-year socio-economic development strategy for 2021-2030 and the direction and tasks for the next five years (2021-2025), Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that development of infrastructure, regional economic areas, marine economy and urban areas in the rural region are part of the development breakthroughs in the coming time.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc.



"These are important areas, the fields that we have a lot of potential and strengths and also the fields that create breakthroughs in growth," said the Prime Minister.

In terms of infrastructure, he said that in the mid-term plan of 2021 - 2025, total public investment is VND2.75 million billion. There are 336 PPP (public private partnerships) projects, mobilizing over VND1.8 million billion, while PPP will be promoted further.

The Government will focus investment in key national infrastructure projects, especially transport, energy and digital infrastructure. The government strives to have 5,000 km of highways by 2030 and major modern key airports.

The head of the Government also added that the National Assembly and the Prime Minister agreed to build a coastal route from South to North.

Regarding regional economic development, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that it is necessary to promote the advantages of each region and localities and build specific mechanisms and policies to promote linkages for regional development, and select a number of regional urban areas with special advantages to build economic and financial centers. The new development models in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and some localities should be encouraged.

Delegates at the conference.

Regarding marine economic development, PM Phuc said that sustainable development of the marine economy is associated with national defense and security and the goal by 2030 is to have 28 coastal provinces accounting for 65-70% of the countrys GDP.

He said that urban development and new rural construction are two issues of particular importance to the sustainable development of the country. Vietnam will have to speed up, improve the quality of urbanization, build green, civilized urban areas.

He also revealed that the government had asked the Central Office to rename the Ministry of Construction to the Ministry of Construction, Urban and Housing Development.

Thu Hang
The blockage of the Suez Canal has cast a light on a very delicate kind of cargo: The millions of livestock shipped each year in conditions denounced by animal rights groups.

Countries from Australia to Romania and Uruguay export live animals in long voyages across the world.

The journey can be deadly at times, with thousands of cattle and sheep perishing at sea in recent years.

While Egypt's Suez Canal was finally reopened to traffic on Monday, concern was running high in Romania about 130,000 sheep whose shipment had been considerably delayed by the container ship Ever Given as it blocked the waterway for nearly a week.

"Every hour counts for the sheep and the fatality rate will only grow," warned Gabi Paun, EU director of Animals International.

Eleven Romanian ships were delayed and it's all but certain that their food supplies have run out, he said.

"Even if the law was respected and the ships were carrying 25 percent more food ... it would nonetheless have been finished by now," Paun said.

Mary Pana, the head of Romania's main association of livestock farmers and exporters, Acebop, said the nation has been sending 50,000 sheep a week to Middle East nations such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan ahead of Ramadan.

- Thousands dead -

Deadly incidents have put a spotlight on the risks, including a recent one.

Last week, Spanish authorities ordered 1,600 cattle en route to Turkey be put down after officials there refused to let the herd disembark because they feared an outbreak of blue tongue disease onboard.

The cattle had already spent three months at sea.

In November 2019, a cargo vessel carrying 14,600 sheep capsized in the Black Sea after leaving from Romania. Some 180 of the animals were rescued. Those that didn't drown or were crushed to death died of thirst.

Romania has been criticised in the past for transporting animals by sea in the summer heat. In 2015, thousands of sheep bound for Jordan died from thirst and the intense heat.

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In 2009, a ship carrying some 30,000 sheep and cattle from Uruguay sank in the Mediterranean before reaching its destination in Syria. Dozens of crew members were also left dead or missing.

Australia passed reforms to its live export trade in 2018 after video released by animal rights activists showed sheep  some already dead  crammed together in small, stifling pens and covered in excrement on ships heading to the Middle East.

- Ageing ships -

More than 2.8 million live cattle, sheep and goats were exported in 2018 from the EU to Mediterranean basin countries, with Romania accounting for more than half.

A 2020 European Commission report discovered sector monitoring gaps by several member states, such as Romania, France and Spain.

The activist group Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has complained for years about violations of regulations it judges insufficient.

A big problem is the poor design, construction and maintenance of the transport ships, according to Agathe Gignoux, the head of advocacy at the NGO's French branch.

She pointed to "very steep ramps, and very low ceilings and stalls" that made it harder to feed and water the animals.

In general, Gignoux added, the ships are often old and "were not built to transport animals".

The European Commission report said the ships were originally designed to carry automobiles.

What's worse, Gignoux said, is that "there is no veterinary care on board" even though trips can last five to eight days on average.

The EU commission pointed out that some trips last several weeks.

CIWF says the reason why animals are transported alive does not stem from problems of conservation or the need for ritual slaughter for clients in the Middle East.

"Honestly, the real reason is simple, it costs more to slaughter livestock in Europe," Gignoux said.

In June, the European Parliament called attention to allegations that EU laws on live animal transport were being violated and created a commission to study the situation.

ngu-myl-ii-mr-du/rl-wai/lth

Representative image

Dushanbe [Tajikistan], March 31 (ANI): A key conference on Afghanistan has called for concerted regional and international cooperation to ensure the dismantling of terrorist sanctuaries and disrupting all financial, tactical, logistical or any other form of support for terrorism without any distinction.

A declaration was adopted on Tuesday after the 9th Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) Ministerial Conference. The declaration was adopted by the foreign ministers and high-level representatives of the participating countries, including India, China, Russia, and Pakistan. From India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in the conference.

"We strongly call for concerted regional and international cooperation to ensure dismantling of terrorist sanctuaries and safe havens, preventing and interdicting the movement of terrorists and terrorist groups, including foreign terrorist fighters, across the countries of the HoA Region and anywhere else, as well as disrupting all financial, tactical, logistical or any other form of support for terrorism without any distinction," it said.

In the declaration, all member nations condemned all terrorist activities in all "forms and manifestations" and emphasized the need for an immediate, permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Afghanistan, and called for the resumption of meaningful peace negotiations and full respect for International Humanitarian Law.

Regarding the continued relations between the Taliban and international terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda, it reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that the territory of Afghanistan is not used as safe havens for any terrorist groups or foreign terrorist entities.

"While condemning in the strongest terms all terrorist activities in all forms and manifestations as being criminal and unjustifiable, we emphasize the need for an immediate, permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, resume meaningful peace negotiations and full respect for International Humanitarian Law," it said.

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The member nations extended their support to the ongoing efforts for the peace process and the continuation of the negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

"We acknowledge that long-term stability and prosperity in the region require peace and security in Afghanistan, and therefore the region, as well as the international community, has a shared responsibility and common interest to work together for promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region as a whole," said the declaration.

On counter-narcotics efforts, the declaration said that drug trafficking and the illicit drug trade pose a threat to the socio-economic development, security, and stability not only in Afghanistan but also in the surrounding region.

Commending countries in the region and beyond for their hospitality and support in hosting millions of Afghan refugees for four decades, it called for creating conducive conditions in Afghanistan for voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation of the refugees.

It urged the international community to continue to assist host countries in taking care of the essential needs of Afghan refugees and to provide support to the repatriation and reintegration efforts by the Afghan government and targeted assistance for their voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation and their sustainable reintegration in Afghanistan, with emphasis on youth, education, and livelihoods.

The Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process is an initiative of the Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of Turkey, which was officially launched at a conference hosted by Turkey in Istanbul on 2 November 2011. (ANI)
OSLO (dpa-AFX) - Norway's retail sales continued to decline in February, figures from Statistics Norway showed on Tuesday. Retail sales fell 0.3 percent month-on-month in February, following a 0.1 percent decrease in January. Sales of culture and recreation decreased 7.4 percent monthly in February. Sales of food, beverages and non-specialized stores fell by 3.8 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively. Excluding motor vehicles and gas stations, retail sales fell 0.4 percent monthly in February, after a 0.1 percent increase in the preceding month. On a year-on-year basis, retail sales increased 6.1 percent in February, following a 8.2 percent rise in the prior month. Separate data from the statistical office showed that the household consumption grew a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent month-on-month in February, after a 2.5 percent fall in January. 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.
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The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

Vote

View Results

Concerning the recent NJ Advance Media article, Did a push for profits drive up nursing home deaths? I agree with U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-9th Dist., that private equity ownership of nursing homes affects patient safety, cost and jobs  and in a very negative way.

As a retired doctor, I have watched the trend of parasitic takeover of doctor-staffing firms and hospital facilities with deep concern as they strip the profits from the business to the detriment of the medical care of patients.

Since our political system allows the nursing home industrys influence through campaign donations and lobbying as a tool to leverage into favorable laws and regulatory action, the best interest of the patient is guaranteed to be the lowest priority. We should rethink both a business model in health care that prioritizes profits, and a political system that allows the use of special-interest spending to tilt the playing field further away from seniors seeking medical care at their most vulnerable.

The House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee, which Pascrell chairs, will address the question of how ownership of nursing homes affects care. I call on all House members from New Jersey to cosponsor HJ Resolution 1, which asks for a constitutional amendment to limit the toxic influence of big money in politics that drowns out the voices of the people.

Marie HenselderKimmel, M.D., Cherry Hill

Why should GOP fear mail-in voting?

I have a question for Republican leaders: What are you afraid of?

Before the 2020 election, mail-in balloting was perceived to benefit Republicans greatly, analysts say. Now, Republican leadership across the United States is doing everything possible to limit such balloting and silence all voters who do not routinely vote for GOP candidates.

In more than 60 court challenges nationwide, including at the U.S. Supreme Court, judges rejected or ruled against legal arguments made by former President Donald Trump as he tried unsuccessfully to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election that Democrat Joe Biden won.

Now, the fight continues in state legislatures where Republicans are rewriting voting laws, in part, to try to fulfill Trumps political wishes of an electorate more friendly to him. They are making it harder, especially for people of color, to cast ballots because they were a powerful voting bloc in electing Biden, as well as two Democrat U.S. senators from Georgia who flipped the Senate to Democrat control.

Instead of trying to show and convince people of color that the Republican Party is an inclusive party, they are telling us by their actions that we are not welcome. Again, I ask, what are they afraid of?

The Bible states in Romans 13:3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.

Richard Nash, Williamstown

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.
American and Canadian First Nations call on Biden and Trudeau

to block Hydro-Quebec's plan to build a transmission line to Massachusetts

INDIAN ISLAND, Maine, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The Penobscot Nation of Maine, supported in Labrador by Innu Nation and in Quebec by the First Nations of Pessamit (Innu), Wemotaci (Atikamekw), Pikogan, Kitcisakik and Lac Simon (Anishnabek), have written to the White House and to the Prime Minister of Canada to denounce Hydro-Quebec's plan to build a hydroelectric transmission line through Maine to Massachusetts. Together, they are asking President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau to halt initiatives that would see the state-owned utility make billions of dollars in profits without consulting or compensating the First Nations on whose ancestral territories its electricity is produced and through which it will be transported

Hydro-Quebec plans to transmit its hydroelectricity via the proposed Appalaches-Maine Interconnection Power Line Project to the U.S. border and then through the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line, which, once built, would connect to the New England grid. Many First Nations in Canada and the United States would be directly affected by these projects.

Grand Chief Etienne Rich (Innu of Labrador), Chief Jean-Marie Vollant (Innu of Pessamit), Chief Francois Neashit (Atikamekw of Wemotaci), and Chiefs Monik Kistabish, Adrienne Jerome and Regis Penosway (Anishnabek of Pikogan, Lac Simon and Kitcisakik) stated: "It is regrettable that we are now forced to ask the highest American authorities to ensure that our rights are respected, when the Canadian and Quebec governments should be doing so on our behalf. That's why we have also sent a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau."

In the U.S., Kirk Francis, Chief of the Penobscot Nation in Maine, states in his letter to the White House: "The U.S Army Corps of Engineers ignored its responsibility  and our requests  to consult with us and gave the NECEC its stamp of approval with blinders on." He explains that the construction of a transmission line would involve extensive clearing, which would expose many creeks and streams to the sun's heat, and, in turn, threaten the sustainability of brook trout populations and several other species in different habitats.

In his letter to Prime Minister Trudeau, Mr. Francis explained that the Penobscot have steadfastly opposed the construction of the NECEC line because it runs directly counter to the ecological principles it actively pursues. "As a river people, our First Nation members have a spiritual and cultural connection to the Penobscot River. Water quality is therefore of great importance to us. Recently, we played a major role in projects to clean up the river, including one to reduce mercury and dioxin pollution and to reintroduce American shad and Atlantic salmon," he said.

The electricity being supplied by Hydro-Quebec will be generated by 33 hydroelectric plants that are unconstitutionally located on the ancestral territory of the Innu, Atikamekw and Anishnabek First Nations in Quebec. In addition, a large portion of it will be generated by the Churchill Falls hydroelectric station in Labrador, which caused the devastating flooding of thousands of square kilometres of Innu Nation territory, and for which Innu Nation has never been compensated by Hydro-Quebec.

On both sides of the border, First Nations argue that there was a lack of due diligence and transparency in the transmission line approvals process, and that they were never consulted.

In their letters to the Biden administration, the American and Canadian Chiefs urged the U.S. Department of Energy to set aside the Presidential Permit issued for the NECEC project, to conduct a comprehensive environmental impact study, and to take their ethical concerns into serious consideration before proceeding any further.

In addition to taking their cases the highest level of government in both countries, the Grand Chief of Innu Nation in Labrador and Chiefs of the Innu-Atikamekw-Anishnabek Coalition in Quebec warn that Americans are being subjected to an expensive greenwashing campaign. Given that Hydro-Quebec has spent $10 million on an intensive and biased advertising campaign in the USA in an effort to influence Maine voters to cast their ballots in favour the NECEC project during an upcoming referendum, they suggest that this could be considered as interference by a foreign government.

In their letters to Prime Minister Trudeau, the Chiefs from Quebec and Labrador focused on Hydro-Quebec's violation of their constitutional rights and on its breaching of several articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which will soon become law in Canada. "For decades, Hydro-Quebec and the Quebec government have ignored our repeated requests to sit down with us and negotiate," they said.

"Hydro-Quebec claims to offer green energy to American consumers, while making billions of dollars in profits at the expense of the Indigenous peoples whose ancestral lands it exploits. We are tired of this. That's why we're calling on the Canadian and American governments to intervene on our behalf," they added.

SOURCE Innu-Atikamekw- Anishnabek Coalition /Innu Nation/Penobscot Nation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi



on Tuesday targetted Kerala's ruling LDF over the gold smuggling scam, saying the CPI(M)-led government "betrayed" the people of the state just as Judas did to Lord Jesus for a few pieces of silver.

He also slammed the LDF government over the manner in which it dealt with the agitation against the decision to implement a Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women in all age groups into Sabarimala temple, saying the Left dispensation should be ashamed of showering lathis on innocent devotees.

"About LDF it can be said: Judas betrayed Lord Christ for a few pieces of silver. LDF has betrayed Kerala for a few pieces of gold", the PM said while attacking the Left government over the sensational gold smuggling case.

Addressing his first election rally in Palakkad where 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan is contesting as the candidate, Modi also criticised the UDF over corruption, saying during its rule, the Congress-led government did not even spare rays of sun, a reference to the solar panel scam.

The veteran leader claimed that the politics of the southern state was seeing a major shift driven by aspirations of the youth who have questioned the "match-fixing" politics of the LDF and the opposition UDF.

"Over the last few years, the politics of Kerala is seeing a major shift. This shift is being driven by the aspirations of the youth, especially the first time voter in the state.

For many years, the worst kept secret of Kerala politics was the friendly agreement of UDF and LDF. Now, the first time voters of Kerala are asking- what is this match fixing?", Modi said.

Training guns on the LDF and the UDF over the Sabarimala temple issue, Modi said, "LDF government should be ashamed of showering Lathis on innocent devotees.

UDF should be ashamed of remaining silent when this was happening.

I am proud to belong to a party that has, is and will always defend the culture of our land."



"I want to tell the LDF and UDF: If you abuse our culture, we will not be mute spectators," he said, referring to the agitation led by party's state unit chief K Surendran to protect faith in the state.

"Our state unit President Surendran Ji was arrested and ill-treated by the Kerala government.

What was his crime? That he spoke for Kerala's traditions?" Modi asked.

Taking on the Left parties on political violence in the state, Modi said they have been in power many times in Kerala but their leaders still behave like junior level goons or party leaders.

"Under their eyes and with their blessings, political rivals are killed, hacked, beaten," Modi said.

He promised that if voted to power, the government will stop the culture of violence in the southern state.

"In a democracy we can have political differences. But, violence is not acceptable. So many of our young BJP Karyakartas have lost their lives.

A BJP government in Kerala will stop this culture of violence", Modi said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Texas March 1 Open: N/A Close: Dec. 13, 2021, by 6 p.m. (not later than 6 p.m. on the second Monday in December of an odd-numbered year) Tex. Elec. Code  172.023

North Carolina March 8 Open: Dec. 6, 2021, at noon (no earlier than noon on the first Monday in December) Close: Dec. 17, 2021, by noon (no later than noon on the third Friday in December preceding the primary) N.C. Gen. Stat.  163-106.2

Illinois March 15 Open: Nov. 22, 2021 (not more than 113 days prior to the date of the primary) Close: Nov. 29, 2021 (not less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary)

Indiana May 3 Open: Jan. 5 (not earlier than 118 days before the primary election) Close: Feb. 4 (not later than noon 88 days before the primary election). Burns Ind. Code  3-8-2-4

Ohio May 3 Open: N/A Close: Feb. 2 (not later than 4 p.m. of the 90th day before the day of the primary election) Ohio Rev. Code  3513.05

Nebraska May 10 Open: Dec. 1, 2021 Close: Feb. 15, 2022 (filing period shall be between Dec. 1 and Feb.15 prior to the date of the primary election) Neb. Rev. Stat.  32-606

West Virginia May 10 Open: Jan. 10 (not earlier than the second Monday in January before the primary election day) Close: Jan. 29 (not later than the last Saturday in January before the primary election day and must be received before midnight ET of that day or, if mailed, shall be postmarked by the United States Postal Service before that hour) W. Va. Code  3-5-7

Kentucky May 17 Open: Nov. 3, 2021 (not earlier than the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November of the year preceding the year the office will appear on the ballot) Close: Jan. 7, 2022 (not later than the first Friday following the first Monday in January preceding the day fixed by law for holding the primary) KRS  118.165

Oregon May 17 Open: Sept. 10, 2021 (not sooner than the 250th day before the date of the primary election) Close: Mar. 8, 2022 (not later than the 70th day before the date of the primary election) Or. Rev. Stat. Ann.  249.037

Pennsylvania May 17 Open: Feb. 15 Close: March 8 (on or before the 10th Tuesday prior to the primary) 25 P.S.  2873

Idaho May 19 Open: Feb. 28, 2022, at 8 a.m. (8 a.m. on the 12th Monday preceding the primary election) Close: March 11, at 5 p.m. (5 p.m. on the 10th Friday preceding the primary election) Idaho Code 34-704 and 34-708

Alabama May 24 Open: N/A Close: Jan. 28 (not later than 5 p.m. 116 days before the date of the primary election) Code of Ala.  17-13-5

Georgia May 24 Open: March 7 (9 a.m. on the Monday of the 11th week immediately prior to the state or county primary) Close: March 11 (noon on the Friday immediately following such Monday, notwithstanding the fact that any such days may be legal holidays) O.C.G.A.  21-2-153

California June 7 Open: Feb. 14 Close: March 11

Iowa June 7 Open: Feb. 28 (not earlier than 99 days before the primary election) Close: March 18 at 5 p.m. (no later than 5 p.m. on the 81st day before the day fixed for holding the primary election) Iowa Code 43.11

Mississippi June 7 Open: Jan. 1, 2021 (no such assessments may be paid before Jan. 1 of the year in which the primary election for the office is held) Close: March 1 (by 5 p.m. on March 1 of the year in which the primary election for the office is held or on the date of the qualifying deadline provided by statute for the office, whichever is earlier) Miss. Code Ann.  23-15-299

Montana June 7 Open: Jan. 13 (no sooner than 145 days before the election in which the office first appears on the ballot) Close: March 14 (no later than 5 p.m., 85 days before the date of the primary election) Mont Code  13-10-201

New Jersey June 7 Open: N/A Close: April 4, by 4 p.m.

New Mexico June 7 Open: Feb. 1, at 9 a.m. Close: Feb. 1, by 5 p.m. (on the first Tuesday in February of each even-numbered year between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.) NM ST  1-8-26(B)

South Dakota June 7 Open: Jan. 1 Close: March 29, by 5 p.m. (by the last Tuesday of March at 5 p.m. local time before the date of the primary election; by the last Tuesday of March at 5 p.m. local time before the primary election, if the petition is mailed by registered mail) S.D. Codified Laws  12-6-4

Maine June 14 Open: N/A Close: March 15, by 5 p.m. Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A,  335

Nevada June 14 Open: March 7 (first Monday in March of the year in which the election is to be held) Close: March 18, by 5 p.m. (not later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first Monday in March) NRS  293.177(b)

North Dakota June 14 Open: N/A Close: April 11, by 4 p.m. (not later than 4 p.m. on the 64th day prior to the day of election) N.D. Cent. Code,  16.1-12-04

South Carolina June 14 Open: March 16, at noon Close: March 30, by noon (noon on March 16 and noon on March 30; next regular business day if March 30 is on a Saturday or Sunday) S.C. Code Ann.  7-11-15

Virginia June 21* Open: March 14 (not earlier than noon of the 92nd day before the primary) Close: March 30 at 5 p.m. (not later than 5 p.m. of the 75th day before the primary) Va. Code  24.2-503, 24.2-522 and 24.2-524 *Note: SB 1148 (2021) changed the date of the primary election held in June from the second Tuesday in June to the third Tuesday in June. The bill also changes candidate filing deadlines to reflect the change of date.

Arkansas June 21 Open: Feb. 22, at noon (beginning at noon one week prior to the first day in March) Close: March 1, at noon (ending at noon on the first day in March) Ark. Code  7-7-203

Colorado June 28 Open: Jan. 18 (third Tuesday in January) Close: March 15 (no later than the third Tuesday in March) Colo. Rev. Stat.  1-4-801

Maryland June 28 Open: N/A Close: Feb. 22, by 9 p.m. (9 p.m. on the last Tuesday in February before the primary election)

New York June 28 Open: April 4 (not earlier than the 13th Monday before the primary election) Close: April 7 (not later than the 12th Thursday preceding the primary election) NY CLS Elec  6158

Oklahoma June 28 Open: April 13, at 8 a.m. (no earlier than 8 a.m. on the second Wednesday of April of any even-numbered year) Close: April 15, at 5 p.m. (no later than 5 p.m. on the next succeeding Friday) 26 Okl. St.  5-110

Utah June 28 Open: March 11 (on or after the second Friday in March before the next regular general election) Close: March 17, by 5 p.m. (before 5 p.m. on the third Thursday in March before the next regular general election) Utah Code  20A-9-408

Arizona Aug. 2 Open: Jan. 1 (Citizens Clean Elections CCEC participating candidates); March 7, 2022 (traditionally funded candidates) Close: April 4, by 5 p.m. Ariz. Rev. Stat.  16-311

Kansas Aug. 2 Open: N/A Close: June 1, at noon if new redistricting plans are established on or before May 10; June 10, 2022, at noon if new redistricting plans are established on or after May 11. K.S.A.  25-205

Michigan Aug. 2 Open: N/A Close: April 19, at 4 p.m. (no later than 4 p.m. of the 15th Tuesday before the August primary) Mich. Comp. Laws Serv.  168.551

Missouri Aug. 2 Open: Feb. 22, at 8 a.m. Close: March 29, at 5 p.m. R.S. Mo  115.349.2, 115.349.1

Washington Aug. 2 Open: May 16 Close: May 20 (during regular business hours beginning the Monday two weeks before Memorial Day and ending the following Friday in the year in which the office is scheduled to be voted upon) RCW 29A.24.050

Tennessee Aug. 4 Open: N/A Close: April 7, by noon (noon, prevailing time, on the first Thursday in April) Tenn. Code  2-5-101

Connecticut Aug. 9 Open: N/A Close: June 7 (not later than 4 p.m. on the 63rd day preceding the day of the primary) Conn. Gen. Stat.  9-400

Minnesota Aug. 9 Open: May 17 (not more than 84 days before the state primary) Close: May 31 (not less than 70 days before the state primary) Minn. Stat.  204B.09

Vermont Aug. 9 Open: April 25 (not earlier than the fourth Monday in April preceding the primary election) Close: May 26 (not later than 5 p.m. on the fourth Thursday after the first Monday in May preceding the primary election) Vt. Stat. tit. 17,  2356

Wisconsin Aug. 9 Open: April 15 (no sooner than April 15 preceding the general election) Close: June 1, by 5 p.m. (no later than 5 p.m. on June 1 preceding the partisan primary) Wis. Stat.  8.15

Hawaii Aug. 13 Open: Feb. 1 Close: June 7 HRS 12-6, HRS 12-2.5

Alaska Aug. 16 Open:N/A Close: June 1 by 5 p.m. Alaska Stat.  15.25.040

Wyoming Aug. 16 Open: May 12 (not more than 96 days preceding the primary election) Close: May 27 (not later than 81 days preceding the primary election) Wyo. Stat.  22-5-209

Florida Aug. 23 Open: June 13, at noon (noon of the 71st day prior to the primary election) Close: June 17, by noon (not later than noon of the 67th day prior to the date of the primary election) Fla. Stat.  99.061

Delaware Sept. 13 Open: N/A Close: July 12 (on or before noon) 15 Del. C.  3101

New Hampshire Sept. 13 Open: June 1 Close: June 10 (between the first Wednesday in June and the Friday of the following week) RSA  655:14

Rhode Island Sept. 13 Open: N/A Close: July 21 (before 4 p.m. on the 60th day before the primary)  17-14-11

Massachusetts Sept. 20 Open: Feb. __, 2022 (no later than 15 weeks prior to the first filing deadline with the secretary of the commonwealth) Close: May 31 (on or before the last Tuesday in May of the year in which a state election is to be held) ALM GL ch. 53,  10

Louisiana Nov. 8 Open: N/A Close: July 22, 4:30 p.m. on the Friday after the opening of the qualifying period for candidates in the primary election or, if that Friday is a legal holiday, at 4:30 p.m. on the next day which is not a legal holiday 468., 467.
Close

The SpaceX Starship SN11 flight scheduled for today has been delayed, according to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.





The delay, according to Musk, is due to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) unable to reach Starbase on time for the launch.

According to Texas authorities, the Starship SN11 rocket was scheduled to launch from SpaceX's Starbase test site near Boca Chica Village in South Texas on Monday between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. EDT (1700-2200 GMT).

FAA inspector unable to reach Starbase in time for launch today. Postponed to no earlier than tomorrow.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 29, 2021

On March 12, the Federal Aviation Administration updated SpaceX's Starship license. The authorizing agency safety officer should be present at SpaceX's Boca Chica, Texas launch site for any mission.

"This is the result of FAA's continuing oversight of SpaceX to ensure compliance with federal regulations to protect public safety, including issues arising from the SN8 launch in December 2020," an FAA spokesperson told FOX Business. "SpaceX must provide adequate notice of its launch schedule to allow for [an] FAA safety inspector to travel to Boca Chica."

If SpaceX successfully launched the Starship SN11 on Tuesday, the rocket would cross a height of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) before attempting a landing.

You'll be able to watch directly from SpaceX itself and on YouTube. The webcast for a Starship launch attempt typically starts about 5 minutes before the attempt.

The proposed Starship SN11 launch on Tuesday follows an earlier attempt on Friday (March 26). SpaceX test-fired the rocket's three Raptor engines but decided against attempting a launch to give the spacecraft some time to undergo additional tests.





What is Starship SN11?

The Starship SN11 is the most recent research platform for SpaceX's proposed entirely reusable launch system for deep-space missions to the moon and Mars.

The Starship is 160 feet long with a 30-foot diameter and is made of stainless steel. SpaceX claims to be capable of launching more than 100 metric tons into orbit.

According to Space.com, officials for the corporation also confirmed that Starship, including their latest Falcon 9 rocket, could begin deploying satellites into Earth's orbit as early as 2022.

So far, the company has released three vehicles: the SN8, SN9, and SN10. Attempts to land the SN8 and SN9 Starships failed, with the spacecraft crashing and burning.

The Starship SN10 prototype took to the air on March 3 and landed safely, but it exploded shortly afterward. The Starship SN11 test flight is expected to be a resounding success for SpaceX.





Elon Musk's Ambitious Plans for Mars

Musk has ambitious proposals for a Mars flight.

He said in December that he was "extremely optimistic" that SpaceX's Starship would land humans on Mars by 2026.

The Starship will also be key in Musk's planned private commercial space flight set to launch in 2023. Independent.co.uk said it's impossible to tell who will be participating in the missions to Mars with such a hazy timetable.

For flights to the International Space Station, SpaceX also collaborates closely with NASA. A squad of astronauts visited Starship SN11 last week.

With the caption "similar values, joint vision," NASA astronaut Christina Koch posted a photo of herself and colleagues Michael Barratt, Reid Wiseman, and Matthew Dominick standing in front of the prototype.

Common goals, shared vision. NASA astronauts learning about the SpaceX Starshipone element in a growing worldwide field of deeper space exploration systems with sights on the moon and Mars. pic.twitter.com/Bwv2hSqzDI  Christina H Koch (@Astro_Christina) March 23, 2021

RELATED ARTICLE: SpaceX to Reuse Dragon Spacecraft Fleet After Rocket Booster from NASA Crew-1 'Leaned'





Check out more news and information on SpaceX on Science Times.
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SPRINGFIELD  Four companies are accused of improper removal, transport, and/or storage of asbestos during an abatement project at the former Springfield YMCA on Chestnut Street.

The YMCA has moved operations to Tower Square and the building now houses apartments in space the YMCA no longer owns.

Home City Development, Inc., of Springfield, renovated the former dormitory portion of the building to a 101-unit, mixed-income apartment project at 275 Chestnut St.

Attorney General Maura Healey announced lawsuits in the case this week. Springfield is an environmental justice community, and its residents are disproportionately subjected to environmental harms and risks, her office said in a news release.

We allege that the defendants reckless disregard of basic workplace procedures and failure to take proper precautions put the health and safety of workers, building occupants, and the surrounding community at risk, said Healey in a prepared statement . Those who deal with asbestos have a duty to do so in a safe and legal way to protect workers and the public from the serious harms of asbestos exposure, and we will take action against those who dont comply.

Healys complaint, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that Ray Services Inc. (Ray), an asbestos abatement company in Lawrence; OReilly, Talbot, & Okun Associates, Inc. (OTO), an environmental consulting company in Springfield; Allegrone Construction Co. (Allegrone), a general contractor in Pittsfield ; and Service Transport Group (STG), a transportation company of Woonsocket, Rhode Island; each violated the states Clean Air Act and its corresponding regulations.

In March 2019, Ray employees illegally removed dry, spray-on fire-proofing material containing asbestos by scraping the material off ceiling ducts, pipes, and beams in unoccupied classrooms in the building, according to the complaint.

Healeys office further alleges that Ray workers wore improperly fitted personal protective equipment that did not protect their faces. The complaint alleges that STG provided a rusted-through waste storage container, located next to the buildings recreation area, to store the asbestos that Ray removed from the building. These improper storage practices allowed the loose asbestos-containing material to accumulate outside of the container and exposed the asbestos to the ambient air. Additionally, the AGs Office alleges in its complaint that Allegrone and OTO had an unlawful role in these asbestos abatement activities, which caused or contributed to a condition of air pollution.

The YMCA Child Care center moved to Tower Square from the Chestnut building months later in November of 2019.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen and Ray Services failure to follow required work practices, including wetting friable spray-on fireproofing materials prior to removal, could have exposed employees and children at the property to hazardous levels of asbestos fibers, said Michael Gorski, Director of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Western Regional Office in Springfield. It is fortunate that MassDEP performed the unannounced compliance inspections of the abatement activities and ordered Ray Services to immediately correct the violations, assess the potential release of asbestos fibers to areas of the building outside the work area, and perform cleanup of these areas as necessary.

Healeys Office has made asbestos safety a priority. Since September 2016, the attorney generals office, with the assistance of MassDEP, has successfully brought asbestos enforcement cases that together have resulted in nearly $4.5 million in civil penalties.

Assistant Attorney General Laila Atta of the Energy and Environmental Bureau is handling the case, with assistance from chief regional counsel Christine LeBel and environmental analyst John Moriarty of MassDEPs Western Regional Office in Springfield.

Related content:
Aidan Turner has been pictured kissing a male co-star on the set of new historical drama, Leonardo.

The actor, 37, plays Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci in the new series, which is set to explore the life of the painter.

There has long been debate whether the painter was homosexual, a theme that is set to be explored in the eight-part series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leonardo will 'unlock the mystery' behind Da Vinci's genius as well as explore a tantalising secret in his life.

Kissing: Aidan Turner has been pictured kissing a male co-star on the set of new historical drama, Leonardo

Born in 1452, Leonardo is one of the greatest individuals of the last millennium, known primarily for his contributions to the art world, including paintings like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

During the Renaissance he dabbled in invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography.

The artist left no clue as to his own sexuality. He never married and it cannot be stated with certainty that he had a sexually intimate relationship with any person, male or female.

One to watch: Aidan plays Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci in the new series, which is set to explore the life of the painter

Mystery man: It has long been claimed Da Vinci was in a gay relationship with his apprentice, Salai. It has not been made clear if the co-star Aidan is pictured kissing depicts Salai

Despite this, speculation over his sexuality has been long debated, and it has long been claimed that he was in a same-sex relationship with his apprentice, Gian Giacomo Caprotti, better known by his nickname Salai.

Caprotti is thought to have entered Da Vinci's household when he was around 10 years old, and worked as his assistant for the next 20 years acquiring the nickname Salai, or Little Devil.

Salai was used in a number of Da Vinci's paintings as a model and it has even been suggested that Salai was the subject of his most famous painting, the Mona Lisa.

One to watch: According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leonardo will 'unlock the mystery' behind Da Vinci's genius as well as explore a tantalising secret in his life

Delightful duo: In the series, Aidan stars alongside The Undoing's Matilda De Angelis playing Da Vinci's famous muse Caterina da Cremona

Art detective Silvano Vinceti has said the portrait, which hangs in the Louvre in Paris, is an amalgamation of a Florentine merchant's wife and Da Vinci's possible gay lover.

WHO WAS LEONARDO DA VINCI? Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, more commonly Leonardo da Vinci or simply Leonardo, is one of the greatest individuals of the last millenium. The poly math was a driving force behind the Renaissance and dabbled in invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography. He has been attributed with the development of the parachute, helicopter and tank. He was born in what is modern-day Italy in 1452 and died at the age of 67 in France. After being born out of wedlock the visionary worked in Milan, Rome, Bologna and Venice. His most recognisable works include the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper, Vitruvian Man. Another piece of artwork, dubbed the Salvator Mundi, sold for a world record $450.3 million (343 million) at a Christie's auction in New York in 2017. Advertisement

Vinceti, the head of a research group called the National Committee of Cultural Heritage, based his findings on an infra-red examination of the famous painting.

It was previously thought that the picture was based on Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a merchant from Tuscany.

It has not been made clear if the co-star Aidan is pictured kissing depicts Salai.

In the series, Aidan stars alongside The Undoing's Matilda De Angelis playing Da Vinci's famous muse Caterina da Cremona, as well as Giancarlo Giannini playing artist Andrea del Verrocchio.

Leonardo was created by The Man In The High Castle showrunner Frank Spotnitz and Sherlock writer Steve Thompson, the show will be directed by Daniel Percival and Alexis Sweet.

Speaking about the show, Frank, whose company Big Light Productions is co-producing the drama, admitted it was 'both a challenge and an honour' to portray Da Vinci's life on the silver screen.

In a statement, he said: 'Its both a challenge and an honour to dramatize the life of one of the most fascinating people who ever lived.

'Leonardo is constantly surprising, and despite his fame remains an enigma more than 500 years after his death.

'Weve uncovered sometimes little-noticed clues about Leonardos life and pieced them together in a puzzle that attempts to reveal the humanity behind the genius.'

While Luca Bernabei, CEO of Lux Vide who have produced the drama, added in his own statement: 'Leonardos story invites us to believe in humanity, in its extraordinary abilities and the possibility of looking to the future beyond those horizons that today appear as overwhelming obstacles.'

Leonardo will launch on Amazon Prime Video in the UK and Ireland on Friday 16th April 2021.

The new images come following claims Aidan secretly 'married' girlfriend Caitlin Fitzgerald in a secret ceremony in Italy.

The Sun reports the actor tied the knot with American actress Caitlin, 38, as filming concluded on Leonardo back in August.

The couple - who started dating in 2018 - were said to be eager to wed as soon as their schedules allowed but kept the ceremony quiet due to their private nature.

Newlyweds: The new images come following claims Aidan secretly 'married' girlfriend Caitlin Fitzgerald in a secret ceremony in Italy after filming Leonardo (pictured 2019)

A source said: 'The couple are both madly in love and couldn't wait to get hitched when their schedules allowed.

'They're both very private and have kept the ceremony very much under wraps, but he has been seen taking lockdown walks with his wedding ring on show.

'Aidan hasn't been in a rush to get wed and has very much been waiting for 'The One' to come along  and anyone who sees them knows they're the perfect match.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for comment.

Aidan won fans all over the world with his portrayal of the hunky Ross Poldark in the iconic drama, alongside his love interest Eleanor Tomlinson.

The show concluded after five series in 2019 - with Aidan wowing fans with his brooding persona and hunky shirtless scything scenes.

Caitlin is best known for her role in US drama, Masters Of Sex from 2013-2016.

She played Libby Masters, the wife of sex therapist Dr William Masters, played by Michael Sheen - who she dated.
ERA Real Estate Fortifies Western Massachusetts Presence With Affiliation Of Cohn & Company Real Estate

Full-service brokerage founded nearly 75 years ago becomes ERA Powered

March 30, 2021 // Franchising.com // MADISON, N.J. - ERA Real Estate today announced the affiliation of Cohn & Company Real Estate ERA Powered. The legacy firm, founded in 1948, is headquartered in Greenfield, Mass., and serves Franklin and Hampshire counties in Western Massachusetts.

The ERA Powered flexible branding option gives companies a choice to leverage their local brand identity and benefit from the ERA brands full suite of learning, marketing and servicing resources.

The firm is owned and led by President Timothy Grader, an accomplished marketing executive, real estate developer and investor. Second-generation owner Robert Cohn tapped Timothy in 2019 to lead the brokerage into the future. Robert is transitioning to retirement after more than 40 years at the companys helm.

The firm has consistently performed at the top of the Franklin County market. Last year the brokerage was responsible for nearly $37 million in sales volume, a 2.75% increase over the previous year.

Grader has recognized many growth opportunities through the ERA affiliation, from gaining access to more sophisticated marketing resources and modernizing and standardizing operational platforms to leveraging a national and international referral network.

The region is home to a number of prestigious private colleges such as UMass Amherst, Amherst College, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith College as well as the renowned secondary boarding schools Northfield Mount Hermon, Deerfield Academy, Eaglebrook School and Stoneleigh Burnham.

Details:

According to the National Association of REALTORS, the median sales price in Franklin County is currently $259,400. The market saw an 8 percent increase in sales price from December 2019 to December 2020.

Greenfields Historic Main Street, with many locally owned and operated independent businesses, is an important component of the towns identity, where residents proudly live local and buy local.

The region caters to outdoor enthusiasts and culture lovers alike. An extensive bikeway system is popular with cyclists, while ski buffs can take advantage of the nearby Berkshire East resort. Music lovers will appreciate the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, one of the nations oldest community orchestras and chorus groups, and the annual Green River Music Festival.

A growing second home market is emerging around several prestigious private boarding schools and colleges in the region, while many out-of-market moves are driven by the ability to work from home.

The firm has been a longstanding supporter of the community, including Greenfield Community College, the Chamber of Commerce, and numerous community events that they have sponsored.

Cohn & Company Real Estate ERA Powered is now the seventh ERA brand affiliate brokerage in Massachusetts.

Quotes:

Tims impressive career in marketing and real estate make him perfectly positioned to leverage ERAs comprehensive offerings while preserving the longstanding culture and reputation of a company that has been an integral part of the community for nearly 75 years. Tim is a passionate entrepreneur driven to excel. As an ERA Powered company, Tim can implement the ERA services, products and enhancements best suited for his agents to help them grow their business while maintaining the companys strong local brand recognition."

- Sherry Chris, President and CEO of ERA Real Estate The companys enduring tradition as a family business aligns perfectly with ERAs collaborative and supportive community. In addition, the access to leading tools, powerful technology and robust marketing resources will be instrumental in helping us expand our reach. We are excited to launch a new era of growth for our company as an ERA Powered firm.

- Timothy Grader, President, Cohn & Company Real Estate ERA Powered

SOURCE ERA Real Estate

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Delhi: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani during his speech at the Heart of Asia meet in Dushanbe thanked India for supporting the Afghan Peace process.

The President said, "We acknowledge and appreciate the support and commitment of our other partners such as Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, UAE as well as our Central Asian neighbours to the Afghanistan peace process."

India has on multiple occasions backed the Afghan government when it comes to the Afghan peace process. India's envoy to Qatar, P Kumaran, was present at the signing of the US-Taliban pact in February of 2020. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar joined the start of Afghan talks in September.

The Afghan President highlighted India's connectivity projects that led to increased trade between the 2 countries. He said, "thanks to cooperation with India, we demonstrated the feasibility of an air corridor."

The India Afghanistan air corridor started in 2017, opening a huge Indian market for Afghan goods. Various Air corridors now connect Afghanistan to 55 different countries making the land-locked country, a land-linked country. India has invested at the Chabahar port that connects India with Afghanistan and beyond.

President Ghani also mentioned TAPI or Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran pipeline. He said, "Id also like to thank Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and India for agreeing with us to broaden the scope of TAPI to encompass the TAP transmission line, the installation of fiber optics, thereby changing the project into a developmental corridor and the site for the growth of clusters."

Live TV
More than 20 world leaders including President Paul Kagame, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the head of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, are calling for a new global settlement to help the world prepare for future pandemics.

They have noted, in a joint article published in several newspapers, that a new treaty would help to establish better systems for alerting people about potential pandemics while also improving the sharing of data and distribution of vaccines and personal protective equipment.

Admitting that Covid-19 has posed the biggest challenge since World War Two, the leaders say that a treaty similar to that reached in the wake of World War Two is needed to build cross-border cooperation.

"At that time, following the devastation of two world wars, political leaders came together to forge the multilateral system," reads part of their joint article.

The main goal of this treaty, they say, would be to foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics.

"This includes greatly enhancing international cooperation to improve, for example, alert systems, data-sharing, research, and local, regional and global production and distribution of medical and public health countermeasures, such as vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and personal protective equipment."

"This powerful idea, of a treaty rooted in WHO, has resulted in the joint statement issued today & published in major newspapers around the  & in multiple languages, which has been signed, so far, by 25 heads of state"-@DrTedros https://t.co/N9qbGlMRQl #PandemicTreaty

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Rwanda Coronavirus By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

- World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 30, 2021

It would also include, they write, recognition of a "One Health" approach that connects the health of humans, animals and our planet. And such a treaty should lead to more mutual accountability and shared responsibility, transparency and cooperation within the international system and with its rules and norms.

"To achieve this, we will work with Heads of State and governments globally and all stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector. We are convinced that it is our responsibility, as leaders of nations and international institutions, to ensure that the world learns the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic."

The world leaders note countries must now be better prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics in a highly coordinated fashion.

"There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone. The question is not if, but when.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has been a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe."

The letter also says that at a time when Covid-19 has "exploited our weaknesses and divisions, we must seize this opportunity and come together" as a global community for peaceful co-operation that extends beyond this crisis.
[March 30, 2021] Buying.com Leads Disruption in Hyperlocal Food Deliveries

ROCKAWAY, N.J., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Covid-19 pandemic changed many things, and among them, it impacted how people ate lunches and dinners. With lockdowns impacting dine-in restaurants, food delivery platforms, DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats, and Postmates, grew tremendously. Buying.com led the charge in optimizing the fulfillment portion of the food delivery platforms. "Covid changed everything - and one of the fundamental shifts was in how we all ate. Food delivery services have been around for a while, but Covid-19 hastened the pace of innovation," stated Jean Gabriel, CEO of Buying.com. Consumers, with a plethora of food options, have flocked towards app-based platforms to order food. Buying.com's systems assist restaurants in receiving orders from multiple apps with a single, easy to user interface called ODDS - On-Demand Delivery System. "ODDs truly makes the lives of the restaurant staff much easier with a single touchpoint for food orders and deliveries. Restaurants can manage the chaos of multiple apps and multiple deliveries," added Jean Gabriel, CEO, Buying.com. Buying.com is forging ahead with innovations to keep its lead in the food delivery fulfillment space. "The company is investing heavily in building out its platform, with the latest innovations being the introduction of the BUY token and associated walets," says Raghu Bala, CEO of NetObjex, a technology partner to Buying.com. "The Covid era has also been the time for the re-emergence of blockchain. Pertinent information is stocked on blockchain, supported oracles that connect to enterprise systems," added Mr. Bala.



About Buying.com

Buying.com provides an on-demand delivery system for restaurants to streamline their delivery processes. The all-in-one order management system handles both internal and external orders, allowing restaurants to easily schedule drivers and track orders while reducing delivery costs. The on-demand delivery system eliminates any costs associated with external delivery apps while expanding the business' customer base. About NetObjex

NetObjex, based in Irvine, California, provides enterprise software and business solutions for real-time tracking, tracing and monitoring of digital assets. The industrial-grade NetObjex Matrix digital twin asset management platform unifies IoT, AI and blockchain technologies as a continuum for intelligent automation and data marketplaces. NetObjex clients and partners benefit from global coverage across key verticals like e-commerce, energy, manufacturing, transport, healthcare, communications, retail & government.

Media Contact: Joseph Riviello, Chief Operating Officer, Buying.com Related Images

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Buying.com logo View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/buyingcom-leads-disruption-in-hyperlocal-food-deliveries-301258583.html SOURCE Buying.com

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The company said the addition of this second Swiss operator is expected to contribute to its fast-expanding European footprint

Inc ( ) ( ) (FRA:SL4A) said its wholly-owned ORYX Gaming subsidiary has signed a licensing and revenue sharing agreement with Grand Casino Baden, Switzerlands first licensed online casino operator and one of the countys leading online gambling sites.

The company noted the addition of this second Swiss operator is expected to contribute to its fast-expanding European footprint.

Partnering with yet another Swiss operator is another step toward our goal of increasing our footprint in Switzerland throughout Europe, said ORYX Gaming Managing Director Matevz Mazij said in a statement.

The content we offer is the perfect fit for Swiss players, and our seamless integration makes it easy for online casino operators like Grand Casino Baden to add our games to their platform and increase their audience and player engagement, ultimately increasing revenue, Mazij added.

Grand Casino Baden Chief Strategy Officer Marcel Tobler also commented, stating: By partnering with ORYX our customers will gain access to the innovative and fun titles that will resonate well with slot fans. Were excited about this revenue sharing agreement.

Bragg Gaming said Grand Casino Badens online casino brand, jackpots.ch, will provide content from ORYXs exclusive RGS partner, GAMOMAT. The titles will include Royal Seven, Ramses Book, Crystal Book and Take 5, all of which offer features and jackpots focused on increasing player engagement and retention.

It added the content provided by ORYX will be integrated into the Player Account Management Platform of Gamanza, the Swiss markets online casino technology provider.

ORYX is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the Romanian National Gambling Office (ONJN) and its content is certified or approved in 18 other major jurisdictions. The company was also awarded an ISO/IEC 27001 certificate in 2020, considered a regulation benchmark in Switzerland.

Bragg Gaming is a global B2B gaming technology platform provider. With operations across Europe and North America, the company is expanding into an international force within the burgeoning global online gaming market.

Braggs main brand is ORYX Gaming, an innovative business-to-business iGaming platform, casino content aggregator, managed sportsbook and managed services provider, offering cutting-edge content from leading studios.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
The German-Ukrainian Business Forum is a key bridge for closer business ties between the two countries, and the Ukrainian Business and Trade Assoiation (UBTA) is committed to ensure its success.

UBTA Chairman of the Board Dmytro Los said this while commenting on the results of the IV German-Ukrainian Business Forum, which took place in Berlin, the association's press service told Ukrinform.

"For the German-Ukrainian business relations, the Forum is a key event to engage your stakeholders within the government, leading industries and the business community at large. It offers a unique common platform to review progress in bilateral relations, voice your concerns and jointly search solutions, as well as jointly explore new ideas of business collaboration that reflect new challenges and opportunities of the day," Los said.

According to him, the Ukrainian Business and Trade Association, a voice of Ukrainian exporters in Europe and globally, welcomes the results of the Forum and reaffirms its commitment to see to it that the Forum becomes a strong bridge uniting German and Ukrainian business communities, as well as Governments, around a single agenda. "We offer our partnership to other German and Ukrainian business associations to invest in this bridge to our common better future," Los said.

He also stressed that the German-Ukrainian Business Forum serves an important role as a platform to discuss and promote economic relations between Germany and Ukraine. It is aimed at decision-makers from business and politics in Germany and Ukraine.

This year, due to the corona pandemic, the forum took place in a digital format with a live broadcast from the House of German Business in Berlin. The Forum featured German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna, ministers for economy, energy of both countries.

The UBTA is a regular contributor to the program of the Forum and important bilateral business to government meetings of its participants.

Photo credit: UBTA
Fountain Valley, CA  March 29, 2021  Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announces the launch of the NV1 NVMe PCIe SSD. With efficient performance in a single-sided M.2 design, NV1 is the ideal entry-level drive for first-time NVMe users with laptops and small form factor PCs.

NV1 is a substantial storage solution with capacities up to 2TB. It features read/write speeds up to 2,100/1,700MB/s1, respectively, thus delivering 3x the performance of a SATA-based SSD. NV1 uses less power, emits less heat and has quicker load times making it ideal for users who appreciate responsiveness and ultra-fast data access but have systems with limited space. NV1 is available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities2 and is backed by a limited three-year warranty4, free tech support and legendary Kingston reliability.

Kingston is pleased to announce the next entry-level offering in its NVMe PCIe SSD product family to meet the needs of new and existing users, said Keith Schimmenti, SSD business manager, Kingston. Whether users are upgrading a system or planning a new build, NV1 is designed for speed and dependability at an affordable price.

In 2020, Kingston shipped over 20M SSDs globally, according to analyst firm Forward Insights. As one of the largest SSD suppliers in the world, Kingston also added an mSATA version of the KC600 SSD to support older laptop upgrades. The recent launches further show Kingstons commitment to creating the industrys most thoroughly tested and complete range of SSD solutions, for first-time users to prosumers to data center customers. For more information visit kingston.com.



NV1 Features and Specifications:

 NVMe PCIe Performance: NV1 offers read/write speeds up to 2,100/1,700MB/s1 (all capacities).

 Ideal for systems with limited space: Easily integrate into designs with M.2 connectors. Perfect for thin laptops and small form factor PCs.

 Multiple Capacities2: Available in a range of capacities up to 2TB to meet your data storage requirements.

 Form Factor: M.2 2280

 Interface: NVMe PCIe Gen 3.0 x 4 Lanes

 Capacities2: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB

 Endurance3:

o 500GB  120TBW

o 1000GB  240TBW

o 2000GB  480TBW

 Power Consumption:

o 500GB: 5mW Idle / 205mW Avg / 1.1W (MAX) Read / 3.3W (MAX) Write

o 1000GB: 5mW Idle / 220mW Avg / 1.1W (MAX) Read / 3.3W (MAX) Write

o 2000GB: 5mW Idle / 340mW Avg / 1.1W (MAX) Read / 3.3W (MAX) Write

 Storage Temperature: -40C~85C

 Operating Temperature: 0C~70C

 Dimensions: 22mm x 80mm x 2.1mm

 Weight: 7g (All capacities)

 Vibration Operating: 2.17G (7-800Hz)

 Vibration Non-operating: 20G (20-1000Hz)

 Warranty/Support4: Limited 3-year warranty with free technical support







NV1 Part Numbers



Part Number Capacity SNVS/500G 500GB SNVS/1000G 1TB SNVS/2000G 2TB

The SSD is designed for use in desktop and notebook computer workloads and is not intended for Server environments.1 Based on out-of-box performance using a PCIe 3.0 motherboard. Speed may vary due to host hardware, software, and usage.2 Some of the listed capacity on a Flash storage device is used for formatting and other functions and thus is not available for data storage. As such, the actual available capacity for data storage is less than what is listed on the products. For more information, go to Kingstons Flash Memory Guide at kingston.com/flashguide.3 Total Bytes Written (TBW) is derived from the JEDEC Client Workload (JESD219A).4 Limited warranty based on 3 years or Percentage Used which can be found using the Kingston SSD Manager (Kingston.com/SSDManager). For NVMe SSDs, a new unused product will show a Percentage Used value of 0, whereas a product that reaches its warranty limit will show a Percentage Used value of greater than or equal to one hundred (100). See Kingston.com/wa for detail.About Kingston Digital, Inc.From big data, to laptops and PCs, to IoT-based devices like smart and wearable technology, to design-in and contract manufacturing, Kingston helps deliver the solutions used to live, work and play. The worlds largest PC makers and cloud-hosting companies depend on Kingston for their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We strive beyond our products to see the bigger picture, to meet the needs of our customers and offer solutions that make a difference. To learn more about how Kingston Is With You, visit Kingston.com.Editors Note: For additional information, evaluation units or executive interviews, please contact David Leong, Kingston Technology Company, Inc. 17600 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, CA USA 92708, 714-438-1817 (Voice). Press images can be found in Kingstons press room here.# # #Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. IronKey is a registered trademark of Kingston Digital, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Kingston Technology Company, Inc.

Kingston Digital, Inc. (KDI) is the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the worlds largest independent manufacturer of memory products. Established in 2008, KDI is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, USA. For more information, please visit kingston.com

Editor's Note:

For additional information, evaluation units or executive interviews, please contact David Leong, Kingston Technology Company, Inc., 17600 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, CA USA 92708, 714-438-1817 (Voice). Press images can be found in Kingstons press room at kingston.com/company/press/

Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. All other marks may be the property of their respective titleholders.
Fayemi says emissaries were sent to him with monetary offers so he could change his position on the matter.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State said Monday that he was offered $80million bribe to drop his objection to the settlement of the $418million judgment debts purportedly owed by states and their local governments in securing the Paris Club refunds.

He told PREMIUM TIMES in an exclusive interview that he was offered the money after he rejected an initial $40 million offer.

Mr Fayemi, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), said the fixers who approached him over the matter, also raised the offer to $80 million when they could not break his resistance with the initial $40million offer.

He said he similarly rejected the $80million offer in the interest of justice.

PREMIUM TIMES, in extensive reports on the matter, revealed how Mr Fayemi since taking over as the NGF Chairman has been making efforts to stop the planned payments, demanding a forensic audit to determine the legitimacy of the entire $418 million debts which translates to about N159 billion.

Our reports revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari's Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, along with the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has been scrambling to have the purported creditors hurriedly paid, despite the red flags Mr Fayemi-led NGF, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), have raised against it.

A follow-up story later published by another media platform after our first report, however, accused Mr Fayemi of demanding 10 per cent of the total amount at stake to drop his objection to the payment.

The NGF denied the allegation, but PREMIUM TIMES went further to contact Mr Fayemi for his personal response to the allegation.

Responding to our enquiry, Mr Fayemi said the claim was being bandied around to smear him and blackmail him into submission.

"That allegation is not true. The allegation was sponsored to smear me and blackmail me to compromise my stand," Mr Fayemi said, after an initial dismissive laughter.

He added, "The so-called creditors have rather been reaching out to me and sending emissaries to beg me to change my position on the matter.

"I was initially offered 10 per cent of the entire $418 million, which is about $40 million, to support the payment and I said no, this is not about me. Then the offer was raised to 20 per cent, which is about $80 million, but I still rejected it in the interest of justice and Nigerians.

"To be frank, I was alarmed that some persons sent to me could agree to discuss such an issue with me."

'Nothing against creditors, but an audit is necessary'

Mr Fayemi said he had nothing against the creditors but had to ensure that the right thing is done.

"I don't have anything against the creditors," the governor said. "But I believe we should carry out the forensic audit in the interest of justice. If after the audit, it is found out that they are legitimate debts I will immediately support the payment. But we have to do what is right."

Controversial debts

The controversial debts had arisen from various court judgments ordering that some "contractors" and "consultants" be paid for certain services and projects executed for the various states and the 774 local governments.

Some of the claimants were said to be consultants said to have been engaged by the states and local governments to secure recovery of funds over-deducted from their allocations between 1995 and 2002 to service then London and Paris Club loans.

The contractors among the claimants were purportedly engaged to execute certain projects in all the 774 local governments in anticipation that they would be paid from the Paris Club refunds.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how past leaderships of ALGON and the NGF had given tacit support to the six claimants in securing court judgments to validate their claims to their shares of the refunds.

Mr Fayemi-led NGF with the support of the National Executive Council (NEC), has however demanded a forensic audit of the contracts leading to the judgments and the entire indebtedness.

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The creditors who are laying claim to a total $418,953,670.59 (amounting to about N159 billion at a conservative exchange rate of $1 to N380.5) a former member of the House of Representatives, politician and lawyer, Ned Nwoko, who is laying claim to $142,028,941 (about N54 billion).

Three of the beneficiaries laying claim to $143,463,577.76 (about N54.6 billion) via a judgment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/2129/2014 are Riok Nigeria Ltd, Orji Nwafor Orizu, and Olaitan Bello.

The claimant with the singular lion share is Ted Iseghoghi Edwards, who is laying claim to $159,000,000 (about 60.5 billion), even though an EFCC report acknowledged by the AGF has stated that he is not entitled to the payment.

A firm, Panic Alert Security System Limited, owned by George Uboh, is also laying claim to $47,831,920 (about N18.2billion) based on another "consent judgment" it obtained in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/123/2018.
"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
The Mozambican army has been battling insurgents since 2017.

The South African High Commission in Maputo on Monday said it has accounted for the 43 South Africans affected by the recent attacks in northern Mozambique.

Meanwhile, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Minister, Naledi Pandor, has expressed her deepest condolences to the family of a South African man, Adrian Nel, who lost his life in the attack.

According to DIRCO, the accounted citizens were in the area known as Afungi.

"These include the two men who fled into the bush during the attacks on the Amarula Hotel convoy on 26 March and a young South African who hid away and was found by search and rescue helicopters.

"Some of these nationals are already back home whilst others have been moved to safe areas within Mozambique," said the department.

Northern Mozambique has been affected by a bloody violence since 2017. The conflict intensified on Friday after a group of suspected terrorists stormed into the town of Palma, targeting shops, banks and a military barracks, according to media reports. The incident has left dozens dead while about 60 people are believed to be still missing.

The High Commission said it remains "seized" with a track-and-trace process to determine whether there are any more South Africans who may have been affected.

"The services provided by the High Commission include assisting South African citizens with emergency medical evacuation, obtaining emergency travel documentation and securing international flight transfers."

Pandor has since commended staff at the High Commission for their prompt efforts at reaching out to fellow South Africans in distress.

"I urge our Mission and the officials including the Ambassador to continue to do all they can to provide assistance to our citizens and any to citizen of Mozambique who may be in need of help."

She said South Africa will continue to lend a helping hand to the southern African nation.
Unions representing teachers and special needs assistants (SNAS) have reacted strongly to the move to push them down the vaccine priority list.

Education workers are set to lose their placing on the schedule that would have put them ahead of certain age-based groups, and in the first 30pc of those to get the jab.

It is understood that Education Minister Norma Foley had no advance knowledge of the proposal that came to Cabinet today. It was recommended by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and endorsed by public health advisory group, Nphet.

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Ms Foley had previously asked that education staff be moved up the list, but once endorsed by Nphet, the change to the schedule has the status of public health advice and the Department of Educations standard position is to follow public health advice.

All three teacher unions are seeking an urgent meeting with the Department of Education.

Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) general secretary John Boyle described the change as unacceptable and called on the Government to reconsider.

He said it would abandon carefully considered priority groups who are working on the frontline.

Mr Boyle said there had been zero consultation or notification of this drastic change which is certain to affect our members confidence about safety at work.

He said that for months now we have heard the Government say, time after time, that education is the top priority for Government. How then can teachers be treated with such blatant disregard as frontline education workers?

This move undermines the efforts of our education staff to keep our primary and special schools open safely, is unacceptable and the Government must prioritise the safety of teachers and all key workers once the vulnerable and elderly are first protected by vaccination.

Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) general secretary Michael Gillespie also expressed serious concern.

He said it would put many essential education workers further down the prioritisation list at a time when the Governments stated key objective was to fully re-open schools in a safe and sustainable manner which commands the confidence of the school community.

Mr Gillespie said the change to the vaccination schedule arrived without warning or consultation.

He said the TUIs position was that that the most vulnerable in society, including the elderly and those with underlying health issues, should be prioritised for vaccination in the first instance.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) president Ann Piggott said they were shocked and dismayed by reports of a Government decision to abandon the vaccination of key workers, including school staff.

She said the Government had continuously stated that a key objective was to keep schools open and the decision is totally at odds with and undermines this objective.

Teachers and other schoolstaff are frontline workers. We want schools to remain open, however teachers have a right to a safe working environment, just as other essential workers who cannot work remotely do.

It is particularly reprehensible that there has been no consultation prior to these reports. This news represents a major blow to teachers confidence.

Teachers are working in difficult circumstances, many of them spending a significant part of their working day in poorly ventilated buildings and in classrooms of 28 to 30 students. Socially distancing can be a major problem.

Forsa, the union that represents special needs assistants (SNAs), said their members would feel let down.

Forsas head of education, Andy Pike, said SNAs and other staff had recently returned to schools on the basis that they would be vaccinated as soon as possible.

The union said SNAs worked alongside vulnerable students in situations where social distancing was impossible, which meant they were at higher risk of contracting the virus than most other groups.

Covid cases in schools are rising in line with community transmission, leaving SNAs  particularly those with high-risk medical conditions  anxious about the new delay in vaccine availability, he said.

Mr Pike said: Todays about-face by the Government means that many thousands will now wait even longer for the protection that only a vaccination can bring.

As a minimum, Forsa is calling on the Government to honour its promise to prioritise essential schools staff including SNAs.

The union said the change of approach, although unwelcome, would not directly impact on the planned expansion of schools reopening on April 12, as school staff had not been scheduled for vaccination before that date.

Meanwhile John (26), a secondary school teacher of Irish and maths in the south-east, says the new vaccine programme will affect everyone, not just teachers.

I think the decision to change the vaccine is unfair on everyone, not just teachers. SNAs, gardai, shop workers, those who cant avoid close contact due to the nature of their work.

I actually have asthma myself and while its not a bad dose, a 40-year-old male in perfect health who works from home will now get the vaccine in ahead of me just because hes 16 years older, he said.

Micheal Martin, Leo Varadkar and Norma Foley will attend the National Convention Centre maybe two or three days a week and will be spaced out by a considerable distance, where they tell us schools are safe and that keeping schools open is this Government's top priority.

Yet they themselves will all get the vaccine ahead of me, because theyre older. And theyll get the vaccine ahead of the young junior infants teacher who sits in a class with 30 small mask-less kids.

The hypocrisy of keep the schools open at all costs but dont bother vaccinating the teachers, SNAs and other staff does not sit well with me, he said.

Eamon Dennehy, vice-president of the ASTI and an engineering teacher at Haywood Community School in Co Laois, said the restructuring of the vaccine roll-out was disappointing.

We were under the impression that we were going to be prioritised to some extent with regard to keeping the schools open.

The importance of keeping schools open has been constantly emphasised and as a result we are disappointed that that strategy has been abandoned now, he said.

Mr Dennehy said the ASTI has received a lot of correspondence from worried teachers about the circumstances in schools as they are dealing with full classrooms and no social distancing.

Were told that schools are relatively safe. To a large extent, that safety is down to the school community, parents, teachers, management and the students themselves possibly above all because theyve been very well behaved and have cooperated with all the very difficult measures that have to be taken in the schools.

It is disappointing that the vaccine roll-out doesnt recognise those efforts, he said.

He said the Government should reconsider the decision to change the priority list.

There was a plan in place and everyone believed that this was the plan and changes to that plan affects different cohorts within it and they should be consulted about that.

We werent really at the top of any list already but at least there was recognition that we were in some way essential workers and so it was essential that we would be vaccinated when the time came.

If we want to keep the schools open safely and maintain them as safe places for our members at work, then we do deserve to be put somewhere on the spectrum there regarding the vaccine and get it when it would be logically reasonable that we should, he added.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - GameStop Corp. (GME) said that it has appointed Elliott Wilke as Chief Growth Officer, effective on April 5, 2021. Wilke joins from Amazon, where he spent the past seven years holding a variety of senior roles across segments such as Amazon Fresh, Prime Pantry and Worldwide Private Brands. He began his career at Proctor & Gamble and spent more than a decade in brand manager and marketing roles of increasing responsibility. In addition, the company has appointed Andrea Wolfe as Vice President of Brand Development. Wolfe, who previously served as Chewy's Vice President of Marketing, started March 29, 2021. She has held executive and director-level marketing roles at companies such as Outdoorsy, Spreetrail and Whole Foods. The company has names Tom Petersen, Vice President of Merchandising. Petersen, who previously served as Chewy's Vice President of Merchandising, started March 29, 2021. He has also held senior marketing and merchandising roles at specialty retailers such as Artenza and Corro. 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.

Dubai-based airline Emirates is showcasing the UAEs remarkable progress in its vaccination programme with a special flight that will carry only fully vaccinated crew and passengers onboard.



On April 10 special flight EK2021 will depart Dubai International Airport at 12:00hrs local time, to cruise over various areas across the UAE. The flight will return to Dubai at 14:30hrs local time.



The one-off flight EK2021 is a unique event that not only celebrates the success of the UAEs vaccination programme to date, but also highlights Emirates progress in vaccinating its staff and in particular its pilots and cabin crew. Aviation has been and continues to be an irreplaceable force for good, connecting people and cities, facilitating important trade flows and passenger journeys that bring economic prosperity and joy to millions of people.



Passengers will have the opportunity to experience Emirates newest A380 aircraft which features the airlines brand-new Premium Economy seats, and refreshed cabin interiors across all cabin classes.



Passengers travelling on EK2021 will be able to experience all of Dubai International Airports services and amenities on the ground before boarding.



In addition, customers can also try out first-hand, all the latest measures to help travellers enjoy a safe and smooth journey, including the new biometric and contactless technology which Emirates has recently implemented at the check-in areas and boarding gates at Dubai airport.



The UAE is one of worlds leading countries in administered vaccinations for citizens and residents, and has made four Covid-19 vaccines available for free to everyone. To date, over 8 million vaccine shots have been administered in the UAE, protecting over half of the UAEs population.



The Emirates Group has supported the national vaccination programme by making Covid-19 vaccines readily available to its UAE-based workforce at multiple locations within the companys premises. To date, over 35,000 Emirates employees have received their Covid-19 vaccine shot from one of the companys vaccination centres, with over 85% of the airlines pilots and cabin crew already receiving two doses of the vaccine.



Special flight details



Tickets for flight EK2021 will be available to UAE citizens and residents who have completed the two week period after their second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Tickets can be purchased from the Emirates contact centre, Emirates sales offices in the UAE, as well as local travel agents. Tickets are priced at AED1,000 ($272) per person in Economy, and AED2,000 in Business Class.



All fares collected for this special flight EK2021 will be donated to the Emirates Airline Foundation, the airlines non-profit charity organisation which supports projects around the world aimed at improving quality of life for disadvantaged children.



As with any regular flight, customers for special flight EK2021 will be expected to arrive at check-in with their flight ticket, from 3 hours before flight departure. They will be required to bring their UAE ID or passports, as well as vaccination certificate. All customers travelling on EK2021 will be provided pre-departure rapid Covid-19 testing, free of charge. In accordance with precautionary measures, customers must observe physical distancing protocols and wear their masks throughout the journey.  TradeArabia News Service
Kolkata: Union home minister Amit Shah held a massive roadshow in the poll-bound state on Tuesday (March 30) as a part of BJPs campaign for the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections.

While talking to Zee News, the Union Home Minister raised numerous questions on CM Mamata Banerjees governance in the state. Replying to Mamatas outsider comment, the BJP leader took a jibe at the TMC supremo and questioned, Why is the chief minister mum when asked about political violence in Bengal?

The roadshow led by Shah witnessed huge turnout. Locals queued up on both the sides of the road amid chants of 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Amit Shah Zindabad'.

In conversation with Zee News, Shah also raised the issue of the death of BJP worker Gopal Majumdars 85-year-old mother, Shobha Majumdar, from Nimta. Why didnt didi visit BJP workers 85-year-old mother, who was trashed by TMC workers? Why didnt she apologise then?

Adding to the list, BJP leaders also raised the issue of increasing crime against women in West Bengal. The union home minister accused the TMC supremo of being insensitive towards such issues in the state. After reaching here, I got a sad piece of news. A woman was raped within 5-km radius of the place where Mamata Banerjee is staying. If a woman can be raped at a time when she is present in the area, how can women be safe & secure? said Amit Shah in Nandigram.

Why hasnt CM visited the rape victim yet? questioned Amit Shah.

Mamata Didi speaks of women security in the state, but the people of West Bengal are well aware of this contradiction, he added.

Later while addressing the press after the roadshow, Amit Shah said, Looking at the enthusiasm among the people of Nandigram, it is clear that Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate Suvendu Adhikari is going to win from here. The easiest way to bring 'parivartan' is to make sure Mamata Didi loses from Nandigram.

Live TV
In Washington County, Ore., a new facial recognition tool is giving law enforcement a leg up when it comes to identifying criminals in their jurisdiction.For the last six month or so, the Washington County Sheriffs Department has been leveraging face-searching tech as a way to drum up leads in criminal investigations.What initially started as a conversation in November of 2016 about how to make the agencys mugshot database searchable resulted in the December 2016 adoption of Amazons Rekognition technology, which layers onto existing databases. Chris Adzima, a senior information systems analyst with the county, said the tech seemed to fit the bill.Our team was thinking that there should be a way we could automatically search. We have all of these booking photos and we figured there should be a way we could do that, he said. While we were discussing that, about a week into those discussions, Amazon announced Rekognition and we thought that was the perfect thing to test out.As it stands, bulletins and persons of interest are sent to Adzima to run through the system for potential matches. The countys database is home to some 300,000 images, which translates to roughly 200,000 individuals.Before moving ahead with the project, Adzima said policies needed to be developed to ensure when and how the system would be used in criminal cases and identifying at-risk individuals registered in the Help Me Home database Even though we dont get any complaints, people can misconstrue what is going on. I think the important thing to know is that we are not out there taking pictures of people and running them to know who they are and where they are, he said. These are all situations where a crime has been commited and captured on camera.  Those are the images we are using. Were not using this for anything else because we dont have any desire to do anything else with it.When it comes to turnaround times and accuracy, the senior analyst joked that the results depend on a couple of variables, including whether or not he is at his desk to run the request. If he is, the requesting party can expect an answer in as little as five minutes.The accuracy of the system is a little more complicated to nail down. Not only does a decent match require a decent, workable image, but it also requires the subject in question to be in the database. In early testing, Adzima said known offender trial runs registered at around 75 percent accuracy.For investigators like Detective Tim Kiurski, the tool has been a welcome addition to the suite of investigative resources. In just the six months since the system has been in play, the software has been used in the investigation of everything from a murder case to a simple package theft.Most often, Kiurski said authorities are working from cellphone photos or surveillance camera stills. Anybody that cant figure out who somebody is, were going to run it through there as long as it is related to a crime, of course.But the software is no replacement for the institutional knowledge of the agency staff or their investigative prowess. Both Adzima and Kiurski agree that it is merely supplemental.Sometimes the identification coming from the system is from 10 years ago, so the guy doesnt even look exactly the same," Kiurski said. "If you were to see him on the street, you might not think he looks the same, but the software is picking up that this is the same guy. ..."Supplemental though it may be, neighboring agencies have expressed interest and benefited from the facial recognition system, and there is momentum to expand into shared resource with intranet access for county personnel.When you are talking about inter-government agencies working together, there are things you have to do and proper steps you have to take, and we are working on that, Adzima explained. The idea is that we want to get as many other agencies with these type of images in as possible, because that will expand our ability to help and do these searches. Criminals dont abide by county lines when they decide they want to break the law."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 22:05:35|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- A Zambian registered airline said on Tuesday that it plans to start operating direct flights to South Africa.

Proflight Zambia said it will commence direct flights to connect Zambia's tourist capital, Livingstone to South Africa's city Johannesburg as part of efforts to tap into that country's tourists.

In a statement, the airline said it has received approval for the new route which will be introduced in a phased approach starting next month.

"We are extremely proud to be the first ones in Zambia to be offering this connection after South Africa begins relaxing COVID-19 travel restrictions," Josias Walubita, the airline's Director Flight Operations said.

The airline, he said, has already put in place strict guidelines to ensure passengers and staff were protected from COVID-19, adding that the new route would facilitate tourism and trade between the two countries.

Currently, the airline operates daily flights between Lusaka, the country's capital and Johannesburg. Enditem
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo North Station apprehended 29 individuals during an alleged human smuggling attempt involving a commercial trailer at the Interstate 35 (I-35) checkpoint north of Laredo.

The event occurred during the evening of March 26, when a commercial tractor-trailer approached the checkpoint. A service canine alerted and the vehicle was referred to secondary for further inspection. A search of the vehicle revealed 29 concealed individuals. None of the individuals were wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). They were medically screened and provided PPE. The individuals were found to be from the countries of Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. They were all placed under arrest along with the driver, a U.S. citizen, for further investigation. Border Patrol seized both the tractor and trailer.
zvelo's Cybersecurity Professional Services offers malware analysis, external threat hunting, brand vulnerability assessments, and more. zvelos Cybersecurity Professional Services provide both proactive and reactive capabilities to help organizations address their cyber defense challenges. Brad Rhodes, Head of Cybersecurity at zvelo

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Malware Analysis is performed to discover hidden attackers actively working to exploit an organization's network, identify latent infections, and analyze the captured payload.

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No organization - small, medium, or large - is safe from todays sophisticated threat actors conducting cyber attacks," Notes Brad Rhodes, zvelo's Head of Cybersecurity. "With breaches lasting for months without detection, every organization needs to plan for the inevitable and have access to needed services when the worst occurs. zvelos professional services provide both proactive and reactive capabilities to help organizations address their cyber defense challenges.

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Health Canada acknowledged that the preclinical safety data are robust and sufficient to file a clinical trial application designed to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients at risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome

The trial will be the first worldwide drug to involve the use of an injectable sterile synthetic cannabinoid in patients with COVID-19

Inc ( ) ( ) (FRA:JAM1) announced Tuesday that it has received positive feedback from Health Canada on its application for a clinical trial on ARDS-003 for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients.

In a statement, the Ottawa-based company said that Health Canada had acknowledged that the preclinical safety data are robust and sufficient to file a clinical trial application designed to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients, who are at risk of developing ARDS, or acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Derived from cannabinoids, ARDS-003 is designed to prevent and treat the severe inflammatory response that could be life-threatening to coronavirus patients.

Tetra Bio-Pharma told shareholders that its trial will be the first worldwide drug to involve the use of an injectable sterile synthetic cannabinoid in patients with COVID-19. The company is hoping to demonstrate the effectiveness of ARDS-003 in preventing acute respiratory distress in COVID patients.

The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of ascending doses of ARDS-003 in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with pneumonia and at risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Tetra Bio-Pharma is now approved to file a clinical trial application in patients with COVID-19. The regulators also agreed on the proposed study design, target population, and primary and secondary objectives and endpoints, according to Tetra.

'Last missing step'

"Health Canada acknowledges the excellence of our preclinical data package, Tetra CEO Guy Chamberland said in a statement Tuesday.

Getting the green light from the authorities to administer this trial in patients was the last missing step for Tetra to initiate ARDS-003 clinical development in COVID-19 patients.

The preliminary approval of the study protocol and prior review of the preclinical safety data will allow the company to quickly move through the Health Canada clinical trial application revision process, Chamberland told investors.

This is extremely positive feedback for Tetra and its shareholders, the CEO added. Not only are we able to advance to COVID-19 patients, but we can leverage the approved preclinical safety data to investigate other indications with ARDS-003, such as sepsis.

Tetra Bio-Pharma is a biopharmaceutical pioneer in immunomodulator drug discovery and development with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a Health Canada cleared clinical program aimed at bringing novel prescription drugs and treatments to patients and their healthcare providers.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
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Dog rescues are fighting a losing battle and it's not going to be any easier despite entire cities, such as Los Angeles, converting their shelters to "No Kill" facilities. That's the dire warning issued by Jeanete Portocarrero, CEO, and founder of Lost and Found Dog USA Rescue in Kern County, California. "If people fully understood the daily obstacles rescuers face trying to save homeless dogs, there would be a public outcry for change," said Portocarrero, who founded her rescue in 2010, while also establishing the first dog lost and found Facebook page in the Antelope Valley.

Since then, many dog rescues have followed and are actively engaged in saving animals. "Thankfully, through everyone's efforts, and by continually making the community aware of the issues through education, we have reduced the euthanasia rate in our area by nearly fifty percent," she said. Now, after being in the trenches rescuing dogs for more than a decade, it's time to rescue the rescuers."

Recently featured on Netflix's popular reality show, 'Canine Intervention,' it depicts the life of a full-time rescuer in America. "But thats just not me," says Portocarrero, "There are hundreds of Jeanettes across the country and its a very lonely silent war that we are fighting. For example, as shelters strive to become no-kill facilities, which is also our goal, rescuers are left to pick up the pieces.

"Here's why," she continued, No-Kill shelters are only becoming 'No Kill' because they are simply turning away so many of the animals they once accepted, which are putting those dogs and cats in extreme jeopardy. Obviously, rescuers will now have to work even harder because unless these animals are rescued, they will more than likely suffer a painful, slow death on the streets."

As you might imagine, the life of a rescuer is anything but glamorous. "You wake up to an alarm of barking dogs, crates to clean and food to mix. You go without showering because in an instant you are running out the door with your trap to save a desert dog who has been left for dead. With no life or time for relationships, you're driven by the fact that these animals once belonged to someone and we must make them whole again."

Her dream is to make every rescue, "Rescue Rich. "That means waking up with a smile in our hearts because we are rich in knowledge, manpower, support, tools, supplies, and the funds that no matter what animal, what shape it comes in, we can get it done. Whether it's medical or behavioral... we have the means to run with it," she adds.

According to Portocarrero, being Rescue Rich also means no more broken-down trucks, broken spirits, dreams or raggedy clothes and shoes, I want rescuers to shine and be proud of what they do. This should not only come by way of donations or adoption fees. We shouldnt have to toss and turn at night because we dont know where the next dollar will come from to feed the animals and provide medical care. This is also a massive undertaking and the government must play a role in it, period!"

In the wake of the pandemic, Jeanette said the adoption rate at Lost and Found Dog USA Rescue soared by 700 percent as people had more time to spend with their new family members. "We were prepared for the spike in pet applications and could meet the demand," she said. "And because of the increased revenue, we've been able to make awesome improvements to our rescue." On the flipside, county shelters have scaled back their intake rate and are now doing things differently because of that the abandonment rate has skyrocketed, we are back to square one -- too many dogs and not enough money!"

She believes that the dog crisis in America stems from a lack of education, information and accountability. "It occurred to me years ago, 'Why am I footing the bill for dogs that belong to somebody else... why am I taking them to the vet... who is really responsible for them. The big question is, whose dog is this? The solution is right in front of us," she points out. "I believe that no matter what! every dog should be traceable back to its original owner. If dog owners were educated about their local animal ordinances and existing laws were enforced -- people would think twice before dumping their pets. Conversely, she believes that if dogs are humanely surrendered, there should be no fear of judgement or prosecution.

Jeanette says that education is the key to the dog crisis. "For example, I am shocked by how few families know what a microchip is," she said. "And worse, only about one percent of the dogs we rescue have been spay and neutered or microchipped. There must be public awareness campaigns starting with elementary school students. I'm always happy to speak to children about proper dog care, spay and neutering, vaccinations and the dangers of disease, such as Parvo.

A successful entrepreneur with a competitive spirit, Portocarrero has found a proven formula for operating a dog rescue despite the obstacles. "There were no 'How To' books when I started... I had to learn everything on my ownthe hard way." That's why she's happy to share her experience with other shelters across the country, or with anybody seriously considering starting a rescue. Her first piece of advice? "Research! Study! Ask other rescues questions, volunteer, do some apprentice time and above all... have a solid business plan."

For more information and to contact http://www.chasingdogs.org or call 1-661-878-3551.
Bobby Deol is surely among the favourites when it comes to memes on the Internet. Recently, a social media user posted a video of Bobby Deol taking all the necessary COVID-19 precautions even before the pandemic came into this world. Yes, you read that right. The video has Bobby Deol maintaining social distancing, quarantining himself and also conducting an RT-PCR test on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

The video opens with Bobby Deol saying that he can see things clearly even though other people arent bothered about it. A clip from Dillagi follows, where he asks brother Sunny Deol to maintain social distancing as he doesnt want his brothers disease to spread and affect him. It then shows him putting a Q-tip up Aishwarya Rais nose, reminding us of an RT-PCR test. Its followed by other clips from his movie that have him putting on face masks and even locking himself in the room as we all did in the quarantine period last year. It makes us feel that we should watch his movies again to get clues for our future.

Heres the video:

After the video went viral, people started referring to his character from the popular web series Aashram and were reminded of his dialogue, Baba Jaane Sabke Mann Ki Baat. They even addressed him as Lord Bobby.

 Ghanta Instagram

 Ghanta Instagram

He was recently awarded Best Actor for Ashram at a ceremony when he spoke to Hindustan Times in an interview. My father (yesteryear actor Dharmendra), who has been a legend, didnt get a single best actor award all his life. I have grown up seeing that, I didnt think he needs it. He got the love of people, it was his award if thats what makes you what you are. I think awards become special as fans get happy. It is like gifting them something when you receive one, for their love and appreciation, said the 52-year-old.



He will next be seen in Animal with Ranbir Kapoor and Anil Kapoor. The film is an action drama directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga of Kabir Singh fame.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 29, 2021) - 1246773 B.C. Ltd. ("773") and 2311548 Alberta Ltd. ("TargetCo") are pleased to announce that further to 773's news release dated March 12, 2021, TargetCo has launched its non-brokered private placement of subscription receipts at a price of $0.50 per subscription receipt (the "Subscription Receipts") for aggregate gross proceeds of a minimum of CAD$4,000,000.00 (the "Private Placement"). Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to receive, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, one common share of TargetCo (a "TargetCo Share") in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Subscription Receipts.

As further described in the news release dated March 12, 2021, 773 and TargetCo have entered into an amalgamation agreement whereby TargetCo shall amalgamate with a wholly-owned subsidiary of 773 (the "Amalgamation"). Immediately prior to the Amalgamation, the Subscription Receipts are expected to convert into TargetCo Shares which will subsequently be exchanged pursuant to the Amalgamation for shares of 773. The net proceeds of the Private Placement will be placed into escrow and released to TargetCo subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions including the completion of the Amalgamation. For further details concerning the Amalgamation, please see the news release dated March 12, 2021.

The securities to be offered in the Private Placement have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

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 terms and conditions of the proposed Amalgamation and the terms and conditions of the proposed Private Placement. 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: satisfaction or waiver of all applicable conditions to the completion of the Amalgamation (including receipt of all necessary shareholder, stock exchange and regulatory approvals or consents, and the absence of material changes with respect to the parties and their respective businesses); ability to close the Private Placement on the proposed terms or at all, the synergies expected from the Amalgamation not being realized; business integration risks; 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 Chilean Peso 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.

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. 773 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.

Completion of the Amalgamation is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance. Where applicable, the Amalgamation cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Amalgamation will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the listing application to be prepared in connection with the Amalgamation, any information released or received with respect to the Amalgamation may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

For further information, please contact:

1246773 B.C. Ltd.

James Ward, Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 416-897-2359

Email: james@wardfinancial.ca

2311548 Alberta Ltd.

Martyn Buttenshaw

Phone: 403-278-9411

Email: mbuttenshaw@hotmail.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.



Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78871
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AstraZeneca is urging Australian consumers to steer clear of third-party suppliers claiming they sell the companys COVID-19 vaccines directly to the public amid fears counterfeit coronavirus doses are headed for local shores.

International law enforcement agency Interpol issued warnings to consumers this week to stay vigilant about the threat of counterfeit vaccines after South African authorities made arrests earlier this month over an alleged distribution network for fake products.

AstraZeneca, which is supplying the majority of Australias vaccines through its manufacturing agreement with CSL, said the company is only delivering its COVID-19 vaccines to governments for distribution. Individuals must book in with registered health providers who will administer the vaccine directly when the patient is eligible.

The first batch of 830,000 Australian-made COVID vaccines left the CSL factory in Parkville, Melbourne, after being approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Credit:Eddie Jim

There is currently no supply of our vaccine available for private sale. We would ask that details of any suppliers claiming to be able to supply our vaccine privately are reported directly to AstraZeneca, a company spokeswoman said.
press release

Washington  Anti-Corruption Measures a Step Forward, but Weak Implementation

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), despite overall progress in its anti-corruption efforts, has not ensured sufficient oversight of its Covid-19 emergency loans, Human Rights Watch and Transparency International said today. As a result, it is hard for members of the public in many countries to track the governments' Covid-19 spending, to identify potential corruption, or to determine whether the deprivation of basic rights connected to the pandemic is being addressed.

Since March 2020, the IMF has provided about US$108 billion in financial assistance to 85 countries to support their response to the pandemic. Due to the IMF's improved attention to combating corruption, about half of these loan agreements included specific anti-corruption measures related to Covid-19 spending and procurement. In some cases, the IMF obtained strong transparency commitments that spurred the publication of valuable information. Some governments amended procurements rules to enable publication of the names of beneficial (that is, real) owners of companies awarded contracts. This information is key to preventing conflicts of interest and tax evasion and allowing the public to track who benefits from public contracts. However, weak implementation impeded the potential of this progress.

"The IMF's call to governments during the pandemic to 'spend as much as you can but keep the receipts' showed concern for corruption risks," said Sarah Saadoun, senior business and human rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. "But this approach will only be effective in addressing rights issues if it ensures that those 'receipts' are publicly accessible, comprehensive, and credible."

Robust IMF lending is critical for many governments to have sufficient resources to respond to the pandemic by providing adequate and accessible health care as well as addressing its economic impacts. It is equally critical for governments to spend these funds transparently and accountably so they reach those in need.

Human Rights Watch and Transparency International assessed the effectiveness of the IMF's approach during the pandemic by analyzing how well four governments - Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ecuador - carried through on the measures included in their loan agreements. Between January and March 2021, the organizations analyzed documents published by these governments, as well as loan agreements and other documents published by the IMF.

Transparency International also conducted a comprehensive review of anti-corruption measures included in emergency loan agreements prior to July 23, 2020, at which point most of the IMF's immediate Covid-19 support had been approved. In Nigeria and Cameroon, Human Rights Watch interviewed medical staff and people who lost earnings due to the pandemic. Human Rights Watch, in March 2021, wrote to the finance ministries of each of the four governments and the IMF. Only the IMF responded, which is reflected below.

The IMF's approach to stemming corruption for its emergency lending relies heavily on public oversight, particularly from civil society groups and the media. To facilitate oversight, the data needs to be accessible and sufficiently detailed to assess and track spending, and conditions need to be in place to ensure that concerns can be raised safely. The IMF also needs to remain actively engaged to ensure robust implementation by governments, including through future surveillance and lending programs.

To its credit, the IMF has increased engagement with civil society groups since the onset of the pandemic, including by initiating workshops and calls with IMF staff. The IMF also met with civil society groups, though typically after loans were already approved.

A View from Four Countries

An in-depth analysis of Egypt, Nigeria, Ecuador, and Cameroon found mixed results in meeting the IMF's transparency commitments. There remained inconsistencies in the types of measures to which governments committed, their implementation, and the role of the IMF in ensuring compliance. The transparency commitments in the emergency loans spurred all four governments to produce information about their spending and contracts that they would have otherwise not published. However, the amount, accessibility, and quality of the disclosed information varied widely and was inadequate for meaningful oversight for any of the four countries.

The review identified several factors that weakened the effective implementation of commitments:

Transparency commitments lack adequate specificity. As a result, the types of information the four governments disclosed, the time period covered, and the level of detail varied widely.

Relevant information is hidden, hard to find, and inaccessible. In all four cases, finding published information was difficult. For example, Egypt's procurement website is not accessible outside the country, even using VPN servers. Cameroon published a list of companies that were awarded government contracts and some beneficial ownership information, but the only link to the document accessible online is on page 47 of an IMF report, not on any government site. And the documents Ecuador published are scattered across three government websites and not necessarily available.

Beneficial ownership information is inadequate. In almost all cases, there was not sufficient identifying information about beneficial owners to ensure that people were not illicitly profiting from government contracts. Moreover, governments did not specify how they would provide the information they committed to disclose.

Inconsistency in the IMF's approach to measures and follow-up. The specific measures the IMF required varied widely from one government to another and only in certain cases did the IMF tie compliance to future lending. Significantly, Cameroon and Ecuador only followed through on their initial commitments because the IMF made approval of a second loan request dependent on their doing so. The IMF did not do so for Egypt, despite Egypt's poor implementation of its commitments.

Recommendations

Good governance, including anti-corruption efforts, should be at the heart of rebuilding resilient and inclusive economies, particularly as governments are looking to bolster spending on health, social protection, and other fundamental rights, while reducing inefficiencies in spending and raising revenues. Corruption alone costs governments as much as $1 trillion in lost tax revenues.

To build on its progress and ensure an effective approach to anti-corruption, the IMF should:

Ensure that governments receiving the money make specific, concrete, and time-bound commitments as part of the loan agreements.

Work with governments to clarify and detail best practices for fulfilling transparency commitments, including those related to user access, and beneficial ownership information.

Host a database of relevant documents to standardize the format and facilitate universal access. Pursue a consistent approach to assessing government implementation and linking findings to surveillance and lending transparency.

Demonstrate how its spending secures basic rights for all without discrimination, including the right to health and to an adequate standard of living. It should consult with civil society as part of its assessment and publish the results.

Publicly report on the level of implementation of the transparency/anti-corruption commitments that governments made as part of the loan agreements.

Revise its 2011 policy on emergency assistance or separately develop guidelines for addressing corruption risks in crisis situations.

Ensure that governments credibly carry out commitments to conduct and publish audits in a timely manner.

"The IMF has made progress ensuring greater transparency in its loan agreements, but this needs to go much further," said M. Emilia Berazategui, Global Advocacy Lead at Transparency International. "Successful anti-corruption outcomes take time and perseverance. If the IMF wants to ensure that the most vulnerable communities receive the support and resources they are promised, it is critical that they continue to press governments to prioritize integrity and transparency. The Covid-19 pandemic has made clear that this is a matter of life and death."

For additional information on each of the four governments' implementation of anti-corruption measures in their respective loan agreements and on the need for greater IMF oversight of emergency loans, please see below.

IMF's Covid-19 Emergency Loans

The IMF initially pledged to use its $1 trillion lending capacity to help countries cope with the most serious health and economic crisis in recent history. It has approved only 10 percent of this amount, in part due to technical restrictions as well as many countries' mounting debt. Recent developments in the G20 and G7 are likely to help boost countries' reserves, and the G7 has specifically pledged to "work with the IMF to make progress on enhancing transparency and accountability." Moreover, the $100 billion the IMF has spent thus far has disproportionately targeted just a few countries. According to a Transparency International analysis, 80 percent went to 10 countries, including Egypt and Nigeria, as of July 23, 2020, at which point the majority of these loan agreements had already been approved.

The Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on human rights has made many people acutely dependent on IMF funds and has also increased the risk of funds being lost to corruption or captured by elites. Powerful actors may use the crisis for their own benefit because of dramatic increases in spending and possible pandemic-related interference with oversight mechanisms.

Those risks are exacerbated because the IMF's emergency loans are single, up-front payments deposited into governments' central accounts, limiting the IMF's ability to ensure oversight. To address this, the IMF took a back-end approach by retroactively assessing the use of funds, which IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva described as asking governments to "keep the receipts."

In practice, the IMF's expectations of governments have varied. Roughly half of all emergency loan agreements included specific measures related to governments publishing information on Covid-19 spending and procurement, as well as conducting audits. The specifics of these commitments also varied. Many governments pledged to publish procurement contracts and the beneficial owners of companies awarded contracts - a significant advance in the IMF's approach to governance. Some governments pledged to conduct independent audits of crisis-related spending and publish the results, while others said they would rely on state agencies.

In a March 24 letter to Human Rights Watch, the IMF said it is monitoring the implementation of transparency commitments and that "analysis of this implementation has been and will continue to be published in IMF staff reports for these countries." It also noted that "capacity to implement governance measures varies across countries" and that anti-corruption measures in emergency loans, as well as other measures to address governance vulnerabilities, are included in subsequent loans.

Egypt

Even before the pandemic, IMF-driven economic reforms had made it harder for the 32 million Egyptians living under the poverty line - one-third of the country - to make ends meet. The principal social protection program, Takaful wa Karama (Dignity and Solidarity), already stretched thin, reached only 15 million people even after it was expanded to soften the blow of the pandemic's devastating economic impact. Chronic underfunding of health services made Egypt ill-prepared for the pandemic, a problem authorities sought to obscure by detaining healthcare workers who publicly disclosed key deficiencies such as lack of personal protective equipment.

To address these problems, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in March 2020 announced a 100 billion Egyptian pound (US$6.4 billion) package, including 40 billion pounds ($2.3 billion) in health spending. The IMF approved two loans to help finance this response: a $2.77 billion Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) on May 11, and, on June 26, a 12-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) worth $5.2 billion.

While the dire need for these resources is clear, in recent years the Egyptian government has undermined the independence of its anti-corruption institutions and weakened the role of the judiciary, significantly exacerbating corruption risks. For example, in 2015, the president amended the law to grant himself the authority to fire Hesham Geneina, the head of the Central Auditing Agency, the country's main anti-corruption institution, after Geneina reported that corruption had cost the country $76 billion over three years. Authorities also prosecuted Geneina for his statements and a court handed down a one-year suspended sentence in 2016.

As part of its RCF agreement, the Egyptian government committed to publish all Covid-19-related spending; publish procurement plans and awarded contracts, including the names and beneficial ownership information of companies awarded contracts; and to conduct an audit, including ex-post validation of delivery and publish the results. The subsequent SBA includes anti-corruption requirements that go beyond Covid-19 spending.

In a signal of the Egyptian authorities' difficult relationship with transparency, they did not authorize the IMF to publish the loan agreements until several months after signing them. In most cases they are published within days of approval, recognizing that the terms they include are indispensable for public oversight. The Egyptian government has published only sparse information on Covid-19 spending on the Finance Ministry's website. This includes a broad overview of 81.5 billion Egyptian pounds ($5 billion) worth of measures the government took in response to Covid-19; a similar document totaling 110 billion pounds ($7 billion) is available as an Annex in an IMF document.

The government published several procurement documents, which cover $280 million spent on Covid-19 tests, medical supplies, and other Covid-19-related materials and include only the names of companies awarded contracts, the contract amount, and the entity receiving the goods, which, for the vast majority of contracts, is the Health Ministry. Some of these documents explicitly only cover contracts awarded prior to October, and the total amount covered is far less than the $2.3 billion allocated to health spending. Human Rights Watch and Transparency International have not been able to find published contracts or beneficial ownership information, despite the government's commitment in the emergency loan agreement to publish this information. In its letter, the IMF said authorities had "amended the procurement law's executive regulation with the view to publish information on beneficial ownership for awarded contracts on the procurement portal."

In October, Human Rights Watch found that the government had at some point earlier in the year blocked access to a website (etenders.gov.eg) for publishing public tenders available to people outside of Egypt. Procurement notices could provide valuable information regarding the nature of the contracts awarded to companies listed in other documents.

Beyond the lack of transparency, the Egyptian authorities' relentless, nationwide repression and reprisals against perceived government critics makes it unsafe for journalists, civil society organizations, or others to expose spending irregularities, report on corruption allegations, or question military spending and finances.

Nigeria

In April 2020, Nigeria received US$3.4 billion in emergency financial assistance from the IMF to support its Covid-19 response. Two months later, Nigeria's federal government announced a 2.3 trillion Naira ($6 billion) stimulus.

But according to official figures, many of Nigeria's poorest citizens have yet to see the benefit of this assistance. Nationwide surveys by Nigeria's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) found that by July 16, just 12.5 percent of the poorest quintile of respondents had received some form of food assistance since the pandemic began. By August, the NBS found that 32 percent of respondents nationwide were experiencing severe food insecurity, compared with 14 percent in the same period in 2018.

Human Rights Watch and Justice and Empowerment Initiatives, a Nigerian nongovernmental organization, interviewed urban families experiencing poverty in Lagos State between March and December. They said that they had survived the impact of the pandemic on their jobs and livelihoods by skipping meals, incurring debt, and relying on handouts from neighbors and local groups. "We heard about all the money the government was supposed to be getting for Covid-19 - billions of Naira - and the government talked about the food they were distributing, but most of the communities never got any," said one community health worker.

Against these difficult conditions, civil society groups have highlighted how crucial it is to keep governance safeguards from slipping through the cracks, leaving life-saving resources at risk of theft or malfeasance. Even before the Covid-19 crisis, 20 percent of people in the country had to pay a bribe in order to access public clinics and health centers.

In its request for IMF assistance, the Nigerian government committed to several transparency and governance measures, including publishing monthly reports on its Covid-19 spending in its transparency portal, opentreasury.gov.ng; publishing procurement plans and notices for all emergency-response activities, including the names of awarded companies and beneficial owners; and conducting an independent audit of crisis-mitigation spending and related procurement processes. Despite civil society's call for the inclusion of a specific commitment in the loan linked to ensuring the set-up of safe reporting mechanisms for whistleblowers, this was not taken into account.

In a positive step, the federal government established a publicly accessible procurement register related to emergency Covid-19 processes. The register is a valuable public resource on Covid-19 spending and includes information on the stated purpose of a contract, amount paid, company name of the award winner, duration, source of funding, and items procured. In August, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the reenacted Companies Allied and Matters Act into law, which among other things, provides a legal framework for the establishment of a federal beneficial ownership registry. Companies are required to disclose this information to Nigerian Companies Register by March 31, 2021. Reports have emerged of anti-corruption agencies proactively investigating allegations of procurement fraud and misuse of Covid-19 funds. In addition, a Covid-19 response data hub has been established, which includes a resource and donations tracker updated by the Ministry of Finance.

Despite signs of progress, gaps in the implementation of transparency commitments agreed to in the June 2020 loan remain. A review of select completed procurement processes worth over $10,000, as well as an open data platform and Nigeria's corporate registry, found no beneficial ownership information for awarded companies or contract documentation as of March 5, 2021. An IMF Article IV report highlighted this weakness and that users have found it difficult to access the expenditure information that is being published. Several links under the Covid-19 reports tab on opentreasury.gov.ng, including a link to the Covid-19 Comprehensive Financial Report, appear broken. The Nigerian government did not respond to a letter, but the IMF blamed "challenges to the Internet Service Provider" and said the Nigerian authorities are currently working to resolve them. The IMF also said that while authorities are "increasingly providing the needed information," it understands some procurement requirements "were relaxed" due to Covid-19 and "it is not clear when the additional information will be made public."

In October 2020, the government announced it would release a first interim audit report of its Covid-19 spending. This report was never released to the public, despite an official from the Auditor-General's office indicating the report was already submitted to the National Assembly in September 2020. An interim report was produced by January 15, 2021; however, this report does not appear to be publicly available. In its letter, the IMF noted that the Auditor-General's office commissioned an audit but the "timeline for final publication is not yet clear."

Ecuador

The IMF approved an emergency loan of US$643 million on May 1, 2020, providing Ecuador a much-needed source of revenue to combat the immense financial and human costs of the pandemic. In October, the IMF approved a $643 million 27-month program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to support the stabilization of the economy, expand social protections, and strengthen domestic institutions.

As part of the emergency loan, Ecuador committed to publish Covid-19 spending reports; Covid-19 public procurement contracts, as well as the names and beneficial ownership of companies awarded contracts; validate delivery of products and services; conduct a Covid-19 specific audit and publish the results. Since the government had yet to publish beneficial ownership information when it requested an EFF, the IMF made approval of that loan contingent on Ecuador revising its procurement law to enable it to collect and publish this information.

In September, the government adopted a resolution requiring all public contractors and subcontractors to provide beneficial ownership information and mandating authorities to publish the information on an unspecified website. It further mandated that bank accounts and their movements linked to beneficial owners of entities engaged in public procurement laws would no longer have the same secrecy protections as those of ordinary entities. To ensure the sustainability of the requirements, it is important that they become part of the national Public Procurement Law.

To assess the implementation of this law, Transparency International analyzed procurement contracts in the public procurement website with a total value of $500,000. Some of these contracts, all of which were valued at over $10,000, were related to Covid-19 and were awarded within a six-month period after the emergency loan; others were unrelated to Covid-19 and were awarded after the EFF was approved in October.

While the public procurement website contains a wealth of valuable information, the analysis found some gaps. Most awarded contracts were available in the register, making Ecuador the only government of the four analyzed to publish at least some contracts. However, some were absent; for example, in one set of procurements grouped in an emergency resolution, only 17 of the 32 contracts had been uploaded.

Only one procurement process contained a section dedicated to beneficial ownership - which was labeled "optional" and left blank. A separate database did include beneficial ownership for companies awarded contracts, but getting this information required cross-checking multiple databases, hindering ease of access. In addition, in some cases, the listed beneficial owner was another corporate entity, and in some cases, companies were not registered in the system at all.

In December, the IMF released its first review of the EFF. It stressed the importance of transparency for Covid-19 funding and praised Ecuador's amendments to the national anti-corruption framework as well as the examination by the Comptroller General's Office of more than 300 Covid-19-related procurement processes. However, it did not note the missing contracts, problems with beneficial ownership information, or the lack of a consolidated website for procurement-related information.

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In its letter to Human Rights Watch, the IMF praised Ecuador's "significant progress towards the fulfillment of commitments on procurement transparency," including a "procurement website centralizes information providing access to relevant procurement documents, including contracts." However, it acknowledged that "while information on beneficial ownership of awarded companies and ex-post validation is technically available, it is not yet easily and consistently accessible to the public in the procurement website."

Cameroon

Cameroon's health sector is among the most underfunded in Africa. Two-thirds of total spending on health in the country comes from people seeking treatment - double the regional average - and studies have shown that the majority of families do not seek health care because costs are too high. The country also lacks a social safety net, and nine out of ten workers are employed in the informal economy.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought fresh urgency to increasing funding for healthcare centers and supporting people who lost earnings. In April 2020, the health minister announced a 58 billion XAF (US$105 million) response plan, and on May 4, the IMF approved a $256 million emergency loan to help finance it. In October, the IMF approved a second $156 million loan to finance a more robust $825 million three-year package to support the country's health system and help businesses and households affected by the pandemic.

As part of the May loan, the Cameroonian government pledged to use the funds transparently and committed to issuing semiannual reports on Covid-19 spending; commission an independent audit; and publish "documents related to results of public procurement and [beneficial ownership information] of companies awarded contracts."

From the beginning, virtually no public information was provided regarding the government's Covid-19 spending. Healthcare centers made urgent appeals for support from an emergency health fund into which they have been paying 10 percent of their revenues since 1993, according to medical staff whom Human Rights Watch interviewed from various regions in April and May, but they said they had received no support. The government does not publish any information about the fund and did not respond to a Human Rights Watch letter regarding it. The president established a second solidarity fund and appealed to private companies and citizens to contribute, but that fund was also not transparent.

In interviews with Human Rights Watch, medical staff reported shortages in basic hospital goods, including thermometers, disinfectants, and medicines, as well as ventilators and oxygen, and protective gear for doctors and nurses, such as masks, gloves, and glasses. One doctor said his hospital only received 12 masks, 20 boxes of gloves, and 4 full body gowns for its 50 employees until his district's 10 medical facilities finally received a combined total of 10 million CFA ($17,000) in August.

People who lost jobs or wages due to the pandemic told Human Rights Watch that they received little or nothing to stave off hunger. One woman, who works as a secretary at a hotel in Douala and now earns one-third her usual salary, reported in December that she was having trouble paying for her children's food, school fees, and other costs, stating, "The state hasn't helped us." Another woman, an events manager at a hotel whose salary was cut, said she had to ask her brother to take care of her two children because she could no longer afford to do so. Both women worked at hotels that the government had requisitioned between March and May to house people who may have been exposed to Covid-19.

Based on over a dozen interviews Human Rights Watch conducted, the hotels received only very partial or no compensation for their costs, adding financial strain at a time when the industry was already struggling with pandemic-related restrictions leading to layoffs and steep wage cuts. The government has not published any information regarding its contracts with or reimbursements to such hotels.

After public pressure, the Health Ministry, citing the "urgency of transparency," published a two-page statement on July 29 about how it spent about 22 billion FCA ($40 million), which it said was its total expenditure to respond to Covid-19 in the preceding five months. It included only vague categories that provide no real possibility for the public to verify. In its letter, the IMF said that the Ministry of Finance is preparing a report on its Covid-19 spending, which it expects the government will share "in the near term."

Before the IMF approved a second emergency loan, it required the government to change its rules to enable it to publish beneficial ownership information of companies awarded contracts, and to publish "the backlog of all Covid-19 related contracts awarded since May 4, including the beneficial ownership." In a positive step, in October the government issued a circular requiring companies to include beneficial ownership information in their contract bids and mandating adding the information to a national register once a contract is awarded.

In practice, however, the government never uploaded this information into a central database. Instead, it produced a list of the names of companies awarded contracts, beneficial owners, and the contract amount, but there are no links to that document on any government website. The only link appears to be on page 47 of an IMF loan agreement. In addition, for nearly all companies, only one beneficial owner is listed, making it highly unlikely that the information is complete.

The government has not published the contracts themselves, and the IMF revised - it says "clarified" - the terms of the November loan agreement to no longer require the government to do so. With regard to the commitment to conduct an independent audit, the state agency, Controle superieur de l'Etat du Cameroun (CONSUPE), has reportedly begun an audit and the finance minister has called for tenders for an independent audit.
More than seven years after his wife died in a petrol-fuelled blaze at their Sydney home, a visibly relieved Kulwinder Singh walked out of court for a final time, having been acquitted of her murder.

I am very happy, thank you, Mr Singh said on Tuesday, flanked by a crowd of supporters.

The 42-year-old had faced trial in the NSW Supreme Court accused of killing Parwinder Kaur, 32, by setting her on fire at their Rouse Hill home in Sydneys north-west on the afternoon of December 2, 2013. He pleaded not guilty.

Kulwinder Singh leaves court during his trial earlier this month. Credit:Rhett Wyman

A neighbour heard a scream just after 2pm and looked out the window to see Ms Kaur running down her driveway engulfed in flames, with Mr Singh behind her making a motion with his hands as though he was trying to pat her out.
IRELAND has received 2.47bn in emergency Covid-19 loans from the EU to cover last years wage subsidy scheme.

Its the first time the Government has used the European Commissions fund for support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency (or SURE).

The aid was part of a larger 13bn disbursement on Tuesday, with the balance going to Spain (4.06bn), Belgium (2.2bn), Italy (1.87bn), Poland (1.4bn) and Czechia (1bn).

Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the money helps protect jobs and enables economies to recover faster from the crisis.

Read More

The SURE fund covers sudden increases in public expenditure to preserve employment such as short-time working schemes.

This is a welcome development, which supports jobs and workers and demonstrates the benefits of acting together in a time of crisis, said Finance Mi nister Paschal Donohoe . The focus now is ensuring we get a strong recovery under way.

The G overnment applied for the loan last October to cover the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)  the precursor to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS)  which ran from March and August 2020.

The total cost is estimated at over 2.7bn.

As the effects of the pandemic continue to weigh on our economies, today the Commission is disbursing further significant financial support to six countries, including Ireland for the first time, said Commission economy chief Paolo Gentiloni.

This is a crucial contribution to national efforts to support workers through these difficult times. Im proud of the European success story that is SURE.

The money was raised on financial markets last week, with the European Commission issuing one five-year bond, which attracted a negative yield of -0.488pc, and a 25-year bond priced at +0.476pc.

The money will have to be paid back to the EU, but Ireland will benefit from the Commissions favourable borrowing conditions.

The Commission kicked off its SURE funding programme last October, with two long-term  social bonds amounting to 17bn.

It was the highest amount of debt ever issued in euro by a sovereign.




She is set to make her TOWIE debut after filming scenes with girlfriend Demi Sims.

And Francesca Farago looked like she'd fit right into the glitzy show as she posed for a striking shoot clad in head-to-toe PrettyLittleThing.

The Too Hot To Handle star, 27, looked sensational as she posed by Tower Bridge with her other half, 24.

Wow: Francesca Farago looked like she'd fit right into TOWIE as she posed for a striking shoot with girlfriend Demi Sims clad in head-to-toe PrettyLittleThing

Despite the relatively chilly weather last week, Francesca opted for minimal clothing as she donned a barely-there bralet that showed off her ample bust.

She teamed the garment with a pair of split hem white jeans, layering up with a black and tan panelled trench coat.

Looking equally as stylish - but no doubt a lot warmer - Demi donned a printed top and jeans with a cropped jacket. Adding a splash of colour with a paisley print bandanna.

Wow: Despite the relatively chilly weather last week, Francesca opted for minimal clothing as she donned a barely-there bralet that showed off her ample bust

The striking snaps come after Demi had her suspension from TOWIE lifted and was pictured filming scenes with Francesca and friend Harry Derbidge.

Harry, Demi and her older sister Frankie were temporarily suspended for flouting lockdown rules after the trio were filmed at what appeared to be a party.

A video uploaded by Harry's fiance Dean Rowland earlier in the month showed him cuddling up to Francesca while Demi, Harry and Frankie mingled in the background in a party setting.

Stunning: She teamed the garment with a pair of split hem white jeans, layering up with a black and tan panelled trench coat

Layering up: Looking equally as stylish - but no doubt a lot warmer - Demi donned a printed top and jeans with a cropped jacket. Adding a splash of colour with a paisley print bandanna

A spokesperson for TOWIE confirmed the suspension and told MailOnline: 'Several cast members have been temporarily suspended from filming TOWIE.

'The safety of our cast and crew is of paramount importance and we expect them to abide by the protocols put in place in line with government guidelines to ensure they keep themselves and those around them safe.'

After the suspension was lifted, the cast were allowed to resume filming after producing negative Covid tests.

Francesca's cameo on the show will no doubt cause some scandal, as Demi was recently quizzed by her co-stars who asked is she was going 'a bit quick' with Francesca.

Speaking with her sister Chloe and friend Amy Childs at a bar, Harry claimed: 'The only thing I'm worried about is Demi getting married before me, she's on a roller-coaster.'

It could well happen, as Demi recently revealed she approached Francesca with a marriage proposal via Instagram DMs.

In an interview on PrettyLittleThing's Behind Closed Doors, the TOWIE star said they have already considered tying the knot with a post-pandemic ceremony in Italy.

The make-up artist and the model, who have been in a relationship for just two months, also defended getting tattoo tributes of each other's names after just one week of dating during their trip to Mexico.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, along with a number of leaders of other countries, called on the world community to sign the International Pandemic Treaty, which will help build a more robust international health architecture and solve the problem of isolating states from each other.

According to the communique on the treaty, released on the president's website on Tuesday, such a document will also allow humanity to prepare for the pandemics that await us in the future.

"No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone. The question is not if, but when. Together, we must be better prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics in a highly coordinated fashion. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe," according to the communique.

It also notes that its signatories are committed to ensuring universal and equitable access to safe, efficacious and affordable vaccines, medicines and diagnostics to combat this and future pandemics, as "immunization is a global public good and we will need to be able to develop, manufacture and deploy vaccines as quickly as possible."

"This is why the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) was set up in order to promote equal access to tests, treatments and vaccines and support health systems across the globe. ACT-A has delivered on many aspects but equitable access is not achieved yet. There is more we can do to promote global access," the world leaders said.

They also said nations should work together towards a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response.

"Such a renewed collective commitment would be a milestone in stepping up pandemic preparedness at the highest political level. It would be rooted in the constitution of the World Health Organization, drawing in other relevant organizations key to this endeavour, in support of the principle of health for all. Existing global health instruments, especially the International Health Regulations, would underpin such a treaty, ensuring a firm and tested foundation on which we can build and improve," according to the document.

It is noted that the main goal of this treaty would be foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics.

This includes greatly enhancing international cooperation to improve, for example, alert systems, data-sharing, research, and local, regional and global production and distribution of medical and public health counter measures, such as vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and personal protective equipment.

It would also include recognition of a "One Health" approach that connects the health of humans, animals and our planet. And such a treaty should lead to more mutual accountability and shared responsibility, transparency and cooperation within the international system and with its rules and norms.

"To achieve this, we will work with Heads of State and governments globally and all stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector. We are convinced that it is our responsibility, as leaders of nations and international institutions, to ensure that the world learns the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic," the officials said in the released communique.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky; Prime Minister of Great Britain Boris Johnson; Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Luis Santos da Costa; President of the European Council Charles Michel; Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez; Presidents of Serbia, South Africa, Tunisia, Indonesia and leaders several other states, as well as Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
A group of mothers have shared an age-old trick to repel pesky fruit flies for good - and all you need are a few wine corks.

Australian parenting group Mum Central explained how placing wine corks in fruit bowls works as a natural repellent to keep fruits clear of the bugs.

Natural corks are said to 'absorb moisture' from the ripening fruits, which then 'activates a fragrance' that keeps flies at bay without using any chemicals.

A group of mothers have shared an age-old trick to repel the pesky fruit flies for good - and you only need wine corks. Natural corks are said to 'absorb moisture' from the ripening fruits, which then 'activates a fragrance' that keeps flies at bay without using any chemicals

How using wine corks can repel fruit flies Ryan Watts, a sommelier from Cameron Hughes Wine, said corks work as a natural repellent because it absorbs the moisture from ripening fruits. 'It activates a fragrance from the cork that fruit flies are none too pleased about,' he said. As a general rule of thumb, Mr Watts suggested using one cork for every two to three pieces of fruit. The trick only works with natural corks, not composite or synthetic as they will be of no use. Source: Cameron Hughes Wine Advertisement

For those who don't drink wine or have any cork tops lying around, there are wine corks for sale on eBay from just $12 for a bag of 30.

Many were amazed with the simple tip, saying they will try it out at home, while others joked: 'A good reason to drink more wine.'

'Thanks for that tip! I really don't like cold bananas,' one said, referring to how she keeps her fruits in the fridge to keep them away from the pesky flies.

Ryan Watts, a sommelier, previously explained why the old wives tale actually works.

'Two things attract fruit flies: sugars and moisture. This is why you most often find them around ripe fruit and in or around sinks and drains,' Mr Watts told TODAY.

'Natural cork is a perfect deterrent as the cork material absorbs moisture put off by the ripening fruit and activates a fragrance from the cork that fruit flies are none too pleased about.'

As a general rule of thumb, Mr Watts suggested using one cork for every two to three pieces of fruit.

He said the trick only works with natural corks, not composite or synthetic as they will be of no use.

Mr Watts explained that the cork trick doesn't work on an infestation of fruit flies.

'You'll need a whole other process to get things under control, but once under control, this cork trick will help things never reach your problematic level again,' he said.

The corks come after a mother revealed she used a cup of apple cider and liquid detergent to create a 'trap' that kills the bugs. The method attracts the tiny insects into the cup before drowning them

Mr Watts also warned against using corks with residual wine because that's 'completely counterproductive and will attract the little buggers'.

'You'll want as clean of cork as possible,' he said.

'Discoloration from contact with red wine is fine, white wine corks will indicatively look cleaner. And at all costs, never use a dessert wine cork no matter what.'

The corks come after a mother revealed she used a cup of apple cider and liquid detergent to create a 'trap' that kills the bugs.

The method attracts the tiny insects into the cup before drowning them.

'For those suffering from fruit flies, gnats or whatever these feral pains are... apple cider vinegar and dishwashing liquid - this is what it caught in 30 minutes,' one mother said, alongside a picture of the dead fruit flies.
Announcement of the Resolutions of the 13th Meeting of the tenth Session of the Supervisory Board

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt, 30 March 2021 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (D-Share690D.DE,A-Share 600690.SH, H-Share 6690.HK, 'Haier Smart Home' or the 'Company') published today an announcement with regard to the resolutions of the 13th meeting of the tenth session of the Supervisory Board.



The 13th Meeting of the Tenth Session of the Supervisory Board of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. was held in the morning on 30 March 2021 at Conference Room 118, Ecological Brand Center Building, Haier Information Industry Park. The meeting was expected to be attended by 3 supervisors, and 3 supervisors actually present, representing 100% of the total number of the supervisors of the Company, and the quorum stipulated in the Articles of Association of the Company is met. The senior management personnel of the Company attended the meeting. The notice of the meeting was sent by mail on 23 March 2021, and the notice and convening of this meeting were in compliance with the provisions of the Company Law and the Articles of Association of Haier Smart Home. The meeting was presided over by Mr. Wang Peihua, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. The following resolutions were adopted upon the consideration by the participating supervisors:



I. Report on the Work of the Supervisory Board of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. of 2020 (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

Report on the Work of the Supervisory Board of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. of 2020 is as follows:

1. Major Work of the Supervisory Board

During the reporting period, the Supervisory Board convened 7 meetings and attended the annual general meeting and the Board of Directors meetings as non-voting attendees. The committee heard the condition of the Company's production and operation, investment activities and financial operations, participated in the decision-making process of major issues of the Company, and reviewed the Company's regular reports and relevant conditions during the year in strict compliance with the requirements of the regulatory authorities.

2. Independent Opinions of the Supervisory Board on the operation of the Company in accordance with the law

(?) Independent Opinions of the Supervisory Board on the operation of the Company in accordance with the law

In accordance with the national relevant laws and regulations, the Supervisory Board of the Company has conducted supervision over the general meetings, the convening procedures of the meetings of Board of Directors, resolution matters, the implementation of the general meeting resolutions by the Board of Directors, the performance of duties by the senior management of the Company, and the decision-making and approval procedures of the management system of the Company and the related party transactions. The Supervisory Board performed its supervisory duties by attending all previous meetings of the Board of Directors as non-voting delegates and the general meetings, and is in the opinion that the decision-making process of the Company is legal, and have established a relatively comprehensive corporate governance structure and formed the respective internal control systems, and the behaviour of the directors and senior management personnel of the Company had not violated any laws, regulations or the Articles of Association of the Company, or prejudiced the interests of the Company.

(?) Independent Opinions of the Supervisory Board on the inspection of the financial situation of the Company



During the reporting period, the Supervisory Board earnestly reviewed the audit opinion of the 2019 financial report issued by Hexin Certified Public Accountants LLP from the perspective of ensuring the regulated operation of the Company and the legitimate rights and interests of shareholders, and is in the opinion that it had truly reflected the financial position, operation results and cash flows of the Company, and are objective and impartial.

(?) Independent Opinions of the Supervisory Board on the related party transactions of the Company

During the reporting period, the related party transactions between the Company and related shareholders were implemented according to market pricing principles, and did not prejudice the interests of the Company and shareholders. The Board of Directors of the Company has fulfilled the obligation of acting in good faith when voting on the related party transactions. The related party transactions were conducted in a fair and reasonable manner, and the procedures had complied with the relevant provisions of the Company Law, the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and the Articles of Association of the Company.

(?) Independent Opinions of the Supervisory Board on the internal control self-evaluation report of the Company

During the reporting period, the Supervisory Board earnestly reviewed the 2019 Self-evaluation Report on the Effective Internal Control of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. According to the relevant national laws and regulations and was of the opinion that it had truthfully, objectively and impartially reflected the implementation of the internal control of the Company and its effectiveness.

(V) Independent opinion of the Supervisory Board on the major asset purchase of the Company

During the reporting period, the Supervisory Board of the Company deliberated on matters such as scheme design, valuation pricing and payment method of consideration involved in the major asset purchase of the Company in accordance with the laws and regulations, and considered that the completion of the transaction has enhanced the Company's ability to continue operation, promoted the Company to maintain a sound and effective corporate governance structure, and the integration of the Company and Haier Electronics in various aspects, including customers, business and resources has been effective.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



II. 2020 Financial Statements of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

Hexin Certified Public Accountants LLP and HLB Hodgson Impey Cheng Limited are the two audit agencies engaged by the Company to issue the auditing report under the PRC accounting standards and the auditing report under the international accounting standards, respectively. There is no difference between the auditing reports in terms of important financial information.

For details, please refer to the 2020 Annual Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (A-shares annual report) published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same day as this announcement and the 2020 annual results announcement published on the website of Hong Kong Stock Exchange (and the H-shares annual report to be disclosed by the Company on 30th April 2021.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



III. Report on the Validation Opinions on the 2020 Annual Report and Annual Report Summary of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

In accordance with the regulations of the Securities Law of PRC and the Rules for the Content and Format of Information Disclosure by Companies Issuing Securities to the Public: No. 2 - Content and Format of Annual Reports (Revised in 2017), the Notice on the Disclosure of the 2020 Annual Reports of Listed Companies of Shanghai Stock Exchange and the relevant requirements of the laws and regulations, after the Supervisory Board had comprehensively understood and reviewed the 2020 annual report of the Company, we are of the opinion that:

1. The preparation and review procedures of the 2020 annual report of the Company and its highlight were in compliance with the laws, regulations and the relevant provisions of the Articles of Association of the Company.

2. The content and format of the 2020 annual report of the Company and its highlights were in line with the relevant regulations of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Shanghai Stock Exchange as well as the listing rules of Hong Kong, and the information contained therein can truthfully and objectively reflect the financial conditions and operating results of the Company during the reporting period.

3. As of the time of this opinion, we found no violation of confidentiality regulations by the preparation personnel and auditors of the 2020 annual report.

Therefore, we undertake that there are no false records, misleading statements or material omissions in the information contained in the 2020 Annual Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. and the 2020 Annual Report Highlight of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., and are severally and jointly responsible for the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of the content herein.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



IV. Audit Report on Internal Control of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

For details, please refer to the Audit Report on Internal Control of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. published on the Shanghai Stock Exchange website on the same day as this announcement.

The resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



V. 2020 Annual Profit Distribution Plan of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

The proposed 2020 profit distribution plan of the Company is: a cash dividend of RMB3.66 (including tax) for every 10 shares held will be distributed to all shareholders based on the total share capital on the equity record date after deducting the repurchased shares in the repurchase account on the date when the future distribution plan is implemented. The undistributed profits retained by the Company will be primarily used for project construction, external investment, R&D investment and daily operations related to the Company's main business so as to maintain the sustainable and stable development of the Company and maximize the returns for investors.

For details, please refer to the Announcement of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on the 2020 Profit Distribution Plan published on the Shanghai Stock Exchange website on the same day as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-018.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



VI. Resolution of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on the Anticipated Provision of Guarantees for Subsidiaries in 2021 (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

For details, please refer to the Notice of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on the Anticipated Provision of Guarantees for Subsidiaries in 2021 published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same date as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-019.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



VII. Resolution of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. On The Management Of Foreign Currency Using Derivative Instruments (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

For details, please refer to the Announcement of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on the Development of Foreign Exchange Fund Derivatives Business published on the Shanghai Stock Exchange website on the same day as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-020.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



VIII. 2020 Internal Control Evaluation Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

For details, please refer to the 2020 Internal Control Evaluation Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. published on the website of the Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same day as this announcement.



IX. 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

For details, please refer to the 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. published on the Shanghai Stock Exchange website on the same day as this announcement.



X. Resolution of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on Closing Certain Fund-raising Projects through Convertible Corporate Bonds and Permanently Supplementing the Working Capital with the Surplus Funds (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)



For details, please refer to the Announcement of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on Closing Certain Fund-raising Projects through Convertible Corporate Bonds and Permanently Supplementing the Working Capital with the Surplus Funds published on the Shanghai Stock Exchange website on the same day as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-022.



XI. Resolution of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on the Postponement of Certain Investment Projects with the Funds Raised from Convertible Corporate Bonds (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

For details, please refer to the Announcement of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on the Postponement of Certain Investment Projects with the Funds Raised from Convertible Corporate Bonds published on the Shanghai Stock Exchange website on the same day as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-023.



XII. Resolution of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on the Special Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on the Deposit and Actual Use of the Funds Raised in 2020 (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

For details, please refer to the Special Audit Report of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on the Deposit and Actual Use of the Funds Raised in 2020 published on the website of the Shanghai Stock Exchange on the same day as this announcement.



XIII. Resolution of the Re-electing the Supervisors of the Company (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

Mr. Wang Peihua and Mr. Ming Guoqing, both being the current supervisors of the Company, have retired. According to their applications, they will no longer hold any position in the Company after new supervisors are elected at the shareholder's general meeting of the Company. The Company would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to Mr. Wang Peihua and Mr. Ming Guoqing for their contributions to the Company during their tenure as the supervisors of the Company?

To ensure the normal operation of the Board of Supervisors, pursuant to the relevant requirements of the Companies Law and the Articles of Association, Mr. Liu Dalin ('Mr. Liu') and Ms. Ma Yingjie ('Ms. Ma') are nominated as supervisors, whose terms of service are in line with the Tenth Session of the Supervisory Board. Their biographies are set out below:

Mr. Liu Dalin, was born in 1980. He holds a master degree in business administration from Renmin University of China. He is a senior engineer and senior political analyst. From August 2005 to September 2010, he served as a developer of water heater development department at the electric heating products' headquarter of Haier Group, an assistant engineer, a R&D engineer and a R&D model manager of the electric heating research institute at the electric heating products' headquarter of Haier Group successively. From September 2010 to October 2015, he was the deputy secretary of the Youth League Committee of Haier Group. From October 2015 to October 2020, he was the deputy secretary of the Disciplinary Inspection Commission of Haier Group. From October 2020 to date, he has been serving as the executive deputy secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of Haier Group.

Ms. Ma Yingjie" was born in 1969. She is an assistant political analyst. She once served as the secretary of the Youth League Committee of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd., the secretary of the trade union of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd., the contact person of the customer service comprehensive department of Qingdao Haier Dishwasher Co., Ltd. She is the contact person of party-masses work of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



XIV. Resolution of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on Amending the Articles of Association of the Company (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)

For details, please refer to the Announcement of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on Amending the Articles of Association of the Company published on the Shanghai Stock Exchange website on the same day as this announcement, with the announcement No.: L2021-024.

This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



XV. Resolution of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. on Amending the Rules of Procedure of the Board of Supervisors (Voting results: For 3, Against 0, Abstain 0)



This resolution is subject to the submission to the 2020 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.



The Supervisory Board

Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.

30 March 2021



Note: This Announcement has been prepared in both Chinese and English. Should there be any discrepancies or misunderstandings between the two versions, the Chinese version shall prevail



IR contact:

Yao Sun (Sophie) - Haier Smart Home Germany

T: +49 89 380 334 235

M: +49 160 9469 3601

Email: y.sun@haier.de
A REGIONAL four-year project is improving weather, water and climate services and livelihoods and supporting socio-economic development of vulnerable communities along Lake Victoria.

Dubbed the High Impact Weather Lake System (HIGHWAY), the project has established a pilot regional Early Warning System to inform fisher folk and other local stakeholders about high impact weather events on the Lake, according to the World Meteorological Organisation(WMO).

Initial studies have shown that more than 200, 000 people have directly benefited and 1.4 million indirectly, from the HIGHWAY project, which was funded by the UK Government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the Weather and Climate Information Services for Africa (WISER) programme.

It has also reduced annual weather-related deaths on the lake by 30 per cent, thus saving more than 300 lives per year, according to the studies.

Economic benefits of the project are estimated at 44 million US dollars per year, a benefit to cost ratio of 16:1.

"It has demonstrated that improved access to, and use of, co-designed early warnings has protected lives and livelihoods and improved the economic and social well-being of the communities living in the Lake Victoria Basin," said WMO Secretary-General, Petteri Taalas.

Mr Taalas was further optimistic that such a model would be replicated in other parts of Africa and the entire world. The Lake Victoria Basin supports approximately 25 per cent of the surrounding population.

It also hosts Africa's largest inland fishery, producing about one million tonnes of fish annually, employing over 200, 000 fisherfolk and generating over $ 500 million annually in exports.

Over 30 million people live near the coastline, with 1 400 landing sites or beaches from which 50 000 boats operate.

On average, 3 000 to 5 000 deaths occurred on the lake each year due to navigation accidents caused by strong winds and waves.

Prior to the HIGHWAY project, no regional, operational early warning systems existed to protect the health and safety of those dependent on the lake.

The need for early warnings was highlighted by heavy rainfall which caused Lake Victoria waters to rise to record levels. Ensuing floods displaced more than 200,000 people living in the Basin in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Loss of life was however minimised by improved regional cooperation between the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

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This resulted in a regionally harmonised set of marine forecasts covering the whole of Lake Victoria, issued twice daily in English and local languages.

The project also worked through the EAC to develop a regional strategy for coordinating the issue of severe weather warnings throughout EAC's six Member States - Regional Early Warning System Vision 2025 for East Africa.

On his part, EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure and Planning, Eng Steven Mlote, said that Regional EWS Vision 2025 for East Africa would enhance regional cooperation with pooled resources, harmonise practices, and facilitate knowledge exchange to deliver impact-based early warnings across East Africa in a consistent way.

"To that end, the Severe Weather Forecasting programme would underpin the operationalisation of the Vision 2025 in delivering the regional consensus forecasts and potentially aggregating at the regional level the warnings produced at the national level through a proposed East Africa Community multi-hazard Alert System (EACAS)," he added.

Since its inception in 2017, the project has enhanced capacities of the participating NMHSs through strengthening institutional frameworks, improving access to data sources and strengthening integration between forecasters and beneficiaries.
-Police arrest four suspects

The Liberia National Police (LNP) has warned alleged motorbike thieves that are rampaging the entire Somalia Drive, taking away innocent citizens' motorbikes under dubious means to desist from such acts or brace themselves to face the full weight of the law.

Announcing the arrest of four suspected bike thieves Monday, 28 March at the LNP Headquarters in Monrovia, Police Spokesman Moses Carter said LNP will improve on its night patrols with the few vehicles the police have received from the government.

According to him, the alleged bike thieves arrested include the group ring leader Alfred Tawaeh, 22, alias Chemical; Edward Mamulu, 20, alias Automatic; Amara Sesay, 20, alias Rickey Ross; and Abraham Condy, 22, alias Hard Head Boy.

He discloses that the four suspects were arrested after police received information about a citizen's bike that was taken away around the Bend and Stop area in Barnersville.

"These are individuals who are alleged to have been rampaging the entire Somalia Drive of some of our innocent citizens' bikes; bikes taken away from them through dubious and criminal means," Mr. Carter explains.

In the wake of rampaging bike thievery along the Somalia Drive route, Carter indicates that police have taken steps by activating a Police Support Unit (PSU) team at the New Georgia Junction, saying the essence of the armed PSU officers' presence there is to effectively respond to such situations.

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He explains that sometimes some of the hijackers pretend as though they are passengers, sit on the bike and direct the bike operator to wherever a dragnent has already been set and once they arrive, the operator is threatened with deadly weapons and the bike is taken away.

"The bike operator is placed under either cutlass, knife or some other deadly weapons and the bikes are taken away from them. And so we have been running a lot of intelligence in ensuring that we can clamp down on this act of which some of our citizens have been victimized," Carter says.However, he says since the team of armed PSU officers was set up in New Georgia Junction, "the situation has improved."

He details that the PSU officers are not only limited to the New Georgia Junction, but the route of Somalia Drive as a way of responding to crime scenes there.

"Some citizens have complained of their bikes being hijacked from them through several other means; either means by which they are dropped or means by which their operators are hijacked," Carter adds.

The police spokesman sounds a warning to motorbike thieves on Somalia Drive or anywhere in Liberia to desist now or they will be made to face the full weight of the law.

According to him, the police have made significant progress in arresting some of the suspects for their involvement in motorbike theft, adding that those arrested will be duly charged and forwarded to court.

Carter assures the public that the police remain committed in ensuring that those engaged in these acts will not go with impunity, urging citizens to also continue to share information with the police for a successful fight against crimes.

He calls on the citizenry, especially bike operators to be mindful about who they drive, given the sinister motives of the bike hijackers.
Johnson & Johnson on Monday, March 29 said that it will be starting with the delivery of its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine to Europe from April 19. This comes as a boost for the continent when it is struggling to speed up its vaccination drive. The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was approved by the bloc in mid-March after they approved the vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

Canada approves Johnson & Johnson

Earlier this month, Canada became the first country in the world to approve four vaccines against COVID-19 after the countrys health regulators cleared a Johnson & Johnson shot. In contrast to its opponents, the J&J vaccine requires only one shot and with the approval, Health Canada is now hoping for an expedited vaccination drive in the country. At present, Canada has approved vaccines developed by AstraZeneca/Oxford, Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. The vaccine developed by J&J has shown an efficacy rate of 66 per cent overall, as per the latest results of clinical trials conducted on 44,000 people. The developers revealed that the jabs were also 85 per cent effective in preventing severe cases of infection.

EU vaccine controversy

The EU has been facing a tough time with the inoculation drive. During mid-March, European countries including Germany, Italy, France, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic and several others halted their rollouts of AstraZeneca jabs after reports of serious blood clotting. AstraZeneca has been embroiled in controversy in Europe, with some governments initially even refusing to certify use for people aged over 65 despite scientific advice finding no reason for limits. Italy and Austria have also banned the use of shots from separate batches, while Bulgaria and Thailand have said that they would delay its rollout. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health had said in a separate statement that it decided to pause AstraZeneca vaccinations following the report of a death in Denmark as a result of a blood clot.

However, after some time when a preliminary review of people vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca was concluded, European Medicines Agency (EMA) committee, PRAC, announced that the medicine is "safe and effective. According to the European Medicines Agency, those who received the AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine found no serious risk of blood clots (thromboembolic events) in their body. Furthermore, the EMA acknowledged that the vaccine can be linked to extremely rare cases of blood clots associated with thrombocytopenia, or low levels of blood platelets (elements in the blood that make it clot), either with bleeding or without it, including very rare cases of clots in the vessels draining blood from the brain (CVST).

Also, EMA affirmed, "However, in the light of its findings, patients should be aware of the remote possibility of such syndromes, and if symptoms suggestive of clotting problems occur patients should seek immediate medical attention and inform healthcare professionals of their recent vaccination. As per EMA, there have been only a few cases reported related to this issue. It said that, as of now, around 20 million people in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK had received the vaccine. Out of which, "only 7 cases of blood clots" and 18 cases of CVST (Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis) have been reported.

(Image Credits: AP)
With America witnessing an exponential rise in coronavirus cases, the country's leading health official, on March 29, urged residents to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Dr Rochelle Welensky, head of Centres for Disease and Prevention (CDC), speaking at a press briefing, asserted that she was scared of an impending doom. Highlighting that the coronavirus tally in the country has crossed 30.2 million, Welensky urged officials to spread the word about the seriousness of the infection.

"I'm going to lose the script and I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom," CDC chief told a briefing with reporters. "Right now I'm scared," she added.

She said that the seven day average of daily COVID-19 cases was slightly less than 60,000 per day, which was a direct ten per cent surge from the previous average. The health official added that not only had the cases spiked, but so has hospitalisations and fatalities. According to John Hopkins University, the US was on the verge of a fourth wave recording over 30,331,025 cases and 550,003 fatalities since the outbreak occurred.

We have so much to look forward to as we work to get Americans vaccinated against #COVID19, but right now I am alarmed to see cases climbing. We do not have the luxury of inaction. Each of us must do all we can to #StopTheSpread of the virus and prevent a fourth surge.  Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH (@CDCDirector) March 29, 2021

As a wife, mother, daughter, physician & CDC Director, I ask you to hold on a little while longer. We are almost there, but not quite yet. Continue using #COVID19 prevention methods & get vaccinated when you can so that you and others will still be here once this pandemic ends.  Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH (@CDCDirector) March 29, 2021

Causes of COVID surge

According to the health officials, loosening of COVID rules including removal of mask mandate, and reopening of economies are the prime cause of the resurgence. Additionally, an increase in both domestic and international travel has also contributed to the rise. Talking about the same, Walensky said the trajectory of the pandemic in the United States looked similar to countries in Europe, such as Germany, Italy and France, which have experienced a spike in cases.

"We do not have the luxury of inaction. For ... the health of our country, we must work together now to prevent the fourth surge, she said.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has vowed to administer at least 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in his first 100 days in the White House. As of March 29, at least 95,015,762 or 28.6 per cent of the US has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines while 52,614,231 or 15.8 per cent of them have been fully vaccinated. As per the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the country has received 180,646,565 doses of vaccines out of which 145,812,835 million have been administered.

Image Credits: AP
A sensitisation workshop was organised to that effect in Yaounde on March 25, 2021.

As part of efforts to accelerate the decentralisation process in Cameroon and its subsequent development, mayors from some eight regions of the country have updated their skills on the management of mineral resources within the framework of the transfer of competences to decentralised authorities as stated in the General Code on Regional and Local Authorities. The workshop held in Yaounde on March 25, 2021 with the Consulting Firm, Emergence 2000 as expert trainer.

In his opening remarks, the Vice President of the United Councils and Cities of Cameroon (UCCC), Anicet Akoa, Mayor of Ngoulmekong in the South Region, representing the President, Augustin Tamba, said the objective of the workshop was to improve the competences of mayors as concerns transparency in managing mineral resources. "This workshop seeks to sensitise municipal authorities on the use of securised car letters for better management and traceability of commercial revenue from the use of quarries," he stated, adding securised car letters already exist in the forestry sector.

To him, should the mining sector have such a document, it will enable councils have the needed assets to speed up development at both the micro and macro levels. The Vice President of UCCC added that the empowerment of regional and local authorities is a major preoccupation of the President of the Republic which envisages making Cameroon an emerging nation by 2035. Synergy between administrative stakeholders, Anicent Akoa said, will also be improved for better optimization of mineral resources.

On his part, the General Manager of Emergence 2000, Gerard-Bruno Zambo said the workshop intended to give more value to public-private partnership for the development of the Fatherland. The Consulting Firm which since March 2017 was authorised by the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development to issue securised car letters, its General Manager said has the mission of providing technical orientations on safe transportation of mineral resources for the growth of Cameroon.

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Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
Hyderabad, March 30 : Candidates of major political parties on Tuesday filed their nominations for April 17 by-election to Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly seat.

Ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) candidate Nomula Bagath Kumar, opposition Congress party's veteran leader and former minister K. Jana Reddy and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee P. Ravi Kumar filed their papers.

Tuesday was the last day for filing of nominations and candidates made a beeline to the office of the returning officer to submit their papers.

Bagath Kumar was accompanied by state minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali, T. Srinivas Yadav, Jagdish Reddy and other party leaders when he filed his nomination.

He is the son of Nomula Narsimhaiah, whose death in December last year caused the by-election.

Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday finalised the candidature of Bagath Kumar, who is an advocate practicing at Telangana High Court.

In 2018, Nomula Narsimhaiah had defeated his nearest rival Jana Reddy of Congress by a margin of 7,771 votes. While Narsimhaiah polled 83,655 votes, Jana Reddy secured 75,884 votes. Niveditha Reddy of BJP could get only 2,675 votes.

Congress has once again fielded veteran leader Jana Reddy, who filed his nomination on Tuesday and exuded confidence of wresting the seat from TRS.

BJP's Ravi Kumar also filed his nomination on the last day. The saffron party announced its candidate on Monday night.

BJP received another jolt on Tuesday when party leader K. Anjaiah decided to quit the party and join TRS over denial of ticket.

Anjaiah, who is likely to meet the Chief Minister later in the day to formally join the party, was an aspirant of ticket.

This is the second setback to BJP in the constituency. Last week, Niveditha Reddy filed her nomination without waiting for the official announcement of the candidate by the party.

Niveditha, who had unsuccessfully contested for the same seat in 2018, filed her nomination on Friday and was hoping that the party leadership will clear her candidature.

It was immediately not clear if Niveditha will withdraw from the contest or contest as a rebel.

Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) candidate M. Arun Kumar also filed his papers.
The Biden administration is moving to sharply increase offshore along the East Coast, saying it is taking initial steps toward approving a huge wind farm off the New Jersey coast as part of an effort to generate electricity for more than 10 million homes nationwide by 2030.

Meeting the target could mean jobs for more than 44,000 workers and for 33,000 others in related employment, the White House said on Monday. The effort also would help avoid 78 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, a key step in the administration's fight to slow global warming.

President "believes we have an enormous opportunity in front of us to not only address the threats of climate change, but use it as a chance to create millions of good-paying, union jobs that will fuel America's economic recovery," said White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy. "Nowhere is the scale of that opportunity clearer than for offshore wind.''



The administration's commitment to the still untapped industry "will create pathways to the middle class for people from all backgrounds and communities," she added. "We are ready to rock-and-roll."



The administration said it intends to prepare a formal environmental analysis for the Ocean Wind project off New Jersey. That would move Ocean Wind toward becoming the third commercial-scale offshore wind project in the US.

The Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said it is targeting offshore wind projects in shallow waters between Long Island and the New Jersey coast. A recent study shows the area can support up to 25,000 development and construction jobs by 2030, Interior said.

The ocean energy bureau said it will push to sell commercial leases in the area in late 2021 or early 2022.

The administration also pledged to invest USD 230 million to upgrade US ports and provide up to USD 3 billion in loan guarantees for offshore wind projects through the Energy Department's recently revived clean-energy loan program.

"It is going to be a full-force gale of good-paying, union jobs that lift people up,'' said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

Ocean Wind, 15 miles off the coast of southern New Jersey, is projected to produce about 1,100 megawatts a year, enough to power 500,000 homes, once it becomes operational in 2024.

The Interior Department has previously announced environmental reviews for Vineyard Wind in Massachusetts and South Fork wind farm about 35 miles east of Montauk Point in Long Island, NY Vineyard Wind is expected to produce about 800 megawatts of power and South Fork about 132 megawatts.

Biden has vowed to double offshore wind production by 2030 as part of his effort to slow climate change.

The likely approval of the Atlantic Coast projects -- the leading edge of at least 16 offshore wind projects along the East Coast -- marks a sharp turnaround from the Trump administration, which stymied wind power both onshore and in the ocean.

As president, Donald Trump frequently derided wind power as an expensive, bird-slaughtering way to make electricity, and his administration resisted or opposed wind projects nationwide, including Vineyard Wind.

The developer of the Massachusetts project temporarily withdrew its application late last year in a bid to stave off possible rejection by the Trump administration. Biden provided a fresh opening for the project after taking office in January.

"For generations, we've put off the transition to clean energy and now we're facing a climate crisis,'' said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, whose department oversees offshore wind.

"As our country faces the interlocking challenges of a global pandemic, economic downturn, racial injustice and the climate crisis, we have to transition to a brighter future for everyone,'' Haaland said.

Vineyard Wind is slated to become operational in 2023, with Ocean Wind following a year later.

Despite the enthusiasm, offshore wind development is still in its infancy in the US, far behind progress made in Europe. A small wind farm operates near Block Island in waters controlled by the state of Rhode Island, and another small wind farm operates off the coast of Virginia.

The three major projects under development are all owned by European companies or subsidiaries. Vineyard Wind is a joint project of a Danish company and a US subsidiary of the Spanish energy giant, Iberdrola. Ocean Wind and South Fork are led by the Danish company, Orsted.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday it is signing an agreement with Orsted to share data about US waters where the company holds leases. The data should aid NOAA's ocean-mapping efforts and help it advance climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, the agency said.

The NOAA also will spend USD 1 million to study the impacts of offshore wind operations on fishing operators and coastal communities.

Wind developers are poised to create tens of thousands of jobs and generate more than USD 100 billion in new investment by 2030, "but the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management must first open the door to new leasing", said Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association.

Not everyone is cheering the rise of offshore wind. Fishing groups from Maine to Florida have expressed fear that large offshore wind projects could render huge swaths of the ocean off-limits to their catch.

(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.)
Minister Simon Coveney addresses the UN Security Council on the Humanitarian Situation in Syria

Press release

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D., today spoke at the UN Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Syria. The meeting was chaired by US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

Addressing the Council, the Minister recalled that Ireland is co-penholder with Norway on the Syria humanitarian file, and pointed to a shared commitment to ensuring that humanitarian assistance continues to reach all people in need.

The Minister outlined the extent of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, describing it as truly staggering in scale, and severity, before calling on the UN Security Council to take action, to ensure that humanitarian actors can carry out their work.

The Minister described his recent visit to the Turkish-Syrian border crossing at Bab al Hawa, where he saw first-hand the UN operation which provides a vital lifeline to over 3 million people in North West Syria.

He also recalled his meetings with Syrian and International Non-Governmental Organisations, and the UN agencies working there, noting that their first-hand accounts brought home to me again the sheer human misery  and the waste of human potential - that results from conflict

The Minister paid tribute to the work of the UN Monitoring Mission at the border crossing, and urged the UN Security Council to renew its mandate before it expires in July.

The Minister concluded by noting Irelands strong support for a sustainable political solution to the Syrian conflict, cautioning that absent progress on the political track, many millions of Syrians will remain desperately in need of humanitarian assistance.

ENDS

Press Office

29 March 2021



Notes for Editors:

This is the monthly UN Security Council discussion on the humanitarian situation in Syria, which Secretary of State Blinken will chair (the US holds the presidency of the Security Council in March). Ireland and Norway take it in turns to deliver a joint statement as co-penholders of the Syrian cross border humanitarian aid delivery file. This month it is Norways turn to deliver the joint statement. Minister will speak in a national capacity. The Minister will also participate in the Brussels V conference on Syria tomorrow.

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A soldier examines debris inside a Catholic church in Jolo, Sulu province, after two bombs exploded, killing more than 20 in the Philippines, Jan. 27, 2019.

Philippine troops killed four suspected pro-Islamic State (IS) militants in clashes over the weekend in the southern province of Maguindanao, the military said on Monday.

Troops from the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion clashed with 40 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), under the command of Ustadz Karialan (alias Imam Minimbang) in the village of Saniag in Ampatuan town on Saturday, said Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Armys 6th Infantry Division.

The villagers alerted the army about the presence of the terrorists in their community, he told reporters, adding that three militants were killed.

Hours later, security forces clashed with another band of BIFF fighters, led by Salahuddin Salman (alias Abu Saif), in the mountains of Salman, also in Ampatuan, leaving one suspected militant dead.

Regional military spokesman Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar told BenarNews by phone that four soldiers were also injured when a landmine exploded as they pursued the suspected militants responsible for occupying a village in Saturdays encounter.

We have recovered 17 homemade bombs as well  we have taken full control of seven camps they used as a training facility and bomb factory, Baldomar said, adding that the remains of the dead militants had been recovered and turned over to local officials.

Our troops used artillery fire in driving away the militants, he said.

Last week, 14 suspected BIFF fighters were killed in clashes with troops.

BIFF is a breakaway faction of the former rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which signed a peace deal with the government and currently heads a transitional government in a Muslim autonomous region in the south.

Murad Ebrahim, who leads MILF, heads the transitional authority that has power over the newly created Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BAARM).

BIFF has a few hundred members and is concentrated largely in central Mindanao Island, officials said. It has pledged allegiance to IS. While the group did not send guerrillas to fight in the southern city of Marawi in 2017, it launched diversionary attacks at the time.

A five-month siege in Marawi by pro-IS fighters and a battle that ensued with government forces killed an estimated 1,200 enemy combatants, soldiers and civilians.

Warning

Francisco Lara Jr., a consultant to the conflict monitoring group International Alert, warned that the recent clashes could be a preview of more violence in the Mindanao region as the island gears for an election in 2022.

This may be an effort to demonstrate the Karialan groups superiority over other extremist groups in the area and hence gain more recruits and support, said Lara, who has followed the Mindanao conflict through the years.

[O]r it can be part of a slow burn or a gradual yet deliberate escalation of violence that leads to a major political battle before or during the 2022 election.

The Philippines is also scheduled to elect a new leader next year, as President Rodrigo Duterte can serve only one six-year term.

Lara said the violence from extremist groups such as BIFF and the shadow economies from drugs and weapons would mix and feed into the violence surrounding regional politics.

BIFF will continue to be a threat, despite the unceasing military campaign against it and reports of surrender among its members, as it continues to receive funding from other armed groups, including ISIS, he said using another acronym for the Islamic State.

The group also receives protection money from local politicians, businessmen, and violent entrepreneurs involved in deadly shadow economies, he said, without naming names.

If left unchecked by security forces in the south, the current violence could spiral out of control and take on the pattern similar to what led to clashes that destroyed Marawi in 2017, Lara said.

MILF and the military must work together to defeat these groups, Lara said. For MILF, it would mean disregarding kinship ties in going after BIFF, some of whose fighters were once MILF commanders, he added.

In January, suspected BIFF militants carried out two roadside bombings in the southern Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces that killed at least three people and left scores wounded.

In 2019, BIFF was blamed for a series of bomb attacks, including on a town market and at a restaurant, in the nearby town of Isulan, wounding eight and 18, respectively.

The latest incidents occurred after Ebrahim, head of the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority, publicly announced that he had made preliminary contact with members of BIFF as well as the Abu Sayyaf Group to persuade them to come into the fold of the law.

Security forces in the southern region have been on heightened alert after twin suicide bombings -carried out allegedly by Abu Sayyaf operatives - in August 2020 killed 15 people on Jolo, an island in the southern Sulu province.

More than a year earlier, 21 people were killed in another twin suicide attack that targeted a church in Jolo town.

Abu Sayyafs IS faction is a small group known for kidnappings and beheadings.
LUXEMBOURG, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LuxAI announces the launch of QTrobot for Home, an engaging social robot playmate that helps children with autism to learn and practice new social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Due to the pandemic, parents of children with special needs are taking on more of the responsibility for their child's education than ever before. After several years of experience in offering QTrobot to schools and research institutes, LuxAI now aims to support parents by offering their robot to families. QTrobot is designed with children in mind, it smiles engagingly, speaks softly, and creates an accessible and effective play-based setup for special needs education at home.

"We are launching the parent version of QTrobot after a highly successful pilot with our beta testers. We are delighted to see we can help parents to continue their children's education during the covid-19 closure of schools", Says Dr. Pouyan Ziafati, CEO of LuxAI. "Following our successful work in research and education, we have gone to great lengths to minimize costs and make this advanced robot as affordable as possible. QTrobot is now available for parents on luxai.com. We are offering the same robot platform and content as the QTrobot professional version which is valued around $10k, to parents from $1,977 for the robot device and $149 per month for ongoing support," added Dr Ziafati.

Jay and Catherine, whose six-year-old boy has autism and has been using QTrobot for over a year say it has changed their lives. "When we first decided to get an educational robot, we were unsure what to expect, but now we are thrilled we decided to get QT. We are able to help our son all year round. Our son has acquired new knowledge and developed new skills. It was QTrobot who showed him how to wave hi, which we could not get him to do before then. We feel very fortunate and grateful to have an educational robot in our home. Without QT, we really wouldn't have much help from anywhere else during the pandemic, and we would be without any answers to help our son. QTrobot is simply a miracle for autistic children and their parents."

QTrobot engages children with meaningful play-based activities based on evidence-based practices such as Applied Behavior Analysis. The expressive robot comes with an endless array of learning programs covering a broad range of skills related to social and emotional wellbeing, and language and cognitive development. Scientific and empirical studies show QTrobot is truly bringing added value to special needs education by improving attention and motivation and reducing anxiety and distraction (ref1, ref2).

"QTrobot is non-judgmental and offers a predictable environment for children to practice and gain confidence with social and communication skills before applying them in real world interactions. What makes QTrobot unique is that it is a child friendly technology that also fully involves the parent in the sessions," says Dr. Aida Nazari, Head of Human-AI Interaction at LuxAI. "The robot creates a triangular interaction with the parents and their child and encourages the children to practice the skills with their parents. This opens the first door toward building skills that can be generalized to real world interactions."

LuxAI has developed a full ecosystem to assist parents in actively participating in their child's education and to further conduct supporting activities to encourage the application of the skills learnt from the robot to new environments. QTrobot package for home includes:

Online support portal with video lessons for parents to effectively assist their child's education through activities both with and without QTrobot. It also includes manuals with extra-curricular activities to help generalize the learnt skills.

Analytics dashboard to help parents in monitoring their child's progress on educational milestones, navigate the educational curriculums and create an individualized learning plan aligned with their child's educational needs.

Monthly support meetings to help parents assess their child's progress and set upcoming goals.

About LuxAI:

LuxAI is an internationally acclaimed science-based company aiming to address the shortage of special education services worldwide. The company is pioneering the development of human-centered intelligent systems to make standard and evidence-based methods of education accessible for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The flagship product of LuxAI, QTrobot is a platform used by top research institutes and therapy centers in 14 countries around the world and has received several prestigious awards such as the CES 2019 honoree of Tech for a Better World and the 10 Best Ideas of Europe by the European Commission.

Access the full press release and media kit here.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1459268/QTrobot_for_autism.jpg

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Xtvkoaviw

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68aesMHlHUs

Contact:

Dr. Aida Nazarikhorram

CCO & Head of Human-AI Interaction

press@luxai.com

+352-28998265
Arusha  Only a week after succeeding the late John Pombe Magufuli, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been urged to strengthen the pillars of democracy.

These have to include drawing a clear line between the central and local governments and giving more independence to the latter.

"At present you can't know the demarcation line between the two. The local government should be independent," said Joseph Lujuo, a pharmacist based here.

He implored on the new head of state to detach the Local Government and Regional Administration docket from her (President's) office.

He was among scores of Arusha residents who spoke on the prospects of the new president who was sworn in last week after the death of Dr. Magufuli.

He said besides improving democracy, the government of Ms Samia has to empower strategic institutions to serve as catalysts for economic development.
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Eight per cent of pupils in Northern Ireland don't speak English as their first language at home, new statistics from the Department of Education have revealed.

Polish and Lithuanian are the most widely spoken common languages after English.

But despite over 7,000 pupils now attending Irish medium schools, only 529 pupils have their home language listed as Irish.

And only seven pupils in total across Northern Ireland use Ulster Scots as their means of communication with family. Indeed, more children speak Marathi and Gujarati, which are spoken in India, or even Igbo from Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

Five even speak Zulu with their parents at home.

Polish remains the second most common first language of Northern Ireland's schoolchildren, figures obtained by the Belfast Telegraph reveal.

The number of pupils in primary, post-primary and special schools with Polish as their home language was 6,983, a rise from 6,671 in 2017/18.

Lithuanian is the third most common with 3,101 speakers, up from 2,797 in 2017/18.

English is spoken as a first language by 312,336 pupils (92%).

Professor Janice Carruthers, Professor of French Linguistics at Queen's University and AHRC Leadership Fellow in Modern Languages, said that the diversity of languages now being spoken at home by children is something to be celebrated.

"While it is vital that newcomer children have every opportunity to learn English, it is also extremely important that the home languages of newcomer children are valued in the school environment," said Prof Carruthers.

"Language is a key part of a child's identity and linguistic diversity is something to be celebrated. All children who speak English and an additional language - whether that language is Polish, Lithuanian, Chinese, Arabic, Irish, Ulster Scots, or any other language - will grow up with the ability to move between languages and cultures. In addition to cognitive benefits, this will give them an advantage in the job market, whether they opt to work locally or globally."

The Department of Education collects language information as part of the school census, which parents complete when their child enrols.

The department uses the term 'newcomer' to refer to a pupil who does not have satisfactory language skills to participate fully in the school curriculum and does not have a language in common with the teacher.

However, the language question is not just applicable to children whose parents have recently moved to Northern Ireland, a Department of Education spokesperson explained.

"Newcomer and Home language are two different things. A pupil may have a home language other than English but not be a Newcomer.

"This designation does not refer to indigenous pupils who choose to attend an Irish-medium school or Unit. That circumstance is dealt with under the Irish medium education policy."

Among other first languages of NI pupils, 245 speak Urdu, 33 are fluent in Japanese and 113 converse naturally in Romany.

Of the more common western European languages, Spanish is most popular with 366 speakers, 151 speak Italian and 96 German.
(Newser)  Police in Maryland say they have "no idea" why a 27-year-old man killed four people, including his parents, before taking his own life Sunday. Investigators say Joshua Green's rampage started at his parents' home in Baldwin, where the bodies of 58-year-old Douglas Green and 62-year-old Olivia Green were found, the Baltimore Sun reports. Police say that after Green killed his parents, he went to a Royal Farms convenience store in Essex, 18 miles away. Green used his vehicle to block a car in the parking lot before shooting its driver, 62-year-old Alpha Smith, police say. Inside the store, he killed customer Silvesta Daye Jr., 43, and shot and seriously injured a 22-year-old employee, police say.

story continues below

Investigators say Green then went to his nearby apartment and set it on fire, the New York Times reports. He was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the building's parking lot. Police found the bodies of his parents in their home's garage when they went to notify them of their son's death. "As to why this occurred, we have no idea yet," Baltimore County Police Col. Andre Davis said Monday, per the AP. "Our homicide detectives are tirelessly investigating a motive, but it appears that the shooter acted alone." Davis said the gun Greene used was legally purchased last year. (Read more Maryland stories.)
MOUNT PLEASANT, MI - The Michigan Press Association has suspended a Central Michigan University student media advisor from its Board of Directors while the university investigates its connections with a sexual harassment scandal at a Lansing public relations firm.

Dave Clark, who represents CMUs student paper Central Michigan Life on the MPA board, was placed on administrative leave by the university alongside faculty member Steve Coon for their connections to Vanguard Public Affairs and potential knowledge of alleged sexual harassment and toxic behavior by its owner, CMU graduate TJ Bucholz. Since Clark is suspended by the university, MPA made the decision to also suspend him from its board during the investigation, according to a statement.

The Michigan Press Association bylaws require board members to be actively representing a member organization, the statement reads. In light of that requirement, the MPA board of directors voted today to suspend Dave Clarks seat on our board pending CMUs investigation. This is a decision made as the result of a bylaw requirement. It is not a statement about Mr. Clarks innocence or guilt.

Bucholz has been accused by multiple women of sexual harassment and creating a toxic work environment for women, many of them current CMU students or recent graduates, according to previous MLive reporting. CMU has retained independent counsel to investigate the situation.

Mariah Prowoznik, a former Vanguard employee who previously detailed allegations of a toxic workplace under Bucholz, shared with MLive a letter she sent to the MPA board in defense of Clark, her adviser in 2015 while she served as CM Lifes editor in chief.

In her letter, Prowoznik claims she didnt tell Clark anything other than Bucholz poor business practices and that she heard secondhand others were creeped out by his behavior. She had not heard others sexual harassment claims against Bucholz until they came forward publicly, and Clark is only on leave because of Lansing City Pulses inquiries about her initial allegations, she says.

She also claims she asked Clark to discourage students from taking jobs or internships after she spoke with him, and to her knowledge, he hasnt encouraged anyone since. She called him trustworthy, honorable and one hell of an adviser.

Any investigation at CMU will yield the same findings, Prowoznik said. Clark is a mentor, but more importantly a friend. I am deeply hurt by Bucholz actions, and Im heartbroken to know that Clark has been wrapped up into this nasty web. He doesnt deserve this.

In a letter, CMU President Bob Davies encouraged any current or past students and graduates of CMU to contact the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity at 989-774-3253 or seek out confidential resources provided by the university.

Clark could not be immediately reached for comment. A spokesman for CMU said the university does not comment on personnel matters and more information will be available when the investigation concludes.

Read more:

CMU suspends staff, launches investigation after students it sent to Lansing PR firm report sexual harassment

Ann Arbor council member resigns from political consulting firm amid controversy

Central Michigan University will hold outdoor graduations for classes of 2020-21
LAS VEGAS, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's "Presbyopia Market" report provides a thorough comprehension of the Presbyopia, historical and forecasted epidemiology, and the Presbyopia market trends in the 7MM [the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and United Kingdom) and Japan]. The Presbyopia market report also proffers an analysis of the current Presbyopia treatment algorithm/practice, market drivers, market barriers, and unmet medical needs.

Some of the key takeaways of the Presbyopia Market Research Report

Findings from the secondary domain suggest that as many as 80% of the uncorrected presbyopes faced trouble performing near-vision-related tasks such as reading, writing, threading needles, and using mobile devices, which could impact patients' productivity.

faced trouble tasks such as reading, writing, threading needles, and using mobile devices, which could impact patients' productivity. According to the WHO, 1.8 billion people globally were diagnosed with presbyopia in 2015 and cases are expected to reach 2.1 billion by 2030 . In the US alone , around 120 million people are currently living with presbyopia. And cases are expected to increase in the future, opening a new window of opportunities for emerging therapies.

were diagnosed with presbyopia in and cases are expected to reach . In the , around people are currently living with presbyopia. And cases are expected to increase in the future, opening a new window of opportunities for emerging therapies. Currently, there are no FDA-approved drugs, and there is a high unmet need for new therapies for Presbyopia treatment. All current non-pharmacological treatment options are either inconvenient or invasive , posing a major unmet need for people with presbyopia to enhance the quality of life. There is a clear unmet need for effective, safe, comfortable, convenient, and easy-to-use therapies, which can also slow, halt or reverse the progression rate .

, posing a major unmet need for people with presbyopia to enhance the quality of life. There is a clear unmet need for effective, safe, comfortable, convenient, and easy-to-use therapies, which can also . Recently, some developmental initiatives have been taken towards Presbyopia management as major key players such as Novartis AG, ORASIS Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Eyenovia, AbbVie, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, Ocuphire Pharma, Visus Therapeutics , and others have shown interest in developing therapies.

, and others have shown interest in developing therapies. Potential therapies such as AGN-190584 , MicroLine (PilocarpineOphthalmic), Nyxol (Phentolamine Mesylate), PresbiDrops, VTI-001 (Brimochol), AGN-241622, UNR844, MicroLine, AGN-190584, AGN-241622, and several others are under clinical trials for investigating new Presbyopia treatment options. They will provide efficient therapeutic approaches with novel mechanisms of action to treat patients affected with Presbyopia.

, and several others are under clinical trials for investigating new Presbyopia treatment options. They will provide efficient therapeutic approaches with novel mechanisms of action to treat patients affected with Presbyopia. Most of the current emerging therapies are based on the pilocarpine, which produces a "pinhole" effect for vision accommodation with the pupil's constriction. As per our analysis, the FDA might slap warnings for these drugs on approval, limiting drugs usage in driving at night and operating heavy machinery, especially in poor light.

For further information on Market Impact by Therapies, visit: Presbyopia Treatment Market Trends

Presbyopia is the gradual loss of near-focusing ability that occurs with age. Presbyopia is caused partly due to age-related changes in the proteins within the eye lens, due to which it becomes thicker, more challenging, and less flexible. This loss of flexibility affects the lens's ability to refract light rays, which affects the eye's capacity to focus.

Presbyopia mainly affects the age-group between 40 and 60 as the eyes' lenses naturally lose elasticity due to the ageing process. According to DelveInsight's analysts, the total Presbyopia prevalent cases in the 7MM were 286,994,105 cases in 2020. These cases are expected to grow with a nominal CAGR in the forecast period 20212030.

The Presbyopia Market Report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiological analysis segmented into:

Total Presbyopia Prevalent Cases

Total Presbyopia Diagnosed Cases

Total Presbyopia Age-specific Cases

Presbyopia Gender-specific Cases

Presbyopia Severity-specific Cases

Total Presbyopia Treated cases

Get a sample copy of this report: Presbyopia Market Landscape

Presbyopia Treatment Market

The Presbyopia treatment goal is to compensate for the inability of the eyes to focus on nearby objects. Currently, the market is mainly dominated by non-pharmacological treatment options such as corrective eyeglasses (spectacle lenses) or contact lenses, refractive surgery, or lens implants. Current clinical management of Presbyopia includes off-label treatment using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), parasympathetic agonists, miotic agents, or some other tempering agents. The most commonly used agents are Pilocarpine, Carbachol, Aceclidine, Brimonidine, Nepafenac, and others.

Presbyopia pharmacological treatment is based on using ophthalmic drops for improving near vision. Many different modifications, including the combination of two parasympathomimetics and an NSAID, two parasympathomimetics and one parasympatholytic, carbachol 2.25% with brimonidine 0.2%, and a variety of pilocarpine 0.247%, phenylephrine 0.78%, polyethylene glycol 0.09%, nepafenac 0.023%, pheniramine 0.034%, and naphazoline 0.003% were studied. A different strategy based on lipoic acid derivative drops aims to soften the crystalline lens.

In the US and Europe, some tempering components of the drug formulation also used as an off-label treatment in Presbyopia are brimonidine to reduce ciliary muscle contraction, bromfenac, diclofenac, and dexamethasone to minimise inflammation and ciliary muscle contraction, phenylephrine to decrease ciliary muscle contraction, naphazoline to minimise redness, tropicamide to reduce accommodation, and polyethylene glycol to increase comfort.

The companies have initiated clinical trials to investigate new treatment options and manage disease in the 7MM.

Presbyopia Emerging Therapies Along with Key Players

AGN-190584: Allergan (acquired by AbbVie)

MicroLine (Pilocarpine Ophthalmic): Eyenovia

PresbiDrops (CSF-1): Orasis Pharmaceuticals

Nyxol (Phentolamine Mesylate): Ocuphire Pharma

UNR844 (Lipoic acid choline ester; formerly known as EV06): Novartis

VTI-001 (Brimochol): Visus Therapeutics

AGN-241622: Allergan (acquired by AbbVie)

And several others.

In conclusion, Presbyopia Market Growth will surge due to market drivers such as an increase in the geriatric population, increasing research in pharmaceutical treatment, and an upsurge in the launch of products; on the other hand, there are a few impediments such as rising healthcare costs, lack of accessibility of eye care services, and shortage of trained ophthalmologists will hamper the growth.

Scope of the Presbyopia Market Insight Report

Geography Covered : 7MM - The United States , EU5 ( Germany , France , Italy , Spain , and the United Kingdom ), Japan .

: 7MM - , EU5 ( , , , , and the ), . Study Period : 3-year historical and 10-year forecasted analysis (2018-2030).

: 3-year historical and 10-year forecasted analysis (2018-2030). Presbyopia Markets Segmentation : By Geographies and By Presbyopia Therapies (Historical and Forecasted, Current and Upcoming)

: By and By (Historical and Forecasted, Current and Upcoming) Dominant Market Companies investigating its candidates for Presbyopia : Novartis AG, ORASIS Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Eyenovia, AbbVie, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, Ocuphire Pharma, Visus Therapeutics, and others, and several others.

Novartis AG, ORASIS Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Eyenovia, AbbVie, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, Ocuphire Pharma, Visus Therapeutics, and others, and several others. Analysis : Comparative and conjoint analysis of emerging therapies.

: Comparative and conjoint analysis of emerging therapies. Case Studies

KOL's Views

Analyst's View

Request for a Webex demo of the report @ Presbyopia Treatment Market Size



Table of Contents

1 Presbyopia Key Insights 2 Presbyopia Report Introduction 3 Presbyopia Market Overview at a Glance 4 Executive Summary of Presbyopia 5 Presbyopia Market: Future Perspective 6 Presbyopia Epidemiology and Patient Population 7 Presbyopia Disease Background and Overview 8 Presbyopia Diagnosis 9 Early Detection and Prevention of Presbyopia 10 Presbyopia Current Treatment Practices 11 Guidelines of Presbyopia 12 Presbyopia Epidemiology and Patient Population 12.1 The United States 12.2 EU5 Countries 12.2.1 Germany 12.2.2 France 12.2.3 Italy 12.2.4 Spain 12.2.5 The United Kingdom 12.3 Japan 13 Presbyopia Patient Journey 14 Key Endpoints in Presbyopia Clinical Trials 15 Presbyopia Emerging Drugs 15.1 AGN-190584: Allergan (acquired by AbbVie) 15.2 MicroLine (Pilocarpine Ophthalmic): Eyenovia 15.3 PresbiDrops (CSF-1): Orasis Pharmaceuticals 15.4 Nyxol (Phentolamine Mesylate): Ocuphire Pharma 15.5 UNR844 (Lipoic acid choline ester; formerly known as EV06): Novartis 15.6 VTI-001 (Brimochol): Visus Therapeutics 15.7 AGN-241622: Allergan (acquired by AbbVie) 16 Conjoint Analysis of Presbyopia 17 7MM Presbyopia Market Analysis 17.1 The United States Presbyopia Market Size 17.2 EU-5 Presbyopia Market Size 17.2.1 Germany Market Size 17.2.2 France Market Size 17.2.3 Italy Market Size 17.2.4 Spain Market Size 17.2.5 The United Kingdom Market Size 17.3 Japan Presbyopia Market Size 18 Presbyopia Market Access and Reimbursement 19 KOL Views 20 Presbyopia Market Drivers 21 Presbyopia Market Barriers 22 SWOT Analysis of Presbyopia 23 Presbyopia Unmet Needs 24 Appendix 25 DelveInsight Capabilities 26 Disclaimer 27 About DelveInsight

Browse full report with detailed TOC with charts, figures, tables @ Presbyopia Treatment Market Report

View Related Reports

DelveInsight's Presbyopia - Epidemiology Forecast 2030 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical, and forecasted epidemiology of Presbyopia in the United States, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and Japan.

Presbyopia Pipeline Insights, 2021 report by DelveInsight outlays comprehensive insights of present clinical development scenario and growth prospects across the Presbyopia market.

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DelveInsight's Plague - Market Insights, Epidemiology and Market Forecast - 2030 report provides a detailed overview of the disease and an in-depth understanding of historical and forecasted epidemiology.

About DelveInsight

DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports Pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance.

Contact Us:

Shruti Thakur

[email protected]

+1(919)321-6187

www.delveinsight.com

SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP
"This first national retail rollout is a major achievement for the Rritual brand. It validates both supply and demand for the category, specifically, our product quality and the rapidly growing interest of consumers in functional superfoods," said Mr. David Kerbel, Rritual Superfoods CEO. "We are striving to not only lead this emerging category, but to define it. A significant part of achieving that goal is accomplished through gaining the trust and support of consumers through top tier retailers such as Rite Aid."

Rritual has scaled its production to meet growing demand, with a strategic sales and marketing focus aimed at major retailers across the USA in 2021. The Rite Aid rollout will be phased toward reaching 1000 retail stores, in addition to Rite Aid's ecommerce platform. Rritual's retail strategy is disruptive, the Company is aiming at national retailers rather than regional rollouts in order to gain market share and category defining leadership.

Rite Aid will carry Rritual's full product line, including:

Chaga IMMUNE with adaptogens Eleuthero Root and Astragalus to support healthy immune function and well-being all year round.

with adaptogens Eleuthero Root and Astragalus to support healthy immune function and well-being all year round. Lion's Mane FOCUS with adaptogens Rhodiola Rosea Root and Bacopa to support brain health and cognitive function.

with adaptogens Rhodiola Rosea Root and Bacopa to support brain health and cognitive function. Reishi RELAX with adaptogen Ashwagandha and cacao to help the body adapt to stress.

Rritual product offerings are all USDA-certified organic and are a caffeine-free option that can be mixed with other beverages or enjoyed by itself. Rritual's proprietary Immune-Synergy Six Mushroom Blend is the only functional health product on the market that contains a daily prebiotic blend which nourishes a healthy gut microbiome and facilitates balanced digestive function.

About Rite Aid Corporation

Rite Aid Corporation, the third largest US drugstore chain, is on the front lines of delivering healthcare services and retail products to more than 1.6 million Americans daily. Our pharmacists are uniquely positioned to engage with customers and improve their health outcomes. We provide an array of whole being health products and services for the entire family through over 2,400 retail pharmacy locations across 17 states. Through Elixir, we provide pharmacy benefits and services to approximately 4 million members nationwide. For more information, www.riteaid.com.

About Rritual

Rritual is a functional superfood company that creates plant-based elixirs, which support immunity, focus and relaxation. The company is poised to dominate a segment where demand and sales are growing exponentially. Under the executive leadership with over 100 years of CPG pedigree, Rritual is launching in North America in Q2 2021 as the company positions itself as a leader in the functional health and wellness industry. Rritual's superfood elixirs can be found online at www.rritual.com.

Follow Rritual on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

For further information please contact:

David Kerbel  Chief Executive Officer and Director

Investor Relations:

Edge Communications Group

E-mail: [email protected]

www.investors.rritual.com

Telephone: 604-394-2082

Public Relations:

Noah Bethke

MATTIO Communications

[email protected]

Functional Foods Market

According to Grandview Research*, it is estimated that the global functional food market is projected to reach $275 billion by 2025, growing at 7.9% each year with consumers putting more emphasis on health and wellness.

*https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-functional-foods-market

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to Rritual's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company's plans to leverage third party manufacturing and logistics, the Company's broader retail distribution plans and the Company's other plans, focus and objectives.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Rritual's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors set forth under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated February 26, 2021 and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Rritual undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Rritual to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Rritual Superfoods
PANGYO, GYEONGGI PROVINCE, Korea, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SK Biopharmaceuticals, Co., Ltd., a global innovative pharmaceutical company, announced today that cenobamate received marketing authorization from the European Commission (EC) under the brand name ONTOZRY for the adjunctive treatment of focal-onset seizures with or without secondary generalization in adult patients who have not been adequately controlled despite a history of treatment with at least two anti-epileptic medicinal products.

The marketing authorization, granted to Arvelle Therapeutics, recently acquired by Angelini Pharma, will be valid in all European Union Member States as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Angelini Pharma plans to launch ONTOZRY in the European Union and other countries in the European Economic Area (Switzerland and the United Kingdom). SK Biopharmaceuticals, which discovered and developed cenobamate, will collaborate with Angelini Pharma to launch ONTOZRY in Europe. Cenobamate was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of partial-onset (focal-onset) seizures in adults in 2019 and is commercially available in the U.S. under the brand name XCOPRI (cenobamate tablets) CV.

"The approval by the European Commission is another major milestone in our efforts to increase access to cenobamate and to support patients with a much-needed new treatment option," said Jeong Woo Cho, PhD, President and CEO of SK Biopharmaceuticals and SK life science. "As a fully-integrated global pharmaceutical company, we are committed to discovering, developing and delivering new treatment options for epilepsy and other central nervous system disorders to people around the world."

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases in the world, and an estimated six million people in Europe live with seizures.1 Among adult patients with focal-onset seizures, approximately 40% continue to experience seizures after treatment with two anti-seizure medications (ASMs).2

The approval was based on results from a global clinical trial program conducted by SK life science, the U.S. subsidiary of SK Biopharmaceuticals. The clinical trial program includes two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies and a large, multi-center, open-label safety study. These three studies enrolled more than 1,900 adults with uncontrolled focal-onset seizures.

"ONTOZRY will be a welcome new treatment option in Europe for adults who have not yet been able to control their focal-onset seizures with available treatments. Treatment-resistant epilepsy has a devastating effect on these patients and their families, and we are proud to help address this urgent health challenge," said Pierluigi Antonelli, CEO of Angelini Pharma. "Angelini Pharma looks forward to bringing ONTOZRY to these patients across Europe and will continue to help address the needs of patients with central nervous system disorders through our innovative product portfolio and pipeline."

About Cenobamate

Cenobamate was discovered and developed by SK Biopharmaceuticals and SK life science. While the precise mechanism by which cenobamate exerts its therapeutic effect is unknown, it is believed to reduce repetitive neuronal firing by inhibiting voltage-gated sodium currents. It is also a positive allosteric modulator of the -aminobutyric acid (GABA A ) ion channel.

Cenobamate is approved in the United States as an anti-seizure medication (ASM) for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults, and is available under the brand name XCOPRI (cenobamate tablets) CV.

Cenobamate was approved in the EU under the brand name ONTOZRY for the adjunctive treatment of focal-onset (partial-onset) seizures with or without secondary generalization in adult patients with epilepsy who have not been adequately controlled despite a history of treatment with at least two anti-epileptic medicinal products. SK Biopharmaceuticals entered an exclusive licensing agreement with Arvelle Therapeutics to develop and commercialize cenobamate in Europe in early 2019. Angelini Pharma, which recently announced a definitive merger agreement to acquire Arvelle Therapeutics, plans to launch cenobamate in the European Union and other countries in the European Economic Area (Switzerland and the United Kingdom).

SK Biopharmaceuticals also has an exclusive licensing agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical to develop and commercialize cenobamate in Japan.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATION FOR ONTOZRY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

ONTOZRY has been approved in the EU for the adjunctive treatment of focal-onset seizures with or without secondary generalization in adult patients with epilepsy who have not been adequately controlled despite a history of treatment with at least 2 anti-epileptic medicinal products. The recommended starting dose of cenobamate is 12.5 mg per day, titrated gradually to the recommended target dose of 200 mg per day. Based on clinical response, dose may be increased to a maximum of 400 mg per day.

Cenobamate is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients, and patients with familial Short-QT syndrome.

According to the cenobamate EU Risk Management Plan, the occurrence of drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) has been recognized as an important identified risk of the drug. Important potential risks are hypersensitivity, suicidality (class effect), QT shortening, and reproductive / embryofoetal toxicity.

In clinical trials, the most commonly reported adverse reactions were somnolence, dizziness, fatigue and headache. The approved Product Information of ONTOZRY includes the routine risk minimisation measures for reducing safety risks in patients treated with the medicinal product.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATION FOR XCOPRI (cenobamate tablets) CV

DO NOT TAKE XCOPRI IF YOU:

Are allergic to cenobamate or any of the other ingredients in XCOPRI.

Have a genetic problem (called Familial Short QT syndrome) that affects the electrical system of the heart.

XCOPRI CAN CAUSE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, INCLUDING:

Allergic reactions: XCOPRI can cause serious skin rash or other serious allergic reactions which may affect organs and other parts of your body like the liver or blood cells. You may or may not have a rash with these types of reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away and go to the nearest emergency room if you have any of the following: swelling of your face, eyes, lips, or tongue, trouble swallowing or breathing, a skin rash, hives, fever, swollen glands, or sore throat that does not go away or comes and goes, painful sores in the mouth or around your eyes, yellowing of your skin or eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding, severe fatigue or weakness, severe muscle pain, frequent infections, or infections that do not go away. Take XCOPRI exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. It is very important to increase your dose of XCOPRI slowly, as instructed by your healthcare provider.

QT shortening: XCOPRI may cause problems with the electrical system of the heart (QT shortening). Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of QT shortening including fast heartbeat (heart palpitations) that last a long time or fainting.

Suicidal behavior and ideation: Antiepileptic drugs, including XCOPRI, may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; attempting to commit suicide; new or worse depression, anxiety, or irritability; feeling agitated or restless; panic attacks; trouble sleeping (insomnia); acting aggressive; being angry or violent; acting on dangerous impulses; an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania); or other unusual changes in behavior or mood.

Nervous system problems: XCOPRI may cause problems that affect your nervous system. Symptoms of nervous system problems include: dizziness, trouble walking or with coordination, feeling sleepy and tired, trouble concentrating, remembering, and thinking clearly, and vision problems. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how XCOPRI affects you.

Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that can make you sleepy or dizzy while taking XCOPRI without first talking to your healthcare provider.

DISCONTINUATION:

Do not stop taking XCOPRI without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping XCOPRI suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).

DRUG INTERACTIONS:

XCOPRI may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how XCOPRI works. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider. Tell healthcare providers about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:

XCOPRI may cause your birth control medicine to be less effective. Talk to your health care provider about the best birth control method to use.

Talk to your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if XCOPRI will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking XCOPRI. You and your healthcare provider will decide if you should take XCOPRI while you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking XCOPRI, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic medicine during pregnancy. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334 or go to www.aedpregnancyregistry.org.

Talk to your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if XCOPRI passes into breastmilk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking XCOPRI.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS:

The most common side effects in patients taking XCOPRI include dizziness, sleepiness, headache, double vision, and feeling tired.

These are not all the possible side effects of XCOPRI. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

DRUG ABUSE:

XCOPRI is a federally controlled substance (CV) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep XCOPRI in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away XCOPRI may harm others and is against the law.

INDICATION:

XCOPRI is a prescription medicine used to treat partial-onset seizures in adults 18 years of age and older. It is not known if XCOPRI is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

Please see additional patient information in the Medication Guide. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your condition or your treatment.

Please see full Prescribing Information.

About Epilepsy

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder. There are approximately 3.4 million people living with epilepsy in the United States, with 150,000 new cases each year in the country.3 There are an estimated six million people in Europe with epilepsy.1 Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. The seizures in epilepsy may be related to a brain injury or a family tendency, but often the cause is completely unknown. Having seizures and epilepsy can affect one's safety, relationships, work, driving, and much more.4 People with epilepsy are at risk for accidents and other health complications, including falling, drowning, depression and sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP).4,5 Despite the availability of many antiepileptic therapies, almost 40 percent of people with epilepsy are not able to achieve seizure freedom, meaning they have epilepsy that remains uncontrolled.2

About SK Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. and SK Life Science, Inc.

SK Biopharmaceuticals and its U.S. subsidiary SK life science are global pharmaceutical companies focused on the research, development and commercialization of treatments for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). The companies have a pipeline of eight compounds in development for the treatment of CNS disorders, including epilepsy. Additionally, SK Biopharmaceuticals is focused on early research in oncology. For more information, visit SK Biopharmaceuticals' website at www.skbp.com/eng and SK life science's website at www.SKLifeScienceInc.com .

Both SK Biopharmaceuticals and SK life science are part of SK Group, one of the largest conglomerates in Korea. SK Holdings, the parent company of SK Biopharmaceuticals, continues to enhance its portfolio value by executing long-term investments with a number of competitive subsidiaries in various business areas, including pharmaceuticals and life science, energy and chemicals, information and telecommunication, and semiconductors. In addition, SK Holdings is focused on reinforcing its growth foundations through profitable and practical management based on financial stability, while raising its enterprise value by investing in new future growth businesses. For more information, please visit http://hc.sk.co.kr/en/ .

About Angelini Pharma

Angelini Pharma is an international pharmaceutical company, part of the Italian privately-owned Angelini Group. Angelini Pharma is committed to helping patients in the therapeutics areas of Mental Health (including Pain), Rare Diseases and Consumer Healthcare. Over the past 50 years, in the field of mental health, Angelini Pharma has gained international recognition for its substantial efforts to improve the management of patients with mental health disorders thanks to important, internally developed, molecules (such as trazodone) and its commitment to fighting mental health stigma. Angelini Pharma operates directly in 25 countries employing almost 3.000 people and commercializes its products in more than 50 countries through strategic alliances with leading international pharmaceutical groups. For additional info visit www.angelinipharma.com.

XCOPRI and ONTOZRY are registered trademarks of SK Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.

Media Inquiries

Angelini Pharma

Daniela Poggio, Executive Director Global Communications

[email protected]

SK Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.

Hyongki Park, Head of Communications

[email protected]

SK Life Science, Inc.

[email protected]

References

Epilepsy Alliance Europe. Background information. https://www.epilepsyallianceeurope.org/about/background/. Accessed March 23, 2021 . Chen Z, Brodie MJ, Liew D, Kwan P. Treatment outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy treated with established and new antiepileptic drugs: a 30-year longitudinal cohort study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29279892. Published online December 26, 2017 . Epilepsy Foundation. What Is Epilepsy? https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/about-epilepsy-basics/what-epilepsy. Accessed March 16 , 2021. Epilepsy Foundation. Staying Safe. https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/seizure-first-aid-and-safety/staying-safe. Accessed March 16 , 2021. Epilepsy Foundation. Challenges with Epilepsy. https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/challenges-epilepsy. Accessed March 16 , 2021.

SOURCE SK Biopharmaceuticals

Related Links

https://www.skbp.com/eng.do


Hagerstown Housing Authority closes in on end of McCleary Hill project

After objections from neighbors, the Hagerstown Housing Authority's McCleary Hill project is done its first phase. Officials held an open house.
GIRLHOOD

Essays

By Melissa Febos

Nearly a decade ago Melissa Febos reflected on her decision to publish her debut memoir, Whip Smart, under her own name and not a pseudonym: It didnt stop people from thinking of me as a former sex worker who also happened to write a book about it, instead of a writer who happened to tell the story of her own experience in sex work. Nobody disrespects Febos anymore. Her 2017 autobiographical collection, Abandon Me, about a toxic love affair, her birth father and the sea captain who raised her, was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award and on many best books of the year lists. The former professional dominatrix now teaches nonfiction at Iowa.

Feboss ambitious new collection, Girlhood, comprises eight essays about growing up in a female body that reached sexual development at the age of 11. It was a race that I had won without trying, she writes, and to win it was the greatest loss of all. The book is a feminist testament to survival: years of dehumanizing sex with boys and men, harassment by women, being stalked, drug addiction and what she describes as a growing certainty about the ways in which I have collaborated in the mistreatment of my own body. The story she tells is not just her own: Febos interviewed many other women about their sex lives and incorporated these testimonies into a far-reaching narrative.

Febos revisits her own girlhood in the style of a collage, interweaving her memories with snippets from her omnivorous reading. She includes six pages of source notes, and draws from Lacan, Kimberle Crenshaw, Samuel Johnson. Lily Barts ruin in Edith Whartons novel The House of Mirth reminds Febos of how her classmates hated her for having what they wanted  a womans body. As a believer in animal rights, she identifies with a caged orangutan named Jenny; and shes obsessed with cruel psychological experiments on nonhumans, such as Harry Harlows rhesus monkeys, deprived of touch for a year.

Image It was a race that I had won without trying, Febos writes of her early puberty, and to win it was the greatest loss of all.

[ Read an excerpt from Girlhood. ]

Yet Febos isnt relentlessly grim. In The Mirror Test, she riffs ingeniously on the expression loose as a goose, which other kids used to slut-shame her. The geese in their town left droppings everywhere, she recalls. Sometimes they flew in a V formation, their muscular wings beating in unison, their bodies improbable masses gliding over us in an arrow, honking as they sliced into the sky. Then, after she masturbates, these literal geese are transformed into a portrait of the writer as a young woman: I felt loose as a goose alone in my bedroom, my magnificent wings beating the air, flapping the pages of all my books.
Blooms About to Pop for 57th Dogwood Trail

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - With spring's sunny warm days and on-and-off rain showers, Dogwood Trail organizers report that Paducah is on track for another fabulous trail.Civic Beautification Dogwood Trail Co-chair Jackie Smith said the 57th Annual Dogwood Trail will begin within the next two weeks. Weather conditions this week will determine the exact date."We would like to encourage everyone both on and off the trail to participate in lighting their dogwoods," Smith said. "We will divide the awards evenly this year. Cash awards and yard signs will be distributed to all the winners citywide. If you live on the south side of Paducah, we hope you will light your dogwood trees as we will now be looking all over the city for winners."If you are chosen as a winner, you will be notified by a letter on your front door. You will be instructed to contact a phone number or email within 24 hours to give permission for a temporary yard sign to be installed, and receive information to collect your prize.Smith says to look forward to and prepare for another exquisite trail as Paducah welcomes thousands of guests to our city this spring. The community's beautifully spotlighted yards and American flags are a welcome site, especially this year. The Civic Beautification Board thanks all Paducahans for their participation as together the city continues a beloved tradition.She told West Kentucky Star the conditions are just right for the dogwoods."It's just beautiful outside," Smith said. "We've had all these warm days, and the cool nights don't seem to be affecting the blossoms we've had. I don't know if it's because of the rain or because they just want to show up this year and celebrate finally having COVID behind us."This year's trail is about 17 miles of spotlighted dogwoods, along with blooming shrubs and trees. Those who live off the trail are also encouraged to light up to create an entire city of beauty for all who live here and visit this spring.A Dogwood Trail Bike Ride, organized by BikeWorld, is planned for Sunday, April 18th. Details are on the Events page of WestKyStar.com.You can follow the trail signs starting at any point for a self-guided tour. Linked below is a map you can view or print.On the Net:
The Mozambican army has been battling insurgents since 2017.

Portugal will send a team of 60 troops to former colony Mozambique after an attack by an Islamic State-linked jihadist group against a northern town, the country's minister of foreign affairs said on Tuesday.

Portuguese Foreign Affairs Minister Augusto Santos Silva told state media in Lisbon that military personnel will be sent to help Mozambican forces fight jihadists in Palma on the northern coast.

The minister said the decision was taken as part of a bilateral action plan in agreement with Maputo. He said the Portuguese government was also evaluating humanitarian needs in the country with a view to mobilising some 15 Portuguese companies operating in Mozambique.

Santos Silva said there was not yet confirmation from the European Union to help provide logistical support.

Dozens dead after series of Islamist attacks in northern Mozambique

Palma in Cabo Delgado province was attacked by an Islamic State-associated group last week, killing dozens of people and injuring many others. Some people are still unaccounted for and efforts to evacuate people trapped in the area are ongoing.

Lionel Dyck, head of Dyck Advisory Group, told the South African state broadcaster SABC that his firm had rescued 120 people who had fled and hidden from the jihadists.

Oil giant @Total refused to give the choppers fuel - a policy not to engage with armed groups - even as the mercenaries delivered wave after wave of bloodied survivors from Palma to their vast Afungi camp pic.twitter.com/5YKDYNOgrv

- Jerome Starkey (@jeromestarkey) March 29, 2021

Dyck was working for the Mozambican government and gas exploration companies to fight rebels. He said they also escorted people to safety since not all of them could board his helicopters.

Many dead bodies were left strewn in the streets of the town, close to the border with Tanzania, some people had been decapitated, according to Dyck, who spoke to SABC, as reported by Al Jazeera.

11-year-olds beheaded in Mozambique, says Save the Children charity

Authorities in Maputo said locals and foreigners were killed in the jihadist raid, as attackers shot at people and buildings indiscriminately.

The US government on Monday said it would support Mozambique in efforts to "counter terrorism and violent extremism and defeat ISIS", John Kirby, Pentagon spokesman said.

Kirby did not outline how the US military was working with Mozambique to combat the militants.

An insurgency in northern Mozambique has been spreading since 2017.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Areas of patchy fog. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
"The SPHERES Registry will serve as a comprehensive real-world study to advance our knowledge of NMOSD in ways that directly help patients. Importantly, its focus will include safety and effectiveness of newly approved medications, evolving treatment patterns and access, and understanding patient experience over time. The study will also enable research on cellular and molecular biomarkers through collection of biospecimens," said Dr. Michael Yeaman, Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Chair Medical Advisor to the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation.

NMOSD is a rare neuroinflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, primarily targeting the optic nerves, spinal cord and brain. It is currently estimated to afflict approximately 15,000 people in the U.S. and hundreds of thousands worldwide. Historically, this disease has imposed significant physical and emotional disability and life-threatening outcomes. Today, advances in diagnosis, biomarkers and newly FDA-approved treatment options offer patients with NMOSD promise to lessen or prevent disability and enhance quality of life.

"We are excited and truly honored to partner with GJCF on this collaborative research initiative, further demonstrating our deep commitment as a company to accelerating real-world evidence generation in neurologic diseases," said Dr. Jeff Greenberg, Chief Medical Officer of CorEvitas.

Scientific experts in clinical research, epidemiology and biostatistics at CorEvitas will manage, operate and analyze data from the SPHERES Registry. Advisors from GJCF will serve on the scientific steering committee and facilitate state-of-the art research, building on the success and insights generated by the CIRCLES (Collaborative International Research in Clinical and Longitudinal Experience for NMOSD Studies) Registry. The SPHERES registry represents the ongoing commitment of Genentech, a Member of the Roche Group, to support collaborative programs that benefit people living with NMOSD and their families. CorEvitas and GJCF look forward to additional industry partners joining this collaboration going forward. CorEvitas and GJCF are inviting sites and patients to join the registry to reach an enrollment goal of approximately 750 NMOSD patients. To learn more about the SPHERES Registry, visit https://www.corevitas.com/contact-us.

About The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation (GJCF)

Since 2008, The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation has dedicated more than $65 million to funding clinical and basic science research aimed at understanding and solving NMOSD. As part of its field-transforming blueprint, GJCF designed and led the CIRCLES Registry, created the International Clinical Consortium for NMOSD including more than 100 world experts from 32 countries, formed the NMOSD Industry Council, organized the International Panel on NMOSD Diagnosis, engaged FDA in support of new therapies, and published a body of high-impact papers in leading journals, among other high-impact initiatives. As a result, the first-ever approved NMOSD therapies  along with quantum leaps in patient quality of life, improved diagnostics, biomarker identification, advances in epidemiology, and pioneering tolerization clinical trialsare now realities. The GJCF passionately supports programs that elevate public awareness of NMOSD through education and advocacy for patients, caregivers and healthcare providers. Together with its partners, these breakthroughs exemplify the GJCF mission to minimize the burden of NMOSD through prevention, rapid diagnosis, safe and effective treatments, and ultimately cures for this disease. Learn more at guthyjacksonfoundation.org.

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:

CorEvitas, LLC

Erem Latif

+1 (508) 408-5529

[email protected]

SOURCE CorEvitas

Related Links

http://www.corevitas.com


Still banned from most mainstream social media sites, Donald Trump has launched an official website a platform for his supporters to stay in touch and to showcase his time in office.

The 45office.com website's home page displays multiple pictures of Trump with various figures including his wife Melania, members of the military and world leaders, which were taken at multiple events during his time as president.

"The Office of Donald J. Trump is committed to preserving the magnificent legacy of the Trump Administration, while at the same time advancing the America First agenda," the message on website's home page read.

Read More

The "About" section contains a glowing 850-word synopsis of his time in office, highlighting what Trump has often cited as his greatest achievements, including energy and border security, strengthening NATO and other international alliances, and his response to the coronavirus pandemic.

It made no mention of the scandals, corruption investigations, two impeachments or the attacks on democratic institutions that framed his presidency.

The former president, 74, retains significant influence over the Republican Party despite his loss in the 2020 election and has hinted at a possible presidential run in 2024.

In an interview with Fox News earlier this month, Jason Miller, a spokesman for Trump's 2020 campaign, said Trump will launch his own social media platform in two to three months.

Trump was suspended from Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites after the January 6 attack on the Capitol by violent extremists supporting the then president after he was beaten in the election by Democrat Joe Biden.
Canada on Monday suspended the use of Oxfords co-manufactured AstraZeneca vaccine for people under the age of 55 over the reports of blood clots. Canadas National Advisory Committee on Immunization issued an advisory asking the government to halt the vaccination campaign amid mounting safety concerns, citing that the risks of blood clots from AstraZeneca jab saying that the blood clot cases were now potentially as high as one in 100,000. This comes as Europe had earlier halted the use of AstraZeneca over similar reports of rare blood clots developing among one in million, although the fatality rate spiked to 40 percent in those that administered the vaccine.

In a statement to Canadian local press CTV, Dr. Joss Reimer of Manitobas Vaccine Implementation Task Force told reporters that there was substantial uncertainty about the jab for the adults under 55 of age and therefore the NACI had advised to suspension pending further investigation on the cases of vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT), as were seen in Europe.

Canada conducts risk-benefit analysis

At a press briefing, deputy chief public health officer at the Public Health Agency of Canada, Dr. Howard Njoo, said: We are taking this precautionary measure while Health Canada as the regulator completes its updated risk-benefit analysis based on emerging data. The guidance was enforced across several Canadian states including Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick. Canadas Prince Edward Island, meanwhile, separately banned AstraZeneca for anyone aged between 18 and 29. The vaccine was now being administered to only those aged between 60 and 64.

Earlier, dismissing the reports of blood clotting, AstraZeneca said in a statement that its jab AZD1222 has demonstrated 100 percent efficacy against the severe COVID-19 infection and hospitalization. The pharmaceutical company claimed that the US-led clinical trials on 32,000 participants in Chile and Peru also reaffirmed that the vaccine was safe and was not associated with an increase in the overall risk of blood clots [thromboembolic events].

Today the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) reaffirmed the benefits of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca continue to far outweigh the risks, AstraZeneca said in a press release.

(Image Credit: AP)
The COVID industrial complex and its disgraced leaders are somehow trying to burnish their reputations now that COVID is coming to an end, and they want it to go on and on, remodeling themselves into heroes. Medical bureaucrats like Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health have gotten their words in front of the cameras of late.

They aren't going to succeed. Their actual records show nothing but failure.

Start with Dr. Fauci:

While President Trump was putting a travel ban on China and mobilizing the private and public sector to address COVID-19, Dr. Fauci was saying in February 2020 that the risk to the United States was minuscule.

Top disease official: Risk of coronavirus in USA is 'minuscule'; skip mask and wash hands

Now he is claiming that the best decision he ever made was to start developing the vaccine in January 2020.

We are supposed to believe that while the World Health Organization was saying COVID wouldn't pass human to human, and Dr. Fauci was saying it wasn't dangerous in February, that he focused on a vaccine in January. I believe that the media and everyone else should yell b-------.

Look at how bad it's gotten, as reported by the New York Post:

Fauci claims credit for COVID vaccines: 'Best decision I've ever made' In a CNN special that aired Sunday, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said the "best decision" he made was fast-tracking efforts to produce a vaccine. "When I saw what happened in New York City, almost overrunning of our health care system, it was like, 'Oh my goodness,' " Fauci told CNN correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta on "COVID WAR: The Pandemic Doctors Speak Out." "And that's when it became very clear that the decision we made on January the 10th  to go all out and develop a vaccine  may have been the best decision that I've ever made with regard to an intervention as director of the institute."

Politicians, bureaucrats, and other Democrats like to rewrite history, and Dr. Fauci is making a great attempt to whitewash his own errors. It is a shame that most of the media collude with Dr. Fauci and treat him as if he is and has always been infallible.

No matter how many things Fauci has gotten wrong, every pronouncement he makes is trotted out to the public. No one is allowed to question him. They will be silenced or cancelled.

It has been obvious that CDC, NIH, WHO, Dr. Fauci, and others are political animals. They ignored and complimented nursing home killers Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and three other Democrat governors as they seeded nursing homes with COVID patients and caused excess deaths. They trashed Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Dakota's Gov. Kristi Noem even though they had better results. I still haven't seen Dr. Fauci ream out Cuomo for his incompetence and idiocy.

If Dr. Fauci and this entire COVID industrial complex were honest and basing their decisions on science, they would be raising alarm every day about the overcrowding and COVID cases among the illegal aliens being incentivized by Joe Biden to enter the U.S. illegally in at the border. Instead, they OKed the facilities to operate at 800% capacity while they lecture the rest of us about the dangers. Where are the warnings about super-spreader events like we continue to hear everywhere else? They never cared about the protests and riots by radical leftists throughout last year, either. And during the 2020 election, they OKed people with live cases of COVID to either work at or vote at the polling stations, so long as they wore masks.

Most of the media haven't cared about facts for a long time. They repeat Democrat talking points to push an agenda, as if the talking points were factual while seeking to destroy Trump and other Republicans.

President Trump had a refreshing statement reminding Fauci (and CDC chieftain Dr. Deborah Birx, who's been getting camera time, too) of the facts about their many failures and the reality of his achievements.

What Democrat campaign workers, posing as journalists, care about is giving Democrats the power to infect the public with the radical left-wing agenda to transform (destroy) America.

It takes a truly small and weak man to take credit for what Trump and the private sector did. It also takes a small, incompetent man to blame Trump for what is occurring at the border. It appears that Biden and Dr. Fauci have a tremendous problem with honesty, transparency, and integrity. Biden is taking credit for the vaccine and its distribution when almost all the credit belongs to the efforts of President Trump, his administration and the private sector.

Image: White House, public domain. Image filtered with FotoSketcher.
Latino Community Foundation Invests $2 Million to Increase COVID-19 Vaccine Rates in Hard-Hit Latino Communities

As California marks the somber one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Latino Community Foundation (LCF) announces a $2 million investment to increase vaccination rates among the state's Latino population.

Latinos still lag woefully behind in accessing the vaccine. As of March 25, only 19.2 percent of Latinos had received at least one dose of the vaccine - despite accounting for 56 percent of COVID cases in California. Statewide, 57,091 people have died from the virus. Of these, nearly half have been Latino.

The Central Valley, a priority region for LCF, has the slowest vaccination rates statewide.

LCF is partnering with trusted Latino-led organizations across the state in a three-pronged action plan to increase access and confidence in the vaccine amongst Latinos:

Investing in Latino-led grassroot organizations:

With grants, outreach materials, and other resources, LCF will support the work of grassroots leaders in the Central Valley, Inland Empire and other communities hardest hit by COVID-19. These are trusted organizations in the community who are working to get Latinos vaccinated.

Multi-media outreach:

Partner with local Spanish- and English-media to provide the Latino community with factual, timely, and culturally relevant information about the vaccine and where to get vaccinated.

Advocacy:

Advocate and work with federal, state and local leaders to ensure families have equitable access to vaccines. And continue learning about the most effective strategies to reach Latino families.

A complete list of the organizations receiving grants is below. They include organizations like Vision y Compromiso, Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) and Radio Bilingue.

"We honor Latinos as essential by prioritizing their lives and putting them in front of the line for the vaccine. This is a year to heal and rebuild. We can accelerate equity when we invest in Latino-led organizations and prioritize the economic wellbeing of those that have put their lives at highest risk throughout this pandemic," said Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, CEO of LCF. "By working with these organizations, we build a path forward for communities to heal from the trauma of this past year and re-emerge as a more just, equitable California."

"This grant will help us expand our radio programming to reach families who live in rural communities and speak Spanish and Mixteco. LCF's investments in the Central Valley are critical to ensuring equitable access for those most impacted," said Hugo Morales of Radio Bilingue.

On April 1, 3 PM PDT, LCF is hosting "A Year on the Frontlines" a one-year commemorative event that will honor the leadership of grassroots nonprofits who've served on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The online event will feature music, poetry and LCF's Martinez Garcel will unveil a report aimed at funders and policy makers. Media is welcome to attend, please RSVP here.

Scheduled speakers are:

Cecilia Castro, Dolores Huerta Foundation

Luz Gallegos, TODEC Legal Center

Armando Valdez, Community Center of Arts and Technology

Jessica Paz-Cedillos, Schools of Arts and Culture

About Latino Community Foundation: The Latino Community Foundation is on a mission to unleash the civic and economic power of Latinos in California. LCF has the largest network of Latino philanthropists in the country and has invested $15 million to build Latino civic and political power and leadership in the state. It is the only statewide foundation solely focused on investing in Latino youth and families in California. For more info, please visit: www.latinocf.org.

Organizations receiving grants: /p>







Vaccination Campaign

Grassroots Outreach Partners

Love Not Fear | COVID Relief and Advocacy in the Inland Empire

Just Recovery | Wildfire Relief Grants prioritizing vaccination efforts.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005049/en/
By William R. Jones





John Mark Ramseyer took an intellectual wrong turn. The badness did not happen by error but by "endless labor to be wrong." The departure from what is true, right, proper, just and reasonable sacrificed integrity. He wrote as though he owned the dark subject in question and he gave biased arguments and dark answers.



Specifically, three published papers, "Indentured prostitution in imperial Japan: credible commitments in the commercial sex industry" and "Recovering the Truth about Comfort Women" and "Contracting for sex in the Pacific War" are abominable. He asserted that "claims about enslaved Korean comfort women are historically untrue" and "pure fiction."



The Japanese government's 1993 Kono Statement acknowledged that young women and girls were "recruited against their own will" and "lived in misery at comfort stations under a coercive atmosphere," and that Japanese "administrative/military personnel directly took part in the recruitments." The settled facts have been assented to by the U.N., Amnesty International, the U.S. House of Representatives and a host of others around the world.



Denied historical evidence from the women themselves ("human documents") and academic histories is deeply hurtful. Nobel Prize winners Alvin E. Roth and Paul Robert Milgrom stated Ramseyer's latest article reminded them of Holocaust denial. In the March 2021 issue of The Asian-Pacific Journal, Stanley et al. enumerate and delineate Ramseyer's "distortion, misrepresentation, misdirection, and omission of historical references."



The littered articles were culpably neglected by reviewers. The author's lapse in judgment method of assuming that certain coarse histories did not occur and his tiny twists of thoughts of explanation leave him, perhaps, incurably ignorant of that which he chooses to write about. His surrender to extreme narrowness and exclusiveness and his extrapolations do not meet with a conclusive consensus of all concerned.



First Amendment academic freedom of opinion is a privilege. And, 'the price of this is that we must put up with, and even pay for, a good deal of rubbish.' Ramseyer's cold prose said exactly what he wanted to say, however, he leaves out and leaves unmentioned more than he understands. Thus, there has been a call and petition for retraction of his articles, specifically, the recent online publication by the International Review of Law and Economics (IRLE). Many would not pass on a lighter sentence. His writing was tactical.



He attempted to appropriate authority and influence for one side, and to deny authority and influence to the other. The cataract of nonsense input from his computer keyboard deserves more than a slap on the wrist.



Others unknowingly became complicit. For this, and his intentional and deliberate will and for not holding fast to his duties there must be discipline. There must be some reckoning, after all, he attempts to assassinate the character of the comfort women.



As of this writing, a personal email from The Harvard Crimson states that the IRLE continues to review Ramseyer's paper "without conclusion regarding the empirical concerns raised around the paper."



The Korean Association of Harvard Law School petition statement condemns Ramseyer as "factually inaccurate and misleading" and the Harvard College Korean International Student Association is demanding apologies and withdrawal of the IRLE paper. See all at thecrimson.com.





The author (wrjones@vsu.edu) published the novella Beyond Harvard and teaches ESL.


The German state of Berlin is again suspending the use of AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine for people under 60 due to reports of blood clots.

Berlins top health official, Dilek Kalayci, said Tuesday that the decision was taken as a precaution ahead of a meeting of representatives from all of Germanys 16 states after the countrys medical regulator announced 31 cases of rare blood clots in people who had recently received the vaccine. Nine of the people died.

Read More

All but two of the cases involved women aged 20 to 63.

Reports of an unusual form of blood clot in the head, known as sinus vein thrombosis, prompted several European countries to temporarily halt the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine earlier this month.

After a review by medical experts, the European Medicines Agency concluded the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the risks but recommended that warnings about possible rare side effects should be provided to patients and doctors.

Most European Union countries  including Ireland  have since resumed use of the vaccine.

Read More





 Washington Post
It was only last month that self-driving vehicle startup Aurora said it was partnering with Toyota to develop a fleet of robotaxis. The company has now announced a new agreement with Volvo to build fully autonomous semi trucks that will carry cargo across North America (via The Verge).

Aurora / Volvo

The two companies say they've been exploring a potential partnership since 2018, when they came together to build a prototype truck nicknamed Pistachio (above). At the time, Aurora admits its Driver technology wasn't advanced enough to safely control a vehicle as big and heavy as a semi on a highway. But with new sensor technologies Aurora acquired in 2019, the two companies believe they're now ready to build a fleet of Level 4 autonomous trucks that will travel busy hub-to-hub routes between major North American cities. In addition to helping make the vehicles, Aurora will provide logistics and operations support, using the cloud to route those trucks in the most efficient way possible.

"These trucks will combine the best of Volvo's technology with the Aurora Driver, which uniquely has the ability to detect and track objects well beyond 300 meters, into a compelling and scalable logistics platform," the company said.

Aurora is quickly becoming one of the most important players in the autonomous vehicle space. At the start of the year, the company made a splash when it gobbled up Uber's self-driving unit and secured an investment $400 million investment from the ride-hailing giant. It says it will share more information on its partnership with Volvo in the near future.
[March 30, 2021] Enate and Tech Mahindra announce key strategic partnership to deliver Intelligent Automation at scale to customers

BANGALORE, India, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ -- Enate, a UK based Robotic Process Orchestration solutions solutions company, has announced a strategic partnership with Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting, and business re-engineering services and solutions. Together, Enate and Tech Mahindra will help global enterprises scale up their automation journey efficiently through Enate's proprietary Robotic Process Orchestration (RPO) technology. Founded in 2017 by Kit Cox, who is also Enate's Global CEO, Enate's RPO offers a Lite BPM, Workflow and Workforce management platform to help increase efficiencies and streamline operations between human employees and future-of-work technologies such as RPA bots, OCR platforms, NLP/AI/ML technologies, etc. This partnership will enable customers to scale their intelligent automation ecosystem by increasing human-bot workforce efficiency across different automation technology providers.



George Mundassery, Global Head - Automation and Artificial Intelligence, Tech Mahindra, said "We are witnessing demand from many of our customers for a solution that orchestrates workflows across different automation technologies, facilitates human-bot governance and provides end-to-end automation. This partnership is in line with our NXT.NOW framework and together with Enate's innovative RPO (recruitment process outsourcing) platform we will enable digital transformation and meet the evolving needs of the customer." Uday Jose, MD - Enate India, said: "With Tech Mahindra's expertise in running large, multi-geo transformation programs, and Enate's technology to support & simplify enterprise-scale automation, we are excited that this will drive the next wave of value creation and savings that businesses now looking for beyond RPA. Enate's orchestration technology scales the intelligent automation ecosystem by leveraging lite workflow, bpm, and hybrid workforce management capabilities purpose-built for human and digital efficiency and integration."

About Enate Enate is a UK- headquartered Robotic Process Orchestration SaaS platform with an APAC office in India. Enate combines Lite BPM, Workflow, and Workforce management capabilities to bind together all human team members and/or automation technologies into one framework. The platform is deployable within weeks and enables the delivery of services from multiple locations. Enate was named a Hot Vendor 2019 by HFS Research and includes brands like Mizuho, a global banking major in its clients, amongst other names such as Capgemini, Capita, and one of the Big Four's. Media Contact: Santosh Alamuri

santosh.alamuri@enate.net

+91 9885674488

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/enate-and-tech-mahindra-announce-key-strategic-partnership-to-deliver-intelligent-automation-at-scale-to-customers-301258113.html SOURCE Enate Technologies India Pvt Ltd

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Kisumu  The late Mama Sarah Obama, step grandmother to former US President Barack Obama will be buried on Tuesday in Kogelo village, Siaya County.

This was announced by family spokesperson Sheik Musa Ismail who said the decision was arrived at following consultations among family members.

Musa said the burial, although delayed, will be conducted in line with Islamic teachings.

The late Mama Sarah was mourned as a cheerful giver and a mother who was out to help the society.

Her sister Mwanahawa Abdala recounted how she looked after the family upon the demise of her husband, the late Hussein Onyango Obama.

Abdala said even though she did not receive western education, Mama Sarah had a wealth of knowledge.

"She did not get formal education but she had the brains to look after people," she said.

Abdala who was widowed at a tender age said she was cared for by her sister whom she described as a big hearted person.

Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o who condoled with the family at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral hospital where Mama Sarah passed away described her as a woman who fulfilled her wish on earth.

Nyong'o said many destitute children, some who had dropped out of school, relisted thanks to Mama Sarah.

"This woman loved development and helped many children to access school fees," he said.

The family did not share the cause of the death of their matriarch but dismissed rumors that she succumbed to COVID-19.

This is despite Mama Sarah having passed on at the county isolation centre for patients suffering from the virus.

Her body was moved in an ambulance and a short prayer was conducted at a nearby Mosque along Kisumu-Kakamega road before the journey to Kogelo village in Siaya.

A night vigil was slated to hold on Monday at her Kogelo home before the body is buried next to the graves of her husband and that of the father to President Obama on Tuesday.

Mama Sarah had four children. One of her daughter's, Zeitun Obama died in 2014 at a Boston rehabilitation centre in the USA. Her body was repatriated and buried under Islamic laws at the Kisumu Muslim Cemetery.
Ioan Gruffudd's estranged wife Alice Evans continued to hit back at online critics on Tuesday while insisting the Welsh actor is not the man many admiring fans perceive him to be.

The actress has been increasingly vocal about her bitter separation from husband of 14-years Gruffudd - with whom she shares children Ella, 11, and Elsie, seven - after announcing he had walked out on her in January.

Taking to Instagram with her latest post, Alice, 49, defended her right to speak out against the 47-year old heartthrob after previously accusing him of abandonment.

Speaking out: Ioan Gruffudd's estranged wife Alice Evans hit back at online critics on Tuesday while insisting the Welsh actor is not the man many admiring fans perceive him to be

Vocal: Taking to Instagram with her latest post, Alice, 49, defended her right to speak out against the 47-year old heartthrob after previously accusing him of abandonment

Alice also claimed she had been a figure of contempt and jealousy for Gruffudd's predominantly female fan base ever since their engagement in 2006.

She wrote: 'Have you ever been dumped OUT OF THE BLUE from a 20 year relationship where until a few weeks before you were planning holidays, and making plans for a family Christmas in the snow?

'It happened so fast that I can hardly catch my breath, let alone my kids. So yes, I saying my bit here. But do you know why I HAVE to? Why it is IMPERATIVE that I speak out now?

Acrimonious: The actress has been increasingly vocal about her bitter separation from husband of 14-years Gruffudd after announcing he had walked out on her in January

'Because about 500 of you belonged to the Ladies Of The Forum in the 2000s, which eventually became an I hate Alice website. But why? Why did you all hate me so much? You knew nothing about me, and not that I had met Ioan on a film, and we had hit it off.

'And you were so incredibly jealous that you refused to even see me a person that Ioan had fallen in love with. I wasn't what youd imagined. I wasnt Welsh ( funnily enough I am actually, but Ioans family made it clear that North Walians werent counted. They were called Gogs. )'

'True, said my father, who had grown up in Shotton, Deeside, where the nearest hospital is Hawardan, England. This didnt appear to cause any problems for my dad but there was a guy named Michael Owen who made a bit if a splash when he started playing for England.

'And you all loved it. ( apart from agnes from Italy, Claudia from Austria and Joanne from Canada).'

'Theyre doing better than I would've imagined': Alice recently apologised for claiming their daughters Ella and Elsie 'cry every day' amid their divorce

The actress also suggested her estranged husband is colder and less caring than he is generally regarded, adding: 'But to return, my belief is that Ioan made you ALL THINK he was the man you wanted to marry.

'Its funny because hes been anointed many times as the man youd be proud to introduce to your mother'.

'Well, bizarrely, mum died suddenly about 17 hours before I first set eyes on Ioan in an audition. His first words? Condolences'

'I'm sorry': The actress took to Instagram on Monday to admit she 'should have been more careful with my words' about her children

'That's at least one silver lining already': A hopeful Alice joked her eldest has already 'worked out that she can get more deliveries by going back between two abodes'

The post comes after Alice apologised for claiming their daughters 'cry every day' amid her ongoing divorce from Gruffudd.

The actress took to Instagram on Monday to admit she 'should have been more careful with my words' about her children.

A hopeful Alice joked her eldest has already 'worked out that she can get more deliveries by going back between two abodes' as she thanked her fans for their support following her public split.

The screen star wrote: 'I cant find where I said this but Im sure I did, and I should have been more careful with my words. They cry a lot, but kids tend to anyway, and they cry every day is definitely hyperbole! Im sorry.

'Theyre doing much better than I would have imagined, to be honest. Just that there are certain discussions about the future (near and far) that come up that make them sad. And as yet, I dont have any answers.

'But Ella has already worked out that she can get a lot more Ubereats deliveries by going back and forth between two abodes.

'So thats at least one silver lining already. Thank you again for all your love and support. Youve no idea how much it means to me. Alice xx .' (sic)

Back in January, Alice revealed she and the actor they were breaking up after 20 years in a shock Twitter statement and claimed he 'mentally tortured' her.

The thespian has been taking to social media regularly to update fans on the split and, in a recent post, shared a picture of an columnist article on her page.

'Their dad abandoned them': Back in January, Alice revealed she and the actor they were breaking up after 20 years in a shock Twitter statement and claimed he 'mentally tortured' her

The piece slammed her for opening up about her painful break-up from Gruffudd so publicly and commented on how it could affect her children in the years to come.

Hitting back, Alice said her daughters had no idea about their public profile and 'probably never will'.

She wrote: 'You know what they ARE upset about though? That their Dad walked out and abandoned them out of the blue. Without explanation.

'Yes that's what they cry about every day. Will their Dad ever come back and play in the pool or the yard with them? Will they ever have a family again?'

Explaining why she has been so vocal about her split, she continued: 'I choose to share the details of my divorce because a) I am lucky enough to possess the gene that enables me to not give a s**t about what people think of me and b) I have realised that there are thousands, if not millions of women out there going through the same thing, who, during this endless pandemic, believe that they are completely alone. I want them to know they are not.

'Peace and love Alice. Xxx'

MailOnline had contacted Gruffudd's representatives for comment.

Fury: Last week, the thespian accused the Fantastic Four star of 'winding the s**t up me' as she posted a vitriolic video about their 'collaborative divorce' talks

Alice also accused her estranged husband of 'winding the s**t up me' as she posted a vitriolic video about their 'collaborative divorce' talks.

She said: 'I have been served with a petition for divorce and it's came out of the blue and I won't cry. But we've been 20 years together, we have two amazing kids. I don't know why.

'At the moment we're doing something called collaborative divorce which is somewhere between a really kind way of doing divorce and a phenomenal scam.

'Because in one way it's "okay, let's hear what you would want and take it to the court afterwards" and in another way it's like, people in the acting business will know when an agent says to you "we just can't find you the roles".

'It's a bit like, I'd like my daughter to stay with me on Saturday nights, "it's just not within our possibilities".

The TV and film star then insisted he misled her with collaborative divorce, adding: 'And then I read nothing is binding in collaborative, absolutely nothing.

'So if I want my daughter to stay one more night in my house, the court hasn't said anything so I can do it. So my husband is winding the s**t up me, saying what he says is the law, well we haven't got to the law yet.

'Lawyers aren't the law. Lawyers are there to f*** the law. That's what I always said. Anyway I may have some more thoughts later

Gruffudd's divorce papers cite irreconcilable differences as the reason behind his split from his wife of 14 years, Alice.

Heartbreak: In another post, the TV star alleged that Gruffudd had changed her Twitter password

The couple met on the set of 102 Dalmatians in 2000, when Alice was in a relationship with Pablo Picasso's grandson Olivier.

The pair became engaged six years later after she gave him an ultimatum about their relationship, and tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Mexico in September 2007.

Gruffudd recently stepped out without his wedding band for the first time.

The document, which was filed Los Angeles Superior Court on March 1, also reveals the former couple separated on New Year's Day - a month before they went public with their relationship status.

The papers state the exes are in a 'collaborative process and intend to resolve all issues including spousal support by written agreement' - which mirrors their joint statement about their shock break-up.

Last month, they said: 'As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for our family and we remain committed to our children. Thank you for respecting our privacy.'

Up and down? In February, the media personality confirmed the couple were pressing ahead with discussions over a 'legal separation' (pictured in 2018)

Open: The blonde has taking to social media regularly to update fans on the split

In January, Alice said the actor had walked out on the family in a shock Twitter statement, in which she accused the Liar star of 'mentally torturing' and 'gaslighting' her.

The Blast claims that it is 'unclear' whether Gruffudd and Alice signed a prenuptial agreement or if the actress will ask for child or spousal support.

News of the split came following his return from Australia, where he has been shooting season three of Harrow alongside Ella Newton, 30, and Anna Lise Phillips, 46, who plays his ex-wife.

Gruffudd has spent three long spells in Australia filming the TV drama Harrow.
NASHVILLE - A man from Lincoln County, Tennessee is charged with TennCare fraud in connection with allegedly reselling prescription pills obtained through the healthcare insurance program.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), in a joint effort with the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office today announced the arrest of 69-year old Steven Wayne Carte of Petersburg. Hes charged with TennCare fraud, a class D felony, delivery of a Schedule II drug and selling a Schedule II drug, which are both class C felonies. The charges allege that Carte used TennCare to obtain the painkiller Oxycodone and then sold the pills to an undercover agent.

We appreciate our partners at the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office, as their work helps us stop abuse in the TennCare program, Inspector General Kim Harmon said. The OIG hopes to continue these strong established relationships to ensure that dangerous drugs are not being sold illegally in our communities, especially at the expense of public dollars.

The case is being prosecuted by District Attorney General Robert J. Carter, of Lincoln County.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated more than 5,760 criminal cases leading to more than $10.8 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 3,107 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

The OIGs most wanted for TennCare fraud are posted online at https://www.tn.gov/finance/fa-oig/fa-oig-most-wanted.html. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is urged to use the contact information on the page.

Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions. Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982, toll-free or by logging on to www.tn.gov/oig/ and following the prompts that read Report TennCare fraud.
A push by Warkworth Area Liaison Group (WALG) to secure more surgical services for the growing Mahurangi region has received a non-committal response from the Waitemata District Health Board (WDHB).

WALG secretary Steve Haycock wrote to WDHB director of hospital services Mark Shepherd last month congratulating the WDHB on providing the Warkworth-based Rodney Surgical Centre with a contract to provide publicly funded endoscopy services.

The letter went on to say that there was a high proportion of older residents in the Mahurangi area. As well as being more likely to require medical treatments, this age group was more likely to find it difficult to get down to Auckland to get treated.

This situation is only going to get worse with the Councils policy to encourage the population to dramatically increase in the next 10 years, the letter said.

The letter, therefore, urged the WDHB to have more surgical services available locally.

Mahurangi Matters followed up by asking Mr Shepherd if the WDHB would consider further services in the area and, if so, what would they likely be and when could they be expected to be delivered.

Mr Shepherd said the WDHB was currently revising Warkworths health needs profile to identify what new immediate and medium-term needs the community might have. But he did not identify any specific services that might be delivered in the near future.

He said the additional endoscopy procedures provided via the Rodney Surgical Centre were in response to increased demand brought on by Covid-19 disruptions.

Rodney Surgical Centre chief executive Marianne Davidson-Beker said her own discussions with Mr Shepherd suggested his top priority was to ensure operating theatres at North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals were being used to full capacity and regional issues were further down his list of critical issues.

Though she believed Mr Shepherd did see the wisdom of having a single surgeon travel up to Warkworth rather than many patients travelling to see him or her in Auckland, and was open to this idea.

Ms Davidson-Beker said publicly funded ophthalmology (eye disorder) services would be especially welcome in Mahurangi, particularly for those suffering from macular degeneration or requiring cataract surgery.

She said local people with macular degeneration had to travel to Greenlane or Waitakere hospital every three or four weeks for injections, and a high proportion had to be driven there as they were no longer able to drive.

She added the Rodney Surgical Centre would be an ideal place for publicly-funded chemotherapy and haematology treatments if the WDHB was open to providing contracts for them.

Current Warkworth community services funded by the WDHB include district nurses; an Allied Health team that delivers physiotherapy, social work and occupational therapy; the Warkworth Birthing Centre and the Tohu Wairua community mental health team.
How Much Does a Property Near the Beach in PV Cost?



Whether you are looking to buy or sell property in Puerto Vallarta or the greater Banderas Bay area, Ryan Donner & Associates is your Mexico real estate expert. For more information, call 322-111-1162 or visit ryandonner.com. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Living near a beach is surely a dream that most people have in life. If you have this dream, do not let it go, because, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, it may be much more within reach than you imagine.



Prices can clearly vary according to the location, type of property, area and especially the proximity to the beach. Yet, with prices starting at $147,000 USD, it is possible to make your dream of living by the beach come to fruition.



In this article you will find some of the best options throughout Puerto Vallarta; from Downtown, passing through the Hotel Zone and Marina Vallarta, arriving at Nuevo Vallarta, the neighbor of this magnificent port city.







DOWNTOWN / EL CENTRO



Let's start with the most traditional area of the city, which for the most part, still preserves the aspect that has characterized it since its origins as a magical town. It's also located right on the shores of it's beautiful beaches. Here you will find excellent restaurants and the best nightlife to enjoy every moment to the fullest. It even has a nearby shopping center to conveniently get all the basic items you may need.



To see some of the properties available in the in Downtown area



HOTEL ZONE



In this part of the city, being one of the larger zones, there's still easy access and walking distance to the beach. Without a doubt, you will be able to enjoy relaxing morning walks or appreciate the incomparable sunsets that Puerto Vallarta can offer you. On the other hand, Plaza Peninsula, La Isla and Plaza Caracol are three shopping centers that are open daily. In this large area of the city you can cover any basic needs that may arise, along with being close to many great restaurants. You will even have excellent private medical options within an extremely short distance, located just outside of the downtown area.



To see properties for sale in the Hotel Zone



MARINA VALLARTA



We've arrived at one of the most exquisite residential areas of the city, which also has easy access to the beach and is close to the two commercial squares that have not been mentioned until now; Plaza Marina and Gallerias Vallarta. This exclusive part of Puerto Vallarta offers you a great variety of businesses; cafes, exclusive shops, pastry shops, ice cream parlors, along with a great variety of restaurants. From gourmet to inexpensive, among which El Faro Bar stands out, and for obvious reasons.



To see more properties in Marina Vallarta



NUEVO VALLARTA



Finally, we enter the last zone of Puerto Vallarta we will cover in this article. Known as an extremely exclusive area, with luxurious properties throughout, Nuevo Vallarta is at the top of this list. Yet you will find quite accessible options price-wise when considering the location and the attractive appreciation that these properties hold in value.



You can see houses available near to the beach in Nuevo Vallarta by





Whether you are looking to buy or sell property in Puerto Vallarta or the greater Banderas Bay area, Ryan Donner & Associates is your Mexico real estate expert. Part of the company's philosophy is to provide their clients with all the information that they need to invest in the best deal possible. For more information, call 322-111-1162 or visit ryandonner.com.



Click HERE to learn more about Ryan Donner & Associates - Living near a beach is surely a dream that most people have in life. If you have this dream, do not let it go, because, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, it may be much more within reach than you imagine.Prices can clearly vary according to the location, type of property, area and especially the proximity to the beach. Yet, with prices starting at $147,000 USD, it is possible to make your dream of living by the beach come to fruition.In this article you will find some of the best options throughout Puerto Vallarta; from Downtown, passing through the Hotel Zone and Marina Vallarta, arriving at Nuevo Vallarta, the neighbor of this magnificent port city. Click HERE to see condos that are close to the beach in the greater Banderas Bay area.Let's start with the most traditional area of the city, which for the most part, still preserves the aspect that has characterized it since its origins as a magical town. It's also located right on the shores of it's beautiful beaches. Here you will find excellent restaurants and the best nightlife to enjoy every moment to the fullest. It even has a nearby shopping center to conveniently get all the basic items you may need.To see some of the properties available in the in Downtown area FOLLOW THIS LINK. In this part of the city, being one of the larger zones, there's still easy access and walking distance to the beach. Without a doubt, you will be able to enjoy relaxing morning walks or appreciate the incomparable sunsets that Puerto Vallarta can offer you. On the other hand, Plaza Peninsula, La Isla and Plaza Caracol are three shopping centers that are open daily. In this large area of the city you can cover any basic needs that may arise, along with being close to many great restaurants. You will even have excellent private medical options within an extremely short distance, located just outside of the downtown area.To see properties for sale in the Hotel Zone FOLLOW THIS LINK. We've arrived at one of the most exquisite residential areas of the city, which also has easy access to the beach and is close to the two commercial squares that have not been mentioned until now; Plaza Marina and Gallerias Vallarta. This exclusive part of Puerto Vallarta offers you a great variety of businesses; cafes, exclusive shops, pastry shops, ice cream parlors, along with a great variety of restaurants. From gourmet to inexpensive, among which El Faro Bar stands out, and for obvious reasons.To see more properties in Marina Vallarta FOLLOW THIS LINK. Finally, we enter the last zone of Puerto Vallarta we will cover in this article. Known as an extremely exclusive area, with luxurious properties throughout, Nuevo Vallarta is at the top of this list. Yet you will find quite accessible options price-wise when considering the location and the attractive appreciation that these properties hold in value.You can see houses available near to the beach in Nuevo Vallarta by CLICKING THIS LINK.
I've hit the one-year mark working at Inc. And aside from meeting many of you--which is always an honor and often an education--circumstances have sure made my job something of a carnival ride. Some days it feels like I've been here only a week, and some weeks it feels like it's been a decade, but certainly my time at Inc. has not resembled anything I imagined--wonderful or worrisome--the night before my first day on the job. Maybe the past 12 months have made you feel the same way about your business.

After all, who could have predicted them, starting with a global pandemic, swerving into social upheaval, pivoting to insurrection, and then hitting the backstretch with Texas icier than Alaska and Alaska toastier than Texas?

That's the thing, right? We may see the big trends coming, the inevitabilities, but it's what happens on the way to them that's beyond knowing. And those unknowns can really rattle a business and its leaders.

Those unknowns, the incidental challenges, are something we encounter again and again in this issue of Inc. You'll see them in ways small and big, with Daniel Lubetzky's business Kind launching into a nutcracker of a recession in 2008. With Mark Rampolla, who watched Coca-Cola buy and then mismanage his coconut water brand, Zico, only to return it to him for one more try. Even in our cover story on Jeff Bezos, who is stepping down as CEO of Amazon, we learn that the inevitability of the internet did not necessarily mean the inevitability of Amazon. You'll also see them with Stephen Hays, as he perches on the railing of a Las Vegas hotel balcony, his life, never mind his business, perilously close to ending.

In each of these cases, our hero ultimately scrambled and scratched and strategized his way forward to success. But they were the lucky ones. Their positive outcomes weren't guaranteed, and plenty of other businesses have had outcomes that aren't positive. Which is why, above all others, I'd recommend another pair of reads in this issue.

In "Invitation to a Crisis," former Obama White House official Jonathan McBride argues for injecting chaos, in a controlled way, into your operations. The goal is not to torture yourself or your team--but to better prepare all of you, to make you more nimble, to help you be organized and take considered decisions when faced with whatever crisis might be next. And in an accompanying piece, corporate strategist Magnus Penker takes it a step further, with a lesson in how to sunset your current business while standing up a new one, because, well, as he suggests, nothing lasts forever.
The two subspecies of the South Asian river dolphin (Platanista gangetica)  the Indus river dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) and the Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica)  should each be recognized as distinct full species, according to a new study published in the journal Marine Mammal Science.

The dolphins inhabiting the Ganges River were named Platanista by Pliny the Elder in his Historia Naturalis published around 77 CE, meaning that this is one of the earliest cetaceans to be named.

They are the only extant members of the superfamily Platanistoidea, which was one of the earliest cetacean lineages to diverge, between 34 and 24 million years ago (Oligocene epoch), and previously included numerous species widely distributed across the worlds oceans.

Until now, only a single relict species in the family was recognized: the South Asian river dolphin.

It was composed of two subspecies that occur in geographically separate, adjacent, freshwater river systems:

(i) the Indus river dolphin, which is endemic to the Indus River system principally in Pakistan;

(ii) and the Ganges river dolphin, which inhabits only the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna, and nearby Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Bangladesh, India, and Nepal.

These dolphins are among the most endangered of the worlds cetaceans; each number only a few thousand individuals, and are both listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

They are threatened by dams and barrages, declining river flows, fisheries bycatch, and pollution.

The new research shows that Indus and Ganges river dolphins have clear genetic differences, as well as different numbers of teeth, coloration, growth patterns and skull shapes.

The genetic tools we have today help us extract new information from samples collected years ago, said co-author Dr. Eric Archer, leader of the Marine Mammal Genetics Program at NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

In the study, Dr. Archer and colleagues examined differences in external and skull morphology between Indus and Ganges river dolphins to clarify their taxonomic status.

They also analyzed DNA extracted from the tissue samples from the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research Tissue Collection of NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center, the largest of its kind in the world.

Without collections such as this and those at other museums around the world, it would be impossible to identify difficult to study species such as these dolphins, Dr. Archer said.

Recognizing the species-level differences between Indus and Ganges river dolphins is extremely important, as only a few thousand individual dolphins of each species remain, said lead author Dr. Gill Braulik, a researcher in the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St. Andrews.

My hope is that our findings will bring much-needed attention to these remarkable animals, helping to prevent them sliding towards extinction.

Serious challenges still face this incredible species and all other river dolphin populations, but we can save them, added Dr. Uzma Kahn, Asia Coordinator of the WWF River Dolphin Initiative.

By doing so well save so much more, since hundreds of millions of people and countless other species depend on the health of similar rivers around the world.

The rapid decline and extinction of the Yangtze River dolphin this century was a very clear warning: we need to act quickly to protect the remaining species of river dolphins, including the Indus and Ganges, all of which are seriously threatened, said Dr. Randall Reeves, Chair of the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group, who was not involved in the study.

The freshwater systems they inhabit must be managed with biodiversity as a top priority.

_____

Gill T. Braulik et al. Taxonomic revision of the South Asian River dolphins (Platanista): Indus and Ganges River dolphins are separate species. Marine Mammal Science, published online March 23, 2021; doi: 10.1111/mms.12801
Barclays has been appointed the new corporate banking partner for NI's newest tourism attraction, Linen Mill Studios, after agreeing a 10m loan.

Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge was one of the locations for the filming of HBO globally acclaimed and award-winning TV series, Game of Thrones, which is set to open this summer as a tourism experience.

The launch will coincide with the 10th anniversary of Game of Thrones.

The tour will be another stop for "set-jetters" - fans of the fantasy TV series who - pre-Covid - flocked to spots like Ballintoy Harbour, Castle Ward and the Dark Hedges to follow in the footsteps of its characters.

It's being developed under licence with WarnerMedia and will turn the 10,000 square metre film studio into an interactive visitor attraction housing set pieces, props and costumes from the series. The tour will also promote the creative industries behind Game of Thrones.

The deal between Barclays and the attraction represents a 10m term loan, which will part-fund the 36.5m development.

Linen Mill Studios is owned by two family-run businesses, Northern Ireland group John Hogg and Company and US-based Stephens family of Stephens Inc. The development is due to complete in summer. It's tipped to provide a boost to the economy and tourism industry.

The attraction is expected to bring in 600,000 visitors a year and help generate around 400m of tourism revenue over a 10-year period for Northern Ireland, supporting almost 200 jobs.

Barclays relationship director Gavin Campbell said: "Given our international footprint we have always believed that Barclays was the ideal banking partner for this global project and we are delighted that we could support Linen Mill Studios in this exciting development.

"Our relationship model, which brings industry expertise, has already added value to the project and we will continue to provide operational accounts and industry support as the team continues to build out its processes.

"We have been impressed by the management team's dedication and foresight to deliver an eco-friendly, world-class attraction which will celebrate the impact Game of Thrones has had on Northern Ireland."

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Andrew Webb, director of Linen Mill Studios, said: "With Barclays' support, we are now gathering momentum towards opening one of the most exciting visitor attractions in Northern Ireland's history later this year.

"Just the prospect of a Game of Thrones Studio Tour has already generated huge excitement and interest among fans around the world and we expect our opening to play a significant part in underpinning Northern Ireland's economy and rejuvenating the tourism sector on the island of Ireland in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic."

Linen Mill Studios also secured 3.5m of funding through Whiterock Finance's Growth Finance Fund and Growth Loan Fund II.

Last year it emerged it also been also allocated 10m in the form of a loan from the Department for the Economy. Details were included in a September NI Audit Office report on Covid-19 spending.
President Joe Biden is urging governors and other local leaders to maintain or reimpose the implementation of mask mandates to help protect the country from another wave of COVID-19 infections.

Biden noted that states should pause their efforts to reopen, adding that the work is far from over.

"The war against COVID-19 is far from won," Biden said as CNBC reported.

Biden's appeal came hours after Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), warned of her sense of "impending doom" of a potential fourth wave of coronavirus cases.

As the Biden administration warned the public that the cases, hospitalizations, and deaths related to COVID-19 continue to rise, Walensky urged public officials to spread the word about the seriousness of the condition.

"I'm going to lose the script and I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom," Walensky said in a Reuters report. She added that she is scared of the situation at the moment.

READ NEXT: Mexican Researchers Create a Nose-Only COVID-19 Mask

Dropping of Mask Mandates

Some states have already scrapped their pandemic restrictions to reopen their state economies, such as Texas and Florida.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott earlier announced the dropping of restrictions, issuing an executive order rescinding most of his earlier executive order that included the mask mandate.

Abbott has also announced that businesses in the state will be allowed to open with no restrictions starting this month, according to a Unilad report.

The governor said that many Texans have already been sidelined from employment opportunities, adding that too many small business owners have struggled to make ends meet.

Abbott also noted that 5.7 million vaccine shots had been administered in the state as of Tuesday. He added that county judges could impose restrictions if hospitalizations in the state rise to more than 15 percent of the region's hospital bed capacity for a week straight.

According to another CNBC report, Maryland, Mississippi, Connecticut, Arizona, West Virginia, and Wyoming recently announced similar plans.

Meanwhile, some states are reopening slowly, such as New York City and New Jersey. Establishments in these states will be allowed to reopen at half capacity, an increase from the 35 percent capacity.

On the other hand, California is planning to open its theme parks, outdoor stadiums, and ballparks on Apr. 1 at reduced capacity.

Vaccination Measures

The administration has increased the number of pharmacies participating in a federal immunization program starting from 17,000 to about 40,000.

The new measures also create a dozen more mass vaccination sites, including $100 million in funding to help vaccinate the vulnerable and at-risk older adults, as well as people with disabilities, AFP News reported.

The goal is to ensure that 90 percent of adults will have a vaccination site within five miles of where they live.

The rate of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. had been in a steady count for several weeks. However, it is once more rising, with the most recent data showing the week average at close to 60,000 new daily cases.

READ MORE: Fauci Says Normality is Impossible in 2021 Without a COVID-19 Vaccine

WATCH: Biden Urges States to Restore Mask Mandates as Covid Cases Rise - From Bloomberg Quicktake: Now







People are fed up of the ever-changing Covid restrictions and have pandemic fatigue, said a consultant psychiatrist.

Restrictions were due to ease significantly on April 5th, but now it seems likely that the Government will take a phased approach at easing only a limited number of restrictions from April 12th.

Patricia Casey, a professor of psychiatry at the Department of Adult Psychiatry in UCD and a consultant psychiatrist in the Mater Hospital, said that people are utterly and completely frustrated that they are abiding by guidelines and seeing no change.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, she said: Im absolutely convinced that people are fed up of [restrictions] and most people have pandemic fatigue at the moment. People who were very committed and rigidly adhering to the lockdown guidelines are, in my view, utterly and completely frustrated.

Many people are angry because theyre saying to themselves, Ive done everything. We were told at the beginning that this would be over in three months. We worked really hard at it; we deprived ourselves of everything that we were told to deprive ourselves of by the Government and here we are still in lockdown almost a year on, she continued.

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Professor Casey added that people hoped that there would be a greater reduction in restrictions once the vaccine rollout began, but this does not seem to be the case.

She said: People are now supposedly getting the vaccine but were looking at the vaccine rollout and saying, This should be happening more quickly. This should be the beginning of the end of the lockdown.

And we were all hoping against hope that there would be a much greater reduction in restrictions after the Governments comments in the next few days but that doesnt seem to be happening.

People are going to start wondering about the rollout. Why is it so slow? Theyre going to look to our neighbours in the UK, who in less than two weeks  I think its 12 days time  will be able to meet other people.

The psychiatrist revealed that more people than ever are being diagnosed with depression at her clinic than ever before due to pandemic restrictions.

In my clinic there are people coming to me who are now tipping into depression who never were depressed before.

Initially I didnt think this was going to happen. I just thought that this was going to be the ordinary fed-upness that we are all feeling but in fact, some people are tipping into depression.

Professor Casey told listeners: I've had several people referred with very severe OCD because people are so preoccupied by this pandemic that they can do nothing - several people have had to take time off work because they are so preoccupied with cleaning, sanitising, trying to read the research, trying to get their heads around it.

I think when people are faced with no timelines [for] the easing of the restrictions, that people will begin to disobey them.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 14:54:32|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The world in the past 24hrs. A selection of the best daily press photos from Xinhua.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, poses for a group photo with representatives of those honored for their outstanding work in China's campaign to fight organized and gang-related crimes in Beijing, capital of China, March 29, 2021.

Wang Huning and Zhao Leji, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, were present at the event. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives of those honored for their outstanding work in China's campaign to fight organized and gang-related crimes in Beijing, capital of China, March 29, 2021.

Wang Huning and Zhao Leji, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, were present at the event. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Aerial photo taken on March 28, 2021 shows China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) under maintenance in southwest China's Guizhou Province. FAST has identified over 300 pulsars so far. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)



Aerial photo taken on March 29, 2021 shows researchers transplanting rice seedlings developed from seeds that had made a round trip to the moon aboard the Chang'e-5 probe in an experimental field of the South China Agricultural University in Zengcheng, Guangzhou of south China's Guangdong Province.

Rice seedlings developed from seeds that had made a round trip to the moon aboard the Chang'e-5 probe were transplanted from greenhouse to experimental field on Monday. The seeds had been planted in the greenhouse of the National Engineering Research Center of Plant Space Breeding of South China Agricultural University (SCAU). These rice seeds traveled more than 760,000 kilometers to the moon last November and returned to Earth on Dec. 17 after 23 days of flight aboard China's Chang'e-5 lunar probe. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

Zhang Shangbao walks on a path with his medical kit in Tietou Village of Shilou County, north China's Shanxi Province, March 23, 2021.

Zhang, 61, who has only one hand, has been walking through the mountains day after day since 1976, safeguarding the health of the locals. There are more than 600 villagers living in 5 hamlets of Tietou Village tucked away in the Lyuliang Mountains. In the past, it was difficult to access healthcare, which had plagued the masses here for a long time. In 1976, Zhang Shangbao graduated from a health school at the age of 16 and returned to his hometown to work as a village doctor. From then on, Zhang started his life staying on call around the clock to see patients. Unfortunately, Zhang lost his right hand in an accident when he was 35. With the tenacity of not bowing to fate, he quickly mastered the skills of living on his own. Through repeated practice, Zhang also learned how to inject fluids, vaccinate and fill in health records with his left hand.

Last April, Zhang Shangbao reached retirement age, but he chose to continue with his work. "As long as the villagers need me," he said, "I will stick to my post." (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

A tourist in traditional Tibetan costume admires peach blossoms during the 19th peach blossom festival in Nyingchi, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

Tourists enjoy spring scenery by sightseeing train at Binhu forest park in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, March 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

China's Ambassador to El Salvador Ou Jianhong (L) and El Salvador's Minister of Health Francisco Alabi touch elbows at the San Salvador airport in San Salvador, El Salvador, on March 28, 2021. El Salvador received on Sunday the first batch of the COVID-19 vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac, which will help speed up the vaccination process in the country, local authorities reported. (Photo by Alexander Pena/Xinhua)

Rescue vessels work to refloat the stuck container ship Ever Given on the Suez Canal, Egypt, March 29, 2021. The massive container ship Ever Given has been successfully refloated after being stranded in the Suez Canal for almost a week, Egypt's Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said on Monday. (Suez Canal Authority/Handout via Xinhua)

Smokes and massive fire rise from an oil refinery of state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina at Balongan, Indramayu, West Java, Indonesia, on March 29, 2021. Three people went missing and 19 others were wounded with five of them suffering serious injuries, and nearly 1,000 residents living nearby were evacuated following a massive blaze at an oil refinery in Indonesia's West Java province after midnight Monday, officials said. (Photo by Wiralodra/Xinhua)

People take part in a caravan in Havana, Cuba, on March 28, 2021. A car, motorbike, and bicycle caravan on Sunday made its way through Havana's sea boulevard, demanding the lifting of the six-decades U.S. embargo against the island, known as "blockade" among the locals. (Xinhua/Zhu Wanjun)
Italy gives green light to covid-19 vaccinations in pharmacies.

Johnson & Johnson has said it will begin delivery of its coronavirus vaccine in Europe on 19 April, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The 27-nation European Union (EU) has ordered 200 million doses of the single-shot vaccine from the pharmaceutical giant, with an option for 200 million more.

News of the vaccine's arrival in Europe comes as Italian officials said that Italy expected to receive the J&J vaccine in mid-April, according to news agency ANSA.

According to the EU agreements, Italy is entitled to 7.3 million doses of the vaccine in the second quarter of this year and 15.9 doses in the third quarter, reports Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

The J&J vaccine, set to become the fourth in use in Italy after Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca, received approval from EU regulators in mid-March.

Italy's coronavirus emergency commissioner General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo confirmed on 29 March that three million doses of other covid vaccines would arrive in Italy "by the end of the month."

Figliuolo recently announced plans to accelerate Italy's vaccination campaign, which has been dogged by delays and shortfalls in vaccines, with the target of administering half a million doses per day by May.

There was more news on the covid-19 vaccine front in Italy yesterday with Italian health minister Roberto Speranza signing a new protocol allowing pharmacists to administer covid-19 vaccines in pharmacies, in what he termed an "important step forward" in making the vaccination programme "faster and more widespread."

For official information relating to the covid-19 situation in Italy see the health ministry website.

Ho firmato il protocollo con regioni e farmacisti per far partire in sicurezza le vaccinazioni Covid nelle farmacie del nostro Paese. La campagna di vaccinazione e la chiave per chiudere questa stagione cosi difficile. Cosi si fa un altro passo avanti per renderla piu capillare. Roberto Speranza (@robersperanza) March 29, 2021
Priests and bishops must reflect the celebration of Mass in future according to Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin who has said that the ministry 'was already fraying at the edges' prior to Covid-19.

Bishop of Kildare and Leiglin Denis Nulty gave a foretaste of changes to come in a homily was delivered at the Mass of Chrism at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow on Monday, March 29.

"Some might say it is still too early to consider the implications of the pandemic for parish life. We all accept the virtual has redrawn parish boundaries.

The virtual has dried up the stream, has flattened the ditch, and much closer to home, has crossed the bridge!

"We didnt need a pandemic to tell us the way we minister was already fraying at the edges. Let us not blame everything on Covid-19. Returning to public worship will not be as simple as switching on the lights and opening the church doors.

We must reflect on how we celebrate Mass and when we celebrate Mass. Maybe we had too many Masses for a Mass going population that was instinctively already socially distancing in churches?

Maybe we need to collaborate closer with neighbouring parishes coordinating schedules and times? Maybe we have to reflect on how we celebrate, asking ourselves are we allowing all the elements to speak? This is the work of the immediacy of Lukes text this Chrism night.

He said re-visioning parishes in the post-pandemic parish as we speak is only a start and there will be change in all 56 parishes so that every person in the parish has a voice and every person is heard.

Bishop Nulty is also the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Ossory.

Homily in full

I love the immediacy of Lukes text this Chrism night. The use of the present tense is and those beautiful concluding words as you listen. Wherever you are tonight, in your presbytery, in your home, in your religious community, with your family, in your Covid pod, I pray that you hear those words as powerfully as I do this Chrism night.

Its the night we bless oils. Oils represent the mechanism of every aspect of parish life. Oils for baptism celebrations. Oils for ceremonies of anointing the sick. Oils for confirmation liturgies. Oils for moments of ordination  priest and bishop.

Its the night we renew priestly promises. The night we return to our Ordination Day and remember what was said then and heard by those who were with us, many now gone to their eternal reward. While there is an understandable sadness in our priests not being physically present, fraternally supporting one another and hearing the affirmation of their parishioners, family and friends, I want all the priests to know they and their ministry are deeply treasured and appreciated.

I try my best to text or phone priests on their Ordination dates. Sometimes my call might even remind them of a forgotten anniversary. Yesterday I phoned Father Denis OSullivan in Suncroft Nursing Home on the anniversary of his ordination - 68 years ordained in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome. Earlier today I phoned Father Pat OBrien, Kiltegan  51 years ordained and Father Eddie Lalor, formerly of Portlaoise  57 years ordained. On Holy Thursday I will visit our most senior priest, Father Jack OLeary in Gowran Abbey Nursing Home, who will be 72 years ordained this June.

The face of our presbyterate changes in different ways with every passing year. In the past year we bid a sad farewell to Father Jimmy Doyle in Cooleragh & Staplestown, Father Ned Whelan in Ballon and Father Pat Breen in Raheen, while we warmly welcomed Father Robert from Romania ministering in Naas, Father Teodore from Poland ministering in Portlaoise and Father Yanbo from China ministering at the Cathedral here.

Its the night we gather as a diocesan family. I always associate the parish banners with Chrism night. The one who gets to wear the parish jersey that night is privileged to carry the banner in the entrance procession. Women and men who are the backbone of every parish. On this night I applaud your commitment and dedication to parish, a dedication that is rooted in understanding and living your baptismal calling. So many of you roll up your sleeves when a call is made, excelling in the new pandemic ministries of stewarding, social distancing and sanitizing.

This past twelve months has changed the face of parish for all of us. All our churches have been closed for public worship for seven out of the past twelve months and some parishes have suffered even longer lockdowns because of local restrictions. While our celebration of the Mass, which is central to our faith as priests and people has been offered behind closed doors, the parish doors have remained wide open bringing good news to the poor, liberty to captives and to the blind new sight. While our parish outreach is nourished very much by the Eucharist, its mandate is missioned by our baptism. That moment we were anointed with the oil of catechumens and chrism.

On Chrism night it is good for us to ask what we understand by parish now and what will it be like in the future? Some might say it is still too early to consider the implications of the pandemic for parish life. We all accept the virtual has redrawn parish boundaries. The virtual has dried up the stream, has flattened the ditch, and much closer to home, has crossed the bridge! We didnt need a pandemic to tell us the way we minister was already fraying at the edges. Let us not blame everything on Covid-19. Returning to public worship will not be as simple as switching on the lights and opening the church doors. We must reflect on how we celebrate Mass and when we celebrate Mass. Maybe we had too many Masses for a Mass going population that was instinctively already socially distancing in churches? Maybe we need to collaborate closer with neighbouring parishes coordinating schedules and times? Maybe we have to reflect on how we celebrate, asking ourselves are we allowing all the elements to speak? This is the work of the immediacy of Lukes text this Chrism night.

It reminds us we are re-visioning the post-pandemic parish as we speak. And this is only a start. The oils that are blessed today reassure us we are never abandoned, we are never on our own. Our sacred signs and gestures are grounded in the life and ministry of Jesus. Its not our work, its His work. We are merely instruments in His hands, all of us anointed at baptism and confirmation; more of us anointed at ordination. Let the oils speak. Let us be signs of hope in a world that needs such hope. And let us be brave not simply to pander to an understandable hunger by some  simply to receive Christs body without actually becoming His body. Transforming our parishes, all 56 of them to be His body where every person in the parish has a voice and every person is heard. This is synodality at its best and we look forward to travelling where it brings us as parishes and diocese over the coming months and years.
Canada is trying to deport Helmut Oberlander, an interpreter for a Nazi death squad to which 20,000 deaths have been attributed, as the 97-year-old tries to get the case thrown out.

Oberlander has been entrenched in a legal fight with the Canadian government since 1995, when an investigation was launched into his activity during World War II.

Helmut Oberlander, now 97, is accused of hiding his World War II activities from the Canadian government, for which he is facing a deportation hearing

The Federal Court of Canada was set to hear a motion beginning on Tuesday morning.

Oberlander has said he hoped the csae would bring an end the deportation proceedings due to 'abuse of process.'

Holocaust survivors' groups and others have said Oberlander must be punished, no matter how long ago any alleged crimes were committed.

As part of the long-running case, Oberlander's name had first appeared in a secret report among 'urgent action' cases presented to the government.

His lawyers claim the government didn't disclose the secret report, the crux of the 'abuse of process' motion.

It's not clear when a ruling on Oberlander's status will be revealed.

Oberlander's unit killed at least 20,000 people in occupied territories, including Jews.

Oberlander claims he never killed anyone and has said he spent his time on tasks like shining boots. He has also never been charged with a crime and claims he was conscripted by the Nazis.

The interpreter didn't reveal his participation in the unit when immigrating to Canada, leading the country to stripping his citizenship.

Oberlander was born in southeastern Ukraine before becoming an interpreter with Einsatzkommando 10a in 1941.

Oberlander and his wife settled in Canada in 1954 and gained citizenship in 1960 as he started a successful career as a real estate developer.

Oberlander was a member of the Einsatzkommando, with his unit killing at least 20,000

German officials questioned Oberlander in a separate probe in 1970, but the former interpreter claimed he didn't know the name of the unit he served in, nor their mission to exterminate Jews.

A Federal Court of Canada judge called the claim that Oberlander didn't know his unit's name 'implausible' in 2000.

Oberlander has had his citizenship stripped in 2001, 2007, and 2012, with it being reinstated upon appeal each time.

That has not been the case with the 2017 decision to remove his citizenship, however, which has been upheld to this point.

A hearing with the Immigration and Refugee Board last month was temporarily stayed because Oberlander has a hearing disability, which could've been unfair to him, particularly with social distancing and other pandemic measures in place.

After that, the co-president of the Canadian Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants said the government should 'complete the deportation process without further delay,' according to the CBC.

Oberlander (pictured before 1944) has been in Canada since 1954 and became a real estate developer in the country

Canada has faced criticism in the past for failing to bring war criminals to justice.

'The Oberlander case must be seen against the backdrop of a failed policy that failed to bring war criminals to justice to begin with,' says Irwin Cotler, chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights in Montreal.

A 1994 Supreme Court decision to uphold the acquittal of a Hungarian gendarmerie captain responsible for the deportation of Jews to concentration camps made the prosecution of war criminals more complicated, according to the Washington Post.

Instead, the country focuses on deporting alleged wartime criminals.

Since the 1980s, ten cases have resulted in citizenship being stripped, while four were prosecuted from crimes unsuccessfully.
BRIDGEPORT  Former city personnel director David Dunns loyalty and faithfulness led him to aid former Police Chief Armando Perez in cheating on the police chiefs exam, according to his sentencing memorandum.

Based on the common knowledge of the close friendship between the mayor and Perez, the mayor having appointed Perez as the acting chief, as well as the frequent inquiries about Perezs prospects by members of the city council, to the exclusion of the other candidates, David Dunn correctly assumed that Perez was the choice of his superiors for appointment to chief of police, the memorandum states.

Filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, the memorandum requests that Dunn receive probation when he is sentenced April 13 by Judge Kari Dooley.

Dunns lawyer, Frederick Paoletti Jr., declined comment. Rowena White, the mayors spokesperson, did not return a request for comment.

Although Perez gained financially, David Dunn did not seek nor did he receive a financial benefit from his conduct, the memorandum states.

But it continues that Dunn has agreed to pay half the restitution demanded by the city.

In October, Perez and Dunn, 73, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making a false statement. Both men resigned their positions following their arrests in September.

Perez is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Dooley on April 12; Dunn is set for sentencing the following day.

Both men face up to two years in prison.

While Perezs sentencing memorandum, also filed Tuesday, states that Dunn helped him cheat on the police chief exam, the memorandum doesnt give a reason why Dunn would have done so.

In his sentencing memorandum, Dunn contends that he realized Perez had a disadvantage in the selection process and felt it was his duty to help him.

David Dunn rationalized that since the city would benefit with the best candidate being named chief, he would assist the best candidate, Perez, to overcome Perezs clear disadvantage and at the same time please the administration he served, the memorandum states.

The memorandum states that Dunn believed Perez had a disadvantage because he did not have a college education and because Perez was born in Cuba and English was his second language.

Perez and his lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Ministry of Finance will soon submit the draft legislative amendments to the Tax Code in relation to combating tax evasion for broad discussion, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko has said.

"We have prepared the draft amendments to the Tax Code regarding taxation, where we are trying to fix the holes in tax policy regarding tax evasion, and it is now undergoing a final discussion," the minister said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"I think in the near future we will be able to actively present and discuss this," he added.
[March 30, 2021] Final Crew Members Named for World's First All-Civilian Mission to Space

Inspiration4, the world's first all-civilian mission to space, today announced the final two members of the four-person crew that will undertake a historic voyage to the stars later this year. Christopher Sembroski of Everett, WA and Dr. Sian Proctor of Tempe, AZ will join previously announced crew member Hayley Arceneaux under the command of Jared Isaacman. SpaceX's (News - Alert) Falcon 9 rocket will launch the crew aboard a Dragon spacecraft later this year. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005265/en/ Inspiration4 Crew at historic Launchpad 39A / courtesy of SpaceX The full crew will be introduced publicly today for the first time from historic Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Sembroski and Proctor will represent the mission pillars of: Prosperity - Dr. Proctor, a 51-year-old entrepreneur, educator, trained pilot and active voice in the space exploration community, was awarded her seat by being selected as the top entrant of an independently judged online business competition that attracted approximately 200 entries and was conducted by the eCommerce platform Shift4Shop. "This opportunity is proof that hard work and perseverance can pay off in unimaginable ways," said Dr. Proctor. "I have always believed that I was preparing for something special, and that moment has arrived with Inspiration4." Proctor will serve as the Mission Pilot and back up the commander and support related needs throughout the mission. Generosity - Sembroski, a 41-year-old aerospace industry employee at Lockheed Martin (News - Alert) and United States Air Force veteran, contributed to a special fundraising campaign for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital that offered an Inspiration4 seat to a lucky donor after receiving nearly 72,000 entries. Since it was first announced in February, the campaign has raised approximately $113M with new support opportunities to come in the near future, including chances to sign up at www.stjude.org/Inspiration4 and fundraise to qualify for Inspiration4-themed incentive items, special experiences, collectible merchandise, flight-related campaign information and more. "Although I've been fortunate to have spent years in the aerospace industry, I never imagined having the opportunity to reach the stars, especially through something as simple as supporting St. Jude," said Sembroski. "I am honored to occupy the Generosity seat and look forward to using this platform to encourage everyone to be generous to others in whatever ways they are able." Sembroski will serve as the Mission Specialist and will help manage payload, science experiments, communications to mission control and more. Inspiration4 is completed by the other mission pillars of Leadership, represented by Isaacman, and Hope, represented by Arceneaux. Isaacman, the 38-year-old founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR) and a world record-holding pilot, created the Inspiration4 mission and donated the three crew seas to inspire humanity and raise money for the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. Arceneaux is a 29-year-old physician assistant who works at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN and joined Inspiration4 last month. In addition to working at St. Jude, she was treated as a child for bone cancer at the preeminent care and research hospital and vowed to return to serve others. Arceneaux will serve as Medical Officer overseeing medical care and experiments on the mission.



"Inspiration4's goal is to inspire humanity to support St. Jude here on earth while also seeing new possibilities for human spaceflight," said Isaacman. "Each of these outstanding crew members embodies the best of humanity, and I am humbled to lead them on this historic and purposeful mission and the adventure of a lifetime." All crew members will undergo commercial astronaut training by SpaceX on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft - the very same Dragon spacecraft currently attached to the International Space Station supporting the Crew-1 mission. Once Dragon returns the Crew-1 astronauts back home to Earth, the SpaceX team will inspect and refurbish the spacecraft ahead of the Inspiration4 mission. Crew member training will include a specific focus on orbital mechanics, operating in microgravity, zero gravity, and other forms of stress testing. The crew will receive emergency preparedness training, spacesuit and spacecraft ingress and egress exercises, as well as partial- and full-mission simulations.

The mission is being targeted for no earlier than Sept. 15, 2021. It will launch from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and will be carefully monitored at every step by SpaceX mission control as the spacecraft orbits the planet every 90 minutes along a customized flight path. The crew is targeting an approximate 540 km orbit, flying further than any human since Hubble, for an expected mission duration of approximately three days. In advance of the mission, the crew is working closely with SpaceX and multiple organizations to identify scientific research opportunities they can support while in orbit. Upon conclusion of the multi-day journey, Dragon will reenter Earth's atmosphere for a soft water landing off the coast of Florida. To learn more about Inspiration4 and how to support and follow this historic journey to space, visit www.Inspiration4.com and follow the mission on social media on Twitter (News - Alert) (@inspiration4x), Facebook (News - Alert) (@inspiration4mission), Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (News - Alert) (@Inspiration4) to receive the latest news on mission training, preparation and timing. About Shift4 Payments Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR) is a leading provider of integrated payment processing and technology solutions, delivering a complete omnichannel ecosystem that extends beyond payments to include a wide range of commerce-enabling services. The company's technologies help power over 350 software providers in numerous industries, including hospitality, retail, F&B, ecommerce, lodging, gaming, and many more. The newly launched Shift4Shop platform offers a turnkey ecommerce experience includes a robust website builder, product and order management, customer marketing tools and more. With over 7,000 sales partners, the company securely processed more than $200 billion in payments volume for over 200,000 businesses in 2019. For more information, visit shift4.com. About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food - because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005265/en/

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Federal health authorities have told states to stop hoarding COVID-19 vaccine doses after two separate clusters were linked back to unvaccinated healthcare workers from a Brisbane hospital.

Health authorities have linked 18 cases to the outbreaks, which were unknowingly spread by a nurse and doctor from the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said she did not blame the hospital for putting unvaccinated health workers into COVID-19 wards against her advice. Credit:Getty

From Wednesday, Queensland health workers must have received at least one vaccine dose before treating COVID-positive patients after the latest outbreaks, which triggered Brisbanes three-day lockdown.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said inoculation of staff in COVID-19 wards was not mandatory from the beginning of the rollout because there were not enough vaccine doses available.
San Diego Unified School District teachers have been asked to teach migrant children in-person during their spring break, though students in the district are still learning in an online-only format, according to a new report.

While SDUSD students are scheduled to begin a hybrid model of learning on April 12, with a combination of in-person and online formats, an SDUSD spokeswoman told Fox News that teachers had been offered an opportunity to teach, in-person, migrant children who are staying at the San Diego Convention Center. The spokeswoman did not know if the teachers would be paid for the teaching.

The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) is providing the educational program for the unaccompanied migrant children who will be staying at the San Diego Convention Center through July. All children in California, regardless of immigration status, have a constitutional right to education. We also have a moral obligation to ensure a bright future for our children, an SDCOE spokesperson told Fox News.

The educational program will include English language development and social-emotional learning opportunities, the statement adds. The teachers who are participating in the program are doing so voluntarily, and the program is following a COVID-19 screening protocol based on guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond criticized the move: We have 130,000 kids who havent been allowed in a classroom for over a year in the San Diego United School District. Its great that theres in-person learning for those unaccompanied minors from Central America, but I wish every child in San Diego Country was allowed the same opportunity for in-person teaching.

Representative Darrell Issa (R., Calif.) said the decision to provide in-person instruction to illegal migrants is outrageous and parents have every right to be angry.

Emily Diaz, an SDUSD parent noted that 14 percent of the students in the district have disabilities and 23 percent are English language learners.

Story continues

San Diego Unified took in millions of dollars in relief funding to bring them back at the beginning of the school year but only 6000 are in-person today and we have no idea how that money was used, she said. What is happening right now is immoral.

A California judge issued a restraining order earlier this month blocking state officials from enforcing a reopening framework that mandated four-foot limits on space between students, and rules required students to remain in small cohorts within a single classroom. The judge, Cynthia Freeland, sided with a San Diego parents group which argued the framework effectively prevented middle schools and high schools from reopening their doors. Freeland ordered the seven San Diego-area districts to reopen their schools for in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible at the earliest practicable time.

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ALBANY  Powerful wind hit the region overnight and forecasters predict gales could be with us until Monday afternoon.

The National Weather Service in Albany said gusts of between 50 and 60 mph were possible and the blasts were expected to down trees, limbs and power lines.
The Illinois House Redistricting Committee is asking Illinois residents to participate in the redistricting process via upcoming hearings across the state.

Those interested in testifying about their community should fill out a witness slip at my.ILGA.gov and email RedistrictingCommittee@hds.ilga.gov, indicating at which hearing they wish to testify. Instructions on completing a witness slip are available online at ilhousedems.com/redistricting/public-hearings.
"It's the toughest decision to do to close a correctional facility," Annucci told lawmakers. "I do not underestimate the impact on the staff or the surrounding communities."

The while paper released by Assembly Republicans details some of the negative effects of the closures on surrounding communities, including the impact on workers who are transferred to other facilities or take other jobs in the department.

Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, a Gowanda Republican, said more time is needed for communities and employees to prepare for the closures.

"The governor has a reduced a years' worth of preparation into 60 or 90 days," he said. "This is both illegal and unfair."

The lawmakers also expressed concerns about the impact of the closures on the remaining correctional facilities. They noted that assaults on staff have increased, with 1,047 assaults on staff reported in 2020. That was up from 1,033 assaults in 2019.

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano said while Cuomo boasts about the prison closures  the state has closed 20 prisons since Cuomo became governor in 2011  the policies have created a "dangerous, powder-keg environment."
New Delhi, March 30 : Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday said the department will review the surge of Covid-19 cases in the national Capital and the availability of Intensive Care Units (ICU) beds, especially for Coronavirus infected patients.

Jain's statement came amid reports that some private hospitals in Delhi were facing a shortage of ICU beds.

Jain, however, reiterated that these reports came from just one or two private hospitals and that the situation will be corrected. "We'll review the Covid-19 situation and other issues today. Shortage of beds came from one or two private hospitals and that situation will be corrected," he added.

Jain further stated that there was no shortage of ICU beds or ventilators in government hospitals in Delhi, pointing out that Delhi's hospitals are treating patients from within the capital and even those from outside with serious illnesses are coming here for treatment.

As Delhi witnesses another surge in coronavirus infections, several private hospitals and one government hospital in the city face a shortage of intensive care unit (ICU) beds with ventilators, according to the Delhi government's Corona' application.

According to the application, all ICU beds with ventilators in the Central government's Northern Railway hospital, for instance are occupied. The condition is the same in the Holy Family Hospital in Okhla, the Fortis Hospital and the Max SS Hospital (both in Shalimar Bagh), the Navjeevan Hospital in Pitampura, the Kalra Hospital in Kirti Nagar and the Fortis SS hospital in Vasant Kunj, as per the app.

Other institutions which have run out of such beds include the Indian Spinal Injury Centre in Vasant Kunj, the Maharaja Agrasen Hospital in Punjabi Bagh, the Sri Balaji Action Medical Insititute in Paschim Vihar, the Ayushman Hospital in Dwarka and the Mool Chand Khairati Ram Hospital in Lajpat Nagar.

Besides this, 48 out of 76 private hospitals are running low on ICU beds with ventilators, with only one bed available in Sir Gangaram Hospital, showing that the city is unprepared to deal with a major surge at the moment.

Meanwhile, 536 Covid-19 ICU beds with ventilators out of 785, 880 ICU beds without ventilators out of 1,213 and 4,305 normal Covid-19 beds out of 5,777 are available, as per the latest data from Delhi government's mobile app on Covid-related information.

According to the application, 31.8 per cent of the ICU beds with ventilators are occupied across the city, while 27 per cent of ICU beds without ventilators are filled. On the brighter side, only 25 per cent of normal Covid-19 beds are in use.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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


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Dying in line: Brazil's crunch for COVID-19 intensive care beds Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bauru

By Stephen Eisenhammer

PIRATININGA, Brazil (Reuters) - Jose Roberto Inacio spent much of his life ferrying the sick and injured to the hospital in this quiet Brazilian town.

On Wednesday, March 10, the retired ambulance driver took the familiar route once more - as a passenger gasping for breath.

By the weekend, the 63-year-old's kidneys were failing. He needed dialysis. He needed intensive care.

But at the small hospital where he was being treated even basic medical supplies, like a catheter, were lacking. He joined the list for a bed in an intensive care unit (ICU), but doctors told his family there were 70 people in this part of Sao Paulo state already in line.

Bauru, the nearest major town, only has 50 intensive care beds - and all were full.

Inacio died waiting.

"All his life he worked to save people, but in the hour that he needed help, there was nothing for him," Inacio's son Roberto, 41, told Reuters, eyes still blank with shock. "You watch a person dying, and you can't do anything about it."

Inacio was one of 3,251 people in Brazil killed by COVID-19 on March 23, then the highest daily death toll since the pandemic began. Around the world, nearly one in three COVID-19 deaths were Brazilian. Inacio was one.

"He's become a statistic," his son said.

As much of the world appears to be emerging from the worst of the pandemic, Brazil's health system is buckling.

Across the country there are over 6,000 people waiting for an ICU bed, according to government data. In 15 of Brazil's 26 states, ICU capacity is at or above 90% full, as the country's P1 variant fuels a second wave far deadlier than the first.

Even in Sao Paulo, Brazil's wealthiest state with a sophisticated public hospital network, scores are dying in line for intensive care.

Despite the crisis, President Jair Bolsonaro continues to ridicule stay-at-home measures. He rarely wears a mask and has said he does not plan to get vaccinated. He told Brazilians to "stop whining" about the number of dead, now over 300,000 - the world's second-highest toll behind the United States.

Story continues

Brazil, a major global economy once lauded for its public health victories, has also been slow to secure vaccines for its 210 million inhabitants. Less than 10% of adults have received a first dose and only 3% are fully vaccinated.

Epidemiologists fear the worst is yet to come.

"This is going to be devastating," said Albert Ko, a professor at Yale School of Public Health with decades of experience in Brazil. "Unless there's a change in federal and state government policies, towards implementing effective lockdowns, we're looking at a real humanitarian crisis."

SILENT BURIAL

A giant billboard of Bolsonaro greets visitors to Bauru, a town of 400,000 about a four-hour drive from Sao Paulo.

The mayor, Suellen Rosim, has railed against lockdown measures and aligned herself with the far-right leader. Last month, she defied a state government order to close nonessential businesses, allowing many to remain open despite surging COVID-19 cases.

A court ruling finally forced her to comply, but she continues to argue lockdowns are ineffective despite overwhelming evidence they have worked across the globe.

"There's no science that shows that if I lock everyone up at home, everything will get better," she told Reuters. "Bars and restaurants have been shut for weeks and the numbers haven't stopped going up."

She blamed the state for a lack of ICU capacity.

In response, the Sao Paulo government said it was working to increase the number of hospital beds in Bauru and across the region. The state criticized the municipality, which it said did not fund a single intensive care bed.

"The town is also responsible for the increase of intensive care and should do its part," the state said in a note to Reuters.

On Bauru's front line, doctors are exhausted; understaffed and under-resourced against the relentless tide of infections.

"People have been talking for months about the risk of the public health system collapsing," said Fred Nicacio, a doctor treating COVID-19 patients in Bauru. "Sadly, that moment has come."

Ambulances dart across town carrying patients connected to green oxygen canisters, their belongings in black trash bags by their feet.

One patient in his 40s, between concentrated breaths, said he now understood the virus was no joke, as medics wheeled him into the hospital.

Beds are so scarce in Bauru that desperate relatives are turning to the courts, hiring lawyers to secure injunctions that would force hospitals - public or private - to take in patients.

But lawyers cannot create ICU beds where there are none. Even private hospitals are struggling, sometimes begging the public sector to take patients needing intensive care off their waitlists.

Inacio's son is haunted by the belief that his father's death could have been avoided. If a vaccine had reached him in time, if his hospital had an extra catheter, if an ICU bed had become available.

Last Wednesday, one week after entering the hospital he knew so well, Inacio was buried.

Four men in white hazmat suits drove his body in a minivan the two blocks to the cemetery. They carted the wooden coffin between the rows of dead to a break in the red dirt.

No words were spoken. The only sound was the scratching of mortar and brick as the tomb was sealed.

From a distance, his son watched.

(Reporting by Stephen Eisenhammer; Additional reporting by Leonardo Benassatto; Editing by Brad Haynes and Jonathan Oatis)
The Alabama Community College System said they do not expect to implement a vaccination requirement for those who attend community colleges in the state.

Athens State University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville said the same. They will continue to monitor any coronavirus changes, but as of right now, the universities don't intend to require the vaccine in the fall.

To some students, this is a relief. Allauna Garcia will be a freshman at the University of Alabama this upcoming fall. She asks that schools reconsider their decisions and require students to be vaccinated.

"Just so that colleges don't have to go through what they had to in the beginning, where they had to shut down," said Garcia.

Garcia dreams of having the college experience she thought about growing up. She said colleges can get back to normal if everyone's vaccinated.

"It's more about people's health and people's lives, " said Garcia. "You should really care about others and not just yourself, but about the people around you."

Most colleges in the country require you to get the HPV and Meningococcal vaccines before attending in-person classes.

Garcia said she sees the coronavirus vaccine as a vaccine they can add to that list of requirements.

Other students feel differently. Athens State University senior, Aleya Maples, said it's her body and should be her choice.

"It is a free country," said Maples. "If they did make it a requirement, I would appreciate if they still offered online courses for those who didn't want to get the vaccine."

Maples said she does understand why some universities may make the coronavirus vaccine a requirement.

"I know you're trying to protect not just your students but your staff," said Maples. "You can't really have a successful school year if your staff is out sick or attendance is down more than 50%."

Despite this, Maples said there just isn't enough research on the coronavirus vaccine to make it a requirement of students.

Oakwood University said they haven't made a decision on whether or not they'll require the coronavirus vaccine. Alabama A&M said they will follow Alabama Department of Public Health guidelines closer to the fall semester.

Rutgers University in New Jersey made headlines when they announced students registered for classes in fall 2021 will have to be vaccinated against coronavirus. It said students will only be exempt from the coronavirus vaccine if there are religious reasons or medical concerns.

The world has seen the unforgettable footage of George Floyd's death. And the viral video is the main thing that attorneys for Derek Chauvin don't want the jury to focus on.

On Monday, the first day of Chauvin's murder trial in Minnesota, attorney Eric Nelson previewed his defense of Chauvin, a white ex-Minneapolis police officer charged with killing Floyd, a Black man. Instead of the video, Nelson focused on Floyds existing health issues and his drug use.

For the prosecution, the video was the star witness. It was shown in its entirety during the opening by attorney Jerry Blackwell, who went into Chauvins training and his oath as a police officer, opening with an image of the Minneapolis Police Departments badge and the motto protect with courage, to serve with compassion.

Blackwell told jurors that Chauvin betrayed this badge when he used excessive and unreasonable force upon the body of George Floyd.

Follow the trial: Sign up here to get updates and analysis from the courtroom via SMS.

Derek Chauvin trial live: MMA fighter who asked officers to stop 'blood choke' on George Floyd will testify again

Floyd, 46, died last May after police responded to a call reporting that he had provided a store with a fake $20 bill. Chauvin held Floyd face-down on the ground with a knee pressed to his neck as he cried out for his mother and repeatedly said, I cant breathe. Three other officers, Thomas Lane, J Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, are also scheduled to stand trial for aiding and abetting Chauvin in August.

Floyds death set off a national reckoning around racial justice, and led to national and international protests, some of which turned destructive.

Chauvin, 45, was a 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department and was fired after the incident for using excessive force and is now out on bail. He has been charged with second- and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 40 years, but he would likely face between 11 and 15 years in prison based on the states sentencing guidelines for first-time offenders.

Story continues

9-minute cell phone video of George Floyd's death makes first appearance

Disturbing video filmed by a bystander was shown for the first time to jurors Monday, but it's likely not the last.

As the video played, one juror drew in a sharp breath, another white woman in her 50s put her hand on her temple, while a grandmother in her 60s stared intently with her brow furrowed as she saw the entire video for the first time. One of the jurors, who is a nurse, had her eyes wide while it played, and her right hand jerked as she briefly gripped the armrests of her chair.

Mary Moriarty, former Hennepin County chief public defender, said the prosecution made good and powerful use of visuals, photographs, video and a timeline of the bystander video and other surveillance cameras.

The timeline visual slows everything down and allows the jury to think about what happened and what should have happened every step of the way, Moriarty said.

In a line reminiscent of attorney Johnnie Cochrans If it doesnt fit, you must acquit defense of O.J. Simpson, Blackwell repeatedly said during his nearly hour-long opening statement that Chauvin does not let up and he does not get up for 9 minutes and 29 seconds  even when Chauvin was told Floyd had no pulse. Chauvin keeps the position, his sunglasses on his head and his knee on Floyds neck, until Floyd is put onto a gurney, Blackwell said.

Nelson argued that this case is clearly more than about 9 minutes and 29 seconds as he emphasized the numerous interviews with 50 police officers, 12 search warrants, body-camera footage, and a witness list of nearly 400 people.

In your custody, is in your care

Blackwell showed images of the Minneapolis Police Departments use of force policy and its core principle of policing, which states that someone in your custody, is in your care.

Its not a feeling, its a verb, Blackwell said. Its something youre supposed to do. To provide care for that person.

But Blackwell said that Chauvin instead engaged in an eminently dangerous activity and did it without regard to what impact he had on Floyds life. He also said that police are required to constantly reevaluate the amount of force they are using against a person, based on the amount of resistance the person is providing.

The concept is known in policing as the use of force continuum, which states that officers are empowered to match the force of a resistor and increase it enough to overcome that force, but no more force than is necessary to subdue the person.

What may be reasonable in the first minute may not be in the 4th...or 9 minute and 29 second moment, Blackwell said.

Police chief Medaria Arradondo will later be called up as a witness to testify about Chauvins use of force, Blackwell said, acknowledging in his opening statement that police have difficult jobs. They have to make split second decisions but this case is not about all police and not about split-second decisions.

There are 569 seconds, not a split-second among them, Blackwell said.

The split-second argument is also a reference to the objectively reasonable standard that officer conduct is held to when gauging proper or improper use of force, according to the Fourth Amendment and the U.S. Supreme Court case Graham v. Connor. Since 1989, the language around determining whether use of force is reasonable that's been provided to jurors is whether the actions were reasonable given the facts and circumstances confronting an officer regardless of the officers underlying intent or motivation.

Nelson, in his opening argument, attempted to get to that point by depicting the situation Chauvin and his fellow officers found themselves in as threatening. He said bystanders grew more and more upset and as the crowd grew in size, seemingly so too did their anger. Video footage shows perhaps a dozen bystanders eventually gather on the sidewalk once Floyd is under Chauvins knee.

Remember, there's more to the scene than just what the officers see in front, Nelson told the jurors. There are people behind, people across the street. There are cars stopping, people yelling. There is a growing crowd that officers perceive to be a threat."

Nelson said officers were called names like f****** bum by screaming bystanders, which caused these officers to divert their attention from the care of Mr. Floyd. At this location, questions emerge about the reasonableness of the use of force. And this will ultimately become one of the decisions that you have to make.

Sarah Davis, executive director of the Legal Rights Center in Minneapolis, was appalled by what Nelson said after the jury had just watched the video played by the prosecution and seen a timeline that showed Chauvins face as he knelt on Floyd.

Can you imagine a scenario where police treat a white person in that way and then call that care? Davis said. Of course, we know that this would never have happened to a white person. But also, to frame what Chauvin and the other officers did to George Floyd as care reflects deeply racist, dehumanizing messaging.

George Floyd and use of drugs

Nelson focused in on Floyds use of drugs, specifically opioids, making it clear it would be a large part of the case moving forward. But the tactic could be potentially perilous given the fact that many, including the presidents own son, have struggled with addiction.

The prosecution has not tried to explain away Floyds use of drugs, but told jurors Monday that Floyd struggled from an opioid addiction. Blackwell said such deaths dont involve someone screaming for their lives.

Moriarty said that the defense has to walk a fine line in their arguments around Floyds drug use.

"Its not any secret to anybody that George Floyd like so many of peoples family members struggled with addiction, she said. "And thats not something the state is hiding from. Nobody is hiding from the idea that he had a very large amount of fentanyl in his system.

The medical examiner noted that the amount could be fatal for some people, but Moriarty said that is not relevant.

Whats relevant in this particular trial is what Chauvins actions were, Moriarty said. You take your victim as you find them. It doesnt matter that somebody has a drug addiction, that they were using drugs at the time. That they had a heart condition. None of that matters. What really matters is can the state prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Chauvins actions were a substantial cause of his death.

A unidentified protester blocks a truck on a street next to the Hennepin County Government Center as protesters held vehicles at bay until they honked their horns Monday, March 29, 2021, in Minneapolis. The trial for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin began with opening statements from both sides. Chauvin is charged with murder in the death of George Floyd during an arrest last May in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) ORG XMIT: M109

Nelson said Floyd was likely on a speedball, a concoction that includes an opioid and a stimulant mix and he told jurors they could see the police car rocking back and forth in street surveillance footage as officers struggled trying to get Floyd first into the backseat of the car, before they put him handcuffed, face-down on the street.

Because Chauvin is 5-foot-9 and about 140 pounds while Floyd is more than 6 feet tall and weighed more than 220 pounds, Nelson said it was harder for Chauvin to control Floyd, but Nelson said Chauvin did with one leg on Floyds shoulder blade and another on his arm.

This was not an easy struggle, Nelson told jurors, adding that the use of force is not attractive, but it is a necessary component of policing.

Kassandra Frederique, executive director of the New York-based nonprofit Drug Policy Alliance, which aims to legalize all illicit drug use, said in a statement that it was "unconscionable, but not at all surprising" for the defense to open its trial arguing that drugs were what actually killed Floyd.

"The deep-seated structural racism and stigma around people who use drugs lead to horrific outcomes across the country," Frederique said. "Until we dispense with the notion that people involved with drugs  or even thought to be involved with drugs  are not guaranteed the same right to dignity and life, we will continue to fight.

What actually killed George Floyd?

That's the crux of the case.

An autopsy conducted by the Hennepin County medical examiner ruled Floyds death a homicide, which was due to cardiopulmonary arrest complicated by law enforcement subdual (being subdued), restraint and neck compression. A toxicology report showed fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyd's system.

The federal Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, which reviewed that autopsy, said the subdual and restraint had elements of positional and mechanical asphyxiation.

The Justice Department asked the Office of the Army Medical Examiner to take a look as they were possibly doing a federal investigation, Moriarty said.

Another, separate autopsy conducted by independent forensic pathologists at the request of Floyd's family, found the mechanism of death to be asphyxia.

George Floyd's family members, along with lawyers and the Rev. Al Sharpton, took a knee for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.

Nelson told jurors that the state had not been happy with the autopsy results and went elsewhere for a better finding.

The autopsies all agreed the cause of death was homicide caused by the police officers' actions, and that the restraint and compression caused his death, Moriarty said. But she said they disagreed as to whether his breathing was what was cut off or if it was the blood supply to his brain that was cut off -- and caused his death.

The prosecution said it would show jurors the exact moment that Floyd stopped breathing and went into an anoxic seizure due to the lack of oxygen and his body made sporadic movements as a natural response. Blackwell also spoke about "agonal breathing," which is a brainstem reflex rather than true breathing.

Nelson said that the cause of death is the major issue of the trial that the jurors will have to decide upon, and he disputed that Floyd died of asphyxia. He said there were "no bruises" on Floyd's neck even when the skin was peeled back to the level of the muscles there was no petechial hemorrhaging.

"What he was talking about are telltale signs of strangulation, but nobody is saying he was strangled," Moriarty said.

Nelson urged jurors to be reasonable, use "common sense" and focus on the evidence.

"What was Mr. Floyd's actual cause of death?" Nelson said. "The evidence will show that Mr. Floyd died of a cardiac arrhythmia that occurred as a result of hypertension, coronary disease, the ingestion of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and the adrenaline flowing through his body  all of which acted to further compromise an already compromised heart."

Nelson said "there is no political or social cause in this court." He said Chauvin "did exactly what he had been trained to do over the course of his 19-year career."

Follow USA TODAY National Correspondent Tami Abdollah, who is covering the Derek Chauvin trial, at @latams

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Derek Chauvin trial witnesses, video, Floyd drug use: Day 1 highlights
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A symbolic euro was handed over on Tuesday to the government of Mali and UNESCO for damage inflicted by Islamists who wrecked Timbuktus World Heritage-listed mausoleums in 2012.

The ruling on the award had been handed down in 2016 following a landmark trial before the International Criminal Court, which for the first time charged an individual with war crimes against historic and cultural monuments.

This euro is an immeasurable symbol of the harm that we all suffered and of our will to say never again, Mama Dolite Doubia, who heads a trust fund for victims, said at a ceremony in the Malian capital Bamako.

Fatou Bensouda, the ICCs chief prosecutor, said the case represented the international communitys commitment to defend the foundation of our common identity.

She said Malis cultural heritage is a mirror of humanity and such attacks would not go unpunished.

The Hague-based ICC in 2016 sentenced Ahmad al Faqi al Mahdi to nine years in prison for leading jihadists who destroyed nine mausoleums.

He was a member of Ansar Eddine  one of the extremist groups that oversaw a reign of terror in the fabled city for almost a year from early 2012.

Dubbed The City of 333 saints, Timbuktus shrines were built in the 15th and 16th centuries when the city was revered as a centre of Islamic learning and a spiritual hub.

The jihadists were angered by the long-held practice of worshipping at the shrines, which they considered idolatrous.

The ICC found that Mahdi was liable for 2.7 million euros ($3.17 million) in damages which it said should go to the local community protecting the sites.

The shrines were placed on UNESCOs World Heritage list in 1988.

The symbolic euro is a token of the need for redress, even though the amount will never be paid.

The shrines have been restored using traditional methods and local masons, in a project financed by several countries as well as UNESCO.
Gov. Andrew Cuomos political weakness has been fully on display in recent weeks. Democratic lawmakers approved legislation imposing new limits on solitary confinement, despite Cuomos past opposition, and they smoked the administration when it came to striking a deal on legalizing recreational marijuana the way they want to do it. The state budget, due April 1, offers liberal legislators a chance to follow this up with a victory over the governor on funding public schools.

Democratic lawmakers want to boost total education funding for local school districts by $3.5 billion more than Cuomo proposes. The governor has actually proposed to reduce state education spending by about $600 million, to help plug a multibillion budget deficit. Total education funding in the budget would still increase because of federal aid. While a budget deal could feature a compromise between the two sides, state lawmakers say they are holding out for total victory. We're talking about a different approach to dealing with the needs of some of our neediest schools, state Senate Education Committee Chair Shelley Mayer of Yonkers said in an interview. This is a question of advocating for what we believe is right.

A potentially stinging rebuke of the three-term governor hinges on whether the budget includes a $1.4 billion increase in Foundation Aid (the primary state funding stream for school districts) as a down payment on the $4 billion over three years that Democratic legislators, activists and others say the state still has to pay districts, per a 2006 state court decision in the case of Campaign for Fiscal Equity v State of New York.

The politics surrounding the court case are complicated, but the stated purpose of the lawsuit was to force the state to adequately fund schools for students rich and poor. Were in 2021 (and) we still have not gotten it right, state Sen. Robert Jackson of Manhattan, a co-plaintiff in that lawsuit, said at a March virtual press conference after both chambers of the Legislature included the $1.4 billion in funding in their respective one-house budgets.

Those fiscal plans reflect efforts that began three decades ago, when Jackson and other parents founded an advocacy group called the Campaign for Fiscal Equity. 'When kids don't have a schoolyard to play in, no wood shop, no chemistry lab, when they're shuttled to lunch in 20-minute periods starting at 10:30 a.m... No one can tell me that's an appropriate education,'' Jackson told The New York Times in 1999.

After years of protests and litigation, the state Court of Appeals ruled in 2006 that New York state had failed to provide a sound basic education, which led to efforts to establish a new funding formula. Then-Gov. Eliott Spitzer and state lawmakers struck a deal to create Foundation Aid starting in the 2007-2008 school year. Then the Great Recession struck, and the state began falling short of fully funding its education formula. The shortfall now amounts to the $4 billion over three years that legislators are pushing for, with the help of organized labor and advocacy groups such as the Alliance for Quality Education.

Throughout his time as governor, Cuomo has argued that the outstanding balance reflected nothing more than a null and void deal made with a predecessor. Actress Cynthia Nixon, a longtime spokesperson for AQE, would base her unsuccessful 2018 primary challenge partly on the issue of school funding. Cuomos opposition to restoring the funding only seemed to grow once Democrats flipped the state Senate that November for the first time in a decade and renewed their push to reassert their claim that the state owed $4 billion in retroactive Foundation Aid funding. Ghosts of the past and distractions from the present, he said in December 2018 of the CFE case and their efforts.

Three years later, the Cuomo administration position has yet to budget from its longtime position on the legacy of the 2006 decision. The basic facts on this lawsuit that was decided 14 years ago are clear: It only applied to New York City and required that $1.93 billion in additional state, local, and federal revenues combined be provided to the City school district, Freeman Klopott, a spokesperson for the state Department of Budget, said in a March 25 email. Since this decision, the districts budget has grown by $13 billion.

The state Senate and Assembly remain united in their efforts to secure the $4 billion in funding over three years, but its ultimate fate depends on any final budget agreement reached by Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

New York state does spend more money per student than just about anywhere else in the country. Yet, graduation rates, test scores and teacher-to-student rations continue to leave the state in the middle of national rankings. Cuomo has said that means total education spending is not the issue; what matters is how much money is reaching the most needy students. Yet, despite many efforts, education spending remains a policy area largely unchanged during his years in office. Instead, a gentlemens agreement called Shares has continued to divide state education spending by region since the 1980s. Long Island gets 12.96%. New York City gets 38.86%. The remainder goes to the rest of the state. All the hearings, all the discussions, all the reports, all the task forces for all these years, it was always 38.86, Cuomo told Politico in early 2020. Legislators have defended the ongoing use of Shares as a necessary evil until a new, supposedly more equitable system could be set up.

State lawmakers have been pushing for years to rejigger the Foundation Aid formula, which supplements the property taxes that primarily fund public schools outside of New York City. The Foundation Aid formula is unnecessarily tilted toward wealthier districts, David Bloomfield, a professor of educational leadership, law and policy at Brooklyn College, said in an interview. (Suburban elected leaders) want a piece of their pie because every dollar in state aid is $1 less in property tax burden for their residents. Districts that have seen more immigrant and working-class students added to their rolls in recent years also face disadvantages from outdated data points like 2000 Census data and the 2006 regional cost index that do not reflect their growing needs. This is especially true in certain downstate suburban areas that have become more economically and racially diverse in recent years.

COVID-19 means rich and poor students alike need help making up for lost classroom time, while dealing with unprecedented mental health issues caused by a year of largely staying home. This point is really, really critical in terms of our students transition back, Raymond Sanchez, superintendent at the Ossining Union Free School District in Westchester County, said in an interview. We have to think about giving them more time, and giving them the academic support that they need beyond the regular day. More Foundation Aid would help, he added, though he remained skeptical that lawmakers would get any closer to beating Cuomo on Foundation Aid than they have in past budgets.

There is more to education funding than the $4 billion fight over CFE. State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa has said a top priority this year is making sure that federal relief money supplements rather than replaces state support for public schools. Lawmakers also oppose Cuomos proposal to consolidate different state funding streams that reimburse districts for buying things like school buses, textbooks and computers to save hundreds of millions in spending. Legislators warn funding expense-based aid this way would mean teachers who need classroom materials would have to compete against students who need transportation. Other points of contention include Cuomos proposed $1.34 billion cut in reimbursements to districts that lose revenue under the School Tax Relief program, which helps eligible people ages 65 and over pay their property taxes. While the state has received billions in new federal aid, more education spending also depends on the extent to which the political left will succeed in convincing the Senate and Assembly to increase taxes on the wealthy, over the objections of the governor as well.

If Cuomo is aiming to fight legislators over the legacy of the CFE decision, the typically combative governor is being relatively quiet about it. Education makes up one of the biggest chunks of state spending, but the governor is not ranking it as one of his top budget priorities  which include marijuana legalization, policing reforms, rent relief and broadband access. He is not publicly fighting them as much, Jasmine Gripper, executive director of AQE, said in an interview. This is the year to get it done.

A few political factors suggest legislators do have a unique opportunity this year. The federal government is providing $12 billion out of the $15 billion that Cuomo requested in unrestricted aid, which means the governor may not be as tight-fisted as he suggested earlier in the year. The governor is on the ropes politically, and legislative supermajorities Democrats won in the 2020 elections could theoretically override a gubernatorial veto of increased Foundation Aid.

For now, at least, Team Cuomo is projecting a cooperative approach to determining school aid. Budget negotiations are ongoing, Klopott, the spokesperson for the state Division of Budget, said in the email a week before the April 1 budget deadline. We are working with the Legislature to determine what additional resources for school aid are available.

Legislators working on the issue are cautiously optimistic, according to Assembly Education Chair Michael Benedetto of the Bronx. We're on the cusp of declaring a tremendous victory in education, he said in an interview. We're keeping our fingers crossed.
Former Attorney-General Christian Porter is taking over as Minister for Industry, Science and Technology in a cabinet reshuffle that follows six weeks of scandal, frustration, and anger about the treatment of women in Australian politics.

Porter will become the fifth person to hold the portfolio in five-and-a-half years.

At the start of March, Porter outed himself as the senior cabinet minister accused of raping a 16-year-old girl in 1988  an accusation the new technology minister strongly denies.

Since his emotional press conference four weeks ago, Porter has been on mental health leave.

The 50-year-old launched a defamation suit against the ABC and Four Corners reporter Louise Milligan claiming original reporting about the allegation  in which Porter was not directly named  left him easily identifiable.

In a statement, Porter recognised that his lawsuit against the public broadcaster requires [his] replacement as Attorney-General.

Given the false claims made about me by the ABC, I had no alternative but to launch the defamation proceedings and I have no regrets about taking that course of action, he said.

The economic recovery from COVID-19 will be Porters priority in his new STEM-focused portfolio, with manufacturing an apparent focus of his.

The opportunities created by Australias strong focus on the science and technology sectors will be crucial to making sure that we are building the industries of the future with the long-term sustainable employment these sectors can provide, he said.

Christian Porter has been parked in the industry, science and technology portfolio. Image: ABC News (James Carmody)

Across the aisle, Labor announced via the media late Monday night it would create a $15 billion fund to boost local manufacturing if it wins the next election.

Cabinet reshuffle

Porters replacement as Attorney-General is fellow Western Australian, Michaelia Cash.

Karen Andrews, who held the tech portfolio since 2019, has been promoted to Home Affairs  formerly the position of Peter Dutton who takes over the Defence portfolio from Linda Reynolds.

Reynolds will become the new Minister for Government Services, a portfolio containing the Digital Transformation Agency and which formerly belonged to Stuart Robert  who presided over the governments disastrous robodebt recovery scheme and famously cried cyber wolf when the MyGov crashed from high demand last year.

Reynolds herself has been plagued by scandal stemming from her treatment of former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins who in February came forward about alleged rape inside Parliament House two years ago.

Prime Minister Scott Morrisons decision to move Porter and Reynolds in these technology roles has raised questions about the governments vision for a technology driven Australia given its penchant for outsourcing multimillion-dollar projects to lobbyist consultant firms and building expensive products no one uses.

Morrison announced the ministerial changes on Monday, putting more women in senior front bench positions in a bid to stem the tide of waning public opinion since Higgins went public with her allegations, opening a national conversation about the treatment of women in Australian politics.

The public discussion has since dominated the news cycle and led to thousands of people marching in cities across the country calling for an end to violence against women and sexism.

Most recently, Liberal MP Andrew Laming was told he would not contest in the next election  but did not have to resign  because of online abuse and a photograph he took of a woman on all-fours stacking a fridge in which her underwear was apparently visible.

When asked about Laming in Mondays reshuffle press conference Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Women, said politicians across the world had a responsibility for the way they engage with the public and each other.

If nothing else, the last few months has taught us the importance of that and the importance of doing that respectfully, she said.
Gaborone  The COVID-19 pandemic has visited upon society a disease burden causing loss of life, sickness and loneliness caused by physical and emotional isolation as people are unable to visit the ill or bury their dead in a regular manner.

In times like these it has been clear why scholars of Psychology place the importance of psychological and spiritual well being in human development.

In that regard, the work of motivational speaker, worship leader and author Trish Waboraro, a young Motswana lady, becomes important. She has dedicated her life to addressing the challenges that people face in life in addition to being a Christian worship leader.

Hailing from Bobonong, having spent a considerable period of her life in Namibia but based in Gaborone for a few years now, Waboraro, has in recent times worked with young people in addressing their 'brokenness;' the emotional challenges they face.

"I have worked as a motivational speaker, visiting schools, orphanages, the SOS, and through platforms such as the Baylor Clinic and Stepping Stones, addressing the emotional challenges young people face," she said in an interview.

Her smile, and outgoing persona, belie the fact that she herself has been through difficult circumstances in life, which prompted her to address such challenges in people's lives.

"I came from an upbringing where there was gender based violence, domestic abuse, divorce, and also experienced challenges in past relationships to the point of being a single mother," she disclosed.

She is the author of the books Worship Leader Volume I and Worship Leader Volume II, which deal with the spiritual and practical aspects of worship, Broken, about various emotional challenges in life as well as Her Articles, which addresses issues of societal concern through a spiritual perspective.

"After the Worship Leader manual, from 2016 I founded the Sound of Worship platform, through which I went to different parts of the country, such as Molepolole, Mahalapye, Selibe Phikwe, Bobonong and Jwaneng, training church praise and worship groups on the spiritual aspects of their work," Waboraro, said.

Through NAWE Africa, a Christian spiritual musical entity, she has been afforded the opportunity to training praise and worship teams in Nairobi, Kenya, which she has done through virtual means.

"After the Worship Leader manual, Broken gave me the platform to work as a motivational speaker and address the emotional challenges people face," she added. "I got to share my life experiences and testimonies, and got to get young people talking and addressing the issues they face."

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A member of the Assemblies of God in Gaborone, Waboraro, has done her work largely from a Christian perspective, tackling the plight of the youth, young women and society as a whole, and has addressed societal trials confronting both the church and the circular world.

"I have addressed issues such as relationships, sex and gender based violence, and I had had the platform on radio stations such as RB2 and Duma FM, reaching out to national audiences".

Waboraro, serves different organisations, including Scripture Union (SU) Botswana, which has allowed her the platform to reach out to members in schools and contribute to the SU Southern Africa Devotional as a writer.

She is also the Stepping Stones International Botswana board chair in addition to her profession as a criminal attorney.

"My mission, driven by my faith, is to reach out to as many people as possible out there so we share experiences and inspire each other towards spiritual and emotional well being," she explained. BOPA

<i>Source : BOPA</i>
The writer is a candidate for the Norton Select Board. The election is Saturday, April 10.
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New details have emerged from Aidan Turner and Caitlin Fitzgerald's Italian wedding, after it emerged the pair secretly tied the knot in August last year.

A family source exclusively told MailOnline that the couple - who had been dating for three years - wed in Rome as they 'didn't want to wait' during the Covid pandemic, and the actor's parents were the only family members in attendance.

Newly unearthed pictures taken on August 8 show the newlyweds days after tying the knot as they flashed their gold bands while enjoying a romantic alfresco dinner date at Pierluigi's restaurant in Rome.

In the new images the loved-up pair seemed unable to keep their hands off each other as they sipped their drinks, holding onto one each other as they gazed into each other's eyes.

Newlyweds: Aidan Turner and Caitlin Fitzgerald decided to get married in Italy as they 'didn't want to wait' during the Covid pandemic. Newly unearthed pictures show the newlyweds days after tying the knot on a dinner date in Rome last August

Aidan's parents did not join the couple on the outing, despite flying out from their home in Dublin to watch the couple exchange their vows, leaving the newlyweds to enjoy their first days of wedded bliss.

The insider revealed that although the couple wanted an intimate ceremony, Aidan insisted on his beloved mother Eileen and father Pearse being present.

'Aidan wouldnt have got married without them,' said the source. 'The rest of the family heard about the wedding afterwards. Of course, everyone is delighted for him.'

The couple had flown to Ireland prior to the pandemic so that Caitlin could meet his relatives, and it seems she made quite the impression on his family.

'Shes lovely and theyre very happy,' the source said. 'And of course, she had Irish roots, so that helps as well..

'Theyre no different to any young couple in love. They didnt want to wait until after Covid to get married, so they just went ahead. Good luck to them.'

Cute couple: The images - taken on August 8 - showed the loved-up pair unable to keep their hands off each other as they sipped their drinks, holding onto one each other as they gazed into each other's eyes

Smitten: Pictures of the pair on their honeymoon certainly painted a picture of love, with the couple seen kissing and embracing while enjoying a summers night in the capital

Pictures of the pair on their honeymoon certainly painted a picture of love, with the couple seen kissing and embracing while enjoying a summers night in the capital.

Clearly in a celebratory mood, the couple toasted their newlywed status with bottles of beer before leaving the restaurant with their arms wrapped around each other.

As they walked, Aidan paused to give Caitlin a tender kiss on the neck ahead of returning to their honeymoon suite.

Pour it up: Clearly in a celebratory mood, the couple toasted their newlywed status with bottles of beer and glasses of wine after enjoying an al fresco meal at the seafood restaurant

Toasting married life: Aidan and Caitlin looked like they were loving life as they enjoyed their boozy alfesco dinner

It was claimed the couple were eager to wed as soon as their schedules cleared, but kept their nuptials quiet due to their private lifestyles.

A source told The Sun: 'The couple are both madly in love and couldn't wait to get hitched when their schedules allowed.'

The source added to The Sun: 'They're both very private and have kept the ceremony very much under wraps, but he has been seen taking lockdown walks with his wedding ring on show.

'Aidan hasn't been in a rush to get wed and has very much been waiting for 'The One' to come along  and anyone who sees them knows they're the perfect match.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for comment.

All over each other: The pair were joined at the hip as they put on an affectionate display on the stroll

Cheeky! Aidan was seen reaching for a cheeky grab of his new wife's derriere before stopping to plant a kiss on her neck

The TV and film stars have been dating since 2018 after growing close while shooting scenes for fantasy movie The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot in Massachusetts.

Insiders claim they rarely mingled with other cast members while staying at the Deerfield Inn, near Boston.

The pair have largely kept their romance low-key, with Aidan saying in a 2019 interview: 'I do have a girlfriend, yeah.'

In 2018, Glamour magazine published a rare essay by the blonde entitled 'No one can tell you what good sex looks like', in which she admitted having 'had some really bad sex in my life'.

Flying solo: Aidan's parents did not join the couple on the outing, despite flying out from their home in Dublin to watch the couple exchange their vows, leaving the newlyweds to enjoy their first days of wedded bliss

Priorities: A family insider revealed that although the couple wanted an intimate ceremony, Aidan insisted on his beloved mother Eileen and father Pearse being present

Woman of the hour: The couple had flown to Ireland prior to the pandemic so that Caitlin could meet his relatives, and it seems she made quite the impression on his family

The filmmaker said she had initially 'crafted my bedroom behaviour around what I had seen women do on television  lots of excessive moaning and hair tossing but very little personal satisfaction'.

Hobbit star Aidan won fans all over the world with his portrayal of the hunky Ross Poldark alongside his love interest Eleanor Tomlinson in the iconic drama, which concluded after five series in 2019.

His new wife, meanwhile, is best known for her role as Libby Masters in US drama Masters Of Sex, which ran from 2013 until 2016.

She played the wife of sex therapist Dr William Masters (Michael Sheen) - who she was previously linked to.

Cute: Pictures of the pair on their honeymoon certainly painted a picture of love, with the couple seen kissing and embracing while enjoying a summers night in the capital

The family insider said: 'Theyre no different to any young couple in love. They didnt want to wait until after Covid to get married, so they just went ahead. Good luck to them'

Caitlin, whose dad Des FitzGerald is the former CEO of ContiGroup's ContiSea unit, was born and raised in Maine, before relocating to Massachusetts and New York City for education.

The thespian also studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.

The thespian's late grandfather Desmond was a deputy director of the CIA during the Kennedy administration  officially known as the Directorate of Plans.

The chief attempted to assassinate Cuba's former dictator Fidel Castro with a pen filled with Black Leaf 40 - a nicotine-based insecticide fatal to humans - in November 1963 in Paris.

Newlyweds: The news comes after it was claimed the couple were eager to wed as soon as their schedules cleared, but kept their nuptials quiet due to their private lifestyles (pictured left in 2019 and right in 2018)

As his plans fell through, Desmond would always complain that the U.S. missed its chance to take down Fidel.

Dublin native Aidan was rumoured to be engaged to a secret girlfriend in April 2018, shortly before he started dating Caitlin.

While little was known about his rumoured fiancee, she was believed to be ten-years his junior and based in the south-west of England.

A source told MailOnline: 'Aidan is engaged to a 24-year old graduate lawyer from Gloucester.'

It is not known how long the pair had been dating, and they had not been pictured together publicly.

Co-stars: The TV and film stars have been dating since 2018 after growing close while shooting scenes for fantasy movie The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot (pictured)

Aidan was previously in a relationship with artist Nettie Wakefield, 33, whom he split from in 2017, following the end of his five-year romance with actress Sarah Greene, 36, in 2015.

The Being Human actor also dated with co-star Lenora Crichlow, after meeting on the set of their supernatural BBC Three show in 2009.

Their break-up in 2011 is believed to be the reason behind his exit from the series, while his ex, 36, continued her role.

Aidan's latest TV series Leonardo was released in Italy earlier this month, and is scheduled to launch in the UK and Ireland on Amazon Prime Video on April 16.

Raunchy: Aidan's latest TV series Leonardo is scheduled to launch in the UK and Ireland on Amazon Prime Video on April 16. He plays Leonardo Da Vinci (pictured left) and shares a steamy kiss with another man

There has long been debate whether the painter was homosexual, a theme that is set to be explored in the eight-part series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leonardo will 'unlock the mystery' behind Da Vinci's genius as well as explore a tantalising secret in his life.

Born in 1452, Leonardo is one of the greatest individuals of the last millennium, known primarily for his contributions to the art world, including paintings like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

Who is Aidan Turner's new 'wife'? Caitlin Fitzgerald was born and raised in Maine, before relocating to Massachusetts and New York City for education. The American actress also studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. Co-stars: Caitlin and screen star Aidan have been dating since 2018 (pictured in 2019) after growing close while shooting scenes for a fantasy movie (pictured) The TV and film star is best known for her role as Libby Masters in US drama Masters Of Sex, which ran from 2013 until 2016. She played the wife of sex therapist Dr William Masters (Michael Sheen) - who she was previously linked to. Caitlin and screen star Aidan have been dating since 2018 after growing close while shooting scenes for fantasy movie The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot in Massachusetts. Her father Des is the former CEO of ContiGroup's ContiSea unit, while her mother Pam Allen founded yarn company Quince & Co and is the author of Knitting for Dummies. Love story: The film star played the wife of therapist William Masters (Michael Sheen) - who she was previously linked to - in US drama Masters Of Sex (pictured in 2015) The thespian's late grandfather Desmond was a deputy director of the CIA during the Kennedy administration  officially known as the Directorate of Plans. The chief once attempted to assassinate Cuba's former dictator Fidel Castro with a pen filled with Black Leaf 40 - a nicotine-based insecticide fatal to humans - in November 1963 in Paris. As his plans fell through, Desmond would always complain that the U.S. missed its chance to take down Fidel. He joined the CIA in 1950 and cut his teeth directing operations against Communist China, but was not always successful. When Desmond armed the leader of a 12,000-strong group of anti- communist insurgents, instead of attacking China, the man set himself up as a drug lord. History: The thespian's late grandfather Desmond attempted to assassinate Cuba's former dictator Fidel Castro as a deputy director of the CIA He had more success in the Philippines, albeit by encouraging maverick U.S. air force colonel Edward Lansdale, whose unscrupulous 'psychological warfare' tricks included leaving corpses drained of blood to look like the victims of vampires. Desmond urged his operatives that 'we are here not to monitor communism, we are here to destroy it'. One of his last acts in the Far East was to hatch a plan to 'biologically immobilise' Indonesia's President Sukarno, a communist. FitzGerald took over CIA operations in 1963, two years after the fiasco of the Bay of Pigs  the U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba. Events proved that was a mistaken assumption. FitzGerald's predecessors came up with various far-fetched ideas, most famously a box of 50 Cohiba cigars dusted with the deadly botulin toxin. They were never delivered amid doubts that he would ever smoke them. Advertisement

During the Rennaisance he dabbled in invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography.

The artist left no clue as to his own sexuality. He never married and it cannot be stated with certainty that he had a sexually intimate relationship with any person, male or female.

Despite this, speculation over his sexuality has been long debated, and it has long been claimed that he was in a same-sex relationship with his apprentice, Gian Giacomo Caprotti, better known by his nickname Salai.

Caprotti is thought to have entered Da Vinci's household when he was around 10 years old, and worked as his assistant for the next 20 years acquiring the nickname Salai, or Little Devil.

Past: Aidan was in a five-year relationship with fellow actress Sarah Greene (left in 2012), before he dated artist Nettie Wakefield (right in 2016)

Romantic past: The hunk also dated Being Human co-star Lenora Crichlow after meeting on the set in 2009 (pictured left in 2010) while Caitlin was linked to on-screen husband Michael Sheen during Masters Of Sex (pictured right 2015)

Salai was used in a number of Da Vinci's paintings as a model and it has even been suggested that Salai was the subject of his most famous painting, the Mona Lisa.

Art detective Silvano Vinceti has said the portrait, which hangs in the Louvre in Paris, is an amalgamation of a Florentine merchant's wife and Da Vinci's possible gay lover.

Vinceti, the head of a research group called the National Committee of Cultural Heritage, based his findings on an infra-red examination of the famous painting.

It was previously thought that the picture was based on Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a merchant from Tuscany. It has not been made clear if the co-star Aidan is pictured kissing depicts Salai.
After Sanjay Raut said he had cautioned the Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders on Sachin Vaze, former Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday sought the interrogation of Sanjay Raut by the NIA.

In his tweet, Sanjay Nirupam said, "Sanjay Raut said that he was against the reinstatement of Sachin Vaze, however till yesterday he termed Vaze as an honest and capable officer, then who are the leaders on whose behest Vaze came back this should also be told, NIA should pick people like Raut and reach to the godfathers of Vaze"

Nirupam's reaction comes a day after the statement of Raut, but it is a known fact that the former Mumbai Congress Chief was against any tie up with Shiv Sena. Nirupam, a former Shiv Sena leader had joined the Congress in 2005.

The MVA woes are far from over as the news of alleged secret meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar was leaked on Sunday and there were wild speculation on the fate of the government.

However, Maharashtra's ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi on Monday rubbished the purported development and reiterated that the state government was safe and sound.

Though leaders of all three constituents -- the Shiv Sena, the NCP, and the Congress --- have denied any such behind-the-curtains parleys even took place, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is fuelling the speculation on the unconfirmed clandestine meet at the home of a leading businessman.

Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said he was "not aware of any such meeting", but "even if they meet, so what?"

"If the country's Home Minister meets any MP or leaders of any political party, so what's wrong with it? Pawar Saheb is a senior leader and he can meet Shah... even I can meet," Raut countered when quizzed by media persons.

NCP General Secretary Praful Patel said in Kochi on Sunday: "The MVA was formed by the efforts of Pawar Saheb, and there is no reason to think about unnecessary things (toppling the MVA)."

Raut continued that in politics, there's nothing really secret, and if it was so, "how did you come to know about it?"

"The Home Minister said that 'not every meeting can be made public'. However, I recall that in the past, he had spoken about what had happened behind closed doors," Raut said, referring to the Shah-Uddhav Thackeray meeting in February 2019 at 'Matoshri', the latter's residence in Mumbai, ahead of the elections.

A Congress leader, preferring anonymity, said while there is nothing wrong with such meetings or confabulations among top national leaders, the laughable aspect of the alleged Shah-Pawar meet was the media's wild speculation that it could lead to a collapse of the MVA government here.

Attempting to needle the MVA, BJP state President Chandrakant Patil evaded a direct response but said: "Such meetings take place routinely... In Indian culture, politics is on one side, but we should all keep meeting. Recently, such meetings have reduced in Maharashtra. Since Pawar and Shah were there (Ahmedabad), they may have met."

To a pointed query on whether a potential BJP-NCP team-up was acceptable to him, Patil guardedly said that whatever decisions are taken by the party's senior leadership would be accepted by all and would be always in the party's interests.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A survey led by the University of Oxford has found that most people in high-income countries support donating some of their country's COVID-19 vaccine supplies to low-income nations who would otherwise struggle to gain access. The findings are published today in Nature Medicine.

Researchers conducted an anonymous online survey which had over 8,000 respondents across seven high-income countries (Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, UK and the U.S.). The survey was carried out between 24 November and 28 December 2020, when an effective vaccine was expected to soon be available.

The study's main findings were:

For each country assessed, the number of people who supported donating vaccines was at least double those who did not. Support for donating vaccines ranged from 4856%, whilst 1526% did not support donating vaccines and 2228% were undecided.

Of those who supported vaccine donations, most (7381%) favored an amount greater than or equal to 10% of their country's doses.

When asked how much they agreed with three prioritization principles for global vaccine distribution, the highest-ranking principle for each country was need, with average agreement ranging from 7080 (where 0 means very much disagree and 100 means very much agree). This was followed by prioritizing countries which could not afford to buy vaccines otherwise (6270 average agreement), and finally whether the country itself had developed the vaccine (2858 average agreement).

The COVAX collaboration aims to ensure that all countries have equal access to COVID-19 vaccines, and competes with high-income countries to acquire doses. Nevertheless, some low-income countries may need to wait until at least next year before even the most vulnerable 20% of their populations are vaccinated. This is due in part to some high-income countries pre-purchasing vaccine supplies that exceed their population size. For instance, the U.S. has reserved more than 1.2 billion doses, but has a population of around 331 million.

The results of this study indicate that individuals in high-income countries would generally support donating COVID-19 vaccines to low-income countries. This has been done for previous pandemics, including the 2009 Swine Flu outbreak.

Lead researcher Professor Philip Clarke, from the University of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Population Health, said: "Redistributing vaccine supplies from high-income countries would have global benefits. It would reduce the risk of the emergence and spread of new variants and benefit the economy, both globally and in donor countries. In contrast, the economic cost of vaccine nationalism is potentially high. The world's economy is highly interconnected and as long as the virus is not under control everywhere, there will be a huge cost to the global economyup to $1.2 trillion per year according to some estimates."

More information: Philip M. Clarke et al. Public opinion on global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, Nature Medicine (2021). Journal information: Nature Medicine Philip M. Clarke et al. Public opinion on global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01322-9
Laois County Council will not proceed with road improvement schemes on local roads if a community is not willing to contribute to the cost.

The health warning was communicated to county councillors by an official of the councils roads section who confirmed that a long waiting list has built up going back more than a decade due to the suspension of the schemes.

Cllr Conor Bergin referenced 452,000 allocated for Community Involvement Schemes (CIS) around Laois. He said there are also applications lodged under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) for road works.

He expected the programme of CIS works to be announced in April and wanted to know what work would be done in the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District.

He said two road projects were carried out under the scheme in 2020 but there are applications in for years.

Mr. Edmond Kenny, District Engineer, said that the Council is still assessing the applications.

Georgina Ireland, Roads Section Administrative Officer, added that a list would be prepared but she also cautioned politicians that residents are required to foot some of the bill.

I will give a health warning that it does involve a community contribution. We are unable to carry out work if the community contribution is not forthcoming, she said.

She said the council would contact applicants with the amount they must contribute.

If they are not willing (to contribute) we cannot contribute to work, she said.

She said this applies to applications under the community and local improvement roads schemes.

Cllr John King asked if approval was decided what was the length of time an application has been with the local authority or the extent of the repairs needed.

She said a long waiting list built up as the schemes were suspended up until 2017.

We had a list of about 60 schemes county wide that we have been wading through. We have been trying to be fair to applicants. The area engineers are costing schemes each year on the list. We have been doing it in state order where possible, she said.

Cllr King asked if the council could inform all applicants where they are on the list.

Cllr James Kelly said the council had written to applicants and if a reply was not forthcoming, it was possible that the application could be removed.

Ms Ireland confirmed that this had occurred but a full review of all schemes will be done.

The schemes were suspended in 2011 under austerity measures which followed the property and banking crash.
Todd McKenney is one of Australia's most recognisable entertainers.

But the 55-year-old's showbiz career suffered a minor setback in 2012 when he had too much Botox injected before season 12 of Dancing with the Stars.

Todd, who will return as a judge on Seven's reboot of DWTS, told Woman's Day he 'made a mistake' by trying to smooth out his wrinkles.

'My face froze': Dancing with the Stars judge Todd McKenney, 55, has revealed he 'looked ridiculous' after getting too much Botox before season 12 of the show

'I looked ridiculous and I hated it! I'll never do it again. My face froze. I couldn't animate anything,' he said.

Todd will appear on DWTS: All-Stars alongside Helen Richey, Paul Mercurio and Mark Wilson, who are all fan favourites from the show's heyday.

Anticipation is building for the limited-run series, with TV legend Daryl Somers returning to host the reboot alongside Sonia Kruger.

Too much of a good thing! 'I looked ridiculous and I hated it! I'll never do it again. My face froze. I couldn't animate anything,' Todd said of getting too much Botox

The entire cast for Dancing with the Stars: All Stars has already been announced.

The contestants are: Bec Hewitt, Renee Bargh, Lincoln Lewis, Ada Nicodemou, Matty Johnson, Luke Jacobz, Kyly Clarke, Tom Williams, Jamie Durie, Manu Feildel, Erin McNaught, Schapelle Corby, Jessica Gomes and Fifi Box.

Earlier this month, two of the contestants, Bec and Lincoln, returned to Home and Away for a set visit in between rehearsals for Dancing with the Stars.

Stars: Todd will appear on DWTS: All-Stars alongside Helen Richey (right), Paul Mercurio and Mark Wilson, who are all fan favourites from the show's heyday

Lincoln documented the reunion on Instagram, as the pair spent time with current stars Ada Nicodemou and Luke Jacobz at the show's famous diner.

Channel Seven is using the same Sydney location to film Home and Away's interior scenes and the new season of Dancing with the Stars.

Double duty: Channel Seven is using the same Sydney location to film Home and Away's interior scenes and the new season of Dancing with the Stars. Summer Bay alum Lincoln Lewis (pictured) recently returned to Home and Away for a set visit in between rehearsals for DWTS

'So it's been a couple of years since I've been in the Home and Away diner and I think I'm seeing a few familiar faces,' Lincoln said in the video.

'Hello, fam!' he told Bec, Ada and Luke, before pretending to order the 'flaming galah special' at the counter.

Ada still stars on the long-running soap as Leah Patterson.

Alumni: Lincoln starred as Geoff Campbell on Home and Away from 2007 to 2010. Fellow DWTS contestant Bec Hewitt (right) played Hayley Smith Lawson from 1998 to 2005

Meanwhile, Luke recently reprised his role as Angelo Rosetta.

Lincoln starred as Geoff Campbell on Home and Away from 2007 to 2010. Bec played Hayley Smith Lawson from 1998 to 2005.

Home and Away fans said the impromptu reunion was 'the best'.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 86F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low 63F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, March 27th, 2021, officers of the Immigration and Border Protection Services together with the assistance of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard and the Prosecutors Office arrested the captain of a vessel by the name of "Anansi".

Officers of IBP were alerted by a concerned citizen to the presence of a foreign vessel docked at a Marina in Great Bay. Upon inspection of the vessel, the officers encountered a gentleman in the vicinity who was later identified as the captain of the vessel. It became evident that the captain did not report his arrival in Sint Maarten as is required by law as he could not show proof of his vessel's clearance. The captain stated that he traveled to Sint Maarten with one passenger who was in possession of the Immigration clearance documents and that the person had already gone into Philipsburg.

While the IBP officers were busy on the scene they ordered the captain with initials P.E. to present himself to their office to show this proof however he failed to present himself in the time given. The IBP authorities then alerted the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard to be on the lookout for the vessel and its captain. The Coast Guard patrol encountered the vessel and the captain and with the permission of the public prosecutor, he was arrested on suspicion of human smuggling and handed over to the police for further investigation.

Incoming reports to the authorities stated that multiple persons were seen disembarking from the vessel however were already on the island.

Additionally, the captains statement had changed from his original statement whereby he stated that he was traveling alone and ended up in Sint Maarten after experiencing engine trouble and could not show proof of a passport or clearance documents.

An investigation into this case is ongoing.
Gaborone  It is the responsibility of the nation to empower more women and encourage them to upskill themselves in readiness for leadership positions.

This was said by Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Ms Philda Kereng when addressing a Women in Tourism symposium in Gaborone on Saturday.

Empowering women economically and closing gender gaps, she said, were key to achieving 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Ms Kereng said women economic empowerment boosted productivity, increased diversification and income equality.

Speaking specifically about tourism, Ms Kereng said empowering and encouraging women in the sector to upskill themselves and get better paying jobs would contribute to livelihood improvement.

She noted that while women made up the majority of the tourism workforce in most parts of the world, they still held lower positions and received lower pay.

Quoting Department of Tourism, Minister Kereng said as at December 2020, women made up 60 per cent of the sector's total employment of 20 283.

She said out of the total number of female employees, 11 562 were citizens and 608 foreigners.

In terms of tourism enterprise ownership, out of a total of 2 594 licensed tourism operations, 1 294 were owned by women, Ms Kereng said.

She said women were getting into male dominated roles such as professional guides which had been the preserve of men.

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Therefore they should be empowered to take up more roles of responsibility within organisations, she said.

The minister said government was committed to support the tourism sector as evidenced by the wage subsidy and the P200m Tourism Industry Support Facility.

Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) chief Ms Lily Rakorong said the sector played a crucial role in achieving the objectives of the 2030 agenda, especially gender equality and empowerment of women.

She said the high numbers of females employed in the sector both internationally and locally meant that women were hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noting that the impacts of COVID-19 were unprecedented, Ms Rakorong said an urgent inclusive response was needed to ensure that women were not left behind.

She said the tourism sector was resilient to economic downturn and crisis and would therefore play a key role in reinvigorating economies.

Saying there was an opportunity in every crisis, Ms Rakorong noted that the sharp decline in the tourism industry had taught governments the importance of the sector to economies.

She said gender equality should be at the center of the 'Build Back Better' post COVID-19 to improve alignment with Sustainable Development Goals which would lead to a more inclusive and resilient industry.

If more women took part in shaping the post COVID-19 tourism recovery, chances were it would be more responsive to everyone's needs, she said.

<i>Source : BOPA</i>
Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  Two city residents suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a weekend shooting that left one man in critical conditions, police officials said.

Two gunshot wound victims were dropped off by private vehicle at Bridgeport Hospital with gunshot wounds around 2:40 p.m. Sunday, Capt. Kevin Gilleran said.
A fugitive and suspected member of the 'Ndrangheta Mafia was extradited from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and arrived in Italy on Monday morning, according to an Italian police statement.

Marc Feren Claude Biart has been a fugitive from justice since 2014, with an arrest warrant accusing him of criminal association aimed at drug trafficking in favour of the Cacciola clan of the "Ndrangheta, the mafia group based out of Calabria, the statement said.

Police video showed Interpol agents escorting Biart, in shorts and a t-shirt into a pickup truck in Boca Rica, Santo Domingo and onto an airplane.

Biart arrived at Milan's Malpensa airport and was escorted off the plane by a group of police into the airport where he was finger printed and led away.

According to the Italian police statement, Biart had been eluding police for over five years after moving from Costa Rica to Santo Domingo.

Their luck changed when the fugitive and his wife created an Italian cooking channel on YouTube.

Although Biart never showed his face, his tattoos could be seen in recipe tutorials which led police to his identification and arrest.

(Image Credit: AP)

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Administrators of the State University of New York at Geneseo reinstated a student who they suspended from his education program for posting an Instagram video in which he stated, "a man is a man and a woman is a woman."

On Wednesday, Owen Stevens confirmed to The College Fix that his university has allowed him to stay and finish his studies in their campus.

"Universities should be a marketplace of ideas, not an assembly line for one type of thought. Instead of policing speech on social media platforms, they should be engaging in educating future world leaders," he told the outlet.

Also posting on his Instagram account with an attachment of the news of his reinstatement, he wrote, "I win."



Back in February, Stevens received an email from the college's dean informing him of his suspension due to a November video post in which he stated his public stance on gender views.

"You continue to maintain, 'I do not recognize the gender that they claim to be if they are not biologically that gender,'" the Dean said in a letter to Stevens. "This public position is in conflict with the [state's] Dignity for All Students Act requiring teachers to maintain a classroom environment protecting the mental and emotional well-being of all students."

The "mental and emotional well-being of all students," according to the school's philosophy, will help foster a diverse campus community, hence the constraints on public teachers in their conservative views.

This week, the Daily Wire has obtained copies of the reinstatement documents which states that "the university has vastly eased up on (their) requirements."

Stevens, however, is still required to abide to the regulations presented in the "Guidance to School Districts for Creating a Safe and Support School Environment for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students" documents. He also has to "self-monitor" his social media posts to "ensure that he presents himself in a professional manner," said College Fix's report.

Daily Wire added that the college has initially planned to make Stevens undergo a "re-education" training.

"SUNY Geneseo claimed that Stevens would remain suspended from participating in in-school field experiences and courses that have field experiences until he completes a "remediation plan,"' reports DW.

The said "remediation plan" includes the removal of Steven's controversial Instagram video and other related posts, lessen his online presence, and attend a "school-sanctioned training."

"Although this situation was mended, they still have not changed their destructive policies," Stevens commented. "We [Stevens and his legal team] will be taking every action necessary to get these policies changed legally."

Celebrating his reinstatement in public education as a milestone, Stevens is still determined to go against the current of libertarian policies which have gutted schools and states.

"This is a huge victory for us ... but we need to push back so that destructive policies leave our universities," said Stevens. "We are still planning legal action ... The much larger issue is that the university will almost always back down in the face of negative media attention. Going the legal route will provide legal precedent in order to challenge their policies in court."
The Emergency Department of E Hospital in Hanoi recently successfully removed a wireless earbud from the abdomen of a 15-year-old patient.

The patient, living in Dich Vong Hau Ward in Cau Giay District, was admitted to the hospital at around 10:35 pm on March 26.

According to the patients family, the teenager had been allowed to use a pair of wireless earbuds at around 9:00 pm on the same day.

When the family noticed one earbud was nowhere to be seen ten minutes later, the patient pointed at the stomach.

The family thus rushed the child to the hospital.

Doctors had the patient undergo necessary tests and scans.

X-ray results showed that there was an earbud in the abdomen of the child.

Having suffered autism since childhood, the patient did not cooperate with the doctors in sampling for tests or screening and anesthesia.

It was not until 2:50 am the next day that Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh of the hospitals hepatobiliary department managed to perform the flexible bronchoscopy with general anesthesia to successfully pick up the foreign object from the child.

According to the doctors, it was fortunate that the patient had swallowed a slippery and round-shaped object, so it drifted down to the stomach without getting stuck in the esophagus or airway, thus avoiding other dangerous complications.

They added that E Hospital has received many cases of children swallowing foreign objects such as coins, buttons, marbles, stones, nails, screws, and pins recently.

Swallowing objects creates high risks of fatality or brain death from airway obstruction.

Foreign objects can also cause dangerous complications such as pneumonia and abdominal inflammation.

Many children are not even aware that they have swallowed dangerous things.

Therefore, parents are advised to pay attention to their children, take time to play with them, and prevent the children from playing with small objects like coins, marbles, and keys.

In the event that a child accidentally swallows an object, the family needs to quickly bring the child to the nearest medical facility.

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Investigators have no idea why a Maryland man fatally shot his parents at their home and gunned down two other people at a convenience store before setting fire to his apartment and killing himself, a police official said Monday.

A gun that Joshua Green, 27, used in Sundays deadly shooting spree was registered to him and had been legally purchased in 2020, according to Baltimore County Police Col. Andre Davis.

As to why this occurred, we have no idea yet, Davis said at a news conference. Our homicide detectives are tirelessly investigating a motive, but it appears that the shooter acted alone.

Police believe Green killed his parents  Douglas Green, 58, and Olivia Green, 62  at their Baltimore County home before he drove over to a Royal Farms store in Essex just before 7 a.m. on Sunday.

Green blocked in another car in the stores parking lot, got out and shot and killed Alpha Smith, 62, while she sat in her vehicle, according to Davis. Green then entered the store and fatally shot a customer, 43-year-old Silvesta Daye, near a cash register before wounding a store employee. Davis said the employee, a 22-year-old man, was in stable condition at a hospital on Monday.

After the shooting, police said, Green returned to his nearby home and set fire to his apartment before shooting himself. Police found the apartment engulfed in flames and Green dead in the parking lot with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Homicide detectives found the bodies of Greens parents in their garage when they went to their home to notify them of their sons death, according to Davis.

Davis said Green had no criminal contacts with police before the shootings.

Police Chief Melissa Hyatt said that there were more questions than answers about a horrific and sickening event which changed the lives of many people.

For now, we know that four innocent people lost their lives and one person sustained serious injuries, she said.

Hyatt said police have spoken to a relative of Green but she didnt elaborate.

When we are able to definitively have facts and information, we will relay that. We just want to make sure that we are putting out accurate information, the chief said.

Greens parents lived in an unincorporated part of Baltimore County called Baldwin. Daniel Brennaman, 73, a neighbor who lives two doors down from the couples home, said he noticed a police cruiser and saw a photographer out in front of the house while walking his dog on Sunday evening.

A storm blew through here, and I thought it was a car accident around the corner, he said. I havent heard a thing.

Brennaman said he has exchanged greetings and small talk with the couple but didnt know them personally.

I wave at him from time to time. Hes always working in his yard, he said.

Royal Farms spokesperson Breahna Brown said Sunday that the company had no immediate comment on the shooting at its store.

___

Michael Kunzelman of The Associated Press wrote this story. He reported from College Park, Md.
Rawalpindi, March 30 : Unidentified assailants ransacked a 74-year-old Hindu temple located in Rawalpind's Purana Qila area.

As per the police authorities, a case has been registered at the Bani Gala station against the attack which took place early Sunday morning.

The authorities said that the temple was being restored and construction and repair work was underway since the last one month.

It was further revealed that due to the restoration process, there were no religious rituals taking place in the temple, nor were there any idols in the premises.

"Ten to 12 people came and ransacked the doors and stairs of the temple on its outer side, which affected the construction work," Syed Raza Abbas, Assistant Security Officer, Evacue Trust Property, Northern Zone, Rawalpindi, said.

Temple administrator Om Prakash revealed that security has been deployed at his house as well as the temple following the incident.

The attack on the Hindu temple is not the first as miscreants have attacked many others in different parts of the country in the past.

The Hindu community of Pakistan has called on the government to ensure safety and security of their religious sites and facilitate them in performing their religious rituals.

In December 2020, a religious cleric had inflamed supporters and followers in attacking a historic site in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province, triggering the government to take steps to not only secure the site, but also renovating it.

Pakistan has faced global criticism over its treatment of the Hindu minorities, who have been subjected to forced conversions, kidnapping, brutal assaults and attacks on religious sites.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge has called for universities to expand their online course offerings to target new markets of international students, while moving away from relying on high-fee paying students from China and India studying on campus to drive revenue.

In a speech calling for a major rethink of Australias international education strategy, Mr Tudge will canvass the idea of using migration incentives as a way to better target overseas students who want to study in areas of skilled job shortages.

Currently almost half of international enrolments at universities are concentrated in commerce, while fields like engineering, maths, technology and health attract significantly lower enrolment shares than the OECD average, he says in a draft of the speech.

Education Minister Alan Tudge will use a major speech at RMIT University on Wednesday to call for a rethink of Australias international education strategy. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Can we use levers, including migration levers, to encourage more students to study in the areas where we know we have shortages?
Caitlin Clarkson Pereira, a former candidate from Fairfield for the state House of Representatives, drew national attention when, in 2019, she filed a lawsuit to make child care an allowable expense in Connecticuts publicly financed campaigns.

Pereira lost her race but won her lawsuit against the State Elections Enforcement Commission, which had turned down her request. Still, she and her supporters, including Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, said the judges ruling should be codified into law.

This week, the General Assemblys Government Administration and Elections Committee moved to do that, advancing a bill that would allow candidates to spend public campaign money on child care costs directly related to campaign activity by a vote of 15-3.

In 2018, when Pereira, a Fairfield Democrat, ran against Republican state Rep. Brenda Kupchick, she went to the State Elections Enforcement Commission, known as SEEC, for a declaratory ruling on whether public funds she received from the voluntary Citizens Election Program could be used to pay for child care for her daughter, Parker, who was 3 at the time. That would allow her to hit the campaign trail, she argued, so it should be a campaign expense.

The all-male commission said state law did not allow it. But the commission offered to work with the legislature to change the states campaign finance laws.

The debate over the bill comes as responses to the coronavirus pandemic at both the state and federal levels have focused on funding for child care as way to help women and working mothers.

Access to affordable and quality child care is critical to gender equity and has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicole Sanclemente, policy and program associate for the Connecticut Womens Education and Legal Fund, said in submitted testimony. Women, especially women of color, continue to shoulder the majority of the caregiving responsibilities of their families, including child care and elder care.

The issue grabbed the attention of former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who tweeted her support in April 2019, and Ellen Weintraub, then the chair of the Federal Elections Commission.

Pereira appealed the SEECs ruling and won. A Connecticut Superior Court judge ruled in her favor last August, stating that candidates for political office in Connecticut can use public campaign funds to reimburse child care expenses as long as they are the direct result of campaign activity, that they are reasonable and customary for the services rendered and are properly documented by the campaign.

The bill advanced by the elections committee, which could now be taken up by the full General Assembly, would establish an age and spending limit for eligible child care expenses.

The proposal would apply to any child who is under thirteen years of age and for whom such candidate is the parent or legal guardian, which services are necessary as a direct result of campaign activity that would not exist but for such candidates campaign, and would limit spending to $2,000 for a candidate for state Senate and $1,000 for a state House candidate.

The next step, Pereira said, should be making sure the reimbursement process for parents is accessible and easily understandable.

By Pereiras count, 10 other states are working on similar legislation, so this is an opportunity for Connecticut to lead the way.

Bysiewicz, who chairs the Governors Council on Women and Girls, has said child care continues to be a barrier for women running for office, especially low-income mothers who cant afford outside help.

The proposal was included in a legislative package pushed for by the council, which has the support of Gov. Ned Lamont.
(Sharecast News) - London stocks finished in positive territory on Tuesday, as investors looked past the Archegos Capital collapse.

The FTSE 100 ended the session up 0.53% at 6,772.12, and the FTSE 250 was 0.65% firmer at 21,574.44.



Sterling was in a mixed state, last trading 0.33% weaker on the dollar at $1.3717, as it strengthened 0.04% against the euro to 1.1703.



"For yet another day a brief wobble in the FTSE 100 has been bought, providing hope that the index can make up its mind soon about a move above 6,800," said IG chief market analyst Chris Beauchamp.



"The index has been supported by another bounce for value names such as engineering, travel and miners, along with decent gains for bank stocks.



"This is exactly the kind of cocktail to provide a foundation for further gains, helped along by a timely bout of sterling weakness that has seen GBP-USD pushed back towards $1.37."



On the economic front, grocery sales slowed ahead of the anniversary of the first national lockdown, according to the latest figures from Kantar.



Take-home grocery sales rose by 7.4% over the 12 weeks ended 21 March, a marked slowdown on the growth seen in previous months.



In the 12 weeks to 21 February, sales rose by 12.5%, jumping by 15.1% in the last four weeks of the period.



The most recent four-week period saw sales fall 3.0% year-on-year, however, with shoppers making 117m fewer trips to supermarkets.



"The anniversary of the first national lockdown means we begin to compare grocery sales against the record-breaking levels seen in the early days of the pandemic, and growth has perhaps not surprisingly dipped over the past four weeks as a result," said Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar.



"This time last year, Brits were adjusting to schools and offices closing and making extra trips to the supermarket to fill their cupboards for lockdown."



In equity markets, British Airways and Iberia owner IAG ascended 5.1%, with banks Barclays and HSBC also putting in a solid performance, rising 4.86% and 3%, respectively.



Royal Mail rallied 2.04% after saying it would pay a one-off dividend and holding full-year profits guidance as it outlined plans to more than double profits at its GLS parcels unit in the next five years.



Ladbrokes owner Entain was boosted 1.46% by an upgrade to 'overweight' at JPMorgan, but 888 Holdings was knocked 0.99% lower by a downgrade to 'neutral' by the same outfit as it took a look at online gaming stocks.



Polymer maker Victrex gained 5.16% after an upgrade to 'neutral' at Citi, which pointed to the first signs of volume growth "as many of its key end markets look to be through trough levels".



On the downside, Imperial Brands fell 0.99% even after it backed its full-year guidance as it hailed a good start to the year, with market share growth in its five priority markets.



SSE and Pennon were both lower after trading updates, falling 1.48% and 2.48% respectively, while Cairn Energy lost 1.38% after it said India has appealed against an order by an international tribunal to pay $1.2bn damages to the company in a long-running tax dispute.



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SHELLEYGAN PETERSEN, CHARMAINE NGATJIHEUE and MERCY KARUUOMBE

PRESIDENTIAL press secretary Alfredo Hengari yesterday confirmed that president Hage Geingob says he needs to be convinced of the need for a universal basic income grant (BIG).

In an emailed response to The Namibian, Hengari said the president wanted to know why the country should introduce a universal grant while it could instead focus on providing the most vulnerable Namibians with funds.

This comes after the BIG Coalition last week expressed its disappointment over Geingob's comments on the grant at the launch of the Harambee Prosperity Plan II on 18 March.

Geingob during the launch said he was one of the first people to attend meetings on the grant, but even then he was questioning why everyone in the country should receive the same amount.

"I was part of it, I was also sponsoring two students. So it is nothing new to me. That is why I am saying it should be based on needs.

"Are you saying everybody, those who are rich, all of us who are sitting here, who are getting money, who are rich, must get the same as a person who is unemployed there in Katutura? Does it make sense? No. To me it does not make sense," Geingob said.

He then called on a modified grant, adding that Namibia had a food bank that did "wonders".

He said cash transfers are used to address poverty everywhere, and thus food or other donations should be properly structured.

He said a BIG should be given to those who deserve it, and not to "billionaires".

"I am yet to be convinced how it makes sense that a person who is unemployed, suffering in Katutura or anywhere else, and a person who is employed, some are billionaires, must get the same. Please explain that to me," the president said.

Hengari yesterday said: "The president is against a universal grant that does not consider the means of beneficiaries. The wealthy and gainfully employed should not be beneficiaries. That is the caveat."

'DIGNIFIED LIFE'

The BIG Coalition says they have for the past 15 years campaigned to have a BIG introduced in Namibia to ensure a dignified life for all Namibians.

To demonstrate the effects of a BIG, the coalition says they carried out the first universal cash-transfer pilot project in the world.

The study was conducted at Otjivero-Omitara in 2008.

Residents below the age of 60 received a BIG of N$100 per person per month.

The study reportedly showed that household and food poverty dropped significantly, which resulted in a reduction in child malnutrition, and families had better access to healthcare services.

BIG Coalition spokesperson Rinaani Musutua yesterday said the president's sentiments show he is not serious about "implementing the grant, eradicating poverty and addressing inequality and poverty".

She said Geingob was part of the first BIG meetings 18 years ago. He was one of the first people to sponsor beneficiaries during the pilot project launched at Otjivero-Omitara in 2008, she said, and thus she does not understand why he does not accept the concept.

"The president wants the grant to benefit the most vulnerable people, and this can only be done through means testing, whereby people have to prove they are worthy to receive the grant. However, that would mean a lot of administration and would mean a number of vulnerable Namibians would still be excluded," Musutua said.

'TESTING MEANS PROBLEMATIC'

She said means testing would not work, because a number of Namibians still do not have access to various technological services to register themselves for the grant.

"There are many Namibians in precarious working conditions, which include those with temporary employment and others in the informal sector . . . As a result, these people do not make enough money monthly. If it is needs-based or based on employment, many Namibians would be excluded," she said.

According to Musutua, the N$500 grant should be given to all Namibians between the ages of 18 and 59 years, and those who earn more than N$50 000 per annum could have their tax codes adjusted as a way to repay the funds received.

The spokesperson also took a shot at the government's food-bank project, saying it has failed.

She said converting the food bank into a BIG would be an injustice, because figures from the Presidency show 11 000 households countrywide benefited, but do not indicate how many individuals were assisted.

"The food bank was not successful, it has not reduced hunger, did not reach its target, and has not reduced poverty," she said.

ANALYSTS DIVIDED

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Graham Hopwood, the executive director of the Institute for Public Policy Research, agrees with Geingob, saying other welfare grant models could be more affordable and effective.

"The apparent success of the Emergency Income Grant (EIG) raises the possibility of introducing a more cost-effective targeted grant. This could prioritise people who are not registered as taxpayers. The feasibility and potential impact of introducing such a grant should be researched," he says.

He suggested the Ministry of Finance release more details about the BIG, such as how the grant was first utilised.

Local economist Salomo Hei says the BIG is needed, and it is not a matter of whether the country can afford it

"People are struggling, income levels have completely diminished, and there is no demand in the economy," he says.

Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says the president was one of the first individuals to vie for a BIG.

"With our population it would not cost us that much. I think it would increase our gross domestic product and employment," he says, adding that he sees no impact of the food bank as it has only been implemented at a few towns.
With Cream, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton, set the template for not only the 'supergroup' but also the "power trio," with their innate musical talent and brilliance. Only coming together as Cream in July 1966, they shone briefly but blindingly bright throughout two trailblazing years.

"Cream was a shambling circus of diverse personalities who happened to find that catalyst together.. any one of us could have played unaccompanied for a good length of time. So you put the three of us together in front of an audience willing to dig it limitlessly, we could have gone on forever. And we did.just going for the moon every time we played."

Eric Clapton

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Introduction by Buddy Miles

2. White Room

3. Politician

4. I'm So Glad

Side 2

1. Sitting On Top Of The World

2. Crossroads

3. Sunshine Of Your Love

Side 3

1. Traintime

2. Toad

Side 4

1. Spoonful

SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises

Related Links

umusic.com


A Minnesota high school teacher chained herself to the courthouse where Derek Chauvin is facing trial for the murder of George Floyd to protest police killings in Minnesota.

Kaia Hirt, a tenth grade English teacher at Champlin Park High School, wrapped herself in chains locked onto a security fence at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis on Monday and stayed put overnight.

She told DailyMail.com that her dramatic gesture was a protest against what she views as city and state officials' failure to 'build a relationship with the community since the death of George Floyd last May'.

She said that she planned on staying chained to the fence until she got some assurances that things are going to change.

Those changes included a commitment from Senator Warren Limmer to conduct a vote on police reform, an end to qualified immunity and lifting the statute of limitations on police involved homicides.

Kaia Hirt, a tenth grade English teacher, wrapped herself in chains locked onto a security fence at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis on Monday and stayed put overnight

Hirt (center) told DailyMail.com that her dramatic gesture was a protest against what she views as city and state officials' failure to 'build a relationship with the community since the death of George Floyd last May'

Hirt spoke told DailyMail.com on Tuesday morning as Chauvin's trial entered its second day.

'This trial is about the value of a black man's life in American society, and it is representative of where we are at with race relations in our country,' Hirt said.

Minneapolis police officers investigated reports of a suspicious person who may have deposited packages just before the trial resumed.

Officers were seen conducted a thorough search of trash cans around the heavily-fortified courthouse. It's unclear whether anything was found.

Buildings are still being boarded up around the city that remains on high alert amid fears that the Chauvin trial could kick of violence similar to that which erupted immediately after Floyd's death last spring.

Hirt spoke told DailyMail.com on Tuesday morning as Chauvin's trial entered its second day

'This trial is about the value of a black man's life in American society, and it is representative of where we are at with race relations in our country,' Hirt said

Minneapolis police officers investigated reports of a suspicious person who may have deposited packages just before the trial resumed on Tuesday

Officials in Minneapolis have been preparing for potential unrest surrounding the trial for months, coming up with a plan dubbed Operation Safety Net.

The mission of the operation is to support peaceful protests while preventing violence.

The first phase of the operation was completed during the two weeks of jury selection. Phase two began on Monday with opening statements, followed by phase three during jury deliberations and phase four when a verdict is reached.

Two thousand members of the Minnesota National Guard were called in for the operation, as well as 1,100 law enforcement officers.

'You will see an increased presence it will be both a combination of National Guard as well as law enforcement officers,' Mayor Jacob Frey said.

Approach roads have been blocked off and the buildings buttressed with a double layer of concrete barricades. Bails of barbed wire spiral between the blocks and steel fences loom above.

Windows are boarded up sealing the court off from public view and green tarpaulin covers the fencing by the parking lot and entrance believed to be reserved for jurors whose anonymity will be strictly guarded.

Armored vehicles and members of the National Guard stand ready, in a security effort estimated to have already cost more than $1million.

The Hennepin County Government Center was heavily fortified ahead of Chauvin's trial
Catherine Hahn didnt choose the typical path to being a doctor.

First, she was one of the first students to enroll at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, New Jerseys newest medical school. Then, she chose an accelerated program that would get her through medical school in three years, instead of the usual four.

And just as she got to the heart of her training working with patients in a hospital last year, the coronavirus pandemic hit. She and other medical students, who were considered non-essential personnel, were sent home to continue their studies online.

Despite her roller coaster ride through medical school, Hahn said she went into Match Day  the ceremony where medical students learn the name of the hospital where they will be serving their residency  feeling positive earlier this month.

This is something Ive wanted to do for a long, long time, said Hahn, 24, of Westwood. I really do feel prepared and I feel confident in being able to start a residency.

With her parents, her twin brother and another brother looking on during an online Match Day ceremony with her classmates on Zoom, Hahn opened an envelope and announced she will be doing her three-year residency in pediatrics close to home at Hackensack Meridian Health Center after graduation this spring.

Hahn will be one of 18 graduates of Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine when it holds its first graduation in June. The school, located on the Nutley-Clifton border, is the first private medical school to open in New Jersey in more than 50 years.

It began as a partnership between Seton Hall University and the Hackensack Meridian health system, but Hackensack Meridian eventually took over full financial responsibility of running the school.

Hackensack Meridian is New Jerseys fifth medical school, joining Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden and the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford.

You cant imagine how exciting it is to see your first class of medical students graduating, you just cant imagine it. It is a wonderful feeling, Bonita Stanton, founding dean of Hackensack Meridians medical school, told the students at last weeks Match Day event.

Medical schools around the world participated in Match Day, run by the National Resident Matching Program. The group uses a computerized mathematical algorithm to match graduating medical students with hospitals around the country offering residencies in their specialities so new doctors can complete their training.

This year, a record 48,700 people submitted applications for 38,106 open positions at residency programs, even though the pandemic disrupted the usual process of interviewing and evaluating students, the group said.

The application and recruitment cycle was upended as a result of the pandemic, yet the results of the Match continue to demonstrate strong and consistent outcomes for participants, said Donna Lamb, president and CEO of the matching program.

Doctors typically attend medical school, then spend three years in a residency learning a specialty and pass licensing exams and board certifications before becoming full-fledged doctors. Some also spend another year or two in a fellowship getting additional training in a speciality.

At Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, efforts were made to match students who completed the accelerated three year degree with residencies in hospitals within the Hackensack Meridian network in New Jersey.

This years 18 graduates will include: 10 doing their residency at Hackensack University Medical Center; six at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune; one at JFK Medical Center in Edison; and one at Ocean Medical Center Brick.

Typically, medical schools hold emotional ceremonies with champagne and balloons as students gather together to tear open envelopes at the same time to reveal which hospitals they would be moving to to complete their multi-year residencies.

This year, many of those ceremonies were held via video calls due to the pandemic. Hackensack Meridian student Samantha Sherman was in the hospital wearing scrubs as she watched her classmates hold up signs on Zoom with the name of the hospital where they matched.

Sherman, of Farmingdale, was matched to the anesthesiology department at Hackensack University Medical Center. Already a nurse, she has long dreamed of being a doctor.

It was a relief to learn where her residency will be after a stressful year that included having to stop her in-person medical school clerkship training in hospitals at the start of the pandemic, said Sherman, 30.

It was a huge shock at the time, Sherman said. But I feel like they made the best of an unusual situation.

Sherman, who has a nursing degree from Seton Hall, picked up nursing shifts in a COVID-19 unit at Monmouth Medical Center during the pandemic on her off hours. At home, she continued her online courses with her medical school professors.

The medical schools faculty quickly revised the curriculum with online classes and other training to keep the students in the accelerated program on their three year path to graduating even though they could not be inside hospitals.

Hackensack Meridian is one of more than a dozen medical schools around the country experimenting with three-year accelerated medical degrees designed to reduce the cost of becoming a doctor and make the training more efficient. Students learn all the same information as regular four-year medical school students, but in a condensed time period.

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University are also members of a Consortium of Accelerated Medical Pathway Programs, a group developing ways to speed up medical school degrees.

The average medical student pays $41,438 a year in tuition and fees at a public medical school and $61,490 a year at a private school, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. The average medical school student graduates more than $200,000 in debt.

At Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, tuition and fees total about $66,000 a year.

This years Hackensack Meridian graduates matched in residencies including internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, psychiatry, neurology and anesthesiology.

The school is expecting great things of its inaugural class, professors said.

We cannot wait to see what their careers will do for our health network  and the medical world at large, said Jeffrey Boscamp, vice dean of the medical school and a professor of pediatrics.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com.
A new $2 coin has been released to commemorate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have served in the military.

The new design was unveiled in Canberra on Tuesday by Aboriginal artist and Kalkadoon woman Chern'ee Sutton and Royal Australian Mint CEO Leigh Gordon.

The coin will be released in the coming weeks featuring a black hand-print in the centre surrounded by three rows of dots in the colours of the Defence Forces Tri-Service Flag.

The Mint launched Australias newest circulating coin commemorating the Indigenous men and women who have served in the military (pictured)

The artwork of Aboriginal artist and Kalkadoon woman Chern'ee Sutton (pictured) inspired the design of the new $2 coin

A snake with military and Indigenous symbols including boomerangs, poppy flowers and rosemary, encircle the design with the words 'Indigenous Military Service' engraved at the top.

Mr Gordon said the coin acknowledges and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's longstanding tradition of serving in the military.

'Having served in every conflict and commitment involving Australian defence contingents, since Federation, including but not limited to, Gallipoli, Kokoda and Vietnam,' he said.

'The strength of Indigenous Service has been a constant throughout Australian history.'

The commemorative coin was inspired by the artwork of Chern'ee Sutton, who praised Indigenous personnel that have and continue to defend Australia.



'I am honoured to have designed this significant artwork that recognises my brothers and sisters who have bravely fought in every conflict Australia has been involved in, it is a timely tribute to their sacrifices made for all of us.'

A limited edition uncirculated version of the coin is available to purchase from the Royal Australian Mint from 8am on April 1, 2021.

The coin celebrates Indigenous Australians longstanding tradition of serving in the military (pictured: Aboriginal serviceman Seargant Reg Saunders (third from left, front row), waiting for a troop train in Queensland, 1943)
A man who shot dead a police officer at a bar in Queens in 1981 is now working with state police on the subject of police reform.

Richard Rivera murdered officer and father-of-four Robert Walsh, in what was described as an 'execution-style' killing. Walsh was off-duty at the time and having a drink at the bar after completing his shift.

Having spent 38 years behind bars for the crime, Rivera was released in 2019 and now sits on an advisory group for Ithaca and Tompkins County in upstate New York as part of Governor Andrew Cuomo's 'Reimagining Public Safety Collaborative.'

Richard Rivera murdered officer and father-of-four Robert Walsh in 1981. Having spent 38 years behind bars for the crime, Rivera was released in 2019 and now sits on an advisory group for Ithaca and Tompkins County in upstate New York

Officer Walsh, 36, who had served on the force for 12 years was at the bar wearing his cowboy hat after his shift, before heading home when he was shot dead in the robbery

The group was set up after Cuomo ordered municipalities to submit police-reform plans to the state by the start of April in the wake of George Floyd's death last May.

Upon announcing the police-reform measure, he noted that local government failing to provide a plan would lose 'a significant amount' of state money.

'I know people are going to be critical,' Rivera, 56, told The New York Post. 'I don't know if [Walsh's] family would find this acceptable. I can't control that. What I can control is the way I've been living my life.

'I'm holding the memory of Officer Walsh to the highest standard of policing in terms of a protector to the community, somebody who cares for the community.'

Rivera was 16 in January 1981 at the time of Walsh's murder when he and four others walked into the BVD Bar and Grill in Maspeth just after midnight looking to rob the place.

Officer Walsh, 36, who had served on the force for 12 years was at the bar wearing his cowboy hat after his shift, having a drink with a colleague before heading home.

He was a highly decorated officer and had received 20 awards and commendations.

Rivera is pictured as a teen with two of his siblings

Just as the robbery kicked off, Walsh identified himself as a cop and went for his gun in an attempt to stop the robbery.

But Rivera fired first and shot him in the shoulder knocking him to the ground.

As he lay on the floor, Rivera walked over to him and put his gun against the officer's head before pulling the trigger again.

'It was an execution,' said William J. Devine, first deputy police commissioner in 1981. 'The officer no longer was a threat to the men. He was given a death sentence for being a police officer.'

Rivera was arrested along with the others involved in the crime two days later.

One of officer Walsh's son's abhorred the decision to have Rivera play any role in the future of the police.

'We're completely shocked that the man who murdered my father is being trusted to create police reforms,' Robert Walsh Jr., 47, said to the Post.

'My father dedicated his life to serving and protecting New Yorkers. He should be the one serving on a panel to help reimagine policing, but he'll never get that chance.'

Richard Rivera with his wife, Kerseinya Rivera, on the day they married while he was in prison

It's a view that is shared by Pat Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association.

'It's outrageous and despicable,' the union chief said. 'Not only did this cop-killer get paroled, but now he gets a seat at the table to help dismantle a police department. Did anybody expect him to be fair and open-minded in his review?

'The entire process has trampled on the ideals that police officers like Robert Walsh upheld. It's the ultimate disrespect to his service and sacrifice.'

Since his release almost two years ago, Rivera has also worked with a homeless charity who aims to provide food and shelter to those in need.

While in prison, he claims to have found his calling in social work and was a member of the Inmate Grievance Review Committee, a group that mediates disputes between prisoners and correctional staff.

He co-founded the Prisoners AIDS Counseling and Education Program, and helped establish the Hispanic Inmate Needs Task Force as well as a program for older prisoners known as Fifty PLUS according to The Appeal.

'I feel that I'm living my life in a way that I feel is for the betterment of the people around me,' he said. 'I live my life in a way that honors and respects [Officer Walsh's] memory, advocating for people who can't advocate for themselves.'
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) today announced it will give away $100,000 in free burritos and $100,000 in Bitcoin to celebrate National Burrito Day on April 1. This occasion makes Chipotle the first U.S. restaurant brand to offer a cryptocurrency giveaway to consumers.

On April 1, National Burrito Day, Chipotle will give away $100,000 in free burritos and $100,000 in Bitcoin. This occasion makes Chipotle the first U.S. restaurant brand to offer a cryptocurrency giveaway to consumers.

A Redemption Story

On National Burrito Day, Chipotle and Stefan Thomas, the Founder and CEO of Coil, will launch a new interactive game called "Burritos or Bitcoin." In a playful ode to Thomas's experience losing the login to his hard drive that stored $387 million in Bitcoin, Chipotle is encouraging fans to carry out a mock "chiptocurrency" rescue mission and crack the code on its digital wallet.

How It Works

Each player will have ten (10) tries to guess a valid six-digit code for a chance to win a free burrito or up to $25,000 in Bitcoin. If players are unsuccessful in their ten attempts and endure the same fate as Thomas, they may be surprised and delighted with a special offer from Chipotle.

The contest officially goes live on April 1 at 9:00am PT and ends at 6:00pm PT that same day. Fans can play "Burritos or Bitcoin" by visiting: burritosorbitcoin.com.

ROI

Here is the full breakdown for prizing:

10,000 fans will win one (1) free burrito

50 fans will win $500 in Bitcoin

in Bitcoin 3 fans will win $25,000 in Bitcoin

"National Burrito Day is a huge moment for Chipotle as our fans traditionally flock to our restaurants and digital platforms to order their favorites," said Chris Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer. "We're always looking for unique ways to enhance the celebration, and this year, we're giving fans the opportunity to acquire two highly valuable assets: Burritos or Bitcoin."

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C., 18 years of age or older. Begins 4/1/21 at 9:00AM PT and ends at 6:00PM PT. For official rules, additional eligibility restrictions, prize descriptions/restrictions/ARVs, odds and complete details, visit burritosorbitcoin.com. Bitcoin Prize USD exchange rate will be determined as of 4/1/21 at approximately 9:00 am PT (the "Cut Off Time"). Bitcoin prizes will be awarded based on the USD exchange rate as of the Cut Off Time. The actual exchange rate at the time of prize award may vary from the Cut Off Time; no difference in value will be paid to winners. Sponsor: CMG Strategy Co., LLC

ABOUT CHIPOTLE

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(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, 30 MAR - Israel on Tuesday reopened the Taba border crossing with Egypt, which had been closed for a year to Israelis who wanted to visit the Sinai Peninsula.



The crossing will be in effect until April 12 for a maximum of 300 people per day.



Those who wish to cross will have to be vaccinated or recovered from Covid and show a negative test for Covid both upon exiting for Egypt as well as entering Israel. (ANSAmed).



The first episode of series six of Line Of Duty has become the most watched episode of drama since 2018.

Consolidated figures from audience research organisation Barb showed a total of 13.1 million viewers watched the programme, which returned to television screens earlier this month.

It was the most watched episode of drama since the finale of Bodyguard, also created by Jed Mercurio, in September 2018, which had an audience of 14.3 million.

Did you miss us on Sunday!? Catch up with faces familiar and new in the first episode of #LineOfDuty on @BBCiplayer now! pic.twitter.com/42gvHzsmTr  Line of Duty (@Line_of_duty) March 24, 2021

The finale of series five of Line Of Duty drew 12.1 million viewers in 2018.

The new series of the police corruption show sees Vicky McClure, Adrian Dunbar, and Martin Compston reprising their roles, while Kelly Macdonald has joined the cast.

Read More

The show returned on March 21, with anti-corruption unit AC-12 investigating a new case regarding the senior officer in an unsolved murder case.

The episode drew complaints to the BBC over how a character with Downs syndrome was referred to, the corporation later said.

The first episode saw Terry Boyle, a character with Downs syndrome, played by Tommy Jessop, arrested for the murder of journalist Gail Vella.

The character was referred to as an oddball by Superintendent Ted Hastings (played by Dunbar) which drew complaints from viewers.

The BBC said Supt Hastings remark was not a reference to his disability, but rather to a theory he had been stalking the journalist.
Naypyidaw:

Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday said that she does not fear global scrutiny over the Rohingya crisis and pledged to hold rights violators to account and to resettle some of the 410,000 Muslims who have fled Myanmar.

However, Suu Kyi refused to blame Myanmars army, as the UN chief demanded an end to the military campaign and a better deal for the Muslim minority.

In an address timed to pre-empt censure at the UN General Assembly in New Yorkdelivered entirely in English and aimed squarely at an international audienceshe called for patience and understanding of the crisis which has driven some 421,000 Rohingya out of her mainly Buddhist country.

The Nobel Peace laureate vowed to resettle some refugees but offered no solutions to halt what the UN calls army-led ethnic cleansing in Rakhine state, where soldiers are accused of burning Rohingya out of their homes.

Her speech failed to quell international outrage, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issuing the blunt demand and Britains defence ministry saying it had suspended training courses for the Myanmar military in light of the violence in Rakhine.

The authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations and allow unhindered humanitarian access, Guterres told the opening of the General Assembly.

They must also address the grievances of the Rohingya, whose status has been left unresolved for far too long.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, also demanded the end of the military operation and denounced what we know is ethnic cleansing, in his speech to the General Assembly.

Amnesty International joined the outcry, saying Suu Kyi was burying her head in the sand over documented army abuses and claims of rape, murder and the systematic clearing of scores of villages.

Supporters and observers say the 72-year-old Suu Kyi lacks the authority to rein in the military, which ran the country for 50 years and only recently ceded limited powers to her civilian government.

Myanmars army acts without civilian oversight and makes all security decisions, including its notorious scorched earth counter-insurgency operations.

She is trying to claw back some degree of credibility with the international community, without saying too much that will get her in trouble with the (military) and Burmese people who dont like the Rohingya in the first place, said Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch.

Communal violence has torn through Rakhine state since Rohingya militants staged deadly attacks on police posts on August 25.

An army-led fightback has left scores dead and sent hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fleeing into Bangladesh.

In her 30-minute speech Suu Kyi reached out to critics who have condemned her failure to speak up for the stateless Rohingya.

Myanmar stood ready, she said, to repatriate refugees in accordance with a verification process agreed with Bangladesh in the early 1990s.

Those who have been verified as refugees from this country will be accepted without any problems, she added.

In less than a month just under half of Rakhines one-million-strong Rohingya minority has poured into Bangladesh, where they languish in overcrowded refugee camps.

It was not immediately clear how many would qualify to return.

But their claims to live in Myanmar are at the heart of a toxic debate about the group, who are denied citizenship by the state and considered to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Suu Kyis repatriation pledge is new and significant, said Richard Horsey, an independent analyst based in Myanmar, explaining it would in principle allow for the return of those who can prove residence in Myanmarrather than citizenship.

But in the monsoon-soaked shanties in Bangladesh, there was anguish among refugees over how they would meet any requirements.

We dont have any papers, said 55-year-old Abdur Razzak.

If the government is honestly speaking to resolve our crisis then we are ready to go back now, he added. Nobody wants to live in such squalid conditions as a refugee.

Suu Kyi insisted army clearance operations finished on September 5.

But AFP reporters have seen homes on fire in the days since then, while multiple testimonies from refugees arriving in Bangladesh suggest such operations have continued.

Without blaming any single group, Suu Kyi promised to

punish anyone found guilty of abuses regardless of their

religion, race or political position

And she insisted Rakhine was not a state in flames, saying: More than 50 percent of the villages of Muslims are intact.

Around 170 Rohingya villages have been razed, the government admits. Rights groups say satellite evidence shows the damage is more widespread.

While stories of weary and hungry Rohingya have dominated global headlines, there is little sympathy for them among Myanmars Buddhist majority.

Around 30,000 ethnic Rakhine Buddhists as well as Hindus have also been displacedapparent targets of August 25 attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army.

Loathing for the Rohingya has brought the public, including pro-democracy activists, into an unlikely alignment with an army that once had them under its heel.

Suu Kyis speech was warmly welcomed in Myanmar even though no Burmese subtitles were provided.

She told the real situation to the world on behalf of Myanmar people, Yu Chan Myae told AFP.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The Biden Administration announced a series of measures to support rapid offshore wind deployment, including designation of a new wind energy area and targeting the deployment of 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030.

New Wind Energy Area. The Interior Departments Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is announcing a new priority Wind Energy Area in the New York Bightan area of shallow waters between Long Island and the New Jersey coast. This new Wind Energy Area is adjacent to the greater metropolitan Tri-State areathe largest metropolitan population center in the United States that is home to more than 20 million people and their energy needs. The next step is for BOEM to publish a Proposed Sale Notice, followed by a formal public comment period and a lease sale in late 2021 or early 2022.

Deploying 30 GW of Offshore Wind by 2030. The Departments of Interior (DOI), Energy (DOE), and Commerce (DOC) are announcing a shared goal to deploy 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind in the United States by 2030, while protecting biodiversity and promoting ocean co-use. Meeting this target will trigger more than $12 billion per year in capital investment in projects on both US coasts. It will also generate enough power to meet the demand of more than 10 million American homes for a year, and avoid 78 million metric tons of CO 2 emissions.

To position the domestic offshore wind industry to meet the 2030 target, DOIs Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) plans to advance new lease sales and complete review of at least 16 Construction and Operations Plans (COPs) by 2025, representing more than 19 GW of new clean energy for the US.

Meeting the 2030 target will catalyze significant supply chain benefits, including new port upgrade investments totaling more than $500 million; one to two new US factories for each major windfarm component including wind turbine nacelles, blades, towers, foundations, and subsea cables; additional cumulative demand of more than 7 million tons of steelequivalent to 4 years of output for a typical U.S. steel mill; and the construction of 4 to 6 specialized turbine installation vessels in US shipyards, each representing an investment between $250 and $500 million.

Achieving this target also will unlock a pathway to 110 GW by 2050, the Administration said.

Advancing critical permitting milestones for the Ocean Wind Offshore Wind Project. BOEM is announcing a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Ocean Wind, putting it in line to become Americas third commercial scale offshore wind project. Ocean Wind has proposed an offshore wind project with a total capacity of 1,100 megawatts (MW)enough to power 500,000 homes across New Jersey. BOEM previously announced environmental reviews for Vineyard Wind (MA) and South Fork (RI), and anticipates initiating the environmental reviews for up to ten additional projects later this year.

Investing in Port Infrastructure to Support Offshore Wind. The US Department of Transportations (DOT) Maritime Administration is announcing a Notice of Funding Opportunity for port authorities and other applicants to apply for $230 million for port and intermodal infrastructure-related projects through the Port Infrastructure Development Program. Port Infrastructure Development Grants support projects that strengthen and modernize port infrastructure, and can support shore-side wind energy projects, such as storage areas, laydown areas, and docking of wind energy vessels to load and move items to offshore wind farms.

Access to $3 billion in Debt Capital to Support Offshore Wind Industry through DOE Loan Programs Office. DOEs Loan Programs Office (LPO) released a fact sheet to facilitate access for the offshore wind industry for $3 billion in funding through LPOs Title XVII Innovative Energy Loan Guarantee Program. The fact sheet signals that LPO is open for business and ready to partner with offshore wind and offshore transmission developers, suppliers, and other financing partners to scale the US offshore industry and support well-paying jobs. To date, LPO has provided $1.6 billion in support of projects totaling about 1,000 MW of onshore wind.

Offshore wind R&D funding through the National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium. The National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC), created by the DOE and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), is announcing the award of $8 million to 15 offshore wind research and development projects that were selected through a competitive process.

The new projects will focus on offshore support structure innovation, supply chain development, electrical systems innovation, and mitigation of use conflicts that will help reduce barriers and costs for offshore wind deployment.

The NOWRDC was established in 2018 with a $20.5-million DOE investment, matching funds from NYSERDA, and with follow-on contributions from state agencies in Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Maineall resulting in a total investment of around $47 million.

Partnering with Industry on Data-Sharing. The Department of Commerces National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is signing a Memorandum of Agreement with rsted, an offshore wind development company, to share physical and biological data in rsted-leased waters subject to US jurisdiction.

This agreement is the first of its kind between an offshore wind developer and NOAA, and paves the way for future data-sharing agreements that NOAA expects to enter into with other developers. NOAA anticipates that rsteds and other companies data will fill gaps in ocean science areasparticularly in ocean mapping and observingin service of NOAAs mission to advance climate adaptation and mitigation, weather-readiness, healthy oceans, and resilient coastal communities and economies.

Studying Offshore Wind Impacts. NOAAs Northeast Sea Grant programs, in partnership with DOE, DOC, and NOAAs Northeast Fisheries Science Center, is releasing a request for research proposals to support more than $1 million in grant funding to improve understanding of offshore renewable energy for the benefit of a diversity of stakeholders, including fishing and coastal communities. Grant funding will support objective community-based research in the Northeast to further understanding of the effects of offshore renewable energy on the ocean and local communities and economies as well as opportunities to optimize ocean co-use.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
The irony of the March 17 article Portland City Council residents discuss where homeless shelters should be allowed; most urge wide open options is that the article does not mention the geographic distribution of possible homeless shelters in the city of Portland. Yes, it did cover the fact that a large fraction of the testimony was by Portland citizens who do not favor even temporary homeless camps in their neighborhood parks. No surprise there. But a sizable chunk of testimony was provided by east Portland residents, who believe that the city and the Joint Office of Homeless Services will be targeting their area for a much larger proportion of shelters than that of more affluent neighborhoods. In January, Shelter to Housing Continuum planners, who have said in presentations to groups in east Portland that the siting of shelters is not their department, published a map clearly showing east Portland as having the most parcels available for unconditional development of shelters.

I am not opposed to having shelters developed in east Portland neighborhoods. The problem of homelessness is not going away until we help this most vulnerable segment of our community find somewhere to live. However, we do need to have some safeguards written in the proposed zoning code to ensure that in trying to help the homeless we are not going to overburden the neighborhoods in the less-affluent areas of town.

Carol S. Hasenberg, Portland
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The United States, and Indonesia have escalated pressure on China over its activities in the after an ongoing tussle between Beijing and the Philippines over a disputed reef came to light last week, South China Morning Post reported.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted on Monday morning that the "stands with our ally, the Philippines" in the face of what he called China's "maritime militia" amassing at Whitsun Reef in the Spratly Islands. "We will always stand by our allies and stand up for the rules-based order," he wrote.

Meanwhile, the Japanese and Indonesian defence ministers agreed at a meeting on Sunday to send a message that their two countries would strongly oppose any action by China that could escalate tensions in the contested regional waterway.

According to Japan's Nobuo Kishi, this will include a boost to their defence cooperation and a joint exercise in the

Early this month, Phillippines said that over 200 Chinese vessels have massed at a disputed reef in the West Philippine sea.

In an unusual announcement published by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on its Facebook page, the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea said ships have "massed" at the Julian Felipe Reef, the official Philippine name for Whitsun Reef, Manila Times reported.

Julian Felipe Reef is a large boomerang-shaped shallow coral reef 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan, and northeast of Pagkakaisa banks and reefs or the Union Reefs. The reef is claimed by China and the Philippines both.

The reef is also claimed by Vietnam, which calls it Da Ba Dau. Hanoi has said the Chinese vessels are infringing on its sovereignty.

The Philippines' air force has been holding air patrols over Chinese fishing vessels on the reef. Meanwhile, their air force has made repeated calls to Beijing for their withdrawal from the area, Al Jazeera reported.

In response to the Chinese vessels, the Philippines foreign ministry has filed a diplomatic protest against China while the Philippine navy and coast guard ships have been deployed in the area to monitor the situation.

"We are ready to defend our national sovereignty and protect the marine resources of the Philippines," said Philippines defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

An tribunal at The Hague in 2016 supported the Philippines' claim to the reef as part of its exclusive economic zone, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. However, the ruling was rejected by Beijing, which claims more than 90 per cent of the disputed

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and has overlapping territorial claims with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

China has been increasing its maritime activities in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea over the past few months, partly in response to Beijing's concerns over the increasing military presence in the region because of escalating Sino-US tensions.

Beijing's rising assertiveness against counter claimants in the East and South Sea has resulted in unprecedented agreement across the Indo-Pacific.

(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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Teletherapy. One thing Dr. Karen Horst expects to stick around after the pandemic? Therapy from home. Considering it a game changer, Horst, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine and staff psychiatrist at Texas Childrens Hospital, said she is kind of shocked we didnt come to this earlier  letting harried moms and pregnant women do therapy from home. Its way better for moms, for new moms, for women at the end of their pregnancy, to not have to come in person to a mental health appointment, she said. Although some patients will prefer to be in person or need in-person care, Id say like 99% of our moms are happy with doing mental health visits over telehealth, she said.
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Syrian who fled to Germany drops out of race for parliament

Syrian who fled to Germany drops out of race for parliament View Photo

BERLIN (AP)  A Syrian man who came to Germany as an asylum-seeker in 2015 and was running for a seat in parliament in his new countrys September election said Tuesday that he is withdrawing his candidacy.

Tareq Alaows, who joined the opposition Green party last year and was running as its candidate in a constituency in western Germany in the Sept. 26 vote, said in a statement that he made his decision for personal reasons.

The high threat level for me but especially for people close to me is the most important reason for withdrawing my candidacy, Alaows wrote, without elaborating. He also said he experienced a lot of racism during his campaign, which he started early last month.

My candidacy showed that in all parties in politics and across society, strong structures are needed to confront racism and help those affected, he said.

Before fleeing to Germany, Alaows participated in peaceful protests against Syrian President Bashar Assads government while studying law at the University of Aleppo. He also volunteered for the Red Crescent relief group during the civil war and helped register internally displaced people.

After his arrival in Germany, he soon became active in politics again, protesting for more rights and improved living conditions of asylum-seekers in the country.

Alaows, who is fluent in German and works as a legal counselor for asylum-seekers, said he wanted to give a voice to the countrys asylum-seekers in parliament.

His party said there had been anonymous death threats against Alaows family in Syria if he stuck to his bid for a seat in parliament.

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas noted that Alaows candidacy for the German parliament was the first by a refugee from Syria and said on Twitter it is depressing for our democracy that this has failed because of threats & racism. Maas, a member of the rival center-left Social Democrats, voiced solidarity with Alaows.

___

Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
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Maputo  The Mozambican government's National Inspectorate of Economic Activities (INAE) has announced that it is working to ensure that the price of bread does not rise on 1 April, as threatened by the National Association of Mozambican Bakers (AMOPAO).

Cited by the independent television station STV, the INAE General Inspector, Rita Freitas, guaranteed that the government is working to ensure that the increase does not happen, and she accused the bakers of behaving in a "precipitate" manner.

The call for a price rise first came from bakers in the northern city of Nampula, but was quickly echoed by AMOPAO.

Freitas accused the bakers of spreading "false news", and promised there would be no change in the bread price.

"I think people are attentive and know this isn't going to happen", she said. "On 1 April, there will be no rise in the price of bread".

The bakers argue that a price rise is justified, because of the increase in the costs of production, particularly of their main raw material, wheat flour.

Freitas said that INAE is working with all the interested parties, including AMOPAO and the milling companies, through the Ministry of Industry and Trade "to analyse the whole process of producing wheat flour and bread".

She promised to inform the public of the outcome "in due time".

But there is no painless solution. AMOPAO says the price of flour has risen sharply, with a 50 kilo sack of flour now costing 2,100 meticais (about 29 US dollars at current exchange rates), instead of 1,650 meticais.

The bakers argue that, if they are not allowed to put up their prices, then the government must subsidise wheat flour.
President Moon Jae-in speaks during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Yonhap



Biden has no intention to meet with Kim Jon-un



By Kang Seung-woo



President Moon Jae-in's stalled Korean Peninsula peace process, seeking engagement between South and North Korea and the United States, appears to be doomed, according to diplomatic observers, as the two other partners have been dashing his last flickers of hope with their continuing tug-of-war over the North's denuclearization.



On Monday (local time), White House press secretary Jen Psaki said U.S. President Joe Biden does not intend to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, adding that his approach to Pyongyang will be "quite different" from that of his predecessor, former President Donald Trump who met Kim three times.



Her remarks reaffirmed the new U.S. president's pursuit of an approach different from that of Trump, who had sought progress in North Korean denuclearization through direct leader-to-leader engagement that Moon was also supportive of.



Hours later, Kim Yo-jong, the North Korean leader's sister, made a harsh criticism of Moon, mocking him as a "parrot" that repeats Washington's "gangster-like logic."



This comes in response to President Moon who said, Friday, that the North's launch of two ballistic missiles the previous day was undesirable and could undercut the mood for dialogue, even though South Korea also test-fires missiles.



"He cannot feel sorry for being praised as a parrot raised by America," she said. "This could be what is described as self-contradictory and being caught in one's own trap."



Remarks from both the U.S. and North Korea are dealing a hard blow to the South Korean President's efforts to revive the inter-Korean detente in 2018, highlighted by summitry and sweet talk between the three countries.



"They mean that both the U.S. and North Korea will not lose the upper hand over each other in the nuclear standoff, but the bigger problem is that South Korea cannot leverage them to the negotiating table," said Shin Beom-chul, director of the Center for Diplomacy and Security at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy.



"On such a fragile base of the peace process, South Korea's influence over them will wane and eventually the initiative will inevitably fall apart."



Following the collapse of Trump and Kim's Hanoi summit in February 2019, optimism for the peace process evaporated quickly, with no inter-Korean exchanges or cooperation taking place since then, as the North was upset that Moon misled Kim to believe that dismantling the Yongbyon nuclear complex would lead to sanctions relief.



"After the Hanoi failure, we should have rethought the peace initiative based on the situation at the time. Despite North Korea's harsh criticism of the South Korean government, we have been ignoring it and waiting for inter-Korean dialogue, with Seoul losing the initiative to the North in the end," Shin said.



"Given the situation, the Biden administration, skeptical of the Moon administration's dealing with North Korea, is seeking to handle the North with its own diplomatic approach based on diplomacy and human rights rather than listening to the South Korean government, which leads to the allies remaining split over North Korean issues."



Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, also said the peace initiative is at a critical juncture, but the North's fiery rhetoric seems to be a last-ditch tug-of-war with the U.S., which is in the final stage of its policy review of the totalitarian state.



"In the wake of North Korea's belligerent rhetoric and series of missile launches, whispers are growing in Washington, D.C., that the U.S. should have more talks with the North, although Biden is not expected to accept it," Park said.



He also said the North's recent tension-spiking acts are aimed at pressuring the South Korean government to aggressively convince the U.S. to Pyongyang's advantage.


"Improper conduct" from company owned by Roy Moodley's son

It has taken over ten years but a long-standing battle between PRASA and Primedia may finally be drawing to a close. And it hasn't ended well for the rail agency.

On 21 March, Judge Bashier Vally in the Gauteng High Court set aside a contract between PRASA and Umjanji Media Consortium, and cession agreements between Umjanji and two other companies, Strawberry Worx and Siyathembana, for the provision of outdoor advertising.

In February 2010, PRASA issued a tender for companies to provide outdoor advertising on sites owned by it. In December 2010, PRASA awarded the contract to a company called Umjanji for five years.

Primedia had previously held the contract to provide advertising on some of these sites, and after learning of PRASA's decision in February 2011, sought and secured a court interdict to prevent their eviction from the outdoor advertising sites that they had occupied with their billboards.

Primedia asked the court to review and set aside PRASA's decision to appoint Umjanji due to a host of irregularities in the award of the contract.

According to Judge Vally, the cause of the long delay for this case to be finalised was not due to any inefficiency in the courts themselves, but due to a number of interlocutory applications brought by PRASA (before it stood down from the matter in 2016) and the Umjanji Consortium.

Primedia argued that PRASA should not have awarded the contract and exclusive rights to all outdoors advertising sites to only one company.

The most glaring irregularity was that Umjanji was not in existence at the time that the tender had closed. The company was only incorporated one month later, on 23 April 2010. Umjanji was a consortium led by Provantage Media, acting in concert with KG Media and Future Growth Foundation. KG Media was also not in existence at the time of the tender briefing.

Further, one week before the contract was awarded in 2010, Umjanji ceded rights to Strawberry Worx. This cession agreement effectively distributed work from the tender to Strawberry Worx, who had also been at the tender briefing. Strawberry Worx is owned by Shevan Moodley, son of Roy Moodley, who has been implicated in state capture.

Judge Vally found that "the only inference" from this is that Strawberry Worx knew that Umjanji was going to be awarded the tender - a sign of "improper conduct".

Then, in August 2011, Umjanji did the same to another company, Siyathembana. Under these agreements, Umjanji would effectively share some of the revenues with these companies. PRASA, under Lucky Montana, tacitly and directly assented to these agreements.

As the case proceeded through the courts, then-Public Protector Thuli Madonsela released her 2015 Derailed report on corruption at PRASA, which examined the Umjanji award and made findings.

In March 2016, with Montana resigned, PRASA withdrew its opposition to Primedia's case. Judge Vally found this decision "correct and commendable".

Judge Vally found that the cession agreements between PRASA, Umjanji, Strawberry Worx, and Siyathembana were "designed to subvert the control process inherent in the application of s.217 of the Constitution and they succeeded in doing so."

Section 217 of the Constitution states: "When an organ of state ... contracts for goods or services, it must do so [in a way that is] fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective."

Strawberry Worx had asked Judge Vally to find that it was an innocent party that played no role in PRASA's decision, and that the court should allow it to continue occupying the PRASA outdoor advertising sites.

Judge Vally found this argument without merit. Strawberry Worx was not an innocent party; it knew PRASA's decision to award Umjanji the tender in advance and sought to benefit via a cession agreement. Judge Vally ruled that the cession agreements were unlawful.

In the hearing, Strawberry Worx sought to strike from the record further evidence submitted by Primedia and the other applicants which seemed to show the "malfeasant conduct" of Montana, and the extent to which the award of the contract and the cession agreements were influenced by Montana and Strawberry Worx. This included evidence from the Zondo Commission.

Judge Vally called this move from Strawberry Worx "unmoored from the practical reality of civil procedure" and dismissed the application.

PRASA was ordered to pay the applicants' costs up until they withdrew from the application in March 2016. Siyathembana and Strawberry Worx were ordered to pay costs from when they intervened in the case, in April 2013 and April 2016 respectively, including costs for two counsel.

Evidence at Zondo Commission

On 16 March 2020 Martha Ngoye told the Zondo Commission how then-PRASA Group CEO Montana interfered in the Strawberry Worx contract, removing it from Intersite, PRASA's property arm, after Ngoye raised the alarm about irregularities in the contract. Ngoye was appointed to Intersite as CEO in 2011, and moved to her current role as Group Head of Legal, Risk and Compliance in 2014.

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Ngoye testified that Selvan Moodley effectively dictated the terms of Strawberry Worx's contract with Intersite. At a meeting with Ngoye and other executives, Strawberry Worx told her that they would be instructing her on the roll out of the contract.

According to Tiro Holele, head of strategy at PRASA, speaking to the Zondo Commission on 11 March 2020, Selvan Moodley demanded that PRASA's attorneys in the Primedia case, Hogan Lovells, should be sacked. According to Holele, Ngoye resisted strongly. This brought her into conflict with Montana.

According to Ngoye, Montana ordered that the contract be moved from Intersite to PRASA's head office in mid-2013, and Montana's special legal advisor Malini Naidoo removed the contract files from Intersite's offices. Hogan Lovells was fired, and Maraj Attorneys appointed in their stead. Maraj Attorneys also represented Strawberry Worx.

Only after Montana was fired did PRASA sack Maraj Attorneys, and withdrew its opposition to the case.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 22:59:59|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab said on Tuesday that Syrian refugees' residence in Lebanon is temporary and should not, under any circumstances, be interpreted as local integration, the National News Agency reported.

"This is a sovereign decision... Moreover, resettlement violates Lebanon's constitution," Diab told the fifth Brussels Conference on Syria via video link.

Diab said during the conference, which was co-chaired by the European Union and the United Nations, that Syrian refugees cost Lebanon around 46.5 billion U.S. dollars, according to estimates by the Lebanese Ministry of Finance for the period extending between 2011 and 2018.

Diab stressed the need for the international community to give a chance to the Lebanese government's plan for the gradual return of displaced Syrians, which was approved by Lebanon on July 14, 2020.

More than 1 million Syrian refugees are registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, while the Lebanese government estimated the true number of Syrians in the country at 1.5 million. Enditem
Mumbai, March 30 : With theatres reopening, Bollywood announced a host of big films for theatrical release over the next months. However, with the latest surge in Covid cases, multiple films are now being postponed.

Among the most-hyped films being pushed for now is the Amitabh Bachchan-Emraan Hashmi starrer "Chehre", which was scheduled to arrive on April 9. The Rani Mukerji-Saif Ali Khan starrer "Bunty Aur Babli 2" will not be releasing on its scheduled date, April 23, either. The Rana Daggubati-starrer "Haathi Mere Saathi" (originally slated for March 26), has also been pushed for now despite its Telugu version "Aranya" and Tamil version "Kaadan" having opened on the designated date. Ram Gopal Varma's "D Company" and the Punjabi biggie "Puaada", starring Ammy Virk and Sonam Bajwa, are also awaiting new release dates now.

A rough film trade estimate suggests Rs 105 crore is at stake with these projects getting delayed.

Trade analyst Atul Mohan agrees that the delay is going to cost filmmakers money. "These films have been promoted heavily but are not releasing. Now whenever the new release date is decided, they would have to be promoted again. Also, the makers have to bear the interest of these investments on these projects," he says.

However most in the trade feel this is the only way out for now.

"The film industry is already bleeding, but health is most important and producers are realising this. Also, because of night curfew in Maharashtra, theatres can't have shows beyond 8pm. Delaying the release is a step in the right direction," says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

Talking about the decision to delay his film's release, "Chehre" producer Anand Pandit said in a statement: "Considering the situation and safety of our audiences and fans which is of utmost importance to us, we have decided to postpone our film 'Chehre'. The team has taken immense efforts to make it a great cinematic experience and we are looking forward to our audiences coming to the theatres safely," A statement put out by the "Haathi Mere Saathi" team 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."

Here's a quick check on the films being postponed for now:

Chehre

Directed by Rumy Jafry, "Chehre" will no longer release on April 9. The psychological thriller stars actors Amitabh Bachchan, Emraan Hashmi and Rhea Chakraborty.

Haathi Mere Saathi

The Rana Daggubati starrer was slated to hit screens on March 26. However, it has been postponed due to the rising Covid cases, particularly in Mumbai. However, the Tamil and Telugu versions, "Kaadan" and "Aranya", have released as per schedule.

Bunty Aur Babli 2

The follow-up to the 2005 hit "Vunty Aur Babli" was expected to hit screens on April 23. However, it was been postponed indefinitely. The film stars Rani Mukerji, Saif Ali Khan, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Sharvari Wagh.

Puaada

The release of Ammy Virk and Sonam Bajwa-starrer Punjabi rom-com was originally set to happen in June last year, but was delayed because of the pandemic. Two release dates have since been announced -- March 11 and April 2. However, the film has been deferred again, from its April 2 date.

D Company

Ram Gopal Varma's new gangster drama has also been pushed for release. The filmmaker recently took to Twitter to announce the news.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- Syndicated from IANS
Omuthiya  An Otjiwarongo-based police constable and a pastor of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church were arrested on Friday in Omuthiya after they were found in possession of a rhino horn.

A third accomplice from Oshana region was also arrested.

The trio was apprehended around 02h15 after the police received a tipoff from

Otjiwarongo that the suspects were allegedly carrying prohibited contents.

"We were informed that there was a white VW Polo being driven by a member of the crime prevention unit. The suspects initially passed Oshivelo roadblock, pretending that they were on official duty," said Oshikoto police regional crime investigations coordinator Deputy Commissioner Naomi Katjiua. "But after the tipoff, the suspects were intercepted and taken to the police station. A search was conducted, and a rhino horn was discovered in a black bag at the boot of the vehicle."

The suspects are expected to appear today in the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court.

Katjiua said the constable was also found with a 9mm service pistol and 15 rounds of live ammunition.

"The suspects had claimed they were travelling to Oshakati to attend a church service," added Katjiua. - osimasiku@nepc.com.na
UPDATE: This story has been updated to reflect new payment dates for Social Security, SSI, other federal beneficiaries

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has sent out about 127 million stimulus payments from the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, but millions of Americans are still waiting.

The agency said people who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Railroad Retirement Benefits and dont normally file a tax return will see most of their payments by Wednesday, April 7. It does not include those who receive veteran benefits, which it said could be processed by mid-April.

If youre still waiting for your payment, you should check the IRS Get My Payment tool, which is usually updated once a day, to see the status of your payment. Just note that the IRS said the Get My Payment tool wont be updated for federal beneficiaries until the weekend of April 3 and 4.

When you check the tool, you will get one of three messages.

Payment Status means that your payment has been processed or you are eligible but it has not yet been processed yet. If your payment has been processed, the tool will show a payment date and whether it will be sent by direct deposit or through the mail. If its through the mail, it could be a paper check or a prepaid debit card, the IRS said.

Payment Status Not Available means the agency has not yet processed your payment or you are not eligible for a payment.

Need More Information is the other message you may get from the tool. This means your payment was sent and then returned to the IRS.

You will then have a chance to have your payment reissued as a direct deposit by entering an account number and routing number for a bank account, reloadable prepaid debit card or other financial product. But this option is only available if you have received the Need More Information message.

Please note that this option is not available if we already have account information for you, the IRS said. The IRS cannot update existing account information.

If you dont have direct deposit information, and you received the Need More Information message, you will need to update your address so the agency can mail your payment.

The IRS says the easiest way to update your address is to file your 2020 tax return with your current address. The fastest way to file the return and have your address updated is to file your return electronically, it said.

You can also call the IRS directly, or file this form with the IRS, or send the IRS a letter with your full name, both the old and new addresses and your Social Security number.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com.
Extraordinary emails show how Boris Johnsons lover clashed with his officials over his appearances at her business events.

Official messages reveal how Jennifer Arcuri signed up the then London mayor to speak at tech summits without his City Hall staff knowing.

She boasted that Boris himself has been my point of contact ahead of one video chat with Silicon Valley executives.

The US entrepreneur had to be told by exasperated officials: Please can you refrain from going via the Mayor direct?

In one message Miss Arcuri appeared to address Mr Johnson as dearest and asked: Can I apply to go on this mission trip in October? Come with me when we go;-) ??!!!!

Official messages reveal how Jennifer Arcuri (right) signed up the then London mayor Boris Johnson (left) to speak at tech summits without his City Hall staff knowing. Pictured: Boris Johnson Mayor of London with Jennifer Arcuri of Innotech Live on October 30, 2013

Lovers messages that annoyed officials February 26, 2013 Jennifer Arcuri to City Hall Do need to get moving on promotion ... we have all of Los Angeles and San Fran tuning in. Any question about the validity of this event please talk to Boris himself as he has been my point of contact. March 26, 2013 City Hall to Jennifer Arcuri I have got this now confirmed in his diary. The Mayor is incredibly busy and we would appreciate any requests for the Mayor to speak, coming through the Private Office. The Mayor does not have sight of his diary at times and I have had to rearrange the diary significantly to accommodate this event. Please can you refrain from going via the Mayor direct. October 21, 2013 UK Trade & Investment to City Hall UKTI is supporting a web-enabled discussion on Why London can help accelerate young companies from the Muslim world. [Redacted] and Jennifer Arcuri have been circulating a concept note for this saying it will be hosted by Boris so slightly surprised if this is news to you. July 13, 2015 Jennifer Arcuri to City Hall Dearest [redacted], Can I apply to go on this mission trip in October? I really really need to go visit this Hacker house!!! Come with me when we go;-) ??!!!!! Xxx Advertisement

The 240 pages of emails and documents are likely to be studied by the Greater London Assemblys oversight committee when it investigates whether or not the then-mayor gave preferential treatment to Miss Arcuri and her firms InnoTech, Playbox and Hacker House.

It comes after the 36-year-old admitted she had a four-year affair with Mr Johnson, which included claims of sex on the sofa of his family home while his wife was at work.

The emails date back to early 2013, the year after she claims the couple began seeing each other, when Miss Arcuri wanted Mr Johnson to do his first Google Hangout video meeting at her InnoTech Summit in Canary Wharf. She was already promoting him as the main attraction of the event before his staff were told.

In a message to an unnamed official she wrote: I dont want to do anything that put anyone off at the Mayors Office but do need to get moving on promotion. As you know we have all of Los Angeles and San Fran tuning in and for this event so must work logistics with them as well.

Any question about the validity of this event please talk to Boris himself as he has been my point of contact.

A senior official replied: As per our conversation, the Mayor is incredibly busy and we would appreciate any requests for the Mayor to speak, coming through the Private Office. The Mayor does not have sight of his diary at times and I have had to rearrange the diary significantly to accommodate this event.

'Please can you refrain from going via the Mayor direct. Also as discussed, please feel free to list the Mayor as a speaker on the website but please can you remove him as a partner or sponsor.

Miss Arcuri later drafted a press release including a quote from the Mayor but it was amended by City Hall to make it much less odd.

In autumn that year, Miss Arcuri told people that Mr Johnson would take part in an event of hers at the World Islamic Economic Forum at the ExCel Centre in London.

She told one staffer that his appearance had been confirmed, but they replied: Sadly the Mayor is unable to attend.

Jennifer Arcuri has claimed that she and Boris Johnson (together in 2014) had four-year affair where she sent him 'arty' topless pictures - but insists they had an 'intellectual attraction'

One intriguing email included in the freedom of information release, dated July 2015, was sent by Miss Arcuri to a person in City Hall whose name was removed, and appeared to refer to a trade mission to Israel that she and Mr Johnson both attended.

It read: Dearest [redacted], Can I apply to go on this mission trip in October? I really really need to go visit this Hacker house!!! Come with me when we go;-) ??!!!!! Xxx

Downing Street declined to comment but on Monday, Mr Johnsons Press Secretary Allegra Stratton insisted: He does believe in the wider principles of integrity and honesty.

She pointed out that he had been cleared of any impropriety last year by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
San Francisco, March 30 : Facebook and Google are planning to build new subsea cables from the US to Singapore and Indonesia.

Facebook said it has partnered with leading regional and global partners to build two new subsea cables -- Echo and Bifrost -- that will provide vital new connections between the Asia-Pacific region and North America.

While Google is only investing in Echo, Facebook is investing in both cables.

These cables will increase overall transpacific capacity by 70 per cent, Facebook said this week, adding that the social networking platform is "committed to bringing more people online to a faster Internet." While these projects are still subject to regulatory approvals, when completed, these cables are expected deliver much-needed Internet capacity, redundancy, and reliability.

The announcements come at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the need for reliable Internet access.

Echo and Bifrost will support further growth for hundreds of millions of people and millions of businesses, Facebook said.

"Echo will run from Eureka, California to Singapore, with a stop-over in Guam, with plans to also land in Indonesia. Additional landings are possible in the future," Bikash Koley, Vice President of Global Networking, Google Cloud, wrote in a blog post on Monday.

"Echo will be the first-ever cable to directly connect the U.S. to Singapore with direct fiber pairs over an express route. It will decrease latency for users connecting to applications running the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) regions in the area, home to some of the world's most vibrant financial and technology centres."
Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate

Acting deputy minister: Only 17 of 711 Iran-Armenia power transmission line towers were installed by 2017

Armenia Parliament Council holding session

Armenia to host CSTO "Thunder-2021" military exercises

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 citizens shut down Etchmiadzin-Ashtarak road, complaining about lack of irrigation water

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
BEV

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Instead, the brand has announced many corporate decisions alongside its bold and elegant LF-Z prototype. For starters, the company aims to speed up new vehicle development to meet the diverse and changing needs of customers around the world. That means Lexus has decided to refocus the technology, design, and planning teams in a single location (Shimoyama, Japan). It has also announced the pending introduction of no fewer than twenty all-new or refreshed models by 2025.Of those, only half will be of the battery-electric (), plug-in hybrid electric (), and hybrid electric (HEV) variety. As for the LF-Z Electrified, were probably not going to see a direct production version, as the company hints it will use the prototype to further advance the Lexus Driving Signature.It does, however, incorporate technologies, design choices and advanced driving performance features the company plans to release by 2025. For example, it comes with its own, dedicatedarchitecture. This supposedly brings an ideal placement for the battery pack and electric motor, along with the new Direct4 all-wheel-drive tech.Looking sleek and a bit smaller than it really is at 4,88 meters (192 inches), the LF-Z Electrified comes with bold design choices inside and out, such as the new Tazuna cockpit or the use of artificial intelligence technology.Power should be plentiful from the modular Direct4system, so the 536-horsepower EV is reportedly capable of hitting 62 mph (100 kph) in exactly 3 seconds, en route to a top speed of 124 mph (200 kph). As far as the range is concerned, the 90-lithium pack will be good for up to 600 km/373 miles () and juice up rapidly at up to 150Interestingly enough, Lexus doesn't plan on ditching ailing segments such as the sedan niche and even expects to explore the possibility of introducing new vehicle types, such as sports models, cars appropriate for chauffeur driving and models in entirely new categories.Aside from the new 2025 timeline for the 20 new and facelifted models, the company also promises to have the unified business and technology center in Shimoyama, Japan, ready in March 2024. From then on, the clock will inexorably tick forward towards the ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality throughout the entire lifecycle of all its models by 2050, including in materials manufacturing, parts and vehicle logistics and disposal and recycling.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has suggested Alex Salmond would have to apologise to the women who accused him of sexual harassment before she could consider working with him again.

Her predecessor has set up the Alba Party in a bid to boost to the number of pro-independence MSPs in the Scottish parliament and create a super majority for the separatist cause.

Despite their spectacular fall-out over sexual harassment claims  of which Mr Salmond was cleared in court last year  the Alba Party leader has claimed the rivals must sink their differences in the interests of independence.

Asked whether she could ever do business with him again, Ms Sturgeon said: If Alex had walked out of the courtroom and shown any sense of acknowledgement of what had been conceded in the courtroom... maybe there is a foundation.

The first step before anybody else can try to come to terms with that is that Alex has to himself show any sort of sign of acknowledging how people feel about how he behaved while he was first minister, the first minister told the Daily Record.

He hasnt done that and, therefore, Im not sure what the basis would be for me to sit down with him and have that discussion, she said, before adding: The people who he owes an apology to are the women that he behaved inappropriately towards.

In a scathing interview, Ms Sturgeon suggested Mr Salmonds need for attention was behind his new party. I think he will be telling himself he is somehow advancing the independence cause, but I think he is standing because he loves the limelight and cant bear not to be on the stage.

Mr Salmond has said he did not wish to split the vote among Scots who are keen on independence.

His party will not challenge the SNP in the constituency contests and aim to pick up seats through Holyroods regional list system which have been typically denied to the SNP because they win so many constituency seats.

Mr Salmond thinks his new outfit could help create a super majority of around 90 pro-independence MSPs in the Scottish parliament  strengthening the case for another independence referendum.

Dismissing his plans, the SNP leader added: At the end of the day, weve got to win independence fair and square. We cant game, or cheat, our way to that.

Nicola Sturgeon out campaigning in Glasgow (Getty Images)

The first minister said she wanted to win a majority of seats and persuade a majority of the population to back independence in order to claim a mandate for a second referendum.

She admitted Mr Salmonds party could wreck her plans: I think the real danger is that it could hinder that exercise.

The SNP councillor Michelle Ferns has become the latest defector to the Alba Party. Mr Salmond has now persuaded two MPs and four councillors from Ms Sturgeons to jump ship.

Scotlands top polling guru, Professor John Curtice, has said that if less than 5 per cent of Scots are minded to vote for Mr Salmonds new party then he is running the risk of emerging ... empty handed.

The leaders of Scotlands five largest established parties  but not Mr Salmond  will take part in their first TV debate of the Holyrood election on BBC News and BBC Scotland on Tuesday evening.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-31 04:54:27|Editor: huaxia

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ANKARA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- CRRC-MNG Rail System Vehicles Industry and Trade Ltd. (CRRC-MNG), a China-Turkey joint venture, signed a long-term strategic cooperation deal with dozens of Turkish suppliers on Tuesday.

The agreement, which was signed at a supply chain cooperation conference held in Turkey's capital Ankara, involves CRRC-MNG and 46 Turkish suppliers.

The deal, dubbed Supply Chain Cooperation Statement, aims at maintaining sustainable cooperation with Turkish businesses on the basis of the win-win principles.

Li Yangyang, general manager of the CRRC-MNG, said in his speech that his company has been pursuing localization which could benefit both the company itself and the Turkish supplies.

The CRRC-MNG has realized localization in product supplies, assembly and project management, which not only increases the R&D capabilities of local suppliers but also creates jobs for local workers, he added.

Nurettin Ozdebir, president of Ankara Industry Chamber, said the contribution of CRRC-MNG was important for the transport systems in Turkish cities including Ankara, adding the localization strategy of CRRC-MNG helps boost the economy of Turkey.

Several other Turkish officials including Yalcin Eyigun, general manager of infrastructure investment under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, and representatives from various Chinese and Turkish companies, also participated in the conference themed Cooperation and Win-win.

Jointly established in 2013 by Chinese rail manufacturer China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd. and Turkey's MNG Holding, CRRC-MNG has provided metro vehicles and services for important cities in Turkey, including Istanbul and Ankara. Enditem
40% of Kentuckians Have Been Vaccinated

By West Kentucky Star Staff

FRANKFORT - On Monday, Governor Andy Beshear announced that more than 1.3 million Kentuckians have received at least their first dose of one of the three coronavirus vaccines."We've now vaccinated about 40% of Kentucky adults  a really exciting milestone. We also believe we've vaccinated about 70% of Kentuckians who are age 70 and up," said Beshear.All Kentuckians 40 and older are now eligible to receive a vaccine. By April 12, all Kentuckians 16 and older will be eligible."Kentucky has been and remains the best performing state of all of our seven border states in terms of the percentage of our population that has had at least one dose of the vaccine  and that's whether you look at the total population, the population 16 or older or the population 65 or older," said Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health.Beshear reported 310 new cases of the virus and 11 deaths.There are currently 364 Kentuckians hospitalized with the virus, with 41 on a ventilator.Kentucky's positivity rate currently stands at 2.89 percent.
- Blis' new privacy-first product suite will enable clients to deliver key business outcomes

- By combining rich location insight with other real-world and online data, Blis will deliver new way of targeting that changes the way it plans and buys media

SYDNEY, March 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Blis , the pioneer of privacy-first location-powered advertising, announces the launch of its new product suite, which will enable the world's largest brands and agencies to target their customers at scale in the post-cookie world and still achieve key outcomes.

As the industry pivots away from targeting based on IDs and personal data, brands need to find new ways to drive key business outcomes through personalised and high-performing digital advertising. Indeed recent research* has revealed that 78% of senior marketers are concerned or very concerned by the loss of cookies, whilst 61% feel the same about the disappearance of IDFAs. When questioned about what concerned them the most, 37% cited that it was a combination of factors including, the ability to effectively plan intelligent campaign strategies, run targeted and personalised campaigns at scale and effectively measure campaign performance.

Blis is tackling this challenge head on by leveraging its prowess in the location-based advertising space. It will now combine location data with hundreds of aggregated and anonymised behavioural and lifestyle signals, building a more complete picture of a brand's customers, to reach them at scale in a privacy-first way.

Blis' new suite of privacy-first products

Launching in key global markets, Audience Explorer is a visual, interactive tool that enables brands to discover what makes their customers' unique, build richer media plans and deliver better outcomes. Audience Explorer is powered by precise and directly-observed location behaviours from Blis' huge global opted-in panel. Armed with this deep customer understanding, Blis will then use it's new Dynamic Audience Targeting to reach personalised audiences at scale, using a variety of rich, anonymised signals, from lifestyle characteristics and affinities through to shopping and spending habits - all without reliance on personal data. These new offerings will enable the world's largest brands and media agencies to continue to deliver key campaign outcomes through personalised and scalable targeting, despite the reduction of IDFAs and the death of the cookie.

Greg Isbister, CEO, Blis comments "Our industry is at a major inflection point, with significant changes impacting every single part of digital advertising as we know it today.

"We have been investing heavily in technology to address the requirements of advertisers to reach consumers at scale while not having to rely on personal identifiers, such as third party cookies or mobile device identifiers. This new technology will fundamentally change the way our clients plan, buy and target personalised audiences at scale to deliver against their key outcomes."

Blis client,Sophie Strong, Head of Display and Social, Wavemaker adds "We always want to work with partners like Blis who help us proactively navigate key industry topics. Blis' new privacy-first targeting methodology provides a truly innovative solution to a pressing challenge."

*Blis client survey, with 109 respondents, conducted in February 2021.

Note: Audience Explorer and Dynamic Audience Targeting are launching in the US, UK and Australia. They will launch in Italy, Singapore and the Netherlands in the coming months.

About Blis

Blis is the leading privacy-first, location-powered programmatic advertising partner. We deliver accurate targeting at scale without reliance on personal data, helping the world's largest brands and media agencies drive key business outcomes through personalised and high-performing digital advertising.

Blis uses real-world and online data, as well as behaviour and lifestyle indicators, to profile and understand audiences better than anyone else. Using a huge opted-in global planning and measurement panel and taking an aggregated and anonymous approach to audience targeting, Blis reaches precise audiences at scale without reliance on personal data.

Established in the UK in 2004, Blis now operates in more than 40 offices across five continents. Working with the world's largest and most customer-driven companies across all verticals including Unilever, Samsung, McDonald's, HSBC, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot, as well as every major media agency, Blis reaches over a billion mobile devices a year.

To learn more, visit blis.com .

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(Newser)  Many people were concerned or awed when they saw photos of the huge Ever Given stuck in the Suez Canal over the past week. But those with certain phobias were uncomfortable, even overcome with anxiety, the Guardian reports. "I'm genuinely terrified of large objects," said a woman living in the Isle of Wight who tried to avoid seeing images of the ship. "It's an overwhelming sense of feeling small and like that thing will fall on top of you or overshadow you. It makes my stomach feel empty and knotted, like if you drive over a hill really fast." The phobias triggered by the coverage vary. A Chicago man who says he has megalophobia, a fear of large objects, said he was OK until he heard the Ever Given is bigger than the Empire State Building and saw a photo of the solitary, relatively small excavator next to the ship. "The size comparison, it triggers me," he said.

story continues below

Other people were affected by submechanophobia, a fear of submerged human-made objects, and by a fear of ships and sea wreckage called naviphobia or navisphobia. There's no way to stop a phobia from developing, per Harvard Medical School. Sarah Hart, the Isle of Wight resident, thinks hers began when she went to London as a child and was overwhelmed by the big buildings. Experts said people with such phobias may not give them much thought until their fears are triggered. They can then become anxious or even have physical symptoms. There could be another reason people felt phobias intensely last week. A behavioral therapist said phobias can hit harder "when they are experienced alongside other eventssuch as the pandemicthat increase a person's baseline level of anxiety." (Read more phobias stories.)
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Matrix Clinical Solutions, a Matrix Medical Network (Matrix) business, is now offering a cost-effective and accurate at-home RT-PCR testing solution for companies looking to provide convenient COVID-19 testing for employees in the comfort of their own home. The at-home test does not require clinical supervision and is supported by an interactive patient portal to view results and learn more about next steps if a positive result is received. Employers set up employees in the portal so they can order, administer, and monitor their test results independently. Matrix Clinical Labs, a CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory, can process the test in less than 24-hours once received.

The patient experience includes a few simple steps:

Set up account and request test kit on Matrix's easy-to-use patient portal Receive shipment directly at any desired location Register, collect, and ship back sample using the included prepaid label Receive results via digital patient portal Ask Matrix clinicians how to handle positive or inconclusive results

"Matrix has been providing clinical services to help employers ensure safe workplaces since the beginning of the pandemic, and we anticipate continuing to do so for the foreseeable future," said Matrix Clinical Solutions Chief Medical Officer Daniel Meltzer, MD, MPH, FACEP. "This new cost-effective offering, along with our in-house lab capabilities, allow us to safely and remotely provide accurate COVID-19 testing to complement our on-site workplace safety solutions."

About Matrix Clinical Solutions

Matrix Medical Network has provided expert care and health services to millions of at-risk individuals where they live and work for more than 20 years. The organization's network of approximately 5,000 clinicians meets individuals wherever they are to assess their health and safety, identify and close care gaps, and offer life-changing services that activate them to manage their own health.

Matrix Clinical Solutions helps America's workers stay healthy while maintaining businesses' productivity and continuity by designing custom workplace health solutions including testing, tracing, and return to work services. In collaboration with Cleveland Clinic, Matrix developed a safety verified certification program to help businesses and organizations assess, address, verify, and monitor workplace safety to help individuals return safely and confidently to work.

For more information, visit https://matrixmedicalnetwork.com/clinical-solutions/.

*Matrix Medical Network is the registered trademark of Community Care Health Network, LLC.

Matrix Media Contact:

Elissa Johnsen

EJJ Communications, LLC on behalf of Matrix Medical Network

[email protected]

312-285-3203

SOURCE Matrix Medical Network

Related Links

http://www.matrixmedicalnetwork.com


Despite its role as a critical economic and moral player, Manitoba Hydro is subject to scant public scrutiny.

Opinion

Despite its role as a critical economic and moral player, Manitoba Hydro is subject to scant public scrutiny.

Hydro employs more than 5,000 Manitobans, carries over $20 billion in debt, keeps our lights on and is finishing the most costly project in Manitobas history. In the moral ledger, Hydros operations significantly and sometimes drastically affect roughly a dozen First Nations. It is a partner in what could be the two largest Indigenous business ventures ever in Manitoba.

Environmentally, it severely affects the five largest rivers in the province as well as many lakes and smaller waterways.

Despite Hydros stature and consequence, the media, opposition parties and civil society routinely miss key questions.

Political activity relating to Hydro  whether Progressive Conservative or New Democratic  often feels more like partisan sparring than an honest effort to improve Hydro. To that point, consider Premier Brian Pallisters recent release of the $2.5-million Brad Wall report, and his proposed laws to reduce frequency of rate reviews and require referenda for big projects.

In light of this, below are 15 questions that someone should ask our utility:

1) What is the outlook for the $8.7-billion Keeyask dam? Many of us think it was a terrible idea, but it is going to fully operational next year, so how does its future look?

2) The Wisconsin sale that was originally supposed to justify Keeyask fell through. How much of that ground is made up by the contracts with SaskPower, recently reported to be worth $5 billion?

3) Will Minnesota-based Xcel Energy renew the 500-megawatt contract that expires in 2025? The companys planning documents show a big dropoff in hydropower reliance in 2025, but those documents are hardly the final word.

4) Are there other buyers?

5) What prices can Hydro expect? Wind and solar are fundamentally changing the electricity sector. Natural gas remains cheap. While hydro has advantages over these sources, the downward price pressure has to be a factor.

6) When will we actually need Keeyask power in Manitoba?

When Keeyask was approved in 2014, Hydro predicted Manitoba would need power from the dam starting in about 2023. The Wall report states, "Keeyask will not be needed for the foreseeable future (likely well after 2037/38)."

Which experts to trust?

One reason for the difference is that Hydro was predicting that three proposed pipelines  including Energy East  would use 39 per cent of Keeyask output to pump oil through the province. According to Wall, a month after the province approved Keeyask, Hydro changed the 39 per cent to just 15 per cent, stranding a quarter of Keeyasks output almost before the ink on the government rubber stamp had dried.

7) Why has Hydro not released an Integrated Financial Forecast since 2016? This document would provide financial projections that could be scrutinized.

8) Why has Hydro not released an Electric Load Forecast or Capital Expenditure Forecast since 2018?

9) What do the numbers for the $1.6-billion Wuskwatim dam and transmission line look like? Completed in 2012, early projections were dismal. An update, please.

10) What is the state of Hydros partnerships with First Nations? One First Nation partnered on Wuskwatim, and four on Keeyask. The Keeyask partners agreed to the dam largely in exchange for the option to buy a stake of up to 25 per cent in the dam. Since 2014, Hydro has assumed that investment will be about two per cent, in a class of shares that guarantee a return even if the dam loses money.

There has been obvious rancour in the partnership. In 2018, the Keeyask partners publicly denounced Hydro for racism and discrimination; last year they blockaded the project over Hydros neglect of their COVID concerns.

Notably, Pallister is also proposing legislation that would largely prevent such protests.

11) How much are these First Nations projected to receive from the dam?

12) When Greg Selinger was premier he spoke about the Hydro partnerships to an audience in Washington, D.C., saying, "Those partnerships yield phenomenal social licence." What is the state of that licence?

13) Why is Hydro still operating Lake Winnipeg Regulation and Churchill River Diversion  key elements of the system  under interim licences from the 1970s?

14) What has Hydro done to reduce its impact on waterways?

15) What if First Nations flex their legal and moral muscles in the face of the provinces obviously lax and biased regulatory regime; and in the face of severe, widespread and ongoing environmental devastation; and in the face of what many see as an insulting and hypocritical claim that the hydropower produced at such a great cost to them is "clean"?

Bonus question: Hydro should be a force for reconciliation; whats its plan?

Will our public utility please shed some light on these questions?

Will Braun has written about Hydro issues and worked with impacted First Nations for the past 20 years.
RTHK: Germany opposes EU blocking UK and Israel

Germany and other EU members are opposing a move by the European Commission to block Britain and Israel from quantum and space projects on security grounds, diplomats said Tuesday.

The European Commission is currently setting up guidelines for EU research projects over the next coming years, and diplomats worry Brussels could prevent valuable research by sidelining some non-members.

The EU executive's position, which sources said would keep Switzerland out of space projects, is seen as an attempt to strengthen the bloc's "strategic autonomy", a new concept encouraged by France as an answer to the dominant influence of the US and China.

Last week, Berlin came out strongly against the plan, calling for the "full participation" of the UK, Switzerland and Israel in quantum and space projects that are worth several billion euros.

"In the field of quantum technology in particular, these countries have traditionally been important partners and should continue in this role in future," German Research Minister Thomas Rachel told Science|Business, a specialist news site.

According to EU diplomats and other sources close to the matter, the decision to block non-EU countries is backed by Thierry Breton, the EU commissioner from France responsible for the highly sensitive digital, industry and space and defence portfolios.

"If this is what strategic autonomy under Breton looks like, we are in for a rough ride," said one EU diplomat.

The European Commission and Breton's office said they would make no comment on a process that was still ongoing.

Diplomats said several member states made their opposition known to the commission in a meeting last week and the proposal was due to be discussed again in April.

At the meeting, the commission stressed that it was especially concerned about valuable intellectual property ending up in the hands of the US or China through companies participating in the EU research, a source said.

But academics point out that Britain and Israel are longtime partners in these research areas. Cutting them off now would cause Europe to lose even more ground to the US and China, they argue.

Thomas Hoffmann, the head of the EuroTech Universities Alliance, said the exclusion of Switzerland, Israel and Britain was "not in the interest of Europe's research community nor the wider society and could be damaging for international cooperation".

Hoffman expressed his concern in a letter to the research minister of Portugal, which holds the EU presidency.

He was backed by France's Ecole Polytechnique and Israel's Technion Israel Institute of Technology among other institutions. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Products in Ireland could have their names, details and instructions in Irish in the future if a bilingual packaging policy comes into place.

Labour Youth, Ogra Shinn Fein, Social Democrats' College & University Branches, Young Fine Gael, and Young Greens/Oige Ghlas along with Conradh na Gaeilge are calling on Minister for the Gaeltacht Catherine Martin and Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers to put in place a bilingual packaging policy by the end of 2024.

This policy would ensure that throughout the State, all text on a product, its container or wrapping, or on a document or object supplied with it, including the directions for use and the warranty certificates, will be drafted in Irish.

Those in favour of the move point out that an Irish inscription may be accompanied with a translation or translations, but they want no inscription in another language to be given greater prominence than that in Irish.

A statement issued by the organisations mentioned above this weekend said: By setting Irish as the default language with an option for a translation to accompany, this allows for monolingual packaging within the Gaeltacht areas and bilingual packaging nationwide.

It continued: We regard this proposal as a pragmatic way to increase literacy rates and speaking opportunities for the Irish language without any increase in spending by the state. This policy, adopted by the state, would give greater visibility and accessibility to the Irish language for learners and native speakers and allow citizens greater flexibility to go about their lives in either Irish or English.

"We contend this policy to be in large part one of public education which will see gains for (but not limited to) teachers, students, those required to have knowledge of Irish for their employment such as in the civil service, and the one million plus people actively learning Irish on Duolingo, a language learning app, every week. It will also provide new opportunities of employment for Irish speakers in translation and marketing.



It added: We contend this policy would incur no new costs to the average business that they wouldn't already incur over a short-run period i.e., in packaging, printing, and marketing costs. In the event of marginal costs, the Business Support Scheme 2021 grant is available, through Foras na Gaeilge, to small and medium-sized commercial enterprises to promote Irish in their businesses through signage, packaging, websites, and printed marketing material.

In the medium and long run this policy will serve businesses interests by creating bilingual workers that are going to be flexible in the ways demanded by the 21st century.

International enterprises must already translate their products when selling to other nations, and it would be in line with EU norms that we adopt this prerequisite for trade here.

"To further reduce the impact on business, it is intended that this would initially apply to new products being brought to market and phased in organically for existing products as companies redesign their packaging or branding in line with their own business needs. Canada provides a successful workable model of bilingual commerce which we seek to emulate.

Finland, a similar sized EU country, also requires all sales and marketing material is in both official languages, Finnish and Swedish.

The statement concluded: Bilingualism is proven to be a major asset to a childs intellectual development and provides the skills necessary to pick up a third or fourth language. Bilingualism improves metacognition, making your brain healthier, better at problem solving, switching between tasks, and focusing."

There have also been claims that bilingualism can even delay the onset of diseases like Alzheimer's and Dementia by as much as five years.
A man was today charged in connection in connection with an alleged knife attack in Derry at the weekend.

Derry Magistrates Court was told that around 10.30pm on Sunday police attended the address at Spencer Road following a report of a man carrying a knife.

Police spoke with the residents of the address who said the 31-year-old defendant, Alin-Alexandru Lazareanu, had been at the address and they had made him some food.

An argument had later started over the treatment of a pet dog and the defendant began 'aggressive' and left the address.

A short time later he returned and was carrying a knife, which was described as a '6 to 8 inch carving knife'.

He banged on the door of the flat and caused damage to the door with the knife.

When one of the occupants of the flat opened the door, the court was told that Lazareanu tried to 'slash' this man with the knife.

The defendant, whose address was listed on court documents as Bonds Street, was restrained on the ground by two men and they took the knife off him.

Residents of the flat told police that during the incident had threatened to kill his girlfriend and her unborn child.

They said that they believed he would be 'capable' of carrying out the threat.

The court was told that when interviewed by police, Lazareanu said he remembered being in the flat and then leaving but could not recall the later events.

In relation to Sunday night's incident, he was charged with attempted GBH, issuing a threat to kill and possession of an offensive weapon.

A bail application was made on his behalf.

A defence solicitor said the defendant had been living in the North for four years and had no criminal record.

However, a police officer told the court that they were opposed to Lazareanu being released on bail.

The officer said that an address put forward for the defendant was only two minutes walk away from the flat where the weekend incident took place.

Bail was refused and the defendant was remanded in custody to appear before the local court on April 27.
Ottawa, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Mar, 2021 ) :Canadian experts on Monday recommended halting the use of AstraZeneca Covid-19 shots for people aged under 55, after a small but rising number of patients abroad suffered blood clots.

Manitoba and Quebec provinces were the first to heed the new National Advisory Committee on Immunization and Health (NACI) guidelines, with each region responsible for its own immunization program.

"There is substantial uncertainty about the benefits of providing AstraZeneca vaccines to adults under 55 years of age," Canada's deputy chief public health officer Howard Njoo told a news conference.

"At this time, we are pausing the use of AstraZeneca vaccine to adults under 55 years of age, pending further risk-benefit analysis," he said.

Officials, meanwhile, urged Canadians who have received the AstraZeneca shot in the last 20 days to consult a doctor.

Health Canada and NACI doctors told a briefing that the manufacturer -- which has now posted a warning on the label -- would be asked to conduct a detailed assessment of the benefits and risks of its vaccine by age and sex.

"To date, no cases of (blot clots) have been reported in Canada," Health Canada chief medical officer Supriya Sharma said.

"However, through our ongoing international collaboration, Health Canada has become aware that additional cases of these events have been reported in Europe," she said.

The NACI earlier this month urged giving AstraZeneca shots only to people aged 18 to 64, saying clinical trials hadn't included enough seniors, then revised its recommendation to include people of 65 and over after reviewing "real-world evidence" of its effectiveness in seniors.

The AstraZeneca vaccine candidate was approved for use in Canada in February, alongside Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots.
New Delhi:

The Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested an ISI agent for blackmailing a lady Colonel and threatening to share her morphed photos on social media.



The police nabbed Mohammad Parvez after the Colonel, posted at Kota NCC, filed a complaint with local police. The police carried out technical analyses on the numbers and fake Facebook ID provided by Colonel in the complaint.



During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he and his aides wanted to extract confidential information for the Colonel and hence threatened her with morphed pictures.



Parvez claimed that he was working for ISI, Pakistans intelligence agency, and the confidential information was to be used by ISI operatives to destabilize the Centre.

Read | Delhi Police arrests Al-Qaeda terrorist



The victim claimed that she was receiving obscene morphed images from the above numbers, which also carried a threat that the photos would be put up on social media if she doesnt respond. The Colonel blocked the number but still continued to get calls, messages but this time from another number.

Parvez was arrested under IPC sections 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war), 66E (Violation of privacy), 354D (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and the IT Acts section 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form).

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Major pain: Bidens dog involved in 2nd biting incident View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Bidens younger dog Major this week was involved in his second biting incident of the month, the White House said Tuesday.

The dog nipped someone while on a walk on Monday, said Michael LaRosa, press secretary to first lady Jill Biden, adding that the dog is still adjusting to his new surroundings. The individual was seen by the White House Medical Unit out of an abundance of caution and returned to work without injury, LaRosa added.

The dog had been seen by reporters on a walk around the White House South Lawn before the president and first lady traveled to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial early Monday evening.

The german shepherd only just returned to the White House last week, along with his sibling Champ, after causing a minor injury to an employee of the U.S. Secret Service on March 8.

After that incident, the president said Major was a sweet dog. In an interview with ABC News, Biden explained the biting by saying that the dog had turned a corner, theres two people he doesnt know at all, you know, and they move and moves to protect.

Biden added at the time that 85% of the people there love him.

Major, a 3-year-old rescue dog, and Champ, who is 12, were moved to the Bidens Delaware home after the incident. The president said Major was being trained in Delaware but disputed the idea that the pup had been sent away after the incident. He said the dogs went to Wilmington because the first couple was going to be out of town.

He was going home, Biden said. I didnt banish him to home. Jill was going to be away for four days. I was going to be away for two, so we took him home.

The dogs met the Bidens two weekends ago at Camp David in Maryland and came back to Washington on March 21. Last week, one of the two German shepherds waited on the balcony of the White House as Marine One landed on the South Lawn, having ferried the president back from a speech in Columbus, Ohio.

The dogs will come and go and it will not be uncommon for them to head back to Delaware on occasion as the president and first lady often do as well, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

This weeks biting incident was first reported by CNN.
Ten years ago, the Syrian people peacefully took to the streets calling for an end to government corruption and respect for human rights. Their legitimate aspirations were violently suppressed by the Assad regime as military forces fired upon peaceful, pro-democracy protestors.

Over the past 10 years, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been killed, over 100,000 have been imprisoned, and millions have been displaced from their homes.

It is impossible to fully fathom the extent of the devastation in Syria, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, but its people have endured some of the greatest crimes the world has witnessed this century. The Assad regimes acts have included chemical and cluster bomb attacks; sieges; extrajudicial killings; arbitrary detention; torture, and the use of children in the conflict.

Secretary General Guterres said the UN will continue to pursue a negotiated political settlement in line with Security Council Resolution 2254, which endorses a road map to a political transition that includes a cease-fire and free and fair elections and the release of Syrians subject to arbitrary detention.

The United States also remains committed to a political settlement. On the tenth anniversary of the start of the Syrian uprising, the Secretary of State of the United States, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, and the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Italy issued a joint statement committing to reinvigorating the

pursuit of a peaceful solution which protects the rights and future prosperity of all Syrians, based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

Clear progress towards an inclusive political process and an end to the repression of the Syrian people is essential, they wrote. We cannot allow this tragedy to last another decade.

At a press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price noted that Bashar al-Assad has been at the center of the suffering and the humanitarian disaster in Syria. He has done absolutely nothing to regain the legitimacy that he has lost through the brutal treatment of his own people. There is no question of the U.S. normalizing relations with his government soon, he said.

If there is to be a sustainable end to this conflict, the Syrian Government must change its behavior, Spokesperson Price declared. In the

meantime, he said, We will seek to support the humanitarian plight of the Syrian people as we seek a political settlement that would end their suffering.
William T. Lavell is seeking more than $150,000 in damages

A white professor is suing a New Jersey college for racial discrimination after finding out his two black colleagues earn at least $45,000 more than him.

William T. Lavell, 66, filed his lawsuit against Camden College on Friday after discovering the pay gap under the state's public records law, NJ.com reports.

In his lawsuit chemistry professor Lavell argues that despite 'similar tenure, qualifications, and experience' black engineering professors Melvin Roberts and Lawrence Chatman earn more than him.

Records show Lavell's salary in 2021 is $91,923, Roberts' is $137, 157 and Chatman's is $142,606.

Lavell, who lives in Annapolis, Maryland, is seeking more than $150,000 in damages.

A spokesperson for Camden College told DailyMail.com: 'Camden County College does not comment on pending litigation.'

Lavell has taught at the college for 26 years. Roberts has more than 31 years of experience there and Chatman 30 years, according to online records.

The suit argues that Lavell has more 'professional degrees in his field of concentration' than the two other professors named.

Lavell lists a chemistry degree from Ursinus College, an in MA analytical chemistry from Villanova University and a Ph.D in organic chemistry from Princeton University on his LinkedIn profile.

Online records show Chatman earned an electrical engineering degree from Rutgers, an MBA from University of Pittsburgh and a Doctor of Education from Wilmington University.

Records listing Roberts' qualifications were not immediately available.

In his lawsuit chemistry professor Lavell argues that despite 'similar tenure, qualifications, and experience' black engineering professors Melvin Roberts, left, and Lawrence Chatman, right, earn more than him

Lavell is said to have complained last November to college President Donald Borden and other senior staff with a 'comparative analysis of the racial disparities in compensation between himself and similarly situated, non-Caucasian counterparts'.

Vice President Kathleen Kane is alleged to have 'failed and refused to investigate or address plaintiff Lavells complaint of race discrimination'.

Employment lawyer Jamison Mark said: 'The laws for discrimination are there for a reason. Whether youre white, Black or brown, it doesnt matter, you cant be treated unfairly.'
University of Illinois students are being asked to take part in a national research project intended to learn whether its possible for people receiving one of the COVID-19 vaccines, Moderna, to still be able to infect those who haven't been vaccinated.
As the director of an anti-slavery charity in London at the turn of the century, I would have welcomed a substantial injection of cash to supplement the income we received from our members, from a few private foundations and from several European governments. However, in the year that the UN Trafficking Protocol was adopted (2000), I felt we did not have enough technical expertise (despite being 160 years old) on how to tackle all the patterns of extreme exploitation that we knew to be occurring around the world. Nor did anyone else.

During the first decade of the 21st century, I saw the international community groping along a learning curve. Governments allocated more substantial amounts of money than before to their police in order to enable them to catch traffickers and bring them to trial. Industrialised countries, notably the USA and the European Union bloc, provided substantial amounts to international organisations for what were nominally anti-trafficking activities. They and smaller donors, such as Australia and the United Kingdom, also started funding anti-trafficking efforts in specific regions, such as southeast Asia.

However, not enough lessons were digested about what worked and what did not. Between 2001 and 2007 the US government reportedly allocated some $447 million to efforts to combat global human trafficking outside the USA and allocated more each year. For example, in 2011 the US State Department awarded $22.5 million to fund anti-trafficking work around the world, partly to international organisations (e.g. more than $4 million went to projects run by the International Organization for Migration) but mainly to US-based non-governmental organisations (e.g. more than $1 million went to the International Justice Mission for its operations in India and the Philippines).

The result, unfortunately, was that no-one moved along the learning curve together. Instead, influential governments, particularly the USA, used a loudspeaker to tell others what they should be doing. Those of us with a background in human rights had seen how an annual report issued by the US State Department on the state of human rights in countries around the world had been used since the 1980s to convey misinformation and propaganda. So, it was not a good sign that the US government once again used an annual report (the Trafficking in Persons report) to name and shame other countries, too influenced by US partisan interests to be considered objective. Like most of the anti-trafficking industry, the annual report did not pay much attention to human rights, despite claiming to be respecting human rights by tackling human trafficking.

During this first decade of the century, it was obvious that established patterns of servitude and forced labour, such as bonded labour in South Asia, descent-based slave status in the Sahel and fishing vessels operating with enslaved migrants in parts of southeast Asia and the Pacific, were continuing without police or other actors being equipped to confront them. By 2011 it was also apparent that, with the exception of the USA, governments were getting tired of spending money on anti-trafficking initiatives, many of which failed to deliver promised benefits. After becoming a trustee of the UN Voluntary Fund on contemporary forms of slavery in 2011, I was repeatedly told by government officials that they had no spare money available to contribute. They instead recommended we turn to businesses to raise cash to assist people who had been exploited and abused.

Extra Resources Made Available

A major change occurred in 2012, one which can be attributed largely to a single, mega-rich Australian businessperson named Andrew Forrest. He had been convinced by an American academic, Kevin Bales, to invest tens of millions of dollars in efforts to end what was termed modern slavery. This wasnt Forrests first attempt to change the world  a decade earlier he had set up the Minderoo Foundation to support education for Australias indigenous population. Now he set up the Walk Free Foundation in Perth to focus on modern slavery.

In 2013 he proposed using his wealth in new ways: first, he would donate $10 million to a new Freedom Fund that would finance the anti-slavery work of civil society organisations around the world. The Freedom Fund received initial pledges of $10 million each from two other donors that were already supporting anti-slavery activities: Humanity United (with a substantial income from Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, and his wife, Pam Omidyar, in the US) and the Legatum Foundation (with income from the New Zealand financier Christopher Chandler and the private investment Legatum Group). These initial funders have been subsequently joined by other foundations set up by successful businesses, such as the Childrens Investment Fund Foundation, the Stardust Fund and the C&A Foundation (now the Laudes Foundation). When it was launched in September 2013, the Freedom Fund was given the objective of raising $100 million by 2020 and measurably reducing modern-day slavery by 2020.

Secondly, Forrest also reportedly offered $200 million to set up a new public-private partnership called the Global Fund to End Slavery that would finance anti-slavery plans prepared and implemented by governments, ifthis contribution was matched by governments. This did not take off in the way that was initially envisaged. Instead, after several years of likely governments failing to pledge support, the Republican-controlled US Congress voted to give $25 million in start-up funds if those setting it up agreed that it would operate out of Washington DC. It was rebranded as the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, and got underway as, in effect, yet another US-dominated fund to support civil society initiatives against contemporary slavery  not national plans  with an initial focus on south Asia and southeast Asia. The UK and Norway joined the US as donors to this fund (adding $38 million, with the US donating a further $21 million in 2018 via a Program to End Modern Slavery). This gave it an international tinge, although it has so far maintained a US-based outlook on the world. In effect, the global fund supplements the USs own bilateral anti-trafficking efforts rather than steering a new path.

Forrest had plenty of clout with his own Australian government and convinced them to back new global anti-slavery efforts. The same political influence was soon extended to the United Kingdom where, under the influence of Iain Duncan Smiths Centre for Social Justice, the Conservative-Liberal coalition government became interested in talking about modern slavery rather than continuing to refer, as the rest of the Europe did, to efforts to combat trafficking in human beings.

Value Added

As a former director of an anti-slavery charity, I should have been delighted by these new initiatives. But from the beginning I had doubts. I had seen how anti-trafficking efforts marginalised human rights and had witnessed the appalling impact of successive US administrations on efforts to stop extreme forms of exploitation around the world. I knew what their partisan criticism of other governments, their funding for US-based organisations operating around the world, and their blanket refusal to support organisations that promoted respect for sex workers rights could do. If the massive new injection of funds skewed things even further, there was a possibility that it would cause more harm than good.

In practice, the results have been mixed. Forrest has, for example, used his influence in the corporate world to press business leaders to expunge forced labour from their operations and supply chains. In doing so he has further increased the pressure for action that has been building ever since the United Nations adopted its Business and Human Rights Principles in 2011.

Forrest and other anti-slavery donors have also been gaining influence within the International Labour Organization ever since it was agreed that the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals would promote measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour (target 8.7). In 2017, Forrest was invited to address a global ILO conference in Argentina on reducing child labour. That same year, the Walk Free Foundation and the ILO published a joint report estimating how many people are in modern slavery around the world. In some ways this was a major advance, however the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery also combined estimates of people forced into labour (25 million) with people forced into marriage (15 million) under one label, thereby inventing a new definition for the term modern slavery and nearly doubling the total at the same time.

Following the Piper to the Wrong Place

By this point, the organisations under the influence of the main anti-slavery donors control such a large proportion of the resources available that they have an effective monopoly over the field. If it was clear that they knew how best to use their influence, such a monopoly might be in the interests of the people they are dedicated to protecting. But in cases such as India, where they have supported an anti-human trafficking bill  notable mainly by its intention to detain women who have been in prostitution, rather than to respect human rights  it is apparent that they can have a profoundly negative influence. At the same time, by persuading the ILO to use the term modern slavery they have managed to infuriate the government of India, a key country to influence on account of the substantial numbers of people subjected to various forms of bondage and forced labour.

On the wider stage, the introduction of the term modern slavery has been divisive, breaking a relative consensus around the issue of human trafficking. To many it seemed that Australia, the United Kingdom and the USA were embarking on a new crusade with the help of the ILO, a project that other organisations such as the UN Office on Drugs and Crime opposed. The UNODC had had a virtual monopoly of discussions within the UN on human trafficking, and it evidently feared that switching to the terminology of slavery could undermine its privileged role. Perhaps many of the failings that followed would have occurred anyway: not least was the lack of coordinated responses by UN organisations to new patterns of abuse, for example the lack of resources made available to pay for the recovery and healing of Yazidi women and girls enslaved in Iraq by Daesh (Islamic State). But this shift in power and language certainly didnt help.

The new monopoly should in theory allow lessons learned to be shared among all the organisations funded by the same donors, but the past decade has seen a marked reduction in the readiness of both international organisations and other large-scale anti-trafficking initiatives to engage in such information exchange. A decade ago it was still possible to argue that the eradication of slavery was a global common good and that the lessons learned on the efficacy of certain methods should be shared widely, particularly those learned from publicly financed programmes. With the advent of monopoly, this attitude has changed. Large-scale donors claim to have found the key to success, but do not feel an obligation to share it.

However, in these circumstances, holding philanthrocapitalists responsible by themselves for recent developments would be an error. The organisations supported by Andrew Forrest and others have acted largely in parallel with the priorities agreed by government agencies in Australia, the UK and the USA. The result, in effect, is that we have witnessed the creation of a neo-liberal government alliance with the hyperwealthy. It is not a military-industrial complex of the sort traditionally criticised in the US, but nevertheless a complex that aims more criticism at the way poor people and developing countries behave than at the rich, and ensures that the focus of criticism about the unacceptable face of modern-day capitalism and old-fashioned slavery is not on the US or other industrialised countries.

Playing an Alternative Tune?

Foundations that want to stop slavery or other extreme forms of exploitation do not have to operate in such a top-down manner. Some, such as the Oak Foundation and Porticus, have a good record of supporting local activists. They have portfolios which cover a range of human rights issues and use internationally-recognised human rights as a reference point. They seem aware of the danger of investing narrowly on the single issue of modern slavery. This approach involves understanding the implications of the real world in all its glorious diversity and requires made-to-fit solutions rather than one-size-fits-all ones.

What is also missing as a result of the priorities adopted by the new abolitionist donors is a focus on the role that governments should play (and have legal obligations to play), beyond merely declaring certain actions linked to human trafficking or enslavement to be crimes. Perhaps this is not surprising, as it is probably not in the personal interest of wealthy tycoons to change the structure of the worlds economy or challenge the distribution of power in societies marked by hierarchy, inequality and discrimination.

Fortunately, over the past two decades the jurisprudence of the regional human rights courts in both Europe and the Americas on the issues of human trafficking, servitude and forced labour has evolved substantially. The courts have highlighted what the positive obligations of governments are to prevent such abuse from occurring in the first place, as well as to protect the people concerned. However, so far the governments, funds and foundations that focus on modern slavery do not appear much influenced by this agenda.
The controversial name of a historic beachside village on the New South Wales far south coast is under threat over its racist origins to slave labour.

There are growing calls led by the local indigenous community for the name of Boydtown to be dropped, associated with the Scottish colonial entrepreneur who founded the Sapphire Coast village in the mid 19th century.

A short drive from the nearby town of Eden, Boydtown was the original settlement in Twofold Bay founded by Benjamin Boyd, regarded as Australia's first 'Blackbirder' who shipped South Sea Islanders to Australia and exploited them as slave labour.

Boyd's controversial legacy has come under increased scrutiny in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and a renewed campaign on Indigenous rights.

The campaign to rename the village is one step closer after the major landowner in the village home to 70 residents indicated its support.

The name of the NSW village of Boydtown could be scrapped due to racist origins to slave labour. Pictured is a woman outside the Seahorse Inn, the village's historic hotel

Lyon Group Australia owns 700 hectares in Boydtown, including the historic Seahorse Inn and a caravan park, along with pastoral and residential land.

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The property development company has agreed to investigate a possible name change and work with the Indigenous community.

'We have reviewed the history, and we know that the name of Ben Boyd is related not just to the subjugation of Indigenous people in the area, but to 'blackbirding'  the use of South Sea Islanders practically as slave labour in the mid 19th century,' managing director Mike Milliken told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'All I can say at this point is we are highly sympathetic to local Indigenous wishes.'

Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council chairman BJ Cruse described the name of the nearby Ben Boyd National Park as 'a slap in the face'.

He welcomed Lyon Group Australia's recent move and looks forward to meeting with executives in the coming weeks.

There are growing calls to change the name of Boydtown on the NSW far south coast, named after the Scottish colonial entrepreneur who founded the settlement

'I think it is the first foot in the door. We want the name changed because of what that man represents. He caused a lot of misery among Indigenous and Pacific Island people. It's a long time coming but it is well-received,' Mr Cruse told the publication.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lyon Group Australia for comment.

The first two boatloads of South Pacific Islanders Boyd brought to Australia by Boyd in 1847 were 'naked, wild and restless' with no understanding of the five-year contracts they had agreed to.

'None of the natives could speak English, and all were naked..'. '[T]hey all crowded around us looking at us with the utmost surprise, and feeling at the Texture of our clothesthey seemed wild and restless,' the clerk of the local bench of magistrates described them at the time.

Home to a population of 70, the Sapphire Coast village of Boydtown (pictured) is in the headlines over its controversial name

The name of Ben Boyd National Park is also under review from the NSW government.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has appointed an independent historian to review Boyd's history in '19th century blackbirding'.

Consultation with community elders and other stakeholders will start in the coming weeks with a final report due later this year.

'I have a huge amount of respect for our Indigenous people and their living history,' NSW environment minister Matt Kean told the ABC in 2020.

'Our national parks are about connecting people, not dividing them.'
[March 30, 2021] Breaking the Shackles of History: Coro to Democratize Access to Gold in Puerto Rico

Miami, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coro Global Inc . (OTCQB: CGLO) announced today that its subsidiary Coro Corp., was granted a U.S. Money Transmitter license in Puerto Rico. The company created CORO , a mobile payment app that allows anyone to exchange, send and save gold and dollars easily and securely. Coro Global is a Florida-based fintech on a mission to support people in understanding the value of using gold as resilient money. Coro democratizes access to gold aiming to lead towards better social cooperation and a more sustainable world. Coro is leveraging deep financial know-how and the new generation of distributed ledger technology (hashgraph) to build the infrastructure and tools for anyone to be able to buy gold in the smallest denominations and use it as easily as traditional currencies in their everyday lives. Puerto Rico is a very distinct place in many ways, such as being historically oppressed and as a consequence having one of the lowest per capita incomes of all US jurisdictions . As part of Coros mission to support people in need of financial resilience, obtaining an operating license in Puerto Rico represents a key landmark for the business. It also marks the launch of the Spanish version of the app in a territory that is primarily Spanish-speaking. (Coro is planning to start onboardig customers in Puerto Rico within approximately 90 days.)



The new license authorizes Coro to transmit currency, monetary value, or payment instruments within Puerto Rico, as well as from Puerto Rico to other jurisdictions. The licensure approval required implementing a rigorous compliance program and developing an advanced AML/KYC onboarding and monitoring system for anti-money laundering compliance, as well as a strict financial audit process. Coro is now licensed and onboarding residents of 27 U.S. states and the District of Columbia and intends to expand the availability of its gold payment app across the country over the course of 2021 . International expansion is also in the works with Mexico and Canada next.

CORO App is currently available in the Apple App and Google Play stores to residents of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., Wisconsin.

Coro Global CEO, Mr. David Dorr stated: Coro is excited to announce the granting of yet another money transmitter license, this time in Puerto Rico. As Miami natives where there is a significant Puerto Rican population, we always wanted to rush towards empowering their community to be able to use our app to send remittances to their families at home. As we are building towards generating a positive financial change our presence in a territory like Puerto Rico is a significant landmark for many reasons: we can empower a community close to our hearts, help unshackle historical limitations, and also establish a presence in a Spanish speaking territory for the first time. About Coro Global Inc.

Coro Global Inc. is a Miami, Florida-based fintech company that is creating a new financial payment system where gold can be used as money in everyday transactions as easily as fiat currencies. Coro's platform is powered by cutting-edge Distributed Ledger Technology, allowing customers to send and receive global payments and exchange currency, including gold, seamlessly and securely. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with our history of losses and our need to raise additional financing, the acceptance of our products and technology in the marketplace, our ability to demonstrate the commercial viability of our products and technology and our need to increase the size of our organization. Further information on the Company's risk factors is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason except as may be required under applicable law.

PR Anna Milaeva pr@coro.global

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THE Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) donated three fully furnished mobile container clinics valued at N$6 million to the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) on Thursday at Walvis Bay.

The donation, according to the head of component at GIZ transport, mobility and ogistics project, Ursula Hein-Rooinasie, is aimed at assisting WBCG's efforts to prevent the further spread of coronavirus at border crossings and along corridors.

Hein-Rooinasie said it is important for stakeholders of the transport industry to have a renewed vision with new strategies to preserve public health, economic recovery and sustainability.

To enable effective operations, GIZ will also cover the salaries of staff at the container clinics.

Additionally, Covid-hygiene material such as isolation tents, masks, disinfectants and other protective gear was also provided.

The wellness clinics will be placed in Walvis Bay, Keetmanshoop and Outapi.

WBCG chief executive officer Mbahupu Tjivikua received the donation, saying it came at the right in time for the transport and logistics fraternity of Namibia and the SADC region.

"This sponsorship by GIZ is not a cure or treatment for Covid-19 but an effort to mitigate the impact and contain further spread of Covid-19. It will ease pressure on our thin and overstretched financial resources," said Tjivikua.

He added that the donation will also financially and psychologically boost the morale of the staff and improve their productivity as well as the sustainability of WBCG.

The corridor group has six other active wellness centres at the ports of entries in Walvis Bay, Katima Mulilo, Oshikango, Windhoek, Gobabis and Otjiwarongo. These centres offer free wellness services to truck drivers and the communities they interact with, including commercial sex workers.
State schools have been engulfed by the deepening rape culture scandal - as ministers face calls to launch an inquiry.

Almost 10,000 reports of misogyny, harassment, abuse and assault have now been posted to the Everyone's Invited website.

After the claims initially embroiled some of Britain's top private schools, the number of entries involving state schools has increased by a third.

A senior MP today condemned the 'Lord Of The Flies culture' within classrooms, while another demanded Ofsted be tasked with leading an independent probe.

Collyer's sixth-form in Surrey is one of the state schools being engulfed by the deepening rape culture scandal

An exterior view of Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, which is the subject of claims on Everyone's Invited

Soma Sara instead railed against an endemic rape culture that permeates 'every school, every university, at home and in society'

Ex-pupil sends claims dossier to Eton, Tonbridge and Charterhouse A former pupil at a private girls' school has sent a dossier of alleged experiences of rape culture to the heads of some of Britain's most elite schools. Zan Moon, 24, who attended Benenden in Kent, compiled experiences from 95 people before sending them to top public schools such as Eton College, Charterhouse and Tonbridge. The Princes Trust charity worker, who says she was assaulted by a boy from a different school as a 15-year-old, is worried some of the perpetrators will grow up to one day hold positions of power and influence. Urging heads to stamp out the behaviour at an early age, she wrote: 'The worrying reality of this situation is that many of these young boys grow up to land some of the most powerful leadership roles in society. 'It is therefore vital, to ensure safety for women across the country, that this misogyny issue is dealt with right from the start.' She said that unacceptable behaviour was too readily dismissed as a 'boys will be boys' mentality. In response, James Priory, headmaster of Tonbridge School, said: 'I have read this open letter with significant concern. These behaviours have no place at Tonbridge and are incompatible with the ethos of care and respect for others which we do our best to teach and live by. As a school, we treat allegations of this kind with the utmost seriousness.' Eton said: 'Eton insists that all our pupils treat others with kindness, decency and respect. Specific allegations are always taken extremely seriously and we work closely with the relevant external authorities when necessary. We run workshops about healthy relationships and educate our pupils about consent it was introducing classes on consent.' Charterhouse said: 'We take the concerns raised extremely seriously and have been working hard on issues such as gender-based discrimination, harassment and violence and healthy and respectful relationships.' Advertisement

Campaigners hope the outpouring of pupil experiences will be a moment of reckoning for Britain's education system akin to the MeToo movement.

Soma Sara, who founded the Everyone's Invited website, said she had been 'shocked' by the thousands of testimonies but glad they were being voiced.

She added that in recent days there had been a 33 per cent increase in state schools entries.

Analysis by The Times reveals the claims inside the state sector include the West London Free School, Tiffin School, and Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School (CVMS), all in London, and Collyer's sixth-form college in West Sussex.

An entry from CVMS, in Holland Park, alleged that a dozen pupils had created an Instagram account to post naked photos of female pupils.

Ms Sara this morning told Good Morning Britain: 'I think rape culture is a universal problem it exists everywhere; in all schools, all universities, at home and in society.

'So the question of responsibility is on everyone.

'I don't think this is about naming, or shaming or pointing the finger at a place, person or institution.

'It's about everyone participating in these conversations.'

Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the education select committee, compared the culture in some schools to Lord Of The Flies; in the novel, boys stranded on a remote island quickly turn animalistic and violent.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'It is pretty grim just reading through the Everyone's Invited website, your heart goes out to all the people who have suffered the abuse, the sexual harassment, the threats, the abuse online.

'I do think there is a Lord Of The Flies culture in some of our schools across our country and what needs to happen is an urgent inquiry to overhaul safeguarding procedures because they are not fit for purpose.'

Mr Halfon added that 'much deeper' questions needed to be asked to address the problem of sexual violence among some young men in school, and that councelling should be afforded to victims.

Gavin Williamson last night condemned the alleged abuses and vowed to take action to stamp out such 'sickening' behaviour.

The Education Secretary tweeted: 'No school - whether an independent school or state school - should ever be an environment where young people feel unsafe, let alone somewhere that sexual abuse can take place.

'The allegations that I have heard in recent days are shocking and abhorrent.'

Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the education select committee, compared the culture in some schools to Lord Of The Flies

The West London Free School in Hammersmith is also entered on to the website, where people anonysmously report misogyny, harassment, abuse and assault

Maria Miller has called for an independent Ofsted inquiry. Gavin Williamson vowed last night to take action over the pupil abuse scandal  and urged all victims of 'sickening acts' to report them to police

'It's a toxic environment to try to be an upstander rather than be a bystander': Boys speak out about rape culture in schools Three boys have spoken out about the rape culture scandal in British schools. Gulliver, 16, Freddie, 17 and Kian, 18 appeared on the Today programme this morning. Asked if they were shocked by some of the testimonies from female pupils, Kian said: 'It certainly doesn't surprise me I'd say, I wouldn't be shocked by a story of a girl being groped at a party or overhearing some language being used by boys in the locker room. It wouldn't surprise me to hear such things.' Gulliver said: I think it's quite awful because I can imagine this being openly bragged about and I think it's this culture that is currently going on.' Freddie said calling classmates out on such behaviour can be 'difficult' because of peer pressure. Gulliver agreed: 'It's this idea that you would be laughed at for trying to speak up, which is intimidating almost. I think it's a toxic environment to try to be an upstander rather than be a bystander.' Advertisement

Former cabinet minister Maria Miller demanded Ofsted be drafted in to lead an independent probe into the allegations.

The Tory MP, who was chair of of the Commons women and equalities committee when it published a report detailing harrowing findings of abuse five years ago, said it appeared nothing had changed.

Ms Miller said that while the Government had accepted many of her committee's recommendations, schools appeared to be failing to implement new guidelines which had followed its 2016 report.

'What I think now, very strongly, is we need to have Ofsted do a deep dive on the issue of the handling of sexual harassment in schools,' she told The Guardian.

Business Secretary Kwarteng today said he is 'very disturbed to hear that things were not acted upon' when asked about the Ms Miller's report.

Labour are also piling pressure on the Government. Shadow education secretary Kate Green and shadow domestic violence and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips called on the Government to develop a national strategy to tackle the issue.

'Swift and decisive action is needed to make sure that the education system is safe for every young person, and that sexist or misogynistic attitudes towards women and girls are stamped out early,' they said.

Ms Green said: 'It is extremely concerning to see these reports of sexual harassment and abuse across the education system.

'Ministers have let young people down with their dangerous and irresponsible resistance to calls for a strategy to tackle sexism and sexual harassment in the education system.'

Ms Phillips added: 'The Government have known the scale of sexual harassment and abuse in schools, colleges and universities for years and have done nowhere near enough to tackle this endemic problem.

'Every student is entitled to an education free from the threat of sexual violence or harassment.'

In a statement a Government spokeswoman said ministers were 'very concerned' at the number of allegations posted on the Everyone's Invited website.

'The abuse of children and young people in all its forms is abhorrent,' the spokeswoman said.

'The vast majority of schools, colleges and universities take their safeguarding responsibilities very seriously, so it is particularly shocking when allegations of abuse are made in connection with a place of education where everyone should feel secure and be protected.

'Working together, the Department for Education, the Home Office and the National Police Chiefs' Council are in contact with Everyone's Invited to provide support, protection and advice to those who are reporting abuse, including on contacting professionals or the police if they wish.'

MailOnline has contacted the West London Free School, Tiffin School, Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School and Collyer's sixth-form college.

Paul Stubbings, headmaster of Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, told The Times: 'We have a zero-tolerance policy to any form of sexual violence or harassment and try hard to promote a culture in which this does not happen. But when it does and we know about it, we deal with it robustly.'
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Baltimore will no longer prosecute prostitution, drug possession and other low-level offenses

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After one-year of an experiment aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 in prisons, Baltimore City States Attorney Marilyn Mosby says the Charm City will no longer prosecute drug possession, prostitution, minor traffic violations and other low-level offenses. Some have warned against the move.

As part of its COVID criminal justice policies, the city stopped prosecuting those low-level offenses in 2020. It resulted in a decrease in arrests, no adverse impact on the crime rate, and address the systemic inequity of mass incarceration, Mosbys office announced in a statement.

Data by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services suggests that the overall incarcerated population in Baltimore City is down 18% during COVID and  there has been a 39% decrease in people entering the criminal justice system compared to this time last year.

Mosbys office adds that Baltimore City experienced a reduction in crime in many areas."

The state's attorney's office stated that violent crime is down 20% from March 13, 2020, to March 13, 2021. In that same period, the office reports that property crime is down 36%.

Today, Americas war on drug users is over in the city of Baltimore, she claims. We leave behind the era of tough-on-crime prosecution and zero-tolerance policing and no longer default to the status quo to criminalize mostly people of color for addiction. We will develop sustainable solutions and allow our public health partners to do their part to address mental health and substance use disorder.

In April, when the courts open, Mosby says she will want her prosecutors working with the police and focused on violent offenses like armed robbery, carjacking and drug distribution organizations that are the underbelly of the violence in Baltimore, not using valuable jury trial time on those that suffer from addiction.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott voiced support for the move.

Reimagining public safety in Baltimore requires innovation and collaborative effort, he said in a statement. I applaud States Attorney Mosbys Office for working with partners to stem violence in Baltimore and ensure residents have the adequate support services they deserve.

Baltimore City Police Commissioner Michael Harrison is also in favor.

He stated that the department continues to work collaboratively with the States Attorney Office to focus on violent crimes and reducing violence in our city."

"We will continue to be responsive to the public safety needs of our residents and hold violent criminals accountable," Harrison stated.

Republican state Sen. Robert Cassilly of Harford County says he has some reservations about the new policy.

Prosecutors take an oath to uphold the constitution in the state of Maryland, and the constitution says the general assembly sets the policy, not the prosecutors, Cassilly told WBFF. I respect the whole prosecutorial discretion. Thats not prosecutorial discretion. Thats an exercise in legislating. Thats what the legislature is supposed to do.

Prosecutors in many cities suspended prosecution of low-level offense prosecutions, but most of them have not made it a permanent policy.

Sean Kennedy, a visiting fellow at the Maryland Public Policy Institute who has studied the crime in Baltimore, told The Washington Post that setting in place such a policy could be a mistake in a city he called the murder capital of America.

These quality of life violations are more than a nuisance, they are precursors and directly proximate to much more serious and often violent crimes, he said, referring to offenses such as human trafficking and drug-related shootings.

Mosby is among other prosecutors across the country who have said they will not prosecute prostitution. The movement to decriminalize prostitution is gaining steam as Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union have urged for consensual "sex work" to be decriminalized.

National Center on Sexual Exploitation Executive Director Dawn Hawkins criticized efforts to decriminalize prostitution in a letter published by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"The movement to fully decriminalize prostitution is fraught with peril for prostituted persons, despite claims to the contrary, and should never be considered as a policy solution to make prostitution 'safer,'" Hawkins wrote.

"Prostitution is all too frequently the 'choice' of the choiceless, as it preys on vulnerable populations. Prostitution is never 'safe' and inevitably leads to physical, emotional and psychological trauma. It is the most extreme form of exploitation."

"Buyers  overwhelmingly male  provide the entire revenue stream for prostitution," she added. "Legalizing or fully decriminalizing prostitution gives a green light to buyers, and doing so removes constraints and expands the demand for more prostituted persons, resulting also in increased sex trafficking in order to keep up."
JERSEYVILLE  Recently filed felony charges by the Jersey County States Attorneys Office include:

 Cody L. Wells, 28, of Colfax, was charged March 26 with unlawful use of a credit card and theft, both Class 2 felonies. According to court documents, on March 25 Wells allegedly used a credit card of another person without their expense, obtaining less than $300 in cash. Bail was set at $20,000.
Construction workers build the Signature Bridge, replacing and improving a busy highway intersection at I-95 and I-395 in Miami on March 17, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Infrastructure Plan a Huge Power Grab, Tremendous Waste, Experts Say

The much-discussed infrastructure plan slated to cost more than $3 trillion that President Joe Biden aims to pass this summer fails to deliver on traditional funding and amounts to a massive federal power grab, according to experts.

While the details are still being hashed out, including whether the plan will cost closer to $3 trillion or $4 trillion, whats been revealed so far represents an ambitious plan covering a broad scope outside traditional infrastructure projects, such as combating climate change, Green New Deal programs, and income equality.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said recently that the president has a plan to pay for it. Biden will unveil his plan on March 31.

The plan represents a huge power grab for the federal government, potentially the largest in decades, David Ditch, budget and transportation associate at the Heritage Foundation, told The Epoch Times.

The infrastructure portion alone would mean federal involvement in projects that are at the heart of local governance, such as school construction and water systems.

Giving so much power to the federal government would open these projects up to red tape that already causes a tremendous amount of waste and lost time on projects that include national highways and airport networks, according to Ditch. At the same time, state and local governments become more dependent on Washington for their normal responsibilities, he said.

By expanding the federal government and using the word infrastructure as a shield to hide a massive expansion of the welfare state, lawmakers are using the typically bipartisan nature of the infrastructure issue as a means for left-wing policy wins, said Ditch. He noted theres a strong bipartisan appetite for a big spending package focused on traditional infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges.

Some lawmakers and business groups have been pushing Biden to raise fuel taxes, but in a March 29 interview on CNN, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said neither a gas tax nor a mileage tax would be part of Bidens infrastructure planat least for now.

President Joe Biden speaks to the media as he arrives in New Castle, Del., on March 26, 2021. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

Instead, Biden is expected to propose the biggest federal tax increase in decades, two sources familiar with the plan told Reuters. It includes raising corporate income taxes back to the 28 percent rate before President Donald Trumps Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and increasing the marginal tax rate on high-earners, according to the unnamed sources.

The consequences of raising business taxes to partly finance the federal infrastructure push will be to reduce private infrastructure investment in market projects and state projects, replacing them with politically selected Washington proposals, according to Ryan Bourne, the R. Evan Scharf Chair for the Public Understanding of Economics at the Cato Institute.

This bodes ill for growth because government projects are often not selected according to what is best for economic efficiency, Bourne told The Epoch Times. Instead, infrastructure programs selected by politicians can aim to confer prestige on politicians, win favor with political constituencies, or feather-nest political allies, such as trade unions.

At the same time, political projects are also plagued with inflated costs due to environmental, buy American, and other regulations, said Bourne, noting that it provides wide scope for economic and political mischief.

Psaki confirmed early this week that Biden plans to divide the infrastructure proposal into two parts as part of a push to gain support from congressional Republicans for the different priorities. The first part focuses on rebuilding roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.

The term infrastructure itself is being manipulated and is currently going the same way as investment, becoming meaningless in political discourse, according to Bourne. He brought up how Biden even talked about the care economy, a service industry, as critical infrastructure.

I suspect this wordplay reflects a Democratic belief that voters are more open to governments delivering infrastructure than subsidizing service industries. This part really does amount to a massive land grab in terms of the role of the federal government, Bourne said.

In a sign of the battle to come, progressive lawmakers will soon unveil the THRIVE Act, which would provide $10 trillion for a federal green infrastructure plan that counters Bidens infrastructure plan.

Economic experts told The Epoch Times that Republicans will likely not agree to fund an infrastructure package that contains large tax hikes on business and capital. They said hopes of bipartisanship are also low. Democrat leaders including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have called for more bipartisanship in the infrastructure plan, at least on the surface.

But this month, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.,), was caught on a hot mic telling Buttigieg that Democrats will most likely have to use budget reconciliation, a strategy to circumvent Republican support, for their infrastructure plans.

Ultimately its going to be put together similar to the American Rescue Plan, Cardin said, Politico reported.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) talks to reporters following the weekly Senate Republican caucus luncheon in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington on March 16, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Earlier in March, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected the notion that Republicans would back the tax increases under Bidens plan, calling it a Trojan horse for Democrats to pass everything without bipartisan support.

I dont think theres going to be any enthusiasm on our side for a tax increase, he said at a weekly Senate Republican press conference.

My suspicion is they will try to jam everything they can into that bill and call it an infrastructure bill, just like they tried to call the bill a couple of weeks ago a COVID bill, McConnell said.

Bourne said he doubts the infrastructure package will do much in terms of pandemic recovery as infrastructure lead times are always a lot longer than expected. In the medium-term, he believes the projects will crowd out private investments by raising the demand for construction workers and raw materials. And in the longer-term, Bourne said the political selection of projects, coupled with higher taxes, will reduce the GDP from where it would otherwise have been.

By including tax increases, plus anti-growth green and labor-union regulations, the Biden administration will lose all support of Republicans and centrist Democrats, Chris Edwards, director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute, told The Epoch Times.

All of this doesnt take away the fact that Americas infrastructure is old, outdated, and in dire need of modernization upgrades. Much of the countrys critical infrastructure is based on 1950s technology, said Nicholas Giordano, a professor of political science at Suffolk Community College and former catastrophic planning lead for the New York State Office of Emergency Management.

Both political parties have been aware of our degrading infrastructure for quite some time, Giordano told The Epoch Times. It is necessary that we upgrade our infrastructure in order to continue to remain competitive internally.

Each year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues a report card, and Americas infrastructure often receives a grade of C-minus.

The biggest problem with the infrastructure package is not the price tag, but the expansion of the definition of infrastructure, said Giordano, who pointed out the countrys critical infrastructure consists of 16 vital sectors that are listed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

In fact, a lot of it is to satisfy the socialist wing of the Democrat Party, including a universal pre-K program, universal community college, and forced green initiatives, Giordano said of the infrastructure plan. Democrats have made it clear that their idea of bipartisanship is Republicans submitting and voting to support a far-left agenda.
Authorities shut down Okanagan Indian Band member Cory Brewers cannabis store in Vernon, B.C., this month, fining him $100,000 for selling without a provincial licence.

Opinion

Authorities shut down Okanagan Indian Band member Cory Brewers cannabis store in Vernon, B.C., this month, fining him $100,000 for selling without a provincial licence.

The move may spark another fight for Indigenous rights.

Brewer, who operates two other cannabis stores on his communitys reserve north of the city  where the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation government permits members to sell  responded by making a seemingly insignificant argument.

"I took it upon myself  once the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was tabled in B.C.  to step off-reserve and basically assert our rights within our territory, our practice, our rights within our territory," Brewer told the CBC.

He was referring to the November 2019 adoption of Bill 41 by the B.C. government, which committed to "implement" all 46 articles of UNDRIP into provincial law.

Under the declaration, Indigenous peoples have the right to "freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development" (Article 3) and a right to "develop their political, economic and social systems or institutions" (Article 20).

Lawyers were quick to criticize Brewer for misunderstanding UNDRIP as assuring Indigenous "collective" rights while he is seeking an "individual" right. (Frankly, these are arbitrary constructions, but I digress.)

The Okanagan band, however, has never signed treaty with Canada and the City of Vernon is on its land; its "unceded and unsurrendered title."

So, Brewer is on his traditional territory and  just like on his reserve  fully within his rights to sell cannabis.

If Brewer wants to fight for his right, though (and he may to avoid a stream of fines), were off to the Supreme Court.

For four decades  basically since Indigenous rights were entrenched in Section 35 of the constitution in 1982  this is how Indigenous rights exist in Canada.

A small, seemingly insignificant disagreement over Indigenous and treaty rights happens, due to the fact Section 35 has never been defined.

A conflict emerges when some other law (usually provincial) asserts Indigenous governments, leaders, and everyday people dont have authority to define rights.

Then, people are fined and jailed.

On cue, premiers make pronouncements about how Indigenous rights "dont veto" provincial authority or some other nonsense.

Following this, Canadians start complaining Indigenous peoples want "special" treatment.

Later, after millions of dollars in lawyer fees, Indigenous nations almost always win some small  but significant  concession, such as: "Indigenous law exists" or "Indigenous title pre-dates Canadian title."

Very little changes. Its all predictable.

And all because Indigenous rights are not defined.

The UNDRIP is supposed to help clear this up, guaranteeing some basic guidelines such as "Indigenous governments should be defined by Indigenous peoples" and "Indigenous culture should be what Indigenous peoples say it is."

Even these simple rights, though, are virtually impossible under Canadian laws such as the Indian Act or constitution, which give incredible powers to provinces on basically all things that impact Indigenous rights (education, land and resources, child welfare).

This all means more (and perhaps needed) conflict is coming with the federal governments Bill C-15, which will echo B.C.s Bill 41 and bring Canadas laws in concert with UNDRIP.

This past week, Katzie First Nation businesswoman Cheyenne Cunningham tried to register her companys name in B.C. using her traditional language of hnqminm.

Provincial officials told her she has to use characters in the Roman alphabet.

Cunningham, who has since filed a discrimination complaint with B.C.s human rights tribunal, says her right to her traditional language (guaranteed under Article 13 of UNDRIP) is being violated.

The federal government has already recognized Indigenous languages as a right, too, under the Indigenous Languages Act.

Meanwhile, theres near-endless battles over hunting and fishing rights, who are the rightful Indigenous governments, and a fraught process of "consultation" on land and resource projects which is anything but.

For the most part, Indigenous communities in Manitoba work with the provincial government in the exercise of rights  but, frankly, they dont have to.

Over half First Nations governments in this province, for example, have begun the process of exercising rights to take over child-welfare systems under federal Bill C-92, for example.

First Nations governments (such as Opaskwayak Cree Nation) work with the province on cannabis certification and sales.

Some of the best exercises of Indigenous rights in Manitoba have been in health, where First Nations have controlled their own pandemic data and exercised rights to protect themselves by following their own decisions (sometimes resulting in direct conflict with the province).

This shows Indigenous rights are possible, if you can just work around the problems, vagueness, and failures of Canadian law.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
Published on:

30 March 2021



People with autism and their carers have been amongst the worst affected groups in the global Covid-19 pandemic. People with autism and their carers have been amongst the worst affected groups in the global Covid-19 pandemic.

People with autism and their carers have been amongst the worst affected groups in the global Covid-19 pandemic. They are in the highest risk group for the virus itself and stay-at-home and social distancing protocols have made access to much needed targeted therapies impossible for many families.

Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and let by Queen Marys Peoples Palace Projects the research will investigate how innovative, theatre-based methodologies can be adapted to enable recovery from Covid-19, and build resilience among young people with autism in this uniquely challenging moment. It also aims to reveal insights into how they are experiencing the pandemic.

Creating recovery

Heartbeat  Creating Recovery brings together expertise and knowledge from a diverse background team of academics (arts/humanities/medicine), arts organisations including Peruvian theatre company La Plaza and British theatre company Flute Theatre, autistic people and their families, healthcare workers and civil society.

Flute Theatre has been developing a series of sensory drama games based on Shakespearean rhythms and language for 20 years. It has now introduced innovative ways of working online with autistic young people in the context of Covid-19. These online participatory methodologies are now being adapted by Spanish-speaking theatre-makers in Peru. They are testing how autistic individuals and their families in Latin America can get support from arts organisations throughout the pandemic, with the aim of reducing social isolation.

The same methodologies will be disseminated through observation, engagement and discussion with three other arts organisations in Latin America: Crear Vale la Pena in Argentina, Fundacion Batuta in Colombia and Redes da Mare in Brazil. All three are members of a regional network of arts and mental health established by Peoples Palace Projects OLA-Building Resilience programme.

New ways of working

Teatro La Plaza is one of Latin Americas leading theatre organisations and its team are keen to continue previous work with neuro-diverse actors and audiences using Flutes online performance techniques, to inform the development of arts-based strategies for disability-inclusive recovery. Find out more about the partner organisations on the website of Peoples Palace Projects.

One technique developed by Flute is the Hunter Heartbeat Method, a series of sensory drama games based on Shakespearean rhythms and language, created by Kelly Hunter MBE, offering people with autism an opportunity to express themselves. This project explores how a shift to digital working can extend the reach and impact of creative work with autistic individuals and their families in Latin America and open up new ways of working with neuro-diverse communities during and beyond the pandemic.

The programme of work is being led by Professor Paul Heritage, Artistic Director at Peoples Palace Projects. Francisco Diez Canseco, who leads CRONICAS, a centre for chronic diseases at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, is also a consultant on the project. Methodologies will be publicly available, at low-cost, in English/Spanish/Portuguese, allowing for the learning to be scaled, built on and further adapted to support autistic people and their families.

More information
BRUSSELS, MAR 30 - Nationalist League party leader Matteo Salvini will see Hungarian rightist leader and Premier Viktor Orban and Polish rightist leader and Premier Mateusz Morawiecki in Budapest on Thursday with a view to forging an alliance between the League, Orban's Fidesz party, and Morawiecki's Law and Justice (PiS) party at the European level, the Hungarian government said Tuesday. Salvini already had a videocall with Orban at the start of March on vaccinations, the post-pandemic economic recovery, migration and family policy, the government statement said. The move comes after Fidesz recently left the centre-right European People's Party (PPE) caucus at the European Parliament. Salvini said "we will have talks on the Europe to come, we'll talk about jobs, the family, prosperity" and in the end "there will be a joint declaration and also a charter of values". He said the main goal of the meeting with the two premiers would be "creating a charter of shared values, freedom, rights and objectives based on the themes with which Europe was born, perhaps stealing the right to happiness from the USA". The three parties are similar national conservative and right-wing populist forces. (ANSA).
Bhubaneswar, March 30 : The Odisha government on Tuesday informed that the metro train service is not feasible in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack till 2041.

Replying to a question of Congress MLA Suresh Routray, Housing and Urban Development Minister Pratap Jena informed the state Assembly that currently, there is no such proposal regarding metro rail service in the twin cities.

The Minister said a Hyderabad-based company - M/s Balaji Railroad Systems Ltd (BARSYL) - had been entrusted with the task of survey for the project.

The company had carried out the survey and found no feasibility for the project, he said.

Jena informed that the metro service is not feasible on the basis of population.

The state government had paid Rs 52 lakh to the private firm for the survey while it received Rs 12.61 lakh from the Centre, Jena said.

The minister said the state government had also given a proposal to extend the metro rail service till Khurda and Jatani.

The government will raise the demand for another survey for metro rail service from Cuttack to Chandikhole and Bhubaneswar to Puri.

Notably, metro train is suitable for cities with around 25 to 30 lakh population. According to the 2011 census report, the population of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack were estimated at 8.37 lakh and 6.06 lakh respectively. However, there might be growth over the years.
Migori Governor Okoth Obado has renewed his attacks on ODM leader Raila Odinga, vowing a new political formation for the community and rubbishing the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

Mr Obado said Sunday that he is glad that the "much-publicised reggae has stopped".

Mr Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta have been pushing for the realisation of constitutional amendments through the BBI but the governor says the public's lives will not improve in any way.

"We are in the middle of a pandemic and are facing difficulties including increased prices of basic commodities. Life has become so unbearable," said during a house warming ceremony for his Director of Administration, Mr Dominic Akugo in Uriri Central Ward.

"Claims that the BBI will improve our lives are a very big lie. Life cannot be easy with the BBI. We are glad God has stopped the reggae."

Heavy debt burden

Mr Obado noted that the country's high debt obligation cannot allow the full implementation of BBI proposals.

There is no way the national government can disburse 35 per cent of national revenue to counties, as proposed in the BBI, "if it cannot give a meagre 15 per cent", he said.

"If we were serious about ensuring the BBI is passed and implemented, we should have started making adequate budgetary provisions to ensure Parliament is expanded to accommodate the high number of MPs expected," the county chief said.

He added, "If our debt obligation is approaching around Sh1 trillion, will we run the government on debts? That's impossible."

Intimidation claims

The second-term governor further revived the claim that county assemblies and leaders were intimidated and blackmailed into ensuring the passage of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

"We were really intimidated and told that if assemblies didn't pass the Bill, some people would be arrested. Some were threatened with legal action, so MCAs decided to pass it," he said.

Mr Obado, who is facing various charges in court, said leaders face danger if they dare ask simple questions about the initiative.

"Now God has helped us prove it was bad. If it comes here for a vote, deal with it properly," the governor said, in apparent reference to a possible referendum vote on the initiative.

He also said no leader should attack others on the basis of corruption as "nobody is clean".

In reference to the proponents of the initiative, the governor said; "to our brothers and sisters holding higher positions of authority plus the power, when people speak, don't coerce, intimidate or blackmail them".

"It is unfair for those expressing their freedom of speech to be intimidated, blackmailed and coerced into submission. That is not democracy," he added, while recounting an attempt at his impeachment.

New alliances

Regarding a political outfit, Mr Obadi said he will ensure one is birthed in the region, likely to rival Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement.

He hinted that the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), led by Omingo Magara and under which he was elected governor in 2013, will be his new political vehicle next year.

"If they say the BBI will bring the people together, we also say PDP will bring us together and empower our people," he said, noting there must be space for democracy at all levels.

The governor criticised the One Kenya Alliance by party leaders Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (Amani National Congress), Gideon Moi (Kanu) and Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya), saying it not a reflection of Kenya's diversity.

He said it has edged out Mr Odinga hence "the need for us to have a new political vehicle that will cater for our interests".

"They have betrayed Agwambo (Mr Odinga) after all this time and made an about-turn. How is it a One Kenya Alliance when it excludes other Kenyans, including members of our community?"

"If God allows it we shall also have our own vehicle. I implore you to help me build it. You voted for me through PDP, whose slogan is Mamlaka kwa Mwananchi (Power belongs to the people). I want us to focus on that," the governor said.

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Mr Obado said that since Mr Odinga has been excluded from the alliance and kept in the periphery, "we are now preparing our own, so that come next year, we elect our people through our own party",

He also called for support so that he becomes a party leader.

Obado criticised

Former Uriri parliamentary aspirant, Mr Benard Omondi Gwonyo, said Mr Obado's statement confirmed "our fears in ODM - that he does not subscribe to the party's agenda".

"This is the highest level of dishonesty. It's now very clear that Obado has never fully been in ODM despite benefiting immensely from the party and our leader, Mr Odinga," said Mr Gwonyo.

"Since he has served his 10 years as the governor, let him allow the people of Migori to decide their political destiny, without undue influence from him. Our faith and loyalty as the people of Migori still lies with Raila Amollo Odinga. The announcement by Governor Obado is inconsequential," said Mr Omondi.
Police officers were targeted in a petrol bomb attack in Derry after the PSNI attempted to disperse a crowd of around 40 people on Monday evening.

Police officers were targeted in a petrol bomb attack in Derry after the PSNI attempted to disperse a crowd of around 40 people on Monday evening.

The incident took place at the Tullymore Road around 7.20pm.

Police said officers had been attending the scene and had helped disperse those present and a number of items, including wooden planks and iron bars had been seized.

CCTV footage of the incident is now being examined.

As police were in the area, it was reported that a petrol bomb was thrown towards a parked police vehicle but did not strike it," a statement said.

"Masonry was thrown at a police vehicle at it during the incident. Thankfully there were no reports of any injuries."

They said the actions of officers had "helped to prevent further disorder" and the seizure of the items also quelled "any potential unrest which may have impacted the local community".

The PSNI spokesperson added: We will continue to work alongside local representatives and partner agencies, but it is disappointing that some people continue to disregard our repeated warnings.

Those people who choose to engage in criminal and anti-social behaviour must understand it is unacceptable and must stop. People have a right to live in peace and to feel safe in their communities."

The PSNI underlined the importance of parents and guardians speaking to young people and knowing where they are going and who they are with.

"Young people must understand the dangers of getting involved in behaviour which could result in injuring themselves, others, or ultimately, a criminal record," it was stressed.

Police officers are now reviewing the latest CCTV recordings to identify those involved. Where appropriate, we will make arrests and put people before the courts.
Landlords and tenants are being reminded to take the time to familiarise themselves with the recent Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2020 changes that became law last month.

The second phase of the RTAA came into force on February 11 and introduced broad changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (the Act), the legislation which outlines the obligations and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants in residential renting situations.

The law change aims to improve tenants security and stability, to protect landlords interests, and to modernise the legislation so it can respond to changing trends in the rental market.

If you have a house for rent, or if you are renting yourself, you need to understand how these changes affect you, says Steve Watson, National Manager Tenancy Compliance and Investigations.

There is a wealth of information available on the Tenancy Services website (www.tenancy.govt.nz), including a downloadable factsheet which provides a summary of the changes. You can also subscribe to Tenancy Services email newsletter for the latest updates on tenancy-related information and legislative changes.

This is the biggest reform to rental laws in 35 years and has been implemented to reflect the present-day realities of renting; more Kiwis are renting now than ever, so these changes are relevant for a significant proportion of the population.

The changes took effect from February 11 and include a number of changes to the Act, such as the requirement for landlords to provide a tenancy agreement in writing and that fixed-term tenancies will now convert to a periodic tenancy on expiry, unless the landlord and tenant agree otherwise.

There are also new rules around how tenancies can be terminated and tenants can ask to make minor changes to the property.

The second phase of the changes are in addition to law changes already in effect since August 12, 2020, which limited rent increases to once every 12 months and clarified the exemption of transitional and emergency housing from the Act.

Further changes will take effect by August 11, 2021, or earlier, and further information on these upcoming changes are also available on the Tenancy Services website.
By Megan Shepherd, The ETHOS Center

University of Dayton students, Elizabeth Musco, senior double major in engineering and dance, and Arvind Muthukumar Subramanian, graduate mechanical engineering student, are spending spring semester working with ETHOS partner, the HUB, in West Liberty, Ohio. The Heart of Unlimited Boundaries promotes meaningful relationships and a high quality of life for people of all abilities and from all backgrounds. The HUB empowers individuals with special needs through innovative, effective, person-centered experiences that focus on go-karting, training in using 3D printing technology and other experiences.

Musco designs switches that can be used by those with physical disabilities. In the photo, Arvind and I are battling with our unique projects: Im holding a squeeze-activated switch in my right hand that I designed and 3D printed. I have designed numerous switch styles that allow individuals with different abilities to interact with objects such as the Nerf gun that Im holding in my left hand. With the ability to interact, other activities can then be incorporated to help with learning, exercise and social skills development, says Musco.

Subramanian works with robotics and coding. The robot (pictured) is made from a wheelchair. The whole idea behind the robot is to educate children about disabilities and to prove to people that wheelchairs can do COOL STUFF! Rocky Grimes, founder of the HUB, calls the robot, Weapon of Mass Distraction. My role was to code the microcontroller so that the main Nerf gun shoots, and the LED lights blink. This coding was quite tricky because the main gun had to be wirelessly connected to the Arduino so that the gun could be used as a separate entity. Therefore, an RF transmitter and receiver were installed, and now, the main Nerf gun can shoot without having any wires attached to it, says Subramanian.

The experience that Musco and Subramanian are having this semester in their ETHOS Domestic Immersion  and how they are building capacity for our new community partner, the HUB  is one example of how 1Day1Dayton funds benefit both engineering students and the world. Thank you for donating to the School of Engineering Deans Fund for Excellence in the past  will you join us again on April 14?
Rabat  The "Maroc Afrika-Cultures et developpements" Organization (OMA) and a business delegation from Nigeria signed, Monday in Rabat, a partnership agreement aimed at creating the Nigeria-Morocco Business Council.

Inked by OMA's President, Najib Kettani and the head of the Nigerian delegation, Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, this agreement aims to create a framework conducive to developing and supporting the initiatives and memoranda of understanding signed between the two countries.

The creation of this council is part of all the steps initiated by HM King Mohammed VI, to open up to the African depth of the Kingdom and to develop and consolidate the ties of friendship between Morocco and Nigeria, Kettani said during the signing ceremony.

This council will further develop economic and trade relations between the two countries, he added, recalling that Nigeria is the first economic power in Africa with a GDP of 467 billion U.S. dollars in 2019 and is among the world's leading producers of hydrocarbons.

For his part, Hamisu Abubakar stressed that this initiative is likely to promote the interests of Morocco and Nigeria at the sub-regional, regional continental and international levels as well as in international circles and institutions.

It will also promote investment and cooperation in various sectors, including agriculture, economy, telecommunications, youth development and sports, gender relations, infrastructure development, energy, economic diplomacy, finance, in addition to the development of culture, tourism, education, digital sciences and technology, he added.

On the sidelines of this meeting, prospecting exchanges on investment opportunities in Morocco, especially in the region of Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, and B2B meetings were held between Moroccan businessmen and their Nigerian counterparts.
Today is the day a potentially historic count begins in the mail-in union vote for more than 5,000 employees at Amazons Bessemer fulfillment center.

The workers will decide whether they will be represented by the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU), an organization with a membership of up to 18,000 members in Alabama.

But a result may not be immediately known. It could take days or longer to tally all the votes, with Amazon or the union contesting ballots for any number of reasons, which could prolong the count.

If that happens, it would be just one more twist in the largest mail-in election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Workers began organizing at the Bessemer center last November, and the NLRB ruled an election could begin in early February.

The RWDSU represents more than 100,000 across the U.S., encompassing everything from grocery store workers to soda bottlers, sanitation and highway workers, and in the South, poultry workers.

Since then, union organizers have seen shows of support from President Joe Biden, actor Danny Glover, rapper Killer Mike, and Sens. Bernie Sanders and Marco Rubio, among others.

The union has also relied on a social media campaign to keep attention on the election, while Amazon has grown more aggressive of late in taking on its critics. Some workers at the plant have expressed weariness over the nearly two-months of electioneering.

Here is full coverage of the Alabama Amazon unionization effort

But today may not be the end. Even after ballots are counted, both sides may file objections over the result within a week.

And those objections could swing the election. For example, Reuters reported last week that at least 19 people Amazon listed to receive a ballot for the election received one, even though they now no longer work at the company. At least two of them already voted.

Election terms stipulate that workers who quit or are discharged for cause after a payroll period ending Jan. 9 are ineligible to vote. Its unclear how many of those workers received ballots.

Ballots went out to approximately 5,800 workers at the center in early February, with a deadline of next Monday to return the ballots.

The NLRB offers a roadmap for how the vote count will be conducted on its website. The election will be decided by a simple majority. Ballots that get challenged will be placed apart from uncontested ones. Disputes will be decided by the NLRB regional director, and those decisions can be appealed to the board in Washington, D.C.

Even then, election results can be set aside if conduct by either Amazon or the union created an atmosphere of confusion or fear of reprisals and thus interfered with the employees freedom of choice, the NLRB says.

Its unclear as yet whether a revote would again take place by mail, or in person. Amazon pushed for an four-day in-person vote back in January, which was rejected by the NLRB because of the spread of COVID-19 in Jefferson County at the time.
The number of non-German citizens moving to and living in the country sharply decreased last year, government figures show, with coronavirus thought to be a major factor.

Foreigners living in Germany increased by just 1.8 per cent in 2020, which is the lowest rate in 10 years, while net immigration decreased by 31 per cent from the previous year.

According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the number of foreigners moving to Germany last year from countries outside the European Union also declined by more than half.

The number of incoming Indian citizens showed the single biggest decrease, followed by Syrians. Only 8,000 Indians moved to Germany in 2020, compared to 21,000 in 2019. The number of Syrians who arrived decreased to 21,000 from 31,000.

Data also showed that more Americans and Chinese people left Germany than moved to the country.

Read more:

After long phases of net immigration, the number of Chinese and American citizens leaving surpasses the number of those moving here, the office reported. The Central Register of Foreigners records a net emigration of about 3,000 people for both citizenships.

Some 21.2 million (26 per cent) of people living in Germany in 2019, the latest figure available, had some kind of immigrant background, such as one or both parents having foreign citizenship.

The FSO data suggests Germanys foreign-born population rose by about 204,000 in 2020 to 11.4 million  of the countrys entire 83 million populace  in a year dogged by heavy travel restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Germany is currently experiencing its third wave of the virus, which Germanys top health officials have warned could be the worst to hit the country so far.

Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for Infectious Diseases, has said there could be as many as 100,000 new coronavirus cases daily if the disease is not controlled. On Friday, the country reported 21,573 new cases.

Chancellor Angela Merkel blamed Germanys tendency towards perfectionism for the countrys struggles with the coronavirus pandemic, but admitted her government had made errors.
The main national schoolteacher's union that represents staff in Laois and other counties is extremely angry about the changes announced in the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) says is extremely concerned by widespread media reports concerning potential changes to the Governments National Vaccination Programme.

It says such a change would "abandon" carefully considered priority groups who are working on the frontline. It said there has been "zero consultation" or notification of this "drastic change" which is certain to affect its members confidence about safety at work.

The teachers say it is essential that teachers and all key workers should continue to be prioritised once vulnerable people and the elderly are vaccinated. The union said it will be seeking an emergency meeting with the Department of Education to protest strongly against any downgrading of our profession on the vaccination list.

INTO General Secretary John Boyle said it seems education is supposed to be a priority.

For months now we have heard the Government say, time after time, that education is the top priority for Government. How then can teachers be treated with such blatant disregard as frontline education workers?

"This move undermines the efforts of our education staff to keep our primary and special schools open safely. This is unacceptable and the Government must prioritise the safety of teachers and all key workers once the vulnerable and elderly are first protected by vaccination, he said.

The new change will see vaccines administered on an age-related basis.
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In the first Cold War, the United States and our allies had a secret weapon against the Soviet Union and its satellites.

It didnt come from the CIA. Nor was it a product of DARPA or the weapons labs at Los Alamos. It was communism.

Communism aided the West because it saddled an imperialist Russian state with an unworkable and unpopular economic system that could not keep up with its free-market competitors. They pretend to pay us and we pretend to work  the quintessential Russian joke about working life in the workers paradise  goes far to explain why a regime with tens of thousands of nuclear warheads simply petered out.

Now we are entering the Second Cold War, this time with China. Thats the takeaway from this months U.S.-China summit in Anchorage, Alaska, in which both sides made clear that they had not only clashing interests but also incompatible values. Secretary of State Antony Blinken bluntly accused China of threatening the rules-based order that maintains global stability. Yang Jiechi, his Chinese counterpart, replied that the United States had to stop advancing its own democracy in the rest of the world.

A few days later, China and Iran signed a 25-year, $400 billion strategic pact, including provisions for joint weapons development and intelligence sharing. As challenges to the U.S.-led rules-based order go, its hard to get more frontal than that.

Say what you will about either the Trump or the Obama administrations, but they did not provoke China to crush democracy in Hong Kong, or brutalize Uyghurs in Xinjiang, or violate international law in the South China Sea, or help North Korea subvert international sanctions, or use military force to bully its neighbors, or undertake campaigns of cyberwarfare and industrial espionage against American targets on a previously unimagined scale.

So its worth thinking about what, if anything, our secret weapon might be this time around  not the overt strengths that we can bring to bear on China, like trade sanctions or naval power, but rather the inner weakness that the regime cant get rid of because its part of its DNA.

Three candidates come to mind.

The first is nationalism. Since Chinas leaders abandoned orthodox Marxism, nationalism has been one of the two pillars of the regimes legitimacy (the other is the rising standard of living). Nationalism explains Beijings truculence when it comes to its maritime and territorial claims against its neighbors, its massive arms buildup, its escalating threats to Taiwan and its habit of wearing out its welcome even in countries it seeks to woo.

But the problem with assertive nationalism is how the neighbors react. Japan is engaged in a major military buildup, with China topmost in mind. Australia is moving, a little awkwardly, to curb Chinese influence. Vietnam keeps edging closer to the United States. Washington doesnt have to encourage nationalism in order to benefit from it. But the best thing the administration could do to solidify this quiet containment is reenter the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which the Trump administration so heedlessly trashed.

The second is cult-of-personality politics. Xi Jinping has consolidated power like no other leader since Mao Zedong. In some ways this has made Chinese authoritarianism more efficient, in ways that can seem enviable when compared with the Wests shambolic governance in the face of a crisis like COVID.

But Xi cannot overcome the inherent weaknesses of hypercentralized power. The more power one man holds, the more vulnerable the entire regime is to his misjudgments. The more he tries to project an image of invincibility, the likelier he is to wall himself off from unpleasant but necessary information. And the more he cuts off internal channels of dissent, the more he foments precisely the kind of ideological and political disenchantment he seeks to quash.

Finally, there is Chinas ever-expanding campaign to regulate, monitor and control God  not in the sense of a higher power, but of an inner voice.

Chinas leaders (including the ostensibly more liberal ones) have always been ferocious in their repression of spiritual and religious movements  whether its Falun Gong, Islam, Tibetan Buddhism or independent Christian churches  because religion cultivates a moral conscience independent of political control.

But moral conscience is not something any government in history has been able to compel, which is why the West was wise when it adopted the principle of religious liberty. And Joe Biden should underscore this essential difference with Xi at every opportunity, including by inviting the Dalai Lama to the White House, as well as other Chinese faith leaders.

None of this is to say that containing Beijing wont also require actively building alliances, exerting economic pressure and preserving a powerful military deterrent. But as we imagine how we might bring a Second Cold War to a peaceful end, it helps to consider how Chinas regime could become a partner in its own undoing.

Stephens is a columnist for the New York Times.
Ibrahim Magu's fate remains uncertain five months after the submission of the report of the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to President Muhammadu Buhari.

There have been concerns about the fate of Magu after the appointment and confirmation of Abdulrasheed Bawa as the new Executive Chairman of EFCC in February.

Although sources in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said the panel faulted some procedures in the management of recovered assets under Magu, the presidential white paper on the report was yet to be announced.

One of Magu's lawyers, Tosin Ojaomo, informed Daily Trust that Magu remained in the service of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) though the police was yet to post him anywhere after his suspension as EFCC chairman.

Magu has not been sighted in uniform or in any police command five months after his removal as EFCC boss.

Two previous EFCC chief executives, Nuhu Ribadu (2003-2007) and Ibrahim Lamorde (2011-2015) seconded from the police returned to police service after being removed from the EFCC.

Part of the recommendations of the Salami panel, which sat from June to November, 2020, is for consideration of other law enforcement agencies in the appointment of the chairman of EFCC as provided under the EFCC Act 2004.

The panel also recommended an exit plan for 970 policemen comprising 114 drivers, 641 mobile policemen and 215 others (operations) on secondment to the EFCC to address the issue of lack of promotion of core staff of the agency for over nine years.

The report of the panel reads in part: "Your Excellency, our thinking here is that whoever you are appointing other than a core EFCC staff should be in transitional capacity of two years during which period arrangement would be made for appointment of any of the core staff who has been commended by the National Crime Agency (NCA), UK, and other international law enforcement for their professionalism."

The panel said Magu appeared during its hearing alongside 113 witnesses and that it received 46 petitions and memoranda against the former acting chairman and the commission from individuals and organisations.

Findings at the EFCC revealed that although Magu's name is no longer on the payroll of the commission, he is still with the police.

Born on May 5, 1962, Magu is due to retire from the police on the same date next year when he would have attained the age of 60.

An official of the commission who spoke under condition of anonymity, said: "He is one of the Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the NPF. He's yet to retire since he has not clocked 35 years in service or 60 years of age as spelt out in the condition of service.

"Though he has not been deployed for a new assignment by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) after his travails as acting EFCC chief, I'm sure his entitlements have not been stopped for any reason."

When asked for his whereabouts, the official said, "I can confirm to you that he's still in the country, but staying largely at home. As of now, he can't travel out of the country despite the fact that he has been removed finally."

The spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwuajaren, told one of our correspondents on phone that he would not want to speak on any matter concerning the former helmsman of the anti-graft agency.

He remains suspended, administrative processes ongoing - AGF

Malami, in his reaction through his media aide, Dr Umar Gwandu, on Friday, said Magu remained suspended as EFCC chairman.

He said, "Other administrative processes are being carried out including study and consideration of the report submitted by the judicial commission of inquiry."

He is still in police service - Legal team

Reacting, a counsel in Magu's legal team, Ojaomo, confirmed that Magu was still on the payroll of the police, and that he would surely be posted because the allegations against him were not proven.

"Since the AGF, who was the accuser, failed to appear before the judicial panel led by Justice Ayo Salami to substantiate the allegations; don't forget that the panel issued a subpoena requesting the AGF to come forward and prove the allegations, but he declined.

"It is a fundamental legal principle that he who alleges must prove. Where the accuser fails to prove his allegations, it definitely buries the allegations.

"The IGP will soon post Magu when there is a special assignment for him. He is back to the police force since the appointment of a new chairman by the president, " the lawyer said.

Case shows FG's tardy, directionless - Ozekhome

A constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said the uncertainty over Magu's status was "consistent with the present administration's tardy and directionless approach to matters of urgent national importance" .

He said it was Magu's alleged indictment by the Salami panel that might have informed the appointment of a new substantive Chairman of the EFCC, adding that it was a disservice to the nation for the report of the panel not to be made public and acted upon to guide the future conduct of other officials.

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He further said, "If there were serious cases against him of corruption, infractions, which were criminal in nature, then why is he not being prosecuted by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution?

"If Magu had been indicted, then what is he still doing in the Nigeria Police Force which is supposed to be peopled by men and women of integrity who have not been indicted one way or the other? Why has the government not taken a decision either to retire him or retain him and post him to another division?"

But a Lagos lawyer, Paul Ananaba (SAN), said he viewed the Magu impasse as an employer-employee relationship which should not occupy too much public attention since there were more serious issues bedeviling the country.

Ananaba said, "His employers are not complaining (that he is collecting salary without working) and he is not complaining himself. If Magu had said that he has been victimised, then it is a different situation. But he has not said so, instead he is waiting for government to post him. So, we should allow government time. We should not poke our noses into everything."
Studies conducted in Tanzania and drawing on case studies across East Africa show that policies giving women better access to resources and information must be prioritized to reverse the trend.

A study examining bean productivity among smallholder farmers in Tanzania, has found that on average, yields are 6% lower among female than male farmers. Women are often 'invisible' in agriculture, researchers say, due to social structural barriers and national agricultural policies, which do not address discriminatory land rights; education and agricultural information and decision making, which must be tackled to reverse this trend.

The paper 'What Does Gender Yield Gap Tell Us about Smallholder Farming in Developing Countries?' published in the open access scientific journal Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing (MDPI), analyzed data from southern region in Tanzania since 2016 and also drew on research from case studies conducted in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe among other countries in the region.

Eileen Nchanji, Gender Specialist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (The Alliance), said: "We think this six percent drop in productivity is significant, because it shows that with access to the right information and resources, and if we are intentional about making gender part of new interventions, women will be able to increase their yields significantly."

"Our case studies from Burundi and Zimbabwe have shown that, when women have access to improved seeds and information, they can double their yields," she added. By bringing the public and private sector together, and targetting women, youth and men together with improved seed varieties and better knowledge about agricultural practices and collective decision making on farm operations, productivity among the whole community increases.

Researchers highlight that issues of more concern to women are often ignored at policy level. They include providing more nutritious food crops such as beans for the family instead of relying on staples like maize which may fetch more income but offer less nutritional value; selection of varieties with attributes such as faster cook-times or easier processing attributes; as well as overall household food security.

Among the challenges women face in boosting crop yields are land rights and ownership. Even if women have gained access to better seeds and knowledge on how to plant them to increase yields, they may not have the power to implement changes if the land is not theirs. Similarly, while women contribute around 65% more on-farm labor than men, they do not always have the same access to information or technology, resulting in lower yields.

Agness Nduguru, a researcher at the Agricultural Research Institute Uyole, Mbeya, Tanzania, said that a key solution at community level is to ensure the co-distribution of end resources to both women and men. "Even if we conduct training about gender constraints and differences, and communities are aware about production and yield gaps, at policy-level, if we want to eliminate poverty, women have to be able to make their own decisions."

The Alliance's Agricultural Economist, Enid Katungi, said: "We researched on who manages the land or makes decisions about the plot; what age and sex they are; what information and knowledge they have access to. We found structural differences; women tend to cultivate more degraded land, highlighting power differences within households when it comes to resources. So it's clear we need interventions to address those differences at both developmental and policy level, involving all decision makers in the community at all levels."

The study also reveals that women who engaged their families in decisions on varieties to plant often had better yields, and that access to improved varieties boosted productivity by 35% compared to growing indigenous or local varieties, implying that access to better information and resources for both men and women is key. Yet a woman's age, family size, years of schooling and how they spend income from beans or other crops all restrict a woman's ability to produce more food and nutritious family meals in general.

Key recommendations in the paper to tackle gender inequality for improved agricultural yields include gender-specific support to close the yield gap, ensuring equal income distribution and reduced poverty among female farmers. These include deliberate women empowerment strategies through trainings and free improved seed provision, participatory plant breeding that considers variety attributes that appeal to women; national policy on gender issues in agriculture and general public support to finance women's agriculture.

###
High flying city socialite Amber Ray, real name Faith Makau, has once again gotten engaged, this time to Nairobi businessman Jamal 'Rohosafi' Marlow.

Marlow, who is the Matatu Operators Association chairman, proposed to the popular socialite at a private family function.

The businessman later confirmed the news on his Instagram by sharing photos of their engagement as the soon his 'wife to be' met his family members.

The photos were accompanied by a short caption "It's official" to which Amber Ray reacted with three love emojis and a caption "My husband".

Marlow and Amber had been dating for over a year before they decided to go public with their relationship in December last year.

It is not the first time Amber is getting engaged as she five year ago got hitched to another wealthy city tycoon Zaheer Jhanda and later got married to him as his second wife.

She was forced to denounce her Christian faith and converted to Islam to marry Jhanda but reverted when the marriage failed after two years.

Will the new engagement see her convert back to Islam for a second time? Time will tell.

Amber Ray came into the limelight courtesy of her lavish socialite lifestyle and she is known to date only wealthy men who can sustain her lifestyle and she is never apologetic about it.

Her social media pages are filled with her driving top of the range cars, enjoying expensive gateways, dinning in exquisite restaurants and wearing designer clothes, shoes and hand bags.
Press Release

30 March 2021

Marriott International today announced the launch of Marriott Bonvoy The BEST Shinhan Card, offered exclusively by Visa, enabling cardholders to accelerate the number of Marriott Bonvoy points they earn, which can be redeemed for free nights at more than 7,600 hotels across 30 extraordinary brands around the world. This launch is set to be the first hotel industry credit card in South Korea where Cardholders can earn Marriott Bonvoy points and enjoy member benefits that come with elite status.

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In designing the Marriott Bonvoy The BEST Shinhan Card, the two companies analyzed the spending and traveling behavior of Koreans, finding that they love to travel (9% of credit card spend is on overseas spend) and enjoy dining out (11% of credit card spend). Korea is the second largest outbound travel market in Asia: in pre-COVID 2019, the Korea Tourism Organization reported more than 28 million outbound Koreas compared to 14 million in 2014  presenting an opportunity for overseas spend once international resumes.

Photo: Marriott

"It is very meaningful that our customers will be able to enjoy differentiated benefits and membership anywhere in the world via the launch of Marriott Bonvoy The BEST Shinhan Card card," said Youngjin Lim, CEO of Shinhan Card. "In partnership with Marriott, the world's No. 1 hotel company, we will continue to make our best efforts to provide broader value to customers so as to evolve into a 'Life & Finance Platform' company, our future direction"

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Marriott Bonvoy is the award-winning travel program from Marriott International comprised of a portfolio of 30 hotel brands including JW Marriott, Sheraton and Courtyard, a home rental offering, all-inclusive resorts and hundreds of thousands of experiences across 133 countries and territories. Members can earn and redeem points for free nights, accelerating the points they earn with co-branded credit cards.

"Visa is a leading global payments network and one of the most powerful brands preferred by consumers and partners around the world," said Patrick Yoon, Country Manager of Visa Korea. "We are very excited to bring to market through collaboration among three leading brands a truly unique value proposition for the affluent and traveler consumers." "With the Marriott Bonvoy The Best Shinhan Card, consumers will not only gain access to unique benefits at Marriott properties but also enjoy benefits at more than 61 million merchants globally where Visa is accepted."

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"The launch of Marriott Bonvoy The BEST card through Shinhan provides immediate value for travelers in Korea," said Duke Nam, Area Vice President, Korea and The Philippines, Marriott International. "In addition to hotels around the world, cardholders have 27 Marriott Bonvoy participating hotels to choose from in Korea, along with more than 60 restaurants and bars across 11 hotel brands. Anyone who loves to travel is able to accelerate the number of points they earn towards free night stays at Marriott Bonvoy participating hotels and home rentals around the world."

Marriott International already offers enhanced experiences in many countries, including US, UK, Canada, UAE and Japan, in collaboration with other world leading credit card companies and local banks.

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Shinhan Card Co.Ltd. is one of Korea's leading credit card companies with a No.1 market share of up to 26 million customers. The company leads the market by providing differentiated services and benefits to customers through Big data and Digital innovation capabilities in credit card, installment plan, lease financing, and long-term car rental services, etc. Shinhan card, a core subsidiary of Shinhan Financial Group, has expanded its presence into the overseas markets like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan etc. via strategic partnership with global companies and social contribution activities. It is also recognized for its high performances in ESG (Environmental/Social/Governance) programs to realize co-existence with all the parties such as customers, societies, and companies, ranking No.1 for 11 consecutive years in KSI (Korean Sustainability Index) credit card sector.

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Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world's leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company's relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit About Visa, visa.com/blog and @VisaNews.
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Japan's famous cherry blossoms have reached their flowery peak in many places earlier this year than at any time since the first records began in 812 AD, over 1,200 years ago.

Japan's favourite flower, called 'sakura,' used to reach their peak bloom in April, just as the country celebrates the start of its new school and business year.

Yet that date has been creeping earlier and now most years the blossoms are largely gone before the first day of the Japanese school year, which starts in April.

Japan's famous cherry blossoms have reached their flowery peak in many places earlier this year than at any time since formal records started

Japan's favourite flower, called 'sakura,' used to reach their peak bloom in April, just as the country celebrates the start of its new school and business year

Cherry blossom season is a time for celebration in Japan as it falls just before the country's new year (pictured, a woman wearing a wedding dress poses for pictures in front of this year's bloom)

The date when the trees start to bloom has been creeping earlier and now most years the blossoms are largely gone before the first day of school

Some parts of Japan, including Hiroshima, Osaka, and Niigata, are still waiting for the cherry trees to reach peak bloom and yellow dust - airborne particles carried toJapan from deserts in China and Mongolia - has been seen instead

This year peak bloom was reached on March 26 in the ancient capital of Kyoto, the earliest ever recorded bloom according to imperial court documents and diaries dating back to 812 AD.

The data was collected by Yasuyuki Aono, a researcher at Osaka Prefecture University, using diaries and chronicles written by emperors, aristocrats, governors, and monks.

This year's bloom is also the earliest since the Japan Meteorological Agency started collecting the data in 1953 and 10 days ahead of the 30-year average. Similar records were set this year in more than a dozen cities across Japan.

Aono said the earliest blooms he has found before this year were March 27 in the years 1612, 1409 and 1236, though there are not records for some years.

The time of the peak bloom in Kyoto had been moving earlier in the year, from mid-April to the start of the month, from 1800 onwards, data shows.

'We can say it's most likely because of the impact of the global warming,' said Shunji Anbe, an official at the observations division at the Japan Meteorological Agency.

This year peak bloom was reached on March 26 in the ancient capital of Kyoto, the earliest since the Japan Meteorological Agency started collecting the data in 1953

This year's blossom has come ten days ahead of the 30-year average (pictured, people enjoy this year's blossom at Chidorigafuchi Moat, Tokyo)

Most varieties of cherry tree produce pink or white blossom, but there are species which bloom with yellow, dark pink, or green flowers

Tokyo residents rush out to take photos of the early cherry blossom bloom. This is the second year in a row the peak bloom has been declared at the earliest date since records began in 1953

Osaka Prefecture University environmental scientist Yasuyuki Aono, who tracks such documents, said the earliest blooms he has found before this year were March 27

The cherry trees, which are known for being sensitive to temperature changes, normally bloom for about two weeks each year from first bud to all the blossoms falling off

Cherry trees do exist, and bloom, in other countries across the world, but the flowers hold special cultural and historical significance in Japan

This year, celebrations which normally take place as a result of the bloom, have been curtailed because of the coronavirus pandemic

The agency tracks 58 'benchmark' cherry trees across the country, and this year 40 of those already have reached their peak bloom and 14 have done so in record time.

The trees normally bloom for about two weeks each year from first bud to all the blossoms falling off.

Cherry trees are sensitive to temperature changes and the timing of their blooming can provide valuable data for climate change studies, Anbe said.

According to the agency data, the average temperature for March in Kyoto has climbed to 10.6 degrees Celsius (51.1 F) in 2020 from 8.6 C (47.5 F) in 1953. So far this year's average March temperature in Japan has been 12.4 C (54.3 F).

Sakura have deeply influenced Japanese culture for centuries and regularly been used in poetry and literature with their fragility seen as a symbol of life, death and rebirth.

Japanese farmers used to bloom as a signal for when they should plant their rice crops, but now the annual bloom simply represents hope, spring, beauty, and new life.

The cherry trees hold such significance in Japan that the shape of their blossom has been used as inspiration for the 2021 Olympics mascot.

The cherry trees hold such significance in Japan that the shape of their blossom has been used as inspiration for the 2021 Olympics mascot

Japanese usually celebrate by meeting family and friends for picnics, known as hanami parties, in the parks where the trees are planted (pictured, Ueno Park, Toyko)

Japan's cherry trees have bloomed at a record-breaking pace this year and are currently at peak bloom across western and eastern Japan, as well as in Tokyo and Kyoto

Tokyo residents walk through one of the city's parks where the cherry trees are in full bloom. The peak bloom was declared after the Japan Meteorological Corporation spotted five blooms on its sample tree in Tokyo

The Cherry trees normally bloom for about two weeks each year from first bud to all the blossoms falling off, normally at the start of the Japanese new year in April

Japanese have rushed to take pictures of this year's cherry blossom (pictured, a masked woman takes photos of the bloom in Tokyo)

Japanese farmers used to bloom as a signal for when they should plant their rice crops, but now the annual bloom simply represents hope, spring, beauty, and new life
Washington, March 30 : A US envoy warned that the Islamic State (IS) terror group still remains a significant security threat in Syria, Iraq and beyond, including Europe and North America.

In a statement on Monday, John Godfrey, the acting special envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, said that since the defeat of the group's "fraudulent territorial caliphate" in 2019, it has intensified its focus on the activities of its branches and networks, reports dpa news agency.

This was demonstrated by an attack in Mozambique during the weekend in which more than 55 security forces were killed, the envoy said.

"Attacks such as these are clear indicators that IS continues to actively seek to spread its malign activity to new fronts.

"Ensuring the enduring global defeat of IS will entail effectively countering IS branches and networks outside of Iraq and Syria, and we as a coalition recognisee that," he was further quoted as saying in the statement Several Foreign Ministers from countries in the anti-IS coalition will hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday co-hosted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Sophie Wilmes, Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign affairs.

Tuesday's meeting will largely focus on the coalition's continuing efforts in Iraq and Syria, Godfrey added.

In addition, the meeting would discuss the growing threat of the terror group outside of Iraq and Syria, particularly in Africa, and the ways in which the coalition can contribute to collective efforts to ensure its enduring defeat around the world.
Im having a problem deciding whether the Biden administration is stupid or evil or just flat-out afraid of us Commoners.

And then I realized that its all three. Heres why.

Our liberal friends never imagined that a Trump could happen. Nothing in their world prepared them for him. So what happens when you are confronted by something completely unexpected? You stop dead in your tracks.

That is one of the basic themes in Jordan B. Petersons oeuvre. As he writes in Beyond Order. 12 More Rules for Life:

Many herbivores, comparatively defenseless, facing imminent and brutal death, freeze in place, paralyzed by fear But to have no more courage than a rabbit is definitely not to be everything you could be.

And Nancy Pelosi is no herbivore, despite her fetish for storing ice-cream in $24,000 refrigerators. Non-herbivores, after freezing in place for a moment when threatened by the fearsome Trump dinosaur, decide what to do next. Friend or foe? Should Dems ignore Trump as a flash in the pan? Should they figure he represented a few dumb deplorables? Or should they treat him as an existential danger?

We know what happened. The Dems chose Door Number Three and embarked on a mission to destroy Trump and everything he represented.

When you choose all-out war, the next thing that happens is that you make Trump and his supporters the frightful enemy, that will smash everything we hold dear -- reinstate Jim Crow, smash our wonderful administrative state, and make every woman into a house slave of the patriarchy -- unless we act now. And then you bombard your supporters with non-stop propaganda, just like our great leaders did in World War I and II and the Cold War.

Were they right? Did Trump and his MAGA supporters represent an existential threat to the progressive project? Or was the real problem that ordinary American Commoners dont get no respect from the Democrat educated class, and Donald Trump made them believe that he cared about people like them? You decide.

I suspect that if the Dems had given Trump half a loaf then the whole Trump-MAGA phenomenon would have died away and by 2022 the Dems would be winning a big second-term midterm, and back to business as usual.

But they fought Trump for every slice of the loaf, and the rest is history.

Today the Dems are so scared of the Trump dinosaur that they have convinced themselves they need to revamp the elections system with HR1, protect Capitol Hill with troops and a fence, and ram their agenda down the throats of the opposition in a nearly 50-50 Congress. It is a fight to the death, with no quarter.

Yet their agenda of unlimited immigration, Green New Deal, and systemic racism has absolutely nothing for the ordinary American Commoner. Do they really think they can game the election system enough to stop the blowback in 2022?

To me, the obvious folly and knavery of all this is self-evident. The question I ask is this: is there any way we can persuade our Democrat friends to step back from their determination to win at all costs, to slay the evil dragon of Trumpism even if they destroy America in the process?

The answer is: probably not. When you have persuaded yourself and your supporters that you are fighting evil -- especially an evil dragon -- you are fighting for survival and for good over evil and nothing you do is too much if it slays the evil dragon.

Back in the day some people thought it would be a good idea to separate morality and politics just a little. The idea was that if you limited government to stuff that almost all people could agree on, such as fighting foreign dictators and domestic thieves and robbers, then people could practice their different moralities without fighting over them in government.

But then, of course, whatabout slavery? Whatabout the workers? Whatabout women? Whatabout systemic racism? Whatabout the inalienable right of transgenders to compete in womens sports? And off we go to the races.

Did you know there is a word for a society that combines politics and morality? Totalitarian. It might not be such a problem were it not for the historical record, that when you combine morality and politics you get the killing fields of the war of all against all.

Do our liberal friends not get that? Well, maybe, but meanwhile they have terrified their supporters into believing that white supremacy will kill us all.

I suppose the best we can hope for is a resounding 2022 midterm to return Congress solidly into the Republican column -- despite the Democrats having done everything possible to make sure that no Republican ever wins an election ever again.

Then, all of a sudden, Democrats will discover the importance of minority rights in the legislature, the eternal sanctity of the filibuster, and the horror of legislating morality.

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: Pixy
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (March 30) will address rallies in Kerala in the morning, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu in the afternoon. The prime minister is going to hold the public rallies as a part of BJPs campaign in the three poll-bound states.

PM Narendra Modi will address a rally in Palakkad in Kerala, BJP prabhari (state in-charge) CP Radhakrishnan announced earlier. The election for the 140-member Kerala Assembly will be held on April 6 in over 40,771 polling stations.

The BJP leader is also set to address an election rally in Puducherry today to seek support for the NDA government for the upcoming Assembly polls in the union territory. This will be the prime ministers second visit to the poll-bound union territory, earlier PM Modi had addressed the citizens of Puducherry on February 25.

As per PTI reports, PM Modi will be speaking at the rally to be held at the AFT Thidal. The Puducherry Assembly elections for 30 seats will take place in a single phase on 6 April.

The party has released the assembly poll manifesto for the union territory, in which it promised financial assistance of 6,000 per year for all fishermen, over 2.5 lakh new jobs for youth and free scooty for girls pursuing higher education if it is elected to power.

Lastly, the prime minister is scheduled to address a public rally in Tamil Nadus Dharapuram. The party has begun work to prepare the ground for the prime ministers address. The assembly elections for 234 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be conducted in one phase on April 6. The counting of votes is slated for May 2.

Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi will address rallies in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on 30 March 2021. Listen LIVE at  https://t.co/vpP0MI6iTu

 https://t.co/KrGm5hWgwn

 https://t.co/vpP0MI6iTu

 https://t.co/jtwD1yPhm4 Dial 9345014501 to hear him LIVE. pic.twitter.com/npucdz9OSg  BJP (@BJP4India) March 29, 2021

Additionally, the BJP leader is also scheduled to address a public meeting in Thiruvananthapuram and Konni on April 2. Radhakrishnan also added that the state government had not given a proper confirmation to the partys request to hold the prime ministers rally at the Central Stadium in the capital city on April 2.

He further alleged that the ruling-government is delaying the procedure as a tactic to deny the venue at the last minute. This attitude is an example of the LDFs anti-democratic policies, he said.

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Website lankaenews.com 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 41537 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 88575 bytes (86.50 kb uncompressed) and 23563 bytes (23.01 kb compressed).

This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-03-30, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 30, 2021 - 10:21 | All, World, Japan

Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi and three U.S. astronauts who traveled to the International Space Station aboard the commercially developed SpaceX Crew Dragon ship will return to Earth on April 28, NASA said Monday.

The four members of the Crew-1 mission, also including Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, have been staying on the ISS since November, following the space ship's successful second manned flight to the orbiting laboratory. It was also the ship's first journey with a Japanese astronaut.

Another Crew Dragon capsule is scheduled to launch to the ISS no earlier than April 22 with the Crew-2 mission -- Japan's Akihiko Hoshide along with two astronauts from NASA and one from the European Space Agency.

This will mean there will be several days when two Japanese astronauts will be present in the ISS at the same time. Such a situation has not happened since 2010 when astronaut Naoko Yamazaki joined Noguchi at the ISS.

About five days after the Crew-2 arrival at the ISS, Crew-1 plans to splash down off the coast of Florida, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Crew Dragon, developed by Space Exploration Technologies Corp., founded by tech billionaire Elon Musk, is NASA's first-ever certified commercial human spacecraft system.

Related coverage:

Next SpaceX liftoff carrying Japan's Hoshide possibly April 22

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In a sharp rebuke to Trump-era policies, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday formally scrapped a blueprint championed by his predecessor to limit U.S. promotion of human rights abroad to causes favored by conservatives like religious freedom and property matters while dismissing reproductive and LGBTQ rights.

Blinken said a report prepared for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that sought to pare down the number of freedoms prioritized in U.S. foreign policy was 'unbalanced,' did not reflect Biden administration policies and would not guide them. The report from Pompeos Commission on Unalienable Rights had been harshly criticized by human rights groups.

'One of the core principles of human rights is that they are universal. All people are entitled to these rights, no matter where theyre born, what they believe, whom they love, or any other characteristic,' Blinken said. 'Human rights are also co-equal; there is no hierarchy that makes some rights more important than others.'

In a sharp rebuke to Trump-era policies, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday formally scrapped a blueprint championed by his predecessor to limit U.S. promotion of human rights abroad to causes favored by conservatives like religious freedom and property matters while dismissing reproductive and LGBTQ rights

'Past unbalanced statements that suggest such a hierarchy, including those offered by a recently disbanded State Department advisory committee, do not represent a guiding document for this administration,' he said. 'At my confirmation hearing, I promised that the Biden-Harris Administration would repudiate those unbalanced views. We do so decisively today.'

Blinken also reversed a Trump administration decision to remove sections on reproductive rights from the State Departments annual human rights reports on foreign countries. 'Womens rights - including sexual and reproductive rights - are human rights,' he said.

Blinken also reversed a Trump administration decision to remove sections on reproductive rights from the State Departments annual human rights reports on foreign countries.

Blinken made the announcement repudiating the commissions report as he rolled out the annual human rights reports. The reports, covering last year, highlighted a declining trend in human rights around the world and the impact that the coronavirus pandemic had on rights practices. It noted that some governments had 'used the crisis as a pretext to restrict rights and consolidate authoritarian rule.'

Human rights advocates condemned the report from Pompeos Commission on Unalienable Rights when he unveiled it last year to great fanfare from religious and social conservatives.

The report was part of a broader Trump administration effort to restore the primacy of what officials considered the values of America's Founding Fathers.

Pompeo had promoted the report at events from Pennsylvania to Indonesia and in numerous interviews with conservative media in the hope it would serve as a guide for future administrations.

Nearly all references to the commissions report and Pompeos advocacy of it have been removed from the State Departments website, although they remain available on archived pages.

The Biden administration has already repealed several Trump-era human rights decisions. Those have included reengaging with the U.N. Human Rights Council, abandoning the so-called Geneva Consensus and Mexico City rule that oppose abortion rights and restoring LGBTQ protections as a matter of administration policy.

Pompeo and many conservatives have long decried the expansion of the definition of 'human rights' to include matters they believe are not God-given or made specifically sacrosanct in the U.S. Constitution.

The 'international human rights project is in crisis,' Pompeo said when he unveiled the commission's report at an event in Philadelphia. He lamented that 'too many human rights advocacy groups have traded proud principles for partisan politics' and that 'even many well-intentioned people assert new and novels rights that often conflict.'

Human rights groups lashed out at the findings of the commission, which was chaired by a mentor of Pompeo's, conservative scholar and former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, Mary Ann Glendon, who has questioned the legitimacy of rights including same-sex marriage.

A two-week public comment period after the draft report was released in July 2020 was punctuated by angry denouncements of a pullback in the U.S. commitment to human rights, but the commission chose to make only minor revisions in response.

In presenting the annual human rights reports, which cover only 2020 and were largely prepared prior to President Joe Biden's inauguration under Trump administration guidelines, Blinken said he had instructed the State Department to restore sections on reproductive rights to future editions.

He ordered the department to prepare addendums to the 2020 reports that include information about maternal mortality, discrimination against women in accessing sexual and reproductive health care and government policies about access to contraception and skilled health care during pregnancy and childbirth.

The reports highlighted concerns about abuses in China, Iran, Russia, Myanmar, Belarus and other authoritarian nations.

They called out China for committing what both the Trump and Biden administrations have characterized as 'genocide' against Uighur Muslims and other minorities in China's western Xinjiang region. They identified continued atrocities committed against Syrians by President Bashar Assad's government and the devastating impact that the war in Yemen has had on human rights.

The reports also noted actions by the Russian government against political dissidents, like opposition figure Alexei Navalny, and peaceful protestors, continuing corruption by Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his top aides, and restrictions imposed on political speech by governments in Cuba, Nicaragua, Turkmenistan and Zimbabwe.
[March 30, 2021] Auxita and MyMeds&Me Announce Strategic Partnership to Deliver Integrated Digital Pharmacovigilance Capabilities

The collaboration will streamline data capture at the point of care to simplify adverse event reporting for patient support programs. OTTAWA, ON, March 30, 2021 /CNW/ - Healthcare providers across Canada will soon be able to capture adverse events in the Auxita platform through integration with MyMeds&Me's pharmacovigilance SaaS platform, Reportum. Auxita solves the administrative burden for providers by digitizing workflows and providing interoperability with patient support programs, easing the path to treatment for patients. This partnership integrates MyMeds&Me's validated safety data capture solution into Auxita, enabling healthcare providers, patient support programs and pharmaceutical companies to capture and manage data more efficiently. MyMeds&Me is a global organization that provides an established end-to-end pharmacovigilance solution to simplify adverse event and product quality data capture. Its drug safety platform, Reportum, is used by pharmaceutical companies around the world to standardize data capture, streamline downstream processes and provide real-time access to complete, relevant safet information.



"Auxita is pleased to expand our service offering to enhance the management of safety data, captured at source from healthcare providers," says Matt Cahill, CEO of Auxita. "Through our EMR and EHR-integrated platform, we provide an intuitive and standardized digital process to collect data and manage the flow of information throughout the patient journey. This partnership will offer patient support programs real-time access and enhanced visibility to key safety information." "Robust pharmacovigilance relies on a comprehensive body of complete, structured, and timely data. Therefore, it is critical that we make safety reporting really easy and intuitive for both physicians and patient support program staff whether in the office or out in the field" says Dr. Andrew Rut, CEO and founder of MyMeds&Me. "Our partnership with Auxita enables efficient capture of standardized information for our clients so they can accelerate safety insights."

About Auxita

Auxita is a secure digital platform that seamlessly integrates with Electronic Medical Records to link patient data and clinical information across multiple systems. It connects doctors, patients, and patient support programs while eliminating the administrative tasks that can overwhelm today's healthcare providers. Auxita has an established footprint in Canada's healthcare sector and collaborates with strategic partners to ensure a consistent and secure flow of information throughout the patient journey. For more information on Auxita's next-generation medical technology that leads to better care, visit www.auxita.com. About MyMeds&Me

MyMeds&Me provides an end-to-end pharmacovigilance solution to simplify adverse event and product quality data capture and accelerate safety insights. Founded in 2012 by Senior Pharma executives with direct experience of managing pharmacovigilance systems, MyMeds&Me's goal is to accelerate safety insights through digital transformation. The Reportum platform is a proven, scalable drug safety platform for the capture, management & processing of adverse events & product quality complaints. Currently, in high volume use by Pharma & CROs around the world, Reportum is a centralized solution that provides standardized data across all intake routes, increases efficiencies, and accelerates safety insights. Find out more at mymedsandme.com SOURCE Auxita

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During a virtual White House briefing on coronavirus Monday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), made a public declaration that she is fearful of the consequences of the new upturn in COVID-19 cases.

Now is one of those times when I have to share the truth, and I have to hope and trust you will listen. Im going to pause here. Im going to lose the script, and Im going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom. We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are, and so much reason for hope. But right now, Im scared.

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 in Washington, Thursday, March 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)

Walenskys language is remarkable. She is effectively admitting that previous statements, like those two weeks ago when the CDC changed its guideline for social distancing in schools from six feet to three feet, were instances when she did NOT share the truth.

She said she was going to lose the scriptin other words, discard the talking points drawn up by the spin doctors for the Biden White House, who have been preaching that the United States is nearing completion of the fight against coronavirus, and that by May, or June, or at the latest July 4, things will be back to normal.

One has to ask: What is so terrible in the facts and figures being collected by the CDC that it would bring the agencys director to tears at a public press briefing at the White House? What does she know that the Biden administration is not telling the American people?

As one reader tweeted to Bloomberg News in response to Walenskys warning of impending doom, Then why the hell did they change the recommendations for classroom spacing? We are now getting pressured to return to school at three feet spacing while watching cases rise in NYC. This commenter, obviously a New York City school teacher, speaks for millions.

Since Joe Biden was sworn into office, every action taken by the CDC has been in the service of an effort to downplay mitigation efforts and present the vaccination campaign as the exit strategy from the pandemic. They have played fast and loose with flawed science to lull the public into a false sense of reassurance, and all the while, the number of variants throughout the country was rising at an alarming rate.

Epidemiologists and infectious disease experts have repeatedly warned of another surge of infections, comparing them to a category five hurricane heading to the shore. They implored state and federal leaders not to lift restrictions and mitigation measures nor reopen schools. At every turn, the Biden administration doubled down on his vaccine initiative and praised leaders of teachers unions in their assistance with opposing intransigent rank-and-file teachers who understood the dangers posed by full-scale reopening of schools.

It is worth recalling Dr. Michael Osterholms warnings at the end of January. During an interview on Meet the Press, he noted, The surge that is likely to occur with this new variant from England is going to happen in the next six to 14 weeks. If we see that happen, we are going to see something that we have not seen yet in this country. Imagine that you and I are sitting on a beach with blue skies, and its 70 degrees. But I see a category five hurricane or higher 450 miles offshore. Telling people to evacuate on that nice blue-sky day is going to be hard. But I can also tell you that hurricane is coming.

Dr. Walenskys outburst comes nine weeks after Dr. Osterholms warning (a warning which led to his effective exclusion from the national media).

Over the last two weeks, the seven-day moving average of coronavirus cases has ticked up again, rising 15 percent to an average of over 63,000 cases per day. The growing epicenter of the pandemic is expanding to encompass the northeast of the country. New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire are seeing rapid growth in new cases.

But it is not just the northeast. Florida also sees a rise in new cases as their infection curves begin to turn up again. And most worrisome, half of Floridas new cases subjected to genetic analysis are of the new, more infectious and lethal variants.

Many government officials have also been concerned that the seven-day average across the country regarding daily deaths and COVID-19 hospitalizations have plateaued again at higher levels than previous lows, and are starting to turn up. With the rise in cases, these grim numbers begin to follow in a few short weeks. For the Northeast region, public health officials attribute the increase to the spread of the B.1.526 (New York strain) and B.1.1.7 (UK strain) variants.

At present, the CDC has reported they have detected 10,579 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant across the entire country. Florida currently has had 2,274 cases detected, while Michigan has seen 1,237 cases, a sharp rise from just one week ago. There has also been a considerable rise in the B.1.351 (South African) variant and the P.1 (Brazilian) variant. The P.1 variant, which is far more transmissible and known to cause reinfections in 25 to 63 percent of previously infected people, is increasing in Florida and Massachusetts.

There have been close to 31 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, with 562,000 deaths attributed to the coronavirus. When Joe Biden was elected on November 3, there had been under 10 million cases of COVID-19, and the death toll stood at 240,000.

On January 20, 2021, when he was sworn into office, the number of cases had risen to just over 25 million. The death toll on inauguration day stood at 423,000. In the span of just over two months, another 130,000 people have succumbed to the infection.

Yet, with lifesaving treatments in hand, instead of minimizing contacts until the entire population can be vaccinated, which would mean locking down schools and workplaces, the country has been thrown open as never before during the COVID-19 pandemic, beyond even Trumps worst efforts.

The success of the vaccines only underscores the criminal loss of life going forward. A CNN interview program Sunday night confirmed that the 550,000 lives already lost to coronavirus were a crime against the American people, for which Trump first and now Biden are responsible.

Going forward, every life lost to coronavirus is a life taken unnecessarily, with the means to curb and contain the disease and ultimately eradicate it already in hand. Perhaps that is why Dr. Walensky seems to be experiencing the symptoms of a nervous breakdown. She begins to recognize that her previous actionsand the actions she will be called on to take going forwardimplicate her in this slaughter.

Notably, President Biden did not denounce Dr. Walensky when he appeared before television cameras three hours later. He adopted a pose of sympathy and even support, portraying her remarks merely as an urgent call on states and individuals not to abandon the regimen of masks, hand washing and social distancing.

In urging states, cities and individuals to stay the course, Biden made no reference to his own administrations campaign to throw open all public schools to in-person classes by April 29, his 100th day in office, a pledge that will be far more devastating to public health, turning the schools into new centers of infection, than any action by a governor or mayor.

Biden continued to suggest that the struggle against coronavirus was nearing completion. He did not give the slightest hint that a new upsurge of disease and death is about to ravage the American population and further stain his presidency, like Trumps, in blood.
Hagerstown Housing Authority closes in on end of McCleary Hill project

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Good afternoon from Geneva and greetings first and foremost to my co-panellists Maciej Popowski and Achim Steiner.

Achim already laid out the scene very well in terms of what the so-called 3RP is about, so let me add a few remarks from the perspective of UNHCR.

Ten years on and life has become harder, not easier, for Syrian refugees, and for many people in Turkey, which because of this remains the largest refugee hosting country in the world, but also of course in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. Countries that have and continue to generously host Syrian refugees. The coronavirus  it has been said  has compounded their hardship and suffering, and the number of people in need and their level of desperation has never been higher.

Millions of refugees are now more poor. Nine out of 10 refugees in Lebanon are now living in poverty, a near doubling from 2019. Economic downturns related to the pandemic and lockdowns have also pushed more than four and a half million more Jordanian, Lebanese, and Iraqi hosts below the poverty line.

With families unable to make ends meet, refugees have been forced to take desperate measures to survive. And it is very stark. They reduce meals; they drown in debt; they pull children from school. Mental health problems are on the rise. So are incidents of gender-based violence. Far too many parents make the devastating decision to subject their daughters to early marriage.

The burdens of exile  both for the refugees and their hosts  are heavy.

Yet, as Achim said very clearly, throughout this decade, Syrians  and their hosts  have shown extraordinary fortitude and courage.

Their determination continues to be inspiring. The international community must demonstrate its own determination to help them. Not with words, but with action.

A few proposals:

First, we must increase immediate donor support to the humanitarian and development programmes, including to weather the storm created by COVID-19.

The many gains that we have made over the years in education, healthcare and livelihoods are at risk of being undone by the pandemic and its related consequences if greater donor support is not forthcoming. And Achim spoke about this and I want to really strongly echo his appeal. Financial support to the Syria Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (the 3RP), which includes over 270 international and national partners, must remain a top priority.

I really want to thank those donors who are continuing to step-up and show their commitment to Syrians and to the region. But it is worrying  and indeed deeply concerning  to see signals from a few donors that they are reducing their aid budgets. This is not the time. Refugees and their hosts are already facing hardship and are in urgent need, and the situation in Lebanon for example  exacerbated by the political and economic crisis  is extremely worrying. The consequences of leaving humanitarian and resilience requirements unmet will affect everyone in that country very negatively, with potentially serious ramifications throughout the wider region.

Second, the international community must continue to support host countries, whose economies have been hit hard by the pandemic, and yet continue to protect and help those in need. We need to see greater bilateral financial support so that host countries can include refugees in national economic and social protection packages, as many have done with health and education services over the past decade.

Together with the World Bank, regional development banks, other international financial institutions and bilateral donors, we have achieved a lot. We must not waver in this support. As economies continue to be affected by COVID, we need to ensure greater opportunities for the economic self-reliance of refugees  as was noted earlier on in the first segment by the Foreign Minister of Jordan  while also supporting social safety nets for all.

Third, countries around the world can do more to share the responsibility for protecting Syrian refugees by increasing their intake through resettlement and other legal pathways. At the start of 2021, we estimate that some 587,000 Syrians living in the region are in need of resettlement. But at most, only tens of thousands have been resettled every year and this figure has been going down. I appeal to states to step up their efforts in this area too.

Finally, when it comes to the return of refugees, of which I have heard so much in this conference, we must  may I say  listen to them.

Most refugees tell us that they want to go home to Syria. But they are not ready just yet. They are worried about insecurity, lack of shelter and services like education and health, as well as their inability to earn a basic living back home.

While working constructively to address these concerns, it is imperative that we continue to help them and their hosts.

Now is not the time to cut funding.

And we must also guard against any forced or coerced return from any country.

But for those who do make the free and informed choice to return, it is critical that the international community support them, including by scaling up assistance in areas of return.

Refugees themselves will be the best judges of when they can return voluntarily, in safety and with dignity. Lets listen to them and support them and their futures, free of any politicisation.

Thank you very much.

The US Federal Trade Commission won't be pursuing its antitrust case against Qualcomm anymore four years after it filed a lawsuit against the company for alleged anti-competitive practices. Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter has issued a statement announcing that the agency "will not petition the Supreme Court to review" the Court of Appeals' decision last year. The agency won its lawsuit back in 2019, but the appeals court reversed the decision in 2020. At the time, the FTC said it would be considering its options  now, it sounds like the agency is ready to let it go.

According to the FTC's original court filing, Qualcomm was "engaged in exclusionary conduct that taxes its competitors' baseband processor sales, reduces competitors' ability and incentive to innovate, and raises prices paid by consumers for cell phones and tablets." The agency accused Qualcomm of employing monopolistic tactics and wanted the company to renegotiate billions of dollars worth of patent licensing agreements with smartphone makers. It said Qualcomm threatened customers' supplies if they didn't agree with its patent licensing terms and that it "taxed" customers when they purchased processors made by competitors. In addition, it accused Qualcomm of refusing to license patents to its rivals.

The appeals court ruled, however, that the chipmaker's actions didnt amount to illegal behavior. In her statement, Slaughter said she believes that the district courts conclusion that Qualcomm violated antitrust laws "was entirely correct and that the court of appeals erred in concluding otherwise." That said, the agency decided not to challenge the appeals court's decision, "given the significant headwinds facing the Commission in this matter."
Prep Golf: Riley Zebroski earns all-conference honors, Arrows take 7th in ESD tourney

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Dhaka: A case of fire by unidentified criminals has been reported at the 400-year-old Parurkul Ashtagram Maha Crematorium and Radha Govind Ashram in Mohammadpur sub-district of Bangladesh's Magur district. Three rooms, chariots, and sculptures have been burnt down by the fire.

Swapna Rani Biswas, former vice-president of the Mohammadpur Sub-district Council and former secretary of the organizing committee of the Hindu-Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, has given information in this regard. She said that some cleaning workers came to the Gurdas temple and saw a fire here. The administration and the fire brigade were later informed. However, the fire was extinguished before the fire brigade arrived from Mohammadpur.

Meanwhile, Mohammadpur Sub-district Nirbhahi Officer Ramananda Pal, Assistant Commissioner Bhoomi Harikrishna Adhikari, OC Tarak Nath Biswas of Mohammadpur police station, and chairman of local Mir Shahzad Ali reached the spot as soon as the incident was reported. Later, senior administration officials including Magura Deputy Commissioner Ashraful Alam and Senior Superintendent of Police Zahirul Islam also went on the spot.

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Timex, a world leader in watchmaking, unveils its new digital brand campaign  WE DONT STOP through a brand film featuring celebrity Sidharth Malhotra and global influencers. The slogan known around the world, It takes a licking and keeps on ticking, is getting a modern update that better expresses the outlook and mindset of the company in the 21st century. With the campaigns debut, Timex unveils its new creative featuring notable change makers from around the world who display their resilience and are inspiring others through their actions, as well as supporting the #TOGETHERBAND campaign to further the We Dont Stop mission.

With this new campaign, WE DONT STOP conveys a message of hope and resiliency as many around the world continue to persevere in the face of difficult circumstances. The campaigns hero video, shot pre-COVID, now symbolizes a future where people can be brought together again, to achieve a common mission and celebrate each others achievements. This ethos serves as the inspiration for the video, which is overlaid with a special rendition of Queens Dont Stop Me Now  a perfect encapsulation of what the campaign is all about, and how the brand is readying itself for whatever comes next.

WE DONT STOP is a natural progression for the brand, says Tobias Reiss-Schmidt, President and CEO of Timex Group. The campaign speaks to the resilience that we are all surrounded by  stories of grit, perseverance, ingenuity and heart  stories that strengthen us to carry on. WE DON'T STOP champions our everyday heroes and everything we have stood for over the past 167 years, without losing a step as we continue forward.

Sidharth Malhotra, Actor, Indian Film Industry, on the launch said, I am glad to associate with Timex for this inspiring campaign - We Dont Stop. Its so authentic and truly celebrates the pride and determination that people across the world are demonstrating. Really like how the brand is encouraging everyone to challenge the status quo and inspiring them to keep moving forward. I believe that everyone has their own individual We Dont Stop story and each story should be shared with the world.

For more than a century, Timex has been innovative and forward-thinking with bold new ideas for the ever-changing times. Timex has graced the wrists of presidents, traveled to space and continued to innovate and collaborate with some of the coolest designers and brands in fashion. The new WE DONT STOP platform symbolizes the continuation of a boundary-breaking mentality, championing everyday heroes that embody We Dont Stop in everything they do. This campaign is here to be more than an ethos at Timex; it provides a platform for all the stories out there that have inspired the company to keep going.

It is with that outlook that Timex has joined #TOGETHERBAND in driving awareness for this global campaign dedicated to creating a more equitable, peaceful and sustainable future for all. It is just one more step the company is taking toward a better future  something worth striving for as we continue to adapt, grow, learn and collaborate.
A mother has been cleared of poisoning her young son with faeces after enduring a six-year legal ordeal sparked by a single doctor's suspicions.

The 39-year-old Blue Mountains woman will now try to regain shared custody of her four children, who were removed from her care amid the accusation.

'I just want my children to know that Mum's not a bad person,' the woman told AAP after the District Court of NSW found her not guilty on Tuesday.

'I just want to get them back.'

The mother of four that was accused of injecting faeces into her son has said she wants her children back after she was cleared of poisoning her son

Paediatrician David Isaacs raised concerns the mother had injected her son with faecal matter in 2014, after a blood sample tested positive for e.coli and another bacterium found in the bowel.

The boy, then nine years old, had been admitted to Westmead Children's Hospital for asthma but then developed symptoms suggesting a bacterial infection.

Nurses overheard the boy say 'Mum, what are you trying to put in my cannula?' when one of them was checking the drip three days before the sample was taken.

The next day he was heard to scream 'why are you doing this, poisoning me?' when his mother was in the room.

Previous blood and urine samples were sterile.

Dr Isaacs thought it was highly likely the bacteria were deliberately introduced into the boy's bloodstream, and was worried the woman had factitious disorder, previously known as Munchausen syndrome.

As he was cross-examined at the week-long trial, he told the court he had previously missed a case of the disorder.

'If I get it wrong the child dies,' he said in cross-examination.

'I have once in my life missed it and the child died and the mother told me afterwards what she had been doing with that child, and I'm never going to miss it again if I can help it.'

Another expert witness, microbiologist Bernie Hudson, told the court the blood culture could have been contaminated in the lab or when it was being taken.

In closing submissions on Friday, crown prosecutor Lou Lungo conceded the charge could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

'Because of the tragic loss of that child's life many years ago, (Dr Isaacs) was super vigilant ... and perhaps Your Honour would find that that clouded his opinion,' Mr Lungo said.

There was not enough evidence to prove that faecal matter had been injected into the boy, or that the mother did it, NSW District Court Judge Justin Smith ruled on Tuesday.

The boy was just 9-years-old when he was in hospital and his mother was accused of poisoning him

The son had been delirious and confused in hospital and repeatedly denied to police that his mother poisoned him.

The woman wept as the judge told her she was free to go.

'The only thing that was administered in this case has been a gross injustice to the accused for more than six-and-a-half years,' the woman's defence barrister, Pauline David, said outside court.

'She has lost her children ...She has lost financially ... She has lost her ability to work in her occupation as nurse. And she has also nearly lost her sanity.'

In a statement through her lawyer, the woman criticised Dr Isaacs for his accusation.

'Other obvious innocent explanations for the positive blood cultures were ignored and never investigated,' she said.

The mother told AAP the 'horrific' experience caused her to have a complete nervous breakdown and spend months in a mental health ward, where she underwent 20 courses of electro-convulsive therapy.

She no longer trusts doctors or hospitals.

She has only been able to have contact with her children in the last six months and had missed their formative years, she said.

'Now I just want to focus on being able to see my children,' she said.
(Bloomberg)  Thailand expects about 2 million foreign tourists, mostly Chinese and Europeans, to visit Phuket this year after the nations most popular resort island reopens to vaccinated visitors from July 1.

The holidaymakers may generate about 105 billion baht ($3.4 billion) in revenue in the second half, according to Vichit Prakobgosol, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand. It will be the first time in more than a year that the island allows visitors without the mandatory two-week quarantine.

Phukets plan to waive quarantine for inoculated visitors is part of a gradual reopening of borders by Thailand, where tourism contributed to about one-fifth of its pre-pandemic economy. A successful reopening of Phuket to foreign visitors, who used to contribute almost 90% of the islands tourism receipts, may pave way for other popular destinations to end movement restrictions.





China, Russia, the U.K., Germany, France, Sweden and the U.S. are likely to be the key origins for tourists to Phuket, Vichit said. The Chinese, who were the biggest group of tourists to Thailand before the pandemic, are expected to return in July on chartered flights, while visitors from Europe will likely start arriving during the winter months, he said.

Its good that the majority of countries with high numbers of vaccinations are the main markets for Thai tourism, Vichit said on Monday. The focus for the government should now be to finalize agreements and vaccine passports with various countries to allow visitors to return without having to quarantine.

Phuket province has ramped up its capacity to administer as many as 12,000 doses of vaccine per day, from 400 previously, to reach its target of fully inoculating 70% of its residents before the reopening, said Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, vice president of the Phuket Tourist Association. The island will complete the rollout of 930,000 doses by June, he said.

Contact editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)

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Grow, John E., 74, of Annville, formerly of Lykens, passed away suddenly Wednesday, March 24, 2021, at his home. A public walk-through visitation following all CDC guidelines will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. today, March 30, at the Chapel of Dimon Funeral Home Inc., Tower City. Private services will follow with burial in Calvary United Methodist Cemetery, Wiconisco. For more information or to send condolences please visit www.dimonfuneralhome.com.

Placek, Elizabeth Betty Herman, 78, of Dieners Hill, Pottsville, passed away Friday, March 26, 2021, at her home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. today, March 30, at St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Saint Clair, with Monsignor William Glosser officiating, according to COVID-19 guidelines. Interment will be held in Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Cemetery, Saint Clair. The family would appreciate contributions to Lehigh Valley Hospice, 2024 Lehigh St., Suite 100, Allentown, PA 18103. James H. Evans Funeral Home Inc. is in charge of arrangements.

Pascuzzo, Albert Robert, 91, of Schuylkill Haven, passed away Friday, March 26, at home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 31, at St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Schuylkill Haven, with Monsignor Edward S. Zemanik officiating. A viewing will be held at the church from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Wednesday. Interment will follow Mass at St. Josephs Cemetery, Pottsville. At the familys request, memorial donations in Als name may be forwarded to St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Randel Street Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972. To extend online condolences, visit www.gsesfuneralhomes.com. Geschwindt-Stabingas Funeral Home Inc., Schuylkill Haven, has been entrusted with arrangements.

Prettyman, Lisa A., 58, of Middletown, Del., passed away Friday, Feb. 26, at her mothers residence in Pine Grove. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at 1100 St. Annes Blvd., Middletown, DE 19709. In Lisas memory, memorial donations may be made to the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition Inc., 100 W. 10th St., Suite 209, Wilmington, DE 19801. To extend condolences to the family, visit www.gsesfuneralhomes.com. Ebling-Stabingas Funeral Home, Cressona, has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Schaeffer, Mary Jane (Haines), 89, of Shoemakersville, passed away March 23 at Reading Hospital after a long series of illnesses. Following social distancing requirements, family and friends are invited to a visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, April 5, at Leibensperger Funeral Homes Inc., 223 Peach St., Leesport. Words of Remembrance will be at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Gethsemane Cemetery, Laureldale. The funeral services will also be livestreamed; a link can be found on Janes page on the funeral homes website. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the charity of the donors choice. For online condolences, please visit www.leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com.

Shomper, Carol A., 76, of Klingerstown, passed away Friday, March 26, 2021, at her home. A private service for close friends and family will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday at Stephen R. Rothermel Funeral Home, Klingerstown, with Pastor Mark Mantz officiating. Interment will follow the service in Salem Church of Rough and Ready cemetery, Klingerstown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Heart Association, 968 Postal Road, Suite 110, Allentown, PA 18109, or to the Salem Church of Rough and Ready Organ Fund, 1128 Ridge Road, Klingerstown, PA 17941.

Showers, Peggy, 92, loving wife, mother, grandmother Gram and GiGi, of Tower City, died Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at home. Services will be held at 11 a.m. today, March 30, at St. Pauls Lutheran Church, Tower City, with the Rev. Harold Hand. Viewing will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. All CDC guidelines will be followed and masks must be worn. Burial will be at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tower Porter Community Library, 230 E. Grand Ave., Tower City, PA 17980, or St. Pauls Lutheran Church, 415 E. Grand Ave., Tower City, PA 17980. Dimon Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been entrusted with the arrangements. To send condolences to the family please visit www.dimonfuneralhome.com.

Tobin, Ralph Richard, 90, of North Pine Street, Tremont, passed away Wednesday, March 24, 2021, at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown. There will be a viewing from 10 until 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 31, at H.L. Snyder Funeral Home Inc., Pine Grove. Graveside services and interment will be held at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, at the convenience of the family with the Rev. Maureen Duffy-Guy officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to the Wounded Warriors Inc. Pennsylvania, 1117 Country Club Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011, in his memory. You may send condolences online at www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com.
Nokia has announced the completion of a narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network deployment in L800 band as part of its strategic partnership with Mobily.

As a result of this deployment, Mobily and Nokia have connected more than 4,000 sites and facilitated NB-IoT cell radius coverage averaging 20 km per cell, which is much wider than normal LTE cells.

The completion of the project increases Mobilys digitalisation by offering new NB-IoT services to better serve its enterprise customers.

As part of the project, Mobilys existing LTE base stations have been upgraded to enable NB-IoT in all Nokia footprint - central, North and East of Saudi Arabia without additional hardware but with a simple software update. Nokias LTE solution will help Mobily enterprise customers to enhance their operational efficiency and deliver improved customer experience through IoT connectivity for enterprises in verticals such as energy, transport, health and so on.

Nokias NB-IoT technology solution meets the dynamic demands of connected devices. By utilising Nokias cutting-edge NB-IoT business platform, Mobilys enterprise customers can deploy IoT devices on Nokias network without the need to manually configure the devices or switch networks. The platform also enables wider coverage indoors and outdoors, ideal for rural and deep indoor locations because it allows the signal to reach further inside buildings to connect sensors and devices and transmit information. It also provides enhanced machine-to-machine communication as it supports more connections and lowers power consumption.

Alaa Malki, CTO at Mobily, said: The partnership reinforces a robust IoT infrastructure and network, allowing enterprises to accelerate the expansion of their IoT footprint. As our long-standing partner, we are excited to strengthen the cooperation with Nokia and empower enterprises to harness the power of IoT through excellent connectivity.

Tareq Khalaf, customer Team Head of Mobily, at Nokia, said: We are proud to be working with Mobily to meet the needs of modern enterprises by enabling a wide range of commercial uses such as smart metering for utilities, powering connected health and industrial appliances, and smart city infrastructure. Our latest NB-IoT technology will allow Mobilys customers to utilize IoT services regardless of their location, area or region. -- Tradearabia News Service
Napa County last week looked poised to make the move to orange, with orange-qualifying new case rates. It needed only to maintain those orange rates for one more week. A television news outlet on Tuesday morning reported that the county was expected to make the leap.

It is disappointing, Relucio said. It just seems we were going down the right direction and then this outbreak has happened.

Napa Bowl on Soscol Avenue on Monday was preparing to reopen its alleys. Owner Dan Sousa met with his employees in anticipation of the countys move to orange.

They are raring to go, he said.

Then came the bad news on Tuesday.

It kills us, Sousa said on Tuesday morning. We already have people wanting to come in because its on the news were in orange. Its on TV that Napa County is in orange  Ive got all the employees down here again.

He expressed frustration that movie theaters and fitness centers can open to limited capacity in red, but bowling alleys must wait for orange.

They cant just keep picking on bowling centers, he said.
People stand in line at a temporary COVID-19 testing center set up for foreign workers in Geumcheon District, Seoul, March 21. Yonhap



Gov't faces growing criticism over poor response to minority human rights issues



By Lee Hyo-jin



South Korea, a country with an advanced democracy in terms of guaranteeing basic political freedoms and civil liberties, generally respects the individual political and civil rights of its citizens, offering protection of their fundamental human rights.



However, discrimination against marginalized groups such as sexual minorities, foreigners, women and the disabled remains severe inside the country.



Human rights activists in and outside of the country have been criticizing the government for showing very little effort to address a recent series of human rights violation issues concerning various minorities.



Outcry of discrimination over mandatory COVID-19 testing order for foreign nationals



Beginning with the Gyeonggi provincial government's mandatory coronavirus testing order for all foreign workers, implemented on March 8, other local governments around the country, including Seoul, Daegu and Gwangju and the provinces of North Gyeongsang, South Jeolla and Gangwon, followed suit.



While the authorities stated that the orders were imposed as preventive measures against cluster infections at workplaces with migrant laborers, they failed to persuade the public with any epidemiological reason as to why all workers of foreign nationality, regardless of their date of entry, duration of stay or connection to COVID-19 infection cases, needed to be tested or face fines of up to 2 million won ($1,765).



The top-down, one-size-fits-all order immediately drew criticism among the foreign national community, including from diplomatic missions, chambers of commerce and international businesses, as well as from the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), which labeled it "discriminatory."



Seoul City withdrew its order, but other local governments, including Gyeonggi Province, chose to continue pushing theirs.



Steve Hamilton, chief of mission to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in South Korea, called the orders, "Completely biased and giving the public the false impression that foreigners, as a group, are spreading COVID-19."



He told The Korea Times, "Given the international travel limitations in place since early last year, most of the migrants here have been in the country the whole time, so transmission within this group consists mostly of domestic transmission among people who have co-mingled with Korean nationals."



Although globally, the South Korean government's response to the pandemic has been praised as balanced, as well as carefully attuned to medical evidence, these "baffling" orders requiring all foreign workers to get tested or face fines are out of step with that approach, he said.



"The order needlessly discriminated against foreigners when better approaches could have been used. Public health measures, including testing, contact tracing and restrictions on movement, are needed to protect the health of everyone, so they need to be applied to everyone equally, not randomly targeted at one group alone," he stressed, adding that a virus does not spread simply via a person having a foreign passport.



Deaths of 3 transgender women show marginalization of sexual and gender minorities





Participants at a press conference organized by LGBTQ activists stand in front of Seoul City Hall, Saturday. The event was held to mark the International Transgender Day of Visibility, which falls on March 31. Yonhap



Three members of the LGBTQ community who did not hesitate to raise their voices in South Korean society, where discrimination against one's sexual orientation and gender identity is prevalent, have passed away during the past two months.



Transgender screenwriter Lee Eun-yong was found dead on Feb. 8. Kim Gi-hong, a transgender former politician who was a leader in the queer community of Jeju, was found dead on Feb. 24.



On March 3, former soldier Byun Hee-soo, who was forcibly discharged from the military after receiving a gender reassignment operation during her time in the military, was found dead in her home.



Human rights activists stressed that their deaths show how sexual minorities are excluded from civil protections from the widespread hate and discrimination against them in South Korean society. They are demanding the establishment of anti-discrimination laws, an initiative stalled at the National Assembly as well as in South Korean society for over 20 years.



Hong Sung-soo, a professor of law at Sookmyung Women's University, pointed out that the government's lack of effort to examine the discrimination against sexual minorities in Korea has left the issue totally unaddressed.



"Sexual minorities have never been officially recognized as a visible group for policymakers. The census has never included them in the survey system, and law enforcement authorities do not separately gather statistics on crimes against the LGBTQ community," Hong said.



"If this widespread hate and discrimination against sexual minorities continues, it will develop into serious social conflicts. The anti-discrimination law is a basic preemptive measure to guarantee a safe and peaceful society for all," he said.



North Korean human rights issues left on the sidelines





A North Korea flag flies next to barbed wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in this March 9, 2017, photo. Reuters-Yonhap
Africans have endured more than their fair share of atrocities where the perpetrators got off scot-free, a history that has helped inspire a commitment to global solidarity for human rights and justice. As prominent Tanzanian jurist Fatma Karume said, "Those who suggest that there is a democracy for the West and one for Africa, have failed to understand the universality of the human condition." This was eloquently demonstrated by Gambia's spirited effort to draw international attention to the plight of the Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority in Myanmar.

So why are some African leaders helping the Chinese government cover up serious human rights violations against Turkic Muslims in the northwest Xinjiang region of China?

This March, the ambassadors to China from Burkina Faso, the Republic of Congo, and Sudan spoke in Beijing at an event entitled "Xinjiang in the Eyes of African Ambassadors to China." They extolled Chinese authorities' success in raising the standard of living in the region and dismissed Western criticism of China as driven by ulterior motives.

Turkic Muslims Need Africa's Solidarity Too

There is little evidence that the ambassadors discussed Beijing's strategy of mass arbitrary detentions, which have seen around one million Turkic Muslims detained simply based on their identity.

The event might be routine diplomacy, but African governments' willingness to remain silent on Beijing's suppression of rights has real-world consequences. Some have helped defend China's Xinjiang policies at the United Nations Human Rights Council, where Burkina Faso and Sudan are members, while introducing a resolution to bring systemic racism in the US and around the world under international scrutiny.

African leaders should try seeing Xinjiang through the eyes of the Turkic Muslim population that has endured torture, enforced disappearances and cultural persecution. African governments have often justifiably decried other countries' indifference to their plight and sought global solidarity with human suffering. Yet, the economic benefits gained from China appear to be undermining that resolve and bring into question African governments' commitment to international assistance and cooperation. They should refocus and reflect on the principles, norms and values of freedom and equality laid out in the African Union Charter.

Only then will they be able to show their support without appearing to endorse Beijing's oppression.
Residents at an asylum centre in Krnjaca, outside Belgrade, Serbia, wait for a vaccination against COVID-19.  UNHCR/Igor Pavicevic

Serbia has commenced COVID-19 vaccinations for refugees and asylum seekers. On Friday, 53 people at an asylum centre near the capital, Belgrade, received their first jab.

We are grateful that the Serbian state is treating us equally as its citizens and that it made it possible for us to get vaccinated, said Mohammad, a pastry chef and asylum-seeker from Afghanistan who is set on making a new life for himself in Serbia.

We hope that everyone will get the vaccine because we can overcome the virus only when we are united and vaccinated, he said, after receiving the dose of the vaccine at the Krnjaca asylum centre.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, advocated with Serbian authorities for the inclusion of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in the national immunization plan adopted in January. It has also worked with WHO, other UN agencies and NGOs for the inclusion of refugees in COVID-preparedness and response plans.

UNHCR deeply appreciates the inclusion of refugees in the vaccination plan of the Republic of Serbia. This shows a commitment to protect and integrate refugees and asylum-seekers in Serbian society, UNHCR's representative in Serbia Francesca Bonelli said.

While more than 30 refugees and asylum-seekers living in private accommodation in Serbia were vaccinated earlier in March, Fridays vaccinations were the first for those hosted in reception centres. As of today, more than 300 refugees and asylum-seekers in government shelters have received the first dose of the vaccine.

"Vaccination is the way."

The country hosts around 4,880 refugees and asylum-seekers.

Responsible behaviour to oneself and others is of paramount importance in the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination is the way to demonstrate such responsibility, the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia stated.

UNHCR advocates globally for the inclusion of refugees and asylum-seekers in national vaccination plans, as well as people who are displaced within their own countries or stateless.

Residents at an asylum centre outside the Serbian capital line up to receive a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.  UNHCR/Igor Pavicevic

A woman at an asylum centre outside the Serbian capital rests after receiving a dose of a coronavirus vaccine.  UNHCR/Igor Pavicevic

A resident of an asylum centre outside Belgrade receives a jab of coronavirus vaccine.  UNHCR/Igor Pavicevic

Mohammad Rasouli, a resident of the Krnjaca asylum centre outside Belgrade, after receiving a dose of coronavirus vaccine.  UNHCR/Igor Pavicevic

The first phase of Serbias COVID-19 vaccination plan covered frontline health workers, staff and residents of homes for the elderly and social protection institutions, people over 75 and patients with chronic illnesses. Refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants accommodated in asylum and reception and transit centres are included in the third phase.

"We, as refugees, have been concerned about what would happen to us and whether we will also get vaccinated, said Farnus, an asylum-seeker from Iran who is in Serbia with her mother and two children. Today we also got the first jab, and we are thankful to the authorities and all the organizations for having made it possible.
Srinagar: Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has tested positive for Covid-19, his son and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed on Twitter on Tuesday.

Omar said that he and his family members will be self-isolating and getting themselves tested for Covid-19.

"My father has tested positive for COVID-19 & is showing some symptoms. I will be self-isolating along with other family members until we get ourselves tested. I request anyone who has come in to contact with us over the last few days to take all the mandated precautions," Omar tweeted.

My father has tested positive for COVID-19 & is showing some symptoms. I will be self-isolating along with other family members until we get ourselves tested. I request anyone who has come in to contact with us over the last few days to take all the mandated precautions.  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 30, 2021

Earlier this month, Farooq Abdullah had taken the first Covid-19 jab at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar.

India has been registering more than 60,000 COVID-19 infections for the past few days. It recorded 68,020 new cases, reportedly the highest single-day rise in over 5 months, according to the official data released on Monday morning.

On Tuesday, India recorded 56,211 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said. The country also saw 37,028 recoveries along with 271 deaths. India's total coronavirus caseload has now increased to 1,20,95,855, of which, 5,40,720 are active cases.

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Jerriod Sivels, 31, of Chattanooga, has been sentenced to 142 months in prison by Judge Travis R.

McDonough after he earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or

more of cocaine and one count of money laundering.

The conviction was the result of an investigation into a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing multiple kilograms of cocaine in the Eastdale and Brainerd communities of Chattanooga. Sivels was identified as a leader of the organization.

This prosecution, which has made our community safer, provides an excellent example of

the law enforcement successes that can be achieved through federal, state, and local collaboration, said Acting United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. The U.S. Attorneys Office values the coordinated law enforcement response that dismantled the drug trafficking organization in this case.



Todays announcement should serve as a warning to anyone who seeks to poison our

communities with dangerous and illegal drugs, said Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott, who

oversees DEA operations in Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The Drug Enforcement

Administration works very closely with our law enforcement partners, like the Chattanooga Police

Department, to ensure that criminal drug activity is shut down and those responsible are brought

to justice. We are very grateful to CPD for their on-going cooperation and assistance.



Chattanooga Chief of Police David Roddy said, The Chattanooga Police Department is

thankful for the partnerships we have in the Federal system. The cooperative impact of our

investigators and our federal partners has resulted in a prosecution that dismantled an

organization, will keep Sivels from continuing to harm our community via drug trafficking, and

has made our neighborhoods safer.



The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the United States Drug Enforcement

Administration, the Chattanooga Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The DEA Chattanooga Resident Office High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force led the investigation. THE HIDTA Task Force includes Task Force Officers from CPD, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, Franklin County Sheriffs Office, Red Bank Police Department, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.



The investigation was a result of the Department of Justices Organized Crime and Drug

Enforcement Task Force, the centerpiece of the Department of Justices drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Brown represented the United States.

He is a special assistant city attorney with the Chattanooga Police Department designated to

the United States Attorneys Office to prosecute violations of federal firearm and drug laws.
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.

From left: Tom Donnellan, Chief Executive of Bord Na Mona, Kieran Mulvey, Just Transition Commissioner, and Eamon Ryan, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications at the launch of the Peatland Restoration Plan last November

THE Just Transition Commissioner is willing to help address escalating tensions on peat harvesting, turf cutting and bog rewetting.

Kieran Mulvey told the Farming Independent that he identified potential problems arising on these matters shortly after being appointed by Government to oversee the impact of the closure of two peat-fired power stations in the midlands in November 2019.

While these specific fallout issues  concern over the horticulture sectors reliance on peat imports, fears over looming home fuel shortages and farmer worry over the impact of bog rewetting on adjacent lands  are beyond the commissioners current remit, he says he is prepared to intervene as he recognises that frustration is building on the ground.

Speaking to this publication, Mr Mulvey said: There was a considerable air of positivity right up to Christmas, but I think what has happened, to some degree, at the moment is that there is concern and frustration and, in some cases, annoyance over the fact that the Just Transition money has not flowed into the regions and specifically into the projects that were approved.

Its taking too long to achieve that and Ive been advocating for more rapid action in discussions with the Department, the Midlands Regional Transition Team (MRTT) and individual county councils  this should be the top priority.

There is a particular difficulty with peat harvesting  involving commercial contractors and individuals farmers  which I highlighted in my first and second progress reports that needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

I specifically outlined the peat import issue as far back as last May. I said it was an issue in development after engaging with Growing Media Ireland and the companies involved.

But I didnt have, in my terms of reference, a specific remit regarding the situation of independent contractors who had arrangements historically with Bord Na Mona for peat harvesting and turf cutting on its bogs.

Veteran

However, after representations from independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice and Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen, the hardened veteran of industrial relations says he is aware that complex planning, licensing and legal issues are hampering the Just Transition process  particularly since Bord na Mona (BNM) ceased its peat operations in January this year.

I did indicate that if I could help, I would, but Id need written instructions as to what my role would be from the minister on this  I dont want to overlap with whatever working group is dealing with the matter.

Id need to know what Im specifically trying to achieve, if there is funding involved and the nature of the representative groups  what you dont want to be doing is dealing with individuals. You need to know there is an umbrella body.

The planning and licensing laws seem to intertwine and overlap, meaning there are long delays because there are objections to go through the courts and it takes a considerable period.

There should be a more fast-tracked and clearer system by which this would be done, otherwise the place gets literally bogged down in an array of legal challenges around complex rules involving both domestic and European law, he said.

Covid-19 is also impacting on the Just Transition process, he says.

If I hadnt the restrictions of Covid-19, I could have been more in the region pushing parties and then engaging with different Government departments  but its impossible to do work over Zoom on these issues.

You need to be around the table to say this needs to be done, Ill be back in a fortnight to see what progress has been made  but thats not available to me.

It is hampering the transition, but that shouldnt be used as an excuse. Im very concerned that frustration is building up and Ive conveyed that to the Department.

The torturous system of state aid has frustrated me and the project applicants. Funding was announced in November 2020  but little or no money has arrived, apart from the bog rehabilitation and some initiatives around heritage and greenways.

Importing peat is a nonsense. Were importing the same product from another European country that doesnt seem to have the same directives applied to them as are being applied to us on the same bogs.

There is the situation of individual farmers whose land is contiguous to boglands and the reassurances they want there.

The rewetting has to proceed because there are timelines, but that doesnt mean you cant have a parallel process of engagement and solution, said Mr Mulvey.

In November 2020, cabinet approved funding of 126m for BNMs large-scale peatlands restoration project  a four-year rewetting scheme on 80,000ac of bogland to store 100m tonnes of CO2 emissions and create 310 jobs for workers impacted by the closure of the BNM/ESB power plants in Shannonbridge, Co Offaly and Lanesborough, Co Longford.

A further 28m was promised for 47 midlands projects to fund training and reskilling for communities and individuals most affected by the move away from peat-harvesting.

It is understood the closure of BNMs peat division means CO2 emissions from peatlands in Ireland will reduce by over 97pc.

Nonetheless, three key sticking points remain front and centre for local farmers, communities and stakeholders.

Rewetting

On the rewetting project  set to get underway on the first 33,000ac next month  farmers with lands adjoining the identified bogs are adamant that a signed agreement with BNM on the maintenance of boundary drains now and into future is a redline issue.

Farmers also continue to call for an independent land assessment to be carried out before the project commences.

To date, BNM has maintained that a written agreement is not required in this case as the semi-state company has been involved in bog rehabilitation for 30 years and its intention is to block drains in the centre of the bogs and not along the edges.

On the horticulture peat debacle  whereby peat producers and vegetable, mushroom and nursery growers are being forced to import peat from the Baltic states to stay afloat due to the ramifications of a 2019 High Court ruling that milling peat on bogs over 30ha now requires planning permission from An Bord Pleanala and an EPA licence  calls are being made for a derogation or legislative amendment to save harvest 2021.

Stakeholders have warned a working group on the issue that 17,000 jobs are at risk due to the ruling.

Meanwhile, tensions are rife over BNMs decision not to re-issue licences for private and commercial turf cutting on its bogs even though thousands of ordinary people rely on this fuel source, which is cut from less than 1pc of BNMs total land mass of 200,000ac.

Fuel merchants are also importing peat and coal briquette supplies from Estonia, Scandinavia, Lithuania and Germany, as supplies of BNM peat briquettes continue to tighten too throughout the region.
Half Moon Bay, CA (94019)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 51F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 51F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
The Joe Biden administration seeks to intensify strategic cooperation with Ukraine in combating corruption and implementing the reforms announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the beginning of his presidency, the White House has said in a statement following National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's call with Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Andriy Yermak.

"He [Sullivan] also relayed the Biden Administration's commitment to revitalize our strategic partnership in support of President Volodymyr Zelensky's plan to tackle corruption and implement a reform agenda that delivers justice, security, and prosperity to the people of Ukraine," the statement reads.

In addition, Sullivan "affirmed the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations" in the face of continuing Russian aggression.

Yermak spoke by phone with Sullivan on Monday, March 29. He thanked the United States for its clear and consistent support of Ukraine and informed Sullivan about the current situation on the contact line in eastern Ukraine.

op
There was little time for Thoeun Sothearoth to process her fathers death. Last week, the former traffic police officer was coughing and breathless, and shortly after being admitted to the hospital, he died from COVID-19.

Thorn Chanthoeun was later diagnosed with COVID-19, leaving his family in disbelief over the quick progression of the disease.

I didnt know he had COVID-19 until he died, said Thoeun Sothearoth, who lives in Kandal provinces Prek Luong commune.

The 28-year-old daughter of Thorn Chanthoeun said her father had been previously diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, and another stomach illness.

On the night of March 24, Thoeun Sothearoth said her father couldn't sleep and was coughing a lot. The family decided to admit him to Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital on March 25 and later that afternoon the Health Ministry confirmed his death.

The medical worker saw that my father had a high fever and gasping for air. So, they asked to test my father for COVID-19, she said. I never thought it could be that disease.

Ngy Meng, the president of Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, declined to comment, said the Health Ministry had already released all the relevant information about people who had died from COVID-19.

Or Vandine, a secretary of state at the Health Ministry, couldnt be reached for comment on Monday.

Thoeun Sothearoth, who lived with her father, said she could not think of where Thorn Chanthoeun would have got infected with the novel coronavirus.

I dont think it is from the family since I am always home, my husband is a construction worker in the village and my aging grandmother is always home, she said.

He always protected himself by wearing a mask and using [hand] sanitizer because he is a traffic police officer, she added.

Cambodia is currently in the midst of its second community transmission event, which means the country is unable to confirm cases through chains of transmission for a large number of cases, according to the World Health Organization.

The country also reported its first death this month since the start of the pandemic, with 11 reported deaths so far.

The Health Ministry said a 72-year-old woman in Phnom Penhs Russey Keo district came to the hospital for treatment on March 27, tested positive for COVID-19, and died the same day.

In another case, a 62-year-old woman went to Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital on March 20, tested positive on March 21, and passed on March 23.

The deaths are likely linked to the prevalence of the U.K. variant of the novel coronavirus, which preliminary data suggested is more contagious and deadlier.

Pov Vuthy, village chief of Kdey Chas where the police officer lived, said 10 family members had been quarantined and the people in the village were concerned about the virus.

People need to protect each other, he said.

Tim Vora, executive director of the Health Action Coordinating Committee, said the current community transmission was the most serious so far and that people should not hesitate to get tested if they think they have COVID-19 symptoms.

Some people dont know when it is serious, and then they urgently go to the hospital, he said. With the current transmission event, people need to check their and their familys health regularly.

Since February 20, the Cambodian Health Ministry on Tuesday reported 104 new cases in the community transmission. There have been 1,851 new cases and more than 2,000 cases since the start of the viral outbreak last year.

Thoeun Sothearoth is currently in quarantine at home with other family members, including her 92-year-old grandmother. She is waiting for COVID-19 test results, samples for which were collected on March 26.

She has yet to be informed about whether her fathers body has been cremated or not.

I dont have that information because I am in quarantine and I cant go out, she said. How would you feel if you were me in that situation?
Arachnologists have discovered a new species of peacock spider (genus Maratus) in the vicinities of Mount McIntyre and Nangwarry in Australia.

Maratus is a relatively large genus of jumping spiders found in Australia and China.

Commonly referred to as peacock spiders, they have a total body length mostly around 4-6 mm, and are most noted for their spectacular courtship display.

Adult males have colorful and usually iridescent patterns on the upper surface of the abdomen often enhanced with lateral flaps or bristles. By contrast, females are cryptic in appearance and lack bright colors.

The discovery of the new species, named Maratus nemo, brings the total number of species in the genus to 92.

The specific epithet refers to the coloration of the male of this species which resembles that of the character Nemo in the 2003 Walt Disney film Finding Nemo, explained Dr. Joseph Schubert, an arachnologist at Museums Victoria and Murdoch University.

Maratus nemo is between 4 and 5 mm in length, and has a really vibrant orange face with white stripes on it.

The species was first spotted by Sheryl Holliday, an ecological field officer for Nature Glenelg Trust, in South Australia.

Ive seen about 40 individuals all up at three different locations, Holliday said.

Im sure there would be more in the south east of South Australia and in western Victoria as well.

Maratus nemo is known only from 9.5 km SSE of Mount McIntyre, 9.4 km SSE of Mount McIntyre, and 14.1 km E of Nangwarry, Dr. Schubert said.

Curiously, it was found in an ephemeral wetland complex on marshy vegetation in shallow water.

No other species of Maratus are known to occupy such habitats.

The description of Maratus nemo was published in the journal Evolutionary Systematics.

_____

J. Schubert. 2021. Maratus nemo: A new wetland species of peacock spider from South Australia (Araneae, Salticidae, Euophryini). Evolutionary Systematics 5 (1): 71-80; doi: 10.3897/evolsyst.5.64922
Technologies Inc., part of com Inc., has acquired retail tech firm Perpule in an all cash-deal of over Rs 107 crore to strengthen its efforts in the area of providing technology to kiranas, according to the sources.

People in the know said that is expected to pay additional remuneration to the employees of the Bengaluru-based firm which may increase the deal value to about Rs 150 crore.

Perpule was launched in 2016 by Abhinav Pathak, Saketh BSV, and Yogesh Ghaturle. While Pathak and Ghaturle are alumni of the National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, Saketh is from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. It has raised total funding of $6.4 million from investors such as Prime Venture Partners, Kalaari Capital and Venture Highway. The founders would continue to remain at the firm, according to the sources.

Perpule provides UltraPOS is a cloud-based, mobile POS system that substantially improves the billing and checkout process at stores. The cloud-based SaaS product eliminates the need for bulky servers and computers in the store. It enables offline stores to reduce billing counter size significantly and help increase sales and revenue through an AI and data-driven approach. It was being used by retail brands such as Vishal Mega Mart, Big Bazaar, More and Spencers.



Amazon on Tuesday night confirmed that it has acquired Perpules cloud-based point-of-sale IP asset called Ultra POS.



Perpule has built an innovative cloud-based POS offering that enables offline stores in India to better manage their inventory, checkout process, and overall customer experience," said an Amazon spokesperson. "We are excited to have the Perpule team join us to focus on providing growth opportunities for businesses of all sizes in India while raising the bar of the shopping experience for Indian customers."

Amazon is backing Perpule at a time when it is betting big on the digitisation of small business including kiranas and neighbourhood stores. Amazon has enabled the digitisation of more than 1 million small and medium businesses (SMBs) in India. Last year alone, more than 150,000 new sellers joined its marketplace platform. This makes it one of the biggest examples of tech adoption of small businesses in the country. The Covid-19 pandemic has also accelerated the adoption of tech by SMBs.

The SMBs include sellers, delivery and logistics partners, neighbourhood stores, enterprises, developers, content creators and authors in India, according to the 2020 Amazon SMB Impact Report.

Last year, Jeff Bezos-led Amazon had pledged to invest $1 billion to digitise 10-million SMBs, enable e-commerce exports worth $10 billion, and create 1 million incremental jobs by 2025.


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Failure to comply with international exposure recommendations for air pollution, noise, heat and access to green space is associated with more than 1,000 deaths per year in Barcelona and more than 900 in Madrid, accounting for 7% and 3% of overall premature mortality, respectively.

This is the conclusion of a new study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation. This study is the first to estimate premature mortality impacts and the distribution by socioeconomic status of multiple environmental exposures related to urban planning and transport in the two cities.

Today, more than half of the global population lives in cities. In Spain, this trend is even more pronounced, with 80% of the population living in urban areas. Madrid and Barcelona are two of Europe's most populous cities, and they also have some of the highest rates of socioeconomic inequality among inhabitants. Recent studies in European cities such as Vienna, Bradford and Barcelona have shown that a considerable proportion of the premature mortality burdenbetween 8% and 20%is associated with poor urban and transport planning.

The new study, published in Environmental Research, estimated the impact of non-compliance with international exposure level recommendations for air pollutionfine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 )as well as excess heat, traffic noise and lack of green space on residents over 20 years of age in Barcelona and Madrid, cities with different urban planning practices. Whereas Madrid is structured around a central nucleus where most economic activity is concentrated, Barcelona is a compact city whose economic activity is distributed across different neighborhoods.

The study focused on identifying environmental inequities. "Our goal was to identify the population groups that were most exposed and most vulnerable to the effects of poor urban and transport planning," commented ISGlobal researcher Tamara Iungman, lead author of the study. As for methodology, the researchers used a tool called Urban and Transport Planning Health Impact Assessment (UTOPHIA), which was developed by a team at ISGlobal. "We compared current exposure levels with international recommendations and estimated the fraction of preventable premature deaths that could be avoided if we were to comply with those recommendations," explained Iungman.

Attributable Deaths

The findings showed that non-compliance with WHO's exposure recommendations for air pollution, noise, and access to green space, along with excess heat, were associated with 1,037 premature deaths per year in Barcelona. Fine particulate air pollution was the exposure associated with the highest premature mortality, accounting for 524 deaths per year (48% of total attributable deaths), followed by lack of green space (277 deaths), exposure to traffic noise (124 deaths), heat (112 deaths) and exposure to NO 2 (12 deaths).

For Madrid, the total number of deaths attributable to non-compliance with international recommendations was 902. Lack of green space was the exposure associated with the highest premature mortality (337 deaths per year), followed by excessive heat (244 deaths), NO 2 air pollution (207 deaths), PM2.5 air pollution (173 deaths) and noise (148 deaths).

An earlier ISGlobal study attributed 20% of premature mortality in Barcelona to poor urban and transport planning. "The lower values obtained in this health impact assessment of Barcelona and Madrid7.1% and 3.4%, respectivelycould be attributed to the fact that physical activity was not included in this study, in addition to improvements in adverse exposure levels in recent years, as well as the different methodology used to estimate the mortality attributable to noise," commented Iungman.

Differences Between Barcelona and Madrid

With better urban and transport planning, Barcelona could avoid nearly twice as many deaths as Madrid: 72 versus 33 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. "This difference can be partly explained by the fact that the scientific evidence associates higher mortality with exposure to PM2.5, which is higher in Barcelona; another explanation would be the greater traffic and population density in Barcelona than in Madrid, given that its area represents 1/6th of Madrid's", explained ISGlobal researcher Natalie Mueller, coordinator of the study.

With an annual average of 15 g/m3, Barcelona exceeded the maximum level recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for PM2.5 (10 g/m3). For NO 2 levels, however, the city's annual average of 37 g/m3 was under the recommended maximum of 40 g/m3. Madrid exceeded the WHO recommendations on both counts, with an annual average of 11 g/m3 for PM2.5 and 42 g/m3 for NO 2 .

The main difference between the two cities was in air pollutants. The findings showed higher levels of fine particulate matter in Barcelona and NO 2 in Madrid, as well as different spatial distributions: high levels of PM2.5 throughout Barcelona and higher levels of NO 2 in the center of the Spanish capital. "While the main source of NO 2 emissions is local motor-vehicle traffic, fine particulate matter has a higher dispersion capacity and is also associated with other combustion sources besides traffic," commented Mueller. "The port and the large industrial areas near Barcelona could influence the high levels of fine particulate matter in the city."

As for green space, the vast majority of the population in Madrid and Barcelona84% and 95%, respectivelydid not have adequate access to these natural environments according to the standards of the WHO, which recommends that people should live within 300 meters of a green space measuring at least half a hectare. This widespread lack of access to green space shows that "in order for green spaces to have health benefitsin addition to mitigating other exposures such as noise and excess heatit is necessary to consider not only their availability in the city, but also their distribution so that residents can access them on foot," commented Mueller.

With regard to noise, 97% of the population of Madrid and 96% of the population of Barcelona were exposed to traffic noise levels higher than the WHO's recommended values. "Both cities had a considerable mortality burden attributable to traffic noise, which underscores how important it is to reduce noise to improve the health of the population," argued Mueller.

Although there are no specific guidelines for heat, the researchers calculated the temperature corresponding to the smallest number of heat-related deaths in each city: 22.5C for Barcelona and 21.5C for Madrid and estimated the impacts of a potential reduction of 1. "The two cities had similar attributable mortality rates and we found correlations between less green space and higher levels of heat and noise," added Iungman.

Environmental Inequities

The findings show that poor urban and transport planning in Barcelona is associated with higher mortality in census tracts with lower socioeconomic status, whereas in Madrid the attributable mortality burden varied by environmental exposure. Although air pollution, lack of green space and excessive heat are widespread problems in Barcelona, attributable mortality rates were overall higher in the most deprived areas. Thus, populations in the most deprived census tracts had a mortality risk 1.26 times higher than that of the least deprived groups, probably because of an already higher underlying vulnerability.

In Madrid, the most deprived neighborhoods had higher exposure to PM2.5 and heat than the least deprived neighborhoods, while the inverse was true for NO 2 and noise. This is probably due to the fact that lower socioeconomic population subgroups reside more peripheral and closer to industrial areas, where the cost of living is cheaper -and thus they are more exposed to PM2.5 and heat-, while middle and upper middle socioeconomic population reside in Madrid highly trafficked city center, with greater exposure to NO 2 and traffic noise. With respect to green spaces, lack of access affected people of both low and middle socioeconomic status. This pattern was also reflected in its attributable mortality, where only the least deprived areas were the ones having less adverse impacts, probably due to lower underlying vulnerability and better general health status.

Co-author Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Director of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative at ISGlobal, commented: "This analysis is in line with previous research showing that people living in more deprived neighborhoods tend to be more exposed to harmful environmental exposures compared to those living in wealthier areas, although this inequity varies according to the design characteristics and historical development of each city."

"This study shows that environmental exposures have a large impact on premature mortality and underscores the importance of designing cities with health impacts in mind, valuing the specificities of each urban environment and prioritizing disadvantaged populations," concluded Nieuwenhuijsen. "Health impact assessments are a powerful tool for guiding policymakers towards cities that are healthy, sustainable and fair for all residents."

Explore further Study identifies European cities with highest mortality due to air pollution

More information: Tamara Iungman et al, The impact of urban and transport planning on health: Assessment of the attributable mortality burden in Madrid and Barcelona and its distribution by socioeconomic status, Environmental Research (2021). Journal information: Environmental Research Tamara Iungman et al, The impact of urban and transport planning on health: Assessment of the attributable mortality burden in Madrid and Barcelona and its distribution by socioeconomic status,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110988
The Telegraph

Summer holidays abroad have been thrown into doubt after Portugal was axed from the green list because of a new Covid variant. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, suggested it could be mid-August before Europe caught up with Britain's levels of vaccination to enable travel restrictions to be lifted, raising fears of a second lost summer. Travel bosses reacted with fury to the axing of Portugal just two weeks after it was added to the quarantine-free green list, claiming ministers wanted to
on Monday received a shipment of 1,00,000 doses of India's indigenously developed Covaxin vaccine.

" receives 100,000 doses of Covaxin vaccine from We guarantee the continued immunization against COVID-19. Thanks to for its support," Sputnik reported citing Health Ministry.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took to Twitter to announce that 'Made in India' vaccines have arrived in the south American country.

"Never too far for friendship. Made in vaccines arrive in Paraguay," Jaishankar tweeted.

Paraguay has reported over 2,09,000 COVID-19 cases. So far, over 4,063 people have died in the country due to the infection.

India has been supplying coronavirus vaccines to countries around the world under the Vaccine Maitri initiative. New Delhi has provided vaccines to over 75 countries.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, over 638.81 lakh doses of vaccines have been provided by India to countries.
On Monday afternoon, the downtown site of a weekend daytime shooting was quiet.

On Monday afternoon, the downtown site of a weekend daytime shooting was quiet.

In Winnipegs Central Park, children taking advantage of the sunny calm before the impending snowstorm intermingle comfortably, while masked parents and grandparents watch and take pictures. On a nearby bench, a man sitting alone idly scrolls his phone. A few more benches down, a group quietly passes the time.

Many people in the area hadnt heard police had made two arrests, after gunshots were reported at QuAppelle Avenue and Carlton Street at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Police said one man was chasing another with a firearm; the man being chased (later sent to hospital with gunshot wounds) was also carrying a firearm.

Gang activity is considered an aspect of the incident, police said. Both men are in custody.

Tecleab Misgun Tewolde lives in a sienna-coloured building near Central Park. Hes watched the goings-on of the neighbourhood from his third-floor apartment since immigrating from Eritrea seven years ago.

Misgun Tewolde said his "eyes were widened" when he heard about Saturdays incident, but noted he had seen evidence of violence in the area before.

He recalled seeing blood spilled on nearby sidewalks on more than one occasion. In one incident, a man stabbed another in the neck on the sidewalk outside of the nearby Knox United Church and walked away.

"He didnt even bother running away, he was slowly, slowly moving down that corner, he walked away," Misgun Tewolde told the Free Press.

Regardless, while aware of the area being labelled dangerous, he didnt fully subscribe to the idea. He has seen more youth and families enjoying Central Park than problems within its borders.

Misgun Tewolde called for more regular police in the neighbourhood, in hopes of deterring crime before it starts.

Val Cavers is executive director at Mosaic Newcomer Family Resource Network, which is located next to Central Park and steps from where the shooting occurred.

In just the last few months, Cavers said, there had been a noticeable spike in criminal incidents in the area  and attributed it to the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating existing mental health issues.

"When incidents like this happen, its almost like its sort of descending into thats what people will expect there," she said. "You see the derelict buildings, the abandoned park, the broken play equipment, and the families are invisible because theyre hiding inside their homes afraid."

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Tecleab Misgun Tewolde calls for more police presence in the Central Park neighbourhood.

The underlying issues existed before COVID-19 and will persist well after, in part, she said, because the City of Winnipeg and the province have left the neighbourhood to fend for itself.

"Its a very high-need neighbourhood, with inappropriate social housing and a very high density of newcomers and Indigenous people who deserve so much better," Cavers said.

"Its a disgrace, whats happening in Central Park right now."

While Mosaic provides support to newcomers and Knox United Church hosts community-led initiatives, including a foot patrol and meal program, Cavers said those who are organizing within the community are often met with brick walls when looking for funding or support at the municipal or provincial level.

"You just say you want more flowers, and the city person would say they just get stolen, so thats the end of it."

The neighbourhood has no community centre or residents association, and at least one building directly in the area that could become housing sits empty, she said.

"Most refugees settle in that neighbourhood when they first come to Winnipeg, thats their first experience with the city," she said.

"Theyre raising their kids there, theres many families living in overcrowded housing, and not feeling like they have a safe place to raise their children. Thats the reality."

Beverley came to the park with her family to get some sun and relax. Her children and grandchildren take on the small play structure, while she simultaneously eats Thai takeout and carries a fussing baby.

As she watches her partner Ryan and their son go down the slide together, shes quick to say shes well-aware of crime in the area  shes lived nearby for seven years.

Police can only do so much, said Beverley, who asked her family only be referred to by their first names.

"Once they walk away, once theyre not around, something happens," she said.

The family has discussed moving further south in Winnipeg, in hopes of providing a different experience for the young ones.

"I just want to get out of here  were already thinking about not staying here, its getting too unsafe," she said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 17:44:54|Editor: huaxia

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Workers unload China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines, donated by the Chinese government to Ethiopia, at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on March 30, 2021. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

ADDIS ABABA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- A batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines, donated by the Chinese government to Ethiopia, arrived here on Tuesday.

The doses were received at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport by Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Zhao Zhiyuan, Ethiopia Minister of Health, Lia Tadesse and Birtukan Ayano, State Minister of Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"China is the first to provide Ethiopia with vaccine aid through the bilateral inter-governmental channel, which speaks volumes of the profound traditional friendship between the two countries," Zhao told reporters.

Zhao also disclosed the Chinese government has been donating vaccines to dozens of countries, as part of its solidarity in the fight against the pandemic.

"China has donated and is donating vaccines to 80 developing countries in urgent need, and has provided support under COVAX for emergency use of vaccines in developing countries," Zhao said.

COVAX, an international vaccine campaign co-led by the World Health Organization and its partners, aims to speed up the development, production and fair distribution of new COVID-19 vaccines.

Lia Tadesse, Ethiopia Minister of Health, commended the latest Chinese COVID-19 donation as a testament to the solid bilateral ties between the two countries.

"Since the onset of the pandemic in the past one year, the collaboration and partnership between these two countries has really been immense, and the support of both the government of China as well as organizations, private foundations and other organizations in China have been extending their support in the fight against the pandemic to Ethiopia," Tadesse told reporters.

"Several donations of supplies like Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs), test kits, and medical equipments have been delivered. In addition, technical support and missions have been here to share experiences in how best to combat this challenging pandemic," she further said.

Tadesse also said the donation of Sinopharm vaccines will significantly contribute to Ethiopia's plan to vaccinate up to 20 percent of the east African country's population.

"Today's donation of these vaccines will have an immense contribution to this effort of the objective that we have in terms of inoculating at least up to 20 percent of the population within this year of 2021," she said.

China has been helping Ethiopia in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic since its outbreak in the African country last year.

China donated several batches of medical supplies to Ethiopia last year, and a Chinese team of medical experts has been sent to Ethiopia to support its fight against the pandemic.

Ethiopia has recorded 202,545 COVID-19 cases and 2,825 COVID-19 related deaths by Monday evening. Enditem
For many people who work in retail, especially grocery stores and big-box chains, the mask repeals are another example of how little protection and appreciation they have received during the pandemic. While they were praised as essential workers, that rarely translated into extra pay on top of their low wages. Grocery employees were not initially given priority for vaccinations in most states, even as health experts cautioned the public to limit time in grocery stores because of the risk posed by new coronavirus variants. (Texas opened availability to everyone 16 and older on Monday.)
According to human rights organizations, the number of the killed in clashes between participants of protests and the police, which have been taking place in Myanmar for two months, exceeded 500. Myanmar security forces opened fire Sunday on a crowd attending the funeral of student who was killed on the bloodiest day yet of a crackdown on protests against last months coup, local media reported.

Associated Press reports that the escalating violence  which took the lives of at least 114 people Saturday, including several children  has prompted a U.N. human rights expert to accuse the junta of committing mass murder and to criticize the international community for not doing enough to stop it.

The Security Council is likely to hold closed consultations on the escalating situation in Myanmar, U.N. diplomats said Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement. The council has condemned the violence and called for a restoration of democracy, but has not yet considered possible sanctions against the military, which would require support or an abstention by Myanmars neighbor and friend China.

The mounting death tolls have not stopped the demonstrations against the Feb. 1 takeover  or the violent response of the military and police to them. Myanmar Now reported that the juntas troops shot at mourners at the funeral in the city of Bago for Thae Maung Maung, a 20-year-old killed on Saturday. He was reportedly a member of the All Burma Federation of Student Union, which has a long history of supporting pro-democracy movements in the country.

The Feb. 1 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyis elected government reversed years of progress toward democracy after five decades of military rule. It has again made Myanmar the focus of international scrutiny as security forces have repeatedly fired into crowds of protesters. At least 459 people have been killed since the takeover, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. The crackdown extends beyond the demonstrations: Humanitarian workers reported that the military had carried out airstrikes Sunday against guerilla fighters in the eastern part of the country.

Henrietta Fore, head of the U.N. childrens agency UNICEF, said in Saturdays bloodiest day since the coup an 11-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl, two 13-year-old boys, a 13-year-old girl, three 16-year-old boys and two 17-year-old boys, (were) all reportedly shot and killed. She said a 1-year-old baby girl gravely injured after being struck in the eye with a rubber bullet.

In less than two months, at least 35 children have allegedly been killed, countless others seriously injured and almost 1,000 children and young people reported arbitrarily detained by security forces across the country she said, condemning the indiscriminate killings and demanding that those responsible be held accountable.

The junta has accused some of the demonstrators of perpetrating the violence because of their sporadic use of Molotov cocktails and has said its use of force has been justified to stop what it has called rioting. While protesters have occasionally hurled firecrackers at troops and on Saturday carried bows and arrows, they remain vastly outgunned and have shown commitment to methods of nonviolent civil disobedience.

Those calls were echoed by others. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was shocked by the killings of civilians, including children, and a group of defense chiefs from 12 countries also condemned the violence.

U.N. Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said: The shameful, cowardly, brutal actions of the military and police  who have been filmed shooting at protesters as they flee, and who have not even spared young children  must be halted immediately.

Its still not clear what action is possible  or how quick it could be. The U.N. Security Council has not advocated concerted action against the junta, such as a ban on selling it arms.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30)  Celebrity couple Ellen Adarna and Derek Ramsay are engaged.

The actress surprised her Instagram followers on Tuesday as she posted a series of photos of Ramsay's proposal with the caption "Game Over."

In one of the snaps, Ramsay kissed an emotional Adarna on the forehead, with a "Will You Marry Me" sign on the background. Adarna also flaunted her engagement ring.

Fellow celebrities congratulated the soon-to-be husband and wife. Adarna has 3.9 million followers on Instagram, but the comments section was limited.

The couple confirmed their relationship in February after weeks of dating rumors.

Since then, they have been sharing intimate photos on social media, and clapping back at bashers.

Ramsay announced his breakup with actress Andrea Torres in November 2020. Adarna was previously in a relationship with actor John Lloyd Cruz, with whom she has a son.
South Africa: Zulu embarks on GBV, youth development outreach programme

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu is set to a conduct follow -up programme on youth development and gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.

The two-day programme which gets underway today, follows a 2020 visit that formed part of the 365 Days of Action Against GBVF, with specific focus on areas identified as hotspots across the country.

This is in line with Human Rights Month that is celebrated in the country under theme The year of Charlotte Maxeke: promoting human rights in the Age of COVID-19.

In a statement ahead of the start of the programme on Tuesday, the Department of Social Development (DSD) said the aim of the outreach is to mobilise young people to play their part as agents of change. This is in promoting a culture of respect for human rights, gender equality and prevention of gender-based violence, which has reached epidemic proportions in South Africa.

The most recent crime statistics released by the South African Police Service (October-December 2020) revealed a 5% increase in reported sexual offences in the midst of COVID-19 national lockdown. Part of Zulus outreach will include interaction with local police to get a briefing on police response at Plessislaer, which is one of the seven GBVF hotspots in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

The aim of the interaction is to support and encourage police who are in the frontline of the criminal justice system to play their part in prevention and response measures and better serve the needs of victims/survivors, the department said.

Zulu is a member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to expedite the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF (2019-2024).

The DSD is responsible for Pillar 4 of the NSP: response, care, support, healing and empowerment of victims/survivors.

The Minister is set to host a dialogue in Howick with young women living and working on farms.

She will also launch the Umzansi Youth in Business Digital HIV and Resource Centres in Zayeka, Sweetwaters. The Minister will also attend a commemoration of the International Social Work Day at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall.

Later in the day the Minister will host a bonfire conversation with youth and representatives of youth organisations in uMgungundlovu District Municipality at Ascott Inn, Pitermaritzburg.

The second day of the outreach programme on Wednesday, will include a 10km Walk Against GBVF and Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of Nelson Mandelas 1961 Address to the All-in Africa Conference. It will take place at Plessislaer Hall.

Zulu will also attend an interaction with police management on the response to GBVF; and attend a women empowerment initiative at the Tatham Art Gallery.

The Ministers programme will end with a visit to KhanyiTex and ribbon cutting for an Early Childhood Development centre benefiting factory employees children at Coveway Industrial Park in Elangeni, Hammarsdale.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
On Wednesday, Jersey Mikes Subs shops across Alabama, like other stores in the chain, will donate 100% of their receipts to local charities. Heres who the recipients are.

Note: Thats 100% of sales, not 100% of profits or a dollar per sub. March 31 will be the chains 11th annual Day of Giving and based on past experience it estimates the total across nearly 2,000 restaurants to approach $8 million.

According to information released by the company, Alabama beneficiaries are:

Auburn/Opelika: Storybook Farm, a nonprofit that seeks to empower children through equine-assisted activities, canine companionship and exploration in nature.

Birmingham area and Cullman: Make-A-Wish Alabama

Dothan: Boys & Girls Club of the Wiregrass

Huntsville/Madison area: Heart of the Valley YMCA. The organization has said that the money will go to the SPLASH swim lesson program, which provides free or low-cost swim lessons to children from under-resourced households as well as free swim education to every third-grader in Madison public schools.

Mobile area: Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama

Prattville/Montgomery: Childrens Harbor, which provides children with serious illnesses and their families a place to be themselves  to have fun and relax  while also receiving no-cost services that make life a bit easier for the whole family.

Throughout the month, stores in the chain have encouraged patrons to make additional donations, which will be passed on to the designated recipients along with Wednesdays receipts.
The determination to the question referred to the Supreme Court by the High Court of The Gambia on whether or not a former member of the AFPRC junta can be tried, has renewed hopes that Yahya Jammeh, Edward Singhateh, Sana Sabally and Yankuba Touray could be tried for crimes they committed, despite the immunity provisions inserted in the 1997 Constitution.

The Supreme Court, presided over by the Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow on the 27th January 2021 found that "... Yankuba Touray is not entitled to Constitutional immunity from prosecution for alleged murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay pursuant to paragraph 13(1) (4) and (5) of the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia."

"Paragraph 13(1), Chapter 4, as well as the preamble (of the 1997 Constitution) thereto are contained in the same enactment. They were enacted simultaneously. They must therefore be read together... The general provision of paragraph 13 must be made subject to the specific Constitutional commitments to accountability, to justice and to the enforcement of the human rights provisions and to providing relief and remedy and accountability for the violations. To do otherwise would be to give free reign to impunity, contrary to the national commitment to justice and accountability which is enshrined in the Constitution," CJ argued.

The issue of whether or not Yankuba Touray enjoyed amnesty for the said crime was a matter that came before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh during the trial at the High Court since 2020. On the 12th of October 2020, defence lawyer of Mr. Touray, Mr. A. Sissohor, applied to the High Court urging it to discharge the accused on the grounds that as a "junta member of the AFPRC from 1994 to 1997" and pursuant to paragraphs of Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, enjoys immunity from prosecution.

Yankuba Touray had been adversely mentioned by several witnesses at the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) for alleged involvement in atrocities during the former regime. One of them is the murder of the junta's second Finance Minister Ousman Koro Ceesay, whose body was found burnt with his official car.

Appearing before the TRRC in June 2019, Mr. Touray defied instructions to cooperate with the Commission and refused to testify before it. TRRC Chairman Dr. Lamin Sise, called for Touray's arrest after he declined a second chance to take an oath and testify before the commission.

Touray told the TRRC he would not testify because he had immunity from prosecution for any crimes he was alleged to have committed. He was, however, arrested by the Attorney General's office amidst public outcry that nearly caused his lynching by a group of mob that converged on the TRRC sitting venue and at the Kairaba Station where he was briefly detained.

The Supreme Court, having considered both the oral and written submissions of both parties (the state and Yanks), and an Amis Curiae admitted by the Court, ruled that Yankuba Touray is not entitled to Constitutional immunity from prosecution for the murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay.

The said paragraph in question had even been amended by the Supreme Court but never reflected in the reprinted version of the Constitution. Hence an accurate version was stated in the decision as thus:

"The member of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council... shall be liable either jointly or severally for any act or omission in the performance of their official duties during the administration of the... Council."

The court granted a group of human rights lawyers, Mr. Gaye Sowe, Neneh M.C. Cham, Salieu Taal and Abdoulie Fatty acting as Amicus Curiae without objection from both parties. This is the first time the Supreme Court granted such an Amis Curiae - known as "a friend of the court."

Mr. Sowe, Faal, Fatty and Ms. Cham appeared before the Supreme Court with strong interest in or views on the subject matter of immunity from prosecution claims by Yankuba Touray, but not a party to the action. They petitioned the court for permission to file a brief. Such amicus curiae briefs are commonly filed in appeals concerning matters of a broad public interest; e.g., civil rights cases.

However, even where the 1997 Constitution gives immunity to the AFPRC members, the Supreme Court said The Gambia is still obligated by international treaties, laws and regulations it is a part of, whether domesticated or not.

"The African (Banjul) Charter on Human and People's Rights has, however, a special place within this body of international human rights law... the Judicial Council of the Privy Council held that whilst unincorporated treaties cannot change the law of the land or have any effect on citizens and duties in common or Statute law... [that] they might have an indirect effect upon the construction of statuses or might give rise to a legitimate expectation by citizens that the government, in its acts affecting them, would observe the terms of the treaty."

According to Chief Justice Hassan Jallow, the Supreme Court found that the Africa (Banjul) Charter on Human and People's Rights, whose negotiation and adoption was spearheaded by The Gambia as Africa's premier human rights instrument officially named "the Banjul Charter" in recognition of such roles played by The Gambia.

In its elaboration, an instrument ratified by the government and legislature of The Gambia, and with Gambia hosting the Commission created and mandated by the Charter to investigate human rights violations within and by state parties, cannot, despite not having been incorporated into law, be regarded as totally relevant to the Gambia legal system.

Therefore, the Supreme Court, given the aforementioned, holds that ratification of the African Charter of Human and People's Rights by The Gambia creates a legitimate expectation amongst people in The Gambia that The Gambia state will respect its provisions. Thus the court has a duty to interpret and apply Gambian law in a manner that does not undermine that legitimate expectation but to interpret our laws in a manner consistent with the obligations of the Gambia under the Charter, and of decisions of judicial or quasi judicial bodies established by the Charter.

About the paragraph 13(1) of the Second Schedule of the Constitution of The Gambia, Justice Jallow said the 1997 version of the clause is broadly cast as an immunity clause to shield the members of the then AFPRC, its Ministers and appointees from liability and accountability for any acts and omissions in the performance of their duties during the administration of the said AFPRC.

"Paragraph 13(1) which has been heavily relied upon in the submission for the immunity of the accused does not provide any blanket or unqualified immunity it seeks to provide... .

Beyond that, there is nothing on record or claim of any link between the alleged murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay in respect of which of the accused is claiming immunity against prosecution... " it added.

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Justice Jallow further read that in the preamble of the Constitution, "We the people of the Gambia" affirmed the will and resolve for gold governance and a just a secure and prosperous society. We pronounced the Constitution as providing for fundamental law, which affirms our commitment to freedom, justice probity and accountability. We made these and the other declarations of the preamble in the name of God, the Almighty.

He said it should be noted that several entrenched provisions do not provide from prosecution. The right to liberty and security of the person are duly guaranteed, making it sacrosanct that "No person shall be subject to torture or inhuman, degrading punishment or other treatment (Sec S)".

"The court's declaration on the Gambian Law on the subject is very much reflective of and supported by the international legal regime on the protection of fundamental rights and freedom," he explained.

For the chairperson of the Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations, the Supreme Court judgement sends a strong message to Yahya Jammeh and his junta members that common sense laws take precedence over self-perpetuating, manipulation of the country's legal system.

"I think Yahya Jammeh would now know that he would have his day in court. One day, as far as accountability measures are concerned, victims are assured that justice will prevail at the end... Yankuba Touray, including his junta colleagues like Jammeh and others who bear greatest responsibilities in atrocities committed during the AFPRC and APRC brutal dictatorship would have to face the law and the victims."
on Tuesday witnessed



2,220 COVID-19 cases, taking the state's tally to 3,05,338, while the death toll increased by 10 and the recovery count by 1,988, an official said.

The state's toll stands at 4,510, and the number of people discharged is 2,88,565, leaving it with 12,263 active cases, including 147 critical patients, he added.

"Ahmedabad reported five deaths, Surat four, and Vadodara one. Surat led with 644 new cases, followed by Ahmedabad with 613, Vadodara 257, Rajkot 207 among other districts," the official informed.

A state government release said 53,89,349 people had been vaccinated so far, including 1,93,968 on Tuesday, while 6,43,855 beneficiaries have also received the seconddose.

In Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, the COVID-19 tally rose to 3,619, leaving the UT with 169 active cases as 3,448 people have recovered and two patients have died.

Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 3,05,338, new cases 2,220, death toll 4,510, discharged 2,88,565, active cases 12,263, people tested so far - figures not released.

(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.)
SwRI to develop AI for integrated corridor management traffic solutions for Tennessee DOT

SAN ANTONIO - March 30, 2021 - Southwest Research Institute, in collaboration with Vanderbilt University, is developing machine learning algorithms to help the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) coordinate traffic management and incident response along portions of Interstate 24 in the rapidly growing Nashville region.

The project will use artificial intelligence to enhance an integrated corridor management (ICM) system, using software and systems to promote smart mobility and improve collaboration among various transportation agencies.

"SwRI's ICM solutions fuse data across freeways, surface streets and transit systems to help balance traffic flow and improve performance of the entire corridor," said Samantha Blaisdell, a program manager at SwRI.

SwRI's Intelligent Systems Division and Vanderbilt University will develop an Artificial Intelligence-based ICM Decision Support System (DSS) through a TDOT grant funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Integrated corridor management is making its way out of the laboratory and hitting the road following two decades of research led by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). ICM systems manage freeways and arterial roadways with dynamic lane control, speed harmonization, traffic signal control, ramp metering, demand management and other strategies. Deployment, however, has been limited by reliance on conventional traffic simulation modeling, which can be cost prohibitive due to the time and resources required to develop and maintain traffic models.

The project will use artificial intelligence in the place of simulation models to learn from and mimic operator behavior and decision making. This will enable quicker accident response and mitigation, rerouting traffic around problem areas quickly and efficiently, and ensuring state and local agency collaboration.

"SwRI's TDOT research aims to overcome the roadblocks of ICM traffic modeling by using artificial intelligence algorithms to speed up the analysis of traffic," said Clay Weston, an SwRI project manager leading the project. "After training the system using traffic patterns, the algorithms will be able to recommend alternative routes in real-time, taking advantage of high-capacity urban roads and surface streets."

The SwRI-led decision tool will have several applications, such as traffic signal coordination on underutilized roads to ease congestion on highways. State transportation operations staff will use the decision tool to evaluate and recommend traffic management strategies for real-time diversion routing. Using a web interface, the DSS will integrate into the state's management center, the public agency owned ActiveITS and other regional intelligent transportation systems (ITS).

The project is part of a bigger TDOT initiative known as the I-24 Smart Corridor, a 28-mile stretch of Interstate 24 with corresponding arterial roadways in the municipalities of Nashville, La Verne, Smyrna, and Murfreesboro. In addition to improving coordination, the ICM DSS tool will help meet I-24 Smart Corridor project goals to increase travel time reliability and multimodal mobility while reducing congestion associated with incidents such as collisions.

"Integrated corridor management is gaining interest as the ITS community deploys smart mobility solutions to solve old congestion problems using new technology, especially when investments in physical infrastructure may not be feasible," said Blaisdell. "We are excited to be part of this evolution with the forward-looking ITS professionals at TDOT."

###

SwRI is a leader in development of intelligent transportation systems and machine learning technologies with software deployments at transportation agencies across the United States.

For more information, visit https:/ / icm. swri. org .

YouTube link: https:/ / www. youtube. com/ watch?v= 2Rm1xIeUL4k

Release url: https:/ / www. swri. org/ press-release/ swri-develop-ai-based-integrated-corridor-management-traffic-solutions-tennessee-dot?utm_source= EA!&utm_medium= Distribution&utm_campaign= TDOT-ICM-PR

Client service link: https:/ / www. swri. org/ industry/ intelligent-transportation-systems/ integrated-corridor-management?utm_source= EA!&utm_medium= SwRI&utm_campaign= TDOT-ICM-PR

This story has been published on: 2021-03-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
BOSTON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Simply Business, Inc. a digital insurance agency offering small business owners access to top insurance providers, has launched its first national advertising campaign, "We Get You. We Got You." The campaign illustrates the value Simply Business brings to those small business owners who may not have the time or expertise to find the right insurance coverage.

"Our mission is to support small businesses by providing high-quality, affordable insurance solutions that best fit their needs," said David Summers, Group CEO at Simply Business. "This campaign shows how we're focused on making it easy for entrepreneurs to quickly review multiple insurance options and properly safeguard what they've worked so hard to build."

The campaign was developed with digital agency Goodway Group and Boston-based creative shop HeyLet'sGo . The work explains that entrepreneurs can depend on Simply Business's intuitive online platform to compare quotes from top insurance providers that can deliver coverage specific to a company's unique line of work.

"As a small business owner, you have a particular passion that led you to start your company," said HeyLet'sGo Creative Officer Tim Cawley. "We're not all insurance experts, and we wanted to illustrate how Simply Business can be a resource that eliminates the stress of finding the right policy. It was important to convey that Simply Business has small business owners covered so they can focus on managing and growing their businesses."

The Simply Business campaign will run on TV and radio in addition to a variety of digital media.

"Our strategy is to reach a niche audience of small business owners in the home services, professional services and health and well-being industries in a way that speaks directly to them, right where they are," said Jill Puerto, Director of Business Strategy and Development at Goodway Group.

To see the ads, please visit the Simply Business YouTube channel .

About Simply Business

Simply Business is changing the way small business owners find business insurance by offering customers tailored insurance coverage online. The company began in the United Kingdom and expanded to the United States in 2017, naming Boston home. With over 750,000 customers globally, Simply Business has become a leader in the space through its commitment to a customer-first model, focusing heavily on value, choice and coverage.

Follow Simply Business on Facebook and LinkedIn .

Simply Business Contact:

Jackie Dunn

201-919-1056

[email protected]

HeyLet'sGo Contact:

Lisa Gapinske

857-317-6193

[email protected]

Goodway Group Contact:

Kite Hill PR for Goodway Group

Rachel Wyncoop

845-901-1349

[email protected]

SOURCE Simply Business

Related Links

simplybusiness.com



A small plane crash-landed Tuesday in a Warren County field after the pilot reported engine trouble, according to officials.

The pilot was the only person aboard the single-engine Cessna 150, which touched down at 2:30 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement, citing a preliminary report.

New Jersey State Police arrived to find the male pilot walking around and uninjured, Sgt. Philip Curry said. Authorities were not immediately identifying the pilot.

It occurred in the area of Jones Lane and Millbrook Road in Hardwick Township, police said.

The FAA said it was investigating.

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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
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Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2021) - TrustBIX Inc. (TSXV: TBIX) ("TrustBIX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it signed on March 30 2021 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hong Kong-based InnoBlock Technology Limited ("InnoBlock") where both parties will work on integrating their respective technology platforms to support supply chain traceability opportunities in a variety of markets in Asia.

InnoBlock has developed a track-and-trace blockchain platform called TT Chain based on the Hyperledger fabric. This platform will interact with the Company's BIX Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform and provide customers with immutable records of attributes associated with products shipped through the supply chain, customized disclosure management through permissions and configurations, and support for labelling of retail products through creation of QR codes which, when accessed by the customer, reference key attributes about the products sold.

Initial work by TrustBIX and InnoBlock will support the creation of a premium beef supply chain from Canada to Asia, building on the Company's previous press release announcements from November 2020.

"We are thrilled to be working with a partner that brings both great technology expertise and connections in Asia," said Hubert Lau, TrustBIX CEO. "This collaboration will reduce time-to-market and deliver enhanced capabilities in our solution."

"InnoBlock is delighted to partner with TrustBIX to make TT Chain a global end-to-end traceability platform. We are very excited to bring blockchain technology to the supply chain industry to increase transparency and build consumer and participant trust," says Kevin Ng, CEO of InnoBlock.

The MoU has an initial twelve-month term but is renewable.

About InnoBlock Technology Limited

InnoBlock, a member company of Incu-Tech Programme under Hong Kong Science and Technology Park and I&T supplier of the Smart Government Innovation Lab under Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), is a company with the vision to implement blockchain technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to increase efficiency and transparency in various industries. The InnoBlock team has a vast amount of experience working with blockchain technology and AI, making them well-versed with its different applications and optimization methods. The three main domains we tackle are supply chain management, cybersecurity, and asset tokenization. For more information, please visit www.innoblocktech.com and follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innoblocktech/

About TrustBIX (TSXV: TBIX)

As an innovative leader, TrustBIX provides agri-food traceability. By addressing consumer and agri-food business demands, the Company has a goal to become the most trusted and largest source of third-party food traceability and sustainability information globally - Gate to Plate. TrustBIX Inc.'s focus is to create a world where we trust more, waste less and reward sustainable behaviour. The Company's proprietary platform, BIX (Business infoXchange System), is designed to create trust without compromising privacy through innovative use of data and technology. Extensive R&D has allowed TrustBIX to create a new blockchain-derived technology to complement its mature and proven traceability systems. By leveraging BIX and its unique use of incentive solutions, the Company can deliver independent validation of food provenance and sustainable production practices within the supply chain. ViewTrak Technologies Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, provides a suite of hardware and software solutions to the livestock industry in Canada, United States, Mexico and China, such as Auction Master Pro, Market Master, Feedlot Solutions and pork grading probes. For more information, visit www.trustbix.com, or follow us on Twitter twitter.com/@TrustBIX_Inc, Facebook at www.facebook.com/BIXSco, or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bixsco-inc-/.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking information and reflects the Company's present assumptions regarding future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, levels of activity, performance, and/or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "propose", "anticipate", "believe", "forecast", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions used by any of the Company's management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Company's internal projections, expectations, future growth, performance and business prospects and opportunities and are based on information currently available to the Company. Since they relate to the Company's current views with respect to future events, they are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments except as required by applicable securities legislation, regulations or policies.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Hubert Lau

President and CEO

Telephone: (780) 456-2207

Email: info@trustbix.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78978
Humans are creating or exacerbating the environmental conditions that could lead to further pandemics, new University of Sydney research finds.

Modelling from the Sydney School of Veterinary Science suggests pressure on ecosystems, climate change and economic development are key factors associated with the diversification of pathogens (disease-causing agents, like viruses and bacteria). This has potential to lead to disease outbreaks.

The research, by Dr Balbir B Singh, Professor Michael Ward, and Associate Professor Navneet Dhand, is published in the international journal, Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.

They found a greater diversity of zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted between animals and humans) in higher income countries with larger land areas, more dense human populations, and greater forest coverage.

The study also confirms increasing population growth and density are major drivers in the emergence of zoonotic diseases. The global human population has increased from about 1.6 billion in 1900 to about 7.8 billion today, putting pressure on ecosystems.

Associate Professor Dhand said: "As the human population increases, so does the demand for housing. To meet this demand, humans are encroaching on wild habitats. This increases interactions between wildlife, domestic animals and human beings which increases the potential for bugs to jump from animals to humans."

"To date, such disease models have been limited, and we continue to be frustrated in understanding why diseases continue to emerge," said Professor Ward, an infectious diseases expert.

"This information can help inform disease mitigation and may prevent the next COVID-19."

Other zoonotic diseases that have recently devastated human populations include SARS, avian (H5N1) and swine (H1N1) flu, Ebola and Nipah - a bat-borne virus.

Factors predicting disease

The researchers discovered country-level factors predicting three categories of disease: zoonotic, emerging (newly discovered diseases, or those diseases that have increased in occurrence or occurred in new locations), and human.

Zoonotic diseases: land area, human population density, and area of forest. Areas with high zoonotic disease diversity include Europe, North America, Latin America, Australia, and China.

Emerging diseases: land area, human population density and the human development index. Areas with high emerging disease diversity include Europe, North America,

Human diseases: high per capita health expenditure, mean annual temperature, land area, human population density, human development index and rainfall. Areas with high human disease diversity include North America, Latin America, China and India.

"Countries within a longitude of -50 to -100 like Brazil, developed countries like United States and dense countries such as India were predicted to have a greater diversity of emerging diseases," Professor Ward said.

The researchers also noted weather variables, such as temperature and rainfall, could influence the diversity of human diseases. At warmer temperatures, there tend to be more emerging pathogens.

The analyses demonstrate that weather variables (temperature and rainfall) have the potential to influence pathogen diversity These factors combined confirm human development - including human-influenced climate change - not only damages our environment but is responsible for the emergence of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19.

Using data to help prevent outbreaks

"Our analysis suggests sustainable development is not only critical to maintaining ecosystems and slowing climate change; it can inform disease control, mitigation, or prevention," Professor Ward said.

"Due to our use of national-level data, all countries could use these models to inform their public health policies and planning for future potential pandemics."

###

Methodology: The authors used 13,892 unique pathogen-country combinations and 49 socioeconomic and environmental variables to develop this model. Information from 190 countries was analysed using statistical models to identify drivers for emerging and zoonotic diseases.

Declaration: The authors would like to thank the Australian Government's Department of Education and Training for awarding a 2018 Endeavour Research Fellowship to the primary author of this research.

The authors acknowledge the data relied for this research is incomplete. Reasons include underreporting of some previously known and undiscovered pathogens, particularly in less developed countries. For some of the predictor variables, the latest data available had missing values because recent data had not been updated.
Shade uses offensive attack to take down Shanksville in D5-A semis

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DENVER, March 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cin7, a pioneer in cloud-based inventory management software (IMS), announces the release of B2B Online Stores, helping companies to showcase their wholesale products with B2B pricing in beautifully laid out, easily searchable catalogs. Now their B2B customers will find what they need, buy more, and place orders in just a few clicks. It's all fully integrated with their inventory and order workflows, eliminating traditional admin work and giving time back to sell more.

"Our B2B Online Stores are designed for wholesalers to sell more, sell faster and with more efficiency," says Cin7 CEO David Leach. "Product Sellers can increase their wholesale distribution sales, gain efficiencies from automation, and build stronger B2B customer relationships."

As part of every Cin7 plan, B2B Online Stores come with inventory management, real-time stock levels, order workflows and product and customer data built in, allowing product companies to quickly set up catalogs with customer-specific pricing and products, with no integration or development work required. Their customers can easily browse, re-order and purchase in bulk, with orders going to a selected branch for streamlined fulfillment, reducing the time companies have to spend processing every routine or repeat order.

"For us, the manual entry was the problem, and that's what Cin7's B2B Online Store has stopped, and it's definitely time saved," says Daniel David, of homeware brand KAS Australia. "It's a brilliant little platform that allows business customers to go on a website, order what they want and...happy days."

B2B Online Stores are highly configurable, making it simple to showcase different sets of products to different customers, and to have orders fulfilled from a specific warehouse or transferred to an integrated 3PL warehouse.

For more details, visit our website.

About Cin7 Cin7's inventory and order management platform connects more than 700 ecommerce platforms, online marketplaces, 3PL warehouses, and native EDIs in one solution, helping retailers and product sellers quickly and efficiently get their products to customers wherever they are, from any channel. Cin7 was founded in New Zealand and supports product sellers in 25 countries. In early 2020, Cin7 established a significant US presence to serve its growing customer base and accelerate growth in the North American market. Every month, millions of orders flow through the platform, representing over a billion dollars of product sales, as Cin7 helps over 6,000 growing brands sell more products, to more customers, in more places.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cin7-releases-advanced-b2b-online-stores-to-help-product-sellers-grow-sales-faster-and-improve-efficiency-301257998.html

SOURCE Cin7
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 27)  The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday listed ways to spot fake vaccines following reports that counterfeit COVID-19 shots were illegally distributed in other countries such as Mexico.

Dr. Oscar Gutierrez, deputy director general for Field Regulatory Operations at the FDA, admitted that sometimes, a laboratory test is the only way to identify the difference between a fake and authentic vaccine. But he enumerated tips to help people identify fake shots.

-It is not correctly labeled or has no label at all

-There is no expiration date indicated

-It does not contain information on how to store the product

-The packaging looks poorly constructed or appears to have been altered

-There are spelling or grammatical errors on the packaging or instructions on how to use the shot

-Vials are dirty or have scratches

-Cap has a dent or is broken

-Rubber seals are punctured

-Foreign materials are found in the vial

Gutierrez warned that vaccines bought from unauthorized sources can lead to infection, severe disease, permanent disability or death.

The warning came after the World Health Organization reported that counterfeit Pfizers COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to people outside the authorized vaccination programs in Mexico. WHO added the fake Pfizer shots may still be in circulation in the region.

Gutierrez also said ampules of fake COVID-19 vaccines were seized in a warehouse in South Africa.

The FDA official said they are intensifying their surveillance efforts to make sure that no fake COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed in the Philippines.

Four COVID-19 vaccines are authorized for emergency use locally  the ones made by Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, and Gamaleya. They cannot be sold in clinics, hospitals, or drug outlets. They are given for free through the COVID-19 vaccination program of the government.
Lucknow, March 30 : More than one thousand primary schools in Uttar Pradesh are surpassing convent schools in terms of basic facilities and infrastructure.

The Yogi Adityanath government's 'Operation Kayakalp' that is aimed at transforming the primary schools of the state, has started yielding results.

According to the government spokesman, the state government has increased the basic facilities for students in 1.39 lakh council schools that now have smart classrooms, playgrounds, toilets, drinking water and libraries.

Out of these, over one thousand schools have matched the facilities available in private convent schools.

Some of these schools include Lucknow's primary school in Narhi, schools in Sitapur's Hilalpur, Barabanki's primary school in Hirapur and Hardoi's primary school in Mahoney.

After the state government's initiative, the number of students in government schools has also increased rapidly. Parents are enrolling their children in council schools instead of choosing expensive private schools.

Vandana Srivastava, a teacher in-charge of primary school in Hirapur, Barabanki, says that her school counts among the best schools in the block.

"We have received the recognition from the government. There is a smart class, beautiful classrooms, library for children. The most important thing is that school children now speak English. The medium of education in this school is English," she said.

At present, there are 12 to 15 schools in every district having facilities like convents.

In many districts -- 20 to 25 schools have been developed at par with private schools. About 10 schools in Hardoi, seven in Sitapur, six in Barabanki and 10 to 12 schools in Lucknow have same or better facilities than those in the private schools.
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ANZs retail banking boss Mark Hand says restrictions on home lending are not imminent but could be an option in slowing down sky-rocketing property prices.

The New Zealand government has introduced a number of reforms to slow surging property prices, including removing tax incentives for investors and forcing buyers to stump up bigger deposits. Meanwhile, the former head of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) Jeff Carmichael said earlier this month the regulator was likely considering credit curbs and could make an intervention in the next six to 12 months.

Mr Hand said the banking industry was not in active negotiations with APRA over any new rules, but said the situation could change if the regulator felt the need to cool down the fastest growth in house prices since 2003.

ANZ group executive Mark Hand says new rules to curb home lending would not be foreign for the bank. Credit:Paul Jeffers

I think they [APRA] will be responsible in whatever does come in, it will be intended to make sure the wrong people dont get into too much debt, Mr Hand said. Were not concerned about what might happen, but when it comes along, if it does, we will just respond to that.
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The fifth Brussels Conference of Syria's donors opened. At least US$ 10 billion are needed in 2021 to meet needs. At least 24 million people are in serious need, four more than last year. For Bishop Audio, a shared and global effort is needed.

Aleppo (AsiaNews)  The Syrian people is going through all sorts of difficulties in everyday life, which is why any initiative that can politically and economically unblocked the situation is a positive element, especially if it involves the international community, this according to Mgr Antoine Audo, Chaldean Bishop of Aleppo.

The prelate, who is a former chairman of Caritas Syria, spoke to AsiaNews while a donors conference got underway in Brussels (Belgium) sponsored by the United Nations.

In his view, a shared and global effort to get out of the Syrian crisis is needed, an international force that can stop groups that just want to continue the conflict for their own self-interest. This joint effort is part of the path indicated by Pope Francis, who recently renewed his appeal for the beloved and martyred nation.

Yesterday, the fifth Brussels Conference opened, involving donor countries under the auspices of the United Nations and the European Union. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the two-day event is held in a virtual format.

The leaders of more than 50 countries are taking part in the summit, along with representatives from 30 NGOs, financial institutions and humanitarian agencies.

The aim is to mobilize the international community in support of a comprehensive and credible political solution to the Syria conflict," the EU External Action Service said.

The financial target is at least US billion for 2021: US$ 4.2 billion in humanitarian aid and US$ 5.8 billion to help refugees and the countries in the region hosting them.

According to the latest figures, at least 24 million people in Syria (and the Middle East region) need humanitarian assistance and aid to survive. That is four million more than last year's estimates, the highest since the conflict began.

Syrias already precarious situation is compounded by the novel coronavirus pandemic, whose impact in terms of cases and deaths is far underestimated due to the lack of testing, tracking and effective data collection.

The international community cannot turn their backs on the refugees or their hosts. Refugees and their hosts must get nothing less than our unfaltering commitment, solidarity and support, said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. A failure to do so will be catastrophic for the people and the [Mideast] region.

From Aleppo, once the business hub of the country, Bishop Audo says that the country is still marked by embargoes and sanctions, which block the supply of electricity and oil, and caused a very sharp devaluation of the Syrian pound.

We feel a sense of isolation, at the human and business level, and increasing poverty. Before, a dollar was worth 50 pounds; today it is 4,000 pounds while salaries have remained the same. These figures show what the level of crisis and poverty can be. For Syrians, meat and fruit are a luxury that one can no longer eat.

Even here in the Bishop's House, fasting and poverty are a real thing, said the prelate. The situation is terrible, even though Syria is a rich nation, which is why it is necessary to find a political solution and look to the future.

In this context, the sense of community is even stronger, as evinced by the packed churches and the faithfuls massive participation in Palm Sunday celebrations.

Many followed the procession and, despite the difficulties, all the children wore their best clothes as a sign of hope. As a Church, we do everything to be present and bear witness to our commitment; we do not want more people to leave because of difficulties.

The UN commitment and the international conference are a good sign, not least because they show greater global involvement to solve the crisis and find an honourable and enforceable solution for everyone, at home and among regional allies.

As we say here, two conditions are needed to break the deadlock: an agreement between the United States and the Russians and a domestic pact between Syrian political and social forces.

Our country must find the courage to overcome the rigidity of certain positions, it is not possible to reason thinking about the Syria of 50 years ago. Now, the time has come to imagine the future.
A move for a class action by US shareholders against Finnish telecommunications equipment provider Nokia, accusing it of defrauding them by not revealing issues in integrating Alcatel-Lucent into its business and its readiness to be a 5G leader, has been thrown out of court.

US District Judge Andrew Carter dismissed the case with prejudice which means it cannot be litigated again, Reuters reported.

He said the main plaintiff, Clyde Waite, had not been able to show that Nokia had made any false or misleading statements.

The Finnish firm has not made any statement about the outcome in a Manhattan courtroom as yet.

The case was kicked off two years ago when Nokia indicated it had told regulators about "compliance issues" at Alcatel-Lucent which it acquired in 2016 for 15.6 billion (A$24 billion).

Lucent was the last end-to-end telecommunications firm in the US and its purchase by France-based Alcatel put paid to any American hopes of playing a role in the 5G market.

In October 2019, Nokia reported that profits would be lower and suspended a dividend, saying it needed to spend more to gain 5G market share.

The price of the firm's American depositary receipts fell by about 6% after the March revelation and a further 24% after the statement made in October.

The 5G market is dominated by China's Huawei, Sweden's Ericsson, Nokia and China's ZTE, with the first three companies holding most of the market.
TEACHERS at various schools countrywide are reportedly reporting for duty only to mark the pupils attendance registers, but are not conducting lessons as they continue piling pressure for better working conditions.

Teachers unions yesterday told NewsDay that the educators had resolved to sit-in after government refused to restore their salaries to the pre-October 2018 levels when they earned between US$520 and US$550.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure confirmed the alleged sit-in.

We dont want to pre-empt anything. This is what we said before the schools opened that the employer has to capacitate teachers so that they go back to work. However, the employer is reluctant to solve our problem and is treating individuals with coercion and intimidation. What is coming up is that teachers have decided to just log in and not work until they are capacitated, he said.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond said: The truth of the matter is that teachers are incapacitated. I urge the government to look into their plight and capacitate them so that they perform their duties in class.

But Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro dismissed the claim.

Teachers are engaged and are teaching in our schools. Learning is ongoing, we cant complain. We are grateful for their service and commitment while their grievances are being looked into, Ndoro said.

He added that government was confident that this time around they will not experience a surge in COVID-19 cases.

We have confidence in the vaccinations and that the set standards of procedures would ensure that the pandemic remains at a minimum in schools, Ndoro said during vaccination of Harare-based teachers at Wilkins Hospital.

He said the vaccination of teachers would nip the coronavirus in the bud, while deterring the onset of a third wave of COVID-19.

We are confident that we will not have a surge in cases of COVID-19 in our schools this time because of the vaccinations as well as the protocols in place.

Last term, there was chaos in schools as many students tested positive to COVID-19 prompting some of the schools to close early for fear of an escalation of the crisis. Last week, seven pupils at Prince Edward High School in Harare tested positive to the virus. Newsday
As India experiences a second wave of COVID-19 cases, only 25 per cent parents who participated in a national survey are willing to send their wards to school in April.

Findings of the survey, conducted by community social media platform LocalCircles, is sharply different from that of a similar survey conducted by the same platform in early February. The results of the earlier survey suggested that 67 per cent of the respondents (parents) were in favour of schools reopening as daily COVID cases in India had hit an all-time low of approximately 10,000 cases per day at that time.

Meanwhile, 58 per cent of parents participated in the current survey said "No" to offline classes. While 10 per cent of parents said that "schools for my children or grandchildren are shut in April for summer break", 7 per cent couldn't form a definite opinion. The poll in the survey received 9,687 responses.

The survey covered parents located in 272 districts of India. While 44 per cent of them were located in metros or Tier 1 districts, 28 per cent responses came from Tier 2 districts. Another 28 per cent of parents were located in Tier 3, 4, or rural districts.

ALSO READ: COVID-19: Centre asks states to formulate district-wise plans

LocalCircles also says 73 per cent parents want schools from the next session to be open as long as there are less than 100 active cases in their district. Asked about the criteria for re-opening physical schools, 29 per cent wanted "in-person schools be closed whenever active cases in a district exceed 100", 18 per cent wanted it to happen whenever active cases in a district exceed 200, and 7 per cent said such decision should be taken only if active cases in a district exceed 500. A 5 per cent wanted such a response if the number of active cases in the district exceed 1,000.

LocalCircles has submitted a letter to Anita Karwal, Secretary, Education, and Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, as the collective pulse of parents on opening of schools in April in light of second COVID-19 wave in India. The copies of the letter have been sent to Amit Shah, Minister, Home Affairs, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Minister, Education, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister, Health and Family Welfare, Rajiv Gauba, Cabinet Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Secretary, Home Affairs, and chief secretaries of all states and UTs. Sachin Taparia, Chairman and CEO, LocalCircles, said the findings of the survey will serve as the parents' collective feedback for the government to consider while deciding the school reopening approach for April-June 2021.

ALSO READ: COVID-19: CMIE bats for higher vaccination, says lockdown leads to job losses
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Update: The woman previously reported missing has been found and she is safe, according to a police spokesman.



STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD is asking for the publics help to located a woman reported missing from her home in Huguenot.

Marion Ajjan was seen on Monday at about 10 a.m. leaving her home in the vicinity of Lamont and Delmar avenues, according to a statement by the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

She was driving a silver Hyundai Elantra with New York license plate No. HUE6506 and is possibly in New Jersey, according to the police statement.

Police described Ajjan as standing about 53 tall and weighing about 150 pounds with a medium build. She has a light complexion, white hair and brown eyes.

The NYPD supplied a photograph of Ajjan to the media.
To the Editor:

Re On Trials Eve, Policing Vexes a Scarred City (front page, March 29):

Frustrated at the dearth of even basic data on police killing of civilians, we were heartened by its recent reframing as a public health and safety problem. This may be a model to address some of the incredibly complex issues that face cops on the beat.

Like the 18,000 police departments in the country, American medicine is very decentralized. Yet partnerships of hospitals and medical schools produce innovative research that yields superb evidence-based medical care.

Could police department/university partnerships be analogs to the hospital/medical school collaborations that have yielded such useful research? The parts of such a system are already in place. Police departments have embraced research and evidence-based policing. Universities bring an investigative culture and multiple relevant disciplines. These partnerships would provide a structure for national databases and large-scale research projects.

We believe that adding a network of strong police department/university partnerships would be a bold step moving American policing toward the enviable leadership in the world attained by American medicine.
Both neighboring states shut down their border crossings for foreign travellers in March 2020 following the outbreak of the pandemic. The Georgian-Armenian border has since remained open for only cargo shipments.

The Armenian government completely lifted its entry ban foreigners in January this year.

By contrast, Georgia still maintains most of its travel restrictions. It allows only the citizens of some countries, including Armenia, to enter the country by air after testing negative for COVID-19.

Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava said on Monday that her government is now considering reopening the countrys border crossings.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazian said last week that Yerevan is engaged in very active contacts with Tbilisi over the possible reopening of the Georgian-Armenian border.

Both sides are committed to solving this issue, Ayvazian told Armenian lawmakers. Obviously the pandemic is still having a negative impact. But there are also some technical problems. Im sure that they can be quickly resolved.

An Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson told RFE/RLs Armenian Service on Tuesday that the active contacts between the two countries are continuing. The official did not say when the Armenian-Georgian border could be reopened.

Mekhak Apresian, the head of the Armenian Tourism Federation, welcomed the possible border reopening. He said that it would boost the tourism sectors of both countries reeling from massive losses incurred as a result of the pandemic.

According to official statistics, the number of tourists visiting Armenia and Georgia plummeted by more than 80 percent last year.
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Since the 1980s, when it was planned, the river linking project has had two words attached to it  pending and devastating.

The project was pending because Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh could not agree to a water-sharing formula. It was devastating because villages, forests, river ecology stood to face havoc if the project came up.

The pending tag went when the Union Jal Shakti ministry facilitated a deal between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, both BJP-ruled states, for the project on March 22, World Water Day.

Devastating tag still remains.

Claims and counterclaims

Estimated to cost Rs 35,000 crore, the link will transfer surplus water from the river basin of the Ken to that of the Betwa. The upper Betwa basin faces water shortages. The project involves constructing the Daudhan dam and a canal linking the two rivers.

According to a government statement, it will irrigate 1.06 million hectares annually, provide drinking-water to about 6.2 million people, and generate 103 Mw.

The project will be of immense benefit to the water-starved region of Bundelkhand, which is dry, under-developed, and straddles both the states, it said.

The area houses the Panna tiger reserve, one of the prime breeding spots for tigers.





If a large dam comes up on the Ken, it will kill the river and the tiger reserve, said Manoj Misra, convener and head of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan.

The reserve is also home to endangered vulture populations and gharials. Many other rare and endangered species are found here. Several studies indicate the Ken has a unique geology. Some geologists have even called the river a geological marvel. According to Misra, rather than benefiting Bundelkhand, the project is designed to feed areas of the upper Betwa regions of Vidisha, Raisen and Bhopal.

It will rob Bundelkhand of its lifeline river.

According to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), close to 4,000 hectares will be submerged and 10 villages with nearly 1,585 families. The EIA has said the project would provide excess water to the Panna tiger reserve.

Environmentalists working in the area disagree.

Close to 9,000 hectares will get submerged because of the project and of that 6,000 hectares is in the tiger reserve. It will submerge the most critical breeding ground of tigers, said Siddharth Agarwal, river researcher and activist.

Agarwal walked along the River Ken in 2018 to create a public record of the ecology of the river.

The project plans to build a dam in the upper Betwa basin, stop the water in upstream regions near it, and divert the water from the Ken to meet the deficit. The hitch is the Ken doesnt have surplus water. It even dried up during the last monsoon.

There is no data that says the Ken has excess water. Places from where water will come have less rainfall than where it will go. The Ken is part of the Ganga basin and is in the trans-boundary region. Therefore, the discharge data is not in the public domain, said Agarwal.

The government does not put out the discharge data of trans-boundary rivers on grounds of security.

Weak legal ground

Apart from the environment and ecological challenges, the link itself is on weak legal grounds. The three key clearances -- forest, environment, and wildlife -- are missing.

The project doesnt have the final forest clearance (FC). The first-stage FC is on conditions that cannot be fulfilled because the Forest Advisory Committee suggested that the power plant component should be kept out of the forest/wildlife area. This entails restructuring the project and hence a fresh cost-benefit analysis needs to be done. The wildlife clearance has been challenged by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) under the Supreme Court, and the environment clearance also stands challenged before the Green Tribunal, said environment and water expert Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP).

The CEC in 2019 had raised questions on the need and viability of the link. It noted: The projection of availability of surplus water in the Ken basin for transfer to the Betwa basin without first exhausting possibilities for the development of irrigation facilities in the upper Ken basin appears to be premature particularly considering that an investment of ~280 billion (~28,000 crore) of public fund is involved.

Way forward

Thakkar said the project would need a fresh detailed report and a landscape management plan.

Several experts are of the view that local irrigation means should be exhausted before the government embarks on such a mammoth project.

Agarwal points to two local irrigation programmes -- Apna taalab abhiyan in Banda by Pushpendra Bhai and Awartansheel Kheti by Prem Singh. The two, when combined, propagate the idea rainwater should be harvested and organic farming practised. This entails creating lakes and producing local cereals, crops, and fruit.
A new-build office in Belfast city centre has been sold for 87m in the biggest ever office sale in Northern Ireland.

Property developer Oakland Holdings said it had sold the freehold of Merchant Square in Belfast to an unidentified Middle Eastern investor.

Its also one of the biggest regional office deals to close in the UK since the Covid-19 pandemic, which has ushered in an era of home-working and predictions of less use of offices in future.

The nine-floor building at Wellington Place had been described as a 70m investment by Oakland Holdings, which is led by managing director Gareth Graham.

Its already full let to business advisory firm PwC  in Northern Irelands biggest office letting  but had been built speculatively by Oakland with no tenant secured in advance.

Merchant Square will be PwCs biggest office outside London, with space for 3,000 staff.

Guy Hollis of Oakland Holdings said: We are proud to have created one of the biggest commercial property schemes in Northern Ireland.

Five years ago, Merchant Square was a concept for a quality speculative building which reflected the demand for office space in Belfast.

Now built and fully let, it has attracted interest from global investors. Merchant Square is an indication of what Belfast can achieve.

Noel Lander, director at JLL, said: The landmark sale of Merchant Square demonstrates the investor appetite for best in class regional offices with secure income streams and strong environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) credentials.

Oakland was advised by JLL, A&L Goodbody and KPMG. The purchaser was advised by SPS Investment, King & Spalding International LLP, TLT LLP and BDO LLP.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph earlier this year, Kevin MacAllister, PwC Northern Ireland regional market lead, said its move into the new offices  expected later this year  coincided with a new era in work. Undoubtedly the world of working and how we deliver professional services will change, but its not either/or, office or home working. Well be into a much more blended, flexible working regime.

Weve been developing it quite closely with our people, and quite a significant part of the floor space will be a wellbeing area. Well be providing things like onsite healthcare with GP services, yoga classes  anything that has a wellbeing angle to it.

He added: Were trying to bridge the gap between home and office and sort of blur the lines a little bit, so you make an office an extension of home.

The NI Civil Service has said its consulting with trade unions on a future remote working policy for its staff of 23,000.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: March 30 2021

First put into service in 1987 and retired in 2019, Ladder 5211 - a Seagrave Tiller truck - has answered countless alarms over the years.

Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D - Glen Cove) proudly joined leaders of the Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department, Glen Cove Mayor Timothy Tenke, members of the Glen Cove City Council and the community to celebrate the service of the Departments storied Ladder 5211 truck at a grand sendoff ahead of its move to Ireland.

Ladder 5211 received a Nassau County Police Department motorcycle escort, accompanied by the Glen Cove Fire Department and members of the Nassau County Fire Riders Motorcycle Club, to the Queens County line, where it was transferred to the care of the NYPD en route to the port.

First put into service in 1987 and retired in 2019, Ladder 5211 - a Seagrave Tiller truck - has answered countless alarms and played an instrumental role in the rescue of numerous residents during a house fire at 167 Glen Cove Avenue. The truck was also deployed in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City.

Officials said that the truck, which was purchased at auction by a private collector that lives in Dublin, Ireland, will be featured at charitable events and will serve a role in an upcoming 20-year tribute to the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Before departing Glen Cove for the final time, Ladder 5211 received one final touch - a decal across the windshield honoring the memory of the FDNY hero Terry Farrell - a Dix Hills, Long Island resident who was one of the 343 FDNY members who perished while responding to the World Trade Center.

The story of Glen Cove FDs Ladder 5211s embodies the spirit of selfless, courageous service that makes volunteer firefighters shining stars in Nassau County and across Long Island, Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton said. I am delighted that, after more than three decades of faithful service to the residents of Glen Cove, Ladder 5211 will continue to make an impact in Ireland through a new philanthropic mission.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-30 04:45:16|Editor: huaxia

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Palestinians prepare to unload a shipment of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by China, in front of the building of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, March 29, 2021. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)



China handed over 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Palestine on Monday, the largest single donation Palestine has received so far. It is "China's latest move to implement the solemn commitment by Chinese President Xi Jinping to provide COVID-19 vaccines as a global public good."

RAMALLAH, March 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday handed over a batch of donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to Palestine to support its nationwide fight against the pandemic.



This is "(China's) latest move to implement both the important consensus reached between the two heads of state and the solemn commitment by Chinese President Xi Jinping to provide COVID-19 vaccines as a global public good," said Guo Wei, head of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, during the handover ceremony.

Head of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine Guo Wei speaks to media after signing the handover certificate with Palestinian Minister of Health Mai al-Kaila, at the building of Palestinian Ministry of Health, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, March 29, 2021. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)



China has been helping Palestine in its anti-coronavirus fight since the outbreak of the disease in the country in March last year. China has donated several batches of medical supplies to Palestine in 2020, and a Chinese team of medical experts was sent to Palestine last June to support its fight against the pandemic.

On March 21, Palestine launched a mass COVID-19 inoculation campaign in a bid to curb the fast spread of the virus across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Head of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine Guo Wei (L) and Palestinian Minister of Health Mai al-Kaila inspected a shipment of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine in front of the building of Palestinian Ministry of Health, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, March 29, 2021. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

The rapid arrival of the Chinese vaccines to help along the Palestinian inoculation campaign demonstrates the sincere friendship of the Chinese people toward the Palestinians, writing a new chapter of their joint fight against the pandemic, Guo said.

"This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Palestine. In this special year, China is ready to work with Palestine to meet challenges, build a community with a shared future for mankind and inject new content into the friendly Sino-Palestinian relationship," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila thanked the Chinese government and people for contributing to Palestine's vaccination campaign, noting the batch from China is the largest single donation of COVID-19 vaccines Palestine has received so far.

Palestinian Minister of Health Mai al-Kaila signs handover certificates of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by China, at the building of Palestinian Ministry of Health, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, March 29, 2021. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

"Palestine highly appreciates China's commitment to provide coronavirus vaccines as a global public good and its selfless assistance to Palestine and other developing countries with a responsible attitude and concrete measures," she said.

Palestine already approved China's Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use, according to the Health Ministry.

On Monday, Palestine recorded 1,786 new COVID-19 cases, 18 deaths and 1,181 recoveries in the past 24 hours. A total of 266,720 infections have been registered in Palestine so far. 
Not long ago, a low-profile program called Android One looked like it could be just the one-two punch Android needed.

Android One, like lots of Google initiatives, has had a long and winding history with plenty of twists and turns. When Android One first came into the picture in 2014, it was described as an effort to "make high-quality smartphones accessible to as many people as possible." The focus was squarely on bringing affordable phones with exceptional experiences to emerging markets  places like Pakistan and India, where it could be "hard for people" to "get their hands on a high-quality smartphone," as Google put it at the time.

But that was just the start of Google's Android One ambitions. Three years later, in 2017, Google expanded the program with the launch of Android One phones in places like Japan, Taiwan, and eventually the United States. The company changed its description of the effort from that original small-scale focus to the much broader vision of a "collaboration between Google and [its] partners to deliver a software experience designed by Google," with a guarantee of reasonably timely ongoing operating system updates and an experience that'd be free from all the bloat and shenanigans baked into so many Android products.

Sound familiar? It should. It's basically the same concept we see with Google's own self-made Pixel phones, only scaled down a bit and with other manufacturers involved. Or, to zoom back even further into Android nerdland, it's incredibly similar to what we used to see with Google's Nexus phones many moons ago  where Google would bring in other phone-makers to handle the hardware but then maintain complete control over the software, support, and overall user experience itself. (In the Nexus scenario, of course, the phones were branded as Google devices. But that surface-level distinction aside, the situation is almost eerily comparable.)

Over the last few years, Android One has grown more and more mature, with a lineup of impressively decent budget-level and even midrange devices made by the likes of Nokia, LG, Motorola, and a handful of other companies. Those phones have consistently been ahead of the pack when it comes to the ever-important area of Android upgrades, with post-sales support that puts most other options  including those that cost four to five times as much  to shame.

[Get fresh Googley insight in your inbox every Friday with JR's Android Intelligence newsletter. Exclusive extras await!]

Lately, though, something strange has been happening. The once-thriving Android One program seems to have quietly faded into an almost forgotten footnote. The pace of new devices showing up in the program's virtual shelves has slowed down to a trickle, and the phones that are still alive and kickin' within the Android One walls are failing to meet their one-time promises of fast and frequent software updates.

So what in the world is happening? I'm a curious creature, and I found myself scratching my wooly man-noggin to little result (aside from itch satiation) trying to figure it out. So I decided to dig a little deeper to see what I could find. And, well...

The Android One oddness

Let's start with the first front  the dearth of recent Android One devices and the apparent lack of attention Google is devoting to the program (a program for which it had previously promised to provide "major promotional dollars," according to a 2017 report).

All you've gotta do is look at Google's official Android One website to see the unavoidable signs that something unusual is afoot. Right under the top-of-page headline promising phones that are "secure, up-to-date, and easy to use" is a graphic showing the Nokia 5.3  a phone that was announced an entire year ago, last March, and is still running 2019's Android 10 software, nearly seven months after Android 11's release. Yeaaaaaaaaah. I'm no mathematician, but something sure doesn't seem to add up.

And the disconnect only gets even more blatant from there: That primary front-and-center graphic with the Nokia 5.3 actually describes the phone as having "the latest Android 10 operating system"  despite the fact that Android 10 hasn't been "the latest" Android version since last September. Um, right.

The other "latest phones" featured on the page aren't any better. One of the top devices shown on the Android One landing page, the Motorola One Action, came out at the end of October  in 2019. It also has yet to receive the now-seven-month-old Android 11 update, despite being part of the Android One program.

Motorola, for its part, seems to have mostly just moved on from its Android One focus. Confusingly, it's continued to release devices with that One branding as part of their titles  like last year's Motorola One Fusion and Motorola One Hyper  but it's seemingly reclaimed that branding as its own, without any of the Android One associations or promises.

So what about Nokia  the company that went all in with Android One and that I once labeled as the "unlikely new Android underdog"? I reached out to that company's media relations department multiple times over the past week to ask for an explanation on both its unprecedented failure to provide timely updates to its current crop of Android One phones and its sudden slowdown in new Android One device releases, and I've yet to receive any response.

What we can say is that first, Nokia's had some public struggles over the past months  with reports last February that the company could be "exploring strategic options," including a possible sale or merger. (Those reports were later shot down, but the fact that such talk is even out there is never a great sign.) Just this past Friday, the company's chief product officer and one of its most prominent public figures announced his departure  which may or may not have any direct connection to whatever's going on with all of this, but again, doesn't help with the perception of an organization that's adrift.

As for Google, I asked the company if there was anything it could share about whether Android One was still considered an active effort  and if so, what exactly was going on with (a) the considerable slowdown in new phones coming out within the Android One umbrella and (b) the apparent failure by practically every existing Android One device-maker to meet its timely software update promise in this latest upgrade cycle. In response, a company spokesperson sent me the following statement:

Android One is a living program that continues to grow with successful device launches. New phones that meet the elevated software requirements set by Google will be able to be part of the program in the future. And as before, these devices come with security protection integrated into every layer, ongoing updates, and a simple interface free of duplicate apps. While we have nothing to announce regarding the future of the Android One program today, we will continue to work with our partners to bring great Android devices to market.

I pressed a bit further and asked if there was anything more specific that could be said to explain the situation with all of the still-pending Android One software updates, some seven months after Android 11's release, as well as with the recent lull in new Android-One-associated device releases  but I haven't received any additional responses.

There is, of course, one perfectly logical possible explanation to all of this  a narrative that ties all the pieces together and certainly seems like a sensible answer to why Android One has gone from front and center to faded and forgotten. Rev up that beautiful mammal brain of yours: It's time to explore an all-too-plausible-seeming theory.

The bigger Android One picture

Stay with me for a sec, 'cause there's some important context we need to think through to set the stage for this sudsy soap-opera drama. Back when Android One first expanded from its initial "emerging market" focus, y'see, my favorite writer in the world  an extraordinarily handsome and humble fella  made some astute observations about how the program could be the brilliantly conceived missing piece to Google's grand Android puzzle.

Go, go, gadget quoting machine:

Android can remain open and available for manufacturers to customize as they wish  something that's been integral to the platform's success since the start. Customers can choose from a variety of styles and forms, as always, and each will offer its own unique set of advantages. But now, phone-seekers who want a Google-controlled vessel with all the benefits that approach provides will also have that as a fully realized, consumer-ready option.

Google already provided that same possibility with its own self-made Pixel phone, of course  but at the time, Google was selling only a single high-end (and high-priced, for that era) Pixel model. That meant the majority of phone buyers were never gonna get the Android experience Google clearly saw as being optimal  one that's cohesive and easy to use, that puts complementary Google services front and center, and that remains fresh and compelling for an extended period of time by way of reliable updates.

And that's where Android One came into play: By offering a "Pixel lite" sort of experience at an affordable price, Google could bring its vision for how it wanted Android to appear to a much larger base of people  despite the fact that it wasn't ready to make its own lower-priced Pixel model at that point.

To quote my favorite humble writer once more:

Google could have its cake and eat it, too: It could give consumers an option for a better overall user experience  its own vision for Android, only now within budget- to midrange-level parameters  while still allowing manufacturers to do their own thing as an alternative. And unlike on the high-end of the spectrum, where every detail counts and a finely tuned holistic experience is part of the package, letting third-party phone-makers retain some amount of branding and control of these lower-cost devices is a compromise Google can afford to make.

So what's changed since then? Ding, ding, ding! You got it: Google started making its own affordable Android phone with its ideal software setup and self-controlled, super-speedy software updates. That's precisely what the Pixel "a" line is all about, and with a price of 350 bucks, it brings the same optimized experience we first saw in the high-end Pixel into a much more affordable form. It is the "Pixel lite," without any of the asterisks Android One involves in comparison.

With Google selling its own completely self-controlled Pixel phone for 350 smackeroos, then, what reason does it have left to really, truly care about Android One in the way it once did? The entire reason Android One originally benefitted Google is made mostly redundant and unnecessary by the Pixel "a" line's existence. For the most part, an Android One phone is a watered-down, lesser version of a Pixel "a" device, and it's typically sold for pretty darn close to the same price (sometimes even more).

When you combine that fact with the shifting Android landscape  what we talked about a minute ago with Nokia combined with LG's potentially fatal current struggles, one-time Android One partner HTC's increased irrelevance, and the lack of any real motivation for an already-successful-on-its-own phone-maker like Samsung to participate in this sort of effort  it kinda makes sense that Android One would start to fizzle, doesn't it?

I mean, think about: The program's most prominent players are all having their own issues, and Google simultaneously now has its own fully self-controlled product to serve the program's original purpose even more effectively. It also has the ultra-low-end-focused Android Go program to address the super-affordable, sub-$200 domain that the Pixel line doesn't (yet) cover. Really, it's no wonder the Android One promise and everything around it seem mostly out of mind.

And you know what? This is admittedly reading between the lines, but if you look back at Google's statement on the subject, it seems almost deliberately worded to avoid saying anything substantial about the program's long-term fate. Yes, it says that Android One is a "living program that continues to grow"  but look closely at that last line (the emphasis here being mine):

While we have nothing to announce regarding the future of the Android One program today, we will continue to work with our partners to bring great Android devices to market.

Nothing to announce about the program's future today? That sure isn't the same as saying "This program isn't going anywhere, bucko!" And continuing to work with partners to bring great Android devices to market? Note the lack of a mention of Android One, specifically, as part of that proposition.

When I wrote about Android One's potential back in 2017, I noted how the effort could fill the then-glaring void of an optimal Google experience within Android at the sub-flagship price range. As I said at the time:

Google may not want to invest the resources in developing its own devices at every level of the Android price spectrum. Creating a comprehensive line of products would be costly, for one, and it'd risk alienating and irritating third-party manufacturers even more than it (probably) already has. For now, at least, this could be a clever way to accomplish a good-enough-for-the-affordable-realm goal while getting just involved enough to maintain critical core standards.

Well, guess what? Here we are, four years later  and Google has taken that ambitious leap into the affordable Android phone market. It has invested the resources in developing its own devices at lower price points, and by most counts, the first Pixel "a"-line phones have sold quite well, relatively speaking.

Google may not be ready to pull the plug on Android One yet, but looking at all the variables surrounding the state of the program, it's hard not to wonder if the clock is already ticking  and, in one way or another, if it's just a matter of time until the seconds run out.

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Twitter has begun suspending fake accounts purporting to be owned by Amazon employees who claim to be against unionisation.

The fake accounts use stock or synthetic images as profile pictures and argue against union formation at the tech giant.

The writer behind the now-suspended account @AmazonFCDarla said that she didnt want unions because they want to come to Amazon and make pay [sic] them a piece of my salary.

The account holder also wrote that we simply dont need unions at Amazon.

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Amazon says that this account, created earlier this month, was fake and that it has reported it to Twitter.

Other anti-union accounts apparently belonging to Amazon workers are also now being investigated.

It comes after Amazon has stepped up its own online advocacy against unions at its large warehouses and fulfilment centres.

The companys own Twitter account has recently engaged in spats with US politicians over the issue.

You dont really believe the peeing in bottles thing, do you? wrote the official @AmazonNews Twitter account last week in response to a tweet from a US Democratic congressman from Wisconsin.

If that were true, nobody would work for us. The truth is that we have over a million incredible employees around the world who are proud of what they do, and have great wages and health care from day one.

This tweet was in responses to widespread reports of employees being forced to urinate into bottles because their warehouse timetables were so tight that toilet breaks arent always possible.

Amazons chief executive of retail, Dave Clark, has also started to publicly argue with politicians who criticise Amazons working conditions.

Last week, he mocked US Senator Bernie Sanders on Twitter for travelling to Alabama to support unionisation efforts.

Amazon encourages its employees to defend the company online, offering a days paid holidays and a $50 Amazon voucher for those who do.
Back in the summer of 2019, when joking about omens of the apocalypse still seemed fresh and fun, an endless swarm of grasshoppers descended on the Las Vegas Strip.

These insects were not biters or crop killers. But for weeks, every evening after sunset, their flapping wings filled the Sky Beam shining up from the pyramid of the Luxor casino, and their dead exoskeletons littered the sidewalks. The news media speculated that the outbreak could be attributed to a wet winter that allowed more eggs to hatch, and to the citys artificial lights, which lured in grasshoppers like moths to flame.

A new analysis substantiates the link to the citys lights  with worrying implications for the grasshoppers. Elske Tielens, an insect ecologist at the University of Oklahoma, found that on July 26, 2019, the peak night of the invasion, some 46 million grasshoppers took wing and then clustered over the brightest parts of the city.

Its really hard to wrap your mind around that volume, she said. Were getting more grasshoppers in the air on a single day than you get humans coming to Vegas to gamble across an entire year.
The Gambia's Information Minister Ebrima Sillah, has on Wednesday 24th March 2021, assured lawmakers that his Ministry will investigate the circumstances surrounding the erection of two towers in the premises of Bakau Health Center.

Minister Sillah said this during questions and answer session with legislators at the National Assembly.

The Member for Bakau Hassan Touray, asked the Minister about the modalities and arrangements on the network antennas erected in the Bakau Health facility premises.

Information Minister Sillah in his reply stated that the staff of the Ministry visited the Health facility to ascertain the nature of the communication infrastructure deployed at the said premise; that he has confirmed the existence of two towers within the facility's premises, which according to the staff, belong to Africell and Qcell; that as provided in the Information Act of 2019 as amended, his Ministry in consultation with PURA is responsible for issuance of licenses to operators in the ICT industry. But he said his Ministry and PURA do not in any way determine the area or premises the operator uses to deploy its infrastructure in order to provide services to their customers.

He said notwithstanding this, it is important to note that, as far as acquiring properties and premises for the deployment of ICT Infrastructure by licensed operators is concerned, the land is acquired through factors such as identifying a private property and a matter of negotiation and agreement between the operator and the owner of the premises etc.

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"Since MoICI is never involved in the process of acquiring properties for the deployment of infrastructure for private operators, and that the said towers are erected at the said premises of the Ministry of Health. I would like to suggest that the relevant authority be engaged for further clarification on this issue," he said.

Bakau lawmaker further asked the minister to inform the assembly whether there is any compensation package for the erection of the said towers in the health facility's premises.

Minister Sillah said: "If the operator actually engaged the land owner on the erection of a tower in his or her particular land, what happens is that the land can be leased, bought and rent, depending on the agreement formula for which compensation is given. But in this particular one, I don't actually know what the agreement is."

Momodou Ceesay, Member for Janjangbureh, asked the Information Minister whether he can instruct the regulators to go and probe into the matter, since the ministry is responsible for issuance of license to operators.

Minister Sillah replied that his ministry will undoubtedly do the investigation, adding that they have already commenced probing into the matter.

Halifa Sallah, the Member for Serrekunda, told the Minister that it is prudent to raise the matter in Cabinet and get answers from the concerned Cabinet Minister to get the substance of what actually happened, rather than prolonging the whole chain of questioning into the issues.

Minister Sillah in his reply to Mr. Sallah said "I will definitely do that. In fact, this information reached us just recently and Cabinet is not sitting soon. But I will definitely do that to help us determine what the arrangements are, as per the issue".
Pills, Cash Seized in Paducah Drug Investigation

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - An undercover drug investigation on Monday led to the arrest of a Paducah man and the seizure of illegal drugs and nearly $14,000 in cash.The Paducah Police Department says drug detectives learned 21-year-old Tyrin Dunbar was selling marijuana and pills containing fentanyl. Detectives went to Dunbars home on North 5th Street Monday afternoon and could smell the odor of marijuana when Dunbars girlfriend opened the door.During a search of the home officers reportedly found hundreds of Ecstasy pills, about a pound of marijuana, two pint bottles of Promethazine with codeine, more than 50 pills suspected to be fentanyl, various items of drug paraphernalia and $13,888 in cash.Dunbar was arrested and booked into McCracken County Regional Jail. He's charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, trafficking in marijuana and second-degree possession of a controlled substance.
In a statement, Amazon says it encouraged all its employees to vote and that their voices will be heard in the days ahead. Any push to unionise is considered a long shot, since labour laws tend to favour employers. Alabama itself is a right-to-work state, which allows workers in unionised shops to opt out of paying union dues even as they retain the benefits and job protection negotiated by the union. Kent Wong, the director of the UCLA Labor Center, says companies in the past have closed stores, warehouses or plants after workers have voted to unionise. Theres a history of companies going to great lengths to avoid recognising the union, he says. Walmart, the nations largest retailer and biggest private employer, has successfully fought off organising efforts over the years. In 2000, it got rid of butchers in 180 of its stores after they voted to form a union. Walmart said it cut the jobs because people preferred pre-packaged meat. Five years later, it closed a store in Canada where some 200 workers were close to winning a union contract. At the time, Walmart said demands from union negotiators made it impossible for the store to sustain itself.

The only other time Amazon came up against a union vote was in 2014, when the majority of the 30 workers at a Delaware warehouse turned it down. This time around, Amazon has been hanging anti-union signs throughout the Bessemer warehouse, including inside bathroom stalls, and holding mandatory meetings to convince workers why the union is a bad idea, according to one worker who recently testified at a Senate hearing. It has also created a website for employees that tells them theyll have to pay $US500 in union dues a month, taking away money that could go to dinners and school supplies. The union push could spread to other parts of Amazon and threaten the companys profits, which soared 84 per cent last year to $US21 billion. Credit:AP Amazons hardball tactics extend beyond squashing union efforts. Last year, it fired a worker who organised a walkout at a New York warehouse to demand greater protection against coronavirus, saying the employee himself flouted distancing rules. When Seattle, the home of its headquarters, passed a new tax on big companies in 2018, Amazon protested by stopping construction of a new high-rise building in the city; the tax was repealed four weeks later. And in 2019, Amazon ditched plans to build a $US2.5 billion headquarters for 25,000 workers in New York after pushback from progressive politicians and unions. Beyond Amazon is an anti-union culture that dominates the South. And unions have lost ground nationally for decades since their peak in the decades following World War II. In 1970, almost a third of the US workforce belonged to a union. In 2020, that figure was 10.8 per cent, according to the US Bureau of labour Statistics. Private sector workers now account for less than half of the 14.3 million union members across the country.

Advocates say a victory would signal a shift in the narrative about unions, helping refute the typical arguments from companies, including Amazon, that workers can win adequate compensation and conditions by dealing with management directly. It is because of unions that we have a five-day work week. It is because of unions that we have safer conditions in our places of work. It is because of unions that we have benefits, says Rep. Terri Sewell, whose congressional district includes the Amazon facility. Workers should have the right to choose whether they organise or not. Union leaders are circumspect about specific organising plans after the Bessemer vote, and Appelbaum says he doesnt want to tip off Amazon to any future efforts. But there is broad consensus that a win would spur workers at some of the 230 other Amazon warehouses to mount a similar union campaign. Its less clear whether any ripple effects would reach other prime targets like Walmart and the expansive auto industry that has burgeoned across the South in recent decades. Both have largely succeeded at keeping unions at bay. The auto workers union has had some of the largest union pushes of the last decade, but their most intense and publicised efforts ended in failure. In 2017, a years-long campaign to unionise a Nissan plant in Canton, Mississippi, ended with a decisive 2,244-1,307 rejection of the union  the kind of margin that would be devastating in Bessemer. Two years later, however, Volkswagen workers in Tennessee had a much more evenly split vote, with 776 workers supporting unionisation and 833 voting against it.

Besides the number of Amazon workers involved, the Alabama campaign has stood out because of how explicitly many advocates have linked the effort to the civil rights movement of the 20th century. The RWDSU estimates that more than 80 per cent of the warehouse workers in Bessemer are black. Loading Robert Korstad, a Duke Emeritus professor and labour history expert, says those dynamics could help in Bessemer. The history of the black struggle in Alabama is pretty deeply entrenched in the social, political and religious institutions there, he says. Were starting to see people rise up again. So this Amazon struggle is part of a larger struggle thats gone on a long time. The question, Korstad says, is whether a win in Bessemer truly becomes a ripple effect that inspires workers across racial and ethnic lines elsewhere.

An Indiana state rep has been slammed for 'racist' comments he made toward a black orthopedic surgeon in Texas after telling the doctor that slavery was the 'way of humanity' before pondering whether he had any 'minority scholarships' to get through school.

James Carson, based in Houston, Texas, had responded to a March 23 post made on Rep. Jim Lucas' (R-IN) Facebook page that included an interview defending the 2nd Amendment.

Soon the two engaged in a tense debate, with Carson commenting on the origins of the Constitution.

James Carson, based in Houston, Texas, had responded to a March 23 post made on Rep. Jim Lucas' (R-IN) Facebook page that included an interview defending the 2nd Amendment

'You know the constitution was written with people like me as slaves with no rights. Is that how it should be interpreted?' Carson asked.

The Seymour politician responded: 'The first slave owner in America was black, Blacks captured and sold blacks as slaves. Slavery is vile and repugnant, but has, and is tragically a way of humanity.'

Lucas would then use a quote from Frederick Douglas to show support for his argument, only the passage was from the abolitionists speech deriding the historically controversial Dred Scott decision.

The two continued going back and forth in their exchange, with Lucas then turning his attention to how Carson was able to get through schooling to become a doctor.

Soon the two engaged in a tense debate, with Carson commenting on the origins of the Constitution

'You say you're a surgeon, congratulations on your accomplishment. Did you get any scholarships or financial assistance because of your skin color? Any minority scholarships?'

Carson quickly informed the politician that he was not only valedictorian of his high school but that he was also in the honors college.

'Any more questions or do you want to discuss the constitution?' he asked Lucas.

When reached by Indystar, Carson asserted that the exchange was racist in nature.

'Beyond a doubt, not even thinly veiled, it's pretty obviously racist to me,' Carson declared. 'The fact that he would even imply that I've gotten where I am in life through school, only because of my race, he doesn't even do a good job of trying to hide it.'

The two continued going back and forth in their exchange, with Lucas then turning his attention to how Carson was able to get through schooling to become a doctor

Carson quickly informed the politician that he was not only valedictorian of his high school but that he was also in the honors college

Lucas claimed that his post were not racist but were actually factual.

'There's still slavery today in many countries, and it's horrible. Slavery is horrible, it's vile. Racism is vile and despicable,' Lucas said. 'And the people that keep generating the divisiveness by weaponizing the mere accusation of racism are vile and horrible and despicable.'

The Republican also claimed that by asking if Carson had received minority scholarships, he wanted to highlight 'reverse discrimination' that exists when scholarships are given to marginalized and underrepresented groups.

'There is a double standard when it comes to these racism accusations,' Lucas said. 'To my knowledge, there are no scholarships available to white people based on the color of their skin.'

According to Joseph Lennis Tucker Edmonds, assistant professor of Africana Studies at Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), while there were black slave owners, their numbers were few. He also said that these slave owners did not engage in the same form of slavery that their white counterparts did

Scholars familiar with the history of slavery in the United States feel Lucas' sentiments about black people owning slaves is a mischaracterization as to the relationship they had at the time.

According to Joseph Lennis Tucker Edmonds, assistant professor of Africana Studies at Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), while there were black slave owners, their numbers were few. He also said that these slave owners did not engage in the same form of slavery that their white counterparts did.

'At first glance, it's inaccurate and is trying to deny the connection between white racism and white supremacy and enslavement,' Edmonds said. 'If that's the goal to deny that slavery and enslavement in this country is predicated upon white racism and white supremacy, then that is a very problematic, inflammatory and most likely racially divisive comment.'

The IndyStar reports that Lucas has a long history of making troubling comments, with calls from the Indiana State Conference of the NAACP for him to step down.

The Republican posted a meme in 2016 of a woman in the trunk of a car, along with the caption: 'Wanna know who loves you more: your wife or your dog? Lock them both in your trunk and see who's happy to see you when you let them out.'

In January 2017, Lucas was slammed after he made another Facebook post following the Women's March that occurred the day after the inauguration.

He would delete and apologize for both posts following criticism from the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

In May 202, Lucas used a photo of black kids dancing and the words 'We gon' get free money!' to show his opposition to federal bailouts. He would later claim that he found the picture of the kids dancing in a meme generator, eventually replacing it with a photo of himself but keeping the words.

Lucas was removed from two committees by House Speaker Huston last year after making controversial Facebook posts.

And on Twitter, people are using the hashtag #LucasMustGo to call for him to resign.
LONDON, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The construction industry may not appear to be an obvious target for cybercrime, but it garners unwanted online attention just like other sectors. According to the Cost of Data Breach Report 2020 by IBM, the average cost of a data breach in the industrial sector was $4.99 million.

NordVPN Teams

GlobalData, a data research company, predicts that the industrial sector's value will soar to $12.9 trillion by 2022. After rising consistently by 3.6% since 2018, it has now caught the eye of cybercriminals. Over half of all construction executives believe their firms will be hit in the future, yet worryingly, 68% of firms have no security measures in place.

Growing attacks on industrial control systems (ICS) threatens builders

The industry's vulnerabilities were exposed on both digital and operational levels recently, as cybercriminals attempted to compromise water treatment plant networks and poison the water supply in Florida. Most devices had a basic network connection, meaning heavy machinery could've been commandeered, leading to disastrous consequences.

IBM's X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2021 has observed a 49% annual increase in industrial control system (ICS) attacks.

Other cybercriminals may aim for digital assets transferred or stored insecurely. Innovative building firms employ Building Information Modeling (BIM) as a central database for blueprints, designs, and other assets. Using devices and construction tools that are connected, workers can update BIM in real-time, improving communication and efficiency. Though, the amount of end-point devices means the risk of exposing sensitive information is extremely high.

"The construction industry is heavily interconnected. Several building sites need to exchange data with headquarters and routinely access cloud services. Most workers use laptops and other end-point devices, with architects, engineers, and sub-contractors contributing online. The building industry isn't manual labor anymore  it's a sophisticated and digitally-managed trade, using high-end innovations and tools," says Juta Gurinaviciute, the Chief Technology Officer, NordVPN Teams.

Data breaches primarily affect company processes, resulting in prolonged downtime and operational disruption. Verizon recently found that only 5% of data breaches are caused internally, whereas external factors cause 95%.

How to protect corporate network and data

Secure mobile workforce. Remote-working is relatively commonplace for builders shifting between different construction sites. If workers need assets from the cloud or a corporate network, make sure the data is encrypted.

Establish a protected network. All manner of different assets pass through networks that are often unprotected. A business VPN puts all workers and building sites within a secure software-defined perimeter and safely protected from outside threats.

Check your third-party stakeholders. Building developments involve all parties communicating regularly. Before providing a third-party with access to your corporate network, make sure robust cybersecurity measures are in place.

Ensure general cybersecurity. Contractors are also responsible for installing and setting up smart control systems on their network and maintaining security, regularly updating default passwords, and leading by example for the rest of the industry.

Contact Details:

Auste | NordVPN Teams

[email protected]

www.nordvpnteams.com

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With an impressive investor portfolio, the world's first Cybertech Tier supplier sets to deliver the next generation of software-defined, service-oriented vehicles that are secure-by-design

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the global automotive cybersecurity solutions market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Guardknox Cyber Technologies Ltd. with the Global Visionary Innovation Leadership Award for leveraging its innovative solutions to empower OEMs, tier suppliers, and the aftermarket to address evolving consumer demands in the automotive industry. As the automotive industry's first Cybertech Tier supplier, GuardKnox is offering a suite of products designed to serve as the foundation for added connectivity, infotainment, add-on applications, amenities, and vehicle customization while simultaneously protecting vehicles against potential hacks.

Click here to view the full multimedia release: https://bit.ly/3lZLYy7

The need for an entirely new tier in the supply chain reflects the automotive industry's fundamental transformation in recent decades. As technology continues to evolve and consumer demands rapidly change, the automotive industry has been facing a paradigm shift in market expectations-particularly, where consumers expect a more immersive in-vehicle experience. However, increasing vehicle connectivity poses a major cybersecurity challenge for the industry.

GuardKnox created the Cybertech Tier to address these very issues. GuardKnox designed the tier to help the automotive industry embrace new technologies that power high-performance, secure-by-design vehicles consumers are demanding. While other cybersecurity solutions embed software into ECUs to protect systems, GuardKnox's products serve as a complete domain controller for network-level protection and effectively secure all network communication and ECUs from hacks and intrusions serving as the foundation for an immersive, personalized in-vehicle experience. GuardKnox's solutions enable data and application hosting, processing, and storing, but in a secure environment.

"GuardKnox is on track to develop even more high-performing, scalable products that thwart cyber attacks, enable an improved end-user experience, and generate additional revenue opportunities for automotive OEMs," said Vinay Venkatesan, Consultant at Frost & Sullivan. "GuardKnox's mission has been backed by major players, including NXP Semiconductors, Faurecia, and Green Hills Software, and it has gained support from many global entities including Fraser McCombs Capital, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), Plug and Play, the Livnat Family, Allied, and Kardan. GuardKnox also received investment from a group of esteemed European executives, including Dr. Paul Achleitner, Dr. Juergen Hambrecht, Dr. Kurt Lauk, Prof. Dr. Roland Berger, Michael Diekmann, and Peter Loescher, among others. We expect these partnerships and investments will help GuardKnox expand its footprint and leadership globally in the coming months."

GuardKnox's end-to-end solution developed through collaborations with numerous cloud service and security providers has enabled a variety of new services based on the secure transmission of information between service providers or operational centers and the vehicles. The solution empowers OEM vendors to secure over-the-air communication among the vehicle, the cloud, and their operation centers using the GuardKnox platform. The GuardKnox Communication Lockdown Methodology provides robust, verifiable, and efficient attack resistance capabilities, unlike competing solutions that heavily rely on IT or learning solutions that require constant connectivity, network scanning, and machine learning.

"The company's patented comprehensive hardware and software in-vehicle solutions can easily integrate with vehicle systems during the production process," noted Venkatesan. "Due to GuardKnox's high-performance and computing capabilities, secure software firmware and hardware upgrades are enabled over-the-air, thus eliminating the need for additional, expensive hardware."

"We are honored to be recognized by Frost & Sullivan for such a prestigious award; the acknowledgment only further backs our vision to empower the automotive industry with the freedom to evolve safely to meet the changing needs of drivers and their vehicles," said Moshe Shlisel, co-founder and CEO of GuardKnox. "Drivers are demanding a personalized, in-vehicle experience, which mirrors the capabilities of their smartphones. As players in the automotive industry, it's our job to deliver the "iPhone-ization" of vehicles that customers seek, enabling seamless integration of app stores, gaming, and more, but without putting them at increased risk of cyberattack."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan bestows this award upon the company that demonstrates excellence in growth and customer value. It recognizes the superiority of the product/service and the overall customer, purchase, ownership, and service experience offered, which has resulted in the recipient company seeing above-market growth and a greater share of wallet. The award lauds the growth, diversification, and sustainability strategies of the company.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify the industry's best practices.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Bianca Torres

P: 12104778418

E: Bianca.torres@frost.com

About Guardknox Cyber Technologies Ltd.

About GuardKnox

GuardKnox is the automotive industry's first Cybertech Tier supplier empowering OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and the aftermarket to deliver the next generation of software-defined and service-oriented vehicles. GuardKnox's flexible and scalable solutions allow for added connectivity, zonal E/E architecture, hosted applications, high-speed routing (including network recovery and service discovery functionalities), vehicle personalization, and security. The company's pioneering approach to automotive innovation is inspired by technology from the aviation industry, providing GuardKnox with the experience needed to develop secure, high-performance computing solutions using a patented Services-Oriented Architecture (SOA). Founded in 2016, GuardKnox is based in Israel, with subsidiary locations in Stuttgart, Germany, and Detroit, Michigan.
Sixteen years after the BMW Group Plant Leipzig went on stream, the 3,000,000th BMW made in Saxony has just rolled off the production lines: a BMW M240i Convertible in Sunset Orange. (Fuel consumption combined: 8.3  3.8 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 189  101 g/km).

The fact that weve manufactured 3,000,000 cars in sixteen years is all down to the hard work and commitment of our highly motivated employees. The team here in Leipzig are fantastic and deliver high-quality vehicles that are in strong demand across the globe, said Plant Director Hans-Peter Kemser honouring the work of the employees. He is particularly proud of electromobility in Leipzig: The 3,000,000 we are celebrating today include more than 200,000 BMW i3 vehicles, and production of all-electric cars continues to develop. The next time we celebrate an anniversary, it will be with a new family member, the MINI Countryman from Leipzig, which will come with a choice of a combustion engine or an electric drive.

Works Council Chairman Jens Kohler emphasised the contribution and achievements of employees as well: 3,000,000 vehicles made right here are an impressive testimony to the fact that Plant Leipzig is an integral part of the global BMW production network. BMW has placed their trust in our plant and also in our employees, who deliver peak performance every day.

The latest milestone vehicle was duly dispatched to its new owner  a customer in Bavaria, the home of BMW  with the Lord Mayor of Leipzig, Burkhard Jung, BMW Group Leipzig Plant Director Hans-Peter Kemser and the Works Council Chairman at Plant Leipzig, Jens Kohler, in attendance.

The Lord Mayor of Leipzig, Burkhard Jung, was visibly impressed by the growth of the BMW plant in his city. In 2016 I came here to celebrate Plant Leipzigs 2,000,000th vehicle. Im now looking forward to coming back for the 4,000,000th! Judging by the way BMW is constantly investing in the development of this facility, that will be within the next five years. Also, Im particularly pleased that, after the BMW i3, Plant Leipzig is due to manufacture another electric car, the MINI.

Lined up end to end, the 3,000,000 vehicles made by Plant Leipzig would stretch about 13,000 kilometres  roughly the flight distance from Leipzig to Australias northernmost city, Darwin.

The first BMW made in Leipzig rolled off the production line in March 2005, a BMW 320i. Six years later the 1,000,000th car was made, in December 2011, an Alpine White BMW 116d that was presented to the non-profit organisation Joblinge. The 2,000,000th car came even faster, in October 2016, a BMW i3 (fuel consumption combined: 0.0 l/100 km; electricity consumption combined: 13.1 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km) in Protonic Blue for a customer in the USA.

BMW AG Board Member for Production, Milan Nedeljkovic, is also thrilled by the anniversary: As a pioneer in electromobility, Plant Leipzig is of particular importance in the BMW Group production network. When we start making the successor to the current MINI Countryman, Leipzig will be the first BMW facility to make both BMWs and MINIs. Nedeljkovic was Head of Assembly and Plant Director at Leipzig between 2010 and 2015.

Along with the BMW i3, Plant Leipzig currently makes the BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series and its most powerful model, the BMW M2 Competition (fuel consumption combined: 10.0  9.9 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 228  225 g/km). Output totals more than 1,000 vehicles a day and reached a good 200,000 units last year.

After 3,000,000 vehicles, the plant and team are not about to rest on their laurels. Instead they are busy preparing for the forthcoming MINI crossover. The successor to the current MINI Countryman, it will be manufactured from 2023.

Since going on stream in 2005, production capacity at Plant Leipzig has gradually increased. The facility is currently capable of delivering up to 350,000 vehicles a year, compared with some 54,000 in the first year of operations. It now has its sights set firmly on the next million and is also undertaking the next steps towards greater sustainability and becoming a green plant. Milan Nedeljkovic: The next stage of development will see the BMW Group strengthen Plant Leipzigs role as an important and reliable factor in the economy of the Leipzig/Halle region.

At BMW Group Plant Leipzig, the sparing and efficient use of energy has always been a top priority, with regenerative sources used wherever possible. Since 2013 production of the BMW i3 has been powered by green energy from four wind turbines on the plant premises, meaning the BMW Groups first fully electric model has been made with locally sourced green energy since day one. But now the plant is aiming even higher: By 2030 we intend to reduce CO2 emissions from production by 80 percent compared with 2006. Our vision is to fully decarbonise production by replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen, said Plant Director Hans-Peter Kemser looking to the future of BMW Group Plant Leipzig.

-- Tradearabia News Service
A novel website is launched by Liberty Pool Services LLC Alexandria, VA (March 2021.) - Liberty Pool Services LLC is each pool owners partner in the regular pool maintenance and servicing. A team of specially trained pool engineers inspect the pool water for visible contaminants, color, and clarity and test the waters temperature. Besides, their job is to check the sealant, grout, tiles, and all exposed pool elements. What is more, 
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Virgin Galactic has unveiled a new mirrored spaceship called VSS Imagine that is designed to 'reflect the environment around it' as it moves through clouds and out to space.

The new spaceplane is the third generation craft developed by the New Mexico-based Virgin Galactic and will be more modular, allowing for more rapid development as the number of flights ramp up from 2022.

Glide flights within Earth's atmosphere of VSS Imagine are due to begin this summer in the skies over New Mexico, followed by sub-orbital flights in the following years if the early tests are successful.

Founder Sir Richard Branson will fly to the edge of space by the end of the summer, the firm confirmed, flying in VSS Unity, the current second generation spaceplane and the craft that will operate commercially early in 2022.

Before Branson can earn his commercial astronaut wings in the summer, Virgin Galactic will operate two test flights starting from May, the first with just pilots, and the second carrying a full crew to the edge of space.

No details have been revealed about the cost of the new spaceplane, or the price of tickets, but it is rumoured SpaceShipTwo cost about $400 million (290 million) to develop.

Virgin Galactic has unveiled a new spaceplane called VSS Imagine that is designed to 'reflect the environment around it' as it moves through clouds and out to space

Sir Richard Branson (pictured), founder of Virgin Galactic, is expected to earn his astronaut wings before the end of the summer

VSS IMAGINE: THE THIRD GENERATION VIRGIN GALACTIC SPACESHIP VSS Imagine is the third generation Virgin Galactic spaceship. It has been designed to be more modular, allowing for more rapid changes and development. It will operate at the same height and with the same purpose as VSS Unity, the second generation spaceship. The first of its class was SpaceShipOne, that won the X-Prize for famed aircraft designed Burt Rutan. This was developed into SpaceShipTwo, of which VSS Unity is based upon. VSS Imagine is the third generation, also known as Spaceship III. A major change is in the livery, with Imagine having a reflective surface to reflect the environment outside. This is so the ship appears to change as it moves from Earth to space. Work has already begun on a second Spaceship III, to be called VSS Inspire, according to the space firm. Advertisement

VSS Imagine is the first spaceplane to be based on the Spaceship III class of vehicle.

Virgin Galactic says the new spaceplane showcases the firms 'innovation in design and astronaut experience.'

Adding that it 'demonstrates progress toward efficient design and production,' according to the space firm.

The new generation craft has been designed to scale more easily, with production on its sister craft, VSS Inspire, already underway in California.

'The second Spaceship III vehicle, VSS Inspire, is underway now that we have construction of VSS Imagine out of the way,' Virgin Galactic CEO, Michael Colglazier, told MailOnline.

Imagine will commence ground testing, with glide flights planned for this summer from Spaceport America in New Mexico.

'Imagine, the first one, first goes into ground testing, then we will bring our mothership Eve in, pick Imagine up in California and fly Imagine to Spaceport America where we will begin flight testing on Imagine,' Colglazier said.

The functional purpose of Imagine is very similar to VSS Unity - it is designed to go up about 50 miles above the surface, allow passengers to experience weightlessness and see the Earth, then glide back to the ground.

The main differences between the second and third generation ships are in manufacture and assembly, designed to 'maintain and turn the vehicles more quickly,' Colgazier told MailOnline.

'We will still go through a sequence of glide flight testing, then a sequence of powered flights, taking each one step by step along the way,' he said.

However, he added that the lessons learned through VSS Unity mean the process of getting Imagine flight ready is likely to be much quicker.

VSS Imagine features 'breakthrough livery design', that is finished entirely with a mirror-like material designed to reflect the surrounding environment, constantly changing colour and appearance as it travels from earth to sky to space, a spokesperson for Virgin Galactic explained.

'Along with providing thermal protection, this dynamic material is naturally appealing to the human eye, reflecting our inherent human fascination with space and the transformative experience of spaceflight.'

The new Spaceship III class of vehicle is 'more modular' than previous designs, according to to the space tourism firm, who say this allows for improved maintenance.

This third generation of spaceship will lay the foundation for the design and manufacture of future vehicles that will be more 'mass produced', something required as part of the goal to offer 400 flights per year.

The new spaceship is the third generation craft developed by the New Mexico-based Virgin Galactic and will be more modular, allowing for more rapid development

THE KARMAN LINE: WHERE ASTRONAUTS GET THEIR WINGS There is no exact definition of the 'edge of space', but the UN, NASA and others historically accept the Karman line as the boundary. This has become more important since the 1950s when space flight began, as it is the point at which an astronaut gets their wings. The Karman line is defined as being 60 miles above sea level, the border between the atmosphere and space. The International Space Station is 253 miles above the surface and the first human ins pace, Yuri Gagarin, flew 187 miles above the planet. Advertisement

'It is mostly a manufacturing conversation. Unity was built in place, we stacked it up and put it all together, we had it sitting there and all things come together, which is helpful for a demonstrator, but not the fastest process,' Colgazier told MailOnline.

'Spaceship III class design has been created in parts, so we can create an assembly here and in parallel an assembly over there.

'Then assembled in a way that is more expedient, done in a way for flight cycle time.'

The longer-term goal is to have multiple spaceports around the world, each offering a different journey up into space and back down to Earth again, Colgazier explained.

Initially there will be a handful of flights leaving from and arriving into Spaceport America in New Mexico, the new base for Virgin Galactic.

'We are going to start at SpacePort America New Mexico, but I think the experience we created and what we can do around a spaceport is going to be compelling to other communities and other governments,' he told MailOnline.

'As we go to the next spaceport we will be able to ramp up much more quickly.

'The eventual number of spaceports we will see, but we are very bullish on our ability to go to other parts of the world and share this with other countries.

'I think the perspective down to the planet will be different and the experience around it will be different for each place we fly from.'

Glide flights within Earth's atmosphere of VSS Imagine are due to begin this summer, followed by orbital flights in the following years if testing is succesful

VSS Imagine is due to be officially unveiled ahead of VSS Unity's next test flight, which is planned for May 2021, the first of two leading up to Branson's summer flight.

Richard Branson said: 'Virgin Galactic spaceships are built specifically to deliver a new, transforming perspective to the thousands of people who will soon be able to experience the wonder of space for themselves.

'As a SpaceShip III class of vehicle, Imagine is not just beautiful to look at, but represents Virgin Galactic's growing fleet of spaceships.

The introduction of the Spaceship III class is an important milestone in Virgin Galactic's multi-year effort that targets flying 400 flights per year, per spacepor

TIMELINE: VSS UNITY LAUNCHES From May 2021: The launch of two two VSS Unity test flights from Spaceport America in New Mexico. The first will be with the pilots flying solo, the second will include a full load to test the passenger cabin. Summer 2021: Passenger test flight featuring Sir Richard Branson. Designed to showcase the astronaut experience through the eyes of the company founder. September 2021: First revenue generation flight with the Italian Air Force to test passenger and payload. This flight will take both astronauts and scientific equipment to the edge of space on VSS Unity. Early 2022: The start of full commercial flights from Spaceport America. The dozens of Future Astronauts, who paid to fly to the edge of space will begin earning their astronaut wings. Advertisement

'All great achievements, creations and changes start with an idea. Our hope is for all those who travel to space to return with fresh perspectives and new ideas that will bring positive change to our planet.'

VSS Unity will complete two powered flights from New Mexico before flying Richard Branson in a third powered flight before the end of the summer, the firm confirmed.

Colgazier said the flight with Sir Richard will demonstrate what is possible with the private astronaut programme, allowing future astronauts to see the flight through the eyes of the company founder.

Following the flight with Sir Richard, Virgin Galactic will then conduct a fourth powered flight with the Italian Air Force, which will be the first revenue generating flight with people in the cabin and is expected to conclude the test program.

Virgin Galactic expects this flight to likely occur late summer or early autumn, with September provisionally selected as the launch month.

Virgin Galactic expects VSS Unity will be ready to fly private astronauts, as well as scientific research payloads, in early 2022.

VSS Imagine will likely join the operating fleet in the years following, as the number of annual flights dramatically increase.

The company is testing the science and research payload potential with the Italian Air Force flight in September, which they say will be 'revenue generating'.

'This will be the first full revenue flight and will demonstrate what we do with scientific research and how we can use spaceship for astronaut training,' explained Colgazier.

Expected dates may adjust as the company processes data from each of its test flights, according to Virgin Galactic.

VSS Imagine will be collected from California by the mothership VMS Eve to be flown to New Mexico this summer for glide testing

THE CURRENT VIRGIN GALACTIC FLEET VMS Eve: The launch platform for the SpaceShipTwo and Spaceship III based Virgin Galactic vehicles. VMS stands for Virgin MotherShip and is named after Evette Branson, mother of founder Sir Richard Branson. So far only one has been built and it made its first flight in December 2008. VSS Unity: Based on the SpaceShip Two class of vehicle, it is a rocket powered glider. A replacement for the destroyed VSS Enterprise, Unity first flew to space in December 2018. It has reached an altitude of 50 miles, earning its pilots commercial astronaut wings for the first time in 2018. VSS Imagine: The first Spaceship III class of spaceplane, due to begin glide tests summer 2021. VSS Inspire: The second Spaceship III class of spaceplane currently under construction in California by the Spaceship Company. Advertisement

A future market for future versions of the Virgin Galactic spaceships could be to take people from one point on Earth to another at high speeds.

The small vehicles could see people go to the edge of space, move around the Earth and land somewhere else on the planet in a matter of a few hours.

'Virgin Galactic is looking at what you can do on a high speed point to point basis. It is early days and early designs, we think it could be an interesting market,' Colgazier told MailOnline, adding they will see where the trajectory goes.

This is the third generation ship built since the original SpaceShipOne that won the X-Prize for famed aircraft designer Burt Rutan.

The Ansari X-Prize awarded $10 million to the first non-government organisation to launch a reusable crewed spacecraft into space twice within two weeks.

It was won by Rutan in the plane that would later evolve into VSS Unity and VMS Eve, the mother ship that launches Unity into space.

Spaceship IV is only round the corner, according to Colgazier, despite the fact Spaceship III has only just been unveiled.

'We have already pivoted to the second of the Spaceship III class and now wee are looking ahead to the fourth generation of spaceships.

'Internally we are calling these the Delta class, so Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and those will be more of a production spaceship model that we can build in more of a production floor manufacturing environment with more built in parallel.'

Colgazier told MailOnline that is the point where the number of ships within the fleet will begin to dramatically ramp up from the handful today.

'When we get our number up and the turn going, that is when we get the volume.'
- By GF Value





The stock of Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR, 30-year Financials) shows every sign of being modestly overvalued, according to GuruFocus Value calculation. GuruFocus Value is GuruFocus' estimate of the fair value at which the stock should be traded. It is calculated based on the historical multiples that the stock has traded at, the past business growth and analyst estimates of future business performance. If the price of a stock is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. On the other hand, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher. At its current price of $144.55 per share and the market cap of $40.6 billion, Digital Realty Trust stock is believed to be modestly overvalued. GF Value for Digital Realty Trust is shown in the chart below.





Digital Realty Trust Stock Shows Every Sign Of Being Modestly Overvalued

Because Digital Realty Trust is relatively overvalued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be lower than its business growth, which averaged 1.9% over the past three years and is estimated to grow 6.61% annually over the next three to five years.

Link: These companies may deliever higher future returns at reduced risk.

Companies with poor financial strength offer investors a high risk of permanent capital loss. To avoid permanent capital loss, an investor must do their research and review a company's financial strength before deciding to purchase shares. Both the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage of a company are a great way to to understand its financial strength. Digital Realty Trust has a cash-to-debt ratio of 0.01, which which ranks worse than 89% of the companies in REITs industry. The overall financial strength of Digital Realty Trust is 3 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of Digital Realty Trust is poor. This is the debt and cash of Digital Realty Trust over the past years:

Story continues

Digital Realty Trust Stock Shows Every Sign Of Being Modestly Overvalued

It poses less risk to invest in profitable companies, especially those that have demonstrated consistent profitability over the long term. A company with high profit margins is also typically a safer investment than one with low profit margins. Digital Realty Trust has been profitable 10 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $3.9 billion and earnings of $1.12 a share. Its operating margin is 17.18%, which ranks worse than 80% of the companies in REITs industry. Overall, GuruFocus ranks the profitability of Digital Realty Trust at 7 out of 10, which indicates fair profitability. This is the revenue and net income of Digital Realty Trust over the past years:

Digital Realty Trust Stock Shows Every Sign Of Being Modestly Overvalued

Growth is probably the most important factor in the valuation of a company. GuruFocus research has found that growth is closely correlated with the long term stock performance of a company. A faster growing company creates more value for shareholders, especially if the growth is profitable. The 3-year average annual revenue growth of Digital Realty Trust is 1.9%, which ranks in the middle range of the companies in REITs industry. The 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is 1%, which ranks in the middle range of the companies in REITs industry.

Another way to look at the profitability of a company is to compare its return on invested capital and the weighted cost of capital. Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. We want to have the return on invested capital higher than the weighted cost of capital. For the past 12 months, Digital Realty Trust's return on invested capital is 1.94, and its cost of capital is 1.88. The historical ROIC vs WACC comparison of Digital Realty Trust is shown below:

Digital Realty Trust Stock Shows Every Sign Of Being Modestly Overvalued

In closing, the stock of Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR, 30-year Financials) is estimated to be modestly overvalued. The company's financial condition is poor and its profitability is fair. Its growth ranks in the middle range of the companies in REITs industry. To learn more about Digital Realty Trust stock, you can check out its 30-year Financials here.

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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Call it stimulus for local informants and a sign that this town has a great deal of unsolved crime to contend with . . . Read more:



FBI offering $50k reward for information leading to arrest in 1998 cold case by: Juan Cisneros Posted: / Updated: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - FBI Kansas City is offering up to $50,000 as a reward for any information that leads to an arrest, prosecution and conviction in the 1998 homicide of Rhonda Tribue.
OAKLAND, Calif., March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Poets&Quants For Undergrads, the leading news source for undergraduate business education, has released its sixth annual "Best & Brightest Business Majors" feature, which honors 100 of the most accomplished seniors who majored in fields like marketing, accounting, operations, and human resources.

"These students are so versatile," says Jeff Schmitt, Poets&Quants' senior writer who launched the series in 2016. "You have entrepreneurs who are scaling ventures that are built to last from their dorm rooms. There are go-getters who are launching programs like school consulting firms and student training programs that will long outlast them. In class, these Best & Brightest are the ones asking the probing questions and are never satisfied with the answers. They have such passion and they are constantly working to improve to gain that little edge. Their employers are going to be really impressed when they hit the ground running."

This year's 100 Best & Brightest features gifted students like Sven Wollschlaeger. A University of Michigan senior, Wollschlaeger has already generated over a million dollars in funding for his tech firm that provides campus tours using 3D views and virtual reality. Over the past three years, the University of North Carolina's Mary Laci Motley has built a startup where non-profits finance their causes by operating stadium concession stands  an effort that now covers seven venues. Northeastern's Karan Kishorepuria made the BostonInno 25 Under 25 list, while Boston University's Frances Smyth was named a 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 Scholar. Despite being legally blind, Washington University's Leah Wren Hardgrove competed in track and field, volunteered with various non-profits, and landed a product marketing job at Google.

To compile this year's Best & Brightest students, Poets&Quants reached out to the 50 highest-ranked schools in its 2021 Undergraduate Business School Ranking. Each school was asked to choose two students for inclusion, with suggested criteria including academic excellence, extracurricular leadership, personal character, and innate potential.

Overall, this year's Best & Brightest included 54 women and 46 men. As part of this feature, each student is given an in-depth profile, which covers areas like their extracurricular activities and awards, proudest achievement, and favorite classmate. It also includes a testimonial from an administrator or faculty member.

To read the Best & Brightest Business Majors of 2021, CLICK HERE.

Poets&Quants for Undergrads is a leading news website dedicated to the coverage of undergraduate business education. Highlighting the content is the annual exclusive ranking of the best undergraduate business schools across the United States. Founded by John A. Byrne, former editor-in-chief of Fast Company magazine and Businessweek.com, Poets&Quants for Undergrads is the sister website to Poet&Quants, which concentrates on MBA programs. For more information, visit poetsandquantsforundergrads.com. Follow us on social #PQURankings.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Poets&Quants

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